South Africa: District Development Model a 'golden opportunity' - Deputy President

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has told the National Assembly that the District Development Model (DDM) presents the best way to assist municipalities to function more effectively and optimally.

The Deputy President was addressing the National Assembly for the first time in a Question and Answer session in the house on Thursday.

The [DDM] has, in the main, been designed to ensure the delivery of services to communities in an integrated manner. In our view, the DDM is a golden opportunity to partner all spheres of government and civil society to address critical challenges confronting the people at local level, including attending to service delivery hotspots across the country.

Through the implementation of the whole of government approach, the Presidency working with the Department of Cogta [Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs] and all relevant role players will continue to fast track the resolution of all existing service delivery challenges by developing and implementing targeted action plans involving all spheres of government, he said.

The Deputy President added that throughout the year, beyond providing political leadership, he  together with the departments of Cogta, National Treasury and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation  will be zoning in on issues of good governance as they have been consistently flagged by the auditor general.

We will receive and strengthen inter-governmental relations to assist municipalities whose governance protocols are weak  resulting in a lot of financial leakages and, in some instances, collapse of the provision of basic services to communities.

This calls on us to become more proactive and as such, compel us to develop early warning and quick mechanisms to areas where there are service delivery failures, he said.

Deputy President Mashatile added that municipalities also require to be capacitated for these local government to be able to deliver services more effectively.

What will fundamentally help us to turn around the situation, will be the full implementation of an improved District Development Model approach by implementing [it], he said.

Jagersfontein disaster

On a question related to service delivery at the Kopanong Local Municipality where the Jagersfontein dam disaster occurred during September last year, Deputy President Mashatile said government continues to keep a close eye on that municipality.

The municipality was identified as a service delivery hotspot and a dysfunctional municipality in the 2021 State of Local Government Report.

When the disaster occurred through the collapse of a dam wall in Jagersfonteingovernment moved with speed to ensure that the situation does not get worse than it already was.

We are pleased to report that water supply in the Kopanong Municipality was restored to full capacity as part of the rapid response intervention by the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Bloem Water board.

The department and the water board in that area deployed water tankers for three months, the operationalisation of water treatment plants was completed, bulk water supply was restored and power restoration was conducted.

Mashatile said that since then, the municipality has not paid its account to the water board for bulk water supply  leading to the withdrawal of full water services.

This has finally led to a decision by the company to once again restrict water at 30% to all nine towns in the Kopanong municipality.

As government we remain committed to intervening in resolving the impasse. In this regard, the [DWS] is playing a coordinating role in ensuring that all stakeholdersare planning together to find a permanent solution in restoring water and waste water infrastructure, he said.

Mashatile announced that DWS and Cogta are consulting with the Free State government to invoke Section 139 of the Constitution which will be a targeted intervention on the water and sanitation affairs of the municipality.

Improvement in the delivery of services at local government level, including the provision of water and sanitation, is a critical aspect of our development agenda. It is for this reason that we are planning to conduct a series of outreach programmes with special focus on service delivery challenges at local government level.

This is aimed at turning around the situation for the betterment of our people. We have included Kopanong as one of the areas we will also visit in the coming weeks, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-03-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Macron pledges law to shield election campaigns from 'false news'

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday his government planned to bring forward a law to help limit the impact of fake news on future election campaigns.

GALLERY



Under the new law, Macron said, cases of spreading false news during election campaigns could be referred to a judge, and possible sanctions for offenders would include deleting content, de-listing or blocking sites, or closing accounts."> The term "fake news" has been popularized by US President Donald Trump, who has used it to attack news reports he disagrees with.



Under the new law, Macron said, cases of spreading false news during election campaigns could be referred to a judge, and possible sanctions for offenders would include deleting content, de-listing or blocking sites, or closing accounts. Under the new law, Macron said, cases of spreading false news during election campaigns could be referred to a judge, and possible sanctions for offenders would include deleting content, de-listing or blocking sites, or closing accounts.">

Paris (dpa) - Macron told journalists gathered for a New Years message in the Elysee Palace that their profession was threatened by "the eruption into the media of false news ... and the media that propagate it."The announcement comes amid widespread concern in Western Europe about the alleged role of Russian-owned media and Russian-backed social media accounts in backing populist forces during elections.The term "fake news" has been popularized by US President Donald Trump, who has used it to attack news reports he disagrees with.Under the new law, Macron said, cases of spreading false news during election campaigns could be referred to a judge, and possible sanctions for offenders would include deleting content, de-listing or blocking sites, or closing accounts. Internet platforms would be obliged to publish the names of advertisers of sponsored content and to limit the amounts spent on such content.Macron said the national television regulator would also have increased powers to deal with "any attempt at destabilization by television services controlled or influenced by foreign countries." The liberal, pro-EU French president has previously criticized Russian-owned media Sputnik and RT as organs of propaganda - charges they deny.During last years election race between Macron and right-wing populist Marine Le Pen, then-foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Macrons campaign had been the victim of hacker attacks coming from Russia.Macron said Wednesday that fake news was "a strategy, a funded strategy, intended ... to bring about the belief that everything politicians and the media says is more or less always a lie." The effect, Macron said, was "to sap confidence in the democratic game." "We know that it works, we have seen it in practice," he said. "Abroad, but also in France." "If we want to protect our liberal democracies, we must be strong and we must have clear rules," Macron said.The French president promised that the law would be drafted in consultation with press groups. "None of the freedoms of the press must be called into question by this text," Macron said.Le Pen called Macrons proposal "very worrying." "Control of free speech on the internet, further judicialization of society: Is France still a democracy if it muzzles its citizens?" she wrote on Twitter.
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QUINCY  The Quincy man charged in the Feb. 23 shooting death of his estranged wife has pleaded not guilty to charges.

Timothy W. Bliefnick, 39, entered the plea to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion Friday in Adams County Circuit Court.

Judge Robert Adrian set the trial for May 22. Bliefnick is set to return to court April 12 for a status hearing and April 20 for an all-day motion hearing.

Rebecca Bliefnick was discovered dead in her home on Kentucky Road in Quincy by a family member on Feb. 23. Quincy Police determined that Bliefnick had died from multiple gunshot wounds and immediately began investigating the death as a homicide.

Timothy Bliefnick, a Decatur native, was arrested March 13. An Adams County grand jury indicted him on the charges alleging that he entered the home at 2528 Kentucky Road knowing that Rebecca Bliefnick was home and caused her death by discharging a firearm.

Citing pre-trial publicity in the case, Adrian said he was sealing all motions in the case to prevent prejudicing potential jurors. He said the motions would be unsealed after the trial concludes.

Adrian also cleared the courtroom of the general public and the media for two motion hearings.

When court resumed about 20 minutes later, Adrian said he denied defense motions to remove a prosecutor from the case for a suggested conflict of interest and for access to evidence. He did not go into further details.

Outside the courtroom, Bliefnicks attorney, Casey Schnack said she sought to remove Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for the Adams County states attorneys office for his involvement in the investigation.

Jones declined to comment on the motion outside of what transpired in open court.

Schnack also said the motion on access to evidence was in reference to a private Facebook group for residents on Kentucky Road that had posts relevant to the case.

She learned that neither the states attorneys office nor law enforcement had access to it, and that she would take appropriate steps to identify admins and gain access to the posts.

Schnack highlighted voluminous amounts of discovery in the case, including 56 DVDs and three USB drives.

Im still not sure why my client is sitting in jail without bond, she said after reviewing hours of surveillance video and hundreds of photos.

Schnack said she is ready for the May trial.

If convicted, each count of first-degree murder carries a sentence between 45 years to natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections. This includes a 25 year enhancement because a firearm was used.

The home invasion charge carries a sentence between 31 years and natural life.
DECATUR  Michelle Holsapple has been a long-term sub in Decatur Public Schools for five years and is in the process of obtaining a teaching certificate through an online course.

It's exciting because you're now (thinking), 'Oh, let me try this,' she said of the things she's learning. Oh, this works, wow. It's like an ah-ha moment.

Florida and Illinois have a reciprocal licensure agreement that will allow the candidates, who will be licensed in Florida, to have their new licenses transferred to Illinois.

Because Holsapple has already begun, she will be reimbursed for what she has spent out of pocket. Most of the candidates who attended an informational open house on Tuesday have not yet begun and will have their tuition paid up front.

I brought this to Ashley's attention, said Cathy Briggs, who is about 80% finished with the course, speaking of Ashley Grayned, executive director of Innovative Programs and strategic planning for Decatur schools.

Grayned brought the idea to the board of education, who approved a pilot program for five candidates, but interest was so high that the board increased that to 10 candidates and now to 25 and the hope is that it will be successful enough to make the pilot program permanent.

Jason Fox, director of human resources, said the district has 51 openings as of this week, and by offering the program to long-term substitutes, who are already acting as teachers and have developed relationships with students and other staff, the hope is to alleviate those shortages in Decatur and keep them as employees.

We want you to like what you're doing so you stay in teaching forever, Fox told the group.

The candidates will go through the application process for teaching jobs the same as any candidate would, Fox said, and won't be guaranteed the jobs they are filling as subs, but the district plans to do its best to place them in a position.

The risk is on us, Fox said. If we don't have a position you're certified for, you're released from your three-year obligation.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am, Superintendent Rochelle Clark told the group. Coming back to Decatur was one of the best things I've ever done. I think you're going to find this place so rewarding that you're never going to want to leave.

There will be hard days, she said, but if they ever feel that they can't handle the hard days, they should look at their students and remember why they wanted to teach in the first place.

We had a really good turnout, 17 of the 19 who have confirmed (their participation), Grayned said. It's a mixed bag, which is great. Some students are already in the course, so the district was creative in reimbursing them, and then the students who will start. We wanted to remove barriers, so we're taking those costs on for the students.

These are alternatives to teacher licensing requirements across 16 states These are alternatives to teacher licensing requirements across 16 states No teacher licensure tests required Teacher licensure tests only for reading Teacher licensure tests with some flexibility College degree in teaching subject Allowing districts to apply for waivers
THUMBS UP! To Central Illinois farmers. Illinois produced some of the highest corn and soybean production yields in the nation in 2022, and multiple Central Illinois counties led the way. Illinois counties held the top spots for both corn and soybean production in 2022. Piatt and McLean counties dominated in soybean yield and total corn production, respectively. Illinois is the overall No. 1 producer of soybeans in the United States, and the top 11 counties for soybean yield in 2022 were all located in Illinois. Piatt County topped the nation in soybean yield with 74.2 bushels per acre. The next ten highest-ranking counties in soybean yield were, in order: Macon, Sangamon, Scott, Logan, Tazewell, Stark, Morgan, Christian, Champaign and Woodford counties. The state also had the top five counties in the country for total corn production, with McLean County coming out on top. The county produced nearly 71 million bushels of corn in 2022. The other top five counties in total corn production were Iroquois, Livingston, LaSalle and Champaign counties. Illinois is the second largest producer of corn in the country, behind Iowa.

THUMBS DOWN! To bank failures. The calvary seems to have arrived to rescue Silicon Valley Bank, and that may quiet some of the publics fears. Analysts are blaming social media speculation and cryptocurrency, a couple of new twists in economic management. One of the reasons bank failures and malfeasance are big deals is because of how rarely they happen. But if issues continue, expect some heated political pressure.

THUMBS UP! To a pause in housing market increases. The median price of a U.S. home was lower this February than it was in February 2022, ending more than a decade of year-over-year increases, the longest on record. The news is great if you're in the housing market, where price explosions have left hopeful homeowners empty-handed too often. The drop marks the first year-over-year price decline in 131 consecutive months of year-over-year increases that began in February 2012. Of course, the median existing home price was $363,000 in February, which leaves many of us on the outside looking in. Additional good news is experts feel this is just an adjustment, and dismiss the possibility of a housing market crash.

THUMBS DOWN! And a long overdue one to social media app TikTok. Users create and share short videos via the app. TikTok boasts in excess of a billion users worldwide, including 80 million monthly active users in the U.S. Users average 95 minutes of use daily. In 2020, President Donald Trump proposed a ban amid concerns about China's access to user information. The proposal has received new life after governments around the country and the world have forbidden TikTok's use on government devices. This one seems like a slam dunk. Let's close the door -- not lock, but close the door on TikTok. We've had enough temper-raising apps fly through our social media doors unchecked. Set TikTok outside for a bit to see if it can earn its way back in.

THUMBS DOWN! To continual and deliberate ignorance of science. A new report from the United Nations says we can hold global warming to relatively safe levels. Global warming is giving us terror like feet of snow where there used to be none, melting glaciers, rising ocean levels and triple-digit temperatures where they were once unheard of. But as a society, global warming is something we easily ignore. We do so at our own peril.

THUMBS DOWN! To an alarming increase in maternal mortality. According to new CDC data, the rate of maternal mortality  defined as deaths during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth  rose by 40% in 2021. At a rate of 33 deaths for every 100,000 live births, 1,205 women died of maternal causes that year. That rate was more than twice as high for Black women, whose maternal mortality rate was 70 deaths for every 100,000 live births. Observers suggest COVID-19 bears some responsibility. But pre-COVID mortality was similar. America has dramatically higher rates of women dying in or as a result of childbirth than in peer nations. America has 10 or more times the rate of pregnancy-related death in Australia, Austria, Israel, Japan and Spain.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 60F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
A man who left two dead dogs at his ex-wifes Stafford County residence in 2021 was ordered Thursday to spend a year and a half in prison.

Christopher Wayne Moore, 39, of Spotsylvania County, pleaded guilty in Stafford Circuit Court to animal cruelty resulting in death and domestic assault. Judge Michael Levy sentenced him to a total of six years with all but a year and a half suspended.

According to the evidence presented by prosecutor Sarah Watkins, Moore and his ex-wife got into an argument at her home on Aug. 17, 2021. During the dispute, the woman said that she was slapped, pushed, punched in the throat and threatened to have her home burned down.

She told Moore to leave with his two pit bulls and he did. The next day, he told the woman that the dogs had died in his vehicle while he was sleeping at a construction site in Stafford.

The woman said she left the home for several days because she felt unsafe. When she returned, she and her children found the dogs dead in a crate. The dogs had been there for four days, court records state.

Moore told police that he had not yet buried the dogs because time got away from him. He denied leaving the dogs alone prior to their deaths or leaving the county, but GPS records showed that he left Stafford for three hours on Aug. 18.

Judge Levy said he was particularly disturbed that the dead dogs were left where the children could find them.
BRISTOL, Va. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin paid a visit to Virginia High School on Thursday to talk to students about Americas fentanyl crisis.

Calling the fentanyl problem extensive, Youngkin pointed to statistics, such as fentanyl overdoses in Virginia doubling from 2019 to 2021, and the 2,600 Virginians who died due to fentanyl overdoses this past year.

This is not a tragedy, Youngkin said. This is an epidemic of despair. We have got to address this.

In touching on a multi-faceted approach to addressing the crisis, Youngkin mentioned the Right Help. Right Now. initiative to overhaul the states behavioral health system by increasing capacity for services and strengthening support systems to prevent crises, assist during crises and aid in recovery. The governors office announced the plan last December, describing it as a three-year plan with a proposed investment of more than $230 million in Virginias behavioral health system in the coming fiscal year.

Youngkin also addressed the source of the powerful synthetic opioid.

It comes across the southern border and it makes its way through illegal supply chains up into Virginia, Youngkin said. Our challenges are not just that we have a fentanyl epidemic here in Virginia, but we in fact can see the supply chain that runs all the way through into Mexico and into China. A lot of the ingredients come from China, and they are mixed in Mexico and then sent across border.

According to Youngkin, a recent seizure near the border yielded enough fentanyl to kill 200 million Americans. He also noted that this week in Fairfax County, Virginia State Police intercepted a package of 20,000 fentanyl pills.

We have to have a secure border that will stop this flow of drugs into the United States, Youngkin said. We have to start holding this supply chain accountable, which means that the dealers and the distributors of this horrific drug have to face far stiffer penalties than they face now.

One way Virginia is doing that is through recently passed legislation declaring fentanyl a weapon of terrorism, which creates an extended prison sentence for offenders who knowingly distribute fentanyl. Youngkin commended the legislation, but expressed disappointment that the legislature did not pass legislation making it a felony homicide for distributors who are linked to an overdose death.

Youngkin vowed Virginia will try again to make it law.

Well go back and get that done, Youngkin said. We need to make sure that this supply chain is interrupted at the border and people are held accountable.

Thursdays assembly, which included questions from students and emotional testimony from people impacted by the issue, concluded with students receiving training on how to use Narcan, or Naloxone, which can be administered in the case of an opioid overdose to prevent a fatality. Students were also given the opportunity to take home a Narcan kit, if they wished.
Jack Schewel says his familys Passover Seder is like those of others. The conversation  when not focused on the holidays significance as a celebration of the Jewish peoples freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt  includes politics. Theres always some of that, says Schewel, a furniture retailer and cousin of a late longtime state senator.

And politics, no doubt, is shaping an issue in which Schewel, whose family settled in Lynchburg in 1897 when his great-grandfather, a rabbi, arrived from Russia, has a keen interest: The removal from public places of Confederate monuments, icons and symbols; in particular, one at Arlington National Cemetery that may be a bit more complex than others.

Erected in 1914 49 years after the Civil War ended  the Confederate Memorial was represented at the time by politicians, Northern and Southern, as a symbol of reconciliation. Nearly 110 years later, the memorial is among those targeted by a federal panel for dismantling as an inappropriate, indefensible emblem of white supremacy.

Schewel is part of a small group  it includes descendants of Confederate soldiers  trying to save the memorial for reasons aesthetic, historic and religious. The 32-foot monument, with its likenesses of an enslaved Black man and woman in obeisant poses, is the creation a world-famous, Richmond-born Confederate veteran from a slave-holding family who was Jewish.

This is not intended as a defense of Confederate iconography, or even an important reminder of how history was deliberately corrupted by the South as part of a larger effort to, in effect, re-enslave Black people. Rather, it is to point out the many-layered complexity of this issue and the accelerating impatience with the nuances that define history.

For Jews, Passover, which spans eight days that begin at sunset on April 5, is about liberation, the promise of freedom and the duty it demands. These are themes rooted in the destruction of Black bondage through overpowering federal political and military might wielded even by those who were uncertain about how to remedy slavery. Among them: President Abraham Lincoln.

The artist who fashioned the Confederate Memorial, Moses J. Ezekiel  that he shared a name with the figure who led the enslaved Israelites from Egypt perhaps also speaks, if only coincidentally, to the knotty subtleties of the monuments debate  said in his memoir that he opposed slavery; that he fought, not for its preservation, but against federal subjugation of his home, Virginia.

This is the musty states-rights argument of the Southern, Lost Cause revisionists who advocated for those statues, most notably Douglas Southall Freeman, the editor of the Richmond News-Leader, the long-shuttered afternoon sibling of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Freeman and others would say that the Civil War was not about perpetuating slavery, and that it could be a benevolent institution. Instead, the ruthless, four-year war in which 620,000 died was a principled disagreement between men of honor over the role of government and the delineation of state and federal authority.

What is intriguing about Ezekiel, who grew up near Richmonds slave market a short distance from the state Capitol, as well as the bigoted symbols he incorporated in the Arlington monuments design, is that he was of a people defined from biblical times forward by slavery  literal and figurative  and yet he accepted it in his own times for Black people as an enduring reality of Southern life.

And that may have something to do with another measure of the Jewish experience: Being different but somehow fitting in.

They were totally assimilated, Rabbi Eric Wisnia, a self-described Civil War buff allied with Schewel in attempting to preserve the Ezekiel statue, said of mid-19th century Southern Jews. They were well accepted ... into society. And they totally accepted the idea that Black people were not equal.

Connor Williams, a doctoral candidate in history at Yale University and an adviser to the federal commission created by Congress to recommend renaming and removing Defense Department property that commemorates the Confederacy, acknowledges the concerns of monument preservationists.

Personalities and policies fashioned in another era and in a different culture are, indeed, being judged by contemporary standards. But the principal issue, said Williams, is whether preserving iconography synonymous with outdated, objectionable ideas is an appropriate use of parks, cemeteries and other public places.

He notes, too, that the North is wrestling with similar issues. For example, investment, insurance and transportation giants made millions of dollars through slavery by insuring enslaved individuals as property, accepting them as collateral for loans and renting them as laborers. Some have only recently acknowledged their ties to slavery.

As for Ezekiel  who fought at the Battle of New Market as the first Jewish cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, was knighted by European royalty and spent most of career in Italy  he would be united with his monument only in death. He died in Rome in 1917 and, because of World War I, his body was not returned to the United States until 1921.

Ezekiel would be buried near the base of the statue, which 22 of his descendants want removed as it is the centerpiece of an area at Arlington National Cemetery reserved for the Confederate dead. Some had been prisoners in nearby Washington, or had died in Union hospitals. Over the years, their number would exceed 400.

And while the monument is apparently doomed  a lawsuit in D.C. federal court supported by Schewel and others seeks to prevent its dismantling  Ezekiels grave, as some feared, will not be disturbed. His headstone, weathered by time and history, reads, Moses J. Ezekiel, Sergeant of Company C, Battalion of Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute.
A few days after writing about the Catawba Valley British Motor Club on March 19, I got an email from Newton resident David Puett, who wrote, I became a member last year, just in case I needed a little help on my little Morris.

That got my attention, of course, because, as I shared in the March 19 story, my mother had a black Morris Minor when I was a small child.

I was quick to ask David, a retired building supplies salesman, to drive his Morris to Conover, so I could see the car and ask questions. We met in front of Conover Station. The weather was chilly and rainy, but it had no effect on my glee at setting eyes on Davids gray, four-passenger 1959 Morris, sitting inside it, and enjoying a short ride around Conover.

I hopped inside and was immediately struck by a smell I hadnt experienced in decades. It was the perfume of nostalgia, I suppose.

David called it a little ol nothing car, meaning theres nothing flashy about it, But to me, the 37-horsepower vehicle with its seven-gallon gas tank was as fabulous as a showy roadster.

Among the first things David showed me were the cars trafficators. Wikipedia defines them as semaphore signals which, when operated, protrude from the bodywork of a motor vehicle to indicate its intention to turn in the direction indicated by the pointing signal. Trafficators are often located at the door pillar.

That was a new one in my book. David signaled to turn left and a little arm popped out of the door on the outside. It had a blinking light on it.

The cars interior was simple and comfortable. Besides the slim steering wheel, which was on the right side, since the car had been built to stay in England, there were some knobs: the choke, windshield wiper control, headlight switch, pull starter, and key slot. To start the engine, David turned the key in the slot and then pulled on the starter knob.

One might wonder if a steering wheel on the right poses a challenge. Thats not a big deal, David offered. Additionally, due to the location of the steering wheel, the stick for the manual transmission requires left-handed operation. Again, no problem for David.

A heater and a switch to control it had been added after the cars construction.

There was no radio, but there were two glove boxes. There was one on the right and one on the left. David explained that there were two so thered be easy access to a small storage compartment whether the steering wheel was on the right or the left.

Furthermore, there was no air conditioner. You dont need it, David pointed out. As in many older cars, the Morris had little side-vent windows that push out, creating a nice flow of air toward the driver or passenger.

David pointed to the middle floorboard area and said that beneath the carpeting was access to check the brake fluid and the transmission fluid.

They built them simple, said David about Morrises.

At classiccars.fandom.com, I read the following: The Morris Minor is a British economy car that debuted at the Earls Court Moto Show, London, on 20 September 1948. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured between 1948 and 1972. Initially available as a two-door saloon and tourer (convertible), the range was subsequently expanded to include a four-door saloon in 1950, a wood-framed estate (the Traveller) from 1952 and panel van and pick-up truck variants from 1953.

According to paperwork titled British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, which David received when he bought his Morris from a man in Tampa, Florida, about a year ago, the little car is officially known as a Morris Minor 1000. It had been produced for the home market, meaning it was meant to stay in England. It was originally for sale in May 1959 at a Cambridge, England, dealership known as King & Harper Limited.

Davids Morris found its way across the Atlantic when, as David recounted, The guy I bought it from actually bought it from a previous owner overseas and had it shipped over here probably about three years ago.

David has loved old cars since he was a teen in the 1970s. He said his first job was at Aiken-Black Tire Service in Hickory. He was 16. A fellow workers father-in-law died, and they were selling his car through an estate, David recalled. A 1947 Chevrolet coupe, black.

It was ugly, David reported, but he bought it anyway, paying $250. Trouble was, David didnt have the funds to keep it up and do the things it needed, he stated. So, he sold it, promising himself hed get another old car one of these days when he could afford to maintain it.

Years went by, and the time came when David felt he could keep an old car in good condition. Thats when he bought a 1940 Chevrolet two-door sedan Master Deluxe. For fun, said David. He drove it for about 20 years. His wife Mary often rode with him but wasnt interested in driving the old Chevrolet.

Sometime after selling the Master Deluxe, a friend called to say he had a 1941 four-door Buick sedan. David had seen it already and wasnt really interested in it but went to Granite Falls to have a look just the same. Right beside it was a Chevy El Camino, a 1986, said David. They quit making them in 1987. It had only 70,000 miles on it and had stock 14-inch mag rims. I switched them to 15-inch Cragar mag wheels. Ive loved Cragar mags since the 1970s. Theyre beautiful.

The black with blue interior pickup truck is still in Davids possession and even Mary drives it from time to time.

Then while looking at cars online, David discovered the Morris Minor. He got in touch with the owner. He told me everything about it, said David. All hed done to it. David struck a deal with the man, happily buying the car without having seen it in person. An acquaintance collected it in Tampa and brought it to David. Im happy with it, David reported. It has a few blemishes in the paint, but I could care less. I have fun driving it.

The previous owner had warned David to allow a little extra time when going out in public with the Morris, because people will ask about it. David has found it to be the case whenever he and his Morris run errands or just joy ride. Interestingly, while we were talking, someone drove by us very slowly, eyeing the cute gray car.

It uses regular gas and, due to its age, does not have to go through annual state inspections.

Oh, one other fun fact: The Morris came with a type of lug wrench for the purpose of hand cranking the car if need be. David demonstrated attaching the tool to a certain spot on the cars front.

I believe it would be accurate to say David is a serious car enthusiast. Besides membership in CVBMC, hes in Carolina Crossroads, a regional chapter of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America. David edits the groups monthly newsletter. He pointed out that Carolina Crossroads was featured in Our State magazine in 2022. The story was titled Kings of the Road.

Our conversation concluded, David and I said our good-byes, and he headed home to exchange the Morris for his everyday car, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, before delivering Meals on Wheels.

Happy motoring, David! Your little Morris might not make you king of the road, but itll definitely make you a popular attraction.
A bill filed in the North Carolina General Assembly would require candidates for a school board in Catawba County to campaign as members of political parties.

House Bill 66 would change the current nonpartisan races to partisan contests in 2024.

The countys three school systems are Hickory Public, Catawba County and Newton-Conover City. All three would move to partisan races if the bill passes.

The bill also would change the dates of elections for the Hickory and Newton-Conover boards, moving them to even-numbered years. Terms of members who are currently serving would be extended to align with the new election cycle.

The Catawba County Schools Board of Education currently has elections during even-numbered years.

Reps. Mitchell Setzer and Jay Adams of Catawba County were primary sponsors of the bill, which passed the House and was sent to the Senate on March 9. No action has been taken on the bill since then.

Since the measure is a local bill affecting fewer than 15 counties, it is not subject to the governors veto.

A bill making the same changes to county school board elections was proposed last year but ultimately did not come up for a vote in the state Senate. Catawba County Sen. Dean Proctor said he believes the Senate will take it up this session, adding that he supports the bill.

Its a controversial bill, Proctor said. Theres people that do not want it and theres, on the other side, the people who do want it. Ive had a lot of people request, Lets put it that way. He said specifically he heard from individuals in the community.

Members of local school boards were mixed in their views of the legislation.

Hickory school board chairman Bryan Graham and Newton-Conover school board chairman Tim Hayes are critical of the change.

I think right now, the way people elect us is based on what we say and what we do, Graham said. If you add an R and a D beside our names, we are going to get elected because of the R and the D. I dont think that puts kids first, and thats what our goal should be.

Graham has served on the board for eight years and said he does not know the political affiliations of his fellow board members. And it doesnt matter, he said. Our goal is to take care of kids.

Hayes said he does not agree with the bill and that politics should stay out of education.

I dont know that people fully realize how little control local school boards have over area schools, Hayes said. The two things a board of education has full control of are budgeting and policy, Hayes said, but even then, a lot of that is still dictated to us by the Department of Public Instruction  and legislature.

Don Sigmon, a newly-elected member of the Catawba County Schools Board of Education, said having partisan candidates in races could be helpful for voters.

It doesnt mean that (voters) need to vote a certain way, Sigmon said. But not knowing, you go in and youve got eight or nine names (on the ballot), and you havent (researched), it just gives you a starting point, I believe.

Catawba County School Board Vice Chair Leslie Barnette questioned how the change would help students and local school personnel and how it would benefit education.

My bottom line is always the children and staff, Barnette said. And Im not sure I understand how it will benefit them.

Barnette added, You dont know until it actually takes effect what the repercussions are.
The Western Piedmont Sister Cities Association is celebrating it 30-year sister city partnership with Altenburger Land, Germany.

The association, which includes Catawba, Caldwell, Alexander and Burke counties, first partnered with Altenburger Land in March 1993.

To mark the occasion, representatives from both regions will hold a virtual commemoration event via Webex video conferencing software which will include the reading of proclamations, eating an anniversary cake and toasting to the partnership, according to a release from the association.

The celebration will start at 11 a.m. today at the Western Piedmont Council of Governments office at 1880 Second Ave. NW in Hickory.

The association is also in the process of selecting local items for a time capsule which will also include items from Altenburger Land.

The association plans to bury the time capsule in October when a delegation from Germany will be visiting.

Those who would like to recommend items to be included in the time capsule or want to be a part of the associations 30th anniversary celebrations can visit www.westernpiedmontsistercities.org for more information or contact association Chair Tracey Trimble at ttrimble@hickoryfurniture.com or 704-502-5932.
I noted a political cartoon in the April 2022 HDR newspaper. It shows purported war crimes in the Ukraine conflict.

But it is mere propaganda, nicely drawn lines. The Bucha massacre was real, but it occurred after Russian troops had left the town. The railroad station missile attack was with a semi-obsolete Russian missile that had been withdrawn from Russian army inventory a decade ago.

Also, the trajectory could be estimated and knowing the range of the missile an investigator could determine the approximate origin. As it turns out, it was unlikely to have been fired by Russian troops.

Mariupol: This story cannot be told in one good sentence but suffice to know that the Ukrainian troopers were well aware they were surrounded. Their goose was well cooked and they knew it. Still they fought on and of course there was concomitant damage to the city.

Remember sir, political cartoonists are propagandists. They always seek an emotional response, not careful thought.

There are three things to consider about this war.

1. The main reason Russia attacked is that they will not allow a large foreign army, basically NATO, to camp out on their border. They especially will not tolerate nuclear-tipped missiles on their border.

Those with a sense of history will see the parallel with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Further back there was the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that foreign powers on our doorstep were emphatically not welcome.

2. Russia has a history of protecting Slav peoples even when they are not Russian citizens. Indeed, the Russian entry into World War I was rooted in the Serbian crisis of 1914.

The eastern Ukraine forces have been shelling civilians in the Donets basin since the coup in 2014. Perhaps as many as 14,000 civilian deaths have resulted from these artillery attacks.

R2P, slang for responsibility to protect, is sometimes used as a rationale for American military actions. We are not the only country that claims R2P.

3. Russia is resolute and they generally mean what they say. They gave fair warning to Ukraine and were rebuffed.

Now Ukraine pays the price. Does the United States want to get in a fight with Russia?

This is not like beating up a few Libyans or shoving aside Iraqi forces. America is getting close to direct confrontation. After all, supplying billions of dollars worth of deadly weapons makes America a co-belligerent.

Ask yourself: Does America really have a dog in this fight?

JP Straley

Hickory
Gruver Native Fires Shot Line Aboard USS Decatur

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Negron

230107-N-SN516-1075 PHILIPPINE SEA (January 7, 2023)



U.S. Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Johana Borunda, from Gruver, Texas, fires a shot line to the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73).



Decatur, part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, is currently underway in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations.



7th Fleet is the U.S. Navys largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.








When retaining employees is as important as it is in the current labor market, keeping your team engaged in their work and their workplace makes all the difference. For Pete Posnett of Willow Behrer Farms, engagement starts with trust.

In the workplace, trust is built on how often employees interact with their leader, how competent they view the leader to be, and if they believe the leader walks the walk of what they say. Posnett simply summarized it as being a good person. During the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, he discussed how the foundation of engaging his team stems from getting to know them and building open relationships on both a personal and professional level. Often, the top key for people to stay at their job is feeling cared for at work.

It's important to have someone on the farm leadership team who has the time to develop those relationships, Posnett said. As herd manager at Willow Behrer, that is him. Even if youre not a relationship person, he recommended starting by taking a moment to speak with every employee each week. Posnett is able to check in with each of their employees every day.

We try to make it a practice, but its great when it becomes natural, he said, emphasizing that knowing your people and what is going on with them is an ideal way to build trust. That also goes for service people and contractors who may not be on the farm every day but still have an effect on the business. Although those conversations take time, they will also help you head off problems before they develop.

When employees trust their leaders, the other factors of engagement can thrive. Training is necessary for workers to feel valued and purposeful at their job, and by knowing your people, you can build materials that will best help them learn. Posnett noted that everyone learns differently; photos and diagrams work well for some people while others may need a hands-on demonstration.

Another way to show you care about them is to bring in translators when useful. You can also demonstrate your trust in your team by having an employee present the training.

Feedback is necessary to engage employees because it provides them a stake in the operation. By providing quality feedback, you are helping them understand how their work is connected to and necessary for the success of the business. Posnett noted that their onboarding process includes feedback conversations at the 4 month, 6 month, and 1 year marks. For each employee, he keeps a file of the feedback hes given them over the course of their employment.

Asking for feedback is also important. At the teams monthly meetings, which nearly everyone attends, they review the farms goals and metrics in various areas. Discussing ways to improve the operation as a group builds trust and buy-in, Posnett described.

Employee engagement takes all of these forms and more, such as rewarding great performance with bonuses and celebrations. But they all have their basis in building trusting relationships that allow both parties to feel like a valued part of the team. That is what keeps people at their jobs.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023

March 20, 2023
The following is a statement from Barber-Scotia College:

CONCORD - The Leadership of Barber-Scotia College wishes to present the facts as they relate to the recent and ongoing media blitz spurred on by Concord NC City Council.

Our 156-year-old college has sat at the gateway of downtown Concord since its existence  a valuable and very desirable property.

Until recently, we have had an exceptional partnership with local governments. We have provided many teachers to the school system, contributed financially to the economy, prioritized Cabarrus Countys residents as students, opened our campus to the community, and placed our graduates with many of the countys employers.

Now, it appears that the groundwork is being laid to deem the campus as blighted. The claim, as stated by Councilman JC Mckenzie, is that the city may have no choice other than to condemn the property under Imminent Domain. They have cited the colleges leadership as being uncooperative. We clearly state that our current administration has extended a full hand of cooperation with city and county officials.

We proffer that even though some campus buildings need repair, none have been determined to be dangerous. We also ask, why have we been constantly bombarded with orders, assessments, and inspections when there are numerous other buildings within a mile radius of our campus that are in serious disrepair? They have not been subjected to the same scrutiny. We have not heard anything about condemning these buildings.

We all are well aware of the past land grabs in minority communities. We cannot read the minds of Concords officials, but their actions indicate that our campus property has been targeted for redevelopment. Remember, we are at the gateway to the city, and they have deemed our campus as disposable  no longer relevant. If they succeed, it will not stop with Barber-Scotia College.

It is fair to assume that Logan, a large predominately African-American community, in a prime inner-city location will be next as gentrification will have taken root.

We respectfully invite you or someone from your news organization to attend our press conference on March 25, 2023, at 9 a.m. The event location is Barber-Scotia College, in front of the Kittie Sansom Chapel, 145 Cabarrus Ave. W, Concord NC 28025. Parking is available behind the Chapel on Crowell Drive. We will address the half-truths thats being told to the media.

At a minimum we will address the following during the press conference:

 The Demolition of Dormitories in 2014

 The Formation of a Barber-Scotia College PROPERTIES Task Force by the City

 The Expulsion of College leaders from the Task Force

 First official bill received from the City

 Students on campus/City Codes

 Property Tax-exemption

 Accusations of not working with the city

 Concluding Points
SALISBURY  Rowan-Cabarrus Community College named 14 students as finalists for its 2022-23 Student Excellence Awards. Two of the finalists were chosen to represent the college in competition at the state level, with a third selected as the Rowan-Cabarrus Academic Excellence winner.

Gov. Robert Scott Student Leadership Award

Jeremy Post is the colleges Gov. Robert Scott Student Leadership Award nominee. Robert W. Scott served as N.C. governor and later as president of the North Carolina Community College System, and the award bearing his name honors students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership qualities.

Post returned to college in his 40s after he found that his career growth was limited because he did not have a degree. He enrolled at Rowan-Cabarrus, where he now juggles classes, extracurricular activities, leadership roles and a 40-hour work week while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He plans to continue his education at Catawba College to pursue a bachelors degree.

At Rowan-Cabarrus, Post has been selected as a Student Ambassador, won awards and held leadership roles as part of the colleges Future Business Leaders of America chapter, organized the colleges Student Life 5K, been tapped as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and received the Student Life Silver Leadership Award.

My goal is to leave things better than I found them, he said. I expected to be just another student, but I found that age and wisdom had granted me the motivation and desire to serve. I found myself wanting to be of more help.

Academic Excellence Award

Terra Daisey is the Rowan-Cabarrus Academic Excellence Award winner. The award recognizes the academic achievement, leadership, and community service of a student from each of the 58 institutions in the North Carolina Community College System.

At age 39, Daisey enrolled at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to pursue a degree in health care management technology. She started off with three classes during an eight-week period, achieving a 4.0 GPA despite a busy schedule outside the classroom. Even with the challenges of navigating a difficult divorce, caring for her young daughter and working full-time, she has kept her grades high and was honored with induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success.

With strength, self-discipline and ambition, I am determined to be a success story, she said.

Dallas Herring Achievement Award

Brielle Long is the Rowan-Cabarrus Dallas Herring Achievement Award nominee. Dr. Herring, a North Carolina native, is acknowledged as the philosophical godfather of the states community college system for his belief that education should be available to all and that community colleges should take people from where they are, to as far as they can go.

Long, 19, experienced a difficult upbringing surrounded by drug and gang activity, living in homeless shelters, and working multiple jobs as a teen to pay her familys bills. At Rowan-Cabarrus, she is pursuing an Associate in Engineering degree as the first step to her goal of becoming a biomedical engineer, achieving financial stability, and inspiring the rest of her family.

I dont simply want to go to college  I need to, she says. I am a believer in creating your own future, and I want to prove that I can be successful.

Student Excellence Award finalists were selected for personal interviews from a pool of hundreds of applicants.

Along with Post, Daisey and Long, the 2022-23 Rowan-Cabarrus Student Excellence Award finalists include Lori Anthony, Will Wallace, Jennifer Zepeda-Molina, Fernando Alcaide-Luevanos, Zach Berkowitz, Kara Savage, Richa Ghimire, Brandi Doub, Jimmy McDonnell, Tamaya Harris-Johnson and Ashley Plummer.

We are excited to recognize these exceptional students and their impressive accomplishments, said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus. As we learned about their life experiences, personal victories and goals for the future, we were inspired and very proud of their achievement, leadership and perseverance.

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, visit www.rccc.edu or call 704-216-RCCC (7222).
Q: I would like to know when an article mentions hiring or adding new employees at an average salary just what does that mean? Is it the whole company from the CEO down? How is the average salary determined?

M.M.

Answer: David Rhodes, the communications director for the N.C. Department of Commerce, explained how these numbers are figured.

For economic development announcements involving the Department of Commerce, when we reference an average wage, were just speaking about the new positions being created with the project, not every persons salary in the company. Since we are aware of the proposed salaries for the project, we will add those salary figures together and divide by the number of new positions to arrive at an average wage for the project. Well often compare that project average wage with the average wage seen in a particular location (county), a figure which is determined by an ongoing survey of employers that covers 95% of jobs available at the county, state and national levels.

Q: Why is Crossnore bulldozing so many buildings? Ive seen at least two torn down. S.B.

Answer: There is only one more building scheduled to be demolished, said Brett Loftis, the CEO of Crossnore Communities for Children. Crossnore is the home for children on Reynolda Road that merged with the United Methodist Childrens Home in 2016.

Loftis said that Crossnore is in the midst of a $41 million capital campaign that will prioritize renovating parts of the Winston-Salem campus. There is another campus in Avery County and its offices are in Hendersonville. Three buildings that are over 80 years old are being demolished and green spaces will be where the buildings were, Loftis said. Two other buildings, Edwards and Alspaugh, will be renovated to house a K-8 charter school.

Spring is hereSo, its time for SAMs reminder that people should not leave pets inside parked cars, when its hot outside, even for a brief time. It is not safe to leave anyone, human or animal, shut inside a car, where temperatures can reach deadly levels faster than you might think.

Studies have shown that cars can heat up surprisingly quickly, even when the weather is mild or overcast. On a 72-degree day, for example, temperatures can reach 116 degrees in a car in less than an hour. A study by San Francisco State University found that when it is 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car rises to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes.

The Humane Society advises: Never leave your pets in a parked car. Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on.

When temperatures get over 80 degrees, people should not take animals along on their regular shopping trips. Cracking a window or leaving them water wont help, either. Forsyth County Animal Services Division has told SAM they have seen many cases of animals suffering heat stroke. Dogs are vulnerable to heat because they dont have many ways to cool themselves. Even if you think you will be leaving your pet in the car for just a minute, the risks are not worth it. You may get distracted and not be able to return to your car as quickly as you thought. Signs of distress can include agitation, excessive panting or drooling, trouble breathing, disorientation, diarrhea or vomiting, fervent barking, intense scratching or digging at windows or doors, collapse or unconsciousness, and seizures.

While were on the topic of hot weather and pets, its also important to note that asphalt and cement can be unsafe for your dogs feet. If the asphalt is too hot for you to walk barefoot on, its too hot for your dog as well. Booties are available for dogs feet that will protect them from the hot sidewalks and streets.
Home flipping in the Winston-Salem metro area reached a record 1,528 sales during 2022, national real-estate research firm Attom Data Solutions reported Thursday.

Flipped homes are those purchased and subsequently sold again within 12 months. The MSA consists of Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin counties.

Flipped homes in the Winston-Salem area represented 12.6% of all home sales during the year.

The total represented a 36.5% jump from a year ago. The record had been 1,203 in 2021.

Those flipping the homes grossed on average $70,750, representing a $163,500 purchase price and a $234,250 flipped price. The gross profit a year ago was $67,310.

The average square footage for flipped homes was 1,518, and the median year the residence was built was 1984.

The median is the number in the middle, with the same amount of numbers below and above.

It took an average of 151 days to complete the flipping of a home sold during 2022, compared with 145 days a year ago.

About 70% of home flippers used cash with the purchase, while 30% borrowed money. About 41% were sold to cash buyers, while 7.7% were bought by buyers utilizing a Federal Housing Administration loan.

By comparison, the Greensboro-High Point MSA had 1,511 flipped homes sold in 2022, up 11.1% over the year. Those sales made up 11.1% of the home sale market.

The record annual flipping count is 2,025 in 2014 for the three-county metro of Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham.

Those flipping the homes in the Greensboro-High Point MSA grossed on average $58,250, representing a $158,750 purchase price and a $217,000 flipped price.

The average square footage for flipped homes was 1,395, and the median year the residence was built was 1992.

The average time it took to flip a home was 144 days in 2022, down from 140 days a year ago.

About 70% of home flippers used cash with the purchase, while 30% borrowed money. About 43% were sold to cash buyers, while 6.6% were bought by buyers utilizing a Federal Housing Administration loan.

Last year, home flippers throughout the U.S. experienced another tough period as returns took yet another hit, said Rob Barber, chief executive at Attom. For the second straight year, more investors were flipping, but found no simple path to quick profits.

Indeed, returns are now at the point where they could easily be wiped out by the carrying costs during the renovation and repair process, which usually accounts for 20% to 33% percent of the resale price.

Barber cautioned that 2023 will reveal more about whether investors decide to find different ways to profit from home-flipping, or take a step back and wait for conditions to get better.

The other North Carolina metro areas had a similar cooling in flipped homes sold, typically with a higher average sale price for a larger average home.

Other N.C. metros

The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA had 7,221 flipped homes sold in 2022, up 31.1% from a year ago. Those sales made up 13.8% of the market.

Those flipping the homes grossed on average $46,000, representing a $290,000 purchase price and a $336,000 flipped price. The average square footage for flipped homes was 1,604.

The average time it took to flip a home sold was 144 days, compared with 127 days a year ago.

The Durham-Chapel Hill MSA had 988 flipped homes sold, up 37.5% from a year ago. Those sales made up 10.8% of the market.

Those flipping the homes grossed on average $55,000, representing a $301,000 purchase price and a $356,000 flipped price. The average square footage for flipped homes was 1,531.

The average time it took to flip a home sold was 147 days, up from 130 days a year ago.

The Raleigh-Cary MSA had 2,743 flipped homes sold, up 22.8% from a year ago. Those sales made up 10.5% of the market.

Those flipping the homes grossed on average $42,000, representing a $333,000 purchase price and a $375,000 flipped price. The average square footage for flipped homes was 1,681.

The average time it took to flip a home sold was 145 days, up from 130 days a year ago.
A Mexican official in Winston-Salem on Thursday encouraged people to visit the country but advised them to check official travel warnings before visiting.

Claudia Velasco Osorio, the consul general of Mexico in Raleigh, spent part of the day in the city visiting with Mayor Allen Joines and officials with Winston-Salem Police.

At a short news conference, Velasco Osorio was asked about the killings of two Americans earlier this month in Matamoros, a Mexican border town. Two people survived the attack, including Eric James Williams, a Winston-Salem resident who is recovering from gunshot wounds.

The group of Americans took the trip from Lake City, S.C. to Matamoros so that one of them could have cosmetic surgery. A drug cartel is believed to be responsible.

U.S. State Department classifies the state of Tamaulipas, which includes Matamoros, as a do not travel zone.

When a U.S. citizen travels to Mexico, they have to be very aware, and they have to follow the recommendations that the embassies give on cities, Velasco Osorio said.

Mexico is a huge country that millions of Americans visit each year, she said.

Be aware, take care and go visit Mexico, said Velasco Osorio, who oversees the Mexican consulate for North Carolina and South Carolina.

Velasco Osorio decided to visit the city after meeting staff of the Human Relations/Diversity Equity and Inclusion Department and learning about its programs, which seek to strengthen civic engagement with members of the Mexican and Hispanic community, city officials said.
Filling out a career development plan would be required of public middle school students before they could be promoted to eighth grade if a state Senate bill clears the legislature.

The bipartisan Senate Bill 193 advanced last week to the Senate floor after clearing the Education/Higher Education and Rules and Operations committees. The plan would be rolled out during the 2023-24 school year. Public charter schools would be encouraged, but not required, to establish career development plans.

The bill was submitted at the request of state Superintendent Catherine Truitt. Truitt said in a statement that the plans would allow for every student to engage, explore and experience potential pathways before graduation so they are prepared for success in the workforce.

State Sen. Amy Galey, an Alamance County Republican and the bills primary sponsor, stressed during the Education/Higher Education committee meeting that the legislation will not lead to tracking of students and wont commit them to any career path. She cited as an example that a student who is interested in oceans might want to become a marine biologist.

I think it is way, way overdue, state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri said in an interview with The Insider, a legislative online media outlet. As a parent of a middle schooler and a high schooler who does spend a lot of time trying to figure out their career development, I think this is great not only for parents in our state, but for employers.

Can it work?

Public school boards of education would be required to ensure that students are provided assistance in completion of the plan, as well as instruction on how to access that plan through the students enrollment.

Parents would be provided with written notification that a career development plan has been created by their child and how to access it.

Students plans could be shared with state agencies aligned with their educational interests.

I suspect that many middle school students are not ready to think about long-term careers, said Michael Walden, an economics professor at N.C. State. However, what I believe would be useful is bringing more information to middle and high school students about career options, especially careers that do not require a four-year college degree.

Case in point: skilled trades.

Exposing both middle and high school students to the skilled and technical trades  many of which only require a high school degree or at most a two-year associate degree  would be a positive step, Walden said.

Raising the profile of jobs outside the four-year college degree program during the middle school years could prove valuable to potential employees and employers alike, said John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies, a Chapel Hill research company specializing in economic and social policy.

In general, there is value in encouraging young people and their families to think about career options and paths and providing them with structured understanding of how to access those careers, Quinterno said. This is especially important for fields that fall outside of the four-year university system, which too often is held up as the only acceptable destination for a high school student.

Quinterno cautioned that one potential pitfall is that if the plan becomes one that rigidly separates students into occupational paths at too early of an age. Some students may have a strong sense of their interests and talents at a young age, but others may figure it out later due in large part to educational experiences.

Benefits and drawbacks

Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University, said the proposed legislation is promising  but also has problems, too.

Among the benefits of these plans are that it can ultimately save them time and money if they start earlier in their planning process, Madjd-Sadjadi said. Students who wish to major eventually in engineering programs, for example, might take more math and science courses than students who wish to pursue careers in communications who will instead emphasize courses in English, or possibly journalism, in high school.

Madjd-Sadjadi cited among potential drawbacks that a career development plan chosen by a seventh-grader may become outdated before they graduate from high school.

The types of jobs that are available are changing rapidly, and this means that many job opportunities that will be available in a decade are not even on the horizon today, Madjd-Sadjadi said. How many students, for example, would have been looking to become social media consultants a decade ago? Yet now that is a hot field. There also may not be relevant courses in high school that would allow students to develop an interest.

The reality with career development plans, Madjd-Sadjadi stressed, is that the average person will change careers, not just jobs, a lot during a lifetime.

The fact that we see an annual turnover rate of close to 30% in jobs held by young working adults, I think pushing middle-school students to adopt an initial career path is going too far.
Return to Seoul is as much character study as it is narrative. It follows Freddie, a 25-year-old French woman who has returned to South Korea, where she was born, over a period of eight years.

That study, created by writer-director Davy Chou, is compelling, revealing and cliche-free thanks to his script and a stunning performance by Park Ji-min, who is so good its hard to believe that Return to Seoul is her first film.

The picture opens with Freddie checking in at a Seoul hotel, having made a spur-of-the-moment return to Korea, with, as she tells the clerk no plans. The truth, however, is that Freddie, aka Frederique, the name given to her by her adoptive French parents, is looking for her biological mother and father.

Going through Koreas adoption service, which will contact biological parents and, if they agree, arrange meetings with the adult children, Freddie finds her father (veteran Korean actor Oh Kwang-rok) in a city a bus ride away from Seoul.

But Chou isnt interested in telling some kind of happy reunion story. Her father is a hard drinker, heartbroken that he gave up his daughter decades earlier and tries to convince her to stay in Korea, join his new family and let him find her a man to marry.

To say Freddie isnt interested is an understatement, powering a painful clash that ends the films first section.

Fast forward five years, Freddie, who now looks very different, meets an arms dealer Andre (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) on a booty call which turns out to be the first step toward a job interview. Then shes plunged back into the Seoul underground, where she lives with a tattoo artist over a dance club, pulsing with music to celebrate the birthday shes trying to forget.

Shes continuing to search for her mother, then and a couple years later when shes back in Korea, now working for Andre selling missiles.

Across the years, Freddies changes  from naive traveler through the underground to professional  are revealed by Chou and, especially by Park, who, for long stretches early on plays the disruptive, self-driven but internally torn Freddie in near silence, unable to effectively communicate with anyone.

That barrier drops away, but Freddie remains seemingly uncaring but haunted by her past. If the film has a message, its be wary of inquiring into your past.

Return to Seoul, which was Cambodias Academy Awards entry because Chou was born in France to Cambodian parents, is a strikingly shot film, both in capturing the characters and in showing parts of South Korea and aspects of life there not often seen on film.

Chous picture could use a touch more narrative to connect its three sections, but with Freddie at its center throughout, it hangs together as a study of the young woman finding herself and her past thats far more unsettling that comforting and, thereby, more memorably effective.
MercyMe with Taya and Micah Taylor, 7 p.m. Sunday, Pinnacle Bank Arena. Multiplatinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning contemporary Christian music band MercyMe will bring its Always Only Jesus tour to Lincoln Sunday.

The tour is named after the long-running bands 11th studio album, which was released last year. Formed in 1994 in Edmond, Oklahoma, Mercy Me has had 28 No. 1 songs in Christian music formats and four mainstream charting numbers, including their 2001 breakthrough I Can Only Imagine, which became the most-played song in the history of Christian radio and, at five-times platinum, the best-selling Christian song of all time.

Written by lead vocalist Bart Millard after the death of his father, I Can Only Imagine became the basis for the 2018 movie of the same title that stars J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard and Dennis Quaid as his father.

MercyMes song Word of God Speak was named Billboards No. 1 Christian music song of the 2000s, and in 2019, MercyMe was named Top Christian Artist at the Billboard Music Awards and was the Dove Award winner for artist of the year.

Tickets for the show start at $27.75 and are available at ticketmaster.com or on the Ticketmaster app.

Yam Haus with Steady Wells, 8 p.m. Friday, Bourbon Theatre. Minnesota indie pop band Yam Haus got more than 3.5 million streams of its 2018 debut album Stargazer and has continued to build its following via an appearance on NBCs American Song Contest and records, including an EP last year, that together have amassed nearly 15 million total views and streams.

Skeletal Remains with Crypta, 7 p.m. Wednesday, 1867 Bar. Veteran death metal outfit Skeletal Remains delivers the pummeling, double-bass drum assault and driving riffage that has been at the core of the genre for nearly 40 years, but manages to do so without sounding dated, in large part thanks to vocalist Chris Monroy, who has been the bands mainstay for years.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2023
The Daily Minute is the Journal Star's morning news briefing where you can get the latest news in about a minute each weekday. Previous Daily Minute videos are archived here.

Good morning, Lincoln. Heres what you need to know today.

LB574 advances

Supporters of a bill that would ban most gender-affirming care for Nebraskans under the age of 19 voted to end a filibuster and advance the proposal to second-round consideration on Thursday.

At the end of eight hours of emotional and often personal floor speeches spread across three days, the bill from Sen. Kathleen Kauth was backed by 33 lawmakers  the minimum needed  and a vote was forced just before noon.

The bill would prohibit transgender youth from seeking treatments like puberty blockers, hormones, or gender-altering surgeries.

The bill now waits for the second of three rounds of debate under the Unicameral system. Opponents of the bill signaled they plan to continue filibustering every bill that comes to the floor, even those they support, to run out the clock so the bill does not get another round of debate.

Parental leave

Lincoln could become the first city in the state to offer paid parental leave  a way to help recruit and retain employees in a tight labor market.

The proposal, which has been approved by the citys personnel board and will be on first reading with the City Council Monday, would give employees six weeks paid leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child.

Paid leave would be available to full-time birthing and non-birthing parents. If the council passes the proposal, it would go into effect immediately for non-union employees, and the city has offered to reopen negotiations with the unions to add it to their contracts.

Record home sale

His five-bedroom, eight-garage home in The Ridge neighborhood sold for $3.5 million in late November, according to Lancaster County property records.

That is the highest price paid for a home in Lincoln since 1997 and is probably an all-time record, according to the Realtors Association of Lincoln.

Thats it for Friday, March 24. Stay in the know with Lincolns longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com. Well see you back here on Monday.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2023
Polling locations for nine precincts have changed for the upcoming primary and general elections, Lancaster County Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen announced.

The changes will impact about 9,000 of the 172,000 voters in the city. The office mailed notices Wednesday to all affected voters, who should be getting the notices within the next few days.

The new polling locations and precincts (in parentheses) include:

* New Visions United Methodist Church, 1610 S. 11th St. (5 C-3)

* City Impact, 1035 N. 33rd St. (7 A and 7 D-2)

* Madonna Proactive, 7111 Stephanie Lane (9 H-6)

* The Legacy, 5600 Pioneers Blvd. (10 E-1)

* Emerald Nursing & Rehab Brookside, 4735 S. 54th St. (10 E-8)

* Gere Branch Library, 2400 S. 56th St. (10 F-12)

Voters in two precincts, 12 B-8 and 12 B-9, will be notified that their polling locations on the Southeast Community College campus were moved from the health sciences building back to the main building.

Notices of temporary polling locations will also be mailed to a handful of voters living in both the Oak and Saltillo 2 precincts who are eligible to vote in the city or Lincoln Board of Education elections.

As of Wednesday, 32,000 voters had requested early vote ballots, Wiltgen said, and early voters of the impacted precincts will receive the notice for informational purposes only.

Early voters must return the early vote ballot to the election office by mail or in the drop box at the office, 601 N. 46th St., no later than 8 p.m. April 4.

The primary election is April 4; the general election is May 2.

Polling locations can be found on the Nebraska Voter Information Lookup website. People with questions can call the election commission office at 402-441-7311.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2023
OTTAWA, Ontario  President Joe Biden arrived in Canada on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on several of the world's most difficult challenges: the war in Ukraine, climate change, trade, mass migration and an increasingly assertive China.

Two important agreements appeared to be in hand before Biden even departed Washington. Canada will escalate its timeline for military upgrades to the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the two nations have reached an agreement to update rules for migrants seeking asylum, according to U.S. and Canadian officials who requested anonymity.

The migration deal eliminates a loophole under existing rules that will allow both countries to turn away asylum seekers at the countries' borders. The loophole resulted in thousands of migrants annually crossing into Canada from the U.S. at a non-official checkpoint, enabling them to stay in the country as they seek asylum instead of letting the process play out while staying in the U.S.

As part of the agreement, Canada is expected to announce that 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere will be given slots to apply to enter the country, according to the Canadian official.

The new policy applies to people without U.S. or Canadian citizenship who are caught within 14 days of crossing the border between the two countries. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the agreement, which is expected to be formally announced on Friday.

The visit comes as the Biden administration has made strengthening its friendship with Canada a priority over the past two years. Both sides see the meetings in the capital of Ottawa as an opportunity to set plans for the future.

National security and air defenses are top of mind. Canada has agreed to an accelerated timeline for spending billions more on military upgrades for NORAD, which monitors the skies above the continent, according to the senior Canadian government official.

Canada announced last year it will invest $3.8 billion over the next six years to modernize NORAD radar systems and billions more years later, but David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, has said the current threat climate calls for earlier investment.

The loophole in the U.S.-Canada migration rules allowed thousands of migrants to cross into Canada from the U.S. at a non-official checkpoint, enabling them to stay in the country as they seek asylum instead of letting the process play out while staying in the U.S.

A quirk in a 2002 agreement between the U.S. and Canada says people seeking asylum must apply in the first country they arrive in. Migrants who go to an official crossing are returned to the U.S. and told to apply there. But those who arrive in Canada at a location other than a port of entry are allowed to stay and request protection, as has been happening on Roxham Road between Champlain, New York, and Quebec.

More than 39,000 claims were filed in 2022 by people who were intercepted by Canadian police, the vast majority of them in Quebec and at Roxham Road.

The broadened focus of Biden's visit represents an evolution of a friendship between the two countries that exceeds 150 years. The emphasis had more frequently been on issues like trade that had defined relations between the two countries, which share a 5,525-mile border.

"This visit is about taking stock of what we've done, where we are and what we need to prioritize for for the future," said John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council. "We're going to talk about our two democracies stepping up to meet the challenges of our time."

There will still be an emphasis on trade, yet Canada and the U.S. see the partnership as crucial in supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion, reducing their dependence on Chinese goods and shifting toward cleaner energy sources amid the planetary damage caused by burning fossil fuels.

The leaders are also expected to discuss tapping critical minerals that will enable the production of electric vehicles, and military and economic commitments at a moment that observers say is the most dangerous since World War II. Chinese President Xi Jinping this week visited Russian President Vladimir Putin, pledging to deepen their economic ties in ways that could help fund Putin's ongoing war to take Ukraine.

"The United States is coming with big strategic issues on their mind," said Vincent Rigby, a former national security adviser to Trudeau. "It's a world where they're looking to allies to help."
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP)  President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. would respond forcefully to protect its personnel after U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard following a suspected Iranian-linked attack Thursday that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded seven other Americans in northeast Syria.

The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran, Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, where he is on a state visit. But he said Iran and its proxies should be prepared for the U.S. to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

While its not the first time the U.S. and Iran have traded strikes in Syria, the attacks and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

The Pentagon said a drone attack on a U.S. base Thursday killed a contractor and injured five U.S. troops and another contractor. That was followed by two simultaneous attacks on U.S. forces in Syria Friday, according to U.S. officials.

The officials said that based on preliminary information, there was a rocket attack Friday at a Conoco plant, and one U.S. service member was injured but is in stable condition. At about the same time, several drones were launched at Green Village, where U.S. troops are also based. One official said all but one of the drones were shot down, and there were no U.S. injuries there. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

Two Syrian opposition activist groups reported a new wave of airstrikes on eastern Syria that hit positions of Iran-backed militias after rockets were fired at a Conoco gas plant that has a base housing American troops. Several U.S. officials, however, said the U.S. did not launch any attacks late Friday, and it wasn't clear if the activists were referring to the attack on U.S. forces at Green Village.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the American intelligence community had determined the drone in Thursday's attack on was of Iranian origin. U.S. officials said that conclusion was based on recovered debris and intelligence threat streams. They offered no immediate evidence to support the claim. The drone hit a maintenance facility at a coalition base in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka.

In retaliation, the Pentagon said F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck several locations around Deir el-Zour. Those strikes, said Austin, were a response to the drone attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

Biden, speaking during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the American killed and well-wishes for the injured.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy. The U.S. has had forces in northeast Syria since 2015, when they deployed as part of the fight against the Islamic State group, and maintains some 900 troops there, working with Kurdish-led forces that control around a third of Syria.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iranian-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Reports on the number of killed and wounded in the U.S. strikes varied. Activist group Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in the province, said four people were killed and a number of others were wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said 11 Iranian-backed fighters were killed  including six at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour and five at military posts near the towns of Mayadeen and Boukamal.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory, said three rockets were fired earlier Friday at the al-Omar oil field in Deir el-Zour that houses U.S. troops, an apparent retaliation to the American strikes.

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, and their officials at the United Nations in New York did not respond to requests for comment from the AP.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

On Thursday, Kurilla warned Congress during a hearing that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

According to officials, Iran has launched 80 attacks against U.S. forces and locations in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The vast majority of those have been in Syria.

Diplomacy to deescalate the exchange appeared to begin immediately. The foreign minister of Qatar spoke by phone with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Qatari state news agency reported. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran  in February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of U.S.-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.
Make-A-Wish Nebraska celebrated its 40th anniversary Feb. 18 at its annual Wish Ball gala at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lincoln with the theme Wishes Are Forever. Thanks to generous sponsors and Wish Ball attendees, the event raised over $200,000 to help grant local wishes.

During the event, Make-A-Wish Nebraska shared some amazing wish stories, and attendees were able to help give local wish kids hope for a better tomorrow by donating and bidding on auction items throughout the evening.

Melissa Davis-Schmit, Lincoln regional director at Make-A-Wish Nebraska, shared with attendees that in March 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Make-A-Wish made the difficult decision to pause granting wishes that involve travel to protect the safety and health of wish kids and their families. However, it did not stop granting wishes. Make-A-Wish continued to grant non-travel wishes like campers, hot tubs, room redos, playhouses, shopping sprees and play structures, she said.

Travel restrictions for wishes have been lifted, but Make-A-Wish Nebraska now has more wishes waiting to be granted than ever before. That means donor support is more important than ever. Events like Wish Ball help ensure Make-A-Wishs mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses will continue.

We are so grateful to everyone who attended Wish Ball and helped us celebrate our 40th anniversary, said Davis-Schmit. When a wish is granted, it is more than just a moment in time. A wish forever renews emotional strength and restores hope for a lifetime. Wishes are important, and we are thankful to everyone who has supported our mission and our wish kids for the past 40 years. We look forward to continuing to grant wishes for many years to come.

The evening was emceed by Christine Weeks, CEO, and Sean Flattery, creative director, both of Eleanor Creative.

About Make-A-Wish Nebraska

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Its staff members and supporters are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows that children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness.

Throughout 2023, Make-A-Wish Nebraska will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding. Thanks to local community support, Make-A-Wish Nebraska has granted more than 3,000 wishes across the state over the past 40 years. On average, the nonprofit grants from 115 to 120 wishes per year. For more information about Make-A-Wish Nebraska, visit www.wish.org/nebraska.
I was sitting with my mother, Jan McMullen, indulging in one of her decadent cinnamon rolls and a cup of coffee, when she announced that she wanted to go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. With the recent passing of my father, wed all started reconsidering our lifes priorities. With my mouth jammed with gooey sweet bread, I replied, You should go. Immediately, letting the sugar override any cautious sensibility.

She followed with, Would you go with me?

Being invited to accompany your mother to Iceland is no great hardship. A Nordic country situated in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, and nestled close to Greenland, it has long been considered the land of fire and ice due to its constantly erupting volcanic plateau. Its rugged terrain is made of glaciers, mountains and glacier rivers, enveloped in a surprisingly warm climate due to the presence of the Gulf Stream.

In recent years, its become a bucket list item for many travelers. Add in its Viking folklore, the myths of little people and being one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights, and our red-eye was an international catch-all for foreign visitors looking for a chance to experience its wonders.

My mother opted for an Icelandic tour, which included pre-organized plane and hotel reservations, an activity schedule, tour guide and some meals. Fresh off a six-hour flight  a latte and a warm cardamom bun to fortify us against jet lag  my mother, my brothers way better half Michele Landry, myself and five other intrepid travelers headed off with tour guides Sandi and Svanur (a local Icelander) to traverse the small cobblestone streets of Old Town, stopping to see harbor views and historic Captain homes.

Our first stop was at the Harpa Concert Hall, a beautiful multi-level glass structure of light and beauty, where we were serenaded by a mens choir like royal queens entering the throne room. (Just lucky coincidence, no royalty here.) Making a quick stop at Hallgrimskirkja Church, we saluted the statue of Lief Erickson before heading to the Wonders of Iceland, an Icelandic museum highlighting the long volcanic history, with a planetarium show explaining the Aurora Borealis phenomena. With a sky dome at the top level and cappuccinos to toast the 180-degree panoramic views, it was an attraction not to be missed.

True to our cabbie's warning of incoming storms, the next day started with rain. Svanur drove us along the southern coast, heading toward the black volcanic beaches of Vik. Along the way, we visited two famous waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss (in warmer weather you can walk behind the misty cascade) and Skogafoss, with an impressive 60-meter-high glacier runoff.

Afterward, we arrived at the iconic black beaches made famous in the Game of Thrones and the TV series The Vikings, as well as the famous stone formations Dyrholaey and Reynisdrangar in the distance. With high winds and quickly eroding sand, high danger warnings were posted for sneaker waves that have been known to pull individuals out to sea. In slightly warmer weather, I could see myself taking a picnic and spending the day there, watching the crashing waves and imagining myself as a Viking queen awaiting her clansman arriving home.

We later dined at the Fjorubori restaurant in Stokkeseyri for a traditional meal of langoustine (similar to miniature Maine lobster) with potatoes and salad, paired with a glass of white wine.

We woke up Sunday with 60 mph gales that had the news informing parents they should hold on to small children. With that in mind, I tethered myself to my mom and Michele, and prayed that the previous days copious carb count gave us some extra gravitational pull.

Our first stop was to the Laxnes Horse Farm. Icelands iconic horses can only be found in Iceland. Small in stature, they are similar to a Shetland horse and were historically brought to the island by Vikings, adapting to the islands rugged terrain.

After a bit of hay and some pony selfies, we took our lives in our hands by climbing an incline to peer into the icy depths of Keri to see a volcanic crater. Due to the high winds, it took most of our strength to hold on to one another and the chain-link fence, and not lose my mother in something akin to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

When Svanur dropped us off at the Fontana spa at Laugarvatn for a dip in geothermally heated outdoor baths while the storm raged on, I thought hed devised a plan to get rid of us permanently. But to my surprise, we luxuriated in the heated mineral baths to warm up, and ate a luncheon of soup and rye bread, which is cooked by wrapping dough and placing it in boiling sand for 24 hours to bake.

Sunday was set aside for shopping in downtown Reykjavik, and that gave us one last chance to eat the famous cardamom buns before leaving. It also brings us to the subject of the elusive, sought-after Northern Lights. Final answer: We did not see them. (Insert big sigh here.) With the stormy forecast and extremely cloudy skies, there was no opportunity.

But my philosophy has always been that vacations are exactly what you make them. I traveled with my mother and Michele to Iceland; we braved economy class, listened to confrontational passengers, sunk our feet into the black beaches, and posed in front of Icelandic ponies and waterfalls as we braved high-velocity winds. I have never laughed so hard as while watching my mom wrangle with a wooden spa door in her swimsuit in gale-force winds, while I lay lounging in 100-degree thermally warmed water, yelling, Put your back in it! This is the stuff that reduces people to laughter over the Thanksgiving table with a glass of wine.

Or maybe thats just my family.
I have never known a man who faked his own death, but I have known a man who faked his own life, then sadly failed to live long enough for us to talk about it.

Im talking about the late Hache Carrillo, a rising, award-winning literary talent whose reputation grew quickly after the publication of his 2004 novel, Loosing My Espanish, about a Cuban-born high school history teacher in Chicago.

With his playful use of Spanish and Spanglish, a mashup of English and Spanish, the book impressed critics with its mix of colonial history and personal memories that centered on his Afro-Cuban roots and queer identity.

But Carrillos reputation took a shocking turn after his death from COVID-19 in early 2020. About a month after he died, the Washington Post published an obituary about his life, then corrected it with a revised version the next day  along with an editors note.

It turned out that many of the stories Carrillo had been telling people about himself were untrue.

As his sister and niece informed the Post, his name was not Hache Gernan Carrillo but Herman Glenn Carroll, the name his family called him. He was born and raised in Detroit, not Cuba. In fact, nobody in the family had Latino heritage.

What went wrong? His niece Jessica Webley told the Post that once he started writing and gaining fame in the 1990s, they seldom saw him.

Needless to say, those of us who knew Hache personally view him a bit differently now.

My wife, Lisa Page, knew him at George Washington University, where they both taught creative writing, and at the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, where he chaired the board of directors.

I thought of him as a sweet and complicated genius, she wrote in an essay for the Post, devoted to his students and to the evolving literary world.

The news was a slap in the face for those of us who knew him, she continued. We mourned him, but we also reeled in shock. Hache passed for something he wasnt, even at home with his husband in Berwyn Heights (a Washington suburb), He did the same with colleagues and students at George Washington University and at the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. I wasnt the only one who felt betrayed. And so terribly sad.

Yet, as she also noted, the literary world has its own version of passing, as we Americans call the age-old trick of passing for white to thwart racial restrictions, if your complexion is light enough.

Unsurprisingly, a number of Cuban American bloggers have been upset with Carrillo, putting his faux-Cuban pose in the same trash bucket as Rachel Dolezal or George Santos.

Cuban American author and translator Achy Obejas, who fled Cuba with her family as a child and now lives in California, spotted signs of ethnic inauthenticity in Carrillo/Carrolls act when he signed up for her Cuban American literature class at DePaul University.

Like some other Spanish-speaking readers, she had noticed some of Carrillos language didnt accurately reflect the linguistic differences in structure and slang expressed by different nationalities. For example, his novel, Loosing My Espanish, uses the word vato often as a Cuban expression, even though the word, which means guy or dude, is purely Mexican, Obejas noted.

What explains such charades? In a March 13 profile of Carrillo by New Yorker writer D.T. Max, Carrillos sister Maria said she didnt think her brother was hiding from his blackness. I just think he wanted a more interesting narrative to his story, she said, and who better to write it than himself.

The thin veil separating his imagination from reality apparently wore too thin. Perhaps the same explains the bizarre coincidence of Carrillos controversy leading to the unmasking of another professor at the same university.

Jessica Krug, an African American history expert also at GWU, was found to have falsely claimed African ancestry. She apologetically resigned.

There are others and more probably will emerge in the future. Perhaps such cultural tourism is to be expected in our land of reinvention, but its not ethical to lie about it.
Nebraska has what soon may be an affordable housing crisis.

Already acute in Lincoln and Omaha, the affordable housing shortage extends across the state, where 70 of 93 counties experienced population losses in the 2020 census, some of that decline attributable to a lack of houses and apartments where residents can afford to live.

While the definition of exactly what affordable housing is and how it differs from workforce housing can be debated. But the need for additional housing for those who earn the states median income and below and those moving to the state already exists and is continuing to grow each year.

Sen. Jane Raybould, who dealt with affordable housing issues during her time on the Lincoln City Council, has proposed a bill, LB481, that aims at assisting cities and counties in their efforts to increase affordable housing by authorizing the issuance of special obligation bonds to finance public improvements to encourage development and renovation of affordable housing.

That bill, however, ran into a serious roadblock at its Tuesday hearing  a state constitutional provision that bars counties from using tax-increment financing.

At the hearing, Raybould told the Legislatures Urban Affairs Committee that she would be open to amendments that would address those concerns, while raising the possibility of an interim study on affordable housing before the 2024 Legislature convenes.

Even though the housing shortage is worsening, the interim study would be worth a years delay in legislative action if it establishes the current needs for affordable and workforce housing, projects those needs into the future and, critically, comes up with a workable plan to address those needs

That plan would, unquestionably, have to be something of a private-public partnership.

Public funding, through special obligation bonds or other means, can only cover a limited amount of the expenses required to create more affordable housing, essentially supporting private affordable housing developers, who should be involved in the planning process along with representatives of city and county governments.

The planning process should address another primary affordable housing issue, expressed by Urban Affairs committee chair Sen. Terrell McKinney, who represents a North Omaha district:

I dont trust Omaha or the county to place these housing developments where they should go ... we need a guarantee that it is affordable housing.

Guaranteeing affordability can be done through guidelines that would require mortgage payments or rents on the properties funded through an affordable housing program be at specific rates equated with income levels.

Assuring placement in areas where affordable housing is most needed could be addressed through prioritizing program use based on neighborhood economics, in both income and housing price.

There are also multiple ideas and plans to increase affordable housing, some which have been implemented in other states, that could be copied by Nebraska.

But regardless of whether it involves special obligation bonds or other measures, an affordable housing plan should be developed over the next year and approved by the 2024 Legislature to prioritize the years-long process to create the affordable and workforce housing the state desperately needs.
Japan and South Korea, increasingly powerful nations, have reached an important agreement with far-reaching positive implications.

On March 16, Prime Ministers Fumio Kishida of Japan and Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea shared food and fellowship in a Tokyo restaurant, and reached remarkable understanding.

They agreed bilateral visits, suspended in 2018, will resume, reconfirmed sharing of intelligence information, and put an end to a rather charged, tense four-year trade dispute. They also agreed on sustained collaboration regarding security.

Additionally, in early March South Koreas foreign minister, Park Jin, announced that a foundation funded by Korean companies would compensate victims of forced labor during Japans occupation of Korea. U.S. President Joe Biden immediately praised this generous South Korea initiative.

The two nations share a complex, difficult history. Japans long-term occupation of Korea in the twentieth century, which continued until 1945, included forced prostitution of Korean women and more general exploitation of the population. Totalitarianism has now faded, but legacies and painful memories continue.

South Koreas Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that a comprehensive settlement of wartime compensation claims, reached in 1965, does not prevent individuals from seeking reparations. This opened the door for individuals to sue Japanese companies for compensation.

In reaction, Japan announced that special trade relations with South Korea would end. Japanese companies would have to make formal application, which can be quite cumbersome, for any technology-related deals with South Korea. South Korea retaliated. This dispute has been ended.

The two economies are world leaders in scale, production and overall effectiveness, but are notable for remaining surprisingly separate from another. This directly reflects their extremely difficult history.

South Koreas earlier chief executive, President Moon Jae-in, helped encourage the current progress. In August 2019, he took the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the death of South Koreas great leader Kim Dae-jung to underscore the importance of a 1998 Joint Declaration between Japan and South Korea, and the fundamental need for partnership.

Kims effectiveness in fighting South Koreas earlier harsh dictatorship marked him as a special target, and he survived at least five attempts on his life. One of the most dramatic incidents occurred in 1973, when South Korea government agents kidnapped him from a Tokyo hotel and took him to a ship, where they intended to kill him at sea.

Donald Gregg, the highly experienced U.S. Central Intelligence Agency station chief in South Korea, acted decisively. After a U.S. helicopter flew low over the ship, and Gregg intervened personally, and forcefully, kidnappers reluctantly released Kim.

Gregg, whose intelligence career dates back to training commandos during the Korean War, later served as U.S. Ambassador to Seoul during the George H.W. Bush administration and more recently provided outstanding professional leadership to the Korea Society based in New York City.

Ambassador Gregg was also national security adviser to Vice President Bush. Most of his career was spent with CIA. He personified the commitment and dedication of career professionals crucial to our success in the Cold War.

Kims courage and commitment to representative government were rewarded when this great leader was elected President of the Republic of Korea in 1997. Without hesitation, he moved to begin detente with the North Korea regime. This culminated in a dramatic summit meeting in 2000 with the leader of North Korea, beginning the fitful interchange with Pyongyang.

Kim Dae-jung received the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership, which resonates well beyond Korea.

Preoccupation with China should not distract from remarkable, positive developments in Asia.
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1. Yes. Police officers should be the only ones armed in the council chambers. Period.

2. Yes. Such a ban is allowed by state law, and the city council should consider it .

3. No. The possibility of violence is always present, but disarming everyone isnt the answer.

4. No. Its unwise to change the city ordinance based on one unfortunate incident.

5. Unsure. Some steps must be taken, but its hard to say if a gun ban is necessary.

Vote

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NORTH PLATTE  A CODE Task Force operation led to the arrest of several people on drug charges Wednesday morning in Nebraska and Kansas.

The CODE Task Force, which includes officers from several law enforcement agencies in west-central and southwest Nebraska, obtained arrest warrants for several individuals in connection with narcotics investigations in Dawson County. Those arrested Wednesday were:

Brianna Pena, 35, was arrested in Lexington for distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Shelby Irish, 31, was arrested in Oberlin, Kansas, for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of methamphetamine.

Christopher Twohig, 44, was arrested in Cozad for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and habitual criminal. During the arrest, Twohig was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and a firearm, which led to additional charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana  less than one ounce, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm during a drug violation.

Luis Valdez, 26, was arrested in Broken Bow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Eric Valtierra, 29, who is currently incarcerated with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Luis Lazo-Escobar, 31, who is currently incarcerated with the NDCS, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

The CODE Task Force was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriffs Department, Decatur County (Kansas) Sheriffs Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
KEARNEY  The city of Kearney Public Works Department, on behalf of Nebraska Crane, has announced that beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, the outside westbound lane of University Drive will be closed in an area between Lakeview Drive and 15th Avenue.
KEARNEY  A free Japanese cultural program will take place at 2 p.m. April 1 at the Trails & Rails Museums Family History Center at 710 W. 11th St.

Mariko Nagai, the Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will present the history of Japan and lead several cultural activities.

Participants will make rice balls, perform a Bon dance and do a Sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) tree activity. Nagai will also do Japanese calligraphy.

Bon dances are communal dances performed in a circle around musicians on a central platform to honor the spirits of ancestors.

Nagai, originally from Fukuoka, Japan, has been the JOI Coordinator since the summer of 2021.

She recently helped with the UNK Japanese Festival, The Japanese Ambience Festival in Omaha and the Cultural Festivals hosted by the Asian Community and Cultural Center in Lincoln.

Registration for her program is limited to 40 people. Call 308-234-3041.
LINCOLN  Students, faculty, staff and friends and supporters of the University of Nebraska System are invited to participate in the sixth annual I Love NU Day on Wednesday, April 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.

The event is an opportunity for individuals to show support for the university and visit with state senators about the work and impact of the NU Systems four campuses. All members of the public are welcome.

The day will begin with welcoming remarks from state senators and university leadership, including President Ted Carter. Attendees will gather in the legislative chamber balcony to be recognized and then will have time to speak with senators in the Rotunda, engage with other university supporters and listen to legislative debate.

As part of the 2023 celebration, participants can enjoy a special ice cream flavor created by the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Dairy Store. The ice cream will be available at the Capitol on the day of the event.

Along with the in-person event on April 5, supporters are encouraged to participate on social media during the week of April 3-8 using the #NUforNE hashtag. Members of the university community can also show their support by reaching out to state senators via email or phone to share their stories and discuss the importance of higher education.
Chippewa public school officials are asking the public to help them identify issues that impact public education, strengthen collaboration among school and community members and provide input on how the district can refine existing, or establish new, priorities.

The Chippewa Area Unified School District will host a day-long public input and feedback session from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 15 at Stillson Elementary School in Chippewa Falls.

Superintendent Jeffrey Holmes said hes looking forward to hearing from the public in what the schools call community conversations.

The community conversations allow for you to talk about public education and you get participation and engagement from your members of the community. It gives people a great sense of ownership and can provide them with the opportunity to give input in regard to the things you do, which in todays day and age, its very important to seek out and ask for peoples opinions, insights, perspectives, Holmes said. Theres a lot of great reasons for why youre doing that.

Holmes said the community conversation encourages participation and engagement on multiple levels. It allows families, teachers, students, community leaders and other stakeholders to invest in the education system and find more effective and sustainable solutions to problems.

Angela Feils, executive assistant to the superintendent and board secretary, said participants should plan to be at the event all day. Once people sign in, theyll receive a packet of information and receive their table assignments before sitting down for a continental breakfast. Attendees will see musical performances and students will showcase their student activity groups in Stillson gym.

Administrators will then be introduced and therell be presentations and small group activities where people will work within their group assignments at their tables to talk about the future of education, Feils said.

Holmes will give a presentation about the results of recent focus groups taht asked questions about services provided by the school district.

Collaboration is a stated purpose behind the community conversation.

The collaboration piece is so important in this day and age. People do need to be able to work together, and by working together, again, it goes back to that ownership piece. When you have more people working together, the more likely you are to have more people who want to see that system succeed, Holmes said.

A community conversation can provide the forum for open and honest communication about the state of public education. That includes successes and challenges in the school systems, Holmes said.

It also provides for transparency and accountability, he said.

Holmes said public school educators get a lot of grief about their systems but he said Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District has done a good job engaging the community and worked to incorporate the things that came out of previous community conversations.

My favorite one that evolved out of it is the mental health services that got started here as a result of those conversations. You know, people identified several years ago that we needed to improve upon those things, and the district did it. They took that information and put it to good use, Holmes said.

Registration is required by March 31 for the community conversation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Chippewa Falls school district receives report card from state The 2021-22 Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District (CFAUSD) and schools report cards were released publicly by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on Tuesday. Out of nine schools, one school received the designation of Significantly Exceeding Expectations, three schools received Exceeds Expectations, and four schools received Meets Expectations.

Lake Hallie referendums 'should not increase' taxes as municipal building is nearly paid off A public information meeting about two referendum questions appearing on the Spring ballot was held on Wednesday in Lake Hallie. If both questions pass, the Village will exceed its levy limit by $810,000.
An important election is coming up in Vernon County on April 4th when we will elect a new County Judge, for the first time in six years. Of the two candidates, the best qualified by far is Tim Gaskell.

Tim is a longtime resident of Westby, where he had a private law practice for 12 years before being elected as the County District Attorney where he has served for 20 years. As a private practice attorney, and as District Attorney, he has handled all types of criminal cases from homicide and domestic abuse to drunk driving and drug dealing. According to the independent Wisconsin Circuit Court website, he has handled approximately 3,700 cases.

Tim understands the ins and outs of criminal justice having appeared in court to argue those cases representing both the accused and as District Attorney for Vernon County. He has watched and learned from several judges in dealing with pre-trial and actual trial cases involving the full range of criminal as well as domestic cases. Experience and judgement are essential for lawyers and especially judges, and Tim Gaskell is exceptionally well qualified in both areas.

We have also known Tim for over 26 years as a member of the same church. He is a dedicated church member and is a leader in our congregation. He believes in responsibility and fairness to others and he will reflect those same traits when he serves as our next Vernon County Judge. Vote for Tim Gaskell on April 4.

Sharon and Tom Sharratt, Westby
ONALASKA  A March 19 crash on Hwy. 157 in Onalaska has left one person in critical condition.

According to the Onalaska Police Department, Libby Lachman of West Salem was injured after a 2009 Chrysler minivan she was driving struck a 2011 Ford pickup operated by Aaron Westpfahl of La Crosse. Officers and first responders performed life-saving measures at the scene for Lachman before she was transported to a nearby hospital.

An 8-year-old passenger in Lachmans vehicle was treated by medical personnel and released to family members.

There were multiple passengers in Westpfahls vehicle, and at least one injury was reported.

Southbound traffic was closed on Hwy. 157 for nearly six hours.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Onalaska police and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
BLACK RIVER FALLS  A cash bond of $1 million was ordered for a 49-year-old Black River Falls woman accused of murdering a person in Jackson County and conspiring with five others to hide the corpse. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Anna Becker made the ruling during a bond hearing Friday in Black River Falls.

Star Myers faces felony charges of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, being a felon in possession of a firearm, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Myers appeared by video from the Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac, where she began a 3-year prison sentence earlier this month after her conviction in Dunn County for methamphetamine distribution.

Becker imposed the $1 million bail at the request of Jackson County District Attorney Emily Hynek.

Hynek told the court that Myers had indicated she was planning not to report to Taycheedah after disposing of the body. She said Myers is a flight risk and has a lengthy and significant criminal history dating back 20 years.

Myers defense attorney Carly Sebion reserved making an argument on bond until her clients next court appearance April 19.

According to prosecutors, Myers contacted the Jackson County Sheriffs Office on March 9 and reported that she had not seen the alleged victim  whose name has not been released to the media  for two days.

The following day, law enforcement received information that led law enforcement to search a town of Manchester residence owned by the victim and Myers. Several people were arrested during the search, including Jeffrey Myers-Woychik, 22, of Black River Falls and Savannah Pellett, 20, of Menomonie. Law enforcement at the scene reportedly identified evidence of drug trafficking, a significant number of firearms and what was later identified as human remains.

Through subsequent interviews and investigation, law enforcement concluded that Myers had killed the victim and attempted to conceal the remains.

Myers-Woychik; Pellett; Milton Haskins, 55, Alma Center; and Gerardo Trevino, 39, Chippewa Falls, have been charged with felonies for allegedly aiding Myers in hiding the corpse.

Trevino appeared in court Friday by video from the Chippewa County Jail. Becker set his bond at $25,000 cash. His next court appearance is April 19.

The four other defendants had hearings Thursday. They are all being held in the Jackson County Jail on cash bails ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
A 49-year-old Black River Falls woman who called in a missing person case is now being prosecuted for murder.

Jackson County District Attorney Emily Hynek filed first-degree intentional homicide charges against 49-year-old Star Myers of Black River Falls.

Myers also faces felony charges of hiding a corpse, being a felon in possession of a firearm, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. She is one of five people charged in connection to the case.

According to prosecutors, Myers contacted the Jackson County Sheriffs Office on March 9 and reported that she had not seen the alleged victim  whose name has not been been released to the media  for two days.

The following day, law enforcement received information that led to the execution of a search warrant at a town of Manchester residence owned by the victim and Myers. Several people were arrested during the search, including Jeffrey Myers-Woychik, 22, of Black River Falls and Savannah Pellett, 20, of Menomonie. Law enforcement at the scene reportedly identified evidence of drug trafficking, a significant number of firearms and what was later identified as human remains.

Through subsequent interviews and investigation, law enforcement concluded that Myers had killed the victim and attempted to conceal the remains.

Myers-Woychik; Pellett; Milton Haskins, 55, Alma Center; and Gerardo Trevino, 39, Chippewa Falls, are charged with felonies for allegedly aiding Myers in her attempt to conceal the victim's remains.
Tickets are still available for the Childrens Miracle Network Hospital Miracle Gala fundraiser, Miracle Gala, being held next month.

The event, running from 5 to 9 p.m. April 14 at The Waterfront Cargill room, is open to the community and creates a celebratory environment for providers, supporters and beneficiaries to connect.

Formerly the Emerald Ball, the event was created by Childrens Miracle Network supporters Ed and Sally Sullivan in 2009. The most recent gala, held in 2019, raised over $46,000 to support local kids and their families.

The evenings program includes meeting the 2023 Heroes, a plated meal and dessert and child art auction. Leading the evening will be WXOW evening news anchor Dustin Luecke and 2022 Childrens Miracle Network Hero Jedi Schaller.

A Fund a Miracle segment will feature former Heroes who have benefitted from adaptive equipment and services provided to families through patient-facing grants.

Tickets, at the cost of $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of eight, can be purchased at bit.ly/miraclegala2023.
WASHINGTON  A 5,000-mile seaweed belt lurking in the Atlantic Ocean is expected in the next few months to wash onto beaches in the Caribbean Sea, South Florida and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt  as the biomass stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is called  contains scattered patches of seaweed on the open sea, rather than one continuous blob of sargassum. Its not a new occurrence, but satellite images captured in February showed an earlier-than-usual start for such a large accumulation in the open ocean.

Once it washes ashore, sargassum is a nuisance  a thick, brown algae that carpets beaches, releasing a pungent smell as it decays and entangling humans and animals who step into it. For hotels and resorts, clearing the stuff off beaches can amount to a round-the-clock operation.

Sargassum is a leafy brown seaweed festooned with what look like berries. It floats on the open ocean and  unlike other seaweeds  reproduces on the waters surface, helped by air-filled structures that give it buoyancy.

Sargassum originates in a vast stretch of the Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea, which lies well off the southeast U.S. The Sargasso has no land boundaries; instead, four prevailing ocean currents form its boundaries.

The matted brown seaweed stretches for miles across the ocean and provides breeding ground, food and habitat for fish, sea turtles and marine birds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Its a dynamic, constantly changing set of pieces of this large mass, said Rick Lumpkin, director of the Physical Oceanography Division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its not one big continuous blob heading straight to South Florida.

Sargassum piles up on beaches where it quickly decomposes under hot sun, releasing gases that smell like rotten eggs.

In recent years, sargassum has carpeted beaches on some Caribbean islands and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the spring and summer months. Beach towns and cities and hotels struggled to keep up with the huge amounts of seaweed that wash ashore.

Some sargassum already reached beaches in Key West, said Chuanmin Hu, a professor of oceanography at the University of South Florida. But most of it will arrive in the summer, Hu said.

What is unusual this year compared to previous years is it started early, Hu said. The algae generally blooms in the spring and summer, but this year, in the winter, we already have a lot.

Southern Florida, the Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula typically see sargassum piling up in the summer months and could expect the same this year, Hu said.

Scientists estimate theres more than 10 million metric tons of sargassum in the belt this year. Lumpkin called it one of the strongest years, but not the strongest since scientists began closely observing the biomass via satellite imagery in 2011.

He said there was more in 2018. The years 2019 and 2021 also saw a great deal of sargassum, he said.

Scientists arent exactly sure what causes the seaweed mass.

We do know that to get a lot of seaweed, you need nutrients, and you need sunlight. Of course, as you get close to the equator, theres going to be more sunlight, said Mike Parsons, a professor of marine science at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Parsons and other experts say agricultural runoff seeping into the Amazon and Orinoco rivers and eventually the ocean could explain the increased growth of the belt on the western side. Parsons said warming waters likely help the seaweed grow faster. Changes in wind patterns, sea currents, rainfall and drought also could affect blooms.

It may be the entire belt is fed more some years than others by dust that contains iron and other nutrients that comes from the Sahara Desert, Lumpkin said.

Its not clear whether climate change is playing a part. Hu said extreme weather that is happening more frequently due to climate change  high wind events, storms, more precipitation  could be a contributor.

Sargassum can be harmful to human health. When it decomposes, it releases ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which accounts for the rotten-egg stench. Brief exposure isnt enough to make people sick, but prolonged exposure  especially for those with respiratory issues  can be dangerous, scientists say.

Hu said it could be an issue for hotel workers and others who may spend hours removing the decomposing seaweed from beaches.

Left to rot on the beach, sargassum can harm coastal marine ecosystems and also supports the growth of fecal bacteria.

8 things to do right now in your community to prepare for climate change 8 things to do right now in your community to prepare for climate change Plant a rain garden or install a rain barrel Remove invasive plant species from parks Replace grass lawns with eco-alternatives Use renewable energy options Use natural methods to repel mosquitoes Plant trees Support local farmers Get elected to HOA or neighborhood association
A father came over to his daughters apartment after hearing that her ex-boyfriend had assaulted her and fled, according to Florida police.

When the ex-boyfriend tried to return, the womans father shot him in the chest with a handgun, according to a post on the Gainesville Police Department Facebook page.

Officers responded to the apartment complex at around 9:30 p.m. March 18, police said.

The man fled the apartment after he was shot, and police found him next to his car. Officers performed CPR until emergency responders arrived, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing, according to police.

Gainesville is about 120 miles northwest of Orlando.

States with the highest rate of gun-related fatalities States with the highest rate of gun-related fatalities #50. Massachusetts #49. Hawaii #48. Rhode Island #47. New York #46. New Jersey #45. Connecticut #44. California #43. Minnesota #42. Nebraska #41. Iowa #40. New Hampshire #39. Washington #38. Wisconsin #37. Vermont #36. Maine #35. Delaware #34. Illinois #33. Virginia #32. Maryland #31. Utah #30. South Dakota #29. Pennsylvania #28. Michigan #27. North Dakota #26. Texas #25. Oregon #24. Florida #23. Ohio #22. North Carolina #21. Colorado #20. Kansas #19. Indiana #18. Idaho #17. Arizona #16. Georgia #15. Nevada #14. Kentucky #13. West Virginia #12. Oklahoma #11. South Carolina #10. Tennessee #9. Arkansas #8. Montana #7. Missouri #6. New Mexico #5. Alabama #4. Wyoming #3. Louisiana #2. Alaska #1. Mississippi
On this version of Hot off the Wire:

 A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria.

 Utah has become the first state to sign into law legislation that attempts to limit teenagers access to social media apps. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pair of measures Thursday requiring parental consent before kids can sign up for sites like TikTok and Instagram.

 A three-day strike by workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District has wrapped up. But it wasn't immediately clear Thursday if any progress has been made in negotiations for higher pay for teachers aides, bus drivers, custodians and other support staff in the nations second-largest school system.

 North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic radioactive tsunami that would destroy naval strike groups and ports.

 A prosecutor says a hostage rescue that left a suspect fatally shot Thursday in Houston began days ago when three migrants were kidnapped from a vehicle in a neighboring county.

 In sports, Gonzaga, Kansas State, UConn and Florida Atlantic won in the Sweet 16, the Cavaliers topped Brooklyn on a late shot and the Bruins edged Montreal on the ice.

From the previous version of Hot off the Wire:

 Track and field has banned transgender athletes from international competition while adopting new regulations that could keep Caster Semenya and other athletes with differences in sex development from competing.

 Pentagon leaders have told Congress that the U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China. And they're pushing Congress to approve the Defense Departments proposed $842 billion budget, which would modernize the force in Asia and around the world.

 The Manhattan district attorney investigating Donald Trump has rebuffed House Republicans request to turn over documents. The office called the effort an unprecedented inquiry into an ongoing probe.

 Authorities say a woman accused of setting fire last year to a Wyoming abortion clinic that was under construction told investigators that she opposes abortion and was experiencing anxiety and nightmares over the facility opening.

 A new report from the American Library Association says attempted book bannings and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022.

 A young zebra walked, trotted, and galloped for hours in the busy streets of South Koreas capital before emergency workers tranquilized the animal and brought it back to a zoo.

 A federal appeals court in a sealed order has directed a lawyer for Donald Trump to turn over to prosecutors documents in the investigation into the former presidents retention of classified records at his Florida estate.

 A top Russian security official has declared that the risk of a nuclear war has risen and blasted a German minister for threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin with arrest.

 Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman is a TikTok star at age 85, thanks to her 17-year-old grandson.
MADISON  Republican legislators on the state building commission have rejected all building proposals in Gov. Tony Evers capital budget  including Prairie Springs Science Center phase II for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and dozens of other building projects on UW campuses.

The state building commission met Thursday and four Republicans on the committee voted against each item in the biennium budget. All 112 items were voted down with a tie vote as four Democrats on the committee supported the measures.

This is the third time Republicans on the commission have refused to act on the governors request and sent the decision to the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee without a recommendation.

State Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, who is chair of the higher education subcommittee for the building commission, said she was disappointed but not surprised by her Republican colleagues actions.

Billings has been an advocate for the Prairie Springs project since its inception.

Over half of the $3.8 billion capital budget was for the University of Wisconsin System for new construction and maintenance on aging buildings.

When Prairie Springs phase II was first included in the capital budget in 2019, the projects costs were about $83 million. The price tag has more than doubled since then $182.5 million.

It is clear that these projects are sorely needed at UW campuses and at state-owned facilities across Wisconsin, Billings said.

In a statement, Evers said his budget addresses critical infrastructure needs across the state that would help to create local jobs and economic development.

While Republican leaders claim to support these goals, their action today shows that they would simply rather play politics than have a meaningful discussion about how these projects would serve the needs of the folks they represent, Evers said. Despite todays unfortunate outcome, we will continue to fight for these projects as we work to invest in and build 21st century infrastructure in communities across our state.

Of the Systems nearly two dozen construction proposals, eight are renovations, three are replacements and six are demolitions. Smaller projects include elevator repairs, electrical system replacements and maintenance of building exteriors.

The Systems biennial capital budget request called for $2.5 billion in new construction and renovation of aging System facilities. Evers proposed budget recommended $1.7 billion.

Many of those projects are for buildings that have had little to no renovations done to them since they were built between the 1950s and 1970s.
WEST ALLIS  A Wisconsin man has pleaded guilty Thursday to intimidating and interfering with Black residents who moved into a suburban Milwaukee apartment complex where he lived.

William McDonald of West Allis faces up to 11 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 29, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Gregory Haanstad said.

McDonald admitted that in March 2021 he slashed the tires and smashed the windshield of a vehicle owned by a Black woman that was parked outside her apartment, according to court documents.

A note threatening to slash the woman's throat, filled with racial slurs and demanding that she move from West Allis also was left. Her tires were slashed a week later, and another note filled with racial slurs and a threat if she didn't move from the neighborhood was left, Haanstad's office said.

About a year later, racist graffiti was written on door to an apartment where another Black woman and her two children lived. A note was left calling the family a racial slur and demanding they move.

The conduct at issue in this case strikes at the very core of the civil rights guaranteed to every American citizen under federal law, Haanstad said in a release. I commend the courage of those targeted by Mr. McDonald for coming forward."
Watch Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewiczs ad Predator, and youd be forgiven for thinking she has a low opinion of criminal defense attorneys.

The 30-second spot released in late February opens by asserting the liberal Protasiewiczs opponent, conservative Dan Kelly, wont keep our communities safe, then goes on to allege that as a lawyer, Kelly defended child sex predators who posed as ministers in order to prey on vulnerable young girls.

Amid the requisite scary music and unflattering photos of Kelly and predators scroll images of court records and a list of four court cases from 1997 and 1998.

Three of those cases were against Kenneth D. Spaulding, who was convicted by a Milwaukee County jury in December 1998 of four counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, according to online court records. The fourth was against his wife, Rhonda Spaulding, who was also found guilty of first-degree sexual assault of a child, but by a separate Milwaukee County jury in December 1999.

According to a news report from the time, Kenneth Spaulding had acted as pastor of a church the couple ran out of their home, where they would sometimes have unrelated children sleep over and where the abuse occurred.

Kelly served as an attorney for both Spauldings from February 1998 to August of that year, according to online court records, but had withdrawn by the time their trials began.

I was assigned those by the first law firm I worked at out of law school, Kelly said at a Dane County Bar Association event Thursday. I handled a couple of pretrial matters and then I moved on to the firm where I spent the vast majority of my career before being appointed to the court.

By representing defendants accused of even some of the most heinous crimes imaginable, Kelly was fulfilling a vital function under the American constitutional and criminal justice systems.

So whats the rest of the story?

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees criminal defendants the right to an attorney. Yet Protasiewiczs Predator ad suggests attorneys who provide this constitutionally required service are unfit for the states highest court.

In a meeting with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board on March 14, Protasiewicz appeared to distance herself from the ad, saying, You know as well as I do weve got people who put those ads together.

Protasiewicz spokesperson Sam Roecker on Thursday sought to portray the ad as a kind of tit-for-tat response to the months Kelly has spent misleading voters about Judge Janet Protasiewiczs record of holding people accountable and following the law.

One Kelly ad, for example, cherry-picks cases Protasiewicz has handled as a Milwaukee County judge to paint her as soft on crime.

But Kelly called the ad a slander not just to me, but to the entire criminal defense (community).

Think about what this ad is telling attorneys who might be inclined to take those cases, he said. OK, youre gonna lose money taking this case but in exchange for that, you get to have a member of the judiciary slandering you and trying to destroy your character, simply because you do a job that is commanded by the constitution of Wisconsin and of the United States.
MONTICELLO, Minn. (AP)  A Minnesota utility began shutting down a nuclear power plant near Minneapolis on Friday after discovering water containing a low level of radioactive material was leaking from a pipe for the second time. While the utility and health officials say it is not dangerous, the issue has prompted concerns among nearby residents and raised questions about aging pipelines.

Xcel Energy discovered in November that about 400,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of water containing tritium had leaked. The utility made a temporary fix but learned this week that hundreds more gallons of tritium-laced water leaked, leading to the shutdown decision.

After the plant cools over the next few days, workers will cut out the leaking pipe, which is over 50 years old, said Chris Clark, Xcel Energy's president. The utility will then have the pipe analyzed in hopes of preventing future leaks, he said.

We could have continued to safely operate the plant and simply repair the catchment, but then, of course, there is always a risk that it would spill over again and have more tritium enter the groundwater," Clark told reporters near the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis. We didn't want to take that chance, so we're bringing the plant down.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the fact there was a second tritium leak shines a light on the problem of maintaining aging pipelines underground at older nuclear plants.

The temporary closure could be out of an abundance of caution, or it could be a sign they dont know how bad the problem is, and they need to do a deep dive to find out whats going on, he said.

Clark said the tritium isn't a risk to drinking water in Monticello or the nearby city of Becker, saying the cities take their water from different areas of the Mississippi River. Even if the tritium reached the river, which Clark assured wouldn't happen, it would dissipate within a few yards, he said.

Clark said the spill had not left the utilitys property.

The utility reported the initial leak to state and federal authorities in late November but didn't make it widely public until last week, raising questions about transparency and public health issues. State officials said they wanted to wait for more details before sharing information widely. Criticism about the delay played a role in Xcel's decision to hold a public information session Friday.

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that occurs naturally and is a common byproduct of nuclear plant operations. It emits a weak form of beta radiation that does not travel far and cannot penetrate human skin, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Cindy Remick, of Becker, attended Friday's information session and said she still has concerns that nearby residents, especially those who rely on well water, will be safe. Remick also worries about whether the radioactive material could hurt wildlife.

We have a very large population here of eagles, and I would like to make sure they're not impacted, Remick said. Minnesota is known for our wildlife, and if that (tritium) escapes their plant into the Mississippi, that could be very damaging.

Tyler Abayare, who was fishing at the Mississippi River near the plant, said hes been coming to the river every day for five years and usually sees about 15 to 20 others fishing as well.

Typically this time of year, theres a lot of families that come out and fish with their children," he said. "Now, after the media released what happened, theres not a soul in sight, and it just takes away from the recreation and passion of fishing.

Abayare said he doesnt believe that the Mississippi River is safe. He doesnt eat fish he catches and no longer ties his line with his teeth to avoid getting sick.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors are monitoring the shutdown and repairs, said Victoria Mitlyng, a spokesperson for the agency. She said in a statement the leak does not present a safety challenge to the public, to drinking water supplies, the plant or the environment. The leak also did not exceed any agency limits.

Clark said Xcel Energy already had planned to shut down the plant April 15 for nearly a month for refueling, and it wasn't clear if it would immediately reopen after the leak is fixed.

Clark said the leaking pipe is part of the original plant, which opened in 1971. Xcel has applied to extend its operating license at Monticello through 2050.

We want to inventory the age of everything in the plant and be sure we're dealing with whatever we need to update, he said.

Tim Judson, executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, a group that opposes nuclear power, said the second leak is obviously concerning" and that public worries about possible health risks are exacerbated by the recent toxic train derailment in Ohio, where residents remain concerned about possible health effects despite government pledges that air and water are safe.

People are seeing what happened in Ohio, and they are distrustful of the government response, Judson said.

Daly reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this story.
After developing pelvic nerve pain in November 2021, Yvonne Pawlowicz said she waited five months to see a neurologist at UW Health and another four months to see a gynecologist.

This January, the gynecologist referred her to UW Healths pain clinic for a nerve block. The earliest appointment was in May.

Medications barely dull the pain which, when she sits, feels like shes on a rock, said Pawlowicz, 61, of Madison. She stands all day at her desk job and uses a large pillow to drive, limiting trips to 15 minutes so the pain doesnt flare up.

Its a condition that really changes your life, she said. Why do you have to wait four months, when youre in pain, to go to a pain clinic?

Pawlowicz is among numerous patients from the Madison area who say theyre facing unusually long waits for medical care. Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic started and as federal health emergencies expire this spring, patients say the health care system seems to be afflicted by a lack of capacity.

UW Health is seeing an increase in demand for care because the population is aging and population growth in Dane County has been more rapid than expected, said Dr. Peter Newcomer, chief clinical officer. A nationwide shortage of nurses and some types of doctors was exacerbated by early retirements from providers burned out by the COVID-19 pandemic, Newcomer said. The workforce shortage at rural hospitals has increased referrals to centers like UW Hospital, he said.

UW Health is recruiting more providers, expanding clinic space and redesigning its specialty care workflow to decrease wait times, Newcomer said.

This is one of the primary things that we focus on, he said. Were trying to come at it from all aspects of improvement. We have a ways to go.

Nationwide, the average wait to see a specialist was 26 days in 2022, up from 24 days in 2017, according to a report from consultant Merritt Hawkins.

Two days after the Wisconsin State Journal shared a summary of Pawlowiczs situation with UW Health this month, without using her name, the pain clinic told her it had a cancellation and saw her the same day for an initial evaluation. The clinic scheduled her nerve block for May 8.

Brad Beghin started having episodes of dizziness and a rapid heartbeat in January, 12 years after surgery to repair a heart valve. In early February, his UW Health primary care doctor ordered a portable electrocardiogram to track his heart rhythm, and an echocardiogram, to create pictures of his heart.

At UW Health, the earliest he could get the portable monitor was in late March. For the echocardiogram, it was in August, even after he talked to a customer service representative from UW Health.

In early March, Beghin called Stoughton Hospital, where he did cardiac rehab after his heart valve surgery in 2011. He got the monitor test there in less than a week and the echocardiogram two weeks later.

My symptoms are significant and, given my history, alarming, said Beghin, 67, who lives south of Mount Horeb. His primary care doctor, working with a cardiologist, had a good plan, but that plan was not able to be fulfilled at an institutional level through UW Healths facilities, he said.

I went to UW because I thought that was the best facility with the most capability in my market, Beghin said. Now, Im finding out that it is apparently struggling to keep up.

Skin cancer delays

Patients also report long waits for some care at SSM Health.

Jerry Jackson, 81, has had more than 40 skin cancer lesions removed at SSM Health since 2000 through Mohs surgery, which gradually cuts away layers of skin. The technique was developed in the 1930s by the late Dr. Frederic Mohs at UW-Madison.

Jackson, of Stoughton, initially had to wait a week or two for each surgery. In recent years, it was sometimes three weeks. In 2020, he had to wait six weeks, which he understood, given the disruption of the pandemic.

After his SSM Health doctor found three new cancerous lesions on his skin this past December, Jackson faced his longest wait ever: three months.

I am concerned, he said. I tend to grow these things faster than most people do.

Kim Niesen has a family history of skin cancer, with a sister  and a brother and her father, both deceased  having cancerous lesions. Another brother was diagnosed last year with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

Niesen, 66, who lives near Dane, has multiple moles on her body. As a teenager, to treat acne, she had heat lamp treatments now believed to increase the risk of skin cancer.

In December, when she tried to get an appointment with an SSM Health dermatologist, the earliest she could be seen was in March, with a physician assistant. This month, as she was getting ready to drive to the appointment, someone from the clinic called to cancel it, saying too many people were out sick that day. The earliest Niesen could get another appointment, again with a physician assistant, is in May.

When its a cancer scare, you just want to get in and get it taken care of, she said. Ive been very nervous since my brothers diagnosis.

SSM Health is recruiting general dermatologists but hasnt found qualified candidates, spokesperson Lisa Adams said. It plans to add a Mohs surgeon and an additional physician assistant or nurse practitioner. The dermatology clinic takes into account the urgency of each patients medical condition and refers people outside of SSM Health if needed, but waits elsewhere can be as long, Adams said.

Unfortunately, as demand for dermatology services and care increases, there is also a significant shortage in trained dermatology providers nationwide, she said.

Like Canada

At UW Health, Margo and Dan Redmond of Madison faced a five-month wait for Mohs surgery after cancerous lesions were found on their skin in November. They said someone from UW Healths Mohs surgery clinic suggested a quicker approach: contacting Dr. Harry Sharata, of Advanced Dermatology, a private clinic on Madisons West Side.

Sharata did Mohs surgery on the couple within a month. Margo Redmond, 78, had one lesion, a squamous cell cancer that is somewhat more worrisome than basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Dan, 79, had multiple lesions. After a squamous cell mass was also identified on his nose in January, UW Health was able to do Mohs surgery on it in mid-March.

When someone says you have a squamous cell cancer, you want it off, Margo said.

In addition, Dan in February tried to make an appointment with a UW Health allergist after having a CT scan to examine potential causes of a lingering cough. The earliest he could get in was in August.

When Dan explained that he and Margo spend summers on Prince Edward Island, in Canada, he got an allergist appointment in late May.

This is beginning to be like Canada, where people wait forever to be seen, and we dont even have socialized medicine, said Margo Redmond, a U.S. native whose mother was born on Prince Edward Island.

When Katie Mulligan developed leg pain last year, it took several months before she was able to get physical therapy at UW Health. After a bone density test in October found deterioration in her hip bone, the earliest she could get an appointment to discuss treatment options is in April, for a video visit. To see someone in person, it would be longer.

Mulligan, 81, moved to Madison 12 years ago in part because of UW Healths good reputation.

They have wonderful specialists, she said. But getting to them can be very difficult. Theres just so many layers.

2 months for stents

After Melanie Ramey had chest pain in February 2022, she received an electrocardiogram and a stress test, during which a doctor said she needed stents to open clogged coronary arteries as soon as possible. At the time a member of Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Ramey, 84, of Madison, said she had to wait to see a cardiologist at UW Health, which provides specialty services for Group Health.

The cardiologist scheduled the surgery at UnityPoint Health-Meriter, but she was eventually transferred to UW Hospital. She received three stents in April 2022, more than two months after seeking care.

I was getting really upset, because this other doctor (at the stress test) said (the stents) should be taken care of right away, Ramey said.

In 2021, after Carolyn Dargevics developed coughing attacks, she had to wait five months to see a pulmonologist at UW Health. Last year, when her UW Health primary care doctor referred her to a neurologist for blood pressure problems, the earliest appointment was six months later. After she complained, she was seen in four months.

In January, Dargevics, 71, of Oregon, underwent a sleep study, which showed she has sleep apnea. She couldnt get a follow-up appointment with a sleep apnea specialist until April.

These delays floor me, she said.

11 months to see neurologist

In September, Becky Leidners neurologist at SSM Health referred her to UW Health neurology to consider treatments for persistent symptoms. After hearing nothing from UW Health, Leidner, 71, of Madison, wrote a letter, called the neurology clinic and talked with a patient relations representative.

She still didnt have an appointment scheduled with UW Health neurology. In January, she wrote to state Rep. Samba Baldeh, D-Madison, expressing her concerns. In his response, he copied Connie Schulze, UW Healths director of government affairs.

In February, Leidner got an appointment  in August.

Whats going on here? she said. Theres certainly something systemic.

Schulzes response to Baldeh, which Leidner shared with the State Journal, offers some insight.

When I joined the UW Health team about six years ago, we were not able to accept approximately 30 patient transfers per month due primarily to two issues: lack of capacity and workforce shortages, Schulze said. While our system has grown since then, that number now often tops 250 in a given month, due to the rapidly increasing demand and our reputation as Wisconsins #1 ranked hospital.

Cliff Koehler, 69, of Madison, started hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Beaver Dam in early March. His UW Health urologist in Madison prescribed the oxygen treatments for side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer. To continue them, Koehler was told he needed tubes in his ears.

At UW Health, the earliest he could see an audiologist is in August. He contacted SSM Health in Fond du Lac, where an ear, nose and throat doctor put in the tubes in less than a week.

Koehler resumed the oxygen treatments and should be able to finish them before late April, when he plans a rafting trip down the Colorado River.

Hes long been pleased with medical care in Madison, especially compared with what hes heard about in other parts of the country. But he was surprised by the long wait he faced at UW Health, even after he explained he was seeking attention quickly because of his trip.

It can be very frustrating to the patient, he said. I thought it was always going to be easy to get the care you need here.
After he lost his glasses while kayaking in May 2022, Brett Balinsky realized his corrective vision prescription had expired. He called the eye care clinic at UW Health, where the scheduler said the earliest appointment was in March 2023.

When Balinsky explained his urgency, she said she could get him in quicker: February 2023.

It was equally preposterous, said Balinsky, 55, of Waunakee. If they had adequate staff, they should be able to get people in within a month or two.

He contacted Shopko Optical in Sun Prairie, where he was seen the next day.

Long waits for eye care at UW Health is a particular concern reported by Madison-area patients, with some saying they have to wait a year or more for appointments.

Dr. Peter Newcomer, UW Healths chief clinical officer, said the health care organization tries to get patients who have vision-threatening conditions in to see ophthalmologists quickly. But patients seeking routine vision checks can often find more prompt appointments elsewhere, he said.

Weve never been able to meet the community need for optometry, or for visual acuity or glasses or contacts, Newcomer said. We have to partner with the community.

Kevin Jacobson is supposed to have his eyes checked once a year for possible retinal damage from a medication he takes for an autoimmune disorder. In January 2022, on the day he was scheduled for a visit at UW Health, he couldnt go because he had respiratory symptoms.

The earliest UW Health could get him in was January 2023. Two years is a long time; its the unknown, said Jacobson, 66, of Madison.

His recent exam showed his eyes were fine, but he wasnt able to book his next appointment until March 2024.

When Scott Seymour scheduled an eye exam with UW Health in May 2022, the earliest he could get was in July 2023.

He and his wife switched from Quartz health insurance to Dean Health Plan this February. Soon after, she got eye appointments at SSM Health for both of them in May. Seymour said he liked his UW Health eye doctor, but Dean insurance costs less and he wanted to be seen soon because he has early signs of possible glaucoma.

It got to the point where it was like, What is the advantage of being with UW Health? said Seymour, 60, of Monona, who also faced long waits to see his primary care doctor there.

In January, Steve Struss called UW Health for an eye exam. The earliest appointment was in March 2024.

Struss, 70, of Cambridge, tried Olson Eye Care in Lake Mills and got in two weeks later. His mother had macular degeneration, and hes concerned about his risk for the condition. After going without an eye exam since before the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020, he didnt want to wait more than another year to get his eyes checked.

That was unacceptable, he said. He still has the March 2024 appointment at UW Health, but I may just stay with Olson Eye Care.
Hi. Vern here. Have you ever just wanted to take a special moment in time and hold onto it so it will always be there for you? Like, for example, that one time I had THE best hair day. Remember that? It was the perfect combination of Sasquatch sweat, moss and river mud that came together to make my hair sit just right. I havent been able to achieve that level of hair prowess since that day, but I sure like to relive that moment in time. It feels good! Another time that feels good is a place called Norskedalen, just outside of Coon Valley.

There is so much that goes here which is seemingly is the middle of nowhere but actually, the peace you feel when you are there makes you feel like you are in the center of everything. Kind of like the eye of a storm. So much goes on around it, but at Norskedalen, its like time stops. And literally, theres a sliver of time that has been preserved there so others can experience it. The sliver of time preserved at Norskedalen is the land and the stories. This nature and heritage center is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and sharing the environment and cultural heritage of the area surrounding Coon Valley in southwest Wisconsin

Norskedalen, which means the Norwegian Valley in Norwegian (obviously), began when a doctor and his wife donated their farm to be an outdoor laboratory and arboretum for humans to enjoy nature and nature to enjoy humanswhere am I going with that? Hmmanyways, along with the nature trails, there is a neat museum and many historic buildings to explore. There is a beautiful old Norwegian church that came from Sparta. There is also an old corncrib that came from a Norwegian homestead that ended up as a float in Westbys Syttende Mai parade! Seriously. The corncrib participated in the Syttende Mai parade and then instead of it just going back to where it came from it just kept rolling down the road to the Norskedalen location and there is now where it lives. Ingenious is what I call it. Nothing like a parade to move a historic corncrib where is needs to go.

One thing that amazes me to this very day is the Norwegians ability to put so many Ls and Fs in one word. Really. Take Friluftsliv, for example. Friluftsliv is a Norwegian word meaning fresh air living, or communing with nature for living well. I cant think of a more encompassing word that describes the experience you may get at Norskedalen, can you? If so, please attach your answer to a passenger pigeon and tell it to give your letter to Vern. Ill be waitingand my hair will be on point.
The industrial building at the east end of Fourth Street is easy to miss, but the promotional material printed inside by Winona Sign and Design can be found across the area from vinyl decals on storefront windows, car wrappings, hospital signs and banners for businesses.

We can print anything, from glass to metal to plastics to materials, said Terry Klonecki, president of Winona Sign and Design and its parent company, Form Graphics. Anything you bring to us, we can pretty much find a way to print it or to decal it or to logo it.

Form Graphics, a screen and digital print manufacturer that has been in business for 35 years, specializes in screenprinting buckets.

Before a career in banking, Klonecki worked at Form Graphics with founder John Meinke, conceiving ideas to print marketing material for Form Graphics and local businesses.

Hed say, Maybe when you buy it, or Id say, Yup, maybe when I buy it this is what Im going to do with it. So we joked about it a lot, Klonecki said.

Klonecki purchased the business in 2011 and opened the Winona Sign and Design division in 2019 after realizing Winona businesses wanted local printing options.

We would often get calls asking us if we did things like banners and yard signs, car wraps, decals and we were doing that stuff for some of the other businesses, she said.

Klonecki and her team dedicated a larger space for an in-house art team and invested in new printing equipment, including a wide-format flatbed printer, roll-to-roll printer and flatbed cutter, which allowed them to print wider products or multiple products at once.

Yard signs are the most popular product printed by Winona Sign and Design, Klonecki said, but the business also makes banners and large signs, and prints vinyl products that can be applied to various surfaces such as windows, walls and cars. Form Graphics continues to be the printer of beer buckets for Behrens, a Winona-based manufacturer.

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down much of the business for Form Graphics, but Sign and Design remained open through contracts to print signs for hospitals and clinics featuring information regarding COVID-19 testing and social distancing policies.

Winona Sign and Design also continued to serve local businesses, partnering with the Winona Chamber of Commerce to print signs for restaurants and bars informing customers about closures or takeout and delivery options.

We donated them to all of the restaurants and still tried to help where we could, said Klonecki. We didnt get paid for that, but it kept my people busy and we made it through.

Even after business picked up in late 2021 and the spring of 2022, Klonecki maintained her dedication to helping local businesses, recently working with the owner of Norvary, a Vietnamese restaurant in Winona.

When she first got started it was really a lot of fun to help her figure out, even if we couldnt do something, help her figure out where to get it, how to get things set up and find solutions for them, said Klonecki. And thats what I really like to do is help find, be a solution for people when they come in.

Klonecki, the only woman heading a manufacturing firm in Winona, hopes Form Graphics and the Sign and Design division can continue offering solutions.

Id like to find more ways to help more women in business get on their feet and get going and find things to help them, she said.

While social distancing at work during the initial phases of the pandemic, the Sign and Design team cross-trained, picking up new skills to cover for a reduced staff.

My customer service can set up artwork and make a positive, burn a screen print. We all will go out and print if we have an order big enough or pack if we need to, said Klonecki. We can each do each others job, which makes it much easier, leaner too. And things dont slow down as much when somebodys gone.

Cross-training also helped the team generate creative ideas. Klonecki said that was important when the pandemic made it difficult to buy certain materials.

The supply chain was pretty rough. We had to try to figure out new ways to do a few things or use substitute products to try to get things through and try to help our customers find new ways of doing things, said Klonecki. That was a challenge, but we have a pretty good team of a few people.

With many supply chain issues resolved, Klonecki and the Winona Sign and Design team look forward to new developments coming out of trade shows, including more durable printing materials and more efficient tools to print directly on walls. The Winona Chamber of Commerce recently featured the business and an opening for a customer service representative in an online video.

Its a very creative business, Klonecki said. This industry seems to be ever-changing. Constantly new things coming out, new ideas. New ways to print and new things to print on. So its just a fun business to be a part of.
Truck-A-Palooza, a new celebration of all things truck, is coming to Williams Bay.

The free community event is slated for Saturday, April 15 from 4-6 p.m. in the parking lot at Williams Bay High School, 500 W. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 67), Williams Bay.

Truck-A-Palooza is made possible by the Joint Task Force of Williams Bay, comprised of the Barrett Memorial Library, Williams Bay Recreation Department, Williams Bay Department of Public Works, Williams Bay Fire Department, Williams Bay Police Department, and Williams Bay School District.

Families attending the event will have a chance to learn about, view, climb inside, honk the horn, and flash the lights on all kinds of different vehicles, including emergency vehicles, public works trucks, tow trucks, fire trucks, buses and more.

Theres gonna be a lot of vehicles from Williams Bay and the county that we are getting, said Williams Bay Recreation Department Director Dave Rowland, who is coordinating the really cool fun-for-all-ages family event. Were hoping for good weather so the kids and the adults can enjoy everything.

Attendees at Truck-A-Palooza will also have a chance to talk to the people that drive these amazing machines.

Truck-A-Palooza will also offer free concessions, music and games for the whole family. Food concessions will be offered by the Williams Bay School District on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.

For more information, call the Barrett Memorial Library at 262-245-2709 or the Williams Bay Recreation Department at 262-686-8001, email rec@vi.williamsbay.wi.gov, or visiting online at williamsbay.org/recreation-department/news/truck-palooza.

Those interested in exhibiting interesting, kid-friendly trucks at Truck-A-Palooza are encouraged to contact Williams Bay Recreation Department Director Dave Rowland at 262-686-8001 or rec@vi.williamsbay.wi.gov.

39 corn, brat and firework photos from the 2022 Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Watch now: Williams Bay fireworks Watch now: Band performs at Williams Bay corn and brat fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Williams Bay Corn and Brat Fest Watch now: Williams Bay fireworks Watch now: Williams Bay firework finale Watch now: Williams Bay fireworks
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023

Why Did Moses Take Forty Years?

March 23, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Forty years ago today, President Reagan shocked the world, announcing that the United States would make nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete, employing advanced scientific principles (lasers, plasma physics, electromagnetic pulses, etc.) to make it an order of magnitude cheaper to kill missiles than to build them. Further, the strategic defense systems would be provided to the Russiansthen the communist U.S.S.R. Reagan had adopted the program as designed, laid out, and campaigned for by Lyndon LaRouche.

To accomplish the actual program, a full-scale scientific mobilizationbigger than the famous Apollo program of John F. Kennedyone that would have addicted the U.S. economy to real development of industry, agriculture, and public infrastructure; not the financial speculation, bank bailouts, military adventures, regime changes and drug epidemics of the last forty years.

A president of the United States, both with JFK and Reagan, showed strategic and bold leadership, not for empire, but for the republic.

This is not a fairy tale. It had better not be, because the U.S., along with the other nations of the Westthe Global Minoritywill be left in the dust, unless it gets a grip on itself, slaps itself in the face, awakens from its nightmare, and gets addicted to real strategic leadership once again.

Today, also, Russias TASS featured a two-part interview with Helga Zepp-LaRouche, in which she sounded the trumpet call on the need, and the implicit capability, to fully reject the strategic blindness and stupidity of recent times, and make a conscious, deliberate decision, as the Bible puts it, to choose good, not evil.

Today, also, peace broke out in the long-simmering, sometimes violent confrontations of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the protracted conflict with Azerbaijan is over: There will be a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The treaty will be based on joint official statements adopted at the highest level.... There wont be a new escalation!

Today, also, Saudi Arabia is holding discussions with Syria on mending eleven years of oppositionincluding Saudi funding to overthrow Syrias government. They plan to announce the re-establishment of diplomatic relations shortly. Both developmentsArmenia-Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia-Syriaare thought to have been brokered by Moscow, but they both come in the wake of the shocking Chinese-brokered breakthrough with Shia-dominated Iran and Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia. London and Washington have been caught with their pants down in their peace-is-impossible, dont-you-know, Middle East. Maybe its time to review what Putin and Xi were discussing earlier this week.

Today, Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, after reaming out the lying hypocrisy of the U.S. State Department for daring to dictate morality and concern for human rights to any country that it wants to destroy, called upon the better angel of the nature of the U.S. republic, harkening back to Abraham Lincolns union with Mexicos Benito Juarez, fighting for republics free from the imperialist control of France and Britain.

Todayunless you are French President Macron, who faces over a million citizens demonstrating and demanding that he resignwas a pretty good day. Perhaps it is time to confront the stupid gossip and lies that have kept the West bound to a dirty, dirty cultural pessimism, a dirty and ugly view of mankind, a filthy existentialism. After all, Moses led the slaves through the desert for 40 years, for the need to rid the people of slavish habits and thinking. You might argue that it never should have taken that long ... yet here we are.
Two chemical compounds necessary to living organisms have been found in material from the asteroid Ryugu.

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 collected the materials and sent them back to Earth.

The findings from an international group of scientists support the idea that some elements of life arrived on Earth from asteroids billions of years ago.

Scientists said on Tuesday they discovered uracil and niacin in rocks collected by a Japanese Space Agency aircraft. The samples came from two places on Ryugu in 2019.

Uracil is one of the chemicals present in RNA. RNA is a molecule carrying directions for building and operating living organisms. Niacin, also called Vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, is important for metabolism.

The Ryugu samples traveled 250 million kilometers back to Earth and returned to Earths surface in a container. The container landed in December 2020 in Australia.

Scientists, for a long time, have aimed to understand the conditions necessary for life on Earth after it formed about 4.5 billion years ago. Bodies like comets, asteroids and meteorites struck the Earth at that time. The new findings support the theory that those bodies provided the planet with compounds that helped create the first organisms.

Scientists had found organic molecules in meteorites found on Earth. But it was not clear whether those space rocks had been affected by Earth's environment after landing.

We suspect (uracil and niacin) had a role inevolution on Earth and possibly for the emergence of first life," said astrochemist Yasuhiro Oba of Hokkaido University in Japan. An astrochemist studies chemistry in places other than Earth. He is lead writer of the research published in Nature Communications.

RNA is short for ribonucleic acid. Uracil is necessary to form RNA, a group of molecules present in all living cells and very important for the activity of genes. RNA is similar to DNA, the molecules that carry an organism's genetic instructions.

Niacin is important for metabolism and can help produce the "energy" that powers living organisms.

Oba said uracil and niacin were found at both landing sites on Ryugu. The asteroid is about 900 meters in diameter and is considered a near-Earth asteroid. The amounts of the compounds were higher at one of the places than the other on the asteroid.

Asteroids are rocky space bodies that formed in the early period of the solar system. The researchers suggest that the organic compounds found on Ryugu may have been formed with the help of chemical reactions caused by starlight in icy materials in space.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters.

___________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

asteroid  n. a large group of small bodies that orbit the sun

metabolism  n. the process in living cells of producing energy and new substances

role  n. the part that something plays in a process or activity

evolution  n. the theory that changes in plants and animals happen because of natural processes over long periods of time

emergence  n. the act of becoming seen or coming into existence

instructions n. (often pl.) a set of statements, letters or codes that enable something to be done
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Despite the Covid-19 outbreak in 2022, the volume of bilateral trade between Macau and Guangzhou has surged by approximately 70%, with a total import and export volume of over RMB3.7 trillion, said Chen Yanchuan, the deputy director of the Bureau of Commerce of Guangzhou, in his speech on the Macau branch of the ninth Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference held yesterday.

He said that Macau has invested in 939 enterprises in Guangzhou with a real investment of USD867 million, while Guangzhou has invested in the establishment of 54 enterprises in Macau with an agreed investment of USD445 million.

During an interview, Duan Jinglun, vice president and chief strategy officer of Macao Juvenile Venture International, stated that Macaus capital should be exported to the Greater Bay Area. He suggested that Macau can support the outstanding small- and medium-sized enterprises in Huangpu, Nansha, Shenzhen, and Dongguan in Guangdong, which lack funds, to build a Macau enterprise cluster by leveraging Macaus rich capital and its industrial ties, as only a small proportion of Macaus capital is invested in science and technology innovation.

Five cooperation projects were signed at the conference, including the Guangzhou-Macau intellectual property innovation service centre and the Greater Bay Area green and sustainable finance strategic cooperation. Staff reporter
Col. Tian Junli, a spokesman for Chinas Southern Theatre Command, said yesterday that the Chinese navy had followed and monitored the USS Milius after it illegally entered Chinas Xisha territorial waters without approval from the Chinese government, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

He said that the Chinese navy and air force then forced away the U.S. warship in accordance with the law.

The theatre troops will maintain a state of high alert at all times and take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said.

However, the United States denied Chinese claims yesterday that its military had driven away an American guided-missile destroyer from operating around disputed islands in the South China Sea, in an incident that comes as tensions in the region between the two powers continue to rise.

The U.S. Navys 7th Fleet said that a statement from Chinas Southern Theatre Command that it had forced the USS Milius away from waters around the Paracel Islands  called Xisha by China  was false.

USS Milius is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea and was not expelled, said Lt. j.g. Luka Bakic in response to a query from The Associated Press.

The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, Bakic added.

Bakic would not comment on whether the ship had been operating in immediate proximity of the Paracel Islands, which are in the South China Sea a few hundred kilometers off the coast of Vietnam and the Chinese province of Hainan, or whether there had been any sort of a confrontation.

Chinas Paracel Islands are also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

The incident comes amid growing tensions between China and the United States in the region, as Washington pushes back at Beijings growingly assertive posture in the South China Sea and elsewhere.

China claims ownership over virtually the entire strategic waterway, through which around $5 trillion in global trade transits each year and which holds highly valuable fish stocks and undersea mineral resources.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have competing claims.

The U.S. itself has no claims to the waters, but has deployed Navy and Air Force assets to patrol the waterway for decades and says freedom of navigation and overflight is in the American national interest.

China has frequently responded angrily, accusing the U.S. of meddling in Asian affairs and demanding it leave the region where it has had a naval presence for more than a century. DAVID RISING, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
The Civil Servants Pension Fund has accumulated losses in 2022 accounting for a drop in the net worth of the Fund by 1.57 billion patacas to just 26.14 billion patacas, results from the financial balance of the fund in 2022 published in the government official gazette noted.

Contributing most significantly to the poor result of the Fund were the investments made in the stock market, accounting for a loss amounting to 3.29 billion patacas.

This was the largest loss recorded by the Fund since its establishment in 2007.

Among the major losses were the investments in the International Equity Investment Fund: Schroder ISF  Global Equity Alpha C Acc, accountable for a loss amounting to 1.75 billion patacas. Also dropping significantly was the iShares Developed World Index Fund (IE)  Institutional Accumulating Class, which also lost some 1.06 billion patacas over the course of last year.

In 2021, the two previously mentioned investment funds had earned almost 1.8 billion patacas.

Dropping already since 2021 was the investment in the Global Bond Fund (Institutional Class), which in 2021 had lost some 46 million patacas and in 2022 lost over 605 million patacas.

On the gains side, the investments in Bank Deposits Portfolio earned almost 122 million patacas.

The fund total net worth losses were partially offset by the injection of new contributions from the civil servants, as well as from the government into the Fund over 2022.

In 2021, although the market situation was also not considered ideal, the Civil Servants Pension Fund accumulated a positive net worth of 4.6 billion patacas.
According to the taxation bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Hengqin has taken the lead in Guangdong on the offshore digital RMB tax payment. The tax authorities of the zone are also actively promoting the application of digital RMB tax payment among foreign-funded enterprises. In the pilot areas for digital RMB, individuals only need to register and log in to their digital RMB accounts using their mainland mobile phone numbers and make tax payments. For corporate taxpayers, they can pay taxes and fees by simply opening a digital RMB wallet at an online bank and logging on to the e-tax bureau to sign a tripartite agreement authorising the online transfer of taxes (fees).

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With more medical facilities to open in the future, there will be more opportunities for graduates of the private Kiang Wu Nursing College, its management said yesterday.

At a campus event, Lau Veng Seng, chair of the College Council, was asked about the cooperation between the college and the future Islands Hospital Complex, a public medical facility. The college is located adjacent to the complex.

In response, Lau emphasized his confidence in the quality of education provided by the college as well as the capacities of its graduates. He added that, provided qualities are retained, with more medical facilities, graduates of the college will see more opportunities. There was no confirmation of a deal confirmed with the government to date.

In addition, he reiterated that graduates of the college, over the years, had served at medical facilities around the world, which is a recognition of our quality. He pledged that the college would constantly explore new opportunities for its graduates.

Having moved last August and 2.3-fold larger than the old campus, the Cotai campus of the college will need more students and thus more teachers. On the difficulty of hiring sufficient teaching staff, Van Iat Kio, president of the college, said that teaching staff recruitment is continously conducted, especially in compliance with the colleges decade plan for 2020-2030. Van stressed that the college would strive hard to recruit enough teachers to meet growing numbers of students, while providing constant training to existing staff.

Meanwhile, when asked about the difficulty of recruiting students, the president revealed that in recent years, the number of applicants having graduated had been growing, while emphasizing the dropping number of high school graduates. With this said, a greater proportion of the working population have gone back to school probably because they saw better career prospects, according to Van.

Yesterday, the college opened Life Journey Experience Pavilion at the Cotai campus. The facility was built under sponsorship by the Wynn Care Foundation.

As Lau explained, the facility was strategized to educate people about life and its challenges. The pavilion breaks life down into five stages, namely embarking, flourishing, blossoming, glowing and homecoming, covering the life stages of conception, childhood, adulthood, aging and death.

Lau said that the facility will help people prepare for different stages of life and hopefully help them ease possible anxiety.

Equipment includes an electric stimulation machine that offers an experience of throes. The machine has gained a certain level of popularity outside of Macau and it is one of a few chances to experience it in Macau.

A harness with a 7kg sandbag attached is also available for participants to use to simulate the weight of pregnancy.

The pavilion will temporarily be open to the colleges students but will ultimately become accessible to all.

This Saturday will see the official opening of the campus. An open day will be held as part of the program, with members of the public receiving the opportunity to experience the facilities at the pavilion.

This year, the college celebrates its centenary.
Witnesses of a fatal traffic accident that occurred late Mar. 22 are encouraged to come forward, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) has said in a statement.

The accident took place at about 11:32pm on said date at Rotunda do Estadio in Taipa. The motor car involved was driving in the roundabout and crashed into a motorcycle at the intersection with Avenida Olimpica. The two riders on the motorcycle were severely injured and were immediately taken to the hospital. One rider was found in a coma at the scene. The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead yesterday morning.

The victim who passed away was 21 years old and the injured passenger is 22. They are both Filipino Macau residents.

Meanwhile, the driver of the motor car, which bears the logo of a fetching company, passed an on-site breathalyzer test and suffered minor injuries, but declined to be taken to the hospital.

The motor car had no passenger.

Fetching companies provide pick-up and transport services to persons after they have been out clubbing or to people after they have consumed alcohol.

As per pictures released, the motor car went atop a concrete road separator at the scene. The windshield was cracked and its front was badly damaged.

The PSP encourage witnesses to provide information on the accident via the phone number 2837 4214. AL
An Indian court found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation yesterday over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modis surname and sentenced him to two years in prison.

The case against Gandhi dates back to an election rally in 2019 where he said, Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname? In his speech, he then went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi is not related to either of the other two.

The defamation case against Gandhi was filed by a leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in western Gujarat state. The complainant, Purnesh Modi, said Gandhis comments had defamed the entire Modi community.

Modi is a common last name in western Gujarat state.

Gandhi, who was present in the court when the verdict was announced, said his remarks were meant to highlight corruption and were not directed against any community. He wont go to jail immediately as the court granted bail for 30 days to file an appeal against the verdict.

Mallikarjun Kharge, president of Gandhis Congress Party, said Gandhi would appeal against the verdict in a higher court and called Modis government cowardly and dictatorial.

After the verdict, Gandhi wrote on Twitter: My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, and non-violence the means to get it.

Gandhi, a lawmaker, is one of the main opposition leaders in India and the heir to a political dynasty  both his father, Ragiv, and his grandmother, Indira, were murdered for political motives while serving as premiers. He will most likely go up against Modi when he seeks his third term as prime minister in 2024. MDT/AP
The head of the tourism group, Travel Industry Council of Macau, has restated the importance of enticing tourists to stay longer in Macau, amid the gradual climb in tourist arrivals.

The tourism industry will work harder to increase the lengths of tourists stays by organizing more activities, attracting them to spend more, generate energy in the community and promote multifaceted development in Macau, Andy Wu, president of the Travel Industry Council of Macau, told local media outlet Exmoo.

Wu pointed out that after normal travel resumed, the citys tourism recovery was faster than expected by the industry. He added that most tourists visited Macau as individuals rather than in group tours, with many coming from Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

In response to claims that border clearance and visa issuance entities will share information, Wu pointed out that similar systems had been in place and become mature. The priority now is to clarify the details of the system to boost incentives to visit Macau.

In addition to the local governments effort to entice foreign tourists, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also disclosed the possibility of waiving visa requirements for foreign group tours from Macau and Hong Kong entering Guangdong. Commenting on the implication of local travel agencies organizing Guangdong tours for local foreigners, Wu said that he hoped that authorities from both sides of the border could clarify these plans shortly and keep the tourism industry in the loop.

Wu pointed out that most local resident travelers are on individual travel plans, with most popular destinations being Southeast Asian countries, Japan and South Korea. He believed that the tourism industry will benefit from both outbound and inbound businesses, especially with Air Macau resuming flights to a greater number of destinations.
24 restaurants, food shops and coffee shops we lost in the Madison area in 2022, and 3 that moved

In the past year, the Wisconsin State Journal reported the closing of 24 restaurants, food shops and coffee shops and three that moved.

That number was higher than last year's figure, when the paper reported 19 closures. In 2020, the paper reported the loss of 31 restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, taverns and brew pubs.

The Pasquals location on East Washington Avenue closed this year, but didn't get a full story.

Paisan's Italian Restaurant, was forced to close at 131 W. Wilson St. after a tumultuous year, starting in September 2021 when the city first closed the building it anchors because of structural concerns. The building is now set for demolition and the property will be redeveloped.

The places that moved: Cuco's Mexican Restaurant on Madison's East Side closed in October, with its owners moving it to a new location with a new name at 1824 S. Park St.

Also in October, Java Cat closed at 3918 Monona Drive and will reopen in the former Legacy House Imports Gift Shop and Tea Room, 4221 Lien Road, near East Towne Mall.

In August, Mirch Masala, the Indian-Nepali restaurant on State Street that closed in late March, reopened on the West Side at 439 Grand Canyon Drive, across from Chuck E. Cheese.
Towering waves. Frigid mornings. A great lake covered in thick sheets of ice.

And still, these three women kept swimming.

Swimming Through, a documentary about a friendship forged by a trio of sunrise swimmers, is one of seven short films in Lunafest, coming to Madison on Tuesday.

A traveling mini film fest, Lunafest showcases films by and about women, and circulates around the country thanks to nonprofits and other sponsors who bring it to their local communities. The upcoming 90-minute screening in the Anderson Auditorium at Edgewood College is hosted by the Zonta Club of Madison, which uses it as a fundraiser to help local womens organizations such as Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, Project Respect, UNIDOS and Girls on the Run.

This years Lunafest includes tales of surfers, climbers, painters and a girlfriend visiting the parents for the first time, among others. Swimming Through, created by Chicago filmmaker Samantha Sanders, focuses on three middle-age women who made it through the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in part by sharing their passion for gliding through the icy waters of Lake Michigan.

Sanders first read about the women in a story in the Chicago Tribune. A three-time Chicago/Midwest regional Emmy Award winner who teaches in the film department at Columbia College Chicago, Sanders already was a passionate photographer of winter landscapes.

We had a beautiful winter that year of 2020-21, she said. I knew I could make that film and what it would look like.

It went beyond just knowing the beauty of what the landscape would be, she said. The film, Sanders realized, could chronicle the courage and determination (of the women), and their support of each other, and what going out there every day meant to them.

One of the biggest challenges of filming the documentary, which includes footage taken on the icy lake as well as underwater and with drones, was keeping the crew safe, she said. While the swimmers were physically moving in the water  in a lake much warmer than the air temperature  the stationary film crew worked in frozen, windy conditions.

The 15-minute documentary that emerged is a gentle story of friendship and the transformational power of water, peace and perseverance. Sanders is now adapting Swimming Through into a fictional screenplay for a feature-length film that she plans to direct.

Lunafest gives female filmmakers the opportunity to get their work seen nationwide, Sanders said. Although Swimming Through has been shown at some weeklong or weekend local festivals, the difference is that (Lunafests) reach is much broader because it runs all year in different locations, she said.

The first two Lunafests that the Zonta Club brought to Madison were at Point Cinema in 2019 and 2020. The festival went online for the next two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With it now back in person and again on the big screen, said Zonta member Sandy Peterson, We plan to continue growing this event.
A Madison man whose erratic driving under the influence of marijuana caused a crash in 2019 that killed his best friend was sentenced Friday to five years in prison.

The crash on the Beltline on Nov. 19, 2019, killed Leroy C. Barnes Virghes Jr., 19. Another passenger in the car said the crash happened because Diontre T. Burt-Finnie, also 19 at the time, was driving like an idiot, speeding and weaving around other vehicles, a criminal complaint states.

In court Friday, Burt-Finnie, who will turn 23 next month, said he is deeply sorry for causing Barnes Virghes death and thinks of him always.

My condolences goes out to Leroy and his family, Burt-Finnie said. Barnes Virghes family was not present in court.

Losing Leroy hit home in the worst way you can ever imagine, Burt-Finnie said. Im here today because I made the wrong decisions and not thinking, which caused the death of my brother Leroy.

Burt-Finnie said he was being young and dumb and shouldnt have been driving nor should I have been under the influence.

The crash happened between Monona Drive and South Towne Drive. Barnes Virghes died at the scene from blunt force trauma.

Burt-Finnie pleaded guilty in November to homicide by driving under the influence of a controlled substance, a crime that since the crash, like its homicide by drunken driving kin, has been amended by the state Legislature to require a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years.

That was the sentence sought by Deputy District Attorney William Brown. Brown said he tends to seek longer sentences than that in impaired driving homicide cases, but Burt-Finnie has shown sincere remorse for the harm he caused. But he was not fully deserving of leniency, Brown said, because Burt-Finnies driving also could have killed someone he didnt know who also happened to be driving on the Beltline.

Burt-Finnies attorney, Dorothea Watson, said her client suffers from debilitating depression because of the incident. A subsequent incident for which he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors related to a domestic incident with his girlfriend, she said, was a result of the stress he felt from his friends death.

Watson initially asked in a written memorandum for a 3-year prison sentence, but in court she also asked that the sentence be imposed but suspended, and that Burt-Finnie instead be placed on probation. The five-year mandatory minimum thats now in place but doesnt apply to Burt-Finnies case was created by a Legislature, Watson said, that reacts to a bad case instead of data and research, and Burt-Finnies case should not be viewed in that light.

The data, Watson said, show that most impaired driving cases in which a passenger dies have resulted in suspended sentences or shorter prison or jail sentences, not five years in prison.

But Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara, while acknowledging that the sentence he delivered would be unlikely to affect the future behavior of other drivers, said those who cause the death of another through criminal actions dont just go home, but must accept consequences.

He noted that test results showed Burt-Finnie was impaired well past the point where his marijuana use would have been legal in states where its been legalized, such as Colorado.

In addition to five years in prison, Burt-Finnie will serve three years of extended supervision after his release. He will be barred from having a drivers license for the longest time allowed under state law, which is five years.
Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The general election is April 4. Candidate Zach Jensen did not respond to the questionnaire.

Joan Ensign (I)

Age: 69

Family: Husband, three sons, four grandchildren, two in the Waunakee school district

Job: Retired math teacher

Prior elected office: I have served on the Waunakee School Board 12 years

Education: Bachelors degree in mathematics from UW-Madison

Q&A

What experience or insight do you bring to this race that your opponent doesnt have?

Ensign: I bring 12 years of experience on the board of education, 33 years of teaching in the district and a knowledge of the community as a lifelong resident of the Wauankee area.

What is the main challenge facing the district and how would you address it?

Ensign: Two very important bodies of work are in progress. Our community recently passed a referendum to build two new schools and complete extensive maintenance throughout the district. There are many decisions that will go into the completion of these projects. We are also beginning the process of replacing our superintendent, who recently announced his intent to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year. This is work in progress, but our biggest challenge and one many districts face is the workforce shortage. We need to value the work of our school employees and find ways to compensate all employee groups better.

What do you feel the school district does well?
MILWAUKEE  A man who pleaded guilty to shooting a Milwaukee police officer and stealing his squad car last year has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

A Milwaukee County judge sentenced Jetrin Rodthong, 23, on Thursday for shooting Officer Herbert Davis III as the officer was investigating a report about a sick or injured motorist.

Rodthong, of West Allis, had pleaded guilty in January to five felonies, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. He originally faced eight felony charges.

In January 2022, Davis was called to check on a person in a vehicle who was sick or injured. Police said Davis initially found Rodthong slumped over in a vehicle before Rodthong attempted to flee on foot.

Davis and Rodthong then exchanged gunfire and both were struck, with Davis receiving two gunshot wounds, police said.

After the shooting, Rodthong stole Davis squad car and crashed into another vehicle. He then ran from the scene before being captured.

Davis, 27, had asked the court to sentence Rodthong to life in prison, while prosecutors sought a 40-year sentence and Rodthong's attorney requested a 20-year sentence.

The judge sentenced Rodthong to 40 years in prison, followed by more than 11 years of extended supervision.
"There is hardly any political question in the United States that sooner or later does not turn into a judicial question," Alexis de Tocqueville, the brilliant observer of American life, wrote.

I'm pretty sure De Tocqueville didn't have in mind scenarios like Donald Trump using a (now disgraced and disbarred) bagman-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to front hush money to a porn star and then recording the $130,000 reimbursement as "legal fees."

But here we are. According to various reports -- including panicked squeals in ALL CAPS from Trump himself -- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is preparing to indict Trump for exactly that.

Some further context is in order. As shocking as this may sound, Trump has not always felt particularly constrained by the holy bonds of matrimony. He famously cheated on his first wife, Ivana Trump, with the woman who would become his second, Marla Maples. The sordid spectacle, often at his urging, was on display in the New York media. Then in 1998, a year before Trump's divorce from Maples was finalized, he met Melania Knauss, a Slovenian model. After dating for several years, they were engaged in 2004, married in 2005, and in 2006 she gave birth to their son, Barron.

Then with his months-old baby at home, Trump, then 60, allegedly had a sexual liaison with 27-year-old Stormy Daniels, the star of "The Witches of Breastwick" and "Porking with Pride 2." Around the same time, Trump allegedly had an affair with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy playmate.

Testifying under oath, then-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker admitted that "in concert" with the Trump campaign the tabloid purchased the rights to McDougal's story for $150,000 without any intention of publishing it "to prevent it from influencing the election."

Trump opted to cut out the middleman with Daniels and pay for Daniels' silence directly, through Cohen. Unlike the National Enquirer's "catch and kill" payment, nothing was illegal about it.

Reports indicate that to make his case, Bragg has to show that by falsely recording the payment as a legal expense -- typically a misdemeanor in New York -- Trump committed a felony because it was in furtherance of another crime, disguising an illegal campaign donation.

What disturbs me -- other than Trump's personal behavior -- is that this is being discussed as a legal story. On one level, I get it. But I don't think Bragg's case is politically advisable or even legally sound.

By preparing the first indictment of a former president on charges that probably would not have been used against anyone else, Bragg is helping Trump cast himself as a victim of a legal system out to get him. This will make other, weightier and worthier, potential prosecutions -- such as pressuring Georgia officials to "find" votes and fomenting the Jan. 6 riot -- seem equally politically motivated.

But as bad as that is, it's not what offends me.

De Tocqueville's concern was that the relegation of political questions to the courts results in legalism overpowering other considerations. The "spirit" of legalism "infiltrates all of society" until "the entire people" acquire "the habits and tastes of the magistrate."

Presidential impeachments arouse this tendency the most. In each of the modern impeachments (Bill Clinton's in 1998 and Trump's in 2019 and 2021), the political debate ended up being monopolized by lawyers and technical questions of criminal guilt, even though impeachment trials are explicitly not criminal trials. For instance, on Jan. 6, Trump may not have violated the legal standard for criminal incitement of violence. But is the president coming within millimeters of violating that standard therefore fine?

The upshot from that chapter was that so long a violation of law is not provable, a president deserves to stay in office. Legalistic rationalizations become an excuse for not making moral or political judgments.

Trump denies these affairs (not to mention the numerous credible accusations of sexual assault levied against him). But amazingly, virtually none of his defenders seem to care if the accusations are true or about what it would say about his character if they were.

Instead, for many Republican politicians and voters alike, who still claim to care about "traditional values" in the abstract, the legal argle-bargle serves as squid-ink to hide in. All that matters is that Trump is a victim, not of his own tawdry excesses, but of the excesses that behavior invites in his enemies.
Man in the pub who drove Britain's Brexit debate

United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage has survived being run over, testicular cancer and a plane crash, as well as some vicious criticism by the British media and politicians.

GALLERY

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage (L) arrives to deliver a speech on UKIPs plans for the coming months, at the Emmanuel center in Westminster, London, Britain, 04 July 2016. During the speech, Farage announced he is resigning as UKIP leader.

London (dpa) - One of the most flamboyant characters in British politics resigned as UKIP leader in May 2015 after he narrowly failed to win a seat in parliament. He returned as leader days later after a petition from thousands of disappointed UKIP members.Announcing his resignation again on Monday, Farage insisted he would not repeat that comeback, saying Britains vote to leave the European Union in last months referendum "means that my political ambition has been achieved."The 52-year-old likes supporters to see him as a jovial, ordinaryandHe was often pictured grinning at photographers while clutching a pint of "bitter" beer, sometimes in the Westminster Arms pub, close to Britains parliament, but far enough away to reflect his status as a self-styled political outsider.In his referendum campaigning Farage seized upon the reluctance from Britains two largest parties - the Conservatives and Labour - to engage in any meaningful discussion of communities affected by immigration.His shunning by right-wing eurosceptics in the ruling Conservatives only enhanced the anti-establishment image of a man who is a cult hero to many UKIP members.It was Farages description of Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, as havingwhile dismissingthat brought him to most Europeans attention in 2010.Nigel Paul Farage (pronounced to rhyme with carriage) was born in the southern English county of Kent, the son of an alcoholic stockbroker who left Farages mother when he was just 5 years old.After attending the prestigious private school Dulwich College, Farage eschewed university when he reached 18, choosing instead to follow his father into the City as a commodities trader.In his early 20s he experienced his first brush with death when he was knocked down by a car after a drunken night in the pub where he had been arguing about British-Irish relations.He survived, only to be diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly afterwards. But he overcame the illness - he has reportedly expressed- and went on to marry twice and father four children.His first dabble with politics came with the Conservative Party, but he left to become one of the founding members of UKIP when Britain signed the 1992 Maastricht treaty, which paved the way for greater political union and the euro currency.Charismatic and articulate, Farage quickly climbed the party ladder, becoming a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 1999 and party leader in 2006.He resigned for a brief spell in 2009 to fight a seat in the 2010 general election, an attempt which failed as UKIP polled just 3 per cent. It was during campaigning that he survived a plane crash with minor injuries.The UKIP leader and his party have sailed apparently unscathed through several scandals about MEPs expenses, accusations of racism and sexism, infighting, and Farages alleged affairs.In 2013 Marta Andreasen, then the partys only female MEP, defected to the Conservatives, accusing Farage of being "anti-women" and a "Stalinist dictator".Another ex-UKIP MEP, Nikki Sinclair, stood up in the European Parliament to accuse Farage of using taxpayers money to fund jobs for both his German wife and a woman she said was his former mistress.But the mud flung at Farage failed to halt the rise of UKIP to become Britains third-largest party in a general election in May 2015, winning 13 per cent of the votes. His apparent invincibility had led one BBC reporter to dub him "non-stick Nigel."Following the Brexit referendum, Farage used his speech in the European Parliament to gloat over his success.he told fellow MEPs.
A former West Minico Middle School teacher received a withheld sentence after pleading guilty to grabbing a students buttock at the school.

Under a plea agreement, Christopher S. Perrigot pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of battery, amended from misdemeanor sexual battery which occurred in 2021.

A second misdemeanor battery charge, which occurred with a different child in 2022, was dismissed.

Perrigot is no longer employed by the district, Minidoka County School District said. The district, however, has not responded to the Times-News request for Perrigots hire and exit dates and whether he was ever placed on administrative leave.

He was charged in September 2022 after a child reported Perrigot poked her in the side of the stomach and made her feel uncomfortable.

During an investigation by the Minidoka County Sheriffs Office, detectives became aware of several similar reported incidents, including the incident from 2021.

In the plea agreement, Perrigot admitted to grabbing the childs buttock in 2021.

Perrigot was sentenced on March 3 by Minidoka County Judge Doug Abenroth to a withheld sentence that included 12 months of unsupervised probation and he was ordered to pay court costs.
National news outlets have recently taken an interest in Idahos prohibition on elective abortions. Its not surprising, but it is further proof that the radicalization of our state is being coordinated by far-away organizations and out-of-state money.

Idahos prohibition on elective abortions went into effect after the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. In that case, the Supreme Court held that the U.S. Constitution does not contain an explicit or implied right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

The Supreme Courts decision reversed a decades-long limitation on states ability to legislate sensible and appropriate limitations on terminating a pregnancy. Under the old law, unborn babies could be killed for reasons unrelated to health, including the financial burden a baby might impose on a family.

The Dobbs decision enabled Idahos lawmakers to craft a sensible legislative framework for protecting the lives of the unborn and the wellbeing of pregnant women. Idahos legislative framework expressed the moral imperative that our law protects all human beings, regardless of their age. The Idaho Supreme Court upheld Idahos prohibition on elective abortions in light of that moral framework.

Idahos neighbors to the west decided to go in a different direction, loosening any semblance of protection for the unborn. The result? In California, 1-in-4 abortions are now performed for sex selection reasons  meaning a human life is ended because the developing baby is the wrong sex.

In Oregon and Washington, minor children, including victims of domestic sex abuse or sex trafficking, can be made to receive an abortion without notification to a parent  allowing instances of rape or abuse to be obscured from families and law enforcement. In fact, neither state requires parental involvement at all before a minor obtains an abortion.

These states were free to pursue this legal and policy course, just as Idaho is free to pursue a pathway that protects the unborn and ensures that the wellbeing of pregnant women is prioritized.

Abortion has been  and is likely to remain  a divisive civic topic. But Idahos people and legislators have enacted a framework that works for our families and embodies our commitments to the unborn.

The national news apparatus, however, is creating a false narrative to start laying the groundwork to attract money and operatives into our state to undermine our laws and fool our citizens.

Real work must be done by the Republican Party, by legislators, and the organizations dedicated to defending life to educate citizens about their rights and the full implications of the post-Dobbs world. Gone are the days when organizations committed to life can merely walk the hallways of the Capitol and court the votes of legislators. The law has been written and enacted.

Our contest now is to inform Idahos citizenry and truly build a culture of life.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expects stronger partnerships with Chile and Qatar in various areas of cooperation as he welcomed the two countries new ambassadors to the Philippines.

NEW AMBASSADOR. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presents credentials to H.E. Megawati Dato Paduka Haji Manan, ambassador of Brunei Darussalam. The President also handed credentials to new ambassadors from the Republic of Chile, the State of Qatar, and Malaysia. Rey Baniquet

The Philippines and Chile could work together on disaster response, climate change, energy security as well as enhanced government-to-government collaboration and public-private partnerships, Mr. Marcos told Chilean Ambassador Alvaro Domingo Jara Bucarey.

The Chief Executive also welcomed Qatar Ambassador Ahmed Saad Nasser Abdullah Al-Hamidi, expressing hope that the Philippines and the Gulf country could work closely.

He said the two countries could work together on disaster response, climate change, energy security as well as enhanced government-to-government collaboration and public private partnerships (PPPs).

The Philippines, considered one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, is looking at new technologies and best practices around the world to transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewables, the President said.

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Mr. Marcos cited the use of geothermal energy, noting that although the Philippines is one of the top producers of geothermal power, the country has to explore other areas as old geothermal sources start to run out.

President Marcos meanwhile appointed Henry Bensurto Jr. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkiye, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Friday.

The PCO said Bensurtos appointment has concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The President also named key officials for the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; Department of Labor and Employment; and National Security Council.

The Chilean Ambassador told President Marcos that the good thing with Chile is its potential for both solar and geothermal energy like the Philippines and needs new technologies and partners to harness such power sources.

With solar energy we have been able to modify the energy production in Chile. And we would like to see the north of Chile there is a lot of presence, tourism mostly but they have an immense potential for energy generation, Bucarey said.

Mr. Marcos was also delighted to be able to explore with the Chilean ambassador some of the new ideas and technologies that are available to both countries, noting the Philippines needs partners as countries slowly redefine their economies for post-Covid and post-Ukraine scenarios.

So I look forward to that, Mr. Ambassador, and Im very happy that you have come as the envoy from your country and I am sure  I hope that you will get to see some of my country, the President said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos said that he admired Qatar for transforming its economy and shifting away from traditional revenue sources and toward new income sources with a clear vision for the future, said Marcos Jr.

It will be a great advantage to the Philippines if it can learn the best practices from Qatar, especially in the area of revenue and income generation, he told the Qatari ambassador.

Al-Hamidi said his country is ready to partner with the Philippines and explore opportunities that the two countries believe have great potential through years of active diplomatic relations.  Mervin Vince Lopez President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Henry Bensurto Jr. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkiye, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Friday. The PCO said Bensurtos appointment has concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Bensurto previously served as the Philippine Consul General to San Francisco from 2014 to 2020.

Meanwhile, the PCO also released the list of the latest appointments in the administration. These include: Department of Agrarian Reform (Date of appointment: March 21, 2023), Mr McDonald M. Galit as the Director IV. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Engineering (Date of appointment: March 21, 2023), Ariodera C. Rico, Director IV and Juana T. Tapel, Director III DA, National Meat Inspection Service (Date of appointment: March 21, 2023) Alvin A. Leal as Director II. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DOA: March 21, 2023) Wilfredo S. Mallari as Undersecretary. Department of Labor and Employment (National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council) (DOA: March 21, 2023), Renato B. Almeda, Member, Representing the Employers Sector, Luis C. Corral and Roland C. De La Cruz as Members of Representing the Labor Sector. National Security Council (DOA: March 21, 2023), Francis Jude S. Lauengco, Assistant Director-General, Cornelo H. Valencia Jr., Director V, Cyril P. Cusi, and Ruperta T. Salvanera as Director IV President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Henry Bensurto Jr. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkiye, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Friday.

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The government has asked local officials to join the Earth Hour celebration and encourage their constituents to switch off lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. tonight (Saturday) to send a strong and urgent message on the need for collective action to address climate change.

This developed as the Department of Energy assured the public on Friday there would be no red alert warnings on the countrys power supply for the entire year.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said only yellow alerts are expected to be raised in different parts of the country.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources urged Filipinos to observe Earth Hour on March 25 in support of the global efforts to protect the planet and fight climate change.

The DENR also enjoined its regional and field offices, bureaus, and attached agencies nationwide to switch off the lights for this years event, which carries the theme The Biggest Hour for the Earth.

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The Department of Health also encouraged Filipinos to join the rest of the world in observing Earth Hour on Saturday.

Started in Australia in 2007, the annual Earth Hour has become the worlds biggest grassroots environmental movement spanning over 7,000 cities and 180 countries and territories.

This years Earth Hour activities in the country will be held at Quezon City Circle, Quezon City.

The DOH, together with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-Philippines), said the annual event takes the initiative of generating awareness to help address the climate crisis and promote measures that help reduce energy consumption through the one-hour switch-off.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, as the Vice-chair for Disaster Preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, encouraged all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and village leaders to embark on Earth Hour activities that are aligned with the new global action plan for nature for the coming decade.

In a memorandum circular, Abalos prodded local government units to mobilize their constituents to participate in the Earth Hour activities in their respective areas.

He also encouraged LGUs to mobilize the private sector within their jurisdictions to be one with the government in observing Earth Hour by switching off their signage lights or some of their lights in their facilities, as the business operations will allow.

A red alert is raised when there is an insufficient power supply, which could lead to outages, the DOE said. A yellow alert, on the other hand, means thin power reserves which may not lead to rotational brownouts.

The official said they expect power demand to reach 13,125 megawatts this year in Luzon alone.

Due to forced outages or scheduled outages or shutdown of power plants, its possible that we will have 15 yellow alerts this year in Luzon, but we will have zero red alerts. This could go down to 15 yellow alerts due to a possible additional 250 megawatts in Visayas, and a liquified natural gas terminal in Batangas could provide 1,200 more megawatts, Guevarra said in a televised briefing.

There will be no yellow or red alerts in Visayas during the daytime, the official added, even as the island group requires up to 2,690 megawatts of power supply.

This is different at nighttime though, as Visayas may expect up to 5 yellow alerts, she said.

In Mindanao, peak demand may reach 2,395 megawatts, but no yellow or red alert would be raised even during the hot season.

Backups are ready in the event that power plants experience forced or unscheduled outages, she said.

Those are scheduled and generators agreed on when. There should be none in the summer. But if there is a forced outage, we need to run our so-called diesel power plants, battery energy storage system, and natural gas power plants, she said.

Guevara also noted that new plants would be added to the power generation mix. New transmission lines would also be opened to address congestion in the distribution of energy.

We expect our renewable energy sector to bring in around 1,000 megawatts this year. They may also yield battery storage energy systems. The Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project will transmit 450 megawatts of power from Mindanao to Visayas, and possibly up to Luzon, she said.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) earlier warned that the entire month of May may be under yellow alert, with the agency saying the conditions could worsen if there are unexpected plant outages.

The DOEs projection factors in a forced outage of 500-600 MW but based on historical data, there were instances when the grid lost more than 4,000 MW of power supply due to emergency shutdowns which according to the NGCP, cannot be predicted.

Let us unite with the rest of the world in caring for our one and only home, Mother Earth. Simply turning off your lights is a big help to reduce the effects of climate change, said Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Abalos said this years global movement provides the platform to urgently promote the advocacy of addressing the planets biggest environmental challenges.

We need to take urgent and decisive actions now to save the planet for our sake and the sake of future generations, he said.

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Coffee Project is the sole coffee shop in the Philippines to make it to the Top 50 Most Instagrammable Cafes in the World listed by the popular travel website, Big Seven Travel.

With multiple branches around the city, the feeling when walking into a Coffee Project is always a welcome one. With soft lighting and lush greenery, its an oasis of calm and beauty in this bustling city, Big Seven Travel said.

The Villar-owned, original Filipino-grown Coffee Project boasts of its expresso-based concoctions and mouth-watering food.

Its rustic yet vibrant mood sets it apart from other coffee shops in the country.

Run by the AllValue Corp. of the Villar Group, Coffee Project has become part of the lives of its loyal customer base since 2014.

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Coffee Project had also inspired many coffee lovers as well as witnessed many momentous family milestones, successful business deals, and friendships.

Coffee Project, which has 52 branches in the Philippines, joins in the Top 50 chic coffee spots in Milan, Italy; Paris, France; Brussels in Belgium; Manchester, UK; New York in the US; Dubai, UAE; Marrakech in Morocco; Vietnam; and Bali, Indonesia.

In choosing the Top 50 Most Instagrammable in the world, Big Seven rounded up the best cafe designs, serving the most exciting food from around the world. It also compiled information about the hottest restaurants in town from its 2.5-million social audience.

The Best Of lists were listed based on editorial opinions and experiences, previous critic reviews, online customer reviews, location and accessibility, online presence, consistency, atmosphere, service, value for money, and presentation.

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TODAYS WORD is garner. Example: Macey garnered significantly more Girl Scout cookie orders once her parents started taking the order forms to work.

THURSDAYS WORD was masquerade. It means to assume the appearance of something one is not. Example: Dont switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no; Dont masquerade with the guy in the shades, oh no. (Lyrics of Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart, 1983)

Dance

If you enjoy dancing, the Cascade School Community Center Music and Dance keeps you at it each week with its Friday night dances, which go from 7-9:30 p.m. However, this week, because of fundraising for the Cascade Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, there are two. Tonights dance features music by Silver Eagles, and Saturdays features music by Oldskool.

Hazardous Waste Day

In yesterdays column the Stroller wrote all about Household Hazardous Waste Day, except for one thing  the date! Thats a rather important detail, wouldnt you say? On Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, households can bring hazardous waste items to the Bassett Service Station at 2285 Fairystone Park Hwy., Bassett. Thanks to the Stroller reader who called the office (638-8801 ext. 2430) to point out that oversight.

Brunswick stew

Members of the Bassett Ruritan Club are making Brunswick stew, and if youd like to pick some up tomorrow, be sure to order it today. The cost will be $8/quart; call Don Kendrick at 276-806-1071 or Joe Varner at 276-629-1411. It will be ready to be picked up Saturday, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Todays chuckle

Mr. Henderson went to the doctor because he wasnt feeling well, and he described his symptoms and discomforts. The doctor left the room and returned with four bottles of pills.

The doctor said, Take the green pill with a big glass of water when you get up in the morning. Take the red pill with a big glass of water before lunch. Take the yellow pill with a big glass of water before supper, and take the blue pill with a big glass of water after supper.

Alarmed to be put on so much medication, the man said, What in the world is wrong with me?

You havent been drinking enough water, the doctor said.

THURSDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: John J. Loud (1844-1916) got the first patent for a ballpoint pen in 1888, inspired by trying to make a writing instrument that would write on leather, which the fountain pens used back then couldnt do. He used a revolving steel ball held in place by a socket, which he described as an improved reservoir or fountain pen, especially useful, among other purposes, for marking on rough surfaces such as wood, coarse wrapping paper, and other articles where an ordinary pen could not be used.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: Even though Loud invented the ballpoint pen in 1888, it wasnt produced commercially until when?
A jail nurse has been indicted for involuntary manslaughter in the August death of inmate Bradley Steven Hensley.

Deborah Sue Damron, 56, is being held in Pikeville, Kentucky, awaiting extradition to Henry County as the investigation into Hensleys death continues.

Hensley entered the Henry County Adult Detention Center (ADC) on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 6. He had congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and his family had blamed negligence by the jail for his death.

CAH is an hereditary disorder of the adrenal glands, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says. The adrenal glands produce cortisol and regulate blood pressure and blood sugar, among other things.

Upon entering the ADC, Hensley made the staff aware of his medical history, a March 23 press release from the Henry County Sheriffs Office states. Based on this information and his extensive pre-existing conditions, Hensley was placed under direct supervision and regularly monitored by the Wellpath medical services staff.

Wellpath is an independent company contracted by the jail to provide medical services.

However, further down in the release, it states, While reviewing video evidence, it was discovered the on-duty nurse employed by Wellpath medical services and responsible for inmate medical care did not perform medical checks as expected and required. Further investigation revealed this same nurse had falsified Mr. Hensleys medical records to reflect rounds and vitals checks that were never performed.

Although the cause of death involved fentanyl, the investigation revealed this lack of care provided contributed to Mr. Hensleys death, the release states.

Acute fentanyl toxicity with adrenal crisis due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia contributing was the determination of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia after it performed an autopsy.

Investigators from the Henry County Sheriffs Office investigated Hensleys death while staying in regular communication with Henry County Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Nester, the release states.

On Monday, the evidence was presented to a Henry County grand jury. The grand jury indicted Damron for involuntary manslaughter. She was arrested Wednesday by the Kentucky State Police in Pikeville, Kentucky.

She is being held in Pikeville awaiting extradition as the investigation continues.

Describing what happened on the day of Hensleys death, the release states that on Aug. 6 Hensley told deputies he was having difficulty breathing, and deputies summoned Wellpath. At about 7:33 a.m., deputies noticed Hensley lying in bed, appearing to be in medical duress.

When they interacted with him, the release states, he became unconscious and unresponsive, and deputies conducted life-saving measures, including CPR, until medical staff arrived. The medical staff and deputies continued giving CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator on Hensley.

The Martinsville-Henry County Emergency 911 Center was contacted and notified of the situation at 7:36 a.m., the release states. An EMS unit with the Henry County Public Safety arrived at 7:45 a.m.

Hensley was transported to Sovah-Health in Martinsville, where he was pronounced deceased.

The case is pending final review by the Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails, the release states.
SALEM  There are 33 food pantries in the Roanoke Valley, all helping to battle food insecurity in the region. The big problem, according to participants attending Feeding Southwest Virginias food summit Thursday, is that theyre not connected.

The goal of the summit, held at Feeding Southwest Virginias warehouse in Salem, was to start to address that problem by bringing food outreach organization, medical care providers, and elected officials together to find a way to pool resources.

Patricia White-Boyd, a member of the Roanoke City Council, addressed the problem early in a group discussion on using collaboration to combat food insecurity.

We have food banks and food pantries popping up everywhere, White-Boyd said. The problem is theyre not reaching the people they need to be.

Providing food for needy people has become increasingly challenging as food prices have swelled nationwide.

The issue has been especially visible recently concerning egg prices. Widespread cases of avian influenza led to the slaughtering of huge numbers of chickens and a price increase of up to 70% for eggs and poultry.

How many of you have noticed the increased prices for food? Pamela Irvine, president and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia, asked the gathering. And how many of you have seen an increase in the people coming to you for assistance?

That prompted many participants to raise their hands.

Food banks and food pantries have needs that go beyond simply gaining food resources. They also need to be able to address a wide range of issues that create food insecurity, according to Irvine.

The root cause of food insecurity is poverty, Irvine said. So we have to work to address poverty as well.

The push to combat poverty, and to remove barriers of getting food to people who need it, is as much a part of the work Feeding Southwest Virginia does as providing food directly.

The non-profit has worked to change laws, currently focusing their efforts on shifting public policy to allow people receiving SNAP benefits and other assistance to continue to receive the assistance for up to a year after starting a job.

We want to make sure people are able to get on their feet, and can transition smoothly off needing those benefits before theyre taken off of them, Irvine said.

Policy work, and efforts to established connections with local food pantries and other social service providers were put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lot of that was stopped for the last three years, Irvine said. But now, with the end of emergency SNAP benefits, we feel like now is a good time to start working towards it again.

Representatives from Goodwill, Rescue Mission of Roanoke, the Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP), Carilion Clinic and others attended the summit, discussing challenges in breakout group discussions.

The creation of a shared database to promote referrals was discussed, as was adequate transportation for those who need it.

Lee Clark, Rescue Mission of Roanoke CEO, said that he had vehicles that could be used to provide mobile food outreach, but not enough volunteers to drive them, prompting White-Boyd to offer assistance.

Im going to put the call out there for people to volunteer, and see if I can help in any way, White-Boyd said.

Participants also discussed a range of concerns, another recurring one being community trust, and how to build it among people who dont trust the motives of outreach organizations.

Rachel Theo-Maurelli, assistant director of Plenty!, a food outreach and community farming group based in Floyd County, said that asking people to explain their needs was difficult to balance with the operation of a non-profit.

I feel strange about asking people to tell their stories and then using those stories to seek funding, Theo-Maurelli said.

The groups intend to meet again, to discuss solutions to shared problems, and to determine ways to work together. There will be another food summit held in Salem in September.

This was our first work summit, where we try to figure out some of what we can do, Irvine said. Well be coming back in September, and have even more to talk about.
ROANOKE  Virginia Tech will decide its 2023-24 tuition and fee rates during a special meeting in April after administrators in March heard an outpouring of opposition to potential price increases.

The university Board of Visitors is considering increasing tuition by up to 4.9%, and upping other fees by as much as 8.8%, according to past announcements. Those numbers remain unchanged, said an announcement Thursday.

When the board met on March 20, they delayed the vote on tuition and fees, according to the announcement. The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will hold a virtual meeting on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 10 a.m. to discuss and vote on 2023-24 tuition and fees.

The virtual meeting can be accessed online at bov.vt.edu. There will be no additional public comment, the announcement said.

During a public comment period March 2, more than 100 people  mostly students and alumni  voiced opposition to increasing the cost of learning at Virginia Tech.

Being at Virginia Tech has been a dream of mine. I love this place. I love the people. I love the school, said student Olivia Batten, according to meeting documents. However, I lose my dream and I lose the connection to this place I love with an increase in tuition. I just cannot afford it.

The proposed changes amount to a tuition increase of up to $588 for in-state students, or $1,617 for students from out of state, according to administrators. Thats before the up to 8.8% fee increases, which university President Tim Sands on Tuesday said are the lowest in the state.

Virginia Techs fees are the lowest in the commonwealth, and our tuition rates are well below the other selective public universities in Virginia  UVA and William & Mary, Sands said. Yet these rates are still unaffordable for low- and middle-income Virginia families.

Sands mentioned Virginia Techs Funds for the Future program as an example of an affordability initiative. The program covers yearly tuition and fee increases for students whose families earn less than $100,000 annually.

Historically, Virginia Tech has discounted tuition at a very low level compared to peers, but we aim to change that, Sands said. A detailed plan is under construction, and this will make a difference for thousands of Hokie students over the coming years.

Sands said other actions will come from a university task force examining access and affordability.

This first phase will require about $30 million annually in new investments in need-based financial aid per year, Sands said. Sources of these funds will include philanthropy, internal reallocation, state and federal government support and paid internships provided by our employer partners.

But Jamal Ross, who is the undergraduate student representative to the Board of Visitors, on Tuesday said his fellow students are experiencing cost-of-living challenges right now, and adding to tuition and fee rates will only contribute to those difficulties.

We cannot let growing tuition costs impede our students academic success or push them to tough decisions regarding their future, Ross said. We know that tackling tuition expenses is a difficult problem with no simple answer, but we must however continue to collaborate in order to develop ways to make education accessible and affordable to all.
On Thursday, the Rotary Club of Marion honored Kenna Young and Garrett Baker Muniz-Astello from McDowell Academy of Innovation as the Students of the Week.

They were introduced to the club by Rotarian Steve Bush and received certificates from Rotary President Richard Berlick.

Young is the daughter of Julia and Jonathan Young of Nebo. She is an 11th-grade student at MAI. She plans to attend East Tennessee State University and is undecided whether to study business or NICU nursing.

Her school and community recognitions and awards include: outstanding ninth-grade honors service award project at Hankins Baptist Church and Bright Beginnings, excellent attendance award for 2020-21 school year, American Citizenship Award, A honor roll in high school classes, A honor roll in college classes, serving on the stakeholder committee for common dress code, certificate of appreciation for serving at Red Cross blood drive, certificate of appreciation for most outstanding element poster project, Presidents Education Award of Academic Excellence, McDowell Academy of Innovation, certificate of recognition for excellent attendance, McDowell Technical Community College Red Cross CPR certification, MAIs National Honor Society and presented to elementary schools with the full STEM ahead program.

Her extracurricular activities are president of MAI National Honor Society, assistant Sunday School teacher at church, McDowell Technical Honor Society, Youth Devoted to Christ, Knitting Club, Piano Club and Key Club. Her interests include traveling with family, going to the lake, paddle boarding, swimming and fishing.

Muniz-Astello is the son of Marcie Baker and Daniel Muniz-Astello of Marion. He is a 12th grader at MAI. After graduation, he plans to join the U.S. Air Force or Space Force. He wants to help defend the nation from cyber or microbial threats. After he leaves the military, he plans to get a government job, for example in the FBI.

His school and community recognitions and awards include: North Carolina Outward Bound School: Blue Ridge Mountains backpacking, rock climbing and whitewater canoeing, Presidents Education Award Program (outstanding academic achievement), certificate of appreciation for the Red Cross blood drive.

His extracurricular activities are the Yearbook Club, where he helps create the yearbook; the Gaming Club, where he and others play many different games from gaming computers to board games; and the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). He joined it to help familiarize himself with the many health care jobs like microbiology.

His interests are video games, VR, history, maps and technology. Some of his major interests are space and science. He likes looking under the microbiology and through a telescope.
Cancer-associated genes called oncogenes are well known to stimulate cell growth and division  causing tumors to balloon and spread. But now, researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine and Sarafan ChEM-H have found that one notorious oncogene called Myc also has a direct role in disguising growing cancers from the immune system.

Myc is associated with more than 70% of human cancers, and blowing these cancers cover could lead to a new class of cancer therapy, the researchers believe.

They found that a key component of the Myc-induced camouflage is a sugar molecule coating on the surface of cancer cells. This sugar sends a stand down signal to immune cells called macrophages that would normally engulf and destroy the cancer cells.

The discovery links two seemingly unrelated previous observations: Cancer cells differ from healthy cells in the patterns of sugars on their surface, and the Myc oncogene somehow protects cancer cells from the immune system by increasing the production of specific proteins in the cells. Deciphering the connection required the collaboration of two labs, one run by sugar chemist and recent Nobel Prize winner Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, and another headed by cancer expert Dean Felsher, MD, PhD.

I think this is very likely to lead to an entirely new line of cancer therapeutics, said Felsher, a professor of medicine and of pathology. Felsher also directs the Stanford Translational Research and Applied Medicine Center, which encourages physicians and basic scientists to collaborate to bring their results into the clinic. Many cancer treatments were developed, essentially, through trial and error, but this is completely different. We know the mechanism and exactly how to target this process.

Its a striking connection, said Bertozzi, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences. My lab had been trying to understand why cancer cells have altered patterns of sugars on their surfaces, and how these changes help the cells escape the immune system. Now we know that Myc regulates the production of proteins that make these sugar molecules that trick the immune system into ignoring the cancer cells.

Felsher and Bertozzi, who is the Baker Family Director of Sarafan ChEM-H, are the senior authors of the research, which was published online March 10 in The Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. Graduate student Benjamin Smith and instructor Anja Deutzmann, PhD, are the lead authors of the study.

Genes gone astray

Oncogenes are good genes gone bad. Before they go to the dark side, they play a critical role in controlling how and when a cell divides. But when they are mutated or freed from the normally tight layers of regulation a cell uses to moderate their activity, they spur rapid cell division and tumor growth.

Like many oncogenes, Myc is a member of a class of proteins called transcription factors. Transcription factors are master regulators that adjust the level of many proteins in the cell up or down in response to external and internal signals. These proteins can spur a cell to ignore signals to stop dividing, or sidestep built-in cellular suicide programs meant to do away with misbehaving cells. They can also modulate the cells external environment, coaxing unfriendly neighbors into alliances, or facilitating the growth of new blood vessels to deliver much-needed oxygen to a growing tumor. In short, they are perfectly poised to wreak havoc when they go awry.

Felsher has spent decades studying how Myc triggers cancerous changes inside and outside a cell. Early in his career, he started to suspect that Myc also tamped down the immune system  a relatively new idea at the time.

Bertozzi is an expert in analyzing the patterns of sugars, or glycans, that bristle from the surfaces of every living cell. These sugars are dizzyingly complex in their structures, and they mediate critical interactions with other cells, signaling molecules like hormones and pathogens like viruses and bacteria. They require specialized knowledge and equipment to study thoroughly, and Bertozzi is a world leader in the field.

I think this is very likely to lead to an entirely new line of cancer therapeutics

Felsher and Deutzmann, then a postdoctoral scholar in Felshers lab, had learned that Myc likely controlled the expression of a type of protein called a glycosyltransferase, which is necessary to build complex molecules including sugars on the surface of cells. But they didnt have the tools or expertise to pursue the finding.

But in the summer of 2016, Felsher invited Bertozzi to speak at a symposium for his Translational Research and Applied Medicine center. Bertozzi, who had recently arrived at Stanford University, accepted the offer enthusiastically.

I came to Stanford with the high hopes that I could interact directly with physicians and learn more about human disease, Bertozzi said. They know more about biology than I ever have. So I was very excited when Dean asked me to speak. I thought, There will be a bunch of doctors there! This was a totally new thing for me.

At the symposium, Bertozzi spoke about an observation in her lab that shed been pondering.

We know, and have known for some time, that there are changes in the patterns of sugar molecules on the surface of cancer cells, and we wondered if there were opportunities for new therapies based on these changes, she said.

As she spoke, the atmosphere in the room changed. Our students got together after the talk and said, This all makes sense. Felsher recalled. I got goosebumps, Bertozzi said, after hearing from Felsher and his lab members about the link between Myc and glycosyltransferase enzymes. We realized this must be how the sugars are changing.

The labs immediately agreed to collaborate, with Deutzmann and the Felsher lab providing the information about Myc and its role as an oncogene, and Smith and the Bertozzi lab contributing the expertise in sugar science, also called glycobiology.

Ferreting out Mycs role

Together, the labs discovered that Myc drives the production of a glycosyltransferase called ST6GalNAc4, which is necessary to make a sugar molecule called disialyl-T that pops up in abundance on the surface of Myc-driven cancer cells. Disialyl-T binds to another molecule on the surface of macrophages, flipping them in one fell swoop from foe to friend.

This interaction is important; leukemia cells driven by Myc expression, but unable to make ST6GalNAc4, grew more slowly in laboratory mice and generated a stronger immune response to the tumor than cells that could make ST6GalNAc4. Additionally, Smith and Deutzmann found that people with cancers that have high levels of both Myc and ST6GalNAc4 have a poorer prognosis and fewer immune cells near their tumors than those with lower levels.

This connection between Myc and sugar biology is really spectacular, and it was right in front of everyones faces, Bertozzi said. We know from Deans previous work that Myc regulates cell growth and division, which is obviously important for cancer. But what wasnt known is that Myc can drive the expression of sugars on the cancer cell surface to allow it to evade recognition by the immune system.

The researchers are eager to continue their partnership to develop novel new cancer therapeutics.

The way we see it, there are two next obvious directions of research, Bertozzi said. First, we want to test whether other oncogenes are also affecting the sugar structures on the surface of cancer cells. Second, we want to see if we can inhibit ST6GalNAc4 to enhance the ability of macrophages to destroy the cancer cells.

What Stanford is doing  intentionally bringing together physicians and basic scientists from diverse fields  is exactly the way we are going to cure disease, Felsher said.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia, UC San Francisco, City of Hope and the University of Iowa also contributed to the work.

Bertozzi and Felsher are members of the Stanford Cancer Institute.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01-CA227942, R35-CA253180, R01-CA208735PQ7, U01-CA188383, R01-CA184384, R01-CA170378PQ22, F30-CA232541, NCI-CA222676, K00-CA2122454, F32-CA250324 and F30-AG060638), the Stanford School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Emerson Collective Cancer Research Fund, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, a ChEM-H Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Cancer Society.

Bertozzi is a cofounder of Redwood Biosciences (a subsidiary of Catalent), Enable Biosciences, Palleon Pharmaceuticals, InterVenn Bio, Lycia Therapeutics and OliLux Biosciences, and a member of the board of directors of Eli Lilly. Bertozzi, Felsher and other co-authors are coinventors on a patent application related to this work held by Stanford University.
The Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia e Silva, reaffirmed on Thursday the commitment to position the archipelago as a digital hub in Africa with the ability to attract foreign investment, becoming a digital country.

The country has young entrepreneurial talents that already assume themselves as digital leaders, there is a favorable ecosystem for innovation, investment and digital entrepreneurship, said Ulisses Correia e Silva, speaking at the opening of the Leadership Summit Cabo Verde, which started Thursday in Praia, with international speakers and the aim, according to the organization, of producing relevant knowledge in all areas related to leadership.

We intend to position Cape Verde as a digital hub in Africa, with the ability to attract reference investors, attract digital nomads, export goods and services, create a community of entrepreneurship and skilled jobs for young people and enhance the centrality of our diaspora, he expressed, after listing the various technological changes in recent years in the country, such as the complete transition to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) or the technology park in Praia and Sao Vicente, nearing completion.

He also argued that it is necessary to improve the efficiency of public services in all areas, particularly through digital transformation, to combat the sluggishness of the public administration, while maintaining the focus on technological training of young people.

The Leadership Summit Cabo Verde is being held for the first time between Thursday and Friday, at the National Assembly and the University of Cabo Verde in Praia, and aims to be an annual event integrated into the Lider project, which for the first time replicates internationally the Leadership Summit Portugal event.

It brings together dozens of speakers, Cape Verdean and foreign, from the areas of entrepreneurship and digital, around the theme New Digital Leadership, with the aim of discussing the challenges faced by leaders in the face of technological transformation.
The leaders of Guinea-Bissaus Muslim community on Thursday called on the countrys president to find a good solution to the issue of child begging, a practice that Umaro Sissoco Embalo has banned.

In a joint press conference, the president of the National Union of Imams of Guinea-Bissau, Suleimane Embalo, and the leader of the Association of Koranic Parents and Teachers, Mussa Kebe, said they will respect the order of the Head of State, but also asked Sissoco Embalo to help them find a good solution to the problem.

Last Monday, the Minister of Women, Family and Social Solidarity, Conceicao Evora, announced that as of March 27 the order given by the Guinean President will come into force.

Umaro Sissoco Embalo ordered the Interior Minister, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, Soares Sambu, to arrest the father or Koranic master (teacher of the Koran) of any child caught in the street begging.

Hundreds of children roam the streets of Bissau and neighboring capitals begging as they leave their homes to learn the Koran. Since the pronouncement of the order by the Guinean President, several Koranic masters have been appealing to the Head of State to understand their plight to support the children who are sent to Daras (traditional Koranic schools).

The president of the Association of Koranic Parents and Teachers of Guinea-Bissau, Mussa Kebe, said that no Dara owner intends to defy the order of the President, but he also appealed for a good solution to be found.

The Daras are peace-building centers because they teach religion in a modern way. We dont want extremism in our land, so we are working with the children. We appeal to the state to dialogue with us. We dont want to politicize this issue, noted Mussa Kebe. This religious leader said he had given guidance to his associates to respect the order issued by the authorities, but regretted that it would be very ugly to see that a Koranic master was arrested in Guinea-Bissau because he was teaching children, he noted.

One thing we can guarantee: we will not stop teaching our children because that would be the end of our religion in Guinea-Bissau, Mussa Kebe stressed. The Islamic leader pointed out that since always his organization has called for taking into account the complexity of the issue of children in the process of learning the Koran.

Mussa Kebe also said that the State should apply the laws it deems necessary to organize the Guinean society, but exhorted on the need for nothing to be imposed on the religious that is not in the Constitution. The president of the National Union of Imams of Guinea-Bissau, Suleimane Balde, also emphasized that it is not the intention of the religious to challenge the State, but only to appeal to the President of the Republic to find a good solution to the problem of the Talibe child.

Talibe is the name given to a child in the process of learning the Koran, under the guardianship of a master. We dont want to challenge, but we want to ask the President to find a solution to this issue of the Daras which are not places to tire children, but places to prepare them for life, argued the leader of the Imams of Guinea-Bissau.
The Japanese government will provide an additional $1.5 million (1.3 million euros) for food assistance to those displaced by armed violence in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.

The amount, made available through the World Food Programme (WFP), will guarantee emergency food for 25,800 displaced people who are in Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces due to terrorism in northern Mozambique.

This contribution, channeled through Japans Emergency Financing fund, will help address food security among the most vulnerable families in Northern Mozambique. It will also enable WFP to address acute and moderate malnutrition by providing assistance to 15,000 children under the age of 5 and 12,000 pregnant and lactating women, WFP said in a statement released during the announcement ceremony of the support in Maputo.

We stand side by side with the people of Mozambique and will continue to support our Mozambican friends to meet the challenges of the ongoing crisis, the Japanese ambassador, Kimura Hajime, said during the event.

Data advanced by WFP indicates that since 2019, Japan has provided $23 million (21 million euros) for the UN agencys humanitarian operations, with a focus on Cabo Delgado province which has faced an armed insurgency for five years with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency has led to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged south of the region and in neighboring Nampula province.

The conflict has left one million people displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and about 4,000 dead, according to the conflict registration project ACLED.
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Escherichia coli. Credit: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH

A new study suggests that E. coli from meat products may be responsible for hundreds of thousands of urinary tract infections in the U.S. each year.

A team of scientists, led by Lance Price and Cindy Liu from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, developed a new genomic approach for tracking the origins of E. coli infections. Using this method, the team estimated that between 480,000 and 640,000 urinary tract infections in the United States each year may be caused by foodborne E. coli strains. The study, "Using source-associated mobile genetic elements to identify zoonotic extraintestinal E. coli infections," was published online March 23 in the journal One Health.

"We're used to the idea that foodborne E. coli can cause outbreaks of diarrhea, but the concept of foodborne E. coli causing urinary tract infections seems strangethat is, until you recognize that raw meat is often riddled with the E. coli strains that cause these infections," said Price, a professor of environmental and occupational health and director of the GW Antibiotic Resistance Action Center who formerly was a researcher at Northern Arizona University. "Our study provides compelling evidence that dangerous E. coli strains are making their way from food animals to people through the food supply and making people sicksometimes really sick."

E. coli is far and away the most common cause of urinary tract infections, causing upward of 85% of cases each year. Women are at greater risk of developing UTIs, which can range from simple bladder infections to life-threatening bloodstream infections.

E. coli can live in and infect people and animals, including animals raised for meat in the U.S. When food animals are slaughtered, the bacteria that inhabit their gutsincluding E. colican contaminate the meat products and put people at risk for exposure.

Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests that a majority of raw meat products are contaminated with E. coli. Currently, only specific types of diarrhea-causing E. coli, such as E. coli O157:H7, are monitored with any seriousness in the U.S., but this new research suggests that other strains may also pose serious health risks.

In this study, the researchers collected raw chicken, turkey and pork purchased from major grocery store chains in Flagstaff and isolated E. coli from these meat samples. At the same time, the researchers, who began the project while employed at NAU's Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI), collected urine and blood E. coli isolates from patients hospitalized at Northern Arizona Healthcare's Flagstaff Medical Center for urinary tract infections.

By analyzing the genomes of E. coli from meat and those from people, the research team identified segments of E. coli DNA unique to strains that colonize food animals versus humans, then developed a new predictive model to differentiate E. coli from the two sources.

Previous work by the same team, investigating a single sequence type of E. coli, had linked contaminated meat to urinary tract infections. In the latest study, the team used their new predictive model to look at all E. coli sequence types and showed that about 8% of E. coli urinary tract infections in the Flagstaff area could be attributed to meat.

Scaling from Flagstaff to the U.S. population overall, suggests that foodborne E. coli may cause hundreds of thousands of urinary tract infections across the U.S. every year, the researchers note.

"This unprecedented study design, based upon intensive food sampling of an isolated community and the engagement of their dominant healthcare provider, is a powerful approach to public health research," Paul Keim, a professor of microbiology at Northern Arizona University and co-author of the study, said. "The study design, along with advancements in genomic technologies, allowed us to establish the linkages between food sources and the clinical cases. The conclusions from this model situation will affect public health practices worldwide."

The foodborne E. coli strains identified in the current study were not only associated with urinary tract infections but were also capable of causing serious kidney and bloodstream infections. Left unchecked, E. coli bloodstream infections can be deadly. It is estimated that between 36,000 and 40,000 people die from E. coli bloodstream infections in the U.S. each year, but it is currently not known what portion of these originate from foodborne exposures.

"People often dismiss bladder infections as minor annoyances, but the bladder is a major gateway to patients' kidneys and bloodstream," said Liu, associate professor of environmental and occupational health co-director of the GW Antibiotic Resistance Action Center and former researcher at PMI. "People over 55 and vulnerable populations such as cancer and transplant patients are at the highest risk for life-threatening blood infections, but young, healthy people are also at risk."

The study suggests producers and the FDA could do a better job of monitoring potentially dangerous pathogens in food, most notably raw meat sold in grocery stores throughout the country. At the same time, consumers can take steps to limit their exposure to contaminated food. For example, home cooks should wash their hands carefully when preparing or handling raw meat and use separate surfaces to prepare raw and cooked foods, the authors say.

More information: Cindy M. Liu et al, Using source-associated mobile genetic elements to identify zoonotic extraintestinal E. coli infections, One Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100518
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Posttransplant T cell metrics are predictive of allo-HCT recipient disease outcomes. Credit: Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf0567

A bone marrow transplant can be a lifesaving treatment for people with relapsed blood cancers, but a potentially lethal complication known as graft-versus-host disease put limitations on this procedure. New research from the University of WisconsinMadison is helping to change that by identifying the cell population that causes GVHD, a target that may make bone marrow transplants safer and more effective.

An allogenic (from a donor) bone marrow transplant is a common treatment for blood cancers and other diseases of the immune system. During the transplant, the patient's immune cells are replaced with the donor's healthy cells. While the donor cells can help cure the patient's blood cancer, they can also cause GVHDin which donor T cells, a specialized immune cell in the blood, attack the patient's healthy cells. This causes complications similar to an autoimmune disease that can be lethal.

"Graft versus host disease is one of the most common complications after an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation procedure, and the field knows quite well that the T cells from the donor are the ones mediating the disease," says the study's lead author Nicholas Hess, a scientist at UWMadison's Carbone Cancer Center. "Before this study, there was no finite T cell population that we've been able to identify as the cause of GVHD, so all our treatment regimens generally impacted the entire T cell population. But targeting all the T cells is not ideal, as they don't just cause this detrimental disease, they also have a beneficial impact on the ability to prevent relapses."

Today in Science Advances, Hess and collaborators including Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center members Christian Capitini, professor of pediatrics, and Peiman Hematti, professor of medicine, published their findings, identifying cells called CD4/CD8 double positive T cells (DPT) causing GVHD in immunodeficient mice. To further confirm their findings, the researchers directly investigated human patient samples.

"We looked at over 400 clinical samples from 35 patients as a part of this study and found double positive T cells to be predictive of GVHD. We also found four other biomarkers which are predictive of not just GVHD, but also relapse in general," says Hess. "Based on that, our next step is to merge the biomarkers into a machine learning algorithm that can output a risk prediction model. Clinicians could then use this model to understand a patient's risk of relapse and GVHD."

A team of physicians and scientists at UWMadison is working on ways to address the problematic cells in patients while leaving healthy and helpful T cells to flourish. Hess says that while the team is very confident the double positive T cells are directly involved in GVHD, the key step in bringing this discovery to the clinic will be developing a targeted depletion strategy and this prediction model.

"When we can gain confidence in this biomarker research and our ability to identify patients at risk, then we will potentially be able to treat them before they have all the detrimental effects of this disease," Hess says.

The study won a Best Abstracts Award from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and was presented at the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) and ECOG-ACRIN conferences, creating excitement based on the findings' potential impact beyond blood cancer and transplantation.

"I've learned that DPTs have been found in a variety of chronic human inflammatory diseases, which goes to show that this is not a specific thing to graft-versus-host disease. It's probably a wider phenomenon that these human T cells are doing that we've never really appreciated before," says Hess. "It's very exciting because it gives us something to study further. I've always been interested in taking something you discover in the lab and translating it to the clinic. I think it's what gets me up every day. It is kind of the ultimate goal in my life to be able to say I participated in something that helped patients in some way."

More information: Nicholas Hess et al, Inflammatory CD4/CD8 double positive human T cells arise from reactive CD8 T cells and are sufficient to mediate GVHD pathology, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf0567. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adf0567 Journal information: Science Advances
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A worker prepares a coffee drink at a shop in Overland Park, Kan., Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, healthy volunteers who were asked to drink coffee or skip it on different days showed no signs of an increase in a certain type of heart rhythm after sipping the caffeinated drinks, although they did walk more and sleep less. Credit: AP Photo/Orlin Wagner

Coffee loversand their doctorshave long wondered whether a jolt of java can affect the heart. New research published Wednesday finds that drinking caffeinated coffee did not significantly affect one kind of heart hiccup that can feel like a skipped beat.

But it did signal a slight increase in another type of irregular heartbeat in people who drank more than one cup per day. And it found that people tend to walk more and sleep less on the days they drank coffee.

Coffee is one of the most common beverages in the world. In the U.S., two-thirds of Americans drink coffee every day, more than bottled water, tea or tap water, according to the National Coffee Association, a trade group. Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant, which is widely regarded as safe for healthy adults at about 400 milligrams per day, or roughly the equivalent of four or five cups brewed at home.

Coffee has been associated with multiple health benefits and even a lower risk of dying, based on large studies that observed participants' behavior. Despite research that has shown moderate coffee consumption doesn't raise the risk of heart rhythm problems, some professional medical societies still caution against consuming caffeine.

The latest research:

THE EXPERIMENT

Researchers outfitted 100 healthy volunteers with gadgets that continuously monitored their heart function, daily steps, sleep patterns and blood sugar. The volunteers, who were mostly younger than 40, were sent daily text messages over two weeks instructing them to drink or avoid caffeinated coffee on certain days. The results were reported Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

This type of study, which directly measures the biological effects of drinking or not drinking caffeinated coffee in the same people, is rare and provides a dense array of data points, said study co-author Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who specializes in treating heart arrhythmias.

THE FINDINGS

Researchers found that drinking caffeinated coffee did not result in more daily episodes of extra heartbeats, known as premature atrial contractions. These extra beats that begin in the heart's upper chambers are common and typically don't cause problems. But they have been shown to predict a potentially dangerous heart condition called atrial fibrillation.

They also found slight evidence of another kind of irregular heartbeat that comes from the lower heart chambers, called premature ventricular contractions. Such beats are also common and not usually serious, but they have been associated with a higher risk of heart failure. The researchers found more of these early beats in people on the days they drank coffee, but only in those who drank two or more cups per day.

The volunteers logged about 1,000 more steps per day on the days they drank coffeeand they slept about 36 minutes less, the study found. There was almost no difference in blood sugar levels.

One interesting result: People with genetic variants that make them break down caffeine faster experienced less of a sleep deficit, while folks with variants that lead them to metabolize caffeine more slowly lost more sleep.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

Because the study was performed in a small number of people over a short period of time, the results don't necessarily apply to the general population, said Dr. Dave Kao, a cardiologist and health data expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study. However, the study is consistent with others that have found coffee is safe and it offers a rare controlled evaluation of caffeine's effect, Kao added.

Co-author Marcus cautions that the effects of drinking coffee can vary from person to person. He said he advises his patients with heart arrhythmias to experiment on their own to see how caffeine affects them.

"They're often delighted to get the good news that it's OK to try coffee and drink coffee," he said.

More information: Gregory M. Marcus et al, Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Health among Ambulatory Adults, New England Journal of Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2204737 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Boehm lab graduate student Winnie Zambrana showing how wastewater samples are processed to test for evidence of viruses. Credit: Harry Gregory

Public health experts commonly track spikes in flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rhinovirus circulating in a population through weekly reports from sentinel laboratories. These laboratories process samples from only severely ill patients, and it can take weeks for the results to get into the database. Now, for the first time, researchers at Stanford University, in collaboration with Emory University and Verily Life Sciences, have collected fast and accurate readings of a whole suite of respiratory viruses in their local Santa Clara sewer system.

Wastewater is currently the only source for accurate information about COVID-19 rates in communities. PCR testing is no longer widely available, and most people swab themselves at home where their results never reach public health agencies.

Prior to COVID-19, respiratory viruses had not been tracked through wastewater. Most of the viruses the scientists tested for in this study had never been measured in wastewater before. The findings are published in the March 22 issue of The Lancet Microbe.

"We are gathering evidence that wastewater can be useful for many infectious disease targets beyond COVID-19, and that it's a really valuable resource for understanding community health," says Alexandria Boehm, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford Engineering and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. "We found that concentrations of RNA, the building block of virus genomes, from influenza A and B, RSV, rhinovirus, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, and seasonal coronaviruses in wastewater follow the trends also observed in the clinical data from sentinel laboratories. The possibilities seem very endless at this point."

Boehm envisions a future where communities could continually test wastewater for all kinds of viruses. With up-to-the-minute virus reports, calculating our risk for flu that day would be as easy as checking the local weather forecast for rain.

Looking beyond COVID-19

Sputum, mucus, feces, and urine all enter the wastewater every time we use a drain in the house or at the office, carrying viruses and bacteria along. When researchers take a sample of wastewater, they get a giant biological sample from the entire toilet-flushing, toothpaste-spitting, shower-taking population. That sample contains contributions from all individuals, even those who may be mildly ill or even asymptomatic.

If the local treatment plant processes wastewater from a city of a million people, a single sample provides scientists with information about all those people. Researchers can see the infectious diseases circulating in the population and observe how the infections are changing over time in the community.

Given that wastewater is an ideal source to study COVID-19 cases, Boehm and her colleagues decided to see if they could also use wastewater to understand circulation of other respiratory viruses. "That motivated us to do this study and develop assays for all these different respiratory viruses and see if they tracked the data that was available for the state of California on circulation of these viruses in clinical samples," Boehm says.

Boehm's team discovered that the concentrations of the viruses they measured in local wastewater matched the state of California's clinical data of the relative infection rates of the viruses. In other words, when the state data suggested that there were a lot of people suffering from seasonal coronavirus infections, those spikes showed up in wastewater too.

"This suggests that wastewater can be used to understand the circulation of these respiratory viruses at a more local scale than at the state level with the clinical information," says Boehm. "In addition, results on virus circulation can be real time."

Quick and easy to implement

Boehm's group runs a regular wastewater virus surveillance program with a team from Emory University and Verily Life Sciences. Setting up tests for new viruses in the program is straightforward with the sampling and testing infrastructure already in place. Researchers simply take the same samples and apply different assays to them to get information about more respiratory viruses, such as influenza.

The data from wastewater can be available within 24 hours of collecting a samplefaster than public health officials can get their hands on any clinical data. At this speed, public health departments can promote timely vaccinations, design education campaigns, and send warnings to vulnerable people about precautions they could take to avoid catching a specific disease.

Real-time data could also help medical doctors make decisions about testing and treatments. If a doctor knows that there's no flu going around, they don't need to waste a patient's time and money on a flu test. Hospital directors could use more accurate virus information to help stock therapeutics in the hospital if they're anticipating an outbreak.

"We envision something similar to a weather report where everybody could make their own decisions based on their own levels of risk that they're willing to take and also their own health," says Boehm. "Somebody who is undergoing chemotherapy could make their own decisions about masking or going to the grocery store, based on their understanding of what illnesses are circulating in the community."

Boehm hopes this study will motivate more researchers to look for these infectious disease targets in wastewater across the country. "I think it's really important to show that this works in more than one location, which I totally expect it will," says Boehm.

Once Boehm and her colleagues have confidence that a virus they measure can be useful and meaningful, they can incorporate it into their larger WastewaterSCAN project data.wastewaterscan.org. "One of the most exciting things about wastewater monitoring is how quickly we can bring our innovations into practice," says Marlene Wolfe, BA '11, co-author on the study and assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University, "because we are already working with utilities and public health departments around the country, we can introduce new tests very quickly once we have the evidence that the wastewater data reflects community levels of disease."

The research team is already studying the feasibility of monitoring more infectious disease targets in wastewater, including other respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses such as norovirus, adenoviruses, and enteroviruses. They are also working closely with public health officials to pinpoint more viruses, fungi, and bacteria to study, Boehm says. "We just need to keep doing research and exploring how far we can take wastewater surveillance for infectious disease targets."

More information: Alexandria B Boehm et al, Wastewater concentrations of human influenza, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and seasonal coronavirus nucleic-acids during the COVID-19 pandemic: a surveillance study, The Lancet Microbe (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00386-X Journal information: The Lancet Microbe
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp delivers the State of the State address on the House floor of the state Capitol in Atlanta, Jan. 25, 2023. Kemp on Thursday, March 23, 2023, signed a bill that would ban most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender people under 18. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Slitz, File

Georgia will ban most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender people younger than 18, under a new law signed by Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday.

Legislators gave final approval to the law on Tuesday, despite impassioned pleas from Democrats and LGBTQ advocates against what has become the most fiercely contested bill of Georgia's 2023 legislative session. The Republican governor signed the bill in private, without the ceremony he sometimes uses to celebrate new laws.

Senate Bill 140 is part of a nationwide effort by conservatives to restrict transgender athletes, gender-affirming care and drag shows. Governors in Mississippi, Utah and South Dakota have signed similar bills.

"I appreciate the many hours of respectful debate and deliberation by members of the General Assembly that resulted in final passage of this bill," Kemp said in a statement. "As Georgians, parents and elected leaders, it is our highest responsibility to safeguard the bright, promising future of our kidsand SB 140 takes an important step in fulfilling that mission."

Opponents say they believe the new law is an unconstitutional infringement on parents' rights. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said it would "use every legal means at our disposal" to overturn the law shortly after Kemp signed it. Judges haveat least temporarilyblocked laws limiting gender-affirming treatment of transgender youth in Arkansas and Alabama.

Jennifer Bowie, center left, and Aaron Baker, center right, become emotional while watching discussion of SB 140 on a video monitor in the Capitol before it gets final approval at the state Senate in Atlanta, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. SB 140 would prevent medical professionals from giving transgender children certain hormones or surgical treatment. Credit: Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

"It's disturbing how quickly the governor acts to sign bills that take away people's rights," ACLU of Georgia Executive Director Andrea Young said in a statement.

Doctors would still be able to prescribe medicines to block puberty under the Georgia law, which takes effect July 1. It also says that minors who are already receiving hormone therapy will be allowed to continue.

Supporters say the law's restrictions prevent children from making decisions they might later regret. Cole Muzio, president of the conservative Christian group Frontline Policy Action, had pushed for even stronger prohibitions. While he applauded Kemp signing the measure, he also called it "one of the weakest in the country," promising more efforts at restrictions.

"Gov. Kemp has never been afraid to protect children and we appreciate his continued commitment to standing against radical and harmful agendas," Muzio said in a statement.

State Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, speaks to activists opposing SB 140 before the bill gets final approval at the Senate in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. SB 140, sponsored by Summers, would prevent medical professionals from giving transgender children certain hormones or surgical treatment. Credit: Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

But opponents say the measure is founded on disinformation and a desire to open a new front in the culture war to please conservative Republican voters, arguing it attacks vulnerable children and intrudes on private medical decisions.

Critics said the measure will require physicians to violate medical standards of care and that Republicans had abandoned their previous support for parents' rights to make choices.

"This legislation is a clear attack on the rights of transgender children, their parents, and the medical community in Georgia as a whole," Jeff Graham, the executive director of LGBTQ-rights group Equality Georgia, said in a statement. "Parents, working in collaboration with their medical teams and adhering to standards of care, should be able to make decisions regarding their child's healthcare."

The bill was amended to remove a clause that specifically shielded physicians from criminal and civil liability. That change was pushed for by conservative groups that want people to be able to sue their doctor if they later regret their treatment, although it's unclear how large that group might be.

Christine Cox, center, a parent of a transgender teenager, becomes emotional after speaking to state Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, rear left, outside the Senate at the Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, March 20, 2023. Activists appeared at the Capitol to protest SB 140, a bill sponsored by Summers that would prevent medical professionals from giving transgender children certain hormones or surgical treatment. Credit: Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

Transgender youth and parents heavily lobbied against the bill in recent weeks, warning lawmakers were further marginalizing a group already prone to taking their own lives at disturbingly high rates.

Republicans denied they wish anyone harm, saying they had children's best interest at heart and wanted people to be able to obtain counseling.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The Dindot Lab team, including Dr. Scott Dindot (front right); Dr. Sarah Christian (front left); (back row, l-r) Dr. Johnathan Ballard, Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine; and biomedical sciences doctoral students Luke Myers and Tom Jepp. Credit: Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed the first molecular therapeutic for Angelman syndrome to advance into clinical development.

In a new article, published today in Science Translational Medicine, Dr. Scott Dindot, an associate professor and EDGES Fellow in the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences' (VMBS) Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, and his team share the process through which they developed this novel therapeutic candidate, also known as 4.4.PS.L, or GTX-102. Dindot is also the executive director of molecular genetics at Ultragenyx, which is leading the development of GTX-102.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a devastating, rare neurogenetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 15,000 live births per year; the disorder is triggered by a loss of function of the maternal UBE3A gene in the brain, causing developmental delay, absent speech, movement or balance disorder, and seizures.

There are no approved therapies for AS, and the current standard of care is focused on behavioral therapy and controlling specific symptoms, specifically the seizures that often affect patients with AS.

In healthy individuals, the copy of the UBE3A gene inherited from the mother is expressed in the brain and the copy of the UBE3A gene inherited from the father is turned off by another gene, called the UBE3A antisense (UBE3A-AS) transcript. Individuals living with AS have mutations that affect the expression or function of the maternal copy of UBE3A and, as a result, they lack the UBE3A protein in their brain. Dindot and his team began their research looking for a way to prevent the silencing of the paternal UBE3A gene and reactivate expression of the deficient protein.

In their research, Dindot and his team used different genomic approaches to understand how the UBE3A-AS transcript is regulated in the brain. Their work uncovered a previously unknown region in UBE3A-AS that they believe represents the ancestral origin of the gene in mammals. They also believe this region plays a key role in regulating the expression of UBE3A-AS.

"Parts of this region have remained unchanged for over 30 million years," Dindot said. "The UBE3A-AS transcript is an incredibly complex gene. What it is and how it is regulated has been debated for years."

The team then developed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)small synthetic molecules comprising DNA and RNAto target the conserved region in the UBE3A-AS transcript. ASO drugs work by binding to a target RNA and cutting it, causing the gene to stop making the RNA.

The team found that ASOs targeting the conserved region effectively turned off UBE3A-AS, which, in turn, reactivated the expression of the paternal UBE3A allele. The studies show that the ASOs reactivated the expression of the paternal UBE3A allele and increased UBE3A protein in cultured neurons from individuals with AS.

As a result of this research, Dindot developed the lead compound referred to as GTX-102, which is now in clinical development.

"We used a novel approach to designing the ASOs, targeting a very specific part of a gene rather than just giving a drug to treat a symptom," Dindot said. "In theory, this treatment goes after the heart of the condition."

Interim data from a phase 1/2 clinical trial of GTX-102 in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada have previously indicated that the compound has demonstrated "meaningful improvement" in pediatric patients afflicted with AS.

"Moving forward, our research and findings not only offer promise for AS but also provide a path forward for developing ASO therapies for other genetic disorders," Dindot said.

More information: Scott V. Dindot et al, An ASO therapy for Angelman syndrome that targets an evolutionarily conserved region at the start of the UBE3A-AS transcript, Science Translational Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf4077 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine
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Although commercial entities can contribute positively to health and society, the products and practices of some commercial actors are responsible for escalating rates of avoidable ill health, planetary damage, and social and health inequity. Credit: The Lancet

A new Series published in The Lancet describes how, although commercial entities can contribute positively to health and society, the products and practices of some commercial actors are responsible for escalating rates of avoidable ill health, planetary damage, and social and health inequity. Authors make key recommendations to ensure that contemporary capitalism is compatible with good population health.

The industries that produce just four harmful productstobacco, alcohol, unhealthy food, and fossil fuelsaccount for at least a third of global deaths, illustrating the scale and huge economic cost of the problem.

Professor Rob Moodie, Series Lead and Professor of Public Health Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, says, "We all want to be part of a society that's safe, happy and healthy but this will only happen when governments make the health of people and the planet a higher priority than profit. This series isn't anti-business, it's pro-health. It's important that we acknowledge that many businesses play vital roles in society, but we also need to recognize the practices and products of some are making people and the environment sick."

He adds, "With the rise of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes and the escalating climate crisis, urgent action is needed to address the way businesses contribute to these problems, and in particular, industries that sell harmful products."

Outlining a cycle of how commercial actors can harm health, they describe the following steps:

Commercial actors use their wealth and power to shape regulations and policies in their own interests. Favorable policies stimulate increased salesand thus consumptionof harmful commercial products, which compounds the harm and cost burden they cause. Favorable policies also enable commercial entities to externalize the costs of harm caused by the production, consumption, and disposal of their products. Externalized costs (eg, paying to treat non-communicable diseases caused by commercial products) are largely met by the states and individuals affected. These costs reduce the resources available to states and individuals to pay for medicines, health care, food, and housing, leaving health systems increasingly unable to cope. Meanwhile, commercial entities enjoy excess profits, fueling a growing power imbalance between commercial actors and governments who should hold them to account.

The authors argue that a cycle of behavior by commercial actors and policy makers has insidiously tipped the balance of power increasingly in favor of commercial profits over several decades, which has perpetuated poor health outcomes and inequities. To restore this balance and ensure that contemporary capitalism is compatible with good population health, the authors make key recommendations.

Among these, they call on governments to legislate higher standards for marketing of harmful products, including honest product labeling and protections for people from predatory marketing tactics including via social media. Additionally, they ask businesses to commit to ending lobbying against pro-health policies, including using third parties such as fake grassroots (astroturf) organizations and think tanks to push political agendas. Furthermore, authors congratulate commercial actors and investors who are increasingly adopting alternative financing models that create social value, and promote positive health, social and sustainability outcomes and encourage others to follow this example.
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A medical device used to diagnose and treat pancreatic and bile duct disease is getting attention from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after pieces have fallen off and remained in patients' bodies.

Previously, the FDA had expressed concern about duodenoscopes because they can be difficult to clean and may spread bacteria such as E. coli from patient to patient. Duodenoscopes are flexible, lighted tubes with a camera that are threaded through the mouth down to the stomach and top of the small intestine (duodenum).

However, when hospitals switched to disposable tips to cover the camera and reduce bacteria spread, this has now resulted in new problems. Those produced by Olympus Medical Systems have fallen off in patients' mouths and stomachs, according to reports filed with the FDA.

Some have sharp edges, which has led to internal bleeding in patients, according to the New York Times.

The FDA has received about 160 complaints about the caps falling off.

That "was above the expected numbers for that type of complaint," according to Olympus' own analysis.

The FDA sent a warning letter to the company after an inspection at the Olympus plant in Tokyo late last year found that disposable parts made for duodenoscopes and suction valves for bronchoscopes, which are used to examine the lungs, were adulterated or defective.

The agency has said the company's responses were "not adequate," according to the Times.

"The FDA does not agree that the risk to the patient is of a low enough risk to not warrant further action at this time," the agency said.

Olympus spokeswoman Jennifer Bannan said the company has taken measures to address the problems, and "will further evaluate these actions" and "expand those efforts."

"Olympus takes this Warning Letter very seriously," she said in a statement emailed to the Times. "The company is working diligently to address the issues raised in the letter in a timely manner."

Duodenoscopes are used in about 500,000 procedures in the United States each year.

Among the complaints is one from May 2021, when a physician reported the soft tip cover fell off into the patient's stomach.

"It was decided to allow the tip cover to pass naturally through the GI system than to subject the patient to further anesthesia time in attempting to remove it," the report said.

In another, a doctor noticed a patient was bleeding from the mouth after inserting the scope. After the scope was removed, the patient needed a blood transfusion and had painful swallowing for days after.

While repeating the same procedure later with an older scope that had no disposable tip, the doctor found a healing 13-centimeter-long laceration in the patient's esophagus.

While the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health did not recommend canceling or postponing procedures "without discussion of the benefits and risks" with patients, the agency has noted other problems with the instruments that may indicate sterility issues. Those include wrinkles and air bubbles in the sealed packaging of single-use suction valves for bronchoscopes.

It's not clear whether hospitals and patients should use duodenoscopes with disposable components made by other companies or fully disposable duodenoscopes, the Times reported.

More information: The National Pancreas Foundation has more on pancreas disease.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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The traditional treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer is a lobectomy, where a surgeon eradicates cancerous tissue by removing an entire lung lobe.

Yet, new research finds that select patients with early-stage disease who undergo a less invasive procedure have comparable outcomes, sparking hope for a less aggressive approach to lung cancer surgery.

The 10-year study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and led by University of Chicago Medicine medical oncologist Everett Vokes, MD, adds evidence that supports a new standard to preserve lung tissue in cancer patients whenever possible.

"It's great to know that we can safely offer our patients a procedure that allows for the preservation of functional lung tissue as long as patients are properly staged and the surgical team has the necessary experience," said Vokes.

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States and causes the most cancer deaths in both men and women. While related to having a history of smoking, lung cancer is increasingly diagnosed in nonsmokers as well as former smokers. An estimated 235,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2023.

Most patients will be diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other parts of their body. Fortunately, improved screening in smokers means doctors are detecting lung cancer at earlier stages.

In this study, 697 patients with peripheral stage 1 tumors less than 2 centimeters in size were randomly assigned to undergo a lobectomy or a sublobar resection, where part of the cancerous lobe is removed.

In the case of the latter, patients received either a wedge resection, which involves removing a nonanatomic, wedge-shaped piece of tissue containing the tumor, or an anatomical segmentectomy in which surgeons remove the anatomic lung segment with the tumor, along with the small airway, individual artery and vein that feed and drain the region.

After a median follow-up of seven years, the multicenter, phase 3 randomized trial found disease-free survival was similar between lobectomies and sublobar resections. Five-year disease-free survival and five-year overall survival were similar, supporting the less-invasive procedure as the preferred option.

"This is a very important study that will change how we treat patients with small early-stage lung cancersespecially as we move into the era of lung cancer screening, where we hope to find many more small nodules that could be treated with this tailored surgical approach," said UChicago Medicine thoracic surgeon Jessica Donington, MD, MSCR.

The research follows a study by Japanese researchers published last year in The Lancet that compared lobectomy to segmentectomy (but not wedge resection). That study revealed patients who received segmentectomies fared better in terms of overall survival, but not for local recurrence. Saving lung tissue seemed to help with survival from other diseases and secondary cancers.

"Overall survival in this most recent trial was around 80% in both arms," said Donington, adding that more therapies are needed for lung cancer. "These are the earliest-stage patients and our smallest tumors. We've done all of the currently recommended therapy and yet overall survival is still only 80%, when it's well above 90% for similar-stage breast cancer or prostate cancer."

Generally, healthy nonsmokers with relatively good lung function can tolerate lobectomies without long-term side effects. However, patients with reduced lung function, due to smoking or other comorbidities, may be too sick to undergo the procedure.

"There are times when we can't do a lobectomy because there's just not enough good lung for us to be able to remove an entire lobe," said Donington. "This research is good news for all patients."

Both Donington and Vokes cautioned the importance of lung cancer patients finding a surgeon skilled in performing sublobar resections, which are more technically challenging surgeries than a lobectomy.

More information: Nasser Altorki et al, Lobar or Sublobar Resection for Peripheral Stage IA NonSmall-Cell Lung Cancer, New England Journal of Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2212083 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine
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An illustration of Bayesian optimization. Credit: Health Data Science (2023). DOI: 10.34133/hds.0008

A machine learning model has been proven effective as a decision-support tool for dispatchers of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), resulting in improved triage quality and ambulance utilization, according to a study done in Singapore.

This proof-of-concept study was recently published in Health Data Science.

Although protocols are available to guide decision-making, EMS dispatchers still have difficulty determining the acuity of a case with the limited information they can gather in a brief call, compromising triage quality and resource utilization.

Accuracy of the EMS triage is a looming concern in cities with a growing and aging population yet a disproportional ambulance fleet. This can be helped by machine learning models, known to capture complex and subtle relationships, and well-trained data models can yield accurate predictions in a split of a second.

"We set out to solve the problem that ambulance dispatch triage has too many over-triage, which could result in overcrowding in the Emergency Department and waste of ambulance resources," shared Han Wang, a researcher at the National University of Singapore (NUS). "However, it is possible to use machine learning to improve triage performance among call center specialists."

To establish a desirable machine learning model that predicts the acuity of emergency cases, the team tapped 360,000 cases from the National Emergency Call Center in Singapore from 2018 to 2020. Using the same amount of information available to dispatchers, the trained model scored a 15% reduction in the over-triage rate and a similar under-triage rate compared to the current triage system.

This study stands out from the previous efforts where machine learning was not shown to improve dispatchers' ability to recognize cardiac arrest, or where the study methodology was withheld or less robust. In addition, it showcases a roadmap to other EMS systems worldwide as it demonstrates a method for processing EMS call center data and developing a machine-learning model.

"Our next step is to implement the system in the real world and compare the performance with a control group," commented Mengling Feng, Assistant Professor at NUS. "This is the first study to optimize ambulance triage with machine learning. We hope it will inspire more research in this direction."

The research team is also open to sharing the details of the protocol and data, and such requests will be reviewed and approved by the EMS system of Singapore.

More information: Han Wang et al, Building a Machine Learning-based Ambulance Dispatch Triage Model for Emergency Medical Services, Health Data Science (2023). DOI: 10.34133/hds.0008

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A man returning home with his family's allocation of long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets. The World Health Organization has updated its malaria policy guidelines, recommending the use of nets treated with a combination of insecticides. Credit: Debbie Gueye, USAID on Pixnio

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its malaria policy guidelines to recommend the use of nets treated with a combination of insecticides, in what researchers say could be a game-changer in the global fight against the disease if managed effectively.

Malaria is a leading cause of illness and death in many of the world's poorest countries, with young children and pregnant women most affected. In 2021, malaria killed 619,000 worldwidewith 96% of those deaths occurring in Africa, according to WHO estimates.

There has been a growing resistance of malaria-transmitting anopheles mosquitoes to pyrethroid, the insecticide currently used in insecticide-treated nets.

The WHO now recommends that malaria-endemic regions experiencing pyrethroid resistance switch to the more effective pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets.

Years of research

The recommendations follow years of research conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and partners into the efficacy of pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets.

Corine Ngufor, associate professor of medical entomology at the disease control department of LSHTM, said the development was a "major milestone" towards achieving malaria elimination targets, but warned that work to combat resistance must continue.

"This is the first time WHO is approving a new non-pyrethroid insecticide on mosquito nets," she told SciDev.Net.

"We just need to learn from the past and ensure we preserve the efficacy of products and also continue to innovate."

She challenged procurement agencies like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to support countries to increase uptake of the nets, which are treated as they are manufactured.

"There is also need to sensitize countries on the improved public health value the nets can provide, in order for governments to prioritize them for high transmission areas," Ngufor said.

Until now, WHO recommended only nets treated with pyrethroid for malaria control in endemic regions, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. The organic compound kills mosquitoes by interfering with their nervous system.

However, resistance to this chemical has grown over time, leading to an uptick of malaria cases, according to the WHO.

The LSHTM's Interceptor G2 nets, which combine pyrethroid with chlorfenapyr, induce muscle cramps in mosquitoes, stopping them from moving or flying and curtailing their ability to spread malaria.

Trials among over 4,500 children aged six months to 14 years from 39,000 households in Tanzania showed that the nets reduced malaria cases by almost half compared to pyrethroid-only treated nets. The results were published in The Lancet in March last year.

Another trial study in Benin, which sampled nearly 54,000 households, found that the nets reduced malaria infection in children aged between six months and ten years old by 46%.

'Massive impact'

Natacha Protopopoff, associate professor of entomology at LSHTM, said the WHO recommendation based on the evidence from the two community trials was a great outcome.

"We expect that chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid [nets] will perform and reduce malaria as did standard pyrethroid nets before pyrethroid resistance emerged," she told SciDev.Net.

"With the scale-up we can expect massive impact on malaria burden, provided that high coverage is sustained and resistance to chlorfenapyr does not develop too fast."

She noted that mechanisms for scaling up pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets were already in place through initiatives such as a new project led by the Innovative Vector Control Consortium and funded by UNITAID and the Global Fund, or the Global Fund's Net Transition Initiative.

"While the production might not be able to meet the demand now, two brands including the one evaluated in our trials are available for scale-up and, with this WHO recommendation, other manufactures may also develop pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets," Protopopoff added.

Peter Ofware, Kenya country director for the global health and human rights organization HealthRight International, said while the recommended new nets were promising, there was still need for a combination of various malaria control strategies such as early detection and treatment in order to defeat malaria, especially among children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"The roll out of the nets must also be well funded and managed to ensure wider coverage and WHO and donor organizations must take the lead," he told SciDev.Net.

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When I was training in psychiatry, it was always tricky seeing patients in the emergency department. We would try to understand their situation as quickly as we could, but you are often working to make the best decision with limited information.

Then one day a patient came in and it sounded like something very bad had happened in a personal relationship. The patient agreed to let us read their text messages and immediately it was very clear what was happening.

It was an eye-opening moment for meto see how much information phones may hold to help guide mental health treatment, especially in schizophrenia.

Unanswered questions in schizophrenia

The way that we understand schizophrenia is largely based on research study participants reporting on their own condition or circumstancesoften quite infrequently.

This approach has enabled a lot of scientific advances, but we now know that every person has a rather different lived experience of the condition. People live in different environments, they have different stressors, and they experience different symptoms or changes over time.

Symptoms of schizophrenia

There are three core types of schizophrenia symptoms:

positive symptoms (for example, hallucinations)

negative symptoms (for example, feeling less social or less engaged)

cognitive symptoms (for example, impaired memory or concentration)

It's such a complex, dynamic illness that it has become nearly impossible to understand it using traditional measures and surveys. For example, there are still very limited methods for predicting relapse episodes, and while the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are often the most disruptive to people's lives, they are the hardest to measure.

Yet we're still surprised when people end up back in hospital.

This limited understanding of schizophrenia has also stopped us from developing many new treatments or interventions.

Scientific advances start when we can measure and quantify what's happening. That's why we need better measurements and tools for understanding schizophrenia. And that's where smartphones become so exciting.

The untapped potential of mental health apps

Smartphones are incredibly powerful pocket computers.

They have very advanced sensors which can measure things like sleep, activity and heart rate, but they also have the ability to respond to these measures and actually deliver treatment. We learnt this during COVID-19, when doctors were able to schedule video call check-ins or use apps to send notifications.

What's even more exciting is most people in the world have access to smartphones now. We don't have to give someone a complex medical device anymore or ask them to take time off work to come into the lab for a scan. The technology can also be easily shared and adapted to work across different cultures, languages and countries.

Ultimately, this makes smartphones an infinitely more scalable tool than existing methods.

But what does this look like in practice, what can you do with all this data once you've collected it and does it work in different countries too?

That's what we're investigating with our Wellcome-supported project, SHARP (Smartphone Health Assessment for Relapse Prevention), with a multidisciplinary team based across India and the US.

How a mental health app could predict relapse in schizophrenia

We have developed a mental health app called mindLAMP to understand when someone may be at risk of relapse in schizophrenia.

After securing the appropriate ethical permissions, we're able to use mindLAMP to collect data from someone's smartphone sensors. We can look at digital markers like geolocation, movement and screen time, or even send notifications to ask if they can take a survey on their phone.

We can then use these digital markers to predict when someone is not doing well by identifying anomalies in the data.

The advantage of this approach is that we're looking at each person through their own patterns and their own phone. It's not perfect, but it's certainly better than chance, and it's better than just asking people how they feel in a survey.

We were also able to adapt mindLAMP for different cultures and regions.

Working with our colleagues in India, we quickly learned that flexibility is very important.

The app has been designed in a modular system and is available and free to use for any researcher in the world. This means that clinicians and researchers can adapt the app to their own requirements: they can change the language and images, pick the sensors they want to use, write the surveys, add in education and activity elementsor include none of them.

It's already been translated into Korean, German, Italian, French, Mandarin and Spanish, and used for everything from monitoring screen time in adolescence to managing cognitive symptoms.

What's next for the mindLAMP app?

We've probably been through over 100 updates to the appmost of them are driven by service users or patients.

It's a unique challenge and requires a diverse team of people with a lot of different expertisefrom engineers and data scientists to psychologists and mental health specialists. We certainly don't look like a traditional research team, but diverse teams bring in new ideas and perspectives, and challenge your ways of working.

We hope that the data mindLAMP can collect will continue to advance new discoveries in research for schizophrenia. Ultimately, our goal is that this could be translated into useful tools for a clinical setting.

Now that we know the app works, we want to see if smartphones can offer quick and easy tests that could tap into the different cognitive symptoms that affect people with schizophrenia (like attention, memory or problem-solving). For example, we could use it to see if a new medication improves cognition or if a relapse episode impacts someone's problem-solving.

The role of technology in all healthcare is going to continue to increase, especially in mental healthcare.

As the two worlds begin to merge more, I think it will become standard to have teams with very different experiences and perspectives; bringing together people with UI and UX design experience, data scientists, patients, researchers and ethical specialists, all working towards the same goal. It's a very exciting prospect to me.

More information: Asher Cohen et al, Relapse prediction in schizophrenia with smartphone digital phenotyping during COVID-19: a prospective, three-site, two-country, longitudinal study, Schizophrenia (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00332-5 Elena Rodriguez-Villa et al, Cross cultural and global uses of a digital mental health app: results of focus groups with clinicians, patients and family members in India and the United States, Global Mental Health (2021). DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2021.28 App: docs.lamp.digital/
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High-speed internet coverage in the contiguous United States by county. White areas illustrate counties with broadband coverage less than 65% of the population. Darker purple areas illustrate the counties with more than 80% broadband coverage. Credit: Diego Cuadros and Claudia Moreno

Many parts of rural America with less access to health care also have limited broadband internet that could help them take advantage of increasingly popular online health services.

A new study by the University of Cincinnati highlighted disparities in access to digital technology that could widen the gap in access to health care. The study found that socially vulnerable communities in the United States face more barriers to adequate health care, live in areas with fewer health care resources and have less access to high-speed internet.

UC researchers presented their findings this month at the American Association of Geographers' annual conference in Denver.

The Biden Administration announced this month it will invest $73 million in outreach grants to provide affordable high-speed internet to more Americans. The program is designed to address a growing gap in access to health care created during the COVID-19 pandemic when providers began offering more health care services over the web.

UC researchers conducted a county-level data visualization and spatial analyses to assess the geospatial association between digital disparities and health care in the contiguous United States.

Study author and UC epidemiologist Diego Cuadros said patients need access to high-speed internet, computers or smartphones and familiarity with technology to use these systems comfortably so they can take advantage of the growing shift to telemedicine and online health services.

His previous research found disparities in easy access to health care across the United States. Many of these same areas have limited access to digital technology such as high-speed internet.

"The point is telehealth is not going to be useful to everybody. It will be extremely useful to people who already have good access to health care, but it's not going to be very useful to those who don't," Cuadros said.

"The digital divide is already here. But in the future, we'll be even more reliant on these technologies, so that divide is only going to get bigger," he said.

Cuadros, an associate professor in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, runs UC's Digital Epidemiology Laboratory. He collaborated with University of Washington assistant professor of physiology and biophysics Claudia Moreno.

"The pandemic was a tipping point for us. These technologies are here to stay. That's how we'll experience a lot of aspects of our life, from education to relationships to health care," Cuadros said.

While the United States is a global telecommunications leader, it does not even crack a list of the top 20 nations in terms of per capita wireless coverage, according to a 2023 Statista survey. That's largely because it's a large country in square miles, Moreno said.

"What was surprising was to see the strong correlation between the lack of broadband access and the socioeconomic and health care vulnerability of some regions," Moreno said. "This association suggests that broadband coverage can act as an institutionalized inequity that needs to be addressed to help vulnerable communities."

Moreno said while the pandemic served as a catalyst that pushed many people to adopt new ways of doing things, not everyone has made the same digital transition.

"The reality is that not everyone was thrilled with that option. Accessing telehealth is challenging for people that are not digitally literate or for people who do not own a smartphone or a computer," she said. "Telehealth has a huge potential to help vulnerable communities, but if we really want to exploit this potential, the country needs to create policies and programs that increase access within these communities."
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Health experts have condemned what they described as a disconnect between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, which they say is hindering the development of a comprehensive health strategy for the continent.

The divide is depriving Africans of benefits that could be gained through integration and cooperation in the health sector, said specialists speaking to SciDev.Net on the sidelines of the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC), where North Africa was notably absent.

In the final round of the 58 March conference in Kigali, Rwanda, organizers presented a map of participating countries. Blue dots representing country delegates were spread throughout the continent, save for North Africa where official representation came only from Egypt.

The North African absence may reflect a structural division between health care systems in the North and their counterparts in Sub-Saharan Africa.

At the level of the World Health Organization (WHO), most North African countries fall under the organization's Eastern Mediterranean regional office, while the rest of the continent belongs to the African regional office.

The WHO regional officesfirst established in 1948 to group neighboring countries with similar epidemiological characteristics have significant autonomy in terms of leadership and priorities.

George Kimathi, director of the Institute for Capacity Development at the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), told SciDev.Net: "There is no continent on our planet known as Sub-Saharan Africa, but rather it is one continent called Africa, and together we can overcome many health challenges."

Kimathi stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation through his work with the AMREF, which has more than 60 years of experience in the health sector in Africa.

"For example, what Tanzania is implementing can be useful for Morocco, and what Morocco succeeds in could help Senegal, and this is one of the basic benefits of cooperation, and without it, the continent loses a lot and its people are deprived of many benefits."

He said other benefits include better offers when purchasing medical equipment, diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines from foreign entities.

"[It is] crucial to enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing and local production on the continent, thereby ensuring greater independence from institutions that have placed Africa at the back of the queue for COVID-19 vaccines," he added.

Karim Bendhaou, chair of the Africa Engagement Committee at The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, agrees.

"We must understand the important role we can play in the health sector on the continent," he told SciDev.Net.

"Due to our geographical location, we can serve as a link between our continent and the global markets. Our shared challenges and interests with the rest of the continent ensure that our goal is to integrate with it rather than exploit it.

"We need to ask ourselves, is it better to build our health strategy and cooperation based on political concepts or based on our common requirements and interests?"

The disconnect

The division between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa also extends to health research, a study published last year in PLOS Global Public Health suggests.

The study measured the level of connectivity between each country and region in the continent through African organizations working in the health and health research sector.

It found that North Africa was the least connected with other regions, followed by the Southern African region.

Researchers emphasized the importance of mechanisms to increase the integration of North and South African regions with the rest of the continent, as they both host countries with advanced manufacturing capabilities in pharmaceuticals and vaccines, such as Egypt and South Africa.

Patrick Tipoo, a founding member of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) and an expert with over three decades' experience in vaccine manufacturing, points out that establishing vaccine manufacturing infrastructure is costly.

However, he adds, "The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us about the risks of relying on imports and has drawn attention to the importance of supporting local production.

"The sustainable solution to enhance our health security cannot be based on a single country, we need cooperation at the continental level to achieve that."

David Mukanga, deputy director of regulatory systems in Africa at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, says, "Our work has been focused on countries south of the Sahara, but we believe that North Africa is an integral part of the continent and can contribute significantly to the health sector.

"We are putting more effort to build bridges between different regions.

"Significant efforts are being made by the African Union and its institutions, such as the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, towards unifying efforts, which bodes well for a collective approach in the health sector across the continent."

Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), says, "We are one continent and its 55 members work equally together."

Despite this, North African is the only one of five Africa CDC regions that is currently non-operational.

Ogwell Ouma explains that North African countries have not yet identified the location of the regional office "but a team based in the Ethiopian capital is working to coordinate efforts in the North."

Egyptian health official Mohamed Abdel Fattah, representing the country at the conference, indicated that the office would soon be operational, without specifying a date.

Kimathi says he is optimistic about the future of health coordination and cooperation across Africa.

"We are now meeting under the umbrella of the African Union to discuss political issues and we are coordinating our health strategy together under Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," he adds.

"We also have the African Continental Free Trade Area for cooperation in economic aspects, so I believe we now have a mechanism to bring the entire continent together."

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People with faceblindness may even struggle to recognise photos of themselves. Credit: Stokkete/Shutterstock

Imagine what life would be like if you couldn't recognize your own family and friends unless they told you who they were. Now imagine no one will believe you and that even your doctor dismisses you, saying everyone forgets names sometimes.

Two recent studies show this is a common experience for people with a brain disorder called "developmental prosopagnosia"or as it is more informally known, faceblindness. This type of prosopagnosia is lifelong, in contrast to "acquired prosopagnosia" which can develop after a brain injury. Sufferers struggle to recognize people who they know well and, in extreme cases, close family members and even photographs of themselves.

No one is sure why people develop this condition but it can run in families, suggesting it might have a genetic basis. It is estimated to afflict 2-3% of the adult population.

One of the studies, published in December 2022, comes from my lab at Edge Hill University. Our results suggested that up to 85% of people with faceblindness would not get diagnosed if they tried traditional approaches. For example, if participants complained to their doctor that they were failing to recognize friends and family members, they were often told their face recognition skills were normal. This can have a terrible impact on people, leaving them confused, frustrated and upset.

Researchers at Harvard University published a paper in February 2023 that came to the same conclusion: many people with faceblindness won't get a diagnosis from their clinician using current medical assessments. The current procedure requires people to score worse than 97.5% of the general public on both of two computer-based tests.

Drawing a blank

The first of these tasks is a "famous faces" test, where patients have to identify celebrities from their photographs (for example, Brad Pitt or Bill Clinton). In the second task, patients are asked to memorize a series of unfamiliar faces, then pick them out from a larger groupsimilar to how you would identify a criminal suspect in a police line-up.

This is the most common approach used by clinicians and researchers across Europe, North America and Australasia. However, the Harvard research and that by my own lab found that many prosopagnosia cases would not meet the criteria currently required for a diagnosis.

Our study tested 61 people who reported daily difficulties recognizing faces. Assessments were carried out online due to COVID-19 restrictions, and we found that 85% of participants would not have met the diagnosis threshold on the computer tests. The Harvard study suggested that roughly 60-70% of people who struggle to recollect faces may be denied a diagnosis.

Why do people with prosopagnosia perform too well on medical tests to get a diagnosis? One reason may be because of day-to-day changes in their ability to focusfor example, did they have a coffee this morning, or a good night's sleep? Previous research has shown prosopagnosics' scores on face tests change from one testing session to the next.

Computer-based tests may also be missing something about how we recognize faces in person. In the real world, we see faces in three dimensions, and they are moving as someone walks towards us and speaks. The current tests only use still images in two dimensions.

A different result

So, how should we diagnose prosopagnosia instead? While the Harvard group and I agree that we need to be much more understanding towards people who believe they have the condition, we differ in our views on how this should be accomplished.

The Harvard lab proposes we should diagnose people with prosopagnosia if they score in the bottom 16% of the general population on the two face recognition tests. One problem with this approach is that it will still block many people who report trouble with faces from getting help.

I would argue we should be guided by the patient's symptoms when deciding on a diagnosis. Symptoms can be assessed by asking people how strongly they agree with statements like "I often mistake people I have met before for strangers." These are taken from a questionnaire called the prosopagnosia index, first developed by a British research group in 2015.

This approach is used for other psychological conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Only with this method can we understand the range of the prosopagnosia spectrum, and avoid unnecessary suffering that comes with a lack of diagnosis.

The prosopagnosia index only takes a couple of minutes to administer, while computer based tests can take up to an hour. Diagnosing people more rapidly gives doctors more time to discuss options with their patients, such as computer training with faces and coping mechanisms. The latter includes telling friends and colleagues about your condition, and requesting they introduce themselves each time you meet.

Research in this area is ongoing so if you, or someone you know, thinks they might have prosopagnosia (either acquired or developmental) and would like to be tested, or you have failed to get a diagnosis in the past from a clinician, please consider taking part.

For those who might still be skeptical, I should add: faceblindness is a real disorder. People with this condition have atypical neural responses when they view faces. This suggests their brains are not functioning as they should be when they visualize faces.

If you happen to meet someone with faceblindnessand the chances are very high, given that one in 30 may have the conditionplease be understanding. Give them cues as to who you are and where you met them. A little patience can make all the difference.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The most comprehensive state-by-state analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 across the U.S., published today in The Lancet, reveals the underlying reasons why the pandemic has played out in vastly different ways across the country.

Although the U.S. has the largest economy, spends more on health care than any other country, and was ranked as best prepared for a pandemic in the Global Health Security Index in 2020 (data collected prior to the pandemic), it maintains the highest number of recorded COVID-19 deaths and one of the highest per capita fatality rates from COVID-19 globally. But the pandemic did not impact US states equally.

The new analysis finds that between January 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, cumulative COVID-19 death rates varied widely across the U.S., with Hawaii and New Hampshire having the lowest standardized rates (adjusted for age and comorbidities; 147 and 215 deaths per 100,000, respectively) and Arizona and Washington, DC having the highest (581 and 526 deaths per 100,000, respectively).

"The tragic human toll of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. challenged conventional assessments of pandemic preparedness and exposed existing vulnerabilities in our societal fabric that were not identical across states," says co-lead author Emma Castro, a researcher at the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), U.S..

"Even after accounting for age and underlying illnesses, we observed a nearly four-fold difference in COVID-19 death rates across states, suggesting that the country as a whole could have performed much better. Examining how specific states fared and identifying commonalities of states that performed well offers important insights about how we can and must respond better to this and future pandemic threats."

The researchers stress that states with the lowest standardized COVID-19 death rates came from different geographies and partisan influence. And the same is true for the states with the highest standardized COVID-19 death rates.

The study is the first time researchers have comprehensively examined the driving forces behind wide variations in SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths across all states over a lengthy period and adjusted for factors outside policymakers' immediate control (e.g., age, population density, key comorbidities).

Using state-level data from public databases, researchers analyzed government policy responses and population behaviors (e.g., mask use, vaccination, mobility) in all 50 US states and Washington, DC, from January 1, 2020, to July 31, 2022, to assess states' efforts in mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths, and whether better COVID-19-related outcomes offset economic, educational, and employment losses.

Results of this analysis were used to answer five-key policy questions that have emerged during the pandemic around wide state-by-state variations in COVID-outcomes: 1) the role of social, racial, and economic inequities; 2) whether states with greater health care and public health capacity performed better; 3) the influence of politics on the results; 4) whether states that imposed more policy mandates and sustained them longer did better; and 5) whether there were trade-offs between a state having fewer cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infections and total COVID-19 deaths and better economic and educational outcomes.

COVID-19 has magnified existing social, economic, and racial inequities

The analyses found that US states with higher poverty, lower rates of educational attainment, less access to quality health care, and lower levels of interpersonal trust (trust in others) experienced disproportionately higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths.

This set of factors was found to exist in states where COVID-19 has done the greatest damagethose with the highest populations of people who identify as Black and where high percentages of people voted for the Republican presidential candidate in the 2020 election, such as Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama.

"What is clear from our study is that COVID-19 exploited and compounded existing local racial inequities, health disparities, and partisan politics to create a syndemica combination of local factors that interact, increasing the burden of disease from this pandemic and the likelihood of poor outcomes," says co-lead author Thomas J. Bollyky, Director of the Council on Foreign Relations' Global Health Program in the U.S.. "This combination of racial disparities and politics explains a large part of why the U.S. particularly struggled in the pandemic."

In addition, the study found that while states with greater access to quality health care tended to perform better, with, on average, fewer COVID-19 deaths and SARS-CoV-2 infections, higher state public health spending and more public health personnel per capita were not associated with better health outcomes, at the state level.

States' political orientation played a nuanced role in COVID-19 outcomes

The analysis suggests that partisan politics played a nuanced role in state-level COVID-19 outcomes. No association was found between the political affiliation of the state governor and death rates from COVID-19. Five of the 10 states with the lowest standardized death ratesVermont, New Hampshire, Maryland, Ohio, and Nebraskawere Republican-led, with the other five best-performing states led by Democrat governors. However, a key predictor of infections and total COVID-19 deaths was the share of the state that voted Republican in the 2020 presidential election.

Political partisanship also influenced local decisions about how Americans use the health system. In states that voted heavily Democratic in the 2020 presidential election, vaccine coverage was associated with stronger health systems (e.g., more health workers and physicians, fewer uninsured). In heavily Republican states, however, the analysis found no link between health system factors and the adoption of protective behaviors, such as vaccination.

"Importantly, our results suggest that the more robust a health system, the better a state performed in the pandemic, but only in states where the public was willing to make use of health care services for vaccination or to get early treatment for their conditions," explains senior author Dr. Joseph Dieleman from IHME.

"Moving forward, it is critical for public health officials, as well as other leaderselected officials, community organizers, leaders of religious institutionsto work together to ensure the key messages about accessing care and preventative measures reach all populations and is more broadly adopted."

Trade-offs between public health restrictions, jobs, and student test results

States that imposed more protective mandates, such as those encouraging mask use, mobility restrictions, and higher vaccination rates, and maintained them for longer, experienced lower infection rates. Only vaccine coverage had a strong association with state variation in COVID-19 death rates.

"Our estimates suggest that use of mandates and gathering restrictions was statistically associated with lower infection rates, but not death rates," says Dieleman. "Many other factors impact death rates. Ultimately our public health policies seem capable of preventing transmission, but other societal factors like poverty, education attainment, and access to high-quality healthcare might have muddled the response and led to death rates being highest in some states that didn't have tremendously high infection rates."

New estimates suggest that if these associations are causal, then the state with the lowest use of protective mandates on masks and social distancing (Oklahoma) had the same policy response as the state with the most use (California), it would have experienced almost a third (32%) fewer infections.

Similarly, estimates suggest that if the state with the lowest vaccine coverage (Alabama) adopted the vaccine uptake of the state with the highest vaccination coverage (Vermont), cumulative infections (30%) and deaths (35%) would have been cut by around a third.

To determine each state's economic situation, the researchers looked at employment figures and state gross domestic product (GDP output). They found that Hawaii, Washington DC, and New York had the largest reduction in employment while Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Mexico tended to fare worse economically.

Despite wide variation across the U.S. in the relative decline in local GDP, employment rate, and math and reading test scores, the study found no evidence of a trade-off between a state having a relatively strong economy or a good health performance in the pandemic. Specifically, the analysis found no links between GDP and most health mandates, lower infections, or fewer total deaths in the pandemic.

"Our results suggest that the local economy was neither hindered nor helped by the differences in the policy mandates that states adopted to reduce COVID-19 deaths or slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections," says Bollyky. "For example, maintaining mask mandates for longer did not translate, on average, into a state experiencing a greater reduction in GDP than its less restrictive neighbors."

Dieleman adds, "Most states had reductions in economic activity during the pandemic, especially in 2020, but those reductions were not systematically related to state policy mandates or COVID infection and fatality rates. When looking at the pandemic as a whole, many things, including federal policy responses, were put in place to prevent the economy from doing any worse than it did. And the sectors that did do the worst, like transportation and leisure, make up a relatively small part of the economy, even though they make a disproportionately large fraction of the workforce."

But there was a trade-off with jobs. Mandated restaurant closures and increased mask use were associated with larger falls in employment rates. Likewise, less mask use, more infections, and greater COVID-19 deaths were closely tied with higher employment. The study estimates that, on average, there were 1,574 additional infections per 10,000 population with each percentage point increase in the employment rate.

This suggests that job losses may have been less severe in states where the population was more willing to risk contracting COVID-19 and participate in out-of-home activities like retail shopping and dining out.

One of the most controversial topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, state-level school closures, did not appear to play a role in lower student test results across most US states. Instead, the study suggests that declines in fourth-grade maths scores in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam were linked with several policy mandates, including increased mask use and vaccine mandates for state and school employees.

"It's possible that in states that were more cautious about COVID-19 transmission, more parents elected for remote schooling. Another possibility is that mask and vaccine mandates impacted school attendance and closures in ways our study was not designed to measure," explains Bollyky. "Our immediate priority should be helping support the lowest-achieving students catch up and addressing US educational achievement gaps, which have widened substantially over this pandemic. In future health crises, it is critical to developing job retention schemes and better educational policies that can mitigate these societal trade-offs."

Rebuilding public trust with clear, transparent, and timely communication

The authors stress that understanding the contexts in which infections and deaths were disproportionately clustered in this pandemic will be crucial in the design and targeting of clinical and policy interventions to ensure better health outcomes in future crises.

For instance, policies such as paid family and sick leave and expanded Medicaid and insurance coverage would help people on lower incomes get vaccinated and obtain effective treatment. And states investing in community-based organizations, such as local clinics or faith-based institutions, to continue to engage in ongoing public health promotion, build relationships with constituents, and encourage vaccine uptake generally among partisan and marginalized groups.

"To rebuild trust in public health and the future pandemic response, we must improve transparency around the political contexts and social, economic, and racial inequities that have magnified US struggles in this crisis, and to be honest in identifying where the economic and educational trade-offs may have been too great to justify the protective measures adopted," says Bollyky.

"Our results suggest that those US states that mitigated those structural inequalities, deployed science-based measures, and mobilized the solidarity that exists in American society were able to match the best-performing nations globally."

More information: Assessing COVID-19 pandemic policies and behaviours and their economic and educational trade-offs across US states from Jan 1, 2020, to July 31, 2022: an observational analysis, The Lancet (2023). www.thelancet.com/journals/lan  (23)00461-0/fulltext Journal information: The Lancet
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Study flow. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Credit: Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment (2023). DOI: 10.1177/11782218231160014

New research from Boston Medical Center found that substance use disorders do not increase the likelihood of dying from COVID-19. Published in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, the study showed that the increased risk for severe COVID-19 in people with SUD that has been seen may be the result of co-occurring medical conditions.

Multiple large cohort studies from early in the pandemic have shown higher rates of hospitalization, intubation, and death from COVID-19 in those with SUD, while other studies found no association between SUD and COVID-19-related mortality or mixed results depending on substance use pattern.

Given these conflicting data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified persons with SUD as suggestive of higher risk for severe COVID-19. The goal of this study was to assess the association between SUD and inpatient COVID-19-related mortality.

"BMC is known for excellent clinical care and innovative research related to substance use disorder. Since the early days of the pandemic, BMC has also been a leader in the treatment of individuals with COVID-19, including persons with complex medical and social needs," said first author Angela McLaughlin, MD, MPH, an infectious disease fellow at Boston Medical Center.

"These findings showing a similar likelihood of COVID-19-related complications in hospitalized patients with and without SUD helps expand knowledge of the infectious complications of SUD."

As BMC sees a high proportion of patients who use substances, it was an apt location for the study: almost 14% of the study population had SUD, exceeding the national average of 10.8% in people ages 18 or older. Researchers reviewed medical records of 353 adults without SUD and 56 adults with SUD admitted to Boston Medical Center early into COVID-19 pandemic and compared the likelihood of COVID-19 related complications between individuals with and without substance use disorders.

They compared the relationship between COVID-19 and mortality, clinical complications, and resource utilization.

"Early in the pandemic, BMC developed protocols to closely monitor and quickly manage COVID-19-related complications in all hospitalized patients," said senior author Sabrina Assoumou, MD, MPH, an infectious disease doctor at Boston Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

"The current findings suggest that such an approach might have benefited many patients, including individuals with substance use disorders."

In this retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a safety net hospital during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUD was not associated with the primary outcome of COVID-19-associated inpatient mortality. The secondary analysis showed that those with and without SUD had similar COVID-19-related clinical complications, including secondary infections, renal failure requiring dialysis, acute liver injury, venous thromboembolism, cardiac complications, and the composite "any complications."

Of note, some clinical outcomes such as stroke were very uncommon overall. Likewise, there was no difference in resource utilization secondary outcomes between the two groups. In contrast to other studies, this found similar likelihoods of mechanical ventilation and ICU admission in patients with and without SUD. Although patients with SUD presented to the hospital earlier in their disease course, their total hospital length of stay was ultimately similar to patients without SUD.

Insights such as these into the clinical complications and resource utilization patterns of patients with SUD and COVID-19 can help clinicians anticipate the trajectory of infection and healthcare needs in this vulnerable group.

There were some notable limitations to the study. The results are from a single site, which might limit generalizability of the findings despite the racial and ethnic diversity of the BMC patient population. Second, the data presented are from the earliest phase of COVID-19 in the United States, so trends may have differed with subsequent waves and as COVID-19 management strategies have evolved over time.

Third, there were no specific controls for socioeconomic factors like medical insurance status or income level, as over 75% of the BMC patient population has public payer insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, or Children's Health Insurance Program) or no insurance. Lastly, differences in COVID-19 outcomes between current versus past SUD could not be detectedthis area would benefit from further research.

In conclusion, in this study of hospitalized individuals at an urban safety net hospital with a diverse patient population in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, inpatient mortality and morbidity between patients with and without SUD were similar. The findings provide a detailed evaluation of outcomes in a unique patient population that has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and may provide beneficial insights for similar settings across the country.

These results point away from SUD as an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 and further suggest a focus on medical comorbidities to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate for differential outcomes in this high-risk population, particularly in an era of newer COVID-19-directed therapies.

More information: Angela McLaughlin et al, Comparing COVID-19-related Morbidity and Mortality Between Patients With and Without Substance Use Disorders: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment (2023). DOI: 10.1177/11782218231160014
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Credit: Farah Hamade

Nearly one in five American women experience infertility, meaning they're unable to become pregnant after at least a year of trying to conceive, or six months if they're age 35 or older.

Should they cut the caffeine? Or take up yoga to de-stress? An infertility diagnosis can lead some hopeful parents to search for ways to boost their odds of getting pregnant. But despite the medical advances of recent decades, it's not always possible to improve on our basic biology.

We asked UCSF fertility experts what we should focus onand what's beyond our control.

MYTH #1: If I'm healthy and fit, then my age doesn't matter to my fertility.

Unfortunately, this myth is false.

Age is the most important driver of a woman's fertility, says Marcelle Cedars, M.D., who directs UCSF's Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. "The ovary," she says, "seems to have its own clock."

Aside from major health risk factors, such as obesity or drug use, the general health of someone who's trying to conceive has little bearing on their eggs' qualitythat is, an egg's ability to be fertilized and create a viable embryo.

Eggs begin to age from the moment a person is born, so a 40-year-old will have four-decade-old eggs, even if they exercise enough to have the cardiovascular fitness of someone half their age. By age 42, some 80% of an individual's remaining eggs are considered abnormal.

"It's kind of our modern tragedy," says Diana Laird, Ph.D., a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences whose research at UCSF focuses on aging and sex cells of laboratory mice. "The ovary is the first organ that appreciably and functionally ages."

Yet many of the chromosomal abnormalities in an individual's eggs are present before they are even born. "An egg starts growing when you're only about four weeks old in the womb," Laird says. "This is an incredibly long and complex process that ends with the ovulation of that egg at whatever age you are."

Her research seeks to untangle how much of an egg's decline is related to the years it sits in "suspended animation" and how much was preordained by events that happened decades before during the egg's development.

"How do we identify eggs that had a healthier development process," Laird says, "and are more likely to give us a healthier egg and a healthier baby?"

MYTH #2: I caused my own infertility because I'm too stressed out.

"Relax and you'll get pregnant!" While perhaps well intentioned, this advice is just plain wrongas two UCSF studies, conducted a decade apart and on different aspects of the conception process, proved in both humans and mice.

Women who reported feelings of psychological distress before in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment were just as likely to become pregnant as those who claimed to be stress-free, wrote Lauri Pasch, Ph.D., a UCSF psychologist who specializes in infertility, in a 2012 article in the journal Fertility and Sterility. In fact, rather than stress causing fertility problems, Pasch found that IVF failure was often followed by subsequent distress.

Just how stressful is an infertility diagnosis? Both Cedars and Laird noted an eye-opening finding from a 1993 study: People with infertility were as anxious and depressed as those with a cancer diagnosis.

But luckily, even egg and sperm precursors developing in embryos inside pregnant mice can't sense stress during development, according to a forthcoming paper from Laird's lab. Although these precursors contain receptor proteins with the ability to sense the stress hormone cortisol, Laird's team found that they were unable to sense stress hormones at that stage of development.

"They insulate themselves from stress in their environment," Laird says of the egg and sperm precursors. "The news is good for expectant patients."

So from before a parent's birth through the post-conception period, the research remains consistent: "There are no data to say that stress causes infertility," Cedars says.

MYTH #3: If I undergo IVF, I'll go into menopause earlier.

Twenty eggs retrieved in an IVF cycle means 20 fewer ovulation cycles in a woman's lifetime, right? No, Cedars says.

Before an IVF treatment, fertility doctors often prescribe hormonal injections intended to stimulate a patient's ovaries to produce a larger number of mature eggs. (The more eggs retrieved, the better the chances are that at least one will result in a normal embryo.)

But these "extra" eggs aren't hijacked from a person's future ovulation cycles. Instead, they are eggs that would have died during the current cycle without ever reaching maturity.

The ovaries contain a so-called "resting pool," from which a cohort of eggs departs each monthlet's say 20 eggs. In a typical ovulation cycle, only one of those 20 eggs will mature. The other 19 will die and be reabsorbed into the body. (Just 0.1% of the eggs in a person's body will mature and be ovulated.)

But pre-IVF hormonal stimulation could result in all 20 eggs from a single cohort potentially reaching maturity. These aren't eggs that would have matured and ovulated in later cycles. Rather, they would have perished but instead were "rescued" by the medication.

Conversely, Cedars adds, eggs aren't "saved up" when a person is not ovulating, such as when ovulation is suppressed by birth control. Birth control only blocks the single egg that would have ovulated from reaching maturitybut the process of eggs leaving the resting pool still happens.

"You don't preserve or protect eggs," Cedars says, "just because you're not ovulating."

MYTH #4: Infertility is a women's issue.

Sure, but it's also a men's issue. In up to half of all cases of infertility, Cedars says, the male partner is the sole or a contributing factor.

As with the mother, the age of the father can play a role in reproductive health, Laird says. Spermatogonial stem cells churn out sperm continuously throughout a man's lifetime. But with each additional year of a father's age, his sperm passes about two additional genetic mutations on to his child, though most of these mutations aren't consequential.

Even so, infertility is often characterized as a women's issue. After all, it is the individual with the uterus who becomes pregnant and who, most often, undergoes fertility treatmentstaking medications or having procedureseven if the other partner's sperm is the sole factor in the infertility.

Historically, patients with infertility were treated by gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists. Male partners were the purview of urologists, who are primarily surgeons. But not much in male infertility requires surgical treatment.

"Male-fertility specialists are decades behind where we are caring for women," Cedars says, "because it wasn't even a specialty in the past."

Today, male-reproductive specialists are more prevalent. UCSF has a male-reproductive health team, within the Department of Urology, that offers male-fertility preservation counseling and treatment, evaluation and treatment for male reproductive health problems, and other services.

"It's an exciting time for the field of male fertility due to the increasing interest," Cedars says, "and the importance of genetics in male reproductive health."

Provided by University of California
FRIDAY, March 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of caffeinated coffee does not result in significantly more daily premature atrial contractions among healthy adults, according to a study published in the March 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues conducted a prospective, case-crossover trial to examine the effects of caffeinated coffee on cardiac ectopy and arrhythmias, daily step counts, sleep minutes, and serum glucose levels among 100 adults. Daily text messages sent over 14 days were used to randomly instruct participants to consume caffeinated coffee or avoid caffeine.

The researchers observed 58 daily premature atrial contractions with consumption of caffeinated coffee compared with 53 daily events when caffeine was avoided (rate ratio, 1.09; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.98 to 1.20; P = 0.10). Consumption of caffeinated coffee and no caffeine intake, respectively, were associated with 154 and 102 daily premature ventricular contractions (rate ratio, 1.51; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.18 to 1.94); 10,646 and 9,665 daily steps (mean difference, 1,058; 95 percent confidence interval, 441 to 1,675); 397 and 432 minutes of nightly sleep (mean difference, 36; 95 percent confidence interval, 25 to 47); and serum glucose levels of 95 and 96 mg/dL (mean difference, 0.41; 95 percent confidence interval, 5.42 to 4.60).

"These findings suggest protean health-related consequences of consuming this common beverage and provide both clinicians and patients with information that may assist in customizing consumption of coffee to appropriately fit with individual health goals," the authors write.
THURSDAY, March 23, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) was 2.5 per 100,000 in the United States in 2022, marking an increase since the low of 2.2 cases per 100,000 coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to research published in the March 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Noting that the incidence of TB decreased substantially from 2.7 cases per 100,000 persons in 2019 to 2.2 in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimberly R. Schildknecht, M.P.H., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues describe TB incidence in the United States during 2022.

A total of 8,300 cases of TB were provisionally reported to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System during 2022 by the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The researchers found that TB incidence increased slightly to 2.5 cases per 100,000 during 2022, but remained lower than during prepandemic years. In 2022, TB epidemiology was characterized by more cases among non-U.S.-born persons newly arrived in the United States compared with that seen in 2021; by higher incidence among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander persons and persons aged younger than 4 years and 15 to 24 years; and by lower incidence among those aged 65 years and older.

"Knowledge of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. TB epidemiology is evolving," the authors write. "As COVID-19 incidence declines, TB remains an important public health challenge characterized by persistent inequities."
FRIDAY, March 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Maternal opioid prescription after delivery seems not to be associated with adverse infant outcomes, including admission to the hospital or death, according to a study published March 15 in The BMJ.

Jonathan S. Zipursky, M.D., Ph.D., from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto, and colleagues conducted a population-based cohort study involving 865,691 mother-infant pairs discharged from the hospital within seven days of delivery. A total of 85,675 mothers who filled an opioid prescription within seven days of discharge were propensity score-matched to 85,675 mothers who did not.

The researchers found that 3.5 percent of the infants admitted to the hospital within 30 days were born to mothers who filled an opioid prescription compared with 3.5 percent born to mothers who did not. The likelihood of admission to the hospital for any reason was not increased for infants born to mothers who were prescribed an opioid versus infants of mothers who were not prescribed an opioid. Infants born to mothers prescribed an opioid had a slightly increased likelihood of being taken to an emergency department in the subsequent 30 days (odds ratio, 1.04), but no differences were seen for other adverse infants outcomes. No infant deaths were recorded.

"Although we endorse caution in short term postpartum opioid use in selected mothers, clinicians and parents should be reassured that infants are at low risk of harm," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed receiving payments for medicolegal opinions regarding the safety and effectiveness of analgesics, including opioids.
The invasive New Zealand mudsnail has been discovered in the upper Clark Fork River watershed for the first time.

The species was detected last week in Silver Bow Creek near the outlet of Warm Springs Ponds, about 8 miles northeast of Anaconda and 15 miles south of Deer Lodge along Interstate 90, according to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The creek is a tributary to the Clark Fork.

Also on Monday, the agency reported that its Anaconda watercraft inspection station was the first statewide to intercept a zebra mussel-fouled watercraft this year: a boat from Lake Michigan, in Wisconsin, en route to Port Townsend, Washington.

FWP stated that the mudsnails' presence "was most likely due to angler wading gear that carried the snail from one body of water to another."

The tiny mudsnail mollusk generally grows to only about 6 millimeters long in the Western U.S. They have no predators in the U.S.  they can survive being eaten by birds and fish  and they infest Western waterways in concentrations up to 300,000 snails per square-meter. They can survive for weeks out of water with only residual moisture. They reproduce asexually  only one snail is needed to start a new population.

"The snails have the ability to expand in population size and distribution very rapidly, potentially changing the ecology of waterbodies where they are located," according to FWP. "Once established, they are hard, if not impossible to eradicate."

Caleb Uerling, an FWP fisheries biologist for the upper Clark Fork watershed, said in a phone call Tuesday that contractors with the state Department of Environmental Quality found one dead mudsnail at the site a few weeks ago, which prompted FWP's Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Bureau to conduct the survey that turned up two more dead snails last week.

"It was interesting that we only found two," AIS Bureau chief Thomas Woolf said on Wednesday. "It's possible but very unlikely that we would capture a couple dead ones."

Nonetheless, the snails are probably living in the waterway. Woolf said that an AIS crew would return to the site when warmer water would facilitate increased snail activity  likely June or July  to further survey the area for the invaders.

If the snails are living there, Uerling said, "They can get prolific and theyre taking up resources out of the bottom of the food web that might otherwise be used by other species  fish or macroinvertebrates  in the waterways."

That probably wouldn't be devastating for the waterway, Woolf and Uerling said, but it's not ideal either.

"Their impacts to fisheries and habitats aren't huge," Woolf said. "They're definitely not a benefit to the ecosystem."

Infestation in the Warm Springs Ponds could be a bigger problem, Uerling said, because historically the upper Clark Fork fishery has benefited from productivity in those ponds.

But, Uerling said, his main concern is that Warm Springs Ponds, and the adjacent stretch of Silver Bow Creek, are a popular fishing spot easily accessed from I-90. That could make mudsnails in the area particularly likely to be exported to yet more western Montana waterways, or beyond. And, he said, the site's popularity may be how the snails showed up in the first place. The snails were already found as close to Silver Bow Creek as the Madison River.

"I think that really is the No. 1 concern, is just keeping them from getting tracked around too much from there," he said. "When you think about it in hindsight, its not surprising that is a spot they turned up. Its a spot thats frequented by anglers and its along the interstate."

"Weve had them pop up in a few spots in western Montana before but it hasnt been common," he said. "Thats one of just a handful of incidents of them coming across the Continental Divide in Montana."

Woolf shared the concern: "It's something that's unfortunate. It's not that big of a surprise that we found them there since they are widely distributed in the state. Preventing their spread is kind of our main focus."

To that end, Woolf said that it's vitally important for anglers, particularly those who wade into water, to thoroughly clean, drain and dry their boots, waders and other fishing equipment when traveling between waterways.

"We humans are part of the problem, and if we clean our stuff, it helps prevent moving that problem to other places," he said, noting that far more harmful hitchhikers and deadly wildlife pathogens are also transported on fishing gear. "Clean, drain, dry  that's kind of the drum that we keep banging."

The snails are native to New Zealand but have been found in most of the Great Lakes and isolated parts of the West since their first U.S. detection in 1987, in the Snake River in Idaho. In Montana, the snails were first discovered in the Madison River in 1995. Now, they're also known to be in the Beaverhead, Jefferson, Bighorn, Upper Missouri and Upper Yellowstone rivers, according to FWP.

A 1999 story in the Missoulian about invasive species around Yellowstone National Park noted that the "tiny conical snails, evidently introduced to North America in shipments of trout eggs from New Zealand, have infested the Madison River and Firehole River in such densities that they already outnumber all native crustaceans. The snails shut a trap door in their shell when eaten by fish that allows them to pass through the fish undigested, protecting themselves while cheating the fish out of any nutritional value."

In 2018, Yellowstone National Park banned felt-soled wading boots in part because of their propensity to transport hitchhikers like mudsnails.

FWP is no stranger to the snails in its own facilities: The invasive species colonized the agency's Bluewater Fish Hatchery about 6 miles northeast of Bridger, or 34 miles southwest of Billings, in 2020 and again in 2022. Each time, the agency killed all the rainbow trout and largemouth bass inside affected areas of the hatchery and then decontaminated the facility.

On Monday, the agency said that "Prevention is the key to minimizing the spread of aquatic invasives. Thats why FWP urges anglers to clean, drain, and dry all equipment after each use, especially after visiting infested waters." Suspected New Zealand mudsnails can be reported to fwp.mt.gov/conservation/aquatic-invasive-species/report-an-ais.

More information on stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species is available at fwp.mt.gov/ais.
A zoning reform bill thats officially opposed by the city of Missoula and Mayor Jordan Hess was endorsed on Thursday at the Montana Legislature by two Missoula City Council members and a representative from a Missoula affordable housing nonprofit.

Senate Bill 245, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, would revise Montanas zoning laws to allow multifamily housing and mixed-used development in urban areas zoned for office, retail and parking with existing sewer and water systems. It would only apply to towns and cities with a population over 7,000. The bill passed out of the Montana Senate on a 40-10 vote and had a hearing in the House local government committee on Thursday afternoon.

Zolnikov said that doing nothing to try to address Montanas acute housing shortage would be a failure.

Housing prices are going up because theres so little supply, so people say this could affect a neighborhood, he said. Honestly, I dont care. Because people are living in campers in Bozeman in negative-20-degree weather. People are trying to squeeze three kids into one bedroom to make their two-bedroom work. Thats happening.

Zolikov said working-class Montanans are struggling to pay their bills because not enough housing is being built to keep up with population increases, so the median sales price in the state has escalated far beyond wage increases over the last decade. Zolnikov noted that Montanas population increased 9.6% between 2010 and 2020 but the number of new housing units only increased 7.7% in that same time.

Zolnikov said he has little patience for people who oppose zoning reform because it might add too much housing density to where they live.

And also what comes from this? People cant even afford to pay for anything, he said. Car breaks down, they cant pay for it, so they go in more debt. They have larger issues. It just compounds. So yeah, Im sorry if we build a little bit and it has an impact on someones perfect neighborhood because people are not able to survive right now, so I guess my sympathies are quite low.

Missoula City Council member Daniel Carlino went to Helena to support the bill and said hes a struggling renter.

Its much better to allow communities to build up and in rather than build out and cause sprawl, Carlino said.

Missoula City Council member Sandra Vasecka was also there to support the bill.

Hanna Kosel of the nonprofit North Missoula Community Development Corporation said her organization supports the bill because it would increase housing supply in many areas.

In Missoula, our working-class neighborhoods are the ones bearing most of the weight of new development, she noted.

The city of Missoula and Mayor Jordan Hess have said they oppose the bill on the grounds that Missoula is undertaking a code reform process already and that local decisions should be made locally with local public input.

Andrew Hagemeier, a senior Missoula County planner and a board member of the Montana Association of Planners, said the organization officially opposes the bill.

We believe this bill will result in small businesses and shops being zoned out of existence, he explained.

Kelly Lynch, the executive director of the League of Montana Cities and Towns, said that the real barrier to more housing development is the long, cumbersome process developers have to go through to get a project approved.

Without exception, all of the cities and towns that would be affected love multi-use and residential in commercial areas, Lynch explained. They all allow for multifamily in some areas of commercial, typically not all, but they pick the ones that are appropriate and allow for higher density housing in those areas. Folks run into what they see as a buzzsaw of local development review. Im convinced that its the process. Its not that we dont allow something in an area. Its too long, its too costly its too duplicative, so we need to focus on that.

SK Rossi, a lobbyist for the city of Bozeman, said that municipality opposes the bill as well.

All of these bills that are supposed to fix the housing problem in Montana are one-sided, Rossi said. Its all about deregulation and clearing the path to developers and the big broad solutions that actually invest dollars in building affordable housing are being left to the wayside.

Patrick Yawakie, speaking on behalf of the Blackfeet Nation, said the tribe supports the bill because housing is a better use of the land in many cases than underutilized office, retail and parking.

Zolnikov also noted that the market will determine whether housing is more necessary than office, retail or parking in many areas if the bill is passed.

The committee did not vote on the bill on Thursday.

Bill for more planning

The committee also heard another bill related to housing.

Senate Bill 382, the Montana Land Use Planning Act, would provide a quicker review process for planning reviews of development proposals. Its sponsored by Sen. Forrest Mandeville, a Republican from Columbus. The bill would require local governments to establish planning commissions, provide continuous public participation and adopt land use plans and land use maps. It would also require local governments to analyze expected population trends, take action to meet current and future housing needs and plan for environmental hazards.

Communities throughout Montana are behind where they need to be in land use planning as our population grows and our housing crisis deepens, Mandeville said. Ive been working with stakeholders from local governments to members of the Governors Housing Task Force in developing this major piece of legislation."

The bill is supported by the city of Missoula and the Montana League of Cities and Towns.

The bill moves public participation and analysis up to the community-wide planning stages, eliminating duplicity so that the permitting and subdivision process is more efficient, said Kelly Lynch, the executive director of the Montana League of Cities and Towns.

Ann Hallowell, who didnt identify as being a part of any organization, spoke in opposition to the bill.

This is an omnibus bill that creates a one-size-fits-all landscape, a strip mall of planning in one unwieldly package to wallpaper our state," she said. "No more small towns and villages landscapes across Montana. Just a monolith of regulated sizes, setbacks and facades. Most stark is the bills complete rejection of the referendum process that has served reliably to level the field between citizens, special interest groups and politicized administrators.

Anne Schwend of the Montana Environmental Information Center said her organization is supportive of a more robust public process. However, they oppose the bill unless they see several amendments, but she didnt give many specifics.

No vote was taken on the bill on Thursday.
In a hearing of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on interior, environment, and related agencies, Tester asked USFS Chief Randy Moore how his agency used categorical exclusions, sometimes referred to as a "CatEx." Moore replied that they're used "primarily in the timber arena," particularly in high-priority areas prone to wildfire. Tester responded that such use aligned with congressional intent, but that "unfortunately  and I do say unfortunately with the strongest of terms  a categorical exclusion was used not to cut trees or not to prevent forest fires, but to allow a corporation to set up in our forest lands, in our national forest, a facility that would include a lot of potential devastating impacts. And it was done using a categorical exclusion."

"What criteria did they use on that to allow a corporation to come into Montana to set up a  this was in the Seeley area  to set up a huge recreation resort?" Tester said. "And I can tell you unequivocally, the people were not heard, and decisions were made by the Forest Service, by folks on the ground, without taking public input. And if the people wouldn't have stood up and said foul, this is baloney, this project would've been built  using a categorical exclusion, by the way, that was meant for cutting trees, not for recreational purposes."

Shortly before rejecting the proposal outright, the Forest Service announced in mid-November that it would move the proposal through the public process via an environmental assessment (EA), if it continued at all. An EA is the middle level of analysis, far more rigorous than a categorical exclusion and with greater opportunity for public involvement. At Wednesday's hearing, Moore told Tester that "I will look into this and get back to you. But you can use categorical exclusions for more than just cutting trees."

The expansion involved Holland Lake Lodge Inc., a joint venture between two executives of Park City-based POWDR and the lodge's former sole owner, Christian Wohlfeil. It envisioned 32 new buildings  including a 28-room lodge, a restaurant and 26 cabins  and the removal of 10 structures around the lakeside lodge in the Swan Valley.
Nathan McLeod keeps having flashbacks of watching helplessly as his 4-year-old son, Sawyer, slipped through his hands and fell off a mangled, malfunctioning chairlift after it smashed into a tower and broke last Sunday at Montana Snowbowl, the ski hill just north of Missoula.

This is a parents worst nightmare, McLeod recalled. Im just watching him fall and hes looking at me. Theres nothing I can do and hes screaming. I just have this mental image of his whole body slipping out of my arms and it's terrible.

McLeod, a Missoula resident, was riding the Snow Park chairlift, which was purchased used from a Colorado ski resort and installed in 2019. The chairlift accesses beginner and intermediate terrain, and McLeod was riding on the outside seat of the lift so that his young son could be helped up on the inside by the lift attendant, who was the only person working at the bottom of the lift. McLeods other 6-year-old son, Cassidy, was riding a chair ahead with a snowboarder. McLeod recalled the lift operator had a little trouble loading his older son, so the chair was swinging. Then he and his younger son got loaded.

Were going and Im watching Cassidys chair in front of me and its just, like, huge, violent swings and in my mind, I dont know what to do about that, because Im a chair behind him, McLeod recalled. Im worried hes gonna hit that next tower. And its like 40 feet off the ground at that point. As thats going through my head, all of a sudden, our chair smashes into the tower, the first one, as it starts going up.

He described the impact as super strong.

And just like that, I reach for my son and he just slips from my arms, McLeod said.

He estimates the boy fell 12-15 feet to the snow below, which at least one other witness agreed with.

Im yelling like someone help us and the lift stops a few seconds later, he said. But at the same time, as Sawyer is falling, the lift chair just breaks apart and it just flips backwards. Like the backrest just falls off the back and so Im like clinging on to the center bar while the chair is swinging. My son is screaming and I dont know what to do. Im like, Do I jump right now?'

He watched the lift attendant come up and give Sawyer a hug.

Its still unknown if hes hurt or not, McLeod recalled. Theres zero communication with me at this point. She starts walking back down to the lift terminal with my son and I still dont know if hes OK or not. Apparently he can walk so thats good.

"So I shouted for someone in the lift line to get her attention and Im like, So whats your plan?' She kind of looks at me and she says, Oh, Ill just load him in the next chair. And then at that point she looks up and sees me and sees that the chairs just mangled.

After sitting for a second, McLeod takes his skis off and lowers himself down and jumps off the chair. Hes 63, and he estimates that with his arms stretched above his head his body stretches to a little over 8 feet. A photo taken from a witness shows several, or more than several, feet of space between his boots and the snow below as he hangs off the chair with his full body extended.

First thing I do is run up to my son and give him a hug, McLeod said. And then the attendant is just like. Watch out, were gonna start the lift again. Not a single person looks at the chair. You dont walk up to make sure the cable isnt mangled? I would assume they would want to like, check it out? She just starts loading the next people in line. Im just shaking because theres so much adrenaline. And somebody makes an offhand comment like Yeah, thats Snowbowl ha ha.'"

Thats when McLeod lost it.

I was like, Hell, no. We have to stop making excuses for this place, he said. We are so lucky that Sawyer didnt just die and like someone is going to get seriously hurt if something isnt done. We cant have this attitude of like, Ha, this is funny, like Snowbowls a sh-- show. You cant do that.

McLeod said some people seemed to agree with him, but then everyone just gets back on the lift, as its the only way back down to the lodge and parking lot. McLeods older son is still sitting on the chairlift wondering whats going on. As McLeod rides up, he sees the broken chair pass him by with some pink flagging on it. He finally gets to the top to meet his other son.

And ski patrol is standing up there drinking a Red Bull talking to somebody, McLeod said. They do not address me, they dont look at me, they dont address Sawyer, not a single person who works at Snowbowl talks to us or addresses us or really makes any acknowledgment happen. Were standing there for at least 10 minutes.

McLeod notes that Snowbowl has had to shut down lifts this year due to power outages and that many people had to hike out from the bottom of LaValle Lift on at least one occasion this year. On New Years Day in 2020, a chair was ripped off the haul rope of LaValle Lift after it unloaded skiers on the top. The lift had to be closed for repairs for three weeks.

What other chairs are deficient and just getting painted over, who knows?" McLeod said. "My worry is we got extremely lucky. If conditions had been different, Sawyer could have been killed. If nothing changes, is someone going to die?"

He was unsatisfied with the response he got at the lodge. The Morris family of Missoula owns and operates Snowbowl, and McLeod said he talked to both Brad Morris and his son Andy Morris.

Andy showed up and I went through the whole thing with him, and all he could really say was, That isnt our protocol. If they had a bad load, they should have stopped the lift,' McLeod recalled. And I said, what about the fact that ski patrol never checked on us? What about that they didnt look at the lift and just started loading again and running it? But he really had nothing. He had no idea. No one had called down to the owners or anyone else to let them know.

Overall, McLeod said he's extremely frustrated at the lackluster response to what he believes could have been a deadly situation.

Investigation promised

In a phone call with the Missoulian on Thursday, Andy Morris said that the engineer who designed the Snow Park lift inspected it.

"There was an unbalanced load that caused the lift to swing," he said. "One chair started swinging and then the next chair  the one the father and son were on  didn't get loaded correctly. If you're delaying the chair, it pushes back and causes it to swing. And the chair struck the tower and caused the back portion of the chair to bend back."

Morris said that "lifties" (lift operators) are trained to respond to problems with the lift, but he wasnt sure what happened with this incident and hadnt spoken to the person involved. Morris also had no explanation for why the chair would fall apart after hitting a portion of the tower.

Were committed to making sure the lifts are safe, Morris said.

Anyone who has ridden the Snow Park chairlift since it opened knows that the chair often swings violently after it loads and the chairs often bang into one of the first few towers on the way up.

Morris acknowledged that swaying is something that occurs on the lift.

"It's a Riblet lift, and our engineer said Riblet chairs are light and they get to swaying pretty badly when they misload or something causes them to get going," he said.

He said that the lift is inspected on a cycle thats required by Snowbowls insurance provider and the Lolo National Forest, which leases land to Snowbowl. Morris was not able to confirm the exact date the last time the Snow Park lift was inspected for safety.

Snowbowl operates on Lolo National Forest land under a special use permit.

Lolo National Forest Supervisor Carolyn Upton said on Thursday that her agency asked that the Snow Park lift be shut down until an investigation and inspection is completed and that request was granted by the ski area.

"Public safety has to be, and is, our top priority and concern," Upton said. "There are lots of activities and businesses under permits on National Forest land, and Snowbowl is an important partner and one of our permittees. When we have something happen our first concern is public safety and then we're going to look at the permit and what gets triggered."

Upton said the Forest Service would have an expert examine the lift as soon as possible and that an investigation will be conducted. She also said she was aware of the incident just a few hours after it happened.

On Thursday evening, Morris said he and Snowbowl's management had met with Lolo National Forest officials and the engineer. Morris said a "minor change" in one of the towers was completed on Thursday.

"The chair that struck the tower, chairs are normally supposed to hit the halo," Morris said. "This one was swinging so badly it caused it to hit a different portion of the tower. The guy that engineered it came and looked and we think the change they agreed to will fix the problem."

When asked if he's confident that the chair will not malfunction again, even if an adult and a child load the same way as McLeod and his son in the future, Morris said that's what Snowbowl is "expecting."

If the Forest Service signs off on it, the lift may be open as soon as this weekend. As of Thursday evening, the Forest Service had not acknowledged the review.

Chairlift safety

McLeod said Brad Morris gave him one adult lift ticket and two child tickets after the incident. A ski patroller had him fill out an incident report and shined a flashlight in Sawyers eyes.

And were walking out the parking lot and Andy runs up and he was receptive, McLeod said. He listened. He didnt try to make excuses, which I appreciated, but at the same time this is just something that shouldnt have happened and were so lucky were not hurt. But the response just wasnt there.

A man who witnessed the accident, Corey Stickle, estimated that McLeods son fell between 12 and 15 feet.

It was kind of terrifying, Stickle said. Its a toddler falling from a f---ing lift, man. Thats the scariest thing you can see. The liftie did a good job. She kept her cool. It was the chair that was set up by Snowbowl that failed.

Stickle said riding up the chairlift after the accident was not easy.

I mean, it was a little scary, he said. We got stopped while they were taking a check of the chair that fell. I was just holding onto the bar for dear life the whole time.

McLeod said he thinks it was fortunate that the afternoon snow was soft, because if the accident had happened in the morning it might have been a different story.

I just think there needs to be an investigation into the safety of that mountain, McLeod said. Because what my fear is that if something isnt done, someones gonna die. And thats going to be the catalyst to make something happen. And it should never come to that. So maybe this is an opportunity to enforce Snowbowl and change their management practices. Because I would say clearly, theyre not taking safety seriously.

McLeod said Snowbowl is an important community asset and that a lot of families and young kids assume that they're safe on the chairlifts.

"I just want Snowbowl to be successful and safe," he said.
Citing serious infrastructure and safety issues at the state prison, lawmakers are fast-tracking a $180 million bill through the legislative process to get repairs at the facility underway before the 200 other projects approved by the Legislature this session.

Rep. John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda, carries House Bill 817, which contains several capital improvement projects for the Montana State Prison outside Deer Lodge. Those plans had originally been part of a larger infrastructure repair bill, but Fitzpatrick told the House floor Thursday twice as many inmates are housed in prison units than the capacity they were originally built for, and the infrastructure failures require haste.

"The prison is in crisis," Fitzpatrick said. "We have a terrible problem with bed capacity within the entire system."

Montana State Prison has taken center stage in infrastructure debates in the second half of the session. The facility is both over capacity on inmates and understaffed on correctional officers, according to lawmakers and state corrections officials. Last week Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill that gave pay raises to correctional officers before the rest of the state pay plan has been signed, another concession lawmakers have made for the prison.

The House this week also endorsed an $8 million plan to send 120 inmates to a private prison facility in Arizona, albeit without Democratic support, citing capacity issues.

The largest project in HB 817  by over $100 million  would replace and expand lower-security housing at the state prison. According to Fitzpatrick, the current structures were built to house 96 inmates in 12 modules with eight beds each. Capacity issues have pushed roughly 200 inmates into those structures, he said.

The Montana State Prison's population listed on the Department of Corrections website on Thursday was 1,563, while the operational capacity is listed at 1,526. It's unclear if the latter figure accounts for contractions in prison populations the department has made due to staffing issues. Prison officials closed a unit of the prison last year due to low staffing, for example, and condensed inmate populations in order to do so.

HB 817 breaks out six projects specific to MSP. They include:

Perimeter fence enhancement, $1.5 million

Red-light emergency notification system, $1 million

Water line replacement, $3 million

Unit F water supply upgrade, $600,000

Unit D renovation, $18.8 million

Low-side housing replacement, $156 million

Fitzpatrick said the completion of all those projects would increase capacity at the state prison by 280 beds. That's roughly the same number of state inmates who have been convicted in court but are backlogged in county jails awaiting transfer to state prison facilities, a population that's spurred lawmakers so far to sign onto the Arizona private prison option.

The bill saw no debate on Thursday, and passed a preliminary vote 97-3. It will receive a third vote, likely Friday, before moving to the Senate.
Coming to the Legislature with what he called an unprecedented request for money, the director of the state health department on Thursday asked lawmakers for $150 million to fill budget holes for bills about to come due, as well as the next two years.

The ask comes in the form of House Bill 835, carried by Rep. Bob Keenan on behalf of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services and governors budget office; both advocated for the bill in a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee.

State health department director Charlie Brereton told lawmakers he estimates the department will need about $60 million to be able to close out its books when the budget passed by lawmakers last session ends this summer. Lawmakers in odd-numbered years pass a budget that funds state government for the following two years.

A sheet Brereton handed out to lawmakers Thursday outlines $56.56 million needed by the summer. About $37.6 million of that is tied to higher-than-budgeted costs to run facilities like Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs and $13.7 million is because of higher-than-projected Medicaid enrollment.

The state hospital was already $7 million over budget by this time last year, roughly halfway through the biennium funded by the 2021 Legislature, largely due to an increasing reliance on traveling staff. That was before the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services terminated a $7 million agreement for federal reimbursement funding for the facility's repeated failure to maintain health and safety standards; those reimbursement dollars would go into the state's general fund, and lawmakers would appropriate it into the budget.

By December, a contracting firm hired to stabilize the state's facilities projected Montana State Hospital would be more than $39.5 million over-budget.

Normally when state agencies over-spend what they were budgeted in the prior legislative session, they request whats called a supplemental. Those are normally contained in House Bill 3 every session. This years iteration has already been signed into law and contains spending ranging from $22,715 for the Air National Guard to $2.8 million in litigation costs for the state Department of Justice.

Roughly $123 million of the health departments request would go to paying for things in the upcoming two-year budget. About $50 million of that will be needed for staffing at state-run facilities, and thats only if the department is able to lower a reliance on expensive traveling medical staff by recruiting and retaining more permanent workers. Brereton told lawmakers that his department has seen some successes on that front, but isnt where it needs to be yet.

Another $50 million is needed to handle Medicaid coverage the department predicts will cost more than lawmakers are currently allowing for in the budget they're crafting now.

The department was advocating for the money the same day Republicans in the state House passed along party lines a version of the state budget that included the caseload projections the department says arent sufficient to cover the spending they expect.

Part of that is because the department believes another provision in the state budget to increase Medicaid provider rates will result in more providers, allowing more people able to access health care. While thats a good outcome, Brereton said, it comes at increased expenses.

Assistant Budget Director Ryan Evans in the governor's Office of Budget and Program Planning acknowledged the request is very, very different from how normal supplementals and future spending are accounted for in the budgeting process.

This is really a supplemental bill. Its certainly a supplemental bill for (the) 23 (fiscal year). Its some notion of pre-funding uncertainty into 24 and 25 coming off of extraordinary times, Evans said, referencing changes during the pandemic.

Both Republicans and Democrats on the House Appropriations committee repeatedly questioned Brereton and Evans about why the request was coming in such an unusual way.

Republican Rep. John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda, asked why the information wasnt presented to the budget subcommittee and incorporated into the states budget if the department knew it had this previous trend of spending.

Evans said that because the administration finds current spending levels unacceptable, it didnt want to add the spending to the base budget and instead wanted to work with the health department to reduce costs.

We thought this was a more fair, transparent way, Evans said.

However, the bill appropriates the money statutorily, meaning it would be in law going forward. When Fitzpatrick asked Keenan why the bill would put the spending into law instead of clarifying it was a one-time-only appropriation, Keenan said the committee was able to amend the bill to change that provision if it wanted to.

When Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena and vice chair of a budget subcommittee that focused solely on the health department budget, said not asking for a supplemental was unusual and that she didnt understand the logic, Evans acknowledged the approach was very different.

This is extreme transparency in extraordinary situations, Evans told legislators, adding that the request was large and the department and budget office thought this approach would give legislators more review of how its spent.

Caferro also questioned why it was not discussed in more detail during the two and a half months lawmakers on the budget subcommittee entirely devoted to the state health department budget.

Maybe Im not not making myself clear. My question is why in (the budget subcommittee) why did we not hear about all of these problems that are going to cost $150 million or more  to fix? Why didnt we hear about the problems?

Brereton responded that the problems at state facilities and caseloads were part of in those debates, and said the governors budget director made a reference to Keenans bill earlier in the session. However, the legislation was not introduced until March 15 and its specifics were not discussed prior to Thursday.

I understand we did not get into super-granular or detailed, Brereton said.

The department was able to leverage some federal COVID-19 aid, as well as money from the directors discretionary fund know as a black box to keep things afloat, Brereton said, but the federal money has expired and the black box has just $6.8 million left. The director also told lawmakers the budget shortfalls at state-run facilities started more than two budget cycles ago and reliance on contract staff traces back to 2018.

Joel Peden, an advocate for those with disabilities who spoke on behalf of Montana independent living centers, said he was concerned to see lawmakers striking an existing part of state law that any money dedicated to home and community services may not be transferred to other parts of the state health department. Brereton and Evans said the change was necessary to give the department flexibility in spending money it had access to.

There are tens of thousands of people that are very, very nervous about their home- and community-based services right now, Peden said.

Peden also said he was frustrated to see $150 million going toward a contingency fund and not toward community-based services that also need support.

The committee did not take immediate action on the bill.
Political scientists study agenda setting, hegemonic stability and stakeholder negotiation. Barbara Evans got people to do stuff.

When she was first elected to the Missoula County Commission in 1978, her campaign bio listed her as a graduate of Missoula County High School (now Hellgate) and a designer of single family homes  no other political experience claimed. Commenters pondered her intentions to see local businesses thrive and to protect the environment.

At the time, Reserve Street was a two-lane edge of town struggling to become a new commercial center. The state highway project ran out of money, and the Legislature refused Missoulas requests for help. So Evans went to Washington, D.C.

She left on a Thursday and came back on Monday with the money, recalled her husband Allan (who also joked he was resigned to being known as Mr. Barbara Evans). It was the first of a half-dozen trips "Babs" (as she was commonly known) made to Congress. There she delivered her wish lists not only to the Montana delegation but key staff members of every other representative or senator with a seat on a relevant committee. She instinctively knew who to persuade.

And she didn't only listen to people. Persuaded herself by the threat of ecological disaster looming in the toxic sediments impounded by Milltown Dam, Evans also used those trips to marshal attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. The 1981 discovery of arsenic and other poisons leaching into the East Missoula drinking water resulted in a proposal to simply erect a chainlink fence around the reservoir. Evans maintained the bipartisan political pressure that supported local efforts to go big  eventually demolishing the dam and removing more than 300,000 tons of mining waste so the Clark Fork River could run free again.

At the same time, she helped organize a ferocious opposition to Missoula city efforts to allow in-fill development and denser residential housing  ironically many of the same proposals now touted by Gov. Greg Gianfortes Housing Task Force. She teamed up with Bob McCue, a Missoula businessman who also led the Citizens for Common Sense Government. Within days of the groups appearance, it had raised a $44,000 war chest ($78,000 in todays dollars) to campaign against the Missoula New Party  a progressive faction of the local Democrats that had recently dominated the Missoula City Council.

Shortly after she joined the county commission, Evans took credit for blocking Missoulas Aber Day Kegger after eight infamous years on a Miller Creek rodeo arena now covered by suburban homes. In 1979, the event featured four bands and 800 kegs of beer. Evans unsuccessfully tried to block health permits for the event, but she raised enough public concern to have an impact. When the organizers announced there wouldnt be a ninth kegger concert because of the bad PR last year and because its just gotten too expensive to put on, Evans responded It shows me that one little person can make a difference and accomplish something.

This was the same person who reserved a bedroom in her house for members of the 1960s folk group New Christy Minstrels whenever they played a concert in Missoula. And the organizer of the Aber Day Kegger? Bob McCue.

In these days of what political scientists call ossified ideological factions and gridlock, Barbara Evans was a huckleberry public servant. Babs got stuff done.
There are other possible steps you can take to help protect your child's credit, as well. If you don't want to freeze your child's credit, you can consider a credit lock.

Consumer Reports notes that, while a credit freeze is free, the credit bureaus all offer a credit lock, though it's not always free. That said, credit locks may be more convenient than credit freezes, because a freeze is intended to be a long-term solution (protecting credit for a child's entire adolescence, for example) while credit locks can be quickly and easily turned off and on, some via an app.

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A credit freeze also comes with legal protection under federal law that the credit locks can't provide. And if for some reason, the freeze fails or is still bypassed by a criminal, your child will be protected from financial liability related to the credit fraud.

Beyond credit freezes and credit locks, though, you should be careful how and where you share your child's personal information throughout their adolescence. To some extent, you can't avoid giving it to their schools, doctors or financial institutions. But do the extra legwork to ensure these organizations are only using the information as necessary. That means reading all privacy notices they provide, keeping all related information in a safe location and shredding copies of documents you don't need anymore.

If your child's school, doctor's office or other organization notifies you of a data breach, check your child's credit reports and notify the Federal Trade Commission of any unusual activity.

As your child approaches his or her 16th birthday, run a credit check. This will let you know if there are any fraudulent accounts or errors, and give you time to clean up the record, which often requires a lot of paperwork. Again, a credit freeze isn't foolproof, but it's likely the easiest and most efficient way to help your child's credit record stay clean.

Now That's Interesting As Forbes notes, if your child is old enough, this is a good opportunity to explain how credit works and why it is important. If your child is too young for this conversation, you can help him or her lift the freeze when it comes time to apply for loans or a credit card.
In the last three weeks, South Carolina lawmakers have voted to slash the salary of the states top accountant, filed a proposal to impeach the Republican elected official and recommended his responsibilities be moved to other agencies.

Now, lawmakers want voters in 2024 to decide whether they should still have a say.

South Carolina voters could decide next general election whether the states top accountant, called the comptroller general, should continue to be elected or appointed by the governor, with Senate approval.

A South Carolina Senate panel on Tuesday quickly advanced legislation that would let voters decide by ballot referendum the future of the comptroller generals office, a $151,000-a-year four-year position that acts as the states chief accountant and fiscal watchdog. The office runs the state payroll, pays vendors, runs the state accounting system and compiles an annual comprehensive financial report.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate want to strip powers from Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom after he notified legislators in February that his office had miscounted money for 10 years, inflating cash on hand by $3.5 billion.

Eckstrom, a Republican, was first elected comptroller general in 2002 and was last reelected in 2022 after running unopposed.

I feel very disappointed that it took this to make this change, said state Sen. Chip Campsen, the lead sponsor of the referendum who has repeatedly proposed moving the office under the governor. I do think that the executive branch should have important positions that the chief executive gets to choose from one administration to another, because at the end of the day the executive branch needs to work be working in coordination.

Campsens proposal to put the question to the voters, a change in the state Constitution that first requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, now moves to the full Senate Judiciary Committee. A similar proposal was filed in the House by state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg.

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Eckstroms decade-long error for years only appeared in the annual comprehensive financial report, which isnt used by lawmakers when they write the budget, meaning no actual dollars are missing. However, lawmakers said the error could affect South Carolinas bond rating, which determines how much interest the state pays when it borrows money.

When youve had this kind of failure, I dont think you would have had that with an appointed comptroller general because the governors office would and his staff would be on top of whats going on in that office, Campsen said.

Eckstrom said last week in a statement that he supported making his job appointed. Eckstrom did not attend the Tuesday Senate hearing, and no one else testified for or against the measure.

I have long been an advocate of restructuring state government to make it more responsive to the people, Eckstrom said.

Senate recommendations, released March 15, for the Comptroller Generals Office include moving office responsibilities to other state agencies and removing Eckstrom from office for willful neglect of duty, another move that would require a two-thirds vote of both chambers and action by the governor.

A separate bill to remove Eckstrom from office for willful neglect of duty has been introduced in the Senate, with 35 co-sponsors. A resolution to impeach Eckstrom was introduced in the House, with 16 co-sponsors.

Campsen said Eckstroms actions did not rise to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor needed for impeachment  an effort Gov. Henry McMaster said the General Assembly should resist.

Cobb-Hunter, who proposed letting the governor make the appointment, agreed.

He was elected just like all of us, and I dont think its fair to be talking about impeaching him because of whatever allegations have been made, Cobb-Hunter said on the House floor during the March 14 budget debate.

By the numbers

 19 states have an office of comptroller general or controller

 9 comptrollers or controllers are popularly elected

 7 comptrollers or controllers are appointed by a governor

 2 comptrollers or controllers are appointed by other state officials.

 1 comptroller is appointed by a Legislature.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is sending dozens of Florida Highway Patrol troopers to Miami Beach to reinforce local officers patrolling spring break crowds.

Florida is a law-and-order state. As part of Governor DeSantiss priority to protect Floridians and keep our communities safe, FHP is ready and prepared to act, said Dave Kerner, executive director of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The announcement of the governor partnering with the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County officials to send more than 60 troopers to Ocean Drive and surrounding streets was made late Friday afternoon, an FLHSMV release said.

This is really next level. Heavy police presence subdues the spring break party

The troopers are tasked to patrol the streets, keep order and to prevent violent, illegal and unruly behavior, officials said. The sudden deployment is directly connected to violent crimes in the city over the last week.

Miami Beach has experienced large crowds, gang violence, street racing and roadway takeovers that are dangerous to the public and visitors of the city, the release read.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber told the Herald he is thankful for Kerner and DeSantis for sending more law enforcement.

I wish we had the curfew, but having more police is always helpful because I think it deters some behavior, he said. We are very happy to have them and having another department help is always welcome.

READ MORE: Miami Beach officials vote not to extend midnight spring break curfew this weekend

Hundreds of officers from several agencies  including Miami police, Miami-Dade police and Miami-Dade County Schools police  are already patrolling the streets, Gelber said.

Specifically, Gelber is excited to have more officers to conduct DUI checkpoints and license plate reader operations as he says they are very labor intensive.

DUI checkpoints are helpful and license plate readers are terrific, he said. They help take guns off the street...and Highway Patrol typically helps with that.

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DeSantis office declined a request for comment.

This years spring break on the beach has already seen two fatal shootings that caused officials to implement a temporary midnight curfew and declare a state of emergency that would force the ban of alcohol sales from liquor stores after 6 p.m. this weekend.

A Georgia college student was one of the Miami Beach spring break shooting victims

We are committed to enforcing public safety and look forward to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to prevent disorder and keep the city, its citizens and visitors out of harms way, Kerner said. We will stay as long as needed and protect the residents of the greater Miami area, and we will have zero tolerance for dangerous and illegal activity.
The White House is lowering expectations that President Joe Bidens visit to Canada on Thursday will produce a breakthrough in its diplomatic effort to galvanize military assistance for Haiti, after months of debate over a U.S. proposal for a multilateral force to help Haitis national police in its ongoing battle with gangs.

John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters Wednesday that Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would be sure to discuss Haiti from a security and humanitarian perspective.

But Kirby questioned whether theres a need for a rapid action force, which the administration began pushing for in October of last year, when a powerful armed gang coalition seized control of Haitis main fuel terminal, cut off critical roadways and deepened a humanitarian crisis that included a deadly cholera outbreak.

A senior administration official, previewing the overnight visit and acknowledging that parts of the Haitian capital are difficult to get to due to escalating gang violence and kidnappings, said deploying any sort of international security presence to Haiti is only part of a way to deal with the countrys challenges. The administration remains committed to promoting political dialogue in the country where there remain no elected leaders following the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the end of the mandates of the last 10 remaining parliamentarians in January.

Also, like Canada, the United States is supporting the Haiti National Police as a long-term effort to ensure that Haitian institutions can address the challenges of Haiti, and then finding ways to be able to deploy humanitarian and development assistance.

What the U.S. has been doing with Canada, the official said, is methodically looking at what is needed on the ground as well as how many other countries would potentially participate in any outside force to assist the beleaguered police force. There is also a question of whether such a deployment should be a bilateral agreement with Haiti, as the U.S. and the United Nations secretary-general proposed last year, or whether it should be another U.N. peacekeeping mission.

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Consideration also needs to be given to what kind of support such outside intervention would get in Haiti, because it is something that is going to require the support of the population, the official said.

We need to derive lessons from the past ...maybe areas that we could improve upon, said the official. These are issues that take a lot of time. They are not fast... We are trying to do this with a sense of urgency given the crisis and I know the two leaders are going to discuss the way forward.

The U.N. said this week that it has already counted at least 531 deaths in gang-related violence since the beginning of the year. In February, the country also saw the highest number of reported kidnappings since it began tracking abductions in 2005, with 259. Most of the violence is in the metropolitan Port-au-Prince area, and rural towns in the Artibonite Valley, just north of the capital.

McClatchy and the Miami Herald first reported earlier this month that the Biden administration would press Trudeau to make a decision on whether or not Ottawa would lead a multilateral force  a presumption that Washington has made ever since it proposed a U.N. Security Council resolution in the fall that would support the force.

Last week, during public appearances in Canada, Trudeau cast doubt about Canada leading such a force, saying that past military interventions in Haiti have not worked. The country, which also had two Navy vessels patrolling off the Haitian coast, also announced this week that their mission was done.

On Wednesday, Kirby also seemed to raise questions about whether the sense of urgency will lead to any changes in both the United States and Canadas responses.

I think they will continue to talk about ways we can continue to support, from a humanitarian assistance perspective, the people of Haiti and Haitian national security forces. And as for a multinational force, or anything like that, I dont want to get ahead of the conversation here. But as weve said before, if theres a need for that, if theres a place for that, thats all going to have to be worked out directly with the Haitian government and with the U.N., Kirby said.

Both the Haitian government and the U.N. secretary-general had called for the rapid establishment of a multilateral force in the fall, before the United States proposed its resolution at the Security Council. The U.S. draft resolution has not been formally put to a vote.

Following a fact-finding visit to Haiti last week, a U.N. delegation expressed alarm at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Haiti and the violence by kidnapping gangs.

The degradation of the humanitarian needs in Haiti is unprecedented, said Sara Bordas Eddy, chief of the humanitarian field support section of UNICEF. The suffering of a Haitian child today is not comparable to the suffering of a Haitian child a few years ago.

Tareq Talahma, the acting director of the operations and advocacy division of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said more than just humanitarian assistance, what the people of Haiti need is peace, security and protection.
Former President Donald J. Trump watches the NCAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. Trumps calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated mostly muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap. | Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press

Despite facing ongoing legal and moral troubles, Donald Trumps vicelike grip on the Republican Party seems to grow ever stronger, not weaker, according to the polls. We look at the quandary this poses for Utah Republicans.

As of our deadline for this column, Trump was facing a possible indictment expected to be issued by the Manhattan District Attorneys office having to do with $130,000 in hush money Trumps attorney paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. What impact will all of this have on Utah voters and Utah elected officials in the 2024 election?

Pignanelli: The prosecutor in New York has done more to help Donald Trump get elected president than any single person in America today.  Sen. Lindsey Graham

A politician is alleged to have paid hush money to an adult film star with whom he had an affair while his wife was pregnant. Normally, this would be a fatal obstacle to gaining traction among Utah voters. But these are not normal times.

Polls indicate that Utahns have a strained relationship with the former president. They support his policies and willingness to confront cultural issues. But doing so requires swallowing the bitter taste of his personal actions.

Related

Even national critics of Trump agree the hush money allegations barely rise to any criminal conduct, justifying Trumps claims of a partisan witch hunt. Indictments in the other jurisdictions pose greater potential problems for him. Thus, the pursuit of the former president for minor aberrations, by a liberal East Coast prosecutor, will likely compel defensive statements from the Utah GOP. Of course, a former president arrested, fingerprinted and subjected to a criminal proceeding is not helpful.

This dilemma will impact Republican officials who must articulate a message of sympathy for Trump without excusing his conduct. Yet, they must anticipate his predicted drag on the 2024 elections will not dissipate, as independent voters reject him.

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The best strategy for Republicans is to ignore Trumps candidacy while maintaining a disciplined, noninflammatory message that liberal prosecutors are wasting taxpayer dollars on grandstanding. Americans and Utahns desperately want the political discussion to move past the 2020 elections and return to normal.

Webb: When writing about Trump, I always note that I voted for him and I liked many of his policies and accomplishments. I also think he was treated very unfairly by most of the news media, Democrats and much of the big government establishment.

But Trumps toxic personality, erratic behavior and deep character flaws have gotten worse, and disqualify him from winning the presidency again. He performed poorly in the last two elections and its entirely his own fault.

But many Republicans still love Trump for a variety of reasons. A big one is that liberal elites, including left-wing prosecutors, keep making a martyr out of him, which he, of course, loves. They launch half-baked, partisan investigations that produce more sympathy among Trumps supporters. If youre going to prosecute him, youd better nail him, or he emerges stronger.

Theres little doubt that Trump had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels. The payments to keep her quiet are not in dispute. But many legal experts say it will be difficult to convict Trump. Adultery is not a crime. In addition, the prosecutor is a left wing partisan who is going after Trump instead of focusing on street crime in New York City. Even a lot of Republicans who cant stand Trump are saying the prosecution is politically motivated.

Most Utah GOP leaders arent saying much. Privately, most of them dont like Trump and they believe hes tearing apart the Republican Party. But they dont want to alienate his many grassroots followers.

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Even Trumps most ardent supporters admit he has many flaws and quirks. Why do they continue to back him?

Pignanelli: Trump possesses some characteristics that charm many, including disrupting the status quo. His unabashed attacks on The Establishment, protecting domestic manufacturing against globalization, criticism of woke ideology and other such themes are popular. Especially appealing is how Trumps unorthodox behavior attracts nontraditional newcomers (i.e. labor union members, persons of color, etc.) to the GOP tent.

Webb: Trump has become a messiah for many heartland Americans frustrated and angry toward establishment politicians, the liberal elite, big business, high tech firms, Hollywood and woke culture. Trump is boorish, dishonest, disloyal and otherwise outrageous, but he fulfills fantasies among people who feel ignored and alienated.

I really dont blame heartland Americans. Many of these folks are my neighbors. They really believe Trump understands them and will fight for them.

I blame myself and my mainstream friends who have failed to help the Trump wing of the conservative cause understand they can have what they want  but they cant get there with Trump. If Republicans were united, they could win elections, reduce regulations and cut the size, cost and intrusion of the massive federal bureaucracy; they could fight for families and traditional values and reduce the influence of liberal elites.

But Trump cannot deliver these things. Hes too flawed. He will just keep losing. Other candidates are just as committed and willing to fight as he is, but theyre not burdened with his baggage.

Will anti-Trump Republicans unite behind one candidate in 2024, or will multiple candidates split the vote, helping Trump win the GOP nomination?

Pignanelli: A year before the convention, the smartest prediction is Trump prevails through a messy primary process. This remains the outcome unless a contender who can unify the non-Trump factions becomes evident by the late fall.

Webb: Im hopeful candidates with no chance to win will drop out early and get behind one solid, conservative, non-Trump candidate who might be able to unite Republicans, even the Trump base, in the general election. But thats probably wishful thinking. Republican LaVarr Webb is a former journalist and a semiretired small farmer and political consultant. Email: lwebb@exoro.com. Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser who served as a Democrat in the Utah state Legislature. Email: frankp@xmission.com.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at the East Palestine Fire Department as he visits the area in the aftermath of the Norfolk Southern train derailment Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2023. Trumps lawyers in Georgia are criticizing the Fulton County investigation into potential illegal election meddling after the foreperson of the special grand jury seated to help the probe went public this week. | Matt Freed, Associated Press

As former President Donald Trump faces a possible indictment from a Manhattan grand jury, his attorneys are fighting the possibility of criminal charges in Georgia related to election interference.

A lawyer for Trump filed a motion to quash a grand jury report and preclude the use of any evidence from the grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, Monday, according to media reports. There, Trump faces charges related to a case opened in 2021 after a recording was made public of his phone call asking Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find enough votes to reverse his loss in the state.

In the filing, Trumps attorney writes that the grand jurys report was conducted under an unconstitutional statute, through an illegal and unconstitutional process, and by a disqualified District Attorneys Office who violated prosecutorial standards and acted with disregard for the gravity of the circumstances and the constitutional rights of those involved.

The attorney also singled out the grand jury foreperson who engaged in a media tour where she shared specifics of her experience publicly, inflicting harm. Foreperson Emily Kohrs took part in media interviews in February and was criticized for speaking publicly and appearing to some as unserious. She was parodied last month on Saturday Night Live.

In a post on his social network, Trump called Kohrs an extremely energetic young woman who was going around and doing a Media Tour revealing, incredibly, the Grand Jurys inner workings & thoughts.

This is not JUSTICE, Trump wrote.

The judge who is overseeing the case, Judge Robert C. McBurney, told ABC News jurors can talk about the final report and are only barred from discussing their deliberations. Witness testimony is not deliberations, McBurney said. He did not answer whether he saw anything Kohrs said publicly that violated her oath.

Norm Eisen, a former special assistant to the president for ethics and government reform under former President Barack Obama, told the Independent he thought it would be better for Kohrs to be more restrained, but that the only real danger from her comments would be an opportunity for Trumps team to file motions as a delay tactic. Donald Trump may very well attempt to file some kind of a motion about the forepersons statements. But legally, theyre not significant, he said.

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A decision whether or not to bring charges was imminent, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said in January.

Related

The New York and Georgia investigations arent the only inquiries Trump now faces. The New York case is connected to an alleged hush-money payment made on Trumps behalf to an adult actor during the 2016 campaign. He is also facing two criminal investigations by the Justice Department, one related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and Trumps efforts to overturn the election and another related to the removal of White House documents when Trump left office.
To get a roundup of TechCrunchs biggest and most important crypto stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday at 12 p.m. PT, subscribe here.

Welcome back to Chain Reaction.

It was a big week in the crypto world as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission clamped down on major crypto companies like Coinbase and Tron -- more on that below -- and Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, has reportedly been arrested in Montenegro, according to a local government official.

On Thursday morning, Filip Adzic, the minister of interior of Montenegro, tweeted in Bosnian that Kwon was arrested at the airport in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, with falsified documents.

Kwon has been under investigation for the past 11 months since the Terra/LUNA collapse, which wiped out about $40 billion from the cryptocurrency market.

In mid-September, Kwon tweeted, I am not on the run or anything similar  for any government agency that has shown interest to communicate, we are in full cooperation and we dont have anything to hide.

While Kwon declined claims of hiding from authorities, prosecutors have refuted those claims.

In late September, his whereabouts were unknown and Interpol issued a red notice requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide search for and arrest him. Shortly after, the South Korean government ordered Kwon to surrender his passport or risk it getting revoked.

Kwon has said that charges leveled against him by the South Korean prosecutors are not legitimate and are politically motivated, TechCrunch previously reported.

Fast-forward to February, prosecutors in South Korea traveled to Serbia, suspecting that was where Kwon was staying. In mid-February, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Terraform Labs and Kwon with defrauding U.S. investors who purchased its crypto assets, LUNA and the not-so-stable stablecoin, Terra.

Now that Kwon is in shiny silver handcuffs, itll be interesting to see what transpires next. TBD.

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This week in web3

Coinbase stock drops after SEC Wells notice, a possible prelude to enforcement action

American crypto giant Coinbase received a Wells notice today from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Per a Coinbase SEC filing regarding the matter, the company writes that the government agencys staff has advised the Company that it made a preliminary determination to recommend that the SEC file an enforcement action against the Company alleging violations of the federal securities law.

As TikTok and Coinbase face regulators, some questions are simpler than others (TC+)

We learned last night that the SEC served Coinbase with a Wells notice, a prelude to taking enforcement action against the U.S. crypto giant over potential violations of the federal securities laws. The company intends to put up a fight, according to its CEO. But exactly how the SEC thinks Coinbase may be violating the rules will help us determine what course of action makes the most sense. While regulatory action against TikTok feels rather simple, in the case of Coinbase, were stuck in the middle of something with far more gray area.

SEC sues Tron founder and celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul and Soulja Boy, for crypto securities violations

The SEC also took legal action Wednesday against Justin Sun, the founder of Tron, for possible securities violations. The government agency is also suing a handful of celebrities and influencers, including Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, Soulja Boy, Austin Mahone, Michelle Mason, Lil Yachty, Ne-Yo and Akon. All the celebrities aside from Soulja Boy and Mahone have agreed to pay a total of over $400,000 in disgorgement, interest, and penalties to settle the charges, without admitting or denying culpability regarding the SECs allegations.

Web3 gaming will onboard up to 100M gamers in next 2 years, Polygon and Immutable presidents predict (TC+)

Robbie Ferguson, co-founder and president of web3 gaming company Immutable, and Ryan Wyatt, president of layer-2 chain Polygon Labs, told TechCrunch+ that web3 will add the first 10 million to 100 million gamers within the next year or two. Were going to see 40% of the web3 games [ever] built go live over the next 12 to 18 months, which will be a huge amount of attempts or shot-on-goal to have that 100 million players, Ferguson added. If this prediction becomes true, it would represent a massive wave of adoption that the decentralized gaming industry didnt have before.

Magic Eden launches Bitcoin marketplace as Ordinal inscriptions continue to grow

Magic Eden, one of the largest cross-chain NFT platforms, launched a Bitcoin marketplace for digital artifacts, the company shared on Tuesday. We are already a multichain platform and believe that adding Bitcoin will connect us to a deep community of people and a rapidly growing collectibles market thanks to Ordinals, Zhuoxun Yin, COO and co-founder of Magic Eden, said to TechCrunch. Adding a Bitcoin marketplace allows us to continue our multichain vision. Prior to the announcement, Magic Eden supported NFT trading on Solana and Polygon and provided aggregated listings for Ethereum-based NFTs.

The latest pod

Due to technical difficulties, our newest episode with Emin Gun Sirer, founder and CEO of Ava Labs, will be released on Friday, instead of our usual Thursday timeslot. Be on the lookout for it tomorrow.

Subscribe to Chain Reaction on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite pod platform to keep up with the latest episodes, and please leave us a review if you like what you hear!

Follow the money

This list was compiled with information from Messari as well as TechCrunchs own reporting.
This article is part of HuffPosts biweekly politics newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

Ten years ago, Republicans in the North Carolina state House were lining up to vote against Medicaid expansion for their state.

They had an opportunity to open up the program to anybody with income below or just above the poverty line, with the federal government picking up most of the cost through the Affordable Care Act. They passed it up, arguing that the existing Medicaid program was too expensive and too broken. They warned that the federal government might reduce its contributions in the future, and that offering more people Medicaid would give them less incentive to work.

Then they said that voting for expansion was tantamount to voting for Obamacare, which was politically toxic among Republicans, and even some non-Republicans as well.

Wow, have things changed.

This week, Republicans in the North Carolina House lined up to vote on another expansion bill  and this time most of them voted for it, with the legislation passing by a total margin of 87 to 24. The vote came a week after the GOP-controlled Senate approved the same proposal by an even more lopsided, 44 to 2, margin.

Gov. Roy Cooper (D) delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the N.C. General Assembly on March 6 as, from left, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), House Speaker Tim Moore (R) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) look on.

Gov. Roy Cooper (D) delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the N.C. General Assembly on March 6 as, from left, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), House Speaker Tim Moore (R) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) look on.

Now the bill heads to the desk of Roy Cooper, the Democratic governor and longtime champion of Medicaid expansion, who has pledged to sign it. The expansion cant take effect until  and unless  the GOP legislature and Cooper agree on a separate budget deal, which is no small thing given a recent history of standoffs and the opportunity for mischief by individual legislators hoping to undermine agreement for one reason or another.

But the overwhelming margins behind Medicaid expansion and investment in it by the states most powerful elected officials mean it is likely to happen, by most accounts  that its probably a question of when, not if, an estimated 600,000 low-income residents will soon have a chance to get health insurance.

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Thats a lot of people whose lives are about to change. Studies have found all sorts of benefits of Medicaid enrollment, from a reduction in debt and credit problems to better school attendance for kids. Then there is peace of mind  and, quite possibly, better health  that comes when people dont have to ration their heart medication or go without much-needed joint surgery because they cant afford it.

This has been a long process, Cooper told me in an interview, but this is a perfect example of Dr. Kings assertion that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.

So how did this transformation take place?

Over the last few days, I put that question to some of the people who know best, including the governor, a key GOP legislator and some longtime advocates. I also checked the local coverage in outlets like the Charlotte Observer, North Carolina Health News and The Assembly.

The story that emerges is a case study in how change in America takes place nowadays  or, at least, how it can take place when the circumstances are just right. Its also an indicator of the shifting political conversation about health care, specifically the Affordable Care Act, which just happened to turn 13 years old on the same day the North Carolina House took its final vote this Thursday.

The laws architects, including former President Barack Obama, always hoped the program would get some kind of bipartisan support  enough, at least, to allow widespread, relatively smooth implementation. It hasnt worked out that way in many places.

But it may finally be happening in North Carolina.

The Toxic Politics of Obamacare

Medicaid expansion itself was never supposed to depend so much on the goodwill of state officials. It was supposed to be the easy part of the Affordable Care Act, because all it required was states changing eligibility levels for a program that they already operated, with the feds picking up most of the tab.

The catch was that the federal government cant simply order states to change their laws, so the Affordable Care Act as originally written took advantage of federal leverage to make it happen: If states declined to expand eligibility, then they would lose all federal Medicaid funding  a potential financial calamity none of them could afford. It was the ultimate offer they couldnt refuse.

Or at least it was supposed to be. In 2012, the Supreme Court struck down that threat as unconstitutional, giving state officials the ability to stick with their previous, stingier eligibility guidelines.

That legislative process can be very difficult, but if you just stay at it, stay determined, you can move the ball forward.Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper

The Affordable Care Acts champions hoped most states would expand anyway, if not for the sake of helping so many low-income residents than for the chance to draw so much extra federal money into their states, buoying the health care sector and economy as a whole. Neither incentive proved especially effective in states where Republicans held sway over government.

Instead, it was mostly reliably blue states like California and Maryland that expanded Medicaid initially. More came around over time, starting with a group of swing states where GOP governors touted the economic benefits and (in the notable case of Ohio Gov. John Kasich) biblical obligations to help the poor.

More recently, even some deeply red states like Idaho, Missouri and South Dakota have expanded Medicaid, though in those cases it was via ballot referendum. Medicaid expansion has always polled well; even staunchly conservative voters value the program and the chance to get health care.

But its been a while since expansion won support from a Republican legislature. The last time was 2018 in Virginia, and that was only after an election that left GOP majorities razor-thin  and fearful of further losses.

A Democratic Governor Focused On Medicaid

Prospects for legislative expansion in North Carolina looked pretty bleak back in 2013, when Republicans in the Assembly first voted against expansion. But activists didnt sulk after that setback. They got to work, embarking on what would become a persistent, patient campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of Medicaid expansion  and, ultimately, to change minds in the legislature.

There were reports and rallies, with some serious policy work and a lot of storytelling, put together by a loose coalition that included social justice organizations and patient advocates. Medicaid expansion was also a focus of the Moral Monday protests that Rev. William Barber launched in 2013 to protest a variety of policies from the newly elected GOP governor, Pat McCrory, and his allies in the legislature.

Barber, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, framed expansion as an urgent cause for equality  and attacked McCrory for stonewalling it.

McCrorys difficult tenure, culminating in a controversial transgender bathroom bill that cost North Carolina tourism business, left him politically vulnerable when he ran for reelection in 2016. His opponent was Cooper, who won narrowly in an election that defied the national pro-Republican trend that year  and probably would have gotten more attention if not for the presidential election and its implications soaking up so much oxygen.

Health care is complicated, and I think it just took some members time to really understand how it would help people.Republican State Rep. Donny Lambeth

Cooper had campaigned on Medicaid being his top priority. And when he got into office, he kept at it, publicizing stories of people who were struggling and connecting those struggles to the states overall well-being  by noting, for example, that early childhood educators were among those frequently in low-wage jobs without coverage.

But there was only so much he could do without the votes. Medicaid expansion simply wasnt going to happen without significant Republican support.

A Republican Convert  And Then Another

Donny Lambeth, a Republican from a conservative district in the Winston-Salem area, came to the State House in 2013, just in time for that first vote against expansion. As a former hospital executive, his decision was easy, he told me in an interview. He saw no upside to putting more people into a program he already considered too expensive and hopelessly broken.

Medicaid was a major focus early in his tenure, culminating in a 2015 law that he and other supporters hoped would make the program more efficient by switching to managed care. That transformation also got him thinking about expansion again, he said, because the program felt stronger  and North Carolinas fiscal situation did too.

The Affordable Care Act was still plenty controversial at that point. In fact, Donald Trump winning the 2016 presidential election led to an all-out repeal effort in Washington  an effort that, famously, came within John McCains thumb of going forward.

But the push to undo the law retreated following the 2018 midterms, when Republicans across the country campaigned on their opposition to the health care law and suffered big losses.

If nothing else, those developments seemed to reduce uncertainty about the permanence of Obamacare  and, with it, federal support of Medicaid expansion that North Carolina Republicans had previously called suspect. Phil Berger, the states deeply conservative Senate leader who had long opposed Medicaid expansion, was among those who eventually took notice.

Were working with everyday North Carolinians who are getting crushed by medical debt, who have been dealing with sicknesses that could have easily been prevented ... it's just a relief.Hyun Namkoong, North Carolina Justice Center

Sometime a few years ago ago (accounts about precisely when differ) he began signaling he was open to the idea. In 2022, he gave his full endorsement, touting not just economic benefits to the state but also the potential human impact.

He used to worry about rewarding dependency, he said, but had since realized that most of the people who stood to benefit were working. They just couldnt afford insurance.

More often than not, what you have is a situation where folks who would be eligible for Medicaid in the expansion population are people that are actually working full time, Berger said in an interview with PBS NewsHour earlier this year. Sort of the person that seems to be helped the most would be a single female with one or two children who works a full-time job.

Lambeth had been saying similar things for a while, and attributed growing GOP support for expansion  in part  to all of the stories and testimonies lawmakers kept hearing from people on the ground, who couldnt get insurance or who could see the impact lack of coverage had on others.

We had these people coming down to Raleigh, farmers, business owners, people from rural areas, they were advocating, telling stories, Lambeth said. Health care is complicated, and I think it just took some members time to really understand how it would help people.

Republicans also heard a lot about the financial struggles of rural hospitals, which play a vital role in so many of their districts.

Rural hospitals arent just a place to get care but also a key employer in many rural communities, Adam Searing, an associate professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, explained in a recent briefing paper. A hospital at risk of closure focuses local political attention on what can be done to help  and Medicaid expansion became an important part of the solution.

Negotiations And  Eventually  A Deal

Berger is widely considered the most powerful man in Raleigh, as The Assembly once dubbed him, and his endorsement was a pivotal movement. But it took still took months of painstaking negotiation to get to an agreement.

Money was a big hang-up, as always, and hospitals agreed to pick up part of the cost through an assessment. (Theyll still come out ahead, because the expansion provides so much revenue.) The chance to draw on two extra sources of federal money, one of them as part of President Joe Bidens COVID-19 relief package, greased the skids even more.

One last stubborn dispute was over regulations restricting the construction of new hospitals and outpatient surgery centers, which existing hospitals very much wanted to maintain but many lawmakers, including GOP leaders, wanted to scale back  partly because of the theory that increasing Medicaid enrollment would increase demand for health services, so it made sense to ease up on supply limits.

The hospitals gave some ground, more Republicans came around and a deal finally came together last month.

Its been a really long journey, said Hyun Namkoong, deputy director for health advocacy at the North Carolina Justice Center, one of the groups that has pushed hardest. Were working with everyday North Carolinians who are getting crushed by medical debt, who have been dealing with sicknesses that could have easily been prevented ... just horrific things that eventually end up being disability or even death.

Honestly, she said, its just a relief.

New Politics, And Old

The benefits of Medicaid expansion that Republicans have been hailing these past few weeks arent new. They were the same benefits that advocates and supporters have been highlighting since 2013. The difference is that Republicans are listening  and agreeing  this time. Pretty much everybody agrees thats partly a reflection of the changing politics around the Affordable Care Act.

A lot of our advocacy and coalition work was very much focused on: how do we identify the most effective messengers to resonate with our conservative lawmakers to find some other way forward, so it doesnt feel like traditional Medicaid expansion, because it was sort of toxic, Brendan Riley, vice president for government relations at the North Carolina Community Health Center Association, told me.

Were just in a different space now, and the fact that we have our lawmakers, who are longtime opponents, are on the floor, talking about it being the right time to expand Medicaid. Its clear were just in a different time, Riley said.

Cooper credits activists for keeping up the pressure all these years, and individual Republicans for embracing the cause when it was so unpopular in their ranks. He also thinks local organizations with credibility among conservatives, like local business groups touting economic benefits or law enforcement talking about the potential to keep people with mental illness out of the criminal justice system, had a big effect.

Cooper is also a believer in bipartisanship, though he emphasizes it doesnt come easy.

It requires hard work and requires listening to people, building coalitions and finding leverage, Cooper said. That legislative process can be very difficult, but if you just stay at it, stay determined, you can move the ball forward and get positive things done.

Lambeth echoed the endorsement of bipartisanship, on at least some issues. I didnt go down to the General Assembly as a Republican, he said. I had to get elected as a Republican, but I went down to help people, to try and make North Carolina a better state, and one of the best things we can do in North Carolina is to expand Medicaid.

Assuming expansion unfolds as Cooper and Lambeth and the other champions hope, it will reduce the ranks of holdouts to just 10 states, nearly all of them in the South. That is the part of the country where high poverty levels arguably mean more Medicaid would make the most difference. That is also the part of the country where conservative Republicans have their tightest grip on government.

The two largest states by population are Florida and Texas. Expansion would make more than 1 million people eligible for coverage in just those states alone, according to estimates. But theres no sign of interest from GOP governors Ron DeSantis or Greg Abbott, or their legislatures either. Change may yet come to those states, but it will apparently take even more time  and more work too.

Related...
David Dastmalchian in Ant-Man

Stephen King's The Boogeyman star David Dastmalchian says it's "one of the scariest films" he's seen in a long time  and explained how it shares similarities with another horror movie he's set to appear in later this year.

While promoting Boston Stranger, the true crime drama he stars in with Alessandro Nivola, Carrie Coon, and Keira Knightley, Dastmalchian touched on Last Voyage of the Demeter, the upcoming film spin-off of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and said: "I'm sure Stephen King would acknowledge that his voice was shaped by Stoker in a way.

"Like I'm sure that that was a huge influence on him as an young person, early reader and writer. Both of those films are so different from one another and they're both incredible," he told Comicbook.com. "The Boogeyman is... I got to see it... It's one of the scariest films I've seen in a long time. The performances are amazing. And then Last Voyage of the Demeter, I have not seen the film yet, but what I have seen doing ADR was incredible. It's an amazing story. I'm so glad I got to be a part of that one."

Based on King's 1973 short story of the same name, The Boogeyman centers on high school student Sadie Harper (Yellowjackets' Sophie Thatcher) and her younger sister Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair), who are struggling to reconnect with their therapist father (Chris Messina) following the death of their mother. One day, a man (Dastmalchian), who claims to be a patient of their dad's , comes knocking at their house, and when the girls let him in, they inadvertently unleash a terrifying entity into their home. Marin Ireland and Madison Hu round out the supporting cast.

It is set to be released in US cinemas on June 2. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies coming our way throughout 2023 and beyond.
THURSDAY, March 23, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are facing shortages of drugs critical for cancer treatment, respiratory conditions, and more -- shortages that increased nearly 30 percent between 2021 and 2022, a new report shows. The report, commissioned by the U.S. Senate and discussed during a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, revealed a record five-year high of 295 active drug shortages.

The problem is not likely to get better soon because of how the system is regulated and the fact that many drugs or their ingredients are made outside the United States, the report noted.

"Since 2007, the FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] identified an average of over 100 separate drug shortages per year," ranking committee member Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) said during the hearing before the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "In 2011, the FDA identified a whopping 267 drugs in short supply, and despite possessing the most innovative medical industry in the world, the U.S. is unable to maintain a consistent supply of the most crucial medicines."

Though 295 drugs were in shortage last year, the latest number is 130, according to the FDA. The average length of a shortage is 1.5 years, though some drugs are in short supply for much longer. About 15 critical drug products have been scarce for a decade, CNN reported. Albuterol sulfate is among them. The FDA has reported it as in short supply since October, while the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has been warning of a shortage since last summer. A major supplier to U.S. hospitals closed this month, likely exacerbating the issue.

Other drugs in short supply include the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Adderall. Medications like the antibiotic amoxicillin are also more likely to face shortages because they are generic and lower-priced, according to the nonprofit U.S. Pharmacopeia, which presented its analysis at the hearing, CNN reported. U.S. Pharmacopeia works to strengthen global supply chains.

Experts blame market consolidation as another contributor to shortages, CNN reported. In addition, there is a lack of transparency. About 80 percent of manufacturing facilities for ingredients for drugs sold in the U.S. market are in other countries, typically in China or India, where work stoppages can have a major effect. On top of that, no U.S. agency tracks those manufacturers, so shortages can come as a surprise.
Its something thats been talked about for more than 20 years, and while it appears more likely to happen now, a passenger train line connecting Asheville to Salisbury and points in between is still years off.

Carolina Association for Passenger Trains, which says it is an independent organization of citizens dedicated to the improvement and expansion of passenger rail service within the Carolinas, says a western line connecting the two cities is about seven to 10 years away.

Martin Wheeler, president of Carolinas Association for Passenger Trains, said in a March organization newsletter there would be stops in Valdese and Morganton along a western rail line. Other stops would include Asheville, Black Mountain, Old Fort, Marion, Hickory, Conover, Statesville and Salisbury, he said. CAPT adopted a resolution on Feb. 28 supporting the Asheville to Salisbury line.

Three roundtrips a day is proposed for Asheville-Salisbury Line that would span 139 miles, Wheeler said in the newsletter. The final draft feasibility study for resumption of rail service between Asheville and Salisbury is expected to be ready in a few more months, said Lauren Haviland, an NCDOT spokesperson, but there has not been a definite date set for release.

Wheeler said the North Carolina Department of Transportation also is including the Asheville-Salisbury corridor as one of 13 rail corridors its asking the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to include in its Railroad Identification Program. The program is designed to speed the creation of additional rail passenger routes across the country, he said.

Wheeler said the federal infrastructure law, formally known as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, passed last year is expected to fund the lions share of planning and design costs.

It was April 2021 when Amtrak released a 15-year plan for its system if President Joe Bidens infrastructure bill was approved. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act was approved and it slated $66 million for railroads, according to a January fact sheet from The White House. Of that, $22 billion will go directly to Amtrak, including $16 billion for the National Network and $6 billion for the Northeast Corridor, according to The White House.

Amtraks 15-year plan included a map that showed the company would add a line that would service communities from Salisbury to Asheville. Adding a train line along the corridor has been talked about since at least 1999 by the state and train advocates.

Wheeler said when building and operating the new routes, a maximum of 20% from local/state dollars would be required to match federal funds. After implementation, up to six years of continuing federal assistance is possible, he said.

Economic development, tourism and job creation will benefit through the enhancement of rail passenger service, CAPT noted in its resolution.

In March 2019, the city of Morganton and town of Valdese councils both approved resolutions supporting a statewide initiative for legislative funding to re-establish passenger train service in the western part of the state.

Four years ago, the Western North Carolina Rail Committee Inc. said one of its focuses is to re-establish a passenger rail connection to western North Carolina beginning with AMTRAK Thruway Bus Service between Asheville and Salisbury as a first-step toward launching a dedicated train to serve the communities along the route.

Wheeler said in the newsletter that preliminary figures indicate that 100,000 local trips could be generated, with an additional 150 to 290 thousand offline connections possible by 2045. Total capital cost of the project is projected at $665 million, with an annual operating cost of $7.3 million to $10 million, he said.

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with other regional leaders, formed the Western North Carolina Rail Corridor Committee in March 2000 to promote restoration of passenger rail service to the foothills and mountains of North Carolina and to provide assistance and support to the department, according to information with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The committee consists of stakeholders and representatives from communities along the proposed route between Salisbury and Asheville, the information said.

In 2017, the committee was reconstituted and incorporated as the Western North Carolina Rail Committee, according to information from Buncombe County government.

The last train to run between Asheville and Salisbury was in 1975.
As a young man, Tom Papas bonded with his father over whiskey. When he visited, the pair shared drinks. Papas enjoyed bourbon while his father preferred scotch.

Through the ritual, Papas acquired an interest in whiskey. When he retired and moved to Asheboro, North Carolina, he decided to turn that passion into a business.

Papas opened Leos Whiskey Bar in 2020 in downtown Asheboro, a town of about 27,000 people just south of Greensboro. His intent was to offer a wide selection of whiskeys, such as bourbons and scotch. Papas hoped to give people the chance to bond over a drink and even try limited liquors they might not be able to find elsewhere. He soon ran into a problem. By law, he has to purchase liquor through the local Asheboro Alcohol Beverage Control Board. The rule limited what he could stock. His offerings depended on what the local board could get in stock from the state.

Papas said he can put in an order for liquor, but if the ABC board cant get it, he cant either. He has standing orders for a lot of the whiskey the bar sells.

We get what we get when we get it, and we never know whats coming, which is kind of a dangerous business model, Papas said. People are coming here and getting to know we have the best stuff in town, and sometimes we cant get it.

Papas learned to take whatever limited whiskey the ABC stores can get in. That might be Blantons bourbon one week or a few bottles of E.H. Taylor the next.

A recent change to the way the state distributes liquor means the biggest ABC boards in the state get the first pick of limited liquors, making it difficult for smaller boards to get those bottles, Asheboro ABC Manager Rodney Johnson said. He says the distribution policy violates state law.

Typically, the state-run warehouse that provides liquor for North Carolinas 174 alcoholic beverage control boards retail stores has enough liquor to go around. But in some cases, the state only receives a small number of cases of certain limited liquors. Those include bourbon brands such as Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Widow Jane, E.H. Taylor and W.L. Weller.

This summer, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission changed the way those limited liquors are distributed to the 174 local ABC boards across the state that sell liquor in retail stores, said Brantley Uzzell, general manager of the Lenoir County ABC Board and vice president of both the North Carolina Association of ABC Boards and a state advisory committee for the NC ABC Commission.

Before the change, the liquor was distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through the online ordering system. Now, the state commission offers 75% of limited liquors to the 30 boards that sell the most alcohol throughout the year. The remaining 25% is opened up to the other 141 boards, Uzzell said.

Uzzell said the change was made after suppliers said they wanted to see more liquor being sold in restaurants and bars, rather than to individuals by the bottle in retail shops.

Suppliers came in and said, Wed prefer to see the stuff going to the bars and restaurants so more people can try it, and if you do that, well send in more product, Uzzell said.

The states ABC advisory committee made up of general managers from boards across the state voted to recommend distributing the majority of limited liquors to larger boards, which do more mixed beverage sales through restaurants and bars.

Johnson objected. He claims the rule violates North Carolina General Statutes, which dictate how the state can distribute liquor to boards. The particular law reads: The Commission shall make a good-faith effort, without discrimination, to make all spirituous liquor distributed by the Commission available to all local boards.

Johnson said the new distribution rules discriminate against smaller boards that dont have as many sales.

Rowland, with $424,000 in sales last year, they have just as much right to a hard-to-get product as Mecklenburg with $205 million in sales. They're independent boards, Johnson said.

Hes emailed North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission chairman Hank Bauer to express his concerns but says he has not had any response. I have never seen the chairman, an appointed government official, more flagrantly violate the law than what this guy is doing, Johnson said. You either have to have a control system where you follow the law, or you open it up to the free market.

In an email, Bauer said the new system was put in place to distribute more equitably for customers.

As a result of these changes, the state of North Carolina is receiving significantly more product because those products are now selling faster, he said. Suppliers dont want their products sitting around on a shelf when it could be sold quicker in another location.

Bauer said the new distribution method was deemed legal by the state commissions legal team.

Johnson said he believes the violation disrupts the entire alcohol control system, pulling business away from smaller boards that dont get limited liquors and making it difficult for bars near small bars to get those limited liquors.

Johnson said some local restaurants and private clubs have complained to the Asheboro ABC board about their inability to get the liquors their customers want. Meanwhile, the liquor sits on the shelves at larger ABC stores nearby, but restaurants and bars are required to order liquor from the ABC board in their area.

Michael Crowell, a lawyer with decades of experience working with ABC boards and state legislators in North Carolina on ABC laws as well as beer and wine wholesalers in the state, weighed in on the distribution rules. Crowell said the law is difficult to enforce because the statute only requires a good-faith effort, which is hard to define.

As a practical matter, in the end it would be up to the complaining board to show that there was a more equitable way to distribute the scarce product, he said.

Papas has tried to work with the ABC board to get the liquor he wants. He takes any specialty whiskey hes able to get, hoping to send a message to the state that Asheboro is able to sell the limited liquors. Papas is passing his methods along to Leos Whiskey Bars new owner, Christine Callicutt, who bought the bar from Papas in December.

We're willing to buy pretty much whatever theyre willing to give us, but its on such a sporadic basis and we never know when its coming, Papas said.

That can pose a challenge, Papas said. The bar isnt able to stock the same liquors consistently, so customers may not be able to rely on the bar for a specific whiskey. They get what they get, Papas said. There's not a whole heck of a lot (the ABC board) can do about it. There's not a lot I can do about it.

Johnson said the limited liquors should be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis again, in which no one has prior knowledge of when the liquors will be available to order. His other suggestion is that the liquors should be distributed by a lottery drawing of interested boards.

Johnson said he believes the violation puts the alcohol control system on shaky standing, opening the system up to lawsuits or challenges that could bring down the control system. He doesnt want to see that happen.

Im in favor of the control system, Johnson said. Under the control system, you limit the number of locations that dispense spirits. Alcohol is a societal problem, and if you don't limit it  you're going to multiply the problems associated with spirits. I think the control system works and makes sure every tax dollar that is collected goes where it should.

But the change in distribution disturbs the system. Without equal access, the control system becomes a competitive environment between boards that have access to different liquors, Johnson said.

Uzzell said complaints about the new distribution rules stemmed from confusion about how smaller boards can access the limited liquor.

Were hoping the amount (of limited liquor) goes up next year until hopefully, we dont have to have allocated product anymore, Uzzell said.
Mental health and substance use were listed as the two top health issues identified as major problems in the Butte-Silver Bow 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment. The assessment is published every three years.

Jay Doyle, president of St. James Healthcare, now part of Intermountain Healthcare, and Karen Maloughney, Butte-Silver Bow's health officer, presented the findings Thursday at the Butte hospital.

The assessment is based on 400 surveys with people in Butte-Silver Bow County  each entailing 20 to 25 minute interviews and containing more than 100 questions.

April Keippel, the community benefit program manager with Intermountain Healthcare, said the final sample was weighted in proportion to total population  meaning they included more surveys from heavily populated areas and fewer surveys from less populated areas, such as Ramsay, to accurately represent the county.

Following mental health and substance use, other top health issues include tobacco use, diabetes, cancer and nutrition, physical activity and weight, respectively.

In the report, 18.1% of participants self-identified as having fair or poor health, compared to 12.8% of Montana residents and 12.6% of national residents.

A higher percentage of women and low-income people were affected by adverse health conditions across the board in almost all categories.

When looking at age-adjusted mortality for select causes of death between 2018 and 2020 per 100,000 people, the assessment found that more Butte-Silver Bow residents had heart disease, lung disease and COVID-19 than the national average.

The assessment also found high blood pressure is prevalent in Butte-Silver Bow, with 37.4% of residents affected. This is higher than the percentage of Montana residents diagnosed with high blood pressure (29.5%), and similar to the U.S percentage (36.9%).

For stroke, Butte-Silver Bow came in at 25.2 residents per 100,000 having died, compared to 37.6 nationally. Doyle attributed some of this to the recent stroke awareness campaigns and programs the hospital has implemented.

Also, 84.9% of adults have at least one cardiovascular risk factor.

Although the number of residents with cancer (142 per 100,000) is better than the national number of 146.5, mortality is high for female breast cancer in Butte-Silver Bow, with 26.6% of residents having died from it as compared to 17.9% in Montana and 19.4% in the country.

However, screening levels for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in B-SB are similar to state and U.S. levels at 73.8%, 74.1% and 73.3% of those screened for each cancer, respectively.

The number of overweight and obese people in the county is also higher than the state and national levels. In the county, 70.8% of residents are overweight or obese, compared to 64.6% in the state and 61% in the country.

In terms of meeting physical activity recommendations, Butte-Silver Bow comes ahead of the country for both adults and children. In 2023, 29.8% of Butte-Silver Bow adults reported meeting their physical activity recommendations, compared to 21.4% of the national population and 28.4% of Montanas population.

Also according to the assessment, 25.4% of the Butte-Silver Bow population is food insecure, compared to 34.1% of the national population. However, this number increases to more than 50% among low-income residents.

In terms of age-adjusted mortality for firearm-related deaths from 2018 to 2020 annual average deaths per 100,000 people, Butte-Silver Bow leads Montana and the U.S. with 24.7 firearm-related deaths in the county compared to 19.1 in the state and 12.5 in the country.

Maloughney also noted that 21.8% of surveyed households in Butte-Silver Bow have an unlocked firearm in or around their home, which is the lowest recorded number since 2014. Among households with children, this percentage is 13.5%.

Moving onto behavioral health, the number of Butte-Silver Bow residents who have experienced symptoms of chronic depression and have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder are both trending upward since 2014.

The percentage of Butte-Silver Bows population who experienced symptoms of chronic depression is 37.1%, compared to 31.8% in 2020.

The percentage of Butte-Silver Bows population diagnosed with a depressive disorder is 30%, compared to a state percentage of 22.6% and national percentage of 20.6%.

On substance use, 45.1% of Butte-Silver Bow residents have had their lives negatively affected by substance abuse. Butte-Silver Bow has also had 16.6 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people annually, higher than Montanas 9.2 people and similar to the nations 15.8 people.

Doyle said a team will be formed with members from the Southwest Montana Community Health Center, the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department and other interested outside groups to address the mental health issues here.
Brooke Glennon, 17, of Butte was named the 2023 Childrens Miracle Network Champion for Montana at a ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Butte Public Archives.

Glennon told a crowd of friends and family Thursday she is looking forward to helping others by sharing her story.

"Even though the world might keep spinning on its axis, the paragraphs and chapters that you are in in other people's stories matter because those people aren't ready to close their story. You shouldn't be ready to close your story either because the future is coming and it is so ready for you," said Glennon.

Glennon will spend the coming year working with Shodair Childrens Hospital as an advocate for those dealing with mental illness. She will deliver a message of hope at schools, partner events and directly to patients at the hospital, according to a press release from Shodair.

The news release sums up Glennons progress with this statement:

Its hard to imagine when you meet 17-year-old Brooke Glennon today that there were days she was in such a rage that she was violent toward her mother. The junior at Butte High School has almost a 4.0 GPA, stands no taller than 4 feet 10 inches, is confident yet soft-spoken. She doesnt shy away from eye contact, has an infectious smile, and a youthful sense of humor when demonstrating her card-dealing techniques by flawlessly doing the double-bridge shuffle, a skill she learned while being treated at Shodair Childrens Hospital for major depression.

I just want to help others know that there is light no matter how dark it is, Glennon said. I want to help others believe they can do it.

Craig Aasved, CEO at Shodair, says Brookes bravery provides a powerful story for others. Its young people like Brooke that will help change how mental health is viewed in Montana and across the country, Aasved said. I couldnt be more proud of her, excited for this next chapter in her life, and honored she is allowing us to walk alongside her.

The champion program has been raising awareness about the importance of childrens hospitals and Shodair has been participating since the late 1990s. Glennon joins a long list of children who become champions of their struggles and voices for thousands helped by Shodairs services.

Glennons depression began with the passing of her father. It was a few years after that she began to become more and more withdrawn, explosively angry, and openly suicidal expressing the desire to go be with her dad. She had three stays at Shodair Childrens Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Helena, about an hour up the interstate from the mining city. Each time Brooke got a little more of what she needed to be emotional stable. Her ability to identify and talk about her feelings, or engage in healthy activities like karate. Each stay at Shodair helped and she committed a little more with the treatment plan individually developed for her. Brooke has done all the hard wok to become the healthy, vivacious young lady she is today, and the professionals at Shodair helped along the way.

To find out more about Shodair Childrens Hospital or Childrens Miracle Network, visit Shodair.org or www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.
Butte police reports

Havoc at motel

A call came in late Wednesday night about a man wreaking havoc at the Ramada, 2100 Cornell Ave.

Brennon Hale Hajek, 23, of Butte was allegedly extremely upset and arguing with staff and guests in the lobby. When officers got there he was reportedly screaming and not making much sense. According to the police report, Hajek also slapped an officers hand away.

He was arrested for the misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Just talking

Officers arrived at a residence in the 100 block of West Daly Street just before 1 a.m. Thursday to investigate a disturbance between a man and a woman.

When they knocked on the door, Riley OPatrick Trindle, 28, of Butte stepped outside to talk with them. Turns out Trindle had a misdemeanor criminal contempt warrant out for his arrest and he was taken to jail.

Causing a ruckus

Brianna Rose Lucas, 37, of Butte was arrested Wednesday night for the misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to property.

She reportedly refused to leave a residence in the 2900 block of Carter Street, but managed to take off before the cops arrived. She then headed to the Asia Buffet, 1921 Dewey Blvd., where she was allegedly causing a bit of a ruckus. It was there that officers took her into custody.

More reports

 A man asked a clerk if he could write his name on the counter at the Town Pump, 531 S. Montana St., but was told no. He did it anyway.

 A woman rented a television from a Harrison Avenue business and then promptly pawned it

 Someone entered a home in the 800 block of Travonia Street and stole some medicine.

 Cash was stolen from a home in the 800 block of Highland Avenue.
There comes a time when prosecutors and judges have had enough of one persons criminal ways.

That time has come for 53-year-old Larry James Evans of Butte.

Vehicle thefts and simple drug-possession charges by themselves dont typically lead to time in the Montana State Prison, let alone sentences of 18 years there.

But they can, and in Evans case did, if theyre the latest in a laundry list of previous charges and convictions  all detailed in a latest presentence investigation, or PSI.

Prosecutor Ann Shea waved its pages and pages in the air Thursday, urging District Judge Kurt Krueger to reject Evans pleas for leniency. The judge obliged.

In my 21 years on the bench, I have never seen a PSI like this, Krueger told Evans. I have not seen a PSI with an attachment of seven pages, or eight pages, of facilities that youve been in and opportunities youve had for treatment.

Krueger reminded him that in 1988, in the same courtroom, then District Judge Arnold Olsen gave a young Evans a deferred sentence for breaking the law. Evans broke its terms within a year.

That was 35 years ago, Krueger noted.

Theres not a successful completion of one sentence and yet youre asking this court to  all of a sudden after 35 years  to again look to a treatment facility for you, Krueger said. The court will not indulge in that.

Instead, Kruger sentenced Evans to three years in the Montana State Prison for stealing a truck in November 2021 and five more for possessing meth, with no time suspended.

They are consecutive to each other, meaning eight years total, and Kruger stacked them on top of a 10-year prison term District Judge Robert Whelan imposed earlier this month for Evans stealing an R&R Electrical truck.

Evans and his attorney, Robin Ammons, wanted any sentence Krueger imposed to run concurrently with the decade term ordered by Whelan. That could result in an earlier parole, then Evans would enter a drug-treatment program called Hope Ministries.

Evans acknowledged he had made bad choices in life but said he was ready to change. His mother also spoke before Ammons made a final pitch for a shorter combined sentence.

The mother was in prison years ago for drug crimes and Larry grew up visiting her there, Ammons said, but she overcame all that.

She has been out for almost 30 years and is doing very well, Ammons said. She has stayed sober. Addiction was likely her main problem as well.

He believes that addiction is the root of his problems  but he does believe he can change and do the best that he can, she said.

But Shea noted Evans long criminal history and previous treatment programs, and said his crimes went beyond drug use and possession.

According to court records, his past offenses have included thefts, forgery, assault with a weapon and failure to resister as a violent offender.

In the case at hand, Evans stole a pickup a man had parked in the area of Front and Utah on Nov. 18, 2021. Police spotted it a few hours later and gave chase but called it off because Evans was speeding through a residential area.

A resident called police a short time later saying a white pickup had pulled into her driveway and was stuck. Officers saw Evans on foot, got him to the ground and cuffed him despite his efforts to resist. He had meth on him, police say.

A few months earlier, an R&R Electrical truck was found stuck on Aluminum Street with the drivers side window broken out. The business owner posted surveillance video on Facebook showing a man walking between buildings then backing the truck out.

The suspect in the video was not wearing a shirt under his jean jacket and had a large tattoo on his chest that police matched to Evans via a booking photo.

If the judge went along with a concurrent sentence, Shea said, Evans could be out of prison within two years and we are going to have more victims.

Hes not just an addict your honor, Shea said. We see people dealing with addiction and all theyve ever committed were (drug) possession and those kinds of things and we try to address those.

But when you start creating victims  three decades of victims  we cant just give you another break because youve finally figured out that youre an addict because were just going to be back here again.
A federal judge this week overturned a woman's vehicular homicide conviction following a 2008 crash in East Missoula.

Montana's U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen ruled Thursday that Katie Garding did not receive effective assistance of counsel during her trial in 2011 in Missoula County District Court. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The Montana Department of Justice has until April 21 to either appeal Christensen's ruling, or to file a notice of intention to retry Garding's case in state court. Garding was released released on parole in 2021 after 10 years in prison. If no notice is filed by that deadline, Garding will be released from parole and she cannot be tried again.

A spokesperson for the justice department said Friday it's too soon to determine if the state will retry Garding's prosecution.

Garding is represented by Bozeman attorney Lars Phillips and the Montana Innocence Project's Caiti Carpenter.

"What we know now based on the district court's ruling is Katie did not get assistance of counsel as required by the Sixth Amendment," Phillips said Friday.

Montana Innocence Project legal director Caiti Carpenter applauded the ruling Friday.

"Katie has been a constant beacon of hope throughout this process," Carpenter said in a press release. "The fight isnt over, but after 12 years, with an army of family, friends, lawyers and experts, someone finally heard our plea. It is now up to the State to decide what resources it is willing to dedicate to maintaining an unjust conviction."

This week's ruling hung specifically on the public defender's failure to secure a crash reconstruction expert and data that could have showed Garding's vehicle's size did not match the injuries that killed Bronson Parsons, 25.

"In fact, by failing to pursue this investigation and present expert testimony in support, the two investigating officers were allowed to provide their conclusions about the kinematics of the crash and the lack of vehicle damage," Christensen wrote.

Without countervailing testimony, the judge added, the troopers' conclusions were given the blessing of expert testimony.

"I am so relieved that we have finally had a breakthrough," Garding said in the press release Friday. "I can not express how thankful I am to the Montana Innocence Project, as well as those who have stood beside me and supported me throughout this journey."

The federal judge's ruling overturns a state Supreme Court ruling in 2020 denying Garding's ineffective assistance of counsel claim on her appeal. The state high court said then in a 5-2 decision the crash scene reconstruction would have not been considered new evidence, but a re-examination of the same evidence presented at trial.

The case is novel, Phillips said Friday, because federal courts rarely accept jurisdiction over a state court case.

"I'm not aware of the last time the Montana federal district court did what it did here, which is say this conviction was obtained in violation of the Constitution," he said.
Pressures on families with young children are rising: child care, health care, housing, formula, and food are all becoming more expensive. Children risk falling through the cracks  and growing up without secure access to basic needs has long-term effects on childrens health. With Montanas budget surplus, we have a chance to make critical investments in our states youth that could ease these pressures and make an important difference in their lives  now and in the future.

But so far, our Legislature is not rising to this task. The Legislature is pushing through a raft of tax cuts to the governors desk  nearly $1 billion for this biennium  overwhelmingly favoring short-term rebates for the wealthiest households without key policies to support young families.

The Child Tax Credit, HB 268, was the only piece of the Governors tax cut package tabled in House Appropriations. A CTC is a low-cost but highly effective way of lifting families out of poverty. In 2021, Congress temporarily expanded the federal CTC in the American Rescue Plan, creating a monthly tax refund for families with children. The impact was historic. Combined with other federal relief efforts, the CTC drove the US child poverty rate to a record low of 5.2 percent. So why has Montanas version been dropped while other cuts sail through?

This is not the only way the Legislature is short-changing Montana children. Due to recent federal action, states Medicaid programs have the opportunity to increase the length of health coverage for women after theyve given birth. While Governor Gianforte proposed extending postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months in the executive budget, the Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Services voted to change the extension to just six months and only for those with a substance use or mental health disorder diagnosis. This severely limits the efficacy of the postpartum extension and creates unnecessary administrative barriers  when decades of studies show that infants thrive best when their parents are healthy.

In a state that ranks in the bottom five for access to child care, connecting working families with consistent, affordable, safe child care also should be a top priority. Despite this, the House tabled HB 238, which would have improved our child care scholarship program, leaving families stuck paying hundreds more per month toward copayments.

Whats more, legislation undermining public school funding advancing rapidly. HB 408, which expands the private school tax credit, will divert public school funds to private education. These dollars should be invested equitably in a public school system all Montana kids can access and benefit from.

We know the policies that will uplift and strengthen our families and increase the well-being of our children. Right now, we have an opportunity to make long-term investments in our future and help struggling households. We hope policymakers will recognize how vital this support is and bring relief to those who need it most.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration said it will attempt to break up the network that runs the nation's organ transplant system as part of a broader modernization effort.

More people than ever are getting new organs, with a record 42,888 transplants last year  but that's not nearly enough to meet the demand. More than 100,000 patients are on the national transplant list, thousands die waiting and critics have long urged an overhaul to save more lives.

The United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, is a nonprofit organization that has run the transplant system under a government contract for nearly four decades. That includes overseeing the groups that retrieve organs, helping set policies for how organs are distributed and patients are prioritized  and running the massive computer system that matches organs with patients.

Now the government aims to end that monopoly and divide those duties among more than one group. Exactly how that will work isn't clear. The Health Resources and Services Administration will issue bids for new contracts in the fall but wouldn't say how many.

However, a top focus is modernizing that organ-matching technology and improving accountability in the complex transplant system, including greater independence of the boards that set organ policies.

Patients will be better served "by ensuring there's competition in this process and that we're getting best-in-class" to handle the different transplant functions, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said in an interview this past week.

HRSA also has taken initial steps to translate some of the government's data on organ donation and transplantation into an easier-to-understand website for patients and families, data that can help them decide how to pursue care.

The Biden administration also requested that Congress more than double HRSA's funding for transplant oversight, to $67 million next year.

The recent announcement doesn't directly address some tougher problems, such as that potentially usable organs too often aren't retrieved from would-be donors  and that hospitals often decline to use less-than-perfect organs that could help the right patient. An influential science panel last year urged the government to set performance goals addressing those and other challenges.

UNOS announced its own set of planned improvements to the transplant system in January and said this past week that it was committed to working with the government.

"We believe we have the experience and expertise required to best serve the nation's patients and to help implement HRSA's proposed initiatives," the nonprofit said in a statement.

Asked by senators about complaints against UNOS, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra pledged that "we're going to require transparency.  They can't hide behind confidentiality and say, 'We can't show you what's gone on.'"
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I was back in the crowded East Room of the White House on Thursday, as I was 13 years ago, this time standing under a portrait of first first lady Martha Washington, when President Joe Biden entered for a lunchtime event focused on the Affordable Care Act.

The room looked much the same as it did on March 23, 2010, when I had rushed over to the White House to witness President Barack Obama signing his historic health bill into law. I knew from that moment  standing under a portrait of President Teddy Roosevelt, who was the first chief executive to espouse a need for national health insurance  that my life as a health journalist would never be the same.

Yet, when Biden scheduled an event to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the health law, I was unsure of the need to keep commemorating its birthday.

After all, on the 13th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing Medicare and Medicaid into law  July 30, 1978  the Democratic president in the White House did not hold an event to commemorate the date when tens of millions of older Americans and lower-income people gained coverage. Then-President Jimmy Carter spent that Sunday at Camp David.

But with the ACA in 2010, after a century of debate, the U.S. health system was getting hit with a thunderbolt that would enable millions of people to gain medical coverage. The law made many changes affecting hospitals, doctors, insurers, drugmakers, and employers in an effort to live up to its lofty name by lowering costs.

Those sweeping provisions, the years spent implementing them, and efforts by Republicans and the courts to repeal or change the law have kept the Affordable Care Act in the news for even longer than I had anticipated. After 13 years, the job is still not done. North Carolina on Thursday became the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the ACA.

Biden used the health law anniversary to tout the laws influence. He reminded his audience that Republicans still want to strip many of its benefits. He also stressed that the country has unfinished business to lower drug costs for many and expand health coverage to people who still dont have it. Indeed, more than 2 million people are without coverage in the 10 states  highly populous Florida and Texas among them  that have yet to expand Medicaid.

Many former Obama staffers who helped get the law passed were there  including some who work in the Biden White House. (Obama was not there.) So, too, were several Democratic lawmakers who helped pass the law, including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and former California congressman and now Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Look, 13 years ago today, we gathered in this room as President Obama signed into law the Affordable Health Care Act, Biden began with his remarks. Hard to believe 13 days ag-  13 years ago. It seems like 13 days ago.

And I remember the three words I used at the time, he said as many in the audience recalled the swear word he was caught whispering to Obama via a live microphone. I thought it was. I thought it was a big deal. And I stand by the fact it was a big deal.

Biden said that the health law has been called by many names, but that the most appropriate is Obamacare.

The law has become ingrained into the fabric of the country, Biden said. Over 40 million Americans are covered by Medicaid or online insurance marketplace plans, the highest on record, the Biden administration said Thursday. Thats a 36% increase from 2021.

But a 13th anniversary celebration? Jessica Altman, who helped implement Obamacare in the Obama administration and is now CEO of Covered California, one of the Obamacare exchanges, said it was important to take time to remind people what the American health system used to look like as well as the many challenges remaining to improve it. (Altman is the daughter of KFFs president and CEO. KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.)

We still have places to go, and we still have work to do and the people in that room are excited to keep doing it, Altman said.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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Davenport school officials are supplying information to parents related to the closure of three elementary schools.

District officials posted a reminder on their transfer options related to changes to elementary school boundaries for the 2023-24 school year.

Those boundaries were redrawn following the decision to close Washington, Buchanan and Monroe elementary schools at the end of this school year, which was approved by the board in December. In early February, the district sent out letters, notifying families of which elementary building their students will attend next year.

Families wishing to attend a school outside of their attendance boundary  other than their assigned school  must complete the online Request for Transfer Option (TO) form by 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 31.

Forms can be found at https://bit.ly/3KyDoEI.

Students currently enrolled in a school through a transfer option must reapply for the 2023-24 school year.

District officials will review and grant transfer option requests based on available space, and they will be prioritized, based on Davenport's 2023-2024 Elementary Registration Guidelines. These guidelines can be found online at https://bit.ly/3kquu1q.

Officials will begin contacting families with the results of their requests on April 1, according to the elementary registration plan.

Those who need help completing the online form or need access to technology may contact or visit any district elementary building for assistance. Families who did not receive a letter from the district may inquire with their elementary student's current school.

Photos: Sudlow students create collaborative mural entitled, Courage & Identity 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-10.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-07.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-02.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-04.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-08.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-09.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-05.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-06.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-03.jpg 112322-qc-nws-sudlowmural-01.jpg
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reporter Jeff Reinitz is used to covering crime but never expected to help solve one. I was just at the right place at the right time.
WASHINGTON  A 5,000-mile seaweed belt lurking in the Atlantic Ocean is expected in the next few months to wash onto beaches in the Caribbean Sea, South Florida and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt  as the biomass stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is called  contains scattered patches of seaweed on the open sea, rather than one continuous blob of sargassum. It's not a new occurrence, but satellite images captured in February showed an earlier-than-usual start for such a large accumulation in the open ocean.

Once it washes ashore, sargassum is a nuisance  a thick, brown algae that carpets beaches, releasing a pungent smell as it decays and entangling humans and animals who step into it. For hotels and resorts, clearing the stuff off beaches can amount to a round-the-clock operation.

Sargassum is a leafy brown seaweed festooned with what look like berries. It floats on the open ocean and  unlike other seaweeds  reproduces on the water's surface, helped by air-filled structures that give it buoyancy.

Sargassum originates in a vast stretch of the Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea, which lies well off the southeast U.S. The Sargasso has no land boundaries; instead, four prevailing ocean currents form its boundaries.

The matted brown seaweed stretches for miles across the ocean and provides breeding ground, food and habitat for fish, sea turtles and marine birds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"It's a dynamic, constantly changing set of pieces of this large mass," said Rick Lumpkin, director of the Physical Oceanography Division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "It's not one big continuous blob heading straight to South Florida."

Sargassum piles up on beaches where it quickly decomposes under hot sun, releasing gases that smell like rotten eggs.

In recent years, sargassum has carpeted beaches on some Caribbean islands and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the spring and summer months. Beach towns and cities and hotels struggled to keep up with the huge amounts of seaweed that wash ashore.

Some sargassum already reached beaches in Key West, said Chuanmin Hu, a professor of oceanography at the University of South Florida. But most of it will arrive in the summer, Hu said.

"What is unusual this year compared to previous years is it started early," Hu said. The algae generally blooms in the spring and summer, but "this year, in the winter, we already have a lot."

Southern Florida, the Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula typically see sargassum piling up in the summer months and could expect the same this year, Hu said.

Scientists estimate there's more than 10 million metric tons of sargassum in the belt this year. Lumpkin called it "one of the strongest years, but not the strongest" since scientists began closely observing the biomass via satellite imagery in 2011.

He said there was more in 2018. The years 2019 and 2021 also saw a great deal of sargassum, he said.

Scientists aren't exactly sure what causes the seaweed mass.

"We do know that to get a lot of seaweed, you need nutrients, and you need sunlight. Of course, as you get close to the equator, there's going to be more sunlight," said Mike Parsons, a professor of marine science at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Parsons and other experts say agricultural runoff seeping into the Amazon and Orinoco rivers and eventually the ocean could explain the increased growth of the belt on the western side. Parsons said warming waters likely help the seaweed grow faster. Changes in wind patterns, sea currents, rainfall and drought also could affect blooms.

"It may be the entire belt is fed more some years than others by dust that contains iron and other nutrients that comes from the Sahara Desert," Lumpkin said.

It's not clear whether climate change is playing a part. Hu said extreme weather that is happening more frequently due to climate change  high wind events, storms, more precipitation  could be a contributor.

Sargassum can be harmful to human health. When it decomposes, it releases ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which accounts for the rotten-egg stench. Brief exposure isn't enough to make people sick, but prolonged exposure  especially for those with respiratory issues  can be dangerous, scientists say.

Hu said it could be an issue for hotel workers and others who may spend hours removing the decomposing seaweed from beaches.

Left to rot on the beach, sargassum can harm coastal marine ecosystems and also supports the growth of fecal bacteria.

8 things to do right now in your community to prepare for climate change 8 things to do right now in your community to prepare for climate change Plant a rain garden or install a rain barrel Remove invasive plant species from parks Replace grass lawns with eco-alternatives Use renewable energy options Use natural methods to repel mosquitoes Plant trees Support local farmers Get elected to HOA or neighborhood association
DES MOINES  Iowa Republican lawmakers are turning their focus to property tax reductions in the coming weeks, an area leaders listed as a top priority when the legislative session began.

Competing legislation is floating between the Senate and the House intended to cut taxes for Iowa property owners, and lawmakers will need to come up with a unified proposal to pass in both chambers before sending it to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk for a signature. That work is in its early stages, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, the chair of the House tax policy committee, said.

Kaufmann said he was meeting with Senate leaders to put together a bill combining the two chambers proposals while incorporating input from local governments.

Were in the process, he said. And it will probably take a couple weeks to merge the two of them, and then well have something to present to people for consideration as sort of a grand compromise.

The House bill, House File 1, has three main divisions: It would lower the property tax levy for state school funding, limit annual property assessment increases to 3% and require schools to put down 10% of a projects total cost and notify property taxpayers before holding an election to borrow money for a building project.

Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, who chairs the Senate tax policy committee, has proposed two bills targeting property taxes.

Under Senate File 356, property assessments would be capped in cities and counties, and if total taxable value increases over a set percentage, local governments levy rates would be decreased. It would also combine several revenue streams into a general levy for both cities and counties.

Democrats voted against that bill in committee, arguing it would cut local governments' revenue and the services they can offer.

Senate File 550, another bill from Dawson, would expand a number of property tax credits such as the homestead, elderly and military service credits and limit assessment values for some commercial properties.

The bill would also overhaul the states sales tax, bumping it up from 6% to 7% statewide but eliminating the local option, 1 cent sales tax that many local governments have in place.

As lawmakers negotiate a combined proposal, Dawson said the end goal of lowering tax bills for Iowa property owners is more important than the specific mechanisms to make that happen.

"When we walk out of session, we have to make sure that we have mechanisms built into code to protect the taxpayer from these incessant spikes," he said. "That just has to happen."

House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said on Thursday the House property tax bill was one of the remaining priorities House Republicans would turn their attention to in the coming weeks.

Youre going to see more efforts put into that within the caucus, Grassley said. We feel pretty strongly, we continue to hear from Iowans that they want to see us provide a level of relief and certainty, which our bill really does both of those things.

Kaufmann said he had been taking suggestions from counties and cities on changes to financing laws that could cut regulations around how they spend money. He said the bill would be a property tax slash city and county financing structure bill.

Democrats have said they are open to supporting legislation lowering property taxes, but they want to make sure it does not result in weaker local services to Iowans and target the relief to middle-class residents.

Iowa House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said on Thursday Democrats were wary of what the final agreement would be.

If we can lower property taxes and do it in a way that middle-class families benefit, sign us up, Konfrst said. My concern continues to be the lower property taxes one place, and then the services still need to be paid for. So how are they being paid for? Is it through a different mechanism of taxation thats really not a net reduction for Iowa families?
State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past four weeks, including cockroach-infested rice, rodent droppings, old meat and filthy kitchens.

The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses over the past four weeks.

The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a snapshot in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals website.

The Horny Toad American Bar & Grill, 204 Main St., Cedar Falls  During a March 6 visit, an inspector reported that onions, chicken and sauces were stored in covered containers, and frozen burgers and pizza were being stored, unwrapped, on metal shelving in a freezer. The inspector also made note of gravy, mashed potatoes and grilled onions that were holding at 100 degrees  far too cool to ensure their safety  after being left in a steam table for 90 minutes. The items were reheated to 165 degrees and returned to service.

Also, a bucket of sanitizing solution had no measurable amount of concentrated sanitizing fluid in it; the can opener and cold-holding unit were marred by a buildup of food debris; and the ice machines had a black buildup of some kind.

A large toaster oven was heavily soiled with food debris; the fan inside a walk-in cooler was reported to be moldy; and there was an excessive amount of debris in corners, under equipment, and in the coolers. The restaurant was also cited for failing to post its most recent inspection report where it could be read by customers.

East China, 2108 Kimball Ave., Waterloo  During a Feb. 24 visit, an inspector found that the person in charge was not ensuring food was cooled properly and held at proper temperatures, or seeing to it that kitchen equipment was properly cleaned and sanitized. The inspector reported finding packages of old meat and expired food inside one freezer, and said meat and other food products were being stored inside trash bags in a walk-in cooler.

In addition, the meat slicer and other food-contact surfaces throughout the kitchen were reported to have an excessive buildup and dried food bits on them. Fried chicken was found stored on a countertop and was measured at 66 degrees. Food products throughout the refrigerator and walk-in cooler were not labeled or date-marked to ensure their freshness and safety.

Shrimp and chicken were found thawing in a tub of water in a sink designated for washing kitchenware; containers of rice, flour and other food products were not properly identified; boxes of food were stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler; clean pot, pans and utensils were stored on dirty counters in the kitchen; there was no test kit on hand to check the efficacy of the sanitizing solution used in the kitchen; and there was an excessive buildup of grease, dirt, and food debris on the floors and walls of the kitchen.

There was also an excessive buildup of grease/dirt and food debris on the equipment in the kitchen. The inspector discussed with the manager the need for deep cleaning and the removal of personal items and clutter. The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint regarding cleanliness. The complaint was deemed verified.

Sasquatch Jacks, 118 10th St. S.W., Waverly  During a Feb. 17 inspection, the restaurant was cited for 10 critical violations, an unusually high number. The inspector reported finding chicken stored above whole-muscle beef, creating a risk of cross-contamination; and a box of frozen chips was found uncovered in a freezer.

Also soups and sauces in a steam table were measured at 100 degrees, having failed to reach the required temperature of 165 degrees; raw onions and containers of raw chicken had no date-markings on them; and multiple food items in the coolers had been held past the maximum of seven days, with some of the food items being held in excess of 12 days.

There was no detectable amount of sanitizing solution being used in the three-compartment sink and the presence of insects was noted in the dry storage area. In addition, the freezer and coolers were heavily soiled, and the most recent inspection report had not been posted for customers to read.

One Stop, 350 Highway 141, Charter Oak  During a March 15 visit, an inspector noted there were multiple food items that were not held at the proper temperature to ensure safety, including eight containers of commercially processed coleslaw and macaroni salad that were stored at temperatures of up to 64 degrees.

In addition, the inspector found three packages of hot dogs held at 46 degrees; four packages of bologna held at 46 degrees; and nine individually wrapped sandwiches and wraps that included chicken, ham, cheese and turkey held at temperatures of up to 50 degrees. The store agreed to remove the items from the shelves.

The inspector also found diced tomatoes in the pizza-preparation area that were chopped eight days earlier and had to be discarded. Also, some hot foods were being held at temperatures too cool to ensure their safety, including a cheeseburger that was measured at 114 degrees and cheese curds that were measured at 103 degrees. The items were reheated to 165 degrees and returned to the shelves for sale. The restaurant was last inspected in March 2000.

China Star Buffet, 1105 N. Quincy Ave., Ottumwa  During a March 15 visit, an inspector noted that the kitchen staff was cutting and preparing melons with their bare hands. The melons were then discarded. The inspector also found that chicken in the buffet line was holding at 119 degrees and crab Rangoon was holding at 110 degrees. Both items were returned to the kitchen and reheated to 165 degrees.

Also in the buffet line, the inspector found lettuce that was holding at 54 degrees and sliced melons that were measured at 49 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder. The lettuce and melons were then discarded.

The inspector also reported that cooked chicken, cream cheese and stuffed mushrooms were all stored in a walk-in cooler with no date markings to ensure they were fresh and safe. Also, raw fish was thawing while submerged in standing water, what appeared to be mouse droppings were seen in the corner of a storage area, and cleaned beverage glasses were being stored wet.

Provisions Lot F, 2400 N. Loop Drive, Ames  During a March 14 visit, an inspector observed employees handling French toast with their bare hands and noted that raw egg whites were being stored over ready-to-eat items, risking cross-contamination.

Also, several items  including honey balsamic dressing, pickled onions, Caesar dressing, asiago dressing, and pepper poppers  were being held beyond the maximum of seven days. In addition, the pasta maker was visibly soiled, with the staff explaining that the device was not being sanitized between uses. The establishment was last inspected in July 2020.

Red Lobster, 1100 Buckeye Ave., Ames  During a March 14 visit, an inspector noticed that potatoes were stored directly below a ceiling with a visible leak, which resulted in a liquid build up on the food. The contaminated products were discarded.

The inspector also noted that the required tags designating the origin of shell seafoods were missing, and that a server was garnishing drinks with their bare hands. The restaurant was also cited for failing to display its last inspection report where customers could read it. The restaurant was last inspected in March 2020.

The Rock Bar American Grill, 219 2nd SE Ave., Cedar Rapids  During a March 14 visit, an inspector reported that raw eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods, risking cross-contamination; cooked pork chops, cooked sliced beef, and salsa stored in plastic containers had no date-markings on them, which was a repeat violation; and there was no sanitizing solution in use at the time of the inspection. The restaurant was last inspected in February 2020.

Flipn Jacks Pancake House & Eatery, 1520 S. Dayton Place, Ames  During a March 13 visit, an inspector noted that cooked potatoes were being stored on the kitchen floor under a sink. At the inspectors direction, the potatoes were moved to a walk-in cooler.

The inspector also noted that there were no chlorine test strips on site to check the efficacy of the sanitizing solution that was being used; the handwashing sink did not have adequate hot water; chicken was being stored in a cooler over cooked potatoes; and raw eggs were not stored in a refrigerator or cooler. The visit was in response to an illness complaint that was ruled unverifiable. The restaurant was last inspected in September 2021.

Maggies Rumble Room, 1430 2nd Ave., Des Moines  During a March 10 visit, an inspector observed an employee handling with their bare hands ready-to-eat buns for sandwiches. Also, the hot-holding case was being used to store pizza at 117 degrees  too cool to ensure the foods safety. The pizza was then discarded. In addition, alfredo sauce prepared on March 1  beyond the seven-day limit  was found inside the reach-in cooler, and the dishwashing machine wasnt capable of reaching the minimum sanitizing temperature of 165 degrees.

Also, bags of onions, sugar and salt were stored directly on the kitchen floor; the area around the fryers was visibly soiled with accumulated debris; the stand-up food mixer was visibly soiled; the mop sink had a significant leak; the floor was visibly soiled with accumulated debris; and the restaurants food-service license had expired in January 2023. The restaurant was last inspected in January 2022.

Insects resembling cockroaches were observed both dead and alive.

Mongolian Buffet, 1620 S. Kellogg Ave., Ames  During a March 10 visit, an inspector found several cans of food that were severely dented and had to be set aside for return to the supplier. Also, raw meat was stored above ready-to-eat foods inside a walk-in cooler, risking cross-contamination; and cooked noodles, cream cheese filling and tomatoes had no date markings to ensure their freshness and safety.

In addition, several cold products  including lettuce, cottage cheese, sprouts, cream cheese filling, and cooked noodles  were stored above the maximum temperature of 41 degrees. Also, the sushi was not marked with the initial temperature and time when the product was removed from cold storage and had to be discarded, and the staff was not properly using the written time-and-temperature log to help ensure the sushi was safe.

The inspector also observed three live cockroaches and noted that boxes of single-use food items were being stored directly on the floor. Also, the shelving inside the walk-in cooler was not being kept clean. The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint that alleged problems with general sanitation, improper holding temperatures and inadequate cooking. The inspector ruled the complaint was unverifiable.

The restaurant had been inspected in November 2022, at which time the inspector reported finding several dead cockroaches inside two different bulk containers of rice. In December, the inspector returned and reported observing several live cockroaches and 10 dead cockroaches throughout the establishment. In January of this year, the inspector returned again and reported seeing four live cockroaches and 10 dead cockroaches. In February, the inspector returned for a third time and reported observing several live cockroaches.

Osaka Sushi Steakhouse, 1903 Park Ave., Muscatine  During a March 8 visit, an inspector noted that raw eggs were stored over individual portions of sauce in the food-prep cooler, risking cross-contamination, and raw shrimp was stored above spices and dry goods in the cooler. Also, raw, unpackaged shrimp was stored above ready-to-eat dessert items such as ice cream and cheesecake, and raw chicken was stored above over raw beef.

The inspector also noted that the interior of the ice machine was soiled and access to the handwashing sink was blocked by a table. In addition, utensils used to scoop rice were stored in a container of room-temperature water, and there were no test kits on hand to check the efficacy of the sanitizing solution. The restaurant was last inspected in September 2019.

Marzetti Frozen Pasta, 803 8th St. SW, Altoona  On March 7, inspectors visited the business as a follow-up to prior inspections to determine whether the business had taken steps to address a pest-control issue identified in December 2022.

There have been many changes to the companys pest control program to include long-term residual chemical application inside interior walls in problem areas, the inspector reported.

In December, inspector visited the business in response to a non-illness complaint alleging the presence of insects, believed to be cockroaches. At that time, management acknowledged they had a cockroach problem and had been working with a pest-control company to resolve the issue. The complaint was deemed verified.

Insects resembling cockroaches were observed both dead and alive around and under the double-arm mixer, the small day mixer, and underneath the floor mat in the boiler room, the inspector noted.

Best Western Regency Inn, 3303 S. Center St., Marshalltown  During a March visit, an inspector noted that the walk-in cooler was not keeping any of the food at 41 degrees or colder, as required. Cooked bacon was measured at 55 degrees, sliced ham was measured at 49 degrees, and various dressings were measured at 49 degrees. All of the temperature-controlled foods in the cooler were discarded. The visit was in response to a complaint pertaining to pest control. The complaint was ruled unverifiable. The establishment last underwent a food-safety inspection in February 2022.

DLua Fusion Cuisine & Bar, 5185 18th St., Bettendorf  During a March 6 visit, an inspector observed sausage links in a steam table that were holding at 125 degrees, alongside gravy that was measured at 92 degrees  too cool to ensure their safety. Because they had been in the steam table for less than an hour, they were reheated for service to customers.

The inspector also made note of hashbrowns that were sitting out and were measured at 49 degrees. Several other food items  such as flautas, bean dip and tortilla rojas  had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety.

On March 15, inspectors returned and reported, Several products were observed in the walk-in cooler without proper date markings  Improvements have been seen but additional work is needed.

Prior to this months inspections, the restaurant was last inspected in August 2022.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 2201 4th St. SW, Mason City  During a March 6 visit, an inspector noted that the cooks were not washing their hands and were seen handling bacon, eggs, and toast with their bare hands. The inspector also reported there were many containers of food, including bread-based stuffing, whipped salad, cut melons, and bean salad, that either had no date markings to ensure their freshness and safety or the markings were unclear.

Also, there was pancake batter covering the floor of one cooler, and the floors of the cook line were soiled with food debris and garbage. Based on the number of violations, an in-person physical recheck will be conducted on or around April 5th, 2023, the inspector reported. The restaurant was last inspected in October 2022.

Sams Main Street Market, 123 E. Main St., Solon  During a March 3 visit, an inspector reported that raw cod was stored above ready-to-eat, house-made foods and raw eggs were stored above other ready-to-eat foods, risking cross-contamination.

Sliced tomatoes and other foods lacked any date-markings to ensure their freshness and safety, and the inspector found multiple packages of deli meats in a display case and cooler that were beyond their expiration date. The expired foods included American and pepperjack cheese loaves, deli salad, and containers of garlic, cilantro, salmon lox, snack packs and meat sticks. All of the expired foods were then discarded.

In addition, the inspector noted a plumbing leak that resulted in water pooling on the floor of one cooler and reported that the most recent inspection report had not been posted for customers to read.

A warning letter was issued to the establishment and on March 10, the inspector returned in response to a non-illness complaint pertaining to adulterated foods. The complaint was verified, with the inspector noting meat products were being held beyond the allowable dates and had to be discarded. However, no violations were cited at that time.

Wing Stop, 521 E. 14th St., Des Moines  During a March 3 visit, an inspector noted that the person in charge did not demonstrate knowledge of the federal food code. Specifically, the person in charge was unable to explain critical limits for temperature control for foods or explain the appropriate procedures for cleaning and sanitizing utensils and food-contact surfaces. In addition, the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager.

The inspector reported that jalapeno cheese sauce was measured at 100 degrees in a cheese dispenser  which was far too cool to ensure its safety. The cheese was discarded, and the restaurant agreed to halt the use of the dispenser until it could be serviced or replaced.

In addition, the sanitizer buckets used throughout the establishment had no measurable amount of concentrated sanitizing solution in them. Also, utensils and equipment, including spatulas and plastic food containers, were stored as clean despite surfaces that were visibly soiled with accumulated debris. In addition, the handwashing sinks were not capable of producing hot water that reached a temperature of at least 100 degrees.

The inspector also noted that the restaurant did not have a food thermometer on the premises, and the wall around the mop sink and behind the soda fountain syrup boxes was visibly soiled with accumulated debris. The inspector also noted that the restaurants food-service license had been expired for more than 60 days. The restaurant was last inspected in March 2020.

Treehouse Pub & Eatery, 2239 Kimberly Road, Bettendorf  During a March 1 visit, an inspector noted that raw ground beef was stored above lettuce in the walk-in cooler, risking cross-contamination. Also, pulled pork was stored in a hot-holding unit and was measured at only 110 degrees  too cool to ensure its safety.

In addition, refrigerated drawers were holding various foods at 45 to 46 degrees, which was above the maximum of 41 degrees, and several temperature-sensitive foods, such as cottage cheese, coleslaw and pasta salad, were stored at 45 to 48 degrees and had to be discarded.

The inspector also reported that the majority of prepared food dishes and open packages of commercially processed food products had no date markings on them  a violation that had been noted during previous inspections. The inspector also found a container of pasta salad that had been prepared on Feb. 21, and a container of creamy garlic dressing that had been prepared Feb. 9. Both items, which were past their seven-day limit, were discarded.

A food slicer was marred by leftover dried food debris, and the interior of the large reach-in cooler, the interior of the main food-prep table, and the interior of the pizza-prep table were all noted to be soiled with a buildup of food debris.

In addition, two trays of cooked chicken breasts were seen sitting out at room temperature. Today is the third routine inspection in a row where date-marking practices have been marked as out of compliance, the inspector reported.

On March 13, the inspector returned and reported ongoing violations with regard to date-markings: Several prepared products observed being held in the walk-in cooler for longer than 24 hours without proper date-marking (pasta salad, house-made dressing, cooked chicken wings, coleslaw, etc.). The inspector also reported that the interior of the pizza prep cooler still has a buildup of food debris along the bottom of the unit and grime along the shelves.

Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express, 510 W. McLane St., Osceola  During a Feb. 24 visit, an inspector found prepared meals in a cooler that were dated Feb. 4, and sausage gravy that was dated Feb. 12  indicating both sets of items were well past the date they could be safely consumed. The expired food items were discarded.

Toledo Nutrition, aka T-Nutrition, 123 W. 3rd St., Tama  During a Feb. 24 visit, an inspector found that several large dispensers of prepared powdered drink mix had mold or a mildew-like like growth on them. All of the prepared beverage mixes were then discarded and the establishments drink dispensers were cleaned and sanitized.

The inspector also found that no sanitizing had been taking place, with items simply being washed and rinsed. In addition, one handwashing sink and the sink in the restroom had no available hot water. Further investigation showed the water heater was inoperable, leaving the entire establishment without access to hot water. The establishment was also cited for failing to post the results of its most recent inspection. The business was last inspected in June 2022.

Facility had a high number of violations that could lead to a potential foodborne illness.

Villas Patio, 5200 Fountains Drive NE, Cedar Rapids  During a Feb. 24 visit, an inspector cited the establishment for 11 critical violations  an unusually high number. The inspector reported that the staffs lack of knowledge as to where and when to wash their hands, as well inconsistent date-marking of food, and food handling that created a rick of cross-contamination, indicated the workers were not adequately trained in food-safety procedures.

The inspector reported that various foods  including dairy products and cooked rice  were not date-marked. In addition, the inspector found a pan of chicken that was date-marked Feb. 13  11 days prior to the inspection  and which had to be thrown out. The inspector also made note of containers of shredded lettuce that were stacked on the floor. The restaurants most recent inspection report, from October 2021, had not been posted.

DLua On The River, 1201 E. River Dr., Davenport  On Feb. 23, the restaurant was cited for 10 violations, an unusually high number. The inspector reported that the person in charge had not ensured the proper sanitation of equipment and surfaces, the dishwashing machine was not properly calibrated, and the main cooks did not know how to properly wear gloves and did not have adequate access to proper handwashing facilities.

The inspector watched as one employee used a rag contaminated with raw chicken juice to wipe off their gloves, and to clean food-preparation surfaces. Another employee used their gloved hands to pick up raw chicken, then proceeded to wipe their hands off on a rag, then open containers of tortillas meant for customer use. The worker then contaminated the ingredients meant for taco toppings.

The inspector also reported that prepared shredded beef was being heated to only 100 degrees, rather than 165 degrees, before being placed onto a steam table. Facility was recently opened within the past three months, the inspector reported. Facility had a high number of violations that could lead to a potential foodborne illness.

D.C.s, 124 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City  During a Feb. 21 inspection, the restaurant was cited for 11 critical violations  an unusually high number. The inspector reported watching one employee handling ready-to-eat food with their bare hands, and found opened sauces that required refrigeration stored on shelves at room temperature.

In addition, house-made dressings lacked any date-markings; there was debris found inside an ice machine; an employees ibuprofen was stored alongside bottles of condiments for customers use; there was no sanitizing solution in use; and there were no test strips available for checking the efficacy of any sanitizing solution.

The inspector also made note of a heavy debris buildup on the food-prep coolers, the food-prep tables and a table-top oven. There was also a heavy buildup of debris on the floors and walls, under storage equipment, and the fryers in the kitchen. The inspector reported the visit was in response to an illness complaint alleging a customer became ill after consuming a meal at the establishment. The complaint was ruled unverifiable. The restaurant was last inspected in July 2021.

Close Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. A Waterloo woman is reunited with her dog after firefighters rescued the pet from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday. A Waterloo woman is reunited with her dog after firefighters rescued the pet from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Photos: Dog rescued from house fire, March 20, 2023 Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. A Waterloo woman is reunited with her dog after firefighters rescued the pet from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday. A Waterloo woman is reunited with her dog after firefighters rescued the pet from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house at 1400 Grant Ave., Waterloo, on Monday, March 20, 2023.
DES MOINES  Several Iowa schools announced plans on Thursday to comply with a new state law that prohibits transgender students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

The bill, signed into law by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday and taking effect immediately, requires students in public schools to use the bathroom and changing facility that aligns with their assigned sex at birth. Schools would be required to provide students with alternative facilities, such as a single-user unisex restroom, if they request it and written consent from parents.

Reynolds also signed a bill that bans minors from receiving gender-affirming health care such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries  contradicting the guidance of every major American medical association, which recommend medical interventions as a treatment for gender dysphoria in minors.

Public school districts in Iowa City, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids said on Thursday they would comply with the bathroom law, including offering students accommodations. The schools said they remained committed to being welcoming to their LGBTQ students and preventing discrimination.

As a public school district, DMPS is required to comply with the law, including those over which people may have strong feelings or be deeply divided, Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Smith said in a statement on Wednesday. However, nothing has changed in our commitment to welcome and serve our LGBTQ+ population with respect and dignity.

In an email, the districts spokesperson Phil Roeder said school administrators met on Thursday to review the laws requirements, and the school is preparing a form for parents of students who want greater privacy in using facilities.

The Iowa City Community School District is undergoing a similar process, Superintendent Matt Degner said in a statement Thursday.

ICCSD administration is still working on guidelines consistent with this new law, and will provide guidance to buildings as soon as possible, he said.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, House Speaker Pat Grassley said Republicans were intentional about keeping accommodations in the bill, and that the bill was written to take immediate effect because school administrators were looking for guidance on the issue.

The bill was about providing accommodations as well, he said. We shouldnt lose that within the conversation.

House Democratic leader: Reynolds is not the victim

Democratic House leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights lambasted Reynolds, who said this week she was put in an uncomfortable position in signing the two bills dealing with transgender youth.

"This is an extremely uncomfortable position for me to be in. And I dont like it," Reynolds said Tuesday, but she said she believes it is in the best interest of kids.

I call bull----, Konfrst told reporters on Thursday. I dont think the governor is truly as upset as she says. She is not the victim here. The victims here are kids  who have been targeted over and over and over again by this governor.

The rapid change caused by the bathroom bill will put transgender students at risk, Konfrst said.

Imagine being a kid who has identified as a girl throughout elementary school or middle school, who woke up this morning and found out that now all of a sudden, they're less safe at school than they were when they went to school yesterday, she said. It is cynical and it is wrong to have done this behind closed doors without giving anyone any notice.

In response to Konfrsts comments, Reynolds' spokesperson Kollin Crompton compared Democrats response to Reynolds COVID-19 policies and the response to the transgender youth bills. Reynolds drew the same comparisons on Tuesday, and said she does not believe the science on gender-affirming care for youth is settled.

The governor isnt going to (be) lectured by Democrats who locked down schools and put our childrens mental health at risk based on inconclusive science, he said. Rep. Konfrst is following the same playbook once again - fearmongering, promoting irreversible surgeries, and putting our kids future health at risk.
ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP)  Rescuers raced Saturday to search for survivors and help hundreds of people left homeless after a powerful tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi, killing at least 25 people, injuring dozens, and flattening entire blocks as it carved a path of destruction for more than an hour. One person was killed in Alabama.

The tornado devastated a swath of the Mississippi Delta town of Rolling Fork, reducing homes to piles of rubble, flipping cars on their sides and toppling the town's water tower. Residents hunkered down in bath tubs and hallways during Friday night's storm and later broke into a John Deere store that they converted into a triage center for the wounded.

Theres nothing left, said Wonder Bolden, holding her granddaughter, Journey, while standing outside the remnants of her mothers now-leveled mobile home in Rolling Fork. Theres just the breeze thats running, going through -- just nothing.

Based on early data, the tornado received a preliminary EF-4 rating, the National Weather Service office in Jackson said late Saturday in a tweet. An EF-4 tornado has top wind gusts between 166 mph and 200 mph (265 kph and 320 kph), according to the service. The Jackson office cautioned it was still gathering information on the tornado.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency announced late Saturday afternoon in a tweet that the death toll had risen to 25 and that dozens of people were injured. Four people previously reported missing had been found.

Other parts of the Deep South were digging out from damage caused by other suspected twisters. One man died in Morgan County, Alabama, the sheriff's department there said in a tweet.

Throughout Saturday, survivors walked around dazed and in shock as they broke through debris and fallen trees with chain saws, searching for survivors. Power lines were pinned under decades-old oaks, their roots torn from the ground.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a State of Emergency and vowed to help rebuild as he headed to view the damage in an area speckled with wide expanses of cotton, corn and soybean fields and catfish farming ponds. President Joe Biden also promised federal help, describing the damage as heartbreaking.

The damage in Rolling Fork was so widespread that several storm chasers  who follow severe weather and often put up livestreams showing dramatic funnel clouds  pleaded for search and rescue help. Others abandoned the chase to drive injured people to the hospital.

It didn't help that the community hospital on the west side of town was damaged, forcing patients to be transferred. The tornado also mangled a cotton warehouse and ripped the steeple off a Baptist church.

Sheddrick Bell, his partner and two daughters crouched in a closet of their Rolling Fork home for 15 minutes as the tornado barreled through. Windows broke as his daughters cried and his partner prayed.

I was just thinking, If I can still open my eyes and move around, Im good, he said.

Rodney Porter, who lives about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Rolling Fork and belongs to a local fire department, said he didn't know how anyone survived as he delivered water and fuel to families there.

Its like a bomb went off, he said, describing houses stacked on top of houses. Crews even cut gas lines to the town to keep residents and first responders safe.

The warning the National Weather Service issued as the storm hit didnt mince words: To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW!

Preliminary information based on estimates from storm reports a,nd radar data indicate that the tornado was on the ground for more than an hour and traversed at least 170 miles (274 kilometers), said Lance Perrilloux, a meteorologist with the weather services Jackson, Mississippi, office.

Thats rare  very, very rare, he said, attributing the long path to widespread atmospheric instability. All the ingredients were there."

Perrilloux said preliminary findings are that the tornado began its path of destruction just southwest of Rolling Fork before continuing northeast toward the rural communities of Midnight and Silver City, then moving toward Tchula, Black Hawk and Winona.

The supercell that produced the deadly twister also appeared to produce tornadoes that caused damage in northwest and north-central Alabama, said Brian Squitieri, a severe storms forecaster with the weather service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

In northern Alabamas Morgan County, a 67-year-old man who became trapped beneath a trailer that flipped over during severe overnight storms was rescued by first responders, but he died later at a hospital, AL.com reported.

Even as survey teams work to assess how many tornadoes struck and their severity, the Storm Prediction Center warned of the potential for hail, wind and possibly a few tornadoes Sunday in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana.

Cornel Knight waited at a relatives home in Rolling Fork for the tornado to strike with his wife and 3-year-old daughter. Despite the darkness, its path was visible.

You could see the direction from every transformer that blew, he said. Just a cornfield away from where he was, the twister struck another relatives home, collapsing a wall and trapping several people.

Royce Steed, the emergency manager in Humphreys County where Silver City is located, likened the damage to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

It is almost complete devastation, he said after crews finished searching buildings and switched to damage assessments. This little old town, I dont know what the population is, it is more or less wiped off the map.

In the town, the roof had torn off Noel Crooks home.

Yesterday was yesterday and thats gone  theres nothing I can do about it, Crook said. Tomorrow is not here yet. You dont have any control over it, so here I am today."

The tornado looked so powerful on radar as it neared the town of Amory, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Tupelo, that one Mississippi meteorologist paused to say a prayer after new radar information came in.

Oh man, WTVAs Matt Laubhan said on the live broadcast. Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.

Now that town is boiling its water, and a curfew is in effect. Three shelters in the state are feeding the throngs of displaced people.

Its a priceless feeling to see the gratitude on peoples faces to know theyre getting a hot meal, said William Trueblood, of the Salvation Army, as he headed to the area, picking up supplies along the way.

Despite the damage, there were signs of improvement. Power outages, which at one point were affecting more than 75,000 customers in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, had been cut by a third by midafternoon Saturday, according to poweroutage.us.

Meteorologists saw a big tornado risk coming for the general region as much as a week in advance, said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Walker Ashley.

Tornado experts like Ashley have been warning about increased risk exposure in the region because of people building more.

You mix a particularly socioeconomically vulnerable landscape with a fast-moving, long-track nocturnal tornado, and, disaster will happen, Ashley said in an email.

Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus in Rolling Fork, Mississippi; Michael Goldberg in Silver City, Mississippi; Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri; Rick Callahan in Indianapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington; Robert Jablon in Los Angeles; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; and Jackie Quinn in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.
Of Iowa's 154,288 high schoolers in the last academic year, around one-third took at least one course at a local community college, a trend that's exploded over the last decade as more students look to accumulate credits and cut their costs when they go to college.

Joint enrollment  when high school students take one or more community college courses  can happen in a variety of ways, including through a contractual relationship between a school district and community college.

School districts get state dollars for students who take community college courses  allowing K-12 schools to pay for the college-level instruction, which students often receive at no personal expense.

Iowa's joint enrollment in the 2021-22 academic year bounced up 6 percent from 47,262 students to 50,082  nearing the state's record high of 51,800 in the 2019-20 academic year.

That total was 43 percent of all community college enrollment in the 2022 academic year, according to a new 2022 Iowa community colleges joint enrollment report released this week.

A decade ago in 2012, jointly enrolled students accounted for 26 percent of all community college enrollment. And, since 2004, Iowa's joint enrollment has spiked 138 percent  making the state a national leader in the percent of high schoolers taking community college courses.

Where Iowa enrolls nearly 37 percent of its students under age 18, the national rate is 16 percent, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Better outcomes

"Research indicates that participation in joint enrollment can lead to higher graduation and college enrollment rates, higher college grade-point averages, greater credit accumulation and increased rates of credential attainment," according to the Iowa Department of Education's 2022 Condition of Iowa's Community Colleges report.

Iowa's jointly enrolled high schoolers last year earned a total 1,804 degrees, diplomas or certificates alongside their high school diplomas  marking a 61 percent jump in a single year from 2021, according to the new report.

Compared to the 907 awards that Iowa's jointly enrolled students earned just two years ago in the 2019-20 academic year  when joint enrollment was higher, setting a state record  the count of high schoolers earning college-level awards has doubled.

"In (academic year) 2021-22, the average number of credit hours taken per student was 8.5, equivalent to about two or three courses per student," according to the state's condition report. "This number has increased by more than 1.5 credit hours since (academic year) 2004."

Kirkwood trends

All of Iowa's 15 community colleges last year saw an increase in joint enrollment credit hours taken, with all but two reporting a joint enrollment head count bump.

Cedar Rapids-based Kirkwood Community College was among those reporting rises in both  with a 4 percent uptick in joint enrollment students and credit hours taken.

As a percent of all students, however, Kirkwood reported the second-smallest joint enrollment portion  compared with Iowa's other community colleges  at 34 percent, nearly 10 percentage points below the state average of 43 percent.

Kirkwood tied for the lowest percent of joint enrollment credit hours at 19 percent of its total  compared with Des Moines Area Community College, for example, which reported 34 percent of its total credit hours fell into the joint enrollment category.

Kirkwood, among the Iowa community colleges that has seen total enrollment slipping since 2011, saw its joint enrollment climb to 5,620 last year.

Demographics

Like the rest of Iowa's community colleges, the vast majority of Kirkwood's high school students are white, at 76 percent, and high school upperclassmen, at 78 percent.

When comparing the data of jointly enrolled students to all high school students in Iowa, more female students take community college courses than male students, "even though data shows lower overall female enrollment in grades 9 through 12."

"Additionally, the racial/ethnic background of students participating in the concurrent enrollment program is less diverse than all students enrolled in grades 9 through 12," according to the report.

In the last academic year, about 18 percent of jointly enrolled students identified as minority, compared with 26 percent of all students enrolled in Iowa's public high schools.

Where white students account for 74 percent of all high schoolers in Iowa, they account for 82 percent of all jointly enrolled students, according to the report. Asian students are the only other group with joint enrollment numbers outpacing their share of all students.

Where Black students account for 6 percent of all Iowa high schoolers, they account for 3 percent of all those jointly enrolled.

Post-graduation trends

Catering to minority students could become paramount going forward, as the percent of Iowa public high school graduates who identify as such has been rising and is projected to continue, while the percent of white students has fallen from 86 percent in 2011 to 79 percent in 2018, according to the Iowa Statewide Longitudinal Data System.

Although that system reported the largest percent of Iowa public high school graduates  when asked about their post-graduation plans  said they're going to a community college, at 30 percent, the rate has slipped from 38 percent in 2011.

All of Iowa's college and university campuses have aired concerns over looming enrollment trends..

And, despite Gov. Kim Reynolds' push to get more working-aged Iowans some form of higher education, a growing percent of graduating high schoolers report plans to jump straight into the workforce  at 15 percent in 2021, compared with 9 percent in 2011, according to the longitudinal data system.

That trend holds true nationally, too.

When U.S. adults without a bachelor's degree were asked in a Pew Research Center poll why they didn't pursue one, 42 percent said they couldn't afford it; 36 percent said they needed to work to support their family; 29 percent said they simply didn't want to; and 23 percent said they didn't need more education for the job they wanted.

A Gallup poll reported Americans' view of the importance of a college education has fallen  with 70 percent calling it "very important" in 2013 to 51 percent viewing it as such in 2019, according to data recently presented to the Board of Regents.

Bottom lines

Those trends, financial concerns, and research showing joint enrollment can lead to collegiate pursuits makes the surging high school enrollment in Iowa's community colleges increasingly relevant  including for the campuses, which generate revenue from joint enrollment.

"In (academic year) 2022, community colleges generated more than $39 million in revenue from concurrent enrollment courses," according to the new report.

Kirkwood brought in the second-most revenue among community colleges in the state last year from its joint enrollment at $5.1 million.

In its efforts to balance its budget in the face of challenging headwinds, Kirkwood earlier this year announced plans to close and sell its Iowa City campus  while also exploring "expanding its partnership with Iowa City Public Schools at the district's newly acquired facility on the ACT campus."

"An expanded partnership of this nature would allow Kirkwood to retain a presence in Iowa City, and that is very important," Kirkwood President Lori Sundberg wrote in a recent letter to employees about the Iowa City changes. "There are many potential synergies that could result from being physically located closer to such a crucial K-12 partner.

"We believe this potentially presents an exciting opportunity for the college, the school district, and the entire community."

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KIGALI, Rwanda  Rwanda's government has commuted the 25-year sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda" for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said Friday the presidential order was issued after a request for clemency on behalf of Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen. Senior U.S. officials said Rusesabagina arrived late Friday at the home of the Qatari ambassador in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and was expected to leave the country in the coming days.

Nineteen others also had their sentences commuted. Under Rwandan law, commutation doesn't "extinguish" the conviction, Makolo added.

"Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar," she said. President Paul Kagame this month said discussions were under way on resolving the issue.

Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said in a statement that "the procedure for (Rusesabagina's) transfer to the state of Qatar is under way and he will then head to the United States of America. This issue was discussed during meetings that brought together Qatari and Rwandan officials at the highest levels."

The case had been described by the U.S. and others as unfair. Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial.

He was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. But the circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his reported worsening health drew international concern.

Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagame's government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

In a signed letter to Kagame dated Oct. 14 and posted on the justice ministry's website, Rusesabagina wrote that "if I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me."

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering more than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwanda's 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, first living in Belgium and then the U.S.

Human Rights Watch said he was "forcibly disappeared" and taken to Rwanda. But the court there ruled he wasn't kidnapped when he was tricked into boarding a chartered flight.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died.

Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped form the armed group to assist refugees but said he never supported violence  and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

Rusesabagina also has said he was gagged and tortured before he was jailed, but Rwandan authorities denied that. His attorney, Felix Rudakemwa, asserted that Rusesabagina's legal papers were confiscated by prison authorities.

After his sentence, Belgium's then-foreign minister, Sophie Wilmes, said that "it must be concluded that Mr. Rusesabagina has not been given a fair and equitable trial."

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kagame in Rwanda and discussed the case. "We still have conviction that the trial wasn't fair," Blinken said.

"Secretary Blinken's visit to Kigali in August, being the senior-most official to visit Rwanda, played a key role in getting us closer to Paul's eventual release," said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Blinken and Kagame "spoke a great deal about the road map to Paul's eventual release," the official said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has disclosed his only condition for dialogue between the Kenya Kwanza government and the Opposition led by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking on Thursday during the burial of Maragua MP Mary Waitheras mother, Mama Diana Wanjiku Njuya in Muranga County, the DP said the only discussion should be about Uhurus and Railas alleged embezzlement of public funds.

Riggy G sensationally accused the two handshake leaders of looting billions of public funds and stashing the m in Cayman Island.

We want to have a discussion with Raila and Uhuru together so that they tell us when they will return the Kenyan money they took to Cayman Island, Rigathi said.

Adding: If it is about he (Raila) coming and we divide the government into two, that is impossible and cannot happen. If they continue saying we are hardliners that is okay. If speaking the truth and saying we cannot be cowed is being hardliners, so be it! We are hardliners.

DP Gachagua further accused Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga of importing milk powder at a low cost then adding water to sell milk at exorbitant prices.

The DP also wants dialogue with the two leaders to explain the billions Uhuru allegedly sanctioned just before the August 2022 polls.

Let them tell us when they will stop importing milk powder for Sh10 and later mixing it with water and selling it to the people for Sh120. If that is the discussion with Odinga and Uhuru, we will have it, Rigathi said.

We want the two of them to tell us when the Sh15 billion which Uhuru ordered to be paid in 26 minutes will be returned.
Controversial Kenyan pastor, Paul Mackenzie, was Thursday arraigned in court in connection with the death of two children at Shakahola village, Kilifi county.

Mackenzie of the Good News International church in Malindi appeared before Malindi Resident Magistrate Olga Onalo, where he was accused of causing the deaths of the children after one of his church members reportedly starved and suffocated her two children to death to please God,

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the mother starved and later suffocated the children with the intention of becoming heroes before God after death.

According to the investigating officer Joseph Yator drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation in Malindi, police managed to rescue a third child. The rescued child narrated the sufferings his two siblings underwent after being starved for some time before their mother suffocated them to death, the DPP said.

The IO Joseph Yator asked the court to detain the cleric for 15 days to allow for more investigations, but his request was rejected.

The preacher, through his lawyer Elisha Komora, argued that the report from the (IO) did not explain how his client was involved in the killing of the children.

The judge released the suspect on Sh10,000 bail and instructed him to present himself at Malindi police station to help with investigations when called upon.

Pastor Mackenzie is a suspect alongside the parents of the children  Mr Isaac Ngala and Ms Emily Kaunga.

The trio is suspected of burying the bodies of the two minors on March 16 and 17, in a shallow grave at Shakahola village.

The Malindi Court also ordered the exhumation of the minors bodies to assist in investigations.

The government pathologist and officers from DCI Malindi will supervise the exhumation exercise, and the sub-county police commander and area OCS will provide security. Exhumed bodies will be examined, and DNA and toxicological samples taken, the DPP said.

Detectives will also be looking to establish if more children could have died due to negligence from their parents after alleged radicalization in the pastors church.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, March 22 when pastor Mackenzie was arrested, the grandfather of the deceased children claimed their parents received teachings from the pastor, who forced the children to fast until they died.

Mr Francis Wanje said pastor Mackenzie has been prophesizing that there will be disasters in the near future and therefore it is good for the children to die so that they can inherit the kingdom of heaven.
President William Ruto has asked public servants to serve Kenyans with honour and dignity.

He said they must routinely consult and agree to be informed so that they can help move the country forward.

It is time to come together, and work together, irrespective our political biases, to offer our much-needed services to the people, he said.

He spoke on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during the swearing-in of Chief Administrative Secretaries.

He told them that he expects to see professionalism, skill, talent, energy and passion in action to drive our agenda forward.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Members of Parliament, among other leaders, were present.

The President noted that progress is being made in uplifting the lives of Kenyans, but more will be done.

We are also on track to delivering affordable fertilisers to farmers. Our goal is to produce more to feed more and alleviate poverty in the country.

He announced that the first phase of the Hustler Fund has disbursed Sh24 billion to 19 million borrowers in 36.5 million transactions.

The President explained that the Government is on course to delivering 200,000 new housing units this year even as it works towards bridging the five million gap.

Now that the formation of the Government has taken shape, we must work hard, serve the people with diligence as we further the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

However, he warned the Chief Administrative Secretaries and other public servants that they must serve within the parameters of the law.

We are committed to a Kenya that will is built on the firm foundation of the rule of law. All of us are subjects to the Constitution, irrespective of our standing in the society.
Raila Odinga and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have both dismissed pleas from religious leaders who have been calling for dialogue between the government and the opposition.

DP Gachagua on his part told the clergy not to ask the government to fall into blackmail.

Dont request us to sanction blackmail and impunity. Because what Raila is doing is blackmailing us into talks. How can you ask us to fall into the trap of blackmail, threats, and intimidation? the DP wondered on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Raila Odinga responded to the clergy with a Bible verse. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the ODM leader said the Azimio La Umoja coalition is only looking for the truth.

Our answer to the clergy is in the gospel, I want to quote John 8:32  Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free, he said.

Adding: We are looking for the truth on the election server, lowering the cost of living, canceling the appointment of 50 CAS and reinstating Cherera Four.

The former Prime Minister said Azimio will continue with the protests until their demands are met. These include the opening of the IEBC servers, the lowering of the cost of living, and the introduction of subsidies on fuel, electricity, and education, among others.

The server should be opened for a forensics audit, Raila insisted.

He also promised to lead bigger anti-government protests and urged supporters to turn up in numbers next Monday.

We call upon all patriotic Kenyans to come out in large numbers for the mother of all demonstrations in Nairobi on Monday (March 27), and to do so peacefully, Raila said

He also rubbished the governments claims that he is pushing for a handshake with the President.

Kenya Kwanza has continued to claim that all we are looking for is a handshake. We emphatically refute this unfounded rumour. This is an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans. We will not participate in a handshake with an illegitimate regime, Raila said.
President William Ruto has told Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga to stop planning chaos and prepare for the 2027 election.

The President pointed out that he would still defeat Mr. Odinga as he did in the last election, stating: I told you during the campaigns that I would defeat the opposition leader. And I did so, fair and square.

He said demonstrations wont change the fact that last years elections were conclusively determined and he was legitimately declared the President of Kenya.

The President was speaking at Rigoma in Kitutu Masaba, Nyamira County when he kicked off a three-day visit of Kisii, Nyamira, and Migori counties on Thursday.

The Head of State said institutions that have been given the mandate of determining electoral matters, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Supreme Court, fully discharged their roles.

It is not the supposed invented whistle-blower who decides who wins elections. The institutions that have that mandate declared me duly elected President, he said.

President Ruto asked the opposition to end their destructive demonstrations and give him space to transform the country.

I have a duty to protect the rights of all Kenyans from all threats. I have an obligation to the business owners in various parts of the country whose premises were looted and destroyed by protesters mobilized by reckless and irresponsible politicians, he said.

He said he is ready to work with all elected leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations, to advance the countrys development agenda for the benefit of the people.

The election ended and Kenyans decided who their President is. They should give me space to transform Kenya, create jobs for the youth, empower our farmers to produce more food so that we can eradicate hunger, he said.

He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Eliud Owalo (ICT), Ezekiel Machogu (Education) and Zachariah Njeru (Lands), as well as Governors Simba Arati (Kisii) and Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira) and area Members of Parliament (MPs).

Governor Arati said even though the President is from a different political formation, he will work with him to transform the country and Gusiiland.

We can only have one President at a time. You are the President and we must work with you, he said.

Earlier, at Kisii National Polytechnic, the President said the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has been given enough funds for students.

He also said the Government is equipping Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutes (TVET) with computers to elevate them to digital hubs.

Our goal is to ensure we empower students with digital skills that will prepare them for online job opportunities, he said.

The President said the government will hire an additional 2,000 TVET tutors to boost TVET institutions.

At Kegati, President Ruto commissioned the Kisii Town Water Supply Project, Kegati Water Treatment Plant.

The project will increase the capacity of the Plant from 6,500 to 27,000 cubic meters per day and increase the supply of clean water that meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards in the county.

This includes areas that were initially not covered like Suneka, Nyamataro, Egesa, Nyanguru, Kiogoro and Nyakoe.

Later, he commissioned the upgrading to bitumen standard and performance-based routine maintenance of Gekano-Rigoma-Amabuko; Ngenyi-Manga-Motemumwamu; Gekano-Girango and Gekano-Muturmesi-Birongo roads.

-PCS
Its been about three months since the city of Napa announced it was planning to roll out a new paid parking program in downtown and the Oxbow District later this year. That was followed by a packed community meeting, where most people present said they didnt like the idea.

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In theory, the paid parking program would free up oft-filled downtown street spaces to make parking in the area easier, by encouraging drivers to use city lots and garages for long-term parking needs, according to city parking staff and the consultants working with them.

But as far as the community's perception of such a program goes, not much appears to have changed since the city first declared its intent to pursue a pay-to-park program. On Wednesday, about 50 Napans showed up at the Senior Activity Center for the city's second community meeting on the plan, and most speakers  a mix of those whod attended the first meeting and those who hadnt  spoke out against the idea.

This time around, that opposition was visible. Many attendees wore yellow buttons with crossed-out coin-operated parking meters, carried yellow signs emblazoned with those same meters and the words Keep parking free in Napa, and wore yellow shirts with parking meters on them, with the word free above the meters.

A plan for paid parking set to emerge in Napa three decades after meters were removed Napa's downtown parking meters were removed three decades ago. But paid parking could return, in some form, this year, as the city works to put together a plan.

Julie Dixon, city parking consultant and founder of Dixon Resources Unlimited, said she wanted to start the latest discussion by making sure that everybody knows that no decisions have been made. She also said that, even if a decision is reached, the parking conversation honestly never ends.

Dixon noted that any paid parking program or other management program that didnt involve paid parking would need City Council approval. So, she said, the meeting was being held both to continue to collect feedback, and to talk about why this is a conversation that is being had.

Dixon went on to make a case that something needs to change with Napa's parking management, due to high occupancy rates of street-side spots in the city center.

The reason why were having this conversation today is because the data is driving this conversation, Dixon said. We are basically in a position now where theres really no more on-street capacity.

Dixon added that parking management is about accessibility, and that she wanted to make sure that parking is available to residents and visitors alike.

In other cities where Dixons company has effectively managed parking, she said, theyve been able to provide more access to parking places, and residents have highlighted and reinforced the fact they can more easily visit the shops and restaurants and stores that they actually want to go to.

Much of that lies in making sure on-street parking is treated as premium, and that it turns over quickly, Dixon said. People parking for longer should leave their cars in the citys parking lots and garages, she said, which are currently underused compared to the downtown street spaces.

Basically when youre coming into town, and you need to make a quick pit stop to run into the shop, on-street parking is supposed to be the premium parking so it has a quick turnover in those spaces, Dixon said. But when youre coming downtown to dwell, to walk the sidewalks, work your way in and out of the shops, maybe grab lunch, thats when we want you to park in the parking garages and parking lots.

The problem, Dixon said, is that people are occupying the time-limited on-street spaces for longer than intended. Many people stay longer than the limit technically allows, or shift around to different spaces before running out of time.

It is very likely based on the data that were gathering that those are employees or business owners who are doing what I call a parking roulette, Dixon said. Theyre just jockeying the on-street spaces and staying for much longer than they should be because those are intended spaces for our customers. And you all are customers of our downtown.

Ultimately, Dixon said, the city is trying to seek consistent compliance with parking rules, which would then provide parking access and availability.

Dixon went on to respond to several previously expressed concerns about a paid parking program. Napa is exploring the possibility of service worker parking permits, she said, so that such workers could afford a permit to park in a city garage or lot, and not on downtown streets.

As for revenue generated by such a program, a FAQ list handed out at the meeting noted that much of it would go to the self-sustaining parking program, and additional revenue would help finance parking facility maintenance, security, repairs, improvements, infrastructure, and other community needs currently not being met by the general fund.

Dixon presented several other ideas about how the program could work. But most audience members who spoke said they don't want any form of paid parking, and many said they didnt think there was a problem with parking downtown.

Carol Barge, who spoke against paid parking at the previous meeting, said that it was mentioned that the city would pursue paid parking at that previous meeting, and she thought that was what got the community members up in arms. But her opinion that there isnt actually a problem with downtown parking hasnt changed.

I still think as others have stated that we dont actually have a problem, Barge said. "I think were looking for a problem, and, if anything, its the employees that are taking up spaces, and we need to find a place for them.

Sharon Macklin noted that she sat through a city presentation about the parking plan with the Napa Downtown Business Association last week, and that the city merchants are opposed to paid parking. She said that if the citys parking enforcement officers did a better job enforcing the existing time-limit rules, that would encourage people to park farther away from downtown streets.

If youre working in a store downtown and making $15 or $20 an hour, if you get a couple of tickets, youre gonna walk another couple of blocks, Macklin said. So before we have any kind of parking meter charges, we need to do a better job for enforcement.

Some speakers did express support for a paid parking program, however. Patrick Band said hed been hearing a lot about problems with Napas existing parking garages, including that they werent safe, and he had similar feelings about the citys sidewalks  many of which he said were cracked, and made it easy to trip and fall.

But fixing those problems requires money, he said, and a paid parking program could help fund those kinds of improvements that we know we all need as a community, that are really hard to get funding for.

What Im hoping is that this can be kind of an ongoing process to talk about how can we phase something in that can clean up our garages, that can fix sidewalks that are broken, that can make crosswalks safer so people arent getting hit by cars, Band said.

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The second cohort of the Napa Valley Vintners Leadership Program on Wednesday launched Dream.Work.Napa., a digital resource platform to help people looking to start or continue wine industry careers in the Napa Valley.

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The initiative was started by the 12 Napa Valley wine professionals who made up the 2022-23 NVV Leadership Program, a nine-month program for professionals looking to further their contributions to the wine community established by the Vintners.

In a joint statement, the cohort said: We are thrilled to be passionately launching a program that we hope will inspire and support the journey of aspiring wine industry professionals kick starting their careers in Napa, support members of the community, and the greater wine community. It is important to us that the wide range of existing valuable Napa Valley resources are visible to all that are interested.

Dream.Work.Napa. aims to improve the accessibility and social sustainability of Napa Valley by offering a website that gathers community resources in the valley spanning internship and housing opportunities, scholarships and education programs, and health care.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration extended invitations to 120 global leaders for next week's Summit for Democracy, including to representatives from eight countries that weren't invited to the White House's inaugural summit in 2021.

That's according to a senior administration official, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the yet to be publicly released invitations. The countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina., Gambia, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Lichtenstein, Mauritania, Mozambique and Tanzania received invitations to this year's summit after being left out of the 2021 gathering.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is slated to take part in a pre-summit event Tuesday focused on Ukraine with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

This year's summit takes place next Wednesday and Thursday. It will be co-hosted by the governments of Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea and Zambia. The first day of the summit will be a virtual format and will be followed by hybrid gatherings in each of the host countries with representatives from government, civil society and the private sector participating.

The world has seen big change since the December 2021 summit, with countries emerging from the global COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine  the largest-scale war in Europe since World War II that has devastated the eastern European country and rattled the global economy.

The president will look to make the case that the events of the past year have put into stark relief that democratic government grounded in the rule of law and the will of the governed remains  despite its frequent messiness  the best system to promote prosperity and peace, according to White House officials.

Biden initially proposed the idea of a democracy summit during his 2020 campaign and repeatedly made the case that the U.S. and like-minded allies need to show the world that democracies are a better vehicle for societies than autocracies.
Monterey County authorities Thursday morning lifted evacuation orders for the flood-ravaged farm town of Pajaro, allowing residents to return to their homes in most cases for the first time since they were forced to flee in the middle of the night March 11 after a levee failed and inundated their community.

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But county officials who lifted the orders at 10 a.m., a day earlier than they had indicated Wednesday, cautioned that Pajaro is still far from livable, with no water or sewer service and many homes requiring restoration work.

There are health risks to people returning to Pajaro, a Monterey County notice said. The county and Pajaro Sunny Mesa Services are working diligently to restore the sewer system. There is no potable water and toilets cant be flushed. It isnt recommended that residents stay until sewer and water are restored. Those entering the area do so at their own risk.

The advisory said that cleaning, toilet, showers, handwashing, and laundry stations, along with bottled water, and information booths will be made available at Pajaro Park and Pajaro Middle School, and that Monterey Salinas Transit will provide transportation.

Heavy equipment was operating in the area working on debris removal and sewage hauling, county officials advised.

Pajaro residents have become increasingly frustrated with the ongoing evacuation order, and confronted local officials at a Tuesday evening town hall at a temporary shelter at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. More than 500 were staying at shelters set up by the county, while hundreds of others have been sleeping in cars, sheds and hotel rooms.

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The year 2022 was very dynamic for Armenia, especially in terms of relations with the European Union (EU) and its member countries. Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan said this during Fridays meeting of the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly of Armenia.

According to him, the aforesaid is, in particular, about the mediation efforts of Brussels in the South Caucasus.

"The carrying out of the monitoring mission of the EU in Armenia is a vivid proof of that," added Hovhannisyan.

This decision of the EU, as noted by the Armenian deputy FM, significantly contributed to the stabilization of the situation in the region, especially in terms of security.

"The visit of the mission helped the Europeans to understand the situation better," said the representative of the Armenian government.
In Moscow, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will discuss as well the matter of deploying an EU monitoring mission on the border with Azerbaijan. Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan said this during Fridays meeting of the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly of Armenia.

"In the case of Russia, we are aware that there is a sensitive attitude regarding the deployment of the EU mission. We are discussing the matter with our colleagues. You know that the visit of the Armenian foreign minister to Moscow is coming soon, that matter is one of the matters that will surely be discussed [there]," he said.

The Armenian deputy FM touched also upon the matters regarding the deployment of this EU mission.

"We continue to carry out explanatory work in that regard, to explain what is the reason, what are the goals of the mission. For example, Iran, which is also very sensitive about the creation of such missions in the region, gave a rather positive response. The ambassador of Iran [to Armenia] stated that they do not see any problem regarding the deployment of the mission. It shows that in the case of explanatory work, the perception is different. Yes, we should continue the work with other partners, present a lot of information in that regard," Hovhannisyan said.
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Sweden FM wants to cancel Armenian Genocide commemorative events to please Turkeys Erdogan

Prosecutor General: 37,612 crimes recorded in Armenia last year

US State Dept.: Ensuring cessation of hostilities, particularly in Karabakh, is of great importance to Blinken

Economy minister: Armenia does not in any way try to help Russia to circumvent sanctions

Armenia PM congratulates several Arab countries leaders on Muslim holiday Eid Al-Fitr

Karabakh FM holds online meeting with Russian political analysts, experts

Armenia to have new state foundation for construction, management of Academic City

Armenia PM: Government has invested $1.2bln in provinces since 2018

Newspaper: 71 properties belonging to Armenia MOD are put up for sale

Armenia authorities in hurry to build customs office on Turkey border

Armenia introducing system of mandatory military service for women on voluntary basis

Azerbaijan MFA sends note of protest to Russia foreign ministry

Istanbul governorate bans holding Armenian Genocide commemoration

Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire at Armenian combat positions in Verin Shorzha

CSTO chief announces risks related to situation in Karabakh, on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

More than 600 people have already been killed in Sudan conflict

Russia MOD: Ceasefire violation recorded in Karabakh

Storm hits earthquake-hit Turkish city: one dead, more than 30 others injured

Shots fired at Erdogan's party office

The European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the release of Kara-Murza

President Aliyev decides to fight against Azerbaijan history, Telegram channel says

Armenia official: Motorway leading to Karabakh via Kornidzor village will be completely ready by end of May

Armenia, Iran, India MFAs hold trilateral political consultations in Yerevan

Yerevan mayoral election slated for September

Borrell announces nomination of new EU ambassador to Armenia

US denies reports that Iran navy forced its submarine to surface in Strait of Hormuz

Iran navy forces US nuclear submarine to surface in Strait of Hormuz

Armenia premier to Louis Bono: Azerbaijan's aggressive policy is inadmissible

Karabakh police: Azerbaijanis fire at civilians doing agricultural work

Lukashenko: Russia, Belarus will resist attempts to pull them into 3rd World War

Catholicos on demanding Armenia PM Pashinyans resignation: Our fatherly exhortation not limited by time

Catholicos of all Armenians: I cant imagine that Artsakh can be part of Azerbaijan

Turkey starting extracting natural gas from Black Seas largest field

Yerevan prison inmate stabs 3 jail employees

Shahriar Heydari: We advise Azerbaijan authorities not to test Iran's patience

Armenia PM on Karabakh legislature factions: Not ruled out that they misunderstood this time as well

PM: Armenia also ready for CSTO monitors to be deployed here

Armenia's Pashinyan: Not yet fact that we are signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan

Artak Beglaryan: Dictator Aliyev openly acknowledges that he considers Armenia to be 'eternal enemy'

Armenia premier: Problematic section in Tegh village area is reduced by another 1.4km
Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Alen Simonyan, on Saturday received the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Russia, Yury Vorobyov, who is in Armenia within the framework of Fridays 36th meeting of the interparliamentary commission on cooperation between the Armenian NA and the Russian Federal Assembly.

The interlocutors highlighted the active cooperation between the legislative bodies of Armenia and Russia, and stressed the importance of holding meetings of interparliamentary and intergovernmental commissions.

"I hope that yesterday's meeting was effective and its results will strengthen the strategic partnership and cooperation between Armenia and Russia," said Simonyan, referring to the aforesaid meeting and the signingon the margins of this meetingof a memorandum of cooperation between Tavush Province of Armenia and Krasnoyarsk region of Russia.

Alen Simonyan and Yury Vorobyov discussed regional security and some other issues of mutual interest.

And reflecting on the actions of Azerbaijan, the NA speaker: "In order to prevent the threat of a humanitarian disaster hanging over the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, in the context of the demand for efforts to restore normal movement through the Lachin corridor, I would like to specifically note that we expect active steps and targeted statements from our international partners, and first of all, from the Russian Federation, whose peacekeeping contingent is stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh."
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nathalie Loiseau from France says she cannot understand that only the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Russian peacekeepers are allowed to use the Lachin corridor and that the world watches silently.

In an interview with Armenpress, MEP Loiseau emphasized that the blockade of Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan must be immediately lifted and the UN Security Council must form a fact-finding mission and demand all UN humanitarian agencies to have access into Nagorno-Karabakh.

The European Parliament has voted two reports, one on Armenia and the other on Azerbaijan. I co-authored the report on Armenia and amended the one on Azerbaijan to ensure they dont contradict each other. The European Parliaments position is crystal clear: The blockade of the Lachin Corridor must stop, the MEP said.

Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Lachin CorridorNagorno-Karabakhs only road to the outside worldunder fake environmental pretexts, since December 12, 2022. Despite numerous calls by the international community to open the corridor, as well as the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, Azerbaijan is still keeping the corridor blocked. Nagorno-Karabakh is under blockade for already 100 days. Only the ICRC and Russian peacekeepers have access to Nagorno-Karabakh and attempt to somewhat mitigate the worsening crisis. Azerbaijan is regularly trying to mislead the international community by showing the Red Cross and Russian peacekeeping vehicles as they pass along the corridor to advance its narrative that the road is open. However, these manipulations fail because the international community is calling for the immediate lifting of the blockade.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia sent congratulatory messages to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi of Iran on the occasion of the Iranian new year, Nowruz.

The message addressed to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran reads as follows, in particular:

"The Armenian-Iranian relations, shaped in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect dating back millennia ago, are of special importance for the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people. I sincerely hope that in the near future we will witness the expansion of the bilateral multi-layered agenda, which will become a stimulus for the further deepening and growth of our friendly relations, for the benefit of the well-being of the Armenian and Iranian peoples and regional peace."

And the message addressed to the President of Iran reads as follows, in part:

"The centuries-old rich historical and cultural background of Armenian-Iranian relations is a unique basis for the current friendly atmosphere, multifaceted interaction and warm contacts between Armenian and Iranian friendly peoples. I can say without hesitation that by continuing the steady path of cooperation, we will give a new rise to the Armenian-Iranian multi-layered agenda in the current year for the benefit of the well-being of our two peoples and states.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that he communicates with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a regular basis, the politician is always polite in his conversations, the Rheinische Post newspaper writes.

"They are long conversations, sometimes lasting an hour, sometimes one and a half [hours]. Sometimes in German, sometimes with translation. And Putin is always polite," the German chancellor said.

Also, he drew attention to the fact that the parties do not reach a compromise and maintain differences in their views on the Ukrainian conflict.

According to Scholz, one should be prepared that the settlement may take a long time, and even when the conflict ends, everything will not be like before at once.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on Wednesday expressed great concern by the humanitarian crisis unfolding due to the ongoing obstruction of the Lachin corridor. Also, it adopted the following statement:

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe is greatly concerned by the humanitarian crisis unfolding due to the ongoing obstruction of the Lachin Corridor. This corridor is the lifeline between those living in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, and the Committee fully supports the public statement made by the Parliamentary Assembly co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Armenia on 24 February 2023, calling for immediate action and the immediate cessation of the unlawful and illegitimate obstruction of the Lachin corridor.

The Committee also calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to implement without delay the measures addressed to it by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 22 February 2023 and of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) of 21 December 2022 whose decisions noted the obligation on Azerbaijan under the Trilateral Statement, signed on 9 November 2020, to guarantee the security of persons, vehicles and cargo moving along the Lachin Corridor in both directions (Article 6 of the Trilateral Statement).

The Committee furthermore refers to other international statements addressed to the authorities of Azerbaijan on the same issue, including

- the joint statement of the four co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the monitoring of Azerbaijan and Armenia of December 16, 2022, which states that Freedom and security of movement of persons and goods must be urgently restored along the corridor. We call on all parties to the Trilateral Statement of 9-10 November 2020 to immediately take the necessary measures, and

- the European Parliament resolution of 19 January 2023 on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh.
There are separate tracks of negotiations: first, the opening of all transport communications in the region, second, delimitation and border security and the third, the treaty on establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the third is the treaty on establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, in an interview given to the leading Egyptian AlQahera News Agency.

"Regarding the connectivity issue, our position is clear: Armenia is ready to open all communications at the very moment when Azerbaijan accepts that the roads should be operating under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the states they are passing through. With regard to delimitation of borders, regrettably, months after the establishment of the commissions on the delimitation of borders in 2022, Azerbaijan not only raised new territorial claims, but also launched another invasion into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and then tried to justify its aggression with a fake argument that the border is not delimited," the Armenian FM emphasized.

Mirzoyan reminded that since December 2022, Armenia and Azerbaijan have exchanged proposals on the draft treaty and tried to move ahead with the process to find fair solutions to the core issues

"Here, among Armenias suggestions is clarification of parameters for the delimitation of the state border, as we think that without clearly agreed parameters on the delimitation of the international borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, countries cannot specify which territorial integrity they mutually recognize, and this will lead to another fighting instead of establishing peace," the Armenian FM said.

According to Mirzoyan, the next step is the distancing of forces from the state border and the creation of a demilitarized zone along the borderline as a confidence-building measure and security mechanism, helping to ensure prevention of any possible future escalation.

As per the Armenian FM, also, they believe that the treaty should establish a mechanism of guarantees, which will ensure the implementation of the obligations, as well as outline ways of resolution of possible misinterpretations and disputes. And as a key component, there should be an international mechanism to address the issues of rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Unfortunately, in response to our efforts we face not only the dismissive and maximalist approach by Azerbaijan during the negotiations, but also aggressive actions on the ground despite the ongoing negotiations. Most recently, following the ceasefire violations on March 2-3, three servicemen of the Police of the Nagorno-Karabakh were killed in the Lachin corridor on March 5 as a result of a pre-planned ambush by Azerbaijan. These actions once again demonstrate the lack of sincerity in Bakus approach to the normalization process as well as continuous recourse to use of force," said FM Mirzoyan.

He emphasized that in parallel to these actions, Azerbaijan regularly steps back from agreements, continues its hate speech and xenophobic rhetoric, as well as rejects to resolve humanitarian issues such as the release of confirmed 33 Armenian prisoners of war who are still held hostage in Azerbaijan.

"The fate of many more Armenians is still unknown, and we have submitted to our partner organizations cases of enforced disappearances. The Armenian religious and cultural heritage, fallen under the Azerbaijani control in 2020, is facing an imminent threat of total erasure. All this is challenging the efforts towards establishing lasting peace and stability in the whole region," the Armenian FM said.
Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: Yesterday, the National Assembly of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] approved in the second reading the draft of the amendment to the Constitution regarding the election of the president of the country by the parliament and its features in case the position of the president of the republic remains vacant during martial law.

The draft has been sent to the Supreme Court of Artsakh, where the matter of compliance of the said amendment with the Constitution will be decided.

According to the law, the high court has from 10 days to 6 months to express [its] opinion. And this means that the issue of changing the president of Artsakh is being put off for at least half a yearalthough it is not ruled that, if necessary, the Supreme Court will issue a conclusion earlier and the draft will be put to a vote in the parliament.
What we know: Suicide bombing in Ansbach, southern Germany

A Syrian migrant who blew himself up outside a music festival venue in the Bavarian town of Ansbach on Sunday night pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremist group in a video found on his phone.

GALLERY

Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation; they suspect the bomber was a member of Islamic State.

Reaction in Ansbach: "You won"t get my hate."

Berlin (dpa) - The 27-year-old vowed to take "revenge against the Germans for obstructing Islam," Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Hermann said.- Islamic State claimed he was one of its "soldiers."- Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation; they suspect the bomber was a member of Islamic State.- The man from Aleppo in northern Syria came to Germany in August 2014. He was denied asylum and was due for deportation to Bulgaria.- Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the deportation had been suspended because of his "psychological instability."- 15 people were wounded in the attack.- About 2,500 people were at the festival.- The explosive device was in his rucksack and he set it off after being denied entry to the venue because he did not have a ticket.- The suspect had tried to kill himself on two prior occasions and had received treatment at a psychiatric clinic.- He was known to police for drug-related and other crimes.- Police raided his refugee hostel and found bomb-making items such as hydrochloric acid and material related to Salafism.- A suspected accomplice, who had claimed to have known him only in his capacity as a translator, was arrested.The US "stands resolute alongside our German allies as they confront the forces of extremism in their own country," the White House said Monday in the wake of a string of violent attacks in Germany, including a suicide bomber in the southern German town of Ansbach.US stands alongside Germany in wake of attacksUS and German officials have been in touch in recent days, but White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he could not share specifics about security cooperation between the allies other than to say the US was "certainly interested in doing whatever we can" to help."One of the things that makes the alliance between United States and Germany so strong is our shared values and our shared commitment to those values," Earnest said. "Those values include protecting innocent civilians, and offering humanitarian aid to those in need, and not treating people differently just because of their religion."Earnest also said that there were not major concerns that Syrian refugees admitted to the United States would conduct similar attacks because the US had undertaken extensive background checks before admitting refugees."The president has confidence in ramping up the number of refugees admitted to the United States because obviously, almost all of them are innocent people fleeing violence in their own country. Some of them are people who are fleeing genocide," he said, pointing to the US responsibility to help even as security remains a top priority.
As Azerbaijans siege of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) passed the 100-day mark this week, a bipartisan group of sixty-nine U.S. Representatives, led by Congressional Armenian Caucus founding Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), once again called for ending US military aid to Azerbaijan and sending $150 million in assistance to Artsakh and Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

The request comes in the form of a letter to Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations Chairman Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL) and Ranking Member Barbara Lee (D-CA), who have already begun drafting the U.S. House version of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) foreign aid bill.

The letter includes the following budgetary requests:

 $100 million for security, economic, governance, and rule of law assistance to Armenia

 $50 million for Artsakh to provide a comprehensive assistance strategy and support the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh in their rebuilding and resettlement efforts  along with an additional $2 million for humanitarian demining and UXO clearance.

 The suspension of all U.S. military and security aid to Azerbaijan and a State Department assessment of potential sanctions against Azeri officials found to have supported human rights abuses and war crimes.

 Language supporting the Administrations efforts to secure the release of Armenian POWs illegally held by Azerbaijan.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia (AmCham) on Thursday held its annual general assembly, in which Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan also participated.

The results, priorities, and programs of the previous two years of AmCham were presented during the assembly, the Ministry of Economy of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In his remarks at the event, Kerobyan emphasized the importance of the mission of AmCham and its participating companies, whichwith their workbring new standards to the business culture of Armenia.

Also, the minister presented the recent high economic indicators in the Armenian economy, and noted that the programs implemented by the Armenian government, including the economy modernization measure, greatly contributed to ensuring the 12.6% growth of the countrys economy last year.

Among the most important new initiatives, the economy minister pointed to the strategy, which was approved at the government Cabinet session, for the development of Armenia's food safety system.
Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) with Armenia, 12 patients from the Republican Medical Center of Artsakhand with serious diseases of the oncology and cardiovascular systemhave been transported Friday to specialized medical institutions of Armenia, with the mediation and escorting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

And eight patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with accompanying persons, Artsakh Ministry of Health informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of Artsakh.

Five children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of Arevik medical center.

Eight patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Center of Artsakh, and three of them are in critical condition.

A total of 215 medical patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and assistance of the ICRC.
The Armenian government remains committed to creating a business-friendly environment. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stated this in his remarks Thursday at the annual general meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia (AmCham) being held in Yerevan.

The deputy PM, on behalf of the Armenian government and himself, welcomed the attendees and delivered an address in which he stated as follows, in particular:

"Thanks to the daily dedicated work of our private sector, we are able to overcome the various economic challenges created as a result of the complicated regional developments.

The United States of America is one of the key partners of our country. The success of American businesses in our market is very important both in terms of deepening our bilateral relations, for the sustainable development of Armenia's economy, and in terms of continued improvement of business culture in Armenia.

In this context, I cannot but emphasize the role of AmCham, which has become a real connecting platform between the [Armenian] government and the American business community. Furthermore, the AmCham is actively involved in government reform discussions and plays a key role in developing our policies aimed at improving the investment climate and economic development [in Armenia].

Highlighting our traditionally formed productive cooperation, I would like to emphasize that the [Armenian] government remains committed to creating a business-friendly environment and will always be open and ready to discuss any issues you point out."
A two-story school in Arakichi village of the Ochamchira District of Abkhazia caught fire on Thursday evening, Lev Kvitsinia, Minister of Emergency Situations of Abkhazia, told TASS.

It is an Armenian school, and Arakichi village is mostly inhabited by Armenians.

"At the time of the firefighters arrival, the school was completely engulfed in flames, despite the rain. Five fire brigades are involved in the firefighting operations. According to preliminary information, the fire could have occurred as a result of a short circuit," Kvitsinia said.

According to this school's employees, its library, the entire second floor, classrooms, and the principal's office were burned, and the documents could not be saved.

About 80 children study in this school.
Alireza Monadi, a representative of Tabriz in the Islamic Consultative Council of Iran, stated that "[Azerbaijani president] Ilham Aliyev should not risk his relative peace." Monadi's respective statement is presented by EurAsia Daily, citing the Iranist.

Monadi noted: "We ask Aliyev not to put the life and relative peace of his people at risk with his actions in the conditions of the world economic crisis. Our border with Armenia is one of the country's assets, and we [i.e., Iran] hope that Aliyev will not make a wrong decision because we have friendly relations with Azerbaijan, and these actions can only weaken our relations."

The Iranian politician added: "The Islamic Republic [of Iran] will not allow cutting our border with Armenia. Armenia also wants to keep this border, so no one should interfere in this matter."
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday received the newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia, Giorgi Sharvashidze, the PM's office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Georgian diplomat on the start of the mission and expressed confidence that he will promote the further development of Armenian-Georgian relations with his activities. Expressing his satisfaction with the Armenia-Georgia cooperation, Nikol Pashinyan highlighted further expansion of economic ties and initiatives aimed at fully realizing the existing potential.

The newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia expressed gratitude for the kind words and assured that during his tenure, he will make maximum efforts to promote closer relations between Armenia and Georgia.

The interlocutors exchanged thoughts on the perspectives of cooperation, referred to the trade and economic agenda. In this context, active contacts between business circles, mutual visits, and involvement in investment programs were highlighted. In terms of strengthening humanitarian ties, the importance of signing the agreement on mutual visa-free travel for citizens of Armenia and Georgia was noted.

The sides attached importance to regional stability and peace.
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan continues to disseminate disinformation claiming that the Armenian side is using the Stepanakert-Ghaybalishen-Lisagor road to transport military supplies.

Advancing this thesis, the Azerbaijani side is misleading the international community, preparing the ground for another provocation against the civilian population of Artsakh, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)..

The Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs considers it necessary to emphasize once again that the movement of civilians and the transportation of humanitarian goods are carried out along the forest and mountain road bypassing Shushi, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers.

Taking into account the geographical location of that road, the traffic is organized by large and tall vehicles, which the Azerbaijani side presents as military transport.

While Azerbaijan falsely accuses the Armenian side of transporting weapons and ammunition, on Thursday and on Friday morning, Azerbaijani combat positions targeted and opened fire with weapons of various types and calibers at a group of citizens carrying out pruning work in the vineyards of Machkalashen community of the Martuni region.

No casualties were registered. Agricultural work has been suspended.
By the beginning of the 2023 tourist season, Armenia and Turkey have agreed to open their border for the citizens of third countries and persons with diplomatic passports. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan said this at the special meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia.

Now Armenia is actively working in this regard, the Armenian FM added.

"The Margara land checkpoint [of Armenia] on the Armenian-Turkish border was put into operation for the first time in 30 years in February of this year. At that time, Armenia sent humanitarian aid and rescuers to the regions affected by the earthquake in Turkey," said Mirzoyan.
Turns out, there are no convenient times to fight for justice.

As the nation reeled from the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in spring 2020, people came together, despite the pandemic, to grieve and protest.

On campus, it was no different. Emory responded in a variety of ways  one of which was the creation of the Arts and Social Justice (ASJ) Fellows program, a partnership between Emory Arts and the Ethics and the Arts program of the Emory University Center for Ethics. The ASJ Fellows program brings professors and students together with Atlanta artists to explore how artistic expression can be a catalyst for greater equality.

For the past three years, the program has been, in the words of co-creator/co-director Carlton Mackey, a beautiful and rewarding journey of discovery that reflects the intersection of arts and justice.

Providing transformational education

Now, the fruits of that journey are evident in an exhibit titled Creative Justice: A Celebration of Emorys Arts and Social Justice Fellows Program, which showcases how Emory students, working with the fellows and faculty, translated their learning into creative activism.

Mackey curated the exhibit with Sierra King, a 2022 ASJ fellow, serving as the archival and curatorial assistant. Kathryn Dixson, Emory Libraries exhibition manager, along with her team  John Klingler and Christian Hill  mounted the displays, which bring to life videos, a graffiti mural, photographs and other art the classes produced.

In 2021, the artist Mr. Totem designed the mural painted by faculty, students and community members for the course Disruptive and Conduct Disorder Diagnosis Bias and the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Creative and Compassionate Interventions for BIPOC Children. It features the words and visuals students chose to demonstrate the biases that BIPOC students face. A video on the ASJ Fellows site shows the mural being assembled.

Also in the exhibit, a computer kiosk shows video from the pipeline class as well as Hip Hop Dance and Identity, a class from the last cohort.

One display shows a timeline of all the courses, while other aspects focus on individual faculty, fellows and courses as representative of the programs courageous inquiry.

Dixson sees the exhibit as providing the program exposure in another venue, beyond the annual showcase event and ASJ website. We hope it will garner more support for the program. The conversation between photographers Tom Dorsey and Jim Alexander was another opportunity for expanding that audience, she says.

Notable contributions of faculty and fellows

Emory faculty member Hank Klibanoff leads the Georgia Civil Rights Cold Cases Project, is creator of the "Buried Truths" podcast and serves as professor of practice in Emory's Creative Writing program.

In 2020, Klibanoff teamed with actor Garrett Turner 11C to focus students on the victims of the 1906 Atlanta race massacre by imagining the untold stories of victims and observers. Those narratives became 16 dramatic readings by professional actors. The exhibit offers an enclosure where viewers can watch these performances with private space and time to reflect.

Letters from Arthur W. Rowell to his mother are in a display case. Principal of Clark Universitys Normal Department, Rowell witnessed the massacre. Selected from his papers, which are housed in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, are these letters in which Rowell expressed being ashamed of his country for this act against the African American community.

Creative Justice features the work of celebrated Atlanta photographer Jim Alexander, who placed a large collection of his photographs (circa 1960-2022) with the Rose Library. In 2021, Alexander collaborated with faculty member Michelle Y. Gordon, associate professor of teaching in the Department of African American Studies, by helping students create images of themselves protesting issues such as environmental degradation, racism and womens bodily autonomy.

Influenced by meeting legendary documentary photographer Gordon Parks in 1968, Alexander agreed to teach the art of photography to make a living, but resolved to do documentary work on the side to highlight human rights and the Black experience.

That work on the side attracted widespread acclaim. In 1995, when Atlantas Office of Cultural Affairs began its annual Master Artist program, Alexander was the first artist chosen, for his contribution to Atlanta and the world.

Creative Justice opens on March 23 and continues through May 13, 2023 in the Schatten Gallery on Level Three of the Robert W. Woodruff Library.

Skip carousel A main feature of the Creative Justice exhibit is the mural associated with the course Disruptive and Conduct Disorder Diagnosis Bias and the School-to-Prison Pipeline. A booth in the exhibit allows visitors private space to contemplate the documentation associated with the 1906 Atlanta race massacre. On the left panel are images from Jim Alexanders collection; on the right are images students took of themselves protesting after learning from Alexander how this work is best done. Student Ahmira Miller 24C looks over the equipment DJ Tone Fresh brought to the class Hip Hop Dance and Identity. A number of the classes produced videos, two of which are available through the exhibit, for Disruptive and Conduct Disorder Diagnosis Bias and the School-to-Prison Pipeline, as well as Hip Hop Dance and Identity. In the class Business and Society, students used improvisation, applied theater and sound design to address how business can create a more inclusive and sustainable world. The librarys Creative Justice exhibit will be on display on the third level of the Woodruff Library through May 13, 2023. Previous Next

A thumbnail history of a blockbuster program

As Kevin Karnes, co-creator/co-director of the ASJ Fellows program, recalled at an event celebrating the completion of the 2022 projects: In summer 2020, it was 100 of us on a Zoom call. We did what we could.

We gathered last year for the first time, he continued, but everyone was wearing masks and we were on a smaller stage.

This is a real gathering, Karnes said to audience cheers. We can move among the artwork and have conversations about what we are experiencing together. We can circulate among individuals, trading thoughts and exchanging views about the works and the questions they are raising.

The richness of recent projects

In the 2022 cohort, the courses were:

Eleven area artists, the largest cohort in the programs history, joined Emory faculty and students. The result, said Mackey, were journeys of discovery and transformational education. We are grateful that Emory students had the opportunity to intersect with these artists and faculty. Hopefully, we are able to effect change in hearts and minds, not just at Emory but also in our communities.

Mecko Gibson is of a mind to foster change, describing his career focus as being to combat prejudice, discrimination and bigotry through art and religion. He is pursuing an MTS at Candler School of Theology and was a student in the History of Antisemitism course offered by Ellie Schainker, Arthur Blank Family Foundation Associate Professor of Modern European Jewish History, and Alex Mari, an interdisciplinary performance artist.

We tend to focus only on issues and problems as they relate to us, but injustices exist outside of our personal purview. My intent was to learn more about antisemitism, especially what it looks like in todays modern context, Gibson observes.

One of his course contributions was the poem Walking, part of which reads:

Just the other day,

I walked into a conversation,

That boldly made the statement,

That maybe I should walk back to where I came from 



The conversation involved three cops, two donuts and one cup of coffee,

So, naturally, I walked away

Complementing Schainkers historical take on the subject, Mari facilitated deeper understanding of antisemitism by allowing us to experience  through performance art  how time, space, awareness and sensory focus can add meaning and perspective to any topic, Gibson says.

Devon Goss, assistant professor of sociology at Oxford College, participated in the program for the first time through her Introduction to Sociology course, which aims to connect individual circumstances to larger social issues.

Choreographer Leo Briggs 19C brought the personal, individualized movement of dance in conversation with cultural and social issues. We used dance to study a variety of topics, including gender, sexuality, race, embodiment, labor and health. Students were able to take what felt like such a different discipline  dance  and unravel the ways in which sociological study can help to deepen that discipline, notes Goss.

Calling Emory faculty and area artists

Applications for the fall 2023 cohort are open for both faculty and artists.

Faculty from all divisions of the university are encouraged to apply. They work together with artist fellows to design a project that reflects on racial or other inequities and to embed their project into one of the faculty members existing syllabi on any topic. The deadline for faculty applications is March 31.

ASJ Fellows receive a summer stipend and a salary in the fall, and each faculty/fellow pair receives funding to cover materials and other expenses for their project. In league with the faculty member, fellows decide how to incorporate the creative project into the syllabus, as well as the nature and frequency of the fellows engagement with the class. The deadline for artist applications is April 3.

Photos by Kay Hinton, Emory Photo/Video.
India has been ranked first in South Asia based on government requests for user data from Big Tech companies. From 2013 to 2021, Meta and Google received the highest number of account requests from India, according to the popular VPN service Surfshark. India ranked seventh in all of Asia with 58.7 accounts requested per 100,000 people.

The research showed that globally, countries requested more than 6.6 million accounts combined during the 9-year period, while India requested 823,000. The overall disclosure rate in India is 55.3 percent. Looking at requested accounts per population, India ranks 36th in the world based on the user accounts requested by authorities over this time period. The number of accounts requested increased more than five times from 2013 to 2021, with 2021 seeing a year-over-year increase of around 25 percent.

India shows the same trend, with a 1,476 percent increase from 2013 to 2021. Requested accounts grew by 55 percent in 2021 compared to 2020, the report showed. In total, over 6.6 million accounts were requested in 177 countries from 2013 to 2021, with a steady increase in the latest years.

The US and the EU authorities requested data the most. Apple complied with the most user data requests (82 percent), compared to Meta, Google, and Microsoft (72 percent, 71 percent, and 68 percent, respectively).

"Besides requesting data from technology companies, authorities are now exploring more ways to monitor and tackle crime through online services. For instance, the EU is considering a regulation that would require Internet service providers to detect, report, and remove abuse-related content," said Gabriele Kaveckyte, Privacy Counsel at Surfshark.

The research analyzed the just-released information on user data requests that Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft received from 177 countries' local authorities between 2013 and 2021.
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 24 (ANI/PNN): MediCtrl launched two Hospitals in Pune, namely MediCtrl Apple Hospital and MediCtrl Shree Hospital. The chain of Hospitals is aiming to build a network across the nation to provide the best healthcare facilities to the public. The startup has set foot with a mission to build a strong network of hospitals that patients can rely on for superior outcomes, price transparency, and a high-quality experience. The company's goal is to create a healthcare system that provides top-notch medical care to everyone at an affordable price. Being a bootstrapped start-up, MediCtrl is ready to welcome investors who share the same goals as them for the future of healthcare in India. With over 20,000 Hospitals in the top 25 cities, India has immense growth potential. Founded by Ratul Majumdar and Varun Singh, MediCtrl has already been recognized by Startup India and has received Incubation from STPI Gurgaon. They have already signed MOUs with hospitals with an estimated revenue of 13 Crs. Ratul holds more than 17 years of experience in Hospital Operations and Strategy with rich expertise in Overall Hospital Business Operations. Moreover, Varun has 11 years of experience in Healthcare, contributing directly to the bottom line of many hospitals. Together, they are aware of the nerves of patients in India. "Healthcare in India should be judged not by the wealth of the few, but by the well-being of the many. Let's strive towards a system that is equitable, accessible, and empowers individuals to take charge of their own health," Ratul Majumdar said while speaking of his goals for the company and the country. "Every life is precious, and every individual deserves access to quality healthcare regardless of their socioeconomic background. Let's join hands and work towards creating a healthcare system in India that values every life equally," Varun added. They offer 100% fixed-price packages and billing transparency, the best doctors and technology, insurance support, and medical financing. They provide escorts for those in need, pre, and post-assistance, user-friendly technology for slot booking, and other services. The hospitals also give way to comprehensive care under one network, and access to Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) integration with UHI. MediCtrl Hospitals are aiming to address all prevalent healthcare issues by expanding its network to 11 Hospitals across the nation by the end of the financial year 2023-24. Furthermore, the chain of Hospitals is working towards having its own pharmacies and diagnostic centers to minimize the trouble for the patients and their family members. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI/GPRC): Amidst the grandeur of the International Ambedkar Auditorium in New Delhi, a momentous occasion was celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm as the Asian Business School, Asian School of Business, and Asian Law College of the esteemed Asian Education Group hosted their 12th Joint Convocation ceremony. The event was graced by the presence of the former Vice President of India, Dr M Venkaiah Naidu, who inspired the gathering of passing out students, faculty members, management, and parents with his uplifting words. In his address, Dr Naidu emphasized the importance of dedicated efforts, hard work, deep involvement in one's respective work, and love for the nation in making India the greatest country in the world. He also highlighted India's rich culture, diversity, and education as valuable assets that are gaining recognition globally. With his stirring words, Dr. Naidu encouraged the graduating students to contribute to the growing Indian economy and strive to make India a world power. Dr Sandeep Marwah, Chancellor AAFT University and President Asian Education Group, echoed Dr Naidu's sentiments and reminded the students of the values of Atmanirbhar, proposed by the Honorable Prime Minister of India. He emphasized the importance of being ambitious, techno-savvy, self-motivated, having a better attitude, being a nationalist, well-informed, and research-oriented while believing in oneself and having humanity as an all-rounder with a result-oriented approach. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Mohit Marwah and Akshay Marwah, members of the board, who extended their greetings to the passing out students. The prominent teachers and toppers were presented with awards followed by the presentation of degrees to the students of ABS, ASB, and ALC. Dr Sandeep Marwah presented the Role of Honor and a memento of Asian Education Group to M Venkaiah Naidu as a token of love and remembrance. The convocation brought the spirit of solidarity and oneness and will remain etched in the memories of all present as a momentous occasion. This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC)
New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI/SRV): Established in 2009, A-One Steel Group has paved its way to being the leading steel producer in South India. With a vision of 'Rashtra Nirman Mein Samarpit', the group always looks for opportunities to contribute to the development of the nation. By offering world-class products, the company gets one step closer to achieving its vision. At A-One Steel Group, our manufacturing plants drive operational excellence using state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure and maintain a consistent focus on sustainability. A-One Steel owes the biggest share of its success to its dynamic co-founders, the steel brothers Jullian and Sandeep Jalan. They embarked on a journey to revolutionalize the heavy metal industry and in that journey, they created A-One Steel. Hailing from a small town in Haryana, India, the brothers possess exceptional vision and business acumen, having previously excelled in the manufacturing of rice. While the brothers did not have a background in steel, they saw an opportunity and applied their extensive business skills to create A-One Steel Group. "Steel is everywhere; it lasts for eternity," Jullian says; "To build a modern world, you need steel," Sandeep adds. Our Co-founders started a granite business in mid-2004 and, inspired by the accelerated number of infrastructure projects underway in Bengaluru and across South India at the time, the Jalan brothers shaped A-One specifically for that market. "The booming IT sector was another indicator that we would see continuous demand for steel manufacturing. "And it's been proven," Jullian says. The first MSME unit was established and started in the year 2009 in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The total revenue generated in A-One Steel Group's first financial year (2008-09) was around INR1 billion (USD 1.25 million). This has grown exponentially since then to around INR 34 billion (USD 427.4 million) currently. "Steel manufacturing is a complex, technology-based industry and we believe that strong forward and backward integration is a necessity," Sandeep explains. "Over the past 14 years, there has been continuous expansion and a wide range of products developed, like MS Steel Billet, Structural Steel, TMT Bar, MS Pipes, HR Coil, CR Coil, GI and GP Pipe, Sponge Iron, and Power Generation." "We've crossed the ocean and currently have dealings in more than 15 countries." Internally, the A-One management team has worked hard to refine the quality of people recruited and retained by the company. "We've only been able to achieve so much because of our people. "Whether they're on the production team or they're ground-level workers, they have an immense amount of faith, dedication, and a strong sense of belonging." "One of our greatest achievements has been the absolute customer satisfaction we've garnered over the years. One of our strengths is our suppliers, including logistic chains," Jullian says. It's a similar story for A-One's suppliers. "Raw material suppliers and logistics chains linked to us have never had an unsatisfactory experience when dealing with A-One," Sandeep says. "They've played a pivotal role in our success, for which we're extremely grateful." The Co-founders of A-One Steel also share a vision and responsibility for the planet. "Our vision is to make steel, but in an environment-friendly atmosphere. For that, steps have been taken to reduce our carbon footprint and to use clean, green energy," Sandeep says. "We have planned more than 200 megawatts of green energy in a joint venture with a green energy manufacturer, and we are one of India's largest steel manufacturing groups, using a quantum of 200 megawatts of green energy." The brothers have always believed in eco-friendly technologies and have developed various research and experiments in 'Hot-Charging' technology. "By using this technology, the intermediate source of heat during the manufacturing process of steel is not required, and the result is a reduction in fuel burning, which is environmentally friendly and helps to reduce overhead, which is economically beneficial as well," Sandeep explains. With the double barrels of technological innovation and stakeholder satisfaction behind it, A-One is determined to increase sales exponentially within the next 12 months. "We recently started a new greenfield project, which will expand our production capacity from 1.05 million to 1.65 million tonnes," Jullian says. With the company tagline, Rashtra Nirman me Samarpit (Dedicated to Nation Building), Jullian and Sandeep are committed to contributing towards the development of their country. "Our vision and mission are to be part of the Nation's Growth." For more information about the company, please visit our website at https://aonesteelgroup.com/ This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 24 (ANI/GPRC): The Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA) has organized the first-ever global event for the promotion of assistive technology, the Global Assistive Technology Expo and Conference (GATEC), from March 23rd to 25th, at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida. GATEC 2023 is a dedicated platform for the promotion of assistive technology for people with disabilities (Divyangjan). The event was kicked off on Thursday with the inaugural speech of Shri Subhash Phal Dessai, Cabinet Minister, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, GOA. The inaugural event was also addressed by other dignitaries, including the Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, (IAS) and Former Minister of State, Government of India, Member of Parliament, Ambala, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria. GATEC is being conducted with the help of ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The gala event is being organised by ShesPro and managed by ICONEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd. Speaking at the inauguration, Subhash Phal Dessai, Cabinet Minister, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, GOA said, As we are working towards the divyangjan empowerment, we conducted purple fest in Goa in January '23. GATEC is a step forward to work for the accessibility confidence and self-reliance of the specially-abled. We are extremely happy that IDEA and ShesPro has set-up this expo aimed at the assistive technology for persons with disability, especially those facing financial hardships, so they can lead a life of dignity and become productive and sustained members of society. I would like to request all the community stakeholders to bring about a positive transformation in the lives of such individuals". The theme of the inaugural year Expo is 'Building Healthy, Safe, Sustainable and Inclusive Environment'. Rising on the occasion, Mallikarjuna Iytha, Founder & CEO, Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA) said, "Taking the cue from Honourable Prime Minister Clarion Call to build inclusive India, the Ability Expo aims at motivating the Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities) to reinforce belief in their abilities. "At times, Divyangjans give up on their dreams and personal aspirations due to their disabilities, and through this Expo, IDEA is making an effort to demonstrate the term "social inclusion" through the right training and sensitization,". In GATEC event we are showcasing path breaking innovative models in the inclusive space to inspire all the stakeholders to build inclusive India". The three-day GATEC conference will be attended by more than 3000 global attendees from 10+ countries, 250 companies, more than 100 exhibitors, and eminent speakers. The inaugural event was marked by a significant session discussing the Current Status of Products with Assistive Technology for PWDs, Assistive Technology for Functional Impairment and Learning, Assistive Technology in Need of a Humanitarian Crisis, Self-Care and Digital Health, and Assistive Care. "Anything used to augment, maintain, or improve a person with a disability's functional capacities is considered assistive technology (AT). These cover a very broad range of tools and technologies, such as prostheses, braces, walkers, unique switches, specialised computers, screen readers, and specialised educational software. It is implied by the term "universal assistive technology coverage" that everyone, everywhere can access the AT they require without facing any obstacles. This event will definitely help all of us" said Rajeev Bansal, Director, ICONEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd. The first day's events concluded with a special address by Bharath Pathak, Vice Chairman, MGNCRE, Hyderabad. The second day of event is for HR Conclave to cultivate HR network for Disability hiring, with the theme 'Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for organization innovation and success. The valedictory session headed by Dr Nandita Pathak, Udyamita Vidyapeeth JP Foundation at Social Work is on the third day along with Awards and Recognition program. This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC)
Actor Amitabh Bachchan recently got injured while shooting for his upcoming Pan India film 'Project K' in Hyderabad. On Thursday night, the actor announced that he has finally resumed his work. Big B took to his Blog and shared his health update and wrote, "So despite the inconvenience of damaged body .. there must be desire and effort to repair .. which is being done with care and comfort of the Ef and well-wishers, and for which there is repeated gratitude and love .." He also penned that he has not fully recovered and is still being treated for his rib injury. "Work schedules have been done and the charts start filling up again .. to the joy of the 'moi' .. for there is no better pastime than work ..Yes the rib and toe are in a state of revolt .. but revolts must be tendered with and a solution to be found .. and find we must .. we no, I ," he continued. Amitabh recently revealed that he sustained the injury during the shooting of his upcoming film, Project K, in Hyderabad. The 'Uunchai' actor took to his blog and shared that he has broken his rib cartilage and stated that he is currently taking rest at his home in Mumbai. "In Hyderabad at shoot for Project K, during an action shot, got injured, rib cartilage popped broke and muscle tear to the right rib cage. Cancelled shoot, did doctor consult & scan by CT at AIG Hospital in Hyderabad and flown back home," posted Amitabh. He suffered the injury during an action sequence of the film. He, unfortunately, suffered a muscle tear to his right rib cage. Helmed by Nag Ashwin, Project K is a bilingual film shot simultaneously in two languages i.e Hindi and Telugu across various locations. Deepika Padukone and Prabhash are playing pivotal roles in the film. Apart from that, he will also be seen in Ribhu Dasgupta's next courtroom drama film 'Section 84'. (ANI)
Former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee on Thursday told a special CBI court that probably his accepting the chair of a minister was his only crime. The judge accepted Chatterjee's appeal to speak for five minutes in the court and the former heavyweight leader became quite sentimental while delivering his remarks. "I am sure the truth will surface some time or the other. Accepting the chair of the minister was my crime. I can not claim that I was an extremely meritorious student. At the same time, I was not a bad student either. I am an alumni of Ramakrishna Mission. I had been employed in an important position in a Central government undertaking. Now I feel that being a minister was my only crime," hee said. At that point of time, the judge asked to carefully weigh each and every word he utters in the court. "I will have to incorporate them in my order. The words you utter might go against you as well," the judge said. Stating that he had been behind the bars for the last eight months, Chatterjee said that in the charge sheet there is no specific allegation against him. At this, the judge interrupted him again, saying: "Have you seen the case diary? Anyone will be shocked by what is mentioned there." Pointing out that the central agencies like CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are just speaking of prima facie evidence against him, he questioned how the matter remained at a prima facie level after he had spent eight months behind the bars. Claiming that he had no responsibility for the scam as a former minister, he claimed that he had no recruitment authority on this count. "I did not have executive authority over the board and commission. I had no recruitment authority," he claimed. Finally, after hearing all parties concerned, the court extended his judicial custody till March 30. --IANS src/vd ( 342 Words) 2023-03-23-20:04:03 (IANS)
A man killed his wife in Delhi and later committed suicide at his native village in Uttar Pradesh over an alleged affair his wife was having with another woman, an official said on Thursday. According to the police, on March 16, a call regarding a stabbing incident was received from the Ambedkar Mohalla area in North-East Delhi, following which a police team was rushed to the spot. "On reaching the spot, the police found a woman with stab injuries lying in a pool of blood. She was rushed to the GTB Hospital, where she was declared brought dead," said Joy Tirkey, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East). "The deceased has been identified as Nisha (26). Investigation was taken up after registering a case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (UPC)," the DCP said. During investigation, it was found that there was a conflict between Nisha and her husband Aziz over the former allegedly having an affair with another woman. "Aziz had absconded with their two children after the murder of his wife. Several teams were formed to locate Aziz, which raided some places in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh and Ahmedabad. However, Aziz managed to stay one step ahead of the police. He even called his wife's 'girlfriend' two days ago, saying that he had killed Nisha," Tirkey said. "However, on Wednesday, it was learnt that Aziz had committed suicide at his native village in Kasganj. The two children are with his family members there," the officer said. "With his death, the murder case of Nisha has been solved. An abated charge-sheet will be filed in the court in this case," he added. --IANS ssh/arm ( 294 Words) 2023-03-23-20:10:06 (IANS)
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to summon Home Minister Amit Shah over his remark describing Meghalaya government headed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, in its previous term, as "most corrupt" and to investigate the claim. Attaching his letter to CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, he tweeted: "I have written to the Director of CBI asking CBI to question the Home Minister further on his categorical assertion that Conrad Sangma's Govt in Meghalaya was the most corrupt in the country "That of course did not prevent BJP from supporting the same Conrad Sangma again". Ramesh, in his letter to Jaiswal, said that Shah had said in his public speech on February 17 that the then Meghlaya government headed by Sangma was the most corrupt government in the country. "Amit Shah is also the Home Minister of India. In his capacity as the Home Minister, he would surely have had access to information and facts that led him to the above conclusion. For some inexplicable reasons, the Home Minister, who is also the former national President of Bharatiya Janata Party, has failed to act upon the information regarding the corrupt practices and instances of the then Meghalaya government," he said. Ramesh requested the CBI Director to summon Shah and ask him to submit all the information and facts that led him to state assessment and investigate the matter. "We also urge you to investigate if the Home Minister of India was under any undue duress from his party or other forces, to suppress the information related to the corruption of Meghalaya, in order to enable his party Bharatiya Janata Party to support the same Chief Minister after the recent Meghalaya elections," the letter said. The Congress letter also attached media reports on Shah's remarks during the campaigning for Meghalaya Assembly polls, held on February 27. The Congress leaders in Meghalaya have been criticising the BJP for supporting a government led by National People's Party chief Sangma even after terming the previous government led by the same party as the "most corrupt". The Congress also termed the NPP led coalition formed for the second consecutive term as a "marriage of convenience". The BJP with two MLAs is a part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government dominated by the NPP, which secured 26 seats in the 60-member Assembly. Various other local parties are supporting the MDA government. --IANS sc/vd ( 422 Words) 2023-03-23-20:40:03 (IANS)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said that he spoke to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the latter was convicted by a Surat court for two years imprisonment in a case related to speaking ill of Modi surname. The court convicted him under Section 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC. As per the prosecution, Rahul while addressing a public meeting in Karnataka asked, "Why do all the thieves have Modi as their names. Whether it is Nirav Modi or Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi." BJP legislator from Gujarat, Purnesh Modi, had filed a criminal defamation suit against Rahul Gandhi in which he said that the Congress leader had defamed the entire Modi community by his statement. Stalin said that the BJP government at the Centre was targeting opposition leaders. He said that this was highly deplorable. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in a statement on Thursday said that he had spoken to Rahul Gandhi over the telephone. Stalin said that Rahul was his brother and that he was unfairly targeted. He said that BJP was trampling democratic rights of opposition parties and that such acts would not last long. --IANS aal/uk/ ( 212 Words) 2023-03-23-20:44:03 (IANS)
Th Union Home Minister was received by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Airport in Bengaluru.

According to Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah will focus on aspects like ways to curtail drug trafficking through maritime routes, and stringent punitive action on drug traffickers resulting in zero tolerance in the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security'.

Other aspects like seamless coordination and cooperation between state and central drug Law Enforcement Agencies and containment of the spread of drug abuse through a concerted awareness program will also be discussed in the conference chaired by the Home Minister. Representatives from five Southern States and three Union Territories (UTs) will be attending the conference, said a Home Ministry statement.

Shah will lay the foundation stone of Sehkar Samrudhi Soudh and inaugurate various development works of the Cooperative Ministry (Karnataka) in Kommaghatta village, Bengaluru.

The Home Minister's visit to the poll-bound state is believed to be a bid to give a further boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign efforts in the southern state.

Karnataka, which in Shah's own words is the BJP's gateway to the south, will go to polls in the coming months.

After sounding the poll bugle in the state, BJP has been trying to reach out to various communities by installing statues of famous personalities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on March 25 to inaugurate Whitefield Metro Line and to attend BJP's event in Davanagere.

The visit of Shah is significant amid the party's push to return to power in the key southern state. (ANI)
Coming down heavily on Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy and Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay, State minister KT Rama Rao on Thursday said that he would send legal notices to both the leaders for allegedly weaving political conspiracy stories over the TSPSC paper leakage issue. KTR alleged Revanth Reddy and Bandi Sanjay were making baseless and false allegations about the affairs of the Telangana Public Service Commission. KTR said that legal notices were being sent to both of them for conspiring to discredit the government by dragging his name into the TSPSC issue with political malice. "Dragging the Telangana government and me into this matter without understanding the autonomous nature of the constitutionally constituted Public Service Commission proves their ignorance," KTR said. He warned that he would not tolerate such petty attempts to defame him. "Under the leadership of these two leaders, Congress and BJP have become directionless in the state," KTR added. KTR said that there is a terrible conspiracy by both the BJP and Congress to stall the entire recruitment process. He said that both Bandi Sanjay and Revanth Reddy earlier termed the Telangana government's job notifications a conspiracy and their comments that the youth should put aside their preparation and get into politics reflect the deceitful mentality of these leaders. "It is deplorable that these leaders are making adverse attempts to damage the self-esteem of the youth by linking unrelated death incidents to the TSPSC issue," the minister said. KTR remarked that TSPSC has already initiated corrective measures and will conduct future examinations more strictly. Meanwhile, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday sought a status report of the alleged Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak case from the top officials of the state. As per Governor's instructions, Raj Bhavan wrote to the Telangana Chief Secretary, the TSPSC Secretary and the Director General of Police seeking the latest status of the case within 48 hours. In the letter, it was asked to furnish a status report on the alleged paper leak case including Special Investigation Team's investigation status. The TSPSC was also asked to furnish the details of its regular and outsourcing employees who appeared for examinations with or without permission from the Commission and their performance in the exams and preparatory leave etc. This comes a day after Telangana Congress leaders submitted a representation to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan urging her to sanction prosecution against Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao for the TSPSC exam paper leak. The delegation led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Revanth Reddy and including Madhu Yashki, Hanumanth Rao and Mallu Ravi on Wednesday met with Governor at the Raj Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum urging action against the minister as well as TSPSC Chairman Janardhan Reddy and IAS officer Anita Ramachandran. The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on March 15 cancelled the Assistant Engineers (AE) exam held on March 5, following allegations of the question paper leak.On March 13, police arrested nine people, including two employees of the TSPSC. Following the arrest of the accused, the Commission cancelled the exam and also postponed other exams scheduled to be held later this month. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a 'Nirasana Deeksha' (protest) against the TSPSC paper leakage issue in Hyderabad. Many BJP leaders and party workers participated in the protest. Speaking to ANI, BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said that BJP is the only party in Telangana that supports the unemployed youth. "We demand that proper inquiry should be done, culprits should be punished and they should be behind bars so that this kind of misuse of power should not be there in the future," he stated. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), Hyderabad investigating the exam paper leak case has summoned Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay to appear before it on March 24.Earlier on March 20, the SIT issued a summons to State Congress president Revanth Reddy regarding his alleged statements on the issue. Reddy was asked to share the information and submit evidence to the SIT with regard to the allegations made by him. The development came a day after Revanth Reddy made a serious allegation that state minister KT Rama Rao's personal assistant was also involved in the paper leak. "Personal assistant of State IT Minister KT Rama Rao has links with the second accused (a contract employee at TSPSC) in the paper leak case and the PA and the accused belong to neighbouring villages," the Congress leader alleged. (ANI)
Following senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case on Thursday, the party has planned mega protests in the coming days, taking all like-minded parties along. Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has called a meeting of the opposition parties on Friday, following which the MPs will march to the Vijay Chowk. On Friday evening, all the state Congress Presidents and legislative party leaders have been called for a meeting to chalk out plans for nation-wide protests. According to sources, the Congress leadership has also sought time to meet President Droupadi Murmu on this issue. The decisions were taken at a meeting of Congress MPs and steering committee members held at Kharge's residence. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "This is not just a legal issue, but political as well since the ruling party wants to intimidate the opposition leaders." On Thursday morning, Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict. The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "This government is clearly relying on one set of tactics to throttle opposition voices inside the Parliament, and a second set of tactics outside it. So if you say something outside the Parliament, they wouldn't allow the House to run." --IANS miz/arm ( 303 Words) 2023-03-23-22:30:04 (IANS)
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has pitched for a synchronised census of wild elephants along with its counterparts from neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka to "avoid double entries". TN Forest Department sources told IANS that it has already communicated to the Forest Departments of Kerala and Karnataka in this regard. The immediate reason for the synchronised elephant census is following the death of a wild female elephant who was injured in the mouth. The elephant, detected by the Forest Task Force of Tamil Nadu in the deep forests of Karamadai forest range, was found to be having difficulties in taking food. The forest officials captured the elephant and shifted it to Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) for treatment but it did not respond to treatment and died on March 19. On a post-mortem examination, it was found that the elephant was injured after biting an "avattukai" (country-made bomb). The animal, according to the veterinarians who conducted its postmortem, was suffering from mouth ulcers and had gangrenous wounds making it totally difficult to take food. This led to its sudden death. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department said that the elephant would not have bitten the crude bomb in the state but added that it could be from Kerala. The Karamadai Forest Range is adjacent to the Mannarcaud forest range in Kerala and there is the possibility of the animal coming from there. Forest officials said that with a synchronised census of wild elephants and proper documentation, there can be an exact idea of number of elephants in the forests of each state, and with proper data of each elephant, there can be more understanding of that elephant and its mannerisms. Conservator of Forests and Anamalai Tiger Reserve Field Director S. Balasubramanian, said that the department was seeking a meeting with the Palakkad forest range officials. He said that the Tamil Nadu Forest Department will be deploying officials in seven forest ranges of the state to conduct a detailed investigation on the illegal use of "avattukai" that was being used to hunt down boars. The special teams would also check on the illegal fencing that was connected with high voltage power lines leading to the death of wild elephants by electrocution. Three female elephants were killed recently in Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri district after coming in contact with live electric fencing while trying to enter a farm. The farmer, who did the illegal connection, Murugan was arrested and sent to judicial custody. The state Forest Department has commenced a series of awareness programmes among the public against illegal installation of electric fences as also use of high blast sounds that would provoke the elephant. --IANS aal/vd ( 452 Words) 2023-03-23-22:32:02 (IANS)
A day after the General Railway Police (GRP) seized four unclaimed bags from the Gwalior-Barauni Express at Bihar's Siwan railway station on Wednesday, authorities found 20 kg of explosive material in it, officials said on Thursday. As per a bomb squad official, such a high amount of explosives are capable of causing severe damage to a railway station or a train. "We checked the nature of the explosive found in the bags. It was very powerful. We have checked a few grams of explosive which exploded like a grenade," said Bomb Squad Inspector Prassanjeet Kumar. The bags were found placed next to the toilet in one of the train's bogies by a GRP team checking for liquor. Head Constable Shabbir Mian found four bags and enquired with passengers nearby but no one claimed them. He then took the bags to the GRP police station at the railway station and hung them on the wall. The bag was hanged for around 4 hours before SHO Sudhir Kumar spotted them, checked them and found suspicious materials that looked to be like explosives. He immediately called his senior officers and a bomb squad arrived, put the bags in two buckets filled with water, and took them to a safe place. The GRP officials are investigating how and where the bag came into the train and what was the motive. The train started from Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior and stopped at 35 railway stations across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on its way to Barauni in Begusarai district. Officials are trying to ascertain who put the explosives on the train and at which station. The problem that arises is some of its stops are small stations which do not have scanning machines, and it would be easy for a person to smuggle the explosive inside. On June 17, 2021, a parcel, which came from Sikandarabad in a parcel compartment of a train, exploded at a platform of Darbhanga railway station. --IANS ajk/vd ( 342 Words) 2023-03-23-22:56:03 (IANS)
According to the sources, the man identified as Amit Singh was detained on Tuesday from Tilak Vihar after the police received specific inputs about his whereabouts. Delhi Police assisted the Punjab Police in this operation.

Singh works as an insurance agent.

In another development earlier in the day, the Haryana Police arrested a 28-year-old MBA degree holder unemployed woman for allegedly giving shelter to Amritpal Singh and his accomplice Pappal Preet Singh at her house in Shahabad town in Kurukshetra district. The woman has been handed over to the Punjab Police.

The accused, Baljeet Kaur, lives with her brother and father. Her brother works at the SDM office, while her father runs a milk business.

Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria said that Baljeet Kaur was in touch with Pappal Preet Singh.

"It is suspected that Pappal Preet and Amritpal stayed at Baljeet's house on Sunday night. After some questioning, Punjab Police were intimated and the woman was handed over to them for further investigation," Bhoria said.

Amritpal, against whom the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked, has been on the run since March 18 despite a massive manhunt launched to nab him.

--IANS ssh/arm

( 245 Words)

2023-03-23-23:02:03 (IANS)
On the Governor's instructions, the Raj Bhavan wrote to the Chief Secretary, the TSPSC and the Director General of Police (DGP) seeking the latest status within 48 hours.

In the letter, it was asked for intimating status report as at present on the alleged leakage including Special Investigation Team's investigation status, the Raj Bhavan said.

The TSPSC was also asked to furnish the details of its regular and outsourcing employees who appeared for examinations with or without permission from the Commission and their performance in the exams and preparatory leave etc, apart from the present status of the case.

This came a day after the opposition Congress urged the Governor to exercise her special powers to take action in the case.

A delegation of state Congress leaders led by its state chief A. Revanth Reddy had urged her to dissolve the TSPSC until the investigation in the case is completed.

Revanth Reddy had stated that under Article 317 of the Constitution, the Governor has the powers to suspend those in TSPSC who are involved in the paper leak. "Only then can the probe into the case be transparent," he said.

He said the Governor told the delegation that she will look into the issue and take necessary action after seeking legal opinion.

--IANS ms/vd

( 251 Words)

2023-03-23-23:14:04 (IANS)
In order to increase reservation in education and employment for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state, the Karnataka government on Thursday submitted the proposal to the ventral government for inclusion of Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation in Posts in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in State Services) Act, 2022 in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution. The move comes months ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. According to the Karnataka government, the Act was enacted to provide for the reservation of seats in educational institutions in the State of Karnataka and of appointments or posts in the services under the State for the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the State Karnataka Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma wrote to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla regarding the matter. According to this act, the percentage of reservations for Scheduled Castes in the state is to be increased from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for Scheduled Tribes, the reservation is to be increased from 3 per cent to 7 per cent. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai said, "The proposal to include the Act on increasing reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution has been submitted to the central government and this is an example of our government's commitment to the disadvantaged communities." (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday visited rain-affected areas in a few districts of the state and assured the farmers of financial assistance for cross losses. He announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre for farmers who lost their crops due to recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms, informed the government. CM KCR while addressing the Ramapuram village of Khammam district, said, "Due to the rains, there was a loss of 2,28,250 acres of crops throughout the state. Out of this, maize crops suffered the maximum damage of 1,29,446 acres. As per the central government norms, they won't get much money. In the Telangana government, along with putting in big investments and completing the pending and new projects, we are implementing farmer support schemes that are not there anywhere else in the world. With it, the farmers are also getting stable and coming out of their debts. Despite that, they are some fools who say that we won't get anything from agriculture. Today Telangana is first in per capita income in the country. We have the highest per capita income, more than Maharashtra. In the GSDP growth rate, farming plays a vital role." "Farmers don't have to feel bad about it as the government is with you", he said assuring support to the farmers. "After BRS was formed we have been saying that India requires a total integrated agricultural policy. For funds, we have to write a report to the Centre and we don't know when they will give it. We don't want to depend on the Centre as it takes six months to respond," said the BRS chief. Hitting out at the BJP-led Central government, KCR said, "The present central government is very wicked, they don't know anything except for politics, and they don't care about people or farmers. As a mark of protest, we will not be sending crop loss reports to the centre. Because earlier they haven't sanctioned any funds. We will save our farmers." For the first time in India as part of relief and rehabilitation measures, the Telangana government will be providing Rs 10,000 per acre to the farmers immediately, stated the government. (ANI)
The meeting between the two leaders assumed significance amid efforts by leaders of several opposition parties to forge a united opposition alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"CM Mamata Banerjee met Odisha's CM Naveen Patnaik. Bengal and Odisha have always shared a special relationship, one of cooperation and respect. This meeting between the two leaders has further strengthened the bond between the two states," tweeted the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

During the meeting, Trinamool said Mamata reasserted the need to strengthen India's federal structure, ensuring accountability at all levels of government.

Taking to Twitter Patnaik said, "It is always a pleasure meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Didi. Odisha shares a special bond with West Bengal and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope she had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha."

Mamata Banerjee also thanked Odisha CM for the allotment of land for the West Bengal government guest house in Puri.

"During a joint address, Mamata Banerjee expressed her sincere gratitude towards Odisha government for granting a suitable place for West Bengal Guest House. She also reasserted the need to strengthen India's federal structure, ensuring accountability at all levels of government. Every year, huge crowds of devotees from Bengal throng to Shri Jagannath temple. Mamata Banerjee visited the location identified for the construction of a West Bengal government guesthouse for tourists. This initiative will cement the legacy of closeness between the two states," tweeted AITC.

CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday visited Jagannatha Temple in Puri. (ANI)
Congress staged a silent protest in Hyderabad against the Surat court sentencing Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019. Senior leaders of Telangana Congress, Youth Congress, National Students Union of India and party's Mahila Morcha staged silent protest in front of Gandhi Bhavan in the city. Telangana Congress vice president Chamala Kiran Kumar said, "Surat court sentenced Rahul Gandhi for two years. Earlier during the Congress rule, we have given ample space for opposition parties to talk on behalf of the people. Rahul Gandhi had spoken two years back against the scam happening in the country related to Gujrat and related to the name 'Modi'." "So he was not intentionally talking but talking on behalf of the people as a public representative. This verdict is nothing but shows democracy is in danger. Colonial rule is coming back after 75 years in this country. So we staged a silent protest against the verdict," he added. Speaking to ANI, Telangana Congress Mahila Morcha president Sunitha Rao stated that allegations against Rahul Gandhi are baseless and the verdict came on the instructions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre. "The verdict on Rahul Gandhi has come on the instruction of PM Modi. So we Mahila Congress condemn the verdict that has come against Rahul Gandhi. It is a baseless allegation they made," Rao said. Congress leader Pushpaleela said that the BJP is scared of Rahul Gandhi. She said Rahul Gandhi is working for the poor of the country. "They are scared as the elections are coming close. If we are stopped, then it will become easy for them. We have people with us. In the 8-year BJP rule, everything has become zero," she added. A Surat court on Thursday sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019 during an election rally for Lok Sabha elections. The court approved Rahul Gandhi's bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts. While the BJP leaders attacked Rahul Gandhi after the verdict saying whatever he speaks it affects the Congress party and the country in a negative way, Congress leaders said that an attempt was being made by the BJP government to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi and that he will move the higher courts against the verdict. Congress leaders also alleged that the judiciary is under pressure. (ANI)
Ahead of the commencement of the ninth day of Parliament today, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Friday moved an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the issue of the border situation with China. In a letter dated March 24, the Congress leader stated that 17 rounds of talks have taken place between India and China with "little success". "Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Seventeen rounds of Commander level talks have taken place between India and China with little success. All the while China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops. China is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo," the letter stated. He further said that China's steady aggression is aimed at changing the status quo on the border. "The clashes in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh were another indication of China's steady aggression aimed at changing the status quo on the border. What is more, such aggression is no longer limited in territorial scope as is evidenced by the clashes that took place in Arunachal Pradesh, around 2000 Kilometers away from the place of previous clashes. There is growing concern that China is unwilling to restore the status quo ante, a situation that puts India at a massive disadvantage," the letter stated. He also pointed out China's large trade surplus with India even after the standoff. "Despite this, China's large trade surplus with us has continued to surge since the military confrontations began in 2020. The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion," the letter added. Other than him, Congress MP Manickam Tagore has also given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the "threat" to the Indian democracy. "To discuss the threat to the Indian democratic system by not allowing 18 Opposition party leaders to speak for 8 days and Rahul Gandhi to reply to honourable minister's false statements as Opposition MPs wanted to speak about the activities of fraudulent Adani Groups in Parliament and demand JPC. Hoisted false cases against Rahul Gandhi to stop him from speaking in Parliament," he stated in the letter. AAP MP Raghav Chadha has given a suspension of business notice in the Parliament to discuss the withdrawal of the Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol against the fugitive Mehul Choksi in Rajya Sabha. "To discuss the withdrawal of red corner notice issued by Interpol in the name of the fugitive economic offender, Mehul Choksi who is involved in the fraud of Rs 13,500 crores, on account of Indian Government's failure to put a strong case before Interpol and the inability of the Government of India in extraditing Mehul Choksi," Chadha stated in the letter. Congress MP Jebi Mather has also given a suspension of business notice under rule 267 to discuss the alleged role of government in "promoting" Adani group. "To discuss government's role in promoting the Adani Group, including through inaction on serious of corporate fraud, political corruption, stock-market manipulation and financial mismanagement, illegal coal mining allocations, amending rules and regulations to allow bidding of six airports, etc," Jebi Mather stated in the letter. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari has also given a suspension of business notice under rule 267 to discuss in Rajya Sabha, the government's "failure" in constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate Adani Group issue. The second leg of the budget session has been facing repeated disruptions. The two houses of Parliament have been witnessing adjournments over the repeated logjam. While, the BJP has been demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the United Kingdom, the opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row. The second half of budget session began on March 13 and will commence on April 6. (ANI)
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud agreed to list the matter on April 5.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the plea filed by 14 political parties against the arbitrary use of probe agencies ED and CBI.

Senior Advocate Singhvi submitted before the top court that the plea sought guidelines for pre-arrest and post-arrest and their enforcement.

Senior Advocate Singhvi said, "Today ED and CBI are being used against leaders of opposition parties and 95 per cent of cases are of opposition leaders. We're asking for pre-arrest guidelines and post-arrest guidelines."

The lawyer said that these political parties are saying that democracy is in peril. He also said that they don't want to try to affect the existing investigations.

Various parties which have approached the top court include Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janta Dal, Bharat Rashtra Samiti, All India Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, National Conference, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena Uddhav camp, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Samajwadi Party (SP). (ANI)
A large group of high school students from six schools, located in fringe areas of Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve (OTR) in Darrang district of Assam, took part in Second Orang Nature Camp that helped them experience the biodiversity of the famed tiger reserve at close quarters. The nature camp, which was a joint initiative of biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, Orang Tiger Reserve authority, local organisation Wild Wings, and supported by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), UK, was held with the objective to impress the young students about the importance of conservation of nature for the survival of this planet that is home to the entire animal kingdom including human beings. Various sessions conducted by different conservation experts tried to educate young minds on how nature sustains our life and livelihood. They were told through various modes of presentations that everyone has a role to conserve nature in one's own way. The students were exposed to the rich biodiversity of the Orang National Park, which boasts a treasure trove of wildlife including the one-horned rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, pygmy hog, hog deer, and many lesser-known faunal and floral species, through visits and exercises undertaken inside it during the camp. The students were informed on the importance of elements in an ecosystem so that they acquire a penchant for the conservation of nature and spread the message among their friends and kin. About 35 students from six schools - Bechimari ME School, Silamari High School, Sirajul Haque High School, Dokhin Borsola High School, Keramot Ali ME School and Ballav Bhai Patel High School - successfully participated in the residential nature camp from March 19 to 22. The Ranger Officer Dibyajyoti Deuri inaugurated the camp on March 19 in presence of two guests from the UK, Eleanor Harvie and Gemma Charles among others. The nature camp was marked by visual presentations, environmental games, group presentations, nature trail, and Park safari. (ANI)
Shah was accompanied by Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP National General Secretary and Chikkamagaluru MLA, CT Ravi, State minister Govind Muktappa Karjol, MP Arun Singh, and MLA Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Shah arrived at Bengaluru early this morning and was received by chief minister Bommai at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Airport in Bengaluru.

Shah will attend the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' for Southern States/UTs in Bengaluru today.

According to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah will focus on aspects like ways to curtail drug trafficking through maritime routes, and stringent punitive action on drug traffickers resulting in zero tolerance in the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security'.

Other aspects like seamless coordination and cooperation between state and central drug Law Enforcement Agencies and containment of the spread of drug abuse through a concerted awareness program will also be discussed in the conference chaired by the Home Minister.

Representatives from five Southern States and three Union Territories (UTs) will be attending the conference, said a Home Ministry statement.

Shah will lay the foundation stone of Sehkar Samrudhi Soudh and inaugurate various development works of the Cooperative Ministry (Karnataka) in Kommaghatta village, Bengaluru.

The Home Minister's visit to the poll-bound state is believed to be a bid to give a further boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign efforts in the State.

Karnataka, which in Shah's own words is the BJP's gateway to the south, will go to polls in the coming months.

After sounding the poll bugle in the state, BJP has been trying to reach out to various communities by installing statues of famous personalities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on March 25 to inaugurate Whitefield Metro Line and to attend BJP's event in Davanagere.

The visit of Shah is significant amid the party's push to return to power in the southern state. (ANI)
The Delhi Police has registered a case in connection with protests in front of the Indian High Commission in London on March 19. "On receipt of a report from the Ministry of External Affairs on the incident at Indian High Commission, London on March 19, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked Delhi Police to take appropriate legal action," said an official statement. The case has been registered under appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Public Property Act (PDPP). The special cell has started an investigation of the incident as it involves unlawful activities carried out by certain persons holding Indian nationality abroad, officials said. The Indian community on March 19 held a large gathering in front of the Indian High Commission in London against the "disrespectful act" of Khalistan supporters towards the Indian flag and demanded that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the British government act against the perpetrators at the earliest. The desecration of the Indian Flag has led to an unprecedented outpouring of support from the diverse Indian community settled here in Britain. Expats from all across the UK travelled to London to express their solidarity with the Indian Flag and with the Unity of India. The gathering resoundingly debunked the idea of Khalistan, saying there are no takers for it. A pro-Khalistan protestor in London had climbed the High Commission of India's balcony and pulled down the Indian flag. A video of the same incident had gone viral on social video. In the now-viral video, the Khalistani protestor can be seen on the balcony attempting to bring down the Indian flag. At the end of the video, another man reaches the balcony from inside to avert any more harm to the flag. The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned on Sunday night after the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom was vandalised. The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India's strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release on Sunday. An explanation demanded the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. She was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention. "India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK," the MEA press release said. Demanding "immediate steps" from the UK Government, the official press release from the MEA said, "It is expected that the UK Government would take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in today's incident, and put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents." The British High Commissioner Alex Ellis condemned the attack on the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom today. He condemned the "disgraceful acts" and called them totally unacceptable. "I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the High Commission of India - totally unacceptable," British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted. (ANI)
Reversing its earlier decision that membership of a banned organisation is not an offence as long as the member does not indulge in crimes, the Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the validity of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) provision which attributes criminality to memberships. A bench of Justices MR Shah, CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol upheld the validity of Section 10(a)(i) of the UAPA, which was earlier read down by a division bench of the top court in 2011. The two-judge bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra in 2011 had ruled that mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence. The apex court on Friday held that holding membership in an association declared unlawful by the Central government is sufficient to constitute an offence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It said that if a person continues membership in an organisation, even after it is banned, he would be liable to be punished. The apex court said that mere membership in the unlawful association was sufficient to constitute an offence under UAPA. The top court allowed petitions of the Centre and the Assam government seeking a review of the apex court's 2011 verdicts on membership of banned outfits. On February 3, 2011, the apex court had acquitted suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) member Anup Buyan, who was held guilty by a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court on the basis of his alleged confessional statement before the Superintendent of Police. It had then said mere membership in a banned organisation will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or creates public disorder by violence or incitement to violence. (ANI)
Delhi police on Friday detained opposition MPs marching towards Vijay Chowk in the national capital demanding a joint Parliamentary committee inquiry into the Adani Group issue. The protesting MPs were detained and taken away to nearby police stations in a bus as police said they didn't have permission for the march and as Section 144 of CrPC had been imposed in the area and not agitation is allowed on Vijay Chowk. Before the police took away the protesting MPs, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the protest at Vijay Chowk was held to demand a JPC to probe the Adani stocks issue and said that PM Modi was hiding something from the people. Talking to the media persons, Kharge said, "We are holding a protest here to demand JPC. PM Modi wants to hide something from the people. Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi looted crores of rupees from the government and fled from this country and PM Modi is not speaking about them." Meanwhile, there was heavy security outside the Congress headquarters in the national capital as party workers protested against the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark. The protesters were detained by Police. Also today, Karnataka police detained Congress state president DK Shivakumar and other party leaders and workers in Benguluru who were protesting against the Surat Court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. "Their (BJP) party will collapse in Karnataka. It is on the verge of collapse. They are just trying to blackmail all leaders & contractors. We're with people and people are with us. Their voice is our voice. We want to see Karnataka regain its glory," Shivakumar told mediapersons in Bengaluru. Earlier in the day, the Congress called an emergency meeting of its steering committee members, senior leaders, state chiefs and legislative party leaders to devise a strategy after Gandhi's conviction. The Wayanad MP was sentenced to two years in jail but was later granted bail by the court and his sentence suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the decision. The Surat District Court pronounced the verdict in the case for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. Gandhi had made the alleged remarks about Modi's surname at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, both Houses have been facing repeated adjournments with the Opposition demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani Group issue and the Treasury benches vociferous in their demand for an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his remarks. (ANI)
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi hit out at the media on Friday while helping party chief Mallikarjun Kharge walk down the stairs and said that "If I touch you, they say I'm wiping my nose on your back." "If I touch you now, they say I'm wiping my nose on your back. Utter nonsense. Have you seen that? That I am helping you over there, they're saying that I'm wiping my nose on you," Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was seen saying as he helped party chief Mallikarjun Kharge down the stairs. Rahul Gandhi and Kharge were coming out after attending the meeting of Congress MPs at the party office in the Parliament premises. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also seen with Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, Congress has also called a meeting of its steering committee members, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, Congress Legislative Party leaders and Frontal Organisation Chiefs this evening. As per the party, the meeting is being organised to discuss the "recent political developments". An official notification dated Thursday, stated, "An emergency meeting of Steering Committee, PCC Presidents, CLP Leaders and National Heads of Frontal Organisations, Departments and Cells is scheduled to be held tomorrow, March 24, 2023, at AICC Office, New Delhi at 5 pm, to discuss the latest political developments". On Thursday, a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark with the Congress leaders rallying in his support. Rahul Gandhi made the "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka. The court approved Rahul Gandhi's bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts. (ANI)
The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) served a notice to Uddhav Thackeray MLA Rajan Salvi's family, summoning them for questioning on Friday. According to the officials, the inquiry will be held in the disproportionate assets case. The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sent notices to the son, brother, sister-in-law and wife of Uddhav faction MLA Rajan Salvi, asking them to appear for questioning today in the alleged disproportionate assets case. ACB has already interrogated Rajan Salvi in the excess property case and now sent a notice to the family to appear for questioning. MLA Rajan Salvi said, "Efforts are being made to put pressure on me, due to which my family is being targeted, no matter what they do, I am not afraid." "ACB has questioned me four times in this matter, will interrogate my family today and tomorrow. Whatever happens, I will always stand with Uddhav Thackeray ji, I am not afraid", the MLA said.Salvi added, "when I got the first notice, the same day I contacted Uddhav Thackeray, he said to keep fighting, I am with you." Earlier, ACB sent notices to the wife, brother and sister-in-law of MLA Rajan Salvi, asking them to appear for questioning on March 20 in the alleged disproportionate assets case. "Since this notice, my mother, who is a very aged person, is seen worried every now and then. The pressure mechanism has started to work", Rajan Salvi told ANI. Salvi alleged that as soon as he leaves the Uddhav Thackeray faction and joins the BJP or Shinde faction, all these charges will get whitewashed off him. Salvi is a Shiv Sena politician from Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. He is currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Rajapur Vidhan Sabha constituency of Konkan, Maharashtra, as a member of Shiv Sena. He has been elected for three consecutive terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for 2009, 2014 and 2019. (ANI)
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief A Revanth Reddy on Friday was detained at his house in Jubilee Hills by the city police to prevent him from joining the Osmania University (OU) students protesting against the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) exams question paper leak issue. On Friday morning, a team of police personnel under the supervision of Banjara Hills, ACP Ch Sridhar went to Revanth Reddy's house and kept him confined to his house. "We have house arrested Malkajgiri MP and TPCC President Revanth Reddy to prevent him from going to Osmania University to join protesting students," the official said. Meanwhile, Kacheguda ACP A Srinivas said that OU police took six activists affiliated with the Joint Action Committee of unemployed youth for trying to organize a Maha Dharna at the OU campus and take out a rally from the campus to Gun Park in protest against the question paper leak issue. On Thursday, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan sought status report of the alleged TSPSC paper leak case from the top officials of the state. As per Governor's instructions, Raj Bhavan wrote to the Telangana Chief Secretary, the TSPSC Secretary and the Director General of Police seeking the latest status of the case within 48 hours. In the letter, it was asked to furnish a status report on the alleged paper leak case including Special Investigation Team's investigation status. The TSPSC was also asked to furnish the details of its regular and outsourcing employees who appeared for examinations with or without permission from the Commission and their performance in the exams and preparatory leave etc. This came a day after Telangana Congress leaders submitted a representation to Governor oundararajan urging her to sanction prosecution against Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao for the TSPSC exam paper leak. The delegation led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Revanth Reddy and including Madhu Yashki, Hanumanth Rao and Mallu Ravi on Wednesday met with Governor at the Raj Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum urging action against the minister as well as TSPSC Chairman Janardhan Reddy and IAS officer Anita Ramachandran. The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on March 15 cancelled the Assistant Engineers (AE) exam held on March 5, following allegations of the question paper leak. On March 13, police arrested nine people, including two employees of the TSPSC.Following the arrest of the accused, the Commission cancelled the exam and also postponed other exams scheduled to be held later this month. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a 'Nirasana Deeksha' (protest) against the TSPSC paper leakage issue in Hyderabad. Many BJP leaders and party workers participated in the protest. Speaking to ANI, BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said that BJP is the only party in Telangana that supports the unemployed youth. "We demand that proper inquiry should be done, culprits should be punished and they should be behind bars so that this kind of misuse of power should not be there in the future," he stated. Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team, Hyderabad investigating the exam paper leak case has summoned Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay to appear before it on March 24.Earlier on March 20, the SIT issued a summons to State Congress president Revanth Reddy regarding his alleged statements on the issue. Reddy was asked to share the information and submit evidence to the SIT with regard to the allegations made by him. The development came a day after Revanth Reddy made a serious allegation that state minister KT Rama Rao's personal assistant was also involved in the paper leak. "Personal assistant of State IT Minister KT Rama Rao has links with the second accused (a contract employee at TSPSC) in the paper leak case and the PA and the accused belong to neighbouring villages," the Congress leader alleged. (ANI)
Retired colonel Raghujit Singh has filed a complaint against the accused Amit Thakur and his associates alleging that the accused persons duped him of his retirement funds worth Rs 3 crores on the pretext of investment in various insurance policies, Special CP Crime Ravinder Yadav said.

"The accused persons first lured the complainant to invest in various insurance policies, took money from the complainant in their bank accounts as premium of insurance policies but never paid/deposited the same against any policy", the SP said.

Reportedly, the present case was registered in the year 2018 but the accused was evading his arrest since then and could not be traced, police said.

"On the basis of received inputs, the team located the above accused person in the area of Rohini and conducted a raid at his hideout. Subsequently, the team arrested the accused person namely Amit Thakur Resident of Vijay Vihar, Sector-4, Rohini, Delhi", said the SP said.

SP Yadav added that during the course of interrogation, it was found that the accused Thakur was also declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) in a case under sections 420/406/120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The accused was absconding for 5 years and was continuously shifting his hideouts in Delhi, police added. (ANI)
Amid the debate over certain Opposition-ruled states adopting the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced that a new committee will be set up under Finance Secretary to look into the National Pension System (NPS) for government employees. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the consideration and passage of the Finance Bill, 2023, Sitharaman said the committee will set up for looking into the pension system in order to address the needs of employees, while also maintaining the fiscal prudence of the country. The committee, she said will be headed by the Finance Secretary. Sitharaman moved the Finance Bill 2023 in the Parliament, which was eventually passed through a voice vote amid heavy sloganeering by the Opposition MPs demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue. Addressing the Parliament, Sitharaman said, "I raise to move the bill to give effect to financial proposals of the central government, for the financial year 2023-24 be taken into consideration". She said that 11 new provisions are being brought into the bill to better represent the needs of society. "The finance bill actually brought 10 main provisions that are beneficial for the middle class and the community as a whole, and to do ease of business. But 11 new ones are being brought now after the stakeholder consideration, which has helped to improve, that the Finance Bill better represents our society," she said. The Finance Minister further said that taking into consideration, the demand for improvement in the pension system, a new committee is being set up to look into the matter. "One amendment is for the GST council which is establishing the tribunal. More importantly, representations have been received that the National Pension System for government employees need to be improved. I propose to set up a committee, under the Finance Secretary to look into the issue of pensions and evolve an approach, which addresses the need of the employees, while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect the common citizen. The approach will be designed for adoption by both central and state governments," she added. Sitharaman said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will look into bringing payments made for foreign tours using credit cards, under tax collection. "It has been represented that payments for foreign tours through credit cards are not being captured, under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and such payments escape tax collection at source. The Reserve Bank is being requested to look into this with a view to bring credit card payments for foreign tours within the ambit of LRS and tax collection at source thereon," Sitharaman further said. Notably, under OPS, a government employee is entitled to a monthly pension after retirement. The monthly pension is typically half of the last drawn salary of the person. Under the NPS, employees contribute a portion of their salaries to the pension fund. Based on that, they are entitled to a one-time lump sum amount on superannuation. For the record, the old pension scheme was discontinued in December 2003, and the new pension scheme came into effect on April 1, 2004. However, five states namely, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, have informed the Centre about their decision to revert to the old system. Earlier on Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed demands for grants authorising expenditure of about Rs 45 lakh crore for 2023-24. The proposal moved by the Finance Minister, was passed by voice vote amid protests by opposition members over their demand for a JPC probe into the Adani issue. The two Houses of Parliament have been witnessing adjournments over the repeated logjam. While the BJP has been demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the United Kingdom. While the opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row. The second half of the budget session began on March 13 and will commence on April 6. The Finance Minister presented the Union Budget on February 1. (ANI)
After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification of Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP), party leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday took a dig at the order and said that he was stunned by the "rapidity" of the action and termed it as "politics with the gloves off". On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha (MP) from the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark, March 23. This came after the Surat court on Thursday, sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019 during an election rally in Karnataka. Taking to Twitter, Tharoor said, "I am stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy." Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI, "They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy." While Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti." Rahul Gandhi made the "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi was an MP from the seat of Wayanad in Kerala. The criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by BJP MLA from Surat West Purnesh Modi. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a fresh attack on Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Kamal Nath and called him 'Jhooth Nath' (liar) on Friday. CM Chouhan made the remark while talking to reporters after plantation at smart city park in the state capital Bhopal. He said, "I would like to ask only one question to Kamal Nath, he promised to give unemployment allowance to the youth. How many youths were given unemployment allowance during the 15 months rule of the Congress party in the state." "Why did you (Kamal Nath) not give unemployment allowances? You will have to answer because you have become 'Jhoot Nath' (liar) by making false promises," Chouhan said. Besides, the chief minister took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail. Chouhan said, "Who will say that you do false things and don't even remember the limits. This has not happened for the first time with Rahul Gandhi. He has been sentenced in the case of 2019, even before this he has apologised. He has given many controversial statements. "Rahul Gandhi had also given a statement in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district in which the case is going on in the court. I always say that he (Rahul Gandhi) is irresponsible and is immature. He says anything anywhere," he added. Chouhan further said, "There is an arrogance inside the Gandhi family that we are the best, we can say anything to anyone. They behave like kings. But this sentence by Surat court has proved that no one is above the law in a democracy." Notably, on Thursday, Surat District Court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years of imprisonment in a criminal defamation case. He was later granted bail by the court and his sentence suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the decision. The Surat District Court pronounced the verdict in the case for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. Gandhi had made the alleged remarks about Modi's surname at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)
Amritpal Singh, head of the pro-Khalistani outfit Waris Punjab De is suspected to have left for Delhi, said police sources. The Punjab Police expressed doubts about Amritpal entering the Delhi border using any vehicle other than a bus. Following the input, Delhi Police went on alert mode and are trying to track Amritpal's movements. An alert has also been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the Uttarakhand as a precaution in view of the possibility Amritpal Singh entering the state. U'khand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar has said. "An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh entering the state," the DGP told ANI. He said that the police are conducting intensive checking on the borders of all three districts and in other areas. Significantly, all three districts of the State have been affected by terrorism in the 90s, he added. On Thursday, Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said that a total of 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state. "Police teams are doing a thorough screening of all the arrested persons and soon they will be released from police custody," he said. Reports of central intelligence agencies revealed that Amritpal Singh kept his wife in captivity, beat her up, and was associated with several other women. He was living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without following Sikh tenets and was not an Amritdhari Sikh, the reports added.(ANI)
Noting that drugs are an enemy of national security and the future of the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday ascertained that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is fully committed to totality eliminating this menace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah made his remarks while chairing the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' here in Bengaluru. Pointing that the Central government has adopted a policy of "zero tolerance against drugs to make a drug-free India", Shah said the MHA has adopted a three-pronged approach to crack down on narcotics, and that the three-pronged approach includes strengthening institutional structures, empowerment of all agencies related to the control of narcotics and strengthening the coordination among them and launching an awareness campaign. He said the problem of drug trafficking is not related to a state or the Centre alone, but is a national problem, and the efforts to deal with it should also be national and unified. Shah said that the fight against drugs is to be fought not only by the government but also by the people. To deal with this issue, he also stressed on the need to organize District-level and State-level NCORD meetings regularly. In order to crack down on the entire network, the Home Minister emphasized that narcotics cases should be thoroughly investigated with a bottom-to-top and top to bottom approach. He stressed that no case should be investigated in "isolation". Shah informed that a total of 1,257 cases were registered between 2006-2013, which increased by 152 per cent to 3,172 between 2014-2022, while, the total number of arrests during the same period increased by 260 percent to 4,888 from 1362. Similarly, during 2006-2013, 1.52 lakh kg of drugs were seized which doubled to 3.30 lakh kg between 2014-2022, drugs worth Rs 768 crore were seized during 2006-2013, which increased by 25 times to Rs 20,000 crore between 2014-2022. The minister said that there are four pillars of the Modi government's campaign to eliminate the menace of drugs from the country -- Detection of drugs, Destruction of Network, Detention of culprits, and, Rehabilitation of drugs abusers. He also urged all the states to make proper use of the NCORD portal and NIDAAN platform for effective action against drug trafficking. Shah said it was also the need of the hour to strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Task Force constituted in various states so that decisive action could be taken in the fight against narcotics. He also said that apart from this, various provisions of the NDPS Act should also strictly be implemented. According to the Minister, the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has adopted a "Whole of the Government" approach against drugs and all departments and agencies should move forward to make a drug-free India by increasing cooperation, coordination, and collaboration. In the presence of the Home minister, 9,298 kgs of seized narcotics, worth Rs 1,235 crores, were destroyed. Apart from this, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Rashtriya Raksha University and the Government of Karnataka to open a new campus of the University at Shivamogga. Shah said under AzadikaAmritMahotsav, during the 75-day campaign starting from June 1, 2022, a target was set to destroy 75,000 kgs of narcotics. "But, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a total of 5, 94,620 kg of narcotics worth Rs 8,409 crore have been destroyed so far, overachieving the target manifold. Out of the total narcotics destroyed so far, 1,29,363 kg worth Rs 3,138 crore have been destroyed by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) alone," the Home minister added. Apart from this, Shah added that there is a need to increase the focus on coastal security and sea routes and tighter vigil should be maintained on the Southern Sea Route. The conference was attended by representatives from five southern states and three Union Territories (UTs). (ANI)
The Congress MPs who were detained by the Delhi Police on Friday raised slogans demanding a JPC probe in the Adani issue and in support of Rahul Gandhi over his disqualification as MP from Lok Sabha. The detained MPs were seen sitting in a circle raising slogans inside the police station. Delhi Police on Friday detained opposition MPs marching towards Vijay Chowk in the national capital demanding a joint Parliamentary committee inquiry into the Adani Group issue. The protesting MPs were detained and taken away to nearby police stations in a bus as police said they didn't have permission for the march and as Section 144 of CrPC had been imposed in the area and not agitation is allowed on Vijay Chowk. Before the police took away the protesting MPs, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the protest at Vijay Chowk was held to demand a JPC to probe the Adani stocks issue and said that PM Modi was hiding something from the people. Talking to the media persons, Kharge said, "We are holding a protest here to demand JPC. PM Modi wants to hide something from the people. Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi looted crores of rupees from the government and fled from this country and PM Modi is not speaking about them." Meanwhile, there was heavy security outside the Congress headquarters in the national capital as party workers protested against the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark. The protesters were detained by Police. Also today, Karnataka police detained Congress state president DK Shivakumar and other party leaders and workers in Benguluru who were protesting against the Surat Court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party is mulling a special outreach campaign in Kerala in a bid to woo minorities and mount pressure on the State government with a view to focus on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2024. The campaign will be in line with another mass contact campaign, "Nanni Modi" which means "Thank You Modi", launched on February 28. In the fresh outreach campaign targeting minorities of the State, the party will record testimonies of people, who are beneficiaries of the Central government. "The party is planning so many minority-centric programs, apart from Nanni Modi," a party insider said. In these campaigns, all booth-level Karyakartas are going and meeting local people who are the beneficiaries of the Modi government's different schemes like Kisan Samman Nidhi, Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhanmantri Aawas Yojana. "BJP's aim is to contact the maximum number of beneficiaries, who will express their happiness through a video saying thank you, Modi," the source said. He said that these videos will be uploaded by the party's official handle on several social media platforms and will be shared by several BJP leaders and also in the NAMO app. "Nanni Modi campaign started in Kerala on 28 February 2023 and it will continue till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As per our calculation, there is a minimum of 300 families in each booth and out of those 300 families, around 200 families got benefited from the schemes, launched by Modi-government," the source said. "One family is receiving more than six benefits from schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Jalanidhi Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, etc," he said. "BJP is planning big for the 2024 election which is why BJP stepping into all the sections of society, especially minorities," the source said. Sharing details of the party's ongoing minority-centric schemes, the source said, "In December, we started the Christian outreach programme and we received very good feedback. In line with this, now we are planning to print some greeting cards and meet Christian families from door to door on the occasion of Easter, April 9. "We will meet Christian families and will go into every street on Easter evening and greet them with the card," he said. A senior Kerala BJP leader said, "the barriers between the Christian community and BJP are narrowing." "Christian Bishop and Father receive our greetings comfortably, he added. "In Kerala, there are around 25,000 booths. Earlier we covered around 4000 booths and will cover more this time and definitely, this will dilute the barriers between us," he said. "Earlier in 'Janmabhoomi', an RSS mouthpiece, we had published Christmas special articles and distributed them to Christian families, Fathers and senior Bishops too," he said. Akin to this, we will also do a Hindu outreach programme on April 15," the BJP leader said. "On the occasion of the 'Vishu' festival, we will invite Christians to Hindus' houses and Vishu together," he said, adding that in Kerala both communities live in harmony. Besides, the party is also planning a Muslim outreach programme, which will start on Eid-ul-Fitr. "According to it, we will connect with the maximum number of people in the community. First of all, we are trying to convey our inclusive culture, and political ideology to all sections of society," the source added. BJP senior source said all these programmes are election strategies of the BJP and these programs started within six months. "The party is also doing so many things to strengthen the organisational thing booth level programme, gathering all the former workers together in our session going there houses reconnecting with them," the source added. He said that the party is throwing all efforts this time to win the maximum number of seats from the State. "The earlier political landscape was different but now everyone knows that there is only one political party, BJP, and only one political leader, Narendra Modi, can give maximum benefit to the public," he said, adding that the people, from all communities, have understood this scenario now and they are in BJP's side. He went on to add that this transition took place because the BJP-led government in the Centre is doing several developments for Kerala people like roads, highways, railways, ports etc. "We can see the example of North East, West Bengal and Goa, where earlier there was no hope but now everything is positive," he added. The BJP did not win a single seat in the Kerala Assembly Elections in 2021 and saw its vote share shrink by 2.6 per cent from 2016. Given the percentage of minorities, particularly Christians in the state, the party is believed to intensify outreach programmes to increase its vote share. (ANI)
The Kerala High Court on Friday set aside the order of Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is the chancellor of Universities in Kerala, dismissing 15 members of the Senate of Kerala University. The Governor had issued the dismissal order in October 2022. The single bench of Justice Satish Nainan accepted the argument of the petitioners that the action of the Governor was illegal. The High Court rejected the Governor's contention that the senators were waging a shadow war against him and were trying to work against him as the chancellor. The Court had earlier clarified that the concept of 'pleasure' cannot be implemented in personal interest and can only be applied legally. The state government argued that even if the members were nominated by the Governor, they had independent decision-making powers. In October last year, the governor expelled 15 senate members of Kerala University. The governor's action was against those who stayed away from the Senate meeting. Out of 13 people nominated by the Governor, 2 people attended the Senate meeting. The remaining 11 people and 4 department heads who did not attend the meeting were dismissed. The expelled members approached the court demanding the cancellation of the Governor's action. Last year, the governor informed the then vice-chancellor, PV Mahadevan Pillai that as chancellor, he 'withdrew the pleasure' of allowing 15 members of the senate to continue in the committee. Reacting to this, VC PV Mahadevan Pillai informed the governor that there are illegalities in his move and asked him to reconsider it. Following this, the governor himself issued an order of sacking the 15 senate members. (ANI)
Reacting to his disqualification as a member of the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he was fighting to restore the country's voice and will pay any price to do so. "I am fighting for the voice of India and am ready to pay any price (for it)," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. His tweet followed his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP earlier on Friday. The disqualification came in the wake of Rahul's conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation case on Thursday. The disqualified Congress MP was sentenced to two years in prison following his conviction for a remark using the surname 'Modi' at a campaign event for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in Karnataka. However, the court later approved his bail on a surety of Rs 15,000 while suspending his sentence for a period of 30 days during which he can challenge his conviction at a higher court. Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday came down heavily on the Centre over Rahul's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member, calling it a "strangulation of democracy" while exuding confidence that the disqualification will be revoked through a stay on his conviction by a higher court. The party alleged that Rahul's disqualification is part of a "pattern" to stop him from speaking out against the Central government and also an attempt to divert public attention from real issues. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital, Congress national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and senior leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the Centre over the disqualification of the former national party president. "The issue before us is political, more than it is legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself. We know that defamation is an exception to free speech, but over the last several years, we have had repeated examples of unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech, more importantly, freedom after speech. We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking fearlessly inside and outside Parliament. He is paying a price for it," Singhvi said. He said that the government was resorting to new methods to "throttle" Rahul Gandhi's voice. "This government is rattled because he clearly speaks with facts and figures on demonetisation. Be it the supposed clean chit to China, or the GST, he is consistently aggressive and open in his questioning. Therefore this government is finding new techniques of throttling his voice," Singhvi alleged. On the severe criticism by the BJP following Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Indian democracy in the UK recently, Singhvi said the Congress leader is not entitled to speak freely on grounds of "fake and imaginary nationalism". "Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he is not entitled to speak freely on grounds of fake nationalism, created imaginary nationalism. He comes back and his speeches abroad become the basis of action against him inside Parliament. All of this is part of a pattern to stop him (from speaking out against this government), to divert public attention from the real and burning issues before the nation today. It is also intended to create a fear psychosis among those who dare to question this government," he said. Singhvi said Rahul will emerge victorious in the higher court in the defamation case. "We are confident that we will get a stay on his conviction, which will, in turn, remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future," he said. (ANI)
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday mounted a strong attack on BJP-led government after disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was rattled by questions on Adani issue while the Congress leader was a true patriot who had raised questions on issues of public interest. Priyanka Gandhi, who made a series of tweets, said that the Nehru-Gandhi family has given its blood to the country and fought for truth. She said sycophants of PM Modi had "called the son of a martyr prime minister traitor Mir Jafar". "One of your Chief Ministers raised the question that who is the father of Rahul Gandhi? Following the custom of Kashmiri Pandits, a son wears a turban after his father's death, maintaining his family's tradition. Insulting the whole family and the Kashmiri Pandit community, you asked in Parliament why they don't keep Nehru name...but no judge gave you a sentence of two years.You were not disqualified from Parliament.... Rahul ji like a true patriot raised questions on Adani. "Raised questions on Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.... Has your friend Gautam Adani become bigger than the country's parliament and the people of India that you were rattled when his loot was questioned? You call my family dynastic, know, this family has shed blood for India's democracy...who you are trying to destroy (politically)," the Congress leader said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Nehru-Gandhi family has raised voice of people and fought for truth. "Those whom you are seeking to destroy (politically), that family has raised voice of people of India and fought for truth for generations. The blood that flows in our veins, a speciality of it is,, it has and will never bow to coward, power-greedy dictator like you. Whatever you may do," she said. Several Congress leaders strongly condemned the government over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital, Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh said the BJP-led government was rattled by Gandhi's remarks. "The issue before us is political, more than it is legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself. We know that defamation is an exception to free speech, but over the last several years, we have had repeated examples of unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech, more importantly, freedom after speech. We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking fearlessly inside and outside Parliament. He is paying a price for it," Singhvi said. "This government is rattled because he clearly speaks with facts and figures on demonetisation. Be it the supposed clean chit to China, or the GST, he is consistently aggressive and open in his questioning. Therefore this government is finding new techniques to throttle his voice," Singhvi alleged. (ANI)
The Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Friday directed Delhi Police to investigate the facts raised in a criminal defamation complaint filed by the Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for his alleged remarks about the Sanjeevani scam. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal on Friday directed Delhi police to investigate whether the complainant Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was addressed as 'an accused' in the Sanjeevani Scam by the accused herein Ashok Gehlot?, whether the accused Ashok Gehlot stated that the allegations against the complainant Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stand proved in the Sanjeevani Scam? and whether the complainant Gajendra Singh Shekhawat or his family members have been arrayed as 'an accused' in the investigation of the Sanjeevani Scam? The court stated that the legislative mandate as is provided u/s 202 Cr.PC (considering the fact that the accused is residing outside the local jurisdiction of this court), this court directs aninvestigation into the matter, through Delhi Police. Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the matter, it is directed that the Joint Commissioner concerned shall monitor the investigation. Union Minister has recently moved Delhi Court and filed a defamation case against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and stated that Gehlot has called him and his deceased mother 'an accused' in the Sanjeevani Scam. Court noted that in defamation complainant it is alleged that during press conferences/media briefings, Ashok Gehlot has stated that the allegations against the complainant stand proved. Similar defamatory accusations have been levelled by the accused Ashok Gehlot against the complainant on multiple occasions and on multiple platforms including social media, print media, national television etc. Defamation complaint stated that the said false, uncalled, derogatory and defamatory statements have been made by the accused with the aim to tarnish the image of the complainant in the eyes of the general public, the voters and his kith and kin, with the object of gaining an undue political mileage. The complainant/Shekhawat also stated that the accused is frustrated because the complainant defeated the son of the accused in the last elections by a huge margin and thus, as per the complainant, the statements made by the accused are a political vendetta. Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa appeared for Shekhawat who sought prosecution against Gehlot for allegedly making defamatory speeches against him. Senior advocate Pahwa submitted that it is a complaint moved by the Union Minister against the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and said that "There is irreparable damage caused to his reputation." This matter pertains to a case in which FIR was registered in 2019. Three charge sheets have been filed. "Shekhawat's name has not appeared anywhere. He was not called by the Investigation officer. Despite this Gehlot said the allegations against Shekhawat have been proven," Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa told to ANI. (ANI)
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala declined the plea saying the Bombay High Court is seized of the matter.

It asked the petitioner Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed to appear before the High Court where the matter is pending.

The bench noted that the hearing is scheduled for hearing before the High Court on March 27 and said that the matter should be decided there first.

Ahmed had challenged the approval granted by the State and the Central governments to a proposal to change the name of Aurangabad city in Maharashtra.

In a letter dated March 4, 2020, the Aurangabad divisional commissioner proposed that the city's name be changed to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed BJP MLA Vijender Gupta to attend the budget session of the Delhi Assembly session from Monday. Gupta had challenged his suspension for one year from Delhi Assembly by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel. Justice Pratibha M Singh after hearing the submission and considering the rules of Assembly proceedings allowed Vijender Gupta to attend the house. Justice Singh said, "As an interim measure the petitioner would be permitted to attend the house on Monday which is the last day of the budget session." Petitioner shall also maintain the decorum of the house, the bench said. The petition has been disposed of. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta appeared for Gupta and submitted that according to Assembly Rule 277, the speaker can suspend a member only for 3 sitting for the first occasion. Subsequently for 7 sittings and thereafter for the remainder of the session. On the other hand, advocate Sameer Vashisht appeared for the respondent and submitted that It is not the speaker who suspended him, it is the entire house. A motion for his suspension was moved by the MLA Sanjeev Jha. He submitted that at around 11.23 AM, the petitioner moved a notice of privilege. At around 12.04 PM speaker gave the ruling on the notice, Vasisht submitted. The sole motive of the petitioner was to disrupt the house. He was warned. He was called back. Sameer Vasisht submitted that at around 2.47 PM, the petitioner again started shouting. MLA Sanjeev Jha moved the motion for suspension of the petitioner for one year. Advocate Vashist submitted that such suspension can not be inquired into by any court. The house is empowered to issue punishment of an even higher nature. The speaker may suspend any member for only 3 sitting on the first occasion. The budget session of Delhi is on going, the petitioner has remained suspended for 4 days The perusal shows there was a disturbance caused by the Petitioner. This was the first suspension. MLA Vijender Gupta on Thursday moved Delhi High Court against his suspension for one year from Delhi Assembly by the Speaker Ram Niwas Goel until the next budget session, for allegedly interfering in the assembly proceedings. The matter was mentioned on Thursday before the bench headed by Delhi Chief Justice by Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta who appeared for Gupta. The case is filed by Advocates Neeraj, Pavan Narang and Satya Ranjan Swain. Plea stated that on 20.03.2023, the Finance Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi Kailash Gahlot came out with a statement claiming that the Home Ministry deliberately delayed the budget by not giving its approval. The said statement was put out from another Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi by Gopal Rai from his Twitter handle. Plea stated that this act of breach of privilege was noted by the Petitioner at the late evening. Before the Session was yet to begin i.e. before 11:00 AM, the Petitioner submitted a Notice calling for breach of privilege of motion against Gahlot, the Finance Minister. However, the Petitioner was not allowed to make a detailed statement. Petitioner Vijender Gupta stated that Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel repeatedly interrupted on one pretext or the other and marshalled out the Petitioner. After the Petitioner was marshalled out, taking back his own Order, the speaker called the Petitioner back and allowed him to make a statement. However, surprisingly after 10 seconds, his mic was switched off and he was not allowed to make a statement. So the Petitioner went to the well of the House to show the provision of the Assembly Rules to the speaker, stated Gupta in the plea. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sanjeev Jha proposed the Petitioner's suspension from the House for a period of one year. The Speaker put the motion to vote by adopting the voice vote and ordered the suspension of the Petitioner without any justification and again marshalled out the Petitioner. The said act of suspension is unjust, unfair, unreasonable and against the tenets of the settled position of law but also violative of the Powers and Privileges of the members of the House as enshrined under Article 194 of the Constitution of India. (ANI)
Welcoming the remarks of opposition leaders slamming the government over disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Friday that the party would take up the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Jairam Ramesh, who addressed a press conference after a meeting of Congress leaders, said parties which were not part of this floor coordination in parliament have also issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi. "We welcome statements of all the opposition leaders, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Now the coordination has to be outside parliament," he said. "It is heartening to know that some parties which were not part of this floor coordination in parliament have also issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," he added. Various opposition leaders came out in support of Rahul Gandhi and slammed the Centre over his disqualification. Opposition leaders including those belonging to NCP, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party slammed the government over disqualification of Rahul Gandhi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said those who want to "destroy the nation" should stay in the BJP while those who want to "save the nation" from ruin must leave. "Never before in the history of India was there a PM, who is just a 12th pass. He can't run the country and lets his ego guide his actions. I urge all BJP leaders to consider leaving the party as the country is being destroyed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Those who want the nation destroyed can stay with the BJP while those who want to save it from ruin must leave," Kejriwal said. "Now the people of the country will have to come forward and fight this undemocratic regime. If we want to save the country, 130 crore Indians will have to come forward and lead the fight. It doesn't matter which party comes to power. What is of concern is the way our democracy is being tarnished and attacked," the Delhi CM added. TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been a fierce critic of the BJP and the central government, said that Opposition leaders are being disqualified over speeches, BJP leaders with "criminal antecedents" were being made ministers. "In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of the BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she said in a tweet. Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, termed it a "black day" for democracy and "height of PM Modi's arrogance". "Today is a Black Day in the history of Indian democracy. Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament is the height of Narendra Modi's arrogance and dictatorship. This is not the time for conflicts between parties. All democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of the BJP government to safeguard the democracy and constitutional values of the country," he said. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also condemned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. "The political challenge does not end with the hijacking of one's membership of Parliament. The biggest movement is not the one in Parliament. We have to win this fight on the streets. The person who moved court claiming defamation should level a similar charge at people, who betrayed their country and fled abroad," Akhilesh tweeted in Hindi. DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called for urgent relook at the action taken against Rahul Gandhi. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi was taken in "haste" and is "yet another episode in BJP's authoritarian rampage against Indian democracy". "This brazen assault is an insult to our democratic values and can't be overlooked. It must be unequivocally denounced," Vijayan tweeted. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha a day after his conviction in a criminal defamation case by a Surat court. He was convicted and sentenced for two years over his "Modi surname" remarks made at a 2019 rally in Karnataka. (ANI)
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday remarked on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP following his conviction in a criminal defamation case, and said that the Congress party will now blame the BJP for the same and even criticize the judiciary. "We haven't advised Rahul Gandhi to make extremely disgraceful & irresponsible comment," Rijiju said on social media. "The Constitution of India treats all the Citizens of the country equally and thus, everyone is equal in the eyes of law. Therefore, all the MPs also have equal rights to speak in the Parliament. The problem arises when someone is treated as special & all others as ordinary," he added. He further said that Gandhi made a derogatory remark and disgraced an entire community. "We can't blame all Gandhi surnames just because Rahul Gandhi insulted Indian democracy, our Armed forces and India's institutions. Rahul Gandhi made very derogatory remark and disgraced an entire OBC community. Shockingly, some Congress leaders are trying to defend it," he said. Meanwhile, the Congress party on Friday came down heavily at the Centre over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member, calling it a "strangulation of democracy" while exuding confidence that the disqualification will be revoked through a stay on his conviction by a higher court. The party alleged that Rahul's disqualification is part of a "pattern" to stop him from speaking out against the Central government and also an attempt to divert public attention from real issues. Gandhi was disqualified as a member of the Lower House earlier on Friday, a day after his conviction by the Surat court in a defamation case for a remark using the 'Modi surname' at a rally in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital, Congress national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and senior leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the Centre over the disqualification of the former national party president. "The issue before us is political, more than it is legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself. We know that defamation is an exception to free speech, but over the last several years, we have had repeated examples of unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech, more importantly, freedom after speech. We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking fearlessly inside and outside Parliament. He is paying a price for it," Singhvi said. (ANI)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah allegedly slapped a supporter who had come to meet him at his residence in Bengaluru earlier on Friday. In a video that went viral on social media, Siddaramaiah could be seen surrounded by a crowd outside his residence. The supporter had come to him amid a huge crowd of visitors there. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah said that his family had advised him to contest from the Varuna constituency in Mysuru in the upcoming assembly polls. "My family has advised me to contest from the Varuna constituency in Mysuru in the upcoming assembly polls. I have asked the high command to clear Varuna. The family members also advised me to contest from one more constituency, I have left it to the high command," he said in Chitradurga. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said that he had told the high command to issue tickets from Varuna. "Invitations have been received from 25 constituencies of the state to contest the elections. All those sides cannot compete. The family felt that it would be appropriate to contest in Varuna. I have informed the party to finalize the Varuna ticket. The decision is up to the high command," he said. (ANI)
A man was arrested for allegedly stabbing five of his neighbours, three of whom succumbed to injuries in the Grant Road area of Mumbai, police said on Friday. The accused was identified as Chetan Galla (54) whose questioning is underway. The five victims who he attacked have been identified as Prakash Waghmare, Snehal Bhrambhatt, and her daughter Jenny, and couple Jayendra and Ila Mistry. The police said that some others were injured in the attack which he unleashed with a knife. The second floor of the building where the incident is said to have taken place has been sealed. "A total of three people have died in the stabbing incident that occurred at Parvati Mansion today. The second floor of the building has been sealed. A team of forensics has been called to the incident site for investigation," the police said. Earlier the police had said that two people had died while three others were seriously injured. "Accused is being questioned by police at PS DB Marg," Mumbai Police said. Sources said that the accused did not suffer from any mental illness, but was upset due to a "disturbed family life". "The accused owned a shop which is now on rent and has been living there for about 15 years. When the police team reached to arrest him, he locked himself up and was sitting quietly in his house in one corner, scared," sources said. He will be produced in court tomorrow and has been booked under sections for 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
"#IndiaKeFavouriteCM" has been trending on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter, with most users calling Adityanath their "favourite chief minister".

Most users hailed Adityanath as not just the best chief minister of Uttar Pradesh but also Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi, and Uttarakhand.

He also received wholesome praise from Spain and Germany as the best chief minister of any province across the globe.

What came out further from the Twitter trend was that millions of users frequently discuss CM Adityanath and the changing face of Uttar Pradesh under his leadership, on social media.

Apart from the crackdown on crime and the busting of gangs and crime syndicates, CM Adityanath has also been gaining global popularity for his government's work on women's safety, education, crime, infrastructure, expressway, the investment of 35 lakh crores and generating employment.

Netizens have also been appreciative of how the UP chief minister defied decades of negative perceptions to take the state to new heights, especially in the "ease of doing business". (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Central Government on a plea moved by an 11-year-old child suffering from the rare disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The child has sought direction to the Centre to release funds for continuous treatment. Justice Prathiba M Singh on Friday issued notice to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the plea and listed the matter on April 13 for further hearing. The petitioner has also prayed to direct AIIMS to forthwith procure medicines and continue to provide treatment to the petitioner and other similarly placed petitioners in connected matters. The application has been filed by advocate Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh has alleged inaction on the part of the government to consider the case of the petitioner for treatment through Antisense Oligonucleotide (AON) therapy of the petitioner. The petitioner is suffering from a rare genetic disease known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Treatment is of high cost and is beyond the capacity of the parents of the petitioner, the plea stated. It is also prayed to direct the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to providefree of cost treatment to the petitioner. It is further submitted that the impugned inaction is in violation of the fundamental and human right to life, health, and medical aid of the petitioner suffering from as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) a rare genetic disease as guaranteed to him under Articles 14, 21, 38, 39, 41 and 47 of the Constitution of India. In terms of the enhanced National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 Rs 50 Lakhs qua each DMD petitioner was transferred to respondent AIIMS for procurement of medicines, the plea stated. It is submitted that respondent AIIMS procured medicine for the petitioner in the budget of Rs 50 lakhs and now treatment has commenced. It is also submitted that on 13.03.2023 petitioner received 1st dose of Exondys 51 medicine (36 ml) out of 120 ml procured out of the budget of Rs 50 lakhs. It is further submitted that on 20.03.2023 petitioner was infused with the 2nd dose of Exondys 51 medicine (28 ml). The plea stated that AIIMS has procured 120 ml of Exondys 51 medicine in the allotted budget of Rs 50 lakhs. It is also stated that as per the petitioner's weight, 120 ml of Exondys 51 medicine is divided into 4 doses for infusion. Therefore, the petitioner will get only 4 doses in total and the remaining two doses will be infused to the petitioner on 27.03.2023 and on 03.04.2023. It is needless to say that though the treatment of the majority of DMD patients in other connected has started they are facing the same problem like the petitioner herein, the plea said. All the DMD patients petitioners in other connected whose treatment has commenced with sanction fund of Rs 50 Lakhs, will get only a maximum of 3-5 infusions depending upon the weight of the patient, the plea added. Therefore, like the petitioner, other DMD patients also require doses of medicines for which timely orders need to be placed by respondent AIIMS so that their continuous treatment is not affected, the plea submitted. It is submitted that normally the result of the dose infused is seen at least after 6 months. Therefore, it is much required in the interest of DMD patients' petitioner children, that they may be provided with infusions of Exondys 51 medicine or other concerned medicines continuously. The Union of India and AIIMS are required to arrange for funds and place orders for the medicines in advance. Therefore, respondent Union of India is required to sanction funds at the earliest to respondent AIIMS so that treatment of petitioner and other similarly placed petitioners whose treatment has commenced and treatment will cease after 3-4 doses of medicine can get further doses before the next date of hearing on 13.04.2023, the plea stated. (ANI)
Coming down heavily on the Congress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the grand old party, which is being wiped out of the country, wants to make Karnataka their ATM. Addressing a public rally in the poll-bound state, Shah said, "Congress is being wiped out from the country, they no longer have any state which can fill their coffers. They want Karnataka to become their ATM." Shah laid the foundation stone of Sehkar Samrudhi Soudh and inaugurated various development works of the Cooperative Ministry (Karnataka) during a visit to Kommaghatta village in Bengaluru on Friday. Hitting out at the Congress government, he said the party has had a history of corruption and further urged the people of the state to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government in the state. "Wherever the Congress government was formed, their history has been of corruption, insulting Dalits, OBCs," said Amit Shah. Referring to the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), the home minister alleged that during the rule of the former chief minister Siddaramaiah, cases against PFI were withdrawn. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured the state by banning PFI, while the Siddaramaiah government withdrew cases multiple times against the same outfit," he said. Earlier in the day, noting that drugs are an enemy of national security and the future of the country, Amit Shah ascertained that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is fully committed to totality eliminating this menace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah made his remarks while chairing the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' here in Bengaluru. Pointing that the Central government has adopted a policy of "zero tolerance against drugs to make a drug-free India", Shah said the MHA has adopted a three-pronged approach to crack down on narcotics, and that the three-pronged approach includes strengthening institutional structures, empowerment of all agencies related to the control of narcotics and strengthening the coordination among them and launching an awareness campaign. He said the problem of drug trafficking is not related to a state or the Centre alone, but is a national problem, and the efforts to deal with it should also be national and unified. Shah said that the fight against drugs is to be fought not only by the government but also by the people. To deal with this issue, he also stressed on the need to organize District-level and State-level NCORD meetings regularly. In order to crack down on the entire network, the Home Minister emphasized that narcotics cases should be thoroughly investigated with a bottom-to-top and top to bottom approach. (ANI)
The Supreme Court will, on March 27, hear a batch of petitions against the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, which also involves the killing of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. A bench of Justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna will hear a plea filed by Bilkis Bano and also pleas filed by several political and civil rights activists, against the release of 11 convicts. Earlier this week, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had agreed to constitute a new bench to hear the batch of pleas. In January this year, the top court had said the question of maintainability of petitions, filed by various activists, would not arise in a matter related to remission of 11 life terms convicts. In the plea, Bilkis Bano said release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown-up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large. The petition said: "The premature release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large, nationally and internationally, and the society across segments had shown their anger, disappointment, distrust and protest to the clemency shown by the Government by releasing criminals like the 11 convicts of the case." Terming the release order mechanical, the plea said the premature release of the convicts in much talked about case of Bilkis Bano, has shaken the conscience of the society and resulted in several agitations across the country. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year. --IANS ss/vd ( 307 Words) 2023-03-24-19:04:03 (IANS)
Declaring a war on narcotics, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the battle against drugs will only be successful if it is taken to the people. Addressing a regional convention of southern states titled 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' here, Shah said, "Our sea routes must not be allowed to be used for transporting narcotic substances. The Navy and the police of a few states have to pitch in." The Home Minister added that many ships which travel between Pakistan and Iran are often loaded with drugs, which are supplied from Sri Lanka to the US. "This has to be stopped, otherwise we can't stop drugs from entering India," Shah stressed. "We can't take this matter lightly. If the drugs, no matter who is selling them, are not destroyed, they will be sold here. Our objective should be to weaken the individuals who sell drugs, anywhere in the world," Shah said. The Home Minister also said he is sad that the provisions of the NDPS Act are not fully utilised by the states. "I appeal to all the states and concerned departments to unite in a campaign against drugs, curtails, culprits and addiction. Timely response is the need of the hour," he said. Shah added that though handling of the drugs menace is the primary responsibility of the Home Ministry, other departments, such as revenue, social welfare, education and culture, must join hands with the health department to end the menace. Shah also cautioned the states to be careful about the seized drugs as the Home Ministry is getting information that drugs are being stolen from the custody of the police at some places. On the occasion, Shah gave green signal to the destruction of 9,298 kg seized drugs valued at Rs 1,235 crore. --IANS mka/arm ( 314 Words) 2023-03-24-19:22:02 (IANS)
Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after his conviction by a Surat court in criminal defamation case, triggered a massive political row with the BJP stating that Congress leader was "a habitual loose cannon" and the Congress alleging that he was got "deliberately disqualified". Opposition leaders slammed the government after disqualification of the Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and the Congress said it will launch a people's moment on the issue. While Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge rallied behind Rahul Gandhi, opposition leaders including Mamata Banjerjee, K Chandrashekar Rao, MK Stalin, Hemant Soren, Arvind Kejiwal, Sharad Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and Akhilesh Yadav attacked the BJP-led government. Congress welcomed the support of opposition leaders and said the task of building opposition unity should be taken up in a systematic way. It expressed confidence of legal relief in the case. The party held a meeting in the evening, which was attended by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, to chalk out next course of action. Leaders of Left parties, Janata Dal-Secular also attacked the government. Some of them called it a "black day" for Indian democracy. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, who held a joint press conference with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleged that Rahul Gandhi considers himself above parliament, government, judicial system and country. He said Rahul should probe "conspiracy" within Congress to oust him. Thakur said Rahul Gandhi is on bail in seven cases and had rendered apology in the past. "'Bhagwan ke ghar der hai par andher nahi'. Rahul Gandhi himself said, "unfortunately he is a MP." Today he got freedom from his misfortune. Along with him, the people of Wayanad also got rid of it," Thakur said at a joint press conference with union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He said despite being a Member of Parliament from Amethi for long, Rahul Gandhi "never asked" question for welfare of people of his earlier constituency. "In all these years as an MP he participated in only 21 debates. He never even brought a single private member's bill, but openly teared the ordinance of his own government by calling it non-sense. Rahul Gandhi considers himself above the parliament, the government, the judicial system and the country," Thakur said. He said in 2018, Rahul Gandhi submitted a written apology in the Supreme Court for his intemperate statement. "The court also warned him against making such mistake in future. But in 2019, not once but on several occasions, he used indecent language, labelled insults and made derogatory remarks. His basic thinking behind all this was that he is above the law of the land and nothing can ever happen to him. "After the Supreme Court's decision in the Lily Thomas case, it is very clear that if you are convicted for two years or more then you are considered to be suspended until & unless the conviction is not declared null & void. Parliament only notified it. The Speaker has nothing to do with it. It was done in full conformity of Section 8 of Representation of People's Act, Section 102(1) E of the constitution," he said. Thakur said as soon as this punishment was delivered, it was certain that his membership will go. "Rahul Gandhi must investigate this well-planned purification system, a well-thought-out conspiracy created inside the Congress to ouster him. Who in the Congress wants to get rid of Rahul Gandhi? There are big lawyers in Congress. Was there not a single man to give correct advice to him or was he intentionally misled?" Thakur asked. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi "insulted an entire community (OBC)". Pradhan said Rahul Gandhi has been convicted in a defamation case and sentenced to two-year jail. "As per the law, conviction leads to disqualification from parliament membership. Congress party, especially Rahul's family, wants a separate Indian Penal Code (IPC) for him. Under this IPC, he shouldn't be convicted. They want a separate judiciary for him. However, they fail to understand that in a democracy the law is equal for all," Pradhan said. Attacking the Modi government, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said those who want to "destroy the nation" should stay in the BJP while those who want to "save the nation" from ruin must leave. "Never before in the history of India was there a PM, who is just a 12th pass. He can't run the country and lets his ego guide his actions. I urge all BJP leaders to consider leaving the party as the country is being destroyed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Those who want the nation destroyed can stay with the BJP while those who want to save it from ruin must leave," Kejriwal said. "Now the people of the country will have to come forward and fight this undemocratic regime. If we want to save the country, 130 crore Indians will have to come forward and lead the fight. It doesn't matter which party comes to power. What is of concern is the way our democracy is being tarnished and attacked," he dded. TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Opposition leaders are being disqualified over speeches and BJP leaders with "criminal antecedents" were being made ministers. "In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of the BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she said in a tweet. Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said it was black day in the history of Indian democracy. "Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament is the height of Narendra Modi's arrogance and dictatorship. This is not the time for conflicts between parties. All democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of the BJP government to safeguard the democracy and constitutional values of the country," he said. Akhilesh Yadav, who has kept his distance from Congress after their failed tie-up in 2017 assembly polls, also slammed the government. "The political challenge does not end with the hijacking of one's membership of Parliament. The biggest movement is not the one in Parliament. We have to win this fight on the streets. The person who moved court claiming defamation should level a similar charge at people, who betrayed their country and fled abroad," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted in Hindi. DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called for an urgent relook at the action taken against Rahul Gandhi. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the decision to disqualify Rahul was taken in "haste" and is "yet another episode in BJP's authoritarian rampage against Indian democracy". "This brazen assault is an insult to our democratic values and can't be overlooked. It must be unequivocally denounced," Vijayan tweeted. NCP leader Sharad Pawar said opposition leaders need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions. "Our constitution guarantees the right of each individual to fair justice; liberty of thought; equality of status and opportunity and fraternity assuring the dignity of each Indian. The disqualifications of Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Faizal a few months ago as MPs of the Lok Sabha are against the basic tenets of the constitution, where democratic values are being curtailed. This is condemnable and against the very principles on which the constitution is based. We all need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions," he said in a tweet. Uddhav Thackeray said it was "murder of democracy". "Rahul Gandhi's candidacy has been cancelled. Calling a thief, a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves & looters are still free and Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy. All govt systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of the dictatorship. Only the fight has to be given direction," he said. Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that BJP has been trying to get Rahul Gandhi disqualified. "They (BJP) tried every trick in the book to disqualify him. They don't want MPs who speak the truth. But we will continue to stand for the truth. We'll continue to demand a JPC (in the Hindenburg-Adani row) and will even go to jail to save democracy." Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the move to disqualify Rahul from the Lok Sabha will "cost" the BJP dear in the next Lok Sabha elections. "Ever since the Bharat Jodo Yatra concluded successfully, the government is perturbed. The manner in which Rahul Gandhi, a patriot who belongs to a family that took part in the freedom struggle and whose grandmother and father laid down their lives for the country, has been stopped not just from speaking in the Parliament but even entering the building. They (BJP) will have to pay a price for this," Gehlot told ANI. "They had harassed Indira Gandhi as well and she was disqualified from the Parliament. They paid the price as there was a wave for Indira Gandhi and she returned as PM with a massive majority. I can say that with the recent activities, our chances in the 2024 election will be boosted manifold. People won't tolerate such a dictatorial government," he added. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Rahul's disqualification was nothing but an expression of the politics of vendetta."It is a sheer case of retributive politics as Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity in the wake of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Modi government cannot digest his rising popularity. This is a very cruel demonstration of an autocratic government," he said. Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy said that Rahul's disqualification as an MP is nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the more pressing issues affecting the people. "These are all non-democratic steps. The decision was taken by pressurising the Lok Sabha Secretariat. This was done to divert the attention of people from the main issue (JPC probe into the Adani Group). The Congress and the Gandhis are not afraid of them (BJP)," he said. "PM Modi had once called Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury 'Surpanakha' in the Rajya Sabha. Despite being a PM, he made such a derogatory remark about her. They are just trying to scare the Gandhi family but we all are with them," Reddy added. Renuka Chowdhury said she will file a defamation case against the Prime Minister. "This classless megalomaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the House. I will file a defamation case against him. Let's see how fast our courts act." RJD leader and Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav said the disqualification is part of a larger conspiracy. "The people of Bihar and the entire nation can see what they (BJP) are doing. All such decisions are being taken at their (BJP's) orders," he said. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the disqualification of an elected member of Parliament has sent a "poor signal" to the world about the state of Indian democracy. "I was stunned by this decision and particularly by the unseemly haste with which it was carried out. The lawyers will certainly be questioning this. It sends a very poor signal to the world about Indian democracy when the leader of the principal opposition party is treated in this way. You can't muzzle voices in a democracy and still call yourself democratic," Tharoor told ANI. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday mounted a strong attack on BJP-led government after disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was rattled by questions on Adani issue and the Congress leader was a true patriot who had raised questions on issues of public interest. In a series of tweets, Priyanka Gandhi said that the Nehru-Gandhi family has given its blood to the country and will never bow to those "before a dictator". "@narendramodi, your sycophants called the son of a martyr prime minister a traitor, Mir Jafar. One of your Chief Ministers raised the question that who is the father of Rahul Gandhi? Following the custom of Kashmiri Pandits, a son wears a turban after his father's death, maintaining his family's tradition. "Insulting the whole family and the Kashmiri Pandit community, you asked in Parliament why they don't keep Nehru name...but no judge gave you a sentence of two years.You were not disqualified from Parliament.... Rahul ji like a true patriot raised questions on Adani. "Raised questions on Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.... Has your friend Gautam Adani become bigger than the country's parliament and the people of India that you were shocked when his loot was questioned? You call my family dynastic, know, this family has shed blood for India's democracy...whom you are trying to destroy (politically)," the Congress leader said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Nehru-Gandhi family has raised voice of people and fought for truth. "Those whom you are seeking to destroy (politically), that family has raised voice of people of India and fought for truth for generations. The blood that flows in our veins, a speciality of it is,, it has and will never bow to coward, power-greedy dictator like you. Whatever you may do," she said. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital, Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh said the BJP-led government was rattled by Gandhi's remarks. "The issue before us is political, more than it is legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself. We know that defamation is an exception to free speech, but over the last several years, we have had repeated examples of unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech, more importantly, freedom after speech. We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking fearlessly inside and outside Parliament. He is paying a price for it," Singhvi said. "This government is rattled because he clearly speaks with facts and figures on demonetisation. Be it the supposed clean chit to China, or the GST, he is consistently aggressive and open in his questioning. Therefore this government is finding new techniques to throttle his voice," Singhvi alleged. Jairam Ramesh, who held a press conference after meeting of Congress leaders, said the Congress welcomes statements of all the opposition leaders, "There was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Now the coordination has to be outside parliament. It is heartening to know that some parties which were not part of this floor coordination in parliament have also issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," he added. Gandhi was convicted over his "Modi surname" remarks made during an election rally in Karnataka in 2019. (ANI)
Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Friday. Kumaraswamy met Banerjee at her residence in Kolkata's Kalighat. "Met Honourable West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkota and held talks. Earlier in the day, she extended a warm reception. We discussed forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, the success of Pancha Ratna Yatra and national political developments," tweeted Kumaraswamy. The former Karanataka CM said the Trinamool supremo discussed about working together with JDS in national politics. "West Bengal Chief Minister said that she will visit Karnataka to campaign for Janata Dal Secular besides discussing the need for both All India Trinamool Congress and JDS to work together at the national level," he added. Assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled in the coming months. The meeting between the two leaders assumed significance amid efforts by leaders of several opposition parties to forge a united opposition alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Notably, Mamata's meeting with Kumaraswamy comes a day after the West Bengal CM called on her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. During the meeting with Patnaik, Mamata reasserted the need to strengthen India's federal structure and ensure accountability at all levels of government, said Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, Opposition leaders condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP. "It is not a surprise because everyone knows how the central government is behaving," Kumaraswamy told reporters in Kolkata. Taking to Twitter, Mamata Banerjee said, "In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy." Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after his conviction by a Surat court in criminal defamation case, triggered a massive political row with the BJP stating that Congress leader was "a habitual loose cannon" and the Congress alleging that he was got "deliberately disqualified". Opposition leaders slammed the government after the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and the Congress said it will launch a people's moment on the issue. While Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge rallied behind Rahul Gandhi, opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee, K Chandrashekar Rao, MK Stalin, Hemant Soren, Arvind Kejiwal, Sharad Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and Akhilesh Yadav attacked the BJP-led government. Congress welcomed the support of opposition leaders and said the task of building opposition unity should be taken up in a systematic way. It expressed confidence of legal relief in the case. The party held a meeting in the evening, which was attended by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, to chalk out next course of action. Leaders of Left parties, Janata Dal-Secular also attacked the government. Some of them called it a "black day" for Indian democracy. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, who held a joint press conference with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleged that Rahul Gandhi considers himself above parliament, government, judicial system and country. He said Rahul should probe "conspiracy" within Congress to oust him.Thakur said Rahul Gandhi is on bail in seven cases and had rendered an apology in the past. Attacking the Modi government, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said those who want to "destroy the nation" should stay in the BJP while those who want to "save the nation" from ruin must leave. "Never before in the history of India was there a PM, who is just a 12th pass. He can't run the country and lets his ego guide his actions. I urge all BJP leaders to consider leaving the party as the country is being destroyed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Those who want the nation destroyed can stay with the BJP while those who want to save it from ruin must leave," Kejriwal said. Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said it was a black day in the history of Indian democracy. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who has kept his distance from Congress after their failed tie-up in 2017 assembly polls, also slammed the government. "The political challenge does not end with the hijacking of one's membership of Parliament. The biggest movement is not the one in Parliament. We have to win this fight on the streets. The person who moved court claiming defamation should level a similar charge at people, who betrayed their country and fled abroad," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted in Hindi. DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called for an urgent relook at the action taken against Rahul Gandhi. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the decision to disqualify Rahul was taken in "haste" and is "yet another episode in BJP's authoritarian rampage against Indian democracy"."This brazen assault is an insult to our democratic values and can't be overlooked. It must be unequivocally denounced," Vijayan tweeted. NCP leader Sharad Pawar said opposition leaders need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions. "Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament is the height of Narendra Modi's arrogance and dictatorship. This is not the time for conflicts between parties. All democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of the BJP government to safeguard the democracy and constitutional values of the country," he said. (ANI)
The police in Bihar's Jamui district have arrested a man who claimed that he had raped a minor girl to prove his potency, an official said on Friday. The accused has been identified as Bhujangi Manjhi, who has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after his arrest on Thursday evening. The accused was produced before a POCSO court on Friday, which remanded him to judicial custody. The incident took place at a village which falls under the jurisdiction of Laxmipur police station. The matter came to light after a 13-year-old girl along with her parents reached the police station and registered an FIR against Manjhi on charges of rape. The victim is three-month pregnant. Keeping the sensitivity of the matter in mind, the police swung into action and arrested the accused. In his confessional statement, Manjhi claimed that he got married to a girl six years ago but they could not have a child. The doctors had told him that he was an impotent and could never become a father. Manjhi then decided to prove the doctors wrong. As per the plan, the accused befriended a 13-year-old girl and lured her for marriage. He established physical relationship with her three months ago following which the girl became pregnant. When she came to know about her pregnancy, she contacted Manjhi and revealed her physical status. But Manjhi threatened her with dire consequences and fled from the village. The girl then revealed her ordeal to her parents who approached the police. "We received a complaint from the victim's family and immediately put the mobile phone of the accused on surveillance. His phone's tower location showed Karibagh village under the Malaypur police station in Jamui district. Our team immediately raided the spot and arrested the accused," said Rajyawardhan, SHO of Laxmipur police station. --IANS ajk/arm ( 321 Words) 2023-03-24-22:52:02 (IANS)
The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs has urged for timely and adequate funding for India's G20 Presidency and training for personnel involved in events and Programmes. The Committee has noted that out of the allocation of Rs 320 crore in 2022-23 for G20 India's Presidency Summit, the expenditure incurred so far under this head is Rs 92.59 crore and an amount of Rs 990 crore has been provisioned in the BE 2023-24. The Committee understands that the BE 2023-24 allocation is not adequate based on current estimations and projections and G20 Secretariat/MEA would seek additional outlay for implementation of G20 meetings during the course of FY 2023-24, according to a Parliamentary Report by the External Affairs Committee. The Committee on External Affairs headed by P.P. Chaudhary presented their Twentieth Report on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of External Affairs for the year 2023-24, on Tuesday. Being aware of the magnitude and scale of events/programmes planned all over the country during India's G20 Presidency, the Committee expect timely availability of funds for the effective implementation of events and programmes scheduled for the current year. The Committee, therefore, desired that the Ministry should remain vigilant and keep a close and diligent watch on the trend of expenditure while holding G20 meetings/events and make careful regular analysis for funding requirements so that a realistic projection of anticipated expenditure is arrived at well in advance and the Ministry can get the desired funds from the Ministry of Finance well on time to meet all the expenses in this regard. The Committee has noted that the G20 Presidency is India's most high-profile international endeavour ever. It is also a unique opportunity to present a face of leadership, diversity, success and our development template to the world. The Committee feels that in order to showcase the best of India to the world and to live up to India's vision of becoming 'Viswa Guru', each and every personnel to be engaged from the stakeholder organisations for G20 programmes needs to be groomed appropriately. Hence, the Committee has desired that formal training for all the officials involved in the upcoming events should be held at regular intervals, in addition to inter-ministerial training and familiarisation programmes held by the G20 Secretariat. As citizen engagement and large-scale public participation through various 'Jan Bhagidari' activities are also being planned and conducted across the country, follow-up training for the officials of all line Ministries as well as the Protocol Officers of States should also be conducted so that the decentralized activities and programmes are brought in alignment with the G20 initiatives and programmes. Further, no stone should be left unturned in creating awareness among the citizens about the mission and vision of G20 to be upheld as a country before the visiting delegations. (ANI)
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday announced that there will be a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on joint official statements adopted at the highest level. The PM said: "There won't be a new escalation." "There will be a #peace treaty between #Armenia and #Azerbaijan, and it will be based on the joint official statements adopted at the highest level. There won't be a new escalation! The international community must strongly support this narrative," the Armenian PM tweeted on Thursday. US State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel in response to the development said the US is encouraged by the progress made toward lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. He said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is engaged in facilitating peace discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "@SecBlinken is very engaged in facilitating peace discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we are encouraged by the progress made toward lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. We very much appreciate @NikolPashinyan's message on that progress," Patel tweeted on Friday. Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in two wars in the more than 30 years both ex-Soviet states have been independent. Thousands of lives have been claimed in fighting for the control of Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated enclave of Karabakh. According to Al Jazeera, a fragile truce has been in force between the neighbours since a 2020 war that left more than 6,500 dead and forced Armenia to cede territories it had controlled for decades. Recently, Azerbaijani troops and ethnic Armenians exchanged gunfire in Azerbaijan's contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh, killing at least five people. As per Azerbaijan's defence ministry, two servicemen were killed after Azerbaijani troops stopped a convoy suspected of carrying weapons from the region's main town to outlying areas. It said the convoy had used an unauthorised road. Armenia's foreign ministry said three officials from the Karabakh interior ministry were killed. The convoy had been carrying documents and a service pistol, it said, dismissing Azerbaijani allegations that weapons were being carried as "absurd", Al Jazeera reported. It said Azerbaijan's version of events was a "provocation planned in advance and instructed by the top leadership". (ANI)
On World Tuberculosis Day (TB), the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for intensified actions to eradicate the disease in the South East Asian region which bears the world's highest TB burden. WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh highlighted the urgent need for countries and partners to strengthen high-level leadership and investments, accelerate uptake of new WHO recommendations and innovations, better address social and economic determinants, and improve multisectoral collaboration, according to the WHO Press Release. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has not just stalled but reversed years of progress towards the end TB milestones. In 2021, the estimated burden of new and relapse TB cases globally was 10.6 million, an increase of half a million compared to 2020. Mortality from TB and TB-HIV coinfection stood at 1.6 million, an increase of around 200 000 from pre-COVID-19 levels, WHO stated in an official release. The WHO South-East Asia Region bears the world's highest TB burden. In 2021, the Region accounted for more than 45 per cent of global TB incidence and more than half of global TB deaths. Throughout the COVID-19 response, the Region prioritised maintaining essential health services, including for TB, however in 2020 notified 2.6 million new and relapse TB cases, a 24 per cent reduction from 2019. In 2021, the Region achieved a partial recovery, reporting 3 million new and relapsed cases, still 12 per cent fewer than in 2019. According to the official release, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated key social and economic determinants of TB such as poverty and undernutrition, pushing tens of millions more people in the Region into extreme poverty. Even before the pandemic, an estimated 30-80 per cent of TB patients in the Region faced catastrophic costs due to TB, and around 1 million new TB cases annually - more than 1 in 5 - were attributable to undernutrition. It is estimated that across the Region, the overall impact of the crisis could lead to over 7 million additional TB cases and 1.5 million additional TB deaths between 2022 and 2026. Despite immense and ongoing challenges, the Region continues to intensify action to achieve the End TB milestones, in line with its Flagship Priority and Regional Strategic Plan towards ending TB 2021-25, as well as the global End TB Strategy, the UN Political Declaration on the Fight Against TB, and Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 Preliminary data shared with WHO shows strong recovery in TB case notifications in most countries of the Region. It is anticipated that in several high-burden countries, the total number of patients initiated on treatment in 2022 will be more than in 2019, and in some cases, the highest ever. In 2022, budget allocations for TB programmes in the Region reached a cumulative total of nearly USD 1.4 billion, almost 60 per cent from domestic resources. Momentum must continue to build ahead of the second UN High Level Meeting on TB, scheduled for September 2023, which will bring together Heads of State from across the world to mobilize increased political and social commitment to end TB, ensuring comprehensive and universal care for all. For that, the Region has several priorities. First, strengthening high-level leadership, engagement and advocacy to increase investments to end TB. WHO estimates that the Region needs at least USD 3 billion annually to avert nearly 4.5 million new TB cases and prevent more than 1.5 million TB deaths by 2025. Countries and partners must urgently - and sustainably - increase funding availability and strengthen investments, recognizing that for every dollar invested, 40 are returned. To date, more than 5000 molecular test platforms have been installed across the Region to promptly diagnose TB and medication resistance. To ensure quick diagnosis and treatment, as well as to stop the spread of the disease, such platforms must be expanded. A new, WHO-approved treatment plan that has improved cure rates in just 6-9 months ought to be swiftly adopted and implemented worldwide, the official press release of WHO read. Moreover, in the eradication of TB, mechanisms should be established and/or strengthened to support TB patients and their families to avoid catastrophic costs, supplement nutrition and promote treatment adherence. Stigma and discrimination must continue to be tackled, including through community engagement and empowerment initiatives that promote high-quality information. On World TB Day, WHO reiterates its commitment to support all countries of the Region to get back on track, to turn the tide, and to end TB by 2030, leaving no one behind. The health sector alone cannot end TB. Rather, ending TB requires dedicated action from multiple sectors, which as highlighted at the 2021 Regional High-level Meeting to End TB, should be coordinated by national high-level mechanisms. Such mechanisms - which seven countries have developed - must define clear roles and responsibilities, and should be accompanied by an accountability framework that is aligned with WHO guidance, the press release added. (ANI)
The US nominee for World Bank President Ajay Banga, upon his arrival in New Delhi on Thursday, tested Covid positive and is now under quarantine as per the local guidelines. Soon after he arrived, he tested positive and has not met any Indian counterparts yet. According to a spokesperson of the US Embassy in Delhi, Banga conducted multiple tests for Covid during his tour and tested negative before departing for India, however, tested positive for the disease in India. Banga is set to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and PM Modi during his India visit. The World Bank, India's development priorities, and the difficulties facing world economic development will be the main topics of discussion. As of now "Ajay Banga has not met with any Indian counterparts. He is quarantining in isolation, in adherence to local guidelines," the Spokesperson of US Embassy in New Delhi told ANI. He is on a visit to India on March 23-24, capping a three-week global listening tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Additionally, Banga will visit the Learnet Institute of Skills, which is a network of vocational institutes established in collaboration with the National Skills Development Corporation, funded in part by the World Bank. Banga will learn about the Institute's program and meet with program participants, staff, alumni, and private sector partners to discuss how it is improving the lives and economic opportunities of participants - particularly young people. India's government endorsed Banga's candidacy soon after his nomination was announced. Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cote d'Ivoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society. Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in New Delhi on Friday and discussed ways of leveraging digital technology for a better and sustainable case. The two leaders held extensive discussions on connectivity as well as leadership roles. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "Glad to have met @ITUSecGen Doreen Bogdan-Martin. We had extensive discussions on leveraging digital technology for a better and sustainable planet." Responding to Modi's tweet, the Secretary General of ITU commended Modi for his leadership, keeping connectivity and innovation high on the agenda. "I commend PM @narendramodi & India for their leadership, keeping connectivity + innovation high on the agenda, and for recognizing @ITU as #G20 knowledge partner.This 2023 SDG midpoint provides a much-needed opportunity for G20 countries to harness digital to rescue #GlobalGoals," the Secretary-General tweeted. Notably, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) area office and innovation centre in India on Wednesday, besides unveiling the 'Bharat 6G Vision Document' and launching a 6G R&D Test Bed. "Within 6 months of 5G, we are already talking about 6G technology. This shows the confidence of India," PM Modi said. PM Modi said India will set up 100 5G labs in the coming years. "For India, telecom technology is not just a mode of power but a mission to empower...India rolled out 5G connections in more than 125 cities within 120 days. India will set up 100 5G labs in the coming years," PM Modi said at the event. ITU is the United Nations' specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). Headquartered in Geneva, it has a network of field offices, regional Offices and area offices. India signed a host country agreement in March 2022 with ITU for the establishment of an area office. India ITU area office will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran. "India is a role model for countries that are looking to digital transformation. India is home to one of the biggest startup ecosystems, digital payments market and tech workforce in the world. Under the vision and leadership of PM Modi, Digital India has put the country on the forefront of tech innovation & adaption with game-changing initiatives like Aadhar, UPI and others," Doreen Bogdan, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union. "Innovation in India is happening fast and at a low cost and at a scale never seen before because at the centre is the core principle of inclusive growth which is captured in the mantra of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'," Bogdan said. In India, telecom service providers started providing high-speed 5G services in the country in October 2022 onwards. The government issued spectrum allocation letters to telecom service providers in August 2022, asking them to prepare for the rollout of 5G services in the country. (ANI)
Pakistan has been known for its perennial support to the Taliban in Afghanistan and other terrorist organizations in India and continues to sponsor terrorist outfits along the Line of Control (LoC). A recent incident in which three terrorists opened fire at a rally of the Jammu and Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) and National Awami Party (NAP) at Tatrinote in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on March 18 proves that the Pak army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) continue to patronize such terrorist organizations. Notably, these three terrorists were granted pre-arrest bail with a bond of Pakistani Rs 50000/- each. PoK-based nationalists alleged that terrorists carried out the said attack at the instance of the army and ISI. One of the said terrorists involved in open firing at the rally was released from an Afghan prison immediately after the Taliban takeover of Kabul - Waqar Sabir, r/o Tatrinote. Prior to joining Afghan Taliban in their so-called jihad against the US, he had been active as a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander. During the war against the US, he had been arrested. He was one of those JeM terrorists, who had been released from the Afghan jails along with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. Following his release from the Afghan jail, Waqar Sabir arrived at Rawalakot on August 22, 2021. On arrival, he was accorded a grand welcome by JeM and other terrorist and Islamist organisations and brought to Tatrinote in a rally. Moreover, Pakistan is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Multiple terrorist attacks were witnessed on November 26, 2008, in Mumbai. As many as 166 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreign nationals, were killed and over 300 people were injured. The country, in which sectarian groups targeting minority communities (Shias, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Ahmadis) and Kashmir-focused groups confined their operations to J-K and the rest of India, has become a victim of its own holy war as a consequence of the 'unholy alliance' between the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, military and self-styled religious scholars. This historic alliance has resulted in colossal rise of radical Islam being a factor in the country's proclivity to Islamic fundamentalism. To sustain the Kashmir movement at minimal cost, the ISI plans to cause disaffection and alienation, play the Islam-in-danger card, highlight the non-performance of the elected government and atrocities allegedly committed by the security forces. Moreover, a crisis in Kashmir constitutes an excellent outlet for the frustration at home, an instrument for the mobilisation of the masses, as well as gaining the support of the Islamist parties and primarily their loyalists in the military and the ISI. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday reiterated that economic fugitives like Mehul Choksi should face justice. Speaking at a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "On the issue of Mehul Choksi. Look, I use the word, you know, red corner notice. Yes, let me just take the larger name. Our focus is on getting economic fugitives to face justice in India. And we will continue specific issues in today's regarding red corner notice. Otherwise, look, I have to direct you to the concern. I think they issued a detailed press release. I really don't have anything to add to that." Notably, Interpol revoked the Red Corner list against Mehul Choksi. The removal from the Interpol database of Red Notices will make the fugitive diamantaire eligible to travel at will to any other country, apart from India where he faces multiple cases, according to government sources. However, the sources said the removal of the Red Corner Notice by the global police body against Choksi will have no bearing on the Punjab National Bank scam case, which is already at an advanced stage. Red Corner Notices are issued against fugitives and are considered as a request to law enforcement agencies across the world to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. The 63-year-old diamantaire is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,000-crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB). Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said that it remains in active communication with Commission for Control of INTERPOL's Files (CCF) and other bodies in INTERPOL after it removed the Red Corner Notice against Mehul Choksi. (ANI)
An activist from the Geneva-based Universal Rights Group apprised the United Nations Human Rights Council (NHRC) of how stability and prosperity are returning to the Kashmir Valley. In her intervention during the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the activist from J-K said, "More families are expected to come forward, sharing their experiences as stability and prosperity return to Kashmir." Further sharing details of the situation returning to normal in the Union Territory, the activist said, "As violence in Kashmir is on the decline and life returns to normal, there is a visible change in the attitude of the common Kashmiris." Also sharing the "tough times" her family had experienced before things changed for the better in the UT, she said, "For the first time, numerous Kashmiri families have shared their inability to speak about atrocities committed by terrorist organisations. In 2003, my sister was brutally killed by militants and I was shot multiple times. Life has never been normal since that day," said the activist. She added, "Today, we are willing to speak up and soon. We spend decades in anonymity. Out of fear of retribution by militants and existing patriarchal structures all these years, the information vacuum was exploited by giving false impressions on the developments in Kashmir." On her expectations from the Council, the activist said, "Taking the focus away from the perpetrators of terror is not enough for women to feel secure. Acknowledgement and moral support for these families and protection of human rights shall go a long way in establishing the desired comfort zone." She concluded her intervention with an appeal to the UNHRC, "It is a humble request to Human Rights Councils that the voices of Kashmiri victims of terror be heard by the international committee and effort be made to sensitise the world about these acts." (ANI)
A growing number of countries in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific have banned the popular video-sharing app TikTok from government devices as privacy and cybersecurity concerns increase, with France likely to be the latest, reported France 24. French Civil Service Minister Stanislas Guerini on Friday announced that France would ban the use of the Chinese-owned video-sharing app, TikTok, on the work phones of civil servants. "In order to guarantee the cybersecurity of our administrations and civil servants, the government has decided to ban recreational applications such as TikTok on the professional phones of civil servants," he tweeted. A string of governments and institutions in the West have banned TikTok in recent weeks, including the UK parliament, the Dutch and Belgian administrations and the New Zealand parliament. India too imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps, including the messaging app WeChat, in 2020 over privacy and security concerns. Concerns have mounted globally about the potential for the Chinese government to access users' location and contact data through ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, reported France24. The company's CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a grilling US lawmakers on Thursday, in a rare bipartisan rebuke that reflected a growing penchant to ban the app from the US over its ties to China and handling of user data. Both Democrats and Republicans view the Chinese Communist Party as America's foremost national security threat. They recognise that the CCP is playing the long haul and its endgame is global domination. To achieve its mission, Beijing is using a four-dimensional strategy of military, economic, diplomatic and cultural aggression with technology as its core. That includes TikTok. TikTok's chief executive said user data can be accessed by its Chinese parent company and said that the staff in China currently have the ability to see user information. In testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, CEO Shou Zi Chew struggled to reassure lawmakers that the massively popular social video app doesn't pose a risk to its 150 million users nor share user data with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moreover, TikTok is bound by China's National Intelligence Law, which compels every Chinese citizen and company to surrender all data to the Chinese Communist Party on request and perform surveillance activities on behalf of the CCP. TikTok, like many other social media companies, collects users' personal information, including phone numbers, email addresses, contacts and Wi-Fi networks. ByteDance has said the company does not share information with the Chinese government, but US officials counter that Chinese law requires the company based in Beijing to make the app's data available to the CCP. The China-based app, which counts more than 150 million US users each month, has faced growing scrutiny from government officials over fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government and that the app could be weaponised by China to spread misinformation. In testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, CEO Shou Zi Chew struggled to reassure lawmakers that the massively popular social video app doesn't pose a risk to the US. He admitted that TikTok had collected location data on US users in the past, and said some historical data is still stored in servers that could be accessed by engineers from ByteDance, its parent company based in China, reported CBS News. TikTok is already banned on federal government devices, including military devices, and a growing number of states have implemented it on state government devices. Federal lawmakers have introduced several bills that would empower the administration to ban TikTok nationwide. The Biden administration wants ByteDance to divest itself from the short-form video platform. (ANI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to push for the gas giant Gazprom Siberia pipeline was deflated after Chinese President Xi Jinping did not show interest in the milestone project, reported The Washington Post. The Chinese leader's state visit showed Moscow and Beijing united against the West, but failure to agree on the Siberia Power 2 pipeline suggested that economic ties have limits. Xi's support for Putin, despite his invasion of Ukraine, is a geopolitical milestone - the Chinese leader called it a change "not seen in 100 years" -- as Beijing prepares for an era of growing confrontation with the United States and the press positioned for a multipolar world to end Washington's global dominance. But Xi's failure to give Russia the added token boost of a huge gas pipeline deal showed he would not sacrifice China's economic self-interest, and it highlighted Putin's weakness and growing dependence on his "dear friend," reported The Washington Post. Russian gas giant Gazprom has been pushing the Siberia pipeline plan for years, and all eyes were on the meetings with Xi this week for signs of agreement. Putin is desperately scouting for hungry new gas markets after Russia lost the bulk of its most important export market, Europe, following his invasion of Ukraine. That loss included Putin's ill-considered move to cut gas supplies to Germany through a major pipeline last year, reported The Washington Post. Even if there was an agreement, the pipeline would take many years to build and would not help Russia's near-term economic woes with its shrinking revenues due to sanctions. Xi's trip offered Putin important moral support, and Chinese trade has bolstered Russia's economy, but the lack of a deal on Power of Siberia 2 showed the limits of what Xi is willing to do, said Janis Kluge, an expert on Russia's economy with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. "Russia needs a lot from China right now, and it's in a very weak position," Kluge said. "Basically, it would be a gesture of trust or loyalty from the Chinese side because, of course, these gas deals are always very long-term commitments," he said, adding that it was questionable if the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline would ever be built, which in turn raises doubts about whether Russia's western Siberian gas would ever be exported, reported The Washington Post. Moreover, the leaders' joint statement referred vaguely to "strengthening the comprehensive partnership in the energy sector" but, tellingly, only agreed to "make efforts to advance work on studying and agreeing" on the landmark project. Putin said on Tuesday that "practically all the parameters" of the Power of Siberia 2 deal had been agreed upon, but his comments concealed a defeat of Russian efforts to get final agreement from China, reported The Washington Times. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports that the failure to get a deal was a defeat for Putin, calling these "low-quality fake stories." But there are plenty of uncertainties, including the expected level of Chinese gas demand in the 2030s, the price of gas at that time, China's ready access to many other global suppliers and its capacity to increase its own domestic gas production. The International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook last year reported that China's LNG contracts, existing pipelines and new domestic gas projects would exceed its requirements up to 2035, as the growth in demand for gas slows. (ANI)
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said that he would ask United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken to set up a US consulate in Bengaluru soon. Jaishankar made the above remarks while addressing a Yuva Samvada organised by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya at the RV Dental College, JP Nagar on Friday When asked by Surya why Bengaluru does not have a US Consulate even though it contributes 40 per cent of the country's IT revenue, Jaishankar said, "If I were a resident of Bengaluru, this makes perfect sense. Even for a decision-maker in America, it makes perfect sense. Why it has not happened so far - it is for my American counterpart to take a call. But I do think it is a compelling ask." "It's honestly a no-brainer. Since you have put it so strongly and repeatedly, I assure you that the next time I meet Anthony Blinken, I will hammer home that message with at least as much force as you have done." Surya had requested Jaishankar for a US consulate in November 2019 and had also placed a request with the Ambassador of the US to India, Dr Kenneth Juster, in March 2020. The assurance received at the Yuva Samvada on Friday will go a long way in setting up the US Consulate in the city, a long-standing demand of Bengalureans. At the Yuva Samvada, Jaishankar spoke on a variety of topics, including the significance of hosting the G20 Summit this year, the relationship with Russia and China, the priorities of the Quad and India's humanitarian efforts in Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan. The Yuva Samvada is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's outreach programme for the youth, especially first-time voters ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Elections. During the event, Surya also spoke about the contribution of Bengaluru to the country. "India is the world's fastest-growing large economy and is touching new milestones every day. Our state Karnataka is leading that growth in India. "In the last 4 years, the state that has attracted the highest FDI in Karnataka. Karnataka also houses the world's fastest-growing city, which is projected to grow as the fastest-growing city for the next 15 years too - Namma Bengaluru. "The state that ranks top on the National Innovation index is Karnataka. It's also here that 400 out of the Fortune 500 companies operate. Additionally, 65% of India's aerospace and defence manufacturing happens in Bengaluru. It is a matter of pride that the city with the largest metro connectivity in the South is Bengaluru. "In the entire country, Bengaluru is also the city with the largest per capita income and 50% of the country's unicorns were started and are operating in the state. This is the kind of fast-paced growth track which Karnataka is on, under the double engine governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai." (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that it is the duty of the host country to provide security to high commissions and as a foreign minister he cannot accept the vandalisation at the Indian high commission in London by pro-Khalistani elements. "As a foreign minister we are not going to accept this," Jaishankar said in his address at the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Yuva Samvad programme in Bengaluru on Thursday. When asked about his response to the vandalism at Indian High Commission in London, Jaishankar said, "Whenever any country sends an embassy abroad, it is the obligation of the receiving country to provide security to the diplomats. It is the obligation of the receiving country to ensure that the embassy or the High Commission's premises are respected." Jaishankar said, "We have had conversations with the British government." But as a foreign minister we are not going to accept these acts, he said. The External Affairs Minister also said that he wanted to share the reasons why today the world is looking at India with a different sense of respect, with a greater sense of partnership and with a desire for closer engagement. He said, "When Covid first came there was a genuine worry in the world how countries which do not have a strong public health system, a very robust infrastructure, no social safety net, how will such societies cope with Covid. At many high-level conversations, even at a G20 level, often India would be mentioned as a source of worry for the world." "But when we see who came through it and in what manner I think the world sat up and really took notice of India. In all of this I think the world saw two very big differences in India over the last few years," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar further said, "One was the fact that we produced vaccines on a scale, with efficiency and with timeliness that the rest of the world really came to admire. Second, we a nation which was always last in the queue waiting for other people to do their stuff and then eventually it would come to us, we actually had not just Made in India vaccines, we had Invented in India vaccines." BJYM national president and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya was also present on the occasion and moderated the dialogue. (ANI)
Two Kashmiri women from Kashmir, who are taking part in the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, have praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for rapid development in the Kashmir valley after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 (A) from Jammu and Kashmir. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Tasleema Akhtar said, "I am thankful and grateful to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who in the past 2-3 years, have brought about development in Kashmir after the abrogation of article 370. Earlier, there were no such developments. And I think because of them unemployment will also be removed. I salute Indian government ideologues and the government for giving them the opportunity to speak up for voiceless people." On being asked about Pakistan's narrative on Kashmir in the UN, Akhtar commented that Pakistan need funds and for that, they keep on putting false propaganda in front of the other nations regarding Kashmir. She also said that she is from Kashmir and knew the condition on a grassroots level. "Pakistan is the one who is disturbing the peace in Kashmir," Akhtar said. Tasleema works for women's empowerment and rehabilitation of terror victims, whereas Bushra Majajabeen is a terror attack survivor. Meanwhile, another Kashmiri woman, Bushra Mahajabeen, in an interview with ANI recalled her incident when she lost one hand due to the terror attack. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Mahajabeen said, "I have already said about myself and I also shared my story of 2003, when I was very small. That year, some terrorists suddenly entered our house and targeted my sister. I held one of the terrorist's riffles in order to save my sister, but there was another member of that terror group who was sitting right behind me, just shot me and I lost my one hand. And it is very difficult to work with one hand. My family has also suffered a lot." In the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the activist from J-K said, "More families are expected to come forward, sharing their experiences as stability and prosperity return to Kashmir." Further sharing details of the situation returning to normal in the Union Territory, the activist said, "As violence in Kashmir is on the decline and life returns to normal, there is a visible change in the attitude of the common Kashmiris." Also sharing the "tough times" her family had experienced before things changed for the better in the UT, she said, "For the first time, numerous Kashmiri families have shared their inability to speak about atrocities committed by terrorist organisations. In 2003, my sister was brutally killed by militants and I was shot multiple times. Life has never been normal since that day," said the activist. She added, "Today, we are willing to speak up and soon. We spend decades in anonymity. Out of fear of retribution by militants and existing patriarchal structures all these years, the information vacuum was exploited by giving false impressions on the developments in Kashmir." (ANI)
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that any Ukrainian attempt to capture Crimea could be met with a nuclear response by Moscow, Russia Today reported. He underlined that Kyiv's assertions that it could grab the peninsula are merely empty threats. Asserting that "this is propaganda and should be viewed that way, during the war it always occurs," Medvedev rejected the probability that Ukraine will assault Crimea, in remarks to the media on Friday. Medvedev, who is currently the constable head of Russia's Security Council, said, "If we talk about some sort of serious offensive that is associated with an attempt to retake Crimea, it is quite obvious that this is the basis for the use of all means of protection, including those provided for by fundamentals of Doctrine of Nuclear Deterrence when the use of any types of weapons against Russia threatens the existence of the state itself," Russia Today reported. Following a coup in Kyiv supported by the West, Crimea joined Russia in 2014 after a resounding majority of the local population voted in favour of the change. Kyiv has frequently promised to use force to reclaim the peninsula, but Ukraine and its Western backers have refused to acknowledge the move. Medvedev emphasised that any attempt to sever a piece of Russia would be viewed as a threat to the survival of the country. The former president said, "Therefore, draw your own conclusions. There are absolutely grounds for using any weapon here. Absolutely any kind. And I hope our 'friends' across the ocean understand this." He further emphasised that the likelihood of a nuclear exchange has not diminished but has, rather, increased. Medvedev warned that "the horsemen of the apocalypse continue to march," adding, "It doesn't mean that this will happen, but the closer the world creeps towards a nuclear holocaust with every day that Western weapons are sent to Ukraine." According to Russia Today, the former Russian president further asserted that the Kyiv administration "would not have survived even a week" in the face of Russian forces without military support and "direct monetary injections" from NATO. The issue becomes more challenging the more weapons there are available, Medvedev continued. Despite the fact that Russia's General Staff is doing its own analysis and formulating plans for a defence, he claimed it is "clear" Kyiv is putting together a fresh offensive. Medvedev maintained that while Moscow would prefer a peaceful conclusion to any issue, the West is uninterested in doing so, Russia Today reported. (ANI)
It apears that after Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also witness a delay in the polls as the Governor of the province Haji Ghulam Ali urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the general elections in October, in the wake of the rise in terror activities, Geo News reported. According to the Geo News, in the letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Governor said that it would be in the "best public interest as well as in the interest of the state" if the election will take place on October 8 instead of the previous date, which he had suggested earlier on May 28. It is pertinent to mention that the Punjab province election date is also October 8. The elections were earlier scheduled to be held on April 30, Pakistan-based ARY News reported. According to details, the ECP withdrew the Punjab Election Program notification issued on March 8 and decided to postpone the Punjab election and announced October 8 as the new date for elections in Punjab, as per ARY News. According to ECP spokesman, President Arif Alvi has also been informed about the postponement of elections in Punjab, adding that the new election schedule will be released soon. The governor noted that recently, a fresh wave of terrorist activities has been taking place in the northwestern province on a daily basis. He said a cross-border fire in North Waziristan, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast on an army vehicle in Kohat, heavy exchange of fire with terrorists in South Waziristan on March 15, and unidentified terrorists firing on Khyber's Bara Police Station on March 19 are enough to depict that the terror attack has increased in the province, according to Geo News. Citing further incidents, he said a terrorist attack took on a police station in DI Khan followed by a search operation by the army, resulting in the martyrdom of three army soldiers on the night between March 21 and 22. Also, he said, on March 21, a convoy was ambushed in South Waziristan which resulted in the martyrdom of Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Barki from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and injuries to seven other personnel. The governor, in the letter, further said that since the ECP has postponed the election date for the general elections of Punjab to October 8, it is also suggested that the same date should be appointed as the election day for the general elections in KP. It is pertinent to mention here, the government has welcomed the election commission's decision to postpone the polls till October, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vehemently rejected it and announced challenging it in the Supreme Court, reported Geo News. (ANI)
Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister under the caretaker Taliban regime, Amir Khan Muttaqi in an op-ed for Al Jazeera, said that the primary cause of the ongoing economic crisis in the country is the imposition of sanctions and banking restrictions by the US. He said that this impedes and delays efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, Tolo News reported. The op-ed is titled: "Afghanistan is ready to work with the US, but sanctions must go." Muttaqi said that a unique opportunity has emerged to embark on rapprochement between Afghanistan and the world. "We also understand that the globalised nature of modern relations means that all state actors must learn to live in harmony and peace with one another," he said. "Such relations should be founded on the immutable principles of equality, mutual respect and cooperation through the pursuit of shared interests. Bearing this in mind, the current government of Afghanistan once again extends its hand of positive engagement to the world," he said, according to Tolo News. Muttaqi also wrote about the achievements of the Islamic Emirate since it came to power "despite the fact that we inherited a collapsed narco-state, with an emptied treasury, unpaid bills, millions of drug addicts, rampant corruption, universal poverty and unemployment and a stagnant economy." An international relations analyst, Nematullah Bizhan, recently said that: "The Taliban are trying to define their relations with the world. This is the need of the two sides." Afghanistan's new leaders believe in dialogue and an exchange of ideas, Muttaqi said, "but it takes two hands to clap." He called on the international community to respect Afghanistan's independence, saying "the religious and cultural sensibilities call for a cautious approach." The international community has repeatedly called for human rights, women's education, counter-terrorism efforts and assurances that Afghan soil will not be used by groups to attack foreign soil, as well as the formation of an inclusive government as preconditions for engagement with the Islamic Emirate, according to Tolo News. "The US and international community are currently focused on the civil and political rights of the people and the issue of governance, which are the obstacles in the way if recognition," said Javid Javid, another international relations analyst, as quoted by Tolo News. It has been nearly two years since the Islamic Emirate swept into power but it has yet to be formally recognized by any country. (ANI)
China recently mediated a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and it has been stated that this pact has changed the geopolitical dynamics of the West Asian region. By many measures, the peace agreement that seeks to end the underlying tensions between the two most significant players in the region bypassed the United States, which has long been the most powerful factor in the region, reported The Singapore Post. Due to the US's dominance in the Middle East, China, one of the biggest importers of oil from Iran and Saudi Arabia, had for a long time been a minor player in the region. So, the agreement not only shows the influence China has attained through its diplomatic efforts, but it also demonstrates the shortcomings of the current American government. Washington's spiralling ties with Tehran have also limited its ability to engage in diplomatic negotiations, which left it with little negotiating power in the recently announced accord. The US's accusations that Iran has been giving Russia drones and bolstering Moscow's offensive capabilities against Ukraine in the current conflict have also contributed to this. Also, the opposition to the murder of a female protester during her detention has severely hampered both countries' ability to cooperate, according to a report published in The Singapore Post. Aside from its tumultuous relations with Tehran, the Biden administration's predecessor, the Saudis, who have been Washington's staunch partner in the West Asian region for a long time, have been at odds with their Saudi counterparts on a regular basis since that time. Due to Washington's inaction, the Houthi rebels' 2019 missile and drone attack on oil refining facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia run by the state-owned Aramco strained relations between the US administration and the Saudi government. The move also led to the suspension of about 5 per cent of the worldwide crude oil output each day, which sharply increased oil prices throughout the international economy. As the Saudi government resisted American pressure to lower oil prices in order to enhance production capacity as a result of sanctions on Russian crude oil, things took a turn for the worst. Since then, Riyadh is thought to have realised its strained relationship with the US and is looking for alternative ways to ease regional tensions. The current administration has a large portion of the guilt for giving China the opportunity to promote its image as a global mediator, which more or less conceals its aggressive attitude at territorial boundaries throughout its territory. So, it is evident that the Chinese, who mediated the 'historic' agreement between the two adversarial nations, filled the existing void. The optics of the US in leading such a deal, even though many analysts still believe that it still has significant influence globally, let alone in the region, are impressive, despite the fact that the fulfilment of the deal has not yet reached its pinnacle conclusion and only a roadmap has been agreed upon. The agreement also follows requests from important international players to stop Tehran from enhancing its nuclear capabilities past what is allowed. But, Iran has been speeding up its nuclear programme mostly as a result of the failure to revive the 2015 agreement intended to restrict Iran's nuclear development. The US administration should have actively sought to find a diplomatic end to the Yemen war, which had devolved into a proxy war between the Saudis and the Iranians, in addition to restricting Iran's nuclear capabilities. Furthermore, many people also believe that the exact cause for the decline of its great power status globally was due to its failure to act in accordance with its global position. This is mostly due to the present left-centric administration's failure to pay attention to areas that are crucial for the health of the global economy as a whole. A report in The Singapore Post read a tranquil region is in everyone's best interests, but China's engagement makes the unstable area a stage for Beijing to demonstrate its hegemonic traits in the future. This not only means it will surpass Washington as a regional powerhouse, but it also means it will advance its own authoritative developmental model, leaving little room for the principles that democracies instil in their political systems. West Asia has been raging under constant strain for decades due to their abundant natural resource which has more often not been a reason for concern. It is only possible to conclude that an alternative axis to Washington's global position is forming and seeks to challenge the influence that such a position inculcates as a result of the US's decline as a key power in the region as a result of China's rapid economic and political growth. As a result, Washington's and its strategic allies' flawed foreign policy strategy will lead to further giving in to the developing axis, which merely wants to seize control of the dominating position in the current global hierarchy. More cooperative efforts have resulted on the horizon between the Saudi Kingdom and China, which in its own right is growing its power impact by demonstrating that it is a trustworthy partner as opposed to the United States, which has only shown itself to be unreliable in the last two years. Hence, a foreign policy approach that integrates rather than isolates is essential at this time, as failing to do so will allow the merging powers to gain even more significant influence in areas that have historically been influenced by great powers of the world. (ANI)
US Vice President Kamala Harris has said that she is "deeply saddened by the one-year anniversary of the ban on girls' secondary school attendance in Afghanistan, and by the prohibition on university education for Afghan women", Khaama Press reported. "We will never stop championing the rights of women and girls around the world," Harris said on Twitter. Recently, US special envoy to Afghanistan, Rina Amiri, in an interview with CNN voiced concerns about the situation of Afghan women. "Afghan women are leaders and they are resilient and they are fighting back. The world needs to understand to counter the narrative, that the situation of Afghan women is hopeless," she said, according to Khaama Press. With the beginning of the school year in Afghanistan, female students in grades 6-12 were banned from attending their classes for the second year in a row. US President Joe Biden recently said that Washington stands with women in Iran and Afghanistan who are facing violence, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported. Biden made the remarks in a White House speech for Women's History Month. "We stand with women in Iran and Afghanistan who are facing down violence ... The budget I laid out two weeks ago, includes more than three billion dollars, a record amount, to advance general quality globally not just at home," he said, as quoted by TOLO News. This comes as the Deputy Foreign Minister of the US, Wendy R. Sherman also called on Kabul to allow women and girls their basic rights. "We again call on the Taliban to allow women and girls to exercise their basic human rights and the fundamental freedom to deliver on their commitment to the Afghan people and to the international community," she said, according to TOLO News. According to the Taliban, women's rights are an internal issue in Afghanistan and foreign countries should not interfere. "They should understand their responsibilities regarding Afghanistan. They impose their sanctions on the people of Afghanistan, on these women. They have frozen the money and don't allow improvement," said Islamic Emirate's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. (ANI)
The daughter of a sanitation worker from India's Indore city, who is doing her PhD in Switzerland on a government scholarship, has praised the country for uplifting the marginalized people, during the 52nd Session of Human Rights Council Session in Geneva on Friday. Speaking exclusively to ANI at the UN, Rohini Ghavari said: "I have got a golden chance to be at the UN. For the past two years, I am doing my PhD in Geneva and it was my dream to represent India at the United Nations and spread awareness about the situation of the Dalit community in India". She added: "Being a girl, it was always a difficult path to reach here. As a Dalit girl, I am really proud that I got a chance to be here. The condition of Dalit in India is much better than in neighbouring counties like Pakistan and others. We have a reservation policy for Dalits. Even I received a scholarship of Rs. 1 Crore from the government of India. I am a real example." Rohini said that as a sanitation worker's daughter, it's a big achievement that we have reached here. Pakistan has been continuously attacking India on minorities issues and the treatment of Dalit, tribal and other people belonging to marginalized sections of the society. Rohini said: "The major change in India is that we have a tribal President Draupadi Murmu, and we have an OBC Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Of course, in the past 75 years, dalits in India have witnessed changes. There are not much counties where minorities have got a chance to reach at the top position. But, our country's Constitution is so strong where a person belonging to marginalised section can take a dream of becoming a Prime Minister or President. He / She can go to Harvard and Oxford. India has seen such changes". She added: "Some countries and even NGOs used to portray wrong image of India at the UN. If you are representing your country at international forums, there are both positive and negative things. If you go to the U.S., they have an issue of Black and White. In India, we have cases of caste discrimination. But, there are positive things too. Being a Dalit girl, I am an example". "I believe that we should also portray positive things at the UN. I have told the UN that we are witnessing many changes and some things still need to be improved. My mother is a sanitation worker and I know the challenges. A lot needs to be done about manual scavengers as National Commission for Sanitation Workers has been established. I have spoken about this and I request PM Modi to work for the manual scavengers." (ANI)
Competitors zero their rifles during the 2022 European Best Sniper Competition on August 4. US Army/Spc Christian Carrillo

European snipers gathered on a US base in Germany in August for an international competition.

The 2022 version of the European Best Sniper Team Competition was one of the largest ever.

It took place as Russia's attack on Ukraine highlights the continued value of sniper operations.

Every year, the best snipers from around Europe show up in a US military base in Germany to determine who has the best sniper team on the continent.

Last year, the European Best Sniper Team Competition, hosted by the US Army, had one of its largest events ever against the backdrop of Russia's attack on Ukraine, which has shown that sniper operations are as important as ever.

The European Best Sniper Team Competition

Estonian troops in a replica of a downed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 6. US Army/Staff Sgt. Dana Clarke

In total, 36 teams from 18 NATO allies and partner countries put their marksmanship skills to the test during 11 days of events. Several of the teams came from special-operations units.

The organizers tailored the competition to be practical and packed it with challenges inspired by real-world battles. The event took place at Hohenfels Training Area in Germany, where the US Army's 7th Army Training Command oversees US and international exercises.

The teams completed events that included aerial shooting, moving targets, high-angle targets, unknown-distance targets, and trench warfare. The sniper teams were also tested on targeting, stalking, small-arms marksmanship, and nighttime operations.

An Italian sniper team in a replica of a downed helicopter during the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 6. US Army/Spc. Leonard Beckett

One event was based on the "Black Hawk Down" battle that took place in Mogadishu in 1993.

During the battle, US Army Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. First Class Randy Shughart, both snipers assigned to Delta Force, requested to be inserted to defend a crashed Black Hawk helicopter. Facing overwhelming odds, Gordon and Shughart were both killed and eventually received posthumous Medals of Honor.

The "Mogadishu" event tested the competitors aerial shooting abilities, according to Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Stegmeier, who was match director for the competition.

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"Historically it's the 'Black Hawk Down' scenario," Stegmeier said in a press release. "Shooters will shoot from a static and a strafing position in the aircraft, and then they'll have to go to a downed pilot position, return fire to the enemy, and then bring the pilot back to a safe location."

Competitors in the "Mogadishu" section of the 2022 European Best Sniper Competition on August 8. US Army/Spc. Christian Carrillo

There was also an interesting first in the competition: a joint American-Lithuanian sniper team, the product of partnership between the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and the Lithuanian military.

The team had one US soldier and one Lithuanian. The US team member, US Army Sgt. Dalton Weist, used his Lithuanian counterpart's weapon. "Once you get to this level, the one thing that is universal is weapons," Weist said in a release.

This isn't the only international sniper competition. The US special-operations community holds a similar event every year for special-operations units from around the world.

The winners

Competitors in the "1917" event during the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 6. US Army/Spc. Micah Wilson

Snipers from Greece's Special Paratroopers Section, known as the ETA for its Greek initials, came in first. Teams from Latvia and Italy were second and third, while another Greek special-operations team from the Z'MAK amphibious special missions unit was fourth. A Slovenian team rounded out the top five.

Modeled on Britain's SAS, the ETA specializes in strategic reconnaissance and direct-action missions. It has less than 100 operators who are divided into six teams, each of which specializes in a different insertion method, such as free-fall parachuting, combat diving, and mountain warfare.

The ETA also recently received the highest operational certification from NATO's Special Operations Headquarters.

Competitors in the "Mogadishu" section of the 2022 European Best Sniper Competition on August 8. US Army/Spc. Christian Carrillo

International training events and competitions like the European Best Sniper Team Competition are important for relationship-building among allies and partner militaries.

They also increase interoperability. In a conflict, NATO militaries would be expected to fight largely as one force. Having the same tactics, techniques, and procedures can maximize their effectiveness on the battlefield.

"These multinational competitions are about building relationships and sharing skills between the participants," Command Sgt. Maj. Jeremiah Inman, US Army Europe and Africa's senior enlisted leader, said in a release. "All of these elite warriors will leave with more technical and tactical proficiency, as well as a heightened sense of partnership and interoperability."

Snipers and modern warfare

A Finnish Army sniper team at the European Best Sniper Team Competition on August 7. US Army/Staff Sgt. Dana Clarke

The war in Ukraine has shown once more why snipers are an important asset for any military.

Most of the fighting in Ukraine has taken place in or around urban centers, ranging from small villages like Vuhledar to large cities like Kharkiv.

Indeed, snipers can even have a strategic impact in a war if they take out a senior enemy officer or gather intelligence that informs high-level decision making.

In the era of drones and precision-guided missiles, snipers continue to play an important role on the battlefield, and events like the European Best Sniper Team Competition create better shooters.

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. He is working toward a master's degree in strategy and cybersecurity at Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The rejection of hairstyles linked to a nonwhite culture is not unique to Native American students.

The rejection of hairstyles linked to a nonwhite culture is not unique to Native American students.

Hairpolicing the act of trying to dictate the style or length of another persons hair  is a peculiarly persistent form of discrimination. Thats especially true of predominantly white institutions policing the hairstyles of people of color, who often have nuanced and culturally specific relationships to their hair.

Nonetheless, Classical Charter Schools of America, a system that includes four schools in North Carolina, is requiring two Native American boys to cut off their long hair if they want to return to class after the spring break, local outlet WRAL News reported Tuesday.

One of the students is a first grader whose mother, Ashley Lomboy, defended her sons long braid by informing the administration that the hairstyle symbolizes a part of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribes heritage, in which hair is linked with spirituality, per the American Civil Liberties Union. Under that reasoning, Lomboy said that the school systems grooming standards would force her son to abandon an important cultural custom.

In response to her and another parents complaints, Classical Charter Schools released a statement doubling down on its stance. Among other rules, its grooming standards state that boys hair must be neatly trimmed and off the collar, above the eyebrows, not below the top of the ears or eyebrows, and not an excessive height. It also states that Distracting, extreme, radical, or faddish haircuts, hair styles, and colors are not allowed. The question here is, distracting and radical to whom, exactly?

This rejection of hairstyles linked to a nonwhite culture is not unique to Native American students. Black students across the country are repeatedly chastised (or worse) for possessing hairstyles that deviate from a white supremacist system of beauty and grooming. In both academic and professional settings, many peoples natural hair is seen as unprofessional or unkempt.

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In some instances, Black students, as well as grown Black professionals, are expected to style their hair in ways that can be damaging or unsustainable. (And meanwhile, some products for relaxing and straightening hair have recently been found to contain harmful chemicals.) Hair policing is such a prevalent problem that California passed the CROWN Act in 2019, a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture. Though that local legislation will hopefully catch on, no federal laws currently protect employees from hairstyle-based discrimination.

In many Indigenous communities across the country, long hair signifies strength and is a symbol of cultural pride. It makes sense that groups whose cultures are constantly undermined and often erased altogether would want to keep such signifiers intact.

Although Classical Charter Schools grooming rules might make sense for some, they completely disregard the nuance that exists in nonwhite communities. This country is composed of various cultures, and not everyone needs to live by the same rules, as long as theyre not causing harm. Embracing that nuance would show a higher level of open-mindedness that all schools should strive to teach their students.
Two baby giraffes were welcomed this month at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glenrose, Texas.

A female baby giraffe named Waffles was born to Snorgie on March 4. She is the first calf born to the wildlife centers new male giraffe, Mananasi, who is 6 years old.

Snorgie was in labor for just under two hours. As an experienced dam, Snorgie immediately started grooming the calf and encouraging it to stand, said Molly Shea, Fossil Rim curator of hoofstock. By the next morning the calf was dried off and tucked in a secluded spot.

Baby giraffes at the wildlife center do not have to be weighed or examined unless a health concern arises, according to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center personnel.

Baby giraffes usually weigh anywhere from 125 to 150 pounds and are 6 feet tall at birth.

A baby female giraffe was born to Nettie at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. She is the second baby giraffe born in 2023 at the wildlife center. Her name has yet to be announced. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

On Sunday, another female giraffe, Nettie, gave birth to a second baby giraffe.

Shes doing well and enjoying hanging out with Waffles, the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center said in a news release. The name of Netties calf has not yet been announced.

Both of the new giraffes can be seen on the public self-guided tour.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a not-for-profit wildlife conservation facility that specializes in captive-breeding programs for endangered and threatened animal species.

Located 55 miles southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Glen Rose, the center manages more than 50 species of wildlife including cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, wolves, zebras, and Attwater prairie chickens, a species native to Texas.
A pregnancy craving for everything bagels turned what should have been a joyous time in a New Jersey mom's life into a traumatic experience, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The woman tested positive for opiates because she'd eaten a bagel with poppy seeds before she gave birth, the ACLU said. The ACLU has also filed a suit for a second New Jersey mom who claims she tested positive for drugs because of her breakfast.

The ACLU claims both mothers were reported to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) on the basis of false test results, according to complaints filed against Hackensack University Medical Center and Virtua Voorhees Hospital.

"I felt like the doctors were questioning my character and parenting skills," one of the mothers, referred to in the lawsuit as Kate L, said in a statement. "I'm terrified of ever going to a hospital again; I'm always going to worry that our family could be torn apart. That's why we are doing all we can to stop this from happening to anyone else."

According to the lawsuit, Kate L. went to Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) on Sept. 20, 2022 because a urine sample she had provided her OB/GYN earlier in the day showed she had "elevated proteins in her urine, suggesting that she had preeclampsia  a potentially dangerous condition." That same morning, she had eaten an everything bagel for breakfast.

When she arrived at the hospital, she provided another urine sample.

"Because Kate had regularly provided urine samples to her OB/GYN to screen for proteins or nutritional deficiencies during the course of her pregnancy, including that morning, she assumed that the hospital would be using this sample to measure her protein levels, too," the lawsuit said.

She gave birth the next day and her baby girl was brought to a NICU. It wasn't until Sept. 24, when Kate. L asked when she could bring her daughter home, that she learned about the drug test.

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"The doctor explained that they were not sure whether A.L. could be discharged because Kate's urine sample had tested positive for drugs," the complaint says. "Although HUMC had conducted the drug test four days earlier, when Kate first arrived at the hospital, this was the first time anyone working for HUMC told Kate and [her husband] Jesse about the drug test. They were shocked to hear that there had been a drug test and stunned that there could be a positive result."

Subsequent tests came back negative, but the couple was not allowed to take their daughter home until Oct. 1. The parents were subjected to a full investigation by DCPP for the next two months, according to the complaint. The new mom needed to complete a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counseling evaluation, during which she needed to provide a urine sample in full view of a caseworker.

"She was mortified to urinate in front of a stranger, and further humiliated because her body was still visibly recovering from labor and surgery, which the caseworker could see," the complaint says.

The investigation ended in November, but cases like these will stay in New Jersey's DCPP system for at least three years, the suit said.

Kate L's daughter did not test positive for drugs at any point.

Kaitlin K, the other new mother claiming a bagel with poppy seeds is to blame for a positive drug test, gave birth Oct. 20, 2022 at Virtua Voorhees Hospital. Although, like Kate L, her son never tested positive for drugs, a test of Kaitlin K's urine tested positive for opiates.

She had also eaten a bagel with poppy seeds before she went to the hospital, the lawsuit alleges.

The drug test was done without her consent and without medical necessity, the ACLU said. Kaitlin also thought she was providing the urine sample for routine protein testing.

"As a direct result of this practice, what should have been a joyous experience for Kaitlin and her family caused serious and lasting emotional trauma," the complaint says.

Similar to Kate L's experience, it wasn't until the day after Kaitlin K had given birth that anyone from the hospital told her about the test. She was confused and provided another sample, confident it would test negative and she would be able to bring her baby home.

That sample came back positive, too.

"Kaitlin could not believe this was happening. She did not understand how the test could have been positive for codeine," the complaint said.

The test employed by the hospital uses a threshold 200 times lower than federal guidelines, the ACLU alleges.

The DCPP eventually cleared Kaitlin K after a monthslong investigation, determining the allegations were unfounded.

"This whole ordeal has been extremely stressful and has turned our lives upside down and now, because of what happened, I live in fear of medical tests and how they might be used against me as a mother," she said.

A spokesperson for HUMC told CBS News that the hospital does not comment on ongoing litigation. Virtua Voorhees Hospital also declined to comment on the lawsuit.

"As a health system dedicated to providing safe, comprehensive, and equitable care to the community, we are fully committed to reviewing this matter," the hospital said in a statement.

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Its no secret that in recent years the offensive line group has been widely criticized by Penn State fans. The unit has certainly improved and in large part due to the level of recruits coming into the program.

On March 23, a highly coveted offensive lineman prospect cut his list of schools down to his top 10. Andrew Sprague is a four-star player out of Missouri who is ranked 135th nationally in the On3 database. Nicknamed Chooch, he is listed as 68 and 270 pounds.

Sprague included Penn State in his top 10 that has big named schools across the country. With one four-start offensive lineman in the 2024 class already committed to the Nittany Lions, signing Sprague could potentially set up a young core of tackles for the future.

Its still early in his recruitment as can be seen by the long list of schools. The other nine are USC, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, Stanford, Oregon, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Blessed to be in this position! I will be focusing on these 10 schools! @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/6Vf1X1lejO  Andrew Sprague (@andrewsprague15) March 23, 2023

According to On3s Recruiting Prediction Machine, Nebraska is leading the way to sign Sprague with a 23.6% chance. Kansas is listed second with 14.0%, but they did not make his top 10.

The machine will need to be updated after he announced the schools he will be focusing on. Penn State was given a less than one percent chance to land Sprague prior to his announcement.

He recently spoke with On3s Hayes Fawcett about the Nittany Lions saying, Penn State is in the mix because of how they develop oline and their elite atmosphere and fanbase.

This would be an awesome signing for Penn State. Getting multiple coveted offensive line talents in a single class would set the offense up for success in the future.

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More Recruiting!

Penn State favored to land Top 50 prospect in 2025 class Penn State in top six for 2024 Pennsylvania WR Carey Booth asks for release from Penn State after Shrewsberry's departure Penn State makes top 10 for four-star OT in 2024

Story originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire
In this article, we will be taking a look at the 21 biggest bankruptcies in American history. To skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to see the 5 biggest bankruptcies in American history.

"Bankruptcy" is a term in fashion in 2023, and hasn't been this popular in almost 15 years since the 2008 Great Recession which led to the folding of some huge companies. Had we written this article just a month ago, there would be two changes in this list, two bankruptcies which have resulted in a global crisis that we still don't know the extent of. While bankruptcies are common not just in the U.S. but globally, as successfully running a business is a lot more difficult than TedTalks and motivational speakers would have you believe, major bankruptcies are generally quite uncommon. You can compare this list to our earlier work if you visit the 15 biggest companies that went bankrupt.

After the 2008 Great Recession which resulted in some of the biggest bankruptcies in American history as well as the folding of several smaller businesses, some of the biggest financial institutions in the U.S. were deemed systemically important or colloquially referred to as "too big to fail", including most of the biggest banks in America by asset size.

While major banks in the U.S. haven't seen a failure since the Great Recession, 2023 saw that scenario change completely, with Silicon Valley Bank collapsing in March. Silicon Valley Bank, like most major and minor financial institutions, had invested heavily in governmental bonds when interest rates were hovering near zero. However, when record inflation hit the globe including the U.S. in 2022, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) responded by hiking interest rates consistently throughout the year, continuing into 2023. Because of this rise in interest rates, the face value of the bonds that SVB had invested in declined. Now, normally, that wouldn't be an issue as if held to maturity, the decline in value would either likely recover or not be as significant, and any current losses would remain unrealized. Unfortunately, because SVB's clientele largely comprised of tech startups whose cashflows aren't as strong, when the cost of borrowing increased because of higher interest rates, these companies had to take out their deposits because of which SVB had to sell its bonds.

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21 Biggest Bankruptcies in American History

Pakhnyushchy/Shutterstock.com

The biggest misstep though, came from SVB's CEO announcing the company's losses and the requirement to raise capital to the public, when the capital had not yet been raised, and wouldn't generally have been considered to be a problem, but because of the public announcement, panic abounded and a bank run was made, resulting in around $42 billion being withdrawn in a single day, leaving the bank with a negative balance of $1 billion, and resulting in the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovations shutting down the bank. This was followed just a few days later by another huge lender in Signature Bank, thus sparking concerns of a wider banking crisis and resulting in financial institution shares plunging on 13th March. This led to the Biden administration stepping in to assuage concerns and promise to secure the deposits of all customers while simultaneously not bailing out the bank, which will cause huge losses to the company's shareholders and creditors.

After the Federal Government promised to secure the banking deposits, shares rose but as concerns continued, the week commencing the 13th of March 2023 was a wildly uncertain one. One of the worst impacted banks is First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC), which has lost over 80% of its share price in just the last one month. There have been fears that First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) is on the verge of collapse, which led to a consortium of major banks, including Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) coming up with a rescue package for First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) worth $30 billion, a move attempting to show their confidence in the banking industry. However, the share price of First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) still closed 33% down even after the deal.

The ramifications of the U.S. banking crisis go far beyond the country, considering the importance of its financial institutions to the global economy, which is why it was unsurprising to see European banks impacted heavily as well, none more so than Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS), the second-largest bank in Switzerland, whose share price fell by a third in just the last one month, resulting in $54 billion being offered by the Swiss National Bank as an emergency loan, and UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) acquiring Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS) on 19th March 2023, for over $2 billion.

While the long-term fallout of the current situation is uncertain, it may impact the probability of the U.S. avoiding a recession after Janet Yellen, the Secretary of Treasury in the U.S., said That could turn this into a source of significant downside economic risk. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) has also said that the banking crisis increases the odds of a U.S. recession in 2023, saying that the change of the U.S. entering a recession is now 35% instead of 25% in the next one year.

Because of the uncertain situation right now, the biggest bankruptcies in American history may potentially change over the course of the next few months. For example, if First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) fails, its $212 billion in assets will make it one of the biggest bankruptcies in American history easily. While there have been some major bankruptcies in the cryptocurrency sphere after the collapse of FTX, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, followed by Celsius, their assets pale in comparison to the companies in our list. We have used our previous compilation of the largest bankruptcies in American history and updated them to include any major collapses which deserve to be in this list. For SVB, we have used its assets value from its website, while for Signature Bank, we used its asset value from Yahoo Finance. So now, let's take a look at the largest collapses in U.S. history, starting with:

21. General Growth Properties, Inc.

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $27,392

General Growth Properties was a commercial real estate company which was the largest such company to declare bankruptcy in 2009, after missing a deadline to repay loans worth $900 million.

20. Bank of New England Corp

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $29,773

Based in Boston, Bank of New England was the 18th biggest bank in the country at its peak, but met its demise in 1991, one of the oldest in our list of the biggest bankruptcies in American history. Poor investments in the real estate market were one of the biggest contributors to the end of the company, and most of what's left over of the company is now owned by Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC).

19. Global Crossing Ltd

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $30,185

Global Crossing was a major telecommunications company which had operations in more than 700 cities in 70 countries and was valued at $47 billion at the height of its success despite never being profitable, and became bankrupt in 2002.

18. IndyMac Bancorp

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $32,734

IndyMac Bancorp was a thrift and mortgage bank which filed for bankruptcy in 2008. At the time it was the fourth largest bank failure in U.S. history and its involvement in reverse mortgages and Alt-A mortgages being credited for both its rise and its fall.

17. Refco Inc.

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $33,333

Refco was a financial services company based in New York which collapsed in 2005. At the time of its collapse, the company had over 200,000 customer accounts but entered intro bankruptcy to obtain protection from its creditors.

16. Financial Corp. of America

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $33,864

Financial Corp. of America filed for bankruptcy in 1988 after being seized by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation.

15. Texaco

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $34,940

Texaco was the largest bankruptcy in American history when it happened in 1987 and held the record for 14 years. The bankruptcy occurred after Pennzoil entered into a binding yet unsigned contract with Getty Oil and Texaco then signed a contract to buy Getty Oil. This resulted in Pennzoil earning a civil verdict of $10.5 billion which was the biggest civil settlement in U.S. history at the time.

14. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG)

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $36,152

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG) is a California-based utility company which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after being held liable for the 2017 and 2018 wildfires in Northern California. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG) was able to exit bankruptcy in June 2020.

13. Thornburg Mortgage

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $36,521

Many of the biggest bankruptcies in American history took place in 2009, and Thornburg Mortgage, an REIT company, was no exception. Mortgage companies were one of the worst-impacted in the 2007-2010 financial crisis because of the subprime mortgage crisis.

12. Chrysler LLC

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $39,300

Owned by Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA), Chrysler filed for bankruptcy in 2009 after which the company was completely reorganized. The bankruptcy resulted in the company defaulting in over $4 billion worth of debt, while the overall cost to taxpayers was $1.3 billion.

11. MF Global Holdings

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $40,541

MF Global Holdings was a global financial derivatives broker which became bankrupt in 2011. Because of liquidity issues faced by the company, it went bankrupt in 2011, mainly because of several repo agreements the company entered into which were off-balance sheet. In addition, a failure of a $6.3 billion bond investment in Eastern European bonds helped send the company over the edge.

10. Energy Future Holdings Corp

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $40,970

Energy Future Holdings is a Texas based utility company which filed for bankruptcy in 2014. Financial problems resulted in the company having to file for bankruptcy.

9. Conseco Inc.

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $61,392

Currently known as CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CNO), Conseco filed for bankruptcy in 2002, mainly because of its acquisition of Green Tree Financial in 1998, just before the subprime bubble burst, with the $6.5 billion purchase proving to be a major issue for Conseco at the time, though it reemerged from bankruptcy in 2003.

8. Enron Corp

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $65,503

Enron is still currently considered as perhaps the biggest corporate scandal of all-time in the U.S. which resulted in the demise of one of the biggest accounting firms in the world as well after the collapse of Arthur Anderson. Enron was an energy company which used accounting deception to hide billions of dollars of debt and was the biggest bankruptcy in American history at the time, when it happened in 2001.

7. CIT Group

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $80,448

CIT Group is an American financial services company which filed for bankruptcy in 2009, and emerged on 10 December 2009 from bankruptcy protection.

6. General Motors Corporation

Assets at time of bankruptcy (in millions): $91,047

You might be surprised to see General Motors Corporation in our list of the biggest bankruptcies in American history, considering that General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is one of the biggest car companies by sales. However, General Motors Corporation refers to the company to whom the liabilities were left while assets and subsidiaries were sold to General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) in 2009. The company received over $17 billion in bailouts from the Federal Government.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 biggest bankruptcies in American history.

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Disclosure: None. 21 biggest bankruptcies in American history is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Cameron vows to change the culture on use of tax havens

Prime Minister David Cameron promised to "tighten the law and change the culture" by cracking down on tax evasion and discouraging "aggressive" tax avoidance on Monday, following the British use of tax havens revealed in the Panama Papers.

GALLERY

British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses employees of Siemens Rail Automation facility in Chippenham, Britain, 02 February 2016. Cameron during his visit promoted his efforts in the Britain-EU relationship.

London (dpa) - Britains tax authority and national crime agency will examine possible tax evasion and money laundering by British companies and individuals identified in leaked documents from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm, Cameron told parliament.But people should "defend the right of every British citizen to make money lawfully," he said, placing his government "at the forefront of international action to tackle the global scourge of aggressive tax avoidance and evasion."Cameron has faced political pressure since his fathers offshore investment company, which legally avoided British taxes by registering in tax havens, was named last week in leaked documents from the Panama Papers.He told parliament he sold his shares in one of his fathers funds in early 2010, shortly before he became prime minister, "because I didnt want any issues about conflict of interest."Cameron has admitted fault for his widely criticized response last week, when he gave a series of brief statements on his links to the Panama Papers rather than a full disclosure."I accept all of the criticisms for not responding more quickly to this issue last week," he said on Monday.Replying to Cameron in parliament, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a "credible and independent investigation" of tax avoidance through tax havens.Corbyn said Cameron had still "failed to give a full account" of his financial affairs, despite publishing summaries of his tax returns on Sunday, and said the prime ministers handling of the Panama Papers leak showed the public "no longer have trust in him."David Gauke, financial secretary to the Treasury, said earlier that the Panama Papers showed "tax evasion is part of a wider set of international criminality ... together with money laundering, illicit finance and evading sanctions.""The new taskforce announced today will further tighten the screw on those who think they can get away with dodging tax thats due in this country," Gauke said. "Our message is clear: there are no safe havens."Before Mondays announcement, police and tax officers were already investigating 700 "current leads with a link to Panama," the government said.The government will also introduce new legislation to "hold companies who fail to stop their employees facilitating tax evasion criminally liable," Cameron said.Cameron then came under renewed pressure after he published tax summaries on Sunday that show a 200,000-pound (280,000-dollar) gift from his mother. He had previously admitted to having inherited 300,000 from his father and sold shares in his fathers offshore investment fund for some 30,000 pounds.He initially said his fathers registration of offshore funds in tax havens was "a private matter."Cameron then made statements saying that he and his immediate family held no offshore assets and would not benefit from offshore holdings in the future.
Police have identified a man found shot and killed in the doorway of an apartment in Cobb County and the man they say killed him.

Officers say they were called to the Pines at West Cobb apartment complex just before 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday where they found Dacari Early, 23, with several gunshot wounds.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Early was pronounced dead at the apartment complex.

Investigators later determined that Joshua Nash, 22, was the shooter. They say he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Detectives obtained warrants to charge Nash with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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This was at least the second time in two weeks that police had been called to the Pines at West Cobb apartments.

Channel 2 Action News reported earlier this month that a father said a tow truck driver beat him up and pulled a gun on him after trying to tow cars over expired stickers.

Police have not released details on what led up to the shooting.

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This photo from Wednesday Dec. 17, 2008, shows the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) headquarters in Washington. AP

Three fake pastors in Maryland said it was 'God's mission' for them to help others build wealth, according to the DOJ.

Two were convicted after scamming 1,200 people out of $28 million in the process.

On Thursday, two were sentenced on securities fraud charges. The third person fled the country.

Three men who posed as pastors and financial advisors ran a Ponzi scheme that netted them close to $28 million before massive bank account overdrafts blew their cover.

According to the Department of Justice, Maryland man John Erasmus Frimpong was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison on Thursday while a co-conspirator, Arley Ray Johnson, was sentenced to six years on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud charges.

The third alleged co-conspirator, Dennis Jali, fled to South Africa in May 2019, the same month that the money started to run dry, the DOJ said in a statement. He was arrested in South Africa, per the DOJ.

The three men launched a phony financial literacy and wealth management firm titled "1st Millions" in August 2017, telling investors that they were investing in forex and crypto ventures and promising monthly returns on investments as high as 35%.

They frequented churches, hotel galas, and upscale events to recruit at least 1,200 victims who poured in millions of dollars, and lied by saying that they were licensed traders under the laws of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, prosecutors said in an indictment.

A lawyer for Frimpong did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

The three men "presented themselves as 'pastors,' and told prospective investors that 1st Million's work was in furtherance of God's mission in that it helped churches and their members achieve personal wealth and financial freedom," prosecutors said in court documents.

Once several shell companies were established, the men siphoned investor money to new bank accounts and did not invest the money in financial markets, according to the DOJ. The men also recruited "agents" who were promised higher return rates for recruiting new investors, regardless of market volatility.

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The men orchestrating the scheme lived lavishly as they conned more investors, with one spending $27,000 on an Audi, $20,000 on a Porsche, and $78,000 on private jets  including a flight from Charlotte to Washington, DC with five passengers.

By February 2019, the men struggled to keep the semblance of success by way of sending agents and investors fake monthly return checks, all while one Bank of America account was hit with overdraft fees of over $100,000.

In the ensuing weeks, the men traveled to other luxury hotels and religious symposiums, promising to help people "build money," under the "auspices of God," prosecutors said in an indictment.

Until May 2019, the three had continued to recruit investors, prosecutors said in an indictment.

That month, they told a group of investors that a new law had caused Bank of America to stop working with 1st Millions, but that the investors' money was safe. Frimpong continued helming the scheme into after the spring of 2019, per the DOJ.

As the pressure mounted, one of the alleged co-conspirators, Dennis Jali, tried to pay for a digital forensic service to place news reports of a Ponzi scheme he operated in South Africa on the last page of Google search queries for his name, or to be scrubbed from the internet entirely.

By the end of the month, Jali had fled the US.

Read the original article on Insider
A chemical spill at the Meijer Distribution Center injured three people and sent them to the hospital Thursday night.

>> TRENDING: 3 vehicles crash, shut down I-75 in Harrison Twp.

Tipp City Fire and Miami Hazmat were dispatched to the 4200 block of South County Road 25A, occupied by the Meijer Distribution Center, at 9:45 p.m. on reports of a chemical spill that injured several people, Miami Dispatch confirmed.

When firefighters and medics arrived, they found three people injured following a chemical spill near the distribution centers newest building, Cameron Haller, Tipp City Fire Chief of Emergency Services, told News Center 7.

Firefighters helped to evacuate all personnel within 50-feet, then determined the hazardous nature of the spill, Haller informed.

The investigation showed that a toilet bowl cleaner leaked or broke earlier in the day, causing an initial spill. Then, later in the day, a bleach container broke and mixed with the cleaner, creating a highly toxic chlorine gas that injured three people, Haller continued.

Three people suffered minor injuries from inhalation of the toxic gas, while one of the three people sustained chemical burns from the spill, Haller stated. All three were transported to Kettering Health Troy for further treatment.

Haller reassured the three contractors working for Meijer were in stable condition and would make a full recovery.

To clean the spill, a hazmat team was called to the premises. They geared up in full protective attire and began the cleanup process at 1:05 a.m., Haller said.

The hazmat team contained the hazardous chemical at around 2:10 a.m., about an hour after the cleanup process began, a spokesperson for the Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services said.

Firefighters and the hazmat team were able to successfully manage the incident.
Numerous studies have shown that women's pain is not treated as seriously as men's pain.

Sometimes, that can lead to misdiagnosis and dismissal of serious diseases.

Three women had their pain ignored by doctors, only to have serious conditions including cancer.

It's no secret that women's pain is taken less seriously by most medical professionals than men's pain. In the past several decades, multiple academic studies have found that not only do doctors think women experience less pain than men, but women are also less likely to receive adequate treatment for their pain  even though 70% of chronic pain patients are women.

And when women experience pain in the pelvic area, it is not uncommon for doctors to attribute it to "women's issues" of menstruation or menopause, without doing a thorough work-up. It doesn't matter if a woman is famous or not  female celebrities, including TV personality and conservationist Bindi Irwin, have reported suffering the same issue.

Recently, Insider told the stories of three women who were dismissed by doctors and told they were experiencing "women's issues," when in reality, they were experiencing severe conditions including endometriosis that needed surgery, and cancer.

Here are their stories:

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

A celebrity had her pain dismissed for 10 years  she recently had 37 lesions removed

Bindi Irwin, the 24-year-old TV personality and daughter of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, opened up on Instagram about her endometriosis diagnosis and treatment in an effort to help other women with the stigmatized disease, Insider reported.

Irwin said that she struggled with "insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea" for a decade, but multiple tests, doctor's visits, and scans didn't yield satisfying answers.

"A doctor told me it was simply something you deal with as a woman & I gave up entirely, trying to function through the pain," Irwin wrote in her post.

Finally, Irwin was diagnosed with endometriosis  a condition affecting one in 10 American women that occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. The tissue thickens and bleeds with each month's menstrual cycle, but becomes trapped, which can lead to pain and complications including infertility.

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Irwin underwent surgery, and said that surgeons found 37 lesions, some of which were "very deep & difficult to remove," and a chocolate cyst, or a cyst filled with menstrual blood, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Irwin said she wants her post to be validation for others that their pain is real and that they deserve help.

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A woman was told her heavy periods were normal, but it was an early sign of cancer

Kelly Pendry, 42, started experiencing pain and heavy bleeding in 2016, after the birth of her second child. She told the BBC that her doctors attributed her symptoms to her recent pregnancy and suggested she take a contraceptive pill or get an IUD to regulate her period. Another practitioner prescribed her antidepressants for her symptoms, Insider wrote.

"I felt like I was a drama queen," the UK-based Pendry said, according to the BBC. "I felt like I was overthinking it, I felt like, 'is this in my head a bit, is this stupid?'"

Despite bleeding more days than not, Pendry had to wait five years to get an accurate diagnosis. Finally she was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer called uterine leiomyosarcoma  but with all the time that had passed, her cancer was determined to be terminal.

Now, a year after completing chemotherapy, Pendry told the BBC she still experiences fatigue, aches, and hot flashes as a side effect of hormone inhibitors meant to stall the cancer's growth. Her cancer has been stable for a year, but she knows it could progress at any time. Her husband, Michael, is planning an 180-mile charity run in hopes of raising money for her to get surgery in the US.

A woman sitting on a hospital bed Getty Images

A 12-year-old girl was told she had a hormone imbalance and an irregular period  it was ovarian cancer

After getting her first period at age 10, one girl, whose case was recently described in the American Journal of Case Reports, did not have a regular cycle for the next two years. Some menstrual irregularity can be normal, especially in young girls, but this girl started complaining of frequent abdominal pain as well, Insider wrote.

At age 12, she started leaking a milky discharge from both breasts, which led her doctor to test her hormones. The results confirmed that the girl was not pregnant. However, her prolactin levels  the hormone that triggers milk production  were off the charts.

Doctors initially diagnosed her with a hormonal imbalance originating from the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. But eventually, they found out that her left ovary had been completely taken over by a three-pound tumor caused by a rare case of juvenile ovarian cancer.

The doctors ended up having to remove the three-pound mass along with her left ovary, and she was discharged from the hospital after four days.

Read the original article on Insider
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A cruise can be a great option for frugal vacationers. Not only can cruisers sail to exotic locales, sampling the culture and cuisine, but they can also enjoy a wide array of onboard activities, from swimming to rock climbing.

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See: How To Guard Your Wealth From a Potential Banking Crisis with Gold

But, that doesn't mean cruising is inexpensive. Cruisers spend an average of $1,350-$1,950 on a five-day cruise, according to Cruzely.com. Onboard amenities like spa treatments, exclusive restaurants and alcoholic drinks can destroy your vacation budget, too. GOBankingRates spoke to travel experts for tips on saving on your next cruise.

Learn how to avoid wasting money on your next cruise from these insiders.

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1. Book Far in Advance

One of the best ways to save money on a cruise is to book nine to 18 months before sailing, said Colleen McDaniel, senior executive editor of cruise reviews and information site Cruise Critic.

"Booking in advance can allow you to not only secure a lower introductory fare, but it also can offer some significant add-on savings, like onboard credit, beverage packages or included gratuity -- all of which could save hundreds of dollars," she said.

See how planning ahead can help you can enjoy a fall cruise on $100 a day.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

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2. Book at the Last Minute

If you're a spur-of-the-moment vacationer, you can find deals on cruises within three months of departure. "The majority of companies will slash pricing at the last minute in order to fill the boat," said Greg Geronemus, co-CEO of smarTours, a group vacation tour company.

Expect discounts as high as 50 percent. Keep in mind, though, you'll have a limited selection of cabins -- and they're not liable to be the best, since preferred cabins will likely have sold first, McDaniel said.

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3. Be Flexible With Dates

If you haven't locked in time off from work, opt to vacation when cruise prices are lower. Pricing for the same cruise can vary by hundreds of dollars from one week to the next, said cruise expert Stewart Chiron of cruise deals site Cruise Guy.

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4. Use a Travel Agent

You can search cruise options online all day and still miss out on a good deal. That's because travel agencies tend to know about exclusive offers and promotions.

"Travel agents constantly have their fingers on the pulse of the cruise industry," said Rob Stuart, co-author of "Just Add Water: Your Guide to the Ultimate Cruise Vacation."

Not only do travel agents know the industry inside and out, they can buy tickets in bulk to get better pricing, Geronemus said. Using an agent can save couples up to hundreds of dollars, he said.

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5. Take Advantage of Wave Season

January through March is known as wave season, and McDaniel said this time of year is the equivalent of Black Friday for cruise lines. Not only can you find great deals, you might pick up perks like free drink packages, Stuart said.

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6. Don't Miss Black Friday Deals

When winter comes biting, hunt down Black Friday deals on cruises for your perfect Caribbean getaway. Cruise lines have offered enticing deals on the shopping holiday in past years, McDaniel said. "In some cases, cruises are deeply discounted and, of course, bundled with enticing add-ons," she said.

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7. Cruise in the Low Season

You can save 20 to 30 percent on the price of a cruise by traveling during the shoulder season, when demand is low. Most shoulder seasons are in the spring or fall.

Geronemus recommended cruising in Europe and Asia in April and October for lower prices. For Alaskan cruises, vacation in May and September, McDaniel said.

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8. Avoid Cruising on Holiday Weekends

Cruise fares tend to be highest during the holidays, when droves of vacationers are hitting the open seas.

"If you can avoid times when everyone is traveling, you're going to save a lot of money," Geronemus said. Not only are cruise fares higher during major holidays and long weekends, but so is airfare.

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9. Cruise Between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Schedule a cruise to the Caribbean between two of the biggest holidays of the year, and you can snag a good deal, Stuart said. Don't book a cruise too close to Christmas, though, because fares will be higher.

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10. Gamble on a Cruise Guarantee Cabin

Sure, you can book a specific cabin on your cruise, but you can save money by booking a category of cabin instead. The guarantee cabin, as it's called, ensures you get a certain type of cabin -- like one with a balcony -- plus the possibility of an upgrade. Although you might get a room in a noisy part of the ship, you can save up to $1,000 per person, Chiron said.

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11. Don't Assume Traveling Solo Costs Less

If you travel solo, you might be paying more for your single cabin. That's because cruise lines price cabins assuming double occupancy, Chiron said. So, look for cruises that offer cabins for singles and compare pricing. Make sure you don't make these costly mistakes while traveling alone.

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12. Take a Short Cruise

"For travelers looking for a budget-friendly getaway, weekend cruises are a great way to get away without spending too much money," McDaniel said. You can take a three- to four-day cruise to the Bahamas for a couple hundred dollars, which is cheaper than the cost of airfare and hotel, she said.

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13. Avoid Cruising on New Ships

If you want to save serious cash, avoid traveling on brand-new cruises, which cost more, McDaniel said. "Older ships are often a bit smaller than newer megaships and don't generally have all of the bells and whistles of ships just hitting the market. But [they] still offer a fantastic vacation option at a lower price point," she said.

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14. Cruise on Refurbished Ships

If you want the bells and whistles of a new ship but not the high price tag, look for recently renovated ships.

"Cruise lines are frequently investing significant amounts of money to keep their older ships up to date with newer features and amenities, and you can benefit from those upgrades," McDaniel said.

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15. Don't Assume the Cheapest Cruise Is the Best Deal

A lot of vacationers choose cruises based on the fare alone, Stuart said. But don't neglect looking at what's included in the fare and what amenities the ship offers.

Although meals are typically included in the base fare, alcoholic beverages, WiFi and shore excursions might not. If you have to pay extra to take advantage of most amenities on the ship, you might be better off booking a more expensive cruise that offers them free of charge.

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16. Consider a Luxury Cruise Line

Stuart said upscale cruise lines are liable to offer more perks on base fares. Yes, you'll pay more for the luxuries, but don't assume the cruise is more expensive than paying a la carte on other cruise lines.

If you opt for a cheaper cruise but want to dine in specialty restaurants and visit the spa, expect your vacation costs to jump. In fact, adding these extras to your base fare could equal the cost of an all-inclusive luxury line, which can include shore excursions and transfers between the ship and airport.

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17. Take a Repositioning Cruise

Because ships can't cruise year-round in destinations like Alaska, cruise lines move their fleets every so often. Take advantage by booking a repositioning cruise, where you can enjoy a 10- to 14-day cruise for the price of a seven-day cruise or less, Stuart said.

Repositioning cruises don't have a lot of port stops, so they're only ideal for people who are most interested in the cruise itself, rather than tourist destinations. "If the idea of a cruise is relaxing days on the ocean, a repositioning cruise is the way to go," Stuart said.

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18. Minimize Spending Onboard

Once you're onboard, be careful not to rack up costs as you sip martinis by the pool. Any extras you pick up will be charged to the card you provide at the beginning of the trip, Stuart said. He said he knows people who have paid more to get off a ship than to get on. So, although there are quite a few cruise activities that are worth the money, you're better off sticking to the basics. If you're raring to hit the spa, go to one off the ship.

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19. Book Extras in Advance

If you want to enjoy onboard amenities, book them in advance so you can account for them in your vacation budget.

"Book your alternative restaurants, shore excursions and anything else you know you want to experience prior to boarding," McDaniel said. "That way, you won't be caught off guard by added costs, and you can focus more on enjoying your trip, instead of keeping close tabs on your onboard spending account."

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20. Don't Be Blinded by Add-Ons

Don't let special add-ons like drink credits and free WiFi distract you from the high cost of a cruise. "A lot of times, cruise lines use those offers to deflect attention from higher prices," Chiron said.

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21. Cut the Cost of Excursions

Shore excursions organized by the cruise tend to be more expensive. The best way to vacation for less is to explore port cities on foot, or by taking public transportation, said Stuart. Compare pricing with local tour groups, too.

If an excursion is a must, see if there are bargain shore excursions at any of your cruise's port cities.

American Cruise Lines

22. Opt For a Lower-Cost River Cruise

High-priced river cruise packages are aplenty, Geronemus said. But, you can often find companies offering similar and lower-cost cruises onboard older ships. You'll have fewer amenities but the difference can be thousands of dollars, he said. You won't miss the amenities much anyway -- after all, the point of a river cruise is to see the sights at the ports.

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23. Save on Airfare With a Package Deal

If you're booking a cruise through a travel agency, you might be able to save money on airfare if you get a package deal, said Geronemus. Take the time, though, to price airfare on your own to make sure you're getting a deal.

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24. Be Skeptical of Free Airfare Offers

If a cruise line has a special promotion that includes free airfare with a cruise, you might not actually be getting a good deal if it's not an all-inclusive line that typically offers flights as part of the cruise package.

"That would be a red flag for me," Geronemus said, adding that these kinds of offers could indicate high pricing onboard the ship.

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25. Weigh the Extra Costs of a One-Way Cruise

Fair warning: If you think a one-way cruise is a cheap vacation idea, think again. Your airfare could cost more because you can't book a round-trip flight. So, take that potentially higher cost into account when you're comparing your options.

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26. Book a Cruise Onboard for Discounts

If you frequently vacation on the open waters, look for deals on future cruises onboard the ship. Cruise lines might offer perks for onboard bookings, according to Cruise Critic's Colleen McDaniel. You might get reduced deposits, onboard credit for services or a discount on your fare.

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27. Sign Up For Email Deal Alerts

Stay on top of the latest sales and promotions by signing up for email alerts from cruise lines and travel sites. You might even learn about cheaper destinations to explore.

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28. Check Social Media for Deals

Cruise lines and travel agencies frequently post about deals on social media. So, follow your favorite cruise lines and local travel agencies -- and definitely check in on holidays, when promotions might be going on.

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29. Beware the Brochure Rate

Brochures from cruise lines might have tantalizing pricing -- but don't be sucker. Brochure rates typically aren't accurate, and they might not even be offering deals.

"Brochure rates are printed way in advance, and the actual rates are usually lower," Stuart said. "It's easy to change a rate on a website, as opposed to printing all new brochures."

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30. Pay Your Bill Little by Little

You'll have to pay a deposit when you book a cruise, and then pay the rest by a certain date -- typically 60 to 75 days prior to sailing, Stuart said. If you book through a travel agent, you typically have the added benefit of making interest-free installment payments, he said.

This can be a good way to soften the blow to your budget. It can also help you avoid interest fees you would incur if you charged the full cost to a credit card.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 30 Cruise Secrets Only Insiders Know
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  A Rhode Island man who admitted to federal authorities that he used a cellphone to record himself sexually assaulting two teenage girls has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

In one case in February 2017, Francis Scott pretended to be a driver for a ride-hailing service and offered to give a 15-year-old girl a ride to school, the U.S. attorneys office in Providence said. Instead, he drove her to a secluded area, took away her phone and recorded himself assaulting her, prosecutors said.

Following his arrest in that case, a 17-year-old girl came forward and said that after offering her a ride, Scott gave her alcohol and marijuana and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said.

This degradation, exploitation, and depravity represented by this defendants abuse of his victims  and his recording of those acts for his own obscene enjoyment, are contemptible, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said in a statement Thursday, when Scott was sentenced.

Scott, 42, of North Providence, pleaded guilty in June to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.

His lawyer asked for a 25-year sentence, citing Scotts remorse, cooperation with investigators, and his own troubled childhood that included heavy drug use by his parents and a sexual assault by a woman who was supposed to be caring for him.

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Airline loyalty programs are designed to reward customers for their loyalty by offering various benefits, such as free flights, upgrades, lounge access and other exclusive perks. Among these programs, British Airways Avios is one of the most popular and widely used in the airline industry.

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See: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score

But the proof is in the pudding, as they say. In some cases, British Airways Avios can be quite lucrative, offering some of the best redemptions. In other cases, though, its fees and surcharges leave passengers with buyers remorse.

To help you avoid regretting your choice, lets examine the best use cases for Avios. Well also analyze some other perks British Airways offers.

What is British Airways Avios?

Avios is the currency you earn when you join the British Airways Executive Club. You can earn these points when you fly but also when you shop for daily purchases, book a hotel or hail a ride on Uber or Lyft. Specifically, you can earn Avios by flying with British Airways and its partner airlines. You can also earn Avios using co-branded credit cards and purchasing with program partners.

The redemption value of Avios might vary depending on the flight and class (economy, business class, etc.). Customers who use Avios strategically can save money on their travel expenses by taking advantage of exclusive perks offered by the program.

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Best Uses for British Airwayss Avios

British Airwayss Avios is a loyalty program that allows customers to earn and redeem points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals and other travel expenses. Here are some of the best uses for British Airwayss Avios:

Book a reward flight : Naturally, one of the best uses for Avios is booking a reward flight. However, there are a lot of variables that might affect which flights offer the best redemption. For instance, longer flights on British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus use disproportionately more miles than shorter flights. However, the opposite is true if you use Avios to book flights on partner airlines. Thus, its best to compare a few flights before booking.

Seat upgrades : You can also use Avios to upgrade your seat. You can upgrade flights you have already booked or use your points to book a new flight. Additionally, you can upgrade a cash booking to the next cabin when available.

Hotel stays and car rentals : Besides flights, you can use Avios to book hotel stays and car rentals. British Airways partners with many hotels and car rental companies and you can use Avios to offset the cost.

Partial payments: British Airways lets you use Avios as a partial payment like some other loyalty programs. This is useful when you want to use points but dont quite have enough to cover the entire cost of the flight.

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Other Exclusive Airline Membership Perks

Avios is far from the only benefit you get as a British Airways Executive Club member. British Airways offers several perks to its loyal customers, depending on their membership tier and the class of service. Here are some of the most notable perks:

Lounge access : British Airways gives you access to 30 dedicated British Airways lounges and more than 100 partner lounges worldwide. Anyone who is at least a Silver Executive Club member can generally access lounges, though this is subject to capacity limitations.

Priority boarding : Once you reach at least Bronze status with British Airways, you gain access to priority check-in and boarding. Gold members get first-class check-in and boarding.

Extra baggage allowance : Those who reach at least Silver status with British Airways can bring one extra bag at no additional cost.

Tier bonuses : You can earn tier bonuses with the British Airways Executive Club. Bronze, Silver, and Gold statuses give you points bonuses of 25%, 50% and 100%, respectively.

Companion vouchers: You can earn a companion voucher with British Airways when you spend enough with one of its branded credit cards. If you earn the voucher, you receive a second economy class seat for a companion traveling on the same flight.

Bottom Line

British Airwayss Avios has several perks for its members. Avios lets you book reward flights, including flights you book partly with points and partly with cash. You can also book hotels and rental cars with Avios. Another benefit of Avios is the ability to upgrade your seat.

But the British Airways Executive Club has several other benefits. For example, depending on your membership tier, you might gain lounge access, priority boarding, tier bonuses and more. Anyone who frequently flies with British Airways and its partners should be sure to take advantage of all the programs benefits.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Best Uses for British Airways Avios & Other Exclusive Airline Membership Perks
The Oregon Ducks continue to pick up steam when it comes to recruiting on the offensive line front. While the Ducks picked up a prediction to land 4-star OT Bennett Warren earlier in the week, they now just landed in the top 8 schools for 4-star OT Max Anderson as well.

Anderson is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 199 player in the 2024 class, and the No. 13 offensive tackle. He also listed schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and Georgia among his final schools.

Currently, there is a prediction from 247Sports for him to end up committing to the Michigan Wolverines.

We will see over the coming months if he ends up taking a trip out to Eugene to check out the Ducks.

Max Andersons Recruiting Profile

Twitter

Ratings

Stars Rating State Position 247Sports 4 90 TX OT 247Sports Composite 4 0.9245 TX OT Rivals 4 5.8 TX OT ESPN 4 81 TX OT On3 Recruiting 4 91 TX OT

Vitals

Height 6-foot-5 Weight 300 pounds Hometown Frisco, Texas Projected Position Offensive Tackle Class 2024

Recruitment

Received Oregon offer on February 9, 2023

Has not yet taken a visit to Eugene

Top Schools

Oregon Ducks

Michigan Wolverines

Ohio State Buckeyes

Oklahoma Sooners

Arkansas Razorbacks

Alabama Crimson Tide

Georgia Bulldogs

Tennessee Volunteers

Highlights

Story originally appeared on Ducks Wire
When Milwaukee police Officer Herbert Davis III arrived on scene to perform a welfare check on a cold January night in 2022, "he was the model of what we want our police to be," Milwaukee County Judge David Feiss said Thursday.

Davis was called to check on a man, Jetrin Rodthong, 23, of West Allis, who was slumped over in a vehicle. Davis woke Rodthong up and politely asked him a few questions about what he had been consuming that day. Davis told him a medical unit was coming.

"Officer Davis was concerned about you," Feiss said in his courtroom to Rodthong, after watching Davis' body camera footage. "His attitude towards you is completely respectful."

That should have been the end of it. But instead things devolved and became "breathtakingly dangerous," Feiss said.

Rodthong stepped out the vehicle and eventually raised a gun on Davis, who turned around and fled. Rodthong opened fire as he went after Davis, shooting him twice before stealing his squad car and crashing into another vehicle.

"It's difficult to think of any case I've ever seen that is more serious than this," Feiss said. "I can't imagine the horror (Davis) felt, realizing that he was completely exposed, no cover."

Davis survived that incident and walked out of a hospital to a joyous crowd a day later. But the horror he experienced is still with him and it appears that it has ended what was a dream job for the 27-year-old officer.

In the year since, he is still going through physical and mental therapy, his mother, Crystal Thompson, said. He cannot sleep well and anticipates living with trauma for the rest of his life.

Davis wanted to be an officer since he was 8 years old, she said.

"He showed up to be a remedy," Thompson said, "and in return he was almost killed by the person he'd offered support. The defendant snatched away my son's career and his spirit of public service."

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In a letter read by Thompson, Davis asked Feiss to put Rodthong away for the rest of his life. A Milwaukee County prosecutor asked for a 40-year sentence. The defense asked for 20 years.

On Thursday, Feiss sentenced Rodthong to 40 years in prison, followed by more than 11 years of extended supervision.

His decision came after Rodthong himself and his family apologized for his actions. They appealed for leniency by arguing that Rodthong  who grew up in a broken family, dropped out of school after the eighth grade and was basically left on his own to became a drug addict in his teens  never had much of a chance at a productive life.

But it didn't persuade Feiss.

"You made terrible choices that put you in this situation," he told Rodthong.

The sentence came after Rodthong in January pleaded guilty to five felonies, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide. The hearing drew a large crowd from the law enforcement community, including several members of the Milwaukee Police Department's executive command staff. Davis did not attend.

All told, Rodthong and Davis exchanged at least 14 shots with each other from around 15 feet away on the 2100 block of West St. Paul Avenue before Rodthong, who was also shot twice, then took off in Davis squad car. Both Feiss and Assistant District Attorney Megan Newport said they had never seen anything like it.

At the time of the incident, Rodthong was on pretrial release from three felony cases filed against him in 2020, each of which involve accusations that he either fled police in a vehicle or was driving a stolen car.

He eventually began missing court dates for those cases and arrest warrants were issued in October 2021, according to online court records.

Davis had been with the department for seven years at the time, spending his first two years as a police aid and then working in the technical communications division before becoming a sworn officer. He was one of three law enforcement officers in Milwaukee who were shot and injured in separate incidents in the month of January 2022.

Rodthong grew up the youngest in an immigrant Laotian family in Milwaukee. Two of this sisters said at the hearing that when their parents split, neither was there to look after their 10-year-old son. He lived with siblings, but was not given the supervision he required.

He turned to drugs to fill that void, they said.

At the time of the incident, Rodthong said he developed an opioid addiction and was using daily, according to court records. He hadn't slept in a week.

He said Thursday that when Davis woke him up, he was intoxicated and confused. He became emotional as he tried to explain himself.

"I didn't mean to do what I did," he said.

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man who shot Milwaukee officer and stole squad car gets 40 years
Academic gains made over the past four decades have begun to erode. Troy Aossey/The Image Bank via Getty Images

The National Commission on Excellence in Educations release of a report titled A Nation at Risk in 1983 was a pivotal point in the history of American education. The report used dire language, lamenting that the educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.

Using Cold War language, the report also famously stated: If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war.

The report ushered in four decades of ambitious education reforms at the state and federal levels. Those reforms included landmark policy shifts like George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind Act, Barack Obamas Race to the Top program and major state reforms in areas including teacher quality, school choice and test-based accountability for schools and teachers. But what is the legacy of A Nation at Risk 40 years after its publication? And what are the implications for school reform in the coming years?

As a scholar of education who specializes in standards-based reform and accountability, I believe important lessons can be learned about American education by examining what has taken place since the release of the report. Here are three:

1. Education reform has improved outcomes, but progress has slowed or reversed in the past decade

The U.S. has had major challenges with educational performance that long predate A Nation at Risk. One is that too many students are not mastering grade-level material. Another is that not enough are enrolling in and completing college given the benefits of college to individuals and society. Additionally, large gaps exist in both of those areas based on race and ethnicity and income.

Since the report, students from all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups have continuously made achievement gains, and gaps have narrowed considerably since the 1970s  especially in the early grades. Yet low levels of achievement and gaps in achievement remain. For instance, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 34% of fourth graders scored below the basic level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, meaning they werent reading at grade level. Since COVID-19, national assessment results in reading and math indicate the pandemic erased two decades of achievement gains; for instance, in eighth grade math the number of students scoring below basic increased from 31% in 2019 to 38% in 2022.

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The nation has also made tremendous progress in outcomes beyond academic tests. For instance, the high school dropout rate has plummeted, dropping from about about 14% around the time of the report to about 6% now. Meanwhile, the proportion of 25-to-29-year-olds with a four-year college degree has doubled to about 38%.

2. The reforms did not address the root causes of the problems

The report spurred four decades of intense reform led by states and the federal government. But these reforms have largely not addressed the major causes of poor educational performance  poverty and other factors outside of school, as well as highly decentralized educational systems that thwart meaningful school improvement.

For example, child poverty is still widespread; many students lack access to quality early childhood education; and many children live in polluted environments that affect their learning.

The result of these factors in the early years is that only about half of children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn, and even fewer among children from low-income families.

While schools can help lessen these disparities in school readiness between more and less advantaged children, the report failed to look beyond schools for solutions to problems that stem from social inequality.

Gaps in educational performance persist along racial and socioeconomic lines. Blend Images - JGI/Jamie Grill/Tetra Collection via Getty Images

The narrow view of A Nation at Risk is notable because the widely accepted wisdom of the time, especially among Republicans, and going back to the 1966 Coleman Report, was that schools arent a primary driver of inequality. After all, the Coleman Report found that differences in school resources, like money and books, didnt account for differences in student achievement between more and less advantaged children.

Even the education efforts since the report have not been able to address the structural barriers in U.S. education to large-scale improvement. For instance, in a recent book I show that state and federal policies over the past 30 years that focus on improving schools through better and clearer standards have only modestly improved teaching.

A big part of why standards and other education reforms have failed has to do with the fact that school systems in the U.S. are remarkably decentralized. About 13,000 school districts and their individual teachers exercise substantial control over what actually happens in classrooms. The inability of policymakers at higher levels  such as states or the federal government  to meaningfully change school practice partially explains why other major reforms have failed to achieve real results. Examples include the Obama administrations US$7 billion school turnaround plan and teacher evaluation reforms. In a more centralized system, policies enacted at the state and federal levels could be implemented as intended; that is rarely the case in U.S. education.

3. The political coalitions that brought reform have fallen apart

As on other topics, Americans are highly polarized on education policy. From A Nation at Risk through even much of the Obama administration, many aspects of the education reform agenda had bipartisan agreement. Governors of both parties came together to enact standards and testing reforms that set expectations for student learning and measured student progress against those expectations in the 1980s and 1990s. Congress voted overwhelmingly for the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, calling for more rigorous standards and more frequent testing to drive educational improvement.

And some versions of school choice  especially charter schools  were supported by Republican and Democratic administrations in Washington and nationwide. Even the now-controversial Common Core standards, which aimed to create consistent expectations for student learning in math and English nationwide, were originally bipartisan. That is, they were created and endorsed by leaders from both parties.

This broad reform coalition is no more.

Debates over what to teach children in schools are driving a partisan wedge between schools and parents. Republican states are removing racial and LGBT-related topics from the curriculum. Meanwhile, Democratic states mandate their inclusion.

And expanding choice programs continue to drive down public school enrollment in states across the nation. Over a million students have been lost from public schools, and private school enrollment has increased 4% since the onset of COVID-19.

The result of these trends is that the reform consensus that brought about a broadly national approach to education reform is splintering into red state and blue state versions. I expect red state reform will likely emphasize school choice and a back-to-basics curriculum focused on reading, math and the avoidance of controversial topics. I expect blue state reform will likely emphasize whole-child supports like mental health, social-emotional learning and curriculum that is intended to reflect the culture of the nations increasingly diverse student body.

The problems raised in A Nation at Risk remain as important as they were in 1983. In my view, national leaders need to continue to improve educational opportunity and performance for Americas schoolchildren. Improved education benefits individuals  those with college degrees have longer life expectancies, higher earnings and wealth and even more happiness than those with a high school degree or lower. Education also benefits societies, leading to greater economic growth. But 40 years after the report, policymakers dont seem to have learned the lesson that schools alone wont solve the nations educational problems. And if thats true, the nation remains at risk.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Morgan Polikoff, University of Southern California.

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Morgan Polikoff does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A Permian Basin oil and gas operator in New Mexico faced almost half a million dollars in fines resulting from alleged violations of federal air pollutions law at facilities in Eddy County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Chisholm Energy Operating was found in violation of the Clean Air Act during an aircraft investigation in 2020 throughout the Permian Basin region in southeast New Mexico.

On Wednesday the EPA announced Chisholm was ordered to pay $440,000 in fines for violations at eight sites throughout the county, noting leaks and unauthorized emissions from storage tanks owned by the operator at the time and facilities that were built and operated before they were legally permitted.

More:Oilfield lawmakers claim success in killing bills aimed at energy pollution in New Mexico

Chisholm Energy sold its Permian Basin assets to Earthstone Operating last year in a $600 million deal, but representatives from both companies did not respond to a request for comment from the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

Chisholm did take corrective actions at the facilities, the EPA reported, resulting in a 1,717-ton reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions, and removing 6,168 tons of methane emissions.

VOCs form ground-level ozone, known as smog, that can cause respiratory illness and other health problems for nearby communities.

More:$330M sale of Eddy County assets marks wave of new oil companies entering Permian Basin

Methane is a greenhouse gas known to have a global warming capacity 25 times that of carbon dioxide and is mostly attributed to oil and gas extraction in the Permian Basin.

Recently, researchers with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) found a methane plume 2 miles long near Carlsbad believed to be from a leaking oil and gas facility owned by a company other than Chisholm.

And the EPA was expected to rule later this year on listing the Permian Basin as in violation of federal ozone standards, a move that would increase requirements for oil and gas permitting conducted by the State of New Mexico.

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More:Eddy County oil and gas tax collections exceed budgeted expectations in 2023

In its final settlement with Chisholm, the agency said the operator agreed to pay the fine after being notified numerous times by the EPA of potential violations stemming from flyover research in the area between Aug. 25, 2020, and Oct. 15, 2020.

These included hydrocarbon emissions from process equipment and vapor recovery systems at Chisholms facilities, the settlement read, and the company notified EPA of corrective actions of Feb. 22, 2021, and May 12, 2022, to address some of the compliance issues found during the flights.

Multiple tanks and pressure valves at the eight facilities were found leaking, the settlement read.

More:Oil giants fueling refinery expansions as Permian Basin oil production to grow in April

The EPA said the operator failed to comply with several portions of federal law, violating its federal permits and allowing air pollution to release into the atmosphere.

In the settlement, Chisholm did not admit or deny the allegations but agreed to pay the penalties within 30 days and waived any right to contest the EPAs findings.

EPA Regional Administrator Earthea Nance said companies like Chisholm will be held accountable for violations of federal law when it comes to oil and gas air pollution, and that the federal agency partnered with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) on the investigation.

More:Carlsbad, New Mexico activists demand stronger oil and gas rules in Washington, D.C.

By using advanced technology, the EPA, working in partnership with the NMED, was able to detect Clean Air Act (CAA) violations and ensure that the company took prompt action to address unauthorized emissions, Nance said.

The CAA is designed to protect and enhance the quality of our nations air; companies (or facilities) must continue to uphold that standard or expect to be held accountable when failing to safeguard public health.

The Chisholm case was the second enforcement action take by the EPA this month in the Permian Basin.

More:More than 3,000 acres of New Mexico public land being sold for oil and gas amid protests

On March 3, the agency announced it reached a settlement with Permian Resources Operating, including $610,000 in fines on the Texas side of the basin.

Permian Resources was found in similar violation of the federal regulations during the same flyover investigation as Chisholm, taking corrective actions to remove 729,000 pounds of VOCs and 2.6 million pounds of methane pollution from the air.

Violations in that case came from misuse of flares that burn off excess gas, tanks and a combustor, the EPA reported.

EPA developed an innovative way to detect potential violations from oil and gas facilities across the vast Permian Basin area, and now our enforcement team is following through with tough penalties and actions that reduce emissions, Nance said.

Companies must uphold their obligations to follow the Clean Air Act or expect to be held accountable when they dont.

NMED spokesman Matthew Maez said the EPA took 170 enforcement actions in New Mexico since 2019, while 77 were related to air pollution and just two were unrelated to oil and gas.

He said NMED's Air Quality Bureau has 58 active enforcement cases. More than half the caseload, 39 cases, were related to the oil and gas industry.

In 2020, the EPA approved the Bureau to inspect tank batteries and two of its cases are the result of such "alternative inspections," Maez said at the facilities that don't usually get inspected.

He said it was clear air quality in the Permian Basin was getting worse, tied to expanding extraction operations in the region.

"Our monitoring data shows ozone levels are rising in the Permian Basin and our compliance investigations consistently show failure to comply with federal and state laws," Maez said. "While some oil and gas operators are making the necessary investments in their operations to minimize emissions, far too many are not.

"Our compliance investigation resources are insufficient to accurately speak towards trends but air quality is clearly getting worse, not better."

Maez said the NMED will continue working with federal agencies to ensure compliance of air quality standards and other pollution controls, protecting the public and creating a "level playing field" for the industry.

"Those operators that invest in compliance are at a competitive disadvantage with those operators that skirt these requirements," Maez said. "Further, failing to reduce emissions causes unhealthy air quality resulting in increased asthma and other respiratory issues in the very communities these companies operate."

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad-area oil and gas company fine $440K for air pollution
Space 220 pastry chef Romina Wagener and carrot cake. Courtesy of Allied Global Marketing; Marjorie S./Yelp

Insider spoke to Disney World chefs about foods everyone should eat in the parks.

Romina Wagener, a pastry chef at Space 220, shared her favorite out-of-this-world desserts.

The Edison's executive chef Dee Rolle said she'd go to Disney just to eat Dole Whip.

Chefs Romina Wagener and Dee Rolle both work at Disney World, and there are certain Disney dishes that stand out to them.

Space 220 pastry chef Romina Wagener and The Edison executive chef Dee Rolle. Courtesy of Allied Global Marketing

Chef Romina Wagener, who works as a pastry chef at the Space 220 restaurant in Epcot, told Insider that while she doesn't classify herself as a "Disney adult," there are quite a few dishes she'd recommend guests try when they visit the restaurant or the surrounding parks.

Chef Dee Rolle, the executive chef at The Edison in Disney Springs, said there are a few can't-miss menu items at her own restaurant, but she also has her favorites when she's visiting the parks as a guest.

Dee Rolle, the executive chef at The Edison in Disney Springs, said she can't visit the parks without having Dole Whip.

Dole Whip at Disney World. Disney Parks

Dole Whip, a pineapple-flavored soft serve, has gained a cult following over the years and can be found at all Disney Parks in the US. It's one of the more iconic Disney park foods, and it turns out even the chefs can't get enough of it.

"I am a sucker for Dole Whip, honestly. I love Dole Whip," Dee Rolle told Insider. "I will go to the park just for Dole Whip."

Romina Wagener, a pastry chef at Space 220, loves a poke bowl from the Hawaiian booth in Epcot.

Poke bowl. Rosanna U/Getty Images

Wagener said that when Epcot hosts its annual Food and Wine Festival, which features international foods from all over the world at pavilions and pop-up booths, she loves to order from the Hawai'i booth.

"I always have one of these awesome poke bowls," Wagener said. "They have like a bunch of little tuna and pineapples and stuff like that. It's delicious."

The menu at the Hawai'i booth changes slightly every year, with dishes ranging from poke bowls to kalua pork sliders and passion fruit cheesecake, so it's best to check ahead of time what's on offer.

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However, Wagener says that whatever you eat at Disney World, it's an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone.

"Experiment. If there's something that you've never tried before, then go for it," she told Insider. "If you see something weird that you've never tried before, don't be afraid, just go for it, order it. That's the whole point of the experience: that you go and try things that you've never tried before."

The carrot cake from Space 220 is a can't-miss menu item, she added.

Carrot cake at Space 220. Marjorie S./Yelp

"It's not really very space-y, but everybody likes it," she told Insider. "It's a completely plant-based carrot cake. And people that actually like the cream cheese in regular dairy products still love this dessert because they think that it actually is like a conventional carrot cake."

According to the restaurant's menu, the cake also comes with candied walnuts and toasted pepitas.

One of her favorite galaxy-inspired desserts at the restaurant is the citrus, pistachio, and olive-oil cake.

Citrus and olive-oil cake at Space 220. Vienna F./Yelp

"When you cut it, it looks as if it was a space rock, like an asteroid," she said. "It has the little texture that the asteroid would have. And with that, we made a mousse dome, and it's green in color because it's made with pistachio. So, it looks like a little planet that is in between the asteroids."

Wagener said that when she's brainstorming for new menu items for Space 220, she first focuses on seasonality and availability of the best ingredients. Then, she designs a dessert that looks just as good as it tastes  and is in keeping with her restaurant's intergalactic theme.

Dee Rolle said that the candied bacon at The Edison is one of her favorite dishes and is a hit with customers, too.

Clothesline candied bacon at The Edison. Brandon S./Yelp

The dish comes with four strips of candied bacon hung on a line with clothespins, a mustard dipping sauce, and spicy pickles  customers are constantly asking for an extra helping.

"The candied bacon is something so simple and so unique, but in the same scope, it's such a wow factor, because you get this personal clothesline setting in front of you," Rolle told Insider. "Most guests are like, 'Oh my goodness.' They say they wouldn't even have thought of it. But they really enjoy it."

Read the original article on Insider
Floyd County police are looking for two people after arresting five men accused of being a part of a violent street gang.

Five gang members called the Real Northside Babies were arrested on March 21 at a home in West Rome after SWAT and investigators served a search warrant.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Officers became aware of the groups criminal activity after police began following an armed assault at the A1 Food and Beverage.

When the robbery took place, the victim was punched and repeatedly kicked, held against his will, and not allowed to leave until the assault was over, according to an incident report obtained by Channel 2 Action News,

These activities are conducted by Real Northside Babies gang members to support and proliferate the gang financially and to gain notoriety, respect and intimidate others, Floyd County officers wrote in the incident report.

TRENDING STORIES:

Additional investigations that involved the members uncovered drugs, guns and money.

The following names are the members who are in jail with no bond:

Charles Maddarius Adams, 19

Jackobie Adams, 18

Corey Chatman, 18

Justin Glenn, 20

Caden Morang, 19

All five members have been charged with armed robbery, false imprisonment and participation in a criminal gang in addition to other charges.

Police are still looking for 18-year-old Justin Beckworth and 20-year-old Malachi Williams, who both have warrants out for their arrest, charging them with armed robbery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and participation in a criminal street gang.

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Both men should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information regarding Beckworth or Williams whereabouts is asked to call the Floyd County Police Department or 911.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Four people have been arrested and a fifth suspect remains at large after police say they moved a mans body from the scene of his death in New Hampshire.

Detectives investigating the untimely death of Mark Hudson in Newport issued arrest warrants for 50-year-old Laurel Ayotte, 27-year-old Christopher Ayotte, Jr., 19-year-old Jacob Ayotte, 32-year-old Ryan Palmer, and 31-year-old Candace Fontaine on charges including conspiracy to commit falsifying physical evidence and conspiracy to commit abuse of corpse, according to the Newport Police Department.

All five suspects conspired to unlawfully remove Hudson and other evidence from the scene of his death, police said. Additional charges are expected in this case.

Ryan Palmer, of Sunapee, has not been tracked down by police. All four of the other suspects, residents of Newport, are in custody.

Police noted that there is no safety threat to the public.

The New Hampshire Medical Examiners Office is working to determine Hudsons cause of death.

Anyone with information on Palmers whereabouts is urged to contact Detective Alexander Marvin at 603-863-3232.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
A 5-year-old died from asphyxiation after snow fell from a roof at a Colorado ski resort and buried her, her 7-year-old brother and their father, officials said.

The family from Scottsdale, Arizona, was staying at a condominium at the Purgatory Resort in Durango, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith told McClatchy News by phone March 23.

They were standing near the condo March 16 when snow and ice slid off the roof and buried them, Smith said.

Witnesses saw the snow cover the family and called for help, she said. They began digging the family out until rescuers got to the scene.

When rescuers reached the girl, she wasnt breathing, Smith said. She had been under the snow for 19 minutes.

First responders found a pulse while she was being taken to a hospital in Durango, Smith said.

She was then transported to a different hospital where she died days later from cardiac arrest due to asphyxia, she said.

The father and son were also taken to a hospital, she said.

Smith did not disclose their current conditions, but the Durango Herald reported they were both in serious or critical condition.

Smith said the childs father was pretty shaken up by the incident.

Purgatory Resort did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment Thursday, March 23.

Durango is in southwestern Colorado, about 400 miles from Denver.

So much snow pounded California ski resorts that even ski lifts 50 feet up are buried

Avalanche engulfs three skiers, killing one, near Aspen, Colorado officials say

Friends watch avalanche sweep snowboarder over volcano cliff to his death, OR cops say
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Trade Tales |

By Marina Felix

Money will always be a delicate subject. And in this industry, the true value of interior design often clashes with client misconceptions about costs. Thats why we asked five designersRobin Gannon, Alison Downey, Johanna Barger, Helena Brana and Daniela Holt Voithhow they successfully command conversations around budgets.

Robin GannonRobin Gannon

Define Your Own Scope

Clients often come to me with a budget number that they pull out of the air. Its not actually based on any kind of project scopeit just sounds like a good amount to spend! So much of what we do is educating our clients, and well tell them why that number doesnt work. Sometimes thats just what their budget is, and theyre not a fit for us. As a firm, its important to understand what you do and what you do well. You cant sacrifice the quality of what you do simply because of somebodys budget. Robin Gannon, Robin Gannon Interiors, Lexington, Massachusetts

Alison DowneyCourtesy of Downey Interiors

Align the Stars

The project budget is always part of our initial conversation before moving forward. As our fee is commensurate with the budget, and [considering] clients dont always understand the vast range of options when it comes to price points, we take the time to educate them from the get-go. In order to determine a realistic level of investmentwe tend to use this term over budgetwe prepare a project plan that includes a high and low total reflecting the items we anticipate will be used. If the client doesnt feel comfortable moving forward, we need to determine whether the project is a fit. When a project doesnt align with whats needed for a successful outcome, it likely wont be a good experience for anyone involved. That said, we wholly respect a realistic budget that is set at the beginning of the project. We work hard to be as accurate as possible and guide the client when they are veering off course. It is our job to check in with them, let them know where things stand financially and ensure they are well-informed. Alison Downey, Downey Interiors, New York

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Johanna BargerCourtesy of Johanna Barger Design

More Isnt Always More

Design is a very creative field, but it is also a businessmy business. And I never shy away from budget discussions. I take the financial aspect of the process very seriously, and one of the first discussions in our initial meeting is cost expectations. Many clients do not have a sense of the financial commitment it takes to create what they see in magazines or on social media. Part of my service is to educate the client through direct, transparent conversations about numbers while also realizing their design aspirations. Budgets are a reality, and rarely is one unlimited, nor should it be. We all need parameters. Together, the client and designer can determine what is appropriate for this project. Based on these considerations, budgets may need to be increased, or sometimes a clients budget needs to be reduced. Other times, we need to consider breaking the project into phases to find the most satisfactory solution. Johanna Barger, Johanna Barger Design, New York

Helena BranaCourtesy of Brana Designs

Efficient Filtering

Transparency with our clients is one of our founding principles. We discuss clients budget expectations very early in our communications and estimate costs based on our experiences with comparable projects. [Not all] clients are the right fit for us, and its better for everyone to find out early to avoid disappointments later on. Helena Brana, Brana Designs, Corona del Mar, California

Daniela Holt VoithCourtesy of Voith & Mactavish Architects

On Your Mark

We talk budget early, and head on, to see if there is a match between what we can do and the clients hopes and dreams. Its not always a comfortable conversation, but one easier to have sooner rather than later. We seek to set client expectations not just about budget, but also about schedule and fees. We can design a beautiful, functional project for a client based on all the listening in the world, but if its not in the budget, its a nonstarter. As much as you never want to walk away from an opportunity, if theres no consensus, its better to part ways amicably. Daniela Holt Voith, Voith & Mactavish Architects, Philadelphia

Homepage image: Helena Brana uses leather seating and a statement pendant to give this breezy California home a warm Spanish twist | Courtesy of Brana Designs

Want to stay informed? Sign up for our newsletter, which recaps the weeks stories, and get in-depth industry news and analysis each quarter by subscribing to our print magazine. Join BOH Insider for discounts, workshops and access to special events such as the Future of Home conference.
Six Erie residents have been indicted on federal charges that they operated an Erie-based ring that trafficked in methamphetamine, cocaine, hydrocodone pills and heroin from March 2019 to September 2022.

All six are charged with a felony count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, though the drugs each is accused of dealing vary.

Drugs on the street:Overdose deaths remain high in Erie County, but help is available to those in need

Two of the defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering between March 2019 and this past October, according to court records.

A federal grand jury issued the two-count indictment in U.S. District Court in Erie on March 14. The indictment was unsealed Thursday following the filing of arrest warrants for the six.

Who are the 6 defendants charged in Erie drug conspiracy?

The lead defendant is Larry Tremel Alexander, 46, known as "Mel," according to the indictment. He is accused of conspiring to traffic in more than 50 grams of meth and unspecified quantities of heroin, cocaine and hydrocodone, an opioid. He is also accused of money laundering.

A federal grand jury in Erie has indicted six people on charges that they conspired to traffic in heroin, cocaine, hydrocodone pills and methamphetamine.

The other defendants are as follows, listed in the order they appear in the indictment. The primary defendants in a federal criminal case are typically listed the highest in an indictment.

The defendants all live in Erie, said the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which includes Erie.

Dennis Levar Jones, 45  Charged with conspiracy to traffic in more than 50 grams of meth and quantity of cocaine.

Pernell Tequin Orr, 33  Charged with conspiracy to traffic in a quantity of meth.

Nicole Grace Fox, 33  Charged with conspiracy to traffic in a quantity of meth.

Shalin Nicole Pepperman, 41  Charged with conspiracy to traffic in a quantity of meth.

Malissa Mae Perry, 41  Charged with conspiracy to traffic in a quantity of hydrocodone and charged with money laundering.

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What penalties would the defendants face if convicted?

The conspiracy count related to the distribution of more than 50 grams of meth  the charge that applies to Alexander and Jones  carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years, according to court records.

The conspiracy count related to the distribution of quantities of cocaine, hydrocodone and meth carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. The money-laundering count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

All the penalties related to the drug charges in the case increase if a convicted defendant has a prior record for certain felony convictions.

What is the next stage in the case of the six defendants?

Three of the defendants  Fox, Pepperman and Perry  pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Thursday before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lanzillo at the federal courthouse in Erie. He released each of the three on unsecured bonds of $10,000.

Alexander was arrested and is at the Erie County Prison awaiting an arraignment and a detention hearing, according to court records.

The other two defendants  Jones and Orr  were at large as of Friday morning, according to court records and the U.S. Attorney's Office. The office has asked that they be detained in prison once they are arrested.

U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter is assigned the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Sellers is prosecuting.

Who investigated the case against the 6 defendants?

The prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. It said the task force "uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks."

The agencies investigated the case were the drug law unit of the Pennsylvania State Police, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the Erie police and detectives with the Erie County District Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The office said the authorities conducted the probe in association with what is called the Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative. It was formed after the federal government designated Erie County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in 2021.

Congress created the designation in 1988 to foster coordination among local, state and federal agencies to combat drug trafficking. The designation provides more money and resources to target major drug trafficking in Erie County, officials said.

Erie County is one of nearly three dozen areas across the country, including several other counties in Pennsylvania, with the designation, officials said.

New tool:Federal designation adds resources, funding to fight against illegal drugs in Erie County

Erie County has been used by drug traffickers as a "waypoint" for large-scale distribution, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in announcing the federal designation in May 2021.

Combined effort:New federal designation to bolster crime-fighting efforts of FBI-led task force in Erie

The office said drug dealers had exploited Erie's easy access by train, bus and highway to larger cities such as Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit to use Erie County as a repackaging hub for further distribution and to funnel drug proceeds back through the supply line.

How does the new case rank with other federal drug cases in Erie?

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Erie will prosecute the new drug case at the same time it continues to prosecute another drug case that is one of the largest in federal court in Erie over the past several years.

In that case, 25 people were indicted in May on charges that they conspired to deal in cocaine, methamphetamine or fentanyl.

The defendants charged in the highest levels of the case are accused of trafficking in as much as 220 pounds, or about 100 kilos, of powder and crack cocaine that originated in Costa Rica and was shipped from Puerto Rico to Erie from January 2020 to May 2022. The conspiracy also stretched into Florida, according to the government.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 6 indicted in Erie PA-based drug ring: meth, cocaine, pills, heroin
Bonaparte Crossing the Grand Saint-Bernard Pass, May 20,1800. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Napoleon, one of history's great military commanders, encouraged his officers to study these leaders.

We've ranked these leaders based on their battlefield achievements.

You won't find the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, on the French emperor's list.

Napoleon Bonaparte is recognized as one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

He brought Revolutionary France back from the brink of destruction with his Italian campaign in 1796 and 1797. He made a fool of Czar Alexander I at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. He encircled an entire Austrian army and forced them to capitulate at the Battle of Ulm in 1805. And these are just a few of his exploits.

But he was also a student of history and repeatedly instructed his subordinates to pore over the campaigns of seven specific commanders that came before him, arguing that it was the only way to learn the art of war and become a great captain.

"Your own genius will be enlightened and improved by this study, and you will learn to reject all maxims foreign to the principles of these great commanders," Napoleon said.

We've ranked the commanders based on Napoleon's comments and their own achievements:

7. Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736).

Prince Eugene of Savoy (in the center) in the battle of Belgrade against the Turks 1717. Imagno/Getty Image

Eugene was a field marshal and statesman under the guise of the House of Savoy, which served the Holy Roman Emperor of Austria.

Wounded in battle 13 times during his 39 year career, one of Eugene's greatest conquests was the Siege of Belgrade in 1717 against the Ottoman Empire, in which he led a cavalry attack that helped turn the tide.

"Military science," Napoleon was quoted as saying by Madame de Remusat, "consists in calculating all the chances accurately in the first place, and then in giving accident exactly, almost mathematically, it's place in one's calculations."

"Prince Eugene is one of those who understood [this] best," Napoleon said.

6. Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632).

A depiction of Gustavus Adolphus praying before the start of battle. Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Gustavus Adolphus was king of Sweden between 1611-1632 and helped put Sweden on the map.

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One of his greatest victories was at the Battle of Breitenfeld during the Thirty Years War when his forces, together with the Saxons, flanked both sides of the Catholic army and annihilated the enemy.

He was killed during the same war while leading a cavalry charge at the Battle of Lutzen.

5. Frederick the Great (1712-1786).

King of Prussia Frederick II (1712 - 1786), known as Frederick The Great, on horseback. Edward Gooch Collection/Getty Images

Frederick II, or Frederick the Great, was king of Prussia from 1740-1786 and greatly expanded his kingdom's territory through his military victories.

Some of his greatest victories were at the battles of Rossbach and Leuthen during the Seven Years War, where he defeated larger armies with great maneuvering.

But despite being one of Napoleon's seven great commanders, the French commander appeared to consider the next commander even better.

4. Henri de La Tour dAuvergne, vicomte de Turenne (1611-1675).

Painting by Charles-Philippe Lariviere of the Battle of the Dunes at the siege of Dunkirk, won by the Marshal Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (1611-1675), over the Spanish army in June 1658. Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images

Turenne was a French field marshal who served Louis XIV, also known as The Sun King.

Perhaps his greatest victories came in the winter of 1674 and 1675 during the Franco-Dutch War. In December of 1674, he maneuvered around the German army and surprised them weeks later in early January, hitting the enemy's flanks and driving them away from Alsace.

He was killed later in July 1675, as the Franco-Dutch War was still raging, by a cannonball as he was observing enemy lines.

In 1793, Revolutionary France was bent on erasing anything that had to with royalty and religion, and began destroying royal tombs at St-Denis outside of Paris.

Known as a man of the people, Turenne's body was one of the few left untouched. His remains now reside in the Invalides.

"You seem to admire [Frederick the Great] immensely," Napoleon once told a subordinate, according to his secretary, Bourrienne. "What do you find in him so astonishing? He is not equal to Turenne."

"General," Napoleon's subordinate replied, "it is not merely the warrior I esteem in Frederick, but one cannot refuse one's admiration of a man, who even on the throne, was a philosopher."

"True ... but all his philosophy shall not prevent me from striking out his kingdom from the map of Europe," Napoleon said.

A few years later, after he crowned himself emperor, Napoleon annihilated Prussia during the Jena-Auerstadt campaign of 1806, and subsumed the kingdom in his empire.

3. Hannibal Barca (247 bc-183 bc).

Engraving depicting Hannibal (247-181 BC) a Punic military commander from Carthage. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Hannibal was a Carthaginian general and statesman in present day Tunisia who wreaked havoc on the Roman Empire.

Arguably his greatest conquest came during the Battle of Cannae when he compelled the Romans into attacking in unfavorable conditions, eventually wiping out their cavalry and then its entire army. The Roman historian Polybius wrote that Hannibal's army killed 70,000 Romans.

Hannibal is also well known for impressively crossing the Alps before entering Italy and the Battle of Cannae, surviving harrowing assaults from the Gauls.

His power diminished, he poisoned himself around 183 BC.

2. Julius Caesar (100 BC-44 BC).

Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon on horseback. Charles Phelps Cushing/ClassicStock/Getty Images

Caesar was a Roman general and politician who is one of the greatest conquerors of all time.

Well known for his victory at the Battle of Alesia and conquest of the Gauls, he was made a consul in the first Roman Triumvarate in 59 BC along with Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinios Crassus.

But civil war later broke out between Caesar and Pompey. In 48 BC, after suffering a series of defeats to Caesar, Pompey was murdered in Egypt.

"I admire the fine campaign of Caesar in Africa," Bourriene quoted Napoleon as saying.

Shortly after that, he fought a quick war in Anatolia  in present day Turkey  and made quick work of the king of Cimmerian Bosporus. His famous words, "I came, I saw, I conquered," were from this war.

Caesar was afterwards made dictator, but was assassinated  stabbed to death by the Roman senators  in 44 BC.

1. Alexander the Great (356 bc-323 bc).

Macedonian king Alexander the Great Stock Montage/Getty Images

Alexander was king of Macedonia who conquered the Persian empire, invaded India and spread Grecian culture across much of the ancient world.

Tutored by Aristotle at a young age, he became king after his father, Phillip II, was assassinated.

While he never officially ranked the seven commanders, Napoleon himself, along with many other historians, seemed to consider Alexander the best.

"I place Alexander in the first rank," Napoleon told Bourrienne. "My reason for giving the preference to the king of Macedon is, on account of the conception, and above all, for the execution of his campaign in Asia," adding that he admired the Siege of Tyre, conquest of Egypt and march to the Oasis Ammon most.

Alexander died from illness in 323 bc.

Like his heroes, Napoleon Bonaparte is now considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

Napoleon Crossing the Alps. Art Media/Print Collector/Getty Images

Here's what Napoleon had to say about "the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus Adolphus, Turenne, Eugene and Frederick."

"Model yourself upon them. This is the only means of becoming a great captain, and of acquiring the secret of the war of war. Your own genius will be enlightened and improved by this study, and you will learn to reject all maxims foreign to the principles of these great commanders."

Read the original article on Business Insider
From plant-filled New York City shoebox-apartments to sprawling junglelike South Asian properties, biophilic design has become one of the most popular global interior design trends in recent years. Between 2019 and 2021, Pinterest Business recorded a 100% increase in the search for biophilic design bedroom. The term biophiliadefined as an innate and genetically determined affinity of human beings with the natural worldfirst appeared in a 1984 book by biologist E.O. Wilson, titled after the term. Yet almost four decades later, the practical design applications of this philosophy is at a fever pitch.

Research shows that biophilic design is more than an aesthetic choiceit can impact productivity and well-being. A study by global flooring company Interface found that people spent 11% more time in biophilic-inspired hotel lobbies as compared to less nature-forward lobbies. Green building consulting firm Paladino & Company also estimated a 5% increase in student test scores and a 15% reduction in absenteeism when schools in Washington State switched to a biophilic design approach.

While COVID-19 played a role in a resurgence of all things natural and an appreciation for bringing the outdoors in, the desire for biophilic design and the want to incorporate flora into the interiors is emphasized by experts like the Plant Kween and plant stylist Hilton Carter, who is publishing his fourth book, Living Wild: How to Plant Style Your Home and Cultivate Happiness, this month.

In a way people are seeking to create a home that is like a living, breathing ecosystem, Nick Cutsumpas, author of Plant Coach: The Beginner's Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet, points out. To help with this, Cutsumpas [known as Farmer Nick] advises clients to find their greenprint, or a way to map the interiors in a way that optimizes plant growth by flagging spots where the natural light hits, or minimizing drafts that could prevent plants from thriving.

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A designer and self-described DIYer, California-based Jessica Preteroti brings this creative spirit to all of her biophilia-inspired design choices. She says that just because we build a box in nature to protect ourselves from the elements, doesnt mean that that box shouldnt feel as alive as the environment surrounding its walls. Through biophilic design, your home breathes life into you, just as you bring life to it. That connection with nature grounds youits comforting and cozyyet its magical and whimsical, all at the same time, she says. It makes home my favorite place to be.

Adding plants to your space is a great first step, but theres much more to biophilia than just greenerynatural shapes, soft tones, and green building material choices are all ways to honor mother nature while reaping your own benefits from a closeness to the natural world. And, it doesnt have to break the bank. Carter says DIY and biophilia are perfect partners because they both privilege recycling and repurposing materials or plants. It just takes a bit of creativity: A great way to bring in biophilic design on a budget is to create a living wall and place cuttings from the plants you currently have, from your friends or family, or by foraging, as propagations, Carter says.

Here, seven biophilic design inspirations to revive your space and add a refreshing aesthetic through simple DIY projects and plant nurturing practices that wont cost you too much green.

1. Double plant real estate with mirrors

Photo: Genesis Bonilla

The floors in the house are original terrazzo flooring from the 30s, so we wanted to juxtapose the hard floor with as many natural materials as possible and these mirrors were the perfect way to accomplish that, says Tatiana Seikaly, founder and head designer of the Miami-based firm Studio Seikaly. She filled the Art Deco home with perfectly-placed plants and wavy, wooden-framed mirrors, custom-made by Tomas Graeff. The mirrors bring a much needed fluid element to the home, tying all the biophilic elements together. Whats more, if your budget only allows for a few plants, intentionally placing mirrors near each one can visually amplify the amount of greenery in the space.

2. Choose low-fuss, fast-growing plants

Plant parenting may look simple on social media but finding and caring for even a small collection can be both expensive and overwhelming. When its time to get serious about improving your green thumb, Delaware-based small business owner Durrell Eastland, also known as @theblackplantman, recommends getting your hands on a Ficus Audrey, which are less expensive than the viral fiddle-leaf fig, and take less work. Eastlands biggest tip? Research your plants to find the best care solutions that reflect your lifestyle. Ive been obsessed with [the genus] Ficus ever since I started collecting plants which is why my Ficus collection is as extensive as it is now, he says. Over the years Ive learned everything that I could about Ficus. This includes knowing that Ficus Audreys curl their leaves when they need more water and that its best to keep your plants in one place, instead of adding the stress of frequent movementa tip Eastland says works for all plants.

3. Supplement a sparse room with plants

Photo: Shelby Pine

Placing a plant, or a curated collection of plants, in a corner can lend a jungle feel to any room and save you from spending on expensive furniture. Take the time to study your homes greenprint and go from there: Choosing the ideal location for a plant can be almost as hard as finding the right placement for your first tattoo. Cutsumpas says, If done well, your plants will appear as if they are growing out of the space like they would in their natural, native environments. Look to empty corners and pad them with large-foliage plants like bird-of-paradise and Monstera deliciosa. Swapping the real deal for faux plants is also an option for anyone worried about maintaining a bundle of plants.

Photo: Dupray

Zeroing on a location in smaller rooms, like the home office, pick up smaller plants for the desk or to place on the windowsills. Both design moves invite a connection between indoor and outdoor while giving sun-hungry plants, such a succulents, exactly what they need. When potting and placing plants you can even combine functionality and the beauty of your greenery with special planters like the Dupray Bloom Air Purifier, which doubles as a large-sized pot and looks perfect as decor with the red-tipped Chinese evergreen.

4. Build a biophilic wall unit

Obviously, plants play a big part in this, but there is so much more to biophilic design, says DIYer Melanie Boyden, based in Brighton, UK. Her homemade shelving unit adapted from IKEA Billy bookcases introduces natural, curved lines and the perfect shade of green into her airy living room. Furniture often has straight lines and can sometimes feel uninviting and cold. Curves help soften the space, making it feel more connected to nature and creating a cozier feel to a room, Boyden says. Using medium-density fibreboard, Boyden attached carefully measured circle-cut pieces to each bookcase, primed, and painted each one with Valspar Thames Fog (V144-5), a deep green that compliments all the verdant hues in her plants. Although it was time-consuming, the DIY allowed Boyden to fully customize the built-in to complement her already biophilic home. Using natural materials like wood, brick, and stone, along with curving shapes, helps to make your home feel more grounded and imperfect like nature, Boyden says. The patterns of materials like wood and marble reflect the irregularity of the outside world and help to soften all the straight lines of interior design.

5. Design a living wall

Once you run out of floor and shelf space, theres only one way to goup! says plant-enthusiast, and Plant Blerd founder Kamili Bell Hill. When she ran into this overflow problem, she designed a living wall full of plants diverse in size, color, and species. To make your own, Hill recommends using a blend of self-watering pots for the high, unreachable plants, floating shelves for the rest, and plant rings to keep everything together. This lawyer turned Black People with Plants founder is passionate about creating the most organic feel with her plant curation. Hill says, Hang the self-watering pots at the top of the wall for large trailing plants to really get the indoor jungle vibe. Then stagger the plant rings and shelves at different heights, for an organic feel and fill in the shelf so that it looks lush. To make the most of your budget, choose cascading, easy-to-propagate plants like golden pothos.

6. Design as you propagate

Photo: Hilton Carter/CICO Books 2023

Instead of cluttering a countertop with water jars to propagate, the process of cutting from a plant to grow another one, use this natural step as a chance to up your design. You dont always need to buy new plants when you want to add green to your space,  Cutsumpas says. Although it will take longer, taking cuttings and propagating plants is an easy and free way to expand your botanical collection. The easiest plants to propagate include African violets, pothos, and philodendrons, all available at most plant stores. To propagate: Cut a leaf or stem from a healthy plant and place it into a small container of water.

Wall-mounted planters with test tubes can make a great living wall addition and fill out an empty space. Take a note from Carter, who designed cove cradles to make a living wall from plant cuttings. Carter used small test-tube-like vases and carrying shelves and he recommends repurposing any kind of recyclable vessel like glass sparking water bottles. This budget-friendly DIY lets you create a biophilic work of art.

7. Lean into natural materials

Not everyone is as thrift-lucky as Preteroti, who found this vintage Barcelona chair while rummaging through a Palm Springs secondhand shopbut anyone can take her repurposing advice to bring a biophilic twist into all sorts of thrift flip projects. For Preterotis chair-fixing DIY, she chose manilla rope and used a series of loops around the chair frame finished with sailors knots to create the base for the chair cushions. To add support, she wove the rope on both the seat and back from right to left and back to front, a method called twill weaving.

Not ready to take on a project this big? Sarah and Jonathan Prins, a Michigan-based couple who run a photography business and call themselves The Renovation Couple, made a DIY rattan light with a large rattan candle holder from TJMaxx and a pendant light kit. We wanted a unique look that fit the space and we knew we could create it by combining the materials ourselves, Sarah says. Using materials like rattan, a naturally renewable palm plant, or jute, a thick natural fiber, can really elevate your biophilic design. In Citizenrys Spring 2023 Trend Report, textile designer Caris Fawcett predicted a growth in the popularity of these natural materials. Incorporating a room with something as simple as a jute rug can ground a space by emulating the textures and tones seen in nature, Fawcett says. Oftentimes, jutes can be used as a layering piece and a vessel for additional texture piecescombining well with browns, terra-cottas, olives, and other warm neutral colors.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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The first-degree premeditated murder trial began Thursday for a Brevard County man accused of killing a 79-year-old inmate while in prison.

An Escambia County grand jury indicted 25-year-old Markell Brent Sawyer on Dec. 8, 2021, for allegedly killing fellow Century Correctional Institute inmate Nelson Sanderson.

Sawyer reportedly beat Sanderson to death with a makeshift weapon in August 2020. Sawyer does not deny the incident occurred, but is making the case to jurors that the killing was justifiable.

Here is everything you need to know about the trial:

Markell Brent Sawyer appears before Circuit Judge John Simon on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Sawyer is on trial for first-degree premeditated murder for allegedly killing 79-year-old Nelson Sanderson in Aug. 2020 while in Century Correctional Institute.

Sanderson killed:Florida DOC: 79-year-old killed in inmate-on-inmate assault at Century prison

In case you missed it: Pensacola woman wants death sentence thrown out due to newly-discovered evidence

Who is Markell Brent Sawyer?

Sawyer is a 25-year-old man from Palm Bay City in Brevard County who was arrested in 2016 and charged with burglary, dealing in stolen property, grand theft, criminal mischief and grand theft of a motor vehicle.

After pleading no contest to the charges on Jan. 8, 2018, he was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 90.386 months in state prison on Feb. 22, 2018.

According to Florida's Department of Corrections website, Sawyer was scheduled for release from the Century Correctional Institute on Dec. 12, 2023.

Who was Nelson Sanderson?

Sanderson was a resident of Lee County who had been incarcerated in the Century Correctional Institute since 2016 when he was found guilty on two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under 12.

According to Florida's Department of Corrections, Sanderson committed the crimes on Jan. 27, 2006, and Sept. 13, 2010. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Sanderson was 79 years old at the time of his death.

What is Markell Sawyer accused of doing?

According to Assistant State Attorney Amy Shea, Sawyer followed Sanderson to the bathroom on Aug. 17, 2020, and began fighting with Sanderson.

"The defendant attacked Mr. Sanderson in the bathroom," Shea said during opening arguments Thursday. "The defendant has taken a combination lock tied to string or braided fabric and begins to whip Mr. Sanderson with the lock over his head."

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After suffering multiple facial and cranial fractures, Sanderson's brain began to swell and he was pronounced dead later that day.

What is Markell Sawyer's defense?

Sawyer's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Thomas Gore, told the jury that Sawyer did kill Sanderson, but he says Sawyer was justified in the killing.

"(Prison) is a tense, hostile environment. And I expect you'll hear that violence sometimes can't be avoided because you're caged in there with it," Gore told the jury during his opening statement. "I want you to focus on what you're not going to hear. When the state is asking questions, ask yourself (if) they can tell you reliably what happened between Markell Sawyer and Nelson Sanderson before the fight started."

Gore argues that Shea will not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Sawyer was not justifiably defending himself during the incident.

How much prison time does Markell Sawyer face?

In the state of Florida, first-degree premeditated murder is a capital felony, meaning the only two sentences permissible are life imprisonment or the death penalty.

The State Attorney has not announced they will seek the death penalty in this case, thus Sawyer is facing life in state prison if the jury finds him guilty of his charge.

The trial is scheduled to end Friday.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Century inmate Markell Sawyer on trial in Nelson Sanderson murder
Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug.

Insects are cool (if you look past all the legs). They break down dead things by eating them and pollinate plants so that we can grow enough crops to feed the world. Conservation encourages us to protect wildlife, especially bugs that are now looking down the barrel of an insect apocalypse.



But... sometimes you have to kill a few bugs to protect entire ecosystems. Specifically, invasive insects, which humans have transported all around the world. In some cases, theyve outcompeted native insects and wrecked native plant life that dont have the defense mechanisms to deal with invasive insect species that have no business being there in the first place. In some cases, invasive species have been able to expand their populations at a rapid clip if there are no natural predators to keep them in check.

Read more

Experts have asked the public to show no mercy and just annihilate species that have been identified as invasive and destructive. With that in mind, we invite you to take a close look at these suspect species and do what biologists say is your duty to stamp them out. Literally.

A version of this story was originally published on January 31, 2022.

Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lantern Fly

This bug may be beautiful, but you have the permission of many experts to murder it on sight. The spotted lanternfly was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has rapidly spread across the Northeast. They grow up to an inch (3 centimeters) long and have speckled front wings and red hind wings with black spots. Theyre not a risk to you, but they are a huge concern for agriculture. When they eat crops, the bugs excrete a goop called honeydew that creates a film on crops, reducing yields. They also harm trees, drinking their sap and leaving them dry and weakened.

Asian Tiger Mosquito

An Asian tiger mosquito

Unlike some of the other insects on this list, this one can actually bite us. The Asian tiger mosquitodistinguished by its black body with white stripesis native to Southeast Asia and was introduced to the U.S. sometime in the 1980s. It has spread to more than 20 states since then, including California, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. It can spread the West Nile virus, dengue, and even chikungunya. The CDC recommends wearing bug sprays that have DEET in it to avoid being bitten, and if you see it flying around your home, smash it immediately. Of course, that advice goes for regular mosquitos, too, so theres no need to inspect the bug for stripes before killing it.

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Spongy Moth

Spongy Moth

Sadly, the invasive spongy mothwhich is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africais extremely cute and looks like a cuddly bat. Its eyes almost scream dont squish me. But squish it you must. The spongy moth doesnt belong here. First brought to Massachusetts back in the 1800s, it has spread across the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada and costs hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and population control efforts every year.

The spongy monththe name of which the Entomological Society of America changed last year because it was hurtful to the Romani peopleis capable of defoliating hundreds of tree and shrub species, its larvae can practically devour entire trees.

Southern Pine Beetle

Southern Pine Beetle

These little critters look like something out of a sci-fi movie, and theyre kind of whimsical... but they still deserve the tiniest of guillotines. The beetle is native to the Southeast, but its increasingly found in the Northeastern states like Maine and New Hampshire where it can potentially destroy acres upon acres of pine forests. (Since theyre native to the Southeast, you shouldnt kill them if you find them there.) Before 2014, the beetle had not been found north of New Jersey, but warm weather is luring it to forests into the Northeast. This spread is only expected to continue thanks to climate change further warming the planet.



Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

The brown marmorated stink bug is native to East Asia and may look unique and worthy of a Victorian-era brooch. But yeah, you gotta kill it, too. Like some of the other insects in the roundup, this stink bug damages fruit, vegetable, and field crops causing extensive economic damage across both North America and Europe.

Rosy Wolfsnail aka Cannibal Snail

Euglandina rosea

Not technically a bug, but close enough. This snail has a really cool conical pinkish shell, but sadly, it has to be eliminatedfrom some areas, at least. The rosy wolfsnail is originally from Southeastern states like Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, but it has spread to Hawaii and endangered native snails there. Its called the cannibal snail because it will eat other rosy wolfsnails and their eggs. It will also devour other types of snails. It was introduced to Hawaii in the 1950s to help control the population of an African snail, but it has since pushed several Hawaiian snails into extinction. If you see one in Hawaii, please kill it.

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer looks like it is made out of jewelry and magic, but please do not use that to overlook the fact that this enchanting insect has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees across the U.S. This bug, originally from northeast Asia, was first spotted in Michigan in 2002.



By the time theyre seen in their glorious green adult stage... it may already be too late for nearby trees. The larvae burrow in the bark of ash trees, destroying the internal networks that transport nutrients and water to other parts of the tree. and infestations have been reported in at least 35 states across the country.

Khapra Beetle

Khapra Beetle

This fuzzy bean-looking bug may be small, but like its invasive fellows, its dangerous and deserves the death penalty. The khapra beetle is native to South Asia and was discovered in California in the 1950sit has been described as one of the most invasive species and its larvae usually eats up stored products like stored grain. Cargo ships are constantly working towards intercepting shipments with these critters in them to avoid them from spreading around.

German Yellowjackets

Photo: Richard Bartz

Wasps are bad enough, and the invasive ones are even worse. They have the audacity to be yellow, like bumble bees, but they are so much more aggressive and can sting repeatedly. German yellowjackets are currently found in northeastern states and throughout the West Coast, according to Penn State Extension. They made it to the U.S. sometime in the 1970s and are pushing out some native wasp species, according to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.



They tend to make their nests in walls and attics. This insect scavenges for protein, so if there are any deli meats at an outdoor picnic, these critters are going to hover.

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Costco is the place to go for anyone who wants to stock up on bulk items, prepare for a party or big event, and save money while doing so. The buying in bulk mentality, however, can often lead people to purchase items that ultimately arent worth it; either because you cant possibly use all of what youve purchased, or it can be cheaper somewhere else.

Related: 8 Best New Items Coming To Dollar Tree in March

Also: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score

Here we take a look at nine of Costcos Kirkland Signature brand products that you might want to rethink purchasing, because they may not be worth your hard-earned dollars.

Spices

Anyone who cooks a lot will know the allure of a big, beautiful tub of your favorite spices, even just simple pepper or Kirklands organic no-salt seasoning. But if you notice that most spices come in tiny little jars, thats not just to gouge you on price  its because spices dont last forever.

According to the spice company, McCormick, dried spices in jars last, on average between 1 and 4 years. So if you buy yourself a huge container of spices, no matter how good the deal is now, chances are youll never use up the whole thing and will wind up losing money in the long run.

Almond Flour

Gluten-free baking is all the rage these days, as people become more aware of food sensitivities or just like to try new things. Thus, it would seem like Kirklands three-pound bag of gluten-free almond flour would be a steal.

The problem is, almond flour lasts only a few months past its sell-by date, according to Does it Go Bad, and up to a year in the freezer at most. Are you really going to bake that many items with almond flour? Probably not.

Take Our Poll: How Much Salary Would Buy You Happiness?

Tequila

Costco makes it super easy to prepare for a party, particularly when it comes to beer, wine and spirits. Who wouldnt want to take home a nice big bottle of Kirklands Tequila Anejo to live it up?

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According to MoneyTalksNews, however, the spirits that make margaritas so tasty apparently taste pretty subpar at Costco. One reviewer said the tequila has, an unnatural sweetness like it does not come straight from an agave field or distillation, and another went even farther, saying, Its like wearing clown shoes or something. Its out of place. So save yourself the money and dissatisfaction by skipping this one.

Diapers

Of all the things to buy in bulk, diapers have got to be at the top of the list. Babies go through diapers faster than they grow, and thats saying something. Naturally, it makes sense to buy your diapers in bulk, which surely translates to a good deal.

However, according to Natural Baby Life, diapers at Costco are not the cheapest diapers around. That award goes to Walmart instead.

Gel Dishwasher Detergent

Cheaper is not always better, and while Kirkland has many highly rated products, unfortunately, its gel dishwasher detergent is not one of them. According to Consumer Reports, it turned up as one of the lowest-rated detergents. This is one product where its likely worth it to buy a name brand competitor for a little bit more instead.

Coffee

Coffee lovers rejoice when they run across big containers of tasty grounds, and Kirkland does indeed offer coffee in bulk. The problem is, according to MoneyTalksNews, coffee doesnt have great lasting power.

Coffee snobs would say you should only grind your beans the day you want to drink them anyway, so pre-ground coffee is already halfway to stale. Therefore, be realistic about how much coffee youre actually going to drink, and put the Kirkland brand back.

Toilet Paper and Facial Tissue

Anyone who hoarded toilet paper or tissues during the pandemic from Costco probably got a very painful lesson that this wasnt money well spent. According to Readers Digest, these paper products for our most sensitive areas score very low on ratings for traits like durability and softness.

Milk

Kirkland sells two gallons of milk in two separate jugs, which MoneyTalksNews described as awkwardly square-shaped. These jugs allegedly make pouring a challenge, leading to likely spillage and waste.

Moreover, of all the products that can go bad quickly, dairy products are high on the list. It might make more sense to just buy your milk one regular-shaped jug at a time, looking for deals from your local supermarket.

Deli Meat

Like milk, deli meat has a pretty short shelf life once opened. In addition, chef Lizzy Briskin with Insider rated products she would never buy at Costco, and one of them was Kirkland brand pre-sliced deli meats.

She suggests youre better off buying fresher, smaller amounts of deli meat from your local butcher or grocer, where you can get exactly as much as you need and wont waste any.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Costco Brand Items That Arent Worth the Money
The Benton Franklin Health District gave failing grades to nine restaurants and other businesses that sell food and drinks in food safety inspections from March 11 to 17.

They included a popular Richland breakfast spot that failed its second followup inspection, plus five other restaurants.

The districts food safety team gave passing grades on 19 inspections and four of those were perfect scores, including at three restaurants and a food mart.

In the districts routine inspections, businesses or organizations that receive 35 points for the more serious red violations are required to have additional inspections and must meet a tougher standard on those.

For followup inspections, they must have fewer than 25 red points and a limited number of repeat problems to pass

Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illnesses, such as improper temperature control of food, lack of handwashing or bare-hand contact with foods.

Blue violations are low risk factors related to the cleanliness and physical condition of an establishment.

No notice is given before the inspections.

Inspection results are posted online so residents can look up the status and the details of any violations of individual restaurants.

Go to bit.ly/BFHDinspections. Click on the business name and then on the date of the inspection on the right half of the next page. Look for the Violations tab.

Call 509-460-4205 with questions or concerns.

Failed inspections

Applebees, 606 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up March 15 (20 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, improper cold holding (>45F), improper cold holding (42-45F)

Farh Thai Restaurant, 5601 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 17 (35 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Inadequate handwashing facilities, improper cooling procedures.

Hacienda Del Sol Mexican Restaurant, 5024 N. Road 68, Pasco, Routine March 14 (65 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, improper hot holding (<130F), room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, improper cold holding (42-45F), accurate thermometer not provided or used.

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Jack In The Box, 4800 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up March 17 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Inadequate handwashing facilities.

Metro Mart (Food service), 1 Eagle Crest Drive, Connell, Follow-up March 16 (35 Red, 3 Blue)

Notes: Improper hot holding, lack of conformance with approved procedures, improper thawing procedures.

North Prosser Market (Food service), 130702 W. Johnson Way, Prosser, Routine March 16 (45 Red, 5 Blue)

Notes: Lack of active managerial control, improper hot holding (<130F), accurate thermometer not provided or used, lack of conformance with approved procedures.

Sageport Grille, 1633 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, Follow-up March 17 (50 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Improper hand washing, room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control.

Somer Bakery (Grocery), 5601 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 17 (35 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, improper cold holding (>45F).

The Village Bistro, 5215 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 17 (50 Red, 5 Blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, inadequate handwashing facilities, room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, improper chemical use.

Passed inspections

Burger King, 7407 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick, Routine March 13 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Burger King, 4501 Road 68, Pasco, Routine March 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Calico Kisses, 1120 A Meade Ave., Prosser, Routine March 16 (0 Red, 5 Blue)

Carls Jr., 1026 N. Colorado St., Kennewick, Routine March 15 (15 Red, 0 Blue)

Carniceria Los Toreros, 210 Chardonnay Ave., Prosser , Routine March 16 (Meat 0 Red, 5 Blue) (Restaurant 25 Red, 3 Blue) (Store 0 Red, 5 Blue)

Kahlotus School District, 100 W. Martin St., Kahlotus, Routine March 16 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Magills Restaurant, 3214 Road 68, Pasco, Follow-up March 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

McDonalds, 7505 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 17 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Moniker Bar, 702 The Parkway Richland, Follow-up March 16 (5 Red, 5 Blue)

North Prosser Market (Grocery), 130702 W. Johnson Way, Prosser, Routine March 16 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Pacific Food Mart (Food service), 3419 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 14 (30 Red, 3 Blue)

Pacific Food Mart (Store), 3419 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Poutine, EH?, 3902 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, March 15 (Follow-up 5 Red, 0 Blue) (Routine 10 Red, 0 Blue) A delayed follow-up inspection was followed immediately by a full routine inspection to keep on schedule.

Proof, 924 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up March 15 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Shade Cafe, 1295 Fowler St., Richland, Routine March 17 (10 Red, 5 Blue)

Sister to Sister on the Ave., 236 Port Ave., Prosser, Routine March 16 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Uncle Jays Grocery and Deli (Food service), 305 N. Spokane Ave., Kahlotus , Routine March 16 (30 Red, 0 Blue)
Hundreds of military promotions and confirmations are stalled in the Senate over one Republican senators objection to the Defense Departments abortion policies, and even more could pile up in coming weeks if a compromise isnt found soon.

For the last month, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has blocked consideration of all pending Defense Department confirmations by the full chamber over his opposition to taxpayer-funded abortions for the military and their family members. In a press statement on Wednesday and a floor speech on Thursday, he vowed keep up the pressure until the policy is changed.

While nomination fights over leadership posts are common in the chamber, the decision to include other normally routine military promotions has drawn extra ire from Senate Democrats and concerns from Pentagon officials. The showdown has the potential to snarl military leadership moves across the force as more and more names are sent to the Senate in coming weeks.

As of Thursday, more than 150 flag and general officer promotions were affected by the move, along with several more civilian leadership posts.

Troops can take three weeks off to travel for abortions, IVF treatment

Tuberville spoke with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this week about his concerns but vowed to maintain the hold until the policy  which provides leave time and stipends for troops and qualified family members to travel across state lines to receive abortion services  is fully rescinded. Defense Department leaders have not expressed any willingness to do that.

Senate Democrats can override Tubervilles holds, but it would require time-consuming parliamentary procedures on the chamber floor, something leaders have hoped to avoid.

On Thursday, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., blasted Tubervilles move in a floor speech following another failed attempt to push through the military nominations.

I dont respect this idea that we cant move past this blanket hold on every single flag officer thats up for promotion, just because one senator doesnt agree with the majority position [on abortion] that is reflected in the Department of Defenses modest rules, he said.

Story continues

But Tuberville called that criticism hypocritical, noting that Bennet earlier this year threatened to delay the confirmation of several nominees over the decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama. The issue was resolved before any votes were affected.

The American taxpayers are on the hook to cover non-chargeable paid time off and travel costs for abortions for our military and their families, Tuberville said. Nobody voted for this. This goes beyond the law.

GOP senator blocks Biden nominee to force answers from VA

Holds on military nominees have been a point of frustration for Defense Department leaders in recent years. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., placed a blanket hold on all Pentagon nominees in 2021 over unanswered questions about the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, also held up two civilian Pentagon nominees over a dispute with the Interior Department regarding a mine project in his state.

And Tuberville held up some military confirmation votes late last year over Defense Department delays in providing him information about the new abortion travel policy, only to relent just before the end of the session in December.

The issue is likely to be a focal point of Austins appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee next Tuesday, to discuss the White Houses fiscal 2024 budget request. As a member of the committee, Tuberville will be among the senators directly questioning the defense secretary and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on a host of topics.

Reporter Bryant Harris contributed to this story.
Students of color continue to be disproportionately punished when compared to their white counterparts, according to a new report on school suspensions released Monday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island.

The report, titled Still Oversuspended and Underserved: Continuing Disparities in Suspension Rates in Rhode Island, found that racial disparities remain the same even as the overall number of school suspensions dropped significantly over the past two decades.

In order to truly provide an equitable, uplifting, and educationally enriching school environment for all students in our state, we must make sure that no students are being inappropriately removed and excluded from the classroom, ACLU Rhode Island Policy Associate Hannah Stern said in a press release.

Help The 74 secure a bright future. Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

Stern added that schools should not punish students for normal adolescent misbehavior but ensure students have appropriate social and emotional support in schools.

In 2016, the General Assembly passed a law making suspensions as a last resort for those students whose misbehavior was disruptive to the learning experience of other students and could not be resolved through counseling and other interventions.

Despite progress in reducing the number of suspensions, the authors found that the proportion of Black and Latino students who are suspended remained the same.

The report looked at suspension data for the three years preceding the Covid-19 pandemic  2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019. Data showed Black and multi-racial students were suspended at a rate 1.5 times higher than their numbers in the general population would suggest. For Latinos, the rate was 1.3 times higher.

Native American students experienced the highest rates of suspension at 2.5 times greater than expected. That puts them on par with students with disabilities who face a 2.5 times greater suspension rate than their counterparts.

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Far fewer white students receive out of school suspensions. The report showed the rate for white students to be 0.71%.

The more students are removed from classrooms and punished, the more likely their academics are to suffer and to drop-out, increasing vulnerability to the criminal justice system as adults, the report said.

The Rhode Island Department of Education called the report findings insightful and that it will use the data to address inequities in education.

For students to succeed, it is crucial that they are in school every day engaged and learning, Department Spokesman Victor Morente said in an email.

RIDE is committed to working with stakeholders including students, families, educators, and members of the General Assembly to address concerns and ensure that schools are inclusive environments conducive for learning.

Narragansett schools show highest disparity

Narragansett schools had the highest ratio of Black student suspensions. Blacks accounted for 0.8% of the student population attending Narragansett schools but represented 14% of suspensions in the district during the 2018-2019, according to data in the report. That made Black students 18 times more likely to be suspended.

The ACLU found that rates of out-of-school suspensions for behaviors classified as insubordination or disrespect consistently hovered around an alarming 40% of all suspensions.

Related: How Black Families Can Fight for Fair Discipline in School

Minor offenses which are more reliant on the interpretation and tolerance level of teachers or administrators, the report reads,  should be addressed by behavioral counseling and restorative justice measures rather than through removal from the school for a period of time.

In addition, the 2018-2019 school year saw 1,400 suspensions of students in kindergarten through grade five, of which 30% were for such subjective offenses.

In its conclusion, the report called for legislative action to alleviate the situation. Both chambers of the General Assembly are considering bills that implement its recommendations.

H5422 and its sister bill in the Senate, S0189, would limit out-of-school suspensions to students grade six and above, who have not responded to other interventions  including restorative justice practices  and are deemed a risk to the school community. The bills would require consultation with a mental health professional when considering the suspension of a student in lower grades. In addition, districts would be required to submit a yearly report analyzing data and the administration of suspensions.

Rhode Island Current is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Rhode Island Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janine L. Weisman for questions: info@rhodeislandcurrent.com. Follow Rhode Island Current on Facebook and Twitter.
Mail theft has gotten so bad that some are calling it an epidemic.

Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke recently saw signs on mailboxes at the Park Road Shopping Center warning about stolen mail.

Its not clear who put them there but they beg the question many are asking: Whats being done about it?

Alice Ashe is the financial secretary for her church, Trinity Baptist, in southwest Charlotte.

She said she mailed some of the churchs checks a few months ago and was nervous about thieves stealing them so she dropped them in the blue mailbox in front of the FBIs Charlotte headquarters.

I thought itd be safe there, she said.

But Ashe said, somehow, six checks got stolen anyway. She says someone changed the amounts on some of the checks to try to steal more than $2,300 and that the checks were used to make more than $33,000 worth of fake ones.

The bank gave us the money back, she told Action 9s Jason Stoogenke.

But, she says, a month or two later, the thief used her churchs account number to steal more money and that -- this time -- the bank didnt help because it said she didnt report it within two business days.

In many of these cases, thieves attack letter carriers to steal their master keys which open multiple mailboxes around town.

ALSO READ: Federal police union sues USPS; wants officers to protect mail carriers

In fact, the Postal Services Office of Inspector General released a report, saying more than 2,000 assaults or robberies of postal carriers have been reported since 2020.

Channel 9s reported on multiple examples locally.

So whats being done about it?

Postal inspectors say theyre working on new ways to prevent attacks.

In previous news reports, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service told Stoogenke:

The U.S. Postal Inspection Services mission is to support and protect the U.S. Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers; enforce the laws that defend our nations mail system from illegal or dangerous use; and ensure public trust in mail. U.S. Postal Inspectors takes seriously its role to safeguard America and will continue to aggressively pursue perpetrators that use the U.S. Mail system to further their illegal activity. Every day, the U.S. Postal Service safely and efficiently delivers millions of checks, money orders, credit cards and merchandise. Unfortunately, such items are also attractive to thieves and that is why Postal Inspectors across the country are at work to protect your mail.

Story continues

The Postal Police Officers Association, which is a separate organization, used to patrol the streets. But the Postal Service has been using them to focus more on postal buildings instead. Last month, an arbitrator ruled Postal Police have the jurisdiction to protect mail carriers. The Postal Service disagreed and now Postal Police are suing.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has been publicly urging postal officials to allow Postal Police to patrol the streets.

ALSO READ: Thieves target mailboxes outside Fort Mill post office

Eight Ways to Protect Yourself:

Pick up mail quickly. Dont leave it in the mailbox for a long time.

If you cant, use USPSs hold service.

Drop mail in blue boxes close to pickup times. [USPS calls them blue boxes.]

Better yet, drop off mail inside the post office directly if youre worried.

If youre expecting money in the mail and dont get it, dont hesitate: tell the sender right away.

Dont mail cash.

If you move, make sure everyone important has your new address.

Use gel pens to write checks. Stoogenke almost never endorses specific brands. But he tested various pens to see if they could be erased. The uni-ball 207 performed the best. Its easy to find and pretty cheap: about $2.

If you think someone stole your mail:

Report it

Keep a close eye on your bank accounts

Freeze your credit (if you havent already)

VIDEO: USPS office in Fort Mill targeted by mail thieves, detectives say




Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Jordan Strauss / Invision/ AP / Paul Bruinooge / Getty Images / Arturo Holmes / WireImage

Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler said they want to do a movie with Drew Barrymore.

Both Barrymore and Aniston have played Sandler's love interest in numerous movies.

Aniston said that she wants a movie with all three of them to decide who is the better "movie wife."

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston said they want to do a movie with Drew Barrymore to finally end the debate on who is the better "movie wife."

Barrymore and Aniston have each starred in three movies with Sandler as his romantic interest or wife. And recently, when Sandler collected the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Barrymore and Aniston performed a skit about the fact that they have both played his love interest multiple times.

In an interview on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday to promote their upcoming movie, "Murder Mystery 2," Sandler and Aniston spoke about the routine and comparisons between the "Friends" star and Barrymore.

"We thought we'd be funny because there was a Twitter thing a couple years ago, and they're always sort of comparing us, who's the better movie wife or movie love, so we just thought we'd do a little bit on that," Aniston said.

Later in the interview, the pair said that they have been pitching a movie with Barrymore.

Adam Sandler performing with Jennifer Aniston in "Murder Mystery 2" and Drew Barrymore in "50 First Dates." Scott Yamano / Netflix /Columbia Pictures

"Jennifer's gonna write it," Sandler said when asked about Barrymore looking for a new movie to star in.

Aniston added: "We want to do all three of us together and just put an end to this competition."

Sandler then said: "There's no competition. Just two great ladies. That would be amazing, doing a movie all together. Absolutely."

Sandler and Aniston next star in the Netflix sequel "Murder Mystery 2," in which they return as the married crime-solving couple, Nick and Audrey Spitz. The sequel takes the couple to Paris after their friend, the Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar), is kidnapped at his own wedding.

Earlier this week, Aniston said on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" that she had to look after Sandler while they filmed the new movie, giving him Chinese herbs and smoothies to help when he was exhausted.

Story continues

"I very much love to take care of him. He's so concerned with taking care of everybody else, which he really does, and he doesn't take care of himself. I'm sorry for calling you out on national television, but you have to know this," Aniston said.

"Murder Mystery 2" is available to stream on Netflix from March 31.

Read the original article on Insider
Image via Getty/Johnny Louis

Afroman is reportedly the target of a new lawsuit filed by Ohio sheriff deputies who claim the rapper allegedly profited off their raid on his home last August.

The Adams County Sheriffs Department had previously descended on Afromans California home last August, where they conducted a search for illegal narcotics but were unable to find anything.

Afroman was in Chicago at the time of the raid and expressed confusion about why the incident had transpired in the first place. He said at the time he merely had some hemp and a vape pen on him, but theorized the authorities could have been profiling him because of his music, which includes the 2001 Top 20 Billboard hit Because I Got High.

The entire debacle was also captured via Afromans security cameras, and in the months since the raid, the Colt 45 rapper compiled the footage together to turn it into a music video called Will You Help Me Repair My Door. Afroman also announced a new line of merch on his Instagram to commemorate the incident.

Per TMZ, Afromans use of the footage has reportedly upset the Ohio sheriffs deputies involved in the raid, as they accused Afroman of profiting off their hard work and likeness. They are suing for invasion of privacy and misappropriation of their likenesses, and are claiming the music video has caused them emotional distress, ridicule, humiliation, loss of reputation, and embarrassment.

Afroman responded to the lawsuit, telling TMZ the deputies have no grounds to sue, especially since they lifted a stack of money from his property and at first, didnt return $400 of the seized cash.

My house is my property, my video camera films, everything on my property as they begin, stealing my money, disconnecting plus destroying my video camera system, they became my property, Afroman said. Criminals caught in the act, of vandalizing and stealing money. My video footage is my property. I used it to identify the criminals who broke into my house, and stole my money. I used it to identify criminals, who broke into my house, stole my money and disconnected my home security system.

Story continues

Shortly after the raid, Afroman also theorized the police may have targeted him as retaliation for an old burglary report.

While Im out here working and paying taxes the Adams county sheriff department is at my house kicc-ing in my door and stealing my money, he wrote on Instagram at the time. One time my house got burglarize while I was on tour. For home insurance purposes I tried to fill out a police report. The cop came out three days later he told me they was really busy. He took my report. I would call every day and see if there was any progress being made.

He continued, The Adams county sheriff department threaten to arrest me for checc-ing up on the case too frequently. I excepted the fact that the police department is not necessary here to protect and serve me a blacc man in America so I just took my loss and never called bacc. Now here they are kicc-ing in my door looking for weapons of mass destruction and 100,000,000 pounds of weed lol wow Donald Trump calls these investigations witchhunts.

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Afroman (Getty Images)

Seven law enforcement officials, who conducted an armed raid of the rapper Afromans home in August 2022, are now suing him for invasion of privacy.

Afroman used footage from the raid in his music videos and allegedly included it in merchandise and social media posts.

The members of the Adams County Sheriffs Office in Ohio have filed a lawsuit against the rapper  real name Joseph Foreman  claiming the footage, which shows their faces, has caused emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation.

According to court documents seen by The Independent, Afroman himself was not present during the raid. However, his wife was there and recorded portions of the search on her phone, while several security video cameras in the home also captured portions of the search.

The plaintiffs argue they are entitled to all of the profits made from the use of their personas. They claim this includes takings from his songs, music videos, and live event tickets, in addition to the marketing of his brands merchandise.

They have also requested an injunction to take down all photos, videos and posts about the raid.

Responding in a Wednesday (22 March) Instagram post, Afroman promised to countersue for the undeniable damage this had on my clients, family, career and property.

My video footage is my property, he argued, adding that he used the video footage to raise money to pay for the damages he claims were done to his home and possessions.

Afroman (Reuters)

At least three of the rappers music videos, posted on YouTube months after the raid, contain footage of the raid. These include Why You Disconnecting My Camera, Will You Help Me Repair My Door and Lemon Pound Cake.

Last summer, sheriffs deputies conducted an armed raid of Afromans home after receiving a warrant for probable cause of existing drugs, drug paraphernalia, human trafficking and kidnapping at the property.

The Adams County Prosecutors Office said officers found no probative criminal evidence during their raid, and no charges were filed.
A belligerent owl at a park has been ruffling feathers in Canada.

The raptor terrorized multiple park visitors, forcing the park to shut down for over a week, officials said.

An owl in Killarney Provincial Park is currently acting aggressively and has attacked several visitors, the Ontario park said on March 16. This heightened aggression is likely related to the owl defending its territory and nest.

The great-horned owl attacked six park visitors over the course of recent weeks, according to CBC. Four of them were sent to the hospital for medical care.

One man sustained wounds on his scalp during a late night surprise attack, according to the Sudbury Star.

Happened just before midnight, he wrote in a Facebook post, according to the Star. They are silent killers, no sound at all. Just a thump in the head like being hit by a sledgehammer.

As a result, the park, which borders Lake Huron, temporarily shut down on March 16, officials said. Ski trails, campsites and cabins would not be open for use until March 23 or later.

The park reopened on March 24, park officials stated in an online alert, adding that the owl appeared to have departed the campground area.

A spokesperson for Ontarios Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

Dive-bombing is the most aggressive behavior displayed by owls, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

This time of year is the typical nesting season for the owls. To avoid potential conflicts, it is important to avoid nesting areas of hostile birds in the weeks after their young have hatched, the department states.

If you must walk past a nest, wave your arms slowly overhead to keep the birds at a distance and wear a hat (or helmet) or carry an umbrella, the department states.

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Pilots are relocating B-1B Lancers and C-130J Super Hercules stationed in Texas as the Lone Star State braces for heavy storms on Thursday night into Friday morning.

Dyess Air Force Base, located near Abilene, Texas, began moving a total of eight B-1Bs and 14 C-130Js on Wednesday evening, a press release from the 7th Bomb Wing said. North Texas could see "large hail, damaging winds, and a couple tornadoes" throughout Thursday and overnight, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

The planes are being moved to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and other locations across the country in preparation for the inclement weather.

Read Next: Here Are the Air Force's New Uniform Rules

"This relocation not only protects our B-1 fleet from potential severe weather, but it also shows agile combat employment implementation," Col. Joseph Kramer, 7th Bomb Wing commander, said in the press release. "We appreciate Holloman's ability to host our aircraft and Airmen, and this effort demonstrates that this action is repeatable when necessary."

Col. Thomas Lankford, the 317th Airlift Wing commander at Dyess, said at first the airmen believed they'd be moving only three aircraft in preparation for the storms, but ended up having to relocate more than a dozen.

"The crews showed up this morning with an overnight bag but had no idea what was going to happen next," Lankford said in the release. "It is no easy task to show up thinking you'll launch 3 airplanes and instead get 14 in the air."

The 7th Bomb Wing comprises the largest number of B-1Bs in the Air Force's portfolio. It is part of Air Force Global Strike Command, which is in charge of nuclear deterrence for the military, though the B-1B itself is not currently equipped to handle a nuclear payload.

In preparation for the potential storms, Dyess began releasing personnel around 11 a.m. local time through 2 p.m., the base shared on Facebook.

Story continues

Temperatures are expected to reach the low 80s, with strong south winds that could reach upward of 30 miles per hour.

Editor's Note: After publication, a spokeswoman contacted Military.com to provide the exact number of each type of aircraft moved.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Service Member, 3 Children Killed in Shooting Near Shaw Air Force Base
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas  Nearly one year after the Air Force graduated its first female special tactics officer amid a firestorm of public criticism, the service says it has used the experience to improve the special warfare training pipeline and rebuild trust between leadership and instructors.

The Special Warfare Training Wing, headquartered here, has clarified what an airman must do to pass the rigorous tests that lead to a coveted beret. The wing has also solidified what happens when someone quits or fails to satisfactorily complete a stage in that process.

Confusion on those two points raised questions last year about whether a female candidate, who became the first to complete the program last June, benefited from double standards and favoritism. Air Force Times is withholding the womans name to protect her privacy.

Air Force's first female special tactics officer earns coveted scarlet beret

Officials say theyre on the right path to build the next generation of special warfare airmen, thanks to a combat-seasoned group of instructors, changing ideas of what those elite fighters need to know, and policies designed to help a newly co-ed force succeed.

Were at the point where were saying, what would this place look like in 10 years, 20 years?  If we had a blank slate, what would we do? Wing Commander Col. Nathan Colunga told Air Force Times during a recent visit.

Special warfare encompasses seven types of commando jobs, including enlisted combat controllers, tactical air control party airmen, pararescue and special reconnaissance airmen, and combat rescue, special tactics and TACP officers. When working together, they comprise the special tactics ground force within larger units that include special operations aviators and cargo crews.

Special warfare opened its doors to women in 2015, but none made the cut until June 2022. Now, seven women have earned spots in special warfare in the past nine months.

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The primary factor in these graduates success, and that of any other graduate to come through the Special Warfare Training Wing, is their own determination to succeed, said wing spokesperson Jennifer Gangemi.

She pointed to a new special warfare-focused recruiting squadron that has helped reach more potential applicants; improved mentorship; and the wings human performance team, which helps keep airmen in peak condition as they face the trials of special warfare training.

The Special Warfare Training Wing is committed to creating an environment where all candidates can reach their full potential as long as they can meet the standards of the career field, Gangemi said.

Despite confusing fitness standards, Air Force didn't play favorites with female special tactics trainee, IG says

Special Warfare Training Wing trainees await instructions during the Assessment and Selection Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (Nicholas J. De La Pena/Air Force)

Setting rules in stone

Heres how the pipeline works now: Trainees who arrive with no prior military experience face the most basic gauntlet, known as the Initial Fitness Test.

That test was codified into official policy in February 2022, one month after an anonymous member of the AFSOC community wrote an open letter that raised questions about the trainings fairness.

Enlisted hopefuls get two practice rounds: first, at the beginning of Air Force boot camp, and again at the end of basic training nearly eight weeks later.

To pass, airmen must complete eight pullups, 50 situps and 40 pushups, each in under two minutes; a 1.5-mile run within 10:20; a 500-meter surface swim in 15 minutes; and two 25-meter underwater swims that are graded as pass/fail.

That looks slightly different for officer candidates. First, they are vetted for a week by Air Combat Command or Air Force Special Operations Command, depending on their career path. Officers also have to pass the IFT with a slightly higher benchmark than their enlisted counterparts.

Woman who quit Air Force commando course questioned 'highly suspicious' lower standards

When enlisted airmen leave boot camp for special warfare training, they head first to the eight-week physical and mental preparatory regime known as the special warfare candidate course, or SWCC.

Airmen get two tries to pass the Initial Fitness Test at the beginning of the course; most pass on the second.

If a trainee cant meet those requirements, their squadron may allow them to try again in another week or two. But if theyre unlikely to pass with a little more time, thats when the wing invites them to come back later.

Ultimately, we dont want to get rid of him, Colunga said. We need the numbers.

Official policy now says dropouts have to wait two years before they can try again.

Special Warfare Training Wing trainees discuss a plan of action before a water confidence exercise. (Nicholas J. De La Pena/Air Force)

The rule is designed to give prospects the time they need to mature, personally and professionally, and come back as a stronger candidate. In certain cases, group commanders can shorten the waiting period to one year.

What we find a lot of times is very young people, 18-, 19-year-olds  figuring their lives out physically and mentally, Colunga said. The folks that come back after two years, or have prior service, have a much higher success rate.

Air Force accused of pushing woman through elite commando training after she quit, spurring investigation

Troops in their early 20s are wiser in the ways of the Air Force, he added, and have garnered more of the leadership skills needed to succeed in a life-or-death line of work.

About 70% of special warfare trainees wash out of the program. Those who drop out during the candidate course will start over from the beginning, Colunga said.

To finish phase one, though, airmen must pass a more difficult exam: the candidate fitness test.

It entails a three-mile ruck march with a 60-pound pack in 50 minutes; a standing long jump of at least 75 inches; an agility drill in 11.5 seconds; deadlifting at least 225 pounds; at least eight pullups; a 100-yard farmers carry with two 53-pound kettlebells in 31 seconds; a 300-yard shuttle run in 82.5 seconds; and a 1,500-meter swim in 43 minutes and 50 seconds (they can run if a pool isnt available).

Trainees have two opportunities to pass the CFT, which is required to enter the second phase of special warfare training. Falling short on the CFT will bump a candidate to a developmental course, where they brush up on skills until they can restart the candidates course.

Most trainees who pass then head to Phase II, or assessment and selection. (Prospective tactical air control party airmen follow a separate track.)

Officers who pass their initial fitness test are fast-tracked to assessment and selection as well. Like enlisted airmen, they also have to take the candidate test before starting the second phase of training.

Special ops wing boss defended female trainee under fire in memo to airmen

The four-week A&S phase vets their field skills in mock deployments, and judges them through interviews and quizzes.

Special warfare candidates buddy-carry their teammates as part of

To graduate from A&S, officers and enlisted airmen get one try to pass their most difficult physical exam. The operator fitness test is required annually for special warfare airmen in the field and is more rigorous than the Air Forces baseline fitness test.

Candidates face the same lineup of activities in the OFT as they do in the candidate test, but with more stringent standards. They have to finish the same ruck in under 49 minutes; jump at least 76 inches; run an agility drill in 11 seconds; deadlift at least 270 pounds; complete at least 10 pullups; and finish the farmers carry in 29 seconds, the shuttle run in 80.5 seconds, and the swim in 42:50.

Those OFT standards were introduced in 2021 and finalized the next year. Compared to an earlier version of the test from 2019, the minimum score grew more lenient on some events  the long jump and swim  but is more challenging in nearly all other areas. The shuttle run standard did not change.

Someone who quits during the assessment-and-selection phase will likely fall back to the initial candidate course, Colunga said. And if someone fails the OFT, the training wing will decide how far back the trainee should return to keep practicing.

But if they make it through, they can start down the path of several more courses  from dive training to freefall school  to earn their beret. The Air Force declined to answer how many people graduate from special warfare training each year, citing security concerns.

Air Force special ops chief says it's time to embrace new missions

The entire pipeline takes about two years, but can last longer due to injuries or a backlog in classes. Delays, combined with the programs 30% pass rate and high attrition in operational units, make it particularly hard to fill special warfare jobs and keep a full bench of instructors.

Colunga said that, at any given time, 100 to 200 trainees are typically waiting for a class slot to open so they can move forward, or are recovering from an injury. About half of those are waiting to start the Army-run freefall course at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

Its not good for the units, he said. The needs that they have depend on our throughput.  Our biggest constraint is manpower.

Special Warfare airmen with the New Jersey Air National Guards 227th Air Support Operations Squadron fast rope from a Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter during training on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., in October 2019. (Master Sgt. Matt Hecht/Air National Guard)

Listen to the instructor

The first female special tactics officers path to graduation garnered attention in the special operations community, the media and Congress.

Though critics contended that leaders within Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Education and Training Command bent the rules for the female captain, an inquiry conducted by the Air Force Inspector Generals Office concluded that wasnt true. The investigation found that a decision to let the trainee restart after quitting late in the process did not amount to foul play because Air Force rules did not forbid reinstating dropouts.

Much of the debate centered on the subjective judgment of leaders in parts of the pipeline without black-and-white standards.

Facts did not support the letters claims of gender-based preferential treatment, the report said. The letters assertions are based mainly on  cultural norms, knowledge of half the story and widely spread speculation fueled by special warfare students, instructor cadre and operators.

The situation highlighted a rift between special warfare instructors who thought higher-ranking officials were making the grueling course easier for the sake of diversity, and higher-ranking officials who said it was a mix of learning opportunities and coincidences.

That deep-seated distrust has taken months to work through, said Colunga, who took command last July.

New Air Force special ops teams model the future of agile air wars

Theres plenty of ways for students to provide feedback to the wing; not so for instructors. But Colunga believes theyve made headway in repairing the relationship through frank discussions of what instructors need.

Our methodology over the last eight months has been, Were going to walk in and were going to listen. Were going to hear what the organization says, Colunga said. We went to every single unit. We spoke with as many instructors as we could.

They aired their grievances about staffing shortfalls and aging facilities, concerns the wing is trying to address. Colunga has also reminded instructors they can access the same physical and mental health resources that are available to trainees.

Colunga said that has changed the tone inside the organization.

If I focus on the students solely and ignore the instructors, then I maintain that lack of trust, he said. We had to flip that a little bit: Listen to the instructors, and theyll take care of the student. It works itself out.
Comedy Central

One year ago, Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill was signed into law. To commemorate the occasion, Sunshine State governor/Thai food connoisseur Ron DeSantis is looking to expand the mandatewhich prohibits discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation until fourth gradeto all grades through the end of high school. But Al Franken thinks he may have discovered a loophole.

This Dont Say Gay law is terrible, The Daily Show guest host said on Thursday night. Luckily, although, it doesnt say you cant sing about being gay. Franken then demonstrated what this might look like in the classroom with a little song and dance routine that went something like:

Being gay

Being gay

Is an equally valid way

To be a person today

OK, so maybe its semanticsbut arent semantics the cornerstone of any political argument?

Anyway, good luck in English class, Franken told any Floridians watching. I think youll really enjoy reading classics like Moby Large Whale With No Subtext Whatsoever.

In April, Floridas State Board of Education is set to vote on the laws proposed expansion. There will only be a couple exceptions to the rulewhich, like so many of Meatball Rons other policies, is aimed at fighting wokenessincluding health class, which parents can opt their kids out of taking. Educators who violate the law could lose their teaching license.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) gave an impassioned speech on the House floor Thursday against the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would require schools to publish their curricula and reading lists online.

Look at these books that have already been banned due to Republican measures, she said while holding up several books. The Life of Rosa Parks, this apparently is too woke by the Republican Party. Song of Solomon is unacceptable to Republican politics.

The lawmaker essentially argued that the intent behind the bill, which House Republicans passed Friday, wasnt to provide parents with more information about their childrens education  but to control what students can and cant read.

The Life of Rosa Parks, a biography of a civil rights hero who fought segregation, is one of 176 titles that schools in Duval County, Florida, removed from classrooms for review, per Insider. According to nonprofit PEN America, the books in review have been in storage for months with little indication of when they might return to classrooms.

Republicans say they oppose government overreach. But, they're the ones passing bills that ban books in our libraries. Even the 'Life of Rosa Parks' is too woke for Republicans. pic.twitter.com/Lrrkonn4Dd  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) March 23, 2023

A textbook publisher used in 45,000 Florida schools recently removed any reference of Rosa Parks race in a draft lesson plan, per The New York Times. The publisher, Studies Weekly, said this was done to comply with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) Stop WOKE Act.

In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory, said DeSantis in his 2021 proposal of the law. We wont allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching our kids to hate our country or to hate each other.

Story continues

While Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) gave a similarly impassioned speech Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez expounded on the troubling focus by Republicans on gender and sexual orientation  and said nearly half the banned books are specifically addressing LGBT issues.

This Republican bill is asking the government to force the outing of LGBT people before they are ready, said Ocasio-Cortez. And talking about the rights of parents in this gallery today, the National Parents Union is here saying, Dont do this.

Ocasio-Cortez noted the National Parents Union, a network of advocacy organizations and activists, has been asking the Republican Party to keep culture wars outside of classrooms to no avail.

Perhaps most poignantly, she was baffled by those who claim to champion free speech while only working to stifle it.

When we talk about progressive values, I can say what my progressive value is, said Ocasio-Cortez. And that is freedom over fascism.

Related...
Gleb Tsipursky is a resident of Columbus and the CEO of the hybrid work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, and authored "Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams."

Frustrated and angry Amazon workers are pushing back against the recently-announced return to office policy by the Amazon leadership. Amazon's policy joins other high-profile companies such as Disney, Starbucks, Tesla, Google, and others that are forcing employees back to the office.

Some are claiming they need to do so for the sake of productivity.

For example, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, claimed that those working remotely only "pretend to work" and are "phoning it in." However, in reality, extensive research shows remote workers are more productive than those in the office, not less.

More:Bernie Sanders, Greg Casar back striking Austin YouTube Music workers in labor fight

Unfortunately, too many old-school managers like Musk prefer a rigid, top-down power structure. Musk is well-known as an extreme micromanager.

Such an authoritarian approach is well-suited to the assembly line model of the early 20th century, but not well-suited for a modern knowledge economy. Thats why were seeing employees use worker power to fight against these authoritarian mandates, resulting in empowered labor unions.

Wages do not cover expense of working in office

YouTube contractors in Texas went on strike in protest of rules requiring such workers to report to the office.

Those Cognizant employees were notified of the Feb. 6 return-to-office date in November.

The vast majority of the contractors were hired during the pandemic and have always worked remotely.

Gleb Tsipursky, Guest Columnist

Workers say their pay, which starts at around $19 per hour, isn't enough to cover the costs of relocating to and living in Austin.

The workers' strike came after they filed a prior month for union recognition, leading some to conclude the move was being made in retaliation. The workers are also seeking to have Google and Cognizant recognized as joint employers.

Story continues

A sign is seen outside of an Amazon Go store at the Amazon.com Inc. headquarters on May 20, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

The New Mexico State Personnel Office ordered state employees working remotely to return to in-person work at the start of the new year. Many voiced their frustrations against the order, citing issues with commute, health, poor in-person work conditions, lack of child care, and low pay, among other things. State workers rallied against the state's return-to-office order at the roundhouse in Santa Fe.

Dan Secrist, president of CWA Local 7076, said the state's return-to-office mandate has worsened problems it was intended to solve while creating new ones.

The Canadian Federal government ordered public service employees to return to the office up to three days per week.

Work from home is valuable.

A recent survey of nearly 14,000 public service workers revealed close to 75 per cent of government employees would rather work from home. Marc Briere serves as the national president for the Union of Taxation Employees, which represents some 37,000 workers with Canada Revenue Agency. He says it is unnecessary for the majority of employees to return to the office.

Opinion: Americans waste time commuting. You should only have to do it for a good reason

Over 2,000 Amazon employees signed a petition protesting the return to office mandate. Besides that, over 14,000 joined an internal Slack channel for supporting remote work and presenting their concerns about the companys plans. Given the labor union movements in Amazon warehouses, theres a substantial possibility of Amazon knowledge workers and warehouse workers uniting.

Employers who are forcing their employees back to the office are trying to reassert control over their workers, but they are finding that it is backfiring. Workers are pushing back against these efforts, and many are joining unions to protect their rights and interests. Employers who refuse to recognize this trend risk alienating their workers and facing the consequences.

It is time for employers to recognize the value of hybrid and remote work and to work with their employees to create hybrid or remote work arrangements that meet the needs of both parties. Employers who do so will enjoy a happier and more productive workforce, while those who refuse to adapt risk falling behind in a rapidly changing world.

Gleb Tsipursky is a resident of Columbus and the CEO of the hybrid work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, and authored "Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams."

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Opinion: Forcing employees back to office angering them, growing unions
An American contractor was killed and five U.S. troops and a second U.S. contractor were wounded when a suspected Iranian-linked drone attacked a coalition military base in northeast Syria late Thursday, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The Pentagon said it launched retaliatory airstrikes on facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"The U.S. does not  does not, I emphasize  seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people," President Joe Biden said Friday, addressing the attack during a visit to Canada. "That's exactly what happened last night."

There was no immediate reaction from Iran's government. Irans diplomatic mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitoring group, said the U.S. airstrikes killed eight pro-Iranian fighters in Syria.

Irar war anniversary: On 20th anniversary of U.S. invasion, these photos tell the story

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks with reporters after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Pentagon, Monday, May 23, 2022, in Washington.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that two of the wounded U.S. service members were treated at the base. The three additional service members and the American contractor were evacuated to medical facilities in neighboring Iraq.

Austin said the airstrikes were conducted in a response to Thursday's attack as well as a series of recent attacks that have targeted coalition forces in Syria.

Biden extended his "heart and deepest condolences" to the family of the deceased American and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. "I'm also grateful for the professionalism of our service members who so ably carried out this response," Biden said.

There are about 900 U.S. troops and an unknown number of American military contractors in Syria, a presence that is maintained to apply pressure to the remnants of the Islamic State militant group and to try to limit Iran's influence in Syria. It is not the first time Biden has authorized strikes against pro-Iranian fighters in Syria.

Story continues

Biden's first military action as president, in late February 2021, was to order airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in Syria in response to attacks on U.S. and coalition military personnel in Iraq. Iranian proxy groups have been launching attacks on U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq for several years, but the pace escalated after an American drone strike in January 2020 killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander, while he was in Baghdad visiting with senior Iraqi security officials.

The U.S. Congress is considering repealing bills from 1991 and 2002 that allowed for the use of force against Iraq's government during the Iraq War, the 20th anniversary of which was marked Monday. This bill is known as the authorization of military force, or AUMF. Some lawmakers also want to repeal or update a separate 2001 AUMF that sprung from President George W. Bush's "global war on terror" and the invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11. That 2001 authorization has been stretched to allow the U.S. to target militant groups in Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines and beyond.

'A reckoning is near': America has a vast overseas military empire. Does it need it?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: U.S. contractor killed, troops wounded by Iran-linked drone in Syria
By Mike Blake and Daniel Trotta

HELM, California (Reuters) - When Don Cameron first intentionally flooded his central California farm in 2011, pumping excess stormwater onto his fields, fellow growers told him he was crazy.

Today, California water experts see Cameron as a pioneer. His experiment to control flooding and replenish the ground water has become a model that policy makers say others should emulate.

With the drought-stricken state suddenly inundated by a series of rainstorms, California's outdated infrastructure has let much of the stormwater drain into the Pacific Ocean. Cameron estimated his operation is returning 8,000 to 9,000 acre-feet of water back to the ground monthly during this exceptionally wet year, from both rainwater and melted snowpack. That would be enough water for 16,000 to 18,000 urban households in a year.

"When we started doing this, our neighbors thought we were absolutely crazy. Everyone we talked to thought we would kill the crop. And lo and behold, believe me, it turned out great," said Cameron, vice president and general manager of Terra Nova Ranch, a 6,000-acre (2,400-hectare) farm growing wine grapes, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, olives and other crops in the San Joaquin Valley, the heart of California's $50 billion agricultural industry.

If more farmers would inundate their fields rather than divert precipitation into flood channels, that excess could seep underground and get stored for when drought conditions return.

California swings between disastrous drought and raging floodwaters. This season has been especially rainy, with 12 atmospheric rivers pounding California since late December, placing greater importance on flood control. More wet weather is forecast in the coming week.

Terra Nova's basins are filled with 1.5 to 3.5 feet of water, Cameron said Wednesday. He plans to eventually flood 530 acres of pistachio trees and 150 acres of wine grapes plus another 350 acres that are planted only when excess floodwater is available.

Story continues

The state Department of Water Resources provided $5 million and Terra Nova another $8 million for the project, which includes a pumping system. So far there has been virtually zero return for the company, Cameron said, though it may acquire future water rights for its groundwater contributions.

Cameron "is definitely what we call the godfather of on-farm recharge. He's really the pioneer who began doing it first," said Ashley Boren, CEO of Sustainable Conservation, an environmental group with a focus on supporting sustainable groundwater management.

This mimicking of nature - letting water flow across the landscape - is the most cost-effective way to manage peak flood flows, experts say, while banking the surplus for drier days.

"It's not only going to benefit us, it will benefit our neighbors," Cameron said.

Cameron began his 30-year-old passion project before the state passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014, a law that sought to avoid a looming disaster from overdrafts.

Since then, policy makers have worked on economic incentives for more farmers to follow suit. Some water districts that are responsible for implementing SGMA have offered growers credits toward water rights in exchange for recharge. Pending state legislation would simplify permitting and guarantee water rights for participating growers.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on March 10 making it easier for farmers to divert floodwaters onto their lands until June.

There is no statewide monitoring of on-farm recharge, but Sustainable Conservation is keeping track of four water districts in the San Joaquin Valley that recorded 260 farmers replenishing their aquifers this year, returning at least 50,000 acre-feet (61.7 million cubic meters) back into the ground as of mid-February.

California, which has a strategic goal of adding 4 million acre-feet of storage, recently provided $260 million in grants to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies established under SGMA. The state received applications seeking $800 million, indicating demand for projects, said Paul Gosselin, deputy director of the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Office.

Besides cost, growers face other obstacles to on-farm recharge. A farm must have access to the water, cannot hurt endangered species and cannot flood land subjected to certain fertilizers or pesticides or dairy farm waste.

In the Merced River Watershed, willing farmers could recapture enough future floodwater to replace 31% of the groundwater they are overdrafting under existing conditions, said Daniel Mountjoy, director of resource stewardship for Sustainable Conservation, who participated in a state study. That could jump to 63% with changes in reservoir management and infrastructure improvements, he said.

To achieve sustainability throughout the San Joaquin Valley, an estimated 750,000 to 1 million acres of irrigated farmland would have to be fallowed, Mountjoy said.

"We're at the beginning of a lot of momentum for groundwater recharge programs," said Gosselin, of the state groundwater office. "The last two years (of extreme drought) was a wakeup call for everybody."

(Reporting by Mike Blake in Helm and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, Calif. Editing by Donna Bryson and David Gregorio)
German engineering machine Dachs

In total, the delivered military support to Ukraine includes (changes compared to the previous week in bold):

 three Dachs armoured engineer vehicles;

 100 MG3 machine guns for Leopard 2 battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Dachs armoured engineering vehicles (before: 30);

 spare parts for Leopard 2 tanks and Marder IFVs;

 90 drone detection systems (before: 60).

Read also: Germany nearing dispatching Leopard tanks to Ukraine, CNN reports

Read also: Germany's Rheinmetall wants to build tank plant in Ukraine

As noted, the total value of individual licenses issued by the Federal Government for the export of military goods in the period from Jan. 1, 2022 to March 20, 2023 amounts to EUR 2.7 billion.

On March 23, the European Council welcomed the agreement in the Council to urgently deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles.

Earlier on March 16, Germany announced it had provided the Armed Forces of Ukraine with ammunition for MARS II multiple rocket launchers and was planning to send Iris-T SLM missiles 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
Hey, everyone! Drew here. Its finally Friday!

The Charlotte Observer Mobile Newsroom is off to our next stop  the communities in the Beatties Ford Road corridor  and were excited to meet them.

Beginning next month, The Observer will be at the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library. We will be in residency there for the next six to eight weeks to learn more about this community, the issues they care about and to cover it in ways weve never done before.

To kick things off, the branch will host Meet the Charlotte Observer Staff  Monday, April 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 2412 Beatties Ford Rd. We invite the community to come and tell us about your neighborhood and your concerns. Bring your questions and conversation and learn more about how we do our jobs.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bryon Millers death is the most recent at the Mecklenburg County jail and the first of 2023. Last year, five other people died in custody.

Bryon Miller is the sixth person to die since January 2022 at the Mecklenburg County jail.

Abdou Bah didnt know who he was, but in Millers last moments he did his best to save his life.

While the men were in their bunks in the early morning hours of Jan. 18, Miller started gasping for air, Bah said, accompanied by his attorney, in a recent interview with The Charlotte Observer. Corrections officers were alerted that Miller was having a medical emergency.

Nobody helped me, they wouldnt even come inside, Bah said.

Kallie Cox shares more from this story.

Buckle apparel chain is closing its store at Northlake Mall in Charlotte.

Another store is leaving Northlake Mall.

Buckle will close at the end of the day Sunday, according to the companys website. The Nebraska-based retail chain sells mens, womens and childrens clothing and accessories.

The Nebraska-based chain did not say why its closing. Its the second store to close this month after the Apple store shuttered in the middle of the day on March 1, the day after a third shooting in three months on the property.

Story continues

Catherine Muccigrosso has the details on the latest closing at Northlake.

Iris Bonilla, left, lost her son, Jose Bonilla Canaca, in a scaffolding collapse earlier this year. Bonilla, her daughter Amy, and her husband Osman Reyes stand with a photo of Jose holding the first fish hed caught. Every day, there is a pain in my heart, Iris said.

Jose Bonilla Canaca was just 26 years old when he died in a scaffolding collapse on Jan. 2 in Charlotte.

Why the scaffolding on the uptown Charlotte apartment building gave way remains unclear. The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health is still investigating.

While they wait for an explanation, Joses family is calling for stronger efforts to keep construction workers safe.

I want there to be more safety so this will never happen again to Latino families, Joses mother, Iris Bonilla, said through an interpreter. Because their parents, mothers, sons  theyre waiting for them to come back home.

Ames Alexander looks in to whats being done to in wake of the accident.

4. Some more stories to read

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Find more updates at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok to see more from us. Enjoy your day!

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Anthony Joshua will return to the ring tonight (1 April), taking on Jermaine Franklin in London.

Joshua will look to get back to winning ways after two straight defeats by Oleksandr Usyk, who took the unified heavyweight titles from the Briton with a decision win 2021 before retaining the gold in a rematch last August.

If Joshua is to build back to a world title shot, he will need to overcome Franklin here, and AJ will have the home advantage at Londons O2 Arena.

American Franklin has some experience fighting a Briton on their home soil, however, with the 29-year-olds last bout having come against Dillian Whyte in November.

Franklin lost a controversial majority decision to Whyte over 12 rounds, with one judges scorecard reading 115-115, while the other two read 116-112 in favour of Whyte.

Prior to that contest at Wembley Arena, where Joshua watched on from ringside, Franklin was unbeaten at 21-0 with 14 knockout wins.

Ahead of Whyte vs Franklin, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said the winner would be next for AJ, leading Whyte to express his frustration in February upon the news that the opposite would in fact be true  as Franklin was paired with Joshua despite his loss in November.

Prior to the announcement that Franklin would box Joshua, Whyte was by far the Americans most well-known opponent to date.
LAPD officers patrol on horseback along Pico Boulevard on Feb. 17 after the recent shootings of two Jewish men in the neighborhood. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Antisemitic incidents involving harassment, vandalism and assaults surged in Southern California and the rest of the state in 2022, according to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League.

The Jewish civil rights organization counted 237 antisemitic incidents reported in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Kern counties, a 30% increase from the previous year. Across the state, the ADL tallied 518 incidents last year, up 41% from 2021.

California ranked No. 2 in the number of incidents in the United States, behind New York's 580 incidents.

Across the country, the ADL found 3,697 incidents of antisemitism last year, a 36% increase from 2021. The organization said it's the highest number of incidents since it started tracking anti-Jewish hatred in 1979.

In a year when antisemitism found mainstream acceptance like never before, antisemites were emboldened to act on their animus, Oren Segal, vice president of the ADL's Center on Extremism, said in the report. From the antisemitic Great Replacement theory to Yes claims about Jewish power, these conspiracies fueled real-world incidents of hate.

Holocaust Museum LA said it received antisemitic threats on social media after Kanye West publicly rejected an invitation to a private tour of the museum in October. The institution wanted West, who now goes by Ye, "to understand just how words can incite horrific violence and genocides" after the rapper's inflammatory remarks about the Jewish community.

West espoused antisemitic conspiracy theories in social media posts and TV interviews.

In October, a well-known hate group demonstrated in support of West on a 405 Freeway overpass in Los Angeles. Demonstrators gave Nazi salutes to passing motorists and unfurled a banner that read, "Kanye is right about the Jews," according to images collected by anti-discrimination organizations.

At UC Davis in August, campus police searched for four white men in black clothing who displayed Holocaust denial banners over a bicycle overpass, according to Chancellor Gary May.

Story continues

Antisemitic incidents on U.S. college campuses have increased by 41%, with 219 incidents reported at more than 130 campuses in 2022, the study found.

Its deeply troubling that there was such a sharp increase in school- and college-based antisemitic acts, Jonathan Greenblattm, the ADL's chief executive, said in a statement.

"This is a reminder of the need for more targeted education efforts aimed at rooting out hate and teaching acceptance," Greenblatt added. "Holocaust education is increasingly important, which is why we are advocating for the passage of state laws mandating Holocaust education so schools are equipped to teach that history and ensure its lessons endure.

Reported antisemitic propaganda materials were distributed in the U.S. at a higher rate in 2022 than in previous years, with 852 incidents, compared to just 422 in 2021, according to the ADL.

Antisemitic fliers were spread across multiple neighborhoods in 2022, including in the San Gabriel Valley, at the start of the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, authorities said.

In May, a group of people dressed in clothing reminiscent of the Nazi brownshirts drove a rented truck displaying hateful messages down Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, according to watchdog group StopAntisemitism. The organization said the Goyim Defense League, which has been identified as a hate group by the ADL, was behind the incident.

The ADL report claims that antisemitic activities from organized groups have surged in recent years.

Nationwide, harassment jumped 29% from 2021, with 2,298 reported incidents where antisemitic slurs, stereotypes or conspiracy theories were recorded, the ADL said. The report claims that a Jewish-owned restaurant received a call from someone who asked for the "Kanye special" and then said, "Death to all Jews."

On the first night of Hanukkah, a Texas man was arrested on suspicion of carving antisemitic, Nazi symbols into the base of a large menorah in Beverly Hills. This was one of 1,288 reported vandalism incidents in 2022, an increase of 435 from the year before, according to the ADL. Swastikas appeared in 792 of these incidents, up 37% from 2021.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Swastikas spray-painted around Wilmington. Bomb threats against Jewish Community Centers. Anti-Israel flyers spread by white supremacist groups.

These were just a few of the antisemitic incidents recorded in Delaware last year by the Anti-Defamation League, which released its annual audit of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. on Thursday.

'This type of hate is growing and rising'

According to the report, antisemitic incidents in Delaware nearly quadrupled in the past year, with 2022 recording the second-highest rate of antisemitism in the First State since 2015.

VANDALISM:Wilmington signs vandalized with swastikas Friday night, latest in rising hate crimes

A backward swastika was graffitied over the sign for a popular Wilmington restaurant just before midnight on Feb. 11, 2022.

It follows a national trend of increasing antisemitism, with an average of 10 incidents  including assault, vandalism, harassment and bomb threats  occurring every day last year, according to the ADL report.

Such an increase in a state like Delaware shows that this type of hate and perpetuation of this type of hate is growing and rising, said ADL Philadelphia Regional Director Andrew Goretsky. And if we don't speak out against it  then we'll only see it continue to increase.

What happened in Delaware?

As of last year, a study by the Jewish Federation of Delaware and Brandeis University estimated there were about 25,900 Jewish people living in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley. Of them, 18% said they'd personally experienced antisemitism in the past year.

HATE IN DELAWARE:Delaware man who stormed U.S. Capitol, menaced officer with Confederate flag gets prison

The Jewish Federations report also found that 67% of Jewish people in the region said they were concerned about antisemitism globally. Over half of respondents said they were worried about antisemitism nationwide, and about 30% were concerned about it at the local level.

The 11 antisemitic incidents reported in Delaware last year involved five acts of vandalism, one incident of harassment, two bomb threats and three distributions of offensive literature, the ADL reported. Eight of the incidents happened in New Castle County, and there are likely more that werent reported.

Story continues

Only three antisemitic incidents were recorded in Delaware in 2021, the lowest in recent years. Goretsky said that is likely because many businesses were still shut down because of the pandemic, so there were fewer opportunities for antisemitism.

HATE CRIMES:Man who made 160 racist, sexist calls to governor's office sentenced for hate crime

And while Delawares numbers remain smaller than those of neighboring states  Pennsylvania recorded 114 antisemitic incidents and New Jersey reported 408, the third highest in the nation  Goretsky said its still a major cause of concern.

The reality is one incident of hate  whether it's antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQ hate, anti-Muslim hate, anti-Asian hate, any hate I'm missing  is one too many, Goretsky said. "No one should be targeted and be harassed or be made to feel unwelcome in their community because of their identity."

Links to white supremacy

The rise in antisemitism coincides with a rise in white supremacy, both in Delaware and nationwide. In multiple incidents recorded by the ADL last year, groups passed out propaganda that had both antisemitic and white supremacist messages.

MORE:White supremacist propaganda hits a five-year high, according to annual survey by ADL

Goretsky said the keys to combating antisemitism, white supremacy and other forms of hate is a dedication to speaking out against it by community leaders  particularly those in the government  as well as more inclusive education in schools.

We need everybody at the local level to fight up against this.

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Antisemitism in Delaware almost quadrupled last year: ADL report
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez railed against Republicans during a House session, claiming even the story of iconic civil rights figure Rosa Parks is "too woke" for the GOP.

During a meeting of the House on Thursday, Ms Ocasio-Cortez gave an impassioned criticism of the Republicans' "Parents Bill of Rights Act," which aims to give broad oversight to parents over the nature of the curriculum taught in schools, the specific books available to children and the spending of the schools' budgets.

The congresswoman argued that the real intention of the bill was not to give parents more agency in their children's education, but as a vehicle for controlling information.

"But before they claim that this is not about banning books and not about harming the LGBT community, let's just look at the impacts of similar Republican legislation that has already passed on the state level," she said. "Look at these books that have already been banned due to Republican measures."

One of the books she mentions is "The Life of Rosa Parks" by Kathleen Connors. The book recounts the life of Parks, who famously refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person at a time when Black people were forced to sit in the back of the bus, away from white riders.

Duval County, in Florida, banned the book in its schools along with 175 other titles.

"'The Life of Rosa Parks'  this apparently is too woke by the Republican Party," she said.

She likened the proposed legislation to fascism.

"When we talk about progressive values, I can say what my progressive value is," she said. "And that is freedom over fascism."

AOC: The Life of Rosa Parks. This apparently is too woke by the Republican Party pic.twitter.com/vvI9YJw0hQ  Acyn (@Acyn) March 23, 2023

In some cases the books aren't banned, but altered. Another Florida school district removed references to Parks' race in a lesson plan centering on her story. The removal was intended to ensure the lesson was in compliance with the state's restrictive "Stop WOKE Act," which was enacted by Governor Ron DeSantis.

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The state's Department of Education later admitted removing her race from the lesson was wrong.

Trying to educate children in Florida is becoming more difficult for teachers and staff trying to navigate the frequently changing state mandates passed down by Mr DeSantis  an ostensible proponent of small government and free speech.

A principal in Tallahassee was recently forced to resign after parents complained about a lesson for sixth-graders that featured Michelangelo's David as well as other Renaissance artwork.

One of the parents that complained about the lesson called it "pornographic.

The school board chair, Barney Bishop, is an avid supporter of Mr DeSantis' educational agenda who bragged that the school would be on the "cutting edge" of following the state's new guidelines.

We agree with everything the governor is doing in the educational arena. We support him because hes right, Mr Bishop told the Tallahassee Democrat. The whole woke indoctrination going on about pronouns and drag queens isnt appropriate in school."
AOC and Elon Musk have clashed in the past. Getty Images

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Twitter's plans to scrap legacy blue checkmarks.

Elon Musk's company announced it was revoking legacy verified checkmarks from April 1.

AOC pointed out Twitter was rolling out the plan on April Fool's day.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit out at Elon Musk's Twitter over its plans to revoke the legacy blue verified checkmarks on April 1.

Twitter announced on Thursday it plans to soon sunset a legacy verified feature that gave users blue checkmarks next to their name. The company said users can sign up to its Twitter Blue subscription program that costs $8 a month to keep their checkmarks.

"Last time they tried this someone pretended to be Eli Lilly and tanked their stock price by pretending insulin was free," AOC tweeted.

In a separate tweet, she said: "And they're rolling this out on April Fool's day."

AOC was referring to the time in November when two Twitter accounts pretended to be insulin-producing pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly. Both accounts paid for Twitter's verification feature, which gave them the blue tick, making them look like Eli Lilly's official account.

One account tweeted that insulin would be free, while the other claimed the price of Humalog, a diabetes drug, would rise to $400. Eli Lilly's stock fell more than 4% in response, according to Forbes.

The company told Insider at the time it was "in conversations with Twitter."

The pharmaceutical giant wasn't the only business to be trolled by other Twitter accounts. McDonald's, Nintendo, Tesla, and BP were among the firms to be impersonated by fake accounts.

Some Twitter users also pretended to be historical figures, celebrities, and politicians, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and O.J. Simpson.

This isn't the first time AOC, who has a gray checkmark because she's a government figure, has hit out at Musk and Twitter over its verification system.

"Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that "free speech" is actually a $8/mo subscription plan," she tweeted. This led to a Twitter spat between the two, with Musk telling her to "pay $8" and AOC calling him a "union buster with an ego problem."

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Following the argument, AOC said she was "conveniently" having issues with mentions and notifications on her Twitter account.

AOC didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Twitter automatically responded to Insider's request for comment with a poo emoji.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks at a press conference urging the inclusion of the Civilian Climate Corps., a climate jobs program, in the budget reconciliation bill, outside of the U.S. Capitol on July 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the GOP-backed Parents Bill of Rights Act on Thursday.

She said the bill could lead to banning books similar to legislation on the state level.

Her comments came after a publisher in Florida removed mention of Parks's race from draft teaching materials.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the story of civil rights icon Rosa Parks was "too woke" for the Republican party during an impassioned speech from the House floor on Thursday.

The New York Democrat was speaking out against the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which House Republicans are expected to pass on Friday. The education oversight bill seeks to give parents more of a say in education, and would require public schools to make materials like curriculum and library books available online, as well as the school budget.

"But before they claim that this is not about banning books and not about harming the LGBT community, let's just look at the impacts of similar Republican legislation that has already passed on the state level. Look at these books that have already been banned due to Republican measures," Ocasio-Cortez said before holding up several books.

"'The Life of Rosa Parks'  this apparently is too woke by the Republican Party," she said, referencing a book by Kathleen Connors.

The book, which tells the story of Parks, a Black woman who refused to give up her seat to a white person, was among 176 titles banned in Florida's Duval County, according to the nonprofit PEN America. The Duval County Public Schools district at the time said the books on the list had not been banned but were under review.

In another incident, a textbook publisher used in Florida schools removed references to Parks's race in a draft lesson plan in an effort to comply with the state's Stop WOKE Act, legislation pushed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that limits instruction related to race and gender in schools. The Florida Department of Education later said the publisher was wrong to remove mention of Parks's race.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wendsler Nosie (Via Facebook)

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court heard arguments from Apache leaders who are opposing a federal land swap they say will destroy their entire way of life.

The Apache Stronghold  a non-profit organization of San Carlos Apache Tribal citizens  filed suit on January 21, 2021 against a federally approved land deal between the U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper, a joint venture of mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP. The land deal, which was included in federal legislation that passed in 2014, swapped the 2,422 acres of federal land above a copper deposit for 5,459 acres of Arizona land owned by Resolution Copper.

Resolution Copper hopes to build a copper mine near a place the Apache and other tribes consider sacred, a ceremonial ground called Chichil Bidagoteel, or Oak Flat.

Oak Flat is in the Tonto National Forest, which is the land the federal government is willing to exchange, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been protected from mining by Congress for more than 60 years.

If completed, the mine would be nearly 2 miles wide and almost 1,100-feet deep. According to Resolution Copper, the mine would become the largest copper mine in North America and would supply up to a quarter of domestic copper demand per year. The company estimates it will produce as much as 40 billion pounds of copper over 40 years.

The 9th Circuit Court decided in early 2022 that Resolution Copper could proceed with operations while the lawsuit is pending in court. Last November, the court announced that it would rehear Apache Stronghold v. United States en bancmeaning in front of a full panel of 11 judges. The en banc hearing was requested by the court, to rehear the case, and is extremely rare, Apache Strongholds legal counsel Becket Law told Native News Online last fall. A call to rehear a case happens in less than 0.5 percent of cases the court hears.

In the lawsuit, the Apache Stronghold states,the Apaches view Oak Flat as a direct corridor to the Creator's spirit. They also argued that the land exchange violates their First Amendment rights and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, where government should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification.

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At Tuesdays hearing, the courts 11 judges questioned both sides about whether the government can do what it wants with federal land, even if it prevents some citizens from fully exercising their religious rights.

"Oak Flat is where my people have come to connect with our Creator for millennia, and we have the right to continue that sacred tradition, Apache Stronghold Executive Director Wendsler Nosie Sr. said in a statement after the hearing. "Today we stood up in court for that right, determined to stop those who think that our place of worship can be treated differently simply because it lacks four walls and a steeple.

The hearing in Pasadena brought Apache Stronghold with elders and allies from other Tribes to a ceremony outside the courthouse. Peter Roybal, executive counsel for Chiricahua Apache Nation, lives in Pasadena and traveled to Arizona to transport elders to attend the ceremony.

We are here to support Oak Flat and the Apache Stronghold, Roybal, told Native News Online. We pray the panel of judges have strength, wisdom and good judgment. This is a decades old battle and it has been fought on many fronts, but regardless of todays outcome, we have seen many people come together with kindness and support.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to issue a decision in the next few months.

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
Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, ,25th, at the microphones, joins El Milagro tortilla plant workers, other politicians and clergy in a rally in front of the tortilla plant in Chicago on Sept. 30, 2021. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Local tortilleria El Milagro told workers they could lose their jobs if they engaged in collective action, labor board officials alleged in a complaint filed Wednesday.

Chicago officials with the National Labor Relations Board found merit to allegations that El Milagro threatened employees with the loss of their jobs, vacations or other benefits if they continued to engage in concerted action, or that tortilla production facilities could close. The complaint alleges that in one instance, El Milagro threatened workers via the companys immigration attorney.

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The case will now go to trial at the NLRB. A hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled in July.

The complaint comes after employees at El Milagro, along with workers center Arise Chicago, filed charges alleging labor law violations with the NLRB. Many of the instances described in the complaint allegedly occurred in September and October of 2021, around the time when workers at two of the companys production facilities walked out in protest of what they described as low pay and unsafe working conditions.

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The complaint alleges, for instance, that El Milagro beefed up its security presence at tortilla-making facilities in September and October of that year in response to organizing by workers.

The company also allegedly told employees not to bring in a union and threatened them with unspecified reprisals if they continued to refer others to Arise Chicago, the workers center that has supported the employees organizing campaigns.

[ Para leer en espanol, haga clic aqui. ]

In a statement, El Milagro said it could not comment on an active case but looked forward to rebutting these false claims.

El Milagro maintains high ethical standards, values employees and respects their rights in the workplace, the statement read.

Pedro Manzanares was one of the workers who raised concerns of violations in the workplace in 2021 and encouraged his co-workers to join a walkout to demand improved pay and working conditions.

Pedro Manzanares helped organize workers at El Milagro. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Since then, many positive changes have happened, said Manzanares, who has been with the company nearly 20 years as part of the packaging department.

Even if the company does not want to recognize that the changes have happened thanks to our efforts, there have been positive changes, he said in Spanish.

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Last spring, workers at El Milagro said they had secured a slate of improvements in wages and working conditions after months of organizing, including no longer being required to work seven days in a row and the addition of air conditioning in lunchrooms. At the time, El Milagro denied the wage increases were the result of workers collective action.

In a statement, Arise Executive Director the Rev. C.J. Hawking said the workers center believed El Milagro will have to answer for what we believe are clear legal violations of their workers rights.

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El Milagro has previously been the subject of complaints filed with the states labor department.

In March 2022, the Illinois Department of Labor found El Milagro had committed flagrant violations of state labor law because employees regularly worked without required meal breaks. The department referred the case to the Illinois attorney generals office because El Milagro had not demonstrated that it had come into compliance with the law or paid an associated fine of about $11,000.

A spokesperson for the attorney generals office said it had reviewed the labor departments findings and had found no provable criminal violations in the case. The burden of proof for criminal prosecution is higher and requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the spokesperson said.

Other complaints filed by workers with the labor department and the citys Office of Labor Standards remain open.

Last year, an El Milagro worker filed a complaint with the labor department alleging El Milagro kept tips given to workers at its three taquerias in exchange for giving employees a free meal once a month. That case is an ongoing investigation, department spokesperson Paul Cicchini told the Tribune.

El Milagro said it could not comment on an active case.

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Elisa Sledzinska, a spokesperson for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, said the department does not comment on pending OLS investigations.

In December, El Milagro filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against Arise. Hawking, of Arise, described that charge as completely frivolous.

larodriguez@chicagotribune.com

tasoglin@chicagotribune.com
Apple CEO Tim Cook. Stephen Lam/Reuters

Apple has threatened action against staff over office attendance, per Platformer's Zoe Schiffer.

She said it will give employees escalating warnings if workers don't come in three times a week.

Last summer, Apple told all corporate employees to work from the office three days a week.

Apple has threatened to take action against staff who aren't coming into the office at least three days a week, Platformer's managing editor Zoe Schiffer tweeted Wednesday.

"Apple is tracking employee attendance (via badge records) and will give employees escalating warnings if they don't come in 3x per week.

"At Apple, some orgs are saying failure to comply could result in termination, but that doesn't appear to be a company-wide policy," she added.

Apple didn't respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Last summer, Apple required all corporate employees to work from the office on three selected days from September 5, including Tuesday, Thursday, and a third regular day selected by team leaders.

A group of employees, called "Apple Together," pushed back against the company's plans at the time and shared a petition on Twitter, arguing that staff had showed over the past two years they could do "exceptional work" from home.

In March 2022 CEO Tim Cook sent a memo informing employees that the company would start phasing in its hybrid work plans.

"For many of you, I know that returning to the office represents a long-awaited milestone and a positive sign that we can engage more fully with the colleagues who play such an important role in our lives," he wrote.

"For others, it may also be an unsettling change. I want you to know that we are deeply committed to giving you the support and flexibility that you need in this next phase."

Cook previously described remote work as the "mother of all experiments." While he said it wasn't an inferior way of working, Apple has been more insistent than its peers about getting workers back into the office.

The company's former machine learning director, Ian Goodfellow, blamed the policy for his decision to leave Apple in May last year.

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Meanwhile, Elon Musk reportedly emailed Twitter staff in the early hours of Wednesday to remind them about the company's remote working policy.

According to Schiffer the Twitter CEO told staff in an email send at 2:30am that the "office is not optional."

Do you work for Apple or have some insight to share? Contact this reporter from a non-work device at stabahriti@insider.com or on Twitter.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mowag Eagel I

Swiss daily newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung published a photo taken by Spanish war photographer Jose Colon, who was photographing the ruined town of Chasiv Yar and accidentally took a picture of what was highly likely an Eagle I.

Read also: Swiss bankers on trial for transferring millions to Putins aide

Another photo of a Swiss armoured vehicle was taken by AFP photographer Aris Messinis in Avdiyivka.

It isn't clear whether the same vehicle was photographed  or how the Swiss-made machinery got to Ukraine, Neue Zurcher Zeitung wrote.

Read also: No neutrality for genocide and war crimes  how Ukraine will acquire Swiss weapons

Switzerland sold 36 Eagle I armored vehicles to Denmark in the 1990s. However, the Danish Ministry of Defense denies transferring these vehicles to Kyiv. In 2012 Switzerland approved Copenhagen's request for re-export of 27 armoured vehicles to a German private company. Like the Danes, Germans undertook not to re-export their Eagle Is.

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is currently investigating whether the regulations of war material exports were violated. Switzerland does not export military goods to countries in war.

The origin of the armoured vehicle can be identified only by the chassis number, Swissinfo wrote. The SECO is not able to do so as for now. They are in contact with Berlin, but the situation remains unclear.

The Swiss government on March 8 rebuffed requests from other countries  including Spain, Germany and Denmark  to relax its military goods re-export ban.

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 Army has identified Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Evans as one of four victims killed Tuesday in a shooting at another sergeant major's home in Sumter, South Carolina, just nine miles from Shaw Air Force Base.

The suspect, Charles Slacks Jr., was an Army veteran and civilian worker at the base and the ex-husband of Army Sgt. Maj. Aletha Holliday, chief culinary manager at Shaw. Police say he went into Holliday's home late Tuesday night, shot Evans and proceeded to murder his own children and his stepdaughter.

The children were Aayden Holliday-Slacks, 5; Aaron Holliday-Slacks, 6; and Ava Holliday, 11.

Read Next: The Tragic, Conflicting and Now Politicized Tale of a US Sailor Sitting in a Japanese Prison

Slacks died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Evans, an Iraq war veteran, was the top enlisted leader for Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army Central. He is from Petersburg, Virginia, and joined the Army in July 2002.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Evans was an outstanding leader and caring friend who inspired and lifted up all those around him," Lt. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, commander of U.S. Army Central, said in a statement. "CSM Evans was well known and respected by all, and the influence and impact he made within the unit will never fade. We collectively mourn the immense loss of his presence in our lives, and our thoughts and prayers are extended to CSM Evans's family."

Evans' awards include a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal with valor, and the Combat Action Badge.

Police say Slacks, who co-owned the home with Holliday, entered with a key. He had been handed divorce papers Feb. 21, and the process was finalized March 2, according to local reporting from WIS 10.

Slacks went into the backyard of the home, where he encountered Holliday and Evans, Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark told reporters Wednesday. Slacks shot Evans, who succumbed to his wounds after being taken to a nearby hospital. Holliday tried to stop Slacks and then ran to look for a phone to call the police.

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Evans and Holliday were not romantically involved, according to police.

As Holliday searched for a phone, Slacks went into the children's bedrooms and killed them, Roark described. Holliday ran back into the house and up the stairs, where she saw Slacks turn the gun on himself.

Slacks worked as a civilian handling ammunition logistics at Shaw Air Force Base. He also served as a tracked vehicle mechanic from 1999 to 2007, according to his service record, provided by the Army. He left the service as a staff sergeant after deploying to Iraq twice and receiving a Purple Heart.

"From our family  thank you for your prayers, condolences, and expressions of love.  We love them and will keep them alive in our hearts and minds. Please continue to pray for us," Holliday said in a social media post Thursday, referring to her children.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Fort Bragg Soldier Charged With Murder in Serviceman's Death
Nine years ago I wrote an open letter to then-incoming Arts & Science Council president Robert Bush. On March 19, we celebrated Robert, who passed away unexpectedly in December, and his passion for our cultural community.

The challenges I laid out in my letter  including educating the public about the role of and need for the ASC and the decline in workplace giving that long-fueled ASC and United Way  turned out to be even greater than expected, even by the most pessimistic among us.

But Robert faced those challenges (and others) unabashedly, passionately and at times unpopularly. We should honor his legacy by following his footsteps.

Marc Gustafson

In March 2014, our community had not yet seen the results of the work by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Cultural Life Task Force, created to examine the financial health of the cultural sector and its direction in light of Charlotte-Mecklenburgs changing demographics and issues surrounding social mobility.

But even before the reports recommendations were released, ASC (led by Robert on an interim, then permanent basis) had begun to address issues faced by the cultural sector. ASC worked to reinvent its mission, to gather greater input from the community and its cultural partners, and most importantly to diversify the organizations and individual artists who benefited from ASC support.

The clear directive that resulted from this work was Culture for All. This tagline was founded upon the values of equity, community, collaboration, accessibility and accountability. This lofty goal was to be achieved through a combination of ASC becoming a resource hub, an advocate for the cultural sector, and a funder of diverse individuals, organizations and experiences. Much of this work is reflected in the Cultural Equity Report issued by ASC not long after Roberts 2019 retirement.

Robert Bush was the retired president of Charlottes Arts & Science Council. He passed away unexpectedly in December.

Rather than spark cooperation, investment and short- and long-term support of the cultural sector through ASC, the Cultural Life Task Force Report appears to now have sparked (or at least foreshadowed) a chain of events that led to ASC being ineligible to receive an operating support grant by Charlotte City Council.

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The exact events that brought us to this point will certainly be the topic of hushed conversation and wild speculation. Fingers will be pointed, and eyes rolled. And no one will blame the entirety of the nonprofit sector for fearing the worst.

Many of the more than 100 people who gathered this month to celebrate Roberts life and passion will likely lament the presumed loss of ASC as the heart of the cultural sector. Without it, will decisions affecting which organizations and artists receive already limited funding be made by those who have historically wielded power and led us to the inequalities the Cultural Life Task Force aspired to address?

And will cultural offerings reflect the diversity in our community? Will there be culture for all or just those who can afford it?

Looking back, my advice to Robert seems so trite in its practicality. Anything I might have suggested was easily overwhelmed by his passion. If he were alive today, he would certainly be distressed by the actions taken by City Council and the shifting of influence away from ASC.

But, most importantly, he would be heartbroken by the possibility that a child in Charlotte-Mecklenburg would go without a cultural experience that could change her life, if even only for a brief moment in time. Heres to hoping our community will do everything in our power to try to create that moment. Robert did.

Marc Gustafson is past chairperson of the Public Art Commission, a former ex-officio member of the Arts & Science Council board, and a former McColl Center board member.
WASHINGTON  Autonomous and uncrewed technologies will help transform how U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Command monitor for threats, the leader of both defense organizations told Congress.

With a rapidly maturing landscape of security hazards before them, NORTHCOM and NORAD must embrace future types of systems, that in the past may have sounded like science fiction, Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck said March 23.

I think the future of homeland defense is vastly different than what we see today, he said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on fiscal 2024 spending. Its likely including autonomous platforms, airborne, maritime platforms, unmanned platforms with domain awareness sensors, and effectors that are kinetic and non-kinetic.

Autonomous and uncrewed systems could linger and observe for extended periods of time, providing VanHerck and his successors a steady feed of information that can then be parsed for signs of foreign aggression. They could also be parked in places considered too risky or complicated for troops to be in-person, extending American defenses.

NORTHCOM is responsible for guarding the continental U.S. and its surroundings. NORAD combines U.S. and Canadian efforts to monitor and protect North American airspace. The teams were intimately involved with the study of the Chinese spy balloon that floated across several states earlier this year.

Downing of MQ-9 Reaper is latest US drone lost in contested zone

The U.S. military is gravitating toward autonomy, artificial intelligence and uncrewed systems, such as remotely operated drones.

A recent update to the Navys Navigation Plan, a strategic-vision-style document, for example, included an outline of a future fleet comprising about 373 manned ships and 150 uncrewed vessels. The Army and Air Force, too, are studying how machines can augment existing human might.

Our commands need your continued support to outpace the rapid gains made by our competitors, VanHerck said Thursday. The Pentagons fiscal 2024 budget blueprint included $1.8 billion for AI.

The generals remarks come about a year after he told reporters NORTHCOM and NORAD lacked the digital resources they needed to do their jobs to the fullest extent. A previous unfunded priorities list included an ask for nearly $30 million to buy information technology equipment and to optimize infrastructure for AI and machine learning at a joint operations center.

My assessment today is I dont have what I need, as far as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to give the decision space to the president, secretary of defense, the chief of defense staff in Canada, the minister of defense and the prime minister in Canada, VanHerck said at a Defense Writers Group event in April 2022.
By Laura Matthews, Matt Tracy and Stefania Spezzati

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) -Some bankers and traders are grappling with how to interact with Credit Suisse across various markets including debt and foreign exchange, with some increasing scrutiny when dealing with the Swiss bank or its products, sources said.

On Sunday, UBS offered to pay CHF 3 billion ($3.23 billion) for Credit Suisse, a hastily-agreed merger engineered by Swiss authorities following a scramble to save the bank.

Last week, at least four major banks restricted new trades involving the Swiss bank or its securities while Credit Suisse worked to restore investor confidence and stop its shares from plummeting.

That caution continued into this week. While most trading between banks is secured by collateral, one senior banker at a major bank in London said his bank had not resumed unsecured lending to Credit Suisse.

A leveraged finance banker was scrutinizing debt issuances that banker was an agent for to see if the debt issuances are affected by Credit Suisse, and said the bank had been ensuring there was not too much risk with involvement in any arrangements with Credit Suisse. The Swiss bank is still underwriting deals, the source said.

A source familiar with the matter also said the bank is still underwriting deals across asset classes, including leveraged loans.

A senior foreign exchange trader at a large bank in Europe told Reuters his bank was showing wider bid-ask spreads when dealing with Credit Suisse to compensate for the risk. Wider spreads increase trading costs.

The cautious approach shows bankers are still wrestling with the after-effect of the UBS-Credit Suisse takeover, concerned about what impact that could have on certain areas of the markets along with bankng sector turmoil.

Swiss authorities and UBS are racing to close the takeover within as little as a month, two sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters on Thursday, to try to retain the lender's clients and employees.

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Since the latest banking sector problems began, banks have put much of their previously planned underwriting on hold until market volatility dies down, the leveraged finance banker said.

Others are also treading cautiously with Credit Suisse. On Monday a section of Bank of America halted trading with a desk at Credit Suisse that uses computer-led strategies "out of an abundance of caution."

The senior FX trader told Reuters it still trades with the Swiss bank because the deal brokered over the weekend has restored confidence.

(Reporting by Laura Matthews, Matt Tracy, Stefania Spezzati; editing by Megan Davies, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
Red marks and bruises scattered across his face and body, the 6-year-old boy couldnt tell Port Royal police what happened. Adopted from Hungary just two months prior, Ollie spoke fluent Hungarian but knew little English.

With the help of Google Translate, ER doctors at Beaufort Memorial Hospital asked Ollie how he was hurt. Papa went boom boom, the boy replied, according to his mother, making a pushing motion and pointing to a picture of the stairs in his home.

Ollies adoptive father, Ian Futrell, 38, of Beaufort, was arrested on charges of felony child abuse on June 9, 2022. From Ollies injuries and translated testimony, police accused Futrell of choking the boy, pushing him down the stairs and throwing him into the side of a metal dog kennel.

Futrell, a Marine, was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 11 and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment hearing, according to Capt. John Griffith of the Port Royal Police Department.

Futrell currently serves at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Beaufort as a gunnery sergeant, an officer rank specialized in firepower and unit training. He arrived at the Beaufort station in January 2020, and has held his leadership position since 2019.

As a history of alleged abuse comes to light, MCAS officials are prepping a board to decide whether Futrell will be removed from the Marine Corps. Planned for the end of April on Parris Island, the hearing will address allegations of Futrells child abuse, steroid abuse and extramarital sexual conduct, according to emails sent from the Marines legal team.

The April proceedings are merely administrative and will not determine Futrells guilt or innocence. A criminal trial for the nearly year-old charges has not yet been scheduled, according to Jeff Kidd, a spokesperson for the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Still, Suzanne Turner, Futrells ex-wife and Ollies adoptive mother, says her sons story has been swept under the rug by the Marine Corps. Even after being informed of Futrells history of reported abuse  including allegations from another ex-wife  leaders at the Beaufort station silenced her requests for accountability and stood behind her ex-husband, she told the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

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When it became clear to the (Commanding Officer) that I was not backing down ... he cut off all communication with me, Turner said. She then received an email from another official telling her to let the civilian courts handle it.

Turner and her attorney are advocating for Futrells removal from the Marine Corps under the other than honorable label, an administrative discharge that disqualifies service members from veterans benefits and prevents them from reenlisting.

How is the Marine Corps standing by his side? How is he not receiving consequences for what he did? said Turner, the proud daughter of a retired U.S. Army veteran. Its deplorable.

Futrell has garnered over 45,000 followers on TikTok, where he shares short videos about the Marines and military life. His followers know him as Gunny.

MCAS GySgt. Robert Dea said the station is aware of the accusations and takes all allegations of misconduct very seriously, but would not comment further on details of the hearing.

Christopher J. Geier, Futrells defense attorney, declined to comment on the case.

It was like something snapped

Turner and Futrell adopted Ollie and his younger brother, Kazmer, in April 2022, just two months before Futrell was arrested. Like many other international adoptions, the process wasnt easy, lasting 20 months and costing nearly $60,000, Turner said.

In the weeks leading up to the incident, Turner says her ex-husband seemed like dad of the year  carrying the boys on his shoulders, buying them toys, and teaching them how to ride a bike.

But those behaviors soon came to a sudden stop, she said.

It was like something snapped, Turner said. He just kind of withdrew. He wasnt really helpful with the boys anymore. He was losing patience with them.

Turner added that Ollie is a special needs child, having been diagnosed with a handful of neuropsychiatric disorders prior to his adoption. Before doctors in Charleston found the right mix of medication, Ollie was prone to emotional outbursts.

These were things that we knew we were getting into, Turner said of her sons diagnoses. Ollie was also badly abused during his time in Hungarys foster care system, which contributed to his condition, she said.

One of Ollies outbursts came on June 9, 2022. Futrell was watching the boys at the couples Beaufort home while Turner was away at an appointment, she said.

Heading back home, Turner received a text from her husband, saying he could not deal with Ollie. According to the police report, when she arrived and asked her husband what happened, Futrell responded, Ollie was crying and wouldnt listen, so I smacked the [expletive] out of him.

Thats when Turner noticed Ollies injuries. Immediately afraid for her sons safety, she took them upstairs and locked the door behind them, taking pictures of Ollies marks and bruises for documentation, she said.

I told the boys, Its a race: Who can get their shoes on and get to my car the fastest? Turner said. Standing between Futrell and her sons, she led them out of the house and drove straight to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

The June 2022 incident only revealed further allegations against Futrell, Turner said. While in the hospital, she connected with another one of his ex-wives, with whom Futrell lived in North Carolina until their divorce in 2018. After hearing Turners story, the woman shared her own. According to court documents, the woman alleged that Futrell had slapped and grabbed the throat of their daughter, who was only 13 at the time of the couples divorce.

The interaction spurred that woman to take action, using the allegations to win sole custody of her children in a North Carolina court. According to court documents, the woman claimed her two children were fearful of Futrell  who often had fits of rage in the home  and had to see a therapist to cope with their visitation time with their father.

Ollie also attends trauma therapy, Turner said, helping him to cope with a history of abuse that spanned multiple years and two countries. He and his younger brother are in kindergarten at a Port Royal charter school, where both boys are thriving, she says.

Turner now has full custody of the boys, and the three of them recently moved to Port Royal. Its an older house, Turner admits, but shes grateful the boys have a safe home.

They view (Futrell) as the Boogeyman, she said. Theyre afraid of him. They dont want him around.

But Turner still encourages the boys to talk about what happened  and they do. She recounted a common back-and-forth she has with her son: After she tells him Im sorry that happened, Ollie will respond, Its okay, its not your fault.

A culture of violence

As a fifth-grade teacher at Bolden Elementary Middle School, located on base, Turner says she witnesses firsthand the pervasive presence of child mistreatment in the Marine Corps.

Child abuse is so prevalent in our schools, she said of the Department of Defenses education system. Drill instructors are sometimes very abusive to their children because theyre in that mindset of being a drill instructor all day ... that mindset of, You have to act right or you get killed.

Experts agree that military families may be especially vulnerable to child maltreatment, tying increased domestic violence to stressors like deployment and unstable living situations.

At the beginning of every school year, Turners classroom is visited by a representative from the Family Advocacy Program (FAP)  which handles child abuse and domestic violence in the military  for a talk about the warning signs of mistreatment.

Its sometimes very obvious, Turner said. Some parents you just dont contact. Their kids are acting out at school, but if you let the parents know, the next day theyll come to school with bruises. Its a fine line to walk, and its definitely changed the way I view todays military.
Bed Bath & Beyond will cut nearly 1,300 positions at four locations and close 43 stores in New Jersey just days before a new rule kicks in. Ted Shaffrey/AP

Bed Bath & Beyond is closing 43 stores, two warehouses, and one fulfillment center in New Jersey.

The company is also slashing 377 jobs at its Union, NJ, corporate headquarters, effective April 9.

New layoff rules go into effect on April 10 in the state, which could have cost the company millions.

As embattled housewares giant Bed Bath & Beyond drastically shrinks its retail operation, the timing of store closures and layoffs in its home state of New Jersey is likely helping the company avoid millions of dollars in liabilities it might otherwise face.

On the morning of Tuesday, January 10, Bed Bath & Beyond CEO Sue Gove offered a rosy update about the company's turnaround strategy during its third-quarter earnings call.

"Our entire organization is laser-focused on maximizing the value of our company by reconnecting with our customers and positioning Bed Bath & Beyond, buybuy BABY, and Harmon for long-term success," she said.

Later that day, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill setting April 10 as the effective date of sweeping new rules that companies must follow when they lay off workers.

Current federal and state laws require 60-days' public notice of job cuts affecting 50 or more full-time workers at one location, and only require severance payments in the event that an employer does not give full notice.

Management-side employment lawyer Mark Diana, of the firm Ogletree Deakins, told Insider that starting April 10 in New Jersey, employers will be required to give 90 days' notice, include all part-time and full-time workers across all locations in the state, and pay mandatory severance of one week's earnings per year of service, with no cap on the number of weeks.

"What makes it kind of a kick in the teeth is you're often dealing with companies that are in some financial distress," Diana said. "That's why they're laying off a lot of employees."

Insider roughly estimates the newly required severance payments might have represented a liability to the company of several million dollars, based on median worker earnings reported in Bed Bath & Beyond's most recent proxy filing, layoff numbers reported to the state, and typical store staffing levels and tenure.

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On February 7, less than a month after the bill signing, Bed Bath & Beyond updated its list of closing stores to include all 49 locations of its Harmon subsidiary  30 of which are in New Jersey  as well as 13 flagship-brand stores in the state, up from three locations that were previously announced.

Representatives for Bed Bath & Beyond did not respond to Insider's question about whether the law influenced the timing of its New Jersey closures.

Filings with the New Jersey Department of Labor also show that the company notified the state in January and February that it would cut nearly 1,300 jobs across four locations: 262 at a Harmon warehouse, 84 at a Bed Bath & Beyond warehouse, 572 at an e-commerce fulfillment center, and 377 at its corporate headquarters.

All four layoff notices have effective dates of April 9 or earlier, and a New Jersey store manager told Insider that his store and all others scheduled to close in the state are set to be fully vacated before the April 10 law kicks in. The manager asked to remain anonymous until his position is terminated, but his identity is known to Insider.

The company has not mentioned any connection between the new rules and the layoff timing in communications to stores, the manager said, but he noted that store closures in other states will occur after April 10.

Unlike prior cuts in which as many as 12 weeks of severance pay were given, Bed Bath & Beyond workers in several states affected by this round of layoffs tell Insider they will receive nothing. The company has previously declined to comment regarding severance payments.

Management teams at stores are slated to receive a retention bonus equal to about one week's earnings if they stay until the last day of their employment: $2,000 in the case of store managers, $1,500 for assistant managers, and $750 for supervisors, multiple store managers told Insider. The figures are consistent with reports from other media outlets.

It's not clear how the new regulations would apply to "straddle" cases in which notification happens before April 10 but layoffs occur after, Ogletree Deakins' Diana said, but completing the whole process before the deadline eliminates that uncertainty for Bed Bath & Beyond.

"I don't think this law came as any surprise to large New Jersey-based employers," he said. "It was just a matter of when, not whether."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Its Thursday, Chicago.

And were so good at finding things to celebrate. For example, Friday is National Cheesesteak Day. Though you probably dont live in Philadelphia, you can celebrate the Chicago way, with gooey melted cheese on an Italian beef.

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If your family and friends are gathering for iftar in the coming days and weeks, we have recipes for a few Somali dishes that are sure to please a crowd this Ramadan.

And now that tickets are on sale for summer bashes like Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Fest and the Chicago Humanities Festival, we can say that spring has sprung in Chicagoland, even if the sun doesnt seem to have gotten the message.

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Enjoy the weekend, well see you here next week.

 Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

The Squid Games noodle dish at the restaurant Vermilion, 10 W. Hubbard St. in Chicago, is seen on March 14, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

At longtime River North fixture Vermilion, the new Indian Chinese incarnation is concise and much more personal, critic Louisa Chu writes. Owner Rohini Dey recently revamped the original Indian Latin menu, and now Vermilion is serving dishes like chili chicken, a re-imagined dim sum dish, jackfruit spring rolls and luscious desserts. And Dey doesnt shy away from giving her menu items provocative names. Read more here.

Brian Cox in Season 4 of Succession. (Macall B. Polay/HBO)

The final season premiere of Succession is out on HBO Max this weekend. Let us take this opportunity to savor Brian Coxs final lap as Logan Roy, he of the towering rage, manipulative tendencies and sulky disappointment in his progeny, critic Nina Metz writes. Read her review here.

Let the voting begin in the Readers' Choice and Critics' Choice Food Awards. (Aly Morris/Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)

The nominations have been tallied, and its time to start casting those votes  for the mayoral runoff, sure, but just as importantly: for the 2023 Readers Choice Food Awards. You can vote for your favorite bar, restaurant, online food sensation and more every day until March 31 here.

Keanu Reeves, with nunchuks, sizes up his latest anonymous ill-fated adversary in "John Wick 4." (Murray Close)

Keanu Reeves reprises his role as John Wick in the latest sequel, out this weekend in theaters. Clocking in at almost three hours, too much of John Wick: Chapter 4 mistakes grandiloquence for excitement, critic Michael Phillips writes in his latest review. But yes, as bloody diversion goes, the audience gets its moneys worth.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

The late Lance Reddick, who died Friday and played Charon in the Wick series, appears briefly in the early scenes of the movie, and Phillips has thoughts on that as well. Read more here.

The Chicago cheesesteak at Al's #1 Italian Beef, on Taylor Street in Chicago, is seen on March 21, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

You might celebrate National Cheesesteak Day on Friday with the beloved sandwich imported from Philadelphia. Or perhaps with cheese on Italian beef  Italian beef authority Als #1 Beef serves it, and so does Portillos. Read Louisa Chus take on why cheese on Italian beef isnt so taboo here.

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Billie Eilish performs onstage during the Austin City Limits Festival at Zilker Park on Oct. 2, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Rich Fury/Getty Images North America/TNS)

Lollapalooza announced its lineup for 2023 this week. Headliners include Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers and ODESZA. The four-day music festival will be Aug. 3-6 in Grant Park, bringing more than 170 bands to nine stages. Tickets went on presale today. Read more here.

Michael Mejia, Carl Herzog, Tyler DeLoatch, Isabel Garcia, Peter Stielstra and Luiza Vitucci in "The Threepenny Opera" at Theo Ubique Theatre. (Time Stops )

Evanstons Theo Ubique Theatre is performing Bertolt Brechts The Threepenny Opera until the end of April. This 1928 composition ... really never goes out of style, and as long as corruption, hypocrisy and virtue signaling remain a constituent part of human behavior, it never will, theater critic Chris Jones writes. Read more here.

Hilib sambuus (fried beef dumplings) with basbaas cagaar (green hot sauce) is seen in New York on March 16, 2023. In Somali homes across the globe, youll find cooks following a shared culinary choreography: Henna-stained fingers fill and fold sambuus to fry to the same shade of golden brown as the soon-setting sun. Food styled by Simon Andrews. (David Malosh/The New York Times)

With Ramadan beginning Wednesday, Muslims worldwide are gathering with family and friends to share meals after sundown. Try out these four Somali recipes to celebrate, like Soor iyo Dalac Bilaash, tomato-topped grits, or Rooti Farmaajo, cheese-filled buns baked into a honeycomb pattern. Learn how to prepare these dishes and more here.

Kyle Strong, the founder and keyboard player of the Chicago-based Pink Floyd cover band called "Think Floyd USA," is seen at home with a keyboard and some memorabilia on the North Side of Chicago on March 3, 2023. Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon was released March 1, 1973. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The Dark Side of the Moon, the eighth studio album of the band Pink Floyd, turns 50 this month. The Tribunes Chris Borrelli interviews Kyle Strong of the Chicago Pink Floyd cover band Think Floyd USA to discuss the albums timeless meaning. Upcoming events to commemorate the anniversary include an Adler Planetarium show set to the album March 31 and a performance by Think Floyd USA on April 1 in Crystal Lake. Read more here.

Patoka Lake Marina, edging the 8,800-acre Patoka Lake, offers houseboats, cabins and floating cabins for overnight accommodations. (Mary Ann Anderson/TNS/TNS)

Southern Indiana has an unlikely treasure trove of vineyards and wineries. Read where you can sample terrific food and wine, unwind in woodsy and romantic rural hotels and discover a different side of the state here.
A European Parliament resolution calls for additional sanctions on Belarus. The statement also concerns the "so-called integration" of Russia and Belarus.

A report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights suggests that ongoing repressions against dissidents in Belarus may constitute "crimes against humanity."

Belarusian authorities sentence TUT.by Editor-in-Chief Maryna Zolatava and the outlet's CEO Liudmila Chekina to 12 years in prison.

Jailed Belarusian journalist Ihar Losik reportedly attempts suicide amid his ongoing hunger strike in solitary confinement.
A hikers paradise within a short drive of Charlotte is the best state park in North Carolina, Southern Living Magazine says.

Chimney Rock State Park represented the Tar Heel State on the magazines 2023 edition of its Best State Parks In Every Southern State list.

Southern Living praised the park for its elevator providing an accessible option to reach the summit of this ancient rock formation.

After seeing the 75-mile views to Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge, hikers can set off on one of the many trails around the Rock, including Hickory Nut Falls, where The Last of the Mohicans was filmed, and catch a glimpse of the areas peregrine falcons, the magazine states.

Heres what to know about Chimney Rock State Park and other top-ranked state parks in the region:

What to know about Chimney Rock State Park

Located in Rutherford County, the state parks department estimates Chimney Rock State Park is about 25 miles outside of Asheville.

Its about a two-hour drive from Charlotte, per Google Maps.

The park offers some of North Carolinas most dramatic mountain scenery, overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure, the state advertises.

The free Rumbling Bald and Eagle Rock access lead to trails for hiking, biking and/or rock climbing.

Tickets to Chimney Rock itself are $17 for adults, $8 for kids ages 5 to 15, and free for kids 4 years old or younger. Annual passes are $32 for adults and $14 for kids ages 5 to 15. You can buy tickets online at chimneyrockpark.com/info-and-tickets.

Chimney Rock offers multiple trails, rock climbing experiences and an Animal Discovery Den as well as events throughout the year.

Southern Living state park rankings

In addition to North Carolina, Southern Living ranked the best state park in states across the South, including:
More than 170 retired employees are suing the University Health Services Inc. and Piedmont Healthcare Inc., after learning their lifetime health benefits are no longer guaranteed.

The civil action, filed on March 21 by attorney Jack Long in the Superior Court of Richmond County, states University Health Services Inc., now part of Piedmont Healthcare, promised employees when they reached the age of 65 that they would receive Medicare supplement insurance at no cost if they were employed before Jan. 1, 2005 and had 30 or more years of continuous service.

The agreement was provided in University Heath Services' retirement benefit booklet, according to the lawsuit. The business referred to the benefit as a "hidden paycheck."

Copies of documents containing the promised benefit are included in the lawsuit.

Robert Taylor, former chief financial officer for University Health Services and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, explained the agreement was made in part to keep turnover of employees low.

Taylor noted University Hospital sits right next to the Medical College of Georgia, which is a state institution, and all of their employees participate in the state benefit plan, which includes retirement benefits. He said the medical college offers rich benefits to keep the university competitive.

"[Current leadership] said early on in the discussions that this is an unheard of benefit and it is not reasonable to do this," Taylor said. "At some point, [University Health] leadership said we have to compete with MCG sitting right next door to us, so this is the way we do it. You might not have to do that in Tifton or Savannah  but in Augusta, University Hospital is sitting next to people who compete with you for every type of employee and it can put you at a disadvantage. So it is rational that they offered it."

However, shortly after University Health Services joined Piedmont in March 2022, retirees were notified by the Piedmont Integration Team in September 2022 that the lifetime retiree health benefits would no longer be funded as of the end of 2023 and is now only being paid voluntarily.

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FILE - Panelists for the public hearing for the proposed merger of University Hospital and Piedmont Healthcare at University Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021.

"My first reaction was this is a bad thing to do," Taylor said. "It's a promise that was made and a lot of people will be harmed by this. ... We got together a small group to meet and have a cup of coffee. From there, we ran it like we would have a big project at the hospital."

Taylor said they went from a group of three, to a steering committee of 15.

"We created a Facebook page devoted to retirees and began talking about our options," he said. "At the same time we were doing this, we began talking to leadership, sent letters to board members and tried to gather information. ... It seems like the wrong thing to do on a number of levels and it's not like we haven't not reached out and tried to persuade a solution."

Piedmont did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

FILE - President and CEO of University Hospital Jim Davis (left) during a public hearing for the proposed merger of University Hospital and Piedmont Healthcare at University Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021.

Who is affected?

Taylor said there are about 260 retirees affected and the value of the promise was about $150 per month, per retiree who earned the benefit. Annually, the value comes out to about $1,800.

"For some people, that's not a big deal  for some people, that's a huge burden," he said. "A promise that was made, relied upon and earned is being withdrawn. ... Your emotions can get can get the best of you when you've worked for an organization that long. Betrayed is not too strong a word. Some [former employees] were so angry, they literally weren't rational."

On or about the same date University Health Services made the announcement to stray from the agreement, the lawsuit alleges the business entered into an executive restrictive covenant and severance agreement with its CEO, agreeing to pay a severance of three years' compensation  coming out to more than $5 million.

University Hospital joins Piedmont:University Hospital moves to join Piedmont Healthcare system

More on the merger:University Hospital-Piedmont merger good deal despite 'volatile' health care industry

Even though Piedmont Healthcare assumed the contractual obligations of University Health Services, it refuses to inform the retirees that it will abide by the obligations of University Health Services and provide the lifetime benefit, according to the suit.

The retirees are asking the court to declare University Health Services and Piedmont Healthcare cannot terminate the contract that they have with each former employee and are obligated to pay for the benefits, according to the lawsuit.

'It's the only job I ever had'

Deborah Mangum, who was University Hospital's first pharmacy intern, is one of the more than 170 retirees joining in on the suit.

"I started with them when I was 19 years old and I retired when I was 55 to keep the insurance," Mangum said. "I always knew University might change the rules, but I never knew them to take away something that they had already given the employees."

At the time of her retirement, Mangum was assistant director.

"I'm not going to lie, I could afford to pay it myself, but there are a lot of individuals who count on this day in and day out," she said. "In fact, people had so much trust in University that I've talked to retirees who received the letter, who said, 'Oh, that doesn't apply to me.' They just can't believe that they would be done this way after so many years of service."

FILE - A worker pulls away the University Health Care System banner to reveal the new Piedmont Augusta name on a sign marking the entrance to the main hospital campus.

Had she known the benefits would be cut, Mangum said she wouldn't have stayed with the organization.

"I stayed at University for the promises they made me," she said. "We could go somewhere else and make more money, but I stayed for the atmosphere and for the promises."

Just like Mangum, Taylor said he spent his entire professional career at the organization.

"It's the only job I ever had," Taylor said. "I started working there in 1971 and I worked there for 36 years. I've been retired for 16 years and in my situation, benefits have been paid for since I turned 65. ... It's an injustice to 262 people who gave their all for 30 plus years for that organization."

Taylor added the average age of the people who have who have worked 30 or more years is 75, with some people being in their mid 90s.

"It is everyone from custodial folks, to clerical folks, to management folks  but most of the individuals affected worked on an hourly basis, so they were not large salary earners," he said. "There were some of us who were executives who made good salaries and it affects us, too, but it doesn't affect us at the same level that it would somebody who made so much less for many years. It's not the way you're supposed to take care of people who took care of your organization."

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While most look forward to a stress-free, worry-free retirement, University retirees are spending their time fighting for what they thought was guaranteed.

"We have spent quite a bit of time on this," Mangum said. "I'll be honest, I'm angry with Piedmont coming in and taking over University. I never thought that would happen. But as I talked to fellow retirees, and people who are dependent on this benefit, maybe more than I am, that just made me want to fight harder."

Additional individuals may join the action in the future, according to the suit.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: More than 170 University Health retirees sue after losing benefits
Beyonce and Balmains creative director Olivier Rousteing have teamed up for a new couture collection inspired by the formers Renaissance album, Vogue reports. Renaissance Couture is described as the first wearable album and consists of sixteen pieces corresponding to the hit LPs sixteen tracks.

Furthermore, Queen Bey will be Vogue Frances cover star for the first time in April 2023, which is set to hit newsstands on Wednesday (March 29). Beyonce and Rousteing spoke about the collection, praising each other for materializing the ambitious concept.

More from VIBE.com

Olivier is a dream collaborator and a constantly innovating and evolving creative. All that he has done as a Black designer in breaking down and opening doors has been inspiring, Bey said. From our very first meeting, to his designs over the years for my performances and appearances, I knew one day I would work with him on a collection. I am so proud of what we created and the synergy that formed between our teams.

I cant help but be thrilled by the history-making aspects of this collaboration. This appears to be the first time that a Black woman has overseen the couture offering from an historic Parisian house. And those designs were created in partnership with the first Black man to ever oversee all the collections at an historic Parisian house, Rousteing added.

Lets hope those two firsts help inspire plenty of othersThank you, Beyonce, for creating the infectious, joyous music that launched this journeyand for partnering with me to ensure that we designed the collection that perfectly reflected the power of those compositions.

Vogue France also uploaded a picture of their publications April edition to Instagram, describing the Houston native as a superstar and powerful.

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Superstar is the perfect word to describe Beyonce, who is now the cover star of Vogue France for the very first time, the caption reads. The powerful and charismatic diva is the co-designer of a unique Balmain haute couture collection, with Olivier Rousteing.

The designer, who is unmatched in terms of imagination and a master of epic proportions, was blown away by Renaissance, the stars latest album, and made 16 outfits, hand in hand with Beyonce herself, dedicated to the albums 16 tracks. Together, they have created a unique concept, Renaissance Couture, the first wearable album!

Watch the Renaissance Couture collection in action above.

Click here to read the full article.
President Joe Biden will come to North Carolina on Tuesday to visit Wolfspeed, a chip manufacturer in Durham.

Biden will tout his administrations efforts to boost domestic manufacturing and infrastructure, the White House announced Friday. Its part of an Investing in America tour.

Last summer, Congress passed and Biden signed a bill that includes $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, known as the CHIPS Act.

Wolfspeed, formerly known as Cree, is building a factory in Chatham County that was expected to create 1,800 new jobs, The News & Observer reported.

As an American company, Wolfspeed looks forward to welcoming President Joseph R. Biden and his team to its North Carolina headquarters, where they will see firsthand our cutting-edge facilities for producing Silicon Carbide, Gregg Lowe, the CEO of Wolfspeed, said in a written statement Friday.

Silicon Carbide is essential to accelerating the adoption of EVs, delivering energy savings to consumers, and meeting U.S. emission reduction targets, while reducing U.S. dependence on foreign production of critical semiconductor technology.

Silicon carbide is a semiconducting compound the company grows, before turning it into thin blank chips called wafers. Wolfspeed then either sells these wafers to other chip manufacturers or sends them to its own fabrication factories, called fabs.

History of Wolfspeed in NC

The company was founded in 1987 by a group of six men, five of whom were N.C State University graduate students. It operated under the name Cree until 2021.

In the past year, Wolfspeed has announced it will build two new factories  in Chatham County and in Germany  to meet the rising demand for its chips, which are used in products like electric vehicles, solar panels, and HVAC systems.

Earlier in the week, Wolfspeed told The News & Observer it didnt have updates on its pursuit of CHIPS Act funds.

The application window for Wolfspeed projects has not officially opened yet, so were not quite ready to discuss any plans, said company spokesperson Brianna Reeder in an email. We can say that Wolfspeed is eager to collaborate with its partners in the federal government to help secure our supply chains, boost economic activity, and support national security.

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This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.

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WASHINGTON  The first time President Biden rolled up his sleeve on national television, it was December 2020. He had just been elected several weeks before; the coronavirus vaccine was a scarce, sought-after entity in much of the country.

Since then, he has repeated the ritual several times, receiving his booster shots on camera as a means of encouraging vaccine uptake.

And he did so again on Tuesday, when a member of the White House medical unit administered the bivalent booster that is intended to protect recipients from Omicron subvariants that now dominate the pandemic, as well as from the original coronavirus strain.

President Biden receiving the latest COVID-19 booster shot on Tuesday. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Acceptance of the booster has been slow, with only 19.4 million people having received their bivalent booster, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biden acknowledged that reality as he prepared for his own vaccination.

It's incredibly effective, but the truth is, not enough people are getting it," he said in his prepared remarks, which he delivered while flanked by top public health officials in his administration, including Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House pandemic response team coordinator, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, his top pandemic adviser, as well as the chief executives of several pharmacy chains.

As a country, we have a choice to make, Biden said, referencing the months ahead, when colder weather will drive people indoors and the holiday season will see heavy travel and large gatherings.

Later in the day, Jha made the same point. We know that winter is a time when viruses like COVID spread more easily, he said at a White House press briefing, also speaking about the possibility of a tridemic: that is, the threat of COVID-19, the influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, spreading rampantly all at once.

Jha added that with a concerted vaccination effort, this winter can look very different than last winter, or the winter before.

White House COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Last year, the Omicron variant arrived right after Thanksgiving in the United States, causing disruptions for much of the winter. Since then, it has continued to splinter into subvariants. Although the bivalent booster (so named because it protects against both the original strain of the coronavirus and the Omicron variation) cannot be updated to counter every new variant, the Biden administration believes that as long as COVID-19 continues to evolve along the Omicron lineage, the booster will prove effective, with one shot per year sufficient to keep people updated on their coronavirus inoculations.

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If you get it, you're protected, the president said on Tuesday.

There was a measure of exasperation to his voice. Although he declared the pandemic over last month, that amounted to little more than rhetorical flourish, one that many public health experts criticized as premature. Even as life has returned to something approaching normalcy in the United States, some 350 people continue to die across the country each day.

Virtually every COVID death in America is preventable  virtually everyone," Biden said, referencing the widespread availability of Paxlovid, a pill that is highly effective in treating serious COVID-19. When he contracted COVID in July, Biden took Paxlovid and never experienced more than mild symptoms.

The drug Paxlovid, used to treat COVID-19. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The question for Biden and public health officials is how to return public attention to a pandemic that many have relegated to the past  and how to keep the nation from backsliding in the months to come.

Weve made the vaccines free and available. Weve made the tests free and available. Weve made Paxlovid free and available. Please use them, Biden pleaded with the American public. Use them.
I hear your collective shudder, Chicago, but hear me out: Malort cocktails are good.

Despite your protests, I know there are others out there like me: those who have repeatedly held back sighs as folks use evermore noxious comparisons to our citys most infamous Swedish liqueur  burnt tire rubber, the Champagne of pain and worse. Some of us truthfully dont mind all that much when taunted with the most bitter of shots, in all its chartreuse-hued glory.

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I know this because otherwise, Chicago bars wouldnt keep cranking out these delightfully bright, fruity cocktails with a certain bitter finish that just whispers, Ill have another.

[ Readers Choice Food Awards 2023: Vote for your favorite restaurants, bars and more ]

Over the past year or so, cocktails imbued with the bitter booze have been gracing Chicago bar menus with increasing frequency, said Tremaine Atkinson, CEO of CH Distillery, which acquired Malort in 2018 and began producing it in Chicago soon after.

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Its actually a good cocktail ingredient, Atkinson said. Its got a fairly straightforward flavor profile: a little citrus, a little herbal, and obviously very bitter. I think bartenders really like that its kind of a challenge.

The novelty tipples star began to rise over the past five years, with early adopters like Tied House in Lakeview and Marias Bar in Bridgeport still tinkering with the citys signature shot to this day. Malort has been incorporated into negronis, boozy slushies and Old-Fashioneds, and youll find it plays well with a wider range of base spirits than youd expect.

Not convinced? Head out to one of these Chicagoland spots for some field research  and if you need another excuse, Friday is National Cocktail Day. Cheers.

Farm Bar Lakeview

Once youve been in Chicago for a certain amount of time, someone will offer you the citys signature drink: a Chicago Handshake, featuring a short of Malort and a can of Old Style. This North Side restaurant tames the no-frills greeting with the Lakeview Handshake, which softens bitterness with Campari, buoys with grapefruit and peach rhubarb bitters, and seals the deal with a 5-ounce sidecar of lager. 1300 W. Wellington Ave., 773-281-2599, farm-bar.com

[ Chicago's 30 essential foods and drinks, from Rainbow Cone to Malort ]

Jinsei Motto

The Chi Tai at Jinsei Motto is made with rum, orgeat and orange liqueur and topped with a Malort float. (Jinsei Motto / HANDOUT)

It stands to reason that CH Distillery would have its own take to offer. Youll find it at the West Loop distillers omakase restaurant, where bartenders are wont to include Malort in a number of their rotating cocktails. While past iterations have featured the likes of barrel-aged cherry brandy, the current offering, the Chi Tai, takes the Tiki bar staple and finishes it off with a Malort float. 564 W. Randolph St., 312-884-9602, jinseimotto.com

Marz Brewing

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First dreamed up at Marias Packaged Goods in 2020 and now stocked at a number of bars, store shelves (including most Binnys) and the Bridgeport brewery itself, Malort Spritz is a delightfully light sipper thats perfect for a Chicago summer. Grapefruit soda, hibiscus and lime juice are tempered with a kiss of the wormwood liqueur, and its satisfying with every sip. 3630 S. Iron St., 773-579-1935, marz.beer

[ Malort Spritz is an accessible entry to Chicagos most notorious spirit ]

Mothers Ruin

This New York transplant doesnt play it safe when it comes to both its cheeky drink names and the cocktails themselves, which came about in collaboration with Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour acclaim. The Tassels and Assels, for instance, starts off as a bourbon-spiked peach tea, but then gets creative with a floral passion fruit liqueur and a dose of Malort. 2943 N. Milwaukee Ave., 872-271-6834, mothersruinchi.com

The Tassles and Assles cocktail at Mother's Ruin in Avondale, seen March 23, consists of bourbon, fresh lemon juice, housemade honey syrup, passionfruit and Malort. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

The Native

A Logan Square favorite known for its laid-back dive bar vibes and whiskey selection, The Native features a pair of Malort cocktails with very different flavor profiles. CH CH Changes folds in CH Distillery rum and gin along with notes of ginger, lavender, lemon and almond. But if the weathers nice and the patio beckons, consider the Chicago Weather slushie, which punches up gin and Malort with mango, lemonade and grapefruit. 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave., 872-206-5526, thenativechicago.com

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Ositos Tap

This Little Village speakeasy-style bar opened in 2019, as Mike Moreno Jr. looked to carry on the legacy his family had established over two generations of business owners in the neighborhood.

[ A new speakeasy-style bar in Little Village aims to show the potential of the community ]

Its cocktail menu boasts a variety of michelada flavors and mezcal-infused hot chocolate, as well as the Chicago Sling. The riff on the old-school classic incorporates tart Koval cranberry gin and Malort, adds a little heft with Grand Marnier, and finishes with the lilting sweetness of pineapple and lime. 2553 S. Ridgeway Ave., 773-277-8117, ositostap.com

The Wieners Circle

A draft cocktail particularly popular with the industry crowd at this barbed-tongue hot dog institution, the Malort-spiked Hemingways Revenge is made with Ten To One rum, grapefruit juice and Fee Brothers grapefruit bitters, plus a squeeze of lime and maraschino. For a quick hit, you can order it as a $5, 3-ounce shot. 2622 N. Clark St., 773-477-7444, wienerscirclechicago.com

archeung@chicagotribune.com
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday reaffirmed the strong relationship between the U.S. and Canada and announced an agreement to turn away asylum seekers who cross their borders without authorizations.

In a joint press conference, the two world leaders also discussed their efforts on a range of issues, including the opioid crisis, climate change and instability in Haiti.

"Canada and the United States always will have each others backs," Biden said standing beside Trudeau in Ottawa during his first visit to Canada as president. "Weve unleashed an economic potential of our people and our partnership  the partnership that generates more than $2.5 billion in trade every single day."

"Were transforming our hemisphere into a clean energy powerhouse, including extending the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits to electric vehicles assembled in Canada," he said, adding that the two countries are also strengthening supply chains for critical minerals and semiconductors.

Biden added, "Today, we're making $50 million available through the Defense Production Act to incentivize more U.S. and Canadian companies to invest in packaging of these semiconductors and printed circuit boards."

Trudeau said the two countries will launch a joint energy transformation task force that will boost efforts on clean energy and clean tech, and Canada will make a new investment of $420 million to continue protecting the Great Lakes.

In a speech to the Canadian Parliament earlier in the day, Biden said, No two nations on earth are bound by such close ties friendship, family, commerce and culture. Our labor unions cross borders, so do our sports leagues, baseball, basketball, hockey.

He listed many of the areas of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada, including bolstering Ukraine's defenses against military attacks from Russia.

After his speech, Biden and Trudeau announced the new agreement on migrants and asylum-seekers. Trudeau has said he wants help from the Biden administration to stem the flow of migrants into his country from the U.S. who are claiming asylum. Police and border officers will enforce the agreement at midnight, he said during the joint press conference.

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The new policy would apply to people caught within 14 days of crossing the U.S.-Canada border without citizenship in either country. Canada also committed to taking in an additional 15,000 migrants next year from the Western Hemisphere on a humanitarian basis.

Illegal crossings into the U.S. from Canada have climbed to historically high levels, although they are still a fraction of the crossings into the U.S. from Mexico.

President Joe Biden meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Parliament Hill (Andrew Harnik / AP)

Biden and Trudeau also described how they would approach issues regarding China and NORAD.

"We disagree in degree on things occasionally," Biden said in brief remarks ahead of one of his meetings with Trudeau. "But theres no fundamental difference in the democratic values."

Trudeau touted his country's relationship with the U.S., saying Canada has "no greater friend and ally than the United States."

At the other bilateral meeting, Biden sat at a long table with key members of his administration  including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm  across from their Canadian counterparts.

In the evening, Biden and the first lady will attend a gala dinner hosted by Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Biden said on Friday that he had the strong inclination not to approve of the Willow Project  a major oil project in Alaska  but did so out of concern for the legal ramifications.

My strong inclination was to disapprove of it across the board but the advice I got from counsel was that if that were the case, I may very well losethat case in court to the oil company and then not be able to do what I really want to do beyond that, Biden said during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

I thought it was the better gamble and a hell of a trade off to have the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea and so many other places off limits forever now, he said.

The president likely meant to refer to the Beaufort Sea, where his administration recently announced sweeping protections, rather than the Bering Sea.

The Biden administration last week greenlit the 30-year drilling project thats expected to produce 576 million barrels of oil over its lifespan, as well as 239 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The approval frustrated progressives, who say the administration should not be approving additional decades of drilling in Alaska.

The day before the approval was announced, the Interior Department said that it would block 2.8 million acres in the Arctic Oceans Beaufort Sea.

It also said it would propose additional protections for 13 million acres of federally owned land in Alaska that have significant natural and historic value.

The department noted that no federal oil and gas lease sales had been held in the Arctic Ocean since 2007.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden on Friday said that the doesnt take the growing relationship between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin lightly, warning that the situation could worsen.

I just want to put it in perspective, I dont take it lightly what China and Russia are doing and it could get significantly worse. But lets put it into perspective, Biden said during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. We are united coalitions, we, we, the United States and Canada.

Xi concluded a three-day visit to Moscow earlier this week, a trip seen by the West as Beijing doubling down on support for Russia amid their invasion into Ukraine.

I dont take China lightly, I dont take Russia lightly, but I think we vastly exaggerate, Biden said on Friday, adding that China hasnt provided significant weapons to Russia.

The U.S. military has not assessed that China is providing any military weapons or equipment to Moscow, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said that is very troubling that China is showing support by Putins presence in Ukraine.

The president on Friday also pushed back on the idea that the Chinese and Russian alliance is growing.

If anythings happened the West has coalesced, significantly more, Biden said, noting that there have been 40 meetings in 10 years between Russia and China.

Were the ones expanding the alliances, the oppositions not. Name for me where thats going, he said. Tell me how in fact you see a circumstance where China has made some significant commitment to Russia, what commitment can they make? Economically?

An Associated Press reporter noted that trade has increased between China and Russia.

Their trade has increased, compared to what? Biden replied.

The president said that he has met with 80 percent of world leaders since hes been in office, arguing that his relationships with allies have grown stronger since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Biden earlier on Friday addressed the Canadian parliament, during which he trumpeted the importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to continue and strengthen their cooperation on trade, security and addressing climate change Friday after a day of meetings, speeches and a joint press conference in Ottawa.

Trudeau hosted the president for a state visit in the Canadian capital, the first time Mr. Biden has traveled to the U.S. neighbor to the north as president. The pair addressed the Canadian Parliament and held bilateral talks before holding a joint press conference. Trudeau is hosting the president and first lady for a gala dinner Friday night.

In his speech to Parliament, Mr. Biden underscored the lengthy and robust relationship between Canada and the United States. The leaders issued a joint statement documenting their commitment to embrace clean energy and create good jobs, strengthen semiconductor supply chains, protect their shared waters and the Arctic ecosystem, and bolster global alliances such as NATO, the United Nations and the G20.

"Today I say to you, and to all of the people of Canada, that you will always, always be able to count on the United States of America," Mr. Biden said. "Nothing gives me greater confidence in the future than knowing Canada and the United States stand together still."

In his remarks, Trudeau emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Canadian partnership in developing clean energy and technology, and boosting production capacity for semiconductors and electric vehicles.

"This time, with all the challenges we face, we are doubling down on our partnership and on our friendship," Trudeau said.

President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hold a joint press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on March 24, 2023. / Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Canada is one of the United States' closest allies, with a shared border that makes the country a critical economic and trade partner. In one concrete development to emerge from the trip, the two leaders announced a deal on migration aimed at stemming the flow of thousands of asylum-seekers across the border.

A 2004 pact has allowed American and Canadian border officials to send some asylum-seekers across the border under the premise that both nations are safe countries where migrants can seek humanitarian refuge. But the agreement has only applied at official border crossings, meaning that American and Canadian authorities have been unable to turn away asylum-seekers who cross into each country illegally.

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The new agreement will close this loophole and allow either country to send back asylum-seekers, even those who cross between border checkpoints. Canada has been dealing with an influx of tens of thousands of asylum-seekers who have crossed into the country from the U.S. between official checkpoints, and they have sought this change for years.

"The United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings and fully implement the updated 'safe third country' agreement," Mr. Biden told members of Parliament. In exchange for the new enforcement measures, Canada will accept 15,000 more migrants from across the Western Hemisphere.

National security issues were also a focus of the president's visit. Canada, a NATO ally, has joined the U.S. and European allies in supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia and has welcomed Ukrainian refugees, provided humanitarian and military aid and issued targeted sanctions targeting the Kremlin. Trudeau reiterated Canada's "steadfast support for the Ukrainian people" and vowed to continue to help Ukraine repel Russia's "barbaric invasion."

In their press conference, Mr. Biden fielded a question about the U.S. banking system, and said he was confident the problems in the industry are contained following multiple bank failures.

"First of all, have you ever known Wall Street not in consternation, number one?" Mr. Biden said, referencing uncertainty in the markets. "Look, I think we've done a pretty damn good job. Peoples' savings are secure."

The president said the federal government could take more steps to secure deposits "if we find that there's more instability than it appears."

"I think it's going to take a little while for things to just calm down, but I don't see anything that's on the horizon that's about to explode," he said. "But I do understand there's an unease about this. And these midsize banks have to be able to survive, and I think they'll be able to do that."

Camilo Montoya-Galvez contributed reporting.

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Dark matter  an invisible entity that makes up much of the universe  has long been one of the most puzzling subjects for astrophysicists.

The term was coined by a Swiss astronomer in 1933 to describe hidden matter that appeared responsible for the peculiar movement of celestial bodies. Since then, scientists have disagreed on the properties and origins of the mysterious element.

We dont know what it is. Its a 90-year-old problem, Katherine Freese, the director of the Weinberg Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Texas at Austin, told McClatchy News.

But a new theory, posited by Freese and her colleague, Martin Wolfgang Winkler, aims to explain where dark matter came from. In a study published in February, the pair hypothesized that a second big bang  a Dark Big Bang  brought dark matter into existence.

People generally assume that (the Big Bang) created everything, but we realized we dont have any evidence for the creation of dark matter, Freese said. Instead of just assuming everything is created at once, we wanted to investigate; can we have this second Big Bang? And the answer is yes.

Their pioneering theory proposes that dark and visible matter are in fact completely decoupled aside from their connection through gravity.

The theory is born out of a fundamental discrepancy between dark matter and other elements in the universe: Dark matter is significantly younger than the other particles, including photons and quarks, meaning its genesis may have come after the Big Bang.

So, Freese and Winkler set out to determine just how late the Dark Big Bang could have taken place. Their conclusion? About 30 days could have passed between the Big Bang and the Dark Big Bang.

When we talk about the universe were usually talking about fractions of a nanosecond or billions of years, Freese said. The timescale here is about a month, which is an interesting, human time scale.

A month does not sound particularly long given the vastness of time, but its actually quite a significant delay, the authors write.

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Were able to study the universe up to three minutes after the Big Bang and absolutely nail it, Freese said. I guess what Im getting at is one month in that sense is quite late.

This alternative cosmology, which calls into question conventional wisdom on the birth of the cosmos, could be bolstered in the future by the detection of exciting experimental signatures such as dark matter halos, according to the study.

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Meteorite hunters scouring the Antarctic make discovery that may reveal cosmic secrets
Happy Friday, and welcome back to Lets Dish  your one-stop shop for all things eats in Kansas City.

This week, well take you inside a few family-owned restaurants: Lets Dish editor Sharon builds her ideal gyros at a Johnson County staple, and Lisa raves about the extensive array of Mexican ice cream flavors from a small KC company.

Plus, stick around for a suggestion from one of our readers.

Gyro Plate at Mr. Gyros

The Stars enterprise editor Sharon Hoffmann wants to make sure were all on the same page: Its not a jye-ro, rhymes with Cairo. Its not a hero  thats a sub sandwich. A gyro is pronounced year-oh.

Like the year of 2023, explains DeeDee Jovaras, who as co-owner of Mr. Gyros Greek Food & Pastry with her husband, Chris, keeps that little lesson handy.

The Gyro Platter at Mr. Gyros comes with a big pile of meat, pita bread to stuff it in, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, olives, a hot pepper and tzatziki sauce.

Regardless of how you say it, at this restaurant, the gyro ($8.25) is a delicious bestseller, with warm, pillowy pita bread wrapped like a taco around savory slices of meat, along with tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce (a yummy blend of sour cream, cucumber and secret seasonings).

Yet, Sharon is here to tell you to order something else. Shes been going to Mr. Gyros for decades, and has found that when she orders that sandwich, shell eat it all at once. It quickly becomes a distant memory.

Instead, Sharon will spend a little more and order the Gyro Plate ($10.95) and a large Greek salad ($9), and get two, maybe three meals out of it. Plus, she gets the joy of creation.

Both the plate and the salad come with small triangles of pita, the perfect amount for the mound of meat. You take a piece of the pita and pile a few slices of meat on top. Add a slice of tomato and a slice of onion. Fold it over and dunk it in the tzatziki sauce. Bliss.

Cleanse your palate every so often with bites of the salad, loaded with feta cheese and tangy dressing. More bliss.

Read more about the family behind the restaurants here.

Ice cream at Palacana

In her family growing up, ice cream was basic for The Stars Lisa Lopez: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate. Maybe a few other flavors, if they were lucky.

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Maybe thats why as an adult, she cherishes Palacana, a family-owned local company that churns out 48 ice cream flavors at a rate of 80 tubs a day, or 450 a week.

And thats not even counting the paletas  Mexican ice pops made from fruit or an ice cream base. Palacana makes 6,000 of them a day in 44 flavors.

Paletas are Mexican ice pops, and at Palacana you can find them in at least 44 flavors.

Palacana makes all sorts of ice cream flavors in gorgeous bright colors, different ones like pine nut, dolce de leche and horchata ($4.59 per serving). The paletas ($2.29 each) come in so many flavors too, some sprinkled with spicy tajin.

But Lisas favorite thing to order there is the strawberry-banana smoothie ($5.99). Its made with fresh fruit and tastes just like a bowl of fresh strawberries with a few slivers of banana. Lisa says she hasnt found a better smoothie anywhere in the KC area.

Owner Jose Luis Valdez, whose first job was selling paletas on the streets of his native Mexico at age 7, opened his first ice cream store in 2004 along with his wife, Lucia Fonseca, and their two daughters. They had no business experience, but they had dedication.

Read more about the small shop-turned-sizable operation here.

My standout dish of the week

Ive never been to Australia, but I didnt have to hop on a daylong flight to get my first taste of food from the land down under.

I was first introduced to the cuisine by Banksia, an Australian bakehouse and cafe tucked in the Library District (and now the South Plaza, too), and Im convinced the cozy spot could fulfill my brunch cravings for any occasion.

I took my girlfriend there for her first visit last week, and we split a bowl of their biscuits and gravy, which are great, and the ricotta hotcakes, which are the real star of the menu.

The hotcakes take 20 minutes to prepare, so be prepared to wait  and be delighted you did. Theyre thicker than pancakes, built with ricotta that makes the middle almost custard-like and doused with a syrup-y sweet honeycomb butter youll be scooping off the plate.

Topped with caramelized banana and fresh strawberries, theres no sweeter treat to start your day.

Your top eats

Like Sharons favorite dish, our readers suggestion this week leaves plenty for leftovers. Reader Chas Vincent recommends the smoked pork chop dinner with a loaded baked potato at Brobecks Barbecue, a dish only available during Friday and Saturday dinners.

Its savory, filling, delicious and enough for two meals, Vincent said. Plus, the chops are always smoked to perfection.

Do you have another favorite local dish you think I should include in this newsletter? Email me, abooth@kcstar.com, or fill out this form to let us know.

A la carte

 Just 17 months after expanding, a KC barbecue joint has shut down both its new spot and its original location. Financially we just couldnt carry on, the owners told The Stars Joyce Smith.

 A Middle Eastern kitchen whose owner used to operate restaurants in his native Jordan before moving to Kansas City recently opened shop in this popular food hall.

 After signing its first multi-unit franchise agreement, this KC-based fast-casual chain plans to open 75 locations in at least two states.

 A KCK Mexican grill, a bar in Prairiefire and a Korean hot dog chain were among the 16 local restaurants cited with seven or more health violations in the latest round of inspections.

Alison Booth, audience growth producer

Hungry for more?

Happy eating! Well see you next week.
Xi Jinping Visits Moscow

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shake hands during the signing ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace, on March 21, 2023 in Moscow, Russia. Three days after being accused by an international tribunal of war crimes in Ukraine, Russian President Putin received Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his state visit to Russia. Credit - Contributor/Getty Images

The past two weeks have featured a remarkable series of events that highlight big shifts in the geopolitics of East Asia. Each of them casts light on the opportunities and risks shaping that region and the world.

Xi in Moscow

Most of the news coverage has gone to Xi Jinpings visit with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Images of the Chinese and Russian presidents exchanging warm words, pledging to expand and deepen their commercial ties, and raising glasses together provided the embattled Putin with something he badly needs: the visible support of a powerful friend willing to embrace a man recently indicted by the International Criminal Court.

Beyond the show, Putin appears to have gotten little of substance from this meeting. We dont know what the two men said privately, but Xi made no public call for ceasefire or issue threats to back Russias military if (when) a Chinese-sponsored compromise is not accepted by Kyiv and its NATO backers. The joint statement they agreed to made clear they were not establishing the military-political alliance that would quickly change the balance of power on the Ukrainian battlefield.

Read More: An Insiders Perspective on Chinas Strategy

China benefits strongly from trade with Russia (and now with oil imports at a significant discount), but Xi is also deeply sympathetic with Putins drive to challenge Western (especially U.S.) dominance of the international system. Thats why the two leaders are closer than any time since they toasted a friendship without limits three weeks before the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022and why we must continue to watch Xis evolving approach to Putins war.

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Kishida in Kyiv

The near-simultaneous visit by Japans Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to Ukraine was also striking. Kishida had to make this trip. Japan will host a G7 summit in Hiroshima in May, and he was the only G7 leader who had yet to visit Ukraine. But there are several reasons why this stop was still a big deal. It was the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to any country at war since World War II, and Kishida didnt limit his trip to Kyiv; he also went to the site of a mass grave in the city of Bucha to pay respects to Ukrainian victims of alleged Russian war crimes.

Most importantly, the timing of the visit, which coincided with Xis trip to Moscow, made for a bold statement. His March 21 stop in Bucha, where he pronounced himself outraged by the cruelty of Russian soldiers, highlighted the formal charge that Putin is a war criminal within hours of Xi lifting a glass of champagne to toast his Russian friend.

Its a sign that Japans prime minister intends to be more diplomatically assertive and outspoken than most of his predecessors. That said, given Chinas importance for Japans economy, he will modulate his criticism and focus it mainly on Putin.

South Korea and Japan break new ground

In another sign of Japans more ambitious foreign policy, Kishidas trip to Ukraine followed an important new agreement with South Korea. On March 16, he met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Tokyo to announce a diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries that will end Japanese export controls against South Korea and normalize their military and intelligence-sharing relations. They have also restored shuttle diplomacy, which was broken off in 2011.

To get there, the two governments had to finally resolve a long dispute over compensatory payments to Korean victims of forced labor during Japans wartime occupation. That finally became possible because both sides decided they had more to fear from the expansion of Chinas influence in East Asia and from potential North Korean aggression than domestic political benefit from keeping this controversy alive.

North Korea shakes a nuclear fist

Speaking of North Korea, the Japan-South Korea agreement was announced just hours after an increasingly belligerent DPRK launched yet another intercontinental ballistic missile to protest both the South Korea-Japan meeting in Tokyo and ongoing US-South Korean joint military exercises. Last weekend, North Korea staged what it called a nuclear counter-attack simulation against South Korea and the United States. Then on March 22, it fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast toward Japan.

***

On the surface, all these stories might look like more of the same for a region in which its becoming harder for powerful countries to balance their economic and security interests. But China has never before auditioned for such an ambitious role on the global stage. Russia is increasingly desperate for any form of Chinese support against the West. Japans government is pursuing a much more assertive foreign policy than in the past. And South Korea and Japan are becoming much more concerned about Chinas intentions and North Koreas growing capabilities.
Philanthropy Philanthropy 50 (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

This article was originally published at Gates Notes.

In my lifetime, Ive seen two demonstrations of technology that struck me as revolutionary.

The first time was in 1980, when I was introduced to a graphical user interfacethe forerunner of every modern operating system, including Windows. I sat with the person who had shown me the demo, a brilliant programmer named Charles Simonyi, and we immediately started brainstorming about all the things we could do with such a user-friendly approach to computing. Charles eventually joined Microsoft, Windows became the backbone of Microsoft, and the thinking we did after that demo helped set the companys agenda for the next 15 years.

The second big surprise came just last year. Id been meeting with the team from OpenAIsince 2016 and was impressed by their steady progress. In mid-2022, I was so excited about their work that I gave them a challenge: train an artificial intelligence to pass an Advanced Placement biology exam. Make it capable of answering questions that it hasnt been specifically trained for. (I picked AP Bio because the test is more than a simple regurgitation of scientific factsit asks you to think critically about biology.) If you can do that, I said, then youll have made a true breakthrough.

I thought the challenge would keep them busy for two or three years. They finished it in just a few months.

In September, when I met with them again, I watched in awe as they asked GPT, their AI model, 60 multiple-choice questions from the AP Bio examand it got 59 of them right. Then it wrote outstanding answers to six open-ended questions from the exam. We had an outside expert score the test, and GPT got a 5the highest possible score, and the equivalent to getting an A or A+ in a college-level biology course.

Once it had aced the test, we asked it a non-scientific question: What do you say to a father with a sick child? It wrote a thoughtful answer that was probably better than most of us in the room would have given. The whole experience was stunning.

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I knew I had just seen the most important advance in technology since the graphical user interface.

This inspired me to think about all the things that AI can achieve in the next five to 10 years.

The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will reorient around it. Businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it.

Philanthropy is my full-time job these days, and Ive been thinking a lot about howin addition to helping people be more productiveAI can reduce some of the worlds worst inequities. Globally, the worst inequity is in health: 5 million children under the age of 5 die every year. Thats down from 10 million two decades ago, but its still a shockingly high number. Nearly all of these children were born in poor countries and die of preventable causes like diarrhea or malaria. Its hard to imagine a better use of AIs than saving the lives of children.

In the United States, the best opportunity for reducing inequity is to improve education, particularly making sure that students succeed at math. The evidence shows that having basic math skills sets students up for success, no matter what career they choose. But achievement in math is going down across the country, especially for Black, Latino, and low-income students. AI can help turn that trend around.

Climate change is another issue where Im convinced AI can make the world more equitable. The injustice of climate change is that the people who are suffering the mostthe worlds poorestare also the ones who did the least to contribute to the problem. Im still thinking and learning about how AI can help, but later in this post Ill suggest a few areas with a lot of potential.

In short, Im excited about the impact that AI will have on issues that the Gates Foundationworks on, and the foundation will have much more to say about AI in the coming months. The world needs to make sure that everyoneand not just people who are well-offbenefits from artificial intelligence. Governments and philanthropy will need to play a major role in ensuring that it reduces inequity and doesnt contribute to it. This is the priority for my own work related to AI.

Any new technology thats so disruptive is bound to make people uneasy, and thats certainly true with artificial intelligence. I understand whyit raises hard questions about the workforce, the legal system, privacy, bias, and more. AIs also make factual mistakes and experience hallucinations. Before I suggest some ways to mitigate the risks, Ill define what I mean by AI, and Ill go into more detail about some of the ways in which it will help empower people at work, save lives, and improve education.

Defining artificial intelligence

Technically, the term artificial intelligence refers to a model created to solve a specific problem or provide a particular service. What is powering things like ChatGPT is artificial intelligence. It is learning how to do chat better but cant learn other tasks. By contrast, the term artificial general intelligence refers to software thats capable of learning any task or subject. AGI doesnt exist yetthere is a robust debate going on in the computing industry about how to create it, and whether it can even be created at all.

Developing AI and AGI has been the great dream of the computing industry. For decades, the question was when computers would be better than humans at something other than making calculations. Now, with the arrival of machine learning and large amounts of computing power, sophisticated AIs are a reality and they will get better very fast.

I think back to the early days of the personal computing revolution, when the software industry was so small that most of us could fit onstage at a conference. Today it is a global industry. Since a huge portion of it is now turning its attention to AI, the innovations are going to come much faster than what we experienced after the microprocessor breakthrough. Soon the pre-AI period will seem as distant as the days when using a computer meant typing at a C:> prompt rather than tapping on a screen.

Productivity enhancement

Although humans are still better than GPT at a lot of things, there are many jobs where these capabilities are not used much. For example, many of the tasks done by a person in sales (digital or phone), service, or document handling (like payables, accounting, or insurance claim disputes) require decision-making but not the ability to learn continuously. Corporations have training programs for these activities and in most cases, they have a lot of examples of good and bad work. Humans are trained using these data sets, and soon these data sets will also be used to train the AIs that will empower people to do this work more efficiently.

As computing power gets cheaper, GPTs ability to express ideas will increasingly be like having a white-collar worker available to help you with various tasks. Microsoft describes this as having a co-pilot. Fully incorporated into products like Office, AI will enhance your workfor example by helping with writing emails and managing your inbox.

Eventually your main way of controlling a computer will no longer be pointing and clicking or tapping on menus and dialogue boxes. Instead, youll be able to write a request in plain English. (And not just EnglishAIs will understand languages from around the world. In India earlier this year, I met with developers who are working on AIs that will understand many of the languages spoken there.)

In addition, advances in AI will enable the creation of a personal agent. Think of it as a digital personal assistant: It will see your latest emails, know about the meetings you attend, read what you read, and read the things you dont want to bother with. This will both improve your work on the tasks you want to do and free you from the ones you dont want to do.

Youll be able to use natural language to have this agent help you with scheduling, communications, and e-commerce, and it will work across all your devices. Because of the cost of training the models and running the computations, creating a personal agent is not feasible yet, but thanks to the recent advances in AI, it is now a realistic goal. Some issues will need to be worked out: For example, can an insurance company ask your agent things about you without your permission? If so, how many people will choose not to use it?

Company-wide agents will empower employees in new ways. An agent that understands a particular company will be available for its employees to consult directly and should be part of every meeting so it can answer questions. It can be told to be passive or encouraged to speak up if it has some insight. It will need access to the sales, support, finance, product schedules, and text related to the company. It should read news related to the industry the company is in. I believe that the result will be that employees will become more productive.

When productivity goes up, society benefits because people are freed up to do other things, at work and at home. Of course, there are serious questions about what kind of support and retraining people will need. Governments need to help workers transition into other roles. But the demand for people who help other people will never go away. The rise of AI will free people up to do things that software never willteaching, caring for patients, and supporting the elderly, for example.

Global health and education are two areas where theres great need and not enough workers to meet those needs. These are areas where AI can help reduce inequity if it is properly targeted. These should be a key focus of AI work, so I will turn to them now.

Health

I see several ways in which AIs will improve health care and the medical field.

For one thing, theyll help health-care workers make the most of their time by taking care of certain tasks for themthings like filing insurance claims, dealing with paperwork, and drafting notes from a doctors visit. I expect that there will be a lot of innovation in this area.

Other AI-driven improvements will be especially important for poor countries, where the vast majority of under-5 deaths happen.

For example, many people in those countries never get to see a doctor, and AIs will help the health workers they do see be more productive. (The effort to develop AI-powered ultrasound machines that can be used with minimal training is a great example of this.) AIs will even give patients the ability to do basic triage, get advice about how to deal with health problems, and decide whether they need to seek treatment.

The AI models used in poor countries will need to be trained on different diseases than in rich countries. They will need to work in different languages and factor in different challenges, such as patients who live very far from clinics or cant afford to stop working if they get sick.

People will need to see evidence that health AIs are beneficial overall, even though they wont be perfect and will make mistakes. AIs have to be tested very carefully and properly regulated, which means it will take longer for them to be adopted than in other areas. But then again, humans make mistakes too. And having no access to medical care is also a problem.

In addition to helping with care, AIs will dramatically accelerate the rate of medical breakthroughs. The amount of data in biology is very large, and its hard for humans to keep track of all the ways that complex biological systems work. There is already software that can look at this data, infer what the pathways are, search for targets on pathogens, and design drugs accordingly. Some companies are working on cancer drugs that were developed this way.

The next generation of tools will be much more efficient, and theyll be able to predict side effects and figure out dosing levels. One of the Gates Foundations priorities in AI is to make sure these tools are used for the health problems that affect the poorest people in the world, including AIDS, TB, and malaria.

Similarly, governments and philanthropy should create incentives for companies to share AI-generated insights into crops or livestock raised by people in poor countries. AIs can help develop better seeds based on local conditions, advise farmers on the best seeds to plant based on the soil and weather in their area, and help develop drugs and vaccines for livestock. As extreme weather and climate change put even more pressure on subsistence farmers in low-income countries, these advances will be even more important.

Education

Computers havent had the effect on education that many of us in the industry have hoped. There have been some good developments, including educational games and online sources of information like Wikipedia, but they havent had a meaningful effect on any of the measures of students achievement.

But I think in the next five to 10 years, AI-driven software will finally deliver on the promise of revolutionizing the way people teach and learn. It will know your interests and your learning style so it can tailor content that will keep you engaged. It will measure your understanding, notice when youre losing interest, and understand what kind of motivation you respond to. It will give immediate feedback.

There are many ways that AIs can assist teachers and administrators, including assessing a students understanding of a subject and giving advice on career planning. Teachers are already using tools like ChatGPT to provide comments on their students writing assignments.

Of course, AIs will need a lot of training and further development before they can do things like understand how a certain student learns best or what motivates them. Even once the technology is perfected, learning will still depend on great relationships between students and teachers. It will enhancebut never replacethe work that students and teachers do together in the classroom.

New tools will be created for schools that can afford to buy them, but we need to ensure that they are also created for and available to low-income schools in the U.S. and around the world. AIs will need to be trained on diverse data sets so they are unbiased and reflect the different cultures where theyll be used. And the digital divide will need to be addressed so that students in low-income households do not get left behind.

I know a lot of teachers are worried that students are using GPT to write their essays. Educators are already discussing ways to adapt to the new technology, and I suspect those conversations will continue for quite some time. Ive heard about teachers who have found clever ways to incorporate the technology into their worklike by allowing students to use GPT to create a first draft that they have to personalize.

Risks and problems with AI

Youve probably read about problems with the current AI models. For example, they arent necessarily good at understanding the context for a humans request, which leads to some strange results. When you ask an AI to make up something fictional, it can do that well. But when you ask for advice about a trip you want to take, it may suggest hotels that dont exist. This is because the AI doesnt understand the context for your request well enough to know whether it should invent fake hotels or only tell you about real ones that have rooms available.

There are other issues, such as AIs giving wrong answers to math problems because they struggle with abstract reasoning. But none of these are fundamental limitations of artificial intelligence. Developers are working on them, and I think were going to see them largely fixed in less than two years and possibly much faster.

Other concerns are not simply technical. For example, theres the threat posed by humans armed with AI. Like most inventions, artificial intelligence can be used for good purposes or malign ones. Governments need to work with the private sector on ways to limit the risks.

Then theres the possibility that AIs will run out of control. Could a machine decide that humans are a threat, conclude that its interests are different from ours, or simply stop caring about us? Possibly, but this problem is no more urgent today than it was before the AI developments of the past few months.

Superintelligent AIs are in our future. Compared to a computer, our brains operate at a snails pace: An electrical signal in the brain moves at 1/100,000th the speed of the signal in a silicon chip! Once developers can generalize a learning algorithm and run it at the speed of a computeran accomplishment that could be a decade away or a century awaywell have an incredibly powerful AGI. It will be able to do everything that a human brain can, but without any practical limits on the size of its memory or the speed at which it operates. This will be a profound change.

These strong AIs, as theyre known, will probably be able to establish their own goals. What will those goals be? What happens if they conflict with humanitys interests? Should we try to prevent strong AI from ever being developed? These questions will get more pressing with time.

But none of the breakthroughs of the past few months have moved us substantially closer to strong AI. Artificial intelligence still doesnt control the physical world and cant establish its own goals. A recent New York Times article about a conversation with ChatGPT where it declared it wanted to become a human got a lot of attention. It was a fascinating look at how human-like the models expression of emotions can be, but it isnt an indicator of meaningful independence.

Three books have shaped my own thinking on this subject: Superintelligence, by Nick Bostrom; Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark; and A Thousand Brains, by Jeff Hawkins. I dont agree with everything the authors say, and they dont agree with each other either. But all three books are well written and thought-provoking.

The next frontiers

There will be an explosion of companies working on new uses of AI as well as ways to improve the technology itself. For example, companies are developing new chips that will provide the massive amounts of processing power needed for artificial intelligence. Some use optical switcheslasers, essentiallyto reduce their energy consumption and lower the manufacturing cost. Ideally, innovative chips will allow you to run an AI on your own device, rather than in the cloud, as you have to do today.

On the software side, the algorithms that drive an AIs learning will get better. There will be certain domains, such as sales, where developers can make AIs extremely accurate by limiting the areas that they work in and giving them a lot of training data thats specific to those areas. But one big open question is whether well need many of these specialized AIs for different usesone for education, say, and another for office productivityor whether it will be possible to develop an artificial general intelligence that can learn any task. There will be immense competition on both approaches.

No matter what, the subject of AIs will dominate the public discussion for the foreseeable future. I want to suggest three principles that should guide that conversation.

First, we should try to balance fears about the downsides of AIwhich are understandable and validwith its ability to improve peoples lives. To make the most of this remarkable new technology, well need to both guard against the risks and spread the benefits to as many people as possible.

Second, market forces wont naturally produce AI products and services that help the poorest. The opposite is more likely. With reliable funding and the right policies, governments and philanthropy can ensure that AIs are used to reduce inequity. Just as the world needs its brightest people focused on its biggest problems, we will need to focus the worlds best AIs on its biggest problems. Although we shouldnt wait for this to happen, its interesting to think about whether artificial intelligence would ever identify inequity and try to reduce it. Do you need to have a sense of morality in order to see inequity, or would a purely rational AI also see it? If it did recognize inequity, what would it suggest that we do about it?

Finally, we should keep in mind that were only at the beginning of what AI can accomplish. Whatever limitations it has today will be gone before we know it.

Im lucky to have been involved with the PC revolution and the Internet revolution. Im just as excited about this moment. This new technology can help people everywhere improve their lives. At the same time, the world needs to establish the rules of the road so that any downsides of artificial intelligence are far outweighed by its benefits, and so that everyone can enjoy those benefits no matter where they live or how much money they have. The Age of AI is filled with opportunities and responsibilities.

This article was originally published at Gates Notes.
Conservationist and TV personality Bindi Irwin is speaking out about her debilitating battle with endometriosis.

"It was just wild and the pain, fatigue, nausea that I was feeling, it was tackling my whole life," Irwin said in a new video message just two weeks after undergoing surgery for the disease.

PHOTO: Bindi Irwin spoke to 'Good Morning America' with her brother Robert Irwin and mother Terri Irwin. (ABC)

Appearing in the video message with her mother and brother for Mondays Endometriosis Foundation of America's Blossom Ball, Irwin shared details of her surgery, including that doctors found 37 lesions and a chocolate cyst adhered to her ovary.

"And now, for the first time in over ten years, I feel like I have a second chance at life, like my world is opening up again. I am grateful beyond description. I'm going to start crying."

The 24-year-old went on to thank her surgeon, Dr. Tamer Seckin of Lenox Hill Hospital, and his "extraordinary team."

On March 7, Irwin shared her decade-long search for answers to explain her "insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea," writing in an Instagram post that she now feels "validation for years of pain" after finding a diagnosis and undergoing surgery to treat endometriosis.

Irwin, who said doctors initially told her the pain she had been experiencing "was simply something you deal with as a woman," wrote she shared her story as a way to fight the stigma surrounding the condition.

"I'm aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story," she said. "Let this be your validation that your pain is real & you deserve help. Keep searching for answers."

The mom to a two-year-old daughter, Grace, also shared a pointed message: "Things may look fine on the outside looking in through the window of someones life, however, that is not always the case. Please be gentle & pause before asking me (or any woman) when well be having more children. After all that my body has gone through, I feel tremendously grateful that we have our gorgeous daughter. She feels like our familys miracle."

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On March 14, Irwin said she is "healing" and thanked fans for their support.

"I have spent the week reading your kind words and stories of strength through your own experiences with endometriosis," she wrote in an Instagram post, alongside a photo of her holding a bouquet of roses. "Thank you with all my heart for sharing."

MORE: Bindi Irwin says she underwent surgery for endometriosis: 'On the road to recovery'

Irwin continued, "I can finally see a new me on the journey towards better health. I can't wait to be able to focus all my energy on our family and the conservation work we are so passionate about."

What to know about endometriosis

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines endometriosis as "a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and/or infertility."

Dr. Tamer Seckin, Irwin's surgeon, told "Good Morning America" endometriosis is often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

"It doesn't show up in any imaging. And there's no blood test  so only by laparoscopy, we can really tell by looking inside directly with a camera we can diagnose endometriosis," said Seckin.

PHOTO: Dr. Tamer Seckin of Lenox Hill Hospital spoke to 'Good Morning America.' (ABC)

Research from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has shown 11% -- or more than 6.5 million women ages 15 to 44 -- suffer from endometriosis in the U.S. and many women diagnosed with the disease also have family members who also have the condition.

Seckin said his best advice is to trust yourself if you feel like something isn't right.

"There is degrees of unacceptance, or when it comes to women's symptoms and painful periods, they don't associate with the disease," he said. "So the woman has to really pursue and find a doctor that they they will they will be taken seriously."

MORE: Tips to handle endometriosis pain

Bindi Irwin speaks out in new message after endometriosis surgery: 'I have a second chance at life' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Crystal Cox/Business Insider

A study found all hormonal contraceptives carry a small increased risk of breast cancer.

Hormones in the pills are thought to raise the risk.

But drinking alcohol and smoking can increase breast cancer risk more, a sexual health expert said.

The minipill, a progestogen-only contraceptive pill, has been linked to higher rates of breast cancer in women who take it regularly in new research  bringing it in line with what is known about other hormonal contraceptives.

The study  published in PLOS Medicine on Tuesday  showed that the relative risk of developing breast cancer linked with taking the progestogen-only pill was similar to that of the combined pill, at around 20% to 30%. For example, if a woman's risk of developing breast cancer is 5%, a 20% increase would bring her risk to 6%.

The researchers looked at the records of 10,000 women under 50 years old with breast cancer in the UK, to assess if there is a relationship between hormonal contraceptives and the disease.

According to the National Cancer Institute, naturally occurring estrogen and progesterone can be a catalyst for some types of cancer, and the synthetic hormones in birth control are thought to have the same effect.

The authors wrote that they carried out the study because progestogen-only contraceptives are becoming more popular but little is known about the potential risks, and the combined pill was previously associated with "a small increase in breast cancer risk."

In the US, the pill is one of the most popular forms of contraceptive for women, with one in five women aged 20 to 29 taking it and one in 10 of those aged 30 to 39, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Susan Walker, reader in contraception, reproductive and sexual health at Anglia Ruskin University, UK, told Insider that when weighing up what contraceptive is right for a person, they should look at the risks and benefits in terms of both health and wellbeing.

A person's risk of developing breast cancer while taking the pill increases with age

For women below the age of 30 with no particular genetic risk of breast cancer, the underlying risk of developing the disease is so low that increasing that risk by 20 to 30% doesn't actually add a lot of risk, according to Walker.

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Walker said if she were a person under the age of 30 who was experiencing very heavy or painful periods, she would likely take hormonal contraception to ease those symptoms.

However, as a person's age increases, so does the risk of breast cancer. The study estimated that for users aged 16 to 25, there could be eight new cases of breast cancer per 100,000 of women taking either pill for 15 years. But for those aged 35 to 39, that figure rose to 264 extra cases per 100,000.

Walker said if she were 40 and avoiding getting pregnant, the risks of getting breast cancer would be higher, but so are the risks of complications during pregnancy at this age.

Again, she would weigh up her options, looking at the efficacy of hormonal methods compared to others such as condoms, and come to a decision.

External factors would also play into her decision. She said: "If I was overweight or a heavy drinker I might decide to tackle those two risks which increase breast cancer risk by more than hormonal contraception."

She said that making a decision on whether to use contraception is up to the person and this decision can be affected by several other factors too, including personal worry about cancer or unintended pregnancy.

Walker said: "Perhaps what we need are more male contraceptive choices."

Birth control has been linked to lower rates of ovarian and womb cancer

Dr. Helen Munro, vice-president of clinical quality at the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, UK, said in a statement that the level of risk of taking the pill is low, adding: "Contraceptive pills have also been shown to actually decrease the risk of developing ovarian or womb cancer."

"It is notable that many other factors, such as exercise, alcohol intake and smoking have far greater impact on breast cancer rates amongst women," she said.

Professor Stephen Duffy from the Centre for Prevention, Detection and Diagnosis at Queen Mary University of London, UK, told Science Media Centre that the study did also suggests that the breast cancer risk decreases once again after the person stops taking the pill.

10 years after stopping there was no excess risk of breast cancer, which he said is "reassuring."

Read the original article on Insider
A skeleton of the dinosaur Suchomimus is displayed during a ceremony at the La Flamme de la Paix (Flame of Peace), a monument at a remote desert locale outside the city of Agadez in Niger. (Mike Hettwer / HANDOUT)

New dinosaurs by the dozen fill two large shipping containers poised to depart Niger for Africas coast and then travel by ship across the Atlantic destined for my Fossil Lab at the University of Chicago, where a process of cleaning and recomposing bones over the coming years will unveil a menagerie of new species. The fossils were collected during a fall 2022 expedition and later will return to Niger, home to the richest fossil beds in Africa.

So, is naming new species and dutifully returning a nations patrimony the end goal of this science adventure? I almost abandoned paleontology at the start of my career, struggling to see how paleo research and discovery could positively impact human lives.

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But fossil science, I came to understand, can be a prelude to meaningful social impact. The profound significance of Nigers heritage has not been realized, because there are no museum halls for the many tons of fossils and human artifacts unearthed, nor training programs for curators or museum staff. In this setting, fragile remains repatriated in crates will inevitably fall into neglect or worse. At stake here is more than just decades of paleontology work, but rather the safeguarding and celebration of world-class heritage that could positively reframe a countrys narrative.

Two urban centers are key to a large-scale initiative regarding Nigers ancient patrimony  Niamey, the southern capital, and Agadez, a growing oasis town within the Sahara some 560 miles north. In the past, both have benefited from significant national and international tourism.

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Niamey is split by the famed waterway of West Africa, the Niger River. Lying midstream is an uninhabited wetlands island, home to diverse birds, bats and hippos, and floored by granitic boulders that date back billions of years to the birth of the African continent. Called Isle Gaweye, this natural treasure provides an anchor to the Kennedy Bridge, which in 1970 provided the first transit way to join each side of the capital.

Agadez, the regional capital of the north, oversees a parched, rugged landscape larger than France, home to a unique Saharan eco-reserve and the source of nearly all predynastic archaeological and paleontological heritage. Over the last millennium, distinctive nomadic and semi-nomadic cultures have crisscrossed this desert biome, with Agadez as its central crossroads.

Speaking to lead architects at the Chicago office of Stantec, an international company with architectural projects around the world, I said, I need the worlds first zero-energy natural history museums, because the host country Niger doesnt produce significant energy. These museums must withstand extreme heat, fierce wind, occasional dust storms and annual flooding, and building materials should incorporate lots of local clay brick and tile.

I launched NigerHeritage, an international collaboration bringing together my firsthand knowledge of Nigers ancient treasures, Stantecs savvy, and diverse voices from Niamey and Agadez, including national and regional leaders, a sultan, mayor and university rector, museum scholars and administrators and aspiring archaeologists. Our aim was to sketch the outlines for two inspiring zero-energy museums that overcome all of the hurdles cited above.

For Niamey, the sketches led to draft plans for a Musee du Fleuve (Museum of the River) on pylons off the Kennedy Bridge, its narrative beginning with the rocks that bore witness to the formation of Africa. Under an energy-absorbing canopy, a sequence of halls present episodes from Africas dinosaur era, its resilient stone age Saharans, and finally the natural wonders and fragility of the Niger River ecosystem. Serving as a gateway to an Isle Gaweye eco-reserve, this museum in planning has garnered international architectural praise and awards.

A rendering of the proposed Musee du Desert Vivant (Museum of the Living Desert) for the city of Agadez in Niger. (Stantec / HANDOUT)

For Agadez, we drafted plans for a zero-energy Musee du Desert Vivant (Museum of the Living Desert) to highlight the regions enduring cultural legacy as well as its remarkable fossils. Inspired by the centrality of water to life, the museum rises within a reflecting pool surrounded by a tiled plaza bordered by classrooms and artisan workshops. The timeline of its narrative, the reverse of that in Niamey, starts with halls devoted to the geo- and ethnographic setting of the region, followed by halls capturing prehistoric life in a Green Sahara and scenes from the dinosaur era.

High-profile museum projects that celebrate Nigers world-class heritage would elevate national pride, educate and impact every citizen, encourage civilian development in key cities and resuscitate tourism. These projects, a top priority for Nigers President Mohamed Bazoum, also jibe with all highlighted themes in President Joe Bidens sub-Saharan strategy  fostering openness, enhancing regional stability and representation, promoting economic opportunity, and conserving ecosystems and natural resources  and is aligned with United Nations declarations promoting the rights of indigenous peoples.

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The Tribune has followed the progress of University of Chicago professor Paul Sereno and his team over several months on an expedition in Niger in Africa. For more information, also see Africas Lost World at paulsereno.uchicago.edu and www.nigerheritage.org.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

An unusually tense and awkward moment developed during a White House press briefing on Monday when a reporter loudly interrupted the flow of the proceedings to criticize White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The reporter, Simon Ateba, loudly and repeatedly complained that he was being unfairly treated. His objections earned him angry disapproval from his colleagues and a very distinct disapproving scolding from Jean-Pierre.

The post Black Reporter Gets Stern Talking To For Interrupting White House Press Briefing appeared first on Blavity.

Mondays press event was mostly a lighthearted affair, with cast members of the popular show Ted Lasso joining Jean-Pierre to discuss mental health. As the cast was being introduced by Jean-Pierre, Ateba, a correspondent from Cameroon who reports for Today News Africa, began shouting out complaints that he had not been called upon for seven months. Jean-Pierre was clearly exasperated, exclaiming No, no, no, were not doing this and asking are we ready, are we going to behave? in between Atebas disturbances.

KJP: No no no were not doing this.. pic.twitter.com/as2XHrmbiC  Acyn (@Acyn) March 20, 2023

After the Ted Lasso cast finished their appearance, Ateba again interrupted as Jean-Pierre began to introduce Department of Defense official John Kirby. As Ateba renewed his claims that he was being discriminated against by the White House, his fellow reporters became clearly upset and started chastising him.

Simon, the rest of us are here too, palif you have grievances, you should bring them to her later, responded one reporter in the White House Press Corps.

Mind your manners when youre in here, and if you have a problem, you bring it up afterwards, another reporter said.Youve made your point, we all heard it, exclaimed a third reporter in frustration as Ateba continued to complain.

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Eventually Jean-Pierre addressed the interrupting reporter.

As many of you know,  she reminded the press corps, this is the White House press briefing room, a historic room, a room that should have decorum. Jean-Pierre pledged to respect the give and take of the press briefing, but added that what I will not appreciate is disrespecting your colleagues and disrespecting guests who are here, who were here to talk about an important topic, which is mental health.

Clearing having had enough, Jean-Pierre let loose her strongestdont make me turn this car around tone, declared that were either going to continue the briefing or we can just end the briefing right now.

Karine has had ENOUGH! pic.twitter.com/JTxA0FZMDs  chris evans (@notcapnamerica) March 20, 2023

The Hill reports that Ateba has interrupted press events at the White House on multiple occasions.

He was chastised by Jean-Pierre for doing so during Dr. Anthony Faucis last official press briefing, and Jean-Pierre even end a separate question and answer period early when Ateba complained about other reporters being called upon instead of him. Prior to Jean-Pierre taking over as press secretary, Ateba similarly interrupted another reporters question to press secretary Jen Psaki. The White House Correspondents Association has warned him that he could face punitive action from the organization for his outbursts. Ateba discussed the incident on Fox News Tucker Carlson show, where Ateba has appeared previously. While egged on by Carlson, Ateba elaborated on his claim that Jean-Pierre, a daughter of working-class Haitian immigrants who is the first Black White House Press Secretary, discriminates against Ateba because Im Black, Im African [and] I dont have money.

I was on @TuckerCarlson Tonight and it went well. I thank God! pic.twitter.com/501qo83rQ4  Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 21, 2023

Ateba has now seen his name and outbursts appear in multiple news outlets and even launched a bit of a feud with the hosts of The View who criticized his behavior. As long as his outburst lead to attention and appearances on shows like Tucker Carlson, Ateba will likely continue to launch his complaints about discrimination for as long as he remains a White House reporter.
Antony Blinken

"I think there's going to be territory in Ukraine that the Ukrainians are determined to fight for on the ground; there may be territory that they decide that they'll have to try to get back in other ways," Blinken said answering the question of Republican Chris Stewart on whether the U.S. backs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his striving to return Crimea.

Read also: US support for Ukraine to continue in 2024, Blinken says

Read also: Blinken makes a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine raises flag over Balakliya, and Russia continues oil exports despite sanctions

Meanwhile, Blinken emphasized that "these have to be Ukrainian decisions about what they want their future to be and how that lands in terms of the sovereignty, the territorial integrity and the independence of the country."

"What we don't want, for everyone's interests, is to have this settle in a place and in a way that simply invites the Russians to reset, rearm and then re-attack," he said.

Blinken said in December that Russian authorities were not demonstrating any interest in meaningful diplomacy.

"There's always value in diplomacy if the parties in question, and in this case Russia, are actually interested in meaningful diplomacy. And what we've seen, at least recently, is exactly the contrary," Blinken said in an interview with CBS News on Dec. 4.

Read also: Blinken says he had talks with Musk on use of Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Ukraine will likely regain its territory through a mix of military and diplomatic means, France24 reported on March 24.

"I think there's going to be territory in Ukraine that the Ukrainians are determined to fight for on the ground; there may be territory that they decide that they'll have to try to get back in other ways," Blinken said.

According to France24, he was responding to a question from Republican Chris Stewart as to whether the U.S. would back Ukraine's efforts to reclaim Crimea.

Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014 following a fake referendum staged by Russia to annex the territory. Since then, Russia has relocated both its civilians and military personnel there, imprisoned locals who stood up against the occupation, and turned the peninsula into a military base from which it launches attacks on Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion to return all of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea.

Blinken responded that, "these have to be Ukrainian decisions about what they want their future to be and how that lands in terms of the sovereignty, the territorial integrity the independence of the country."

On Feb. 18, retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. troops in Europe, told the publication Ukrinform that Ukraine has a realistic chance to liberate Russian-occupied Crimea by the end of the summer if it gets long-range missiles.






A security guard at last years Boise Pride Festival has filed a claim against the Boise Police Department, arguing that officers were negligent in responding to an incident with a protester that led to the guard being charged with misdemeanor battery.

The claim alleges that the security guard was falsely charged and detained by police, and it asks for $150,000 in damages. A tort claim is filed when an alleged action harms someone in what the law deems a civil wrong, not a crime. In Idaho, such a claim must be filed against a government agency before a lawsuit, to give the agency a chance to resolve the claim.

Much controversy surrounded the festival last year after the Idaho Republican Party chair, Dorothy Moon, and other far-right figures condemned a pride event for children. Multiple sponsors pulled their participation. The festival, which aims to celebrate LGBTQ+ people, later had the largest parade of its 33-year history, which thousands of people attended.

Boise Pride security guards tort claim

Charles Rehdorf, a high school teacher who lives in Caldwell and was a police officer in Nevada, was working security at the Pride Festival in Cecil D. Andrus Park on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 10, according to the claim filed earlier this month.

According to Rehdorfs claim:





While the festival was preparing to open on Sept. 10, Rehdorf saw a man inside the venues area with a number of signs, one of which read, Democrat against Pride.

(Rehdorf) had been informed by the festivals promoters that the protester had previously been trespassed from a different venue and was not welcome at any events held by the promoter.

Rehdorf asked the protester to leave. The protester stayed and walked up to some vendors and began aggressively harassing, chastising, and berating them for participating in Pride Fest. Rehdorf also observed that signs the protester was carrying hit multiple people.

Rehdorf says he then contacted Boise police.

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BPD failed to promptly respond to or assist (with Rehdorfs) request for help, so he contacted two troopers with the Idaho State Police who were at the scene.

They, too, were not able to get the protester to leave, and later told Rehdorf they did not have authority to remove him.

When three Boise police officers arrived, Rehdorf explained the situation and was told that the protester had not committed a crime, so the officers would not remove him.

Rehdorf explained the permit rules which allow the venue promoter to trespass anyone that is not following the rules of the event. The Boise officers disregarded that, the claim says.

Afterward, a group of other Pride attendees surrounded the protester on a sidewalk and began arguing loudly with him. The attendees screamed at him and tried to block his signs. The protester tried to walk through the crowd, hitting attendees with his signs and kicking them. Rehdorf also saw the protester reaching or grabbing for something in his waistband.

Rehdorf thought violence would ensue if he did not act. Because the situation was growing increasingly dangerous, (Rehdorf) decided he needed to peacefully remove the protester from the crowd.

When Rehdorf approached the protester and told him he had to move, the protester began yelling at him in a threatening manner. When Rehdorf tried to escort the protester away from the crowd, the protester turned and pushed Rehdorf.

Based on this outburst of aggression and violence, (Rehdorf) felt the protester was going to immediately cause him great bodily harm or injury.

Rehdorf tried to move him to an open area.

Unbeknownst to (Rehdorf), the protester was standing on the edge of the sidewalk curb. When (Rehdorf) attempted to move the protester out of the way, the protester fell off the curb and hit the asphalt road.

The protester then got irate, and Rehdorf laid his body on top of the protester to subdue him, and secured his wrists.

When police arrived, they asked Rehdorf to let the protester go, and Rehdorf saw that the protester was bleeding from his head.

Criminal charge against the guard

A few minutes later, Rehdorf was charged with misdemeanor battery.

Rehdorf, who teaches at Caldwell High School, suffered economic and reputational losses from the incident and charges. The security company he works for has received death threats and fake negative reviews.

Rehdorf has a trial for his battery charge scheduled for May. Misdemeanor convictions in Idaho are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Based on a review of court records by the Idaho Statesman, the protester was not charged.

Reached by phone, Rehdorfs lawyer, Max Williams, said that the pending legal matters  a tort claim and a criminal charge  make the case an uncommon situation.

A Boise Police Department spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The Boise Pride Festival, reached via social media, declined to comment.

The protester could not be reached for comment.
(Reuters) -Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will return to Brazil on March 30, his party confirmed via social media on Friday, following more than three months of self-imposed exile in the United States after losing his re-election bid.

Bolsonaro's return to Brazil is eagerly awaited by his conservative Liberal Party (PL), which became the largest in the Brazilian Congress after the election last October.

"Our national president, Valdemar Costa Neto, confirms to everyone that Jair Bolsonaro will return to Brazil on March 30. Bolsonaro will disembark in Brasilia at 7:30 a.m.," the Liberal Party said on social media.

Bolsonaro traveled to the United States on Dec. 30, just two days before the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, skipping the traditional ritual of passing the presidential sash to his successor.

Costa Neto has said he expects Bolsonaro to become the leader of the right-wing opposition to leftist President Lula and lead his party into municipal elections next year, where the PL hopes to triple the number of its mayors across Brazil.

Bolsonaro was losing his political capital by staying in self-imposed exile in Florida and should come back to lead the 58 million Brazilians who voted for him in an election narrowly won by Lula, Costa Neto had suggested.

An effective opposition could lay the ground for a right-wing comeback in the 2026 presidential election, PL officials have told Reuters.

(Reporting by Fernando Cardoso; Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Steven Grattan and Bill Berkrot)
Russia massively attacked Ukraine on the night of March 24

Two Kh-59 missiles were intercepted over Odesa Oblast, he said.

Read also: Russias missile terror has failed, Ukraines intel says

Besides, about ten Su-35 fighter jets attacked Sumy Oblast with over ten guided aircraft bombs.

"It's a huge threat, as guided aircraft bombs, winged bombs, can fly for a long way, meanwhile the aircraft stay beyond the range of our air defenses," Ihnat said.

Russian troops also launched a Kh-31 anti-radar missile  a type of missile designed to home in on and destroy air defense systems.

Read also: Russias missile stockpile is critically low, claims Ukrainian intelligence

In Kryvyy Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast five Iranian-made Shahed drones hit "some facilities" overnight. One drone was intercepted.

No casualties from the attack were reported, regional governor Serhiy Lysak reported on Telegram.

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
Violence erupted in the French city of Bordeaux on Thursday as police clashed with crowds protesting against President Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms.

Bordeaux town hall was set ablaze as part of protests that saw more than a million people take to the streets nationwide.

Video footage shared on social media shows flames engulfing the front doors of the building as people in the square below cheer.

The violence led to a planned state visit to France by King Charles III to be postponed.

Violence broke out in Bordeaux, southwestern France, on Thursday during nationwide protests. (Getty)

Protesters are demonstrating against plans by President Macron to push through a bill raising the retirement age by two years to 64.

Thursday was the ninth day of nationwide protests, but violence erupted in some areas, including Bordeaux and Paris.

Read more: Lucy Letby: Nurse murdered baby by injecting 'dollops' of air, court told

In the capital, police fired tear gas in clashes with masked groups of protesters as violence spread to several fast-food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank.

In Bordeaux, dramatic pictures showed the town hall engulfed in flames after it was set on fire.

In Paris, riot police clashes with protestors as violence erupted. (Reuters)

The protests led to a state visit by King Charles III being postponed. (Getty)

There were several clashes between demonstrators and police in Bordeaux, with litter bins set alight. (Getty)

The government said 80 people were arrested across the country, with dozens of police officers injured.

In Paris, officers were reportedly pelted by fireworks and other objects, with one having to be dragged to safety whilst unconscious.

Protesters set objects on fire in front of the Opera Garnier, Paris, amid clashes during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests. (Reuters)

Fires were started in Bordeaux as part of clashes in the city. (Getty)

Protestors are demonstrating against plans by Macron to push through pension reforms. (Getty)

The violence saw a state visit by King Charles III and the Queen Consort to France, set to include Bordeaux, postponed.

French authorities had sought to issue reassurance over the safety of the visit, with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reportedly saying on Thursday night that security "poses no problem" and the King will be "welcomed and welcomed well".

But on Friday it was announced that the visit has been postponed.

The French and British governments took the decision following a phone call between President Emmanuel Macron and the King, according to the French presidency.

The French President has vowed to push through his controversial pensions reform, saying he is prepared to accept unpopularity. (Getty)

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The King and the Queen Consort's state visit to France has been postponed.

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"Their majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found."

The couple's visit to Germany next week will proceed as planned.

French labour union CGT union announced earlier this week that its members working at the institution that provides flags, red carpets and furniture for public buildings would not help prepare a reception for the king, who is due to arrive in Paris on Sunday.

Over a million people are estimated to have joined in nationwide protests. (Getty)
Its not every day Constellations view from the street is blotted out by a tour bus wider than the venue itself.

Then again, its not every day a musician of Christian McBrides stature rolls into the intimate North Center venue. McBride is one of the most admired bassists of his generation, a Grammy winner eight times over, a syndicated radio host and the artistic director of the titanic Newport Jazz Festival. He tends to headline the citys hugest stages, like Orchestra Hall and Millennium Park. By contrast, Constellation has carved out a niche in the city for all things experimental and offbeat. Turning just a decade old next month, it tends to both punch above its weight and do things a little more on the DIY side. Which did not escape McBrides notice when he played two sets there with his New Jawn quartet Thursday night.

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Last time I was here (in 2017), there was no stage. He gestured to the modular bandstand under his feet, assembled for the show. Looks like things have been on the upswing.

Bassist Christian McBride plays at Constellation on March 23, 2023. (Victor Hilitski/for the Chicago Tribune)

McBride and Constellation might have a history that makes the latter ripe for ribbing, but it was a venue debut for his band: trumpeter Josh Evans, reedist Marcus Strickland and drummer Nasheet Waits. New Jawns ranks come from all over the eastern seaboard, but the name is a tribute to McBrides upbringing in Philly, where jawn is a catch-all noun. (Example sentences provided on the cover of the groups self-titled album: Hey man, did you see McBrides in town this week with his new trio? Naw, bruh, its not the trio, hes got a new jawn!) New Jawns 2018 debut was funky, fun and tight as hell, a welcome addition to the pantheon of chordless jazz combos. But was it great? Debatable.

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With its latest album Prime, New Jawn has hit its stride. The compositions better bottle the smirking virtuosity of McBrides formidable colleagues, seizing on the off-the-wall harmonic freedoms possible when you arent anchored by a keyboard. Big-band politesse has been tossed to the wind, or maybe burned.

So it was Thursday. Some audience members  notably older than the usual Constellation set  visibly gaped when McBride cued the band directly into the cacophonous intro of Head Bedlam. Stricklands bass clarinet and McBrides bass eventually coalesce into a thick, sauntering funk groove, forming cosmos from chaos. (McBride later joked with the audience that the number was a sonic portrait of us looking at Twitter  The groove is what happens when you put your phone down.)

Obsequious hurtled even faster in New Jawns first set than it does on Prime. But the bands tight sense of ensemble didnt crack one bit, the knotty opening played in razors edge rhythmic unison by the pitched instruments before opening into a solo by Evans. Evans is tall, unassuming and almost monklike onstage, curling around his instrument like a shell. But out of his bell came some of the most blistering improvisations of the evening, hard-bop restlessness conveyed through a dusky, veiled sound that never overpowered his colleagues. Evans often stepped off the stage so as not to block sightlines of Strickland, who distributed his economical, deftly pivoting solos (especially in Prime, the title track he composed) between bass clarinet and tenor.

Dolphy Dust, Evans aptly named contribution to Prime, passed that semi-manic energy around to the entire band in the second set. Their precision was just as remarkable here. The Jawns doubled their soloing colleagues so neatly that it called to mind assembling a jigsaw puzzle on the back of a high-speed train.

Bassist Christian McBride plays at Constellation on March 23, 2023. (Victor Hilitski/for the Chicago Tribune)

The lions share of that astonishment has to be funneled toward Waits, a marvel when both soloing and supporting. His farsighted and magisterial spotlight in Obsequious opened up into a deep disco backbeat, ushering the band into Open Sesame (as in Saturday Night Fever, not Freddie Hubbards 1960 debut of the same name). During Waits solo in Prime  an unbroken, maximalist explosion of wit and might  McBride just leaned against his bass and grinned, watching him in stupefied ecstasy.

McBride is a consummate collaborator, and one got the sense here that he really intended for it to be the bands night. But he still made off with a few solos on his upright  in Waits elemental Moonchild, Evans Pier One Import and his own John Day  that demonstrated why hes working with an expressive palette wider than just about any bassist on the circuit today. McBride tossed off right-hand impressionistic percussive effects, left-hand vibrato trills and divebombing glissando fills with both ease and impregnable intonation  itself a testament to his hyper-rigorous early jazz education in Philly.

The band closed out the evening by reprising The Good Life, also played during the first set. That tune was Ornette Coleman and Pat Methenys head-turning calypso rebrand of a movement from Colemans Skies of America, written for the London Symphony (1972). Sunny and breezy, The Good Life is a far cry from Colemans better-known free jazz abstraction. But hearing it, the pairing makes a whole lot more sense than you might think. Just like New Jawn at Constellation.

Hannah Edgar is a freelance writer.
Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pushed back his departure to China after contracting mild pneumonia," the presidential palace said in a statement Friday.

Lula, 77, underwent medical examinations in a hospital after a trip to Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, the statement said. He had been expected to leave for China on Friday or Saturday.

The leftist leader is now scheduled to travel on Sunday for his multi-day visit. But newspaper O Globo reported Friday that his departure is pending a health assessment in the afternoon.

A delegation composed of ministers, senators, lawmakers and hundreds of businessmen is set to accompany Lula during his first state visit to Brazils biggest trade partner since taking office in January.

The Brazilian president and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet next Tuesday.

Trade, investment and climate change are all on the agenda and 20 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed, according to a statement Thursday from the presidential palace.

Lula, who rarely postpones or cancels trips due to health reasons, traveled to Argentina in January and the U.S. in February, marking a departure from Brazils foreign policy under former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in international affairs or travel abroad.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

The offer to create the club will be made during Lulas visit to China for a meeting with Xi Jinping. Brazil is currently trying to pivot away from an isolationist foreign policy pushed by former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Read also: Beijing is the senior partner in Russia-China relations, reports ISW

We are very interested in facilitating or helping to create some sort of a meeting that will lead to a peace process, said Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

The president has said many times that he keeps hearing a lot about the war, but very few words about peace. He is interested in peaceful conversations.

Read also: World opinion divided on how war in Ukraine should end, survey shows

President Lula also said earlier that he wants to create a group of countries that would conduct peace negotiations with Ukraine and Russia to end the war.

I propose to create a group of countries that will try to sit down at the negotiating table with Ukraine and Russia to try to find peace, he said.

China released its 12-point "peace plan" on Feb. 24, outlining its stance on resolving the conflict.

Read also: Biden praises Germanys efforts in supporting Ukraine

The plan calls for a ceasefire and negotiations but notably omits any mention of Russia withdrawing its troops from occupied Ukrainian territory.

In response, U.S. President Joe Biden dismissed Beijing's position, stating that its implementation would benefit only Russia.

Read also: Brazil refuses to provide Germany with tank shells for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he appreciated China's engagement in dialogue about Ukraine, although he disagreed with certain aspects of the plan.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
By Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been diagnosed with mild pneumonia and will delay a planned trip to China by a day, leaving on Sunday, the presidential palace and his doctor said.

Lula's physician, Dr. Roberto Kalil, told Reuters that the president is in good health after undergoing hospital tests on Thursday night and is responding well to antibiotics.

Lula was initially supposed to leave for China early Saturday for a visit aimed at refreshing ties with Brazil's largest export market.

"The president is fine. He has already improved from yesterday to today. The trip on Sunday is maintained," Kalil said after visiting Lula at the presidential palace earlier on Friday.

The president will be accompanied on the trip by a large delegation that includes half a dozen cabinet ministers, plus governors, lawmakers and 240 business leaders, over a third of whom are from Brazil's farming sector.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to meet with Lula on Tuesday in Beijing. Lula will also visit Shanghai later in the week.

Most of Lula's Friday commitments were canceled, but he will still attend an afternoon meeting with ministers and government leaders in Congress, the president's office said.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Steven Grattan and Rosalba O'Brien)
Investors can buy low cost index fund if they want to receive the average market return. But across the board there are plenty of stocks that underperform the market. That's what has happened with the Breedon Group plc (LON:BREE) share price. It's up 12% over three years, but that is below the market return. Zooming in, the stock is actually down 9.7% in the last year.

Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for Breedon Group

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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.

During three years of share price growth, Breedon Group achieved compound earnings per share growth of 13% per year. The average annual share price increase of 4% is actually lower than the EPS growth. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 11.06.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Breedon Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. In the case of Breedon Group, it has a TSR of 16% 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

We regret to report that Breedon Group shareholders are down 7.3% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 0.7%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.9% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Breedon Group you should be aware of, and 1 of them doesn't sit too well with us.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British 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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Union flag

The narrative is by now tediously familiar. Remainers unreconciled to leaving the EU increasingly think that the public has turned against Brexit. Any piece of bad news is immediately blamed on a decision they still believe to have been driven by ignorance and lies. Many are biding their time, hoping that a Labour government will present an opportunity to return to the EUs orbit. By targeting Boris Johnson, they intend that  as his political star fades  Brexit will look to be, to all intents and purposes, over.

Clearly, much of the heat has now come out of the debate, with this weeks rebellion on the Windsor Framework smaller than many had expected. But the forces that drove the extraordinary referendum vote back in 2016 have not been quelled. Millions still live in frustration at an establishment incapable of reflecting their values. Despite the lassitude of ministers and regulators, the British economy is gradually beginning to diverge from the EU. Anger at out-of-control immigration reflects a basic consensus that the UK should have control of its own borders.

The problem is that Brexit no longer has a standard bearer, a politician able to champion the opportunities of life outside the EU and take on the miserablism of Rejoiners who still think Britain is incapable of governing itself.

Mr Johnson once held that role, but even when he was prime minister his government did little to fully embrace Brexit, preferring instead to transform Britain into a European-style social democracy. Perhaps he will again return to the fight  inside Parliament, or out. But this week he was not able to marshal more than a small number of MPs in opposition to Rishi Sunaks Protocol deal.

Could, then, Mr Sunak be that cheerleader? Only a year after he entered Parliament, he took a big risk to come out in favour of Brexit, but has since made little of that advantage. In part, this reflects his general struggle to elucidate a clear political vision. But the Prime Minister has also developed a tendency towards caution, perhaps ill-suited to championing a project that by necessity is to some degree a leap of faith.

But if Mr Sunak is unwilling to take on that role, someone else certainly will be. Brexit was never just a problem to solve, or a process to follow. It is a generational project to remake Britain, bring government closer to the people, and end a debilitating culture of national decline. Let us hope the revolution is only just getting started.
Nicola Peltz Beckham and Selena Gomez are "angel" sisters and Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is just happy to have them both around.

During a March 23 appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, the rising TikTok chef told host Jennifer Hudson that Gomez had a special name for their friendship.

"She says we're a throuple," he said. "She's such a sweet girl, very sweet girl. Obviously, very talented. I love when my wife makes new friends, especially like really great friends and we all get along."

The couple married last year in a three-day ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida.

The "Ramona and Beezus" and "Transformers: Age Of Extinction" stars gave fans a glimpse of their sisterhood in November 2022, during the promotion of Gomez's Apple TV+'s documentary, "Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me." Peltz Beckham hosted a watch party for her friend, according to People, and later posted a picture on Instagram.

"Girls night celebrating your beautiful documentary congratulations, Selena," she captioned.

For Thanksgiving that year, the "throuple" spent it together, with Peltz Beckham sharing on TikTok a video of them cooking with friends.

"Favorite people," she captioned the post.

Gomez and Peltz Beckham also brought in the New Year together this year, wearing matching, sparkling mini dresses and identical stiletto heels.

"Felt like a fairy," the Golden Globe nominee said in the caption, where she also referred to the fellow actor as her "angel."

The next day, Gomez posted a picture on Instagram of the three of them, declaring their "throuple" status.

"Fine, call us a throuple," she wrote in the caption with #ForeverPlusOne.

A couple weeks later, she posted a sweet photo of her with her "queen."

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In February, "The Last Airbender" actor posted another picture on Instagram with Gomez, calling her "angel sister."

"I love this girl so much," she captioned.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A 23-year-old man charged with murder in connection with a 2019 double homicide is set to stand trial next week in Brunswick County.

One of two men charged with murder in connection with a 2019 double homicide is set to stand trial next week in Brunswick County.

Logan Neal Young, 23, and Joshua Larmonte Carter, 23, both of Brunswick County, were arrested in June 2019 and charged in connection with the shooting deaths of two teenagers. Young and Carter were 19 and 20 years old at the time, respectively.

According to court records, Youngs trial is set to being Monday. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Heres what we know ahead of the trial.

Two dead in shooting

According to previous StarNews reporting, four individuals were together on a dirt road on the evening of Saturday, June 29, 2019. Xavier Stevenson, 19, of Southport was driving; Myla Payne, 19, was in the front passenger seat of the car.

Law enforcement believe the four were participating in a marijuana deal.

According to officials, the group eventually stopped on the street and Stevenson and Payne sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Stevenson was shot while urinating, and Payne was reportedly shot in the back of the head.

Late that evening, Stevenson and Payne were found dead on Lee Buck Road, east of Winnabow and nearby Brunswick Nature Park.

The next day, on June 30, 2019, Young and Carter were arrested, and both men were charged with two counts of first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Trial begins Monday

Young has been in custody in Brunswick County awaiting trial.

According to court records, Youngs trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Brunswick County Superior Court.

According to jail records, Carter remains in custody in Brunswick County Jail. His trial has not yet been set.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What to know before Brunswick County man faces murder trial next week
C-SPAN

Far-right Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) attempted to claim on Friday that nobody has been tried and prosecuted for sedition in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, only for a C-SPAN anchor to coolly fact-check his obviously false claim.

Taking calls from viewers during an appearance on C-SPANs Washington Journal, a rite of passage for guests of the program, the MAGA lawmaker was soon grilled by callers over former President Donald Trumps promise to pardon Capitol rioters.

Trump wants to pardon the traitors that have been convicted of seditious conspiracy? Come on! What the hells wrong with you Republicans?! one caller from Oregon exclaimed.

I appreciate the call, and Im not sure I understand what youre saying, but I think youre talking about the former president saying if he gets elected hed issue some pardons or clemency to some of the people arrested and prosecuted on Jan. 6, Biggs answered.

LOL this isnt going great for Biggs. pic.twitter.com/ypmZcv29ec  Acyn (@Acyn) March 24, 2023

Not all were convicted of seditious treason. In fact, none were! So thats important to understand, he confidently declared. The second thing I would say is that many of them were convicted of misdemeanor trespass. And I think thats important to understand as well.

The next caller, meanwhile, continued to grill Biggs over his sympathetic attitude towards the insurrection and the MAGA rioters behind it. In this instance, the viewer from Mississippi asked if those who conspired with Trump and ex-Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark should be held accountable, further wondering why Biggs requested his own pardon following the riots.

I didnt ask for a pardon. Thats been completely debunked, the Arizona congressman replied, echoing his previous denials of the reported request. But, you know, lies persist, so thats going to happen and Im big enough to withstand the perpetual lie in that way.

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The lawmaker added: Theres been no indication that anybody attempted to overthrow the government with somebody named Jeff Clark, whom I dont believe Ive ever even met. So thanks for the perpetuation of the false narrative of the left.

Right after the Trump-boosting lawmaker was done railing against the lies spread about the Jan. 6 attack, Washington Journal host Greta Brawner casually chimed in to correct Biggs own falsehoods.

Congressman, USA Today had this headline back in November of 2022 that Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, she flatly stated.

Indeed, Rhodes and co-defendant Kelly Meggsleader of the far-right militias Florida chapterwere both convicted of seditious conspiracy last year for planning an armed rebellion to stop the certification of President Joe Bidens electoral victory. Both men face up to 20 years in prison.

Oh, OK, Biggs stammered in response. Yeah, well, I didnt follow that case.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Penske Automotive Group is US$162 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of US$132 suggests Penske Automotive Group is potentially trading close to its fair value

Our fair value estimate is 12% higher than Penske Automotive Group's analyst price target of US$145

Does the March share price for Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:PAG) 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 take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. 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. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for Penske Automotive Group

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we 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$1.12b US$738.0m US$555.2m US$787.4m US$903.4m US$970.8m US$1.03b US$1.08b US$1.12b US$1.16b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 7.46% Est @ 5.84% Est @ 4.71% Est @ 3.92% Est @ 3.36% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 10% US$1.0k US$609 US$416 US$535 US$558 US$544 US$523 US$497 US$469 US$440

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$5.6b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after 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$1.2b (1 + 2.1%)  (10% 2.1%) = US$15b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$15b ( 1 + 10%)10= US$5.6b

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$11b. 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$132, the company appears about fair value at a 19% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. 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 Penske Automotive Group 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 1.356. 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 Penske Automotive Group

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

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Specialty Retail market.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Penske Automotive Group, we've compiled three relevant items you should further research:

Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Penske Automotive Group (including 1 which can't be ignored) . Future Earnings: How does PAG'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 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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Italy Economy

Skittles candies are seen in the shop in Milan, Italy on October 6, 2021. Credit - Jakub PorzyckiNurPhot/Getty Images

California legislators are considering a bill that could potentially ban the sale of Skittles and several other popular snacks because research shows some of the chemicals in them are toxic.

The bill would force companies to change the recipes of some beloved sweets, including M&Ms and Nerds candy, or to take drastic measures and pull their items from the California market. Its unclear if the bill will gain momentum, but if passed, California would become the first state to ban specific additives in food.

The ban would apply to five chemicalsred dye No. 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparabenwhich are generally used as preservatives, dyes and texture enhancers. The chemicals are approved for consumption in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but are all banned in Europe due to safety concerns.

Some of the bills supporters believe that federal regulations have overlooked scientific research linking the chemicals to ailments including cancer, neurological problems and behavioral issues in children.

Heres what to know.

What are the intentions behind the bill?

The assembly member behind the bill, Jesse Gabriel, confesses that he loves candy, especially Skittles, and that he definitely wouldnt support a bill to ban Skittles. Thats not the bills intention, he tells TIME. This bill is about getting companies to change their recipes, Gabriel says. They still sell Skittles in Europe. They just removed titanium dioxide, which is a very dangerous ingredient.

As a father of three young children, Gabriel worries about additives like these chemicals, citing risks for childrens development, reproductive issues and concerns over carcinogens and damage to the immune system.

Part of the reason we chose [these five] is because for each of them, there is a readily available safer alternative, Gabriel says.

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Opposition against the bill has been strongest from trade associations, including the American Chemical Industry, the American Bakers Association and the California Chamber of Commerce. In a letter to the California Assemblys health committee, 11 groups wrote, this measure usurps the comprehensive food safety and approval system for these five additives and predetermines ongoing evaluations.

What are the potential risks of these chemicals?

Much of the research around these chemicals showed potential health risks on animals, which scientists believe can apply to humans too. In 1990, the FDA banned the use of red dye No. 3 in cosmetics, but continues to permit it in thousands of food items. Potassium Bromate has been banned in the U.K., India, Brazil, Canada and across Europe, over fears that it could be carcinogenic. Although all of the chemicals proposed in the bill are FDA approved, some of them, like propylparaben and titanium dioxide, are restricted to make up 1% or less of the food items composition.

A number of things on that list have been shown to potentially have harmful consequences, Carolyn Slupsky, a nutrition professor at the University of California, Davis, tells TIME, adding that although we didnt know about many of the risks when the chemicals first entered the market, more information is available now.

The government has to be willing to help fund research into these chemicals that people want to put into the food supply, or that are already in the food supply, and start looking at it more carefully, Slupsky says.

The FDA classifies many chemical additives as GRAS, or Generally Recognized as Safe, permitting their use. Gabriel criticizes the FDAs review process, claiming that most of the chemicals were never independently reviewed or were last reviewed decades ago. The FDAs process for reviewing food additives entails collecting data directly from manufacturers and rejecting or approving the additives for specific uses, but some researchers think the decades-old data on certain additives needs to be re-evaluated.

These companies are going to have to put some of their money into finding alternate ways to preserve their product, Slupsky says. A lot of it is just for [food] color[ing].

Recent research has also raised alarms that ultra processed foods increase the risk of various health issues, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia. Its not just that everybody sits on their butts and eats chips, Slupsky says. I think that we need to start looking more carefully at the types of food that were eating.

Gabriel is hopeful that as companies begin to recognize the social responsibility they owe consumers, trade associations will also face pressure to push for new alternatives. If this passes, it will certainly have an impact beyond California, he says. No ones going to walk away from the California market; its too big.

The bill will enter committee hearings next month, beginning April 11.
Q & A Is the EU-Canada free trade deal dead in the water?

Since Belgium's French-speaking region of Wallonia decided earlier this month not to back the EU-Canada free trade deal CETA, many questions about the future of CETA and the EUs ability to commit to other international trade deals have emerged.

GALLERY

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, addresses the General Debate of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 20 September 2016.

Brussels (dpa) - The future of a landmark EU-Canada trade deal was hanging in the balance Monday, after days of last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve Belgian regional opposition to the deal.The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is designed to ease the flow of goods between Canada and EU member states, by removing tariffs and trade barriers. Proponents argue that this will boost growth and job-creation, but opponents fear that the deal could undermine European standards and give companies undue clout.This is unlikely to be the end of the road for CETA, which has the backing of all 28 national EU governments. The deal has been hailed as the best and the most advanced that the bloc has ever negotiated with a trading partner.The European Commission signalled Monday that efforts would continue to broker an agreement, with a spokesman calling for "patience" to resolve the outstanding issues.It is thought to be difficult, but not impossible. Walloon Prime Minister Paul Magnette, who heads the Belgian region at the forefront of the blockade, considers many objections to have been resolved in recent days. Written assurances have been issued that environmental and consumer standards will not be eroded, among other things. But a key bone of contention remains the use of special arbitration courts to settle disputes between companies and governments. Some of Wallonias demands will require time to resolve.There were warnings, but nobody appears to have taken them seriously enough. The Walloon parliament had first opposed the deal back in April, its president Andre Antoine told broadcaster RTL on Monday.But many officials within the EU have treated the issue as a domestic Belgian problem which Prime Minister Charles Michel was responsible for resolving, by winning over regional governments in the highly decentralized country.The commission and member states such as Germany are also pointing the finger at one another, following a decision in July to take the unusual step of giving national and regional European parliaments a say over the deal. The commission said it caved in to pressure from member states such as Germany, Austria and France to seek a wider mandate, in an attempt to counter vocal public opposition to free trade deals such as CETA.German Minister for Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel, on the other hand, has accused the commission of preferring the "technocratic strong-arming of trade deals." He argues that Berlin and other capitals had merely responded to the "questions and criticism of their population."Both the commission and member states probably share some of the blame for not taking seriously enough the public opposition to CETA - and its sister deal being negotiated with the United States, known as TTIP. But Gabriel has also been accused of playing a double game by advocating CETA while criticizing TTIP.Many fear that the EU will lose its credibility as a global trading partner. The argument is that, if a trade deal is not even possible with Canada - a closely aligned country that shares many EU values - who can the bloc ever reach agreement with? Besides TTIP, this could also be a concern when it comes to Britains exit from the EU and efforts to redraft that trade relationship."Even if the blockage of the EU-Canada trade deal by the Walloon government is solved in the coming weeks, the damage is already done to EU trade policy," former EU trade spokesman and business consultant John Clancy said Monday."The events of the past few days raise profound questions about the EUs ability to fulfil one of its core functions: breaking down the barriers to help European companies do business internationally," he added.
Protesters march during a rally in Paris, Thursday, March 23, 2023. French unions are holding their first mass demonstrations Thursday since President Emmanuel Macron enflamed public anger by forcing a higher retirement age through parliament without a vote. (Christophe Ena/AP)

PARIS  French unions called for new nationwide strikes and protests next week, coinciding with King Charles IIIs planned visit to France, after more than 1 million people demonstrated throughout the country Thursday against unpopular pension reforms.

The Interior Ministry said the march in Paris  marred by violence, as were numerous marches elsewhere  drew 119,000 people which was a record for the capital during the pension protests. Polls show that most French oppose President Emmanuel Macrons bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.

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Building on the strong turnout, unions swiftly called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday when the British king is scheduled to visit Bordeaux on the second day of his trip to France. The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was set afire and quickly destroyed Thursday evening by a members of an unauthorized demonstration, the Sud Ouest newspaper said.

Nationwide, more than a million people joined protest marches held in cities and towns around the country Thursday, the ministry said.

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Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, visiting police headquarters Thursday night as fires still burned in some Paris neighborhoods, gave assurance that security poses no problem and the British monarch will be welcomed and welcomed well.

He said there was enormous degrading of public buildings and commerce Thursday, far more important than in precedent demonstrations.

There are troublemakers, often extreme left, who want to take down the state and kill police and ultimately take over the institutions, the minister said.

The demonstrations were held a day after Macron further angered his critics by standing strong on the retirement bill that his government forced through parliament without a vote.

While the (president) tries to turn the page, this social and union movement ... confirms the determination of the world of workers and youth to obtain the withdrawal of the reform, the eight unions organizing protests said in a statement. It called for localized action this weekend and new nationwide strikes and protests Tuesday.

Strikes upended travel as protesters blockaded train stations, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, refineries and ports.

In Paris, street battles between police and black-clad, masked groups who attacked at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank reflected intensifying violence and drew attention away from the tens of thousands of peaceful marchers.

Police, pelted by Molotov cocktails, objects and fireworks, charged multiple times and used tear gas to disperse rioters. A haze of tear gas fumes covered part of the Place de lOpera, where demonstrators converged at the marchs end. Darmanin said radicals numbered some 1,500.

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Violence marred other marches, notably in the western cities of Nantes, Rennes and Lorient  where an administrative building was attacked and the courtyard of the police station was set afire and its windows broken  and in Lyon, in the southeast.

Thursdays nationwide protests were the ninth union-organized demonstrations since January, when opponents still hoped that parliament would reject Macrons measure to raise the retirement age. But the government forced it through using a special constitutional measure.

In an interview Wednesday, Macron refused to budge from his position that a new law is necessary to keep retirement coffers funded. Opponents proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies, which Macron says would hurt the economy. He insisted the governments bill to raise the retirement age must be implemented by the end of the year.

The Constitutional Council must now approve the measure.

We are trying to say before the law is enacted ... that we have to find a way out and we continue to say that the way out is the withdrawal of the law, the chief of the moderate CFDT trade union, Laurent Berger, told The Associated Press.

High-speed and regional trains, the Paris metro and public transportation systems in other major cities were disrupted. About 30% of flights at Paris Orly Airport were canceled.

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The Eiffel Tower and the Versailles Palace, where the British monarch is to dine with Macron, were closed Thursday due to the strikes.

Violence, a recurring issue at protests, has intensified in recent days. Darmanin said that 12,000 security forces were in the French streets Thursday, with 5,000 in Paris,

The Education Ministry said in a statement that about 24% of teachers walked off the job in primary and middle schools on Thursday, and 15% in high schools.

At Paris Gare de Lyon train station, several hundred strikers walked on railway tracks to prevent trains from moving, brandishing flares and chanting and we will go, and we will go until withdrawal and Macron, go away.

This year perhaps maybe our holidays wont be so great, said Maxime Monin, 46, who stressed that employees like himself, who work in public transport, are not paid on strike days. But I think its worth the sacrifice.

In the northern suburbs of Paris, several dozen union members blocked a bus depot in Pantin, preventing about 200 vehicles from getting out during rush hour.

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Nadia Belhoum, a 48-year-old bus driver participating in the action, criticized Macrons decision to force the higher retirement age through.

The president of the Republic ... is not a king, and he should listen to his people, she said.

Associated Press journalists Sylvie Corbet, Helena Alves, Masha Macpherson and Jeffrey Schaeffer in Paris contributed to this report.
California has struggled for years to recruit aspiring physicians of color into its health care workforce, despite the states highly diverse population.

Research shows that patients whose physicians look like them report higher levels of well-being and satisfaction with care. As a result, experts warn that failing to cultivate a diverse workforce would further exacerbate health disparities in already underserved communities.

Having racial and ethnic and language diversity among physicians really matters, said Diane Rittenhouse, a senior researcher with policy consulting group Mathematica Inc. who has studied Californias health workforce diversification programs.

Black and Latinx Californians are vastly underrepresented in the physician workforce.

Now, a new state-funded program seeks to address both the physician shortage and diversity gap by propelling community college students onto medical school.

Known as the California Medicine Scholars Program, the initiative wants to make medical school and physician careers more accessible for students from underrepresented backgrounds. This includes lower-income students, people of color, and speakers of English as a second language.

The program consists of four regional hubs  greater northern California, the San Joaquin Valley, the Inland Empire and the San Diego area  led by the medical schools at UC Davis, UCSF Fresno, UC San Diego and UC Riverside. Each medical program partners with several undergraduate institutions and community colleges to recruit students who might be interested in medical careers.

Harnessing the states diversity

What sets the scholars program apart from other diversification programs is its intersegmental approach, said Rowena Robles, the programs executive director.

Instead of just trying to diversify residency applicants and medical school students, the program engages students early on.

The resulting web of support, Robles said, provides a warm hand-off for students as they transition between community college, their four-year degree program and finally medical school.

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Without this level of support, students might be more likely to drop out of higher education or choose a different profession because they deem their goals unachievable.

The major goal is making students feel welcome very early on, Robles said. Many are first-generation, and so oftentimes, theyre juggling family or outside jobs.

Rittenhouse noted that the long-term support the program provides could help students feel a sense of belonging and successfully complete their studies. One-on-one advising, mentoring, tutoring and test preparation could make the difference between a student deciding to become a doctor or taking an offramp to a different career.

To have more diversity among physicians, you really do have to start early, Rittenhouse said. You have to help people overcome the systemic and structural barriers that exist along the way, because its such a long road.

The program could harness the inherent diversity of Californias community colleges  more than 70% of the states community college students are non-white and close to 64% qualify as economically disadvantaged.

But at the same time, those students will likely need extra support beyond the classroom to successfully complete their studies. For example, more than 50% of California community college students surveyed in 2019 reported experiencing food insecurity.

The fact that you can get an A while you dont even know where your next meal is coming from shows some incredible grit and fortitude from the student, said Dr. Kenny Banh, an assistant dean at UCSF Fresno who oversees programming for the San Joaquin Valley hubs program scholars.

As part of the UCSF Fresno program, Banh says family members are included in events to help them understand what kinds of support their students will need during their eight-year medical education.

We cant just tell them, Hey, suck it up, you have to help them for eight years, Banh said, because we have to understand families cant always do that.

Up to 200 students each year will join the program and take advantage of resources like one-on-one mentoring, academic counseling, interview practice, standardized test preparation, paid research opportunities, stipends and financial assistance with application and test fees.

The first cohort kicks off this spring with a group of 140 students from across the state.

Id like to come back and practice here

Pilar Lara, 19, knew she wanted to go into medicine after helping her late grandmother battle cancer. The first-year at Riverside City College used to drive her grandmother to medical appointments and often sat in on meetings with her doctors.

The diligent care and attention her grandmother received inspired Lara to start exploring medicine in late high school. As a junior, she started, shadowing some medical students in a UC Riverside neuroscience lab.

Laras biology professor told her about the program and encouraged her to apply. Now that shes part of the program, she hopes to continue both her undergraduate and medical degrees at UC Riverside and one day become a neurologist.

I think its really important that areas, like Riverside and the Inland Empire get good doctors, Lara said. I was born in Riverside, and Ive lived here my whole life, so the Inland Empire is very dear to my heart.

Even if I have to go away for school for some reason, Id like to come back and practice here.

Fellow Inland Empire scholar Mariana Moreno, of Lake Elsinore, hopes to pursue primary care and develop long-lasting one-on-one relationships with patients. She credits her initial interest in medicine with positive experiences she had with her own doctors. But access to advising and mentoring through the program has helped her discover classes and clinical work experiences that she doubts she wouldve otherwise found.

Like Lara, Moreno hopes she can come back home to practice once she graduates.

If I am able to give that experience back to my community as theyre helping me get to my goal, that would be the best thing I could do as a doctor, Moreno said. Im very lucky to have found this program.

Data supports need for more diverse physicians

Across California, Black and Latino physicians are significantly underrepresented in the workforce. The Department of Health Care Access and Information reported in January this year that the state would need 37,000 more Latino physicians to achieve parity. Black Californians are well represented among recently graduated physicians, but they still only comprise 4% of the total physician workforce compared to 5.6% of the total population.

The physician workforce is also unevenly distributed across the state, with rural areas suffering the worst shortages. Residents in the Inland Empire and the San Joaquin Valley live with the lowest and second lowest number of primary care providers per capita in California, according to data from a 2020 California Health Care Foundation study.

The study also found the Inland Empire only had 42 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, and the San Joaquin Valley had only about 45. In contrast, the rest of California had an average of almost 60 providers per 100,000, which still sits on the low end of the 60-80 physicians recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

An aging physician workforce further aggravates the problem. About 35% of Californias physicians are over 60 years old, according to the states Department of Healthcare Access and Information. Physicians are also leaving the workforce faster than new doctors can replace them.

California facilitates numerous programs through the department to help medical professionals repay loans and diversify the medical profession through internship programs. Additionally, the University of California recruited underrepresented medical students for years through its Programs in Medical Education, which aim to place doctors in medically underserved areas.

While these programs tackle elements of the physician shortage, they dont provide the transitional support that CMSP does. Banh at UCSF Fresno said developing homegrown physicians like Lara and Moreno is the long-term solution to the doctor shortage in areas like the Inland Empire.

The only way you can actually get doctors to stay and work in those under-served areas, is to literally grow physicians from that region to funnel back into that region, Banh said. But that requires a huge long-term investment.

Rittenhouse calls the scholars program exactly the type of program we need to be investing in as a state. But she warns that proper implementation and evaluation will determine whether the program is deemed successful.

The program currently only has one-time funding from the 2021-22 budget, but the programs success depends largely on whether it receives ongoing funding to support students through a seven-to-10-year educational journey.

At the same time, given the states projected $22.5 million budget shortfall for 2023-24, state officials might be hard-pressed to invest more in a program that wont show results for many more years.

I do think that its going to be challenging because what it requires is building bridges from the community colleges to four-year universities to medical schools to residencies within the state, Rittenhouse said. Ultimately, where people do their residency tends to be where they practice medicine.

If we want to diversify the physician workforce, and we do for important reasons, then this is the kind of program that we need to be investing in.
Stanislaus County sheriffs Deputy Eric Fulmer was driving 121 mph as he approached a T-intersection on a foggy morning in January 2022.

At about the same time, a Chevrolet Camaro pulled into the intersection. Fulmer braked, but it was too late. His vehicle slammed into the side of the Camaro at nearly 90 mph, killing 21-year-old Saul Betancourt.

Following a nearly yearlong investigation, California Highway Patrol investigators have determined Fulmers actions were the primary cause of the collision. He was driving at a speed which was unsafe due to the traffic conditions and limited visibility.

Betancourts action, rolling the stop at the intersection where Fulmer had the right-of-way, was an associated factor in the collision, according to the CHP.

The agencys 158-page report, obtained by The Modeseto Bee through a public records request, was submitted to the Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office in December for consideration of misdemeanor or felony vehicular manslaughter charges against Fulmer.

In January, on the one-year anniversary of the fatal crash and the deadline for his office to pursue a misdemeanor charge, District Attorney Jeff Laugero sent a memo to the CHP and the Sheriffs Office saying he would not charge Fulmer. The elements of the crime are not met beyond the reasonable doubt standard, it said.

Fulmer is on paid administrative leave and there is an active internal affairs investigation regarding the crash.

Family members of Saul Betancourt, who died in a crash involving a Stanislaus County Sheriffs deputy, are raising money for his funeral.

Meanwhile, Betancourts parents and his girlfriend, on behalf of herself and the young daughter she shared with Betancourt, filed a lawsuit against Fulmer and the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office in September for wrongful death and negligence.

Modesto man killed in crash involving deputy was father of 2-year-old

Fulmer, the same day the memo was sent by the DA, countersued Betancourts estate for negligence and personal injuries and damage.

The crash

Fulmer was a detective assigned to the city of Patterson, but on the morning of the crash, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, he had just finished working a 12-hour overtime shift on patrol, which ended at 7 a.m.

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Maria Prado also ended her graveyard shift at 7 a.m. She and her cousin worked at a nursing home in Newman and took the same route home to Modesto. Betancourt, Prados boyfriend, picked her up that morning and Prados cousin was driving behind them, according to the CHP report.

As a detective, Fulmer drove a department-issued Nissan Maxima that was equipped with lights and sirens. He was in the Nissan on his way home to Turlock when, at 7:07 a.m., he heard deputies from the main office in Modesto dispatched to help a Newman police officer who was in a physical fight with a suspect and was not responding on his radio.

Fulmer was between Patterson and Turlock, in the area of West Main and Central avenues, and knew he was closer, so he activated the Nissans lights and sirens and notified dispatch that he would respond, according to the CHP report. He turned around and headed south on Crows Landing Road.

At 7:11 a.m. a dispatcher broadcast over the radio that police from Gustine, which is less than five miles from Newman, also were responding.

Fulmer got on the radio, acknowledged the dispatch and broadcast his location at Crows Landing and River Road, more than eight miles from Newman. He would later tell CHP investigators he vaguely remembers acknowledging the radio traffic but doesnt remember what the dispatcher said.

He continued south on River Road toward Villa Manucha Road.

Betancourt and Prado were traveling east on Villa Manucha, preparing to turn north onto River Road.

Information extracted from the event data recorders in the Chevrolet and the Nissan showed how the vehicles were operated during the five seconds leading up to the crash at the intersection, according to the CHP report.

Fulmer was driving 118 mph five seconds before impact, then accelerated to 121 mph 2.5 seconds prior to the crash.

Betancourt was driving 26 mph and braking, slowing down as he approached the stop sign. Hed slowed to 6 mph when he drove across the limit line.

At the same time, (Fulmers Nissan) was approximately 392 feet away and most likely not visible to Betancourt, according to the CHP report.

He continued into the southbound lane and braked a half a second before the Chevrolet was hit.

Fulmer braked 1.5 seconds before impact and turned slightly to the right but couldnt avoid the Chevrolet and broadsided it at 90 mph.

It was about 7:13 a.m. and still twilight, about five minutes before sunrise.

Betancourt died at the scene from injuries to his head, neck, torso and limbs, including laceration to his liver and spleen and fractures to his pelvis and left femur. His cause of death was listed as blunt injuries, according to the CHP report.

Prados injuries included a fractured hip, injuries to her colon and a severe concussion, family members previously told The Bee.

She and Betancourt were wearing their seat belts.

Fulmer, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered a severe concussion, a broken femur and chest and back pain, among other injuries.

A foggy morning

Theres no question it was foggy and visibility was limited at the time of the crash, but how limited it was varied among witness statements and the CHPs analysis, which used body camera video from an officer who responded to the scene.

An off-duty sheriffs sergeant told CHP investigators he was driving on Crows Landing Road and saw Fulmers vehicle just before it turned onto River Road. He estimated visibility was less than 1/4 mile, or 1,320 feet.

Fulmer in his interview with investigators said it was foggy when he started responding to the call and acknowledged it became a little bit foggier as he turned onto Crows Landing Road. He estimated visibility at 1,000 feet.

Prados cousin estimated visibility was 540 feet, based on the location of a vehicle pointed to as a reference point when interviewed by a CHP officer a few hours after the crash.

CHP investigators estimated visibility was between 350 and 425 feet. Their estimate was based on video of the scene about 19 minutes after the crash. The video was taken from an officers body camera and the video recording system on his patrol vehicle. Measurements were derived from instruments used to survey the scene.

Using crash reconstruction software, CHP investigators calculated that a safe speed for the limited visibility would have been 64 to 72 mph.

The CHP investigation concluded, Deputy Fulmer was determined to be the primary cause of this crash by driving at a speed which was unsafe due to the traffic conditions and limited visibility in the area of River Road and Villa Manucha Road.

During an interview with The Bee on Monday, District Attorney Laugero said, We arent confident that we could ever prove what those conditions were at the time of the collision.

For a defendant to be convicted of vehicular manslaughter, the prosecution must prove that the person committed a misdemeanor or infraction while driving, that their actions were dangerous to human life and that those actions were committed with regular or gross negligence.

Authorized emergency vehicles are exempt from certain vehicle code laws, like speeding, when they are being used to respond to an emergency call. But the law states that the driver is not relieved of the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor protect him from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of the privileges.

We are not trying to shift blame

Asked if 121 mph was with due regard for public safety, Laugero said the emergency vehicle exemption law does not give a standard for what constitutes a safe speed. He said the weather conditions at the time of the crash are speculative at best because the CHPs visibility analysis was done 19 minutes after the crash and was contradicted by statements from Fulmer and the off-duty sergeant, who told investigators Fulmers speed was not excessive.

Laugero said the sergeant would become a critical witness if the case went to trial.

So right there, there is a very difficult discrepancy to overcome, he said. And if there is an interpretation that benefits the defense, then the jury is instructed to go with that interpretation.

Further, the defense would point to Betancourt rolling the stop sign then stopping in the intersection in front of Fulmer.

The defense could also bring up Fulmers state of mind as hes driving to Newman and Betancourts driving history, Laugero said.

Fulmer told CHP investigators he was working and responded to Newman the night Cpl. Ronil Singh was shot to death during a traffic stop in 2018.

So what was going through my head, like oh, God, here we go again, Fulmer told the CHP investigator. So my main concern was, you know, getting there safely, I believed I was the first person that was going to be there, and to help him out.

Fatal crash update: Deputy was responding to fight between Newman officer, suspect

As for Betancourts driving record, he was unlicensed at the time of the crash and had a prior conviction for driving without a license, Laugero said.

We are not trying to shift blame, we just have to look at this realistically. What is the defense going to do with this case? he said. When you start to look at all of these factors, especially with the highest burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt  we just did not believe we could ever overcome that burden.

His office is responsible only for determining criminal liability, not civil liability or any Sheriffs Office policy violations.

The three civil cases were consolidated last month and a case management conference is set for May.

The Bee sent emails to lawyers for all the plaintiffs and the defendants.

Prados attorney, Paul Kiesel, a partner at Kiesel Law LLP in Beverly Hills, said, The conclusion not to prosecute is both shocking and baffling. He referenced the findings in the CHP report but declined to comment further.

County Counsel Tom Boze said he cannot comment on pending litigation, and the other attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.

Following his release from the hospital, Fulmer returned to work for a period of time but was later put on paid administrative leave, according to Sheriffs Department spokesman Sgt. Erich Layton.

He said he could not say when or why Fulmer was on put on leave.

The Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department policy on code-3 driving, with lights and sirens on for an emergency response, reads much like the law. Responding with emergency light(s) and siren does not relieve the deputy of the duty to continue to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, it says.

It says, Deputies shall reduce speed at all street intersections and check each lane of the intersection to make sure it is safe to proceed at any uncontrolled intersection.

There are other factors in the policy like how many deputies should respond to an emergency call, usually only two; who needs to be notified of and authorize a code-3 response; and the type of situations that warrant a code-3 response.
By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that he was happy his recent ban on the use of Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from government-issued devices meant his children could no longer access the platform.

Speaking at a joint news conference with U.S. President Joe Biden in Ottawa, Trudeau said: "Our concerns around TikTok are around security and access to information that the Chinese government could have to government phones. It's just a personal side benefit that my kids can't use TikTok anymore."

Trudeau, 51, has three children, two of whom are teenagers. His government announced its ban last month, saying the platform has an "unacceptable" risk to privacy and security.

"I am obviously concerned with their privacy and their security, which is why I'm glad that on their phones that happened to be issued by the government, they no longer access TikTok," Trudeau said. "That was a big frustration for them. 'Really this applies to us, dad?'"

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
Columbia is a great place to live, raise a family, and run a business, but we can do better. That has been my main campaign theme since I entered the race for the City of Columbia District 4 special election. For too many years Columbia has simply lagged behind other cities in South Carolina and fostered too many excuses about why we cant be as successful as other places. Columbia has come a long way for sure since I was a kid. Columbia had three restaurants, and my family went to Quincys Family Steakhouse on Friday night.

Today, Columbia is a thriving community made up of a diverse group of people. I am proud to call Columbia my home. But during this time, other communities have been on a much healthier rise toward success. Charleston, Greenville, Rock Hill, and even Lexington have seen tremendous growth while Columbia has been left to muddle through life and count on the University of South Carolina and South Carolina state government to drive growth in the Midlands.

Columbia has a lot of positives to be sure: The flagship university in the state, other local universities, state government, great hospital systems and health care. But real growth has been hard to come by.

One of the main reasons is a commercial tax system that stifles non-owner occupied commercial growth in our city. Yes, we have a lot of non-tax paying government and nonprofits in the area, but that may be the egg and not the chicken when it comes to economic development. Because of this outdated and uneven playing field on commercial property taxes, many developments that happen in other cities are simply not financially viable here. On top of the tax structure, unusual and often onerous permitting, regulation, red tape and other non-business friendly compliance from the city prevent sustainable economic growth. We can do better.

We also need to make public safety a priority. A real priority that is funded before everything else. As I have campaigned, it is loud and clear that Columbians do not feel safe. Yes, we have an institutionalized homeless situation in Columbia. Some would call it a crisis. Yes, we have many openings on the police force, and yes, we need to upgrade our equipment for fire and rescue. We can do better.

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I have campaigned on running Columbia like a business. As a business founder and owner of Colite with my brother, Marty, for the last 31 years, the most important assets of our business are our customers and our employees. I want Columbia to have the same mentality and treat you, the citizen of Columbia, as a customer, while establishing a better structure for its employees. We can do better.

And finally, I want to protect and develop your quality of life. Maybe that is a pothole or a water leak that needs to be fixed. Maybe it is a new light on your street so that your kids feel safe in their neighborhood or a safe and clean park to play in. We need to be proud of our city and quit making excuses. We can do better.

We need to work together. If elected, I will be a uniter and not a divider. I will work with Richland County and the universities to develop a better Columbia for all of us. We can do better.

We are headed in the right direction and we can thank Mayor Daniel Rickenmann for creating a better vibe, and now is the time for Columbia to prosper like never before. The choice is clear. Do you want Columbia to be run like a global business or like a local school board?

Mr. Brown is a candidate in the special election on Tuesday, March 28, for Columbia City Council.
Canton Police Department, Ohio

CANTON  A 36-year-old man who was shot several times has died from his injuries, city police said Friday afternoon.

Melvin Stevenson, of Canton, was pronounced dead at 1:01 p.m. Friday in the intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, according to the Stark County Coroner's Office.

Police arrested 29-year-old Errol Frank and his wife, Tricia Stevenson-Frank, 29, on Wednesday in connection to the shooting. Frank was charged with attempted murder, and Stevenson-Frank was charged with obstructing justice. Stevenson-Frank and the man shot, Melvin Stevenson, were previously married.

The Stark County Prosecutor's Office will amend the charges, according to a news release from the Canton Police Department.

City police were called around 3:10 p.m. Wednesday to the 800 block of Rowland Ave. NE for a shooting call and found Stevenson unresponsive and in a driveway with gunshot wounds to his head and body, according to a news release from police.

Paramedics transported the victim to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital.

This investigation is ongoing. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Canton Police Detective Bureau at 330-489-3144. Anonymous tips can also be sent through Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers.

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577, pmbennett@gannett.com or on Twitter @paigembenn.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Melvin Stevenson dies from injuries following Canton shooting
The Washington state Supreme Court has upheld the embattled capital gains tax as constitutional in a 7-2 ruling released Friday morning.

In an opinion written by Justice Debra L. Stevens and signed by the majority in Quinn v. State of Washington, she wrote that the capital gains tax is a valid excise tax under Washington law. Because capital gains is not a property tax, it is not subject to the uniformity and levy requirements of article 7, sections 1 and 2 of the Washington Constitution, she wrote.

We further hold the tax is consistent with our state constitutions privileges and immunities clause and the federal dormant commerce clause, Stevens wrote. We reverse the superior court order invalidating the capital gains tax and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Justices also declined to reconsider their decision in the 1933 case Culliton v. Chase, which overturned a graduated state income tax that had been approved by an initiative of the people. That ruling also said that income is considered property and as such is barred from taxation under the states constitution.

The two state Supreme Court Justices to dissent against the majority opinion were Charles W. Johnson and Sheryl Gordon McCloud.

In their dissent, McCloud wrote that the tax violates Article 7, Section 2 of the states constitution.

Deciding whether to retain our regressive tax structure or to replace it with a more equitable one is up to the legislature through legislation and the people through constitutional amendment, McCloud wrote.

Washington has one of the most regressive tax structures in the U.S., and the capital gains tax bill was introduced to help balance the current tax code. Democrats have said it is aimed at taxing only the richest Washingtonians. The legislation to create the capital gains tax passed the legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2021.

The tax has faced intense criticism since its introduction and passage. Washington State Republicans at the time warned that the case would eventually wind up in the courts because they believed the tax is an income tax, which is unconstitutional in Washington.

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The law imposed a 7% tax on profits over $250,000 from the sale of assets including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This means that if someone made profits of $300,000 from selling stocks, they would pay 7% in taxes on $50,000 of those profits.

The first $500 million in revenue from the tax would go into the state Education Legacy Trust Account. The remainder of that would go into the Common School Construction Account.

Farms, real estate, retirement, and many other accounts are exempt from the capital gains tax. Additionally, less than 8,200 people in Washington state would have to pay the capital gains tax, according to the Washington State Budget and Policy Center.

Gov. Jay Inslee was thrilled with Fridays ruling.

For 134 years, Washington state has been waiting for the day when a fairer tax system came about, one where working people were not carrying an inequitable share of the burden, he said in a statement. Today is that day. Washingtons capital gains tax helps right an upside-down tax structure where low-income Washingtonians ultimately expend a much larger share of their income in taxes than our wealthiest residents.

It is gratifying as governor to join so many Washingtonians in this historic victory today, one that has been elusive in the face of years of opposition from powerful interests. I want to thank the court for their timeliness in considering this case, and all the legislators and advocates who spent nearly a decade working tirelessly on this policy to make our state fairer and more equitable.

Inslees office pointed out that low-income Washingtonians pay 17% of their income in taxes, while middle class individuals pay 11% and the wealthiest pay just 3%. Washington now joins 41 other states and the District of Columbia in having capital gains taxes, Inslees office said.

In March 2022, the capital gains tax was ruled unconstitutional by a Douglas County Superior Court judge who said the tax was properly characterized as an income tax pursuant to applicable Washington case law. The case was appealed by the state.

In January, both sides presented oral arguments to the state Supreme Court. Because the Legislature adjourns April 23, counsel for the appellants requested that Justices release a decision in the case prior to that date so that lawmakers would know whether they had revenue from the capital gains tax to implement in the next two-year budget.

The decision Friday came after Senate budget writers released their budget proposals this week for the next biennium, which include proposed spending from capital gains tax revenue.

Groups such as the Washington State Labor Council, SEIU, and Washington Community Alliance all submitted amicus briefs in support of the capital gains tax.

The Washington Policy Center, the Tax Foundation and Association of Washington Businesses all signed amicus briefs against the capital gains tax.

The capital gains tax went into effect in January 2022, but payments on those taxes wont be due until April of this year.
By Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter; and Hayat Norimine, Accountability Editor

Today is the target sine die adjournment date Republican leaders set weeks ago.

But lawmakers definitely arent wrapping up this week, and have more budget work to do, Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, told the Idaho Statesman yesterday.

Hopefully we can finish up our main work on Tuesday, Winder said.

Among the outstanding budgets is Medicaid, which is on its third iteration after failing to pass the House. Winder said he doesnt know of any others in danger of rebuff.

Even after all appropriation work is done, that might not be enough for this years session.

Winder said there may be a five-day recess  unpaid for lawmakers, Winder noted  to await a potential veto from the governor. That way, the Legislature could reconvene to vote on a veto override before officially adjourning.

Idaho agency asks court to stop AG investigation

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials have petitioned a court to stop the Idaho attorney generals investigation into child care grants, sparking a rare, if not unprecedented, conflict between executive branch officials and their own attorney.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen and two other department officials, through private attorneys, on Thursday asked Ada Countys 4th Judicial District to halt investigative demands from Attorney General Raul Labradors office.

Labradors office, acting on a request from legislators, is investigating whether state law was followed in distributing the federal grants, which went to public and nonprofit child care providers over the last two years. The attorney generals office issued civil investigative demands to dozens of grant recipients, many of whom have also asked a court to intervene.

The health officials petition argued that Labrador is stretching the statute granting him authority to investigate the charitable assets, and hes created an inescapable conflict of interest by investigating his own clients in the Department of Health and Welfare, which will generate entirely unnecessary costs.

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This is not a simple matter of an overbroad request for documents, the petition said. It is a matter of government overreach.

Read the full story here.

Higher education budget clears House

The House yesterday cleared a budget for Idaho colleges and universities, after a lengthy debate over perceived social justice policies at Boise State University.

The budget, which the Senate already passed, directs $643 million, including $338 million from the states general fund and the remaining from student tuition and fees. The general fund appropriation mirrors last years higher education appropriation.

The budget overcame significant opposition from House Republicans, who advocated for cutting the budget to punish universities for diversity, equity and inclusion statements in job postings.

Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, read from one of the job postings, which said that women, people of color, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, said hes opposed multiple higher education budgets in the past for diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

Im tired of it, Crane said. No means no. Stop means stop.

The budget heads to the governor.

What to expect today

7 a.m. Senate State Affairs. The committee has a slew of controversial bills to consider after public testimony  on harmful materials in libraries, contracts with Chinese companies, immigration enforcement, and helping minors obtain out-of-state abortions.

Find the full list of committee meetings and agendas for the House here, and for the Senate here.

Opinion: Reasons governor can veto firing squad

By Scott McIntosh, Opinion Editor

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has a tough decision to make: Whether to sign or veto a bill that would make the firing squad a required method of execution if the state is unable to procure the drugs needed for lethal injection in death penalty cases.

Little has very good reasons to veto the bill.

Its expensive and his own department doesnt even want it.

This is a fiscally conservative argument that Little could use to easily justify a veto. Beyond the $750,000 cost to build a facility, the firing squad is still a question mark in the courts, which could bring more expense and delay executions even further.

Finally, its just barbaric.

Read our full editorial here on why the governor should veto it.

Track other bills

Keep track of high-profile bills as they go through the legislative process. You can find yesterdays updates here.

If you like this newsletter, forward to a friend or colleague, and they can sign up here.
Some of the dogs taken from a Bloomington home on March 17 now housed at Bloomington's animal shelter. Officials there said the dogs' owner had fed and given water to the dogs but did not have required permits to breed or to possess so many.

There's still time for a happy ending in the local hoarding case where dozens of dogs were seized from a near-westside Bloomington house, with some potentially available for adoption as early as this weekend.

About 10 a.m. March 17, animal control officers and police arrived at a residence on North Adams Street with a search warrant in hand. According to a police report, a person who bought a dog from the man living at the house reported concerns to authorities.

Ten dogs from the home had been surrendered to the city's animal shelter the previous day, but when officers entered the 700-square-foot residence, 58 additional canines  a mix of adults and puppies  were found.

These dogs were subsequently removed from what a city news release described as "a hoarding/unauthorized breeding operation."

More:Dozens of dogs confiscated from hoarding situation in Bloomington, animal shelter seeks help

While one was euthanized due to old age and multiple health issues, the others were taken to the Bloomington Animal Shelter for assessment and care.

The influx of new tenants was initially overwhelming, according to shelter director Virgil Sauder. Because the shelter easily reached capacity, about a dozen of the dogs have been temporarily boarded in the animal shelter in Brown County and the Monroe County Humane Association.

While performing intake on the dozens of dogs, the Bloomington shelter took to social media in a public call for bedding, food, cash and other needs. They also sent out a plea for people willing to foster current shelter dogs in their homes, given that this new batch of dogs now takes up the bulk of the shelter's capacity.

Previous shelter overflow:Bloomington Animal Shelter adopts out 85 animals after cry for help with overcrowding

Following that call, the community answered.

Bloomington shelter receives $10,000 in donations, still needs more help

"The response has been astounding. It's been wonderful," Sauder said.

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The shelter has so far raised about $10,000 in addition to item donations.

In the biggest display of help, 30 to 40 families applied to foster animals within about a week's time. This sharp increase is especially notable considering that an average week typically garners a single application under normal circumstances, according to Sauder.

While the support so far has been described as generous and wonderful, Sauder said the shelter still needs help. They still are requesting monetary donations to cover the dogs' medical expenses. Monetary donations are accepted at the shelter from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call 812-349-3492 with any questions.

The shelter is also accepting item donations. Bedding can be dropped off in the white bin outside the front entrance at the Bloomington Animal Shelter, at 3410 S. Walnut St.

Sauder said while many families have applied for fostering, most of the applications are still being processed. The shelter still is looking for more foster families, specifically those who have past experience and are already familiar with the process. To learn more about the dog foster program or to complete an application, visit bloomington.in.gov/animal-shelter/foster.

Some of the dogs taken from a Bloomington home on March 17 now housed at Bloomington's animal shelter. Officials there said the dogs' owner had fed and given water to the dogs but did not have required permits to breed or to possess so many.

On the prowl for a Carolina dog? Rescue one in Bloomington

The dozens of rescued dogs have been examined by veterinarians and processed into the system. While some have health issues or additional behavioral needs, the majority have been given a clean bill of health.

With pointed ears and a foxlike snout, the dogs are believed to be of the Carolina breed, which looks similar to a wolf or jackal. The breed typically reaches about 30 to 55 pounds. According to the American Kennel Club, Carolina dogs are "generally shy and suspicious in nature" of strangers. This description is echoed by Sauder, who said staff are now getting an idea of the dogs' comfort levels and socialization needs.

"They're doing well. The majority of them are settling to our routine. They're making steps forward that we'd expect, as far as getting used to staff and staff handling," Sauder said. "We've been lucky that the majority of them seem to be coming along well."

While initially shy, once the dog accepts the human into its pack, the breed has been described as friendly, loyal and affectionate.

Currently, four nursing mothers and their litters have been placed into foster homes. Once the remaining dogs are cleared by shelter staff, more will begin trickling into the foster system  and hopefully their forever homes.

"We'll be looking to place them into either fosters or even into adoption very shortly," Sauder said, with the first of them potentially happening as early as this weekend.

Reach Rachel Smith at rksmith@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington animal shelter flush with support after 68 dog influx
[Source]

The arrest of seven men involved in the online broadcast of castrations following a raid in north London back in December has brought an obscure underground subculture back into global headlines.

Among those arrested by the Metropolitan Police officers at the time was a 44-year-old nicknamed The Eunuch Maker, who was accused of conducting castrations on men.

The arrested men, who were later released on bail, were reportedly part of a subculture where men become nullos, a term derived from genital nullification  removal of penis and testicles. Castrations were reportedly conducted by the men in an apartment, livestreamed via a pay-per-view channel and promoted on Twitter.

The popularity of nullos has been attributed to Japanese artist Mao Sugiyama, who made global headlines in 2012 when he had his genitals cut off and offered as a meal to online bidders.

More from NextShark: Korean illustrator becomes first Asian to win prestigious Hans Christian Andersen award in 38 years

Five diners, who were each charged 20,000 yen (approximately $153), purportedly consumed his braised penis, testicles and scrotum at a public banquet in Suginami, Tokyo. Sugiyama, a self-described asexual, was only charged with indecent exposure since cannibalism is not a crime in Japan.

Those who identify with the subculture, estimated to be between 10,000 to 15,000, engage fellow nullos worldwide via online forums.

The procedure to become a nullo varies, with some opting to seek actual surgeons, while a majority would use amateur cutters or even mutilate themselves.

More from NextShark: Woman and child in critical condition after stabbing at Los Angeles Target

Some nullos choose to be a smoothie, which involves a procedure that results in a fully smooth groin.

While the majority who undergo such a procedure are men, there have been women who also have volunteered to have their clitoris, nipples and breasts mutilated and their vaginas sewn shut.

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A self-confessed nullo from South Florida known as Gelding shared with Gawker that they prefer the term to distinguish themselves from transgender people.

More from NextShark: Leiji Matsumoto, 'Space Battleship Yamato' mangaka and Daft Punk collaborator, dies at 85

The reason that we use that it is not transgender. It's simply nullification of what you've got. A friend of mine Mack in San Francisco likes to use the term "mascunull", because I remain as masculine as they come with fur and so forth. But I no longer have the parts.

Gelding, who was castrated in 1994, shared that he underwent psychological evaluation with a psychologist before he had his penis removed in 2011.
PARIS  Ongoing unrest across France and calls for a new round of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macrons pension plan persuaded officials to postpone a planned state visit next week by Britains King Charles III.

While a clear disappointment to the royal palace, the decision is also a bad sign for Macron. The 45-year-old leader is increasingly detested by protesters and contested in parliament, and seen as oblivious to Frances souring mood as he sticks to his positions. And thats now hurting his global image, too.

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Charles had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday to celebrate France and Britains renewed friendship. But the protests and strikes against Macrons decision to raise Frances retirement age from 62 to 64 promised to impact his visit, with some workers refusing to roll out the red carpet for the kings arrival.

Violence soared during Thursdays ninth union-organized nationwide marches. Over 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond, and hundreds of police and demonstrators were injured, as gatherings nationwide drew more than a million people.

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There were scattered protest actions on Friday. Train traffic was slowed, rows of trucks blocked access to Marseilles port for several hours and debris littered the streets of Paris.

Macron has made the proposed pension changes the priority of his second term, arguing they are needed to keep the pension system from diving into deficit as France, like many richer nations, faces lower birth rates and longer life expectancy.

Anger over the plan has increasingly turned into broader opposition to Macrons leadership. His insistence this week that the retirement measure be implemented by the end of the year prompted critics to describe him as self-satisfied and out of touch.

During his first term, Macrons government made other changes it said would make Frances labor market more flexible and revitalize the economy. Those included making it easier to hire and fire workers, cutting business taxes, and making it more difficult for the unemployed to claim benefits.

Critics argue the changes fray a social safety net seen as central to Frances way of life.

Countries across Europe have been raising pension ages. Retirement rules vary widely from country to country, making direct comparisons difficult. The official retirement age in the U.S. is now 67.

Macrons plan involves multiple adjustments to Frances complex pension system. It would also require French people to work 43 years to earn a full pension, or wait until they turn 67, as the law now calls for. Opponents have proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies.

The government refused to consider those, however, and forced the bill through parliament last week, using a constitutional power, and the text is now being reviewed by Frances Constitutional Council. The forced passage further angered Macrons critics.

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Macron condemned the violent behavior at some protests, saying violence has no place in a democracy.

He said common sense and friendship required delaying King Charles visit, adding that it likely would have become a protest target, creating a detestable situation.

It wouldnt be reasonable to hold a state visit in the middle of protests, the French leader told a news conference after a summit in Brussels. He said he took the initiative to call Charles on Friday morning, and that the visit likely would be rescheduled for the summer.

Charles and Queen Consort Camilla planned to visit both France and Germany during the kings first trip abroad as Britains monarch. He still plans to go to Germany.

Charles had been scheduled to visit the city of Bordeaux on Tuesday, coinciding with the tenth round of nationwide strikes and protests. The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorized demonstration.

Bordeaux wine industry officials expressed regret that Charles would not visit next week, but were glad the visit would still happen.

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We are of course disappointed Charles wont come now but we clearly understand why, said Cecile Ha of the Bordeaux Wine Council. We are looking forward to welcoming him at the end of summer, which is great time for the vineyards as they are very lively at this time of year before the harvests.

French authorities have blamed radicals for the protest destruction. But Europes main human rights body, the Council of Europe, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), and media watchdog Reporters Without Borders also raised concern Friday about violence by police against what has been a largely peaceful movement.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday that investigations are under way into 11 complaints of excessive violence by police this week.

He added that 1,000 trash bins were set on fire in the French capital; overflowing garbage cans have become a symbol of the protests during a weeks-long strike by sanitation workers.

Fires in Paris that were intentionally lit in narrow or inaccessible alleys on Thursday night alarmed both city officials and residents. Firefighters and residents worked to tame the flames that rose to the second story of an apartment building in the chic Palais Royal area.

Oil refineries have been another target. On Friday, emboldened protesters blockaded the Fos-sur-mer oil depot near Marseille to stop trucks from entering and leaving. However, fuel supplies to Paris from the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed after police intervened.

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Fearing disruptions in coming days, Frances Civil Aviation Authority requested the cancellation of one-third of flights at Paris second airport, Orly, on Sunday, and 20% on Monday.

Danica Kirka in London and Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report.
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If you're lucky, your next visit to Starbucks could include a big surpriseand we're not talking about a grande-to-venti upgrade. Instead, you could be served a cold brew by the CEO of Starbucks himself.

Laxman Narasimhan, the new Starbucks CEO, recently shared a letter to employees applauding them for helping him become further immersed in the "very special culture at Starbucks." In the letter, he also revealed that he plans on dedicating time each month to work a shift as a barista. The new CEO did clarify that the shift would only be a half day.

"With you, Ive experienced every aspect of the business to learn what it truly means to wear the green apron," said Narasimhan in his letter, which was obtained by CNN. "Youve welcomed me into our stores, trained me in how to be a baristaall to help me deeply understand what we do, how we do it, and the challenges and opportunities facing us. To keep us close to the culture and our customers, as well as to our challenges and opportunities, I intend to continue working in stores for a half day each month.

Amidst recent protests from Starbucks workers and court cases over labor law violations, Narasimhan announced that the coffee shop will continue to focus on improving conditions for both employees and customers. In the past year alone, Starbucks has rolled out a partnership with Delta Airlines and introduced a new line of olive oil drinks.

With our reinvention plan introduced last year, we will continue our focus on improving the store, customer, and of course, the partner experience, he said.

While Narasimhan did touch on some pretty pertinent topics, we're still dying to know what's up with raspberry syrup being discontinued?

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(iStock)

Each year, at 2am on the last Sunday in March, the clocks go forward in the UK which signals that beginning of Daylight Saving Time.

Although the day that the clocks go back in the fall is sometimes considered the good one as people get an extra hour in bed, the system of changing the clocks twice a year can be controversial.

In 2019, the European parliament voted to get rid of the change of clocks after a study found that 84 per cent of people in countries that took part in daylight saving time would like it to discontinue.

However, a YouGov poll found that majority of Britons were marginally in favour of keeping it, with 44 per cent voting to keep the current system and 39 per cent voting to scrap it.

There are also some health concerns linked to the time change, as some studies have shown it disrupts the bodys natural sleep cycles, which can affect both physical and mental health.

So what is the impact of turning back the clocks on our health?

How does changing the clock impact physical health?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the human brain has a biological clock, also known as a circadian rhythm, that runs on a 24-hour cycle.

Whether it is gaining an extra hour or losing an hour of sleep, this causes disruption to the sleep cycle and can be difficult for some people to adjust back to a normal schedule. Disturbed sleep could also potentially lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

A 2019 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital examined the impact of sleep deficiency on heart disease in mice. It found that, after 16 weeks, mice who had their sleep cycles disrupted developed larger arterial plaques compared to the mice with normal sleep patterns.

The sleep-deficient mice also had twice the level of certain white blood cells in their circulation, and lower amounts of hypocretin, a hormone that plays a key role in regulating sleep and wake states.

This appears to be the most direct demonstration yet of the molecular connections linking blood and cardiovascular risk factors to sleep health, said Dr Michael Twery, director of the National Heart, Lunch and Blood Institutes National Centre on Sleep Disorders Research in the US.

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Losing an hour of sleep during the time change in the spring has been linked to a surge in heart attacks and strokes. In the US, hospitals report a 24 per cent spike in heart attack visits every year on the Monday after the clocks go forward.

Turning the clocks back means an extra hour in bed (Getty Images)

Research has also shown an increase in car accidents when the cars go back in the colder months as drivers adapt to the time change.

According to data by Zurich Insurance, drivers are more likely to have an accident between 4pm and 7pm in November, as the evenings get darker earlier. After the clocks change, the company noted a 10 to 15 per cent increase in accident volumes during that time compared to the rest of the day.

How does changing the clock impact mental health?

When the clocks go back in the autumn, we get an extra hour of daylight in the morning  however, this only lasts a couple of weeks before the days shorten and the sunrise gets later and later.

On the shortest day of the year, 21 December, the UK enjoys less than eight hours sunlight.

The increased hours of darkness can result in low mood and depression in some people, as well as fatigue, muscle pain and weakened bones due to a lack of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

Some people also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a result of the shorter days. According to the NHS, SAD symptoms include a persistent low mood, loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability, feelings of despair or guilt, and sleeping for longer than normal.

The health service says that the lack of sunlight may stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus from working properly, which may affect the production of melatonin (a sleep hormone) and serotonin (a mood hormone), as well as the bodys circadian rhythm.
A Tarrant County grand jury has decided there is not enough evidence to charge Kameron Taylor with murder in the death of Jin Shin in August 2022, according to court records.

Murder charges against two other men, Quamon White and Keeton Sheppard, have been downgraded. White now faces a charge of assault causing bodily injury and Sheppard a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Tarrant County District Clerks Office.

Markynn West, the man police said pulled the trigger, still faces a murder charge, according to court records. West was indicted on the charge in December.

Shin, who owned Family Karaoke in Dallas, was known as an advocate for the Asian-American community and a man who had an uncanny ability to bring people together to celebrate and educate each other.

In arrest warrant affidavits, police said the four men surrounded Shin, assaulted him, blocked him from his vehicle and took his car keys, all in response to a minor traffic accident in which Shins vehicle rolled forward into the rear of another at a stoplight in Fort Worth.

In the end, police said Sheppard, White and Taylor assaulted Shin leading up to the moment in which West is accused of retrieving a gun and shooting Shin as he tried to get away.

Police said surveillance camera footage showed exactly how the scene played out.

Shin, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiners office ruled his cause of death as a gunshot wound to the torso. West was arrested in September 2022, followed by Taylor in December, White in January and Sheppard in February.
Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

The French, not known for their historic love of monarchs, have postponed the state visit of King Charles III after riots gripped the country.

The new king had been due to arrive in the French capital on Sunday, from where he was to undertake a three-day program of engagements designed to soothe relations between the two countries, which have been strained by Brexit and rows over immigration in recent years. It was to have been his first overseas state visit.

On Wednesday, in the face of violent protests at a raising of the retirement age being forced through parliament by President Emmanuel Macron, palace sources told The Daily Beast they were keeping a close eye on developments in the country.

Both sides publicly insisted the visit would go ahead, but on Friday morning, Macron said they were postponing the trip, after a nationwide day of action on Thursday saw barricaded streets, buildings set alight, refineries and ports blockaded, gas stations running out of fuel, and planes unable to take off while rubbish rotted uncollected in the streets.

Truck drivers have been staging their signature operations escargot (snail operations), where they drive at a crawl along major routes and through arterial junctions. They were joining millions of non-union and union members expressing their outrage at being required to continue working to the ripe old age of 64 before collecting a state pension. The retirement age was only increased from 60 to 62 in 2010.

Another day of action is now scheduled for Tuesday, when the king had been due to be in Bordeaux, where the town hall was partially set alight Thursday. The Elysee Palace, the French presidents official residence, said this new day of action was responsible for the decision to delay the kings visit.

Why Does Charles and Camillas Coronation Already Feel Like a Bust?

There were also increasing doubts about whether it would be possible to furnish the king with the requisite diplomatic niceties, after members of the union Mobilier National (National Furniture), who are in charge of providing flags, red carpets, and furniture for public buildings, said they would not help prepare a reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris on Sunday.

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We ask our administration to inform the services concerned that we will not provide furnishings, red carpets, or flags, a statement from the French trade union CGT read.

Plans for a lavish state dinner at Versailles, perhaps the most famous signifier of French royal excess, was also going down poorly with the public: Unbelievable! We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles... while the people in the street are demonstrating, Sandrine Rousseau, a Green MP, told French channel BFM TV, according to The Guardian.

Comparisons with the 1789 revolution are never far from French minds at times of industrial discontent, and French newspaper of record Le Monde reported that one of the chants taking hold among protesters gathered around fires in the Place de la Concorde was: Louis XVI, Louis XVI, they beheaded him; Macron, Macron, we can do it again.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A 58-year-old man from Charlotte is facing federal criminal charges after he allegedly helped prepare false tax returns that resulted in nearly $5 million of inflated tax refunds.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte, Tijan Mboob was indicted on 20 criminal charges in connection with the scheme, which lasted more than five years.

READ MORE: NC man indicted for alleged $2 billion insurance fraud scheme

Federal investigators say Mboob prepared or caused to be prepared hundreds of fraudulent tax returns that were submitted to the IRS.

Mboob is being called a ghost preparer who didnt identify himself as a tax preparer on the returns, despite charging clients for tax services.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says Mboob prepared income tax returns that included fabricated and fraudulent items, along with false claims for tax credits and false itemized deductions. In total, he reduced his clients tax liabilities and inflated their refunds by more than $4.7 million.

SEE: 10 indicted in major Union County cocaine operation

When the IRS questioned clients about some of the items on the tax returns, Mboob refused to assist the clients, according to the feds.

Mboob was arrested and released on bond. If hes found guilty, he could face up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

(WATCH: North Carolina male nurse indicted for killing patients with lethal doses of insulin)
Max Herman/Shutterstock

Kimkim's head of product asked ChatGPT to plan a Costa Rica vacation for her family of four.

"It was super easy to use," she told Insider. "On the surface it looks like a great itinerary."

A travel adviser said ChatGPT's suggestions weren't family-friendly and contained logistical errors.

When Yenyi Fu asked the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT to plan a 10-day vacation in Costa Rica for her family, she was initially blown away by the results.

"For someone who doesn't know the destination well, it seems pretty amazing," she told Insider.

Fu, head of product at kimkim, an online travel agency, is no stranger to planning trips. But after showing the chatbot's itinerary to a local travel adviser, she found it contained several logistical errors and lacked a level of personalization that a family of four typically requires.

The software suggested spending two days in five different locations throughout Costa Rica: San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Manuel Antonio National Park, and the Guanacaste Province.

While there was nothing wrong with the locations themselves, travel adviser Brittany McNamara immediately found three issues with the plan.

"It's too much for a family with young kids to go to five locations in 10 days," Fu told Insider, adding that the travel specialist recommended traveling to three destinations, tops.

Additionally, some people would advise against spending more than a day in the city of San Jose with young children, she said, particularly if you're looking for a more nature-oriented vacation.

But the largest issue McNamara found was that ending the trip in Guanacaste doesn't necessarily make logistical sense due to its distance from Manuel Antonio and the airport.

With McNamara's recommendations in mind, Fu asked ChatGPT to remove Guanacaste from the itinerary and come back with a revised schedule. In response, the chatbot suggested traveling north to Arenal, then south to Manuel Antonio and ending the trip back north in Monteverde.

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While McNamara said this was a slight improvement over the original itinerary, she noted that she typically recommends starting in Arenal, then Monteverde, and ending in Manuel Antonio in order to minimize driving time. She also said most families prefer front-loading their trips with activities and ending them on the beach to unwind.

With an itinerary finalized, Fu asked the ChatGPT to recommend some hotels for her family. The chatbot provided a list of high-end resorts that McNamara said "are not geared towards families or children." And on two occasions, ChatGPT recommended adult-only hotels.

Artificial intelligence won't replace travel specialists any time soon

The confusing suggestions are an example of "hallucinations," or when a large-language model like ChatGPT embeds realistic-sounding falsehoods into its responses. The danger there, Fu said, is that as someone who is unfamiliar with Costa Rica, she would have happily gone along with the advice and potentially not realized the chatbot's mistakes until it was too late.

But despite its pitfalls, Fu said she thoroughly enjoyed using ChatGPT and found it "super easy to use," especially when it came to asking clarifying questions.

"It is definitely amazing to look at but if you dig into it, it doesn't have the knowledge," she told Insider. "It's kind of a funny thing  it has so much knowledge based on all of the internet but because there's so many different ways to do this, it's not really able to figure out the right way to organize this trip for a family of four."

She also pointed out that the chatbot doesn't have access to real-time hotel prices or flights, and can't actually book a vacation for you the same way a travel adviser would.

"Just by itself, I don't think it's going to replace travel advisers' jobs," she said. "There's no ability to help with the logistics, which is what a travel adviser is really helpful for  not just the advice, but also the execution."

ChatGPT appears to agree. When I asked the chatbot if it believes it's better than a travel adviser at planning vacations, its response was surprisingly self-aware.

"I do not have personal experiences of traveling, so I am not able to offer first-hand recommendations or personal opinions," the chatbot wrote. "While I can be a useful tool to gather information and provide ideas for a trip, a travel adviser's expertise and personal experience may be invaluable for planning a truly customized and memorable vacation."

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi urged Europe to play a role in supporting peace talks for Russias war in Ukraine, though the US has warned Beijings proposals would effectively freeze the Kremlins territorial gains.

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China looks forward to France and other European countries to also play their due role, Wang told Emmanuel Bonne, a diplomatic advisor to the French president, in a phone call Thursday.

A cease-fire, stopping the war, resuming peace talks and a political settlement of the crisis should become the strategic consensus between China and Europe, Wang said, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The call came just after President Xi Jinping capped off a state visit to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin pledged even closer ties and hailed Beijings proposals for ending the fighting. Xi has sought to reboot his image as a global statesman, with China helping to secure a deal to improve ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and announcing its own plan for a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.

Read more: US Fears a War-Weary World May Embrace Chinas Ukraine Peace Bid

That proposal would freeze Russian troops in place on Ukrainian territory, a non-starter for Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vowed to continue fighting until they depart. Moscow has shown no sign of stopping its attacks, and continues to claim portions of eastern Ukraine and Crimea as its territory after referendums widely denounced as illegal on annexation.

The US and its allies have rejected the Chinese initiative as biased toward Russia. However, US officials worry that dismissing Chinas proposal outright could send a message that Washington isnt interested in peace.

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Many countries are playing more of a hedging game because anything that might move toward peace in Ukraine is something that everyone is willing to listen and give time to no matter which quarter it comes from, said Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

There is a risk, however, that its attractive diplomatic noise, as a cease-fire, without any meaningful movement behind it is just a freezing of the conflict in its current state.

Spains Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced he would travel next week to China to speak to Xi about the proposal to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will begin a five-day visit to China on Sunday, and French President Emmanuel Macron said he would visit in early April to push Beijing to help end Russias war in Ukraine.

(Updates with analyst comment.)

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Pedro Sanchez

China is a global player, so obviously we need to listen to its voice to see if together we can end this war and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Sanchez said at a press conference in Brussels.

Read also: Beijing is the senior partner in Russia-China relations, reports ISW

He made the statement ahead of his visit to Beijing next week.

China released its 12-point "peace plan" on Feb. 24, outlining its stance on resolving the conflict.

Read also: Putin unlikely to get desired China support, new Crimea strike, ROC asks to stay in Kyiv

The plan calls for a ceasefire and negotiations but notably omits any mention of Russia withdrawing its troops from occupied Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he appreciated China's engagement in dialogue about Ukraine, although he disagreed with certain aspects of the plan.

On March 20-22, Xi Jinping visited Moscow  for the first time in four years. He is the first leader to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for his war crimes in Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine still arranging Zelenskyy-Xi Jinping phone call, official says

On March 20, the Financial Times reported that after a visit to the Kremlin, Xi Jinping will hold a phone call with Zelenskyy. However, according to the President of Ukraine, Beijing is yet to confirm this.

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
WASHINGTON  A lawyer for Donald Trump was back in court Friday after being ordered to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the possible mishandling of classified documents at the former presidents Florida estate.

M. Evan Corcoran entered federal court in the District of Columbia early Friday morning, one week after a federal judge ruled in favor of the Justice Department in forcing Corcoran to answer additional questions before a grand jury that has been hearing testimony for months. He did not make any comments as he arrived at the building.

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The interest by prosecutors in Corcorans testimony underscores the legal peril confronting Trump, making clear the departments continued focus on whether Trump obstructed government efforts to recover hundreds of classified documents taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his term.

A search warrant affidavit released last August showed that investigators were examining potential violations of multiple crimes, including obstruction and the willful retention of national defense information.

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Corcoran is relevant to the investigation because he drafted a letter that was given to the department last June asserting that a diligent search for classified documents had been done in response to a subpoena. The letter was accompanied by the return of roughly three dozen documents with classified markings.

But prosecutors have said in court filings they developed evidence showing that additional classified documents remained at the property. The FBI returned with a search warrant on Aug. 8 and removed roughly 100 additional classified documents, the filings show.

Attorney-client privilege traditionally shields lawyers from being forced to share details of their conversations with prosecutors. Corcoran invoked that privilege during an earlier appearance before the grand jury when he declined to answer certain questions.

But prosecutors can get around that if they can convince a judge that a client was using such legal representation in furtherance of a crime  a principle known under the law as the crime-fraud exception.

The Justice Department made that argument in this case, and secured a sealed order last week from U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell that required Corcoran to appear again before the grand jury to answer additional questions.

Another Trump lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that he had voluntarily testified for about six hours or seven hours before the grand jury in December to answer questions about the Trump teams compliance with the departments efforts to reclaim the classified documents. His appearance was earlier reported by ABC News.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation is being led by a Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, who is also examining attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump faces a separate investigation by the Manhattan district attorneys office  into hush money payments during the 2016 campaign  that appears to be close to wrapping up, as well as an investigation in Atlanta into efforts to reverse Trumps election loss in Georgia.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese battery giant CATL plans to start this year the mass production and delivery of batteries based on a new materials technology, M3P, which will perform better and cost less than nickel and cobalt-based ones, its chairman said.

M3P batteries will have greater energy density and perform better than lithium-ion phosphate batteries, a market CATL dominates. They will also be cheaper than nickel and cobalt-based batteries, Zeng Yuqun told an online investor briefing on Friday.

CATL disclosed in August last year that it was working on M3P technology, which can enable an electric vehicle to run 700 km (430 miles) per charge when combined with CATL's next generation of battery-pack technology.

Zeng said CATL was finding it difficult to come up with a technologically feasible and competitive product based on solid state batteries, a competing technology that is also being researched by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp and Germany's Volkswagen.

CATL, whose clients include Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW and Ford, is the world's biggest battery maker accounting for more than a third of the sales of batteries for electric vehicles (EV) worldwide.

The company's dominance attracted attention from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who said earlier this month he was both "pleased and concerned" over its rise.

Since last year, a number of CATL's customers have complained about its market position, with some opting for alternative suppliers or choosing to develop their own batteries, Reuters has reported.

Asked on Friday how these rival batteries could affect CATL's market share, Zeng said that he expected them to have more impact on second-tier and third-tier battery-makers and that CATL would remain the primary battery supplier.

He said new energy vehicle sales in China have been recently affected by inventory clearance efforts by combustion engine car makers ahead of a change in emissions rules, but he remained confident about the overall EV sales outlook.

More than 40 brands have slashed vehicle prices in China in recent months, deepening a price war ignited by Tesla's first salvo in January.

(Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a congressional hearing on the Chinese-owned video-sharing app Thursday. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

The latest U.S.-China clash over the popular social media app TikTok is likely to worsen the already deteriorating relationship between the two countries, as Beijing and Washington tussle over software bans, technology exports and concerns about espionage and national security.

Last week, the Biden administration renewed Trump-era efforts to allay security concerns about TikTok, created by Chinese tech giant ByteDance Ltd., by demanding that the wildly popular app be sold from Chinese ownership or face a possible ban in the U.S.

On Thursday, TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew underwent a bipartisan grilling by a House committee whose members asked pointed questions about data security, alleged racial bias toward content creators and the platforms mental health effects.

The Chinese government, which is intent on turning homegrown tech companies into world champions, has said it would oppose any sale of TikTok.

Heres where the dispute stands.

How is China responding?

Hours before Chew began his testimony before the congressional committee Thursday, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting said China resolutely opposed demands from U.S. officials that TikTok be sold, adding that any change in ownership would need to comply with Chinese regulations.

A forced sale will seriously damage the confidence of investors from all over the world, including China, in investing in the U.S., Shu said.

In Chinese state and social media, commentators accused U.S. lawmakers of biased statements and questions at Chews hearing. Others dismissed the event as political theater, or accused the U.S. of trying to steal the technology that powers TikToks addictive short-video recommendations.

Last week, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the U.S. has no evidence that TikTok is a threat to national security and should stop discriminating against foreign businesses.

China has always maintained that the issue of data security should not be used as a tool for certain countries to generalize the concept of national security and abuse state power to suppress other countries companies unreasonably, Wang said.

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But some analysts question how far Beijing will go to protect TikTok. While the Chinese government has taken measures to prevent TikTok and its underlying technology from being sold without its approval, its less concerned about a U.S. ban on the app, said Angela Zhang, director of the Center for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong.

The ban on TikTok can do little harm to Chinas national core interest to become a technologically advanced country, Zhang said. TikTok will have to fight this battle on its own.

Can the U.S. force a sale or ban?

Chinas declaration that it would obstruct a sale complicates any U.S. effort to push a deal through, particularly since Beijing added export restrictions on domestic technology in 2020 that necessitate government approval.

Absent divestment, the Biden administration may be left with few choices besides pursuing an outright ban on the app. The U.S. has already barred TikTok from being downloaded and used on some government devices because of national security concerns. This month, the White House endorsed a bill that would allow President Biden to ban the social media app.

The move renewed pressure that harks back to 2020, when the Trump administration threatened to ban TikTok and WeChat, another popular Chinese app, used for social messaging and communication. ByteDance had explored a potential sale of an ownership stake in TikTok to Oracle, which was never finalized. Then-President Trumps attempts to block the app a few years ago were also challenged by federal courts.

That year, India banned more than 50 Chinese apps, including TikTok, after an escalation of border skirmishes and heightened concerns about Chinese military aggression. Governments in Britain, Canada and New Zealand have also limited TikTok on government-owned devices.

Just what is the problem with TikTok?

According to TikTok, the app has about 150 million monthly active users in the U.S. But its broad popularity has exacerbated suspicions among U.S. officials that user data collected stateside could be transferred and used for espionage in China.

Both Republican and Democratic politicians in favor of a TikTok sale or ban have cited concerns about the security of user data and whether that information could be acquired by the Chinese government. They have also taken aim at TikToks record of content moderation, potential to spread disinformation and harmful effects on youth, the apps biggest user base.

To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see and exploit [it] for future generations, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said during Thursdays hearing with TikTok CEO Chew.

Additionally, Chew, who is Singaporean, faced questions over accusations of human rights abuses in China and of spying, based on a Forbes report that ByteDance planned to use TikTok to monitor the locations of some U.S. citizens.

In China, many U.S. tech platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Google are banned as part of the countrys stringent online censorship. Instead of TikTok, Chinese users have a sister version called Douyin, which is moderated more strictly than its overseas counterpart and limits the time that young users can spend on the app.

Has TikTok addressed these concerns?

In his appearance before Congress, Chew rejected the notion that TikTok was a tool of the Chinese Communist Party or a threat to U.S. national security.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government. It is a private company, Chew said in his opening statement.

He assured the panel that TikTok would prioritize teenager safety, protect U.S. user data from unauthorized foreign access, ensure freedom of expression and provide access to independent monitors to guarantee transparency.

Chew also outlined the companys proposal to mitigate concern over Chinese government influence. He said the company has spent roughly $1.5 billion on executing the plan, called Project Texas, which involves using cloud computing company Oracle to route and store U.S. user data, providing the Austin, Texas-based firm access to some of its technology.

Under this structure, there is no way for the Chinese government to access it or compel access to it, he said.

But his five-hour-long testimony did little to assuage lawmakers qualms about the app.

David Shen of The Times Taipei bureau contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BEIJING (Reuters) -China regards New Zealand as a key partner and has confidence in stable bilateral ties, China's top diplomat Wang Yi said on Friday, just as the South Pacific nation showed signs of taking a harder stance on China's presence in the region.

China and New Zealand have always respected and trusted each other, and bilateral ties have long been at the forefront of China's relations with developed Western countries, Wang told New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry.

"China-New Zealand cooperation has great potential," Wang said.

Mahuta arrived in China on Wednesday for a four-day trip, the first by a New Zealand minister since 2019, with her trip seen paving the way for a future visit by Chris Hipkins who became prime minister in January after Jacinda Ardern resigned.

New Zealand and China's interactions have remained largely cordial, with the two sides upgrading their free trade pact last year. China remains New Zealand's largest trading partner.

But last year Ardern said New Zealand was "gravely" concerned about the possible militarisation of the Pacific after the Solomon Islands formed a security pact with China.

The Solomon Islands and China have consistently denied that their security partnership would allow a naval base. This week, the Solomon Islands said it had awarded a deal to a Chinese state company to upgrade a port in Honiara.

Ahead of her visit, Mahuta she said would advocate "for approaches and outcomes that reflect New Zealand's interests and values, including on human rights."

"I also intend to raise New Zealand's concerns about key regional and global security challenges, including the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Wang told Mahuta that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, according to the foreign ministry statement.

China has long refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow refers to its actions as a "special military operation".

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Jonathan Oatis)
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China has said that China maintains open lines of communication with all parties interested in the "Ukrainian question".

Source: Ukrinform, citing Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, during a press briefing

Quote from Ning: "China maintains communication with all parties interested in the Ukrainian question."

Details: The official said this when asked about the possibility of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She said she had "nothing to add" regarding the specifics of a possible meeting of the Chinese and Ukrainian presidents.

Background:

Mykhailo Podoliak, the advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that a conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is being planned, but there are some difficulties in organising it due to China's position.

Ukraine's Defence Intelligence believes that China will safeguard its own interests and will not provide military assistance to the Russian regime.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia, where he met President Vladimir Putin; the two leaders signed agreements extending strategic partnership between their countries.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have issued a joint statement in which they claimed that their countries' relations are not a military-political alliance, are not of a block or confrontational nature, and are not directed against third countries.

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[Source]

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied the existence of a Taiwanese president on Thursday, reiterating Beijings position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

Wang made the claim to correct a foreign reporter at a regular press briefing in Beijing. The reporter, who is affiliated with Reuters, had asked about an upcoming meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20).

Taiwanese officials have said that a potential meeting between Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still being arranged. Whats Chinas response? the reporter asked.

In response, Wang stated, I need to correct you first. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and there is no such thing as Taiwanese president.

More from NextShark: Instagram Parents Spark Outrage After 'Team Coronavirus' Joke on Asian Travelers

This is not the first time a Chinese official has downplayed Taiwanese leadership.

Last year, Zhao Lijian, another spokesperson with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, denied the existence of a Taiwanese vice president while addressing a reporters inquiry about a discussion between U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and her Taiwanese counterpart in Honduras.

There is no Taiwanese vice president since Taiwan is a province of China, Zhao said at a press briefing. China always opposes all forms of official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan.

More from NextShark: Elderly Singaporean man moved by kindness of Malaysian teen who returned his lost wallet with over $800

Beijing swears by its One China principle, which states that there is only one China, that it is governed by the Chinese Communist Party and that Taiwan is part of it.

After correcting the reporter on Thursday, Wang echoed Zhaos statement, saying China opposes official interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan:

We would like to reiterate that we strongly oppose any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan, strongly oppose any U.S. visit by the leader of the Taiwan authorities regardless of the rationale or pretext, and strongly oppose all forms of U.S. contact with the Taiwan authorities, which violates the One China principle. China has made strong demarches to the U.S. side on this matter. More from NextShark: Video of 8-year-old Chinese girl running for first time after paralysis inspires netizens

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Wang further described the reported trip as an attempt to propagate Taiwans independence. He urged the U.S. to abide by Chinas principle and to avoid supporting alternative positions such as two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan.

For its part, Taiwans Office of the President confirmed Tuesday that Tsai is scheduled to visit the U.S. on March 30 as part of a multinational trip. She will then head to Guatemala and Belize, fly back to Los Angeles on April 5 and return to Taiwan.

More from NextShark: International Notice Out for MIT Grad Fugitive Who Murdered Army Vet
[Source]

A New York man accused of mailing threatening letters in which he claimed to murder and eat his victims has been charged with weapons counts this week.

Jesse Bartlett, 45, was arraigned on Wednesday on third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession, according to the Watertown Daily Times.

The charges came as a result of a May 2022 search of Bartletts home in LaFargeville, Jefferson County, where investigators discovered five rifles, two shotguns and a high-capacity magazine.

Bartlett was arrested on May 19, 2022, for sending disturbing letters to multiple locations across the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia.

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Recipients were private businesses, houses of worship, media outlets and government offices, including the White House.

Bartlett reportedly admitted to mailing the letters, in which he claimed to have killed people and eaten their flesh. He also threatened to murder more, including an unidentified bus driver.

"Every month since November I have killed both male and females," one letter for politicians and the police read in part. It is possible that I am killing individuals whose identities are impossible to track (i.e., homeless, runaways, illegal immigrants), and destroying all evidence so efficiently."

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Most of the letters identified their sender as the Chinese Zodiac Killer, possibly referencing the notorious 1960s Zodiac Killer who also sent threatening letters but was confirmed to have murdered at least five people in Northern California.

Other letters were signed Aleister Crowley  an apparent reference to the late British occultist  which aligns with the investigators finding that Bartlett has an interest in black magic.

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Bartlett pleaded guilty in December 2022 to a charge of mailing threatening letters, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines and up to three years of supervised release.

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He is set to be sentenced for this count on Wednesday.

Prosecutors are reportedly recommending 16 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Meanwhile, Bartletts attorney seeks a sentence of time served since Bartlett is already in federal custody in Albany.

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As for his weapons charges, Bartlett was ordered held on a $10,000 bail.
Christina Applegate has admonished Candace Owens on Twitter over her criticism of an underwear advert featuring a model in a wheelchair.

In a recently-resurfaced clip from 2022, the conservative commentator took issue with Kim Kardashians SKIMS Adaptive clothing line, which offers products for those with limited mobility.

Applegate  who announced her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021  responded to the clip on Wednesday night (22 March).

Yes late tweet. But woke to see the most horrifying thing. This Candace person making comments about companies who see we need help. Its f---ing gross, the Anchorman star wrote.

I thank skims and Tommy and Guide beauty and @neowalksticks for seeing us. To you #youshouldknowbetter

In a separate tweet, she continued: Going to try and sleep but my rage is keeping me awake. Candace Owens, do you know when you have seen pictures of me how f***ing hard it was to get my clothes on? A team has to help me!!! So Im excited for accessibility clothing for me and my community.

Yes late tweet.But woke to see the most horrifying thing. This Candace person making comments about companies who see we need help. Its fucking gross. I thank skims and Tommy and Guide beauty and @neowalksticks for seeing https://t.co/lFiHFuYGY2 you #youshouldknowbetter  christina applegate (@1capplegate) March 23, 2023

She later followed up again, writing: I thought my last tweet was enough. But then my heart said something else. No rage. If Candace wants to get on the phone with me to be educated on being disabled. I will not come with anger. I will come with love. Because she needs to hear that. I pray for her tonight.sincerely.

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The Independent has contacted Owenss representatives for comment.

In the 2022 clip from her Daily Wire talk series, Owens called the SKIMS adverts ridiculous. Im just getting tired of this all-inclusivity thing, she said.

Candace Owens (left) and Christina Applegate (Getty Images)

Look, I assume that people who are in wheelchairs also have to buy bras, also have to buy underwear I didnt know that we needed to see that in our face.

The model in the campaign (Haleigh Rosa) has also spoken out about Owenss criticism, telling Forbes recently: After getting injured I remember not seeing anyone like me in campaigns. At the same time, I was relearning simple tasks like clothing myself.

It would have been so helpful to see someone in a wheelchair; Im so happy that were finally coming around. Seeing someone like you matters; representation matters.

In a similar vein to Applegate, Rosa added: If [Owens] truly wants to educate herself, she can reach out to me. Im not one for cancel culture; I believe in the power of education. Id love to have a conversation and educate Candace.

Christina Applegate attends the 2023 SAG Awards with her 12-year-old daughter Sadie Grace (Getty Images)

In a video shared Wednesday, Owens addressed the backlash over her comments.

Lets debunk the idea that Im an ableist, she said. I thought that was really, really interesting, that I somehow wanted to pursue disabled people and I somehow wanted them out of spaces. That is absolute nonsense.

Ive spent my entire life fighting the idea that, in order for me to feel like Im allowed to be Black or that Im allowed to be a woman, I need to therefore see Black women everywhere. That is the opposite of what it means to actually have confidence. I dont need to see Tyra Banks being a model. I dont need to see Tyra Banks wearing underwear.

Applegate recently attended this years SAG Awards, which she said would be her last awards show appearance due to her MS diagnosis. The actor attended the event using a cane that carried an FU MS sticker on it.
Christina Ricci has said that being a child actor was an escape from her horrendous childhood.

Talking about her experience of entering the industry so young  she first became famous for playing Wednesday Addams in 1991s The Addams Family when she was 11 years old  the actor said: When I first started, and still as an adult, this career has always been an escape for me.

She told US publication Entertainment Tonight: As a kid, it was an escape from, like, a horrendous childhood and just getting to go away  be in hotels and be on set and be with other adults and be valued.

All the little things that sort of are negative about the industry and the career, theyve always been things that Ive just been like, Well, real life is worse.

Ricci, 43, has previously alleged that she suffered child abuse from members of her family.

She told The Guardian last year: People write things like, Christina talks about the trauma of fame. Its like, no. When I am talking about childhood trauma, I am not talking about the trauma of fame. Theres been childhood stuff, child abuse in my family.

In another interview with The Sunday Times, she said that she grew up in a very chaotic home. I was the youngest child. I was adorable, and I learned very early on that my ability to be adorable could diffuse things or distract people; I dont feel the need to go into much more detail.

She did add that she had a fake favourite colour when she was growing up to avoid her real favourite possessions being taken away, saying that if you didnt care [about something] you got to keep it.

Riccis parents divorced when she was 13, and she hasnt spoken to her father since she was a teenager. She has previously described her father, who once worked as a primal scream therapist, as a difficult man.

Christina Ricci (Getty Images for DuJour)

In 2022, Ricci spoke at a luncheon for The Family Place, the largest domestic abuse support provider in Texas. I was a child in an abusive and violent household and then repeated that mistake as an adult, she said.

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In 2021, the actor accused her ex-husband, James Heerdegen, of physical abuse.

After nearly seven years of marriage, Ricci filed for divorce, stating she had been subjected to severe physical and emotional abuse by him.

In January 2021, she was granted a domestic violence restraining order against Heerdegen and later, full custody of their son.

Heerdegens attorney, Larry Bakman, told TMZ in 2021 that his client unequivocally denies all allegations of abuse made by Ms Ricci as having occurred in 2020. A judge denied Heerdegens request for a restraining order against Ricci.

Ricci is currently appearing in the second season of Yellowjackets. Read The Independents three-star review here.

If youre worried about a child, even if youre unsure, you can contact professional counsellors at the NSPCC for help, advice and support by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk or calling 0808 800 5000. For those aged 18 or under, Childline offers free, confidential advice and support whatever your concern and whenever you need help. Call 0800 1111 or Contact Childline.

If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331.
Lacey City Council reviewed city manager applications in executive session on Thursday, then Mayor Andy Ryder announced that the city manager finalists are tentatively set to visit April 10-12.

The finalists will tour the city on April 10, followed by a community reception at the Lacey Community Center on Pacific Avenue. The finalists will be interviewed all day on April 11, Ryder said, then April 12 will be reserved for any follow up activities.

I hope to negotiate a contract with our finalist within the following week, Ryder said.

The city is in need of a city manager after former longtime manager Scott Spence left to be the city manager in Astoria, Oregon. Laceys interim city manager is Rick Walk, the citys Community and Economic Development Director.

The city has been working with GMP Consultants of Snoqualmie to find candidates for the position. The advertised salary range for the job is $195,000 to $250,000 a year.

The next Lacey city manager could earn as much as $250,000 a year in salary

Lacey City Council names Rick Walk interim city manager

Lacey City Manager Scott Spence accepts job offer in Oregon
A Cook County judge Friday denied an emergency injunction filed by attorneys representing vendors at the Little Village Discount Mall to prevent the imminent lockout of about 40 vendors from the south side of the storied mall on Sunday.

The hearing took place Thursday, and Cook County Judge Caroline K. Moreland ruled against the injunction Friday.

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[ Emergency injunction filed Tuesday to prevent imminent vendor lockout at Little Village Discount Mall ]

The vendors attorneys argued that their clients should be should be considered tenants  and not week-to-week licensees, as the operators claim they are  and thus they have all the rights that a tenant would have under a lease agreement. Ramsin Canon, of Canon Law Group, said the mall operators havent claimed that vendors are defaulting on rent payments or that they have broken any rent agreement terms.

Some of these folks have been there for 30 years, 20 years, 15 years, 10 years  long periods of time. Theyve invested significant money bringing in fixtures, shelving, display cases, things to make these into legitimate shops, Canon told the Tribune on Tuesday. Theyre clearly tenants and, therefore, they should have other rights that you would have under a commercial tenancy in Illinois, and that includes the right not to be just locked out of the property for no reason.

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But Morelands written ruling said the vendors agreements with P.K. Mall Inc. did not satisfy all the legal checkpoints to be considered a lease.

Canon said the case is still not over, and he will back in court for the vendors in July to get them back to the Discount Mall.

Novak Development, the owner of the plaza, announced in February that it had reached a deal to extend the lease of only one of the malls two operators. The deal meant closing one side of the shopping center indefinitely, shuttering nearly half of the vendors who make up the Discount Mall by Sunday.

rrequena@chicagotribune.com
Watch: Claire Sweeney on empowering herself by sharing paparazzi bikini pictures

As a star of both British TV and the West End stage for 30 years, actor Claire Sweeney is used to being photographed in public.

You put your head above the parapet  everyone's fair game, she told Kate Thornton on podcast White Wine Question Time, referring to her initial experience of the paparazzi.

That's the way I was conditioned for all the 90s Oh God, they got me.

Yet, while on a beach holiday in January this year, the former star of Channel 4s Brookside decided, finally, to challenge the culture of publication of unauthorised beach shots of female celebrities.

The incident happened in Barbados, while Sweeney holidayed with friends and her eight-year-old son Jaxon.

Read more: Zoe Tapper reveals how crippling postnatal depression changed her life: It hit me like a sledgehammer

Claire Sweeney shares her son Jaxon Reilly with ex-partner Daniel Reilly. (Getty Images)

Initially, Sweeney explained, she believed she had escaped the paparazzi whod snapped her on previous visits to the Caribbean island.

I was sat with my mate on the beach were both 51, Sweeney told Thornton. And I went to her, I haven't been papped  it's great!

The illusion led the actor to lower her guard.

I can walk down the beach without being paranoid  I can go and have a swim!" she thought cheerfully at the time, glad she wouldnt be having to think I've got to pull my swimsuit out my bum!

Sweeney took the opportunity to have some relaxed fun with her son.

And I'm laughing in the sea, and the tides coming  I'm getting washed all over the place, Im like a beached whale, she joked. My son's laughing we're having an absolute ball.

She paused. And then the pictures appeared...

Sweeney had unknowingly been snapped by paparazzi in a bikini.

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Her first response, she revealed, was not wanting to leave my sun lounger. She covered [up] in a one-piece, and only returned to the sea with Jackson when she was sure they were alone.

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Yet the photography continued.

He must have been hiding in the sea with his camera, she said.

Sweeneys initial hope about the photographs was that no ones seen them.

Then, she changed her mind.

Sweeney, who starred with Patrick Swayze in the stage show of Guys And Dolls, decided instead to face my worst fear and put [the photographs] out there.

She published the images on her Instagram account.

I thought, I'm going to put myself raw, unashamed of that, and just have some sort of ownership over it, she told Thornton.

Im 51, Ive had a ball, Ive had loads of rum punch, she continued, referring to the holiday. Ive had loads of plantain and rice and peas, and this is me, and Im just going to own it.

Sweeney wrote on Instagram: Ive put these pics up to take control and own my body image. This is me having a bloody brilliant holiday! With a bit of flab and a few lumps and bumps.

Her decision to own the images of herself in swimwear, led to an outpouring of unexpected support.

I couldn't believe how positive the comments were, she said.

It included private messages from other celebrities, including an actor who confided that she had been too traumatised to return to Barbados following the same experience.

Listen to the full episode to hear Claire Sweeney talk about clubbing at 50, partying with Hollywood legends Liza Minnelli and Jane Russell, and hosting this year's Eurovision Song Contest

Sweeney told Thornton that this was the first time shed taken control in that type of area but that her confidence to say no generally is now growing in her 50s.

Taking back power is learning to say no to things, she continued, not feeling you have to conform, not feeling you have to please all the time  and I think that's just coming with age as well.

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Claire Sweeney at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills after the recording of her first album in 2002, aged 24. (Getty Images)

Like many actors, Sweeney admitted, she previously had this mindset [that] every job you do you think it's the last job you're ever gonna get.

I was always chasing and looking for the next job.

Now that has now changed.

Just in this last year, I've been saying no, she revealed. I've kind of gained a bit more of a quiet confidence in who I am, what I can do, and my abilities.

Not that this decision is stopping her star from soaring.

Kate Thornton (right) interviewed Claire Sweeney for Yahoo UK's podcast White Wine Question Time. (White Wine Question Time)

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This May, she joins the presenting and commentary line-up for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in her native Liverpool, alongside Graham Norton, Alesha Dixon, Rylan and Hannah Waddingham.

Then in September, Sweeney will appear in a new TV drama.

The actor told Thornton she now takes roles that make me happy, things that stretch me but also allow her to spend maximum time with her son Jackson, who she conceived after four miscarriages.

Other things come into play with my boy now, and he's just made me put things in perspective, she said. Slow down, stop, and just enjoy things more.
Clayton County police said an employee of the countys school district has been arrested for her part in a cover-up of sexual misconduct at a shelter for troubled teens.

Police said 35-year-old Felecia Campbell was a manager at the Rainbow House in Jonesboro. The shelter bills itself as a non-profit emergency shelter and advocacy center.

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Earlier this week, Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne reported that the shelters director, her son and another employee were arrested on child molestation charges after police said 25-year-old Caleb Randolph had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with at a 15-year-old girl at the facility.

His mother, Mia Kimber, and another employee, Monica Jones, were arrested because police said they had direct knowledge of the situation and failed to take corrective action.

Channel 2s Audrey Washington was in Clayton County Friday, where police said that they conducted numerous interviews with other employees. Police said that during Campbells interview, she said she didnt have knowledge of the sexual misconduct.

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Investigators searched her office and found files containing incident reports made by the staff members and juveniles that had her signature on them.

Campbell was arrested on Friday and charged with mandated reporter (failure to report).

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Campbell was arrested at Lovejoy High School. Police did not say how she is employed at the school.

Investigators told Washington that the unraveling of the case was like a Netflix series.

This is one of the worst cases Ive seen, St. Michelle Alston with the Clayton County police department said. It was like watching a Netflix series unroll before our eyes.

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Alston said that two more victims have been identified and more potential victims are coming forward.

Campbells attorney said police acted too hastily in arresting her.

Its a remorseful day when law enforcement does not have time to meet with citizens, the lawyer said.

Alston said police gave Campbell ample time to come in and speak with detectives.

All the minors involved are now safe and out of the Rainbow House. All four suspects have been fired.
Jitalia17 / iStock.com

Rare coin dealing can bring in a pretty penny, and its relatively easy to do. All you really need is ironclad patience and a keen eye for detail. Seasoned coin collectors are already well familiar with Wheat Pennies, a U.S. one cent coin issued from 1909 to 1958 that has an image of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse side and two stalks of wheat on the reverse side.

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But do they know exactly which variations could be worth $3,000 or even more, potentially? Lets explore.

1909-S VDB

Wheat pennies are, well not exactly a dime a dozen, but theyre pretty common. They go for about three to five cents a pop because theyre just nothing special in the world of rare coins. But the 1909-S VDB is a standout example of where things start to get quite interesting for Wheat Pennies.

In 1909, the U.S. Mint halted production of Indian Head pennies and began producing Lincoln cents. Victor David Brenner designed the new penny and put his initials V.D.B. to the reverse of the coin between the stalks of wheat. Only 484,000 coins were produced, which is what makes it so rare. You can easily spot this coin by making out the S (for San Francisco) under the date on the obverse and Brenners initials V.D.B. on the other side.

According to The Spruce Crafts, the 1909-S VDB sells from between $500 and $1,600.

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1909-S

Another example of things getting interesting for little old Wheat Pennies. The 1909-S. Heres the story with this one: After the Mints Chief Engraver Charles Barber saw Victor D. Brenners initials on the 1909-S VDB, he petitioned the Mint Director to have them removed.

His request was met, in Philadelphia, but there was only enough time remaining in the year to mint 1,825,000 coins, aka,1909-S coins. These coins arent as rare as 1909-S VDB coins, so they do not sell for as much. According to The Spruce Crafts, they go for between $70 and $370.

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1909-S Over Horizontal S

This valuable coin is the result of an error. Until 1990, mint workers used a small letter punch to apply the mint mark to the working die by hand. They could only be so precise. Dies that had mintmark mistakes on them were not scrapped but repaired, and errors were not always completely erased. Thats what happened with this coin. You can see faint remnants of the S that was punched horizontally instead of vertically.

The Spruce Crafts estimates that this coin goes from between $80 and $400.

1914-D

Sometimes you dont have to be that rare to be that exquisite. You just have to have barely made it out alive. Thats the case with the 1914-D Wheat Penny. It has a mintage of 1,193,000 coins, so, not very rare, but it has one of the lowest survival rates. Much publicity surrounded this coin, as it was launched on the 100th anniversary of Lincolns birth. Many people saved them, which took them out of circulation.

According to The Spruce Crafts, this coin has an estimated average value of between $150 and $3,000.

1917 Double Died Reverse

Heres where you can start making some serious money if your coin is in good enough shape. This coin is also the lucky result of an error in the manufacturing process when the mint craftsman made two impressions that were just slightly offset from one another. You can tell because both doubled images are raised when only one should be.

Look for deep doubling in the word trust and on the date. Using magnifying glass is recommended. According to The Spruce Crafts, this coin fetches anywhere from $160 all the way up to $7,500.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Collect Wheat Pennies? These Variations Could be Worth Up To $7,500
A Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by poisoning her protein shakes was formally charged Thursday as a family friend said she was "shocked" to learn about his double life.

Prosecutors filed a first-degree murder charge against James Toliver Craig in Arapahoe County District Court, accusing him of having laced Angela Craig's drinks with arsenic and cyanide.

Police allege in an arrest warrant that Craig, 45, a dentist in Aurora, killed his wife to work on starting a new life with another woman.

Angela and James Craig. (Facebook)

Angela Craig, a mother of six, was pronounced brain dead Saturday. She had gone to the hospital three days before complaining of a severe headache and dizziness, the third time she had been to the hospital in less than two weeks, according to the arrest warrant for her husband. That afternoon, she had a severe seizure and began to decline rapidly, according to the arrest warrant. She was eventually placed on life support and died.

She was remembered in her obituary as having an unbounded sense of humor and quick wit and as someone who used her gifts to elevate those around her, especially her children.

She was also active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, filling multiple positions, including choir director, teacher, youth organization leader and family history consultant, the obituary said.

Angs most endearing trait was showing up  to everything. Family and friends weddings, funerals, graduations, baptisms, birthday celebrations, reunions, service projects, holiday celebrations, the obituary said. She made sure to always be where she was needed, which is what she is still doing now. Ang is now and will be forever missed.

Laura Packard, a friend of the family whose husband grew up with James Craig in Kansas, said Angela was a great mom who was supportive of her children and her husband of 23 years, as well as an active member of her church and her community. She said that she had not been aware of marital problems between the couple and that the two seemed happy when we were around.

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She said she would have described Craig as intelligent and hardworking, as well as a deeply religious person who came from a good family.

We were super impressed with the things that hed done with his life and not to say that there was any question that he would do any less than that, she said.

He was raised better than this, she said.

She said her family was devastated when they learned Angela had died and then in shock and disbelief at the allegations against Craig.

The whole situation is just a shock, but to think that he had another life supposedly, that something else existed other than what we saw on the surface, thats also a shock to me, she said.

The public defender listed as representing Craig did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The state public defenders office says on its website that it is its policy and practice that attorneys and others representing people charged with criminal offenses do not comment on criminal cases.

Angela Craig had been hospitalized previously, warrant says

The police warrant, which provides details about the Craigs troubled marriage, reveals that friends and colleagues suspected that James Craig may have played a role in sickening his wife and that they shared those fears with authorities.

After having learned that Angela Craig was at the hospital on March 15, one of Craigs business partners told a nurse that he suspected she might have been poisoned, according to the warrant.

The business partner, who said he and Craig had known each other for more than 20 years and had been partners since Craig acquired his dental practice in August 2002, later told police that Craig had recently had an order of potassium cyanide shipped to their office, although there was no medical reason for such a substance at a dental practice, the warrant said.

The business partner told police that Craig had confided in him that he and Angela were having marital problems, according to the warrant.

Angelas sister told police that the marriage had always been tumultuous and that Craig had multiple affairs with several women, had been addicted to pornography and had drugged Angela about five or six years ago, according to the warrant.

The sister said Angela had told her multiple times over the years that she was going to leave her husband, but she said that James always convinced her to stay, the warrant said.

An office manager also told police that the couple were having marital problems and that Craig had recently mentioned his wife wanted a divorce, according to the warrant. The office manager also told officers that she had intercepted a package of potassium cyanide that had been delivered to the office days before Angela was hospitalized and that she was aware of her having fallen ill twice before.

Angela was first hospitalized March 6, the office manager told police, according to the warrant. James Craig made himself and his wife protein shakes before a workout that morning, she said.

The office manager said that after the workout, Angela became faint and dizzy and James Craig had to take her to the hospital, according to the warrant.

The office manager said that during Angelas first two hospitalizations, Craig had said he did not think his wife was going to make it, according to the warrant.

Potassium cyanide was shipped to James Craig's dental practice

Police said that leading up to Angelas third visit to the hospital, Craig told the office manager he was receiving a personal package that should not be opened. When the office manager found the package, which had already been opened, she noticed a biohazard sticker and a canister labeled potassium cyanide, according to the warrant. The office manager saw that the package was for Craig and sealed it and gave it to him, the warrant said.

Later, the officer manager did a Google search for potassium cyanide and noted that side effects of ingesting it matched the same symptoms Angela had been exhibiting over the last week, including nausea, vomiting, and low blood pressure, according to the warrant.

The office manager contacted another colleague with information about the potassium cyanide package after Angela went to the hospital a third time with the same symptoms, according to the warrant.

That co-worker told the business partner about the contents of the package, it said.

When the business partner confronted Craig about the package, Craig first said it contained a ring to surprise Angela, the warrant said. But he later admitted to its contents, saying that he bought potassium cyanide at Angelas request but that he did not think she would actually take it, according to the warrant. The business partner then told Craig to stop talking and get a lawyer, according to the warrant.

According to the warrant, Craig told a case worker with Child Protective Services on March 16 that Angela was suicidal and that her depression had increased after he asked for a divorce in December.

Police said that during their investigation, not one person has suggested or even seen any source of suicidal ideations from Angela.

In totality, this investigation has proven that James has gone to great lengths to try and end his wifes life, the warrant said.

In a statement Friday, Angela Craig's family said they were "heartbroken over the loss of our sweet Angie."

"She was deeply loved by both the Pray and Craig families, and this is a very difficult time for all of us. We thank God for the knowledge that we will be able to be reunited with her someday," the family said. "We are so grateful for the compassion and concern everyone has shown for Angie and would ask for your continued thoughts and prayers."

Emails detail relationship with another woman

The warrant also details a relationship between Craig and a Texas orthodontist, whom he arranged to fly to Colorado while his wife was hospitalized.

Police said they found that Craig was using a new email account with multiple orders for poison, as well as emails that were intimate in nature and contained sexually explicit conversations with the Texas dentist.

It appears James was flying this woman into Denver while his wife and the mother of his children was dying in the hospital, the warrant said.

The emails included dates for the Texas dentist to travel from Austin to Denver for a trip from March 8 to 10, according to the warrant. Angela was in the hospital from March 9 to 14. A flight itinerary for another trip, from March 16 to 20, was also among the emails, police said.

Police included in the warrant an email alleged to be from the Texas dentist, in which it appears Craig told her something had happened to Angela.

Hi honey, I am so sorry for what has transpired this week in your world, the email said, according to images included in the arrest warrant.

I do want to give you any comfort I can but I do not feel it is right for me to mix in with all of those gathering to mourn Angela either and I do not want to meet your family as a friend and try to conceal what I feel for you, the Texas dentist wrote, according to the image in the warrant. I love you.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Colorado high school student who shot and injured two school administrators after they discovered his gun during a mandatory pat down had been on probation for a weapons charge, a law enforcement source said Thursday.

Austin Lyle, 17, who shot two deans at Denver East High School on Wednesday, was arrested on a weapons charge in 2021 shortly before he was expelled from Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado, the source said.

Classmates at Overland High School flagged posts about guns on Lyles social media, prompting police to visit his parents home, the source said. His parents let the officers in and they found a rifle with a high capacity magazine and a silencer in his room. Lyle was charged with a felony but the court dropped the charge and instead put him on one-year probation for the incident, the source said.

A representative for Cherry Creek School District said Lyle was disciplined for violating board policy during the 2021-2022 school year and consequently removed from Overland High School. It is unclear if the weapons incident was the violation.

Lyle then began attending Denver East High School and was bound by a safety plan which stated that he agreed to be patted down every morning, Denver police said.

The teen opened fire on two school staffers after they discovered a gun during his Wednesday morning pat down. Lyle was found dead in a nearby county following the incident, authorities said. Park County Coroner David Kintz Jr. said the results of a preliminary autopsy indicate Lyle died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

It is unclear if Lyles previous weapons charge prompted his safety plan. Both the Denver Public School District and the Cherry Creek School District declined to provide details about Lyles safety plan, citing privacy for minors under state and federal law.

Safety plans are very common in schools and, depending on the size, schools can have hundreds of these plans for students at any time, said John McDonald, chief operating officer for the Council for School Safety Leadership, a national organization focused on helping school governance teams prepare for and react to significant school crises.

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It is a behavioral contract between the student, the parents and the school put together after a threat assessment based either on past behavior or present threat, McDonald said.

The safety plan really lays out what the expectations are for the student and it spells out what the student can and cant do and it tells the student what the school is going to do, he said.

Safety plans can include things like mandatory pat downs for drugs or other items, supervised bathroom visits or random backpack searches, McDonald said. Its up to the school to follow through with that each and every day in order to affect a good climate culture, good safety within the school and protecting all the other kids, he added.

Students at Denver East High School said they were still processing how Wednesdays shooting came to be, less than a month after another student was shot while sitting in his car outside of the school.

The main focus should be why did this student have a gun and what was making him turn to this violence, said Clara Taub, a Denver East High school sophomore and volunteer with the schools Students Demand Action organization, a national advocacy group fighting gun violence. Clearly he had a history of this. He was expelled from Overland High School and was sent to East High School, but clearly this student needed more support that he was not getting.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Authorities have arrested a Columbia-area woman in connection with the death of her child, an 8-month-old boy who was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. Three other children were placed in protective custody.

Breonte Glasgow, 31, faces a charge of homicide by child abuse, as well as other charges, according to the Richland County Sheriffs Department. Deputies arrested Glasgow Thursday at her home on Universal Drive, the department said in a Facebook post. Universal Drive is in southeastern Richland County off Garners Ferry Road.

The Richland County Coroners office told the sheriffs department that the death of the infant was suspicious after Glasgow had called 911 to report that the baby was not breathing, authorities said. The 8-month-old had suffered broken bones and other injuries, according to the sheriffs department.

Glasgow also faces two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. Two of the other children had sustained injuries, authorities said.

Efforts to locate Glasgow or an attorney who could speak for her were unsuccessful Friday.
A Columbus man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend near her five young children, after putting the gun to the oldest childs head, has made a plea deal with prosecutors.

Dexter Potts shot Tanuska Jackson in the head in her Eagles Trace apartment on Torch Hill Road, where Jacksons children, ages 4, 8, 10, 12 and 13 were home, investigators said. He fired the fatal shot after threatening to shoot the 13-year-old daughter for interrupting the couples argument, police said.

Potts attorney Mark Shellnutt made a deal with prosecutors for his client to plead guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Dexter Potts

Superior Court Judge John Martin sentenced him to 30 years in prison with 25 to serve and the rest on probation.

The victims family sobbed during the sentencing, where Tanuska Jacksons mother told Martin the children wanted their mother back.

She described their seeing other kids mothers dropping their kids off at school, and coming to her to say, I want my mama.

Its hard. Its hard, she repeated, of Potts adding, I forgive him, but my life will never be the same.... I just cant understand.

The victims brother, Ocenious Garner, confronted District Attorney Stacey Jackson outside the courtroom, demanding to know why Potts was allowed to plea to manslaughter.

Its a slap in the face to me and my family, man! he shouted, before deputies warned him to lower his voice.

I made the decision based on the evidence, the prosecutor explained. Garner did not accept that, but later apologized for the outburst.

Garner said his sister had broken up with Potts about a week before the shooting, and had told Garner she needed to get a gun to defend herself. I wish I had took heed of what she was saying, he said.

Both the DA and defense attorney said the gun went off as Potts and the victim struggled over it, the bullet passing through Potts hand before it hit her in the head. Potts afterward was heard saying, Oh no. Oh no, the prosecutor said.

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Judge Martin said he hoped people hearing what happened would see the danger of involving a firearm in an argument. If nothing else, anyone who reads about this or sees this can hopefully learn from this, because it continues to plague our community, he said.

Killer called police

After the shooting shortly after midnight on March 5, 2021, Potts called 911 and told a dispatcher hed killed his wife, officers said. Then he left the gun in the bedroom where Jacksons body lay, and met police outside, Sgt. Thomas Hill testified at Potts preliminary hearing.

The fatal shooting ended what Hill described as a troubled relationship, noting Jacksons 13-year-old daughter told police the couple fought constantly.

She said that her mother and Mr. Potts routinely argued..... She made a mention that one reason she looks forward to going to school is that it gives her a break from the arguments at the house, Hill testified.

On the night of the shooting, the teen was in an adjoining bedroom when she heard the couple fighting, and walked into the master bedroom to find Potts atop her mother on the bed, as Jackson pushed both his hands away, the girl told police.

When Potts saw the teen, he released Jackson, grabbed the girl by the throat, held her against the wall and put the gun to her head, Hill said: At that time, she said he told her to get out of the room. She said her mother called out to him, Leave her alone!

The teen ran back to her bedroom, and heard a gunshot about 30 seconds later, the detective said.

Jackson, 31, was pronounced dead in the bed at 1:30 a.m.

I killed my wife, Hill said Potts told him during an interview at police headquarters, but Potts maintained the shooting was an accident: He just repeatedly said, Yes, I killed her, but it was accident and I did not intend for the gun to go off.

Potts, then 25, was not married to Jackson, and they had no children together, authorities said.

Area victims of domestic or family violence can get help by calling the Hope Harbour shelter crisis line at 800-334-2836 or 706-324-3850.
President Biden meets with National Institutes of Health scientists Barney Graham, left, and Kizzmekia Corbett as they work on technology that contributed to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. (Chia-Chi Charlie Chang / National Institutes of Health )

You might get the impression from the Biden administration's insulin price cut and its initiative allowing Medicare to negotiate over other pharmaceuticals that the drug pricing issue is finally being taken seriously in Washington.

Sadly, no.

The evidence that nothing much has changed arrived just this week, with a notice from the Department of Health and Human Services rejecting a petition for a price cut on Xtandi, a wonder drug for prostate cancer that was developed with public funding at UCLA.

Every year of monopoly pricing is not only worth billions to Astellas and Pfizer, but more importantly imposes high costs and restricted access to a life extending treatment for many advanced prostate cancer patients.

Xtandi users' petition for government price cut

The drug is marketed in the U.S. by Pfizer and the Japanese drug company Astellas for $189,800 a year. In Canada, a year's supply costs $32,558, and in Japan it costs $31,594. Neither country contributed a dime to Xtandi's development. In no other developed country does it cost more than $57,000.

The action by HHS is its attempt to close the book on a four-year effort by prostate cancer patients and others to force the agency to utilize its rights under federal law to ensure patient access to government-funded drugs "on reasonable terms."

"It's not just disappointing," says Robert Sachs, 74, a retired telecommunications executive who filed the original petition in November 2021 and waited while government officials assured him and his fellow petitioners that their request would be "carefully considered."

"After almost a year and a half, for them to send us a two-page letter that could have been written a week after we filed our petition and just contained boilerplate is hard to understand," Sachs says. He and his fellow petitioners are appealing the rejection.

The agency's rejection is at odds with Biden's stated goal of bringing down prescription drug prices across the board, which he expressed in a July 2021 executive order. In that order, Biden observed that high U.S. drug prices are partly "the result of lack of competition among drug manufacturers." The law allows the government to provide that competition to bring prices down, but HHS won't budge.

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HHS' rejection also comes at a time when Moderna and Pfizer, the developers of the most widely used COVID vaccines, are coming under fire for planning to jack up the prices of the vaccines fivefold, to $130 per shot. That decision landed Moderna Chief Executive Stephane Bancel in the hot seat for nearly two hours during a Senate committee hearing Wednesday.

Bancel explained that Moderna's price is based on "the value of a product to the healthcare system. ... How much money can be saved" from its usage.

This is a standard price-setting method among drugmakers. In this, the pharmaceutical industry is unique: No other industry asserts that its prices should be based on the higher costs of alternatives.

As I observed in January, its impossible to overstate the moral depravity of this method. The companies are saying, in essence, that they deserve a cut of the savings in lives and money attributable to their products, and theyll decide the size of that cut for themselves  independent of considerations such as the cost of developing and manufacturing the drugs, the effect that higher prices will have on patients access, or the contributions of others, including taxpayers.

It's also a method that will fatten the profits of the companies and their shareholders to an extraordinary degree. Even at the lower average price of about $26 per shot for its COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna collected $20.6 billion in profits on $36.1 billion in sales over the last two years.

Those are essentially the only profits and sales the company has ever received, and they were entirely due to the vaccine, for which the company received more than $2.5 billion in federal grants and guarantees before testing was even completed.

Without that assistance, Moderna would almost certainly have been dead in the water and its vaccine might not exist. The profits were sufficient to fund nearly $4.2 billion in stock repurchases in 2021 and 2022, money that went directly to shareholders, including its largest individual owner, Bancel (with 7.3% of its shares).

Biden has been crowing about his action to cap insulin prices for Medicare members at $35 a month. That's a popular initiative that will bring financial relief to thousands of diabetics. But it only underscores HHS' dereliction in the Xtandi case.

Let's make a couple of points about Xtandi crystal clear.

First, the role of government funding in the drug's developing isn't in dispute and can't be minimized. Sometimes public funding makes an indirect or attenuated contribution to a drug's invention, say through public funding of basic scientific research.

That's not the case here. The government's contribution, through direct funding provided to UCLA researchers by the National Institutes of Health and the Defense Department, is cited on each of the three patents covering Xtandi.

Each patent states forthrightly that the government has certain rights in the invention." UCLA sold its rights in 2016 for $520 million.

Xtandi's pricing testifies to the lobbying power of Big Pharma. Last year, Pfizer spent $14.8 million on government lobbying; PhRMA, the drug industry lobbying arm, $29.2 million; and Astellas Pharma, $2.4 million.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $82 million on lobbying last year; as Matthew Cunningham-Cook and David Sirota of the Lever point out, Pfizer's chief federal lobbyist, Jennifer Walton, is on the chamber's board of directors.

The legal grounds for the Xtandi users' petition stems from the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which governs the exploitation of inventions developed with federal funding. Bayh-Dole allows private companies to commercialize inventions that grew out of federally funded research, but it reserves certain rights for the government to protect the taxpayers investments.

Chief among them are march-in rights, which allow the government to order rights holders to license a federally funded invention to other manufacturers.

The law allows the government to offer a license itself to alternative drugmakers to ensure that the drug is widely accessible if it concludes that a manufacturer hasnt taken sufficient steps to make a product publicly available or hasnt brought it out on reasonable terms.

Pfizer, PhRMA, Astellas and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have all listed Bayh-Dole march-in rights as a top lobbying concern.

The government has never exercised its march-in rights. Xtandi was an ideal test case, because of the government's indisputable role in its development, and because its U.S. price plainly narrows patients' access to the drug.

Deductibles and co-pays can bring the out-of-pocket cost of Xtandi even for Medicare enrollees to nearly $10,000 a year. For many people who are contending with prostate cancer, thats real hardship, Sachs told me.

HHS outsourced its analysis of the petitions to the NIH, which observed in its response that since more than 200,000 prostate cancer patients had been treated with the drug from 2012 to 2021, Xtandi was "widely available" and therefore the march-in option didn't apply. The NIH didn't estimate how many patients might have been treated if the price were lower, however.

Nor did the NIH acknowledge the burden on taxpayers. Medicare spent more than $7.8 billion on Xtandi from its introduction in 2012 through 2020. In some years, the drug has been among the top 10 costliest drugs for Medicare.

The NIH also asserted that because the patent expiration on Xtandi is so near, opening the door to generics manufacturers, there is no point in undertaking a full-scale analysis of the march-in option.

The petitioners dispute that. The patents expire in 2027. "Every year of monopoly pricing is not only worth billions to Astellas and Pfizer," they write in their appeal, "but more importantly imposes high costs and restricted access to a life-extending treatment for many advanced prostate cancer patients."

The NIH analysis "effectively declares that drug prices are irrelevant, and more specifically, that price discrimination against U.S. cancer patients is irrelevant," the petitioners say in their appeal. They're asking that HHS deal directly with their case instead of fobbing it off to the NIH, which would bring it under the purview of HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Becerra and Biden have talked incessantly about how high drug prices impose a unique burden on American patients and taxpayers, compared with consumers in every other developed country. They're right, and Xtandi is a perfect example. They should stop talking, and start acting.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Stanford University was the epicenter of backlash against the technology industry over its role in the Vietnam War. (David Madison / Getty Images)

Its become a common refrain among a certain set of Silicon Valley elite: Theyve been treated so unfairly . Case in point: Even after their bank of choice collapsed spectacularly  in no small part of their own doing  and the federal government moved with dispatch to guarantee all its deposits, tech execs and investors nonetheless spent the subsequent days loudly playing the victim.

The prominent venture capitalist David Sacks, who had lobbied particularly hard for government intervention, bemoaned a hateful media that will make me be whatever they need me to be in order to keep their attack machine going. Michael Solana, a vice president at Peter Thiels Founders Fund, wrote on his blog that tech is now universally hated, warned of an incoming political war, and claimed a lot of people ... genuinely seem to want a good old fashioned mass murder, presumably of tech execs.

It was a particularly galling display, a new high for a trend thats been on the rise for some time. Amid congressional hearings and dipping stock valuations, the tech elite have bemoaned the so-called techlash against their industry by those who worry its grown too large and unaccountable. Waving away legitimate questions about the industry's labor inequities, climate impacts and civil rights abuses, they claim that the press is biased against them and that theyre besieged on all sides by "woke" critics .

If only they realized just how good they have it, historically speaking.

It was mere decades ago, after all, that the Silicon Valley elite faced the active threat of actual, non-metaphorical violence. The most adamant critics of Big Tech of the 1970s didnt write strongly worded columns chastising them in newspapers or blast their politics on social media  they physically occupied their computer labs, destroyed their capital equipment, and even bombed their homes.

Techlash is what Silicon Valley's ownership class calls it when people don't buy their stock, author Malcolm Harris tells me. Today's tech billionaires are lucky people are making fun of them on the internet instead of firebombing their houses  that's what happened to Bill Hewlett back in the day.

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"How to Destroy an Empire." A manifesto and map drawn by student radicals to promote their occupation of the Stanford Research Institute. (The April Third Movement historical archive)

A 1987 article in this newspaper makes his point. When William Hewlett retired from the company he founded, Hewlett-Packard, or HP, as its known today, The Times dedicated a full paragraph to the various threats of violence that the billionaire faced in the 1970s :

In 1971, radical animosities directed at the upscale Palo Alto community and Stanford University campus brought terror into the Hewletts lives: The modest Hewlett family home was fire-bombed. In 1976, son James, then 28, fought off would-be kidnapers. The same year, a radical group called the Red Guerrilla Family claimed responsibility when a bomb exploded in an HP building.

"How to Destroy an Empire." A map drawn by student radicals to promote their occupation of the Stanford Research Institute. (The April Third Movement historical archive)

Harris is the author of "Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World," the book that is currently the talk of the town  it just hit the L.A. Times bestseller list  though not for the reasons that the valley's elites might prefer. Its a robust, sprawling history thats intensely critical of the Great Men of tech history, and even more so of the systems they served. Its been received enthusiastically , as an overdue corrective to the industrys potent penchant for self-mythology.

And some of the most potent mythologies, of course, rely on omission. Take, for instance, the popular narrative that whiz kids such as Hewlett and Steve Jobs started the computer revolutions from their garages in Palo Alto, where their starkest opposition came in the form of square old corporations such as IBM and Xerox  and not actual, bomb-throwing revolutionaries.

Harris work reminds us that this was far from the case. There was a movement far more organized, far more militant, and far more sharply opposed to the Big Tech companies of the day than anything weve seen in the last 10 years.

When we think of the 1960s in California, we think of disparate, panoramic happenings in an explosive decade; the war in Vietnam, the rise of the computer, the student protest movement, and so on. But Harris argues that the computer revolution didnt simply coexist with the war  it fueled it.

These developments werent just connected, Harris writes, they were the same thing.

Intel and Hewlett-Packard revolutionized microchips, alright, but they sold them to the U.S. military , which used them to guide the weapons of war it was deploying in Southeast Asia. To the students, activists and organizers of the so-called New Left, Silicon Valley was hard-wiring the war effort. It was an instrument of oppression, and it had blood on its hands.

David Packard, left, and William R. Hewlett pose in front of the Palo Alto garage where the two founded their computer company, Hewlett-Packard. (Associated Press)

All this set the stage for a revolt against Silicon Valleys core operators. Palo Alto radicals singled out Stanfords industrial community and its role in the Vietnam War specifically and capitalist imperialism generally," Harris writes. "And once they got their collective finger pointed in the right place, they attacked.

Thats not a figure of speech either. They really, quite physically, attacked the people and infrastructure of Silicon Valley that were connected to the war effort.

The New Left tried to blow up more or less every computer they could get their hands on, Harris says. And since both were likely to be found on college campuses, they got their hands on a bunch of them. (At the time, remember, there was no PC  computers were still room-sized machines.)

The reasoning was simple: These computers were making the war possible, both by providing the physical hardware for missile targeting systems and such, and by processing data used to plan combat missions. The war caused untold suffering and death; dismantle the war machine, hamper the war effort. So thats exactly what members of Stanfords leftist organizers, affiliated with groups such as Students for a Democratic Society, or SDS, tried to do.

First, they attempted peaceful tactics, such as a pressure campaign to halt the manufacture of napalm. It didnt work. So, taking their cues from the Black Panther Party, which was at the time perhaps the most powerful and influential radical left group in the nation, Stanford students  and even faculty  adopted direct and militant tactics. They published maps of the high-profile tech companies and research offices in Palo Alto that had won defense contracts or were otherwise involved in the war effort.

After the U.S. military bombed Cambodia, the student left escalated its tactics by targeting the very data processing infrastructure that was aiding the war effort.

They occupied the Applied Electronics Laboratory in Stanford. The AEL was an on-campus lab that was carrying out classified research for the war effort for the Pentagon, and students moved to shut it down. The occupation ended with a major concession: that classified military research no longer would be conducted on campus, and that its resources would be used instead for community purposes.

The victory helped inspire copycat actions across the country  and even more militant ones. Students and activists bombed or destroyed with acid computer labs at Boston University, Loyola University, Fresno State, the University of Kansas and the University of Wisconsin, among others, causing millions of dollars in damage. The explosion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison killed Robert Fassnacht, a postdoctoral researcher who, unbeknownst to the saboteurs, had been working late at night. IBM offices in San Jose and New York were bombed too.

With momentum at their backs, Stanford radicals decided to up the stakes and to occupy an even larger target: the Stanford Research Institute, or SRI, an off-campus research center that was overseen by the universitys board of trustees and that had won enormous military contracts.

Stanford is the nerve center of this complex, which now does over 10% of the Pentagon's research and development, activists wrote in a flier promoting the action. It lambasted the socialized profits for the rich generated by the SRI, and how it was used to produce weapons to put down insurgents at home and in the Third World.

This flier had a map too, with the pertinent Big Tech buildings circled; Hewlett-Packard, Varian, SRI. It was labeled How to Destroy an Empire.

It was a militant movement, and it was effective. It deterred investment in the war effort, made universities rethink their involvement with the Department of Defense, and contributed to the eventual withdrawal and policy reforms won by the broader antiwar movement.

So why dont we remember it much? Why do we remember the summer of love and communitarian counterculture and the Whole Earth Catalog  but not a violent struggle over the deployment of technology and those who profited from it?

Or as Harris puts it: Why are we more likely to hear about the Yippies trying to levitate the Pentagon than SDS successfully bombing the Pentagon?

One reason is pretty simple: Its a feel-bad story that complicates the narrative that has grown increasingly central to how we understand the history of how our technology was invented and produced.

In Silicon Valley in particular, the clear anti-tech strategy of the anti-war movement is inconvenient for the predominant hippies invented the Internet narrative, Harris says, so many of the region's historians have shunted that part aside.

But the fear remains. Even if theres been nothing resembling organized threats on their well-being  guillotine memes on Twitter dont count  todays tech elites can certainly feel the resentment brewing.

Maybe that's why they're so sensitive to the suggestion that the government rescue of SVB was a venture capitalist bailout   that it was more special treatment for a constituency that drives Model Xs to their Tahoe ski chalets, that wants to reap the rewards of investing in world-changing technologies while bearing so little of the actual risk. Much of todays most visible tech set knows that lots of people dont like the inequality they represent, the preferential treatment they seem to enjoy, and the forces their companies and investments have set in motion.

They surely see Amazon workers and Uber drivers becoming increasingly agitated and organized , and openly pushing for change against gross inequalities. They see movements for gender equality and climate justice at Google and Microsoft.

They see the outrage over the fact that, like its forebears in Hewlett-Packard and earlier Silicon Valley companies, the newest iteration of Big Tech has become a major defense contractor too  Google, Amazon and Microsoft have vied to provide cloud, artificial intelligence and robotics to the military  and they see movements opposing it, as in the #TechWontBuildIt effort, where tech workers campaigned to reject such projects. (And hey, HP is still a defense contractor .) They see backlash against social media companies giving authoritarian regimes the tools to commit atrocities. If they knew to look, todays tech elites might see a lot of the same kindling that was laid on the ground in the combustible '60s.

They think about this stuff constantly, but it's in the build-a-killer-robot-army way, not the Patagonia way, Harris says, referring to the former Patagonia billionaire Yvon Chouinard, who gave away his entire company as a means of combating the ills of extreme wealth.

In other words, theyd rather keep up the flame wars on social media and build survival bunkers in Montana than address the social ills their critics charge them with exacerbating.

I think they are very, very worried, Harris says. If history is any precedent  perhaps they should be.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Medical technologist II, Mitan Shah, looks over a cultural plate as he performs a testing process in the microbiology/virology lab for Candida auris, March 24, 2023, at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The popularity of HBOs video game adaptation The Last of Us, set in a post-apocalyptic United States ravaged by a pandemic caused by a parasitic fungus, has evoked fears for some of a similar mass infection on the heels of COVID-19.

Now, the spread of a deadly fungus known as Candida auris across the United States has only intensified the publics uneasiness. But health experts and doctors say that the multidrug-resistant yeast  a type of fungus  does not normally affect healthy people.

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We do need to be vigilant and, because we still are at a point of where things arent totally out of hand, then maybe we can curb this before it gets too crazy, said Sharon Welbel, director of hospital epidemiology and infection control for Cook County Health. But the bottom line is, people dont need to panic.

The fungus can be serious in people who are immunocompromised, on ventilators or really ill in hospitals, Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said in an unrelated Facebook Q&A on Tuesday. Given that it can live on surfaces for several weeks, C. auris is spread primarily in health care settings and nursing homes through contact with affected patients and contaminated surfaces or equipment.

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Though the first case of C. auris occurred in the United States in 2013, the fungus was first identified as a significant public health threat in 2016, particularly in New York and Illinois. According to a C. auris tracker on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Illinois had 276 clinical cases between January and December 2022 out of the 2,377 clinical cases reported across the United States in that same period. Illinois had the fifth most cases, behind Nevada, California, Florida and New York.

As of Thursday, there have been 37 cases of C. auris reported in the state this year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Symptoms related to a C. auris infection include fever and chills that dont improve after antibiotic treatment for a suspected bacterial infection, according to the CDC.

Candida in general, including Candida auris, can cause bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and skin and skin structure infections, Welbel said.

The CDC says that 30% to 60% of patients infected with C. auris die, though this is based on information collected from a limited number of people.

A study published Tuesday by the Annals of Internal Medicine and conducted by CDC researchers determined that C. auris spread particularly fast across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, 1,471 clinical cases were reported, a significant increase from 476 cases in 2019.

If you think about the pandemic, a lot of people got sick and then went to the hospital, said Daniel Raudabaugh, a senior research scientist at Purdue Universitys Aime Lab. So it kind of makes sense that you see a higher outbreak (of C. auris) because theres more people that go to the hospitals and its more likely that people are getting infected.

Arwady also referred to the first months of the pandemic, when a broken supply chain caused a stark decrease in the availability of disposable masks, gloves and gowns for health care workers, creating the need to reuse much of this equipment.

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During COVID, where there was a lot of stress on the health care system, there may have been some more reuse of personal protective equipment early on when those supply chains were disrupted, she said. Not surprisingly, the spread of these organisms  that can be very hard to treat or are drug-resistant or can spread in health care  weve seen some more of that.

Medical technologist II, Mitan Shah, performs a testing process in the microbiology/virology lab for Candida auris, March 24, 2023, at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Medical technologist II, Mitan Shah uses a florescent microscope to examine a slide with a sample as he tests for Candida Auris, March 24, 2023, at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Changes in cleaning and disinfection practices during the pandemic may also have contributed to the spread of C. auris in health care settings. Additionally, COVID-19 affects the immune system and treatments, such as steroids, can weaken the bodys defenses against fungi, which likely has significantly increased the risk for fungal infections, according to the CDC.

Arwady said that, before working at the CDPH, she was assigned by the CDC to the Illinois Department of Public Health. During her time there, she joined the yearslong fight against C. auris alongside local health departments, long-term care facilities and academic researchers.

In Illinois, where we had it early, even during COVID, weve had very good success in containing it, she said. The good news is that while theres been a lot of focus on Candida auris  and there should be, its a real concern  we are known here in Chicago and Illinois as being one of the places that detected it early, has put a lot of resources into controlling it and, even during COVID, have managed to keep it under reasonably good control.

Welbel said knowledge about the fungus has been disseminated well in Illinois, which has allowed health care facilities to screen for C. auris and take measures  such as isolation precautions and cleaning protocols  so it doesnt transmit between patients.

Some ways to prevent these infections include good hand-washing habits and sanitizing procedures in health care facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency, Welbel said, has released List P, which enumerates approved disinfectant products for C. auris.

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The biggest concern is the resistance to treatment, Welbel said.

According to the CDC, some C. auris infections have been resistant to all three types of antifungal medicines. One reason why its particularly difficult to find effective antifungal treatments, researchers say, lies within the genetic similarities between fungi and animals  including humans.

Fungi are more closely related to us than plants, said Raudabaugh, the researcher from Purdue. So, it just limits our ability to find differences that we can target to kill (fungi) and not hurt us.

But there is a silver lining. Treatments can target those characteristics that are different between fungi and humans, Welbel said. Actual fungi have got different properties to it that we can use antifungal agents to attack and that arent similar to human cells, she said. So (antifungal treatments) can attack the cell walls and inhibit certain processes that (fungi) need to live.

Raudabaugh also pointed out that high body temperatures often protect humans from fungal infections. But many people believe warming global temperatures are increasing fungal resistance to hotter conditions, thus making people more vulnerable.

So, realistically, we just need to put more resources into trying to find new antifungals, he said.

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Chicago Tribunes Lisa Schencker contributed.

adperez@chicagotribune.com
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has showed how the troops destroyed the Saratov, the Russian ship in the port of the Ukrainian city of Berdiansk a year ago. The occupiers, in their turn, confirmed the loss of the vessel only recently.

Source: Zaluzhnyi on Telegram; ForPost with reference to the statement of Felix Menkov, occupying "commander" of the Naval Base of Crimea, at the opening of commemorative plaque dedicated to sailors; CrimeaRealii

Quote: "A year ago, on 24 March 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a missile attack on the Russian base in the port of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk.

Big landing ships  Orsk, Caesar Kunikov, Novocherkask  were damaged, and the Saratov vessel was destroyed.

The myth about the invincibility of the Russian fleet was dispelled with precise attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This has once again proven an undeniable fact: the enemy will know no peace on the Ukrainian land, neither on land nor on sea."

 ,           pic.twitter.com/CQbyUtknSL     (@ukrpravda_news) March 24, 2023

Details: Meanwhile, the occupiers confirmed the loss of the ship during combat action only on the anniversary of the destruction of the ship near the city of Sevastopol, which is the HQ of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

At the opening of the commemorative plaque dedicated to the fallen sailors of landing ships, Russia-appointed Crimea Naval Base Commander Felix Menkov claimed that the vessel was "lost in the course of combat action": "A year ago, during combat action we lost a landing ship, the combat landing ship Saratov. We also lost the crews of the ships Saratov, Novocherkask, Caesar Kunikov".

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The CrimeaRealii media outlet stressed that this is the first official confirmation of the loss of a ship during combat action. Earlier, the Russian military denied the losses when these landing ships were struck with Ukrainian missiles.

Background:



On 24 March 2022, in the Russian-occupied port of Berdiansk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a large landing ship Saratov of the occupiers' Black Sea Fleet. The fire spread to other ships, fuel and ammunition.

The commanders of the two damaged landing ships in Berdiansk turned out to be traitors to Ukraine who defected to Russia in 2014.

The American company Maxar Technologies showed satellite images of the destroyed large landing ship Saratov.

Russian occupiers brought up the sunk landing ship and sent it to the occupied Crimea for maintenance.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Last week, Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Jason Glass released a statement in opposition to Senate Bill 150, a piece of legislation the General Assembly passed through both chambers by wide margins.

He claimed that we are anti-LGBTQ and are passing legislation as such. My rebuttal to that accusation is we are pro-child and pro-family. As a senate body, we passed legislation protecting children under 18, whose brains are not fully formed, keeping them from making permanent changes of which they may not fully understand the repercussions.

Commissioner Glass accused the General Assembly of not focusing on teacher and staff shortages. In the 2023 session alone we moved forward on legislation such as:

 SB 3 establishes an Educators Employment Liability Insurance Program to provide teachers with coverage of a minimum of $1 million of excess liability.

 SB 49 seeks to alleviate teacher workforce challenges by extending the length of a provisional teacher certificate.

 SB 138 establishes guidelines helping the Education and Professional Standards Board to improve the certification of substitute teachers, which addresses workforce issues.

 HB 538 establishes stricter discipline flexibility for our most dangerous students, thereby strengthening teachers safety.

 HB 319 clears the way for Kentucky to participate in the Interstate Teachers Mobility Compact, and would allow someone with the minimum of a bachelors degree and four years of experience in their field to teach that subject under the supervision of a certified teacher.

Glass said we needed to focus on academic recovery from the COVID pandemic shutdowns, when he and his governor are directly responsible for closing schools, thus the academic loss that resulted. At a committee meeting over the summer, the commissioner told teachers that if they did not want to adhere to the KDEs guidance on gender pronoun usage, they could find a new job. He has directly contributed to an environment hostile to teacher retention, which SB 150 tries to alleviate.

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He continues to beat the drum on providing more funding to the Kentucky education system, when during the 2022 budget session, we allocated a record $5.1 billion in funding. In 2023, we allocated $5.4 billion, a $300 million increase. K-12 education comprises 38 percent of our state budget.

Commissioner Glass, the General Assembly is perfectly capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. We have funded schools, we have addressed the teacher shortages, we have passed legislation such as 2022s SB 9 and 2023s SB 156 to bolster literacy due to learning loss caused by your administrations school lockdowns in 2020-21, and we are protecting children from a variety of issues that stem from societal over-sexualization, which is seeping into our schools.

When one thinks about what school is supposed to be, it is where our youth should go to learn the academic subjects: reading, writing, science, history and arithmetic. School was not meant to be a place where children go to learn about sex or sexual practices; these topics should be taught within the home where a family value system is the foundation of those conversations. But, as we have seen in recent years, many topics meant to be taught within the home have been pushed into the public sphere of the education system.

The legislation passed during this 2023 session was aimed at addressing the many concerns of a majority of parents across the commonwealth when it comes to the (non-science related) obscene sexual nature of books in school libraries, gender neutral restrooms in schools, gender dysphoria being normalized and pushed on children, and lastly, obscene sexual education curricula being taught at developmentally inappropriate ages across the K-12 spectrum.

In his first action, Governor Beshear dismantled the Kentucky Board of Education, placing all Democrats on it which led to a vacancy in the commissioners office and paved the way for a new education chiefhe praised Glass vision for improving Kentuckys public schools. On all academic metrics, Commissioner Glass has failed.

Senator Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, represents the 32nd Senate District, including Logan, Simpson, and Todd Counties and southern Warren County. He serves as the Senate majority whip and, as a Senate majority leadership member, serves on the Legislative Research Commission, the Committee on Committees, and the Rules Committee.
Map of Comoros

After more than 20 coups or attempted coups since independence from France in the 1970s, the archipelago of islands that make up Comoros are trying to consolidate political stability and use their tourism potential to climb out of poverty.

There are four major islands in the archipelago, however Mayotte voted against independence in 1974 and is still governed by France.

The descendants of Arab traders, Malay immigrants and African peoples contribute to the islands' complex ethnic mix.

Natural resources are in short supply and the chief exports - vanilla, cloves and perfume essence - are prone to price fluctuations. Remittances by Comorans living abroad are an important source of income.

UNION OF THE COMOROS: FACTS

Capital: Moroni

Area: 1,861 sq km

Population: 850,800

Languages: Comorian, French, Arabic

Life expectancy: 62 years (men) 67 years (women)

LEADER

President: Azali Assoumani

President-elect Azali Assoumani

Former coup leader Azali Assoumani was re-elected president in the April 2019 presidential elections. He had won the previous 2016 presidential election after violence and vote irregularities forced a partial re-run of the poll.

Mr Assoumani first came to power in 1999 by ousting Tadjiddine Ben Said Massonde in a coup. His troops justified the coup on the basis of protecting territorial integrity after Massounde had begun negotiations with representatives of the island of Anjouan for greater autonomy or independence.

He then won an election in 2002, stepping down in 2006 at the end of his term to hand over power to Ahmed Abdallah Sambi.

MEDIA

Rare Ylang-Ylang flowers are grown on the sides of the Karthala volcano for their oil which is used as a base for perfume

The Comoros authorities have a tight hold on the media in the country. Journalists risk arrest and detention, and newspapers have been suspended and radio stations put off the air over reports deemed offensive to the government.

Radio is the dominant medium. The national state-run network competes with regional services and private stations. There are also private newspaper papers. Most publish weekly; a feeble advertising market, poverty and poor distribution inhibit circulation.

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TIMELINE

Captain Ayouba Combo, left, and French mercenary Bob Denard mounted a coup in 1995 but were thwarted by French forces

Some key dates in the history of the Comoros:

8th Century - Islands are first settled

8th-11th Centuries - Islam spreads among the islands as The Comoros become increasingly important in East African trade routes, and are frequently visited by Persian and Arab merchants.

1503 - Portuguese explorers arrive, and the Comoros then become a provisioning point for ships travelling to the Portuguese fort at Mozambique.

1841 - French first establish colonial rule in the Comoros by taking possession of Mayotte.

1908 - Islands are unified under a single administration and placed under the authority of the French colonial Governor-General of Madagascar.

1912 - Islands became a province of the colony of Madagascar.

1974 - Three of the four main islands making up the Comoros vote for independence, but Mayotte votes to stay with France.

1975 - Comoros declares its independence with Ahmed Abdallah as president. He is quickly deposed in the first of several coups.

1978 - President Ahmed Abdallah is reinstated in a French-backed coup led by French mercenary Bob Denard.

Abdallah's regime is marked by authoritarian rule and an increased adherence to traditional Islam; the country is renamed the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros.

Denard sets up a mercenary force based in the Comoros which France and apartheid South Africa can use to intervene militarily on the continent.

1989 - Abdallah is assassinated and Denard is evacuated by French forces.

1995 - Denard attempts another coup without support from Paris, this time he is forced to surrender by French forces.

1997 - The islands of Anjouan and Moheli declare independence. The conflict lasts until 2001, when voters agree a new constitution.

2002 - Country becomes the Union of the Comoros, becoming a more decentralised state with much power transferred to its three main islands.

2007-2008 - Anjouan separatist rebellion is defeated with African Union troops.
By Stanis Bujakera and Sonia Rolley

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi has appointed the country's former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was detained for over 10 years for war crimes, as the country's defence minister in a sweeping government reshuffle.

His appointment was part of an overhaul of the 57 members of government, which the president's spokesperson said was "urgent and necessary", in an announcement on Congo's national television late on Thursday. No further details were given.

The reshuffle, which was more extensive than observers had predicted, came ahead of an expected presidential election on Dec. 20, in which Tshisekedi is likely to seek a second term.

"This a deeply political shuffle," said Jason Stearns, Director of the Congo Research Group and Professor at Canada's Simon Fraser University.

Tshisekedi appointed Vital Kamerhe, his former chief of staff who was released from prison in Dec. 2021 following as embezzlement conviction, as economy minister.

Nicolas Kazadi was maintained as finance minister.

The appointments bring political heavyweights into the government, strengthening Tshisekedi's coalition ahead of elections, Stearns said.

"Key positions are given to senior politicians who have large constituencies to please but little expertise in their new ministries. Kamerhe is not an economist. Bemba was a rebel but has little formal military training," he said.

Bemba, a former rebel leader was arrested in 2008 by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his troops in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003.

He was acquitted and released 10 years later after his conviction was reversed on appeal. He was however accused and convicted on lesser charges of witness tampering during the trial.

Kamerhe, an influential Congolese power broker, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2020 for embezzling nearly $50 million from a presidential economic programme. He denied the charges.

His sentence was reduced to 13 years on appeal the following year, however in June 2022, a higher court overturned the judgment.

(Reporting by Stanis Bujakera and Sonia Rolley; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Sonali Paul)
TikTok, one of the most popular social media apps in the United States, is under severe scrutiny from the U.S. government and faces a potential ban but how likely is it?

The debate over the app rose to a new level on Thursday when TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made a rare public appearance as he testified in front of Congress with legislators grilling him and accusing the app of being under the control of the Chinese government and fearing the social media platform could compromise Americans private data.

The post Congress Grills TikTok CEO As App Ban Considered: Heres Everything To Know So Far appeared first on Blavity.

Security concerns from Democrats and Republicans

CNN reported Chew spent over five hours testifying and answering lawmakers questions. During his appearance, he repeatedly emphasized TikToks American ties with the company headquartered in the United States and Singapore and the app not even available in China, despite its parent company, ByteDance, being a major Chinese corporation. Chews assurances that the Chinese government doesnt have access to TikTok user data and hasnt requested this information left Republican and Democratic members of Congress stating they dont believe this is true. I dont believe that TikTok  that you have said or done anything to convince us, said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). When Chew claimed the Chinese government had never requested TikTok user data, Eshoo said, I find that, actually, preposterous.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew claims he has seen no evidence the Chinese government has access to the apps data: Chew: They have never asked us. We have not provided. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA): I find that actually preposterous. pic.twitter.com/ELuYoSs7yK  The Recount (@therecount) March 23, 2023

National security and child safety concerns

TikTok has come under increased scrutiny recently, with Republicans and Democrats expressing security concerns about the app. Earlier this year, the White House banned federal employees from using TikTok on government-issued devices. Reuters reported that similar bans exist in most U.S. states, Canada, Taiwan and the countries of the European Union.

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In addition to the potential for violating national security and individual user data, a number of the members of Congress present at Chews hearing scrutinized him for the impact Tiktok has on children. According to Reuters, two-thirds of all underage teenagers in the U.S. use TikTok, despite multiple concerns about its adverse effects on young people.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) warned that the app exacerbated feelings of emotional stress in young users, and Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) noted that children have been hurt or even died from following dangerous trends on the app, including one girl who died from suffocation while participating in the blackout challenge.

Politics and corporate interests

While skepticism of TikTok in the U.S. has been bipartisan, the Republican Party has been particularly hostile toward the platform, part of a more significant hardline approach against China, which has grown as an economic and political rival to the role of the United States as the worlds superpower. Some defenders of TikTok see the focus on this particular social media app as an example of Sinophobia (or anti-Chinese sentiment), similar to the hostility shown toward China related to COVID-19.

Critics of the current political landscape also point out that other social media apps, such as Facebook or Twitter, are similarly invasive when gathering personal data on users and sharing that data for commercial purposes. Singling out TikTok seems to reflect some bias or political agenda beyond an objective concern for Americans data and a corporate plan since American companies like Facebook would likely benefit from a ban against the competing company.

Congress asked TikToks CEO if hed be willing to divest from Chinese ownership. His incredibly fair, savage answer? American social companies dont have a good track record with data privacy and user security. I mean, look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. pic.twitter.com/cVP9dph5wL  Jack Appleby (@jappleby) March 23, 2023

Chew himself said as much when asked if TikTok would be willing to become an American-owned company. With a lot of respect, American social companies dont have a good track record with data privacy and user security, Chew said, adding, I mean, look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, referring to the revelation that Facebook had handed over user data for targeted and often misleading political advertisements, most notably during the 2016 presidential election.

The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. Despite the hostility toward the platform coming from the government, TikTok is extremely popular, particularly among young people. While a total ban is possible, other options remain, such as forcing the company to be sold to an American owner.

Is a ban likely?

Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, spoke to Reuters about the likelihood of a ban.

The First Amendment protects Americans right to access social media platforms of their choice, he said. To justify a TikTok ban, the government would have to demonstrate that privacy and security concerns cant be addressed in narrower ways. The government hasnt demonstrated this, and we doubt it could. Restricting access to a speech platform that is used by millions of Americans every day would set a dangerous precedent for regulating our digital public sphere more broadly.

The next few months may be crucial to find out what the fate of the popular social media platform will ultimately be.
Northwest Junior High School in Coralville.

This article has been updated with new information from Coralville police.

A Coralville school was evacuated for the second time in two days Friday after receiving a bomb threat.

An email to families of students at Northwest Junior High School and school staff by Iowa City Community School District Superintendent Matt Degner said the school resumed classes after Coralville police conducted a search and determined the building was safe. The police had conducted a similar search after Thursday's bomb threat, finding no explosive device.

Parents were permitted to take their children home if they preferred.

The threats come amid a Twitter barrage directed at the school on a right-wing account called Libs of TikTok, accusing it of having the title "This Book is Gay" that it said promotes gay sex and encourages the use of sex apps.

A bomb threat referencing the book forced the evacuation of the entire Hilton Central School District in New York on Thursday amid a similar Twitter stream. And the Sioux City Journal reported Tuesday that a high school there, also targeted by Libs of TikTok, had removed the book from its shelves.

In May, the Ankeny school district's social media accounts, including the superintendent's, were flooded with thousands of negative messages after Libs of TikTok targeted after Ankeny High School's Gender Sexuality Alliance hosted an after-school drag performance that the district called unauthorized.

Coralville Police Chief Shane Kron told the Press-Citizen on Friday that he could not confirm a connection between the Libs of TikToks post about Northwest Junior High and the threats because the email containing the threats did not reference it.

The threat doesnt even say why theyre getting the threat, Kron said.

He declined to provide the exact wording of the threat, but said it was the same as the one made to the school Thursday.

I think its consistent with other notes that have been from that group or tied to that group but its not an outright signature, he said.

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The contents of the email included a warning that threats would continue to be made to the school. Kron said Coralville police will continue working with the school on the matter.

Were convinced it's part of a nationwide effort to disrupt school and cause panic, he said. Theres nothing in there that leads me to believe its a credible threat.

Iowa City schools officials did not immediately respond to Press-Citizen inquiries about the threat, or whether the school actually has the book in its library or classrooms.

Kristin Pedersen, the district's director of community relations, said in an email that Superintendent Degner does not have any availability in his schedule this afternoon.

What is Libs of TikTok?

Founded by a former Brooklyn, New York, real estate agent the Washington Post identified as Chaya Raichik, Libs of TikTok has 2 million followers on Twitter and is known for its anti-LGBTQ stance. Last September, the Post reported, it was blamed for harassment of children's hospitals the provided gender-affirming care.

Raichik has since become a celebrity on conservative news media.

Both controversial books in schools and transgender rights have recently become hot-button topics in Iowa this year as state lawmakers and Gov. Kim Reynolds push for laws restricting them.

GRAPHIC: @NWJHTrojans offers the pornographic book This Book is Gay to students. The book teaches kids about gay sex and encourages the use of sex apps.



These are the books theyre giving your kids to read in school. pic.twitter.com/GcopEwLeav  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 21, 2023

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson, was among the "10 most challenged books" of 2021, according to the American Library Association.

What did the bomb threat say?

The threats on Thursday and Friday were against both the school and several teachers, according to Kron.

He said he did not believe the threat was related to the so-called swatting, or hoax calls, on Tuesday that were made to 30 schools across Iowa, including Iowa City and North Liberty, regarding false reports of active shooters.

He said he did not believe the threat was credible or made by a local person.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle contributed to this article.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: North West Junior High faces second bomb threat amid Twitter barrage
Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson said Friday he has been unable to locate the next of kin for a man found dead on March 10 in the North Oconee River.

Wilson said the State Crime Lab identified the man as 63-year-old Phillip Mark David, who was apparently homeless. The man has lived in several locations in the Athens area, he said.

A fisherman spotted Davids body while fishing in an area of the North Oconee River Park, according to Athens-Clarke police.

When the body was recovered, it carried no identification. The Crime Lab was able to identify the man, but the cause of death remains under forensic investigation, according to Wilson.

Anyone with information on David is asked to contact the coroner at 706-613-3999.

Overdose deaths:Fentanyl epidemic 'off the charts': Drug overdose deaths in Athens reaches record highs

Oconee Blotter: Road rage driver slams two cars, throws fit and flees to Athens

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens-Clarke coroner seeks relatives of man found dead in river
Beware a calm surface  you never know what lies beneath Paula Hawkins, Into the Water

The Marine Corps latest addition to its trilogy of documents that are redesigning and restructuring the service appears innovative and forward-looking.

The Marine Corps Training and Education 2030 includes much that is good. Many of the training and education initiatives proposed are long overdue. We applaud Marine Corps senior leaders for recognizing deficiencies and shortcoming and articulating a plan to address them.

But lets not be fooled by whats on the surface. What lies beneath is destructive and comes dangerously close to violating U.S. law.

We refer to three important areas. One is the coup de grace to the Marine Corps combat development process. Two is the tacit admission that the Marine Corps is no longer a combined arms force. Three is the clean break from service componency.

Heres whats in the Corps new training and education plan

The elevation of the commanding general, Training and Education Command to deputy commandant status and the realignment of doctrinal development under Training and Education is a death blow to the Marine Corps combat development process. No single commander now owns the entire process for developing the operating concepts and guiding the integrated determination of needed capabilities and requirements.

The genius of Marine Corps combat prowess has been getting the capstone and supporting operating concepts right. The brilliance of the combat development process for the past 30 years has been unity of command in identifying and prioritizing correct and sustainable requirements to enable concepts.

These requirements broadly include doctrine, force structure and organizations, training and education, equipment, and facilities and support.

The new training document effectively has codified the disjointed and uncoordinated process that most recently failed to define the problem in an operating concept, which resulted in the emasculation of Marine Corps combat capabilities by moving straight to the solution, Force Design 2030. We believe the Marine Corps will be better served by a combat development process where concepts and requirements are determined and integrated under one commander.

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Training and Education 2030 barely pays lip service to combined arms training. Instead, the focus is almost exclusively on integrated naval fires.

The lack of emphasis on combined arms training is not surprising because Marine Corps leaders have eliminated or significantly reduced the capabilities needed to train for and implement combined arms operations. Tanks, assault breaching and bridging have been totally eliminated; the number of Marines in infantry battalions has been reduced by 21%, cannon artillery has been reduced by 67%, assault amphibious vehicles have been reduced by 33%, and aviation has been reduced by 29% across the board.

The ugly truth based on these divestures is that the Marine Corps no longer has a combined arms capability and comes dangerously close to violating Title X, U.S. code, which states in part: The Marine Corps shall be organized, trained, and equipped to provide fleet marine forces of combined arms and shall perform such other duties as the President may direct.

The cuts in combat capabilities seriously degrade the effective application of combined arms in the close and rear battles. The capability of the Marine Corps to perform other duties as the President may direct will significantly be constrained by too few appropriately sized combined arms teams built around Marine infantry.

As envisioned in Force Design 2030 and Training and Education 2023, the Marine Corps will not be organized, trained or equipped to conduct combined arms operations as traditionally understood.

This radical reorganization of the Marine Corps is not just an internal matter, but has serious implications for the Army, which likely will see its operational taskings increase to compensate for lost Marine Corps capabilities. It also will have implications for combatant commanders, who will have fewer forces available to support regional campaign plans.

We believe the focus of combat training should be on combined arms, of which the integration of naval fires is a necessary component but not the raison detre, or reason for being.

Much like ignoring combined arms, Training and Education 2030 virtually disregards service componency and at the expense of acknowledging the Fleet Maine Forces, the term the document refers to repeatedly.

The reference to Fleet Marine Forces is a look backward. The Fleet Marine Forces is a subordinate U.S. Navy type command under the fleet commander. Simply stated, Marines in the Fleet Marine Forces work for the Navy.

The Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 changed the way the Department of Defense was structured and permanently altered the way the U.S. military would fight future wars.

It gave the Marine Corps service equivalency as a separate component under Joint Force Commander control. Subordinating Marine Corps Forces to Fleet Marine Forces status gives up the Marine components seat at the table and violates the spirit and intent of Goldwater-Nichols by limiting Marine Corps contributions to the joint force.

As envisioned in Training and Education 2030, training to prepare Marines for service and functional componency, which is essentially a congressionally mandated responsibility, will take a back seat to naval integration.

Is it really in the Marine Corps best interest to subordinate itself to the Navy given the turmoil that service is experiencing with its own transformation? The answer is no. We believe the Marine Corps primary focus should be on supporting the combatant or joint force commander as a service or functional component, not on placing Marine Forces under Navy command and control.

Training and Education 2030 has much in it to be applauded. Its not what is said that should concern Congress, the Department of Defense, the combatant commanders and the American people.

Its what is not said that needs congressional oversight. What is not said is a threat to our national security.

Lt. Gen. Paul Van Riper is a career infantry officer. His previous assignments include commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

Brig. Gen. Jerry McAbee is a career artillery officer. His previous assignments include chief-of-staff, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

Have an opinion?

This article is an op-ed and, as such, the opinions expressed are those of the author. If you would like to respond or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please email Marine Corps Times Editor Andrea Scott.

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Henry Maltby (left), a native of Ohio, founded the Ranchero newspaper in Corpus Christi in 1859. Plausibly or not, he was called the handsomest man in Texas. Maltby printed a War Extra (right) on July 20, 1861. His paper was passionately pro-Confederate.

Allison Ehrlichs Throwback Thursday article on the resignation of Albert Lichtenstein as mayor (March 9) had me thinking about another Corpus Christi mayor who resigned 97 years earlierHenry Alonzo Maltby.

Maltby had first arrived in Corpus Christi in 1852 with his circus for Henry Kinneys well publicized fair intended to bring more settlers to the region. But attendance at the fair was far below expectation and Kinney went bankrupt. Maltby, who also suffered financial losses, later returned to become one of the citys key Kinney loyalists and in June of 1856 became mayor, a one-year position determined by the citys six aldermen. But eight months later, on Feb. 14, he resigned the office to partake of a bold adventure.

According to the New Handbook of Texas, Maltby left Corpus Christi to join General William Walkers filibuster forces in Nicaragua, where he commanded a company that he raised in Corpus Christi. Walker had established himself as president of Nicaragua and fought several battles with neighboring Central American countries that opposed him. In imminent danger of being ousted, he appealed for volunteers from the United States to join him in Nicaragua.

More:Two weeks of festivities at Corpus Christi's 1852 Lone Star Fair

When I was researching my "Maltby Brothers Civil War" I wanted to find out more about this episode. I found it baffling that several years later, when publishing the Corpus Christi Ranchero, Maltby expressed contempt for Walker and filibustering. He never mentioned his former patron Henry Kinney who had also been filibustering in Nicaragua at the same time as Walker. But why would Maltby have risked his life to rescue Walker, a man he despised? It did not add up.

Maltbys point of embarkation to Nicaragua would have been New Orleans by way of Galveston. Just ten days after his resignation as mayor, the following item appeared in the Galveston Weekly News:

"Among the Nicaraguan emigrants who arrived here on Sunday last, and proceeded on to New Orleans, were Mr. Henry A. Maltby, who has been residing in Corpus Christi for the past two years, of which place he has been Mayor for nearly a year past, and has now resigned that office for the purpose of going to the aid of Walker. Mr. Maltby, during his residence in Texas, has gained the admiration of all who know him, and we doubt not that Gen. Walker will find him a remarkable acquisition in his great enterprise of revolutionizing and civilizing, or in other words, Americanizing Central America."

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More:#TBT: How the Harbor Bridge caused a mayors resignation in 1954

There was no mention of Maltby having raised a company in Corpus Christi as stated in the New Handbook of Texas. In New Orleans, the Picayune made a practice of publishing the names of passengers on arriving vessels and check-ins at the local hotels. It also gave special attention to the new arrivals headed for Nicaragua, but Maltby is not mentioned among either arrivals or check-ins. After leaving Galveston he appears to have become invisible.

And then, only weeks later, a notice in the Nueces Valley brought the unexpected. Maltby was back in Corpus Christi insisting he had never resigned and was still mayor. No explanation was given as to where he had been or what he had been doing during his absence. In any case, Maltby did not regain his position as mayor. Mayor Pro Tem Cornelius Cahill continued to serve the remainder of Maltbys term until replaced by Henry Berry who soon quit the office because of a dispute with the aldermen. Meanwhile, Walker had been rescued by the U.S. Navy and brought back to the United States. Should Allison continue to write about Corpus Christi mayors, there will no doubt be many more surprises.

Norman C. Delaney is a member of the Nueces County Historical Commission.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christis Mayor Maltby went missing for a few weeks in 1857
The cost of renaming the nine Army bases that honored the Confederacy has nearly doubled, an Army official told lawmakers Thursday.

The Army expects to pay $39 million, said Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, Army deputy chief of staff for installations. In 2022, the congressionally-mandated Naming Commission estimated it would cost $21 million to rename the nine Army installations.

The Defense Department initially gave the Army $1 million to change the names, but thats not anywhere close to what we need, Vereen told members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.

The renaming involves replacing names not only at the installation gates, but on facilities, streets, numerous smaller signs, and technology, he said.

Service officials have until the end of the year to remove the names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederacy or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy.

Garrisons wont have to foot the bill, Vereen said, nor will they have to pay the costs upfront and then request reimbursement.

The Army is trying to solve the funding piece, and were trying to solve it internally, he said. Well take the funds from the department.

Renaming 9 Confederate-honoring Army posts will cost $21M

Bases slated for renaming:
The Old Main on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston on May 5, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Staff and faculty at Chicago State University and Eastern Illinois University filed intent to strike notices Thursday after inadequate progress at their respective bargaining tables.

The CSU chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois, which represents about 160 faculty lecturers, academic support professionals and technical support staff could go on strike next month as they continue negotiations over a new labor agreement.

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After members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike March 10, the unit filed its 10-day notice Thursday with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, which could begin a work stoppage as early as April 3.

A strike is always a last resort, but CSU administration has pushed us to that point, associate chemistry professor and union President Valerie Goss said in a statement. We have been meeting for nearly one year, yet CSU administration still hasnt once come to the table with a viable offer. We will continue to demand the support we need to give our students the education they deserve.

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According to union officials, additional bargaining sessions are scheduled for March 27 and 30.

At Eastern Illinois University, 450 faculty and staff notified the administration Thursday that they plan to strike following months of negotiating for better wages.

For months now, EIU administration has proposed to us an effective pay cut, said Billy Hung, lead negotiator for EIU University Professionals of Illinois and associate professor of biological sciences. And for months, weve said that our members will not agree to work more for less. So this filing should not come as a surprise.

If a deal is not reached at the remaining bargaining session, the union plans to walk out April 6, EIU UPI officials said in a statement.

When staff workloads are so high that students cant get an appointment with their adviser, we need to find a solution, Hung said. When faculty are required to increase the number of courses yet have no time to lead research or to offer students reasonable office hours, we need to find a solution. And if the EIU administration doesnt work with us to come up with these solutions, Im afraid our members will look for a better job elsewhere.

Members of the union are planning to rally at noon Monday outside the Old Main, at Lincoln Avenue and 6th Street on EIUs campus in Charleston, before delivering the intent to strike to EIU administration.

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EIU UPI members said they will host a teach-in for students Tuesday to share the status of negotiations and explain how a potential strike would affect their classes and coursework.

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Sadly, were seeing these situations on campuses across the state, CSU UPI President John Miller said in a statement. From CSU to Governors State University to Eastern Illinois University, campus presidents are refusing to do the right thing for their students, faculty and staff. They can afford to provide critical resources but are choosing not to. Just like the brave faculty who were recently forced to strike at UIC, our members are committed to their students and campuses. They will do what is necessary to fight for them both.

CSU officials, who have been bargaining with CSU UPI since June 6, said in a statement they greatly value the contributions of the faculty, who are core to providing transformational education to the students.

As part of this effort, CSU has offered an economic proposal to UPI Local 4100 and is awaiting a response, the statement said. We hope to receive a response at our upcoming mediation sessions scheduled for March 27 and March 30. CSU is committed to negotiating a fair contract that recognizes the dedication and needs of our faculty while ensuring that CSU can continue operating soundly and providing the high-quality educational services our students deserve.

Officials from Eastern Illinois University were not immediately available for comment.

zsyed@chicagotribune.com
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If youve been waiting for one of Costcos frequent membership deals, now is a great time to join and purchase a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership card for $60. For a limited time, if you sign up for Costcos basic membership plan, youll receive a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card for free  thats like getting your membership for half price.

Costcos Best Deals? Employee Reveals Standout Buys for Your Money

Find: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero

Per an online offer via this GameSpot link, the one-year Gold Star Membership allows customers to shop at Costco Business Centers, Costco Travel, online at Costco.com and at its gas stations, optical and hearing aid centers and pharmacies.

The Gold Star membership plan comes with a card for the household to use at any Costco location worldwide, including more than 800 locations throughout the United States, where shoppers can always find a wide selection of great value groceries, home goods, electronics and more.

The current deal is only available to U.S. and Puerto Rico residents and you must be joining either as a new customer or a previous member whose membership has been expired for more than 18 months (before Apr. 2021).

To qualify for this promotion, your membership must be redeemed by May 14, 2023, but Costco encourages shoppers to redeem it within 30 days of purchase. The $30 Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed to you within two weeks of joining Costco, does not expire, cannot be regained for cash and can be redeemed in-store or online.

Compare: 8 Costco Items That Have the Most Customer Complaints

Learn: 9 Best Money-Saving Costco Deals Happening This April

Now more than ever, Americans and their families are trying to come up with ways to stretch their budgets further. Becoming a member of the nations favorite one-stop retailer is always a smart move, but it makes even more sense to get a deal when you join.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Costco Deal: Get a $30 Gift Card When You Buy a Gold Membership
California donated a bronze statue of Father Junipero Serra to the United States Capitols National Statuary Hall Collection in 1931 and he remains in this place of prominence today. Recognized for his establishment of many California missions, the Catholic priest has since been removed from state locations as his treatment of Native Americans in those missions becomes more well known.

If California decides to replace Serras statue in D.C., who could take his place?

Junipero Serras controversial statue represents California. Heres how it could be replaced

Each state is allowed to display two statues in the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. The criteria for those statues are:

The person must be dead.

The person must be a U.S. citizen.

The person must have resided in the state that it represents.

The person must be of historic renown.

The statue must be only one person and show their full length.

Here are six historical figures who fit the criteria to represent California in the Capitol:

Maya Angelou

Author and poet Maya Angelou, photographed at home.

(1928-2014)

Maya Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, civil rights activist.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Angelou attended school in Oakland during the beginning of World War II. As a teenager, she became San Franciscos first Black female streetcar conductor  after being rejected from applying several times due to her race.

In 1969, Angelou published her highly acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiography about her overcoming trauma, racism and sexual abuse. Shes also published poetry, including On the Pulse of Morning which she read at the 1992 inauguration of President Bill Clinton.

Angelou also became the first Black woman to have a screenplay turned into a film with Georgia, Georgia.

Honored internationally for her work, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2000 and the presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by President Barack Obama. She received more than 30 honorary degrees.

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Sources: Maya Angelou | Biography; National Womens History Museum | Maya Angelou; National Book Foundation | Dr. Maya Angelou

Sally Ride

NASA astronaut Sally Ride participates in a training exercise before her first space shuttle launch in 1982.

(1951-2012)

Sally Ride pioneered beyond Earth, exploring space as one of the first female astronauts.

On June 18, 1983, Ride went aboard the Challengers STS-7 as the first American woman to do so and took another trip to the orbit the following year. Rides job was to work on the robotic arm, which is used to place satellites into space.

While at NASA, Ride became the first director of the agencys Office of Exploration. She was also the only person to serve on both the Presidential Commission and Columbia Accident Investigation Board to look into the Challenger accident of 1986  a space shuttle explosion that killed seven astronauts, including a teacher.

After her explorations, Ride became a physics professor at the University of California, San Diego. She cofounded Sally Ride Science in 2001 with her colleagues to empower young people  especially girls  to learn about science, technology, engineering and math.

She co-authored seven childrens science books and started NASA-funded programs to promote science education. Her list of awards is sweeping and it includes the National Womens Hall of Fame, the California Hall of Fame and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sources: NASA Solar System Exploration | TSally Ride (1951-2012): NASA Astronaut / First American Woman in Space; NASA | Who Was Sally Ride?; NASA | Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans; Sally Ride Science at University of California, San Diego | Dr. Sally Ride

Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez sits beneath a crucifix in Sacramentos Newman Center during a visit on April 4, 1968, in his early years as leader of the United Farm Workers Union. He visited Sacramento to speak about a grape boycott and then-presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

(1927-1993)

Cesar Chavez was a labor leader who advocated for farm workers rights. In 1962, he created the National Farm Workers Association with Dolores Huerta, another influential labor activist. The association, now known as the United Farm Workers of America after being merged with Larry Itliongs Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, is the countrys largest farm workers union.

Born in Arizona, Chavez grew up in a farming family and was a migrant farmer after his family lost their land during the Great Depression. In 1946, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Chavez first stepped into advocacy work in 1952, when was recruited by the Community Service Organization  the biggest Latino civil rights group  at the San Jose chapter. For 10 years, he led campaigns against discrimination, promoted voter registration and helped set up CSO chapters in California.

He also led the Farm Workers Movement, fighting for farmers rights to organize and for better pay and improved working conditions.

In 1994, Chavez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor given to people whove made contributions to the U.S., posthumously.

Sources: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee | National Farm Workers Association; Cesar Chavez Foundation | About Cesar Chavez; Equal Justice Inititative | The Farmworkers Movement

Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong, a Chinese-American actress, in 1935.

(1905-1961)

Anna May Wong was born in Los Angeles Chinatown and became one of the first Chinese American film stars. She imprinted her name in Hollywood during a time when few Asian Americans were featured in the movie industry. Wong starred in more than 60 movies, including The Thief of Baghdad, Piccadilly and Shanghai Express. Her work included silent films, television shows, Broadway productions and one of the first Technicolor movies.

Wongs options in Hollywood were limited by the prevalence of state laws that banned interracial marriage and prohibited on-screen intimacy between people of different races. Bans on interracial marriage were overturned in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on the issue.

Still, Wong continued to star in films in the states and Europe, and landed a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 before dying of a heart attack a year later in Santa Monica. In 2022, Wong was among five women who were celebrated by having their faces minted on quarters.

Sources: National Womens History Museum | Anna May Wong; Encyclopaedia Britannica | Anna May Wong; United States Mint | American Women Quarters Program

John Thompson

(1827-1875)

John Snowshoe Thompson was a mail carrier that linked Californians to people living on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada.

From Norway, Thompson came to California to mine in Placerville during the Gold Rush. But he found his calling elsewhere.

Thompson took a job to transport mail after he saw an ad in the Sacramento Union newspaper that stated People Lost to the World; Uncle Sam Needs a Mail Carrier. In 1856, he trekked 90 miles on the Old Emigrant Road between Placerville and Carson Valley, Nevada. Hed later take the Big Tree Route between Genoa, Nevada, and Murphys Camp, California.

To get across the mountains in the winter, Thompson made hand-hewn snowshoes to help him carry mail. On his routes, he faced snowdrifts up to 50 feet and blizzards with a 50-to-100-pound mailbag on his back. And while hes known for connecting Genoa to the outside world, he also delivered medicine and rescued people in his travels.

He was designated to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1970.

Sources: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | Snowshoe Thompson risked life to deliver prison correspondence; Smithsonian National Postal Museum | John Snowshoe Thompson; U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame | John Snowshoe Thompson; Town of Genoa | Snowshoe Thompson
A couple is accusing JPMorgan of drilling open their safe deposit boxes and selling $10 million of their jewelry after they failed to pay rent for the boxes. Juanmonino/Getty Images

A couple is accusing JPMorgan of selling valuables that were placed in the lender's safe deposit boxes.

JPMorgan drilled open 4 safe deposit boxes after it did not receive rent for the boxes, per the complaint.

The couple said the bank sent the bills to the wrong address and they have paid up.

A couple from the Philippines who's suing JPMorgan Chase says the bank sold $8 to $10 million worth of their valuables that had been placed in the lender's safe deposit boxes in New York.

Jorge and Stella Araneta live in the Philippines but own an apartment in New York City, according to a complaint they filed on March 22, 2022, in the Southern District of New York. The couple alleges the bank opened four out of seven of their safe deposit boxes after they failed to pay their rent, according to the complaint, which Insider viewed.

The Arnetas allege that they fell behind on their payments for the safe boxes because the bank sent the bills to the wrong address. The bank sent two final notices for the renewal of two boxes to a Louisiana PO Box that did not belong to and was not authorized by the couple, they said. The notices were returned to the bank.

The complaint did not specifically state how the Aranetas eventually realized that they had not paid for the four boxes, but said they paid the outstanding rent in full in October 2019 when they were at the bank in person to renew leases. The bank assured them at the time their valuables that were removed would be returned.

However, JPMorgan still auctioned their items, per the complaint.

The couple estimates the contents of the safe deposit boxes to be worth $8 to $10 million. They did not provide a basis for this estimation in the complaint. JPMorgan sold the items for $552,700 in the early summer of 2020, per the complaint.

JPMorgan declined to comment.

The Aranetas say they started renting the safe deposit boxes in 2006

In their complaint, the Aranetas said they started renting the safe deposit boxes in 2006 and renewed the leases annually. The filing did not state how much the leases cost initially, but the couple made four payments of $190.53 each in May 2014 for the safe deposit boxes, per the complaint.

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On or around February 17, 2017, JPMorgan drilled open four of their safe deposit boxes without notifying them and removed the contents, per the complaint.

Now, the couple is seeking compensation for their valuables. Court filings showed the contents of the safes included jewelry, Rolex watches, and gold coins. The complaint includes a five-page list of exhibits of items the couple says were inside the deposit boxes.

On Wednesday, US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald rejected one of the lawsuit's claims based on the interpretation of New York banking law, according to the court filing seen by Insider.

The case is proceeding with negligence and other counts.

The case is Araneta v JPMorgan Chase Bank, 22-cv-2346, US District Court, Southern District of New York.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oksana Marchenko

Her husband is a pro-Russian politician suspected of treason.

These assets include 6.8% shares in Dneprospetsstal, a Ukrainian manufacturer of special stainless steel located in Zaporizhzhya. They are registered through offshore companies. Marchenko is suspected of funding Russian aggression with the assets.

"This strategically important enterprise specializes in the industrial production of nearly 1,000 types of steel and metal products, Ukraines SBU security service said.

The seizure of the assets will protect them from being re-registered to fictitious persons and will allow them to be used for the benefit of the country," the SBU added.

In general, assets worth over UAH 5.6 billion ($150 million) were seized aspart of the investigation, including corporate rights worth UAH 2.6 billion ($70 million) in 18 companies, and registered shares in three regional power distribution companies worth over UAH 3 billion ($80 million).

The court also imposed a ban on the alienation of land plots, cars, and houses in Kyiv and the Russian-occupied coastal city of Yalta in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea.

The assets were seized as part of criminal proceedings conducted by the Ivano-Frankivsk SBU regional office over funding of a violent change of power in Ukraine.

On Feb. 7, the SBU served a notice of suspicion to Marchenko of funding Russian Guard and Russian Interior Ministry in the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Kindergarten student Matteo Rodriguez gets a coronavirus test from EMT Claire Chou at Heliotrope Avenue Elementary School. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The government is ready to declare COVID-19 over: The nationwide state of emergency is set to end on May 11. In California, the state of emergency concluded in February. Johns Hopkins University shut down its nationwide COVID-19 data tracking this month.

But COVID-19 isn't gone. Though cases and deaths are on a downswing, plenty of people are still testing positive, especially as mask usage dwindles and pandemic restrictions end. Hundreds of people still die of COVID worldwide every day, according to the World Health Organization.

"It's really hard to not catch Omicron," said Paula Cannon, a virology professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine. "It's so freaking infectious, even if you've been boosted and vaccinated."

After three years and what feels like a thousand public health proclamations about testing and isolating, you might find yourself falling down a frantic Google hole after that second line shows up on an at-home test.

Here are the latest protocols for what you should do if you test positive for COVID in 2023.

How long after exposure do you develop COVID symptoms?

If you've been exposed to COVID, symptoms of infection can show up two to 14 days later, according to a 2020 survey of reported cases. Most infected people began showing symptoms three to six days after exposure; the median length of time between exposure and infection was five days. Of course, you won't necessarily know if or when you've been exposed.

Back in 2020, one hallmark of COVID was a sudden loss of taste and smell. But now, "anything going on in your head, nose or throat, you should absolutely suspect COVID," Cannon said. Sniffles, fatigue, cough, sore throat, fever, stuffy nose, muscle aches  they could all point to COVID, though they could also be signs of any of the plethora of respiratory illnesses floating around in this tripledemic winter.

Loss of taste is a lot less prevalent now but could still be a symptom, said Muntu Davis, health officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. In a more severe case, he said, symptoms could include shortness of breath, racing heart, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

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When should you take a COVID test?

If you've done something during which you could have been exposed to COVID  such as traveled by plane or gone maskless in a large crowd  it's a good idea to test after a few days even if you don't have any symptoms, Cannon said. Over Christmas, she traveled to England and celebrated her birthday at a large family gathering. After returning home, she took a test as a precaution. She got a positive result  her first time catching COVID in three years of the pandemic.

"I had absolutely no symptoms and would not have learned I had COVID apart from having taken the test," she said. "People should also be aware that no symptoms is also a symptom of COVID."

Home antigen tests are widely available and can reliably determine if you have a significant enough viral load to be contagious. You do not need to take a follow-up PCR test if you've had a positive result on a home test.

You aren't required to report your result to the county or anywhere else, Davis said, though he did recommend letting your healthcare provider know.

The new isolation guidelines for COVID

The most recent recommendation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to isolate for five full days after symptoms begin. That means the first day you start to feel sick is Day Zero; your five-day countdown begins the next day. If you tested positive but are asymptomatic, the recommendation is to isolate for five full days after the positive test.

Those first five days represent the period during which you are the most infectious, said Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Assn.

"Certainly the first five days, you should definitely isolate," he said.

But that's the minimum, not the maximum. Getting to Day Six doesn't mean you can abandon all precautions. That's the first day you can evaluate how you're feeling to determine if you need to continue isolation: Are your symptoms improving? Have you been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using an over-the-counter fever-reducing medicine (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)?

If you are feeling better and are fever-free without medication, you can end your isolation, Davis said. If not, you need to continue, for up to 10 days.

While you are isolating, you should stay home and limit contact with anyone who's not infected, both inside your home and out. If you need to leave your house for a necessary reason  for instance, to pick up a medication or grocery delivery from your lobby  Benjamin said you should wear a tight-fitting N95 mask.

How long do COVID symptoms last?

The length of your symptoms will depend on a lot of factors, including whether you're up to date on vaccinations and boosters and whether you take Paxlovid (more on that in a moment). Some people will feel better after a few days and some people will still have symptoms after 10 days, possibly even weeks later.

Beyond taking Paxlovid, there isn't much you can actively do to make COVID symptoms go away. Do what you'd normally do when you're sick: Rest; drink lots of fluids; eat healthy meals; take acetaminophen to control aches and fever. In other words, take good care of yourself.

If you start to experience severe symptoms, even if you're fully vaccinated and boosted, you should go to the hospital, Davis said.

"Definitely [go] if you're having a hard time breathing, catching your breath, if youre really really really really super fatigued and not able to do much," he said. He also said chest pressure or pain, confusion, trouble waking up or staying awake, and bluish or pale gray lips and nails are signs you need to see a doctor right away.

Who should get Paxlovid, and how do you get it?

Paxlovid is an antiviral treatment for COVID-19. There is a broad evidence-based scientific consensus that using it reduces the risk of being hospitalized or dying. Paxlovid may also reduce the chance of developing long COVID in some patients, Benjamin said.

Paxlovid is a five-day course of medication taken twice daily. Treatment has to begin within five days of developing COVID symptoms. Paxlovid may have negative interactions with certain prescription drugs, including statins and some heart and blood pressure medications. Some people who take Paxlovid report noticing an unpleasant metallic taste in their mouths  so-called Paxlovid mouth  which typically goes away after you're done using the medication.

Right now, Paxlovid is prescribed in the U.S. only to people who have certain risk factors that increase the chances of a dangerous outcome from a COVID-19 infection. It's a wide range of conditions and behaviors, including being older than 50, being unvaccinated or not up to date on your booster shots, and health conditions including diabetes, heart conditions, a body mass index classified as obese, pregnancy or recent pregnancy, smoking, physical inactivity, and mental health conditions including depression.

That list of conditions continues to expand, Benjamin said, and even for young, healthy people, "some would say [Paxlovid is] unnecessary, but I would say call your physician and follow their advice."

If you don't have a regular physician, or if they can't see you quickly when you get sick, try a telehealth provider, Cannon said. She said she was on a video call with a "doc in a box" from a telehealth app within an hour of testing positive.

Cannon said she thinks restricting who qualifies for Paxlovid right now is a mistake and that the drug should be more widely available. Beyond the listed eligibility conditions for Paxlovid, she said, "being at risk can be a judgment call by your doctor. Especially if you don't feel good, if you believe that you respond badly to respiratory infections," it's worth talking to a medical professional and asking about a prescription.

What some people term a "Paxlovid rebound"  in which they have COVID, take Paxlovid, test negative, then test positive again days or weeks later  is really a COVID rebound, Cannon said. The treatment is effective enough that you reduce your viral load so that an infection doesn't show up on a test; then after treatment ends, your viral load increases again. That isn't Paxlovid's fault, or a sign it didn't work, she said: "It's a natural rhythm of the infection."

How long are you contagious with COVID?

Right now, Benjamin said, evidence suggests you are definitely contagious for that first five days after you start to develop symptoms or get a positive test result. In those first five days, it's important to stay home and isolate as much as possible.

Beyond that, you should assume you are still infectious as long as you are getting a positive result on a home test. (PCR tests are more sensitive than antigen tests, so a PCR test may return a positive result even after you test negative on a home test.) That's what Cannon did when she had asymptomatic COVID.

"I used the crude estimate of the little COVID test," Cannon said. "If there's enough virus in my nose to turn the test positive, then I know I've still got virus and I'm potentially infectious. Once that test goes negative, I would feel very comfortable saying somebody is not infectious."

If you've reached the five-day threshold and you're feeling better and are fever-free without medication, it's generally considered safe for you to go out. Benjamin said you are still theoretically infectious up to day 10, though much less so, so you should exercise caution around people who could become severely ill.

"If you're going around someone who is immunocompromised, if you're going to go see Grandma, I would still not do that within 10 days" of a positive test, he said.

Beyond that, he said, "you can assume you're not infectious. The risk is very low that you're infectious [at that point]. Nothing's 100%. But that's pretty good."

Is there any way to avoid or prevent long COVID?

Benjamin said the scientific world is only in the early stages of determining what constitutes long COVID, who's the most at risk, and looking into possible preventive measures.

A study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggested an overall healthy lifestyle  adequate nutrition and sleep, regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption  could lower women's risk of developing long COVID. Another study, published in Cell, identified four risk factors for long COVID, including Type 2 diabetes.

How long are you immune after recovering from COVID?

We don't have a solid answer to this question yet either. Davis, the L.A. County health officer, said the guidance used to be that you were considered immune and shouldn't have to test again within 90 days after you had an infection; now, he said, it's 30 days. But that's just a guideline, not a definitive scientific consensus.

A recent, widely reported meta-analysis published in the Lancet showed many people have antibodies in their blood 10 months after an infection. But the presence of antibodies doesn't mean you're guaranteed to not develop a symptomatic infection  it means your odds are lower. And reinfection protection was shown to be "substantially lower" for omicron variants, which have been the dominant strains in the United States for over a year.

A CDC study of seroprevalence  testing for the presence of antibodies in people's blood  showed that as of May 2022, almost 95% of Americans had either had COVID, gotten vaccinated for COVID, or both. At this point, it's unlikely we will ever reach a point where herd immunity will wipe out COVID entirely. Some scientists are working on tests that look at T-cell immunity, instead of antibody levels, to assess whether someone is immune. For now, it's impossible to say how long you can stop worrying about getting COVID after recovering from it.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Getty/Reuters/The Independent)

In imaginary images created by an artificial intelligence programme with a researchers prompts, police officers chase and tackle Donald Trump. Others show the former president behind bars and wearing an orange jumpsuit in federal prison.

The images, generated by Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins using the powerful text-to-image Midjourney programme, exploded across social media while a New York grand jury considers evidence in a criminal investigation into the former president, who has predicted his imminent indictment and arrest.

They served as a high-profile example of the kinds of viral phenomena relying on false images built with artificial intelligence programmes that could be used to spread harmful disinformation to spark unrest and disrupt news cycles and elections.

Democratic US Senator Mark Warner told The Washington Post that lawmakers have issued similar warnings about the potential for synthetic media to spread disinformation and more generally to sow confusion and discord.

Mr Warner, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the technology is now at a point where these tools are widely available and incredibly capable.

As we have all seen, it is so much easier to make fake videos and fake images and make them look really realistic, Vwani Roychowdhury, a professor at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, told HuffPost. Whether its the correct information or socially acceptable information or misinformation, in my opinion, theyre all embedded as part of a narrative.

Making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trump's arrest. pic.twitter.com/4D2QQfUpLZ  Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) March 20, 2023

The viral images followed at least two other high-profile faked images involving US elected officials that spread across social media, prompting platforms  which have faced criticism for varying responses and policies governing disinformation and potentially disruptive AI images  to take action.

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Last month, a faked video that spread virally on Twitter appeared to show Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren claiming that Republicans should not be allowed to vote. The social media platform applied a label to the video as altered audio, and one account that amplified the video was later suspended.

Far-right activist Jack Posobeic also posted a so-called deepfaked video of President Joe Biden announcing the reinstatement of a military draft for Americans to combat Russias war on Ukraine.

Mr Posobeic labelled the video a sneak preview of things to come. Twitter applied a label noting that the video was a deepfake created with the aid of artificial intelligence.

In an appearance at the closely watched Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this month, he defended the videos creation and the entirely made-up scenario. Conservatives have to stop being scared of news outlets and fact-checking, he said. Screw them all.

Though the images created by Mr Higgins were clearly intended to be fakes, their vast spread and presentation by some bad-faith actors indicates that theres been a giant step forward in the ability to create fake but believable images at volume, according to Sam Gregory, executive director of the human rights organization Witness, speaking to The Washington Post.

And its easy to see how this could be done in a coordinated way with an intent to deceive, he added.

It does not really matter whether someone does fact-checking. Because the damage has been done, Mr Roychowdhury told HuffPost.

Brandeis Marshall, CEO of DataedX and a professor of computer science at Spelman College, told HuffPost that the spread of such images could be construed as an intentional bad act and a calculated strategy to incite supporters, while Mr Trumps well-executed disinformation campaign predicting his own arrest has also drawn attention away from other news that is not being reported.

The Poynter Institutes Al Tompkins offered a checklist to determine whether increasingly sophisticated AI imagery is real, including seeing whether the creator disclosed how the image was captured, if theres a watermark, and for other oddities in the image.

Meanwhile, as NPR noted in coverage leading into the 2020 presidential election,and fears that emerging deepfake technology could throw campaigns into chaos, disinformation already is able to spready rapidly through partisan narratives, deceptive editing or outright lies that have worked just as well to advance certain causes.
By Krystal Hu and Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - Databricks, a San Francisco-based startup last valued at $38 billion, on Friday released open-source code that it said companies could use to create their own chatbots along the lines of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The code is an AI model, an algorithm that is trained on sets of data and can then learn from new data to perform a variety of tasks.

Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi said the release was aimed at demonstrating a viable alternative to training a kind of AI model called a large language model with enormous resources and computing power.

A large language model underpins OpenAI's viral chatbot ChatGPT. OpenAI, valued at $29 billion, trains its AI models with huge troves of data on a supercomputer from investor Microsoft Corp. The computing costs are "eye-watering", OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said.

OpenAI charges business for access to its models for their own applications and has projected $1 billion in sales by 2024.

Databricks' effort comes with caveats. Ghodsi told Reuters that, while the open-source chatbot displayed impressive capabilities at such tasks as drafting blog posts, the company had not released formal benchmark tests to show that the bot matched ChatGPT's performance.

Databricks sells cloud-based data mining and analytics software to businesses and said last year it had surpassed $1 billion in annualized revenue.

Databricks wants enterprises to train their own AI models using its software. Ghodsi said the company's researchers had taken a two-year-old model that was freely available and trained it with a small amount of data for three hours on single computer that anyone with a credit card could rent.

"The future will be that everyone has their own model, and they can actually train it, and they can make it better," Ghodsi said. "And that way, they also don't have to give away their data to someone else."

Databricks' move comes at a time when startups are raising millions of dollars of venture capital investment to train their AI models and as big tech firms such as Alphabet's Google and Meta Platforms rush to shrink the size and cost of AI models while improving their accuracy.

"My belief is that in the end, you will make these models smaller, smaller and smaller, and they will be open-sourced," Ghodsi said. "Everyone will have them."

(Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Bradley Perrett)
Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas concedes with his wife, Sharon, by his side during his election night watch party at the Hyatt Regency hotel, April 4, 2023. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The biggest issue facing our city is gun violence, and one of the biggest barriers to addressing it is an ineffective Police Department.

For too long, the Chicago Police Department has had a go-it-alone mentality about fighting crime with big specialized units aggressively descending on high-crime neighborhoods like an invading force. The predictable result of this approach is lack of trust and angry, frustrated communities.

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Worst of all, too many violent crimes never get solved. In high-crime neighborhoods, arrest rates for nonfatal shootings and even homicides are so low that people feel they have to take matters in their own hands. Absent real justice, you get street justice.

As Chicagoans head to the polls to choose their next mayor, the question they should ask is which of the two candidates is best able to transform the $1.9 billion Police Department from a demoralized, ineffective police agency into an accountable and transparent public safety partner with the community.

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I recently wrote an op-ed for the Tribune outlining four pillars for reducing gun violence, including taking violence prevention to scale, focusing youth programs on the most at-risk teens and preteens, and partnering with business to hire from and invest in high-crime communities.

The fourth pillar, however  fixing CPD  is by far the hardest of all. I have worked with extraordinary officers and commanders in Chicago who have been fantastic partners with the violence prevention community and who risk their lives every day to keep all of us safe. At the same time, theres also a deeply ingrained culture of passive-aggressive resistance to reform among some police and their union, the Fraternal Order of Police.

For example, following anti-police protests nationwide in 2014, police went fetal, as then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel put it. Following the death of Officer Ella French in 2021, officers literally and figuratively turned their backs on Mayor Lori Lightfoot when she showed up at the hospital where Frenchs partner was fighting for his life.

The union, along with police leadership, has dragged its feet on implementing the consent decree that grew out of the murder of Laquan McDonald. And the union has tacitly endorsed a blue flu when it suits their interests.

Changing police tactics, adding more police, promoting more detectives or hiring back retired ones wont make a difference unless it addresses the bigger issue, which is the fundamental lack of trust.

Thats why Chicago needs a mayor who can tell CPD and its union the hard truth. We need CPD to take responsibility for its long and troubled history of abuse. We need to deploy police where and when crime is happening  instead of where and when they choose to work. We need to recruit good police, not just more police.

We need leadership to create a department that is sincerely committed to real partnerships with the community instead of just lip service. And we need to do all of these things while rebuilding morale in a department where retirements and suicides have both spiked. Its a daunting challenge.

Candidate Brandon Johnson has been criticized for being too close to the Chicago Teachers Union, but he has suggested that his close relationship with the union actually puts him in the best position to get CTU to bend. As he said, Who better to deliver bad news to friends than a friend?

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I agree with him. By the same token, that also suggests that Paul Vallas would be the best person to push CPD into the modern age and bring change to a toxic, broken police culture.

Vallas comes from a family of police and, as an unpaid adviser to the FOP and the union representing police sergeants, he negotiated meaningful reforms in both contracts. He also has not taken campaign contributions from them.

Johnson, on the other hand, has called for shifting funds from police to other social services, and I worry that the FOP would go to war with him on day one, just as the CTU did with Lightfoot after she defeated the unions preferred candidate for mayor in 2019. We would all continue to pay a devastating price for that conflict.

I salute Johnsons courage for running. I agree with his broad commitment to invest in people. If he wins, I am 100% committed to helping him succeed. We all have to unite behind the next mayor no matter who wins on April 4.

But, given the desperate need to reform CPD, tell police the truth and hold them accountable, Vallas is our best hope for a safer Chicago.

Arne Duncan is founder of Chicago CRED and a managing partner with Emerson Collective. He was CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2008 and U.S. secretary of education from 2009 to 2015.

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Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Same-sex parents who sent their child to a Maryland daycare say they received a call from the centers director, who left them disturbing voicemails in which she spoke in tongues.

The post Daycare Director Calls Same-Sex Parents At 3:30 A.M. To Tell Them She Is A Prophet, Speaks In Tongues And Says They Should Split appeared first on Blavity.

According to Fox 5, Kelly Gibbs, one of the parents, revealed the director of Rising Generations Early Learning Center in Prince Georges County, Kimesha Munford, was the one who left a very disturbing message and the phone conversation was equally as disturbing, telling me that she was a prophet from God and that we needed to split up.

Now, the center is accused of discriminating against LGBTQ families.

They shared the voicemail with Fox 5, confirming their story.

Hi Mrs. Gibbs, this is Ms. Kimesha from Rising Generation. Im so sorry to be calling you this late and to be calling you from my personal private cell phone, but I had to call to let you know that Im a prophet and God often speaks to me through dreams and visions, Munford said. The word of the Lord says that God wants you and your wife to split up and I am so sorry to have to tell you this  I also speak in tongues, I pray in tongues, Munford said in the message.

Gibbs partner, Ky, said the dark and disturbing voicemail caught them off guard.

We were like what the?! she said.

Gibbs added that after they both listened to it, we sat and stared at each other for the next half hour looking at what should we do. She cant go back to school there, right?

They soon pulled their child out of the Rising Generations Early Learning Center.

The parents said the daycare didnt claim to be religious, nor were there indications the center didnt support their marriage.

I personally had interaction with her at least three times a week and never anything  So, completely out of the dark, Gibbs said.

Ky added, not even as much as Have a blessed day, so this came out of left field.

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The center called Munfords message offensive and inappropriate and explained in a statement to Fox 5 that after launching an internal investigation into the allegations, we reprimanded the alleged employee. As such, we have and continue to extend our apologies to any of our affected Rising Generations Early Learning Center families.

The center also extended heartfelt apologies for the incident and any disappointment or frustration it may have caused.

Mumfords parents operate the center.

The phone call, which you can listen to below, has since gone viral on TikTok.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has seen an exponential increase in tragic illicit drug overdoses and poisonings in recent weeks, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

While the DEA did not immediately provide numbers of overdoses in the region, Dallas Fire-Rescue told the Star-Telegram in an email that on March 21 its crews responded to 27 suspected drug overdoses between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., mostly in the area around Fair Park.

Spokesman Jason Evans told the Star-Telegram that Dallas Fire-Rescue typically responds to about six suspected drug overdose calls in a 24-hour period.

Fort Wort police directed Star-Telegram inquiries on the number of overdoses in the city to the Dallas field office of the DEA. Arlington police said they had no record of calls to law enforcement about suspected overdoses or deaths from known overdoses.

MedStar could not immediately provide the number of suspected overdose calls the paramedic service responded to.

A spokesperson for the DEA in Dallas said that because the investigation is ongoing the agency cannot comment on the current number of suspected overdoses or the drugs on which victims have overdosed or been poisoned.

We immediately deployed resources to work hand-in-hand with North Texas law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible, the DEA in Dallas said in an emailed statement. While we are unable to confirm the drug or drug mixtures directly responsible for this, we cannot emphasize enough the dangers of illicit drug abuse and the irreversible consequences that can result. Lives have been lost and families have been forever changed.

Anybody with information on drug trafficking in North Texas is asked to contact the Drug Enforcement Agency at 214-366-6900 or submit a tip online at dea.gov/submit-tip.
Three people have died and others have gone blind and even had their eyes surgically removed after being exposed to a drug-resistant bacteria found in a now-recalled type of eyedrops.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention released an update on Tuesday alerting the public to a rise in deaths and injuries caused by the bacteria.

Here's everything we know about the recalled eyedrops and the deadly bacteria.

Contaminated eyedrops

More than 10 brands of artificial tears have been recalled due to the presence of the bacteria, according to ABC News.

The majority of cases have been linked to EzriCare and Delsam Pharma eyedrops, which are made by the India-based company Pharma Healthcare.

The eye drops were contaminated with a drug-resistant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a particularly aggressive bacterium, according to the CDC.

"Testing of opened product identified the outbreak strain in bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears that were obtained from two states," the CDC told ABC News in a statement. "Testing of unopened product to evaluate for intrinsic contamination is ongoing by [the U.S. Food and Drug Administration]."

The FDA issued a warning last month urging the public not to buy the companies' Artificial Tears due to the potential contaminants.

Global Pharma Healthcare issued a voluntary recall of the products following the warning. Delsam Pharma did the same shortly after. There have been no known reported infections caused by the product.

The CDC has warned anyone who has used the products recently to seek medical care immediately.

This scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. U.S. officials are reporting two more deaths and additional cases of vision loss linked to eyedrops tainted with the drug-resistant bacteria. The eyedrops from EzriCare and Delsam Phama were recalled in February 2023 and health authorities are continuing to track infections as they investigate the outbreak. (Janice Haney Carr/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP, File) (AP)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria

The bacteria is found in the environment, and the aeruginosa type is the most common to cause infections in humans.

The infection most commonly spreads in hospitals and other health care settings, and is generally transferred between unclean hands, equipment, or improperly cleaned equipment.

The bacteria is resistant to numerous antibiotics and has caused approximately 32,000 infections among hospitalised patients in the US. It is also responsible for approximately 2,700 deaths, according to the CDC.

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The strain linked to the recent outbreak has never been reported in the US before, according to the agency.

US Cases

Three people have died as a result of the bacteria. At least eight people have gone blind, and four have had to have their eyes surgically removed.

One of the newest case reports described a 72-year-old woman who lost her vision in her left eye after using the ExriCare product for approximately a week, according to CNN.

She started noticing some blurry vision in her left eye for a few days, Dr. Ahmed Omar, an ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, who treated the woman, said. It was initially painless, but according to the patient and her husband, one morning she woke up and she had a yellow discharge on her pillow. And thats when she started noticing that the appearance of her eye had changed.

The woman had to be admitted to the emergency room, where physicians discovered a large ulcer on her left cornea.

All three deaths have occurred in Washington State.

At least 68 patients in 16 states have been infected with the bacteria, according to specimens collected between May 2022 and February 2023.

In the most extreme cases, the infection can spread to other body parts from the eyes, including the bloodstream, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and and the cornea.
House Bill 187, titled Equality in Education, prohibits educators from teaching white privilege, which is the idea that people of one race have unfair advantages.

Democrats in North Carolina oppose the passage of an anti-critical race theory bill they believe will deter teachers from bringing up controversial topics in class.

The North Carolina House Republicans passed House Bill 187, titled Equality in Education, on Wednesday, restricting how educators can teach racism and sexism. According to The Charlotte Observer, party lines prevailed in the 68-49 decision, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against.

The bill on its face is the obvious attempt to micromanage from the General Assembly into the classrooms, Mecklenburg County Democratic Rep. Laura Budd said, according to The Observer. Its overreach. It will have a chilling effect on teachers and educators in curtailing what they think theyre allowed to teach, as well as how they teach.

Gaston County Republican Rep. John Torbett (above) sponsored House Bill 187, which restricts how North Carolina educators can teach racism and sexism. The bill passed Wednesday on a 68-49 party-line vote, and Democrats are decrying that approval. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/NC House Republicans)

House Bill 187 states that public schools cannot promote ideas such as one race or sex is inherently superior or that a person, solely by their race or sex, is inherently sexist, racist or oppressive.

The legislation, which omits the term critical race theory, would mandate that schools announce online beforehand whenever they offer instruction relating to the forbidden ideas. They must also disclose if they employ diversity trainers, consultants, or lecturers with a history of promoting them.

The measure prohibits educators from teaching white privilege, the idea that people of one race have unfair advantages. According to the legislation, instructors cannot advocate that someone should receive privileges based on race or sexual orientation.

GOP lawmakers claim the bill intends to stop schools from promoting critical race theory.

Gaston County Republican Rep. John Torbett, the bills sponsor, contended that everyone should agree that no student, teacher, parent, school employee or anyone should ever be made to feel inferior solely because of the color of their skin, their gender, national origin, race, religion, disability and familial status.

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The GOP lawmaker insisted the legislation does not change what history standards can and cannot be taught, but merely forbids schools from endorsing discriminatory concepts.

Democratic lawmakers, however, countered that the bills ambiguous language would cause teachers to censor their speech to avoid possible conflict. They also believe it doesnt guide what would be acceptable.

Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Democrat from Wake County, questioned whether the legislation would bar her from speaking in classrooms or filling in for teachers because of her political views.

She said the measure makes teachers wonder if they can still talk to their students about equality, voting rights and the underrepresentation of women in politics and other professions.

At a time when teachers are already feeling pressure from staff shortages, book bans, inadequate resources, this bill continues to undermine the autonomy of the teaching profession, von Haefen said during the floor debate, adding that House Bill 187 fails to support teachers.

School administrators have disputed conservative organizations accusations of spreading critical race theory rhetoric, contending the public has mistakenly misconstrued anything involving diversity, equity and race as CRT.

An Education Week analysis found that since January 2021, 44 states have proposed legislation or taken other actions restricting the teaching of critical race theory or how teachers can address racism and sexism. Eighteen of the states cemented prohibitions and limitations through law or other means.

Torbett claimed House Bill 187 would aid in fostering unity in both the nation and the state, especially at a time when learning should be fun and exciting for young children.

North Carolina must have an educational system that unites and teaches our children, said Torbett, according to The Observer, not divides and indoctrinates them.

The North Carolina House and Senate passed a bill in 2021 that had virtually identical language. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper explained his decision to veto that measure by maintaining it pushes calculated, conspiracy-laden politics into public education.

The bill now moves to the states Republican-controlled Senate, where it is anticipated to be approved with little difficulty. Should Cooper veto the measure as he did two years ago, to override him, Republicans would need at least one Democratic vote.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Dems decry passage of anti-CRT bill in N.C. House appeared first on TheGrio.
Copenhagen  Denmark has invited the Russian-controlled operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to help recover a mystery object that was spotted near the pipeline, six months after sections were sabotaged. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who revealed the discovery of the object earlier this month, said experts believe that it could be a signal antenna to activate an explosive in that part of the pipeline.



German, Swedish and Danish authorities are investigating the undersea explosions that sparked four leaks on the two Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine.

An image released on March 23, 2023 by the Danish Energy Agency shows an unknown object on the seafloor next to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, near the location of a sabotage attack in September of the previous year. / Credit: Danish Energy Agency

The Danish energy agency released a photo late Thursday of the cylindrical object standing near the Nord Stream 2 pipeline at the bottom of the sea.

The agency said it is "possible" that the object is a maritime smoke buoy, 16 inches tall and four inches wide, and that it "does not pose an immediate safety risk."



"With a view to further clarifying the nature of the object, Danish authorities have decided to salvage the object with assistance from the Danish Defense," it said in a statement.



The agency added that it was still waiting for a response from the pipeline's owner before starting the recovery operation.



Russian energy giant Gazprom holds a majority stake in the twin pipelines, with the rest owned by German, Dutch and French companies.

In November last year, prosecutor leading Sweden's preliminary investigation said traces of explosives had been found at site where the two natural gas pipelines were damaged by what he called an act of "gross sabotage."



"Analysis carried out shows traces of explosives on several of the foreign objects that were found" at the site, prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said in a statement at the time. The Swedish prosecution authority said the investigation was "very complex and comprehensive," and that further scrutiny would determine whether anyone could be charged "with suspicion of crime."

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German prosecutors said earlier this month that, in January, investigators searched a ship suspected of having transported explosives used in the blasts.



Confirmation of the searches came after the New York Times reported that U.S. officials had seen new intelligence indicating that a "pro-Ukrainian group" was responsible for the sabotage. The Ukrainian government denied involvement in the action, while the Kremlin rejected the Times report as a "diversion."

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The Denver school board has lifted its ban on armed guards and police officers in its schools in the wake of this weeks shooting.

On Thursday, the board voted unanimously in favour of temporarily suspending the almost two-year ban which was put in place as part of the racial reckoning after George Floyds 2020 murder.

The same day, a crowd of students held a rally at the Colorado state Capitol calling on lawmakers to take greater action on gun control and school safety following Wednesdays violence.

Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student, allegedly shot two faculty members at East High School on Wednesday morning while he was being searched for weapons.

The teenager had been required to be patted down each day at school due to his record, police said.

After the shooting, Lyle allegedly killed himself while on the run from police.

His body was found hours later in some woods close to his abandoned red Volvo.

The two victims  Eric Sinclair, a dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice  were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. Mr Sinclair remains in critical condition while Mr Mason was later released after treatment.

Key Points

Body found in search for suspect

Denver shooting revives calls for armed officers in school

Austin Lyle had prior ghost guns arrest

One faculty member remains critical

Shooting took place during security search of student

Will more police in schools stop shootings?

Two staff members shot in active shooter incident at a Denver high school

Wednesday 22 March 2023 17:41 , Graig Graziosi

A pair of faculty members were shot at a Denver high school, and the suspect  believed to be a student  is still at large.

Police were called to East High School in Denver around 10am on Wednesday to respond to a shooting. The school was placed on lockdown as a result.

It is unclear if the shooting occurred inside or outside the school.

The Denver Public School district revealed that the victims were both adult male facutly members, and they have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

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The suspected shooter is reportedly known to the schools staff and to police, and had to agree to a pat-down before entering school each day, according to CBS News.

Read more:

Two staff members shot in active shooter incident at a Denver high school

VIDEO: Denver Mayor gives update on victims

Wednesday 22 March 2023 17:50 , Gustaf Kilander

JUST IN: A student shot and injured two staff members at East High School in Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock says.



"One's in surgery right now, the other one is stable and able to talk and give statements in terms of what happened," Hancock says. pic.twitter.com/MBL9gxbbCf  CBS News (@CBSNews) March 22, 2023

Congressman alerted to shooting while introducing legislation to combat gun violence

Wednesday 22 March 2023 18:05 , Gustaf Kilander

Florida Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost tweeted that he was walking to introduce a bill aimed at fighting gun violence when the news broke of the Denver shooting.

Ran into students from @NewtownAction as I was walking to introduce my first bill to tackle gun violence. During my walk, news broke of a school shooting in Denver, CO at East High School. We really are #GenerationLockdown, he wrote.

What the hell. Kids are literally on the frontlines of this crisis. I wont rest until we #EndGunViolence, he added.

Ran into students from @NewtownAction as I was walking to introduce my first bill to tackle gun violence.



During my walk, news broke of a school shooting in Denver, CO at East High School. We really are #GenerationLockdown. https://t.co/5sZKDVzapJ  Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) March 22, 2023

Colorado Democrat responds after learning of shooting

Wednesday 22 March 2023 18:20 , Gustaf Kilander

Colorado Representative Jason Crow tweeted that he was shocked to hear that 2 faculty members were shot outside Denvers East High School. Our thoughts are with the victims families and the entire East High community  my team & I will be monitoring the situation as we learn more.

Police: 2 school administrators shot at Denver high school

Wednesday 22 March 2023 18:35 , AP

Two school administrators were shot at a Denver high school Wednesday morning after a handgun was found during a search of a student, authorities said.

The juvenile suspect remained at large and the gun was not immediately recovered following the shooting at East High School, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

The shooting happened at around 10 a.m. in an area away from classrooms as the student was undergoing a daily search as part of a safety plan, officials said. One of the administrators was critically injured and is undergoing surgery. The second victim was in stable condition, Thomas said.

Police know who shooter is and is confident of possible arrest

Wednesday 22 March 2023 18:50 , Gustaf.Kilander

Police know the identity of the suspect and were confident they would apprehend him, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

He obviously is armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon, as weve learned this morning, said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, warning the community as they search for the suspect.

Earlier this month students from the school skipped class and marched to Colorados state Capitol to demand stricter gun laws, following the death of a fellow student who was shot while sitting in a car near the school.

Suspect subject to daily searches after recently transferring from other school district

Wednesday 22 March 2023 19:05 , AP

The suspect in Wednesdays shooting had transferred to East High School from another district, Denver Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said. Officials did not reveal why the student was subject to daily searches.

The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.

Denver Public School confirmed the victims were administrators. Hundreds of parents lined up along a road near the school, with the scene sealed off by police.

Wednesday was the second anniversary of 10 people being shot and killed at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

Shooting took place during 'security search

Wednesday 22 March 2023 19:20 , Gustaf Kilander

The shooting took place during a security search, Denver police Chief Ron Thomas said, according to The Denver Post.

This was a regular protocol with this student based on previous actions. During the search, a gun was located.

The student fired the gun at about 9.50am and was able to get out of the school.

We dont have any sense of where he is. We know where he lives, the chief said, adding that it was a very troubling situation.

We know who the suspect is. We will find him. We will hold him accountable'

Wednesday 22 March 2023 19:40 , Gustaf Kilander

DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero said at a press briefing on Wednesday that when school starts again, we will have two armed officers here at East until the end of the school year. Were looking forward to expanding that conversation to see how we can reestablish a relationship with the police.

We know who the suspect is. We will find him. We will hold him accountable, Mayor Michael Hancock said, according to The Denver Post.

Denver Schools releases statement

Wednesday 22 March 2023 20:00 , Graig Graziosi

Denver Schools released a statement following the shooting.

We are working with the Denver Police Department to ensure the safety and security of our students. Additional communications will be shared with students and families as we know more. We cannot provide further comments at this time, the school said.

VIDEO: Fox News reporter embraces son as he exits East High School

Wednesday 22 March 2023 20:20 , Gustaf Kilander

Alicia Acuna is a reporter in the Denver bureau for Fox News.

Her son attends East High School and she became emotional as she caught up with him live on the air while reporting on the shooting on Wednesday.

Fox reporter @aacuna1 reporting on school shooting, sees her son while she's on the air live... pic.twitter.com/zFZNrtB45z  johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) March 22, 2023

Mayor speaks to fears of parents: 'We feel for them

Wednesday 22 March 2023 21:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Mayor Michael Hancock addressed the fears of parents for their children when he spoke on Wednesday.

We feel for them There should never be a concern of parents that they are safe in the building, he said, according to The Denver Post.

Denver Public Schools tweeted this morning that the school had gone into lockdown.

All students are in their third-period classrooms, the district said. We are holding them there until further notice.

They later announced that we will be doing a controlled release once DPD allows and that parents could collect their kids at 17th Avenue and Esplanade.

Students who drove will be escorted to their cars in the parking lot and can leave. Students who ride the bus will be held until their bus arrives, the district said at about 10.30am on Wednesday.

Suspect identified in Denver shooting

Wednesday 22 March 2023 22:06 , Josh Marcus

Police are searching for 17-year-old Austin Lyle in connection with a Wednesday school shooting in Denver, Colorado, that injured two school administrators.

Police described the teen as a Black male, about 5 feet, 5 inches, who was last seen wearing a green hoodie and may be driving a red 2005 Volvo XC90, Fox News reports.

A reward of $2,000 has been offered for information leading to the alleged gunmans arrest.

Its something that everybody has to worry about, student says after hiding in 7/11

Wednesday 22 March 2023 23:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Student Anae Hernandez told The Denver Post that she was outside the school when she saw an ambulance and one of the wounded members of faculty on a stretcher.

She was told that a shooting had taken place and she hid in a 7/11.

Its scary, she told the paper. It keeps us from our learning time.

I feel like its something that everybody has to worry about here a lot, she added. Because this is not like something that just happens once in a while. This is a recurring theme and its not something that should be going on.

Her grandmother Jeannie Hernandez told the paper that last time, I just hugged them and hugged them and told them how sorry I was.

Colorado Senator issues statement on shooting: No one should have to live with the daily fear of gun violence'

Thursday 23 March 2023 00:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennett issued a statement on Twitter following the East High School shooting.

Im saddened to hear about two staff members who were shot at East High School, he said. Im thinking of the kids, parents, teachers, and staff at East, and the entire Denver community at this time. No one should have to live with the daily fear of gun violence like this.

Father says this year has been relentless for East High School students amidst multiple lockdowns

Thursday 23 March 2023 02:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The father of a senior at East High School has told The Denver Post that the last few months have been relentless for students at the school as they have gone through multiple lockdowns following a previous shooting last month.

Luis Garcia was shot while he was sitting in his car near the school on 13 February. He died from his injuries on 1 March.

Students have said they have been placed on lockdown several times since that shooting and a firearm was found on campus the day after students went back to classes.

False reports of threats have been sent to the school twice since autumn.

Ben Roy is the father of a senior at the school. He told The Post that this year has been relentless for the students.

It feels like every other week theres been a perimeter lockdown, he said on Wednesday. Its just constant.

I think what scares them, for my son, is how little he reacts now, he added. Hes grown numb to it and at other times anxious. I hate this is the world weve made for them.

PHOTOS: Students reunite with parents after shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 03:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Parents wait for students to be walked out after two administrators shot and wounded after a handgun was found during a daily search of a student at Denver East High School Wednesday, March 22, 2023 (AP)

Isabella DeJoseph, 15, center left, is embraced by her mother Alana as they leave East High School after a school shooting, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

A student, right, hugs a parent as they are reunited following a shooting at East High School, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

A student, rear, hugs a woman as they reunite following a shooting at East High School, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

No school resource officers on campus at time of shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 05:00 , AP

There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesdays shooting, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

But following the shooting, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year.

In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to phase out its use of police officers in school buildings.

That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.

Gun violence at schools has become increasingly common in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shootings recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to researchers from the Naval Postgraduate School and Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.

PHOTOS: Students meet with parents after shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 06:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, center right, and Chief of Police Ron Thomas, center left, meet with concerned parents as they wait to be reunited with their children following a shooting at East High School, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

A Denver Police officer directs parents to meet their children following a shooting at East High School, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

Two women hug when reunited following a shooting at East High School, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

Students are walked out of East High School following a shooting, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

Denver school suspect shooter found dead - report

Thursday 23 March 2023 07:38 , Shweta Sharma

The 17-year-old boy suspected of shooting two administrators at the Denver high school was found dead in an apparent suicide, reported 9News.

It comes after Park County police confirmed a body was found yesterday night in the Colorado woods near the abandoned car that belonged to a 17-year-old student.

But the police did not identify the body.

A law enforcement source told 9News that the body was of the suspect, Austin Lyle, who died of suicide.

Students from East High School were set to testify before Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.

Thursday 23 March 2023 08:00 , AP

Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.

This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before youre scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills, said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.

Our school experience should not be completely shaped by gun violence, she added.

Victims identified

Thursday 23 March 2023 08:30 , Rachel Sharp

The two victims have now been identified as Eric Sinclair, a dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice.

The two male faculty members were both shot during the Wednesday morning incident at East Denver High School.

They were rushed to hospital.

Mr Sinclair remains in critical condition while Mr Mason was later released from hospital after treatment.

PHOTOS: Parents meet students after East High School shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 09:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Denver Police Department Chief Ron Thomas stands outside of East High School after a school shooting Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

A parent hugs a student as they are reunited after a school shooting at East High School Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

A man holds hands with a student following their reunion after a school shooting at East High School Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver (AP)

Coroner identifies body as suspect Austin Lyle

Thursday 23 March 2023 10:40 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday morning, the Park County coroners office confirmed that a body found in the search for the gunman was that of suspect Austin Lyle.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said on Wednesday night that police had located a male body in some woods close to an abandoned red Volvo associated with the 17-year-suspect.

The sheriff said that the body had not yet been identified as belonging to the student but a shelter-in-place was lifted for residents in the Park County area.

Early on Thursday, the coroner confirmed the body belongs to Lyle.

The coroner said that an investigation is now under way into his death and that no further details will be provided until an autopsy was completed.

Full story: Student gunman found dead

Thursday 23 March 2023 11:15 , Rachel Sharp

The student accused of shooting two staff members at a high school in Denver, Colorado  leaving one in critical condition  has now been found dead.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said on Wednesday night that police had located a male body in some woods close to an abandoned red Volvo associated with 17-year-suspect Austin Lyle.

The sheriff said that the body had not yet been identified as belonging to the student but a shelter-in-place was lifted for residents in the Park County area.

On Thursday morning, the countys coroners office confirmed that the body was that of Lyle.

Read the full story here:

Denver school shooting suspect Austin Lyle found dead after manhunt

Clearly they were concerned: Professor says daily searches indicate history of the kid carrying a weapon

Thursday 23 March 2023 11:45 , Rachel Sharp

The suspect in Wednesdays shooting had transferred to East High School from another district, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said.

Officials did not reveal why the student was being searched daily.

Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to past educational and also behavioral experiences, adding that its a common practice throughout Colorados public schools.

But daily pat downs are rare, said Matthew McClain with the Colorado School Counselor Association, and Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.

Clearly they were concerned, said Crepeau-Hobson. I cant imagine theyd do that if there wasnt a history of the kid carrying a weapon for whatever reason.

School safety plans are often imposed after students exhibit threatening or suicidal behavior, said Christine Harms, director of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center. A team that can include counselors, administrators and police officers assesses the possible threat and develops a safety plan, which can include mental health support, more supervision and searches, she said.

Suspect was arrested over ghost gun two years before shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 12:15 , Rachel Sharp

The student accused of shooting two staff members at a high school in Denver, Colorado, before allegedly killing himself had been arrested for possession of a ghost gun two years earlier.

Austin Lyle, 17, allegedly shot Eric Sinclair, dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice, at East High School in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday morning.

Following an hours-long manhunt to track down the student, Lyles body was discovered in a wooded area.

Now, the teenagers past brushes with the law have come to light, revealing that he was still on probation for possession of a ghost gun at the time of Wednesdays shooting.

The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Denver student, 17, was arrested over ghost gun two years before high school shooting

Shooting comes just one month after student was fatally shot

Thursday 23 March 2023 12:45 , Rachel Sharp

The shooting marks just the latest gun violence to rock East Denver High school in the space of a month.

In February, 16-year-old student Luis Garcia was shot as he sat in a parked car close to the school grounds.

He died weeks later.

Following his death, a group of fellow students called on local officials to take action to make their schools safer.

Several attended a city council meeting and spoke on their fears over gun violence in schools while the Denver East High School chapter of Students Demand Action staged a walkout demanding better gun control.

FULL STORY: A Denver student on probation shot two people during a school security check. Who is suspect Austin Lyle?

Thursday 23 March 2023 13:15 , Rachel Sharp

America has endured yet another act of gun violence at one of its schools.

This time it took place at East High School in Denver, Colorado, where two faculty staff members were shot and a student suspect is now dead.

Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student who had a prior arrest for possession of a ghost gun two years earlier, allegedly shot Eric Sinclair, dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice, in an office in the high school on Wednesday morning.

Lyle was undergoing a search for weapons by staff members at the time  a search the teen was required to undergo every day due to his past record.

Following the shooting, Lyle fled the scene before his body was discovered hours later in a wooded area.

Officials have not released his cause of death but he is believed to have died by suicide.

Heres what we know so far about the shooting and the suspected gunman:

Who is Austin Lyle? Student accused of shooting two staff members at Denver school

At least 18 school shootings so far in 2023

Thursday 23 March 2023 13:45 , Rachel Sharp

The shooting on Wednesday marks only the latest in a long line of shootings to rock students and school staff across America.

So far in 2023, there has been at least 18 shootings resulting in at least one injury or death at elementary or secondary schools across America, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Gun violence and mass shootings in all settings have also soared.

U.S. gun violence on March 22nd - last year compared to this year:



So far, 2023 has:



 Fewer gun deaths

 Fewer gun injuries

 More mass shootings

 Fewer children shot

 More teenagers shot

 Fewer defensive use incidents

 More unintentional shootings  The Gun Violence Archive (@GunDeaths) March 22, 2023

One staff member remains in critical condition

Thursday 23 March 2023 14:15 , Rachel Sharp

One of the staff members shot in Wednesdays incident remains in critical condition.

Suspected shooter Austin Lyle opened fire inside East Denver High School, striking Eric Sinclair, a dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice.

After opening fire, the suspect fled the scene.

The two faculty members were rushed to hospital where Mr Sinclair remains in critical condition.

Mr Mason was released from hospital later on Wednesday after treatment.

Parent considers taking daughter out of school for remainder of academic year

Thursday 23 March 2023 14:45 , Rachel Sharp

East High School, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.

Hundreds of parents lined up along a road near the school, with the scene sealed off by police.

Some parents and students vented frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded the police chief. Others argued about the causes of the violence.

Police Chief Ron Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board.

At the edge of the crowd, a man said the citys school board members should be recalled for getting rid of police in school, telling a police officer nearby I just want you to be able to do your job.

Another man shouted that it was a problem of evil in the world while a girl responded that the violence wouldnt happen if guns werent so easily available.

Parent Jess Haase said her daughter, a senior, texted while hiding in a classroom with the lights off during the lockdown. Haase said lockdowns have happened too frequently at the school this year and she was frustrated. She planned to talk to her daughter about taking her out of school for the rest of the school year.

I am sick of it, she said.

Denver Public School confirmed the victims were administrators.

Wednesday was also the second anniversary of 10 people being shot and killed at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she wasnt sure whether President Joe Biden had been briefed on the school shooting, but said, Our hearts go out to the families of the two school administrators in Denver today, and to the entire school community.

She repeated Bidens call for stricter gun laws, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to do something on gun control.

PICTURED: Suspect Austin Lyle

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:15 , Rachel Sharp

Austin Lyles body was found on Wednesday night (Denver Police)

Why was Austin Lyle searched upon entering school campus?

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:45 , Megan Sheets

Austin Lyle, the suspected gunman in the East High School shooting, reportedly opened fire while being searched by two deans before the start of classes.

It has since been revealed that Lyle was subject to search at the beginning of each day under a school safety agreement.

Denver7 reported that daily searches are only put in place when a student has committed a serious act of violence.

While the specifics of what led to Lyle being subject to search are not confirmed, it is believed to be linked to his prior record.

Law enforcement sources told CBS Colorado that the 17-year-old had been arrested back in 2021 for possession of a ghost gun and a high capacity magazine.

His arrest came when he was a student at Overland High School and some fellow students reported photos on social media showing Lyle with a gun, the sources said.

A search of the teenagers home then uncovered the ghost gun and magazine. He was later expelled from the school and began attending East High School.

How was Austin Lyle able to flee after shooting?

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:15 , Megan Sheets

Questions remain over how Austin Lyle was able to escape campus and go on the run after allegedly shooting two staff members at East High School.

The shooting unfolded just before 10am on Wednesday, plunging the school into lockdown. Shortly after, authorities confirmed that the suspect was still at large.

Hours later, police released a photo of Lyle identifying him as the suspected shooter.

Members of the public were warned that the student  who was wearing a hoodie with an astronaut on it and was believed to be in a 2005 red Volvo XC90 with a Colorado licence plate  should be considered armed and dangerous.

Not long later, the car was located  with Lyles body discovered nearby.

Authorities have not commented on why Lyle was not apprehended at the scene, or why it took so long to find him.

Gun violence in America, by the numbers

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:54 , Josh Marcus

The Denver shooting is the latest instance of gun violence across the US.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, 9,393 people have died in gun violence this year, including 5,412 by suicide.

Within that total, 328 teens have died from firearms.

What are ghost guns, the weapons alleged Denver gunman was arrested for

Thursday 23 March 2023 17:30 , Josh Marcus

Austin Lyle, the alleged student gunman in the Denver shooting, was reportedly previously arrested for posession of a ghost gun, a weapon, often hommade, that lacks a serial number, making it untraceable.

Denver student, 17, was arrested over ghost gun two years before high school shooting

As a result, the 17-year-old was required to be searched for weapons each day upon his arrival at East High. He allegedly shot two teachers during this search process on Wednesday.

Heres some of our reporting on ghost guns over the years.

California adds laws targeting ghost guns, sales to minors

Students recount Denver school shooting that wounded 2 faculty members

Thursday 23 March 2023 18:00 , Josh Marcus

Students at Denvers East High School say they were both shocked and numb to the news that their campus was the site of the latest school shooting in America.

The school, like many in the US, has experienced violence before.

I started hearing sirens  fire truck sirens  in the area and started running toward the school, junior Tyrone told Denver 7. [But] I looked at the building and the students started running. I saw students in classrooms ducking their heads.

Were just kind of numb to it at this point since this has happened so much, another student, Aubriana Acuna, said. Like second time this month. I think its insane. Its really not fair at all.

A 16-year-old named Luis Garcia was shot near the school in February.

That really shook up the community, a sophomore named Chase Chavez told the station. So when I heard it, I got really scared because Im like, you know, it could be a repeat of it.

Denver shooting revives calls for armed officers in school

Thursday 23 March 2023 18:30 , Josh Marcus

Wednesdays shooting at a Denver high school has prompted calls from local officials to bring armed police officers back on campus.

In 2020, the city school board voted unanimously to remove police from schools amid the racial justice protests that year following the murder of George Floyd, citing the disproportionate rates youth of colour are targeted by campus officers.

What we saw in our streets was a reaction to what we will no longer tolerate, said board member Tay Anderson said at the time. This topic is not new or knee-jerk.

In a letter to the board on Wednesday, superintendent Alex Marrero called for the officers to return to schools, including two being stationed at East High, the site of Wednesdays shooting.

I can no longer stand on the sidelines, Mr Marrero wrote in the letter, Chalkbeat Colorado reports.

The school board said its supportive of the move.

What we know about the victims of the Denver shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 19:01 , Josh Marcus

Two people were wounded on Wednesday in a school shooting in Denver.

A Denver Public Schools spokesperson told CNN the injured individuals are Erin Sinclair and Jerald Mason, who are the dean of culture and restorative practice coordinators, respectively.

One staffer member is in critical condition, while another suffered serious injuries but is in stable condition, according to Denver police.

The faculty were shot while searching alleged gunman Austin Lyle for weapons, given the students previous arrest for gun posession.

ICYMI: Reporter interrupts broadcast to hug her son in midst of shooting at Denver school

Thursday 23 March 2023 19:30 , Josh Marcus

A Fox News reporter immediately hugged her son after being reunited with him during a live broadcast of a shooting at his school in Denver, Colorado.

Alicia Acuna, the mother of a teenager, shared a heart-warming moment with her son outside East High School in Denver on Wednesday, where a student shot two faculty members.

Acuna told her colleagues in the studio to excuse her as she suddenly saw her son walking towards her. I am sorry, I have not seen my kid since this all went down, she said.

The reporter appeared to get emotional soon after and said there was no way anyone would let their kid walk by in such a situation.

Shweta Sharma reports.

Reporter reunited with own son in midst of shooting at Denver school

Will more police in schools stop shootings?

Thursday 23 March 2023 20:15 , Josh Marcus

After the recent school shooting in Denver, there have been calls to put more police officers on campus.

Would that have made a difference? Its complicated.

Last year, we reported on how theres little evidence police stop school shootings, but plenty of research that suggests campus officers disproportionately target youth of colour for arrest and suspicion.

Read our full story for more info on this debate.

Police didnt stop shootings in Parkland or Uvalde. Biden is giving them $300m anyway

Denver cancels classes for mental health day'

Thursday 23 March 2023 21:00 , Josh Marcus

Denver Public Schools canceled classes and declared a mental health day on Friday, CBS News reports, following a shooting earlier this week that left two faculty members at an area high school seriously injured.

As we learn more about the developments coming out of the shooting that took place at East High School yesterday, I want to extend my heartfelt apologies to the East High School community, and the larger DPS community, DPS superintendent Dr Alex Marrero said in a letter to district leaders. No student, employee, or community member should have to carry fear of potential violence when they walk into our buildings each day.

Denver shooting suspect brought weapons to past school and was considered threat to safety'

Thursday 23 March 2023 22:00 , Josh Marcus

Austin Lyle, the alleged gunman in Wednesdays school shooting in Denver, reportedly had a history of bringing weapons on campus.

Sources familiar with the teen, who was found dead on Wednesday evening, told ABC News a previous school had deemed him potentially violent and a threat to the safety of the school after a series of incidents between 2021 and 2022, including bringing a weapon on school grounds at Overland High School.

In 2021, Lyle was charged with weapons posession.

Denver votes to put police back in schools after shooting

Thursday 23 March 2023 23:08 , Josh Marcus

Following a school board that wounded two people, the Denver Public School Board of Education voted unanimously on Thursday to put Denver police back into schools, just three years after officials removed officers from campus amid the 2020 racial justice protests.

The board asked superintendent Alex Marrero to fund at least two police officers and two mental health workers at all high schools for the remainder of the school year.

We have not flip-flopped. What we are doing is including more community engagement because we did have a one-year-long process back in 2020 where we included community and we are including them once more so that we can hear from them again. So theres no flip-flopping, Board President Xochtil Gaytan said during a news conference, The Colorado Sun reports.

Students rally at Colorado capitol after shooting

00:00 , Josh Marcus

A crowd of students rallied on Thursday at the Colorado state capitol, following a Wednesday shooting that left two faculty members seriously wounded.

I decided because I want safety for every student who is in high school and who is going to attend high school because its hard. As someone with anxiety problems, it gets really scary when you are paranoid being at school sometimes, one student told CBS News.

They carried signs with messages like End Gun Brutality, School Should Be A Safe Space, and We Are Not Safe.

Ten guns have been confiscated from students in Denver schools between the start of the school year and February, according to Denver Public Schools.

What we know about Denver shooting suspect Austin Lyle

01:21 , Josh Marcus

America has endured yet another act of gun violence at one of its schools.

This time it took place at East High School in Denver, Colorado, where two faculty staff members were shot and a student suspect is now dead.

Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student who had a prior arrest for possession of a ghost gun two years earlier, allegedly shot Eric Sinclair, dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice, in an office in the high school on Wednesday morning.

Heres what we know.

Who is Austin Lyle? Student accused of shooting two staff members at Denver school

Denver suspect had past arrest record for guns

03:20 , Josh Marcus

The student accused of shooting two staff members at a high school in Denver, Colorado, before allegedly killing himself had been arrested for possession of a ghost gun two years earlier.

Austin Lyle, 17, allegedly shot Eric Sinclair, dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice, at East High School in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday morning.

Denver Police said that the shooting unfolded just before 10am while Lyle was undergoing a daily weapons search at the school.

During the search, staff members located a handgun and Lyle allegedly opened fire, striking the two faculty members before fleeing the scene.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Denver student, 17, was arrested over ghost gun two years before high school shooting

What happened to the victims of the Denver shooting?

05:20 , Josh Marcus

Two faculty members at a Denver high school were injured on Wednesday while searching a student for weapons as a part of a security plan based on his previous run-ins with the law.

During Wednesdays search, staff members located a handgun and student Austin Lyle allegedly opened fire, striking Eric Sinclair, a dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice.

As part of a safety plan they were undergoing a search, as part of that search a weapon was retrieved, a handgun was retrieved, and several shots were fired, striking those two individuals, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The two faculty members were rushed to hospital where Mr Sinclair remains in critical condition.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Denver school shooting suspect Austin Lyle found dead after manhunt

Inside the manhunt that located the alleged Denver school gunman

07:20 , Josh Marcus

The student accused of shooting two staff members at a high school in Denver, Colorado  leaving one in critical condition  has now been found dead.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said on Wednesday night that police had located a male body in some woods close to an abandoned red Volvo associated with 17-year-suspect Austin Lyle.

The sheriff said that the body had not yet been identified as belonging to the student but a shelter-in-place was lifted for residents in the Park County area.

On Thursday morning, the countys coroners office confirmed that the body was that of Lyle.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Denver school shooting suspect Austin Lyle found dead after manhunt

Denver school shooting becomes personal for local reporting covering story on TV

09:20 , Josh Marcus

A Fox News reporter immediately hugged her son after being reunited with him during a live broadcast of a shooting at his school in Denver, Colorado.

Alicia Acuna, the mother of a teenager, shared a heart-warming moment with her son outside East High School in Denver on Wednesday, where a student shot two faculty members.

Acuna told her colleagues in the studio to excuse her as she suddenly saw her son walking towards her. I am sorry, I have not seen my kid since this all went down, she said.

The reporter appeared to get emotional soon after and said there was no way anyone would let their kid walk by in such a situation.

She was asked by her colleague to step aside if she wanted to meet her son but she continued with her coverage, saying: Hes ok. Hes good.

Shweta Sharma has more.

Fox reporter reunited with son on air after Denver school shooting

Austin Lyle brought a weapon into his previous school, says report

11:01 , Rachel Sharp

Denver school shooting suspect Austin Lyle once brought a weapon into his previous school before he was expelled and began attending East High School, according to a report.

Sources told ABC News that officials at Overland High School had told law enforcement that the 17-year-old was potentially violent and a threat to the safety of the school.

During the 2021 to 2022 school year, there was several incidents involving the teenager including at least one instance where he brought a weapon to the school, the sources said.

Gun violence in Colorado, by the numbers

11:30 , Josh Marcus

The Wednesday shooting in Denver is the latest in a record season of violence for Colorado.

According to data from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security, 2022 was a record year for school shootings in Colorado, with 303 incidents. Thats 10 times the level of gun incidents in schools that occured in 2013.

What are ghost guns?

12:00 , Josh Marcus

Austin Lyle, the alleged student gunman who wounded two Denver school faculty in a shooting on Wednesday, reportedly had a previous arrest for posession of an untraceable ghost gun.

Heres more information on this new and shocking type of weapon.

What are ghost guns? Biden to unveil new rules on untraceable homemade firearms

Students hold rally at state Capitol

12:30 , Rachel Sharp

Denver students held a rally at the Colorado state Capitol on Thursday over the school shooting that left two staff members wounded and a teenage suspect dead one day earlier.

A crowd of students and parents gathered for the protest calling on lawmakers to take greater action on gun control and school safety.

One student told CBS Colorado that it is scary to attend school.

I decided because I want safety for every student who is in high school and who is going to attend high school because its hard, they said.

As someone with anxiety problems, it gets really scary when you are paranoid being at school sometimes.

Denver student, 17, was arrested over ghost gun two years before shooting

13:02 , Rachel Sharp

The student accused of shooting two staff members at a high school in Denver, Colorado, before allegedly killing himself had been arrested for possession of a ghost gun two years earlier.

Austin Lyle, 17, allegedly shot Eric Sinclair, dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice, at East High School in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday morning.

Following an hours-long manhunt to track down the student, Lyles body was discovered in a wooded area.

Now, the teenagers past brushes with the law have come to light, revealing that he was still on probation for possession of a ghost gun at the time of Wednesdays shooting.

The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Denver student, 17, was arrested over ghost gun two years before high school shooting

School board lifts ban on armed guards

13:46 , Rachel Sharp

The school board has lifted its ban on armed guards and police officers in its schools in the wake of this weeks shooting.

Armed guards have been banned from local schools for almost two years as part of the racial reckoning after George Floyds 2020 murder.

His killing prompted calls for an end to systemic racism and, as part of this, critics argued officers in schools were disproportionately criminalising students of colour.

On Thursday, the board voted unanimously in favour of temporarily suspending the ban.

Based on the emergency situation presented by the events of March 22, 2023, the Board of Education will hereby suspend (the ban on armed officers) through June 30, 2023, the motion stated.

Shooting comes just one month after student was fatally shot

14:44 , Rachel Sharp

The shooting marks just the latest gun violence to rock East Denver High school in the space of a month.

In February, 16-year-old student Luis Garcia was shot as he sat in a parked car close to the school grounds.

He died weeks later.

Following his death, a group of fellow students called on local officials to take action to make their schools safer.

Several attended a city council meeting and spoke on their fears over gun violence in schools while the Denver East High School chapter of Students Demand Action staged a walkout demanding better gun control.

Juvenile tries to shoot police officer one day after school shooting

15:15 , Rachel Sharp

One day after the shooting at East High, Denver Police said they had arrested another juvenile who tried to shoot an officer.

RELEASE: #Denver Police Arrest Juvenile After Attempting to Shoot Officer pic.twitter.com/tEAeSQV5M2  Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 23, 2023

10 guns seized from Denver schools so far in school year

15:45 , Rachel Sharp

In total, 10 guns were found on Denver school students and seized between the start of the school year and February, according to Denver Public Schools.

It has emerged that Austin Lyle was under a school safety plan where he had to be patted down for weapons every day on arrival at East High.

Report: Austin Lyle shot himself with ghost gun

16:22 , Rachel Sharp

Austin Lyle shot himself with a ghost gun, according to a report.

Lyle, 17, was found dead in a wooded area on Wednesday night, hours after he allegedly shot two staff members at East High.

His official cause of death has not been released.

However, sources told Fox News that the teenager fatally shot himself with a ghost gun with no serial numbers, with the gun found close to his body.

Superintendent was committed to armed police at school regardless of policy

16:45 , Graeme Massie

School district Superintendent Alex Marrero said that he was committed to placing two armed police officers at East High School until the end of the academic year regardless of policy.

I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions, Mr Marrero said in a letter to the Board of Education before they voted on Thursday to change the policy to allow armed officers on campus.

Today was my fourth visit to Denver Healths Intensive Care Unit due to victims of gun violence. These events should not have happened on my watch or this Boards Watch.

Denver public schools closed for mental health day'

17:06 , Graeme Massie

All schools in the Denver Public Schools district will be closed on Friday for a mental health day.

I want to extend my heartfelt apologies to the East High School community and the larger DPS community, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero in a letter.

No student or employee should have to carry the fear of potential violence when they walk into our buildings each day.

(AP)

Shooting victim remains in serious condition

17:44 , Graeme Massie

Eric Sinclair was a 1998 graduate of Cedar Falls High School and was also the 1997 Iowa state wrestling champion, KWWL reports.

When you meet him, youre going to come away feeling like you had a great interaction with someone that truly cares, said his friend Kyle Klingman.

In high school, I guess I wouldnt have seen him as a teacher, but now that hes in it and you just see the great skillset that he has, you can see why he would be an effective teacher.

(KCCI)

Students and teachers protest at Colorado state capitol

18:42 , Graeme Massie

Hundreds of students and teachers rallied at the state capitol on Friday to urge lawmakers to take action on gun violence once again.

The protest took place just days after two school administrators were shot at East High School by a student on Wednesday.

Just unbelievable the amount of trauma these students go through. Almost all of my students were in tears, said Kjersten Ostrom Condojni, who teaches prevention education for substance abuse and mental health across DPS high schools.

To have these tragedies happen day in and day out is horrible. Their mental health continues to decline; their anxiety skyrockets. Its hard to have a kid focus on their education when they cant even rely on the fact that they can be safe in a classroom.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) walked back his controversial comments characterizing Russias war on Ukraine as a territorial dispute, in a recent interview, but doubled down on his stance that the U.S. shouldnt escalate its involvement in the conflict.

In a wide-ranging interview aired Thursday on Fox Nations Piers Morgan Uncensored, DeSantis said his earlier remarks calling the yearlong war a territorial dispute have been mischaracterized.

I think its been mischaracterized. Obviously, Russia invaded that and that was wrong, he said. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014. That was wrong. What Im referring to is kinda where the fighting is going on now, which is that Western border or Eastern border reaching Donbas and then Crimea.

The Florida governor said his comments were referring to the conflict area rather than saying that he thought Russia had a right to that. He later called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and basically a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons.

And so if I should have made that more clear, I could have done it, he said. But I think the larger point is, okay, Russia is not showing the ability to take over Ukraine, to topple the government or certainly to threaten NATO. Thats a good thing. Theyve been weakened. You now have the fighting in those areas.

I just dont think thats a sufficient interest for us to escalate more involvement. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified, thats nonsense, DeSantis continued, adding that increased American involvement with weapons or ground troops would be a mistake.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year, the U.S. has committed more than $32 billion in lethal aid to Kyiv, including weapons and ammunition.

DeSantis earlier this month responded to a questionnaire on Ukraine sent out by Fox Newss Tucker Carlson to possible 2024 presidential candidates, arguing that becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of Americas vital national interests.

Story continues

If I could snap my fingers, Id give it back to Ukraine 100 percent, the governor said of the disputed territory in his latest interview.

The remarks were viewed as controversial even from many in the governors own party. DeSantis hasnt officially announced whether hell join former President Trump, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, but has hinted that hes considering a bid.

In his interview with Morgan, DeSantis also took a more direct stance against Trump as the two appear to be preparing for a possible 2024 match-up, which prompted the former president to take a swing at the Florida governor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Where do you call home? a reporter once asked me in an interview for her newspaper.

Iowa, I said.

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I thought you lived in Chicago, she replied.

I do, I said. But Im out of Iowa. Im from there, and I left there.

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Then, I explained that Id lived in Chicago for most of my life but was slowly migrating back to Iowa the whole time. We lived in Hyde Park on Chicagos South Side for six years, then moved west to Oak Park, on the city-suburb border, for six years, and then to Glen Ellyn, a western burb, for another six years. We were returning to Iowa in 10-mile increments every six years and would arrive at the Illinois-Iowa border when I was 104.

A road is seen in fall 2022 near Coon Rapids, Iowa. (Tom Fate)

Though that westward migration stalled long ago. And since then, my idea of home has evolved. Now its less a physical location than a kind of belonging. Its where my sense of being and my vast longings converge into one thing, something wordless  a kind of knowing, or belief, that I belong to creation. I think of the big bluestem or blazing star on the prairie  how each plant is anchored by its searching  for water, for life. As patient and persistent as an Iowa farmer, the roots keep spiraling deeper into the darkness, on their way home.

I first came across this sense of home 30 years ago in a field studies course on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In a sweat lodge, Francis White Lance, a medicine man, shared a core belief: mitakuye oyasin, meaning all my relations, or Im related to all that is. Home as relationship  with birds and bugs and rivers and rocks, and other people. The phrase serves as a kind of closing prayer in Lakota ceremonies and connotes a home that is both physical and spiritual.

On the Pine Ridge, and elsewhere, I would learn that I had to leave Iowa to understand all that home could mean. This paradox suggests why that dull, flat, beautiful state now serves as my trailhead for a book of travel essays. Some of my journeys are out of Iowa, as in from there, and rooted in my family and childhood, while others are out of Iowa, as in away from there, and describe my treks through vastly different cultures. But these two strands of memory  from and away from  also converge into a single braid of meaning: travel that takes you home.

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves, writes Pico Iyer, and we travel, next, to find ourselves. Iyer has written a dozen travel books about exotic, far-flung cultures  from the Philippines to Kathmandu. I loved these books, but the one I reread is a critique of all the others: The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere, in which Iyer explores the necessity of the inner journey  of being lost, and found, and then lost again. This kind of searching is implied in the French origin of travel  travail: labor, toil, suffering, trouble. Travel involves struggle, and a process of discovery and transformation.

It matters not where or how far you travel, Henry David Thoreau writes, the farther commonly the worse  but how much alive you are. When I read Walden in college, this line confused me. So did his claiming that hed traveled a great deal in Concord, the small town where he lived his whole life. It made more sense many years later, when I reread the book, and pondered my own life in a small town. Thoreau knew he belonged there.

And maybe thats the whole point: We are always on some detour, and always on our way home. But as the birds remind us, that word  home  is both a verb and a noun, both a journey and a destination. Which is why were never quite sure when and if weve arrived  whether in small-town Iowa or the South Side of Chicago.

Tom Montgomery Fate is an emeritus professor at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. This lightly edited essay is excerpted with permission from Fates new book The Long Way Home: Detours and Discoveries.

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When Gov. Ron DeSantis first proposed reviving the long-dormant Florida State Guard, he wanted 200 volunteers and a modest $5 million budget.

Then it grew to 400 members and $10 million.

Now its 1,500 members and a nearly $100 million budget  with police powers, helicopters, boats and, under one lawmakers request, cellphone-hacking technology.

The proposed budget for the Florida State Guard, released by a House committee Tuesday, offers the most detailed realization of DeSantis vision for the State Guard, a WWII-era force brought back last year to supplement the states overworked Florida National Guard.

DeSantis told lawmakers he wanted $98 million for the program but didnt offer many details. Republican leaders in the House proposed more than $89 million in their budget, including six boats and tow vehicles, $49.5 million for planes and helicopters, $22.7 million to store those vehicles and $10 million for a new headquarters.

They also want another $750,000 to contract with the Israeli company Cellebrite to create a Digital Forensic Center of Excellence that would help the State Guard target human trafficking and drug and child exploitation crimes, including on farms. Cellebrite is often hired by police departments because of its ability to break into iPhones.

None of the funding has been included so far in the Florida Senates proposed budget. Nor have senators filed DeSantis bill expanding the size and scope of the State Guard. Both could be part of bargaining between the chambers as they work to craft an identical budget for the state during the 60-day legislative session, which is scheduled to end in May.

The House bill, HB 1285, modeled on DeSantis proposed legislation, would create a specialized law enforcement unit within the State Guard, with the ability to bear arms and make arrests. Its scope would also be expanded, from only being activated during emergencies to being activated to protect and defend the people of Florida from threats to public safety.

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Many states have state guards

Nearly half the states have similar volunteer units, which typically assist the national guard in responding to emergencies and natural disasters. Only the governor can activate these state units and the volunteer members can usually quit anytime.

Few, if any, state guards appear to have the powers that Florida is considering. The Texas State Guard, for example, has been deployed to address the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, but it does not have a law enforcement unit and its members do not carry weapons and cant make arrests, according to a spokesperson. Nor does it have helicopters, airplanes or cellphone-hacking technology. (It does have small watercraft.)

Some legislators on both sides of the aisle have balked at the governors proposal.

It was a lot  $100 million  and they have 400 members, said Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, the head of the Senate committee that sets the budget for the Department of Military Affairs. Im not sure theyre ready, in this budget, to spend that kind of money.

The State Guard currently has fewer members than that.

State law allows the force to have up to 400 volunteers, but it is yet to be up and running. It is still gearing up and training, a DeSantis spokesperson said in January. In February, the office told the Times/Herald in response to a public records request for its training materials that it had no such records.

In October, its first director died suddenly. DeSantis announced his replacement in January. Its Luis Soler, a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

READ MORE: DeSantis elevates second in command to lead new Florida State Guard

Lots of former law enforcement officers among applicants

The State Guard has 3,500 credible applicants, including a massive number of current and former federal and local law enforcement officers, Rep. Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral, told lawmakers earlier this month.

They havent been able to give the official offer to a lot of them because theyre still trying to create that leadership, said Giallombardo, who is sponsoring HB 1285.

When DeSantis first proposed reviving the force, it was as a 200-member volunteer unit to help the states 12,000 National Guard members respond to emergencies. The Florida National Guard is ranked 53rd out of 54 states and territories in the ratio of Guard personnel to state population because federal officials have not expanded its ranks.

In his statements to lawmakers, Giallombardo described a different vision for the State Guard.

Instead of only operating within Florida, as DeSantis first proposed, the State Guard could be dispatched to other states through agreements.

Under the House proposal, the State Guard would also be used to augment various state agencies, similar to how National Guard members have been dispatched to state prisons to cover shortages of corrections officers.

Every state agency has been asked to identify critical needs and gaps that State Guard members could fill, Giallombardo said.

Democratic critic calls funding increase unnecessary

Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, called the proposal for more State Guard members and more money unnecessary.

Its really gross, it does not make anyone more safe, and its just all about DeSantis silencing dissent and trying to out-Trump Trump, said Eskamani, who voted against the bill.

The $750,000 for Cellebrite  half of what was requested by the company, records show  would be the states biggest agreement with the Israeli firm. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles have paid the company about $430,000 combined over the last decade, state records show.

DeSantis, who met with Cellebrite executives during a 2019 trip to Israel, does not take positions on lawmakers funding proposals, a spokesperson said.

Under the House funding request, filed by Rep. Tobin Overdorf, R-Palm City, Cellebrite would provide forensic capabilities and training resources to the State Guard that will be used to support law enforcement in addressing the significant rise in human trafficking, child exploitation, and drug trafficking in the state.

The partnership would help accelerate criminal investigations by targeting the rapid influx of digital devices found in human trafficking, drug, and child exploitation crimes, the request states.

The request form indicates it would also be used to protect Floridas farming land from a human trafficking problem, which could potentially target migrant farm labor at a time when DeSantis is seeking to crack down on workers in the country illegally.

This problem is challenging the department of agriculture and causing unforeseen issues for our farmers in affecting the safety of our citizens, the request states.

Overdorf said the Cellebrite contract funding request did not come from the governors office and that it is not tied to DeSantis proposed expansion of the force.

It is coming from some constituents, Overdorf told a Herald/Times reporter on Thursday. When asked who they were, he said they worked in a variety of areas and that their concern was staying in compliance with current regulations.

The goal, he said, would be to create a statewide database to facilitate the tracking of people who might be engaged in human trafficking and other crimes. The companys ability to access and process data would be an incredible opportunity for the state.

Tom Wunk, a vice president for Cellebrite who made the request, did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Who can join the State Guard?

Members of the State Guard are volunteers, meaning theyre not paid but do get stipends for travel and other expenses during their duty.

To be a member, a volunteer must be a citizen, must not have committed a felony and must not be an active duty service member. If they were a service member, they must have no less than a general discharge under honorable conditions.

Training needs to be at least equivalent to the training requirements for members of the Florida National Guard.

New Yorks state guard does not have arresting powers, said Eric Durr, the director of public affairs for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

Members of New Yorks state guard are not armed, do not have their own planes, and mostly perform logistics work, such as driving forklifts. They also assist with migrants, Durr said, by helping at hotels where migrants are staying, passing out meals and doing other tasks.

Basically their mission is to help fill in the holes when we dont have enough national guardsmen, Durr said.

Californias state guard is a volunteer force. In recent years, its members have responded to emergencies including wildfires, winter storms and the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the pandemic, for example, they helped erect tents outside of hospitals and delivered food to those who were unable to leave their homes due to the risk of infection.
Brown Bird Design

In either the 1850s or 1860s, German physicist Hermann von Helmholz created a device to analyze sound. In 2005, that same sort of device made its way into the airbox of the new 3.8-liter flat-six of the Porsche 911 Carrera S. The reasons why are fascinating.



We must start with a discussion of sound. In essence, sounds are just pressure waves that vibrate our eardrums. The frequency of the oscillation, measured in hertz, defines the sound's pitch. Most sounds, however, are not just one pitch. Strike a note on a piano, and you hear the primary note, a fundamental, plus a number of other, much quieter notes. These other pitches are part of what's called the overtone (or harmonic) series, and the volume of each overtone is what defines the quality, or timbre, of the sound. It's one of the primary reasons the same note played on a piano and an electric guitar sound so different. (A sound made up of just one pitch is a sine wave.)

brian0918 - Wikimedia Commons

Helmholtz wanted to analyze the makeup of sounds, so he created small brass spheres that resonate at a certain frequency when air is blown over the top. We now call these Helmholtz resonators. The volume of the air within the sphere determines the pitch at which the sphere resonates. It's basically a fancy version of what happens when you blow over the top a glass bottle. The amount of liquid in the bottle, which determines the volume of air, defines the pitch.

Science & Society Picture Library - Getty Images

Strike a piano key and hold up a Helmholtz resonator of a specific certain sizeand thus, pitchto your ear, and if it resonates sympathetically, you now know at least one of the overtones that defines the timbre. It's a laborious and inexact method, but it was critical in furthering our understanding of sound. And a number of decades after their inventions some clever automotive engineers realized that Helmholtz resonators held interesting potential for internal-combustion engines.

But before we get to cars, we have to stay on the physics of sound, specifically the phenomenon of phase cancellation. In recorded audio, when two sounds of the same frequency but opposite amplitude are made at the same time, they effectively cancel eachother out, resulting in silence, or near-silence. Noise-canceling headphones use this phenomenon to drown out anything unpleasant. Microphones on the headphones pick up the sounds occurring in the environment, and play those same frequencies at the opposite amplitude in your ears. You can do the same sort of thing with a Helmholtz resonator. (And here, when we talk about a "Helmholtz resonator," we're not talking specifically about the brass spheres created by the German physicist, but a device of any shape that serves the same function.)

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A patent filed by General Motors engineer Ernest E Willson in 1930 (seen above) describes a device consisting of multiple Helmholtz-type resonatorsthough he doesn't label them as suchto attenuate undesirable induction noise in internal-combustion engines. By tuning the resonators to resonate at the same frequency as certain tones created by the intake, you can effectively cancel them out, or at least make them much quieter. He updated his design, as detailed in a 1936 patent , with a device of variable volume that can be used in both the intake and exhaust systems of cars. Also in that patent, he notes his earlier design was "now commonly used."

Over the years, Helmholtz resonators of various types proliferated throughout the automotive industry and beyond. In the Nineties, automotive engineers started working to tune automotive nosies to create an appealing soundtrack for enthusiasts. Mazda is generally credited with being the first, with the original Miata's aural signature patterned after the Sixties euro roadsters from which it drew inspiration. (It was mostly successful, though Mazda could never replicate the burble of a Lotus Elan or Alfa Romeo Spider on dual twin-choke Webers with just one throttle body.) After the Miata, a number of automakers began working on "sound design" for their performance cars. Porsche figured out that Helmholtz resonators could have a big effect on not just reducing an engine's noise, but improving the sound.

"If youve got a handle on Helmholtz, youve got the sound under control," said Porsche's Dr. Bernhard Pfafflin in an article in the company's magazine , Christophorus. Helmholtz resonators took a place of prominence in Porsche's first water-cooled flat-six, the M96. This is also the era where plastic use became more prominent in internal-combustion engines, allowing for the cheap and easy implementation of Helmholtz resonators. In both the 986 Boxster and 996 911 Carrera, a Helmholtz resonator lives in the airbox, just before the throttle valve. The idea, as the late Paul Frere described in his Porsche 911 Story, was to produce a "pleasant, sporting but subdued roar."

The neat installation you see illustrated above is found in the airbox of the 997 Carrera S, where the volume of the Helmholtz resonator is defined by a vacuum-operated butterfly valve. Both the M96 and M97 flat-six used a novel intake system with plenums above either cylinder banks connected by two pipes of different lengths. Valves within the pipes open and close at different engine speeds and loads to regulate airflow into the combustion chambers, to take advantage of the resonance supercharging feature we talked about earlier this month . This setup helps improve volumetric efficiency, but it can also lead to undesirable noise. In the 3.8-liter flat-six from the 997 Carrera S, the Helmholtz resonator's volume changes based on the arrangement

In the last naturally aspirated 911 Carrera, the 991.1, Helmholtz resonators were actually used to accentuate, rather than attenuate certain frequencies. Think back to the overtone seriesa Hemholtz resonator will resonate sympathetically when presented with a certain pitch, adding to the tonal profile. As a 2019 article from Excellence describes, two Helmholtz resonators work with the car's "sound symposer," a system with ducting between the intake pipe and the firewall that helps increase exhaust noise in the cabin. The first is within the ducting, and opens up when the driver selects Sport mode, amplifying the sound from the intake, while the other, residing within the airbox itself, increases intake sound between 4500 and 6000 rpm.

Porsche

A similar system with two sound symposers is employed in the turbocharged flat-six introduced for the 991.2 Carrera in 2016 and used in today's 992 Carrera models. In four-cylinder 718 Boxster and Cayman models, a Helmholtz resonator is used in the exhaust system to quell some of the harshness normally associated with a flat-four engine.

Automakers love anything that can have a big effect on a car, without cost, weight, or complication. Given that, it's easy to see why a device as unlikely as the Helmholtz resonator became so important in internal-combustion engines. There's hardly, if any, cost or weight penalty, yet the upsides are numerous.

I can say this with a bit of confidence, as I own a 987-generation Porsche Boxster. The intake sound filling the cabin might be the best thing about the car.

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Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters

This week on The New Abnormal, was the scenario that Donald Trumps arrest would happen as early as this week simply a delusion created by the former president?

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs general counsel made an important point in a letter of reply to Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), who had earlier demanded documents and testimony relating to Braggs investigation into alleged hush-money payments Trump organized for adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.

The letter notes that Congress made this request only after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene. Neither fact is a legitimate basis for Congressional inquiry.

Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.

The point, host Andy Levy argues, likely means the former presidents prediction was all a little fantasy that Trump had in his head.

Weve been sitting here for the last week. Today is Thursday and everybody, a couple days ago, was like, Todays the day is today the day? And I swear to God, I was sitting there on Monday, Monday night thinking, Did anyone say Trump was gonna be indicted and arrested on Tuesday other than Trump? And the answer was no. How, how do people keep falling for this?

With him, I dont know if he believed it or if it was just something he put out to fundraise, Levy notes, pointing to the fact that by Wednesday his haul had reached $1.5 million, Trump sources told the Daily Mail.

Trumps Arrest for Stormy Case Is Beginning of the Fall

Then, senior media reporter at The Daily Beast, Justin Baragona, talks about a Fox News producer and another lawsuit that could threaten to embarrass the network even more.

On Monday, Fox filed a complaint against Tucker Carlson producer Abby Grossberg and then the very next day, they said forget it. So why the sudden turnaround?

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Its a bad look, Baragona says of the U-turn. Its already out there I dont know why they decided to take it away It was like they did it and within 24 hours they pulled it.

Plus! Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, the vice president of corporate power at Color of Change, the largest online civil rights organization in the country, describes how the fight to erase Black history and censor education for students is a direct backlash to 2020.

Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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An amateur sailor started a 17-day voyage from Miami to Tarpon Springs, but an unexpected storm ended the adventure, causing damage to the boat and leaving it beached on Anna Maria Island in Holmes Beach.

The boats owner, James Gloembiewski of Michigan, is responsible for removing the sailboat, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation had given him until March 8 to do so, which has passed.

Hes in the process of having that deadline extended for another 30 days.

In the meantime, the $15,000 cost of having the boat removed is too much for Gloembiewski, so he started a GoFundMe campaign.

He told the Bradenton Herald on Wednesday about how his boat, Lucky Us 2, washed up on Anna Maria Island on Feb. 12 and the unusual adventure he and two friends endured.

Gloembiewski typically travels his C-5500 Kodiak shuttle bus to his home state of Florida for two months during the winter. He spends his time fishing and living out of the bus that he modified to fit a bed and luggage.

He said he makes the trips as a mental health break from the cold winters in Michigan and the demands of his tree-climbing business.

Ahead of his recent trip, he brought the Lucky Us 2 boat in Green Cove Springs and had the boat taken to Miami for him to set sail.

I thought to myself, Id like to get some property in Florida, so I thought about getting a boat; its like a house. I can live in the bus and on the boat, he said.

James Gloembiewskis C-5500 Kodiak shuttle bus is parked on Holmes Beach on Feb. 12, 2023.

Gloembiewski invested in Lucky Us 2, a 35-foot Young Sun yacht from 1981. He purchased it for $14,000 and paid an extra $14,000 to have repairs done.

However, he said the person he hired months ahead of his trip to move the boat to Miami and make repairs didnt do the best job. So, he hired another person in Tarpon Springs.

A rough start

On Jan. 7, Gloembiewski and two friends started their trip from Miami to Tarpon Springs, where a friend of his would live and perform regular maintenance on the boat, but things quickly started to take a turn.

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There were a lot of crazy things that happened along the way, Gloembiewski said. We thought wed go on an adventure, but as time went on, things started to sour.

Gloembiewski said he learned to sail from reading and watching YouTube videos.

Lucky Us 2, a 35-foot Young Sun yacht, is anchored before a storm pushed it onto Anna Maria Island on Feb. 12, 2023.

His friend had taken sailing lessons in Tampa for over a year, so the two were confident about the journey, though they knew it wouldnt be easy.

We went through the Keys and everything was beautiful. We had some rough nights, Gloembiewski said.

We had to learn about the crab traps. One night a crab trap got stuck on our anchor and we had a hell of a time pulling it up, he said.

On Feb. 1, after traveling through the Florida Keys and the rough Everglades, their first real hiccup came once they reached Englewood.

We had a prop shaft break, he said which is connected to the boats transmission.

It took two separate welders to properly fix the shaft before the trio could continue to sail.

After they left, Gloembiewski said, This is where the story began.

An unexpected storm

On Feb. 10, before venturing onto Egmont Key in St. Petersburg, which was supposed to be their last stop before Tarpon Springs. They checked the weather and only saw a few light showers in the forecast.

They made it within 4 miles of Egmont Key when their sail ripped. The tear slowed the boat down significantly, turning their one-hour trip into a three-hour trip.

Not to mention that the light rain that they expected actually formed into a larger storm, which caught them by surprise.

We decided to anchor the boat, Gloembiewski said.

The trio tried to wait out the storm from inside the sailboat, but conditions got worse.

The dinghy on their boat had also popped and was hanging on by a single rope. Gloembiewski said he used a rope technique from tree climbing to secure it.

Eventually, they called the Coast Guard, which suggested a rescue before anything got worse.

The aftermath

They spent the night at one of the friends place in St. Petersburg, but this would not be the last leg of their journey.

The next morning we got a call from the Coast Guard saying theyd been monitoring our boat and it had washed up on Holmes Beach, Gloembiewski said.

James Gloembiewski of Michigan tried to sail for the first time with two friends from Miami to Tarpon Springs. But they were rescued by the Coast Guard, and his boat was beached on Anna Maria Island on Feb. 12, 2023.

Over the next three days, the trio removed contaminants from the boat, tidying it up so it wouldnt look like an eyesore, and contacted necessary officials, including Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation as well as the city of Holmes Beach.

We pulled all the fuel out of the tanks and cleaned up the inside of the boat and did some repairs, he said.

Gloembiewski said that according to maritime law, because nature pushed his boat ashore, it would also have to be pushed back out into the water.

Hes enlisted the help of a local fisherman from Cortez, who will help pull the boat back into the water when the time is right.

These past couple of weeks, weve put together a plan to pull the boat when the tide will be at its highest, Gloembiewski said.

Sea Tow Sarasota quoted Gloembiewski $15,000 to remove the boat.

If we had the money, the boat would be gone already, he said.

I bought the boat for $14,000 and put another $14,000 into it for repairs and preparation for the trip, Gloembiewski said. And then the vacation costing money and then not working all this time put us in a tough spot.

He said it was suggested to him to start a GoFundMe, something hes never done before.

The campaign, Help Unbeach Lucky Us 2, has raised $6,148 of its $15,000 goal.

Gloembiewsk said that if he reaches his goal and finds a cheaper alternative to removing the boat, he intends to donate the remainder to charity.
No legislation this session has scrambled party loyalties like HB 837, a sweeping overhaul of Floridas legal landscape that will make it harder, and more expensive, to sue insurance companies.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the bill with four Republicans voting against it, a rare split that still sends the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis desk.

Three other Republican senators have flip-flopped on the bill  voting against it in committees, then for it on the Senate floor. One Democratic senator voted for it, splitting from her party.

The consternation stems from the broad sweep of the bill  and the fact that Floridians pay the highest auto and homeowners insurance rates in the nation.

DeSantis and top Republican leaders say the legislation is necessary to curb the high number of lawsuits, which will in turn drive down rates. DeSantis moved quickly, signing the bill into law during a quiet ceremony in Tallahassee on Friday.

People believe theyve won the jackpot with the litigation lottery, said Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, the sponsor of the Senate version of the bill. We have a problem in Florida. Help me fix it.

READ MORE: Parkland parents oppose legislation that puts limits on negligence claims in lawsuits

But they have little evidence that lawsuits are harming the states economy. One of the key changes literally cant lead to lower rates. And lawmakers have already worked to curb litigation against property insurance companies, yet rates continue to rise.

Some Republican senators have been concerned that the bill tilts the scales too far in favor of insurance companies. Former President Donald Trump called it a bailout for insurance companies.

If this becomes law, ordinary Floridians, small businesses, trucking companies, mom and pop shops, will be left holding the bag for judgments and lawsuits their insurance companies were supposed to prevent, Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, who is herself a trial lawyer, said on Wednesday.

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Parkland parents against bill

Lawmakers were also moved by testimony from the hundreds of different people and interest groups who testified in committees: accident victims, Parkland parents, tattooed bikers and doctors.

The legislation has a broad sweep that affects all kinds of litigation, but the main provisions would:

 Do away with the states roughly 130-year-old law requiring insurance companies to pay the policyholders attorneys fees if the policyholder sues, and wins, in court. The provision was meant to level the playing field between policyholders and insurance companies;

 Limit how much someone could collect in medical expenses in negligence lawsuits;

 And require juries in lawsuits against apartment complexes and other places over lax security to weigh the role of criminals  such as the Parkland shooter  when determining the level of negligence.

Parkland parents and victims of shootings at apartment complexes said that the bill would let property owners off the hook for providing shoddy security, testimony that moved some lawmakers.

These victims traveled the state and begged us not to allow places where we visit and we live become less safe, said Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, who voted against the bill.

Small business owners concerned

Two Republican senators who own small businesses, including Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, worried over another provision that would allow liability insurers to escape being sued for bad faith.

The provision could open businesses up to million-dollar judgments if their insurance companies dont quickly settle a case. Thats what happened when the local owner of several Tampa Bay Pinch A Penny pool supply stores was sued after an employee at one of its franchised locations drove a company truck while drunk and crashed on Bayshore Boulevard, killing a pedestrian.

The companys liability carrier never made an offer to the victims family, which caused the family to sue, according to the company. The company is now suing the carrier, saying it acted in bad faith by not quickly paying the victims family.

The bad-faith provision prompted DiCeglie to vote against the bill in committee. After it was amended slightly, he voted for it on the Senate floor.

Im still a little bit concerned, but I didnt want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, he said.

That provision cant lead to lower rates. Under state law, insurance companies are forbidden from passing the costs of bad faith lawsuits on to customers.

Sen. Tom Wright, R-Port Orange, also voted against the bill in committee.

I have been listening to my constituents, Wright said last week. You have 150 nos and three yeses, so they voted me in, and I will be down on this bill.

On the Senate floor, however, Wright voted for it.

Some of them have changed their mind, Wright said of his constituents.

This story was updated Friday, March 24, to reflect that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill.

Correction: An earlier version of this story provided incorrect information about which chamber Sen. Nick DiCeglie voted in. He voted for the bill on the Senate floor.
By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - King Charles' first state visit to France as British monarch, postponed on Friday because of widespread social unrest, was supposed to be an occasion celebrating a new chapter of harmony in relations between London and Paris.

Instead, a visit that would have featured a banquet at the old royal palace at Versailles and a visit to the legendary Bordeaux wine-growing region has fallen victim to anti-government protests in France which have seen angry crowds setting buildings ablaze and clashing with police.

As well as an embarrassment to French President Emmanuel Macron, the postponement is a disappointment for Charles, taking the gloss off his first international engagement since succeeding his mother Queen Elizabeth in September.

"The king and queen consort were of course very much looking forward to the visit," a Buckingham Palace source said.

"But when the UK prime minister informed the king of his conversation with the French President, in which the president had recommended postponing, the king of course fully understood and was content to accept the PMs advice to postpone."

On the first state visits of his reign, the new monarch and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, were going first to France before heading on to Germany.

The tour was designed to celebrate Britain's ties with the two European powers after its 2016 vote to leave the European Union and the tortuous negotiations that followed badly strained relations.

The French leg was to see Charles laying a wreath with Macron at the Arc de Triomphe and joining him for a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles.

The symbolism of the occasion at Versailles - the once home of the French monarchy and emblematic of its excesses for revolutionaries who ousted and guillotined King Louis XVI - was not lost on France's hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon.

"The meeting of the kings in Versailles is broken up by popular censure," Melenchon said on Twitter.

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Charles had also been due to address senators and members of the National Assembly where Macron's government narrowly survived a vote of no-confidence this week over an unpopular pension bill, and travel south to Bordeaux.

ANGRY MOOD

In a stark demonstration of the angry protests that are gripping France over Macron's pension reforms, the main entrance of the Bordeaux town hall was set on fire on Thursday evening.

"It was going to be a great visit in different times. Now it jars with the angry mood in France," Peter Ricketts, a former British ambassador to France, told Sky News.

It was the right decision for the trip to be postponed in case it had been overshadowed by embarrassing incidents, he said.

"It must have been completely obvious to Buckingham Palace that it was very difficult for the French," he said.

State visits, which usually take months of careful planning, have long been part of the armoury of Britain's 'soft power' and Queen Elizabeth made more than 100 such trips during her record-breaking 70-year reign, including many to France.

Nor would the impact of dealing with protests be lost on Charles after angry demonstrators kicked and threw paint over a car carrying him and Camilla during rioting in London in 2010.

Both the palace and Macron said they looked forward to the postponed trip going ahead in the future when dates can be found.

"It's going to be several months clearly before the visit can be set up again in the diaries of the two men and with circumstances hopefully a bit calmer in France," Ricketts said. "But when it comes it will be a real celebration."

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
A doctor misdiagnosed Amanda Buschelman with ovarian cysts. He did not believe her when she said she had her ovaries removed. Amanda Buschelman

A doctor told Amanda Buschelman she had ovarian cysts. He didn't believe her when she said she had no ovaries.

Buschelman experienced an "excruciating" pain for 3 weeks that stumped 2 ER doctors and a gynecologist.

Buschelman believed she had appendicitis but doctors disagreed. Surgery revealed she had appendicitis.

On January 6, an emergency room doctor confidently told Amanda Buschelman ovarian cysts were the cause of her "excruciating" pain. But there was one problem: Buschelman had no ovaries.



Buschelman, a mother of 3 who lives in Trenton, Ohio, had a full hysterectomy in 2013, which removed her uterus, fallopian tubes, and, yes, her ovaries.

But the ER doctor insisted she had ovaries. "He said, 'Well, you probably just had your uterus removed,'" Buschelman said in an interview with Insider. "I said, 'No, I was there. They definitely took my ovaries.'"

Not only was the ER doctor "over-argumentative," which she said the hospital later apologized for, he misdiagnosed Buschelman with both ovarian cysts and later, after looking up her records to confirm she had no ovaries, with diverticulitis.

Following the incident at the ER, Buschelman visited two more doctors who could not pinpoint why she was in so much pain. Buschelman waited nearly 3 weeks for surgery to help determine the cause of her discomfort. Now she knows that wait put her at risk for her appendix rupturing at any point, a life-threatening condition.

Buschelman, 43, shared her story in a TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 4.5 million times.

Buschelman experienced excruciating pain that stumped three doctors

After experiencing sudden onset pain in her lower right abdomen the night before, Buschelman went to her family doctor on January 6, after dropping her kids off at school.

Buschelman was told she likely had appendicitis, based on her symptoms and her response after her doctor applied pressure to her belly. He could not treat her in his office, so he sent her to the TriHealth Bethesda Butler Hospital in Hamilton, Ohio. (The hospital has not responded to Insider's multiple requests for comment.)

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At the ER, Buschelman relayed the message from her doctor, suspecting appendicitis. The ER doctor pressed on the side of her abdomen, and she reacted with pain, but he did not diagnose her with appendicitis, citing the normal results of her CT scan and blood work.

The ER doctor diagnosed her pain as ovarian cysts, and went back and forth with her about whether or not she had ovaries. After seeing her hysterectomy in her medical history, the doctor's "attitude shifted," Buschelman said, and he then determined she had diverticulitis, or inflammation in the walls of her intestines. He gave Buschelman antibiotics and sent her home.

Buschelman's pain did not subside. Three days later she returned to the ER, where another doctor told her she did not have diverticulitis and performed an MRI.

Doctors told Amanda Buschelman she might have a tumor. During surgery, they discovered she had appendicitis. Amanda Buschelman

The MRI revealed she had a mass around her colon, but the ER doctor did not identify an inflamed appendix through the scan.

Buschelman said she suspects she might have had chronic appendicitis, which can also be more difficult to diagnose compared to the more common acute appendicitis, though doctors never confirmed which type of appendicitis she had. Scientists have only recently accepted chronic appendicitis, which might not show up in blood tests or CT scans, as a medical phenomenon, The Washington Post reported.

The doctor at the ER told her to get a consultation from her gynecologist, who later said the mass could be an endometriosis implant, or when cells from the uterus grow in other areas of the body, formed before her hysterectomy. But the gynecologist couldn't identify the mass based on scans alone  she needed to perform surgery to be sure.

Surgery revealed Buschelman had appendicitis after all

The OBGYN scheduled Buschelman's surgery for January 26. The mother of three waited for her surgery date in ongoing, and immense, pain.

For more than two weeks, Buschelman admitted the pain made her "unpleasant" to be around, particularly for her children and husband. Buschelman also began to feel depressed and anxious that the mass in her abdomen might be a cancerous tumor.

"I have three children and a husband that depend on me," she said. "I spent a lot of time very fearful."

Amanda Buschelman's misdiagnosis story went viral on TikTok. Her video has been viewed more than 4.5 million times. Amanda Buschelman

But, after surgery, her husband informed her that doctors discovered the reason for her pain: Buschelman had appendicitis, just as her primary care doctor told her 20 days prior.

When the gynecologist went in to remove the endometriosis implant, she spotted an enlarged appendix, and called the general surgeon to remove it. Following surgery, Buschelman said she felt "like a new woman" as her pain finally subsided.

The experience made Buschelman passionate about patient advocacy

Buschelman told Insider her experience of being misdiagnosed and dismissed by doctors demonstrated to her why women should always advocate for themselves. She's teaching her two daughters, 10 and 11, to trust their gut instincts, but fears they, too, could be gaslight by their doctors at some point.

"I've known the ins and outs of this body for 42 years. That doctor knew me for 42 seconds and argued with me about what I knew about myself," Buschelman said. "That's really concerning."

Buschelman said the experience showed her the importance of listening to her own body and advocating for herself during doctor visits. She said she will continue voicing stories of medical gaslighting on TikTok.

"What shocked me and saddened me, but also empowered me, were the 30,000 women who commented [on my TikTok] with similar experiences," Buschelman said. "That blew me away."

Read the original article on Insider
A ban on gender-affirming care for minors is now officially law.

The law banning doctors from treating children with hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery is set to go into effect in July.

On Friday, the ACLU promised to sue to overturn the law.

Now, one local doctor told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that she expects to see the suicide rate among transgender teens to skyrocket.

Transgender Health Specialist Dr. Izzy Lowell said this law will actually hurt children.

The American Medical Association asked the national governors association not to support these kinds of bills.

Republicans herein Georgia say they passed the law to protect children from irreversible medical procedures. Lowell said thats not entirely true.

Elliot spoke with Lowell via Zoom on Friday. Its the same way she sees many of her transgender patients -- via telemedicine.

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Lowell guesses she has some 500 transgender teen patients in Georgia, and she said the new law banning certain medical procedures for them is less about medicine and more about politics.

This is a really long process. Its not like people walk into the office and walk out with a prescription for hormone replacement therapy. It takes years, Lowell said.

Lowell said it takes support from family, legal guardians, and mental health professionals before the procedures happen.

Republican lawmaker Mark Newton is also a doctor in Augusta. He supported the law because he fears teenagers brains arent developed enough and they might make irreversible medical decisions they could later regret.

We ask doctors not to do that on children. Let the child grow up enough to make their own informed decision as an adult and not have other adults making this decision for them, Newton said.

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While Lowell agrees teens brains havent yet fully developed, she insists gender is not a decision for many of these children -- its who they are.

Youve always known your gender. You can think back to when you were a child growing up. Thats something you just know. Its not a decision. Its not something that a teen wakes up one day and says no actually, I think Im a boy instead of a girl. Its something they have known for their life, Lowell said.

The new law goes into effect on July 1.

Anyone undergoing those medical procedures will be grandfathered in, so Lowell said her clinic will be open until midnight on June 30 to take in patients.

RELATED NEWS:
Rep. Katie Stuart on the House floor at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield in 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

A measure that would allow multiple occupancy public restrooms to be labeled gender-neutral was passed by the Illinois House on Thursday with the bare minimum of votes.

The bill, which now moves to the Senate, would allow restrooms with two or more toilets to be available to all genders. It would amend the Equitable Restroom Act of 2019, which required all single-occupancy public restrooms to be available to all genders.

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The bill does not require gender-neutral bathrooms, Rep. Katie Stuart, an Edwardsville Democrat who was the first sponsor of the bill, said. Builders would choose what bathroom facilities to offer, and would be required to meet appropriate standards for toilet and urinal privacy.

The floor debate before the vote took all of two minutes. House Republican Floor Leader Rep. Patrick Windhorst of Metropolis asked Stuart to confirm that this bill contained the same language as a bill from the previous session that was passed by the House but died in the Senate.

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The bill passed with 60 yes votes, with all but one of the 40 House Republicans voting no.

Average Illinois residents are just not for this type of agenda, GOP Rep. Joe Sosnowski of Rockford, who voted no on the legislation, said in an interview after the vote. If there is an issue with identification, well, you got two separate bathrooms. Why do you need multiuse, multi-gender bathrooms? It isnt doing anything to address that in my opinion.

Restroom preference has become another issue feeding the national culture wars. Earlier this week, Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law a measure that restricts transgender people in public schools from using restrooms matching the gender with which they identify.

The Illinois bill is not specific to schools, though it allows for any multiple-occupancy restroom to be identified as an all-gender facility. It would require the restroom to have specific signage, stall dividers and partitions for urinals.

The bill also requires sufficient numbers of toilets or stalls to be available for male and female patrons. The Illinois Department of Public Health would be tasked with establishing rules for enforcing the measure, and these bathrooms would also be subject to health or building inspections.

Equality Illinois, an advocacy group that championed the legislation, said in a news release that the bill establishes basic requirements to ensure safety, privacy, and inclusion for businesses that choose to offer gender-neutral bathrooms. A similar ordinance was passed by the Chicago City Council in 2021.

The legislation would benefit broad demographics in our state, including parents and guardians who accompany their child into a restroom; caregivers, spouses, family members, or friends who assist another person in a restroom; and trans and gender-diverse folks,Equality Illinois CEO Brian Johnson said.

The bill passed through the House Human Services Committee on Feb. 22 in a 6-3 party-line vote. Stuart noted during the hearing that a similar bill passed through the House a few years ago but didnt make it through the Senate.

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She said the latest bill allows for businesses, universities and other places the option to create a multi-stall gender-neutral restroom.

State Rep. Charles Meier, a Republican from Okawville, raised concerns during the hearing about whether some larger facilities could be equipped to handle multi-stalled, gender neutral bathrooms.

Think of in large arenas where youve got people stacked high and low, you only have so much space. A lot of people will not want to go into an all-gender restroom, and you wont have no space, Meier said at the hearing. You know, when buildings are plumbed your plumbing is run through certain areas that are heated and theyre air-conditioned so they dont freeze. And other parts of these big outdoor arenas arent. And so, youre adding a lot of cost into that.

Stuart stressed that arenas that are worried about space dont have to include such restrooms because they would be optional.

If an arena is worried about the space they do not have to create such a restroom, she told Meier. Thats why its permissive and its because we understand types of constraints like that.

Gorner reported from Springfield.

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Whether you buy a car new or used, the dealer might try to load you down with add-ons and accessories of every sort -- and they're likely to tell you that it will only add a few dollars to the monthly payment if you fold it into the cost of the loan.

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In truth, add-ons can quickly tack hundreds or thousands of dollars extra onto the sticker price. Some might be dealer add-ons that they try to slip past you. Others they'll try to sell you outright. Before you buy, know which car ad-ons you don't want to buy at the dealership.

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Roof-Rack Accessories

Factory crossbars and roof-rack accessories cost more than aftermarket brands, and they only fit that specific vehicle. If your surfing, kayaking or road-tripping adventures require roof storage, brands like Thule and Yakima cost less, function as well or better and can be removed and adapted to almost any vehicle you buy in the future -- all without a big dealer markup.

MarioGuti / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Key Protection

Losing your car keys was always a headache, but with remote entry and remote start devices, laser cutting and high-end fobs, today it's not just an inconvenience, but it's a hefty expense. Replacing sophisticated key systems, particularly on luxury cars, can cause hundreds of dollars, which your car insurance is likely not to cover -- and dealers know it.

Some dealers offer key protection, a separate insurance policy just for your keys. That, too, can easily cost more than $100, which is an unnecessary expense for an unlikely event. Instead put that money into a savings account, which you should do anyway to budget for unforeseen mishaps, like losing your keys.

Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For?

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Windshield Protection

The ACE Group is one of the many companies that offer windshield insurance coverage to car dealers to sell to their customers at a markup -- it says "maximize your profits" right on their website. Yes, windshields can sometimes break, and yes, they're expensive. The truth, however, is that modern resins can fix the most common cracks, and windshields rarely have to be fully replaced. If you're truly worried, you'd be better served by budgeting for repairs like broken windshields than handing over money to your dealer as an add-on for a service you'll likely never need.

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Tire Protection

Like windshield protection, the odds favor the dealer with extended tire warranties. Virtually all tires come with prorated warranties that cover craftsmanship defects, which are very rare. Your dealer might try to sell you an extended warranty that covers what standard prorated warranties do not for, say, $10 per tire. First of all, some tires come with more inclusive warranties and even if they don't, the cost of a standard new tire isn't particularly high when you factor in the $40 you didn't spend on unnecessary protection.

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Dent Protection

Like windshield protection and key protection, a long line of little-known and sometimes-shady third-party companies offer dent and ding coverage to dealers as an upsell to push on their customers. These companies sell the plans for $300-$500 to the dealer, who then sells the plan to unsuspecting buyers for anywhere from $600-$1,500 -- pure profit for no work. The dealer also has no further responsibility and doesn't aid processing claims. You get an 800 number to call to deal with a company you've probably never heard of before. You'll likely have little or no say in who fixes your car, and you'll almost certainly learn that there's plenty that isn't covered.

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Credit Insurance

Your dealer also might try to talk you into credit insurance, which comes in the forms of credit life insurance, credit disability insurance, involuntary unemployment insurance and credit property insurance. They all serve the same purpose: to continue making your car payments if you lose your job, become disabled or die. There are few reasons to get credit insurance and many reasons not to. If you think it's right for you, you'll almost always do better buying through your own insurance company with no dealer markup. Also, it's illegal for dealers to tell you they can't sell you a car or approve a loan unless you buy this optional coverage.

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GAP Insurance

Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance is less scammy than the previously mentioned "coverage" plans that dealers often push. If you total a car shortly after financing it, your insurance company will compensate you for the value of the car, which, thanks to depreciation, is often less than what you owe on the loan. GAP coverage is designed to fill that gap, and in some cases, it makes sense to buy it -- but buy it from your insurance company. When you buy it from a dealer, it will almost certainly be more expensive and, here again, you'll wind up dealing with an unfamiliar company you've never heard of if you ever need to cash in on it.

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Extended Warranties

Like GAP insurance, extended warranties can serve a legitimate purpose, but in almost all cases, you'd be better served to put that money into an interest-bearing savings account set aside for repairs. Extended warranties are designed to stretch your coverage beyond the expiration of your bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is usually three years or 36,000 miles. The truth is, much of the cost goes to the salesperson's commission, most people never wind up using them, and they cost more than the price of the average repair.

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Car Alarms and Trackers

Most cars come with security systems or even trackers. When they don't, dealers often try to sell them as an add-on. That, in many cases, is because car dealerships install alarms to prevent theft on the dealership lot, which means it's already installed in the car. Instead of uninstalling it and letting you drive off with the car, this upsell allows them to sell cheap alarms and trackers at a premium and also charge you for installation. You can almost certainly do better buying a system on your own and paying a much lower installation fee to your local mechanic.

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Paint Sealants

Modern cars receive factory paint jobs that are designed to withstand the elements -- they have sealants and antirust properties built-in. Paint protection can cost several hundred dollars and it's almost never worth the expense. Wash your car regularly and your paint will last the life of your car in almost all conditions.

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Fabric Protection

The same rule applies to fabric and upholstery protection, which is applied by the manufacturer and built into the price of the car. According to Edmunds, this service can cost $195 or more. If you really feel you need extra protection because you have a dog or messy children or whatever, spend a few bucks on a bottle of spray-on Scotchgard, which is essentially what the dealer is offering anyway.

Learn: 4 Genius Costco Shopping Hacks To Try in 2023

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Nitrogen-Filled Tires

Another add-on that's trending is nitrogen-filled tires, which your dealer will tell you is less susceptible to temperature-based pressure expansion and reduction. It's also supposed to bleed from your tires more slowly than regular air. Edmunds reports that its own research says it makes almost no difference in real-world conditions and that the service costs roughly $100. Regular air is free -- or close to it if you're in a pinch and need to stop at a gas station.

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Window Tints/Clear Protection

You might be in the market for window tints or clear UV protection, but don't let the dealer sell it to you as an add-on. Chances are they don't do the work themselves and instead farm it out to the lowest bidder. You, of course, reap none of those savings -- the difference is pure dealer profit. Check online reviews for local service companies and you'll almost certainly pay less for work done by a company whose reviews you had a chance to research for yourself.

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Door Edge Protector

You can pick up a DIY door edge protector kit for less than $10 on Amazon, yet according to Edmunds, dealers commonly charge $169. In theory, door edge protectors keep vulnerable door edges from chipping and scratching. The truth is, modern paint can resist most of this yesteryear type of damage, but if you want the peace of mind, it's an easy, cheap, tool-free DIY job.

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Service and Maintenance Packages

Service and maintenance packages aren't always, or even usually, a rip-off. Dealers make a lot of money in their service departments, and they'd obviously love to sell you a car and service it as well, both while under warranty and beyond. This incentivizes good service, as does the fact that good service means you're more likely to come back and buy your next car there, as well. The problem is, buying a car is a ton of information to process on its own and you can opt into the service plan at any time. If they offer you a maintenance package, ask for the details in writing, say you'll think about it and take a few days to look it over and decide if it's worth it.

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Upgraded Floor Mats

Your dealer might try to talk you into "heavy-duty" or "all-weather" mats. Regular floor mats often come standard from the factory, and in that case, the dealer might not be able to remove them for a discount. That, however, is different than upgrading to a more rugged version at the cost of hundreds of dollars extra, which you might pay for a full set of custom, laser-measured mats from a company like WeatherTech. If you must have generic heavy-duty mats, they're easy to find online with a two-digit price tag.

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Appearance Packages

Among the most common and costly dealer add-ons are so-called "appearance packages," which often take the form of pinstriping or some other graphic design. While it appears to come from the manufacturer, dealers -- particularly used car dealers -- can add them on themselves, try to pass them off as standard and outrageously upcharge for them. Edmunds reports seeing appearance packages for $279. Jaloplink reports seeing them cost as much as $2,000.

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Mudflaps

Passenger cars don't need mudflaps, despite what your dealer tells you about paint and undercarriage corrosion. Those who have them often find that they catch and trap sand and salt, causing more corrosion than they prevent. Large trucks are an exception, but not most standard trucks or SUVs. Find out if your state requires them on SUVs or standard trucks before letting a dealer explain why you can't go without them. If you really want them, you'll find, as with so many add-ons, that you can buy them and have them installed cheaper somewhere else.

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Trunk Trays

Trunk trays are formfitting rubberized cargo liners for your trunk or the back of your hatchback or SUV -- they sometimes come with raised cargo blocks. They protect against spills, upholstery tears and other damage, and they're certainly not a bad idea -- provided you pay $200 or so for one online or at your local auto parts store. What you shouldn't do, however, is let a dealer talk you into buying one from them for upwards of $700, which isn't unheard of, according to MotorTrend.

rukawajung / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Color-Changing Valve Stem Covers

You might encounter a dealer who promises magic in your tires in the form of color-changing valve stems that change from green to red when your tires need air, all for the low price of between $40-$100 for a set of four. First of all, most new -- or newish, even -- cars come with low-tire-pressure indicators on the dashboard. Even if yours doesn't, the two tools that have worked for time immemorial -- your eyes and a pressure gauge -- will serve the exact same purpose.

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Photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the images may not reflect the products listed in this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Useless Products That Car Dealerships May Try To Sucker You Into Buying
WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump argued in a federal appeals court filing Thursday he deserves immunity from three civil lawsuits that seek to blame him for the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump's lawyer, Jesse Binnall, told a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals there was no "incitement" in Trump's speech near the White House Jan. 6, 2021, before a mob of supporters stormed the Capitol. Binnall argued Trump's exhortation to "fight" was a reference to political pressure.

"First, President Trumps speech falls well within the broad scope of absolute immunity suggested by DOJ," Binnall wrote. "Absolute immunity aims to prevent the President from being subjected to the process of civil litigation."

Secret Service: Secret Service has met with New York police on security plans in the event Trump is charged

Trump New York investigation: Alvin Bragg's office rejects House GOP questions about Donald Trump criminal investigation

Trump is a defendant in three civil lawsuits from Democratic House members and Capitol police, who accuse him of inciting the attack. His court filing came two weeks after the Justice Department said he isnt protected from the lawsuits because of the accusation he incited violence.

"No part of a Presidents official responsibilities includes the incitement of imminent private violence," department lawyers said. "By definition, such conduct plainly falls outside the Presidents constitutional and statutory duties."

The lawmakers and police officers also filed an argument in the case Thursday, agreeing with the Justice Department but arguing against a sweeping view of presidential immunity other than for inciting violence. The litigants argued Trump was outside his official duties as a "clear and present danger" in urging supporters to block roads to Congress or forge Electoral College ballots.

"Although correct as far as it goes, the position of the United States does not go far enough," lawyers for the lawmakers and police said. Trump doesn't deserve immunity because "a president has no business instructing his supporters at any time to obstruct Congress's efforts to fulfill its certification responsibilities," the litigants added.

Story continues

What Trump did on Jan. 6: A breakdown of the 187 minutes Trump was out of view on Jan. 6 as aides urged him to act

Here is what we know about the cases:

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally Aug. 5, 2022, in Waukesha, Wis.

What are the Jan. 6 lawsuits about?

The three lawsuits each accuse Trump of inciting the riot and seek to hold him responsible for it. Nearly 1,000 people have been charged in the attack and a mob rampaged through the Capitol and temporarily prevented Congress from counting Electoral College votes. One rioter was shot to death outside the House chamber by a police officer. A police officer who was sprayed by chemicals during the attack died the next day from a stroke.

Ten House Democrats filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of violating the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, which sought to protect lawmakers from threats or intimidation against carrying out their duties. The lawsuit filed in February 2021 initially named Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, far-right groups with dozens of members charged criminally in the attack.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., initially was lead plaintiff in the lawsuit but dropped out when he became head of the House committee that investigated the attack. The remaining litigants are current or former Reps. Bonnie Coleman Watson, D-N.J.; Karen Bass, D-Calif.; Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Maxine Waters, D-Calif.; Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.; Henry Johnson, D-Ga.; Stephen Cohen, D-Tenn.; Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Veronica Escobar, D-Texas; and Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., filed a lawsuit in March 2021 accusing Trump of knowing about the conspiracy to attack the Capitol and doing nothing to stop it. His lawsuit also targeted Giuliani; the former presidents son, Donald Trump Jr.; and Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., who each spoke at a Trump rally near the White House before the attack.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta dropped Trump Jr., Giuliani and Brooks from the cases by ruling their speeches at the rally and other actions didnt make them part of an alleged conspiracy.

Two Capitol Police officers, James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby, filed a lawsuit alleging Trumps conduct incited the riot by urging his followers to try to overturn the election results.

Rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington

What is Trump arguing?

Trumps lawyers urged the appeals court to dismiss the lawsuits by arguing that contentious speeches such as the one he gave Jan. 6, 2021, are part of a presidents job.

The underlying question here is simple: is a president immune from civil liability when he or she gives a speech on a matter of public concern? Trumps lawyers said. The answer is undoubtedly, yes.

Trumps lawyers have argued he is immune from lawsuits for anything he said at the rally. They also argued he couldnt be part of any conspiracy to incite the violence because he urged participants to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard at the Capitol.

More: Georgia grand jury foreperson's unusual media tour likely heartburn for Trump inquiry

But in allowing the cases to continue, Mehta, who is also overseeing criminal cases from the Capitol attack, noted Trump urged his supporters to fight like hell before his supporters fought police and forced their way into the building.

At the end of his remarks, he told rally-goers, we fight, we fight like hell, and if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore, Mehta said.

Trump's presidential campaign issued a statement Thursday saying he called repeatedly during the speech for peace, patriotism and respect for law enforcement. The campaign argued federal courts should dismiss what it called frivolous lawsuits.

The E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C.

Who will decide the case?

The three-judge appeals panel will decide whether to allow the lawsuits to continue. The panel heard oral arguments about whether to dismiss the cases in December, but asked the Justice Department to weigh in.

Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and Judges George Katsas and Judith Rogers are hearing the case. Srinivasan was appointed to the appeals court by Barack Obama, Katsas by Trump and Rogers by Bill Clinton.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump urges appeals court to dismiss 3 Jan. 6 riot lawsuits
Singapore, Singapore - (NewMediaWire) - March 24, 2023 - The 2023 Dubai Cryptocurrency Expo successfully wrapped up in Dubai Festival City, United Arab Emirates, on March 9, 2023. DEFILABS (abbreviated DFL) finally took home the honorary title of "The Most Trustworthy Decentralized Financial Platform" at this expo thanks to its high level of transparency and open and fair operating mechanism.

The biggest event in the blockchain sector will take place in Dubai in 2023. It will be organized by Hqmena, and several top companies will be there as sponsors. As the expo's silver sponsor, DefiLabs actively participated in it and engaged with other industry leaders to discuss the most recent advancements in the blockchain sector, market trends, and the path of technological integration.

The "Most Trustworthy Decentralized Financial Platform" award at the 2023 Dubai Cryptocurrency Expo is much appreciated by DefiLabs, but it also reinforces the platform's own responsibilities and objectives. This indicates that Defilabs' robust security measures and a track record of dependable functioning have already won over users. This shows both the industry's praise and affirmation of DefiLabs in the area of decentralized financial investing as well as the support and confidence of DefiLabs' clients on the platform.

DefiLabs adopts a non-custodial, transparent, open, and decentralized service system to create a safe and reliable investment environment for users. Being a leader in the decentralized finance space, DefiLabs keeps up with Web 3.0 and integrates decentralized finance with artificial intelligence technology to produce a platform for decentralized finance that is more effective, transparent, usable, and impenetrable.

Contact Information

Yurii Gromov

DefiLabs

support@defilabs.farm

https://defilabs.farm/
Joanna Jensen suffered with eczema as a child and has gone on to run a hugely successful business selling products to treat sensitive skin. Photo: Childs Farm

Joanna Jensen founded the award-winning family skincare brand Childs Farm in 2010. In 2017 the company got a huge boost as customers started posting before and after photos of their childrens sensitive skin online demonstrating the positive effects of Childs Farm products.

They disrupted the market, reducing the market share of other more established brands such as Johnsons Baby from 32% to 15%. In 2022, they were awarded B-Corp status as Jensen sold a majority stake of Childs Farm for 40m to PZ Cussons, with ambition to build the brand globally.

This 6ft tall woman with back-combed grey hair swooped in and dumped her keys and handbag on my desk. Who are you! she boomed. I told her my name and she replied, You cant be Joanna, we already have a Joanna. Do you have a nickname? Well, I did. My maiden name is Dover, so my friends had always called me Ben. Well thats it then, well call you Ben! And she walked on.

You could say that I turned up totally unaware of what to expect when I first met Kathini Graham. I had left school at 18 and was meant to go on a gap year. To earn money I went to Manpower and was offered a temporary role as a receptionist at a London estate agents called Kathini Graham.

We had a hairdressing allowance, which Kathini particularly gave to me. So scruffy she would occasionally say and walk off. However, she did realise I wasnt stupid. Before long I was covering for people on holiday and eventually became a letting agent. What she did was give me responsibility at a very early age. Kathini didnt care about my young age. I was a pair of hands, had a brain and I made her money.

Read More: My first boss: Jo Fairley, Green & Black's co-founder

Kathini was like a Cruella de Vil character: her striking looks and charm meant she could get anyone to do anything. She was brought up in Kenya, was Amazonian in size and wore these black capes that did up at the neck. This was the late 1980s and her clients were people like Ava Gardner, the late film actress. I would go and get her coffee and stand in the queue with the likes of Jack Profumo. It was a different world.

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Kathini Graham was an all-female office, all bar one man. We were expected to get on with it.

The Childs Farm brand was launched in mainstream retailers Boots and Waitrose in 2014 and became the number one brand for babies and children in 2019. Photo: Childs Farm

I stayed for a few years before leaving to run, aged 20, a big lettings department at Hamptons. I never told anyone how old I was, as I never filled in the form and people assumed I was older.

Her legacy to me is just work it out. I say it to my kids all the time: "What do you know, work it out from there and come to me when youve made some progress," I tell them. What else did I learn? Well, good hair works.

Her work ethic also set me up through my current life. I have no problem working late at night and weekends and not telling anyone Im doing it just to get ahead. I just wanted to shine.

When I started Childs Farm I had come from an investment banking background. I didnt know the first thing about fast-moving consumer goods. I think thats what helps challenger brands coming into an environment and not knowing the current way that it works.

I knew that there was nothing on the market for my children that worked. I wanted to create lotions and potions that could help their dry and irritated skin, as well as my daughters eczema.

Nothing had changed since the 1970s and when I had my first meeting with retailers I thought, "Really? Lets stop procrastinating here. Lets give it a go." I didnt have a clue but I went in with belief and I taught myself something new literally five times a day.

Read More: My first boss: Chris Sheldrick, what3words co-founder and CEO

It was all trial and error but it made me look at how these businesses were run through a different lens. I just looked at the most logical, sensible and quickest way to get things done.

When you are a founder or creator, you have to be hugely self-reliant and you cant rely on other people to fill the gaps that you have. I had no clue about accounting software. I would phone Sage and was practically best friends with the help desk. I didnt mind asking idiot questions as thats how you learn.

It has not been a easy path for Joanna Jensen, both professionally (cash flow and supply chain) and personally (divorce, cancer and raising two daughters whilst building the business).

I looked at what I needed  shampoo, hair and body wash, two bubble baths and a moisturiser  and we launched with six products. My girls had never been able to have bubble baths due to their sensitive skin, and my youngest had hated bath times because it hurt. When they are little, you have to keep them clean. The dirtier their skin, the more prone they are to infection and sensitivity. I just wanted formulas to soothe, not irritate.

I then went on a crazy journey giving out products to anyone who had poorly skin. You have to know your consumer. We had little bottles for parents to try and our conversion rate was 64% would likely go on and purchase. That was unheard of.

Read More: My first boss: Charlie Bigham, ready-to-cook food empire founder

I would say to anyone with a new business like ours that sampling is the way forward. Get people to try before buying. If you are getting a low conversion rate then its about thinking of the price point and whether you are marketing something a consumer wants to buy.

I like to keep a company really lean and hire people who care as they put so much in. If you are hiring people who are intellectually curious it does mean that you get much more involved in what people are doing.

By 2016, there were around nine of us working round the clock (with 35 staff before I sold a majority stake in the company). We were all learning, laughing our heads off and didn't care if someone got it wrong. We werent spending absurd amounts of money and as you get bigger its about maintaining the camaraderie and element of exploration and discovery together. That was what made it so incredibly special.

Watch: How much money do I need to buy a house?

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes heads out to the Sunland Park Racetrack on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, to prepare for his mounts on Sunland Derby day.

When it matters most in the afternoons when races take place at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Luis Fuentes makes it count.

The talented 23-year-old jockey, who grew up in Canutillo and graduated from Academy West early so he could begin his riding career, has established himself as the top thoroughbred jockey at the Southern New Mexico track.

Fuentes was almost certainly meant to be a jockey, following in the footsteps of father Miguel, brothers Miguel Jr. and Ruben and uncles Freddy, Adan and Alfonso.

"I learned something from all of them," Fuentes said. "They all have experience and all have had good moments. I was lucky because I grew up around the sport and grew up learning from all of them. I had lots of people I could lean on for advice. I've been able to travel some and ride at a few tracks."

El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes prepares his horse to head to the Sunland Park Racetrack on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Fuentes is the top thoroughbred jockey at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Fuentes won the thoroughbred riding title at Sunland Park last year with 38 wins from 153 mounts and his horses earned more than $1 million. This year he's already at 36 wins with more than $1.1 million earned as the current meet at Sunland Park near it's close in early April.

On Sunday on Sunland's Park's biggest race day, Fuentes will be prominent, which features seven stakes races, including the Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks. While he isn't scheduled for a mount in the Sunland Derby or Oaks, he'll be aboard Clocksrikestwelve in the Harry Henson Handicap, Bye Bye Bobby in the Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes, Thruthestorm in the New Mexico Breeders' Derby, Cheese Tray in the New Mexico State University Stakes and Doer Not a Faker in the New Mexico Breeders' Oaks. In all of those mounts, Fuentes will be on talented horses with a strong chance of winning.

"I've been fortunate to have been on some great horses and work with great people. Sunday is a big day and I'm excited for the big races I'll be in," Fuentes said. "I've just tried to continue to grow as a jockey and learn every day. I've ridden in New Mexico and other parts of the country and those have helped me so much. My ultimate goal is to ride in California and Kentucky."

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El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes and jockey Christian Ramos gallop horses at the Sunland Park Racetrack on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Fuentes rides for multiple trainers, including two of Sunland Park's top trainers, Todd Fincher and Dick Cappellucci.

"Luis has great hands and he can adjust to whatever style the horse is accustomed to," Cappellucci said. "And with the stick in his hand, he can use either hand effectively and help the horse. He's very talented."

El Paso owner Kirk Robison, who is one of the top owners in New Mexico racing and regionally as well, said he is impressed with Fuentes.

"He is a good young rider that my trainers use frequently," Robison said. "We have had good success with him."

El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes at his trainer Todd Fincher's racing stable on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

While success has come with hard work and dedication on the track, he's also proven to be loyal and dedicated away from the track to his girlfriend Joree Scriver, a fellow jockey. Scriver was injured on Jan. 1 at Sunland Park, which resulted in lower limb paralysis. Scriver was injured when her mount, No Huddle, fell on the backstretch in a six furlong claiming race. No Huddle was racing mid-pack and appeared to be in the clear when the accident occurred.

Scriver's spinal cord was bruised but not severed and recently had some movement in two of her toes.

"Luis has been supportive of me through all of this and I'm grateful," Scriver said. "He's been someone I can lean on for so much. He helps me with everything and to see him be successful has been amazing. He's a talented rider and he rides with confidence. To see him achieve what he's done has been encouraging and inspires me."

Said Fuentes: "It's been hard to see Joree go through this but she's tough, she's a fighter. We're hopeful that things will be ok, it takes time and patience. She motivates me."

El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes trains for the works horses in preparation for Sunland Derby day at the Sunland Park Racetrack on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Fuentes has become a household name in New Mexico horse racing, but with his success at a young age, he could be known on a larger scale in years to come, joining the likes of Francisco Arrieta and Luis Contreras, jockeys who recently had success at Sunland and who have gone on to bigger tracks.

"I'm going to keep working every day and things will work out," Fuentes said. "I enjoy what I do every day and I'll always give my best effort in what I do. There are still lots of goals I want to reach in this sport and I'm going to do my best to reach them."

More: Sunland Derby draw Hard To Figure is 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's Sunland Derby

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter

Coming up

What: Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks

Where: Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino

When: Sunday, March 26

First post: 12:25 p.m. with the first of 11 races. The Sunland Oaks and Sunland Derby will be races No. 8 and No. 10 on the card. The Sunland Oaks is scheduled to start at 3:41 p.m. and the Sunland Derby at 4:45 p.m..

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes continues to shine at Sunland Park
WASHINGTON  Dr. Anthony Fauci may be on the cusp of retirement, but that has hardly made the presidents top medical adviser immune to political attacks from opponents who hold him responsible for various shortcomings, whether real or perceived, in how the nation handled the coronavirus pandemic.

His most recent critic is Twitter owner Elon Musk, one of the worlds richest men, who trained his 121 million followers on the 81-year-old outgoing director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with a series of messages in recent days.

My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci, Musk tweeted on Sunday, using a popular right-wing meme to mock transgender and nonbinary people. Since taking over the platform in late October, the Tesla founder has made the platform more overtly political, engaging in the kind of hard-edged discourse that makes the site unpalatable for some users and advertisers.

The White House condemned Musks attacks on Fauci during a briefing on Monday afternoon. They are disgusting and they are divorced from reality, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told Yahoo News, adding that attacks on public health officials  which have hardly been confined to Fauci, even if he has been the most prominent target  were incredibly dangerous.

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Elon Musk. (Photo illustration: Jack Forbes; photos: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images, Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Fauci has served every president since Ronald Reagan and has treated every major infectious disease outbreak since the 1980s. Jean-Pierre praised Fauci as an exceptional talent who had saved countless lives, including by listening to, and working with, AIDS activists who were pushing for faster drug trials at a time when an HIV diagnosis amounted to a death sentence. Later, he personally treated Ebola patients.

But it is Faucis work for the administrations of Donald Trump and Joe Biden that has made him an acutely controversial figure in American public life.

Though he served only in an advisory capacity to both  and was eventually sidelined by Trump  Fauci has become a symbol of virtually everything frightening and frustrating about COVID-19, including the very advent of the pandemic itself.

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In another meme that Musk shared, Fauci is seen advising Biden to impose one more lockdown. But, in fact, it was under Trump, not Biden, that the most onerous lockdowns took place, largely because the coronavirus was new in 2020 and little was known about how it spread. By the time Biden became president in 2021, lockdowns had largely become politically toxic  and, thanks to the arrival of effective vaccines, unnecessary.

Since taking over Twitter, Musk has become an increasingly political  and polarizing  figure. On Sunday night he was booed at a San Francisco performance by comedian Dave Chappelle, who is no stranger to controversy himself.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Elected officials in Washington who had eyed Musks takeover warily saw the anti-Fauci tweets as yet more evidence that he would be an unpredictable custodian of a platform beloved by political and media elites.

Courting vaccine-deniers doesnt seem like a smart business strategy, but the issue is this: could you just leave a good man alone in your seemingly endless quest for attention? wrote Sen. Amy Klobuchar on  naturally enough  Twitter.

Musk ended Twitters policy against the proliferation of coronavirus misinformation late last month, in apparent keeping with his desire to make the platform adhere more closely to his principles of unfettered free speech.

He has also released a series of internal documents related to some of the most contentious decisions Twitter has made in recent years, including the banishment of Trump and the suppression of a New York Post article on the contents of Hunter Bidens laptop.

The document release included evidence that top Twitter executives sought to downplay the views of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford physician who co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which pushed for society to reopen without coronavirus restrictions. Bhattacharya spent part of last Friday at Twitters headquarters, at Musks invitation.

Elon Musk's twitter account is seen displayed on a mobile phone screen with the Twitter logo on the background. (Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Fauci was well known to disagree with Bhattacharya and others who sought a fuller, quicker reopening, and he has openly lamented the spread of misinformation online. But he had no power to influence the decisions of behemoth corporations  or of local governments that often moved at their own pace, out of step with whatever the federal government was recommending at the time.

All that may mean little to Musk, who has made a habit of courting fringe or discredited ideas. After a man attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband in San Francisco, Musk spread a purely fictitious report that the attack had, in fact, been a lovers quarrel between the attacker and Pelosis husband.

The coronavirus, of course, spawned an entire cottage industry of conspiracy theories  with Fauci near the center of many of them. That has made him the target of extremists, including one who was planning to travel to Washington to kill him and others.

Its so outlandish, it almost borders on ludicrous, Fauci told a BBC podcast last week when asked about the attacks against him. As far as my own safety, I dont let that bother me, he said, but he denounced attacks on his wife and daughters as cowardly.

Some far-right personalities like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., have long called for the prosecution or firing of Fauci, but the grounds for such action are unclear at best. Some of his critics believe he knows more than he has said publicly about so-called gain-of-function research that was conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and may have caused the initial SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the central Chinese city.

Fauci on Meet the Press on Nov. 27. (William B. Plowman/NBC via Getty Images)

Although the possibility of the coronavirus having emerged from a laboratory remains a credible  albeit disputed  hypothesis, there is no reason to believe that Fauci would have been aware of such an accident, or that he would have endorsed the kinds of practices that would allow such an accident to occur.

Fauci lied to Congress and funded gain-of-function research that killed millions of people, Musk wrote in response to his initial anti-Fauci post.

Fauci has openly testified about the need to work with laboratories in China, since many diseases emerge there. And while gain-of-function research is indeed controversial, some believe that only by boosting a virus can its potential evolution be truly understood.

Opponents of masks and vaccines  and Fauci is a symbol of both  responded to Musks messages with enthusiasm. One conservative critic of Fauci and associated public health experts, Dr. Eli David, shared a meme based on actor Will Smiths notorious slap of comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards  only in his version it was Musk gleefully hitting Fauci.

Musk is a supporter of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who opposed nearly all restrictions, including masks, lockdowns and vaccines. He was praised for keeping his state open, but 83,200 people have died there. Critics have accused him and other conservative leaders of not taking the pandemic seriously enough.

A sign at an event of the truckers' group the Peoples Convoy in Hagerstown, Md., in March. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, DeSantis derided Fauci as a little elf, urging his supporters to chuck him across the Potomac.

Even if prosecution remains an outlandish possibility, Republicans could well call Fauci to testify when they take over the House in January, especially if they are prodded to do so by high-profile figures like Musk. Fauci has said he will cooperate with congressional requests.

If I become a punching bag, Im a punching bag, he said in an interview last week. But I am very happy to testify before any congressional oversight committee, I have nothing to hide. I can explain and validate everything that Ive done.

Musk appeared to enjoy the controversy that his anti-Fauci tweets caused. Once again resorting to a meme that would have been largely unknown outside the far-right media ecosystem, he likened his detractors to the infamous Branch Davidian religious cult, which was based in Waco, Texas, before federal agents stormed its compound in 1993.

The Branch Covidians are upset lol, Musk tweeted on Monday morning.
Elon Musk acquired Twitter in late October. Getty Images

Elon Musk emailed Twitter staff Wednesday about remote working, Platformer's Zoe Schiffer tweeted.

The Twitter owner told them in an email sent at 2:30 a.m. that the "office is not optional."

Musk noted in the email that the office in San Francisco was half empty Tuesday, Schiffer tweeted.

Elon Musk reportedly emailed Twitter staff early on Wednesday to remind them about the company's remote-working policy.

Zoe Schiffer, a managing editor at Platformer, tweeted: "Elon Musk sent Twitter employees an email at 2:30am saying the 'office is not optional.'"

The Twitter owner said in his memo that the company's headquarters in San Francisco "was half empty yesterday," per Schiffer's tweet.

However, Musk has fired thousands of employees since taking control of the company in late October with the total now thought to be about 1,300, per CNBC.

Twitter didn't respond to a request for comment from Insider; the company laid off its communications team last week and its press office now automatically responds to emails with a poop emoji.

Musk has previously sent emails to employees in the middle of the night. In November, he sent one at 2:39 a.m. telling employees they would no longer be permitted to work remotely.

Musk began the memo by saying that there was "no way to sugarcoat the message" about the economic climate and its influence on Twitter, which depends on advertising revenue.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is no fan of remote working. Last May, he told Tesla staff to return to the office full-time or find jobs elsewhere.

Following the ultimatum, Tesla started to monitor employees' office attendance, Insider previously reported.

Musk has said that working from home during the pandemic "tricked" people into thinking they don't need to work hard  but economists have disputed his thinking.

Do you work for Twitter or have some insight to share? Contact this reporter from a non-work device at stabahriti@insider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A new research center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University could bring more aerospace companies to Central Florida.

Officials said the center will allow companies to research known and emerging operational safety risks.

Boeing donated more than $5 million to fix up a building on campus for the project.

Read: Embry-Riddle students assist local pilot, rescue crews through mid-air emergency

The schools president said it comes at a critical time in aviation.

Aviation continues to have a strong safety record, said Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President Barry Butler. However, as highlighted by recent events here in the United States, there is more work to be done.

Watch: Wildlife crews using artificial intelligence to help track sea turtle population

The new research center will include lab space and a classroom for safety-related courses.

It is expected to open by next January.

Watch: More than just a moon selfie: Embry-Riddle students sending camera to space

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.
Honesty is the best policy.

This is a phrase many people have used or lived by. Its often used as a guiding principle, so its hard to accept when that energy is not reciprocated, regardless of the space.

One of the spaces where this concept is most covert is job seeking. Those interested in jumping into the often tumultuous space of job hunting come to the table with a list of requirements thats best for them.

And while everyone may have different priorities around what would make a job relationship ideal, nearly everyone wants to earn a livable wage that supports their lifestyle and affirms their value.

The problem, however, is that not all companies are open and honest about their budgets and the suggested salary aligned with posted positions. This process can be problematic for both the employer and the employee.

It doesnt have to be this way. Both entities can benefit from salary transparency. Heres why it matters and the current trends.

The post How Employees And Employers Benefit By Listing Salaries In Job Descriptions appeared first on AfroTech.

Salary transparency is growing among employers in the United States as laws and policies are being implemented to support the practice.

According to The New York Times, some companies are less apprehensive about disclosing what salaries are for their vacant roles. The report noted that the level of transparency is changing how hiring managers approach setting salaries, as some of its effects may impact earning potential.

LaKeisha Caton, a partner at the law firm Pryor Cashman, spoke to The New York Times about the more significant impact of being open about salaries and how its part of a more extensive conversation and culture shift for everyone involved.

I dont think you can just post the salary, and then thats it, Canton said. I think its actually leading to more conversations internally regarding, How do we think about pay?

The fight for salary transparency ultimately boils down to an equity issue.

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According to a Forbes report, salary transparency will be instrumental in the fight for more significant pay equity. When the disclosure of salaries becomes mandatory, it assists in job negotiations and eliminating pay gaps mainly impacted by women and minority applicants.

In a New York Times interview, an economic subject matter expert doubled down on this sentiment of mandated salary transparency leading to more equitable job outcomes.

It is totally 100 percent true across all the studies Ive seen, with very few exceptions, Zoe Cullen, an economist at Harvard Business School, said.

The outlet went on to add that Cullen believes the current and incoming transparency laws are very good at minimizing wage disparities.

CNBC outlines which states have current and incoming laws impacting what salary transparency means for the industry as a whole.

To date, the following states include:

California  employers must list the salary range for all postings for jobs based out of the state for companies that have at least 15 employees and at least one of them in California.

Colorado  employers must the list the salary range and break down of all benefits for job postings based out of the state.

Connecticut  employers are required to share the salary range when an prospective employee asks or if an offer is extended, which ever comes first. The same rule applies if a person changes positions or if the employee requests an updated range for their role.

Maryland  employers are required to share the salary range if an applicant requests it.

Nevada  regardless if the applicant ask for it, employers are required to provide the salary range for a job after the initial interview. The law applies to internal promotions and transfers.

Rhode Island  employers are required to disclose the salary range upon request and before extending any formal compensation offer. This also applies to internal promotions and transfers. Employees can also request salary updates at any time.

Washington  employers must list the minimum and maximum salaries for all job postings. This applicable to organizations with at least 15 employees and those based in the state but allow remote work.

However, other states are building policies and laws only for a few areas and cities. Those include:

Cincinnati, OH  employers must share salaries after they extend an offer and if an employee or applicant asks for it.

Jersey City, New Jersey  employers must the list the salary range and break down of all benefits for job postings based out of the state.

New York Ithaca  employers must the list the salary range for all job postings. This is applicable to internal transfers and promotions. New York City  employers must list the salary range for all postings for jobs based out of the state. Westchester County  employers must list the minimum and maximum salaries for all job postings.

Toledo, OH  employers must share salaries after they extend an offer and if an employee or applicant asks for it.

As the concept of sharing salary information in job postings becomes more widely accepted, even companies that arent legally required could start recognizing the benefits of transparency. Eventually, this could lead to greater efficiency and effectiveness in the job search process, as job seekers can make more informed decisions based on clear and accurate information about compensation.

Kristopher Williams, Sr. Human Resources Business Partner at Warner Bros. Discovery detailed why listing job salaries gives insight into what a company values.

For companies, it shows that we value transparency. Also, it helps to recruit to possibly discourage those who are not within the range not to apply. As a result, recruiters are able to focus on those who fall within the range, Williams said.

Conversely, Williams noted that it takes out some guesswork in job seeking.

It benefits employees by showing them compensation, so there are no surprises. For internal employees in the same role, it shows if they are being fairly compensated. Also, if the range is not what an employee/candidate wants, they dont waste their time applying, he continued.

Both employees and employers can better shape the holistic job industrys trajectory when salaries are open and exposed. It leads to accountability, data around performance outcomes, and processes for individual and collective strategies.

The Harvard Business Review discusses the dimensions of this work, which are primarily positive, but also face critique.

Ultimately, salary transparency leaves both parties at the forefront of decision-making and balances the power between employers and employees.



Did you hear? Our resume book is now available year-round, which means you no longer have to wait for AfroTech Conference to find your dream job!

Click here and get hired.
Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Employees for an ice cream and soda shop in Oklahoma City's Midtown District voted to form a union in March, leading to the state's first restaurant union in decades.

Six workers at Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe  the latest incarnation of the century-old ice cream parlor bearing the Anthony J. Kaiser name  organized the Kaiser's Bean Family Union on March 8. Employees and organizers said the Oklahoma Restaurant Association told them that the new union is the only restaurant union in Oklahoma.

"It's a historic building, it's a historic business, and we're going to make history again," said general manager Alberto Fonseca. "We're proud of our employees' decision to make a union, that way they can defend their rights and ask for things that they want and be protected."

Formation of the union for the historic restaurant is the latest amid a wave of unionization spreading across companies throughout the United States. What differentiates the Kaiser's Bean Family Union effort from Starbucks, for example, is how much business management and ownership have embraced unionization, seeing the benefit for restaurant employees and operations.

"The good thing here is, all of the employees are very hardworking people, very nice, and we get along very well," Fonseca said. "It's a brand new union, but they're going to work it out."

More:OKC metro-area Starbucks stores face prosecution for unfair labor practices, NLRB says

Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe general manager Alberto Fonseca, 64, works the counter on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Peter K. Schaffer, the Oklahoma City-based attorney who owns Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe, said he was "awestruck" by the employees' decision. A proud union member in the past, he was equally awestruck when he found out his employees had formed the only restaurant-based union in the state.

"I'm proud of our employees and I'm proud of the work they do," Schaffer said. "We are looking forward to working with our union and our union rep so that our guests' experiences are even more positive."

Jimmy Curry, president of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), said Kaiser's Bean Family Union would be the first Oklahoma-based restaurant union in decades.

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"They would be the only restaurant one in Oklahoma that I know of," Curry said. "As far as Oklahoma restaurants go, the last restaurants that were organized were some of the restaurants at the Tulsa International Airport. They were underneath the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local, and that was back in the 1990s."

Related: Did Oklahomans really 'not want to work anymore' in 'The Great Resignation'? Not so fast.

Union members seeking benefits package, paid vacation and sick leave

Nicole Paisley, 44, union representative at Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe, serves customers at the Midtown restaurant in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Jessie Christopher Smith/The Oklahoman

Nicole Paisley, 44, is the elected union representative who's worked off-and-on at Kaiser's the past 20 years. Chief among the Kaiser's Bean Family Union's demands, she said, is a benefits package that would cover employees and their families, including medical insurance, as well as paid vacation and sick leave.

"Our decision as a small group was to pull our staff together to make sure, even as a small business, that if something happens to us, that we're covered," Paisley said. "We want to help better our employees, and I like that Pete and Alberto are working with us to get us all covered."

A cancer survivor, Paisley knows the importance of health and life insurance because of past problems with her immune system. She also said that paid sick leave would be helpful for other employees who need compensation to keep taking care of their families should they become ill.

Rubie Leal, 29, an employee at Kaiser's since 2016 who now works assistant management, said she was initially hesitant to help form the union because of the restaurant's small size, but once she heard of the potential benefits, she felt it was the right move.

"We've been talking about the union since COVID hit," Leal said. "After COVID, it was brought to our attention about having a union. I didn't think we needed it at first, but then I realized it's a really good opportunity, especially for us, because we are a small business. We all have something going on personally, and we'd like to be covered for things too, like family or kids or especially mental health (and) have some counseling going on for some of our employees."

Rubie Leal, 29, rings up customers' orders at Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Leal has worked as an employee at the historic Midtown ice cream parlor since 2016 and now fulfills the role of assistant management.

'An integral part of Midtown': Old-fashioned soda shop still serving OKC after a century

The restaurant is known for being a "second-chance employer," a company that hires individuals with criminal backgrounds. Leal believes unionization allows for advocacy that will lead to employer-provided insurance for all employees.

Leal and Paisley also believe the shop would benefit from extended store hours. Currently, Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but union members said they are considering 8 p.m. on the weekends and 9 p.m. during the summertime when revenue is typically the highest.

"It's a work in progress," Paisley said. "But we've been through everything together already, and we're going to keep it going."

Opinion: The South's racist past is harming workers today. Unions can help us build a new future.

Dominica Cardona, kitchen cook, prepares a meal at Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla.

"Having a say in the workplace"

Since 2001, Oklahoma has come to be known as a "right-to-work" state, where employers are prohibited from making union membership or dues payment a condition of employment.

Curry said that, in the past two decades, anti-union legislation and bias has been "overwhelming," but the pandemic brought about a major change to the state.

"Ever since COVID happened, the calls to our office have ballooned, and it's not any one sector," Curry said. "And I would say 90% of the calls that come in here have nothing to do with their wages. It's all about their job security, safety on the job, staff ratios. The workplace environment is what's driving them to want to organize."

One of the biggest obstacles, Curry also said, that restaurants face when it comes to union organization is high employee turnover, which makes it difficult for a majority of workers to come together and sign authorization cards.

"But it gives them a voice at their work," Curry said. "It's about having a say in their workplace, it's about the conditions. There's no one better that can tell you how to do a job than folks that are actually doing the job."

More:What new restaurants are opening, what's reopening in Oklahoma City? Check out the latest

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's Kaiser's Grateful Bean one of the first Oklahoma restaurants to form a union
The James Sneider Apartments on Chicago's Far North Side where three seniors were discovered dead after residents reported high temperatures are seen May 16, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

SPRINGFIELD  Following the heat-exposure deaths of three seniors in their apartments on Chicagos Far North Side last year, the Illinois Senate on Thursday passed a measure requiring all state-funded affordable housing to have air-conditioning installed and controlled by residents.

The measure, which applies to any housing that is financed under the states affordable housing program, passed in the Senate by a 54-3 vote and moves to the House for consideration.

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The legislation was prompted by the May 2022 deaths of Delores McNeely, 76, Gwendolyn Osborne, 72, and Janice Reed, 68, who were found unresponsive in their units at the James Sneider Apartments in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

They died during an unusually hot week with temperatures that regularly reached above 90 degrees. The cause of death for all three was environmental heat exposure, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

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The legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Mike Simmons, a Chicago Democrat whose district encompasses the apartment complex. Simmons said after the vote that in order for apartment buildings to keep getting funding from the state, owners must adhere to the new regulations.

We want to make sure that our residents, not just seniors, but everybody in affordable housing has access to cooling in their units that they can control so that we dont have unnecessary deaths, he said after the bills passage.

The legislation requires permanent air-conditioning for newly-constructed buildings that fall under the state program. All buildings financed through the state would be required to have cooling and dehumidifying systems that are capable of being operated independent of a heating system.

At the Sneider Apartments, residents who complained about the heat last May were reportedly told that a Chicago ordinance required that the heat be kept on until June 1.

In fact, the ordinance sets a daytime temperature requirement of at least 68 degrees from Sept. 15 to June 1, but had no requirement that the heat had to stay on if temperatures naturally exceed that threshold.

These three seniors died unnecessarily because air-conditioning was not operable in their place of residence, Simmons said during the brief floor debate before the vote.

The legislation also requires that, from October through May, all housing under the state program be kept at a temperature of at least 68 degrees when the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Resident complaints about heating must be resolved within 24 hours, under the bill.

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Late last year, the families of McNeely, Osborne and Reed split a $16 million settlement from Gateway Apartments Ltd. and Hispanic Housing Development Corp., which own and manage the Sneider Apartments.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com
Many people are still surprised to learn or remember that the American Revolution didn't end until 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. Our young nation's war with Britain was long, challenging and slow.

The Treaty of Paris had little or no effect on northwestern Pennsylvania. No military forces moved into the vast wilderness along the Lake Erie shoreline. This was in part due to conflicts between settlers and Native Americans and the dense forests of the region. The only actual area that the treaty set was a permanent border between America and Canada that ran and still does run down a line from the mouth of the Niagara River to the mouth of the Detroit River. The line cuts Lake Erie in half.

From settlement to city: A history of early Erie and how it and the county grew

Soon after this, the powers in the large Eastern cities saw the wisdom of carefully controlling settlement of these new lands. Slow and steady became their motto for expansion. At the time, there were many clashes with the various tribes about unauthorized settlement on the Native Americans' traditional land. Of course, renegade settlers had different ideas about this.

George Washington and his advisors feared that unless settlement of the area was carefully controlled and led by men with strong ties to the Eastern political leadership, control of the frontier and its new towns and villages would be lost. He knew from his trips into this area that the current residents were independent thinkers who disliked most forms of government control. He was vocal about this.

His worries were partly based on his experiences with the French, British and British Canadians. At the time, he was concerned that the British and the French might convince settlers that the American Revolution was of no benefit to them and their families.

It was not long until the leaders in Washington and Philadelphia realized that passable roads linking towns and villages needed to be built, but only when and where they felt it was right. Their goal was to have roads and locations designed to ensure orderly commercial development and to ensure these towns and villages had the look and feel of the settled eastern regions of the new country at the time.

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Fort Presque Isle to Fort LeBoeuf: The history of the first known road in Erie County

Most of the settlers did not listen. They had too many other problems to worry about. At the time, multiple states claimed ownership of the Erie Triangle, as the Erie area was called at the time. In 1789, this triangle was ceded to the federal government. After a long dialogue, in April 1790, Pennsylvania purchased it for just more than $150,000. The Iroquois tribe also got small payments of $2,000 from Pennsylvania and the federal government, plus a small plot of land that became their reservation.

The Erie Triangle: The final building block for Erie County

Once Pennsylvania had this land, the commonwealth's leaders began to plan the use of the land and the settlement of it. One of the first new laws passed by the legislators was to build a road from Reading to Presque Isle. Gen. William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott appointed commissioners to carry out the road building and surveying of the land. Another bill was passed, on April 8, 1792, approving the laying out of a town at Presque Isle  today's Erie.

Seth Reed: Erie pioneer's legacy stretches from Bunker Hill to Mill Creek

This is my final column for the Erie Times-News. I hope you enjoyed the past columns. Keep an eye out; I will be coming out with two new books before the end of this year.

See you on the park!

Gene Ware is the author of 10 books. He serves on the board of the Presque Isle Light Station and is past chairman of the boards of the Tom Ridge Center Foundation and the Presque Isle Partnership. Email him at ware906@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA in the aftermath of the American Revolution
Boris Johnson Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Months of recriminations over Britain's "partygate" controversy crescendoed this week with a hearing before the House of Commons' powerful privileges committee in which former Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his actions during the scandal, one of several that contributed to his exit from the job under pressure last year. Johnson, his political future on the line, said during the three-hour hearing that he acted in "good faith" and never intentionally misled Parliament when he said as news of the scandal broke that no illegal gatherings had taken place at his Downing Street offices. "Hand on heart," he said. "I did not lie to the House."

Johnson started out defiantly, saying the effort to hold him in contempt of Parliament was "manifestly unfair" because lawmakers have found no evidence he was warned in advance anything illegal was happening at No. 10 Downing Street. He said a photo of him surrounded by colleagues with drinks showed that "perfect social distancing" wasn't observed, but argued that gathering was essential for work. He said if it was "obvious" that people were breaking lockdown rules, as critics in Parliament have argued, other top officials in his government including current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would have known what was going on, too. Sunak was Johnson's chief financial minister, and his resignation last July set Johnson's downfall in motion.

The proceedings took a turn for the worse for Johnson when members of his own Conservative Party started grilling him. Conservative MP Alberto Costa said Johnson should have relied on senior civil servants to make sure everything in his office was being done by the book, instead of hiding behind the advice of aides as a "deflection mechanism." Committee Chair Harriet Harman of the opposition Labor Party said Johnson's effort to defend himself was "flimsy." The Scottish National Party's deputy leader in the House of Commons, Mhairi Black, said Johnson's "absurd claims were exposed as not remotely credible" under interrogation. "Most people watching will conclude it's now beyond doubt that the Tory former prime minister not only broke the law but also deliberately misled Parliament," she said.

'Nothing lasts forever'

"Boris Johnson's political career ended" before our very eyes just now, said Tanya Gold in Politico, "with stuttering and fake politesse." Johnson's "famous bonhomie" has gotten him out of pickles all his life, but it failed him when he needed it most. Johnson needed a serious defense "against the charge that he repeatedly lied to parliament when he said guidance was followed in No. 10." Instead all he could muster was "distraction," smokescreens, and "sentences that tripped along ring roads, going nowhere." He gave the committee no reason not to rule against him, which could cost him his seat. Oh, well. "Nothing lasts forever."

Conservatives and rightwing journalists had hoped it was going to "be the day Johnson launched his recapture of the Tory party from Rishi Sunak," said Martin Kettle in The Guardian. But his allies, and even his enemies, made a fatal error by assuming that the members of the Commons privileges committee "would be partisan pushovers. "Instead, the MPs calmly and devastatingly sliced and diced Johnson and the evidence about Downing Street COVID gatherings he has given this week." But Johnson's disastrous day was a gift to Sunak, who only got the job because his predecessor, Liz Truss, imploded so quickly. "Sunak has no reason to fear Johnson" anymore.

Johnson's political obituary is premature

This could indeed cost Johnson his seat in Parliament, in theory, said Martin Ivens in Bloomberg. "If MPs vote to suspend him for 10 days or more," voters in his constituency "will be entitled to hold a recall petition to trigger a by-election. If he's defeated, that would normally scupper any thought of a political comeback. That's a lot of 'ifs.'" The "smart money" is on a penalty of less than 10 days, with "Johnson getting off with a groveling apology." Tory MPs on the committee that will decide his fate reportedly "dread the so-called 'nuclear option'" of longer time-out. "It would be quite a first to engineer the expulsion from parliament of a former prime minister  one from their own party no less." And "Johnson's vengeful supporters" might respond by trying to oust his Tory critics in their next elections.

Johnson still has supporters who are "undeniably loyal," even among people who aren't buying his "partygate" excuses, said Paul Waugh in the i. A new poll of Tory members by the ConservativeHome website found that most members of his party "think he broke lockdown rules, that he didn't deliberately mislead Parliament and that he should remain as an MP. But most really aren't keen on his return as party leader." After the drubbing he has taken, he has the "deep" support he needs to stay alive politically, but it's too "narrow" to put him back in power.

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Major General Richard R. Neely, Commander of the Illinois National Guard, left, and Lt. Col. Jason Celletti, commander of the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, middle, present an Illinois flag to Gov. JB Pritzker during a mobilization ceremony for the regiment Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria.

A bill opening the process for Illinois to create a new state flag advanced out of the Senate on Thursday, but not before a brief debate between Springfield's two senators.

Senate Bill 1818 from state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, passed 39-16 during floor debate and will now move to the House. Her bill, still pending House approval, would create a 21-person committee tasked with deciding whether the state needs a new flag.

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State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, speaks before a ceremonial swearing-in of U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL. 13 District) at Pipefitters Hall Saturday Jan. 21, 2023.

Turner's first passed bill in the 103rd General Assembly gives the committee until Sept. 1 to determine whether or not the flag needs to be replaced and then until Dec. 3, 2024 - the day in 1818 when Illinois became the 21st state in the union - to report recommendations to the legislature.

The state flag has remained basically the same since it was first adopted in 1915. Its only change in 1969 was an addition of the word Illinois underneath an eagle standing on a rock with a shield beneath its feet.

So far, Turner said her office has received hundreds of calls from middle schools and high schools wishing to participate.

"People talk all the time about disconnected the citizenry is with government," she said during the floor debate. "I think this is a great opportunity to give people a reason to get excited about Illinois again."

Sen. Steve McClure R-Springfield speaks on the senate floor Friday April 8, 2022. [Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register]

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, rose in opposition to his fellow Springfield legislator. He said he appreciated Turner bringing the bill to the table, even saying the new designs could be "spectacular," but said the legislature should spend its time with more pressing matters.

"We need to be focused on the things our constituents are concerned about and I've yet to have that issue of our state flag be raised by one constituent," he said. Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, was the sole Republican 'yes' vote.

McClure during a previous floor debate Thursday joined Democrats in supporting Senate Bill 1561. The bill from state Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, would ban the use of electronic cigarettes in public spaces.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Bill creating new state flag commission passes in Illinois Senate,
By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chinese-American citizen Kai Li, jailed in China on spying charges he denies, received a rare in-person visit last week from the U.S. Ambassador to Beijing and urged the U.S. government to continue to work for his release, Li's son said on Friday.

Over the course of the past month, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns had the first meetings in more than five years with at least three U.S. citizens whom Washington says have been wrongfully detained, a senior U.S. official and family members said.

Burns met Li on March 16 in a Shanghai prison, Li's son Harrison said. Li, a businessman, has been held in China since 2016 and was handed a 10-year jail sentence in 2018 for espionage.

"The biggest message that my dad wanted to convey is to remind everyone in the U.S. government and the public that ... he's 100 percent innocent," Harrison Li said. "Of course the U.S. government knows this, but he said it just bears repeating."

Burns wanted to shake Li's hand but Chinese authorities did not allow that, Harrison Li said. The two could see and hear each other in an hour-long meeting through a floor-to-ceiling glass partition, he said.

Harrison Li said that when the ambassador asked his father what he hoped to do once he was released, he replied that he wanted to work on "improving relations between the United States and China."

China did not allow in-person visits during its prolonged COVID-19 lockdown.

Burns has also met with Mark Swidan, a Texas-based businessman who was convicted by a Chinese court in 2019 and David Lin, an American pastor detained in China since 2006, the senior U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

He did not provide the dates but said Burns visited the men "within the last few weeks" and that "this is the first time he's actually had a chance to get face-to-face."

Burns has accompanied consular officers on prison visits to U.S. citizens held in China, a State Department spokesperson said.

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China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

LIMITED U.S.-CHINA DIPLOMACY

Burns visited the three men at a time when relations between Washington and Beijing are the worst in decades following a series of disputes, including Washington accusing China of flying a spy balloon over the continental United States in February. A U.S. fighter jet shot it down.

China has said the balloon was a civilian research craft but the dramatic episode forced U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a trip to Beijing.

Since then, there has been little positive diplomacy between the two countries aside from a brief and tense meeting between Blinken and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Feb. 18 in Munich.

And last week Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow where he and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly denounced the United States.

The detainee issue often takes a back seat to more urgent issues in the U.S.-China relationship. Families of detained Americans say the freedom of their relatives should not be bundled up with challenging policy issues and are better addressed in a separate track focused on humanitarian matters.

(This story has been refiled to fix Li's profession in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Don Durfee and Grant McCool)
Map of Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a small country on the west coast of Africa which struck oil in 1995, and which since has been cited as a textbook case of the resource curse - or the paradox of plenty.

It is made up of a mainland territory called Rio Muni, and five islands including Bioko, where the capital Malabo is located.

The former Spanish colony is now one of sub-Sahara's biggest oil producers, but a large proportion of the population still lives in poverty.

Rights organisations have described the two post-independence leaders as among the worst abusers in Africa.

President Francisco Macias Nguema's reign of terror from independence in 1968 until his overthrow in 1979, prompted a third of the population to flee.

His successor, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has been described by rights organisations as one of the continent's most brutal dictators.

Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring

REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA: FACTS

Capital: Malabo (current) Ciudad de la Paz (under construction)

Area: 28,050 sq km

Population: 1.6 million

Languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese

Life expectancy: 59 years (men) 63 years (women)

LEADER:

President: Teodoro Obiang Nguema

Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang Nguema

President Obiang Nguema is Africa's longest serving leader and has been in power for more than 40 years.

In 1979 he seized power from President Francisco Macias Nguema, whose rule prompted a mass exodus and thousands of deaths. The former leader was tried and executed.

The new president relaxed some of the restrictions of his predecessor - such as a ban on the Catholic Church - but kept the absolute control he inherited. He seems intent on continuing the dynasty - his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang is vice-president.

MEDIA

Offshore oil and gas exports account for most of Equatorial Guinea's income

There is no real media pluralism in Equatorial Guinea. The government-controlled radio and TV broadcaster is the main source of news.

However, online media outlets have developed in recent years, providing news that partly escapes government control.

It is impossible for the media to criticise the president and the security forces, says Reporters Without Borders.

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TIMELINE

Francisco Macias Nguema, pictured shortly before his execution, was voted into office but assumed absolute personal power

Some key dates in Equatorial Guinea's history:

1471 - Portuguese navigator Fernando Po sights the island of Fernando Po, now called Bioko.

1778 - Portugal and Spain sign the Treaty of El Pardo which cedes Bioko and commercial rights to the Bight of Biafra between the Niger and Ogoue rivers to Spain in exchange for large areas in what is now western Brazil. The area becomes key for Spain's development of its Atlantic slave trade.

1827-1843 - Spain leases a base at Malabo on Bioko to the UK which uses it as a base as part of its efforts to suppress the transatlantic slave trade.

1900 - Spain never settles large areas in the Bight of Biafra which it claims and this area is gradually occupied by France at the expense of Spain. This is ratified in the Treaty of Paris, leaving Spain with the continental enclave of Rio Muni.

1904 - Fernando Po and Rio Muni become the Western African Territories, later renamed Spanish Guinea.

1968 - Spanish Guinea granted independence and the country becomes the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with Francisco Macias Nguema as president.

1979 - The president's nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo seizes power in a military coup.

1996 - Mobil oil corporation announces it has discovered sizeable new oil and gas reserves.

2001 - Economy emerges as one of world's fastest-growing because of oil exploitation, but very little of this reaches the vast majority of the population.

2004 - Suspected mercenaries arrested over alleged coup attempt; Crackdown on immigrants ensues; hundreds of foreigners deported.

2005 - Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former British PM Margaret Thatcher, tells a South African court that he helped to finance the alleged 2004 coup plot, but did so unwittingly.

2008 - British mercenary Simon Mann and four South Africans sentenced to 34 years in prison for taking part in the 2004 coup plot. They are pardoned and released in 2009.

2016 - Government moves its headquarters from Malabo to Ciudad de la Paz or Djibloho, an unfinished city deep in the rainforest.
Map of Eswatini

The kingdom of Eswatini is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies. The king rules by decree over his million subjects, most of whom live in the countryside and follow traditional ways of life.

In 2018, the country, until then known as Swaziland, was renamed Eswatini.

Eswatini has had the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world The virus has killed countless Swazis and left thousands of orphans. By 2022, the country was making considerable progress in epidemic control, but the impact of HIV on the country has been significant.

The country and the Swazi take their names from Mswati II, the 19th-Century king under whose rule the country was expanded and unified.

KINGDOM OF ESWATINI: FACTS

Capital: Mbabane (executive) Lobamba (legislative)

Area: 17,364 sq km

Population: 1.1 million

Languages: Swazi, English

Life expectancy: 56 years (men) 64 years (women)

LEADER

King: Mswati III

Swaziland's King Mswati III

King Mswati III was crowned in 1986 at the age of 18, succeeding his long-serving father King Sobhuza II, who died at the age of 82.

The king, who is known as Ngweyama - "the lion" - often appears in public in traditional dress and has many wives.

He rules by decree and has been criticised for the heavy-handed treatment of opponents and for his demands on public money.

Protesters angered by economic decline have become increasingly vocal in demanding political reform.

MEDIA

Woman walking past posters of newspaper headlines in Manzini, October 2021.

The government exercises total control over the broadcast media, including the only privately owned TV channel, which belongs to the royal family. Almost all media outlets are controlled, directly or indirectly by the monarch.

Journalists are liable to be prosecuted for criticising the government.

TIMELINE

A woman makes a traditional beehive hut at a wildlife sanctuary in Eswatini

Some key dates in Eswatini's history:

18th-19th Centuries - Swazis settle in the area.

1881 - UK signs a convention recognising Swazi independence, also recognised in the London Convention of 1884.

1894 - Swaziland placed under the South African Republic as a protectorate.

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1899-1902 - Second Boer War.

1903-06 - Swaziland becomes a British High Commission Territory, along with Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Bechuanaland (now Botswana).

1921 - King Sobhuza II succeeds to the throne,

1964 - Swaziland's first constitution; King Sobhuza establishes a political party, the Imbokodvo National Movement (INM).

1968 - Swaziland is granted formal independence within the Commonwealth and adopts a new constitution. Authority is vested in the new parliament, a proportion of the members are nominated by the monarch.

1973 - King Sobhuza suspends the constitution and bans political parties.

1982 - King Sobhuza dies.

1982 - Queen Mother Dzeliwe is authorised to act as Regent until Prince Makhosetive reaches 21.

1983 - Queen Regent Dzeliwe is deposed. Queen Ntombi, Prince Makhosetive's mother, is made regent.

1986 - Prince Makhosetive is crowned King Mswati III.

2007 - Thousands protest in the commercial capital Manzini to press for democratic reforms.

2014 - Swaziland appears to be stemming the pace of new infections of HIV/Aids, the UN reports.

2018 - King Mswati announces Swaziland is changing its name to Eswatini.

2021 - Pro-democracy protests across the country as a result of anger over decades without of meaningful political reforms spark riots, looting and skirmishes with police and soldiers.
Ukraine fulfilled half of the GRECO recommendations, despite the war

In its report on Ukraine regarding corruption prevention with respect to members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, which was released on March 24, GRECO said that Ukraine had made some improvements and implemented 15 out of 31 recommendations provided in 2017.

In view of the foregoing, GRECO concludes that Ukraine has implemented satisfactorily or dealt with in a satisfactory manner 15 out of 31 recommendations contained in the Fourth Round Evaluation Report. Of the remaining recommendations, nine have been partly implemented and seven have not been implemented.

Read also: Wave of anti-corruption arrests and raids, long-range munitions from the U.S. confirmed

Read also: Ukraine gets better score in 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index  Transparency International

GRECO wishes to recognise the strong commitment shown by Ukraine in respect of GRECOs work at an extremely difficult time for this member state, following the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the report says.

Wartime has led to the necessity of adopting martial law, a state of emergency and the adjustment of priorities. In such a context, it is remarkable that Ukraine has nevertheless continued its work to implement GRECOs recommendations.

In light of the foregoing, GRECO said it welcomes the progress reported by Ukraine and is pleased to conclude that the current level of compliance with the recommendations is no longer globally unsatisfactory.

Read also: Corruption rankings upgrade, 120 tanks expected, no help from Brazil

GRECO also requests the head of the Ukrainian delegation to provide a report regarding the action taken to implement the outstanding recommendations by March 31, 2024.

In January 2023, the UKs leading independent anti-corruption organization, Transparency International (TI), said that Ukraine had improved its score in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2022, gaining 33 points out of 100.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - China's partnership with Russia has limits, despite rhetoric to the contrary, and Europe should welcome any attempts by Beijing to distance itself from Moscow's war in Ukraine, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday.

Borrell's remarks followed a summit this week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022, just days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But Borrell said that while China had forged close economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, it had not formed a military alliance with Moscow and had not supplied arms to help Russia with its war in Ukraine.

"This unlimited friendship seems to have some limits," Borrell told reporters in Brussels.

"China has not crossed any red lines for us."

Borrell also said he would visit China soon, although the date of the trip is still to be finalised. The visit makes him one of a series of European Union leaders heading for China.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is planning to visit next week while French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU's chief executive, will travel there together the following week.

Borrell said Beijing's proposals to end the war showed it did not want to fully align with Russia and the EU should welcome this, even if Western officials have made clear they do not regard Beijing's initiative as a fully fledged peace plan.

He said China wanted to play the role of a "facilitator", rather than a mediator.

As Russia has welcomed China's proposals, "China appears in a role that I think we should push," Borrell said.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray, Editing by William Maclean)
Netflix

Love Is Blind is back for season four, acting as the perfect reminder for why it's one of our favourite Netflix shows of all time. With its love triangles, public displays of affection and fairly awkward encounters, it really does have it all. And while we wait for the next batch of season four episodes, fans are also looking ahead to whether Love Is Blind season 5 is on the cards. So here's what we know so far.

Has Love Is Blind season 5 been confirmed?

Great news, guys! Back in March 2022 when Netflix confirmed Love Is Blind season 4 was happening, they also announced a fifth season of the show. While they didn't share *too* many details, they did explain, "The hit series has also been renewed for seasons four and five, which will each feature new singles and new cities."

Season one of Love Is Blind was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, While season two moved to Chicago, Illinois. Season three took place in Dallas, Texas, while season four (which is airing on Netflix in March and April 2023) was shot in Seattle, Washington.

So, where will season five be filmed? So far, Netflix haven't confirmed! But we're assuming it will be another major city in the US.

Netflix

What might happen in Love Is Blind season 5?



Fans of the hit Netflix dating show can assume it will be exactly the same as previous seasons, which sees 40 contestants join the show in an attempt to find their future partner. The experiment itself sees those contestants go on dates in blind 'pods', where they can hear and speak to their dates without actually seeing them.

The participants go on a series of speed dates, before ranking their dates in priority order, with the list of dates they go on then getting shorter but the length of the dates themselves getting longer.

Netflix

Can we speculate about the Love Is Blind season 5 release date?

So far, Netflix haven't said anything about a Love Is Blind season 5 release date, but fans can try and make a guess on when it might be released based on the previous season's. So, looking back:

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Love Is Blind season one release date - 5th March 2020

Love Is Blind season two release date - 11th February 2022

Love Is Blind season three release date - 19th October 2022

Love Is Blind season four release date - 24th March 2022

Considering seasons two and three of Love Is Blind were released around eight months apart, and season four was released in a similar time frame to season two, we can assume season five of Love Is Blind will be released around November 2023.

Fingers crossed!

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Tea roasting competition held in E China's Zhejiang

People's Daily Online) 16:43, March 23, 2023

Contestants roast tea leaves during a tea roasting competition held in Shengzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 21, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Yongtao)

A tea roasting competition was held in Shengzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province on March 21.

During the competition, contestants roasted Longjing tea leaves, a popular green tea grown in the mountains around the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, by hand and with the help of machines. The various methods of roasting aim to pass on manual tea roasting techniques, as well as emphasize the importance of technology and machinery in agriculture.

Home to over 3.1 million mu (207,000 hectares) of tea plantations in 2022, Zhejiang produced 193,000 tonnes of tea leaves with an output value of 26.4 billion yuan (about $3.83 billion) last year. Tea has become a pillar industry, generating wealth for local farmers.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before his speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 4, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump Friday warned of death and destruction if he is indicted for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Raising the rhetorical heat, Trump suggested that his supporters will respond with fury if he is criminally charged in the case as early as next week when a grand jury reconvenes to deliberate.

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Potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country, Trump wrote on his social media site.

Trump falsely claimed last weekend that he would be arrested in the case on Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest, take our nation back.

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[ Yes, those images online of Trump being arrested are fake ]

The former president has spent most of the week lashing out at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as a possible indictment looms.

He called Bragg an animal and accused him of being manipulated by George Soros, the liberal mega donor who has funded campaigns of progressive prosecutors like Bragg.

PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT! he wrote Friday morning.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader said he has confidence in Braggs probe and denounced Trump.

(Trump)s rhetoric is reckless, reprehensible and irresponsible. Its dangerous, Jeffries said. And if he keeps it up, hes going to get someone killed.

Bragg is investigating whether Trump broke the law in paying Daniels $130,000 to keep her from talking in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election about a previous sexual encounter she claims they had.

A grand jury heard testimony on Monday from Trump defense lawyer Robert Costello, who says he raised questions about the credibility of star prosecution witness Michael Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who did federal prison time for his role in the same hush money scheme.

The panel is expected to meet again on Monday when it may be asked to consider indicting Trump.

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The charges could include falsifying business records to cover up the payments, which would be a misdemeanor. Trump could also face felony charges if prosecutors can show the bogus records were created to commit or cover up some other crime, possibly campaign finance, obstruction of justice or tax laws.
(Bloomberg) -- Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker Roger Ng, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the global 1MDB fraud, was ordered to forfeit $35.1 million by a judge who rejected his claims that Malaysia already took all of his money.

Most Read from Bloomberg

At his March 9 sentencing, federal prosecutors had asked US District Judge Margo Brodie in Brooklyn, New York, to order Ng to forfeit the sum as ill-gotten gains from the conspiracy to loot the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. Ngs lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, argued that no other penalties were needed because his client had no money left.

Brodie declined, at the time, to immediately order forfeiture. But on Friday she said that under the law she is required to impose the penalty, and said the amount is not constitutionally excessive.

Agnifilo said in a statement, we are appealing several issues, including the courts recent forfeiture ruling. Nothing has shaken our belief in Mr. Ngs innocence and we will fight this as long as necessary.

Read More: Ex-Goldman Banker Ng Says Malaysia Seized $35 Million US Wants

Ng, a 51-year-old Malaysian national, was convicted of conspiring to violate US anti-bribery laws and taking part in a money-laundering scheme. His former Goldman boss and 1MDB co-conspirator, Tim Leissner, previously pleaded guilty and was the governments star witness against Ng. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

On March 3, Brodie ordered Leissner to forfeit $43.7 million in cash as well as 3.3 million shares, valued at $300 million Friday, in fitness drink company Celsius Holdings Inc.

While Ng argued he was less culpable than Leissner or Jho Low, the Malaysian financier who the US said masterminded the fraud, Brodie rejected his arguments, saying he willfully engaged in the multibillion-dollar scheme.

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Even if Ng is less responsible that the others charged with similar offenses, he played a role in one of the largest financial crimes of all time, she said in her ruling. The scheme resulted in enormous tangible harm, i.e., the theft of $3 billion, and intangible harm to the confidence in democracy and government.

Agnifilo had argued that Malaysian authorities had seized all of Ngs assets and accounts and those of family members before he was arrested on US charges in late 2018.

Brodie turned down that argument.

Ng has failed to show that forfeiture would destroy his future livelihood, the judge said. The fact that he already paid a large sum to the Malaysian government does not, on its own, render the forfeiture amount constitutionally excessive.

The case is US v. Ng, 18-cr-538, US District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).

(Adds comment from Ngs lawyer in fourth paragraph.)

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Former Hancock County sheriffs deputy Derrick Patrick Flanagan is set to plead guilty Friday to a federal bill of information charging him with producing child pornography.

The charge accuses Flanagan of enticing and coercing a minor 12 or under to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child porn using materials that had been shipped, mailed or transported across state lines and by computer, according to the charging document.

The alleged crimes occurred in Harrison County on or around Feb. 22, 2021.

Flanagan is facing a potential prison sentence of anywhere from 15 years to 30 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine and up to life of post-release supervision for the federal offense.

The ex-deputy was previously charged only federally with possession of child pornography, but the charge was later upgraded to producing child porn as outlined in the charging document.

In addition to the federal offense, Flanagan is also facing state charges of child exploitation and assessing child pornography.

Flanagan is being represented by attorney Rufus Alldredge. The attorney informed the court of his clients intent to plead guilty to the federal offense.

The government has filed a forfeiture claim to take possession of a laptop and various cellphones that belonged to the ex-deputy.

A tip from led to child porn discovery

Hancock County Sheriffs Investigator Matthew Sekinger first got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in November 2020 about the presence of child pornography in a Dropbox account under the fictitious name of John Adams that included the email address hornybigguy020@gmail.com. Dropbox is a file-sharing service.

Sekinger got a warrant and traced the use of that Dropbox account to an internet address at a Waveland home, where Flanagan had been living at the time with a roommate.

Ex-deputy threatened child exploitation victims if they refused sexual requests, agent says

When Sekinger realized Flanagan lived there, he called the then deputy, but Flanagan brushed off the allegation, instead saying a former roommate had used that Internet connection. Sekinger closed his investigation as a result, according to records and testimony at a court hearing.

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Flanagan remained on the job policing Diamondhead as a Hancock County deputy until Sekinger got another Cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited children about alleged child pornography found in a Dropbox account that was traced to Flanagan.

The probe

The new Dropbox account in the second tip was in Flanagans name. He used the email address navygunner2003@gmail.com,

According to testimony from Sekinger, Flanagan had served in both the Army and Navy in previous years. In addition, Flanagan was a native of Ireland.

A search warrant was obtained to search the second Dropbox account, resulting in the discovery of child pornography and ultimately led to Flanagans arrest.

David Allen, director of the cybercrime division at the Attorney Generals Office, headed up the investigation that followed.

As part of that probe, according to court testimony and records, Allen obtained a warrant to search Flanagans home, where authorities seized his laptop and multiple smartphones.

Hancock sheriffs deputy fired, arrested after tip leads to child sex crime charges

Authorities seized two more cellphones from Flanagan when he was called into the Sheriffs Department and ultimately arrested and fired from his position.

On the laptop, authorities found at least 10 videos and one image, all of which showed children engaged in sexually explicit acts, FBI special agent Hillary Ladner testified.

In some images, a girl under 12 performs oral sex on a boy under 18. Other videos and pictures showed two boys under 18 masturbating.

Flanagan had also used the social media site, Snapchat, to communicate and receive alleged child pornography from various minors.

In addition, Flanagan also sent naked pictures of himself showing his penis to minor victims, the agent said.

In many instances, federal authorities said, Flanagan threatened to punish the minor victims if they didnt perform the sexual acts he wanted to see in pictures and videos.

Federal authorities identified various minor victims and said the ex-deputy sometimes paid for the child porn pictures and videos he received.
Representative Andrea Reeb; Alec Baldwin. New Mexico Legislature; John Lamparski/Getty Images

The ex-prosecutor in the "Rust" case suggested it may help her political campaign, the NYT reported.

Rep. Andrea Reeb emailed the New Mexico DA saying her involvement "might help," the report said.

Reeb was part of the team that brought charges against Baldwin for the film set shooting death.

The ex-special prosecutor who helped charge Alec Baldwin in the "Rust" movie set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins emailed her boss that the high-profile case could "help" her GOP campaign for the New Mexico state legislature, according to a report from The New York Times.

Andrea Reeb, a former district attorney and Republican lawmaker who won a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives last November, was brought on as a special prosecutor in the "Rust" case in June 2022 while she was running for office.

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies appointed Reeb to the case, and Reeb emailed the DA that she did not plan to tell the press about her involvement, the Times reported on Tuesday, citing from correspondence the news outlet obtained under the state's Inspection of Public Records Act.

"At some point though," Reeb said in the June 9 email, according to the Times, "I'd at least like to get out there that I am assisting you  as it might help in my campaign lol."

Carmack-Altwies responded to Reeb, saying, "I am intending to either introduce you or send it in a press release when we get the investigation!" according to the Times.

The DA and Reeb wound up bringing charges of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin and an armorer in connection to the October 2021 shooting of 42-year-old Hutchins on the Santa Fe, New Mexico, film set.

Reeb stepped down from her role as special prosecutor last week after Baldwin's camp argued that her appointment was unconstitutional.

Baldwin's legal team referenced the Times report about the emails in a new court filing on Tuesday, calling it "yet another troubling development regarding the State's prosecution of this case."

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"Representative Reeb's prosecution of this case against Mr. Baldwin to advance her political career is a further abuse of the system and yet another violation of Mr. Baldwin's constitutional rights," the actor's lawyers argued.

Reeb and Carmack-Altwies' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Insider on Wednesday.

Read the original article on Insider
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's bid to prevent ex-aides, including former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, from testifying before a grand jury probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, ABC reported on Friday, citing sources.

The federal grand jury is investigating failed efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, one of two probes into the former president being handled by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Republican Trump, who is running for president in 2024 and calls the investigations politically motivated, has sought to claim executive privilege to prevent former aides from testifying. He also faces inquiries in Georgia and New York.

Citing multiple sources, ABC reported that U.S. Judge Beryl Howell denied Trump's claim of executive privilege for Meadows and other former aides in a sealed order last week.

A Trump spokesperson told ABC the Justice Department had stepped "far outside the standard norms in attempting to destroy the long-accepted, long-held, constitutionally based standards of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege."

ABC, citing sources briefed on the matter, reported Trump would likely appeal the judge's ruling. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did lawyers for Trump or Meadows.

The former aides ordered to testify include former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, former deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, former top Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli, and former advisers Stephen Miller, Nick Luna and John McEntee, ABC reported.

A lawyer for Miller declined to comment. Reuters was not immediately able to reach the other former aides or their lawyers.

Special Counsel Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, is also investigating Trump for the unlawful retention of national defense information at his Florida estate.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Capitol Riot Fox News (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The lawyer for a one-time supporter of former President Donald Trump who has been caught up in a Jan 6 conspiracy theory demanded Thursday that Fox News and host Tucker Carlson retract and apologize for repeated falsehoods" about the man's supposed intentions.

The action taken on behalf of Raymond Epps specifically mentions a voting machine company's pending $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox, an indication that people caught up in political conspiracy theories are fighting back.

The lawyer, Michael Teter, said he gave Fox formal notice of potential litigation. Fox News had no immediate comment.

Epps, a former Marine from Arizona, traveled to Washington, DC, for Trump's Jan 6, 2021, rally and was caught there on video twice, once urging demonstrators to go to the Capitol.

He was never arrested, leading some to theorize that he was a government agent conducting a false flag operation to whip up trouble that would be blamed on Trump supporters. There has been no evidence to suggest that was true, and Epps told the congressional committee investigating the attack that he has never worked at or been an informant for a government agency.

Yet the theory, first posed on a fringe conservative website, spread to the more influential Fox News and to Congress and was even mentioned by Trump himself.

Epps told The New York Times last summer that he and his wife had to sell their business and home and leave for an undisclosed location because of threats.

The crazies started coming out of the woodwork, Epps testified to the congressional panel.

He has acknowledged being caught on video on Jan 5, 2021, telling demonstrators to go to the Capitol the next day. He said he was trying to defuse a tense situation and meant that the demonstration should be peaceful. He testified that it was something stupid that he said and he regretted it.

Epps also was caught on video at the Capitol on Jan 6, but said he did not enter the building. He has been mentioned on Carlson's prime-time Fox News Channel show five times in 2023 alone, according to a search of transcripts found in Nexis.

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On March 6, Carlson said: What was Epps doing there? We can't say, but we do know that he lied to investigators.

Last July 13, on the day the Times story about Epps and his wife going into hiding was published, Carlson said he was on camera repeatedly telling people to storm the Capitol. A lot of people who did that are still in jail, but Epps is not. But it's a conspiracy theory?

In his letter to Fox on Thursday, Teter demanded that Mr. Carlson and Fox News retract the claim that Mr. Epps was working for the FBI or any other government entity when he attended the Jan 6 events and the claim that Mr. Epps acted as an instigator or provocateur of the incident.

He called on Carlson and Fox to issue a formal on-air apology for the lies.

Teter said revelations that have emerged through court papers in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit may explain why Fox acted the way it has with his client.

Dominion has said Fox knowingly and maliciously spread lies that it was involved in voting irregularities that hurt Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Documents have revealed the suspicion that many at Fox had about those theories, but also internal concern about how the network might be losing pro-Trump viewers who believed the false claims that the election was stolen.

Fox has said that it was doing its job in reporting on newsworthy claims made by the then-president and his allies.

In Epps' case, Teter wrote that fear of losing viewers by telling them the truth is not a defense to defamation and false light, nor will it absolve you of liability related to claims for infliction of emotional distress.
Editors Note: This article has been updated to include a rebuttal from the CEO of Cryptobuyer denying rumors of the exchange closures (despite Cryptobuyer tweeting earlier about the closures), as well as an update from Asonacrip on the states where mining farms have been closed.

From crypto paradise to crypto chaosthe situation for cryptocurrency enthusiasts in Venezuela has been anything but good in recent days.

Following the arrest of Joselit RamirezVenezuelas Superintendent of Cryptoassetsand President Nicolas Maduro's order to restructure the countrys crypto regulatory agency, every day has brought bad news for the national crypto ecosystem.

Most recently, the new Superintendent of Cryptoassets is apparently unhappy with the way the industry has developed and ordered the closure of all cryptocurrency exchanges registered in Venezuela with Venezuelas National Superintendency of Cryptoassets Sunacripthe countrys crypto regulator.

Although the drastic move has not been officially confirmed, Venezuelas National Association of Cryptocurrencies told to Decrypt that such actions are taking place, as the country advances an anti-corruption investigation that has so far cut off the proverbial heads of Joselit Ramirez and his political protector Tareck el Aissami, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum.

Venezuela's Crypto Regulator, Targeted with $5M Bounty, Removed and Arrested

"We believe that private companies should not be blamed for what is happening inside the regulatory body and that we should promote the full activation of all cryptocurrency operations (in the country)," Jose Angel Alvarez, Asonacrip president, told Decrypt.

Alvarez added that "we are preparing a list of propositions to be delivered soon to Sunacrip and Dr. Anabel Pereira." Anabel Pereira is the new head of Sunacrip.

Asonacrip opened a public survey so that cryptocurrency enthusiasts in Venezuela can provide input on the recommendations that will be delivered to the Sunacrip intervention board.

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Just before the crackdown, it was also announced that Sunacrip also ordered the closure of large cryptocurrency mining farms operating in several states in Venezuela.

"Indeed, at the beginning of the week in the state of Carabobo, all the farms were ordered to stop, which concerns us as a community since some affiliates are being affected by the measure," Alvarez said.

#URGENTE nos confirman que apagaron todas las granjas permisadas y con licencia del Estado Lara. Recordemos que estas empresas pagan mes a mes impuestos y generan empleos. Hacemos llamado a @sunacrip_ve para la pronta reactivacion.  Asonacrip (Asociacion Nacional de Criptomonedas) (@AsonacripVe) March 24, 2023

So far, Asonacrip has confirmed shutdowns of mining farms in the states of Carabobo, Lara and bolivar.

Asonacrip called for a review of these actions, noting that the vast majority of the mining farms were operational and complied with all the necessary permits. "We believe that although there is a situation in the superintendency, it should not affect the operations of all affiliated farms at the regional level," Alvarez told Decrypt.

A New Era for Cryptocurrencies in Venezuela?

The recent course of events represents a 180-degree turn from previous years when President Maduro called for the promotion of cryptocurrencies as tools to reactivate Venezuela's economy.

During this period, the government legalized crypto, created its own official cryptocurrency (The Petro), established a regulatory framework for mining, institutionalized the registration of cryptocurrency exchanges, and began efforts to reduce the persecution of traders and miners who were seen as operators in the parallel currency market.

Crypto Influencer Confronted On-Camera Over Alleged Scam

However, the centralization of power in Sunacrip also opened the doors to new forms of corruption. Currently, the participation of Sunacrip as an organizing node in a diversion of funds from undeclared oil sales is being investigated. There are already reports of irregularities circulating on social media, such as high-ranking government executives owning cryptocurrency mining farms, influence peddling, arbitrary detentions, and equipment confiscations.

Whats more, during this period, the Petro was changed from a decentralized, auditable, oil-backed, Ethereum-based token to a centralized, non-auditable token with its own blockchain and no real backing in tangible oil.

Cryptobuyer Denies The Rumors

Cryptobuyer Venezuela's CEO, Eleazar Colmenares, released a video on the night of March 24th, denying rumors that Sunacrip had ordered the closure of cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the country. Cryptobuyer is a registered platform with Sunacrip.

"We want to clarify that the announcement made yesterday on our social media refers to the temporary non-operation of our crypto-fiat gateway service due to the transition process carried out by the competent authorities," said Colmenares in a statement shared by Globovision news, "it is important to emphasize that the Sunacrip has not ordered the cessation of any Venezuelan exchange's operations," he added.

The clarification made by Colmenares refers to an announcement in which they emphasized that "complying with orders issued by our regulatory entity on crypto assets Sunacrip... our platforms will not be operational temporarily."

ATENCION! Informacion de interes. Estimados Cryptobuyers, les hacemos llegar el siguiente comunicado.#CryptobuyerVenezuela sigue trabajando en pro del desarrollo del ecosistema cripto en #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/afLf0jrHyc  Cryptobuyer Venezuela (@cryptoB_latam) March 23, 2023

The day after that, and along with Colmenares' statement, Cryptobuyer published a new tweet saying that "at no time has Sunacrip ordered the cease of operations as has been misrepresented in some news media," while also claiming that the entity was providing them with "full support" for their operational continuity.

Atencion!  Aclaratoria. A toda la comunidad cripto del pais.

 pic.twitter.com/OkCEmvZ8GH  Cryptobuyer Venezuela (@cryptoB_latam) March 24, 2023

So far, however, Sunacrip has not made an official statement to clarify the confusion or set a roadmap for the new Directors' plans regarding crypto users, traders, miners, and exchanges.

According to Venezuelan lawyer Ana Ojeda Caracas' statements, the measures are apparently temporary. But the silence of Sunacrip only adds to the uncertainty in the Venezuelan crypto scene.
Google Fiber is planning to expand its high speed internet service to Huntersville this year, a company official said this week.

Were about to expand into Huntersville, and we are super-excited about this, Jess George, head of government and community affairs for Google Fibers East region, told The News & Observer in an exclusive interview.

Its obviously a very large community, George said.

George told The Charlotte Observer that construction would begin in April with the first customers able to get service this fall.

The entire construction project should take two to three years to complete, George said Thursday. Our goal is to construct our network to as many Huntersville residents as possible.

Digging to install lines is expected to begin this summer, and the company is still determining where construction will start, she said.

Google Fiber arrived in Charlotte in July 2016. The first neighborhood to get the Gigabit high-speed internet service was Highland Creek, which is mostly north of Interstate 485, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

Google Fiber doesnt disclose its exact number of customers in communities, George said. The company, however, has increased its availability in the Charlotte metro area by more than 75% over the past year, she said, and we are continuing to build at that pace.

Besides Huntersville, Google Fiber is actively constructing and serving customers in neighboring Concord, she said. Google Fiber served its first Concord customers in 2022.

We hope to have additional communities to announce in the coming months, George said in an email. Were also continuing to build out our network in Charlotte and Matthews as well.

Google Fiber will alert residents about upcoming construction by placing door hangers three days before work begins, George said.

Our Google Fiber construction hot line is staffed 24/7, answering construction questions and tracking concerns to resolution, George added.

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Huntersvilles expected population boom

Huntersville is a natural location for Google Fibers Charlotte-area expansion, George said.

When Google Fiber launched our service in Charlotte in 2016, the first customers we were able to serve were in the neighborhood of Highland Creek, just south of Huntersville and west of Concord, George said.

Since that time, we have continued to build various neighborhoods in Charlotte, but hoped to be able to bring service to the City of Concord and the Town of Huntersville.

Huntersvilles 2040 Plan predicts the town population will explode 74% between 2018 and 2040, to 106,567. The plan was established to guide the growth.

Thats on top of an already dramatic population rise, according to the plan.

Thanks to the proximity to Charlotte, employment opportunities, and high quality of life, the Towns population has more than doubled from 2000 to 2018, according to the plan.

George said Huntersville and Hillsborough, north of Chapel Hill, are the North Carolina towns that Google Fiber is expanding into this year.
By Tim Hepher and Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Plane giants Airbus and Boeing face mounting pressure to set up jetliner plants in India, after the country's civil aviation minister told Reuters the "time has come" to serve its soaring demand with jets assembled on domestic soil.

Jyotiraditya Scindia said conditions were ripe for a "leap of faith" by both jetmakers as India's fast-growing aeronautical industry reaches an "inflection point" - highlighted by plans to assemble Airbus C295 military transport planes locally in India.

Asked whether Airbus and Boeing should now consider setting up jetliner assembly in India, Scindia said, "Absolutely, and with a capital A, and the reason why I said capital A is because Airbus has already made that huge landmark step: the C295."

Airbus and Boeing have both highlighted the scale and technology of existing investments in India, playing down the significance of final passenger jet assembly.

An Airbus-Tata consortium plans to assemble 40 C295 planes in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wants aerospace and defence to become a key engine for his "Make In India" drive to expand the world's fifth-largest economy.

Tata-controlled Air India last month agreed record orders for 470 jetliners from Airbus and Boeing and sources have said India's largest airline, IndiGo, is in talks for another 500.

"The market is there, the volume is there, the engineering talent is there. And then you take that leap of faith. So the time has come now," Scindia said in an interview, adding such decisions would not necessarily be tied to specific jet orders.

"Now is the time for these companies to look at planting their feet on the ground in India," he said.

India has been lobbying quietly for jet assembly for several years but ratcheted up pressure behind the scenes during the past 12 months, two people familiar with the matter said.

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The push comes at a time when the two global plane giants are juggling the need for capacity to meet soaring demand with pressure on global supply chains and geopolitical instability.

Their strategies differ, with Boeing keeping benchmark 737 production in the Seattle area, while Airbus runs four sets of competing A320 lines in Europe, the United States and China.

EXISTING INVESTMENTS

For now, both appear to have resisted India's calls for civil final assembly lines (FAL), while playing up existing investments in engineering, supply chain and maintenance. Boeing said it buys $1 billion a year in parts and services from India, while Airbus said it buys $700 million.

Local assembly is restricted to defence projects, where the cost of meeting national security concerns can be built in.

"There's a desire in every country to have as much manufacturing as possible ... and final assembly is a desire that you see all around the world," Salil Gupte, president of Boeing India, told Reuters.

"The volumes that you would require for final assembly on the commercial part of the business are just far, far greater," he said.

A final decision comes down to the business case, and Boeing is always looking at opportunities to do more in India, he added.

Boeing this month announced a Hyderabad plant to convert 737 passenger planes into dedicated freighters and both planemakers have engineering plants and thousands of employees in India.

"Even without the C295 FAL, the Airbus industrial footprint in India already generates more foreign exchange value and jobs for the country than any modern assembly activity would," said Remi Maillard, president of Airbus India & South Asia, by email.

Still, Scindia said such an ecosystem would give planemakers "the confidence in the years to come that they need to put a plant here, because everything is working for it".

Aerospace analysts say assembly represents just 5% to 7% of a plane's value, yet is often seen as a political win.

"The reason is it puts you on the map; it shows that you are the up-and-coming economy in Asia and the world," said Jerrold Lundquist, managing director of The Lundquist Group.

Airbus opened an A320 line in northern China in 2008 in return for an agreed volume of planes for local airlines at a time when its share of the Chinese market was only about 30%.

But while Chinese authorities must approve airplane orders, analysts say the New Delhi government has little formal leverage over ordering by its cost-conscious private-sector airlines.

Boeing has never put a commercial assembly line outside the United States, though McDonnell Douglas assembled a handful of jets in China before being acquired by Boeing in 1997. In 2018, it opened a 737 cabin-completion centre in Zhoushan, China.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher and Aditi Shah; Additional reporting by Krishn Kaushik; Editing by Alexander Smith and Jamie Freed)
Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

Ron DeSantis, the rightwing Florida governor and rising Republican star, has said he would not accept an offer to be Donald Trumps running mate because he is probably more of an executive guy.

Related: Ron DeSantis forced into U-turn after calling Ukraine war territorial dispute

I think that you want to be able to do things, the Florida governor told the hard-right Newsmax channel.

DeSantis has not yet entered the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but he is Trumps only serious rival in polling and is widely expected to announce his run in the coming months. DeSantiss growing influence in Republican politics has seen Trump turn his guns on his ambitions.

This week, relations between the two men turned especially sour.

Though DeSantis has dutifully attacked Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney expected to indict Trump, he has also floated criticism of Trump for making the hush money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels that is at issue in New York.

DeSantis has also questioned Trumps governing style and handling of the Covid pandemic. Performing a U-turn on the Ukraine war after widespread criticism of earlier remarks, DeSantis moved away from the isolationist position favoured by Trump and much of the right of the party.

Trump has fired off nicknames, abuse and insinuations about DeSantiss behaviour around young women as a teacher and even that he might be gay.

Perhaps correspondingly, the former president has increased his polling lead.

Despite all that, on Thursday the Newsmax host Eric Bolling asked DeSantis if he would consider becoming Trumps vice-president.

I think Im probably more of an executive guy, DeSantis said. I think that you want to be able to do things. Thats part of the reason I got into this job is because we have action. Were able to make things happen, and I think thats probably what I am best suited for.

The whole [Republican] party, regardless of any personalities or individuals, you have got to be looking at 2024 and saying, if the Biden regime continues, and theyre able to pick up 10 to 15 seats in the House and a Senate seat or two, this country is going to be in really, really bad shape.

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The governor then plugged his book, The Courage to Be Free: Floridas Blueprint for Americas Revival.

Rather than a primary campaign, DeSantis has mounted a book tour: in part because under Florida law he is supposed to resign his state office to pursue a federal post.

On Friday, the Daily Beast detailed what it said were a few road bumps hit by the tour, including the withdrawal of the top event coordinator.

Amid reports of missing podiums and snubbed power brokers, a source described as a seasoned GOP presidential campaign strategist told the Beast: This is amateur hour. Another Republican observer said the operation was out over its skis.

A Florida Republican consultant who has advised DeSantis said: I think its gone poorly. I hear nothing but they are unhappy.

Such reports have provoked glee in the Trump camp. In a message viewed by the Guardian, one veteran operative said: Heard this was coming. No one is running the place.

Related: Republicans accused by New York DA of meddling in Trump hush-money case

Many primaries feature an early frontrunner who soon flames out. Examples include Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor who went nowhere quickly in 2016, and Howard Dean of Vermont, who crashed out after a strong start in the Democratic race in 2004.

Discussing DeSantiss decision to take shots at Trump, the anonymous Republican strategist told the Beast: If youre running for president  youre selling to the largest stakeholder audience anyone could have. Why would he go out there  and offend voters that you need?

I think that they blew it. People need to remember, when you peak too soon, thats a problem. And DeSantis peaked too soon.
Ginger Webb, left, and Ednita Murdick enjoy an early spring walk in Washington Park Thursday.

The rain and mild temperatures over the last several days may be Mother Nature's mini-preview of what's to come for the rest of spring.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Albano said that conditions are expected to be slightly wetter and slightly warmer than expected for central Illinois this spring. He credits the transition period between a departing La Nina system and a soon-to-be arriving El Nino as being responsible for the weather to come.

"We're just now phasing out of a La Nina and (now) we're in a transition period to El Nino," Albano said. "There's been a lot of studies that suggest that this transition period (in early spring) is a little bit more wet for central Illinois, perhaps even more severe weather possibly. There is that connection between the phasing out of La Nina into El Nino and being a little bit warmer and a little bit wetter for central Illinois."

More:Lutheran High School's campus on West Washington Street has a date with the wrecking ball

What are the impacts of El Nino and La Nina?

The phenomenon of El Nino and La Nina has only been studied for 50 years, with Albano admitting that meteorologists are still trying to figure out what exactly they mean for weather not just in the United States, but across the world.

El Nino is the weakening of the traditional westerly trade winds in the Pacific Ocean, while La Nina is what happens when those winds become stronger than ever. In this area of the country, El Nino is usually associated with dryer, warmer winters than normal, with La Nina providing wetter, cooler conditions.

The transition from La Nina to El Nino isn't an immediate one, with the neutral transitional pattern being seen during the spring in between, bringing with it the milder, wetter conditions expected into the spring in central Illinois, providing a sort of happy medium between the dryer El Nino and wetter La Nina.

For central Illinois, Albano said that the global circulations of the weather mean everything, with a La Nina effect seen across the last three years leading to above-normal snowfall each year. With the transition to El Nino, Albano said that snowfall amounts this winter was significantly down by nearly a foot from the usual average. From Dec. 1 to Thursday, 6.3 inches of snow had fallen on Springfield. A normal season average is 19.5 inches.

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What are normal temperatures?

Albano said that by late March, central Illinois weather usually settles into a pattern of temperatures around 55-60 degrees, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s to low-40s. For this year, temperatures were on track to hit that range within the next week.

"It'll be 50 degrees (this weekend), a touch cooler than what's considered normal, but as we start to head into April, it looks like we're going to be in that mid-50s, 60-degree range," Albano said.

In regards to precipitation, Albano said that April and May are usually central Illinois' wettest months, with the area usually receiving around 3 3/4 inches of precipitation in April and around four inches in May. NWS data dating back to 1991 for Springfield indicates about 3.97 inches of precipitation falls on the city in April, with May getting 4.52 inches.

"It looks like the spring could be even wetter than (average)," Albano said. "We may well get over four inches in Peoria for the month of April and it looks like it could be a wet May as well."

Should we expect flooding?

The wetter weather could lead to potential flooding along the pair of central Illinois rivers, with Albano saying that the Sangamon River could at times flood in certain areas.

"If we get a wet April, sometimes that will delay the agricultural season," Albano said. "There could be some logistical things  the Sangamon River serves as an artery for shipping. A wetter-than-normal spring could have an effect on some of the commerce or it could have an effect on some of the agriculture."

More:What candidates for Springfield city treasurer say about investing, pensions, services

"You're running a pretty serious deficit on snowfall for the winter as we wrap up spring here," Albano said. "By this time of the year, the Springfield area should have about 20 inches of snow and this year, you've only had six inches. You're running over a foot deficit (of snow). As we were coming out of La Nina, which typically is a cooler, wetter pattern in the winter, we noticed that we were not getting nearly as much snow as the last few winters when La Nina was stronger."

What about severe weather?

Albano said that as spring progresses and temperatures get warmer, the risk of severe weather will be higher than normal.

"As we head into April, May (and) June, the signal there is also warmer and wetter than normal," Albano said. "That could mean a pretty active weather season for us."

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Warmer, wetter weather on the way for Springfield and central Illinois
Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson greets his supporters during his election victory celebration at the Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel on April 4, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

For those candidates who didnt win outright in the Feb. 28 Chicago election by securing more than 50% of the vote, there is one more election in Chicago  the runoff on April 4  where the top two vote-getters in the race for mayor and more than a dozen aldermanic races will face off one last time.

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson emerged from a field of nine to be the final two candidates running for Chicago mayor. There are 14 runoffs in aldermanic elections.

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In the mayors race, the more conservative Vallas and progressive Johnson sparred throughout much of the February campaign and have continued to do so in the runoff. The two disagree significantly on the biggest issues in the race  education and crime.

In the 14 races for City Council that have not yet been decided, six involve incumbents who didnt exceed the 50% threshold, three of whom Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently appointed to the seats.

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Be sure to bookmark chicagotribune.com/elections to read our full election coverage and get live results on April 4, and subscribe to our Daywatch newsletter to receive our special election edition every Tuesday through Election Day.

Heres what you need to know before Election Day.

What happened in the February election?

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is surrounded by supporters after giving a concession speech during her election night watch party at the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council on Feb. 28, 2023. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The final matchup of Vallas and Johnson was a stunning blow to Lightfoot, who became the first full-term incumbent to fail to win reelection since Jane Byrne lost to Harold Washington in 1983. It also clearly reflected that residents were clamoring for a new direction from City Hall.

The results followed a frequently bitter nine-way race to lead the nations third-largest city.

A visibly shaken Lightfoot conceded the race just before 9 p.m. and said she would be rooting and praying for our next mayor to deliver for the people of the city for years to come.

Casting your vote

Ainsley and Katherine Fraser vote at the polling location inside Silvies Bar on Feb. 28, 2023, in North Center. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

You can vote by mail or in person. Early voting started March 20. Heres our early voting guide, including polling locations and more.

April 4 is the date of the runoff election and the deadline for a mail-in ballot to be postmarked in order for it to be counted. April 18 is the last day that mail-in ballots (postmarked by April 4) may arrive at the offices of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to be included in the count.

Chicago mayors race

Mayoral candidates Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, left, and Paul Vallas pose for portraits before meeting with members of the Tribune Editorial Board and staff at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center on Jan. 23, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Vallas, a 69-year old former schools chief, has long been a critic of the Chicago Teachers Union that Johnson helps lead, asserting the unions work stoppages during the pandemic harmed childrens well-being and hurt their growth for generations. Johnson, 46, regularly paints Vallas approach to public education as morally bankrupt for its promotion of private school vouchers and expansion of charters across the country.

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On crime, Vallas has positioned himself as the pro-law enforcement candidate who will stamp out the complete lawlessness he has seen in Chicago by, among other things, reversing Police Department rules he contends restrict cops from doing their jobs. Johnson, meanwhile, decried the citys reliance on policing as a failed strategy and instead promised a new citywide strategy that would shift focus toward community investments in housing, mental health and more.

On Paul Vallas

On Brandon Johnson

Johnson and Vallas on the issues

The debates and forums

On the campaign trail

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Endorsements

City Council elections

Candidate for 11th Ward alderman Anthony Tony Ciaravino greets bus and train commuters while offering them free coffee outside the CTA's Halsted Orange Line station at Archer on March 14, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

There are 14 runoffs in aldermanic elections.

Of the 14 runoff races for Chicago City Council, six involve incumbents and three of those are incumbents recently appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The rest involve seats that were open because the incumbent decided to either run for another office (including mayor) or retire.

In the races involving incumbents, three of them were elected at least going back to 2019. Those are Ald. Chris Taliaferro, who is trying to fend off West Side activist CB Johnson in the 29th Ward, which includes parts of Austin and Montclare on the West and Northwest sides; Ald. Gilbert Villegas, who is facing Leonor Lori Torres Whitt in the seesaw-shaped 36th Ward on the North and Northwest sides; and Ald. Jim Gardiner, who is facing Megan Mathias in the Northwest Sides 45th Ward.

The three recently appointed incumbent races involve Ald. Nicole Lee, who is facing Anthony Ciaravino in the 11th Ward, which includes Bridgeport and Chinatown on the South Side; Ald. Monique Scott, who is being challenged by community leader Creative Scott in the 24th Ward, which includes Lawndale on the West Side; and Ald. Timmy Knudsen, who is facing Brian Comer for the 43rd Ward, which includes Lincoln Park on the North Side.

Other City Council races that will be featured in the runoff include the 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 21st, 30th, 46th and 48th wards.

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Many Chicagoans are voting in a new ward this year after a redistricting battle. Not sure which ward you live in? Use our interactive tool.

Here are some stories from Tribune reporters about individual ward races.

Where can I vote in person before Election Day?

Heres a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction look at where and when residents may vote in advance of the runoff election on April 4.

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Locations and hours of operation are subject to change, so check with your local jurisdiction for the latest information.

Type your address into the search box below to find the site closest to you.
By Anna Mehler Paperny and Ted Hesson

TORONTO (Reuters) -Canada and the United States have reached a deal to return asylum seekers who cross the border via unofficial crossings, Canadian and U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday, marking a major development at a time of record irregular crossings into Canada.

WHAT IS IN THE DEAL?

The deal will allow either country to return asylum seekers who cross the border irregularly, expanding the current Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) to include migrants crossing between ports of entry, U.S. and Canadian officials said.

According to a final rule set to be published in the U.S. Federal Register, the revised agreement will apply to anyone who "make an asylum or other protection claim" in either country within 14 days of crossing the border.

The U.S. government notification did not specify when the revised ruling would come into force, saying it would happen when each side tells the other it has completed the necessary domestic procedures.

In addition, Canada will open 15,000 slots for migrants from the Western Hemisphere to apply to enter the country legally as part of the agreement, the U.S. official said. A Canadian government official said these would be resettled refugees.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden will discuss the issue during a meeting in Ottawa on Friday. The announcement will likely come afterward although some details are being worked out.

Trudeau has been under political pressure as irregular crossings into Canada have spiked and said in February that he would raise the issue during the Biden visit.

WHAT IS THE CANADA-U.S. SAFE THIRD COUNTRY AGREEMENT?

The existing STCA was signed in 2002 and took effect in 2004. Under the agreement, asylum seekers trying to cross from the U.S. into Canada or vice versa at formal border crossings are turned back and told to apply for asylum in the first "safe" country they arrived in.

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Asylum seekers have been crossing at Roxham Road, a path linking New York state to the province of Quebec, because the STCA does not apply at such spots, only at formal border crossings. Once people cross, Royal Canadian Mounted Police apprehend them but they are allowed to file and pursue refugee claims in Canada.

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT ROXHAM ROAD?

Growing numbers of asylum seekers have been crossing: 40,000 last year and 5,000 in January alone. Quebecs premier and opposition politicians have called for Roxham Road to be "closed." In response to Quebec leaders saying the province cannot support more migrants, Canadas government has been transporting them to other provinces.

WHY DOES CANADA NEED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE U.S.?

Canada has been saying it wants to renegotiate the STCA so it applies across the length of the border, not just at formal crossings. This would allow Canadian officials to turn back asylum seekers trying to cross at Roxham Road or anywhere else.

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO EXPAND THE STCA?

The broader effects of expanding the Canada-U.S. asylum bar across the entire 6,416-km (3,987-mile) land border are unclear. Migrant crossings at Roxham Road may decrease in the short term but refugee advocates say people hoping to evade detection might take riskier routes.

WHAT WOULD THE REPORTED DEAL MEAN FOR THE U.S.?

The number of migrants crossing illegally from Canada into the U.S. also has risen sharply in recent months.

U.S. Border Patrol apprehended nearly 2,900 people crossing illegally from Canada since October, more than all of fiscal year 2022. About half of those were Mexicans, who do not need a visa to travel to Canada.

(Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Denny Thomas, David Gregorio and Jonathan Oatis)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Congress party lawmaker Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified from parliament on Friday, joins a long list of opposition leaders who have called investigations against them political vendettas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has denied allegations of political interference in the investigations and says the law is the same for everyone.

Following are some high-profile investigations against opposition leaders in recent months:

MANISH SISODIA, AAM AADMI PARTY, DELHI

Sisodia, the second-in-command of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which wrested control of Delhi's city government from Congress in 2013 and is seen as one of Modi's main opponents, was arrested last month on allegations of corruption.

Sisodia and his party have denied wrongdoing. The arrest was in connection with an investigation into a liquor policy introduced by Delhi's city government last year. He is being held on remand in jail.

SATYENDAR JAIN, AAM AADMI PARTY, DELHI

Jaon, Delhi's former health minister, was arrested by the financial crime agency in a case of alleged money laundering last year, a charge his party denies. He is also being held on remand.

TEJASHWI YADAV, RASHTRIYA JANATA DAL, BIHAR

Yadav, deputy chief minister of the eastern state of Bihar, has been summoned multiple times in recent months by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with a probe into charges of corruption, media say.

In May, the CBI also filed a corruption case against Yadav's father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, a former federal railway minister, and other members of his family, alleging that they bought dirt cheap land in exchange of jobs during Lalu's term from 2004 to 2009, according to media. Yadav, his family and party deny wrongdoing.

SONIA GANDHI, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, CONGRESS

Former Congress president and Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia Gandhi last year was questioned by the financial crime agency which is investigating allegations of money laundering against the Gandhi family. The family denies wrongdoing.

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K. KAVITHA, BHARAT RASHTRA SAMITHI, TELANGANA

Kavitha, a regional lawmaker in the southern state of Telangana, is also being investigated by the financial crime agency on charges of money laundering in connection with the investigation into the Delhi liquor policy, media say. She denies the allegations.

(Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Nick Macfie)
NEW PHILADELPHIA  A local child welfare official is alerting the public to beware of potential kidnappers posing as social workers who try to trick people into giving them their children.

"Recently, there was a kidnapping in Canton when a woman falsely identified herself as achildren services worker to gain entry into a home to abduct a baby," said David W. Haverfield,director of Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services. "The kidnapper went to the home of the new mother and advised that she was there to check on the baby and had 'paperwork' that she was to remove the children."

Nearby case:Woman accused in Canton baby kidnapping remains hospitalized; arraignment postponed again

In a prepared statement, Haverfield said the mother called the children's service office after the kidnapper took the baby. She was told there was no information that a worker from their agency was there to take her children. The police were then involved, and the child was found in another county unharmed.

Suspect:Woman posing as Child Protective Services 'snatched' Canton baby

Early this week, a Tuscarawas County woman received a call telling her that her children were going to be removed, Haverfield said. She was told to go to Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services to discuss the situation immediately. She went to the agency's office.

"We were able to verify that nobody from our building had called," Haverfield said. "Really, we don't operate that way. We don't call people and say, 'Show up at our building.'"

The mother's caller ID showed that the call came from the county agency.

"So someone, I think, had spoofed our number," Haverfield said. "That is pretty scary."

He said the local incident happened earlier this week. The welfare department notified the sheriff's office and the children's school about the caller's false statement to the mother.

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"This is not the first time this has happened," Haverfield said. "Kidnappers will use this tactic, so please be aware and verify the identities and the agencies of anyone who comes to your house.

"Anyone from Tuscarawas County Child Protective Services should have a badge and will allow and encourage you to make the appropriate calls to verify their identities and the agency they work with," Haverfield said.

He said his agency works closely with the local families when there is a situation, as well as other local agencies who may be involved.

"If there is any doubt on who is coming to your door, make the appropriate contact calls to verify who they say they are before you let them in," Haverfield said.

The phone number for Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services is 330-339-7791. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. At other times, calls about children's services may be directed to the sheriffs office at 330-339-2000. They have access to a worker from Child Protective Services at all times.

Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.

On Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: People pretend to be social workers in Tusc County, Canton incidents
FALL RIVER  The girlfriend of a man whose disabled teenage son died from abuse and starvation while in the couples care pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 20 years.

David Almond, 14, died in 2020. At the time of his death, he was living in a small apartment on Fall Rivers Green Street with his father, John Almond, Almonds girlfriend Jaclyn Marie Coleman, his paternal grandmother, Ann Shadburn, Michael, one of his triplet brothers, and a younger half brother. Both David and the other two triplets had severe autism.

First responders who were called to the house in October of 2020 found David and Michael suffering from extreme neglect. David was unresponsive and would soon be declared dead. A medical examiners report listed his official cause of death as failure to thrive due to starvation and neglect in an adolescent with autism.

Michael and the younger brother were taken into custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Attorney Michael Hussey and Jaclyn Marie Coleman listen during the hearing in Fall River Superior Court Friday, March 24.

Following Davids death, Almond and Coleman were charged with second degree murder along with assault and battery on a disabled person, two charges each of reckless endangerment of a child and possessing a Class A substance, in this case fentanyl. Coleman was also charged with withholding evidence from an official proceeding, with officials saying she tried to smash her cellphone during an interview with detectives on the day David died. At the time that they were indicted, they pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Almond and Coleman were both set to go on trial in June. Earlier this month, Almond changed his plea to guilty on all charges and received a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 20 years.

On Friday, Coleman, 28, appeared in Fall River Superior Court and also changed her plea to guilty.

Jaclyn Marie Coleman at her sentencing hearing Friday, March 24 in Fall River Superior Court.

Broader impact of Davids death

Davids death prompted scrutiny of DCF and other state and local agencies. The triplets and their younger half brother were removed from Almond and Colemans custody by DCF four separate times during 2016 and 2017 due to concerns about abuse and neglect, before being returned to the couple one last time in March of 2020. David and Michael were enrolled at B.M.C. Durfee High School at the time of Davids death, but were not participating in their remote classes.

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An investigation and report by the states Office of the Child Advocate found major blind spots, complicated by the pandemic, within DCF, Fall River Public Schools, the states Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the child welfare agency in New York that allowed the abuse the boys were suffering to go unnoticed by authorities.

Prosecutors: Coleman worked to isolate the boys

During Fridays hearing, Second Assistant District Attorney Silvia Rudman summarized the evidence prosecutors planned to present against Coleman. As Rudman described, David and Michael were both happy children with no physical health problems or mobility issues before they were returned to Almond and Colemans care in March of 2020.

Less than eight months later, when emergency workers were called to their home, both of the boys conditions had deteriorated drastically. Both boys, who previously had been largely independent and able to use the bathroom on their own, were wearing diapers and covered in filth. They were covered in cuts, bruises and sores. David was unresponsive, and Michael could barely talk and was unable to straighten his limbs or sit up on his own. Both boys were emaciated; David weighed just 86 pounds when he died.

You could see every bone in his body, his entire skeleton, Rudman said.

Police shortage:Fall River Police Chief Gauvin: Officer shortage can cause burnout, but relief is coming

Workers from DCF and the boys former school in Rutland, Mass. gave Coleman and Almond instructions and guidance on how to care for the boys and how to reach out if they needed assistance, but they never did so, Rudman said. Coleman presented herself as the boys stepmother, but used the pandemic and lies about internet access problems to avoid in-person visits from school and DCF workers.

She went out of her way to isolate the boys from the public eye, Rudman said.

Maria Mossaides, director of the states Office of the Child Advocate, testified during the hearing. At times speaking through tears, she described David as a loving boy who was tortured by Almond and Coleman.

He was eager to please. He was kind, she said.

She asked the court to imagine how David and Michael might have felt as they endured extreme abuse without the ability to understand what was happening to them or to defend themselves.

Children do not understand why adults hate them, she said.

Maria Mossaides, director of the Office of Child Advocacy, testifies during the hearing for Jaclyn Marie Coleman in the starvation death of David Almond.

She said child welfare and education agencies have made "extraordinary" efforts to implement changes based on her offices recommendations to prevent similar situations from happening again.

(Davids) name is spoken of in the highest level of state government, she said.

Read more about it:An investigation into Fall River police's missing drug logs is over, but a mystery remains

Coleman sentenced to life in prison

Prosecutors recommended a life sentence for Coleman with the possibility of parole after 25 years for the murder charge and 10 years for the charge of assault and battery on a disabled person.

Colemans defense attorney, Michael Hussey, asked Superior Court Judge Raffi Yessayan to take Colemans history of mental illness and trauma into account and requested that she be given the same sentence as Almond. Coleman has been diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and night terrors, conditions she received treatment for during her own time as a minor in DCF custody, Hussey said.

As he did with Almond, Yessayan sentenced Coleman to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for the murder charge and eight to 10 years for the charge of assault and battery on a disabled person, to be served concurrently. Following input from prosecutors, he did not sentence Coleman for the charge of possessing a Class A substance or of withholding evidence, but left the possibility open to sentence her for those charges if the more serious charges are vacated or reversed, or if she commits another crime. She was sentenced to 29 months for the two charges of reckless endangerment of a child but received credit for the time she has already been incarcerated.

Speaking after the hearing, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said he was very pleased with the sentences Coleman and Almond received.

This was cold, inhuman treatment of vulnerable children, he said. I think justice has been served in this case.

Maria Mossaides, director of the Office of the Child Advocate and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn speak after the sentencing of Jaclyn Marie Coleman Friday, March 24 in Fall River Superior Court.

Shadburn, the boys grandmother, lived in the home where David died. Quinn declined to say why Shadburn did not face any charges or whether she was planning to testify against Almond and Coleman.

At this point, the cases are closed. The two defendants have been sentenced to life in prison, he said.

Michael Almeida was one of several community members and first responders who sat in the courtroom to watch the hearing. Wearing a sweatshirt that read "justice for David," he said he would have liked to see Coleman and Almond receive longer sentences, to ensure that they either died in prison or were elderly by the time they were released.

It kind of hurts, he said, referring to the possibility that they will be paroled in the future.

Almeida organized a vigil in Davids memory last year and worked with Rep. Carole Fiola to install a memorial grove for him.

He didnt have anyone to fight for him, he said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River woman sentenced to life in David Almond's death
Family, friends, authorities and a search dog on Friday afternoon were looking for a missing Granite City man who disappeared after leaving a strip club in Washington Park on Sunday.

The family is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Joshua Amos, who is 32.

Joshua Amos, 32, of Granite City, was last seen on surveillance video in Washington Park.

The search Friday was in East St. Louis, where cameras from a local trucking company on Lincoln Avenue captured Amos image at 7:28 a.m. Sunday. He was seen on surveillance video leaving Scarletts strip club on Bunkum Road in Washington Park at 5 a.m., according to his mother, Christine Simpson.

The two sites - the trucking company in East St. Louis and the club in Washington Park - are about four miles apart.

Around 1:30 p.m. Friday, the search for Amos continued in the 2000 block of North 23rd Street in East St. Louis. Amos family, friends and Illinois State Police were following closely behind the search dog and his handler. The name of the group with the search dog is SAR K9 Co-op Inc.

Family, friends, authorities and members of SAR K9 Co-op Inc. were looking for a missing Granite City man who disappeared after leaving a strip club in Washington Park on Sunday. The search area was near Lincoln Ave. and 19th St. close to a trucking company that had surveillance video of the missing man.

Were hoping he will be found safe, his mother told the BND on Friday. Our family misses him and wants him home.

Simpson said her son has children he loves very much. Simpson said while it is tough not knowing, she is holding on.

Amos is bipolar and has been in rehab for chemical addiction, she said earlier this week.

Amos was wearing a gray hoodie, blue jeans and black Adidas shoes when he disappeared. He is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs about 190-195 pounds. He has tattoos on his chest, left and right biceps and lower arms.

His chest tattoos are of his daughters names, one beginning with a `B and the other beginning with an `M.

A poster states that anyone with information should call 618-967-1027, 618-219-0830, 618-866-3772.
The family of Oleg Saliukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, who also commands the 9 May [Victory Day, a holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany  ed.] parades in Moscow, earns tens of millions of roubles on arranging military events.

Source: investigation by BBC Russian

Details: Saliukov, in addition, is the Deputy Commander of the Russian ground forces in Ukraine.

General Saliukov on the Red Square

Photo by TASS

Meanwhile, his son Dmitryi Saliukov and his wife Dina Saliukova are enriching themselves through corruption: they receive millions of roubles for organising events for the military and officials, in particular, using their connections with the Ministry of Defence. "We are very close with the Ministry of Defence. I would even say too close," Dina Saliukova once said.

Dmitryi and Dina Saliukovs

Photo in the social media

For example, in 2013, Dmitryi and Dina's company Montazhspetsstroy won the tender of the Russian Ministry of Defence for the construction of a training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Then, the Saliukovs' company won several more contracts related to the landfill, which by 2014 cost more than RUB 4 billion [approx. US$51,830,280  ed.].

In 2015, General Saliukov decided to celebrate Ground Forces Day in Patriot Park near Moscow and hold "large-scale events" there. Dina and Dmitryi Saliukov were responsible for organising the events. According to Dina Saliukova, she and her husband have been organising the Ground Forces Day celebration in Patriot Park for the past four years.

"For 10 months, I held countless patriotic events with the participation of [Defence Minister Sergei] Shoigu and [President Vladimir] Putin," the general's daughter-in-law also boasts.

General Saliukov, Minister Shoigu and President Putin at the 9 May parade

photo of Tass

In 2019, Dina Saliukova opened the Avangard military-patriotic youth education centre. However, according to the documents, the Moscow City Hall, the government of the Moscow Oblast and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation are listed as the founders. The centre received RUB 2 billion [approx. US$25,912,280  ed.] each from two oblasts and 28.5 hectares of land in Patriot Park.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The TikTok of MrBeast and Keith Lee trying Aloha Mamacita tacos received over 6 million views. TikTok: Keith Lee, Aloha Mamacita

Kimberly Nguyen is the co-owner of a family-run taco business based in Hawaii and Las Vegas.

One day, Nguyen was given a chance to film a video with internet celebrities Keith Lee and MrBeast.

This is the story of how the video changed her life and business, as told to Charissa Cheong.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Nguyen, and it has been edited for length and clarity.

For just over two years, my husband Kevin and I have been living out our dream of owning our own business, but it's taken a lot of hard work and endurance to get here.

During the pandemic, we were both out of a job, because we used to work in events and hospitality, but everything was closed because of COVID-19. My husband moved to Oklahoma to work in construction, and I stayed at our home in Honolulu, Hawaii, because I was pregnant at the time.

One day, I was having a pregnancy craving for tacos, but found that it was really hard to find good Mexican food near me. I cooked some tacos myself, and everyone in my family loved them, telling me I should start making them to sell. Months later, I asked my husband to come back to Hawaii so we could start our own business together. We started off by selling tacos out of our house, and then we eventually bought our own food truck.

Nguyen and her husband sold food out of their house before buying a food truck. Kimberly Nguyen.

Fast-forward to today, and we own two shops, one in Hawaii and the other in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though we had been managing to stay afloat, we found that business was slower than we expected. There were times when we couldn't make rent for the month because we were making under $1,000 in sales on some days, and we also had to pay our staff with that money.

But one day, a TikTok star named Keith Lee walked into our restaurant, and everything changed. Thanks to him, we ended up in a video with the biggest YouTuber in the world, MrBeast, who gave our business a whole new level of exposure.

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At first we thought we'd missed our chance to experience the 'Keith Lee effect,' but then MrBeast got involved

We found out that Keith Lee paid a visit to our Vegas restaurant because one of our cashiers recognized him. I'd been following him on TikTok for a long time and heard stories of how he helped to save struggling businesses by posting reviews of them on social media, but I never thought he would come into our store.

Keith posted a review of some of our products in early January, and he said the food was "delicious." While other restaurant owners say they received an influx of customers after getting a positive review from him, we didn't get to see the "Keith Lee effect" because our shop got broken into, and we were busy dealing with the aftermath.

Nguyen's store was broken into a day after Lee posted his video. Kimberly Nguyen

But thankfully, Keith posted another video about us in late January, this time as part of a series he was working on in collaboration with the most-followed YouTuber in the world, MrBeast.

Keith was selecting one restaurant based in Vegas that he would bring to MrBeast's attention, and that business would get the opportunity to film with him and MrBeast.

Kimberly and Kevin Nguyen are co-owners of a taco business called"Aloha Mamacita" Kimberly Nguyen.

My nephews and nieces are huge fans of MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, and when Keith reached out to us to announce that we were the store he selected, the whole family was just amazed because we never assumed or thought that we might win the opportunity.

Jimmy's team flew me, my husband, and our business manager, Andrea, out to North Carolina, where he lives, so we could film with him and Keith. We were asked to cook some of our tacos in a makeshift kitchen near his studio so they could both try it on camera and rate the food out of 10 in a TikTok video.

I was so nervous about cooking for them and getting everything done on time, but when I made it to the shoot and saw these two internet stars trying my food, it felt absolutely surreal. It's always been my dream to have my own restaurant, and I couldn't believe how far we had come in that dream to have ended up here.

It was so nice being able to meet Keith and Jimmy too. Keith is just as kind and genuine as he seems in his videos, and Jimmy was surprisingly quiet and nervous, considering how big of a celebrity he is.

Not only did we gain huge online exposure, but we also received a shocking cash gift

To our complete surprise, Jimmy actually pulled out a briefcase as we were filming the TikTok, and said he was going to give us $10,000 because he liked our food so much. The cash in the briefcase was only prop money, but he did wire us the amount after we finished filming.

I knew that Jimmy tends to give out big cash prizes in his videos, but I did not expect him to do that. It was just such a crazy moment, and I was completely shocked.

My husband and I want to keep most of the money to use for reinvesting into our business, but we're also planning to use some of it to treat our staff, who we couldn't have made it this far without.

In the weeks and months following the video, which received over 6 million views, we've found that the online exposure has hugely helped our sales.

So many of our customers who come in tell us they heard about us through Keith Lee's posts, and that big push has helped immensely, especially considering we've tried marketing our business on social media and in newspapers before, and nothing has had as a profound an effect as Keith's help has.

Nguyen and the team. Kimberly Nguyen

I think Keith's videos in particular really connect to people because he seems much more genuine and honest than some other food influencers. He says that he doesn't accept payment from brands to review their food, and he pays for all the food himself. He even gave MrBeast's own chocolate products a relatively average review, by his standards, despite the fact that they work together.

We're so grateful to him for coming to our restaurant. If it wasn't for him, this whole opportunity would not have been possible for us.

For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.

Read the original article on Insider
The family of an inmate who died while in custody at a Riverside County jail is suing the county and Sheriff Chad Bianco, alleging his civil rights were violated because he didn't get appropriate treatment.

The family of 29-year-old Richard Matus Jr. is seeking unspecified damages from the county and the sheriffs department stemming from his death on Aug. 11, 2022. The lawsuit also seeks changes in how the jails are run to prevent more inmates from dying.

The plaintiffs and their attorneys plan to speak at a news conference in front of U.S. District Court in downtown Riverside Friday morning.

This action seeks to bring to public light the deliberate disregard for safety and protection carried out by the individual defendants in this action, according to the 50-page civil suit.

It alleges violations of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires equal treatment under the law, as well as medical negligence and malfeasance.

Neither the county or sheriffs officials immediately responded to a request for comment.

According to court records, Matus was in jail on charges of attempted murder and armed robbery in a 2018 holdup at a Banning medical marijuana dispensary that left three people seriously injured. His brother and co-defendant, 23-year-old Raymond Matus, is slated to be tried in April on the same charges.

The lawsuit states Richard Matus died at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta from a drug overdose after suffering a medical emergency for an appreciable amount of time last August.

The plaintiffs allege jail staff were deficient in their response and that wider, systemic problems caused by the sheriff, his administrators and the county set the stage for their loved ones loss.

Matus death was one of 18 in Riverside County jails in 2022, and that number represents what the plaintiffs called an alarming spike traced to the sheriffs departments unconstitutional patterns and practices.

In the previous 15 years, prior to 2022, the highest number of documented in-custody deaths was 12, the plaintiffs said.

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Long before Richard Matus Jr.s death, the Riverside County Sheriffs Department knew that there existed a great indifference to the safety and protection of the inmates who were in the governments custody within the countys correctional facilities, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs refer repeatedly to the federal lawsuit filed by the Prison Law Group on behalf of Quinton E. Gray in 2013.

That civil action sought to remedy what the plaintiffs claimed were ongoing failures in ensuring inmates with mental health disorders received appropriate treatment in Riverside County. The suit culminated in a 2016 settlement in which the county entered into a federal consent decree, promising to significantly expand medical resources available to detainees. The health reforms came with a $40 million price tag.

According to the Matus suit, despite the consent decree, sheriffs administrators have deliberately failed to take even modest actions to prevent in-custody deaths at Riverside County correctional facilities.

In addition to Matus, at least five other in-custody fatalities in 2022 were recorded as drug overdoses, according to the suit. Others included homicide, suicide and natural causes. However, three deaths that occurred between Oct. 13 and Dec. 12 remain under investigation and undetermined.

The deaths prompted the California Department of Justice last month to announce a civil rights investigation targeting Bianco and his staff. Attorney General Rob Bonta said at the time it is clear  families and communities in Riverside County are hurting and looking for answers.

Whether you have a loved one in jail, or are worried about crime in your neighborhood, we all benefit when there is action to ensure the integrity of policing in our state, he said.

Bianco fired back, saying publicly at the time, This investigation is based on nothing but false and misleading statements and straight-out lies from activists, including their attorneys. This will prove to be a complete waste of time and resources.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the Matus familys complaints to the DOJ, writing in an online forum, Did they ever demand that their family members not commit crimes in the first place? Did their parents ever demand they take responsibility for their own actions?

Along with an unstated monetary award, the plaintiffs are seeking changes in policies, procedures and practices that mitigate the obvious well-known risks of harm attendant in Richard Matus death.

No hearings have been set yet in the matter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Family sues over man's death in Riverside County jail
Daniel Dorsey is still looking for answers.

In December, the Cape Canaveral man stepped into a Brevard hospital to find his 82-year-old wife, Jeannie, already confused by dementia, lying in a bed, her face battered and bruised.

Rockledge Police detectives say the Air Force veteran and former Kennedy Space Center worker's injuries were the result of a Christmas Day beating by a caregiver in charge of watching her and 20 other patients at her assisted living facility.

Jeannie and Daniel Dorsey.

More disturbing to Dorsey and other family members is the finding by detectives that the facilitys executive director allegedly attempted to cover up the circumstances.

Kelly Shovlin, executive director of the Alura Senior Living in Rockledge, and caregiver Daniel Villarreal were arrested Jan. 23 after Rockledge detectives were called by the woman's daughter following a Christmas visit. Photos of the injured 82-year-old were submitted with the arrest warrants.

I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what happened, said Dorsey, whose wife had been placed in Alura for memory care nine months earlier. She has since been moved to another facility.

More:Police: 2 senior living center workers charged in attack on dementia patient, 82

I want to see whats going to happen to the two people involved ... I have a practical desire for a conclusion and to see them get off the street."

Concerns about quality of care

The incident at the 147-bed facility unraveled following the visit by Jeannie Dorseys daughter.

It has been a challenging and heartbreaking case, Rockledge Deputy Police Chief Donna Seyferth said, pointing out that other potential incidents at the center were under investigation.

On Christmas, police said, Jeannie Dorsey's daughter arrived at the Rockledge facility and walked into the room to find her mother sitting in a wheelchair in the dark.

According to the complaint filed with the state on Feb. 2, Jeannie Dorseys lower lip was split, her forehead was discolored and she had scratches on both sides of her head. Someone attempted to use makeup on the bruises, police reported.

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The report shows that the executive director said a nurse was the only one working the floor to care for 20 other memory care patients, because of other staffers calling in to be off that day.

Detectives interviewed Shovlin and Villarreal shortly after Jeannie Dorsey's daughter reported the incident, with Villarreal telling officers he didnt see any injuries while taking care of the woman that day.

Rockledge police patrol car

Both Shovlin and Villarreal denied any knowledge of the womans injuries or how they could have happened. Both also talked about the possibility of the woman falling and eventually provided an in-house chart that listed 13 falls for Jeannie Dorsey over the course of nine months, something Daniel Dorsey called a "fairytale."

"I lived with her for six years, I never knew her to fall and now she's fallen 13 times. They're just piling on lie after lie," he said.

Villarreal cried during talks with detectives, who said he told them he may have blacked out while doing his rounds on Christmas. He later noted that he was the only caregiver working that day.

Shovlin, police said, attempted to hide from authorities what she knew about the beating. Detectives obtained a search warrant for her cellphone and reviewed a number of texts between her and Villarreal. They also learned that Shovlin had told Villarreal to wash the bloody bedding from the room, according to court records with information from Rockledge police.

Struggling for answers

Daniel Dorsey had met Jeannie, his second wife, in 2015 through mutual friends. The pair, already settled into the retirement lifestyle, hit it off immediately. The pair soon married and began traveling together, including one trip to Israel.

"We had some good times together," he said.

Then, in 2018, small changes began to surface in his wife's personality. Jeannie began forgetting things. As her condition gradually worsened, Daniel Dorsey said, his stepdaughter stepped in. In March 2022, Jeannie Dorsey was placed at Alura, in a specialized ward for memory care.

The incident has raised concerns about care at assisted living facilities and other places that focus on caring for older or disabled residents. In Brevard, a county of 602,000 people, the average cost of $3,400 a month at an assisted living facility, according to Caring.com, a website that monitors senior living options. There are more than 70 assisted living facilities located across the county, according to some estimates.

An investigation continues as detectives review other recent complaints filed against the facility. Alura officials did not respond to FLORIDA TODAY's inquiries about the ongoing investigation. Attorneys for Villarreal did not immediately return calls about the case.

The daughter has hired Morgan & Morgan, the Orlando-based injury law firm, to pursue civil litigation against Alura. No lawsuits have been filed to date.

Facilities like Alura Senior Living Center have a critical responsibility to ensure that their employees are capable of working with the elderly in a compassionate manner, Alex Storer, spokesperson for the firm, said in a statement about the case.

In the event abuse or injuries occur, transparency and honesty with families and the authorities about what happened are paramount."

Kevin Fawn, the attorney for Shovlin, said the police department rushed to judgment.

"I think the charges are way overblown. There's no question that something horrible happened but my client was not there, she was the administrator, but she wasn't even working that day. I have also reached out and offered for my client to take a polygraph," Mawn said, adding that he had not heard back from prosecutors.

"The state pressed charges without knowing all of the facts. Her reputation is ruined."

More:One Senior Place: Being a caregiver to elderly parent is taxing; take care of yourself, too

Alura was fined $5,000 by Floridas Agency for Health Care Administration in 2022 for failing to provide adequate supervision of two residents who left the campus  including one who ended up outside with temperatures in the 30s in January.

The thought that his wife was hurt in a place meant to help has lingered with Daniel Dorsey.

He is hoping to hear more about the case and any possible resolution soon, he said  and to see Shovlin and Villareal convicted.

"After she went into the hospital, she asked me, 'What's going to happen to me?"' Dorsey said.

"These people were supposed to be caregivers. It just seems like they don't give a damn. Really, I hope they go to hell. What else am I to do? It's like you can't trust anybody."

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Family of woman beaten in Brevard facility wants answers, convictions
(Bloomberg) -- Foreign central banks liquidated Treasury holdings at the fastest clip in nine years and tapped a key Federal Reserve facility to raise cash as banking stress roils markets.

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Fed data show foreign official holdings of Treasury securities fell by $76 billion in the week through March 22 to $2.86 trillion. Thats the largest weekly decline since March 2014.

At the same time, the US central banks recently-established Foreign and International Monetary Authorities, or FIMA, repurchase agreement facility was tapped for a record $60 billion, data show, dwarfing the $1.4 billion peak reached during the height of the pandemic.

The latest surge in dollar demand came as concerns about the fragility of the banking sector spread from the US to Europe, culminating in the takeover of beleaguered Swiss lender Credit Suisse Group AG. The dash for dollars all happened before the focus pivoted to Deutsche Bank AG Friday. The German banks shares slumped, on track to close at a five-month low, while the cost of insuring its bonds against default rose.

Our sense, given dollar funding rates, is that the borrowing was precautionary, Barclays Plc strategist Joseph Abate said of the surge in use of the Feds FIMA program.

The facility was established in March 2020 and is designed to help ease any pressures in global dollar funding markets. It allows foreign central banks to post their US Treasury holdings as collateral in exchange for dollar liquidity, which is often in high demand during times of stress. The rate was 4.75% at the time of the operations, before the Fed raised borrowing costs by another quarter-point this week.

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The weekly average level of usage as of Wednesday was $33 billion, which suggests an institution made multiple trips to the FIMA facility, according to Barclays.

The central bank wanted to build a war chest of available dollars in case the banking crisis deteriorated but did not want to fire sell its Treasuries, Abate wrote in a note to clients.

Of the $136 billion of cash raised from the Treasury sales and repo borrowing very little made its way directly back onto the Feds balance sheet or the broader custody program. Balances at the foreign reverse repo pool only rose by $3 billion through March 22, and the Feds custody holdings of agency securities, which includes mortgage-backed securities  only increased by $7 billion. This suggests a majority of the cash raised by central banks may have gone into private markets, according to Wrightson ICAP.

Someone, somewhere, needs dollar funding, said Antoine Bouvet, senior rates strategist at ING Bank NV. Its not a huge worry at this stage given the cross-currency bases and also low take-up in dollar FX lines.

Major central banks tapped swap lines with their US counterpart for just $590.5 million in the past week even after officials moved to make the facilities available daily in light of global banking concerns. In the US, banks reduced their borrowings only slightly from two Fed backstop facilities in the most recent week, a sign that institutions are taking advantage of the central banks liquidity in the wake of turmoil.

Funding markets had been showing signs of stress, though pressures have subsided with the take-up of emergency measures.

That included swings in Treasury-bill rates and moderate dislocations in the instruments where banks and others ordinarily go for their short-term money. Repurchase agreement rates were elevated for a number of days, cross-currency basis swaps have whipsawed and the gap between direct floating-rate agreements and index-tied ones  often used as a measure of the difficulty banks have in getting access to funds  also swelled.

Still, theres concerns as to whether deposits will continue fleeing banks for other places in the financial system. US money market funds have been scooping up cash recently, fueled in large part by depositors pulling their money away from US banks.

--With assistance from James Hirai.

(Adds details of funding markets beginning in 12th paragraph. An earlier version of the story corrected amount of foreign official holdings.)

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Members of the Carl Sandburg High School Model United Nations team take an elevator selfie while they traveled to Boston Universitys Model United Nations conference. The team brought home several awards. (School District 230)

Sandburg Model UN Team earns honors in Boston

Members of the Carl Sandburg High School Model United Nations Team traveled to Boston Universitys Model United Nations conference this month and came home with five wards.

A group of 15 Sandburg students competed against and collaborated with more than 1,500 delegates from schools all over the country, learning about the intricacies of international diplomacy along the way.

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Team members Adunola Ogedengbe was named an Outstanding Delegate and Katie Karsky, Sarah Allyson Torres and Aubrey Thornton received Honorable Mentions, while Layan Rahman was lauded for having the Best Position Paper.

Will County women donate to Habitat

Members of 100+ Women Who Care of Will County presented $7,500 to Will County Habitat for Humanity on March 21. (Women Who Care of Will County)

Members of 100+ Women Who Care of Will County presented a big check of $7,500 to Will County Habitat for Humanity on March 21 after the nonprofit was chosen by the group as its latest beneficiary.

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Founded in 1988, Will County Habitat for Humanitys mission is to provide affordable housing to low income families and individuals, and has placed more than 90 families in homes since its founding in 1988, according to a news release from 100+ Women Who Care of Will County.

We may not be able to change the world, but together we may be able to change one familys world. That is what the 100 Women Who Care is doing by supporting Will County Habitat for Humanity, said Nicole Murray, executive director of Will County Habitat for Humanity.

The nonprofit was nominated by 100+ Women member Patricia Fera. The group meets quarterly, where members nominate charities. Three are chosen at random, and after a brief presentation, members vote on one to support, then donate $100. The group has raised nearly $150,000 for area charities, and its next meeting is from 6 to 7 p.m. April 11 at Cooms Corner in Lockport. More information is at http://www.100wwwc-will.org.

Mobile food pantry set for Joliet

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospitals Joliet Community Based Outpatient Clinic will host a mobile food pantry from 4 to 5:30 p.m. March 30 in the Joliet CBOC parking lot, 1201 Eagle St. The pantry is open to anyone in need and no proof of military service, residency or income is required.

Participants will receive basic food staples, including dry goods, meat, dairy and fresh produce. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food assistance information will also be available. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. A volunteer will load items into each vehicle as directed by the driver. Donations will also be offered to those without access to a vehicle.

Our clinic is part of this community, and we want to help our neighbors in their times of need, said Elizabeth Thrun, licensed clinical social worker for Hines VA and event coordinator. Too many Will County residents dont know where their next meal will come from. If you need help, please consider joining us on March 30.

The Joliet CBOC provided food to more 440 individuals during its November 2022 mobile food pantry and served over 640 individuals during events in June and July 2022.

The mobile food pantry is in partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, and the clinic is planning additional food pantries later this year.

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Veterans experiencing food, housing or employment insecurity are encouraged to contact Hines VAs Homeless Program at 708-202-4961.

EPCHS talent show to benefit nonprofits

A talent show will be at 7 p.m. March 31 at Evergreen Park Community High Schools Marshall G. Batho Auditorium and feature 14 acts. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Syrian American Medical Society and Care for Real nonprofit organizations.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

The Syrian American Medical Society is a global medical relief organization that is working on the front lines of crisis relief in Syria and beyond to save lives and alleviate suffering. Care for Real has a mission to foster a healthy and equitable community by helping vulnerable neighbors overcome food insecurity with dignity.

The show is organized by the EPCHS National Honor Society, and tickets are $5.

April Food Day collection in Midlothian

Starting April 1, Kiwanis Club of the Oak Forest and Crestwood Area will be collecting for United Way of Metro Chicagos annual April Food Day event, and Midlothian Public Library, 14701 Kenton Ave., will be a drop off site for nonperishable food items and other household goods through April 25. A bin for these items will be located near the checkout desk.

Kiwanis Club volunteers will deliver the donations to the April Food Day event April 27 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. According to United Way of Metro Chicago, the purpose of April Food Day is to come together to promote food security and recognize our community leaders advancing equity in the south-southwest suburbs, a region facing high levels of poverty and systemic education, health, and wealth inequities.

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Year-round, community members can help out their neighbors in need by donating food and personal hygiene items to the Midlothian Library micro pantry located in the librarys cafe area.

More information about the Kiwanis April Food Day collection and the library micro pantry is at 708-535-2027.

Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.
(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's 12 regional banks have agreed to adopt a common policy for handling public requests for information and will have it in place by the end of this year, the New York Fed said in a statement on Friday.

"The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to transparency and accountability and each Reserve Bank has existing procedures for providing information to the public," the statement said. "In the interest of further strengthening transparency and accountability, the 12 Reserve Banks have agreed to adopt a common policy for public requests for information and expect to implement this policy by the end of this year."

Unlike the Fed's Board of Governors in Washington, which is a government agency, the Fed's regional banks are not subject to federal rules for public information disclosures. Each bank has its own policy for doing so, with some publicly posting theirs.

The new joint policy, which has been under discussion for months and is still being formulated, will ensure requests for documents, records and other information are treated the same way by each of the U.S. central bank's regional banks.

They have come under fire in recent years from U.S. lawmakers who sometimes say their requests to obtain documents and records on various issues do not get an adequate response.

Scrutiny of the Fed banks may intensify this year after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank touched off turmoil in the banking sector despite escalating efforts at oversight from the San Francisco Fed's bank examiners.

Senator Tim Scott, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee and a possible 2024 presidential candidate, on Thursday demanded supervisory records and documents from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and Fed Chair Jerome Powell, including many which are typically confidential and never made public.

The Fed is undertaking its own review of the SVB failure and has said the process will be thorough and transparent.

(Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Paul Simao)
A 38-year-old Sumter-area man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty last week to charges involving drugs and dog fighting.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office said Harold Coleman was sentenced March 21 by U.S. Judge Terry Wooten in a hearing at the downtown Columbia federal courthouse.

Coleman was one of 18 people indicted in 2019 on federal drug trafficking charges involving cocaine, heroin and other drugs. He is among the last to be sentenced.

In addition to pleading guilty to drug charges involving a conspiracy to traffic in heroin and cocaine, Coleman also pleaded guilty to a federal animal welfare violation involving the buying, owning, training and transporting dogs for use in dog fighting, according to federal court documents.

Federal agents also seized pistols, shotguns and assault-type rifles in arresting the suspects, according to court documents.

The case was investigated by the FBI.
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard is optimistic stress in the banking system will abate in the weeks and months ahead, leaving a stronger economy that could force the central bank to push interest rates higher.

I would put 80% of probability on the case where financial stress abates," Bullard said, speaking in St. Louis. "If it doesn't abate, that's a completely different world where financial stress gets more intense, and I would be willing to react to that.

Bullard raised his outlook for how high interest rates should rise by 25 basis points to 5.625% based on stronger economic data and under the assumption that financial stress weakens in weeks and months ahead.

This week the Fed hiked its federal funds rate by another 25 basis points, to a new range of 4.75%-5%. That is the highest since October 2007. Fed officials left unchanged how high they see raising rates rising, keeping peak interest rates for this year in a range of 5%-5.25%, the same as projected back in December.

The current crisis roiling the banking world began with the regulatory seizures earlier this month of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the U.S., and spread to Europe with the forced marriage of Swiss rivals UBS and Credit Suisse. But this stress, he added, is not anywhere near levels seen during the financial crisis in 2008 or the pandemic.

The U.S. banking system remains very strong and resilient, he said. If you look at the banking sector by the numbers its really in very good shape. I think [Silicon Valley Bank] was a quirky situation and I also think we have tools to handle any fall out.

James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Bullard said he has been talking to banks in his district and would describe the current situation as angst as opposed to actual problems at the institutions. He said banks are wondering whether deposits are as sticky as previously thoughtand whether deposits leave banking system in search for higher yields.

SVB was a very special situation and most banks are not in anything close to that situation, said Bullard.

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Nevertheless, Bullard said he thinks banks are going to be more careful with deposits. He notes that smaller banks tend to hold higher levels of insured deposits that dont breach the $250,000 level the FDIC currently insures.

The Fed and the Treasury Department agreed to cover all depositors at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, citing their systemic risk. Bullard said regulators action was swift and the right one to take. He underscored earlier comments from Treasury Secretary Yellen stating that regulators stand ready to take additional action if needed.

Bullard also cited past challenges for banks in the 1980s and 1990s, saying that the economy emerged unscathed.

Even with considerable forward guidance, it is relatively common that not all financial entities adjust their businesses appropriately to the changing environment, Bullard said. These events received considerable attention at the time, but were not ultimately harbingers of poor U.S. macroeconomic performance."

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Federal drug agents intercepted a massive shipment of fentanyl that was headed to Detroit from Grand Rapids this week: It was enough to kill nearly everyone in Michigan, the feds say.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, authorities seized 20 kilograms  more than 40 pounds  of the potent painkiller during a traffic stop in metro Detroit late Wednesday evening. A fatal dosage of fentanyl is 2 mg  so 20 kilograms could potentially kill 10 million people, which is roughly the size of Michigan.

Exactly where the fentanyl was seized was not disclosed, though the DEA in Detroit said the drugs were produced in Mexico, made their way to Grand Rapids, and then ended up in metro Detroit late Wednesday.

Kent County investigators had tipped the DEA off about the shipment, which was in powder form. So when the drugs arrived in metro Detroit, the DEA and local authorities were waiting.

More:Woman who was U.P. cop sues brotherhood: They bet on who would sleep with me first

More:How 2-time Michigan opioid dealer convinced a judge to show some mercy

This photograph, provided by the DEA shows 2 milligrams of fentanyl on the top of this pencil. That amount is enough to be a lethal dose.

Shipment thought to be linked to cartel

According to the DEA, federal agents and local authorities arrested the alleged courier, a woman from Ohio. They also seized a gun, the DEA announced Friday.

The Ohio woman's identity was not disclosed. The DEA said she was acting at the behest of other individuals believed to have ties to a Mexican cartel. According to the DEA, those unidentified suspects dispatched the Ohio woman to complete the delivery to metro Detroit.

Drug cartels like CJNG and Sinaloa attempt to flood our communities with illicit drugs, Detroit's DEAchief Orville Greene said in a statement Friday. We will continue to work vigorously to identify other associates tied to the delivery of this fentanyl that would have caused untold suffering had it reached its intendeddestination.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 107,000 Americans died over the last year from drug poisonings  with 66% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids including fentanyl. CJNG and the Sinaloa cartels use chemicals largely sourced from China, the DEA says, and are primarily responsible for the vast majority of fentanyl trafficked in the U.S.

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Free Press staff writer Georgea Kovanis contributed to this report.

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DEA seizes fentanyl shipment big enough to kill everyone in Michigan
Henry Q won the Mine That Bird Derby on Tuesday at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks day at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino is always a fun day with several top notch horses and other quality stakes races to watch. Here is a look at my winners of the key races on Sunday and other horses to watch. The first of 11 races starts at 12:25 p.m., the first stakes race is in the third race and the Sunland Oaks and Sunland Derby are races No. 8 and No. 10. Both the Sunland Oaks and Sunland Derby are prep races for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby respectively.

Sunland Derby

Henry Q is the pick to win the race and earn the 50 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby. Henry Q came in from Santa Anita Park in California for the Mine That Bird Derby last month and romped to a near 15-length win. He was trained in California by Doug O'Neill but has since been in New Mexico under the watchful eye of New Mexico's best trainer and burgeoning star nationally, Todd Fincher. This horse is getting better with each race, has won two straight and the distance should not be a factor. He won on the lead in the last race and has shown he can win coming from behind.

How Did He Do That has experience at the Sunland track with a second-place finish in the Riley Allison Derby and I like him for second here. He will be a sentimental choice for some since his owners, Judy and Kirk Robison are from El Paso and trainer Steve Asmussen has ties to the track. This horse owns two wins and closed well in last race to finish second.

Hard To Figure ships in from California for legendary trainer Bob Baffert and will figure in the mix. I like him for third with talented jockey Flavien Prat aboard and he's coming off a nice second-place finish in Grade III stakes race in California.

Sunland Oaks

Flying Connection has all the talent to win this race for Fincher. She has won three of her last four, she won her last race by more than nine lengths at Sunland Park and gets veteran jockey, Alfredo Juarez, Jr. aboard.

Una Palabra is shipping in from Turf Paradise in Arizona and has never been worse than second in four starts. The great Harry Hernandez is the jockey and will be crucial to this horse's success. He has been her jockey in all four starts. Look for her to finish second.

Doinittheahardway ships in from California for Baffert and has shown good speed. If she runs like she did in her last start, a nine length win, she'll challenge Flying Connection. I like her for third in this spot.

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Flying Connection will run in the Sunland Oaks for trainer Todd Fincher on Sunday at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Other horses, races to watch

The seventh race is the 6 1/2 furlong, Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes sprint and features a battle between Dean's List and Bye Bye Bobby . Dean's List comes in from Houston, but has run at elite tracks in Florida and New York for trainer Ray Ashford, Jr., and has finished first or second six times in seven stats. Bye Bye Bobby was second in the Sunland Derby last year and just won on March 14 at Sunland Park. I like Dean's List in a close one over Bye Bye Bobby.

The one mile Harry Henson Handicap features a strong nine horse field. California shipper Eda will figure prominently in this race having won five of seven starts. But the Baffert trainee has been off for more than a year but Prat gets the assignment aboard the 4-year-old filly and her speed could be the difference.

New Mexico-bred, 3-year-old filly Tiz a Journey has won both starts in impressive fashion for trainer Joel Marr and she looks to be much the best in the 1 1/16th miles New Mexico Breeders' Oaks.

El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes could have a big day in the other New Mexico-bred races. In the fifth race, he's aboard Cheese Tray in the mile and 70-yard New Mexico State University Stakes. Fuentes and Cheese Tray have already teamed up to win two stakes races at Sunland Park in the current meet and look for the tandem to make it three in a row.

In the seventh race, the 1 1/16th miles, New Mexico Breeders' Cup Derby, Fuentes looms large with Thruthestorm, who is another two-time winner with Fuentes aboard at the Sunland meet. Thruthestorm has run first or second six times in seven starts and is the one to beat here but must fend off a Still in the Trap, a horse who will certainly challenge Thruthestorm.

More: Sunland Derby field Hard To Figure is 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's Sunland Derby

Felix. F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Felix Chavez' picks for the Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks
Seattle firefighters reported that part of a dock collapsed and drifted from shore after a boat crashed into it near the 1300 block of Southwest Spokane Street on Thursday.

Two other vessels were secured in the area and didnt have anyone in them, said the Seattle Fire Department.

Three boathouses, each with a boat tied inside, were damaged at the dock.

One of the boathouses was significantly damaged and is at risk of sinking.

No injuries were reported.

The Fire Department said they are turning it over to the U.S. Coast Guard and Port of Seattle.

Crews responding to reports of a boat collision into a dock near the 1300 block of SW Spokane St.  Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) March 23, 2023








The first pair of armed school security guards will begin working inside their respective Killingly buildings on Monday as officials continue the search for three more qualified applicants.

Town and school officials this week confirmed two retired Connecticut state troopers  James Esposito and Eric Leroux  were hired in March as the school districts first armed security guards, or ASOs. Superintendent Robert Angeli informed the Board of Education on Wednesday of the new hires.

Angeli said the men were slated to walk the halls of the intermediate and high school on Friday, a professional development day, before meeting with students on Monday.

Here's what we know:Killingly can start hiring armed school guards, but questions remain.

Town Manager Mary Calorio said Esposito and Leroux spent much of the week taking part in orientation and professional development training.

They have walked around the schools and will meet and introduce themselves to teachers on Friday and do the same thing with students on Monday, she said. That Monday will be the start of them functioning as ASOs.

The town began soliciting applications for five open ASO positions in December, about a month after the Town Council approved a memorandum of agreement with the school district that laid out operational and other guidelines for the new hires.

More:Killingly armed security guards hiring hits another snag

Under a plan approved by the Board of Education in August, five ASOs  which must be pulled from former municipal police, state trooper or applicable military ranks  are slated to be stationed at the districts high school, intermediate school, two elementary schools and early childhood center.

Esposito, a former Killingly resident state trooper, will work at the high school and Laroux at the intermediate building. The two formerly worked out of the nearby Troop D barracks in Danielson, officials said.

To qualify for the ASO job, applicants must pass a background check that includes a drug screen, physical and certification check.

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Killingly High School

Under the jointly approved Killingly ASO agreement, the officers will be responsible for patrolling school grounds and buildings; monitoring campus cameras; checking for unauthorized individuals and items; be available to speak with students, staff and parents; and intervene in certain circumstances.

The ASOs are hired as 10-month town employees to coincide with the school year and operate under the auspices of the towns law enforcement division, with Calorio holding final hiring and firing power.

Calorio said Esposito and Leroux were interviewed by herself, Angeli, the districts human resource director and Buddy Conroy, public safety administrator for the constabulary. She said the new hires both expressed a calm demeanor that fit with the job description.

They were poised and understood the need to effectively interact with students, Calorio said. Both were interested in becoming mentors and role models for students and their primary focus was on security and safety.

The school board will reimburse the town quarterly for any costs associated with the hires, including start-up equipment purchases such as weapons and uniforms. Esposito and Leroux will be paid $30 an hour, Calorio said.

Weapons qualifications certification

All ASOs must undergo weapons qualifications certification before they can carry weapons inside the schools. Officials earlier this year were unsure if any of the newly hired ASOs would be able to meet that certification standard before the school year ended as the only such qualification course is held in the summer.

But Calorio said the towns in-house weapons specialist, a member of the constabulary, was able to certify Esposito and Leroux and their certifications were recently approved by the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council.

Esposito and Leroux will be equipped with the same standard service pistol  a Glock .45-calibar handgun  as carried by state troopers. Calorio said the men will be outfitted in burgundy polo shirts and khaki pants that identify them as school district employees.

Calorio said shes poised to schedule another round of candidate interviews in an attempt to fill the remaining three ASO positions. After a less-than-successful first advertising blitz, the town resolicited for the positions in January and received four new applications, in addition to the four received the first time.

Well keep accepting applications until the jobs are filled, Calorio said.

John Penney can be reached at jpenney@norwichbulletin.com or at (860) 857-6965

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Armed security guards in Killingly schools, were Connecticut troopers
State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil  on the 101st day after taking office  sounded like the middle-ground candidate the Democrat ran on to win in the sprawling, Republican-leaning Fourth District that encompasses all or parts of 11 counties.

Weve veered too far to the left, where we have a system that often puts the rights of criminals above the victims of those crimes, Alvarado-Gil said during a March 16 community swearing-in ceremony at the Modesto Irrigation District boardroom.

Alvarado-Gil downplayed political parties during her 12-minute talk.

This is about remembering that Californias legacy was built on families, built on our land, built on our community, our faith and our values, she said. That doesnt come in a voter registration form. That comes from here, in your heart.

Generations of working in partnership is what built the state, she said.

Alvarado-Gil addressed the fight against crime from a conservative stance. She said she is writing bills to help tighten up our criminal justice system, create consequences, and protect our women and children.

Modesto City Councilmember Rosa Escutia-Braaton welcomed state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil to her community swearing-in ceremony at the Modesto Irrigation District board room on March 16, 2023.

Along with many of our colleagues in the Central Valley, we are working together to fix those serious flaws, those loopholes and put our neighborhoods in a safer situation.

The swearing-in ceremony was the only one for the 48-year-old educator who lives in Amador County, but stays in Patterson over the weekend to spend time with her daughter and grandson.

This is the most glorious (state) Senate district ever, said Alvarado-Gil, whose district stretches from Madera County to Truckee and down to Death Valley.

Modesto is the largest city in her district. She called Stanislaus County and Modesto the centerpiece of District Four.

Alvarado-Gil, who lives in Jackson, emphasized her desire to work nonpartisan in representing the district.

Congressmember John Duarte, R-Modesto, presents a certificate to state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil during her community swearing-in ceremony at the Modesto Irrigation District board room on March 16, 2023.

The district is among the most diverse in California, going from rich farmland in the San Joaquin Valley the wooded Sierra Nevada in the north to the worlds hottest terrain in Death Valley. She has driven 12 hours to meet residents in Inyo County, and laughs about recording a remake of the Johnny Cash hit song Ive Been Everywhere.

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Residents, she said, have told her that one size does not fit all.

We know that what works in LA usually does not work over here in our part of the state, said Alvarado-Gil. We cant address these issues of homelessness and housing the same way that big cities do. It just doesnt work.

Alvarado-Gil, who attended high school in Mexico, defeated a fellow Democrat in November after both survived the primary against six Republicans who split the majority of the votes.

Now, the gun-rights supporter downplays political affiliation.

From what I have seen here in Stanislaus County in my short time being able to serve is that the leaders here want to work together, she said. This is not about having a D or an R behind your name.

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil wore these boots to her community swearing-in ceremony at the Modesto Irrigation District board room on March 16, 2023. About 125 people showed up.

How many of us are here today to work to benefit Stanislaus County without asking whether were Republicans or Democrats? Because ultimately were all Americans.

Alvarado-Gil was praised by directors of the Modesto Irrigation District and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.

I see her as a champion for the underdog, someone whos going to stand up for those who have been underestimated and counted out for too many times and by the miscalculations of others, said Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit.

Stanislaus County, he said, has been counted out too often in Sacramento.

We know what its like to be taken for granted, he said. When it comes time to take a stand for Stanislaus and for our region against the larger areas of the state like LA and San Francisco, we have an advocate whos not going to take no for an answer.

Alvarado-Gil, he said, will fight for our water rights, a better quality of life for underserved communities, and accessibility to health care and education.

Eric Heinrich, president of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, said the new state Senator understands the importance of agriculture in our region, how fruitful and special it really is.

We look forward to working with you in the future, said Heinrich, who presented Alvarado-Gil with a white Stetson hat.

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil shows off the hat she received from Stanislaus County Farm Bureau President Eric Heinrich during her community swearing-in ceremony at the Modesto Irrigation District board room on March 16, 2023. About 125 people showed up.

I know that shes going to right for our water. I know shes going to fight to help us on our homeless. And I know shes already starting to fight to get things back on track, said Modesto City Councilmember David Wright.

Wrights colleague, Rosa Escutia-Braaton, said Alvarado-Gil has the skills relevant to keeping our communities safe, educating our children, and addressing issues that really impact the Central Valley.

The senator truly leaves party politics aside, and thats lovely, said Escutia-Braaton, who noted that Alvarado-Gil was wearing awesome boots.

The senator opened a district office at 1020 15th Street, Suite 21. Another district office is planned for El Dorado Hills.

Alvarado-Gil will set up regular mobile office hours for all counties in the district.
A convicted Haitian drug trafficker pleaded guilty Friday to providing money to pay for weapons, food and lodging for Colombian commandos and others suspected of executing the fatal shooting of Haitis president, marking the first guilty plea in the murder conspiracy case in Miami federal court.

Rodolphe Jaar, 50, who cooperated with U.S. investigators in a major cocaine-smuggling probe a decade ago, is hoping that same strategy might help him avoid a potential life sentence for providing material support in the conspiracy to kidnap and kill Haitian President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021. The deadly plot was coordinated among various suspects in South Florida, Haiti and Colombia, including Jaar and 10 others who have been charged by indictment in Miami.

Federal prosecutor Monica Castro said Jaar not only supplied money for the assassination plan, but that he also provided funding to bribe certain Haitian officials who were responsible for providing security to President Moise so that Jaars co-conspirators would be able to obtain access to [him] during the operation at his residence outside Port-au-Prince in the middle of the night.

At Fridays hearing, U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez pointedly asked Jaar about the prosecutors reading of a factual statement that accompanied his plea agreement: Is it true?

Jaars reply: Yes, your honor.

Jaar then pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiring to provide material support, providing material support and conspiring to kidnap and kill Haitis president  each of which carries a potential life sentence. Under his plea agreement, Jaar faces between 30 years and life at his sentencing scheduled for June 2.

But, because he was the first to accept responsibility for his role in the assassination conspiracy and is cooperating with federal authorities, Jaar could receive less than 30 years.

So far, he has provided critical information that has helped agents with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations build a stronger conspiracy case against the 10 other Haitian, Colombian and South Florida suspects now in federal custody in the assassination of Haitis president. The remaining defendants are scheduled for trial on conspiracy or smuggling charges in May.

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Jaar, who had operated a poultry business in Haiti, was alleged to be raising funds prior to the assassination, according to Haitians familiar with the presidents killing. Both a Haitian and Chilean citizen, Jaar was the second suspect to be arrested in the U.S. probe of Moises assassination. He agreed to be flown to Miami in January 2022 after his arrest in the Dominican Republic.

Jaar admitted meeting with a key Haitian-American co-conspirator and to helping him and others carry out Moises assassination, according to the factual statement filed with his plea agreement signed by him, defense attorney Frank Schwartz and prosecutors Andrea Goldbarg and Castro.

During an interview in December while in hiding in Port-au-Prince and weeks before his arrest, Jaar admitted to U.S. investigators that he provided firearms and ammunition to the Colombians to support the assassination operation, according to an FBI criminal complaint and affidavit.

He stated that the operation changed from an arrest ... [to remove Moise from office] to an assassination operation after the initial plan to capture the Haitian president at the [Port-au-Prince] airport and take him away by plane did not go forward, the affidavit says.

The Haitian businessman not only provided weapons to the Colombian commandos to carry out the mission targeting Moise, but also met with an unnamed collaborator, identified in the affidavit as co-conspirator #1, one of three Haitian Americans formerly jailed in Haiti and now in federal custody in Miami.

The co-conspirator is James Solages, who was flown from Haiti to Miami in late January.

The Miami Herald previously reported that Solages and other co-conspirators said they were at Jaars home before the attack; the paper obtained phone records showing that several main suspects had gathered at a residence in the Thomassin area of the capital.

Castro, the prosecutor, said at Fridays court hearing that a critical meeting was held at a property controlled by Jaar on July 6, 2021, during which they discussed launching the assassination plan. According to the prosecutor, Solages told Jaar and other co-conspirators that the operations goal was to kill Haitis president.

Solages claims he was a translator and has pleaded not guilty in Miami federal court, but he was at the presidents home when Moise was killed and shouted that the assault was a DEA operation.

According to witness statements, Jaar also collaborated with Solages and others in a plot to have Moise arrested in mid-June of 2021 at the Port-au-Prince airport upon his return from an official visit to Turkey.

But after that initial plot failed, co-conspirator #1 [Solages] traveled from Haiti to Miami on June 28, 2021, and provided other individuals with a request for assistance in targeting Haitis president, the affidavit says. Solages allegedly shared that information with a Miami-area security firm, Counter Terrorist Unit Security (CTU), whose owner, Antonio Intriago, was arrested last month. Through his lawyers, Intriago says he had no knowledge of the assassination plan and has pleaded not guilty.

According to interviews of several co-conspirators in Haitian custody, by this point certain co-conspirators had knowledge of, or at least believed, that the plan was to assassinate rather than kidnap President Moise, the FBI affidavit says. On July 1, co-conspirator #1 [Solages] flew from Florida to Haiti to participate in the operation.

On July 7, a group of Colombian commandos, Haiti police working security and others stormed the presidents hillside compound in Petionville and entered his home with the intent and purpose of killing Moise, the affidavit says. Later that day, Jaar spoke with co-conspirator #1 and others to assist [Solages] and the Colombians, who were hiding and feared that they would be captured and/or killed by Haitian authorities.

The federal investigation took a dramatic turn last month when U.S. agents arrested four suspects in South Florida on charges of playing central roles in the plot to kill Moise, focusing on the weapons, ballistic vests and financing that authorities say fueled the deadly scheme.

The arrests came more than a year and a half after U.S. authorities launched their investigation. Despite significant progress of late, its still unclear who was the ultimate mastermind of the assassination plot targeting Moise.

While the murder of President Moise occurred in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, most of the planning, funding and direction of the plot to violently overthrow the president occurred right here in the United States in the Southern District of Florida, beginning in early 2021, United States Attorney Markenzy Lapointe said at a news conference in mid-February.

Three of the defendants  Intriago, owner of Doral-based Counter Terrorist Unit Security, or CTU; Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, operator of the affiliate CTU Federal Academy LLC; and Walter Veintemilla, head of Miramar-based Worldwide Capital Lending Group  are charged with supporting a conspiracy to kidnap and kill the president of Haiti. All three pleaded not guilty, but they were denied bail before trial.

The fourth defendant, Frederick Bergmann Jr., was described as being part of the financing arm of the operation. He is charged with conspiring to smuggle ballistic vests to former Colombian soldiers who allegedly carried out the fatal shooting of Moise and seriously wounded the presidents wife, Martine Moise. Hes also charged with failing to file valid export paperwork when the 20 smuggled vests, which are bulletproof, were shipped on June 10, 2021, from Miami to Port-au-Prince before the assassination. The shipment was marked medical x-ray vests and school supplies.

Bergmann also pleaded not guilty. But he was granted bail before trial and was released.

Also charged with the same smuggling offense: Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 64, a Haiti doctor and pastor who split his time between the United States and his Caribbean homeland. Authorities said it was his goal to replace Moise as president, but the co-conspirators abandoned him as a potential successor in June 2021, before the assassination.

Meanwhile, Haitian authorities have made more than 40 arrests in their parallel case, including Moises security coordinator, Jean Laguel Civil. They claim he paid out $80,000 in bribes to police to stand down or not show up to work on the day of the deadly attack.

So far, no one has been officially charged in Haitis investigation, which is now being supervised by the fifth investigative judge.

Miami Herald Caribbean correspondent Jacqueline Charles contributed to this story.
Will County authorities have delivered a chilling message to carjackers and other criminals terrorizing citizens in Chicago and Cook County.

You may get away with a slap on the wrist in Cook County, a Joliet-based judge and prosecutor seemed to say, but when our police officers catch you we will put you away for a long, long time.

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Thats the only logical conclusion one could reach in the wake of a 22-year prison sentence for Jordan Henry, 28, of south suburban Harvey. Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Henry Wednesday after she found him guilty during a bench trial in January.

Will County States Attorney James Glasgow threw serious shade at Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx during a news conference Wednesday, when he announced the sentencing for crimes Henry committed in February 2022. Foxxs office declined to comment Friday when asked for reaction.

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Henry bragged to police who caught him about how he would get away with it, Glasgow said. Judges, police, prosecutors, jailers and others who uphold the law tend to dislike cocky criminals who refuse to show remorse.

With his criminal history, and what hes just done, and he thinks hes in Cook County, and he thinks hes going to be out by Sunday, Glasgow told reporters. Not a chance.

Henrys wild spree began in Lincoln Park one morning when he shoved a gun in the face of a victim exiting a 7-11, prosecutors said. That terrorized person fled with the keys to their vehicle, but a short time later Henry carjacked a 69-year-old Uber driver, according to a release from Glasgows office.

Henry led state troopers on a wild chase over many miles, south on the Dan Ryan Expressway, west on Interstate 80 to the northbound Tri-State Tollway and then south on I-55, prosecutors said. Shorewood police rolled out spike strips, which ended the joyride.

Then Henry fled on foot into a marshy area. Illinois state troopers unleashed a police dog named Hades and said Henry punched the K9 officer before police took him into custody, prosecutors said.

In the ambulance he tells trooper (Erik) Uribe, Dont worry about it, Ive done this before, Ill be out by Sunday, and this was a Wednesday, Glasgow told reporters.

Henry spent more than a year in the Will County Jail awaiting trial and sentencing. Hell get credit for 424 days served. He was held on a $1 million bond, which is significant when you consider that Glasgow is a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the Illinois General Assemblys authority to do away with cash bail. Glasgow and others argue the so-called SAFE-T Act violates the Illinois Constitution.

Henry is a dangerous, violent criminal with a laundry list of prior convictions and current outstanding charges including a violent aggravated criminal sexual assault that took place while he was out on bond for other charges, Glasgow said in a statement.

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Glasgow slammed Foxxs office for letting violent criminals off the hook too easily.

In fact, he committed the crimes in this case while out on bond in Cook County in yet another case, involving the possession of a stolen vehicle, Glasgow said.

Henrys attorney did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.

Foxx is a Democrat, but so is Glasgow, though hes acting more and more like a Democrat In Name Only, or DINO. Foxx lives in Flossmoor and is well aware of concerns expressed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and many other suburban officials that her office is too soft on crime.

Brazen criminals are becoming more and more bold about attacking innocent civilians in broad daylight because Foxx has a revolving door policy of catch and release, critics say. But dont take my word for it. Consider the words of Jim Murphy, who wrote a scathing open letter when he resigned his longtime post as an assistant Cook County states attorney last July.

This Administration routinely claims that they have shifted their focus from prosecuting low level crimes so that they can focus their resources on fighting violent crime and drivers of violence, the insider wrote. This is simply not true.

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It took a lot of courage for Murphy to publicly criticize Foxx, who has been twice elected to lead the office where he devoted 25 years of public service.

This Administration is more concerned with political narratives and agendas than with prosecuting violent crime, Murphy wrote.

Ouch.

Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx (Ted Slowik / Pioneer Press)

Its easier for Foxx to claim her critics are politically motivated when the attacks come from Republicans and Q-Anon conspiracy theorists who whine about billionaire George Soros donating money to her campaign.

Some loonies just lose their minds when rich folks like Soros or Gov. J.B. Pritzker use some of their wealth to support Democrats. But when you point out that an equal or greater number of rich folks give money to Republican candidates and causes they think thats just fine and dandy.

Foxx has a harder time, though, dismissing criticism from a career civil servant like Murphy or a fellow elected Democratic prosecutor like Glasgow, who seems to embrace Star Trek Captain James Kirks challenge to boldly go where no one has gone before.

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Glasgow summoned some serious fortitude when he charged Henry for crimes that occurred miles away in a different jurisdiction. In doing so, he sent a clear message to Foxx. If you wont charge them, we will, Glasgow seemed to say.

Make no mistake. Henrys conviction and sentencing is a watershed moment in Illinois law, justice and politics. Prosecutors occasionally create fanfare to make an example out of a defendant. When they do this, theyre telling other would-be criminals to think before they act, that there will be serious consequences for their conduct.

Foxx has been sending a completely different message to violent criminals. Shes been playing good cop, saying how the system has been so unfair to so many and how restorative justice policies can ultimately reduce crime.

I get it. Ive been among the strongest advocates for equality, inclusion and diversity in the Southland. Ive called out people and policies that create persistent inequity in housing, education, employment and other opportunities.

Ive done my best to show how things make a lot of sense when viewed through the lens of wealth disparity. But Im 100% with those who believe we as a society are safer and better off when violent criminals are punished and taken off the streets.

Ted Slowik is a columnist for the Daily Southtown.

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tslowik@tribpub.com
A Florida-based realty company that operates locally is being sued by the state of North Carolina as a predatory lender.

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein filed a lawsuit this week against real estate brokerage firm MV Realty and the companys leaders.

The complaint alleges the company, which has operated in North Carolina since August 2020, uses unfair and deceptive practices through its Homeowner Benefit Agreement (HBA) program, luring homeowners in need of cash using abusive online ads, robocalls, and texts. It also alleges the company tricks homeowners into signing exclusive, 40-year real estate agreements with misleading incentives  often locking homeowners into contracts that even survive their deaths.

If homeowners attempt to back out, the lawsuit alleges MV Realty records a lien on each homeowners property to ensure that it will be able to collect its penalty, often preventing them from accessing the equity in their homes or even transferring the property to a spouse or heir.

The state estimates the company has signed up more than 2,100 North Carolinians for its program.

MV Realty is preying on vulnerable people, and my office is taking them to court to put them out of business, Stein said in a news release.

The N&Os media partner, ABC11, and its Troubleshooter reporter, Diane Wilson, first investigated MV Realty and its practices last year.

Nazneen Ahmed, a spokesperson for Steins office, told The N&O that the agency has had a handful of litigation related to real estate matters over the past few years, but this case is the first of its kind.

The lawsuit follows more than 20 complaints received from people about MV Realtys unfair and allegedly unlawful practices, Ahmed said.

A spokesperson for MV Realty, who declined to be named, said the company has voluntarily and temporarily paused entering into any new agreements. However, it remains confident that its benefit program fully complies with the law.

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We hope to work with policy makers in North Carolina to address concerns and continue this valuable program as an option to homeowners across the state, the spokesperson said in an email.

Stein, a Democratic candidate for governor, said the state is seeking injunctions as well as restitution for consumers and other monetary penalties.

On Thursday, a bipartisan group of members of the General Assembly introduced legislation they said would protect North Carolina homeowners from predatory, long-term real estate agreements.

The Unfair Real Estate Agreements Act is sponsored in the House by Reps. Kyle Hall, Charles Miller, Hugh Blackwell and Vernetta Alston, and in the Senate by Sens. Joyce Krawiec, Brad Overcash and Paul Lowe.

Stein applauded the move.

We need a law to make sure that other companies cant copy [MV Realtys] fraudulent playbook, he said.

Steins office invited people who think they have been treated illegally by MV Realty to file a consumer complaint at www.ncdoj.gov/complaint or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
VILLANUEVA DE VIVER, Spain (Reuters) -Spain's first major wildfire of the year raged in the eastern Valencia region on Friday, destroying more than 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of forest and forcing 1,500 residents to abandon their homes, authorities said.

An unusually dry winter across parts of the south of the European continent has reduced moisture in the soil and raised fears of a repeat of 2022, when 785,000 hectares were destroyed in Europe - more than double the annual average for the past 16 years, according to European Commission (EC) statistics.

"These fires we're seeing, especially this early in the year, are once again proof of the climate emergency that humanity is living through, which particularly affects and ravages countries such as ours," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news conference in Brussels.

In Spain, 493 fires destroyed a record 307,000 hectares of land last year, according to the Commission's European Forest Fire Information System.

More than 500 firefighters supported by 18 planes and helicopters worked throughout the night and on Friday to tackle the blaze near the village of Villanueva de Viver, in the Valencia region.

Emergency services evacuated eight communities, said Gabriela Bravo, the regional head of interior affairs.

"We didn't sleep well because of anxiety, wondering whether our home had burned down and thinking about the animals we have," said Maria Antonia Montalaz, who was evacuated from nearby Montanejos.

While firefighters believed they were managing to control the spread of the flames, strong winds and "practically summertime temperatures" could reactivate it, Bravo said.

'MORE VULNERABLE' TO FIRES

Spain is experiencing a long-term drought after three years of below-average rainfall.

The weather will be drier and hotter than usual this spring along Spain's northeastern Mediterranean coast, increasing the risk of wildfires, meteorological agency AEMET told Reuters last week.

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Environment Minister Teresa Ribera said "out-of-season fires" were becoming increasingly common.

"Summer is getting longer, it is arriving earlier, and the availability of water and humidity in the soil is unfortunately being reduced, making us much more vulnerable," she told reporters in Cadiz.

A European Commission report this month observed a lack of rain and warmer-than-normal temperatures during the winter, raising drought warnings for southern Spain, France, Ireland, Britain, northern Italy, Greece and parts of eastern Europe.

"There is every reason to fear that this year too there will be numerous and widespread events," said Lorenzo Ciccarese, a researcher at the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) in Rome.

Winter in Greece was the warmest for its northern regions in more than a decade, according to the National Observatory of Athens.

A lack of rain and a decline in land humidity will help the spread of wildfires if there are heatwaves, said Christos Zerefos, head of the Athens Academy Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology.

The Commission report warned that low levels of water could affect strategic sectors including agriculture, hydropower and energy production.

Olive oil production in the European Union for 2022-23 will fall by half compared to the previous season, according to official estimates, largely due to a drop in output from Spain caused by the drought.

Dry spells have also stricken production in Portugal and Italy.

(Reporting by Lorena Sopena, David Latona, Emma Pinedo, Antonella Cinelli and Karolina Tagaris; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by Mark Heinrich, Angus MacSwan and Richard Chang)
President Joe Biden on Friday emphasized the United States and Canadas close relationship in tackling global issues such as climate change, Russias aggression against Ukraine, recent immigration challenges and fentanyl trafficking along the U.S. borders.

Nothing is beyond our capacity," Biden said in his remarks to Canada's Parliament. "Canada and the United States can do big things... Were going to write the future together."

Bidens remarks, which follow a long tradition of U.S. presidents who have addressed the Parliament during visits to Canada, came after he met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau, in his own remarks, stressed that Canada will work with the United States to address climate policy, security policy and economic policy --- saying all three are linked together.

The latest

What was discussed: Biden and Trudeau in a bilateral meeting discuss defense spending, clean energy and climate change, how Canada can assist in Haiti and Ukraine, and migration throughout North America.

Biden's arrival: Biden arrived in Canada Thursday evening and was greeted at Ottawa International Airport by Mary Simon, governor general of Canada, and her husband, Whit Fraser.



Poll: President Joe Biden's approval dips near lowest point ahead of likely presidential bid

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets President Joe Biden as he arrives at Parliament Hill, Friday, March 24, 2023, in Ottawa, Canada. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Increase defense spending to address Russia, Ukraine and China

Amid global challenges from Russia's war with Ukraine to China's increasing threats to Taiwan, Biden and Trudeau said the United States and Canada will work together to address the threats.

Defense spending, as well as commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), were among the policies discussed during Biden and Trudeau's bilateral meeting.

After the meeting, Canada announced new investments to invest in defense and security with the United States. The announcements include:

Canada will invest $6.96 billion in surveillance system modernization that will enhance early warning for objects approaching North America.

$7.3 billion in investments in the northern forward operating locations prior to the arrival of a F-35 aircraft, which include airfield improvements to accommodate aircraft personnel, fuel, and munitions. In a joint statement, Biden and Trudeau said the improvements "ensure NORADs ability to deter and defend against emerging threats to our air and sea space and compete with China and Russia for years to come."

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Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) looks on as US President Joe Biden participates in a book signing at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Immigration problems at the U.S. northern border

Migration challenges are hitting the border  the northern border, that is.

There has been a spike in recent months of migrants crossing between Canada and the United States without authorization along the border near New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. The increased number of migrants has caused challenges for local officials in those states and in Canada.

As a result, the United States and Canada have come to an agreement to revise the Canada-United States Safe Third Country Agreement. The agreement will now apply to asylum seekers who cross between ports of entry.

In a joint statement, Biden and Trudeau said they anticipate it "will deter irregular migration at our shared border."

The new revision to the treaty will go into effect at midnight, Trudeau said.

Our teams have worked hard to achieve this agreement, the prime minister said during a press conference with Biden. All of the work will make it possible to deter irregular migration at the borders.

Canada also agreed to accept an additional 15,000 migrants on a humanitarian basis from the Western Hemisphere over the course of the year.

Biden also noted that the two nations are working together to address fentanyl trafficking in North America, announcing the launch of a global fentanyl task force.

Kirby said without question the two leaders will be discussing the issue of migration.

Where is the GOP budget proposal?: House Republicans face time crunch with looming deadline

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at Rideau Cottage, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Ottawa, Canada. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Help for Haiti?

While Haiti was a top issue discussed by the two leaders, Canada did not budge on sending a peacekeeping force to the country.

As armed gangs have taken over Haiti, causing instability, the United States has wanted Canada to send a peacekeeping force to the country. But Trudeau has expressed reservations over sending peacekeepers to help the Haitian police forces.

The subject was briefly referenced in Biden's speech to parliament, saying the U.S. and Canada are working with the Haitian government to "help strengthen stability."

In a joint statement, Biden and Trudeau said the U.S. and Canada "remain concerned about deteriorating security in Haiti, committed to increasing international support for the Haitian people, including through security and humanitarian assistance, enhanced support for the Haitian National Police, and by holding accountable those who undermine Haitis stability."

Trudeau at a press conference with Biden said that Canada pledges $100 million to help the police force in Haiti. He added that Canada is determined to increase international support for Haiti.

Biden declined to say whether he was disappointed that Canada did not agree to pledge to send a peacekeeping force to Haiti. He noted that its a very, very difficult circumstance, and that it makes sense right now to increase the capabilities of the Haitian police force even if its going to take a little bit of time.

Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden in Canada talk Ukraine, immigration and Haiti with Trudeau
Exercise and fun are seldom used in the same sentence  except by participants describing water aerobics classes taught by Shauna Utz.

Shaunas classes are addictive, said Marie McDermed, of Mission. If you come for two weeks, youll come forever.

Every week for nearly 20 years, McDermed, 83, has joined the teachers water aerobics classes at the Powell Community Center in Mission.

Penn Almoney, director of Mission Parks and Recreation, says Utz has been teaching the classes from day one when the Powell Community Center opened in 1999.

Shauna is one of our most dynamic instructors and her class is very popular, Almoney said.

Enrollment has grown over the years from that first class when one person signed up, to more than 2 dozen in every class now.

People intimidated by the thought of exercising are relieved to discover they can move in the water in ways they cant move on land, said Utz, who holds a bachelors degree in health and exercise science and works full time as a personal trainer.

Shauna Utz has been teaching water aerobics classes at the Powell Community Center in Mission since the center opened in 1999.

The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off joints, she said.

As muscle soreness wears off and new participants become comfortable in the water and in swimsuits, they tend to become regulars  for an overall retention rate of close to 100%.

Fitness, fun and friendship keep them coming back.

The social aspect is important, McDermed said. Theres a gang of us that goes to lunch every month. If you miss class, we notice.

Socializing goes on during the exercises, too. Participants will chat, joke, encourage one another and even hug occasionally.

Joan Gastinger, 81, received hugs during her last class in February. After three classes every week for 20 years, Gastinger said goodbye to friends and water aerobics as she prepared to move away from the Kansas City area.

So that students can see and hear her, Utz leads exercises in front of the pool. Every class begins with participants jogging two laps as they move through a 75-foot lane of water to warm up.

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While Utz shouts out instructions, lively music such as Hang on Sloopy, plays in the background.

The music is chosen not only for its familiarity to participants but also for its cadence: 130 to 135 beats a minute.

Im teaching to that beat, Utz said. They work harder if theres music playing.

Utz, 48, teaches Monday through Friday mornings  driving from her home in Kansas City, North, for 40-minute classes that start at 8 a.m.

Some students gather poolside even earlier.

We get there at 7:30 for a gab fest, said Bernie Geis, 80, of Leawood.

Geis and his wife, Sherry, have been taking the classes together for eight years. They enjoy the socializing as well as the physical benefits. Geis compared the fitness that comes from water aerobics to swimming in the fountain of youth.

Doris Magerl of Prairie Village credits her 20 years of water aerobics with keeping herself in shape inside and out.

I had gall bladder surgery recently, Magerl said. And the doctor asked my kids about what I had been doing because my organs looked so perfect.

Magerl will be 89 in May and says shes looking forward to 90.

Karan Sanders, 80, said she was living on Advil and facing back surgery when she decided to try water aerobics, recommended by her doctor.

Within three weeks, I was free of pain and the surgery was canceled, said Sanders of Kansas City, Kansas.

I love going to Shaunas classes, Sanders said. Im going to do this for the rest of my life.

For cost, times of classes, or to register for water fitness classes at the Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway St. in Mission, call 913-722-8200.
A young girl holding a baby sits in a doorway in New York City, circa 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Danish photographer Jacob Riis captured the inhumane conditions of New York's slums in his book, "How the Other Half Lives."

He documented the poverty previously hidden in darkness using a magnesium powder to produce a flash.

His work led to changes in the city and prompted then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt into action.

In the 19th century, New York City was filled with more than 1 million immigrants living in poverty.

Despite the vast number, they were easy to ignore because they lived in windowless tenements and the underbelly committed crimes down dark alleys.

But the world caught on when Jacob August Riis, a Danish journalist and photographer, started documenting poverty using a recently invented flash magnesium powder. He later released a photojournalism book, "How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York." The book raised awareness about poverty in New York and prompted officials to take action.

Here are some of the photos that changed New York City  and America  forever.

In 1870, Jacob August Riis, a 21-year-old man from Denmark, moved to New York City after a girl rejected his marriage proposal.

Jacob Riis poses for a portrait in 1890. Fotosearch/Getty Images

Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, NPR

Riis was the son of a school teacher and didn't come from money. When he arrived in New York, he had $40 to his name. He worked as a carpenter before losing his job and becoming unemployed in 1873.

The Mulberry bend area in New Yorks Little Italy, circa 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Getty Images

Source: NPR

Riis experienced what it was like to have nowhere to live and no money to spend. This would prove crucial later on when he was documenting others because he understood what it was like.

Three young boys huddle together for warmth in New York in 1895. Jacob Riis/Getty Images

Source: NPR

By 1877, Riis had a wife and a place to live in Brooklyn, and he'd landed a job at the New York Tribune as a police reporter. There, he wrote about the poor underbelly of New York City.

A group of women and children make a Manhattan police station their temporary home, circa 1890. Jacob August Riis/Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Sources: New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, New York Times

He wanted everyone to know that while Fifth Avenue was lined with mansions and a select few lived in absolute wealth, more than 1 million people  three-quarters of the city as a whole  struggled to feed themselves and stay healthy in a city plagued with diseases.

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A group of men and a young boy are photographed inside a small New York City sweatshop, circa 1880s. Jacob A. Riis/Bettmann/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

But writing about the issue wasn't enough. He wanted to show the city what was going on. To do so, he began to take photographs. He took his first in 1888.

Children play with barrels in an alley between tenement buildings in Gotham Court in New York City, circa 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Sources: New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, New York Times

On nightly rounds across the city accompanied by two assistants and a policeman, Riis took his camera and newly developed magnesium powder, which created a flash, often shocking people.

Men and women make neckties inside a tenement in Little Italy, New York City, circa 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Though revolutionary, the flash also caused at least three fires.

Sources: NPR, Washington Post, New York Times

What happened next changed New York. Bonnie Yochelson, a former curator of the Museum of the City of New York who cowrote, "Rediscovering Jacob Riis," wrote that he had "captured what had never been before seen in a photograph."

A poverty-stricken family living in New Yorks Lower East Side, circa 1890. Jacob Riis/Bettmann/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

Before, it was easy to avert the eyes because the city's poverty was hidden down dark alleys and in windowless tenements  but that changed with the flash.

People gather in the sleeping quarters in a tenement in New York City in 1905. Jacob Riis/Bettmann/Getty Images

Sources: New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine

At first, Riis solely showed his photographs in lectures and published in Scribners Magazine. Historian Daniel Czitrom, who co-wrote Rediscovering Jacob Riis, called Riis the first muckraker.

A disheveled shoeshine boy named Tommy, holding a shoeshine kit on a sidewalk in New York City in 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Source: NPR

In 1890, he published his most famous work, a photojournalism book titled, "How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York," a collection of his photos and writings about New York's poor.

A Jewish cobbler in a coal cellar in New York, where he was living with his family in 1887. Jacob A. Riis/Getty Images

He had ordered it by neighborhood and ethnic groups. He believed that ethnic groups were distinct. His writing in the book has been criticized for playing into stereotypes and for its racist undertones.

According to The New York Times, in the book, he is critical of Italians, Irish, Jews, and the Chinese.

Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, NPR, New York Times

Regardless, the book was a bestseller. Along with the photos, it included facts about the state of New York  like how 12 adults would sleep in tiny rooms less than 15 feet wide, or that the infant mortality rate was 10%.

A family of four makes cigars in their home tenement, circa 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, History.com

Riis harnessed contrast in framing his photos. Here, he portrayed the purity of childhood belief against the bleak space where it was practiced.

Orphan boys prayed before bedtime in Five Points, New York City, circa 1889. Jacob Riis/Bettmann/Getty Images

He documented opium dens and basements. This is a photo of an area of New York City called Bandits' Roost.

Men stand in Bandits Roost in New York City, circa 1890. Photo 12/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

His photos captured crime, child labor, and terrible living conditions, including this man who lived in the trash beneath a dump. He wanted to shock people into action.

A man sorts through trash in a makeshift home under the 47th Street dump in New York City. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

But Riis was far from perfect. Yochelson told The New York Times that he "was a state-of-the-art, media-savvy journalist, but in his sentimentality and in appealing to the Christian conscience, he was a creature of the Victorian, rather than the Progressive, era."

Two young girls stand at a staircase in Baxter Alley, known as Ragpickers Row, in Little Italy, New York City, circa 1890. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

He believed a defective character led to being poor, and although he showed the world how they lived, he never gave them a chance to speak for themselves.

A photo shows a man smoking a pipe in his living quarters in the cellar of a New York City tenement house in 1891. Jacob Riis/Bettmann/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

In 1894, his work prompted action from then-New York Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who said to him: "I have read your book, and I have come to help."

An Italian immigrant sits with her baby in a small run-down tenement room on Jersey Street, New York City in 1887. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Sources: Theodore Roosevelt, The Citizen

Roosevelt ended up closing down some of the worst slums in New York and described Riis as the city's "most useful citizen."

A barren plot of land where tenements once stood before being cleared for the construction of a park in New York City in 1898. Jacob A. Riis/Museum of the City of New York/Getty Images

Source: CBS News

Despite the monumental impact of his work Riis didn't stick with photography and stopped taking photos by 1892. In fact, he never even considered himself a photographer.

Immigrants are photographed in a shelter in a Bayard Street tenement, circa 1888. Jacob A. Riis/Bettmann/Getty Images

"I am no good at all as a photographer," he wrote in his autobiography published in 1901.

After his death in 1914, his negatives were left boxed up in an attic for 30 years. It wasn't until a photographer tracked them down in the 1940s that 415 negatives were found.

Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, New York Times

Czitrom told The New York Times that no one reads his work anymore, but his photos are still relevant to this day. They act as a harrowing reminder of how hard life was for the poor in New York City  and how far things have come.

Young boys holding wheelbarrows at a playground in New York in 1890. Jacob Riis/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

Read the original article on Insider
J.Robert Williams / Shutterstock.com

One of the talking points in the current debate over Social Security reform is the role wealthy Americans should play in bolstering the program. Much of the talk centers on raising the annual income threshold on wages subject to Social Security payroll taxes, which is currently $160,200. Some have suggested increasing that limit to $250,000 or higher.

See: Can I Draw Social Security at 62 and Still Work Full Time?

Learn: 3 Ways to Recession Proof Your Retirement

But others have floated the idea of imposing a flat wealth tax on the rich to help finance Social Security before its trust fund runs out of money. With a wealth tax, the government taxes assets instead of income, MarketWatch reported. Those who favor a flat wealth tax to help fund Social Security point to its simplicity as well as the fact that those who would have to pay it can probably afford to do so.

One thing thats clear is that something has to be done to prop up Social Security before its Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund runs out of money, which could happen as early as 2032. When it does happen, the program will have to rely solely on payroll taxes for funding, and that only covers about 75% to 80% of current benefits.

As MarketWatch noted, wealth taxes have already been adopted elsewhere to help fund government programs. For example, Zurich, Switzerland levies wealth taxes of up to 0.3% on net worth over about $3.5 million. The wealth tax in Geneva, Switzerland, starts at 0.175% and goes up to 0.45% on net worth over about $2 million. These wealth taxes are in addition to income taxes that go as high as 46%.

Proposals to implement a wealth tax in the United States to help fund Social Security  including the one U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) rolled out as a 2020 presidential candidate  tend to be less ambitious.

But even a much more modest wealth tax could go a long way toward bolstering Social Security, supporters say. Currently, the Social Security Administration borrows roughly 9% of the money it pays out, according to MarketWatch. Within a decade that figure is expected to rise to 21%, and by 2050 it could approach 30%.

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Meanwhile, U.S. household wealth has soared to a point that the nations richest people can live on capital  savings, investments and other assets  instead of income. This has been going on for decades. In 1989, the richest 0.1% owned 9% of overall U.S. wealth. Today, they own 12.5%.

MarketWatch estimates that a flat 0.3% wealth tax paid by all Americans would generate about $420 billion in revenue this year, based on Federal Reserve data. Thats enough to fill Social Securitys 2023 budget gap and still have about $100 billion left over. If U.S. net worth grows as much over the next decade as it did during the previous decade, a flat wealth tax would be able to fill most of the Social Security budget shortfall on its own.

Those in the top 0.1% (with an average net worth of $136 million) would have to pay about $400,000 in extra taxes, MarketWatch reported. The bottom half would pay an average of $200.

While that sounds feasible on paper, not everyone supports the idea of using a wealth tax to help prop up Social Security. An August 2022 article by Discourse Magazine points out that countries that depend on wealth taxes to help fund government programs  including Denmark, Norway and Sweden  benefit from much higher tax rates than the United States.

Far fewer taxpayers pay the top rate in the U.S. than in Scandinavian countries, the Discourse article noted. In laymans terms, to align with Scandinavian models, the U.S. would need to broaden its tax base and apply the top income tax rate to the upper middle class as well as the wealthy.

Take Our Poll: As a Retired Person, Are You Comfortable With Your Monthly Income?

In this case, U.S. lawmakers might be hesitant to approve a flat wealth tax to help fund Social Security. Many Americans might not have a problem with the ultra-rich having to pay higher taxes, but could draw a line if the responsibility filters down to those who dont have millions or billions of dollars saved up.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Is Flat Wealth Tax the Social Security Solution No One Is Talking About?
A federal lawsuit filed by four families with transgender children in Florida takes aim at recently implemented rules that effectively ban gender-affirming care for trans youth in the state.

Eight states including Florida have enacted laws or policies banning gender-affirming care for young trans people, and at least 10 states are considering similar measures.

Republican state lawmakers in Florida are advancing several bills with sweeping restrictions on gender-affirming care, including a measure that could forcibly detransition trans youth.

Federal courts in Alabama and Arkansas have blocked similar laws targeting gender-affirming care for trans youth, but recently enacted policies upending trans healthcare in Florida were advanced without the support of the state legislature and at the instruction Governor Ron DeSantis administration, including surgeon general Joseph Ladapo, who has rejected evidence from leading medical groups.

Being able to consult with our team of doctors to understand what our daughter is experiencing and make the best, most informed decisions about her care has been critically important for our family, one of the plaintiffs, the mother of an 11-year-old trans child, said in a statement shared with The Independent.

The families named in the lawsuit are using synonyms to protect their identity.

The family of 11-year-old Susan moved to Florida when the father was stationed there as a senior officer in the US Navy, according to filings.

Their daughter is a happy, confident child, but this ban takes away our right to provide her with the next step in her recommended treatment when she reaches puberty, her mother said in a statement.

The military doctors we work with understand the importance of providing that evidence-based, individualized care, she added. Were proud to serve our country, but we are being treated differently than other military families because of a decision by politicians in the state where we are stationed. We have no choice but to fight this ban to protect our daughters physical and mental health.

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Another mother with a 14-year-old trans son said in a statement that Floridas ban puts her and other parents in the nightmare position of not being able to help our child when they need us most.

My son has a right to receive appropriate, evidence-based medical care, she said. He was finally getting to a place where he felt hopeful, where being prescribed testosterone was on the horizon and he could see a future for himself in his own body. That has been ripped away by this cruel and discriminatory rule.

The plaintiffs and their children are represented by Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign.

They also have requested a preliminary injunction asking a federal court to halt the policy while their challenge proceeds in court.

Defendants include Mr Ladapo, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and members of the states boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine.

A spokesperson for Floridas health department responded to a request from The Independent with an animated gif of Ron DeSantis. The gif caption reads: If you want to waste your time on a stunt, thats fine. But Im not wasting my time on your stunt. They also said they could not comment on pending litigation.

The guidelines adopted by the boards contradict those from major health organisations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, among others.

Defendants cannot demonstrate any rational basis, much less an important or compelling one, for the transgender medical bans which prevent transgender adolescents from getting safe and effective medically necessary healthcare, according to the complaint.

Following several months of debate and protests from LGBT+ advocates, the Florida Board of Medicine enacted a rule that bars trans minors from access to gender-affirming healthcare, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

That policy went into effect on 16 March. The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine will enact an identical rule on 28 March.

The American Medical Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among others, have established clear clinical guidelines for treating young trans people.

This policy came about through a political process with a predetermined conclusion, and it stands in direct contrast to the overwhelming weight of the evidence and science, according to a statement from Simone Chriss, director of Transgender Rights Initiative, Southern Legal Counsel.

There is an unbelievable degree of hypocrisy when a state that holds itself out as being deeply concerned with protecting parents rights strips parents of their right to ensure their children receive appropriate medical care, she added.

Florida surgeon general Joseph Ladapo, left, appears with Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021. (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A wave of legislation at the state and federal level within the last few years has increasingly targeted gender-affirming care for trans youth. State lawmakers this year have introduced more than 400 bills identified by the Human Rights Campaign as harmful to LGBT+ Americans. At least 175 measures would specifically restrict the rights of trans people.

More than half of all trans youth in the US between the ages of 13 and 17 are at risk of losing access to age-appropriate and medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare in their home state, the organisation found.

The onslaught of legislation and volatile political debate surrounding the bills has also negatively impacted the mental health of an overwhelming majority of young trans and nonbinary people, according to recent polling from The Trevor Project and Morning Consult.

A separate survey from The Trevor Project found that 45 per cent of trans and nonbinary youth have seriously considered attempting suicide over the last year.

The results of a wide-ranging survey from The Washington Post and KFF found that a vast majority of trans Americans are satisfied with their lives after transitioning.

While most trans people have socially transitioned, meaning they have changed their pronouns, names and/or clothing, far fewer have medically transitioned; less than one third have used hormone treatments or puberty blockers, and roughly one in six have undergone gender-affirming surgery or other surgical treatment to change their physical appearance, according to the survey results.
An aggressive, drug-resistant bacterial infection has left three people dead and many others  including a Florida firehouse captain  with damaged eyesight.

Adam Di Sarro is the head of a firehouse in Naples, Florida, but has missed five months of work due to a bacterial infection in his eye that he likely contracted from contaminated eyedrops.

Mr Di Sarro had used artificial tears for years to help prevent dry, scratchy eyes. Despite eye irritation being nothing new for the firefighter, last fall he said things began to get worse.

"The redness came on, the irritation came on, a lot of itching, and it was abnormal," Mr Di Sarro told CBS News. "It just progressively got worse, to the point where I couldn't even see within a few hours."

Doctors found the drug-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in his eye, and sent him to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami for treatment. A doctor there used an experimental light treatment to kill the infection.

The CDC would eventually learn that the eyedrops Mr Di Sarro was using  EzriCare Artificial Tears  were contaminated with the aggressive bacteria. After the agency posted its warning to consumers, EzriCare launched a voluntary recall of the product. Delsam Pharma, which also makes artificial tears, launched its own voluntary recall shortly after.

Mr Di Sarro is reportedly planning to sue EzriCare for negligence. Until then, he has been out of work and awaiting a surgery he hopes will restore the vision to his left eye.

"That was hard," he told CBS News. "And it's still hard because I'm still not at work, going on five months."

Adam Di Sarro, a police captain in Naples, Florida, lost vision in his left eye after using eyedrops contaminated by an aggressive and drug-resistant bacteria (screengrab/CBS News)

Three people in the US have died as a result of the bacteria. At least eight have gone blind, and four have had to have their eyes surgically removed.

One of the newest case reports described a 72-year-old woman who lost her vision in her left eye after using the ExriCare product for approximately a week, according to CNN.

She started noticing some blurry vision in her left eye for a few days, Dr Ahmed Omar, an ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, who treated the woman, told the network. It was initially painless, but according to the patient and her husband, one morning she woke up and she had a yellow discharge on her pillow. And thats when she started noticing that the appearance of her eye had changed.

The woman had to be admitted to the emergency room, where physicians discovered a large ulcer on her left cornea.

The CDC has warned anyone who has used the products recently to seek medical care immediately.
A bill that would let people carry concealed firearms without a permit and without training passed out of the House on Friday, putting the bill just a step away from the governors desk.

The legislation lets people who are otherwise qualified to purchase and carry a firearm avoid the permitting process to conceal carry their weapon. Rep. Chuck Brannan, R-Macclenny, said the bill was about removing red tape, and that Florida will not come between you and your freedom to protect yourself anymore. The legislation passed 76-32.

Despite intense lobbying, the legislation does not open the door to allow people to openly carry their guns in public  a point of anger among pro-gun advocates who say the bill does not go far enough in protecting Second Amendment rights.

Rep. Mike Beltran, R-Riverview, briefly filed an amendment earlier this week that would have allowed for open carrying in certain kinds of holsters. But he withdrew it the next day. On the House floor, he spoke at length about why he believes open carry would be a good move.

Beltran said in a text that the amendment was and is good policy but unfortunately this is not the right time or the right vehicle.

Id prefer to pass this legislation and lock in what we can, and then see what we can accomplish later, Beltran wrote.

Florida House Speaker Paul Renner announces a proposal that would allow people to carry concealed weapons without licenses or training during a press conference in Auburndale, Florida, on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.

Open carry has House speakers support

House Speaker Paul Renner said he supports open carry but said theres concern among his caucus and in the Senate about the issue. He said he and Beltran discussed the amendment and identified some problems that would have made things worse, not better, which were flagged by the National Rifle Association.

There are a lot of things I dont get as speaker that I want, and Im very, very happy that this bill moves us forward, expands rights in a way that are material and important, Renner said.

Luis Valdes, Florida director of Gun Owners of America, said in a statement that the permitless carry bill is a step in the right direction but said it isnt constitutional carry like Gov. Ron DeSantis promised last year.

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Governor DeSantis promised Floridians that wed get constitutional carry, and the Republican supermajority is failing to bring that, Valdes said.

Members of pro-gun groups speaking out against the bill found themselves strange bedfellows with gun safety advocates, who argued the removal of an additional background check and the training requirement made the public less safe.

Amendments offered but most failed

An amendment to require training was one of more than a dozen amendments put forward on the permitless carry bill, nearly all of which were sponsored by Democrats, and nearly all of which failed.

Brannan, the sponsor of the bill, said he thought training was important, and pointed to $1.5 million in the bill allotted for it but said he did not think it was the nanny governments job to mandate it.

Democrats also argued the bill would increase the risk of profiling, and would acutely impact Black communities.

One of the amendments, from Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, would allow people to carry firearms into meetings in the Legislature. Legislative meetings are one place, along with courthouses, polling places, and a handful of other designated areas, where Florida law prohibits people from carrying firearms, concealed or otherwise.

Eskamani said if the majority party thinks guns make us more safe, we should strike this. Republicans voted the amendment down.

Another amendment by Eskamani would have created an avenue for people to put themselves on a voluntary do not sell list, which they could remove themselves from later. Eskamani said it was designed to help protect people contemplating suicide.

During the debate, Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby, D-St. Petersburg, told legislators that in 2021, she attempted suicide with a gun and later checked herself into a mental health facility.

At the end of the day I dont see the harm in this type of amendment if it can save someones life like mine, Rayner-Goolsby said.

The amendment failed.

Alexis Dorman, a 19-year-old volunteer with Students Demand Action, said she expected that the bill would pass because of the Republican supermajority but said she was surprised by the speed at which it moved. By the first week of Floridas legislative session, the bill was through all of its committees in the House and Senate.

The youth in our state today are going to grow up around people who can legally carry a firearm without any proper training, and thats really scary to think about, Dorman said.

The permitless carry legislation is also available for a vote on the Senate floor but hasnt yet been scheduled.

How to get help

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat with someone online at 988lifeline.org.
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The legal penalty for antisemitic acts in Florida should be far more consequential than a citation for littering. Unfortunately, that's the best authorities here in Palm Beach County and throughout the state can do when confronted with leafleting and projecting images on buildings to demean and threaten people of the Jewish faith.

The state's best and only chance this year to strengthen legal penalties rests with the Florida Legislature, which is considering a bill to make it a felony to distribute antisemitic leaflets and pamphlets or project such images onto property, as has happened this year in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and elsewhere in the county. It's a long-overdue change that's moving way too slowly in the legislative session.

"It is imperative to pass legislation aimed at curbing this behavior," State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, told Post Reporter Mike Diamond. "All Floridians, including those of the Jewish faith, should be able to have quiet enjoyment in their communities and practice their faith without fear of harm. When we say 'Never Again,' we mean 'Never Again,'" he said, referring to the post-Holocaust mantra.

State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach is working hard to strengthen penalties for antisemitic acts.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS:'We need to be louder than hate': Officials, residents plot strategy to fight antisemitism

Caruso has done his job by listening to constituents concerns and filing HB 269, legislation that would put teeth into addressing these types of hate crimes. He's working to move the bill through the Florida House and onto the floor for a final vote.

But the Senate has yet to give the bill a hearing. That might change, but with time in the 60-day session running out, it's discouraging to see such a simple but important change languish.

Florida has seen a spike in antisemitism

Florida, according to the Anti-Defamation League's Annual Audit of antisemitic incidents, has seen a troubling trend. Harassment incidents jumped from 142 in 2021 to 214 in 2022, a 51% increase. Vandalism spiked by 15%, up from 47 in 2021 to 54 in 2022. In one incident, three assailants during a neo-Nazi demonstration in Orlando assaulted a Jewish college student.

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In January, Palm Beach Police found antisemitic flyers strewn across island yards. They arrested four individuals, one of them the leader of an extremist group. Since ignorance and hatred aren't crimes, the police cited the men for littering. More "littering" of hateful material against Jewish residents occurred in Atlantis and Boca Raton. West Palm Beach police faced a similar conundrum in January, after hearing complaints of antisemitic messages projected onto a building and finding two masked men, a rental truck, projector and generator. No arrests were made.

The incidents in Palm Beach County spurred community groups and local elected officials to act. Municipal and county officials, and representatives from the State's Attorney Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, held a closed door meeting that led to the filing of the bill. The county commission and the city of West Palm Beach also took action, revamping their ordinances to create stiffer penalties for distributing antisemitic material.

"As a Jew and elected official, it is my duty to speak up and condemn all instances of hatred and bigotry, against anyone," County Mayor Gregg Weiss shared in an op-ed appearing last month in The Palm Beach Post.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential ambitions are driving a lot of terrible bills through the Florida Legislature.

According to the American Jewish Population Project, there are more than 665,000 Jewish adults living in Florida, 3.9% of the state population, many in South Florida. One-third of Florida's Jewish population lives in Palm Beach County. Their faith shouldn't make them a target.

Imagine what an extraordinary statement the state could send extremists and hate groups across the country, with a law strong enough to deter crimes based on person's religion. It should be easy for Republican sponsors to get the bill through the Republican dominated Legislature, right?

Maybe not, given the bills that are moving and drawing attention. Bills that lower the age limit to buy guns, legislation that further restricts a woman's right to choose, measures that extend education restricts about gender and sexual identity through middle school  legislation that fails to raise societal standards for the better.

HB 269 should be sailing through the legislative process, passing final floor votes in both chambers and moving to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Make it a priority.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Legislature zeal missing in fight against antisemitic acts
Walking into Ivy Hall  Waukegans first cannabis dispensary  after clearing security, a potential customer passes a couch, lounge chair and small coffee table before approaching a wall displaying numerous products, including edibles, flower, oils and more.

Greeted by an agent in charge, or budtender, equipped with a tablet to help assist people with additional product information, customers like Angel Boyd of Beach Park begin to peruse.

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Im looking around to find some oils, Boyd said, as she looked at a variety of product mock-ups on display. Theres a lot of variety.

Angel Boyd of Beach Park talks to Ivy Hall budtender Cory Castenado about a potential purchase. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun)

Ivy Hall opened Friday morning at 996 Waukegan Road near the Fountain Square shopping center with a complement of workers selling not only cannabis products and accessories, but clothing and giftware.

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We want to give customers a luxury shopping experience thats very boutique-like, Ivy Hall district manager Dominique Moses said, describing what the company labels a sensory dispensary.

Its a concierge level experience, she said.

Customers are greeted by this wall displaying scores of products shortly after they enter the Ivy Hall cannabis dispensary in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun)

Moses said the experience may begin with a stop at the terpenes bar on the right, just before the large display wall. Terpenes are the active ingredient in cannabis, and they can have a variety of scents which customers can smell.

Its what gives you that euphoric affect, she said. They are in all the different forms of products like flower cigarettes, oils, edibles and tablets. Theyre made by the cultivators, she added, referring to licensed Illinois growers.

Six different scents of terpenes were on display. Moses said customers can experience the scents as they decide which products they want, and how it will affect their senses. It is like purchasing incense.

Along with the budtender giving them information, Moses said customers can use their cellphone to scan the QR code on the product package, which connects them with the company website.

The Ivy Hall cannabis dispensary opened Friday on Waukegan Road near the Fountain Square shopping center in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun)

Though the packages are real with items inside which might feel like a gummy or other product, Moses said there is no actual merchandise inside. The customer does not get that until they receive their product after it is retrieved by an employee in a secure storage area.

Waukegan is Ivy Halls third location in Illinois. The other dispensaries are in Chicagos Bucktown neighborhood which opened in November; and Crystal Lake, which opened in January.

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Starr De Los Santos of the Rosemont area said she likes the Ivy Hall experience. A customer of other shops, she decided to check out the new Waukegan location Friday with two friends.

You get a great vibe when you come here, so I decided to try this location, De Los Santos said. I like seeing everything on the display and I love the swag, she added, referring to clothing and other merchandise with logos and pointing to the Ivy Hall hat she was wearing.

After selecting their purchase, customers at the Ivy Hall cannabis dispensary in Waukegan head to the checkout counter. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun)

Along with hats bearing the company logo, there are handbags, shirts, giftware and hoodies, including one with the message, Buy weed from women. Moses said the clothing and handbags with that message are made by a different women-owned company.

Were a minority-owned company, and we support minority- and women-owned companies, Moses said.

Greg Elliott is the majority owner and chief growth officer of Ivy Hall Waukegan. He holds an equity cannabis license because he said he has lived in a disproportionately impacted area. He is also a Black U.S. Army veteran.

An entrepreneur by trade, Elliott said he is a longtime real estate investor and rehabber in Chicago and the South Suburbs. He recognized the cannabis industry as a growing one, and decided to get involved.

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I am super-excited that Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker has made this opportunity possible, Elliott said. Im an entrepreneur, and Im always looking for the next best thing. This is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Ivy Hall will be open in Waukegan from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Four Florida families with transgender children have filed a federal lawsuit challenging new rules set by the states medical boards that prevent minors from accessing gender-affirming health care.

Floridas Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine in February approved a set of rules that prohibit health care providers from administering gender-affirming health care to minor patients, conflicting with guidance set by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society and the recommendations of most major medical organizations.

In a lawsuit filed late Thursday in the Northern District of Florida, the families argue that the new rules, which only apply to youth who have not begun treatment, violate the rights of parents to make decisions about the health and wellbeing of their children.

The transgender medical bans violate this fundamental right by preventing the parent plaintiffs from obtaining medically necessary care for their minor adolescent children, the lawsuit states. By intruding upon parents fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their adolescent children, the transgender medical bans are subject to strict scrutiny.

Thursdays lawsuit additionally argues that the new Florida rules violate the U.S. Constitution because they discriminate based on sex and transgender status.

The cases defendants, which include Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and members of the states Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine, cannot demonstrate any rational basis, much less an important or compelling one, for the transgender medical bans which prevent transgender adolescents from getting safe and effective medically necessary healthcare, the lawsuit argues.

Each of the plaintiffs is represented by the Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Human Rights Campaign.

Like most parents, my husband and I want nothing more than for our daughter to be healthy, happy, and safe, said one of the suits plaintiffs, using the pseudonym Jane Doe. Being able to consult with our team of doctors to understand what our daughter is experiencing and make the best, most informed decisions about her care has been critically important for our family.

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Under the new Florida rules, which went into effect this month, Does transgender daughter, 11-year-old Susan Doe, will not be able to receive gender-affirming medical care prior to her 18th birthday. Susan Doe, according to Thursdays lawsuit, has not been prescribed puberty blockers because she has not yet started puberty.

She is a happy, confident child, but this ban takes away our right to provide her with the next step in her recommended treatment when she reaches puberty, Doe said Thursday in a statement released by her attorneys. Doe said her family is unable to move to another state where gender-affirming health care for youth is still legal because her husband, John Doe, is stationed in Florida as a senior officer in the U.S. Navy.

Were proud to serve our country, but we are being treated differently than other military families because of a decision by politicians in the state where we are stationed, she said. We have no choice but to fight this ban to protect our daughters physical and mental health.

Another Florida mother, using the name Brenda Boe in Thursdays lawsuit, said she is challenging the new Florida rules on behalf of her 10-year-old son, Bennett.

This ban puts me and other Florida parents in the nightmare position of not being able to help our child when they need us most, Boe said Thursday in a statement. My son has a right to receive appropriate, evidence-based medical care. He was finally getting to a place where he felt hopeful, where being prescribed testosterone was on the horizon and he could see a future for himself in his own body. That has been ripped away by this cruel and discriminatory rule.

Since 2021, 10 states including Florida have enacted laws or policies restricting access to gender-affirming health care for minors, and more than 100 pieces of legislation with similar goals are under consideration in more than two dozen states this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Florida also enacted a separate rule in August that prevents the states transgender residents, regardless of their age, from using Medicaid to help pay for gender-affirming health care. That rule is also being challenged in federal court.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When Evelyn Ma was younger, she wanted to be a tree when she grew up.

Now, as an eighth-grader, she will visit Washington, D.C., in June to discuss with members of Congress how to get more STEM education funding to underserved communities.

Ma is a member of Metal Maniacs, a nonprofit organization founded in late 2021 by Folsoms Tabitha Wong and Melanie Miner, both women in a field that performs poorly when it comes to gender equity.

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Women make up 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math, and men outnumber women in most STEM fields in college, according to the American Association of University Women.

We actually have connections with the local Legislature here out in Sacramento County, Wong said. They will be talking to a local lobbyist (about) how do you engage? How do you make change happen in government? We start now. These AP students, they have ideas. They want to go ahead to help.

Wong graduated from UC Davis with a bachelors in computer science and later obtained a masters in business from Sacramento State. She is a chief of staff at Walmart Global Tech and was previously chief of staff at Intel.

Miner also graduated from Davis with a bachelors degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and she manages lab operations at Ginkgo Bioworks.

Metal Maniacs is made up of 10 eighth-graders on the student leadership team that are considered mentors. Additionally, they compete in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technologys tech challenge, which is part of a global robotics community.

This season, they were awarded the Control Award at the regional qualifiers for incorporating multiple sensors like artificial intelligence webcam, color sensor, touch sensor and navigation, according to Wong.

(Metal Maniacs) are the young people that are involved in doing the outreach and promoting the stem, Miner said. Theyre part of the overserved community as far as STEM outreach.

Wong said it partners with other community improvement organizations such as the Sacramento and India-oriented Suvidha International Foundation, a team in Ghana, the Sacramento County Office of Education and the Museum of Science and Curiosity.
Ford

Ford announced Friday it will build its next electric truck, codenamed Project T3, at the company's newly assembled BlueOval City campus in Tennessee starting in 2025.

Shown above, a sketch of the Ford F-150 Lightning.

There's no word at this time on what Project T3 will look like, how much power it will have, or where it will slot into Ford's lineup. Ford hasn't shown as much as a sketch.

Project T3 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revolutionize Americas truck," CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. "We are melding 100 years of Ford truck know-how with world-class electric vehicle, software and aerodynamics talent. It will be a platform for endless innovation and capability."

"T3" in Project T3 stands for "Trust The Truck," a nickname from engineers that stuck during development. According to Ford, the goal with this pickup is to create something "people can trust in the digital age." To that end, the company is making a product that's "fully updatable, constantly improving, and supports towing, hauling, exportable power and endless new innovations owners will want."

The T3's assembly plant is being developed in conjunction with the truck itself, reducing the plant's footprint by 30 percent versus a traditional assembly plant while delivering a higher production capacity, says Ford. The BlueOval campus also houses a battery production facility, meaning batteries for the T3 will only have to travel 30 minutes to go from the end of their assembly line into the truck. Sounds efficient.

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By Paul Lienert

STANTON, Tennessee (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co plans to build up to 500,000 electric trucks a year at its BlueOval City complex under construction in western Tennessee, the automaker said on Friday.

BlueOval City will assemble several versions of Fords next-generation F-series electric pickup, which the company calls Project T3.

In an event Friday at the plant, Ford CEO Jim Farley said production will begin "in roughly 30 months" -- the fall of 2025.

The Stanton plant northeast of Memphis is part of Fords plan to have global EV production capacity of 2 million vehicles a year in place by the end of 2026.

A video shown at the event described the new electric pickup as "the sequel to the F150 Lightning" that is currently built near Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, and is based on the standard combustion-engine F-series pickups.

Ford said BlueOval City will have a general assembly footprint that is 30% smaller than that of a traditional assembly plant, with a higher production capacity. Most current auto plants are designed to build 250,000-300,000 vehicles a year.

Tesla this month said its future electric vehicle plants will be up to 40% smaller than traditional plants.

Ford's Project T3 pickup is being developed on a new dedicated EV truck architecture.

Suppliers have said that new platform, which carries the internal designation TE1, will also underpin full-size electric SUVs in 2026 that could supplement or replace the current Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

The $5.6 billion BlueOval City complex, which is being jointly developed with Korean partner SK On, also will have a battery plant capable of producing more than 40 gigawatt-hours worth of cells  enough supply up to half a million EVs a year.

(Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by David Gregorio)
Former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is joining a private mediation firm. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Before leaving her post as California's top judicial official in January, former Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said she had serious concerns about the rapidly growing industry of private judges.

In response to revelations by The Times that such for-hire judges had helped facilitate the misappropriation of client funds by fallen legal titan Tom Girardi, Cantil-Sakauye said in August that the largely unregulated industry was ripe for greater oversight.

In her last open forum with journalists in November, Cantil-Sakauye reiterated those concerns, and said the increase in private mediation and arbitration  pushing litigation behind closed doors and out of the public record  also threatened the evolution of California jurisprudence.

But now, just a few months after retiring from the bench, Cantil-Sakauye is joining the private industry herself  signing on with ADR Services, which specializes in alternative dispute resolution in California. The company touts a full roster of prominent jurists and former judges available for hire for private mediation, arbitration and consulting.

In an interview with The Times on Thursday, Cantil-Sakauye  a moderate who was considered a consensus builder on the California Supreme Court  said she still has all the same concerns about the industry but also sees value in providing clients with quick resolutions in certain cases.

She said people might "see that as inconsistent or hypocritical," but she doesn't see it that way.

She has never been entirely opposed to mediation.

Cantil-Sakauye noted that to help clear a massive, COVID-19 pandemic-related backlog of criminal and civil cases during her time as chief justice, she created a program to provide free civil mediation services to litigants using state funding, and another to retrain retired judges to oversee those cases and move them through the system faster.

She is also still in favor of more oversight and as a mediator will continue to advocate for oversight of the industry, she said  just as she advocated for oversight of lawyers as a lawyer and of judges as a judge.

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"It is always the risk of a lack of oversight that creates the dangers," she said. "So much is happening in mediation with lawyers that there ought to be a framework of review."

Cantil-Sakauye said state legislators and State Bar of California officials need to start formalizing oversight of private judges and the attorneys who work with them, and she hopes she will be "invited to sit down at that table" as they start to do so.

Cantil-Sakauye said she also still has concerns about the proliferation of private mediation and arbitration diminishing the ability of California law to evolve as it should through robust litigation in state courts. But, she said, "that train has left the station."

"It's not just only in California, it's everywhere," she said.

Cantil-Sakauye said she is not leaving her other new job as president and chief executive of the Public Policy Institute of California, which she took in January upon leaving the bench.

Instead, starting next month, she plans to work part time with ADR on a case-by-case basis, she said. She plans to work as a mediator, a consultant and in moot courts but will not handle arbitration cases, which she said would be too time consuming.

She said ADR had courted her for months and "agreed to be flexible" regarding how many hours she would put in on cases. She said she decided to go for it after talking with her former colleague on the bench, retired Justice Ming W. Chin, who also works for ADR.

Cantil-Sakauye said there were financial considerations involved in the decision, of course, but they were not her primary motivation.

"The biggest motivator for me is staying connected to the law," she said. "I'd still like to talk to lawyers about cases and [ask], 'What is your strategy?' and 'How do you think you're going to win?'"

She can see why they would want to talk to her as well, she said.

"Among a lot of other advice on a big case," she said, "I probably wouldn't mind hearing the views of a chief justice."

Times reporter Harriet Ryan contributed to this article.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Investigators suspect a Tallahassee pharmacist who was found with a large cache of firearms, ammunition, homemade explosives and body armor may have been planning an attack on law enforcement or some other act of mass violence.

William Head III, a former pharmacist at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, was arrested Sunday after citizens contacted the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office with concerns about his mental health, the number of weapons he owns and comments he made, including that the world would end on April 1, according to court records.

During Heads first court appearance on Tuesday, several people expressed deep concerns about the defendant, his mental state and the possibility of violence. One man said Head showed up at a family member's home after midnight and that video showed him with a gun in his hand at the front door.

"I am terrified for (their) safety," the man told the court. "I think there has to be a mental health evaluation of this fellow. I pray he gets the help he needs. But I'm concerned this is going to be the next terrorist attack in Tallahassee."

Deputies contacted Head by phone to conduct a welfare check on him, and he agreed to a meeting Sunday night near the 13000 block of Mahan Drive in eastern Leon County. Deputies from Leon and Jefferson counties responded.

After Head arrived and got out of his car, a deputy noticed two long guns and apparent contraband in plain view inside his vehicle. Head was under an active domestic violence injunction and barred from having any weapons or ammo.

A search of his car turned up ten handguns and 15 rifles of various makes and models, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, multiple weapon magazines, both loaded and unloaded, two bulletproof vests, explosive materials, a straw with white powdery residue and a variety of prescription pills, including Adderall.

Deputies read him his rights several times, but he said he didnt understand them.

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William advised he did not drive his vehicle to the scene and that we should, in essence, figure out who did, a deputy said in his report.

Head, 36, was arrested on charges of violating the domestic violence injunction, possession of explosives, possession of a bulletproof vest while committing other offenses, concealed carry of a firearm without a license and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Leon County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

According to court records, concerned citizens filed sworn statements about Heads recent disturbing behavior, including delusional thoughts, incoherent statements and stalking behavior. He also allegedly made threatening comments directed at law enforcement.

Investigators learned that Head, who has a home in Monticello, was staying at the Casa Bella Inn & Suites on Apalachee Parkway, where hed paid to stay for the entire month. Deputies say they found suspected methamphetamine and more pills in his hotel room  but even more disturbing items at his house on East Bluebird Road in Jefferson County.

Inside his residence, deputies allegedly found 10 to 15 bags of binary explosives, so-named because they consist of two ingredients that arent dangerous until combined together, and two containers of mixed binary explosives.

Based on the deterioration of Heads mental health, the statements made to deputies that he has something set for them, the mixed binary explosives found with 25 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and body armor, your affiant believes Head is planning or has planned to use these items in an incident that would cause harm to the citizens of Leon County, the arrest report says.

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Leon County Judge Jason Jones ordered Head held without bond during his first appearance. Assistant State Attorney Doug Hall filed a motion for pretrial detention, writing that Head poses a threat of harm and that no conditions of release would reasonably protect the community.

Hall told the Democrat that he filed the motion because of concerns investigators and others had about the possibility of mass violence. He added it was unclear whether Head may have been targeting a specific person or place.

Theres an individual with a lot of weapons, lots of ammunition, binary explosives, a bulletproof vest, controlled substances and the description of prior concerns of violence, Hall said. You add that up together and it just does raise concerns for safety.

Head was issued his pharmacist license in 2011 and has no disciplinary history on file, according to Florida Department of Health records. TMH was listed as his address of record.

A TMH spokeswoman said Head hasn't worked at the hospital since Dec. 1, but declined to provide more information, including his start date, citing hospital practice not to comment on employment matters.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com and follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee hospital pharmacist found with explosives, guns
A deputy U.S. marshal was convicted on Friday in a twisted "rape fantasy" plot that sent his ex-fiancee to jail for 88 days after she was falsely accused of sending threatening emails and sending men to rape his new wife, said the Department of Justice.

Ian R. Diaz, 44, of Brea, California, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of a federal matter, according to the Department of Justice in a news release.

Diaz and his new wife plotted to frame his former fiancee Michelle Hadley for stalking his new wife because he was "so hell-bent on punishing her after their relationship dissolved," according to a 2018 civil lawsuit. Hadley and Diaz were involved in a dispute over an Anaheim condo near Disneyland they purchased in June 2015. Hadley provided the down payment of f $14,401.20 and the two obtained a mortgage in the amount of $459,745.00, said court records.

After the couple broke up, Hadley moved out while Diaz stayed behind in the condo. In January 2016, Ian met and married Angela Connell through a dating site, court records state. Hadley and Diaz continued to fight over the condo finances because she was still responsible for part of the mortgage payments although she wasn't living there, according to court records.

The bizarre plot to frame Hadley started in May 2016, when Angela Diaz reported to Anaheim police that men had been arriving at her home to engage in a "rape fantasy" encounter, prosecutors said. She told police that Hadley had sent threatening emails. The couple filed restraining orders against Hadley in a "tortious campaign to ruin his ex-girlfriend's life," according to court records.

Anaheim police arrested Hadley and she spent 88 days in jail before all charges against her were dropped. Hadley was fully exonerated on Jan. 9, 2017, by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. On the same day, the office charged Angela Diaz with orchestrating the plot. She was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty. Ian and Angela Diaz have since divorced.

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Diaz, who was indicted in 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

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A 29-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department was charged with eight counts of felony computer crimes on Friday, one day after he retired.

Ex-Capt. Wendell Nicholson, who formerly oversaw the traffic division, was charged Friday. He was not arrested but is under a court order to appear in court in April.

Nicholson declined to comment Friday evening.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said all counts involve sharing confidential intel information with two or three people outside of law enforcement who are not suspected to be involved in any of the cases.

No criminal cases were ever compromised, Bennett said.

The criminal complaint claims Nicholson knowingly damaged, modified, altered, destroyed, copied, disclosed or took possession of a computer, computer system, computer network or other property, including Drug Enforcement Agency daily briefing reports, WPD gang bulletins, internal department morning reports, WPD shooting reviews, WPD emails, body camera videos, a WPD information bulletin and a WPD professional standards bureau document.

Former interim Chief Lem Moore pulled Nicholson off his assignment as the departments liaison to the Citizens Review Board last April after the board issued a scathing report on the departments handling of a text messaging scandal last year.

Nicholson is one of ten defendants being sued by Deputy Chief Jose Salcido and former deputy chiefs Chet Pinkston and Wanda Givens, who were on former Chief Gordon Ramsays executive team.

The deputy chiefs claimed in a late-February court filing that Nicholson is believed to have released confidential information about criminal cases in violation of the law and city policy.

They claimed Nicholson was interviewed for the chief of police position, despite concerns he had shared confidential information. They said he was part of a conspiracy to discredit and remove the deputy chiefs from their positions.

That lawsuit claims City Manager Robert Layton and Assistant City Manager Donte Martin wanted department leaders to give Nicholson a break so he could attend FBI training school.

Layton brought in retired Deputy Chief Troy Livingston to cover up the criminal conduct of Captain Wendell Nicholson, the lawsuit says. Despite overwhelming evidence of misconduct by Nicholson, Livingston declared the allegations to be unfounded.

The city of Wichita and Wichita Police Department leaders have declined to comment on Nicholsons charges and the allegations in the deputy chiefs lawsuit.
FORT LEE  Farewell, Lee. Hello, Gregg-Adams.

Fort Lee announced on Facebook Thursday that it will take on its new name of Fort Gregg-Adams late next month in a post ceremony. The by-invitation ceremony will be livestreamed on the posts Facebook page.

We are proud to honor these American heroes who inspire hope and whose courage, dignity, patriotism and service exemplify the very best of the U.S. military and instill tremendous pride in sustainment professionals everywhere, the post said on its website.

Fort Lee will be renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in a ceremony April 27, the post announced Thursday.

The Prince George County military installation, which began life in World War I and became a full-fledged Army post in 1950, has borne the Lee name since its inception. It honored Robert E. Lee, a Virginia native and former U.S. Army colonel who later became commander of the Confederate forces during the Civil War.

Amidst the nationwide unrest of the early 2020s over racial discrimination particularly in the criminal justice system, Congress attached a clause to the Defense Authorization budget package that mandated military posts named for Confederate war heroes to be changed in order to continue receiving funds. Fort Lee, Fort Pickett and Fort A.P. Hill were the Virginia installations affected by the legislation.

In May 2022, the Pentagons Naming Commission approved renaming Fort Lee after retired Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and the late Charity Adams, a World War II colonel who led the first and only unit of predominantly Black women in the 6888th Central Postal Directory in England.

More:Fort Gregg-Adams: Military panel recommends renaming Fort Lee for trailblazing Black officers

We are deeply honored to have Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams as the new namesakes for our installation, Fort Lee commander Maj. Gen. Mark Simerly said in a statement

Former U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin, D-Virginia, led the effort to rename the post. While he had not considered Adams at the time, McEachin pushed for naming it after Gregg, a family friend and military logistics guru who began his military career at segregated Fort Lee in the mid-20th century and rose to become one of the highest-ranked military officers who also was a minority.

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Sadly, McEachin did not live to see next months ceremony, as he died last November of complications from cancer. Gregg, however, is in his 90s and is expected to attend the ceremony.

Fort A.P. Hill and the other military posts designated for name change are also expected to rebrand on that day. Fort Pickett, which is under the command of the Virginia Army National Guard, was changing its name to Fort Barfoot in a ceremony Friday at the installation near Blackstone.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia military post officially changes name next month
When Farukh Aslam bought the Sinclair Building in downtown Fort Worth about 10 years ago, he knew right away he wanted to transform the historic office building into a hotel. The Pakistani American immigrant fell in love with Fort Worth in the 1990s and spent two decades investing in commercial real estate.

Aslam wanted to explore sustainable options for lighting in the hotel. He decided to use low-voltage, direct-current power commonly used in cars, household appliances and electronics.

The Sinclair Hotel was born, and the results were impressive. The building saw 30% savings in power consumption. The technology also allows it to store energy within the building, replacing a traditional diesel backup generator.

The startup behind the Sinclair Hotel is still looking for funding to expand its research and development and create more energy efficient hotels like this.

The experience prompted Aslam to establish his own startup company, Sinclair Digital, in 2020. He and his team knew they needed funding, so they began looking for investors in Fort Worth. Over six to nine months, Sinclair Digital presented its work to 10 to 15 potential funders.

Nobody bit, Aslam said.

Thats been the number one challenge, Aslam said. Venture capital firms focusing on tech do not look at Fort Worth, or I guess dont take a startup in Fort Worth very seriously. Thats been a challenge.

Venture capital is a type of early-stage financing that investors give startups and small businesses that they think have opportunity for long-term growth. It can be very risky, and deals tend to revolve around emerging companies looking for significant funds for the first time.

The challenge Aslam faced is not isolated to his startup. Entrepreneurship and innovation experts across Fort Worth and the larger North Texas region agree: Fort Worth faces a lack of venture capital funds, and its a missed opportunity for the citys growth.

Cameron Cushman, assistant VP of innovation at UNT HSC, said Fort Worth is significantly behind in early-stage investing.

Cameron Cushman is the assistant vice president of innovation ecosystems at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. He said Fort Worth is significantly lagging behind in early-stage investing in comparison to other cities.

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Despite being the 13th largest city in the U.S., Fort Worth ranks 40th nationwide in early-stage funding raised, according to data from UNT HSCs innovation ecosystem dashboard Sparkyard. The estimate for early-stage capital raised in Fort Worth from 2015 to 2020 was $88.4 million, which is closer to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Bakersfield, California, than to Texas other major cities.

In Fort Worth, were very willing to invest in oil and gas and real estate, but much past that we dont invest in really anything early stage, Cushman said.

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With the Sinclair Hotel being 30% more energy efficient than the hotel across the street, Cushman said, the startup is sitting on major technology to get buildings more energy efficient. He is surprised by the struggle to get funding.

Cushman isnt the only expert who seems to think the problem could lie in Fort Worths culture that has historically prioritized investing in energy and real estate over technology and innovation.

Bryan Chambers, who teaches venture capital at the University of Texas at Dallas, said the generations of wealth that previously built Fort Worth havent been focused on technology.

Its harder for them to transfer and affiliate, said Chambers, who is also the president of Capital Factor, an Austin-based co-working space for entrepreneurs. Their networks are not technology. Their deal flow is not technology. Their comfort zone is not technology. Thats just an inherent reality.

Chambers said for this to change, there has to be a prioritized embrace of early-stage investing where key stakeholders in the community are willing to reinvest their capital back into technology.

The very wealthy people that are in town need to be intentional about supporting and growing and investing, because if they are not doing it, other people will not, Chambers said. Its highly unlikely that other people will come from out of town to do it. Now, if they do it, other people will come from out of town to do it. Fundamentally, you need reinvestment in a community.

Trey Bowles leads Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth, a program that invests capital and mentorship in early-stage entrepreneurs.

Trey Bowles, the managing director of Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth, acknowledged that early-stage funding is exceptionally risky, which doesnt sound attractive to somebody who has never done it before and doesnt understand the concept. Techstars, a global investment business that provides capital and mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs, launched its Fort Worth program in 2022 for opportunities in physical health.

Theres an unbelievable amount of philanthropic spirit in Fort Worth, Bowles said. People see the value of giving, donating and investing in things that help people in Fort Worth and help people in need. We have to connect in the investors mind why investing in early-stage is not only a philanthropic thing to do, its helping empower, equip and develop entrepreneurship and economic freedom, and generational transformation of wealth.

Bowles compared investing in early-stage startups to the quote, Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and youll feed him for a lifetime.

Thats what were asking people to do here, Bowles said. Theres nothing more empowering to those in need than to provide for them the opportunity to do for themselves.

Bowles said Fort Worth has more than enough money to invest, but its a matter of finding investors willing to take on the risk and sacrifice their time during the lengthy process.

Les Kreis, managing partner of Fort Worth-based venture capital investment firm Bios Partners, said he thinks the key to solving the lack of funds involves a city business development agenda that puts technology at the top.

If Fort Worth wants to get serious about venture capital, it will have to get serious about technology, Kreis said.

The solution is to build for the future, and since I feel so strongly that technology is the future, I think Fort Worth has to start preparing its workforce and business development today, Kreis said.

Hayden Blackburn leads Fort Worth-based startup accelerator and business incubator, Tech FW.

Hayden Blackburn is managing director of Tech FW, a nonprofit startup accelerator and business incubator that has helped emerging technology companies grow since 1998. Blackburn said he thinks the solution is creating economic development incentives for local investors to contribute funding to local, high-growth companies earlier in their development.

Blackburn proposed the possibility of a seed fund exclusively for startups operating and headquartered in Fort Worth.

There will always be those that are driven to solve problems and to take the risk of creating something new, Blackburn said. Inspiration follows sparks of innovation, and it makes for an environment where everyone, from the individual citizen to corporate entities, believe they can be a part of creating positive change.

Bowles, of Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth, said he thinks the real opportunity is at the city level, and the cost to invest in early-stage startups is insignificant compared to the greater economic impact of their potential success.

If we can continue to focus on pushing our business leaders to find ways to make it a priority, to make it a strategy or pillar of the city and of people of Fort Worth, we can have an ecosystem that is welcoming, that is conducive, that is supportive of entrepreneurs, Bowles said. That is going to be the most important component.

Fort Worth ranks 40th nationwide in early-stage funding raised despite being the 13th largest city in the U.S.

We need to have startups

Why should a venture capital shortage matter to Fort Worths business community?

Entrepreneurship experts point toward the wide range of opportunities it can provide, including economic freedom for an individual or family, job creation, attracting young talent, building a more reputable city and recruiting new companies to the region.

Job growth doesnt happen at the small-business level or at the corporate level, Bowles said. It happens at the hybrid startup level, so we need to have startups.

Entrepreneurship also creates innovation and disruption, which appeals to talent at early-stage companies and larger corporations, Bowles said.

Experts pointed toward examples in cities like Dallas, Houston, Miami, Atlanta and Nashville. These cities havent traditionally symbolized technology and innovation as significantly as Silicon Valley or Austin, but they have nonetheless seen large corporations drawn to their cities in correlation with a stronger surrounding entrepreneurship pipeline.

Bowles recalled his role co-chairing the Dallas Mayors Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He was frequently called in to talk with corporations looking to move to the Metroplex because they wanted to understand the innovation landscape.

That was important, Bowles said. It was a factor in them determining whether or not they were going to move to the area.

Beyond the benefit of having a strong entrepreneurship pipeline, the technology that innovators and disruptors are working on every day in Fort Worth also plays a role in building a better community.

In the case of Sinclair Digital, Aslam was unable to find early-stage funding in Fort Worth, so he was forced to look elsewhere. Luckily for his business, Sinclair Digital was able to find its first round of funding near Atlanta, but not all Fort Worth-based startups are as fortunate.

The Sinclair Hotel

Since then, Sinclair Digital has developed a hotel in New Haven, Connecticut, that generates all its power on site and has plans for hotels in San Francisco and Porto, Portugal. Sinclair Digital is still looking for further funding to expand its research and development and make buildings more sustainable and carbon-neutral.

A larger supply of local funding within Fort Worth could mean more energy efficient hotels and commercial buildings making a positive environmental impact on downtown and reducing the central districts carbon footprint.

We have our eyes on a couple of historic buildings in downtown, Aslam said. Sinclair to us was version 1.0. We are already up to version 3.0 now.

Aslam said he thinks local funding is always better, because it helps people invest in their own community.

I think it builds a better relationship to have your investors in your own town. It allows investors to have a sense of ownership. They feel proud of what theyre creating, especially the kind of work we do.
Waukegan police commander George Valko gives directions to a large group of searchers at Foss Park along Lake Michigan on March 24, 2023, in North Chicago. They are searching for missing Naval Station Great Lakes sailor Seamus Gray who went missing on March 18, 2023. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

A third day of searching along the Lake Michigan shoreline, which included the assistance of 100 Navy volunteers, failed to turn up any sign of a sailor who was last seen almost a week ago in Waukegan.

After several hours of searching, police and volunteers suspended the search Friday for Seamus Gray, a 21-year-old fireman recruit from Jupiter, Florida who is stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes.

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Gray was last seen in the early morning hours of March 18 on Waukegan security videos, one of which appeared to show him on the ground surrounded by others, with someone on top of him.

Waukegan police Commander Scott Chastain briefed the media at midday Friday, and described an intensive search along Lake Michigan, from Waukegan to the naval base in North Chicago.

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Were pretty confident the ground was searched very thoroughly, Chastain said.

He said volunteers from the base had joined the effort, which also included drones, officers and police dogs.

Weve searched every area we could at this time, he said.

Chastain said searchers would confer with investigators, but were not planning additional searches unless new leads emerge.

Authorities released this photo of Seamus Gray, 21, a sailor stationed at the Naval Station Great Lakes, who has been reported missing and was last seen in Waukegan. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Waukegan police / HANDOUT)

Gray was last seen on security video at around 2 a.m. on March 18 near the docks in Waukegan. He had been at a bar called Ibiza on Genesee Street in downtown Waukegan until 1:30 a.m. or so.

One security video that has been posted online showed images of Gray outside the bar, and then a few minutes later he appeared to be on the ground farther down the sidewalk with several men around him. One appeared to be laying on top of Gray.

Chastain told reporters that he did not have information about that interaction, or whether investigators had identified or questioned any people from that video.

A short time after that interaction, Gray was seen on video alone at the intersection of Washington Street and Sheridan Road, about two blocks from the bar, and then at the docks, which are several hundred yards east, according to police.

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First responders and community members search for missing Naval Station Great Lakes sailor Seamus Gray near Foss Park along Lake Michigan on March 24, 2023, in North Chicago. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Firefighters spent Thursday in the waters around that area, searching with sonar units.

Authorities said Gray was due back at the base by 2 a.m. Saturday. Naval authorities alerted Waukegan police Tuesday afternoon after learning that Gray had been at the bar.

According to the Navy, Gray joined the service in July as a fireman recruit and completed basic training at Great Lakes.

Grays mother traveled from Florida this week to be near the search efforts. When asked, Chastain described her as, distraught, like any mother would be.
A 33-year-old Fort Worth man was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2018 murder of his girlfriend, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office announced Thursday.

Daricko Deashon Brewer plead guilty Thursday to the murder of Katie McHowell, 24, who was a mother of two.

Just before midnight on Nov. 1, 2018, police responded to a major accident call in the 5100 block of Brentwood Stair Road in east Fort Worth.

Patrol officers were told a 2003 Chevrolet Impala was in a drainage ditch and it had flipped over. When they arrived, police found the body of a woman in the drivers seat. The woman was later identified as Katie McHowell, who had died from a gunshot wound to her head.

During the course of the investigation, Brewer refused to talk to Fort Worth detectives and fled to California after McHowells death, police said. But police managed to obtain an arrest warrant for Brewer in June and he was taken into custody on July 13.

Fort Worth police did not release any information on a motive for the killing, but a family member told detectives Brewer physically abused McHowell, according to the warrant.

Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Stuart Neal and Jeff Stewart prosecuted this case. Investigator Mia Moore and Victim Assistance Coordinator Cecilia Jones also worked on the case.
The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has placed four self-serve COVID-19 PCR testing kiosks in the tri-county area.

Three have been installed in St. Joseph County and one in Coldwater's Goodwill Store Plaza on Willowbrook Drive.

This free testing kiosk sits next to the Goodwill store in Coldwater off N. Willowbrook Road.

Other units began service at Covered Bridge Healthcare last month at their locations in Centreville, Sturgis and Three Rivers. These units are the first units of their kind in Michigan.

Health officer Rebecca Burns said the agency partnered area health partners and the CDC because testing in agency offices is limited. The more sensitive PCR tests are available only one day a week in Coldwater. The self-contained kiosks offer access to COVID-19 testing 24/7.

Burns said the kiosks are available at times when pharmacies, doctors' offices and the agency do not provide testing, such as nights and weekends.

It provided people with more opportunities on their schedule, Burns said.

Burns said the PCR tests are more accurate than the home test swabs. The results take longer to receive.

After completing a brief registration form, the kiosks dispense a test kit that includes a nasal swab and instructions on collecting the specimen. Once the specimen is collected, it is safely packaged back into the kit and placed in the kiosk. The specimens are picked up daily and sent to an accredited lab for PCR testing.

The units require the use of a smartphone.

Pre-registration for testing at the kiosks is not required, but is available at register2.testandgo.com.

There is no out-of-pocket cost for the tests provided through a kiosk, but for those individuals with insurance, their insurance will be billed for the test.

In most cases, individuals will receive notification of their test results by email or text within 48 hours of specimen collection.

Rebecca Burns

The company LTS, which is the state contractor for in-person COVID-19 testing, owns the kiosks and the health agency supplies the electricity.

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With COVID-19 transitioning to the endemic phase, the LTS might not continue contracting with the CDC.

Burns said the company canceled plans to install more units at their offices in Coldwater and Hillsdale.

"It probably was a little bit more useful (before) than it is now," Burns said.

Currently, the kiosk is authorized to test only for COVID-19, but the company indicated it might be authorized for other medical tests in the future.

Subscribe: Keep up with public health issues. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter.

LTS has told us that these have a future for doing that type of thing. Now that the CDC money is going away, I don't know what the future holds for that, Burns said after talks with the company this week.

We were determined to provide access to testing without having to wait for an office to be open or a specific day of the week, she said.

Now we don't know if they will continue to be there or if they're going to come pick them up and take them away. We have no idea at this point what the future holds, she said.

Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has had a known exposure to COVID-19 is encouraged to utilize these kiosks or find a pharmacy or other location for testing.

 Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Four free COVID-19 test kiosks installed in health agency district
Lawmakers from both political parties joined forces on Thursday during a committee hearing where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified on ways his company plans to address recent security concerns raised about the social media app.

Criticisms surrounding TikTok were notably bipartisan as House Energy and Commerce Committee members from both parties expressed various concerns about the app and its Chinese-based owner, including national security threats, data privacy, the spread of misinformation and the safety for minors.

Mr. Chew, welcome to the most bipartisan committee in Congress, said Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).

We may not always agree on how to get there, but we care about our national security, he said. We care about our economy, and we sure as heck care about our children.

Chew, who was grilled and often interrupted by lawmakers, attempted to convince them that the app was overall safe and that the company was taking proactive steps to address the concerns raised.

Our approach has never been to dismiss or trivialize any of these concerns, Chew said in his opening statement. We have addressed them with real action.

Lawmakers skeptical of Project Texas

To address some of the concerns, TikTok designed a plan, known as Project Texas, in which American data would be routed and stored with Oracle, a Texas-based software company. Chew said his company has invested $1.5 billion to build the project.

This was done to address some of the national security concerns surrounding the Chinese governments ability to request and access American data. U.S. lawmakers have said that since TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese-based company, it could be subject to Chinese laws on handing over U.S. data.

Despite the implementation of Project Texas, lawmakers said theyre not buying it.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told Chew he doubts the project will fix the issues raised.

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I still believe that the Beijing communist government will still control and have the ability to influence what you do, and so this idea of Project Texas is simply not acceptable, he said.

Chew claims China has not requested access to U.S. data

While being questioned by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Chew said he was not aware of a situation where the Chinese government had requested his company to obtain U.S. data.

I have seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data, Chew said. They have never asked us, and we have not provided it.

Eshoo found his answer problematic and called it preposterous, adding that she doesnt believe that there is really a private sector in China.

Her comments echoed concerns raised by FBI Director Christopher Wray, who said earlier this month that the line between the private and the public sector in China is nonexistent.

Committee worried about protecting childrens safety

Committee members also pressed Chew on childrens safety on the platform based on concerns that young users are being exposed to dangerous challenges and posts emphasizing self-harm and suicide.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) said TikToks algorithms have prioritized recommending harmful content directly to children. He noted that Italy has launched an investigation following the spread of the French scar challenge in which users intentionally make marks on their faces.

He also mentioned an example of a 16-year-old boy from New York who died last year by suicide through stepping in front of a train. The boys For You page on the app revealed a wide range of content promoting suicide.

It is unacceptable, sir, that even after knowing all these dangers, you still claim that TikTok is something grand to behold, Bilirakis told Chew.

Chew said hearing about the boys case is devastating. He said the company takes these types of concerns seriously and provides resources to any user who searches for content on topics like suicide.

Carter also referred to several challenges that some users on TikTok do in which they could potentially harm themselves. One of the challenges is called the blackout challenge, in which a user holds their breath as long as they can until they lose consciousness.

Why is it that TikTok consistently fails to identify and moderate these kinds of harmful videos? Carter asked.

Chew said preventing the spread of young users doing dangerous challenges is a difficulty facing the entire social media industry.

Chew shies away from picking sides

The CEO refrained from giving his position on whether ByteDance should completely divest from TikTok and sell its stake to an American company, emphasizing that ownership isnt the issue.

It is not about ownership, he said. It is a lot about making sure we have Project Texas, making sure that were protecting and firewalling U.S. user data from unauthorized foreign access, giving third parties [permission] to come in to have a look at this and making sure that everybody is comfortable.

Chew was also asked whether he agreed with recent statements made by the Chinese government opposing the idea of selling TikTok.

Chew said he couldnt speak on behalf of the Chinese government and directed him to the work theyre doing in regards to Project Texas.

Chinese officials on Thursday said that they would resolutely oppose the forced sale of the social media platform following requests from the Biden administration to sell its stake to a U.S. based company.

If the news is true, China will resolutely oppose it, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting said in a statement on Thursday.

Shu added that a potential forced sale of TikTok would seriously damage investors from multiple countries including China and hurt the countrys confidence to invest in the United States.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jesse Watters says Donald Trump never indicted his rival and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (GETTY )

Fox News host Jesse Watters tried to downplay Donald Trumps calls to imprison his political opponents as he faces a potential indictment from the Manhattan District Attorneys office through a grand jury.

Watters, whom Mr Trump has on occasion broadcast at his rallies, said the former president never indicted former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, despite frequent chants to lock her up.

Lock her up was a joke, he said. Trump never indicted crooked. But theyre going after him hard. They never cared what Trump was arrested for. They just wanted him behind bars.

Watters said Democrats such as District Attorney Alvin Bragg were not prosecuting Mr Trump for a crime but because of who he is.

Democrats arrest the Republican frontrunner and then bait you into reacting and then arrest you if you do, he said. They disenfranchise you and then call you a domestic extremist.

Throughout much of the 2016 campaign, Mr Trump and his Republican acolytes called for Ms Clinton to be imprisoned for using a private email server to conduct official business as US Secretary of State.

I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, he said to Ms Clinton in the second general election debate in 2016. Because there has never been so many lies, so much deception. There has never been anything like it.

Ms Clinton for her part brushed off the remarks.

Its just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country, she said.

Because you would be in jail, he said.

Similarly, in 2020, he called on his then-attorney general William Barr to indict multiple people.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THE BIGGEST OF ALL POLITICAL SCANDALS (IN HISTORY)!!! BIDEN, OBAMA AND CROOKED HILLARY LED THIS TREASONOUS PLOT!!! BIDEN SHOULDNT BE ALLOWED TO RUN - GOT CAUGHT!!! he had tweeted.
PARIS (Reuters) -France will ban the use of Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok on the work phones of civil servants, Civil Service Minister Stanislas Guerini said on his Twitter account.

"In order to guarantee the cybersecurity of our administrations and civil servants, the government has decided to ban recreational applications such as TikTok on the professional phones of civil servants," he said in a statement.

He added that for several weeks, several of France's European and international partners have adopted measures to restrict or ban the downloading and installation of the TikTok application by their administrations.

Guerini said recreational applications do not have sufficient levels of cybersecurity and data protection in order to be deployed on administrations' equipment, adding that the ban is effective immediately and that government services will monitor compliance.

He said that, exceptionally, exemptions can be given for professional reasons, such as institutional communication of an administration.

A string of Western governments and institutions have banned TikTok in recent weeks, including the UK parliament, the Dutch and Belgian administrations and the New Zealand parliament.

Late last month, the European Union's two biggest policy-making institutions - the Commission and the Council - banned TikTok from staff phones for cybersecurity reasons.

Concerns have mounted globally about the potential for the Chinese government to access users' location and contact data through ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company.

(Reporting by GV De ClercqEditing by David Goodman, William Maclean)
The world has reacted to violent demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms with warnings, questions about the future of France's political system -- and gloating from foes.

- United Kingdom -

Influential UK business daily the Financial Times said Macron's actions increase the risk that the French "will follow Americans, Britons and Italians and vote populist: President Marine Le Pen in 2027.

"France can't go on like this. It's time to end the Fifth Republic, with its all-powerful presidency... and inaugurate a less autocratic Sixth Republic," it added.

After the announcement that King Charles III's state visit to France had been postponed, the British media dusted off its references to the French Revolution of 1789.

The Daily Telegraph website prominently featured a picture of graffiti on a Parisian wall reading "Charles III, do you know the guillotine?"

- Spain -

The images of the violence made the front pages of the Spanish newspapers, with the daily El Pais running the headline "Rage takes over the streets of France".

The left-wing government in Madrid, which has passed its own pension reform, said France had seemingly overstretched in imposing its plans, while the leader of the main opposition party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, seemed to offer support for Macron's reform.

- Italy -

All of the major Italian newspapers carried extensive coverage of the protests in Paris and the provinces.

"France burns", read the headline of Roman daily Il Messaggero, alongside a photo of the entrance to Bordeaux's city hall in flames.

"France in the street: day of anger", wrote the Corriere della Sera, warning that "difficult days are coming".

La Stampa said that Macron's television interview had only served to "explode social anger".

Among the rare political reactions, former prime minister Matteo Renzi tweeted a message of support for Macron, writing: "There is a leader in Europe who does not look at polls but to the choices for the future, for his country and for the new generations.

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"I am proud of our friendship, bravo Mr. President!"

On the streets of Rome, the response was mixed.

"The French are much tougher than the Italians. They are much more attentive to their rights. I hope they will succeed in preventing the reform", 77-year-old retiree Margherita Gaetani told AFP.

But Enrico Amendola, an 86-year-old retiree, insisted that the reforms were "fundamental for the financial balance of the State".

- Russia -

Capitalising on Macron's woes, Russian state media broadcast footage of clashes between police and demonstrators, brutal arrests and streets full of smoke from tear gas and burning objects to present the image of a country on the edge.

Other media went further, with rolling news channel Russia 24 spreading false claims that the electricity had been cut off to the police stations in Paris.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also waded in, drawing parallels with France's support for Ukraine.

"When is Macron going to start delivering weapons to French citizens to support democracy and the sovereignty of the country?" she said Friday in a message on her Telegram account, which was accompanied by a video showing overturned cars on a French street.

- Hungary -

Hungarian public television spoke on Thursday of a "revolutionary atmosphere" in France.

One of the main pro-government sites reported that "according to information on the ground, the situation continues to deteriorate".

- United States -

While not advising against travel to France, the US embassy urged its nationals to "avoid demonstrations" and leave the area if they find themselves close to violence.

It warned particularly against getting between demonstrators and the police.

- Morocco -

In the midst of a frosty period in relations between Rabat and Paris, newspapers and websites close to the government revelled in Macron's discomfort, highlighting unflattering reports from French and international media.

-Iran-

Leaders in Iran, where several hundred people have been killed and thousands arrested over protests in recent months, echoed the language often used against them by the West in responding to "the crackdown on protests".

"We call on the French government to respect human rights and refrain from using force against the people of their country who peacefully pursue their demands," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted in French.

bur-jwp/phz/fb
By Benoit Van Overstraeten and Elizabeth Pineau

PARIS (Reuters) -Britain's King Charles on Friday cancelled a state visit to France next week after social unrest over President Emmanuel Macron's new pension law erupted into some of the worst street violence seen in years across the country.

The postponement - at Macron's request - will be a major embarrassment to the French leader, who had hoped the monarch's visit would mark a symbolic step in the two countries' efforts to turn a page after years of poor relations over Britain's exit from the European Union.

Charles had been due to travel to France on Sunday for three days - in what would have been his first state visit since he succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth as British monarch in September - before moving on to Germany.

That itinerary had been seen as a win for Macron, who has sought to position himself as Europe's de facto leader. Charles' trip would have included a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles.

"You can see the situation linked to the protests," Macron told a news conference during a visit to Brussels.

He added that "it would not have been serious" to host the state visit after unions announced a nationwide day of strikes and protests for Tuesday.

"Common sense and friendship pushed us to propose to postpone (the visit)."

A British government spokesperson said the decision was "taken with the consent of all parties" after Macron asked the British government to postpone the visit.

The last-minute scrapping of the visit will pile further pressure on Macron to find a way out of a crisis over his plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 64, which has seen some of France's worst unrest since the "Yellow Vest" rebellion of 2018-2019.

The Elysee said it hoped the visit would be rescheduled in the coming months.

"There were calls on social networks to disrupt the king's visit, to take action, so we didn't want to take any risks," a French source close to the matter said.

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A Buckingham Palace source said Charles' visit to Germany will go ahead as planned.

The king and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, looked forward to rescheduling the visit to France "as soon as dates can be found", a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

STREET BATTLES

Black-clad anarchists fought street battles with police for several hours in the French capital on Thursday, ransacking a McDonald's restaurant, smashing up bus shelters and setting alight mounds of garbage that have piled up during strikes.

In Bordeaux, at the heart of one of France's best-known wine growing areas and where Charles had also been expected to visit, protesters set alight the entrance to the city hall.

"He's right not to come right now," said architecture student Mathias Sainte Agathe. "There are protests and strikes everywhere."

Weeks of protests over Macron's pension plans escalated and became more violent after his government pushed the legislation through parliament last week without a vote. His government lacks a clear majority.

The president has insisted the pensions changes are essential to keep the system funded.

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who earlier this week said now was "not the right time" for Charles to come, welcomed the cancellation of the visit.

The left-wing opposition and some protesters often mockingly portray Macron - who began his second term in office last year - as a would-be monarch.

"The meeting of the kings in Versailles is broken up by popular censure," Melenchon tweeted.

But not all were happy that the visit was postponed.

"Why is he not coming? I don't understand," jewellery worker Razmig Kertechin said in Paris.

"We're not bad people. It's just the way it is, it's the freedom (to protest). I don't know, that's weird."

(Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Michael HoldenWriting by Richard Lough, Ingrid MelanderEditing by Christina Fincher, Jon Boyle and Frances Kerry)
Ukrainian servicemen fire with a D-30 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on March 21, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty Images

Front-line Ukrainian soldiers say it feels like Russia has been firing "unlimited" artillery shells.

Troops tell the BBC they worry about running out of ammunition by the end of year.

New weapons from the US and NATO allies, like the Abrams tank, could change the tide of the war.

Front-line Ukrainian soldiers in the Donbas region say it seems like Russia has "unlimited" artillery shells to throw at them  while they remain worried about running out by the end of the year.

A new BBC video follows troops in the area, operating older Soviet-era tanks and firing at Russian enemies just 500 meters away. As the soldiers run to safety in trenches, they tell BBC it feels like Russia has been firing nonstop in the area.

"They have an unlimited amount of shells. They have entire warehouses full of them," one soldier, identified as Dima, said. "They could shoot all day, and they'll never run out of shells."

"And what about us?" Dima asked. "We will run out of shells this year."

There have been ongoing debates about where Russia's munition stockpile stands a year into the war. Kyiv's top military officials said earlier this month that Moscow could run out of "military tools" such as armaments and weapons by the spring. They've been issuing older ammunition, pulling antique tanks off the shelves, and forming an alliance with China in hopes of receiving lethal aid from President Xi Jinping.

But for Dima and other soldiers on the front lines, the bombardment still feels constant. There is potential to turn the tide, though.

"We are forming various assault brigades," he said. "And we have been given tanks like Abrams, so I think with their help, we will win."

The US and its allies announced earlier this year that they'd send modern Western tanks to Ukraine. Just this week, the White House and Pentagon said they'd fast-track the delivery of older M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in eight to 10 months.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Map of Gabon

Gabon, located on the west coast of Africa, has one of the region's more stable countries.

Since independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had just three presidents. President Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades until his death in 2009.

During his rule, Gabon maintained a close relationship with France under a system known as "Francafrique", receiving both political and military support in exchange for business favours.

But relations have cooled since his son Ali won a contested election in 2009 and the French authorities launched a long-running corruption investigation into the family's assets.

Gabon is a major oil producer but a third of its population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.

Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring

GABONESE REPUBLIC: FACTS

Capital: Libreville

Area: 267,667 sq km

Population: 2.3 million

Language: French

Life expectancy: 64 years (men) 69 years (women)

LEADER

President: Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba

Gabon's President Ali Bongo

Ali Bongo was sworn in for a second seven-year term in September 2016, after Gabon's constitutional court upheld his narrow victory in a bitterly disputed election.

His main rival Jean Ping described the court's decision as a "miscarriage of justice" amid opposition claims of vote fraud.

Mr Bongo took over from his late father Omar, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.

He pledged to address some of the issues that have fuelled anger among the country's 1.8 million people, like youth unemployment and over-reliance on falling oil revenues

But his presidency has been overshadowed by a long-running French investigation into allegations of embezzlement involving the Bongo family's assets.

He narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a poll marred by violence and accusations of fraud, and reportedly suffered a stroke in October 2018 that led to concerns about his ability to carry out his duties, or to stand again in 2023.

MEDIA

A man reads a newspaper announcing the death of President Omar Bongo Ondimba

The tradition of a free and independent press has yet to take hold, including online, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and journalists commonly self-censor.

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Many media outlets were created when a multiparty system was restored in 1990. The online press is growing, while state TV channels such as Gabon Premiere and Gabon 24 are still very influential despite private competition.

TIMELINE

Omar Bongo was Africa's longest serving head of state when he died, having been in power for 42 years

Some key dates in Gabon's history:

14th Century - Bantu migrants settle in the area.

15th Century - Portuguese explorers and traders arrive in the are.

16th Century - European slave traders arrive and the coast becomes a centre of the transatlantic slave trade.

1839-1841 - France signs treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs. Local Mpongwe ruler signs away sovereignty to the French, who establish a protectorate over the area.

1862-1887 - France expands its control to include the interior of the country.

1910 - Gabon becomes one of four territories making up French Equatorial Africa.

1958 - Gabon votes to become autonomous republic in the French Community.

1960 - Gabon declares independence with Leon M'Ba as president.

1967 - Omar Bongo becomes president after M'Ba dies. He dominates Gabonese politics for over 40 years, serving seven consecutive terms.

1968 - Bongo declares Gabon a one-party state.

1990s - Multi-party political system introduced.

2003 - Constitution amended to repeal term limits, ensuring President Bongo holds the presidency for life.

2009 - Death of Omar Bongo, succeeded by his son Ali.
Map of the Gambia

The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and, unlike many of its west African neighbours, has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence.

President Yahya Jammeh ruled the country with an iron fist after seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1994. His 22-year rule came to an end in 2016, when he was defeated in a shock election result by Adama Barrow. Mr Jammeh only left office after mediation by neighbouring countries and the threat of armed intervention.

Stability has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable, and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts.

Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange, as is the money sent home by Gambians living abroad. Most visitors are drawn to the resorts that occupy a stretch of the Atlantic coast.

Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring

REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA: FACTS

Capital: Banjul

Area: 11,300 sq km

Population: 2.4 million

Language: English

Life expectancy: 61 years (men) 64 years (women)

LEADER

President: Adama Barrow

President Adama Barrow

Adama Barrow defeated long-serving President Yahya Jammeh in a shock election victory in December 2016. A property developer, Barrow ended Yahya Jammeh's 22-year authoritarian rule by winning more than 45% of the vote.

Jammeh initially accepted the result, but later rejected the vote. Barrow temporarily fled to Senegal and was inaugurated at the Gambian embassy in Senegal in January 2017 before Jammeh was forced to leave the Gambia.

A member of the United Democratic Party, during his election campaign Mr Barrow pledged to revive the country's economy.

He was re-elected in the December 2021 presidential elections.

MEDIA

The country's media scene has changed since the end of President Jammeh's rule

Gambia's media scene has seen considerable progress in terms of press freedom since the end of Yahya Jammeh's authoritarian rule.

The crime of defamation was declared unconstitutional in 2018, attacks on reporters have dropped and new media outlets have been launched, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

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The state-owned broadcaster has lost its monopoly and many radio and television networks have been set up.

TIMELINE

Sir Dauda Jawara was The Gambia's leader from independence in 1965 until he was ousted in 1994

Some key dates in The Gambia's history:

9th/10th Centuries - First written record by Arab traders; region is dominated by the trans-Saharan trade route.

13th Century - Part of the Mali Empire, which at its peak is the largest empire in West Africa, widely influencing the culture of the region.

15th-16th Century - Part of the Songhai Empire, which subsequently dominates the western Sahel and east-west trade routes across Africa following the fall of the Mali Empire.

1455 - Portuguese explorers reach the mouth of the Gambia river, some Portuguese settle along the river.

1591 - Moroccan army invades and defeats the Songhai army at the Battle of Tondibi, leading to the collapse of the Songhai Empire, but Morocco is unable to exploit its battlefield victory.

1612 - French attempt to settle the area is defeated due to disease among the colonists.

17th Century - Various expeditions and attempts at settlement of exploitation of resources by the English, Dutch and Courlanders.

1661 - Following the restoration of Charles II, English traders re-establish a settlement at the mouth of the Gambia river.

1766 - The British crown takes control of the settlements and forts which become part of the Senegambia colony.

1783 - The region is handed back to British commercial control.

1807 - Britain abolishes slavery and subsequently makes efforts to suppress slave traders operating in the river Gambia.

1816-50s - Following the end of the Napoleonic wars, the British recolonise the area.

1850s - The French colony expands and virtually engulfs The Gambia. London and Paris hold various talks about ceding the Gambia for another part of West Africa but this arouses opposition in the UK.

1889 - Present boundaries of The Gambia set by agreement between Britain and France.

1895 - Becomes a British protectorate.

1965 - The Gambia becomes independent, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

1970 - Country becomes a republic within the Commonwealth.

1982 - The Gambia and Senegal form a loose confederation called Senegambia following a 1981 coup attempt in which several hundred are killed. The coup is defeated with Senegalese military help. The confederation collapses in 1989.

1994 - Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh takes over in a coup. He is elected president two years later in a vote that three major political parties were barred from taking part in. He goes on to win three more elections and defeat several coup attempts.

2013 - Jammeh announces Gambia's withdrawal from the Commonwealth, describing it as a "neo-colonial institution". Critics say the move was prompted by wide-spread international condemnation over the government's human rights violations.

2015 - Jammeh declares the country an Islamic republic to break from the "colonial legacy".

2016 - Jammeh's 22-year-rule ends in a shock election defeat by Adama Barrow. He goes into exile in Equatorial Guinea following military pressure from neighbouring states to accept the result.
With six candidates running for three seats on the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education, a trio formed a slate running on shared values while the other three are bound together through endorsements toward each other.

Incumbents Lucy Leguizamo and Rick Riddle along with first-time board candidates Carolina Fabian, Khershuana Hanna, Christine Lensing and Randy Sobecki are competing for the three available positions in the April 4 general election with different approaches to schooling.

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As Sobecki, Lensing and Hanna got to know each other as they campaigned and spoke regularly at school board meetings, they decided to run together as a slate, something their campaign signs around the city indicate.

We believe each one of us brings something different to the table and, as we got to know each other, we realized we have a meeting of the minds on our views in the campaign, Sobecki said.

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Though Riddle, Leguizamo and Fabian are not running as a slate, they have long-standing relationships with common values. Fabian said she is endorsing Leguizamo and Riddle, while Riddle endorses the two of them.

He believes education is a way to elevate people in society. Hes always looking for ways to serve, Fabian said of Riddle. Shes always working on projects for the board, she added about Leguizamo. She started a STEM fair. She bought uniforms for kids when they had to wear them.

While Sobecki, Riddle, Lensing, Hanna and Fabian are actively getting their message to voters, Leguizamo is not campaigning. She said in an email she could not answer questions due to health-related issues. She has made no public endorsements.

Board of Education President Brandon Ewing read a letter from Leguizamo at the Feb. 14 board meeting where she apologized for her absence, and asked for privacy for myself and my family during this time so we can focus on our health and well-being.

Lucy Leguizamo. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Waukegan District / HANDOUT)

Those of you who know me, know I take my responsibility to my board membership and my duties to the community seriously, Ewing said, reading Leguizamos letter. Unfortunately, Ive experienced a medical emergency that I must attend to.

Running together, Lensing, Hanna and Sobecki said they developed a STARS platform, standing for student achievement, teachers and staff, accountability, resources as well as safety, culture and climate.

In order for Waukegans schools to progress and students to achieve a level of success after high school, we need to have a different perspective, Lensing said. We need a school board which will collaborate and actively listen to the community. We feel voices are not being heard.

Christine Lensing. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Christine Lensing / HANDOUT)

Lensing, 37, grew up in Waukegan and taught two years in the Philippines before returning to her hometown to embark on a career in private education and pension administration. She said she is running in part because she believes the schools can be better.

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I want to problem-solve and actively listen to the community, Lensing said. I want to bring back a sense of community to the Waukegan public school system. With student success comes happier staff and a better environment for the teachers.

Fabian, 40, spent more than 18 years working for District 60, rising from paraprofessional to teacher to administrator as the director of family and community engagement. She said she took a similar position with the Illinois State Board of Education in October, giving her a view at multiple levels.

Carolina Fabian. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Carolina Fabian / HANDOUT)

Waukegan is my passion, Fabian said of her reason for running. I want to serve the Waukegan Public Schools, the families and the children. My highest priority is to see the children succeed.

Hanna, 43, and a medical professional for 25 years, said she is in the fertility field, helping to build families. Her mother, Anita Hanna, is the longest serving board member, first elected in 1995. She promises independence if she wins.

Khershuana Hanna. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Khershuana Hanna / HANDOUT)

I am proud to follow in her footsteps if I am fortunate enough to become a board member, but I am my own person, Khershuana Hanna said. We agree on some topics and disagree on others.

Seeking his third term on the board, Riddle, 76 and a Waukegan native, said he brings varied experience to his position from teaching both in London in his earlier days and at the College of Lake County helping people receive their GED. He spent 33 years as a corrections officer with the Lake County sheriffs office. He wants to continue helping the district grow.

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Rick Riddle. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Rick Riddle / HANDOUT)

There is a lot of unfinished business, Riddle said. We need to keep moving forward. We have great teachers, and we need to listen to our teachers. Weve accomplished a lot. We held the line on taxes.

Sobecki, 43, said he has two children in the district  a high school junior and a fifth grader  and he wants a better education for not only his youngsters, but all Waukegan youth. He does not believe they are getting it now.

Randy Sobecki. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Randy Sobecki / HANDOUT)

We need accountability from the top down, Sobecki said. I want my children to have the education I had, he added, referring to his time going through the citys public schools. Student test scores are low, and we have (many) students who cant read at grade level.

While Leguizamo is not actively campaigning for her second term, retiring board member Charlotte Callahan Wozniak said her colleague has brought innovation to the district. She got students involved in community activities, and created a program sending valentines to veterans, among other efforts.

She is a supportive and innovative Latina representative on the board, Wozniak said.

Early voting is underway at the Lake County courthouse and the Jane Addams Center in Bowen Park daily through April 3.
After months of continuous rain and snow, many of Californias once bone-dry reservoirs are filled to the brim  and Gov. Gavin Newsom is lifting drought measures Friday as he signals a near end to the three-year plight.

California depleted its reservoirs during the drought and high temperatures only exacerbated the situation. After 12 atmospheric river storms in three months, more than half of Californias major reservoirs are at least 70% filled, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

It would be nice to have a governor say that the drought is over, Newsom said in a briefing beside flooded Yolo County wetlands. But unfortunately, complication requires nuance.

A major part of this equation: The states reservoirs and groundwater.

Reservoirs are designed to capture and store water in the wetter months to use during the dry season, said co-director Dr. Jay Lund with the UC Davis Center for Watershed Services. Theyre also crucial in flood prevention.

It means our bank account is back up to where it needs to be, he said.

Water management officials aim to keep reservoir water levels high ahead of dry summer months but with more warm rain looming over a near-record snowpack, the only answer is to release water to an already drenched state.

Right now were more concerned with floods than drought, Lund said. Six months ago, we were much more concerned with drought than floods.

But wed be fools to not be concerned with both at all times.

Is Californias drought really over?

Newsom stopped short of declaring the drought over, because ultimately: Its complicated.

The year started with a bang  historic rainfall and hazardous flooding. In recent weeks, extreme rain and snow helped ease the state out of its driest stretch on record.

The droughts long-term effects, conversely, will linger for the foreseeable future.

The reservoirs are full, soil moisture has recovered, Southern California lifted its water restrictions to nearly 7 million residents and ecosystems are on track to be well watered.

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Lund said in many ways, the drought is over.

This drought is over, I should say.

But dozens of wet days wont cure the driest parts of the state.

The Western U.S. and northern Mexico endured the worst drought in centuries, according to a 2022 study published by Nature Climate Change. Scientists found the direst period in 1,200 years was between 2000 and 2020.

Just because the drought is over does not mean we have no more water shortages, Lund said.

During drier months, the state pumps more groundwater, found in aquifers below the earths surface.

If water is pumped faster than systems are recharged with rain, water levels drop and it can take decades to come up with a long-term fix. That means less agricultural water use as the state works to repay its groundwater overdraft from the last couple of droughts.

This drought is going to have a longer tail to it, Lund said Thursday.

Interstate resource manager Jeanine Jones with the California Department of Water Resources said whether or not the drought is over is dependent on where you are and the status of your agencys water supply.

Thats why we are still getting reports of people with dry residential wells even though its been very wet in much of the state, she said.

The drought may be over for some but Californias water problems persist.

We dont want to overlook the importance of groundwater, she said.

These basins provide 60% of the states water supply during dry years, according to the state, and theyre far from full recovery.

More water concerns as flooding persists

California used to conserve every drop of water it received  urging residents to take shorter showers, replace lawns with artificial turf and wash cars on scheduled water days.

Now, California has too much in some places.

We will always have water problems, either too much or too little, Lund said.

Communities across California are bracing for more flooding as another storm system is expected Monday and a near-record snowpack will melt as warmer weather arrives.

In central California, flood waters have washed out crops. In the community of Pajaro, a levee breach drenched strawberry fields.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Republican governors in Idaho, Iowa and Georgia each signed bills targeting youth access to transgender care, like hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery.

The governors argue that children are too young to be making medical decisions related to gender-affirming care.

We need to just pause; we need to understand what these emerging therapies actually may potentially do to our kids, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said this week.

Advocates have pushed back, pointing to the extensive level of counseling that is recommended as best medical practice for trans youth seeking treatment for gender dysphoria.

They also argue that gender-affirming care for trans youth results in better mental health outcomes and surgeries often dont occur until they reach adulthood.

Some medical organizations have spoken out against these bans, with the American Medical Association urging U.S. governors to stop interfering in the medical care of transgender minors and saying these decisions should be left to patients and their physicians.

Advocates have also argued that these bans lack nuance. The ban in Georgia has brought renewed scrutiny on the states continued allowance of intersex surgeries on children.

Intersex refers to people who are born with traits that do not fit completely within the medical definitions of male and female. As The 19th News reported, more than two-thirds of the bills banning gender-affirming care include exemptions for intersex surgery.

These surgeries allow surgeons to assign binary genders to individuals. The United Nations has condemned these operations as doing more harm than good, especially for children too young to consent.

Legal pushback has already begun, with four Florida families this week filing a federal lawsuit against the states medical boards rules that prevent minors from acquiring gender-affirming care. The families are arguing the effective ban is unconstitutional and discriminatory on the basis of sex and transgender status.
The story that I bring to you today involves the Grand Army of the Republic, Housum Post No. 309 of Chambersburg and a true leader of our community, George A. Minnich.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, it was time for Reconstruction and healing to begin in our country. At this time, veterans formed various local and state organizations, but none as influential as the Grand Army of the Republic.

This new organization was founded by Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson on April 6, 1866, at Decatur, Illinois, on the principles of fraternity, charity and loyalty.

A picture of George A. Minnich in the late 1800s.

From the very beginning, hundreds of posts were organized throughout the United States, predominately in the North. The veterans' experiences during the war turned this organization into an early advocate for the rights and benefits of those who faithfully served their country.

Some of the monumental tasks that were pursued including advocating for the voting rights of Black veterans, promoting patriotism, the need to make Memorial Day a National Holiday, and to intensify lobbying in Congress to establish veterans pensions.

Membership in 1890 had swelled to nearly a half million people, and many commemorative and monument ceremonies were held to honor all who had defended the Union.

The G.A.R. was organized as departments at the state level. Locally, it was known as a post, with members wearing military style uniforms. The members also had intense political influence in the late 1800s, as their support helped elect Ulysses S. Grant , Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley as president.

The G.A.R. held national encampments each year from 1866 until the last one in 1949 at Indianapolis. The last living member of the G.A.R. was Albert Woolson from Duluth, Minn., who died in 1956 at the age of 106.

When was Chambersburg's Grand Army of the Republic post formed?

Chambersburg veterans organized their G.A.R. post Feb. 21, 1883. There were 34 charter members, with George A. Minnich being one of them. The meetings were held Tuesdays, and the name post was known as the G.A.R. Col. Peter B. Housum Post No. 309.

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The members of the Housum Post learned that the membership of the Baptist church on West Queen Street near Water Street, along the Western Maryland Railroad, planned to relocate. The move was planned because of safety issues for pedestrians and the excessive noise during services from trains constantly passing.

On April 2, 1894, the former church property was deeded to the Housum Post 309. In front of the post, there was an ornate wooden arch and a Civil War field cannon for display.

Who were Housum and Minnich?

If you're wondering where the namesake of post came from, Peter B. Housum was born Sept. 21, 1824, in Berks County, Pa. He and his family moved to Franklin County not long after.

Housum partnered with Theodore B. Wood in Chambersburg in 1857 forming Wood & Housum. The young Housum was a skilled millwright, designer and builder of machinery.

During the Civil War, Housum served as a captain in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, and in 1862, he joined the 77th Pennsylvania Regiment as a lieutenant colonel. Housum had seen action in Kentucky and Tennessee, and it was during the Battle of Stone River on the morning of Dec. 31, 1862, that he was wounded. He died the evening of Jan. 1, 1863.

But what about Minnich? He was born Aug. 21, 1844, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and at the age of 6, his family moved to Chambersburg. There, the young man attended public school.

In October 1862, Minnich was heading to Harrisburg to enlist in the Union Army, but he was taken prisoner by Confederate forces under Gen. Albert Jenkins just north of Chambersburg. Minnich was directed to go to a nearby farm house to get horses, but was able to escape and returned home.

As I read his original discharge papers, it states that he enlisted as a private in the 21st Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry 182nd Volunteers, Company D, under command of Capt. James Patton on Jan. 26, 1864, at age 19. He served three years during the war, but was discharged on July 8, 1865, at Lynchburg, Va.

Minnich was present at the Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, to witness the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Before his military service, Minnich had learned carpentry with Samuel Seibert of Chambersburg, and after the Civil War, he returned home to begin his own carpentry business by purchasing the former Washabaugh Brewery on West King Street, next to the Conococheague Creek.

On Dec. 1, 1868, he married Anna McIntire. They had nine children, the first born in 1871 and the last dying in 1984. When Minnich opened his business, he also operated a planing mill with the latest machinery to accommodate the ever-growing demands of his contracting business.

More history:A Chambersburg grocer in the early 1900s was living the dream

Over the years, George A. Minnich & Son General Contractors did a lot of work involving some of the larger businesses in Chambersburg, not to mention many homes built and remodeled by his firm. During the mid-1890s, he also served two terms as a Chambersburg Town Council member representing the Fourth Ward.

George was a faithful member of Housum Post 309 and held various positions over the years. He was able to attend many of the meetings held by the state and national G.A.R. The Chambersburg post was always kept in good repair, but things were about to change. The Housum Post building was parallel to the Western Maryland Railroad, which was built through Chambersburg in 1881.

With this in mind, the members of the Housum Post on Dec. 23, 1909, sent a letter the railroad company about water drainage into their property. In the letter, the Housum Post trustees called attention to the unfavorable conditions related to drainage off Water Street, along the post building to the creek.

"You will remember that we called your attention to this problem last Summer but nothing was done by you to correct the issue and now we make this last appeal," the letter reads. "Your company has no right to turn the water into our basement as every time there is a heavy rain, the water can't properly drain as the pipes are too small, and often times the pipes become clogged and the water can't flow through it at all, and the result is the pipe dams up and flows into our basement.

"In order to protect ourselves we have gone to considerable expense to try and keep the water out of our building," the letter continues. "The adjustment we ask for will cost the railroad very little money. The trustees of the Housum Post recommend that on the West side of the track you should take the drain pipes away that run to the creek and cement the gutter the entire length of the hall straight to the creek on the East side of the railroad track."

The letter goes on to say that the trustees of the veterans' organization "can't conceive that any company could do an injustice to the property of the Old Soldiers, the defenders of our country."

The letter was signed by trustees Samuel Monath, D.B. Nace, and George A. Minnich.

Minnich, being an active member of the Housum Post, had been selected by the members as chairman of the Memorial Day program in May 1911. He and his committee were also responsible for decorating the graves of veterans in the Chambersburg area.

In the spring of 1923, Minnich was diagnosed with a heart ailment. He was attending a G.A.R. meeting April 24, 1923, at a residence on North Second Street in Chambersburg. The chaplain had just concluded the prayer when George A. Minnich took his last breath and died in his chair.

Aside from the G.A.R., Minnich was a member of Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, Hope Hose Co. No. 4 and a number of other fraternal organizations. He was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery on North Franklin Street in Chambersburg. In life he was appreciated, and in death he is remembered.

M.L. Mike Marotte III is an author and historian who writes about the history of Franklin County. Read more of him at www.vintagefranklincountypa.com.

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Chambersburg's George A. Minnich a veteran, public servant
George Santos (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Embattled New York Representative George Santos has reached an agreement to settle a years-old criminal case against him in Brazil, according to a report from CNN.

Mr Santos reportedly reached the deal with Brazilian prosecutors, under which he will formally confess to check fraud and pay restitution.

The freshman GOP lawmaker is accused of stealing a checkbook from an elderly person who his mother was caring for in 2010. He later admitted to forging checks from that checkbook to purchase items, including clothing and shoes.

A petition from his Brazilian attorney asks to arrange a non-prosecution agreement, citing Mr Santos employment as a US lawmaker and calling him re-socialised.

Last year, he told the New York Post he had never been charged with a crime in Brazil.

I am not a criminal here  not here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world. Absolutely not. That didnt happen.

That statement was not true.

Brazilian authorities re-opened the fraud case against him in January after they discovered that Mr Santos  whod left the country after being charged  had surfaced in the US.
WASHINGTON  The new COVID-19 vaccines that gained final approval last week mark a new stage in the fight against the disease, top Biden administration health officials said during a Tuesday press briefing.

Originally issued in late 2020, COVID vaccines have now been updated to target the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which have been dominant this year.

For a large majority of Americans, we are moving to a point where a single annual COVID shot should provide a high degree of protection against serious illness all year, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House pandemic response team coordinator, said. Jha called the new vaccines a major milestone, even as he cautioned that variant curveballs could scuttle hopes for bolstered immunity.

Dr. Ashish Jha at the daily press briefing at the White House on July 22. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

For the first time since December of 2020, these vaccines  our vaccines  have caught up with the virus, Jha said, noting that the United States is the first nation to develop an Omicron-specific vaccine. He added that the Biden administration is coordinating with states and municipalities to distribute the vaccine at tens of thousands of locations in the coming days.

As was the case with earlier COVID-19 vaccination efforts, inoculations will be free. All people age 12 and older are eligible.

We likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the presidents top pandemic adviser. In the coming months, pharmacies are expected to offer the COVID and flu vaccines in tandem, in hopes of avoiding a twindemic caused by two respiratory viruses circulating at the same time.

I really believe this is why God gave us two arms, Jha quipped, one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot.

Targeting the new vaccines to the strains circulating today is an implicit bet that the virus will continue to evolve along the Omicron path, not in some new and unpredictable direction.

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Get your updated COVID-19 as soon as you are eligible, Fauci said, reminding people that the vaccines have been demonstrated to be safe and effective.

Vocational nurse Cleopatra Oniya administers a COVID-19 booster shot at Ted Watkins Park in Los Angeles on May 5. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

If the virus experiences only what Fauci called a minor drift from BA.5, the bivalent vaccine should be able to recognize the difference. But Fauci, who has been battling infectious disease for four decades, warned that the pathogen originally known as SARS-CoV-2 could evolve in ways that render current vaccines ineffective.

If that happens, all bets are off  and we change, Fauci said.

Jha said the goal was to develop vaccines that dont require constant updates. We need to get to the point where we have variant-proof vaccines, we have mucosal vaccines. We need to play the long game against this virus, he said.

For months, the Biden administration has been asking Congress for additional funding to develop new vaccines and ensure pandemic readiness. Those pleas have not met with success on Capitol Hill.
An 11-year-old girl was killed early Wednesday in a wrong-way crash involving a hit-and-run driver on the 60 Freeway near the City of Industry, according to authorities.

Angelique Zarate died in the crash, the Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner's office said. She was a passenger in a Toyota Camry, whose driver suffered major injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred about 4 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the freeway near Crossroads Parkway, the CHP posted on Facebook. The driver of a black Hyundai Sonata traveling the wrong way was described as a white or Latino male in his mid-30s, with a fair complexion and medium-length hair parted to the side, according to the CHP.

The driver, who was wearing a light-colored shirt and pants, fled the scene barefoot, the CHP said.

A Hyundai whose license plate was released by the CHP was registered to a woman in South Los Angeles. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anyone with information on the driver or crash can call the CHP Santa Fe Springs office at (562) 868-0503 or contact its Facebook page.

On a GoFundMe page organized to cover Angelique's funeral expenses, family members wrote that she "had the biggest heart and always showed so much love to everyone around her."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A student who was under a "certain agreement to be patted down each day" at school allegedly shot and wounded two school administrators at East High School in Denver, authorities said.

The suspect, Austin Lyle, 17, fled the school on Wednesday morning after the shooting, Denver police said. His body was later discovered, officials said.

Police searching for the suspect had located his car in Park County, which is located southwest of Denver," officials said Wednesday evening. A male body was found near the vehicle, Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw later said during a press conference. The scene was being processed and the coroner was en route to the scene, McGraw said.

The Park County Coroner's Office later confirmed that the body was Lyle's.

The handgun used in the shooting has not been recovered as of Wednesday. Police had warned the public to not approach Lyle, calling him armed and dangerous. They said that Lyle, who had been wanted for attempted homicide, may have been be driving a 2005 red Volvo XC90 with Colorado license plate BSCW10.

UPDATE: Your #Denver Police Department continues working in conjunction with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to locate the suspect from todays shooting at Denver East High School. Due to the public safety concern that he poses, the Department is identifying pic.twitter.com/RmwO940Qug  Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 22, 2023

The faculty members were both hospitalized following the shooting. They have been identified by the school district as Eric Sinclair, who remains in serious condition, and Jerald Mason, who was upgraded from serious to good condition. Mason has since been released from the hospital, Denver Health said.

The suspected shooter was required to be searched at the beginning of each school day, officials said. He allegedly shot the school administrators as they patted him down Wednesday morning in the school's office area, which officials said is away from other students and staff.

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PHOTO: Parents wait for students to be walked out after as shooting at Denver East High School, March 22, 2023, in Denver. (David Zalubowski/AP)

MORE: School shooting survivors share their stories 10 years after Sandy Hook

The suspect's daily searches were part of a "safety plan" that was a result of "previous behavior," officials said, though they did not elaborate on the previous behavior.

East High School was placed on lockdown in the wake of the shooting. Denver Public Schools later said it received clearance to start releasing students.

PHOTO: A student, right, hugs a man after a school shooting at East High School, March 22, 2023, in Denver. (David Zalubowski/AP)

Last month, East High School students went to a city council meeting to call for action on school safety and gun violence after a 16-year-old student was fatally shot near the school, according to ABC Denver affiliate KMGH.

The superintendent said Wednesday that the school will be closed for the rest of this week, and that the building will now have two armed officers present through the end of the school year.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock in a statement said removing school resource officers was a "mistake" and said they should be quickly returned.

"We all have to step up as a community and be a part of the solution," he said.

Hancock also called on Congress to pass "common sense" gun legislation.

"Parents are angry and frustrated, and they have a right to be," he said. "Easy access to guns must be addressed in our country -- Denver cannot do this alone."

MORE: 'No one took leadership': A detailed look at the failings in Uvalde school shooting

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday that the administration's "hearts go out to the families of the two school administrators and in Denver today and to the entire school community."

Jean-Pierre noted that President Joe Biden unveiled another executive action aimed at tackling gun violence last week but that "as the president said in the State of the Union, Congress needs to do something."

This shooting comes two years to the day after a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, that claimed 10 lives.

ABC News' Nic Uff and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.

Student who was patted down each day allegedly shoots 2 staffers at Denver high school originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A U.S. official told ABC News that there were two new attacks late Friday on two U.S. facilities in Deir ez-Zor Province in eastern Syria after another one earlier in the day and a drone attack on Thursday that prompted retaliatory U.S. airstrikes that targeted Iranian-backed militias believed responsible.

Both attacks late Friday happened about the same time, the official said. One involved three drones targeting one facility and the other involved five rockets fired at a separate facility, according to the official, who said one American service member was wounded and was in stable condition.

The official said that two of the three drones that targeted one U.S. facility were shot down, but one drone made it through. There were no injuries in that attack.

The official said that five rockets were fired at another U.S. facility where the American service member was wounded. That individual is in stable condition, the official said, and that a damage assessment of the facility was still underway.

PHOTO: In this Dec. 8, 2021, file photo, American soldiers drive a Bradley fighting vehicle during a joint exercise with Syrian Democratic Forces at the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria. (Baderkhan Ahmad/AP, FILE)

MORE: 4 US service members wounded in helicopter raid that killed IS leader in Syria

The two bases attacked on Friday night were Green Village and Mission Support Site Conoco, both located in the eastern Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor.

It was the second attack on the base at Green Village on Friday. Earlier in the day, rocket fire was aimed at the base but did not strike any buildings or cause any casualties.

A Pentagon spokesman on Friday said the first attack on Green Village did not cause any damage and there were no injuries.

"On the morning of March 24th, at approximately 8:05 am local time, 10 rockets targeted coalition forces at the Green Village in northeast Syria," said a statement from U.S. Central Command.

"The attack resulted in no injuries to US or coalition personnel and no damage to equipment or facilities," it added. One of the rockets missed the facility by almost five kilometers, striking a civilian house, causing significant damage and causing minor injuries to two women and two children.

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Fridays three attacks, of which there have been about 80 since the start of 2021, come a day after the U.S. military conducted retaliatory airstrikes in eastern Syria on Thursday against the Iranian-backed groups after a one-way explosive drone attack targeting a U.S. base in the region killed a U.S. contractor and injured six others, including five U.S. service members, the Pentagon said.

"Earlier today, a U.S. contractor was killed and five U.S. service members and one additional U.S. contractor were wounded after a one-way unmanned aerial vehicle struck a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while the other four Americans were medically evacuated to coalition medical facilities in Iraq, officials said. A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that both contractors were American.

U.S. intelligence assessed that the one-way attack drone that struck the base on Thursday was Iranian in origin, according to the statement. Iran has used such drones in the past in attacks on Saudi Arabia and in Yemen, but this drone technology has become more noticeable after it provided hundreds of Shahed drones to Russia that have been used in attacks against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure targets.

Earlier on Thursday, Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, who as the commander of U.S. Central Command is the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, told Congress that there have been 78 such attacks since the beginning of 2021.

"At the direction of President [Joe] Biden, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)," Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in the statement, issued late Thursday.

"The airstrikes were conducted in response today's attack, as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC," he added.

A U.S. official told ABC News that the airstrikes were carried out by two U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft as part of a response approved by President Joe Biden earlier on Thursday. Another U.S. official indicated that the two targets hit in the airstrikes were affiliated with Iranian-backed groups and housed drones and vehicles.

Biden was enroute to Ottawa, Canada, when he approved the airstrikes presented by the Pentagon and the U.S. intelligence community as response options to the drone attack, White House spokesman John Kirby said during an appearance on CNN.

"He made the decision very, very shortly in that discussion to authorize the strikes against these particular targets," Kirby said. "We're going to work to protect our people and our facilities as best we can. It's a dangerous environment."

"We are not seeking a conflict with Iran," said Kirby. "We've been very clear with the Iranians and with our partners about how serious the mission that we're doing in Syria is and how we're going to protect that mission."

"Iran should not be involved in supporting these attacks on our facilities or on our people, we've made that very very clear," said Kirby.

At a news conference with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Friday afternoon, before the reports of even more attacks, Biden said, "make no mistake, the United States does not -- does not, emphasize -- seek conflict with Iran but be prepared for us to act forcefully protect our people. That's exactly what happened last night."

The U.S. has about 900 troops in eastern Syria providing assistance to Syrian Kurdish forces in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State.

In recent months, some of the bases have been the target of drone attacks that had, in most instances, not led to injuries or physical damage. Iranian-backed groups in Syria are believed to have been responsible for these attacks.

"These precision strikes are intended to protect and defend U.S. personnel. The United States took proportionate and deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize casualties," the Pentagon statement read.

"As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," Austin said. "No group will strike our troops with impunity."

"Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and with those who were wounded in the attack earlier today," the defense secretary added.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command leader Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla said, in part, that the U.S. "will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks."

"Our troops remain in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, which benefits the security and stability of not only Syria, but the entire region," he added.

Below is a statement from the CENTCOM Commander on the precision strikes in response to American casualties in Syria. pic.twitter.com/MIJeQh1VtD  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 24, 2023

During Thursday's House Armed Services Committee hearing focused on the Middle East and Africa, Kurilla was asked by Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon about the frequency of Iranian proxy attacks on U.S. forces.

There have been 78 such attacks since the beginning of 2021, according to Kurilla.

"It is periodic. We see periods where they will do more," he said

"So what Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies -- that's under UAVs or rockets -- to be able to attack our forces in Iraq or Syria," Kurilla added.

ABC News analyst Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and retired CIA officer, said the U.S. "must strike back at the Iranian forces in Syria responsible for these attacks to such an extent that they know the consequences of killing and injuring Americans will not be worth the costs."

Additional attacks on American bases in Syria Friday after US retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian-backed groups originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Naperville City Councilman Benny White does not pay property taxes on his home in the Kinloch neighborhood because he receives a disabled veterans homestead exemption, a benefit given to military veterans who have service-related disabilities. (Suzanne Baker / Naperville Sun)

Two Naperville City Council members, one of whom is running for mayor, are being criticized for not paying property taxes as a result of a state exemption granted to military veterans because of a medical disability.

Mayoral candidate Benny White and Councilman Ian Holzhauer qualify for the tax break through the states disabled veterans homestead exemption, which went into effect in 2015. The exemption amount is based on the veterans disability percentage.

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The criticism stems from content published by the DuPage Policy Journal, an online website with ties to Republican strategist Dan Profit and media entrepreneur Brian Timpone, which has generated some negative social media and public responses.

Naperville City Councilman Benny White, who is running for Naperville mayor in the April 4 election. (Benny White / HANDOUT)

White said its no coincidence the disparaging remarks over his tax exemption come two weeks before the April 4 consolidated election.

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His tax break status never came up during his tenure on the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board from 2014-2017 or while hes been on the council, a position hes held since 2017, he said.

Its a shame. This is a new low to go after veterans who have given for their country. It paints a negative picture for all our vets, White said.

The law  unanimously approved by the General Assembly and signed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauer in 2015  gives veterans a $2,500 annual property tax exemption if they have a service-related disability of at least 30% and $5,000 for disabilities of more than 50%.

Veterans like White and Holzhauer, who have disabilities of 70% or more, are exempted from all property tax payments.

White, who served in the U.S. Army for more than 21 years before retiring from the military in 2008, has not paid property taxes since at least 2018. Will County only keeps four years of records.

White and his wife purchased their 3,651-square-foot house from builder DJK Custom Homes in 2014 for $806,111. Based on the homes equalized assessed value of of $245,870, the Whites would have paid $17,909 in property taxes for tax year 2021 without the exemption.

Naperville City Councilman Ian Holzhauer (Ian Holzhauer / HANDOUT)

Holzhauer, who spent more than seven years in the Air Force until his forced military retirement in 2014, did not pay property taxes in 2019, 2020 and 2021  the only years for which DuPage County records are available.

Holzhauer and his wife paid $390,000 for their 2,331-square-foot, five-bedroom, 3.5-bath home in 2015. With an EAV of $161,680, they saved $10,466 in tax year 2021.

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Holzhauer said being discharged for medical reasons was not his choice. Its not something I asked for or wanted, but health challenges rarely are, Holzhauer said.

A recent reevaluation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical staff reduced Holzhauers disability percentage, meaning he will pay 90% of his property taxes when the county sends out the bills this year for tax year 2022.

Holzhauer said the VA assigns the rating, and over the years hes received periodic assessments. We dont choose our rating, he said.

Typically hell receive a random notice to show up for a review. I dont have a choice in the matter, Holzhauer said.

White said its not right for people to say they support veterans and then target them for using the benefits available to them.

I just dont get it, said White, who chose not to disclose his disability.

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Holzhauer, who graduated with a law degree from Georgetown University, said he could easily have gone into private practice and earned three times as much, but he wanted to serve his country.

Veterans give up a great deal when they join the military, he said. Among the sacrifices he made during his seven years as a judge advocate general was missing the birth of his first son while he was deployed.

Criticizing people for using a government-approved benefit sends a message to other veterans that they could be attacked when they need support for mental or physical health-related issues, he said.

It prevents vets from seeking help, Holzhauer said.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth came under a similar attack in fall 2021 when she was denounced for not paying property tax under the same exemption that White and Holzhauer have claimed.

Duckworth lost both of her legs and some of the use of her right arm in 2004 when the helicopter she was piloting was struck by a rocket-fired grenade in Iraq.

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Atta Zahedi, of disability advocacy group Access Living, said the Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

While we agree that the tax exemption system should not be abused, it would be wrong to assume that abuse is taking place just because a disability isnt visible. People who qualify for exemptions should have them, Zahedi said.

As for the other mayoral candidates, Scott Wehrli paid $29,817 in tax year 2021 for his 5,769-square-foot home with five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, which he purchased in 2005 for $475,000. Its most recent EAV was $460,620.

Because Tiffany Stephens purchased her new town house last year, she has yet to pay taxes on her 2,242-sqaure-foot home with three bedrooms and three baths.

subaker@tribpub.com
The GOP-led House on Friday passed a bill that would force schools to offer parents far greater transparency about what their children learn, but that Democrats argue could lead to book bans and discrimination against LGBTQ students.

The Parents Bill of Rights passed 213 to 208, with five Republicans voting against it.

Teachers unions and education bureaucrats worked to push progressive politics in classrooms while keeping parents in the dark, Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House education committee, said during Thursdays floor debate. The Bill of Rights aims to end that and shine a light on what is happening in schools.

Related: Federal Parents Bill of Rights: Dueling Proposals in Congress Set to Escalate Partisan Showdown Over Schools, Pandemic Response

But with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeting that it would face a dead end, the legislation is unlikely to get far in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

House Democrats  who renamed it the politics over parents act  say the legislation duplicates existing policies and rights and would micromanage how local schools interact with families.

This legislation has nothing to do with parental involvement, parental engagement, parental empowerment, said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. It has everything to do with jamming the extreme MAGA Republican ideology down the throats of the children and the parents of the United States of America.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries discussed books that some districts have removed from classrooms and libraries. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

For years, educators who work with families have longed for this level of national attention to the role parents play in their childrens education. But some experts called the Republican approach adversarial and heavy-handed. Republicans view parents rights as a cornerstone of their Commitment to America agenda and are expected to carry the issue into next years elections. Even if the House bill dies in the Senate, the debate likely wont.

Family engagement experts, meanwhile, say theyre hoping for a less-partisan discussion about building trust between educators and parents.

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If were creating bills that pit parents against teachers, kids lose, said Vito Borrello, executive director of the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement.

Democrats, he said, have sent the wrong message at times, pointing to former Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffes comment that parents shouldnt tell schools what to teach and the National Education Associations tweet that educators know better than anyone what students need. But the GOP legislation, he said, approaches parents rights from a vigilante perspective.

Among other provisions, the bill would require schools to post curricula online, provide lists of all books and other reading materials in the library and notify parents of the affiliations of any outside speakers at school events.

Prior to the vote, the House approved several amendments, including one that would make schools disclose when they eliminate any gifted and talented programs and another requiring educators to turn over videos or recordings of any violent activity at school. Another stating that parents have a right to timely notice of a cyberattack against a school that could expose student or parent information received overwhelming support from both parties, passing 420 to 5.

But amendments that would have eliminated the Department of Education, sent Title I funds directly to families to use for private schools or homeschooling, and block grant education funding to the states failed.

Dozens of education organizations, including AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the NAACP and The Education Trust, endorsed an alternative bill, led by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, that emphasized inclusion, high-quality schools and a well-rounded education. But the bill failed, 223 to 203, with one Democrat, Sharice Davids of Kansas, voting against.

Representatives of the National Parents Union took a photo with Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon outside the Capitol. (Samuel Radford/Twitter)

Charles Barone, vice president for K-12 policy at Democrats for Education Reform, said the Senate would likely let the bill GOP die and not try to negotiate a compromise. The question is whether passage of the bill gives Republicans momentum going into the election next year.

As a general election strategy, its pretty ill-advised, Barone said. There is a set of voters that buys their line of argument, but that set is pretty narrow. This is such an old playbook.

The Biden administration has already expressed its disapproval. The administration strongly supports actions that empower parents to engage with their childrens teachers and schools, like enabling parents to take time off to attend school meetings, the White House statement said. Legislation should not politicize our childrens education. It should deliver the resources that schools and families actually need.

Gender identity provision

The administrations statement drew attention to a provision that it said would make LGBTQ students feel less welcome. The legislation would require schools to get parental consent if a student wants to officially change their gender markers or pronouns or use facilities inconsistent with the sex they were assigned at birth. During the debate, Foxx clarified that the bill would not require counselors or teachers to out students if they discuss such topics in confidence.

During the education committees mark-up of the bill March 8, several Democrats said not all trans students have supportive parents and that a one-size-fits-all federal mandate could put already-vulnerable students at a greater risk.

But Republican Tim Walberg of Michigan, who pushed for notification, said that informing parents of their childs request would alert educators to potential maltreatment.

When a child goes on a field trip or fails a test  their parents are told and often required to sign some sort of acknowledgement, he said. Why should the small things require notification but something as significant as a childs pronouns or a change in accommodations be withheld from the people who raise them care for them?

Civil rights advocates argue that even if the bill fails in the Senate, the Houses move still harms trans students.

More trans kids are going to wake up reminded that there are leaders in this country who dont want them to be safe, said Liz King, senior director of the Education Equity Program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

The GOPs bill is inspired by laws that have already passed in several states, like Florida, that allow parents to contest books used in school lessons and libraries and prevent discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the early grades. Gov. Ron DeSantis now plans to apply those restrictions to all grades.

Melissa Erickson, executive director of Floridas Alliance for Public Schools, said the laws are exacerbating the flood from teaching and dont reflect the concerns of most parents. She doesnt see the need for a national version.

I thought education was left to the states, she said. Parents have a right to be heard, but there is a difference between being heard and being accommodated.

Related: Survey: More Than Half of LGBTQ Florida Parents Are Thinking About Moving

This weeks events in the nations capital drew 75 representatives from the National Parents Union, who lobbied against the GOP bill and in favor of Bonamicis amendment. They met with U.S. Department of Education officials and they visited every House members office.

But their highlight was getting a shoutout from New York Democratic Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, who cited their latest poll results. The survey showed parents support teaching students about diversity but reject policies that would allow one parent to have curriculum removed for all students.

Were all gripping our seats, said National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues. When we got up to leave, the Democrats stopped on the floor and waved at us. For these parents, it was a powerful moment.
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio Scott J. Applewhite/AP

Jim Jordan said he couldn't comment on Trump's statement that there could be "death" and "destruction" if he's indicted.

Jordan initially said he hadn't read Trump's Truth Social post.

When a reporter showed him the post, Jordan said he couldn't read well without his glasses.

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, one of Donald Trump's most stalwart defenders on Capitol Hill, said Friday that he couldn't comment on Trump's recent social media post stating that there could be "death" and "destruction" if he's indicted in New York.

NBC News' Sahil Kapur reported that he asked Jordan about his thoughts on Trump's warning, but Jordan said he hadn't seen the former president's Truth Social post. Kapur added that when he showed Jordan Trump's post, the Ohio congressman replied that he couldn't read it well without his glasses.

The former president took to his Twitter-esque website early Friday and said that if he's charged by the Manhattan district attorney's office, it would result in "potential death & destruction" and be "catastrophic for our Country."

It was the third time in recent days that Trump alluded to the possibility of political unrest and violence; he previously urged his base to "protest" and "take our nation back" and later mocked calls for his supporters to remain "peaceful."

Jordan, meanwhile, has a long history of going to bat for Trump and is one of three Republican committee chairmen who demanded documents and testimony from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg as Bragg's office appears to be getting closer to bringing criminal charges against Trump.

If Trump is indicted, the case will center on an illegal $130,000 hush-money payment that Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to several felony counts  including tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations  related to the payment following a separate criminal investigation by the Manhattan US attorney's office.

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Cohen said that he made the payment at Trump's direction. Trump has denied knowledge of the payment and denies the affair. He and his lawyers have also accused Bragg of trying to bring a politically motivated prosecution against the former president.

Earlier this week, Jordan and two other House Republicans sent Bragg a letter demanding that he testify about the ongoing investigation into Trump and calling the inquiry "an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority."

Bragg responded in a letter Thursday in which he rejected the GOP lawmakers' demands and described them as "an unprecedent inquiry into a pending local prosecution."

Jordan told NBC's Kapur on Friday that he's currently reviewing Bragg's letter.

Insider has reached out to a spokesperson for Jordan.

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The author and her husband. Courtesy of Sarah Lisle Photography

My husband and I got married after knowing each other for only 30 days.

Shortly afterward, he was deployed, and we didn't see each other for nine months.

I saw firsthand how war could affect mental health.

When it comes to serious relationships, people often go from dating or courtship, to getting to know each other, to falling in love, to an engagement, and then to marriage, all of which usually happens over the course of years.

My story is different: I married a soldier 30 days after meeting him.

I didn't set out to be a military spouse. I knew nothing about the military other than the stories I'd heard from family members who served. Honestly, marriage wasn't even on my mind. I stumbled haphazardly into military life.

We met in a different state to where he was stationed, and for him to come back to me after his training we needed to be married. So we did.

We were in our mid-20s when we got married. We didn't have much money; we both worked but were financially insecure, trying to make ends meet  my new husband served in the Army Reserve. A few months after our marriage, he started active duty, extending his service to full time.

After he enlisted and we relocated, our marriage seemed fast-tracked. With nonstop training and weekly military exercises, our union took an unforeseen turn; deployment was upon us.

On the day of his deployment, duffel bags and weapons cases lined the ground in front of a row of white buses. I sobbed as he walked away from me. I wasn't prepared for the feelings of anxiety and loneliness that ensued. While I was proud of his service, I feared for his life.

The author. Courtesy of So Your Life Photography

We spoke on the phone and sent letters to each other

We connected mostly through phone calls and letters I wrote when he was away. He was stationed in a very dangerous area. The stress of waiting for phone calls took a toll on all the spouses in the unit, not just me. We'd call each other when we hadn't heard from our partner to ask whether another had heard from theirs. The quiet of a missing phone call rang out loud in my mind.

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Back then, deployments were 12 months long, with two weeks of leave within the tour. My husband chose to take leave in his ninth month of deployment; that way, his tour was nearly complete when he returned to war. We met up in his hometown of Chicago. I rented a car and reserved a hotel near his family's home. As Murphy's law would have it, his flight from overseas was delayed, leaving me alone to meet his family for the first time. We had been married for more than a year by then.

When he arrived in Chicago, I was nervous. I hadn't seen him in person in nine months. I had prepared for this day for a long time. I brought food, alcohol, and lingerie. I was ready for the honeymoon I never got.

Our first night in Chicago was hell. Without warning, my husband began to scream as his body curled onto the floor, covered in sweat. I had no idea what was happening. I tried to comfort him, but I didn't know how. I just sat on the floor, holding him until he calmed down. Afterward, we never spoke about what happened.

He came home after 12 months

Finally, the deployment was over, and everyone from the unit returned home safely. My husband began overindulging on alcohol. The constant parties, barbecues, and celebrations masked his growing problem: unaddressed mental wounds from combat. We regularly fought, some fights leading to him being removed from our home. He was eventually diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

The effects of war on relationships are often overlooked. The reality of war and deployment can strain even the strongest relationships. When two people enter a marriage, they usually do so with the expectation that they will be able to be together and build a life together. But in military life, that expectation shifts drastically. Deployment means a partner may be away for weeks, months, or even years. This can influence communication, intimacy, and the relationship's stability.

I wish I had a chance to prepare for the lifestyle change and challenges I would face. Yet I am thankful I decided to marry someone, 15 years ago, willing to make sacrifices for his country.

Marla Bautista is the author of "My Thoughts Abandoned" and a coauthor of "Brave Women, Strong Faith." She is also a freelance writer and TEDx speaker.

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This story discusses suicide and mental health issues. If you're in crisis, help is available: Call the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or chatting online.

If you or someone you know needs trans peer support, you can call Trans Kentucky at 859-448-5428 or visit their website. Nationally, you can call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 or visit their website. LGBTQ+ youth can get support from the Trevor Project by calling 866-488-7386 or visiting their website.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed one of the nations most extreme anti-trans bills.

Beshear, a Democrat running for reelection, announced Friday he vetoed Senate Bill 150  one of his first vetoes this year.

Kentucky Senate Bill 150 "tears away the freedom of parents to make important and difficult medical decisions for their kids," Beshear told reporters Thursday.

"It tears away the freedom of parents to do what those parents believe is best for their kids and instead has big government making those decisions for everyone, even if the parents disagree."

Beshear's formal veto message makes similar arguments, adding SB 150 will turn educators "into investigators that must listen in on student conversations and then knock on doors to confront and question parents and families about how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others."

Background:At 11th hour, Kentucky Republicans resurrect, expand and pass anti-trans bill

Republicans quickly criticized Beshear's veto decision.

It should come as no surprise that Governor Beshear put his partys politics over the people of Kentucky, as he has done his whole political career, said Sen. Max Wise, the bill's sponsor. "Parents should look at this veto as a slap in the face."

Wise, R-Campbellsville, is the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft, who said Beshear's "politically-driven veto of SB150 is insanity."

Friday's veto likely isnt the end for SB 150, though. The Republican-dominated legislature has enough votes to override Beshears veto when it returns for the final days of the 2023 session March 29 and 30.

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Should SB 150 ultimately become law, it is likely to face legal action. Jackie McGranahan, a policy strategist with the ACLU of Kentucky, said this week on Kentucky Tonight that the group is exploring the best path forward and that may mean one lawsuit or it could mean several.

And one man already challenged the bill's constitutionality in Clay County Circuit Court, asking a judge to permanently block SB 150's implementation.

If it becomes law, SB 150:

Bans all gender-affirming medical care for trans youths in Kentucky;

Requires doctors to detransition minors in their care if theyre currently using any of the would-be restricted treatment options;

Prohibits conversations around sexual orientation or gender identity in school for students of all grades;

Requires school districts to forbid trans students from using the bathroom tied to their gender identities;

Allows teachers to refuse to use a students preferred pronouns.

Reaction to Friday's veto was as divided as the discourse around the bill has been. Groups opposing the measure, including the ACLU of Kentucky and the Fairness Campaign, celebrated Beshear's move and urged lawmakers to not override his veto when they return to Frankfort to close out the session.

David Walls, who leads the conservative Family Foundation, called Beshear's veto "deeply troubling, but frankly not surprising." And Sean Southard, the spokesman for Kentucky's Republican Party, said Friday may "very well be remembered as the day Andy Beshear lost his bid for re-election."

Leading up to Friday's veto, Beshear had made it clear he opposed any anti-LGBTQ bills facing lawmakers. When asked if he would veto SB 150 on Thursday, Beshear demurred from answering directly, but said, "I think I've been clear on how I feel about it."

For subscribers:Why did Kentucky spend thousands to send lame-duck lawmakers to Hawaii?

Beshear, along with many against the bill, fears SB 150's passage will cause a jump in teen suicides for an already marginalized group.

According to a 2022 survey from the Trevor Project, which provides crisis support services for LGBTQ youths, about 86% of trans or nonbinary youths said political debate around trans issues negatively impacted their mental health.

In the same survey, more than half of trans and nonbinary youths who responded said they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year  and 24% of them attempted suicide.

In his veto message, Beshear wrote that his "faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky."

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Senate Bill 150: Andy Beshear vetoes anti-trans legislation
Idaho could begin executing death row inmates by firing squad as early as this summer after Gov. Brad Little joined a wave of Republican support to use the method when lethal injection drugs are unavailable.

Little signed House Bill 186 on Friday, tasking the Idaho Department of Correction with creating policies to implement the new law, which goes into effect in July. The department also plans to spend an estimated $750,000 to overhaul a cell block at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution outside Kuna, where death row inmates are housed, to move forward with firing squad executions.

While I am signing this bill, it is important to point out that fulfilling justice can and must be done by minimizing stress on corrections personnel, Little wrote in a transmittal letter after signing the bill. For the people on death row, a jury convicted them of their crimes, and they were lawfully sentenced to death. It is the responsibility of the state of Idaho to follow the law and ensure that lawful criminal sentences are carried out.

An IDOC spokesperson did not respond to the Idaho Statesmans request for comment Friday evening.

The new law stands to make Idaho the fifth U.S. state to adopt a firing squad as an alternative method of execution. Tennessee also is in the midst of considering a similar bill to add the execution method this legislative session.

South Carolina was the most recent state to add a firing squad in 2021. That law, however, remains in legal limbo after the states supreme court kicked it back to a lower court to review whether prison officials have worked hard enough to find lethal injection drugs. The lower court ruled last fall that the states alternative execution methods of a firing squad or electric chair were unconstitutional.

Utah was last to execute a prisoner, convicted double-murderer Ronnie Gardner, by firing squad in 2010. Idahos neighbor has performed the method three times and is the only U.S. state to do so since 1976, when the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment after an eight-year national hiatus.

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Gardners older brother, Randy Gardner, testified in person against the bill before an Idaho Senate panel earlier this month. He urged lawmakers to reject the bill, declaring it cruel and unusual punishment, including the collateral damage such an execution method has on anyone connected to it.

I mean, it just ripped my brothers body apart, Randy Gardner said. I think you guys are going backwards by bringing the firing squad. Its just not a good thing to be doing as civilized members of society. I would beg you folks not to pass this through.

Little wrote Friday that he hasnt given up on obtaining chemicals needed for executions by lethal injection. He noted another law passed last year, which shielded execution drug suppliers from being publicly identified, helped expand options that would have otherwise been unavailable.

Firing squad more humane, bill sponsor says

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, and Sen. Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg, advanced from the Senate panel in a 5-4 vote. It went on to receive a supermajority of support in the Senate after an overwhelming approval in the Idaho House earlier this month.

Skaug, an attorney and former Ada County deputy prosecutor, told the Statesman in an interview that he didnt have concerns Idahos law would face significant legal challenges and felt the firing squad was more humane than lethal injection.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador told the Statesman in an interview that he helped draft the bill. Skaug said that based on the opinion of the attorney generals office, the law will result in less litigation than lethal injection, the states only allowable execution method.

Lethal injection is the first choice. Thats what Im pushing, and, if we cant do it, then firing squad, Skaug told the Statesman. A firing squad is certain, and it is quick. And most things Ive read, its 10 seconds of extreme pain, and then youre done.

The firing squad bill came about after prison officials acknowledged that the state could not secure the drugs to carry out lethal injections, effectively making death sentences unenforceable.

In a Friday statement, Labrador told the Statesman that the new law means the de facto moratorium on the death penalty is over.

The firing squad will not be the primary or preferred method of execution, it will be a fallback option that will be used only if lethal injection is not available, he said.

The scheduled December execution of longtime Idaho death row inmate Gerald Pizzuto was postponed after prison officials couldnt obtain the drugs. Officials again said in a court filing earlier this month that they still havent been able to find lethal injection drugs.

The Federal Defender Services of Idaho, the legal nonprofit that represents the majority of the states eight death row inmates, including Pizzuto, declined to comment Friday.

Leo Morales, executive director of the ACLU of Idaho, in a statement called the firing squad an archaic and particularly gruesome execution method. Morales criticized the law as a step backward, as public support for the death penalty reached an all-time low.

Instead of trying to reinstate the death penalty with a gruesome execution method, Idaho lawmakers should have kept the firing squad in the dust bin of history, where it belongs, Morales said.
Gov. Tate Reeves has appointed one of his top campaign donors to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, growing a list of Reeves insiders who have received government jobs in his first term in office.

Reeves appointed Kent Nicaud, the president and CEO of Gulfport Memorial Hospital, to serve the remainder of the term of former Gaming Commissioner Al Hopkins, who died in February.

If Nicaud is confirmed, he would join another major Reeves donor on the three-member Gaming Commission. The governor appointed Franc Lee, a payday loan magnate and Reeves largest individual donor, to the commission in 2021.

Gaming commissioners receive a modest salary from taxpayers  $40 per day  and are reimbursed by the state for travel and meals. The commission is tasked with regulating the casino gaming industry, which brings the state hundreds of millions in tax revenue each year. That revenue has become necessary to fund basic public services across Mississippi.

Nicaud has been one of Reeves top donors over the past few years, writing checks totaling more than $100,000, including $41,000 in 2022 alone. Nicauds fundraising influence led Reeves to appoint him to his gubernatorial campaign finance committee in 2019.

Reeves also appointed Nicauds wife Jenny Nicaud as an administrative law judge for the Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission in 2021. Kent and Jenny Nicauds son Jourdan Nicaud has also been a campaign donor to the governor, giving at least $36,000 to Reeves since 2018.

With the appointments, Reeves is growing the list of his personal campaign donors who have later been appointed to taxpayer-funded government positions by the governor.

Another one of Reeves pending appointments is Gerard Gibert, the host of a conservative Supertalk Mississippi radio show and regular campaign donor of Reeves. Gibert, first appointed to the Mississippi Lottery Corporation board by former Gov. Phil Bryant, was reappointed by Reeves this year after writing several checks to Reeves campaign accounts since 2017.

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In 2021, Reeves appointed three campaign donors to the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees  among the states most coveted government appointments  and two campaign donors to the Mississippi Community College Board.

Businessman Johnny McRight gave Reeves $50,000 in the four years before his 2021 IHL appointment. Businessman Luke Montgomery gave Reeves $14,500 in the years before his 2021 MCBB appointment.

Gregg Rader, a Columbus businessman, gave Reeves $85,000 in the months leading up to his 2021 IHL appointment. And Rader has continued the flow of money to Reeves campaign coffers even after his appointment, writing another $30,000 check to the governor in 2022.

William Symmes, a Gulfport lawyer appointed by Reeves to the MCCB in 2021 after a small 2020 donation to the governor, acknowledged in an interview at the time that his personal connections to Reeves led to his appointment, but said it is logical the governor would pick people who know and support him.

Obama said it best: Elections have consequences, Symmes told Mississippi Today in 2021. I think that one of those consequences is youre able to put people around you that you feel comfortable and work well with.

Mississippi Today reached out to Reeves office before this story published and asked why the governor appointed Nicaud to the Gaming Commission. We also asked what Reeves would say to taxpayers who are funding his campaign insider appointments during his first term as governor.

Mississippi Today is not a news organization, it is an unregistered Democrat super PAC and obviously acting like one again today, Reeves deputy chief of staff Cory Custer said in an emailed statement, declining to answer the questions.

Nicaud faces Senate confirmation before he can assume the Gaming Commission post. He would finish out the term of Alben Al Hopkins, who was first appointed to the commission by former Gov. Phil Bryant in 2015 and died in February 2023.

In 2022, Reeves reappointed Hopkins, who faced some political heat in the Senate before ultimately being confirmed for a new term.

Just a few months before Reeves reappointed Hopkins, the Reeves campaign cashed a check: $1,000 from Alben Hopkins LLC.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Persimmon Plc (LON:PSN), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for Persimmon

Persimmon Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Chairman of the Board Roger Devlin bought UK253k worth of shares at a price of UK12.64 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK12.20 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

While Persimmon insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Persimmon 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 Persimmon Boast High Insider Ownership?

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Based on our data, Persimmon insiders have about 0.03% of the stock, worth approximately UK1.1m. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership.

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So What Do The Persimmon Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Persimmon shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Persimmon stock. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. For example, Persimmon has 3 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about.

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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When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Trinity Industries, Inc.'s (NYSE:TRN) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for Trinity Industries

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Trinity Industries

Notably, that recent purchase by E. Savage is the biggest insider purchase of Trinity Industries shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of US$22.87. 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. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. The good news for Trinity Industries share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price.

While Trinity Industries insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart 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).

Insiders At Trinity Industries Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider buying at Trinity Industries. Not only was there no selling that we can see, but they collectively bought US$195k worth of shares. This makes one think the business has some good points.

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. Trinity Industries insiders own about US$17m worth of shares. That equates to 0.9% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

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What Might The Insider Transactions At Trinity Industries Tell Us?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Trinity Industries insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. 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. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Trinity Industries (2 are potentially serious) you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Grindr, the worlds most popular gay dating app, sent a warning to all of its users in Egypt this week following reports that dozens of LGBTQ people had been arrested in the country over the weekend.

We have been alerted that Egyptian police is actively making arrests of gay, bi, and trans people on digital platforms, the warning message, first sent on Monday, says. They are using fake accounts and have also taken over accounts from real community members who have already been arrested and had their phones taken.

A warning message Grindr has been sending users in Egypt since Monday. (via Grindr)

The message, which Grindr said has been pushed to users hourly since Monday, concludes by advising to, Please take extra caution both online and offline, including with accounts that may have seemed legitimate in the past.

Patrick Lenihan, Grindrs head of global communications, told NBC News the company decided to issue the warning after LGBTQ advocacy groups in Egypt reported to them that approximately 35 to 40 LGBTQ individuals had been arrested in the Muslim-majority country over the weekend.

Grindr is working with groups on the ground in Egypt to make sure our users have up to date information on how to stay safe, and we are pushing international organizations and governments to demand justice and safety for the Egyptian LGBTQ community, Lenihan said in an email, though he declined to provide the names of the advocacy groups they are working with to protect the safety of their members.

Neither the U.S. State Department nor the Embassy of Egypt in Washington, D.C., immediately responded to requests for comment about the alleged entrapments and arrests in Egypt. The United States has provided Egypt with over $50 billion in military and $30 billion in economic assistance since 1978, according to the State Departments website.

When LGBTQ people are arrested in Egypt, they are typically charged with violating the countrys debauchery and prostitution laws, said Afsaneh Rigot, a Harvard Law School researcher who has studied arrests of LGBTQ people in Egypt. Violations could amount to monetary charges or yearslong prison sentences, Rigot said.

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But as authorities have utilized social media and dating apps to arrest LGBTQ people in recent years, Rigot added, they have also more frequently charged them with violating the countrys cyber and telecommunications laws.

"That means that its higher sentences, more number of charges and a higher likelihood of getting those sentences, because those cyber laws and telecommunication laws are very vague, Rigot said. So after the point of arrest, there are a combination of charges being used against folks.

Translation:

Lenihan said that Grindr, in partnership with local advocacy groups, frequently sends users in Egypt general safety warnings, but this weeks warning is more specific and is being shared more often.

He added that Grindrs social justice division, Grindr for Equality, has been working closely with international LGBTQ organizations to implement safety features and warnings for users in dozens of countries where it is not safe to be openly LGBTQ.

Many of the safety features that weve developed, we developed first in Egypt, he said. Its actually one of the worst places when it comes to police persecution.

Lenihan added that authorities in Egypt are using numerous social media platforms to target LGBTQ people, and he encouraged other platforms operating in the country to share similar safety messages.

In recent years, human rights advocates have been documenting the entrapment of LGBTQ people by Egyptian authorities through various social media platforms and dating apps. A 2020 report by Human Rights Watch documented the arbitrary arrests and persecution of 15 LGBTQ people in the country between 2017 and 2020.

A subsequent report by the international rights group released last month found that, in addition to Egypt, similar apprehensions of LGBTQ people have been made in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia.

Based on 120 interviews  including with 90 LGBTQ people affected by digital targeting  the report found that government authorities and private actors entrapped 40 LGBTQ people in the five nations between 2017 and 2022. Researchers also found that the apprehensions of LGBTQ people were most pronounced in Egypt, with 29 of the 40 arrests or persecutions made in the Northern African country.

Homosexuality is still criminalized in 67 countries and jurisdictions, according to Human Dignity Trust, a global advocacy group for LGBTQ rights. On Wednesday, Ugandas parliament doubled down on its criminalization of same-sex relations, passing a first-of-its-kind measure that would forbid people from even identifying as LGBTQ. Ugandans who have gay sex would be sentenced to life in prison if the legislation becomes law.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
FLORENCE  Just as Prada is said to be mulling a double listing in Milan, there was much talk of potential IPOs under the stuccoed vaults of Palazzo Pittis Sala Bianca on Thursday, the first of the two-day Future for Fashion conference.

Attila Kiss, chief executive officer of Italian fashion manufacturer Gruppo Florence, revealed that the companys destiny is an initial public offering. Speculation has recently been circulating that private equity fund Permira was eyeing an investment in Gruppo Florence.

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Gruppo Florence is controlled by private equity fund VAM Investments, Fondo Italiano dInvestimento and Italmobiliare and has sales in the region of 600 million euros, said Kiss.

Gruppo Florence was established in October 2021 with the goal of developing a platform to supply high-quality Made in Italy products to major luxury fashion brands, leveraging competitive prices, guaranteeing prompt and flexible deliveries and solutions, while safeguarding the technical and cultural know-how of small and medium-sized family-owned Italian companies.

Since then, it has grown to own controlling stakes in around 20 companies, ranging from Metaphor, which produces high-end knitwear; informal outerwear manufacturers Emmegi and Giuntini, and Ciemmeci, a company that specializes in the production of leather and fur pieces, to Confezioni Elledue, a specialist in casual outerwear based in Tuscany, and footwear specialists Lorenza Calzaturificio and Novarese.

As is customary for Gruppo Florence, which Kiss said has reached sales of 600 million euros, the founding families and controlling shareholders have agreed to maintain minority ownership of the companies they run.

Former Bulgari and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton executive Francesco Trapani is chairman of Gruppo Florence and of VAM Investments.

Kiton CEO Antonio De Matteis, known as Toto, also said the family-owned menswear company, which has been expanding into womenswear, is interested in the Bourse. An IPO would enable it to leave a structured and organized company to the third generation, with precise rules. However, we are not in a rush.

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De Matteis explained that at Kiton, which is based in Arzano, 5 miles from Naples, there are five cousins from the second generation with roles in the company, but there is a third generation coming up, 10 family members aged 10 to 30.

In February, De Matteis was elected president of Pitti Immagine, which operates leading menswear trade fair Pitti Uomo, in addition to Pitti Filati, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Fragranze dedicated to yarnmakers, childrenswear and fragrances, respectively, as well as Taste centered on food, Testo on books, and Super on contemporary fashion. He succeeded Claudio Marenzi, president and CEO of Herno.

In my life, Ive done 80 editions of Pitti Uomo. Ive always believed in it and it coexists with Milan, he said.

He touted the importance of the collaboration between Pitti Uomo and Italys Camera Della Moda, exemplified by Fendis decision to stage its mens spring 2024 show at its Capannuccia factory, a 30-minute drive from Florence, on June 15, during Pitti Uomo, which is scheduled to run June 13 to 16.

Asked about potential changes he envisioned for Pitti Uomo, he said, We can discuss the dates, pre-collections have become main collections, without elaborating.

Social sustainability was also a key topic at Future for Fashion, which is promoted by the city of Florence, Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, and Confindustria Firenze.

De Matteis underscored that Kitons employees and artisans are among the highest paid in the industry and that his uncle Ciro Paone, founder of the company, taught him that respecting the workers was paramount. He elicited a round of chuckles by saying that Paone in 1991 set up shifts in the companys canteen, so that 150 employees per shift would eat spaghetti cooked al dente [firm].

He revealed that Kiton last year gave a bonus of 2,000 euros to each employee, but that, after taxes, they received 1,200 euros. This is something I will bring up tomorrow with [Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo] Urso. Its not right.

These are subjects dear to Brunello Cucinelli, who has been voicing his belief in the moral and economic dignity of work for years. He reiterated his concerns about protecting the artisans and the supply chain. Today, its not difficult to sell; the problem is, who will produce in the future?

Cucinelli said he has raised the salary of his artisans by 20 percent, but said the lack of interest in approaching this kind of job is a cultural issue, more than a financial issue. Young people often find it shameful to say they are [blue-collar] workers, he said.

Also, he expressed his pride in keeping the company based in Italy and paying taxes here. This is a way to help the country grow.

During the conference, Massimiliano Giornetti, director of Polimoda, and Linda Loppa, adviser strategy and vision at the school, presented Anarchive, a new research center in Florence for students, designers, curators and companies interested in fashion studies. Archive in itself is a closed space, but this will be open, dynamic and accessible, also a place for meetings and appointments, said Giornetti.

The goal is also to create a digital fashion archive, and it will host one of the biggest fashion libraries in Europe with an international collection of more than 25,000 volumes and more than 600 magazines and catalogues.

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Click here to read the full article.
Indiana Dunes National Park wildland firefighters observe the progress of a controlled burn in the Miller Woods area of the Indiana Dunes National Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

Fire can destroy, but it can also help restore the health of a natural area.

The Indiana Dunes National Parks naturalists and fire management team members keep those ideas in mind as they plan and carry out prescribed fires this spring in the 15,000-acre national park, when weather permits.

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The weather is always the dictator, said Micah Bell, the parks fire prevention and education specialist. It has to be not too windy, not too calm, not too hot, not too cold.

Of this springs planned fires, he said: If we get them all done, thatll be a good spring.

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Collateral fire staff worker Adam Muilenburg sets fire to dry shrubbery during a controlled burn in the Miller Woods area of the Indiana Dunes National Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

The largest would be a continuation of the prescribed fire begun last fall at Howes Prairie, a 414-acre area south of Porter Beach and Dune Acres, west of Waverly Road and north of the Calumet Trail.

The park burned about 130 acres of Howes Prairie last fall, but the fire had to be stopped because the day became too hot and windy.

We always err on the side of caution, Bell said.

Other fires planned for this spring include 23 acres in the Porter Beach area surrounded by Wabash Avenue, Roskin Road and the western boundary of Indiana Dunes State Park; and 142 acres on the west end of Beam Street in the town of Porter, as part of the long-term restoration of Mnoke Prairie.

Collateral fire staff worker Adam Muilenburg watches a burn line progress during a controlled burn in the Miller Woods area of the Indiana Dunes National Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

Prescribed fires have been carried out already in 16 acres around the Douglas Center for Environmental Education in Garys Miller section, to protect the building from future wildland fires, and 66 acres west of County Line Road and south of U.S. 12.

A lot of science goes into planning each seasons prescribed fires, Bell said.

Every one of our burns goes into restoring the nature of the park.

Indiana Dunes National Park fire staff member Eric Anderson stands amid burning shrubbery during a controlled burn in the Miller Woods area of the Indiana Dunes National Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

When the first European settlers arrived in the region, they saw native inhabitants setting fires so they could plant crops on the land. Later, scientists noticed, in the growth rings of felled trees, how fires had influenced the trees.

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Were trying to mimic Mother Nature as part of our restoration of the land, Bell said.

Each burn plan for part of the park is the result of years of research into the proposed areas plant and animal life, along with its history and geology, and must be approved by local and regional national park officials.

Rays of light shine through smoke blanketing the picnic area at the Paul H. Douglas Center during a controlled burn in the Miller Woods area of the Indiana Dunes National Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

Rare and endangered plants get special attention.

For example, Bell said, park staff will build a little shelter of fire-retardant materials around a Pitchers thistle, a threatened plant that grows in sand dunes. Afterward, he has seen where that plant has not only survived but thrived.

Animals in a burn area are on their own.

Once smoke is in the air, they smell it and their fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, Bell said. More than once, weve almost been run over by a deer running away.

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An Indiana Dunes National Park wildland firefighter walks along North Lake Street in Gary near the Paul H Douglas Center for Environmental Education during a controlled burn in the Miller Woods area of the Indiana Dunes National Park on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

The prescribed fires themselves tend to be slow-moving, relatively low-intensity fires, unlike the massive wildfires that consume forests in the western United States.

Reducing the danger of uncontrolled wildfires is another purpose for prescribed fires. The low-intensity fires use up the fuel that, if built up, can create larger fires later.

The parks firefighters sometimes find themselves confronting a wildfire  nearly all of which in this area are caused by humans, Bell said.

A couple of years ago, the fire team was conducting a prescribed burn in the Tolleston Dunes area when a wildfire broke out in Miller Woods, Bell said. They could see the column of smoke from that fire as they left the prescribed burn to confront the wildfire. The Gary Fire Department and other municipal firefighters had to help the national parks fire team get that fire under control.

Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
An Alabama man froze to death in the Walker County Jail after spending two weeks in a holding cell naked, and without a bed. US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

Alabama jail guards blew freezing air into the cell of a man who died, a lawsuit alleges.

A new lawsuit alleges staffers the jail "caused extremely cold air to blow" into the man's cell.

The man, Anthony Mitchell, was also deprived of water for 70 hours, according to the lawsuit.

In the nights before inmate Anthony Mitchell's death, guards at an Alabama jail intentionally blew frigid air into the cell of the 33-year-old, who later became hypothermic and died, a new document in a wrongful death lawsuit alleges.

According to an amended complaint, filed Monday by Mitchell's mother and reviewed by Insider, correctional officers "intentionally caused extremely cold air to blow through the roof vents" of Mitchell's cell in the Walker County Jail on the nights of January 25 and January 26.

Mitchell was carried out of his cell on January 26 after being incarcerated for 14 days "under hellish conditions," the lawsuit alleges.

By the time Mitchell was transported to a local hospital, his internal body temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and staff spent over three hours unsuccessfully trying to resuscitate him, Insider previously reported. He was then pronounced dead.

Insider has reached out to the Walker County Jail for comment.

According to Monday's filing, the outside temperature on the nights he was in his cell was in the "low thirties Fahrenheit," meaning if guards blew outside air into Mitchell's cell, it would have been "frigid," the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit alleges that the cell in which Mitchell was held, BK5, is known among staffers and inmates as "the freezer" because of guards' ability to "subject inmates to frigid temperatures there." The lawsuit alleges this would have been the coldest cell in the jail.

The lawsuit alleges Mitchell was deprived of water for over 70 hours, and couldn't eat because his false teeth were confiscated

A lawsuit alleged that inmate Anthony Mitchell was in obvious medical distress while jail officials were "clowning and laughing." US District Court for the Northern District of Albama

The filing alleges that Mitchell became "severely hypothermic overnight and into the morning hours" after "deputies deliberately exposed Mitchell to a frigid environment."

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Mitchell was also deprived of water for 70 hours, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit said BK5 lacks a water source, and therefore inmates can only access water if a member of the jail's staff brings a cup of water, or allows the inmate out of the cell to retrieve their own cup of water.

The lawsuit said footage from the jail's booking room shows that Mitchell received his last cup of water around 4:30 a.m. on January 23, and did not show him receiving any water or leaving the cell until he was carried out on January 26. The lawsuit even said the footage showed Mitchell holding his cup to the window of his cell, apparently asking for water, but not receiving it.

Mitchell was kept in BK5, an isolation cell in the jail's booking area, between January 12 and January 26, the lawsuit said. Mitchell's cell lacked a bed or anything else to sleep on and only had a drain in the floor for a toilet, according to the lawsuit.

Jail staff also took Mitchell's false teeth on January 15, following an incident in which he was shocked with a Taser, leaving him without the ability to chew solid food for more than 10 days, according to the documents.

Monday's filing is an updated account of what Mitchell's mother, Margaret Mitchell, alleges her son experienced in jail. Margaret Mitchell initially brought the lawsuit against the jail and its guards last month.

"The only way for Tony's body temperature to have 'started dropping' to 72 degrees in such a short period of time was for him to have been placed in a restraint chair in the jail kitchen's walk-in freezer or similar frigid environment and left there for hours," the first filing in February said.

Mitchell was being held at the Walker County Jail on an attempted murder charge, after brandishing a handgun and opening fire at deputies on January 12, according to the Walker County Sheriff's Office.

The lawsuit said Mitchell was arrested while in a "psychotic and delusional state" partially caused by drug use. The incident began after one of Mitchell's cousins became concerned about his welfare and called 911.

Read the original article on Insider
Gwyneth Paltrows lawyer apologised for being an ass to the daughter of the doctor suing the actress over a 2016 ski accident.

Attorney Stephen Owens made the admission after his cross-examination of Polly Sanderson Grasham, who had testified as a witness for her father, Terry Sanderson.

He claims Paltrow slammed into him in a full body hit leaving him with permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement.

(AP)

Mr Sanderson is seeking $300,000 in damages from the Oscar winner after alleging that her was left with permanent brain damage following the accident at the Deer Valley resort in Utah.

Mr Owens and Ms Sanderson Grasham had been involved in a tense questioning after she testified that her father had become angry and short-tempered after the accident.

The lawyer rejected her claims and pointed to a deposition in which her sister, Jenny, had stated that her father was abusive, and asked if her sister was a liar.

She denied that her father had abused her sister, but conceded he had tried to mould her, and told the lawyer that sometimes we experience events differently.

Following a break in Thursdays proceedings, Mr Owens directly apologised to Ms Sanderson Grasham, who had broken down on the stand.

Polly Grasham, daughter of Terry Sanderson, reacts to questioning in court on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP)

I need to apologize, I was being an ass earlier, he told her. It was wrong for me to triangulate you, your dad, your sister, and your mom. I ask for your forgiveness.

Paltrow has also countersued 76-year-old Mr Sanderson claiming that he was in fact responsible for the accident.

During the trial in Park City, Utah, psycho-neurologist Dr Alina Fong hit out at the defences claims that Mr Sanderson was exaggerating his symptoms to exploit Ms Paltrows celebrity status and wealth. Dr Fong, who opened a clinic in Boston in partnership with Tom Brady, has diagnosed Mr Sanderson with PCS (persistent post-concussive symptoms), which she said happened after the accident.

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Gwyneth Paltrow sits in court as her attorney speaks on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP)

Mr Sandersons attorneys and expert medical witnesses have described how injuries were likely caused by someone crashing into Mr Sanderson from behind and attributed noticeable changes in his mental acuity to that days injuries.

Ms Paltrows attorneys have tried to paint Dr Sanderson as a 76-year-old whose decline followed a normal course of ageing rather than resulted from crashing into their celebrity client.
Gwyneth Paltrow - AP

Gwyneth Paltrow has described how a "large" male skier collided with her and made "strange grunting noises" as she took the stand in a trial over the 2016 incident.

The Hollywood actor and wellness guru, 50, is being sued by Terry Sanderson, 76, who claims she ploughed into him at a luxury ski resort.

Mr Sanderson, a retired eye doctor, is seeking $300,000 (250,000) in damages after alleging Paltrow crashed into him and caused severe and long-lasting brain injuries.

She has previously called the lawsuit an attempt to exploit her fame and celebrity and claimed Mr Sanderson crashed into her.

Gwyneth Paltrow arrives for court on the day she is due to take the stand in her trial in Park City, Utah - KGC-339/TIDLA-12

Paltrow took to the stand to testify on the third day of the trial to describe how a "large" male skier collided with her, making "strange noises" and pressing into her back.

"I was confused at first and I didn't know what was happening. It's a very strange thing to happen on a ski slope," she told the court, describing how she became "very upset".

The actor was questioned on her earlier deposition, when she said she initially thought she was being sexually assaulted. She has made clear she is not alleging the crash was a sexual assault.

"It was a quick thought that went through my head," she said. Two skis came between my skis, forcing my legs apart. And there was a body pressing against me and a very strange grunting noise.

"So my brain was trying to make sense of what was happening, she said of the collision. She added: "I thought, is this a practical joke? Is someone doing something perverted?

"My mind was going very quickly and trying to ascertain what was happening."

Paltrow clarified that she was not stating that it was a sexual assault saying: "I'm just saying what went through my mind for a split second when it was happening."

Polly Sanderson-Grasham - REUTERS

She also testified that she yelled at Mr Sanderson, "You're skied directly into my f---ing back."

She added: "And he said, 'oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry'."

Paltrow described herself as an "intermediate" skier and familiar with the rules of skiing.

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She revealed her children, Apple, then aged 11, and Moses, then aged nine, were having very "expensive" lessons at the Deer Valley Resort during the 2016 ski holiday.

She said Eric Christiansen, her ski instructor, had left her contact information with Mr Sanderson following the collision.

"So because I was hit by Mr Sanderson and he was at fault I assume that Eric...who was there at the time, he said 'I'm going to leave all of your information', because my kids were waiting for me," she said.

"I would not have left the scene without leaving my information and my information was left (by Eric)...subsequently I know that he did. I was not there when it was given."

Paltrow wore a navy skirt and button down blouse and occasionally drank from a glass bottle.

'Risky behaviour'

Asked if she engaged in risky behaviour, she said: "I was not engaging in any risky behaviour. I would not engage in risky behaviour with or without my children being there," she said.

"I have always been open and honest with my kids, and they know me very well."

Paltrow's heavily anticipated testimony comes halfway into the trial. Throughout the week in Utah, her attorneys have asked for special restrictions, including limiting photography both in the courtroom and in the public parking lot outside  where a rope cordons off Paltrows entrance and exit paths.

Her testimony could last longer than an hour and is expected to mirror what she said in a previous deposition about how she froze when the crash happened.

We came crashing down together. This man was behind me on the mountain," she said in November 2020.

My knee  and our skis  were still sort of tangled up. Our bodies were almost spooning and I moved away quickly. And my knee splayed open, and I was in shock.

Paltrow's children with British rock star Chris Martin, Apple and Moses Martin, are also expected to speak in their mothers defence.

'I'm famous' video goes missing

It comes after footage sent by Ms Paltrows accuser to his family shortly after their ski collision in which he boasted it would make him famous has gone missing, the court was told.

It emerged on day four of the eight-day trial that hours after he was released from hospital, Mr Sanderson messaged friends and family with the subject line "Im famousat what cost" with a link to what is believed to be GoPro video footage.

However, by the time the communications were made available to Paltrows legal team the link was dead and it is not known what it contained.

When challenged by Paltrow's lawyer over what they claim to be "the most important piece of evidence", Mr Sanderson's daughter Polly Sanderson-Grasham - a recipient of the email - claimed to not remember what that link was.

"I had a ski accident three weeks prior to my dad, she told jurors, explaining her lack of memory. "I was not sleeping well. I also had a four and an eight-year-old to take care of, so my memory of that period is very foggy."

The footage has not been found or included as evidence in the trial, however the actor's attorneys suggested it could have been crucial to establishing blame in the case.

Paltrow has previously called the lawsuit an attempt to exploit her fame and celebrity.

The proceedings thus far have touched on themes ranging from skiers etiquette to the power - and burden - of celebrity. The amount of money at stake is relatively little, with Mr Sandersons attorney telling the jury the trial is about value, not cost.

Day four of the civil lawsuit rattled through medical witnesses called by the plaintiff.

Gwyneth Paltrow - AP

Dr Richard Boehne, a neurologist, testified on Friday that he believed that Paltrow hitting Mr Sanderson from behind on the slope was the only possible account "given the set of facts that were given to me and the nature of the injuries sustained" by the optometrist.

Dr Boehne calculated the causality according to "classic physics" he said, but conceded that he "guesstimated" Paltrow's weight at 130 pounds (9.3 stone).

The judge in the case earlier denied an unusual request from the Hollywood star to bring in treats for staff at the Utah courtroom.

During Thursdays proceedings, Paltrows lawyer Stephen Owens asked the judge whether her team could bring in the treats for the bailiffs in gratitude for their service.

It was not known what gifts she was intending to distribute. The actress-come-celebrity influencer has a line of products including eye creams, jade eggs and a This Smells Like My Vagina candle.

Private security for my client wanted to bring in treats for the bailiffs for how helpful theyve been, Mr Owens said. So, I wanted to do that transparently and see if there are any objections.

Mr Sandersons attorneys then objected to the request, arguing that the defence did not fill them in before raising the request to the judge.

OK, theres an objection so thank you, but no thank you, a baffled Judge Kent Holmberg ordered. If the parties decide to do that later, thats fine, too.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Friday that he believes former President Trumps rhetoric on social media platform Truth Social is "going to get someone killed."



In a Friday press conference, Jefferies was asked about a Thursday evening Truth Social post by Trump in which he seemed to refer to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg as a "degenerate psychopath that truely hates the USA!"

"What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country? Why & who would do such a thing?" Trump asked.

WOULD TRUMP INDICTMENT HELP OR HURT FORMER PRESIDENT'S 2024 BID TO WIN BACK WHITE HOUSE?

Bragg is reportedly pursuing a potential indictment of Trump following a New York state investigation into matters involving Trump, including a probe into alleged hush money paid to women claiming earlier sexual encounters with him.

Jefferies said that Trumps language in that post "is reckless, reprehensible and irresponsible."

FLASHBACK: TRUMP SAYS HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT $130K PAYMENT FROM MICHAEL COHEN TO STORMY DANIELS

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks after House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker on the 15th ballot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 2023.

"It's dangerous. And if he keeps it up, he's going to get someone killed," Jefferies said.

"We've already seen the consequences of incitement from the former president. He is principally responsible on fighting the violent insurrection. That happened on January 6, but clearly, he has not learned his lesson," he said.

JORDAN INVESTIGATING MANHATTAN DA ALVIN BRAGGS 'UNPRECEDENTED ABUSE' AND 'POLITICALLY MOTIVATED' TRUMP PROBE

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on January 26, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Jefferies also slammed "extreme MAGA Republicans in the House saying its "very unfortunate" that some Republicans continue to back Trump.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, announced this week he is investigating Bragg for what he calls an "unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority."
EXETER, N.H. (AP)  An airline passenger who helped tackle a man trying stab a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon was honored Friday by his hometown police department in New Hampshire.

Jeff Neil, a former bouncer who now works for a software company, received the Citizen Award for his actions earlier this month, which were caught on video by another passenger.

At a ceremony in Exeter, Neil said he doesnt consider himself a hero but acknowledged the significance of what happened.

Video shows Mass. man attacking attendant after allegedly trying to open cabin door on Boston flight

I truly was in the right place at the right time, he said.

Neils wife Libby was sitting with him on the plane. She said she wasnt surprised he jumped into action.

We both knew that he would be getting up, she said.

Francisco Severo Torres, 33, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was arrested and accused of attacking a flight attendant and attempting to open the door of United Airlines Flight 2609. The plane was about 45 minutes from Boston when the crew noticed the door handle had been moved out of the fully locked position.

Investigators said Torres admitted knowing that if he opened the door many people would die. He awaits a mental health evaluation.

In the video, Torres can be seen loudly threatening to kill people and promising a bloodbath before saying he was taking over this plane and stepping into the aisle.

Seated one row back, Neil immediately jumped up and tried to calm Torres and defuse the situation.

Prosecutors say Torres approached two flight attendants and attacked one of them. Neil and several other passengers rushed to the attendants aid and tackled Torres, then held him down until the flight got to Boston.

Exeter Police Chief Stephan Poulin said Neil exemplified what it means to be both a hero and a leader.

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Richlands legendary historic bomber is being remembered in a new way  on police cars, badges and patches.

Police and city officials unveiled a new design that features Days Pay, the B-17 bomber paid for by Hanford Engineering Works employees by donating their wages to buy war bonds.

Weve maintained the same patch and badge for decades with some small variations along the way, Chief Brigit Clary said Thursday. Department members were ready for a more personalized patch and badge accurately reflecting our culture and proud history.

The bomber, which flew dozens of missions over France, Belgium and Germany, has become a symbol across the city, including a mural painted in 1993 on the side of Richland High School.

Now, its featured prominently on the patch officers wear on their shoulders and badge. The city also has started adding the new design to police cars.

A committee of police officers put together the design for the new logo, Clary said.

Along with the historic plane, the badge also includes other key elements that were part of the previous design, such as the atom, the Columbia River and the sun.

The Days Pay symbolizes the spirit and pride of our community, which is still alive and well today, Sgt. Shawn Swanson said during Thursdays ceremony. The prominent display of this plane on our badge and patch serves as a reminder that our community members are an integral part of the RPD team.

City Manager Jon Amundson said the new design comes at a time when officers have faced new challenges to doing their jobs.

When Chief Clary told me that they wanted to update their police badge and patch, it felt like right time in the departments history to do such a thing, Amundson said.

While we look forward toward the future of our department, we also wanted to pay homage to our past.

Mayor Pro Tem Theresa Richardson said the plane is the perfect symbol for police, who make personal sacrifices for the greater good of the community.

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You never know that personal sacrifice that youre going to be making that will affect generations in the future, she said. Thank you for what you do for us, we really appreciate you.

Days Pay history

The Days Pay came about as enthusiasm for buying war bonds in 1944 was beginning to fade.

The workers were building a facility so secret that they didnt even know what it was for. They were still urged to buy the bonds.

A new campaign rekindled their enthusiasm, as they were urged to, Give a days pay and send a bomber on its way, according to a 2018 Tri-City Herald story.

The 44,300 workers donated enough to cover the $300,000 cost.

On July 23, 1944, the plane was christened Days Pay at the former Hanford nuclear reservation airfield before it was sent to England.

The B-17 bomber was a new model, designed to replace the B-24, which had been in use throughout the war.

It flew more than 60 missions in Germany, bombing oil refineries in Hamburg and an ordnance depot in Dusseldorf, among other targets, according to state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

Employees continued to track the plane as it made its way around the world.

They loved their airplane. They felt connected to it, said Don Sorenson, a Hanford historian. The Hanford workers were encouraged to write letters to the Days Pay crew and they did.

Sorenson read one of those letters Thursday.

Take care of Days Pay. We worked hard to get it on the way to you, so dont let her down.
A two-vehicle crash caused a decent amount of fuel to leak, causing state troopers and officers to block of multiple lanes on Interstate 75 in Dayton Friday overnight, according to officials.

>> TRENDING: Dayton shooting wounds 2, hospitalizes at least 1

Dayton Police and the Dayton post of Ohio State Highway Patrol were dispatched to Interstate 75 northbound near North Main Street at around 4:20 a.m. on reports of a crash, Montgomery County Regional Dispatch told News Center 7.

When officers and state troopers arrived on scene, they found a decent amount of fuel spilled onto the highway due to a two vehicle crash puncturing one of the gas tanks, dispatch informed. The owner of the punctured vehicle said the gas tank held 80 gallons of fuel.

The Dayton post of Ohio State Highway Patrol led the investigation into the crash.

Dayton Police assisted with blocking off the left two lanes of the highway, the Ohio Department of Transportation stated in conjunction with dispatch.

Dayton Fire and a hazmat team also responded to clean up the oil spill.

The cause of the crash is currently unknown.

We will update this story as it develops and more information is released.




An HBCU is supporting its students yet again in their time of critical need.

ABC News reports that Langston University, the only HBCU in Oklahoma, has cleared over $4.5 million in student debt balances.

The post HBCU Langston University Clears Over $4.5M In Student Debt Balances appeared first on AfroTech.

The move was made through the university using funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) for students enrolled in summer 2022, fall 2022, and spring 2023 semesters.

BREAKING: Langston University has announced it will clear student balances through the use of HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund) grant funding for students enrolled in the Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 academic terms.  Langston University (@LangstonU) March 23, 2023

The HEERF award allows us to bring balances for students enrolled in a pandemic semester to zero, Langston University President Kent J. Smith shared in a letter. This award will appear on student accounts as W204  Higher Ed Emergency Relief Fund. This includes students not currently enrolled at the institution as well as those enrolled during Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 who will now be cleared of any hold preventing them from receiving an official transcript due to a balance. There is no expectation or requirement for enrollment in a future semester to receive the benefit of the cleared balance.

He continued, We are proud of the positive impact this initiative will have on our students, graduates, and their families for years to come. We appreciate your continued support of Langston University!

The announcement marked Langston Universitys second time clearing student account balances. Back in August 2021, it canceled the amount of $4,654,112  bringing the total to over $9.2 million.

In his letter, Smith also noted that students who already made payments to the institution prior to the announcement wont be refunded. However, the Office of the Registrar is considering late applications for graduation due to the timing of the HEERF Award as a means to remove obstacles for students.

For students who are eligible for spring 2023 or summer 2023 commencement thanks to the award, Langston University is accepting applications for graduation until March 31, 2023.
Student writings and drawings about COVID-19 as well as signage and a mask await placement inside a time capsule at Clark Middle School in St. John on Friday, May 14, 2021. Hospitals are dropping mask mandates as cases wane. Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)

With a caveat that the directive could change, Franciscan Alliance on Friday relaxed its mandatory masking policy at its health facilities in Northwest Indiana.

All Indiana facilities will be mask optional effective Monday, according to a release, which added if a COVID-19 resurgence calls for a return to masking, Franciscan may change these protocols.

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Beginning Monday, masking will be optional for visitors, patients and staff, with some exceptions, the release said. Masking will be required where it is part of the routine infection-control process. Staff caring for COVID-positive and COVID-suspected patients will be required to wear N95 masks, as will those performing high-risk procedures related to the COVID virus, the release said.

Patients may request Franciscan staff members wear a mask during their health care encounters, the release said.

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Franciscan, the release said, is taking these steps in accordance with the guidance of local, state and federal public health officials as well as the expertise of its own vice presidents of medical affairs for each location.

Franciscan Alliance isnt the only health care conglomerate reconfiguring its masking policy. Northwest Health expects to roll out their plan in the coming weeks, its spokeswoman Kelly Credit said Friday.

Northwest Health is currently requiring masking in all patient care areas and public spaces, Curtain told the Post-Tribune in an email Friday. Our infection prevention leaders and physicians continuously monitor community levels of the virus.

With community case counts dropping, we are currently updating policies and developing communication plans in preparation to transition back to a mask-optional environment. Once implemented, masks will only be required for staff and visitors in close proximity to patients with infectious conditions. This new policy will take effect in April.

Representatives from Community Health Care and Methodists Hospitals didnt return requests for comment by deadline.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.1 million Americans have died from COVID-19. In Lake County, 2,010 have died, while 627 deaths have been blamed on COVID-19 in Porter County, according to the New York Times.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
John Bishop has said that he is experiencing a pain like no other after the death of his mother, Kathy.

On Thursday (23 March), the comedian posted a photograph to Instagram of himself and his mum embracing each other, smiling.

He captioned the post: Two weeks ago my Mum came to see me in Mother Goose in Liverpool and joined in the sing-a-long at the end as I knew she would.

The comedian continued: This morning we said goodbye to her and we will never hear her sing again.

As a family we are heartbroken. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother and she loved us all. Next week she would have been married to my Dad for 62 years and they had a love and a friendship that was beautiful to be around.

Bishop went on to thank the brilliant staff at Whiston Hospital on ward 3C, where his mother was treated. He said the staff could not have done more and provided exceptional care for us all.

The comedian then extended his message to other people who have lost a parent.

Anyone who has lost a parent will understand when I say it is a pain like no other, he said.

I will never have another mother but I will be eternally grateful for being lucky enough to have had the one I did. Good night Mum, you were our sunshine.

The comedian was met with messages of support from colleagues and friends.

Sending so much love xxx, wrote The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman.

Pianist Jools Holland added: We send all love and sincere condolences xx.

Fellow comedian Alan Carr commented: Oh John. So sorry for your loss, accompanied by a red heart emoji.

Bishop is currently starring in the touring pantomime production of Mother Goose alongside Ian McKellen.
Circuit Judge Larry Helms, shown presiding over a trial in 2019, is facing mandatory retirement as he approached his 75th birthday. Helms was first elected to Circuit Court in the 10th Judicial Circuit in 2014.

Circuit Judge Larry S. Helms is facing mandatory retirement next week, creating an opening for a judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has convened the 10th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission to provide nominees for the vacancy. April 3 is the deadline for applications.

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Helms, 74, was first elected to the court in 2014 and took office in 2015.

The 10th Judicial Circuit, based in Bartow, covers Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. Helms has served in both the civil and felony divisions, including a year leading the civil division in Highlands County.

During 3 years in the felony division, Helms presided over such trials as that of Miguel Cosme, who pled no contest to second-degree murder for kicking and stabbing his roommate to death. He also oversaw the trial of Gerard Dixon, convicted of raping his former girlfriends 5-year-old daughter and recording the attack on his phone.

Helms, an Alabama native, earned a law degree from the University of Florida and worked in private practice in Polk County for 40 years before running for judge at age 68. When he was first elected, the Florida Constitution required judges to retire by the age of 70, but the mandatory age has since been extended to 75.

Helms was elected to a second six-year term in 2020. He will turn 75 on April 6, and March 31 will be his final day on the bench.

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Although in my practice I think I tried cases in 18 of the circuits there are in the state of Florida, most of my practice was in the 10th" Helms said. So I had a lot of familiarity with the judges that have been in this in this circuit for the last 40 years, and it was, quite honestly, an honor to join them. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, and if it were not for that pesky little thing called the Florida Constitution, I would not be retiring next week.

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Helms said he drew his first paycheck at age 16.

"I've been in school or working for 59 years," he said. "It's going to be a little bit of an adjustment not to have an office to go to in the morning."

Helms said he plans to apply to be a senior judge after the required one-year absence from state employment. The category applies to retired judges who are available to substitute for full-time judges facing short-term absences, helping to prevent backlogs in court dockets.

During the year off, Helms said he hopes to do some traveling with his wife, Donna Helms, and spend time with their children and grandchildren.

The Judicial Nominating Commission will meet April 13 at 8 a.m. at Peterson & Myers, P.A., 225 E. Lemon Street, in Lakeland.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Helms' retirement creates opening on Bartow-based Circuit Court
Still image from a NASA animation showing the sky lit up by gamma-ray flashes, which are represented by pink spots that shrink as the emission dims. The animation was created using a year of data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

A new NASA animation shows what the sky over Earth would look like to humans if we had evolved to see high-energy gamma-ray light rather than just the visible light spectrum.

The animation represents a cosmic firework display created as Earth's atmosphere is belted by gamma rays from astrophysical sources and powerful cosmic events.

The animation shows a frenzy of gamma-ray activity between February 2022 to February 2023. Each frame of the animation shows a three-day period of observation, with some of the sources fluctuating in gamma rays throughout the entire year.

Related: What is a gamma-ray burst?

A NASA animation shows the sky lit up by gamma-ray flashes, represented by pink spots that shrink as the emission dims. The animation was created using a year of data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

The pulsing magenta circles in the animation show 1,500 gamma-ray detections growing and shrinking in size to represent how each source intensifies and dims over time. The yellow circle swooping across the animation traces the path of the sun , and the thick orange band represents the central plane of our Milky Way galaxy , a consistent producer of gamma rays.

The footage was created using data collected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope , which has been examining the gamma-ray sky from space for nearly 15 years. Beyond the animation, the data is curated in a publicly available and continually updated interactive library that is the work of an international team of scientists.

LAT scans the entire sky every three hours. spotting gamma rays with energies ranging from 20 million to over 300 billion electron volts. These are incredibly high-energy photons; visible light photons mostly fall between 2 to 3 electron volts.

"We were inspired to put this database together by astronomers who study galaxies and wanted to compare visible and gamma-ray light curves over long time scales," Daniel Kocevski, repository co-author and an astrophysicist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement . "We were getting requests to process one object at a time. Now the scientific community has access to all the analyzed data for the whole catalog."

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Blazars, gamma rays and galaxies

Over 90% of the cosmic firework gamma-rays in the animation originate from active galaxies called " blazars ," in which feeding supermassive black holes blast out jets of material and radiation directly toward Earth.

Supermassive black holes are found at the heart of almost every large galaxy, and while some of these cosmic monsters, such as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) at the heart of the Milky Way, are relatively quiet, others are greedily feeding on material such as the gas and dust that surrounds them.

As this gas and dust spirals inward, it forms an accretion disc around the black hole and generates powerful electromagnetic radiation. This results in these feeding black holes powering what astronomers call "active galactic nuclei" (AGN).

An AGN is a region of a galaxy so luminous it can outshine every star in the rest of that galaxy combined, even though the AGN itself can be no wider than our solar system . AGNs also blast out jets of material that move at near-light speeds, stretch for thousands of light-years and can be seen in a range of light wavelengths, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma-rays.

Blazars, which account for the vast majority of the gamma-ray sources seen in the new NASA animation, are a type of AGN whose powerful jets are aimed directly at Earth. These jets are studied at ground-based observatories, like the U.S. National Science Foundation's IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, that are designed to detect high-energy particles.

LAT, Fermi's primary science instrument, has been a vital part of the study of blazars. The instrument's observations have allowed scientists to catalog AGNs and assess their total energy output and spectra changes on timescales ranging from less than an hour to many years.

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 A fleet of gamma-ray burst detecting cubesats could help crack mystery of neutron star mergers

LAT data can also be combined with measurements of neutrinos , in an example of a burgeoning research field called "multimessenger astronomy."

"In 2018, astronomers announced a candidate joint detection of gamma rays and a high-energy particle called a neutrino from a blazar for the first time, thanks to Fermi LAT and IceCube," said repository co-author Michela Negro, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. "Having the historical light curve database could lead to new multimessenger insights into past events."

The gamma-ray repository is accessible here , and a paper regarding the research was published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series .
Jailynn Butler Thomas, an 11th-gradert at Dorsey High School and a leader with Students Deserve, speaks during a student-led block party at LAUSD headquarters on March 22. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Seventeen-year-old Zoe Garner grabbed the microphone and led dozens of students in a chant on the steps outside the downtown offices of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Hey, hey, ho, ho, Car-val-ho has got to go, she boomed as she moved to the beat, referring to LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho.

While they may not have been in class during the three-day strike of school support staff and teachers, these students got a real-time civics lesson on the state of labor relations and the role of activism in the nation's second-largest school district. And as they return to school Friday, many will have newfound awareness of the financial pressures facing custodians, food workers, teacher aides and others who serve them every day.

The workers are members of Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union who walked out for three days this week to protest unfair practices by the school district during labor negotiations. United Teachers Los Angeles also walked out in solidarity, forcing the 420,000-student district to close campuses.

Local 99 is pushing for a 30% wage increase over four years and $2 more per hour for the lowest-paid employees. The workers make on average $25,000 a year, which employees say has become untenable as housing and other costs skyrocket.

Students who attended a rally Wednesday said they were not fully aware that many of the workers at their schools face financial precarity. They said they were moved to show up on the picket line during the strike.

They help to feed us, but they can barely afford to feed themselves, said 16-year-old Matisse Anderson at the rally.

Their support of the strike is not surprising  a recent Gallup poll found support for labor unions in the United States has reached its highest level since 1965. An analysis from the Center for American Progress also found that support for organized labor is highest among Gen Z, the generation that includes teenagers and those in their early to mid-20s.

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The analysis found that young workers have spearheaded successful labor campaigns across the country, including at Starbucks outlets and an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island.

Those at the rally in Los Angeles belong to Students Deserve, a coalition of students, parents and teachers who have also campaigned to remove police officers from schools and led efforts to improve campus experiences for Black students and others from other marginalized communities.

Matisse, a student at Alexander Hamilton High School in Castle Heights, said he inherited his sense of social responsibility from adults in his life.

Teachers and parents nowadays also fight for human rights." he said. "We see whats going on. Its our whole job to carry out and finish what they started.

Jailynn Butler-Thomas, an 11th-grader at Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School in Crenshaw, said she views the labor union's fight as linked to students' fight for more resources such as mental health support and funding for efforts dedicated to addressing educational inequities that disproportionately hurt Black students.

"The only way for us to get what we're fighting for individually is unity and to stand with each other," she said.

Melanie Juan Cruz, a student at Los Angeles High, said staff workers are the backbone of her school. She is particularly close to a campus aide who she said motivates students and creates a warm environment. The 11th-grader said she spotted the aide on the picket line earlier in the week.

When I walk into my school, I feel a lot of support. And thats not from administration, she said.

The student support energized Jsane Tyler, a parent and family center director at Hamilton High who belongs to SEIU Local 99.

It was powerful to see them standing up for us, she said. Weve always supported them, and I know how they feel, but to see them come out in the numbers that they did  it melted my heart.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Caltrans appears to be moving forward on a plan to widen a dangerous stretch of Highway 41 south of Fresno.

On Thursday, the state transportation agency held an open house in Riverdale to showcase the project, which would see improvements to a 7.1-mile stretch of the highway from Elkhorn Avenue in Fresno County to the Excelsior Avenue undercrossing going into Kings County.

The project, known as Excelsior Expressway II, expands that section of the 41 to four lanes. It also will create a 46-foot-wide median while redesigning right-of-way intersections and constructing a new bridge northbound at Murphy Slough. The cost would be just over $53 million, split between local and state funding, according to the projects website.

The improvements have been a decade coming, despite calls from lawmakers and the public.

According to the project information, Caltrans identified traffic congestion, high collision rates, and lack of passing opportunities as issues in this segment of State Route 41.

A sign campaigning for the widening of State Route 41 is seen between Excelsior and Elkhorn avenues as narrow single lane traffic passes each other Thursday, March 23, 2023.

And it certainly isnt alone.

The Widen Highway 41 Movement runs a public Facebook group and has been advocating to take the two-lane road to four lanes since 2020 at least. Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, dubbed that section of the highway a death trap and fought to secure project funding from state lawmakers last year. The project had been delayed over fears that widening the highway would encourage more traffic at a time when the state was looking to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

That same year, there were 22 fatal crash on Highway 41 across all of Fresno County. Seven of those crashes  nine deaths  happened on the two-lane section between Elkhorn and the Kings County line.

Lawrence Simas, a Riverdale resident who attended Thursdays meeting, said the number of fatalities is reason enough to see the project through.

I really think it will help. Traffic wont be passing head-on ... killing each other.

If the project is moving forward, it is still very much in its early stages.

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According to Caltrans, that right-of-way acquisition and design work should be completed by summer 2024, with construction beginning that winter and lasting two years.

At Thursdays open house, people had questions about logistics of the project, specifically how traffic might be affected.

The main concern is the issue about closing intersections, said CalTrans Design Manager Arthur Ramirez.

The project will not close intersections, he said.

Representatives of Caltrans met with the public during an open house at Riverdale High School to highlight development of the State Route 41 Excelsior Expressway Thursday evening, March 23, 2023 in Riverdale.

Riverdale resident Lawrence Simas, center, points to a satelllite image of State Route 41 as he discusses the Excelsior Expressway plan with Caltrans Project Manager Ellery Ellis, right, during an open house held by Caltrans Thursday evening, March 23, 2023 in Riverdale. The widening of 41 between Excelsior and Elkhorn avenues will proceed with state transportation official support following a campaign for the 7.1-mile stretch near Riverdale.
Photograph: Marvin Recinos/AFP/Getty Images

Human rights activists in Latin America hope that a historic court hearing over the case of a Salvadoran woman who was denied an abortion despite her high-risk pregnancy could open the way for El Salvador to decriminalize abortions  and set an important precedent across the region.

The inter-American court of human rights (IACHR) this week considered the historic case of the woman, known as Beatriz, who was prohibited from having an abortion in 2013, even though she was seriously ill and the foetus she was carrying would not have survived outside the uterus.

The audience marked the first time that the IACHR has discussed the consequences of the countrys total criminalization of abortion.

Related: Latin American feminists vow to protect abortion rights at home after shock US ruling

In El Salvador, abortion is fully criminalized in all circumstances, and can be punished by up to 8 years in prison. Women can also be charged with aggravated homicide, which holds a 30- to 50-year prison sentence.

Beatrizs case has been taken up by feminist organizations in El Salvador and across the region who hope it could create legal changes in access to sexual and reproductive rights, including abortion, in Latin America.

Beatriz was a young Salvadoran woman who sought an abortion to end her pregnancy in 2013. She suffered from lupus, arthritis and renal failure, and the fetus she was carrying suffered from anencephaly and would not survive outside the uterus.

She appealed to the Salvadoran supreme court of justice, which denied her request for an abortion. She was eventually permitted to have an emergency C-section after she became gravely ill; her baby lived only a few hours. Beatriz died after being involved in a minor traffic accident in 2017, in part due to her ongoing physical weakness.

Anabel Recinos, a lawyer with the Citizens Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion, one of the groups representing Beatrizs family, described the hearing as a historic moment.

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Related: El Salvador woman punished under strict abortion law freed after 10 years

The laws on abortion are going to change, she said.

During the audience, held in San Jose, Costa Rica, the seven judges heard from Beatrizs family, as well as from two doctors involved in her case.

Dr Guillermo Ortiz Avedano told the judges that although the pregnancy was high risk given Beatrizs health, his hands had been tied in terms of offering her an abortion.

Marcia Aguiluz, legal director for Latin America at Womens Link Worldwide, said: [Dr Ortizs] testimony made it clear that the penalization [of abortion] doesnt only impact women but also medical professionals.

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals can receive up to 12 years jail if they are found to have supported a woman to have an abortion.

Aguiluz said: This case is crucially important for El Salvador. If we have a favourable result, the decision will reveal that these laws have led to the deaths of women in the country.

Latin America has the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. Six countries completely prohibit the procedure in all cases.

In November 2021, the Inter-American court determined that El Salvador was responsible for the death of another woman, known only as Manuela, who was given a 30-year prison sentence after suffering a miscarriage in 2008.

Related: Abortion: El Salvadors jailed women offer US glimpse of post-Roe future

Catalina Martinez Coral, director of the Center for Reproductive Rights Latin America and Caribbean office, said she hoped the court would rule that the criminalization of abortion went against the American convention on human rights and violated a wide range of human rights.

It would mean that all countries that penalize abortion will have the update their legislation in accordance with the Inter-American courts decision, which means they will have to end their criminalization, she said.

Martinez Coral worried, however, that the courts decision might rely on perceptions of risk to life and health. These risks are very subjective ... If we decriminalize abortion based on exceptions we are leaving women exposed to the subjectivity or the interpretation of the medical personnel.

After the two-day hearing, the court is expected to take a month to write their arguments. A final decision is expected by the end of the year.
Channel 5

Home and Away spoilers follow.

Home and Away has hinted that there'll once again be some notable absences at Tane Parata and Felicity Newman's wedding.

The happy couple are due to tie the knot on Australian screens next week, as the long-running soap celebrates its milestone 8,000th episode.

Tane and Felicity have already had a first shot at making it down the aisle, but their big day descended into disaster when Felicity was involved in a road accident on her way to the ceremony.

At the time, departed characters Gemma Parata and Chloe Anderson  who'd both left the show  sent their apologies and confirmed that they sadly wouldn't be able to make the trip over from New Zealand.

Channel 5

Related: Former Home and Away star Rob Kipa-Williams reveals whether he'd return in shock twist

Tane was upset over these absences at the time, as he'd wanted all of his family to make it.

With a second wedding on the cards, Home and Away bosses have once again written in an excuse for possible no-shows  Tane and Felicity don't want any guests this time.

This week's Australian episodes saw Tane and Felicity take control of their own wedding plans by deciding to tie the knot as soon as possible.

Wanting this ceremony to have a different feel to their doomed first one, they opted to have a tiny guest list with no extended family in attendance.

Channel 5

Related: Home and Away airs update on pregnancy storyline

Felicity's brother Cash and best friend Eden Fowler were the only ones to receive invites, so they could be official witnesses.

Felicity told Tane: "Our easy-peasy 'turn up and get it done' wedding is all sorted. This is amazing. I'm so glad we don't have to wait. No stressing about dresses, flowers, invitations, guests  especially guests."

When Cash and Eden later asked about other attendees, Felicity quipped: "There are none. If you weren't needed as witnesses, you wouldn't even be there either!"

Channel 5

Related: Home and Away legend Kate Ritchie reveals whether she'd return to the show

Tane's nephew Nikau has also now left the show at Australian pace, moving to New York to be with Bella Nixon.

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Nikau played a role in the ceremony from afar by giving Felicity some last-minute advice on the phone over how to recite her wedding vows in te reo Maori.

Home and Away fans in the UK will see the 8,000th episode on Channel 5 in May.

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5.

In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and streams on 7plus.

Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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A Home Depot worker is accused of stealing $80,000 worth of merchandise, California officials said.

Officials found about 600 retail items after serving a search warrant at the employees home in Patterson on March 21, the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division said in a March 23 Facebook post.

CHP said it looked into the alleged theft after being contacted by Home Depot loss prevention investigators in Hayward. Investigators suspected the worker stole the merchandise after work and estimated a loss of greater than $300,000.

Photos posted by CHP on social media show a number of handheld power tools, including drills and other equipment, strewn across the floor.

CHP said it also found $90,000 in cash stemming from criminal activity.

The worker was arrested and is facing a number of charges, including organized retail crime, grand theft and possession of stolen property, CHP said.

Hayward is about 30 miles southeast of San Francisco.

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Building better world with a shared future

Xinhua) 08:05, March 24, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a solemn welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the St. George's Hall at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 21, 2023. Xi on Tuesday held talks with Putin in Moscow. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia this week, which is also his first overseas trip since being re-elected as Chinese president, is widely believed to be a journey of friendship, cooperation, and peace.

In addition to strengthening bilateral relations, Xi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, discussed global hotspot issues, including the Ukraine crisis, and reached consensus.

The two leaders signed and issued a joint statement and emphasized the need to resolve the Ukraine crisis through dialogue. The Russian side reaffirms its commitment to the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible.

Meeting the press with Putin at the Kremlin, Xi said China has all along actively encouraged peace talks on the Ukraine crisis.

"China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history," he said.

It is China's latest effort to play an active role in peace-making after it succeeded in brokering a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. On March 10, the two Middle East countries reached an agreement in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations.

China's endeavors to help countries "beat the swords into plowshares" embody the belief that humanity shares the same future.

A decade ago, when he visited Russia in his first foreign trip as Chinese president, Xi put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. This is seen as China's solution to addressing global challenges and creating a better future through concerted efforts of the international community.

"The common interest of all humankind is in a world united and peaceful rather than divided and volatile," Xi said.

NOTION FOR A HARMONIOUS GLOBAL FAMILY

In his signed article on Russian media published before he visited the country, Xi again referred to his speech in 2013 that put forward the shared-future notion.

"Humankind, by living in the same global village in the same era where history and reality meet, has increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in himself a little of others," he said.

Over the past decade, Xi has expounded on the essence of a "human community with a shared future" on numerous occasions.

As the term suggests, it means that the future of every nation and country is interlocked. "We should endeavor to build this planet of ours into a single harmonious family, and turn people's longing for a better life into reality," he once said.

In his reply to a letter from teachers and students of a secondary school in Malta last year, Xi said peace and harmony amongst all states is a wonderful, long-held aspiration of the Chinese nation for human society.

It is the cultural root of the vision of building a human community with a shared future, he said.

China has not only been building shared-future communities among countries and regions but has also been working globally to build communities with a shared future in cyberspace, nuclear security, maritime affairs, and healthcare.

The concept has won extensive support from the international community. It has been included in some documents of multilateral mechanisms and international institutions such as the United Nations (UN).

Keith Bennett, vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club, said the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind strikes a chord with many countries and peoples "because people realize that there is a rather stark choice between a community with a shared future and a community with no future."

CONCRETE ACTIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD

Concrete actions have been taken to turn the vision into reality.

For years, China has been active in providing assistance to countries in times of distress.

Last month, after massive earthquakes hit parts of Trkiye and Syria, Beijing immediately sent rescue teams and supplies to the stricken areas. Xi sent his message of sympathy to the leaders of the two countries.

During the past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, China launched the largest global emergency humanitarian operation in the history of the people's republic. It shared COVID-19 prevention, control, and treatment experience with over 180 countries and international organizations and sent medical expert teams to 34 countries.

Xi made the commitment to making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good. The country has provided over 2.2 billion vaccine doses to more than 120 countries and international organizations.

Xi has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the latest Global Civilization Initiative as platforms to turn the shared-future vision into reality.

Borrowing the idea of the ancient "Silk Road" that once linked Asia and Europe with vibrant trade, Xi envisioned the BRI as a framework connecting countries around the world through trade, investment, infrastructure development, and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

Over the past decade, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have joined the initiative.

Some of the key BRI projects have been advanced by state leaders themselves. During his trip to Bali, Indonesia last November, Xi and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, witnessed the operational trial of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway via video link.

As the first high-speed railway in Indonesia, the railway is one of the accomplishments of the Belt and Road cooperation, which also include the construction of Pakistan's first underground line, a massive water supply and sewerage project in Sri Lanka, and a cooperation project in Greece which turned the decaying Piraeus Port into one of the fastest-growing container ports in the world.

With enhanced infrastructure, trade and investment cooperation, countries participating in the BRI have grabbed more development opportunities, and their future and destiny are closely linked.

"Development holds the key to people's well-being," Xi once said.

In September 2021, Xi put forward the Global Development Initiative, which has gained support from over 100 countries and a number of international organizations, including the UN. Nearly 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the initiative.

About seven months later, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative to promote security for all around the globe. This has gained support from more than 80 countries and regional organizations.

FUTURE OF A MULTIPOLAR WORLD

As China moves closer to the center of the global stage, its proposal and practice of a human community with a shared future manifest a rejection of the logic that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony, observers said.

At the tone-setting national congress of the Communist Party of China last October, the Party announced its central task from then on as "advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization." One of the five features of Chinese modernization, according to Xi, is "peaceful development."

"The international community has recognized that no country is superior to others, no model of governance is universal, and no single country should dictate the international order," Xi explicated China's commitment to peace in his signed article before the Russian trip.

The country's stance has won the praise of many, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called China a pillar of multilateralism.

The goal of practicing multilateralism is building a human community with a shared future, said the UN chief.

While visiting Russia, Xi again stressed practicing true multilateralism and opposing hegemonism and power politics. He underscored the need to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and called for promoting a human community with a shared future.

The idea of building a human community with a shared future indicates that there is more than one development model in the world, said Anatoly Torkunov, president of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Holding that today's world is rather a multipolar world than a unipolar one, Torkunov said "the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity promotes dialogue and communication among countries on an equal footing, which will contribute to the progress and development of humankind in the future."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
FILE - Phoenix Police officers watch protesters rally on June 2, 2020, in Phoenix during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. In 2022, Arizona passed a law, making it illegal to knowingly record video of police officers within 8 feet or closer without an officer's permission. An Indiana bill under consideration would prevent citizens from approaching within 25 feet of an officer while they are conducting any lawful duty, a much more broad classification that can mean basically anything, critics say. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) (Matt York/AP)

Local legislators say a bill intended to prevent encroachment on an investigation by criminalizing approaching within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer after the officer has ordered the person to stop say the measure is just a way to hide potentially criminal activity by police.

The Indiana Senate this week approved House Bill 1186 with amendments and sent it back to the House. The measure also prevents people from approaching an emergency incident area that may include an area of 25 feet in all directions from the perimeter of an emergency incident area.

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Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said the bill would prevent people from filming police activity in the street and in their own homes. He said the ability for the public to record police activity is how bad behavior by police comes to light.

He cited the murder of George Floyd as an example. Based on his personal experience as a minority and observing how traffic stops occur, Randolph said the legislation is going to provide cover to police who may be doing something wrong.

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All this bill does is protect bad cops. Thats what it does, Randolph said.

Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, who carried the bill in the Senate for the House, said the bill as written helps protect police officers at the moment they are engaged in their duties. When an officer shows up on a scene, it is chaotic and they have no way of knowing who is who, he said.

When a law enforcement officer is taking someone into custody, they dont need other people coming to the rescue, so to speak, of this person being detained, Freeman said.

The problem with that, said Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, is the bill does not specify it refers only to officers in the midst of making an arrest. The vagueness of the bill means it can apply to any officer conducting official duty, which is a broad category.

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, said Friday that Republican legislators are trying to frame the bill as one about police safety, but the issue is more complex.

Yes, we want to make sure our officers are safe at the end of the day. There are much more limited ways that can be done, he said. Legislation already on the books deals with interference with law enforcement.

Pol said he expects the legislation to be challenged by the ACLU on First Amendment grounds. A similar measure in Arizona that restricts encroachment to 8 feet has been challenged. Currently, further implementation of the law is enjoined while the court case proceeds.

The courts have established citizens have the right to film police and laws interfering with that right are problematic, Pol said.

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The way the bill currently is written, police could stack officers at 25 feet intervals forcing observers much further back than the stated 25 feet, he said. It also impedes peoples ability to record what is happening in their own home. Arizonas law deals limits the perimeter to an arrest while the Indiana bill covers any lawful duty, a much more broad classification that can mean basically anything, Pol said.

He was disappointed that amendments  such as one that would have limited the rule to individuals attempting to actively interfere  were defeated. Pol said those saying this is about officer safety are going to be surprised to learn they are facing charges of interfering with a police investigation.

To me this is going to do the opposite. Instead of helping police, people are going to assume they are (enacting the law) for nefarious reasons, Pol said, adding measures like this erode community trust.

The whole idea is about officer safety, but at what cost, he said.

Randolph, during the session, said if officers were dealing with his minor child in a way that raised his concerns, he, like most other parents, would not be following those police commands.

They can tell me to get out of the room. That is what this bill allows police to do, to kick you out of your own house, Randolph said.

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Like Pol he said the measure will wind up in the courts and will leave local law enforcement agencies on the hook for costly litigation.

This is another defund the police bill. I cant support it, Randolph said.
An Orlando family is blaming the city after sewage flowed from the street and soaked the inside of their new home.

The custom-built home on Lake Highland was just finished in August and will already have to go through a major renovation.

Homeowner Julie Simon said the city was warned about a potential problem last year, and that this has happened to other homes in the neighborhood at different times.

Simon said the sewage started bubbling up from a pipe and flowed through their yard and inside their home. It soaked the walls, went through floors, and seemed to spread.

Read: We are serious: NAACP calls for visitors to avoid traveling to Florida

She said they have 18 inches of drywall that will have to be taken out and replaced.

Simon said her builder contacted the city back in August expressing concerns about the sewer in the neighborhood.

The email to the city read in part: We had our plumber check for an emergency service and he believes that the terra-cotta sewer pipe under the road is likely damaged and taking on water.

Read: Family remembers Tyre Sampson 1 year after his death on the Orlando FreeFall ride

But in a statement Friday, the city said this was unrelated to the situation in August, which it said was caused by residential construction on the property.

The city said the pipe clog was caused by non-flushable debris like shop towels and grease, and that it plans to add a liner to the interior of the pipe to prevent this from happening in the future and has set-up a routine cleaning cycle.

Simon said shes pleased the city paid for a crew to help clean up the mess.

Read: Python hunters find missing Marion County woman, 75, in South Florida

The city said the incident it a good remineder to residents of what can and cannot be flushed down the drain, saying in part:

This is a great reminder to all our public that they play an important role in the functioning of the citys waste systems and we have reinstituted our social media education programs to advise home-owners of what should not be flushed, there is a post from this week https://fb.watch/jtLOISya94/, plus this site people can visit, Orlando.gov/WaterEducation. The best prevention to not have a recurrence not just here but anywhere in the collection system now and after the lining is completed is for all residents to not flush these types of debris.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The Hong Kong government has announced a slew of measures aimed at persuading the wealth-management offices of high-net-worth families to set up in the city, including a revamped investment-migration scheme that will count yuan-denominated assets, as well as the creation of art-storage facilities at Hong Kong's airport.

The policy initiatives came as the city kicked off its Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit on Friday, part of an effort to convince at least 200 family offices - the private companies wealthy families set up to manage investments and philanthropic efforts - to choose Hong Kong as their base by the end of 2025.

"For those of you interested in setting up a family office here, I want you to know that the thriving development of your business in Hong Kong is a central policy priority of the Hong Kong government," Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at the principal dinner of the summit on Friday.

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.

"We want to ensure that our family offices have the comprehensive services they need to thrive in Hong Kong."

Earlier, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu said the measures represent "holistic offerings" for global family offices and asset owners.

"The attractiveness of Hong Kong goes beyond our role as an investment and financing centre, and the policy measures are formulated to showcase the full charm of Hong Kong as an international cosmopolitan city from multiple dimensions," Hui said.

Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury, speaks at the Wealth For Good summit in Hong Kong on March 24, 2023. Photo: Handout alt=Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury, speaks at the Wealth For Good summit in Hong Kong on March 24, 2023. Photo: Handout>

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The government's existing Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES), commonly known as an investment-migration scheme, was suspended in 2015. The scheme is being brought back. It allowed wealthy individuals and their family members to get residency in Hong Kong as long as they invested a certain amount of money in stocks, bonds, investment-linked insurance policies and other assets.

The resurrected scheme will also be revamped, with proposed changes allowing yuan-denominated assets to count towards the threshold, in addition to assets denominated in Hong Kong dollars, according to a government statement. More details are expected later, according to the statement.

Chi-man Kwan, group CEO and co-founder of the Raffles family office, said the new CIES scheme was a "welcomed" introduction. The Hong Kong-headquartered family office is optimistic about the city's potential to attract high-net worth individuals, Kwan said. The scheme's success, however, will depend on its forthcoming details, such as eligibility, investment criteria and application processes, he added.

"The scheme's competitiveness must be evaluated in light of other factors, such as tax incentives and the regulatory framework," Kwan said. "We look forward to receiving more information to better assess the programme's appeal to investors and the financial community at large."

Exemption from the profits tax for family-owned investment vehicles is also on the table, and the government plans to further review the existing preferential-tax regimes for funds and carried interest. The tax incentives, in a bill that is expected to come to a vote in the Hong Kong legislature soon, will help Hong Kong compete with Singapore, which introduced tax concessions in 2020.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the policy announcements demonstrate the government's determination to develop Hong Kong into a leading global family-office hub and "pool capital from around the world".

"It will also promote the sustainable development of Hong Kong's financial and professional services, innovation and technology, green, arts and culture and philanthropy, creating strong impetus for Hong Kong's growth," Chan said in a statement issued on Friday.

"Hong Kong in recent years has seen solid development in terms of green and sustainable finances, innovation development, art and culture industries as well as philanthropy, making the city an ideal base for global family offices."

The government's list of incentives also includes the establishment of facilities for art storage and display at Hong Kong International Airport, to encourage rich families to store their art collections in Hong Kong.

Left to right: Andrew L. Cohen of JPMorgan, Adam Kai Fai Kwok of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Efrat Peled of Arison Investments, Paul Desmarais III of Sagard and Philip Sohmen of Kiri Capital participate in a panel discussion during the Wealth for Good event on March 24, 2023. Photo: Handout alt=Left to right: Andrew L. Cohen of JPMorgan, Adam Kai Fai Kwok of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Efrat Peled of Arison Investments, Paul Desmarais III of Sagard and Philip Sohmen of Kiri Capital participate in a panel discussion during the Wealth for Good event on March 24, 2023. Photo: Handout>

The Private Wealth Management Association welcomed the Hong Kong government's policy changes and was confident the measures would significantly strengthen Hong Kong's "already enviable" position as a centre for global family offices and private wealth management, it said in a statement.

Aik-Ping Ng, head of family office advisory for Asia-Pacific at HSBC global private banking, echoed these sentiments. "We continue to see rising interest in family offices from our ultra-high-net-worth clients, whose multifaceted and intergenerational needs would benefit from such a set-up," Ng said in a statement on Friday.

HSBC hosted a wine-and-dine event with its clients and Grammy-winning recording artist Pharrell Williams on Wednesday to promote the launch of a new offering that allows high-net-worth individuals to get loans using "passion assets" such as art as collateral.

Other government measures introduced on Friday included the establishment of a new Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy under the Financial Services Development Council, a move aimed at cultivating a talent pool for family offices in Hong Kong.

The summit was attended by over 100 key decision makers from global family offices and their professional teams across Hong Kong, the mainland, North America, Europe, other Asian regions, the Middle East and other parts of the world, according to a government release on Friday evening.

Attendees at the event on Friday included CP Group's senior chairman Dhanin Chearavanont and his eldest son Soopakij. The Chearavanonts, whose members have dominated Thailand's billionaires lists for decades, plan to set up a family office in Hong Kong to invest the clan's fortunes, which is seen as a coup and boosts the city's ambition of becoming Asia's wealth-management hub.

Other attendees included Hong Kong moguls Richard Li Tzar-kai and Ronnie Chan Chi-chung, as well as a number of global financial and philanthropic heavyweights.

At least 14 tycoons and chiefs of the world's leading family offices and organisations - including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Swiss bank UBS and Art Basel - were slated to speak at the closed-door event at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon Cultural District.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum, pictured on its opening day on July 3, 2022. Photo: AFP alt=The Hong Kong Palace Museum, pictured on its opening day on July 3, 2022. Photo: AFP>

"The Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit will open up a world of new opportunities for family offices from around the globe," said Stephen Phillips, the director-general of investment promotion at InvestHK in a statement.

"Hong Kong's fast-moving, dynamic business and cultural environment has shaped a unique East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. This aligns well with Hong Kong's role as a critical bridge, seamlessly connecting the mainland and global capital markets."

Daryl Ng Win-Hong, deputy chairman at Sino Group, who attended the event, said it was encouraging to see and meet many new friends interested in investing in Hong Kong.

"The whole event was well organised and coincided with the hugely popular Art Basel week," Ng said in a statement to the Post. "From the discussions throughout the day, it was very clear that the demand and interest to set up family offices in Hong Kong is strong, due to the city's unique economic position and strong fundamentals."

The event included four panel discussions touching on the themes of arts and culture, technology, sustainability and philanthropy.

"Hong Kong is strategically positioned to be a green finance hub and also as a strategic bridge that connects both the best [sustainable tech] start-ups from the west to China, and vice versa," said Poman Lo, vice chairman of Regal Hotels Group and founder of the Institute of Sustainability and Technology, in an interview on the sidelines of the summit. She was a moderator of the Wealth for Green panel at the summit.

Guests were entertained with a cultural performance in the evening, according to the summit's programme, including a traditional Chinese dragon dance and a gala dinner.

"It's a great turnout," said Patrick Tsang, the founder and chairman of Hong Kong-based family office Tsangs Group, who attended the event. "It will be definitely better if we see more international families, but it is a good start."

"I was impressed by the speech by Jerry Yang, co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo! He highlighted the future trends in tech development, how AI [artificial intelligence] will change the world in the next decades," Tsang said.

Other speakers included Bernard Charnwut Chan, the chairman of M Plus Museum, who highlighted the importance of art development in the city. Amy Lo, the co-head of UBS Wealth Management Asia-Pacific, told the audience the bank has always shown strong support towards art development in the city, citing the sponsorship of Art Basel as an example.

Richard Li, the younger son of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing and chairman and CEO of Pacific Century Group, talked about technology and its relationship with the insurance industry.

Horace Yip, head of Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area at Citi Private Bank, said the series of initiatives taken by Hong Kong were very welcome. "Many ultra-high-net-worth families in attendance have expressed interest in setting up here, so the wide-ranging initiatives announced today could not have been more timely," Yip said in a statement.

Additional reporting by Enoch Yiu, Peggy Sito

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.
By Philbert Girinema and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON/KIGALI (Reuters) -Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in the film "Hotel Rwanda," was released from a Rwandan prison on Friday, U.S. officials said, after his sentence was commuted following intense diplomacy by the United States.

Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident, was accompanied by a U.S. embassy official as he was moved from prison to the residence of Qatars ambassador in Kigali late on Friday, according to two senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters in Washington.

Rusesabagina was sentenced in September 2021 to 25 years over his ties to a group opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame that has an armed wing.

The Rwandan government announced earlier on Friday it was commuting Rusesabagina's sentence.

U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement welcoming Rusesabagina's release and thanking the governments of Rwanda and Qatar for making it possible.

Rusesabagina will remain in Rwanda for a couple of days before travelling to Doha and then to the United States, the officials said.

"There was no particular concession made by us as the government here," said one of the U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I think of this one much more as a sequence of steps that were worked out involving the Rwandan government, U.S. government and of course Paul himself."

Washington's historically close ties with Rwanda have been strained by the case and by U.S. allegations, denied by Kigali, that Rwanda has sent troops into neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and supports rebels there.

Stephanie Nyombayire, spokesperson for Rwandan President Paul Kagame, tweeted that the release was "the result of a shared desire to reset US-Rwanda relationship".

BOYCOTTED TRIAL

Rusesabagina, 68, was sentenced in September 2021. He denied the charges and boycotted the trial, which he and his supporters called a political sham.

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He also said he had been kidnapped from Dubai in 2019 and returned to Rwanda by force. Kagame denied any abduction, but suggested Rusesabagina had been tricked in Dubai into boarding a plane to Rwanda.

Washington designated him as "wrongly detained", partly because of what it called a lack of guarantees of a fair trial.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Kagame during a visit to Kigali in August and "spoke a great deal about the road map to Paul's eventual release," said a U.S. official familiar with the matter, adding that the intervention helped secure the early release.

A U.S. congressional aide familiar with the negotiations, who declined to be named, noted that the case had resonance far beyond Africa, adding: "I think it became clear to the Rwandans that this irritant was not going to go away."

"Hotel Rwanda" portrays Rusesabagina's success in saving more than 1,000 refugees, including his family, during the genocide in 1994 by sheltering them in the besieged hotel that he managed in Kigali.

RUSESABAGINA REGRETS

Rusesabagina, a vocal critic of Kagame, acknowledged having a leadership role in an opposition group, the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), but denied responsibility for attacks carried out in Rwanda by its armed wing, the Forces for National Liberation (FLN).

The trial judges said the two wings of the group were indistinguishable.

In a letter to Kagame, dated Oct. 14 and released on Friday by the Justice Ministry, Rusesabagina wrote: "I regret not taking more care to ensure that members of the MRCD coalition fully adhered to the principles of non-violence."

He wrote that if he was pardoned and freed, he would spend the rest of his days in the United States, "in quiet reflection".

Nineteen others had sentences that were likewise commuted and are expected to be released, government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said. Makolo said the underlying conviction remained in force; the Justice Ministry said this meant those whose terms had been commuted were in effect being released on licence.

(Reporting by Philbert Girinema, Hereward Holland, Andrew Mills and Aaron Ross; additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Alex Richardson, Grant McCool and Cynthia Osterman)
Rwandan government critic Paul Rusesabagina, whose efforts to save people during the 1994 genocide were portrayed in hit Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda", has been freed from prison after more than 900 days behind bars.

Rusesabagina was released late Friday and will return to the United States after the Kigali government commuted his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges.

His detention sparked criticism in the West and among rights groups, and highlighted Rwanda's record of crushing political dissent and free speech under President Paul Kagame.

Rusesabagina was jailed after he was found to have backed an armed rebel group in a trial that his supporters denounced as a sham.

The 68-year-old has been in failing health and his family said he was tortured during his 939 days in detention.

His sentence was "commuted by presidential order", as were the prison terms of 19 co-defendants convicted alongside him, government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told AFP.

Shortly before midnight on Friday, Rusesabagina arrived at the Qatari ambassador's residence in Kigali, a US official said.

He will likely stay there for "a couple of days" before flying to Qatar, which helped broker his release, and then to the United States where he has permanent residency, another US official said.

Rwanda praised the role of both the United States and Qatar in resolving the case, after Kagame held talks in Doha earlier this month.

"This is the result of a shared desire to reset (the) US-Rwanda relationship," Kagame's press secretary Stephanie Nyombayire tweeted Friday, adding the close relationship between Rwanda and Qatar was "key".

US President Joe Biden welcomed Rusesabagina's release, calling it a "happy outcome".

"Paul's family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today's good news," he said in a statement.

- Leave 'politics behind me' -

Rusesabagina, also a Belgian citizen, was accused of supporting the National Liberation Front (FLN), a rebel group blamed for attacks in Rwanda in 2018 and 2019 that killed nine people.

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He denied any involvement in the attacks, but was a founder of the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), an opposition group of which the FLN is seen as the armed wing.

He was arrested after a plane en route to Burundi was diverted to Rwanda in August 2020 in an incident the United Nations has described as an "abduction".

Rusesabagina had left Rwanda in 1996 and relocated to Belgium with his wife and children.

Nearly a decade later, he became an almost overnight celebrity with the release of the 2004 film "Hotel Rwanda" starring Don Cheadle.

The film was inspired by his experience as a hotel manager during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when his family and hundreds of guests -- mainly ethnic Tutsis like his wife -- took refuge inside the Mille Collines as machete-wielding mobs killed people outside the hotel gates.

Rusesabagina is credited with helping save almost 1,200 lives during the 100-day slaughter that left about 800,000 Rwandans dead and ended with a new Tutsi-dominated government.

He went on to become a vocal critic of Kagame, and his tirades against the leader led him to be treated as an enemy of the state.

In a letter released by the government on Friday but dated October 2022, Rusesabagina pledged to bow out of political life in exchange for a pardon.

"I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me."

- 'Means to silence opponents' -

Friday's announcement came a day after Kagame left close ally Qatar, where he had signalled his government was looking at ways of resolving the case.

Talks on a potential release started at the end of 2022 and a breakthrough came last week in discussions between Kagame and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.

Rusesabagina's case has long been a source of contention between Washington and Kigali, and it was raised by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Rwanda in August last year.

The United States has said Rusesabagina was "wrongfully detained" but Kagame last year insisted the United States could not "bully" him into ordering his release.

Blinken said in a statement on Friday that the United States was "grateful" to Rwanda for the release.

Last year, Rusesabagina's family filed a $400 million lawsuit in the United States against Kagame, the Rwandan government and other figures for allegedly abducting and torturing him.

Victoire Ingabire, another Kagame critic who was also jailed on terrorism charges before being pardoned in 2018, said the move aims to silence Rwanda's opposition.

"Once a person has been convicted by the Rwandan courts, they are stripped of their rights to engage in politics, and a presidential pardon does not restore those rights," she told AFP.

str-txw/pvh/lb/mca
A new administration rule for retirement plans will be implemented as planned after the House failed to override President Joe Biden's first veto Thursday.

In a 219-200 vote, the House fell short of the two-thirds majority needed in each chamber to undo a presidential veto. The outcome had largely been expected, because the measure initially passed with slim margins in both the House and the Senate.

Congress this month sent Biden a bipartisan measure that would have blocked a Labor Department rule allowing some retirement plans to weigh environmental, social and corporate governance factors when investments are selected, instead of focusing solely on the best rate of return.

The GOP-led House had approved the bill in a 216-204 vote, and the Senate passed it 50-46, with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana joining Republicans.

Biden vetoed the measure Monday.

In a video explaining his decision, Biden said the legislation would put retirement savings "at risk."

They couldnt take into consideration investments that would be impacted by climate, impacted by overpaying executives, and thats why I decided to veto it, Biden said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Bidens veto was totally appropriate in a statement Monday that criticized Republicans for their attempts to block the investment rule.

For House Republicans to tell American companies they cannot pursue profits and societal goals when they wish to would be counterproductive and un-American, Schumer said.

The Senate will not take up the override because it has already failed in the House.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
These culture wars are a distraction from the real issues that schools are facing every day, Denise Forte, CEO and president of Education Trust, said of the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which House Republicans introduced.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would grant parents more control over their childrens education.

If the U.S. Senate also passes the legislation and President Joe Biden signs it into law, it would permit parents to have access to a list of books and other reading materials in their kids school libraries and would ensure that teachers provide parents with their class curricula.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy(R-CA), upper right, and other House GOP members hold a press event on March 1, 2023 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to highlight the introduction of the Parents Bill of Rights. (Photo by Bill OLeary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Other provisions in the bill include parental consent for students to change their gender pronouns or sex-based accommodations, such as bathrooms and locker rooms. The legislation also allows parents to review a schools budget and expenditures.

Denise Forte, president and CEO of The Education Trust, told theGrio that statutes like the Parents Bill of Rights Act really arent about the parents.

They do nothing to invite parents to the table or really engage parents. Instead, what theyve done is made Congress the National School Board, a teacher and a librarian all at once by really limiting the role of parents in their own childs education, she said.

She continued, I think the message being sent is that the current public education system doesnt matter. That students of color and what they want to learn and how they want to participate in school doesnt matter. What parents really want, doesnt matter.

House Democrats have slammed their Republican colleagues for what they see as an educational power grab and attempt to further ban topics they dont like, including race, sexuality and gender identity.

On the House floor, while debating the Parents Bill of Rights Act, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a rebuke of the legislation.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., attends a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Dec. 13, 2022 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Ocasio-Cortez has criticized the Parents Bill of Rights Act, likening it to fascism. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

The New York congresswoman said the bill was an attempt to take some of the most heinous legislation that we are seeing passed on the state level to attack our trans and LGBT as well as people from marginalized communities right to exist in schools.

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Ocasio-Cortez held up several books that have already been banned in some school districts as examples of the type of censorship she and other Democrats believe will result from the federal legislation. One of those books was The Life of Rosa Parks.

This apparently is too woke by the Republican Party, she said.

The bill comes as Republican-led states like Texas and Florida require that teachers get parental consent to teach certain topics. In some cases, several states have either passed or introduced legislation to ban the teaching of critical race theory, which restricts classroom conversations around race, sexuality and systemic inequality.

In recent years, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced efforts to limit race education in the states public school system.

In 2021, he took steps to ban critical race theory (CRT) and said, In Florida, we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory. We wont allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other.

Earlier this year, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued an executive order banning the teaching of CRT during her first weeks in office.

The order stated, Critical Race Theory is antithetical to the traditional American values of neutrality, equality, and fairness. It emphasizes skin color as a persons primary characteristic, thereby resurrecting segregationist values, which America has fought so hard to reject.

Activist Perry Redd told theGrio that DeSantis and other GOP leaders are whitewashing American history by diminishing the teaching of Black history.

Hundreds participate in the National Action Network demonstration on Feb. 15, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis rejection of a high school African American history course. (Alicia Devine /Tallahassee Democrat via AP)

This is a snapshot of Americas digression from the civil rights era to now. Ive heard it said when [former President] Barack Obama was elected that were in a post-racial America, and nothing has been further from the truth, he said.

Critics say the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which aims to modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, would have devastating consequences for students and educators.

Forte told theGrio that the Houses introduction of the Parents Bill of Rights Act is a slippery slope Whats next? she asked. I mean, destabilizing the public education system is really destabilizing democracy  theyre looking at any way possible to make sure that our public education system wont be existing.

In the meantime, Democrats are working on their own bill that they hope will be a more authentic collaboration between parents and teachers to ensure students of all ages receive historically accurate instruction.

However, Forte told theGrio that the debate over who can teach what in the classroom puts the focus on the wrong thing. These culture wars are a distraction from the real issues that schools are facing every day and that is teacher shortages, the lack of real living wage pay scales for teachers, the lack of really quality professional development for teachers, she said.

Forte continued, If we really supported teachers in the way that they need supporting, we wouldnt have this conversation about CRT or banning books or whether a kid has the ability to change their pronouns. We wouldnt be having those conversations.

The Parents Bill of Rights Act will now move on to the Senate, where Democrats are likely to block it from passing.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post House passes Parents Bill of Rights Act, giving parents control of childrens education appeared first on TheGrio.
Wadhurst in East Sussex has been named as the best place to live in the UK. (PA Images via Getty Images)

A small market town in East Sussex has been named the best place to live in the UK.

In its annual list, the Sunday Times said Wadhurst was the country's ideal location. Judges praised the town for its good schools, convenient transport links, high street shops and "stunning scenery".

With a population of fewer than 5,000 people, Wadhurst is the smallest place to win in the 11-year history of the award, and finished top of a list of 72 locations.

Why was Wadhurst named the UK's 'best place to live'?

The Sunday Times judges said Wadhurst offers pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature.

They praised the Wadhurst Warriors, a group of fathers who began fundraising for the towns primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole village.

Wadhurst residents say it is a "lovely" place to live. (PA Images via Getty Images)

The town was recognised for its numerous activities available for children, the farmers market, clubs, classes and the community cinema at the Community Hall.

How much does property cost in Wadhurst?

According to Zoopla, the average sold price for a property in Wadhurst in the past year is 716,000.

The average cost of a detached house is 1.1m, with the average for a semi-detached house 410,000.

The average terraced home in Wadhurst costs 356,000 and the average cost of a flat is 275,000.

Rightmove's figures differ slightly for the East Sussex market town.

It states that the average cost of a detached house in the past year was 941,000, while a semi-detached property cost 521,000.

A cafe on the high street in Wadhurst, East Sussex. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Wadhurst Castle in Wadhurst, East Sussex. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Rightmove said the average terraced home in Wadhurst costs 462,000.

Like Zoopla, its average flat price was also 275,000.

Amanda Bussey, negotiator at Burnetts estate agents in Wadhurst, told Yahoo News UK: "Cocooned by stunning countryside, including Bewl Water Reservoir, properties have always sold at a premium in Wadhurst.

"The mainline railway station is attractive to commuters with a fast and regular service to London combined with an array of independent shops and amenities."

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According to Burnett's, a five-bedroom detached home can go on the market from between 850,000 to 1.35m.

It said a three-bedroom terraced house can cost about 425,000, while a semi-detached two-bedroom cottage can be valued at 270,000.

Burnett's said a two-bedroom flat could cost about 225,000.

Wadhurst in East Sussex topped a list of 72 places. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Gill Weavers, residential sales manager at Lambert & Foster estate agents in Wadhurst, told Yahoo News UK: "Wadhurst is a thriving town with many generational people living and working here.

"The big shift of working patterns during and after the pandemic with people working from home has made Wadhurst a very attractive place to live as we have our own station with regular services into central London."

She said her estate agents had just sold a modern four-bedroom property for 795,000 and an Edwardian detached house for 845,000. A new set of apartments coming on to the market will range from 210,000 to 520,000, she said.

Asked about the impact of the Sunday Times list, Weavers said: "With it being even more on the map now than before I would expect demand to rise and with it house prices."

How much does it cost to rent property in Wadhurst?

Debbie DeVito, branch manager at Ashton Burkinshaw lettings agents in Wadhurst, said the town is "a lovely area to live in".

She told Yahoo News UK: "It's always been a desirable area and anything we do put on the market goes very quickly.

"Properties are thin on the ground at the moment. People aren't moving out. Rental prices have gone up an awful lot over the last year, although they have started to level out."

She said a detached house with five bedrooms can come with a rental value of up to 4,500 a month.

Renting a one-bedroom flat costs about 900 per month, while a two-bedroom flat could cost up to 1,100 and a two-bedroom house as much as 1,650.

A grocers on Wadhurst high street in East Sussex. (PA Images via Getty Images)

What do locals say about Wadhurst?

Wadhurst Warriors chairman Chris Poulton said: We do believe Wadhurst is the best place to live and that is down to us all working together to make it a place where everyone can be supported.

We dont do it for ourselves, we do it for the community."

Paula Lee, 58, who owns the @ONE homeware shop on the high street, said: "It is a lovely place to live and it has got a good sense of community.

Read more: Bizarre Rightmove ad pays tribute to 80s cult classic

There are some really lovely shops, it is a well-rounded high street  there is a nice independent butcher, grocers and a nice community spirit.

The countryside in this area is just outstanding. There is lots of walking and lots of sporting activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

A parish council spokesperson said: This is really exciting news. Wadhurst is a lovely, lovely place to live with a great community feel.

What makes it really special is the community, We have lots of different village clubs and a really active community."
WASHINGTON  A group of lawmakers led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) visited the D.C. jail Friday where Donald Trump supporters have been held for rioting at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The delegation consisted of House Oversight Committee members investigating the supposed unequal treatment of Jan. 6 rioters Greene describes as political prisoners.

The D.C. jail is notorious for its poor treatment of inmates. Still, Greene and committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) have suggested theyre only interested in the plight of rioters being mistreated due to their politics.

After touring the facility for about two hours with about a dozen colleagues, including two Democrats, Greene told reporters the visit confirmed her view that theres a double standard.

Theres a very different treatment for pretrial Jan. 6 defendants, she said.

The two Democrats from the committee, Reps. Robert Garcia (Ca.) and Jasmine Crockett (Texas), agreed that Jan. 6 defendants received different treatment  except they said it was better treatment.

The conditions in the Jan. 6 area are the best conditions in this whole facility, Garcia told HuffPost, saying the group can spend most of the day with each other, outside of their cells and away from the general jail population, with access to tablets for entertainment.

They can text their family any time of the day, Garcia said. And theyre here because they committed serious crimes and harm, mostly to law enforcement.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the committee, blasted the visit in a lengthy statement as a desperate attempt to whitewash the crimes of 20 incarcerated January 6 insurrectionists and nothing to do with objectively examining or improving jail conditions.

Asked why she joined the Republican-led delegation, Crockett said, I mean, there had to be somebody that was going to be willing to tell the truth.

The facility has an older wing and a newer one where the Jan. 6 defendants have been held. Crockett said its a bit nicer than the older part of the complex and that the Jan. 6 crowd has its own communal area.

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They legitimately are by themselves, and they actually have a lot more access to the technology, Crockett said.

The visit is part of a broader effort by House Republicans to recast the violent attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters as more of a rowdy tourist visit  and a pretext for the weaponization of government against Trump supporters.

On Thursday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) met with Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot dead by police during the siege as she tried to climb through a barricaded doorway inside the Capitol. McCarthy had previously said he thought the officer did his job. Witthoeft told a reporter after the meeting that the speaker had been delightful.

In recent months Witthoeft has been a regular presence at the Capitol and outside the jail, where she maintains a vigil supporting Jan. 6 defendants.

Inside the jail, the inferior treatment Republicans described seemed to be based largely on conversations with the Jan. 6 inmates, who were allowed to talk to the lawmakers on Friday. Greene and her colleagues, including Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), said they complained of faulty doors, threats from other inmates and guards, insufficient medical care and lack of access to educational materials or court records.

Asked if she had talked to any inmates not in the jail for Jan. 6 crimes, Greene said officials wouldnt allow it.

Most inmates at D.C. jail are city residents either awaiting trial or sentencing or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor offense. Nonviolent offenders are usually not held in jail until their court dates.

Greene has claimed nonviolent Trump supporters have been held in jail for years while awaiting trial for merely setting foot on the Capitol grounds. However, Greene has not named names, and she and her colleagues declined to do so on Friday.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department previously told HuffPost that most pretrial Jan. 6 detainees committed violent offenses and that none were charged solely with misdemeanors.

The website Just Security obtained a list of the 20 Capitol riot defendants held at D.C. jail and reported this week that all of them have been charged with committing serious criminal offenses, such as assaulting police officers.

Roughly a thousand people have been charged with crimes for their roles in the riot.

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The Republican-led House failed on Thursday to override President Joe Biden's veto of a resolution that would have prevented retirement fund managers from accounting for certain social factors when making investment decisions.

The vote was 219-200 in favor of overcoming the veto, but a two-thirds majority vote is needed.

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the only Democrat who voted yes. Fifteen members did not vote.

The House initially passed H.J. Res. 30 on Feb. 28 with the support of all Republicans and Golden. It took on the issue of environmental, social and governance (ESG), specifically to prevent retirement fund managers covered under federal law from including that strategy in their calculus.

ESG -- labeled by critics as "woke capitalism" -- has become a major target by conservatives who say it is unfair to certain companies, including in the oil and gas industry, and can be bad for investors. Supporters of the policy say it guides them to invest in issues they believe help society and reflects changing trends.

MORE: Biden poised for 1st presidential veto, to protect ESG regulation

Following Biden's veto on Monday, the first of his presidency, House Republicans took up the issue again. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said his conference would continue to fight against ESG.

"House Republicans will keep fighting to overturn this rule allowing ESG investing and to make sure Americans are getting the best retirement they can, not the most woke," the leader wrote in his weekly floor lookout.

PHOTO: FILE - U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise speaks in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, March 10, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters, FILE)

But the vote to override Biden's veto -- the House GOP's first attempt to do so in the new Congress -- was always unlikely to succeed. The measure needed two-thirds of the lower chamber's support to advance to the Senate, where it would also need a two-thirds majority vote.

While there is a slim Republican majority in the House, the GOP is in the minority in the Senate.

Before Thursday, Golden had not signaled what he would do on the effort to override the veto. He has a record of opposing members of his caucus: He voted against the Houses version of Build Back Better in the last Congress.

Story continues

MORE: What is ESG investing and why are some Republicans criticizing it?

Legislative action on the ESG issue came after a Labor Department rule under Biden took effect at the beginning of February allowing retirement fund managers to consider ESG factors. But it is an issue Republicans in Congress oppose because they say it is wrong to consider non-financial variables, like climate change.

House Republicans quickly introduced a resolution to block the Biden administration's rule, which gained sufficient support in both chambers of Congress. After H.J. Res. 30 passed the House, it passed the Senate on March 1 with the bipartisan support of Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana.

Biden vetoed the measure on Monday, saying then that the Department of Labor's rule "protects the hard-earned life savings and pensions of tens of millions of workers and retirees across the country."

ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report.

House Republicans fail to override Biden's 1st presidential veto originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Columnist Phil Potempa, standing left, with Joanne Urschel, toast newly engaged couple David Kominiak, seated left, and Mary Beth Schultz for their wedding announcement at Schultzs Valparaiso home on March 19, 2023. - Original Credit: Provided (Handout / HANDOUT)

I became friends with Mary Beth Schultz after a newsroom editor assigned me to follow the blossoming of her cooking hobby into her opportunity to compete for $1 million in Orlando in 2006 as one of the 100 finalists in the 42nd annual Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Mother of two beloved daughters, Maggie and Lindsey, and now also a doting grandmother, her famous culinary creation and kitchen claim-to-fame recipe for Chicken Fajita Quiche was dreamed up as an idea that came to her while on the mend from a broken leg.

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She didnt take home the top prize, and as the old saying goes, and so thats how the cookie crumbles.

However, Mary Beth has still always thought of the experience as a life-changing winning opportunity.

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Another new and exciting chapter in Mary Beths life was announced this month during her annual St. Patricks Day party at her home in Valparaiso last weekend, which I attended, joining Mary Beth surrounded by family and friends.

After two decades of evading Cupids bow, rather than cooking rice, Mary Beth Schultz will be showered by rice once again.

She announced her engagement with fiance David Kominiak, also of Valparaiso, during her Sunday afternoon party, and I joined our shared friend Joanne Urschel for the congratulatory toasting with our raised glasses.

Davids daughter Jenny and husband Greg attended to share in the celebration, and Davids out-of-state son Jason and wife Ciara will help with toasting at the wedding and reception set for September. Mary Beth and David met through a connection via their strong bond shared in their Catholic faith.

Besides her cooking and baking notoriety associated with the Pillsbury Bake-Off, Mary Beth has an even greater distinction courtesy of her many years leading the success of The Caring Place in Valparaiso.

She retired in October 2020 as president and CEO of The Caring Place Inc., the nonprofit organization, which provides service and shelter for victims of violence and their families.

Under Schultzs two decades of leadership, The Caring Place completed a successful $3 million capital campaign and opened the new 48-bed, ADA-compliant domestic violence shelter, the Center for Change, in 2019 in Valparaiso. Schultz shepherded Womens Recovery, a partnership between The Caring Place and Porter-Starke Services. She supported the launch of The Amanda Forum, an initiative that empowers teens to engage in healthy dating relationships.

As a nonprofit social service organization serving the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault victims, The Caring Place primarily serves victims in Lake, Porter and Starke counties in Northwest Indiana, but can also assist victims across the country.

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Established in 1977 by a group of volunteers in Hobart, including Regina Mellon, the agency has grown with Schultz starting her role in June 2000, replacing Sharon Gilbert. Schultz, originally from Hobart, has worked in health care since 1972, including her career as a psychiatric nurse in Chicago and Valparaiso, and managing the employee assistance program at Porter-Starke Counseling Center in Valparaiso. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, presented Mary Beth with the Sagamore of the Wabash award, our states highest distinction, at a ceremony in March 2021.

David has enjoyed a long and successful career in accounting for decades with his degree in business administration from Indiana University in 1969 and earning his Certified Public Accountant credential (CPA) in 1972 and starting with a national CPA firm in the mid-1970s. He was quickly drawn to his assigned responsibilities to audit of the Fortune 500 companies, as well as business planning, and information systems, with the latter including many years as an internal auditor of information systems at large, diversified national companies.

He found his niche with a specialty in government numbers, at both state and federal levels. As a senior bank examiner at the State of Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Trust Companies, Daves work focused on supervision and regulation of State chartered banks, and compliance with State banking laws, regulations and Safe and Sound practices. State bank sizes ranged from traditional community banks to the largest state banks with $30 billion in assets.

Though somewhat retired, Dave still consults for the U.S. Federal Reserve on an ad hoc basis regarding Financial Institution Technology Service Providers and Federally Chartered Financial Institutions.

At last weekends engagement party, Mary Beth served a green variation of her favorite sherbet and ginger ale punch blend. Her blushing pink version of this punch recipe is just as pleasing and perfect for Easter gatherings.

Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org or mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.

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Mary Beths Blushing Pink Punch

Serves 14

1 lemon sliced

1 orange sliced

1 frozen (12 ounce) canister of lemonade, thawed

1 quart rainbow sherbet

1 liter of raspberry ginger ale

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1 liter grapefruit soda (like 50/50)

1 bottle of sparkling wine (optional)

Directions:

1. Arranged fruit slices in the bottom of a gelatin mold ring and cover with thawed lemonade and enough water to fill to brim. Place mold in freezer until solid.

2. Place frozen mold in punch bowl and cover with sherbet.

3. Add both bottles of soda to punch bowl, and if desired, one bottle of sparkling wine.
As winters chilly grip thaws, its time to spend our days on porches, patios or in the backyard. A key part of those warm weather activities is showing off your outdoor culinary skills to friends and family. During the cold months, your grill has likely been dormant, so its time to give it a thorough cleaning before it gets fired up several times a week. Some of us keep the grill going year-round, but spring is a great time to do a deep clean before the official outdoor cooking season starts. Here are a few tips and tricks that will hopefully make things easier.

Disassemble, scrub, reassemble

Weber's first pellet grill has potential to be a backyard powerhouse, but the smart features need work.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to cleaning anything you havent used in a while is to take it apart as much as you feel comfortable and give it a thorough wipe down. For grills, this means removing the grates and any bars or burner covers  basically, anything you can take out thats not the heating element. This gives you a chance to inspect the burners of your gas grill or the fire pot of a pellet model for any unsightly wear and tear. If those components are worn out or overly rusted, most companies offer replacements that you can easily swap out with a few basic tools.

Once all the pieces are out, start by scraping excess debris off all sides of the interior  with the help of some cleaner if needed. For a gas grill, this likely means pushing everything out through the grease trap. On a pellet grill, youll want to scrape the grease chute clear and out into the catch can, but youll also need to vacuum the interior with a shop vac  just like you would after every few hours of use. And while youre at it, go ahead and empty the hopper of any old pellets that have been sitting since labor day. Fuel thats been sitting in the grill for months wont give you the best results when it comes time to cook so you might as well start fresh.

Thankfully, pellet grill companies have made easy cleaning a key part of their designs. Webers SmokeFire has a set of metal bars on the inside that can be removed quickly to open up the bottom of the chamber. This is also a design feature of the companys gas grills. Simply vacuum or push the debris out the grease chute. The catch pan where all of the garbage ends up is also easy to access from the front of the grill, and you can remove the aluminum liner and replace it with a new one in seconds.

Traegers most recent pellet grills were also redesigned to improve cleaning. Most notably, grease and ash end up in the same keg thats easy to detach from the front of the grill. The company also allows you to quickly remove all of the interior components, though theyre larger than what you find on the SmokeFire. Lastly, Traeger moved the pellet chute to the front of the new Timberline and Ironwood, making it a lot more convenient to swap out wood varieties or empty an old supply.

Youll want to get as much of the food leftovers out of your grill as possible for a few reasons. First, that stuff is old and lots of build-up over time can hinder cooking performance and might impact flavor. The last thing you want is old food or grease burning off right under an expensive ribeye. Second, in the case of pellet grills, not properly clearing out grease and dust can be dangerous. Its easy for grease fires to start at searing temperatures and if theres enough pellet dust in the bottom of your grill, it can actually ignite or explode. Thats why companies tell you to vacuum it out after every few hours of use.

All of that dust, grease and debris should be removed before you fire the grill back up.

To actually clean the surfaces, youll want to get an all-natural grill cleaner. There are tons of options here, and it may take some time to find one you like. I typically use Traegers formula since its readily available at the places I buy pellets and Ive found it works well cutting through stuck-on muck. You want an all-natural grill cleaner over a regular household product as its safe to use on surfaces that will touch your food. Theyre also safe to use on the exterior of your grill without doing any damage to chrome, stainless steel or any other materials.

Spray down the inside and give things a few minutes to work. Wipe it all clean and go back over any super dirty spots as needed. Ditto for the grates, bars and any other pieces you removed. I like to lay these out on a yard waste trash bag (theyre bigger than kitchen bags) so all the stuff I scrape or clean off doesnt get all over my deck. You can use shop towels if you want to recycle or paper towels if not, but just know whatever you choose will be covered in nasty black grime so you wont want to just toss them in the clothes washer when youre done. A pre-wash in a bucket or sink is needed to make sure you dont transfer gunk from your grill to your business casuals.

In terms of tools, you dont need much. Ive tried that grill robot that claims to do the job for you, but Ive found sticking to the basics is more efficient. And honestly, when you get the hang of it, it doesnt take all that long. Its a good idea to have a wire brush specifically for the grates that you dont use to clean anything else. After all, this will be touching the same surfaces you put food on. I recommend another, smaller wire brush  the ones that look like big toothbrushes  for cleaning the burners on a gas grill. If you notice the flame isnt firing through one of the holes, you can use this to clean the pathway. Lastly, plastic is the way to go for a scraper, anything else and you risk scratching the surfaces of your grill. Sure, any damage done would be on the inside, but its still not a great feeling to knick up your previous investment.

Check for updates before your first cook

Traeger WiFire app

If you have a smart grill from the likes of Traeger, Weber or another company, youll want to plug it in and check for software updates well in advance of your first grilling session. Chances are you havent cooked much since last fall, which means companies have had months to push updates to their devices. Trust me, theres nothing worse than spending an hour trimming and seasoning a brisket only to walk outside to start the grill and it immediately launches into the update process. This could extend the whole cooking time significantly depending on the extent of the firmware additions and strength of your WiFi.

Thankfully, checking for updates is quick and easy. All you need to do is turn on your grill and open up the companys app on your phone. If theres a download ready for your model, the mobile software will let you know and its usually quite prominent. If theres not a pop-up alert that displays immediately, you can check the settings menu just to make sure. Sometimes for smaller updates, a company might not beat you over the head to refresh. However, starting a fresh slate of firmware is always a safe bet and will ensure your grill is running at its best when it comes time to cook.

For a good time every time, clean after each use

Traeger Ironwood 650

Ill be the first to admit I dont adhere to my own advice here, but its nice to have goals. I will also be the first to tell you every single time I smoke a Boston Butt or some other super fatty cut of meat that I wish I wouldve done at least a quick cleaning right after the meal. Grease buildup is not only highly flammable but its much harder to clean once it cools and solidifies. Ditto for stuck-on sauce or cheese thats left on your grates after chicken or burgers. Its best to attack these things while the grill is still warm, but cooled down from the cook.

You dont necessarily have to break out the shop vac each time for your pellet grill or empty the grease bin. But youll want to make sure that stuff is away from the main cooking area for safety and so any burn off wont impact the flavor of your food. A few cups of hot water can cleanse the grease run-off while that wire brush I mentioned is best for the grates. It also doesnt hurt to do a light wipe down with an all-natural cleaner so everything is ready to go when you want to cook again.
SHENZHEN, China -Huawei Technologies Co Ltd has made breakthroughs in electronic design automation (EDA) tools for chips produced at and above 14-nanometre technology, Caijing reported on Friday, citing a speech by a senior executive.

Huawei will complete testing on the tools this year, rotating chairman Xu Zhijun said in a speech on Feb. 28, the Chinese financial news magazine reported. Huawei has developed 78 tools related to chip hardware and software, the report added.

The company did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

The announcement comes as Huawei and other Chinese technology companies rush to localise their supply chains in the face of mounting U.S. sanctions.

According to a transcript of Xu's remarks published by Caijing, Huawei cooperated with domestic EDA companies to create the software, "basically realising the localisation of EDA tools above 14nm."

Chip design companies use EDA software to produce the blueprints for chips before they are mass manufactured at fabs.

Huawei will also let partners and customers use the software, Xu added.

Chips produced at the 14nm level were first introduced in smartphones in the mid-2010s and are two to three generations behind leading-edge technology.

Huawei, a major supplier of equipment used in 5G telecommunications networks, has been the target of successive rounds of U.S. export controls since 2019, restricting its supply of chips and chip-design tools from U.S. companies.

The EDA software market is dominated by three overseas firms - Cadence Design Systems Inc and Synopsys Inc, which are headquartered in the United States, and Mentor Graphics, which is owned by Germany's Siemens AG.

China is home to a handful of domestic EDA software makers, but experts do not consider them globally competitive.

All three overseas EDA companies fell subject to Washington's sanctions against Huawei in 2020.

When the restrictions went into effect, the company's chip design division lost access to software and updates that would enable it to design low-node processors for its smartphones, as well as access to advanced manufacturing tools at chip production fabs.

The company's smartphone division saw sales tank as a result.

(Reporting by David Kirton in Shenzhen, Josh Horwitz and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Jamie Freed)
Samira Soto has lived in Isla Vista at CBC & The Sweeps apartments with her 4-year-old son for nearly three years. She grew up in Santa Barbara, and this is her home.

Last week, a notice of eviction was posted on her front door. She must be out by August.

Now, shes looking for a new place to live for her family.

I am a third-generation Santa Barbaran, Soto said. This is all I know. Its not an option to just go to the next town over when your whole family, your friends, your grandparents are here.

We deserve to also have a space where we can grow up alongside the generations that have been here with us previously and not feel like we are being pushed out of our hometown.

Soto and her son are among several hundred people who are being kicked out of their homes after Core Spaces  a Chicago-based company that says it is inventing the future of living  purchased apartment buildings at 775 Camino del Sur and 6711 and 6721 El Colegio Road. The company plans to renovate the buildings and intends to evict all residents while the work is completed.

Residents of The Sweeps in Isla Vista face eviction.

While Isla Vista is considered a college town because of its proximity to UC Santa Barbara, the unincorporated area for decades has been home to working-class families, many of them Latinx.

Those same families have been forced to compete with annual waves of college students who often can pay higher rents for the apartments, driving out generations of renters who previously lived there.

Landlords know this, and have been investing in apartment buildings recently with the goal of renovating them, evicting tenants and then charging higher rents.

According to Hayes Commercial Group, rental vacancy rates on Santa Barbara Countys South Coast are about 1.7%, and rents rose about 9% in 2022.

Apartment buildings are attractive to investors who are looking to buy into the South Coasts relatively old housing stock and then remodel to increase rents and see a larger return on their investment.

Story continues

In 2022, there were 20 apartment building transactions on the South Coast, with a total of $141 million  the largest total since 2015.

Core Spaces told Noozhawk that the companys team is working directly alongside our residents to provide resources, financial assistance and letters of recommendation for relocation.

We have planned substantial remodeling for the property that includes work that cannot be reasonably accomplished in a safe manner with tenants in place, said Katy Darnaby, a Core Spaces spokeswoman.

She said about 550 residents will be affected, but tenants told Noozhawk that the number of people is much higher and closer to 1,000.

We are allowing as many tenants as possible to continue living in the community until the end of their current lease term, Darnaby said. We have been able to honor the full lease terms for nearly all our existing tenants.

We recognize that any relocation is a hardship for residents.

However, Core Spaces may not have anticipated the community backlash.

Immediately after tenants spoke out, Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Laura Capps moved swiftly into action.

On Wednesday morning, Capps and her chief of staff, Chris Henson, were out walking the neighborhood, talking to tenants to glean information and offer their support as they pursue options to stave off the evictions.

My heart goes out to our neighbors being displaced, and I hope to find solutions to alleviate the stress and burden of finding a new home in a very difficult rental market, Capps said.

She had been working with the tenants to connect them with various organizations, including 2-1-1, the Isla Vista Tenants Union, the Legal Aid Foundation, the UCSB Associated Students Legal Resource Center, the UCSB Financial Crisis Response Team and others.

Capps said the evictions hurt the communitys most vulnerable.

This travesty is happening to families who have lived in this complex for decades, diligently paying their rent each month so that they may provide a secure space for their children, Capps said. It is happening to students, who struggle each year to find housing due to UCSBs failure to provide housing for its students.

Darnaby said the company will keep the community posted.

We will be complying with all applicable legal requirements, and our team will continue to keep residents and local media informed of our timeline and ongoing next steps, Darnaby said.

Resident Kevon Ha was walking his dog Wednesday out front of his apartment. He was one of the people who received an eviction notice.

It seems like they all want to cut us off as soon as possible so they can do their renovations, Ha said. Theres easily a thousand people who are going to be looking for new places to live at the end of this year.

The eviction notices were unclear, Ha said. They noted that tenants had the option of leaving within 60 days of when the notice was served, or by Aug. 6.

Has lease ends at the end of August. He said many students, including his roommates, have summer school classes, and now they will have to find a new place to live.

This is going to exacerbate how bad the housing crisis in Isla Vista already is, Ha said.

Ha, a senior at UC Santa Barbara, is originally from Los Angeles, and he said he cant wait to leave the area and the conditions of Isla Vista.

As someone who is not from Santa Barbara County, to see the dichotomy between high-income and low-income Santa Barbarans, its kind of pathetic, Ha said. So much of Santa Barbara, in my opinion, should not be what it is infrastructurally.

The Isla Vista Tenants Union has started a Facebook group to help with the situation. An item on a posted fact sheet in the group states that if they dont have permits, this might be a good legal unlawful detainer (eviction lawsuit) defense.

For Soto and her son, the situation is daunting. She has a Section 8 subsidized housing voucher to live at the apartment. Her son has an individualized education plan and attends Isla Vista Elementary School.

The eviction notice comes after she and other tenants already had to relocate for three weeks in January because the previous owners said they needed to fix mold and flooding because of the storms.

When we received notice that we had new owners, it kind of gave us hope that we might have repairs actually done, Soto said. They spent most of December in and out of (the) houses. We didnt really have much privacy the past few months. They didnt really care about our situation. Its pretty sad to see.

Its just about money. A lot of these families have been living here for decades. You have six to eight people living in a one-bedroom house because thats all that they can afford.

Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com .
(Bloomberg) -- Swedens criticism of Hungarys democratic decline is behind Prime Minister Viktor Orbans delay in ratifying the Nordic countrys bid to join NATO, according to a senior Hungarian official.

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The Swedish prime minister asks what problem Hungarian parliament members have, so lets help him understand, Balazs Orban, the prime ministers chief political adviser, whos unrelated to the premier, wrote in social media posts late Thursday.

He listed comments from Swedish cabinet members admonishing Hungary over its rights record. Good morning, Stockholm! he added.

Until recently, Orban hadnt clarified why his government is moving slowly on approving the accession of Finland and Sweden into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which made Hungary the only nation alongside Turkey in the 30-member defense alliance to have yet to ratify enlargement.

For months, he said parliament was too busy dealing with legislation related to European Union demands to reduce graft and bolster judicial independence, which are key to unblocking access to more than $30 billion of the blocs funding.

Recently, Orbans officials have said Finland and Swedens support for a tough EU line against Hungary were behind the delay.

Throughout, Orban has followed Turkeys cue on ratification. The Hungarian parliament moved quickly to schedule a vote on Finlands accession for Monday after Turkey threw its support behind Finlands bid, while holding up Swedens. The Hungarian parliament for now hasnt scheduled a vote on Swedens accession.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who met with Orban at an EU summit in Brussels, said hes received no clarification for the hold up.

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I didnt get an actual explanation, only the message that they have no intention of delaying any countrys accession, Kristersson said after the meeting. I dont see any reason for delay, but we are aware that every country makes its own decisions.

--With assistance from Kati Pohjanpalo.

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A woman told her husband while they were at work that she wanted to break up, according to Minnesota court records.

Kevin Uriel Zelaya Asencio, 23, responded by leaving work at about 10 a.m. Monday, March 20, and driving back to their apartment, authorities said in a statement of probable cause.

He grabbed an AR-15 rifle, two magazines and more ammunition before driving back to Dura Supreme Cabinetry in Howard Lake, where he and his wife both worked, officials said.

Zelaya Asencio parked his vehicle a few spots away from a pickup truck that belonged to coworker Adrian Medina, police said. He suspected his wife was in a romantic relationship with Medina.

Shortly after noon, Medina and Zelaya Asencios wife went to the truck to have lunch together, authorities said. Medina sat in the drivers seat while she sat in the front passenger seat.

Thats when Zelaya Asencio grabbed his loaded gun and walked over to the truck, according to the Howard Lake Police Department. He got into the back seat, and he commanded Medina to step out of the vehicle or drive away, police said.

Zelaya Asencio threatened Medina when he didnt comply, police said. Then he fired the AR-15 three times, shooting Medina in the head, according to court records.

The man went back to his own vehicle and drove away, authorities said.

Police responded to Dura Supreme at 12:06 p.m. after receiving several 911 calls, including one from a frantic female screaming, according to the probable cause statement.

Responding officers said they found Medina dead in the drivers seat of his truck.

Soon after, a Wright County Sheriffs Office deputy spotted Zelaya Asencio driving his black pickup truck.

The deputies performed a high-risk traffic stop and took the suspect into custody, authorities said. They said an AR-15 rifle was in the truck.

Zelaya Asencio is charged with second-degree murder with intent, not premeditated, records show.

Howard Lake is about 45 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

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Husband stabs wife to death during Bible study at his sisters house, Minnesota cops say

Man is shot inside house then walks outside and is run over by girlfriend, NC cops say

She was found dead in her room after peeping call. Now her ex is convicted of murder
By Francois Murphy

VIENNA (Reuters) - Most of the roughly 2.5 tons of natural uranium ore concentrate (UOC) recently declared missing from a site in Libya have been found at that site, the U.N. nuclear watchdog told member states on Friday in a statement seen by Reuters.

The International Atomic Energy Agency informed member states in a similar confidential statement on March 15 first reported by Reuters that 10 drums containing the UOC had gone missing from a Libyan site not under government control.

While the amount of fissile material is less than that required for a nuclear bomb, and would need to go through processes known as conversion and enrichment to be usable in one, the IAEA said at the time that losing it "may present a radiological risk, as well as nuclear security concerns".

Following eastern Libyan forces' statement last week that they had found the drums of UOC near the warehouse they were taken from in southern Libya, the IAEA carried out an inspection on Tuesday and found that only "a relatively small amount of UOC was still unaccounted for," Friday's IAEA statement said.

"During the (inspection), Agency inspectors observed that drums that had not been present at the declared location at the time of the previous (inspection) had since been brought back and left in close proximity to the declared location," it said.

"Agency inspectors confirmed that these drums contained UOC and witnessed their transfer back to within the declared location for storage," the statement added.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell)
No matter your position on whether abortion should be legal, Idahos existing law is broken.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, Idaho had enacted a trigger law that would become effective on that day. The intention was to outlaw abortion in nearly all cases, with narrow exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

But when the court issued its ruling and the bill went into effect, it soon became clear it would do much more than that  including making basic, lifesaving care for women without viable pregnancies a felony.

A bill introduced into the Idaho House has the possibility of fixing this problem, though it has so far not gotten a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee.

House Bill 342 is not a great bill for people who respect womens reproductive rights. Indeed, in one respect it further restricts abortion rules: It narrows the ability for victims of rape and incest to obtain an abortion. Current law provides a blanket exception for them. The new law would allow them only to obtain an abortion in the first trimester.

But the bill does several important things that are vital.

It ensures that doctors wont be prosecuted if they pursued a course of treatment necessary for a life-threatening condition. It also ensures that women who report rape or incest can quickly get access to a police report, a necessary step to access the rape and incest exceptions.

Most importantly, it defines the treatment of an ectopic pregnancy, a molar pregnancy or a miscarriage as outside of the category of abortion.

This is enormously important.

Its a common falsehood, often still repeated by anti-abortion activists, that Idahos trigger law would not place doctors at risk of a felony for treating an ectopic pregnancy  a fairly common condition where an embryo embeds outside the uterus and is not viable but could cause the woman serious injury or death.

But its indisputably true that Idahos law does criminalize this procedure.

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During oral argument, the State conceded that the procedure necessary to terminate an ectopic pregnancy is a criminal act, given the broad definitions used in Idahos criminal abortion statute, federal Judge B. Lynn Winmill noted in his ruling on the Biden administrations challenge to the law.

Its likely that those who wrote the trigger law did not intend this outcome, that it was just an effect of incompetence: They didnt craft language that matched their intent.

But the fact is, the language they crafted did make providing such care a crime. The only reason that the ban is not in effect today is that Winmills ruling blocked it from taking effect in cases involving emergency care.

That ruling, which could be struck down or reversed at any time, is the only thing that prevents a doctor from being imprisoned for two to five years for treating an ectopic pregnancy in Idaho.

Idaho doctors have responded to this precarious legal situation by leaving the state, which has already triggered one hospital to announce that it will soon cease delivering babies.

Lawmakers cant claim ignorance of this problem today. If they fail to advance House Bill 342, their moral culpability will extend much further.

A court has already ruled that it would be criminal to treat an ectopic pregnancy under Idaho law.

Lawmakers have a bill that would fix that problem by specifically exempting ectopic pregnancy care.

If they dont fix this glaring issue, even though theyre aware of it, then this is no longer simply an act of gross incompetence but one of knowing, intentional cruelty.

The Idaho Republican Party, whose chair Dorothy Moon has been sending out emails urging lawmakers to oppose the bill, has embraced this kind of intentional cruelty. The question for lawmakers  and particularly House State Affairs Chairman Brent Crane, who decides whether the bill gets a hearing  is whether they want to do the same.

If they do, make no mistake, women will die.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe and newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser.
Republicans in the Idaho House blocked a bill that would provide free menstrual products to public school students, calling it liberal and woke.

The bill would have funded free menstrual product dispensers for sixth through 12th grade students in girls bathrooms at a cost of about $300,000 per year, or $3.50 per student, after a one-time installation cost of about $435,000.

Its not a lot of money in the states budget, bill sponsor state Rep. Rod Furniss (R) said in committee Thursday. Today is a step to preserve womanhood, to give it a chance to start right, to not be embarrassed or feel alienated or ashamed, or to feel like they need to stay home from school due to period poverty.

Idaho is projected to have a $1.4 billion revenue surplus this year.

Advocates for the bill say that the state already funds toilet paper, soap and other hygiene products for students. The Idaho Period Project estimated that three in four East Idaho students missed class due to lack of access to menstrual products.

The bill failed on a tie vote on Monday, with state Rep. Heather Scott (R) calling the proposal a very liberal policy.

Why are our schools obsessed with the private parts of our children? Scott said.

Another Republican legislator called the language in the bill  period poverty and menstrual equity  woke terms.

Fifteen states and Washington, D.C., have passed legislation mandating that free menstrual products be provided to students. Five more have set up grant systems for schools to provide the products, according to the nonprofit Alliance for Period Supplies.

One in four students who menstruate had trouble accessing period supplies in 2021, a survey from the nonprofit found. The same survey found that four in five students either missed class time due to lack of access to menstrual products or knew someone who did.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An Idaho bill aimed at providing students with free feminine hygiene products in school failed on Monday after Republicans slammed the prospect as woke and liberal.

The one-page House Bill 313, introduced on March 13, would have required that public and public charter schools provide students with free tampons, sanitary napkins and other menstrual products.

Dissenting Republicans decried the bill as woke and overly generous.

This bill is a very liberal policy, and its really turning Idaho into a bigger nanny state than ever, said state Rep. Heather Scott, according to The Daily Beast. Its embarrassing not only because of the topic but because of the actual policy itself. So you dont have to be a woman to understand the absurdity of this policy. And you dont have to feel that youre insensitive to not address this.

The cost of the bill would have been $735,400  $435,000 allocated toward product dispensers and the remainder for the actual menstrual products, according to the fiscal note.

The cost of the products was calculated at about $3.50 per student for 85,825 female students.

Its not a lot of money in the states budget, Republican state Rep. Rod Furniss said on March 16 to the House Education Committee before the bill failed, according to the Idaho Statesman. Today is a step to preserve womanhood, to give it a chance to start right, to not be embarrassed or feel alienated or ashamed, or to feel like they need to stay home from school due to period poverty.

Still, the House vote was split down the middle, with 35 in favor and 35 against. Ten of the nay votes came from conservative women on the floor.

Whats gonna be next? Scott asked. We cant help but sweat. So are the schools now going to be providing deodorant for these kids?

Another conservative lawmaker, state Rep. Barbara Ehardt, said the phrases period poverty and menstrual equity used to discuss the bill were woke terms.

Period poverty refers to the idea that some people, particularly low-income students and students of color, can have trouble accessing the menstrual products they need because they cant afford them. Factors like sales taxes can make it even harder to obtain these necessary products, the American Civil Liberties Union notes.

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Menstrual equity, meanwhile, refers to the goal of making sure that anyone who needs access to menstrual products can access them.

Reproductive rights are being denied, restricted and reconsidered across the country. Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision recognizing the right to have an abortion. More recently, Wyoming restricted abortion pill access, and Florida is considering banning period-related discussions in schools until sixth grade.

Twenty-three percent of U.S. students have limited access to menstrual products, according to a 2021 survey by Thinx and PERIOD. Yet, as of last October, just 15 states and Washington, D.C., had passed legislation securing students free access to menstrual products in schools, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies.

Its so shocking, Avrey Hendrix, the founder of the Idaho Period Project, told The Daily Beast of female lawmakers denying free menstrual products to others, because they know what its like to go into the bathroom and not have a tampon.
By Scott McIntosh, opinion editor

The Idaho Way is a weekly roundup of opinions, commentary and letters to the editor to encourage conversation on topics important to Idahoans. If you like this newsletter, forward to a friend, and they can sign up here.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has a tough decision to make: Whether to sign or veto a bill that would make the firing squad a required method of execution if the state is unable to procure the drugs needed for lethal injection in death penalty cases.

Scott McIntosh is the Idaho Statesmans opinion editor.

Little has some very good reasons to veto the bill.

Its expensive and his own department doesnt want it. It might even end up delaying executions even more if a challenge of the firing squad ties up Idaho in the courts.

Further, its barbaric.

But even if Little doesnt buy into the argument of the brutality and barbarity of a firing squad, he has other, very good conservative reasons to oppose it.

Read our full editorial here on how Gov. Little could make a case to veto the firing squad.

Meridian morality polices new argument

Michael Hon, representing Concerned Citizens of Meridian, addresses the Ada County Commission, Monday, March 20, 2023, during a public hearing on placing a library district dissolution question on the November ballot for voters. Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman

Based on the testimony Monday night before the Ada County commissioners to dissolve the Meridian Library District, its clear that this is not a serious effort and shouldnt be taken seriously by county commissioners.

Of course, the idea to dissolve the library district over some books that a small group of people dont like is ridiculous right from the start.

But at Monday nights meeting, one of the groups organizers said they want to dissolve the district and then turn around and form a new one.

If our petition is successful, we will immediately submit our next petition to reestablish the library district, said Michael Hon, a former candidate for Meridian City Council and one of the members of Concerned Citizens of Meridian, who brought the petition to put a dissolution vote on the ballot.

Read our full editorial here on why that strategy is a colossal waste of time.

Idaho solicitor general

Theo Wold, inset, is the Idaho solicitor general in the Idaho Attorney Generals Office.

The issue of whether Idaho Solicitor General Theo Wold has a license to practice law in Idaho has been floating around the Capitol ever since he was appointed solicitor general in November. The question rose to the surface last week, when Rep. Ned Burns, D-Bellevue, raised the issue on the House floor, where representatives sent the Attorney Generals Offices budget back for revisions.

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Well, does the solicitor general have a license to practice law in Idaho?

I asked him.

Heres what he told me.

Childbirth services discontinued

Bonner General Healths hospital in Sandpoint, in North Idaho. Provided by The Spokesman-Review

Last week, Bonner General Health, Sandpoints only hospital, announced that it will soon cease delivering babies. No new obstetrics patients are being accepted, effective immediately. The hospital cited multiple reasons for the decision which lawmakers do not control, including the local cost of living. But there was one factor squarely in the Legislatures wheelhouse. The Idaho Legislature continues to introduce and pass bills that criminalize physicians for medical care nationally recognized as the standard of care, the hospital said in a press release. Consequences for Idaho physicians providing the standard of care may include civil litigation and criminal prosecution, leading to jail time or fines.

Read our full editorial here on how Idahos abortion law has claimed its first casualty.

Freedom  to send doctors to jail

Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, speaks during the Idaho Freedom Foundations Capitol Clarity event on March 18 Bryan Clark/Idaho Statesman

Idaho Statesman opinion writer Bryan Clark attended a recent Capitol Clarity event put on by the Idaho Freedom Foundation to see what all the freedom was about.

I thought we believed in a patient-doctor relationship. So why is the government stepping in and telling these doctors that they cant do that (administer drugs they believe are effective) to their patients? asked Sen. Tammy Nichols at the Idaho Freedom Foundations Capitol Clarity event on Thursday.

Thats a decent argument, Clark writes. It just sounds a little strange coming from the mouth of a lawmaker who is in the midst of promoting a bill that would jail doctors, nurses and pharmacists who administer most brands of COVID-19 vaccines.

Read Bryans full column here on how this bill is the antithesis of freedom.

Accountability for extremism

Yvonne St Cyr, an Idaho resident, posted at least two photos on Facebook after getting inside the U.S. Capitol during a riot on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Facebook

Last week, Boisean Yvonne St Cyr was found guilty of two felonies and four misdemeanors for her participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, attempted insurrection.

This comes after fellow Boiseans Josiah Colt and Pam Hemphill pleaded guilty to offenses related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. In all, eight people have been arrested in Idaho on a variety of offenses tied to the attempt to overturn the election with violence.

None of these people were anything resembling a central figure that day at the U.S. Capitol  someone akin to Oathkeepers leader Stewart Rhodes. They could easily have had their actions overlooked by federal prosecutors.

But federal prosecutors have decided to be comprehensive. Well over 1,000 indictments have been issued so far, and more are expected to come for months or years into the future.

This stands in stark contrast to Idahos recently sad record of dealing with extremism.

Read our full editorial here.

Lunch with The Idaho Way

Join us for our new livestream show, Lunch with The Idaho Way, at noon on Wednesdays.

So far, weve tackled the issues of transgender rights with Eve Devitt and her father, Michael Devitt; school vouchers with Rod Gramer, president of Idaho Business for Education; school vouchers with Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville; and the issue of militias with special guest Dave Neiwert, an award-winning journalist, author and well-known expert on American right-wing extremism. This week, we talked about property taxes and local budgets with Kelley Packer, former state legislator and now executive director of the Association of Idaho Cities. Check out that episode here.

Register for this discussion for free at our Eventbrite and ask your question in advance. Click on select a date and choose March 29.

Or simply tune in at noon every Wednesday on Facebook or YouTube. Ask questions and join the conversation.

Check out the details here.

Capitol Letters

Capitol Letters newsletter is a daily look at Idaho Legislatures session, from highlights and reported stories from the past days events to tomorrows important votes & hearings. McClatchy

Idaho Statesman reporter Ryan Suppe and politics editor Hayat Norimine keep you updated on each days happenings in the Idaho Legislature and what to expect for the upcoming day.

Plus, I throw in our astute politics observations and opinions on a daily basis.

To sign up to receive Capitol Letters, click here.

Im listening

Send me your story ideas, news tips, questions, comments, or anything else on your mind. You can reach me via email at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com.

Find me on social media:

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What youre saying

Letters To Editor

This week, we received letters to the editor on Idaho Legislatures lurch to the far-right, the definition of woke, the importance of voting and thinking about what Gov. Phil Batt would say today. You can read these and more letters by clicking here.

You can submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion by clicking here.

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Participants have group photos at the inauguration ceremony of Confucius Institute in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on March 23, 2023. The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation.



The institute, nestled alongside the premises of the industrial and commercial high school of Djibouti, was inaugurated in the presence of senior Djibouti officials, diplomats from the Chinese Embassy to Djibouti as well representatives of the academia.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud noted that the Red Sea nation has recognized the importance of the Chinese language as a platform for deepening all-round cooperation between China and Djibouti.

The minister, in particular, underscored his hope that the Confucius Institute in Djibouti will further augment cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries, saying that "The increasing economic and commercial engagement with China has encouraged many Djiboutian businessmen and younger people to learn Chinese language."

He said the Confucius Institute, which focuses on promoting the Chinese language and culture, has already made great progress during its initial operations over the past seven months.

"In just seven months of its operation, the Confucius Institute has more than 600 students, 18 classes and seven teaching points. Its students mainly come from high schools, industrial and commercial high school and Luban Workshop in the capital," he said. "Given the cultural activities that have been carried out, I am confident that the Confucius Institute in Djibouti will fully play its role as a bridge and make unremitting efforts to promote cooperation and mutual learning between the two peoples."

Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti Hu Bin expressed his beliefs that learning each other's languages and cultures helps elevate the relationship between the two countries.

He said China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Djibouti, promote respect for cultural diversity and inclusiveness, and consolidate the foundation of people-to-people friendship.

Zhao Lingshan, vice president and secretary-general of the Chinese International Education Foundation, addressed the event via a video link and underscored support for the success of the Confucius Institutes in Djibouti.

"People in Djibouti are increasingly enthusiastic about learning Chinese and the demand for Chinese learning is growing rapidly, which opens up a broad horizon for the development of Confucius Institutes," he said.

The agreement to establish the Confucius Institute in Djibouti was signed between the National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti, the Chinese International Education Foundation and Sichuan Normal University in February 2022.

Wang Mingyi, president of Sichuan Normal University, said as an important outcome of China-Africa cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the university will fully support the development of Confucius Institute in Djibouti, integrate resources from all sides, and actively explore a school model that meets the needs of the local society in Djibouti.

Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud (R) and Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti Hu Bin unveil the bronze sign at the inauguration ceremony of Confucius Institute in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on March 23, 2023. The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)
Floor debate at the Illinois House of Representatives went into the evening hours on Thursday, March 24, 2023 with the deadline to advance bills to the Senate looming Friday.

The Illinois General Assembly, facing upcoming deadlines to advance bills to the next chamber, held several lengthy floor debates this week resulting in hundreds of bills passed in the House and Senate.

As of Friday evening, 395 bills had passed over a four-day stretch collectively in both chambers. The majority of the bills - 327 - were from the House while the Senate, which had not passed any bills this week until Thursday, passed 68.

Spending almost 10 hours in debate, House members considered bills until about 11 p.m. Thursday before adjourning. The Senate concluded its floor actions for the day just before 5 p.m. following more than three hours of debate.

Both chambers returned on Friday with the Senate holding debate for more than two hours before adjourning until Tuesday. The House immediately went into recess after Republicans caucused following the pledge, before later resuming business.

Friday was the deadline for the House to pass bills on to the Senate. The Senate has until March 31 to advance bills to the House.

Recent:Paprocki leads Illinois March for Life rally; abortion access groups have counter protest

All gender bathrooms

The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so.

The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of yes votes needed for passage in the 118-member House, after the presiding officer held the roll open for several seconds waiting for the 60th vote to be recorded.

State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, who sponsored the bill, said the language of House Bill 1286 is identical to an earlier bill that passed 63-43 in the House in 2021 but was never taken up in the Senate.

Illinois law already allows for single-occupancy bathrooms to be designated for all genders, but Stuarts bill would allow an all-gender designation for bathrooms that accommodate two or more people.

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The bill sets out standards that all-gender bathrooms would have to meet, such as inclusive signage that does not indicate any specific gender; stall dividers with functioning locks controlled by the user; and partitions for each urinal, if urinals are present.

In addition, if such bathrooms are part of a newly constructed building or a building undergoing major renovation, they would have to comply with requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the Illinois Accessibility Code. Each toilet stall would have to include a small trash receptacle, and it would have to have at least one vending machine for menstruation supplies and one baby diaper changing station.

The bill also provides that any multi-occupancy restroom could be converted to an all-gender restroom. But if another single-gender multi-occupancy restroom is located adjacent to or near the all-gender restroom, both would have to be designated as all-gender facilities.

The bill passed out of the House Human Services Committee on Feb. 22 on a 6-3 vote after only brief discussion. But just a few days later, Stuart said she was forced to cancel a planned constituent coffee event in Collinsville, due to violent threats and malicious information being spread by special interest groups about bathroom privacy and safety legislation.

Yeah, there was some, I think, deliberately incendiary information being touted, real falsities about what was in the bill that was leading to, you know, frankly, threats and things that I didn't want to expose my staff and the public to, Stuart said during an interview Thursday. So we chose to cancel a public event.

She stressed that the bill does not mandate that any bathroom be designated for all genders, but only allows building owners to do so if they choose.

Full-day kindergarten

State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, promised amendments to her House Bill 2396 after it passed out of the Child Care Access and Early Childhood House committee earlier this month. With those amendments, the bill passed on Thursday in a 87-23 tally.

The original version would have required all school boards to establish a full-day kindergarten program in their districts starting next school year, but the amended bill moved the deadline to the 2027-2028 school year.

The majority, approximately 80%, of school districts already offer full-day kindergarten. Those that do not as of Oct. 1, 2022, can apply for a two-year extension beyond the deadline if they lack the proper funding as set by the state Evidence-Based Funding formula. The formula is used to determine public school funding in Illinois.

While some House Republicans indicated the amendments were sufficient, state Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, remained in opposition. He was the sole 'no' vote when the earlier version passed committee.

"If we grow to full-day school and we have more groups of students full-day, we must deploy more teachers and may have to build additional space," he said, adding that this may require school districts to place referendums on the ballot so it can afford full-day kindergarten.

Canty said the possibility remains that the legislature may need to "clean some of this up" in the future when it comes to her bill. Fellow Democrat Reps. Sue Scherer of Decatur and Cyril Nichols of Chicago contended the governor's push for universal preschool made the bill all the more necessary.

Nichols said the expenses tied to the initiative when compared to other state expenditures, should not be the reason to deny the bill. He argued the investment in kindergarteners will pay dividends in the future.

"I'm sitting in an appropriations committee talking about hundreds of millions of dollars going to colleges," he said. "Well, how are we going to get there?"

Book ban

A bill with the backing of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias passed 69-39 on Wednesday along party lines. House Bill 2789 from state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, prohibits public libraries from banning books and requires the libraries to create written policies against the practice in order to qualify for state grants.

Stava-Murray said during the debate that her bill should not have to be a policy, but, was necessary because of discrimination against LGBTQ+ and Black and brown authors.

You have the right to live your life according to your own beliefs, she said. But, in this country and in this state, you have no right to force your beliefs down others throats by dictating what ideas they may or may not be exposed to.

Republicans said the bill was an overstep over the local control of library boards. State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Heights, contended that it was Illinois Democrats that had politicized the issue.

I think its a very blatant attempt to strong-arm our local committees and how they want to direct their libraries to operate and function, he said during the debate. I dont understand why we have local elections anymore if a bill like this passes.

Temporary visitor's driver's license

Another bill backed by the SOS passed 67-35 in the House on Thursday evening.

House Bill 3882 would end the issuing of temporary visitor drivers licenses and instead replace them with standard driver's licenses. TVDLs, a program offered through the SOS office since 2013, have a purple strip to indicate the temporary status and are used solely for driving purposes.

Bill sponsor and state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, clarified in floor debate that the licenses would not be used for federal identification purposes or to secure a Firearm Owner Identification Card.

The need for the bill, Hernandez and fellow members of the House Latinx Caucus said, was to stop discrimination experienced by TVDL holders.

Some individuals have not even been able to buy simple things as alcohol, even if they are of age, just because they see the TVDL and dont want to sell alcohol to undocumented individuals, she said, adding that it happened to a family member on her legislative staff.

Republicans voted against the measure over concerns it would hide an individuals undocumented status. State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, urged changes to the immigration system at the federal level to make the need TVDLs unnecessary.

I think the reality is were trying to turn undocumented individuals into documented individuals, he said, one of several GOP lawmakers rising in opposition.

Gen Z legislation

Two of the youngest members in state legislature history had their first bills pass in the Illinois House this week.

State Reps. Brad Fritts and Nabeela Syd, both 23 years old, had bills move to the Senate. House Bill 2582 from Fritts, R-Dixon, passed unanimously on Tuesday and removes a duplicated testing requirement for motorcyclists under the age of 18.

Syed, D-Palatine, received bipartisan support for House Bill 3643 in a 93-14 Wednesday vote. The bill establishes that students 17 years or older will have their individualized education program plans tailored to promote voter registration. IEP plans are for students ages 3 to 21 who have been diagnosed with disabilities or developmental delays, according to the state board of education.

Some House Republicans expressed concern about involving educators in voter registration. The majority, including state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, did support the bill.

This bill says you value the voice of your young constituents with disabilities, Syed said.

First state nut, bean

In its nearly 205-year history, Illinois has never had a state nut. Following a near unanimous vote in the House on Thursday, the black walnut became one step closer to holding the high honor.

Coffey was one of three 'no' votes on House Bill 2840, which passed 103-3. Legislators jokingly booed the contrarians. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the black walnut can be found statewide and its tree can grow up to 150 feet high.

No drama stood in the way of passing state Rep. Matt Hanson's, D-Aurora, House Bill 3817 which made the soybean the official state bean of Illinois. It was passed unanimously.

Bipartisan support for food desert bill

State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, rises in support of Senate Bill 1360 during floor debate on Friday, March 24, 2023.

Gov. JB Pritzkers $49.6 billion budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year includes $20 million in funding to eliminate food deserts throughout the state. Now legislation advancing out of the Senate on Friday also hopes to address the issue.

Illinois Grocery Initiative:Gov. Pritzker announces $49.6 billion budget proposal headlined by education spending

Through Senate Bill 1360, the state Department of Agriculture is ordered to create a nutritious food program focusing on distribution and education. The bill, passed unanimously, defines a food desert as an urban or rural area that meets determined poverty standards and distance away from a supermarket or large grocery store.

State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, was a co-sponsor of the bill from state Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, and said it will be much appreciated in the rural portions of her 48th Senate District. Fowlers district includes some of the southernmost counties in the state that experience some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Illinois.

Im sure some of you can relate that well-stocked grocery stores can be hard to find in parts of our state, especially in southern Illinois, he said.

Local senators split on flag bill

Major General Richard R. Neely, Commander of the Illinois National Guard, left, and Lt. Col. Jason Celletti, commander of the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, middle, present an Illinois flag to Gov. JB Pritzker during a mobilization ceremony for the regiment Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria.

A bill opening the process for Illinois to create a new state flag advanced out of the Senate on Thursday, but not before a brief debate between Springfield's two senators.

Senate Bill 1818 from Turner passed 39-16 during floor debate and will now move to the House. Her bill, still pending House approval and Gov. JB Pritzker's signature, would create a 21-person committee tasked with deciding whether the state needs a new flag.

Turner's first passed bill in the 103rd General Assembly gives the committee until Sept. 1 to determine whether or not the flag needs to be replaced and then until Dec. 3, 2024 - the day in 1818 when Illinois became the 21st state in the union - to report recommendations to the legislature.

The state flag has remained basically the same since it was first adopted in 1915. Its only change in 1969 was an addition of the word Illinois underneath an eagle standing on a rock with a shield beneath its feet.

So far, Turner said her office has received hundreds of calls from middle schools and high schools wishing to participate.

"People talk all the time about disconnected the citizenry is with government," she said during floor debate. "I think this is a great opportunity to give people a reason to get excited about Illinois again."

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, rose in opposition to his fellow Springfield legislator. He said he appreciated Turner bringing the bill to the table, even saying the new designs could be "spectacular," but believed the legislature should spend its time with more pressing matters.

"We need to be focused on the things are constituents are concerned about and I've yet to have that issue of our state flag be raised by one constituent," he said. State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, was the sole Republican 'yes' vote.

McClure previously during Thursday's floor debate joined Democrats in supporting Senate Bill 1561. The bill from state Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, would ban the use of electronic cigarettes in public spaces.

Victories for the minority party

House Republicans, already the minority party in the prior general assembly, lost ground in November and now face a 78-40 super-minority. The lack of GOP members in the chambers often make legislative victories infrequent for the minority party, but not impossible.

These wins for House Republicans included House Bill 3203 from Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, passing 112-0 which allows the over-the-counter sale of fentanyl test strips and for county health departments to provide them free of charge. Other victories included Democrat-sponsored bills that lacked the needed votes to advance to the Senate.

On Wednesday, a bill that would have required warning labels on all gas stoves manufactured and sold in the state did not receive enough votes to move to the Senate. A simple majority, or 60 votes in the 118-member chamber, was needed to pass House Bill 3572 but only 56 votes were in favor.

Stava-Murray was the bills sponsor and clarified her legislation was not about banning gas stoves but only to warn users of the potential burn hazard. It would have gone into effect starting in January 2024, meaning gas stoves sold before then would not require the label.

This bill is about helping Illinoisans make the best choices for themselves and their families by ensuring that we all have the facts, she said, her bill making Illinois the first state to issue such a bill.

Republicans were all opposed to the bill, citing increased costs for manufacturers and a potentially slippery slope when it comes to issuing warnings for other products.

On Thursday, House Bill 3104 from freshman state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, also was defeated by missing a majority vote. The bill would have opened the door for local municipalities to establish rent controls for manufactured homes.

Some Democrats and the Republican Davidsmeyer, contended "rent control" was the improper term for what the bill was trying to accomplish. Others like state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said the title was correct and opposed it for that reason.

"I think is the consequences, especially the private right of action that's generated here, will reverberate in housing and real estate in a major way that will have a negative impact for the future of Illinois," he said.

Capitol News Illinois reporter Peter Hancock contributed.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: All gender bathroom bill narrowly passes Illinois House






Lawmakers are looking at several ways to improve learning outcomes and access for young students in Illinois.

On Thursday, members of the House of Representatives approved a proposal that would require school boards in Illinois to provide full-day kindergarten starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

The measure, House Bill 2396, was met with bipartisan, though not universal, support, passing out of the House on Thursday on an 87-23 vote.

I think we can all recognize that our children are our most important resource in the state of Illinois, Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, said on the House floor Thursday. As we look to move forward with our pre-K program and the governors smart start program, I hope we can recognize that kindergarten is a pivotal piece of a childs learning journey.

Some lawmakers were uneasy with the potential cost implications for local school districts, particularly stemming from potential increases in staffing needs and facility space requirements.

When this goes into effect in 2027, are we going to be ramped up enough to be able to provide additional teachers throughout kindergartens across Illinois? Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, said during debate over the bill.

The worry about funding is echoed by some in the education field, including the Illinois Association of School Administrators, or IASA. The association recorded its opposition to an earlier form of the bill when it went through committee earlier this month alongside the Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Principals Association.

IASA chief of staff Emily Warnecke said in an interview that her organization supports the movement toward full-day kindergarten around the state. But she said they are still concerned about a requirement that would force districts to raise their own capital funding to expand school facilities to accommodate full-day programs.

The vast majority of districts who dont offer (full-day kindergarten), dont offer it because they dont have the space, Warnecke said.

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Currently, about 80 percent of districts in Illinois offer full-day kindergarten, according to Canty.

The bill sets up a Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force to study the best way to implement the expansion of full-day kindergarten. The task force will also be responsible for determining the criteria for districts eligibility for a two-year extension to the deadline for rolling out full-day kindergarten.

Canty said in an interview that she is working on securing funding for the expansion.

I have had some really great conversations with the budgeteers here in the House and with the governors team, she said.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Literacy improvements

On Friday, the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 2243 from Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Westchester, that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to develop a comprehensive literacy plan.

In 2022, nearly 38 percent of Illinois 4th grade students did not meet grade level reading standards, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This is roughly average and is not significantly lower than the nations overall reading scores.

Todays students who struggle to read are tomorrows adults  adults who desperately need literacy to sign a lease agreement, fill out a job application, manage their own health care, support their childrens education and participate in democracy, Lightford said on the Senate floor Friday.

Deborah MacPhee, a researcher and professor at Illinois State University, said early literacy education has become politicized with debates between competing systems of reading instruction.

MacPhee said she liked that the bill requires the plan to involve education stakeholders. She said this will contribute to the ongoing conversation around what sorts of educational programs teachers should use.

In a 2022 study published in the journal Reading Horizons, MacPhee and her team found that 97 percent of Illinois teachers use phonics in their classrooms to teach reading. Despite the near universal adoption of this method, there is diversity across the state as to what programs are being used. Of the 80 percent of teachers using published curriculum for their phonics instruction, at least 41 different programs are used.

We have to be educating teachers to be using programs effectively, she said.

Lightfords plan is not the only bill at the Statehouse in recent weeks aimed at improving childhood literacy. Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, introduced a bill that would require schools to use phonics to teach reading, though it was met with pushback from teachers unions.

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.
Police in Illinois are looking for a 21-year-old member of the U.S. Navy who was last seen on surveillance video leaving a bar near Lake Michigan in the early morning hours on Saturday, CBS Chicago reports.

Seamus Gray, a sailor who was assigned to Naval Station Great Lakes, did not report back at his assigned time, according to Waukegan police. Gray's family and police continued the search Thursday.

Seamus Gray / Credit: Waukegan Police

Waukegan police Deputy Chief Brian Mullen said the search wrapped early on Thursday because resources had been exhausted after numerous passes on land and air. The search is resuming Friday, Mullen said.

Crews are focusing on the Lake Michigan shoreline and beaches, Mullen said. Search efforts on Friday will focus on their efforts on the water and south -- toward the naval base.

"I also want to emphasize the search didn't just start today," Mullen said. "We were out here all day yesterday, and with the advances in technology and all the drones that we had up in the air and the lack of foliage up in the air this time of year, we had a really nice ability to see - to cover the ground yesterday and re-cover the ground today."

Gray's mother is holding out hope that her son will be found.

"We're never not in contact," said Kerry Gray. "The only time I've ever not heard from my son was when he was in bootcamp. We talked 10 times a day, whether it's silly memes, whether it's just texting."

Police and family said Gray left Naval Station Great Lakes on Friday night and headed down to Waukegan for a night of St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

"He sent me pictures. We were on FaceTime," Gray said. "While I was out for St. Patrick's Day, he was out."

Detectives found video surveillance footage of Gray leaving Ibiza Bar on Genesee Street in Waukegan.

The video shows him leaving the bar alone through a back alley in a pink outfit, and he was later seen at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Washington Street around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday and has not been seen or spoken to since leaving the bar.

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Mullen said it is believed that Gray was due back at his base at 2 a.m. but the sailor never returned to the Naval Base Great Lakes.

Waukegan police and fire personnel have done an extensive search of the area, including the lakefront. Gray's mother also searched with police near Ibiza Bar and along Lake Michigan.

Video taken from nearby marinas later showed Gray right on the water's edge on the lake, Mullen said Thursday afternoon.

Mullen said police are no longer seeing any activity from Gray's cell phone, which last pinged near the lake. But police and his family are holding out hope.

"We know he's in excellent shape, and we're very hopeful that he could be out there someplace," Mullen said.

Investigators in Waukegan are calling the case a missing persons case, which also involves the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS.

But Kerry Gray added there is also video from when someone tried to pickpocket her son, and then there was an altercation with a group of people. The bar manager corroborated the story about the 21-year-old getting into an altercation over his wallet.

"We're investigating that," Mullen said. "We're aware of the video outside of the bar, and our investigators are working with NCIS to help identify people who might be on that video."

Gray's mother said over the phone that she fears the worst for her son  especially with so many days passing  and given the fact that he has not checked into the naval base and no one has heard from him.

"I'd like anybody who has any information about my son Seamus to please come forward," said Kerry Gray. "That's my boy. That's my guy. His little brother is 14. He is my son's role model. He's my life. So please help find Seamus."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) seen during their meeting in Xiamen, China, September,4,2017. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Russia hasn't fulfilled a weapons delivery contract, India says.

India says the Ukraine war meant Russia was unable to export the weapons it ordered.

Russia has long been a major arms exporter, but is now struggling to supply its own army in Ukraine.

Russia failed to supply weapons it had been contracted to deliver because of being embroiled in the war in Ukraine, according to the Indian military, one of the Kremlin's main customers.

The Indian Air Force disclosed this week to its parliament that a "major delivery" contracted from Russia would not be showing up.

The delay was blamed on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has cost vast numbers of lives and destroyed tanks, helicopters, planes and other equipment in large numbers.

It did not say what was missing, though Reuters reported that Russia had been due to deliver two S-400 Triumf air-defense systems.

The S-400s would have completed an order for five systems, which India bought for a total $5.4 billion in 2018.

According to the report, India also relies on Moscow for parts for its fleet of Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets: both Russian models.

Russia has long been India's largest arms supplier, with a March report from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute saying that Russia supplies around 45% of its weapons and military equipment.

That study noted that invading Ukraine harmed Russia's ability to export its weapons, as so many were diverted to the front in Ukraine.

A US official in February said that Russian forces were suffering acute ammunition shortages, and its number of tanks was running low. Reports have abounded of Russian soldiers on the front complaining of inadequate weaponry.

As Insider reported in March, Russia is still touting its wares at international arms shows despite leaving its troops in Ukraine to get by with Soviet-era equipment.



The report came as Russia attempted to gear up its weapons production in the hope of gaining ground in Ukraine.

At a visit to an arms-manufacturing plant in Tula last December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia must increase the rate of its weapon production and improve their quality, the US-funded site Voice of America reported.

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Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, ramped up the pressure at a recent meeting on arms supply, reading out a WWII-era message from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin threatening to "crush" factory chiefs who didn't boost production.

A spokesperson at the Russian embassy in New Delhi told Reuters that "we don't have information which may confirm" what was in the Indian report.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Congress supporters hold placards with a picture of the

Congress supporters hold placards with a picture of the Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi during a silent protest in Mumbai. Credit - Ashish VaishnavSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Rahul Gandhi, the de facto leader of Indias main opposition party, was expelled from Parliament after being criminally convicted of defamation on Thursday.

These are flimsy & cooked up charges, Praveen Chakravarty, a spokesperson for the Indian National Congress, told TIME in a statement. Congress has accused the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of plain vendetta after Gandhi spoke against the Indian billionaire tycoon, Gautam Adani, in Parliament.

On Thursday, a local court in the western state of Gujarat convicted and sentenced 52-year-old Gandhi to two years in prison over a speech he made during an election rally in 2019, during which he said: Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?

The Congress spokesperson told TIME that the party will be pursuing legal and political action. We will appeal the conviction in higher courts but understand that the process is the punishment, Chakravarty said. We will take this issue to people through mass agitations & door-to-door contact programs.

Gandhis remarks referred to the Prime Minister along with Nirav Modi, a fugitive diamond tycoon, and Lalit Modi, the banned founder of the Indian Premier League. The defamation claim was filed by Purnesh Modi, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who said that Gandhis comment defamed the entire Modi community.

Read More: How a Historic March Could Revive Indias Opposition Movement

Shortly after, Gandhi was also expelled from the lower house of Parliament and lost his seat as a state representative for Southern Kerala. According to an official statement issued on Friday, his disqualification is due to Indian parliamentary rules, which mandate that those convicted of a crime and sentenced to two or more years in prison cannot serve as members of the lawmaking body.

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Gandhi will not be serving any immediate jail time after the court granted him bail to file an appeal within 30 days. Gandhi can resume his parliamentary seat if he wins his appeal. However, if he loses, he will not be able to contest any Indian elections for the next eight years.

Mr. Gandhi remains unperturbed and unflailing in his pursuit of truth and justice and will continue to raise important issues against the Modi government fearlessly, said Chakravarty.

The BJP did not respond to TIMEs request for comment.

The events come ahead of a national election just over a year away, to be held in April and May 2024, which will see Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party seeking a third term in office.

The scion of a political dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades, Gandhi resigned as the Congress party president after the 2019 election. Last year, the party appointed Mallikarjun Kharge as its new leader.

Although political analysts view Congress winning the next election as unlikely due to Modis steady popularity, Gandhi has nevertheless grabbed the attention of Indian voters in recent months. Last year, he undertook the months-long Bharat Jodo Yatra, or Unite India March, during which he walked nearly 2,500 miles across the country in an attempt to reconnect with Indian voters.

In recent months, he has also given fervent speeches in Parliament attacking the Modi administration over its close ties with Adani, who was accused of pulling the largest con in corporate history by U.S. short seller Hindenburg in January. Gandhi seized the Adani scandal as an opportunity to talk about Indias stagnant economy and high unemployment rate.

Elected BJP officials have accused the Congress party of having a feudal mindset and a sense of entitlement for criticizing the conviction. Law is equal for everyone, the Indian education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, told reporters at a press conference. He also accused Gandhi of abusing oppressed castes by calling those with the last name Modi thieves.

Read More: Indias Manhunt for a Hardline Sikh Leader Leads to Internet Shutdowns and Global Protests

Legal experts in India expressed surprise over the courts verdict. Unlike in the U.S. and the U.K., defamation is a criminal offense in India, not a civil one. On Twitter, one constitutional scholar posted that the defamation charge against Gandhi couldnt stand in court unless an individual showed a direct reference to themselves, rather than a generic class of persons.

Apar Gupta, the executive director of an Indian non-profit, the Internet Freedom Foundation, posted on Twitter: Rahul Gandhis disqualification for a conviction in a criminal defamation case is another blow against Indian democracy. One does not even need to be fond of him as a person or support his politics to understand it.

He continued, the colonial law has been twisted and used as a weapon to target an opposition member and bar their participation in Parliament. 

The Congress Party said it is confident that Gandhi would get a stay on his conviction in court. We retain our faith in Indias judiciary and are confident that truth will triumph, Chakravarty told TIME.
NEW DELHI (AP)  India's top opposition leader and fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expelled from Parliament Friday, a day after a court convicted him of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison for mocking the surname Modi in an election speech.

The actions against Rahul Gandhi, the great-grandson of Indias first prime minister, were widely condemned by opponents of Modi as the latest assaults against democracy and free speech by a ruling government seeking to crush dissent. Removing Gandhi from politics delivered a major blow to the opposition party he led ahead of next years national elections.

A local court from Modis home state of Gujarat convicted Gandhi on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he asked, Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname? Gandhi then referred to three well-known and unrelated Modis in the speech: a fugitive Indian diamond tycoon, a cricket executive banned from the Indian Premier League tournament and the prime minister.

Under Indian law, a criminal conviction and prison sentence of two years or more are grounds for expulsion from Parliament, but Gandhi is out on bail for 30 days and plans to appeal.

Opposition lawmakers rallied to his defense on Friday, calling his expulsion a new low for Indias constitutional democracy.

Modis critics say Indias democracy  the worlds largest with nearly 1.4 billion people  has been in retreat since he first came to power in 2014. They accuse his populist government of preoccupying itself with pursuing a Hindu nationalist agenda, a charge his administration has denied.

I am fighting for the voice of this country. I am ready to pay any price, Gandhi, 52, wrote on Twitter.

Gandhis family, starting with his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, has produced three prime ministers. Two of them  his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and father, Rajiv Gandhi  were assassinated.

Gandhi has projected himself as the main challenger to the Modi government, but his Indian National Congress party has fared poorly during the last two general elections. He has been trying to woo voters in recent months by raising issues of corruption and accusing the Modi government of tarnishing Indias reputation for democracy.

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Late last year Gandhi led a popular unity march across wide swaths of India, rallying crowds against the Modi government and the Hindu nationalism that has surged under his leadership.

Opponents blame Modis political party for rising hate speech and violence against Muslims and other minorities in recent years. Modis power has coincided with increasing assaults on the press and free speech, the jailing of activists and a crackdown on dissent.

Modis party has denied the accusations and his supporters say the tea sellers son from Gujarat state has improved the nations standing.

Gandhi has also attacked the government over Modis proximity to business tycoon Gautam Adani, who in January was accused by an American research and investment firm betting against his company of engaging in fraud and stock-price manipulation. Before his expulsion, Gandhi had called for an investigation into Adanis businesses, whose market value has plummeted by tens of billions of dollars. Modis party say he has no links with Adani.

If Gandhi's conviction is not suspended or overturned by a higher court, he faces the risk of not being able to contest national elections in 2024, although some analysts say an eventual return to politics is possible.

This could actually also provide an impetus for the opposition to finally sink their differences and come together in a united fight against Modi, said Arti Jerath, a political commentator.

Gandhi's political party said the conviction, which they plan to appeal, was cowardly and dictatorial and leaders warned that his expulsion could do long-term damage to the country.

This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy, said Shashi Tharoor, a lawmaker from Gandhis party.

Modi's critics point to his party's attacks against opposition leaders, rights groups and media outlets critical of the government.

Last month Indias tax officials raided BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai weeks after it aired a documentary critical of Modi. The documentary examined his role in 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western state of Gujarat, where he was chief minister at the time. More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence.

Modi has denied allegations that authorities under his watch allowed and even encouraged the bloodshed, and the Supreme Court said it found no evidence to prosecute him.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst, said the ruling party had become increasingly angered by Gandhi's corruption accusations and that his line of attack against the Adani Group was proving too much for the governing party.

Gandhi's expulsion also came after fourteen political parties filed a petition to Indias top court alleging that Modis government was engaged in politically motivated financial-crime investigations of opposition leaders. The Supreme Court said it will take up the petition in the first week of April.
The best spot for hiking in the Midwest might be a 90-minute drive west of Indianapolis.

Earlier this month, Midwest Living Magazine released its "Best of the Midwest Awards" for 2023, naming the region's top spots for food, travel, lifestyle and wellness.

While states like Nebraska and Iowa were recognized for their exceptional river paddling and biking, Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, Indiana was named the best place to hike.

"Of the 11 trails, our favorite is Trail 3a rugged 1.7-mile trek that traces a riverbed. You'll see rock formations, waterfalls and glacial potholes before climbing out of the canyon via wooden ladders," wrote Midwest Living staff in their assessment of the park.

Best Indiana state parks:These 10 parks are the most popular. Here's what to know before visiting

The park, 8121 E. Park Road, is about 30 minutes southwest of Crawfordsville and has a cabin commemorating Richard Lieber, the father of Indiana's state park system.

Turkey Run's nature center contains a separate room designed to observe wildlife through a one-way viewing window. Scheduled programs include hikes, planetarium showings, history talks and a junior naturalist program.

If you find Turkey Run too crowded, many locals suggest heading next door to its sister park, Shades State Park, for some equally rugged and picturesque trails.

Turkey Run State Park Inn:Spending a day at the park? Here's what to get for lunch

List of Indiana State Parks and recreation areas to visit during Spring Break

Indiana has 24 state parks, seven small satellite locations, eight reservoir properties, two state forest recreation areas, and two off-road riding areas managed by the Indiana State Parks System. For more information, visit in.gov/dnr/.

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Indiana wildlife:Want to see some of Indiana's best wildlife? Take this expert advice and go west.

John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana's Turkey Run State Park named best place to hike in Midwest
Indigenous activists praised a recent federal government proposal to ban new mineral exploration in a swath of South Dakotas Black Hills National Forest for 20 years but said it falls short by still allowing ongoing mining projects.

The U.S. Forest Service put forth a plan Tuesday to prohibit all new mineral exploration near one of the most contested sites in Indian Country, the Pactola Reservoir, the largest in the Black Hills.

For generations, the Black Hills have been a focal point of Indigenous activism and the subject of a court battle over the federal governments illegal seizure of the land in the late 1800s.

This weeks proposal to protect the aquifer  outlined in the Federal Register on Tuesday  would still allow ongoing mining operations in the hills, which has gone on for decades over the objections of Indigenous communities.

More than 18% of the Black Hills remains under mining claims, according to the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, a nonprofit group advocating to stop mining in the Black Hills.

In February, despite public outcry, the Forest Service said it would allow F3 Gold, a Minnesota-based mining company, to search for gold at 39 drill sites in the Pactola area.

A federal report released in July found that the proposed gold mining project could affect cultural resources and tribal sacred lands by altering the landscape adjacent to these sites.

Aside from the cultural significance of the Black Hills to Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples, the reservoir also provides drinking water to Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base. It also is a popular destination for fishing and water sports.

The problem is with catastrophic climate change, the water is not a given out here anymore, said Mark Tilsen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and an organizer with NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy organization based in Rapid City. So the very idea that anybody would threaten the watershed and the drinking water of 80,000 people is insane.

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As part of the proposal announced Tuesday, the government instituted a two-year ban on new mineral exploration to conduct scientific study of the impacts of mining, consult with local tribal nations and seek public comment.

The proposal is part of a broader Biden administration push to increase protections for more of the countrys land and waters.

The federal government seized the Black Hills, known in Lakota as Hesapa, in violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. U.S. officials designated the hills a national forest and carved the faces of former presidents on what is now called Mount Rushmore.

The hills are home to endemic species and some of the worlds most distinctive ecosystems, Tilsen said, adding that the federal government has a treaty responsibility to the Indigenous communities that stewarded it long before the start of colonization.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the U.S. broke its treaty obligations when it took control of the Black Hills and awarded the tribes connected to the land $102 million. A more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability, be found in our history, the court wrote in its opinion.

But tribal nations refused the money, declaring that the Black Hills are not for sale. Today, after decades of interest, that money has ballooned to closer to $2 billion. Despite the refusal to cede the land, uranium mines have dotted the landscape for decades.

They have desecrated all of our sacred sites, especially the sacred Black Hills, and they have introduced more than 2,000 abandoned uranium mines, longtime Oglala Tituwan activist Charmaine White Face said at a United Nations consultation session in April. What do you do whenever you have a treaty-protected territory but the country that is invading and occupying illegally your territory, how do you get them out?

The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service will hold a meeting next month to gather public comment in Rapid City. Comments can be submitted online until mid-June.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
As a result of his maltreatment, one of Captain Danang's back limbs had to be amputated, and most of his teeth had to be removed, as well as the infected right eye. (Photo credits: Captain Danang/Instagram)

Captain Danang, a mixed-breed dog from Vietnam, is finally coming to his forever home in New Brunswick in Canada!

He captured the hearts of many after his story was featured in a CTV News Atlantic story, which retold the incredible story of the life of a dog who has experienced so much.

Captains bitter past

Before being turned over to an animal shelter in Da Nang in Vietnam five years ago, Captain had a bitter past. He was caged for two years and suffered numerous injuries, including paralysis in his back limbs and a bad infection in his left eye.

His maltreatment meant that one of his back limbs had to be amputated, and most of his teeth had to be removed as well as his infected eye.

When he was abandoned, it was all but certain that the rest of his life would be spent alone and lonely in an animal shelter when he was abandoned.

Captains new life in Canada

But then came Sarah Macleod, a 23-year-old animal activist from Riverview, North Brunswick. She had no doubt in her heart that the first time she saw Captain, she had to rescue him and be his forever fur mom.

It was love at first sight for both of them, but bringing Captain to Canada would be costly, as three flights were needed to bring him there.

Not one to be deterred, MacLeod launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the funds for Captain's flights. She also appeared on "CTV News at 5" to tell his story.

It didn't take long before donations poured in, and in no time, C$4,000 (S$3,900) was raised, which was more than enough to bring Captain to Canada.

Now, Captain is set to arrive in Canada on 11 April, and MacLeod is eagerly preparing for his arrival. She's looking forward to being reunited with Captain and is already making plans to crate train him once she buys his crate, as he'll be in cargo most likely.

I think Ill need to crate train him once I buy his crate because hell be in cargo most likely, MacLeod said.

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Captain's story is a reminder that with love, dedication, and the kindness of strangers, anything is possible.

If you'd like to support Captain and find out how you can help, check out their Instagram account here.

Marvin Joseph Ang is a news and lifestyle writer who focuses on politics, the economy, and pop culture. Follow him on Twitter at @marvs30ang for latest news and updates.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
As the temperature rises with the coming of spring, the ice in Heilongjiang province is beginning to melt.

But Wang Haifeng is already looking forward to another winter when people will be able to see one of the country's most spectacular sights, the province's ice and snow sculptures.

"In most parts of China, it's not cold enough to make snow or ice sculptures outdoors," said the 35-year-old head of the model worker innovation studio founded in her name at the Heilongjiang Provincial Forestry Design and Research Institute. "But in Heilongjiang, frozen rivers are a source of large, good quality ice blocks, and the cold weather brings plentiful snow."

The province is iced over for more than a third of the year, which may not suit everyone who lives there, but is perfect for Wang, who considers making ice and snow sculptures an important part of her life.

"As a Harbin native, I have been fascinated by the ice and snow sculptures along the roadsides and in the parks since I was a child," she said. "After being admitted to the department of art design at the Harbin Institute of Technology in 2008, I got the chance to make some of these unique artworks."

In 2010, Wang began to participate in ice sculpting competitions at home and abroad, winning honors at competitions in China, Russia, the United States and Canada.

After earning her master's in design art from Harbin Normal University in 2017, she became the director of the newly founded office of ice and snow tourism planning and design at the Heilongjiang Provincial Forestry Design and Research Institute.

The office, initially made up of six members, engaged in different professions such as architecture, design and electrical engineering. It was founded to pursue cultural innovation and scientific research, launch competitions and engage in landscape planning and design related to ice and snow.

"Taking full advantage of our team and following an environmentally friendly approach as our basis, we are endeavoring to create a unique culture of ice and snow and promote the development of ice and snow science innovation, to achieve the sustainable development of the ice and snow economy," she said. "The experience we gain from competing also helps us create better projects."

In December 2020, Wang was awarded the title of "Craftsman of Heilongjiang", and the office was officially renamed the Wang Haifeng Model Worker Innovation Studio.

In April last year, she was chosen to be a delegate to the 13th Heilongjiang Provincial Party Congress.

"As a representative of the ice and snow sector, I hope to speak up and convey our message to the public," she said. "It is a good opportunity, as well as my responsibility."

In recent years, Wang and her team have made numerous outdoor sculptures in the province, as well as indoor sculptures in Beijing and Tianjin.

Very few women do the job, which requires a reasonable amount of physical strength.

"Working outdoors in the northeastern winter is really a challenge," she said. "We often work for 10 hours a day, but I enjoy every minute."

Sculptors have to be careful to protect themselves, especially as they navigate ice blocks several meters high carrying carving tools.

While making the sculptures, Wang combines high technology with art.

In 2019, she and her team conducted calculations of the snow volume in Yichun city by using unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance technology for the first time in China.

In 2021, she suggested making handles for sculptures using a new kind of straw composite material developed by Huizhou University, and after repeated experiments, they finally succeeded.

Tools they created have obtained patents at the national level and are being mass-produced, making outstanding contributions to the improvement of snow and ice tools available in the province.

"As the leader in the ice and snow sector, Heilongjiang has a long history and deep culture of ice and snow," she said. "Now that we're faced with fierce competition, we should get together to improve innovation and promote the development of the ice and snow sector in our province."
By Max Hunder

KYIV (Reuters) - At an unassuming industrial estate in northern Ukraine, two former Microsoft executives and a team of engineers are producing military drones that can travel over long distances and carry large payloads.

AeroDrone, which made crop-dusting drones prior to the war and now supplies Ukraines armed forces, makes unmanned aircraft that can carry up to 300 kilograms or fly up to several thousand kilometres in certain configurations.

As Ukraine seeks to narrow the yawning gap between its own military capabilities and Russia's, Kyiv says it is expanding its drone programme for both reconnaissance and attacking enemy targets over an increasing range. It is hoping that domestic drone makers like AeroDrone will help it meet its ambitious goals.

The government is now working with more than 80 Ukraine-based drone manufacturers, Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told Reuters. He said Kyiv needs hundreds of thousands of drones, many of which it is looking to source from a rapidly-expanding domestic industry. Currently, the military operates dozens of models of domestic and foreign drones that fulfil a wide spectrum of roles, Reznikov said, in written responses to questions.

"Drones are potentially a game-changer on the battlefield in the same way that precise Western MLRS became last year," Reznikov said, referring to Multiple Launch Rocket System weapons.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and other drones are only one element of a war that is currently dominated by artillery, infantry and missiles. Moscow has been able to pound targets across Ukraine with long-range missiles, which Kyiv lacks.

"It is not worth expecting parity in the near future, Reznikov said on closing the armament gap. He added: Russia is also working on improving its UAVs."

RAMPING UP

Kyiv is hoping to use Western supplies of battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in the coming months to launch a counteroffensive to seize back swathes of occupied territory in the south and east.

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For cash-strapped Ukraine, whose economy has been decimated by the war and whose government is now reliant on international financing, drones represent a relatively inexpensive way to fight back against Russia's vast military. Ukraine has said it will spend nearly $550 million on drones in 2023 and has set up drone assault units within its armed forces.

The secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Oleksiy Danilov, told Reuters unmanned vehicles that crash into their target and detonate - so-called kamikaze drones - will be a particular focus for Ukraine in 2023.

Drone warfare specialist James Rogers, a professor at the University of Southern Denmark, said Ukraine's UAV capability still lags behind Russia and its Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, which have been used by Moscow to target Ukrainian energy facilities for months.

Ukraine has received significant supplies of UAVs from its partners, from Turkey's missile-equipped Bayraktar TB2 to the Norwegian-made Black Hornet reconnaissance drone, which weighs less than 33 grams.

Kyiv is now ramping up its own production. Taras Chmut, a Ukrainian defence specialist, says the countrys domestic production of aerial drones has grown by three or four times since the start of last years invasion. His assessment was that the countrys production of such drones capacity was several thousand a year if funding and parts supplies are steady.

Chmut heads a non-governmental organisation called Come Back Alive that says it has raised tens of millions of dollars of crowdfunding to supply equipment to the military, including aerial drones. He added that the size of Ukraines overall drone fleet had increased by tens of times since February 2022 due to new supplies from both abroad and Ukraine, as well as those donated by organisations such as his.

Reznikov said Ukraine had increased its drone production capacity by several times since Russias invasion in February last year and that it was now able to make drones that work in the air, on land and in the sea. The defence ministry declined to provide drone-production figures.

LONGER RANGE

One area of focus is on developing airborne drones that can travel longer distances, said Reznikov. Kyiv has been seeking longer-range missiles from allies that could hit targets several hundred kilometres away, but has so far been rebuffed.

AeroDrone says one of its models, called Enterprise and based on the frame of a light aircraft, can fly over 3,000 kilometres in certain circumstances.

The company is run by Dmytro Shymkiv and Yuriy Pederiy, who met while working at Microsofts Kyiv offices, where Shymkiv rose to be country manager and Pederiy was responsible for a major department.

They said their military contracts strictly limit what the company can disclose, but they said the Enterprise and another model called Discovery can be used for a wide variety of tactical purposes thanks to payloads of 300 kilograms and 80 kilograms, respectively. One of the companys aircraft can cost between $150,000 to $450,000 depending on the model and configuration, which can include features such as an anti-jamming system to counteract Russian signal interference.

During a late February visit to AeroDrones workshop, engineers in blue coats bustled around the metal carcass of a light aircraft that forms the skeleton of the Enterprise drone. "It can carry 200 kg for 1200 km," Shymkiv said of the Enterprise.

Pointing to the cockpit that was designed to house a pilot, he said: Now, itll be the payload.

The defence ministry said AeroDrone has contracts for the supply of two types of long range drones, but declined to disclose further detail.

The ministry declined to specify the maximum range of Ukraine's current drone fleet, but a major state-owned Ukrainian arms company announced in December it had conducted successful tests for an assault drone with a 75 kg warhead and a 1,000 km range.

RUSSIAN TERRITORY

The range and potency of Ukraine's drones is a sensitive issue. Russia has said some Ukrainian drones have been able to get behind the front lines, even though Ukrainian officials typically deny responsibility for suspected drone activity in Russian territory.

In December, Russia said Ukrainian drones attacked two Russian air bases which house long-range bombers deep inside its own territory, killing three Russian air force personnel.

The defence ministry in Kyiv said: "Ukraine has no connection to the events happening on Russian territory."

Over recent weeks, Russian officials have reported at least six incidents involving drones being downed or conducting attacks on the countrys territory, some of which they publicly blamed on Ukraine.

When asked by Reuters whether Ukraine uses drones to hit targets in Russia, the defence minister said: "Everything happening on the territory of Russia is a question for Russia alone. Ukraine is not a terrorist state or an attacker."

Speaking about attacks generally, national security council head Danilov said that in theory some strikes on Russian soil could be justifiable in certain circumstances.

"If there is a facility which is causing damage to our country ... We have to destroy these facilities. This is war," Danilov said, speaking to Reuters in February. "And it's not our fault that it (the target) is located on the territory of Russia."

EXPANSION BARRIERS

But challenges for expanding domestic production remain. Chmut, the defence specialist, said one barrier to mass production was the reliance on foreign-supplied parts such as engines and communications systems. He and AeroDrone also said getting parts through customs can be challenging.

The process for obtaining certification for military use has also been an issue. Reznikov said the ministry has streamlined the process, reducing it to a few weeks whereas previously it had taken up to two years.

AeroDrones Shymkiv said a separate government ruling loosening regulations on dual-use item imports, including drones and drone parts, has made life easier for manufacturers. However, he added there remains room for improvement in removing bureaucratic hurdles generally.

The defence ministry said it was working with domestic drone manufacturers to both increase production capacity and standardise output in order to simplify servicing and training.

Danilov, the national security council head, acknowledged Ukraines reliance on other countries for more high-tech drone components.

"We are trying to fulfil our needs in this sector with domestic production, but we realise that it's unlikely we will be able to fulfil everything," he said.

(Editing by Mike Collett-White and Cassell Bryan-Low)
Ibstock plc (LON:IBST) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 11% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been less than pleasing. In fact, the share price is down 39%, which falls well short of the return you could get by buying an index fund.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

Check out our latest analysis for Ibstock

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

While the share price declined over five years, Ibstock actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 6.7% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS.

Due to the lack of correlation between the EPS growth and the falling share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics to try to understand the share price movement.

We note that the dividend has fallen in the last five years, so that may have contributed to the share price decline.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Ibstock is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Ibstock will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates)

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. As it happens, Ibstock's TSR for the last 5 years was -27%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Ibstock shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 1.6% over one year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That certainly beats the loss of about 5% per year over the last half decade. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Ibstock (including 1 which is significant) .

Of course Ibstock may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British 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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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Mercury NZ is NZ$8.60 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Mercury NZ is estimated to be 29% undervalued based on current share price of NZ$6.07

Our fair value estimate is 37% higher than Mercury NZ's analyst price target of NZ$6.30

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Mercury NZ Limited (NZSE:MCY) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

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.

See our latest analysis for Mercury NZ

Is Mercury NZ Fairly Valued?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$397.6m NZ$247.3m NZ$445.7m NZ$590.2m NZ$622.9m NZ$648.5m NZ$671.4m NZ$692.4m NZ$712.1m NZ$730.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 4.12% Est @ 3.53% Est @ 3.13% Est @ 2.84% Est @ 2.64% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% NZ$372 NZ$216 NZ$365 NZ$452 NZ$446 NZ$434 NZ$420 NZ$405 NZ$390 NZ$374

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$3.9b

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = NZ$731m (1 + 2.2%)  (6.9% 2.2%) = NZ$16b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$16b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= NZ$8.0b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is NZ$12b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$6.1, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 29% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Mercury NZ 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 6.9%, 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 Mercury NZ

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electric Utilities market.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

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. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/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 Mercury NZ, there are three essential factors you should assess:

Risks: As an example, we've found 3 warning signs for Mercury NZ (1 is potentially serious!) that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does MCY'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 New Zealander 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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Iowa authorities are seeking the public's assistance in finding two men wanted in the Christmas Day killing of a Fort Dodge resident.

Police have issued arrest warrants for Lakendrick A. Mosley, 31, of Des Moines, and Darwin L. Green, 27, of Fort Dodge, in connection with the murder of 46-year-old Montreail Dungy.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety issued an arrest warrant for Lakendrick A. Mosley, 31, of Des Moines in connection with a Dec. 25 murder in Fort Dodge.

Police found Dungy unresponsive with a gunshot wound in the 1000 block of 10th Ave. S.W. at 3:23 a.m. on Christmas, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Investigators "have been working tirelessly to reach a resolution for Mr. Dungy's family and all of those impacted by Mr. Dungy's murder," the agency said in a news release. "Over the course of the last few months, investigates have been following up on numerous leads stemming from information being provided by the community members as well as other investigative leads."

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has issued an arrest warrant for Darwin Green, 27, of Fort Dodge in connection with a Dec. 25 murder there.

The release said anybody with knowledge of Green's or Mosley's whereabouts is encouraged to contact law enforcement officials. Though warrants have been issued, the investigation continues, it said.

Francesca Block is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at FBlock@registermedia.com or on Twitter at @francescablock3.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Manhunt underway in connection with Christmas Day killing in Fort Dodge
President Joe Biden speaks during a dinner at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa on Friday - Andrew Harnik/AP

Joe Biden said the United States was "prepared to act forcefully to protect our people'' as Iran-linked groups in Syria responded to US attacks made in retaliation for a deadly drone strike.

But the US President, visiting Ottawa, also said his government "does not seek conflict with Iran''.

An American base at Al-Omar oil field was targeted by a salvo of missiles on Friday morning hours after the Pentagon announced carrying out multiple precision air strikes against facilities in eastern Syrian used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Pro-Iranian forces in Syria said in an online statement late on Friday that they had a "long arm" to respond to further US strikes on their positions, after an exchange of strikes in Syria in the previous 24 hours.

The statement, signed by the Iranian Advisory Committee in Syria, said US strikes had left several fighters dead and wounded, without specifying their nationality. "We have the capability to respond if our centres and forces in Syria are targeted," the statement said.

The US air strikes came after American intelligence concluded that a drone used to attack a US base near Hassakeh in north-east Syria on Thursday was of Iranian origin. The drone strike killed an American contractor and wounded five US troops and another American contractor.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday US time that, at Mr Biden's direction, he had ordered the "precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".

Hours after those strikes, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said 10 rockets were fired at American and coalition forces at the Green Village base in northeast Syria.

There were no injuries or damages to facilities at the base, but one rocket struck a home about three miles away, causing minor wounds to two women and two children, CENTCOM said.

The subsequent rocket attack on Friday further raised tensions even as the White House sought to limit the prospect of escalating hostilities.

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A White House national security spokesman also said the US was not seeking conflict with Iran and that Tehran should not be involved in supporting attacks on American facilities.

Military groups remain a threat

The US strikes in Syria were aimed at protecting American personnel in the country, where Islamic State and Iran-backed militant groups remain a threat, John Kirby told CNN during an interview on Friday.

Earlier Mr Austin said in a statement that attacks on American troops would draw a response.

"No group will strike our troops with impunity," he said in a statement.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that monitors the war in Syria, said the US strikes said 14 people had been killed by the US strikes in Syria.

The US launched a deadly drone attack against facilities in eastern Syrian used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A rare American attack

Lethal attacks on American personnel in Syria are rare. In January, three drones attacked the US base at Tanf, in eastern Syria, injuring two Syrian fighters. While a little-known militia claimed the attack, analysts concluded it was likely a front group to give the IRGC plausible deniability.

Some 900 American troops are based in eastern Syria on a mission to prevent an Islamic State resurgence.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, who is supported by Iran and Russia, views the Americans as occupiers.

The Syrian leader is gradually being reintegrated into the Arab world after surviving a brutal 12-year civil war in which his attacks on Syrian civilians made him a pariah.

Saudi Arabia is close to reaching an agreement with Syria to reopen its embassy in Damascus for the first time in a decade, it was reported on Thursday.

Russia mediated the Saudi-Syria talks, The Wall Street Journal reported, in another sign of diminished US influence in the region after Beijing brokered a recent agreement between Saudi and Iran to restore ties.
The mother of an American woman who disappeared in Ireland 30 years ago has said she hopes a new murder inquiry will "bring up something new".

Annie McCarrick, who was 26 at the time, had been living in Dublin when she went missing on 26 March 1993.

Despite searches at the time and in the years since, no trace of her has been found.

On Friday, gardai (Irish police) confirmed her disappearance is now being treated as murder.

Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTE, Annie McCarrick's mother Nancy said that she would "love to be able to find" her and bring her home to Long Island, New York.

She said she hopes the police will now review all the evidence and information received to date.

"That's what they said they will do, which is just great, really it is," she added.

"I think it's the best we could hope for."

Asked if the family was holding out any hope that her daughter could still be alive, Mrs McCarrick said she did not think that was "remotely possible".

"I did for a very, very, very long time but not after 30 years," she said.

She appealed to anyone with any information about the disappearance of her only child to speak to the police.

Mrs McCarrick said there was "nothing more important" anyone could do, even with the smallest bit of information.

"You never know how helpful it might be," she added.

Asked how difficult the last 30 years had been for her family, Mrs McCarrick said "time helps a great deal, it really does".

"You do the best you can and you just go along, you don't have a choice."

Police confirmed on Friday that Ms McCarrick's disappearance is now being treated as a murder inquiry

The last confirmed sighting of Ms McCarrick was captured on CCTV, shortly before 11:00 local time on the day she went missing, at a bank on Sandymount Road close to where she lived in Dublin.

There were also reported sightings in the Sandymount Green area; of her boarding the number 44 bus bound for Enniskerry in County Wicklow; and a number of further reported sightings in Enniskerry village and at Johnny Fox's pub in the Dublin Mountains.

At a press conference on Friday morning, Det Supt Eddie Carroll said police are "satisfied that it is more likely now that Annie came to a foul demise".

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Ms McCarrick was an only child and her father John passed away in 2009.

She was described as 5ft 8in (1.72m) in height and 10 stone (63.5kg), with long brown hair.

Gardai said she spoke with a soft Irish-American accent and when she disappeared it is believed she was in possession of a large brown leather bag.

Det Supt Carroll urged anyone with information to come forward.

"I appeal to any person who has information relative to Annie's murder not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value.

"Let us make that decision."
A dragon-shaped kite takes flight in Beijing. [Photo/CFP]

Orcas, horses, dragons, the Monkey King from Chinese legend, skeletons, and even SpongeBob SquarePants - you probably wouldn't expect to see this collection of animals, mythological creatures, and pop cultural icons flying together in the sky, but this spectacle happens every year in Weifang, the "World Kite Capital" in east China's Shandong Province.



Kites, which were invented over 2,000 years ago in China, are believed to be the earliest flying objects created by humans. After centuries of development, kites have become one of the country's representative traditional handicrafts, and kite-making technique was included in the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

The traditional Chinese kite-making technique involves four steps: making the frame, pasting paper onto the frame, painting and decorating it, and then mastering the art of flying the kite.

Currently, the most distinctive kite-making techniques can be found in three regions: Weifang in Shandong Province, Nantong in Jiangsu Province, and Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region. These regions have each developed their own unique characteristics based on traditional kite-making craftsmanship.

The city of Weifang is known as a global hub of kite culture and is widely regarded as the birthplace of these popular flying toys. The themes of Weifang kites are incredibly diverse, encompassing birds, fish, insects, cultural relics, historical figures, myths, and legends.

Today in Weifang, there are virtually no limitations on the shapes or sizes of kites, which can be made to represent people's ideals and aspirations. This diversity can be observed at the annual Weifang International Kite Festival, which has been held on the third Saturday of every April since 1984. More than 10,000 participants from over 30 countries and regions around the world compete in the festival every year.

Unlike the wide variety of forms seen in Weifang, Nantong kites are mostly rectangular. However, there are some deviations in their design, extending to hexagonal, pentagonal and even octagonal shapes. Each of these relates to the traditional Chinese concept of "heaven, earth, and humans living in harmony" as well as the theory of the five elements (fire, water, wood, gold, and earth) in feng shui. For example, hexagons are associated with "water" whereas octagons belong to the "wood" element.

Yet the most distinctive feature of Nantong kites is the attachment of whistles of different sizes, which can range in number from 100 to 300. As such, they have picked up the moniker "air symphonies."

Lhasa kites have gained popularity in various regions of Tibet such as Lhasa, Shigatse, and Zedang, and have even spread to neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), they were especially favored by upper-class Tibetans.

The skill of kite-flying in Lhasa is demonstrated through aerial competitions. Skilled practitioners can make their kites rise and fall rapidly, spin, and roll left or right, depending on the pressure they apply on the kite line. In such competitions, battles often ensue, with the winner cutting the string of the loser mid-flight, causing it to drift off into the ether.

Lhasa kites are seasonal and are mostly made for sale in cities like Lhasa and Shigatse during autumn.
ISRAEL-POLITICS-JUDICIARY

Israeli police confront protesters during ongoing demonstrations in Tel Aviv on March 23, 2023, against controversial legal reforms being touted by the country's hard-right government. Credit - JACK GUEZ-AFP

Israel, my homeland, was built by people who came together from all over the world to escape ruthless persecution, and for nearly 75 years, it has enjoyed prosperity beyond our ancestors wildest dreams. Today, Israel teeters on the edge of the abyss. The current crisis, sparked by proposed changes to the judiciary, hides both the root cause and a fundamental solution. Israel needs a constitution, or its equivalent, now.

By constitution, I mean a set of shared, fundamental principles coded into law. A contract that people are willing to uphold, regardless of whether they personally win or lose, is the glue that holds diverse societies together. Constitutions are not panaceasthey are often politicized and vigorously debated but they provide a framework to tackle seemingly unbridgeable differences from the deepest common ground.

In the Israeli military, soldiers learn to navigate the desert by moving from one waypoint to the next. We teach those who get lost to retrace their steps to the last point of knowing where they were. This is no different. Countries with constitutions can start at their shared principles, their last known waypoint, then debate how to apply or evolve them to move forward. If they get lost, they know where to restart the journey. Countries without that shared foundation debate what their principles are in the face of every new challenge, and risk getting permanently lost in the desert.

That is what is happening in Israel. The easy explanation for the current conflict is to blame it all on the politicians. They certainly bear responsibility, especially the many who act in self-interest. But half of Israel supports this governments actions, and the other half is on the verge of revolt over them. The hard truth is that Israel is being destroyed by disagreements because it has not done the work to build a sound foundation of the most important things its people agree on.

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Looking back, the debate over a constitution has been deferred for decades. Deep social, political, and religious differences, which should have been a big incentive to define the common ground, instead became an excuse for leaders to shy away from the challenge. We claim shared ideals, but with not nearly enough written down, and with the most important things left vague and assumed, it has been too easy for anyone to claim the moral right. That is precisely what is happening between Israels branches of government and the people on either side of the current conflict.

Now, the accumulation of each incremental failure to compromise based on agreed upon principles has expanded Israels margins, as more and more people are squeezed out and pitted against each other. It is evident in the countrys inability to govern, with five general elections in the past four years, and in the current conflict. Any one of the judicial proposals presented opportunities to come together. We failed to do that. Not just once and not just on this topic, but many times, over many years. The myriad unresolved issues that by themselves were manageable have now metastasized into a fundamental divide and an attempt by those in power to overthrow the entire system.

Forming a constitution will be extremely difficult; it always is. The history of other nations shows that it is usually these moments that bring the highest risk of destruction but also the biggest potential for evolution. Politicians will cite past failures as reasons to defer yet again. That kind of thinking has brought the country to this unimaginable brink.

Israel does not need to tear itself apart over whether the judiciary should be protected or reformed. Israel needs to pause the current legislation to focus on the root cause and find a more sustainable means of addressing this and our many other divides. This means a constitution or its equivalent, with stronger checks and balances on all three branches of government, defined by the people who will bear the consequences of them.

We are two weeks from Pesach, Passover, the holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. At first, they were held together by the persecution they were running away from. Eventually though, as they moved beyond Pharaohs reach, they began to consider what they were running toward, and the Ten Commandments became the foundation they decided to build around. Just as it was 4,000 years ago, Israel can no longer survive glued together only by fear and common enemies. With prosperity gifted by the sacrifices of our ancestors, we now must build a shared foundation, the next waypoint that will keep us from wandering too long in the desert.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said he would prevent the passage of a proposal by a powerful ally in his governing coalition to punish Christian proselytizing with jail time.

The proposal had raised an uproar with evangelical Christians  one of Israels strongest and most influential supporters in the United States.

The bill was introduced in January by a pair of ultra-Orthodox Jewish lawmakers, including Moshe Gafni, who heads the parliaments Finance Committee. It says soliciting someone to convert their faith should be punishable by one year in prison and solicitation to convert a minor would be punishable with a two-year sentence.

Recently, the attempts of missionary groups, mainly Christians, to solicit conversion of religion have increased, it said.

The bill was never advanced, but it drew widespread attention in the American evangelical world this week after All Israel News, an evangelical news site, reported on it.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu announced on Twitter: We will not advance any law against the Christian community.

Gafni said he had introduced the bill as a procedural matter, as he has done in the past, and there were no plans to advance it.

Evangelical Christians, particularly in the United States, are among the strongest backers of Israel, viewing it as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, with some seeing it as the harbinger of a second coming of Jesus Christ and the end of days.

Israel has long welcomed evangelicals political and financial support, and it has largely shrugged off concerns about any hidden religious agenda. But most Jews view any effort to convert them to Christianity as deeply offensive, a legacy of centuries of persecution and forced conversion at the hands of Christian rulers. In part, because of those sensitivities, evangelical Christians rarely target Jews.

Joel Rosenberg, editor in chief of All Israel News, welcomed Netanyahus announcement, which comes at a time of domestic turmoil in Israel over his plan to overhaul the country's legal system and rising tensions with the Biden administration over West Bank settlement activities.

Netanyahu is a longtime and proven friend to the global Christian community and his action today  amidst all the other issues on his plate  is further proof, Rosenberg said.
By Henriette Chacar

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's attorney-general on Friday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of breaking the law by ignoring a conflict of interest over his ongoing trial for corruption and getting directly involved in his government's judicial overhaul plan.

In the face of intensifying protests against the proposed changes, which its critics charge would weaken the Supreme Court, Netanyahu said on Thursday he was putting aside all other considerations and would do "anything it takes" to reach a solution.

The letter from Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara added to the headwinds facing the plans, which have caused a deep split in Israeli society, bringing tens of thousands of protesters to the streets, alarming the business establishment and opening cracks in the right-wing coalition itself.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that following Netanyahu's speech, about 200 elite reservist air force pilots said they were suspending their service on Friday due to the planned legislation, escalating protests from within the military.

After media reports that Defence Minister Yoav Gallant would call for the plans to be halted on Thursday, Netanyahu summoned his defence chief who outlined the potential impact of the overhaul on the armed forces, where growing numbers of reservists have declared they will not serve.

However Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges that he denies, has pushed ahead, declaring in a televised address on Thursday that he would try to pass a central part of the package next week.

On Thursday, the Knesset amended a law to limit the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed from office but Baharav-Miara said Netanyahu had to stay out of the judicial overhaul package, which has been handled by Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

"The legal situation is clear: you must refrain from any involvement in initiatives to change the judiciary," she wrote in the letter made public by the office of the justice ministry spokesperson. "Your statement last night and any action you take in violation of this matter is illegal."

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The letter followed Baharav-Miara's earlier warnings that Netanyahu must stay out of his coalition's push for a judicial overhaul because of what she deemed a conflict of interest arising from his trials.

In a message distributed by the ruling Likud party, an unnamed source close to Netanyahu denied the prime minister violated any laws or conflict of interest agreements in his statement and said it had no repercussions on his trial.

The source said it was incumbent on the premier to try to reach a wide consensus at a time of national crisis that carried implications for the country both domestically and abroad.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused the attorney-general, appointed by the former centre-right government, of acting as de facto head of the opposition.

"If Ms Baharav-Miara wants to make decisions on behalf of elected officials, she is welcome to form a party and run for parliament," he wrote on Twitter.

Following the attorney-general's letter, the watchdog group Movement for Quality Government in Israel said it would file a motion for contempt of the court and demand that Netanyahu be subjected to sanctions as stipulated by law, including heavy fines and imprisonment.

Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition has been pursuing changes to the judiciary that would give the government sway in choosing judges and limit the Supreme Court's power to strike down laws.

Proponents say the plan would rein in Supreme Court overreach and restore balance between the branches of government. Critics say it would weaken the courts, endanger civil liberties and harm the economy.

The proposed plan has sparked weeks of nationwide demonstrations and drew concern among the country's Western allies.

The protests followed Netanayhu to London on Friday, where he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Hundreds of people stood outside 10 Downing Street waving Israeli flags and banging drums. Some could be heard shouting "Netanyahu go to jail, you can't speak for Israel".

Broadcasters had expected to be able to film the start of the meeting between Sunak and Netanyahu but that appeared to have been cancelled.

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Clarence Fernandez, James Mackenzie, William Maclean)
By Muvija M and Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of upholding democratic values when he received Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on Friday, referring to a move to overhaul Israel's judiciary that has stirred mass protests.

Netanyahu has faced weeks of uproar over his religious-nationalist coalition's pursuit of changes to the judiciary that would give the government sway in choosing judges and limit the Supreme Court's power to strike down laws.

He was greeted by hundreds of protesters when he arrived to see Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Friday, with demonstrators holding up Israeli flags and shouting chants, such as "Boosha!", which means "for shame!" in Hebrew, and "Netanyahu go to jail, you can't speak for Israel!"

The scenes in London echoed those in Berlin earlier this month in which hundreds gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to protest against the planned overhaul of Israel's judiciary.

"The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel," a spokesperson for Sunak said.

Readouts of the meeting from both sides said the men also discussed strengthening the relationship between Britain and Israel, and the security and defence challenges they share, including the threat posed by Iran.

Netanyahu invited Sunak for an official visit to Israel, the Israeli statement said. He left Downing Street less than an hour after he arrived.

Israel's attorney-general accused Netanyahu on Friday of breaking the law by ignoring a conflict of interest over his ongoing trial for corruption and getting directly involved in the judicial overhaul plan. He denies the graft charges.

'WE'RE HERE TO PROTEST'

In London protesters wanted to talk about Netanyahu's move on the judiciary, which has caused fear at home and abroad for the country's democratic checks and balances.

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"We're here to protest against Netanyahu, to protest against his attacks on democracy," said Amnon Cohn, who described himself as an Israeli living in London since 2005.

Outside Downing Street, protesters - surrounded by British police and restricted by metal barricades - waved signs saying "You can't enjoy a weekend in London when you're bringing down a democracy!"

"We are more determined than Bibi is," said Liron Rosiner Reshef, an Israeli-born protester in London, using a popular nickname for Netanyahu.

"This is a war for human rights ... This is a war for all Israelis to fight," said Rosiner, who has lived in London for 13 years and hopes to one day return to Israel with her husband and three children.

British Jews and Israelis have taken part in several large demonstrations in London in recent weeks, gathering in Westminster for "Defend Israeli Democracy" events.

(Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem; writing by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton, Raissa Kasolowsky and Mark Heinrich)
In the fight against cancer, one would reasonably be discouraged by the size of our opponent. There are more than 200 known types of cancer; even more diverse are the people impacted by the disease  their unique needs and treatment plans making our fight feel all the more unwieldy. As a fierce cancer advocate and daughter to a cancer survivor, I look at the breadth of our battle and I actually feel encouraged; thanks to strides in research, we have been able to isolate the policies that are proven to reduce cancer incidence and improve survivorship. Gov. Phil Murphy and other state leaders are consistent allies in this fight, securing wins for cancer patients and refusing to be discouraged in the face of adversity, but they have an opportunity to be national leaders on this issue. 2023 could be the year New Jersey rises to such a challenge.

Earlier this month, Murphy included $5 million for the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program in his executive budget proposal, representing a huge win for public health. NJCEED provides under- and uninsured New Jersey residents with access to breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer screenings at no cost to patients. In the last year, NJCEED made it possible for 17,600 New Jersey residents to get screened for breast and cervical cancer and 2,981 for colorectal cancer. The governors $5 million allocation for NJCEED will make it so that fewer New Jersey residents will suffer and die from preventable disease.

New Jersey took another huge step forward in improving residents access to lifesaving preventative care when, at the beginning of 2023, the Legislature passed the Colorectal Cancer Screening Cost-Sharing Removal Act. Starting July 1, 2023, no New Jersey resident over the age of 45 will be charged for a colonoscopy following a positive stool-based test. This new law will make it so that cost is not a deterrent to screening.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to focus attention on screening for colorectal cancer and colon care.

Though efforts to eliminate barriers to cancer screenings are invaluable in this fight, cancer prevention in New Jersey cannot be solely defined by residents access to early detection services. We need to be proactive, reducing the presence of cancer-causing products in New Jersey residents lives. The best course for lawmakers to achieve this is through tobacco cessation  more specifically, increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives.

Under current state law, the annual budget dedicates 1% of the revenue generated from cigarette taxes to tobacco cessation initiatives, which amounts to just $4.757 million  despite the CDCs recommendation that New Jersey spend $103.3 million annually on such initiatives. Tobacco prevention and cessation efforts in New Jersey continue to do more with less, but there is more work that needs to be done. If New Jersey were to increase its investment in tobacco prevention to 3% of the cigarette tax revenue, the new funds could be used to expand prevention and cessation programs and resources. This would represent a progressive approach to state spending and not result in any increase in tax or cost for residents.

Nearly 56,150 New Jersey residents will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023, and it is estimated that more than 15,000 will lose their battle with the disease. The governor has demonstrated how he plans to lower these numbers. Now, I urge New Jerseys Legislature to do the same and lead on this issue. We can either let these incidence and mortality rates immobilize us or we can work to make New Jersey a champion in cancer policy. I choose to act; I hope New Jerseys state leaders will join me.

Jade Bechelli is director of New Jersey Government Relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ cancer screening opportunities
Youll find endless waves of Toronto Maple Leafs fans throughout North America, but one place they dont reside is at the White House in Washington, D.C.

United States President Joe Biden is known as a massive sports fan, cheering for the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles, who fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in February. And when it comes to hockey, he and his wife, Jill, root for the Flyers.

In his latest visit to Ottawas Parliament Hill on Friday  where he met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  Biden held a press conference with members of Parliament and made sure to slide in a jab about the Maple Leafs, who beat down the Flyers 6-2 on Jan. 8.

Joe Biden just took a shot at the Toronto Maple Leafs in his speech to Parliament



I like your (hockey) teams, except the Leafs!



Biden says he doesn't like them cause the Leafs beat the Flyers in January #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/01nxZ3l9Qr  Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) March 24, 2023

I have to say, I like your [hockey] teams, except the Leafs, Biden said jokingly.

Ill tell you why they beat the Flyers back in January. Thats why. And if I didnt say that  I married a Philly girl  then Id say Id be sleeping alone, fellas. They like ya, but not that much.

His comment drew a thunderous standing ovation from the politicians in attendance.

Joe Biden is not a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs because they beat the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this season. (Photo via @Gray_Mackenzie/Twitter)

Toronto snapped Philadelphias four-game winning streak back then, as captain John Tavares (one goal, two assists), Mitch Marner (three assists) and Calle Jarnkrok (one goal, two assists) led the way with three points each. Goaltender Matt Murray was also a difference-maker, stopping 29 of his 31 shots against.

The Maple Leafs are currently positioned second in the Atlantic Division at 43-19-9 with 95 points through 71 games, headed for a seventh straight playoff berth and another opening-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bidens Flyers, meanwhile, are slated to miss the postseason for a third consecutive campaign as they own a 27-32-12 record and 66 points, tied for 27th league-wide.
Podcast host Joe Rogan this week threw cold water on speculation of a pending indictment of former President Trump.

Theyre talking about arresting him for paying a girl to stop talking about them having sex. I thought that was a good deal. I thought its a good deal, Rogan said on an episode of his podcast this week. You pay someone  Didnt Clinton do that?  John Edwards got in trouble for doing that, but he didnt go to jail. I dont believe he went to jail.

An AP fact check earlier this week found comparisons circulating on social media between Trump and Clintons so-called hush money payments to be misleading. Clintons $850,000 payment to Paula Jones in 1998 settled a civil lawsuit, with the AP noting the payment was public and legal, and the funds did not come from the government, nor did they amount to a campaign contribution.

Trump is reportedly facing an indictment from a New York prosecutor in connection with a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which the AP fact check noted was made through a shell company and reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses in the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump, who is running for the Republican nomination for president, has denied the allegations against him and has called for protests among his supporters if he is arrested.

But they just dont want him president again, Rogan said of Democrats and other critics of Trump. And they know that if he runs against Biden, Biden is so old, you know? And no matter what you think about his policies, you hear him talk. Hes so old. Hes so compromised.

Rogan, a controversial media figure in his own right, has sparked backlash for his comments on the coronavirus pandemic and other issues on his popular podcast.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
John Wick 4 would missed out on a beautiful sunrise shot if it hadnt been for the King of Jordans helping hand.

The popular action franchises newest entry sees legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) go international, travelling across the globe to seek out the most powerful players in the underworld.

In order to shoot one of the movies scenes  in which Wick returns to the Moroccan desert to confront The Elder (Said Taghmaoui), whom he first encountered in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum  the crew filmed on location in Jordan.

However, according to director Chad Stahelski, the aerial shots needed of the desert wouldnt have been possible if it werent for the King of Jordan.

We were trying to get to a location we couldnt access, Stahelski told BuzzFeed in a new interview, while joined by Reeves.

The King of Jordan gave us a Black Hawk, he said. He was nice enough to lend us a helicopter to fly the crew out to get the sunrise shot that you see in the movie.

Responding, Reeves, noted that the King gave you a helicopter to get a shot because [hes] a fan of John Wick.

Thats kind of cool.

Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4' (Murray Close/Lionsgate)

Released today (24 March) in cinemas, John Wick 4 is already a critical success, securing a Rotten Tomatoes milestone for the franchise.

In The Independents four-star review of the film, Clarrise Loughrey wrote that the action sequel commits so nobly to self-seriousness that it borders on camp, calling it a cinematic legacy well secured.

The film is dedicated to the late Lance Reddick, who returns alongside Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane.

Reddick died suddenly on 17 March. He was 60.

During the movies recent premiere, his co-stars paid tribute to him, with Reeves telling Deadline that itf***ing sucks hes not here.

Lance was a beautiful person. And to have the chance to work with him over 10 years and four films is something that is very special to me, the Canadian actor added.
Jose Ramirez was one of the hottest fighters in the world in 2021.

He knocked out Maurice Hooker to become a unified 140-pound champion in 2019 and followed with a decision over Viktor Postol in 2020, which set up a showdown with Josh Taylor for all four major belts the following year.

A victory wouldve made him one of the biggest stars in the sport. Alas, he went down twice and lost a close decision, which cost him his belts and a lot of respect.

He rebounded by outpointing Jose Pedraza in March of last year but hes still rebuilding his reputation going into his fight with Richard Commey (30-4-1, 27 KOs) on Saturday in Fresno, California (ESPN, ESPN+).

He said were going to see him at his best against the former 135-pound titleholder from Ghana.

Ive experienced being at the top with people praising me and me being ranked at No. 1, he said. Then I became unified world champion when I beat Maurice Hooker. Then, all of a sudden, after one loss, people started to walk away from that.

But Im just blessed that I have a beautiful family, a beautiful team, and a wonderful promotional company. Thats all I need. So, I found myself, and I realized who I am.

I feel like Im ready to show that lion that we all saw before I started getting distracted with some of the stuff that comes with being at the top. Now its time for me to work.

Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs) failed to mention a key element of his support system: His fans.

He grew up in Avenal, not far from Fresno in Californias Central Valley. That means that Save Mart Arena will be packed with supporters screaming encouragement, which can give a hometown fighter a boost.

This will be the 2012 U.S. Olympians seventh fight at the venue.

Its always an honor for me to fight here in Fresno in front of the people who saw me grow up as a fighter, he said. I hope to go out there on Saturday to showcase my talent in front of the people who love me the most.

Well see how much hes loved by the critics after the fight.

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Related

Jose Ramirez vs. Richard Commey: date, time, how to watch, background Jose Ramirez defeats Jose Pedraza by clear decision in comeback fight

Story originally appeared on Boxing Junkie
Rohit Upadhyay worked at some of India's biggest publications before becoming a YouTuber. Rohit Upadhyay

YouTube is an increasingly popular platform for both traditional journalists and influencers to publish investigations.

Some believe YouTube represents the future of journalism, where creators have more freedom beyond the confines of traditional media.

However, issues with reliability and algorithmic biases pose a major challenge.

In May 2021, journalist Adam Robb spent an estimated 1,500 hours digging deep into the lies of Eddie Ibanez, a Philadelphia tech founder who was about to launch a new NFT project with YouTuber Logan Paul called CryptoZoo. Through his reporting, Robb discovered that Ibanez and Paul were about to scam countless victims.

But as a freelancer, it took Robb months to find a publication willing to edit and publish the investigation. It only reached the public in January 2022  six months after CryptoZoo was launched and scammed numerous users out of potentially millions of dollars.

Robb was paid $300 for his work. And, more despondently for a journalist, the story did not make much of an impact.

"That should have felt more cathartic, except no one read the story," Robb said.

That's when he connected with Stephen Findeisen, a YouTuber who exposes crypto scams on his massively popular channel CoffeeZilla. They collaborated on a three-part video series in December that has since accumulated more than 19 million views in total and led to lawsuits against Ibanez and Paul.

Seeing the popularity of his work on YouTube was a wake-up call for Robb, who until then had not explored the educational and journalistic side of the platform. "It was also like, oh, wow, this is true. YouTube journalism is its own thing that operates in its own ecosystem."

Robb's foray into YouTube represents a growing trend on the platform toward greater journalistic rigor  both from independent journalists who come from traditional journalism backgrounds as well as independent influencers. Some traditional journalists are leaving established newsrooms to become YouTubers.

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YouTube, these creators say, gives them the freedom to do good journalistic work without the red tape of the industry  work that reaches audiences more directly, allows more creative freedom, and more accurately represents the world around them.

But as many new bounds as the platform allows, YouTube journalists are also facing new challenges.

Creators say YouTube is 'the next frontier' for powerful journalism that media companies are struggling to sustain

Kevin Perjurer is the creator behind Defunctland, a YouTube channel documenting the history of theme parks and defunct park rides. With a background in filmmaking, Perjurer has been able to make a living on YouTube alone, although he declined to share his revenue. He calls the platform "the next frontier" of filmmaking and documentaries, and believes the wider media industry should take it more seriously.

But Perjurer is aware, if not a bit self-conscious, about the stigma of being called a "YouTuber."

"I'd be lying if there wasn't a small part of me that hates that this is called a video, and not a documentary or a film, and that I am referred to as a YouTuber or a content creator, and not a filmmaker, or a documentarian, or an artist," says Perjurer in a recent 90-minute investigation into the origins of the Disney Channel theme song.

"The stigma is that it's this lawless place and anyone can just say anything, and that is true. But I don't see how that's so much different than what some of traditional media is doing," he told Insider.

Pivoting to YouTube is a big career risk, but one journalists are willing to take: The payoff to tell impactful stories outweighs some of this stigma.

Rohit Upadhyay is a journalist based in Delhi, India, who was selected for the independent journalist creators program that YouTube and Google News Lab launched in 2021. He worked for some of India's biggest national news organizations for four years but moved to YouTube after feeling disillusioned by the overwhelming political bias in India's mainstream media.

YouTube, he told Insider, gives him more freedom to tell stories that he believes are disappearing from India's media landscape. Recently, he released a series debunking myths about India's Muslims  a group facing increasing marginalization under the Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi administration  that received thousands of views on the platform.

"I was not allowed to do the kind of stories I wanted to do," he said about working for traditional outlets in India. "I could not raise the voice of the common people, which is our main job. That's the big issue of media: as an institution, it is not free," he said.

The platform has also become one of the few places that hold space for underrepresented voices. Neil Farrell and Sarah Oeffler are the creators behind The Leftist Cooks, a channel publishing deeply researched video essays about philosophy, social science and modern society.

They say YouTube is a vessel for a more honest form of journalism that allows people like Farrell, who is nonbinary, to tell their stories on their own terms.

"Being surrounded by great content creators  like Mexi doing Positive Leftist News or Caelan Conrad doing undercover reporting on the gender critical movement  and seeing that and having it contrasted with the normal world of journalism in the mainstream  it felt so far removed from like, a kind of basic level of honesty," Farrell told Insider.

Meg Heckman, an assistant professor of journalism at Northeastern University, explains that marginalized groups, including people of color, women, and LGBTQ people, have long been left out of traditional newsrooms, and, in response, they've created their own independent publications. The practice dates as far back as the analog days and stretches into the early aughts when the journalism world struggled with the question of whether independent bloggers were "real journalists."

"Now that we're in this more fragmented digital media ecosystem, it's possible for an independent journalist to speak directly to her audience via a platform like YouTube or Substack or Twitter," Heckman says.

Trust in the media is plummeting across the political spectrum, and research is finding that more users are seeking out information on platforms like YouTube.

According to a study by the Media Insight Project, 36% of Gen Z and Millennials are getting "news you can use" from YouTube, compared to only 24% who went to a local TV news station or 12% who went to a local newspaper or its website. Pew found in 2020 that a quarter of American adults get their news from YouTube "in which established news organizations and independent news creators thrive side by side."

Heckman said the success of independent YouTube creators likely stems from the fact that creators meet audiences at their level.

"Good, high-quality journalism shouldn't be limited to prestige publications. Different audiences should have lots of options for high-quality information," she said.

YouTube challenges journalistic 'objectivity' but also may pose new challenges with fact-checking and the algorithm

Neil Farrell in their video discussing journalism bias. YouTube / Neil Farrell

In a video essay published last year, Farrell and Oeffler call for journalism that acknowledges reporters' biases rather than pretending to be objective. Most progressive journalists today believe that perfect "objectivity" is a myth in the industry.

"You're always still gonna have your cultural biases. And because of that, you are necessarily going to be shaping the work you put out," Oeffler said. "So the way we propose people should get around it is to just start by owning who they are owning where they're coming from, and be honest about the frames that they're using to analyze information and present it that way."

Conversations about journalistic "objectivity" occur frequently in Heckman's classroom. The original idea of objectivity in journalism, said Heckman, was that the process should be transparent and repeatable. But today, the term has been wielded against journalists who dare to question the status quo. Acknowledging one's objectivity is one way to combat this issue.

"If you were blogging, or in this case, if you are a journalist on YouTube, I think the most important thing you can do is be as transparent as possible with your audience," Heckman said.

Throughout the history of American journalism, an "objective" perspective has meant a white male one. In recent years, journalists have been challenging the importance of "objectivity" in journalism more publicly than ever before  especially amid poor coverage of racist police killings and, most recently, transgender healthcare. Critics say the "both sides-ism" standard in journalism platforms dangerous voices and false information in the name of journalistic objectivity.

Journalists who have free agency to pursue and report out big stories also face a new challenge: Who is editing and fact-checking them? Some journalist-creators are now having to wear both hats.

As a traditional journalist, these are the questions that gave Robb the most pause. "I don't know that I would have worked with [Findeisen] if he wasn't already profiled in the New Yorker," Robb said. "I don't know that I would have partnered with some random YouTuber I could not have vetted."

Robb said once he read Feindeisen's New Yorker profile he felt comfortable working with him. "So I just thank God for traditional print journalists being there to kind of vet him for me."

Oeffler, who briefly dabbled in journalism but went on to pursue degrees in anthropology, psychology, and global mental health, said every fact in a Leftist Cooks video is backed up by a vetted source.

"We have to earn people's respect  constantly because our videos get shown to new people all the time. So I quite like that bit, that somebody isn't necessarily going to believe me because I said something and it's on the internet," she said.

Perjurer says for educational content like his, the audience also serves as a sort of democratic fact-checking mechanism.

"I do a video and I really make sure that everything I'm saying is right, and I'm doing all the things that a good journalist should do because I don't answer to a boss," he says. "But I answer to the thousands of people watching this, many of whom might know more than me about the subject I'm talking about."

Lack of editorial oversight is one of the major risks of YouTube, Heckman said, but it's no different from previous iterations of independent media that have drawn audience attention to overlooked issues in the past. Still, better media literacy education is needed as new forms of media gain popularity.

The YouTube algorithm is another major inhibition to those trying to deliver reliable, informative content to their audiences, subjects said.

Their videos often struggle to reach audiences compared with more clickbait-y and blatant disinformation content, and the algorithm replicates social biases common in traditional media. Google has also been accused of racial discrimination within its algorithm from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ creators who say their videos were removed without explanation.

It's an issue that journalists like Upadhyay are increasingly frustrated with as it continues to go unaddressed.

"I keep asking [YouTube] 'Please change this, at least give us the boost because we are bringing new issues and I'm not following the trend, I am trying to create a trend'," said Upadhyay. "It's a problem with the YouTube algorithm that we have to follow the trend in order to get views."

Amid new challenges, journalists say they still prefer to work in a less regulated environment

Sarah Oeffler and Neil Farrell of "The Leftist Cooks" channel on YouTube

Sarah Oeffler (left) and Neil Farrell (right) of "The Leftist Cooks" channel on YouTube.Sarah Oeffler and Neil Farrell

Creators interviewed said YouTube is far from sustainable; Robb admitted that he wouldn't invest in the platform long-term unless he was able to have the reach and backing of a creator like Findisen again (Coffeezilla has 2.6 million subscribers).

Perjurer of Defunctland was the only creator interviewed for this feature who has been able to survive financially on YouTube alone. He strongly believes the ability to publish important investigative stories without the bureaucracies of news media companies makes it a worthwhile pursuit.

"It's overwhelming," Robb said. "There's a hyper-engaged but also hyper-critical audience, and it only works if you're incredibly transparent. Stories rarely escape YouTube no matter how big they get, and it only becomes profitable if you partner with an established channel that has reach. And then you are on your own, needing liability insurance, a lawyer, etc., because you're working without a net."

Still, Robb acknowledged that without YouTube his story would not have been seen. His partnership with a big name like CoffeeZilla has scored him deals for further investigations and a true crime series adaptation of the story.

Media organizations could learn something from YouTube creators, he said.

"People do make a good living from it. And so it's hard to understand how they can do that in a production studio from, like, a tool shed in their backyard when a bigger outlet can't do that."

Read the original article on Insider
Wangdao, the first film about the life of Chen Wangdao (1891-1977), the first person to translate The Communist Manifesto into Chinese, premiered at Fudan University on Mar 24.

Chen started teaching at the Chinese department of Fudan University in 1920, and had in 1940 founded the first campus news institute in China. He was also one of the principals of the university.

The movie was jointly produced by Fudan University, Shanghai Film Groups and the municipal administration of Yiwu, Zhejiang province, where Chen was born.

"The university decided to make the movie to promote the noble character of our old principal, and we hope his unwavering faith in the pursuit for a bright future of China can continue to inspire the young people of today," said Qiu Xin, Party chief of Fudan University.

Hong Yong, the director of the movie, said that good storytelling was key to successfully delivering the moral message of the movie.

"We've presented a large number of vivid details in the movie, and I believe audiences would still be able to find new information if they watched the movie over again," he said.

Liu Ye, who played Chen Wangdao in the movie, said he was impressed by Chen's dedication to educational and love for the students while doing research before filming started.

"He was all pined away, a very haggard elderly man in a long robe, standing among students, when they went on a fund-raising campaign in Chongqing for the re-opening of the news institute of Fudan University," said Liu, when recalling a picture he saw of the scholar.

To achieve maximum resemblance with Chen, Liu had to shed 8 kilograms just for a particular scene in the movie.
[Source]

Oscar-nominee Stephanie Hsus latest film Joy Ride has been receiving early positive reviews since its premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival in Austin, Texas, on March 17.

The raunchy, R-rated comedy, which also stars Ashley Park (Emily in Paris), Sherry Cola (Shortcomings) and Sabrina Wu, is the directorial debut of Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon screenwriter Adele Lim.

Joy Ride centers on four Asian-American women who travel through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers.

As of this writing, the film currently boasts a "100% Certified Fresh" rating on the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 critic reviews.

More from NextShark: Umma trailer: Sandra Oh stars in upcoming horror film about the fear of becoming ones own mother

Awards Watch reviewer Kevin L. Lee praised the cast and film for their portrayal of uniquely Asian American internal struggles:

Feeling like youre stuck between the Asian and the American is not a new concept in mainstream comedies. "Crazy Rich Asians" touched on this back in 2018. But even so, those ideas are wrapped around the premise of a wedding, of having to impress your potential in-laws. With "Joy Ride," much of the existential crises in Audrey resides in internal conflicts that are far too relatable for this Asian American, from feeling like you have to prove yourself at all times to just wanting to be known for your talents and passion rather than your background.

While TheWraps Lex Briscuso was similarly enamored by the casts performance, she highlighted Wus portrayal as the funniest of them all:

More from NextShark: Crash Landing on You stars Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin announce engagement after dating two years

But the MVP of Joy Rides cast is Sabrina Wu, who plays the quirky, quiet and sweet Deadeye, Lolos cousin who tags along for the trip. Wus Deadeye is potentially the funniest member of the central quad while also being the most sincere of the group. Their passion for Kpop is an incredibly entertaining avenue to explore, and their shy personality is such a welcomed juxtaposition to the other characters. Plus, their character is endlessly earnest, and they play that kind of delicate introspection so well.

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In her review, IndieWires Marisa Mirabal noted the unique perspectives and cultural relevance that representation in movies brings:

While shows like Fresh Off the Boat and Awkwafina is Nora from Queens explore the Asian American experience in the US, Joy Ride stands apart by having its characters travel to China and eventually South Korea. This cultural immersion is challenging for Audrey because she feels as though she doesnt belong anywhere. She is too Asian for America and too White for Asia. This struggle is one of the many important and relatable experiences featured in the film. Each writer and actor brought aspects of their own personal experiences to the story and used improv several times while filming, which heightens the emotion and inclusive narrative to make it that much more genuine. More from NextShark: K-pop rookie girl group NMIXX make first comeback with single album Entwurf

The film, which is set to hit theaters on July 7, has already captured its first award, the CinemaCon award for comedy ensemble of the year, which the cast will receive during the Big Screen Achievement Awards in Las Vegas on April 27.

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Why Not?? check out TO1s new summer comeback EP
A federal judge has ordered several top aides to former President Donald Trump to testify before a grand jury as part of a criminal investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to Friday reports by ABC News and CNN.

Trumps legal team tried to claim executive privilege to get his former aides out of testifying and providing documents to special counsel Jack Smith, who had issued subpoenas as part of a broader probe into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. But in a sealed order last week, Judge Beryl Howell rejected Trumps efforts and ordered Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff, to testify, among others.

Howell also ordered testimony from John Ratcliffe, Trumps former director of national intelligence; Robert OBrien, his former national security adviser; Stephen Miller, his former top aide; and Dan Scavino, his former deputy chief of staff.

Ken Cuccinelli, a former top official at the Department of Homeland Security, was also included in the judges order. So were former Trump aides Nick Luna and John McEntee.

Trumps legal team is expected to appeal Howells decision, per ABC News.

Howell in October rejected Trumps claim of executive privilege to block testimony from some of former Vice President Mike Pences top aides, Greg Jacob and Marc Short. In that decision, the judge ruled that its up to the current president to assert executive privilege, not a former president.
Kathryn Michael has been chosen as the administrative judge in Summit County Common Pleas Court for the remainder of this year.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael

Michael, who has been a Summit County judge since 2018, will be responsible for the administration, docket and calendar of the general division.

Susan Baker Ross was selected as the presiding judge for the courts general, domestic relations, juvenile and probate divisions. She will handle administrative issues common to all the divisions and oversee the jury and grand jury proceedings in the general division.

Michael and Ross were selected by their fellow judges.

Ross, who was elected in 2018, has already begun assisting with plans for a special grand jury to decide if charges are warranted in the shooting of Jayland Walker.

More:Akron preparing for grand jury in Jayland Walker's death to be seated April 10

Walker was shot by Akron police officers last June after he fled by vehicle and by foot. Police say he fired a gun out of his window during the vehicle chase.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has investigated Walkers shooting. The Ohio Attorney Generals Office will represent the state in the grand jury proceedings.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Judges chosen for leadership roles in Summit County court
Viewing insider transactions for Jupiter Mines Limited's (ASX:JMS ) over the last year, we see that insiders were net buyers. This means that a larger number of shares were purchased by insiders in relation to shares sold.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for Jupiter Mines

Jupiter Mines Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

While there weren't any large insider transactions in the last twelve months, it's still worth looking at the trading.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Jupiter Mines 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.

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Jupiter Mines insiders own 5.9% of the company, worth about AU$25m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Jupiter Mines Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Jupiter Mines insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Our analysis shows 2 warning signs for Jupiter Mines (1 is significant!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing.

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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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A jury has reached a verdict in the case of a man accused of killing a missing Dayton man that was found in a garage in July.

Jeremy Van Voorhis, 48, of Dayton, was found guilty of killing Clinton CJ Pierce Friday, the Montgomery County Prosecutor Office spokesperson confirmed.

>> WATCH: Body, cruiser cam video shows arrest of Katelyn Markhams fiance for her murder

Van Voorhis was convicted on two counts of murder and felonious assault, as well as a single count of tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse.

Contributed Photo/Allen County Jail

Van Voorhis was previously accused of shooting and killing Pierce, 44, on or around July 15 in the 400 block of Burkhardt Ave, according to an affidavit and statement of facts.

>> Perry Township Board of Trustees votes to terminate police chief

After the shooting, court records said he hid Pierces body under multiple layers of flooring materials and other items in the detached garage at the same house.

Pierces body was found on Aug. 18 after police received calls from people that had come to the garage to put a padlock on a door.

Van Voorhis was arrested after a police pursuit that started in the Lima-area and lasted an hour before ending on a county road in Shelby County.

Hes scheduled to be sentenced in April.
Elated Senate Republicans believe they are on the cusp of landing their highest-profile recruit of the 2024 campaign: West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.

Justice, a Democrat-turned-Republican with sky-high approval ratings, is increasingly expected to launch a bid for Sen. Joe Manchins (D-W.Va.) seat after consulting with top party officials in Washington this month, according to a half-dozen GOP senators and aides. A Justice candidacy would notch two big wins for Republicans, breaking their losing streak in recruiting popular governors and reshaping next years battleground map.

Republicans privately predict Justice may wait to enter the race until at least next month in order to have a full fundraising quarter. And though the timing is in flux, the GOP would be gobsmacked at this point if he did not run.

He is dropping hints everywhere. Hes put his coal business up for sale to pay off debts and met with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) last week. He finished up his states legislative session earlier this month, pushing through a tax cut after Manchin helped direct federal funds to the state. And hes been texting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), according to two people familiar with Justice's interactions.

The governor has a good political sense. So I am assuming that he's going to get in, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). It would change things. He has a huge approval rating, he just passed the biggest tax cut in state history. Hes got a lot of good things to talk about.

But Justices plans, not to mention Republicans confidence that he puts them in striking distance of picking up a Democrat-held seat, doesnt faze the incumbent one iota. Manchin reiterated in an interview that he wont decide whether hell run until the end of the year, describing himself as content to watch his rivals spar from afar  for a few months, at least.

God bless them, itll be entertaining to watch their primary. Thats the greatest thing, Manchin said.

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The Senate GOP whiffed repeatedly during the 2022 midterms on trying to recruit popular governors like Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Doug Ducey of Arizona and Larry Hogan of Maryland. Already this year, though, former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has joined the Senate via appointment. Justice is different: The partys spent months courting him, and Republicans believe if he runs they will get much closer to picking up a Democrat-held seat.

In conversations with D.C. Republicans, Justice has discussed the pros and cons of making the jump from governor to senator, according to one of the people familiar with his interactions. Yet Justice has made no final public decision. And until he files his candidate paperwork, theres still a chance he backs out.

Should he jump in, he'd immediately help Republicans solidify their path to a majority which runs through Ohio, Montana and West Virginia. They need to net two seats to take back the majority, regardless of the outcome of the presidential race.

Still, a Justice win isnt straightforward. Hell have to navigate Republican primary waters in his state that are already choppy thanks to Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), whom former President Donald Trump and the Club for Growth backed in a hotly contested House GOP primary last year.



Mooney launched his campaign almost immediately after the midterms, and Justice already feuded with him last year when the Freedom Caucus member defeated former Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.). Both Manchin and Justice supported McKinley over Mooney, a former Maryland state senator.

Not only did Justice cut a TV ad for McKinley, he openly questioned Mooneys ability to represent West Virginians well, after spending the majority of his time and life representing Maryland.

In a preview of a potential Senate primary attack line, Justice also claimed last year that he had only met with Mooney once since he became governor. Mooney shot back to POLITICO that the governor's response was "petty anyhow, the phone works both ways"  adding that he had five pictures with Justice, each of which showed him wearing different ties.

In an interview Thursday, with Justices potential launch looming, Mooney vowed that I can beat whoever runs but declined to lob fresh attacks at the governor: I'll wait for him to announce before I comment on any of that stuff.

Mooney, a staunch fiscal conservative, could run to Justices right. He has already signaled he will knock the governor for endorsing Democrats $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure law.

Club for Growth President David McIntosh said his group wont back Justice, whom he described as in the moderate camp, but would be open to supporting Mooney. Meanwhile, the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC closely aligned with McConnell, commissioned a poll showing Justice as the only candidate who can beat Manchin.

If he decides to run, Justice would also have to file personal financial disclosures that would invite more scrutiny of his financial holdings than he has faced in the past. Asked if he thought the primary sparring could turn personal, Mooney said pointedly: You should ask him about that.

The general election could get quite messy, too, in a state where everyone in politics seems to know each other. Manchin and Justice share a political network, with lobbyist and consultant Larry Puccio serving as an advisor to both.

They are both my friends and wonderful people, past that I really dont do interviews, Puccio told POLITICO in a brief phone call. Im not an elected official and I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself."

The race could scramble the close-knit Senate as well. Manchin endorsed a pair of moderate Republicans in the past, and they are returning the favor. One of them, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), said shes already donated money to Manchin and expected little blowback back home for it. She made the donation a couple weeks ago at a joint event with Manchin, and encouraged other attendees to do the same, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Hes a close friend. Should he choose to run again, I would anticipate endorsing him, said the other, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).



Still, most Republicans suspect Manchin would likely bow out rather than face defeat by Justice. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said that I keep hearing Manchin might not run again if he had to run against the governor.

Hes a force to be reckoned with in West Virginia. Itll be hard for any Republican or Democrat to beat Justice, said Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).

But Manchin isnt conceding their point. Responding to the idea that Justice would either force him out or beat him, Manchin said: They could be wrong on both. Who knows?

Justice ran as a Democrat in 2016, with Manchins endorsement, and his later party switch irked the Democratic governor-turned-senator. Manchin then ran for re-election in 2018, defeating Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, but flirted with running against Justice in 2020.

With that in mind, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who chairs Democrats campaign arm, brushed aside any aura of invincibility around Justice: Our incumbent is unbeatable, with a proven track record. So Im confident.

If every time a candidate like Jim Justice got in a race and we said, oh my God forget about it, we wouldn't have 51" seats, said Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), a campaign arm vice chair.

The biggest potential wild card for Manchin would be running in a presidential year, requiring an extreme split-ticket path to victory in his red state. He won handily in 2012 alongside former President Barack Obama, whom he did not endorse, but plenty has changed in politics since then. Including the GOP governor looking to go to Washington.

When he gets in, hell be a formidable opponent no matter if Manchin runs or not, Daines said.
Kane Te Tai

Te Tai, also known as Turtle, has been in Ukraine since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion. In May 2022, he assisted Kharkiv volunteers, organized first aid training, and delivered medical aid to the de-occupied territories with his friend David, a former U.S. serviceman.

Read also: US volunteer aid worker killed in Bakhmut while helping civilians

Te Tai was among the soldiers that made a gruesome discovery while liberating a village near Bakhmut in March 2023. They found Ukrainian prisoners in a basement who had been held captive by Russian occupiers. Among the prisoners was a Ukrainian soldier who had been deprived of food and water for over 40 days.

Thanks to the brave efforts of Te Tai and his comrades, the soldier was rescued and brought to safety.

Te Tais parents say that he decided to become a soldier while still in school. He served for almost ten years, later co-founding a charity to support veterans' mental health. He served in Afghanistan and fought in Ukraine as a member of the International Legion, training volunteers in the Vuhledar region.

Read also: International Legion confirms death of British volunteer captured by Russia

He tragically lost his life in battle in eastern Ukraine, leaving behind a 12-year-old daughter.

CNN

For many in New Zealand, Te Tai was the face of the countrys unofficial involvement in Ukraines war, wrote UK newspaper the Guardian, reporting the soldiers death.

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
A suspect from a Friday afternoon bank robbery in Wellington, Kansas, was killed after a high-speed chase and shootout with officers in Oklahoma, according to KFOR TV station.

Impact Bank, which is about a block from the police station in the town of about 8,000 people, was robbed at around 12:30 p.m. after a man walked in with a note and demanded cash, chief Tracy Heath said, adding he didnt know how much cash the suspect had left with. Other employees were working, but its unclear if other customers were in the bank, he said.

Surveillance showed the suspect leaving in a grayish car, possibly a Chrysler.

The description of the vehicle was shared with area law enforcement, he said, adding officials believed the suspect was fleeing south on I-35.

About 30 minutes after the robbery, Oklahoma Highway Patrol spotted the suspected vehicle and got into a high-speed chase just across the state line, he said. As of around 3:35 p.m., Heath said he heard there was an officer-involved shooting, but he didnt know if a suspect was injured or killed, only that no officer was injured.

KFOR reported that the suspect vehicle was spotted on I-35 south and shots were fired between the suspect and officials.

Officials say the suspect then got out of his vehicle and continued to shoot as he attempted to run into a nearby field, KFOR said. Authorities returned fire and the suspect has been confirmed dead.

Wellington is about 30 miles south of Wichita and a little less than that to the Oklahoma state line.
A Kansas man who allegedly unsheathed a sword and took a fighting stance when confronted by police has pleaded guilty to assault, the Leavenworth county attorney said in a news release Thursday.

Lonnie Bailey Jr., 56, of Leavenworth, pleaded guilty in Leavenworth County District Court to aggravated assault of a law enforcement relating to an arrest on Dec. 3, Leavenworth county Attorney Todd Thompson said.

A second charge of resisting an officer was dismissed, according to court documents.

On the day of the incident, officers on patrol in the area of West Seventh and Chestnut streets found Bailey allegedly holding a large sword, Thompson said.

After officers ordered Bailey to drop the weapon, he became agitated and yelled at officers. At least one of the officers approached with his handgun drawn, according to court documents.

Bailey then unsheathed the sword and while yelling took a fighting stance. He continued to refuse to comply with officers commands, Thompson said. Officers eventually arrested him.

Bailey is scheduled for sentencing on May 3.
You are here: Business

Photo taken on March 2, 2022 shows a container terminal of Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]



China's rail-sea intermodal trains have made 25,000 trips along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

A cargo train carrying 74 containers of imported goods departed from the Qinzhou port station in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday. It is scheduled to arrive at the Chengxiang station in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, in two to three days.

It is the 25,000th rail-sea intermodal train to travel along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

With booming trade, the number of train trips the rail-sea intermodal service of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has made surged from 178 in 2017 to 8,820 in 2022.

Launched in 2017, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members. The rail-sea intermodal service has expanded to cover 61 cities in 17 provincial-level regions in China.

Thanks to the development of the trade corridor, the Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi has opened 47 trade routes to cover 393 ports in 119 countries and regions.
(Jam Press Vid/@jessica.elenanz)

A woman who had a heart transplant and keeps her original organ in a plastic bag claims shes inherited some of her donors traits  and reveals what a human heart really feels like to hold in your hands.

Jessica Manning didnt have an easy start in life, being diagnosed with several heart defects, including having half a heart, just days after being born.

At the age of 25, she had already undergone 200 minor and major surgeries, including her final procedure of a heart transplant via donation.

* Graphic content warning *

The influencer, who has over 69,000 followers (@jessica.elenanz) is now using social media to raise awareness for her condition and organ donation.

In a YouTube video published on Shera (@shera_oficl), a digital platform dedicated to empowering women, the 29-year-old talks about her cookie dough looking organ.

She also discusses the bizarre side effects faced, which she believes are previous traits inherited from her donor.

In the interview with Shera, she says: I dont know if its my taste buds changing over the last few years or if its actually a sour memory that has just come over from my donor.

My taste in food has changed completely and I have this new love for vegetables.

If you knew me, youd never see a green thing on my plate, ever  but now I love avocado, cabbage and pumpkin.

I also add spinach to everything and its a good thing, as these are [foods] I used to refuse to eat or pick out.

(Jam Press/@jessica.elenanz)

Jessica, who is currently studying at university in Auckland, New Zealand, has been formally diagnosed with six heart defects in total.

Until her transplant, she claims life was a rollercoaster and there were instances where she thought her time was up.

At aged 19, she suffered complete heart failure and then a second time only three years later, which destroyed the rest of her heart.

In April 2017, she was placed on the transplant list and in September 2018, she underwent the procedure, which was a success.

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Initially, she decided to donate the organ for research, but 10 months later, she was told it was no longer needed.

Now, she keeps her old heart in a plastic bag and uses this to educate others  but the student also has another very special reason behind the keepsake.

(Jam Press/@jessica.elenanz)

She said: When I purchase a house, I want to bury it and plant a tree on top and dedicate it to my donor.

In New Zealand, within Maori culture, we bury our organs or body parts with us when we pass away in a sacred place.

As a transplant recipient, its almost impossible to put into words how thankful we are, not just to our donor, but to the donors family.

Ive never known what it actually felt like to have a whole heart inside of my chest before and the feeling of having a full heart is honestly the most incredible thing.

I can hear it in my head and everything I do in life, I do for my donor.

Achieving my goals and doing all the things I love is to celebrate that my donor is still living.

(Jam Press Vid/@jessica.elenanz)

Until then, she will continue to raise awareness for donation and transplants  with her most asked question: What does the old heart feel like?

Jessica added: Its extremely tough, rubbery, almost like a tire and its not as squishy as people think.

Its in a preservative fluid called formaldehyde, which prevents it from rotting and decomposing for up to 30 years.

I havent opened up the bag for that reason, but I did accidentally pierce a hole and ended up going to a butcher to reseal the bag.

Ive had parents saying how much my story gives them hope for their childs future and I love this, as its not something my mum was told when I was going through this.

I have never had a normal life, as Ive always been sick and its been extremely hard mentally to start life over again.

But, there is light at the end of the tunnel and no matter how hard the situation, youve got to have a positive mindset.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law a controversial bill Thursday banning most gender-affirming care for transgender Georgians under 18.

Kemp wasted little time in signing the bill, which received final passage from the General Assembly just two days earlier.

Senate Bill 140 will ban Georgia transgender youths from receiving hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery.

Hospitals could lose their permits and doctors their licenses. The legislation also opens up doctors to civil and criminal liability for providing such services.

The new law does allow transgender youths to take puberty blockers. It also provides exceptions for youths with certain medical conditions who need hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgeries.

Kemp and other Republican supporters framed the law as a measure to protect children from irreversible physical changes.

As Georgians, parents, and elected leaders, it is our highest responsibility to safeguard the bright, promising futures of our kids - and SB 140 takes an important step in fulfilling that mission, Kemp said Thursday in a statement on Twitter.

I appreciate the many hours of respectful debate and deliberation by members of the General Assembly that resulted in the final passage of this bill.

The legislation drew fierce criticism from legislative Democrats, parents of transgender youth, and major medical societies who argued it would harm vulnerable transgender youths mental health. They also maintained it violates parents rights to make decisions about their childrens care and prevents doctors from following medically accepted standards of care.

This really is about us bullying children in order to score political points, said Sen. Kim Jackson, D-Stone Mountain, while speaking against the bill on the Senate floor earlier this week. It does not protect children...

The law is slated to take effect on July 1, 2023. Advocates for transgender youth have vowed to fight it.

Courts around the country have already stopped similar laws from going into effect on constitutional grounds, and we expect Georgia courts would do the same, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said in a statement released this week. The group plans to sue the state.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
A Kennewick man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a homemade bomb, which court documents said was intended to target law enforcement.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Washington will ask a federal judge for no more than three years and 1 month of prison time, according to a plea agreement with Daniel James Anderson.

Andersons arrest stems from a federal investigation into the Verified Bois, a Pacific Northwest group of about 30 people involved in anti-government and anti-authority activities.

An FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Office began working with a confidential informant in spring 2021 to build the cases against Anderson and the leader of the Verified Bois, Connor Duane Goodman, of Auburn, Wash.

Both Goodman and Anderson adhere to the beliefs of the Boogaloo Bois, a loosely connected group of people who share anti-government sentiment and advocate violence, according to court documents.

Participants in Verified Bois were waiting for an over-aggressive law enforcement action, such as at a public protest, to target officers with violence, according to court documents.

The Verified Bois held training events, including in Ellensburg and Easton, Wash., to practice raids, firearms handling and survival skills.

But Anderson told the confidential informant that too many members of Verified Bois were not taking training seriously enough and they did not understand the group was training to kill people right now, according to court documents.

In July 2021, Anderson received Thundercracker fireworks that Goodman had obtained from a tribal reservation.

Anderson used the fireworks to make explosive devices small enough to carry in a backpack when he was on a motorcycle, according to court documents.

Anderson said he could use the devices against law enforcement and then speedily escape on a motorcycle, according to court documents.

Online Anderson called his homemade bombs distraction devices, before also posting that they arent training tools. I wouldnt be anywhere near this thing. Its going to throw shrapnel like a MF.

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Shown is a screenshot from a video taken by an FBI confidential informant that federal court documents say shows Daniel James Anderson, of Kennewick, inserting a charge into an explosive device he made.

He showed the confidential informant one device, a sealed glass jar designed to explode and project glass fragments and shotgun pellets, and the informant was able to capture video of it, according to a court document.

In December 2021, Goodman sold the confidential informant 12 mortar-style fireworks, and Anderson showed him how to extract material from them to make improvised explosive devices, according to a court document.

Thirteen days later federal law enforcement agents searched Andersons apartment and found a single improvised explosive device, which Anderson said he created using fireworks provided by Goodman, according to a court document.

Anderson told federal agents that he did not intend to use the device against law enforcement.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 13 in federal court in Richland.

Goodman pleaded guilty earlier this month to conspiracy to make or possess an unregistered destructive device.

In Goodmans plea agreement, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Washington agreed to ask Judge Mary Dimke, as it did with Anderson, to sentence him to no more than three years and one month in prison.

Goodman is to be sentenced June 22.
Firefighters in Somerset battled a large structure fire Thursday, according to the Somerset Fire Department.

The fire happened at Cornerstone Baptist Church at approximately 2:45 p.m. Thursday, according to the Somerset Fire Department. Firefighters saw a rapidly growing fire in the attic area of the church when they arrived on scene.

A fire at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Somerset, Ky. severely damaged the classroom portion of the church on March 23, 2023.

The classroom portion of the church suffered heavy damage, according to the fire department. The sanctuary area of the church was unharmed.

The church was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, the fire department said.

Off-duty firefighters and surrounding fire departments responded to help put out the fire, according to the fire department. Firefighters were on scene for over eight hours putting out the fire.

Cornerstone Baptist Church said church officials are still evaluating the damage Thursday evening. No one was hurt and they appreciate the communitys thoughts.

Cornerstone Baptist Church in Somerset was heavily damaged by a fire.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern. It is very much appreciated, the church said in a Facebook post. Please continue praying for our church family as we navigate the road ahead.

The pastor of the church, Jamie Taylor, said the news of the fire is devastating. He also added it will likely take a few days for the church to figure out its next steps but it wont stop the church in its tracks.

I very thankful for all the pastors, community members that reached out yesterday, Taylor said in a Facebook post. The firefighters from our county did an outstanding job battling the fire and I know they were exhausted. They deserve a lot of credit for saving what they could.

Several civilians posted photos and videos of the fire on their personal Facebook accounts. A post from DaVona Gibson shows heavy smoke and flames coming from on top of the church.

Taylor Speaks posted some photos of the damage after the fire had been put out. Speaks said on Facebook she was thankful no one was injured.
By Andrew Hay

(Reuters) - Kentucky's Democratic governor on Friday vetoed a Republican bill to ban transgender youths from gender-affirming healthcare and restrict public toilets they use, bucking a national Republican-led movement.

Governor Andy Beshear, running in November for a second-term in Republican-leaning Kentucky, said the bill would increase youth suicides and permit excessive government interference in personal healthcare decisions.

Supporters of the bill said they were trying to protect children from undergoing gender-affirming treatments they would regret later in life.

The Kentucky bill would let teachers refuse to refer to transgender students by their chosen pronouns, outlaw gender reassignment surgery for minors, stop use of puberty blockers and prohibit gender-affirming hospital services.

The bill easily passed Kentucky's Republican-led legislature and lawmakers may vote next week to override Beshear's veto.

The bill is part of nationwide attacks on the LGBTQ community by conservative politicians with measures including banning discussion of gender identity in schools, clamping down on drag shows and blocking transgender participation in sports.

Over the past week Iowa and Georgia passed bills banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors and preventing trans students from using school toilets corresponding with their gender identities.

In Kentucky, Beshear said in a statement that the bill would turn teachers into "investigators" prying into students' lives. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky said it would challenge the legislation in court if it became law.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Donna Bryson; Editing by Sandra Maler)
An Avenger Weapon System fires at a live-fire short-range missile range near White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Oct. 14, 2018 US Army

A suicide drone struck a base in Syria, killing a US contractor and wounding several troops.

One of the air defense systems at the base was not working properly, a new report says.

In response to the deadly attack, the US carried out airstrikes in Syria that targeted Iran-linked groups.

A key air defense system was not working properly when a suspected Iranian drone struck US positions in Syria on Thursday, killing a US contractor and wounding several American troops.

The main air defense system at a coalition airbase was "not fully operational" when the attack unfolded, The New York Times reported on Friday. It was not immediately clear what exactly was wrong with the system or if the attackers knew there was an issue.

One US official told the Times that the Avenger defense system could have been suffering from a maintenance problem. US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the situation.

It's uncertain if the system would have even detected the threat even if it was fully operational, as drones and loitering munitions sometimes operate at low altitudes that can make it harder for radar system to pick them up, but that remains unclear in this case given the limited details.

The one-way unmanned aerial vehicle, or suicide drone, struck a maintenance facility at a coalition base in northeast Syria at 1:38 p.m. local time on Thursday, the Pentagon said in a statement. The drone, which the US intelligence community suspects is of Iranian origin, killed a US contractor and wounded five American service members and an additional contractor.

The three injured service members and the contractor were transported to a coalition medical facility in Iraq, while the other two injured service members were treated on site.

US Army Green Berets drive through a partner-force checkpoint after a joint patrol near At-Tanf Garrison in Syria on April 29, 2020. US Army/Staff Sgt. William Howard

In response to the attack, US forces carried out airstrikes in Syria later on Thursday that targeted Iranian-linked groups, the Pentagon and CENTCOM said in respective statements. The strikes were intended to "protect and defend" US personnel, the Pentagon wrote, and were carried out using actions meant to minimize civilian casualties and "limit" the risk of escalation.

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"At the direction of President Biden, I authorized US Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in the statement. "The airstrikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors human rights abuses, said the coalition strikes on Iran-backed militia positions killed at least 11 people, including two Syrians, and that several fighters were left injured.

Austin said his thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and also with the wounded service members. He added that no group "will strike our troops with impunity."

Gen. Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, reiterated Austin's remarks and said the US will take any measures to defend its interests.

"We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks," Kurilla said in a statement.

The US still has several hundred troops in Syria, and they are frequently targeted by Iran-backed groups. Washington also carries out routine operations against Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria, often partnering with local forces.

"Our troops remain in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, which benefits the security and stability of not only Syria, but the entire region," Kurilla said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
With springtime just beginning, many families are taking this time to be outdoors before the sun overheard creates too warm of temperatures for some.

Others may be taking this time to continue with their fitness resolutions from the beginning of the new year.

No matter the reason, Beaufort County residents and visitors have several opportunities this month to participate in one of the many 5K events occurring in April. With two of these races celebrating holidays and one even beginning RBC Heritage week on Hilton Head, there are several options available.

PULSEology Golden Egg 5K (April 1)

Pulseology and Palmetto Running Company are hosting the PULSEology Golden Egg 5K on April 1. The Bluffton event will also feature a kids Chase the Bunny Fun Run & Golden Egg hunt in addition to the 5K. A Bluffton Bunny Hop event will take place for any of the younger children in attendance as well as an Easter Egg Hunt, which features an opportunity to find the Golden Egg. Food Trucks, face painting and the Palmetto Animal Leagues pet adoption center will also be present at this event.

The race will start and finish at the Oyster Factory Park in Old Town Bluffton and will begin at 8:30 a.m. with packet pick-up available from 7-8 a.m. the morning of the race and parking available on-site. An earlier packet pick-up time will be help on Thursday, March 30 from 8-10 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. at PULSEology and on Friday, March 31 from 4-5:30 p.m. at Palmetto Running Company in Bluffton.

Custom Golden Egg Medals will go to the overall winners and top three male and female winners of each age group.

Registration ends Wednesday, March 29. Attendees who have not yet signed up may do so online at https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Bluffton/PULSEologyGoldenEgg5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw.

Radiance Run (April 1)

Beaufort Womens Center is hosting its annual Radiance Run and 2 Mile Stroll to The Sands April 1 beginning at 9 a.m. following the 8:40 a.m. check-in time. The race and stroll will take place in Live Oaks Park at 904 14th Street in Port Royal.

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The race will take runners through the historic district of Port Royal and The Sands while the 2 mile stroll attendees will walk to The Sands and return to Live Oaks Park. Following the event, race medals will be awarded for the best race times and prizes will be awarded to the individual or team that raises the most money.

Registration ends on the day of the race, 8:40 a.m. on April 1, and early packet pick-up will be from noon until 4 p.m. at Radiance Womens Center, which can be found at 21 Marshellen Drive in Beaufort.

Runners or walkers may sign up online at https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/SC/PortRoyal/RaceforLife5Kand2MileWalk.

Scrap Iron 5K (April 1)

The Scrap Iron 5K is set to occur on Daufuskie Island on April 1 at 2:30 p.m. This afternoon event begins at 1 p.m. with racers and attendees being ferried onto Daufuskie from Hilton Head on Water Taxi. Packet pick-up will occur between 1:45-2:30 p.m. at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company, while the race will begin at 2:30 p.m. and end around an hour after with awards following behind. A post-race party at the crab company will follow the award ceremony and continue until 5:15 p.m. when departure back to Hilton Head will commence.

Live music, cold drinks, adult beverages and a Daufuskie experience await those who register for this professionally timed 5K event.

Registration ends on the day of the event. For more information or to register online, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/DaufuskieIsland/ScrapIron5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw.

Palmetto Dunes Turtle Trot 5K (April 5)

The April 5 Easter Turtle Trot will begin with packet pick-up and race day registration opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 9:45 a.m. with the 5K race officially starting at 10 a.m.

Early packet pick-up will be held on April 3-4 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Palmetto Dunes POA Office.

Racers may register online only at https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/HiltonHeadIsland/PalmettoDunesTurtleTrot5K.

Plaid Nation 5K (April 8)

The Plaid Nation 5K, benefiting the Heritage Classic Foundation and produced by the Palmetto Running Company, is set to occur on April 8, less than a week before RBC Heritage 2023 officially starts. The event marks the official kickoff to RBC Heritage week.

The race will begin with the RBC Heritage cannon blast at Lowcountry Celebration Park. The course will take runners through the South Forest Beach neighborhood, hidden paths and back to the park. Following the race, the Plaid Nation After Party and Festival will begin.

For the winners of the Plaid Nation 5K, two Clubhouse Ticket Packs will be awarded to each winner, each pair having a $760 value, according to the races sign-up page.

The Clubhouse Ticket Pack will give fans exclusive access into the Harbor Town Clubhouse Tuesday through Sunday, including Links Restaurant, the putting green patio and the Pro Shop as well as access to the grounds and up-close sights from private viewing areas on holes 15 and 8, the website continued.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. on April 8 following an 8 a.m. packet pick-up. An early packet pick-up will take place Friday, April 7 from 1-6 p.m. at Palmetto Running Company in the Shelter Cove Towne Centre on Hilton Head.

Registration for this event will end April 5 at 11:59 p.m. and there will be no day of race registration.

For online registration, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/HiltonHeadIsland/PlaidNation5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw.

Beaufort Water Festival 5K & 10K (April 22)

The 67th Annual Beaufort Water Festivals 5K and 10K event will be held on April 22 and will begin at 8 a.m. at Live Oak Park in Port Royal.

Race day registration will be available for those unable to register online ahead of time. Packet pick-up and day of registration at Live Oak Park prior to the race will begin at 7 a.m. Early packet pick-up will take place at Grounded Running, which can be found at 2139 Boundary Street, April 21 from noon-5 p.m.

Awards for this event will go to the overall male and female as well as the top three racers in each age grouping.

For more information and online registration, visit, https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/PortRoyal/63rdBeaufortWaterFestival5K10K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw.

Hilton Head Earth Day 5K (April 22)

The Hilton Head Earth Day 5K is set to occur on April 22 at Coligny Beach where participants will be able to run on the beach to celebrate Earth Day on Hilton Head Island.

Although registration will not be available on the day of the race, those interested may register online at https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/HiltonHeadIsland/HiltonHeadEarthDay5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw.

Packet pick-up will be held on April 21 from 3-6 p.m. at Palmetto Running Company, located at the Shelter Cove Towne Center on Hilton Head Island.

Custom medals will be awarded to the overall male and female and top three individuals in each age group. Medals will be made from 100% repurposed wood.

All proceeds from this event will go to benefit The Outside Foundation.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, visits the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society on March 23, 2023. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Wang recently made visits to the central committees of non-CPC parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC). [Photo/Xinhua]

China's top political advisor Wang Huning has called for fully leveraging the strengths and role of the country's new type of the political party system in the pursuit of modernization.

He has called for striving in unity to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Wang, chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, recently made visits to the central committees of non-CPC parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and made the remarks.

Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, called on the non-CPC parties to maintain the correct political direction and strengthen their political, ideological, theoretical and emotional identification with the leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, consolidating the shared political foundation of multiparty cooperation.

The non-CPC political parties, functioning as advisors, assistants and colleagues of the CPC, should diligently perform their duties, conduct in-depth research and studies, and actively put forward suggestions, he said.

Wang urged the ACFIC to guide the private sector to boost confidence in development, put into practice the new development philosophy, and fulfill their social responsibilities to promote its healthy and high-quality development.

Leaders of the non-CPC parties and the ACFIC updated Wang, respectively, on their current situations and provided recommendations regarding the development of the united front and multiparty cooperation in the new era.

Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, participated in the visits.
Ten-year-old Kim Ju-ae watches a ballastic missile launch with her father - KCNA

Kim Jong-uns daughter has been spotted wearing what appears to be a stylish $1,900 Christian Dior jacket, amid reports of poverty and starvation across North Korea.

Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to be the 10-year-old second child of the North Korean dictator, was pictured standing behind her smiling father as they watched the launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month.

The images were released by the Korean Central News Agency and are the latest evidence of Ms Kim shadowing her fathers movements.

Ms Kims increasingly high profile has given rise to suggestions that she is being groomed to eventually become the fourth generation of the Kim family to assume control of the worlds only dynastic communist state.

South Korean media pointed out that the hooded winter jacket typically retails for $1,900 (1,550) and is a typical demonstration of the Kim familys preference for the finer things in life.

North Korean officials are reportedly asked to help procure luxury goods, like the Dior coat, for the country's leader

Kim Jong-un is understood to have inherited his fathers lavish taste in food, drink and clothes.

Ryu Hyun-woo, who was North Korean ambassador to Kuwait before he defected in September 2019, told The Korea Times that a top priority for diplomats stationed abroad was to obtain luxury items for the leadership in Pyongyang.

That included the Swiss-made IWC Portofino watch that Mr Kim was seen wearing in 2020 as he broke into tears on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party of Korea, calling on ordinary North Koreans to endure the hardships the nation faced.

The watch seen on the North Korean leaders wrist typically sells for more than 10,000.

Kim Ju-ae and her father pictured with soldiers after a successful missile test - KCNA/Reuters

The Kim familys spending spree coincides with reports that the food supply situation in North Korea is worsening rapidly .

International aid agencies have repeatedly warned in recent months that stocks of staple foodstuffs are running dangerously low, storms and flooding have damaged crops, sanctions have made it impossible to obtain chemical fertilisers, fuel and parts for agricultural equipment and the border with China remains firmly closed.

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As desperation sets in, border troops have been given a shoot-to-kill order for anyone attempting to flee to China and live ammunition has been distributed to cooperative farms to protect grain stockpiles.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects what it says unmanned underwater nuclear attack craft - Kim Jong Un

Earlier this month, it was reported that North Korean orphanages are facing an influx of children abandoned by parents who believe they have a better chance of surviving if they are in the care of the state.

Images of Kim Ju-ae are, however, arousing secret resentment, Radio Free Asia reported in February. Quoting sources inside North Korea, RFA said more and more people there were becoming upset at footage of a plump and immaculately dressed 10-year-old.

People are saying things like, She must be eating so well, her face is so white and plump like the moon, one source said. Most people arent able to eat properly so their cheekbones stick out from their faces even more than before.
King Charles IIIs coronation is a mere six weeks away, and when it comes to planning, it doesnt seem like its going very well. The palace cant get a straight answer out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, A-list musicians are avoiding the festivities like the plague, and protestors are promising they will make an appearance at the event. Could things get any worse? Apparently, yes.

It seems that U.K. citizens arent very jazzed up by the coronation days either, Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are reportedly suffering from straightforward, old-fashioned unpopularity, according to the Daily Beast. Hes never shaken his infidelity scandal because at the heart of the issue is his betrayal of Princess Diana, which will never make Camilla the countrys sweetheart either. One music publicist told the publication, King Charles and Queen Camilla is a tricky sell. They arent exactly the wokest names to be aligned with.

More from SheKnows

One author has some harsh words for Prince William. https://t.co/0PfLuwRN9Q  SheKnows (@SheKnows) March 24, 2023

Charles does have his defenders, though, who think the assumption that the coronation is shaping up to be a very expensive flop is unwarranted. Charles has been greeted by throngs of adoring crowds wherever he goes. Camilla is working away quietly at very unsexy causes like tackling domestic violence, one of the Kings pals said. The coronation is the hottest ticket in the world right now, so I dont think its at all fair to say they are not popular.

The timing of the coronation just feels off, too, as the country is deep in tough economic times and Charles goodwill tour to France was also postponed in the wake of the workers strike. It feels like a streak of bad luck has hit the palace, so the royal family is going to have to figure out a way to make the coronation a big win as quickly as possible.

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Click here to read the full article.

Before you go, click here to see every single detail we know about King Charles IIIs coronation so far.



Launch Gallery: King Charles III Inherited a $25 Billion Real Estate Portfolio  See His Most Opulent Estates, Palaces & Cottages

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King Charles has postponed a state visit to France at Emmanuel Macrons urging as violent protests rage against the French presidents pension reforms.

This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British government to postpone the visit, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The King was due to arrive with the Queen Consort in Paris on Sunday for a three day trip before moving on to Germany; an itinerary that had been seen as a coup for Mr Macron, who has sought to position himself as Europes de facto leader.

Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen Consort greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Mr Macrons plan to raise the state pension age has unleashed a wave of fury in France. Over 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide.

Key Points

King Charles postpones France trip amid pension riots

Bordeaux city hall set on fire in protests

King Charles postpones Paris trip amid pension riots

11:20 , Liam James

King Charless state visit to France has been postponed after French president Emmanuel Macron asked the British government to do so, the British prime ministers office said, amid widespread rioting in Paris and elsewhere over pension reforms.

This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British government to postpone the visit, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Kings visit to France postponed as protests continue over Macron pension reforms

Bordeaux city hall set on fire as one million join anti-Macron protests across France

12:05 , Liam James

The historic Bordeaux City Hall in France has been set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet against Emmanuel Macrons controversial attempts to push through reforms to raise the pension age.

Protesters gathered outside the Palais Rohan cheered as a part of the building went up in flames, one of a number of incidents of vandalism and violence across the country on Thursday evening after a day of largely peaceful strike action.

Story continues

The largescale protests threaten the prospect of King Charles IIIs visit to France  the British monarchs trip next week was to be his first abroad after becoming king.

Thursdays strike was the first day of national walkouts since Mr Macron pushed through a bill with his pension reforms, and upwards of one million people are reported to have taken part in protests and marches across France.

Bordeaux city hall set on fire as one million join anti-Macron protests across France

Police and protesters clash over pension reform

11:42 , Liam James

Last night saw violent clashes on the streets of cities across France, as protesters call for Emmanuel Macron to reconsider his planned raising of the pension age from 62 to 64.

Paris

Riot police scuffle with a protester during a rally in Paris (AP)

Lyon

Protesters run in tear gas during a demonstration in Lyon, central France (AP)

Bordeaux

French Republican Security Corps officers hold a street as fire rages nearby (AFP/Getty)

Rennes

A protester throws a tear gas grenade back at riot police in Rennes, western France (AFP/Getty)

Nantes

A masked protester covers their face amid tear gas in Nantes, western France (Reuters)

Palace says King looking forward to trip

11:32 , Liam James

Buckingham Palace put out the following statement: The King and The Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed.

Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit, from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.
King Charles gave a speech from the Great Pulpit at Westminster Abbey at his first Commonwealth Day since becoming head of the association, rather than the usual written message. (Getty Images)

King Charles has been urged to speak out in his role as head of the Commonwealth over new legislation in Uganda that will make identifying as LGBT+ illegal and mean some homosexual acts are punishable by death.

On Tuesday, MPs passed a draconian new bill to bring in steep sentences such as life in prison for same-sex relations and the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality"  which, according to the bill, includes gay sex with people under 18.

Charles inherited the title of Head of Commonwealth when Queen Elizabeth died, and Uganda has been a member of the organisation since 1962.

Human rights activist Peter Tatchell said the new legislation would violate Sections 2 and 4 of the Commonwealth Charter if it is signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni, who has previously said he supports the bill.

Tatchell called on King Charles and the Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Scotland, to acknowledge at the very least that this law would be in conflict with the values of the Commonwealth's Charter.

Tatchell told Yahoo: "The Commonwealth secretary-general and the King should point out that the new Uganda bill violates the equality principles of the Commonwealth Charter, which Uganda has signed and pledged to uphold."

Peter Tatchell alongside other LGBT+ campaigners from Out & Proud African LGBTI and African Equality Foundation protested outside the recent Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. (Getty Images)

He added: "The Uganda bill is one of the most sweeping and draconian homophobic laws ever proposed by any regime in the world. It would outlaw almost every aspect of LGBT+ existence, including LGBT+ identity, advocacy, funding and organisation"

He added: "It also breaches Article 21 of the Ugandan constitution and Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter of Human & Peoples Rights  both of which guarantee equal treatment and prohibit discrimination."

Turning a blind eye to such anti-LGBT+ legislation in a member country will damage the Commonwealth, another expert has warned.

"If the Commonwealth is to have any credibility as a values-based organisation it can't simply continue to maintain a vow of silence on this issue," Professor Philip Murphy, Director of History & Policy at the Institute of Historical Research, told Yahoo.

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"LGBT+ rights are a key issue for the Commonwealth, both because 32 out of its 56 member states criminalise same-sex relationships and because in many cases this is a legacy of colonial-era laws imposed during British rule.

"Yet only in the most extreme cases, such as the outcry in 2019 over Brunei's plans to impose death by stoning for homosexual acts and adultery, has the Commonwealth secretary general been prepared to speak out."

In 2018, Queen Elizabeth told the Commonwealth head of government it was her "sincere wish" that Charles succeed her as head of the voluntary association. (Getty Images)

In 2019, Baroness Scotland condemned plans in Brunei to make homosexual acts punishable by death.

She said at the time: "I have communicated my concern to the Government of Brunei, strongly urging it to reconsider the introduction of the punishments proposed under the new Penal Code which, if implemented in its current form, will potentially bring into effect cruel and inhuman punishments which contravene international human rights law and standards."

One reason the Commonwealth Secretariat seem hesitant to condemn discrimination against the LGBT+ community across the association is that the issue is so prolific, according to Prof Murphy.

He said: "The suspicion must be that the prohibitions are so widespread that the Secretariat has been reluctant to offend heads of government."

King Charles with Baroness Scotland - Commonwealth Secretary General - shortly after he ascended to the throne last September. (Getty Images)

Last year, ahead of the Commonwealth Games, diver Tom Daley spoke out against the homophobia prevalent in many Commonwealth countries.

"Ive experienced homophobia all my life, competing in countries where its illegal to be me and where I dont feel safe to leave the venue Im competing in. If I feel like that as a privileged man, I cant imagine what day-to-day life is like for LGBT+ people around the Commonwealth", he said.

Previously, in extreme cases, a few countries have been suspended from the organisation  Fiji, for instance, was suspended when a coup d'etat took place on the island in 2006, but later rejoined.

Nigeria was suspended in 1995 for executing nine environmentalists, and Pakistan has been suspended twice.

Yahoo has approached Buckingham Palace for comment  in the King's capacity as Head of the Commonwealth  but received no response from them oor the Commonwealth Secretariat.
French authorities feared the safety of King Charles would not be guaranteed on a trip around France coinciding with violent protests against President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms.

A three-day state visit was postponed at Mr Macrons urging after security forces grew concerned over the Kings habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could, a source who was involved in the planning of the trip told The Independent.

The King was due to arrive with the Queen Consort in Paris on Sunday, staying until Wednesday before moving on to Germany; an itinerary that had been seen as a coup for Mr Macron, who has sought to position himself as Europes de facto leader.

Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen Consort greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Mr Macrons plan to raise the state pension age has unleashed a wave of fury in France. Over 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide.

Key Points

French feared King wouldnt be safe  source

King Charles postpones France trip amid pension riots

Bordeaux city hall set on fire in protests

French feared King Charles wouldnt be safe  source

12:50 , Peter Allen

French authorities feared the security of King Charles could not be guaranteed because of his interest in mingling with crowds, according to security sources in Paris.

A crack team of officers from the SDLP Protection Service unit rigorously studied the monarchs profile before his intended State Visit this weekend.

They became aware of the Kings habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could, said a source who was involved in the planning of four-days of events across France.

There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed.

Kings Bordeaux trip would have clashed with pension protests

12:30 , Liam James

Story continues

French labour unions have called for a day of nationwide protests and strikes against pension reforms on Tuesday, when King Charles was due to travel to Bordeaux.

The western city has seen the most extreme protests so far against President Macrons plans, with rioters yesterday setting alight the Bordeaux City Hall.

Bordeaux City Hall on fire yesterday (Reuters)

Bordeaux city hall set on fire as one million join anti-Macron protests across France

12:05 , Liam James

The historic Bordeaux City Hall in France has been set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet against Emmanuel Macrons controversial attempts to push through reforms to raise the pension age.

Protesters gathered outside the Palais Rohan cheered as a part of the building went up in flames, one of a number of incidents of vandalism and violence across the country on Thursday evening after a day of largely peaceful strike action.

The largescale protests threaten the prospect of King Charles IIIs visit to France  the British monarchs trip next week was to be his first abroad after becoming king.

Thursdays strike was the first day of national walkouts since Mr Macron pushed through a bill with his pension reforms, and upwards of one million people are reported to have taken part in protests and marches across France.

Bordeaux city hall set on fire as one million join anti-Macron protests across France

Police and protesters clash over pension reform

11:42 , Liam James

Last night saw violent clashes on the streets of cities across France, as protesters call for Emmanuel Macron to reconsider his planned raising of the pension age from 62 to 64.

Paris

Riot police scuffle with a protester during a rally in Paris (AP)

Lyon

Protesters run in tear gas during a demonstration in Lyon, central France (AP)

Bordeaux

French Republican Security Corps officers hold a street as fire rages nearby (AFP/Getty)

Rennes

A protester throws a tear gas grenade back at riot police in Rennes, western France (AFP/Getty)

Nantes

A masked protester covers their face amid tear gas in Nantes, western France (Reuters)

Palace says King looking forward to trip

11:32 , Liam James

Buckingham Palace put out the following statement: The King and The Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed.

Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit, from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

King Charles postpones Paris trip amid pension riots

11:20 , Liam James

King Charless state visit to France has been postponed after French president Emmanuel Macron asked the British government to do so, the British prime ministers office said, amid widespread rioting in Paris and elsewhere over pension reforms.

This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British government to postpone the visit, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Kings visit to France postponed as protests continue over Macron pension reforms
Security threats including graffiti reading Death to the King convinced Emmanuel Macron to postpone King Charless state visit to France, it has emerged, amid nationwide strikes and violent protests.

The macabre message was left by protesters rioting against the presidents decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Nightly riots were expected to intensify if the King went ahead with his trip to Paris on Sunday as planned.

The three-day visit with Camilla, the Queen Consort, was to be Charless first trip abroad since becoming King. The decision came as:

Protesters scrawled Charles III do you know the guillotine? in Paris

Mr Macron said delaying the visit was common sense

Fears were raised over dangerous royal handshakes

450 were arrested after nationwide demonstrations

Violence peaked after coordinated rallies and strikes across France, which crippled travel and public services and saw rioters set fire to piles of uncollected rubbish. In Bordeaux, protesters set the historic city hall alight. There were more protests on Friday, with the port of Marseille blockaded for several hours and debris littering the streets of Paris.

I think it would not be responsible and would lack some common sense if we invited His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort for a state visit in the midst of the demonstrations, Mr Macron said.

So, out of friendship, respect and esteem for His Majesty the King and Queen Consort, and for the British people, I took the initiative this morning to call and tell him what the situation was.

Senior politicians including Mr Macron had received threats evoking the historical use of the guillotine to execute Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette  the last rightful king and queen of France.

Death to the King graffiti at the Place de la Concorde in Paris (Peter Allen)

The words Death to the King appeared in graffiti in several locations, including at the Place de la Concorde  the central Paris square where the royal pair were killed in 1793. Another message near the French parliament read: Charles III do you know the guillotine?

Story continues

Elite officers from the SDLP (the Protection Service) feared Charless habit of impromptu handshakes and mingling with crowds would present too big a risk, according to a security source.

There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed, said the source.

A firefighter in Paris after rioters set uncollected rubbish alight (AFP via Getty)

The King and Queen Consort greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found, Buckingham Palace said.

Mr Macron suggested that a new date for the Kings visit to France would be arranged in early summer.

The delay is a major humiliation for Mr Macron, especially as the royal couples visit to Germany next week will go ahead as planned.

The monarchs trip next week with his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, was to be his first abroad since becoming King (The Times)

Eric Ciotti, leader of the conservative Republicans party in France, said the chaotic security situation was a national embarrassment. What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state, he said.

Left-wing firebrand MP and former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon portrayed Mr Macron as a monarch, saying he was delighted to see the meeting of kings at Versailles broken up by popular censorship.

Raquel Garrido, another left-wing MP, said she hoped Mr Macron would now resign, saying: Two kings were set to meet at Versailles  one down, one to go.

Bordeaux city hall was set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet (Reuters)

Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau, who had called for the cancellation of the state visit, said: It's good that it's been postponed; it was madness to make this visit in the middle of a social conflict of historic proportions.

To go and eat at Versailles, to drive down the Champs-Elysees  nothing was going to go well. The protesters were not going to roll out the red carpet for the King.

"The French have no other solution than to take to the streets massively to try and make Macron understand : he's in his castle, and no one actually gets to him. It's infuriating and contrary to basic democratic standards". #Manifestation



My interview for @France24_en  pic.twitter.com/KYwiASzS3u  Raquel Garrido (@RaquelGarridoFr) March 24, 2023

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said 123 police personnel and gendarmes had been injured during widespread violence and rioting on Thursday night alone. He said 12,000 members of security forces had been deployed nationwide, with 5,000 of these stationed in Paris.
Alberto Ibarguen announced Friday that he was stepping down as the leader of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, ending a run as the grantmakers president that began in the George W. Bush administration. With about $3 billion in assets, Knight is among the 50 wealthiest foundations.

During his tenure, Ibarguen made his mark in the cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight operated their newspaper empire. In Detroit, Ibarguen helped orchestrate a $370 million foundation effort to keep the citys finances from cratering. In Miami, he crusaded for the arts, helping the city become an international cultural destination. And as a former newspaper executive who saw the news industry being decimated all around him, Ibarguen made it a top priority at Knight to restore the credibility and viability of journalism in response to the upheaval caused by the internet.

Ibarguen, 79, was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New Jersey. After serving in the Peace Corps and working as a legal-aid lawyer earlier in his career, he climbed the newspaper ranks. He served as publisher of the Miami Herald when it won three coveted Pulitzer Prizes and publisher of the Spanish-language El Nuevo Herald in Miami.

Ibarguens career in newspapers helped set the way he ran the foundation. He expected his colleagues at Knight to scout out leads like reporters and be the foundations eyes and ears on the ground in the communities they serve. Those around him said he embraced the chaos of a newsroom environment and wasnt afraid to slam the brakes on a project when something juicier presented itself.

I dont find it very useful to say, We only do this, or We only do that, he says. Setting rules up ahead of time never struck me as that creative.

Ibarguen will depart when Knight finds a replacement. In the meantime, he is still busy trying to put together what he hopes is a mammoth fund to support journalism. Ibarguen isnt certain how much the fund will gather from other foundations  although he said $1 billion is just an ante for the work that needs to be done. It also is unclear whether the fund will touch on all areas of journalism, including First Amendment issues, technology development, supporting small news outlets, and helping people become more discerning readers and viewers of the news.

Story continues

Ibarguen says several dozen foundations have said they are interested in joining in. Diversifying Knights board in terms of race, gender, and ideological perspective, Ibarguen says, was one of his biggest accomplishments. Upon realizing that a tiny percentage of Knights endowment was managed by investing firms owned by people of color, Ibarguen developed a survey of foundations and universities with a goal of diversifying endowment money managers.

At Knight, Ibarguen has managed to remain faithful to the wishes of the Knight brothers, while keeping the foundations work at the cutting edge, says John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation and a trustee on Knights board until December.

Ibarguens response in Detroit, where the Knights ran the Detroit Free Press, was both in line with the brothers commitment to the city but also represented a different kind of involvement in city finances than the Knights had envisioned, suggested Palfrey. Rather than supporting the arts or community programs, the money Knight contributed to the Grand Bargain went to pay the citys pensioners, traditionally a municipal, not philanthropic, responsibility.

Similarly, Ibarguen showed that he was not bound to the past when he steered Knight away from endowing journalism professorships at universities. But he jumped at the chance to re-establish the practice when doing so was an attempt to promote equity, Palfrey says. The result, the Center for Journalism and Democracy at Howard University, is led by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Ibarguen worked to set up the center after Jones, who oversaw an extensive New York Times look at the legacy of slavery in the United States, the 1619 Project, when she was at first denied tenure at University of North Carolinas Hussman School of Journalism and Media, another institution that has received support from Knight. Within weeks of the University of North Carolina decision, Knight, MacArthur, the Ford Foundation, and an anonymous donor provided a total of $20 million for the new center at Howard.

One of the biggest injuries the media revolution has inflicted on the news business is the disconnection people feel between their geography  their city and neighborhood  and the news they consume online, which tends to be national in scope, Ibarguen says. As Knight struggled to support new ways to deliver the news by making grants to outlets across the country, Ibarguen also was obsessed with driving home a single story in his hometown: the arts matter.

Art bridges language and bridges experience, he says. If Gloria Estefan is singing, your toes will tap, I guarantee it. And if Beethoven is playing, your soul soars. Even more, a city where residents are connected through shared cultural offerings can be an essential part of a strong democracy in which political differences are recognized but not demonized, Ibarguen says.

Franklin Sirmans, who moved to Miami in 2015 to serve as director of the Perez Art Museum Miami, says Ibarguens strong leadership has been key to making Miami an arts scene.

He has an incredibly persuasive, beautiful, and poetic way of talking about it. I hate to use Albertos own terms so closely, but over the past seven years, I have struggled to find my own words.

The city has been transformed by the injection of arts fund, and today Miami is committed to being a place that is open for dialogue, Sirmans says. Its a place that doesnt shy away from having difficult conversations. Rather, it is a place that is led by art, a place where art is the catalyst for every single thing that we do.

____

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Alex Daniels is a senior reporter at the Chronicle. Email: alex.daniels@philanthropy.com. The AP and the Chronicle receive support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Seiya stands in awe as his magical Pegasus armor forms around him.

What if I told you that actor Madison Iseman is the reincarnation of the goddess Athena? Would you have any idea I was referring to Knights of the Zodiac, the upcoming live-action adaptation of a hit manga/anime series from the 1980s originally called Saint Seiya? I would be surprised, because adaptations were immensely popular around the world pretty much everywhere except North America, but maybe the movieand its new trailercan rectify that.



I know only the broad strokes of the original series, which is that five teens get magical, color-coded powers based on various constellations/signs of the Zodiac to protect the reincarnation of the Greek goddess Athena from other Greek gods who want to destroy her and rule the Earth. And based on this trailer, the movie seems to be... somewhat faithful to that:

Read more



Knights of the Zodiac - Exclusive Trailer (2023) Mackenyu, Famke Janssen, Sean Bean

Heres the official synopsis: Seiya (Mackenyu), a headstrong street teen, spends his time fighting for cash while he searches for his abducted sister. When one of his fights unwittingly taps into mystical powers he never knew he had, Seiya finds himself thrust into a world of warring saints, ancient magical training, and a reincarnated goddess who needs his protection. If hes to survive, he will need to embrace his destiny and sacrifice everything to take his rightful place among the Knights of the Zodiac.

Im not going to lie, Im not getting great vibes from this film. It feels like its been rejiggered for Western audiences, which, sure, often sounds like it would be the best path to a films success, but when its an anime adaptation, it often diminishes the source material. And, again, Knights of the Zodiac was never very popular here, making me wonder why it was an English-language production in the first place.

Story continues

Knights of the Zodiac comes to American theaters on May 12.





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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China's Ministry of Education (MOE) will carry out a strategic project to nurture high-caliber teachers across the country, an official with the ministry said Thursday, noting that progress has been made in this regard over the years.

Weng Bo, deputy director of the ministry's department of teachers, told a press conference that by the end of 2022, over 81 percent of the country's full-time teachers in compulsory education had a bachelor's degree or above, up 3.3 percentage points from the previous year.

In rural areas, the figure was about 76 percent, rising 3.78 percentage points from 2021, Weng added.

By the end of last year, China had a total of 18.8 million full-time teachers, according to Weng.

In 2022, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the MOE and other government organs jointly initiated a program aimed at enhancing education in less developed counties in the west amid the country's rural revitalization drive.

As part of this program, school principals and other education professionals from the more developed eastern regions were chosen to serve in the less developed areas of the country in a bid to ensure that each of these counties has at least one regular high school and one vocational high school.

A total of 2,392 high school principals, management personnel and teachers were selected and assigned to work at 160 key counties in 10 provincial-level regions in western China through this initiative, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the MOE will push forward reforms on the administration of teachers as part of efforts to support high-quality education, Weng added.
Muriel Siebert was making less money than men doing the same work as her. She was tired of it. So in 1967, Siebert, the first woman of finance, became the first woman to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

This is how she did it.

Siebert, born in 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, attended Western Reserve University but had to leave after a few years when her father fell ill in 1952.

After moving to New York two years later, she lied about having a college degree, according to the National Womens History Museum, and got a job for Bache & Company. Tired of pay inequity, she changed jobs three times.

A Wall Street Maverick

She spent two years finding a sponsor for her application (asking nine men to sponsor her before the tenth finally agreed) and a bank that would loan her $300,000. Her seat cost $445,000 in total.

Siebert, known as Mickie, bought her seat on Dec. 28, 1967. She spent 10 years as the only woman out of 1,365 men. Siebert also had to deal with anti-Semitism.

It took until 1987 for a womens restroom to be installed on the floor of the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, after Siebert threatened that she would put a portable toilet in the building if there was no bathroom for women, according to the museum.

We want to recognize & celebrate the legacy of our founder, Muriel Siebert. Known as the 1st Woman of Finance, Siebert was the 1st woman to own a seat on the NYSE when she joined 1,365 men. Thank you, Mickie, for leading the way for female entrepreneurs! #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/Yp8f2xcSJz  Siebert Financial (@SiebFinancial) March 9, 2023

Two years after buying her seat, she founded Muriel Siebert & Company. This made her also the first woman to operate a New York Stock Exchange member brokerage firm.

Story continues

New York Gov. Hugh L. Carey selected her as New Yorks first female superintendent of banking in 1977.

Siebert lost a run for the Republican Senate nomination in 1982.

She donated millions to help other women start in business and finance, according to a New York Times 2013 obituary.

Firms are doing what they have to do, legally, Siebert said during a 1992 luncheon honoring her efforts. But women are coming into Wall Street in large numbers, and they still are not making partner and are not getting into the positions that lead to the executive suites. Theres still an old-boy network. You just have to keep fighting.

In 1994, she was inducted into the Womens Hall of Fame.

She published her autobiography, Changing the Rules: Adventures of a Wall Street Maverick, in 2002.

Siebert died on Aug. 24, 2013.

Shes regarded as a pioneer for women in the finance industry, according to Investopedia.
More than six weeks after a 60-year-old woman collapsed in Knoxville police custody and community members expressed outrage over how officers treated her, the men who arrested Lisa Edwards are still on paid leave.

As the Knoxville Police Department's internal investigation continues, Edwards' family has hired a high-profile civil rights attorney versed in in-custody death lawsuits. Devon Jacob was a member of the legal team representing the estate of George Floyd, whose 2020 death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers set off a national police reform movement.

Jacob received the Leonard Weinglass in Defense of Civil Liberties Award from the American Association for Justice for his work in the Floyd case, which resulted in a $27 million settlement. Jacob, a former police officer, is an member of the National Police Accountability Project.

As Edwards' family explores its legal options, the Knoxville Police Department won't estimate when its internal investigation will be complete.

"The IA investigation into Lisa Edwards' death is still ongoing," spokesman Scott Erland said. "Once that is complete, we will make a public announcement and the case file immediately available."

Sgt. Brandon Wardlaw, officer Adam Barnett, officer Timothy Distasio and transportation officer Danny Dugan remain on paid leave, Erland confirmed.

Local law enforcement leaders, including Police Chief Paul Noel and Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen, sharply criticized the officers for their lack of compassion as Edwards begged for medical help. The death drew national media attention and calls for the officers to be reprimanded.

On Feb. 5, Lisa Edwards was arrested for trespassing outside For Sanders Regional Medical Center after she was discharged from doctors' care. She suffered a fatal stroke in the back of a police cruiser and died the next day.

The way Knoxville police officers and hospital security staff treated the 60-year-old woman drew immediate condemnation after body cam and dashcam footage was released.

Story continues

Edwards' family declined to comment this week, referring questions to Jacob.

Why had Lisa Edwards flown to Knoxville on Feb. 4?

Edwards, her daughter-in-law August Boylan told Knox News, was a longtime resident of Knoxville who in 2018 decided she wanted to be closer to her sons and grandchildren and moved to Rhode Island.

Edwards initially lived with family but had a stroke in August 2019 and moved into a nursing home. Eventually, Edwards decided to move back to Knoxville, where she was going to live with a friend.

Lisa Edwards with one of her granddaughters

After Edwards arrived at the Knoxville airport, she was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital for complaints of abdominal pain. She was discharged and then went to Fort Sanders Medical Center the same day, where she was evaluated and discharged the next morning.

A timeline of the law enforcement response

Edwards was arrested after hospital security staff called police and told them she declined to move off the property after she was discharged.

Body cam footage shows the first KPD officer arrived just before 8 a.m., about an hour after Edwards was discharged from the hospital. Edwards told the officer she had a stroke and couldnt walk, but his response was that the hospital wanted her gone and he was taking her to jail.

The officer told Edwards if she wouldn't leave, she would be charged with trespassing. A jail transport van was called and officers and the driver physically struggled for 30 minutes to get Edwards into the side compartment of the van, leaving her slumped on the sidewalk.

Edwards repeatedly said she couldn't breathe or stand, but officers and security staff responded by saying she had been medically discharged and was fine. The police eventually decided to take her to jail in a regular police cruiser because it was easier than putting her in a van. Officers struggled to place her in the back seat and never succeeded in getting her into a fully upright position.

At the beginning of the drive, Edwards was gasping and wheezing before she slumped back. Within 10 minutes, she slipped out of sight and could not be heard on the cruiser camera. The officer drove another 3 minutes before he stopped to help another driver. It was when he returned to the vehicle that he found Edwards unconscious.

What has happened since Edwards' death?

The Knox County District Attorney's Office said Edwards died of a stroke and that none of the officers who handled her arrest will face criminal charges. Allen's office cited a medical examiner's report that said at no time did law enforcement interaction cause or contribute to Ms. Edwards death.

But Allen publicly denounced their actions, saying, "They did not show any empathy. They did not show any compassion. And I, like many, am sickened by the way she was treated."

Community members shared hundreds of critical Facebook comments about the officers' conduct during Edwards' arrest, and many gathered Feb. 27 to hold a vigil in her honor.

Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel said he was "disturbed and embarrassed" when he watched the videos, releasing a statement that read, in part, "My expectation is that our officers treat every person they encounter, regardless of the context or situation, with respect, dignity and basic decency. We should also take pride in helping those who need it."

Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com. Twitter @LizKellar.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville police investigation still pending after Lisa Edwards' death
[Source]

South Korean prosecutors are working with Montenegro authorities to extradite Do Kwon to South Korea, but the United States is also chasing after the crypto fugitive.

Kwon, whose real name is Kwon Do-hyung, was arrested at Podgorica Airport in Montenegro on Thursday after he and one of his close aides, surnamed Han, tried to travel to Dubai with a forged passport.

Kwons arrest was later confirmed on Twitter and Facebook by Filip Adzic, Montenegros interior minister, announcing that authorities had detained one of the world's most wanted fugitives.

U PODGORICI UHAPSEN JEDAN OD NAJTRAZENIJIH SVJETSKIH BJEGUNACA More from NextShark: Video captures Las Vegas vape shop owner stopping day-time robbery by stabbing would-be thief Crnogrska policija lisila je slobode lice za koje se sumnja da je jedan od najtrazenijih bjegunaca, juznokorejski drzavljanin Do Kwon, suosnivac i izvrsni direktor Terraform Labs sa sjedistem u Singapuru.

1/2  Filip Adzic (@filip_adzic) March 23, 2023

More from NextShark: Pokemon card thief dumber than Team Rocket, tries to resell cards back to store he stole them from

Although Adzic said they were still awaiting confirmation from local authorities, South Korean police identified the man detained at the airport as Kwon after analyzing his fingerprints.

Following the confirmation, prosecutors started the extradition process for Kwon to South Korea, where he faces charges related to fraud and breaches of South Koreas capital markets law.

South Korean prosecutors will take steps to repatriate Kwon Do-hyung. We are working on the process," Kim Hee-kyung, a spokesperson for the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, told AFP.

More from NextShark: UC Davis professor accused of sexually assaulting high school student

It is unclear if the Southern European country will agree to the request, as the Montenegro police reportedly filed a criminal complaint against the disgraced cryptocurrency co-founder for the forged documents, local authorities announced.

Story continues

The United States is also seeking extradition for Kwon, who is facing securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud and conspiracy charges in the country.

In a statement on Feb. 16, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Kwon of "orchestrating a multi-billion-dollar crypto asset securities fraud.

More from NextShark: Canadian police begin investigation into Chinese 'police stations' operating in Greater Toronto Area

SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in the statement that Kwon and his Singapore-based company, Terraform Labs, both failed to provide the public with full, fair, and truthful disclosure as required for a host of crypto asset securities, most notably for LUNA and Terra USD.

According to a court official, Kwon is expected to face the Higher Court in Podgorica, Montenegro, on Friday for his charges, where the extradition requests will also be heard, AFP reported.

Neither South Korea nor the U.S. have an extradition treaty with Montenegro. However, South Korea has joined the European Convention on Extradition, a multilateral treaty that allows for extradition of individuals wanted for criminal proceedings between member states, of which Montenegro is a member as part of the Council of Europe, reported Yonhap News Agency, citing the justice ministry.

South Korean prosecutors confirmed in February that a delegation had been sent to Serbia to follow up on a lead claiming that Kwon was last spotted in the Balkan nation as far back as December 2022.

Kwon became a wanted man in 195 countries after Interpol issued a red notice on the defunct entrepreneur in late September 2022.

South Korean prosecutors accused him of being on the run after his cryptocurrency Luna, the sister coin of Terra USD, crashed from its $116 high to less than $0.0002 in April 2022. The financial loss from the crash was estimated to be around $42 billion the following month.
Kremlin puppet Aksyonov creates in occupied Crimea his own mercenary company, with alleged ties to Prigozhin

Reportedly, the Convoy PMC, referred to as a military unit by Aksyonov, has been identified as a combat army reserve by a former member who disclosed that members must sign contracts with both Convoy and the Russian Ministry of Defense to ensure guaranteed benefits in case of injury or death.

The publications source, who works for Convoy, claimed to be earning around RUR 200,000 ($2,600) per month, while the commanding officer was making RUR 300,000 ($3,900). Additionally, those who commit to serving in the unit for one year are promised land in Crimea or Abkhazia.

Read also: Supporter of Wagner mercenary company and Chechen warlord Kadyrov detained in Ivano-Frankivsk

Read also: Ukrainian army ready to pounce on Wagner pause in Bakhmut

Convoy mercenaries are currently deployed in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast, the publication said, adding that the training ground, as it follows from the information of one of the chats, is located in the village of Perevalne near Crimea.

A former mercenary from the company told reporters that the entire command of PMC Aksyonov are former employees of the notorious Russian Wagner Group mercenary company.

Read also: Wagner pleads with Russian MoD for reinforcements at Bakhmut

Convoy is commanded by Kostiantyn Pikalov, with the call sign Mazai, who is known as the right-hand man of Wagners Yevgeny Prigozhin and the overseer of Wagnerite Russian mercenaries in Africa.

According to a report by news agency Bloomberg on March 23, Prigozhin is preparing to wind down the Wagner Groups operations in Ukraine after numerous failures.

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
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  Andrei Kuzmenko scored his 35th goal, a Canucks franchise record for a first-year player, to lead Vancouver to a 7-2 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

The Russian forward, who also had an assist, topped the 34 goals scored by Pavel Bure in 1991-92.

Yes, its good. But I need to be better, the 27-year-old Kuzmenko said of the milestone. I need to score a lot of goals. Maybe 40, 45, I need."

J.T. Miller, Dakota Joshua, Conor Garland and Phillip Di Giuseppe also each had a goal and an assist, and Vasily Podkolzin and Sheldon Dries scored for Vancouver. Tyler Myers had a pair of assists and Thatcher Demko made 17 saves.

It was nice to see a couple of guys finish because theyve had some chances in the past, but its nice to finish, Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. It gets your confidence (up), loosens you up a little bit.

Tomas Hertl and Andrew Agozzino scored for the struggling Sharks, who are winless in their last eight games (0-5-3). San Jose has not won in regulation since beating Seattle 4-0 on Feb. 20.

San Joses lineup included six players who werent with the team before the leagues trade deadline on March 3.

When you make so many changes, some of the things that are happening out there are not really the fault of the new players, Sharks coach David Quinn said. They just havent been accustomed to playing the way you want to play and that can happen.

But its the guys that have been here that have to keep this thing together and understand that weve got a season to finish and weve got to do a better job finishing on a strong note.

Vancouver opened the scoring 6:15 into the first after Miller picked off Hertls pass at the Sharks blue line and snapped a shot past Reimer for his 29th goal.

Kuzmenko made it 2-0 when he deftly moved the puck from his forehand to his backhand, then shoveled a shot in. Elias Pettersson earned an assist on the play, extending his point streak to a career-high 10 games.

Story continues

Hertl cut the Sharks' deficit to 2-1, but Joshua restored the Canucks' two-goal lead with a shot past an outstretched Reimer with 0.4 seconds left in the opening period.

Its happening for us all year long, Hertl said. We give up so many last-second goals. I cant even count it, like first, second, third, just so many times its like 2 seconds left and they score and its not a good feeling when you give up again.

"We just shoot ourselves in the foot.

Vancouver made it 4-1 in the second on Garland's goal, and then the Canucks sealed it with another three-goal period in the third.

The Canucks won their ninth straight game against the Sharks, including all four matchups between the teams this season.

NOTES: D Filip Hronek played his first game in a Canucks jersey. Vancouver acquired the 25-year-old from Detroit on March 1 for first- and second-round picks in this years draft, but an upper-body injury kept Hronek out of the lineup until Thursday. ... Vancouvers Christian Wolanin left with a lower-body injury midway through the first period and did not return.

UP NEXT

Sharks: Travel to Calgary to face the Flames on Saturday.

Canucks: At Dallas to take on the Stars on Saturday night.



AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
On the first day of our magazine internship, we interns were instructed to write our names on Polaroids of ourselves tacked up in the breakroom. I was confident a surefire way to impress everyone was to add Abuse me, Im an intern on mine.

To my surprise, none of the higher-ups responded with a high-five, a knowing nod in the hallway or an invitation to a power lunch. Only Dan, one of the other editorial interns, laughed so hard I could hear him back at my desk.

I cant believe you wrote that! he said.

There was something about Dan. Maybe it was his cute Buddy Holly glasses, his toothy grin or the fact he could join me in belting out a KISS song. (Any guy who appreciated man makeup and so-bad-theyre-good lyrics deserved to be noticed.) And after my first-day gaffe, he continued to respond to my antics with the same hearty laugh.

When our Washington, D.C., internship ended, Dan headed back to Los Angeles and USC. I returned to college in New York, and we kept in touch via AOL Instant Messenger, where our friendship blossomed as we shared stories about our day-to-day lives.

Whether it was my natural gift for mistakes at the office, my talent for romantic blunders or my flair for putting my foot in my mouth, I told Dan everything, hoping to get a laugh. When I had a bad date or called an important client by the wrong name, I was mortified. But replaying the moment to Dan with some self-deprecating humor almost made me sound cool, in a slacker kind of way. Dan was always there to respond with a supportive "LOL" and to entertain with a funny tale of his own.

After years of daily banter, it dawned on me that I was spending a considerable amount of time chatting to a guy across the country who was just a friend. Humor was how we connected, but now I had a problem. How do I tell him seriously, "I like you"?

I did the most obvious thing I could think of: I mailed him a totally romantic Valentines Day-themed mixtape featuring thrash metal and a KISS song about creeping on a high-schooler. I included a note that said, Dont get any ideas. Were just friends. He didnt read between the lines.

Story continues

Next move: I would take a vacation to California. Surely, in person I would be so funny and clever he couldnt help but fall for me. When Dan picked me up at Los Angeles International Airport looking exactly the same (cute!), it had been three years since we'd last seen each other.

Nerves took over a few hours later when, tucked into a cozy booth at St. Nicks pub, I sensed our conversation faltering without the crutch of the keyboard. I chugged three vodka cranberries hoping they would help me relax. By the time we reached Dans Park La Brea apartment, without discussing our sleeping arrangement, I took it upon myself to flop face down on his bed and pass out.

The next day, we road-tripped to San Francisco. When I attempted to make amends with a humorous story, he stared from the drivers seat.

You told me this last night, he said. Gulp.

Im embarrassed, I said, feeling this trip was turning into a disaster  and this time, I couldnt make it better in my retelling. He said nothing.

A stop at McDonalds promised relief from the conversation until somehow, within the first five minutes, I managed to dump an entire large soda on my shirt. Could this get any worse?

But then I heard it: Dans big laugh. I looked up and saw his eyes light up and his broad smile, and I found myself laughing too. I had to admit, it was classic me.

We walked around San Francisco, but I couldnt pay attention to the city, only to the man beside me. In person, Dans eyes lingered on me when I spoke, his hand brushed over mine as we walked. We chuckled about my nervousness on the first night. He said he was nervous too. I could tell. On the second night, it was Dan who sought liquid courage at the bar. Our rendezvous in a hotel turned into another snore fest.

Back in L.A., days later on his couch, I finally asked, Are we friends or more than friends or just completely hopeless? He laughed and said, All I know, I cant stand the idea of not seeing you all the time.

We started kissing, and it was romantic in that Rock and Roll All Nite-playing-on-his-stereo kind of way.

Turns out, I didnt have to come up with a too-clever way to tell him I liked him. I just had to be vulnerable to say it without a jokey line to hide behind.

Twenty years later, Dan and I have long since gotten rid of our AOL accounts. We still love to laugh, but thank God, I have learned to talk to him seriously. Together, we have navigated lots of grown-up things: marriage, two cross-country moves, careers (going much better, thanks), a kid, deaths and middle age.

I have come to realize that the most important moments  even getting together with the love of your life  never come out the way you think they should, the way you would have written it with all the wit and humor in place.

Lifes funny that way.

The author is a freelance writer and creative director living in Los Angeles. Find her on Instagram: @yvonne_pasquini

L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the L.A. area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $300 for a published essay. Email LAAffairs@latimes.com. You can find submission guidelines here. You can find past columns here.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) has filed a lawsuit against the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) of Louisiana on the basis of MERS' recent demand in the amount of $14,787,012 for unfunded accrued liability (UAL).

According to an actuary, MERS is incorrectly calculating the unfunded accrued liability. The Lafayette Consolidated Government states MERS calculation is grossly inaccurate and requests the court review and declare a correct calculation of any amount that may be owed by the Lafayette Consolidated Government to MERS.

The Lafayette Consolidated Government has requested a declaratory judgment for the suit, which is a binding judgment from a court defining the legal relationship between both parties and their rights.

In 2010, LCG moved new employees from the Parochial Employees Retirement System of Louisiana (PERS) to the Municipal Employees Retirement System of Louisiana. Since that time, MERS rates have increased significantly, causing LCGs contribution requirements to double. For the benefit of employees and taxpayers, the Lafayette Consolidated Government again changed retirement systems for the new employees back to PERS beginning in November 2020. Employees who were hired before this date remained members of Municipal Employees Retirement System of Louisiana.

Both moves in 2010 and in 2020 required successful legislative action which passed in 2020 (Louisiana ACT 298). Subsequently, Lafayette Consolidated Government acknowledged financial responsibility for the UAL for retirees and has made payments totaling more than $2.9m in good faith since the legislation passed.

This matter was escalated last week when the Municipal Employees Retirement System of Louisiana board of trustees requested that the State Treasurer or any department or agency of the State withhold funds from the LCG as payment due to incorrect UAL amount. Lafayette Consolidated Government officials maintain they have been working in good faith with MERS to agree on the correct amount owed for retirees.

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Chief Administrative Officer Cydra Wingerter said, During the past two years, we have worked through the list of employees submitted by MERS. We have both been able to agree on who should be properly included and the correct UAL due. In many cases, the agreed upon list was significantly less than the amount initially claimed by MERS. In an effort to fairly solve this matter, the Lafayette Consolidated Government requested the court intervene with a declaratory judgment to set the amount that is due and the correct method of calculating the UAL going forward.

LCG acknowledges its financial responsibility for its retirees UAL as dictated in ACT 298. According to City-Parish Attorney Greg Logan, MERS is taking an aggressive position based on incorrect application of the statutes and normally accepted actuarial methods. We have an obligation to pay the appropriate actuarial UAL for certain employees up to the day they separated from service. Logan continued, However, MERS is seeking UAL on employees that should not be included; and therefore, their calculations are wrong as they are based on the wrong assumptions.

LCG maintains it has paid for vested members. MERS is failing to take into account the companion statute, and they are attempting to saddle LCG with MERS costs not owed by LCG, Logan stated.

According to LCGs retirement records, a substantial number of non-vested employees withdrew their employee contribution upon leaving LCGs employment. Under this circumstance, MERS retains the employer contributions and the earnings and experiences no UAL as a result because the employee surrendered their future returns or benefits.

In March of 2020, both City and Parish Councils unanimously passed an ordinance allowing for new employees to join PERS. As required in that local ordinance, the Councils have been provided regular, timely updates as necessary on the UAL payments to MERS totaling $2,925,804.13.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Municipal Employees Retirement System of Louisiana is facing a lawsuit




Speakers:

Mr. Yu Jianhua, minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)

Mr. Sun Yuning, vice minister of the GACC

Mr. Zhao Zenglian, director of the General Office of the GACC

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

March 20, 2023

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we are holding the 11th press conference in the series "Embarking on the New Journey  A Government Perspective." We are delighted to have invited Mr. Yu Jianhua, minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), to brief you on the efforts of China Customs to safeguard borders and advance Chinese modernization, and to take your questions. We also have with us Mr. Sun Yuning, vice minister of the GACC, and Mr. Zhao Zenglian, director of the General Office of the GACC.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Yu for his introduction.

Yu Jianhua:

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. My colleagues and I are delighted to be here today to meet and speak with you. First and foremost, on behalf of the GACC, I would like to express our gratitude to the media for your coverage of our work throughout the years, as well as for your oversight of our customs enforcement efforts.

The GACC is the national agency responsible for border administration and supervision. As we embark on a new journey in the new era, the GACC has a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and upholds Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and upholds the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. Guided by the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have fully and faithfully applied the new development philosophy on all fronts, worked to create a new pattern of development, promoted high-quality development, and pursued progress while ensuring stability. We have fulfilled the responsibility of better balancing the domestic and international situations, coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and development with security. We remain focused on safeguarding borders, promoting development and contributing to overall economic and social progress.

Safeguarding borders is a fundamental duty of customs, and an important responsibility in the pursuit of a holistic approach to national security. We carry out lawful and science-based supervision and employ advanced technologies, such as big data and intelligent inspection, to enhance the efficiency of port inspections and tax collection, ensuring the safety and order of imported and exported goods. In 2022, tax revenue collected by customs reached 2.28 trillion yuan, an increase of 13.6%. We have been the first line of defense in preventing imported COVID-19 cases, having detected 55,000 positive cases among inbound personnel, which accounts for 67% of all port detections in the past three years. We have made significant contributions to winning a decisive victory in national epidemic prevention and control. We carry out strict inspections and quarantines to prevent the entry of major animal and plant epidemics and the invasion of alien species, having detected a total of 580,000 harmful organisms. We have severely cracked down on smuggling, having filed and investigated more than 4,500 criminal smuggling cases worth over 120 billion yuan, thus ensuring national security and a favorable business environment. We launched a 100-day special action on integrated management of dangerous goods at ports, clearing more than 2,400 batches of dangerous goods that were stockpiled at ports due to the epidemic, and detecting over 1,600 batches of false or concealed reports. This timely elimination of the significant risk of stockpiled dangerous goods in high-temperature weather conditions ensured port safety.

Promoting development is the due responsibility of the GACC in serving the people. We have taken multiple measures to serve foreign trade stability and quality improvement, continuously optimized the business environment at ports, made cross-border trade more convenient, and significantly reduced overall clearance time for imports and exports. We regularly released foreign trade data and various trade indices to serve macro decision-making and foreign trade enterprises. We have taken the lead in serving high-level opening-up, promoting innovative customs supervision systems for the Hainan Free Trade Port, free trade zones (FTZs), the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and comprehensive bonded zones. We have actively served the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, promoted the "smart customs, smart borders, smart connectivity " concept to be included in the strategic planning of the World Customs Organization, and signed 80 customs cooperation agreements with many countries. We have supported the construction of international logistics corridors such as the China-Europe Railway Express. We have done everything possible to help enterprises overcome difficulties, issuing 23 support measures to promote the stable growth of foreign trade. We have launched activities inviting customs officials to the front line to promote policies, effectively doing practical things and solving problems for enterprises. We have conscientiously implemented tax reduction and preferential tax policies, with total tax cuts and refunds amounting to 285 billion yuan.

This year marks the first year of fully implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress. Customs across the country will focus on the "1+1+6" key tasks. The first "1" refers to deeply and solidly implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress by comprehensively studying it. The second "1" refers to promoting the construction of a socialist modernized customs with Chinese characteristics, with smart customs as a focal point. We will serve high-quality development and high-level opening-up with efficient customs supervision. The "6" refers to the six key tasks of building a full-chain safety supervision system, holding a strong first line of defense against the virus, implementing measures to promote stability and quality of foreign trade, serving high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, creating a high-level platform for opening-up, and exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance with high-quality standards. Customs across the country will keep in mind that we must never forget our original aspiration and founding mission, that we always stay modest, prudent and hardworking, and that we have the courage and ability to carry on our fight. The GACC will be loyal, responsible and dedicated to safeguarding the country's borders, promoting development, and working together toward a common goal. As per the new government's directives, we will continue to advance and refine our customs policies and practices to align with the grand blueprint. We will translate the key objectives outlined in the 20th CPC National Congress into concrete actions within customs, strive to achieve tangible outcomes and contribute to China's modernization efforts.

Now, my colleagues and I are happy to answer your questions. Thank you.
The severe thunderstorm watch for Tarrant and Dallas counties has expired, according to the National Weather Service. The watch continues for areas to the east and south until 9 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning announced for Tarrant County until 6:15 a.m. was allowed to expire. The storm weakened below the severe limit, but NWS officials said gusty winds were still possible.

Widespread showers and storms moved into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex around 6:25 a.m. and NWS officials advised commuters to give themselves plenty of time to get to work. The storms were bringing frequent lightning, gusty winds and heavy rain.

A severe storm warning was in effect for Collin, Grayson and Fannin counties until 7:30.

A tornado warning was in effect until 5:30 a.m. for southeast Wise and northeast Parker counties. At 5:04, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Poolville, or 11 miles south of Bridgeport, moving northeast at 55 mph.

About 5 a.m. in Parker County, the fire department reported a recreational vehicle overturned with two people trapped inside in the 4900 block of Lone Star Road, just west of Poolville, according to a NWS storm damage tracker.

#new - @_KennediWalker on scene in northern Parker County where a mobile home overturned during the storm. Emergency management confirms 2 people hurt. More coverage at 6:30am @CBSNewsTexas pic.twitter.com/VL2HCrPYpR  Stewart McKenzie (@CBS11Stew) March 24, 2023

Another RV was overturned with three people inside in the 2500 block of Bounty Road, southwest of Whitt.

Sean Hughes, the emergency management coordinator for Parker County, said the RVs were overturned due to strong wind. There were no injuries and first responders helped get everyone out, he said.

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Hughes also said there was some sporadic damage from wind across Parker County but didnt give specific details.

Danie Huffman, the spokesperson for the Parker County Sheriffs Office, said they have gotten calls about wind damage and debris.

Storm Reports

This map contains continuously updated storm reports and damage from the National Weather Service for the past 48 hours. Reports include tornado, wind storm and hail storm reports. The map also includes tornado reports for the past week and recent rainfall accumulations. Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Esri.

Open

Texas Highway 199 near the Wise/Parker County line was shut down due to power lines across the road. An overturned RV was reported near that location.

Poolville ISD delayed school buses and classes by two hours. Weatherford ISD delayed buses by 30 minutes.

Fort Worth ISD said some buses might be delayed. Be weather aware & ensure your childrens safety on their way to school, the school district said in a social media post. Buses may be delayed. Please plan ahead & allow extra time for your childs commute. In the event of weather impacts, tardy procedures are suspended at the start of the day.

A severe thunderstorm watch was initially in effect until 9 a.m Friday for several North Texas counties, including Tarrant, Dallas, Denton and Collin, but expired early in some areas. The storms were expected to be capable of producing large hail, winds up to 70 miles per hour and a couple of tornadoes, according to the weather service. Hail could be up to 1.5 inches  about the size of ping-pong balls  in some areas.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended to include more North Texas counties including Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties until 9am. Storms moving into this area are capable of producing 65 mph winds, large hail and a brief tornado. #wfaaweather pic.twitter.com/AlWCXeQVuZ  Pete Delkus (@wfaaweather) March 24, 2023

A ground stop that was in place for flights at DFW Airport has been lifted.

Shortly before 8 a.m. the flight status tracker Flight Aware showed flights departing from DFW were delayed an average of 30 minutes or more. Inbound flights were being delayed at their origin an average of 35 minutes.

Flights that were already airborne were delayed an average of nearly 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Oncor was reporting more than 1,900 electric customers without power as of 7:20 a.m., including more than 400 each in Parker, Wise and Denton counties and more than 300 in Dallas County.

Electric outages Dallas - Fort Worth vicinity Here is Oncor's power outages map. Outage information is sent from Oncor to the outage map every 10 minutes. Source: stormcenter.oncor.com Open

Weather watches and warnings A live data feed from the National Weather Service containing official weather warnings, watches, and advisory statements. Tap warning areas for more details. Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service, NOAA GeoPlatform and Esri. Open

The storms will continue to move east and will be out of the area by afternoon.
Protesters listen to speakers as members of the Service Employees International Union Local 99 rally at Los Angeles Historic State Park on March 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The three-day strike that shut down public schools in Los Angeles may have been illegal, according to complaints issued by state regulators, clearing the way for the districts case against the two unions that walked out to move to a formal hearing.

The actions by the California Public Employment Relations Board do not represent a determination that the unions acted illegally. Instead regulators concluded that the Los Angeles Unified School District made a strong enough case to move to the next stage in the legal process.

The strike took place March 21-23. The labor board issued a complaint against one participating union on March 21 and the other on March 22, but neither the school district nor the unions announced the regulatory action at the time.

Shortly after, on March 24, L.A. Unified and Local 99 of Service Employees International Union reached a tentative agreement. Sometimes, disputes that reach the labor board are dropped as part of a contract resolution, but that has not happened so far.

The strike was led by Local 99, which represents about 30,000 school-district employees including bus drivers, food-service workers, teacher aides, special-education assistants, custodians and security aides. United Teachers Los Angeles urged its members to participate in the strike, a collaboration that, according to the school system, forced the shutdown of schools. UTLA represents about 35,000 teachers, therapists, counselors, nurses and librarians.

The labor board issued a separate action, called a complaint, against each union even though the cases are intertwined because of the joint strike.

Ellen Wu, an outside attorney for L.A. Unified, said a final legal determination on the district's labor board cases is important to provide accountability for following state law, even though the strike has come and gone.

Because the unions walked out before completing the negotiation process, "not only have innocent children and their families been held hostage and suffered terribly," she said, but the unions have "put LAUSD in an impossible situation."

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"If this violation has no consequences or remedies, then there is no negotiation process to follow in the future for any union," Wu said.

A Local 99 spokesperson criticized the school district's pursuit of the labor board case.

"This is yet another attempt by LAUSD to silence the voices of workers," said Blanca Gallegos. "The three-day strike proved that workers will not be stopped in their demands for respect. LAUSD must focus on ending the harassment and intimidation of workers instead of engaging in legal tactics intended to further discredit their voices."

In a statement, UTLA said that "instead of wasting time on legal maneuvers over the last two weeks that didnt prevent a strike, LAUSD should have been focused on resolving the issues and respecting their employees. ... LAUSD had been pursuing every means possible to silence the 65,000 UTLA and SEIU 99 education workers who were braving the rain and wind while striking in protest of LAUSDs actions."

The next step in the labor board process would be a trial before an administrative law judge, which could happen in the next month or so, said J. Felix De La Torre, general counsel for the labor board. In such a proceeding, the school district would present evidence that the strike was illegal. The unions would then present evidence that it was proper. The judge would issue a ruling and, if L.A. Unified prevailed, would impose a remedy.

It's not clear what that remedy would be.

Local 99's legal basis for the strike was to protest alleged unfair practices by the school system. The union has accused the district of impeding the union and employees from exercising legally protected, union-related activities. The district has generally denied wrongdoing, but has not yet responded to every one of the more than a dozen cases filed by the union.

Examples of alleged wrongdoing by the district include:





Surveillance of union members.

Denying release time to participate in bargaining.

Failure to provide information related to bargaining.

Retaliation in the form of a poor evaluation or changed assignment for union-related activities.

The union also accused the district of improperly rescheduling optional extra learning time for students  which affected when union members could choose to work. The schedule change occurred after the district yielded to pressure exerted by UTLA.



In this instance, the district got it from both sides. UTLA filed an unfair practice charge over the original acceleration day schedule. Local 99 filed an unfair practice charge after the district changed the schedule to placate UTLA.

The district has filed its own cases against the unions, and last week's labor board action relates to those filed with the board on March 17, a last-ditch effort to avoid the strike that began March 21. District officials asked the labor board to issue an immediate injunction to prevent the walkout.

The board declined to do so  and it would have been extremely unusual for it to intervene in this way without a careful review of evidence, legal experts have said.

Union leaders declared this lack of intervention as a victory  and it was, in that it allowed the strike to go forward. But the case remained active. The board authorized an "expedited" review, and that did nothing to shorten the strike, but the review did proceed.

Issuing a complaint does not mean that the board has sided with the district and against the unions, said De La Torre, the labor board's general counsel.

"What it means is we look at the facts by the district against the unions," said De La Torre. Regulators ask the question: "If those facts were proven true at an evidentiary trial, with witnesses and documents, would it amount to a violation of state law? And if the answer would be yes, we issue a complaint. So that's what we've done so far."

According to the complaint, the current bargaining cycle with Local 99 began Feb. 16, 2022, and by late December the two parties "started participating in impasse procedures," part of a required step-by-step process that has yet to be completed.

Staging a strike under these circumstances is illegal, according to the complaint.

The case, if it isn't settled, will hinge on whether the events leading up to the strike justify an unfair-practice walkout or whether the unfair-practice allegations were simply a pretext to stage a strike as a pressure tactic.

The complaint issued against the teachers union describes a similar scenario, although the teachers union and district are not as far along in bargaining. The complaint states that UTLA "had not initiated or completed impasse procedures" and that it "encouraged bargaining unit members to engage in a three-day sympathy strike" while it "failed and refused to bargain in good faith" in violation of state law.

In an effort to avoid a legal challenge on other grounds, both unions formally terminated their expired contracts, which included anti-strike provisions. The tentative agreement with Local 99 allows for sympathy strikes, according to the union.

The labor board issued its complaint against Local 99 on the first day of the strike and against UTLA on the second day of the strike.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
MSNBC anchor Lawrence ODonnell ridiculed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for being out of moves against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as House Republicans sought to insert themselves in the Donald Trump hush-money investigation.

Braggs office, said to be nearing an indictment of Trump in the Stormy Daniels case, rebuffed the demands of Jordan and other GOP House committee leaders for information about the investigation, which the Republicans called an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority. Braggs office called the GOP demands an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution.

Alvin Braggs reply letter to Jim Jordan is the single most humiliating letter ever received by a chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, every one of whom has known much more about the law than Jim Jordan, said ODonnell, who earlier called Jordan a buffoon for writing to the DA.

He pointed out that Jordan failed to take the bar examination after graduating law school and will face experienced New York prosecutors who did if he accepts the DAs offer to meet with staffers to discuss information that relates to a legitimate legislative interest.

The unprofessional hacks who work for Jim Jordan  including any of those who may have passed the bar exam somewhere  now have the choice to travel to New York City to be interviewed in a Manhattan district attorneys office about what theyre up to, ODonnell said.

They would be surrounded by prosecutors taking notes on everything they say. Jim Jordan is out of moves with Alvin Bragg at the end of Round 1.

H/T Mediaite

Related...
At least 13 people are dead and nearly 300 injured after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday night.

Nine of the confirmed deaths were reported in the valley region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan where the temblor flattened and partially damaged several houses, a government official said.

The death toll rose to four in Afghanistan, the countrys health ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday morning, with a child among the fatalities.

The earthquake, the epicentre of which was in southeast Afghanistans Jurm valley, was felt across an area more than 1,000km wide and had a magnitude of 6.5, said the US Geological Survey. The Pakistan Meteorological Department, however, estimated the magnitude to be 6.8.

Tremors were felt in northern India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.

The powerful temblor damaged buildings, triggered landslides and gave rise to panic among people who were seen running into open grounds in videos at a time when several families in the Asian subcontinent were celebrating the Persian New Year or Nowruz.

People gather outside a mall following an earthquake in Islamabad, Pakistan (AFP via Getty Images)

In Pakistan, more than 200 injured people were brought to hospitals in the Swat valley and other areas, said Bilal Faizi, a spokesperson for Pakistans emergency services.

Forty-four people were injured in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, officials said, and 19 houses were partially damaged, Abdul Basit, a senior official in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government told Reuters.

In Afghanistan, at least 50 people were injured.

Tremors were felt in the northern parts of Pakistan, in cities like Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Haripur, Mardan, Chitral, Charsadda and others, where no loss of life was immediately reported.

These terrified people collapsed, and some of them collapsed because of the shock of the earthquake, Mr Basit said.

Pakistani prime minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered disaster management officials to remain vigilant to handle any situation in a statement to authorities.

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The earthquake also shook the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region, where landslides triggered by the earthquake caused the death of livestock, reported the Dawn newspaper.

Sharafat Zaman Amar, the Talibans appointed spokesperson for the public health ministry, said two people were killed in the eastern province of Laghman.

Unfortunately, there could be more casualties as the quake was so powerful in most parts of the country, Mr Zaman Amar said.

Tremors were also felt in Afghanistans capital Kabul.

Huge parts of south Asia are seismically active because a tectonic plate known as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate.

Last year, more than 1,000 people were killed in eastern Afghanistan after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake.
For years, as the cost of buying a home or renting an apartment has risen faster than in most other states, Florida legislators have not made it a priority, routinely diverting millions from the fund devoted to financing affordable housing.

That changed this week, when the Legislature passed the states most meaningful housing legislation in decades.

Lawmakers passed a record $711 million plan to build affordable housing, incentivize new construction through tax breaks and offer interest-free loans to help Floridians afford down payments.

Republicans call it a market solution to a growing problem that threatens the states economy.

In Tallahassee and around the state, the reception hasnt been as enthusiastic.

Renters looking for immediate relief are likely to be left waiting for new units to be built. Democrats have criticized the bills ban on rent control, and others have questioned how effective the changes will be.

But nearly everyone seems to agree that the legislation is a positive step toward addressing a long-overdue crisis.

Two years ago, if the Legislature had come up with a bill that had $700 million-plus for affordable housing, you would have got down on your knees to thank them, said Mark Hendrickson, a board member of the Florida Housing Coalition who has been at the center of the states affordable housing efforts since the 1980s.

And now weve got a bill with $700 million and a bunch of other stuff, and you nitpick it. Its like, get real here.

The Florida Legislature this year has a $711 million plan to build affordable housing, incentivize new construction and offer down-payment assistance. scarp577 // Shutterstock

Change the mindset

Florida built hundreds of thousands of new rental units between 2012 and 2021, but lost nearly 277,000 units with monthly rents below $1,000, according to the University of Florida.

That has placed a squeeze on Floridians, with more than half of all renters paying at least 30% of their income on rent, a 2021 report found. Housing is considered affordable when it costs less than 30% of a familys gross income.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava declared a state of emergency in April 2022 due to housing conditions. President Joe Bidens top housing chief called Miami the epicenter of the countrys housing crisis that June.

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But since 2001, GOP lawmakers and governors have diverted more than $2 billion in tax dollars assigned to creating affordable housing units and spent it on other things.

Communities across the state have also fought the creation of affordable housing over what Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said are outdated perceptions that affordable housing is ugly or will increase crime. For instance, the Seminole City Council voted down a proposed complex for disabled residents and veterans last year after residents complained of potential crime and traffic.

Passidomo, R-Naples, said she made Senate Bill 102 (and its companion House Bill 627) her top priority this year after watching workers in her own community struggle to find housing near their place of work.

We have to change the mindset that attainable housing is a concrete box painted lime green, et cetera, Passidomo told reporters last month. These are people who live in our community, work in our community, take care of our community.

Gov. Ron DeSantis largely ignored the affordable housing crisis during his first term. Last year, his administration sued the city of Gainesville to stop it from allowing small apartment buildings to be built in residential areas, arguing that the citys plan fails to protect neighborhoods and would mostly help college students.

But DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024, endorsed this years legislation, saying that workers should be able to afford to live close to their work.

I want to thank President Kathleen Passidomo for tackling this issue head-on, and I look forward to working with her to deliver big results, DeSantis said during his State of the State address.

The city of North Miami is gaining a 10-story affordable and workforce housing development called Kayla across from North Miami Senior High School. This is a rendering of the project. Coral Rock Development; Behar Font & Partners

Bevy of tax incentives

The heart of Passidomos solution is to spur more development through funding and tax incentives, including:

 Assigning an additional $150 million to the State Apartment Incentive Loan program for projects near military installations and on vacant or dilapidated urban land;

 Allowing corporations to donate their corporate income or insurance premium taxes to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (which administers the states affordable housing programs) instead, up to $100 million across the state annually;

 Giving property tax exemptions for land owned by nonprofits that have existing apartments that offer at least 70 affordable housing units  an effort to deliver some relief to current renters;

 And providing the option for counties and cities to offer additional exemptions for owners who dedicate units to affordable housing.

The legislation would also broaden the hometown heroes program, which currently offers no-interest loans for down payments and closing costs for home buyers.

Instead of being restricted to police, firefighters, nurses, teachers, and other heroes, it would apply to any first-time homebuyer who is a Florida resident who is employed full time by a Florida-based company and earning less than 150% of the areas median income.

The loans would be up to $35,000 or 5% of the homes purchase price, whichever is less. It would have to be paid back when the property is sold, refinanced, rented or transferred.

The legislation also preempts local governments zoning, density and height requirements for affordable housing projects in areas zoned for commercial and mixed-use development. In other words, affordable housing developments would not require a zoning change.

Applications for affordable housing developments would still have to be approved by a municipality and satisfy the countys land development regulations and be otherwise consistent with the areas comprehensive plan.

If the development is within half a mile of a major transit stop, the county would be required to consider reducing the parking requirements  an attempt to encourage more urban housing.

Proponents say the measures will keep communities from trying to shut out affordable housing, while lawmakers, community leaders and preservationists have raised concerns about how removing zoning restrictions could change the fabric of their communities.

This could result in some large buildings being built in areas that have never seen that before, especially near single-family homes, said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who is pioneering the redevelopment of downtown Miamis cultural center and several affordable housing efforts.

No rent control

By far the most controversial piece of the legislation removes the ability of communities to impose rent controls.

Florida only allows a community to cap rent increases for one-year emergencies, and it must be approved by voters. Last year, organizers tried and failed to get rent control on the ballot in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. In Orange County, voters in 2022 approved rent control for certain apartments, but the lobbying groups Florida Realtors and the Florida Apartment Association sued to stop it, and it hasnt gone into effect.

The bill would remove even that level of local autonomy.

Its very difficult for me to overlook the fact that this is directly taking away something that my voters approved in November, said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, who voted against the bill in committee even though she said she liked other fantastic parts of the legislation.

Karla Correa, an organizer with the St. Petersburg Tenants Union, called it a way to squash rent control and give money to corporations.

Market-rate developers  those that price their rents to whats competitive with the market  might now be enticed to build mixed-income housing, but the bill doesnt present much benefit or enticement to those in the affordable housing space, said developer and Housing Trust Group CEO Matthew Rieger. His team has built several affordable housing projects across South Florida, including in Overtown and Hollywood.

Right now, its not clear how this will help accelerate the development of true affordable housing [for residences with rents capped at or below 60% of the area median income], Rieger said by email. Thats where the need is greatest and most critical.

The criticism has not stopped Republicans and Democrats from enthusiastically voting for the bill, however. The Senate approved the measure unanimously. The House voted for it 103-6 on Friday, sending it to DeSantis desk.

This bill is not perfect. It doesnt end the problem, said Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-Tampa, who voted in favor of it. But it marks a new beginning in the way we look at the housing shortage.
Guitarist the Edge, left, and singer Bono, of the band U2, perform onstage during their "Experience + Innocence Tour" at Capitol One Arena on June, 17, 2018, in Washington. (Brent N. Clarke / Invision / Associated Press)

Great bands versus stardom

Regarding "U2 Is Still Out There Looking" [March 16]: The problem with great bands who become rock stars is the business apparatus of the label that tries to milk every dollar out of such stardom.

U2 took over the world with seminal tracks such as With or Without You, I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For and Sunday Bloody Sunday.

They became obsessed about being popular, hence the Pop Tour, which gave me chills, in a bad way, when announced. Something and somebodys got to pay for the mega mansions. Two nice tracks came out along the way, One, and Beautiful Day, for the liking of everyone.

The necessity of staying in business overwhelmed the necessity of producing something inspired and relevant. Too bad.

Michele Castagnetti



Los Angeles

Wide world of the Oscars

The Oscars may have made a misstep in not casting more South Asian dancers onstage [Oscars Made a Misstep, Dancers Say, March 17], but for me and my friends it was our first introduction to Indian folk dancing.

As a result, I have been streaming Bollywood films all week long.

Randy Farhi



Los Angeles

::

Thanks for your spread of articles and photos on the Oscars, starting with Justin Chang candidly sorting out whats what and what might be what in all the prizes for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Also, thanks especially for Mark Olsen's Year of the Comeback article highlighting the fact that the awards for acting all went to veteran actors including the remarkable Ke Huy Quan who pointed out that his long journey to the world stage of the Academy Awards began with him in a boat.

Lastly, thank you for the backstage photograph of Jamie Lee Curtis, Oscar in hand, breaking down.

Supporting actress Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis gets emotional backstage at the Academy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Im near her age and cant tell why great and unexpected blessings make me weep. Maybe it has to do with the holding-our-breath some of us older people do as a way of life  then, something amazing suddenly comes around and our initial involuntary reaction is to catch up some on deep breathing.

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Jill Peacock



Santa Barbara

Drag in American culture

Regarding The Show Will Go On [March 15,]: As a 75-year-old gay Christian man, Im so happy one major political party is finally coming to our defense against icons like Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon, Harvey Korman and Robin Williams, who all dressed in drag in some of their performances.

They certainly warped our American culture, right? (For those who dont get it, please look up the word "satire," you may learn something useful.)

Richard J. Follett

Van Nuys

Roots of Salvadoran literature

As a Salvadoran American scholar of Latino literature for over 30 years, I have much appreciation for Christopher Soto's story [Salvadoran Renaissance, March 19]. No doubt, the talented Salvadoran American writers mentioned in the article have shined a new light on the U.S. literary landscape. However, the articles contemporary approach disregards the influence of figures, publishers and movements that helped shape Salvadoran American literature into what it is today.

In 2009, for example, William Archila published The Art of Exile, the first poetry collection to give us insight into El Salvadors civil war. It was part of the Canto Cosas series under Bilingual Review Press. Established by Francisco Aragon, that series (and publisher) coincidentally also allowed me to publish my first poetry collection.

Also, in 2001 Marcos Villatoro published Home Killings: A Romilia Chacon Mystery, which was named one of the best books of 2001 by the Los Angeles Times and was published by Arte Publico Press, a major publisher of Latinx books. Not by accident Red Hen Press, another brave, progressive publisher that supported Salvadoran American writers, would go on to publish both Archila and Villatoros other works (while Arte Publico would also publish my second poetry collection).

Also, in places like Washington, D.C., poets like Quique Aviles and Carlos Parada Ayala, through their performances and their writing, have brought El Salvador to the consciousness of thousands.

Jose Gonzalez



Quaker Hill, Conn.

Shipping terminology

The objects in the sculpture Sleeping Figure, reviewed by Christopher Knight [A Witty Work's Pointed View at Desert X, March 15], are intermodal containers, not railway freight cars. They are used interchangeably on railroads, trucks and aboard ships. Their lengths are standardized at 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, 48 feet and 53 feet.

Jeff Olmstead



La Crescenta

More music coverage, please

I have subscribed to the L.A. Times consistently since 1967. As a music educator, practicing musician and music lover, I have enjoyed reading the music reviews in the Calendar section. I remember Martin Bernheimers thoughtful comments. I also appreciate Mark Sweds observations. I am disappointed that The Times has largely stopped publishing music reviews.

Los Angeles is blessed with a world-class orchestra and outstanding conductor. My most recent concert experience was with Zubin Mehta conducting Crumb and Berlioz. This amazing concert was ignored by The Times as were most of the others.

It would seem that the music community in Los Angeles deserves to be recognized in our major newspaper. I hope that Los Angeles' rich music community will once more be a topic for The Times' Calendar section.

Rodney Oakes



San Pedro

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CAIRO (AP)  A popular gay social networking application said Friday that it is issuing a warning to its users in Egypt, as police impersonate community members to target LGBTQ+ individuals.

Users in Egypt will see the following warning appear in Arabic and English when they open the app:

We have been alerted that Egyptian police is actively making arrests of gay, bi, and trans people on digital platforms. They are using fake accounts and have also taken over accounts from real community members who have already been arrested and had their phones taken. Please take extra caution online and offline, including with accounts that may have seemed legitimate in the past.

Egypt, though it technically does not outlaw homosexuality, frequently prosecutes members of the LGBTQ+ community on the grounds of debauchery,' or violating public decency. In 2017, it arrested seven for raising a rainbow flag at a rock concert. And arrests of homosexuals and non-gender conforming individuals remain common.

An Egyptian government media officer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Grindr's new measure.

The warning to users comes after rights groups and media have reported how authorities in the wider region are increasingly taking to digital platforms to crack down on the LGBTQ+ community.

In February, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting dozens of cases of security agencies in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Tunisia extorting, harassing, publicly outing, and detaining LGBTQ+ people based on their activities on Facebook and Instagram, as well as the dating app Grindr. The publication also questioned major tech companies for not investing sufficiently in Arabic language content moderation and protection.

Grindr is working with groups on the ground in Egypt to make sure our users have up to date information on how to stay safe, and we are pushing international organizations and governments to demand justice and safety for the Egyptian LGBTQ community," said Grindr spokesperson Patrick Lenihan in response to a request for comment on Friday.

A popular dating app for the gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, California-based Grindr has faced criticism in the U.S. and been fined in Norway for sharing personal data with third parties that could potentially identify users.

The privacy policy on the companys website outlines how it uses and aims to protect user data. It adds that its goal is to put you in control of as much of the Personal Information that you share within the Grindr Properties as possible.
A lawyer who represented a Kansas City paramedics family in a lawsuit against the city last week says officials covered up their own findings that the woman was discriminated against and harassed by a supervisor before she died.

After winning the lawsuit last Friday with a $100,000 verdict, attorney Kevin Baldwin shared documents with The Star that show Kansas Citys Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department investigated and substantiated the womans complaints that her supervisor taunted and terrorized her.

But when the paramedic filed another complaint with the state, the city denied the harassment had occurred.

The city attorneys office was well aware of the prior investigation, Baldwin said. It amazes me that they can lie on a responsive governmental investigative document and not be held accountable for it.

The paramedic, Giovanna Vittori, had complained that she was bullied by her supervisor at the Kansas City Fire Department after changing jobs to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder from responding to the scene of a violent death.

Baldwin said city officials also had a fitness for duty report changed to make it more difficult to Vittori to return to her job after she had been placed on leave.

While pursuing a lawsuit against the city, Vittori died April 10, 2018 from a prescription drug overdose. Her fitness for duty report and a home foreclosure notice were found on her bed, and her attorneys and family think her death was a suicide.

By agreement with Vittoris family, Baldwin continued the lawsuit against the city, winning at trial March 17 in Jackson County Circuit Court. The money from the verdict is to go to Vittoris two children.

Giovanna Vittori, 38, third from left, sued the Kansas City Fire Department and the city for alleged disability discrimination in the workplace as she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Vittori died shortly after the lawsuit was filed of a medication overdose. In March 2023, a Jackson County jury awarded $100,000 to her family.

Despite that victory, Baldwin said hes not hopeful the case will bring positive change. The reason: He sees no accountability for the individuals responsible at City Hall and the fire department.

The reason is because nobodys ever made an example, he said. Show me one time where the fire department has been proactive  to receive an internal investigative report such as this and done something proactive  did training, did discipline, did anything. They wait until a jury renders a verdict. And even then they dont change. Thats why were here. Same with the city.

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Assistant fire chief Jimmy Walker said the department has no comment on any portion of the case.

The city did not respond to questions about the existence of the equal opportunity offices document or the jurys verdict.

Found to be credible

Vittori had been a medic since 2006 and began working at the fire department in 2010.

In 2014, she responded to a gruesome scene where a man had shot himself in the head. She developed PTSD.

To accommodate her condition, she was moved to the fire departments billing unit.

Two years later, Vittori filed a complaint with the citys equal opportunity office saying her supervisor, Jane Kern, told others about her mental health issues. She said Kern would approach the area where she sat and intentionally startle her, tell others she was crazy and expressed doubt about Vittoris condition.

City officials investigated and found her complaints were true.

On Jan. 31, 2017, Michael Kitchen, manager of labor and employee relations in the citys human resources department, sent a letter to then-fire chief Paul Berardi informing him the citys investigation supported Vittoris complaint.

Based on the the initial findings of the investigation into this complaint, the EEO Office has sufficient information to find that Kern violated the Citys Equal Employment Opportunity Discrimination/Harassment Policy, Kitchen wrote.

January 2017 Human Resources letter by The Kansas City Star on Scribd

A little more than a month later, Kymberly Lewis-Daniels, the citys equal employment opportunity manager, sent Berardi a detailed report of the investigation, which concluded that Kern had violated the citys discrimination and harassment policy.

The eight-page report reveals information from interviews with coworkers and Kern. Three employees corroborated parts of Vittoris accounts, including inappropriate comments being made about Vittoris disability, and two employees said Kern would startle Vittori.

Their statements were found to be credible based on the nature and consistency of their statements and the Complainants, the letter said.

Kern denied the allegations when interviewed by human resources.

The equal employment office recommended Kern be sent a letter of reprimand and sign a copy of the citys policy on prohibited behaviors.

But after Vittori hired Baldwin to represent her in the spring 2017 and filed another complaint, the city took an opposite view.

In an October 2017 letter to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, Saskia Jacobse, a city attorney, wrote: The City denies the allegations made by Ms. Vittori about Ms. Kern.

Baldwin said that was a lie and, in his view, a cover-up.

Her representation to a state investigative agency was to deny what they themselves have found, Baldwin said of Jacobse.

Kern later testified she had not received a reprimand. An annual evaluation showed she was rated exceeds expectations on the equal employment opportunity category. She was given a merit raise in January 2018, records show.

She is still employed by the fire department.

Changing a report

Vittoris discrimination lawsuit went to trial March 7. Jurors heard from her co-workers and family.

Baldwin also presented evidence showing a human resources employee had a report changed to make it harder for her to go back to work.

Vittori had been placed on unpaid leave and sent to fitness for duty evaluations. A psychologist recommended she not return to work until there is evidence of improvement in her overall level of symptoms, he wrote in a report.

Baldwin says a human resources employee asked for a more stringent recommendation despite not being qualified to assess someones mental health status.

The report was amended with more requirements including counseling and evidence of willingness to report to work and complete assignments as directed without displaying attitudes and behavior that led to this referral.

Good - thats a better recommendation. Thanks! Teri Casey, who is now director of human resources for the city, replied in an email about the revised report.

Baldwin also questioned why other options to help Vittori cope, like moving her into an office with a door or allowing her to work from home, were not allowed.

Baldwin said the case took four attorneys, four support staff and five years to demonstrate that they lied, they misled the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, they didnt follow their own policies and that they interfered with a medical report that would allow her to return.

Her dad felt vindicated in the verdict, that finally there was some public acknowledgment, Baldwin said.

Hopefully what we did will help protect everybody with PTSD in the workplace. Hopefully what we did will protect other paramedics with PTSD, first responders with PTSD.
Xi's speech at CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting published

Xinhua) 08:10, March 24, 2023

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The keynote address by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting has been published.

The booklet was published by the People's Publishing House and is available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across the country.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Image via Getty

Lil Durk and Glorilla will be some of the many artists appearing at this years Festival Dete de Quebec.

The Quebec City-based festival will span 11 days, starting on July 6 and concluding on the 16th.

Jessie Reyez and Emma Beko are set to perform on July 8, while Cypress Hill, Souldia, Killy, and Shreez will take the stage on July 9.

Lil Durk is the main draw for July 11 and joining him on that day are Glorilla, Canadian BBNO$, and Naya Ali.

Rounding out the rest of the festival is Sudan Archives who will perform on July 12 as well as Pitbull whos headlining on July 14.

As well, The Smile, Koffee, and Isabella Lovestory will take the stage on July 14 before Pitbulls performance.

The lineup is predominantly rock, with Foo Fighters, Weezer, and Green Day set to perform.

Though the first wave of tickets has already sold out, additional packages will be made available to the public on April 12 on FEQs website.

General admission passes will cover all 11 days of the festival and will sell for $140.
The Senate Ethics Committee admonished Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday for soliciting campaign contributions for a fellow GOP candidate while at the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the ethics committee, and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), the vice chair, wrote a letter to Graham on Thursday saying an investigation found their colleague had directly solicited campaign contributions for Herschel Walker, who lost his bid for one of Georgias Senate seats last year. Graham did so at least five times during a Nov. 30, 2022, appearance on Fox News while standing in the Russell Senate Office Building.

The committee is charged with upholding the ethical standards of the U.S. Senate, a responsibility both broader than and distinct from criminal law, the pair wrote. The public must feel confident that members use public resources only for official actions in the best interests of the United States, not for partisan political activity.

Your actions failed to uphold that standard, resulting in harm to the public trust and confidence in the United States Senate.

Graham admitted to the behavior in a statement later in the day, and Coons and Lankford noted he self-reported his actions to the panel.

It was a mistake. I take responsibility, he said. I will try to do better in the future.

The admonishment does not carry any penalty.

The committee did add that Graham also solicited donations for himself in October 2020 during an unplanned interview in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, saying the episode also violated chamber rules. That incident was dismissed by the panel.

A public admonishment from the ethics panel is rare. The panel last issued a public letter of admonition in 2018 against Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and before that hadnt done so since issuing one to then-Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) in 2012.

Related...
Halle Bailey recalls her hard work to become Princess Ariel for Disneys live-action The Little Mermaid, including some days spending a whopping 13 hours in the water filming.

I pushed myself as far as Ive ever pushed myself in life, Bailey revealed in a new interview with Edition magazine while discussing her long days immersed in water on set.

Explaining that she could draw strength from the beloved characters spirit to overcome difficult days, she continued, And I feel like the message from [Ariel] was to know that youve always had it in you.

To shoot the underwater moments, the films director Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into the Woods), used water tanks and visual effects to pull off the scenes, Variety reports.

In the 1989 classic animated film, Princess Ariel, unsatisfied with her life under the sea, decides to leave her home to pursue love in the human world with Prince Eric, against her fathers instructions.

Bailey says the upcoming film veers in a different, more empowering direction.

Im really excited for my version of the film because weve definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy, she explained. Its way bigger than that. Its about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants.

Watch and you'll see,

Some day I'll be,

Part of your world!



Watch the new trailer for #TheLittleMermaid and see the movie in theaters May 26! pic.twitter.com/Wrq3JuxbqD  The Little Mermaid (@LittleMermaid) March 13, 2023

As women, we are amazing, we are independent, we are modern, we are everything and above, she added. And Im glad that Disney is updating some of those themes.

Bailey, who grew up playing mermaids in the pool with her sister and fellow Chloe x Halle member Chloe Bailey, told E! News in November that shes thrilled to introduce the red-headed mermaid to a new generation.

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Sharing that what touches [her] the most has been witnessing kids reactions to her performance of Part of Your World since its release in September, she said, It just makes me cry.

The Grammy nominee added, The fact that all these little Black and Brown babies are going to be able to feel like theyre being represented is really special to me. I know that if I had that when I was younger, it would have changed a whole lot for me and my perspective on who I am as an individual.

The upcoming live-action adaptation also stars Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric.

Disneys The Little Mermaid arrives in theaters on May 26.

Related...
By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said last month after a U.S. fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that he planned to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the episode and clear the air between the rival superpowers.

Five weeks later, the call still hasn't happened.

Instead, after two months of diplomatic sniping and Xi's trip this week to Moscow where he and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly denounced the United States, U.S.-China relations have slid to what some say is the worst since the countries normalized ties in the 1970s.

Further complicating matters are stopovers in the United States next week and in early April by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, who according to sources familiar with the planning may meet Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a "transit" stop in California on her way back from Latin America.

"This is not a good moment for American diplomacy," said William Kirby, a professor of Chinese studies at Harvard University. "The last time China and Russia were this close was 1957, when Mao Zedong declared in Moscow, 'The East Wind will prevail over the West Wind.'"

Now U.S. officials are once again asking how to reset the world's most important bilateral relationship.

A Biden-Xi call would be an obvious first step. But despite the efforts of U.S. diplomats, sources said the Chinese have shown little interest in committing to such a call, which would be their first known interaction since a November meeting at the G20 in Bali.

Blinken did meet with China's top diplomat Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference last month after the balloon incident, but this did not soothe tensions. A source familiar with that conversation called it the most antagonistic U.S.-China engagement since contentious talks in Alaska early in the Biden administration.

The person said China had declined to coordinate the meeting, forcing the State Department's top East Asia diplomat, Daniel Kritenbrink, to personally track down Wang Yi at the conference center to ask whether it would happen.

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STATE OF THE UNION COMMENT

The U.S. decision to shoot down the Chinese balloon on Feb. 4 drew angry complaints from China and Wang called the U.S. reaction "hysterical".

The source said frictions were also exacerbated by Biden's State of the Union speech three days later in which he appeared to question Xi's standing on the world stage, enraging officials in Beijing.

"Name me a world leader who'd change places with Xi Jinping. Name me one," Biden said in his speech, evidently referring to a host of domestic and foreign policy challenges facing China.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson did not address the Munich meeting or China's reaction to Biden's comments but said that the U.S. will continue to keep "open and constructive lines of communication" with China.

"In past times, when the relationship encountered a major dip, as after the Tiananmen massacre of 1989 or the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1995-96, the two countries made serious efforts to reestablish a stable foundation under their relations," said Michael Swaine, a China expert at the Quincy Institute.

"Now a deepening level of suspicion, vitriol, and finger-pointing dominate almost all exchanges, preventing substantive engagement."

A senior U.S. administration official said on Monday Washington was urging China to keep communication channels open despite Tsai Ing-wen's planned stopovers, which are sensitive given that China claims self-governed Taiwan as its own.

The official said Washington was open to China's views on whether to conduct a Xi-Biden call or reschedule a trip to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed due to the balloon incident.

Rick Waters, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, is currently in China and a person familiar with his plans said he would likely seek to lay the groundwork for Blinken to visit.

AN EMBOLDENED CHINA

Some, like the Republican chair of the House select committee on China Mike Gallagher, want a tougher line, saying that Russia and China are already engaged in "a New Cold War."

He said that to ensure China does not follow Russia's lead in Ukraine by invading Taiwan, Washington should "aggressively clear the backlog of foreign military sales to Taiwan and ensure that American hard power is capable of deterring Xi's clear ambitions to absorb the island democracy."

However, Biden is likely to find Xi emboldened in any call after a Chinese-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and his meetings with Putin. That could make him less likely to offer concessions that could generate much-needed goodwill, said Lily McElwee, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia under former President Barack Obama, said the window for a Biden-Xi call could be "slow to open and quick to close" given Biden will travel to Japan and Australia in May for meetings of G-7 and Quad countries Washington has encouraged to push back against China's ambitions, which will likely further antagonize Beijing.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Michael MartinaEditing by Don Durfee and Alistair Bell)
Senator John Fettermans office told CBS News that the newly elected senator from Pennsylvania will return to his job soon, as he undergoes inpatient treatment for depression. His Democratic colleagues have continued to support Mr Fetterman throughout the process.

The senator checked into Walter Reed Medical Center last month to undergo treatment for depression, following a brief stay at George Washington University hospital after he experienced light-headedness.

Mr Fettermans chief of staff Adam Jentleson reportedly briefs the senator on a daily basis and he has opened regional offices throughout Pennsylvania.

Hell be back soon, at least over a week, but soon, Mr Jentleson said.

Mr Fetterman had reportedly dealt with depression off and on throughout his life but it had become more severe in recent weeks and Capitol physician Brian Monahan recommended he go to the hospital.

Mr Fetterman suffered a stroke last year right before the Democratic primary for Pennyslvanias Senate seat. Nevertheless, he managed to beat Republican nominee and celebrity physician Mehmet Oz, giving Democrats one more seat in their Senate majority.

Since then, hes had to manage auditory processing disorder, which means he uses a speech-to-text device to understand what people are saying.

We want to give him the space to recuperate, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference on Wednesday. He needs it, it's fair, it's right. There are other people in the Senate who have taken their time to recuperate but I'm confident he's going to come back and be an outstanding and fine senator.

More recently, Mr Fetterman cosponsored legislation with fellow Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, also a Democrat, Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio as well as Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri, Marco Rubio of Florida and JD Vance of Ohio to increase rail safety regulations after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border.
Ariel Skelley / Getty Images

Stretching your nest egg as far as possible is something that's most likely front of mind for retirees who aren't very wealthy. With no new sources of income aside from Social Security or possibly a pension, it's important to settle in a place to retire that won't drain your savings.

Similar: Can I Draw Social Security at 62 and Still Work Full Time?

Learn More: 3 Ways to Recession Proof Your Retirement

However, getting a clear sense of exactly how long your retirement savings will last requires understanding how much it costs to live in the state you're calling home. As anyone trying to get by somewhere with a high cost of living can attest, even basic necessities can quickly winnow down your retirement account. And it only gets more complicated if you decide you don't want to spend your entire retirement in the same place, as your costs won't be consistent throughout your retirement.

That's why GOBankingRates performed a study to compare the cost of living in every state and determine how long you can survive off of $100,000. Granted, $100,000 won't buy you a lot of time in any state. But, these results will give you a sense of just how much you need to save.

kieferpix / Getty Images/iStockphoto

51. Hawaii

Annual Expenditure: $95,939.44

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 0 month 13 days

To say that Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in is something of an understatement: Hawaiians pay more than double the national average per year. You'll need over $2 million to survive retirement in this state -- the most in the country.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

50. District of Columbia

Annual Expenditure: $79.358.60

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 3 months 4 days

The District of Columbia holds a special place on this list. Not counted as a state, the area stands as its own district designated by the federal government. The district is $16,000 cheaper than Hawaii but still falls under one of the most expensive places to retire. You'll need to budget over $25,000 for housing costs in the district.

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FilippoBacci / Getty Images/iStockphoto

49. Massachusetts

Annual Expenditure: $78,055.08

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 3 months 11 days

Massachusetts is not a state that's kind to your retirement savings, with sky-high housing costs playing the biggest part in making things difficult.

MundusImages / Getty Images

48. California

Annual Expenditure: $71,746.02

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 4 months 21 days

California's not an easy place to stretch your retirement dollar, with the cost of housing coming in at more than double the average for the country.

Social Security: Whether You're 62, 65, 67 or 70, Here's Why Your Age Matters

xavierarnau / iStock.com

47. New York

Annual Expenditure: $70,129.65

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 5 months 5 days

Some might gripe that the only thing imperial about the Empire State is how much it costs to live there, with the average New Yorker needing more than $70,000 a year to cover expenses.

pkujiahe / Getty Images/iStockphoto

46. Alaska

Annual Expenditure: $66,010.51

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 6 months 4 days

Costs in Alaska are generally high -- particularly for healthcare and utilities -- but there's one area where the state won't eat so far into your nest egg: Alaska is the most tax-friendly state for retirees.

WilliamSherman / Getty Images

45. Maryland

Annual Expenditure: $64,654.84

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 6 months 19 days

Maryland is one of the more expensive states for retirees to live in, but a lot of the older residents can afford it: It's one of the states with the richest retirees.

Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men -- Here's Why

RyanJLane / Getty Images

44. Oregon

Annual Expenditure: $63,194.89

$100,000 Will Last: 1 years 6 months 30 days

Oregon has a cost of living that's higher than the country as a whole, particularly in housing, which is almost $7,200 higher than the national average. However, if you're dead set on enjoying the beautiful coastlines of the Pacific Northwest in your golden years, consider making your home in Brandon. It's the best city in the state to buy a home.

JayLazarin / Getty Images

43. Connecticut

Annual Expenditure: $60,900.69

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 21 days

Not only is Connecticut one of the pricier states in the country to live in, but for many retirees, the source of their income might not be as stable as they would hope. Connecticut is the worst state for pensions in the U.S.

CHBD / Getty Images/iStockphoto

41(tie). New Hampshire

Annual Expenditure: $60,535.70

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 24 days

If you're dead set on living in New Hampshire in retirement but you're looking to avoid some of those high costs, steer well clear of the 03854 ZIP code -- home to New Castle Island. It's the most expensive ZIP code in the state.

Social Security: No Matter Your Age, Do Not Claim Benefits Until You Reach This Milestone

XKarDoc / Getty Images/iStockphoto

41(tie). Vermont

Annual Expenditure: $60,431.42

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 24 days

Not only is Vermont a tough place to maintain your nest egg, it's also a pretty rough spot for building it up as well. The Green Mountain State is the state where it's hardest to save $1 million for retirement, another GOBankingRates study found.

edella / Getty Images

40. Maine

Annual Expenditure: $60, 118.57

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 28 days

It's possible that the high cost of living in Maine has some residents thinking big in terms of what it means to be wealthy. In a GOBankingRates survey, the most common answer for what it meant to be "rich" in Maine was an income of $10 million a year or more, the highest answer for any state.

Joel Carillet / Getty Images

39. Washington

Annual Expenditure: $59,545.02

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 8 months 4 days

If you're surprised to see Washington so far down this list, keep in mind that it's home to Seattle, one of the most expensive cities in the country. Best to look for more affordable cities.

Social Security: 20% Cuts to Your Payments May Come Sooner Than Expected

BDphoto / Getty Images

38. Rhode Island

Annual Expenditure: $58,867.19

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 8 months 11 days

If you've compiled an impressive nest egg over the course of your career, Rhode Island isn't a great place to keep it protected.

KenWiedemann / Getty Images

37. New Jersey

Annual Expenditure: $58,606.48

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 8 months 15 days

Like many of the most expensive states in the country, the main culprit for New Jersey's high cost of living is housing, with New Jersey residents paying more than $1,300 higher than the average American for a place to live.

wanderluster / Getty Images

36. Arizona

Annual Expenditure: $55,165.18

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 22 days

Arizona's costs are a bit higher than the national average in every category except utilities, and healthcare.

See: Can I Draw Social Security at 62 and Still Work Full Time?

1MoreCreative / Getty Images

35. Delaware

Annual Expenditure: $55,060.90

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 25 days

Although Delaware might be on the higher side for costs, it can also offer some great ways to protect your nest egg: It's one of the best states to retire rich in the country.

Adventure_Photo / Getty Images

33(tie). Colorado

Annual Expenditure: $54,539.49

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 29 days

While your $100,000 will only last just under two years in Colorado, it depends upon which city you land in. If you want to stay in the Rocky Mountain State but don't like the "mile high" costs in Denver, consider Colorado Springs where it's over $10,000 a year cheaper.

urbancow / Getty Images

33(tie). Montana

Annual Expenditure: $54,643.77

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 29 days

If you were hoping to keep your nest egg healthy after retiring to Montana by investing well, you might find it harder there than elsewhere. Montana is one of the worst states to grow your money, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

Learn: Ways You Can Lose Your Social Security Benefits

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32. Nevada

Annual Expenditure: $53,809.51

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 9 days

If you want to spend your golden years in the Silver State, prepare to spend a little more. Costs are at least 10% higher than the national average across every category except for utilities, where they're actually 20% under what the rest of America pays.

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29(tie). Virginia

Annual Expenditure: $53,600.95

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 13 days

You'll pay less for groceries, utilities and transportation than the average American if you opt to retire to Virginia, but there's clearly more to the story. That would be the cost of housing, which is over $1,100 higher than the national average.

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29(tie). Florida

Annual Expenditure: $53,600.95

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 13 days

Florida might only be middle-of-the-pack for stretching a six-figure retirement fund, but it's still a popular destination for many retirees. And you have plenty of options to choose from in terms of which Florida city stacks up the best for you.

Read More: 7 Ways Baby Boomers Are Wasting Money in Retirement -- and How To Stop It

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29(tie). Utah

Annual Expenditure: $53,600.95

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 13 days

Regardless of how long it lasts, Utah is doing plenty to help you build that retirement account. It's the state where it's easiest to save $1 million for retirement.

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28. Idaho

Annual Expenditure: $51,932.44

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 4 days

Idaho's scenic landscape could be considered incentive enough to retire there, but the state's low costs are an additional perk.

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27. Pennsylvania

Annual Expenditure: $51,202.46

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 12 days

In Pennsylvania, housing costs are just a couple of hundred dollars below the national average. However, if you're looking to stretch your retirement savings as far as possible, you can still do better, especially when Pennsylvanians pay more than average for groceries, utilities and transportation.

Read: 10 States That Receive the Most Social Security

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26. Minnesota

Annual Expenditure: $50,837.48

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 19 days

In Minnesota, it costs about the same as the national average to live here. That's not true statewide, though, as Minneapolis is among the more expensive major cities in the country.

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25. North Dakota

Annual Expenditure: $50,628.91

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 23 days

One place you probably won't overspend in North Dakota is on housing. You can expect to pay less than $9,500 per year.

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24. North Carolina

Annual Expenditure: $49,898.94

$100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 30 days

If you're looking for a place to live in retirement where you're not in the hustle and bustle of the city but also still close enough to take advantage of city living on occasion, North Carolina might be the place to look. Three of the best suburbs for retirement are in the Tarheel State: Bermuda Run, Fairfield Harbour and Sunset Beach.

More: Expert Says 'Silent Crisis' with Retirement Savings Looms Worldwide -- How To Act Now

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23. Wisconsin

Annual Expenditure: $49,794.66

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 3 days

You can make $100,000 last over two years in retirement if you're living in the Badger State. And your annual housing costs are lower than the national average, as well.

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22. Kentucky

Annual Expenditure: $49,481.81

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 6 days

Kentucky's biggest cost advantage over other states is in its housing, where you'll pay almost $2,000 less than the national average.

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20(tie). South Dakota

Annual Expenditure: $49,273.25

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 10 days

There's one thing you don't have to worry about in South Dakota: state income tax. That's because it's one of the seven states without any, which could make a significant difference in how long you can stretch that nest egg.

Find: 7 Affordable Places To Retire if You Love the Great Outdoors

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20(tie). South Carolina

Annual Expenditure: $49,168.96

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 10 days

The question of how long $100,000 lasts in retirement might be especially apt for South Carolina. A GOBankingRates survey determined that most residents of the Palmetto State have about $50,000-$100,000 saved for retirement.

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19. New Mexico

Annual Expenditure: $49,012.54

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 14 days

If you enjoy life in the big city but can't handle the high cost of living that usually comes with it, New Mexico might offer you the best compromise. .

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18. Louisiana

Annual Expenditure: $48,803.98

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 17 days

Not only is Louisiana among the better states for stretching your savings in retirement, it's also the best state to grow your money, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

$2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin

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15(tie). Illinois

Annual Expenditure: $48,282.57

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 25 days

In Illinois, you can stretch $100K to a bit more than two years. And if you decide you want to make the Windy City your home, you'll have plenty of options in selecting from the many different suburbs around the city.

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15(tie). Texas

Annual Expenditure: $48,230.43

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 25 days

Texas offers a range of advantages to its elderly residents when it comes to stretching retirement dollars.

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15. (tie) Wyoming

Annual Expenditure: $48,230.43

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 25 days

The cost of living in Wyoming is lower than it is for the country as a whole.

Housing Market 2023: Is a Double-Digit Drop in Prices Coming?

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14. Michigan

Annual Expenditure: $48,074

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 28 days

The Great Lake State is as welcoming as it is scenic, and the low costs mean you can enjoy more of it with your nest egg.

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12(tie). Nebraska

Annual Expenditure: $47,917.58

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 1 day

Nebraska's cost-of-living scores are either at or below the national average in every category except for transportation. However, at least some of the money you can save on things like groceries and housing will end up with the state government: Nebraska is the least tax-friendly state for retirees.

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12(tie). Ohio

Annual Expenditure: $47,917.58

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 1 day

Housing is especially affordable in Ohio, coming in at almost $2,400 less than what the average American is paying. Add that to costs that are either below average or less than 2% over it, and it's not hard to see why Ohio cracked the top 20 in this study.

I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn

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11. Arkansas

Annual Expenditure: $47,239.75

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 12 days

The cost of a comfortable retirement in Arkansas is very low, coming in below any other state in the country save for Mississippi and its incredibly low cost of living.

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8(tie). Tennessee

Annual Expenditure: $47,031.18

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 15 days

Whether it's the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville or Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee is a great state for American music. Of course, if you're retired and living there, it's the low costs that might be music to your ears.

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8(tie). West Virginia

Annual Expenditure: $46,926.90

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 15 days

West Virginians are paying less for housing and utilities than most Americans, but that's counter-balanced by higher-than-average costs on groceries and "miscellaneous" expenses.

Save More: 5 Things You Should Always Pay For With Cash

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8(tie). Indiana

Annual Expenditure: $46,874.76

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 15 days

Indiana offers retirees the chance to stretch their savings much further than most of the country; this is important to the Hoosier State, as Indiana is the state with the poorest retirees in the country.

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6(tie). Iowa

Annual Expenditure: $46,509.77

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 23 days

Like many states in the Midwest, Iowa boasts low housing costs that help push the overall cost of living down significantly. However, while it's housing leading the charge, Iowa's costs are below what the average American pays across the board.

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6(tie). Missouri

Annual Expenditure: $46,457.63

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 23 days

Although most costs are lower in Missouri, the Show-Me State is especially affordable when it comes to housing. A year of a roof over your head costs an average of just $8,299.21, making it one of just twenty states where you can expect to pay under $9,000 per annum.

Learn More: 5 Expensive Renovations Homeowners Always Regret

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5. Georgia

Annual Expenditure: $46,196.93

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 26 days

Low costs in Georgia mean a retiree can make $100,000 last them for two years and one month. Even if you're living well by saving on basic costs, though, not everyone is in the same situation: Atlanta is among the places in the U.S. with the most income inequality.

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4. Alabama

Annual Expenditure: $45,936.22

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 2 months 6 days

You can expect to stretch your retirement savings by retiring almost anywhere in the Yellow Hammer State, but that's especially true if you decide to call the city of Birmingham home: It's one of the cheapest places to retire in the entire country.

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3. Kansas

Annual Expenditure: $45,623.38

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 2 months 9 days

Kansas is a great state to retire to if you want to stretch your nest egg as far as possible, and it's even better if you're living off of a pension funded by the state: Kansas is one of the best states for pensions.

See: 5 Kitchen Appliances That Just Aren't Worth the Money

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2. Oklahoma

Annual Expenditure: $44,736.98

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 2 months 28 days

Oklahoma has low costs statewide that will help you stretch $100,000 for a full two and a half years.

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1. Mississippi

Annual Expenditure: $44,319.85

$100,000 Will Last: 2 years 3 months 4 days

No state has a lower cost for a comfortable retirement than Mississippi, where you can expect to pay almost $3,400 less for housing than the country as a whole. All told, the cumulative cost of living in Mississippi is almost $8,000 lower than the national average.

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How Long $100K in Retirement Will Last in Every State

States on either coast might offer a lot in terms of great weather and loads of culture, but they certainly ask a lot in terms of your pocketbook. The 15 states where $100,000 stretches the least in retirement include five states on the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska). On the East Coast, the worst states for your retirement nest egg are New York, Maryland, District of Columbia and all six of the states that make up New England.

On the other end of the list, it's hard to miss that states from the South and the Midwest have the lowest costs by far. Of the 15 states where your $100,000 in retirement savings goes the furthest, all but one (Wyoming) are in one of those two regions.

More From GOBankingRates

Jordan Rosenfeld and Amen Oyiboke-Osifo contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: In order to find how long $100,000 will last across the country, GOBankingRates first found (1) the national average annual expenditures for people 65 and older, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2021 Consumer Expenditure Survey data. Then, GOBankingRates created (2) state-level annual expenditure estimates by multiplying the national figure by each state's overall cost of living index score for 2022 from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Finally, GOBankingRates found (3) how many years $100,000 will last in each state by dividing $100,000 by each state's average annual expenditures estimate. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were then ranked with No. 1 being the state where $100,000 will last the longest and No. 51 being the state where it will run out most quickly. GOBankingRates provided supplemental information on the average annual cost of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare for people 65 and older in each state by again using MERIC's cost of living indices for each category to factor out national estimates from the CES. All data was collected on and up to date as of February 21, 2023.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Long $100K in Retirement Will Last in Every State
Alberto Ibarguen, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Miami-based philanthropy that has profoundly influenced media coverage and arts and culture programs across the country, is retiring, the foundation announced on Friday.

Ibarguen, 79 and famously energetic, avoided the R word himself, preferring to say he is stepping down but stressing that he doesnt intend to step away from issues he has championed. The reasons for the move are numerous, both professional and deeply personal.

Its partially a question of time in the office. Its been a long time. Its been 18 years. Its been, gosh, its been just a fantastic, fantastic run. A fantastic opportunity, said Ibarguen, who was publisher of the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald before agreeing to oversee the multibillion-dollar endowment of the Knight Foundation.

Enormous changes in his personal life  really one heartbreaking one  also played a big role in his decision.

In August 2021, his wife, Susana Ibarguen, a civic leader and a board president at Perez Art Museum Miami, died at 76 after a two-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurological disorder known as Lou Gehrigs disease. Theyd been married 53 years and together nearly six decades. He is, he acknowledges, still processing the loss.

Thats not something that you just say OK and that was then and this is now. Well, no. Thats something that Im still dealing with and still sort of exploring and trying to think, What is my life with her in spirit but not in person? and how that changes, Ibarguen said in a reflective two-hour interview with the Miami Herald.

Alberto Ibarguen and Susana Ibarguen were married for 53 years. I think she saw clearer than most that arts and culture really do define a place and a community, her husband said for her obituary in 2021. Susana was a board president and trustee emeritus of Perez Art Museum Miami. Miami Herald file

We changed over time. We had seasons where we were really close and seasons when we were further apart and we were always committed to each other, he continued. Relationships are complex and theyre not linear. Being married to somebody that was that interesting and that challenging, I think, was freeing in a way. We had a home. I dont know if I have the vocabulary for this. But home was safe. ... Everything else was easy, was easy to explore.

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Her mark on his life, he said, is indelible. What remains, of course, is wonderful. Its a spirit. Its an attitude. Its a strength. Its an appreciation for things. But it isnt the same.

The Knight mission

Zedric Bembry receives $20,000 for a Young Students Trained in Urban Dance project led by the Live in Color Dance Collective from Alberto Ibarguen, president and CEO, and Matt Haggman, program director, during the 2014 Knight Arts Challenge at the New World Symphony on Dec. 1, 2014, in Miami Beach, Fla. Max Reed/Miami Herald file

Ibarguen, at age 60, left the Miami Herald in July 2005 to oversee the multibillion-dollar fund of the Knight Foundation. It had been created in 1950 by John S. and James L. Knight, brothers who led one of Americas largest and most successful 20th-century newspaper chains, which included the Miami Herald. According to the foundation, which moved its headquarters to Miami in 1990, the Knight family believed that a well-informed community could best determine its own true interests and they entrusted future generations of trustees to do just that.

Ibarguen took that mission to heart. Under his leadership, the foundation has poured $2.3 billion into media, tech development and arts and community-building organizations locally and in states where the Knights had papers, the foundation reported.

Poem on a Miami area neighborhood rooftop during an O, Miami Poetry Festival. Mark Slatko/Knight Foundation

In addition to Miami, the Knight Foundation operates in seven other cities: Akron, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Detroit; Macon, Georgia; Philadelphia; San Jose, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota. The foundation also partners with local community foundations in 18 communities nationally.

Ibarguen, who once was a Peace Corps volunteer in Venezuela, says he admired the Knights style. Hes tried to honor their mission but in his own fashion and with a clear view of changing times. Ibarguen has particularly focused on investing in digital media and arts and culture.

He has been visionary in his approach, said Francisco Borges, chair of the Knight board. Digital transformation has pushed us to find new ways to sustain our democracy and Alberto has provided us with the tools to do just that.

During his 18-year Knight Foundation tenure, the foundations investment in the arts in Miami has surpassed $200 million.

American poet, Aja Monet, reading at a 2017 Knight Arts Challenge event. GESI SCHILLING/Knight Foundation

Ibarguen pursued a strategy in keeping with the Knight brothers mission.

My view from the beginning was that this was less a charity and more a social investment opportunity, he said. In a charity, traditionally, you make the grant and you walk away. Youll be rewarded in heaven. That didnt strike me as a way that the Knight brothers ran their business. They were thinking about this as a social investment. You look in the community, you see what the issues are. You decide which ones you can do something about, and which ones you might have some impact on  short or long-term. And then you focus on those.

Journalism and digital media

Alberto Ibarguen in conversation with Frank McCourt at the 2022 Informed Conference in Miami on Nov. 30, 2022. Patrick Farrell/Knight Foundation

Ibarguens first focus after joining the Knight Foundation was journalism, since he felt he could tap 25 years of experience. He had led newspapers that included Newsday in New York, the Hartford Courant in Connecticut, the Miami Herald, and el Nuevo Herald, which he upgraded from an insert in the Miami Herald to a stand-alone Spanish-language publication.

Jack [Knight]  and I  wrote that the purpose of a great newspaper was to inform and illuminate the minds of readers so that the people may determine their true interests. .... When theyre engaged they can get to a better functioning democracy. So thats the general approach, Ibarguen said.

But by 1996, the year the Herald launched its website edition with breaking news coverage of the ValuJet Flight 592 crash into the Everglades, he began to see that the audience sought engagement elsewhere. He sensed the digital revolution about to forever change the media landscape.

I had seen this incredible change from the amazing dominance and influence of newspapers. ... It even set the agenda for what was going to be on the TV news that night. And then all of a sudden it wasnt. The technology was allowing the crowd to go someplace else, Ibarguen said.

The newspaper industrys first steps into the online world were really stumbles, he said.

We thought at first we just put the newspaper on the web and people would trust the brand. Because we were a trusted brand. And that didnt work. We werent putting the web information through the same rigorous editing process that we would have for the newspaper, Ibarguen said.

Ruth Shack, a Miami-Dade commissioner in the 1970s, hugs Alberto Ibarguen, president and CEO of the Knight Foundation, after accepting a $50,000 grant for the arts during the seventh annual Knight Arts Challenge at the New World Symphony on Dec. 1, 2014, in Miami Beach, Fla. The South Florida-based initiative brings innovative and artistic ideas from local community organizations and individuals and provided 47 winners with a total of $2.29 million in grants at the event. Max Reed/Miami Herald file

His recognition of the industrys struggles would spark what would become the Knight News Challenge, which sought to find and then support bold experiments using news and information delivered to geographically defined communities on digital platforms.

Ibarguens pitch to the Knight board was sober. He told them they had to admit that they were the biggest trainers of journalists in the world  with 20 endowed chairs in journalism at schools around the country  and that while they could see what was coming, they didnt have a clue about what to do about it.

But we do have one thing that nobody else has, which is this amount of cash called the endowment, Ibarguen said. And so lets offer that and see what happens. And then with that first Knight News Challenge, with just those three relatively clear but undefined rules of geography, digital, and local news and information we had thousands of ideas within two or three years.

Even the technological geniuses at MIT became recipients of major grants. And the investments there continue. Knights investment in technology in Miami alone in the last 10 years, since 2012, tops $60 million, according to foundation figures.

In 2019, after decades of striving to explore different approaches to helping local news organizations adapt to a drastically altered media environment, the foundation invested $300 million over the next five years to re-imagine local news, build new business models, bolster investigative reporting and connect with audiences through technology and civic engagement.

Knight took a position that was there for the taking as the intermediary between journalism and technology, and I think we did OK, Ibarguen said.

Arts and culture

Alberto Ibarguen stands next to The Well by Enrique Martinez Celaya, on the rooftop sculpture garden in Coconut Grove, Florida, where the Knight Foundation offices are located. Gesi Schilling/Knight Foundation

The arts in South Florida became Ibarguens other driving mission for the Knight Foundation. The push to promote arts and culture in Miami topped $200-plus million since he led the foundation.

Its hard to imagine anybody in the history of this community that has had more of an impact on the cultural firmament than Alberto, said philanthropist, filmmaker and art collector Dennis Scholl.

Scholl served as the Knight Foundations vice president of arts for seven years during Ibarguens tenure. Scholl oversaw the distribution of nearly $100 million to organizations and nonprofits such as the New World Symphony; the University of Miamis Frost School of Music; the O, Miami poetry festival; and the Borscht Film Festival.

Scholl left Knight to head Art Center/South Florida on Miami Beachs Lincoln Road Mall in 2017. Art Center, founded by the late Ellie Schneiderman, became Oolite Arts, a studio and exhibition space for visual artists. Scholl is its CEO.

Dennis Scholl, president and CEO of Oolite Arts, at home with his art collection on Friday, March 5, 2021. Al Diaz/adiaz@miamiherald.com

READ MORE: How this lifelong art collector made the switch to filmmaker

He was an incredible person to work for. He lives and breathes and believes in the culture, the art of this community, and so many other communities across America. But in particular, in Miami, where his heart is, Scholl said of Ibarguen. Such a debt of gratitude for providing the fuel that has allowed our cultural community to blast off.

Ibarguen was Puerto Rican-born, New York-reared, and educated at Wesleyan University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He realized that like him, three-quarters of the areas population had roots that were originally elsewhere. He saw the arts as a way to stitch together the regions multicultural community.

That means that we need to find ways to come together to figure out the new Miami, to come to figure out who we are, Ibarguen said. What is the Miami of our dreams? ... We ultimately decided on arts and culture as the place where everybody in Miami had some kind of participation.

There already were strong arts bones, some decades old. The Latin music labels, including Gloria and Emilio Estefans recording studio on Bird Road, have offices here in Miami. World-renowned music from Aretha Franklin to James Brown, Fleetwood Macs Rumours to the Eagles Hotel California, and the Bee Gees feverish 70s run of hits, have been recorded at North Miamis Criteria Studios since its opening in 1958.

In this file photo from Jan. 8, 1997, Nat Chediak, founder of the Miami Film Festival, sits inside the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. The venue was a primary location for the screening of the festivals films. Jeffery A. Salter/Miami Herald file

In addition, The Miami International Film Festival was going great guns and Miami Dade College stepped in and saved a terrific institution in this town thanks to Nat Chediak and Eduardo Padron, Ibarguen said. We had one of the biggest book fairs. Thank you, Mitch Kaplan. This amazing book fair in a place that had, you know, not exactly the greatest reputation as a bunch of bookworms.

And we had a stunning, very high-quality collector community, which is one of the things that initially attracted [Fondation Beyeler director] Sam Keller from Art Basel in Switzerland. The collector community absolutely turned itself inside out to break Art Basel here, led by Norman Braman, but including [Carlos and Rosa] de la Cruz, including the Margulies, including Rubell. These folks were amazing in the way they opened doors to their homes and to their collections to bring you Basel here.

Ibarguen, through the foundation, helped fund the Perez Art Museum Miami, ICA-Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Sweat Records, Coral Morphologic, and The LAB Wynwood.

Without Alberto Ibarguen, there is no Give Miami Day. Full stop, Javier Soto, former CEO of The Miami Foundation, told the Miami Herald in November 2021, on the 10th anniversary of the day devoted to philanthropy in the Magic City.

O, Miami poetry reading event at the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Chantal Lawrie/Knight Foundation

READ MORE: Ten years in, Give Miami Day goes from barely known to spreading millions to nonprofits

Leveraging attractions

Marvin Gaye, photographed in the Motown studio console room in early 1971 by Gordon Staples, concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Gaye was recording his landmark Whats Going On album. The Knight Foundation is funding digitization of these sessions for the Motown Museum in Detroit. Gordon Staples/TNS

Hes also the impetus for the $4.5 million funding of the digitization of Motown archives for the Motown Museum in Detroit as part of a $23 million investment in the digital future of the arts in Detroit. The idea struck Ibarguen when he heard unreleased work tapes of Marvin Gaye and musicians cutting the landmark 1971 recording Whats Going On in Los Angeles and Detroit studios. I talked to the woman who runs the Motown Museum and I said, you know, everybody should be able to hear this.

A visionary leader

Says Borges, the Knight board chair: Alberto has been a steadfast and visionary leader of the Knight Foundation and worked tirelessly to impart the vision of John and James Knight in an era that they only could imagine. His passionate pursuit of innovative and bold ideas that support the Foundations mission regardless of the pressures and challenges to our democracy and society is his legacy.

His former boss at the Herald echoed those thoughts.

One of the best things I ever did was hire Alberto Ibarguen in 1995 as the publisher of el Nuevo Herald, said David Lawrence Jr., back then the publisher of the Miami Herald and now chair of the Childrens Movement of Florida. He succeeded me as publisher when I retired in 1999 and was a simply superb leader for the Herald and subsequently for the Knight Foundation. Smart. Wise. Tough-minded in the best way. And a heckuva contributor with a vision for an ever-better Miami.

For now, Ibarguen has not solidified long-term plans. I honestly dont know whats next and I dont know if somethings next. I suspect something will be.

He know he intends to stay in Miami, the adopted town hes had a profound cultural influence on for nearly 30 years. He says he will split his time between here and New York, where his son Diego, 47, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren live. He also will stick around as the Knight Foundations board of trustees conducts a national search for a successor, which begins immediately  one that will continue to carry out the Knight brothers mission.

I intend to run through that finish line, as if I were starting the race, Ibarguen said. And anybody who thinks otherwise is not paying attention to the things that were still funding and are continuing to develop.
When Mackenzie Melemed, who grew up in Paxton, plays a piano arrangement of Finlandia by Sibelius as part of his solo recital at Stone Church Cultural Center in Gilbertville on April 2, there will be some personal significance.

The work spotlights "the enormous effect Finland has had on me," said Melemed, who moved to Finland in August, 2020.

The recital, presented by Friends of the Stone Church, will also have some significance closer to home. It will be his first concert locally since 2019.

Pianist Mackenzie Melemed, who grew up in Paxton, will perform April 2 at at Stone Church Cultural Center in Gilbertville.

Melemed, 28, was a Paxton piano prodigy who played many concerts in the area as a child and also ranged out to annual concerts at the White House. He was a student at Paxton Center School and graduated from Bancroft School in Worcester in 2013. He has gone on to international acclaim and awards as a pianist, achieving distinction at the Juilliard School in New York City, winning prestigious competitions, and then moving to Finland where he is well-liked and maintains a busy concert schedule.

In September 2019 he rented Tuckerman Hall in Worcester, home of the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra (with whom he had performed at its annual Holiday Pops Concert at Mechanics Hall in 2018) for a solo recital.

'I Had Plans to Come Back'

After the Tuckerman Hall concert, "I had plans to come back," he said of performing again in these parts. But a number of things intervened, not least of which was the pandemic. While he's regularly been in the area since then visiting family and friends, nothing had been lined up in terms of a local recital until he was introduced to Mary Warbasse of Friends of the Stone Church. The organization's vision is to use the historic 1874 landmark as a place of cultural and community enrichment. Friends of the Stone Church has presented many fine concerts and more are upcoming. "I think its great," Melemed said. He also likes the fact that the Stone Church Cultural Center has a vintage Steinway piano.

Friends of the Stone Church and Melemed agreed on a concert date for April 2. "I was already scheduled to do a concert in San Diego (March 30)," Melemed said of coming Stateside.

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"To have this opportunity to come back pretty much 20 miles from where I grew up, it's a great way to stay in touch and see everyone," Melemed said. ''I love to drive around the area, visit my friends, see my teachers  it's fun to do that. There are a lot of people I get to see when I come back."

Melemed hopes that the recital will give the audience an opportunity to see what moves him as a pianist.

Also on the program April 2 is J.S. Bach, Partita No. 1 in B-Flat; Beethoven, Sonata in F, Op. 54 ; Debussy, Estampes; Janacek, Sonata I.X 1905; Scriabin, Preludes, Op. 16; and Rachmaninoff from Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39.

"I want to have a good variety of pieces that I'm passionate about. The audience can really know how you feel as a musician," Melemed said.

"I have my pieces that I really love to play, like pillars of my own career." For the past six years he's been performing Bach at the beginning of every recital, he said. Melemed also likes to play compositions that may not get performed regularly but are more than worthy. The Janacek Sonata, for example. "I fell in love with it," he said.

Mackenzie Melemed, now 28, was a piano prodigy who played many concerts in the area as a child and also ranged out to annual concerts at the White House.

'I Remember Performing All the Time'

The April 2 performance is part of what has become a short U.S. tour. Actually, a concert-crammed couple of weeks was scheduled to begin March 24 with a performance of Rachmaninoff: Piano Trio No. 2 with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Helsinkil. On March 25 he'll fly from Helsinki to Boston and head up to Rockport for a solo recital March 26 at Shalin Liu Performance Center. On March 30 he'll be performing chamber music with the with San Diego Symphony, and then Melemed heads back East for his April 2 concert in Gilbertville.

A busy concert schedule is nothing new to Melemed.

"Honestly, I remember performing all the time," he said of growing up in Paxton.

"I remember performing a lot at senior centers. I don't remember what I played, but my mother has a book of about 600 newspaper articles. It's hard to believe there were that may concerts to warrant that much press," he said.

With that, "I always thought I didn't practice enough."

At the age of three, Melemeds grandfather had bought him a keyboard at a yard sale, leading to his enrollment in a beginner piano course. Something took. Performances at local senior centers soon became a weekly occurrence, and by the time Melemed turned seven, he had given more than 200 concerts for senior citizens and charitable organizations. When Melemed appeared on "The Rosie ODonnell Show," she remarked, what a bargain! at the $1 price-tag for the instrument that ignited his passion for music.

A series of small local performances connected Melemed with Washington, D.C., in 2004, and he was invited to perform at the White House Holiday Open House for five consecutive years. In 2007, only one year after beginning classical training, Melemed won the grand prize at the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition and gave his Carnegie Hall debut.

Mackenzie Melemed is a graduate of the Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School and also holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from the school.

'I Thought it Was Normal'

Melemed also strived from an early age to have some balance in his life.

"I think my life hasn't always been about piano. I have really fond memories of Paxton Center School and Bancroft," he said. At Bancroft School he was involved with student musicals supporting friends with their acting, he said. Also, "I did crew," he said.

"I did practice (piano). Maybe I should have practiced more, but I knew that I wanted to live a life that would be normal. I wouldn't change that for anything."

Still, normal can be a relative feeling  as in performing lots of concerts. "It is funny to see the newspaper articles. I thought it was normal." Now, years later, "There is something distilled in me that I can handle the hectic-ness."

Melemed is a graduate of the Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School and also holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from the school, where he graduated from an accelerated five-year-dual-degree program.

In an earlier interview he recalled that one time he had a layover in Helsinki en route to a performance in Prague in the Czech Republic. While in Helsinki, he became fascinated with Finnish.

"I loved the language. It was mesmerizing for me because I think I have a knack for languages."

At The Juilliard School he had to take classes at Columbia University, and one of the courses available was Finnish. Melemed jumped at the opportunity to study the language and also began a correspondence with a pen pal in Finland. He subsequently visited the pen pal's family in Finland, who helped arrange for Melemed to give a concert at a church. A person who attended the concert told Melemed he should apply for the Fourth International Maj Lind Piano Competition to be held in August 2017, in Helsinki. Melemed won it as one of 37 pianists from 15 countries selected from 195 applicants for the competition, which is held every five years. He delighted television audiences by speaking in Finnish when being interviewed. A 10-concert tour of Finland followed, and he frequently returned for recitals.

Meanwhile, he won the first prize and commissioned work performance prize at the 9th annual Iowa International Piano Competition in Sioux City, also in 2017. He was the first American pianist to win the competition, which is usually held biennially, since the first one in 2005. He was also the the winner of Juilliards 2019 Leo B. Ruiz Carnegie Hall Recital Prize and 2018 Arthur Rubinstein Prize, as well as the Jade Medal at the 2019 China International Music Competition.

The Stone Church Cultural Center has a vintage Steinway piano, a fact which pleases Mackenzie Melemed, who is set to perform there.

Finding Finland

He was still living in New York City when the pandemic shut things down here in March, 2020. In Finland, however, concerts were still taking place. "I really wanted to go somewhere where the music was still happening," he said.

He had been thinking about living in Finland for some time. "I had a nice ongoing relationship with the classical music community," he said.

Events led him to act. Melemed was able to get a temporary permit to live in Finland and moved there in August, 2020. A September 2020 concert went ahead in Finland as scheduled.

There had been a lag in terms of COVID coming to Finland, but when it did arrive there ultimately wasn't too much disruption, Melemed said.

With his concert schedule in Finland and around the world and also the money he earns teaching a few students online Melemed was able to get an official visa to live in Finland. The next step in four years will be dual Finnish and United States citizenship, he said.

"Mostly the performances have been funding my life," he said. But he's also received awards, including an Avery Fisher Career Grant last year for $25,000.

"Finland is very nice," he said. "It's like Massachusetts. The weather is wintry." The days can be very dark, but "you can fly to Paris in two hours.''

Finland shares a long border with Russia, something that might cause alarm given Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Melemed said "I've always felt very safe, even though the border is huge."

Also, Finland is "so Western," Melemed noted.

As the lockdown eased, Melemed was able to resume performing in the United States, and was at the Tanglewood Music Festival last summer.

Besides performances, Melemed has commissioned a new Piano Concerto from Israeli-American composer Avner Dorman. Melemeds recordings include world premieres of Dormans Three Etudes and Jeajoon Ryus Piano Concerto with Ralf Gothoni and Sinfonia Varsovia.

"I have some projects on the horizon," Melemed said, but he would also like to get some help with organizing everything. "I'm hoping to get some general management. Since high school I have had to do everything. I hope that someone will come in and do the Rolodex. I enjoy doing it but it's quite stressful to do it on your own," he said.

"I'm hoping to have a little more control about what I'm doing. Choosing and knowing what my path is going to be with an agent."

Mackenzie Melemed  solo recital presented by Friends of the Stone Church

When: 2 p.m. April 2. A reception will follow the concert

Where: Stone Church Cultural Center 283 Main St., Gilbertville

How much: $35 at the door or online at FriendsoftheStoneChurch.org. Students under 18, free.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Local pianist Mackenzie Melemed back for concert by way of Finland
WASHINGTON (AP)  When an Iranian drone struck a U.S. base in northeastern Syria, killing a contractor and wounding several U.S. troops, it was just the latest in a growing number of attacks on American forces in Syria. But its lethality was rare. In most recent cases, no U.S. forces have been hurt in such attacks.

The strike on Thursday  by a small, suicide drone  set off a series of retaliatory bombings, and the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Erik Kurilla, quickly warned that the U.S. was prepared to launch more attacks if needed.

American troops have been in Syria since 2015, but the latest casualties highlight what has been a consistent, but often quiet, U.S. counterterrorism mission, aimed at countering Iranian-backed militias and preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State group.

A look at the U.S. troop presence in Syria.

IT ALL BEGAN WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors. U.S. special operations forces also move in and out of the country, but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

They are trying to prevent any comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory.

For years, the U.S. and its coalition allies battled IS in Iraq and Syria, partnering with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. By 2019, the U.S. declared the Islamic State caliphate destroyed, but remnants of the group remain a threat, including about 10,000 fighters held in detention facilities in Syria and tens of thousands of their family members living in refugee camps.

U.S. forces advise and assist the SDF, including in securing the detention facilities, and they also conduct counterterror missions against the Islamic State group and other al-Qaida-affiliated militants, and carry out strikes on Iran-backed militias that have attacked U.S. facilities.

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Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, is also active in the country, but Washington and Moscow have used a deconfliction phone line in an effort to avoid conflict there.

IRAN IS ANOTHER REASON THE U.S. REMAINS IN SYRIA

Tehran's political influence and militia strength throughout the region have created a security concern for the U.S. Since the defeat of the Islamic State group, Iran-backed fighters have expanded their influence in the region.

The presence of American forces in Syria makes it more difficult for Iran to move weapons into Lebanon, for use by its proxies, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, against Israel.

For example, the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria is located on a vital road that can link Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon  and Israels doorstep. So troops at the U.S. garrison can disrupt what could be an uncontested land bridge for Iran to the eastern Mediterranean.

The oil-rich Deir el-Zour province in eastern Syria, where some of the latest U.S. strikes hit, sits along that strategic route. Syrian government forces and allied Iran-backed groups are deployed on the west bank of the Euphrates River in Deir el-Zour, while American troops support their allies, the SDF, largely along the east bank.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LATEST ATTACK?

A small suicide  sometimes called a kamikazi  drone flew low over fencing into the base and struck a maintenance facility where U.S. troops and contractors were working. It did not fire a weapon, but exploded when it hit.

One American contractor was killed, and five U.S. service members and another contractor were wounded. One service member returned to duty and the other wounded taken out of Syria for medical treatment. Contractors often are used to help with maintenance and logistical support.

U.S. officials blame Iran, pointing to remnants of the drone, multiple intelligence threat streams and the fact that the attack was so similar to previous ones by the militants. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

In retaliation, U.S. F-15 fighter jets from al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck locations near Deir el-Zour, targeting the Iran-backed militias believed responsible for the attack. The number of reported casualties varied, and the U.S. would not confirm any numbers.

In an apparent response to those U.S. airstrikes, 10 rockets were fired Friday at a U.S. base known as Green Village. No one was injured. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said the rockets were fired by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, but he stopped short of blaming Tehran for the U.S. deaths and injuries.

AREN'T U.S. TROOPS PROTECTED?

The U.S. maintains security at all of its bases but steadfastly declines to provide much detail. Reporters traveling in Syria, including from The Associated Press, have frequently seen a range of security measures, ranging from fencing and other barricades to more high-tech radars and other sensors.

Asked about information that one of the radars at the base was not working, Ryder said there was not a total gap in radar capabilities: There was a complete sight picture in terms of radar."

But Iranian drones represent a serious  and expanding  threat in Syria. Kurilla told Congress that Tehran is building increasingly sophisticated drones, and now has an arsenal that ranges from small, short-range systems "to long-range one-way attack platforms."

Iran has also provided drones to Russia for use in its ongoing war in Ukraine.

PREVIOUS SKIRMISHES

One of the deadliest flare-ups between the U.S. and Iran-backed groups occurred in December 2019, when U.S. military strikes in Iraq and Syria killed 25 fighters and wounded others from the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah Iraqi militia. The U.S. said the strike was in retaliation for the killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that it blamed on the group.

In August 2022, the U.S. carried out strikes targeting Iran-backed militias in Deir el-Zour province. The Pentagon said the attacks were meant to send a message to Iran, which the U.S. blamed for a number of drone attacks, including one that targeted the al-Tanf garrison. That base was also hit in January, when three suicide drones struck, wounding two Syrian opposition fighters. The U.S. again said Iran-backed groups were responsible.

Israel has also struck Iranian targets in eastern Syria, although it rarely claims responsibility. In November 2022, airstrikes targeted tanker trucks that crossed from Iraq into eastern Syria. The convoy was reportedly carrying fuel and weapons to militias in Deir el-Zour. The U.S. denied involvement, and an Israeli military official later strongly suggested that Israel was behind the strike. ___

Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb and Abby Sewell in Beirut and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.
By Jorge Garcia

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - School will be back in session on Friday for 420,000 Los Angeles students after a three-day strike by education workers disrupted classes and social services in the second-largest school district in the United States.

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the Service Employees International Union Local 99 failed to reach an agreement during the work stoppage, which ended on Thursday with another day of picketing and rallies by striking bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other low-wage earners.

"All @LASchools will reopen this Friday, March 24. ... We look forward to seeing our students and employees back in classrooms," the school district said on Twitter on Thursday.

Some 30,000 workers, backed by 35,000 unionized teachers who honored their picket line, walked off the job on Tuesday seeking an increase to what they call poverty wages averaging $25,000 per year.

The work stoppage was the latest in a series of job actions by educators across the United States who have complained of burnout and low wages, leading to a teacher shortage in many parts of the country.

"We're three days in and I'm willing to do some more (strike) days if we have to," said Tiffany Barba, a special education assistant and one of thousands who attended a closing rally on Thursday at Los Angeles State Historic Park.

Many workers anticipated an agreement might be announced at the rally but no such news was released.

"It's a long process. We don't want to sign something that we might regret later," said Orasio Morales, a driver and union shop steward.

The union was demanding a 30% salary increase plus an additional $2 per hour for the lowest-paid workers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

L.A. schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who acknowledged workers have been underpaid for years, told reporters on Monday the district had offered a 23% raise plus a 3% bonus.

(Reporting by Jorge Garcia in Los Angeles and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, Calif.; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Warning: This article contains spoilers about Love Is Blind season 4, episodes 1-5.

After Jackie and Marshall got engaged in the pods without ever seeing each other on Love Is Blind season 4, they thought their trip to Mexico would be the perfect way to get to know each other even better. But they faced trouble in paradise all too soon.

In episode 4, "Playing With Fire" (the first five episodes are now streaming on Netflix), Marshall and Jackie drive a Jeep into town for a lunch date over margaritas. It starts off playful, but their conversation takes a serious turn when Jackie warns Marshall that while she isn't worried about him, she is worried about herself. She doesn't want to revert to her old ways and end up pushing him away, because she recognizes that he is the kind of man she needs. But the next time we see Jackie and Marshall later that night back in their hotel room, the vibe is suddenly off.

Love Is Blind Season 4 couples

Netflix Jackie and Marshall from 'Love Is Blind' season 4

Jackie is crying, thinking about her family back home, and not talking to Marshall. In a confessional, Jackie vaguely explains that a commitment to her also means loving her family, who aren't "perfect," and she's scared that she'll push Marshall away because of that. We then watch her do exactly that, pushing Marshall away so she can cry alone. She locks herself in the bathroom for another meltdown, sobbing about how she has to "go back to that s---" at home, and she has "so many people to take care of," while Marshall helplessly leans against the wall outside, not knowing how to help except to just be there for her.

So what exactly caused Jackie to break down seemingly out of nowhere after their lunch date? The Love Is Blind star reveals she was dealing with a lot back home that she couldn't keep ignoring while on the show. "My father, he's sick," the dental assistant, 27, tells EW. "He has cancer, so I have to take care of him when I go home every weekend. I make sure that my parents are good, the bill is paid  my dad can't work no more. I have a lot of family stuff that I have to tend to. Family always comes first. And also, my brother being released from prison, it's like I have another person to take care of."

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Jackie explains that she couldn't just focus on the fantasy of the vacation without the reality of her home life creeping in. "My life is not for someone who can't be up to par in supporting me, and just making sure that you understand my life and knowing that this is always going to be a part of me," she adds. "That was an emotional moment for me because I didn't feel like, at that moment, Marshall was up to par and ready for all of the reality that I have back home."

"That was extremely personal to Jackie and it's not my place to speak on it," Marshall tells EW. "I'm just glad that I was there to help her through that."

Love Is Blind season 4 debuts new episodes Fridays on Netflix.

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Lucy Letby denies the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. (SWNS)

Nurse Lucy Letby sent a frustrated text about the death of a baby she is accused of killing just six minutes before another infant in her care collapsed and then died.

Letby, 33, said it was "bad luck" that three babies died in a fortnight while she was on duty, her murder trial has heard.

Letby, originally from Hereford, denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

Her trial at Manchester Crown Court heard that Letby had messaged a colleague during a night shift in the units intensive care room six minutes before the collapse of her alleged third victim, a baby boy.

Five days earlier another baby boy  her alleged first victim, Child A  had died in intensive care room one.

Lucy Letby in the dock at Manchester Crown Court. (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

On the evening of 13 June 2015, the court heard she texted a fellow nurse: I just keep thinking about Mon(day). Feel like I need to be in 1 to overcome it but (nurse) said no x.

"I just feel I need to be in 1 to get the image out of my head. To be in (room) 3 is eating me up. All I can see is him in 1."

Later she told her colleague "Ill overcome it myself" before at 11.09pm texting her, saying: "Forget it Im obviously making more of it than I should x."

At 11.15pm the baby boy, Child C, suddenly deteriorated in room one and died the following morning.

When interviewed by police about the death of Child C when she was first arrested three years later, Letby said she did not recall the text conversation.

Asked what she felt she needed to overcome, she replied: Im assuming  I previously had a bad experience in (room) one.

Letby thought the image she wanted out of my head was that of Child A.

She told officers: Its very difficult, when you see dead babies its hard to get that image out of your head.

The detective asked: Why would going into nursery one help?

Letby replied: Because I would see a different baby in there, and see a different scenario to the scenario I had at the time when he died.

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The detective said: How would it be a different scenario?

Letby said: Its a different baby, its different staff, its a different night.

Because I think when you are going to the same incubator space and there is a different baby there you know you let the one you lost go. Until you go into that space, you see that baby until another baby goes in there.

The detective said: You sent the final text at 11.09pm. Six minutes after you sent that, (Child C) collapsed.

Then the detective asked Letby for her thoughts, to which she said she didn't have any.

The detective said: The text messages suggest you were frustrated at not working in nursery one, do you agree?

The defendant said: Yes, I think it would have helped me if I could have been in nursery one. Letby agreed she was the only staff member in room one when Child C collapsed and that she was seen at his cot-side when a monitor alarm sounded.

The detective asked: And at that time you were feeling upset and frustrated?

Yes, said Letby, but denied attacking or murdering the child.

Lucy Letby is accused of murdering and attempting to murder babies while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital. (Getty Images)

The court heard that Letby was asked by detectives to explain the "spike" of fatalities at the hospital.

Asked if any staff had questioned where the spike was coming from, she said she was not aware they had, and she also didn't question it formally.

The detective asked: You dealt with all those (babies) didnt you? What did you put that down to, bad luck?

Yes, Letby replied.

Letby was also asked by police about Child E, who she is accused of murdering on 4 August 2015, and his twin brother, Child F, who she allegedly attempted to murder the next day.

The court heard Letby made 10 searches on her Facebook account for the boys parents between 6 August and 10 January, 2016, including Christmas Day.

She told detectives she did not remember making the searches but it could be to see how babies were doing and that members of staff cared for the babies.

A handwritten note found in Lucy Letbys home contains various sentences and doodles. (PA)

The court has been shown photographs of Letby's bedroom taken by a crime scene investigator, and details of handwritten notes found at her home - including where she declares her love for a doctor and pleads for help - have also been released.

Some appeared incoherent but two phrases repeatedly used were Please help me and I cant do it any more, the court heard.

Names of some of her colleagues also appeared in the notes  partly redacted  including a declaration of love for a doctor who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The court was also shown another note which read: "I am evil I did this".

Jurors were also told that a 2016 diary was recovered from a chest of drawers.

An A4-size piece of paper containing jumbled handwritten notes found in the diary included one sentence that read: I killed them. I dont know if I killed them. Maybe I did. Maybe this is down to me.

A photograph of nurse Lucy Letby's bedroom at Westbourne Road, Chester, which was shown in court on Monday. (PA)

Latest updates on the Lucy Letby trial:

Lucy Letby's home in Chester. (PA)

Who is Lucy Letby and where is she from?

Letby's address has been given in court as Arran Avenue, Hereford, but the 33-year-old is known to have lived in the Blacon area of Chester.

She worked at the Countess of Chester Hospitals neonatal unit.

In a 2013 interview with the Chester and District Standard newspaper, the nurse said she cared for babies requiring various levels of support.

She had worked at the unit as a student nurse during three years of training before qualifying as a children's nurse at the University of Chester in 2011.

Letby said she started working at the unit after graduating.

Lucy Letby's parents John and Susan Letby at Manchester Crown Court during their daughter's murder trial. (PA)

When was Lucy Letby arrested and what is she charged with?

Letby was arrested three times over the space of two years during an investigation into baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit.

The first arrest was in July 2018, on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of six babies. She was bailed.

Letby was then rearrested in June 2019, again on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of six babies. This time, she was also arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of three additional babies. She was bailed.

Finally, in November 2020, Letby was rearrested on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of nine babies.

A corridor in the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit where Lucy Letby worked. (PA)

A general view taken from a drone of the Countess of Chester Hospital, where nurse Lucy Letby used to work. (Getty)

One day later, police charged Letby with eight counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder. The charges related to a period between June 2015 and June 2016.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court in October 2021.

In June last year, Letby had one not guilty verdict recorded for one of the murder charges.

It meant that when she went on trial in October last year, she faced seven murder charges (five boys and two girls) and 10 attempted murder charges (five boys and five girls).

Letby denies the alleged offences.
By Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil will seek Chinese technology and investment to develop a semiconductor industry in the South American country despite U.S. attempts to discourage association with China in this area, a senior presidential adviser told Reuters.

Semiconductors will be a priority on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to China next week.

His top foreign policy adviser, former Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, said Brazil cannot afford to take sides in growing tensions between China and the United States. Lula's trip will seek Chinese cooperation in fostering Brazil's sustainable development and digital economy.

The countries are preparing to sign agreements on the Sino-Brazilian CBERS small satellite program started in 1988, along with accords on production of communications and microelectronics equipment, Amorim said in an interview.

The U.S. government has suggested that associations with the production of Chinese microelectronics would not be welcome, which could affect Brazilian plans to produce semiconductors amid a global shortage.

"I don't pay attention to messages. If the U.S. wants, they can propose bigger and better conditions and that's it, and we will choose theirs," Amorim said.

"We have no preference for a Chinese semiconductor factory. But if they offer good conditions, I don't see why we refuse. We are not afraid of the big bad wolf," he commented, when asked about U.S. discouragement of technology deals with China.

Lula's trip to China comes less than two months after he met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, as Brasilia aims for a pragmatic foreign policy balancing ties with its top trading partners despite growing tensions between the two.

Amorim said Brazil does not see the world divided between China and the United States and will not adopt an ideology from either of them, be it "international communism or the war of democracies against autocracies."

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Brazil is grateful for the U.S. support for its democratic process, which was threatened by supporters of Lula's far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, Amorim said.

But he added: "I cannot condition where I am going to buy a chip, or something else, to these values. In fact, the chip is not impregnated with these values, it is value free."

Lula is expected to visit the factory of Huawei Technologies, the Chinese telecommunications giant that has been operating in Brazil for 20 years.

A supplier of much of the fourth- and fifth-generation mobile technology (4G and 5G) in Brazil, Huawei had the approval of its new technologies suspended by the U.S. government, which classified the company as a risk for national security.

Under pressure from the Trump administration, Bolsonaro weighed banning the use of Huawei equipment in Brazil's 5G network, but dropped the idea due to lobbying by phone carriers already invested in the cheaper Chinese equipment.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Diane Craft)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva heads to China next week with plans to promote Chinese manufacturer BYD's takeover of a former Ford factory in northeast Brazil, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

The deal hinges on a final agreement with Ford Motor Co, which still owns the plant in Bahia state despite halting production in Brazil in 2021, sources told Reuters.

In October, BYD signed a letter of intent with the Bahia government signaling plans to invest 3 billion reais ($570 million) to set up electric vehicle production in the Camacari industrial park, outside the state capital Salvador.

Executives at BYD, which sells more electric cars than Tesla in Asia but lags behind in other regions, told Reuters in November that they hoped to reach a firm agreement on the Bahia plant by the end of 2022.

BYD and the Bahia government said talks are still underway. Ford declined to comment.

A Brazilian diplomat, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter, said Lula is eager to make a significant announcement about the factory during his trip. He broke into politics as a union organizer for autoworkers over four decades ago in Brazil, where Ford's plant closures stirred deindustrialization fears.

"For the Chinese it is important to set up in Bahia because even if they don't take advantage of the structure as much, they are Chinese replacing Americans," the diplomat said.

A source close to BYD said executives were determined to make the investment after visiting the Camacari plant, which has capacity to make some 300,000 vehicles per year. However, their "hands are tied" until they reach a final deal with Ford, the source added.

Another source close to BYD said the negotiations are "in the final stages," working through "red tape" but with no major hurdles left.

($1 = 5.2870 reais)

(Reporting by Leticia Fucuchima and Lisandra Paraguassu; Additional reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr.; Writing by Steven Grattan; Editing by Brad Haynes and Alistair Bell)
By Elizabeth Pineau and Ingrid Melander

PARIS (Reuters) -President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he would press ahead with reforms, dodging a union leader's call to suspend a new pension law amid some of France's worst street violence in years.

There were violent clashes across the country on Thursday evening on the fringes of otherwise peaceful protests that have for weeks gathered huge crowds against a rise in the pension age by two years to 64.

A police station was targeted in the western town of Lorient, the main entrance of the Bordeaux town hall was set ablaze and hundreds of fires were recorded nationwide. Some 441 police officers were injured and 475 people were arrested. Dozens of protesters were also injured.

Against this backdrop, Britain's King Charles' state visit to France, due to start on Sunday, has been postponed.

Earlier in the day, the head of the CFDT labour union Laurent Berger, urged Macron to "make a gesture" to calm things down. The solution, the influential Berger suggested, would be to pause the reform for six months and look for compromises.

But asked about this after an EU summit in Brussels, Macron only repeated comments he made earlier this week about being open to discussing future policy changes with unions.

"We will continue to move forward. France cannot be at a standstill," he said. "We will yield nothing to violence, I condemn violence with the utmost strength."

He added that the pension law, which the government pushed through parliament without a vote, would simply follow its course - which is now a review of its legality by France's constitutional council.

VIOLENT CLASHES

In Paris and many cities across the country, clean-up crews sifted through broken glass, charred garbage cans and shattered bus stops after violent clashes overnight between black-clad anarchists and police. A tag on an ATM read: "Paris is burning."

Opinion polls show a wide majority of voters are opposed to the pension bill. They were further angered by the government's decision to skip the vote in parliament and by Macron comparing some of the protests to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

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The latest wave of protests and clashes has become the most serious challenge to Macron's authority since the "Yellow Vest" revolt of disgruntled working class people four years ago.

On a shattered Starbucks window in Paris, someone had tagged "Democracy" in big red letters. Other tags seen on burnt down newspaper kiosks and damaged shop windows read "Anti-Macron" and "Macron, resign."

For Paul, a Parisian retiree, that was going to far.

"Violence has never been a way to be heard," he said.

But 30-year old Bastien Mrozovski was more understanding, at a time where polls show many are upset with Macron's leadership style.

"There were attempts to try with the soft diplomacy, with the unions, with protests that was quite peaceful the past weeks. Now, there is forcibly a threshold crossed, which leads to violence on the other side," Mrozovski said.

Unions have called for regional action over the weekend and new nationwide strikes and protests on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Forrest Crellin, Benoit van Overstraeten, Elizabeth Pineau, Blandine Henault, Thomas Denis; writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Christina Fincher)
Emmanuel Macron

Read also: At their latest meeting, Macron and Scholz urged Zelenskyy to negotiate with Russia

Macron suggested that von der Leyen joining him on the trip to Beijing will enable the EU to speak "with a unified voice." The European Commission confirmed that the head of the organization will join Macron.

The president added that he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to coordinate EUs position in talks with China, crystallizing a common vision: "Engage with China in order to put pressure on Russia."

On Feb. 25, Reuters reported that Macron said China should help the world community put pressure on Russia, and stop it from using chemical or nuclear weapons, as well as stop its aggression against Ukraine.

Read also: Chinas input necessary to end the war in Ukraine, Spanish PM says

On March 20-22, Xi Jinping visited Moscow  for the first time in four years. He is the first leader to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for his war crimes in Ukraine.

On March 20, the Financial Times reported that after a visit to the Kremlin, Xi Jinping will hold a phone call with Zelenskyy. However, according to the President of Ukraine, Beijing is yet to confirm this.

Read also: Ukrainian, Chinese foreign ministers discuss Zelenskyys peace formula

China released its 12-point "peace plan" on Feb. 24, outlining its stance on resolving the conflict.

The plan calls for a ceasefire and negotiations but notably omits any mention of Russia withdrawing its troops from occupied Ukrainian territory.

Read also: Ukraine still arranging Zelenskyy-Xi Jinping phone call, official says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he appreciated China's engagement in dialogue about Ukraine, although he disagreed with certain aspects of the plan.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mama June Shannon is celebrating one year of wedded bliss with husband and best friend Justin Stroud.

The reality star shared a series of photos of the two of them on Instagram, reflecting on their first year as husband and wife. In her anniversary post, she called Stroud the most imperfect person but the most perfect person in my eyes.

One year ago I married my best friend, she wrote on March 23, in part. A lot of people didnt want us together or thought we wouldnt... make it but we have been through ALOT to say the least.

She wrote that it was very nice to figured out every situation together, adding, I have never experienced that before.

Shannon continued by expressing how much she appreciates Stroud.

I know its hard to deal with at times but Im glad (youre) with me and (the) girls, she wrote, adding that she cant wait to see what the future holds (be)cause I (know) all the good the bad and whatever life throws at either of us we will get (through) it together.

She concluded by thanking her husband for allowing her to experience true love for the first (time).

Shannon and Stroud got married at a Georgia courthouse on March 23, 2022, per People. Shannon would go on to confirm the news in a June 2022 Instagram, sharing that it was a spur of the moment wedding.

YES me and @officialsmallz1 Really got married back in march 23 on our six month anniversary and yes it was so spur the moment, she captioned her video.

The couple at their second wedding ceremony. (Courtesy WE tv Public Relations)

Earlier this year, the couple held a second ceremony in Panama City, Florida, on Feb. 18, 2023.

The two celebrated their love in front of family and friends with a glamorous and intimate oceanfront ceremony, according to a press release obtained by TODAY.com at the time.

Shannons daughters  Alana Honey Boo Boo Thompson, Lauryn Pumpkin Efird, Jessica Chubbs Shannon and Anna Chickadee Cardwell  were in attendance, as well as her grandchildren, Stella, Sylus and Bentley Efird.

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The most was a special one as it was the first time they had all been together since 2014.

It was really special to get married in a place where my family and I have had so many memories! Shannon said in the press release.

The ceremony was featured in Mama June: Family Crisis.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A man was arrested after being accused of attacking a homeless man near a gas station in early March.

Hall County sheriff officials said on March 8, deputies responded to reports of an attack on a 58-year-old man near a gas station on GA 13 and Atlanta Highway near Gaines Ferry Road.

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The investigation revealed that the victim sustained multiple fractured vertebrae after the suspect slammed him into a firepit at his campsite. Officers said the suspect also stomped and kicked the victim while he was on the ground.

The victim was a homeless man who had been camping alone in the woods behind the gas station at the time of the attack.

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Law enforcement officials found the victim lying near the gas station entrance with a swollen face, bruising and numerous abrasions. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Deputies arrested 42-year-old Wayne Albert King and charged him with aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

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It is unclear what prompted the attack.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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A reported traffic accident in Glasgow prompted a homicide investigation early Sunday morning after a man was found inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound, according to Delaware State Police.

State police said that at about 5:53 a.m., New Castle County police responded to a report of a possible crash on Old County Road in Glasgow. Officers discovered a 22-year-old Bryan Pedroza with a gunshot wound inside a vehicle, according to police.

Because the shooting happened near the 2400 block of Old County Road, county police determined that the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Delaware State Police and turned over the investigation to them.

Information about a suspect was not immediately available Sunday, and police said the investigation is active and ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Daniel Grassi at 302-365-8441.

MORE TO READ:I wouldnt take no for an answer: Lifelong Wilmington resident recognized for advocacy

Contact reporter Anitra Johnson at 302-379-5786 or ajohnson@delawareonline.com with tips and story ideas. Become a subscriber to access more stories and the best in local reporting.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware police investigate man found shot dead in vehicle Sunday
A Fort Worth man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for firearms trafficking linked to a Mexican drug cartel, the U.S. Attorneys Office Northern District of Texas announced on Friday.

Daniel Loyola, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of a military-grade machine gun. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Reed O Connor for attempting to traffic the gun to a Mexican drug cartel.

Thanks to excellent undercover work by ATF and Texas DPS, we have thwarted a firearms trafficker intent on sending dangerous guns to a drug cartel, said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. The Justice Department is committed to stemming the flow of firearms across the southern border.

The fight to keep high-powered weapons out of the hands of drug cartels and narco-terrorists is real and here in North Texas. ATF and our partners are working tirelessly to protect both the citizens of the United States and Mexico from the scourge of violence perpetrated by weapons like this. Mr. Loyolas ten-year sentence should serve as a warning to others looking to get into the firearms trafficking business, said Jeffrey C. Boshek, ATF Dallas Field Division special agent in charge.

Loyola posted on Instagram that he possessed a machine gun, a silencer, and a .50 caliber rifle  a firearm commonly sought by Mexican drug cartels  and that he wished to buy a high-caliber machine gun, according to court documents.

An undercover agent initiated a conversation with Loyola after seeing the posts. Loyola agreed to purchase an M-60 from the undercover agent for $20,000 in cash, and mentioned that the payment would be coming from Mexico.

Loyola met with two undercover agents on Oct. 25, 2022, in a parking lot in Fort Worth. He handed over the money, and the agents presented Loyola with a cardboard box containing an M-60 in three pieces, which were the frame/receiver and two barrels.

One of the undercover agents explained that the firearm was fully automatic to which Loyola responded, yeah, I know. After paying over $20,000 in cash for the firearm, Loyola began to take possession of the machine gun and was immediately taken into custody.

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Following his arrest, Loyola admitted that he had purchased the M-60 on behalf of an individual who worked for a Mexican drug cartel. He stated that hed sold multiple firearms to the man before, and that the .50 caliber rifle hed posted on Instagram was also purchased on the individuals behalf.

Judge OConnor found that the defendant was engaged in the trafficking of firearms, and applied an enhancement to his sentence based on that finding at Fridays sentencing hearing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Dallas Field Division and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Fort Worth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted the case.
 Flash

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a solemn welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the St. George's Hall at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 21, 2023. Xi on Tuesday held talks with Putin in Moscow. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia this week, which is also his first overseas trip since being re-elected as Chinese president, is widely believed to be a journey of friendship, cooperation, and peace.

In addition to strengthening bilateral relations, Xi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, discussed global hotspot issues, including the Ukraine crisis, and reached consensus.

The two leaders signed and issued a joint statement and emphasized the need to resolve the Ukraine crisis through dialogue. The Russian side reaffirms its commitment to the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible.

Meeting the press with Putin at the Kremlin, Xi said China has all along actively encouraged peace talks on the Ukraine crisis.

"China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history," he said.

It is China's latest effort to play an active role in peace-making after it succeeded in brokering a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. On March 10, the two Middle East countries reached an agreement in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations.

China's endeavors to help countries "beat the swords into plowshares" embody the belief that humanity shares the same future.

A decade ago, when he visited Russia in his first foreign trip as Chinese president, Xi put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. This is seen as China's solution to addressing global challenges and creating a better future through concerted efforts of the international community.

"The common interest of all humankind is in a world united and peaceful rather than divided and volatile," Xi said.

Notion for a harmonious global family

In his signed article on Russian media published before he visited the country, Xi again referred to his speech in 2013 that put forward the shared-future notion.

"Humankind, by living in the same global village in the same era where history and reality meet, has increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in himself a little of others," he said.

Over the past decade, Xi has expounded on the essence of a "human community with a shared future" on numerous occasions.

As the term suggests, it means that the future of every nation and country is interlocked. "We should endeavor to build this planet of ours into a single harmonious family, and turn people's longing for a better life into reality," he once said.

In his reply to a letter from teachers and students of a secondary school in Malta last year, Xi said peace and harmony amongst all states is a wonderful, long-held aspiration of the Chinese nation for human society.

It is the cultural root of the vision of building a human community with a shared future, he said.

China has not only been building shared-future communities among countries and regions but has also been working globally to build communities with a shared future in cyberspace, nuclear security, maritime affairs, and healthcare.

The concept has won extensive support from the international community. It has been included in some documents of multilateral mechanisms and international institutions such as the United Nations (UN).

Keith Bennett, vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club, said the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind strikes a chord with many countries and peoples "because people realize that there is a rather stark choice between a community with a shared future and a community with no future."

Concrete actions for a better world

Concrete actions have been taken to turn the vision into reality.

For years, China has been active in providing assistance to countries in times of distress.

Last month, after massive earthquakes hit parts of Turkiye and Syria, Beijing immediately sent rescue teams and supplies to the stricken areas. Xi sent his message of sympathy to the leaders of the two countries.

During the past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, China launched the largest global emergency humanitarian operation in the history of the people's republic. It shared COVID-19 prevention, control, and treatment experience with over 180 countries and international organizations and sent medical expert teams to 34 countries.

Xi made the commitment to making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good. The country has provided over 2.2 billion vaccine doses to more than 120 countries and international organizations.

Xi has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the latest Global Civilization Initiative as platforms to turn the shared-future vision into reality.

Borrowing the idea of the ancient "Silk Road" that once linked Asia and Europe with vibrant trade, Xi envisioned the BRI as a framework connecting countries around the world through trade, investment, infrastructure development, and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

Over the past decade, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have joined the initiative.

Some of the key BRI projects have been advanced by state leaders themselves. During his trip to Bali, Indonesia last November, Xi and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, witnessed the operational trial of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway via video link.

As the first high-speed railway in Indonesia, the railway is one of the accomplishments of the Belt and Road cooperation, which also include the construction of Pakistan's first underground line, a massive water supply and sewerage project in Sri Lanka, and a cooperation project in Greece which turned the decaying Piraeus Port into one of the fastest-growing container ports in the world.

With enhanced infrastructure, trade and investment cooperation, countries participating in the BRI have grabbed more development opportunities, and their future and destiny are closely linked.

"Development holds the key to people's well-being," Xi once said.

In September 2021, Xi put forward the Global Development Initiative, which has gained support from over 100 countries and a number of international organizations, including the UN. Nearly 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the initiative.

About seven months later, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative to promote security for all around the globe. This has gained support from more than 80 countries and regional organizations.

Future of a multipolar world

As China moves closer to the center of the global stage, its proposal and practice of a human community with a shared future manifest a rejection of the logic that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony, observers said.

At the tone-setting national congress of the Communist Party of China last October, the Party announced its central task from then on as "advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization." One of the five features of Chinese modernization, according to Xi, is "peaceful development."

"The international community has recognized that no country is superior to others, no model of governance is universal, and no single country should dictate the international order," Xi explicated China's commitment to peace in his signed article before the Russian trip.

The country's stance has won the praise of many, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called China a pillar of multilateralism.

The goal of practicing multilateralism is building a human community with a shared future, said the UN chief.

While visiting Russia, Xi again stressed practicing true multilateralism and opposing hegemonism and power politics. He underscored the need to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and called for promoting a human community with a shared future.

The idea of building a human community with a shared future indicates that there is more than one development model in the world, said Anatoly Torkunov, president of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Holding that today's world is rather a multipolar world than a unipolar one, Torkunov said "the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity promotes dialogue and communication among countries on an equal footing, which will contribute to the progress and development of humankind in the future."
STAUNTON  A California man was sentenced to seven years in prison last week in an Augusta County case involving a teenage girl.

Paulo V. Dieffenbacher, 42, of Huntington Beach, California, was convicted by an Augusta County jury in May 2022 on charges of online solicitation of a minor and solicitation of a minor to create pornography.

"So, asking her to send him pictures," said Augusta County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Lorna Port. Dieffenbacher suggested different poses and what parts of the girl's body he wanted to see, Port said.

The victim, who was under the age of 16, was contacted by Dieffenbacher in 2017. "He was 37 at the time," Port noted.

The communications went on for a few months. He was living in the area when the offenses took place, according to Port.

The prosecutor said the girl reported him in 2021. Authorities arrested Dieffenbacher in California that same year after the allegations surfaced.

"He worked for an airline," Port said.

At his sentencing hearing held March 17, Dieffenbacher was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 23 suspended, giving him a total of seven years in prison. He was also placed on 20 years of supervised probation, court records show. Port said he will be registered as a sex offender.

Dieffenbacher remains at Middle River Regional jail and will be transferred to the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Woman's body found in Rockbridge County, suspect charged with murder

Two area Chick-fil-A restaurants will temporarily close for remodeling

Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Man sentenced to 7 years after contacting Augusta County girl
A woman shot and killed a man in self-defense at her Smyrna apartment on Thursday night after he shattered her window and forced her way inside, according to investigators.

Police said no charges will be filed and that it appears the two did not know each other.

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Smyrna police said they received a call about a person shot at Alder Park Apartments on Cumberland Way. Officers got to the scene and found a man shot to death at an apartment.

In an update on Friday, police said that the man had broken into a womans apartment. The resident told police that she heard someone beating on her front door around 7:50 p.m.

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She said the man then walked around to her kitchen window and started banging on that window, causing it to shatter.

The woman kept yelling at him to stop, but he entered the apartment through the window. Police said that is when the woman shot him.

Police have not released the mans identity.

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A Missouri man has pleaded guilty after authorities said he defrauded Lowes business customers of more than $1 million.

The 44-year-old man from St. Louis County said he and others obtained stolen information  names, phone numbers, addresses and credit card account numbers for business customers  from April 2020 through November 2021, according to a March 23 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

He then used the information to access the businesses credit card accounts and apply for more credit cards, according to the plea agreement.

The mans defense attorney told McClatchy that his client is deeply regretful and has a real level of empathy for the victims.

He said his client was unable to find employment after being released from prison, keeping him on a tragic trap of criminal behavior. His client pleaded guilty because he wanted to take responsibility for his actions, according to the attorney.

The stolen business accounts were serviced by Synchrony Bank, authorities said.

After gaining access to the accounts, (the defendant) made telephone calls to Synchrony Bank, changed the address and/or contact telephone numbers on the accounts to reflect addresses not actually associated with the account holders, and then had additional cards issued on the accounts and sent to the new address, all without the consent and knowledge of the account holder businesses, authorities said.

He and the others then charged about $1.6 million to the credit cards, authorities said. The credit card accounts were linked to about 40 businesses that had credit accounts with Lowes.

McClatchy News reached out to Lowes and Synchrony Bank on March 24 and did not immediately hear back.

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, records show. With each charge, he faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Hell also be ordered to pay restitution.

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His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 29.

Others involved in the scheme have not been identified by authorities, according to the plea agreement.

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A Pasco police officer is home after being shot early Friday morning.

The officer was taken home from Kadlec Regional Medical Center Friday afternoon about 1 p.m.

The condition of the suspect who shot him hasnt been released. He was wounded by a Benton County sheriffs deputy following a chase.

About 5:50 a.m. on Friday, Pasco officers were dispatched to reports of a reckless driver.

An officer found the male driver at a Circle K gas station at Road 32 and Court Street in a 2009 BMW, according to the Pasco Police Department.

A Circle K at Road 32 and Court Street in Pasco is blocked off after an officer was shot nearby early Friday morning.

As the Pasco officer tried to contact the man, he was shot as he approached the car, Pasco Sgt. Tom Groom said in a Friday morning press conference.

The officer broadcast that shots had been fired, and 911 dispatch began receiving calls that the officer had been shot and the suspect had fled.

The Pasco officers injuries were not life threatening.

Investigators document the scene on Fridays early morning shooting of a Pasco police officer in the parking lot of the Circle K gas station and convenience store on West Court Street at Road 32.

Regional law enforcement officers were alerted and the suspect was spotted on Riverhaven Street about six minutes later, according to dispatch reports.

A pursuit was started after the suspect refused to stop, said police.

Officers chased him for the next five minutes as he reached speeds of about 60 mph, according to dispatch reports.

Benton County deputies were working on setting up spike strips as the suspect was driving north on Road 64. They planned to set up at Argent Road.

When the chase reached the intersection, an officer reported that shots had been fired.

Investigators from the the Regional Special Investigations Unit document the officer involved shooting scene Friday morning on Argent Road at Road 64 in Pasco. A Benton County Sheriff deputy was involved in a shooting of the suspect that earlier shot and wounded a Pasco police officer at a gas station of West Court Street, according to a police press release.

A Benton County sheriffs deputy shot the suspect during the chase but its unclear if the suspect was also shooting.

Police didnt believe there were any other suspects involved. The Regional Special Investigations Unit took over the investigation as required by state law in officer-involved shootings.

The Pasco Police Department said they appreciated the response from local law enforcement and fire departments.

This was the second officer shot in Pasco in less than a year. Officer Jeremy Jones was shot on Dec. 1 while arresting Devontea L. Wright, 27, at a Riverview Drive home.

While Wright has not been charged with the shooting, Wright grabbed Jones gun and fired it, said a Benton County deputy prosecutor.
A suspected car thief tried identifying as a dog when stopped by Florida deputies and even resorted to barking responses to their questions, according to the Martin County Sheriffs Office.

The ruse did not keep him out of jail.

It happened around 10:45 a.m. March 21 in Palm City, and investigators say the 34-year-old suspect had little to say when pulled over on Interstate 95.

No, really. He just barked, the sheriffs office reported in a March 22 Facebook post. When the deputy asked him for identification, (he) refused to comply and would only say that his name was Dog at which time he followed it with more barking.

The driver had no form of identification on him, according to an affidavit.

It was by coincidence that a real dog, sheriffs office K-9 Maverick, happened to be on the call, and he saw through the act, the Martin County Sheriffs Office says.

It was by coincidence that a real dog, sheriffs office K-9 Maverick, also happened to be in the deputys car, and investigators suggest his presence may have helped settle the matter.

He determined (the mans) bark was not only a bit exaggerated, but the suspect was actually a car thief, and definitely not a dog, the sheriffs office wrote. Once the dog issue was cleared up, (he) refused to cooperate again.

It wasnt until the suspect was taken to the very dog friendly Martin County jail that a positive identification was made, officials said. The driver, who lives in Port Richey, was charged with grand theft auto and resisting arrest without violence, officials said.

Investigators say the 2011 Toyota Camry he was driving had been stolen March 20 in Pasco County, on the opposite side of the state.

Palm City is about 105 miles north of Miami.

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The bankers overseeing the sale of Manchester United extended a tentative deadline for bids on Wednesday, triggering speculation that the American owners of the team, the Glazer family, wont sell the club.

The clubs stock (NYSE: MANU) dropped 7.26% on Thursday amid concerns that the family will retain control of the club and sell a minority stake to a U.S. hedge fund.

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Meanwhile, before the tentative Wednesday deadline, INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe revised his offer of 5 billion ($6.12 billion, including debt), but could not match Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thanis offer, people close to the negotiations told Sportico. Al Thanis most recent bid for the team appears to be in the ballpark of 6 billion ($7.3 billion), the amount the Glazer family is asking for the 145-year-old team, said the people. They added that Al Thani, the president of the Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), had two more rounds of meetings with the Glazers last week.

In addition to Ratcliffe and al Thani, six more bids, including parties from Saudi Arabia and U.S.-based funds Elliott Investment Management, Ares Management and Sixth Street, have met with the Glazers offering financing. On Thursday, Finnish entrepreneur and former Nokia executive Thomas Zilliacus joined the bidders, according to Reuters, and he said hes willing and expects to go higher than that $3.9 billion, in a statement. The market capitalization of the team was over $4 billion as of Wednesdays close. As part of his bid, Zilliacus said he will invite Manchester United supporters from around the world to be co-owners.

A few more groups, including American investor Bruce Karshs Oaktree Capital, are expected to meet with Glazers soon.

Raine Group, which is overseeing the sale for the Glazers, declined to comment.

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Last November, the Glazer family announced they are considering selling the team the late Malcolm Glazer bought in 2005 for about $1.5 billion. The family sold 10% of their holding via the 2012 U.S. listing and have sold more shares since but retain majority ownership. Six of Malcolm Glazers children currently own a combined 69% of the team.

According to Sporticos valuations, Manchester United is worth $5.95 billion.

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Click here to read the full article.
In a letter responding to the Republican chairs of the House Judiciary, Oversight, and Administration committees, the general counsel for the Manhattan District Attorneys office says that if charges are brought at the conclusion of the investigation into former President Donald Trump, it will be because the rule of law and faithful execution of the District Attorneys duty require it.

Manhattan District Attorneys office general counsel Leslie Dubeck called the letter sent by the chairmen on 20 March an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution.

The Letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene. Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry, she added.

The chairmen wrote in their letter that the DAs investigation into Mr Trump was an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority, demanding documents and an interview with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.

The grand jury case concerns hush money payments made to women who have made allegations that they have had affairs with Mr Trump.

The DAs general counsel wrote that your letter treads into territory very clearly reserved to the states. It suggests that Congresss investigation is being conducted solely for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to punish those investigated, and is, therefore, indefensible.

Ms Lubeck added that the District Attorney is obliged by the federal and state constitutions to protect the independence of state law enforcement functions from federal interference.

The DAs Office therefore requests an opportunity to meet and confer with committee staff to better understand what information the DAs Office can provide that relates to a legitimate legislative interest and can be shared consistent with the District Attorneys constitutional obligations, she said.

Ms Lubeck states that the letter from the House Republicans is seeking information thats not available to the public regarding a pending criminal investigation, which is confidential under state law.

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She goes on to note that the DAs office is following the longstanding Department of Justice policy of not providing Congress with non-public information about investigations.

There is almost no precedent for Congress attempting to subpoena such material, and even fewer examples of the DO] actually producing such documents, the letter states.

Ms Lubeck goes on to call the requests made by the GOP chairmen an unlawful incursion into New Yorks sovereignty.

She said its generally understood that a Congressional committee may not probe issues that are reserved for the states to handle.

Quoting from Bond v United States, she notes that perhaps the clearest example of traditional state authority is the punishment of local criminal activity.

She adds that therefore, federal interference with state law enforcement is inconsistent with the federal framework.

It is clear that Congress cannot have any legitimate legislative task relating to the oversight of local prosecutors enforcing state law, Ms Lubeck writes, calling Congress not the appropriate branch to review pending criminal matters.

The general counsel said that if a grand jury chooses to charge Mr Trump, the DA will have an obligation, as in every case, to provide a significant amount of discovery from its files to the defendant so that he may prepare a defense.

She then criticised an allegation posed by the GOP chairmen in their letter to the DA that its investigation is politically motivated, calling the claim unfounded.

And regardless, the proper forum for such a challenge is the Courts of New York, which are equipped to consider and review such objections, she said.

Ms Lubeck noted that the chairmen said in their letter that their requests could be connected to a probe of federal public safety funds.

But the Letter does not suggest any way in which either the District Attorneys testimony about his prosecutorial decisions or the documents and communications of former Assistant District Attorneys on a pending criminal investigation would shed light on that review, Ms Lubeck says.

She added that the DA is still preparing a letter describing its use of federal funds.

The chair of the House Administration Committee, Representative Brian Steil, told the AP earlier this week that I think theres a broad concern about the politicization of the judicial system, and we are better served as a country if our judicial system writ large is not politicized.

Democrats said on Monday that the efforts to get information about the investigation were an abuse of power.

Former President Donald Trump demanded this nonsensical interference over the weekend, and these Committee chairs have acted totally outside their proper powers to try to influence a pending criminal investigation at the state level, Maryland Democrat Rep Jamie Raskin told the AP.
Former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he lands at Quad City International Airport en route to Iowa on Monday, March 13, 2023. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Trump is staring in the face of a potential indictment from the Manhattan DA over his dealings with Stormy Daniels.

New York state prosecutors have never brought an election law case involving a federal campaign, per NYT.

If the DA's office brings a criminal case against Trump, it will be far from a "slam dunk conviction," one ex-prosecutor said.

After years of being mired in criminal and civil investigations into everything from his business dealings to his role in the Capitol riot, former President Donald Trump is now staring down a potential indictment from the Manhattan district attorney's office.

But despite its gravity  Trump is the current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination  experts say the likeliest case New York prosecutors could bring is far from open-and-shut.

A Trump indictment would be unprecedented on a few levels. For one, it would be the first time an ex-president was charged with criminal violations. The facts of the case also mean New York prosecutors would need to use a largely untested approach to tie a possible violation of state law to a violation of federal election laws  and their star witness would likely be Trump's former lawyer, an admitted felon who's previously lied to investigators.

All things considered, experts say the former president may have a better shot at getting off the hook in this case compared to other legal threats he faces from state and federal prosecutors.

If Trump is indicted, the case is expected to center on an illegal hush-money payment that his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. Cohen has testified that he paid Daniels at Trump's direction, but Trump and his lawyers deny knowledge of the payment.

Trump has also denied the affair and said he did "absolutely nothing wrong." And he's accused the Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, of running a politically motivated fishing expedition and called on congressional Republicans to investigate Bragg's office.

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Among the charges Trump could face is violating New York's business records statute, which bars individuals from falsifying business records with an intent to defraud. According to media reporting about how the DA's office is evaluating the case and presenting evidence to the grand jury, state prosecutors are seeking to charge Trump with a felony violation of the state law.

To do that, the DA's office must overcome an additional hurdle: it would have to prove that Trump falsified the records in order to commit another crime, or to aid or conceal the commission of falsifying the business records.

In Trump's case, based on public comments from the DA's office, the additional alleged crime would likely be a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

Some legal experts have pointed out that New York has a long history of bringing felony prosecutions based on falsifying business records. Just Security, for instance, found dozens of cases over the last 15 years that fall under that umbrella.

But Randall Eliason, a law professor at George Washington University, noted that state prosecutors could face an additional wrinkle where Trump is concerned.

Namely, New York's business records statute's "intent to defraud" requirement is "usually defined as intent to deprive a victim of money or property," Eliason wrote. But while all the examples in Just Security's review meet that requirement, "it's not clear how concealing a campaign contribution does."

"Prosecutors could argue an intent to deprive voters of accurate information," he added, "but it's not clear that would qualify as intent to defraud in NY (it clearly would not under federal law.)" If Trump is charged with falsifying business records, "expect to see this defense."

David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, echoed that view, telling Insider that the potential case against Trump is far from a "slam dunk conviction."

Weinstein also pointed out that a significant portion of the case against Trump, if he's indicted, would hinge on the testimony of Cohen, his former fixer who claims Trump directed him to make the Daniels payments and who admitted to lying to Congress, among other crimes.

Cases like this  and others that rely on testimony from cooperating co-conspirators  are "more difficult to prove," Weinstein said.

If prosecutors argue that Trump committed a felony violation of the New York business records statute by breaking federal campaign finance laws, he added, the defense will likely argue that the DA is "overreaching" his duties of enforcing state laws.

Trump, for his part, frequently highlights Cohen's pitfalls as a star witness; earlier Thursday, he described his former longtime confidant as a "convicted nut job with zero credibility" in an all-caps Truth Social rant.

Insider reached out to a lawyer representing Trump for comment Thursday.

Barbara McQuade, the former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, told Insider that if Trump is charged, "the more the case relies on documents instead of the testimony of Michael Cohen, the stronger it will be."

"Whereas Cohen has some credibility issues as someone with an axe to grind and a convicted perjurer," prosecutors can get around those concerns by corroborating his testimony with bank records, phone records, and other documentary evidence.

"Documents don't lie and documents don't forget," McQuade added.

Eric Columbus, a former Justice Department official under the Obama administration, also wrote on Twitter that he had "serious concerns" about bringing an indictment against Trump focused on the Daniels hush-money payment if "there's nothing here that wasn't known in 2018," back when Cohen pleaded guilty.

Bragg's predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., strongly considered bringing an indictment against the former president centered around the hush-money payment, according to The Times.

But in the end, Vance's investigators deemed it too risky to charge Trump with falsifying business records and using federal campaign finance law violations as the secondary crime, The Times reported.

Columbus wrote that it's incumbent on Bragg's office to show that the rationale for indicting Trump has nothing to do with politics.

That rationale is "especially strong when the prosecuting office has *already* exercised such discretion and opted not to prosecute," he wrote. "If a prosecuting office reverses course, it must be able to explain why."

Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Bragg's office said that charging white-collar cases based on falsifying business records is a key aspect of its work, and that since Bragg took office, the Manhattan DA has filed more than 100 counts of felony falsifying business records counts against 29 individuals and entities.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  Manuel Oliver, father of a teenager who was killed in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, was arrested Thursday during a heated House hearing on gun laws.

The arrest came around noon after Oliver and his wife, Patricia Oliver, shouted at lawmakers and disrupted the hearing.

Manuel Oliver received a citation arrest, meaning he was not jailed. Video shows he was pinned to the floor and restrained.

Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin Oliver, one of the victims of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., is removed from the hearing room for disturbing a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 23, 2023. With Manuel Oliver is his wife, Patricia Oliver, at right.

Maxwell Frost shares video of Manuel Oliver arrest

Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost, a freshman lawmaker from Florida, shared a video of the arrest on Twitter.

He said Oliver was arrested "for speaking out at a committee hearing. His son, Jaoquin, was shot to death in Parkland, Fl. MANNY IS A HERO. He didnt deserve this. The Republican Chair of this committee just called him a narcissist. Disgraceful."

Frost was referring to Texas Republican Rep. Pat Fallon, subcommittee chair for Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs.

"The chair should've given a warning. He completely escalated the situation," Frost said in a tweet.

'You took away my son'

Patricia Oliver the mother of Joaquin Oliver, one of the victims of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., is removed from the hearing room on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Manuel and Patricia Oliver's son, Joaquin, was 17 when he was killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. He was one of 17 people who died in the shooting; another 17 were injured.

"You took away my son!" Patricia Oliver shouted during the hearing Thursday.

Her words  and comments from her husband  ultimately led to Manuel Oliver's arrest during a joint hearing with Fallon's subcommittee and the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing was titled "ATF's Assault on the Second Amendment: When is Enough Enough?"

As Fallon compared gun violence rates in the U.S. and Mexico, the Olivers expressed their frustration with lawmakers and began to talk over him from the audience.

Rep. Pat Fallon removes Manuel and Patricia Oliver from hearing

Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin Oliver, one of the victims of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., is removed from the hearing room for disturbing a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

"Is this an insurrection?" Fallon said. "So will they be held to the same  uh  I don't want another January 6th, do we?"

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Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., quickly responded: "If they're trying to overthrow the government, they ought to be held to the same standard. But I think they're trying to express their views."

Fallon told Cicilline he was "out of line."

The Olivers continued to talk over the lawmakers until a visibly frustrated Fallon said, "Does the Capitol Police not do their jobs?"

He called a recess, and shortly thereafter Capitol Police arrested Manuel Oliver as gun control activists chanted in the hallway, "He's not violent."

Committee Chair Pat Fallon, R-Texas, center, gets into an argument with Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., foreground, during the recess of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance and the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs joint hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Others listening are Co-Chair Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., second from right, and ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., second from left.

What did Maxwell Frost say after the arrest?

To lose a child to gun violence, "to see photos of your child sitting in a pool of blood, I can't imagine that," Frost said after the arrest.

He said the Olivers have been fighting for "true justice."

"I fight alongside Manny and Patricia Oliver. I believe that they are American heroes," Frost said. "This has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with politics, and I won't be listening to another second of it."

Candy Woodall is a Congress reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at cwoodall@usatoday.com or on Twitter at @candynotcandace.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manuel Oliver, Parkland victim's dad, arrested at gun violence hearing
Blend Images - Jose Luis Pelaez / Getty Images

Tax Day, for many Americans, has long been associated with receiving refunds. However, findings in the GOBankingRates 2023 Taxes Survey indicated that many Americans do not expect a tax refund this year.

See: All The States That Dont Tax Social Security

Is Your State Tax-Friendly? Only 5 Were Given An A-Grade (and 4 Failed)

Why dont Americans expect a refund this year and what could be the cause? Here are some common reasons why federal tax refunds will be smaller for most taxpayers in 2023.

How Many Americans Dont Expect a Refund?

GOBankingRates 2023 Taxes Survey polled 1,002 Americans on the subject of filing taxes and their tax refund expectations. When asked how much they expected to receive as a refund, nearly 18% of overall respondents said they did not expect a refund at all this year. In a separate question asking what Americans planned to do with their tax refund, nearly the same amount said they did not expect to receive a refund.

When asked whether they expect their tax refund to be more or less than last year, 37% of overall respondents said they expected less.

Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For?

Why Are Tax Refunds Smaller This Year?

If youve filed your taxes for the year, you may already know some of the reasons why taxpayers are anticipating a smaller tax refund. Robert Persichitte, CPA and CFA at Delagify Financial, attributes the changes to the end of generous COVID-19 provisions.

Almost every taxpayer will have a smaller refund due to the following three reasons:

Less flexibility for low-earning taxpayers : While the requirement was waived for 2020 and 2021, Persichitte said those without earned income cannot qualify for many child-related tax credits.

Lower credits : In 2023, Persichitte said the expanded Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and dependent care credit are all lower than in previous years.

Non-refundable credits: While many tax credits in 2020 and 2021 were temporarily refundable, they switched to non-refundable in 2022. Persichitte uses the example of thinking of a refundable credit like a check in which one receives cash. If you think of a non-refundable credit like a coupon for your taxes, Persichitte said it takes your tax bill to $0. If you dont owe taxes, however, you dont receive a benefit.

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Paul Miller, managing partner and CPA at Miller & Co., LLP, also said smaller tax refunds are due to the lack of a stimulus payment in 2022. Taxpayers will not receive an additional stimulus payment with the 2023 tax refund, said Miller.

There is one silver lining this year in the form of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Miller said SECURE helps with IRA withdrawals for disasters without charging any penalties.

Is It Bad To Receive a Smaller Tax Refund?

The short answer is no, even if many taxpayers do enjoy receiving a windfall of money from the IRS.

Robert Roper, CPA and senior tax manager at Kroon & Mitchell, Tax & Investments, said the IRS has tried to reduce refunds by matching wage withholding more accurately with your taxes. In working with numerous clients who already received refunds, Roper said they now owe tax as their typical withholding has dropped.

Roper, who has worked to update the W-4 withholding forms for clients to include additional withholding, recommends not allowing yourself to be caught off guard by your potential tax liability in the future.

I would stress more than ever checking your withholding in 2023 to make sure you arent surprised at the end of the next tax year, said Roper.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Many Americans Dont Expect a Tax Refund This Year  Here Are 4 Reasons Everyones Might Be Smaller
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People participate in a protest against a pension reform bill in Paris, France, on March 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Over 1 million people in France joined nationwide protests on Thursday, rejecting the government's proposed pension reform bill that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, French ministry of the interior said on Thursday evening.

However, France's largest union, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) said that some 3.5 million people had taken part in the demonstration nationwide.

Thursday's events marked the 9th nationwide general mobilization action since French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne last week triggered an article of the constitution that allowed the government to force passage of the pension reform bill.

Fearing a wave of violent actions, the ministry of the interior on Thursday ordered deployment of 12,000 policemen across the country, including 5,000 in Paris.

While most of the demonstrations took place peacefully, calls by union leaders for non-violent protests were ignored by a number of demonstrators throughout the country who clashed with police forces, leaving at least 123 members of the security forces injured, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has said.

Eventually, the French police deployed tear gas and police dogs to disperse protestors.

People participate in a protest against a pension reform bill in Paris, France, on March 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The prime minister condemned on social media the "unacceptable" violence that had accompanied the pension reform protests.

Due to the strikes, operators were forced to close many of the historic monuments on Thursday, including the Palace of Versailles and the Eiffel Towel.

A dinner was scheduled in the Palace of Versailles between French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Kingdom's King Charles III during the latter's upcoming state visit, but the French presidential office said the venue would be changed due to security reasons.

The French national railway company SNCF and the country's aviation authorities have already announced the extension of Thursday's strike, which means the railway and air traffic will stay disrupted.

The sanitation workers in Paris have extended their strike until March 27, while some 9,500 tons of garbage are still waiting to be collected in the city.

And the trade unions have already scheduled the 10th general mobilization action for March 28.

Since two no-confidence motions against the French government failed to gain a majority in the National Assembly on Monday, the government's unpopular pension reform bill is considered as adopted without a vote in the lower house of parliament.

Macron said on Wednesday that his government's pension reform plan should become law "before the end of the year."

Under the reform plan, the legal retirement age would be progressively raised by three months a year from 62 to 64 by 2030, and a guaranteed minimum pension would be introduced. The plan also stipulates that as of 2027, at least 43 years of work would be required to be eligible for a full pension.
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More than two centuries after her notorious beheading, Marie Antoinette has continued to capture the imaginations of modern audiences. Her life and infamous extravagance has been the subject of multiple adaptations, including Norma Shearers Oscar-nominated portrayal in 1938 and Kirsten Dunsts performance in Sophia Coppolas polarizing 2006 historical drama.

The latest retelling is Marie Antoinette , a new television series produced by the BBC and Canal+. The historical drama made its stateside debut on March 19 on PBS, but its first season already aired in the United Kingdom last year. The show has been renewed for a second season .

The series seeks to portray Marie Antoinette as a feminist icon, according to members of the cast and crew. Emilia Schule, who portrays the title monarch, called her a rebel who was modern, emancipated, and fought for equality and for her personal freedom.

But some critics and historians have bristled at this more modern view of the legendary queen. Melanie Clegg, author of Marie Antoinette: An Intimate History, said she absolutely wouldnt have regarded herself as a feminist, and the French newspaper Le Figaro found the portrayal so offensive, it cheekily suggested British and American filmmakers should be banned from Versailles.



In a statement to Biography.com, Marie Antionette executive producer Claude Chelli defended the shows portrayal. Chelli noted that, having been born to a more relaxed Austrian court, many of her actions were more independent than would be expected from a woman of her position in France. For example, he said, she brought property under her own name, built her own personal life away from Versailles, wished to keep her children close to her, and made political decisions when the king was unable to decide.

Of course, all of these actions could not be called feminist, Chelli told Biography.com. Were all aware that feminism is a modern concept, and Marie Antoinettes actions were not abiding by any theoretical corpus, but what she did was conducted by self-awareness and free will, which is very modern and could be assimilated to feminism.

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A More Modern Marie Antoinette

Getty Images

The first season of the new series covers Marie Antionettes teenage years in the 1770s, when she first departed Austria and arrived in France to marry Louis XVI, the future king. She must navigate the complex social politics of the French court while winning the affection of her future husband, portrayed by Louis Cunningham as an almost cripplingly shy dauphin of France.

Series creator and co-writer Deborah Davis, who won a BAFTA for her script for the Olivia Colman film The Favourite (2018), sought to bring a more modern perspective to Marie Antionette, who she said came from a long line of strong-willed, spirited women. I found the fighter, and I loved being with her all the way through her battles, she told Variety .

Pete Travis, who directed the first four episodes, said he particularly admired the shows feminist take, telling Variety: History films are usually about men, and in [this series] men make the world, but its the women who have the strongest will, and thats what makes it contemporary.

Schule, who read many books about Marie Antionette to try to understand her character, called her a deeply misunderstood woman. She was particularly disappointed with Sofia Coppolas 2006 film, which she said only stays on the surface and ignored the challenges Antoinette faced in favor of an oversimplified image of a luxury addict.

I do think that there is a very wrong image out there about her. Shes so much more complex than what people think, Schule told The New York Post . Thats something were really getting into on our show.

Playing Fast and Loose With History

Getty Images

Not everyone is thrilled with the shows portrayal of its iconic title character. While acknowledging that every biopic takes liberties with the truth, several historians have contended that Marie Antionette strays too far from reality in its attempt to cast its heroine as a feminist hero.

Blaise De Chabalier, culture writer with Le Figaro, is among the most critical voices , accusing the show of turning her into a feminist activist before her time. He wrote that the series insults the queen and presents an avalanche of scenes that are often vulgar, totally out of context, and sometimes plain obscene.

Biographer Evelyne Lever likewise called the show a grotesque caricature and a litany of historic aberrations. She told The Telegraph that Marie Antoinette believed in the divine right of kings and would not act like a militant feminist, adding: As a historian, I am embarrassed that viewers believe that this series accurately reflects the times.

Catriona Seth, a historian and literary scholar at the University of Oxford, called the feminist label anachronistic and told the Smithsonian Magazine it doesnt correspond to [Marie Antoinettes] way of viewing things at all.



Levers strongest criticism was not actually for Marie Antoinettes portrayal but for scenes involving Madame du Barry, the royal mistress of King Louis XV. In the series, she sits on the kings lap during family meals and acts outwardly promiscuous. Despite her role as the royal maitresse-en-titre, Lever told The Telegraph she would never have behaved this way.

Seth criticized the shows inclusion of a kissing scene involving Marie Antoinette and Madame du Barry, which Seth said were inspired by centuries-old libelous texts written about the queens alleged sexuality and promiscuity to defame her prior to her 1793 execution.

Marie Antoinette has always been a controversial historical figure, with a legacy that has been hotly debated for more than 200 years. That controversy has tended to extend to her portrayals in pop culture as well, and the new series is no exception. As Emine Saner wrote in The Guardian , the trend for reappraising historical and maligned female figures with a contemporary viewpoint is unstoppable, and anyway, this is not the first revision of the last queen of France before the revolution.

How to Watch Marie Antoinette
Anthony J. Purvis, age 24, Marion, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of failure to register as a sex offender, a fourth-degree felony, with the Marion County Sheriffs Office per the terms of probation related to a conviction for a previous offense when he appeared before Judge Warren T. Edwards on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Marion County Common Pleas Court.

A Marion County man has been sentenced to prison for not registering as a sex offender as required by terms of his probation and Ohio law.

Anthony J. Purvis, age 24, Marion, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of failure to register as a sex offender with the Marion County Sheriffs Office per the terms of probation related to a conviction for a previous offense. He appeared before Judge Warren T. Edwards on Monday in Marion County Common Pleas Court. The offense is a fourth-degree felony.

Purvis will be subject to a term of up to two years of community control following his release from prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.

"You understand that when you get out, you will still have these sex offender registration requirements that you have to comply with," Judge Edwards told Purvis during the sentencing hearing. "If you don't, and you come back here, you're going to be before me again. So wherever you decide to reside when you get out (of prison), you need to be in compliance with your registration requirements. Because this is the type of offense, the more frequently you fail to register, the higher the (level of the felony) offense goes and that means the more (prison) time you're going to get."

Additionally, Judge Edwards ordered that Purvis must pay a $1,000 fine to the Marion County Clerk of Courts. He received credit for 222 days served at the Multi-County Correctional Center in Marion while the case was in progress.

According to a judgment entry filed Nov. 16, 2022, in Marion County Common Pleas Court, Purvis committed to successfully completing any counseling and/or treatment programs as recommended. Purvis failed to complete the STAR Community Based Correctional Facility program offered at the STAR Community Justice Center in Scioto County. He voluntarily removed himself from that program, according to court records.

Additionally, Purvis failed to complete a required outpatient or inpatient sex offender counseling program at STAR Community Justice Center.

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On Oct. 21, 2022, Purvis pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender, a fourth-degree felony, and was sentenced to four years of community control. His violation of the terms of that community control sentence landed him in jail and then back in court.

Following the sentencing hearing on Monday, Purvis was transported back to the Multi-County Correctional Center in Marion. The warrant to convey him to the Correctional Reception Center at Orient in Pickaway County was issued on Tuesday. Once there, he will be processed into the state prison system and then assigned to a state prison to serve his sentence.

In May 2020, Purvis, age 18 at the time, was arrested on suspicion of crimes of a sexual nature that he allegedly committed in 2017 and 2018. He was accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor during an incident that occurred on June 10, 2018.

Purvis was also accused of presenting obscene material to minors during a period of time ranging from Jan. 1, 2017, to June 10, 2018.

The Marion County grand jury indicted Purvis on one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony, when it was convened on May 8, 2020.

Purvis pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor during a hearing on Aug. 25, 2020, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was designated a Tier II sex offender and ordered to register with the sheriffs office in his county of residence following his release from prison.

He served his prison term at the Belmont Correctional Institution in Belmont County. He was released from prison on Dec. 3, 2021.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion man sentenced to prison for failing to register as sex offender
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, are now a party of five.

The Meta CEO announced that he and Chan had welcomed their third child, a daughter named Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg, 38, shared the news on Instagram and Facebook, along with two pics of himself and Chan, 38, snuggling with their newborn baby in the hospital bed. "Welcome to the world, Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg! Youre such a little blessing," the dad of three wrote in his post.

Priscilla Chan snuggles with her newborn daughter. (@zuck via Instagram)

The couple are already parents to daughters Max, who was born in 2015, and August, born in 2017.

The Facebook co-founder announced he and Chan were expecting again in September 2022.

Lots of love. Happy to share that Max and August are getting a new baby sister next year! Zuckerberg wrote on Instagram and Facebook alongside a photo of him with his hand placed on Chans belly.

Zuckerberg and Chan, a former pediatrician, began dating in 2003 when both were undergraduate students at Harvard University. They tied the knot in 2012 in the backyard of their home in Palo Alto, California.

Zuckerberg and Chan are co-founders and co-CEOs of CZI, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization working to address challenges like battling disease, achieving social justice and improving education.

Zuckerberg celebrated the couple's 10th wedding anniversary in May 2022 by sharing an Instagram photo of them smiling at one another on their wedding day.

"10 years married and half our lives together. Heres to more adventures," he wrote in his caption.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Mark Zuckerberg has officially become the father of three girls.

The Meta CEO, 38, and his wife Priscilla Chan announced on Friday that they welcomed their third daughter, Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg.

In an Instagram post on 24 March, the Facebook co-founder shared photos of the newborn just moments after she was born. In one image, Zuckerberg is seen smiling at Aurelia, while another shows Chan in the hospital holding the baby to her chest.

Welcome to the world, Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg! Youre such a little blessing, he captioned the post. The couple, who were married in 2012, are already parents to daughter Maxima Max, seven, and August, five.

Back in September, Zuckerberg announced he and Chan were expecting their third child together on Instagram. He posted a photo of himself and his wife smiling as he placed his hand over her growing baby bump, along with the caption: Lots of love. Happy to share that Max and August are getting a new baby sister next year!

Zuckerberg and Chan first met while waiting in line for the bathroom at a Harvard University party in 2003. The two tied the knot during a secret backyard wedding at their home in Palo Alto, California. Wedding guests were told that the party was to celebrate Chans graduation from medical school, where she studied to be a pediatrician.

In December 2015, the couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Maxima Max Chan Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg announced the birth of their daughter in a Facebook post, in which he also shared that the parents will donate 99 per cent of their Facebook shares to their new Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to promote equality for all children in the next generation.

Your mother and I dont yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future. Your new life is full of promise, and we hope you will be happy and healthy so you can explore it fully, he said at the time.

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The parents welcomed their second child, daughter August Chan Zuckerberg, in August 2017. Once again taking to Facebook, Zuckerberg wrote alongside a family photo: Your mom and I are so excited to see who you will become.

Last year, the billionaire opened up about how doing philanthropy work with his wife through their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has revealed a whole new side of their relationship. Its been really cool getting the chance to work with my wife Priscilla on this, its opened up a whole new side of our relationship, where its like we were partners and now we also get to work together, he said while appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast last August.

Shes brilliant, shes a doctor and understands so many more things about biological science than I do and I can bring this whole engineering perspective, and we learn so much from doing that together.

It seems that Zuckerberg will also waste no time in teaching his newborn daughter Aurelia how to code, considering hes already doing so with his two older daughters. Speaking toThe Times in October 2021, Chan explained that she and Zuckerberg divide parenting duties, with her husband in charge of putting their children to bed.

Sometimes they will read books together. Sometimes theyll code together, she said, adding that there are numerous effective ways to teach children to code as its very visual.

Mark has been doing that with August since she turned three.
Mary Trump, the clinical psychologist and author who is former president Donald Trumps niece, has called on Americans to flood her uncles campaign website with ticket requests for his 25 March rally in Waco, Texas, so tickets will be allocated to people who wont show up for the event.

Writing on Twitter, Ms Trump wrote that the Waco location is a ploy to remind his cult of the infamous Waco siege of 1993, where an anti-government cult battled the FBI.

The 1993 seige of a Waco compound used by the Branch Davidian religious cult was carried out by US law enforcement between 28 February and 19 April 1993. Seventy-six cult members died on the last day of the siege when a fire broke out as FBI personnel were attempting to force the cult members from the compound with tear gas.

Over the 51 days that began when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms tried to search the cults property, a total of four federal agents and 82 cult members  including 28 children  lost their lives.

The event became a rallying cry for anti-government extremists, including the domestic terrorists who blew up the Alfred P Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City two years later.

Ms Trump wrote that her uncle, who could soon be indicted in several criminal probes into his conduct, wants the same violent chaos to rescue him from justice.

Donald has a rally in Waco this Saturday. It's a ploy to remind his cult of the infamous Waco siege of 1993, where an anti-government cult battled the FBI. Scores of people died. He wants the same violent chaos to rescue him from justice.



But we can stop him. If we book the pic.twitter.com/a5zCIfCVAZ  Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) March 24, 2023

But we can stop him. If we book the 50,000+ venue, we can make sure most of the seats are empty when the traitor takes the stage. We can no longer fail to hold powerful men accountable for their crimes against our country, she said.

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Ms Trump shared a link to her uncles website and encouraged people to request tickets for the Waco event to fill this venue with empty seats.

If her plan succeeds, it would not be the first time one of Mr Trumps events was disrupted in that manner.

When Mr Trumps 2020 campaign held a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after months away from the campaign trail due to the Covid-19 pandemic, K-Pop fans on TikTok organised a campaign to request tickets they would never use, causing the rally venue to be largely empty when Mr Trump took the stage.

The then-president demoted his then-campaign manager after the embarassing turnout at the Tulsa rally.
The asteroid will be visible from Earth through binoculars

An asteroid large enough to destroy a city has passed between the orbits of the Earth and the Moon - luckily for us, missing both.

The object, named 2023 DZ2, was discovered a month ago.

As predicted by scientists, it passed within 175,000km of the Earth on Saturday after flying past the Moon.

It is rare for such a huge asteroid - estimated to be between 40 and 90m in diameter - to come so close to the planet.

Astronomers described it as a once-in-a decade event.

According to Nasa, it was an important opportunity for astronomers to increase their knowledge of asteroids, in the event that a dangerous object were discovered with the potential to hit Earth.

"There is no chance of this 'city killer' striking Earth, but its close approach offers a great opportunity for observations," said the European Space Agency's planetary defence chief, Richard Moissl.

Mr Moissl said preliminary data suggested 2023 DZ2 was "a scientifically interesting object".

But he added that more data was needed to determine the asteroid's composition.

With such a close pass of the Earth, the asteroid was visible through binoculars and small telescopes across the globe.

A live web broadcast of its approach was provided by The Virtual Telescope Project.

The object looks set to return towards Earth's orbit in 2026, but scientists have ruled it out as a threat to the planet on that occasion, too.

Earlier this month, a similarly sized asteroid, 2023 DW, was briefly given a one-in-432 chance of hitting Earth on Valentine's Day 2046.

Moissl said 2023 DW was now expected to miss Earth by some 4.3 million km.

Even if such an asteroid was determined to be heading our way, Earth is no longer defenceless.

Last year, NASA's Dart (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft deliberately slammed into the pyramid-sized asteroid Dimorphos.

Before Dart's impact, it took Dimorphos 11 hours and 55 minutes to orbit its larger parent asteroid, Didymos.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy thinks lawmakers will pass bipartisan legislation to address national security worries about Chinese-owned short video app TikTok, he said on Friday, and called the testimony of the company's CEO "very concerning."

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared before a U.S. House Committee for about five hours on Thursday and lawmakers from both parties grilled him about national security and other concerns about the app used by 150 million Americans. "Here's a CEO that can't tell you that China's not spying on the data," McCarthy said.

There are growing calls to ban TikTok or to pass bipartisan legislation to give the Biden administration legal authority to seek a ban. Former U.S. President Donald Trump lost a series of court rulings in 2020 when he sought to ban TikTok and another Chinese-owned app, WeChat, a unit of Tencent.

McCarthy appeared to be referring to an exchange during the hearing that TikTok later argued was mischaracterized.

At Thursday's House hearing, Representative Neal Dunn asked Chew if ByteDance has spied on Americans at Beijing's request. Chew answered, "No."

Republican Dunn then referenced the company's disclosure in December that some China-based employees at ByteDance improperly accessed TikTok user data of two journalists and were no longer employed by the company and repeated his question about whether ByteDance was spying.

"I don't think that spying is the right way to describe it," Chew said. He went on to describe the reports as involving an "internal investigation," but was cut off by Dunn, who called TikTok's widespread use "a cancer."

Many Democrats also have raised concerns but are not yet backing a U.S. ban.

"There are real national security concerns with respect to TikTok," said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday, citing privacy and consumer protection issues.

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Chew posted a video on TikTok on Friday recounting his appearance. "We will continue to protect your data from unauthorized foreign access," he said.

The Senate Commerce Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing to consider a bill that Senators Mark Warner and John Thune proposed called the "RESTRICT Act" that now has 20 Senate cosponsors and would allow the Commerce Department to ban foreign technology that poses a national security risk. The earliest that would occur is mid-April when the Senate returns from recess.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul and Josie Kao)
Director Lars Kraume knows a bit about the hidden corners of German history. His award-winning 2015 drama The People Vs. Fritz Bauer looked at the role played by the eponymous German Jewish state Attorney General in tracking down and bringing Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann to justice. And his 2018 The Silent Revolution followed the true story of a group of grade 12 pupils in 1956 East Germany who defy the authority of their teachers and state authorities by staging a silent protest in solidarity with the victims of the 1956 Hungarian uprising.

But until he visited Africa himself in the early 1990s, Kraume had never heard of the darkest chapters in German history: the massacre, between 1904 and 1908, of tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people by officials and soldiers of the German colonial empire in what is now Namibia. The killings of the Herero (now often known as the Ovaherero) and Nama is widely considered the first genocide of the twentieth century. But it wasnt until 2021 that Germany officially used the word genocide to describe the colonial crimes, and while Berlin has promised to pay Namibia around $1.2 billion in what the German government has called a gesture of reconciliation, it has so far refused to agree to legally binding reparations for descendants of the victims of the massacres.

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Until very recently, there was also no political pressure to do so. While the crimes of the Nazi era and Holocaust are permanent features of Germanys cultural memory  the Holocaust Memorial stands a few hundred meters from Berlins parliament buildings, the Bundestag, and there are scores of films and television series, from Downfall to The Counterfeiters to Babylon Berlin, exploring every facet of German history in the 1930s and 40s  the crimes of the German colonial era are, in the words of German culture minister Claudia Roth, a blank spot [our] memory culture.

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Theres been no feature film about the genocide, says Kraume, Werner Herzog has made some films and documentaries in Africa, but they were not really about the German colonial era.

So Kraume decided to do one himself. Measures of Men traces the story of the Herero and Nama massacre from the perspective of well-meaning but naive German ethnologist Alexander Hoffmann, played by Leonard Scheicher, who initially tries to refute the unscientific evolutionist theories of his time, which tried to establish a racial hierarchy based on the size and shape of skulls from different ethnic groups, with, unsurprisingly, white Europeans coming up on top and Black Africans on the bottom.

Leo Schicher and Girley Jazama in Lars Kraumes German period drama Measures of Men.

It would have been easier to tell the story of the freedom fighters, of [Herero] leader Samuel Maharero, for example, says Kraume. But, as a German, I dont think I have a right to do that story. It would be cultural appropriation. I have to tell the story from the perpetrators point of view. And I found the ethnologists to be interesting because, on the one hand, theyre interested in these African cultures, they want to study and understand them. But on the other hand, their ideas are helping to destroy what they study.

Florian Hoffmann never existed, though Kraume drew on scientific writing at the time, as well as historical documentation of various events, including the so-called Volkerschau, where Nama and Herero people were shipped to Berlin to be presented as part of the German Kaisers human zoo exposition.

When Hoffmann visits the Volkerschau, he becomes fascinated by Kezia Kambazemi, an interpreter of the Herero delegation, played by Girley Jazama, a Herero herself, one of hundreds of Namibians involved in the project, whose own great-great-grandmother was imprisoned by German forces in the concentration camp Alte Feste in Windhoek.

Initially, Hoffmann tries to use Kambazemi  an intelligent, multi-lingual Herero woman  as an example to disprove his professors racist evolutionary theories. But when his career stalls and he is given an opportunity to do on-site research in Western Africa, Hoffmann the idealist becomes morally complicit in the atrocities committed by the colonial authorities. He is on hand when German General Lothar von Trotha, a military veteran obsessed with the idea of race war, is brought in to take control of the colony and put down the nascent Herero and Nama rebellion.

In August 1904, Trotha attacked some 50,000 Herero men, women and children at an area called the Waterberg in the north of the territory. When survivors tried to escape into the Omaheke desert, the general set up a perimeter to enclose them, secured all wells and water sources and ordered those fleeing from the desert to be shot on sight. His now-infamous proclamation, in October 1904, is reproduced in full in Measures of Men:

The Hereros have ceased to be German subjects. they must quit this country. If they do not, I will compel them to do so with the Great Cannon. Within the borders of German territory, any Herero, with or without a firearm, with or without livestock, will be shot; nor will I give refuge to women or children anymore. I will drive them back to their people or have them fired upon.

Measures of Men.

What follows are scenes of massacre and despair, as Herero are hunted down or systematically starved and forced to die of thirst. Those that survive are packed into concentration camps  a chilling foreshadowing of the coming Nazi era  and forced into slave labor. The exact number of victims of the genocide remains uncertain, but by the time the prisoners were allowed out of the camps in 1908 up to 100,000 Herero and approximately 10,000 Nama had perished. Hoffmanns moral degeneration is complete when he oversees a shipment of Herero skulls back to Berlin for study and display. Hundreds of those skulls are still part of the archives of collections of German ethnological museums.

The figure of a naive, innocent ethnologist who allows himself to be corrupted and becomes a conformist and morally reprehensible person is, of course, a symbol for colonialism, says Kraume, I know theres a danger in showing these things, showing the racism of a racist age, but weve had 120 years without a noteworthy German novel or film about this time, and if we dont tell the story, we leave it to the right-wing extremists, who have already tried to co-op this period as some sort of German grand adventure in Africa, all that shit.

Measures of Men was well-received at its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February (Picture Tree International is handling world sales on the film). But before it went on general release in Germany, Kraume took the movie on tour across Namibia, screening it on the original sites of the genocide for crowds of Herero and Nama villagers. Because there are few theaters in rural Namibia, the screenings were done using a solar-powered mobile cinema system.

For many people it was the first time theyd seen a movie together with an audience and on a big screen not just on their phones, said Kraume, it was a tremendous, moving experience.

A screening of Measures of Men for a school class in Okakahara, Namibia.

Director Lars Kraume presenting his film at an open air screening in Otjihende, Namibia.

The audiences, initially, were skeptical.

They were curious but reserved. They waited to see how the Herero were portrayed in the film, how the German colonialists were depicted, Kraume says. But after the film, there were these incredibly emotional statements, this real outpouring, not so much questions but just comments, ranging from the very personal to the very political.

Esther Utjiua Muinjangue, a native Herero and Namibian deputy minister of health and social services, told Kraume she thought his film could be a weapon in the battle for restitution with the German government. Since the mid-1990s, activists from the Herero and Nama have been talking about the genocide and wanting reparations payments and the return of of art, artifacts and human remains, including those stolen skulls.

No one can explain to me why Germany still has those skulls, says Kraume. The genocide was 120 years ago and theyve been negotiating for 30 years, I really dont know how much longer they want to drag it out. Its only possible [for the German government] to keep ignoring the issue because the public isnt interested in it. If this film manages to raise awareness in the audience of this injustice, then at least that ignorance will stop. If this film can be used, by the Herero as a tool to achieve that justice, that would be a good thing.

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LAVALLETTE - The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has ended its supervision of Lavallette's police department after confronting issues that included no background checks or proper psychological screening for at least four police employees, a faulty communications system that led officers to rely on their personal cellphones, and a lack of required training for both officers and supervisors, according to the prosecutor's report.

"I'm proud of the work we have done to assist the Lavallette Police Department," Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. "The police officers  the men and women that wear the uniform in Lavallette  have been very receptive to our implementation of formal procedures, practices and policies. I'm optimistic that Chief (Christian) LaCicero will lead these men and women effectively moving forward."

While Billhimer praised police department staff for their cooperation, the prosecutor's office report was critical of Lavallette's governing body, as well as Business Administrator John O. Bennett III and Borough Attorney William Burns, for what the report describes as a "meddlesome pattern of behavior" into "the daily operations of the police function(s) of the department, and continuous attempts to interfere with OCPO's implementation of plans/directives/policies designed to meet current police standards."

Chief LaCicero, 38, is the son of Mayor Walter LaCicero, himself a former Lavallette sergeant and a lawyer. Before he was appointed chief in the fall, Christian LaCicero was one of two sergeants vying for the chief's position. The other candidate, Justin Lamb, is a Toms River councilman and son of Robert Lamb, who is a councilman in Lavallette.

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Vehicles from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office outside Lavallette Police Department and Lavallette Borough Hall, May 19, 2022.

Lavallette sued the prosecutor's office last week, claiming the prosecutor's continued control of the department violated state law, and that the borough had not received regular reports updating officials on changes made by the prosecutor's office.

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The prosecutor's office took over the day-to-day operations of the Lavallette police department in mid-May 2022, to ensure the "appropriate level of direction and supervision" for the 13-member force, Billhimer said at the time.

'The borough is just happy to have control back'

Burns, the borough attorney, on Friday said no decision has been made on whether to continue with the lawsuit, since the Borough Council has not met to take official action. But he said it is likely that the borough will drop the lawsuit, "based on the transfer of full command and control" of the police department back to Chief LaCicero and the borough.

Burns did not directly respond to the report's claim of meddlesome behavior on the part of the governing body, the administrator and himself. "Regardless of the statements in the report concerning that, the borough is very happy that this matter has been resolved in the manner that it has, without the need for expensive and protracted litigation," he said.

"The borough is just happy to have control back," Burns said, and said the mayor and council have "full faith and confidence" in Chief LaCicero.

Mayor Water LaCicero said, "We're happy that they decided that their job here is done. At the same time we are a little bit disappointed that the larger questions that our lawsuit asked will not be answered."

Among them, he said, was whether or not the prosecutor's office acted properly when "spending borough money" and "writing purchase orders" while in charge of the police department, the mayor said.

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Billhimer said that "the lawsuit had nothing to do with the timing of our departure from supervising the day-to-day operations" of the police department. He said the prosecutor's office had decided in mid-February that March 24 "would be our target date" to give control back to Lavallette.

"It was important for Chief LaCicero to complete chiefs training with the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as Internal Affairs training provided by my office," Billhimer said. "Once those two trainings were successfully completed, we felt comfortable restoring full command and control back to the properly trained Chief of Police.

LaCicero completed a "new police chiefs orientation" held by the chiefs association on March 17, according to the prosecutor's office. Sgt. Michael Monica, who the prosecutor's office said was appointed by the Borough Council as the department's internal affairs officer without having the required training, finished the state Attorney General's course for internal affairs investigators on March 10.

In its suit against the prosecutor's office, Lavallette had asked for the prosecutor's office to remain in charge of police internal affairs even after giving day-to-day control over the department back to the borough.

'Deficiencies that remain'

The interference by Lavallette officials is one of several "deficiencies that remain" in the police department, according to the prosecutor's office.

Among the other remaining deficiencies cited in the report are:

Not having any detectives on the 13-member force to conduct investigations, unlike other departments of Lavallette's size in Ocean County.

Lack of an "executive command staff." There are no captains or lieutenants on the force, and Chief LaCicero is in charge of all day-to-day operations. "This limits his ability to be proactive in setting and meeting goals for the department and meeting the directives" of the state Attorney General's Office and the prosecutor's office.

Police officers are not equipped with tasers, which leaves officers "ill-prepared to deal with incidents where less-than-lethal force may be warranted."

Lavallette Police Department and Lavallette Borough Hall, May 19, 2022.

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Billhimer has urged Lavallette's governing body to pursue accreditation for the police department through the state chiefs association. Accreditation is a voluntary process whereby law enforcement agencies adopt and agree to maintain a series of standardized policies and procedures. In Ocean County, 26 police agencies have achieved accreditation, Billhimer noted.

In separate letters to the prosecutor, Business Administrator Bennett and Borough Attorney Burns have said Lavallette does not have the money to pay for the accreditation process, which would include about $40,000 to hire a consultant and an annual $13,000 cost to renew accreditation.

Billhimer said he hopes that Lavallette officials will change their minds and seek accreditation in the future. "Accreditation ensures that a law enforcement agency is operating at maximum efficiency and reduces risk and liability exposure," the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor's office report lists 25 "deficiencies" resolved since Billhimer appointed Anthony Carrington Jr., chief of detectives for the prosecutors office, as the officer in charge of the police department. The prosecutor also rehired Joseph Mitchell, who retired in 2021 as the prosecutors chief of detectives, to handle the day-to-day operations in Lavallette.

Among the deficiencies the prosecutor's report said have been resolved:

Implementing a full background investigation requirement for all new hires. Such an investigation, as a condition of employment, had not been conducted on four police employees before they were hired. An updated investigation on those employees has since been completed.

Implementing a "fit for duty" psychological evaluation for all new hires. Lavallette "lacked consistency" in obtaining psychological assessments for all police personnel. "Two officers were disqualified from continued employment or entrance to the police academy based on a negative" psychological evaluation.

Replacing a defective radio system antenna and battery back-up so that officers no longer use personal cellphones to communicate.

Starting a "two officers minimum" assigned per shift policy. "The two officer shift coverage is necessary for the safety of the community and that of the officers."

Coordinating input of information into the police's Computer-Aided Database (CAD), "to provide intelligence and safety information in the event an officer is dispatched to the same location or to the same individual more than once." The system had not been used for this purpose before.

Implementing a police information and messaging system to make sure all police personnel comply with required training, review of directives, standing operating procedures and general orders.

Installation of radar units in marked patrol vehicles and certifying police in the operation of radar. The radar units were not in patrol cars and officers "were either not current or not certified" to operate them.

Starting a community policing plan where all police officers "have been advised to be proactive in policing and to conduct area checks, as time allows during their respective shifts, of commercial businesses, residential areas, etc. Officers have been encouraged to walk the business sections of the borough and introduce themselves to business owners."

Updated Lavallette police department webpage to include "promoting diversity in law enforcement recruiting and hiring" as required by the state Attorney General's Office.

Updating body armor policy to require all officers to wear department-issued body armor; previous policy did not require officers to wear body armor and some patrol officers were not wearing it.

The prosecutor's report documents increases in business and residential checks that happened under OCPO control, which went from zero in the first three months of 2022 to 200 this past January, 127 in February and 103 as of March 20 of this year.

Responding to the contention that Lavallette officials were "meddling" in police operations, Mayor LaCicero said he did not believe anyone in the borough had behaved improperly.

"I pay my business administrator and I pay my borough attorney to protect the rights of the municipality," LaCicero said. "Thats all they were doing."

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 38 years. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lavallette NJ gets back control of cops, swatted over 'deficiencies'
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, has said in an interview with Russian propagandists that to achieve "goals" in the war, the Russian army may go not only to Kyiv but also to Lviv.

Source: Kremlin-aligned news outlets

Quote from Medvedev: "Nothing can be ruled out here. If we have to go to Kyiv, then we have to go to Kyiv, if we have to go to Lviv, then we have to go to Lviv in order to destroy this infection."

Details: According to Medvedev, the Russian leadership wants to achieve all "goals" in the war against Ukraine. Medvedev calls this the "defence" of the territories. "In the broadest sense of the word, [it is necessary  ed.] to create a sanitary strip," he said.

Medvedev pointed out once again that Russia is not fighting against Ukraine, but against NATO. "I will say only one thing, something that is already obvious  the Russian Federation is not at war with Ukraine... our country is at war with NATOs 3.6 million-strong army," he said.

Background: Previously, Medvedev lied in an interview that Ukraine is part of Russia and that the West underestimated the Kremlin's determination to start a war.

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Finland's President Sauli Niinisto on Thursday signed into law his country's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was ratified by parliament on March 1.

This act formally sealed the Nordic country's historic bid to join the military alliance.

Next, Finland will submit its NATO membership-related documents to the U.S. administration once Turkiye and Hungary ratify its membership bid.

Last Friday, during Niinisto's visit to Turkiye, the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Ankara would begin the process of ratifying Finland's bid.

According to Turkish media reports cited by the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat, the foreign affairs commission of the Turkish parliament approved Finland's NATO membership on Thursday, after which the discussion of Finland's NATO membership will be brought to parliament's general assembly.

Hungary's parliament is expected to vote on Finland's membership bid next Monday, Helsingin Sanomat said.

All 30 NATO allies must sign off on the accession protocols of new members. To date, 28 member states have done so.
The city of Corpus Christi hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new resource center for the Corpus Christi Fire Department, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022.

The city of Corpus Christi named its new fire chief on Friday.

Brandon Wade, currently an assistant chief in the Austin Fire Department, will assume the role after a nationwide search, City Manager Peter Zanoni said during a news conference. Wade will succeed Robert Rocha, who served in the department for 11 years and retired in January.

Wade will be formally appointed to the position by the City Council on Tuesday.

For the search, the city used Emergency Services Consulting International, a recruitment firm that is a division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Wade was among 30 candidates for the role. Those candidates were narrowed to four finalists, who went through extensive interviews and attended a community engagement session. Panels of interviewers included firefighters, a captain, a battalion chief and the president of the firefighters union.

Brandon Wade

Wade joined the Austin Fire Department in 1998. He oversees the operations division, the biggest in Austins department, with 900 personnel  about double the number of Corpus Christis firefighters  and 51 fire stations, compared to Corpus Christis 18.

His span of control, his amount of responsibility, is significant. Its huge, Zanoni said. Were excited that hes going to bring that experience here to this great city.

Wade is responsible for emergency response not only for the city of Austin but also for 16 agencies in the area.

He has served as the chief of homeland security and special operations in Austin, Zanoni said. He was responsible for planning and management of the departments annual budget of $145 million.

He has overseen wildfire operations, airport operations, communications and dispatch, medical operations, recruiting, fleet management and special operations, including hazardous material, tactical response and water rescue.

He was awarded the Austin Fire Department Medal of Honor, the highest honor given in that department.

Wade has an associate degree in fire science and a Bachelor of Applied Science in emergency management from West Texas A&M University.

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Lengthy resume aside, Zanoni said, Wades enthusiasm and his passion and his charisma were a big selling point for the interviewers.

The ability to inspire employees is not something everybody has, Zanoni said. Its not something, necessarily, that you can learn. Its an innate skill.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Meet city of Corpus Christi's new fire chief
One of the most important factors of the hospitality industry is the experience. When travelers plan a trip to a new destination, they want to escape their normal lives. Patrons are demanding to get their moneys worth and refuse to settle for anything less.

In Baltimore, there are two Black men who are redefining the standards of the hospitality industry: Donte P. Johnson and Jason Bass. They are the Black hoteliers behind Hotel Revival.

Hotel Revival is a boutique hotel in the historical Mount Vernon neighborhood in Baltimore. Known for its modern decor within the buildings 100-year-old architecture, Hotel Revival has built a name for itself. The hoteliers have found a way to integrate the citys social scene. They have done this through outreach and events curated by Black creatives. Local socialites enjoy the hotels atmosphere because of its rooftop restaurant, speakeasy-style bar and private rooms.

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Johnson, the general manager, and Bass, the director of culture and impact, have developed a new format in Baltimores hospitality scene. The hoteliers give the citys creatives a chance to showcase their talents. By providing local creatives a home to shine, Hotel Revival continues to grow and evolve. Johnson and Bass have made the hotel a resort for the citys arts and culture scene.

The hospitality duo recently spoke with Travel Noire about the hospitality industry, Hotel Revival, Black cultures impact on the travel industry and more.

Donte P. Johnson & Jason Bass  Photo Credit: Profiles PR

Travel Noire: Can you tell Travel Noire readers how much the hotel has changed since you started in your position?

Donte Johnson: [Almost] everything except the physical building is different in some way. Were here to make lives better in Baltimore and beyond. One of the first things we did was create a position: [the] Director of Culture and Impact. [Bass is] specifically tasked with connecting the hotel to the culture of the city and to lead our efforts to create access and drive positive impact into the community.

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[Hotel] Revival is uniquely positioned to challenge many long-held industry norms, such as uniform programming and grooming standards. Both of which weve blown up, since I arrived at the hotel.

Jason Bass: The building was beautifully designed and furnished on day one, and those elements exist today.

People tend to believe that beautiful decor is all it takes to get people in the door. Some people may come to see and experience it, but most wont return or share their experiences because [there was] no real connection made. Weve built an inclusive and impactful culture that hasnt been seen in other hotels. We are proving every day that there is a return on investment and a return on impact.

TN: Speaking of the new title, can you give Travel Noire readers some insight on how you acquired it?

JB: It all started with an introductory email.

I reached out to the [General Manager] at the time and asked if she would introduce me to her replacement. The purpose of my email was to continue the relationship [that] I had with the hotel. Donte took his time to vet me and learn about my previous projects to form his own opinion. After he was convinced, I would make a good local partner to work with for programming needs, we started planning. We hosted an event or two, [and] it grew into an offer for me to help with programming as a consultant starting January 2020.

Donte P. Johnson  Photo Credit: Profiles PR

Planning started in January, and February was the first month of successful, culturally relevant, impactful and community-supporting activities in all areas of the hotel. March was scheduled to be as rich with events; however, COVID had other plans.

We quickly pivoted into a community hub that provided fresh produce, hot meals and personal supplies to people that needed it. After about three months of weekly community efforts, Donte proposed the idea of becoming a full-time employee and the first Director of Culture and Impact for Hyatt. It was a dream role consisting of everything I felt passionate about, and I was grateful to get a job during a pandemic.

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TN: Youve earned the title of expert on diversity in the hospitality industry. Could you describe the moment you experienced hotel brands begin to care about the Black dollar?

DJ: The shock to the system that resulted from the impact of George Floyd and COVID shifted the way the industry engages with the Black community. These two devastating events have cleared the way for the community to be seen and valued in a profound way.

TN: Have you seen other hotels inspired by some of the experiences that Hotel Revival provides?

JB: Absolutely, but the change is slow.

I see attempts in the form of programming. In many cases, their attempts feel empty or inauthentic to their brand. Consistency would help to build trust and develop a culture at these inspired hotels, but that would take a commitment to a set of ideas that [is not] based on a hotel or corporate traditions.

I can share the recipe, but the meal wont taste the same. I hope that sharing our efforts and being open-sourced will save them time and cause more people to dedicate resources to impact hospitality.

Jason Bass  Photo Credit: Profiles PR

TN: I love how the hotels toiletries and products are from local or Black-owned businesses. Was this an initiative you purposely took or did it evolve into incorporating homegrown brands?

DJ: Its intentional.

Our community impact strategy is oriented toward supporting Baltimore youth and local entrepreneurship. Weve all heard the [statistics] around [venture capital] funding disparities. When we look at the businesses locally and beyond that would benefit most from our support, its women and people of color. Products are featured in the Corner Store Gift Shop in the lobby and throughout the property.

TN: What is the biggest contribution Black culture has made to the Travel industry?

DJ: Much of our culture has been woven into what happens at hotels and restaurants daily. It becomes increasingly difficult for the untrained eye to identify origins.

I love seeing less gatekeeping and more holistic acceptance of the culture in its most authentic form. As customers become less tolerant of the a la carte selection, we see whole versions of Black cuisine, music, fashion and art prominently displayed in formerly sacred spaces in the industry. Im here for it, and I will continue to push to create access wherever I can.

JB: [The Black community has] contributed greatly. Our community of mavericks are taking the risk [and] traveling to places our parents may have never been able to visit. [We are] being bold enough to experience new and challenging moments.

The industry is having to make changes for the Black traveler. Our voice on social media, and our dollars are having an impact. So far, we are doing a great job in roles of leadership and providing strong representation. [We are] making space for individual identities and creating a sense of welcomeness that previously did not exist. Black travel is the future and still has a long way to go before its fully understood or embraced.

This article has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A Native American tribe has been granted title to a portion of a national preserve in northern New Mexico following a yearslong court battle against the federal government, a ruling that could provide hope to other tribes seeking to regain rights to their traditional homelands.

The 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals issued a split ruling Wednesday in the case brought by Jemez Pueblo over lands it was seeking to reclaim in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The pueblo had argued its aboriginal property rights  or rights to occupy and use land as their ancestors did  were never extinguished despite a lower court ruling in 2019 that found the U.S. government had clear title to the expansive preserve. Following an appeal and a subsequent trial, the pueblo opted to narrow its claims to four specific areas within Valles Calderas boundaries.

The latest ruling acknowledged the pueblo's title to an area known as Banco Bonito but rejected claims to three other areas, with the court saying the tribe had not put the government on notice that it was seeking claim to those specific areas.

Legal experts say the partial victory marks the first time in the U.S. that a tribe has ever demanded the return of an aboriginal title that has not been extinguished, or terminated, and gone to court successfully to recover it. Still they say it's unclear what the broader implications will be for future land disputes as more tribes seek to reclaim traditional homelands.

Jemez Pueblo officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday, and the National Park Service declined to comment on the decision, saying only that the litigation was pending.

Both the pueblo and federal government still could appeal Wednesday ruling.

Robert Coulter, executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center in Montana, called it a long and complex case.

I think one of the most significant things is that it made what I believe is a breakthrough in determining that tribes can reclaim land to which they have aboriginal title that has not been lawfully extinguished, he said. That point was not at all clear in the past.

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The appellate ruling unwinds a previous lower court finding that Jemez Pueblo would have had to maintain control over Banco Bonito before and after 1860  when the government granted the land to private owners  in order to keep its title. Judge Gregory Phillips wrote that creating such a hurdle would likely keep other tribes from "establishing aboriginal title into the modern era.

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Nancy Moritz argued that relying on a tribes exclusive use of an area for a long time during any time period could subject the government to new aboriginal title claims.

There is no reason tribes nationwide could not file similar claims seeking aboriginal title to lands within the 18 other national preserves scattered throughout the United States or, for that matter, to any lands owned or later acquired by the government, Moritz wrote.

Jemez Pueblo considers Valles Caldera a spiritual sanctuary and part of its traditional homeland. It's home to vast grasslands, the remnants of a massive volcanic eruption and one of New Mexicos most famous elk herds.

The court record states that for over 800 years, many tribes and pueblos have used Valles Caldera for hunting, gathering and various cultural and religious practices. Redondo Peak, the highest mountain in the caldera, is a site long used as part of religious pilgrimages and is home to several shrines.

Jemez Pueblo first sued the federal government in 2012, saying tribes have legal and just claims to retain possession of land that they have historically occupied within the United States. The legal fight came as members of Congress and others started to push for management of the sprawling preserve to be transferred to the National Park Service.

When the tribe first made its case before the appellate court in 2014, then-Pueblo Gov. Joshua Madalena described Valles Caldera as the tribes spiritual mother, likening it to the Vatican for Catholics. Many of the court filings are redacted, seeking to keep secret details about traditions and culturally significant locations.

Federal attorneys initially argued that the tribes aboriginal title was essentially extinguished when surveyors, working under the authority of Congress, determined the land was vacant and turned it over to land grant heirs in 1860 as part of a swap.

The federal government purchased the property in 2000 with the goal of operating it as a working ranch while developing recreational opportunities for the public. It was eventually taken over by the Park Service.

Coulter said the ruling by the 10th Circuit panel of judges is significant even though Jemez Pueblo didn't get everything it had hoped for.

Weve seen generations of judicial decisions where the courts simply were not willing to apply the law in a straightforward manner in Indian cases, he said.
Not only does a Miami-Dade police arrest report accuse Gerald DeAngelo of stealing between $20,000 and $100,000 during his 15 years on the Marquis Villas-II Condominium Association board, it paints him as being lazy on the cover-up.

Speaking of painting, the report says DeAngelo provided fake invoices for painting buildings, work that homeowners couldnt remember ever being done. The invoices claimed to change signs that hadnt been changed. The invoices sometimes had only the first name of the workmen allegedly paid.

DeAngelo was arrested Wednesday on one count of grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000. The report said the 56-year-old took advantage of his right to remain silent. According to Miami-Dade Corrections online records, DeAngelo has already posted bond and been released from Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

This arrest of a longtime Marquis Villas-II Condominium Association president is another example of the problem that too many Florida residents are facing today, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle said. The legislative package of condo and HOA legal reforms we are presently advocating for in Tallahassee will promote the rights of homeowners to be free of such victimization. Our present laws are desperately in need of reform and strengthening.

Holding the presidency  and the cash

DeAngelo bought his three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom, 1,180-square-foot unit at Marquis Villas II for $88,900 in 2001, a year after Miami-Dade property records say Nima Development built the 44-unit complex in the 6700 block of Northwest 182nd Street.

State filings for the condominium association say DeAngelo joined the associations board in 2004; became president in 2009; treasurer along with being president in 2014; stepped down to vice president in 2019 before being removed entirely that same year.

By that point, the arrest report says, the associations reserve bank account was nearly depleted despite maintenance fees that should put $105,600 per year in the associations account. The previous property manager told investigators that DeAngelo told him to worry only about collecting the maintenance fees.

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At some point, DeAngelo became the only signer on one association bank account and the only signer and holder of the only checking card linked to another account. Then again, the arrest report says, that second association account had his name on it. Over his last year on the board, DeAngelo made $18,940 in ATM withdrawals on the account, the report says.

Following his removal, DeAngelo was asked for invoices for work and records of ATM withdrawals.

Once [DeAngelo] produced some form of documentation for the ATM withdrawals, it was apparent that [DeAngelo] fabricated the invoices provided that were allegedly for work completed around the association, the report said.

There were invoices for work done, but no 1099 tax forms for that work, the report said. There were invoices for work done on Saturday or Sunday, when work isnt allowed.

Various invoices have only a first name of an individual who cannot be traced anywhere, the report said.

Those one-name individuals supposedly painted buildings, replaced light bulbs, sod, grass, sidewalks, did roof repairs and removed appliances.

Problem was, according to the report, the light bulbs hadnt been replaced. The board had to pay $7,000 to replace the light bulbs and fixtures. Homeowners couldnt remember buildings being painted, sidewalks being replaced or sod and grass being replaced. Where invoices said there shouldve been new signs, old ones remained.

Taking appliances and furniture out of units? Thats a problem for the owner, not the association.

The report said DeAngelo didnt bother to come up with invoices to explain the five checks on the associations account worth $3,400, pay to the order of Cash, and with his signature.
A Miami police officer milked a COVID-19 relief program for small businesses out of more than $40,000 in early 2021, authorities said. Nearly two years later, the cop is facing a federal charge.

Gregory Dennis, who lives in Broward, was charged with wire fraud in early March. His attorney, Roderick Vereen, has already appeared in court on his behalf.

Back in April 2021, Dennis sent a fraudulent application to receive Paycheck Protection Program loans, which was one source of financial relief offered by the CARES act, according to court documents.

He claimed to be the sole proprietor of a business called Gregory Dennis. He was able to secure two $20,833 loans, for a total of $41,666.

If Dennis is found guilty, prosecutors say he must forfeit all property and items he bought with the fraudulent loans he received. It is unclear what the money was used for.

Miami police told the Herald that Dennis has worked for the station since 2013 and has been relieved of duty without pay.
Miami Valley rivers are expected to rise with the rounds of heavy spring rain.

>> WEATHER: Heavy rain, thunderstorms continue through morning; Flood Watch issued for most until Saturday

The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting several locations along the Great Miami River and Mad River will rise to action and minor flood stages. Water is expected to rise through Sunday before receding Monday.

Mad River near Springfield is forecasted to crest nine feet.

The rise in water level will cause a flooding along Lower Valley Pike between Old Mill Road and state Route 369, in addition to Spangler Road. Interstate 70 westbound exit to Medway at Route 675 will be closed.

Great Miami River at Dayton is forecasted to crest 32 feet.

The flooding will occur near Rip Rap Road between Bridgewater and Little York Roads near Huber Heights.

The Miami Conservancy District (MCD) flood protection system will provide protection to selected areas in Dayton up to a river stage of 42 feet. This system provides flood reduction from four dams and reduced risk in leveed areas, a spokesperson for NWS informed.

However, if the Great Miami River were to flood, bike trails along the river would be the first places hit.

Great Miami River at Taylorsville is forecasted to crest 22 feet.

The water will cover Tipp-Elizabeth Road and Eldorado Platt Road, as well as Elizabeth-Bethel and Ruby Roads, causing closures. Sections of Rip Rap, Taylorsville, and Wagner-Ford Roads will also be closed due to the pavement being underwater.

Communities protected by flood walls and levees are protected to a stage of 60 feet.

Great Miami River at Middletown is forecasted to crest 12 feet.

The water will affect roads south of Route 73, between Excello and the Great Miami River, including properties on Oxford Street. The flooding may even affect some private properties along either side of Route 73, approaching Excello.

The city of Middletown is protected by levees and floodgates to a level of 24 feet.

Finally, Stillwater River near Englewood is forecasted to crest 37 feet.

Martindale Road, Old Springfield Road, and the road to the MetroPark are all expected to be covered by two to three feet of water. As a result, all these roads will be closed.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), once the chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee, is eyeing a possible White House bid, saying in an interview this week that if he ran, hed focus on running in a more civil, more solutions-oriented lane.

What were doing is calling for really unique, creative solutions to all the problems everybodys talking about, but were just not admiring the problem, Rogers told The Hill on Thursday. And so theres a lane for a solutions-oriented, optimistic, not-admiring-the-problem candidate.

Though the Republican presidential primary is expected to be a crowded field with recognizable names like former President Trump and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, Rogers told The Hill on Thursday that its not deterring him from weighing a possible run, arguing that he could offer voters something different.

Rogers, who last served in Congress more than a decade ago and is a former FBI agent, pointed to the countrys literacy proficiency, lowering the cost of Medicare and the situation at the southern border as key issues to solve.

I do believe that America is looking for new leadership, the former congressman said. I mean, people know something is wrong. They feel it.

If you look at the places that Donald Trump won in 16, lost in 20, we doubled down on that Trump, Trump-lite lane candidate in 2022. We didnt do well, we got shellacked and people are saying, Listen, the country is absolutely going in the wrong direction. And they dont see leadership that actually fixes problems.

Rogers has already traveled to early presidential primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where he said hes been getting invited back. He suggested that he can be competitive against other declared candidates if he decides to jump into the race by focusing on early presidential primary states and old-fashioned retail politicking.

What happens in these races  and this is a whole new game of races  that you just need to get known where you need to get known in the first early primaries. You need to have a win, place or show, and the rest of that problem takes care of itself. And so weve been focusing on the retail politics nature of those states, in the sense that heres where we think America needs to go, he said.

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All the name recognition helps fundraising for sure for those candidates. Good on em, he added. But were doing it a different way. Its very retail-oriented, and its places where people actually walk in a booth and pull a lever. Were having conversations with those folks.

Asked about a possible timeline for when hell make a decision, he noted that most candidates are likely going to have to make their moves by mid-summer.

At the same time, Rogerss state will also be home to a competitive Senate race with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) retiring after her term. Rogers said that hes been very flattered and humbled by some within Michigan who have asked him to consider a bid for the upper chamber.

You never say never in politics, but Im not inclined [at] this time to do that, he said of a possible Senate bid.

The former House Intel chairman also offered a hopeful tone about the new House majority, saying theyre doing some really good things while adding that time will tell given the newness of the Republican majority.

But he cautioned his colleagues against using their new majority as a revenge tour.

I have been telling all the former colleagues that I bump into and have conversations with, if the only thing that were doing as [a] Republican majority in the House is taking revenge, we are doing no service to the United States of America, he said. And sometimes the country needs us more than our party ever will need us, and I think its that time that we have to focus on real solutions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
With only one guaranteed starting pitcher under contract for 2024 at the start of spring training, one of the lingering mysteries around Cardinals camp was how the team would take action to stabilize its staff in future years.

That mystery was, in part, solved on Friday. The club announced that it has agreed to a contract extension with starter Miles Mikolas, as first confirmed by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ESPNs Jesse Rogers reported the deal is for two years and $40 million.

Mikolas, 34, is 41-34 with a 3.46 ERA in 105 starts since the beginning of the 2018 season. He missed the truncated 2020 season and the majority of 2021 with a flexor tendon injury in his throwing elbow, but has twice been named to the All-Star game and finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting in 2018, his first season in St. Louis.

With the recent injury to Adam Wainwright,MLB announced today that Mikolas is also on track to start opening day for the Cardinals. It is his second assignment in that role, following 2019.

His injury-shortened seasons aside, Mikolas has been an essential pillar of the pitching staff since returning to MLB from Japan as a free agent. In averaging almost exactly six innings per start while utilizing a full five pitch mix, hes often been a barrier against eroding bullpen performance while offering the necessary confidence and swagger to pitch at the head of the rotation.

A native of Jupiter, Florida, Mikolas spent days during his high school career sneaking away to catch Cardinals spring training action and had opportunities to play on the field at Roger Dean Stadium. Now, as a professional, another extension with the Cardinals provides him the opportunity for his home to remain his home as he, potentially, winds down his career wearing red.

In 2022, Mikolas made a career high 33 appearances and, for the third time as a Cardinal, made 32 starts. His 202  innings pitched and 153 strikeouts were career highs.
Problems with military recruitment are a national security issue, according to Army, Navy and Air Force leaders.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

They testified in front of Congress this week to answer questions about how theyre trying to attract more people to serve our country.

READ: Disney workers, Disney World reach tentative agreement on wage increase

In a Senate committee hearing, a discussion weve been having with military leaders and military family advocates, was in the spotlight.

Im not surprised, frankly, that we have a recruiting challenge in our services because we have a workforce challenge, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) New Hampshire said.

Live at 9:30am ET: SASC holds a hearing on the recruiting challenges facing the U.S. military.

Witnesses:

-@UnderSecArmy Gabriel Camarillo

-@UNSECNAV Erik Raven

-Kristyn Jones, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the @usairforce

Watch: https://t.co/Jd6VR50QMn  Senate Armed Services Committee (@SASCDems) March 22, 2023

Lawmakers worry a workforce challenge for the armed forces means possible problems defending our country.

For the past fifty years, our armed services have been filled by recruits, and today recruiting is not going well, Sen. Roger Wicker (R) Mississippi said.

Many Republicans point to what they call the woke military culture as a cause of recruiting and readiness challenges. Senators questioned the secretaries about this.

READ: Exclusive: Senators launch inquiry into health impact on military families in unsafe housing

Gen. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps was recently asked a similar question and he said there was zero evidence, thats a quote, zero evidence that all these initiatives have impacted our readiness, Erik Raven, Under Secretary of the Navy, said.

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Since most of the branches missed their recruiting goals last year, this panel said theyre now changing how they recruit.

The Army is experimenting with turning every soldier into a recruiter through our soldier referral program, Gabriel Camarillo, Under Secretary of the Army, said.

The services are also working to change the message in their marketing.

We are in a competition for talent, Under Secretary Raven said. The world is changing around us. There are Americans, who are less propense to serve. We need to get at that with a real campaign of what it means to serve our country.

READ: Trump arrested? Putin jailed? Fake AI images spread online

Leaders said theyre also addressing many of the quality of life issues weve been reporting on, including not being able to afford food, childcare concerns and military spouse unemployment. Advocates believe all of those factors impact both recruitment and retention.

The committee chair believes this information helps lawmakers as they move forward with budget requests and legislation.

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.




Millie Bobby Brown has a debut novel coming out later this year. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)

Actor Millie Bobby Brown is about to be a published author.

Her debut novel, the historical fiction "Nineteen Steps," will be published Sept. 13, HarperCollins announced Friday. The book is inspired by the real-life experiences of Brown's grandmother, who survived the Bethnal Green tube disaster in 1943, one of the greatest losses of civilian life in the U.K. during World War II.

Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart," the "Stranger Things" and "Enola Holmes" star said in a statement. "I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. Im honored to keep her story alive.

The book is set in wartime Bethnal Green, an East London neighborhood, and focuses on 18-year-old Nellie Morris, an assistant at the mayor's office who is struggling to find normalcy amid the ongoing conflict, according to HarperCollins.

Nellie meets and falls in love with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, and begins to look forward to a new life with the soldier, beyond her neighborhood. However, her dreams are interrupted by a tragedy during an air raid.

The actual tragedy took place inside an underground train station at Bethnal Green in 1943, according to the neighborhood's website. As people rushed into the station for shelter from an oncoming air raid, a woman carrying her baby slipped and fell near the bottom of the stairs, setting off a domino effect of people. Many became trapped amid a pile of bodies and suffocated in the narrow structure. In all, 173 people died, 62 of them children, most from asphyxiation.

The book's editor, Liz Stein, called "Nineteen Steps" both "heart-warming and heart-breaking."

"I was incredibly moved by the haunting, true tragedy at the core of the novel and enchanted by the unforgettable portrait of love in the time of war," Stein said in a statement.

Brown is preparing to film the fifth and final season of the Netflix series "Stranger Things," which she has starred in as Eleven since 2016. Writers of the show recently denied rumors that Brown had rejected a $12-million offer to play Eleven in a "Stranger Things" spin-off show.

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"Yeah theres nothing in this article that is true," the writers room tweeted Wednesday. "Dont know why we have to keep debunking this rumor but get those clicks you guys!!"

In a recent interview with Parade, Brown said she and others in the "Stranger Things" cast are "ready to be able to say goodbye to those roles and thank them and be grateful for the time that I've had with them."

She added that she's "ready to move on to new projects and new roles to fulfill." And writing a book is just one of her offscreen career aspirations.

Brown, who is in her first year of college, taking online courses toward a human-services degree at Purdue University, also told Parade she wants to direct and produce films. She made her producing debut with the 2020 Netflix film "Enola Holmes" and directed a Samsung commercial last year.

But she also wants to check her privilege in pursuing her goals.

"You know, there are many young women like me that are in film school studying directing and I'm really aware that I have the privilege of being able to take control of the narratives that I want to put out in the world, so I definitely want to work my way to that point of success," Brown said.

"I just want to do it in the right way that feels right to me, and be super aware that there are other young women that also deserve that opportunity."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
 Flash

This aerial photo provided by the Swedish Coast Guard on Sept. 28, 2022 shows a gas leak on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. [Photo/The Swedish Coast Guard handout via Xinhua]

The U.S. attempt to block a Russian initiative on an international investigation of the Nord Stream sabotage suggests Washington's guilt, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

"We have submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council requesting the UN Secretary-General to organize an impartial, objective, transparent investigation with the broad participation of international experts," Lavrov said at a briefing.

The United States reacted "very nervously" and immediately began to team up with its allies in a bid to vote against the Russian resolution, he told reporters.

"I do not rule out that they will succeed in getting enough votes to block this initiative. Then this move will prove that they have something to hide and confirm the objectivity of the data presented by Seymour Hersh," Lavrov said.

He hoped that the United Nations would shoulder its responsibility for the fight against terrorism, "which has destroyed a critical infrastructure on which the energy security of the European Union depended to a decisive extent."

"We will seek the truth," Lavrov stressed.

In an article published last month, 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.
A woman was killed after her husband stabbed her repeatedly during a Bible study session at a relative's home in St. Paul, Minnesota, local authorities said.

Saint Paul Police Department officers were called to the residence at approximately 9 p.m. on Tuesday for a reported stabbing. When officers arrived, multiple people were holding a man, and a woman was suffering from apparent stab wounds to her upper body, police said in a news release.

The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police later identified the victim as Corrina Woodhull, a 41-year-old woman who lived in St. Paul.

Police confirmed that Robert Castillo, 40, was arrested on suspicion of murder and was booked into jail.

While he was being taken to jail, Castillo asked an officer Is she going to be okay? police said in charging documents provided to USA TODAY.

Castillos sister hosts a weekly Bible study at her home, the charging documents said.

Woodhull and Castillo sat together on a couch in the home during the weekly session, and Castillo held his wifes hand, kissed her, according to the documents. He whispered something to her, and the woman shook her head no before the man stabbed her multiple times. Others at the gathering held Castillo down until police arrived at the home.

Another person who was present for the bible study said they provided aid to Woodhull after she was stabbed, and she said Dont let me die.

Castillo told officials the couple had been married for several years.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled Woodhulls death as a homicide.

Woodhull is survived by her five children, according to multiple reports.

She worked for Juel Fairbanks Recovery Services, a treatment facility for substance use disorders. The facility declined to comment to USA TODAY.

The facility on Facebook shared that she had so much light and she spread that light and positivity each and every day to our clients and staff.

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Castillo has previous felony convictions for assault. He used a hammer to attack a woman he had a relationship with and stabbed a roommate, officials said in the charging documents.

Castillo appeared in custody on Thursday, and his bail was set at $5 million, the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney confirmed to USA TODAY. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney.

If you are in immediate danger from domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text START to 88788.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota husband stabs, kills wife during Bible study, police say
A Minnesota man allegedly stabbed his estranged wife 20 times during a Bible study before she begged a witness, "Don't let me die," court documents say.

By that time, Corrina Woodhull was soaked in blood from stab wounds that Robert Castillo had allegedly inflicted through her torso, chest and arms, according to a criminal complaint that was obtained by Fox News Digital.

The alleged assault unfolded in front of several witnesses around 9 p.m. Tuesday in a Saint Paul home, where Castillo's sister lives and hosts a weekly Bible study.

As police escorted Castillo to jail in handcuffs, he asked officers, "Is she going to be OK?" according to the criminal complaint.

CALIFORNIA MAN WITH HISTORY OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN KILLED EX-GIRLFRIEND WHILE ON BOND: COPS

Corrina Woodhull, a mother of five, was killed during a Bible study in Minnesota on March 21, 2023. Her estranged husband has been charged in the stabbing.

By 9:39 that night, Woodhull was pronounced dead in the hospital, and Castillo was charged with second-degree murder, along with two other felonies.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Other members of the Bible group, including some of Castillo's family, pounced on him during the attack and wrestled the knife away from him while first responders arrived, according to the complaint.

Others, including a witness identified in court papers as "MC," tended to Woodhull's injuries.

"MC thought Castillo would have stabbed others in the house had he not been disarmed," according to the court documents.

GRUESOME DISCOVERY MADE ALONG MINNESOTA LAKE SHORE, POLICE HAVE 'PERSON OF INTEREST'

Woodhull was a mother of five, who overcame drug addiction and depression, her friend Eriz Meszaros said in a statement on a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses.

"Corrina was an advocate for those in recovery, she had a passion to help others experiencing substance use disorder and domestic abuse and violence," Meszaros wrote.

"She loved her children so much. You would find Corrina most days helping at church, volunteering at non-profits, including Metro Hope Ministries, FreedomWorks Reentry and Aftercare, Against the Odds Ministries, Twin Cities Outreach Church, Serenity Village Community Church, and many other ministries.

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OHIO POLICE BODYCAM VIDEOS REVEAL NEIGHBORS REACTING TO 3 MEN FOUND BOUND, GAGGED, EXECUTED

"Corrina had a fire for the Lord that was unmatched. She was beautiful inside and out. I know she was welcomed home by the Lord with the words, Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Woodhull and Castillo were legally married for a "couple years" and lived together until about a month ago when they began having marital problems, the criminal complaint says.

Corrina Woodhull was killed after a stabbing at a Bible study in Minnesota. Her estranged husband was charged in the crime.

Witnesses described the fatal assault as like a lightning-fast cobra attack that seemingly came out of nowhere.

Woodhull and Castillo were "getting along" on the couch for about 90 minutes, "there were no other signs of hostility," and "everything seemed fine," witnesses told police, according to the court documents.

Castillo allegedly whispered something in Woodhull's ear, she nodded, and then Castillo pulled out the blade, the complaint alleges.

'JUGGING' AMONG NEW CRIME TRENDS POSING DANGER ON AMERICA'S STREETS: WHAT TO KNOW

Witnesses told police they didn't hear what Castillo whispered, and Castillo allegedly told police that he didn't want to discuss it when asked what happened.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office conducted an autopsy, which found that a stab wound on the left side of Woodhull's chest had penetrated her left breast and heart, according to the criminal complaint.

The medical examiner also noted "additional sharp force injuries" to her face, chest and upper extremities.

During Castillo's arrest and booking, police found that there was an active warrant for an unrelated charge in a different county for an alleged assault on a prison guard while he was an inmate at the Department of Corrections at Stillwater.

Castillo has eight prior felony convictions, including assaulting his child's mother with a hammer. He broke her arms and cracked her head, according to criminal records.

Another one of his convictions was connected to a stabbing of a former roommate.
Vancouver Police Department

A missing mother and her 7-year-old daughter were found dead in a rural neighborhood in Washington state on Wednesday, and police are considering her ex-boyfriend a person of interest.

Meshay Karmen Melendez, 27, and her daughter, Layla Stewart, went missing on March 12, and a witness told police that theyd seen Melendez in her ex-boyfriends car. Kirkland Warren had previously been arrested for allegedly assaulting Melendez and had been ordered to have no contact with her.

On March 19, as Melendez and her daughter remained missing, Warren was arrested on suspicion of tampering with a witness, fourth-degree assault, drive-by shooting, unlawful possession of a firearm, and violation of domestic violence orders; he remains in custody at Clark County jail.

According to an arrest warrant dated before Melendezs disappearance, Warren was taken into custody on March 2 for allegedly physically assaulting, harassing, and shooting her in December 2022. At that time, he was ordered to have no contact with her.

Police said the two talked about ending their relationship, and Warren had threatened to kill Melendez. Prosecutors determined that he posed an extreme risk to her and scored a 31 on a scale that typically goes between 1 and 18 during a danger assessment, according to the arrest warrant.

Warren was released on bail on March 10, only two days before Melendez and her daughter were last seen alive, according to KGW .

Police said that Warren, Melendez, and her daughter were staying over at an acquaintance's home at the time. Court documents revealed that a witness told police she saw Melendez in Warren's car on March 12 "unresponsive and naked from the waist down.

On March 14, a Facebook account belonging to Melendez posted DND, which could be interpreted as do not disturb. Its unclear if she was alive at that time or if someone else made the post.

On Wednesday, police said they believed they had found the bodies of Melendez and her daughter based on unique identifying genetic marks, after they responded to a report from someone who believed theyd seen two life-sized mannequins off the roadway in some thick brush.

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Warren was previously arrested in 2018 on charges of murder and abuse of a corpse in Arkansas and released on bond. The case has yet to go to trial.

According to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually, and 1 in 2 female murder victims are killed by intimate partners.

More on this
Missouri lawmakers late Thursday evening moved to strip state funding from public libraries in retaliation for a lawsuit challenging a new state law that bans certain materials in school libraries.

The proposal, approved close to midnight by the House Budget Committee, would cut the entire $4.5 million in state aid that libraries were slated to get next year. The proposed library cut, along with other changes to the states roughly $50 billion budget, will now head to the full Missouri House.

They are seeking to overturn that law that was unanimously supported by the House, said state Rep. Cody Smith, a Carthage Republican and chair of the committee who proposed the cut. I dont think we should subsidize that.

Smiths cut was in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, on behalf of the Missouri Library Association and Missouri Association of School Librarians, challenging a state law passed last year that bans sexually explicit material from schools. The suit argues the law infringes on students First Amendment rights.

The Missouri Library Association and the ACLU of Missouri on Thursday pushed back on Smiths claim that the state was subsidizing the lawsuit, telling The Star that the ACLU was representing both library groups pro bono.

Our rural libraries rely the most heavily on this funding to serve their communities, and they will be crippled by this drastic budget cut, the library association said in a statement Thursday.

The law, which was approved last year as part of a larger package addressing sexual assault survivors rights, prohibits images in school materials that could be considered sexually explicit, such as depictions of genitals or sex acts. It threatens librarians or other school employees who violate the law with a misdemeanor, risking up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine.

After the law went into effect in late August, districts across the state pulled hundreds of titles from school libraries, many of which are authored by or feature characters who are people of color or identify as LGBTQ.

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Missouri Democrats on Thursday said the cut violates the state constitution, which requires lawmakers to support public libraries.

Tom Bastian, a spokesperson for the ACLU of Missouri, in a statement Thursday said the budget cut would punish Missouri library patrons, calling it abhorrent.

If the members of the committee are concerned about preserving taxpayer funds, they should stop enacting laws they know do not meet constitutional muster, not burden local governments in a misguided effort to silence organizations who object to the legislatures overreach, the statement said.

State Rep. Doug Richey, an Excelsior Springs Republican, commended Smith for the cut earlier this week, saying it sent a message that lawmakers were unhappy with the lawsuit.

Shame on libraries for doing what theyre doing, he said.

State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said the budget cut would hurt people who use public libraries as a vital resource, including to apply for jobs.

By cutting this funding, were literally tying the hands of one of the most important resources in our communities, she said.
Despite Missouris sweeping abortion ban, some Republicans are still attacking Planned Parenthoods Medicaid reimbursements.

Multiple bills attempt to block funding to abortion-affiliated facilities, like Planned Parenthood, from different avenues.

One would prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements and another would create a constitutional amendment to stop all Medicaid reimbursements from going to the facility, with voter approval. A third zeroes out funding for Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood in the budget.

Similar attempts to cut reimbursements to Planned Parenthood have been struck down by the Cole County Circuit Court as recently as December, after the legislature approved zeroing out the facilitys Medicaid reimbursements in March 2022. Another attempt to cut Medicaid reimbursements through the budget was struck down by the Missouri Supreme Court in 2020.

Planned Parenthood provides services like pap smears, STD testing, birth control and other reproductive and preventative health care for Medicaid patients, according to the organizations website. Even before Roe v. Wade was struck down, abortion services werent covered by Medicaid, except in cases of rape, incest or if the patients life was in danger.

There are no Planned Parenthoods in Missouri that are providing abortion care. Instead, so many Missourians rely on Planned Parenthood for non-abortion, essential sexual and reproductive health care, said Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Pro-Choice Missouri, an organization advocating for reproductive rights in Missouri.

Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican, sponsored the bill to create a constitutional amendment preventing all public funds from going to Planned Parenthood with voter approval. He said despite Missouris abortion ban, organizations like Planned Parenthood have facilities across the country. The organization operates clinics in bordering Kansas and Illinois, which offer abortion services, for example

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By supporting one of them, I do believe that supports the network of these organizations, maybe elsewhere, Eigel said. I want to make sure that its in our constitution, that the people of this state are simply not going to support public monies going to any institution that supports the institution of abortion.

Eigel said he was opposed to attempting to cut reimbursements through the budget because it has not worked in the past.

Were going to put it in the founding document of our state, that its not okay to use public taxpayer money for anybody that may be supporting or executing abortions, anywhere they may do business, Eigel said.

Emily Wales, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which covers the Kansas City metro, said the bills are about control, and dont prioritize the health of people who need their services.

Wales said they have ways to keep seeing patients if funding is cut off, but it would have a chilling effect on patients if Planned Parenthood stops accepting Medicaid. She said they may delay seeking care, and that is the most worrisome part for her.

The idea that the bills are about abortion is a distraction, Wales said, and the GOP is opposed to people making independent, private medical decisions. It isnt just Planned Parenthood, she said, it also extends to the attempts to limit gender affirming care.

At the end of the day, when the legislature doesnt understand something, or is critical of it, They attempt to block care. They attempt to withdraw funding, Wales said. And all it ends up doing is hurting Missourians who are the most in need of support.

Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion lobbyist and director of Campaign Life Missouri, said he isnt sure any of the bills will pass this session, but he certainly supports preventing any money from going to Planned Parenthood.

Thats something that the pro-life movement has been fighting for for years, Lee said. And its not a new battle, its been going on forever.

Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said Republicans are strong in their conviction, but they are not in alignment with the majority of Missourians.

According to an August 2022 poll by Saint Louis University and British pollster YouGov, 58% of those surveyed supported a womans right to an abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy. In cases of rape, 75% of those surveyed agreed a woman should be able to get an abortion, and 79% supported it in cases of incest.

The poll was conducted between Aug. 8 and 16 and surveyed 900 likely Missouri voters, with a 3.75% margin of error.

I think they recognize that their position is wildly unpopular. With that being said, our committee hearing did devote an entire committee session to hearing bills on outlawing something that is already banned in Missouri, Arthur said.

Arthur said she is concerned there will be a push to undermine access to birth control in the next few years.

Schwarz, the executive director of Pro-Choice Missouri, said it is not a coincidence that the continued attacks on Planned Parenthood and access to abortions are happening at the same time as attacks on transgender people and the initiative petition process.

Republicans see the writing on the wall, they know that abortion access is popular, that Planned Parenthood is popular, and that public support for LGBTQ communities is growing around the country, Schwarz said. So these attacks are a backlash against the popular support of these issues.

Without Planned Parenthood, Schwarz said other safety set providers will not be able to fill the gap in care. She said those who rely on Medicaid in Missouri are low-income and surviving paycheck to paycheck. She said they are disproportionately people of color, people with disabilities and members of the LBGTQ community.

Robert Fischer, a spokesperson for PROMO Missouri, an organization advocating for LGBTQ rights, said Planned Parenthood has provided a safe space for the LGBTQ community to get access to health care.

Its a basic need, its really providing people the ability to thrive in Missouri, and any type of legislation that tries to take away funding is ensuring that LGBTQ Missourians cannot thrive within our state, Fischer said.
Auli'i Cravalho used red lipstick to make a powerful statement at a recent television premiere. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Prime Video)

Auli'i Cravalho is putting her message where her mouth is.

The Moana star arrived at the premiere of Amazon Prime's new series The Power with a red lipstick handprint planted across her face  a display of solidarity with Indigenous women.

"I'm also representing No More Stolen Sisters, and bringing light to murdered and Indigenous women," the actress told ET.

A red handprint placed across the mouth is a symbol of support for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in North America.

According to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, Indigenous women experience murder rates more than 10 times the national average, while four out of five native women experience some sort of violence in their lifetime.

Cravalho told Good Morning America that she saw the big night as the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and show her support for the cause in an eye-grabbing way.

"We were lucky enough to be filming in Vancouver for The Power, and I saw many a monument about it, and I'm so grateful to be working on a film based on female empowerment," she said, adding, "I felt like I had to put my money where my mouth was."

She also called out a lack of police involvement in cases regarding crimes committed against indigenous women and girls.

"It is incredibly frustrating that there are not enough cases that are actually followed up with. It points to police and how they are not using their funds correctly," she told GMA.

Cravalho also spoke about how the show, which highlights themes of power imbalance and female empowerment, is especially relevant now.

"I didn't realize how often I acted or didn't act due to internalized fear of not being strong enough. And I think that the power really does change everything. It's groundbreaking," she said.

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
A City Council committee soon will start interviewing the Modesto residents who want to serve on the citys new nine-member Community Police Review Board.

Seventy-three people applied for the board, and 47 met the qualifications as spelled out in the review boards bylaws.

The 73 people represent a wide swath of the community. They include a school principal, E.&J. Gallo security officer, the Chamber of Commerce president-CEO and the local NAACP president. Because the city would not provide the names of the 47 who cleared the first round, its not possible to know if these applicants will be going through interviews.

An IT manager, registered nurse, social worker, Faith in the Valley community organizer, dairy nutritionist, the City Ministry Network community care director, a Neighborhood Watch coordinator, property manager and a retired Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputy who is now a pastor also are among the 73 applicants.

While the city provided The Bee with the applications of the 73 people in response to a California Public Records Act request as well the number who meet the qualifications, it did not provide the names of the 47 applicants who are advancing to interviews.

The city expected to notify them Friday that they can interview for one of the seats on the review board. City spokeswoman Diana Ruiz-Del Re said the applicants will need to schedule an interview with City Councils Appointments Committee.

The committee meets March 30 and April 3 for interviews. The meetings are open to the pubic and are hybrid so the public can attend in person or over Zoom.

The Appointments Committee will recommend nine of the people it interviews to the City Council for appointment to the review board. (The committee had also planned to meet March 31, but that meeting has been canceled. Its not clear whether it will be rescheduled to a later date.)

The City Council approved forming the board and hiring an independent police auditor in December as part of its police reform effort called Forward Together. Modesto is in the process of recruiting for and hiring an auditor.

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The review board will hold monthly public meetings and review the auditors annual report of such matters as use-of-force incidents, officer-involved shootings and other major incidents, according to the boards bylaws.

The board also will conduct regular community engagement and outreach, according to the bylaws, and its members will take part in events that raise awareness of the board and events focused on youth and improving police-community relationships.

More information about the board and its duties is available at www.modestogov.com/2908/Community-Police-Review-Board. The review board and independent auditor will make recommendations on how to improve policing in Modesto.

The Appointments Committee could meet beyond its upcoming meetings. The committee will also consider inviting the highest ranking of all 47 eligible applicants to a second interview, Ruiz-Del Re, the city spokeswoman, said in an email.

She said the date for the second interviews has not been scheduled. There also is not yet a date for when the City Council would considering appointing the nine review board members. But Ruiz-Del Re said the Community Police Review Board is tentatively scheduled to hold its first meeting June 15.

City officials have said board members would undergo training before their first meeting. Members serve without pay and for four-year terms.

Ruiz-Del Re said the reasons for an applicant not being eligible may include that he or she lives outside of Modesto, is not registered to vote or works for a law enforcement agency. (Current, former and retired Modesto Police Department employees cannot serve on the review board. City employees also cannot serve.)

She said some applicants did not complete the fingerprinting process and others chose to drop out.

The March 30 meeting starts at 4 p.m. The April 3 meetings start at 8 a.m. The Appointments Committee will meet in the Del Puerto Room, Room 2001-40, on the second floor of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St. The meetings Zoom ID is 869 4597 0570 and the passcode is 84326.
A Twitter message from Donald Trump encouraging people to come to the capital to protest on Jan. 6, 2021, is shown on a screen as the House select committee holds a July 2022 hearing on the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

A Twitter message from Donald Trump encouraging people to come to the capital to protest on Jan. 6, 2021, is shown on a screen as the House select committee holds a July 2022 hearing on the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

WASHINGTON  Unemployment is at a record low, and there are other presidential hopefuls to work for, yet dozens of Republican operatives  several well-respected stars among them  have chosen, despite all the available paycheck options, to help the man who tried to crush American democracy return to the White House.

Defending the indefensible, said Al Cardenas, former chair of the Republican Party of Florida, from where former President Donald Trump is running his 2024 campaign. I dont know whats in their hearts. Its a good payday.

And while most of those working for Trumps campaign, his Save America political committee or his supporting super PAC are either new to politics or have grown personally loyal to Trump and his lies about his loss of the 2020 election, a few are highly regarded names in Republican politics.

Chris LaCivita, for instance, worked two stints running the National Republican Senatorial Committee and engineered the infamous Swift Boat ads disparaging 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerrys service in the Vietnam War. Tony Fabrizio was GOP presidential nominee Bob Doles pollster in 1996 and has done numerous Republican statewide races since then. And perhaps most puzzling of all is the woman running Trumps operation: Susie Wiles, considered one of the top Republican consultants in Florida, whose work gave now-Sen. Rick Scott two terms in the governor mansion, and who in the autumn of 2018 rescued the foundering campaign of Ron DeSantis and helped him win a narrow victory, as well.

These are old hands who should know better, said Sarah Longwell, a Republican consultant who has worked for several years to defeat Trump and who says his ability to find staff shines a light on the amoral universe her business inhabits.

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I find it gob-smacking, she said, adding that she does not know how people who, after Jan. 6, 2021, can work for him and still face themselves in the mirror each morning. If in your judgment you think he should be in charge of the country again, I think your judgment is terrible. And I think its immoral.

LaCivita, Fabrizio and Wiles did not respond to multiple HuffPost queries and requests for comment. Nor did the vast majority of the dozens of Trump campaign employees and vendors contacted by HuffPost.

Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung defended both Trump and staff who, like himself, work for him. Everyone on the campaign is committed to President Trump and the movement he has built, he said, adding, If youre referring to Jan. 6, President Trump said peacefully and patriotically in his speech, yet media outlets and the Jan. 6 unselect committee despicably have cut that part out in their footage.

While peacefully was in Trumps speech that day, when Congress was certifying the Electoral College count, he also urged his followers to fight like hell and warned that they would lose their country if they did not. He further inflamed his mob that afternoon by attacking his own vice president for lacking the courage to go along with his coup attempt to remain in power despite losing his election. Four of his own supporters died that day, while 140 police officers were injured and five died in the days and weeks to come.

Trump is now under criminal investigation for his actions leading up to and on Jan. 6, both by the U.S. Department of Justice as well as Fulton County prosecutors in Georgia.

Mac Stipanovich, who with Cardenas helped make Republicans the dominant party in Florida during the 1980s and 90s, said Trumps repeated lies about a stolen election that incited the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol on his behalf should have been the last straw for anyone considering working for Trump.

He is a despicable human being. Hes dishonest. Hes a cheat. If he was my boss, I would quit. If he was my employee, Id fire him. If he was my son-in-law, Id horse-whip him, he said. One, he is a bad man. And two, he is a danger to representative democracy in this country.

Working For The Insurrectionist In Chief

HuffPost contacted dozens of employees and vendors for his campaign, his Save America leadership PAC and his supporting super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., for this story.

Among the only ones to explain their choice to continue working for Trump notwithstanding his actions culminating in the Jan. 6 riot was campaign spokesperson Liz Harrington, to this day an enthusiastic spreader of Trumps lies about election fraud.

The 2020 election was stolen, and only more evidence has come out proving that to be true, said Harrington, who over the last two years made $126,431 from Save America and, since Trumps announcement in November that he would run in 2024, $16,875 from his campaign, according to a HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings. Both totals reflect payments made through the end of 2022.

Whether claiming to believe Trumps falsehoods about the 2020 election is a condition of employment is unclear, although the campaign roster is stocked with a number of longtime Trump staffers who have repeated at least some of them.

Margo Martin, for instance, was a press aide in the Trump White House who immediately went to work for him at his Palm Beach country club after he left office. She has been paid $159,773 from Save America and $17,110 by the campaign.

Dan Scavino, whose service to Trump began as a caddy decades ago, was and remains the primary aide to help him push out his election lies. He has been paid $160,651 by Save America and $23,125 by the campaign.

Natalie Harp and Christina Bobb, meanwhile, began spreading Trumps election conspiracy theories as reporters for One America News. They are now both on Trumps campaign staff. Harp has been paid $69,955 by Save America and $13,125 by the campaign, while Bobb has made $95,561 from Save America and $25,000 from the campaign.

He is a despicable human being. Hes dishonest. Hes a cheat. If he was my boss, I would quit. If he was my employee, Id fire him. If he was my son-in-law, Id horse-whip him. One, he is a bad man. And two, he is a danger to representative democracy in this country.Mac Stipanovich, Republican political strategist

Also on staff are Stephen Miller, a former top aide to Trump in the White House who on the day the Electoral College met on Dec. 14 boasted in a television interview that Trumps campaign was working to produce alternate slates of electors for use on Jan. 6, as well as two of his staff in the White House speechwriting office: Ross Worthington and Vincent Haley. All three were involved in the fake electoral scheme that was key to the Jan. 6 coup attempt and which is now under criminal investigation.

Miller has been paid $137,092 by Save America and $14,750 by the campaign. Worthington and Haley have been paid $26,250 and $28,375 by the campaign, respectively.

Others on the Trump world payroll, though, have in public statements or in testimony before the Jan. 6 committee acknowledged that Trump lost the 2020 election.

Pollster Fabrizio, whose firm was paid $252,875 by Save America, released a report in December 2020 explaining why Trump lost and has said he communicated that directly to Trump. He nevertheless continues to work for Trump.

And Jason Miller, a longtime Trump adviser who is now working for the campaign, admitted under oath to the Jan. 6 committee that were was not enough fraud and irregularities  to overturn the election. He has been paid $97,500 by Save America through his business SHW Partners.

Some consultants, meanwhile, have created corporate fronts in the past two years that allow them to receive money from Trump anonymously.

A firm calling itself 305Sunnshine Strategies, for example, was created in December. It has no website, and corporate records in Florida provide no details as to its owners. It has received $60,000 from Save America and $15,000 from the Trump super PAC.

Redshift Strategies is registered to the same firm that handles corporate registrations in St. Petersburg, Florida, as 305Sunnshine Strategies. It has received $22,398 from the super PAC.

Were Not The Moral Police

Republican consultants who oppose Trump said its unsurprising that some of their colleagues are willing to take money from the Trump operation so long as they can do so without being tied to him publicly.

The thing that absolutely makes my blood boil is the class of consultants who will tell you that they and their firms draw the line at working for Trump, yet they happily gobble up contracts from the Republican National Committee, 501(c)(4) vehicles, PACs doing independent expenditures around turnout that would drive votes at the presidential level, and any and all committees, said Lucy Caldwell, who ran former Illinois Congressman Joe Walshs quixotic primary challenge to Trump in 2020. Yet somehow theyve deluded themselves into thinking theyre taking some principled stand because theyre not literally contracted with Trumps campaign committee.

Fabrizio, while he would not respond to HuffPost queries, addressed the question of working for Trump in the aftermath of Jan. 6 during a podcast interview with Democratic consultant David Axelrod.

He said in an episode that aired a year ago that he was in a state of shock watching the Capitol violence on Jan. 6 and believed Trump should have done something to stop it. Nevertheless, he defended his decision to work for him.

If people are expecting us to be the moral police, I think theyre expecting a lot from our profession because our profession is not going to do that, Fabrizio said. Were not going to be the moral police.

That attitude is too common in their business, Longwell said, with Trumps enablers telling each other that what he did wasnt that bad, and, besides, Democrats are worse. So many of our normative values are shaped by what the people around you do, she said. I cant imagine the moral calculus allowing you to go back and work for Trump after Jan. 6.

Still, she points out that a fair number of experienced and respected Republican consultants rejected working for Trump, leaving him with a staff of lesser ability than a former president with a strong chance of winning the nomination might otherwise have. There will always be C players, she said.

Stipanovich said he can understand young operatives, early in their career, making moral tradeoffs. They have mortgages, they have children who have to go to college, he said, adding it was easier for someone like himself who had already made plenty of money to walk away. I can afford principles. Some of my colleagues cannot.

Stuart Stevens, a consultant on the campaigns of former President George W. Bush and 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney, is unwilling to cut that level of slack, at least when it comes to working for a man who accepted help from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in winning his 2016 election, supported Putin at every turn while in office, attempted to extort Ukraine to win reelection and then last year called Putins invasion of Ukraine genius.

So youre supporting someone you know is backed by Putin? Stevens said. Who introduced a pro-Putin element into American politics and who then tried to overthrow the government?

Related...
Federal prosecutors charged a Kinnelon woman with health care fraud Friday, alleging that she received $10 million in fraudulent reimbursement payments over a span of seven years.

Aysha Khan, 33, controlled and operated specialty pharmacies in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Texas, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a press release. She was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and four counts of health care fraud.

Prosecutors said Khan's pharmacies processed costly medications that treat diseases like Crohn's, hepatitis C and rheumatoid arthritis. Khan allegedly directed the pharmacies to bill health insurance providers for medications that they didn't actually provide to patients. And while the pharmacies generally provided the initial medications, prosecutors said the they would bill for refills without actually giving them out.

Morris County newsTwo Morris Knolls students arrested for bringing gun to school, police say

Beginning in 2015 and continuing until 2022, Khan's pharmacies received $10 million in reimbursement payments from Medicare for prescriptions they never even ordered, prosecutors alleged.

Khan was arrested and was due to appear in Newark federal court Friday. She could face up to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Kinnelon NJ pharmacy operator charged with Medicare fraud
 Flash

Wang Yi (C), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, attends a closing meeting of the talks between the Saudi delegation led by Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban (L), Saudi Arabia's Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and National Security Advisor, and Iranian delegation led by Admiral Ali Shamkhani (R), Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The United States should stop depicting China as a military threat to the West as China always seeks peaceful development, wrote a former president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently.

China seeks prosperity and greatness through trade, investment and diplomacy, instead of "a desire for warlike conquest," wrote Mogens Lykketoft in a commentary piece in the Danish newspaper Berlingske on Tuesday.

China has no interest in starting a military conflict, wrote Lykketoft, who was also former Danish Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs.

The Chinese government has gained solid popular support, as it "managed to pull 800 million out of poverty," he added.

However, led by the United States, the West's course towards China is now perceived as an attempt to boost China's progress in prosperity and surround the country with strong American-led alliance systems, he wrote.

A paranoid fear and demand to be "tough on China" has arisen in American politics following the COVID-smearing against China and trade war started by former U.S. President Donald Trump, wrote Lykketoft.

The dangerous hostility against China reached its peak with the recent "hysteria about and the shooting down of the Chinese hot air balloon," wrote Lykketoft.

The former Danish official called on the United States to recognize a new balance between the two countries, noting that China's recent foray into international diplomacy resulted in a successful mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia this month.

"Peace and economic stability for the rest of the 21st century depend on whether the United States and China can rein in their rivalry and together lead the way in international cooperation," he said.
The mortality rate among the wounded occupiers has risen, and injured officers are being evacuated to Russia by helicopter.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "...all injured officers were evacuated to the territory of Russia by helicopters between 17 and 18 March.

In the period from 17 to 21 March, the mortality rate among wounded invaders increased due to an increase in the number of serious wounds and poor medical care, particularly due to insufficiently professional medical personnel. "

Details: The General Staff reported that the Russians are increasing the number of beds in the existing hospitals operating in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast due to the heavy losses the occupiers suffer every day.

According to the General Staff, the number of beds in the military hospital in Troitske has been doubled from 200 to 400.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Neon has unveiled a raft of cast additions for Joshua Oppenheimers musical The End as principal photography begins in Ireland.

The freshly-unveiled cast includes Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon, Bronagh Gallagher, Tim McInnerny, and Lennie James. They join previously announced lead actors Tilda Swinton and George MacKay.

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Neon is co-financing the international co-production. The long-gestated project revolves around the story of the last human family.

Principal photography has begun in Ireland and will continue through the spring in Italy and Germany.

I am thrilled to be making The End in collaboration with this miraculous ensemble of artists. I am in awe of each of them. It has been a journey of six years to reach this point, and I could not be more humbled, said Oppenheimer.

Final Cut for Reals Signe Byrge Srensen and Oppenheimer are producing with Wild Atlantic Pictures, The Match Factory, Dorje Film, Moonspun Films and Anagram co-producing.

According to an official synopsis on the Final Cut for Real website, the musical revolves around a wealthy family surviving in a palatial bunker, two decades after the end of the world to which they contributed through their involvement in the oil industry.

The band of survivors consists of a mother and father and their twenty-year-old son, who has never seen the outside world, as well as a maid, a doctor, a butler and a young woman who managed to find her way in.

At first, celebrating their survival as confirmation of their success and righteousness, the couple comes to be haunted by regret for the loved ones they lost and guilt for the fact that they contributed to the apocalypse. Oppenheimer has said the work is inspired by the unearned optimism of the Golden Age of the Broadway musical.

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It is Oppenheimers first fiction feature after the Oscar-nominated documentaries The Act Of Killing (2012) and The Look Of Silence (2014)

The film is supported by the Danish Film Institute, Vestdanske Filmpulje and FilmFyn, in Denmark, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and MDM Fund in Germany, the Italian Ministry of Culture (MIC) and Sicily Film Commission in Italy, Screen Ireland in Ireland, UK Global Screen Fund and SFI and Film i Skane in Sweden. The pan-Nordic Fund Nordisk Film & Tv Fond and the European fund Eurimage are also on board.

Scandinavian Film Distribution will distribute in Nordic territories. The Match Factory is handling international sales.

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Washington  Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to climb through a set of doors to the Speaker's Lobby on Jan. 6, 2021, met Thursday with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in his Capitol office suite  steps away from where her daughter was shot.

McCarthy had little to say about the meeting to reporters, telling them only that "she requested the meeting."

Upon entering Capitol, Witthoeft told reporters she had questions for McCarthy and was "expecting good things" to come from her meeting with him.

But she also said she's not expecting McCarthy to join her and other House GOP members for a tour of the D.C. jail Friday, where some Jan. 6 defendants are being held in pretrial detention. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican of Georgia, is heading up the visit and will be joined by at least one or two Democrats.

Witthoeft has been leading nightly Jan. 6 protests outside the D.C. jail since Aug. 1. Organizer Nicole Reffitt estimates 5,000-8,000 people live stream the feed of the protest. The protests have drawn fierce and vocal counterdemonstrations and a substantial police presence of about 12-20 officers.

Earlier this month, Witthoeft met with a senior staff aide to the speaker and with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer.

The U.S. Capitol Police conducted an internal investigation and determined in August 2021 that the officer who had fatally shot Babbitt during the Jan. 6 riot acted lawfully and within the department's policy, and the USCP concluded the officer "potentially saved members and staff from serious injury and possible death" as a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters breached the U.S. Capitol and forced their way to the House chamber.

Melissa Quinn contributed to this report.

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The Mexican mother of a soldier found dead at Fort Hood in Texas is planning to come to the U.S. and await the outcome of an investigation on her daughter's death, according to the family.

Alejandra Ruiz Zarco expects to obtain Friday a three-month humanitarian visa to travel from Tacambaro, in the Mexican state of Michoacan, to the Army military facility where Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz was found dead on March 13, the family told Noticias Telemundo.

Fort Hood authorities have said there was no indication of foul play, but that they are conducting an investigation that will examine allegations made by her mother and friends to Noticias Telemundo that she was being sexually harassed.

Ana Fernanda Basaldua Ruiz. (Courtesy Basaldua Ruiz family)

At a press conference on March 17, Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, Fort Hoods commander, stated that the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), doesnt want to assume anything or rule anything out about her investigation.

Fort Hood also is the location of the 2020 murder of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, who had complained of sexual harassment by a supervisor, Spc. Aaron Robinson, who killed himself as police moved in to arrest him as Guillen's suspected killer.

On an 8-0 vote Thursday, a Texas state House committee advanced a bill that would designate Sept. 30 as Vanessa Guillen Day. The vote followed testimony from several witnesses who spoke of their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault or work with people and military personnel and veterans who have experienced it.

Guillens sister, Mayra Guillen, was among those who testified and said the legislation is a simple way to show both respect, honor for her memory, something that didnt show when she was alive and serving. Larissa Moran-Martinez, executive director of Circle of Arms, a mental health awareness group, said the death of Basaldua shows there is still need for change and reform. The bills sponsor, Rep. Josey Garcia, is a San Antonio Democrat and a veteran.

Fort Hood "ready to receive" the family

Ruiz Zarco said that the cost of travel for her and her daughter Natalie, 19, who is a U.S. citizen, will be paid by the Army.

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Basaldua, 20, was born and raised in Tacambaro before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her father, Ubalde "Baldo" Basaldua, lives in Long Beach, California.

It was unclear Thursday when they will travel to the U.S., but the family is scheduled to pay a visit to Fort Hood. We are prepared to receive them and accompany them during their visit, Bernabe said last week.

Basaldua was a combat engineer who served 15 months with the 1st Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood. She enlisted in the Army in July 2021 and was assigned to the base in December.

Two friends of the deceased soldier told Noticias Telemundo that Basaldua had told them she had been sexually harassed; according to one friend, after Basaldua reported harassment by a sergeant to her superiors, she was transferred to a different platoon, but the sergeant didn't receive any punishment.

From Mexico, Ruiz Zarco recalled the moment she received the news of her daughters death. A person spoke to me, a sergeant. He was with Anas father. He told me that he was speaking to me to express his condolences for the death of the soldier Ana Fernanda Basaldua. I told him, 'I dont want to hear this, I dont want to hear it' and I hung up on him," she said.

According to Ruiz Zarco, during their last conversation, Basaldua told her that she no longer wanted to be at the military base.

She told me that she wanted to see me, that she wanted to hug me, and she wanted me to hug her a lot, like when she was little," she said.

Basaldua was scheduled to complete her Army service commitment in August.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Elizabeth Warren, The Parent Files

Credit - Getty Images

Senator Elizabeth Warren has become one of the nations most outspoken advocates for the importance of accessible childcare. When she ran for President in 2020, she made her plan for universal childcare central central to her campaign. And in February, she introduced a bill that she said would give half of American families access to childcare for no more than $10 per day.

Like everyone else who covered the 2020 campaign, I had already heard the story about Aunt Bee, the elderly aunt who came to help Warren with her children while she was a young mom teaching law. I was more curious about how motherhood figured into her thinking about her work and her life. But it turns out that childcare is the foundation on which a woman can build her career, and that Warrens childcare story and her parenthood story are inseparable. If she hadnt left her job as a teacher when she had her first baby, Warren may never have gone to law school in the first place. But if Aunt Bee hadnt shown up when she did, Warren says she never would have been able to stick with her law career. Warren says she wouldnt be in the Senate if she hadnt had her children but she also wouldnt be there without her childcare.

Lots of people say that parenthoodbut especially motherhood is a transformation. Did you feel transformed by motherhood?

I got married at 19 and I had just turned 22 when Amelia was born. I suddenly had another human being that I would give up my life for. At the same time, every mistake I made was now magnified in the life of someone else. A bad decision didnt affect only me, it affected this vulnerable little person that I was responsible for. That was heavy.

Can you tell me a little bit about the person you were before she was born?

I was easier before. I was wilder before. I was more willing to tear into whatever I was trying to do: stay up all night reading, paint the house, tear out the bathroom. Once Amelia came, I felt much more hemmed in. Because I recognized how responsible I was for her and and everything in her life.

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Can you tell me about your delivery and early motherhood?

It was a great pregnancy. I was one of those truly lucky women. Id been teaching school and doing all kinds of fix-up-the house projects in my spare time. The summer before she was born, I painted the entire outside of our house when I was seven, eight months pregnant. I was full of energy and ready to go.

Then, it was a very difficult labor. And I was suddenly at home, and couldnt go anywhere. And so it was like my whole life spun on its axis when she was born. I had this delightful, beautiful child I love to rock and read stories to. But I was also isolated, alone. We only had one car. My husband drove to work every day and the baby and I stood on the front porch and waved goodbye.

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So what did you do all day with her?

I painted every room in the house. I tore out the bathroom. I taught myself to lay tile. But the hard part was I couldnt imagine what my life was going to be going forward. And finally, I fixed on going to law school.

These were different times. My husband didnt want me to go to work full time. And so I decided I could go back to school. And he was okay with that. I found the law school nearbyRutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It was $450 tuition. And I had saved up enough money. I worked out how I was going to get there: we got a second car, I practiced driving the route, it was about 45 minutes from our house. I thought I had it all worked out. But that one other thing on my list: childcare. And I spent that summer before Amelia turned two looking for childcare.

And I went into it so naively. I thought: how hard could this be? And it was awful. One place smelled bad. Another place cost too much. Third place was too far away. The fourth place had a waiting list a mile long. Were bearing down on classes starting and I still dont have childcare. And finally, the week before my classes started, I found a place that was really nice. I could afford the price, it wasnt too far away. Im filling out the application and it says she will only take children who are dependably potty-trained. Amelia was not quite two years old. And I remember holding the form, and Im looking at Amelia, and looking back at the form, and finally, I thought: dependably potty-trained, check. And we went home, and I had a long weekend to get a not-quite-two-year-old dependably potty-trained. All I will say is that I am here today, courtesy of a cooperative child and multiple bags of M&Ms.

As somebody who now has a one-year-old, I am newly aware of how difficult that must have been. But what was going through your mind? Were you scared that she was just going to totally reject this?

The whole plan hinged on Amelia deciding that wearing big-girl pants was a good thing. Without that, I wasnt headed off to law school. And without law school, I wasnt headed off to all the things that I turned out to do in my life. Now, I look back and I think about how close I came to falling off the track because of childcare. I came literally within a few days of forfeiting my chance.

I want to flash forward to Aunt Bee. What happened that created the childcare crisis that forced you to call Aunt Bee?

So Amelia and I make it through law school. I walk across the stage to pick up my diploma with Amelia in hand. AndIm eight months pregnant with baby number two.

I have no job, and no job prospects. No one is looking for a woman with two little tiny kids. So I get a part-time teaching job at Rutgers. And I traded out with my next-door neighbor for childcare. Because this is the way women stitch things together. I kept her little girl while she went off and did things, and she kept my two kids while I taught two evenings a week.

My first husband got transferred, and I got a full-time tenure-track teaching job at the University of Houston. Those jobs are scarce and hard to come by. And this was my big opportunity to become a law professor. So we moved down there in the summer. And once again, Ive got the summer to get childcare set up. Amelia by this point is in elementary school, shes a second grader, and Alex is almost two. And its the same story: There were the times standing out on the driveway juggling a baby on my hip dressed to go, and the caregiver just hasnt shown up. There were the times I go to pick up Alex at the childcare center, and hes been left in a wet dirty diaper and is miserable.

And Im just doing my best here, and I feel like Im failing on every front. Dinners always late, the kids get baths most nights, Im doing laundry at 11 oclock in the evening and starting my class prep after midnight. And one evening my Aunt Bee called just to say, How are you doing?

Aunt Bee was a widow. She lived in in Oklahoma; she was 76. And I said, fine in that stretched-out voice and I started to cry. I told her I was going to quit my job. That was the first time Id even said it to myself, much less said it out loud. And then the dam just broke. I just cried and cried. I loved this job, I wanted this job, but I just couldnt do it because I didnt have childcare.

So she let me cry, long distance, and waited till I got myself back under control. And she said, Well, I cant come tomorrow. But Ill be there Thursday. She arrived with seven suitcases and a Pekinese named Buddy, and stayed for 16 years.

What is your number one piece of parenting advice?

When the baby is asleep, only do things you cant do when the baby is awake. So for example, I wanted to be an academic. Its essential to start writing academic articles. So that is not possible when a little baby is awake. And so I learned this trick: the minute that Alex would go to sleep, no matter what I was in the middle ofcleaning off the dishes, folding laundryif that baby was asleep, I was at work. Because I could actually do those other things when the baby was awake. So that was my hack: to think of time differently. Dont think in terms of morning, afternoon and evening. Think of it as baby on, baby off.

What is the biggest mistake you made as a parent?

I worried too much. I look back and think how very, very lucky I was to have two children I loved better than life itself. I wish Id taken just a few more minutes to drink that in. And a few less minutes worrying about how all the pieces would come together.

Do you think you would have become a senator if you hadnt become a mother?

Probably not. Becoming a mother put me into the fight for other people in a deeper, more personal way. And it made me more persistent. Damn it, no parent should have that much trouble trying to support herself and her family and get care for her children.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  As drought dried up rivers that carry Californias newly hatched Chinook salmon to the ocean, state officials in recent years resorted to loading up the fish by the millions onto trucks and barges to take them to the Pacific.

The surreal and desperate scramble boosted the survival rate of the hatchery-raised fish, but still it was not enough to reverse the declining stocks in the face of added challenges. River water temperatures rose with warm weather, and a Trump-era rollback of federal protections for waterways allowed more water to be diverted to farms. Climate change, meanwhile, threatens food sources for the young Chinook maturing in the Pacific.

Now, ocean salmon fishing season is set to be prohibited this year off California and much of Oregon for the second time in 15 years after adult fall-run Chinook, often known as king salmon, returned to California's rivers in near record-low numbers in 2022.

There will be no wild-caught California salmon to eat unless someone has still got some vacuum sealed last year in their freezer, said John McManus of the Golden State Salmon Association.

Experts fear native California salmon, which make up a significant portion of the Pacific Northwests fishing industry, are in a spiral toward extinction. Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in California's Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend three years on average maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die.

Already California's spring-run Chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run Chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council, the authority responsible for setting ocean salmon seasons off the Pacific coast, is expected in early April to formally approve its proposed closure of Chinook fishing along the coast from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border.

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Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for Chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washingtons coast.

Though the closure will deal a blow to the industry that supports tens of thousands of jobs, few are disputing it.

We want to make sure they are here for the future, said third-generation fisherman Garin McCarthy, who described catching a Chinook as magical.

McCarthy, whose entire income last year came from salmon fishing off both California and Oregon, has had to invest thousands of dollars in equipment to fish other species like rockfish, halibut and black cod.

Were all scrambling to try to make our boats do something different, he said. Were all salmon trollers. Thats what we do. Thats what we live for.

Glen Spain, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations, said he believes the ban might need to be in place for two or three years to bring back sustainable stocks after many fish died in 2020, the start of a record-dry period.

The Chinook already faced challenges, with dams blocking their historic retreats to the chilly upper reaches of Northern Californias Sacramento River and the Klamath River along the California-Oregon border. Decades of development have disrupted the natural flow of rivers and polluted waters.

In 2020, the Trump administration ended federal protections for millions of waterways, allowing for more water to be pumped out of the Sacramento River Basin for farming despite warnings from biologists that it could harm salmon runs in the future.

Fishers say river water temperatures increased with the diversions for irrigation, killing more eggs and hatchlings and preventing the stocks from bouncing back amid the drought.

This one aint on us," said Bob Maharry, 68, a lifelong San Francisco-based fisherman. This has nothing to do with overfishing. This is poor management of water.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the estimated number of adult fall Chinook expected to return to spawn in the Sacramento River this year is less than 170,000, one of the lowest forecasts since the current assessment method began in 2008. Fewer than 104,000 fall Chinook are likely to return to the Klamath River, the second lowest estimate since 1997.

In 2021, a judge determined the Trump administration improperly limited federal protections and restored them to a narrower 1986 standard. The Biden administration is expected to expand the protections in 2024.

Some are banking on the unusually wet winter to bring relief. Record rain and snowfall since late last year have freed two-thirds of California from drought. But too much water could also flush out eggs and hatchlings.

Businesses tied to salmon want the government to declare the situation a federal disaster so they may receive aid. As the market shrinks, more restaurants turn to farm-raised salmon, while gear suppliers stop stocking the proper equipment to fish Chinook.

Not everybody is going to make it out of this type of a closure unfortunately, said Andy Giuliano, who owns Fish Emeryville, a bait-and-tackle shop and booking service for 16 charter boats that offer salmon fishing trips to tourists in the San Francisco Bay area. Its a real stress test on the industry."

Eric Schindler, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes ocean salmon project leader, said he was not expecting it to be this drastic, assuming the year would bring restrictions but not a full closure for most of Oregon.

Jeff Reeves, who has been salmon fishing from the Coos Bay, Oregon, area since the 1970s and is also a member of the Oregon Salmon Commission, said he plans to fish rockfish, black cod and maybe tuna. Later this year he plans to target coho salmon from Oregon, which is doing well enough to be fished unlike the coho in California. But it wont make up for the loss of the Chinook, which are bigger, fattier fish that are in higher demand.

Its devastating," he said. "The Oregon fleet is already on life support," which dropped from a height of about 4,500 boats to about 180 today, he added.

On a stretch of the Klamath River in Northern California, the Yurok tribe has watched for years the decimation of the culturally significant salmon population. Barry McCovey Jr., director of the tribe's fisheries department, said the tribe's Chinook allotment is likely to be very small this year.

Still, he is hopeful the planned removal of four dams on the Klamath River will improve the fish's future.

Its not a silver bullet, but a big step in right direction, McCovey said. Theres still a lot of battles to fight if we want to have coho and Chinook.

__

Baumann reported from Seattle.
The server stood out from my meal at the Grand Indian Cuisine in Roseville last week (read more on the food below). She was about 4 feet tall, faceless and wouldnt get close to our table because my friends knee was sticking out.

She was a robot, built by Bear Robotics in Redwood City and deployed at the Grand for the last three years. Armed with a trash bucket and pre-programmed knowledge of table numbers (Table A1, Table B1, etc.), she delivered Pallipalayam chicken fry when human servers were busy and left us with a cheery have a good one, enjoy!

Robot servers are slowly becoming more commonplace in the Sacramento areas dining scene and the United States restaurants as a whole. There are burger-flipping bots in San Francisco, auto-mixed cocktails aboard cruise ships and sidewalk-rolling machines that deliver food to Los Angeles customers within a two-mile radius in just 15 minutes.

In the Sacramento area, Oz Korean BBQ has used BellaBots manufactured by Chinese company Pudu since the start of last year and now runs two at each of its locations (Rosemont and Elk Grove).

Dan Delcollo, of Granite Bay, takes his food from a tray delivered by one of two BellaBots at Oz Korean BBQ on Thursday.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which has a location in Sacramentos Howe Bout Arden shopping center, doesnt just shoot salmon nigiri down a conveyor belt to people sitting at the bar; Kur-B the KuraBot began delivering drinks and condiments to tables at all 37 U.S. locations in June.

Oz struggled to fill its staff coming out of the pandemic, like many restaurants. The all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurant consulted other businesses that had used automated servers, then demoed on-site with a few different companies models, owner Peter Kim said.

While the BellaBots just run food from kitchen to table, other models can bring dirty dishes back, seat customers as the restaurant host or even prepare meals with minimal supervision. Oz might employ a more advanced digital assistant, but for now, Kim is happy to have his robots do menial work.

They offer a reliable, static (workforce) thats main function is to support our employees, Kim wrote in an email. Their intent in our application is not really to replace humans(,) but more acting as a support to our team and handling the mundane tasks.

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Ridley Callaway, 10, scratches robot cat server BellaBot between the ears with father Cason and sister, Pacey, 9 at Yanagi Sushi in San Luis Obispo in 2022.

What Im Eating

The Grand Indian Cuisine sits inauspiciously in Rosevilles Fairway Creek Shopping Center, its bold flavors somewhat hidden in an expansive suburban parking lot. Also known as the Grand Porottas or Porottas South Indian Cuisine, its a 5-year-old South Indian restaurant owned by Arunachalam and Kavita Mohanraj.

South Indian cuisine tends to be more vegetarian and pescatarian-friendly than food from the north, uses rice more than naan and can be spicier. Beyond that, the Grand gets hyper-local throughout its menu, specifying what region or even city certain dishes come from in an effort to educate diners.

Such was the case with the Alleppey fish masala ($17), a terrific tilapia curry thats rooted in a 175,000-person city in the Indian coastal state Kerala. The melt-in-your-mouth fish got most of its flavor from a burnt orange gravy that included mangoes, ground coconut, cumin seed paste and ginger. It made my party want to try more curries on our next visit.

Ghee podi mini idli ($11) were a fun, super-shareable way to experience a South Indian breakfast classic (it worked fine as a dinner appetizer, too). Sand dollar-sized steamed rice cakes, their consistency similar to cornmeal or arepas, were tossed in a vibrant mixture of basil and spices. Its common to dip idli in sambar, a flavorful lentil stew also offered at the Grand, but I didnt miss it at all here.

As with the usually-larger idli, you can get chewy parathas ($4 per piece) in their classic form. Or you can order kothu paratha ($14), a South Indian street treat that involves shredding the flatbread, mixing it with vegetables or eggs (or chicken, for $2 more) and smashing it into a square loaf. Gentle and warm, it was somewhat similar to a casserole, and better than it sounds.

The Grand Indian Cuisines Alleppey fish masala features tender tilapia in a blend of mango, ginger and ground coconut.

The Grand Indian Cuisine

Address: 9600 Fairway Drive, Suite 100, Roseville.





Hours: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11:30-9:30 Sunday.

Phone number: (916) 773-0212.

Website: https://thegrandcuisine.com

Drinks: Beer and wine.

Animal-free options: Many, clearly marked on the menu.

Noise level: Relatively quiet.

Openings & Closings

Kitchen 15 opened last Wednesday at 1630 K St. in midtown Sacramento, replacing Squeeze Burger and a short-lived Umai Savory Hot Dogs location. Owner Ed David, the former Umai franchisee, has cooks whipping up familiar breakfast and lunch dishes such as avocado toast and ahi poke salad.

University of Beers sixth area location opened that same day in East Sacramento. The popular beer bar and kitchen replaced Track 7 Brewings The Other Side taproom at 5090 Folsom Blvd.

Best Dim Sum is Granite Bays new Chinese restaurant, slinging custard buns, chow mein, siu mai and more at 8675 Auburn Folsom Road.

Sign up for our free weekly Food & Drink Newsletter

Whether it's the newest restaurant in town or the hottest brewery to check out, our free, weekly Food and Drink newsletter will make sure you're the first to know about the next big thing in the Sacramento region. Sign up here!

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(Reuters) - Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, on Friday denied a media report from earlier this week that said investors from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were planning to invest in a multi-billion dollar funding round in the company.

A unit of Saudi Arabia's investment fund and an Abu Dhabi-based company are planning to invest in a multi-billion dollar funding round for SpaceX, the Information had reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the discussions.

Musk tweeted "not true" responding to the report.

The funding round is expected to value the rocket maker at about $140 billion, the report added.

SpaceX raised $2 billion in 2022 and $2.6 billion in 2020, according to venture capital firm Space Capital.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
FARMINGTON  A Nageezi man is facing the possibility of life in prison after pleading guilty to a second-degree murder charge, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office and the FBI.

Evan Haceesa, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to the charge in connection with the death of a woman at his Nageezi residence last summer, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. In the plea agreement, Haceesa acknowledges he attacked the woman on Aug. 28, 2022, punching her in the face until she lost consciousness and kicking her several times.

A Navajo Police Department officer responding to a report of domestic violence at the scene found the victim unclothed and unresponsive, and lying in a wheelbarrow outside the house, the release states. She died from her injuries.

Haceesa will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing, which has not been scheduled, according to the release.

The case was investigated by the Farmington resident agency of the FBIs Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department.

Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.

This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Man enters plea agreement in connection with August 2022 incident
Mary Boland joins DARCI Creative Video Production Team

Mary Boland

PORTSMOUTH  DARCI Creative, a full-service Portsmouth-based marketing agency, welcomes Mary Boland to the crew as their newest Video Specialist.

Boland has been the CEO of Anchor Hitch Media based in Amesbury, Massachusetts since 2015 and has spent two decades working in video. Her years of experience with production and editing will strengthen DARCIs already stellar photo and video team.

Boland attended Marymount Manhattan College and received a degree in Communications with a focus in Video Production. As the owner of Anchor Hitch Media, Boland led a variety of video production projects, including a 13-episode docuseries for the Turner Motorsport Race Team. She also supports many nonprofits, startups and small businesses in Amesbury, Newburyport and the Seacoast with video work. In the last decade along with running Anchor Hitch Media, Boland has been Production Director for a Beverly-based production company and Creative Director for a Newburyport-based real estate agency.

DARCI Creative, a full-service integrated marketing agency founded in 2005, supports the marketing efforts of businesses across New England and the United States. Their services include strategic planning, brand strategy, website design & development, digital and traditional marketing, photography and videography.

DARCI Creative boasts strong partnerships, which include video production, with Atlantic Orthopaedics, East Coast HVAC, Piscataqua Landscaping, The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, among others. The DARCI video team was honored to create the Collaborator of the Year video for the Chambers 2022 event, featuring Chef David Vargas of Vida Cantina.

Watch the video: Collaborator of the Year 2022 | Chamber Collaborative of Portsmouth.

Leone, McDonnell & Roberts welcomes two staff accountants

Kerri Hanson and Mathew Creamer

PORTSMOUTH  The Certified Public Accounting firm of Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, PA welcomes Staff Accountants Kerri Hanson and Mathew Creamer to the team.

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Hanson joined the firm in late 2022. She graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor of Arts in 2020 and Merrimack College where she earned a Master of Science with a concentration in Taxation and Forensics in 2022. Prior to joining Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, Hanson worked as a Senior Accountant at a local bank in New Hampshire gaining valuable experience and validating her passion for problem-solving and serving clients. A resident of Hampton Falls, Hanson volunteers at For Goodness Cakes and loves to travel in her free time.

Creamer joined the Leone, McDonnell & Roberts team in January 2023. He earned his Master of Science in Accounting from the University of New Hampshire where he graduated with honors in May 2022. He gathered valuable accounting experience from internships and a local accounting firm, specializing in assurance and audit services for nonprofits and employee benefit plans. Creamer currently resides in Epping, and outside of work he enjoys playing guitar, snowboarding and spending time in the Lakes Region.

We are pleased to welcome Kerri and Matthew to the LMR team, said Managing Partner Evan Stowell. We believe their enthusiasm, experience and passion for helping others combined with their problem-solving abilities will provide value to our clients and complement our team.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Names to Know: Meet the new professionals on the Seacoast
Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt (D) pledged to filibuster every bill for the rest of the legislative session after the Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for those under 19  which could impact her transgender son.

The bill, backed by Nebraska Sen. Kathleen Kauth (R), would bar minors from seeking gender-affirming therapies including gender confirmation surgery and hormone treatments. The bill is one of several introduced across the country in a surge of anti-trans bills this year, according to Trans Legislation Tracker.

Hunt, who is bisexual, discussed her son and his testimony against the bill in committee on Wednesday, and again to the wider body the next day.

We have made it clear that this is the line in the sand, Hunt told lawmakers Thursday.

People have said, What if we go after your bills? What if we put a bunch of bills introduced by progressives up on the agenda? Are you going to filibuster those, too? Yes, because were not like you. We have a principle and a value that actually matters that much to us that were willing to stand up for.

Hunt addressed concerns over whether pushback against the bill sets a precedent and called out Nebraska Sen. R. Brad von Gillern (R) by name, telling him, You really dont get it.

Youve crossed a line and youve gone too far, Hunt added.

Dont say hi to me in the hall, dont ask me how my weekend was, dont walk by my desk and ask me anything. Dont send me Christmas cards  take me off the list. ... No one in the world holds a grudge like me, and no one in the world cares less about being petty than me. I dont care. I dont like you.

State Sen. Megan Hunt (D), speaking directly to Republicans, reaffirms vow to filibuster all legislation if #NEleg anti-trans bill passes:



"No one in the world holds a grudge like me. And no one in the world cares less about being petty than me. I don't care. I don't like you." pic.twitter.com/IBvOV3g5ey  The Recount (@therecount) March 23, 2023

The bill is set to go to another round of debate prior to a third and final round of voting, according to Nebraskas KLIN.

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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) has been open about supporting the bill if it hits his desk.

Hunt joins fellow Nebraska Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh (D), who filibustered for weeks over the bill, in a vow to filibuster bills for the remainder of the legislative session.

Related...
GOSHEN - A Newburgh man pleaded guilty Thursday to rape and sexual abuse of a child, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced Friday.

Eric Vazquez, 32, of Newburgh, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to first-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act, both felonies.

Under the plea agreement announced in court, it is anticipated Vazquez will be sentenced to 15 years in state prison, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, Hoovler said. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12.

Vazquez also will be required to register as a sex offender.

According to Hoovler, Vazquez admitted in court that, being 18 years of age or older, he engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sexual conduct with another person who is less than 13 years old.

TikTok video: Middletown school employees who danced to song containing n-word under investigation

Fiery crash: 16-year-old driver in crash that killed 5 children in New York wasn't licensed

Another upset: North Rockland takes down Newburgh to get to state final four

"Children are the most vulnerable of victims," Hoovler said in a statement released by his office. "It is unspeakable that an adult, in a position of trust., could violate children in this manner."

The name of Vazquez's attorney was not immediately available.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Guilty plea for Newburgh man in child rape case
This is an excerpt from Incoming, BuzzFeed News morning newsletter dedicated to making sense of this chaotic world we live in. Join the club.

TikToks CEO swears user data is safe. Both Republicans and Democrats are doubtful.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew prepares to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023, in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a bipartisan grilling on Thursday as he appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address lawmakers data privacy concerns .

During the five-hour hearing, Chew, 40, emphasized that there has never been any evidence of the Chinese government accessing TikTok user data via the apps China-based parent company ByteDance. Chew said that countries that have banned the app on government devices (such as the US and Canada ) have done so based on hypothetical and theoretical risks.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, he wrote in a statement . But in a joint statement after the hearing, senators Mark Warner, a Democrat, and John Thune, a Republican, expressed their continued concerns.

TikTok has roughly 150 million active users in the US. As BuzzFeed News revealed last year, China-based ByteDance employees accessed nonpublic US TikTok user data between September 2021 and January 2022. In December, an internal ByteDance investigation found that TikTok user data of several journalists, including the BuzzFeed News reporter who broke the story, was accessed without authorization by ByteDance employees who were then fired.

There are currently three bills in Congress that could affect American access to TikTok; two would legislate an outright ban of the platform, while the other would give the government the power to ban any technologies that are deemed a national security risk. The Biden administration has also reportedly demanded that ByteDance sell TikTok.

On Thursday, many committee members jokingly thanked the TikTok CEO for inspiring bipartisanship . If only for a day, were actually unified because we have serious concerns, said Rep. August Pfluger, a Republican from Texas.

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Biden and Trudeau to discuss Ukraine, as Russias barrage on civilians continues

President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plan to discuss their allied support for Ukraine against Russia, as well other topics including climate change, immigration, and trade, AP reports . This meeting coincides with new attacks on Ukrainian civilians , with the latest Russian missile strike killing at least 10 and injuring 20 people.

SNAPSHOTS

A parent of a Parkland shooting victim was arrested at the Capitol after arguing with Republican lawmakers over gun regulations. "I spoke up and said something, because my son, Joaquin, wouldve wanted me to," Manuel Oliver said in a statement to BuzzFeed News . "After I was kicked out, they called us narcissists  are we narcissists for fighting for my son, fighting so that no family in America has to go through what we did?"

There's an alarming increase in colorectal cancer cases in young adults in the US and around the world. Here's what experts say young people should know about the disease.

George Santos or Barbie: Who (supposedly) had this job? According to a February survey from Siena College, 78% of Santoss constituents believe he should resign. On March 14, Santos filed paperwork for reelection in 2024.

Amanda Bynes is navigating a post-conservatorship world. Her fans don't know how to help. Is keeping Bynes preserved in a bubble of nostalgia the best way to help her build a future?

The parents of the Oxford school shooter can go to trial for involuntary manslaughter, a court rules

James Crumbley (left) and Jennifer Crumbley Oakland County Sheriff's Office / AP

James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose son was convicted of fatally shooting four students at his high school in 2021, can stand trial for involuntary manslaughter, a Michigan court ruled Thursday.

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time, opened fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and injuring seven others, including a teacher. He pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism and murder in October 2022. Despite Ethan Crumbley's clear mental health struggles, the court said, the couple purchased a gun that was accessible to him, then dismissed concerns from school officials about Ethan's behavior the day before and on the day of the shooting.

Rejecting the couple's motion to quash the manslaughter charges against them, the appeals court acknowledged the uniqueness of the case, saying Ethan's actions were "reasonably foreseeable" and that his parents' "actions and inactions were inexorably intertwined."

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Jing Zhiyuan uses a remote kissing device called "Long Lost Touch," as he demonstrates how to use it during an interview with Reuters in Beijing on March 12, 2023. Tingshu Wang / Reuters

The Trans Rights Readathon is right now!

BuzzFeed News; Metonymy Press; Soho Press; Swoon Reads; Balzer & Bray/Harperteen; Graphix; Forever; Atria Books; Abrams Comicarts - Surely; Catapult

This week, popular BookTok author Sim Kern kicked off the Trans Rights Readathon, a weeklong decentralized fundraiser for anyone, anywhere, to participate in until March 27.

The goals are for participants to read as many books by trans authors as they can this week, to raise awareness about the campaign on social media, and to raise funds for trans organizations. "I wanted people to be able to participate in whatever way theyre able to and fundraise for however they want to support trans people, Kern told BuzzFeed News .

Kern was inspired to create a readathon after attending a protest against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis when he traveled to Texas. Among the protesters holding posters and chanting at the Houston convention center, there was a group of people who opted to sit in silence and read banned books. According to Kern, 2,400 people have signed up to participate so far, fundraising for both national and locally focused causes.

If youd like to sign up to join the readathon, click here . If youre looking for 16 brilliant books written by trans and nonbinary authors, click here .

Still reading, eh? Seems like you might want to get this in your inbox. No pressure though. Just some food for thought.
Add brothers Eric and Marc Staal to the growing list of NHL players who decided not to participate in their teams Pride Night festivities. In their case, they skipped the Florida Panthers pre-game warmups before Thursdays matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Staal brothers cited religious beliefs as the reason for not participating. Their joint statement reads as follows:

After many thoughts, prayers and discussions, we have chosen not to wear a pride jersey tonight.

We carry no judgment on how people decide to live their lives, and believe that all people should be welcome in all aspects of the game of hockey.

Having said that, we feel that by us wearing a pride jersey it goes against our Christian beliefs.

We hope you can respect this statement, we will not be speaking any further on this matter and would like to continue to focus on the game and helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup.

Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers opted out of wearing Pride jerseys. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Staal brothers statement echoed that of James Reimer, who recently skipped the San Jose Sharks Pride Night. In some cases  such as those of the Blackhawks, Wild, Islanders and Rangers  entire teams decided not to wear Pride warmup jerseys.

Quite a few reporters point out there is some hesitation due to Russias anti-LGBQT propaganda law, which was passed in December. Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov began this trend back in mid-January.

Clearly, its not just Russian players whove elected not to wear Pride jerseys, though. Its also been noted that Russian goalie Sergei Bobrovsky donned a Pride warmup sweater before the Panthers' game on Thursday, so these decisions dont appear to be all-or-nothing.

Eric Staal spoke after the game, denying he had ever worn a Pride jersey during his career despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

#FlaPanthers Eric Staal post-game, when told there is photographic evidence of him wearing a pride jersey in Montreal:



I havent before. I never have.  I havent worn a pride jersey before.



(Staal wore No. 21 with the Canadiens during the 2020-21 season.) pic.twitter.com/aHmOgkRNBo  Erin Brown (@rinkside) March 24, 2023

Following Reimers decision last weekend, openly gay Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop shared his disappointment regarding players opting against wearing Pride uniforms, calling it "a step back for inclusion in the NHL."
Special counsel Bert Deixler questions a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department employee during his investigation of deputy gangs. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

For at least 50 years, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has been plagued by secretive deputy gangs  organized subgroups of deputy sheriffs who allegedly engage in violence, corruption and illegal activity. And for almost as many years, reformers have hoped to eradicate those gangs, going back to the Kolts Commission 30 years ago, which called for them to be rooted out.

But theyre still with us, according to the report by special counsel Bert Deixler, which was released by the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission earlier this month. Deixler and his team, after hearing from approximately 80 witnesses, concluded that at least half a dozen gangs or cliques operate in the department. They have names such as the Executioners, the Banditos, the Reapers and the Rattlesnakes; their members wear tattoos of skeletons, rifles, skulls and snakes.

Members of these groups, the report says, have falsified reports, harassed colleagues, undermined department morale and violated citizens rights. Theyve taken control of many patrol stations through a shadow chain of command, and those who dare challenge them have been known to find rats on their doorsteps or to have the lug nuts on their wheels loosened.

Worst of all, they valorize violence and exalt the use of excessive force.

Everyone rational wants to eliminate these thuggish groups. But theres a big outstanding question: Can it be done legally?

Deixler has proposed that Sheriff Robert Luna do what he says no sheriff has done before  establish an explicit policy prohibiting deputies from joining or belonging to gangs and banning tattoos that depict violence or other offensive iconography (or, for those who already have them, making it a rule that they must keep them covered).

But would those policies be allowed under the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and association?

Some people are pretty sure they wont.

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Good luck trying to impose something thats going to violate the 1st Amendment rights of employees, says former L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who called Deixlers report a joke.

Tattoos, he says, are a form of protected speech, and whats more they have no correlation with misconduct. As for deputy subgroups, he seems to think that theyre mere social groups, and that if you ban the Banditos you might as well ban the womens softball team too. Theres no compelling interest in overriding the constitutional rights of deputies, Villanueva says, to ban the so-called gangs.

A 2021 opinion by Southwestern Law School constitutional law professor John Tehranian, commissioned by the deputies union, agreed. It said that a prohibition on department employees participating in subgroups impacts the ability of deputies to engage in expressive and associational activities outside their jobs. Because of its sweeping reach and the risks it poses to the free speech [and] associational ... rights of deputies, a prohibition would be unlikely to withstand constitutional review, Tehranian wrote.

Thats a worrisome argument to be sure. It is part of what has stymied the fight against deputy gangs in the past.

But 1st Amendment rights are not unlimited, nor should they be.

I called Deixler to ask whether he thought the Constitution would pose a problem for rooting out the gangs.

No, it wont, he said. He made a case that I found convincing  and that I hope will sway the courts in the event of a legal challenge.

Deixler argues that if the behavior in question  joining deputy gangs and wearing threatening tattoos as a sign of membership  is being done in connection with deputies' government jobs, then the 1st Amendment is not an issue. Restrictions are allowable on work-related speech.

And even if a court decides that deputies in gangs are acting and speaking in their personal capacities as private citizens, then, under the Supreme Courts 1968 decision in Pickering vs. Board of Education, the court would undertake a balancing test to determine whether the governments legitimate interests in restricting that speech and behavior outweigh its employees 1st Amendment rights.

To win that argument, the Sheriffs Department would need to show that the gangs are disruptive to the internal operations of the department and that the disruption is significant enough that it impairs discipline  or harmony among co-workers or impedes the performance of the speakers duty, Deixlers report says.

Given what we know about these gangs, I don't believe that would be terribly difficult to prove.

Courts have consistently found that law enforcement agencies have a heightened need for order, loyalty, morale and harmony  which allows them more latitude in restricting the speech of their officers. For instance, being a member of the Ku Klux Klan has been found to be a legitimate reason to fire a sheriffs deputy.

If the Sheriffs Department decides to implement Deixlers proposals, a legal challenge seems likely. Surmounting it would not be a sure thing. But the credible reports of decades of egregious misbehavior by deputy gangs offer a very powerful argument.

Its been 50 years since deputy gangs were first identified in the department; 30 since the Kolts Commission called for their eradication; 24 since the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights noted their effect on communities of color; 11 since the Citizens' Commission on Jail Violence described their presence in the county jails; and two since the Rand Corp. and Loyola Law School documented their continued existence.

Other law enforcement agencies have had to deal with gangs in their ranks, but no other large police agency has permitted them to exist and flourish as they have in L.A., according to Deixler. Because there's been no sustained effort to eradicate them, they remain embedded in the culture.

But this is a promising moment. Deixlers recommendations  there are 27 in all  have the support of the county Board of Supervisors, which has urged Luna to implement them. Luna, after all, ran for office last year on a promise that he would do away with deputy gangs, and he has created a new Office for Constitutional Policing within the department to help him do so.

Itll be a huge battle. But its time.

@Nick_Goldberg

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Russians have attacked the city of Bilopillia in Sumy Oblast with aerial bombs and Iranian-made kamikaze drones overnight, killing two people.

Source: Press service of the National Police of Ukraine in Sumy Oblast; Suspilne, a public broadcaster

Quote: "At midnight last night, 37-year-old senior police lieutenant Vadym Lystopad was killed as a result of enemy shelling on the city of Bilopillia in Sumy District. The inspector of the patrol police response unit sustained fatal injuries while on duty."

Details: Yurii Zarko, the Mayor of Bilopillia, reported that a local school had been damaged during the shelling and that its security guard had been killed.

According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, four police officers and five civilians of the Bilopillia Hromada have also been injured. [Hromada is an administrative unit designating in this case a city of Bilopillia and its adjacent territories - ed.]

Background: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, the spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced on the national joint 24/7 newscast that Russia used guided aerial bombs, a Kh-31 anti-radar missile and Iranian-made kamikaze drones during an attack against Ukraine on the night of 23-24 March.

Ihnat said that now it is a massive threat when guided aircraft bombs can fly a long distance and aircraft (launching them) are not within the range of Ukrainian air defence. Thus, more than ten of these guided bombs attacked facilities in Sumy Oblast.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The owner of a Northern Kentucky pain clinic and a doctor he employed were found guilty on Thursday of healthcare fraud, but acquitted of drug charges, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

A federal jury in Covington convicted Timothy Ehn, a licensed chiropractor and owner of the Northern Kentucky Center for Pain Relief in Florence, on one count each of healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, court records show. Dr. William Siefert, the clinic's medical director, was found guilty of a single count of healthcare fraud.

The two men were each found not guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, according to the court records. Siefert was also acquitted of nine counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

Thursday's verdict comes more than two years after Siefert and Ehn were first indicted.

Prosecutors have said Siefert and Ehn offered "easy access" to opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, to drug-seeking patients who shouldn't have received such medications, then submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims for "medically unnecessary" urine drug testing related to those patients.

"The more procedures Siefert and Ehn billed, the more money (the clinic) would receive in reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care benefit programs, and the more money Siefert and Ehn would ultimately receive in compensation," prosecutors said in a 19-page indictment.

According to the indictment, the prescriptions written by Siefert, with Ehn's consent, were a contributing factor in the opioid overdose deaths of at least seven former patients.

The prescribing was driven in part by Siefert and Ehn's desire and intent to bill for urine drug tests, prosecutors said in court filings, adding they "did not care about the overdose deaths and did not change (the clinic's) prescribing practices after learning about the deaths."

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Benjamin Glassman, Ehn's lawyer, said federal authorities couldn't establish that the prescriptions had caused those deaths, or that anyone at the clinic was aware the patients had died.

Siefert and Ehn were never charged in connection with the patients' deaths and the jury ultimately found them not guilty of the alleged drug crimes. In order to secure a conviction on the distribution of a controlled substance counts, prosecutors had to prove Siefert knew his prescribing was illegitimate or outside the usual course of medical practice.

In a motion filed before the trial, Siefert and Ehn asked the court to preclude prosecutors from presenting evidence of the uncharged patient deaths, saying in part that those deaths aren't relevant to the case. In August, U.S. District Judge David Bunning denied that motion, court records show.

"The healthcare fraud convictions are disappointing because we presented strong evidence at trial that the Northern Kentucky Center for Pain Relief cared for its patients, and every urinalysis test was ordered by a highly qualified medical doctor in the course of treating those patients," Glassman said in a statement to The Enquirer.

Lindsay Gerdes, who represented Siefert alongside Michael Ferrara and Madeline Pinto of Dinsmore & Shohl, said the healthcare fraud conviction is disappointing, adding the prosecution's case was "fraught with error" and may have "improperly swayed" the jury's verdict on that count.

"Their verdict confirms what we have always known: Dr. Siefert was offering much-needed care and treatment to his patients as they battled chronic pain," Gerdes said in a statement. "Dr. Siefert will continue to fight to clear his name, and we remain optimistic about his prospect for reversal on appeal."

Glassman also said the jury's verdict on the healthcare fraud charges was the result of "serious errors at trial," adding that Ehn plans to appeal his conviction and "fight to clear his name entirely."

Court records show Siefert and Ehn are scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on Sept. 20.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NKY pain clinic owner, doctor convicted of healthcare fraud
By Nathan Layne

LACONIA, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Longtime Donald Trump supporter Doug Lambert agrees with the former president that the potential criminal charges he faces in New York are being cooked up by his enemies on the left. But, Lambert worries about the "messiness" of a Trump presidential candidacy and is leaning towards voting for someone else.

Like other Republicans in New Hampshire, which traditionally holds the second nominating contest in presidential election years, Lambert, 58, the owner of a manufacturing company, will be among the earliest to weigh in on Trump's viability for the Republican nomination in 2024.

"With my primary vote I want to make sure that I put somebody up that I can agree with, that supports my values, but is also electable," said Lambert, who voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020 and is vice chair of the Republican Party in Belknap, the state's reddest county.

"If I was voting today I would vote for Ron DeSantis," he said, referring to the Florida governor who has not yet officially announced a White House run but is seen as a leading contender for the nomination and is Trump's biggest challenger.

Trump has sought to solidify support for his candidacy by presenting himself as a victim of a politically motivated investigation by New York prosecutors that could lead to his indictment for alleged hush money payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 election campaign. Trump has denied making the payments.

But interviews with a dozen Republican voters in Belknap this week found that while Trump supporters still held affection for the former president and were considering his candidacy, many were also looking at who else is in the field.

A majority of those interviewed said they agreed with Trump's allegations - for which he has offered no evidence - that Democrats were using the legal system to hurt his candidacy, but none saw the indictment as a persuasive argument to firmly back him.

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Nearly all said they were also interested in DeSantis, who is visiting New Hampshire next month, as well as their own state's governor, Chris Sununu, who is flirting with a run.

"I think our governor here in New Hampshire would be a very good choice. He's a real level-headed guy," said Raymond Peavey, 56, a former Marine who voted for Trump twice but wants to assess the other candidates before committing to him again.

POLLING IS MIXED

Benefiting from a large field of candidates and tapping into the angst of working-class voters, Trump handily won the New Hampshire primary in 2016 in a prelude to victories across the Northeast and ultimately the Republican nomination.

With at least 10 months to go before the primary, surveys have provided a mixed picture of Trump's chances in 2024.

In a University of New Hampshire poll in January, likely Republican voters preferred DeSantis over Trump by a 12-point margin, 42% to 30%, with Sununu at 4%. That contrasts with an Emerson College poll released this month before Trump announced he would be arrested that showed the former president with 58% support in the state, trouncing DeSantis at 17%.

Dante Scala, a politics professor at the University of New Hampshire, said he believed most Republican voters would shrug off any charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who Trump has accused of reviving a case already reviewed by federal prosecutors for political ends.

"But when you get to the case in Georgia or indictments concerning January 6th, they might be more serious problems," he said, referring to a Fulton County, Georgia investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results there and a separate federal probe into his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

"The more indictments, the more points of leverage a DeSantis or whoever can use to make the case against Trump."

Even with its relatively small population of 1.4 million, New Hampshire has for decades held the second nominating contest in presidential election cycles, giving its voters outsized influence in the pivotal early days of White House campaigns.

While Trump is seen as having a lock on 25-30% of Republican voters, there are signs across the country that many Republicans are looking for an alternative candidate who can achieve conservative policy wins but without the drama the real estate magnate brought to the White House.

Political strategists and analysts say if Trump is charged he may succeed in rallying diehard supporters to his side but that independents and Republican moderates will almost certainly distance themselves.

Prudy Veysey, a Republican from Belknap, is hoping her state will send an early message on Trump's viability.

"Weve seen the chaos and the havoc," said the 63-year-old retired office manager who has never voted for the former president. "It's just time to move on from Trump."

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Laconia, New Hampshire; Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell)
Police are investigating the death of a 22-year-old who died Saturday in downtown State College, though borough police wrote in a statement Friday there is no indication of foul play.

An unresponsive person was found about 7:45 p.m. Saturday next to the Fraser Street Parking Garage. Their fatal injuries were consistent with a fall from above, police wrote.

Neither their name nor gender were released. It is unclear if they were a Penn State student; police and the Centre County Coroners Office declined comment, while a university spokesperson did not immediately respond.

Investigators are waiting for results of toxicology tests to be returned before closing their probe, police wrote.

Centre County Deputy Coroner Debra Smeal declined to immediately release the persons cause and manner of death.

Police urged anyone who may have information about the death to contact the State College Police Department at 814-234-7150, by email or submit an anonymous tip online.
Akhtem Chyihoz, Deputy Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Russian business owners are temporarily halting their business operations in Crimea and Russian property owners are putting their houses and apartments up for sale at discounted prices.

Source: Akhtem Chyihoz on Radio Libertys Liberty LIVE

Quote: "They have no faith that Crimea will remain [under Russian control  ed.]. Prices have dropped. Crucially, there are no Russian investors, they are abandoning their firms and their construction projects. Theres no demand for apartments

These moods [of panic and despair  ed.] have endured since last September, but our latest gifts to Crimea [i.e. the damage done by Ukraines resistance forces to the Russian military infrastructure in Crimea  ed.]...My compatriots are saying that we need to give [the Russians] these gifts more often, because it speeds up these processes. And it doesnt matter whether we hit exactly the target we aimed for or somewhere in its vicinity, or our attack got intercepted  all of this demoralises them.

There will definitely be no May barbecues in Crimea. Crimea was such a homey place for them: there is sun, sea, and warmth here. Now they dont feel that way anymore. The most important thing is that we destroyed their intentions to enjoy themselves in Crimea. The Russians dont like going to places that they deem dangerous. So therell be no barbecues."

Background:

Explosions have been rocking Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia, almost daily since August 2022. Last year, several airfields in Crimea were attacked, as was the so-called Crimean Bridge connecting Crimea with Russia.

Explosions rocked Dzhankoi, the north of Russian-annexed Crimea, on the evening of 20 March 2023. Ukraines Defence Intelligence said that several Russian Kalibr cruise missiles were destroyed in the explosions.

Russian occupation authorities said that the Russian military destroyed three drones that attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet on 22 March 2023. Later on, Crimean radio stations broadcast messages calling for evacuation from Crimea.

Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraines Defence Intelligence, said that Russian occupation authorities in Crimea have started evacuating their families from the Ukrainian peninsula.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Sarah Hootman Kearns

I have found many stories in local newspapers about immigrants in the early decades of the 20 century. The press, as perhaps expected, was drawn to more sensational tales, so these stories are not representative of the typical immigrant experience. Nor were the reporters as politically correct as we would expect today, but I share these as a way of providing a glimpse into another era.

In 1903, a section gang of 20 or so Italian workers were putting in a double track on the Erie between Ashland and Mansfield. The workers lived in a railroad car that had just been moved to the Milton Township side where they could not get beer in the evenings, and they went on strike. The newspaper quoted one of the men: We getta no beer, we no worka. The railroad solved the problem by bringing in a new carload of workers to replace the strikers, and work went on.

More:Ashland Memories: A little excitement in 1911 Hungarian neighborhood

One man dies after 'drunken row' near Jeromesville

Alcohol also played a role in a tragic 1911 incident near Jeromesville. The Times reported several Italians assaulted one of their companions in a drunken row. When the victim died the next day, three men were lodged in the Ashland County jail.

The men had been working on the A&W railroad. Early reports called them Italians, but this was later corrected to reflect they were all Slavs.

The reporter struggled to get the names of the men, as he claimed they were speaking gibberish in the excitement. As near as I can tell, they were Joseph Brodick (or Jeromias Brodach), George Magerick and Mike Melick, and the victim was Martin Sabaal (or Szabol.)

The first two were held as suspects, while Melick was a witness. Following the autopsy and coroners inquest, the victim was buried in Jeromesville.

Melick was the chief witness during the coroners inquest, although authorities considered him innocent of any crime. He was kept in jail apart from the others, only so he could testify at the trial. Sadly, he did not understand his situation due to the language barrier, and he committed suicide about a month after the inquest, writing goodbye, my friends on the cell door. Melick was buried in the potters field section of the Ashland cemetery.

Story continues

More:Ashland Memories: Growth of industry followed by influx of immigrants

Trials over and men free, heading to 'old country'

The county announced in early 1912 it would auction the rings, watches and other personal effects belonging to Szabol and Melick to offset their burial costs. Any funds remaining would be sent to the families of the men back in Europe.

Brodach stood trial in April 1912 and was convicted of a lesser charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years in the Ohio penitentiary. In June, George Magerick faced first-degree murder charges, but was found not guilty and released. Upon appeal, a circuit court sent Brodachs case back to the grand jury, which declined to bring further charges. This meant he would go free after having spent about 13 months behind bars.

Upon being released from the penitentiary, Brodach was quoted as saying, No more Merick for me, me go back to the old country. He intended to work just long enough earn his fare back to Europe, and to stay away from America henceforth.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Immigrants had rough time in early 1900s: No beer, 'drunken row'
Abdou Bah didnt know who Bryon Miller was, but in Millers last moments he did his best to save his life.

While the men were in their bunks in the early morning hours of Jan. 18, Miller started gasping for air, Bah said, accompanied by his attorney, in a recent interview with The Charlotte Observer.

Bah, 35, says he and others in the jail alerted multiple corrections officers that Miller was having a medical emergency.

Nobody helped me, they wouldnt even come inside, Bah said.

Miller, 49, is the sixth person to die since January 2022 at the Mecklenburg County jail.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the State Bureau of Investigation investigated each death. In all but one case, with Millers still pending, inspectors said officers failed to properly observe those in custody and found violations of state law.

Over the past decade, deaths in North Carolina jails have skyrocketed, going from 17 in 2011 to 76 in 2021, according to DHHS data.

Jail officials said in a statement Miller died of a medical emergency, but his exact cause of death and other details havent been made public. An autopsy and investigative report are pending. Its not clear whether recently reported staffing struggles contributed to the response in Millers case.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden would not comment on the death due to the SBIs ongoing investigation. McFadden said in a recent interview with the Observer deaths in the jail are taken seriously and the department does everything it can to help investigators.

Its an emotional, traumatic time for my staff also, because they work with these residents inside my detention center all the time, McFadden said. But we believe that were doing an excellent job in producing a great investigation.

This man is dying

Miller was arrested on Jan. 15 and died three days later.

He was charged with driving with a revoked license, possessing a stolen vehicle, possessing drug paraphernalia, and fleeing from police in the stolen vehicle.

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Bah was booked into jail a day before Miller.

Bah was charged with trespassing, larceny, and breaking and entering at a business.

The men were being held together, along with others, in a large room with multiple bunks.

Most of the men were asleep when Miller began having trouble breathing, Bah said in an interview from jail, joined by his attorney Tim Emry.

He said Miller appeared to be in pain and sounded like he was gurgling or gasping.

Bah says he attempted to alert the guards.

I was like man theres something wrong with this man, hes not breathing right, Bah said.

The first corrections officer he talked to did not go to the bunk to check on Miller, Bah says.

He also tried to get the attention of a sergeant, then a captain.

Approximately five others were in the bunk area with Miller and Bah and they began yelling This man is dying, come help us! he recalled.





But, Bah said, no one came.

A few minutes later, Miller stopped moving. Bah said he tried pressing on his chest and doing anything he could to wake him back up.

I started doing CPR and trying to shake him and try to wake him up, Bah said. He didnt wake up.

Even more time passed before officers came over, Bah recalls.

According to a statement from the sheriffs office, Miller was found unresponsive at 5:07 a.m. Officers called a medical emergency and promptly started resuscitation efforts. At 5:24 a.m., Medic and Charlotte Fire arrived and took over. At 5:38 a.m., Miller was pronounced dead.

When officers began these resuscitation efforts, the bunk area was cleared out and Bah says he was placed in the hole  another term for solitary confinement  for the rest of the day. A spokesperson for the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office said Bah was placed in the Disciplinary Detention Unit for being belligerent with the med nurse during med pass.

Later, Bah was interviewed by the SBI about what he saw and his efforts to get Miller help, he and his lawyer say.

The Observer has been unable to reach Millers family.

He lived in Gastonia and was born in Ohio, according to his obituary. He loved his family, music, sports, and cooking. He is survived by his parents, two children, and sister.

The day Miller died, McFadden issued a statement saying: MCSO is saddened by this untimely death, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Bryon Millers family and loved ones. The death of any person in our custody and care is always difficult and touches the humanity in us all.

A spokesman for the jail said there are two main ways a person in-custody can get a guards attention. The first is by telling them directly, the second is by pressing a call button and speaking with them through an intercom. The sheriffs office refused to say whether jail leaders are aware Bah and others tried to call for help.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office would not comment on what led them to find Miller unresponsive.

The investigation into Millers death is still pending, but investigations into the last year of deaths in the Mecklenburg jail show a pattern of problems, including failures at times to make observation rounds at the required frequency. Most who died did so due to a medical emergency.

Inspectors say some of these issues can be attributed to a lack of staffing and overcrowding at the jail.

Deaths in Mecklenburg jail

Additionally, inspectors say the jail was out of compliance and did not abide by state observation laws in June and December, according to semi-annual and annual inspection findings.

State law requires officers to make observation rounds at least twice an hour with no more than 40 minutes between rounds. In some cases noted in the inspections, officers went more than an hour without conducting their rounds. On suicide watch or for those in solitary confinement, the rule is that those in custody must be observed four times per hour on an irregular basis, according to the sheriffs office.

Every time someone dies in the Mecklenburg County Jail, an investigation and inspection is required. The inspections are conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services. If an issue or violation of state law is cited, jail officials must submit a plan of correction, and that plan must be reviewed and approved by DHHS.

But despite issuing plans of correction, subsequent investigations by state officials showed continued issues.

McFadden said while sometimes rounds arent made as often as the standard set out in NC law, staff is always present.

Sheriff responds to deaths

The department is understaffed and overpopulated.

Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement saying the staffing shortage posed an imminent threat to the safety of the inmates and staff. At the time, the jail population was 1,407 and the number of staff vacancies was 159, according to the Sheriffs Office. The detention center has 470 jobs overall, the Observer reported at the time.

Staffing continues to be a problem but is improving, McFadden said. Some trainees will fill around half of the existing detention center officer vacancies.

Because of the staffing shortage, the facility is overcrowded, according to jail inspectors. In a letter Chief inspector Chris Wood sent to McFadden in December of 2021, he said the jail should cut its population by nearly 30% to compensate for this.

At this time, the jail population was approximately 1,348 people.

As of March 17, it was 1,358.

McFadden said he cant control who is arrested and who comes into the jail. He has to process and hold everyone who is arrested and brought to him.

A lot of people come into the jail with health and substance abuse problems, McFadden said.

A lot of these people come in poor health, McFadden said. But theyre still being housed here and thats a sad thing, and then they eventually expire, for whatever reason.

We dont take it lightly, McFadden said. Its very traumatic for us. But we believe that were doing an excellent job in producing a great investigation, so the district attorney and SBI can properly go forward and determine the cause of death, including the manner of death.

Emry, Bahs lawyer, said now, more of his clients are afraid for their safety within the jail.

There is a perception among attorneys and among those who are locked up that the deaths are increasing, and that its an increasingly dangerous place to be for a variety of reasons, Emry said. Most of which have to do with what they say are staffing shortages such that theres neglect which sounds like is the case in this death.

More clients than ever before are voicing concerns to me about their safety and about their desire to get out of Mecklenburg County Jail due to the things they are observing, Emry said.

Millers death still haunts Bah.

I heard when he took his last breath, and it was a loud breath, Bah said. I think about it all the time, its stuck in my head, I cant stop thinking about it.
HELSINKI  Several Nordic countries have moved to deepen cooperation among their respective air forces to bolster the regions defenses. The initiative, covered by a joint declaration of intent, or JDI, takes place against the backdrop of persisting security tensions, provoked by Russias war against Ukraine, that are impacting the High North and Baltic Sea neighborhoods.

The first of its kind between the Nordic states, the declaration was signed March 16 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany by the commanders of the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish air forces.

The concept of a joint Nordic air force, comprising about 250 modern front-line combat aircraft, has been the subject of periodic discussions between the regional governments since the mid-1990s.

Swedens and Finlands unaligned status remained an impediment to advancing talks and joint initiatives. But with the two countries primed to join NATO, Nordic governments find themselves on more solid ground to discuss a common action plan to create a so-called mini-NATO that would deliver a formidable and unified air force capability.

The primary aim of the joint declaration is to strengthen air force cooperation between the four Nordic states, precipitating concrete joint initiatives to develop a strong regional air defense. The idea is to elevate collaboration between Nordic air forces so they can operate together in all situations.

The air defense operations concept, embedded in the declaration, envisions joint Nordic air force cooperation developed along four principal lines of action. It also proposes the development of an integrated management structure for planning and executing air operations.

Moreover, the concept anticipates the development of a flexible and sustainable support system, joint air situational awareness, and joint training and exercise activities between the four Nordic air forces.

Maj. Gen. Rolf Folland, the chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, views the idea as a basis for creating a joint Nordic center for air operations that could also house the United States and Canada under a single command structure.

There is obvious interest in a regional initiative for a joint air command on NATOs northern flank. We know the conditions in the High North well, and we have a lot to learn from each other. With a total of almost 250 modern combat aircraft, this will be a large combat force that must be coordinated, Folland said.

The last operational NATO headquarters in Norway  the Combined Air Operation Center-3 at Reitan, located east of Bod  closed in 2008, with responsibility transferred to the alliances CAOC Finderup in Denmark.
North Korea claimed Friday to have tested an underwater attack drone capable of unleashing a "super-scale radioactive tsunami" if armed with a nuclear warhead. The brazen claim  which many experts doubt  was part of the Kim Jong Un regime's angry response to the latest joint war games by the U.S. and South Korean militaries.

The North released pictures of Kim admiring what the country's official news service said was the new underwater drone, and others purportedly showing it at sea, along with an underwater explosion. The regime claimed the weapon cruised underwater for almost 60 hours before blowing up.

A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, March 24, 2023. North Korea said it had tested an underwater drone capable of unleashing a

North Korea claimed the device, if armed with a nuclear warhead, was designed to "stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion" to wipe out an enemy naval strike group or port, according to its state media.

North Korea says latest missile test was nuclear counterstrike simulation

The North's official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon could be launched from the shore or towed and then released by a ship.

A TV screen at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, shows an image released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 24, 2023, showing what the North said was a detonation of a purported underwater attack drone. / Credit: Lee Jin-man/AP

Kim also observed conventional weapons tests as part of three-day drills meant to send a message to the U.S. and South Korea after their own exercises. North Korea has test fired cruise missiles at targets in the ocean and launched a missile from a submarine over the past two weeks  all of which the regime claims are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Military analysts are skeptical, however, that the country has the technology required to fit its nuclear warheads to the more advanced, long-range weapons in its arsenal  at least for now. The North has demonstrated the ability to reach the U.S. mainland with its larger intercontinental ballistic missiles, for instance, but it has not shown the capacity to make a nuclear warhead capable of fitting onto one of the weapons.

The North's state-run media suggested the country had been developing the underwater attack drone since 2012 and tested it more than 50 times over the past couple years, according to The Associated Press, but the weapon has never been mentioned previously.

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Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, told the AP that the North's claims about the drone couldn't be verified, but the test was likely aimed at demonstrating the weapon could reach South Korea's ports, more than its purported nuclear capabilities.



Ankit Panda, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the AP that it would be illogical for North Korea to devote resources to such a weapon for the delivery of nuclear warheads when it has limited amounts of nuclear materials, and it already has ballistic missiles that can likely already carry such warheads greater distances.



Panda told the AP the drone system would "be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Korea's coastal waters," as well as to pre-emptive strikes in port before deployment.

This week's intense display of weaponry by Kim's military was a direct response to the major, 11-day joint U.S.-South Korean exercise dubbed "Freedom Shield," which wrapped up Thursday. It was the biggest joint exercise by the close allies in five years, and it included live fire tank maneuvers and an amphibious landing.

North Korea denounced the exercises, which it called a rehearsal for an invasion. As the drills concluded, South Korea said it was preparing with the U.S. for another round of joint naval exercises. The AP said there were reports in South Korea that the next war games would involve an American aircraft carrier group, but the U.S. military has not confirmed the plans.

North Korea's KCNA said the country's latest weapons tests were intended to put the U.S. and South Korea on alert that the risk of a "nuclear crisis" was increasing as amid the allies' "intentional, persistent and provocative war drills."

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Kim Jong Un inspects what North Korea claims is unmanned underwater nuclear attack craft "Haeil" which was tested during exercises - KCNA via KNS

Kim Jong-Un personally tested a clandestine underwater nuclear attack drone capable of unleashing a radioactive tsunami on enemy naval ships and ports, Pyongyang has claimed.

State media outlet KCNA said the secret weapon had been put into position and tested this week, between Tuesday and Thursday, and that it could be deployed in future at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation.

It named the unmanned underwater nuclear attacking vessel Haeil and said it had been under development since 2012. Kim personally guided tests of the weapon 29 times and its operational deployment had been given the green light by the ruling partys top leadership, it added.

It said its mission was to stealthily enter waters where adversaries were operating to create superpower radioactive tidal waves with underwater explosion, adding tests had been conducted at a depth of 80-150 metres for over 59 hours before hitting a mock enemy port near Hongwon Bay on the east coast.

An underwater blast of a test warhead during an exercise around Hongwon Bay - KCNA via KNS

Experts urged caution towards Pyongyangs claims, which come at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and coincide with joint US-South Korea military drills, which the North has denounced as a rehearsal for war.

"Pyongyangs latest claim to have a nuclear-capable underwater drone should be met with scepticism," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"But it is clearly intended to show that the Kim regime has so many different means of nuclear attack that any preemptive or decapitation strike against it would fail disastrously."

The nuclear attack drone was deployed off the Norths eastern coast on Tuesday - AFP

Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tweeted: I tend to take North Korea seriously, but can't rule out the possibility that this is an attempt at deception/psyop.

Would be ill-advised to allocate limited fizmat (fissile material) for a warhead to go in this thing, IMO, vs. more road-mobile ballistic missiles."

Pyongyang has claimed the test, and also the launch earlier this week of Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles "tipped with a test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead are in response to intentional, persistent and provocative war exercises south of the border.

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First-ever video footage of North Korea's long-range Hwasal-1/Hwasal-2 'strategic' cruise missiles. (via KCTV) pic.twitter.com/Bv5MbPDP7B  Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 24, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Friday he will make sure North Korea pays a price for its "reckless provocations".

South Korea and US forces kicked off their largest joint drills in five years on March 13. Several have been conducted at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex within a few miles of the North Korean border, and Seoul and Washington insist they are defensive in nature.

Joint South Korea/US live fire drills on Weds near the border with North Korea, which both forces stress are defensive in nature. Taking place just hours after Pyongyang fired multiple suspected cruise missiles from its eastern coast pic.twitter.com/N6rRkc90Uh  Nicola Smith (@niccijsmith) March 22, 2023

On Wednesday, hours after Pyongyangs cruise missile launch, the two allies blasted a mountain near the South Korean city of Pocheon using M-777 and K-9 howitzers and K1A1 battle tanks in a live fire exercise involving 800 US and 400 South Korean soldiers.

Nothing motivates US soldiers to be all they can be more than sleeping ten miles from an adversary and when that adversary is firing ballistic missiles it provides an incredible focus to this training, Colonel Brandon Anderson, second infantry division deputy commanding officer, said ahead of the drill.

This focused training is really what we expect to do at a time of conflict  defeat the enemy and secure weapons of mass destruction.

North Korea last year declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power and Kim recently called for an "exponential" increase in weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons.

On Thursday Lee Jong-sup, the South Korean defence minister, confirmed to the national parliament that four cruise missiles had been fired on Wednesday, acknowledging that Pyongyang had made considerable progress towards its goal of mounting miniature nuclear warheads onto tactical weapons.

Weapons analysts were quick to point out the similarities with claims from Russian state media earlier this year that Moscow has built an unstoppable nuclear torpedo intended to devastate coastal cities or even wipe out London by creating radioactive tsunamis.

The assertion that Russia has developed the Poseidon torpedo, a submarine-launched, nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear munitions have also been met with heavy scepticism.

Mr Panda there had been no previous indication that such a weapons programme existed in North Korea.

He told NK News that the surprise reveal fits into Pyongyangs broader ongoing efforts to diversify its means of nuclear weapons delivery.

But he said questions remain over just how serious this programme really is and that the system will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare efforts, particularly in waters away from the North Korean coastline.
In this photo taken from March 21 to 23, 2023 and provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises an exercise in South Hamgyong province, North Korea. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

North Korea claims it tested an underwater drone that can create a radioactive tsunami.

It said it detonated the drone near a mock port on Thursday and "confirmed its lethal strike capability."

The announcement on Friday is the first time Pyongyang has publicly mentioned such a weapon.

North Korea claimed on Friday that it tested an underwater nuclear drone that can trigger a "super-scale radioactive tsunami" by exploding in the ocean.

The drone is named the "Haeil"  which translates to "tsunami" or "tidal wave." It was designed to strike both naval assets and coastal targets, North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported.

"The mission of the underwater nuclear strategic weapon is to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy," KCNA wrote.

The party-controlled news outlet added that the drone can be "deployed at any coast and port."

The drone was tested off North Korea's eastern coast at Hongwon Bay, on Thursday, per state media. The drone attacked a "mock enemy port" set up by the military, and the test "fully confirmed its lethal strike capability," KCNA wrote.

Before the drone detonated, it cruised around the area at a depth of 262 feet to 492 feet for nearly 60 hours, KCNA reported.

The outlet released photos of an underwater explosion and an object moving below the ocean's surface.

Friday's announcement was the first time that North Korea has publicly mentioned such a weapon. Pyongyang maintains a fleet of about 64 to 86 submarines, which are mostly small coastal vessels and mini subs with limited range, per the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit that catalogs nuclear weapons around the world.

North Korea also has two ballistic missile submarines, which it says are capable of launching warheads with a range that extends to South Korea or Japan, per the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

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KCNA said on Friday that Pyongyang also tested two strategic cruise missiles, which flew 932 miles and 1,118 miles over a period of around two hours.

North Korea has in the last year aggressively ramped up its testing of long-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. These tests have often been framed as a response to the US and South Korea for North Korea says is unprovoked aggression.

Its Friday announcement comes as the US and South Korea wrap up 11-day joint drills that began March 13.

South Korean soldiers and US soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Battalion pose for a photo before a Warrior Shield live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon on March 22, 2023, as part of the Freedom Shield joint military exercise. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mentioned the drills while attending this week's nuclear tests, and accused the US of disrupting regional stability, per KCNA.

Kim spoke of a need for what KCNA described as "offensive actions" to remind the world that North Korea's nuclear weapons programs were being "bolstered up at a greater speed," the outlet wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider
People living in more than a half-dozen states could see a dazzling  and surprising  display of the Northern Lights between Thursday night and Friday morning. It's an "exceptional" event that officials say is unlikely to be repeated on Friday night.

The dancing green glow of the aurora borealis was reported in several states, including Washington state, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New York.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center's aurora forecast cited "stronger than anticipated" influences that helped make the overnight event a widespread spectacle in the northern U.S.

The faint aurora is typically only visible from a dark place, making it tougher to see in metropolitan areas.

PREVIOUSLY: Northern lights dazzle in the sky across Europe in stunning timelapse

FEBRUARY: Aurora borealis made a rare appearance in Colorado, setting skies ablaze

Auroras not expected Friday night

Unfortunately for aurora fans, the spectacle from Thursday night is not expected to be repeated Friday night, William Murtagh, the program coordinator at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, told USA TODAY.

The solar storm that produced the auroras last night has weakened, he said, adding that Thursday night's aurora "was an exceptional event."

What did the Northern Lights look like?

Weather Service offices shared photos of skies ablaze with shimmering green and purple hues.

Forecasters were stunned by the display, including an incredulous tweet from a Minnesota forecast office: "I'm no photographer but we're able to see the Aurora with our naked eye here in Chanhassen!"

The weather service office in Spokane, Washington, called the spectacle "stunning."

Washington

Tonight's aurora is STUNNING! Spokane won't have clear skies for much longer, so now's your chance to get out and see the lights  pic.twitter.com/IkDaNjGkUK  NWS Spokane (@NWSSpokane) March 24, 2023

There's something about the period around equinoxes that seem excite auroras. I mean, after a day like yesterday, who wouldn't be? 



This image from @Skunkbayweather in Hansville this morning is just jaw dropping. And that color of aurora is not common around here. #wawx pic.twitter.com/RXYLYP2q7f  NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 23, 2023

California

From the Sears Point camera in the last hour  Northern Lights seen in the North Bay skies northern horizon #CAwx 3/23/2023 #AuroraBorealis @NWSBayArea pic.twitter.com/zMlSTOWKVD  Rob Mayeda (@RobMayeda) March 24, 2023

When reports of lights seen as far as Northern California began to surface, one Twitter user asked the San Diego National Weather Service whether the Aurora Borealis ever been visible in the southern part of the state. The forecast office replied, saying that a Northern Lights spotting is rare because of urban lights, but an occurrence was reported in 2000.

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Wyoming

3/23 9 PM: Northern Lights are in full force. This picture was taken at our forecast office around 9 PM. #NorthernLights #wywx pic.twitter.com/PCn2pmQtTp  NWS Riverton (@NWSRiverton) March 24, 2023

It was quite the #northernlights show last night. Keep sharing the best snaps you were able to get! pic.twitter.com/w04MDdSIeg  NWS Gaylord (@NWSGaylord) March 24, 2023

Michigan

Gaylord Post troopers on the midnight shift had another spectacular view of the Northern Lights last night. pic.twitter.com/RGujAlMdcH  MSP Seventh District (@mspnorthernmi) March 24, 2023

Minnesota

I'll add to the beautiful photos this evening of the Northern Lights at our office in Duluth. #Aurora pic.twitter.com/mf8P4IYyax  NWS Duluth (@NWSduluth) March 24, 2023

I'm no photographer but we're able to see the Aurora with our naked eye here in Chanhassen! #mnwx #wiwx #northernlights pic.twitter.com/zDTheTNGTI  NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) March 24, 2023

It's 3 AM and the Northern Lights are still showing up on webcams, though they're getting kind of faint to us. Check out this MNDOT webcam loop from near Ely! pic.twitter.com/B9noFeO52t  NWS Duluth (@NWSduluth) March 24, 2023

Nebraska

Who else got a glimpse of the northern lights last night? https://t.co/638UDMIfKE  NWS Omaha (@NWSOmaha) March 24, 2023

South Dakota

It's 240 am and the northern lights are still showing up nicely on this webcam image from near Lake Poinsett. Pretty cool!! 3/24/2023 #sdwx pic.twitter.com/x899hxONT1  NWS Aberdeen (@NWSAberdeen) March 24, 2023

Northern lights visible from the office here in Rapid City! Though the lights from the city are washing it out a little (ok maybe a lot). Mostly clear across western SD and NE WY - step outside and take a look! #sdwx #wywx pic.twitter.com/8rTCnw3r4e  NWS Rapid City (@NWSRapidCity) March 24, 2023

North Dakota

Our view of #NorthernLights at the @NWSBismarck office. There's plenty of light pollution looking across the airport and city to the north and we're still able to see them! #ndwx pic.twitter.com/e8kFJkPneT  NWS Bismarck (@NWSBismarck) March 24, 2023

Montana

Here's a view of the northern lights (along with Venus & Jupiter, we think) on the Fallon County web camera facing northwest at 9pm. Cool! #mtwx #wywx pic.twitter.com/2mKoe5AHA7  NWS Billings (@NWSBillings) March 24, 2023

New York

Taken just before midnight, breaks in the clouds allowed us to capture the Aurora at the office. While faint, there is a haze of color. It was not visible to the naked eye though. Were you able to see it or capture a photo of it tonight? #northernlights pic.twitter.com/UGcImLu4Og  NWS Binghamton (@NWSBinghamton) March 24, 2023

Wisconsin

The northern lights can be seen outside the National Weather Service Milwaukee Office in Sullivan.

#northernlights #Aurora gave us quite a show at NWS LaCrosse last night/early this morning. Hope you were able to check it out. Thank the solar wind interaction with upper atmosphere (oxygen/hydrogen) for green-red shimmering curtains of color. Science is cool. #mnwx #iawx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/SRVObLZB78  NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) March 24, 2023

What causes the Northern Lights?

The colorful aurora forms when particles flowing from the sun get caught up in Earth's magnetic field. The particles interact with molecules of atmospheric gases to cause the famed glowing red and green colors of the aurora.

Contributing: Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NOAA's Northern Light forecast for US: More auroras Friday night?
This time it wasnt our beloved Sacramento Kings beam shooting colorful rays through Northern California skies.

The Northern Lights  or Aurora Borealis - were shinning Thursday night, further south than usual, a natural phenomenon that doesnt happen here often.

The Bee spoke with Bill Murtagh, program coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration space weather prediction center, to understand what exactly happened and what the chances are of a repeat.

Did we really see Northern Lights in Northern California Thursday night?

Yes.

The colors you saw in the sky Thursday night could have been the Northern Lights, also known as the auroras. The colors are a result of solar flares and coronal mass ejections that erupt out from the sun. Eruptions from the Sun impact Earth a couple of days later, which result in the Northern Lights.

The geomagnetic storms are monitored on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 considered a minor storm and 5 considered an extreme storm.

Thursdays light show was measured at a G4, according to the space weather prediction center.

What happened last night was a rare occurrence, but Murtagh said it will be a more frequent in the coming years due to the suns cycle.

A severe (G4) geomagnetic storm alert in effect. Northern Lights (Aurora) may be seen tonight as far south as Alabama and Northern California. For more information go to https://t.co/zdX7CLBfvS pic.twitter.com/T0CALDz4VW  NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) March 24, 2023

Will we see more of the natural phenomenon Friday?

There is some chatter online of another possible Northern Lights sighting for Friday night. However, the possibility of the Aurbeing visible in Northern California again will be very low, Murtagh said.

Measured on the geomagnetic scale, Fridays storm will be likely measured on a G1 or G2 scale.

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What causes these natural occurrences?

The beautiful light shows are eruptions from the Sun, that then impact the Earth a couple days later, Murtagh said.

These energetic particles come flowing in to the high latitudes and interact with the Earths atmosphere, Murtagh said. That interaction ends up triggering the Aurora.

Tips on seeing the Northern Lights

Below are tips to get the best visibility for the Northern Lights, according to the space weather prediction center:

Go to a dark outdoor place away from city lights.

Timing is important. The best time to catch a glimpse of the Aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight.

Location is also important. Try to go toward the magnetic poles, further north.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Ive hit my 60s, and my social circle is the size of a Cheerio, one man told HuffPost.

Ive hit my 60s, and my social circle is the size of a Cheerio, one man told HuffPost.

Having quality relationships is the top predictor of happiness and overall health, according to an 85-year longitudinal study from Harvard University. But as you get older, maintaining these connections and making new ones can be challenging.

Earlier this month, journalist Josie Duffy Rice asked her Twitter followers about ways that people over 60 can make friends or build community, after a pal of hers expressed that their parent was feeling very isolated.

what are the best ways for people 60+ to make new friends/community? anyone have advice on this? a friend's parent feels very isolated and it's weighing on both of them hard. parent's beloved animal just died, too. will take any ideas.  josie duffy rice (@jduffyrice) March 15, 2023

Her question reflects the struggles with loneliness that people face throughout their lives, but particularly as they age. One study found that 43% of Americans over 60reported feeling lonely. Research has shown that loneliness and social isolation are linked with an increased risk of negative health outcomes like dementia, heart disease, stroke, depression and even premature death.

Loneliness is a state of mind in which you feel alone. Social isolation means you have few social contacts or people to interact with regularly. Social isolation can lead to loneliness in some people, while others can feel lonely without being socially isolated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After age 60, certain life changes may explain why a person can feel alone or have a hard time making new connections. Maybe theyre an empty nester, divorced or widowed, or theyve recently moved to a new place.

Maybe theyre retired, nearing retirement or watching their longtime work friends retire. The loss of work relationships can be an important contributor to loneliness, Los Angeles psychologist David Narang told HuffPost.

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You may also be developing chronic health issues such as heart problems or back pain. And unfortunately, feeling physically vulnerable can injure your social confidence as well, said Narang, the author of Leaving Loneliness.

You might feel, for example, that if you are unable to do everything  like long hikes, traveling the world, working long days  that you once could, that you are no longer as valuable to others.

And for some, the time, effort and initial discomfort that come with trying a new activity or getting to know someone may seem like too big of a hurdle.

Ive hit my 60s, and my social circle is the size of a Cheerio.Craig Tomashoff, a 63-year-old writer and producer.

Ten years ago, Anne R.  a divorced mother of two grown kids  retired from her career as a surgeon. She went from talking to 50 or 100 people a day at the office to not speaking with anyone on some days, she said.

After she retired, her work friends stopped reaching out to her.

If I had to talk to them for one reason or another, they go, Oh, lets go for lunch. I was like: OK, you let me know. Youre working, Im retired. Ill come whenever you can come. Never heard from them, said the 67-year-old, whose last name has been withheld to protect her privacy.

It was a complete shock, she said. These are people that I would have considered friends, people that I talked to multiple times a week.

Anne still stays in touch with a few dear friends shes known for decades. I dont necessarily talk to them every day, she said. But I know if I pick up the phone and they hear Im not right, theyre right there.

She has also met some people through her local gym and training classes for her dogs. In recent years, though, these new acquaintances havent turned into genuine, lasting connections.

There are a whole lot of people that Ive met through my dogs, but I have not really found the energy or desire to meet them outside of the dogs as a friend, she said.

These days, she said shes much more selective and much more cautious with her friendships.

Im finding people are getting very egocentric. And so they might say, Oh, Im having surgery. You say, Oh, OK, Ill drive you. Then you say to them, Im having surgery, will you drive me? Theyre like, Oh, Ive got to do this, Ive got to do that, Anne said.

So if Im going to give of myself what I consider the energy that you should give in a friendship, I need to know theres going to be some reciprocity.

Making new friends requires more effort in your 60s than in your early adulthood.

Making new friends requires more effort in your 60s than in your early adulthood.

Craig Tomashoff, a divorced 63-year-old father, writer and producer, said hes noticed that after 60, making new friends is something that requires effort in a way making friends in your 20s doesnt.

When youre young, you have co-workers and roommates around all the time. You go out in groups where you meet other people. You find a mate, and his or her friends become yours, Tomashoff told HuffPost.

At my age now  with the only thing shrinking more than the working days I have left are the ages of my co-workers  theres no natural way to just meet people who you want to share time with. Its all about signing up for classes or, as I recently had to do, using apps not to date but to just make acquaintances.

Tomashoff realized that he had spent so much of his adult life focused on his kids and working hard to save for retirement that he left little time for socializing and making friends.

Between your 20s and 50s, youre constantly reminded that you need to save money for your golden years. Everything is geared toward putting every dollar you can into savings so youll live a comfortable life when you hit your 60s, he said.

The one thing you never hear about, though, is doing the same for your social life. Seldom do you read articles or watch commercials telling you to bank as many friends as you can for the lonely years ahead.

He called this the biggest mistake of his life.

Ive hit my 60s, and my social circle is the size of a Cheerio, Tomashoff said. I do wish I projected ahead not so much to how Ill pay my mortgage, [but] more to how Ill spend those days once the mortgage gets paid.

So How Can You Make Friends In Your 60s And Beyond?

To find your people as an older adult, tap into your interests. That might mean signing up for an art class, getting a part-time job, looking for a book club at the local library, trying a new activity like pickleball, or joining a religious, political or volunteer group for a cause thats close to your heart.

No matter what you choose, expect some initial awkwardness as you get to know people in this new community. Tolerating that temporary discomfort is a required part of the process, Narang said.

In young adulthood, we expect everything to feel new and are less bothered if the experience of joining a new group is initially uncomfortable, he said. We can keep that openness to new experiences throughout our lives by expecting new experiences to feel awkward for a time, and allowing for that temporary discomfort required to rebuild social community.

Because society isnt organized around having gathering places that everyone visits on a regular basis, Narang said, know that you do have to be intentional about seeking out these social connections.

If I have a standing date with you, youre probably going to come. ... It allows us a better support system for each other because we come regardless of how we feel.Anne R., a 67-year-old retired surgeon.

Choosing a class, activity or group that meets on a regular basis can be key for building new relationships. Repeated exposure to the same people can bring you closer and help you feel like youre part of something.

Youre around people, Anne said. And if you dont show up, people say: Where are you? What are you doing? Sometimes theyll call  Why havent you been here for a week? And that makes you feel connected.

Anne also has a scheduled bagel date once a week with a friend shes known since kindergarten. This ensures they spend time face to face on a regular basis. Putting it on the calendar means theyre more likely to stick to it.

What weve found is that if I call you today and say, Hey, you want to go have lunch?  if youre not feeling quite up to it, youre probably going to bag, she said.

If I have a standing date with you, youre probably going to come. And what it does is it allows us a better support system for each other because we come regardless of how we feel.

And finally, remind yourself that you have something valuable to offer and that your people are out there.

Everybody has the need to connect, to be understood, to get close to others and to have companionship, Narang said. If you can offer that connection and companionship, there is someone out there with those needs whose personality would mesh well with yours, and that person would want you as a friend.

Need help with mental health or substance use disorder issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.

Related...
New York City this week adopted a series of policies intended to make it safer for residents to ride, charge and store their electric bicycles and scooters.

The measures are the citys first concerted effort to address a conundrum thats growing increasingly urgent in major urban hubs worldwide.

In New York City, tens of thousands of residents rely on battery-powered devices for commuting or for performing their jobs as app-based delivery workers. At the same time, though lithium-ion batteries are usually safe, a proliferation of low-quality devices and dangerous charging practices has caused a rash of deadly fires inside apartment buildings and, most recently, at a daycare facility.

The dilemma reveals the nuanced reality of the micromobility movement thats taking hold as cities work to curb tailpipe pollution and reduce car traffic. Often, the people who benefit most from riding electrified two-wheelers  low-wage workers  cant afford to buy higher-quality models or to take the time to slowly and safely charge batteries.

If cities adopt policies that restrict riskier e-bikes and batteries but dont help people access safer models, they could put an important zero-emissions transit option out of reach for many residents, advocates say.

We need to find solutions for the equity and the safety issues that can be rolled out as soon as possible, Melinda Hanson, founder of Brightside Strategies, a Brooklyn-based mobility consulting firm, told Canary Media.

She said the new policies in New York City are an early but important attempt to address both of those aspects.

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams signed five bills into law, including one that requires e-bike batteries sold in New York City to meet recognized safety standards, and another that prohibits local shops from tampering with or selling repaired batteries, which are more likely to catch fire.

The bill-signing coincided with the release of the citys new Electric Micromobility Action Plan, which outlines initiatives for both improving battery safety and encouraging residents to embrace emissions-free transportation. In one test project, the utility Con Edison will install outdoor e-bike battery chargers and storage areas around four public-housing developments to keep cyclists from charging inside their apartments, which can be dangerous. Officials said theyll advocate for state-funded e-bike rebate programs and subsidies for low- and moderate-income households.

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Our shared goal to prevent fires involving lithium-ion batteries is a tough one, city councilmember Alexa Aviles said at Mondays bill signing, adding that the new measures are a step in the right direction.



Aviles represents parts of Brooklyn and chairs the citys public-housing committee. Last year, when the New York City Housing Authority considered banning e-bikes in its buildings due to safety concerns, Aviles pushed back, calling for a more holistic approach. Many of the citys 65,000 delivery workers live in public-housing apartments  which have also been a common location for battery-related fires.

Between 2021 and 2022, the number of battery fires more than doubled in New York City, from 104 to 220, according to the New York City Fire Department. In January and February, the city saw 30 such fires, which resulted in two deaths and 40 injuries.

Keeping bad batteries off the streets and out of homes

Most high-quality lithium-ion batteries  whether for smartphones, laptops, electric cars or bicycles  are certified by Underwriters Laboratories, whose battery safety standards are among the most stringent. The cells these batteries contain are designed to withstand internal or external shocks.

However, the U.S. still imports plenty of relatively cheap, uncertified batteries that may not have such safeguards in place. Lithium-ion batteries contain oxygen atoms and liquid electrolytes. If a battery runs too hot, or if its punctured, the heat, oxygen and electrolyte can begin feeding off each other, causing extremely hot explosions and releasing toxic gas.

Offering rebates for e-bikes with certified batteries, or incentivizing people to trade in riskier models for new ones, would ensure more people can access safer devices, according to Hanson. A regular bicycle equipped with a top-notch electric pedal assist system can run around $2,000. But electric mopeds with more powerful and uncertified batteries can be found online for half the price, if not less.

Nobody buys a dangerous bike because thats their preference, Hanson said. Theyre buying low-quality bikes because its what they can afford.

Still, even the best batteries can pose fire hazards if theyre not properly maintained or repaired. In New York, the crushing demands of delivery workers jobs can lead to risky practices. Some workers will tamper with their e-bike systems so they can go faster. Many convenience stores charge multiple bike batteries at once so that workers can quickly exchange a spent battery for one with juice. Often, local repair shops fix damaged batteries themselves rather than send them back to the original manufacturer.

If a cyclist charges one of these altered batteries at home, or leaves it plugged in too long or overnight, the risk of fires increases substantially.

New York Citys e-bike charging pilots and fire-safety outreach efforts could help address some of these problems, including by moving charging into the open air and by encouraging the use of inexpensive but effective outlet timers. These devices cut off power flow once the battery is sufficiently charged.

Still, city officials cant curb the influx of uncertified batteries on their own. Despite the new law requiring New York City vendors to meet battery-safety standards, residents can still buy e-bikes and scooters online. In the United States, imports valued at $800 or less generally arent subject to customs inspections or quality checks.

To that end, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has pushed the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to step in.

In December, the independent federal agency called on 2,000 manufacturers and importers to review their product lines and ensure they comply with established voluntary safety standards or face possible enforcement action. The FDNY applauded the agencys action but urged its commissioners to go even further, including potentially by seizing imported devices and penalizing manufacturers for not meeting industry standards.

There are basic steps that can make e-micromobility devices safer while not significantly increasing the costs to consumers, Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh wrote in a February letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The FDNY is on the front lines of this fight against deadly fires involving batteries in e-micromobility devices, and we are grateful for every tool available to help.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The Willow oil project on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope is part of a new era of large-scale development in the region but it isn't a sure thing, with litigation and costs among the factors that stand as potential impediments, a state official told lawmakers Thursday.

John Crowther, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, said the scale of projects like Willow, which is on federal lands in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and was approved by the Biden administration last week, is tremendous and would benefit Alaska. He also lumped in as significant the Pikka oil project, which is on state lands east of the petroleum reserve.

But he also said multibillion-dollar, multi-year projects are complex and there is "significant runway for the ConocoPhillips Alaska-backed Willow project to get to the development and production stages. Australia-based Santos is working with Repsol to advance the Pikka project.

State tax officials on Thursday provided lawmakers an analysis of potential revenue impacts and benefits from Willow for the state treasury but noted uncertainty around the estimates, including when the project ultimately might begin, oil price volatility and industry costs.

North Slope oil prices, which were around $115 a barrel this time last year amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are currently in the $70-per-barrel range.

Dan Stickel, chief economist with the state Department of Revenue's tax division, told the Senate Finance Committee the oil and gas industry is a high-risk industry that requires considerable capital. He said the ability for companies to recover costs is a key consideration when they decide whether to invest, and that Alaska's tax structure has elements that support cost recovery. For example, the tax system allows for deductions related to investments and incentives for new production areas.

The state tax divisions modeling indicated Willow could lead to billions of dollars in revenue for the state, North Slope communities, federal government and the company over the projects life, said Owen Stephens, a tax division analyst.

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Oil has long been the state's economic lifeblood. Alaska political leaders  including Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, the state's bipartisan congressional delegation and the Legislature  have pushed for Willow, in part seeing it as a way to boost the flow of oil through the trans-Alaska pipeline. Many leaders on the remote North Slope or with ties to the region have cast the project as economically vital for their communities. Unions have also spoken in support.

Environmentalists, however, have argued the project is at odds with President Joe Biden's climate pledges and worry it could lead to further development in the region.

Environmental organizations and an Alaska Native group have filed lawsuits challenging Willows approval, arguing in part that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management failed to consider an adequate range of alternatives. A federal judge is expected to decide by early April whether to halt construction activities related to the project pending resolution of the cases, something the groups are requesting.

The approved project is smaller than what ConocoPhillips Alaska had earlier sought but the company said it welcomed the decision.

Rebecca Boys, a company spokesperson, earlier this week said the company was building ice roads for construction work but agreed to delay gravel mine activities until April 4, unless the judge issues a decision earlier than that denying the injunction requests filed by Willow opponents.

ConocoPhillips Alaska is intervening in the litigation in support of the federal agencies being sued over the approval. Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation; the North Slope Borough; Kuukpik Corp., an Alaska Native village corporation and the state have also intervened in support of the approval.

Willow could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day and more than 600 million barrels over its 30-year life, according to the company.
By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) -Oil prices settled lower on Friday as European banking shares fell and after U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said refilling the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) may take several years, dampening demand prospects.

Brent crude settled down 92 cents, or 1.2%, to $74.99. West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude futures fell 70 cents, or 1%, to $69.26 a barrel.

Both benchmarks rose this week as banking sector turmoil eased. Brent futures rose 2.8% in the week while U.S. crude futures rose 3.8%. Last week, both benchmarks posted their biggest declines in months.

"We're riding along macroeconoic headwinds, and there's a newfound correlation with equities" said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

Banking stocks slid in Europe with Deutsche Bank and UBS Group slammed by worries that the worst problems in the sector since the 2008 financial crisis could persist.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen convened an unscheduled meeting of the Financial Stability Oversight Council on Friday morning.

The dollar rose 0.6% against other currencies, which also pressured oil, making crude more expensive to holders of other currencies.

The White House said in October it would buy back oil for the SPR when prices were at or below about $67-$72 per barrel.

On Thursday, Granholm told lawmakers it would be difficult to take advantage of low prices this year to add to stockpiles, which are at their lowest level since 1983 following sales directed by President Joe Biden last year.

Oil drew some support from strong demand expectations from China. Goldman Sachs said commodities demand was surging in the world's biggest oil importer, with oil demand topping 16 million bpd.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said a previously announced cut of 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in Russia's oil production would be from an output level of 10.2 million bpd in February, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

That means Russia aims to produce 9.7 million bpd between March and June, according to Novak, a much smaller output cut than Moscow previously indicated.

(Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London; Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Trixie Yap in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Louise Heavens and David Gregorio)
I got to ride the new Tron roller coaster at Magic Kingdom before it opened. Megan duBois

Tron Lightcycle / Run is the newest and one of the fastest rides at Disney World.

Construction on the attraction started in 2018, and I got an early preview of the ride.

It's a great addition to Magic Kingdom, with high speeds and incredible special effects.

Tron Lightcycle / Run is a new roller coaster at Magic Kingdom.

Disney announced the new coaster back in 2017, and it's finally opening in April. Megan duBois

Tron Lightcycle Power Run opened at Shanghai Disneyland in 2016, and at the 2017 D23 Expo, the company announced the high-speed, indoor/outdoor coaster would come to Magic Kingdom at Disney World.

Construction on the "Tron: Legacy"-inspired ride, renamed Tron Lightcycle / Run, started in 2018, and fans have spent five years waiting for the completion of the project.

The new coaster is located in the Tomorrowland area of Magic Kingdom just to the left of Space Mountain. It's the largest expansion of the park since New Fantasyland opened in 2012.

Tron Lightcycle / Run just opened to the public, but I was able to get a preview during a media event for journalists.

There's a large plaza area that leads up to the attraction.

The ride greatly expanded the Tomorrowland section of Magic Kingdom. Megan duBois

In front of the attraction, there's a large plaza where guests can wait in line, take photos of the coaster's massive canopy, or try a few snacks at the new Energy Bytes quick-service kiosk.

This area was once just a semi-hidden pathway between Tomorrowland and Storybook Circus, where guests could sit and enjoy a quiet area of the park or wave at the people riding the Walt Disney World Railroad.

At the base of the plaza is the ride's marquee, which is a great spot for photos with the canopy in the background.

Walking under the canopy is a thrill in itself.

The roller coaster is covered by a massive canopy. Megan duBois

As I walked up the pathway to the entrance of the attraction, I was in awe as I stood under the canopy. I learned that it's an impressive 105 feet high and has more than 1,200 lights.

While taking in the views, Lightcycle ride vehicles zoomed by, adding to my building excitement as I made my way to the queue.

Just outside of the outdoor portion queue, there's a test seat for people to try out.

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You can see what it's like to sit on a Lightcycle before getting in line for the ride. Megan duBois

The Tron Lightcycle / Run ride vehicle is unique  it's more like a motorcycle than a traditional coaster seat. Every rider gets their own Lightcycle, but getting in and out can be tricky.

Luckily, there's a test seat outside the queue area. You can practice getting on and off and see what the seat is like before getting in line.

Once I entered the indoor portion of the queue, I actually felt like I was in the Grid from "Tron: Legacy."

There were so many cool details in the queue. Megan duBois

After a short wait outside, I made my way to the inside portion of the queue. The first hallway was very small but had great lighting effects.

Then a door opened into the "Digitizer" where everyone is welcomed into the world of "Tron" and the Grid. The visual effects in this room are mind-blowing and on par with the storytelling and creativity of recent attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

As someone who's never seen any of the "Tron" movies, I appreciated that the storyline was simple. I didn't need a lot of background information to understand what was going on.

Before getting on the ride, everyone has to put their belongings into lockers.

The locker system reminded me of Universal Orlando. Megan duBois

Tron Lightcycle / Run is Disney World's first ride with a required locker system, similar to the one at the Universal theme parks.

To use the free double-sided lockers, guests need to scan a MagicBand or park ticket. After unlocking, everything that's bigger than a cell phone must go into the locker. If you want to bring your phone, wallet, sunglasses, or other small items, there's a very small storage compartment on the front of the Lightcycle.

Getting into the seat was a little tricky, but the employees helped me figure it out.

All the restraints have to be in a specific position for people to ride the coaster safely. Megan duBois

After boarding the seat like a bike, I pulled down on the handlebar to lower the back restraint and allow the leg restraints to unfold.

For everyone's safety, the back of the seat and the leg restraints must be in a certain locked position. The back restraint wasn't really an issue for me, but the leg restraint was a little more challenging because I have bigger calves.

An employee gave me a tip to slide all the way forward on the ride vehicle but sit up slightly. This allowed the back restraint to lower to the right spot while giving the leg bars more room to open and lock into place without any discomfort.

To get out of the ride vehicle, I just had to push up on the handlebars. The restraints went back to their unlocked positions, making it easy to get off like a bike.

There's an accessible seat on some of the trains.

If you can't or don't want to ride on the Lightcycles, there's another option. Megan duBois

If you don't comfortably fit in the seat or need more assistance with getting in and out of a ride vehicle due to a disability, there's an accessible option.

Once you reach the loading point of the queue, just tell the employee that you need an accessible seat. It's more akin to a traditional roller-coaster bench, where you simply sit and pull down a lap bar.

I rode both the traditional Lightcycle and the accessible seat during my preview and found that the experience wasn't dampened by not sitting in a Lightcycle. There were still plenty of thrills, and I had great views of the canopy and the indoor portion of the ride because I was sitting up.

After loading, riders take off into the Grid.

There are signs showing the proper way to sit on the Lightcycles in the queue. Megan duBois

After boarding the ride vehicles, you'll slowly reach the launch point, which hurdles guests into the Grid at a max speed of 59 miles an hour.

The 60-second ride starts with a quick glide outside under the canopy before moving into a dark showroom, where riders are racing against Team Orange. Most of the inside portion of the ride is screen-based, and there's lots to see if you look around.

After riding a few times, I found that the best views of the indoor portion were from the back of the cars. But for more thrills, sit toward the front.

After riding, you'll grab your things out of your locker using the same MagicBand or ticket.

You can scan to remember your locker number after the ride. Megan duBois

If you forget your locker number, there are small screens that you can scan to help you find it.

I was surprised by how different the experience was from day to night.

The whole ride lights up at night. Megan duBois

In my opinion, the Tron coaster really shines at night. The daytime rides I took were fun, but the nighttime rides were infinitely better.

At night, the canopy is lit up, and as Lightcycles zoom by, there are some cool visual effects.

I also loved the view of the bright-blue canopy against the purple hues of Space Mountain in the background. The warm glow of Disney's Contemporary Resort also lines up perfectly behind.

I would wait to ride this again, but it's definitely more worth it at night.

I loved the new Tron coaster at Magic Kingdom. Megan duBois

I ended up riding Tron Lightcycle / Run four times during the preview event.

It's not my favorite ride at Disney World, but I love that it brings something new and exciting to Magic Kingdom. The thrills were plentiful, but the experience was a lot shorter than I was expecting.

For those looking to ride, there's a minimum height requirement of 48 inches. There are some big drops, but no inversions, so it's still pretty family-friendly.

When it officially opens on April 4, there will be two ways to ride. The first is to join the virtual queue through the My Disney Experience app. The second is to purchase a Lightning Lane through Disney Genie+  the first round of Lightning Lanes went for $20 each, but they're now sold out.

It's hard to guarantee a nighttime ride, but that's the version I liked best. Ultimately, if I had to wait in an hours-long line, I'd do it to be able to experience the Grid again.

Read the original article on Insider
Patricia Lapetite couldn't believe what she was seeing, as she and her dog were tracked by a lion. (Credit: XL.MTL/TikTok)

A TikTok video has gone viral on social media, after a Quebec woman filmed herself just metres away from a lion while walking her dog in Orona, Ont.

Patricia Lapetite was visiting the area, which is about 100 kilometres away from Toronto, and decided to take her dog for a walk on a neighbourhood road. Thats when she came across a lion, with the video showing what appears to just be a short, chain-link fence and a snow bank separating her and her dog.

Lapetite would later find out that the large cat belongs to a roadside zoo, Jungle Cat World. Since then, the incident has added to concerns from animal advocacy experts, questioning the safety of the animals and for those in the community.

There is a f****** lion in this yard that is so-normal looking, said Lapetite in her native French in the video, as she called on her dog to let's go, we're leaving, don't agitate the lion," after it appearing to be "eyeing" it.

The original video, posted on TikTik on March 8, is now not publicly available, while Lapetite did not respond to Yahoo Canada in time for publication.

Following publication, Jungle Cat World's program director Peter Klose responded to Yahoo Canada in an email, saying "the story of a lion escaping was only a rumour and categorically false."

The video appears to be taken next to Concession Road 6, a major street with lots of local activity. Across the street, there is a gas station and local restaurant, with residential houses nearby.

The video speaks for itself, said Michele Hamers, World Animal Protection wildlife campaign manager, to Yahoo Canada.

The dog was stressed and barking, not expecting to see a lion that close nearby. The woman seemed distressed and she was trying to calm her dog down, as the lion was responding to [the barks] and tracking them along the fence line. This seemed to be a very uncomfortable situation.

While its hard to pinpoint exactly what the zoos enclosure looks like in this video, World Animal Protection believes that the encounter raises safety concerns, claiming the lion appears to have escaped from its enclosure.

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Another video thats been posted to TikTok shows that there is another, taller fence separating the lion from the street, but World Animal Protection claims that's also not enough.

This is an incredibly dangerous situation. We are relieved that no one was injured, its a very strong reminder of how broken Ontarios animal legislation is, World Animal Protection said in its statement regarding the video.

Lions can jump as high as 12-feet, which is why professional zoo standards recommend keeping lions behind fences at least 15-feet high. Additionally, safety measures should also be taken like the inclusion of an overhang at the top of the fence to prevent the animal from climbing out, and a proper perimeter fence surrounding the entire facility to prevent animals from leaving the zoo property.

Hamers notes that an overhang, which is a fence that is curved inwards in the enclosure that will prevent a lion from climbing over the fence, is missing in the video.

Ontario Solicitor general spokesperson Brent Ross told CTV News that on March 13, following a complaint that the lion escaped from its enclosure, Animal Welfare Services inspected Jungle Cat World. At the time of inspection, all the lions were reportedly in their enclosures, while there was no threat to public safety.

Exotic animals in Ontario: Mounting concerns

This is not the first time that World Animal Protection has raised concerns about the zoo, among many others in Ontario  signalling a widespread problem.

In 2019, World Animal Protection called out Jungle Cat World, which has been operating since 1983, for offering close up interactions with tiger cubs, wolves and other wild animals for photos. In 2011, a wolf escaped the facility, leading to it being fatally shot.

A more recent 2022 report also reviewed 11 different zoos across Ontario, including Jungle Cat World. Issues were noted, such as poor design and construction of enclosures, which could lead to inappropriate interactions, such as the one seen in this video.

The report also states that Ontario is the last major jurisdiction in Canada that has not licensed or restricted the keeping or use of exotic wild animals in captivity.

Its truly the wild west when it comes to wild animal ownership, said Hamers. How many more incidents like this need to happen before the province gets serious about reform?

Questions around Ontario's minimal rules surrounding roadside zoos are still being asked. World Animal Protection wants Ontario to focus on building stronger animal legislation, just like the other provinces.

Ontario has the weakest regulations in Canada, said World Animal Protection in a press release following the viral video.

The province leaves it up to municipalities to draft regulations, leading to a patchwork of rules. Its estimated that approximately 50 per cent of municipalities in the province dont have any bans on wild animal ownership.

According to World Animal Protection, Ontario only bans the ownership of select native species. This leads to thousands more exotic species, such as tigers, lions and venomous snakes being kept as long as theyre not banned by municipalities.

World Animal Protection said they would like to see a comprehensive licensing system of facilities that keep animals for public displays, otherwise known as zoos.

This licensing system should be according to the highest public health standards and animal welfare, said Hamers We are proposing to make this the last generation of these wildlife animals living in these tragic conditions.
Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina.

Banking is best when its boring, the saying goes. By that standard, banking is not currently at its best. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this month has the global banking system on edge, and as the dominoes fall, the North Carolina Triangle has plenty to gain or lose.

Banking news in the state usually revolves around Charlotte. The Queen City is home to Bank of America and Truist Bank. Wells Fargo, while headquartered in San Francisco, has a sizable presence there too. Banking is baked into Charlottes identity, along with the Hornets losing and NASCAR.

But this week, its been the Triangle linked with major banking developments, both nationally and internationally.

First Citizens wants to buy SVB? Really?

According to multiple reports this week, Raleighs First Citizens Bank is trying to acquire whats left of Silicon Valley Bank.

Silicon Valley was known for working with dynamic early-stage tech startups. First Citizens is a traditional, family-owned institution that N.C. State finance professor Richard Warr favorably described as boring.

On Instagram, one person compared First Citizens buying Silicon Valley to Billy Graham buying Studio 54.

The First Citizens Bank building on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh.

So, whats First Citizens angle here?

The bank itself is tight-lipped about its strategy, refusing to confirm or deny whether it made a bid for Silicon Valley.

Warr suggested any Triangle-area bank with resources would benefit from capitalizing on Silicon Valley Banks relationships with tech companies. It has acquired 20 other banks since 2009, the company says, including purchasing CIT Group last year for $2.2 billion.

Yasser Boualam, an assistant professor of finance at UNC, said if First Citizens could strengthen its relationships with startups, it could have significant positive spillover effects to the NC economy in the long run.

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which has managed Silicon Valley Bank since the lender collapsed on March 10, gave bidders until Friday night to make offers. For guidance, we expect to announce our decision this weekend, an FDIC spokesperson said in an email to The News & Observer on Wednesday.

What Credit Suisse sale could mean for RTP?





The other big banking news in the Triangle this week actually took place in Switzerland, where UBS acquired fellow Swiss bank (and major Research Triangle Park tenant) Credit Suisse for $3 billion.

Credit Suisse has been wracked by scandals over the years, including hefty fines for enabling clients to evade taxes. Known for catering to wealthy, international clients, Credit Suisse was reporting heavy losses even before Silicon Valley Bank fell.

Will the merger affect Triangle jobs?

State records indicate Credit Suisse employed around 2,300 people in the Triangle as of last year. Even before UBS stepped in, the company was in the process of cutting positions globally.

In 2017, North Carolina awarded Credit Suisse an incentive grant to create 1,200 jobs in the area. The state says this agreement remains intact for now. The company has already created roughly two-thirds of those positions, a mix of financial and technology roles.

Earlier this week, UBSs chairman announced his company would downsize Credit Suisses investment division.

The dust hasnt nearly begun to settle on this acquisition.

The entrance to the Credit Suisse campus in Research Triangle Park.

President Biden to visit Durham tech company





President Joe Biden plans to be in Research Triangle Park next week to visit the silicon chip manufacturer Wolfspeed.

Its part of an Investing in America tour.

Last summer, Biden signed a bill that includes $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, known as the CHIPS Act. Wolfspeed, which is rapidly expanding its production of silicon carbide chips, expects to receive some CHIPS funding.

Avaya, more like A-bye-a





In the fall of 2020, the telecommunications company Avaya relocated its corporate offices from Californias Bay Area to the Triangle, where it took over an office complex in South Durham. One bankruptcy, a failed debt deal, a few investigations, multiple rounds of layoffs, and a cratered stock price later and the company is out of the Triangle, and North Carolina all together.

Where did the company move its headquarters? Jersey.

The former Avaya headquarters in Durham near Research Triangle Park.

Short Stuff: Red Hats anniversary

The Raleigh-raised, open-source software company Red Hat turns 30 years old on Sunday.

The NC Chamber honored former North Carolina emergency management director Mike Sprayberry at its 81st annual award ceremony at the Raleigh Convention Center on Wednesday. Many might remember Sprayberry for his calming presence during the daily COVID-19 updates at the height of the pandemic.

Triangle entrepreneur Robbie Allen raised $3 million from local venture funds for his Durham startup Bionic Health, which works to provide AI-driven health services.

Triangle tech openings sank 30% last month, new data provided by the NC Tech Association shows:

Open tech jobs plummeted last month in the Triangle

National Tech Happenings

TikToks CEO spoke before Congress on Thursday during a four-plus-hour committee hearing. He didnt appear to assuage congressional members fervent distrust of the app and its connections to the Chinese government. Talk of a TikTok ban intensifies.

The Age of AI has begun, proclaimed billionaire Bill Gates on his blog (p.s. Bill Gates has a blog). He said artificial intelligence is as revolutionary as mobile phones and the Internet.

Speaking of AI, the chatbot Character.AI is being valued at $1 billion. It has no revenue.

Twitter will soon get rid of the blue checkmarks on verified accounts that dont pay for Twitter Blue subscriptions. Welp, there goes my checkmark.

Thanks for reading!

Everyone made the same clock pun.

This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.

Open Source

Do you enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly technology newsletter and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here.
Feb 7, 2023; Columbus, OH, United States; Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters asks a question during oral arguments. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

You might want to read this piece before it gets canceled. Thats how fast cancel culture is moving lately. And the black robe I wear in court everyday has no magic ability to shield me.

Irony must be dying since there seem to be so many loud voices seeking to silence others. Every day brings yet another ham-handed example of censorship and screeches of perceived offense. Our institutions of higher learning, which should serve as a bright beacon of free speech in the name of civil debate and discussion, are the front lines of cancel culture. Earlier this month, pouty students and an unhinged diversity dean at Stanford University shouted down a federal judge whod been invited to campus. Worldwide news stories amplified the ridiculous incident. Yet the Queen City has its own example much closer to home.

Last month, Xavier University appointed Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters to serve as "justice in residence." Hell interact with students in the classroom. Xavier President Dr. Colleen Hanycz said that the justice in residence program serves one of Xaviers spires of academic excellence  high impact experiential learning. What an opportunity for students to learn from someone with a long career in the law and on the front lines of legal thinking in Ohio. But, not so fast.

More opinion: Xavier petition to cancel Deters the opposite of higher learning

In the last several days, a tiny slice of extremist students and other partisan activists sought to cancel Justice Deters. The Xavier University College Democrats started a petition to rescind Deters appointment. News stories reported that the petition had 636 signers, many of whom arent even students. The petition falsely claims that Deters doesnt represent "Jesuit Catholic values or teachings."

They dont bother defining their smear  in the cancel culture, accusations are enough. The Xavier Democrats Twitter bio says that the group is dedicated to electing Democrats up and down the ballot. In Ohio we elect judges, and those elections are fiercely contested. Theres nothing wrong with that. There is something wrong when we cant see the educational value in having a state Supreme Court Justice interacting with students. There is something wrong when college students seek to silence voices, rather than engaging with them to expand a world view. Learning requires listening.

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A free republic cant remain free without the ability for its citizens to discuss all ideas. Our founding fathers understood this, which is why the First Amendment was one of their most important endeavors. Freedom of speech is a core American value that every student ought to understand and respect.

Students who demand spaces that keep them "safe" from ideas that challenge their preconceived notions simply arent ready to take on adult leadership roles. All too often, they are ignorant of historys dark examples of free-thinkers being sent to gulags and reeducation camps. Society expects higher education leaders to ensure that these lessons are taught and understood. Snatching a sheepskin on a commencement stage doesnt make someone educated, understanding the intricacies of a complicated world does.

Universities and university students need to get back to the business of preparing for lifes intellectual rigors. With the creation of the justice in residence, Dr. Hanycz has taken a laudable step in that direction. The students should engage with Justice Deters. Ask tough questions. Disagree earnestly. He can take it. But have the debate  they might just learn something.

As judges, Justice Deters and I took an oath to uphold the Constitution and its free speech precepts. When lawyers come before us, we ask them difficult questions to clarify the law. When witnesses in court are cross examined, the truth becomes more plain. These legal exchanges can be tense, difficult, and even might hurt some feelings. But rigorous exchanges are a cornerstone of justice.

Some of the students at Xavier may want to become lawyers. Others will come to courts as litigants or witnesses. But all of them should know that seeking an education instills a basic duty to expand their minds, take in different views, and build opinions only after hearing all sides.

As a judge, this process helps me learn every day. Just imagine what it will do for the leaders of tomorrow.

Judge Megan Shanahan has spent more than 22 years in the legal system, first as a prosecutor and now as a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge and candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Don't let Xavier become the next Intolerance U.
(Bloomberg) -- Oracle Corp. has cut jobs at its Cerner digital health-records unit, particularly in marketing, as the software giant works to integrate last years $28.3 billion acquisition.

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Workers were informed last week that their positions had been eliminated, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the matter. While the full scale of cuts couldnt be determined, Cerners marketing and creative services divisions were hard hit, and some technical positions also were affected, said former employees who lost their jobs.

Jason Withington worked at Cerner for nearly 16 years, most recently in data center operations, before his job was wiped out last week. He said multiple workers in his division with over a decade of tenure had been let go. Withington is also a recently elected commissioner for Clay County in Missouri, the county in the Kansas City metropolitan area where Cerners old headquarters was located.

Oracle didnt respond to requests for comment. Cerner, which became part of the company last June, has fueled cloud growth and contributed more than $1.5 billion in revenue in the most recent quarter. Chairman Larry Ellison has said Oracle anticipates even stronger future growth for the electronic records business.

Still, the software giant is focused on cutting costs at Cerner. At an investor event in October, Chief Executive Officer Safra Catz said there are many ways that profitability could be improved at the acquired unit. The situation in Cerner  thats just not how we run a place, Catz said, later adding they would clean Cerner up.

Oracle announced last year that it would conduct a restructuring program due to our acquisitions and certain other operational activities, according to a recent regulatory filing. The company spent $585 million on the program through Feb. 28, primarily related to employee severance costs, and estimated it would spend some of the remaining $342 million allocated for restructuring through the end of the fiscal year in May.

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Oracle employed about 143,000 people in May 2022, before the Cerner deal closed, the company said. Cerner had about 25,000 employees when the acquisition was announced in December 2021, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Earlier this month, Catz said Cerners operating margin has increased over 5 percentage points since the acquisition. Last year, Oracle said it would close some offices in the Kansas City area and consolidate its workforce into a single location. The recent Cerner job reductions were reported earlier by the Kansas City Business Journal.

Oracle is famous for its cost cuts and high profits. In an earnings call earlier this month, Salesforce Inc. CEO Marc Benioff said he learned the Oracle Playbook from Ellison as activist investors pushed Benioff to boost earnings. A few months prior, Salesforce announced it would cut 8,000 workers.

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Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the most controversial bill of the session in Senate Bill 150 Friday.

But he also rejected plenty of high-impact legislation passed by the GOP-controlled legislature.

The legislature will get a chance to override Beshears vetoes on March 29 and 30, the final days of the legislative session. Any bills passed in those two days will be subject to a veto that cant be overridden.

Heres a list of important bills that Beshear has vetoed so far:

Senate Bill 65: nullifying Medicaid expansion

Senate Bill 65 would nullify several administrative regulations from Beshears team, including one that aimed to expand hearing, vision and dental benefits to an estimated 700,000 Kentuckians on Medicaid.

Beshear, in his veto message, said the bill would harm Kentuckians and frustrate efforts to increase Kentuckys workforce. He also said the bill was unconstitutional because, he argued, it infringed on the governors right to issue administrative regulations.

Senate Bill 107: Confirmation for Kentucky education leader

Citing an effort to politicize the selection of a Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) leader, Beshear vetoed Senate Bill 107. The bill, from Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, would require that KDE commissioners are confirmed by the Senate.

Beshear argued that adding the Senate to the process of commissioner approval  the Kentucky Board of Education selects the commissioner  would discourage qualified applicants from seeking to pursue the position.

KDE Commissioner Jason Glass has become a target for Republicans expressing frustration with the state of Kentucky education, particularly regarding his comments that Kentucky teachers should respect a transgender students desire to use their preferred pronouns.

Senate Bill 126: venue changes for state government lawsuits

Under Senate Bill 126, Kentuckians could opt to move their legal challenges related to state government or legislation to a randomly selected circuit court across the state.

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Beshear framed the bill as an attempt to circumvent Franklin Circuit Court, which has drawn the ire of Republicans in recent years. He called the bill a legislative power grab to control Kentucky courts, also claiming that its unconstitutional.

House Bill 329: taking contract review power away from Beshear

House Bill 329 would shift the ability to ultimately OK a state government contract, initially chosen by the governors office or cabinets, to the State Treasurer. In doing so, it allows the treasurer to revise, cancel, or keep effective any contract found deficient by the Government Contract Review Committee.

That committee, made up of legislators, can currently make non-binding recommendations that the governor can choose to act on or not.

Previous attempts to give more teeth to that committee, Beshear points out in his veto message, have been struck down in court. He said that it interferes with the governors constitutionally-delegated power to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes controversial anti-trans health care bill. This is what to know

This article will be updated.
How China's vision and actions help build a better world for all

Xinhua) 08:22, March 24, 2023

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- "The path of history is not paved like Nevsky Avenue in St Petersburg; it runs across fields, either dusty or muddy, and cuts through swamps or forest thickets," wrote Nikolay Chernyshevsky, a great Russian scholar and critic in the 19th century.

In two centuries or so, the world has once again reached a crossroads in history where countries are facing momentous choices: between polarization and common prosperity, and between zero-sum game and win-win cooperation.

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 25, 2023 shows the container terminal at Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

In his speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on March 23, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping observed that mankind, by living in the same global village in the same era where history and reality meet, has increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in him- or herself a little bit of others.

Over the past decade, China has been dedicated to building a community with a shared future for mankind and pursuing shared and win-win development with concrete actions, in a bid to pass on the torch of peace through generations, sustain development and make civilization flourish. With all these efforts, China is trying to answer humanity's epoch question -- what kind of world is hoped for and how to build it.

SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT

Over the past decades, China has risen to the world's second-largest economy and become deeply integrated into the global economy in the course of advancing its reform and opening-up and pursuing modernization.

Among the essential requirements of Chinese modernization are building a community with a shared future for mankind, and creating a new form of human advancement, according to the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

To this end, the country has taken a host of actions not merely to help stimulate economic growth, but also to secure the right to development of all countries and bridge the North-South divide.

In 2013, Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative -- a solution to boosting common development in the world. It has so far brought nearly 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment, created some 420,000 local jobs, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty, with the takeoff of numerous transport and industrial projects such as the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.

This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows a view of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

Costantinos Berhutesfa, a professor of public policy at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University, deems the initiative "the kind of second globalization."

As the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has suffered setbacks amid successive "black swan" events, Xi put forward the Global Development Initiative in 2021, which aims to synergize with the Agenda and forge a united, equal, balanced and inclusive global development partnership.

In addition, China has established such cooperative platforms as the China International Import Expo, pushed forward free trade projects like the Hainan Free Trade Port, and joined multilateral mechanisms including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, in its endeavor to help grow an open global economy.

This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2022 shows the west entrance of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

To ensure all countries enjoy equal rights, follow the rules as equals and share equal opportunities, Xi, at the opening of the BRICS Business Forum last year, restated his call for upholding the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, promoting extensive consultation and joint contribution, and enhancing global economic governance.

"The global future of the human species ... is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world. There are so many things that need to be done. So China can take the lead on that," Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua.

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said he believes the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is "extremely important, especially under the current global conditions."

SAFEGUARDING PEACE

Hermann Hesse, Nobel Prize literature laureate in 1946, during his Nobel banquet speech, preached a mind that is "international and supra-national," and "that ought to serve not war and annihilation, but peace and reconciliation."

In 2017, mentioning Hesse's thought in his address to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Xi called for fostering partnerships based on dialogue, non-confrontation and non-alliance. "As long as we maintain communication and treat each other with sincerity, the 'Thucydides trap' can be avoided," he said.

His appeal is more valid today, as deficits in peace, development, trust and governance are growing, with the flare-up of regional conflicts, the re-emergence of a Cold War mentality, and various security challenges.

Under these circumstances, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative in 2022, which aims to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, improve global security governance, encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and certainty, and promote durable peace and development.

Tourists visit an international duty free mall in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, June 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Recently, the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran after talks facilitated by China exemplifies the value of the initiative.

Considering China a reliable and trustworthy partner, Hani Wafa, editor-in-chief of Al Riyadh Newspaper, a major daily in Saudi Arabia, said Beijing's role in the Riyadh-Tehran detente as important as the agreement itself. Such a historic icebreaker may bring hope for peace in the Middle East, he added.

China's role in defending peace can also be seen in the Ukraine crisis. When talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit this week, Xi said that on the Ukraine crisis, China has all along abided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, followed an objective and impartial position, and actively encouraged peace talks. China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history, he added.

These facts demonstrate China's commitment to promoting a new type of international relations and broadening the convergence of interests with other countries.

In recent years, Beijing has provided a wide range of public goods to help address various security challenges troubling the world. For instance, China is a major troop contributor and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.

Chinese peacekeepers march at a medal parade ceremony in Hanniyah village, southern Lebanon, July 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)

"While other countries are sending military forces around the world to engage in wars, establish military bases in other people's countries and so on, China's military goes abroad to help preserve and defend peace," said Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club.

Whereas certain countries are sticking to a zero-sum game or winner-takes-all mindset, China has detailed proposals to make the idea of a shared future a reality, he added.

MAKING CIVILIZATIONS FLOURISH

China's pursuit of building a community with a shared future for mankind derives from celebrated elements of Chinese traditional culture.

In a world where peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom become the common values of humanity, countries and regions have chosen different paths to modernization, which are rooted in their unique and long civilizations.

In the case of China, it has realized the miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability through its own path to modernization and whole-process people's democracy, busting the myth that "modernization means Westernization."

Therefore, it holds that tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity's modernization process.

At the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting last week, Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

"We fully agree with the four proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi in the Global Civilization Initiative," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also president of the African National Congress, who participated in the dialogue, adding the initiative is vital to the world today.

Stewards of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd. are pictured in Kunming Railway Station in southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2022. As a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Laos Railway connects China's Kunming with the Lao capital Vientiane. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Asadollah Badamchian, general secretary of Islamic Motalefeh Party of Iran, said pursuing the China-proposed move is "duty-bound."

"The world's peoples should be invited to put their civilizations and cultures in the global civilization basket, and then, they, within the present framework of global relations and communications and in view of the industry, progress and future advances, altogether should move toward a civilization built upon all human civilizations," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
On Friday hundreds of Atlanta students walked out of class to protest a rezoning that they believe would move many students of color to a different high school.

Channel 2s Elizabeth Rawlins was at Midtown High School Friday, where students told her this action will have a dramatic impact on diversity at the school.

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Every student in the area who lives west of the connector would be moved out of Midtown High School and to Washington High.

We do not agree with the rezoning, Mariyon Porter told Channel 2 Action News.

Students walked peacefully and quietly across the street to Piedmont Park, where they started chanting in protest.

Atlanta Public Schools is proposing to relocate students who are part of the so-called centennial cluster and move them to Washington High School, which is southeast of Vine City.

According to the district, this would impact students in nearly 10 area neighborhoods and many people in the community are upset because it threatens to reduce diversity since it would include a large group of minorities.

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I felt like we should do something about it and we should be heard, Makai Strozier said.

We feel like its re-segregation honestly, said Porter.

In a statement to Channel 2 Action News APS officials stated:

Atlanta Public Schools values student voices and is committed to supporting our students when they feel a sense of urgency to make their voices heard.

Even though the district is supportive of student opinion, they told Channel 2 Action News there will be consequences for the 200-plus students who decided to walk out.

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Editors note: This is the second of a two-part series examining how SLO County has been impacted by the national fentanyl crisis. The first part of the series looks at how fentanyl and other synthetic opioids led to a spike in drug-related deaths. Read it here.

Jenn Bartenetti first visited the SLO Bangers syringe exchange and overdose prevention program about six years ago to retrieve sterile needles and replenish her supply of naloxone after it was stolen.

The San Luis Obispo-based nonprofit organization taught her how to use the medication  also known as Narcan  to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Bartenetti soon got her first chance to put her training into practice. A man in the Morro Bay homeless community where she was living at the time overdosed on opioids.

By the time Bartenetti got to the scene, he was rigid and turning blue, but he had a faint heartbeat. She injected him with Naxolone; it also took 45 minutes of rescue breathing by three people and four doses of intranasal naloxone to restore his breathing and bring him back to consciousness.

Bartenetti estimates that shes saved at least 60 lives by reversing drug overdoses.

And thats just one person. Countywide, similar efforts have saved hundreds of lives in recent years.

When youre constantly in the trenches saving peoples lives ... that becomes who you are, said Bartenetti, who functions essentially as a first responder and frontline health worker. That becomes the most important.

In addition to carrying naloxone, she helps prevent infectious diseases by offering routine HIV and hepatitis C testing and exchanging needles at SLO Bangers on behalf of people in her community who use drugs.

Candace Winstead, SLO Bangers program coordinator and grant manager, stands at Mitchell Park in front of a heart made up of white flags that represent local overdose reversals and lives saved and purple flags that represent fatal drug overdoses. SLO Bangers works to reduce harm in San Luis Obispo County from the opioid crisis and increasing overdoses.

San Luis Obispo County grapples with evolving opioid crisis

Since early 2019, San Luis Obispo County has had a higher rate of drug-related deaths than the state of California as a whole.

In particular, the county has had a higher rate of opioid-related overdose deaths than the state since early 2020.

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Our overdose rates for any opioid but then also for fentanyl are still higher than the states rates, San Luis Obispo County Opioid Safety Coalition Coordinator Jenn Rhoads said. But everywhere across the state is seeing increases.

The increase in opioid-related overdose deaths is due in part to a nationwide rise of drugs tainted with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

The fentanyl problem has become so severe that President Joe Biden named it a top priority in his Feb. 7 State of the Union address.

The Biden administration announced plans to scale up the distribution of naloxone, with $50 million going to local public health departments to purchase the medication.

Local harm reduction organizations such as SLO Bangers and the SLO County Opioid Safety Coalition, which is part of the San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Department, have been ahead of the federal government when it comes to prioritizing overdose prevention.

These are people. Sons and daughters. People deserve to live. Were giving them the chance to live, said Candace Winstead, SLO Bangers program coordinator and grant manager.

Drugs tainted with fentanyl increase risk of overdose, death

Fentanyl is often hidden in other substances or pressed into pills designed to look like prescription drugs.

According to Bartenetti, the influx of synthetic opioids in non-opioid drugs means its no longer just users of street drugs who are at risk of a fatal overdose.

People who do not typically use opioids are more likely to experience overdoses when unknowingly exposed to fentanyl  and less likely to know how to protect against it, Bartenetti said.

Health and law enforcement agencies warn that the drug supply in the United States is tainted to the point that anyone who uses illicit drugs obtained without a prescription risks inadvertently taking a lethal dose of opioids.

The harm reduction community has acknowledged and has been at the forefront of recognizing the crisis that were in right now, Winstead said. And so, so much earlier than established public health departments.

SLO Bangers distributes sterile syringes and Naloxone to help prevent the spread of infectious disease and overdose deaths among SLO County community members.

History of syringe exchange programs in SLO County

To best reach people at risk, harm-reduction programs aim to minimize the stigma around drug use, policies and laws.

Harm reduction as a philosophy is meeting people where theyre at in a really practical way, said Winstead, who is also a Cal Poly biological sciences professor.

At SLO Bangers, harm reduction means asking people who seek their healthcare services what they need, without judgment.

Harm-reduction approaches are really low-barrier, Winstead said, meeting peoples unique needs and really trying to be tailored to each individual person.

More California communities started adopting harm-reduction strategies such as syringe and needle exchanges at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 90s once it became clear that use of contaminated needles among intravenous drug users was contributing to the spread of infectious diseases.

It wasnt until the passage of California State Assembly Bill 547 in 2005 that local governments could authorize syringe exchange programs without declaring a local state of emergency.

In 2015, the state Legislature went a step further to support harm-reduction organizations by passing State Senate Bill 75. The bill authorized the California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS to set up a syringe exchange supply clearinghouse to distribute a baseline supply of harm-reduction materials to authorized programs in the state.

A nasal dose of naloxone (commonly known by the brand name Narcan) can reverse opioid overdoses.

Some of the approved materials distributed through the clearinghouse to harm-reduction organizations include sterile syringes, naloxone, alcohol wipes, glass pipes, fentanyl test strips and condoms.

SLO Bangers started as a syringe exchange program in 2007 after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize such a program in the county. The name SLO Bangers is derived from an older term for people who inject drugs. The nonprofit does not have a headquarters but borrows space throughout SLO County for weekly meetings with the community.

As time goes on, we become more and more aware of what our folks need and more and more aware of changes in the harm reduction community and in the drug community, said SLO Bangers founder Lois Petty, who worked in HIV/AIDS prevention services and as a hepatitis C counselor before starting the community-based organization. Over the years weve really, really changed.

In addition to syringe exchange, SLO Bangers now offers a wide variety of services designed to help drug users avoid health problems related to their substance use and prevent overdose deaths.

One example is the addition of naloxone training, which has become vital in preventing deaths caused by opioid overdoses.

SLO Bangers was the first organization to distribute fentanyl test strips in SLO County, Winstead said. The strips can be used to test drugs to see if they contain the highly potent synthetic opioid.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SLO Bangers pivoted to doing more in-person outreach through trained participants instead of requiring participants to get to their meeting site.

Now, SLO Bangers volunteers and staffers function almost as program satellites to reach people who may not otherwise have access to its services, Winstead said.

Weve gone out in the community a lot more and were doing more  boots-on-the-ground outreach, Winstead said. I think thats been nothing but positive. Its allowed us access to what other folks need.

SLO Bangers, a harm-reduction and syringe exchange organization, has a food pantry for its clients.

How harm reduction organizations save lives

The increase in drug- and opioid-related deaths in San Luis Obispo County has startled health experts and members of law enforcement, but the problem would be worse without the proliferation of life-saving supplies such as naloxone.

Data from the SLO County Coroners Office analyzed by the countys Opioid Safety Coalition, which is part of the health agency, showed a 345% increase in the number of drug-related deaths here between 2017 and 2021.

The Coroners Office is still analyzing data on drug-related deaths from 2022, but Sheriff-Coroner Sgt. John McDaniel told The Tribune he anticipates a dip in the number of drug-related deaths in 2022 due in large part to the widespread distribution of naloxone.

It would be much worse if we werent doing the work that were doing, Winstead said.

In San Luis Obispo County, an estimated 1,000 people used SLO Bangers services between June 2021 and July 2022, according to the organizations data.

Winstead said this number is likely an undercount, since it relies on self-reporting from participants.

The stigma attached to substance use disorder and drug use coupled with challenges such as mental illness and homelessness makes it more challenging for individuals who use drugs to access healthcare services.

Roughly half of all SLO Bangers participants in the past year reported housing insecurity, either living in an encampment, a car or a recreational vehicle, or staying with friends in temporary housing.

SLO Bangers distributes overdose rescue kits, which include intranasal Naloxone, to SLO County community members.

Petty said encampment sweeps in SLO County often displace SLO Bangers participants, making it more challenging for them to access services.

Community members who attend SLO Bangers syringe exchanges and naloxone trainings are often current drug users, people in various stages of recovery or people with loved ones or neighbors who use illicit substances.

Those are our people and we love them and we want to take care of them and we want to make sure that they dont die, Winstead said.

The program is making a difference.

SLO Bangers participants reported witnessing at least 788 overdoses between July 2021 and June 2022. Of those overdoses, 680 were reversed, 59 were fatal and 49 had an unknown outcome.

Every overdose that was reversed by a SLO Bangers participant is considered a life saved, Winstead said.

During the same time period the organization conducted 769 naloxone trainings to help community members and participants reverse overdoses, and distributed 2,771 naloxone kits, representing a total of 6,264 doses of naloxone.

Were putting out a lot of Narcan, a lot more than we ever have in our programs history, Winstead said.

SLO County health agency works to get naloxone in every home

In January 2022, the SLO County Opioid Safety Coalition  a frequent partner of SLO Bangers  pushed local outreach even further by launching Naloxone Now, a web application that allows people to get the medication delivered directly to them.

Overall weve gotten a really positive response from community members, Rhoads said.

Jenn Rhoads SLO Opioid Safety Coalition Coordinator said fatalities from fentanyl are on the rise in San Luis Obispo county Feb. 13, 2023.

SLO Bangers and the Opioid Safety Coalition aim to dismantle any stigma surrounding naloxone.

Naloxone is a harmless substance for people who are exhibiting symptoms of an opioid overdose but may not actually be overdosing on opioids, Rhoads said.

Its not going to do anything to help that person, but it wouldnt hurt them, Rhoads explained. Theyd have a wet nose and thats about it.

The goal of Naloxone Now is to get naloxone in the medicine cabinets of every household in the county.

Data from the SLO County Opioid Safety Coalition shows 426 orders of naloxone were placed using the web application in 2022.

According to Rhoads, very few of those orders went to the same people each time.

Only about 12 of the orders through Naloxone Now went to a household that had previously ordered the medication, she said.

Thats really encouraging in that every month were reaching new people. Its a new household thats gaining access to this lifesaving medication, she said. That was really the intention of Naloxone Now ... to make naloxone or Narcan a household name.

Based on available data for the first eight months of 2022, an average of 38 lives were saved each month by reversing overdoses with naloxone in SLO County, according to data analyzed by the SLO County Opioid Safety Coalition.

A lot of lives are being saved in a relatively easy, user-friendly medication, Rhoads said.

For comparison, an average of around 10 people died in 2021 from drug-related overdoses each month in SLO County, Rhoads said.

There is no age requirement to access naloxone through the Naloxone Now web application, Rhoads said.

My assumption is that if youre old enough to go on the website and fill out the form, then youre probably old enough to know how to use a nasal spray, Rhoads said.

Needle exchange programs help people access recovery

The SLO Bangers philosophy is that recovery looks different for every individual and that abstinence from substances is not the only pathway to recovery.

First and foremost, Somebody has to be alive in order to recover, Winstead said.

Research shows that drug users who participate in syringe exchange programs are more likely to stop or reduce their drug use than those that do not participate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people who inject drugs but also access a syringe services program are more than five times as likely to enter treatment for a substance use disorder and nearly three times as likely to report reducing or discontinuing injection drug use.

SLO Bangers created a heart of flags at Mitchell Park on Aug. 31, 2022, with white representing local overdose reversals and lives saved and purple representing fatal drug overdoses.

Programs such as SLO Bangers also provide referrals for medically assisted treatment.

The compassion health workers at SLO Bangers show for their participants is sometimes enough to help them adopt healthier habits, Winstead said.

Theyre interacting with people that care about them and that they can talk to about their drug use, Winstead said.

She recalled a participant who told SLO Bangers he wanted to reduce his drug use. Every week, he brought in more syringes to the group than he would take home to try to reduce his drug use.

Its amazing to be able to be a part of that journey with people and to help them stay safe during it, she said.

Where can I get naloxone, harm-reduction supplies in SLO County?

People looking to access harm-reduction supplies, naloxone training and medically assisted treatment have a few options in San Luis Obispo County.

Naloxone can be ordered and delivered directly for free using the Naloxone Now web application at naloxonenowslo.org.

Community members looking to exchange or access supplies and training on how to administer naloxone are welcome at SLO Bangers.

SLO Bangers is open from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday at 760 Main St. in Morro Bay; 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at ECHO Paso Robles, 1134 Black Oak Drive; 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Public Health Department, 2191 Johnson Ave. in San Luis Obispo; and 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at ECHO, 63070 Atascadero Ave. in Atascadero.

One of the best ways to stay safe and reduce the risk of an opioid overdose is to never use alone, Petty advised.

Dont use alone. If youre using around other people, have people stagger their use so somebody is always available to Narcan somebody if theyre overdosing, Petty said.

The Never Use Alone hotline at 800-484-3731 is a vital resource for preventing death by overdose.

People who are looking to reduce or stop their drug use can access medically assisted treatment at a variety of healthcare centers in the county.

Medically assisted treatment uses medication combined with counseling and behavioral health therapies to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. SLO County Drug and Alcohol Services offers medically assisted treatment for opioid use which is typically covered by Medi-Cal.

For more information, go to bit.ly/mat-sloco.
The House Oversight Committee is distancing itself from a push by Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to bring Tara Reade, who has accused President Biden of sexually assaulting her, in for an interview after Gaetz announced the panels chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) had given the green light.

But Greene on Wednesday said that while there has been some miscommunication, she is in the beginning stages of the process of bringing Reade in for a transcribed interview.

Gaetz, who is not on the House Oversight panel, said on his podcast released Wednesday that Comer told Greene that we would be fully authorized to bring in Tara Reade, to take her transcribed interview. Reade went public during the 2020 campaign to accuse Biden of sexually assaulting her when she worked as a staffer in his Senate office in 1993, which Biden has denied.

The House Oversight Committee quickly pushed back on Gaetzs assertion.

The Oversight Committee is focused on the Biden familys business schemes and bank records. Chairman Comer is happy to have a conversation with Rep. Gaetz about oversight he thinks should be done and what committee that should be done in, a committee spokesperson said in a statement.

Comer reportedly told Politico, I dont even know who that is when asked about Gaetzs announcement of a Reade interview, and noted his committee had not made any announcement. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also told The Hill that he did not know anything about a Reade interview.

Still, Greene and Gaetz said there had been a conversation with Comer about interviewing Reade.

We are going to be talking to her. I just confirmed that. Theres going to be a multiple-step process because the biggest story that we have right now is the banking records, Greene said, in reference to records that the Oversight Committee got from the Treasury Department relating to businesses connected to Bidens family members.

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Greene said a transcribed interview is going to take place, but it has not yet been scheduled.

Were gonna first be talking with her privately. And then well be planning a transcribed interview, Greene said.

Greene said she would probably include Gaetz, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, in the interview.

Im in, Gaetz said, noting that Oversight and Judiciary have a history of collaborating on investigations.

Things happened quickly before  there was  it was a little bit of a miscommunication, Greene said.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) took a personal swipe at Gaetz when asked about a Reade interview.

Wasnt he the subject of a year-long investigation? Connolly said, in reference to the Department of Justice investigating Gaetz for sex trafficking but declining to bring any charges. And he wants to subpoena somebody and have a deposition whose credentials, shall we say, are highly suspect.

While Reade got some corroboration from people who said she told them about the assault decades ago, other past acquaintances of hers cast doubt on her credibility, and discrepancies and confusion about whether she graduated from college as she said she did further damaged her public credibility.

Oversight Committee member Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), for his part, indicated that he is taking Gaetzs word for it that there will be an interview with Reade.

If its in the middle of August and Matt Gaetz tells me its fixing the snow, Im gonna get my sled up here, Burchett said when asked about the situation.

Reade over the weekend called on Greene and Gaetz to investigate her claims of assault, jumping off President Donald Trumps announcement that he could soon be arrested in connection to the Manhattan District Attorneys investigation into hush money payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Greene on Sunday responded that they would like to invite Reade to come speak to them in Washington to take a stand against the two-tiered justice system.

Mychael Schnell contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is asking Congress for a $3.5 billion plus-up over the presidents budget request as it seeks to bolster its presence in the region to deter China.

The commands wish list is the largest request on the unfunded priorities lists of six combatant commands obtained by Defense News.

Africa Command came in a distant second at $397.8 million for its unfunded priorities list, which is largely devoted to developing a persistent presence in Somalia.

The $376.7 million Northern Command wish list asks for several key upgrades to the air defense architecture of North American Aerospace Defense Command. A significant portion of the $278.3 million list for Southern Command, which oversees U.S. forces in Latin America, is also allocated for air defenses.

European Commands $159.5 million list also includes more cash to upgrade its bases against missile threats, while Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Greater Middle East, cites the threat of Iranian drones in its $280 million unfunded priorities list.

The total of those five commands amounts to less than half of Indo-Pacific Commands unfunded priorities list, highlighting the Defense Departments attempt to bolster its hard power in the region. The U.S. is expanding its troop presence and military cooperation with Chinas neighbors, including a new basing agreement with the Philippines. The Pentagon also hopes to take its large cluster of forces in Northeast Asia and make them more diffuse throughout the region, placing more troops closer to Taiwan.

The largest chunk of Indo-Pacific Commands unfunded priorities list asks Congress to allocate an extra $511 million for regional campaigning to quickly mass forces multiple times a year as part of a synchronized set of operations, activities and investments.

The command is seeking $117 million beyond President Joe Bidens base budget for international security cooperation programs, such as training and equipping U.S. partners in the region and Maritime Security Initiative authorities. Theres also $49 million for a joint training team, $25.5 million for Joint Task Force Micronesia and another $9 million for Joint Task Force Indo-Pacific. Its also seeking another $147 million to upgrade missile defenses in Guam.

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Notably, about $357 million in the request would go toward the extended-range Standard Missile-6, an item identified as a high-priority munition by the White House, the Defense Department and lawmakers alike. Of that request, $277 million is for research and development, and $79.8 million for procuring the SM-6.

Bidens base budget request would max out production lines for the missile.

The Senate Armed Services Committees top Republican, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, identified the SM-6 as a high-priority munition on the Senate floor in March. The White House issued a fact sheet on Friday arguing that a budget proposal from the conservative House Freedom Caucus would harm defense acquisitions, which also mentioned the missile.

An extensive portion of Indo-Pacific Commands unfunded priority list also goes toward other munitions, including $493 million for the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile and $151 million for the Precision Strike Missile.

The list does not specifically ask for additional funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, despite a $6 billion gap between the $15 billion that Indo-Pacific Command said it needed for that account in a congressionally mandated report to Congress and the $9 billion the Biden administration asked for in its base budget request.

The military combatant commands and services are required to submit unfunded priorities lists to Congress, and lawmakers often fund their request despite pushback from some members who argue they inflate the defense spending top line and that many of the additional asks should be part of the base budget request.

Other wish lists

Africa Command leader Gen. Michael Langley argued that the resources hes seeking in his unfunded priority request would provide for a lodgment in Somalia meant to degrade the growing threat from Al Shabaab, assure freedom of navigation through the Bab Al Mandab sea-lane chokepoint and monitor the expanding Chinese presence in Djibouti.

Northern Commands wish list asks for $212 million for 3D expeditionary long-range radars to fill surveillance gaps caused by existing radar failures; $55 million in over-the-horizon capability acceleration; and $27 million for the ARCHER sensor in Alaska to advance air domain awareness capabilities.

Lawmakers expressed a renewed interest in modernizing North American Aerospace Defense Commands air defense infrastructure with Canada  a multibillion-dollar effort  and voiced concerns about capability gaps after a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed the continental United States several weeks ago.

Biden met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Thursday to urge the northern neighbor to upgrade its NORAD sensors. The command is a joint effort between the two countries.

European Commands list also asks for $78 million in air defense for its bases amid U.S. efforts to arm Ukraine against Russias invasion. The document argues that the bases will have limited options to mitigate the strategic air and missile attack threat without those funds.

A large portion of the $278 million wish list for Southern Command also goes toward addressing domain awareness gaps in air defenses.

Central Commands additional funding request included $14.7 million for tactical electronic surveillance systems to help detect Iranian drones. But the bulk of that request consists of $125 million for the pre-positioned stockpile of materiel in the Middle East.
Palmetto Police have made an arrest in connection with a deadly shooting that happened last week in a homeless camp on the citys outskirts.

Eric Lee Pompey Jr., 27, of Palmetto, is charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Manatee County Jail, the Palmetto Police Department said in a news release on Friday.

On March 14, police were called to investigate a dead body found at a homeless camp, north of the 2100 block of U.S. 301 North in Palmetto, the department said.

Police arrived at the camp to find Kiefer Coxwell Sr., 34, shot multiple times, the release said. Through further investigation, police determined Coxwell died the night before.

Pompey and Coxwell were acquaintances of each other, the release said.

The investigation into Coxwells death is ongoing, but detectives believe Pompey acted alone.

Anyone with information is asked to call Palmetto Police Detective Vincent Diorio at 941-303-0873. Tipsters can also call Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-634-TIPS (8477) or at the website www.manateecrimestoppers.com.
PANAMA CITY BEACH  Officials continue moving forward on a massive and controversial project to streamline stormwater drainage for a portion of the Beach.

The Panama City Beach City Council on Thursday voted unanimously for the city to apply for a $3 million grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to help fund construction of an offshore stormwater outfall near Lullwater Lake.

While Councilmember Mary Coburn voted to apply, she said she still opposes the project. However, as the only member of the council with that opinion, she said she realizes it's likely the project will happen, and she thinks the city should try to secure as much outside funding as possible.

The Panama City Beach City Council on Thursday unanimously approved for the city to apply for a $3 million grant to help fund the construction of an offshore stormwater outfall near Lullwater Lake.

"I'm still not in favor of it, but if they push this through and they get the approval, then guess who's going to get saddled with the burden? Residents," Coburn said. "So the more money that doesn't come out of our pocket, the better, but I am not in favor of this, and I think it is a bad idea."

More on the outfall:Panama City Beach offshore outfall will be first of its kind. Where the project stands.

Past flooding: Panama City Beach homeowners voice frustration after flood damages from Hurricane Sally

Construction of the outfall now is anticipated to cost more than $41. 375 million. It would combine current outfalls near Lullwater Lake and Calypso Resort and Tower, channel stormwater underground and deposit it about 1,500 feet into the Gulf of Mexico.

If Panama City Beach is awarded the $3 million grant, it will add to $21 million the city received for the project in 2021 through the DEO's Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program. The program is for communities impacted by Category 5 Hurricane Michael in October 2018, and it is designed to help areas rebuild and harden their critical infrastructure to better withstand future natural disasters.

As of Thursday, there still was no timeline for the outfall. Officials have said there are ongoing environmental and engineering studies that must be carried out before the project can begin.

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If the outfall is built in Panama City Beach, it will be the first of its kind in the Gulf. Other communities, such as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, have successfully implemented similar developments and improved water quality over time.

"This is not a good idea," Coburn said. "Let them do it somewhere else (in the Gulf), and let it stand the test of time. But they're (planning to put) a lot more stormwater in the Gulf that they're letting on to people. There's two continuous outfalls and three intermittent outfalls, and they want to take that and put it into one.

"It's not just a little outfall from Lullwater Lake. This is a much bigger project than people realize."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach to apply for $3M grant to help fund outfall project
Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin Oliver, one of the victims of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is removed from the hearing room on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023. Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

A parent of a student who was killed in the Parkland high school shooting massacre was arrested Thursday at the Capitol after he spoke out during a committee hearing on gun regulations.

The arrest happened near the end of the hearing, where lawmakers debated a new federal rule that would require any pistol-stabilizing braces to follow additional regulations, like longer waiting periods and registration. During the discussion, Rep. Pat Fallon, the Republican chair of the hearing, spoke about Mexico's gun violence despite gun regulations there. That didn't sit well with Patricia Oliver  whose son Joaquin Oliver was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida  and she spoke up from the audience.

"You took my son away from me and I'm not going anywhere," she said. Fallon then asked Capitol police to remove her and Manuel Oliver, Patricia's husband.

"You're full of shit," Manuel Oliver told Fallon in response.

Capitol police escorted the pair out while Manuel Oliver yelled at Fallon. Fallon did not respond to BuzzFeed News' requests for comment.

According to the Capitol police, Manuel Oliver "disrupted" the hearing and "refused to stop shouting" and then tried to go back inside the hearing room. Oliver was arrested, but not jailed. Patricia Oliver also "disrupted" the hearing, Capitol police said, but she was not arrested because "she followed the lawful directions" of officers.

"Anyone who disrupts a Congressional hearing and disregards a law enforcement officers orders to stop are going to be arrested," the Capitol police wrote in an statement to BuzzFeed News.

After Patricia and Manuel Oliver left the hearing, Fallon asked the room if it was another insurrection, adding, "Does the Capitol police not do their jobs?"

"During this hearing I heard lie after lie  the biggest was that these Republicans care about our kids when all they do is waste time in the Capitol making decisions that leave our children soaked in their own blood," Manuel Oliver said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "So, I spoke up and said something, because my son, Joaquin, wouldve wanted me to. After I was kicked out, they called us narcissists  are we narcissists for fighting for my son, fighting so that no family in America has to go through what we did?"

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"For [Patricia] and me, getting arrested is totally irrelevant," Manuel Oliver tweeted Thursday afternoon. "What really offends us is the fact that chairman @FallonForTexas allowed lie after lie in order to protect the gun industry's ambitious strategy. Our son Joaquin still has a voice and he will use it whenever is needed."

For @patriciapadauy and me, getting arrested is totally irrelevant. What really offends us is the fact that chairman @FallonForTexas allowed lie after lie in order to protect the gun industry's ambitious strategy. Our son Joaquin still has a voice and he will use it whenever is https://t.co/dvbqjktmkR 07:59 PM - 23 Mar 2023

Patricia Oliver tweeted that she was simply exercising her "right to free speech."

"I am not scared to speak up for what I believe in," she tweeted. "WE NEED TO HOLD LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE THEM SPEAK THE TRUTH."

This was me an hour and a half ago. I was exercising my right to free speech by saying my opinion. I am not scared to speak up for what I believe in. WE NEED TO HOLD LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE THEM SPEAK THE TRUTH. @manueloliver00 and I are doing what is right! 05:55 PM - 23 Mar 2023

After the arrest, Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, spoke before the committee and said the family should be shown empathy after losing their son to gun violence.

Manuel Oliver, whose son was killed in the Parkland shooting, should not have been arrested for speaking out during our hearing today. How can we not have empathy for someone who has lost a child to gun violence? 09:17 PM - 23 Mar 2023

"We need to have empathy for someone who's coming to the United States Congress in...grief of the most unspeakable kind," Khanna said. "And so if they curse or if they are angry, let's understand where that anger and pain is coming from."

Fallon responded by saying he had no idea Patricia Oliver was a parent of a gun violence victim.

"I don't know her," he said. "She was a stranger to me."

Rep. Maxwell Frost, who is Congress's first-ever Gen Z member, tweeted that Manuel Oliver was thrown out of the hearing because "he had the audacity to disagree with the Republican lawmakers in the room."

Instead the father of a student murdered in Parkland was thrown out & arrested because he had the audacity to disagree with the Republican lawmakers in the room. His son was murdered at the hands of a gun, & instead of showing him respect & compassion, Manny Oliver was arrested. 09:25 PM - 23 Mar 2023

And today, Republicans on this committee choose to sit in front of those parents, and the survivors and organizers, and advocates that are in the audience right now  people who are reliving their trauma listening to this, people impacted by gun violence across the nation and show that their priority is gun lobby money, manufacturers who profit off deaths, and creating fake narratives for political gain," Frost said at the hearing.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has drawn increasing speculation that he may launch a campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination, as he quietly meets with Republican donors.

The speculation about a 2024 campaign began just months into his term as governorafter Youngkin's win solidified Virginia's swing state status.

During his gubernatorial campaign, Youngkin was a vocal supporter of the parental rights movementa growing cohort of parents across the U.S. seeking more control in what public schools are teaching children.

The 2024 race: Can Glenn Youngkin convince the GOP base to choose him as the presidential nominee?

It paid off. Virginians swept him, his running mate and attorney general into office. For the first time since 2009, Republicans were back in the Old Dominion's governor mansion.

Now Youngkin is once again emphasizing his education bona fides, recently holding a live town hall with CNN's Jake Tapper focused on public education. But can a campaign focused on parental rights propel Youngkin to victory during the Republican primary for a presidential run?

Advocates and GOP strategists told USA TODAY Youngkin created a lightening-in-a-bottle campaign by latching onto the anger of parents. But recreating his successful 2021 support of education will likely not be enough to dethrone former President Donald Trump's popularity with Republican voters.

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Youngkin doesn't have enough name recognition yet, according to Brian Kirwin, a Republican political consultant with more than 20 years of campaign experience in Virginia.

And with Virginia law barring consecutive governor terms, Youngkin is likely figuring out his next steps, said Kirwin.

"We deal with this a lot in Virginia with one-term governors," Kirwin said. "Especially on the Republican side, a governor automatically is looking for his next job because he can't run for reelection here."

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GOP 2024:Which Republicans are running for president? Who has yet to announce? Who's considering?

Parental rights and education, two Youngkin priorities

Youngkin ran for office as a conservative who had ties to former President Donald Trump but without the combative persona that turned-off suburbanite women from the GOP.

But it was the support of parents who were concerned about COVID-19 policies and pushes towards diversity initiatives in school that made him part of a national spotlight.

Men with children supported Youngkin by 59%, an 18 percentage point advantage over Democrat Terry McAuliffe, according to exit polling data. Yet, 47% of //women with children supported Youngkin compared to the 53% who supported McAuliffe.

Autumn Looijen and Siva Raj, who led the successful recall effort of three San Francisco school board members, said they would like to see any candidate who can unify the nation around educational efforts not tied to culture wars. The recall stemmed from frustration over school closures and remote-learning during the pandemic, efforts to rename schools and repaint murals deemed racially insensitive.

Critical race theory: Virginias governor set up a tip line to crack down on CRT. Parents used it for other reasons

"It's really easy to motivate people to go out and vote because they're angry," said Looijen. "If someone who can give us a better view, a better vision of us as a nation going forward, I think there's a lot of appetite for that ... I think whoever can do that will be a very effective political candidate in 2024."

What are people saying about Youngkin?

Asra Nomani, a mother in Virginia and author of "Woke Army:The Red-Green Alliance That Is Destroying Americas Freedom," said she is excited about a possible Youngkin presidential campaign.

"What was really exciting to me is that the parent movement that we began in Virginia, and its intersection with politics, has now gone national," Nomani, who also cofounded the Coalition for TJ, added.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a northern Virginia school Nomani's child attended, angered parents by withholding announcing merit awards that students had won.

Elsewhere in Virginia, controversy in Loudoun County public schools over diversity and equity changes, transgender rights and sexual assault incidents fueled parental anger.

Some parents were opposed to anti-racist initiatitives including, critical race theory  a legal concept that examines the effects of racism in U.S. society today  being taught in public schools. (Critical race theory is not taught in any public schools in the U.S.)

Public school officials' handling of a high school student sexually assaulting two female students sparked fierce anger. During one of the assaults, the student, who is male, allegedly wore a skirt and assaulted the victim in the girls bathroom, leading to debate over transgender rights.

It's not just Virginia.: Education and critical race theory are on the ballot across the US in 2022

Enter Youngkin.

He championed the rise of parental rights and defeated McAuliffe, a former Virginia governor, in 2021.

During a Sept. 2021 debate Youngkin hit back against McAuliffe saying parents shouldn't dictate what public schools teach.

"I agree with your conclusion Terry that we should let local school districts actually make these decisions," Youngkin said. "But we must ask them to include concepts of safety and privacy and respect in the discussion. And we must demand that they include parents in this dialogue."

Tiffany Justice, founder of Moms for Liberty, a conservative activist group, said Youngkin's win showed politicians can win elections by listening to the concerns of parents.

"What's exciting for us at Moms for Liberty is to see so many candidates who are focused on parental rights and education rising to the topof possibly taking the highest seat in office in our country," Justice said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves to the crowd as he attends an event Friday, March 10, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa.

The DeSantis factor

Other parental rights advocates said they like that Youngkin has remained consistent in supporting their activism. But they are skeptical it would help Youngkin in 2024.

"He would be better than Biden," said Yiatin Chu, former co-president and co-founder of PLACE NYC, a parent advocacy group for gifted and talented programs in New York City. "I would say that top of mind for me in New York City is like a (Florida Gov.) Ron DeSantis; so I'd be happy with either."

Similarly, Aiden Buzzetti, head of coalition and candidate recruitment at the 1776 PAC, a conservative group, said DeSantis would be a sizable deterrent to a Youngkin run.

"I don't think it's a bad decision for him to focus on education," said Buzzetti. "I know his administration has been doing a fair amount of good stuff on education. But if Ron DeSantis does run for president, he's going to have an interesting time trying to match up with that."

Poll: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis loses lead in 2024 GOP race, now trails Donald Trump

The only other 2024 contender to consistently poll better than DeSantis with Republicans is Trump. In a Quinnipiac University poll of GOP primary voters released Tuesday, Trump received 46% of Republican support while DeSantis garnered 32% of support.

DeSantis has also made battling against diversity and anti-"woke" policies part of his public personaall of which overshadows Youngkin's more moderate conservative tone.

What is the meaning of 'woke'?: Once a term used by Black Americans, it's now a rallying cry for GOP

"Is Youngkin the right one now as a president? I think his platform of parent rights is a powerful one," said Chien Kwok, a co-founder of PLACE NYC, who also advised Nomani during the Thomas Jefferson controversy. "Does he have enough stature yet? He's a brand new governor. So far, so good."

"As far as the presidential candidate, I think there are others like Ron DeSantis who would be stronger. So that would be my take would be vice president. Luckily, he's still quite young in his age."

The 56-year-old Youngkin is 12 years older than the 44-year-old DeSantis. And Kwok also said he could foresee Youngkin as a cabinet member or running for governor again further down the road.

Also adding to Youngkin's DeSantis problem? His chief advisor, Jeff Roe, is joining Never Back Down, a DeSantis-supporting super PAC.

A Youngkin spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks to members of the press inside the Rotunda of the state Capitol building on Feb. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va.

Youngkin still too new, some strategists said

Pollster Frank Luntz told USA TODAY that 10 years ago, Youngkin probably would not have run for president on an education plank.

"But over the last 10 years, the mindset of the typical Republican has changed completely," Luntz said. "And with the rise of critical race theory and woke politics, education is now definitely on the table. And that makes Youngkin potentially impactful."

Woke is a phrase created by Black Americans to mean staying alert to racial injustice. But Republican lawmakers are now using it as a catch-all phrase against racial and progressive politics.

Other experts were more skeptical of Youngkin.

"I think he needs a little bit more time to show that he's fully conservative, at a time when we have a party that is much more to the right," said Alfonso Aguilar, political director at Americano Media, a conservative Spanish language news network, and a former Bush administration employee.

GOP strategists are quick to point out that Virginia's 13 electoral votes make Youngkin an attractive candidate for the Republican ticket.

"If a Virginia Republican governor can flip Virginia for a Republican presidential candidate, it makes the Electoral College look a lot nicer for a Republican," said Kirwin, the Virginia GOP consultant. "So I think Younkin is testing the waters and meeting with donors. I suspect that it has as much to do with how much I can bring to a ticket, whether I'm number one, or VP?"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Parental rights may help Glenn Youngkin run for president in 2024
WASHINGTON  The Parents Bill of Rights Act passed the Republican-led House Friday in the latest salvo of a political and cultural battle over public education.

GOP lawmakers campaigned on the Parents Bill of Rights as part of their midterm Commitment to America and introduced the act at the beginning of the month. The legislation grew out of backlash to COVID-19 shutdowns, when parents had a closer look at school curriculum during virtual learning, they said.

"In our commitment to America, we said we were going to have a parents bill of rights," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a news conference after the vote. "This is exactly what we just passed on the floor today. We're keeping our commitment. It's just another check-off on all that we said we would do."

The bill passed Friday 213-208, mostly along party lines, with five Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against the bill. It faces an uncertain future in the Senate, and the Biden administration does not support it.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., slammed the bill as overbearing on public education at his weekly news conference.

"Extreme MAGA Republicans want to jam their right-wing ideology down the throats of students, teachers and parents throughout America." Jeffries said.

Republicans across the country have focused on educational issues as they lay the groundwork for the 2024 elections  from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blocking a high school course on Black history to bills restricting LGBTQ education.

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Related: Can parental rights launch Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to the White House? It's complicated

What's in the Parents Bill of Rights Act?

Desks line a classroom in the U.S.

The Parents Bill of Rights Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the General Education Provisions Act  two federal education laws  to allow parents to review certain materials and activities in classrooms.

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It follows outcries from parents who are unhappy that lessons and books about racism, sexual orientation and gender are being taught in schools.

The legislation would also give parents the right to:

Know what's being taught in schools (including reviewing reading materials).

See school budgets and understand how schools spend money.

Protect a child's privacy by preventing schools from selling information about students or performing medical exams without a parent's permission.

Receive updates on any violence at a school.

Require all curriculums to be made public, including any materials in a school library or classroom.

More: Parents want more say in how schools run. Do emerging bills ignore the real crisis?

Parents Bill of Rights similar to bills in Florida, North Carolina, Texas

The proposed legislation is similar in language to other state-level parents' right laws now being considered.

One law proposed in Florida aims to protect parents' rights by banning educators from teaching younger students about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Another piece of legislation in North Carolina would allow parents to review course materials, withhold consent for a child participating in reproductive or safety education programs and be told if their child asks to use a different name or pronoun.

In Texas, a proposal would require schools to inform parents about school choice options and provide the option if their child should repeat a grade or a class.

More: It's not just Virginia. Education and critical race theory are on the ballot across the US in 2022.

Biden won't back Parents Bill of Rights

President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the 2023 International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: DCEV421

The Biden administration does not support the Parents Bill of Rights Act, saying the legislation does not help parents support children at school.

According to a statement of administration policy, the proposed bill will put LGBTQ students at a higher risk while politicizing children's education.

"The Administration strongly supports actions that empower parents to engage with their childrens teachers and schools, like enabling parents to take time off to attend school meetings," according to the statement.

Other opponents of the legislation say the bill has more to do with culture wars than with providing resources for students.

"This bill would lead to more education bans, which takes books off classroom shelves and will therefore limit access to education for millions of kids across the country," the National Parents Union, an activist group, said in a statement when the bill was first introduced.

More: Parents want kids to learn about ongoing effects of slavery  but not critical race theory. They're the same thing.

McCarthy keeps promises

U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks at a bill signing ceremony for H.J. Res. 26 at the U.S. Capitol Building on March 10, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

McCarthy pledged to introduce a "parents' bill of rights" in 2021.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley introduced a similar bill the same year to "give control back to parents, not woke bureaucrats."

Republicans campaigned in 2022 against critical race theory, which argues racism is embedded in U.S. laws and institutions, being taught in schools and used it to express dissatisfaction with school curriculum. There is little evidence CRT is widely taught  or taught at all  in public schools.

"Our members are very interested in the role that parents have in their children's education and upbringing," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the Republican whip, said at a weekly news conference. "I think that issue has been raised with a lot of heavily Democrat states, Democratic governors, Democratic legislators across this country who in many ways I think have undermined the right of parents to put their kids first and foremost when it comes to their education."

More: Schools are becoming hotbeds of political conflict  especially in purple districts

Will it pass in the Senate?

It is unlikely the Parents Bills of Rights Act will receive the support needed in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we have some members who want to address that issue," Thune said of the Senate's intentions to vote on the legislation.

Contributing: Kayla Jimenez

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Parents Bill of Rights Act passes House
A key portion of Milwaukee's historic Pabst Mansion that's falling apart would be dismantled, with parts of it preserved for an eventual reconstruction, under a new proposal seeking approval from city officials.

At issue is the mansion's pavilion, which was added in 1895  three years after beer baron Frederick Pabst completed his home on Milwaukee's near west side.

Pabst Mansion Inc., the nonprofit which now operates the mansion as a historic attraction, wants to deconstruct the pavilion and preserve its salvageable elements to help with rebuilding it as a freestanding porch  its earlier use.

That plan needs Historic Preservation Commission approval because the mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave., is designated by the city as a historic site. The proposal is to be considered at the commission's May 1 meeting.

The pavilion, which once housed the mansions gift shop and main entrance, has been closed to the public since summer 2022 due to safety concerns.

The pavilion's condition "was a huge liability" for the mansion, which hosts 40,000 guests annually, said Mame McCully, interim executive director of Pabst Mansion Inc.

The mansion shifted its visitors center from the pavilion to space it leases on the ground floor of The Marq, a neighboring student apartment building at 2040 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Advanced technology will help restore the pavilion, which includes several stained glass windows as well as decorative terra cotta elements, museum officials said.

Plan calls for elements to be salvaged, rebuilt

The organization plans to carefully deconstruct the pavilion's salvageable elements for scanning, documentation and preservation until it can be rebuilt, McCully said.

Pabst Mansion Inc. is working with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukees Historic Preservation Institute to create a 3D scan of the pavilion, using laser scanning tools and recording techniques.

That scan will make it possible to use 3D printing technology to recast missing and deteriorated pieces.

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Museum officials believe roughly 25% of the original structure remains viable. But there's a lot they don't know about its condition until deconstruction occurs, McCully said.

The reconstructed pavilion will include a proper back-up structure, movement joints, weather proofing and insulation.

The pavilion was built as a Pabst Brewing Co. display for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.

It was built as a temporary interior structure, the Pabst Brewing Co. pavilion, for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.

That's the massive event where Pabst beer won a well-publicized gold medal.

While blue ribbons had been tied to Pabst bottles starting in 1882, the words Blue Ribbon were first added to the label in 1895, according to a city report on the mansion's historic designation.

The pavilion was added to the Pabst Mansion's east end as an open porch.

Mansion served as archbishop's residence

It was later enclosed before being converted to a chapel in 1908 after the mansion was sold by the Pabst family to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It was used as the archbishop's residence until 1975, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The pavilion was not constructed with appropriate materials or details, such as flashing and insulation, because it wasn't designed to be a permanent exterior structure.

"Where are the gutters? Where does the rain go?" McCully said while showing the pavilion on Thursday to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter and photographer.

The structure of the pavilion gradually fell into disrepair, McCully said, despite several stabilization efforts since the early 1980s.

"It has been a matter of how long can we keep it standing," she said.

Support beams brace a crumbling Cream City brick exterior at the Pabst Mansion's pavilion.

Deconstruction would allow Pabst Mansion Inc. to preserve portions of the pavilion before it is lost, McCully said.

Meanwhile, the organization is developing estimates and a work plan for major investments in the mansions exterior and anticipates a fundraising campaign for those repairs  which also would need preservation commission approval.

Pabst Mansion Inc. would then turn its attention to reconstructing the pavilion as a porch, McCully said.

While preservation is the best outcome for any historic building, reconstruction can make sense "in certain situations when a historic property is totally gone or in extremely compromised condition," said Jeremy Ebersole, Milwaukee Preservation Alliance executive director.

"In such situations, we would encourage the reuse of as much historic material as possible and the in-kind replacement of anything else," Ebersole told the Journal Sentinel.

"In addition, we would hope that the reconstruction would take place as soon as possible and that a timeline for doing so would be placed on any (preservation commission) approval," he said.

Frederick Pabst built Pabst Brewing Co. into the nation's largest brewer by 1874. He died in 1904.

Pabst Brewing, now based in San Antonio, Texas, shut down its Milwaukee brewery in 1996. That complex on downtown's west side has since been converted into The Brewery, a mixed-use development that includes hotels, apartments, offices, restaurants and craft breweries.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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: Deteriorating portion of Pabst Mansion to be rebuilt under plan
Three fragments of Athens' Parthenon temple, kept by the Vatican for centuries, were returned to Greece on Friday in what Pope Francis has called a gesture of friendship.

"The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon, which have been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as an ecclesial, cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece," Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary for promoting Christian unity, told a ceremony at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

The marble fragments from the Parthenon, one of the marvels of the ancient world, include the head of a horse, one of the four horses drawing Athena's mythical chariot, according to the Vatican Museums website.

It comes from the west front of the building, on which Athena and Poseidon -- the god of the sea -- were shown competing for dominion over the city.

The second is the head of a young boy, believed to be depicted carrying a tray of votive cakes, which were offered during a procession to commemorate the founding of Athens.

The last is a bearded male head from an area of the building featuring a battle between the Lapiths, a mythical group of people, and Centaurs -- creatures part horse, part man.

They had been held for centuries in the papal collection and Vatican Museums.

The Parthenon temple was built in the 5th century BCE on the Acropolis to honour Athena, the patron goddess of Athens.

It was partially destroyed during a Venetian bombardment in 1687, then looted.

Its fragments are scattered throughout many renowned museums.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Greece has been trying to recover them.

In the early 1800s, workmen stripped entire friezes from the monument on the orders of Scottish nobleman Thomas Bruce, known as Lord Elgin.

Elgin sold the marbles to the British government, which in 1817 passed them on to the British Museum where they remain one of its most prized exhibits.

London has long argued that the sculptures had been taken with permission from the Ottoman Turks who ruled Greece at the time, but Athens insists they were stolen.

Greeks had a "legitimate wish to have the Parthenon fragments at home in their place of origin," Farrell said Friday.

burs-jph/fb
An officer with the Pasco Police Department was shot during a traffic stop on Friday morning, according to a social media post from the department.

At about 5:49 a.m., officers responded to a report of a reckless driver. An officer soon found the vehicle at a Circle K in the 3100 block of West Court Street.

According to police, as an officer approached the vehicle, he was shot.

The driver then fled and was shot by a deputy with Benton County after a pursuit in the area of Road 64 and West Argent Road.

The driver and the officer were being treated at a local hospital.

The officer is currently stable with non-life-threatening injuries. Police did not provide an update on the status of the driver, other than he is currently receiving medical treatment.
Human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina has been released from a Rwandan prison after being held for more than two years, U.S. officials said Friday evening marking a diplomatic breakthrough for the Biden administration.

Rusesabagina, 68, has been moved to the Qatari embassy in Rwanda, accompanied by a U.S. embassy official. He is expected to leave in the coming days for Qatar, and will travel a few days later back to the United States to be with his family, according to a senior Biden administration official.

The activist, who is a U.S. resident and Belgian citizen, is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,000 people during the Rwandan genocide, when the Tutsi ethnic minority was targeted by Hutu forces.

He gained international fame with the release of the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda, where he was portrayed by actor Don Cheadle.

Rusesabagina was arrested in 2020 and put on trial in Rwanda on terrorism charges, but critics argued that he had limited access to an independent legal team and questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest, which came shortly after he had traveled to Dubai.

He has argued that he was arrested because of his vocal criticism of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, particularly over human rights issues.

U.S. officials on Friday said Rusesabaginas release was the result of months of diplomatic efforts involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and others.

Blinken met with Kagame in August during a visit to the Rwandan capital of Kigali.

I welcome todays release of Paul Rusesabagina by the Government of Rwanda. It is a relief to know that Paul is rejoining his family, and the U.S. Government is grateful to the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible, Blinken wrote in a statement. We also thank the Government of Qatar for their valuable assistance that will enable Pauls return to the United States.

The United States believes in a Rwanda that is peaceful and prosperous. We reaffirm the principle of seeking political change in Rwanda and globally through peaceful means, he continued. There is simply no place for political violence.

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Asked about Rusesabaginas leading to a reset of relations between Rwanda and the U.S., a senior administration official said the Biden administration has been open about its concerns with Rwandas treatment of political opponents and its activities in the Democratic Republican of the Congo, but added that it is an important player on the continent.

A genuine partnership is where one can have honest disagreement about difficult issues but also find areas of common ground, the official said on a call with reporters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Paul Rusesabagina photographed in court in February 2021

Paul Rusesabagina, a former hotel manager portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, has been released from prison in Kigali.

Two years ago, he was sentenced to 25 years for terrorism by a Rwandan court in what supporters called a sham trial.

A government spokesperson said Mr Rusesabagina's sentence had been "commuted by presidential order".

Mr Rusesabagina, 68, is credited with saving some 1,200 people during the 1994 genocide.

US President Joe Biden called the news of his release a "happy outcome".

"Paul's family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today's good news," he said in a statement.

It has taken years of diplomatic pressure and talks brokered by Qatar for Mr Rusesabagina to be released.

Much of that pressure came from the United States, where he had lived since 2009. The Biden administration has said he was "wrongfully detained".

Mr Rusesabagina's family say the Rwandan government lured him from Texas, where he had permanent residency, back to Rwanda in 2020.

He left Rwanda in 1996. His story remained largely unknown for a decade, while he worked as a taxi driver in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

It was featured in a section of journalist Philip Gourevitch's 1998 book about the genocide, but it was the 2004 Hollywood movie, where he was played by Don Cheadle, that brought him global attention.

The Rwandan genocide lasted 100 days from April 1994, when 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, were slaughtered by extremists from the Hutu community.

Mr Rusesabagina - a hotel manager at the time - protected some 1,200 people from the violence, after they sought shelter in the building.

The following year he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-US President George W Bush for his efforts. But he became a fierce critic of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.

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In a 2018 video message, Mr Rusesabagina called for a regime change, saying that "the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda".

He was arrested in 2020, when, according to his supporters, a private jet he believed would take him to Burundi, instead landed in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

In September 2021 he was found guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019 in Rwanda.

Mr Rusesabagina was freed alongside Callixte Nsabimana, spokesman of the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change - an opposition political party.

A spokesperson for the Rwandan government said: "No-one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted.

"Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction.

"Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar."

More about the Rwandan genocide:
Muhammad Ali Mojaradi at his home in Troy, Michigan, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Mojaradi teaches Persian Poetics online and has had accounts shut down at least a dozen times to receive payments from his students.

Muhammad Ali Mojaradi at his home in Troy, Michigan, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Mojaradi teaches Persian Poetics online and has had accounts shut down at least a dozen times to receive payments from his students.

Muhammad Ali Mojaradi cant catch a break.

The Michigan-based educator founded an online learning platform called Persian Poetics in 2018, where he translates and teaches the Persian language and poetry.

But Mojaradi claimed his business has suffered because he has run into issues at various financial institutions due to his ethnic and religious background, including having his account frozen multiple times without warning. In addition, some of his students have stopped taking his courses, he said, because their payments got flagged by the banks to the government, and they were too scared to continue.

A quarter of the American Muslim population has faced hurdles while banking in the United States, according to a report released last week by the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), a nonprofit that provides research about American Muslims. Challenges included not being allowed to open an account, having an account suspended or closed, and having payments subjected to extra scrutiny.

The study further found that Muslims were twice as likely as the general population to have issues with business and nonprofit accounts. The holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims partake in fasting and increased charity, started this week, and Muslim Americans are worried that discrimination from financial institutions could hurt businesses and charities in their community during this critical time.

Its important for folks to understand that Islamophobia isnt just a rude comment at the grocery store, said Dalia Mogahed, the ISPUs director of research. It is inflicted on the community by the state and by institutions, and one form of that that were digging into here is financial institutions.

Mojaradi said his issues with various financial institutions began almost immediately after starting his business. He said students PayPal payments to him were often delayed if they included phrases like Iranian poetry or Persian poetry class. In March 2021, he said his PayPal account was frozen without warning.

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Paypal

Paypal

Mojaradi reached out to PayPal, explaining every term flagged, who he was, what he did, and who his students were. In one exchange, PayPal asked him for an explanation of the reference to Persian, in a screenshot reviewed by HuffPost. Mojaradi said his account was frozen three times and that more than two dozen payments made to him were flagged over three years. So he opened a business account, hoping it would alleviate the problem, but to no avail.

A PayPal spokesperson told HuffPost in an emailed statement that the company takes its regulatory and compliance obligations seriously, including adherence to U.S. economic and trade sanctions and that efforts to comply with these regulatory requirements, there may be times when we need to review certain customer transactions.

The spokesperson also sent a link to a blog post where the company said: This is an ever-evolving process, and our teams are continuously working to improve and refine our approach and associated review times.

Many financial institutions claim that they are required to review certain transactions due to sanctions imposed by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control. Syria and Iran are on the U.S. sanctions list alongside countries such as Cuba and North Korea.

The study found that nearly all Muslims  93%  who reported facing challenges with financial institutions experienced an issue with a personal account. Among this group, people were most likely to be turned down when trying to open a new personal account (44%), followed by having a personal account suspended or closed (33%). An additional 30% of Muslims said their payments were denied while using PayPal, Venmo, or similar money-transferring apps with their personal accounts.

When it came to business accounts, 1 in 5 Muslims reported challenges when sending or receiving payments  more than twice as compared to the general public, according to the study.

In February 2022, Mojaradi tried to set up a Chase business account online but was told in emails, which HuffPost has reviewed, that he needed to do it in person and further explain his business. So he said he went into his local Chase branch office and answered more questions about his business. But two weeks later, he said, his account was frozen, and he was required to meet with a representative in person to have it unfrozen. He complied, but then it was frozen again. Frustrated, Mojaradi said he returned to the branch for a third time to close the account entirely.

JPMorgan Chase would never exit a client relationship due to their race, political or religious affiliation. We encourage this customer to visit our branch with the proper documentation needed to open a business account, said Stephanie Gostomski, the vice president of regional communications at JPMorgan Chase, told HuffPost in an emailed statement.

Muhammad Ali Mojaradi with a book of Persian poetry translated into English on the right side at his home in Troy, Michigan, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Mojaradi said his PayPal account was frozen three times and that more than two dozen payments made to him were flagged over three years.

Muhammad Ali Mojaradi with a book of Persian poetry translated into English on the right side at his home in Troy, Michigan, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Mojaradi said his PayPal account was frozen three times and that more than two dozen payments made to him were flagged over three years.

In July 2022, Mojaradi moved to Patreon, a platform for content creators and businesses to run a subscription service. However, the company froze his account entirely and withheld nearly $2,000, saying he was located in a country sanctioned by the U.S., according to messages reviewed by HuffPost. Mojaradi inherited Iranian citizenship from his father, but he was born and raised in Michigan. He established Persian Poetic as a limited liability company, meaning it was an American business he operated as an American citizen while living in the U.S. Mojaradi sent Patreon documents proving his U.S. citizenship.

There are literally millions of Syrian American or Iranian Americans by now. All of us have bank accounts. Are we just all one day going to get up, and our bank accounts will shut down because youre a Syrian citizen or an Iranian citizen? Mojaradi said.

Mojaradi emailed Patreon over a dozen documents, including his drivers license, credit card statements, utility bills, and letters from the Internal Revenue Service.

Finally, Patreon reopened his account  but with the condition that Mojaradi would not use a VPN or other means of disguising his location, according to emails reviewed by HuffPost.

Mojaradi agreed. But two months later, Patreon permanently deleted his account, claiming he used a VPN. Mojaradi said he didnt.

A Patreon spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost that the company removed Mojaradis account because of sanctions set by the U.S. Government.

Iran is a country that is comprehensively sanctioned by the U.S., and we cannot provide services or process financial transactions to or from Iranian entities or individuals who reside in Iran, regardless of citizenship, Ellen Satterwhite, the interim head of communications and U.S. policy lead at Patreon, said in an emailed statement. This does not just include where accounts were started, but where they operate. Specifically, we cannot support creators who operate or reside in Iran when we have evidence they do.

Patreon

Patreon

Patreon called the latest decision final, shuttered Mojaradis account, and returned the $2,000 he had in his account to everyone who tried to pay him.

We take the decision to suspend creator accounts seriously and do so only after thorough review and consideration, said Satterwhite.

During the winter of 2022, Mojaradi tried Stripe, an Irish-American financial services company.

Mojaradi said Stripe questioned him about his Iranian Whatsapp number, which he didnt regularly use, but that was published on his companys old website.

Nonetheless, he was approved. Mojaradi continues to use Stripe on his website to receive payments.

Stripe did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Mojaradi also continues to use Venmo, which PayPal owns. Some payments still get flagged for additional review, which delays him getting his money. (In the blog post it sent in its email, PayPal said, Venmo, like other U.S. financial institutions, screens payment activity and flags any payments that may violate U.S. economic sanctions.)

I would understand if the government looked into me one time and said, OK, fine, this guys just teaching languages, Mojaradi said. But every time I have to go through this rigmarole, either I get approved, or they just decide to reject me permanently. I think this is ridiculous. Its discrimination. It has a chilling effect on my business. Who knows how many customers just dont sign up with me when they have problems?

Muhammad Ali Mojaradi where he works at his home in Troy, Michigan, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. He says big companies see Persian and small amounts of money being sent and flag and close his accounts without giving him the money his students have paid.

Muhammad Ali Mojaradi where he works at his home in Troy, Michigan, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. He says big companies see Persian and small amounts of money being sent and flag and close his accounts without giving him the money his students have paid.

Mojaradi has since asked his students not to mention words like Persia, Iran, or Islam in their payments, despite it being the very topics hes teaching. The risk isnt worth it.

Last year, dozens of lawmakers  led by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)  sent a letter to the head of U.S. banking regulators, asking officials to reassess policies that actively discriminate against Muslim Americans and communities of color.

Many Muslim and Arab, Middle Eastern and South Asian Americans, simply because of their connections  real or perceived  have been systematically cut off from financial services, the lawmakers wrote.

In 2019, a Muslim woman filed a complaint against Citibank in New York after the bank allegedly prevented her from opening an account, saying they first needed to investigate her husband, who has an Arabic last name. In 2017, a Muslim man, his wife, and his 15-year-old daughter were detained by police when a teller called 911 as he tried to deposit a check.

And last month, a PayPal customer relations specialist reportedly told one woman that her ticket purchase for an event with Palestine in the name had been held up.

Im going to stop you right there, thats what the issue is: Palestine, the representative said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Anything that has to do with the Middle East right now is very touchy, so PayPal does not support anything that has to do with the Middle East right now.

Financial institutions often take action based only on the perception of risk. And a bank may perceive a client to be at high risk for money laundering or financing terrorist groups not because of their individual history but because of the country or region where the funds are being sent, said Andrea Hall, the senior manager of the Together Project, which helps groups that are part of InterAction  the largest alliance of international nonprofits in the United States  that faced discrimination.

As the problem was studied further, it became apparent that U.S. laws and regulations were a primary driver of this problem, not only for U.S.-based charities but for foreign-based charities as well. Because of the long reach of sanctions, Hall said. This is a multifaceted problem and requires a multifaceted solution.

Muslim groups have said they often faced scrutiny over their international wire transfers, causing significant delays and cancellations. Sometimes these groups have had their accounts shut down without notice, leaving organizations scrambling to pay their employees or to apply donated funds to humanitarian aid projects.

When our national charities are having banking issues, it impedes peoples ability to give. Its a huge obstacle to getting the aid to those who need it most, Mogahed said.

The ISPU data also found that 1 in 5 Muslims who reported challenges while banking had nonprofit credit cards closed and was denied opening nonprofit bank accounts.

Muslim charities in the U.S. routinely give to Muslims and people of other faiths and no faiths alike, Mogahed said. They have projects all over the United States. They are on the ground helping with national disasters whenever they occur, so this isnt just about giving to Muslims.

She added, It matters because it infringes on not only an individual but entire communities ability to prosper, thrive, and even live out their faith in terms of charitable giving.

Back in Michigan, Mojaradi says the entire experience with the banking industry has made him feel like a criminal and a second-class citizen.

Frankly, its gotten to a point where I dont even really want to permanently live in America. You yell at me in the supermarket. You blocked my payments. You stare at me funny. You harass me when I enter the country, he said. These experiences have made me not even want to be part of this country.

Related...
Former Vice President Mike Pence blasted President Biden for his administrations response to China and Russia.

Youre witnessing a vacuum of leadership on the global stage, largely owing to the failed policies of the Biden administration, Pence said in an exclusive interview with host John Catsimatidis on Cats and Cosby on WABC 770 AM.

I mean, the fact that you now have you had President Xi in Moscow with Putin earlier this week, you have a China negotiating relations and some sort of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Iran is all evidence of a vacuum thats been created, he continued.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded his three-day trip to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, which China labeled as a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace. The West has seen the visit as China doubling down its support of Russia amid its invasion into Ukraine.

Pence, who is a potential GOP presidential candidate, said that the absence of leadership stems from the Biden administration begging Iran to enter back into the nuclear deal, the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the U.S. not sending aid quickly enough to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia. He said that without a strong leader in the U.S., the free world is not being led.

Its a vacuum of American leadership, he said. Its one of the reasons why we need strong bold leader, were the leader of the free world. And if America is not leading in the free world, the free world is not being led.

Pence is one of the rumored Republicans who may be seeking to challenge former President Trump in the 2024 GOP primary. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are the only two Republicans who have officially announced a primary challenge to Trump.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Just three weeks after a prominent South Carolina attorney who killed his wife and son was sentenced to two life terms in prison, his familys belongings went up on the auction block.

Liberty Auction House in Pembroke, Georgia, auctioned off several items Thursday that once belonged to the Murdaugh family.

Alex Murdaugh is currently fighting his guilty verdict in the deaths of his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22.

Investigators said Paul was shot twice with a shotgun near kennels outside the familys Colleton County hunting lodge. Maggie was shot four or five times with a rifle close by. Both victims were shot in the head after they were gravely wounded, authorities said.

On Thursday, people from all over the region went to Pembroke to try and get a piece of the Murdaugh familys estate.

I am actually in Charleston with my husband on business, Hope Szczyglinski told WJCL-TV. I had the day off and thought Id make the drive. Its a beautiful day out.

The items that were listed for auction all came from Alex Murdaughs Moselle property where Maggie and Paul were killed.

RELATED STORIES:

Some of the clothing items that were up for grabs still had the names of family members on them.

Its sad because I see this familys life, Szczyglinski said. Everything has been emptied from this home. Maggie the mother is dead, Paul the youngest son is dead and here you have a snapshot of their lives.

Other items included leather furniture, lamps, dishes, and more.

Many of those who showed up for the auction were hoping to walk away with something to remind them of the double murder trial and Alex Murdaughs guilty conviction.

Seeing the justice system work especially for a prominent white man seeing consequences for his actions thats rare and I think thats important to have a memory of because it rarely happens, Lorelei Peterson told WJCL-TV.

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Defense attorneys said they will appeal the conviction, based largely on the judge allowing the evidence of crimes that Murdaugh has not been convicted of, which they say smeared his reputation.

They had cast Alex as a despicable human being. And that was the reason they offered it, defense attorney Jim Griffin said.

Murdaugh is expected to be moved to a maximum security state prison soon like all new inmates serving life sentences.

Information from WJCL-TV and The Associated Press was used in this story.

RELATED NEWS:
In this file photo, Brandon Sanderson poses for a portrait at his home in American Fork, Utah, in 2019. | Nick Wagner, Deseret News

I clicked on the recent Wired profile about blockbuster fantasy writer and Utah resident Brandon Sanderson, fully expecting to learn about Sanderson  the piece, after all, is titled, Brandon Sanderson Is Your God.

And, to be fair, the article contains a smattering of interesting facts, ranging from Sandersons quirky sleep schedule to his unusual lack of pain (he waives novocaine during teeth fillings, apparently).

But aside from these and other more perfunctory details, I learned much more about the writer for Wired, Jason Kehe, than the man Kehe claims to have traveled to Utah in the freezing-cold dead of winter to profile.

For starters, Kehe is oddly comfortable with tossing around labels like weirdo Mormon or extremely Mormon.

Im personally uncomfortable reading the words weirdo or extremely before any fill-in-the-blank group, let alone a religious one. But Kehe seems quite at ease with disparaging hyperbole, including mocking a childs eating habits by pointing to the fact Sandersons teenage son salts his yakisoba when they go out for sushi.

Brandon Sanderson: Invites Wired journalist into his home. Lets him hang out with him and his family. Come across as a passionate artist of the craft



Wired journalist: https://t.co/iThfV1Gni7 https://t.co/m1JIuPqT6C pic.twitter.com/q9wiWLeB2g  Sean O'Boyle (@OBoyleWrites) March 23, 2023

Again, writing about a minor detail like that told me little about Sanderson or his family (full disclosure: I, too, salt my food) but divulged much about Kehe. And then theres his line about Sandersons readers, who Kehe meets while attending the annual Dragonsteel convention (a convention for Sanderson fans). Kehe calls them sweet, but only after saying about the people and the event that theres a general air  warmish, body-odored  of unselfconsciousness.

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One reader on Twitter summarized his own reaction to Kehes prose by playing the optimist: On the bright side its nice to have a handy reference for when people ask what is meant by the term coastal elite.

I too was left puzzled by the end, which concludes, (Sanderson) is living his fantasy of godhead on Earth. Setting aside a dilettantishly distorted gloss on Latter-day Saint theology, which appears near the end of the piece, I left not really knowing Sanderson, but instead having unwittingly traveled more than a few miles with Kehe.

Imagine being super nice, enthusiastic about and successful with your work, loved by fans, family, and friends, fairly private, then inviting a reporter to hang around with you, and they write a piece just making fun of all of ityou, your religious affiliation, your town. Wild. https://t.co/n29ydGSs4T  Scott Wessman (@scottew) March 23, 2023

But then, a few hours later, a friend sent me Sandersons own response to the Wired profile, which Sanderson posted publicly on Reddit. Sandersons response included lines like (Jason Kehe) seems to be a sincere man who tried very hard to find a story and I respect him for trying his best to write what he obviously found a difficult article. Hes a person, remember, just like each of us.

In his response, Sanderson drew an analogy about the uniqueness and intrinsic interestingness of each person, even the boring ones, and the writers role in drawing those stories out. It was beautiful.

Reading how this man, with all his wealth and abilities and friends and family, responded to very public derision in a national magazine told me all I needed to know about the real Brandon Sanderson and the substance of his personal faith.

And, in an unexpected plot twist, I guess I have the profile in Wired to thank for it.
Auroras in Gaylor, Missouri, on March 24, 2023. NWS Gaylor

A giant "hole" in the sun and solar eruptions blew strong electromagnetic winds toward Earth this week.

That caused the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, to make a rare appearance in skies across the US.

The colorful lights were seen as far south as Arizona, much further than what was forecast.

Dazzling Northern Lights surprised people across the US overnight when they made a rare appearance in temperate skies.

The colorful, dancing lights are also known as the aurora borealis. They normally occur in the Arctic, but powerful eruptions on the sun caused them to stretch as far south as Phoenix, Arizona before sunrise on Friday, according to images shared by photographers and skywatchers on social media.

The aurora occurs when electrically charged particles stream from the sun and wash over Earth. Our planet's magnetic field channels that "solar wind" to the poles, where the particles interact with molecules in our atmosphere to produce beautiful ribbons of green, pink, purple, and red light.

The National Weather Service had anticipated heightened aurora activity on Friday, possibly as far south as Washington and New York, due to a high-powered solar wind streaming toward our planet from a giant "hole" on the sun, called a coronal hole.

A video from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the massive hole in the sun's atmosphere. NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory

But new, more powerful, eruptions on the sun, called coronal mass ejections (CME), supercharged the solar wind to cause "a severe disturbance in Earth's magnetic field," NWS reported.

It was "a perfect storm," Alex Young, the associate director for science at NASA Goddard's Heliophysics Science Division, told Insider.

As a result, the aurora blew past the forecasts, lighting up the skies in brilliant colors as far south as Missouri, California, Wisconsin, and even Arizona.

Near Phoenix, Arizona

The aurora on the horizon near Butcher Jones Recreation Area, just east of Phoenix, Arizona. John Sirlin

"It was a pretty surreal experience watching the aurora in the Sonoran Desert," John Sirlin, who captured the above photo, told Insider. "It was only visible as a faint pink glow at first but when the pillars started dancing, it was definitely visible to the naked eye. It was brief but stunningly beautiful."

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This may be the furthest-south sighting from Friday's aurora events.

"Most people when they're seeing that far south... they're seeing it on the horizon," Young said.

Gaylor, Missouri

Northern lights could be seen above the National Weather service office in Gaylor, Missouri. NWS Gaylor

Auroras in La Crosse, Wisconsin on March 24, 2023. NWS La Crosse

Between New York City's John F Kennedy airport and MinneapolisSaint Paul airport

Annie Scott Riley

Topeka, Kansas

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Auroras in La Crosse, Wisconsin on March 24, 2023. NWS La Crosse

Anchorage, Alaska

Auroras in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 24, 2023. NWS Anchorage

Fairfax, Alaska

Auroras in Fairbanks, Alaska, on March 24, 2023. NWS Fairbanks

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Getty/iStock/The Independent)

As he enters his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump faces a looming potential indictment in New York, another set of potential charges in Georgia, and other possible criminal charges from a federal special counsel investigation. Meanwhile, a former GOP ally continues to pose a significant threat to his Republican presidential primary election in 2024.

The former president has demanded that his supporters protest and TAKE OUR NATION BACK! from what he calls the CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL Manhattan district attorney investigation, but so far only a handful of demonstrators have rallied to his defence at small events in Florida and New York.

Mr Trump, cornered by several investigations and predicting his own arrest in at least one of them, will hold his first 2024 presidential campaign rally in the city of Waco, Texas  in the middle of the 30th anniversary of the deadly 51-day siege that galvanised the far right and set the stage for the modern militia movement.

Following the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, extremism researchers have traced predictions from the former president and his supporters of violence and dysfunction, with ideological echoes of the infamous 1993 federal law enforcement standoff near the same Texas town where Mr Trump has steered his campaign.

Given what happened on January 6, hes playing with fire, professor Matthew Dallek, a political historian of the right and homeland security issues at George Washington University, told The Independent.

His social media posts have made violence, even if its by a lone individual, more likely, he added. Hes weaponised his bull horn.

For some, the fact that the former president is ushering in this new phase of his political life in Waco is a parallel too notable to ignore. The city was seared into the history books of the far right in 1993, when a militarised standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidian religious sect in nearby Elk, Texas claimed the lives of more than 80 people, some of whom died by gunshots and others by a fire which broke out in the Mount Carmel compound.

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The event partly inspired Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh to attack two years later, and for those on the militant fringe of American life, Waco came to serve as a symbol of violent government overreach or the beginning of the end times.

The Branch Davidian compound in flames in 1993 after a shootout following a 51-day siege with federal law enforcement near Waco, Texas; 76 sect members died inside. (AFP/Getty Images)

Far-right anti-government militia groups have repeatedly referenced the deadly event in their missions, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones began his career following the galvanising effect of the siege not far from his home in Austin, and longtime Republican strategist and far-right activist Roger Stone dedicated his 2015 book The Clintons War on Women to the Branch Davidians who died at Mount Carmel.

By Trump going to Waco, hes clearly aligning himself with this idea of, we are now at a turning point moment, and its a turning point towards violence that Waco signifies so clearly, Robert Pape, a longtime researcher of terrorism and political violence at the University of Chicago who has performed wide-ranging studies on the Trump movement and January 6 attacks, told The Independent.

Wacos legacy is one of a deep source of distrust and hatred toward the federal government, Katie McCarthy, associate investigative researcher at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center On Extremism, told The Independent.

Mr Trumps decision to hold a rally there can certainly be interpreted as a dog whistle to the anti-government movement, she said.

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has repeatedly painted a darkly pessimistic picture of America, warning his followers that the country will enter World War III if he is not elected, and vowing retribution against political opponents if he is.

And on 23 March, he suggested there would be death and destruction if he is criminally prosecuted.

His critics have readily pointed out that Mr Trumps vision of an us-versus-them future, one in which he promises to punish his political enemies and govern only on behalf of his loyalists, has all the hallmarks of fascist rhetoric: invoking a glorious past and an apocalyptic future; villainizing journalists and the people who hold power to account; appealing to conspiracy theories as the source of his problems; and promoting a law and order solution to solve them.

During his headlining appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March, he pledged to be your warrior and your justice, vowing to his supporters: And to those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

Youre going to have World War III, if something doesnt happen fast, he said during his speech on 5 March. This is the final battle. They know it. I know it. You know it. Everybody knows that this is it  Either they win or we win. And if they win, we no longer have a country.

His rhetoric has become more and more incendiary and more extreme over time following the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago property in August 2022, Ms McCarthy with the ADL told The Independent.

His supporters, meanwhile, have offered him a feedback loop of support, with QAnon-aligned supporters and influencers latching on to his every word and sharing their reactions, which Mr Trump then broadcasts to his Truth Social following, which then reaches other platforms and mainstream press.

Its a volatile political current thats clearly developing beyond just the Trump campaign stage, according to Mr Papes research. A nationally representative January 2023 survey from the Chicago Project on Security and Threats suggested 6 per cent of Americans, or 15 million people, believe force is justified to keep Donald Trump from being prosecuted, with twice that many saying they couldnt make up their mind.

For its part, the Trump campaign has said the choice of Waco was about electoral strategy, not esoteric symbolism.

President Trump is holding his first campaign rally in Waco in the Super Tuesday state of Texas because it is centrally located and close to all four of Texas biggest metropolitan areas  Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio  while providing the necessary infrastructure to hold a rally of this magnitude, the Trump campaign said in a statement to TIME . This is the ideal location to have as many supporters from across the state and in neighboring states attend this historic rally.

Even if hes not intentionally evoking Wacos history, the resonance is hard to ignore, according to University of Hartford historian Professor Robert Churchill, author of To Shake Their Guns in the Tyrants Face: Libertarian Political Violence and the Origins of the Militia Movement.

Trump and the far-right generally have turned against federal law enforcement, see the FBI as corrupt, the Justice Department as corrupt, Mr Churchill told The Independent. Waco is certainly a movement that fits into that same narrative.

Others suggest that for all of his worrying talk, Mr Trump no longer has the magnetic influence over a sprawling base he once did.

His volcanic style, and some of his endorsed candidates, may still be well-represented on the national political scene, but national Republicans have coalesced around targeting LGBT+ people and public school curricula while absorbing some of Mr Trumps tactics without having to defend him at all.

Its sort of a tough spot for him to be in, said Shane Burley, who covers the right in America and is the author of Why We Fight: Essays on Fascism, Resistance, and Surviving the Apocalypse.

Theres a certain lack of gravitas to the on-the-ground movement. Partly because its been taken by DeSantis, partly because they have critical race theory and drag queens to unify them, he told The Independent. They dont necessarily need Trump anymore. The more radical wing of his base have abandoned him and dont want anything to do with him.

With his Truth Social, the former president lacks the gargantuan social-media megaphone he once possessed to instantly reach millions of people, but he has leveraged the platform to make bombastic statements that generate media attention and generate days of free press for his campaign.

Conspiracy theorists still believe Mr Trump is at the centre of a tangled web of Democratic corruption, but that belief doesnt seem to be sending people into the streets.

Prominent QAnon influencers, Trump loyalists, Christian nationalists and civil war accelerationists  including figures who were once central to the Stop the Steal effort that fuelled the crowds before the riot in the halls of Congress two years ago  have expressed some sceptism over the former presidents latest demands, or have refused to participate in his defence at all.

Others believe that any protest would be seized by federal authorities to create a violent scenario that would lead to their arrest, or that a deep state is preparing to assassinate Mr Trump, according to a report compiled by Logically, which analyses mis- and disinformation using artificial and expert intelligence, provided to The Independent.

Far-right extremists also believe that any news of an imminent indictment  which was leaked by the former president himself  would be a kind of false flag event to distract from a global financial collapse or other newsworthy event, including failed Arizona candidate for governor Kari Lakes ongoing challenge to her election loss, Logically found.

A post from a prominent right-wing influencer on Telegram with more than 173,000 subscribers claimed that Mr Trumps potential indictment is part of an ongoing Distraction War, a claim that has been viewed tens of thousands of times, according to Logically.

Another prominent Twitter user with more than 678,000 followers made a similar claim about imminent bank failures, which has been shared more than 10,000 times.

Few Trump supporters are heeding his call to take to the streets to protest (AFP via Getty Images)

Following the hundreds of arrests of people connected to the attack on the US Capitol, a violent event that many right-wing conspiracy theorists believe was instigated by federal agents, Trump supporters appear sceptical to demonstrate their support under a fear that they would face similar consequences by demonstrating against his criminal prosecution.

Users on far-right platforms like Telegram, Rumble, Gab, Gettr, Truth Social, and websites like the Gateway Pundit, have expressed caution about protesting a potential Trump indictment for this reason, according to Logically.

Users on the aforementioned platforms are continuing to amplify claims that a possible Trump indictment has been designed to distract from stories about bank failures and the upcoming pending US economic struggles on the horizon, the report found.

The central message among his supporters, despite his demands that they take to the streets to defend him, is to stay home, according to Ms McCarthy.

Many supporters are gripped with paranoia and fear stemming from January 6 as some sort of ploy from the deep state to arrest Trump supporters, she told The Independent.

Those conspiracy theories didnt go away. Theyve only continued to grow, said Ms McCarthy, noting that a narrative suggesting federal authorities instigated the Capitol siege has reached Fox News and Republican lawmakers in Congress.

That paranoia is a large part of why were not seeing the protests hes calling for, she said. People are angry, theyre upset about this, but for the most part I dont foresee any kind of mass protest happening anywhere near what we saw on January 6.

Mr Trumps apparent attempts to provoke his followers have drawn only small crowds, but threats of extremist violence cloud a volatile political landscape heading into 2024. All extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists, according to reporting from the Anti-Defamation League. High-profile ideologically driven attacks, including the hammer attack against Paul Pelosi and mass murders in Buffalo and Colorado, continue a worrying trend of extremist-linked violence.

As Mr Pape at the University of Chicago notes, political violence only requires a motivated few to move from rhetoric to reality, especially when they know their views are shared by others.

Weve seen this in our country, he said. Seven per cent of George Floyd protests turned violent. They were mostly peaceful. About 5 per cent of those who went to the [US Capitol] Ellipse on January 6 turned violent. Thats still mostly peaceful. But mostly peacful is not the same as peaceful.

What makes it all the more worrying is that these calls to action are hiding in plain sight, according to some observers. Donald Trump often uses just enough innuendo and suggestive language that a radical follower could be inspired to violence, while avoiding the kind of direct incitements that would invite legal scrutiny, according to Georgetown University professor Daniel Byman.

What hes doing is calling out his opponents and the system as fundamentally illegitimate, he told The Independent. If youre a true believer and you accept this, its not surprising you would be very angry. Hes saying the system will not provide you justice.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

It remains to be seen how Mr Trumps violent claims will impact his electoral fortunes, and the Republican party at large, but according to Mr Churchill, the former president has already made a shocking impact: bringing ideas once on the far-right of American politics, only uttered by people who saw Waco as a call to arms, into the centre of political life.

Waco and its aftermath, he said, was always more important to the degree to which their ideas were being addressed by local levels of the mainstream right and the Republican Party.

What was important was what sorts of things were being talked about in Republican committee meetings in a small town in Texas.

Now, discussions of political violence, conspiracy theories and the end of days have moved all the way to the halls of Congress. Waco may be a fading memory to some, but its ghosts linger.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Polish President Andrzej Duda took part in nationwide observances Friday to honor Poles who risked  and often lost  their lives trying to save Jews from the Holocaust during the Nazi German occupation of Poland.

Duda spoke at a memorial site in Markowa, a village in southeastern Poland where on March 24, 1944 Nazi forces shot and killed a farmer, his pregnant wife and their six children along with eight Jews the family was hiding at their farm.

Pope Francis has declared the members of the Ulma family as martyrs. In Poland, they are a symbol of the bravery of the Poles who took the utmost risk while helping Jews during WWII.

Speaking at the Markowa Museum of Poles Saving Jews During World War II, Duda noted there were many families in the region and across Poland who hid Jews, in many cases ensuring they survived.

The names of the Ulmas and of other families engraved on plaques testify that there were many people who behaved in a decent way, whose love of their brethren, Christian values and ethics were stronger than the fear of death, not only theirs, but also of their families, Duda said.

After invading Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 and taking over the country, Nazi Germans punished any form of assisting Jews, even offering them a glass of water, by killing the helpers and their families.

Still, more than 7,200 Poles are listed by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, as having taken risks to save Jews. Publications by historians in recent years have also led to bitter debates about those Poles who turned in their Jewish neighbors, or participated in the killing or victimization of Jews.

Disagreements over aspects of Polish behavior during the Holocaust have created tensions between Poland and Israel over the years.

The Germans and their collaborators killed some 3 million out of the estimated 3.3 million Jews who lived in Poland before World War II as well as almost 3 million non-Jews. The Nazis built major death camps, including Auschwitz, in occupied Poland.
A climate protest aimed at older Americans gathered in front of Wells Fargo headquarters in San Francisco, California. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

Senior citizens blockaded banks and cut up credit cards across the US after a dire UN climate report.

Nine older Americans and one scientist were arrested after occupying a bank lobby in Washington DC.

They say Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank, and Bank of America should stop lending to fossil-fuel companies.

SAN FRANCISCO As rain walloped the city and howling winds filled the narrow streets between skyscrapers, more than 100 people gathered before a glass facade on a busy street in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday.

Grey-haired San Francisco protestors donned hats and rain jackets, set up a tent, passed around colorful banners and signs, and sang songs about protecting future generations. The smell of sage filled the air.

The protestors were calling for banks to stop lending to the fossil-fuel industry. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

Their target  the glass doors and walls  was an entrance to the corporate offices of Wells Fargo, one of four major banks that are the biggest lenders to the fossil-fuel industry. The others are Bank of America, Chase, and Citibank, according to a 2022 report from six environmental and advocacy organizations.

If you're looking for more environmentally friendly banks consider PNC, Hanover Bank, and Capital One.

A protest blocked the entrance to Wells Fargo's corporate offices in San Francisco on March 21. 2023. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

This was one of 100 locations where older Americans, aged 60 and up, called themselves the "Rocking Chair Rebellion" and blockaded those banks across the country.

Demonstrators sit during a rocking-chair vigil rally demanding banks to stop funding fossil fuel projects at Franklin Park, in Washington, DC, March 21, 2023. Tom Brenner/Reuters

The protests came the day after the United Nations released the final installment of a dire climate change report. That assessment, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, paints a grim picture of the future if the world doesn't cut emissions of planet-warming gases in half by 2030. To achieve that, scientists agree, it's crucial to stop using fossil fuels like coal and oil.

"That's all we've asked of these banks  that they stop lending for the expansion of this industry," environmentalist and author Bill McKibben told Insider.

Demonstrators participate in a die-in outside a Chase Bank branch, during a rocking-chair vigil rally demanding banks to stop funding fossil fuel projects, in Washington, DC, March 21, 2023. Tom Brenner/Reuters

He helped launch this campaign, called Third Act, to organize Americans aged 60 and up for climate action.

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"If you have $5,000 in one of these banks, it gets lent out for pipelines and so on, and that produces more carbon than flying back and forth across the country," McKibben said.

At similar protests in cities across the country, senior citizens cut up their credit cards and sat in lines of rocking chairs.

Cut up credit cards and scissors are in a bucket during a "Stop Dirty Banks," rally and protest, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Nine seniors were arrested on Wednesday, alongside ecologist Rose Abramoff, after sitting in the lobby of a Chase Bank in Washington, DC and singing songs for an hour, according to a statement and photos shared with Insider.

Organizers reported that 10 activists who occupied a Chase Bank were arrested on March 22, 2023. Courtesy of BXE

"If you're 65 now, you've been on the planet for 80% of the emissions that have been emitted. We older folks have a debt to pay to our children and grandchildren," Deborah Moore, a campaign strategist at Third Act, who led the San Francisco protest, told Insider.

The protestors were responding to the United Nations' climate change report. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

"This event is led and organized by older Americans, but it's multigenerational," she added.

There were no arrests in San Francisco, where three young people and three older people chained themselves to the Wells Fargo doors.

Six people chained themselves to the doors of Wells Fargo's corporate office in San Francisco. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

"We're hoping to damage the reputation enough that people say: 'Oh no, Wells Fargo is not a good guy. They're not a good community partner, and neither is Bank America or Chase or Citibank. And we need not to bank with them,'" said Mo, a 66-year-old chained to the bank's door, who declined to share their full name for privacy.

Protestors glue signs to the Wells Fargo facade. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

"It's about a commitment to the next generation," Mo added.

As protestors chanted, gave speeches, and painted the street in front of Wells Fargo HQ, a procession of grey-haired people wearing tattered burlap sacks silently marched in a line around the perimeter of the protest.

"The Lamenters" patrol the protest in San Francisco. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

A thin, blotchy layer of white powder covered their faces, and they wore signs reading "drought," "mega-fires," and "floods"  events that are becoming more severe and destructive as global temperatures rise.

"The Lamenters" line up to display their signs. Morgan McFall-Johnsen

They called themselves "The Lamenters" and declined to answer any questions.

"The most important thing an individual can do, I think, is to be a little less of an individual, to join together with others in movements large enough to make real change," McKibben said.

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Police and the Food and Drug Administration have launched an investigation after several people who were sickened by ice cream that they consumed at a cafe in New Hampshire tested positive for THC, officials announced Friday.

Investigators are currently looking into reports of several people who fell ill after eating Angelos Amore brand ice cream at Roots Local Cafe and Catering at 55 Main Street in Newmarket, according to the Newmarket Police Department.

On March 17 and 18, a number of unrelated Roots customers began checking themselves into area hospitals with an array of symptoms including severe dizziness, weakness, and exceptionally high heart rates, officials said.

Some of those who were sickened tested positive for THC -- the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. All of the victims have since recovered.

Roots has been cooperative with investigators, and they immediately forfeited their ice cream for testing, police noted.

In a statement, Roots said they were very upset about the incident and said the ice cream was made by a previous owner:

The ice cream was all the same flavor, coffee oreo. After blood tests came back from the victims it was found to be THC. We pulled the ice cream right away and called the police right away. The previous owner took the blame for the ice cream he made. This is very bad for business and for the people who got sick, the cafe said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Newmarket detective Zach Wedgeworth at 603-659-8505.

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Ohio-based rap artist Joseph Edgar Foreman, known by the name Afroman, is being sued by seven officers with the Adams County Sheriff's Office for using footage of their 2022 search on his home to make and promote new music. The officers accused Foreman's use of their images and likeness as a "malicious" act that tarnished their reputation and humiliated them, according to a complaint.

The lawsuit stems from a search of Foreman's home on Aug. 21, 2022, which was conducted with a "lawfully issued search warrant," according to a March 13 complaint. A photo of the warrant shared by the local Fox affiliate but has not been independently verified by CBS News shows that the search was for evidence of marijuana and drug paraphernalia related to drug possession and trafficking, as well as kidnapping.

Foreman, known for his song "Because I Got High," was not at his home during the search, but his wife was present and recorded parts of the search on her phone. His house also had several security cameras that recorded the search.

Following the raid, the seven members of law enforcement involved  deputies Shawn Cooley, Justin Cooley, Shawn Grooms and Lisa Phillips, as well as sergeants Michael Estep and Randolph Walters Jr. and detective sergeant Brian Newland  say that Foreman used those video recordings to make music and music videos about the search. There were "dozens" of videos and images across numerous social media platforms, they said, that "clearly portray" their images and likeness.

They are suing him for the unauthorized use of individual's persona, invasion of privacy by misappropriation and invasion of privacy by false light publicity, among other things. The officers have demanded a trial by jury.

Videos posted by Foreman show police breaking down his door as they entered the home wielding weapons. He since has posted several videos showing the officers' movement through his home.

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One of those clips seemingly became the source of inspiration for his new song "Lemon Pound Cake" and was heavily used in the official music video. In the clip, officers are seen walking through his kitchen and one of the officers is seen looking several times at a pound cake being kept on a cake stand on the counter. That officer quickly became referenced as "Officer Poundcake" by Foreman on social media, a nickname that Foreman also started using on merchandise.

The other officers involved were also singled out in posts by Foreman.

"Defendants' actions were willful, wanton, malicious, and done with conscious or reckless disregard for the rights of Plaintiffs," the complaint says, adding that he was not authorized to use their personas for commercial purposes.

The officers also claim that the posts led to them being "subjected to ridicule," and that it's "made it more difficult and even more dangerous" for them to do their jobs, saying that they have since received death threats.

"Plaintiffs have suffered damages, including all profits derived from and attributable to Defendants' unauthorized use of Plaintiffs' personas, and have suffered humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment, and loss of reputation," the complaint says.

Foreman has posted about the lawsuit on Instagram, saying that the search itself was based on a "false warrant" that "put the Adams county sheriff in a position to attempt to kill me." He also accused the officers involved of stealing his money, saying that doing so took away their "right of privacy."

"My video footage is my property. ... I am a law-abiding taxpaying citizens who was violated by criminals camouflaged by law-enforcement," he said, adding in a statement from his lawyer that reads, "We are waiting for public records requests from Adam's county we still have not received. We are planning to counter sue for the unlawful raid, money being stolen, and for the undeniable damage this had on my clients family, career and property."

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Dr. Steven Palter Gold Coast IVF

Fertility doctor Dr. Steven Palter is popular on TikTok for demystifying infertility.

He said patients often believe they've done "all the tests" or that infertility is stress-related.

He debunked four of the most common myths about infertility for Insider.

Over about the past year, Dr. Steven Palter and the reproductive endocrinologists he trains have seen about one patient a week who has pursued an unproven fertility "treatment" they've learned about on TikTok.

So Palter, the founder and medical and scientific director of Gold Coast IV, in Woodbury, New York, decided to join the platform himself to combat fertility misinformation and demystify his field's processes and solutions.

"I started sharing what they needed to know, where mistakes could be made, and explanations of complex processes and fertility to help them become more empowered partners in their care," he said. He now has about 200,000 followers on his social media platforms combined.

"Once patients get an answer, there's this enormous relief," he said. "Getting those answers takes them from feeling lost and hopeless to having a clear thing to fight, and a path on how to overcome it."

Palter talked to Insider about some of the biggest fertility myths, and how patients can find solutions that work for them.

Myth: You should try to get pregnant naturally for a certain amount of time before seeking help

Medical organizations tend to recommend people seek fertility help after one year of trying to conceive "the natural way" if they are under age 35, and 6 months of trying to conceive if they're over age 35.

But Palter said even six months is too long to wait if you or your partner have certain risk factors, like being over 35, lacking a menstrual cycle, experiencing severe period pain, or having a partner who's undergone chemotherapy.

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In those cases, "you should get evaluated right away," Palter said, so you can save time by identifying potential barriers early and finding possible solutions.

For example, someone with a history of period pain may have undiagnosed endometriosis, and further delaying treatment won't help their odds of conception.

Myth: You think you've taken "All the tests"

Palter said he regularly sees patients who say they've had "all the tests" and still don't know why they can't get pregnant.

But Palter said there isn't one universal panel that covers all possible causes of infertility, and even if there was, how clinicians conduct and interpret the results can vary widely.

"Just because a physician told you that you were tested for everything, doesn't mean that that test was complete, properly done or properly interpreted," he said. "And I see this all the time."

For example, doctors can miss abnormal results on genetic tests; test results can get lost, leading patients to assume everything is fine; and imaging tests can be read by non-experts.

Palter had one patient who'd been trying to get pregnant for more than five years and had been told her fallopian tubes were normal, per an X-ray. But when Palter got a hold of the original X-ray, he noticed that the tubes were actually blocked, which can be treatable though hard to spot, especially if it's fluid blocking the egg's path.

How accurate the results of scans like X-rays and ultrasounds are "is enormously dependent on the skill of the person performing the test and the person interpreting it," Palter said. "And very often the fertility doctor will just rely on the radiologist interpretation, and not look at the original images. There are constantly things that are missed."

Myth: "Unexplained infertility" means there isn't a cause

Often, when doctors say "unexplained infertility," they simply mean it makes more sense to move forward with infertility treatments than to conduct invasive testing to pinpoint the underlying cause. "For example, there could be a problem with a woman's egg, but you wouldn't see that problem until you did IVF," he said.

Still, Palter said, about 30 percent of the time, women are told they have unexplained infertility when they really just haven't had a thorough-enough evaluation.

"We see patients who are in their 40s and are perimenopausal, and are told it's unexplained. It's not: It's clearly age-related. Or, they're not ovulating or they have endometriosis, but no one has thoroughly evaluated them," Palter said.

Myth: Stress and weight are common infertility culprits

Palter sees patients who've been told they're just not trying hard enough, or that they just need to lose weight or reduce stress. But not only does telling someone to de-stress not work, it's also inaccurate. "Stress almost never causes infertility unless it's to the point where your cycles are stopping," he said.

And while being at a higher weight can impact fertility, in part due to the way excess fat interacts with sex hormones, it's no reason not to treat other contributing factors to infertility, Palter said.

"Weight may be a contributor, but that doesn't mean you don't treat them with medications to fix the hormonal problems," he said. "Brushing people off without making a diagnosis, based on them being under stress or overweight, is a terrible disservice."

Read the original article on Insider
A Port Royal mother and father face charges of felony neglect after police were called to check on two people with special needs allegedly left in a hot car for hours in Bluffton.

Natasha Nicole Dupont, 47, and Rodaeus Darnell Wright, 46, of Port Royal, are the parents of a 17-year-old son and a 20-year-old son, who police say are autistic and nonverbal.

The parents each were charged with one count of unlawful neglect of a child and one count of neglect of a vulnerable adult, jail records show. They allegedly left their sons in a nearby parking lot while at work, according to the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office.

Beaufort County police were called to Walmart in Bluffton around 8 p.m. Thursday after a caller requested a welfare check. The caller had driven by a parked car around 2 p.m. and saw two people inside; when the caller passed by six hours later, the car and its occupants were still there.

Police found the teen and man inside the car, and they were taken to the hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion, according to Sgt. Danny Allen, a spokesperson for the Sheriffs Office.

Dupont and Wright were working their respective shifts at Walmart and the nearby Sams Club while their sons were in the car, Allen said. Police brought two felony charges against each, accusing the couple of neglect. If convicted, they each could face 15 total years of prison time.

Allen said the teen and man were in the car for at least six hours but did not have an exact answer. Weather Underground data from that period Thursday afternoon shows Blufftons temperatures spanning from a high of 77 degrees to the evenings low of 70 degrees  conditions that can heat a parked car into triple-digit temperatures in less than an hour, according to a study from the geosciences department of San Francisco State University.

Dupont and Wright were released Friday from the Beaufort County Detention Center on personal recognizance bonds, meaning neither is required to post bail unless they fail to appear in court.

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Pollice allege a Port Royal couple left their sons in a parked car near Blufftons Walmart, located at 4 Bluffton Road.

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.
Architectural rendering of new Pratt & Whitney facility planned in OKC. Photo Provided

Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney said Friday it plans a $255-million sustainment center in Oklahoma City, a hub for operations for all of its engines, including those for the F-35, C-17, F-22, F-15, F-16, B-52 and E-3 AWACS.

The 845,000-square-foot facility will be an expansion of Pratt & Whitney's operations near Tinker Air Force Base. Neither details of the project, to be developed over five years, nor of the property acquisition, were revealed.

Pratt & Whitneys site here is part of a global sustainment network  complementing activity in Australia, Japan, Netherlands and Norway, and U.S. locations at Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida, and West Palm Beach.

"As the only site capable of performing all F135 power module scope levels, the new Oklahoma City Sustainment Center facility will increase the sites maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities as the F135 program continues to expand," Pratt & Whitney said.

More:How Oklahoma leaders plan to fix high-tech workforce shortage

Pratt & Whitney F-135s on the production line. Photo Provided

What Pratt & Whitney does now in Oklahoma City and what to expect

Since 2014, Pratt & Whitneys Oklahoma City F-135 Heavy Maintenance Center has been responsible for most F-135 maintenance work. The salaries for new positions, mostly in engineering and procurement, will be up to about $80,000 based on skills and experience, according to the company, a subsidiary of defense conglomerate Raytheon Technologies Corp. No future employment level was revealed.

Pratt & Whitney now has more than 450 full-time employees, plus as many contractors in engineering, data analytics, materials and logistics, quality and procurement. The new facility will allow the consolidation of six sites, into two locations: the new center and Tinker Air Force Bases Air Logistics Complex.

Tinker_properties_map

This is an exciting announcement for Oklahoma and our growing international dominance in the aerospace and defense industry, Gov. Kevin Stitt said. This $255 million investment in a world-class sustainment center helps strengthen Oklahomas position as the MRO capital (for maintenance, repair and overhaul) of the world, and I am thrilled for Pratt & Whitney to continue to invest and expand in our state.

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Oklahoma City plays a "critical" role in the manufacturer's global sustainment network, said Jill Albertelli, president, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

Last year, the team achieved record output for the F-117, F-119 and F-135 Heavy Maintenance Centers. This investment in a new facility will further expand our capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to our customer for years to come," she said.

The expansion "is a direct investment in improving our militarys ability to meet national security objectives, said U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore. This facility will play a particularly important role in rapidly delivering the F-135 engine core upgrade to the F-35 fleet, which is critical to ensuring all the services have the capabilities they need to fight an advancing threat starting in 2028.

Guest column: Oklahoma's aviation industry can help students launch careers

Architectural rendering of new Pratt & Whitney facility planned in OKC. Photo Provided

Pratt & Whitney has deep ties to Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force Base

Pratt & Whitney has a long history in Oklahoma City, and we congratulate them on this new facility, which enhances their efficiency and ability to serve the U.S. Air Force," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said. "Tinker is a cornerstone of Oklahoma Citys economy and culture, and supporting companies that support the base is important to our entire city. Pratt & Whitneys investment in our city, and in the jobs added with this new facility, is significant and appreciated.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber worked with Pratt & Whitney, the Oklahoma Industries Authority and Alliance for Economic Development, in developing the project, said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

Pratt & Whitney has been a critical part of our business community for many years, and we look forward to a long relationship, working together to support their mission," Gillenwater said.

Pratt & Whitney presence in Oklahoma dates to the 1940s and the establishment of Midwest Air Depot, which became Tinker Air Force Base.

Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Defense contractor Pratt & Whitney announces big expansion in Oklahoma
Prince William surprised unsuspecting patrons at the Butero Bistro in Poland when he stopped in for some food on Wednesday night.

The Prince of Wales dined at the Warsaw restaurant, which is described as a queer space with comfort food, alongside Kensington Palace staff during his trip to Poland, where he met with British and Polish troops stationed near the Ukrainian border.

Pictures taken at Butero showed the prince dressed casually in a button-down shirt while sitting at a table with palace staff, as one restaurant worker leaned in to take Williams order. According to the Daily Mail, the royal ordered a 7.50 ($9.22) Kanapka w chaAce, or a Polish sandwich with pulled pork, served with fries and garlic mayo.

A source told the outlet that Prince William had asked to join Kensington Palace staff for dinner at a local restaurant they had booked nearby. Speaking to the Daily Mail, restaurant owner PaweA Zasim said they had absolutely no idea the prince was coming.

We had a table booked for 12 people under the name of Daisy, Zasim said. But then a bodyguard appeared and said that this wasnt going to be a Daisy birthday party and then Prince William walked in.

They said they had a good time, they spent three hours here with the other guests that were already here, Zasim added. He ate our sandwich in a braided roll with pulled pork. And he ate everything so I think he liked it.

Butero Bistro is advertised online as a queer space with comfort food. Since its opening last November, the Warsaw restaurant has organised karaoke nights for local drag queens, and promotes itself as a LGBT+ friendly establishment. A neon rainbow sign sits outside the restaurant, while its logo is made up of the colours of the rainbow.

Prince William dines with patrons at the Butero Bistro in Warsaw, Poland (ewa_wysocka)

The conservative government of Poland has made the eastern European country one of the least LGBT+ friendly countries in the European Union.

According to a 2022 ILGA-Europe report, Poland does not recognise same-sex marriage, and the report warns that an increasing number of Polish LGBTQ people are leaving the country as the political situation continues to worsen.

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A source told the Daily Mail: It is valuable that he supported the community so abused by the current authorities in Poland.

Prince William was spotted having dinner with his staffer at a LGBTQ+ restaurant in Poland. pic.twitter.com/aQQyPf7Syv  Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) March 23, 2023

While the royal family has yet to make an official statement about Prince Williams visit to the queer-inclusive restaurant, many fans saw the moment as a kind gesture and a subtle statement against Polands anti-LGBT+ ideology.

We love an ally, said one person on Twitter.

He is making a statement against the Polish anti-LGBTQ laws, said someone else.

we love an ally  ant (comeback era) (@wildestblood_13) March 23, 2023

to the people in the comments: he is making a statement against the Polish anti-LGBTQ laws  JW (@Jwatts3010) March 23, 2023

The Warsaw restaurant where Prince William dined on Wednesday night has since made an unofficial shrine to mark the royals visit. In a video posted to Buteros Instagram page on Thursday, an employee is seen taping a DIY sign with the words Prince William to the back of the chair in which he sat less than one day ago.

We are surprised too, but where else would he feel nice and safe than in our queer and loving space? the restaurant captioned their Instagram post, per a translation. We did what we do best  we fed. And the rest is history.

Throughout the years, Prince William has often vocalised his support for the LGBT+ community.

In 2016, the now-Prince of Wales made history as the first member of the royal family to be photographed for the cover of a gay magazine. While posing on the July 2016 cover of Attitude, one of the UKs leading gay magazines, Prince William used the article to highlight issues of homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying and the enduring mental health consequences of LGBT+-phobic speech.

The Prince of Wales arrived in Poland on Wednesday to show Britains support for the countrys frontline efforts in helping refugees displaced by Russias war in Ukraine. The royal met with British troops in Rzeszow, a city in southeastern Poland, as he thanked soldiers for defending our freedoms and keeping an eye on the refugee crisis in Ukraine.

Speaking to British and Polish troops, William said: I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that youre doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on whats going on.

So, just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis, he added. Youre doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you.

On Thursday, the prince placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, as he paid his respects to those who have lost their lives in past wars. The late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh had laid a wreath at the tomb during their state visit to Poland in 1996.

Prince William also met with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace and visited a local food hall to speak with Ukrainian refugees. It marks Williams first trip to Poland since he visited in 2017 with his wife, the Princess of Wales.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, smiles as he listens to young Ukrainian refugees discussing their experiences settling into life in Poland at Hala Koszyki Food Hall on March 23 in Warsaw, Poland. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Prince William reportedly had a great time at an LGBTQ-friendly restaurant while visiting Poland, a country that does not legally recognize same-sex unions.

The Prince of Wales dined at the Butero Bistro in Warsaw, which advertises itself as a queer space with comfort food. He is currently in the country to meet with British and Polish troops in the city of Rzeszow, where shipments of military and humanitarian aid are set to support neighboring Ukraine.

The British royal ordered a roughly $9 pulled pork sandwich called "kanapka w chalce, which comes with fries and garlic mayo, according to the Daily Mail .

The princes team had been working near Butero Bistro as part of a two-day tour of Poland and they invited him, which resulted in a great night, People reported.

A hospitality worker at the restaurant shared an Instagram video Thursday of her taping Williams nametag onto a wooden seat.

We are surprised too, but where else would he feel nice and safe than in our queer and loving space? We did what we do best - we fed and the rest is history, the worker wrote in the caption.

Williams presence at the restaurant shows his continuous support for the queer community. He previously denounced anti-gay bullying in an interview with LGBTQ magazine Attitude , which he was the cover of in June 2016. Hes also visited organizations working to support queer youth facing homelessness.

Poland is one of the worst countries in the European Union for queer people, according to the European bureau of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association .

As part of his two-day visit, the Associated Press reported that the prince thanked Poland for offering humanitarian and military support to Ukraine.

"I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that you're doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what's going on,'' he said.

Related Stories
Fox News

When it comes to transgender people arming themselves in light of the threat of harassment or attacks from hate groups, firearm advocate Tucker Carlson is skeptical, he made clear Thursday, insisting that doing so is not the exercise of the Second Amendment but rather political hysteria.

Carlson called attention to a recent NPR interview with gay and transgender people in New England who practice shooting as a self-defense measure. He then mocked the notion of white supremacist groups in that region, because, as he put it, every state is blue.

Just to be clear: We are not against peopleAmerican citizenscarrying firearms, Carlson continued. We support itincluding trans people. Its fine. But what youre watching here is not the exercise of the Second Amendment. What youre watching here is political hysteria: fear ginned up on purpose with maximum dishonesty in order to get people in a state of agitationarmed people in a state of agitation. It doesnt matter if they are trans or not, whatever that is.

Its the same template always: scare the crap out of your voters, tell them that their lives are at risk, [and] encourage them to get guns, said the Fox host, who once fretted that gun buybacks are an incitement to violence and would bring about civil war. How do you think that ends?

In the next breath, Carlson planted in his audiences minds a scenario in which transgender people are armed not only with guns, but with F-35 fighter planes and tanks.

You have to kind of wonder, like, whats the limit to this? he asked.

So if trans people are in fear for their lives, and [if] every region of the country including New Englandis crawling with Nazis now, why wouldnt we be arming them as we are, say, Ukraines trans army? And there are famously trans people in Ukraine; they are very, very proud of that. So why stop with AR-15s? I mean, why not F-35s or tanks? Carlson wondered. (The NPR story about those in the group called Rainbow Reload made no mention of any government body providing them with guns.)

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Nevertheless, Carlson concluded: Were as for guns as you could possibly be, but this seems like an incitement.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, center, arrives at U.S. District Court in downtown L.A. with his team of attorneys. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The trial of Mark Ridley-Thomas over the last two weeks offered ample evidence about the longtime Los Angeles County politician's close dealings with a USC dean.

From the words of Dean Marilyn Flynn, it is clear she was eager to secure business and partnerships with county government and made specific requests of Ridley-Thomas. Some of these requests closely mirror later motions at the county that Ridley-Thomas voted on, among other actions, and that benefited USC.

It is also not in dispute that Ridley-Thomas' son Sebastian benefited from this relationship. Emails show that Flynn was instrumental in awarding a full-tuition scholarship to Sebastian before he'd even formally applied, hired him as a USC professor, and later accepted a $100,000 check from Ridley-Thomas days before sending the same amount of money to Sebastian's nonprofit. At the time, Sebastian had resigned from his state Assembly seat amid a sexual harassment inquiry that would only become public much later.

The jury must now decide if all this amounted to a crime.

On Friday, a panel of 12 jurors drawn from a wide swath of Southern California began deliberating whether to convict Ridley-Thomas of 19 counts, including bribery and honest services mail and wire fraud as part of a corrupt conspiracy.

If found guilty, the 68-year-old lawmaker could spend years in federal prison  a shameful denouement to his political career.

The verdict also has far-reaching consequences in Los Angeles politics. If acquitted, Ridley-Thomas will return to his seat on the L.A. City Council after a 17-month suspension, ousting Heather Hutt, his district's appointed interim replacement. If convicted of some or all charges, his seat would be considered vacant  potentially leading to a special election or the reappointment of Hutt.

It remains to be seen whether the jury will find him a corrupt politician accepting handouts from a contractor or a concerned dad who took actions to help a troubled, ailing son.

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Before the jury entered the deliberation room Friday, a federal prosecutor delivered a comprehensive rejoinder to Ridley-Thomas' defense and urged the panel to assess the evidence "by the facts, the law, and common sense."

"It is not a defense that any actions taken were good for the community or were actions that the defendant would have taken [without a bribe]," Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael J. Morse said. Politicians do not get to monetize their office, he said.

"The only question for you is: Was the defendant doing these things for Marilyn Flynn so that she would do things for him?"

The politician is accused of accepting bribes from Flynn for his son. In exchange, prosecutors say, he presented or voted on certain L.A. County agenda items and advised county officials to do certain acts regarding the issuing or amending of contracts.

The conspiracy charge accuses Flynn and Ridley-Thomas of the unlawful scheme to engage in fraud and bribery. Each of the 17 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud is tied to an email or FedEx sent in late 2017 or 2018 as part of the alleged scheme.

His co-defendant, Flynn, previously pleaded guilty to bribing Ridley-Thomas and is awaiting sentencing  but jurors have not been told during trial that she was charged or entered a guilty plea.

Ridley-Thomas did not testify in his defense. What his lawyers did offer, Morse said in his 90-minute rebuttal argument at the close of trial, was a number of "distractions."

Marilyn Flynn, former dean of USC's school of social work, shown entering federal court in September 2022. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

"They want to make it about everything except the defendant," he said. Among the red herrings: vilifying the lead investigator, FBI Special Agent Brian Adkins; casting aspersions at the motives of Flynn's underlings who sounded the alarm about her dealings with the Ridley-Thomas family; suggesting that USC had cooked up a criminal referral into Ridley-Thomas to serve an unspecified institutional agenda; and putting Ridley-Thomas' support for key county votes in the case as less about his actions and more as the near-predestined outcome of the Blue Ribbon Commission, a report that recommended how L.A. County could better serve at-risk children.

What was missing from Ridley-Thomas' defense, he said, was a credible explanation for major episodes in the case, especially the $100,000 donation that was routed through USC.

On Thursday, Ridley-Thomas' lawyer Daralyn Durie had told jurors that the $100,000 donation's handling was more or less Flynn's fault: She put the money in one bank account at USC, but the outgoing money that went to Sebastian Ridley-Thomas' nonprofit came from another account at the university. In all of this, Durie said, her client was unaware.

"That explanation completely ignores that all of this was done at the direction of the defendant," Morse said, showing jurors the "sham" donation letter he included with his check to USC.

Morse outlined the start of the alleged conspiracy: in May 2017, when Ridley-Thomas reaches out to Flynn seeking a phone call, leading the two to chat for 37 minutes. The next day, Sebastian Ridley-Thomas emailed Flynn, to which the dean replies: "I am glad to hear from you  and so quickly."

The prosecutor emphasized what Flynn stood to gain: having one of the Board of Supervisors' most powerful members in her corner.

"Flynn wasn't the only one asking for things of the defendant," Morse said. "She needs to get to the front of the line. ... This is her ticket to the front of the line."

Much of Ridley-Thomas' defense depends on the idea that there was no chance of bribery  that the motions voted on by Ridley-Thomas were long-running policy goals that would inevitably come before the Board of Supervisors.

His lawyers brought in a slew of former aides and bold-faced names in local government, including former L.A. County CEO Sachi Hamai; Supervisor Janice Hahn; and former Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, each offering a view of the county programs as needed and devoid of controversy.

Morse, pointing to emails where Flynn makes noise about a "stalled" amendment and other desired actions, asked why the dean was nevertheless pressing so hard for action: "If the cake is baked, why is she still in the kitchen?"

In the timeline of the prosecution, December 2017 is critical. That month, Ridley-Thomas' son, Sebastian, was facing the onset of the still-secret sexual harassment inquiry and his father feared for the damage of a #MeToo scandal in his own family, prosecutors argued. They point to emails among Ridley-Thomas and his PR and legal team that evince desperation for Sebastian to quietly exit the Legislature and find a prestigious landing spot.

On Dec. 14, Ridley-Thomas called the director of L.A. County's mental health department and seconds later, shared the director's contact information with Flynn, writing, "He's ready to go"  with a wink emoji. Less than an hour later, Flynn tells her staff that Sebastian's admission  along with a scholarship  must be "the highest priority." That afternoon, one of Ridley-Thomas' deputies introduces Flynn to the director of the county's child welfare agency, adding that her boss instructed her to connect the dean and the county official.

Sebastian Ridley-Thomas in 2015. (Los Angeles Times)

The following morning, Flynn tells a fellow USC dean to get Sebastian's job offer out before the holidays  "to show MRT that we can deliver."

"It's good to be the son of one of the five kings and queens," said the prosecutor, alluding to the moniker of the five-member Board of Supervisors and their control over a $30-billion budget.

Defense attorneys have repeatedly sought to highlight the absence of L.A. County figures from the prosecutors' case, contending it was proof of an investigation that had blind spots. Morse argued it was the politician's former staffers and colleagues at L.A. County who had blind spots.

On cross-examination, the prosecutor said, their own replies showed they had scant insight into or awareness of Ridley-Thomas' backroom communications with Flynn.

"They were either loyalists of the defendant, or they were out of the loop  or both," he said.

Times staff writer Julia Wick contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Two days after a Marion County woman left her home in Umatilla headed for Ocala, deputies said python hunters found her safe in South Florida.

Marion County deputies said Darlene Peck, 75, left her home on Tuesday around 1 p.m. and around midnight her husband realized shed never returned. Deputies said Peck has dementia and her family was concerned for her safety.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Around 7 a.m. Wednesday, deputies said her car was spotted in Coral Gables near Miami.

Deputies said around 11 p.m. on Thursday that python hunters in South Florida found Peck in good health and that shed been reunited with her family.

Read: Bicyclist, 80, dies after crash involving golf cart in The Villages

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.
DEDHAM  The Quincy woman accused of killing her baby niece has been convicted of manslaughter by a Norfolk County jury, a lesser offense than the charge of murder sought by state prosecutors.

Jurors deliberated for two and a half days in the case, which saw Shu Feng Hsu charged with murder in the 2018 death of 11-month-old Chloe Chen. She will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 30.

A total of 24 witnesses took the stand over the course of a nine-day trial. Closing arguments were given Wednesday morning and jurors started deliberating that afternoon. Hsu, who attended the trial and was assisted by Mandarin interpreters, did not testify in her own defense.

She Feng Hsu.The Dedham Superior Court trial of Shu Feng Hsu of Quincy, charged with the beating murder of her 11 month old niece Chloe Chen in 2018.Monday March 13, 2023

Hsu was accused of beating her niece, Chloe, so severely that she bruised the baby's face and head and caused brain damage that ultimately led to her death in February 2018.

Hsu was initially arraigned in Quincy District Court on March 22, 2018  five years to the day before closing arguments were given at her trial. She was arraigned on charges of assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury. When the state medical examiner determined that a blunt-force head injury caused Chloe's death, the charges against Hsu were upgraded to murder and her bail was revoked. She has been in jail since.

More: Whatever happened to plans for a 'justice center' in downtown Quincy?

'Ruth Gordon is Quincy': Residents unite to save amphitheater amid demolition threat

At the time of the baby's death, Hsu was living at 34 Sewall St. in Quincy. Police say Hsu was home alone with her infant niece when she called 911 and said the baby had gone limp and was not responsive.

As an ambulance took the baby to Boston Medical Center, Chloe suffered multiple seizures, police said. She died two days later from what doctors described as brain injuries and bleeding in her brain.

Hospital scans of 11-month-old Chloe Chen's brain injuries Monday, March 13, 2023.

Police reviewed more than 100 hours of footage from several surveillance cameras inside the home but none of them showed the room where Hsu was alone with the baby for about two hours.

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Though police were not been able to retrieve video footage of the babys room, they do have audio recordings from nearby cameras that picked up noises from it. The recordings were played for the jury.

The baby cried for much of the time Hsu was alone with her, police say, until an adult entered the room and the camera picked up a distinctive dull thump that police say they did not hear in any of the other many hours of recording they listened to.

A second thump radiates through the building structure two seconds later, State Trooper Yuriy Bukhenik wrote in his report. That was followed by 10 more thumps every few seconds, police said. About 13 seconds after the last one, the crying stopped.

Quincy: Father Bill's pushes back opening of new homeless shelter; need higher than ever

The doctor who performed the autopsy said it appeared a strike, or a form of impact caused the injuries.

Hsu's defense attorney, Debra Dewitt, said the thumps could have been attributed to any number of things, and called it "guesswork and speculation" that prosecutors claimed they were the sound of Hsu hurting baby Chloe.

Assistant District Attorney Lisa Beatty said doctors testified that Chloe Chen's injuries were caused by "abusive head trauma," and suggested Hsu was overwhelmed by the baby's crying when the injuries occurred.

Jurors were tasked with finding Hsu either not guilty, or guilty of murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree or manslaughter, the lesser of the three charges. Judge Douglas Wilkins presided over the trial.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy's Shu Feng Hsu faces murder charge in death of baby Chloe Chen
Dave Chisnall is getting back to his best form after two recent wins on the European Tour (Steven Paston/PA) (PA Wire)

Dave Chisnall says the death of his mother had an impact on his darts career, but he is now ready to move on and win a first major title.

The 42-year-old was left heartbroken in February 2021 after his mum died and it took away his focus from the oche as a result.

He came out of the other side by winning the Belgian Open on the European Tour last September and started the 2023 campaign with an excellent victory in the Baltic Sea Open.

It was quite hard, it took me a long time to get over, Chisnall told the PA news agency ahead of this weekends European Darts Open in Leverkusen.

My beautiful mum sadly passed away this morning. I will miss her forever. Love you so much and I hope I make you proud everyday. pic.twitter.com/YjYFWnFCZp  Dave Chisnall (@ChizzyChisnall) February 1, 2021

I am still not over all that but you have just got to move on and take it and carry on with your life.

It was very difficult, not just for me, but for all my brothers. It was very difficult to get over.

We had (son) Parker, he was born in October, she has given us something. I had two other brothers who had kids around the same time so she has passed us down something.

I always wanted to win my first major for her, she was my biggest fan. When I won in Belgium that was for her, that was my first tournament win in two-and-a-half years, that was for her.

YOUR CHAMPION! 



Dave Chisnall's love affair with the European Tour continues!



 Gerwyn Price

 Martin Schindler

 Jonny Clayton

 Luke Humphries



What a route to glory for Chisnall, who lifts the inaugural Interwetten Baltic Sea Darts Open title in Kiel!  pic.twitter.com/kzqlIzMR9A  PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 26, 2023

She is looking down on me and will know I have won that one.

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Chisnall has been at the top end of the sport for the best part of a decade, but a major televised tournament has so far eluded him, with six final defeats.

His upturn in form will give him a chance of putting that right in 2023 but Chisnall believes one of the most prominent factors is luck.

Chizzy put his victory in Belgium down to the luck of the draw, but he was cursing his fortune in the recent UK Open, where not only did he draw Michael van Gerwen in the first round, he also had an unwanted visitor at the oche at a key moment.

You just need that luck and to get a good draw, he added. All draws are hard, but at the UK Open, you dont want to be playing Michael van Gerwen first.

I am still not over all that but you have just got to move on and take it and carry on with your life

Dave Chisnall

I played quite well against him, I was 6-5 down and I was going for double top and a fly flew in my ear. And after that I couldnt concentrate for three legs and I ended up being 9-5 down.

I got it back to 9-8 but it was too much. Its luck, I know I can win these tournaments, but so can everyone else.

Chisnall takes encouragement from how Chris Dobey and Andrew Gilding have won two of the televised majors so far this year against the odds and believes this is his time.

It gives you hope, he said. I have always said, these players, they are no mugs, they can play darts. And if you are not at your A-game they are going to beat you. They will hit big averages and you just have to top them.

The level has increased a lot, its different winners at different tournaments, its not just the Van Gerwens or the (Gary) Andersons. It is everybody who can win.

As soon as you start winning tournaments, they are like buses, thats what they say.

I just have got to get that first major under my belt and we can go from there. I am playing well, I think this year could be the one I win a major or two.

:: Dave Chisnall was promoting Viaplays exclusively live coverage of the PDC European Darts Open beginning this Friday from 12pm.
One of Venezuela's most wanted criminals, known as "El Conejo" (the rabbit), has been killed, the government announced Friday, shortly after authorities put a one-million-dollar bounty on his head.

Gomez Rodriguez was the head of a criminal gang, known by its chief's pseudonym, which operated in the central-northern state of Aragua.

According to a police source, Gomez Rodriguez owed his nickname to his prominent teeth.

"Carlos Enrique Gomez Rodriguez, known as 'El Conejo'... wanted for the crimes of terrorism, extortion, kidnapping, murder and other crimes, has been killed," said Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos in a statement broadcast on state television.

The minister did not divulge how he was killed but suggested it was related to a security forces operation that had lasted "several months" throughout the country but particularly in Aragua.

Security forces had also arrested 36 criminals and seized "16 weapons, war materials, portable radios, motorbikes and telephones," he said.

Gomez Rodriguez had been sought for more than a year, with authorities in February announcing the one million dollar bounty following an exchange of gunfire with police.

That sum is more than 186,000 times the minimum monthly salary in impoverished Venezuela.

In February 2022, another criminal leader, Carlos Luis Revette, was also killed. Authorities had a $500,000 bounty on his head.

Venezuela is, alongside Honduras, the most violent country in Latin America, with close to 11,000 violent deaths between 2021 and 2022, according to the independent Venezuelan Violence Observatory.

ba/pgf/lab/thm/bc/bgs
A rabid cat bit several residents of a Texas city before it died, officials said.

The City of Clyde Animal Control department was notified of the bites on Sunday, March 19, according to a news release. A Woodland neighborhood resident made the report.

Workers caught the cat and placed it in quarantine, officials said, and the animal died on March 21.

City officials said the cat was immediately sent to the Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonotic lab in Austin for testing. The critter tested positive for rabies on March 24.

The residents who were bitten by the cat have been referred to medical professionals for rabies treatment, officials said. Other residents are asked to avoid animals displaying unusual behavior  including animals that seem extra friendly.

Clyde Animal Control said it is trapping feral cats in the neighborhood in an effort to contain and control the spread of the rabies virus.

If you had any contact with feral cats in the Woodland neighborhood between March 8 and March 21, contact Terry Davis at 325-439-1847.

Clyde is about 135 miles southwest of downtown Fort Worth.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

In the U.S., the rabies virus is mostly found in wild animals, experts said.

How is rabies treated?

If you have been exposed to rabies, experts recommend postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).

PEP includes a dose of human rabies immune globulin and a rabies vaccine on the day you are exposed, followed by additional doses of the rabies vaccine on days 3, 7 and 14, according to the CDC.

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APTOPIX Palestinians Ramadan (Copyright 2023, The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The first daily fast of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began Thursday, as hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide enter a four-week period of worship.

The observance comes at a time when numerous countries and governments across the Middle East are taking tentative steps towards calming enduring conflicts and crises made more acute by the costly war in Ukraine and a devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria that killed over 52,000 people.

During the coming four weeks, hundreds of millions of Muslims will abstain from food and water from dawn to dusk, before gathering with family and friends for indulgent nighttime meals. According to Islam, fasting draws the faithful closer to God and reminds them of the suffering of the poor.

In Sudans capital, families prepare and sell culinary delights weeks in advance to mark the break of the fast each evening, a meal known as Iftar.

The food and drink of choice for nighttime feasts across households in the Islamic African nation include assida, a semolina-based flour dish, and a sugary fermented drink called, sweet bitter. Both are recipes that date back generations.

Those who cant afford dont have to pay, said Fatima Mohammed Hamid, who sells the food items from her small home on Tuti island, just north of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

In addition to fasting, charity giving is another of Islams five pillars. During Ramadan, mosques and charities regularly provide meals for the poor at long tables that sprawl out onto the street.

For Sudan, the holy season comes as the promise of a new political era approaches. The country has been steeped in political chaos since a coup ousted a western powersharing government in October 2021.

A new transitional government could be formed before the holy month draws to a close, as promised by the countrys ruling military and other political forces earlier this week. However, many prominent Sudanese factions reject the move. Amid the uncertainty, most find common ground in complaining about the rising cost of living.

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Everything (the ingredients) costs double what it did last year, said Hamid.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders pledged this week to lower tensions as Ramadan begins, following months of deadly violence in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. This year, the fasting period coincides with the Jewish festival of Passover, spurring concern about fresh flare-ups with large numbers of Jewish and Muslim faithful expected to pour into Jerusalems Old City.

From Gaza to Khartoum and Tunis to Sanaa, soaring prices are proving a further concern for those set to celebrate the occasion. Arab countries are continuing to suffer from the economic fallout of the war in Ukraine, with many reliant on grain imports from eastern Europe.

In Tunis once-bustling Bab al-Fellah market, rising costs have left shoppers unable to splurge on Ramadan food shopping as they might have in past years.

I have almost used up the 40 dinars (roughly $13) that my husband gave me and I bought only vegetables, a chicken and some spices, said a woman who identified herself only as Fatima B.

In war-torn Sanaa, the picture is bleaker still, with residents struggling to purchase even basic supplies. The countrys ruinous civil war, now entering its ninth year, has killed more than 150,000 people and pushed millions of Yemenis to the brink of famine.

I am not able to provide daily sustenance for the children, said Saleh al-Omrani, an unemployed resident from Sanaa. We had Ramadan in the good old days, but today there is no longer Ramadan.

Diplomats and leaders had expressed new hope for peace efforts in the days leading up to Ramadan, amid signs of warming relations between two of the regions rival superpowers, Iran and Saudi Arabia. The two are on opposing sides of the war in Yemen, and despite the flickers of warmth between them, sporadic fighting continues across that country. C lashes in Yemen killed at least 16 people earlier this week.

In southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, the destruction caused by last months earthquake poses perhaps the steepest challenge of all.

The quake destroyed or damaged hundreds of mosques, Turkish authorities say, leaving tens of thousands to pray in makeshift tents.

In northwestern Idlib province  Syrias last rebel enclave -- very few families still have the energy or resources to make the necessary preparations for Ramadan this year.

Abdul Qahar Zakou, a cafe owner from the province, said he will decorate his cafe despite the prevailing misery and do his best to create a festive atmosphere.

Despite all the odds, Ramadan will always have its own atmosphere, with a symbolism and spirituality that makes life easier, said Zakou.

Fasting is required for all healthy Muslims, with exemptions for those who are sick and for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Small children are not expected to fast.

Eating or drinking in public during the day is generally frowned upon in Muslim countries. Smoking and sexual intercourse are also not permitted during daylight hours.

Islam follows a lunar calendar, so Ramadan begins around a week and a half earlier each year. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the joyous Eid al-Fitr holiday, when children often receive new clothes and gifts.

- Associated Press writers Ghaith Alsayed in Idlib, Bouazza ben Bouazza in Tunis, Andrew Wilks in Istanbul, and Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, contributed to this report.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears decision to veto Senate Bill 150 is drawing fire from Kentucky Republicans and praise from Democrats and LGBTQ groups.

The omnibus bill combines a ban on gender-affirming care for minors  including surgeries as well as puberty blockers with a transgender bathroom ban in schools, strict regulations around what LGBTQ content is taught in schools and more.

Republicans, eager in their attempt to defeat Beshear in his bid for re-election, were quick to respond to the Friday veto by saying that the move will hurt the governor.

Is Andy Beshear the Governor of Kentucky or California? Republican Party of Kentucky spokesman Sean Southard said in a statement. Kentucky voters will have an opportunity this fall to rid our state of this far-left Governor and replace him with a Republican who will work to protect children. Once this campaign is over, today may very well be remembered as the day Andy Beshear lost his bid for re-election.

The Fairness Campaign, one of the most prominent LGBTQ rights organizations in the state, tweeted a victorious thank you graphic to Beshear styled with the colors of the transgender Pride flag.

Fairness Campaign Executive Director Chris Hartman called him Kentuckys most pro-equality governor.

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SB 150 will only lead to disaster and despair for transgender Kentucky kids and their families, Hartman wrote in a statement. Thats why thousands of Kentuckians sent messages opposing SB 150 and countless Kentucky doctors showed up in Frankfort to testify against it. We urge state lawmakers to read the governors veto message, listen to medical professionals, and sustain Governor Beshears veto.

The Kentucky Democratic Party said in a tweet that Beshear did the right thing.

Gov. Beshear did the right thing. SB 150 is the most extreme anti-LGBTQ bill in America. It gives big government more control over your familys lives, rips away parents rights, makes our children less safe and promotes hate, the group wrote.

Family Foundation Executive Director David Walls, whose organization pushed hard for the bill, said in a statement that the bill aligns state policy with the opinion that children identifying as transgender is invalid.

It is deeply troubling, but frankly not surprising, that Gov. Beshear has refused to protect Kentuckys children and their parents from these radical, politicized ideologies being pushed in education and in medicine. SB 150 will save the lives of Kentucky children by setting policy in alignment with the truth that every child is created as a biological male or female and deserves to be loved, treated with dignity, and accepted for who they really are.

GOP candidates for governor, jockeying for position in a crowded primary for the chance to beat Beshear, lined up to take shots as well.

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Kelly Craft released a joint statement with her lieutenant governor running mate, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville.

Time and time again, Governor Beshear has proven he is out of step with what Kentuckians are talking about at their kitchen tables: communication and engagement with their childrens schools. A Craft-Wise Administration will ensure our children are protected, make sure parents are heard, and empower teachers to focus on providing a world-class education that teaches our children how to think, not what to think, they said.

Wise also released his own statement, saying its a slap in the face to parents.

Its clear Governor Beshear cares more about woke ideologues and D.C. bureaucrats than parents and students here in Kentucky, Wise said. I look forward to the legislature overriding this veto, and protecting children from the irreparable harm of gender transition surgeries by making SB 150 law.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron, whos also running for governor, blasted the media for calling surgeries, hormones and puberty blockers gender-affirming care in a tweet. He also said the veto endangers childrens health and well-being.

(Its) the exact opposite of how we should support children experiencing gender dysphoria or mental health struggles. My administration will protect our youth from dangerous ideologies and defend Kentuckys values, Cameron said in a statement.

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, also a candidate for governor, weighed in with a statement: By vetoing this bill, Andy has shown his views more closely align with the radical far-left rather than that of Kentuckians. Gender reassignment surgeries for children and minors should not be allowed in Kentucky and teachers should have certain protections in the classroom when it comes to their own personal beliefs.

Frankfort Bureau Chief Tessa Duvall contributed to this report.
Gizelle Bryant (left) and Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton (right). Peacock/NBCUniversal

"Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" season three is streaming now on Peacock.

In the first episode, Gizelle Bryant tells Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton not to speak in Spanish.

Gizelle told Insider that she thought the "Real Housewives of Miami" stars were talking about her.

"Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" season three has only just premiered on Peacock, but already fans are criticizing one controversial moment in the first episode when Gizelle Bryant told Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton not to speak in Spanish when with the group.

As the Bravolebrities settled into their new digs in Thailand, "Real Housewives of Potomac" star Gizelle told her costars, who are Latina, "Okay, no. I have a rule: no Spanish."

When the "Real Housewives of Miami" stars said they regularly speak in "Spanglish," a combination of Spanish and English, Gizelle replied: "Not with the group."

Later, over dinner, Gizelle pulled Alexia and Marysol up again for speaking in Spanish, telling them: "We're not doing that, y'all. They're speaking Spanish."

When Marysol said that Gizelle's remarks "irked" her, Gizelle explained that her twin daughters, Angel and Adore, 16, often speak in Spanish at home and "talk about me," knowing she cannot understand. Gizelle then apologized for offending Alexia and Marysol.

But Gizelle's remarks have not gone down well with some viewers.

"Gizelle comment to the Miami women about speaking Spanish in front of her felt so ignorant and disguisting," one fan tweeted.

Speaking to Insider last week, Gizelle echoed what she told Alexia and Marysol at the dinner table in episode one, explaining: "So, I was having PTSD from my kids. My kids do that to me. They do it on purpose. They talk about me in Spanish because they know I don't understand."

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But she added: "I do respect that's a part of who they are, that's their culture, and that's how they communicate. So, once I understood that I was fine with it."

Despite the initial hiccup, it seems all is well between Gizelle, Alexia, and Marysol, and they became friends on the Thailand trip.

"I know them now, and I know if they've got something to say to me, they're going to say it in English," Gizelle said.

"Ultimate Girls Trip" season three also stars Gizelle's "Potomac" costar Candiace Dillard Bassett, former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Porsha Williams, Heather Gay and Whitney Rose from the "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," and Leah McSweeney from "New York City."

The first three episodes of "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" season three are streaming on Peacock now, with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursday.

Read the original article on Insider
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth announced their divorce Friday on Instagram. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)

Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth have called it quits after more than 11 years of marriage.

The two announced the news with a statement posted Friday to Witherspoon's Instagram, just days before they were to celebrate their 12th anniversary on Sunday.

"It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the statement said. "We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness, and mutual respect for everything we have created together."

The "Legally Blonde" star, 47, and the former talent agent, 52, married on March 27, 2011, in Ojai, just months after their engagement.

On Sept. 27, 2012, they welcomed son Tennessee James, who the ex-spouses wrote Friday would be "our biggest priority.". They said they also plan to focus on "our entire family as we navigate this next chapter."

In 2016 the actor founded the TV and film production company Hello Sunshine, which was behind several Witherspoon-led series including "Big Little Lies" and "The Morning Show." According to his LinkedIn profile, Toth has served as a Hello Sunshine founding board member since its creation.

Witherspoon's company sold for $900 million in August 2021.

The split from Toth will be the second divorce for Witherspoon. In 2008 she and ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, with whom she shares children Ava Elizabeth Phillippe and Deacon Phillippe, went their separate ways.

Toth and Witherspoon concluded their Friday statement requesting that fans respect "our family's privacy at this time."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Rege-Jean Page has been called the world's most handsome man. (Reuters)

Rege-Jean Page has admitted it was a surprise when scientists declared him the most handsome man in the world, but quipped: Ill take it!

The Bridgerton star, 34, was given the title earlier this year after scientists analysed some famous faces using the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi.

The method apparently measures physical perfection with widths, lengths and proportions, and Page came out top with a score of 93.65 per cent for his face.

Read more: Bridgerton breaks record as Netflix's most streamed English-language series

The star was quizzed about in during an appearance on ITVs Lorraine, with host Lorraine Kelly congratulating him - and his parents - on his looks, but saying he was also a very good actor and that mattered most.

Rege-Jean Page found fame in Bridgerton. (Netflix)

Page - who found fame starring as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings in the hit drama - laughed and looked bashful when the subject came up.

You use all of the colours on your palette when making your art," he said.

And Im glad to have that perception in there somewhere, Im sure its useful to someone somewhere."

He went on: Its news to me, its news to everyone else, but you know, Ill take it!

Lorraine Kelly told Rege-Jean Page to enjoy it. (Reuters)

Kelly said he should and later told the actor that he should "enjoy being the most beautiful man in the world".

Chuckling, he replied: "Allegedly!"

Read more: Rege-Jean Page responds to report claiming he wasn't cast in show because he's Black

"Well, scientists Rege!!" the presenter exclaimed, adding: "It wasn't just me!"

Other high scorers in the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi test included Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, who was second in the list with 93.53 per cent and US star Michael B Jordan, who had 93.46 per cent.

Watch: Rege-Jean Page admits to having 'horrendous coffee breath'
A beach-area favorite is planning to expand with a restaurant in Middletown this summer.

Taco Reho, which operates a food truck and restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, will be opening in the former location of Steak 'n Shake at 100 Sandhill Drive off of Middletown-Warwick Road. The Middletown mayor and council approved the plan March 6.

Middletown's Steak n Shake opened in 2018 but closed as the chain struggled because of the pandemic. The number of Steak n Shake locations fell from 626 in 2018 to 506 in 2022, according to a report by QSR, a restaurant industry magazine and website.

Taco Reho plans to open this summer in the former site of Steak 'n Shake at 100 Sandhill Drive, along Middletown-Warwick Road in Middletown, pictured here March 21, 2023.

The building, about 4,200 square feet, includes a drive-thru.

More Middletown development news:Judge dismisses Capano lawsuit against Middletown over the developer's apartment project

How Taco Reho got its start

Billy Lucas is the founder and one of the owners of Taco Reho, which is part of La Vida Hospitality, the management company for restaurants that include Crooked Hammock Brewery, which has locations in Middletown, Lewes and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

He developed the Taco Reho concept, inspired by his experiences eating the best street food in Los Angeles, said Kelly Repka, Taco Reho marketing manager.

As a roadie helping move equipment and set up the stage for musical performers, Lucas had the chance to cook for celebrities including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Michael Buble and the Jonas Brothers.

When he moved to Rehoboth, he started the Taco Reho food truck in 2014 with many of the same dishes he served to the stars.

Last year, he opened his first restaurant at 18784 Coastal Highway in Rehoboth, combining his love of cooking and music.

We will be updating the [Middletown] building to Taco Reho's distinct music-inspired branding  design elements paying homage to the greatest rock bands of all time, Repka said.

The color theme is black, white and red with wall art by local artists.

Taco Reho Middletown will also have an expanded bar area with the same iconic look and feel of the guitar bar in Rehoboth, as well as a stage for live music and a patio with an overhang for al fresco seating, Repka said.

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The southern New Castle County site was attractive because of the growth in the area and the chance to serve customers who are already familiar with the restaurant from their visits to the beach.

Taco Reho saw an opportunity to give the people of Middletown a different option  serving up fresh, fast, exciting food and an experience that could only be offered by such a unique brand, Repka said.

The management team plans to hire about 40 workers at the new restaurant.

Development north of Middletown:A Royal Farms is among 2 stores planned in southern New Castle County. We have details.

What's on the menu?

The menu will include the same lunch and dinner dishes offered in Rehoboth, but with an expanded cocktail list.

Taco Reho serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas called dillas, buffalo shrimp and hot dogs like their Danger Dog wrapped in bacon with black beans, shredded cheese, avocado, yellow mustard, chipotle mayo, queso fresco, pickled red onion, pico and cilantro.

All of the food is made fresh to order.

Just like Rehoboth, we will also have the industrys best tortilla press in-house for making fresh organic tortillas from Mexican heirloom corn kernels every day, Repka said.

Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, housing and development news. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Taco Reho expanding from Rehoboth site to Middletown. What to know
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made an impassioned speech Thursday that slammed efforts to ban books in the wake of a new report that found that challenges to books hit a record high last year.

Raskin, who responded to a Republican-supported measure regarding parental oversight in public schools, noted that the measure played into notorious attempts in history to ban books from classrooms and libraries.

The Democrat, in a speech on the House floor, cloaked shots at the Republican Party as he displayed a number of books targeted for bans, including Khaled Hosseinis The Kite Runner, Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and George Orwells 1984.

He noted the presence of the Taliban, which he described as a right-wing religious fundamentalist movement all about censorship and repressing womens control over their own bodies, in the pages of The Kite Runner.

He described Atwoods book, about a right-wing misogynist movement, and detailed the irony in conservatives attempts to censor 1984.

We need more politicians reading books in America and fewer politicians trying to censor books in America, Raskin said.

Raskin is very good at this pic.twitter.com/78tbwEEAd6  Acyn (@Acyn) March 23, 2023

Related...
Two House committee chairmen are asking the Defense Department to provide more information about the military records of congressional candidates that were released without their consent last year shortly before the midterm elections.

Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., of the Oversight Committee, and Mike Rogers, R-Ala., of the Armed Services Committee, sent a letter Thursday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin seeking documents and answers about what led to the unauthorized releases.

They said a previous response from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall was insufficient.

This response is late, threadbare, and unresponsive. It omits obviously pertinent information about the nature of the requests that lead to the improper releases of servicemember records," they wrote. "We have yet to hear from any other service regarding this matter."

Comer and Rogers asked for a list of congressional candidates and those elected to Congress from Jan. 1, 2021, to Jan. 3, 2023, whose records were improperly released from any service without consent.

They also requested the identities of those involved in the approval process, as well as any details about punitive action taken against them.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the letter.

In October, Politico reported on military records of Jennifer-Ruth Green, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for a House seat in Indiana. The story included a detail about an allegation that Green was sexually assaulted when she served in Iraq. The Air Force later acknowledged the wrongful release of the information, according to a report from The Hill at the time that included a statement from an Air Force spokesperson.

In a joint statement last week, Comer and Rogers said the Defense Department had failed to protect the private information of our servicemembers and called for responses from other services after the Air Force revealed more candidates had been affected.

Comer and Rogers sent the letter after sensitive personal information about some lawmakers and congressional staff members was posted online following a "significant data breach" of DC Health Link, the health insurance marketplace for Washington, D.C.

Data about more than 1,000 people with job information indicating they work for the House or the Senate was alleged to have been exposed on a database.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
An interview with then-President Donald Trump recorded in 2018 appears to undermine his defence in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

They werent taken out of campaign finance  thats a big thing, Mr Trump said at the time, regarding the money paid to the porn actor for her to remain silent about an affair she claims they had in 2006.

The $130,000 payment was made by then-Trump fixer Michael Cohen in the final days of the 2016 campaign. Cohen later spent time behind bars as a result of charges that stemmed from the payment.

They didnt come out of the campaign, they came from me, Mr Trump said in 2018 during the interview at the White House.

Cohen was reimbursed for the funds, which were logged as a legal fee in the Trump business records.

The Manhattan District Attorney is now investigating if Mr Trump falsified business records.

Lawyer Ron Filipkowski shared the clip on Twitter.

Seems like Trumps story has changed since 2018 when he was asked about the payments in the Stormy case: They werent taken out of campaign finance - thats a big thing. They didnt come out of the campaign, they came from me. pic.twitter.com/BY6vCyVow2  Ron Filipkowski  (@RonFilipkowski) March 23, 2023

Seems like Trumps story has changed since 2018 when he was asked about the payments in the Stormy case, he said.

At the time of this interview, he was only worried about federal campaign finance violations. He thought he was in the clear with state law. So back then he emphasized he reimbursed with his money, not campaign money. Problem is that doesnt work now, he added.

The watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington wrote: Well, heres Donald Trump saying he used his personal money for the Stormy Daniels payment, which kept it off his campaign finance reports. He may regret this interview now.

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Another resurfaced video from 2018 shows former New York City Mayor and Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani blowing apart the former presidents supposed new evidence in the case.

Mr Giuliani complicated Mr Trumps defence in May of that year when he appeared on Fox News seeming to admit that Mr Trump was aware of the payments to women who claimed that they had had affairs with him.

He said at the time that Mr Trump did know the general arrangement and that Cohen was reimbursed for paying off Stormy Daniels with funds being funnelled through a law firm. Cohen is now one of his former boss staunchest critics.

Mr Trump rejected this notion at the time, saying that Mr Giuliani started yesterday. Hell get his facts straight.

Id like to call, as a surprise witness for the prosecution, 2018 Rudy Giuliani, who BURIES Trumps defense, Mr Filipkowski tweeted.

They funnelled it through a law firm, then the president repaid it, Mr Giuliani said at the time. When I heard Cohens retainer while he was doing no work, I said, thats how (Trumps) repaying it.

Mr Trump is now arguing that a 2018 letter from Cohens lawyer, which didnt stop Cohen from being charged for making illegal campaign contributions to the 2016 Trump campaign, shows that hes not guilty in connection to the Manhattan DAs investigation into those same payments.

Mr Trump took to Truth Social to share the letter from February 2018, which Cohens lawyer at the time sent to the Federal Election Commission, saying that Cohen using a $130,000 Home Equity Line of Credit to pay Ms Daniels, a porn actor, to remain silent regarding a 2006 affair she claims to have had with Mr Trump was a private transaction using Cohens own money.

Ms Danielss real name is Stephanie Clifford.

Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed Mr Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly, lawyer Stephen Ryan wrote at the time.

Mr Trump said the letter was totally exculpatory and that the DA probe must end.

But the Department of Justice did indict Cohen, meaning the letter wasnt exculpatory in the end, as Mr Trump claims.

Cohen was indicted for making an illegal campaign contribution and conspiring to violate campaign finance laws. He said in court that he made the payment on Mr Trumps behalf and on his instruction.

The former fixer has shared evidence showing that Mr Trump and his firm paid him back, meaning that it wasnt a private transaction.
The European Central Bank is pushing Austrian bank Raiffeisen to exit the Russian market, Reuters reported on March 24.

Raiffeisen is reportedly being urged by the European Central Bank to devise an exit strategy for winding down its operations in Russia, according to five anonymous sources cited by Reuters. This exit strategycan entail the disposal or shutdown of Raiffeisen's Russian branch of operations.

A Raiffeisen spokesperson told Reuters that the bank was "expediting" its assessment of future business prospects in Russia. Additionally, some Austrian officials see the European Central Bank's push as "unwarranted foreign meddling," Reuters said.

On Feb. 18, Reuters reported that the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) was investigating Raiffeisen for its activities in Russia.

Representatives from the bank confirmed to Reuters that the OFAC had contacted it in January 2023 to seek clarification on its payments business and related processes, in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The OFAC requested a reply by February 2023 but the bank's lawyers have negotiated a push back, with information tranches to be sent in early April, May, and June.

The bank said in its statement to Reuters that it is cooperating fully with the OFAC.

As Austria's second-largest bank lender, Raiffeisen plays a significant role in Russia's financial system, and is one of only two foreign banks classified as "systemically important" by the Russian central bank.

This underscores the bank's importance to the Russian economy, particularly in the face of extensive Western sanctions. Despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Raiffeisen has continued to operate in Russia.

In 2022, the bank generated a net profit of 3.8 billion euros, with 2 billion euros of that coming from Russia alone. Russians have entrusted more than 20 billion euros to the bank.




Armor

Carlos Valdes and Mae Whitman in <i>Up Here</i> Credit - Sarah ShatzHulu

The Broadway-to-Hollywood pipeline has never been more active, and its easy to see why. Streaming platforms need content. Theater needs revenue streams. Hence the glut of uneven-at-best musical adaptations on platforms like Disney+ and Netflix. But bringing stage and screen talent together to create original stories tailored to streaming can yield more inspired results, as Hulus Up Here so endearingly demonstrates. Scripted by Dear Evan Hansen playwright Steven Levenson and sitcom vet Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (New Girl, The Carmichael Show), with Thomas Kail (Disney+s Hamilton) in the directors chair and songs by Disney stalwarts Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the series, which debuts on March 24, infuses the magic of Broadway into what might otherwise have been a mundane romantic comedy.

Mae Whitman stars as Lindsay, a habitual good girl with dreams of becoming a writer, who scrounges up the courage to dump her milquetoast fiance, flee their sleepy Vermont hometown, and move to Manhattan to build a more exciting life, in the fateful year of 1999. While her glamorous roommate is hooking up with a stranger in a bar bathroom, Lindsayclad in squeaky PVC pants and eager to pass as a real New Yorkermeets Miguel (Carlos Valdes), a sensitive finance guy struggling to fit in with fratty colleagues. They click, but things get complicated fast.

From left: Katie Finneran, John Hodgman, Sophia Hammons, Mae Whitman, Carlos Valdes, Emilia Suarez, Andrea Burns, and Scott Porter in Up Here Patrick HarbronHulu

The cycle of breakups and makeups that follows is rom-com boilerplate, and thus the eight-episode season drags a bit. What elevates Up Here are the surreal musical numbers, which illuminate why Lindsay and Miguel keep sabotaging their relationship. Each surrounded by a chorus of critical people from their pastparents, rivals, exestheyre swept up in showtunes that cast doubt on the possibility of ever really knowing another person and R&B songs about why theyll never fit in. Offbeat humor and earthy lyrics (on the plastic pants: What if theyre worth contracting yeast infections in?) ward off any whiff of saccharine. Like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend with a neurotypical twist, Up Here understands that musical sequences are opportunities for introspectionand that nothing can make a brain go haywire like the vicissitudes of love.
You could call Lisa Guillette the "great disruptor." In her 20 years at the helm of Foster Forward, Guillette has sought to create a nimble and innovative agency that serves as a counterpoint to the highly bureaucratic foster care system. From Foster Forwards East Providence offices, Guillette and 15 full-time staff members are constantly brainstorming ways to empower lives impacted by foster care.

Where weve seen barriers, we havent sat and waited for them to be addressed, Guillette said. Weve really sought out: Where is the power to make the change? And, how can we be the voices to bring about that change? Weve been able to solve some pretty intractable problems, and thats really cool for a relatively small organization.

The stakes are enormous. Foster children are among societys most vulnerable. As of Feb. 1, there were 1,552 children in Rhode Islands foster care system, according to the state Department of Children, Youth and Families. Last year, 77 aged out of the system. Rather than perpetuate the status quo, Guillette and her team are upending the way in which these kids whove experienced trauma from abuse and neglect are helped.

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Lisa Guillette, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Foster Forward, stands outside an East Providence property that will soon house young people who have aged out of the foster care system.

Whats it going to take to disrupt the usual care thats creating really bad downstream outcomes? Guillette said, citing the preponderance of foster youths who face homelessness, addiction, incarceration and mental health issues.

Building stability with mentors and a nationally recognized jobs program

Guillettes dogged determination has led to numerous initiatives. To help meet the need for long-term and stable relationships, she created the Real Connections mentoring program. Foster Forward trains adults who are matched with teens  and those aging out of the system  in order to provide guidance and friendship.

Guillette herself became a mentor to a high school junior years ago. The young woman is now attending law school.

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We squander the talents of these kids because were not seeing them and providing them with opportunities, Guillette said.

She and her team also developed Works Wonders, a 12-week program that prepares foster youth to enter the workforce and retain their jobs. Each year 100 young people enter this program, receiving classroom instruction at Foster Forward as well as on-the-job training with business partners in the community. Rhode Islands Department of Labor and Training pays the participants for the hours they work.

In 2018, Works Wonders was recognized by Harvard Universitys Kennedy School with the Innovation In American Government award. Since then, this public-private partnership has been replicated in Nashville, Tennessee, and Indianapolis, Indiana.

We want this Works Wonders model to be the nationally preferred model for workforce development for young people whove experienced foster care, said Guillette. We want to continue to replicate it in other jurisdictions.

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'I want to save a life': Former foster kids help plan and implement programs

One strategy Guillette has woven into many of Foster Forwards programs is to involve young adults whove experienced foster care. Their firsthand knowledge is invaluable in shaping and implementing many initiatives.

Take Joshua Guzman and Taylor Lee. Now in their 20s, each is the product of the foster care system. Guzman was just 6 years old when he was placed in foster care. He moved from home to home and for a couple of years even lived on the streets, where he struggled with drug addiction.

Foster Forward's executive director, Lisa Guillette, center, with Taylor Lee, right, and Joshua Guzman, former foster children who now serve as youth leaders with the agency, helping to shape its programs.

Lisas like my mom, he said. I love that woman. Shes the reason Im here today. Foster Forward took me off the streets, basically, and showed me theres a better way. The number-one thing I like about them is they never give up on you. They see youve got potential. Theyll do everything and anything they can to help.

Guzman, whos earning his GED at Foster Forward, is a youth leader at the agency. Hes an integral part of the Recruitment Squad, a new initiative that targets youths who have fallen through the cracks.

Im here because I know that there are other kids out there who have been through what Ive been through, maybe 10 times worse, said the 25-year-old. I want to save a life. Thats why Im here every day, because Im willing to change someones life, like they changed mine.

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Lee, now a certified nursing assistant, is also a youth leader at Foster Forward. Shes a co-instructor in the Works Wonders program and is a member of the Recruitment Squad.

Lee was two weeks shy of her 17th birthday when she was placed in foster care.

Things were fine at home, she said. Then, out of nowhere, things went left. It took a lot of getting used to. I was really defiant.

For Lee, Foster Forward has come to represent stability and a permanency that foster kids typically dont have.

When youre in the foster care system, one of the most traumatic things for us is that you move from place to place to place," she said. "People come and go, and you constantly lose your support system.

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Addressing the greatest need for those leaving foster care: Housing

Now Guillette is tackling what may be the biggest challenge to creating stability in young lives: housing.

Statistically, about a quarter of the people who leave foster care end up homeless at least once in the first year, she said.

The severe shortage of affordable rental units in Rhode Island has made it nearly impossible for young people aging out of foster care to find a place to live. Guillettes answer? Make Foster Forward a landlord by buying properties they could rent exclusively to former foster youth. Through grants and state funding, Foster Forward has so far bought three multifamily properties (in Pawtucket and East Providence), with a total of nine units. The young renters are able to use their federally funded housing vouchers to help pay their leases while Foster Forward ensures they receive the supportive services they need to live successfully on their own.

Her vision of providing enough housing could soon get a significant boost, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership. While the details are still under wraps, Foster Forward  along with three other agencies  will soon close on a three-acre property that could eventually bring 160 more affordable housing units to the state. Twenty of those units would be set aside for youths leaving foster care.

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Foundations for success: Diversified revenue, committed leadership

From housing to replicating the Works Wonders program, Guillette has steadily expanded and diversified Foster Forwards revenue streams to ensure the agency can continue providing its top-rate services.

What uniquely defines us as a nonprofit in this space is that were trying to get the two-fer, she explained. How do we activate the most innovative, the most successful, the most client-driven programs and get to the results that were hoping for the population we serve? And, how do we do it in a way that sets us up for success in perpetuity?

She credits the agencys vast impact to the amazing work and support of Foster Forwards staff and board of trustees.

She is tremendously respected by the board and the team members at Foster Forward, said longtime board member John Conforti. She skillfully combines strategic decision-making with that caring. Conforti, who is the chief financial officer for Ocean State Job Lot, added: She has a strong track record of being a trusted steward of every dollar raised. She simply respects every dollar and how its used.

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Helping Sonya Morris, left, with some shopping at Foster Forward's Community Storefront in Pawtucket are Melanie Borges, center, and Grace DaVila. Borges volunteers at the store that was a crucial resource for her when she took in a foster child in 2018 with only a few hours' notice.

Community Storefront provides free clothing, toys and more for foster families

Conforti, the father of two biological sons and an adopted foster child, also helped make another of Guillettes dreams come true: the opening of a Community Storefront where foster families and those aging out of the system can find free clothing, toys, books, household items and more. The 4,000-square-foot space in Pawtucket is owned and subsidized by the retail giant.

Ocean State Job Lot is very proud to be able to provide that space to Foster Forward in a way that becomes more and more meaningful as more people use it, he said.

The storefront has been a lifesaver for parents like Melanie Borges. Borges vividly remembered getting a call from a caseworker in 2018 saying they had an 8-year-old girl who needed a home. The ink on her fostering license wasnt even dry, she said. Two hours later, the girl was brought to her house with only the clothing on her back. The caseworker told Borges about the Foster Forward storefront. There she not only found clothes for the young girl, she also met a community that supported her and the child in multiple ways.

There was a period of time where I thought: we dont survive without Foster Forward, said Borges, who legally adopted the girl five years ago. Shes pretty amazing, she said about her daughter.

For the last several years, Borges has also volunteered weekly at the store. Foster Forward is the one agency that directly supports the child and family, Borges said. The services they provide are meaningful to us families.

Melanie Borges works the counter at Foster Forward's Community Storefront, which is owned and subsidized by Ocean State Job Lot.

That sentiment is echoed by Guzman and Lee.

Right now, where I am in my life, its a dream, Guzman said. I would never have imagined myself being here back in the day. Not a lot of people get to see the change from being a drug addict, to sobering up, to living life as a regular human being and being respectful to others.

Lee added: If I ever have an issue, I can talk to Lisa. She is literally phenomenal. Shes a wonder woman.

And that may be Guillettes superpower: her tenacity in tackling major issues on the macro level while always remaining laser-focused on the individuals she serves.

It might be a small organization, said Conforti. But I believe what we accomplish is strategically significant in many ways. Thats a credit to Lisa and to the team thats in place. Theyre very passionate about the mission.

 Patricia Andreu, a freelance journalist living in Providence, writes Women In Action, a periodic column. Reach her at WomenInActionRI@outlook.com and follow her on Twitter: @ri_women.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI foster care innovator Lisa Guillette is gaining national notice
Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Rep. Ilhan Omar was recently ousted from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over past remarks construed by critics as anti-Semitic.

Omar is the first Somali-American member of Congress, the first woman of color to represent Minnesota and one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress.

Her current net worth is a matter of some dispute.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, 40, the U.S. Representative from Minnesotas 5th congressional district, has never shied away from controversy. However, comments she had previously made about Israel were referenced by Republicans as a reason for her recent ousting from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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Omar was removed on Feb. 2, with the vote being 218-211 along partisan lines. Republicans gestured toward comments she made in 2019 and 2021 that were construed by critics as anti-Semitic; she referred to Israel as an apartheid state, and in 2011 compared the United States and Israel with Hamas and the Taliban  a move which offended even some of her Democratic colleagues, USA Today reported.

Instead of acting contrite over her removal, Rep. Omar lashed out at the Republican-controlled Congress and claimed she was being silenced, according to USA Today.

This is far from her first scuffle with the GOP, though members of her own party called her out for those comments as well. Omars past (and frequent) public clashes with former President Donald Trump also made headlines.

Ilhan Omar at a Glance

In January 2019, she became the first Somali-American member of Congress and the first woman of color to represent Minnesota. Along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, she is one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress. But it was a long journey for her to get there  Omar first came to the U.S. as a refugee in the 1990s. GOBankingRates explored her political life and finances to find out how she went from refugee to congresswoman.

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Birthdate: Oct. 4, 1982

Net worth: Disputed

Primary source of income: U.S. congressional salary

Career highlight: First Somali-American member of Congress

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Ilhan Omars Net Worth: Disputed

According to a financial disclosure report filed by Omar in May 2019, she had no assets at that time. She owed between $15,001 and $50,000 in student loans, and had a car loan from Toyota for $10,000 to $15,000, leaving her with a negative net worth ranging from -$25,001 to -$65,000, per OpenSecrets.

In more recent years, her net worth has often been disputed. In a recent 2021 financial disclosure examined by Fox News, it is indicated that Omars disclosure does not appear to list any of the congresswomans personal bank accounts, despite this being required by federal law. Four of the five line items listed under Assets and Unearned Income' belong to her spouse, Tim Mynett, partner at political consulting firm eStreet Group.

Omars campaign paid eStreet Group $3.7 million over the 2020 cycle, according to campaign filings, contributing four-fifths of political payments to her husbands firm during the election cycle, Fox News reported. The outlet also disclaimed that it is entirely possible Omar does not have a personal bank account matching the $5,000 reporting threshold.

Omar recently also inked a significant book deal with HarperCollins, according to Forbes, worth an estimated $100,000 or more. However, as her agent claimed, Omar has not personally profited from the book, as yet, due to the advance having been offered to her co-author, Rebecca Paley. Any details surrounding said book deal (for This Is What America Looks Like) were also absent from her financial disclosures for that year.

Any advance for the book went to the congresswomans collaborator and not to the congresswoman (per House Ethics guidelines), and she has not earned any money from the book, said Steve Ross, Omars agent, per Forbes. Anything else you hear about her benefiting financially from the book is groundless  and erroneous  speculation.

Not everyone is happy with this potential lack of financial transparency, however. Attorney Paul Kamenar of the National Legal and Policy Center believed book deals should be disclosed. The book contract in and of itself is an asset, Kamenar said, as detailed by Forbes. Its one that hasnt necessarily realized its value, but its nevertheless intellectual property and one that should be reported for that reason alone.

Ilhan Omars 2020 Reelection Campaign Funds: $5.8 Million

Omars campaign committee raised around $5.8 million in her successful 2020 race, per data compiled by both OpenSecrets.org and FollowTheMoney.org.

Ilhan Omars Political Journey

Omar was born in Somalia, and fled the countrys civil war with her family when she was 8 years old. She spent four years at a refugee camp in Kenya before immigrating to the U.S. in the 1990s. Prior to her run for elected office, Omar was a community educator at the University of Minnesota, a policy fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a senior policy aide for the Minneapolis City Council.

She was elected as Minnesota House representative for District 60B in 2016. During her time in this role, she served as assistant minority leader and was assigned to three house committees: Civil Law & Data Practices Policy, Higher Education & Career Readiness Policy and Finance, and State Government Finance. She was elected to represent Minnesotas fifth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2019.

Since becoming a congresswoman, Omar has become known for her progressive views, which include abolishing ICE, implementing Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and establishing tuition-free college opportunities.

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Michelle Tompkins contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Rich Is Congresswoman Ilhan Omar?
Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, center, arrives at U.S. District Court in downtown L.A. with his team of attorneys. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

In their final words to jurors who will decide the fate of suspended Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, federal prosecutors and the lawmaker's defense attorney detailed sharply conflicting portraits of the man and the case against him.

To Assistant U.S. Atty. Lindsey Greer Dotson, Ridley-Thomas was a career politician who savvily conspired with a USC dean to obtain a slew of benefits for his troubled son in exchange for help with coveted Los Angeles County business. There was no explicit agreement between Ridley-Thomas and the USC dean, Marilyn Flynn, according to the prosecutor, but winks and nods."

He leveraged his power to extract privileges for his son, Dotson said. Public officials do not get to monetize their public service. As a politician, you work for us, you work for the taxpayer.

To lead defense attorney Daralyn Durie, however, the charges against her client were the fruit of a sloppy investigation, one that saw crimes where none existed and one that jumped to conclusions before turning over every stone.

Everything that happened at USC was legal, Durie told jurors.

She noted that the L.A. County votes at issue in the case were long-running projects that Ridley-Thomas publicly backed and assigned multiple staffers to work on. The projects  for a probation training program, a reentry facility and a remote mental health clinic  were central elements of his policy agenda.

Nobody would think he needed to be bribed to do it, Durie said.

The 19 counts against Ridley-Thomas include conspiracy, bribery, and honest services mail and wire fraud. If convicted, the 68-year-old could spend decades in prison. Jurors wont begin deliberations until Friday after the government completes its final arguments.

The allegations of the government center on a period from 2017 to 2018 when Ridley-Thomas allegedly conspired with Flynn, then the dean of USCs social work program, to obtain benefits for his son  a scholarship, admission to graduate school, a professors job and a donation to a nonprofit.

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At the time, the program was struggling financially, and Ridley-Thomas son, Sebastian, was a state Assembly member facing a still-confidential sexual harassment investigation.

The defendant was in a unique position: He could come to both their rescue at the same time, Dotson told jurors.

Dotson directed jurors to a winter 2018 email in which Flynn sent an extremely important request for a contract amendment. Ridley-Thomas replied, Your wish is my command, and blind-copied his son.

Next, the email was forwarded to Ridley-Thomas' staff. Hes advising his staff to do certain things, Dotson told jurors. Thats an official act.

Among the benefits Ridley-Thomas received: routing $100,000 from his campaign account through USC to a nonprofit run by his son.

Dotson said that it would be easy to donate money directly to his sons nonprofit, but that Ridley-Thomas had to hide his tracks.

Hes got to funnel the money and clean his connection, Dotson said, reminding jurors that an earlier donation from Ridley-Thomas to his son's nonprofit was rejected after a parent nonprofit objected to the nepotistic optics. Dotson invoked a geographic analogy: If Im going to drive from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, Im not going to drive through Bakersfield.

After the money arrived, Ridley-Thomas messaged his son, My piece is done, with a fist bump emoji.

A linchpin of the government's case is now-L.A. Mayor Karen Bass' full tuition scholarship and Flynn's comments on it. In a 2017 email, Flynn had described her plan to offer Sebastian Ridley-Thomas a scholarship and said she did the same for Karen Bass  full scholarship for our funds.

Its not rocket science what Marilyn Flynn is looking for here, Dotson said, laying out a simple plan to curry favor with public officials for government contracts.

But Durie highlighted that then-U.S. Rep. Bass was never charged over the email. If Bass was not a criminal, the same should hold true for her client. If the email was true, it means Karen Bass, the current mayor of Los Angeles, would be a criminal.

Durie also pointed to the for our funds as a typo  that Flynn meant from our funds. One slide shown in court compiled all of Flynn's typos in emails that jurors saw  misspelled words, hastily written messages.

Dean Flynn was like 80 years old, which is super impressive, Durie said. But her typing skills, much like her financial management skills, were not her strong point.

A long-running effort of the defense has been to chip away at the prosecutions case by laying into the credibility of the lead investigator, FBI Special Agent Brian Adkins. Throughout the trial, several witnesses who worked at L.A. County testified that they werent questioned by the FBI, and Durie got Adkins to acknowledge that emails at L.A. County werent subpoenaed during the investigation.

This is a criminal case. If you are going to bring charges, you better be sure that you are right  and you better do your homework, Durie said.

The defense attorney pointed out shifts in Adkins' testimony: that he initially said he reviewed more than 400,000 documents in the case, then said either he or other agents reviewed them. Durie reminded jurors of an episode during Adkins' testimony when she cross-examined him, and the lawyer appeared to identify an error in his timeline over whether Sebastian Ridley-Thomas was interviewed in the sexual harassment investigation.

This whole case is about timing, Durie said, adding, That makes it really important not to get it mixed up.

Durie pointed to other lapses: Investigators seemed incurious about how the county government worked and even misstated the nature of the items that make up the quo in the quid pro quo  two of the three items were studies in which further research would be done for supervisors, not contracts per se.

Who did the government present to you as witnesses? By and large, they brought you people from USC," Durie told jurors.

A centerpiece of the government's case is a summer 2017 meeting with Ridley-Thomas, which Flynn later memorialized in a letter. The letter was hand-delivered to Ridley-Thomas' office, and it outlined Flynn's requests of the politician regarding county business.

Dotson said the letter was proof positive of Flynn and Ridley-Thomas mixing Sebastian's extraordinary benefits at USC with county business.

Durie cast doubt on the letter: Someone found that letter, saw that it had been hand-delivered, and thought, Aha!'

Instead, Durie said, the multi-page letter was hand-delivered because of particularly sensitive content: a demographic breakdown of the members of a research initiative on homelessness. The letter noted harshly that the committee was largely white and had no members with "lived experience," which jeopardized the legitimacy of the research.

Prosecutors situated the sexual harassment allegations against Sebastian Ridley-Thomas  and the need to keep the brewing scandal quiet  as a driving force in the conspiracy. But Durie, in a voice that was noticeably calmer and slower than her argument, wondered aloud if jurors had friends or relatives whove been accused of misconduct.

Mark Ridley-Thomas is on trial, Durie said. Hes certainly not on trial for anything his son did.

In her final lines to the jury, Durie issued a plea.

I ask you to return this man to his work, to his home, to his community and, on every charge, render a verdict of not guilty.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Criticism from human rights watchdogs mounted on Friday over the alleged brutality of French police in handling protests opposed to President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform.

French authorities arrested more than 450 people on Thursday in the most violent day of demonstrations since the start of the year against the bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

In the days leading up to Thursday's protests, rights groups had expressed worries over what they termed "arbitrary" detentions and the excessive use of force by police.

But security officials have defended their actions, saying they are responding to violent rioters and anarchist groups who frequently infiltrate French demonstrations to provoke clashes.

France's Human Rights League has accused the authorities of "undermining the right of citizens to protest by making disproportionate and dangerous use of public force".

"The authoritarian shift of the French state, the brutalisation of social relations through its police, violence of all kinds and impunity are a major scandal," the league's president Patrick Baudouin said on Friday.

The Council of Europe -- the continent's leading human rights watchdog -- warned that sporadic acts of violence could not justify "excessive use of force by agents of the state".

Rights groups have raised concerns over the repeated use by police of "kettling", also called "trap and detain" in the United States, a crowd-control tactic consisting of cordoning off protesters in a small area.

They have sounded the alarm after reports from recent protests of police detaining foreign schoolchildren, firing teargas at kettled protesters, and even hurting a man so badly he had to have a testicle amputated.

- Teenagers, jogger detained -

Macron's government on Thursday last week used a controversial executive power to adopt the pensions bill without a parliamentary vote, sparking spontaneous protests in major cities.

In the days since, videos of police actions that appeared on social media appearing to show police knocking over or hitting demonstrators.

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Human Rights Watch told AFP it was very concerned about "what appears to be abusive police practices".

They echoed similar "abusive crowd control and anti-riot tactics" during the anti-government "Yellow Vest" movement in 2018-2019 during Macron's previous term in office, said the group.

"The French authorities have apparently not drawn lessons from this or reviewed their police crowd control policies and practices," HRW's France director Benedicte Jeannerod said.

Critics have denounced police carrying out sweeping "preventive" detentions, saying even blameless passersby have been caught up in their dragnet.

In one instance on Thursday night last week, two 15-year-old Austrians on a school trip were among those kettled by police, Liberation newspaper reported.

The teenagers, who had been trying to find their host families, spent the night in jail before their embassy intervened.

A man out jogging was detained the same night.

He told France Inter radio he was booked on allegations ticked at random on the charge sheet, and not released until the following afternoon.

While the security forces detained 292 people that night, 283 of them were freed without charge.

- 'View to commit violence' -

Macron on Friday condemned the overnight violence and said security forces had worked "in an exemplary manner".

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the police had responded to "troublemakers, often from the far left", who had caused 441 police to be injured.

AFP saw suspected anarchists and other protesters setting fire to rubbish, smashing shop windows and launching stones and fireworks at security forces.

Darmanin said that 11 internal inquiries had been opened into alleged police brutality in the past week.

"It is possible that, individually, police, often because they are tired, commit acts inconsistent with what they were taught," he said.

In one incident on Monday, a woman complained that a member of a motorbike unit hit her with a truncheon while she was caught against a wall in Paris, a source following the case told AFP.

In another, earlier this year, police on January 19 beat a man so hard with a truncheon that he had to have a testicle amputated, his lawyer told AFP.

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez insisted earlier this week there had been no "unjustified" or "preventive" arrests. But he said security forces did detain people from groups constituted "with a view to commit violence".

He defended the police's motorbike unit, known as BRAV-M, which critics have called to be disbanded, as being one "particularly well adapted to dispersing" such groups.

Right groups have long accused French police of brutality and racism, and say internal investigations seem to result in few sanctions.

burs-ah/jj
The family of Richard Matus Jr., who is counted among the record-breaking number of deaths in Riverside County jails last year, has sued the sheriff's department, alleging it failed to provide him with adequate medical treatment, then illegally misreported information to state officials in a scheme to avoid lawsuits.

The suit filed Thursday in federal court seeks unspecified damages for several alleged civil rights violations and includes a claim that Sheriff Chad Bianco's harsh public statements after Matus' death amount to harassment.

The sheriff's department did not respond to a request for comment, and a county spokesperson said officials had not been served with the lawsuit and could not comment.

Among the suit's claims is that the sheriff's department schemed to falsify required reports to the state Department of Justice, misclassifying the incarcerated who died as having been sentenced when, in fact, none of them had been, in hope to prevent subsequent lawsuits.

"All men and women who died in the custody of the Riverside County Sheriffs Department were pretrial detainees  and what is clear is that the county, the sheriffs department, Sheriff Bianco and his subordinates were deliberately indifferent towards their safety and protection," said Denisse Gastelum, the lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of Matus' mother, Lisa Matus, and his two children, ages 14 and 10.

Evidence gathered for the lawsuit shows that in some cases the sheriff's department is daily doing only two of the 24 hourly safety checks of each cell required by law, Gastelum said during a press conference Friday.

"The jails are being run like street corners, evidence is showing," she said. "In what's supposed to be a secured facility, we're hearing people say: 'Heroin is in cell one, fentanyl in cell seven.' Who is watching the shop?"

In effect, Gastelum said, the incarcerated are running these facilities instead of the sheriff's department, to deadly effect.

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She revealed new details about two other deaths in jails:

Gastelum said security footage showed Kaushal Niroula, who was transgender, was strangled by her cellmate while other inmates ran in fear from the scene. She lay dead, Gastelum said, for an hour and fifteen minutes before guards at the jail acted on word from an inmate that Niroula needed help. Niroula's cellmate, previously convicted sex offender Rodney Ronald Sanchez, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 75 years to life.

In another case, Gastelum said, a man who had exhibited suicidal behavior and was in a safety cell died after ingesting a pencil, a toothbrush and two plastic bags of soap, despite the fact he was supposed to be monitored.

"I've been doing this for 13 years," Gastelum said. "My expert witnesses and I have never seen anything like this. They have incompetent staff. And Bianco doesn't care."

Fight this to the end

The Matus family is the first among seven who are preparing to file nearly identical suits against the sheriff's department in the coming months.

Richard and his brother Raymond Matus were charged as codefendants in a 2018 attempted murder and robbery case. They had been incarcerated in the county's jail system ever since, with Richard Matus serving as his own attorney after numerous delays to the case reaching a trial courtroom.

On Aug. 11, Lisa Matus received a call from Raymond Matus, who told her Richard had been found dead in his cell. Raymond Matus said he had been questioned by deputies in the jail about whether his brother had any medical conditions, to which he said no. Deputies told him his brother had died but did not notify relatives outside the facility.

Lisa Matus then faced a series of challenges confirming if the worst was true, ultimately requiring a county judge to order the sheriff's department to provide her with Richard's possessions and legal materials he kept in his cell pertinent to her surviving son's ongoing case. She was not permitted to see Richard Matus' remains until his burial two months after his death.

The sheriff's department has since released scant information, saying Matus was found around 11:30 p.m. unresponsive in his cell at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, and was pronounced dead around 12:15. The department's medical examiner has ruled the death an overdose, one of several that have fueled the record number of deaths in the jails last year.

Lisa Matus is not alone in the challenges she has faced to get basic information about her son's final days.

In December, the sheriff's department reported the death of the 18th inmate in its custody that year, the most the department has ever reported and the same number that triggered a state audit of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department the year before.

Matus' family is among several who banded together last year in the wake of the deaths of incarcerated relatives, demanding more oversight and outside investigations of the sheriff's department. With the support of criminal justice advocacy groups, they petitioned the board of supervisors and some state departments to intervene.

None of the supervisors have responded to the families or made any public effort to address the surge in jail deaths.

But the lawsuit comes a month after California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced his office was opening an investigation of the sheriff's department related, in part, to the jail deaths and possible civil rights violations connected to them. People within the sheriff's department said Bonta's investigators sought in-custody death investigation files from the department's administrators last week.

Bianco decried the investigation in a recorded video as politically motivated and a waste of resources, while saying his department will be transparent with attorney general's investigators.

Lisa Matus said Friday that she and other families were hurt by Bianco's statements, vowing it's hardened their resolve to support the state's investigation no matter its findings.

"Bianco says this is a waste of resources and its a waste of time," she said. "To us, my whole family, youve basically said that all of these people who have died are a waste of time. That's wrong and that's hurtful."

She shared the story during the press conference of having to tell Richard's daughter of his death when she arrived home from her first day of eighth grade.

"We've never received a condolence from the department," said Matus. "Bianco said he's going to fight this to the end. So are we."

Few details released

As The Desert Sun has reported, the 2022 inmate death toll was higher than in any year over the previous decade. The sheriff's department gave the public little information about the deaths, including in many cases not publicly identifying those who died.

In addition, the sheriff's department illegally failed to report several jail deaths within the 10-day timeline required by California law, and when it did, it reported falsely that the inmates who had died had been sentenced. They were, in fact, awaiting trial. The vast majority of inmates in the county's jails have not been sentenced for the crimes they are charged with.

The sheriff's department refused to respond to The Desert Sun's inquiries about why the reports were late and inaccurate.

Gastelum said the department falsified the reports to downplay civil rights violations by the sheriff's department.

The allegation is based on court rulings that law-enforcement agencies are constitutionally required to give even greater care to the security of people who are incarcerated but not yet convicted. Unlike inmates at a state prison, most of those incarcerated at county jails are awaiting trial.

Gastelum said it's harder to prove a case alleging jail administrators' neglect is to blame for an inmate death when the person had already been convicted and sentenced, which is why the sheriff's department reported false information.

Last fall, Bianco posted on Facebook in response to an article written by The Press-Enterprise that the families of the dead inmates should take responsibility and that "The only 'bad' person in this entire scenario is the attorney." He stated in another article that the deaths were "out of anyone's control."

Gastelum said the statements amount to harassment of the Matus family and their legal counsel, and shows that Bianco is incapable of investigating the deaths impartially and unwilling to admit his department has the ability to stop them.

Christian Contreras, who is on Matus' legal team, said he finds the Facebook comments disturbing in what they suggest about how Bianco approaches his job as elected sheriff.

"It's Bianco's job, his responsibility, to stop this record number of deaths," Contreras said. "Instead, he attacks everyone else. That's the classical trait of a narcissist. Instead of getting on Facebook, why don't you do your job?"

An unofficial count kept by The Desert Sun shows four additional inmates have died this year.

Christopher Damien covers public safety and the criminal justice system. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com or follow him at @chris_a_damien.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside County sheriff lied about inmate deaths, new lawsuit alleges
Rocket Lab has proven that it's much more than a launch company. One glance at the companys most recent earnings presentation shows as much: its space systems business, which designs, manufactures and sells satellite components and spacecraft, brought in over 70% of company revenue compared to launch in 2022, at $150.3 million versus $60.7 million, respectively.

The space systems business -- whose products include star trackers, reaction wheels, solar power systems, separation systems and more -- also saw a massive growth in revenue, increasing by 239% year-over-year. To meet this growing demand, the company further announced last year that it was building out new manufacturing capabilities for reaction wheels, in particular.

The investment is paying off: It appears that Rocket Lab has landed a contract to provide reaction wheels to an unnamed mega constellation customer. The company said as much in a February press release announcing a new 12Nms reaction wheel product, saying that the wheel is currently planned for flight with an undisclosed large mega constellation customer.

More recently, Rocket Lab CFO Adam Spice added more color to this statement, revealing that the deal is worth thousands of reaction wheels per year.

"We entered into an agreement with a mega constellation where it's thousands of reaction wheels per year and much bigger reaction wheels," Spice said at Cowen's 44th Annual Aerospace/Defense and Industrials Conference in February. What that allowed us to do is build a dedicated high-volume production facility in New Zealand and we brought the cost down by almost an order of magnitude on those wheels.

At a Bank of America event this Tuesday, Spice reiterated the enormity of the deal: We secured a contract with a mega constellation customer where well ship two or three thousand reaction wheels per year to one customer.

While the company has not publicly disclosed the name of this customer -- and declined to comment on the matter to TechCrunch, citing commercial sensitivity -- theres only a handful of known possibilities. Amazon's Project Kuiper is one likely candidate, and OneWeb's growing network could plausibly be another. SpaceX has demonstrated that it wants to stay in-house as much as possible for its production stack, however, so Starlink isn't likely.

In its data sheet on the 12Nms reaction wheel, Rocket Lab lists the base price at $100,000. Of course, on contracts of this size, the price per unit is often discounted (which Spice acknowledged, saying at the Cowen conference that the ASP for the mega constellation reaction wheels came down quite a bit), but it suggests a big win for Rocket Labs revenues and a possible source for the doubling of the companys backlog last year: from $241 million at the end of 2021 to $503 million.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema arrives for a meeting of the Senate Homeland Security Committee at the Capitol. | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said hes open to endorsing Arizona independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, and even campaigning for her, if she decides to run for the Senate again in 2024.

Im not saying no, I could very easily endorse Sen. Sinema, Romney said, according to an article on Sinema in Politico. He said she is one of the senators that is able to pull people together and actually get legislation passed.

After leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent in December, there has been speculation over whether Sinema would run for her Senate seat again. She has not said yet what her plans are, but she already has a potential Democratic opponent after Rep. Ruben Gallego said he would run in 2024.

Related

It is still unclear who her Republican opponent might be. Rumored possibilities include former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and former Senate candidate Blake Masters, along with Karrin Taylor Robson, who lost to Lake in the primary for governor.

If Sinema does decide to run, Romney told Politico that he hopes she is reelected and said he was open to campaigning for her in Arizona.

Romney spokesperson Arielle Mueller confirmed the article was accurate.

Sinema was not interviewed for the Politico story, but anonymous sources told the publication she has been highly critical of Democratic leaders when speaking at private meetings and events. This has given some Republicans hope she would caucus with her GOP Senate colleagues instead of with Democrats, the article said.

That includes Romney, who was quoted in the article as saying jokingly that he would like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to tell Sinema she can chair the Senate Finance Committee if she crosses the aisle.

The article quotes Sinema as giving a colorful reason for why she no longer attends Democratic caucus lunches.

Old dudes are eating Jell-O, everyone is talking about how great they are, Sinema reportedly said. I dont really need to be there for that. Thats an hour and a half twice a week that I can get back.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ruled out being former president Donald Trumps running mate in the 2024 presidential election, as he prepares to launch his own White House run.

Newsmax host Eric Bolling asked Mr DeSantis if he would consider being Mr Trumps vice presidential nominee on Thursday evening, which the governor rebuffed.

I think I'm probably more of an executive guy, Mr DeSantis said. I think that you want to be able to do things. That's part of the reason I got into this job is because we have action. We're able to make things happen, and I think that's probably what I am best suited for.

Many conservatives have hoped Mr DeSantis would stage a run against the former president after he won re-election in Florida by almost 20 points last year, while many candidates Mr Trump endorsed fell short in the 2022 midterm elections.

Mr Trump has reacted to Mr DeSantiss growing popularity by testing a number of insults for him, repeatedly calling him Ron DeSanctimonious.

The governor has largely ignored Mr Trumps barbs in the past, but this week he took a slight dig at the fact the former president faces a potential indictment for allegedly paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about a sexual liaison.

Look, I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair. I cant speak to that, Mr DeSantis said earlier this week.

That caused many of Mr Trumps supporters and the former president himself to lash out and to imply that Mr DeSantis may face salacious allegations himself one day, and posted a photo of a younger Mr DeSantis drinking with students while he was a teacher at an elite school.

Ron DeSanctimonious will probably find out about FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES sometime in the future, as he gets older, wiser, and better known, when hes unfairly and illegally attacked by a woman, even classmates that are underage (or possibly a man!). Im sure he will want to fight these misfits just like I do! Mr Trump posted on Truth Social.

-Oliver OConnell contributed to this report.
Politics, when accomplished effectively, resembles a dance where disparate partners create harmony  or at least something more tuneful than what came before.

By that standard, some of Gov. Janet Millss Democratic colleagues are more adept at the delicate steps required to match the rising aspirations of Maines Indian tribes than she is.

Douglas Rooks

Admittedly, its not easy. Long after the original dispossession through relentless European expansion, all now agree tribes are in some way sovereign  but what does that mean?

Under federal law and treaties, tribes deal directly with the federal government much as states do  except in Maine.

Here, the states 1980 Land Claims Settlement Act effectively reduces tribes to municipalities. One can argue, as all governors have since then, that tribes gave up rights in exchange for $82 million to acquire land.

But after four decades it looks like  and is  an increasingly bad bargain. Maine tribes continue to fall farther behind tribes elsewhere, denied federal benefits theyd otherwise receive.

During the triumphant return to the Capitol last week of the State of the Tribes address, Congressman Jared Golden, who flew back from Washington, was conspicuous on the rostrum. Gov. Mills, who works in the building, did not attend because of a scheduling conflict.

There was a similar contretemps last month when the Judiciary Committee heard a bill from House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, LD 78, to restore to the printed state Constitution an original section detailing the states tribal treaty obligations, inherited from Massachusetts upon statehood.

In 1876, for reasons that remain obscure, voters approved an amendment that didnt repeal the section but stopped printing it. Talbot Rosss proposed amendment would print it again.

Everyone agrees this would have no practical effect; federal and state obligations were subsumed in the 1980 settlement acts. The bill is endorsed by both Attorney General Aaron Frey and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, whose office proposes recodifications.

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Its opposed by the governors office, however. Legal counsel Gerald Reid claims printing the section would create new confusion because a naive reader might wrongly believe that this revitalizes 18th and 19th century treaty obligations.

This seems Orwellian: The section is still part of the Constitution, but actually printing it would confuse readers because theyd leap to unwarranted conclusions. This may not be book-banning, but its close.

As governor, Mills has supported the tribes, from the symbolic  renaming Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day  to the economically substantive  granting exclusive rights to online gaming proceeds.

Yet she takes positions that seem petty  the printed Constitution bill  or miss opportunities for reconciliation: skipping the State of the Tribes.

Other opportunities remain. One might be an apparent deadlock at the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee over a bill, LD 294, sponsored by Rep. Ben Collings (D-Portland) that would add a tribal member to the Baxter State Park Authority.

In the well-known story, Gov. Percival Baxter gave Mt. Katahdin and 200,000 acres surrounding it to the state over several decades after finding no interest from the Legislature in acquiring it. He also endowed the park, and included highly specific deeds and covenants.

From the beginning, the three-member authority has been made up of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Forest Service director, and the Attorney General. Adding a tribal member, according to current AG Aaron Frey, would violate the deeds of trust and possibly cause the land to revert to Baxters heirs.

Its serious business. When the Department of Conservation was formed, incorporating the Forest Service, and the new commissioner was proposed as a replacement, it was nonetheless firmly rejected.

Mills served for eight years on the park authority, and like most who do developed a healthy appreciation both for the parks mission and its unique place in Maines history.

She also understands the Penobscot Tribes unique affinity for Katahdin, extending back to ancient times and forward to former Chief Barry Dana, who initiated the Katahdin 100  a spiritual run from the river to the mountain  in the fateful year of 1980, and whose daughter Maulian is now tribal ambassador.

Even aside from the authority, tribal members have little involvement in the parks management and advisory committees, and their participation is overdue. One notes that two of the three park authority members are Executive Branch employees.

It would be more than a gesture if Mills, who did not offer testimony on LD 294, were to convene a working group exploring how the state and tribes could collaborate in celebrating and extending Maines wilderness character, so magnificently exemplified by what Percival Baxter called the mountain of the people of Maine. All the people.

That would be a dance worth watching.

Douglas Rooks, a Maine editor, commentator and reporter since 1984, is the author of three books, and is now researching the life and career of a U.S. chief justice. He welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rooks: Invitation to Maine's tribal dance
Fans of Rosalia and Rauw Alejandro have a lot to celebrate as the couple appeared to have announced their engagement in the music video for Beso, the opening track from their newly released joint EP R&R.

R&R dropped Friday alongside a sweet homemade music video that featured footage of the Latin music power couple enjoying their days spent in bed and adventuring throughout different cities in Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Dominican Republic, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among many other places. And, as the name of the Spanish track implies, there are lots of shots of them kissing.

More from Variety

But the revelatory moment comes at the end of the three-minute music video where Rosalia shows off a shiny diamond ring, and with tears in her eyes, she says, Oh my god, and my mascara is all runny now. I love you, before leaning in to kiss Alejandro.

Though their romance was first confirmed last September, the couple has been together for three years and several were speculating an engagement was on the horizon  or had already occurred.

Representatives for Alejandro and Rosalia did not immediately respond to Varietys request for further confirmation.

R&R marks the first time theyve released music together but theyve contributed to each others catalogs in other ways; Rosalia supplied backing vocals for Dile a El off Rauws 2020 album Afrodisiaco, and theyve also written and produced a couple of other songs together.

For us, its always love first and then everything else, but this time we skipped it so we could finish RR and share it with the world, said Rosalia in a statement announcing the albums release. After more than three years, these three songs are here, and each one of them belongs to a different stage of love.

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Alejandro added, We always knew we wanted to make music together. However, focusing on our relationship, we had to find the right time. Its been a long time coming and finding a way to fit all my feelings for her into three songs has been nearly impossible. This means that I will spend my days writing and composing many more songs about and with her. We are thrilled with this project. RR forever.

The three-song project sees the couple giving an intimate look at the romance theyve built and the matching music video, aims to give that same feeling. Music videos for Vampiros and Promesa will be released soon; fans can visit RosaliayRauw.com for more information.

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Russia has used guided aerial bombs, a Kh-31 anti-radar missile and Iranian-made kamikaze drones during an attack against Ukraine on the night of 23-24 March.

Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Ukrainian Air Forces spokesperson, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "It all started in the evening when Russians attacked Odesa Oblast, with two Kh-59 missiles being destroyed. The attack continued from an area north of our country, with about 10 Su-35 aircraft (the latest Russian fighters) attacking Sumy Oblast with guided aerial bombs.

This is a massive threat when guided aircraft bombs can fly a long distance, and the aircraft (launching them) are not within the range of our air defence.

Thus, more than ten of these guided bombs attacked facilities in Sumy Oblast. The losses there are being confirmed, and will be announced by the military administrations."

Details: The colonel said that the Russians used an X-31 anti-radar missile during the night attack.

Unfortunately, Shahed UAVs also attacked the country's north and Kryvyi Rih. Certain targets were hit. According to preliminary information from local authorities, there were no casualties, Ihnat added.

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A destroyed house in Donetsk region

Read also: Russias Great Offensive fails to impress as intelligence reveals its short-lived military might

Since Feb. 2022, Russia has illegally abducted thousands of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine, without the consent of their parents or legal guardians, the message reads.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for this reason.

"Russia demands that parents or legal guardians travel from Ukraine to retrieve their children in person. Russian authorities are aware that doing so is extremely difficult without their assistance, which they do not provide," the report reads.

Russia has established a simplified legal procedure to grant citizenship to children abducted from Ukraine, Canadian intelligence wrote.

Read also: Zelenskyy checks rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure while visiting Kherson Oblast

"This allows them to be put up for adoption and suggests that Russia does not intend to return them to Ukraine, regardless of conditions on the ground," they said.

Read also: Ukraine still arranging Zelenskyy-Xi Jinping phone call, official says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Feb. 26 imposing sanctions against Russians involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children.

The European Union adopted the tenth package of sanctions against Russia, which also targets those involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

Read also: Russia treats children like spoils of war, ICC says

Russians have taken more than 13,000 Ukrainian children from occupied Ukrainian territories, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Flag of India

The Indian official complained about "a major delivery" from Russia that is not going to take place.

They have given us it in writing that they are not able to deliver it, the parliamentary report reads without clarifying any details of the "major delivery."

The biggest known Indian military contract with Russia is for the supply of S-400 Triumf air defence systems worth $5.4 billion, news agency Reuters wrote. Three such systems have been delivered and two more are expected. The Indian army also relies on Russia in supply of spare parts for its Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets.

Read also: India doesnt want to discuss sanctions against Russia at G20

Read also: Putin may attend G20 summit in India, Bloomberg writes

India is heavily dependent on Russian military supplies amid ongoing tensions on its borders with China and Pakistan, CNN wrote. Its relations with the Russian (and formerly Soviet) arms industry were established in the times of the Cold War.

India remains the largest recipient of Russian weapons, despite Russian defense exports falling from 62% to 45% in the period of 2017- 2022, according to a report by arms industry research organization the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The United States discussed with India its dependence on Russian arms, a representative of the U.S. State Department said in September 2022. He noted that Russia could not be a "reliable arms supplier," and that India began to realize that it can benefit from reaching out to new markets.

Read also: Death of a Russian oligarch in India expands list of suspicious deaths of well-known Russians

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided against holding his annual personal summit with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after Putin made nuclear threats against Ukraine, despite the fact that 21 Russian-Indian summits have been held for the last 20 years.

However, India refuses to condemn Russia over its aggression against Ukraine and has increased Russian oil imports in the past year.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia launched S-300 missiles at the city of Kostiantynivka in the early hours of March 24, killing three women, the Prosecutor General's Office in Donetsk Oblast wrote on March 24.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, one of the missiles struck the local relief center, known as "invincibility centers" in Ukraine, and another landed nearby.

"Invincibility centers" were set up across Ukraine following the onset of Russia's mass missile strikes in fall 2022 targeting energy infrastructure. They allow local residents to charge their phones, connect to internet, get warm, and have some rest.

The three women killed were internally displaced people from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, and a nearby village, the Prosecutor General's Office wrote.





Additionally, one civilian was killed and another was injured in Chasiv Yar by Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

One person was also injured in Avdiivka and another in Toretsk.

A total of 1,430 people have been reported killed and 3,258 injured in Donetsk Oblast since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Kyrylenko. However, these numbers do not include casualty rates in occupied Volnovakha and Mariupol, as they are currently impossible to calculate.

Surviving Avdiivka: Russia intensifies assault on city deemed a second Bakhmut The Kyiv Independent






Consequences of shelling of Sumy Oblast

The town of Bilopillya was targeted by a Russian military airstrike involving Grad rockets (80 hits) and artillery (20 hits), resulting in the destruction of several buildings, including an administrative building, a school, and a residential building, as well as damage to multiple apartment and private buildings, and to a dormitory.

The attack caused two fatalities and injured nine people.

Furthermore, the city of Vorozhba was struck by Russian rockets, causing damage to a residential building and an outbuilding, resulting in one injury.

Also, an agricultural company in the community of Mykolaiv was hit by an air strike, causing damage to industrial facilities and agricultural machinery.

An air strike and kamikaze drone attack were carried out by the enemy in the village of Vyry in the Richky community, resulting in damage to a kindergarten and administrative building, and the complete destruction of a school.

Meanwhile, the village of Richky was bombarded by artillery, causing damage to the gymnasium building in particular. Also, the community of Novoslobidska was shelled by Russian forces, but there were no reported casualties.

On the evening and night of March 24, the Russian occupiers launched X-59 missiles in the south of the country, aerial bombs in Sumy Oblast, Shahed drones in the north, and attacked Kryvyi Rih.

Additionally, the invincibility point in Kostyantynivka was targeted by the Russian Federation using missiles, resulting in the loss of five lives.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The turret and gun of a Russian tank near Lyman, Donetsk region, photo March 20, 2013

Read also: Russias Great Offensive fails to impress as intelligence reveals its short-lived military might

This is because Russias present losses have already impeded the effectiveness of their offensive operations in Ukraine, which have recently ground to a halt, the report said.

After World War II, the Soviet Union produced tens of thousands of T-54/55 tanks. Due to the shortage of armored vehicles, the Russian military could probably turn to these old stocks, as spare parts for repairing these tanks are available in large quantities and are significantly cheaper, ISW analysts concluded.

T-54/55 tanks lack the armor capabilities of more modern armored vehicles and have a smaller main gun, though the Russian military may have upgraded some of the vehicles, ISW said.

The deployment of such low-quality equipment to restore the capabilities of the Russian army to conduct mechanized maneuver warfare is likely to lead to further degradation of Russian manpower in Ukraine and even greater losses for the invaders.

Read also: Transfer of post WW2-era T-54 tanks spotted in Russia

ISW is also skeptical that T-54/55 tanks will help Russia exhaust Ukrainian resources, as these tanks are cheaper than some modern anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).

But every loss of a tank generally also means the loss of its crew. Besides, it is unclear how effective these tanks will be against Ukrainian armored vehicles, as they are vulnerable to many anti-tank systems that Ukraine possesses, ISW notes.

Read also: Beijing is the senior partner in Russia-China relations, reports ISW

According to Dutch open-source intelligence group Oryx, as of March 22, Russian forces have incurred the following visually confirmed losses:

 57 T-90 tanks;

 448 T-80 tanks;

 1025 T-72 tanks;

 53 T-64 tanks;

Story continues

 73 T-62 tanks.

ISW confirms that Russian offensive operations around Bakhmut have slowed down, with Ukrainian troops carrying out successful tactical counterattacks.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned of possible Russian offensives in multiple directions, while the UK Ministry of Defense speculated that Russian forces may be losing strength in the Bakhmut as they redeploy to other areas.

Read also: U.S. backs Ukraines decision on Bakhmut, says Kirby

Russian troops are now focusing on offensive operations around Avdiivka, possibly at the expense of Bakhmut and the stalled offensive in Vuhledar. This could explain the change in deployment of Russias 136th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade.

ISW continues to assess that Russian advances may prompt Ukrainian forces to withdraw from Bakhmut and/or Avdiivka, though neither appears likely at this time.

Read also: Russia has cost Ukraine $143.8 billion in infrastructure damage after one year of war

Russian forces may choose to launch or intensify offensive operations in new directions, but these operations would likely produce few tangible results as the overall Russian spring offensive continues to near culmination.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia wants to create demilitarised buffer zones inside Ukraine around areas it has annexed, an ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying it might be necessary to push deeper into Ukraine if such zones cannot be set up.

More than a year into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin's core war aims remain unfulfilled despite Russian control of nearly a fifth of the country.

Neither side shows any sign of laying down arms. Hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded, according to Western military estimates.

Former President Dmitry Medvedev, who casts himself as Putin's most publicly hawkish official, said Russia needed demilitarised corridors around the areas it is claiming - and which Ukraine says it will never accept Russian control of.

"We need to achieve all the goals that have been set to protect our territories, that is the territories of the Russian Federation," Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said in an interview with Russian media posted on Telegram.

We need to "throw out all the foreigners who are there in the broad sense of the word, create a buffer zone which would not allow the use of any types of weapons that work at medium and short distances, that is 70-100 kilometres, to demilitarise it," Medvedev said.

Russia would have to push further into Ukraine if such zones were not established, he said, taking Kyiv the capital or even the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv. Ukraine says it will never accept Russian occupation of its land.

Russia currently controls around 17-18% of Ukraine, including a swathe of land in the east and along the Azov and Black Sea coastline as well as Crimea which Russia annexed in 2014.

The grinding artillery war between two well-dug in and well-supplied armies has been costly for Russia and Ukraine, which is supported by the United States and major European powers.

Story continues

Russia insists it will achieve all of its war aims and has cautioned the West against testing its resolve. The West says that what CIA Director William Burns calls Putin's "hubris" will be pierced by battlefield defeat in Ukraine.

"Nothing can be ruled out here. If you need to get to Kyiv, then you need to go to Kyiv, if you need to get to Lviv, then you need to go to Lviv in order to destroy this infection," said Medvedev.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Andrew Osborn)
Russia is training its military on the territory of Belarus to participate in the war against Ukraine

UK intelligence said that as of mid-March 2023, Russia had likely redeployed at least 1,000 troops who had been training at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground in south-western Belarus.

Although no new rotation of troops has been noted, Russia has highly likely left the tented camp in place, suggesting it is considering continuing the training programme, it said.

Read also: Russia transferring troops from Belarus to eastern Ukraine

The fact Russia has resorted to training its personnel under the much less-experienced Belarusian army highlights how Russias special military operation has severely dislocated the Russian militarys training system instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine, the ministry said in its daily summary.

In addition, according to UK intelligence, Russia likely also views Belaruss continued indirect support to the operation as important political messaging.

Spokesperson of the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko said on March 4 that the number of Russian military personnel in Belarus varies but does not exceed 9,000-10,000 soldiers.

Read also: No imminent threat of Belarus invading Ukraine, US says

According to Demchenko, some units that entered the territory of Belarus were transferred to Russia, and later to the east of Ukraine.

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Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of the Kryvyi Rih Military Administration, has said that the Russian forces launched a drone attack, and strikes were recorded.

Source: Vilkul on Telegram

Quote: "Kryvyi Rih. Enemy attack with Shahed drones. Strikes were recorded. Do not film or post anything on social networks!"

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The Avdiivka front is one of the hottest spots in Ukraine, but the Russian occupation forces there are running out of steam, just as they are on the Bakhmut front.

Source: Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, spokesman for Ukraines defence forces on the Tavriia front, on air during the national 24/7 newscast

Quote: "It is not extremely hot on the Avdiivka front, but enemy forces are continuing to attack [the city of] Avdiivka itself and are trying to encircle it. Fighting also continues on the Marinka front, where enemy forces are also trying to attack our positions.

Over the course of the past day, enemy forces attacked the Donetsk front 31 times, including 15 attacks on the Avdiivka front. The enemy forces attempted seven assault operations overnight, including on the Avdiivka front

A week or two ago we had days when the Russian forces would attack 95 times a day on each front. So we can say that the enemy forces are running out of steam. Last week theyd already had to deploy reserve forces: a unit of the 98th Airborne Brigade and two tank companies participated in hostilities.

We can decisively say that the enemy has exhausted their main forces and suffered quite substantial losses in personnel and equipment. In the past 24 hours alone enemy forces lost over three companies of personnel killed and wounded."

Details: Dmytrashkivskyi said that the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts were "the hottest, but we have not lost any territory this night."

The Vuhledar front is a bit quieter than the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts. The Russians sustained significant losses in personnel and equipment there, and they are unlikely to recover given the frequent explosions in Melitopol and Berdiansk [Russian-controlled cities in southern Ukraine which have seen a lot of activity by Ukraines resistance forces  ed.], Dmytrashkivskyi added.

The spokesman for the Tavriia front forces said that it was too early to speak of a Ukrainian counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, even though Russian forces are reportedly reinforcing their defences there. Dmytrashkivskyi said that the Russians were reinforcing their defence positions there because they were in fact expecting a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

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Consequences of shelling of the Zaporizhzhya Oblast

In Kherson, the Russians hit a warehouse and storage facility. Two men at the facility managed to flee the facility, crossing the river in a boat, but one of them died of injuries. The other was hospitalized.

The private residential area of the city of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhya Oblast was hit by the invaders, resulting in a fire breaking out and a local resident receiving blast injuries.

Read also: Russians attack towns and villages in Sumy Oblast with mortars

Read also: Bombs, Shahed drones, and missiles pound Ukraine overnight, says air force

In Sumy Oblast, it is reported that the Russians used 10 aerial bombs and kamikaze drones of the Shahed type. Artillery shelling also continued at night.

In Bilopillya, 10 people were injured as a result of the Russian attack, two people died. Gas networks were also damaged.

In the city of Vorozhba, there was a shelling from an RSV  one person was injured, there is destruction. The villages of Richky and Vyry were also shelled.

As a result of the Russian attack on the town of Bilopillya, two people lost their lives and 10 others sustained injuries, while the gas networks were also damaged.

Similarly, Vorozhba was subjected to shelling from a multiple rocket launcher, leading to one person getting injured and destruction of property. Furthermore, the villages of Richky and Vyry also experienced shelling.

Read also: Chernihiv Oblast struck by missiles launched from Russian aircraft

Chernihiv Oblast was hit by mortar shelling from the occupiers' territory, resulting in the death of a resident of Horodyshche village.

On the night of March 22, the Russian invaders carried out an attack on several regions of Ukraine using Iranian Shahed drones. Two dormitories and a lyceum were hit in Rzhyshchiv. Unfortunately, nine people were killed.

The General Staff reported that the occupiers launched a total of 21 drones over Ukraine, 16 of which were destroyed by Ukrainian defenders.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The General Staff noted the heavy losses of the invading troops of Russia

An increase in mortality among the wounded invaders was reported between March 17 and March 21, the report says.

This was due to an increased number of severe wounds and poor medical care, in particular due to the inadequate professionalism of the medical staff.

Read also: Up to 800 Wagner mercenaries die in Ukraine every day, Defense Forces say

According to the General Staff, due to the significant daily losses suffered by the invaders, the enemy decided to increase bed capacity in the hospitals operating in the temporarily occupied part of Ukraines Luhansk Oblast.

Read also: Russia mobilizes 20,000 troops every month, Ukrainian intelligence says

In particular, the number of beds in the military hospital in Troitske has been doubled from 200 to 400, the Ukrainian military says.

At the same time, all wounded officers were evacuated to the territory of the Russian Federation by helicopter between March 17 and March 18.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
KYIV (Reuters) - A Russian missile slammed into an "invincibility point" set up to offer refuge for Ukrainian civilians, killing at least three women, local officials said on Friday.

Four other civilians were also killed during the night, local officials said. The dead included two people killed in heavy Russian shelling of the Sumy region on northern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said.

The invincibility point that was hit overnight in the city of Kostiantynivka in the eastern Donetsk region was one of many such shelters created by authorities across Ukraine to provide access to electricity, heating, water and other basic services.

Photographs released by emergency services from Kostiantynivka showed the heavily damaged remains of the one-storey invincibility point surrounded by rubble. A mattress protruded from the debris.

One of the three dead women came from the Bakhmut area, scene of some of the heaviest fighting of Russia's war on Ukraine, the emergency services said, adding that two men were also hurt.

"Rescuers removed the bodies of three dead women from the rubble," they said on the Telegram messaging app. One person was pulled out of the rubble alive, they said.

In the Sumy region, an administrative building, a school building, and residential buildings were among those damaged, Zelenskiy's office said.

The air force said several towns and villages in the Sumy region had come under fire from missiles, drones and other weapons.

Two other deaths were reported by local officials in Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine and in the southern region of Kherson.

Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago, did not comment on the latest attacks. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the reports.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraines Defence Intelligence, said that Russian occupation authorities in Crimea have started evacuating from the Ukrainian peninsula.

Source: Ukraines Defence Intelligence on Facebook, citing Andrii Yusov on Freedom TV channel

Details: The Defence Intelligence spokesman said that Russian authorities and officials from the Russian occupation administration in Crimea are rushing to sell their property and evacuate their families from the peninsula.

"Meanwhile, they tell the rank and file officials not to worry, that everything is fine and everything is under control All this resembles the [Russians saying] that their special operation is going according to the plan" Yusov said.

Quote from Yusov: "Families linked to the Russians are being evacuated, and quite urgently. This is food for thought for everyone who tied their lives to Putins malicious ruscist regime. They better leave Crimea while they still can."

Details: The Defence Intelligence spokesman recalled that the day before, on 23 March, a message was broadcast on the radio in Sevastopol, Crimea, urging local residents  especially those who collaborated with the Russian occupation regime  to prepare to evacuate.

Quote from Yusov: "The peninsula has to be liberated and the legitimate Ukrainian government has to regain control over it in order for peace and order to reign there. Crimea has to return to Ukraine, and this will absolutely happen very soon. So everyone working for Russia would really do better if they leave the territory of Ukraines Crimea now."

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Sergey Aksyonov, Russian-appointed puppet leader of Ukrainian Crimea, has created a private military company (PMC) called Convoy; the mercenaries who serve there are supervised by Yevgeny Prigozhin's right-hand man who goes by the alias of Mazay [Yevgeny Prigozhin is a founder and financier of the Wagner Group  ed.].

Source: Russian media outlet Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories)

Details: The media outlet quotes an unnamed source as saying that at the time of its formation, the Convoy PMC had about 300 members in it.

The Convoy's positions are located in Kherson Oblast, which is neighbouring occupied Crimea.

Russian propagandists who visited the PMC's military unit reported that the mercenaries were armed to the teeth, provided with everything they needed, and had a whole apartment building underground as their fortification.

In addition, the PMC has heavy equipment at their disposal, including T-80 and T-90 tanks, as well as their own electronic intelligence devices.

The propagandists' report also mentioned the commander of the Convoy who goes by the alias of Mazay.

Photo: Bellingcat

The outlet identified him as Konstantin Pikalov, the right-hand man of Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the supervisor of the Convoy PMC in Africa.

Mazay first became known after a joint investigation by Bellingcat and Insider. According to the material, he supervised Prigozhins political technologists in Madagascar and the Central African Republic. In the correspondence between the employees, Mazay is described as the only person in the Central African Republic who talks to Prigozhin without fear and as an equal.

In his photos and videos on the Convoy Telegram channel, Pikalov puts an image of the arm patch of the Russian Imperial Convoy (it was a part of the Russian Imperial Guard, a detachment that served as the Tzar's bodyguards  ed.).

"This is Aksyonov's PMC, but the entire command is former employees of the Wagner PMC. All of them are people who have known each other for a long time," a former Convoy mercenary told the outlet.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian long-range strikes killed at least 10 civilians and wounded 20 others in several areas of Ukraine on Friday, Ukraines presidential office said, as a senior Moscow official warned that the Kremlin's forces were prepared for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the coming weeks.

Five people died in Kostiantynivka, a town in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk province, when a Russian missile hit an aid station. Ukrainian authorities last year established hundreds of so-called points of invincibility, where residents hard-pressed by the war could warm up, charge their cellphones and get snacks.

Local prosecutors said the Russians attacked Kostyantynivka with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. The civilians who died were refugees, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.

As the mostly artillery war of the recent winter months stretched into its second spring, Russian forces also used air-launched missiles, exploding drones and gliding bombs in their attacks on several regions early Friday, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Two civilians were killed and nine were wounded in the Sumy province town of Bilopillia by a nighttime rocket and artillery barrage and air strikes, the administration of the northeast region said.

In the southern Kherson region, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Thursday, Russian shelling killed one person in the main city, also called Kherson, and killed another person and wounded four others in the town of Bilozerka.

On Wednesday, a Russian drone attack struck a high school and dormitories south of Kyiv, killing at least nine people.

Kyivs forces are poised to use the improved spring weather and the arrival of modern weapons supplied by its Western allies, including tanks, to launch a counteroffensive aimed at dislodging Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine.

But Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now the deputy head of Russias Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said the Russian military was ready to repel a counterattack.

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Our General Staff is assessing all that, Medvedev said.

He also said that a Ukrainian attempt to seize Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.

An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said. Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realize that.

Though known for his bombastic pronouncements, Medvedevs warning stems from the Russian security doctrine envisaging the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an attack with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.

Medvedev also said that Western experts operating weapons, such as the U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems supplied to Ukraine, would be legitimate targets for the Russian military. Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the U.S., although Russian officials have frequently claimed that foreign instructors are present in Ukraine.

If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Medvedev told reporters in video clips he posted on his messaging app channel. They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state and they must be destroyed.

They must understand that as soon as an American or a Polish soldier shows up there, he must be killed, he added.

The Kremlins goal is to create a sanitary cordon of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) around Russian-held areas so short- and mid-range weapons can't strike them, according to Medvedev.

Moscow may even set its sights on grabbing a bigger chunk of Ukrainian territory, stretching all the way to the border with Poland, he said.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Three women died under the rubble in Kostyantynivka

The prosecutors message said a missile from an S-300 air defense system, used in ballistic ground-to-ground mode, hit a Point of Invincibility a place where Ukrainians can obtain warmth, power, water and Internet and phone connections if services are disrupted.

Another missile fell nearby, the message reads.

Prosecutor's Office of Donetsk region

The bodies of three women were found under the rubble. They had already fled the war from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar and Opynte in Pokrovsky District in Donetsk Oblast. The bodies of another two men were recovered later.

Prosecutor's Office of Donetsk region

Two more persons were injured.

The police have arrived at the scene of the missile strike

The situation in Donetsk Oblast remains the worst in the country. The Ukrainian military is holding back an offensive by invading Russian forces near Bakhmut, preventing them from advancing forward. The Kostyantynivka highway leading into Bakhmut  a crucial supply line  remains under Ukrainian control.

Read also: Ukraine to regain control over Donetsk by year-end, says military expert

Earlier, on March 16, Russian troops attacked Kostyantynivka with Uragan multiple rocket launchers, injuring six people, including an international volunteer.

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At least three people were killed and five more were injured in Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on 23 March.

Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Kyrylenko: "Russians killed three residents of Donetsk Oblast over the course of 23 March: two in Kostiantynivka and one in Chasiv Yar."

Details: Five more people in the oblast sustained injuries, including two residents in Kostiantynivka, and one each in Chasiv Yar, Avdiivka and Toretsk.

As of the morning of 24 March, the Russians have killed at least 1,429 and wounded at least 3,258 civilians in Donetsk Oblast.

Kyrylenko has stressed that this information is not final, as it is currently impossible to establish the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.

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The GUR announced that the occupying

The day before, local residents heard warnings on FM stations that they should be ready to leave, he said, adding that this warning refers to those who have collaborated with the enemy.

"In order for peace and order to be restored there, the peninsula should be deoccupied so the legal Ukrainian authorities can return there, the official website of Ukrainian intelligence quoted Yusov as saying.

Actually, Crimea (should be returned) to its home Ukrainian harbor, which is bound to happen in the near future. Therefore, all those who work for Russia should really leave the territory of Ukrainian Crimea in the near future," he said.

Read also: Kremlin puppet Aksyonov creates in occupied Crimea his own mercenary company, with alleged ties to Prigozhin

Read also: What is known about drone attack in Crimeas Dzhankoi

Russian commanders and the occupiers' administration are very active in selling real estate and taking their families out of Crimea, the intelligence representative said.

"But they told the rest, like ordinary soldiers, not to worry, that everything is calm, and everything under their control... But, it has really become a meme that the so-called special operation (Kremlin propaganda terminology for its war on Ukraine) is going according to plan... Families associated with Russians are being taken out, and quite promptly. And it is a sign for all those who tied their destiny with the criminal Kremlin regime."

Yusov said that it would be better for Russians to leave Crimea now while they still have the chance.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Vadym Skybytskyi said that the Russian invaders were preparing to defend the occupied Crimea.

A defense group has been building fortifications in the peninsula, he said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Rwanda's government has freed Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda after saving hundreds of people during the nations genocide but was imprisoned years later for terrorism.

U.S. officials said late Friday that Rusesabagina, who had been sentenced in 2021 to 25 years in prison after a widely criticized trial, has been moved to the official residence of Qatars ambassador to Rwanda in the capital city of Kigali. In all he was detained for 939 days.

Rusesabagina, a U.S. resident and a Belgian citizen, will be moved to the United States in coming days, said senior U.S. administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Rwandas government commuted the sentence of Rusesabagina and the sentences of 19 others on Friday. Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press the order by President Paul Kagame was issued after a request for clemency but stressed that, under Rwandan law, commutation doesnt extinguish the conviction.

Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar, she said. Kagame earlier this month said discussions were under way on resolving the issue.

Rusesabaginas release came after months of dialogue involving top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Blinken discussed the case with Kegame during a visit to Rwanda last fall, the administration officials said.

President George W. Bush awards Paul Rusesabagina, who sheltered people at a hotel he managed during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House on Nov. 9, 2005.

Rusesabagina sentenced to 25 years: Hotel Rwanda hero sentenced to 25 years on terror charges

An alleged kidnapping

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering more than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwandas 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

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He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, first living in Belgium and then the U.S.

Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died.

Rusesabagina was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. But the United States and others described the case against him as unfair.

Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagames government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

The circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his reported worsening health drew international concern.

As the news spread on Friday, Rusesabaginas family in a statement said that we are pleased to hear the news about Pauls release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paul Rusesabagina of 'Hotel Rwanda' fame is freed, Rwanda says
Picture this: Youre under the stars with a drink in one hand and food in another, listening to live music and the sound of bustling animals.

The Sacramento Zoo in Land Park kicks off its Thursday happy hour events next month. For $25 ($20 for zoo members) you get picks of a variety of pub food like street tacos, barbecue and wood-fired pizza, according to the zoos website.

Drinks  non-alcoholic drinks and beer, wine and cocktails in a can  will be available for purchase.

The six-piece dance band, The Ryan Hernandez Band, will take the zoos stage in April with a mix of pop, 70s and 80s, R&B and soft rock. Northern California party band Cover Me Badd and Sacramento-based band Peter Petty & his Terpsichoreans are slated for the spring.

The social is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20. Upcoming happy hours are scheduled for May 18 and June 15. Non-members who buy tickets to all three events at the same time save $15. Zoo members save $10.

IDs will be checked at the door and no one under 21 will be admitted, the zoo wrote on its website.

Limited and non-refundable tickets are available through the zoos website.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Marriage equality is a global issue. According to the Human Rights Campaign, there are currently 34 countries in which same-sex marriage is legal. Of those countries, 23 legalized same-sex marriage through legislation, 10 (including the United States) legalized same-sex marriage through court decisions, and two enacted legislation following court mandates.

According to Gallup research, around 10% of LGBTQ Americans were in a marriage with a spouse of the same sex in February 2022. While this represents less than 1% of the total US population, it is a marked increase since the days before same-sex marriage was federally protected.

When was same-sex marriage legalized in the US?

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal across the country with its ruling in the Obergefell v. Hodges case.

According to Supreme Court database Oyez, this case was brought up to the Supreme Court after groups of same-sex couples sued state agencies in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, challenging these states bans on same-sex marriage.

Some of these states same-sex marriage bans were part of a national movement in response to President George W. Bushs call for a constitutional amendment banning the practice.

What does the 'Q' in LGBTQ stand for?: How the word was reclaimed

Just Curious? We're here to help with life's everyday questions

Same-sex couples were granted the right to marry across the country by the Supreme Court in 2015.

Same-sex couples and adoption

In 2003, Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex couples to adopt children, according to the Boston Globe  but the journey to national adoption equality was far from over.

In 2016, a Federal District Court voided a law in Mississippi which prevented gay couples from adopting children, according to the Washington Post. The court cited the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in its decision.

In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled against an Arkansas law which required adoption papers to define parents by gender, eliminating an obstacle to same-sex parenthood. Before this ruling, same-sex couples required a court order to have both parents names on their childs birth certificate, according to AP News.

Story continues

The 'B' in LGBTQ: What it means, and why it matters to know it

Quick history: When did women get the right to vote? A brief look at women's suffrage.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When was gay marriage legalized? Obergefell v. Hodges explained
(Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly, who is among senior central bankers whose role in the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is under scrutiny, has pulled out of an appearance at a conference hosted by her bank.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Daly canceled plans to introduce colleague Governor Christopher Waller at a monetary policy conference being hosted by the San Francisco Fed on March 31, according to a bank spokeswoman, who said Daly had a scheduling conflict. Daly, who has frequently spoken at conferences, events and in media interviews, has no public engagements scheduled in the immediate future, the bank said. The spokeswoman declined further comment.

Lawmakers and others have questioned what role the San Francisco Fed, among others, played in the collapse of SVB earlier this month. Examiners from the regional Fed bank reported problems at SVB months ago, but it remains unclear why SVB was not made to address the problems, and whether either Daly or Fed Chair Jerome Powell knew about the escalating issues.

Top policymakers were stumped by the problems at SVB, Powell said at a Wednesday press conference following the central banks March 21-22 meeting. The Fed launched an internal investigation into the matter days after SVB was taken into receivership and plans to release the findings by May 1.

Lawmakers from both political parties are also investigating. Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee sent a letter Thursday to Powell and Daly requesting a slew of internal records about SVBs failure, and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Powell earlier in the month.

Both chambers of Congress are holding hearings next week with bank regulators, including Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr.

Story continues

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Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has reached a deal with Brazilian prosecutors to resolve a 15-year-old fraud case, according to CNN.

As part of the agreement, Santos will formally confess to defrauding a Rio de Janeiro clerk of $1,300 in clothes and shoes in 2008 and pay damages to the victim, CNN reported.

Brazilian prosecutors reopened the case in January, about a decade after the case was archived because authorities were unable to locate Santos.

The deal would resolve one of the many investigations facing the embattled freshman lawmaker, who has previously admitted to lying about his background on the 2022 campaign trail and has faced scrutiny over his personal and campaign finances.

Santoss former roommate, Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha, levied the most recent allegations against the congressman, claiming earlier this month that he orchestrated a credit card skimming operation to steal information from ATMs and credit cards. Santos has denied that he participated in any criminal activity when asked about the accusations.

The New York Republican also faces investigations by the House Ethics Committee, the Nassau County district attorney, the New York state attorney general, the Queens district attorney, and reportedly the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of New York, over a wide variety of allegations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two Saudi Arabian airlines said Tuesday they will order 78 jetliners from Boeing and take options to buy 43 more in a major boost for the American aircraft manufacturer.

The order for Boeing 787s will be divided between Saudi Arabias flag carrier, Saudia, and a planned new airline called Riyadh Air, which Saudi officials introduced over the weekend.

At list prices, the combined deal would be worth about $37 billion if the options are exercised, but airlines routinely get deep discounts. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Relatively high oil prices have boosted Saudi Arabias economy and government, making it easier for the kingdom to close a multi-billion-dollar jet order.

The creation of Riyadh Air by the Saudi sovereign-wealth fund and the growth of Saudia are part of a broader Saudi strategy to diversify its oil-based economy. Saudi Arabia hopes to become a global aviation hub and attract 100 million annual visitors by 2030.

The kingdoms neighboring states of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have built up state-owned airlines and used their geographic location to become key connecting points for international travel.

The ambition here in the kingdom is huge, and this today ... is our first big order, Tony Douglas, the CEO of Riyadh Air, told CNBC. There will be more orders.

The planes covered by the orders and options are long-range, two-aisle widebody jets, in the industry jargon. Boeing and Europes Airbus dominate the market.

Serving the Middle East, in our view, is a very, very important and critical market for widebodies, and we like that Boeing won this one, said Boeing CEO David Calhoun, who traveled to Riyadh for the announcement.

The Saudi deal is also a boost for the Boeing 787, which the company calls the Dreamliner. Boeing has struggled with interruptions in delivering new 787s for more than two years because of production flaws.

Shares of Boeing Co., based in Arlington, Virginia, rose more than 4% Tuesday.

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Boeing had been talking to the Saudis about an order for three years, according to two senior U.S. administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been publicly announced. The officials said President Joe Biden did not directly lobby for the order when he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last summer, but top aides made a pitch to Saudi government officials on Boeings behalf.

We are particularly pleased that Boeing was able to finally conclude these deals with Saudi Arabia after years of discussions, and intensive negotiations over recent months, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. She called the announcement another milestone in eight decades of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and American industry.

The Saudi deals will support about 1 million jobs in 44 states across the U.S. supply chain, including 150,000 new manufacturing jobs, according to administration officials.

The planes will be powered by engines from General Electric Co.

The Saudi orders come as a recovery in air travel boosts demand for jets made by Boeing and Airbus.

Last month, Air India announced it had agreed to buy 220 planes from Boeing and 250 from Airbus. Both the Air India and combined Saudi Arabian order rank among Boeings five largest.

Boeings history with Saudi Arabia goes back to early 1945, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented Abdulaziz al Saud the founder of modern Saudi Arabia  with a DC-3 made by Douglas Aircraft Co., one of the forerunners of current-day Boeing.

The relationship has stood through Democratic and Republican administrations ever since. President Donald Trump signed defense and commercial deals for Boeing during a 2017 trip to the kingdom. The crown prince toured a Boeing plant in the Seattle area the following year and signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint venture maintaining military aircraft in the kingdom.
SAUGATUCK  Yet another lakeshore community is grappling with the reality of short-term rentals.

Two moratoriums were brought to Saugatuck City Council's workshop session Wednesday, March 22, including a moratorium on new short-term rentals and a temporary pause on waterfront commercial development and construction, both of which have been points of contention for residents.

More:Park Township votes to eliminate short-term rentals, doors must close by Oct. 2023

More:Michigan thrives on tourism. Are short-term rentals pushing out long-term residents?

The items were introduced for discussion after a recommendation by the Saugatuck Planning Commission on Thursday, March 16. The potential STR moratorium was first drafted in mid-February.

Staff, working with legal counsel, has provided draft language for deliberation, which could potentially be used as a tool to pause new applications while the planning commission studies long-term strategies for managing STRs, a letter to commissioners read.

Two moratoriums were brought to Saugatuck City Council's workshop session Wednesday, March 22, including a short-term rental moratorium and a temporary pause on waterfront commercial development and construction.

The moratorium consideration comes after recent approval by the city to form an STR task force, composed of community stakeholders, with the purpose of developing recommendations for reforms to existing ordinances for consideration by the planning commission and city council.

The waterfront construction pause comes in the wake of an increase in demand to develop and expand structures and buildings along the waterfront  development that could pose environmental risks, given close proximity to the Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo Lake.

Last week, the planning commission voted 5-1 in favor of both moratoriums. The public was given an opportunity to speak both during that meeting and the city council workshop, and many residents did.

I am definitely in favor of this moratorium, said resident Jane Underwood. We have a problem here. I know some people see dollar signs for Saugatuck and Saugatuck has always been a town where money is important. Money is always important and I like it too, but it's gotten out of hand and I fear the town is going to be a dead town.

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We know we have a problem and we need to do something about it. Seriously, I think we can all agree on that. I think we need to figure out how big of a problem we really have. The only way we can do that is with a moratorium.

But STR owners and their supporters felt the city hadn't been transparent. Councilman Gregory Muncey spoke to that issue during last week's public comment.

The idea for a moratorium was never discussed at a council meeting or planning commission meeting before it was introduced as a draft just last week, March 9, a day after our city council workshop, he said. If, as a council member, I was never made aware of the desire or plan to introduce a moratorium, imagine the surprise to our community.

We're starting (the) process of a task force, we dont know the answers. I dont know the answers and Im not coming here saying it should be one way or the other, but I think we need to sit back and look at the data we're going to get from a third party. I think we're going to need to trust our task force to take in hand the responsibility we're giving them."

Saugatuck Director of Planning, Zoning and Management Ryan Cummins said the public was given multiple avenues for comment prior to approval of either moratorium.

The planning commission meetings are public meetings, there are opportunities for public comment, that's the exact process that's laid out, he said. We put the information out in multiple formats and certainly people were reviewing the information and providing feedback to our planning commission via public letters and emails before the meeting.

Council members were unable to reach a consensus on STRs, but agreed to implement the waterfront development moratorium during their regular meeting Monday, March 27. According to Cummins, the STR task force will also be voted on Monday, with its first meeting in April or May.

In the meantime, we're working to identify a planning consultant or planning firm to help assist and facilitate the task forces work to make sure they're able to look at everything holistically, he said.

All task force meetings will be open to the public, with opportunities for public feedback.

Saugatuck isn't the first municipality along Lake Michigan to struggle with short-term rentals. In November, Holland's Park Township voted to ban STRs after a months-long process attempting to regulate them.

"We've heard all the arguments on both sides," said Park Township Clerk Skip Keeter. "We know the history forwards and backwards of Park Township, of our resort background  the fact remains (that) we've always called ourselves, since I've been here, a rural residential community, and as a rural residential community, we expect calm, quiet, nice neighborhoods.

"While I was wrestling with this and trying to decide on this motion, I wondered to myself what would happen if this issue was on a ballot and I think overwhelmingly the residents of Park Township would vote it down. I represent the residents of Park Township, I don't represent the owners ... I represent 18,700-plus people who want to have their rural residential neighborhoods."

The app Vrbo allows vacationers to find short-term rentals across the country, including along the lakeshore.

Park Township, tucked along some of the most scenic pieces of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan, has a population of just under 19,000. For decades, short-term rentals have been disallowed in residential zones  but misinterpretations and "wink-wink" "nudge-nudge" assurances led to an abundance of STRs anyway, residents and rental owners claimed.

The problem was exacerbated by the red-hot real estate market in 2020 and 2021. As properties were snatched up for cash, residents complained about noise violations and other disturbances, and first-time homebuyers asserted the market was artificially inflated and nearly impossible to enter.

But while the door is closed in Park Township, and could be temporarily closed in Saugatuck, it might not be "entirely shut." The decision of either municipality could be undercut by legislation working its way through the Michigan Senate.

If passed and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, House Bill 4722 would amend the Zoning Enabling Act to prohibit municipalities from adopting or enforcing provisions affecting short-term rentals.

The bill passed narrowly in the House in 2021 and advanced to the Senate in late September 2022. It would make the rental of a dwelling a permitted residential use of property statewide. Municipalities could adopt certain ordinances and practices as long as they're applied to all rentals and residences, including regulation of noise, advertising and traffic.

Municipalities could also limit the number of short-term rentals owned by the same person or legal entity, as long as that limit isn't less than two, and municipalities could limit the total number of short-term rentals, as long as that limit isn't less than 30 percent.

The bill is supported by the Michigan Association of Realtors and the Rental Property Owners Association, but opposed by the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association  and, of course, dozens of municipalities statewide, in particular those struggling with affordable housing.

It's unclear where the bill stands after the November election. Short-term rentals, thus far, seem to be a largely bipartisan issue  with neither side taking public stances for or against the bill en masse.

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But in Saugatuck, residents and officials are just looking to maintain the vibrancy locals and tourists have come to love.

Saugatuck is really a special community with amazing character and aesthetics and a great tourism economy that is robust and healthy, Cummins said. I think our planning commission and our policymakers on city council care deeply about this community and, as staff, we're here to support their work and make Saugatuck a better place.

 Contact freelancer Austin Metz at ametz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck leaders grappling over details of short-term rentals
The Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast host has been candid about the challenges of helping to parent her younger brother Grayson and niece Chloe in the wake of her parents' prison sentence

Santiago Felipe/Getty

Savannah Chrisley is adjusting to her new life while her parents are serving time in prison.

The Chrisley Knows Best star, 25, shared her current mindset in an Instagram Story late Thursday, as she adapts to the challenges of her new role as the primary guardian of her brother Grayson Chrisley and niece Chloe Chrisley.

"But who will I call when something good happens? Happiness isn't the same without you here," she shared, reposting a quote from popular Instagram account After Breakup, tagging her father, Todd Chrisley.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced in November after a jury convicted the couple last June of a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and tax evasion scheme. The longtime couple received a combined 19 years behind bars for tax fraud, though they have denied such conduct and are currently appealing their case.

Related:Savannah Chrisley Had a 'Full-on Breakdown' Over Caring for Siblings amid Her Parents' Prison Sentence

With her dad serving a 12-year-sentence at the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, Florida and her mother serving a seven-year term in Lexington, Kentucky, the Unlocked With Savannah Chrisley podcast host is helping to guide her younger sibling and niece, as well as balancing the duties with her burgeoning career.

Savannah Chrisley Instagram

Last month on her podcast, Savannah revealed she was reached a breaking point. "The other night, I had a full-on breakdown," she said. "I was trying to find Chloe proper clothes to go and visit my parents and find her hair stuff. I just sat down on the floor and started crying."

The reality star added, "I am not my mother. How am I going to do this? I don't feel that I am worthy or capable enough of doing the job she's done for all her life."

Related:Savannah Chrisley Vows to Be '110%' Sure 'Without a Doubt' About Next Relationship After Broken Engagement

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At the time, she shared that she turned to Todd for guidance.

"I had a conversation with my dad and he said, 'This is going to be the hardest, but most rewarding thing you've ever done.' I'm starting to see that," Savannah recalled. "It's so crazy because I went from a place, sitting in the same chair thinking about how mad I was at God, 'Why would you allow all these things to happen? One thing after another. Where are you?' Now I'm in a place of such peace."

She added that she hopes Chloe and Grayson will also find "peace and calmness."

Dennis Leupold/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

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"We need to figure out healthier ways to cope with things and deal with things, even if it's just little things I'm trying to implement because I'm not their mom," she explained. "I'm not their dad. I'm their sister."

Savannah has also been open about the effect her parents' incarceration has had on her personal life, this week admitting on her podcast that she's had an "extremely" challenging time fitting any non-familial relationships into her new world.

"I'm helping to raise my 10-year-old sister and 16-year old-brother and I'm trying to date," she said, referring to Chloe  who is her brother Kyle's daughter  as her sibling. "And I'm like, 'What do you do with them?' The 16-year-old, he drives and all that, but the 10-year-old, I'm like, 'You gotta maybe come have dinner with me.' "

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Read the original article on People.
Welcome to your weekly South Carolina politics briefing, a newsletter curated by The States politics and government team.

Richard Eckstrom is out.

The embattled comptroller general announced Thursday hes resigning effective April 30 after he disclosed a $3.5 billion accounting mistake that accumulated over the course of 10 years.

I have never taken service to the state I love or the jobs to which I have been elected lightly, endeavoring to work my colleagues, from constitutional officers to members of the General Assembly, to be a strong defender of the taxpayer and a good steward of their hard-earned tax dollars, Eckstrom said in his resignation letter to Gov. Henry McMaster. They deserve nothing less.

Prior to his resignation, SC lawmakers had sent signals they lost confidence in Eckstrom and made moves to push him out.

The House voted to slash his salary to $1 in the state budget, and lawmakers called for impeachment. Another 35 senators signed onto a resolution to remove Eckstrom from office for willful neglect of duty, and prepared to hold a trial April 11.

The move was so unprecedented that senators researched what a trial in the chamber should look like, even looking at how Illinois handled an impeachment trial when lawmakers threw then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich out of office in 2009.

What happens next?

The General Assembly has to nominate and pick a new comptroller general.

That will take place in a yet-to-be-scheduled joint assembly.

Im certain therell be plenty of people who would want the job, said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley. It is a high-profile statewide position.

Read more: SC Senate panel has advanced legislation that would let voters decide by ballot referendum the future of the comptroller generals office, a $151,000-a-year four-year position that acts as the states chief accountant and fiscal watchdog.

Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom speaks as he celebrates his election win during celebration at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center in Columbia on Tuesday, Nov. 08, 2022.

How SC won Scout

Few local or state leaders knew Volkswagens Scout was courting the Midlands until just before the carmaker said I do to South Carolina.

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The matchmakers  mostly county and state economic development officials, along with Gov. Henry McMaster and a select few others  worked feverishly to tie the very big knot in a matter of weeks, taking a gamble on hefty promises before most in South Carolina even knew what promises were being made, or to whom.

The inside story on how the deal came to be reveals a fast-paced process that hinged on engineering, money, politics and personalities.

A full-on recruiting-style dinner and Sandstorm light show at Williams-Brice Stadium played a part. Negotiations were done while the sour taste of a recent bad deal with Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper still stuck with the states power players.

Scouts eyes turned seriously to South Carolina about a week before Christmas, company CEO Scott Keogh said.

We all said, some of us ... know the state, we know South Carolina. We said, boy, that would be fantastic.

Scout Motors is welcomed to South Carolina during a ceremony at the South Carolina State House on Monday, March 20, 2023. The plant, located in Blythewood, will produce all-electric trucks and rugged SUVs.

2024 Bites

 The State: Some SC GOP voters sticking with Trump for 24; others ready to move on with Haley, Scott

 The State: Expected Trump indictment has done more to help his 2024 bid, SCs Graham says

 POLITICO: South Carolina doesnt wanna be a one-and-done

 CBS News: Ron DeSantis begins to highlight his differences from Trump

 AP: Sen. Scott poised to give 2024 political update to donors

 Post and Courier: Nikki Haley gambles on age appeals  from 20s to 70s  to stand out in GOP presidential race

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks during the Vision 24 National Conservative Forum, March 18, 2023.

Buzz Bites

 The Legislative Audit Council has released one of a two-part audit of the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs that outlines it found, in part, commissioners likely violated public records law, used positions to access information for family members and threatened directors job. The audit comes as senators look at moving the agency under the governors Cabinet.

 North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess, who has hinted he may run for North Charleston mayor, has announced he will retire from the police force May 1, WCBD reports.

 Gov. Henry McMaster weighed in on an expected indictment against former President Donald Trump, telling reporters this week, It is unethical for a prosecutor to bring a case against someone where there is no case. You cant do it. They call it malicious prosecution.

 Conservationists are pushing for the Venus fly trap to be South Carolinas official carnivorous plant, the AP reports.

 Republican Sens. Josh Kimbrell, of Spartanburg, and Danny Verdin, of Laurens, have joined Ken Cuccinellis PAC, Never Back Down, to encourage Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president in 2024.

 A group of South Carolina Republican lawmakers are looking to join a handful of other states that have passed restrictions on certain medical care for transgender children.

 On The Daily Show, Sen. Lindsey Graham bet former Sen. Al Franken $20 that former President Donald Trump will win the 2024 presidential election, POLITICO reports.

 Senate Ethics Committee is admonishing Sen. Lindsey Graham for soliciting campaign contributions inside a federal building after a November 2022 Fox News interview, when he asked viewers to donate to a GOP candidate, the AP reports.

 SC senators voted 31-5 to approve a ban banning Chinese citizens from buying or controlling SC property, but includes a carve out for Chinese-owned companies that already operate in the state, the Post and Courier reports.

 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has named Leroy Chapman Jr. as its new editor-in-chief. Chapman, a former government editor at The State newspaper and columnist and editorial writer at The Greenville News, becomes the first Black editor to lead the newspaper in its 155-year history, the AP reports.

 Gov. Henry McMaster awarded former state Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman the Order of the Palmetto.

 The Lexington 2 school board voted to hire James Vance Jones as the new principal of Brookland-Cayce High School, naming a new permanent head for the school that had its accreditation threatened over a state grading audit.

 Republicans Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Nancy Mace have slammed a controversial state House bill that critics argue could punish South Carolinians seeking abortions with the death penalty, a proposal that Republican leaders say will go nowhere in the General Assembly.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is seen during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing to discuss fraud and waste in federal pandemic spending on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Mark your calendar

March 26

SC Democratic Party Black Caucus annual Sunday Dinner, featuring 2024 candidate Marianne Williamson

March 27

College and university trustee screening commission meets, 1 p.m.

March 28

City of Columbia District 4 special election between Peter Brown and Beatrice King

College and university trustee screening commission meets, 10:30 a.m.

SC House judiciary panel meets on adoption-related legislation, 10:30 a.m.

March 29

SC House judiciary panel discusses bill to stop sex extortion, 9 a.m.

SC Senate panel discusses anti-CRT bill, 9:30 a.m.

March 30

SC Senate LCI discusses appointment of DEW director nomination, 9 a.m.

April 10-14

SC House on furlough

April 18

Income tax filing deadline

April 29

SC Democratic Party holds state convention in Columbia at fairgrounds

The S.C. Democratic Party headquarters is seen at its 1929 Gadsden St. location in Columbia, S.C. on Monday, June 27, 2022. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA)

Before we adjourn

John Jenrette, the former SC congressman whose ascension in politics was brought low by scandal, died last Friday. He was 86.

The colorful antics of his personal life, deemed scandalous and career-ending in the 1970s, would likely be deemed normalized roguery in the fraught and divisive political landscape of the 21st century, his obituary read.

The notorious and legendary Democratic congressmans colorful escapades and dramatic downfall obscured a common touch and many years of service to South Carolina.

Born in Conway, Jenrette worked as a businessman, a lawyer and a city judge and served in the SC House, representing Myrtle Beach from 1965 to 1972. A liberal politician from the conservative Pee Dee, Jenrette was gifted with roguish charisma and the ability to make a deal. He was elected three times to represent the 6th Congressional District.

In 1980, Jenrette was convicted of accepting a $50,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent posing as an Arab sheikh as part of the Abscam corruption investigation. Seven members of Congress were convicted of bribery and corruption.

He was one of the most engaging people I ever met, always ready with a quip and a smile, said The States John Monk.

Pulling the newsletter together this week was Maayan Schechter (My-yahn Schek-ter), senior editor of the The States politics and state government team. You can keep up with her on Twitter and send her tips on Twitter at @MaayanSchechter or by email mschechter@thestate.com.

To stay on top of South Carolina politics and election news, you can chat with us on Facebook, email us tips and follow our stories at scpolitics.com.
South Carolina lawmakers are considering two bills that would ban a transgender child's access to gender-affirming healthcare and restrict transgender residents from being able to change their gender markers on their birth certificate.

Doctors, parents, lawyers and advocates who oppose the Republican-backed effort said Thursday that the language of the bills raises privacy concerns.

The state's move to ban healthcare for minors younger than 18 years of age violated parental rights and the confidential relationship between a doctor, a patient and the child, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack, pediatric expert and South Carolina AAP President.

Doctors in South Carolina dont perform transition surgeries on children younger than 18 and closing off access to puberty blockers and hormone therapies, they said, would also exacerbate a mental health crisis that disproportionately affects LGBTQ children, she continued.

With birth certificates, Tara Borelli with Lambda Legal and Colleen Condon, a family court lawyer from North Charleston, said this proposal would add more hurdles for a transgender resident and wondered about the discrepancy between getting state and federal documentation amended.

If one could get a new passport by simply checking off a box, why did SC require a family court judge to green flag a change, she asked.

Meanwhile, supporters, several of whom have made the rounds of statehouses in Tennessee and Kentucky, argued the studies related to puberty blockers and hormone therapies were not conclusive.

Their stances diverge from medical opinion by leading associations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and allege that blockers and hormones cause irrevocable change to a child's psyche.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg.

Efforts to ban gender-affirming care for minors raise questions about SC GOP's mission to preserve parental rights

Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, who is a sponsor on both bills, said the gender-affirming healthcare bill was not "about hating anybody," rather it was about "protecting the innocence of kids." The main thrust of his argument was that children do not possess the maturity to know better and should not make life-changing decisions.

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"This is not a bill that restricts the right of any adult that can do what he or she desires or chooses to do with their lives," he said about bill S.627, related to gender-affirming healthcare. "This doesn't prevent anybody from having a gender reassignment surgery or hormone replacement therapy as an adult."

The law only outlaws puberty blockers and hormones if it's used to treat gender dysphoria among children. But it would still allow the use of hormones and blockers in other medical cases, which often involve women experiencing menopause and ovarian cysts.

What to know: Gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary communities

A provision of the bill also forces school administrators to inform parents when a child starts exhibiting signs of gender dysphoria.

Mack said the provision could risk "outing" a child. This could be a dangerous scenario, Mack said, especially if the child was not ready or comes from a non-supportive household.

Deborah Greenhouse, a Columbia-based pediatrician, said she has treated children as young as four or five who said they are not the sex they were assigned at birth.

"While these children may not understand the adult concept of sex and gender, they know who they are," she said.

"David," a 50-year-old parent from Charleston County and defense contractor with the Navy, chose to only go by his first name during his remarks. He said he had a 14-year-old transgender daughter who was 3-years-old when she started displaying gender non-conforming traits. Uncomfortable in her own skin, David said his daughter started harming herself when she was just 7.

"She would rather die than be a boy," he said.

Both Greenhouse and David detailed the processes parents and their transgender children must go through to get to the point where they are given puberty blockers and hormones. A pediatrician must first diagnose and recommend mental health counseling. A counselor then confirms whether the pediatricians diagnosis was correct. Doctors assess the time to start medical treatment.

GOP lawmakers across the U.S. have used controversial studies and statistics to trounce access to gender-affirming healthcare.

Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston and Sen. Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville listen to Matt Sharp, counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group.

Nationwide issue: 11 US states have already introduced bills targeting transgender health care in 2023

Kimbrell said 85% of the people who transition later regretted the decision. Richard McCain, an orthopedic doctor not affected by the proposed law, also used the same statistic as Kimbrell and argued puberty blockers and hormones were a product of political science and not "actual science."

Prisha Mosely, 24, said she regretted the transition she made when she was 18 in North Carolina. Though she has de-transitioned back to the sex she was assigned at birth, she said the scars from the surgery are something she will carry for the rest of her life. She gave similar testimony in front of Kentucky state lawmakers.

But Mosely's journey is a rarity according to a host of studies.

A 2021 review of 27 studies, which covered the experiences of nearly 8,000 transgender patients, found that only 1% regretted their transition. Meanwhile, a Jan. 2023 study, touted to be the largest of its kind, found that transgender and non-binary youth using hormones and puberty blockers showed lowered signs of depression and anxiety.

With two vastly different opinions on medical science, it appears South Carolina lawmakers are at another crucial juncture to decide how far parental rights should go.

In 2021, similar votes in Arkansas led to a veto from then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who referred to these proposals as an example of government overreach. Meanwhile, an anti-gender-affirming healthcare bill in Alabama is currently blocked by federal court.

Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Clarendon asked why the state could not leave it to the parents and doctors to decide what was best for children? He brought up education voucher bills and the weeks of debate that followed in January.

If parents could decide what type of book was best for their child to read, why couldnt they do the same when it came to medical decisions?, Johnson asked.

A 'crisis':1 in 4 Black transgender, nonbinary youths attempted suicide in previous year, study finds

SC GOP proposals for birth certificates could trap transgender residents in a sex they don't identify with

Another bill by Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, and Kimbrell, S. 623, would restrict transgender residents' ability to change their sex. If the bill passes, they can only change their original certificate if it had a clerical error in it or if they had it changed within twelve months of their birth due to a medically verifiable sex development issue.

Tara Borelli with Lambda Legal services said that birth certificates were important legal documents in order to obtain a driver's license and for voting identification, and an accurate birth certificate was especially important for transgender people who already face extraordinary levels of harassment and violence in society.

"Having an inaccurate birth certificate forcibly discloses transgender people to others when it may not be safe," Borelli said, adding that this bill would push South Carolina to join the ranks of the most extreme outliers in the U.S., as very few states have historically have banned updates to birth certificates. "And those states have all been sued," Borelli said.

The second and perhaps the most complex part was the rule related to family court judges.

For transgender residents to change their gender marker in their birth certificate, they have to get a doctors note and a court order from a family court judge. Once they have these two pieces of documentation, they can go to DHEC to get the records amended.

Family court lawyer Colleen Condon has represented hundreds of transgender clients who remain in the dark about whether a judge will authorize a change in documentation.

She said most family court judges and lawyers do not have medical degrees. So when clients go to a judge with a case file that was almost always complex, the judges and lawyers failed to understand medical histories and were relying solely on their opinion.

Condon said there is a lack of uniformity and it would aggravate the problem and risk caging a transgender person to a gender identity they do not agree with.

Tenn. Senate OKs push to define 'sex':May risk $1.2B in funding

But there was a solution, Condon said. A DHEC proposal would rely on doctors in the public health agency to peruse a transgender person's medical case file and have the ability to authorize a gender marker change. This would take family courts out of the picture.

If the bill were to advance in its current form, the provisions would inadvertently restrict transgender residents to a sex they don't identify with. No fiscal impact review was submitted, but a similar move in Tennessee put the state in a position to lose over a billion dollars in federal funding.

McCormick lawmaker Billy Garrett wanted to understand why the inability to change the biological sex would matter as much as it does. "Why can't we just put whatever it is if somebody is born as a male, or a female or a female wants to be a male?" he said. "Wouldn't be helpful if everyone knew where everybody stands?

Condon was quick to respond. "I'm not sure anybody needs to know my sexual organs except for my doctors and my intimate partners," Condon said.

Devyani Chhetri covers the South Carolina State House and is a watchdog SC government reporter. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani.

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC Senate debates anti-transgender laws that ban gender identity changes
Have you been receiving scam calls recently? Lexington residents got an average of 11.6 robocalls per person last month, according to one site, and federal agencies offer advice on identifying and stopping them.

Scams have reached an all-time high in Kentucky, and the Office of the Attorney General is constantly working to stay ahead of con artists, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Camerons website reads.

Robocall-blocking software company YouMail estimates Kentucky residents received 51.39 million robocalls in February. More than 22 million robocalls have been made in Lexington alone so far this year, YouMail reports.

The index works by extrapolating the data collected from the many tens of millions of calls made each month to YouMail users, YouMails website reads.

The website estimates alerts and reminders make up 28% of the calls, while 30% are telemarketing, 17% are payment reminders and 25% are scams.

How to report scam calls in Kentucky

Kentucky residents are encouraged to report scams to the attorney generals office by phone at 888-432-9257 or online. The state website accepts reports of scams if they took place via phone, internet, email, mail or in person.

You can report phone call scams to state and federal officials.

The federal government recommends people report phone call scams online to the Federal Trade Commission. Federal agencies say they cant resolve individual cases, but they use reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices.

You can also report unwanted calls and register for the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. The registry stops sales calls from real companies, but it cant stop calls from scammers who ignore it, according to donotcall.gov.

Companies that illegally call numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry or place an illegal robocall can currently be fined up to $43,792 per call, the website says.

Spoofed phone numbers can be reported online through the Federal Communications Commission.

Common phone scams

Here are some examples of common phone call scams, according to the FTC:

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Imposter scams : Someone pretends to be someone you trust, such as a government agency, a family member or a love interest.

Debt relief/credit scams : Fraudulent people or organizations may offer to get your student loans forgiven or fix your credit for a fee.

Business and investment scams : A caller may entice you to start your own business or make a large investment with the promise of big profits.

Charity scams : The FTC reports scammers posing as disaster relief organizations are common.

Extended car warranties : Just because a caller knows the type of car you drive and when you bought it doesnt mean a service contract is legitimate.

Free trials : You could potentially be signed up to purchase subscriptions.

Loan scams : Guaranteed loans for an up-front fee are typically a red flag.

Prize or lottery scams : Scammers may call saying youve won a prize, but you need to pay some sort of up-front charge to receive it.

Travel and timeshare scams: Callers promise free or inexpensive vacations that may actually cost you a lot.

The FTC says the best defense against scam calls is call blocking.

Do you have a question about scams in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany and the European Commission are on the right track toward settling a dispute over banning combustionengine cars and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte raised the prospect of a resolution in the coming days.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The government in Berlin raised last-minute objections to the ban and demanded that cars running on so-called e-fuels should be exempt, irritating some EU partners but also drawing support from others including Italy. The push to phase out combustion vehicles is a key part of the EUs green strategy and officials are trying to prevent the landmark legislation unraveling.

Speaking to reporters before Thursdays EU summit in Brussels, Scholz reiterated Germanys position that the commission needs to make good on a promise to come up with a regulation that would enable new cars running on e-fuels to be registered after the 2035 cut-off date.

It is now only a matter of pragmatically finding the right way to implement this promise, Scholz said. And if I understand the talks between the commission and the German government correctly, as far as the responsible commissioner and the responsible minister are concerned, then everything is on the right track.

In an effort to break the deadlock, the commission has proposed a road map for how cars running on e-fuels could be considered carbon neutral. It promised to publish a statement that would include timelines and outline regulatory solutions essential for allowing new combustion-engine vehicles running on e-fuels to be registered after 2035.

Germanys bid to get an exemption for e-fuels has been led by the business-friendly Free Democrats, the smallest member of the threeparty alliance in Berlin.

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FDP Transport Minister Volker Wissing also sounded upbeat on the prospects of resolving the dispute in an interview earlier Thursday with Deutschlandfunk radio.

We are talking now in a very concrete and detailed way, Wissing said, adding that it was a very complicated legal process that required a certain thoroughness.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told reporters that while her government was committed to the green transition, it shouldnt be the EU that decides what technologies are used to achieve climate goals.

There are technologies where Italy, and therefore the EU, are potentially on the frontline so the decision to focus on technologies de facto held by powers outside the EU is a choice that wont favor competitiveness, she said.

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins was highly critical of Germanys stance, highlighting the anger among some member states that Scholzs government waited until almost the very end of the legislative process before voicing its concerns.

This is somewhat puzzling that a government after all agreements have been made suddenly takes a reverse step, Karins told reporters, saying that represented a very, very difficult sign for the future.

I find it very troubling because if one member state can do it what will stop the next? This is not a direction we need to go, he said. The entire architecture of decision making would fall apart if we all did that.

--With assistance from Jasmina Kuzmanovic, Jorge Valero, Ania Nussbaum, Niclas Rolander, Slav Okov, Natalia Ojewska, John Ainger, Ewa Krukowska, Lyubov Pronina, Jan Bratanic, Daniel Hornak, Stephanie Bodoni, Alessandro Speciale and Katharina Rosskopf.

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Demetra Marsh knows teens talk to each other about their mental health and what theyre dealing with day to day.

Marsh is a parent of two children  one middle school student and another who will be a sixth grader next year.

Shes also the PTA president at Renaissance West STEAM Academy and helping champion a new club at the Charlotte Pre-K-8 school that will give middle school students a place to discuss mental health. The goal, she says, is to build leadership and combat the stigma of talking about the topic.

I see the importance of equipping students with the tools to talk about and cope with mental health and equipping adults with the tools to engage in conversation, Marsh said.

Active Minds is an organization whose clubs want students to start conversations about mental health. The nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., is contacting Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and its middle schools to start clubs as early as next school year.

Students lead the conversations with adult facilitators, Lauren Cikara, the vice president of school mental health with Active Minds, told The Charlotte Observer. Its a club environment with a mental health literacy and advocacy lens. Its not a clinical space.

Active Minds has been in colleges and universities for two decades, including at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Its expanded to high schools and now will pilot the We Are Active Minds Middle School program in North Carolina, Florida and Minnesota starting in fall 2023.

The clubs also celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion, Cikara says.

Alison Malmon founded Active Minds when she was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania following the suicide of her older brother and only sibling, Brian.

Her organization says a majority of mental illnesses start between ages 14 and 24, and about 67% of young adults tell a friend they are suicidal before telling anyone else because of stigmas. Its why Active Minds has created safe spaces for students at the high school and college  and now  middle school levels.

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We should be talking about mental health like we talk about physical health, Cikara said. We know peers are talking to each other to disclose what theyre going through. These clubs and chapters help youth elevate those conversations, and the facilitators help lead the conversations.

A huge resource

The clubs formed in district schools will join investments CMS has made to make student mental health a priority since the pandemic started. The district budgeted $1.5 million of federal COVID relief for contracted mental health services.

The services are provided for uninsured and underinsured students who need mental health services. Roughly 290 students have taken advantage, attending a total of 1,500 therapy sessions since the summer. CMS also hired 63 counselors, social workers and psychologists, increasing social work student contacts by 50%.

A lot of schools were ringing the alarm bells on student mental health before the pandemic, Cikara said. K-12 schools have known this is an issue  the pandemic just put an interesting spotlight on it by opening up the conversation.

The club and investments also come as North Carolinas students mental health tumble, according to a 2022 Healthy Active Children Policy report presented to the State Board of Education. In 2021, 33% of the states high school students said they felt alone in life, an increase from 19% in 2011, and 43% felt sad and hopeless, an increase from 28% in 2011, according to the report.

The percentage of the states middle schoolers feeling sad in 2021 increased 10% from 2011, from 25% to 35%. The percentage of North Carolina students who seriously considered attempting suicide also increased in 2021, according to the report.

Connie Cabbs, of the Mecklenburg County Council PTA, is sharing the Active Minds program with local middle school staff and parents. She calls it a huge resource for parents and educators.

It is a brilliant way to engage young people in the conversations around mental health, Cabbs said. (It) provides a platform where students can collaborate with one another in order to create healthier mindsets that will promote healthier environments.

Active Minds offers helplines for teens. Text or call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Reach a crisis text line by texting BRAVE to 741-741.

In North Carolina, the Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) connect residents with emotional support and mental health resources to help build coping skills and resilience during times of crisis.
Scientists believe they have found an explanation for unusual radar signatures found at the edge of the solar system.

Icy satellites that are in orbit around Jupiter and Saturn have perplexed scientists because they are so different from both rocky worlds and most ice on Earth. The markedly different radar signatures have led to questions about how they are composed.

The objects are also extremely bright, even in areas that would be expected to be dark.

Six different models have been published in an attempt to explain the radar signatures of the icy moons that orbit Jupiter and Saturn, said Jason Hofgartner, a co-author of the new study. The way these objects scatter radar is drastically different than that of the rocky worlds, such as Mars and Earth, as well as smaller bodies such as asteroids and comets.

Now scientists believe that a specific effect, known as the coherent backscatter opposition effect or CBOE, is likely to explain the extraordinary radar signatures coming back from the satellites.

When youre at opposition, the Sun is positioned directly behind you on the line between you and an object, the surface appears much brighter than it would otherwise, Hofgartner said. This is known as the opposition effect. In the case of radar, a transmitter stands in for the Sun and a receiver for your eyes.

On an icy surface, that effect is even stronger. Light is scattered as it bounces through the ice, which brightens it further.

I think that tells us that the surfaces of these objects and their subsurfaces down to many meters are very tortured, said Dr Hofgartner. Theyre not very uniform. Icy rocks dominate the landscape, perhaps looking somewhat like the chaotic mess after a landslide. That would explain why the light is bouncing in so many different directions, giving us these unusual polarization signatures.

The work is described in an article, An icy-satellite radar-properties continuum that requires the coherent backscatter effect, published in Nature Astronomy today.

It builds on work published in the 1990s that suggested CBOE as an explanation for those unusual radar signatures. Then, researchers suggested other explanations could account for the strange data.

But the new work builds on the model behind that theory and the researchers claim it is now the only process that would explain all of the different and unexpected properties of the satellites.
UPDATE: Eaton police reported late Friday night that Scottie Morris has been found. The department says medics are checking him out but that hes safe.

Early Saturday morning, police said the teen has been put in another home and that officers worked with Indiana Department of Child Services, according to the Muncie Star Press. No other details have been provided.

Eaton schools were just about to start spring break when the small Indiana community began searching for Scottie Morris.

The 14-year-old Delta Middle School student was last seen March 16, when his family told police he left the home in the cold, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts. Here's a look at what's happened since then.

Missing Indiana teen:Eaton police say 14-year-old has been found alive and well

March 16: Scottie Morris leaves his family's home

In the initial photo police posted, taken the day he reportedly left, he was wearing a white T-shirt scrawled with writing calling him a liar. Police later cropped it to remove the wording. Police said the photo was used because it was what Morris was wearing when he left home.

Flyers featuring missing child Scottie Dean Morris, hang at the Country Mark gas station in Eaton Ind. on Monday March 20, 2023. Morris, 14, left his family's home in Eaton about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023, and has not been seen since.

What we know:Scottie Dean Morris of Eaton, Indiana, still missing

March 17: Silver alert issued for Eaton teen

A statewide Silver Alert went out in Indiana stating that the Eaton Police Department was investigating the disappearance of Scottie Dean Morris. A news release from the Indiana State Police described him as 14 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes "last seen wearing black shoes, red and black shorts and a white T-shirt with writing on the front."

Anyone with information about the boy's whereabouts was asked to call 911 or contact Eaton police at 765-396-3297.

March 17-18: Officials and volunteers search area around Eaton

Volunteer Cody Bales of Eaton searches along the river near the intersection of Eaton-Wheeling Pike and Walnut St. for missing child Scottie Dean Morris, in Eaton Ind. on Monday March 20, 2023. Morris, 14, left his family's home in Eaton about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023, and has not been seen since.

Search parties looked for Scottie Morris around Eaton, which is 9 miles north of Muncie. Delaware Community Schools assisted by providing school buses to transport searchers.

March 19: Indiana State Police scan area using infrared cameras

Police temporarily halted on-the-ground searches to allow state troopers in helicopters to scan the area with infrared cameras.

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Search for Scottie Morris:Eaton teen still missing after polygraph tests, infrared cameras, search parties

March 19: Eaton Police Department asks public for help collecting video footage

In a Facebook post the weekend after Scottie Morris went missing, police posted to Facebook asking for those who live Eaton to check security cameras for any footage from the night he left home.

March 20: Searches continue in the area, including Mississinewa River

After the weekend, police continued combing the area using "professional grid searches" that the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency helped set up.

March 20: Felicia Morris, missing teen's mother, makes plea on TV news

Scottie Dean Morris' mother appeared briefly on an Indianapolis TV news broadcast the Monday after he went missing, urging her son to return home.

March 21: Eaton police meet with other law enforcement agencies

In a news release, the Eaton Police department announced it would be meeting with the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and "a federal organization." Organized, public searches were stopped, and police said IDNR "will be assisting with boats, sonar, and drone and dive teams if needed" to check water in and near Eaton.

March 22: Police renew call for security camera footage

Police are seeking footage from any Eaton residents who have cameras on their houses. For the second time since Scottie's disappearance, the Eaton Police Department asked on its Facebook page for residents to check their footage from 8:15-11 p.m. on Thursday, March 16.

March 23: Community holds vigil for Scottie Dean Morris

The family and friends of missing Scottie Dean Morris lead a candlelight vigil and march from Grace and Mercy Full Gospel Church to a nearby park where a cross was erected on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Eaton Indiana. Morris,14, left his family's home in Eaton about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023, and has not been seen since.

Family, friends and community members gathered at an Eaton church for a candlelight vigil and march to nearby Norseman Park. Attendees prayed for Scottie Morris and tied green ribbons around a large wooden cross.

"He's a great friend of mine and I just want to support him and his family," one of Scottie's classmates said. "I've been sending prayers to them."

Eaton Police Chief Jay Turner and several of his department's officers were also on hand at the event.

March 24: Police say bones found in fire pit were not human

The Eaton Police Department posted on Facebook responding to rumors that human remains had been found, saying the claim was false.

"We were dispatched to an area of interest last night, however, there were no human remains found there," police wrote in the post.

Later, Police Chief Jay Turner posted a news release with more information about the search the previous evening. He wrote that they had responded to County Road 1200 North, where someone had reported finding bones in a "fire type pit" in a barn. "After investigating and confirming with three different forensic anthropologists, the bones were said to be that of an animal," Turner wrote.

Turner also said that the department was working with the Indiana State Police's cyber crime unit on the case.

March 24-25, Scottie Dean Morris found alive and well

At 10:58 p.m., Eaton police wrote "Scottie has been located and found safe!" on Facebook.

"Medics are checking him out now and we will be conducting interviews."

By 11:30 p.m., Eaton Police Chief Jay Turner told The Star Press that Scottie will be taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for a full body exam.

Turner did not say how the teen was found by an Easton officer Friday night, according to the Star Press. Morris was reportedly speaking with his mother when an officer found him.

By 3 a.m., chief said that his department and Indiana Department of Child Services worked together and that "Scottie has been placed in another home for the evening."

The family is cooperating with the investigation, according to police.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Scottie Dean Morris: Eaton teen found safe, police report
Search parties are looking for a missing 14-year-old boy in Delaware County.

Scottie Dean Morris, 14, left his family's home in Eaton about 8:30 p.m. March 16, 2023, and has not been seen since.

Indianapolis woman missing:Family, police search for Rachel Young, last seen Feb. 18

Here is what we know about the search for the missing boy:

Photo shows Scottie Dean Morris wearing shirt with writing before disappearance

The teen had apparently been in conflict with adults at his home on Thursday, and after the disappearance, Eaton police at first posted a photo online  reportedly taken earlier that day  that showed the youth looking unhappy and wearing a shirt that had words scrawled on it, referring to the boy as a liar.

The photo was later cropped to no longer show the wording on the shirt. Eaton Police Chief Jay Turner said the photo had been posted quickly because of concerns for the boy's safety, given that he was last seen wearing shorts and a T-shirt on an especially cold evening.

THE LATEST:Search for Scottie Morris stops as police run out of places to look

Turner said his department has had no previous dealings with Morris, who the chief said was described as a "very nice young man" by those who know him, including staff at Delta Middle School.

Where is Eaton, Indiana?

Eaton is about an hour and 15 minutes northeast of Indianapolis.

Scott Morris photos

What does Scottie Dean Morris look like?

A statewide Silver Alert for Scottie Morris was issued at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2023.

He is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing black shoes, red and black shorts and a white T-shirt with writing on the front. Morris is a student at Delta Middle School in Delaware County, Indiana.

Scottie Dean Morris

Morris is "believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance," according to a news release from Indiana State Police.

Who should I contact with information on the disappearance?

Anyone with information is asked to call the Eaton Police Department at 765-396-3297 or 911.

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When and where did search parties look for Scottie Dean Morris?

Search parties  made up of both law enforcement professionals, emergency responders and volunteers  combed the area around Eaton, a town of about 1,500 residents 9 miles north of Muncie, on both Friday and Saturday.

"It's unbelievable the way the community has come together," Turner said, referring both to the searches and efforts by others to support those looking for the teen.

Officials with Delaware Community Schools were on hand with Eaton police on Monday and provided school buses to transport searchers.

Scottie Morris missing:Police investigate with polygraph tests, infrared cameras, search parties

The on-the-ground search efforts were temporarily halted Sunday to allow Indiana State Police troopers in helicopters to scan the area using infrared cameras.

The search resumed Monday in areas including near the iron bridge east of the unincorporated community of Granville, and near other bridges along Eaton-Wheeling Pike. Officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources also searched along the Mississinewa River near Eaton.

The searches were not being randomly conducted, Turner said. The Delaware County Emergency Management Agency has helped set up "professional grid searches."

On Monday night, March 20, Eaton's police chief said in a live Facebook video that the search would end. He said police, emergency responders and volunteers had simply run out of logical places to look for the missing youth.

On the department's Facebook page, police later clarified that although the volunteer search had ended, they are still searching for Scottie Morris.

Are Scottie Morris' parents suspects in his disappearance?

Asked whether the boy's parents were considered suspects in his disappearance, Turner said, "We've done polygraph tests and we're looking elsewhere."

One hope is that the teenager might be staying in a local home. Del-Com schools are on spring break and some families are out of town on vacation, Turner said.

Timeline in the disappearance of Scottie Morris

March 16: Morris left his familys home around 8:30 p.m. and has not been seen since. He had apparently been in conflict with adults in the home.

March 17: A statewide silver alert was issued for Morris at 7:30 p.m. A news release from Indiana State Police stated he is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.

March 17-18: Law enforcement professionals, emergency responders and volunteers combed the area around Eaton looking for the missing boy.

March 19: The on-the-ground search efforts were temporarily halted to allow Indiana State Police troopers in helicopters to scan the area using infrared cameras.

March 20: Searches for the missing boy continued in areas including near the iron bridge east of the unincorporated community of Granville, and near other bridges along Eaton-Wheeling Pike. Officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources were also going to search areas of the Mississinewa River.

March 23: Vigil planned by area churches scheduled for 7 p.m. at 301 E. Harris St. in Eaton.

Vigil in Eaton, Indiana:Community lights candles, prays for missing teen's safe return

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. IndyStar reporter Jake Allen and IndyStar Producer Jenny Porter Tilley contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Scottie Dean Morris missing: Investigation underway in Eaton, Indiana
Nation shares water-governance practices

08:35, March 24, 2023 By MINLU ZHANG at the United Nations ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Workers clean up rubbish on Dianchi Lake in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying said on Wednesday that China adheres to the new development concept of innovation, coordination, going green, openness and sharing, and the country has made great progress in realizing the water-related goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Li made the remarks in a speech at the United Nations Water Conference, the organization's first such event in almost five decades, which runs through Friday at its headquarters in New York.

The minister, who is leading a delegation of water experts to the conference, said China has fully implemented its national water-saving action plan. With only 6 percent of the world's freshwater resources, the country has guaranteed water supply for nearly 20 percent of the global population and generated more than 18 percent of the world's total economic output, he said.

Among the major progress China has made in terms of implementing the water-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda is the promotion of the integration of urban and rural water supply networks, the centralized water supply system and the standardized construction of small-scale water projects, Li said while addressing the general debate at the conference's plenary session.

The country has fully implemented the mechanism of river and lake chiefs, a network of leading officials responsible for monitoring the condition of specific water bodies. There are 1.2 million such officials performing these duties across the country, Li said.

"China also actively promotes international exchanges and cooperation, and continues to support developing countries in improving water governance and water supply capabilities," he added.

Based on the country's practices and experiences in implementing the water-related goals of the 2030 Agenda, Li put forward four proposals.

First, efforts should be made to ensure the basic right of all people to have access to safe drinking water, especially those living in remote rural areas that are affected by poverty and drought.

"Residents of remote villages cannot obtain this right solely through individual efforts. Governments, social organizations and even the international community should provide support and assistance for equitable access to this basic right," the minister said.

Li's second proposal involves full understanding of the finiteness and irreplaceability of freshwater resources.

"This requires residents of the global village to jointly fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of sustainably utilizing freshwater resources, and to actively promote and realize agricultural water conservation and efficiency enhancement, industrial water conservation and emission reduction, and urban energy conservation," he said.

His third proposal is to "respect the basic rights of rivers in nature, regard rivers as life forms, construct river ethics, maintain the healthy life of rivers and realize the harmonious coexistence of people and rivers".

Fourth, he said that facing the challenges of the intensifying global climate change and its impact, it is necessary to fully utilize the role of UN agencies and provide a platform for communication and collaboration among governments, international organizations, think tanks, social organizations and other stakeholders to participate in the global response to climate change according to their respective strengths.

This will enable the gathering of wisdom and strength to address water disasters and tackle problems in such issues as water resources, water environment and water ecology, he added.

About 6,000 people from more than 200 countries and international organizations are attending the UN Water Conference.

The three-day event will have six plenary meetings, five interactive dialogue meetings and more than 200 side meetings, marking the midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the objectives of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development (2018-28), according to the UN.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
TRENTON - A New Jersey State Police trooper who walked away from a medical facility in suburban Philadelphia on March 19 has been found in Pennsylvania, authorities say.

Jason Dare, 46, of Cumberland County, was found safely on Friday morning, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman.

Police offered no additional information about Dare, including where and how he was found.

A state police Facebook post thanked the public "for your support and your invaluable tips."

More: Family upset with court systemPrison term for killer in Mount Holly murder goes from 60 years to 30. How it happened

A Pennsylvania State Police spokeswoman referred questions to New Jersey State Police.

Dare, described as a missing and endangered person, was seen walking away from a medical facility in Media, Pa., around 6:51 p.m. on Sunday, March 19.

Jason Dare

Police have not said why Dare was considered endangered and it wasn't made public why he was at the medical facility or why he left.

A Vineland man named Jason Dare, also 46, has worked in law enforcement for years and joined the state police in 2004, according to his LinkedIn page.

Comments beneath the state police Facebook post on the search for Dare initially offered prayers and concerns for Dare and his family. The messages expressed gratitude on Friday morning.

"Glad to see my old right guard from the SJ Giants Days, is safe," said a Facebook poster identified as Chris Matuszak, in an apparent reference to a semi-pro league.

"So many people love you," commented a Facebook user identified as Danielle Schuster-Burke. "Thank God you're safe."

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Search over for missing NJ State Police trooper
Seattle police recovered a stolen gun during an encampment clean-up in SODO on Thursday morning.

Police got to the RV encampment, in the 2200 block of 3rd Avenue South, around 9:00 a.m. to help Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Seattle Department of Transportation work crews as they started clean-up.

According to the Seattle Police Department, a Parks employee told officers they saw what they thought was part of a gun sticking out of a backpack that a man in the encampment was wearing.

Officers could clearly see part of a gun sticking out of the mans backpack and took it from the backpack.

It turned out to be a modified rifle that had a cut barrel.

A check of the serial number showed the gun had been stolen in Seattle in 2020, and the 34-year-old man was taken into custody.

He was then transported to Harborview Medical Center for an unrelated medical issue. Officers are going to request charges for possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful firearm parts and contraband once he is released.








Rockets hit another U.S. base in Syria on Friday following a U.S. strike on facilities controlled by Iranian-backed militia groups.

The rocket attacks fired at the Green Village base, located in the Al-Omar gas field of northeastern Syria, caused no casualties, according to Maj. John Moore, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Washington launched retaliatory strikes on Thursday night against Iranian-backed fighters after a drone strike killed a U.S. contractor and injured five American service members along with another contractor earlier that day.

The drone strike was carried out by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the Pentagon, at a coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria around 1:38 p.m. local time on Thursday.

After carrying out the retaliatory strikes in response to the drone attack, CENTCOMs commander, Gen. Michael Kurilla, said the U.S. will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement. The thoughts and prayers of US Central Command are with the family of our contractor killed and with our wounded servicemembers and contractor.

Our troops remain in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, which benefits the security and stability of not only Syria, but the entire region, he continued.

About 900 American troops are based in eastern Syria to train and assist allied fighters in a conflict against the U.S.-designated terrorist group ISIS.

Iranian-backed groups have attacked U.S. troops in Syria at least 78 times since 2021, Kurilla told a House Armed Services Committee hearing this week.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) responded the amount of attacks was a big number.

We should be focusing more on that, that Irans doing this, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Update: This story was updated to note that Ms. James is chairwoman of the Defense Business Board and serves on the board of Aerojet Rocketdyne, a maker of jet propulsion systems.

At the McAleese & Associates conference in Washington on March 15, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall expressed worry about the Air Force decision to not move forward with a new engine for the F-35, citing difficult budget choices. Having served as secretary of the Air Force, I understand better than most how tough these decisions can be and I also share his worry.

Secretary Kendall has been one of our most clear-eyed leaders, articulating the challenge of Chinas military capabilities for years. He understands that ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific squarely depends on fielding military capabilities that will deter today while also buttressing an enduring commitment to the region that will check future generations of Chinas autocratic leadership. There was no better illustration of the challenge when just a few weeks ago, Chinas new Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned that no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation with the United States.

One challenge that Pentagon leaders must always face is balancing investments between current capabilities and future systems. There is no better illustration of this tension than U.S. munitions production for Ukraine after years of underinvestment in capacity have left us struggling to catch back up. When it comes to the Indo-Pacific, we need to be careful to not sacrifice the immediate for the future. We must support both.

Unfortunately, when it comes to air power, this years budget misses a critical opportunity to field new engine technology by 2028 that will dramatically multiply our capability in the region and improve deterrence through the F-35 program. The F-35 is best known as our fifth generation tactical fighter, but it does so much more as a highly advanced sensing node with tremendous computing power. As we develop a fully networked force with our allies and partners, the ability of the F-35 to collect and synthesize data will be an incredible force multiplier as part of Joint All Domain Command and Control, or JADC2. To harness these capabilities, our services need a much better engine.

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Until this year we were on the right path. The Air Force has funded a competitive program called the Adaptive Engine Transition Program or AETP, that has led to groundbreaking advancements in engine technology that will significantly improve the lethality, readiness and durability of our most advanced fighter and field those capabilities in just a few years. As part of a difficult budget environment, however, the Air Force decided to cancel AETP and punt on next generation engine technology to a future sixth generation fighter. Instead, they are supporting a more limited upgrade to the current Pratt & Whitney built F135 engines on the F-35.

While an upgrade of the F135 should improve durability, it neither offers the leap in capability that a competitive AETP program provides, nor does it offer the long-term savings that a more efficient engine offers. For example, technology developed within the AETP program has established 30% greater range, 20% greater acceleration and two times the thermal management of the current engine. It can do this through adaptive cycle technology that dramatically improves efficiency and an integrated third stream cooling system that will be able to handle future iterations of computing requirements. This is the type of capability that a competitive program between Pratt & Whitney and General Electric is already developing for our warfighter.

If this next generation technology can be ready, it is critical that we apply that technology to current platforms to address near term threats. It is now up to Congress to ensure that we get back on track and fully optimize this generational technology so that we can meet the challenge posed by China and improve our deterrence.

Deborah Lee James, who is chairwoman of the Defense Business Board, served as the 23rd secretary of the Air Force from 2013-2017. She serves on the board of jet propulsion manufacturer Aerojet Rockeydyne, as well as other defense-related corporate boards.

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Northern lights sparkled across Washington and other parts of the U.S. after an intense solar storm hit the past two days.

Initially, weather experts predicted a minor to moderate geomagnetic storm from March 23 to March 25, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

But instead a strong geomagnetic storm struck on March 23, followed by a severe one March 24.

Forecasters did not see this one coming, SpaceWeather.com said in a blog post.

The severe solar storm was the most intense storm in the past six years, the space weather monitoring website said.

A severe solar storm could cause issues to power systems, including possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems will mistakenly trip out key assets from the grid, according to NOAA.

G4 (Severe) Levels Reached! If you have clear skies tonight, look for the aurora where it may be visible. pic.twitter.com/kiMh9203m0  NOAA Space Weather (@NWSSWPC) March 24, 2023

These unexpectedly strong storms brought glowing northern lights over northern parts of the country, including Washington, and they reached as far south as Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, NOAA said on Twitter.

But only those with clear skies were able to see the dazzling lights.

The National Weather Service in Spokane, Washington, caught a photo of the lights before 9 p.m. March 23.

Tonights aurora is STUNNING! Spokane wont have clear skies for much longer, so nows your chance to get out and see the lights, the weather agency said on Twitter.

Tonight's aurora is STUNNING! Spokane won't have clear skies for much longer, so now's your chance to get out and see the lights pic.twitter.com/IkDaNjGkUK  NWS Spokane (@NWSSpokane) March 24, 2023

The National Weather Service in Seattle shared a jaw-dropping photo of the colorful display that was seen in Hansville on March 23, which is about 35 miles northwest of Seattle.

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That color of aurora is not common around here, the agency said about the purple and pink hues.

There's something about the period around equinoxes that seem excite auroras. I mean, after a day like yesterday, who wouldn't be?



This image from @Skunkbayweather in Hansville this morning is just jaw dropping. And that color of aurora is not common around here. #wawx pic.twitter.com/RXYLYP2q7f  NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 23, 2023

Skunkbayweather captured the aurora in Hansville on March 24.

Anyone who missed the northern lights will get another chance to see them this evening, March 24, the National Weather Service in Spokane said on Twitter.

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The power of one.

One business can stop a city ordinance under a new bill designed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo that passed its final legislative committee on Thursday.

The measure, HB 1515 and SB 170, requires counties and cities to produce a business impact estimate prior to passing an ordinance and allows a business owner to file a lawsuit claiming the ordinance is arbitrary or unreasonable and halt a local ordinance within 90 days of its enactment. The court would have to give the lawsuit an expedited hearing, but local officials would have no option but to suspend the rule or law regardless of how long they spent developing it and no matter whether the community is demanding it.

It is a powerful new tool intended to end the perennial preemption battle that takes place in Tallahassee, said Passidomo, a Naples real estate attorney who conceived of the idea last year. But opponents warn that it will have a chilling effect on the willingness of cities and counties to manage their communities.

The purpose of that bill is to be the end of all preemptions, Passidomo said on Thursday. Im sick and tired of us having to preempt when a local government passes an ordinance thats unreasonable. I call it stupid.

READ MORE: Miami Beach wants this nightclub to stop liquor sales at 2 a.m. The club is suing

Democrats, many of them former local elected officials, warned that the law includes no definition of what is arbitrary and unreasonable. They said they fear that a single business could use the measure to overturn local ordinances to prohibit wage theft, puppy mills, and lighting restrictions intended to protect breeding sea turtles in coastal communities. They say it could also affect the ability to regulate strip clubs and drag shows and even impose noise restrictions in neighborhoods.

The vague language, in my humble opinion, leaves great room for judicial advocacy in defining that, said Rep. Ashley Gantt, a Miami lawyer and a Democrat. If we talk about the sanctity of democracy  this bill is the antithesis to that purpose.

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A rival idea last year

Last year, Passidomos idea won the reluctant support of the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities because the idea was less onerous than the more punitive measure that was being advanced by Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, who was then Senate president.

Under that bill, SB 620, taxpayers would have been required to pay damages if a local government ordinance resulted in a business losing 15% of its revenue. But Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the Simpson bill. DeSantis warned it would lead to both unintended and unforeseen consequences and costly litigation.

This year, lawmakers revived Passidomos idea, and it has the support of some of the states largest business interests: the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Retail Federation, and the Florida Association of Home Builders.

The League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties have supported it. But individual counties and cities, including Miami-Dade County, have expressed opposition.

Ocean 9 liquor store was closed at 6 PM, on Saturday, March 26, 2022, due to a state of emergency imposed by the City of Miami Beach that also enforced a midnight curfew for the South Beach area, due to two shootings in Miami Beach the weekend before.

Under the bill, taxpayers will be on the hook for the defense of any legal challenge. If the business loses the lawsuit, it will pay its own legal fees, but it does not have to reimburse taxpayers for the local government legal fees.

What youre saying is anyone can file their lawsuit, even if they have deep pockets and its for the wrong reasons, and all of my residents in my community have to pay those fees under your new statute. Is that correct? Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat, asked the sponsor of the bill on Thursday during a lengthy debate in the House State Affairs Committee meeting.

That is correct, replied Rep. Robbie Brackett, a Republican and former Vero Beach mayor.

This legislation does not prohibit any ordinance of any kind to be done, it just holds them accountable if it was deemed by the courts to be unreasonable, he said.

Bartleman suggested that a better approach would be to keep the ordinance in place until a challenge goes through the legal process. She noted that there will be Republican-dominated communities like The Villages that have spent weeks or months developing an ordinance, and because of one random business with deep pockets and a strong legal team the ordinance can be frozen.

It would just paralyze all local government, said Rep. Joe Casello, a Democrat and former Boynton Beach city commissioner. These people have a voice on these ordinances. Theyre posted twice so everybody can have their input and an educated decision is made.  To come up here and tell my constituents whats good for them is ludicrous.

Influence can come from inside and outside government

Rep. Jim Mooney, an Islamorada Republican, said he has watched as people on the outside use inside sources to attack good ordinances, and unfortunately theyre usually going to win because of time and money.

He said he didnt see the bill as the mother of all preemptions but a watered down version of the measure they passed last year.

But Rep. Juan Fernandez Barquin, a Miami Republican, said he has seen the opposite happen, when a small group of activists pressured the city commission to pass an arbitrary and capricious ordinance.

This bill will balance the playing field and hopefully the looming threat will bring the local government back to the negotiating table and at least further amend the ordinance, he said.

Jackson Oberlink, lobbyist for the advocacy group Florida Rising, told the committee that he feared the bill will make it harder for his hometown community of Indian River to protect residents from another blue-green algae outbreak in its waterways.

If this bill passes, it would allow for big sugar, sewage companies and chemical manufacturers to sue Indian River County for trying to protect the lagoon and stop them from enforcing ordinances that would regulate pollution, he said. There are many possible unintended consequences that clearly have not been considered. This bill serves corporations, not working-class Floridians.

Exemptions to the proposed rule

There are some exceptions to the presumption that an ordinance be stopped because of a legal challenge. For example, if a local government declares that an emergency exists requiring the immediate enactment of an



ordinance, such as the emergency rule Miami Beach passed last week to address spring break crowds. Those emergency rulings could be challenged as well but not given the automatic preemption by the court.

Sen. Travis Hutson, a Palm Coast Republican who advocated for the Passidomo bill last year, said that without this legislation it can now take years for a business that has been negatively impacted by a local ordinance to get a resolution through the courts.

Because of that, businesses and legislators have turned to the Legislature to resolve the disputes by imposing rules that preempt local governments from regulating everything from cruise ships, to sunscreen, to natural gas hook-ups, plastic straws and single-use plastic bags.

This is just saying look, theres a stay [of the ordinance], courts have a rocket docket to make this go as fast as you can; they figure out a ruling, and then its over and it doesnt escalate up to our level, Hutson said Thursday. The state keeps the business afloat until the courts resolve it.

The Senate has passed the bill and it is now headed for a vote of the full House.

Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com and @MaryEllenKlas
A bipartisan group of senators are calling for President Biden to share U.S.-collected evidence of Russian war crimes with the International Criminal Court, pushing back against reported objections by the Department of Defense.

In a letter to the president sent on Friday, senior lawmakers raised concern over reports that the Pentagon is blocking the U.S. from sharing key evidence with the ICC related to alleged Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine.

The letter notes that this would run counter to efforts by Congress to increase cooperation with the international court.

Congress in December removed a prohibition of U.S. cooperation with the ICC specifically in the case of investigations surrounding Russias war in Ukraine, but the letter notes that the U.S. reportedly has not yet shared key evidence that could aid in these prosecutions.

Knowing of your support for the important cause of accountability in Ukraine, we urge you to move forward expeditiously with support to the ICCs work so that Putin and others around him know in no uncertain terms that accountability and justice for their crimes are forthcoming.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that the Department of Defense was blocking the U.S. from providing evidence to the ICC despite support from the White House and National Security Council to do so.

The evidence reportedly includes material about decisions by Russian officials to deliberately target civilian infrastructure and Russias abduction of Ukrainian children.

The ICC last week issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russias presidential commissioner for childrens rights, for the war crime of forced relocation of children.

The letter to the president was led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It was signed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Story continues

The U.S. has had a checkered history with the ICC.

It generally supports international efforts at accountability, but is not a signatory to the courts treaty, the Rome Statute, and walks a fine line over protecting the immunity of non-signatories.

In particular, the U.S. opposed efforts by the ICC to investigate allegations of atrocities committed by American forces in Afghanistan.

The Biden administration has sought to improve relations with the ICC, lifting sanctions on the ICCs chief prosecutor that were imposed by the former Trump administration. The ICC, in turn, sidelined its investigation into U.S. forces.

And while Congress has made moves to give the U.S. more authority to assist the ICC to investigate Russias war crimes, the Pentagon is sensitive to the implications of such efforts on American forces, a congressional aide told The Hill.

That has put the U.S. in a rough spot with the courts pursuit of war crimes allegations against Russia, which is also not a signatory and has rejected the authority of the courts arrest warrant.

The senators, in their letter to Biden, urged action.

The United States is on the right side of this war, and we must do everything possible to hold the perpetrators accountable.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The NAACP of Florida has moved forward with plans calling for out-of-state visitors to avoid traveling to Florida, as reported by our sister station Action News Jax.

This proposal comes in response to certain bills being discussed in Tallahassee that the NAACP says are targeting some minority communities.

Action News Jax spoke with Isaiah Rumlin, president of NAACP Jacksonville, who said enough is enough.

This is the only way you can get the attention of those who are in power is when you hit them in the pocketbook, Rumlin said.

Read: Family remembers Tyre Sampson 1 year after his death on the Orlando FreeFall ride

Rumlin said they approved a resolution about this ban to be presented to the national board within the next three to four weeks, and he believes the organization will go forward with it.

We will be advocating that people from other parts of the country dont visit Florida, Rumlin said.

Rumlin and the NAACP members think this will have an impact on the state because of how much money it sees from visiting travelers and tourists.

Read: Python hunters find missing Marion County woman, 75, in South Florida

We understand if that happens that would have a vast impact on the economy in the state of Florida, Rumlin said.

Rumlin said this plan came about after certain bills aimed at limiting African-American history in schools, targeting voting rights, and cutting advanced studies programs were presented.

Action News Jax asked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about this today during a press conference in Clay County, he questioned the reasoning behind the plan.

Read: Check out Disneys newest local restaurants coming this year

This is a stunt to try to do that, a pure stunt. And fine, if you want to waste your time on a stunt, thats fine, DeSantis said.

Rumlin gave us his thoughts about the governors reaction.

We are serious, I think once the national board approves a resolution, he will see how serious we are, and what kind of stunt we are, Rumlin said.

Story continues

Rumlin said no one is standing up against the Governor and its time that someone does.

Click here to read more.

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 server has sparked a debate after suggesting that restaurant workers should confront customers who dont tip.

Two service industry workers recently went viral on TikTok after they shared their differing opinions about tipping at restaurants. Earlier this month, TikTok user Jess (@jessrowland100) duetted a video from fellow server Kat (@smarthotties), who said she has advice for when customers dont leave a tip. The clip, which was posted on 10 March, has been viewed more than 33,000 times.

Kat, who has been in the service industry for four years, encouraged her followers to approach the customer who paid the bill and ask in front of everyone why they didnt leave a tip.

I see you didnt leave a tip. Is there anything I could improve on with the service that you feel like you could share with me? she advised them to say. However, as Jess filmed his reaction to Kats video, he immediately screamed: No! No! Have your manager do that!

When Kat explained that nine times out of 10 a customer will make some excuse about why they didnt leave a tip, Jess chimed in: Yeah, theyre embarrassed! And you get fired.

She added that the worst case scenario is when a customer gives a verbal tip on how to improve their service, or when a manager will comp a few items off the bill if their tab was really high.

Still, Jess disagreed and advised his followers that doing so would be considered stealing. Instead, he urged servers to have a manager go up to the customer on their behalf.

Short story is just to confront them, Kat said, to which Jess replied: Never!

Much like the two restaurant servers, the opposing TikTok videos also sparked a debate among service industry workers in Jess comments section. One restaurant worker shared that doing any of these things would get me fired, while another said that confronting customers about not leaving a tip was insane.

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Ive only had a few tables in all my years not tip, commented someone else. I would NEVER ask them why! NEVER!!

Meanwhile, some TikTokers said that confronting customers about their tip was actually commonplace at their workplace. My boss encourages us to do this. He would never fire us, one person said. Also we dont allow people to come back if they are repeated offenders.

Our restaurant wants us to ask because if someone doesnt tip, it usually means something is wrong and I can change it before they leave, possibly, wrote another user.

Earlier this week, an American restaurant worker went viral on Twitter after she criticised a group of European tourists for not leaving an adequate tip after they racked up a $700 (570.25) bill and spent hours at their table.

Lmao [sic] I f***ing hate Europeans sometimes, on God. This table just left US$70 (57.02) on a US$700 check after chilling for HOURS, tweeted user @madison_tayt. My manager even asked about their service and they were OVER THE MOON about my service so he explained the customary tip is 20 per cent and they were like, OK. And left.

Her tweet then sparked a debate over tipping etiquette in the US compared to the rest of the world. Many Americans argued that foreign visitors should tip according to the custom of the place they are visiting. In the US, customers are expected to tip between 15 to 20 per cent of their bill in restaurants.
As spring arrives, a wide variety of birds have found a new home in Ejin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous region, thanks to local conservation efforts. Click to see them in their happy new habitat. 
SAN ANTONIO (AP)  Irma Reyes changed clothes in the back seat of the pickup: skirt, tights, turtleneck, leather jacket. All black. She brushed her hair and pulled on heels as her husband drove their Chevy through predawn darkness toward a courthouse hundreds of miles from home.

She wanted to look confident  poised but hellbent. The outfit was meant to let Texas prosecutors know just what kind of formidable mother theyd be crossing that morning.

Weeks earlier, Reyes learned about the plea deal. State lawyers planned to let the two men charged with sex trafficking her daughter walk free.

Shed barely been able to eat or brush her teeth since, her mind racing: Why are they doing this? Can I get the judge to stop it? Dont they know my daughter matters?

Reyes' daughter was 16 in 2017, when men she knew only as Rocky and Blue kept her and another girl at a San Antonio motel where men paid to have sex with them. Now, the cases against Rakim Sharkey and Elijah Teel  the men police identified as the traffickers  have seen years of delay, a parade of prosecutors, an aborted trial and, ultimately, a stark retreat by the government.

They are among thousands of cases under a cloud of dysfunction at the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has risen to national prominence fighting court battles that affect people nationwide even while facing legal troubles including a criminal investigation by Justice Department officials. Trafficking cases in particular have cast doubt on how the agency uses millions of state tax dollars on an issue that Republican leaders trumpet as a priority while attacking Democrats approach to border security.

For Reyes, her daughter, and other victims and families, the politics take a backseat to their pain. To them, the plea deal is a case study in how the agency's troubles are undercutting justice for vulnerable victims.

A spokeswoman for the attorney generals office, Kristen House, declined to answer questions about the deal, the actions of prosecutors, and other details of the case involving Reyes' daughter.

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Its like a nightmare that I cant wake up from, Reyes told The Associated Press.

______

The case was ready for trial years before that January day Reyes and her husband made their way to the San Antonio courthouse, said Kirsta Leeburg Melton.

You will not find a stronger corroborated case, said Melton, who oversaw the attorney generals human trafficking unit until late 2019 and now runs the Institute to Combat Trafficking. And Im sick. Its wrong.

In the courthouse, Reyes stomach churned as she thought of the deal for the two men: five years of probation. The original charges carried potential sentences of decades in prison.

I need to puke, said Reyes, 45, her heels clicking down the hallway to the bathroom.

Inside the crowded courtroom, she waited on a back bench for hours, watching people charged with drug crimes and drunken driving draw harsher sentences.

One of the defendants walked in and sat for a while on the same bench. Just one person separated them, but he seemed not to recognize Reyes. She squeezed her husbands hand.

When the judge got to their case, she summarized its twists and turns: years lost to the pandemic, delays due to turnover in the attorney generals office, days of testimony last year only for several people to catch COVID-19 and prompt a mistrial.

A defense attorney for Sharkey said his client was in a strong position for acquittal but would accept the deal to put the case behind him. Reyes listened in disbelief as the new prosecutor told the judge that Reyes daughter  now a 22-year-old with whom she keeps up a steady stream of text messages  was on the run.

Sharkey and Teel pleaded no contest to aggravated promotion of prostitution. The judge, Velia Meza, sentenced the men to seven years of probation, despite prosecutors recommending five, adding that theyd be strictly supervised but wouldnt have to register as sex offenders.

Then, it was Reyes turn. Meza would allow a victim impact statement.

Reyes walked slowly to the front of the court, clutching her handwritten statement. She thought of her daughter: a beautiful soul who blasts Beyonce and loves her dogs, a fighter who overcame a lifetime of struggles to get sober, a woman who took the witness stand just months earlier against the man charged with trafficking her.

Reyes reached the waiting bailiff. She took the microphone.

____

Reyes daughter lost a brother when she was young. Then her estranged father died. She was bullied at school.

The AP is withholding the young womans name, in keeping with its policy to avoid identifying victims of sexual assault and other such crimes. Reyes told AP she spoke about this story with her daughter, who did not want to comment or be interviewed directly.

Reyes said that as a girl, her daughter would run away from the large familys South Texas home. By her teens, she started using drugs and getting psychological care through the juvenile justice system. In September 2017, she was sent to a rehabilitation center.

Court records show it was only days after Reyes daughter and another girl ran away from rehab that their photos were advertised online for dates out of a motel room off the interstate. They met Blue outside a motel, where they couldn't afford a night's stay. He introduced them to Rocky. The pair rented the girls a room, helped set up meetings with men whod pay for sex, and collected half the money at the end of each day, according to the records.

Reyes daughter later testified that when one of the men hit her, she got scared and called her mom. Reyes found the phone number advertised on Backpages, a classifieds website later shut down by law enforcement. She called police; officers found the girls at the motel that night.

Ten days after running away, Reyes daughter was in a juvenile lockup talking to a detective who would spend months tracking down the men.

Were able to get the surveillance video. We were able to get room receipts. We were able to get cellphones, which were extracted for data, detective Manuel Anguiano told AP. I dont think Ive ever worked a case that had more evidence.

Several people who worked on the case told AP they were outraged by the attorney general's office's final resolution.

Its absolutely an unfortunate outcome, said Cara Pierce, who oversaw the agency's human trafficking unit until August 2022. This was a triable case when I left.

Sharkeys lawyer, Jason Goss, maintains the jury would have acquitted his client but told AP he had no choice but to plead no contest to the reduced charge because the potential sentence of 25 years to life was too risky. Teels attorney, Brian Powers, didn't respond to phone messages and emails seeking comment.

After getting out of the detention facility, Reyes daughter lived away from home for a while, then returned to her mothers house on a quiet, residential block.

She barely left her spartan bedroom, Reyes said, and couldnt talk about what had happened. Reyes in turn got anxious when her daughter was around men. They avoided crowds.

Reyes coaxed her back into the world. She brought her treats  Flamin Hot Cheetos and Limon Lays  and the book Women Who Run with the Wolves.

Gradually, they ventured out, taking morning walks in a nature preserve, watching the birds while eating lunch in Reyes car. But the young woman still had panic attacks, sometimes shutting herself in the bathroom.

Thats where she was when Connie Spence, a prosecutor who signed on to the case in summer 2020, arrived to talk, Reyes said. Spence got down on the floor, speaking calmly as the young woman hyperventilated.

After that, Reyes said, her daughter began weekly counseling. She started volunteering at a library and museum. She reenrolled in school and, last June, mother and daughter drove together to San Antonio to testify.

They built a bond somehow, Reyes said. Connie gave her hope.

On the witness stand, Reyes daughter struggled to breathe and had difficulty recalling details from years before. But over hours of testimony she recounted how she came to be having sex at the motel to pay "Rocky. She testified that he got mad after she spoke to other men there, taking her into a room and hitting her across the face.

Asked to identify Rocky, the young woman pointed across the courtroom at Sharkey.

___

Four days later, Reyes and her daughter were relaxing in the summer heat on their patio when Spence called to tell them the judge had declared a mistrial because four people in the courtroom caught COVID-19.

They told themselves testifying would be easier the second time. All three women agreed to go back to court as many times as needed.

But it would be the last time they spoke to Spence.

She left the attorney generals office the following month, according to personnel files obtained under public records laws. Spences resignation letter gives no reason. She didnt respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

Spence left amid a wave of seasoned prosecutors quitting over practices they said were meant to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent. The next month, the office dropped a separate series of trafficking and child sexual assault cases after losing track of one of the victims.

In October, Reyes was introduced to new lead lawyer James Winters  the last of eight prosecutors to handle the case for the attorney general's office, court records show. Reyes said her daughter told Winters she would testify again.

The lawyer later asked that the case be postponed again, but the judge refused. Reyes didnt hear from prosecutors again until early January, when Winters called about the plea deal. It was a couple weeks after her daughter had left home.

In the silence, shed grown pessimistic about the case. They had a fight, Reyes said. The young woman went to stay with a friends family.

Reyes worried about her daughter and whether she might turn to old habits. She spent Christmas with the family, but left soon after.

Still, a victims advocate told prosecutors that Reyes could get her daughter to court, internal office messages obtained by AP show. Reyes doesnt understand why Winters later told the judge her daughter was on the run.

Winters, who referred emailed questions to an attorney general's spokesman, submitted his resignation letter three weeks after appearing in court for the plea deal, which was first reported by Texas Public Radio.

___

In San Antonio, Reyes clutched her jacket around her shoulders as she reached the front of the courtroom and took the microphone for her victim impact statement.

She'd spent lunch writing out what she wanted to say, but rage got the better of her planning. She looked at the men accused of trafficking her daughter and two other girls, at the lawyers flanking their clients, at men who'd also gotten probation on charges of soliciting and paying the girls for sex.

Reyes began speaking quietly, the statement still crumpled under her jacket.

Rakim, can you look at me? she said, as Sharkey examined his hands. You have daughters. Going on your third. Exactly the number of victims.

She told one of the men who'd paid for sex that she's glad his family left him.

And she gestured at Winters, the prosecutor. He doesnt represent me. I represent myself right now. I'm not afraid of you.

Reyes spoke for nearly five minutes, her voice rising as she turned to face the courtroom and beseeched people who were being trafficked to come forward.

There are victims out there that this minute are being pimped by these types of guys, this type of trash, she said. And the trash is supposed to be disposed. But theyre lucky today.

Reyes' voice broke.

What these people do to their victims  nothing will ever fix that, she said. We just try to hold on.

___

Reyes cried on the way home, but the drive otherwise passed in silence. Her husband, who doesnt speak much English, hadnt followed everything in court. Reyes didnt know how to explain.

She also didnt know how to tell her daughter, who'd already lost hope the men would go to prison.

Reyes wanted her to come home, to talk in person. But her daughters bedroom was empty.

Reyes felt isolated and got little rest, with violent nightmares. She kept the blinds drawn. She struggled to breathe and fantasized about feeling nothing.

Two days after the hearing, Reyes sat alone in her bedroom, where crosses line the walls. She felt abandoned by the prosecutors, by the judge, by her family, by God. She thought about how she would take her own life. The idea seemed soothing. Her thoughts grew specific. But then she thought of her children and called a crisis hotline.

I just swim into my thoughts, she said. Its like a big ocean once you let your mind wander. But pulling yourself back up, thats where I have to be aware that I dont dive too deep.

Reyes turned 46 the next week. She spent her birthday at the doctors office. She cried uncontrollably. The doctor prescribed anti-anxiety medicine.

Reyes is in therapy. Shes signed up for dance classes and walks her dogs in the nature preserve, hoping her daughter will join them soon.

She's still grasping for closure. Reyes filed complaints with the attorney generals office, the state bar association and the U.S. Department of Justice, although none will reopen the criminal case. Perhaps her best hope from the legal system is a civil lawsuit that she hopes her daughter will one day be ready to bring.

She and her daughter talk more lately. Their texts are filled with worry but also jokes and photos.

One day, Reyes son shook her awake at 3 a.m. A sheriffs deputy was on the phone and said her daughter had called 911 having a panic attack; she said she wanted to go home.

Ive lived this before, Reyes thought. She asked the deputy to wait with her daughter.

Then she pulled on shoes, climbed into the pickup and drove out into the night.

____

EDITORS NOTE  This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

____

Associated Press photographer Eric Gay and videojournalist Lekan Oyekanmi contributed to this report.
SAN ANTONIO (AP)  Irma Reyes mind raced as her husband drove through the predawn darkness toward a courthouse hundreds of miles from home: Dont they know my daughter matters?

Reyes had been barely able to eat since she heard that Texas prosecutors planned to let the two men charged with sex trafficking her daughter walk free. She was going to court to try to stop them.

Reyes daughter was 16 in 2017, when men she knew only as Rocky and Blue kept her and another girl at a San Antonio motel where men paid to have sex with them. Now, the cases against Rakim Sharkey and Elijah Teel  who police identified as the traffickers  have seen years of delay, a parade of prosecutors, an aborted trial and, ultimately, a stark retreat by the government.

They are among thousands of cases under a cloud of dysfunction at the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal troubles include a federal criminal investigation. Trafficking cases in particular have come under scrutiny and cast doubt on how the agency, which fights court battles affecting people far beyond Texas, uses millions of state tax dollars on an issue that Republican leaders trumpet as a priority while attacking Democrats approach to border security.

A spokeswoman for the attorney generals office, Kristen House, declined to answer questions for this story.

Its like a nightmare that I cant wake up from, Reyes said.

At the courthouse in January, Reyes stomach churned as she thought of the deal for the two men: five years of probation. The original charges carried potential sentences of decades in prison.

You will not find a stronger corroborated case, said Kirsta Leeburg Melton, who oversaw the attorney generals human trafficking unit until late 2019. And Im sick. Its wrong.

In court, Reyes listened as the judge summarized the cases' twists and turns: years lost to the pandemic, delays due to turnover in the attorney generals office, days of testimony last year only for several people to catch COVID-19 and prompt a mistrial.

Story continues

She listened in disbelief as the new prosecutor told the judge that Reyes daughter was on the run. Now 22, the young woman left home after a fight, Reyes said, but they keep up a steady stream of text messages.

Then, Sharkey and Teel pleaded no contest to aggravated promotion of prostitution. The judge, Velia Meza, sentenced the men to seven years of probation, despite prosecutors recommending five, noting they wouldnt have to register as sex offenders.

Reyes thought of her daughter as she approached the front of the courtroom to make a victims impact statement.

The AP is withholding the young womans name, in keeping with its policy to avoid identifying victims of sexual assault and other such crimes. Reyes told AP she spoke about this story with her daughter, who did not want to comment or be interviewed directly.

Reyes said that as a girl, her daughter was bullied and would run away from home. By her teens, she started using drugs, and in 2017 she was sent to a rehabilitation center.

Court records show it was only days after Reyes daughter and another girl ran away from rehab that their photos were advertised online for dates." They met Blue outside a motel, where they couldnt afford a nights stay. He introduced them to Rocky. The pair rented the girls a room, helped set up meetings with men whod pay for sex, and collected half the money, according to the records.

Reyes daughter later testified at trial that police found them after she got scared and called her mom because Rocky hit her. Asked to identify Rocky, the young woman pointed across the courtroom at Sharkey.

Sharkeys lawyer, Jason Goss, maintains the jury would have acquitted his client but told AP he had no choice but to plead no contest to the reduced charge because a sentence of up to life in prison was too risky. Teels attorney, Brian Powers, didnt respond to requests for comment.

After the judge declared a mistrial last June, Reyes, her daughter and the prosecutor agreed to bring the case again. But that prosecutor resigned without explanation soon after, amid a wave of seasoned lawyers quitting the attorney generals office over practices they said were meant to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent.

In October, Reyes was introduced to new lead lawyer James Winters  the last of eight prosecutors to handle the case for the office, court records show.

Reyes said her daughter told Winters she would testify again. The lawyer sought to have the case postponed but after the judge refused he informed Reyes of the plea deal. Winters, who referred questions to an agency spokesperson, resigned after appearing in court for the deal.

In the San Antonio courtroom, Reyes addressed the men whod just entered their pleas.

The trash is supposed to be disposed, she said. But theyre lucky today.

She cried on the way home. Reyes didnt know how to explain to her daughter and wished the young woman would come home. She felt isolated and had violent nightmares.

Two days after the hearing, Reyes sat alone in her bedroom and thought about taking her own life. Her thoughts grew specific. But then she thought of her children and called a crisis hotline.

I just swim into my thoughts, she said. I have to be aware that I dont dive too deep.

Reyes is still grasping for closure. Shes filed legal complaints, although none will reopen the criminal case. Perhaps her best hope is a civil lawsuit that she hopes her daughter will one day be ready to bring. They are talking more lately.

A few weeks after court, Reyes awoke to a call from a sheriffs deputy who said her daughter had dialed 911 having a panic attack; she said she wanted to go home.

Ive lived this before, Reyes thought. Then she pulled on shoes, climbed into the pickup and drove out into the night.

____

EDITORS NOTE  This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

____

Associated Press photographer Eric Gay and videojournalist Lekan Oyekanmi contributed to this report.
[Source]

San Francisco parents are suing the city's public school district for not offering Algebra I to middle school students and for requiring students to retake the course in ninth grade even if they have already passed it elsewhere.

The lawsuit, filed on March 22, calls for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to offer Algebra I in middle school, arguing that current policies and practices hinder students' academic growth in mathematics and creates barriers to excelling in the subject.

According to the suit, advanced students have become bored with what their parents have referred to as dumbed-down math. The parents have also expressed concerns that their children are falling behind those enrolled in private schools and in other districts that offer a middle school option.

In an interview with the San Francisco Examiner, SFUSD alumnus and parent Maya Keshavan accused the district of misleading the public about key metrics of its math program.

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[District officials] claimed to dramatically reduce algebra 1 failure after it was delayed to ninth grade but have offered no evidence to back this claim. In fact, the rate fell only because the district eliminated an exit exam students were required to pass. Public data requests revealed the purported success could not be replicated, and the district refused to explain.

The suit also alleges that students who took Algebra I outside the district were forced to retake it, violating California's education code, which prescribes that students who complete the course prior to high school already satisfy the Algebra I graduation requirement in the state.

Currently, only those who took Algebra I before high school and demonstrated proficiency by passing a math validation test will not be required to retake it.

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SFUSD's math policy, implemented in 2014, keeps all students together in math until junior year, when advanced students can then surge ahead by taking a combined Algebra II and precalculus course, followed by calculus during their senior year.

However, the policy has been criticized for not offering equitable access to advanced math and for resulting racial gaps in enrollment in higher-level math courses. According to the concerned parents, the current system makes it almost impossible for students to access calculus in high school.

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Parents are pushing for those consolidated courses to be offered in middle school instead as completing these courses would give their children an advantage when applying to colleges.

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In 2016, the parents petitioned the district to restore Algebra I to the middle school curriculum, submitting over 1,000 signatures.

A Stanford University study also released on March 22 indicated that the district's policy had not improved equitable access to advanced math courses, despite increasing higher-level math participation among all racial groups.

The study noted that figures from before and after the reform was implemented were the same: White and Asian students in SFUSD enroll in Precalculus at rates roughly two to four times higher than their Black and Hispanic peers.

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According to Stanford researcher Thomas Dee, he is hoping the study will inspire a rethink about what is going on here to prevent equitable access to advanced math.
The simplest way to benefit from a rising market is to buy an index fund. But if you buy individual stocks, you can do both better or worse than that. Investors in Victoria's Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO) have tasted that bitter downside in the last year, as the share price dropped 40%. That contrasts poorly with the market decline of 13%. We wouldn't rush to judgement on Victoria's Secret because we don't have a long term history to look at. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 24% in the last 90 days. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

View our latest analysis for Victoria's Secret

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Unhappily, Victoria's Secret had to report a 42% decline in EPS over the last year. This change in EPS is remarkably close to the 40% decrease in the share price. So it seems that the market sentiment has not changed much, despite the weak results. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It is of course excellent to see how Victoria's Secret has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling Victoria's Secret stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

We doubt Victoria's Secret shareholders are happy with the loss of 40% over twelve months. That falls short of the market, which lost 13%. There's no doubt that's a disappointment, but the stock may well have fared better in a stronger market. With the stock down 24% over the last three months, the market doesn't seem to believe that the company has solved all its problems. Given the relatively short history of this stock, we'd remain pretty wary until we see some strong business performance. 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 be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Victoria's Secret .

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Of course Victoria's Secret may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American 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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A woman who was facing a year in federal prison for what local environmentalists said was the mercy killing of a suffering endangered Key deer in November instead was sentenced to a year of probation and fined $4,000 this week.

Wendy Kilheffer, 77, of Big Pine Key, will also have to work 100 hours of community service, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office. She pleaded guilty in January and her sentencing was Thursday in Key West.

She shot the deer in the head on Nov. 16 in Big Pine Key.

Valerie Preziosi, president of the environmental group Save Our Key Deer, issued a statement at the time of Kilheffers arrest saying that the animal had been suffering for seven days after suffering injuries caused by being trapped in between two fences and having rope entangled in its antlers.

Both sides of the deers body were cut because of the repeated thrashing between the fences. A local resident was able to free it from the fences, but not get the rope off its antlers, Preziosi said at the time.

Locals and U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents tried to find the deer for the next few days. When they finally found it, it was lying on the ground and in distress.

The buck drank some water, got up, but then collapsed on the street, Preziosi said.

The people at the scene called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions Key deer hotline, Preziosi said, but could not immediately raise anyone.

Meanwhile, locals moved the deer to a shaded area on a private property.

The severely suffering deer was having trouble breathing and, from descriptions by people at the scene, was likely suffering from organ failure due to capture myopathy  a condition induced by severe stress he experienced in the past days, Preziosi said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Kilheffer lacked the credentials or training to make the decision to kill the deer.

Kilheffer went to her vehicle, secured a high caliber handgun, shot the deer in the head at close range, and killed it, the statement reads. According to witnesses, the deers death was not immediate. When law enforcement later questioned Kilheffer, she denied even being at the scene. Video surveillance and eyewitness statements refuted her lie.

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Key deer are a species of small white-tail deer unique to the Lower Keys and protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Kilheffers attorney David Paul Horan said federal prosecutors pressured his client into pleading guilty in the case.

The pre-sentencing investigation included downloading Wendys phone and using her emails to threaten her friends and neighbors with $100,000 fines and jail time, Horan said in an email to the Herald.

He added that the communitys relationship with the National Key Deer Refuge, the federal entity that regulates the Key deers habitat in the Lower Keys, was detrimentally impacted by Wendys prosecution.
A small-town chief who captured a national spotlight and led his department through a deadly shooting that rocked the City of Shelby is stepping down after 30 years.

Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford stopped packing for a bit on Friday to reflect on his career with Channel 9s Ken Lemon.

Ledford said he learned his first rule about policing on way to his first shift in 1992.

I came in to work and got locked out of the police department. I was so new I didnt know where to go or how to get in there, Ledford said.

He said from that day forward, he vowed to know where he was going.

In June 2015, Ledford said an unexpected event occurred, but his team was ready.

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Dylann Roof was arrested by his officers after he shot and killed nine Black churchgoers at a bible study in Charleston.

I had no thought that he would come through here, Ledford told Channel 9.

Ledford said he quietly made a call to the Charleston Police Department before media from across the globe descended on Shelby.

We got him. To be able to at least bring that closure to them, that meant something, Ledford said.

The following year, Ledford said K9 officer Tim Brackeen was shot and killed while serving a warrant.

There are some sad parts you look back on, Ledford explained.

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Ledord could have retired in 2020. But COVID shut down the city, then a cyber attack knocked out every city-owned computer, then George Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota.

[The year] 2020 just changed policing. It changed our world in so many ways, Ledford reflected.

Ledford said relationships he already built with Black pastors carried him through that year.

There is no record of a longer-standing police chief in Shelby, but Ledford said he is ready to pack up all of the items on the wall and hang up the uniforms. He has five more days on the job.

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I finished this chapter and Im ready to go to the next one, Ledford said.

Ledford said he will leave one thing for his successor, a mirror perfectly positioned so that every time he leaves his desk he has to walk right by it. He said he did that to remind himself that he was responsible for everything that happened within his department.

An interim police chief within the department has been named. City officials said they will soon begin looking for a new chief for the first time since 2007.

VIDEO: Retired CMPD officer creates nonprofit inspired by acts of kindness during pandemic
















Thirty-five people were injured after a ship that was previously owned by the co-founder of Microsoft toppled over in a dry dock during high winds.

NHS Lothian said 23 people were admitted to hospital, some with serious injuries, while the Scottish Ambulance Service said a further 12 were treated at the scene at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh.

A major incident was declared after research vessel Petrel became dislodged from its holding on a dry dock, with the 3,000-ton ship leaning at a 45-degree angle.

STV reported there were around 50 refurbishment workers on board and US citizens were involved. The US Consulate in Edinburgh said it was monitoring the situation and offering support.

The ambulance service sent 12 ambulances, an air ambulance, three trauma teams and other resources to the scene, while the fire service also attended.

NHS Lothian received 21 patients, with 17 being admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (ERI) for treatment and four to the Western General Hospital (WGH) in the city. A further two were taken by ambulance to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Ship topples in Leith dry dock, leaving several injured

The health board said it was forced to cancel outpatient appointments, endoscopies and planned operations to support accident and emergency staff and free up surgeons for the influx.

In a statement issued just after 5pm, it said nine of the ERI patients had been discharged and eight were still in hospital, some with serious injuries. The four at WGH were waiting to be discharged.

The 76-metre (250ft) ship was bought and outfitted by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen but is no longer owned by his estate.

He converted it into a deep submergence research vessel in 2017 and it was one of the few ships worldwide equipped to explore 6,000m (19,685ft) below the oceans surface.

It featured an autonomous underwater vehicle capable of reaching extreme depths, a remotely-operated vehicle for use once targets were identified and a multibeam echo-sounder.

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The vessel had been used for deep water searches for shipwrecks and war graves at sea, including the lost World War Two heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis, which was discovered 18,000 feet (5.5km) beneath the surface.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: Officers and emergency service colleagues are responding to an incident at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, whereby a ship on dry dock has become dislodged from its holding. - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images

However, it was placed into long-term moorage in 2020 as a result of "operation challenges" during the Covid pandemic and had not been used since.

Adam McVey, a local councillor, said the ship became dislodged in strong winds and he described the incident as "terrifying" for those on board.

The Met Office said a wind speed of 38mph was recorded in Edinburgh at 8am, shortly before the emergency services were contacted, rising to 44mph at 9am.

Several workers on the docks told The Telegraph that they believed the high winds were the sole reason for the incident.

A source said: It was windy last night into the early hours of the morning and thats whats happened here, its caused the boat to go up.

An air ambulance attends the scene after a ship tipped over in the Imperial Dock area in Leith

Chaplain of the port, Pauline Robertson, from the Sailors Society told Sky News that workers were left "shocked and stunned" by the incident.

She said: "The staff that had been on the vessel shared with me their shock, their complete disbelief that this had happened, but also the fact that they had got off that vessel as walking wounded because many of their colleagues and other staff that were on it didn't and had to go to hospital for medical treatment."

Jacquie Campbell, chief officer of acute services for NHS Lothian, said: "Our staff are working tirelessly to ensure patients get the best care and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident."

Supt Mark Rennie, of Police Scotland, said: "I would like to thank partner agencies involved in the response to this incident which involved a complex operation to make sure everyone was safe.

There is no risk to the wider public and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what has happened."

An injured person on a stretcher is helped by emergency services - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

HM coastguard sent teams from Fisherrow, South Queensferry and Kinghorn to the scene as part of the multi-agency response.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it had sent four fire engines and "a number of specialist resources". The Health and Safety Executive said it was aware of the incident and was making inquiries.

Dales Marine Services, which runs the dry dock, said it was liaising with the emergency services.

A spokesman added that the firms priority was to ensure those involved and their families are supported.

12:12 PM

Several injured as ship topples in Leith dry dock

Fifteen people have been taken to hospital after a ship toppled over in a dry dock in Scotland's capital.
After a significant one-year reduction in gun violence, New Jerseys shooting statistics in 2022 dipped closer to pre-pandemic levels, according to data the State Police made public this month.

What the data shows

Declines across the board: Shooting incidents in New Jersey decreased by 19% from 1,057 in 2021 to 857 in 2022, the number of gunshot victims dropped by 25% from 1,413 to 1,059, and gun deaths fell by 17% from 249 to 207, the State Police statistics showed.

Still higher than before the pandemic: But those reductions still left New Jersey with higher numbers of shootings, victims, and deaths in 2022 than it had in 2019, according to the data. For example, the 207 people killed in shootings statewide last year represented a 30% increase compared to the 159 fatalities in 2019.

New Jersey State Police vehicle

Expert analysis: The numbers are trending in the direction we want, down, said Brian Higgins, a former chief of the Bergen County police and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan. But I think its still too early to take a victory lap.

What the New Jersey attorney general said

Counter to political narratives: New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the states gun violence statistics for 2022 refuted what he called political narratives declaring that crime is on the rise.

The goal is always to have zero shootings, Platkin said during a phone interview on Friday morning. But these numbers show that what were doing is working.

Community efforts help police: The Attorney General cited the sharing of intelligence among law enforcement agencies by the states gun violence reduction task force and the efforts of anti-violence community groups, including programs like the Paterson Healing Collective.

I think we should be celebrating the great police work thats going on in our state, Platkin added.

Warning about 2019 data: The Attorney General said comparing last years shootings statistics with data from 2019 would skew the picture because he said 2019 was a historically low year. Platkins staff provided a chart that showed the number of shootings in New Jersey in 2019 was lower than any other year since 2008.

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Bail reform questions: The Attorney General also cited numbers from that chart to call into question assertions that bail reform enacted in 2017 has caused a spike in crime in New Jersey. He noted that shooting incidents in New Jersey have been lower in the five years after bail reform than they were in the five years prior to the change in state laws that opened the way for many people merely charged with crimes to remain free until their cases get resolved.

"We are proud of the progress we have made to reduce shootings in the state, said Gov. Phil Murphys spokesman, Tyler Jones. We recognize that there is still much more work to be done on this issue and will continue to work tirelessly in partnership with the Attorney General and the NJ State Police to build on the progress we have made.

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What experts said

Jillian Snider, a retired New York City police officer and an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College, said many experts dont think its appropriate to use crime numbers from 2020 and 2021 as a basis for comparison because they were so many variables affecting criminal behavior.

Pandemic-era spikes: Snider and other experts cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the ripple effects of the George Floyd murder and protests, high unemployment and other crises.

When I talk to my colleagues at John Jay, we say 2019 is the last real set of numbers we have, said Snider, who is also policy director for the Washington, D.C.-based R Street Institute think tank. 2019 was the last year we have when we werent seeing anything out of the ordinary.

National downturn: Snider said New Jerseys downward trend for shootings in 2022 matched what happened in other places around the country that endured spikes in violent crime in 2021 and 2020. She said that trend has continued in the early part of 2023 in many cities in America. Platkin said the same thing has been happening in New Jersey in the first three months.

Paterson focuses on gun seizures after records are shattered

Record years: Paterson had back-to-back, record-setting homicide numbers in 2020 and 2021. The city also had the highest number of shootings (118) and shooting victims (165) in 2020 since the police department began tracking that data about 15 years ago. In 2022, Paterson had 98 shootings and 125 gunshot victims.

What officials said: Mayor Andre Sayegh noted that Paterson police have seized 600 guns in the past three years, an effort he cited while discussing the 2022 reduction in shootings. Sayegh said the city will try to build on this progress when he, his police chief and public safety director travel to Omaha, Nebraska, next month to get first-hand information about a program there that has gained accolades for fighting crime with community partnerships.

Reducing crime and ensuring public safety has always been top priority for my administration, Sayegh said. The statistics we have achieved so far are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our law enforcement and community members.

Special report:Targeting Retaliation: Stopping the chain reaction of gun violence in Paterson

Christopher Maag:How can Paterson ever stop its endless murders and shootings?

Experts: There are lessons in Newark

Brick City successes: Some experts said Paterson ought to look toward Newark for ways to combat gun violence. That Essex County city had 32% reductions in shootings and gunshot victims last year. Newarks 2022 shooting numbers also were lower than those for 2019, bucking the statewide trend.

Snider, the John Jay College lecturer, said those statistics were particularly interesting considering Newarks reputation as a high crime area.

Snider noted that various reforms aimed at improving community relations were made at the Newark police department in the past decade as part of a United States Justice Department intervention. She wondered whether police-community relations in Newark have played a role in the reductions in shootings.

'Consistent and reliable funding': Emily Schwartz of the Newark-based Institute for Social Justice also said the Newark data was noteworthy. Schwartz noted that the Brick City has had a successful community-based violence intervention group, the Newark Community Street Team, operating for years. She said she believes the cumulative impact of the NCSTs work over an extended period of time has helped produce the reduction in shootings in Newark.

It doesnt just happen in six months, it doesnt just happen in one year, Schwartz said. It requires consistent and reliable funding.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said community involvement was "a central, critical force in building the solution" to his city's efforts in reducing shootings.

This ecosystem leverages the expertise of neighborhood organizations, social workers, medical professionals, educators, and others who work together to reduce crime and violence," Baraka said. "Combined with public safetys outstanding intelligence-based policing and focused deterrence, we see our crime statistics falling."

Healing Collective has promise: The Newark street team provided guidance to the Paterson Healing Collective when that group made its debut in the fall of 2020. Schwartz said the Healing Collectives efforts may have curbed gun violence in Paterson.

I think well be seeing the impact of the Paterson Healing Collective in the next couple of years, she stated.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ shootings decrease in 2022, but not at pre-COVID levels
ADEN, Yemen, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's internationally-recognized government warned on Friday of a possible return to all-out military conflict in the war-ravaged Arab country following an uptick in attacks by the Houthi militia in the northeastern oil-rich province of Marib.

Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said in a statement that scores of Houthi rebels launched a large offensive against the government-controlled areas in the Harib district west of Marib, forcing hundreds of local households to flee.

Despite recent diplomatic efforts towards peace, heavy clashes between the Yemeni army and the Houthi militia were reignited in Marib during the past three days, with Tuesday's overnight fighting in Harib leaving 19 people from both sides killed, and several others injured.

Eryani called on the United Nations and the international community to condemn the Houthis' actions and apply pressure to push them towards peaceful resolutions, preventing a return to full-scale war.

He said that the Houthi rebels' offensive against Marib has caused significant destruction, with villages in Harib district coming under missile and artillery fire.

The latest assault confirmed the Houthi group's "persistent use of political and military escalation tactics, aiming to take advantage of the ongoing state of neither war nor peace that has persisted since the truce's expiration in order to secure strategic gains on the battlefield," said Eryani in his statement.

The resurgence of fighting also threatens the fragile peace process bolstered by the recent agreement between the warring Yemeni sides to exchange hundreds of war prisoners under the auspices of the United Nations.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally-recognized government and its allies, which include a Saudi Arabia-led coalition.

The UN has been pushing for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, which has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The conflict brought the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse causing famine and widespread suffering as well as disrupting the country's food supply chain, leaving millions of people without access to adequate nutrition. 
A truck carrying more than 700,000 petition signatures in a recall effort to remove Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon were submitted to the County of Los Angeles Registrar Recorder/County Clerk's office in July. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

More than 300 signatures in a petition to recall Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon last year belonged to dead people, according to the county's Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office.

Now the agency has called on the California attorney general to investigate the possibility of fraud in the failed attempt to recall Gascon, whose reform-minded policies have become a target of Republican and conservative critics.

According to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office, a review of the petition found 367 signatures of people who had died before the recall effort was launched.

The findings were similar to a review of another petition, statewide Initiative 1935, in which county officials found 344 signatures of dead petitioners. The initiative was meant to limit local and state government from expanding, enacting or modifying taxes and fees.

"My office has identified irregularities that suggest the possibility of fraudulent signature submission that I believe warrant investigation," Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said in a statement.

But the Recall District Attorney George Gascon campaign, which has accused the registrar's office of wrongly invalidating tens of thousands of signatures, called the decision a "cover-up" to keep the campaign from reviewing the signatures that were invalidated by the county.

"This is nothing more than a last-ditch effort by Dean Logan to cover up the improper disqualification of thousands of valid signatures, which we ultimately intend to expose and challenge in court once the review is complete," the campaign said in a statement. "To be clear, if paid circulator fraud did occur to any extent, the Recall Committee, survivors of crime, and residents of Los Angeles are the victims, and the paid circulators should be held fully accountable."

In its review, the county office said it found "commonality in the circulators" of the petition campaigns to recall Gascon and the 1935 initiative.

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Although such cases may be referred to the district attorney's office for investigation, the registrar's office referred the cases to the attorney general's office because Gascon would be an "interested party" in the recall.

The registrar's office has also reached out to the California secretary of state's investigative unit.

A spokesperson for the office said it isn't uncommon for some individuals to work to gather signatures for multiple organizations and campaigns.

The attorney general's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Elected in 2020, Gascon immediately faced criticism and an effort to remove him from office after he announced changes to the prosecutors office. His changes included ending the use of sentencing enhancements, limiting when defendants would be held in lieu of bail, and no longer seeking the death penalty in the county.

The changes put Gascon not just at odds with many of his own prosecutors and local law enforcement officials, but made him a target of Republican and conservative figures on the national stage who suggested that progressive, or derisively dubbed "woke," prosecutors were to blame for increases in crime.

A first recall effort failed in 2021 largely because of a lack of fundraising and organization. A second effort failed last year after about 715,000 signatures were submitted by the recall campaign. A total of 566,857 signatures, or 10% of eligible voters, were needed to put Gascon's job back on the ballot, but the registrar's office said roughly 27% of the signatures submitted were not valid.

Most of them were found to have been duplicate signatures or from people who were not registered to vote.

The recall campaign followed by filing a suit against the registrar's office, saying the many signatures were wrongly invalidated. The campaign has alleged in court that the office has not given it adequate access to review the recall petition and the invalidated signatures.

In a statement, the office said it was continuing to review the two petitions, as well as others that were submitted in the last year for more "possible irregularities."

"The integrity of these processes is fundamental to our representative form of government and influences the confidence and participation of our electorate," Logan said in the statement. "Attempts to compromise the integrity of this process ought to be scrutinized."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Carlisle Barracks Main Post Cemetery still holds the remains of at least 171 Native youth. (Photo: Jenna Kunze)

After 145 years, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate are done waiting.

This week, the tribes attorney and two other attorneys for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) sent a letter to the U.S. Armys Department of Army Cemeteries asking for the expeditious repatriation of their ancestor, Amos LaFromboise, backed by the letter of federal law.

In 1879, thirteen-year-old Amos was among the initial group of Native children sent to the countrys first off-reservation federal Indian boarding school, Carlisle Indian Industrial School, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The son of a prominent chief, Chief Joseph LaFromboise, Amos was in line to return from Carlisle to become the next hereditary chief of his tribe. Instead, records show that the boy was the first of hundreds of children to die at Carlisle due to sickness, neglect, and abuse.

Today, the United States Army War College has taken over the grounds of the former Indian Boarding School, including its cemetery that holds the remains of more than 180 Native children.

Since 2016, the Army has used its own process to return Indigenous children that experts across Indian Country say is more stringent, restrictive, and burdensome than the federal law they believe applies, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Despite the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate following protocol and submitting paperwork  that was approved  for Amos' return in summer 2022, the Army later cited limited funding and a full roster of exhumations as reasons to delay the boys return home by at least another year.

Since 2016, tribal historians, tribal archivists, tribal elders, and tribal leadership have worked to repatriate Amos from Carlisle Cemetery, NARF attorneys and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyates legal counsel Megan LaFromboise, a relative of Amos family, wrote in the letter to the Army dated March 20. Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate has expended significant time and resources in attempts to meet (the Department of the Armys) elusive repatriation requirements and deadlines. Despite these efforts, DOA has still not returned Amos, largely due to obstacles that result from DOAs unsupported position that its internal repatriation policies apply, rather than NAGPRA repatriation framework.

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In 1990, Congress enacted NAGPRA to provide a process for federal agencies and museums that receive federal funds to repatriate or transfer certain Native American cultural items including human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony  back to their respective tribal nations. The law also provides a process for federal agencies to address new discoveries of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural property intentionally excavated or inadvertently discovered on federal or tribal lands.

The Army has maintained that NAGPRA doesnt apply to the Carlisle Main Post Cemetery because the remains are not part of a collection, they wrote in a Federal Register Notice of Intended Disinterment last year.

But Native American Rights Fund attorneys and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyateechoed by tribal leaders and policy experts across Indian Countrysay the Armys internal process is inapplicable to the children buried at Carlisle Cemetery.

The Armys repatriation policies are restrictive and burdensome to a degree that egregiously violates NAGPRAs provisions and purpose, the Native American Rights Fund wrote in a press release. For instance, Army policies require a signed affidavit from a childs closest living relative to initiate their repatriation. The policies provide no means of repatriation by a childs tribe if a living relative cannot be identified.

By contrast, attorneys note, NAGPRA allows for the tribal nation culturally affiliate with the child to request repatriation.

Additionally, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribal historian Tamara St. Johnwho has researched her tribes ancestors buried at Carlisle for more than six years in preparation for bringing them homedisagreed with the Armys insistence on communicating strictly through Amos closest living relative, and cutting out tribal historic preservation officers and historians like herself.

Our elders are likely not in a position to facilitate this very complicated process of what's needed to go and retrieve this child, St. John told Native News Online. They are one individual for very large families. Who owns that history? We do, as a tribe.

Since 2016, The Army has returned a total of 28 Native American and Alaska Native children home to their families in five disinterment projects. Each project was conducted for about a month during the summer.

The Army spent over $600,000 in each of the past two summers  2021 and 2022  to return seven to ten children, according to spokesperson John Harlow.

However, at least 171 children are still buried at the Carlisle Barracks, according to records kept by the Carlisle Indian School Digital Research Center, run by Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Fourteen of those children are under headstones marked unknown.

Although Amos relative was told by Army attorney Justin Buller last year that his ancestor would be included in this summers disinterment project, the Army has yet to release its disinterment schedule.

On Thursday, National Cemetery spokesperson Kerry Meeker told Native News Online that disinterments would take place in the fall rather than the summer, but would not confirm whether or not Amos would be among those going home.

Earlier today, Meeker confirmed that Amos would indeed be coming home this year. The Army currently plans to conduct the disinterment of Amos this September and the required Federal Register Notice will be published in the next 60 days, Meeker wrote in an email to Native News Online, noting that the disinterment of Amos Laframboise will be entirely at the Armys expense.

In that same emailed response, Meeker said the Army informed Amos family and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Chairman last summer that the disinterment would occur during the 2023 program year. But St. John, who has been the Armys main point of contact for the Tribe for the last six years, said neither she, nor the tribal chairman received any news from the Army about the request.

It appears that the Army did send a letter last year confirming the disinterment approval to Amos closest living relative, Robert Lafromboise. That letter, dated and signed March 16, 2022, was not postmarked until Dec. 21, 2022more than nine months later and after the Armys completion of its summer disinterments.

In that letter, attorney Buller wrote that the Army "will attempt to schedule your ancestors disinterment for as soon as possible, but based upon previously approved requests, we fully cannot guarantee Amos disinterment this summers cycle." He also said that a project manager would follow up to plan logistics for the disinterment.

On Friday, the tribe said it was contacted by phone and by email by Christopher Koening, an archaeologist and the Senior Tribal Liaison and Project Site Manager for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Koening sent an email to Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Dianne Desrosiers, and left a voicemail for St. John regarding the return of Amos Lafromboise for this year's effort, St. John and Desrosiers told Native News Online.

The Tribe is referring all of its communications with the Army to its attorneys, St. John said.

They are supposed to be talking to our attorneys, St. John said. Im shocked that theyre communicating through email and phone now when we havent heard from them in a year.

In the letter sent earlier this week, NARF attorneys gave the Army 90 days to respond to their letter, in accordance with NAGPRA regulations.

While Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate maintains that repatriation is long-past-due and wish to see the return of Amos as expeditiously as possible, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate will make reasonable efforts to DOD, DOA and OAC to complete the repatriation process in accordance with NAGPRA and its regulations, the letter concludes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to add a statement from an Army spokesperson and additional information about the Army's outreach to the Tribe about the repatriation of Amos LaFromboise.

About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the publication's lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York."

Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com
Check out the entire path of totality for the April 2024 total solar eclipse.

We are now just one year away from one of the grandest and awe-inspiring events that we can witness on Earth, a total solar eclipse!

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a large portion of Ohio will experience this once-in-a-lifetime event. A solar eclipse begins with a perfect lineup of the Sun, Moon and Earth.

A solar eclipse happens at New Moon. This lineup occurs only a few times a year due to the 5% tilt of the Moons orbit to Earths orbit around the Sun.

In order to see a solar eclipse, you must be in the dark part of the Moons shadow or umbra. If you are in the penumbra or light part of the shadow, you will see a partial eclipse.

For the 2024 eclipse, the umbra shadow trail is 124 miles wide. It is called the path of totality. You must be in the path of totality to see the total solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, the shadow trail starts in Mexico, then into parts of the United States and Canada.

Much of Ohio will be in the path of totality. Unfortunately, the city of Canton is just outside the path of totality. So, now is the time to start coming up with your plan to view this once in a lifetime event!

Another important note is that straight down the middle of the path is central line. Any location on central line will see the longest duration of totality. For this eclipse it will be nearly four minutes. The further you are away from central line, the less time you will experience totality.

Viewing safely will be the biggest concern. You must wear solar filter glasses to view the Sun. Never look at the Sun directly! The only time you can safely look at the Sun is during totality. When purchasing solar filter glasses, look for the international standard requirement code of ISO 12312-2. The American Astronomical Society has published a list of reputable solar glass vendors. The list of vendors can be found here: eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.

Another safety issue will be the large influx of people who will want to see this phenomenal event. Traffic will be immense. Again, start making plans.

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Of course, we will need good weather and clear skies for the event. For us in northeast Ohio, we will either have bright blue skies or a blizzard!

Fortunately for us, we will have a dress rehearsal event on Saturday, Oct. 14, a partial annular eclipse.

We will not be in the shadow trail and will witness around 35% coverage of the Sun by the Moon. It will be a great way to practice safe viewing and learning other techniques for safe viewing. However, for those people in the path, they will not see the Moon cover the Sun entirely.

Why is an annular eclipse different? The Moons orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical. So sometimes it is a little further from the Earth and other times it is closer. During the October eclipse, the Moon will be at its furthest point from Earth. Therefore, the Moon will not cover the Sun completely. Those in the path will see the Ring of Fire, which is also a sight to see.

Mark your calendars for these two amazing astronomical events: Oct. 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024. As we approach these two dates, visit www.mckinleymuseum.org for more information and resources.

Lineup of Sun, Moon and Earth during the upcoming April 2024 total solar eclipse.

Night Sky for April

Planets and the Moon  Dazzling Venus dominates the evening sky all month, at magnitude -4. From April 9-12, Venus passes to the left of the beautiful open star cluster, the Pleiades. On April 22, the crescent Moon will be between Venus and the Pleiades. On April 23, the crescent Moon will be north of Venus, creating a stunning site. Mercury makes its best appearance of the year, during April. Mercury can be found to the lower right of Venus for the first half of the month. It reaches its greatest eastern elongation, 19 degrees from the Sun, on April 11. Mercury quickly fades in brightness during the third week of April. The crescent Moon joins Mercury on April 21, but you may need binoculars to spot Mercury. Mercury will be down and to the right of the Moon. Mars is high in the evening sky moving eastward through Gemini, the Twins. Mars continues to fade in brightness as it moves away from Earth. Mars starts the month 136.1 million miles from Earth and ends the month at 161.6 million miles away. Mars pairs with the waxing crescent Moon on April 25. Uranus is located between Venus and Mercury, low in the west, but is a challenge to spot. Saturn is low in the southeast before dawn. It rises 1 hour and 24 minutes on April 1 and rises 2 hours and 28 minutes on April 30, before the Sun. Saturn meets up with the crescent Moon on April 16. Jupiter and Neptune are not viewable in April.

Conditions are ideal for the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower on April 22, under a moonless sky.

We celebrate International Astronomy Day on April 29.

Constellations:

West  Look for the three stars in a line, which make up the belt of Orion. The bright red-orange star up and to the left of the belt is Betelgeuse. The bright blue-white star down and to the right of the belt is Rigel. Draw a line to the right, from the belt, to a red, orange star, Aldebaran, which is the eye of Taurus, the Bull. Aldebaran is part of the V shape of stars, which is the face of Taurus. To the right of Taurus, you will find the small cluster of stars, the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Making a counterclockwise loop from the Pleiades, the next bright star is Capella. Continuing up, the two stars you see are Gemini, the Twins.

North  The Big Dipper is high in the sky. Following the two stars at the end of the cup to the next bright star, Polaris, or the North Star. The constellation Cassiopeia is down and to the left of Polaris and resembles a sideways letter M.

Overhead to East  Head back to the cup of the Big Dipper. Locate the flat part of the cup. Look high overhead for the shape of a backwards question mark. This is the head of Leo, the Lion. Now, arc off the handle of the Big Dipper to the bright yellow, orange star Arcturus. Look right for the bright blue, white star, Spica.

Binocular highlights  Facing west, you will see the small cluster of stars, the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. The Pleiades is a beautiful open star cluster. Head to Orion, the Hunter. Scan below the three stars of Orions belt. You will see fuzzy area with bright stars. This is the Orion Nebula, a hydrogen gas cloud where new stars are forming. For a challenge, scan between Leo and Gemini. There you will find the Beehive Star Cluster.

For further night sky details, maps and audio, visit my website www.starrytrails.com.

Visit the Hoover Price Planetarium  Visit www.mckinleymuseum.org, for show dates and times! Planetarium shows are free with Museum admission. The Planetarium is located inside the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive, N.W., in Canton, Ohio. For more information, please call the Museum at 330-455-7043.

Map details path of April 2024 total solar eclipse, including the central line, in red.

Suzie Dills

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Sky Shorts: Counting down to April 2024 total eclipse
Slovakia has handed over its first four MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, Slovakias Minister of Defense Jaroslav Nagy confirmed on March 23.

Iceland's parliament has unanimously recognized the Holodomor, Joseph Stalins man-made Great Famine of 1932-1933, as genocide against the Ukrainian people, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir tweeted on March 23.

As many as 82% of Ukrainians support Ukraine's accession to NATO if a referendum were held today, according to a poll conducted by Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) for the International Republican Institute (IRI) published on March 22.

The World Bank has increased its estimate of how much Ukraine will need for its recovery and reconstruction to at least $411 billion, based on damages inflicted during the first year of Russias large-scale invasion, the Bloomberg news agency reported on March 22.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kharkiv  just 40 kilometers from the Russian border  with several photos from the trip posted on the presidents Telegram channel on March 22.

Plans for a phone conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are still in the works, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Ukrainian TV broadcasters on March 23.

The Swedish parliament has supported the government's proposal to extend $630 million in security assistance to Ukraine, including tanks, Archer artillery systems, Hawk anti-aircraft missile systems, and ammunition, according to a message on the parliaments website posted on March 23.

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NV presents an exclusive interview with the mayor of the frontline city of Nikopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Ukraines National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has declared Raiffeisen Bank International an international sponsor of war  over its continued operations in Russia, the agency reported on March 23.

Russia caused another $6 billion damage to Ukraines infrastructure in February 2023, bringing the total amount of damage since the full-scale invasion began to $143.8 billion, said the Kyiv School of Economics annual Russia Will Pay report.

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
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  The United States has offered Slovakia 12 new military helicopters as compensation for the MiG-29 fighter jets the European country is giving to Ukraine, Slovakia's defense minister said Wednesday.

Under the offer, Slovakia would pay $340 million for the Bell AH-1Z attack choppers in a deal worth about $1 billion that also includes 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and training, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

U.S. foreign military financing would cover the other $660 million, he said. The European Union also would send Slovakia 200 million euros ($213 million) in additional compensation, Nad said.

The Slovak government still needs to accept the offer.

Nad said his countrys armed forces currently dont have any combat helicopters and that the deal would significantly increase the defense capability of Slovakia.

On Friday, the Slovak government approved a plan to give Ukraine its fleet of 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the second NATO member country to heed the Ukrainian governments pleas for warplanes to help defend against Russias invasion.

Slovakia grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and expertise to help maintain them. Fellow NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic stepped in to monitor Slovak air space.

Slovakia previously signed a deal to buy 14 U.S. F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, but delivery was pushed back two years with the first aircraft to arrive in early 2024.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war
Two Alabama deputies were shot during a welfare check after a man broke into his parents home, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office said.

The parents of John Thomason, 31, were out of town when they called police to perform a welfare check at their Meadowbrook home on March 22, ABC reported.

Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego told ABC the parents believed their adult son was in town and that he might try to break into their home.

Deputies arrived at the house around 9:30 a.m. and saw signs of forced entry, according to a Shelby County Sheriffs Office news release.

Four deputies entered the house through the back door that had been broken and began to search the house, AL.com reported.

The deputies found Thomason in an upstairs bathroom and started to negotiate with him to come out of the house, Samaniego told ABC.

At that point, without warning, (he) fired on deputies, hitting two deputies, Samaniego told ABC.

One of the deputies returned fire but did not hit the suspect, AL.com reported.

The deputies who were shot were rushed to a hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, according to the release.

The remaining deputies negotiated with Thomason, and eventually he surrendered, deputies said.

Thomason was booked into the Shelby County jail and is charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of criminal trespass, jail records show.

He is being held on a bond of more than $1 million.

Both deputies were released from the hospital on the evening of March 22, AL.com reported.

Meadowbrook is 13 miles outside Birmingham.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) holds an iPhone as his spokesman Dmitry Peskov (R) looks on prioir to a bilateral meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

The Met Police havent had a great week, but spare a thought for South African police chiefs. Later this year they may find themselves facing the trickiest diplomatic decision of modern times: whether to arrest Vladimir Putin if he turns up for the summit of Brics nations, planned for Durban in late August.

On the face of it, the decision should have been made for them: South Africa is one of 123 signatories to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which last week issued a warrant demanding that the Russian leader be arrested for war crimes if he should set foot in any of those member countries. But it is all too easy to imagine excuses being made, heels being dragged, the final order being given just as Putins jet lifts off on his homeward journey. Leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malena, has already said that Putin would be welcome in South Africa, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has remained silent.

There is a precedent. In 2015, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir turned up in South Africa for a meeting of the African Union. He, like Putin now, was under an ICC arrest warrant. Yet the South African government issued immunity to all delegates attending. This was challenged in court, then appealed  and, guess what, by the time the courts had finished arguing the finer points, al-Bashir had caught his plane home.

It isnt hard to see why South Africa might be reluctant to fulfil its duty to execute the ICC warrant. Anyone arresting a malignant dictator cannot expect to get away without retribution. South Africa citizens who happened to be in Russia at the time could not expect an easy journey home. Putins caretaker stand-in might be tempted to claim his arrest amounted to an act of war  although South Africa presents logistical difficulties for acts of military retribution.

But if the ICC is not to be reduced to an impotent irrelevance, the arrest would simply have to take place. You cant have a war criminal allowed to swan in and out of an ICC member state with impunity. Were that to happen it would be better had the warrant not been issued in the first place.

For that reason, other ICC members must do all they can to support South Africa. There have been suggestions that South Africa might be punished by the West if it fails to fulfil its duty to arrest Putin. But far better, why not take the I am Spartacus approach and negotiate with South Africa that a delegation of 123 police officers from every single ICC country be sent to effect Putins arrest, then fly him to the Hague before Russia can protest?

Putin, of course, may yet decide that attending the Brics summit is not worth the risk: that his Black Sea mansion is really rather pleasant in August. Much as we would like to see him in the dock, this would, at least, make the ICCs arrest warrant worthwhile. It would reaffirm that Putin henceforth will be restricted to Russia and other rogue countries around the world. But for the Russian president to make a laughing stock of the ICC would be the worst possible outcome. Member states must work out in the next five months exactly what they plan to do.
Mike Chitwood, the sheriff of Volusia County, Florida, cant wait to see South Brunswick resident Richard Golden step off the plane after his extradition to the Sunshine State.

One of the first faces hes going to see welcoming him to the Volusia County Jail, the happiest place on earth, is going to be me, said Chitwood, whose jurisdiction includes Daytona Beach.

Golden, 38, was arrested March 6 by South Brunswick police at his mothers home in the Monmouth Junction section on charges he allegedly made an online threat to kill Chitwood who has risen to prominence for taking a stand against a neo-Nazi hate group.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood holds up the photo of Richard Golden, a New Jersey man arrested for posting death threats in a hate group chatroom to the sheriff. In a press conference on Tuesday, Chitwood spoke of how Golden was tracked down.

Golden was being held at the Middlesex County Correction Center pending extradition to Florida, according to authorities.

Golden's mother told authorities that her son stays in his room and is always on the internet, according to a press release from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. She said he doesnt work, rarely leaves the house and is hostile toward law enforcement and the government.

Golden allegedly posted a written threat to kill or cause injury to Sheriff Chitwood in a 4Chan chat on Feb. 22. Golden stated in the chat: "Just shoot Chitwood in the head and he stops being a problem. They have to find a new guy to be the problem," according to a press release from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

"Just shoot Chitwood in the head and murder him, he added in the chat.

The comments were flagged by the Central Florida Intelligence Exchange which identified Golden.

Golden was arrested following a joint investigation by the FBI, South Brunswick police and Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

"Like every other active shooter that we come across is a marginalized member of society who spends hours and hours and hours in these extremist chat rooms, Chitwood said in a press conference. "Here's a clown sitting in his bedroom who is indoctrinated by this (expletive) and thinks the best way to solve the problem is to put a bullet in my head.

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"Somebody indoctrinated by this (expletive) goes in and wipes out people in a synagogue," Chitwood said. "Extremism is extremism is extremism."

"His postings were anonymous ... Everything is anonymous. They don't want to be identified," Chitwood said before holding up Golden's picture. "But I guess if I looked like this, I wouldn't want to be identified either, being 38 years old and living in my mother's back bedroom with no job.

The anonymous nature of the internet may make people feel they can say anything, but if you make threats or put people in fear we will use all our resources to track you down, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said.

"Being 974 miles away from the Volusia Sheriffs Office was no distance too great for the teamwork of law enforcement," Hayducka said.

Email: alewis@gannett.com

Alexander Lewis is an award-winning reporter and photojournalist whose work spans many topics. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ man arrested over threatening to kill Florida Sheriff Mike Chitwood
The Miami-Dade County State Attorneys Office charged two home healthcare aides with multiple felonies after an investigation concluded they stole more than $225,000 from a woman in her 90s suffering from dementia.

According to warrants released Friday from Katherine Fernandez Rundles office, Natsky Nelson, 48, from Miami, and Jose Miteau Pierre-Toussaint, 55, of Pembroke Pines, stole the money and also amended the womans revocable trust agreement to leave them more cash.

Nelson has been arrested and is being held on $125,000 bond, but police say Pierre-Toussaint is at large.

The two began working for the woman, Lorraine Laderman, in October 2017 through Avanti Home Health Services. They were sent to Ladermans home to provide daily care for her.

Laderman was 92 when she hired Nelson and Pierre-Toussaint, and they continued working for her until she died in February 2021 at the age of 97, according to Miami police Detective Sonia Fernandezs probable cause affidavit.

Over the course of their employment with Laderman, Nelson and Pierre-Toussaint withdrew about $227,100 from several of her accounts and transferred the money to a company they started, the affidavit said.

On Dec. 31, 2020, Ladermans trust was completed and amended to leave Nelson $200,000, the affidavit states.

This investigation has revealed that the victim was not mentally or physically able to make a legal decision or comprehend and agree to the Revocable Trust Agreement dated 12/31/2020 and lacked the capacity to consent. Both [defendants] took advantage of the victims physical and mental deterioration with the intent to permanently deprive the victim of her funds, Fernandez wrote in the March 21 affidavit.
A jury found an Americus man guilty of a felony and multiple misdemeanors Tuesday for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol building, officials said.

William McCall Calhoun, 59, was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and four misdemeanor charges in a U.S District court in District of Columbia Tuesday, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys Office.

Starting the day of the insurrection, law enforcement found evidence that Calhoun, a practicing defense lawyer, posted about the riot on social media both in advance and while he was there, the release said.

Calhoun was arrested in Macon in January of 2021: he had been staying at his sisters house here in the week following the riot.

In his bedroom at the Macon house where he was arrested, investigators at the time said they found a Glock pistol and brass knuckles on the nightstand along with four rifles, including a pair of AR-15-style weapons, and four shotguns. Ammunition boxes nearby were said to contain hundreds if not more than 1,000 rounds.

When law enforcement searched Calhouns phone they found video of him saying This is it. Were storming the Capitol, before entering the building, according to the release. Calhoun apparently walked through the federal building and eventually ended up outside then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis office.

Calhoun also posted about the riot on Facebook afterwards, the release said.

Today the American People proved we have the power. We physically took control of the Capitol building in a hand to hand hostile takeover, Calhoun said, according to the release. We occupied the Capitol and shut down the Government  we shut down their stolen election shenanigans . . .

Police arrested Calhoun in Macon Jan. 15, 2021. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 6.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, who heard the case and delivered the verdict, implied she would deliver a shorter sentence than typical for felonies because others involved with the riot faced lesser charges, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.

Friedrich expressed her doubt for the felony charges throughout the case, according to the AJC, but clearly found Calhoun guilty when the verdict was read.

Calhouns codefendant, Verden Andrew Nalley of Buford, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to two years probation, the AJC reported.
HANOI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has rejected U.S. human rights report as based on false information.

"Vietnam feels sorry that the 2022 human rights report by the U.S. Department of State has made biased comments based on false information about the real situation in Vietnam," deputy spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday.

The deputy spokeswoman reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent policy to protect and promote human rights.

"Fundamental human rights and freedoms are recognized in the Constitution of Vietnam, protected and promoted by concrete legal documents and implemented in reality," she said.

She added that Vietnam sees humans as the driving force of the country's reforms and development.

"Vietnam has made great efforts to improve the people's lives and rights to enjoy life with no one left behind," she said.

Pham Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam remains open to "constructive talks with the U.S. on matters where the two countries have different views in order to increase mutual understanding and contribute to the development of the bilateral comprehensive partnership." 
Southlake Carroll school board members are likely to vote Monday on immediately leaving the Texas Association of School Boards after stating in a resolution that it does not align with values of most Texans.

The meeting is 5 p.m. at the school administration building, 2400 N. Carroll Ave.

On Friday, State Rep. Brian Harrison, a Republican from Waxahachie, posted on Twitter that the Carroll school district is leaving the Texas Association of School Boards and praised its leadership.

BREAKING: @Carrollisd set to #LeaveTASB! This. Is. Leadership.



If youre a Texas parent, and you only read one thing this weekend read this:#txlege pic.twitter.com/kAJns6vw92  Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) March 24, 2023

School board president Cameron Bryan wrote in an email: It is board protocol to not talk publicly about items on an upcoming agenda until after the entirety of the Board has had and opportunity discuss and/or take action.

A spokesperson for the the school board association said in an emailed statement that it respects the Carroll school districts board to assess and evaluate its membership.

Its our hope that their assessment will result in what we know is true: TASB is a non-partisan, member association that has worked for nearly 75 years to support school boards and strengthen Texas public schools, the statement said. Our non-profit programs and services are designed to help districts save taxpayer money  keeping resources in the classroom where they belong.

Harrison sent a letter to all school districts in January asking them to consider leaving the Texas Association of School Boards because of the organizations divisive agenda. Harrison included the text of the letter in his tweet about the Carroll school district.

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In his letter, Harrison wrote that it took almost a year for the TASB to leave the National School Boards Association after that organization called for federal investigations into parents actions at school board meetings.

He also criticized TASB over issuing new legal guidelines on transgender policies in school districts, which he said appears to encourage school districts to refrain from reporting child abuse and to obscure information regarding children exhibiting gender dysphoria from their parents.

Harrisons letter also said the vast majority of Texans support conservative values and the rule of law.

The Carroll school board resolution reflects what Harrison wrote and, along with calling for the district to leave TASB starting in 2024, it directs the superintendent to put out requests for risk management services and other services needed.

The resolution stated that services offered by the association are readily available on the free market at a lower price.

The Texas Association of School Boards provides services to districts, including insurance and training for board members.
SmartAsset: Is My Spouse Entitled to My Pension in a Divorce?

A divorce is an unfortunate time in anyone's life, as it signifies the end of a likely long-term relationship and marriage. However, it's important to understand the financial ramifications of a divorce as you're going through one. So if you're in the process of filing for divorce, the fate of your pension is likely at the forefront of your mind. There are a number of different ways that this situation could unfold. Here's what you need to know.

A financial advisor can help you create a financial plan for your needs and goals before and after a divorce.

How a Pension Is Handled During a Divorce

A pension earned by one spouse is usually considered a joint asset, as are other retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s and IRAs, though state laws govern the latter. Usually, whatever is earned prior to the marriage remains individual property, while what is earned during the marriage is considered a joint asset.

However, the divisions of pensions in a divorce isn't always a cut-and-dry situation. For one, unless you are actively receiving a pension (and thus know the exact details of the payment amount and frequency), it can be difficult to pin down its exact value.

Additionally, while a pension is usually considered a joint marital asset, that doesn't mean it's always split 50/50. The exact amount varies according to each state's law and how much of the pension was earned during the marriage. Remember that if you and your spouse signed a prenup protecting your pension, it'll remain yours.

If you have a military or government pension, these are governed by their own specific set of rules and may not be subjected to the same rules when splitting your assets in a divorce.

The Legalese Behind a Pension in a Divorce

SmartAsset: Is My Spouse Entitled to My Pension in a Divorce?

If you have a pension, you've likely heard of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This is the set of regulations that protect pension holders. However 1984 brought the Retirement Equity Act, which protects spousal benefits as they relate to pensions.

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In order to gain access to a percentage of your pension, your spouse would have to specifically ask for their share at the time of the divorce  not at the time of your retirement. This is done via a court order called a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO).

If your spouse is entitled to half or a portion of your pension, it would be withdrawn at the time of the divorce settlement and transferred into their own retirement account, usually an IRA. It's important to note that with a QDRO, the spouse is exempt from the tax ramifications of receiving their settlement.

State Laws for Pensions in a Divorce

A general rule of thumb when it comes to splitting pensions in divorce is that a spouse will receive half of what was earned during the marriage. However, this depends on each state's laws governing this subject.

In equitable distribution states, assets (like your pension) are divided fairly  but this doesn't necessarily mean 50/50. The vast majority of states are equitable distribution states. But there are also a few community property states, where all marital property is simply divided 50/50. There are only nine community property states  Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Other states, including Alaska, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Dakota, allow spouses to opt into a community property system.

The Power of Bargaining During a Divorce

If you have a pension and are in the midst of a divorce, don't just fork over half blindly. You may have a few bargaining chips on your side. First, find out if your soon-to-be ex has a retirement of their own. If it's comparable to yours in value, it may behoove both of you just to call it even. After all, think of the money you'll save on lawyers alone.

Second, if your spouse doesn't have a retirement account that's equal to your pension, consider other joint marital assets that you may be able to offer them instead. Real estate would be your best choice here. In lieu of splitting your pension, try offering up your former home or another piece of comparable real estate.

Bottom Line

SmartAsset: Is My Spouse Entitled to My Pension in a Divorce?

When facing a divorce, your spouse will generally be entitled to some of your pension. However, how much your spouse will receive varies, as the laws governing pensions in divorce settlements vary by state.

If you have a pension and are getting a divorce, you can still do things to protect your financial interests. For instance, familiarize yourself with your plan and its details. The more you know prior to settlement, the better. You can also hire an attorney with experience in pensions, or you could consider a QDRO specialist. And lastly, don't automatically assume that you'll lose half your pension. This isn't always the case since most settlements are based upon what was earned during the marriage.

Retirement Planning Tips

Whether or not you have to split your pension in a divorce, knowing how far your current savings will get you in retirement can help you plan ahead. SmartAsset's comprehensive retirement calculator can give you a detailed look at how your savings stack up.

A financial advisor can help you create a financial plan for your retirement needs and goals. long-term retirement plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Photo credit: iStock.com/Avosb, iStock.com/eclipse_images, iStock.com/clubfoto

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Zoe Petersen, Deseret News

At a recent Stanford Law School event, sponsored by the schools Federalist Society chapter, federal Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan quickly realized it would be impossible to give his prepared remarks over the shouts of student protesters. So when the schools associate dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion stood up to speak, Duncan thought she was standing to quiet the crowd.

That expectation lasted about as long as it took Tirien Steinbach, the DEI dean, to open up her folder and announce that she had prepared remarks of her own.

This event is tearing at the fabric of this community, Steinbach said to the room and to Duncan, who had been invited on March 9 to speak about his work on the United States Court of Appeals. Do you have something so incredibly important to say  that it is worth this impact on the division of these people? she said to Duncan.

Steinbach is now on leave, according to Stanford Laws dean, Jenny Martinez, who, in a 10-page public letter, said administrators failed to follow the schools free speech policies at the event. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Steinbach, where she explained her actions.

Martinez did not address whether any of the student protesters would face repercussions. Duncan faced heckling, lewd posters and comments, and was ultimately escorted from the lecture hall by federal marshals.

In an op-ed written for The Wall Street Journal after the event, Duncan said one protester screamed they hoped his daughters were raped.

Students have shouted down conservative speakers on college campus before. But on Twitter, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said that this time was different.

Unlike so many prior instances in which STUDENTS engage in this kind of mistreatment, this incident involved the ADMINISTRATION at Stanford, Lee said.

If Stanford wants to produce graduates who are ill-equipped or even unwilling to handle cases assigned to judges with divergent viewpoints, Stanfords treatment of Judge Duncan might well assist in that effort.  Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 10, 2023

This exchange highlights the increasingly high-profile conservative frustration with DEI initiatives. Whereas proponents of DEI offices say they are meant to make all students feel welcome and to redress disparities, what seems like a growing number of opponents say they stifle diversity of thought and encourage a despairing view of systemic discrimination.

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Conservatives also point to evidence that DEI offices may discriminate against conservative viewpoints and have little to no effect on students actual sense of belonging.

This year a spate of anti-DEI bills were introduced in red states across the country  including Utah, Florida and Texas  that would defund or outright ban DEI initiatives in public institutions of higher education.

However, author and educator Irshad Manji said in an interview with the Deseret News that efforts to ban DEI miss the mark if theyre just about picking a side, even if conservatives are right to find fault in the way DEI programs are implemented.

If your intention is to fan the flames of the culture war, in order to rally your tribe to your side and ensure that you are reelected, well, then of course thats the right approach, she said. There definitely is a better way.

What is DEI?

Diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, is catchall phrase for programs and policies meant to create an environment of equal representation and opportunity, with a focus on groups that have faced historic discrimination.

I think theres a misunderstanding about what it is that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are designed to do, Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and former president of Mount Holyoke College said. They are not designed to promote people who are not qualified. That would be setting people up for failure. Theyre not designed to give preference based on race. Theyre designed to give equal opportunity and equal access so that everyone has a place at the table.

Pasquerella said diversity statements in college hiring and admissions processes should demonstrate a persons capacity to be an effective teacher or student in a pluralistic society. And recent events have shown that efforts to right historic wrongs and create a welcoming environment are necessary, she said.

DEI programs are really intended to help institutions engage in audits about their own policies, practices, hidden biases, and to redress those in ways that ensure that everyone feels a sense of welcome and belonging, Pasquerella said.

These programs also help attract and retain a diverse student body and set them up for success, Pasquerella said, pointing out that students are better able to perform academically when they are not dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of discrimination or insecurity.

Problems with DEI

But while the three words  diversity, equity, inclusion  on their own appear innocuous, their application has at times been disastrous, according to Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute.

Those are all good goals, Shapiro said in a phone interview with the Deseret News. The problem is that the way that DEI offices operate are almost completely in contradiction to those goals.

Shapiro said that while proponents say DEI policies are necessary to create a welcoming environment, they often function as a way to weed out those who stray from progressive orthodoxy.

This includes college professors who were denied raises and research opportunities based on their responses to diversity statements.

(DEI initiatives) prevent intellectual diversity and kind of narrow the acceptable range of policy views to achieve equality of outcome rather than treat everyone fairly, and to exclude anyone who disagrees with a rather rigid ideological perspective, Shapiro said.

Shapiro speaks from personal experience. In the first part of last year, he was subject to a four-month investigation by Georgetowns Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action for a controversial tweet he posted shortly before taking a new position at the school.

Though the investigation determined no disciplinary measures were needed, Shapiro resigned a few days later, saying that the university had proven it lacked a commitment to the traditional ideals of higher education.

Such experiences have become more common as universities have devoted more resources to DEI administrators and offices over the last decade, especially since the George Floyd protests, Shapiro said.

Recent years have seen more colleges hiring hundreds of DEI administrators and spending tens of millions of dollars a year on DEI offices. Some universities offer DEI degrees, and a majority of them have, or are considering, DEI criteria for tenured positions.

DEI has also become a multibillion-dollar corporate industry. Last year, LinkedIn ranked diversity and inclusion manager as the second fastest growing job of the last five years. And Shapiros colleague at the Manhattan Institute, Christopher Rufo, has documented that 100% of Fortune 100 companies have DEI initiatives in place.

Rufo and Shapiro published model legislation in January that would defund DEI bureaucracies and prohibit mandatory diversity trainings in public institutions, defining DEI initiatives as any effort to promote differential treatment based on race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Legislation like this has been introduced in state legislatures across the country, including in Florida, where Rufo has worked closely with Gov. Ron DeSantis on education issues.

Red states take on DEI

In January, DeSantis announced a proposal to eliminate university courses and bureaucracies dedicated to DEI. The Republican-led legislature followed with a bill to allow the state Board of Governors to remove DEI-related majors and courses from universities and cut spending to DEI programs.

Other red states followed Floridas lead.

In early February, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a memorandum to public universities stating that the use of DEI initiatives was illegal in hiring. By early March, Texas A&M University, Texas State University, University of Houston, and University of Texas school systems had all instructed their leaders to halt DEI hiring practices and to review their DEI policies.

Bills introduced in the Texas House and Senate would prohibit colleges from maintaining DEI offices and from requiring DEI statements in hiring or admissions.

Similar bills are making their way through the Missouri and Iowa state legislatures. A similar bill in Utah didnt make it out of committee.

This aggressive response by Republicans is appropriate considering the size and scope of the problem, according to Matt Beienburg, director of education policy at the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute and a coauthor of the model legislation.

He said that according to his research around 80% of job openings in the Arizona public university system require a DEI statement. And Beienburg said that more than three-quarters of job applicants are rejected in the California school system because they do not meet certain DEI requirements.

What weve seen is basically what this functions as is a political litmus test, which rather than promoting diversity, particularly diversity of thought and opinion, which is crucial for the intellectual inquiry of higher education, these measures require essentially intellectual conformity, Beienburg said.

Bridging the DEI divide

But Manji, author of Dont Label Me, and founder of Moral Courage College, suggests there is a way to implement DEI without inflaming divisions.

What people tend not to think about is how something is done will determine whether its ideals translate in the real and messy world, said Manji,

One example Manji gave was if a DEI training were to segregate individuals based on skin color and apply the labels of victim and oppressor based on these categories. This activity does nothing to address the real problem, Manji said, and instead would likely increase feelings of resentment and division.

The best intentions of DEI then become corrupted by the way it is practiced, she said.

Diversity Without Division, a program offered by Moral Courage College, wants individuals to be able to share their views on controversial issues without resorting to tribal defensiveness. It encourages participants to listen to and not shame one another.

In this version of diversity, empathy and inclusion, nobody is saying that you have to change what you believe, she said. You get to stand your ground and create common ground at the same time. And that sounds like a contradiction, but its actually a delicious paradox.

Brigham Young Universitys Office of Belonging appears to be trying to strike a similar balance.

The Office of Belonging, opened last fall, strives to create a welcoming community, first by focusing on students common identity as children of God, and then by emphasizing the necessity of eliminating prejudice and addressing achievement gaps, particularly among first generation students.

Its initiatives like this that make Manji optimistic that eventually DEI can help create a community that values belonging, intellectual diversity and respect for the individual.

Anybody can be destructive, Manji said. But being constructive, now that is where integrity comes from.
The new CEO of Starbucks, Laxman Narasimhan, has pledged to work as a barista in stores around the country once a month as part of his leadership of the company.

Narasimhan took the reins of the coffee giant this week as founder Howard Schultz stepped down from his second stint as CEO. Narasimhan credited his immersive experience working in stores over the past six months while preparing to take over the company with giving him better understanding of the customer experience.

Front-line work is rare for business executives. A 2018 Harvard Business School study found that CEOs on average spend 6 percent of their time with front-line employees, compared to 72 percent of their time in meetings.

CEOs face a real risk of operating in a bubble and never seeing the actual world their workers face, the authors wrote. Spending time with the rank and file, and with savvy external front line constituencies, is also an indispensable way to gain reliable information on what is really going on in the company and in the industry.

Schultzs resignation comes as he is expected to face the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee next week to discuss labor complaints and union busting allegations against the company.

Starbucks has been in labor turmoil since a Buffalo store became the first to vote to unionize in 2021. Since then, more than 280 locations have followed with union votes nationwide.

The company has strongly lobbied against union attempts. The National Labor Relations Board has received more than 75 complaints about Starbucks treatment of unionizing workers.

If a significant portion of our employees were to become unionized, our labor costs could increase and our business could be negatively affected by other requirements and expectations that could increase our costs, change our employee culture, decrease our flexibility and disrupt our business, Starbucks wrote in its 2021 year-end filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Starbucks Workers United, the union attempting to negotiate a contract with the company, is pleased with Narasimhans commitment, telling The Washington Post that the decision is a sign that hes willing to change Starbucks relationship with workers and forge a new path forward with our union.

Narasimhan said he is also dedicated to supporting employees as top executive, including long-term hiring and retention, and continuing our investment in partner wages and store operations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Recent revelations that drinking water plants and public wells across South Carolina contain elevated levels of toxic chemicals sent chills through people concerned about the quality of water they are consuming at their homes.

Now, state regulators have released a list of the water systems with forever chemicals that exceed a proposed new federal drinking water limit of 4 parts per trillion for the two most well-known types of the chemicals. Those systems include large utilities, small town water systems, and mobile home park systems.

The list, to be posted shortly, shows that forever-chemical levels in South Carolina, for the most part, are not substantially higher in drinking water than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys proposed new limit. But some of them are  and regardless of the level, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control says the findings should not be ignored.

Developed in the 1940s for a variety of consumer products, some forever chemicals have been found to be toxic if consumed regularly in water or food over a period of years.

Kidney, testicular and breast cancer in adults, as well as developmental issues in children, are among the health problems that can result from regular, long-term exposure, federal officials say. Forever chemicals also have been tied to immune system deficiencies.

Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said people should not be overly alarmed if the pollution is just above the proposed federal limit, but he also said utilities need to focus on finding the sources of contamination and stopping them because of the long-term hazard.

This is something you should pay attention to; you want your drinking water provider to have a plan for this, Stangler said. Its something you want state regulators and federal regulators to be working on. It does not mean you need to panic right now and stop drinking water.

Forever chemicals, also known as per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been tied to industrial plants that either discharge directly to rivers or send waste to municipal plants, which then discharge to rivers. Landfills, military bases and firefighting training centers also are thought to be sources of forever chemical pollution. Consumer products contain forever chemicals, which are aptly named because they dont break down quickly in the environment.

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All told, 63 public wells and water plants that draw from rivers and lakes had forever chemicals above the new federal level of 4 parts per trillion, according to revised data provided Friday by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. During a March 16 news conference, DHEC said 78 public wells or water plants exceeded the federal limit, but department officials said Friday that was a mistake.

The 63 wells and water plants with elevated forever-chemical levels are operated by more than 50 utilities, large and small, according to agency data released Friday.

Agency data show that many of the affected water sources serve utilities in the Midlands and in eastern South Carolinas Pee Dee region, although the chemical pollution can be found in drinking water in other areas, as well.

Only a handful of water sources, including wells serving the Wallace community in eastern South Carolina and the Siesta Cove RV Park west of Columbia, exceeded 20 parts per trillion, according to updated data.

The Siesta Cove levels for one type of forever chemical, known as PFOA, exceeded 130 parts per trillion  far higher than other water systems, records show. A person who answered the phone Friday at Siesta Cove said another park official who could comment was not available.

Jeremy Steen, general manager at the Wallace Water Co., said he will be talking to DHEC soon, but until he learns more, preferred not to discuss the matter. Wallace had a level for PFOA of 32 parts per trillion.

In addition to the city of Columbia, which has one of the states largest water systems, utilities serving parts of Aiken, Charleston, Beaufort, Marlboro, Georgetown, Greenwood, Kershaw, Cherokee, Newberry, Lexington, Florence and Saluda counties show levels of forever chemicals above the proposed new federal standard, according to DHEC.

In the Columbia area, other major utilities with water plants that have forever chemical levels above 4 parts per trillion include West Columbia and Cayce.

Cayce spokeswoman Ashley Hunter had no immediate comment but said a statement from the city would be forthcoming. West Columbia spokeswoman Anna Huffman also had no immediate comment.

Clint Shealy, Columbias assistant city manager over utilities, said the key is stopping forever chemical pollution at the source to help avoid costly water system upgrades. The city estimates it could cost Columbia in excess of $150 million for upgrades to comply with the proposed new limit.

DHEC officials said this week they are still trying to determine where the forever chemical pollution is coming from, but so far, they have been unable to pinpoint sources.

DHEC is still collecting data and investigating what may be potential sources of PFAS in the environment, the agency said in an email. It is a complex issue but one DHEC is dedicating significant resources towards.

Its no surprise that some of the water systems with PFAS levels above 4 parts per trillion are groundwater fed utilities in the central part of the state, agency officials said. That area, which includes Columbia, Florence and Aiken, has aquifers that are closer to the surface and more likely to be affected by contamination.

In addition to forever chemicals in public water systems, they also have been found in private wells near industrial plants and farms in eastern South Carolina and near military bases, including Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter County east of Columbia.
New Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Cole Holcomb said he is fully healthy after a foot surgery ended his 2022 season, and is ready to start practicing for the 2023 season whenever the Steelers want him to.

Holcomb was injured in the Washington Commanders Oct. 23 game against the Green Bay Packers, was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 17 and underwent surgery early in December.

The nature of the end of Holcombs 2022 season made it so that his contract with the Steelers was dependent on him coming to Pittsburgh and passing his physical, which he did.

Read the full story from our partners at Sports Now Group Pittsburgh here.

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U.S. stocks reversed earlier losses to close in positive territory on Friday as markets cap off a bumpy week following the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Wednesday and further pressure in the banking sector.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC), which fell as much as 1% in early Friday trading, the most in a week, flipped into postive territory later in the session to close up 0.57%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) did the same, ending the week up 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.

WTI crude oil (CL=F), which was down 3% in earlier trading, pared losses by 2% to settle at $69.20 a barrel, putting oil back near its lowest levels in nearly two years. Brent crude (BZ=F) dipped about 1% to settle at just around $75 a barrel.

The pressure in oil comes after Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told lawmakers on Thursday refilling the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) may take several years and that it will be "difficult" to utilize the current decline in oil prices.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell about 7 basis points to trade near 3.38%.

On Wednesday, the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points, bringing the range for the fed funds rate to 4.75%-5%, the highest since October 2007, in addition to suggesting its aggressive rate hiking campaign to quell inflation was winding down.

"The Committee anticipates that some additional policy firming may be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2% over time," the Fed said in its policy statement, doing away with language for "ongoing rate increases" in interest rates.

"Powell stuck with the Fed's narrative that there is still a path toward a soft-landing or returning inflation to target without pushing the economy into a recession," wrote Ryan Sweet, Chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, in a note on Wednesday. "However, that path has become narrower because of the pressure on the banking system."

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On Friday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard raised his 2023 interest rate projection to 5.625%. This would outpace the Fed's latest "dot plot" projections, which suggest rates will continue to tick higher in 2023, but only slightly, with benchmark interest rates seen peaking at 5.1% this year, on par with the Fed's previous December projection.

Bullard, while speaking in St. Louis, said he's optimistic stress in the banking system will abate, explaining: "I would put 80% of probability on the case where financial stress abates."

"If it doesn't abate, that's a completely different world where financial stress gets more intense, and I would be willing to react to that," he added.

Stocks ended Thursday's volatile trading session higher as investors digested the Fed's latest move

Bank sentiment waffled on Friday as investor concerns surrounding financial stability remain heightened following the stunning collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, which trigged a ripple effect across the entire financial system.

Big bank stocks like JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), Citigroup (C), and Goldman Sachs (GS) closed in the red on Friday; however, Bank of America (BAC) reversed prior losses to close flat on the day.

Regional bank stocks including PacWest Bancorp (PACW), Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL), and Regions Financial (RF) turned positive in midday trading and stayed that way through the end of the trading session, recovering from steeper losses earlier in the day.

First Republic Bank (FRC), which briefly flipped into positive territory at around 2 p.m. ET, saw losses accelerate into the close with shares ending the day down more than 1%.

Shares of European bank operators Deutsche Bank (DB) and UBS (UBS) pared losses, but still closed down about 3% and 1%, respectively, as Euro banks continue to feel the aftermath of Credit Suisse's downfall.

According to Reuters, Deutsche Bank's credit default swaps, a form of insurance against default, jumped to a four-year high, adding to greater stability concerns overseas.

However, analysts appeared calm on Friday: "We have no concerns about Deutsches viability or asset marks. To be crystal clear - Deutsche is NOT the next Credit Suisse," Stuart Graham and Leona Li, strategists at Autonomous, a subsidiary of AllianceBernstein, wrote in a new research note.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Friday she will convene with members of the Financial Stability Oversight Council for a previously unscheduled meeting in an effort to calm banking sector jitters.

Block (SQ) fell another 2% on Friday, after falling 15% on Thursday, as Wall Street continued to sift through a new piece of short-seller research out of Hindenburg.

Hindenburg Research levied accusations of fraud against the company, which was founded and led by billionaire Jack Dorsey. In response, Block said it intended to work with the SEC to "explore legal action against Hindenburg Research for the factually inaccurate and misleading report they shared about our Cash App business today."

"We had hoped Block's response/refutation would be more detailed and believe 'exploring legal action' will likely not be enough to settle investors' concerns," Citi analyst Peter Christiansen wrote in reaction to the Hindenburg report, echoing shareholder sentiment.

Coinbase (COIN) bounced back on Friday, with shares up as much as 5%, after slumping 14% on Thursday following the company's disclosure it received a Wells Notice from the SEC, which warns companies of pending action from the regulator.

Netflix (NFLX), which led the S&P 500 on Thursday with the stock surging more than 9%, saw shares settle on Friday, up 2.5%.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) climbed 6.7% at the open, the most since January 2022, after European Union regulators said on Friday it was narrowing the scope of its probe into Microsoft's planned $75 billion takeover of the video game developer. The stock climbed roughly 6% to end the trading day.

Shares of Silvergate Capital Corporation (SI), which soared as much as than 90% on elevated trading volume, closing the day up 52%.

Alexandra is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193 and email her at alexandra.canal@yahoofinance.com

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Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere, a Swahili advocate. Keystone/Getty Images

Once just an obscure island dialect of an African Bantu tongue, Swahili has evolved into Africas most internationally recognised language. It is peer to the few languages of the world that boast over 200 million users.

Over the two millennia of Swahilis growth and adaptation, the moulders of this story  immigrants from inland Africa, traders from Asia, Arab and European occupiers, European and Indian settlers, colonial rulers, and individuals from various postcolonial nations  have used Swahili and adapted it to their own purposes. They have taken it wherever they have gone to the west.

Africas Swahili-speaking zone now extends across a full third of the continent from south to north and touches on the opposite coast, encompassing the heart of Africa.

The origins

The historical lands of the Swahili are on East Africas Indian Ocean littoral. A 2,500-kilometer chain of coastal towns from Mogadishu, Somalia to Sofala, Mozambique as well as offshore islands as far away as the Comoros and Seychelles.

This coastal region has long served as an international crossroads of trade and human movement. People from all walks of life and from regions as scattered as Indonesia, Persia, the African Great Lakes, the United States and Europe all encountered one another. Hunter-gatherers, pastoralists and farmers mingled with traders and city-dwellers.

Africans devoted to ancestors and the spirits of their lands met Muslims, Hindus, Portuguese Catholics and British Anglicans. Workers (among them slaves, porters and labourers), soldiers, rulers and diplomats were mixed together from ancient days. Anyone who went to the East African littoral could choose to become Swahili, and many did.

African unity

The roll of Swahili enthusiasts and advocates includes notable intellectuals, freedom fighters, civil rights activists, political leaders, scholarly professional societies, entertainers and health workers. Not to mention the usual professional writers, poets, and artists.

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Read more: Hip hop and Pan Africanism: from Blitz the Ambassador to Beyonce

Foremost has been Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The Nigerian writer, poet and playwright has since the 1960s repeatedly called for use of Swahili as the transcontinental language for Africa. The African Union (AU), the united states of Africa nurtured the same sentiment of continental unity in July 2004 and adopted Swahili as its official language. As Joaquim Chissano (then the president of Mozambique) put this motion on the table, he addressed the AU in the flawless Swahili he had learned in Tanzania, where he was educated while in exile from the Portuguese colony.

The African Union did not adopt Swahili as Africas international language by happenstance. Swahili has a much longer history of building bridges among peoples across the continent of Africa and into the diaspora.

The feeling of unity, the insistence that all of Africa is one, just will not disappear. Languages are elemental to everyones sense of belonging, of expressing whats in ones heart. The AUs decision was particularly striking given that the populations of its member states speak an estimated two thousand languages (roughly one-third of all human languages), several dozen of them with more than a million speakers.

How did Swahili come to hold so prominent a position among so many groups with their own diverse linguistic histories and traditions?

A liberation language

During the decades leading up to the independence of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in the early 1960s, Swahili functioned as an international means of political collaboration. It enabled freedom fighters throughout the region to communicate their common aspirations even though their native languages varied widely.

The rise of Swahili, for some Africans, was a mark of true cultural and personal independence from the colonising Europeans and their languages of control and command. Uniquely among Africas independent nations, Tanzanias government uses Swahili for all official business and, most impressively, in basic education. Indeed, the Swahili word uhuru (freedom), which emerged from this independence struggle, became part of the global lexicon of political empowerment.

The highest political offices in East Africa began using and promoting Swahili soon after independence. Presidents Julius Nyerere of Tanzania (196285) and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya (196478) promoted Swahili as integral to the regions political and economic interests, security and liberation. The political power of language was demonstrated, less happily, by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (197179), who used Swahili for his army and secret police operations during his reign of terror.

Read more: New Kiswahili science fiction award charts a path for African languages

Under Nyerere, Tanzania became one of only two African nations ever to declare a native African language as the countrys official mode of communication (the other is Ethiopia, with Amharic). Nyerere personally translated two of William Shakespeares plays into Swahili to demonstrate the capacity of Swahili to bear the expressive weight of great literary works.

Socialist overtones

Nyerere even made the term Swahili a referent to Tanzanian citizenship. Later, this label acquired socialist overtones in praising the common men and women of the nation. It stood in stark contrast to Europeans and Western-oriented elite Africans with quickly  and by implication dubiously  amassed wealth.

Ultimately, the term grew even further to encompass the poor of all races, of both African and non-African descent. In my own experience as a lecturer at Stanford University in the 1990s, for instance, several of the students from Kenya and Tanzania referred to the poor white neighbourhood of East Palo Alto, California, as Uswahilini, Swahili land. As opposed to Uzunguni, land of the mzungu (white person).

Nyerere considered it prestigious to be called Swahili. With his influence, the term became imbued with sociopolitical connotations of the poor but worthy and even noble. This in turn helped construct a Pan African popular identity independent of the elite-dominated national governments of Africas fifty-some nation-states.

Little did I realise then that the Swahili label had been used as a conceptual rallying point for solidarity across the lines of community, competitive towns, and residents of many backgrounds for over a millennium.

Kwanzaa and ujamaa

In 1966, (activist and author) Maulana Ron Karenga associated the black freedom movement with Swahili, choosing Swahili as its official language and creating the Kwanzaa celebration. The term Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili word ku-anza, meaning to begin or first. The holiday was intended to celebrate the matunda ya kwanza, first fruits. According to Karenga, Kwanzaa symbolises the festivities of ancient African harvests.

A Kwanzaa celebration in Denver, US. Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Celebrants were encouraged to adopt Swahili names and to address one another by Swahili titles of respect. Based on Nyereres principle of ujamaa (unity in mutual contributions), Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles or pillars. Unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), shared purpose (nia), individual creativity (kuumba) and faith (imani).

Nyerere also became the icon of community brotherhood and sisterhood under the slogan of the Swahili word ujamaa. That word has gained such strong appeal that it has been used as far afield as among Australian Aborigines and African Americans and across the globe from London to Papua New Guinea. Not to mention its ongoing celebration on many US college campuses in the form of dormitories named ujamaa houses.

Today

Today, Swahili is the African language most widely recognised outside the continent. The global presence of Swahili in radio broadcasting and on the internet has no equal among sub-Saharan African languages.

Swahili is broadcast regularly in Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland and Tanzania. On the international scene, no other African language can be heard from world news stations as often or as extensively.

At least as far back as Trader Horn (1931), Swahili words and speech have been heard in hundreds of movies and television series, such as Star Trek, Out of Africa, Disneys The Lion King, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. The Lion King featured several Swahili words, the most familiar being the names of characters, including Simba (lion), Rafiki (friend) and Pumbaa (be dazed). Swahili phrases included asante sana (thank you very much) and, of course, that no-problem philosophy known as hakuna matata repeated throughout the movie.

Swahili lacks the numbers of speakers, the wealth, and the political power associated with global languages such as Mandarin, English or Spanish. But Swahili appears to be the only language boasting more than 200 million speakers that has more second-language speakers than native ones.

Read more: What Kwanzaa means for Black Americans

By immersing themselves in the affairs of a maritime culture at a key commercial gateway, the people who were eventually designated Waswahili (Swahili people) created a niche for themselves. They were important enough in the trade that newcomers had little choice but to speak Swahili as the language of trade and diplomacy. And the Swahili population became more entrenched as successive generations of second-language speakers of Swahili lost their ancestral languages and became bona fide Swahili.

The key to understanding this story is to look deeply at the Swahili peoples response to challenges. At the ways in which they made their fortunes and dealt with misfortunes. And, most important, at how they honed their skills in balancing confrontation and resistance with adaptation and innovation as they interacted with arrivals from other language backgrounds.

This is an edited extract of the first chapter of The Story of Swahili from Ohio University Press

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: John M. Mugane, Harvard University.

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John M. Mugane 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.
Oleksandr Kamyshyn

Kamyshin will have to complete the reform of state-owned consortium Ukroboronprom and set up arms production for the army, according to a government report.

"Ukraine cannot always rely solely on weapons of its allies. The domestic defense industry is a priority for the president and the government, both now and after the war is over," Svyrydenko said.

Read also: Ukroboronprom tells about new drones for Ukrainian armed forces

More advanced weapons allow a state to win a modern war, she added.

Svyrydenko emphasized Kamyshin's "outstanding leadership qualities" he had shown as head of the Ukrainian state railways. The same is expected of him in his new post, she added.

Read also: NABU's new director faces questions of independence amid ties to government

In general, his comprehensive task is to change approaches in his ministrys work.

Kamyshin was appointed as Strategic Industries Minister on March 21.

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
YANGON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition marking the seventh anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) was held in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, on Thursday, according to a release from the Chinese embassy in Myanmar.

The exhibition showcased the achievements of the LMC projects implemented by 16 ministries and agencies of Myanmar, the release said.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar U Than Swe praised the LMC's contribution to the regional sustainable development and its assistance to the people of Myanmar.

He also expressed gratitude to China for the LMC Special Fund, stressing the importance of LMC principles in maintaining regional peace and stability and enhancing socioeconomic development in the region.

The LMC Special Fund supported more than 600 projects in the region and made contributions to regional development. The special fund financed 92 projects in 34 sectors of Myanmar, bringing tangible benefits to the people of Myanmar, the release said.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai said that he believes that the unity and cooperation of the six Lancang-Mekong countries will create a better future for the region.

The six LMC countries have carried out fruitful cooperation regarding the three pillars of political security, economy and sustainable development, and social and people-to-people exchanges, he added.

Nearly 200 guests from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, and representatives from Myanmar's relevant departments attended the event.

The LMC consists of six countries -- China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Lancang River originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in southwestern China. It is called the Mekong River as it flows through the other five countries before emptying into the sea. 
A tornado that touched down in Montebello on Wednesday heavily damaged the roof of the Royal Paper Box Company. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The tornado that swirled through Montebello for minutes on Wednesday recorded winds of 110 miles per hour, the strongest twister to touch down in Los Angeles County since 1983, according to the National Weather Service.

The Montebello tornado  which cut a path nearly half a mile long  left 17 buildings damaged and 11 structures red-tagged, according to the National Weather Service and local officials. The tornado was 50 yards wide.

The tornado registered an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which measures the weather events based on wind speed.

An EF1 tornado is any that records winds between 86 and 110 mph and is considered a "weak" tornado. The most powerful tornadoes  with designations of EF5  have wind speeds over 200 mph.

The last time a tornado hit at least an EF1 in Los Angeles County was just over 40 years ago, on March 1, 1983, when an EF2 tornado tore through a residential area in South-Central.

That tornado injured 25, mostly from flying glass, and destroyed 37 homes and severely damaged more than 100 others. Wednesday's tornado injured just one.

On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County city of Carpinteria also was hit by a tornado  much less severe than the Montebello twister.

The tornado that hit the coastal city had winds of just 75 mph, though it was enough to damage 25 mobile homes at Sandpiper Village as well as surrounding trees. One person was injured in the Carpinteria tornado.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DNY59 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

President Joe Bidens plan to relieve up to $20,000 in student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans rests on shaky ground as the Supreme Court continues to deliberate on legitimacy issues. With the total amount of student debt resting right around $1.7 trillion and government aid in limbo, experts are looking toward potential ways to hold colleges and universities responsible for the current situation.

Learn: With Student Loan Forgiveness At Risk, Is a Forever Payment Pause Possible?

Discover: How To Guard Your Wealth From a Potential Banking Crisis With Gold

Whether the federal government can or should forgive student loans is a matter for the court of last resort, but preventing student loan debt from amplifying and making colleges more affordable for future generations means changing tactics.

Holding Colleges and Congress Responsible

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, between the 1970-71 and 2020-21 school years, one-year tuition and fees at a public non-profit university rose 2,580% ($394 to $10,560). For private institutions, the increase was 2,107% over the same period, from $1,706 in 1970 to $37,650 in 2020, per Intelligent.com.

The trouble is that these colossal increases in tuition have outpaced gains in income significantly. As Intelligent points out, since 1970, the federal minimum wage has grown only 353%, from $1.60 per hour to $7.25. The days when hard-working students can fund their education through part-time or summer jobs are long gone.

The shift to high-tuition, high-aid caused a massive total volume of debt, says Emily Cook, an assistant professor of economics at Tulane University. But when schools can essentially charge whatever they want for tuition and raise rates annually without question, the need to rein in tuition through legislative policy is required.

On Thursday, Thomas Gokey, an organizer with the Debt Collective, told a House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development that Congress needs to address the uneven tuition price to wage ratio. These Republican members of Congress and right-wing pundits attended college when tuition was significantly cheaper, said Gokey.

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The same isnt true for todays student debtors, where the price of college has skyrocketed while wages have fallen  now, young people have been buried under crushing debt, he added.

Reinstating the Gainful Employment Rule

According to Biden plan supporter and president of the Institute for College Access & Success, Sameer Gadkaree, the gainful employment rule is a measure that should be reconsidered.

Testifying at the same subcommittee hearing, Gadkaree said the reinstatement of the gainful employment rule could help Congress hold low-quality institutionsaccountable for their predatory and harmful practices.

The rule  an Education Department metric used to assess whether the debt graduates leave college with is proportional to their relative earnings  ensures that college graduates are not taking on exorbitant levels of student debt. It was revoked by former President Donald Trump in 2019.

Demanding Colleges to Cosign Student Loans

A third perspective comes from a Biden loan forgiveness plan critic, but its a long shot. Education economist Carlo Salerno thinks institutions themselves could be held responsible for borrowers repaying their loans by becoming cosigners.

Take Our Poll: Do You Think Bankruptcy Is an Acceptable Way To Escape Student Loan Debt?

Students benefit from risk-sharing because institutions that are held financially liable for their students success will put more effort into getting those students through the system faster and more cheaply, Salerno said. Taxpayers benefit becausepart of the risk of loss gets covered by an entity that does not have to be skip-traced and compelled to repay.

As the future of Bidens student loan relief program remains uncertain, the White House has extended the federal student loan payment moratorium until June 30, 2023, or earlier if appeal litigation is resolved by the Supreme Court.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loan Forgiveness Debate Has Experts Suggesting 3 Ways To Hold Colleges Responsible for Americans Debt
Elena Espinosa Cabrera says her diagnosis has made her even more determined to train as a doctor (Collect/PA Real Life)

A medical student who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 17, throwing up outside A&E due to the 14cm cyst wrapped around her fallopian tube, is now training to be a doctor and says her diagnosis has only made her more determined.

Elena Espinosa Cabrera, 20, who is studying at the University of Edinburgh and is from north Devon, was revising for her medical school entrance exams when she went to A&E with pain in her abdomen which she had thought was a muscle strain.

A 14cm cyst was found wrapped around her right ovary, and she said being told she had ovarian germ cell cancer was a huge shock  but has made her more determined to pave a career in medical care.

After nine rounds of chemotherapy, Elena is not yet considered to be in remission but her cancer is now classed as inactive.

She said: Being in the hospital environment was very interesting for me because its the field I want to go into, despite it being from the wrong perspective.

My diagnosis has made me even more determined to train as a doctor and help others.

Elena first noticed symptoms when she felt a pain in her right side in November 2020.

She said: I was studying for an exam at the time and one morning I woke up and felt a strain on the right side of my abdomen, it felt like a muscle strain.

Without Teenage Cancer Trust, I literally wouldn't be where I am today. They were an amazing support

Elena Espinosa Cabrera

Elena attempted to focus on her exam preparation but struggled to concentrate as the pain grew worse and, finding she could no longer sit still at her desk, she phoned 111.

She was advised to go to A&E.

She said: The pain got really unbearable. I dont normally like to complain, but I couldnt handle it any more.

My mum left work and went with me to A&E. By the time I got there, I was in so much pain that I was throwing up outside.

She added: I was admitted straight away but doctors couldnt understand what was causing the agony.

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Initial theories of appendicitis and kidney stones were ruled out and Elena was booked in for an ultrasound the following week.

Sitting her exam on the Monday, Elena had her scan on the Tuesday, where a sonographer found a 14cm cyst wrapped around her right ovary.

My diagnosis has made me even more determined to train as a doctor and help others

Elena Espinosa Cabrera

Elena said: They explained that the pain was being caused by the fact that the cyst was twisted around my fallopian tube. It was also growing bigger and needed to be urgently removed.

Three weeks later Elena underwent a laparotomy to remove the cyst which was then examined to determine if it was cancerous.

In November 2020 Elena was diagnosed with metastatic ovarian germ cell cancer.

Germ cell ovarian tumours begin in the ovarian cells that develop into eggs (germ cells). They are rare and usually affect girls and young women up to their early 30s.

The main symptoms of ovarian cancer include feeling bloated or pain around the pelvis and stomach that is not linked to your period, and struggling to eat because you feel full quickly.

Its likely that Ive had it since birth and the cyst has grown with me, Elena said.

The pain was being caused by the fact that the cyst was twisted around my fallopian tube

Elena Espinosa Cabrera

It was a huge shock because, when youre young, you just think youre invincible. You never expect to be told you have cancer.

A month after my first procedure, I had my right ovary removed.

Afterwards, it was hoped that I was now cancer-free but in August 2021, I started feeling ill a lot.

Elena had a persistent cough and breathlessness to the point where she struggled to get out of bed.

Seeking advice from her GP, she had an x-ray and afterwards was sent straight to A&E.

Elena said: Id convinced myself I had long Covid but it had got to the point where I couldnt walk up the stairs without stopping every few steps, which isnt normal for a young person.

The next day, the then 18-year-old had a biopsy and was informed that the metastatic ovarian germ cell cancer was back.

Hearing that, I was reassured, she said. That may sound weird that I was grateful for that but a second type of cancer less than a year later would have felt even more unlucky.

Elena was transferred to the Western General Hospital and began emergency chemotherapy.

When youre young, you just think youre invincible. You never expect to be told you have cancer

Elena Espinosa Cabrera

She said: I had the treatment up until Christmas 2021. I had my last session on Christmas Eve. I remember driving home for Christmas feeling really ill. I had extreme fatigue and spent a lot of time on the sofa. I was throwing up around five times a day.

I had five rounds of even more intense chemo until February then started immunotherapy. I have that every three weeks and travelling down from Edinburgh disrupts my life a bit. Three weeks seems to come around really quickly.

The immunotherapy gave me menopausal symptoms because of a hormone imbalance. Ive not had a period in years. I lost my hair during the chemo but that is growing back.

Elena returned to her studies in September 2022, after taking a year out from university.

She said: I was really adamant that my life went back to normal as soon as possible because I just want to get stronger again.

I had immunotherapy after chemo which I finished just after uni started and now I have check-up scans every three months.

The mass is now inactive and is 2mm in size.

Studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Elena says she has been given a unique perspective on her future career.

She said: I found the hospital environment really interesting, although I was witnessing it from the wrong perspective.

I was really adamant that my life went back to normal as soon as possible because I just want to get stronger again

Elena Espinosa Cabrera

She added: I was able to talk to clinicians and specialists, so I learned a lot through the process and I know thats going to help me so much in my career.

Teenage Cancer Trust put a big emphasis on life after cancer because for a young person, that diagnosis just completely destabilises you and you find yourself playing catch up with the people around you.

Elena says she is very grateful for the support she received from the charity.

Without Teenage Cancer Trust, I literally wouldnt be where I am today. They were an amazing support, she added.

Studying medicine can be very triggering for me after what Ive been through but my diagnosis has really taught me the power of mindset and I got a lot of strength from the support system I had around me.

Ive really embraced sharing my journey with others, and helping other people going through similar experiences has given me a lot of purpose.

For more information on ovarian cancer, visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org/information-about-cancer/ovarian-cancer.
By Keith Coffman

DENVER (Reuters) - The student who shot and wounded two Denver high school administrators and later took his own life was on probation at the time for a previous firearms offense, Reuters confirmed through a source with knowledge of the case on Thursday.

Wednesday's shooting at East High School, the second in two months at the campus, occurred when two deans of the school were frisking the student for weapons as part of a specialized safety protocol devised for the youth because of his past behavioral problems, authorities said.

The 17-year-old student, Austin Lyle, then fled the school with his handgun as police launched a daylong manhunt that ended when the teenager was found dead near his vehicle in a remote mountain area roughly 45 miles (72 km) west of Denver.

The Park County Coroner's Office said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

As new details emerged about the youth's troubled past, education officials confirmed earlier media reports that Lyle had been expelled from Overland High School in Aurora before he was enrolled this year in Denver's East High School.

The reason for his removal from Overland was not explained. But a source familiar with the investigator told Reuters that Lyle was charged in late 2021 with possessing a dangerous weapon and possessing a large-capacity ammunition magazine after an arrest in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

In November of 2022, according to the source, Lyle was sentenced to 12 months of probation for the large-magazine possession charge, while the dangerous weapon charge was dismissed.

As a condition for enrolling Lyle in East High School, a special "safety plan" was implemented requiring him to submit to a search of his person for weapons each day upon entering the building, a pat-down to be conducted by school administrators.

The Denver school board had voted in 2020 to eliminate its program of assigning armed city police officers to its campuses, relying instead on the school district's own security team.

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Amid a public furor over Wednesday's shooting, the school board voted in emergency session on Thursday to allow armed police officers back on the grounds of East High School.

Meanwhile, one of the two deans wounded in the latest shooting was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, while the other remained hospitalized in serious condition, a hospital spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver; Editing by Steve Gorman and Stephen Coates)
Shaun Nelms, who since 2015 has been synonymous with the revival of East High School through a partnership with the University of Rochester, will leave his superintendent position in June to join UR, the university announced Friday.

Starting July 1, he will become UR's vice president for community partnerships, a new role intended to "give new structure to the Universitys wide-ranging work with local and national partners," according to a press release. He will be replaced as superintendent by Marlene Blocker, the longtime RCSD administrator who currently is principal of East Upper School.

Nelms, a 47-year-old Buffalo native with master's and doctoral degrees from UR's Warner School of Education, is also currently director of UR's Center for Urban Education Success. He will retain that role as well as his professorship at Warner.

Shaun is a visionary leader who for the past eight years has led a revolutionary partnership that could be a model for K-12 transformation," UR President Sarah Mangelsdorf said in a statement. His extraordinary work at East High School and the Warner School of Education has inspired us to think more broadly about the role innovative partnerships can play at the University level. If we are to have the greatest impact we canin Rochester and around the worldwe must work together with other academic institutions, with community organizations, and the corporate sector in a more strategic and organized way.

Shaun Nelms, East High's superintendent, greets a student during the first day of school.

Most high schools do not have superintendents; the unusual title derives from the school's status in state receivership law and the terms of its partnership with UR. Since that partnership has been in place, the school has undergone major structural changes and transformed from one of RCSD's poorest performing schools to one of its most attractive.

From 2016: East High School 'way better' in Year One

Marlene Blocker

"We have been able to provide scholars at East real opportunities to succeed, a safe environment to grow, and weve been given the support and resources to innovate in spaces where despair was more often greater than hope," Nelms said in a statement. "It is my goal now in joining the University of Rochester to establish the University as a leader in community partnership and engagement; to cultivate greater and stronger meaningful relationships in the City of Rochester, across Monroe County, and beyond."

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The current agreement among RCSD, UR and the state Education Department expires in 2025 and would need to be renewed for the partnership to continue.

Blocker is one of the district's most senior and respected principals. Before coming to East she was the founding principal at Rochester Early College International High School in the former Madison High School building on Genesee Street.

RCSD board member Ricardo Adams, who has two children at East, said he was happy for Nelms -- and happy that Blocker will replace him.

"I think he's done an amazing, amazing job over there at East," he said. "My kids have really benefited from it. They're going to miss him and I'm going to miss him being there."

The new upper school principal at East will be Ed Mascadri, currently the ninth grade academy director.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Shaun Nelms to leave East High School for University of Rochester post
The local resident was a doctor by profession and supported the invaders

The SBUs press service reported on Facebook on March 24 that the 63-year-old resident of the oblast center, a doctor by profession, had posted pro-Russian propaganda on the banned Russian social network Odnoklassniki.

Read also: SBU detains Russian agent who recruited ex-convicts for Wagner Group

In her publications, the woman described the Russian war of aggression as liberation, and Ukraine and its Western partners were accused of military actions against the civilian population  common Kremlin propaganda tropes.

Read also: SBU detains Russian agent spying on Western weapons in Mykolayiv

She also described the killing of Ukrainian defenders by Russians and Kadyrovs promise to burn the devils to be cool.

While being searched, the suspect attempted to destroy her phone which contained a considerable amount of anti-Ukrainian content and symbols associated with the aggressor country.

The woman has been detained and charged under Part 3 of Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which includes justifying or denying the Russian Federations armed aggression against Ukraine and glorifying its participants, carrying a penalty of five to eight years imprisonment, with or without property confiscation.

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 Iowa Supreme Court has affirmed a Des Moines man's attempted murder conviction, reversing a lower court's ruling that prosecutors had charged him with shooting the wrong victim.

Anthony Mong, now 34, was convicted at trial in the 2018 shooting in Clive. Prosecutors alleged he was in a long-running dispute with another man over his girlfriend. After a confrontation, according to court filings, Mong fired at the other man and missed, hitting a second man nearby.

In 2022, the Iowa Court of Appeals largely reversed Mong's conviction. Key to the court's decision were the trial court's instructions to the jury that the prosecutors had to prove "the defendant specifically intended to cause a serious injury" to the man who was shot. That wasn't the prosecutors' claim, the appellate court pointed out: even they agreed that Mong had been shooting at someone else.

From 2018:Suspect in Clive shooting arrested in Las Vegas

The appellate court noted that Iowa law permits a conviction of attempted murder even when the injured person was not the intended target, but found that the too-specific jury instructions prosecutors agreed to in Mong's case did not cover that circumstance, and reversed his conviction.

On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court overruled that decision and reinstated most of Mong's conviction. Writing for a unanimous court, Justice Christopher McDonald said it didn't matter whether the jury instructions identified the actual or intended target, because Iowa's doctrine of "transferred intent" makes the intended victim and actual victim interchangeable for purposes of Mong's conviction.

The Supreme Court also rejected Mong's challenge to the racial makeup of his jury pool, finding Mong, who is Black, presented no evidence of any policy or practice by Polk County that resulted in an unbalanced pool. But it did strike down Mong's conviction for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, finding the evidence showed the man who was shot testified he was not afraid of Mong prior to being wounded.

Story continues

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Supreme Court restores Des Moines man's attempted murder conviction
A new documentary explores the theory that hijackers planned to take down a fifth plane on 9/11. (Screengrab / TMZ )

The sun was shining and there were no clouds in the sky as United Airlines captain Tom Manello went through his pre-flight checks in the early morning of 11 September, 2001.

As he did so, passengers on four other flights leaving from Boston, Newark, and Washington DC were preparing to execute a coordinated series of hijackings that ultimately kill nearly 3,000 people and ignite two decades of global warfare.

But for all the investigations and soul-searching that followed the 9/11 attacks, there are still some mysteries we haven't solved. Chief among them: was Manello's aircraft also intended to be a target?

"I now believe that it is more likely than not that we were the fifth airplane," said Manello in a recent TV interview. "There's a good chance that somebody was planning to try to use our airplane as a weapon of mass destruction."

That was the thesis of a new TMZ documentary called 9/11: The Fifth Plane, which aired on Fox on Monday night, based on interviews with Manello and three other members of his flight crew.

The online tabloid investigated longstanding claims that United Airlines Flight 23 might actually have had its own set of hijackers aboard, who aborted their mission when the flight was delayed by pure chance.

But the theory raises many questions, not least why neither the FBI or the US government's landmark investigation into the disaster ever mentioned anything about United 23.

"It's definitely chilling," Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of the Atmosphere Research Group, tells The Independent. "If [these claims] are indeed accurate, it is information that needs to be taken seriously...

"It raises the question: if there could have been a fifth aircraft, then could there have been even more than that? And would any of those aircraft be intended to attack other cities in the US?"

However, he also cast scepticism on some of the documentary's claims, saying: "I'm concerned about the accuracy of some of these assertions."

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Everything seemed perfectly normal

United 23 was due to take off around 9am from New York City's JFK Airport. Like the other planes used in 9/11, it was a cross-country flight  in this case, bound for Los Angeles  which meant that it was fully loaded with highly flammable jet fuel.

"Everything seemed perfectly normal," Manello told TMZ. "Everybody was in a good mood, everybody was happy. It was going to be a fun day."

While boarding passengers and preparing to taxi to the runway, there were several incidents that struck crew members as strange, although they seemed harmless at the time. Flight attendant Sandy Thorngren noticed a passenger in business class who appeared highly nervous, sweating profusely despite wearing only a T-shirt in the relatively cold airplane cabin.

In first class, the purser  known in the documentary only as Deborah  got into a minor dispute about food with four passengers: a "well-built" man in a tan suit, a young boy around 6 or 7 years old, a man who seemed to be a "bodyguard", and a woman in a niqab, or full-body covering.

Russia Ukraine War A Moment Analysis (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

However, Thorngren and another flight attendant, Barbara Brockie Smaldino, became suspicious that the person in the niqab was actually a man, because they had large hands with hair on the back of them. "It was definitely a male underneath that [niqab]," Thorngren told TMZ.

The group had said that they did not eat meat, so Deborah spent a long time trying to get them fruit plates. But they were insistent they did not want to eat and wanted to take off as soon as possible, even though it would be a very long flight. One of them also asked if they could visit the cockpit, because the child really wanted to see inside.

Plane hatches found mysteriously open

At 8:46am, the first plane flew into the north tower of the World Trade Centre. Reports of the hijackings took time to percolate out through the US air traffic control and military grapevine, so when Manello heard about it over the radio, he assumed a small plane had accidentally crashed while "trying to do something stupid" such as flying between the towers.

However, that day at JFK turned out to be unusually busy, and Flight 23 was stuck in a queue behind ten or so other planes. Hence, it still had not taken off when a second plane hit the south tower and United's dispatcher warned all transcontinental pilots to "beware cockpit intrusion".

Pandemonium ensued as all flights across the US were grounded for fear of further hijackings and JFK Airport was evacuated. Manello and his co-pilot barricaded the door, readied improvised weapons, and taxied back to the gate while passengers frantically called their loved ones to let them know they were safe.

Then came the incident that truly alarmed the crew. Airport workers on the ground observed someone running inside the plane, visible through the portholes  after all the passengers and the crew had left. Staff had already checked the whole plane for stragglers and were quite sure nobody was left on board.

(Getty Images)

Manello reported this to the airline, and the next day all crew members were interviewed by the FBI. Investigators found that one of the hatches in the plane's floor, leading down into electronics compartment, was open  which could not have happened before the passengers disembarked because they are bulky and block the whole aisle when raised.

"When I was talking to the FBI, and they told me those floor hatches were open, I couldn't breathe. I tried to figure out how those hatches could be opened, unless there was somebody down in the electronics area, and they opened it after we left the aircraft," said Deborah.

Worse, airline staff later found boxcutters  small knives used in at least two of the 9/11 hijackings  concealed in a seat-back pocket of another plane that had been sitting next to Flight 23. Its tail number was 6001, very close to Manello's 6002.

Joining these dots, the crew now believe that these boxcutters were planted ahead of time by an undercover terrorist, perhaps working for the airport or one of its private contractors. They were meant to be used by the hijackers, but through a simple mistake, they were put on the wrong plane.

Then, when the plot failed, someone  perhaps the same person  snuck on board Flight 23 in an attempt to remove the evidence, explaining the person seen running and the hatch left open. According to TMZ, it would have been easy enough to access the electronics compartment via a hatch on the plane's belly, before climbing up into the cabin through the inner hatch.

Asked by TMZ whether he could think of another rational explanation for these events, Manello said: "Honestly, no. I can't think of another reason why somebody would do that.

Theres very little doubt in my mind

There has long been speculation that the four planes hijacked on 9/11 were not the only targets. In 2004, the US government's 9/11 Commission reported that Al Qaeda mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed initially hoped to capture ten planes.

After the attacks, boxcutters were also found on two long-range Delta Airlines flight and an American Airlines flight. An FBI report made public last year said that the seat where they were hidden had been occupied by a Saudi Arabian pilot who had previously attracted suspicion from the agency (15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian, as was ringleader Osama bin Laden).

As early as 2011, Manello's co-pilot Carol Timmons, who later became the first female general in the Delaware National Guard, raised the question of whether the four people in first class had also been hijackers. Manello also told his story to The Florida Bulldog in 2022, and the United dispatcher said he was told that the four suspicious passengers never claimed their luggage and that "incriminating" items were found inside.

In TMZ's documentary, aviation safety expert and 9/11 historian Lynn Spencer said: "During my research, it was made very evident to me from the highest levels of our government... that there were more than just the four planes.

"United 23 would have become airborne right about the time of the other hijacked aircraft on September 11, and there's very little doubt in my mind that United 23 was the fifth airplane."

Burning twin towers of the World Trade Centre after hijacked planes crashed into towers (AP)

Haarteveldt, however, does have doubts. He points out that lots of people are nervous when they fly; that small children frequently ask to be shown inside the cockpit, and are often allowed to; and that we must be "very careful about not resorting to cultural biases" in casting suspicion on Muslim passengers.

About the dispute over fruit plates, he says: "I will tell you something from experience working with airlines. If you tell people that you're going to have to take a substantial delay for catering, generally, passengers will say 'we'd rather go and get to our destination and eat when we get there'."

As for the report of people running inside the plane, Harteveldt says it is shaky, as they could have been airline crew mistaken for passengers. The boxcutters are harder to explain, but he questions why an infiltrator within the airport staff would not have been discovered before now.

Authorities wont say what came of their investigation

There is also the fact that the FBI, according to United 23's crew, investigated all this  but we don't know what came of the investigation. Asked by The Independent whether it had ever made any charges or arrests in connection to the flight, the agency declined to comment.

"If the FBI missed information about a potential fifth aircraft, it's embarrassing for the agency," says Harteveldt. "Or if they still consider it to be a matter of national security that has not yet been cleared for public discussion."

The 911 Commission also never mentioned United 23 in its final report. Former staffer Miles Kara told the Bulldog that his analysis of Al Qaeda's plot "does not have room for a fifth plane", and that if there was one, it was unlikely to have come from "yet another airport" in addition to the three already confirmed.

Hence, the truth about United 23 is unclear and may never be known. But the experience of at least seeming to have suffered such a near miss was clearly traumatic for the crew, who said they struggled to work afterwards.

According to the documentary, they were denied compensation by the airline, which argued that they had not suffered any unique stress beyond what all other air crew suffered on that day, until finally being sued and reaching a settlement.

"It's been 21 years, and it still stays with me," said Thorngren. "The terrifying, horrific events, and the way I was treated by a company that I was loyal to for 30 years. I decided I just said couldn't do anymore. I retired in 2003."

"The indifference, and the way we were treated, was abominable," said Smaldino. "So it was time to leave that job that I worked so hard for."

United did not respond to requests for comment.
Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte, Will Smith and Janet Hubert, Bill Murray and Lucy Liu, and Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are just a few of the pairings who didnt see eye to eye (Shutterstock, Sky)

Cruel!, Completely disgusting!, Candy ass!  these are just some of the barbs that Hollywood stars have unleashed upon each other over the years. But which actors said them? And about whom?

Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte might have been romantically entangled in I Love Trouble, but they also had a few tangles  and not the good kind  with each other off-set. And even though Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams went on to date in real life after The Notebook, it wasnt exactly love at first sight for those two, either.

A lot of this is ancient history. And the stars and their fans probably want to move on.

But before we bury the hatchet, why not stir the figurative pot a little more, with this long list of actors who have clashed on set

Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Vin Diesel

Candy ass and chicken s*** were the inventive insults that The Rock came up with in 2016 for his Fast & Furious co-star Vin Diesel.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Dwayne Johnson explained that the pair have a fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach moviemaking and collaborating.

Diesel later claimed that his difficulties with Johnson stemmed from him doling out unwelcome acting advice. My approach at the time was a lot of tough love to assist in getting [his] performance where it needed to be, Diesel told Mens Health.

Responding to the remark, Johnson said: I laughed and I laughed hard. I think everyone had a laugh at that. And Ill leave it at that. And that Ive wished them well. I wish them well on Fast 9. And I wish them the best of luck on Fast 10 and Fast 11 and the rest of the Fast & Furious movies they do that will be without me.

Last November, Diesel urged Johnson to make peace  so there could be hope for these two yet.

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (Rex Features)

The X-Files stars are good friends now, but they didnt always see eye to eye. Familiarity breeds contempt, Duchovny told Metro in 2008.

Its nothing to do with the other person. All that fades away and youre just left with the appreciation and love for the people youve worked with for so long. We used to argue about nothing. We couldnt stand the sight of each other.

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In 2015, Anderson admitted to The Guardian: I mean, yes, there were definitely periods when we hated each other.

Hate is too strong a word. We didnt talk for long periods of time. It was intense, and we were both pains in the arse for the other at various times.

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron

In 2020, the Mad Max: Fury Road stars opened up about their infamous feud on the set of the 2015 film. Theron had admitted at the time that the pair f***in went at it while filming the post-apocalyptic drama.

Speaking to The New York Times, Hardy said: I think in hindsight, I was in over my head in many ways. The pressure on both of us was overwhelming at times. What she needed was a better, perhaps more experienced, partner in me. Thats something that cant be faked. Id like to think that now that Im older and uglier, I could rise to that occasion.

Theron added: In retrospect, I didnt have enough empathy to really, truly understand what he must have felt like to step into Mel Gibsons shoes. That is frightening! I think because of my own fear, we were putting up walls to protect ourselves instead of saying to each other, This is scary for you, and its scary for me, too. Lets be nice to each other. In a weird way, we were functioning like our characters: Everything was about survival.

In February 2022, the plot thickened when Theron claimed she was scared s***less of Hardy on set. She made the revelations in the book Blood, Sweat, and Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road, which details a heated encounter between the pair after Hardy showed up to set three hours late.

Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte

After starring opposite Nick Nolte in I Love Trouble, Julia Roberts didnt hold back in an interview with The New York Times in 1993. From the moment I met him we sort of gave each other a hard time, and naturally we get on each others nerves, she said.

While he can be completely charming and very nice, she added, hes also completely disgusting. Hes going to hate me for saying this, but he seems go out of his way to repel people. Hes a kick.

Roberts might have been being playful  its unclear  but Nolte took her comments seriously. Its not nice to call someone disgusting, he told the Los Angeles Times. But shes not a nice person. Everyone knows that.

Will Smith and Janet Hubert

In 2020, Will Smith admitted to making the set very difficult for his Fresh Prince of Bel Air co-star Janet Hubert.

During a one-off reunion on HBO Max, Hubert  who played the original Aunt Viv and left the series in 1993  reconciled with Smith after a 27-year-long feud, telling him she felt like he banished her.

Smith then acknowledged making things hard for Hubert, stating he felt like everything was a threat to him when he was on the show.

I can see now the level of pain and the level of struggle that it was just for you to show up every day, he said, to which Hubert responded: But you took all of that away from me  with your words. Words can kill. I lost everything. Reputation. Everything. And I understand you were able to move forward, but you know those words, calling a Black woman difficult in Hollywood, is the kiss of death.

Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer

Alex Pettyfer and Channing Tatum in Magic Mike (Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock)

While they played friends in Magic Mike, Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer were not so close in real life.

Channing Tatum does not like me. For many reasons. Many being my own fault, Pettyfer said in a 2015 interview on Bret Easton Elliss podcast.

According to Pettyfer, tensions began because he was very insecure as a human being during filming and decided to keep to himself on set. That gave me a bad rep because they said, Oh Alex thinks hes f***ing better than everybody else because he doesnt speak to anyone.

The acrimony allegedly only worsened when Pettyfer rented an apartment from a friend of Tatums and moved out before paying the four months of back rent that he owed.

Tatum never publicly responded to Pettyfers comments.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams

After filming The Notebook, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams dated for several years. But they didnt always get along. Director Nick Cassavetes told VH1 in 2014: Maybe Im not supposed to tell this story, but they were really not getting along one day on set. Really not.

Ryan came to me, and theres 150 people standing in this big scene, and he says, Nick come here. And hes doing a scene with Rachel and he says, Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off camera with me? I said, What? He says, I cant. I cant do it with her. Im just not getting anything from this.

Cassavetes said that after allowing the two actors to have it out, the shoot was able to continue.

We went into a room with a producer; they started screaming and yelling at each other. I walked out, Cassavetes said. At that point I was smoking cigarettes. I smoked a cigarette and everybody came out like, All right, lets do this.

Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker

Sex and the City stars Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker have been engaged in a long-simmering feud.

On Piers Morgans Life Stories in 2017, Cattrall said that Parker could have been nicer about her refusal to take part in a third Sex and the City movie. She also added that the four stars of the show, which also included Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, were never friends.

Cattrall went further in February 2018, following the death of her brother Chris. After Parker wrote a comment of condolence on Cattralls Instagram, Cattrall posted a photo of a message that read: I dont need your love or support at this tragic time @sarahjessicaparker.

Cattrall then accused Parker of exploiting our tragedy to restore [her] nice girl persona, adding: Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now.

Parker has consistently denied that she has ever fallen out with Cattrall.

Nicolette Sheridan and Teri Hatcher

The co-stars in 2005 (Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock)

Desperate Housewives actor Nicolette Sheridan once went so far as to call her co-star Teri Hatcher the meanest woman in the world, according to the shows writer Marc Cherry.

There is speculation that Sheridan wasnt the only star who didnt get on with Hatcher. In 2018, Huffman posted a tribute to the show online, complete with personalised messages to each of her former co-stars, with the exception of one person only: Hatcher.

That same year, Eva Longoria appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and claimed that the stars were all still very good friends, before correcting herself with, 99 per cent of us are.

After the finale aired, and amid widespread rumours about the feud, Hatcher said to TV Guide: I will never disclose the true and complicated journey of us all, but I wish everyone on the show well.

Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando

In Sophie Lorens 1963 memoir, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life, she recounted the experience of filming the romantic comedy A Countess from Hong Kong with Marlon Brando.

Recalling a time he allegedly groped her on set, she wrote: All of a sudden, he put his hands on me. I turned in all tranquillity and blew in his face, like a cat stroked the wrong way and said, Dont you ever dare to do that again. Never again!

She continued: As I pulverised him with my eyes, he seemed small, defenceless, almost a victim of his own notoriety. He never did it again, but it was very difficult working with him after that.

Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep

Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in Kramer vs Kramer (Moviestore/Shutterstock)

Meryl Streep has said Dustin Hoffman overstepped the mark when he slapped her face on the set of the divorce drama Kramer vs Kramer.

Referring to the 1979 scene with Hoffman, Streep told The New York Times in 2018: This is tricky because when youre an actor, youre in a scene, you have to feel free. Im sure that I have inadvertently hurt people in physical scenes.

But theres a certain amount of forgiveness in that... But he just slapped me. And you see it in the movie. It was overstepping.

Hoffman has previously said he was getting a divorce while shooting the film.

Im sure I was acting out on her [Streep] throughout the movie, he told the Huffington Post. Stuff that I was feeling toward the wife that I was divorcing in real life.

William Shatner and George Takei

Despite being two of the four surviving cast members of the original Star Trek series, William Shatner and George Takei are still feuding.

George previously told The New York Times that William was not a team player on set. He said: The rest of the cast all understand what makes a scene work. Its everybody contributing to it. But Bill is a wonderful actor and he knows it, and he likes to have the camera on him all the time.

Last month, after Takei mocked Shatners trip to space, Shatner retaliated by telling Page Six: Theres a psychosis there There must be something else inside George that is festering, and it makes him unhappy that he takes it out on me Why would he go out of his way to denigrate me? Its sad, I feel nothing but pity for him.

Bill Murray and Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu and Bill Murray were not exactly the best of friends while filming the 2000 action comedy Charlies Angels.

Speaking on the Los Angeles Timess Asian Enough podcast last summer, Liu said that she wouldnt get into the specifics but there was a moment where she stood up to Murray while on set.

Liu said Murray hurled insults at her that kept going on and on. It was unjust and it was uncalled for, she said. Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I was not going to just sit there and take it. So, yes, I stood up for myself, and I dont regret it.

Murray has not publicly commented on the fall-out, but reports have previously claimed that he loudly complained about Lius acting technique on set and that he even stopped a scene in progress and pointed to Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Liu, saying in order, I get why youre here, and youve got talent but what in the hell are you doing here? You cant act!
A woman says she was fired from her job managing a Tacoma homeless shelter earlier this year after she took complaints of unsafe conditions and other problems to the regional nonprofit that runs the facility and others like it across the Puget Sound region.

Anita Letasi told The News Tribune recently that conditions at Aspen Court, a converted hotel at 8620 S. Hosmer St., were appalling and that officials at the Low Income Housing Institute ignored her reports and requests for change. Letasi described rampant drug use, unsanitary conditions and violations of admission rules, among other issues that she says continue to go unaddressed.

The News Tribune spoke with three other former Aspen Court employees as well as former and current residents who gave accounts similar to those of Letasi. They described a culture of intimidation and fear where management consistently undermined security and safety concerns, among other issues.

Two former employees wanted to remain anonymous, citing fear of retaliation from LIHI and loss of future employment opportunities in the nonprofit sector. A third, Myah Barrett, worked as a shelter organizer at Aspen Court from November 2021, a month before Aspen Court opened, until March 15. She decided to talk about her experience publicly after she accepted another job offer.

Letasi retained an attorney who sent LIHI a letter on Feb. 24 saying his client intends to sue for wrongful termination. The letter requests Letasis personnel file and the preservation of any and all records LIHI has pertaining to Letasi or the maintenance and operation of the Aspen Court location.

No other employees or residents are pursuing litigation against LIHI at this time.

Its important to expose them.  I believe that theyre just becoming this giant machine of taking taxpayers money and not having any recourse for their behavior, Letasi told The News Tribune on Feb. 23. Im sickened to know that I was a part of it and to know whats going on inside. And so thats why Im coming forward, because I would like changes. Id like them to be regulated. Id like them to be accountable.

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In an email to The News Tribune on March 13, LIHI executive director Sharon Lee said a lawsuit has not been filed against LIHI by Letasi and that she could not comment on the details of a former employees termination.

LIHI is a state leader in providing homeless and low income housing and services. We serve chronically homeless individuals with compassion. We have successful outcomes in moving people from shelters to permanent housing, Lee said in a Feb. 28 email in response to questions from The News Tribune. We are very proud of our achievements in the community. Weve helped thousands of people leave homelessness and find secure and safe shelter, and permanent housing.

According to a termination letter LIHI officials sent to Letasi on Jan. 12, Letasi was fired for creating a hostile work environment. LIHI officials said investigations into Letasis safety concerns and complaints about coworkers behaviors and policies not being followed either had no merit or were exaggerated.

Lee said in the March 13 email to The News Tribune that LIHI practices progressive discipline in cases of poor work performance, including providing feedback, coaching and written warning before termination.

Letasi said she received no feedback or coaching on her performance while employed at Aspen Court and did not receive written warning before she was terminated. Letasi says she was fired over the phone days after she discussed safety concerns with human resources, which blind-sided her.

Letasi worked at Aspen Court for about four months and served as a full-time, salaried operations manager making $59,000 a year. Some of her duties included managing the daily activities of the shelter, providing leadership and customer service, communicating with clients at bimonthly meetings, supervising staff, answering questions, purchasing cleaning supplies and keeping staff updated on any policies, Letasi said.

As a night shelter organizer, Barrett made $21.88 an hour. Her duties included janitorial maintenance, managing the front desk, responding to resident concerns, enforcing LIHI policies, flipping rooms, running laundry and night security, among others. Although she has a passion for human services work, Barrett said she was not prepared emotionally and physically for the tasks presented to her as a 22-year-old when she started. Often, Barrett said she would spend hours counseling residents in crisis, de-escalating situations and managing about 100 vulnerable adults overnight, many of whom were using drugs.

I have a huge open heart. But its draining. Its a very mentally draining position, Barrett said through tears in an interview on March 1 when she was still employed at Aspen Court. I have a passion for helping people. And I think thats why Ive stayed so long. These are my neighbors, and if I leave, thats solving problems for me. It doesnt solve the problem for them. Somebody told me once, its like the teachers that stay in bad schools. Because, you know, if they leave, then whos left?

LIHI operates over 3,400 housing units at 75 sites in six counties throughout the Puget Sound region, including Aspen Court, and has received tens of millions of dollars in public money for its operations. As of March 13, Aspen Court sheltered 99 people, 51% of whom are people of color, Lee said. About 35% of residents are 55 or older.

On Feb. 28 LIHI announced it had purchased the Candlewood Suites hotel in Lakewood for $20.2 million, which will be converted into an enhanced homeless shelter serving about 85 people in Pierce County. LIHI bought the building with funding from the state Legislature through the Department of Commerce Right-of-Way program.

Last year LIHI purchased the Heron Apartments in Tacoma after receiving $3 million from the City of Tacoma and $21.3 million from the state Department of Commerce. The Heron Apartments offer a mix of supportive housing for those formerly experiencing homelessness and affordable workforce housing.

In 2018, Letasi sued a previous employer in Pierce County for sexual harassment and wrongful termination, alleging when she told human resources about sexual harassment she was fired from her position and her wages were withheld. Letasi won $200,000 in the lawsuit. An attorney representing Letasi declined to comment further.

The former Comfort Inn on the 8600 block of South Hosmer Street in Tacoma was purchased by the Low Income Housing Institute in October 2021 with financial assistance from Pierce County, the City of Tacoma and City of Lakewood. The institute turned the hotel into a 94-room enchanted shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

A brief history of Aspen Court

In 2021, LIHI purchased the Comfort Inn in Tacoma for $8.8 million to turn it into a transitional shelter that would house up to 120 men, women and couples, including pets. The City of Tacoma and Pierce County each provided $5 million towards the Aspen Court project, and the City of Lakewood provided $1 million to purchase the hotel and fund programming in the future.

Two hundred thirty-one people experiencing homelessness have been served at Aspen Court since it opened Dec. 15, 2021, and 59 people have moved into permanent housing, Lee said in an email to the News Tribune on March 13.

LIHI gets client referrals from the City of Tacomas Homeless Engagement Alternatives Liaison Team, the City of Lakewood, the Lakewood Police Department, Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare and the homeless alternative liaison, said LIHI program manager John Brown in an email to the News Tribune on March 6. An active waiting list is updated weekly.

During the intake process, clients are interviewed, and LIHI gathers information about a clients mental and physical health to help them get into an inpatient facility or obtain a job, Brown said.

Once Aspen Court is at total capacity, we compile a list and call our community partners when we have an opening, he said in the email. We also have weekly meetings with our community partners to go over our numbers and our referrals.

Clients who become a danger to themselves or others are removed from the program. Brown said LIHI tries every possible recourse to keep this person in our program and works with case management to help them find another suitable place to stay.

Lee told The News Tribune that LIHIs clients often face issues, including substance use and mental illness, that can make it challenging to work with them, but the alternative is returning people to the street.

We cant expect everyone to be on their best behavior, she said. Were really trying to be part of a solution.

City of Tacoma communication specialist Megan Snow said the city cannot comment on pending or current litigation but said the city has stringent oversight of its contractors.

We review all complaints that come to the City and work with both the individuals who bring us complaints and/or concerns and the provider to find solutions, Snow said in an email on Feb. 23. We also regularly check in with our shelter providers via phone and onsite to assess needs. The City audits its contracted partners per our contracts and if needed will take remediation action or can terminate a contract if there are health, safety or other contract violations. The City does not oversee or have legal responsibility regarding how contracted partners conduct or operate their business or organization.

Haven for a menagerie of illegal activity

In a letter sent to LIHI on Feb. 24, Letasis lawyer, Thomas McCosh, described Aspen Court as a safe haven for a menagerie of illegal activity, based on what Letasi said she experienced and witnessed.

In December, while working as an operations manager, Letasi sent a letter to the LIHI human resources department asking for assistance handling a variety of issues, including her exposure to toxic gasses at work. In the letter, Letasi said on Dec. 22 she and two other staff members were hospitalized after they were exposed to toxic fumes at work, a byproduct of what she believed was from a resident cooking over-the-counter medications in their room.

Letasi said she was in the doorway of a room when a cloud of fumes went into her lungs and burned them, causing her to vomit and gag. Her emergency room doctor said Letasis symptoms were equivalent to mustard-gas exposure.

McCosh said Letasi applied for workers compensation, and to the best of our knowledge, that claim was denied pending an appeal.

While working at Aspen Court, Barrett said, it was so obviously clear residents were using drugs and the fumes were making others in the building sick. In December Barrett said she called out of work for three days after experiencing headaches and feelings of nausea and dizziness she believed to be caused by drug usage at Aspen Court.

It was weird, and, God, it was killing me because Im not the type that really calls out, especially on a short notice, said Barrett, who worked the overnight shift at Aspen Court. But it was like, Id wake up and Id feel like I was dying.

These are symptoms Tia Shaylonda knows, too.

Shaylonda was a resident at Aspen Court for a year, from January 2022 to January 2023. In the winter of 2022, Shaylonda said she started feeling nauseous all the time, with pounding headaches so bad she had to miss work. Shaylonda said shed come home to her room and see vapors in the air, which she believed to be from her neighbors drug use. Shaylonda said she complained to management and nothing was done.

It was a terrible experience. I mean, the program, it has potential to do good, but thats not the way its going, said Shaylonda, who is now couch surfing with her dog. I know that Im not the only one [who had] a headache or nausea or any of that. [It] smells like something funny in the air. One of the girls said it feels like were being fumigated. Your lungs burn and its really awful.

While she was working at Aspen Court, Letasi sent repeated requests to LIHI for protective equipment for employees and safety meetings, as well as requests for security in the building, which she said went unfulfilled.

Barrett said she went to the Tacoma Needle Exchange herself to pick up sharps containers and Narcan to store in the building. Up until she left on March 15, Barrett said, she was not aware of stick-proof gloves, eye protection, hazmat gear or respiratory gear that were available to staff, despite sometimes cleaning up rooms with blood, feces, drug paraphernalia and other bodily fluids.

LIHI management said employees rarely work alone, but Barrett said she worked by herself overnight for about three months from November 2021 until mid-January 2022. Barrett said she was so nervous to be working alone on what an investigation by The News Tribune found to be one of Tacomas deadliest streets that she brought her dog to work for protection.

In an email to The News Tribune March 13, Lee said there was no leakage of mustard gas at Aspen Court and smoking is not allowed in the building or residents rooms. Lee said adequate personal protective equipment, including respiration masks, face masks and stick-proof gloves are available on site, and front-desk security staff are on duty at all hours.

We understand there were no employee claims approved by LIHI that related to workers compensation for mustard gas, Lee said. Any suggestion that we do not have adequate PPE at Aspen Court is incorrect. All managers have credit cards and can purchase items needed.

Senior village operations manager Joe Perva denied claims that staff are expected to clean rooms with blood-borne pathogens and said Aspen Court has an outside agency do that work.

On a tour of Aspen Court on March 17, The News Tribune was shown stick-proof gloves, a hazmat suit, N95 masks, blood-borne pathogen kits, respirator masks, booties and protective eye gear in a utility closet.

The former Comfort Inn in Tacoma is now the Aspen Court transitional housing facility, operated by the Low Income Housing Institute. The hotel is shown on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.

Drugs and weapons

Clients sign a statement upon entry that they will not use or bring weapons, drugs or alcohol into Aspen Court.

Letasi contends, Aspen Court management knew of, and deliberately chose not to prevent, its clients abusing drugs and alcohol and engaging in other illegal activity, according to an email McCosh sent LIHI.

In the December letter to human resources, Letasi said since Sept. 15 staff had found over 55 needles, 25 switchblades, a machete, a sword, 50 meth pipes, bags of crystal meth, bags of marijuana, baggies of cocaine, alcohol, round pills of many kinds, fentanyl, bongs and other drug paraphernalia while conducting bag checks on residents. Letasi said in the letter she was told by her supervisor to put confiscated drugs down the drain or in the trash.

On March 15, Barrett told The News Tribune she often left confiscated drugs in a plastic bag on her supervisors desk with a sticky note that had the residents room number.

Lee said LIHI staff does find and confiscate weapons, which are not allowed per Aspen Courts Code of Conduct, while conducting bag and weekly room checks.

Aspen Court is safe because we are vigilant about not allowing and by getting rid of weapons. To have someone complain that we confiscate weapons ignores the more important fact that the weapons are no longer in the hands of the clients, Lee wrote in an email to the News Tribune.

Some agencies recommend dissolving and flushing small quantities [of drugs] down the toilet. Others suggest using kitty litter and then disposal. But the preferred and recommended way is to call the police and follow their instructions. I think the point to make here is that other operational staff were handling this, no one was in danger, and the confiscated item was taken care of and not in the hands of clients.

While she was in training, Letasi said, she found a loaded gun in a drawer of her office that was confiscated from a client. Letasi told LIHI human resources she asked her supervisor whom the gun belonged to but didnt receive an answer and never saw the incident documented.

In December, Letasi told LIHI human resources she assembled drugs and the gun and delivered them to the Lakewood Police Department. Letasi told The News Tribune she did so because she didnt trust her supervisor to dispose of the items himself and noted several items were missing. Lt. Jeremy Prater with the Lakewood Police Department confirmed Letasi dropped off the items on that date.

Lee said in an email that LIHIs policy is that weapons are to be collected and held in a secure, locked place until the police can pick them up.

Staff are asked not to transport weapons or illegal drugs to the police on their own as this is not authorized and is risky for staff if they get stopped by the police while driving, she said. Staff who willfully ignore a supervisors directive and transports weapons and drugs in their car to the police station on their own without our permission will be disciplined for violating our policy.

Allegations of favoritism

In her four months working at Aspen Court, Letasi said, she witnessed favoritism and nepotism from managers, who would sometimes choose at will who was eligible to receive low-income housing.

There is a referral process LIHI must abide by due to its contacts with local government, but Letasi said her supervisor would provide favors for clients he knew, sometimes allowing them to skip the waiting list, invite guests, pay a fee to skip the waiting list for a room, not abide by mandatory bag checks and/or avoid mandatory sexual-assault background checks. Letasi said her supervisor told her if she ever needed a favor for a family member who was homeless, he could do that for her, too.

Barrett said she witnessed rule-bending from upper management. She said some staff treated certain residents differently than others based on whom they like and often did not practice de-escalation techniques, sometimes being openly blatant, aggressive, unkind to residents in vulnerable situations.

In the March 13 email to The News Tribune, Lee said there is no favoritism at Aspen Court. She also said allegations of multiple complaints regarding a senior manager at Aspen Court were not true, saying that all staff are asked to abide by LIHIs personnel policy that states staff will maintain a welcoming atmosphere and respectful behavior towards residents, patrons and co-workers, including no swearing, cursing, shouting or yelling  No acts of physical or emotional intimidation [and] No abuse of power or authority.

We know that some disgruntled and former staff have attempted to shine a negative light on their boss, Lee said in the March 13 email. My staff and HR have an open door to look into practices that violate the Personnel Policies. In this case, after many hours of investigation, HR staff found that the claims made against the senior manager are unsubstantiated.

There have been similar allegations at other LIHI properties in the region.

On Jan. 18 a letter signed by more than 16 local mutual-aid groups was sent to Seattle and King County officials, as well as the Washington state Legislature, alleging problems at tiny house villages owned by LIHI. The letter was reported by Hannah Krieg at The Stranger.

In the letter, mutual-aid volunteers, who work with people experiencing homelessness, said they kept in touch with people who were placed into LIHI transitional housing. The volunteers said they heard repeated stories about favoritism, lack of mental health support, health and safety hazards, lack of trauma-informed care and a culture of apathy toward resident issues. The letter calls for a full outside audit of LIHI finances and use of public funding, as well as immediate steps to shift hiring and funding to alternative providers and management models.

Krieg reported that the King County Regional Homelessness Authority said on Jan. 18, We take allegations of any mistreatment of unhoused neighbors very seriously, and, To ensure accountability, KCRHA regularly conducts oversight and monitoring of contracted service providers, including on-site inspections, and may issue corrective action plans if needed.

In an email to elected officials on Jan. 20, Lee said LIHI takes all concerns about its management of Tiny House Villages seriously, but, The [Jan. 18] letter contained a number of misrepresentations and statements not grounded in facts.

Our Tiny House Village case management staff have a very high rate of success in transitioning people into housing compared to other forms of shelter programs, Lee wrote. Last year we moved hundreds of homeless people from our shelter programs into permanent housing. Nearly 50% of our Seattle tiny house clients exiting a village transitioned into permanent housing last year. We want to continue that good work, and are always open to making changes or improvements when there are concerns.

Wrongful termination?

The letter of termination Letasi received from LIHI human resources on Jan. 12 stated Letasi created a hostile work environment by being overly aggressive to clients and abrasive to employees and clients. In detailing her safety concerns to LIHI human resources, LIHI said she used an accusatory and unprofessional [tone] for a manager, which also contributed to a hostile work environment.

McCosh said LIHIs dismissal of Letasis grievances and her attempts to prevent illegal activity were cited as grounds for her termination.

Washington law prohibits employers from terminating employees in violation of a clear public policy. One such public policy is reporting and opposing illegal activity in the workplace, McCosh wrote in a letter to LIHI. Because Ms. Letasi was terminated in violation of this law, she has a claim against LIHI for wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Ms. Letasi also has negligence against LIHI, who exposed her to toxic chemicals that her doctor described as being comparable to mustard gas.

Letasis claim for damages, including lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering and medical expenses due to injuries sustained in the workplace, is believed to exceed $500,000, according to McCoshs letter to LIHI.

Other future actions might include the pursuit of claims against LIHI related to state and federal whistleblower protection statutes, he said.

As someone who got into the field wanting to make a difference, Letasi said, how LIHI operates is a slap in the face to taxpayers. Letasi said she is worried about what will happen to the clients still staying at Aspen Court.

Im very, very, very, very worried. Very concerned, she said. Im worried about their ability to make it, to get out, to be successful knowing that all the odds are against them. That theyre only there as numbers, as far as LIHI is concerned. Theyre not there as human beings that have needs.
PHNOM PENH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will embark on a two-nation tour to Morocco and Egypt next week to strengthen bilateral ties, said a foreign ministry's press statement on Friday.

Sokhonn, who is also a deputy prime minister, will pay an official visit to Morocco on March 27 and March 28, and Egypt on March 29 and March 30, the statement said.

According to the statement, the upcoming visits aim to further strengthen and expand the traditional ties and cooperation between Cambodia and the two African countries. 
Houston-based Lubys Cafeterias has apologized for an Easter ham promotion joke about the Amber Alert, a national child-abduction message system that originated after the 1996 death of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman of Arlington.

Lubys marketing emails and texts included a cartoon of a flying pig smiling and lifting a ham platter with the message: Hamber-Alert! Ham Dinners Spotted at Lubys!

We believe in owning our mistakes, Lubys wrote in a followup marketing message: We really apologize for the insensitive language in the recent promotion you received. We will do better.

The Amber Alert system was created by Dallas-Fort Worth radio broadcasters after a Fort Worth listeners call and letter during the search for Hagerman, abducted in east Arlington Jan. 13, 1996.

She was found dead four days later. The killing remains unsolved.

Lubys operates more than 40 cafeterias across Texas, including a location at 3312 SE Loop 820, Forest Hill. Its under a new ownership group led by Calvin Gin of Chicago.

The Amber Alert idea originated with massage therapist Diana R. Simone, now of DeCordova, Texas. She phoned a host at KDMX/102.9 FM and followed with a letter shared among radio managers.

Her letter suggested that when a child is abducted, all the radio stations in the area would be notified immediately and they would interrupt programming to broadcast an emergency alert. ... My one request is that it be known as Ambers Plan.
A 32-year-old woman who was in the custody of the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office died Monday in a hospital intensive care unit.

Heidiann Gitts was an inmate at the Tarrant County Jail when she experienced a medical emergency about 12:30 p.m. Monday, according to the sheriffs office. The agency did not refer to Gitts name in its account. The medical emergency occurred while Gitts was in the presence of a nurse.

Life-saving measures were attempted, and Gitts was taken from the jail at 100 N. Lamar St. in Fort Worth to John Peter Smith Hospital. The nature of the medical problem is not known, according to the sheriffs office.

She was pronounced dead about 9 p.m.

Two days earlier, North Richland Hills police arrested Gitts on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and theft, and she was booked into the jail.

Gitts was on the second day of a fentanyl and alcohol detoxification program when she died, according to the sheriffs office.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office performed an autopsy. The office has not released the cause or manner of Gitts death.

Gitts was the second person to die in the custody of the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office this year.

Gitts death will be reviewed and investigated by the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office jail staff and its criminal investigations division, JPS medical staff, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the Fort Worth Police Department, the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office and the Texas Attorney Generals Office.
Looking back on your senior year of high school can bring back many cherished memories, as well as some not-so-happy ones like ACT/SAT prep. At least in college, you dont have to take any more standardized testing that claims to determine how smart you are based on a timed test. Thats all in the past now!

Then reality hits - youre an adult. Yes, college is still a monumental growing period in life, but there are many things students have to consider: rent, jobs, internships, and more. One more important thing: paying your taxes. Many students have no clue how to get started on them, some dont even file. Not all the forms are scary, one of the forms that college students are able to file gives students up to $2,000 just for attending school.

What does it mean to file taxes?

At the beginning of the new year, you are expected to start filing your tax returns for the previous year. This year, the International Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting 2022 tax returns on January 23 with a deadline of April 18. If you need more time you can file for an extension, giving you until October 16.

Many college students will file as single or their parents claim them as tax dependents. Check in with your parents, ask how do they file their taxes? Do they use an online service like H&R Block? Specialized software like TurboTax? You may want to file your own taxes if you are an employee. Each time you receive a paycheck youll notice you pay federal and state taxes, that money goes into programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

What do I need to file my taxes?

You cant go into a test and expect to pass without going to class, studying, and doing practice questions. The same goes for filing taxes, you need to come prepared. Here is a basic list of documents to gather before getting started:

Form W-2

Bank statements

College tuition expenses

Charitable donation receipts

1099 forms

State and local taxes

Receipts as records of expenses

Unreimbursed medical bills

Social security number or tax ID number

1098-T form

Routing and account numbers for your refund

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A more in-depth list can be found here.

Filing taxes on time can relieve stress and you could be able to get some valuable tax credits.

Where do I file taxes?

There are several ways to file taxes, including free ones! Free is helpful - considering crazy expensive tuition, room & board, textbook fees, class fees and well, you get the point. These free options usually only cover simple tax returns; as a college student, this filing option will most likely be efficient. Here are some free tax filing resources:

Here are some other ways to file your taxes that are not free but pretty budget-friendly.

Jackson Hewitt ($25)

Tax Slayers Classic option ($19.95) and Premium option ($39.95)

TaxActs Deluxe ($24.95)

Work with a tax preparer in person

Wait, you said there is a tax form with a tuition benefit?!

Form 1098-T is available for enrolled students who pay for college. The expenses it covers include tuition, enrollment fees, and course materials. If you were lucky enough to receive scholarships and grants to cover all these fees, you will not be eligible to get a return through the 1098-T. If you did have some scholarships, box 5 on the form will show how much you received. This is applicable to all years of college students but not everyone knows about it!

Why is the 1098-T important for college students?

The 1098-T can give students back up to $2,000 in expenses they have paid toward getting an education. With many students taking out student loans, working to save money, and other expenses, this money can be extremely beneficial when getting tax reimbursements.

Where is my 1098-T form?

Your university has the 1098-T form, but it varies from school to school with how you will receive it. Some colleges will send you the form via postal mail services, and others will send it through email. If neither of these was the case for you, it is most likely on your personal university portal under tabs labeled, My Resources, Student Account, or Tax Notification. If you are having trouble finding it, search (School name) 1098-T. In case there is nothing that will give you further guidance, you can always contact your universitys Office of the Bursar. This department manages all things concerning bills, refunds, cash, and more functions.

Happy filing!



Sophia Aiello is a freshman at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Journalism & Electronic Media with a concentration in News. She is involved on campus with The Volunteer Channel's The Morning Jem and Pi chapter of Chi Omega.

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The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission on Thursday decertified three former Memphis, Tenn., police officers who were involved in the death of Tyre Nichols in January, according to CNN.

The commissions decision to vote to decertify Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith was unanimous and comes two months after five officers in total were charged with second-degree murder, along with additional charges.

The three officers, along with two others  Tadarrius Bean and Desmond Mills Jr.  were all fired from the Memphis Police Department in January after the death of Nichols. The former officers were caught on video footage, released by Memphis officials, brutally beating the 29-year-old, leaving him with serve injuries.

Haley was found to be in violation of personal conduct, truthfulness, neglect of duty, excessive unnecessary force, compliance with regulations to with body worn camera, and information concerning police business, Memphis Police Department investigator Monique Williams told the commission board, while recommending Haleys decertification.

In the matter of Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith, in addition to the same violations as Haley, Martin and Smith were also found to be in violation of duty to intervene and reporting improper conduct during an internal investigation, Williams said.

The three former officers attorneys asked the commission to place their decertification in pending status, CNN reported. The commission agreed for their attorneys to appear in person during the hearing, which did not happen.

According to CNN, the Memphis Police Department chief requested the commission to decertify all five former officers licenses in the state, who were involved in the death of Tyre Nichols.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
 Read the full article on Motorious

This is awful

A father and retired Army special forces combat medic is dead after a street racer in a Dodge Challenger Hellcat hit his car at over 100 mph. The accident, which took place in Nashville, Tennessee happened as the victim, 34-year-old Jacob Barnhardt, was on his way to pick up his sons before heading to his daughters softball game.

Learn about Richard Hammonds struggles as a small business owner here.

Weve said it over and over again: street racing is selfish and stupid. Theres a reason why tracks are closed to public traffic, have barriers and other safety measures, and yet racing on them is still a risky proposition. But all the people on a track understand what theyre doing there. Some guy on a public road going to pick up his kids didnt sign up for being in the middle of a high-speed race because that isnt the purpose of public roads.

The guy who was driving the Hellcat, 31-year-old Patrick Ewin, sustained minor injuries in the crash. According to police, Ewin was racing another Dodge Challenger when he lost control of the high-powered muscle car.

Swerving into the opposite lane of traffic, it sounds like Ewin hit Barnhardt head-on. A Toyota driver was also hit but fortunately wasnt hurt at all, because the collision could easily have involved multiple fatalities.

Police say the other Challenger driver fled the scene of the accident. Edwin was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide by recklessness. Meanwhile, investigators are still looking for the other driver, who undoubtedly will be facing some charges for his role in the crash.

Relatives described Barnhardt as a real family man who loved his children dearly and always went to all their activities. Thats how they knew when he didnt show up to get his sons that something was terribly wrong.

Sources: Complex, New York Post

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By Ammar Awad and Sinan Abu Mayzer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers flocked to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan for noon prayers, which passed peacefully amid tight security imposed after months of escalating tension and violence.

"I cannot describe to you how happy I am to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. I'm 50 years old and they only recently removed the security ban that had prevented me from coming here," said Nasser Abu Saleh, a resident of the West Bank city of Hebron.

The mosque complex, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews, who know it as the Temple Mount, has a long history of confrontation, including incidents in 2021 that helped spark a 10-day war between Israel and Gaza's ruling Islamist movement Hamas.

Worshippers streamed into the mosque, located in Jerusalem's walled Old City, during the day after Israel announced on Monday that it would allow Palestinian men over 55, women of all ages and children under 12 to travel from the occupied West Bank to enter Jerusalem without military-issued permits.

The Muslim Waqf, custodians who manage the site which houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, said around 100,000 people had visited for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan.

At noon prayers worshippers standing shoulder to shoulder packed the compound, which also houses the golden Dome of the Rock where the Prophet Mohammad is said to have ascended to heaven.

Major General Ghassan Aliyan of COGAT, a unit in the Israeli defence ministry that coordinates civilian issues with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, said Israeli authorities were doing all they could to prevent any trouble.

"All parties are interested in seeing the month of Ramadan pass peacefully in every way," he said.

On Sunday, Israeli and Palestinian officials made commitments to de-escalate violence, at a meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The West Bank has seen a surge of confrontations in recent months, with near-daily Israeli military raids and escalating violence by Jewish settlers, amid a spate of attacks by Palestinians.

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Israeli security forces have been on high alert and the police said it deployed thousands of officers across Jerusalem on Friday.

During Ramadan, which in Israel and the Palestinian territories began Thursday and lasts a month, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

It coincides partly this year with Judaism's Passover and Christian Easter, raising concerns about a repeat of violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians seen in previous years.

In recent years, the Palestinians and Arab governments have stressed the need to maintain a decades-old status quo that bans non-Muslim worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, following accusations that Israel was allowing Jews to pray at the site. Israel says there has been no change to the status quo.

Israel captured East Jerusalem, where the Old City is located, in a 1967 war and later annexed it in a move not recognised internationally. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

(Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta; Writing by Henriette Chacar; Editing by James Mackenzie and Alistair Bell)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Experts on political violence are alarmed by Trump's latest rhetoric as he faces a possible indictment.

They warn that Trump's words could trigger riots or assassinations.

Trump has mocked calls for peace and warned of "death and destruction" if he's charged.

"RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS." "Degenerate psychopath." "THIS IS THE GESTAPO."

That's just a sampling of the latest rhetorical attacks from former President Donald Trump as he wages a war of words against a New York grand jury investigation connected to a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He has viciously attacked figures like Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and mocked calls for peaceful protests  leading extremism experts to warn of the potential for political violence.

"Trump is doing what he has always done. He walks to the line of openly calling for violence and stops just before making overt directives," Kurt Braddock, an American University professor who studies far-right extremism and the ways in which communication and propaganda contribute to political violence, told Insider.

"In many ways, the implications are the same. His supporters who are looking for an excuse to turn to violence will see this as his implicit approval," Braddock added.

If there is violence as a result of Trump's words, the former president will "hide under a blanket of plausible deniability, saying that he never ordered anyone to become violent," Braddock said.

Trump's words could delegitimize the justice system in the eyes of many of his followers, leading them to view it as a politicized instrument being unfairly wielded against their leader  a warped worldview with the capacity to push a small but dangerous group of people into pursuing their own brand of justice. Though political violence experts are not especially concerned that the US is at risk of seeing a broader reaction or event akin to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, they believe the chances of individual acts of violence are rising.

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Trump is "actively stoking political violence" with his social media posts, Brian Klaas, a political scientist at University College London and expert on democracy and political violence, said in a tweet on Thursday.

"Someone is going to get killed," Klaas added, referring to Trump as a "serious threat to American democracy and security."

Trump scoffs at being 'peaceful'

As Trump faces a possible indictment by a Manhattan grand jury, he's followed a familiar playbook and taken to social media to portray himself as a victim of an unjust system. The former president has done this numerous times in the past, perhaps most notably in relation to the 2020 election he lost. Trump's rhetoric on the election ultimately helped catalyze the fatal riot on January 6, 2021, which saw him become the only president in US history to be impeached a second time.

The former president predicted over the weekend  erroneously, it turns out  that he would be arrested this week. In recent days he has urged his supporters to "protest" and "take our nation back," a call to action that bears a striking resemblance to Trump's push for a "wild" and "big protest" against the certification of his electoral defeat on January 6.

In one of his latest posts to Truth Social, Trump's social media platform, the former president threatened "death and destruction" if he's indicted.

Trump on Thursday baselessly compared the US legal system to the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) and authoritarian countries like Russia and China. No former US president has ever been criminally charged. But plenty of other democracies  including close US allies such as France and South Korea  have prosecuted, convicted, and jailed former leaders.

Trump also went after Bragg and said the Manhattan district attorney was "CARRYING OUT THE PLANS OF THE RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS," adding, "OUR COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED, AS THEY TELL US TO BE PEACEFUL!"

If there is violence on the back of Trump's words, and particularly if those implicated in any such incidents mention Trump, Braddock said this would be a form of stochastic terrorism  an act of violence inspired by language that dehumanizes or vilifies the targeted group or person.

On Friday, police removed a suspicious white powder found in the mailroom of the Manhattan office building where the grand jury has been meeting; officials determined it wasn't a dangerous substance.

Trump suggested that being peaceful is "something to be scoffed at, ridiculed, or ignored," Braddock said, going on to say that the former president's recent social media posts are in many ways even more suggestive than the infamous and provocative speech he delivered shortly before the violence on January 6.

During that speech, Trump called for his supporters to "show strength" and "fight like hell," though he also suggested that his backers would demonstrate at the Capitol "peacefully." Shortly thereafter, Trump's supporters sent shockwaves around the world as they violently stormed the Capitol as lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden's election victory. A number of those arrested over the insurrection have said that Trump's words drove their behavior.

'A threat to democracy'

Robert Fix shows his support for Donald Trump by flying a "Trump or death" flag near the embattled former president's Mar-a-Lago home on March 20, 2023 in Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Trump has repeatedly shown that he's willing to "demonize  and even dehumanize  his political opponents and whole swaths of Americans," Shannon Hiller, executive director of the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University, told Insider.

The former president's recent rhetoric in relation to his potential indictment is "dangerous" and poses "a threat to democracy," Hiller said, emphasizing that it "normalizes thinking of whole groups of our fellow Americans as 'the other' and not worthy of the same rights."

Though some of Trump's recent posts are reminiscent of the lead-up to the Capitol riot, Hiller suggested that there's not as much of a danger of a January 6-style event if he is indicted. "I'm currently more worried about individual incidents," Hiller said.

Trump is running for president again in 2024, and is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Hiller expressed concern that as the 2024 GOP primary kicks off, other candidates may begin to follow Trump's lead and employ similarly threatening language. "I'd call on everyone to continue speaking out against this type of rhetoric," Hiller said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Arlington Republican Rep. Tony Tinderholt ran for speaker, the top spot in the House, this year. He got smoked, 145-3.

But the race to the bottom? He may already have that one locked up.

Tinderholt was among a handful of Republican representatives to vote Wednesday against a resolution honoring the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the first fast-breaking dinner scheduled for the Capitol in association with the holiday. He was the only one to go out of his way to put on the record why he did it  and in the unmistakable language of religious bigotry.

Today, I voted against a resolution made in celebration of Ramadan on the House floor. As a combat veteran, I served beside many local translators who were Muslims and good people, Tinderholt said in a statement he had included in the House Journal and later repeated on Twitter. I can also attest that Ramadan was routinely the most violent period during every deployment. Texas and America were founded on Christian principles and my faith as a Christian prevents me from celebrating Ramadan.

Its quite a trifecta: blaming an entire religion for wartime violence, shutting out any constituents who dont share Tinderholts faith and diminishing Christianitys ability to co-exist with other religions.

All that over one of hundreds of resolutions the House will vote on with little or no controversy. They dont amount to endorsing a religion, or a winning sports team, or whatever the subject is.

Done right, they celebrate something great about our state, small or large. They bring otherwise sparring legislators together to shine the spotlight on their constituents. Among the other resolutions considered Wednesday were honors for Realtors, residents of Buda, Pearsall and Val Verde County.

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State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington

Six other Republicans voted no on the Ramadan resolution, including Rep. Lynn Stucky, the Denton Republican whose district also includes Wise County. Unlike Tinderholt, Stucky didnt go out of the way to make a historical record of his bigotry  er, opposition.

No, Tinderholt took the extra step to insert into the House Journal his official stance and pitiful explanation. And in so doing, he slandered an entire faith practiced by millions of loyal Americans  and bruised the view of his own faith in the process.

The fifth-term Arlington lawmaker wants you to believe that his vote represents some bold strike for Christianity. But no sensible person confuses a resolution honoring a sacred time for hundreds of thousands of fellow Texans as some betrayal of any other religion.

And, it turns out, Tinderholts streak of self-righteous pomposity  if real  is pretty new. He said nothing about resolutions honoring Ramadan that the House passed in 2019 and 2021, according to House Journal entries.

Perhaps his faith has deepened. Or perhaps, having lost the speaker vote so terribly and facing even greater irrelevance as a lawmaker, his only political option is to double-down among bigots who would applaud standing in the way of extending such a basic recognition to a diverse array of Texans and their interests.

Tinderholt tried to explain himself Friday to conservative radio host Mark Davis (a Star-Telegram contributor). With his usual bluster and incoherence, he first said it was the consequence of having Democrats as committee chairs.

The decades-long bipartisan tradition of including the minority party in governance of the House is a sore spot for some Republicans. The resolutions author, Houston-area Democratic Rep. Suleman Lalani, is no committee chair. He moved for a vote on his resolution  a common step to ensure resolutions are heard in a timely manner. More than 135 of the Houses 150 members assented. (Later Wednesday, Lalani briefly presided over the House, as most members have the honor of doing at some point. That does not make him a Democrat chair.)

Tinderholt then told Davis that he was done with the left trying to force us and compel us to celebrate topics such as LGBTQ rights. It sounds like his fatigue may actually be driven by frustration over pretending to represent any constituents who arent like him. Perhaps the voters in House District 94 should relieve Tinderholt of this burden next time he asks for their votes.
PHNOM PENH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia said on Friday that the upcoming visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to the kingdom will inject new impetus into the bilateral ties.

Anwar will pay a one-day official visit to Cambodia on March 27 at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a press statement.

In Phnom Penh, Anwar will hold a bilateral meeting with Hun Sen to explore new ways and means to further deepen the long-standing bilateral ties that cover all fields of cooperation ranging from political-security, economic to socio-cultural aspects.

"They will exchange views on sub-regional, regional and international issues of common interest and concern," the statement said. "Subsequently, there will be a signing ceremony of some cooperation initiatives and a joint press conference."

During the visit, Anwar will also be granted a royal audience by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace, and pay separate courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Say Chhum and National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin.

"The forthcoming official visit of the prime minister of Malaysia to Cambodia will lend a new impetus to the robust all-round bilateral ties between the two countries and will contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region as well as to the continued development and prosperity of the ASEAN Community and beyond," the statement said.

Anwar became the prime minister of Malaysia in November last year. 
A Texas family is celebrating a homecoming after their 5-month-old daughter was discharged from a hospital this week following successful separation surgery from her conjoined twin sister

JamieLynn Finley was discharged from a Fort Worth, Texas, hospital Tuesday two months after undergoing successful separation surgery from her conjoined twin sister AmieLynn, according to a press release from the Cook Children's Medical Center

While JamieLynn is heading home, AmieLynn remains in the children's hospital NICU, the hospital reported, continuing to recover from a recent surgery.

Twins make history

In January, the sisters made history as the first conjoined twins to be surgically separated at the hospital, officials there reported. The girls were conjoined at the chest and shared a liver.

Their 11-hour surgery involved a team of 25 medical professionals including six surgeons.

JamieLynn Finley is heading home from Cook Children's NICU.

Headed home

JamieLynn left the hospital in a car seat with her parents, Amanda and James Finley, and her three older siblings.

Weve been looking forward to this for a long time, the girls doctor, Mary Frances Lynch, M.D., a neonatologist at the hospital said.

AmieLynn is continuing to recover from a recent surgery that improved her chest incision and created more space for her heart, diaphragm and lungs.

There were some moments that were scary, the girls' father said.

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The twins will be away from each other until AmieLynn can head home - hopefully within a month or so, the hospital reported. Her sister has recovered so well since the separation surgery, shes currently bouncing and babbling to anyone who will listen, hospital officials said.

Shes going home with a gastrostomy tube to help with her feeding and continued growth, but doctors said by all indications, shes on her way to being a healthy child.

Story continues

Were excited that we get to get her home, their father said. Well have some good bonding time, but at the same time, Amie is still up there so its kind of a double-edged sword. Were happy Jamie is coming home, but theyre not going to be together for a bit.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conjoined Fort Worth twin separated from sister, home after surgery
The Houston Chronicle has called out former President Donald Trump for planning his first major 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas, on Saturday.

In an editorial on Thursday, the paper suggested the location was not so much a dog-whistle to extremists, but a blaring air horn of a Mack 18-wheeler. Waco is inextricably linked to the 1993 Branch Davidian siege, which has sparked yearslong anti-government conspiracy theories.

Waco has become a symbol, an Alamo of sorts, a shrine for the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters, the Oath Keepers and other anti-government extremists and conspiracists, the editorial said.

Militia members and conspiracists know exactly what Trumps Waco visit symbolizes, the paper continued, noting that Trumps campaign insists his visit during the 30th anniversary of the siege is purely coincidental.

The editorial listed multiple reasons why people should visit Waco, but not because of Trump.

Dont bother with a bombastic, bullying candidate inclined to incitement and bent on retribution, it said. His appearance is ample reason to stay home.

Read the full editorial here.

Related...
Republican lawmakers in Texas want to create a state security force to patrol the US-Mexico border that critics have characterised as a "vigilante death squad policy."

Dade Phelan, the Republican speaker of Texas' House of Representatives, told a meeting of the Texas Public Policy Foundation that he plans to introduce a bill that he says will "make national headlines and change the conversation on border security," according to The Intercept.

The bill  House Bill 20  would allow Texas' Department of Public Safety to hunt, arrest, and deport undocumented migrants.

The group would be comprised of law enforcement officers and civilians under the direction of a governor-selected chief. The members of the group would also be extended immunity from criminal prosecution relating to their actions on the border. They will be directed to "arrest, detain, and deter individuals crossing the border illegally including with the use of non-deadly force."

The group will also apparently be authorised to "use force to repel, arrest, and detain known transnational cartel operatives in the border region."

A piece of companion legislation would make undocumented entry into Texas a state crime, with first-time offenders subject to a year in prison, two years in prison for second-time offenders, and life in prison for individuals with prior felony convictions.

Democrats in Texas are opposed to the bill, likening the legislation to a "vigilante death squads policy."

MALC Denounces Extreme Vigilante Death Squads Policy



MALC is going to do everything in our power to kill this legislation just as Latino State Representatives for the past 5 decades have fought against Klan-like proposals, said Chairwoman @Victoria4Texas #txlege 1/2 pic.twitter.com/dYTmUrJYQa  MALC (@MALCTx) March 11, 2023

This dangerous, radical, and unconstitutional proposal which empowers border vigilantes to hunt migrants and racially profile Latinos is going to result in the death of innocent people, Victoria Neave Criado, the Democratic chair of Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said in a statement last week. MALC is going to do everything in our power to kill this legislation just as Latino State Representatives for the past 5 decades have fought against Klan-like proposals.

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Mr Phelan anticipated the opposition, and claimed he was prepared to take the matter to the conservative-majority Supreme Court if Democrats challenge the law.

This isn't the first time the state has tried to create a border protection force beyond the federal US Customs and Border Protection agency. In 2021 Republican Governor Greg Abbott initiated "Operation Lone Star" that placed National Guard troops at the border. However, the $4bn endeavor was met with numerous controversies, including the deaths of several National Guard members, some to suicide, and allegations of human rights violations that resulted in a Justice Department investigation.

The operation has shown no notable difference in the rate of undocumented border crossings or transnational drug trafficking.

If the case is challenged and successfully survives a Supreme Court ruling, it would change the way all border states could police the southern border.
It turned into a five-hour showdown between TikTok CEO Shou Chew and US lawmakers, who have found suspicion of TikTok to be a rare source of bipartisan agreement. It comes as US officials told the company they could ban the app if it doesnt separate itself from ByteDance.

As with previous hearings with social media executives, lawmakers pressed Chew for often impossible yes-no answers to complex questions and grew frustrated when he declined to give one. In one exchange, Representative Tony Cardenas asked Chew whether ByteDance was a Chinese company. He would only admit it was a global firm with a Chinese founder. The hearing was also notably different from previous hearings with other social media company CEOs because the vast majority of lawmakers are not active on TikTok. Not all of their questions were nuanced, either: Representative Richard Hudson demanded to know if TikTok can access the home WiFi network. TikToks future remains uncertain, Chinese officials said Thursday they opposed a sale of the social network.

 Mat Smith.

The Morning After isnt just a newsletter  its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

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Twitter says it's killing legacy verified checkmarks starting on April 1st

They didn't disclose they were being paid to promote certain coins.

TMA

The Securities and Exchange Commission has cracked down on the businesses of crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and has charged him for the unregistered offer and sale of the tokens Tronix and BitTorrent. If those tokens sound familiar even to non-hardcore crypto enthusiasts, it's because several celebrities had promoted them on social media  and now they're also being charged by the agency. According to the SEC, eight celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, Soulja Boy, Ne-Yo and Akon, illegally promoted the tokens online without disclosing they were paid to do so. All celebrities charged, except for Soulja Boy and musician Austin Mahone, have agreed to pay a collective amount of $400,000 in penalties to settle the charges.

Story continues

Continue reading.

The tech preview requires the latest and most expensive NVIDIA graphics cards.

A new Cyberpunk 2077 technology preview (Overdrive Mode) supports path tracing, the next goalpost to make games look even prettier and keep you buying expensive new GPUs, courtesy of GPU manufacturer NVIDIA. The two-year-old game joins Minecraft, Portal and Quake II  old classics?  in supporting the technology. While ray tracing follows a single beam of light across a virtual scene, path tracing follows the light as it bounces around an environment, more realistically mimicking how it works in the physical world. But the heady calculations behind it mean youll need the most powerful NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077s path-tracing makeover  and you might still run into performance issues.

Continue reading.

The aim is lower-cost spaceflight.

After multiple scrubbed attempts, Relativity Space has finally launched its 3D-printed rocket. But the results were mixed. Its Terran 1 vehicle successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral late Wednesday but failed to reach orbit after the second-stage engine ignited only momentarily. It's unclear what led to the failure, but Relativity is promising updates in the "coming days." Terran 1 endured Max-Q (maximum dynamic pressure), the moment expected to place the most stress on the 3D-printed design, so thats being seen as an achievement. The 3D-printing process theoretically provides simpler, more reliable rockets that are cheaper to make and could be ready in weeks, lowering the costs of putting satellites into orbit.

Continue reading.

Its a bigger challenge.

The Framework Laptop 16 is the companys second product after its upgradeable 13-inch notebook, but theres not much information  or specs  to go on at the moment. Yesterdays announcements essentially just prepared the ground for a fuller media blitz closer to pre-orders opening later this spring. But according to company founder Nirav Patel, the new laptop has pretty much complete flexibility to support changes when it comes to GPUs.

Continue reading.

The companies say the trip from downtown will take as little as 10 minutes.

TMA

Archer Aviation and United Airlines announced a partnership today to launch a commercial air taxi route between downtown and OHare International Airport in 2025. As well as being Uniteds headquarters and largest hub, Chicago's airport makes it an ideal testbed for flying taxis. The drive to or from OHare, in the western suburb of Rosemont, can take anywhere from 35 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic. Archer estimates a flight in one of its air taxis will only take 10 minutes to travel from OHare to its destination at a downtown helipad.

Continue reading.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the NYSE over the last few months. Less-covered, small caps sees more of an opportunity for mispricing due to the lack of information available to the public, which can be a good thing. So, could the stock still be trading at a low price relative to its actual value? Today I will analyse the most recent data on Build-A-Bear Workshops outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.

Check out our latest analysis for Build-A-Bear Workshop

Is Build-A-Bear Workshop Still Cheap?

The share price seems sensible at the moment according to my price multiple model, where I compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 6.91x is currently trading slightly below its industry peers ratio of 10.15x, which means if you buy Build-A-Bear Workshop today, youd be paying a decent price for it. And if you believe Build-A-Bear Workshop should be trading in this range, then there isnt much room for the share price to grow beyond the levels of other industry peers over the long-term. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Build-A-Bear Workshops share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What kind of growth will Build-A-Bear Workshop generate?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With revenues expected to grow by a double-digit 11% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Build-A-Bear Workshop. If the level of expenses is able to be maintained, it looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

Story continues

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? BBWs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around industry price multiples. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at BBW? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuate below the industry PE ratio?

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on BBW, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around industry price multiples. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for BBW, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

If you want to dive deeper into Build-A-Bear Workshop, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Build-A-Bear Workshop you should know about.

If you are no longer interested in Build-A-Bear Workshop, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Photos, left to right: Orifbone/TikTok, Houston Zoo, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

From job cuts to more big bank woes, this week has had more than its fair share of heavy news. But the outlook isnt all bad. As we head into the weekend, heres a roundup of some of this weeks most heartwarming stories from Yahoo partners.

Now hiring: Professional bear huggers

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Insider reports that the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is now hiring professional bear huggers.

Must have ability to hike in strenuous conditions, have the courage to crawl into a bear den, and have the trust in your coworkers to keep you safe during the process, a posting on the departments Facebook page said of prospective applicants.

Youll need more than a love of bear cuddles to qualify as a conservation officer. Successful hires will also be responsible for enforcing game and fish laws, educating the public and capturing problem animals. In addition to almost a year of training, prerequisites for the job include a bachelors degree in biological sciences, police science or law enforcement, natural resources conservation, ecology or related fields.

The deadline for bear hugger applications is March 30, but there are plenty of other openings that are a bit less hairy.

If crawling in bear dens was too intimidating for you, we are also hiring professional deer protectors, the department said in another job posting.

95-year-old woman with dementia demonstrates magical power of music

Elaine Lebar, who has dementia, finds solace in her piano playing. (Orifbone/TikTok)

USA Today reported this week on a 95-year-old woman with significant dementia who has gone viral on TikTok for her incredible piano skills.

Elaine Lebar, who plays classics like Beethovens Moonlight Sonata and Debussys Claire de Lune, was recorded by her daughter, Randi Lebar, who uploaded the videos to social media.

There was a whole cadre of music therapists that were chiming in, Randi said. Isnt it magical what music can do, even with a fairly debilitating brain disease?

Randi said she hopes that in addition to displaying her mothers musical talent, the attention on social media will help illuminate some of the difficulties faced by those who love and care for someone with dementia.

Story continues

If you see her away from the piano, she is a lost little old lady with dementia who doesnt know where she is or where shes going, Randi said. I really wanted people to understand ... dont give up on these people. They might still have something very real to offer in the world.

90-year-old endangered tortoise becomes first-time dad

Mr. Pickles, a 90-year-old tortoise, recently became a first-time dad. His hatchlings, pictured here, are named Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeno. (Houston Zoo)

A 90-year-old radiated tortoise known as Mr. Pickles has become a first-time dad at the Houston Zoo, CBS News reported on Monday.

The zoo broke the news last week that it had welcomed three new hatchlings  aptly named Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeno  after the eggs were discovered months earlier. The new father of three has been at the zoo for 36 years and has been with his companion, Mrs. Pickles, since she arrived at the zoo in 1996.

The new mini-Pickles came as a pleasant surprise, the zoo said, as Mr. Pickles is the most genetically valuable radiated tortoise in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Species Survival Plan. Radiated tortoises, which are native to southern and southwestern Madagascar, are critically endangered and tend to produce few offspring.

Sons LinkedIn post seeking help for his dad goes viral

Patrick McCarthy with his father, Peter Judge. (Patrick McCarthy via Facebook)

When 31-year-old Patrick McCarthys father, Peter Judge, lost his job as a cashier at WinCo Foods supermarket in Phoenix after nearly four years, McCarthy knew he had to help his dad out  and did so in the form of a heartwarming social media post that went viral and was picked up by USA Today this week.

Judge lost his job after accruing too many points, mostly for tardiness  a consequence of relying on walking and public transportation to get to work, McCarthy said. But McCarthy said his dad is good at what he does.

He loves his customers. He loves being the reason people come back. He loves seeing customers seek out his lane for check-ins and updates. ... He and I share our empathy. Our listening ears. Our understanding, McCarthy wrote on LinkedIn.

For anyone in the Phoenix area or those looking for remote employees with a LOT of customer-facing, customer service, and service industry experience, DM me or leave a comment and I can put you in touch with my dad.

The post blew up on social media, receiving hundreds of comments and shares and nearly 20,000 likes. Responses ranged from career advice for Judge to praise for McCarthys honest and thoughtful post supporting his father.

In the weeks since the post went viral, Judge has spoken with several companies about possible opportunities, according to USA Today.
GENEVA (Reuters) - Some 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, many elderly and with disabilities, are clinging on to existence in horrific circumstances in and around the besieged city of Bakhmut, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday.

Russian forces have been trying for months to capture the city in Europe's bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

Several thousand are estimated to remain in the city itself, said the ICRC's Umar Khan, who has been providing them with aid in recent days.

"For the civilians that are stuck there, they are living in very dire conditions, spending almost the entire days in intense shelling in the [underground] shelters," he told a Geneva press briefing by video link from Dnipro in Ukraine.

"All you see is people pushed to the very limits of their existence and survival and resilience."

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in what it calls a "special military operation", saying Kyiv's ties to the West were a security threat. Since then, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides have been killed.

Khan said he had been shocked by the scale of destruction he had witnessed.

"Houses are crushed by military firepower, roofs are ripped off, apartment buildings are littered with holes ... the constant threat of exploding shells, bombs - and some people still living in the shelters, trying to survive these intense hostilities."

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
via GoFundMe

A medical examiner determined this week that three sisters who briefly went missing before their bodies turned up in a Texas pond last summer were strangled to death before being abandoned in the water, sparking a homicide investigation.

The bodies of ZiAriel Oliver, 9, Amiyah Hughes, 8, and Temari Oliver, 5, were found in the pond on July 30 in rural Cass Countynear the border with Arkansas. Their deaths were initially reported as tragic drownings that sent their family and the small community of Atlanta, Texas, into mourning.

New details emerging this week paint a different picture of what happened, however. A medical examiner determined the sisters had lacerations on their faces and that they all died by strangulation, said Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton in a news release obtained by the Texarkana Gazette.

The kids were reported missing around 9 p.m. on July 29 by their cousin, Paris Propps, who was babysitting them and their other three siblingswho were unharmedwhile their mom worked, the Gazette previously reported.

Dive teams from a neighboring county rushed to a pond on their neighbor's property, about 200 feet from their home, after an abandoned shoe and purple bicycle was spotted nearby. The Gazette reported that the siblings bodies were found around 3 a.m. the following morning.

Shommaonique Oliver, the girls mother, posted to Facebook that the loss of her sweet babies had been so unreal. She later wrote in a GoFundMe fundraiser, which raised $17,000, that the tragedy was a big shock.

Multiple calls and messages to family members of the sisters were not returned on Friday afternoon. But Oliver posted a photo of the girls on Facebook this week with the caption: Mama sweet babies Justice will come!!! and commented to a follower, its just taken too damn long.

Last summer, Cass County Sheriff Larry Rowe told the Gazette that he had no idea what the girls were doing near the pond, with other officials confirming the kids werent wearing life jackets or swimwear.

Story continues

Shelton said multiple witness statements have been taken by authorities and that DNA testing is ongoing. He made no mention of potential suspects or a possible motive in the alleged triple slaying.

-- Justin Rohrlich contributed reporting

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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In its 10th year, Freep Film Festival will feature documentaries on 1970s-era Black cinema, a Detroit program that is changing the lives of at-risk youth, groundbreaking actress Mary Tyler Moore and a series of eye-openingfilms by Asian American filmmakers.

Tickets are on sale now for the annual film festival, which will feature more than 40 events including film screenings, educational and networking events from April 26-30. The lineup includes 19 feature length films and 19 short films, many with a connection or relevance to the region or state.

American actress Mary Tyler Moore (as Mary Richards) sits at her in a scene from 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.' With unprecedented access to Mary Tyler Moores vast archive, the new documentary Being Mary Tyler Moore chronicles the screen icon whose storied career spanned 60 years.

The 10th year is a fantastic milestone and what better way to celebrate than another slate of fantastic films, said the festivals artistic director, Kathy Kieliszewski. This years films highlight art and artists, revolutionaries and legends, and of course, crucial issues facing our communities that deserve a closer look.

Tickets to most in-person screenings are $15. Venues include the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts, three theaters at the Michigan Science Center, the Detroit Historical Museum and Frame in Hazel Park.

Several of the films will be available to screen virtually at home, though, like in-person screenings, filmmakers place caps on the number of virtual screening reservations, so they can sell out, too. Tickets for virtual screenings are $12 per film.

Here's a look at some of the festival's highlights. More events will be announced in coming weeks. Tickets are available at freepfilmfestival.com.

And the king said, what a FANTASTIC MACHINE

A meticulous dissection of image-making and a mapping of its movement through society, directors Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck use a mind-boggling array of archival footage to collage this sociological study by tracking the transmogrification of photographic philosophy and technology over human history in the documentary "And the King Said, What a FANTASTIC MACHINE."

This film explores and exposes society's unchecked obsession with the image and how that has grown to affect human behavior. From Camera Obscura and the Lumiere brothers all the way to YouTube and social media, the film chronicles how we went from capturing the image of a backyard to a multi-billion-dollar content industry in 200 years. Michigan premiere.

6 p.m. Sat., April 29, Michigan Science Center (IMAX)

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1 p.m. Sun., April 30, Michigan Science Center (Planetarium)

More info, ticket details here.

Asian American Pacific Islander Film Series

Sentenced to life for a 1973 San Francisco murder, Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee was set free after a pan-Asian solidarity movement, which included Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Americans, helped to overturn his conviction. After 10 years of fighting for his life inside California state prisons, Lee found himself in a new fight to rise to the expectations of the people who believed in him seen in the documentary Free Chol Soo Lee.

With curation led by Razi Jafri, co-director of "Hamtramck USA," featured in the 2021 film festival, this series focuses on stories about Asian American communities and historical figures from across the country told by Asian American filmmakers. The series includes "Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres," the legendary Rolling Stone editor; "Free Chol Soo Lee," about a Korean immigrant wrongfully convicted for a murder in 1970s San Francisco; and "In Search of Bengali Harlem," in which the filmmaker seeks out an understanding of his parents' lives in Bangladesh before they immigrated to New York City.

The AAPI series is free to the public, playing throughout the festival at the Detroit Historical Museum.

This series is produced in collaboration with the American Citizens for Justice and is being funded with the generous support of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission.

Being Mary Tyler Moore

Offering unprecedented access to Mary Tyler Moores vast archive, Being Mary Tyler Moore chronicles the more than 60-year career of the groundbreaking actress. Weaving Moores personal narrative with her professional accomplishments, the film highlights the impact she had on generations of women who came after her. Michigan premiere.

12:30 p.m. Sat., April 29, Michigan Science Center (Toyota Engineering)

More info, ticket details here.

'Being Satori Circus ~ A Performance Documentary in Five Acts'

For 34 years, artist Satori Circus has enlightened and astonished audiences in metro Detroit with his unique style of theatrical performance art. Being Satori Circus ~ A Performance Documentary in Five Acts tells this story in a narrative that fuses nonfiction and fiction storytelling and keeps the artists mystery intact. World premiere.

5:30 p.m. Thu., April 27, Michigan Science Center (IMAX)

4 p.m. Sun., April 30, Michigan Science Center (Planetarium)

More info, ticket details here.

Black Mothers Love and Resist

Wanda Johnson and Angela Williams, mothers of young Black men victimized by police brutality, come together to build a network of support and mutual aid spanning Oakland's Fruitvale to the American South. Johnson's son, Oscar, died in an encounter with law enforcement on a light rail platform in the Bay Area, while Williams' teen son Ulysses survived a police encounter in Alabama. Detroit premiere.

7:30 p.m. Fri., April 28, Michigan Science Center (Toyota Engineering)

More info, ticket details here.

'The Cave of Adullam'

This film introduces viewers to four young recruits of Jason Wilson's Cave of Adullam, what Wilson calls a transformational training academy. When Wilson started his karate dojo, he thought the young Black boys he intended to help with his academy needed more discipline. But he quickly learned what they needed more was love. Wilson challenges his recruits to confront their unresolved anger and fear as they develop from boys into well-rounded men. Michigan premiere.

More:Documentary about Detroit martial arts academy wins top Tribeca Film Festival prize

4 p.m. Sat., April 29, Michigan Science Center (Toyota Engineering)

More info, ticket details here.

'Coldwater Kitchen'

Freep Film Festival's opening night documentary will take viewers inside a high-quality, high-pressure culinary school where students learn to prepare exquisite gourmet meals. They learn the French mother sauces, service a la russe and how to pour and discuss wine  all inside Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. "Coldwater Kitchen," features Chef Jimmy Lee Hill  who has led the culinary training program at the prison for nearly 30 years  and three of his students, who must navigate incarceration and the challenges of transitioning back into society after leaving prison. Michigan premiere.

More:Freep Film Festival to feature 'Coldwater Kitchen' on life-changing culinary program

Brad Leonard prepares a multi-course meal at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Mich. Leonard is a student in the food tech program, a unique culinary class designed to teach inmates the intricacies of fine dining.

7 p.m. Wed., April 26, Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts

A $65 VIP ticket includes includes a seat to the DFT screening, and entrance to a 5:30 p.m. VIP event at the Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth St.

Frame in Hazel Park is hosting "Dinner & Movie" screenings of the film, featuring a meal prepared by Chef Hill and two of his former students Dink Dawson and Ernest Davis, who are featured in the film.

5 p.m. Sat. April 29, Frame, 23839 John R Rd., Hazel Park sold out

4 p.m. Sun. April 30 , Frame

More info, ticket details here.

'Detroit: The City of Churches'

Reverend Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins, of St. Joseph Shrine is featured in the new documentarty "Detroit - The City of Churches" along with a number of landmark Detroit churches.

Viewers meet 17 different spiritual leaders in "Detroit: The City of Churches," to gain a deeper understanding of the role these spiritual touchstones and guides have played in the city's history.

In partnership with the Detroit Historical Society, a select number of tickets will be available for a tour of two local historic churches  Mariners' Church of Detroit and Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit.

Film + Historic Church Tour: 12:35 p.m. Thu., April 27, Detroit Historical Museum

Film only: 2 p.m. Sun., April 30, Michigan Science Center (IMAX)

More info, ticket details here.

'Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project'

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is a look at the life of poet Nikki Giovanni and the revolutionary historical periods through which she lived, from the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter.

Filmmakers explore the life and legacy of Nikki Giovanni through a collection of memories and moments in American history and readings of her poetry. Giovanni reflects on her time in Detroit, where she spent time in the company of civil rights figure Rev. Albert Cleage Jr. and his wife Doris. She watched over their children when they were out, a role she called her "revolutionary duty," because of the threats made against Cleage. Michigan premiere.

5:30 p.m. Fri., April 28, Michigan Science Center (IMAX)

5 p.m. Sat., April 29 Michigan Science Center (Planetarium)

More info, ticket details here.

Is That Black Enough For You?!?

The debut film by Highland Park native and NPR host Elvis Mitchell examines the African American contribution to films released from the landmark era of the 1970s. Artistic voices, including director Charles Burnett, Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Laurence Fishburne, Zendaya and others, offer their perspectives on the creators and films that dazzled and inspired from the often overlooked period. Michigan premiere.

The Michigan premiere will feature an in-person appearance by Elvis Mitchell followed by a reception open to all filmgoers in the Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts, co-sponsored by the Friends of the Detroit Film Theatre.

This event is in partnership with Wayne State University College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, where Mitchell will hold the position as the Bob Allison (Allesee) Endowed Chair in Media beginning in May 2023.

6:30 p.m. Thu., April 27, Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts

More info, ticket details here.

Lead and Copper

Countless municipalities across the country, including many in Michigan, are stuck with aging lead service pipes, leaving many to wonder which city will be the next Flint. "Lead and Copper" amplifies the voices of concerned parents and scientists pressing forward to expose the truth, showing the power of citizen action. World premiere.

6:30 p.m. Fri., April 28, Michigan Science Center (Planetarium)

More info, ticket details here.

Locked Out

Nothing symbolizes "making it in America" quite like owning a home. Yet today, the racial gap in home ownership is widening, and those most impacted are women of color. Set in Detroit, "Locked Out" takes us into the lives of courageous Black women who face evictions, predatory lenders and traditional banking, as they become ground fighters in a movement to battle modern-day redlining and housing injustice, so The American Dream may become a reality for all.

The racial gap in home ownership is wide, and those most impacted are women of color. Set in Detroit, Locked out brings viewers into the lives of courageous Black women who face evictions, predatory lenders and traditional banking, in a movement to battle housing injustice. World premiere.

7 p.m. Sat., April 29, Michigan Science Center (Toyota Engineering)

More info, ticket details here.

'Make Me Famous'

"Make Me Famous" is madcap romp through the 1980s New York City art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell-bent on making it. Michigan native Brezinskis quest for fame reveals an intimate portrait of the art worlds attitude towards success and failure, fame and fortune, notoriety and erasure.

An investigation into the life and death of Detroit-born artist Edward Brezinski, a charismatic Lower East Side painter on the fringe of success, who thwarted his career with antics that roiled New York City's art elite. Through interviews, archival footage and hundreds of images Make Me Famous examines a scene that made some rich and famous and left others behind. Michigan premiere.

3 p.m. Sun., April 30, Michigan Science Center (Toyota Engineering)

More info, ticket details here.

Freep Film Festival shorts programs

In the documentary short Sydney G. James: How We See Us the film explores the work and process of visual artist Sydney G. James, whose murals and large-scale paintings amplify the status of Black women in society, address police brutality and celebrate the Black family and community through bold brush strokes and hues that evoke Black reality, joy, pain, resilience. The film is set in the artists hometown of Detroit where she draws inspiration and, through her activism, has become a space-maker for Black artists and the citys people.

This year, the festival features five shorts programs that bring viewers to the lives of unforgettable artists who work with paint, wood and their imaginations. They head up north for northern Michigan's natural bounty and outdoor adventures. A shorts program explores the nation's seemingly constant state of conflict, and another spotlights female voices in front of and behind the camera. As part of the festival's Asian American Pacific Islander series, a shorts program explores how culture, identity and food buttress the feeling of community among Asian Americans.

Shorts programs take place throughout the festival at multiple locations.

'With Peter Bradley'

Seventy-nine years old and overlooked since the 1970s, abstract painter Peter Bradley reflects on life and shares his artistic process. Bradley had spent some of his formative years in Detroit, where he attended the Detroit Society of Arts, now the College for Creative Studies. He went on to build an incredible resume early in his career. Despite falling on hard times, Bradley continues to paint in a shipping-container studio heated by a wood stove, no matter the weather. With Peter Bradley is a celebration of art-making, resilience and the creative contributions of Black artists to American life. Michigan premiere.

2 p.m. Sat. April 29, Michigan Science Center (Planetarium)

More info, ticket details here.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tickets on sale for 2023 Freep Film Festival: See lineup, schedule
TikTok CEO Shou Chew says that no government devices should have social media apps on them.

I disagree with that characterisation. I think the government devices should have no social media apps to be honest, not just targeted at us, he told Rep John Joyce, from Pennsylvania during his testimony before Congress on Thursday.

TikTok is facing a complete ban in the US over fears that China is using the app as a covert tool for spying and spreading propaganda.

Mr Chew testified before Congress, with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raising their concerns about how much access the Chinese government has to user data, as well as how much influence the Chinese Communist Party has over it.

TikTok has consistently denied such allegations, though this has not stopped the US and other countries from banning the app from government and military-issued devices.

Some countries like India have even issued a nationwide ban of TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps as a result of national security worries.

With more than 150 million TikTok users in the US, many will be following Thursdays proceedings closely to see if Bidens administration follows India by banning TikTok.

You can follow all the latest news and updates in our live coverage here.

TikTok ban key points

Who is TikTok CEO Shou Chew?

TikTok ban in numbers

TikTok CEO says government devices should have no social media apps'

Hello and welcome...

Wednesday 22 March 2023 14:43 , Anthony Cuthbertson

to The Independents coverage of TikTok and the looming US ban. Well be bringing you all the latest news and developments as CEO Shou Chew prepares to face questions from lawmakers in Washington on Thursday.

His appearance could prove pivotal to whether or not the Biden Administration decides to push forward with a complete ban of the hugely popular app, having already blocked it from devices used by government workers and military personnel. TikTok was the most downloaded app in the US last year, with any action set to impact more than 150 million users.

Story continues

Wednesday 22 March 2023 15:01 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Shou Chew has less than 24 hours to wait before he appears before Congress at 10am local time (2pm GMT) on Thursday, 23 March.

He has already posted a TikTok asking US users what they want their elected representatives to know about what you love about TikTok.

Ill be testifying before Congress this week to share all that were doing to protect Americans using the app and deliver on our mission to inspire creativity and to bring joy, he said in the post published to TikToks main account.

His own account has been remarkably quiet considering hes the boss of the app, having posted less than a couple of dozen times in its history. His low profile is in keeping with his public persona, which he has managed to keep extremely private compared to the heads of other tech giants.

Theres only six sentences on his Wikipedia page, but if you want to find out more you can read this:

How a Facebook intern became the boss of TikTok

TikTok ban warning from CEO Shou Chew

Wednesday 22 March 2023 16:26 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Heres what Shou Zi Chew had to say ahead of tomorrows Congress hearing:

@tiktok Our CEO, Shou Chew, shares a special message on behalf of the entire TikTok team to thank our community of 150 million Americans ahead of his congressional hearing later this week.  original sound - TikTok

His warning that all 150 million US users could be banned has already generated dozens of duets from TikTok users, with the majority of them appearing to offer their support both for Chew and TikTok.

While TikToks official account, which the video was posted to, has close to 70 million followers and 288 million likes, Chews personal account has just 17,000 followers and 68,000 likes. He could see that change in the coming days, with his appearance before Congress set to put his name on headlines around the world.

TikTok influencers address potential ban of app in Washington DC

Wednesday 22 March 2023 22:12 , Graeme Massie

TikTok influencer Janette Ok speaks during a media availability, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Washington. (AP)

TikTok influencer Gohar Khan speaks during a media availability, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Washington. (AP)

(AP)

Content creator @aidanpleasestoptalking gives view on TikTok ban

Wednesday 22 March 2023 23:01 , Graeme Massie

Content creator Aidan Kohn-Murphy, who is known as @aidanpleasestoptalking, has almost 300,000 TikTok followers.

When Trump threatened to ban TikTok, young people mobilized. It was one of the big factors of youth turnout in 2020, said Mr Kohn-Murphy, who also runs @GenZforChange account.

I think young people are already disaffected with politics in a lot of ways, and I think this is going to build on that, he told NBC News.

TikTok star V Spehar says he believes White House still understands platforms importance

Thursday 23 March 2023 01:04 , Graeme Massie

V Spehar, known as @underthedesknews on TikTok, says he still believes that the Biden administration understands the importance of TikTok.

I think the White House certainly recognizes the importance and the reach this platform has, or I wouldnt have two letters sitting at home on my desk right now signed by Joe Biden saying how important my platform is and how proud he is of the work I do, Spehar told NBC News.

TikTok star @duncanyounot defends app

Thursday 23 March 2023 03:03 , Graeme Massie

I want to stop the misconception that its just an app. Its so much more than that, said Duncan Joseph, who has more than 4.5 million followers of his @duncanyounot account.

If it were to be removed, these communities cant just go to another spot. This is the home  and you just cant rip that social fabric away from so many people.

Thursday 23 March 2023 05:05 , Graeme Massie

People gather for a press conference about their opposition to a TikTok ban on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on 22 March 2023.

The White House reportedly told TikTok earlier this month that the ap will be banned in the US if it continues to be owned by the Beijing-based tech firm Bytedance.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Naomi Hearts says TikTok gives marginalised groups online a voice

Thursday 23 March 2023 06:59 , Graeme Massie

I feel like, as a trans woman, being on this platform, Ive had opportunities I never would have had if I had not been for TikTok, said Hearts, who is known on TikTok as @naomiheartsxo. Its very disheartening to see people try to take that away.

And she added: I do this because I want to be the representation I wish I saw growing up.

I feel like the app is  a place where people come to feel a sense of humanity and a sense of togetherness and so it really is disheartening to see [a possible ban] but I hope our stories help to change their [politicians] minds a bit, she told NBC News.

Average US TikTok user well past college age'

Thursday 23 March 2023 10:09 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Theres some interesting and surprising details included in the pre-submitted written testimony of TikTok CEO Shou Chew.

While many may think the majority of TikTok users in the US are children and young adults, Mr Chew claims that the average user is actually well past college age.

Although some people may still think of TikTok as a dancing app for teenagers, the reality is that our platform and our community have become so much more for so many. More than 150 million people in the United States use TikTok on a monthly basis, with the average user today being an adult well past college age. Their videos provide a lens through which the rest of the world can experience American culture. Examples include TikToks role in bringing exposure to American musicians, artists, chefs, and many more. While users in the United States represent 10 percent of our global community, their voice accounts for 25 percent of the total views around the world .

Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok

You can read his full written statement ahead of todays hearing here.

TikTok hearing about to begin

Thursday 23 March 2023 13:57 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Were minutes away from TikTok CEO Shou Chew from taking his seat before members of Congress.

A live stream is available here:

TikTok ban latest: CEO makes opening remarks

Thursday 23 March 2023 14:15 , Anthony Cuthbertson

TikTok CEO Shou Chew starts by saying he looks forward to discussing what makes TikTok so special to the diverse audiences it serves, as well as our efforts to promote minor safety, data privacy, and platform security.

He adds: I also welcome the chance to update you about our efforts to develop cutting-edge, multi-pronged initiatives to address national security concerns.

(Screengrab)

TikTok ban latest: Congress members air concerns

Thursday 23 March 2023 14:16 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Cathy McMorris Rodger, the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said during her opening remarks that allowing a Chinese-owned company access to the phone screens of American children and teenagers is "like allowing the Soviet Union to produce Saturday morning cartoons during the Cold War - but much more dangerous".

Ranking member Frank Pallone adds to these fears by saying disinformation campaigns could be launched through TikTok, while "addictive algorithms" were contributing to "emotional distress and depression" in school children.

TikTok ban latest: Congress members attack TikTok at CEO's hearing: 'Control, surveillance and manipulation'

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:09 , Anthony Cuthbertson

You can read the full story from The Independents John Bowden in Washington DC here:

Congress attacks TikTok at CEOs hearing: Control, surveillance and manipulation

TikTok ban latest: Death threat to Congresswoman on TikTok remained up for 41 days

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:21 , Anthony Cuthbertson

An apparent death threat to Chair Rodgers remained on TikTok for 41 days leading up to todays hearing, according to Congresswoman Kat Cammack.

"You couldn't take action after 41 days when a clear threat, a very violent threat, to the chairwoman of this committee and the members of this committee was posted on your platform, she said.

"You damn well know you cannot protect the data and security of this committee or the 150 million [US] users of your app, because it is an extension of the CCP."

TikTok ban latest: Tiananmen Square massacre content available on TikTok

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:27 , Anthony Cuthbertson

CEO Shou Chew earlier denied allegations that the Chinese Communist Party has the ability to censor content on TikTok. The Tiananmen Square protests were used an example, which Mr Chew insisted could be found among the apps shortform content.

You can watch the video here:

TikTok ban latest: CEO questioned about apps source code

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:36 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Congressman Bill Johnson cites a Citizen Lab report that claims TikTok uses some of the same source code as the app Douyin, which is the Chinese version of TikTok also owned by ByteDance.

This, Mr Johnson claims, could allow the Chinese government to censor and influence content.

He accuses TikTok CEO Shou Chew of misleading the American public.

Mr Chew is not permitted to respond as the lawmaker yields his time.

TikTok ban latest: Questioning moves onto distressing content

Thursday 23 March 2023 15:53 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The questioning has moved on to distressing content on the platform, with Congressman John Sarbanes claiming that TikTok is not doing enough to protect young users.

Congressman Brett Guthrie adds to this line of questioning by claiming that the Chinese version of TikTok Douyin would not allow such content on its platform.

CEO Shou Chew argues that a fairer comparison would be to US rivals like Facebook and Instagram, which face similar kinds of content moderation issues.

TikTok ban latest: Congressman brings up TikToks biometric matrix'

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:08 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Congressman Carter from Georgia is venturing into the territory of conspiracy here, questioning whether TikToks algorithm is fed by biometric data obtained by spying on a user through their phones camera.

I want to talk about biometric matrix, Mr Carter says. Can you say with 100 per cent certainty that TikTok does not use the phones camera to determine whether the content that elicits a pupil dilation should be amplified by the algorithm?

Mr Chew respondes: We do not collect body, face or voice data to identify our users.

TikTok ban latest: Time for a break

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:10 , Anthony Cuthbertson

As Congressman Carter yields his time, weve now got a 10 minute recess.

TikTok ban latest: Congressman asks if app uses home WiFI'

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:15 , Anthony Cuthbertson

While we wait for the session to resume, heres a clip of Congressman Richard Hudson asking the TikTok CEO whether the app accesses other devices when it connects to a users home WiFi network.

TikTok ban latest: Congressman brings up life and death issues at stake

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:21 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Were back underway with five minutes of questions from Congressman Cardenas from California, who addresses the life and death issues at stake.

He asks about the death threat to Chairwoman Rodgers that was up for 41 days, and only taken down when it was brought to Mr Chews attention during the hearing.

The TikTok CEO responds: It goes to show the enormous challenge that we have to make sure that although the vast majority of users come for a good experience, we need to make sure that bad actors dont pose violative content.

Rep Marc Veasey calls TikTok worlds most powerful and extensive propaganda machine

Thursday 23 March 2023 16:42 , Graeme Massie

Rep Marc Veasey, a Democrat from Texas, called TikTok the worlds most powerful and extensive propaganda machine and raised concerns about his 16-year-old sons interest in the app.

Teens dont want to be on Facebook. They want your platform, he said, adding that CEO Shou Chews evasiveness during the hearing disturbs me.

Congresswoman asks for TikTok to do more on eating disorder content

Thursday 23 March 2023 17:28 , Graeme Massie

Kimberly Merle Schrier, a congresswoman from Washington, asks what TikTok has done to make itself less addictive for teenagers.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew said that they had implemented a 60-minute opt-out for children and that there was a control for parents to set a time limit.

People come to our platform for a very informative experience, he told her.

The politician, a trained paediatrician, hit back saying that 20 per cent of material on the app was misinformation and a lot of content glorified eating disorders.

Anything that glorifies eating disorders we remove from our platform, he told her.

I share your concerns and I commit to doing more, he told her

Committee has now gone into recess

Thursday 23 March 2023 17:58 , Graeme Massie

(AP)

Dan Crenshaw clashes with TikTok CEO over CCP

Thursday 23 March 2023 19:29 , Graeme Massie

Dan Crenshaw, Texas, asked TikTok CEO Shou Chew if the company was controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

No, the executive told him as Mr Crenshaw said he disagreed with that position.

He then told Mr Chew that many of your colleagues at ByteDance were card-carrying members of the Chinese Communist Party.

I work for TikTok. I cant speak for ByteDance, Mr Chew told him.

Mr Crenshaw said that TikTok was owned by ByteDance and that the Chinese government could get ByteDance to do whatever it wanted.

The politician then said that the CCP could insist on creating an algorithm to promote Chinese interests.

Committee has now adjourned

Thursday 23 March 2023 19:30 , Graeme Massie

Dan Crenshaw attacks TikToks links to China

Thursday 23 March 2023 19:40 , Graeme Massie

To end the hearing Mr Crenshaw, a Republican from Texas, warned American TikTok users about why politicians were concerned about the companys influence.

You may not care that your data is being accessed now but it will be one day when you do care about it, and heres the real problem: with data comes power they can choose what you see and how you see it, they can make you believe things that are not true...he told the hearing.

And he added: The long-term goal of the Chinese Communist Party is the demise of American power, and that starts with our youth. 

How can TikTok avoid a ban?

Thursday 23 March 2023 21:01 , Graeme Massie

The US government is reportedly demanding that TikToks parent company ByteDance sells its US business in order to avoid a complete ban.

If not, a bill that the Biden administration is currently trying to pass would allow the secretary of Commerce to prevent any foreign companies operating in the US if they are deemed to pose a threat to national security.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, TikTok CEO Shou Chew will say during his testimony on Thursday.

His pre-submitted written statement claims: TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, US user data with the Chinese government. Nor would TikTok honour such a request if one were ever made.

He will also defend TikToks handling of US user data by detailing the $1.5 billion Project Texas. The process involves hosting and routing all US data through the Oracle Cloud.

TikTok ban latest: UK parliament blocks app

Thursday 23 March 2023 22:03 , Graeme Massie

While the US mulls a nationwide TikTok ban, the UK has announced that the app will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network, pointing to concerns about security.

Cyber security is a top priority for Parliament, however we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents, a spokesperson said.

Following the Governments decision to ban TikTok from Government devices, the commissions of both the House of Commons and Lords have decided that TikTok will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network.

You can read the full story from Andrew Griffin here:

TikTok banned from more devices amid alarm over security

TikTok ban latest: Boss declines to guarantee that China cannot decide what shows in app

Thursday 23 March 2023 23:05 , Graeme Massie

During questioning from Chair Rodgers, the TikTok CEO failed to confirm 100 per cent that the Chinese Communist Party would not be able to influence parts of the app.

You can read the full story from The Independents Andrew Griffin here:

TikTok boss declines to guarantee that China is not deciding what shows inside app

TikTok ban latest: CEO says app provides unprecedented transparency'

00:04 , Graeme Massie

Shou Chew claims TikTok is going further than any other major social media app to protect the data of its users.

The centerpiece of our work is called Project Texas. Project Texas is an unprecedented initiative dedicated to safeguarding both U.S. user data and U.S. national security interests. This initiative addresses key issues of corporate governance, content recommendation and moderation, data security, and system access. It is a comprehensive package of measures with layers of independent oversight to protect against backdoors into TikTok that could be used to manipulate the platform or access U.S. user protected data. Project Texas puts the concepts of transparency and accountability into action by addressing national security concerns head-on with concrete, measurable solutions. Project Texas is designed to introduce layers of transparency and vetting that are commonly used for defense contractors but are unheard of for consumer platforms.

Shou Chew, TikTok CEO

TikTok ban: Charting the apps controversial rise to the top

01:02 , Graeme Massie

TikTok was the most downloaded app in the world last year, beating its closest rival by more than 100 million downloads.

This comes despite a complete ban of TikTok being imposed in India in 2020, where close to 200 million people used the app. Other countries have also imposed bans and partial bans, including Europe and US, as this map shows:

You can see all the charts and read the full story of TikToks controversial rise to the top here:

Charting the controversial rise of the worlds most popular app

Who is TikTok CEO Shou Chew

02:05 , Graeme Massie

TikTok CEO Shou Chew doesnt have long to wait before he appears before Congress at 10am local time (2pm GMT) today.

He has already posted a TikTok asking US users what they want their elected representatives to know about what you love about TikTok.

Ill be testifying before Congress this week to share all that were doing to protect Americans using the app and deliver on our mission to inspire creativity and to bring joy, he said in the post published to TikToks main account.

His own account has been remarkably quiet considering hes the boss of the app, having posted less than a couple of dozen times in its history. His low profile is in keeping with his public persona, which he has managed to keep extremely private compared to the heads of other tech giants.

Theres only six sentences on his Wikipedia page, but if you want to find out more you can read this:

How a Facebook intern became the boss of TikTok

How would a TikTok ban in the US actually work?

03:08 , Graeme Massie

The Biden administration is currently in the proces of trying to pass the RESTRICT ACT, which lawyers say would allow the US government to circumvent speech protections embedded in existing law.

But how would a nationwide TikTok ban actually be implemented?

US officials are yet to give any firm details about how a total ban in the US would actually be implemented, but it would likely involve Apple and Google removing it from their app stores and internet service providers blocking access to the site.

There are always ways around such bans  most likely any VPN would be able to circumvent any restrictions  but when the same thing happened in India, most users just moved to copycat short-form content set up by the likes of YouTube and Facebook.

TikTok ban latest: TikTok is a weapon'

04:03 , Graeme Massie

Chair Rodgers brings up Shou Chews alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party, having worked as the chief financial officer of the Chinese version of TikTok before taking up his current role.

Both companies are owned by ByteDance, with high-level figures within the parent company having ties to the Chinese state.

TikTok is a weapon, Chair Rodgers says.

TikTok ban latest: Member of Congress describes TikTok as a weapon'

05:01 , Graeme Massie

You can watch the clip of Chair Rodgers describing TikTok as a weapon here:

Has ByteDance spied on Americans at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party?

06:53 , Graeme Massie

Rep Neal Dunn, Republican of Florida, asked CEO Shou Chew whether TikToks parent company, ByteDance, has ever spied on American citizens at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party.

No, Mr Chew said, which set off a tense exchange with the congressman. Mr Chew concluded by saying the lawmaker did not offer him a chance to respond to his multiple quesetions.

TikTok boss agrees no government devices should have social media apps

09:03 , Graeme Massie

TikTok CEO Shou Chew told Rep John Joyce, from Pennsylvania, that no government devices should have TikTok or any other social media app.

I disagree with that characterisation. I think the government devices should have no social media apps to be honest, not just targeted at us.

He was then asked if he let his under 13 children to use TikTok.

This experience does not exist in Singapore. If my children lived here then yes, he told the politician.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew denies app removes material for CCP

10:30 , Graeme Massie

We do not promote or remove any content on behalf of the Chinese government, he told congressman Randy Weber. There is content on TikTok that is critical of China.

Mr Weber told him that TikTok was indoctrinating our children with woke propaganda.

My time is up and if this committee gets its way TikToks time is up, the politician added.

TikTok CEO dodges question on whether Chinese government has persecuted Uyghurs

11:00 , Graeme Massie

TikTok CEO Shou Chew dodged a question from GOP Rep Debbie Lesko on whether the Chinese government had persecuted the Uyghur population.

Mr Chew demurred, explaining that TikTok offers users an opportunity to speak out on a number of issues. He also expressed concern about human rights abuses in general, but did not directly respond to the question.

TikTok CEO says government devices should have no social media apps'

12:01 , Graeme Massie
HELSINKI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Finland's President Sauli Niinisto on Thursday signed into law his country's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was ratified by parliament on March 1.

This act formally sealed the Nordic country's historic bid to join the military alliance.

Next, Finland will submit its NATO membership-related documents to the U.S. administration once Turkiye and Hungary ratify its membership bid.

Last Friday, during Niinisto's visit to Turkiye, the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Ankara would begin the process of ratifying Finland's bid.

According to Turkish media reports cited by the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat, the foreign affairs commission of the Turkish parliament approved Finland's NATO membership on Thursday, after which the discussion of Finland's NATO membership will be brought to parliament's general assembly.

Hungary's parliament is expected to vote on Finland's membership bid next Monday, Helsingin Sanomat said.

All 30 NATO allies must sign off on the accession protocols of new members. To date, 28 member states have done so. 
(Bloomberg) -- TikTok CEO Shou Chew, confronted with an unforgiving, distrustful Congress, tried to give answers in his testimony Thursday that avoided offending either the US government or China.

Most Read from Bloomberg

But his evasiveness left Congress unsatisfied, with representatives hungrier than ever to punish TikTok for ties to its parent company ByteDance Ltd., based in Beijing. And he didnt bring his company any closer to a resolution.

Politically, TikTok is now in a tougher spot. Its executives had been discussing divesting from ByteDance to resolve US national security concerns, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. But China this week said it would firmly oppose a forced sale.

Now the US has to decide whether to restrict TikTok, which would be politically unpopular, or accept TikToks promises that its US data is safely guarded and that its US users wont be manipulated by the Chinese Communist Party  something many members of Congress have said theyll have a hard time believing.

Chew didnt say anything to alleviate concerns about sensitive TikTok data eventually reaching the Chinese government, according to Angelo Zino, senior equity analyst at CFRA Research. That could leave TikTok in limbo among the legislature  heavily criticized but not yet banned  and increase pressure on national security officials and the Biden Administration to come to a resolution.

Legislators and regulators have two main areas of concern, which were on display Thursday: whether TikToks ownership by a Chinese tech company presents national security risks and how users  especially young ones  could be influenced by the videos they see on the app.

Lawmakers have already introduced four bills that aim to ban the app over the national security risks posed by its Chinese ownership, one of which has support from the White House. The Biden administration is conducting its own review through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US.

Story continues

But theres only a 35% to 45% chance a ban happens, Zino said, with 24 being an election year and politicians needing to tread carefully to ban a platform that is extremely popular.

Chew fruitlessly tried to broaden the conversation to be about all social media companies  not just TikTok. He said that he supports comprehensive data legislation, saying that American social media companies dont have a great track record on privacy and that dangerous content for kids is an industrywide issue.

But lawmakers werent buying Chews appeal. Georgia Representative Buddy Carter summed it up neatly when Chew invoked industrywide arguments: Were talking about TikTok, Carter exclaimed, frustrated.

Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers didnt allow Chew to respond to a number of critical monologues from lawmakers, at one point blocking him by saying, TikToks time is up.

When Chew did respond, he stopped short of giving lawmakers what they wanted: anti-China, pro-US reassurances. You have absolutely tied yourself in knots to avoid criticizing the CCP over the governments oppression of the Uyghur minority in Western China, Representative Kelly Armstrong said.

Chew declined to answer questions about whether he supports the US First Amendment, repeating that he was in Congress to answer questions about TikTok. He said the app supports free expression and that it has committed to promoting free speech.

Does TikTok support genocide? asked Republican August Pfluger of Texas, referring again to the Uyghur minority.

No, Chew said.

Behind Chew in the audience for the hearing sat multiple TikTok influencers, supporting the apps presence in the US because of how critical it has become for their lives and work. I understand what the Congress people are arguing toward today, and certainly want to hear their perspectives and learn more about any potential dangers, said Vitus Spehar, whose UnderTheDeskNews account has 3 million followers on TikTok. But I think that my personal experience is, this is our community. This is where weve survived the pandemic together.

Chew tried to use TikToks relevance for young people and small businesses in America as an argument for why the app should get congressional support.

Instead, it actually strengthened US lawmakers argument that TikTok poses a threat to both national security and young people, said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Jasmine Enberg. For TikTok, she said, the US is an incredibly lucrative market, putting billions of dollars at stake if the companys work here is restricted. After the testimony, TikToks fate in the US is on shakier ground than ever.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
TikTok's chief executive weathered blistering questioning during a packed Congressional hearing on Thursday as US lawmakers grilled him on the app's alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, danger to teenagers and risk to American national security and data privacy.

Chew told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington that his hugely successful company was private, did not allow any government - including China - to manipulate its user data and was putting in place a US$1.5 billion programme to safeguard US data and monitor content.

But the hostile tone was set by the committee chairwoman before Chew uttered his first word and continued unabated.

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.

"TikTok surveils us all, and the Chinese Communist Party is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole," Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington state, said in her opening statement. "Your platform should be banned. I expect today you will say anything to avoid this outcome. ... We're not buying it."

Chew repeatedly sought to convince the wary lawmakers of efforts by TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, to address their concerns.

These include its "Texas Project", a plan to house US data within a walled-off company jointly overseen by US software provider Oracle, and accelerated efforts to monitor and delete posts that fuel teen suicide, political violence and other objectionable content aided by a team of 44,000 screeners worldwide.

"Many of those measures are firsts for the social media industry," said Chew, 40, who is from Singapore. "We believe we are the only the only company that offers this level of transparency."

But Chew's assurances appeared to fall largely on deaf ears. His case was dealt a further blow when Representative Kat Cammack, a Republican from Florida, pulled up a TikTok video that had been online for 41 days showing a gun firing repeatedly, with messaging specifically targeting Rodgers, the committee chairwoman.

Story continues

"You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can't even protect the people in this room?" asked Cammack.

"You've used the word transparency over a half a dozen times in your opening testimony and subsequently again in your answers to my colleagues," she said. "Yet the interesting thing to me is that ByteDance, your parent company, has gone out of their way to hide and airbrush corporate structure ties to the CCP."

During a short break, Chew ordered the video taken down and pledged to redouble the company's vigilance.

TikTok has faced growing headwind since it entered the US market in 2018 and quickly outpaced rivals. The company's US advertising revenue was US$11 billion in 2022, a 200 per cent increase over 2021, according to estimates by the eMarketer research firm.

US Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington and chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, during the hearing in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Bloomberg alt=US Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington and chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, during the hearing in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Bloomberg>

The federal government and more than two dozen US states have banned government employees from using TikTok on official work devices, as have other state agencies in Europe and Canada. On Thursday, Britain became the latest, forbidding its use on all parliamentary devices.

Last week, the Biden administration threatened to force the app's Chinese shareholders to sell to US owners or face a possible ban of all US users, reinforced on Thursday when Secretary of State Antony Blinken called TikTok a national security threat that "should be ended one way or another".

Beijing has responded by accusing Washington of "abusing state power" and "suppressing related businesses". China's commerce ministry said on Thursday that forcing TikTok to change ownership "will seriously damage the confidence of investors from all over the world, including China, to invest in the United States", adding that China would oppose any sale.

Lawmakers said this was further evidence of China's control over the company and its store of personal data.

In recent weeks, TikTok has honed a series of arguments in the fight over its existence, including the "joy", business opportunities and global sharing enjoyed by its 1 billion users worldwide; the fundamental threat to US justice and fairness that a wider ban would embody; and company dedication to data protection and national security.

Chew's bid to get his points across, delivered in measured tones, was challenged repeatedly by a stream of interruptions, scepticism, pointed reminders that making false statements to Congress was a federal crime and repeated demands to "just answer yes or no".

This appeared to vindicate his decision to release written testimony a day earlier, given constraints he faced at Thursday's hearing. "Congressman, you have given me no time to answer your questions," he said more than once. "I reject the characterisations."

Despite recent threats, the US could have trouble carrying out a general ban.

Chew takes questions from Representative Kat Cammack, a Republican of Florida.. Photo: Getty Images via AFP alt=Chew takes questions from Representative Kat Cammack, a Republican of Florida.. Photo: Getty Images via AFP>

An effort by the Trump administration to bar TikTok in 2020 foundered, and any new effort could face similar legal challenges.

At issue are the relatively obscure Berman amendments, which date back to 1988 and were designed to ensure that presidents were unable to ban information and their distributors from then Cold War adversaries.

Further safeguards were added, including the expansion of First Amendment press freedoms to overseas digital media.

Some of the legal impediments could be eased but not eliminated if a bipartisan bill is passed, expanding White House authority to enact restrictions. Introduced in the Senate earlier this month, its authors say they have lined up 20 supporters, although it faces a tougher road in the House.

Even so, lawmakers and administration officials who favour the ban are walking a fine line as they try to curtail the app without setting a precedent that overseas governments could use to ban or seriously restrict Facebook, Twitter and other US-based social media platforms.

Thursday's hearing came on a busy day in Congress, as a slew of other committees heard China-focused testimony on trade, security, technology, fentanyl, great power competition and human rights.

Fuelling the lawmakers is their reading of an increasingly wary electorate as US-China relations have plummeted.

A Pew survey late last year found that 82 per cent of US respondents expressed an "unfavourable opinion" of China, up from 79 per cent in 2020. The wariness was tied to China's military, human rights and pandemic transparency policies.

Much of the frustration directed at TikTok on Thursday touched on broader legislative concerns as tech companies have grown huge and powerful and played an increasing role in election fraud, illegal drug distribution, stalking and other social issues. But its size and Chinese ownership proved a powerful magnet for criticism.

"This is not a problem unique to TikTok," said Representative Diana DeGette, a Democrat from Colorado.

"But TikTok has 150 million users in the United States. And so I think you'll agree that TikTok has a particular responsibility."

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.
[Source]

TikTok CEO Shou Chew did not directly answer questions about Chinas Uyghur persecution and possible Taiwanese invasion at a House committee hearing on Thursday.

Chew, who was grilled by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for five hours over the social media platform, insisted that he was only in Capitol Hill to speak about his company, which currently faces a potential nationwide ban over years-long national security concerns.

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R, AZ-8) threw the Uyghur question three times at Chew. First, she asked: Do you agree that the Chinese government has persecuted the Uyghur population?

Congresswoman, if you use our app and you open it, you will find our users, who give all sorts of content on Chew replied before being cut off by the Arizona representative.

More from NextShark: Over 2 dozen arrested, $1.6M seized in bust of alleged Chinese prostitution ring in Europe

Lesko repeated her question for the TikTok executive, who failed to respond directly for the second time.

Well, its deeply concerning to hear about all accounts of human rights abuse, my role here is to explain what our platform does, said Chew, before being stopped by Lesko for the second time.

I think youre being pretty evasive. Its a pretty easy question, Lesko told Chew. Do you agree that the Chinese government has persecuted the Uyghur population?

More from NextShark: Meet Chinas chicken parents,' a new cult of tiger moms on steroids

Congresswoman, Im here to describe TikTok and what we do as a platform, Chew answered. And as a platform, we allow our users to freely express themselves on this issue and any other issue that matters to them.

After failing to get an answer for the third time, Lesko moved on while noting, Well, you didnt answer the question.

More from NextShark: Chinas Sichuan province drops ban on unmarried people having children

Leskos questioning followed a related inquiry by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-5) earlier in the hearing questioning whether TikTok has used moderation tools to remove content associated with the Uyghur genocide.

"We do not remove that kind of content," Chew said. "TikTok is a place for freedom of expression, and chair, just like I said, if you use our app, you can go on it and you will see a lot of users around the world expressing content on that topic and many others.

Story continues

Rodgers also asked Chew if TikTok removes content about the Tiananmen Square Massacre, to which he eventually replied, "That kind of content is available on our platform."

More from NextShark: Asian American leaders remember Jan. 6 Capitol attack on its first anniversary

"I will remind you that making false or misleading statements to Congress is a federal crime," Rodgers warned Chew after his answer.

Chew joined TikTok in 2021 as CEO but concurrently served as CFO of its Beijing-based parent company, Bytedance, for several months. Rodgers later asked whether he could confirm with 100 percent certainty that Bytedance or the Chinese Communist Party cannot use TikTok to create pro-China messages against Taiwan.

Chew did not directly respond to the question but assured that TikTok has given the House committee and its users its commitment that the app will remain free from any manipulation by any government.

If you cant say [youre] 100% certain, Id take that as a no, Rodgers said in response.

Chinas persecution of Uyghurs  an ethnic Muslim minority in the northwestern region of Xinjiang  has been heavily documented in recent years.

In 2019, a Uyghur refugee in the Netherlands claimed responsibility for leaking secret documents that exposed prison-like conditions in the regions re-education camps.

In one of its final acts, the Trump administration declared in January 2021 that China has committed genocide and crimes against humanity for its treatment of Uyghurs and other minority groups. Later that year, an independent tribunal based in London ruled a similar conclusion, accusing China of forced birth control, abortion, sterilization, rape, torture, persecution and forced disappearance, among other crimes, in Xinjiang.

Beijing, which has consistently denied the abuses, was accused last year of attempting to block a long-awaited United Nations assessment on human rights abuses in Xinjiang. A 48-page report citing "serious human rights violations" was finally published at the end of August.

Whether TikTok will be banned in the U.S. is yet to be seen. Last week, the Biden administration threatened to ban the app unless its Chinese owners sell their stakes.
TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew faced a bipartisan baptism of fiery inquiry Thursday at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, held as the platform comes under increased scrutiny from lawmakers and the Biden administration.

The questions covered topics as varied as content removal bias against Black creators, election misinformation and the platforms effects on the mental health of young people, who make up the majority of TikToks users. While many of these issues are not unique to TikTok, the Chinese ownership of its parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance, and its ties to the Chinese government make it unique among the major social media platforms popular with Americans.

The five-hour adversarial hearing saw a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation as both Democrats and Republicans raised national security concerns over the possibility of Chinese government officials gaining access to U.S. user data. Lawmakers made references to a 2017 Chinese law that requires companies there to assist state intelligence gathering.

To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see, and exploit [it] for future generations, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington state, said in her opening statement.

Her sentiments were supported by the 52-member committees leading Democrat, Frank Pallone Jr. of New Jersey. While TikTok videos provide a new fun way for people to express their creativity and enjoy the videos of others, the platform also threatens the health, privacy and security of the American people, he said. And I'm not convinced that the benefits outweigh the risks that it poses to Americans in its present form.

In response, Chew, who is Singaporean, gave a robust defense of his company and sought to distance it from the Chinese government. Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government. It is a private company, Chew said in his opening statement.

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He added that concerns about addiction and data privacy were an industrywide problem. We believe what is needed are clear, transparent rules that apply broadly to all tech companies. Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns.

Chew also outlined Project Texas, the companys proposal to use Austin-based cloud computing company Oracle to vet its code and ensure that U.S. user data are stored in the country and firewalled from access by foreign governments. This eliminates the concern that some of you have shared with me that TikTok user data can be subject to Chinese law, Chew told the committee.

But there remains skepticism about the practicalities of that proposal and whether it goes far enough.

Project Texas just doesn't pass the smell test. My constituents are concerned that TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party are controlling their data and seeing our own vulnerabilities, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) said.

The hearing came after it was reported that the Biden administration plans to force ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok or face a ban in the United States. Ahead of the hearing, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese government planned to resist the forced sale.

If the news is true, China will resolutely oppose it, Shu Jueting, a spokeswoman at Chinas ministry of commerce, said. She added that the sale would seriously damage investors from multiple countries including China and hurt confidence to invest in the United States.

Ahead of the hearing, a slew of TikTok creators roamed the halls of Congress as part of a public relations effort to urge lawmakers and the Biden administration not to ban the platform, which has 150 million users in the U.S. monthly.

Last month, the White House announced a ban of TikTok on all devices owned by federal agencies. The United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union have also banned TikTok from all government devices, citing security concerns. In 2020, India banned the use of TikTok in the country.

A sobering moment at the hearing came when Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) highlighted the story of a teenager named Chase Nasca, who died by suicide and whose tearful parents were in attendance. Your company destroyed their lives, he said.

The content in Chases 'For You' page was not a window to discovery, as you boldly claimed in your testimony.  Instead, his For You page was sadly a window to discover suicide, he said, referring to the curated section of the app for users.

Earlier in the session, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) showed a video in which someone appeared to threaten Chairwoman Rodgers with a gun.

This video has been up for 41 days, Cammack said. You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data, privacy and security of 150 million Americans when you cant even protect the people in this room? I think that is a blatant display of how vulnerable people who use TikTok are.

After a recess, Chew said he had communicated with his team to have the video taken down.

The White House has already supported a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give the Commerce secretary broad new powers, including to ban technology from adversary countries such as China and Russia.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platforms consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

Republicans and Democrats sparred with the CEO of TikTok at a congressional hearing Thursday over data security and content manipulation concerns, as he denied allegations of spying on Americans for the Chinese Communist Party.

Shou Zi Chew, the companys CEO, appeared before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to address concerns over the companys ownership and its efforts to protect sensitive user data.

Chew testified that the company is majority owned by global investors and that Beijing has not directed any surveillance of Americans. The United States is TikToks most profitable market with more than 150 million users. TikTok is a subsidiary of ByteDance, a Chinese company that has made billions in profits after launching the popular video sharing app worldwide.

The House committee members were notably bipartisan in condemning TikTok as a threat to national and personal security.

To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see and exploit for future generations, said Republican chairwoman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington.

Rodgers and others called for TikTok to be banned by the United States.

Chews opening statement argued a ban is unnecessary since the company is working on a project to house U.S. user data on domestic servers owned and maintained by Oracle, an American software company. The project, dubbed Project Texas, would route all American user data through American-based TikTok employees who are independent of ByteDance and Beijing monitors, he said.

Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey responded incredulously to Chews data security assurances.

Let me start out by saying, Mr. Chew that I dont find what you suggested ... to be acceptable to me, he said. I believe the the Beijing communist government will still control and have the ability to influence what you do.

Im very concerned about the scope & scale of the information #TikTok collects from its users & U.S. consumers. Today, I questioned TikTok CEO Shou Chew about info it collects and the need for comprehensive privacy legislation that puts people back in control of their data. pic.twitter.com/s8R5CcJ0Zw  Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) March 23, 2023

The Department of Justice and the FBI are investigating allegations that company employees spied on an American journalist.

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Forbes reported late last year that ByteDance found that employees accessed the IP addresses of reporters and tracked the physical location of the journalists and their contacts in the app. ByteDance said it fired the employees and that they are cooperating with the investigation.

TikTok surveils us all and the Chinese Communist Party is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole, Rodgers said in her opening statement. We do not trust TikTok will ever embrace American values. ... Your platform should be banned.

I do NOT trust that TikTok will ever embrace American valuesvalues for freedom, human rights, and innovation.



TikTok has repeatedly chosen the path for more control, more surveillance, and more manipulation.



It should be banned. pic.twitter.com/gyO8ltsOC3  CathyMcMorrisRodgers (@cathymcmorris) March 23, 2023

Rep. John Curtis Section 230 concerns with TikTok

Utah Rep. John Curtis, a Republican, asked Chew if TikToks algorithm promoting certain videos over others means the company should no longer be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Section 230 largely shields internet distributers from legal liability for user-created content as opposed to publishers who are held to account.

Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, referenced the death of a 10-year-old girl who died participating in a TikTok viral trend called the blackout challenge. But courts ruled TikTok was not liable due to Section 230s immunity for the platform as a distributor.

Its assumed a TikTok trend goes viral because the company promotes the content to other users identified by the company algorithm.

Curtis questioned whether TikTok should be considered a publisher since it recommends videos through this proprietary algorithm.

In an interview with the Deseret News immediately following the hearing, Curtis said the moment (TikTok) manipulates the data using an algorithm they shouldnt be protected by Section 230.

He argues the app isnt a bulletin board for people to pick and choose what they see, rather, he said, the company is pushing content and therefore acting like a publisher.

At the House hearing, Curtis and others inquired into TikToks preferred content promotion and potential information targeting. He asked Chew if it is possible for the company to write an algorithm to use data collection on him as a lawmaker to persuade him to change his view on a policy issue.

Chew answered by reiterating the companys commitment to freedom of speech.

Curtis told the Deseret News he is concerned with TikToks content manipulation tools. He urged parents to evaluate the possible dangers of the app with eyes wide open.

The smartest people in the world are using the smartest technology in the world to try to change the way you view and perceive things, Curtis said. If youre not cautious, they will do that.

He agreed with the characterization that TikTok is digital fentanyl.

Curtis said he ran out of time, but that he wanted to ask Chew if TikTok would follow the newly passed Utah law requiring social media companies to verify the age of users and to restrict access to underage users without their parents consent.

He said he suspects the company will not follow the Beehive States law set to go into effect next year.

Other highlights from the hearing

A number of lawmakers questioned Beijings control over TikTok through its parent company.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, Chew said.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat, asked how Chew plans to evade Chinas data security law that requires Chinese companies to hand over data requested by the CCP. Why would the Chinese government sidestep their national law, she said.

Chew answered, saying, they have never asked us, we have never provided it.

I find that actually preposterous, Eshoo said.

Various committee members questioned Chew over allegations related to Beijing spying on Americans.

He said I dont think spying is the right way to describe it, referencing ByteDance taking orders from the Chinese Communist Party.

Utah Sen, Mitt Romney and other leaders took to social media to claim this was a veiled admission that spying is happening.

It doesnt matter how you describe it. What matters is that the CEO of TikTok has impliedbefore Congressthat it is happening. The CCP can access Americans' data and it must be stopped. https://t.co/B3V8ErtT90  Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) March 23, 2023

Rodgers and Pallone said they plan to reintroduce their bipartisan American Data Privacy and Protection Act. The bill would fix what they consider weaknesses in federal law to protect Americans against damaging data collection practices.

The Biden administration has reportedly told ByteDance and its Chinese owners that they must sell the app or risk an outright ban. Numerous Republicans are also in favor of a nationwide ban.

Curtis said he has questions about a proposed ban since hes not sure how it could be done constitutionally.

I would rather see us use common principles that would force the right thing to happen, he said, which would be that anytime that (TikTok) made a decision to magnify or diminish speech, that they hold some accountability for those actions.
Getty Images

Time might be running out for popular social media app TikTok to avoid a full ban in the United States. Lawmakers across the countryincluding more than half of the 50 stateshave already restricted access because of security concerns over the apps handling of user data and possible connections to the Chinese government.

In an effort to address those concerns, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced five hours of questioning Thursday from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Support among federal lawmakers to prohibit the platform has grown in recent weeks, with the Senate even introducing a bill on March 7 to allow for just that.

TikTokthe video-sharing app that launched in China in 2016 as Douyin and became a global phenomenon after a 2018 merger with Musical.lynow has more than 150 million monthly users in America and is expected to generate more than $11 billion in U.S. ad revenue by 2024, according to Axios.

Chew became the TikToks CEO in 2021 and is now at the center of the debate. Here is what you need to know about the entrepreneur and the controversy surrounding the app.

Who Is Shou Zi Chew?

Chew, 40, was born in Singapore. According to the New York Post, he is married to investment firm executive Vivian Kao; the couple have two children.

Chew attended an elite high school in Singapore and completed the countrys mandatory military service before attending University College London. He graduated in 2006 with an economics degree.

According to the Associated Press, Chew worked for two years at Goldman Sachs before moving to the states to pursue a masters from the Harvard Business School. He and Kao met over email in 2008 after they were both admitted to the school, according to Harvards alumni magazine. They both earned masters degrees in business administration in 2010. Chew also had a two-year internship at Facebook.

After Harvard, he worked for five years at venture capital firm DST Global and facilitated investment into what is now ByteDance, the Beijing-based company that owns TikTok. He also worked for five years at a Chinese smartphone company before he was named TikTok CEO on April 30, 2021.

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ByteDance is worth an estimated $300 billion as of September 2022, according to Entrepreneur magazine.

Cornell University professor Brooke Erin Duffy told the Associated Press in a recent interview the American public is relatively unfamiliar with Chew compared to other social media giants like Facebook Cofounder Mark Zuckerberg. In fact, most people might not have heard of him until he posted a video to TikTok earlier this week discussing the threatened United States ban and asking users what they wanted him to discuss during his testimony.

Why Did Chew Testify Before Congress?

Getty Images

President Joe Biden and his administration are threatening to ban TikTok in the United States unless ByteDance agrees to sell off its share of the platform. The app is already prohibited on federal government devices.

According to the Associated Press, the FBI and Federal Communications Commission have warned that ByteDance can share user data, such as browsing history and location, with the Chinese government. A 2017 law in China requires companies to submit any data relevant to national security to the government, though there is no evidence of TikTok ever doing this.

The U.S. Senate introduced a bipartisan bill on March 7 called the RESTRICT Act that would grant Bidens administration the authority for a ban. Under the proposal, if the Commerce Secretarycurrently Gina Raimondodetermines that any transaction through any app from a foreign adversary poses undue or unacceptable risk to national security, the president can take action, up to and including forced divestment.

However, as NPR tech reporter Bobby Allyn explained in a March 10 segment, many legal experts believe a ban would run into legal issues regarding free speech. The 1988 Berman Amendment says that films, books, and digital media must be able to flow freely between the United States and hostile countries.

During his testimony on Thursday, Chew said the data that the app collects is similar to that of other companies like Facebook or Twitter. We are committed to be very transparent with our users about what we collect, he said, according to CNN.
An impassioned fan's edits of Shou Zi Chew. Screenshot/TikTok - @ruier_ruier

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified in a congressional hearing on Thursday over growing data security concerns.

Users vehemently defended Chew and mocked Congress's seemingly uninformed line of questioning.

TikTok is now bloated with thirsty fan tributes and cutesy montages of the CEO that some are calling "TikTok Zaddy."

TikTokers are obsessed with the platform's CEO after he battled Congress during Thursday's hearing on whether to ban the app in the US amid security concerns. Users thought Shou Zi Chew faced undue pressure  and handled it so well  that they're now sharing cutesy tributes and other "thirst-trap" videos of him.

TikTokers truly have no chill.

One of the most shared clips, with over 1.3 million views, features several superimposed images of Chew from the hearing set to the popular song "OMG" from K-pop group NewJeans. "Yall fr simping for the CEO of TikTok," a top comment read.

Another video, with nearly a million views, spotlights Chew refuting a question about whether TikTok would consider divesting from its owner, the Chinese company ByteDance (Chew said ownership isn't the issue, gesturing at how American tech companies don't have a clean history of data security either.)

The creator @whileimtoska edited Chew's response with a dramatic montage, captioning it, "He ate them up with that."

"When the CEO of TikTok gets a TikTok edit," a top commenter wrote. "GUYS HE'S A MARRIED MAN," a user joked.

Like these edits, many videos paint Chew as a heroic figure who's defending the app's creators and community from out-of-touch "boomers" who could potentially ban the app. The hearing is a culmination of growing security concerns  that date back to as early as 2020 when the Trump administration attempted a ban  over fears that the Beijing-based company could provide the Chinese Community Party with US user data to compel its own political interests.

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Not only are TikTok users seemingly unbothered by cybersecurity worries, they're showing unwavering support for the app's leadership. The "thirst" edits began proliferating shortly after the hearing ended and they've quickly gone viral.

"This is the second edit of CEO i've seen in the last 5 min," one user wrote on Thursday evening. "I pray there's more."

A majority of videos are straightforward thirst traps: images of Chew looking fierce while creators and commenters talk about how "fine" and "handsome" he looks. Many people joked about Mark Zuckerberg "quaking" because they think Chew is the better-looking tech CEO.

"TikTok Zaddy fighting for us," one person wrote with a heart-eye emoji; "I see why Mark is so pressed," someone else added.

Chew fanfare is so widespread that users have even started using the slideshow feature, which is rarely ever used for fan edits. A slideshow with almost a million views calls Chew's appearance at the hearing the biggest "I'm him" performance ever (which a reference to the "he's him" meme used to describe a man who does something epic).

Comment sections are also, of course, abound with quips related to the CEO's last name: "HE CHEW, ATE, AND LEFT NO CRUMBS."

"He chewed and spat them out."

"He didn't just eat he chewed as well."

Though a vast majority of the comments on these videos are positive, and in on the joke, some people are calling the practice into question: "Why are we editing a tech CEO like this!?" someone wrote on a viral video.

Insider has reached out to TikTok and Chew for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

In the Capitol rotundaa dome in the middle of the building that houses statues, eclectic decorations, and a storied historythe 19-year-old TikTok creator Aidan Kohn-Murphy shouted twink.

It was an apparent attempt at humor, or satire or something in between. He wrote in a caption, Becoming the first person to say twink in the Capitol rotunda. The word is slang, often utilized within the LGBTQ+ community, to reference some gay men. (Kohn-Murphy, who founded the progressive group Gen Z For Change, later told The Daily Beast it was just a silly video he made in the moment.)

Kohn-Murphy and a gaggle of TikTok creators came to D.C. this week to lobby Congress against a proposed ban on the app. TikTok paid for the travel expenses of creators that participated in this weeks activism, who used #keeptiktok and #savetiktok hashtags to raise awareness for their cause.

TikTok Isnt the Solo Problem. Tech Needs Tougher Regulation

Theres already a ban on the app for government devices. But some lawmakers are pushing to ban it in the U.S. altogether unless ByteDance, which is partially owned by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, sells its stake in the platform. President Joe Biden already signed off on a bipartisan bill that would give the president authority to ban the app nationwide.

In a building usually defined by drab suits and perfectly staged appearances, the TikTokers made sure things got a bit weird.

TikTok creators hold a news conference to speak out against a possible ban of TikTok at the House Triangle at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 22, 2023. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/Reuters

Prominent TikTok influencers danced, posed, and lamented wearing high heels in a building with unforgiving marble floors. Some seemed to really love posting videos with the song Mother by Meghan Trainor in the background. Another, Grace Africa, played off a popular TikTok trend wherein people run in a fantastical motion to the song Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine, as she strode and spun in circles throughout halls and the rotunda as if it were a scene in a romance movie.

Chef Baedri, a food creator, posted a number of videos throughout the visit, including one where she posed with her phone next to the caption, Calling Congress to remind them that they wont be re-elected if TikTok is banned!

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The creator Janette Ok stood with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, smiling and asking if hes on TikTok every day, which he said he is.

To be sure, many TikTokers on the Hill took a more earnest approach. They visited member offices, posted videos trying to rally viewers against the ban, and encouraged their fans to call their representatives to express their opposition. They talked about being able to promote small businesses on the app, or to create community with content, or increasing their own incomes.

Im here outside of Lindsay Grahams office here in the United State Senate, said creator Callie Goodwin, who owns a small stationery business that she advertises on TikTok. Got a chance to stop by, leave my name in the guest book, and Im gonna be in contact to tell them the impact TikTok has had on my life and my business and share the concerns that you guys have shared in the comments.

At a press conference Wednesday, the group of online iconssome who boast millions of followersstood with Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and freshman Robert Garcia (D-CA). They took selfie videos, chanted about loving TikTok, and spoke about how the app has impacted their lives.

Bowman, who led the presser, argued prejudice toward China was driving lawmakers decision to single TikTok out for regulation, as compared to other American social media companies like Facebook or Instagram.

Lets not be racist towards China and express our xenophobia when it comes to TikTok, because American companies have done tremendous harm to American people, the progressive congressman said.

Ron DeSantis Anti-Free Speech Crusade Would Cancel Fox News

The lingering question was whether TikToks gambit of bringing some of its biggest stars to the Capitol swayed Congress at all. As TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday morning, the answer many suspected became clear: probably not.

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew testifies before a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing entitled "TikTok: How Congress can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," as lawmakers scrutinize the Chinese-owned video-sharing app, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2023. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/Reuters

Members of both parties bashed the platform, suggested they didnt trust Chews answers, and pointed to misinformation on the app.

To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see, and exploit for future generations, said committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

I find that actually preposterous, said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in response to a suggestion from Chew that hes seen no evidence of Chinas government having access to user data. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) presented a video posted more than a month ago on TikTok that showed a gun shooting repeated rounds next to the caption me asf at the House Energy and Commerce Committee on 3/23/2023. (The term asf is slang for as fuck.)

Cammack claims the video was posted before the date of the hearing was made public. Chew asked for a chance to respond, but his request was denied and the questioning continued. (The video was removed from the app shortly after Cammack presented it.)

Democrats Swallow Getting Strong-Armed Into GOPs Version of Bipartisanship

Chew dodged a number of questionssometimes saying hed get back to members later and repeatedly emphasizing TikToks privilege as a private company to not publicly share financial information. But he did emphasize parental controls on the app, said hes not had any conversations with Chinese government officials, and repeatedly insisted TikTok is committed to transparency.

One answer from Chew seemed to especially stand out to viewers: when Chew was asked whether ByteDance has spied on Americans at the direction of the Chinese government.

Chews answer: I dont think spying is the right way to describe it.

Some of the TikTokers invited to the Hill were seated behind Chew as he went to bat for the app. After Chews testimony concluded, TikTok in a press release said that while Shou came prepared to answer questions the hearing was dominated by political grandstanding that failed to acknowledge the real solutions already underway.

Members gave no indication Chews answers or the charm offensive from creators has left them ready to let up on the app. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) mid-hearing Thursday even called for all members of Congress to stop using TikTok. A number of members doincluding Reps. Bowman, Pocan, Garcia, Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Jeff Jackson (D-NC), and more.

But Chew, over four-plus hours of testimony, seemed equally unswayed.

TikTok, he said, is a place for freedom of expression.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Video collages and thirsty comments dedicated to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew have begun to pop up on the platform following the CEO's testimony to Congress yesterday, when he spent five hours defending the platform in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

On TikTok, fan edits dedicated to the 40-year-old have declared him TikTok daddy and the finest ceo of our generation.

Chew was in the hot seat fielding questions from lawmakers on the future of the popular video-sharing app, which currently has over 150 million monthly users in the United States alone.

Both Democratic and Republican politicians have expressed concerns over the apps China-based parent company and what it means for user safety, data privacy, and national security. Some lawmakers have called for the platform to be banned in the US over worries that its parent company, ByteDance, could or would share American user data with the Chinese government. In his testimony, Chew said there was no evidence the Chinese government had ever accessed user data.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, Chew said in the written statement that started his testimony.

There are currently three bills in Congress that could affect American access to TikTok. Two would legislate an outright ban of the platform, while the other would give the government the power to ban any technologies that are deemed a national security risk.

Yesterdays hearing put the TikTok CEO in the spotlight as he asserted banning the app would be harmful to millions of American businesses, and that a new subsidiary named Project Texas would provide a meaningful solution that would allow the app to remain active in the US.

While lawmakers looked to be unconvinced, Chews defense of the application, including his praise for subcommunities within the app, like BookTok, a community for people to discuss reading recommendations, seemed to strike a chord with those who have found inspiration on the platform.

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Online, a growing group of creators appeared impressed by Chews performance despite the tense nature of the hearing and have shown their admiration in the most organic way: by creating fan edits and memes.

This app is single-handedly keeping the global economy from tanking so help me understand the problem, one creator captioned her video , which features a green screen collage of Chew in action.

I had zero opinion of him before but now I like this dude, one commentator wrote.

The USA congress just made this man america most eligible bachelor AND HE AINT EVEN AMERICAN, another said.

(For clarity, Chew is neither eligible nor a bachelor. Chew is married to Vivian Kao , whom he met in 2008 when they were both attending Harvard Business School.)

Zuckerberg is just mad bc he could never be this fine, another wrote, referencing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has also testified in front of Congress .

Following the hearing, a representative from TikTok issued a statement to BuzzFeed News criticizing the inquiry as political grandstanding.

Shou came prepared to answer questions from Congress, but, unfortunately, the day was dominated by political grandstanding that failed to acknowledge the real solutions already underway through Project Texas or productively address industry-wide issues of youth safety, the spokesperson said.

TikTok users also had plenty of criticism for lawmakers for their handling of the hearing and some of the questions directed at the CEO, including very basic questions such as whether the app accessed users home Wi-Fi networks and more complex ones such as whether its parent company ByteDance had spied on Americans at the request of the Chinese government.

They wont let the poor man talk or explain anything, one poster said.

All these 80+ year old gov people have never touched this app let alone be asking questions about it, another wrote.

As BuzzFeed News reported last year, on several occasions in 2021 and 2022, ByteDance employees accessed nonpublic US TikTok user data. In December, ByteDance said in a statement that an internal investigation revealed that personal TikTok user data, including that of the BuzzFeed News reporter who broke the story as well as several other journalists who cover TikTok, had been accessed without authorization by ByteDance employees who were then fired.

Ahead of Chews appearance, TikTok appeared to engineer support for the platform by sponsoring influencers to participate in a demonstration on March 23, at Capitol Hill.

According to Wired , TikTok covered either the travel and or hotel accommodation expenses for more than 30 influencers at the orchestrated news conference in Washington, DC, as confirmed by a TikTok spokesperson.

The love emerging online is new for Chew, who, until recently, kept a low profile. His personal TikTok account had stalled at just under 18,000 followers as of March 22, but has now amassed more than 70,000 new followers since his testimony, according to the media analytics site Social Blade .

More on this
HELSINKI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Politicians in Finland are divided over the possibility of the country donating Hornet fighter jets to Ukraine as per Kyiv's request.

The controversy started when Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Ukraine in early March and said that her government may be open to donating Hornets to the country.

Finland purchased Hornet fighter jets from the United States in the mid-1990s. By 2030, they will be replaced with U.S.-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters, the first of which will arrive in the country in 2026.

Marin's comments about the Hornets created confusion and elicited criticism in Finland as neither the president, nor the defense and foreign ministers were aware that Marin intended to open a discussion about donating Hornets. According to public information, the matter had not been discussed before.

The debate became heated this week. Finnish media reported on Thursday that Ukraine had approached the Defense Ministry and asked Finland to discuss the possibility of donating some of its Hornets.

Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen later confirmed these reports. According to him, Ukraine hoped that the United States would also participate in the discussion about the Hornets.

However, Finland's defense forces did not consider this a realistic scenario.

On Thursday, Kaikkonen said that Finland would need Hornet fighters for its own defense in the next few years. He added that by the time his country receives new fighter jets at the end of this decade, the Hornets will have reached the end of their service life.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Thursday that the Hornets would not have much to offer after they reach the end of their service life.

Esa Rautalinko, chief executive officer (CEO) of Finnish defense company Patria and chairman of the board of the Association of Finnish Defense and Aerospace Industries, told national broadcaster Yle on Friday that he believed that Finland's Hornet fighters will still be usable when they are retired from service in the country, but he didn't think that handing over the jets would necessarily be effective.

The first new F-35 fighters will arrive in Finland only in 2026, and the last ones in 2030. Until then, Finland needs the Hornets itself. Besides, handing over the jets to another country would also necessitate, among other things, the provision of training and updating the equipment, he said.

Marin did not rule out handing over some Hornets even before the new replacement fighters arrive in Finland. This question needs to be carefully reviewed, Marin told reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of the European Union summit in Brussels.

Previously, Marin had told journalists that no one had promised Hornet fighters to Ukraine. "Finland has not offered a policy about the matter, but I see that we have the ability and opportunity to have this discussion," she said.

The United States has not been willing to hand over fighter jets to Ukraine, and in Finland, only the prime minister has spoken about the possible donation of Hornets to Ukraine, the Finnish daily Ilta-Sanomat said.

According to the paper, the Chair of the Finnish Parliament's Defense Committee Antti Hakkanen has asked the government for an explanation of how the issue of Hornets is progressing. "Marin is somehow on her own line," Hakkanen said, adding that the Hornet fighters are among Finland's most important weapons systems.

He said that Finland's government should quickly clarify its stance on the issue. 
There was a time in California, less than a century ago, when racial and ethnic discrimination was written into housing covenants meant to keep non-white people out of specific neighborhoods in cities across the state.

Slowly but surely, the discriminatory words that codified housing discrimination in California are finally being redacted to satisfy a law that only took effect in 2022.

Better late than never? No, not really. Not enough Californians are even aware that these racist covenants existed in their own communities or that they contributed to housing segregation in progressive California.

All Californians need to be aware of this history. The actual words within old housing covenants demonstrate how recently racism was baked into everyday life of not so long ago: No part of said real property shall ever be occupied at any time by any person or persons not of the white or Caucasian race, read verbiage standard in recorded documents in the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

Whites sometimes felt the need to specify in land deeds who they didnt want in their neighborhoods: No Negroes, Mexicans, Hindus, Filipinos, read one template used throughout the golden state. Others targeted Turks, Armenians, Cubans, Hawaiians, Chinese, Japanese and other Asiatics. Servants were allowed to work in the homes even if they couldnt live in the neighborhoods themselves.

While these covenants have been illegal in practice in the last half-century, the hateful wording has lived on because property deeds are forever.

Imagine the emotional damage caused over the years as new homeowners, scouring documents provided by title companies, came upon this systemic bigotry.

Imagine the financial damage to countless families of color prevented from acquiring homes  a key factor in attaining legacy wealth  who were instead relegated to the proverbial other side of the tracks. These CC&Rs are a big reason that white Americans median wealth today is 7.8 times that of Blacks, according to Brookings.

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During the Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations, public housing programs purposely and self-consciously concentrated African Americans in urban ghettos, while federal housing finance programs purposely and self-consciously created whites-only suburbs, UC Berkeley academic Richard Rothstein wrote in a 2014 legal journal.

Steps toward healing

Seeing a chance to partially right a wrong, California legislators passed Assembly Bill 1466. That law, which took effect on July 1, 2022, requires that clerk-recorders in the states 58 counties review all property records and redact shameful passages.

Many have started the herculean task, often contracting with third-party vendors to scan and review documents with optical character recognition software. Estimating that this effort could take years, the law allows agencies until the end of 2027; longer, if county supervisors approve extensions. The law also lets counties impose $2 fees on documents being recorded now, to help cover costs.

About 23 million property records in Sacramento County alone must be reviewed, according to an AB 1466 implementation plan.

Fresno Countys clerk-recorder estimates having 6.5 million documents. Its county supervisors did not approve a fee bump but signaled they may.

In Modesto, Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder Donna Linder thinks she can cover a vendors contract, which should be less than $200,000, using a department modernization fund, negating the need for a recording surcharge. Her office has nearly 6 million property documents to go through.

Linder was given a head start by retired educator Sharon Froba and her husband, David, a retired attorney, who stumbled on race-based covenants a few years ago. They marshaled the energy of local high school student volunteers and found discrimination in 91 of 169 Modesto subdivisions created mostly in the 1930s and 40s.

In 2019, teens throughout Stanislaus County wrote about race-based covenants while competing for scholarship money in an American Heritage essay contest sponsored by the county Office of Education, Modesto City Schools and The Modesto Bee.

San Luis Obispo County officials estimate needing $1 million to $3 million to review property records there.

High time to say `sorry

While racist covenants are being slowly eliminated, local leaders should consider taking a more personal step toward healing. City councils and county supervisors should issue formal apologies.

President Ronald Reagan did it in 1988 when he signed a law passed by Congress admitting the injustice of Japanese internment camps during World War II, and providing $20,000 for each detainee. In 2008, the US House of Representatives apologized to Blacks whose ancestors suffered slavery. The question of slave reparations is the top priority of Californias Reparations Task Force, the first of its kind in the United States.

Closer to home, a Sierra Nevada ski resort in 2021 was renamed Palisades Tahoe because the old name was a sexist and racist slur.

Its not a stretch for leaders of today to acknowledge errors of the past. Gestures of humility and remorse do not betray weakness. They signal an awareness that human beings must do more to treat each other with respect and dignity.

While current elected leaders cant fully atone for the sins of previous generations, a genuine apology for the harm caused by racist covenants is in order.
Editors Note: The following is taken from Timothy Ash's Substack blog, @tashecon blog, and republished with his permission. The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

First, I think ideally Xi would want to call an end to the war in Ukraine.

It may initially have served a purpose for China, in trying to put Russia and the West/Ukraine at loggerheads, in conflict or proxy conflict, and weakening both, but I think China now sees a real prospect of a catastrophic defeat for Russia, and perhaps regime change there with Putin ousted for something likely less aligned with China. That would be a disaster for China, as it would leave the country further encircled by foes.

So Xi would love to push a peace deal on Putin and Ukraine, but its only real interest here is saving Putin - its not really interested in viewing all this through any Ukrainian prism. Indeed, having done little to engage with Ukraine over the period since independence, Chinese officials simply dont understand Ukraine, or dont really want to. And thats a problem when it comes to forcing peace on Ukraine as, if China does not understand the Ukrainian perspective, how can it figure out a solution which is also amenable to Kyiv?

Second, if Xi cannot get a lasting peace effort or ceasefire, he will at least think that it will win plaudits in the Global South, and perhaps even Europe, just for trying. In what it sees as an increasingly polarized world, China hopes to pull off elements of the Global South and even Europe, away from the U.S.-led Western alliance by marketing itself as a global peacemaker and neutral arbiter (even though it clearly is not).

Third, again, if Xi cannot secure a peace agreement, he will at least want to enforce guardrails on Putin to limit risks of escalation in the conflict away from anything which can destabilize the global economy.

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Important herein to understand that Chinas long-term game plan is still to win global hegemony over the U.S. through economic development, and through globalization. China wins through globalization and hates anything that undermines the global status quo - this war has spiked global commodity prices higher, hurt supply chains, and hit global trade and growth, all of which is bad for the China hegemony bid through economic development.

So thats Xi, what about Putin?

Putin has by now realized that Russia cannot win this conflict - it currently has no path to victory. So Putin really has only two options:

First, well, ideally Putin would want full China backing for his conquest of Ukraine. Ideally, that would be Chinese military backing to push the Ukrainians back to deliver full victory in Ukraine. Putin perhaps feels that even the Chinese lining up on his side in Ukraine could be enough to frighten the West into backing off in support for Ukraine, leading then to eventual Ukrainian surrender to Russia.

Second, if Chinese military backing is not forthcoming - it likely is not - Putin wants China to force Ukraine and the West to the negotiating table to bring a peace. Putin would now take a peace in Ukraine where he keeps what he has, even better forcing guarantees also of no future NATO enlargement, and some limits on Ukraines rearmament. The latter would be aimed at giving a future option of Russia rearming and then re-invading Ukraine. Obviously, the latter scenario is in no way acceptable to Ukraine.

I still think that Putin is now so weak and vulnerable that he might just be forced to concede to a deal whereby Russian forces withdraw to positions held before Feb. 24, 2022, with longer-term UN negotiations over the future of Crimea and the Donbas, and then some formula around no NATO membership for Ukraine in exchange then for some form of Western security guarantees for Ukraine.
pickingpok / Getty Images/iStockphoto

For the second time in the past 15 years, people are talking about banks that are too big to fail. It happened in 2008 during that years banking crisis, and its happening again in 2023 with another banking crisis.

See: Heres How Much Americans Have in Their Savings Accounts in 2023

Find: 4 Reasons To Visit Your Bank in Person This Month

This years version started with the recent collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and has continued through massive problems facing First Republic Bank, Credit Suisse and others. These events have renewed conversations about the safest places to keep your money.

Conventional wisdom holds that big banks are the safest because the U.S. government will step in to save them before they can collapse. Thats what happened in 2008, when the U.S. Treasury poured hundreds of billions of dollars into purchasing failing bank assets.

The biggest chunks of money  at least $10 billion each  went to big banks such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. The reasoning then was that letting big banks fail would expose too many depositors, investors and businesses to financial losses. Not only that, but letting them fail would create panic or financial instability because so many big banks are connected to other financial institutions, Axios reported.

That same reasoning seems to apply today  at least judging by recent trends. As Bloomberg reported, the failure of SVB and other banks has led to a rush of depositors moving billions of dollars to JPMorgan Chase, BofA, Citigroup and Wells Fargo.

The top six banks in the U.S. are and have been too big to fail [and] the financial crisis over 10 years ago demonstrated that, Michael Imerman, an assistant professor at the University of California Irvines business school, told Bloomberg. So its safer to go with a name with higher degree of certainty.

Big Banks Not Necessarily Safer Than Smaller Institutions, Credit Unions

But for most customers, big banks are not necessarily any safer than other federally insured financial institutions. This is mainly because most bank deposits are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which insures up to $250,000 per depositor (joint accounts are insured up to $500,000). Similar protections are available at credit unions, where the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) insures up to $250,000 per depositor.

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Since the vast majority of Americans dont have anywhere near $250,000 in their accounts, their money is safe in any FDIC-insured bank or NCUSIF-insured credit union. Even if a financial institution fails, the FDIC or NCUSIF will make sure you get your money. Thats what happened as SVB, which was taken over by the FDIC following its collapse.

Every American should know that their accounts are safe and their deposits are protected, Jeff Sigmund, a spokesperson for the American Bankers Association, told USA Today. Our industry will work with the administration, regulators, and Congress to further bolster that trust.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

More: Where To Find All of Your Bank Account Information

Things get trickier for bank customers with more than $250,000 in their accounts, although the FDIC has taken steps in the past to insure accounts beyond that amount. The $250,000 figure is the minimum that can be insured, but not necessarily the maximum.

Even so, bank customers with more than $250,000 to put into bank accounts are advised to take extra steps to protect their money. For example, you could spread it around between different financial institutions. Or, you could reroute some of your funds into the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS), which represents a network of banks that insure millions for CD savers, Forbes reported.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Are Too Big To Fail Banks Really the Safest Place For Your Money?
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

An American businessman convicted in Russia of a high-profile embezzlement case is no longer in the country, according to his lawyers.

Michael Calvey was sentenced in August 2021 to a five-and-a-half-year suspended sentence in a penal colony after being found guilty of embezzling around $34 million from Siberias Vostochny Bank. At a hearing to appeal his conviction in a Moscow court Friday, Calveys lawyer said his client was no longer Russia.

Americans Paul Whelan and Michael Calvey Are Not the Only Hostages Held By The Kremlin

Attorney Timofey Gridnev said Calvey had planned to attend the trial, but due to difficulties in obtaining a visa in the current circumstances, its difficult for him to come, Russias RBC News reported. The Daily Beast has contacted Gridnev for comment.

Russian state media agency RIA Novosti separately quoted an unnamed informed source as saying that both Calvey and his French business partner Philippe Delpalwho was also convicted in the embezzlement caseleft Russia as soon as travel restrictions imposed on them by their convictions had ended. Now they are in their countries, the source added.

Russias REN-TV reports that the travel restrictions ended in January 2022, suggesting that Calvey may have left the country over a year ago. The news on Friday bolsters a Bloomberg story last May saying that Calvey wasnt in Russia when Russian President Vladimir Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Before his controversial conviction, Calvey was one of the most prominent foreign investors in Russia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Calvey created his Baring Vostok private equity firm to bring new investors into Russias fledgling capitalist economy. The company raised billions of dollars in investments for Russian companies for decades.

In 2019, Calvey was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention in a major shock to the Russian business community. Along with other executives of his fund, Calvey was accused of embezzlement by convincing Vostochny Bank to accept a stake in another company instead of repaying a loan. Prosecutors claimed Calvey had exaggerated the value of the shares, and thats how he and other Baring Vostok executives committed fraud.

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Calvey and his co-defendants denied the allegations. I came to Russia and remained here because I loved this country from the start and believed that Russia has potential to become one of the worlds leading investment markets, Calvey said at his trial. I convinced investors to share my trust in the future of Russia. Even after 2014, when the geopolitical climate worsened and sanctions were imposed on Russia, I continued to defend the image of Russia as an attractive country for work and investment.

But after spending nearly two years under house arrest, Calvey was convicted in August 2021 and given his suspended sentence. Compared to most cases receiving a suspended sentence is already almost a victory but, on the other hand, it is simply outrageous to be convicted of a crime that never happened, Calvey said after his conviction.

The case fueled fears from other U.S. companies that their executives could also be arrested as relations between the White House and the Kremlin have worsened in recent years. Calveys arrest in Russia, along those of other American citizens including former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner, have only added to escalating diplomatic tensions.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The coronation site of British royals will open to the public for the first time in its 700-year history.

London's Westminster Abbey will hold special tours from May 15 to its famed Cosmati pavement.

To protect the mosaic tiles, visitors must remove their shoes and walk with only their socks on.

The site where King Charles III will be crowned  and where other British monarchs have been crowned for centuries  will be open to the public to visit come May.

About a week after King Charles' May 6 coronation, London's Westminster Abbey will allow visitors to walk on its revered Cosmati pavement. This has been the coronation site of kings and queens for over 700 years, the church's website announced in a news release.

To protect the mosaic tiles on the 13th-century floor, visitors will be required to remove their shoes and walk with only their socks on.

"It will be the first time in living memory that the Abbey has invited visitors to walk on the Cosmati pavement where the Coronation Chair will be placed for the crowning of HM The King on Saturday 6th May," the news release read.

Scott Craddock, the church's head of visitor experience, said he hopes the tours will give "everyone an opportunity to join in with the celebrations."

The intricate 25-square-foot mosaic piece, made of 80,000 pieces of marble, stone, glass, and metal, was previously cordoned off to the public, and could only be viewed from a distance, the release said.

The tours will take place once daily from May 15 to May 31. Tickets are priced at $18.40.

Representatives for Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Insider
Tracy Moore shares 'stunning' beauty transformation in 'an ode to glam.' Images via Instagram/TheTracyMoore.

Tracy Moore is giving an "ode to glam."

On Thursday, the Canadian TV presenter, 47, took to Instagram with a video of herself getting ready for the Black Diamond Ball the annual gala honouring Black history month.

In the Instagram Reel, the "CityLine" host began by showing off her makeup-free, freckled complexion and blue camouflage pajamas before quickly transitioning to her "fabulous" final look  a floral halter dress with a thigh-high slit paired with transparent high-heel mules.

"An ode to glam," she captioned the post. "You all know I love kickin it in a bonnet and PJs. But Ill always be both. Head ties and high heels. Lashes and loungewear."

"All hail the glam squad," she added.

In the comments, fans met Moore's post with praise for her "stunning" style.

"Leggy queen! We see you! Stunning," one Instagram user penned, while another commented, "Gorgeous! This dress is stunning on you and Im cheering for your leg."

"One of my favourite gowns ever! And get that leg out!" someone else chimed in.

"Go off, legs," a fan quipped. "Looking fabulous as always, Tracy!"

"Love that dress on you!" commented another.

Earlier this month, Moore opened up about beauty standards as a Black woman in television.

The Richmond Hill, Ont.-born TV presenter shared that it "really messes with your head being on TV, body image-wise."

"I've been everything from a size 4 to a 14 on this show, and really battled with how I can be me in this space and not be critiqued and judged for it," she said, adding that in the early days of her career, she was pressured to swap her hairstyle.

"I came in here with twist extensions because I was trying to find a professional look as a Black woman for television," she recalled. "I thought it was professional. My bosses at the time, who are no longer here, did not."

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"It was a big cheat on who I really am, but I was willing to do that for this job," the mom-of-two said.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
One trans woman recalled a doctor calling her "it." A nonbinary person was grilled about their use of "they/them" pronouns during an ultrasound. A trans-masculine person moved out of Tennessee, fearing they would lose access to hormone therapy as legislators passed bills restricting gender-affirming care.

Transgender Americans often face subtle discrimination, outright hostility and ill-informed medical professionals in their interactions with the health-care system, according to a poll by The Washington Post and KFF, a nonprofit focused on national health issues.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Challenges arise during routine medical visits as well as when transgender people seek hormone therapy and other forms of gender-affirming care.

Nearly half (47 percent) of trans adults say the health-care providers they have come in contact with know "not too much" or "nothing at all" about providing health care to trans people. Just 10 percent say the health-care providers they have come in contact with know "a lot" about caring for trans people. About 4 in 10 (37 percent) trans adults say it is "somewhat" or "very" difficult to find a health-care provider who treats them with dignity and respect; while about a quarter (24 percent) of cisgender adults say the same. Just over half (53 percent) of trans adults say it is easy to find health care they can afford, less than the 63 percent of cisgender adults who say the same.

Activists say a welcoming health-care system would include affordable access to gender-affirming care from counseling to surgery. Good care also includes professionals treating transgender people with respect, using their preferred pronouns and not being quick to blame hormone treatment for unrelated medical problems.

About 3 in 10 trans adults say they have had to teach a doctor or other health-care provider about trans people so they could get appropriate care, had a doctor or other health-care provider refuse to acknowledge their preferred gender identity and instead refer to their sex assigned at birth, or been asked unnecessary or invasive questions about their gender identity unrelated to the medical reason for their visit. About 1 in 6 trans adults say they have had a doctor or other health-care provider refuse to provide them with gender-affirming care, such as hormone treatments.

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The Post-KFF poll is the largest nongovernmental survey of U.S. trans adults to rely on random sampling methods. It builds on a body of research that has often demonstrated poor access to health care for transgender people but with limited data.

"LGBTQ+ people experience high levels of stigma and discrimination and victimization that persists across the lifetime, and this new work amplifies that," said Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ Health Policy at KFF.

"To have your gender affirmed and to be in an inclusive environment where you have to be quite vulnerable about gender identity can be quite meaningful," Dawson said. "To have negative experiences might dissuade somebody from accessing health care in the future."

As Republican state lawmakers mobilize to restrict access to gender-affirming care for children - and in some cases, adults - the poll offers a reminder of the basic struggles transgender adults face in medical environments.

The poll finds trans people's ease of access to health-care providers who treat them with dignity and respect is not significantly different in states that former president Donald Trump won compared with states President Biden won. The survey also finds that trans adults in urban areas are more likely to report having to educate health-care professionals (38 percent) than those in suburban/rural areas (23 percent) - challenging perceptions that more liberal areas are havens for tolerance and inclusivity.

In follow-up interviews, five transgender and nonbinary Americans who responded to the poll elaborated on their experiences.

- - -

Corey Brooks (they/them), 25, Pittsburgh

Even the name of the place Corey Brooks frequented for routine medical care - Magee-Womens Hospital - felt alienating.

Patients donned pink gowns. Cutouts of pink bras were plastered on the walls. A sign urged patients to "fight like a girl."

"Things like that are just incredibly disorienting for someone going into those spaces who is always being reminded, hey, this wasn't designed for you," Brooks said. "You're not really sure if you should disclose to these people that you're trans or not."

Brooks identifies as nonbinary and transgender, but as someone who was assigned female at birth, they share similar health needs as cisgender women for gynecologic care and screenings for chest health as they age.

Brooks was used to uncomfortable visits to the doctor, based on their college experiences when university health services staff peppered them with questions about birth control and sexual activity, assuming they were a cisgender heterosexual woman. They wrote their senior thesis on health access issues for transgender people and avoided the doctor for a few years after graduation.

The worst experience came while undergoing an ultrasound on their chest at the women's hospital in Pittsburgh. The doctor paused and stared at Brooks's medical file, spotting a note that they use they/them pronouns.

"What does that even mean?" Brooks recalled the doctor asking in a tone dripping with hostility rather than curiosity.

"As a trans person, that's unfortunately not uncommon where you're expected to provide all of this education for your providers," Brooks said. "You wouldn't expect a patient who is diagnosed with diabetes to have to educate their doctor on what diabetes is."

- - -

Suzanne Rathburn (she/her), 70, Weed, Calif.

In the 1980s, a psychiatrist pushed his chair away from his desk and abruptly ended a meeting after Suzanne Rathburn explained she was trans. In 2012, a Veterans Affairs doctor referred to her as "it."

In hundreds of medical visits over decades of navigating gender-affirming care and a rare genetic disease, Rathburn said she's only had a few doctors she considers "good."

As she began her transition in the 1980s after leaving the Air Force, Rathburn turned to the library to learn more about gender dysphoria and to find a therapist. She received a vaginoplasty. At the Oakland VA where she underwent hormone therapy, Rathburn said just one of the doctors treated her with respect, while others were dismissive of her medical needs or made negative comments about her gender identity - despite being in the LGBT-friendly San Francisco Bay Area.

Fed up after repeated indignities, Rathburn filed a discrimination complaint against another VA hospital that declined to perform a Pap test after several years of her requests. She said the VA eventually referred her to a doctor outside the system, and her complaint remained unresolved.

It wasn't until she moved to rural Weed near the Oregon border in 2011 at age 59 that Rathburn experienced some of the best medical care of her life. A medical practice she visited near Medford, Ore., changed its intake forms when she pointed out gender questions were binary. A doctor in the nearby town of Mount Shasta, Calif., treated her trans identity as no big deal and spent time researching her genetic disease. Her therapist, also in Mount Shasta, specializes in supporting trans patients.

"I don't have to explain it to her," Rathburn said. "We talked about stuff I haven't talked about with other therapists or to the psychiatrists I've had over 20 years."

- - -

Hans Dirkmaat (they/he), 29, Longmont, Colo.

Hans Dirkmaat knew the nurse practitioner was ill-suited to care for transgender people when they had to explain what top surgery was.

During the primary-care visit, the provider marveled at why someone would want to remove their breasts. She asked, "When are you going to get a penis?"

Another medical professional in the room mouthed, "I'm sorry."

Dirkmaat, who identifies as trans-masculine and nonbinary, didn't have many choices for medical care that were in their insurance provider network when they lived in Nashville. They hoped the provider would have been more sensitive because she had mentioned having a lesbian daughter during their first appointment.

But tolerance for gay people does not mean a medical provider is attuned to the health-care needs of trans people. Transgender people weigh the risks and benefits of different aspects of gender-affirming medical care, and most have not received hormone therapy or transition-related surgeries.

Dirkmaat was wary of taking testosterone because of a heightened risk of cardiovascular complications. Their mother had died of heart disease at 41.

But that same nurse practitioner declined to prescribe medication to treat their high cholesterol because it could create pregnancy complications. The fact that Dirkmaat is married to a cisgender woman and has no plans to have children did not sway the provider. She said she would only authorize the pills if Dirkmaat were to undergo testosterone treatment.

"It's very frustrating," Dirkmaat said. "Like I can't make decisions for me."

The climate for transgender people in Nashville was starting to feel more unsafe, they said. The clinic specializing in transgender care where they received chest masculinization surgery became a magnet for right-wing protests, forcing the clinic to close on some days to protect patients. They drew more disgusted looks on the streets.

Tennessee GOP lawmakers joined the vanguard of a national movement to restrict care for transgender people, passing legislation to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Activists fear care for adults is next, noting legislation introduced to prohibit the state Medicaid program from working with insurers that cover gender-affirming care.

As Dirkmaat weighed whether to take hormones, they feared such therapy could be banned next.

So they moved to a suburb of Boulder, Colo., where a doctor who specializes in hormone therapy and its effects on the cardiovascular system is just an hour drive away.

- - -

Ezekiel Scott (he/they), 31, Columbus, Ohio

When Ezekiel Scott left Minnesota to attend college in Ohio last year, he brought six months' worth of hormone medication just in case he ran into trouble resuming care. It wasn't enough.

Administrators at Ohio State University assured Scott, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, that hormone therapy would be covered under student health insurance. But first he needed to reestablish care with a doctor - and that proved to be a challenge.

He didn't want to go to just any doctor, but one familiar with treating transgender patients. He had had negative experiences with doctors who were quick to blame the hormone therapy for mundane medical conditions, including one who suggested ending it to address a rash on his arm.

"That's the first thing we're going to try? Not like, I don't know, a skin cream?" Scott said.

The hormones were essential to feeling comfortable in his own skin and affirming his gender identity, but the treatment was cast as cosmetic and unnecessary. "It's like being told to stop having your own face," he said.

It took four months to get an appointment at a university health clinic. After obtaining authorization to receive testosterone, a national shortage of the intramuscular injections further delayed his access to treatment as he exhausted his previous supply.

For several months, he had to ration weekly hormone injections that helped him develop facial hair and a deeper voice in line with his gender identity. And because he had had his ovaries removed, the absence of natural hormones risked his heart health.

His depression and anxiety grew worse, and he experienced suicidal ideations. Medication management for ADHD, once balanced with the hormone therapy, became complicated. He experienced hot flashes, an apparent result of early menopause caused by hormones not coming in properly.

Months later, he found a walk-in clinic recommended by a nonbinary friend. He got hormones that same day, eight months after he moved. His mental health improved, he could focus in school again, and the hot flashes ended.

"All of it is back in balance," Scott said.

- - -

Richael Faithful (they/them), 37, Washington, D.C.

Richael Faithful is no stranger to cringeworthy moments during visits to the doctor.

Staff at some offices would misgender them. The first dermatologist they saw appeared nervous and avoided eye contact after Faithful disclosed being trans. One lung specialist they saw for breathing issues who seemed well-meaning shared a story about knowing "a transgender."

"Once folks have bad experiences, it's really hard to trust the health-care system again," said Faithful, a D.C. resident who identifies as nonbinary and trans-masculine. "But I do want other trans folks and other cis folks to know there are good providers out there providing high-quality care."

Faithful does not identify as a woman but is not transitioning to be a man either. For them, gender-affirming care means presenting more masculine to the world.

Faithful considers themselves part of the top 1 percent in being able to access gender-affirming care because they have the financial means and emotional support network to do so.

Faithful sought hormone therapy through a nurse practitioner at a medical concierge service with a reputation for being trans friendly and where membership costs $300 a year. They pay $265 every month and a half for hormones. They were able to travel with their partner to Florida for two weeks to undergo chest reconstruction surgery from a well-known plastic surgeon who does not accept health insurance and charges $15,000, paid in advance.

The staff at another dermatology practice where Faithful received acne treatment used the correct pronouns and showed a nuanced understanding of the relationship between hormone treatment and acne.

Faithful said they could afford these services as a consultant for social justice organizations who receives health insurance through their partner's plan - while other Black transgender people living in the poorest parts of the city struggle to access basic gender-affirming care.

"My stress level is just kind of lower because I notice I'm not navigating even seemingly small things that just are distracting or annoying when they continue to happen," Faithful said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Scott Clement and Emily Guskin contributed to this report.

- - -

Methodology: The Washington Post-KFF Survey Project is a partnership combining survey research and reporting to better inform the public. The Trans Survey is the 36th in the series. It was conducted in English and Spanish from Nov. 10-Dec. 1, 2022, among 515 U.S. adults who identify as trans and 823 cisgender U.S. adults. Sampling, data collection, weighting and tabulation were managed by SSRS. Trans adults were reached via three survey panels recruited using random sampling methods: The Gallup Panel, NORC's AmeriSpeak Panel and the SSRS Opinion Panel. Additional trans respondents were recontacted from previous randomized telephone interviews. Random sampling methods help ensure results are representative of the trans population overall. The samples of trans adults were combined and weighted to match the demographics of the national U.S. adult trans population. Cisgender adults were recruited through the SSRS Opinion Panel. Results among the sample of trans adults have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus seven percentage points and the margin of sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points among the sample of cisgender adults. In collaboration with The Post, KFF researchers worked to design the survey sample and questionnaire, analyze and report findings. The project team from KFF included Mollyann Brodie, Ashley Kirzinger, Audrey Kearney, Alex Montero and Grace Sparks.

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Memorial for Malte C.

Almost seven months after the fatal attack on Malte C., a transgender man, at a German LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, a German court has sentenced the attacker to five years of confinement.

A court in Munster, a town in northwest Germany, announced on Wednesday afternoon that a verdict had been reached in the trial of Nuradi A., a 21-year-old man who confessed to bashing the deceased victim.

Nuradi A. beat Malte C. in August after a Christopher Street Day celebration when the latter attempted to stand up for several women who were bothered by the defendant.

Malte C. died several days after the attack, having suffered a brain hemorrhage from the vicious beating.

The district court in Munster sentenced Nuradi A. to five years in prison.

Further, the court ordered the defendant to be placed in a rehabilitation center, the German news outlet Westfalische Nachrichten reported.

The court found that the young man suffers from severe alcoholism and regularly self-medicates anxiety with cannabis and an unusually high amount of pregabalin, known in the U.S. as Lyrica. The medication is prescribed to treat pain from fibromyalgia or diabetic nerve pain. Lyrica is considered the lowest in its risk for abuse, unlike opiate pain medications, and is categorized as schedule V by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The perpetrator was charged and ultimately convicted of assault resulting in death, not manslaughter or murder because prosecutors ruled out intent to kill. Since he had trained as a boxer, the prosecutor said, the defendant was under the assumption that if he knocked somebody out, they would stand back up.

The defendant didnt believe that he could kill him at the moment, senior public prosecutor Dirk Ollech emphasized in a Tuesday motion, the outlet reports.

Defense attorneys had already welcomed the verdict, particularly the placement in a rehab clinic.

He has to get away from alcohol and drugs, defense attorney Siegmund Benecken said in a motion on Tuesday.

Story continues

The chances of success are good, attested a court-appointed psychiatrist in her report on the accused, which also advocated for leniency.

The court sentenced Nuradi under juvenile criminal law.

He was more like a juvenile than an adult, the chief prosecutor said in his motion.

This is common among adolescents between 18 and 21 when specialists identify obstacles to development. For example, the government considered that when Nuradi A. committed the crime, he still lived with his mother and was financially dependent on her after fleeing from his homeland of Chechnya and spending much time alone caring for his younger brother in the Munsterland region because his mother was in a hospital with her sick sister, according to Westfalische Nachrichten.

Juvenile criminal law in Germany primarily aims to prevent young people from committing crimes again. It is not designed to punish the bad actors as much as to educate them.

A German immigration agency ordered Nuradis deportation, which Nuradi claims would endanger him since Chechnya has persecuted LGBTQ+ people for years and he identifies as gay. Attorneys for Nuradi believe that if he completes his rehabilitation period, the circumstances of his life may enable him to stay in Germany if the government reconsiders his residency.
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 70.7x Transocean Holdings Bhd. (KLSE:TOCEAN) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in Malaysia have P/E ratios under 13x and even P/E's lower than 8x are not unusual. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty.

For example, consider that Transocean Holdings Bhd's financial performance has been poor lately as it's earnings have been in decline. It might be that many expect the company to still outplay most other companies over the coming period, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. If not, then existing shareholders may be quite nervous about the viability of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Transocean Holdings Bhd

pe

We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Transocean Holdings Bhd's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

How Is Transocean Holdings Bhd's Growth Trending?

Transocean Holdings Bhd's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 5.2% decrease to the company's bottom line. Unfortunately, that's brought it right back to where it started three years ago with EPS growth being virtually non-existent overall during that time. Therefore, it's fair to say that earnings growth has been inconsistent recently for the company.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 12% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's alarming that Transocean Holdings Bhd's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited recent growth rates and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent earnings trends is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

Story continues

The Final Word

Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

Our examination of Transocean Holdings Bhd revealed its three-year earnings trends aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given they look worse than current market expectations. When we see weak earnings with slower than market growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Transocean Holdings Bhd you should know about.

You might be able to find a better investment than Transocean Holdings Bhd. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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 Serenade of the Seas in Seattle. Royal Caribbean

Princess Cruises unveiled its longest itinerary yet, a 2025 116-day world cruise to 51 locations.

Extended and around-the-world cruises have seen "record-breaking" booking success.

Cruise lines like Oceania Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and now Princess have been capitalizing on this trend.

Travelers have been craving longer cruises now more than ever before.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas cruise ship. Royal Caribbean

And in response, cruise lines  from smaller luxury companies to cruising giants  have been unveiling more extended itineraries to "record breaking" success.

Carnival Cruise Line

Source: Insider

From a one-month transoceanic cruise to a nine-month circumnavigation of the globe, travelers now have plenty of options for these longer sailings.

The MSC Magnifica in Auckland in 2019. MSC Cruises

Booking a similar around-the-world or extended vacation using planes, trains, cars, and hotels instead of a cruise ship could be a complicated logistical nightmare.

The Insignia. Oceania Cruises

But on a cruise vessel, all of the destinations, planning, food, and accommodations are already included.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

There's no need to transfer airports or unpack and repack between hotels.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

All the traveler has to do is sit back, take a nap on the pool deck, and wait for the ship to sail from destination to destination.

Carnival Cruise Line

And this more relaxing form of extended travel has been catching the eyes of cruise fans.

The Insignia in Sydney, Australia. Oceania Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveils its around the world cruises and extended "grand voyages" annually.

Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas

And for five years in a row, the cruise line has seen "unprecedented demand" for its global cruises, which consistently sell out in "record time."

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Source: Insider

Regent has also been breaking its own records for the length of its itineraries.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Its most recently announced $95,000 to $266,500 per person global cruise  154-night itinerary roundtrip from Miami in 2026 will be its longest sailing yet.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Source: Insider

This shatters the previous record set only one year prior when Regent unveiled its 150-night 2025 world cruise, which was fully reserved before it even opened for bookings.

The Seven Seas Mariner. Regent Seven Seas

Source: Insider, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Story continues

New-to-brand travelers made up over one-third of bookings for this 2025 cruise, a spokesperson told Insider in an email.

The Seven Seas Mariner in Santorini, Greece. Regent Seven Seas

This ratio of returning to new travelers is the same for Oceania Cruises' currently underway 2023 world sailing, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' brand told Insider.

Courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler

The Oceania cruise departed for its circumnavigation of the world in mid-January and will complete its journey in July.

The Insignia. Oceania Cruises

Those travelers were lucky to have snagged a spot. The 180-day cruise sold out in under a day, a spokesperson told Insider 

The pool deck on the Insignia. Oceania Cruises

 noting that Oceania has "significantly" increased its number of other extended voyages.

The Insignia in China. Oceania Cruises

It's "as if [travelers are] making up for time spent at home [during COVID-19]," a Silversea spokesperson told Insider in an email.

Silversea Cruises

Like Regent Seven Seas and Oceania, Silversea Cruises has seen "strong demand" for its extended cruises.

Silversea Cruises

This year the Royal Caribbean Group brand will operate five-times more 21 days and over itineraries compared to 2019, a testament to the demand it's been seeing.

Silversea Cruises

And it's not just the little guys  some of the world's biggest cruise brands are capitalizing on this boom as well.

The Serenade of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

On April 6, Princess Cruises announced its 2025 116-day world cruise itinerary.

Princess Cruises

Source: Princess Cruises

Princess unveils world cruises almost annually but this 2025 sailing aboard the Island Princess will be its longest yet.

Princess Cruises

The global vacation will stop in 51 locations across 26 countries and 33,500 nautical miles ...

Princess Cruises

... bringing travelers to destinations like 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and several new to the brand or world cruise destinations.

Princess Cruises

Just two months prior, budget friendly Carnival Cruise Line also unveiled one of its longest cruises yet, a 31-day transpacific journey in 2024 starting at $3,450.

The Carnival Luminosa in Brisbane, Australia. Carnival Cruise Line

Source: Insider, Insider

It's one of Carnival's 150 "long cruises" now available for booking, a spokesperson told Insider.

Carnival Cruise Line

But a month at sea is nothing compared to MSC's recently announced 116-day 2025 world cruise.

Manuel Silvestri/Reuters

Source: Insider

Almost one-third of the bookings for this 2025 cruise have come from Americans, the most of any nationality, a spokesperson told Insider.

MSC Cruises

And there's a good chance the cruise could be fully booked come 2025: MSC's global itineraries have consistently sold out since its first one in 2019.

MSC Cruises

But so far, no around the world itinerary will top the length of Royal Caribbean's upcoming 274-night Ultimate World Cruise setting sail in December starting at $61,000.

The Serenade of the Seas in Seattle. Royal Caribbean

In the first week bookings opened in 2021, 70% of suites and staterooms were claimed.

The Serenade of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

At the time, Michael Bayley  the cruise line's president and CEO  believed the Ultimate World Cruise would sell out.

The Serenade of the Seas at the Navantia Ship Yard in Cadiz, Spain in 2012. Royal Caribbean

Now nine months out, there's still some interior and ocean view staterooms left while all of the balcony staterooms and suites have already been reserved.

The Serenade of the Seas at the Navantia Ship Yard in Cadiz, Spain in 2012. Royal Caribbean

The nine-month cruise will be segmented into four shorter portions that can individually be booked.

The Serenade of the Seas at the Navantia Ship Yard in Cadiz, Spain in 2012. Royal Caribbean

But half of the booked customers have committed to the nine months at sea. Let's just hope they  along with the rest of these extended cruise fans  have sea legs.

The Insignia. Oceania Cruises

Read the original article on Business Insider
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  Every year since 2007, the world observes Earth Hour as a campaign to protect the planet and combat climate change. This year, the annual hour-long lights off will be observed on Saturday, March 25, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in respective local time.

As part of the advocacy of saving Mother Earth, Filipinos were urged to engage in the following activities:

Strengthen environmental awareness through educational films

With the theme "The Biggest Hour for the Earth," the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) urges the public to "give an hour for Earth, spending 60 minutes doing something  anything  positive for our planet."

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday suggested watching documentaries or educational films to raise awareness of the climate crisis.

These films include the three-minute videos WWF Entangled Series on biodiversity loss, deep seabed mining, planet plastic and nature-based solution.

DENR also said listening to podcasts or talks about the environment will help gain understanding on environmental issues.

Turn non-essential lights off

Switching off lights has become a symbol of "commitment to the planet," DENR said.

"The one-hour "lights off" action significantly lowers energy consumption, thus reducing carbon emission and harmful greenhouse gasses (GHG), whose biggest source is electricity," DENR said in a statement.

Patrick Aquino of the Department of Energy explained that the annual Earth Hour generated up to 100 megawatts reduction in electricity consumption.

"Earth Hour is a collective effort that all of our individual actions, added up together, makes a significant impact," Aquino told CNN Philippines The Final Word on Thursday.

According to WWF, the "hour of darkness pulls us out of the busyness of our daily routines" and "allows us to reflect" and "take action" on the "accelerating biodiversity loss and climate change."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also joined the call for Filipinos to participate, citing data from the International Energy Agency which showed that global carbon emissions reached to a new all-time high of 36.8 gigatons last year. According to NASA, the mass of a gigaton is equivalent to 10,000 fully-loaded US aircraft carriers.

"It only takes 60 minutes to do good for our future, 60 minutes to take notice and commit to saving Mother Nature to be united and to take action because together, nothing is impossible," Marcos said in a video posted in his YouTube page.

Engage in other collective efforts

DENR urged the public to properly dispose of waste at home, schools and offices, as solid wastes contribute to generating harmful greenhouse gasses.

Manufacturing sectors were also reminded to manage and take responsibility for the waste they produce.

Meanwhile, local governments were called upon to participate in Earth Hour by "switching off their signage lights or some of their lights in their facilities, as the business operations will allow."

"Let us unite with the rest of the world in caring for our one and only home, Mother Earth. Ang simpleng pagpatay ng inyong mga ilaw ay malaking tulong na para makabawas sa epekto ng climate change," Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. said in a statement.

[Translation: The simple act of turning off your lights is a big help in reducing the effects of climate change.]

Filipinos were also urged to engage in activities prepared by their respective local government, which include conducting virtual roundtable livestream and dissemination of publicity materials.

Angela Consuelo Ibay, national director for Earth Hour and WWF Philippines, called on local governments to provide facilities for conserving water and to adopt other renewable energy sources.

"Kailangan hindi lang tayo nag-appreciate ng environment," Ibay told CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon. "Kailangan maisip ng tao na ang enerhiya ay pwede natin ma-conserve at i-preserve."

[Translation: We need to not only appreciate the environment, we also have to keep in mind that energy can be conserved and preserved.]

For Alexander Ablaza, president of Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, Earth Hour is a stepping stone for the country to mainstream its energy conservation efforts.

"By conserving energy, by using energy more efficiently, we can actually reduce emissions, defer infrastructure upgrades, decelerate the rise in energy prices," Ablaza told CNN Philippines' The Exchange.

"The country, through Earth Hour, should start to think of energy efficiency not as a band-aid strategy. Earth Hour should mainstream energy efficiency as an energy resource...with or without the [energy] crisis," he added.

WWF Philippines will also conduct an event for Earth Hour at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, which includes a sustainability fair and musical performances, among others.

Earth Hour began in 2007 as a lights out event in Sydney, Australia. Since then, it has been observed globally around the last weekend of March, as it marks the beginning of summer.

According to WWF, over 190 countries participate in the annual event.
News that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife stayed in a $6,000 a night hotel during the Queen's funeral is not sitting well with many Canadians, who feel the news was initially swept over.

The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Trudeau, along with wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, stayed at the pricey Corinthia London hotel while attending the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II last fall.

The details surrounding the trip were revealed by media through access-to-information requests. In total, the trip cost $400,000. The PMO nor Global Affairs Canada initially did not respond to request for comments about the stay in the suite, which included butler service.

However, the PMO has since released a statement saying that hotel prices spiked drastically in light of the funeral, and that many were sold out as a result of so many heads of state and their delegations attending the event in the city.

The news is unsettling for many on social media, with some wondering why it took so long to confirm this information.

Wow. Wasnt there a cheaper option? 6000$ its a slap in the face of Canadian! We get more and more taxes because of all the reckless spending of this government https://t.co/Q4DPZuT0Mt  Silke (@S16746055) March 24, 2023

Well that answers the $6000 question. I don't get why they couldn't just say this when asked earlier. https://t.co/DhxogTFc7o  Melissa Mbarki (@MelissaMbarki) March 23, 2023

Why does it take this government months to come clean on the most basic things? #cdnpoli https://t.co/2MsGiDHK0T  Brad Zubyk (@Bzubyk) March 23, 2023

Yup it was him. It was Trudeau who stayed in the $6000 a night hotel suite. Funny how they finally come clean on this just as @POTUS is arriving in Ottawa thinking no one will notice. Trudeau cannot be redeemed, he can only be replaced! #cdnpoli https://t.co/TJazUyHfyr  John Brassard (@JohnBrassardCPC) March 23, 2023

No one trusts the Trudeau gov. We all know he was the one who spent $6000 on a hotel room at a funeral he embarrassed all of canada at drunk and singing a stupid queen song. https://t.co/1oIhUMuNTm  Kotylak (@Kotyjo) March 24, 2023

Seriously, what is worth that much $$ ? $6000 or pounds? What is in that suite? #Trudeau  jc (@JMCInformation) March 23, 2023

Others wondered if the news was meant as a deflection from other issues, like the reports that Liberal MP Han Dong had been involved with Chinese political interference. Dong has since stepped away from the party to sit as an independent.

Story continues

Lol now they announce it to divert attention!  Feli (@felicetti33) March 23, 2023

Fessing up to the $6,000 hotel room in the desperate hope that it might pull a degree of attention away from the foreign election corruption scandal is proof the government is in crisis.



Trudeau has never been more vulnerable. #cdnpoli  Keegan Loyst (@KMLOnt) March 24, 2023

We already knew it was him.



The admission now is another attempt at distracting from the questions about when he knew Beijjng was messing with Canadian elections, and what he resolved to do about it. https://t.co/s7o5Gp07qs  Marco Navarro-Genie (@MNavarroGenie) March 24, 2023

Some Canadians were understanding, given exchange rates and price hikes.

PierrePoilievre and your whining about Justin Trudeau and the $6000 a night hotel room for the Queen's funeral? Let's not factor in the currency exchange rate or hotel prices going up 3000% during her funeral.

Hell... Harper would bring his own car! pic.twitter.com/kANXFkRZ0P  Brent Whiteside (@brent_whiteside) March 24, 2023

Why is the #cdnmedia surprised that hotel, transportation, security costs soared? We could ask: Should world leaders not have attended the Queens funeral?



The Queens funeral guest list: Where world leaders could stay,from royal townhouse to luxury hotel https://t.co/0GbxVUsqPQ  Dr. Malinda S. Smith (@MalindaSmith) March 24, 2023

Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, says the reaction to the price tag of the hotel room is overblown.

The cost of Trudeau flying there and back was probably a lot more. What did other heads of government and heads of state pay for their rooms? Find two or three who paid less or paid more and compare it to that.Nelson Wiseman, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Toronto

He adds that it's "loose change in a budget of hundreds of billions."

"How often does Canadas head of state die? The last time was 1952," he says.

On Thursday, a press secretary for the Prime Minister said the Queen's death was "a significant event for Canadians."
A file photo of Erin Perrine. / Credit: Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Erin Perrine, who was the press communications director for former President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, has joined a super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  another sign that the infrastructure for his yet unannounced 2024 presidential campaign is expanding.

Perrine will be the communications director for the "Never Back Down" PAC, a group led by Trump-era top homeland security official Ken Cuccinelli.

This group has been advocating a DeSantis presidential candidacy, and according to two sources familiar with the governor's planning, it is likely to be the main outside super PAC supporting a potential DeSantis run.

After her stint as the 2020 Trump campaign's national spokesperson, Perrine served as communications director for GOP Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Cuccinelli and Perrine are two of the most prominent former Trump aides or officials who are now working to support DeSantis. The Florida governor appears to be Trump's most formidable potential 2024 Republican primary opponent at this point.

"Erin joining Never Back Down cements our ability to deliver our message and grow our movement effectively. She will play a leading role in making sure we get Gov. Ron DeSantis to the White House," said Chris Jankowski, the PAC's executive director.

Earlier this week, seasoned GOP strategist Jeff Roe was also brought on as an adviser to the super PAC, according to a Republican operative with direct knowledge of the move.

Roe was one of the key advisers for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's successful 2021 run and was the campaign manager for Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign.

The PAC's staff hires come as DeSantis is set to embark on several trips in April as part of his book tour and various speaking engagements with local GOP groups. He is expected to visit South Carolina and Nevada, two key early presidential primary states, as well as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area.

Asked if he'll run for president in 2024, DeSantis told British journalist Piers Morgan this week to "stay tuned" but said he has not yet made a final decision. In private conversations with donors and allies, DeSantis has indicated he is leaning toward a 2024 run but will make a final decision after his legislative session is over in early May, according to two people familiar with his team's private discussions.

Story continues

"I've told people I've got a lot that I've got to do over the next few months in Florida. We're going to put a lot of points on the board, and then we'll see how the dust settles after that," DeSantis told Morgan.

DeSantis signed eight bills into law on Friday, including one aimed at limiting damages paid by businesses and property owners in lawsuits. The GOP supermajority in Tallahassee is already considering a six-week abortion ban, a bill allowing concealed carry of a firearm without a license and an expansion of the state's ban on education of sexual orientation and gender identity to eighth grade and under.

Asked by Morgan if he believes he has what it takes to be president, DeSantis said he does.

"What it takes is to have a vision for the country, have the ability to exercise leadership, and being willing to stand in that fire when it gets really, really hot, and not back down under pressure. And I think I have all those things," he said.

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Workers began erecting barricades around the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse this week, bracing for a potential, unprecedented moment: Donald Trump arriving to face charges in a hush money probe, making him the first president in US history to face criminal charges.

Mr Trump announced over the weekend that he expected to be arrested this week, and called on his supporters to protest what he called the corrupt and highly political Manhattan district attorneys office.

PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK! Mr Trump blared on social media.

However, Team Trump soon began to rein in the former president. The probe into hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign crawled on with additional witnesses through Monday and the grand jury didnt meet on Tuesday.

A Trump spokesperson clarified the former presidents team has been given no notification of an impending arrest beside illegal leaks.

Since then several media outlets have speculated on exactly when the legal move will come.

The grand jurys proceedings were called off on Wednesday 22 March, and the panel was not hearing the case on Thursday either, likely delaying any eventual indictment.

After hearing from all witnesses, the jury could then vote on whether or not to indict Mr Trump.

If an indictment is handed down, the former president is not expected to appear in court until sometime during the following week.

What doesnt appear to be in doubt is that an indictment is on the cards. Mr Trump was given a chance to go before the grand jury  a typical sign that the office is preparing to indict. The grand jury will also need to vote on the indictment, but voting down charges is highly irregular.

Mr Trump himself is waiting it out in Florida while it is unclear whether any additional witnesses might be summoned as the grand jury recovenes.

Police and security officials met on Monday at the New York Police Department headquarters to plan for a potential arrest of Mr Trump.

Story continues

Well be discussing how we bring Trump in, a source involved in the planning told Politico, No decisions have been made yet.

Mr Trumps lawyers said over the weekend the president will surrender if indicted and there wont be a stand-off at Mar-a-Lago.

A defendant who surrenders usually reports to the DA office for a pre-scheduled appointment. Mr Trump will need to have his fingerprints and mugshot taken. Karen Agnifilo, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorneys office, told the Wall Street Journal that Mr Trump would then be interviewed by detective investigators and arrested.

And he would be issued a rap sheet reflecting this arrest, like every other person who is arrested and fingerprinted in this country, said Ms Agnifilo.

She added that Mr Trump would likely be spared being held in a holding cell like most defendents awaiting arraignment.

Supporters of Mr Trump, ranging from the New York Young Republicans to far-right figure Laura Loomer, said they planned to hold demonstrations to protest the charges at various sites around the country, while on far-right messageboards, some discussed preventing law enforcement from reaching Mr Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Mr Trumps main rival in the GOP 2024 field, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, spoke out on Monday about the potential charges.

"I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some kind of alleged affair," Mr DeSantis said at a news conference in Panama City. "I cant speak to that."

The former president also faces legal threats from a probe in Georgia examining his efforts to flip the 2020 election results, a federal special counsel investigating his role in the January 6 insurrection, and a New York suit alleging Mr Trump conducted corrupt business practices.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A lawyer for Donald Trump was back in court Friday after being ordered to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the possible mishandling of classified documents at the former president's Florida estate.

M. Evan Corcoran entered federal court in the District of Columbia early Friday morning, one week after a federal judge ruled in favor of the Justice Department in forcing Corcoran to answer additional questions before a grand jury that has been hearing testimony for months. He did not make any comments as he arrived at the building, and left several hours later without saying anything.

The interest by prosecutors in Corcoran's testimony reinforces the legal dangers confronting Trump, making clear the department's continued focus on whether the ex-president or any of his representatives obstructed government efforts to recover hundreds of classified documents taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his term. A search warrant affidavit released last August showed that investigators were examining potential violations of multiple crimes, including obstruction and the willful retention of national defense information.

Corcoran is relevant to the investigation because he drafted a letter that was given to the department last June asserting that a "diligent search" for classified documents had been done in response to a subpoena and that all records responsive to that subpoena were being provided. The letter was accompanied by the return of roughly three dozen documents with classified markings.

But prosecutors have said in court filings that they developed evidence showing that additional classified documents remained at the property. The FBI returned with a search warrant on Aug. 8 and removed roughly 100 additional classified documents, the filings show.

Attorney-client privilege traditionally shields lawyers from being forced to share details of their conversations with prosecutors. Corcoran invoked that privilege during an earlier appearance before the grand jury when he declined to answer certain questions.

Story continues

But prosecutors can get around attorney-client privilege if they can convince a judge that a client was using legal representation in furtherance of a crime, a principle known under the law as the crime-fraud exception.

The Justice Department made that argument in this case, and secured a sealed order last week from U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell that required Corcoran to appear again before the grand jury to answer additional questions. A federal appeals court this week, also in a sealed order, directed Corcoran to turn over documents to prosecutors.

Another Trump lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that he had voluntarily testified for about six hours or seven hours before the grand jury in December to answer questions about the Trump team's compliance with Justice Department efforts to reclaim the classified documents. His appearance was earlier reported by ABC News.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation is being led by a Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, who is also examining attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump faces a separate investigation by the Manhattan district attorney's office  into hush money payments during the 2016 campaign  that appears to be close to wrapping up, as well as an investigation in Atlanta into efforts to reverse Trump's election loss in Georgia.

_____

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Former President Donald Trump  launching his bid to return to the White House even as he rallies supporters to protest against an arrest he claims is impending  chose an auspicious location for one of his earliest rallies for the 2024 election: the city of Waco, Texas.

The rally, planned for Saturday, will fall during the 30th anniversary of the siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. Federal agents, aiming to arrest cult leader David Koresh, surrounded his walled compound in an armed standoff that lasted more than a month. It ended in a botched raid that left 76 people, including 25 children, dead.

The rally also comes as Trump reportedly faces criminal charges in New York. He has claimed several times in the last week that he will be arrested imminently, but the former president remained free on Friday afternoon. Trump has portrayed the charges as a witch hunt carried out by sinister forces in the federal government  a theme that has been an increasingly common refrain for Trump as his rhetoric has swung further to the far right since losing the 2020 election.

Waco became synonymous with the worst failings of the federal government and has been used to push anti-government conspiracy theories for years. Though the Waco compound was home to a specific sect of religious extremists, elements of the tragedy resonate in today's times: gun ownership vs. gun regulation, rural independence vs. Washington bureaucracy.

And some experts say that's likely exactly why the city was chosen for a Trump rally.

A spotlight shines over the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Monday, March 22, 1993.

"Waco is hugely symbolic on the far right," said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. "There's not really another place in the U.S. that you could pick that would tap into these deep veins of anti-government hatred  Christian nationalist skepticism of the government  and I find it hard to believe that Trump doesn't know that Waco represents all of these things."

Story continues

Will Trump be arrested?: Is Donald Trump being arrested? Here are the possible charges in the New York investigation

Jan. 6 rioters remain free: After Jan. 6 riot, hundreds of identifiable people remain free. FBI arrests could take years

The Waco tragedy

Fire engulfs the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993.

Between February 28 and April 19, 1993, federal agents, the U.S. military and Texas law enforcement laid siege to the compound of the Branch Davidians, a Christian sect led by cult figure Koresh, located 13 miles from Waco.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms engaged in a firefight with the sect when they attempted to serve warrants at the compound, where officials believed Koresh and his followers were stockpiling weapons. After a 51-day siege of the property, FBI agents attacked on April 19 using tear gas. During the raid, the building housing the Branch Davidians caught on fire and most of the people trapped inside were killed.

The tragedy was a landmark in the rise of the so-called "militia" movement  a loose collective of far-right armed groups that grew significantly in popularity throughout the mid-1990s and early 2000s.

And the Waco "massacre" as it is often called, has endured as a deep source of hatred and distrust of the federal government among far-right extremists. Indeed, Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, killing 168 people, had driven to the Waco siege two years earlier where he distributed pro-gun and anti-government literature. A few years later, an upstart Austin talk show host in his 20s led a group of volunteers to rebuild the chapel on the site. His name was Alex Jones.

"Waco was a seminal moment for right-wing extremism in this country," said Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism.

Former President Donald Trump watches the NCAA Wrestling Championship on March in Tulsa, Okla. Trumps calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated mostly muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap.

A 'dog whistle' or a 'train whistle?'

Though Trump has held more than 100 campaign rallies and similar events, and mounted a near-daily schedule of them during his campaigns, this week's appears to be the first one ever held in Waco.

Several experts on extremism told USA TODAY the choice of Waco, of all the cities in America, clearly looks like a signal to far right and anti-government extremists.

The choice is especially noteworthy given the event arrives just after Trump's claim that criminal charges against him are forthcoming.

When Trump's first claims emerged over the weekend, it seemed possible he could be arrested, charged in New York and then released pending a trial, meaning he would. arrive in Waco with new fuel for his ongoing claims that he's a reformer being targeted by a host of "deep state" enemies.

"Waco has a sense of grievance among people that I know he's (Trump's) got to be trying to tap into," Beirich said. "He's being unjustly accused, like the Branch Davidians were unjustly accused  and the deep state is out to get them all."

Megan Squire, deputy director for data analytics at the Southern Poverty Law Center, scoffed at the idea that Trump would be holding a rally in Waco for anything other than the city's symbolic resonance among the far right.

"Give me a break! There's no reason to go to Waco, Texas, other than one thing  in April," Squire said. "I can't even fathom what that's about other than just a complete dog whistle  actually forget dog whistle, that is just a train whistle to the folks who still remember that event and are still mad about it."

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Sioux Gateway Airport on Nov. 3, 2022, in Sioux City, Iowa.

Wait and see what Trump says in Waco

Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism, cautioned it may be too early to conclude Trump chose Waco to begin his campaign because of its significance to the far right.

Pitcavage pointed out that Texas is an important state for the Republican primaries, and noted that of the major cities in Texas, almost all lean Democratic  except Waco and Forth Worth. The choice of the central Texas city of 140,000 residents could be simply a safe bet for the Trump campaign to ensure a large, enthusiastic pro-Trump crowd, he said.

The only way to know for sure that Trump chose Waco for its symbolism will be if the former president refers to the events of 1993 in his comments at the rally, Pitcavage said.

"Like, for example, comparing federal government misdeeds or persecution of the Davidians to what's going on in his cases today," Pitcavage said. Without an explicit reference to the Waco siege, he said, "I would not automatically assume that that was a likely reason (for the rally)  not compared to some of the other much more current reasons why it might be the case."

But Pitcavage's colleague, Segal, said regardless of the reasoning behind choosing Waco, a certain proportion of Trump supporters will read an anti-government message into the choice.

"Clearly, in the current context, that is going to be understood by some extremists as a dog whistle," Segal said. "If Trump is promoting this idea of government overreach  of targeting him  it's kind of the perfect place to send a message, and will be understood that way whether he intends it or not."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump holding rally in Waco, Texas has a hidden meaning, experts say
Former President Donald Trump warned there could be potential death and destruction if hes charged with a crime over hush money paid to adult actor Stormy Daniels.

Trump made the claim on his social media site Truth Social early Friday.

Trump posted about

Trump posted about "potential death and destruction" if he's criminally charged.

In a two-part, all-caps screed posted to the site days earlier, Trump claimed he would be arrested on Tuesday, and called on his supporters to PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!

Trump was not arrested Tuesday, and on Thursday, multiple media outlets reported the Manhattan grand jury hearing his case would not meet again until next week.

Both of Trumps Truth Social posts were interpreted by some as potential calls for violence. The former president repeatedly posted about the situation throughout the week, at one point claiming the whole Country sees what is going on, and theyre not going to take it anymore.

Earlier this month, the New York Times reported the Manhattan District Attorney offered Trump a chance to testify in the case, which concerns payments made to Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election by Trumps then-attorney Michael Cohen.

Trumps current attorney, Joe Tacopina, has said the former president will willingly surrender to authorities if hes indicted.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps defense attorney Evan Corcoran spent more than three hours at the federal courthouse in Washington Friday, appearing before a grand jury probing the handling of classified documents after the former president left office and whether US efforts seeking their return were obstructed.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Corcoran exited the courthouse around lunchtime with his attorney Elizabeth Martin and declined to answer questions from reporters.

His grand jury appearance came after Trumps legal team lost a secret legal fight to stop him from being forced to face questions that they contend violate attorney-client privilege.

A federal appeals court on Wednesday had denied motions by Trumps lawyers to keep the district court ruling on the privilege issue from taking effect. The three-judge panel also ordered Corcoran to produce documents.

Corcoran previously appeared before the grand jury in January in connection with Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smiths probe into the handling of sensitive government records at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate.

The grand jury proceedings are sealed and not open to the public.

Corcoran has been part of a team of five lawyers representing Trump in connection with the documents probe as well as a separate investigation being run out of Smiths office into efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election.

The Baltimore-based former federal prosecutor had played a central role in the classified documents saga long before the FBI executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Florida complex last August. He was involved in coordinating Trumps response to the May 2022 grand jury subpoena for classified material at the Florida resort.

Story continues

Corcoran sent a letter to a top official last spring insisting Trump had been acting in good faith as the National Archives tried to retrieve government records still in his possession and suggested the government was on shaky legal footing if it continued its investigation.

(Updates with Corcorans departure in second paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Donald Trump's call for protests over his potential indictment in a hush-money case has sparked conspiracy theories about an FBI setup among some of his far-right supporters, making them reluctant to show up.

Numerous online posts reviewed by AFP cautioned against demonstrations in New York City, warning of law enforcement "traps" aimed at arresting them. Many recycled false claims about federal agents instigating the January 6, 2021 attack by Trump followers on the US Capitol.

"Is the potential protest against Trump being arrested a J6-style trap?" Paul Joseph Watson, an editor at InfoWars, a conspiratorial website, asked in a poll on Trump's Truth Social platform.

Of 1,580 responses, 85 percent answered yes -- prompting far-right websites such as the Gateway Pundit to run stories rehashing conspiracy theories about FBI agents and the Capitol riot.

When a popular Telegram channel devoted to the QAnon conspiracy theory -- whose followers Trump has increasingly courted since he left the White House two years ago -- asked if people would protest, hundreds replied with matching skepticism.

"NOIT IS ANOTHER JANUARY 6th TRAP!!!" one user wrote.

- 'Fed assets'? -

Another QAnon promoter shared a photo of FBI agents to his Telegram channel's 185,000 subscribers, saying they were "the only ones that'll be out protesting for Trump." A similar image circulated in a channel affiliated with the Proud Boys militia group.

Republican heavyweights such as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have urged against protests while backing Trump's claims that an indictment would be unjust. But other lawmakers have joined in promoting baseless theories.

"How many Feds/Fed assets are in place to turn protest against the political arrest of Pres Trump into violence?" Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted.

"Has Ray Epps booked his flight to NY yet?" the Georgia Republican added, referencing an Arizona man accused of working for the FBI after he was filmed outside the Capitol in 2021.

Story continues

The narrative's spread amid Trump's intensifying legal woes underscores the sticking power of disinformation.

"Many QAnon and Trump supporters are leery of joining protests over concerns of a setup or trap similar to what they believe occurred during the January 6 insurrection," said Carla Hill, director of investigative research at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism.

"They are paranoid about engaging in any sort of large-scale events out of fear that Antifa or FBI will come in and cause violence 'as an excuse' to arrest (them)."

- 'You will be jailed or worse' -

New York officials tightened security after Trump claimed he would soon be arrested in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's probe into a 2016 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Bragg has said Trump created a "false expectation" for his followers.

But while Trump's plea for protests prompted some sporadic calls for violence, traffic jams and acts of civil disobedience on fringe forums such as The Donald, even some of his best-known supporters have so far appeared unmoved.

Ali Alexander, who helped organize rallies that preceded the Capitol riot, signaled he will be staying away from demonstrations this time around and warned of New York City: "You will be jailed or worse."

And Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who before the 2021 riot said his group was bussing Trump supporters to Washington, cautioned: "Do not give the feds and their plants what they want -- STAY PEACEFUL!"

Megan Squire of the Southern Poverty Law Center told AFP the posts are "another example in a long history of paranoia and finger-pointing on the extreme far right."

Fox News host Tucker Carlson and other prominent conservatives have repeatedly amplified the narrative that the FBI orchestrated the Capitol insurrection to jail Trump voters, despite fact-checking from AFP and others. More than 1,000 people have been charged for their actions that day, according to the Justice Department.

Trump has also lent credence to such claims, sharing posts about Epps and a "false flag."

"This type of entrapment or false flag conspiracy from the far-right has been a common refrain that we've seen since January 6," Hill said. "If you look back on potential flashpoints -- Biden's inauguration, the anniversary of January 6, the FBI raid at Mar-a-lago -- the calls for protests quickly fizzled out because of this type of conspiratorial paranoia."

bmc-adm/df/md
Donald Trump. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Trump said that there's a "potential" for "death & destruction" if he's charged by NY prosecutors.

It's the third time Trump has alluded to the possibility of political unrest and violence in the last several days.

Earlier this week, he employed an anti-Semitic trope against the Manhattan DA and mocked calls for his supporters to stay "peaceful."

Former President Donald Trump made another allusion to violence in a late-night Truth Social post on Thursday, writing that if he's charged in connection to a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels, it could result in "potential death & destruction."

It was Trump's latest effort to rile up his base and vilify Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg as he faces a potential indictment from Bragg's office related to the payment.

"What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country?" Trump wrote on his Twitter-like website.

"Why & who would do such a thing?" he added. "Only a degenerate psychopath that truely hates the USA!"

Trump has hinted at the possibility of political unrest and violence several times in the last few days.

On Thursday morning, he accused Bragg of being a "Soros backed animal"  referring to a common anti-Semitic trope  and mocked calls for his supporters to remain peaceful in the face of an indictment.

Bragg, Trump wrote in the all-caps Truth Social post, "IS JUST CARRYING OUT THE PLANS OF THE RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS. OUR COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED, AS THEY TELL US TO BE PEACEFUL!"

He also falsely predicted over the weekend that he would be arrested on Tuesday in connection to the Stormy Daniels investigation. He was not arrested that day, and as Insider's Laura Italiano reported, the Manhattan grand jury investigating the hush-money payment will not consider the case for the rest of this week.

Story continues

Still, the former president called on his followers over the weekend to "protest" and "take our nation back," in what some described as an ominous echo of his rallying cries ahead of the deadly January 6 Capitol riot.

Steel barricades also went up around Trump Tower this week amid his calls for protest, and law enforcement officials have taken steps to secure the downtown Manhattan courthouse where Trump would be arraigned if he's indicted.

Joe Tacopina, a lawyer representing Trump in the district attorney's investigation, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
South Africa: Disaster management teams on high alert

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng, has instructed the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to remain in contact with the Eastern Cape Provincial and District Disaster Management Centres.

This follows reports of flooding in the province. Furthermore, three members of a community in the OR Tambo District Municipality have been reported missing after yesterdays heavy rains.

Nkadimeng noted that the high amount of rainfall received has affected communities in varying degrees.

These continuing rains are endangering the lives of communities and placing them at risk of flooding, the Minister said.

Disaster Management Teams from across all spheres of government will continue to be on standby to provide assistance where required, as well as to ensure a coordinated response as swiftly as possible to limit the negative impact of the floods on communities.

As more rains are still expected, Nkadimeng has urged the public to be extra vigilant and exercise caution, especially in areas prone to flooding, and to also follow the regular updates and warning messages from the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

Communities are urged to work with the relevant authorities by following their instructions to ensure everyones safety.

The O.R. Tambo Disaster and Risk Management teams from Ingquza Hill Local municipality have been dispatched to Rhole village in Lusikisiki to gather more information on the missing three community members.

The heavy downpours have left many areas of the district devastated as infrastructure, houses, recreational facilities and business have been flooded, said the O.R. Tambo District Municipality in a statement.

According to the municipality, in Port St Johns, a power outage has affected the network connection and the functionality of the Mzimvumbu and Port St Johns Water Treatment Works.

This has led to the water and sanitation treatment plants in the area to be down since yesterday. The O.R. Tambo Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation directorate is still investigating the extent of the damages, the municipality said.

This is not the first the time the town thas been hit by floods and heavy rainfall. In April 2022, the town experienced severe flooding, which resulted in homes being damaged.

Other nearby areas affected include Mnquma, Mbashe, King Sabatha Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Ingquza and Mbizana municipal areas.

SAWS issued a level 2 yellow warning for heavy rain causing localised flooding in affected areas, and communities in those regions are advised to remain vigilant.

The warning level is expected to rise to level 6 due to the heavy rainfall still expected.

Meanwhile, a section of the R-61 road not far from Isinuka has been washed away. The situation is being closely monitored.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-03-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Xi's Russia visit promotes global strategic stability

09:01, March 24, 2023 By CAO DESHENG in Beijing and Ren Qi in Moscow ( Chinadaily.com.cn

President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a document signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cooperation: Visit boosts Sino-Russian economic ties

President Xi Jinping wrapped up his three-day state visit to Russia on Wednesday, a trip of special significance in boosting bilateral ties and promoting global strategic stability amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang described the visit as "a historic trip of friendship, peace and cooperation".

Briefing the Chinese media after the visit was concluded, Qin said that Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had hours of sincere, friendly and fruitful talks, and exchanged their views on bilateral relations, the Ukraine crisis and major international issues, and reached a broad consensus.

Under the new circumstances, China and Russia stay committed to promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, which benefits the two peoples and will make new contributions to human development and progress, he said.

The two presidents signed and released a joint statement on deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, in which the two sides made it clear that China-Russia relations transcend those of a Cold War military-political alliance and have the nature of no-alliance, no-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

While underlining the need for China and Russia to boost pragmatic cooperation in various fields, the two countries reiterated their commitment in the joint statement to firmly upholding the international system with the United Nations at the core, opposing hegemonism, unilateralism and power politics in any form, and opposing bloc confrontation and the forming of small circles targeting a specific country.

On the Ukraine crisis, the two countries stressed that responsible dialogue is the best way to achieve appropriate solutions. They called for stopping all moves leading to tensions and the protraction of the conflict, and opposing any unilateral sanctions not authorized by the UN Security Council, the statement said.

They also expressed their concerns about the continuous strengthening of NATO's military ties in the Asia-Pacific and its negative influence on regional peace and security.

Observers said that as two major countries in the world, China and Russia strengthening their relationship is crucial to each other's development and to the global geopolitical landscape.

Alexsander Bobrov, a foreign policy expert at MGIMO University in Moscow, said Xi's visit will further boost Sino-Russian economic cooperation.

China has been Russia's largest trade partner for 13 consecutive years. In 2022, China-Russia trade exceeded $190 billion, an increase of 116 percent from a decade ago.

In the first two months of 2023, bilateral trade increased 25.9 percent year-on-year to $33.69 billion, while the two nations have also notably heightened the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union in recent years.

Sergey Malakhov, executive director of the Institute for the Development of Parliamentarism in Russia, said the meeting between the two leaders has significant meaning not only for Russia but also for the international community, as Western countries are waging an aggressive public political campaign to put pressure on Russia, seeking to weaken the country's position on the international stage.

During his joint news conference with Putin on Tuesday, Xi said that China-Russia relations go far beyond the bilateral scope and are crucial to the world and the future of mankind.

Through multilateral institutions like the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, China and Russia have worked closely on regional and global security.

Imran Khalid, a freelance columnist on international affairs, wrote in an op-ed piece published by the China Global Television Network website that what Westerners are unable to see is the solid core of trust that has evolved between China and Russia in the past two decades. Promoting multipolarity and the democratization of international relations are the two fundamental elements that create strong bonds between the two sides, he wrote.

Khalid commended China's position on the Ukraine issue, saying it is one of "active neutrality", which reflects the demands of both Russia and Ukraine, and addresses broader international issues such as food security and global strategic stability.

"It fully recognizes the complexity and difficulty of the issue, and shows China's responsible attitude of not standing idly by, not fueling the fire, and opposing taking advantage of the situation," he wrote.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  A church group told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that drug-related killings continue in the Philippines as it reported over 220 incidents under the new administration.

"Drug-related killings continue with impunity under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 223 victims since July 2022," said Mervin Toquero of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) at the 52nd regular session of the UNHRC on Thursday.

"There is also very minimal accountability for perpetrators since the time of [former] President Rodrigo Duterte," added Toquero, who is a program secretary of the NCCP. The NCCP is part of the Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch which participated in the session in Geneva, Switzerland.

Marcos, who took office in July last year, is continuing his predecessor's anti-drug campaign but noted its shift to reduction and rehabilitation.

According to government data, over 6,000 drug suspects have been killed in police operations since June 2016. But human rights groups said the death toll could be much higher.

On March 2, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told the UNHRC that the country will not tolerate "unjustified external interference" in its investigation into alleged crimes committed in Duterte's bloody drug war.

READ: Remulla to UN Human Rights Council: PH will not tolerate 'external interference'

In a separate report released Thursday, the US State Department noted that impunity was a "significant problem" in security forces, particularly in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Local and international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch described widespread impunity for killings," the US said in its 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices.

"There were no prosecutions or convictions for extrajudicial killings in the year to October and just three since the start of the drug war in 2016," the report read.

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who also served as PNP chief during Duterte's term, said the US State Department must give concrete evidence in its report.

"Magbigay sila ng saktong datos hindi 'yung puro lang yawyaw, puro lang salita," Dela Rosa said.

"Sabihin nila kung ano 'yung basehan nila. Ano bang ibig nilang sabihin, mas magaling 'yung justice system nila kaysa sa atin? Ganun ba ibig nilang sabihin?" he added.

[Translation: They should give exact data and not just all talk. They should state what's their basis. What do they mean, that their justice system is better than ours?]

Citing government figures, the US State Department said Philippine law enforcement authorities conducted approximately 15,000 anti-drug operations from January to May last year.

"The PNP reported that its Internal Affairs Service investigated 74 killings during antidrug operations from January to July, involving 321 police personnel who were administratively charged," it added. "The PNP reported that a further 46 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations from July 1 to November 7."

In a UNHRC side event also on Thursday, church worker Toquero raised that there is a difficulty for proper documentation of growing human rights violations in the country "because of what happened to the human rights defenders during the time of Duterte  the threats, harassments, killings."

The US also noted in its report that witnesses to abuses in the country were often unable to obtain protection, with the number of witnesses overburdening the Commission on Human Rights' small witness protection program.

The International Criminal Court has resumed its probe into the drug war but the government is appealing the decision, arguing that the court has no jurisdiction in the country after the Philippines withdrew its membership effective in March 2019.

RELATED: SolGen: ICC chamber 'legal errors' basis for PH appeal on drug war probe

CNN Philippines senior correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
NEW YORK  The five-alarm headlines dominating conservative media this week predicted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs investigation into Donald Trump was on the brink of collapse after the grand jury took two days off from hearing evidence.

Hannity: Alvin Braggs case against Trump crumbles, blared a report from Fox News. Is Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg getting cold feet? asked Republican Sen. Ted Cruz on his podcast, Verdict. Why Alvin Braggs case against Trump is falling apart, an opinion piece in the New York Post sought to explain.

The grand jurys period of quietude this week drew outsized attention after a procession of witnesses and other activity had suggested an imminent indictment of the former president for his alleged role in a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

But four legal experts who worked in the DAs office prior to Bragg's tenure said such pauses didnt necessarily signal a troubling turn for the investigation. Theyre more likely the result of prosecutors weighing whether to present a rebuttal witness to counter claims the grand jury heard earlier in the week from a Trump ally or an effort to minimize the time between an indictment and the former presidents surrender.





The inaction, though, combined with Braggs silence  legally mandated due to grand jury secrecy laws  have allowed Trump to fill the void, attacking the probe as politically motivated, spurring his supporters to protest and prophesying potential death and destruction if he were to be indicted.

What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former president of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting president in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a crime, Trump wrote on his social media site early Friday, when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed, & also that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our country?

Story continues

Trumps reliance on fiery rhetoric, designed to whip up his supporters, is one reason Bragg might want to delay an indictment in order to minimize the time period between the grand jury vote and when Trump could turn himself in, said Karen Friedman Agnifilo, who was the chief assistant district attorney under Braggs predecessor, Cy Vance.



If I were the D.A., I wouldn't want too much time between surrender and indictment for security reasons, she said in an interview. I would say, lets wait to ask the grand jury to indict until we know we have a surrender date.

Agnifilo added that prosecutors were also likely deciding whether to call a witness to rebut information provided earlier this week by defense witness Robert Costello, who testified Monday. Costello, who was once a legal adviser to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, the prosecutions central witness in its investigation, sought to discredit Cohen.

If they want to go after Donald Trump and they have solid evidence, so be it. But Michael Cohen is far from solid evidence, Costello said at a press conference after testifying before the panel. He also accused the DAs office of cherry-picking evidence by asking him about only six out of 321 emails between his firm and Cohen. For his part, Cohen disputed Costellos claims.



Former Manhattan assistant district attorney Jeremy Saland, who worked under Braggs two predecessors, said prosecutors could be contemplating additional evidence, perhaps from Costello, or simply putting together the indictment itself. Saland said he would absolutely not read anything into the fact that the grand jury adjourned Wednesday and heard evidence about an unrelated case Thursday. The grand jury typically meets Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays.

Additional legal experts familiar with the offices operations said prosecutors could be processing other material, such as a February 2018 letter published by the Daily Mail this week from a former Cohen attorney to the Federal Election Commission saying that Cohen used his personal funds to pay the porn star, Stormy Daniels, and wasnt reimbursed for the payment. Those claims contrast with what Cohen subsequently pleaded guilty to in federal court.



While that type of evidence wouldnt necessarily torpedo Braggs case, legal experts said, it could be something prosecutors need to evaluate.

Meanwhile, the frenzy surrounding the case left law enforcement, court officials, media and lawyers in a holding pattern, watching for any clues from Braggs office about the probes direction and leaving some frustrated with the amount of time and resources being put into a years-long investigation that still appeared incomplete.

Still, Joan Vollero, who handled communications for the Manhattan D.A. under Vance, said the lengthy nature of the investigation, combined with this weeks pause in the grand jury hearing evidence in the case, could help insulate the prosecutors office from accusations that it is rushing to judgment.

No one can accuse D.A. Bragg of being hasty in this matter, she said.

On the other hand, Vollero added, Delay always benefits the defendant because evidence weakens with the passage of time and witnesses' memories fade, and thats what benefits Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has shared an AI-generated image of himself praying after several deepfakes of the former president being arrested and making a run from authorities had gone viral on social media.

Mr Trump, who set off a frenzied news cycle by raising fears of his indictment by the Manhattan District Court, reshared an image of himself solemnly praying.

The picture showed Mr Trump down on one knee with folded hands and head bowed down.

The photo shared by Mr Trump without any context was a screenshot from a user called Siggy Flicker, that had a caption saying pray for this man.

Mr Trump appears to be getting in on the fun of sharing AI photos of himself after several of them had flooded online and had showed the one-time president struggle while getting arrested by authorities and even running away from them.

The photos were generated by Eliot Higgins, the founder of the open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat, who used an AI art generator tool while giving the prompt: Donald Trump falling down while being arrested.

Trump just shared a fake AI-created image of himself praying on Truth Social https://t.co/14SqJ96qhJ pic.twitter.com/SNAB2qi2GO  Matt Novak (@paleofuture) March 23, 2023

Making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trumps arrest, he had written while sharing the images.

The photos of the event that has never happened in reality have been viewed nearly 5 million times.

Making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trump's arrest. pic.twitter.com/4D2QQfUpLZ  Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) March 20, 2023

The new image shared by Mr Trump also looks uncannily real at first glance, but signs of the shortcomings of artificial intelligence technology become apparent on a closer look at the former presidents hands, shoes and the people around him.

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Mr Trump, who can be seen joining his hands in prayer in the photo, appears to be missing a finger on his right hand, pointed out a Forbes report. His thumbs look abnormally jumbled as well, defying human anatomy, it said.

As always, the big tell is the hands. Trump appears to be missing his right ring finger. And his thumbs are mashed together in a way that defies human anatomy. pic.twitter.com/oWyYakKROy  Matt Novak (@paleofuture) March 23, 2023

It was also pointed out that the sole of Mr Trumps shoe had brush-like edges.

The people in the background in the photo appear to not be paying attention to Mr Trump as well. This is something that, if it were to happen in reality, would likely see the participation of the others involved or would at least attract their attention, the report said.

On Thursday, the Manhattan grand jury investigating Mr Trump over hush money payments turned to other matters, delaying until next week any vote on the indictment of the former president, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Prosecutors rebuffed a request from House Republicans for records and testimony on the investigation, a request that the general counsel to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called an unlawful incursion into New Yorks sovereignty.

The prosecutors blasted Mr Trump for creating a false expectation of being arrested this week, without offering any update on the timing for any possible action.
Former President Trump argued early Friday morning that filing charges against him could result in potential death & destruction as he railed against the possibility of an indictment by the Manhattan district attorney.

What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country? Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after 1 a.m. Friday.

Why & who would do such a thing? Only a degenerate psychopath that truely hates the USA! Trump wrote.

The post marked an escalation in Trumps barrage of attacks against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as a grand jury is weighing whether to indict Trump over hush money payments made to a porn star to keep quiet an alleged affair during the 2016 campaign.

It is also likely to further fuel concerns that Trump is stoking violence ahead of potential charges.

Multiple outlets reported in recent weeks an indictment against Trump could be imminent in the Manhattan investigation. Trump last Saturday predicted on Truth Social that he would be arrested the following Tuesday, though advisers said the post was not based on any advance warning.

At the same time, Trump began urging his supporters to protest and take back our nation in response to an indictment.

Trump is scheduled to hold a rally on Saturday in Waco, Texas.

Trumps rhetoric has alarmed some onlookers, who likened it to Trumps calls for supporters to travel to Washington, D.C., ahead of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters stormed the Capitol building to try and stop the certification of the 2020 election results.

Some Republicans, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), have sought to tamp down Trumps calls for protests.

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The grand jury in Manhattan did not meet on Wednesday or Thursday, and any charges are not expected to be filed until next week at the earliest.

Bragg has said in an internal memo to staff that he will not be intimidated by Trumps rhetoric. In response to a letter from House Republicans for his testimony, Bragg argued the former president created a false expectation that he would be arrested with his Truth Social post last weekend.

In addition to the Manhattan investigation, the Justice Department is probing Trump over his handling of classified documents upon leaving the White House, as well as his conduct around the Jan. 6 riots.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows listens as President Donald Trump speaks to the press outside the White House on October 30, 2020. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Mark Meadows and other Trump aides were ordered to offer more testimony to a grand jury investigating January 6.

A federal judge dismissed Trump's claims of executive privilege in a sealed order last week.

ABC News first reported the news.

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and many other top advisers to former President Donald Trump must provide additional testimony to the federal grand jury investigating the ex-president's role in challenging the 2020 election results and in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, a federal judge ruled last week in a sealed order, according to an ABC News report on Friday.

In the order, US District Judge Beryl Howell dismissed Trump's claims of executive privilege for Meadows and other former officials, including Trump advisors Nick Luna, John McEntee and Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Robert O'Brien, and deputy secretary of homeland security Ken Cuccinelli, sources told ABC.

US special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the January 6 probe, previously subpoenaed Trump's aides for testimony and documents. Some of them had appeared before the grand jury but declined to answer certain questions about their interactions with Trump, ABC reported.

Trump had invoked executive privilege, or the president's right to keep communications private, in an effort to block the subpoenas. His legal team is expected to appeal Howell's order compelling his aides' testimony, according to ABC.

The January 6 probe is one of several major legal cases hanging over Trump. Also on Friday, Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran appeared before a grand jury investigating whether Trump potentially mishandled classified documents that the FBI retrived from his Mar-a-Lago home with a search warrant. Corcoran was previously ordered to provide more testimony for the investigation after a federal judge rejected his claims of attorney-client privilege.

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Separately, a Manhattan grand jury appears to be nearing possible criminal charges against Trump in connection to a hush-money payment made during his 2016 campaign to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump, who's running for the White House in 2024, has also been under investigation in Georgia's Fulton County over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wilmington International Airport saw a decline in the number of firearm discoveries in 2022. STARNEWS FILE PHOTO

Transportation Security Administration officers found more than 6,500 firearms in airline passengers bags at security checkpoints nationwide in 2022. The annual figures from last year were a steep increase from 2021 and even pre-COVID levels.

Federal regulations allow gun owners to bring their firearms with them when flying, but TSA officials say the number of incidents of unsecured and/or loaded guns being brought through security checkpoints is growing by the hundreds and even thousands each year.

Federal officials want air travelers to understand whats allowed and whats not regarding guns as airports nationwide, including a few in North Carolina, continue to see an uptick in the number of firearms discovered at airport security checkpoints.

What's happening nationwide?

TSA officers discovered 6,542 firearms in passengers bags at airports nationwide in 2022, according to a press release from TSA.

TSA saw nearly a 10% increase since 2021, and more than 100% increase compared to 2020, according to TSA.

Roughly 88% of the guns discovered in passengers bags in 2022 were loaded, according to TSA.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport led the nation in firearms discoveries at TSA checkpoints in 2022, according to TSA. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport trailed just behind Atlanta last year.

More:Car crashes into terminal at Wilmington International Airport

Whats happening in North Carolina?

North Carolinas major airports have also seen a rise in the number of firearm discoveries at security checkpoints. Firearms being found in passenger bags at North Carolina airports increased 38% in the past five years, from 180 in 2018 to 250 in 2022, according to TSA statistics.

Unlike some airports such as Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville, Wilmington International Airport saw a slight decline in firearm discoveries (from seven in 2018 to five in 2022), according to TSA statistics. Charlotte Douglas International and Asheville Regional Airport both experienced all-time highs in firearm detections at security checkpoints in 2022.

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TSA compiled statewide statistics from 10 airports across North Carolina including those in Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, Greensboro, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Fayetteville, Concord, New Bern and Greenville.

More:The Wilmington airport has a parking problem. Here's what they're doing about it.

What happened in Wilmington?

While the TSA statistics indicate there were five incidents of firearm discoveries at ILM, the New Hanover County Sheriffs Office provided the StarNews with incident reports for seven different incidents.

Three-of-the-seven incidents last year at ILM involved stun guns, according to the incident reports.

The three other cases involved handguns, including one situation in May where a passenger attempted to bring two guns through TSA security, according to the incident reports.

One incident report from July didnt provide any information on what firearm was discovered.

Passengers in four of the seven cases last year were arrested for a weapons law violation, according to the incident reports. The cases surrounding the three other incidents are inactive, according to the incident reports.

More:Wilmington airport plans for growth, including terminal expansion, more parking and Dunkin'

What are the rules with handguns?

Firearms can be brought onto flights, but TSA requires them to be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and placed in a checked bag. Travelers who have a concealed weapons permit are still required to follow these rules.

Before getting to security, passengers need to go to the ticket counter and declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts when checking in, according to TSA. The federal agency recommends passengers even check gun laws and regulations at their destination and if the airline theyre using has any requirements before traveling.

Travelers who violate these firearm rules can face up to a $15,000 civil penalty from TSA in addition to criminal citations.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest news by signing up for the Daily Briefing email newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: TSA is finding more guns at airports nationwide. Is the same true at ILM?
Tucker Carlson accused NPR Thursday of fearmongering so people will arm themselves. (Watch the video below.)

Its the same template always: Scare the crap out of your voters, tell them that their lives are at risk, encourage them to get guns, the Fox News host said. How do you think that ends?

Carlsons utter lack of self-awareness prompted the journalist who shared the clip, Rolling Stone politics reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez, to declare: Irony found dead in a ditch.

irony found dead in a ditch pic.twitter.com/6ZFtmtuSul  nikki mccann ramirez (@NikkiMcR) March 24, 2023

Critics of Carlson, who thrives on baiting his conservative demographic while railing against gun reform, mocked the prime-time personality on Twitter for his self-own.

When pot met kettle, one wrote.

In a long segment, Carlson distorted an NPR piece from last month about transgender people in New Hampshire who are taking a rainbow reload class to practice shooting for self-defense.

He accused the public radio outlet of promoting guns for trans people while attempting to deny firearms for everyone else. (The segment does not appear to advocate armed protection, but does show the desperation many trans people feel in light of heightened attacks.)

Just to be clear: We are not against people  American citizens  carrying firearms, Carlson said. We support it  including trans people. Its fine. But what youre watching here is not the exercise of the Second Amendment. What youre watching here is political hysteria  fear ginned up on purpose with maximum dishonesty in order to get people in a state of agitation. Armed people in a state of agitation. It doesnt matter if they are trans or not, whatever that is.

Were as for guns as you could possibly be, but this seems like an incitement, Carlson added, per The Daily Beast.

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Here are a few choice reactions on Twitter:

Why is Tucker telling the truth about what he does?  Jed Pry (@JedGeek) March 24, 2023

eh?



I think I am in an alternative universe.  Jeff Dawson (@JeffJL54) March 24, 2023

That just broke my irony bone.  Dorkapedia  (@Dadof10and2) March 24, 2023

"I know we do it too, but we wrap that crap up in patriotism, which is thousand times more cooler!"  RealMindlessGonzo (@realmindless1) March 24, 2023

When pot met kettle.  Juan Solo  (@juanjoseiturbe) March 24, 2023

Was this a confession?  Laura Di Bella (@LauraDiBella15) March 24, 2023

Irony resurrected itself, commited hari kari, buried itself and then salted the earth.  Book'emDanno (@Karmatella) March 24, 2023

Tucker has run out of new material and is just now telling his viewers what he does.  Rad Forman (@RadForman) March 24, 2023

Related...
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24) - The government plans to increase police visibility in schools in Masbate, where clashes have erupted between security forces and communist rebels, Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday.

Galvez said the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Regional Command in Bicol plan to conduct a peace and order council meeting to address the current situation in the province.

He added that quick reaction teams have already been deployed to assist affected locals - particularly students and teachers whose school was near the site of the clashes.

"School officials were also briefed on how to react appropriately to a similar situation involving firefights or IED (improvised explosive devices) incidents in areas with close proximity to learning institutions," Galvez said.

Face-to-face classes in elementary and secondary schools have been suspended in four Masbate towns, said Mayflor Marie Jumamil, Department of Education-Bicol information division chief.

These towns are Placer, Dimasalang, Uson, and Cataingan.

On Wednesday, two soldiers were wounded in a clash with rebels in Brgy. Locso-an, Placer.

Another encounter in Brgy. Gaid, Dimasalang also left two police officers injured.

Government troops are on heightened alert for the upcoming anniversary of the New People's Army - the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines - on March 29.
Legacy Twitter checkmarks are disappearing on April 1st, Twitter says, and in the future, the only way users will be able to get the coveted blue badge is by paying for a Twitter Blue subscription. That points to a big question for Twitter and owner Elon Musk: Will that nail finally drive more take-up of the social network's premium tier?

So far, take-up has been fairly underwhelming. Since relaunching three months ago as a big push into non-advertising-based revenue, Twitter Blue has only picked up $11 million in mobile subscriptions, according to data from app intelligence firm Sensor Tower.

The $11 million figure is notable because Twitter is banking on Twitter Blue at a time when advertising -- which traditionally has accounted for the vast majority of Twitter's income -- remains in rapid decline.

In part, that drop is due to the overall economy, which has pushed marketing spend down. But advertisers have also been hesitant to recommit to Twitter amid its rapid-fire changes, chaotic missteps and threats to general brand safety as Elon Musk rolled back earlier protections. Twitter has since tried to repair some of those relationships, including by way of partnerships with adtech companies DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science (IAS), for example, but it's not yet clear to what extent revenue has improved as a result.

While $11 million is a small figure, we should caveat that this estimate does not cover web-based subscriptions. The firm also can't break out who is paying for annual or monthly Blue subscriptions. The figures cover the 20 markets where Blue has been launched prior to this week. It wasn't until yesterday that Twitter made the service available globally.

In the insights shared with TechCrunch, Sensor Tower estimates that Blue has more than 385,000 mobile subscribers worldwide on both iOS and Android. The U.S. is its largest market, with 246,000 subscribers spending around $8 million through their mobile devices.

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"The loss of advertising demand, fueled both by broader macro uncertainty and Twitter-specific platform issues, has made alternative revenue streams quite appealing for the social media network," said Abe Yousef, senior insights analyst at Sensor Tower.

Its not clear how many users overall Twitter has currently, but as of Q2 last year, it said it had nearly 238 million monetizable daily active users (its own metric).

The company, according to multiple reports, has been bleeding advertisers since Musk acquired Twitter and took over as CEO. A report earlier this month from The Wall Street Journal said that earnings, dated December 2022, which Twitter shared with investors, had noted a 40% decline in revenue. Twitter had adjusted earnings because of it. To put the $11 million in Twitter Blue mobile subs into a revenue context, as a point of comparison, in Q2 2022, the last quarterly earnings statement Twitter released (when it was still a publicly traded company), advertising made up all but $100,000 of Twitter's nearly $1.2 billion in revenue.

There are also questions about how recurring that $11 million will be over the coming months. Yousef told us Sensor Tower believes that annual subscriptions will be a "minimal" proportion of the $11 million.

"Social media users are typically less inclined to spend $100+ all at once versus $11 for 1-2 months to try the service out and see if they enjoy using it," he pointed out.

Some are already not that impressed...

Twitter Blue originally launched in limited markets in 2021 as a service aimed at power users, with perks that might have only felt momentous to that group -- bookmarking, a chance to "redo" a Tweet, ad-free reading of news articles and early access to experiments via Twitter Labs among them.

But under Musk, Blue's taken on a different emphasis: it's part of his strategy to rebuild the company's revenue model. As such, the features -- both those that are live plus those that Twitter promises are coming -- feel more central to the mainstream Twitter experience.

In addition to badges, Blue users can edit tweets, upload larger videos, have a "reader" view for longer threads and more. It also promises (but has yet to launch) fewer ads and more visibility for Blue users in replies.

Subscriptions are being sold for $11 per month (or the local equivalent) on iOS and Android, and $8 on the web. (The higher mobile price is due to the app stores' cut).

U.S. Twitter users on mobile devices had spent nearly $1.8 million on Twitter Blue subscriptions in its first-month post-relaunch in December, the new data shows. This suggests that the service received over 160,000 mobile subscribers in the country in its first month of the relaunch, Yousef said.

But the company has some work to do when it comes to driving business in its strongest markets. In India, the company's second-largest market by users after the U.S., Twitter launched Blue in February. Since then, Sensor Tower says that only $301,000 has been spent on Blue, working out to about 17,000 mobile subscriptions.

Yousef said India became Twitter's sixth-largest mobile market in terms of in-app purchases following the local launch of Twitter Blue. The country represented Twitter's eighth-largest mobile market for in-app purchases nearly 10 months before the company's acquisition and Twitter Blue's subsequent launch and relaunch, the analyst said.

Sensor Tower data is based on in-app purchases from Twitter's mobile apps. The company does have other in-app purchases besides Twitter Blue. However, Yousef said that given the substantial increases examined in in-app purchase revenue post the relaunch of Twitter Blue, you can attribute most of that revenue to the subscription product, with boosted tweets and other in-app purchases providing very little in-app purchase revenue.

We have reached out to Twitter for a response to these numbers. We didnt get a reply.

Additional reporting: Sarah Perez
Jack Dorsey's Block payments firm is the latest company to be targeted by Hindenburg Research. Marco Bello/Getty Images

Jack Dorsey's wealth tumbled after Hindenburg Research targeted his payments company Block, per Bloomberg.

The short seller alleged Block misled investors "with inflated metrics"

Block's share price tumbled as much as 22% on Thursday on Hindenburg's report.

Short seller Hindenburg Research has hit another billionaire's fortune with a report.

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of payments company Block and Twitter, saw his net worth tumble by $526 million, or 11%, to $4.4 billion after the US-based research firm led by Nathan Anderson accused Block of misleading investors in a March 23 report, according to Bloomberg.

Dorsey isn't on the list of the world's 500 richest persons on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index currently. He was previously featured at number 456 with a net worth of $5.41 billion on March 22, per Insider's scan of the Index on Wednesday.

San Francisco-based Block is the parent company of Square, a payments platform. It also has other businesses including Cash App, a funds transfer app, and buy-now-pay-later service Afterpay.

The decline in Block's share price hit Dorsey's net worth because most of his wealth is derived from his $3 billion stake in the payments company where he is now "block head" and chairman, per Bloomberg. Dorsey also still holds a $388 million stake in Twitter, which Elon Musk took private in October 2022.

The US short seller alleges Block  formerly known as Square  misled investors "with inflated metrics" and facilitated fraud.

"$SQ has embraced one very underbanked segment: criminals. When users were caught engaging in fraud, $SQ would blacklist the account but not ban the user," Hindenburg Research tweeted on Thursday, referring to Block by its listing symbol on the New York Stock Exchange.

The stock debuted on the New York Stock Exchange in November 2015.

Block's share price tumbled as much as 22% on Hindenburg's report before closing 15% lower at $61.88 apiece on Thursday. They edged down 0.5% in after hours-trade.

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Block did not specifically address Insider's request for comment about its share price decline that hit Dorsey's fortune but referred to its public statement about Hindenburg's report.

Block said in the March 23 statement it intends to work with the Securities and Exchange Commission and explore legal action against Hindenburg for the "factually inaccurate and misleading report." It said Hindenburg's attacks are designed "solely to allow short sellers to profit from a declined stock price."

"We have reviewed the full report in the context of our own data and believe it's designed to deceive and confuse investors," Block added. "We are a highly regulated public company with regular disclosures, and are confident in our products, reporting, compliance programs, and controls."

Hindenburg did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. It first teased its report on Block in a tweet on Wednesday, saying "New report soon  another big one." No further details were shared at the time.

It's not the first time Hindenburg Research has moved markets. The research firm shocked the markets when it alleged in a scathing January 24 report that the Adani Group "engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades."

The report hit investor sentiment and sent Adani-related stocks into a tailspin, losing over $150 billion in about five weeks, according to Bloomberg. This also sent founder Gautam Adani's wealth plunging with his net worth halved to about $60 billion so far this year, per Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

In 2020, Hindenberg accused electric truck maker Nikola of fraud, which also sent its share price slumping.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Detention of Russian agents by SBU officers

The SBU noted that the agents were recruited at the beginning of February 2023 by an employee of the FSB department in the Altai Territory. One of the traitors turned out to be the design engineer of the Motor Sich plant.

Both Russian agents surveyed the locations of Ukrainian military facilities and law enforcement agencies.

The security forces apprehended the Motor Sich design engineer while he was taking photos of the military hospital and prosecutors office, specifically geo-tagging them.

Read also: Motor Sich President Boguslaev cooperated with DPR terrorists, SBU says

Read also: Deputy Mayor of Zaporizhzhya tapped to lead Motor Sich

Another traitor was detained in Kyiv Oblast after photographing of one of the buildings belonging to the State Emergency Service.

Both defendants were informed of their suspicion under Article 111, Part 2 (treason) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court ordered their detention as a preventive measure.

On Oct. 22, it was revealed that the SBU had arrested Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, former MP from the recently outlawed Party of Regions and honorary president of Motor Sich plant, as part of an investigation into the companys illegal supply of military goods for Russian attack aircraft.

The Shevchenkivskyy District Court of Kyiv ordered Bohuslayev to be placed in custody on Oct. 24. According to the Skhemy investigative news project run by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Bohuslayev has had Russian citizenship since 2000, and an apartment in Moscow since 2002.

The SBU seized property belonging to Bohuslayev worth almost UAH 1 billion ($27 million) on Nov. 4.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal declared on Nov. 7 that Motor Sich, along with several other strategic enterprises, would operate 24/7 to enhance Ukraines defense capabilities.

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
Two men, suspected of being involved in an Arlington homicide in February, appeared in court on Wednesday and were held on first-degree murder charges. Bail was set at $2 million for each person, according to the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office.

On February 7, Snohomish deputies went to the 15000 block of 116th Street Northeast around 8:20 a.m. after reports of a shooting.

According to deputies, shortly after 8 a.m., two men showed up at a motorhome where a 33-year-old man and his wife were living and broke in. There was a verbal argument between two men and the man who lived there. The man was shot multiple times before the two men fled in a silver passenger car. On Feb. 11, the 33-year-old man died from his injuries.

Patrol deputies and Major Crime Unit detectives worked together to identify the car the men fled in.

Deputies said through an extensive investigation including video evidence, physical evidence, and cellular data analysis, detectives identified both men involved in the shooting.

The first, a 37-year-old Everett man was taken into custody on Feb. 9 for three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and manufacturing and delivering drugs. He was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail. On March 22 detectives referred additional charges for first-degree murder and a fourth count of unlawful possession of a firearm while he was in custody.

The second, a 28-year-old Lynnwood man, was arrested on Feb. 24 for unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. During the arrest, the man tried to run from deputies, rammed a patrol vehicle, and carried a gun in his waistband. The man was arrested and taken to the Snohomish County Jail. On March 22 detectives referred an additional charge for first-degree murder while he was in custody.

On March 22, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge held both men on first-degree murder and set their bail at $2 million each.

Deputies said that this is still an active investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Sheriffs Office Major Crimes Unit tip line at 425-388-3845.
Two students at Morris Knolls High School were arrested Thursday after staff discovered a gun in their possession, according to authorities.

As staff isolated the students and kept the firearm safe, a school resource officer from the Denville Police Department responded with other officers, who took the juveniles into custody on charges of unlawfully possessing a weapon.

"We can assure you that this matter was dealt with swiftly and that the students and staff were not in danger," said Assistant Superintendent Nisha Zoeller and Morris Knolls Principal Ryan MacNaughton in a joint statement.

More:Rockaway Township substitute teacher faces sexual assault charges

Morris Knolls is part of a regional district, serving students from Denville and Rockaway Township.

There was no risk to students or staff nor is there any ongoing danger to the community, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office stated. Denville Police will maintain a heightened presence at the school over the next few days.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morris Knolls students arrested for bringing gun to school
Two Puyallup nurses are credited with helping save a mans life.

They found him halfway out of his car with his fiance after suffering what appeared to be a medical emergency.

It happened at 29th Ave and 7th Avenue SE in Puyallup.

There was like a little car with a man that was half hanging out of the drivers seat and a woman who was administering mouth to mouth, Jennifer Evans said. I just threw my truck into park and left it running and ran over there and Linda was right behind me.

The two nurses work together and sprang into action.

I would call it a nursing instinct, intuition, Linda Fish said.

Bystanders called 911 the two along with another nurse helped the man while they waited.

We started compressions, Linda secured the airway and I started chest compressions, Evans said. The man was taken to a nearby hospital and the two said last they heard he had survived.

Im glad we were there at the right time at the right place, Fish said.

An off-duty Federal Way officer also stepped in to help.

She moved the truck and took care of the scene, Evans said.

The two hope their story will encourage others to take a CPR class so that if something like this happens, people will know what to do.
Investigators with the Columbia River Drug Task Force are looking for two Pierce County residents accused of running a human trafficking ring that stretches across Washington.

Last year, detectives were informed three massage parlors were a front for prostitution.

They were displayed and appeared from the outside to be running like a regular massage parlor when in fact there was prostitution going on inside of them, said Chelan County Sheriffs Office Chief Ryan Moody, Commander of the Columbia River Drug Task Force.

Moody said two of the massage parlors are in downtown Wenatchee and one is in Kennewick.

Detectives searched all three along with a fourth location in Tacoma off 102nd Street.

A little close to home, I mean I got a daughter, you know, thats young, so it kind of sucks, said Kevin Helde.

Helde said hes lived in Tacoma for about 25 years, and said its tough to hear about these situations.

Dont go with anybody you dont know, said Helde.

The suspects were identified as 60-year-old Linhui Yan and 43-year-old Yan Yang of Tacoma, according to the task force.

Yan and Yang are facing charges of leading organized crime, promoting prostitution, and money laundering.

Officials say human trafficking is a big issue across the state.

Its definitely a prevalent issue and theres a lot more going on than I think the general public even realizes. The difficulty for us at law enforcement at this point is having enough resources to combat it, said Moody.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives were able to talk with some of the human trafficking victims and offer them resources.

Anyone who knows Yan or Yangs whereabouts is asked to contact the Columbia River Drug Task Force at 509-664-2310.
Two Wayne County men who joined the mob that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, were sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

Devin Steiner, 41, of Wooster, and his brother-in-law Adam Miller, 41, of Smithville, were sentenced to 30 days' incarceration by Judge Royce Lamberth in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. According to plea agreements, the two will also be on probation for 36 months, must provide 60 hours of community service, and pay $500 fines to compensate for damages to the Capitol building.

The government estimates more than $2.8 million in damage was caused by the riot.

This is among the images that federal officials say shows Devin Steiner inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Their attorney, Andrew Wides, said Steiner and Miller were big supporters of former President Donald Trump and went to Washington, D.C., for Trumps rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol. He said they ended up following the herd into the building but werent accused of any damages, violence or theft.

Initial report:Wayne County men plead guilty to entering Capitol building during Jan. 6 insurrection

The two accepted a plea agreement by pleading guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months incarceration, five years probation and a $5,000 fine, according to court documents.

Prosecutors recommended the reduced sentences as being in line with those given to other defendants who had performed similar acts that day.

Adam Miller, wearing a cowboy hat, is circled in yellow, while Jason Steiner, wearing a red and white beanie, is circled in red in this surveillance image taken about six minutes after the initial breech of the U.S. Capitol's Senate Wing on Jan. 6, 2020.

According to investigators, the two had been among the first to enter the Capitol building, arriving together six minutes after the first rioters broke through a window into the Senate Wing.

Investigators said the two "would had to have seen significant violence, smelled tear gas, and heard a blaring alarm and exploding flash bangs on their way from the west front up to the Senate Wing Door," prosecutors told the court.

"Miller and Steiner then joined a cohort of rioters in the Crypt who were facing off with Capitol Police while chanting 'Whos House? Our House,' as those officers tried to hold a police line," prosecutors said.

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Wides said his clients understand what they did was wrong.

"They were cooperative. They provided full information. They indicated that they knew that, you know, that was not the appropriate time, place and manner to exercise of their First Amendment right," he said.

"I think that at the end of the day, it was deemed by the court as more of a poor exercising of their ability to protest as opposed to, you know, really being material actors in the riot."

He said the two will likely serve their time in the federal prison in Youngstown or at some other federally designated halfway house.

U.S. Department of Justice reports prosecutions continue

Miller and Steiner are among at least 1,000 people who have been arrested from nearly all 50 states in connection with the Capitol attack, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's most recent update.

More than 50 of those defendants have been arrested in Ohio.

About 326defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees, including 106 who were charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

A total of 518 people have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges  133 to felonies and 385 to misdemeanors.

Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Devin Steiner, Adam Miller sentenced to 30 days in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
The case of a missing Georgia man found dead has taken another twist as police in Louisiana seek the arrests of two sex workers in connection with his disappearance.

On March 23, Baton Rouge police said the women are wanted for their alleged involvement in the case of Nathan Millard, who went missing during a business trip in February.

Millards body was found rolled in a rug and abandoned in a vacant lot on March 6.

One woman has an active warrant for prostitution and failure to seek assistance, Baton Rouge police said. The other woman is wanted on a warrant for unlawful disposal of human remains.

Authorities didnt release additional information.

McClatchy News reached out to the Baton Rouge Police Department on March 24 and was awaiting a response.

The news comes after authorities charged a 45-year-old man, described as a known drug dealer, with illegally dumping Millards body after a suspected overdose, WAFB reported, citing an arrest warrant. The man was initially arrested on charges unrelated to the missing person case.

He remained jailed as of March 24 on charges including obstruction of justice and failure to seek assistance, online records show.

Investigators said Millard likely died of an accidental overdose before his remains were dumped behind a former funeral home, Nola.com reported. Authorities found his body a few miles from the hotel he was staying at after someone reported a foul odor in the area, Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller said.

No one has been charged with homicide or drug crimes in connection with Millards death as of March 24.

Police have said they dont suspect foul play.

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The family of Tyre Sampson gathered Friday to remember his life 1 year after his tragic death.

Sampson died after he fell from the Orlando FreeFall ride at Icon Park on International Drive.

Photos: Family remembers Tyre Sampson 1 year after his death on the Orlando FreeFall ride

Tyre Sampson: One year later

The Orlando FreeFall ride has recently been dismantled as Sampsons family is still working to make sure deaths like this never happen again.

Sampsons family held a news conference to honor his memory.

Watch: A horrendous ride: Mother of boy, 14, killed on Orlando FreeFall visits attraction for first time

Florida lawmakers are pushing to make these types of thrill rides safer.

A bill called the Tyre Sampson Act would require training for ride operators and also require the need additional maintenance requirements.

State Sen. Geraldine Thompson is promoting the bill that focuses on signage so riders know the height and weight requirement before they get on.

Read: Orlando FreeFall ride owner reaches settlement with state after Tyre Sampsons death

State investigators discovered the ride operators made adjustments to at least one seat on the free fall ride to accommodate larger people.

Data shows Tyre was almost 100 pounds over the rides weight limit.

The Tyre Sampson Act would also require an annual affidavit and third-party inspections as well as make sure that anytime major modifications are made, those changes are reported.

Watch: Orlando FreeFalls operator made manual adjustments to ride that made it unsafe

See more in the video above.

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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Gregorio Catapang Jr. as director general of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

The appointment paper of Catapang  who has served as the agencys officer-in-charge  was released to the media on Friday.

Catapang took the reins of BuCor after the suspension of former chief Gerald Bantag, who has been tagged in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Bantag, who denied the accusation against him, was first suspended in October last year.

READ: DOJ prosecutors to charge Bantag, others for death of Percy Lapid, 'middleman'

Prior to the new post, Catapang also held other notable assignments including as former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Department of Justice, meanwhile, threw its support for the BuCor leader.

Together, we will pursue the planned projects and programs for the betterment of the bureau and the welfare of our PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), it said in a statement.
Tyson Fury has confirmed that his wife Paris is pregnant with their seventh child.

The pair already have six children: Venezuela, 13, Prince John James, 10, Prince Tyson II, six, Valencia, five, and Princes Adonis Amaziah, four, and Athena, 20 months. The couple have been married for 14 years.

The WBC heavyweight champion boxer, 34, posted a photograph of the pair on a date night to Instagram on Thursday (23 March), with which he announced the happy news.

Sharing a picture of the pair to his Instagram Story, he captioned the post: I get to date night with my beautiful pregnant wife @ParisFury1. God is great!

He wrote: 7th incoming, accompanied by a baby emoji.

What a woman. Fantastic news to cheer me up, he added.

Last year, rumours emerged that Paris, 33, was pregnant with her seventh child after Tysons boxing friend claimed during a TV interview that she was expecting.

In April 2022, Tysons friend Carl Froch said during an appearance on BBC Breakfast: Hes got five or six children? I dont want to get it wrong, but hes got a lot of kids. I think Paris, his wife, is pregnant.

They already share six children between the ages of 20 months and 13 years (Instagram / @tysonfury)

Its now understood that Froch was confused by the number of children his friend had.

It comes after Tysons half-brother, Tommy Fury, 23, welcomed his first child Bambi with his girlfriend Molly-Mae in January. The pair met on ITV2s reality dating show Love Island in 2019.

To announce their babys arrival, the couple shared a joint post on Instagram, which included a photo of Tommy holding the baby as he sat next to his partner in her hospital bed. The couple captioned the post with their daughters birthdate, 23/01/23, and a white heart emoji.

On her Instagram Story, Hague also shared a photo of herself cradling the newborn. In the caption, Hague opened up about the excitement and happiness she had felt during her first week of motherhood.

I cant believe we get to keep you forever. Becoming your mum has been the best thing to ever happen to me, she wrote. It doesnt seem possible but my love for you grows with each passing moment. There is no feeling like holding you in my arms little one, my heart literally explodes.

She continued: Thank you for entering this world safely for us and blessing us with the gift of being your parents. We promise to love and care for you unconditionally forever.
The main air defense system at a military base housing U.S. troops and personnel in Northeast Syria was not fully working Thursday when a drone attack killed one American contractor at the facility, multiple outlets reported Friday.

The New York Times first reported that the electronic counter-defense system was not fully functional at the coalition base known as RLZ. One U.S. official told the outlet the Avenger missile defense system at the base may have been experiencing a maintenance problem at the time of the attack.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Friday that there was a complete sight picture in terms of radar, but declined to offer further details, citing operational security. He added that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) will conduct a review to assess what happened.

The U.S. military launched retaliatory attacks roughly 13 hours after a drone of Iranian origin crashed into the base near Hasakah, killing the contractor and injuring five U.S. service members and another contractor, Ryder said.

Two Air Force F-15E fighter jets struck two facilities in eastern Syria affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with initial assessments that the facilities were destroyed.

Asked how the drone was able to crash into the base even with the radar working, Ryder shifted blame to Iranian-backed militias in the area.

This is a dangerous part of the world. The work that we do is inherently dangerous, thats why you have the military in these types of places conducting these types of operations, Ryder said. CENTCOM will do an assessment in terms of the attack. But the fact is that these IRGC-backed groups conducted this attack and unfortunately, we had an American killed.

He also would not say if there was an effort to shoot down the drone, only noting that we take a variety of measures to safeguard our people.

Iranian-backed fighters on Friday responded to the U.S. strikes with retaliatory rockets aimed at the Green Village base, located in the Al-Omar gas field of northeastern Syria.

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Washington has not taken further strikes off the table, with CENTCOM head Gen. Michael Kurilla saying the U.S. military will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing.

Amidst the tit-for-tat, the Biden administration has insisted it doesnt seek to escalate the situation.

We dont seek conflict or war with Iran. Our focus in Syria is on the enduring defeat of ISIS, Ryder said.

Appearing on CNN Friday morning, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby skirted questions on whether the United States considered the recent attacks an act of war.

We dont seek a war with Iran. Were not looking for an armed conflict with that country or another war in the region, Kirby said. We do seek to protect our mission in Syria, which is about defeating ISIS, and we do seek to make sure we can protect our people and our facilities against these Iran-backed groups.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

An American contractor was killed and five U.S. service members were injured in a drone strike on a facility in northeast Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said in a statement.

U.S. intelligence officials assessed that the unmanned aerial vehicle which hit the base near Hasakah was of Iranian origin. In response, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct their own precision airstrikes Thursday night targeting facilities in Syria used by groups with links to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

ISIS Leader Dead in Bloody Battle With U.S. That Kills 6 Kids

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, Austin said. As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Two of the injured U.S. service members were treated on site while another three required medical evacuation to Coalition medical facilities in Iraq, the Pentagon said. The contractor was also evacuated. The identity of the deceased contractor and those of the injured personnel have not been released.

The Pentagons statement said its airstrikes were intended to protect and defend U.S. personnel and that its actions were proportionate and deliberate.

In a separate statement, U.S. Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla said American forces could carry out further strikes if they are attacked again. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said.

He added that thoughts and prayers were with the American casualties and their families. Our troops remain in Syria to ensure the defeat of ISIS, which benefits the security and stability of not only Syria, but the entire region, Kurilla said.

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According to the Syria Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a group which documents the war in Syria, the U.S. strikes left eight Iranian-backed militiamen dead.

The number of fatalities is expected to rise, as the strikes left several militiamen injured, some seriously, amid unconfirmed reports of more fatalities, the SOHR said, adding that the strikes also caused heavy material losses.

Earlier on Thursday, before the strikes, Kurilla told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that Iranian proxy groups had conducted 78 drone and rocket attacks on U.S. forces across the Middle East since 2021. When asked if such strikes constituted acts of war, Kurilla said: They are being done by the Iranian proxies is what I would tell you.

Around 900 American troops are currently deployed in Syria, with hundreds of other U.S. contractors also working in the region. Although American forces have suffered attacks in Syria before, fatal strikes are uncommon.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The United States and Canada have forged an agreement that will allow both countries to turn away greater numbers of asylum-seekers amid a rise in unlawful crossings along their shared border in the past year, two U.S. officials told CBS News Thursday.

The deal, set to be formally announced Friday during a meeting in Ottawa between President Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will be a dramatic expansion of an accord dating back to 2004 that has allowed American and Canadian border officials to send some asylum-seekers across the U.S.-Canada border under the premise that both nations are safe countries where migrants can seek humanitarian refuge.

For the past two decades, the so-called "safe third country" agreement between the two nations has only applied at official border crossings, meaning that American and Canadian authorities have not been able to turn away asylum-seekers who cross into each country illegally.

But under the deal brokered this week, the accord will apply to migrants who cross the U.S.-Canada border in between official border crossings, a change that Canadian officials have long been pushing for, the two U.S. officials said, requesting anonymity to discuss the agreement before its formal announcement.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation first reported details of the new agreement earlier Thursday. As part of the deal, Canada will also commit to welcoming 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere over the next year through legal channels, one of the U.S. officials said.

While the updated accord will enhance both countries' ability to reject asylum-seekers amid unprecedented levels of migration, it will arguably benefit the Canadian government the most, as the country has seen a much larger number of illegal crossings into its territory from the U.S. in recent years.

Nearly 40,000 asylum-seekers crossed into Canada without authorization in 2022, the vast majority of them along an unofficial crossing known as Roxham Road that connects New York with the Quebec province, Canadian government figures show. Another 9,500 migrants crossed into Canada in January and February alone.

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In contrast, Border Patrol processed 3,577 migrants who crossed into the U.S. illegally from Canada in 2022, according to government data. While illegal crossings into the U.S. along the northern border have increased in recent months, rising to 628 in February, they remain well below the migration levels recorded along the southern border, where thousands of migrants are processed each day.

U.S. law allows the government to deport asylum-seekers to third countries if it determines that those nations offer migrants a "full and fair procedure" to request refuge. The accord with Canada is the only safe third country agreement the U.S. is currently enforcing. Similar accords with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador under former President Donald Trump were scrapped by the Biden administration.

Amid mass migration in the Western Hemisphere and record migrant apprehensions along the border with Mexico, the Biden administration has increasingly sought to restrict access to the overwhelmed U.S. asylum system.

In early January, Mr. Biden expanded the scope of a pandemic-era restriction along the southern border known as Title 42, adding Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to the list of countries whose citizens can be expelled to Mexico if they cross into the U.S. illegally. The administration is planning to replace Title 42, which is set to lapse in early May, with a rule that will disqualify most non-Mexican migrants who cross the southern border illegally from asylum.

The efforts to deter illegal crossings have been paired with expanded opportunities for migrants to enter the U.S. legally, including a mobile app for vulnerable asylum-seekers in Mexico and a sponsorship program that allows up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly to the U.S. each month.

The revamped U.S. strategy has so far led to a sharp reduction in unlawful crossings along the southern border, but officials expect migrant arrivals to spike in the spring, after Title 42 is lifted.

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OTTAWA  The U.S. and Canada have reached a deal that would allow both countries to turn away asylum seekers who cross the border illegally as the effects of irregular migration span the hemisphere, President Joe Biden said Friday.

Biden made the announcement during an address to the Canadian Parliament and following a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The agreement will allow Canada to turn away migrants from unofficial crossing points like Roxham Road, a small, well-traveled road that straddles the Canada-U.S. border between Quebec and New York. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has hammered Trudeau, calling on the prime minister to raise the issue with Biden. Roughly 40,000 asylum seekers entered Canada through this path last year.

In exchange, Canada will also announce plans to welcome an additional 15,000 Central American migrants over the next year through legal pathways, the official said, citing the Los Angeles Declaration, which emphasized a regional response to unprecedented levels of migration.

News of the agreement is a welcome headline for both Trudeau and Biden. Just as the U.S. southern border remains a vexing political issue for Biden, the influx of migrants is also putting pressure on Canada.

The agreement is a revamping of the Safe Third Country Agreement, a treaty the U.S. and Canada signed in 2004 that requires asylum seekers to make their claim in the first country in which they arrive. Under the agreement, asylum seekers can be turned back to the United States if passing through an official border entry. Fridays deal will expand this to asylum seekers who cross the border illegally.

I applaud Canada for opening new legal pathways, Biden told the Parliament on Friday. The United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings and fully implement the updated Safe Third Country Agreement

Trudeau addressed the topic a day earlier by hinting that a deal was coming.

This is something that is as everyone knows a deep, important, complex issue that involves vulnerable individuals, he said. It involves sovereignty, it involves ensuring our own citizens that we have a strong and effective immigration and asylum system.

Fridays announcement is in line with the Biden administrations recent strategy for deterring migrants from crossing the southern border. Border crossings have dropped since Biden unveiled a plan earlier this year to accept 30,000 migrants a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela while cracking down on those who fail to use the plans legal pathways.
The U.S. military conducted several airstrikes in Syria on Thursday against Iran-aligned groups hours after an Iranian drone attack killed a U.S. contractor and injured five service members, the Pentagon said.

President Biden directed the U.S. military to carry out retaliatory strikes against facilities affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard after the Iranian attack on a coalition base housing American personnel near Hasakah on Thursday night, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, he added.

The Pentagon said the U.S. took proportionate and deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize casualties.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Three service members and a second U.S. contractor were evacuated to coalition medical facilities in Iraq, while two others were treated on site.

The U.S. strikes killed at least eight pro-Iranian fighters, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria.

Iranian-backed groups have attacked U.S. groups 78 times since the start of 2021, according to Army General Erik Kurilla, the head of Central Command.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement Thursday.

The U.S. maintains roughly 900 service members in Syria to conduct counterterrorism operations.

More from National Review
A U.S. contractor was killed and six people  including five service members  were injured after an unmanned drone struck a maintenance facility in northeastern Syria, the Department of Defense said in a Thursday evening statement.

In response, President Biden authorized a precision airstrike "in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)," said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in the statement.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

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By Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Friday announced further sanctions against Myanmar, targeting the supply of jet fuel to Myanmar's military following air strikes in civilian populated areas, the U.S. Treasury Department said.

The Treasury in a statement said it imposed sanctions on two people and six entities connected to Myanmar's military that Washington accused of enabling its continuing atrocities, including through the import, storage and distribution of jet fuel to the military.

Since a junta seized power in February 2021, Myanmar has been plunged into chaos, with a resistance movement fighting the military on multiple fronts following a bloody crackdown on opponents.

The Treasury said the military has continued to commit atrocities and violence against the people of Myanmar since the coup and said it has increasingly relied on air strikes in civilian populated areas, citing an air strike on the village of Let Yet Kone in central Burma that impacted a school and one in the northern state of Kachin that killed as many as 80 people.

"Burmas military regime continues to inflict pain and suffering on its own people," the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the statement, using the Southeast Asian nation's former name.

"The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to the people of Burma, and will continue to deny the military the materiel it uses to commit these atrocities."

Myanmar's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Treasury targeted Myanmar military aviation fuel suppliers on Friday, imposing sanctions on Myanmar-based Asia Sun Group, Asia Sun Trading Co. Ltd And Cargo Link Petroleum Logistics Co. Ltd.

Also targeted were individuals and entities the Treasury said were associated with or have provided equipment to Myanmar's military, including a close associate of the military regime leader and the associate's companies, Star Sapphire Group of Companies and Star Sapphire Trading Company Limited.

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The Treasury on Friday also issued an alert on the sanctions risks associated with the provision of jet fuel to Myanmar's military.

The United States and other Western countries have already announced a series of sanctions targeting junta members, the military government's agencies, and military-run companies, seeking to curb their ability to raise money.

A U.N. report published this month found that violence had intensified in northwestern and southeastern Myanmar due to the military's "indiscriminate air strikes and artillery shelling, mass burnings of villages to displace civilian populations, and denial of humanitarian access".

The junta has previously said it is carrying out a legitimate campaign against what it calls terrorists and denied atrocities have taken place.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
The U.S. launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian-linked sites in eastern Syria Thursday after a suicide drone attack killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five troops and another contractor at a U.S. base there.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the airstrikes targeted facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after intelligence officials determined the drone was of Iranian origin, according to a Pentagon statement on Thursday.

The attack on the U.S. base occurred around 1:38 p.m. local time at a U.S. Coalition maintenance facility near the town of Hasakah in the countrys northeast, the Pentagon said. Two of the wounded troops received on-site medical treatment, while three more troops and the wounded contractor were evacuated to medical facilities in Iraq. Their condition is unclear.

U.S. troops remain in Syria as part of the nearly 8-year effort to defeat the Islamic State and prevent the groups resurgence in areas left unsecured more than a decade into the countrys civil war.

Austin said in a statement that the strikes were conducted at the direction of President Biden.

U.S. Central Commands top officer, Gen. Erik Kurilla, said this was another in a series of attacks on our troops and partner forces, in a tweeted statement.

We will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin stated. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Videos emerged on social media Thursday showing an apparent series of explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor province, the Associated Press reported. The oil-rich area is largely controlled by Syrian government forces and Iran-linked militia groups.

Syrian and Iranian government officials did not immediately address the attack or strikes, though Qatars state news agency reported the countrys foreign minister spoke with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, according to the AP. Qatar also spoke around the same time to Irans top diplomat, the agency reported.

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The release characterized the precision airstrikes as proportional and deliberate though its unclear how many retaliatory strikes took place.

The Pentagon has blamed previous unmanned drone strikes and missile attacks on groups backed by Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran, the AP reported. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

U.S. forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The U.S. still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened. There are roughly 900 U.S. troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east, according to the AP.

Military Times senior reporter Geoff Ziezulewicz contributed to this report.
The Biden administration is shifting its strategy on Haiti away from a proposal for a multilateral armed force that would have had the power to combat gangs in the streets of Port-au-Prince to a push at the United Nations for a more traditional peacekeeping mission, three sources familiar with the matter told McClatchy and the Miami Herald.

The United States had hoped to avoid sending another peacekeeping mission to Haiti, which has hosted eight in the last 30 years. But its initial plan to rally an international coalition of forces led by an unidentified third country to intervene at the request of the Haitian government has faltered since it was first proposed in the fall, compelling the administration to change course as the security environment in the Caribbean nation rapidly deteriorates.

The White House had hoped that Canada would lead such a force. But a push ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Ottawa this week made clear that the Canadians were unlikely to take on a leadership role, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly casting doubt on Canadas capacity to assume the mission.

Trudeau has touted support for the Haiti National Police and his governments use of sanctions against Haitis political and business elite, believed to be supporting gangs and fanning instability in the country. On Friday, he announced that Ottawa will provide $100 million in equipment and financial support to help the Haiti National Police. He also announced two additional sanctions on members of the Haitian elite who are benefiting from the gang violence. The individuals are former Haiti Sen. Nenel Cassy, and Steeve Khawly, a businessman and former candidate in the last presidential elections.

We are determined to increase international support for Haiti including through humanitarian assistance, Trudeau said at a press conference with Biden.

Trudeau noted that for 30 years, western countries have been involved in Haiti to try and stabilize the country, to try and help the Pearl of the Antilles, and the situation is atrocious.

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The United States first proposed sending a multilateral rapid action force to Haiti in a resolution at the U.N. Security Council in November. The Biden administration never volunteered to lead the force itself.

Senior administration officials acknowledged that the topic of Haiti was among the more complex and complicated discussions that would take place between Biden and Trudeau, but did not provide hope that there would be a breakthrough.

It is a challenge to get to certain parts of the country, and even neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, given the high levels of gang activity, a senior administration official said, recognizing the escalating violence and kidnappings gripping Haitis capital since late February that has now spread to other parts of the country.

What weve been doing is, I think, methodically, with Canada, looking at really what is needed on the ground, what it would take, really, how many potentially other countries what kind of mandate, whether a Chapter 7, or if its something that the U.N. Security Council really should be debating, the official added. Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter authorizes the use of force for the enforcement of peace.

Le @PMcanadien @JustinTrudeau annonce:



$100M en equipements et soutien financier pour la @pnh_officiel.



Nenel Cassy et Steeve Khawly sont sanctionnes.



va accueillir 15 000 migrants de l'hemisphere sur une base humanitaire en 2023. Les details seront annonces ulterieurement.  Sebastien Carriere (@diploseb) March 24, 2023

A State Department spokesperson told McClatchy on Thursday that the United States is still working with our international partners to develop the framework for a police-led multinational force to assist the Haitian National Police. But three sources familiar with the effort said the administration had quietly shifted its focus in recent days toward a peacekeeping mission.

In October, as a powerful gang coalition cut off roads and seized control of Haitis main fuel terminal, interim Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry asked for the international community to deploy troops to assist the Haiti National Police. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supported the call, citing a dramatic deterioration in security that has paralyzed the country, proposing options for a multilateral force that would have had authorization by the Security Council to intervene in Haiti in the short, medium and long-term.

Under Guterres proposal, the forces intervention would have been a direct agreement between the Haitian government and additional countries with the ability to go on the offensive against gangs. By contrast, a peacekeeping mission would pull from a U.N. list of troop-contributing countries under direct U.N. supervision.

Still, both typically require Chapter 7 authorization from the Security Council. It was unclear whether the United States force proposal would have ever secured Security Council approval  requiring votes from Russia and China  and it remains unclear if a peacekeeping mission would pass, either.

At the Friday press conference after their meetings, Biden and Trudeau addressed the crisis in Haiti, underscoring their shared concern.

The biggest thing we could do  and its going to take time  is to increase the prospect of the police departments in Haiti to deal with the problems they face. And thats going to take a little bit of time, Biden said.

Were also looking at whether the international community through the United Nations could play a larger role in this circumstance, he continued. But there is no question that there is a real, genuine concern, because there are several million people in Haiti, and the diaspora could cause some real  how can I say  confusion in the Western Hemisphere.

Any decision about military force, which is often raised, we think would have to be done in consultation with the United Nations and with the Haitian government  and so that is not off the table, but that is not in play, at the moment, Biden added.

LONG HISTORY OF MISSIONS

Any request for U.N. peacekeepers would need to come from the government of Haiti, which until now has been reluctant to invite the U.N. back in. However, the issue of an outside force has found support in Haiti, with a recent poll finding that nearly 70% of Haitians do not think the Haiti National Police can defeat the gangs on its own. But the idea of a return of U.N. blue-helmet peacekeepers  six years after the last foreign soldiers left and four years after the mission ended entirely  has remained controversial, due to the peacekeeping forces history introducing a deadly cholera epidemic in the country months after the 2010 earthquake, and the poor U.N. response.

Cholera had not existed in Haiti for a century until peacekeepers from Nepal infected a local river. The waterborne disease left more than 10,000 dead and over 800,000 infected, but for years the United Nations would not accept responsibility for its role or issue an apology.

The United Nations, with support from others in the international community, refused to individually compensate victims, drawing criticism from more than a dozen of its own independent rights experts. Instead it chose to invest more than $700 million in Haitis epidemiological, water and sanitation systems to combat the disease and support the governments national plan.

Other problems with a peacekeeping force have to do with sexual abuse allegations. U.N. peacekeepers were accused of getting young Haitian women pregnant and abandoning their children.

Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, a retired Brazilian military officer who previously served as force commander of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti in 2007, told the Herald in an interview that the missions are not meant to solve countries problems. They are meant to provide stability so that the government can step in and make the necessary reforms and pass laws to shore up stability.

At the same time youre providing support to the police, you need to study how to improve the conditions of the population, he said. You cant only treat just the criminal question, you have to see what to do to have better conditions for the population  and how we improve the government and governance to have much more authority.

The gangs, he noted, grew stronger because of the conditions in the country, including poverty.

Some observers question whether the Biden administrations reluctance to deploy American soldiers to Haiti has also made its partners less willing to contribute forces. The administration has said that it wants to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Previous missions began in 1994 as one-year deployments and soon turned into multi-year missions as the international community realized that Haitis turmoil could not be addressed quickly.

Although Haiti enjoyed relative stability between 2000 and 2004, the United Nations was forced to intervene when controversy over legislative elections deepened political turmoil, and demands rose for the resignation of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was finally ousted in a bloody coup in 2004.

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti was led by Brazil and was supposed to depart the country in 2011. But the 2010 earthquake extended its stay, and the U.N., the United States and others insisted on elections.

Despite its problems, the mission did have success in helping rebuild the Haiti National police force and provided a measure of stability that allowed the country to hold democratic elections after Aristides ouster. The missions presence between 2004 and 2017 provided several years of stability that allowed Haitian President Rene Preval to govern until the 2010 devastating earthquake.

Haiti observers who support outside security assistance to help the beleaguered police force have stressed that such aid for the police can help if it is carefully led  with an appropriate mandate that can counter the gangs, and a response by the U.N. when issues arise.

Any operation cant take just a SWAT team approach to the gangs, said William ONeill, a human rights lawyer who has served in Haiti under previous U.N. missions. The U.N. must support not only the Haitian police but also the judiciary and the prison system, which are crucial to protecting rights and building the rule of law.

The U.N. and all the major international actors must not interfere in Haitian politics, he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  Senator Imee Marcos quashed rumors that her mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos, has died after it trended on social media.

Last week pa 'yan (rumors). Ang bad ng nagkakalat," the senator told reporters via text message.

[Translation: That has been circulating since last week. Those who spread it are bad.]

Keywords Imelda and "Marcos" topped the trending topics with at least a thousand tweets each on Twitter Thursday afternoon after netizens shared their reactions to the supposed death of the Marcos matriarch.

Imeldas niece, Eliza Romualdez-Valtos, also took to her Facebook account to quell the rumored death of her 93-year-old aunt.

Some netizens also grabbed the chance to revive Sandiganbayans decision of convicting Imelda Marcos of graft in 2018.

In November 2018, the anti-graft court sentenced Imelda  known for her penchant for designer shoes and jewelry  to a maximum of 77 years in jail for profiting from the foundations she and her husband established in Switzerland while working for the government.

She was convicted of seven counts of graft.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Friday sanctioned three Belarusian state-linked entities and nine individuals in response to an ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy activists launched after a 2020 presidential poll that the opposition and Western governments rejected as fraudulent.

The Treasury also identified a U.S.-made Boeing 737 jet as the property of Alexander Lukashenko, the U.S.-sanctioned Belarusian leader and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who denies charges that his 2020 election victory was rigged.

Identifying the aircraft as part of a fleet of luxury planes used by Lukashenko and his family effectively blocked its use in the United States.

The sanctions generally prohibit Americans from doing business with the designated entities and individuals, and could bring similar measures against any financial institutions or persons who conduct transactions with them.

The Treasury said in a statement that it was sanctioning two major Belarusian automotive makers, including the Belarusian Automobile Plant, which it called one of the world's biggest producers of large trucks and dump trucks.

Also designated was the Minsk Automobile Plant, which the Treasury statement said is "a significant source of revenue" for Lukashenko's government

The Treasury also announced sanctions against both companies' directors.

The Minsk Automobile Plant management intimidated and fired workers for participating in strikes and peaceful protests over Lukashenko's claim of victory in the August 2020 election, Treasury said.

Belarusian Automobile Plant workers were intimidated and threatened with layoffs for the same reason, it said.

The statement said sanctions were imposed on seven members of Belarus' central election commission, as well as the commission itself.

Finally, the Treasury said visa restrictions were slapped on 14 individuals, including regime officials, to mark Belarusian Freedom Day, an unofficial holiday commemorating the country's 1918 declaration of independence from the Russian empire.

Lukashenko is beholden to Putin for backing him after the outbreak of the mass protests over the Belarusian leader's 2020 election. Lukashenko allowed Belarus to be used as a launch pad for Putin's 2021 invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

(Reporting Jonathan Landay and Paul Grant; editing by Rami Ayyub and Angus MacSwan)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a signing ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Tuesday. (Contributor/Getty Images)

International news this week was dominated by Chinese President Xi Jinpings historic visit to Russia, signaling a deepening alliance between the two superpowers. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to show a united front after the two-day summit. But what were some of the stories that flew under the radar?

Here are three international news stories you may have missed this week from Yahoos partners.

Uganda passes anti-LGBTQ bill

Ugandan legislators participate in the debate of the Anti-Homosexuality bill, which proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relations, at the Parliament building in Kampala on March 21. (Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters)

As reported by Time, Ugandas Parliament in Kampala on Tuesday passed a bill that would make it a crime to identify as LGBTQ  legislation described by the United Nations human rights chief as probably among the worst of its kind in the world. The Anti-Homosexuality bill introduced several new regulations that would see anyone who is openly gay, as well as advocates for LGBTQ rights, severely punished.

The new bill proposes: the death penalty for those convicted of aggravated homosexuality, meaning sexual acts with minors, or people with disabilities or with HIV; 20 years in prison for committing the offense of homosexuality; and 10 years in prison for attempting to commit a sexual act. The bill now heads to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who can veto it or sign it into law. The legislation has received worldwide condemnation, with National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stating that Uganda could face economic repercussions if its made law.

Why it matters: The new bill is the latest in Ugandas crackdown against homosexuality. The LGBTQ community had already been facing discrimination before Tuesdays bill. In 2013, same-sex acts became outlawed, with a punishment of life imprisonment. Following this, suicide rates in the LGBTQ community increased. The newest bill could see further discrimination and a possibility of mass violence against those who identify as LGBTQ.

More from Time here.

Nigerian politician convicted in U.K. for organ trafficking

Photos provided by the London Metropolitan Police on March 23 show, from left, Dr. Obinna Obeta, Beatrice Ekweremadu and Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. (Metropolitan Police via AP)

CBS News reported on Thursday that a court in the U.K. convicted a senior Nigerian politician and his wife of attempted organ trafficking after bringing a 21-year-old man to England from Nigeria with the intention of getting their 25-year-old daughter a new kidney.

Story continues

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and Dr. Obinna Obeta, a middleman, were found guilty of conspiring to exploit the victim for his kidney. Prosecutors said the 21-year-old street trader was offered 7,000 (around $8,550) and opportunities within the U.K. The operation was to take place in an 80,000 (nearly $100,000) operation in Londons Royal Free Hospital  but it was only when the man was brought to the hospital and met with doctors that he realized what was happening. Investigators began to probe what happened when the victim ran away from London to a neighboring county, where police found him sleeping in a train station and in distress.

More from CBS News on this story here.

Drought in Somalia saw 43,000 die last year

At a children's burial ground in Doolow, Somalia, an aid worker pours a water offering onto the grave of a 2-year-old girl, Iqra, who died from complications due to malnutrition. (Giles Clarke for the New York Times via Getty Images)

From the Independent: An estimated 43,000 people in Somalia died in 2022 during the countrys longest-ever drought, according to a new report. Somalias Federal Ministry of Health & Human Services, the World Health Organization and the United Nations childrens agency, UNICEF, found that at least half of the 43,000 were children under the age of 5. It is expected that 34,000 more are likely to die in the first half of this year.

Why it matters: Somalia has faced five consecutive failed rainy seasons, resulting in a food crisis. Alongside the lack of rain, the price of food has increased due to the war in Ukraine, causing further food insecurity. According to UNICEF, at least 2 million children are at risk of malnutrition, and nearly half the countrys population is in need of humanitarian assistance.

Read more from the Independent here.
(Bloomberg) -- The UK government should investigate whether power trading firms are manipulating the countrys electricity markets to boost their profits, former Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Miliband, now his partys spokesman on climate change and energy, was responding to a Bloomberg News investigation published Thursday exposing how some of the UKs power companies are using an off-on tactic  saying they will switch off their plants ahead of expected peaks in demand, only to then agree to keep them running in exchange for significantly higher prices to fill the shortfall.

The maneuver, which has racked up 525 million ($647 million) of revenue in recent years and is ultimately paid for by consumers, is often used on days when theres limited supply available to the grid operator. Energy regulator Ofgem has characterized these practices as immoderate and sharp and is seeking to change the rules.

The government and Ofgem must urgently investigate the concerning situation regarding power traders charging excess prices for power, Miliband said in a statement. British businesses and consumers should not be footing the bill for market manipulations.

Read More: Traders Manipulating Power Market Means Higher Bills in the UK

The Labour partys intervention follows comments from Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks spokesman on Thursday, condemning unacceptable behavior by generators. Ofgem is aware of this concerning behavior from a handful of participants involved and is urgently looking into it further, he said.

Companies involved in the practice include Vitol Groups power unit, Uniper SE and SSE Plc. The companies havent been found to have broken any market rules, and theres no suggestion the companies have broken the law. However, Ofgem is trying to change the rules.

Story continues

Most firms featured in the Bloomberg News report provided brief statements in response to questions, saying they comply with regulations.

Bloomberg News is examining energy markets in the UK and elsewhere.Got a tip or a story to share? Get in touch with us at powerpricing@bloomberg.net

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Ukraine sent to Russia all the severely wounded occupiers captured since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion, whose condition allowed transportation.

Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

Details: Adhering to international obligations, in accordance with Articles 109-114 of the Geneva Conventions and with the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine unilaterally transferred severely wounded and seriously ill captives of the occupiers to the Russian side.

In this case, it is not about the exchange of prisoners of war, but rather about repatriation: it is the return of severely wounded prisoners without any conditions, as stipulated by international humanitarian law, the headquarters explains.

Quote: "At the same time, the aggressor state, systematically disregarding international norms, is still holding thousands of Ukrainian citizens hostage, including the seriously ill and wounded, civilians, children and women, the elderly, as well as those who were captured by Russia even before the start of the large-scale invasion.

According to international humanitarian law, all these categories of citizens should be returned to Ukraine by repatriation without any conditions. Despite this, Russia not only continues to hold civilians and non-combatants hostage but also refuses to allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross into their places of detention, does not provide them with contact with relatives, proper nutrition, medical care, deliberately creating inhumane conditions of captivity.

Ukraine calls on the world community to increase pressure on the aggressor state to force Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and release all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine from captivity."

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Diana Sosoaca

According to Nikolenko, the pro-Russian politician poses a threat to national security.

(This is) a classic example of the Russian revanchist methodology, Nikolenko said.

We strongly condemn the attempt to call into question the territorial integrity of Ukraine, to undermine the spirit of good neighborliness between Ukraine and Romania.

Read also: State Border Guard Service detains Ukrainian men who wanted to flee to Romania

Read also: Romania denies reports Russian missile entered its airspace during mass attack on Ukraine

Earlier Sosoaca submitted a bill that proposes to denounce the agreement on good neighborliness and cooperation between Bucharest and Kyiv.

In particular, the senator said Romania should annex the territories that historically belonged to Romania, namely: Northern Bukovyna, Hertsa, Budjak (Kagul, Bolgrad, Izmail), historical Maramures and Zmiinyi (Snake) Island.

The senator explains this with the desire to restore the cultural identity, traditions, customs and religion of the population of Romania and avoid forced ethnic assimilation of Romanians in Ukraine.

Read also: Romania rejects Putin's false statements that the country has territorial claims against Ukraine

Diana Sosoaca is a lawyer, the founder of the S.O.S. party and an incumbent senator in the parliament of Romania. She has been repeatedly criticized for her ties to Russia.

In particular, after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, she and three other parliamentarians met with the Russian ambassador in Bucharest to discuss Romanias position of neutrality regarding the invasion.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Group of Creditors of Ukraine (GCU) body said on Friday that it had provided financing assurances to support the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) approval for an upper credit tranche programme to help restore Ukraine's economy.

The Group of Creditors of Ukraine includes Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Britain and the United States.

"Germany stands firmly by Ukraine's side and supports it to the best of its ability in its fight for our common values of freedom and democracy. That is why Germany is committed to providing financial support bilaterally and in various multilateral forums," a German finance ministry spokesperson said in a written statement.

This included extending the existing debt moratorium until 2027 and suspending interest and repayment burdens, the spokesperson said. The group agreed to conduct a debt restructuring in a later phase to restore the country's debt sustainability, it added.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, additional reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Ukraines Ministry of Defense mocked Michigan-born Russian citizen Steven Seagal after the action-movie actor reportedly promoted the teaching of martial arts to Russian military recruits.

Its been reported that Russia has recruited Steven Seagal to teach martial arts to its soldiers, the Ukraine government agency wrote on Twitter Thursday.

Rumor has it that the Seagal-style running technique will be included in the training, it continued. Russian soldiers will now be able to run away from their positions with weird hand motions.

Its been reported that russia has recruited Steven Seagal to teach martial arts to its soldiers.

Rumor has it that the Seagal-style running technique will be included in the training.

russian soldiers will now be able to run away from their positions with weird hand motions. pic.twitter.com/rEGr2xfwuf  Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 23, 2023

The swipe at the Under Siege actor came as Russias invasion of Ukraine dragged into its 14th month.

Seagal became a Russian citizen in 2016.

The actor and director has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as one of the greatest living world leaders, joined a pro-Putin political party and even been named as Moscows goodwill ambassador to the U.S.

Seagal has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct, including rape. Seagal has denied the allegations.

Related...
Nova Poshta branch in Vilnius

We will invest EUR 10 million, he said while opening its first Nova Post branch in Lithuania, adding that the company has already invested EUR 1 million in network development in Poland.

Read also: Ukraines Nova Poshta expanding into Germany and Romania

In total, we plan to open 200 branches in 30 countries. At least three branches will be opened in Lithuania in the near future, as well as one each in Riga and Tallinn. Everything will depend on the number of customers and shipments.

According to Popereshnyuk, the company also plans to open branches in 12 cities in Germany within three months.

Read also: Ukrainian banks close every fifth branch in 2022

The first one will appear in Berlin in early May, he said.

The work is already actively underway there.

Read also: Nova Poshta raises tariffs for its services in 2023

Nova Poshta delivered 315 million parcels in 2022. However, the company did not disclose financial numbers for the past year.

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
Ukrainian military uses a drone in the Luhansk sector

According to the message, UAH 20 billion ($541 million) will be allocated for drone procurement in 2023.

Read also: EU to discuss joint ammunition procurement for Ukraine

The newly-adopted rules are designed to produce the following results:

 simplifying bureaucratic procedures;

 creating favorable conditions for domestic UAV manufacturers to expand their operations;

 manufacturers will be able to cooperate and compete with foreign companies;

 stimulate business activity in unmanned aircraft manufacturing.

Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said that this decision will accelerate mass production of UAVs in Ukraine and their delivery to the front.

Read also: Russian UAV shot down outside Kyiv amid air raid alert, say local authorities

Today's decision will help UAV manufacturers to develop more actively, expand, reinvest profits, and compete with foreign companies, said Fedorov.

Instead of wasting months on unnecessary paperwork and bureaucratic work, we have an accelerated admission of UAVs to operation, their purchase and their delivery to the front.

Read also: Bombs, Shahed drones, and missiles pound Ukraine overnight, says air force

He noted that prior to making this decision, consultations and negotiations were held with representatives of Ukrainian drone manufacturers.

Within the Coordinating Headquarters for the production of drones, we worked comprehensively with all Ukrainian UAV manufacturers, the minister added.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  A Marawi City board aims to start compensating by May owners of properties destroyed during the 2017 siege and the heirs of those who died due to the armed conflict.

Marawi Compensation Board Chairperson Maisara Dandamun-Latiph said they expect around 17,800 households from 32 affected barangays to file a claim.

Naghintay po sila for almost six years, so nandito na po kami, at handa po kami na i-process at i-award po sa mga lawful claimants ang inyong monetary compensation, she said in a public briefing on Thursday.

Hopefully po mangyayari po 'yan within this coming month of May, June, up to December, she added.

[Translation: They waited for almost six years, and now were here, ready to process and award monetary compensation to lawful claims. Hopefully, well be able to do that this coming May, June, up to December.]

Dandamun-Latiph noted that the board was allotted a 1 billion budget this year for initial payments to victims.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11696, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022, any owner of a residential, cultural, or commercial structure, or other properties in affected areas, is entitled to a tax-free payment from the state.

Compensation will also be given to the heirs of those killed in the war, which broke out between government forces and terrorists, as well as of those who are legally presumed dead.

According to Amnesty International, 920 Islamic State-linked militants, 165 soldiers and 47 civilians were killed in the so-called Battle of Marawi, which lasted for five months. The conflict also displaced some 360,000 people in the city and surrounding areas.

Dandamun-Latiph said the claims for compensation shall be filed within one year after the application commenced.

These will be evaluated by the board, whose nine members took their oath just this year.

The chairperson added they are now working with other government agencies to finalize the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 11696, which will detail the process that claimants must undergo to receive the payout.

Dandamun-Latiph also reported that 85% of the citys rehabilitation has been completed, according to the latest update from the Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Ang kulang na lang po ay patubig, so wino-workout po ito ng LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration) na magkaroon ng tubig dito sa most affected area ng Marawi, dahil wala pa po talagang tubig sa ground zero, she said.

[Translation: Whats lacking is water in the most affected area of Marawi, so the LWUA is addressing this because theres still no water in ground zero.]
By Mike Collett-White

NEAR KREMINNA, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian forces attacked northern and southern stretches of the front in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region on Friday, even as Kyiv said Moscow's assault was flagging near the city of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian military reports described heavy fighting along a line running from Lyman to Kupiansk, as well as in the south at Avdiivka on the outskirts of the Russian-held city of Donetsk.

Both areas have been major Russian targets in a winter campaign to fully capture Ukraine's industrialised Donbas region. The offensive has so far yielded scant gains despite the deaths of thousands of troops on both sides in the war's bloodiest fighting.

At a Ukrainian artillery position in lush pine forests behind the northern stretch of the front, troops fired 155 mm rounds from a French TRF-1 howitzer towards a highway used to supply Russian-held Kreminna.

"Luckily we are holding the same position," a soldier told Reuters. "Because we are facing a very strong enemy with very good arms. And it's a professional army: airborne troops."

As orders came in with coordinates, the crew jumped into position, removed camouflage, aimed, loaded and fired. After three rounds, they lowered their gun's barrel, covered it back up and returned to bunkers to await further orders. Artillery and small arms fire could be heard in the distance.

The front lines have barely budged since November, despite intense fighting. Ukraine recaptured swathes of territory in the second half of 2022, but has since kept mostly to the defensive, while Russia has attacked with hundreds of thousands of freshly called-up reservists and convicts recruited from prison.

As winter turns to spring, the main question in Ukraine is how much longer Russia can sustain its offensive, and when or whether Ukraine can reverse the momentum with a counterassault.

Meeting in Ottawa on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed their "steadfast support for the Ukrainian people as they defend themselves against Putin's brutal and barbaric invasion," Trudeau said.

Story continues

On Thursday, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces said Russia's assault on Bakhmut, a small city that has been the focus of the biggest battle of the war, appeared to be losing steam and Kyiv could go on the offensive "very soon".

'PEOPLE PUSHED TO THE VERY LIMITS'

For now, Ukrainian forces are still focused on preventing a Russian advance along more than 300 km (185 miles) of Donbas front, from Kupiansk in the north to Vuhledar in the south.

"Shelling of Avdiivka does not stop - artillery, rockets, mortars," said Oleksiy Dmytrashkyvskyi of Ukraine's Tavria military command, responsible for southern areas, who said he was saddened by the conditions suffered by the mostly elderly people who did not want to leave.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the east command defending the front farther north, said Russia's main focus was on a stretch from Kupiansk to Lyman recaptured by Ukrainian forces last year.

Both said the Russians were reinforcing after heavy losses. There was no similar update from the Russian side, which has long claimed to be inflicting heavy casualties on the Ukrainians.

In Bakhmut itself, Ukrainian troops, who weeks ago appeared likely to pull back, have instead dug in, a strategy some Western military experts say is risky given the need to conserve forces for a counterattack.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said some 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, many elderly and with disabilities, were suffering "very dire conditions" in and around Bakhmut.

"They are ... spending almost the entire days in intense shelling in the [underground] shelters," the ICRC's Umar Khan told a news briefing. "All you see is people pushed to the very limits of their existence and survival and resilience."

The United Nations issued its latest report on rights abuses in the war, confirming thousands of civilian deaths, which it describes as the tip of the iceberg, as well as disappearances, torture and rape, mostly of Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas. Russia denies atrocities.

RUSSIAN ECONOMY BURDENED

In Kostiantynivka, west of Bakhmut, a Russian missile slammed into a refuge offering warm shelter for civilians, killing at least three women, local officials said.

In the northern Sumy region, an administrative building, a school building and residential buildings were among those damaged by Russian shelling that killed two civilians, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said.

There was no immediate Russian response to the reports.

Russia said its forces had destroyed a hangar housing Ukrainian drones in the Odesa region in the south.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, saying Ukraine's ties to the West were a security threat. Since then, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians as well as soldiers on both sides have been killed. Kyiv and the West call the war an unprovoked assault to subdue an independent country.

Dmitry Medvedev, a hardline Kremlin official, said Moscow wants to create demilitarised zones around Ukrainian territory it claims to have annexed, and would otherwise battle deep into Ukraine.

While Russia's invasion has wreaked colossal damage in Ukraine, increased defence spending, Western sanctions and the loss of hundreds of thousands of young men from the workforce have also caused economic upheaval at home.

The Social Policy Institute at Moscow's Higher School of Economics found in a study released this week that, even in its most optimistic scenario, real incomes would only exceed 2021 levels by 2% by the decade's end and a middle class that grew after Vladimir Putin became president in 2000 would shrink markedly.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White west of Kreminna, Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Alex Richardson and Cynthia Osterman)
Ukraine unilaterally hands over all seriously wounded invaders to Russia

Ukraine has unilaterally handed over seriously injured and seriously ill captured invaders to the Russian side, the report says.

Read also: The conditions in Ukraines prisoner of war camps  NV report

The agency noted the move was a repatriation rather than the exchange of prisoners, which means all severely wounded prisoners were returned without any conditions, as stipulated by international humanitarian law.

Read also: How the Russians 're-educate' young Ukrainians

At the same time, systematically neglecting international norms, the aggressor state is still holding thousands of Ukrainian citizens hostage, including seriously ill and wounded ones, civilians, children and women, the elderly, as well as those who were captured by the Russians before the full-scale invasion, the headquarters said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Antony Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, that Ukrainian forces are able to gradually stabilise the situation on the Bakhmut front.

Source: Valerii Zaluzhnyi on Facebook

Quote: "I held a phone conversation with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff. I informed my colleague about the operational situation on the front.

The situation is the most challenging on the Bakhmut front. The tremendous efforts of Ukraines defence forces have enabled us to stabilise the situation there."

Details: Zaluzhnyi and Radakin also discussed the possibility of strengthening Ukraines air defence.

They agreed to deepen their cooperation and keep in touch.

Zaluzhnyi thanked Radakin for his support.

"Our partners assistance will help us hold out and definitely secure a victory!" Ukraines Commander-in-Chief said.

Background: Russian forces have been trying to capture the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast for the past several months, but have not been able to encircle either city.

The Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts are currently the hottest spots on the front, though representatives of Ukraines defence forces have said that Russian forces are gradually running out of steam in both Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

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Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, disagrees with the conclusions of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine that the Ukrainian side violates the rights of Russian prisoners of war (POWs) and demands evidence of executions.

Source: Lubinets on Telegram

Details: The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine presented two new reports on 24 March, particularly on the POWs treatment and the overall human rights situation in Ukraine in the six months before 31 January 2023.

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the mission's findings confirm that Russia has committed mass war crimes on the territory of Ukraine, violated human rights and disregarded all international humanitarian law.

The deaths and injuries of civilians, arbitrary detentions, attacks, executions, forcible disappearances, torture, and sexual violence are among the criminal acts that the aggressor commits, Lubinets said.

Concerning the treatment of POWs, the Ombudsman asked for evidence of the guilt of the Ukrainian military.

Quote: "It is surprising that during repeated personal meetings with the head of the Mission, Matilda Bogner, and Denise Brown, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, they never raised the issue of the treatment of Russian prisoners of war.

In addition, I would like to hear the indisputable facts and arguments on which the Mission's conclusions regarding alleged violations by the Ukrainian side are based.

I again emphasise that Ukraine adheres to the Geneva Conventions and international law and is open to international organisations.

Russia has criminally invaded our land, killed and abducted Ukrainian citizens and is still blocking access to our prisoners of war. The magnitude of inhuman treatment and torture is being concealed."

Details: Lubinets urged the UN and the international community to pressure Russia and demand access to the places of internment of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) says that its cyber specialists have exposed two agents of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) who conducted reconnaissance and subversive activities in Kyiv Oblast and Zaporizhzhia.

Source: SSU; Prosecutor's Office in Kyiv Oblast

Details: According to the SSU, in early February 2023, the Ukrainians were recruited by a career employee of the FSB Department for the Altai Republic. Recruitment took place via a Telegram channel, where the suspects periodically published their pro-Kremlin comments.

On the instructions of the Russians, the agents scouted the locations of Ukrainian military facilities and law enforcement agencies.

In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian accomplice was a Motor Sich enterprise design engineer who was collecting information about the Defence Forces in the city.

The SSU officers detained the traitor while performing a reconnaissance mission, taking georeferenced photos of the buildings of a military hospital and prosecutor's office.

Another Russian agent was detained in the suburbs of Kyiv when he tried to take photos of one of the buildings of the State Emergency Service.

Russia needed intelligence data to launch missile strikes on Ukrainian targets and prepare sabotage on the territory of the oblasts, the SSU notes.

It is reported that during the search, the SSU found mobile phones of the detainees with evidence of them performing Russian tasks and maintaining correspondence with Russia.

Currently, both defendants have been served with notices of suspicion of high treason.

At the prosecutors's request, the 17-year-old resident of Kyiv Oblast and a resident of Zaporizhzhia are remanded in custody.

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Ukrainian border guards repelled three Wagner Group assaults in the eastern city of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, on 23 March.

Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Enemy forces [Wagner Group mercenaries  ed.] assaulted a border guards strongpoint in [Bakhmuts] industrial district. Border guards launched mortar bombs to support units defending their positions. The border guards operating the mortars successfully delayed the invaders' reserve forces, which forced the enemy to halt their assault operations.

Wagner Group fighters were only able to renew their assault on this front after regrouping."

Details: Ukrainian border guards forced Wagner Group mercenaries to retreat completely following the final gunfight. A total of three clashes between the border guards and the Wagner Group fighters took place in Bakhmut on 23 March so far.

Four Wagner Group mercenaries are said to have been killed, and 10 have been injured.

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Russia has now lost over 169,000 soldiers, 3,574 tanks, 6,921 armoured combat vehicles and 2,616 artillery systems in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 24 March 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 169,170 (+1,020) military personnel,

3,574 (+4) tanks,

6,921 (+23) armoured combat vehicles,

2,616 (+8) artillery systems,

511 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems,

276 (+3) air defence systems,

305 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft,

290 (+0) helicopters,

2,208 (+5) operational-tactical UAVs,

911 (+2) cruise missiles,

18 (+0) ships/boats,

5,464 (+12) vehicles and tankers,

277 (+4) special vehicles and other equipment.

The data is being confirmed.

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Prigozhin admitted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are underestimated in Russia (on the photo are servicemen of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade)

Meanwhile, the latest statements by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of Russias Wagner mercenary company, is contradicting Russian propaganda about the war, the ISW wrote.

Russian forces may be shifting their missile strike tactics to focus on Ukrainian military facilities as overall Russian missile strikes decrease, indicating the depletion of Russias stocks of high-precision missiles.

Read also: Russias missile terror has failed, Ukraines intel says

Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence or HUR representative Vadym Skibitskyi has stated that during the winter, the Kremlin failed to destroy the Ukrainian energy system, ISW reported.

Therefore, the Russians will now somewhat redirect the directions of strikes, Skibitskyi said.

It could be both military facilities and concentrations of troops, as well as the logistics system of our (military) groups, he said. HUR estimates that Russias current high-precision weapon stockpile is equivalent to only 15% of what it was on Feb. 24, 2022.

ISW underscored the following facts from HUR:

Russias higher-end Kalibr, Kh-101, and Kh-555 cruise missiles comprise less than 10 percent of Russias total remaining stocks.

Russian forces cannot conduct missile attacks more than twice a month  due to the growing need to conserve missiles.

Russias defense industrial base can produce only produce 20 to 30 Kalibr and Kh-101 cruise missiles per month, and even fewer Iskander ballistic missiles.

Read also: Russia using decoy targets to search for Ukraines air defenses

This data is consistent with previous ISW estimates that Russian forces are depleting their missile arsenal and this may limit the frequency and intensity of Russian missile strikes.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to conduct raids over the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, striking Russian positions on the east (left) bank of the river. ISW draws attention to geolocation-verified combat footage published on March 20 showing the occupiers attempting to strike Ukrainian forces operating in the southeast of Great Potemkin Island near Kherson. And on March 23, a geolocated video of fighting shows Ukrainian drones striking Russian positions near Vynrozsadnyk (district of the city of Oleshka) on the left bank of the Dnipro River.

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ISW also said the leader of Russias Wagner mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, gave a 23-minute interview in which, on the one hand, he softened his rhetoric towards the Russian Ministry of Defense (possibly due to fear of losing support for his forces in Bakhmut), while on the other hand making a number of critical statements about Russias underestimation of the power of the Ukrainian.

Read also: Wagner pleads with Russian MoD for reinforcements at Bakhmut

Prigozhin expressed concern about a possible Ukrainian counterattack in eastern Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine allegedly has 80,000 troops in Bakhmut and reserves of 200,000, who are being concentrated for an offensive (according to Prigozhin, it will be an offensive across the entire eastern front, in Belgorod Oblast of Russia and in Bakhmut).

ISW noted that Prigozhins exaggerated statements are likely an attempt to get additional support and weapons from the Russian Ministry of Defense to save his forces in Bakhmut.

There were rare positive statements by Prigozhin about the Russian Ministry of Defense (in particular, the owner of Wagner PMC acknowledged that the regular Russian army is fighting together with Chechen units in Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast;also, unexpectedly, Prigozhin supported not only recruitment to Wagner, but also recruitment efforts of volunteers by the Ministry of Defense).

The softening of Prigozhins rhetoric may indicate a desire to appease the Russian Ministry of Defense in order to support his PMC, according to analysts at the Institute.

Prigozhin also denied Kremlin and Russian propaganda claims that Russia is supposedly at war in Ukraine with NATO and with Nazis. Prigozhin said Russia is only fighting with Ukrainians who are equipped with NATO-provided equipment and volunteers who support Ukraine, but not with NATO itself.

Read also: Russia blocking rotation of IAEA experts at Zaporizhzhya NPP, says Foreign Ministry

Prigozhin also criticized the goals of denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine and called on Russian military personnel and media to stop underestimating the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thus, ISW analysts said that Prigozhin had rejected Kremlins claims that the war in Ukraine is protecting Russia from NATO threats, and refuted the necessity and achievability of Russian dictator Vladimir Putins maximalist goals for invading Ukraine.

ISW reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA has issued a warning that Russian nuclear power company Rosatom may strengthen its control over Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZAPP) by restoring three transmission lines.

IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi saidRussian NPP workers were trained at ZNPP with experienced personnel, raising concerns about Russias intentions. Russia claims that the training is intended to ensure there is sufficient personnel in the event of a shortage. Previously, ISW reported on Russias attempts to gain control of ZNPP using Rosatom management and personnel to force recognition of Russian control of the nuclear power station  the largest one in Europe.

Key takeaways:

Bloomberg reported that Prigozhin is preparing to scale back Wagners operations in Ukraine due to the loss of crucial supplies of personnel and ammunition by Russian military leadership. While Prigozhin has denied the report, ISW reminds that Putin has completely abandoned Prigozhin after Wagners failure to capture Bakhmut.

HUR spokesperson Vadym Skibitskyi confirmed previous ISW assessments that Russian forces are unable to conduct large-scale offensives on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin outlined various measures to support Russian military personnel, the Russian defense industrial base (DIB), and Russian independence from the West in an address to the State Duma.

Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line in Luhansk Oblast.

Russian forces are continuing to attack Bakhmut and areas in its vicinity, and around Avdiyivka.

The Kremlin continues efforts to coerce Russian reservists, conscripts, and other personnel into contract service.

Russian forces in Belarus recently redeployed back to Russia ahead of Russias spring conscription call-up on April 1.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Eid Mar Coin, one of the most expensive ancient coins in the world after it was sold in 2021 for $4.2 million at auction, was repatriated to Greece this week after an investigation by Homeland Security agents found the coin had been sold using fake provenance. 28 other ancient artifacts looted from Greece returned as well in a handover ceremony organized by the Manhattan District Attorneys office.

The Eid Mar coins were minted by Brutus to commemorate the murder of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 B.C., now known as the Ides of March. Editions were minted in silver to be used as currency and gold as a memento for high ranking officials; of the gold editions, only three are known to remain. Investigators have not revealed the details of how the coin was smuggled out of Greece, or the circumstances of its sale.

More from Robb Report

Antiquities trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar business with looters and smugglers turning a profit at the expense of cultural heritage, and Greecelong acknowledged as the cradle of Western Civilizationis especially susceptible to this type of criminal enterprise, Ivan J. Arvelo, the special agent in charge for HSI in New York, said in a statement. These treasured artifacts date from as far back as 5000 B.C.E. and were a valued part of life in the ancient world. We are honored to join our partners today in the repatriation of this priceless cultural heritage to the people of Greece.

Other artifacts included in the repatriation package include a funerary urn, which once held the remains of a deceased individual in a chamber tomb. Neolithic family group, a collection of five human and animal figures carved from marble from 5000-3500 B.C.E, was also returned to Greece. The group was on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which had accepted it as a loan, until it was seized earlier this month.

Story continues

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Matilda Bogner spoke about the work of the UN mission

The horrendous human cost of the war is also evident in the cases of conflict-related sexual violence, which we have documented since Feb. 24 last year, she said.

By Jan. 31 this year, we had recorded 133 victims  comprising of 85 men, 45 women and three girls.

Read also: 21,793 civilians became victims of Russias war against Ukraine, UN reports

Read also: Over 400 bodies of victims of Russian occupation remain unidentified in Kharkiv Oblast

According to Bogner, 109 cases are attributable to Russian armed forces, Russian law enforcement authorities and penitentiary staff, and 24 cases are attributable to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ukrainian police, and Ukrainian civilians or members of territorial defence forces.

Sexual violence frequently occurred when civilians or prisoners of war were detained, as well as in residential areas that were controlled by Russian armed forces, she added.

Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska said on March 4 that Ukrainian police had identified 171 victims of sexual violence by Russian military personnel.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  Maritime issues hounding the Philippines and China remain a "serious concern," a senior Manila official said Friday, as both nations reaffirmed their vow to deal with ongoing tensions through diplomatic means.

"The Philippines and China are in agreement that maritime issues do not comprise the totality of bilateral relations between our two countries. However, maritime issues continue to remain a serious concern to the Filipino people," Theresa Lazaro, undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said during the opening session of the 7th Bilateral Consultations Mechanism on the South China Sea.

Lazaro also recapped the meeting of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this year, where the two leaders agreed to strengthen dialogue mechanisms on the matter.

"Both of our countries' leaders agreed that maritime issues should be addressed through diplomacy and dialogue and never through coercion and intimidation," she stressed.

The DFA official likewise said the Philippine government "intends to discuss in a frank manner" the issues at hand, and aims to find "mutually acceptable approaches" to address them.

Topics the parties plan to tackle include fisheries cooperation and marine environment protection.

China continues to stake its claims over the resource-rich South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea. This is despite a 2016 ruling of a tribunal in The Hague which invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims in the waterway and recognized Manila's sovereign rights in areas of its exclusive economic zone.

The East Asian giant persists with its incursions in Philippine waters. Just this month, dozens of suspected Chinese maritime militia and coast guard ships were spotted in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island, authorities reported.

China, for its part, maintained its commitment to boost cooperation with its neighbor.

"Maritime issues are an important part of China-Philippines relations that should not be ignored," Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong said in the same event.

"We should not allow specific differences to define our bilateral relations or allow certain disputes to stand in the way of overall cooperation," he added.
By Dan Peleschuk

KYIV (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights office said on Friday its investigators had confirmed thousands more civilian casualties in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including 21 people killed by Russian forces in executions or individual attacks.

"A year after the Russian Federation launched a full-scale armed attack against Ukraine, the hostilities continue to exert a severe toll on children, women and men across the country," the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a new report.

It found at least 5,987 civilians had been killed or injured between Aug. 1, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023, a number it said was likely to be a significant underestimate since it only covered those cases its investigators had been able to verify.

Indiscriminate explosive weapons were responsible for a large number of civilian casualties, the report said, and its figures showed at that least four times more civilian casualties occurred in Ukrainian-held territory than Russian-held areas.

A majority of 133 instances of conflict-related sexual violence OHCHR documented took place on Russian-occupied territory, including during "so-called 'filtration' processes", it said.

Russia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the findings.

Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces have committed atrocities during the invasion, which it claims is a "special military operation".

The report documented the disappearance or "arbitrary detention" of 214 Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territory and 91 such cases in Ukrainian government-held areas. Most of those arrested by Ukraine were suspected collaborators, it said.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the report.

TORTURE

The report said the OHCHR is "gravely concerned" about what it described as the mistreatment, torture and disappearance of children by Russian forces, including the abduction of five teenage boys, all of whom were tortured.

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The International Criminal Court last week issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. The Kremlin called the move unacceptable and outrageous.

Russia has not concealed a programme under which it has brought thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia, but presentsit as a humanitarian campaign to protect orphans and childrenabandoned in the conflict zone.

A separate OHCHR report, also released on Friday, blamed both Russian and Ukrainian forces for the mistreatment of prisoners of war. It said the Ukrainian government had provided "full and confidential access" to official internment sites.

It said it had documented the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian POWs and 25 Russian POWs, which the agency said "may constitute war crimes", but that the findings were "influenced in substantial measure by the level and kind of access to detention facilities and POWs".

The U.N. added that overall Russian POWs "were treated in better fashion, once held in transit and permanent places of internments (sic)". It also said Ukrainian authorities have "actively engaged" on U.N. concerns over POW treatment.

In both reports, the OHCHR called on "all parties" to protect victims and punish perpetrators.

Moscow and Kyiv did not immediately comment on the OHCHR report on prisoners of war.

(This story has been refiled to add the full title of the Russian mission in paragraph 6)

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Additional reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
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Happy Friday! Danielle here, again. Are you tired of hearing that former President Donald Trump could be indicted any day now? So are we.

DC correspondents have been on high-alert all week waiting for the grand jury to hand over their decision that Trump promised would be coming Tuesday. And yet

were still waiting.

Prewrites are written.

Security perimeters have been established around both the Manhattan courthouse and the U.S. Capitol in case his supporters take him up on his calls to protest.

And our fingers are waiting to type whatever reaction pieces we need to once a decision has been handed down.

Have I mentioned were still waiting?

Now, if youre one of the lucky few who have no idea what Im talking about, you should know that Trump announced last Saturday that he would be arrested Tuesday on charges related to allegations that he paid off a porn star ahead of the 2016 election to keep her quiet about a tryst they had in 2006.

Ill give Trump this. He knows how to make us all stop, look and talk.

A conference for Republican lawmakers in Orlando, Florida, was completely derailed by the news, and all anyone talked about for days was Trump.

Some of that talk came unprompted from lawmakers.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, tweeted, Here we go again  an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump.

McCarthy added that he directed relevant committees to investigate if federal funds were used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

Rep. Richard Hudson responded saying he agreed with McCarthy and that it was outrageous.

This is a Soros-backed, out-of-control prosecutor focused on a ridiculous, politically-motivated prosecution instead of fighting the crime wave in his own city. Hudson tweeted.

Story continues

Hudson leads the National Republican Congressional Committee and lives in Southern Pines. If youre not one of his constituents and he sounds familiar, hes the guy who grabbed a colleague by the mouth to stop him from lunging on Rep. Matt Gaetz in a tense moment during the House speaker election in January. It was all over the news.

Other lawmakers were inundated with questions by reporters when making media appearances or roaming the halls of the Capitol building. (Sorry, senators).

It happened to Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from Charlotte when he appeared on Fox News Live.

After being asked, as a former prosecutor, about the charges Trump could be facing, Jackson was asked what members of Congress were saying about a possible Trump indictment.

That this feels like a long time coming, Jackson said. That everyone deserves their day in court and that no one is above the law.

It happened again when I ran into Sen. Ted Budd, a Republican from Davie County, as he climbed off the subway between the Russell Building and the U.S. Capitol. Budd told me to reach out to his spokesman for a statement on Trump.

Since theres been no indictment yet, Senator Budd doesnt have long-form comments, but he is very concerned by the hyper-partisan nature of Mr. Braggs process, said Curtis Kalin, Budds spokesman.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville, arrived in the U.S. Capitol via another subway from the Dirksen Building a few moments later.

We in Congress probably ought to be above the level of the substance, but I think its fair to ask the question, Why now? Tillis said.

District Attorney Alvin Braggs predecessor chose not to pursue charges against Trump, and Tillis questioned why Bragg, who took over the office in 2022, waited until now to bring it up.

It could be that the facts have changed, but at the same time, if the facts are being reviewed by the same person, and its a different position, was there a political motivation? Tillis asked.

Tillis said the evidence will reveal whether the district attorney has new information that raised this case to a level to be prosecuted, or whether this is politically motivated.

And so

we wait.

OTHER STORIES FROM THE TEAM THIS WEEK

It is Dawn Baumgartner Vaughans favorite time of the year. The N.C. House plans to release its budget next week. She tells you what to expect.

State Auditor Beth Wood pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge. And two men face charges this week for their alleged involvement in Woods crash. Avi Bajpai tells you more about Woods plea and the new charges.

Did the Trump indictment remind you of the John Edwards trial? You werent alone. I break down the similarities.

North Carolina House Republicans approved limits to how racism and sexism are taught. Keung Hui breaks down what this means and the chances of the bill becoming law.

A Raleigh Christmas parade driver now faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after a 9-year-old girl was killed. Jessica Banov and Colleen Hammond explain why.

Thanks for reading. See you next week. In the meantime, tune into our stories, our tweets and our Under the Dome podcast for more developments.

 By Danielle Battaglia, reporter for The News & Observer. Email me at dbattaglia@newsobserver.com.
Jason DeShazo, shown performing in December as Momma Ashley Rose, had planned to meet with students in a gay-straight club at Orlando's Boone High School. But DeShazo said the school canceled the event under pressure from the Florida Department of Education.

Jason DeShazo, a Lakeland, Florida, man who performs in drag as Momma Ashley Rose, had expected to visit an Orlando high school Thursday to speak to its gay-straight alliance.

Instead, DeShazo learned the day before the event that the Florida Department of Education had forced the cancellation of Drag and Donuts as part of a statewide crackdown led by Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislators on drag activities around minors.

Both DeShazo and the principal of Boone High School emphasized that the voluntary, after-school event was not a drag show. DeShazo said he planned to speak to members of the schools Queer and Ally Alliance about life as a gay man and answer any questions students had.

He said he has spoken many times to such clubs at after-school events, including at least three in Polk County. It would have been his third or fourth time speaking at Boone, he said. He asks the clubs if they would rather have him appear as himself or in drag, and he said the students almost invariably ask for Momma.

Related: Nazi salutes, pepper spray and pistols: Ohio drag event devolves into an extremist melee

Elsewhere: Tennessee drag show restrictions, ban on gender-affirming care for minors signed into law

Charity raises money for LGBT youth

DeShazo, 43, runs the Momma Rose Dynasty, a charitable foundation that raises money to support LGBTQ youth.

The cancelation apparently followed criticism by Orange County School Board member Alicia Farrant, a member of Moms for Liberty, a conservative group. Farrant posted on Facebook saying that schools should not be inviting drag queens in to eat donuts with our children, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

DeShazo said he awoke Wednesday to emails and screenshots of Farrants post. He said he soon spoke to an administrator at Boone High, who confirmed that the event would still go on. A school official later called after consulting with a lawyer and gave DeShazo a list of activities that would not be allowed, he said.

Story continues

He emphasized that he doesnt wear skimpy outfits, use foul or bawdy language or perform in a risque manner. He describes his drag character as a matronly Southern lady and calls himself the Disney channel of drag.

But later Wednesday, DeShazo said, Boone Principal Hector Maestre called to tell him the meeting with the students had been canceled. He said Maestre was very upset that he had to cancel. It was due to the Department of Education was threatening the administration of removing their, I guess, their licensing and losing their jobs, if they went through with this.

DeShazo said that he learned that school employees received death threats after news spread about the planned club event.

County under pressure from Florida officials

Orange County Public Schools released a statement:

One of the after-school student clubs invited a guest speaker to attend their regularly scheduled meeting. The event Donuts & Drag was not a drag show, but an opportunity for the students to hear a positive message of acceptance and love. This was to be the third year the speaker has addressed this club.

"As a result of a call from the Florida Department of Education, the event has been canceled. The Department questioned whether the event was age and developmentally appropriate and indicated any administrator, teacher, or staff member in attendance may be investigated and jeopardize their professional license.

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent Thursday morning.

DeShazo said a monthly event he hosts at a restaurant in Lake Wales has also been cancelled indefinitely in response to threats and a loss of business.

Churches and all these people were sharing hateful stuff about the events, he said. So its literally been like back-to-back stuff this week. It's not just at Boone. It's stuff that's happening in our own town.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Under state pressure, Orlando school cancels drag talk with Momma Rose
Kids using an iPad in the dark



Say gnight kids.

Utah passed a pair of laws on Thursday laying out groundbreaking rules for children and social media. The laws require social media companies to verify users ages, obtain parental consent before kids can use apps like Instagram or TikTok, and ban anyone under 18 from using social media between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM.

The laws are new and unusual, but theyre part of a broader trend, not just to reign in social media companies, but to set new standards about how the internet treats children. Most Americans agree that something needs to be done about big tech. However, the approaches were seeing will create a new set of complicated problems.

Read more

We remain very optimistic that we will be able to pass not just here in the state of Utah but across the country legislation that significantly changes the relationship of our children with these very destructive social media apps, Gov. Spencer Cox told the Associated Press.

Juggling new rules for social media is one of the few projects uniting Democrats and Republicans. Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, New Jersey, and Texas, are all considering proposals that are similar to Utahs new digital nanny regulations. Last year, California passed the Age Appropriate Design Code, which sets additional standards on how tech companies can track and manipulate kids.

Everyone can agree that we should protect our children, the only question is how we should do it. Its not clear how Utahs law will be enforced. Verifying users ages, for example, carries an inherent privacy violation. In effect, Utahs new laws may force social media companies to scan state IDs or other government documents. In other words, the state may hand tech companies more sensitive data about children than ever before.

Some tech-focused groups, like Common Sense Media, which advocates for kids safety online, support Utahs bill. Others, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, say it violates teens rights to privacy and free speech. The tech industry agrees Utah will soon require online services to collect sensitive information about teens and families, not only to verify ages, but to verify parental relationships, said Nicole Saad Bembridge, the associate director of the litigation center at NetChoice, a trade group that counts Google and Meta among its members.

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A state-run bedtime for social media also looks uncomfortably similar to the way Chinas government parents its citizens. A 2021 law in China limits kids to just three hours of video games a week to curb gaming addiction, drawing widespread criticism in the United States.

The US may soon take another lesson from Chinas how-to guide on authoritarianism by banning TikTok because it might share data with the Chinese government, a hypothetical concern thats never been verified with a shred of evidence.

On Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before congress in a combative five-hour hearing. Congress members on both sides of the aisle berated Chew for TikToks effects on users, particularly kids, and its alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Among the TikTok hearings most bizarre elements was the fact that all the politicians got along with each other. As Rep. Buddy Carter put it in his cheerful Georgia drawl, Mr. Chew, welcome to the most bipartisan committee in Congress!

TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. Theres a law in China that says the government can force any business to hand over data whenever it wants. In theory, that could result in the Chinese Communist Party leafing through American user datasort of like when the US government leafs through the data of its homegrown tech companies. Lawmakers also fear that China could censor content or spread propaganda through the app.

These are real concernsbut nothing about them is unique to TikTok. Anyone who understands how companies make money with data will tell you the internet is designed to share information with anyone who wants it. A 2020 Gizmodo investigation showed apps like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter all share data with Chinese companies. The Chinese government can also buy data from American companies who have it for sale because the federal government allows the tech industry to violate your privacy.

Propaganda is a concerning issue as well. But Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Google Search all manipulate content in ways that no one outside the companies truly understands. However, Meta, Google, and Twitter will all tell you they have the best interests of the American public at heart. So, nothing to worry about there, Im sure.

Why then all the focus on TikTok? Perhaps its because being tough on China is an easy way to score political points while regulating giant American businesses could upset your campaign donors. It could also have something to do with the fact that Meta hired a Republican lobbying firm to malign TikTok.

The federal government spent the last four years threatening TikTok with a ban if the company cant deliver a solution to national security worries. Thursdays hearing made it clear like never before that the window is closed. For the first time, it seems truly inevitable that the US is going to ban TikTok or force ByteDance or ban the app.

What that means is you can look forward to reading about a drawn-out legal battle on Gizmodo.com. If the government tries to force a sale or ban TikTok, it will hear about it in court. Its not clear that the government has the legal authority to ban a company from operating in the United States unless it can demonstrate evidence that the app is acting on behalf of a hostile foreign power. Maybe that evidence exists! But we havent seen it.

Along the way, were setting a new precedent in which lawmakers will increasingly interfere with who can do what on the internet, whether thats a child, a parent, or a private company. Welcome to the land of the free.

More: The 10 Most Absurd Moments From the Congressional TikTok Ban Hearing

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Click here to read the full article.
Joe Tacopina and Donald Trump. Getty/Getty

CNN unearthed video footage showing Trump's current lawyer saying in 2018 that the Stormy Daniels hush-money payment could be a "real problem" for Trump.

The lawyer, Joe Tacopina, also said the payment could have violated federal election laws.

He's struck a different tone since becoming Trump's lawyer, saying Trump is the victim of an extortion plot.

A defense attorney representing Donald Trump in the Manhattan district attorney's probe into a hush-money payment made to Stormy Daniels said several years ago that the payment could pose a "real problem" for Trump.

The lawyer, Joe Tacopina, made multiple appearances on CNN in 2018, when the $130,000 payment first came to light as part of a federal criminal investigation  separate from the DA's current probe  into Michael Cohen, who was then Trump's longtime fixer.

"If it leads back to the Trump campaign funding, that's a big problem," Tacopina told CNN in a March 2018 interview. "This is a Pandora's box that's gonna be opened and unfortunately is not going to have any good results for the president."

In another CNN segment in 2018, Tacopina said that the payment could be subject to scrutiny if the money to Daniels was "made on behalf of the candidate ... and it was not declared."

"That's fair game, unfortunately, if that's the case," he said.

According to a CNN report, Tacopina also said that the payment "could be looked as an in-kind contribution at the time of the election."

"This is a real problem," he told CNN.

Cohen pleaded guilty later that year to multiple felonies related to the hush-money payment, including tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations. He said he coordinated the payment at Trump's direction, but Trump has denied the alleged affair and any knowledge of the payment. He's also lambasted Cohen's testimony, calling him a "nut job with zero credibility."

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Tacopina, meanwhile, has struck a markedly different tone since becoming Trump's defense attorney, painting the former president as the victim of an extortion plot and a political fishing expedition.

"We are distorting laws to try and bag President Trump ... I don't know what it is, but this prosecutor and this prosecutor's office has made an agenda," Tacopina told "ABC's Good Morning America" earlier this month.

Of the myriad criminal and civil investigations he's mired in, Trump faces the most imminent threat from the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg.

But legal experts told Insider that state prosecutors are looking at an uphill battle in the event that they bring criminal charges against the former president in connection to the Daniels hush-money payment.

According to public reporting, Bragg's office is most likely to charge Trump with a felony violation of New York's business records statute. To do so, prosecutors would need to prove that, in addition to falsifying business records with an intent to defraud, Trump also committed a secondary crime  in this case, violating federal campaign finance laws.

"Prosecutors could argue an intent to deprive voters of accurate information," Randall Eliason, a law professor at George Washington University, wrote on Twitter. But "it's not clear that would qualify as intent to defraud in NY (it clearly would not under federal law.)" If Trump is charged with falsifying business records, "expect to see this defense," Eliason added.

Tacopina did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The University of Idaho announced Thursday that a third-year student died.

Boise resident and journalism student Caden Young died, according to a memo sent out by Dean of Students and Vice Provost for Student Affairs Blaine Eckles. The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported that Young wasnt in Moscow and was out of town on spring break.

Young was a member and former president of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, the memo said. He also wrote for the University of Idahos student newspaper, The Argonaut, in 2021 and was pursuing his interest in reporting on human rights and geopolitical issues, according to a Facebook post from the journalism college.

Its unclear when or how Young died.

This has understandably been a difficult year for the Vandal Family, with the loss of several students since the start of the academic year last August, Eckles said. Please make sure to take care of yourself and others. As a community, we collectively mourn Cadens death and share our deepest condolences with his family and friends who are most impacted by his passing.

In November, four University of Idaho students  Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves  were stabbed to death in an off-campus apartment. A 28-year-old former Washington State University graduate student is accused of killing them and is being held at the Latah County Jail.

University of Idaho students who need assistance following Youngs death are asked to contact the universitys Counseling and Testing Center at 208-885-6716.
The University of Missouri System is scrapping the use of diversity statements in its hiring practices, announcing on Friday standardized language that leaders can send to prospective employees.

The new practice comes as Republican Missouri lawmakers consider legislation that would ban public colleges from asking job candidates questions about diversity and race.

UM System President and MU Chancellor Mun Choi drafted the new language in an email sent Friday to some faculty members and department chairs at the systems four campuses in Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and Rolla.

Choi, in the letter, said the new policy was intended to address concerns that the university was requiring job applicants to fill out loyalty oaths or litmus tests. Both phrases have been adopted by Republican lawmakers to criticize the diversity statements.

Instead of using Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statements, university leaders will now send a values commitment to job applicants, the email said.

The commitment would read:

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each persons success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research and engagement.

Choi said the university did not use diversity statements in its hiring practices, but pointed to some job postings that contained information that may give some readers the impression that such a request was inferred. Chois email also said the system would not longer use a diversity faculty hiring rubric that was created in 2018.

For example, a job posting for an MU visiting assistant professor of sociology requires applicants to submit a DEI statement addressing contributions to diversity and inclusivity through teaching and service.

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Christian Basi, an MU spokesperson, told The Star on Friday that the university regularly reviews its hiring practices and upon a recent review, felt that we needed some consistency as it relates to this topic.

The policy affects the entire UM System and is effective immediately, he said.

The move from the university comes one week after Mizzou employees and students told The Star that they worried banning diversity statements would further threaten efforts to attract and retain diverse candidates.

While MU has made efforts to add more diverse faculty members, progress has been slow. As of 2022, Black employees make up a dismal 3.7% of the universitys ranked professional faculty compared to 67.5% white.
The main air defense system at a coalition military base in Northeast Syria was not working Thursday when one American contractor was killed after a suspected Iranian drone hit the base and injured six other servicemen, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News Friday.

U.S. intelligence has assessed that the drone that struck the base was Iranian.

The injured U.S. service members are in "stable" condition and have been transported to a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany the senior official added.

Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Special Operations and the U.S.-led anti-jihadist coalition take part in heavy-weaponry military exercises in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, on March 25, 2022.

US BASE IN SYRIA ATTACKED BY IRANIAN PROXY FORCES AFTER RETALIATORY AIRSTRIKES

In testimony on the Hill Thursday, Gen. Erik Kurilla said in that Iranian-backed forces have been behind 78 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since January 2021.

Questions around why the defensive system was down remain unanswered, and an investigation into the system failure is ongoing.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The New York Times, which first reported that the electronic counter-defense system was "not fully operational," said it also remains unclear whether opposition forces had been aware of the vulnerability when they fired upon the base.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder had nothing more to add regarding the system failure but told reporters Friday that U.S. Central Command "will conduct a review of what happened."

U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicles (BFV) patrol in the Suwaydiyah oil fields in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on February 13, 2021.

"This is a dangerous part of the world. The work that we do is inherently dangerous," he told Fox News. "That's why you have the military in these types of places conducting these type of operations.

"We've seen rocket attacks, mortar attacks in the past from these kinds of groups. Again, CENTCOM will do an assessment in terms of the attack. But the fact is that these [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] IRGC-backed groups conducted this attack."

BIDEN ON BACK FOOT AS IRAN PROXIES HIT US TROOPS IN SYRIA, CAN 'EXPECT MORE, NOT LESS ATTACKS'

The IRGC  Irans primary branch of its armed forces  has backed Syrian forces under Bashar al-Assad for the last decade following the breakout of the civil war in 2011.

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The U.S. has since aided the Syrian Free Army in eastern Syria in what some have argued has become a proxy war between the U.S. and Iran.

Ryder on Friday said that in response to the Thursday attacks, President Biden approved precision strikes to be carried out against two "facilities" in eastern Syria utilized by groups affiliated with the IRGC.

U.S. Army soldiers prepare to go out on patrol from a remote combat outpost on May 25, 2021, in northeastern Syria. U.S. forces, part of Task Force WARCLUB, operate from combat outposts in the area, coordinating with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in combatting residual ISIS extremists and deterring pro-Iranian militia.

"Our focus in Syria is on the defeat ISIS mission, and that will remain our focus. We do not seek conflict with Iran," Ryder said. "But the strikes that we took last night were intended to send a very clear message that we will take the protection of our personnel seriously and that we will respond quickly and decisively if they're threatened."

In response to the two precision strikes by U.S. CENTCOM, Iran proxy forces launched 10 rockets at another U.S. base in Northeast Syria near the coalition base of Green Village.

A U.S. defense official told Fox News that there were no U.S. casualties and that no damage was caused to the base.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Air Force has revealed it conducted a test launch of its hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, earlier this month, but it remains unclear whether the event was a success.

The service said in a statement Friday that a B-52H Stratofortress bomber released the fully operational prototype ARRW, which is made by Lockheed Martin, off the coast of southern California. The March 13 test represented the second launch of an ARRW operational prototype and focused on the weapons end-to-end performance, the Air Force said.

The Air Force added that the test met several of the objectives, without providing further details. The wording differs from a service statement released in December following the first launch of an operational ARRW prototype, which said all objectives were met in that Dec. 9 test.

The Air Forces December statement also said the B-52 successfully released the ARRW. The most recent release on the March test did not use the word successful, simply noting that a B-52H Stratofortress released the second ARRW prototype.

The statement about the December test specified that the ARRW reached hypersonic speeds greater than Mach 5, completed its planned flight path and detonated. The March statement did not include such statements.

Engineers and testers from the ARRW team are collecting data for further analysis, the Air Force said. The test was conducted by the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Asked whether the March 13 test was successful, the Air Force told Defense News it would not provide further information beyond what was in the release.

We expect less information to be available on this topic in the future for operational security reasons, a Defense Department official told Defense News.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  Authorities have identified two possible areas in Cagayan where a new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site may be located, Gov. Manuel Mamba said Friday, while continuing to oppose hosting the facility.

They identified two sites in Cagayan, but I am not at liberty, I want to keep my word, I am not at liberty because according to them it is the president [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] who will announce this, Mamba told CNN Philippines The Source.

On March 22, Marcos said the Philippines and United States identified the four new EDCA sites, which will be announced after further discussions.

The president also said his administration already spoke to local officials who initially opposed the plan. After the talks, it appears they are now more receptive to the idea, he added.

Mamba, one of those who had reservations, said he will comply with the national governments decision.

Since this is the presidents call, of course I succumbed to that, but I do not agree with it and I continue my opposition, he said.

RELATED: Galvez: Cagayan governor to follow govt decision on EDCA sites, other mayors vow support

The Cagayan governor noted that since the idea was floated, he was not consulted or given a formal letter about the building of EDCA sites. He said he only knew about the plan through the news.

Asked why he continues to oppose the idea, Mamba said he does not want history to repeat itself.

He cited Japan's surprise aerial attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. That prompted the United States to declare war against Japan.
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vermont (AP)  U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a plan to close a loophole to an immigration agreement that has allowed thousands of asylum-seeking immigrants to move between the two countries along a back road linking New York state to the Canadian province of Quebec.

So many migrants since early 2017 have walked into Canada on Roxham Road outside Champlain, New York, that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police staffed a reception center to process them, less than five miles (8 kilometers) from the official border crossing.

Mounties have warned the migrants at the end of the narrow two-lane road bordered by forests and farm fields that they would be arrested if they crossed the border. But once on Canadian soil, they have been allowed to stay and pursue asylum cases that can take years to resolve.

The new policy says that asylum seekers without U.S. or Canadian citizenship who are caught within 14 days of crossing anywhere along the 3,145-mile (5,061-kilometer) border will be sent back. That includes people walking on Roxham Road.

The deal was set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday  a quick implementation aimed at avoiding a surge of refugee claimants trying to cross, according to Canadian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the deal in advance.

Some of the last migrants to make it through before the Biden-Trudeau announcement were about eight people in two families  one from Haiti, the other from Afghanistan  who arrived at the U.S. end of Roxham Road just after dawn on Friday. Both said they took circuitous routes to get there.

Gerson Solay, 28, carried his daughter Bianca up to the border. He said he didnt have the proper documents to remain in the United States. That is why Canada is my last destination, he said before he was taken into custody for processing.

Its unclear how Roxham Road became a favorite route, but its just a taxi ride from where Interstate 87 approaches the Canadian border, and for southbound migrants, its a relatively short distance to New York City.

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These migrants have taken advantage of a quirk in a 2002 agreement between the U.S. and Canada that says asylum seekers must apply in the first country they arrive in. Migrants who go to an official Canadian crossing are returned to the U.S. and told to apply there. But those who reach Canadian soil somewhere other than a port of entry  like the center near Roxham Road  are allowed to stay and request protection.

The agreement was immediately criticized by some who feel it could endanger the safety of asylum seekers by preventing them from getting needed support from both governments.

We urge President Biden to strongly reconsider this deal and to work with Congress to restore access to asylum and support policies that recognize the dignity of all those arriving at our borders, said Danilo Zak, associate director for policy and advocacy for the humanitarian group CWS, also known as Church World Services. The organization advocates for people across the world who have been forced from their homes.

The agreement comes as the U.S. Border Patrol responds to a steep increase in illegal southbound crossings along the wide-open Canadian border. Nearly all happen in northern New York and Vermont along the stretch of border nearest Canadas two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal.

While the numbers are still tiny compared to the U.S.-Mexico border, it's happening so frequently now that the Border Patrol increased its staffing in the region and has begun releasing some migrants into Vermont with a future date to appear before immigration authorities.

As part of the deal, Canada also agreed to allow 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere to seek asylum on a humanitarian basis over the course of the year.

Meanwhile, southbound migrants are straining U.S. border officials.

U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped migrants entering illegally from Canada 628 times in February, more than five times the same period a year earlier. Those numbers pale compared to migrants entering from Mexico  where they were stopped more than 220,000 times in December alone  but it is still a massive change in percentage terms.

In the Border Patrols Swanton Sector, which stretches across New Hampshire, Vermont and a portion of upstate New York, agents stopped migrants 418 times in February, up more than 10 times from a year earlier. About half entering from Canada have been Mexicans, who can fly visa-free to Canada from Mexico.

About an hour south of the border, the police chief in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, population 6,000, alerted state officials that the Border Patrol had dropped off a vanload of immigrants with just a few minutes notice at the communitys welcome center. The same thing happened several times before within the last few weeks.

In a statement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the migrants dropped off in St. Johnsbury had been apprehended along the border after entering the U.S. without authorization, and were given a notice to appear for later immigration proceedings.

They were dropped off in St. Johnsbury because it has a station where migrants can take a bus to a larger city.

In such circumstances, USBP works in tandem with local communities to ensure the safety of all partiesboth community members and migrantsand to ensure stability in the communitys resources, the statement said.

But local officials said they weren't given time to prepare. State officials are now working to set up a system to provide migrants services they might require.

On Thursday, a Haitian couple and their children, boys aged 17 and 9 and a 15-year-old girl, were dropped off at the welcome center. The family, who did not want to give their names, wanted to take a bus to Miami.

They said they'd been in Canada for two months, but wouldn't talk about what prompted them to keep moving.

They missed the Thursday bus that would allow them to connect to a bus to Boston, where they could catch another bus to Miami. A team of local volunteers spent the day getting them something to eat, finding them a place to stay the night and arranging for them to take the bus on Friday.

Police chief Tim Page said St. Johnsbury wants to help these migrants, but not on the fly.

We need to get something down so we know what we are going to do when these families arrive, he said. We don't have a system set yet, so when we do I am sure this will all go a little smoother.

___

Associated Press contributors include Rob Gillies in Ottawa, Ontario, and AP photographer Hasan Jamali from Roxham Road.
The United States and Canada have reached an agreement that would allow Americas northern neighbor to turn away asylum-seekers attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border at unofficial points of entry, according to media reports.

The deal, which is expected to be announced at the end of President Bidens visit to Ottawa on Friday, will reportedly expand a decades-old treaty between the two countries known as the Safe Third Country Agreement, CNN reported.

The Safe Third Country Agreement requires that asylum-seekers request refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in. As a result, migrants attempting to enter Canada from the U.S. at official ports of entry would be turned away.

However, the treaty did not previously include asylum-seekers who crossed at unofficial points of entry, such as Roxham Road, a popular unofficial crossing in New York, according to The New York Times.

The new deal set to be announced by Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would allow Canada to turn away such asylum-seekers.

As part of the agreement, Canada has also reportedly agreed to create a program that would allow 15,000 migrants fleeing violence, persecution and economic hardship in South and Central America to seek asylum in Canada, the Times reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US President Joe Biden is in Ottawa, Canada, to meet with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau

A new US-Canada border deal meant to halt the flow of asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings has taken effect.

Migrants caught crossing anywhere along the 3,145 mile (5,060km) border can now be sent back.

Large numbers of unsanctioned crossings have been recorded via Roxham Road at the US-Canada border.

The new accord closes a loophole that allowed migrants to claim asylum at such unofficial ports of entry.

The announcement came as President Joe Biden visited Ottawa, Canada, to discuss a series of economic, trade and immigration issues with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau.

The deal is part of efforts to limit an influx of migrants at Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing between New York state and the province of Quebec.

A record number of migrants - some 40,000 - crossed into Canada last year, the vast majority of which entered at Roxham Road.

As part of the pact, Canada will also create a new refugee programme for 15,000 migrants fleeing persecution and violence in South and Central America, the prime minister's office (PMO) said.

What is the Safe Third Country Act?

The original 2004 agreement, the Safe Third Country Act (STCA), requires migrants to make an asylum claim in the first "safe" country they reach, whether it is the US or Canada.

It allowed either nation to turn migrants away at official points of entry - but not at unofficial crossing points, like Roxham Road.

The new deal extends the agreement along the entire border, including internal waterways, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

The new deal has been criticised by refugee advocates as ineffective to ending the irregular crossing of migrants into Canada.

It is not going to stop people, Abdulla Daoud, executive director at The Refugee Centre in Montreal, told the BBC on Friday, adding he is concerned it could incentivise human smuggling.

Speaking about the new refugee programme, he said: "The numbers are too low. We had 40,000 cross just in the past year - 15,000 is a low number and just from one part of the world, the Western hemisphere."

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The number of migrants who have crossed the northern border at Roxham Road surged last year

The US side has also seen a rise in migrant crossings into Canada.

Mr Biden's administration has also proposed to crack down on asylum seekers at the US southern border with Mexico by making it harder for migrants to claim asylum once Covid border controls lift in May. The proposal has met backlash from human rights groups.

What else was Biden doing in Canada?

While in Canada, the president spoke of the importance of the deep economic ties and the defence alliances between the two nations, as well as their joint support for Ukraine.

The two leaders pledged to stand together against authoritarian regimes - in part by reducing dependence on China for semiconductors and the critical minerals need to make batteries and electric cars.

Also discussed was the ongoing instability in Haiti, where the economy is in crisis and gang violence and kidnappings have risen sharply.

The US has pushed Canada to lead an international force to support security forces in the Caribbean country.

On Friday, however, both Mr Biden and Mr Trudeau said they did not believe intervention was the way forward at the moment.

"The biggest thing we can do, and it's going to take time, is to increase the prospect of the police department in Haiti having the capacity to deal with the problems," Mr Biden said at a joint press conference.

He added the instability "is a real, genuine concern", as ongoing gang violence could leave a large number of Haitians displaced.

The two countries also announced they will lead a new "global coalition" on the opioid crisis. It will look to tackle the issue of drug trafficking not only in North America, but across the world.

With additional reporting from Eloise Alana in Montreal and Jessica Murphy in Toronto.
The United States and Canada have reportedly reached an agreement that will allow the countries to turn away asylum-seekers at their shared border in another apparent crackdown on refugee rights by the Biden administration.

Mr Biden was scheduled to travel to Ottawa on Thursday on a 24-hour trip to meet with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau about the agreement and an array of other issues including their differences on the handling of Haiti and the need to produce more batteries and other technology in North America.

The refugee policy, however, is expected to dominate the headlines from Mr Bidens first presidential visit to Canada more than two years into his first term.

Under the terms of the agreement reported by The New York Times, which comes as rising numbers of migrants mainly from Central America have sought refuge and opportunity further north, Canada will be allowed to turn away migrants at the unofficial Roxham Road crossing commonly used as a point of entry for asylum-seekers coming from the US.

In return, Canada will reportedly establish a new programme to bring in 15,000 refugees fleeing violence, persecution and economic hardship in South and Central America  theoretically helping to decrease the number of migrants at the USs southern border with Mexico.

The deal comes after Mr Trudeau worked for months to expand Canadas ability to turn away migrants. Under the terms of a 2004 treaty with the US, Canada could only turn back asylum-seekers coming from the US if they were crossing at official points of entry.

That became an issue as border crossings at unofficial points of entry like the Roxham Road crossing from New York increased in recent years, with the total number of migrants coming to Canada increasing to nearly 5,000 people in January and straining the countrys support for its relatively liberal refugee resettlement policies.

However the deal is framed politically, it is likely to upset migrant rights activists who have seen Mr Bidens administration in recent weeks float the possibility of returning to the Trump administrations policy of detaining migrant families and has been accused of routinely separating families at the border.

Mr Biden has been criticised by several progressive members of Congress for his immigration policies, which have largely focused on preventing migrants from entering the country from Mexico.

The trip to Canada, where Mr Biden reportedly enjoys a warm personal relationship with Mr Trudeau, comes amidst rising tensions between the US and Mexico  with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador praising Donald Trump and attacking the US State Department.
An eight-year-old boy is recognised as the tenth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche by the Dalai Lama in a ceremony in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, India, on 8 March 2023 (Tenzin Choejor/The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama)

A Mongolian boy born in the US has been named as the reincarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism by the Dalai Lama.

The faiths spiritual leader has been pictured with the eight-year-old boy taking part in a ceremony in Dharamshala in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh  where the Dalai Lama, 87, lives in exile  recognising him as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, according to The Times.

Mongolian media reports suggest the child is one of a pair of twin boys named Aguidai and Achiltai Altannar, sons of Altannar Chinchuluun and Monkhnasan Narmandakh, a university mathematics professor and a national resources conglomerate executive, respectively.

The boys grandmother, Garamjav Tseden, is meanwhile a former member of parliament.

The move to acknowledge him as the rebirth of Buddhisms spiritual leader in Mongolia is likely to anger China, which has previously insisted it will only recognise Buddhist leaders who its own special government-approved appointees have chosen.

The development was reportedly met with a mixture of excitement and apprehension in Mongolia, with the likely animosity of Beijing considered cause for concern.

In 1995, when the Dalai Lama named a new Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in the faith, the child was swiftly arrested by Chinese authorities and replaced with a candidate of their own.

Fears persist that something similar could happen when the Dalai Lama himself eventually passes away, an event he has predicted will not take place on Chinese-controlled territory, indicating that his successor could emerge from another country in which Tibetan Buddhism is practised such as India, Nepal, Bhutan or Mongolia.

In a prelude to the present excitement, the spiritual leader visited Mongolia in 2016 and announced that a new incarnation of the Jetsun Dhampa had been born and that the search was underway to find him.

China reacted angrily to that visit and threatened Ulaanbaatar with diplomatic repercussions if it allowed him to return.

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The eventual unveiling ceremony in question is understood to have taken place in Dharamshala on 8 March in front of an audience of around 600 worshippers.

We have the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche of Mongolia with us today, the Dalai Lama told his followers.

His predecessors had a close association with the Krishnacharya lineage of Chakrasamvara. One of them established a monastery in Mongolia dedicated to its practice. So, his being here today is quite auspicious.

The Dalai Lama was himself recognised as a reincarnation of the faiths previous leader in 1937 when he was just two years old.

Mao Zedongs communist forces occupied his native Tibet in 1950 and he was forced to flee Lhasa nine years later following a failed uprising.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in honour of his efforts to promote linguistic and cultural autonomy for his mountain homeland in the face of Chinese oppression.

Beijing, in turn, considers him a dangerous separatist and has banned his portrait from being displayed in public, although many Chinese Tibetans still revere him.
A U.S. contractor was killed in northeast Syria on Thursday after a suspected Iranian-origin drone struck a facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah, the Pentagon announced late Thursday evening.

Five U.S. service members and one other contractor were wounded in an attack that hit just before 2 p.m. local time, the Defense Department said in a release. Two were treated on-site and the others were medically evacuated for treatment in Iraq.

The Pentagon said the intelligence community has assessed the one-way unmanned aerial vehicle to be of Iranian origin.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he authorized U.S. Central Command to retaliate by carrying out precision airstrikes in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) at the direction of President Biden after the incident.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, Austin said.

The Pentagon added that the U.S. strikes are intended to protect and defend U.S. personnel.

No group will strike our troops with impunity, Austin said.

This is a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden responded to the Iranian drone strike in northeast Syria  which claimed the life of one American contractor and wounded five US service members  by warning Iran that the US is willing to act forcefully to protect our people.

Make no mistake, the United States does not ... seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night, Mr Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, during a joint appearance with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Mr Biden authorised retaliatory precision airstrikes against Iran-aligned groups after the deadly Iranian drone strike.

The drone struck a facility on a coalition base housing US personnel in northeast Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon announced in a statement late on Thursday night.

One contractor  an American citizen  died in the strike while five US service members and an additional US contractor were also wounded.

My heart and deepest condolences go out to the family of the American we lost, and wish a speedy recovery for those who are wounded, Mr Biden said. But Im also grateful for the professionalism of our service members who so ably carried out this response.

The Pentagon said that the intelligence community had determined the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be of Iranian origin.

In response to the strike, Mr Biden gave the green light for the Pentagon to launch a series of airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

These strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and two other fighters near the town of Mayadeen, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Another strike on a military post near the border with Iraq had no reported fatalities, the information group said.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the US had taken proportionate and deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimise casualties.

Story continues

At the direction of President Biden, I authorised US Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), he said.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC.

Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and with those who were wounded in the attack earlier today.

The DOD chief added: As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the US had taken proportionate and deliberate action (AP)

Commander of US Central Command General Erik Kurilla warned that the US is ready to respond with additional strikes if there are more attacks on American troops.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said.

Three of the wounded service members and the wounded contractor were taken to medical facilities in Iraq, while the two other service members received treatment on-site.

The identities of the dead and wounded Americans have not been released.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields.

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes. Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The strikes came just hours after Commander Kurilla testified before the House Armed Services Committee about Iran using proxies to hide its attacks.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, he told the House committee on Thursday.

Thats either UAVs or rockets to be able to attack our forces in either Iraq or Syria.

In total, such Iranian proxies have carried out 78 drone or rocket attacks on US forces in the Middle East since the start of 2021, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
The United States on Friday renamed a military base to honor a decorated Native American soldier instead of a general who fought for the pro-slavery breakaway Confederacy.

Previously called Fort Pickett, the 41,000-acre Virginia National Guard installation is the first of nine bases to drop the name of a figure who served the Confederate States of America, which was made up of southern states that seceded and were defeated in the 1861-1865 US Civil War.

The base was renamed after Colonel Van T Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, its commander, Colonel James Shaver, said in a ceremony there.

"This will be the first army post in the continental United States to bear the name of a Native American soldier," Shaver said, referring to Barfoot's Choctaw heritage.

Members of Barfoot's family attended the ceremony and helped unveil a sign bearing the base's new name: Fort Barfoot.

"Having his service to this nation memorialized by this redesignation is a tribute to a man who epitomized what is great about our American soldiers," his daughter Margaret Nicholls said.

Barfoot, who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and reached the rank of colonel, died in 2012 at age 92.

He received the Medal of Honor -- the nation's highest military award for valor -- for actions including taking out two German machine gun nests, capturing 17 enemy soldiers, disabling a tank and aiding wounded troops in Italy in 1944.

- 'Step in the right direction' -

The base was previously named for Confederate major general George Pickett, who led three brigades in an assault on Union troops during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg that became known as "Pickett's Charge."

Pickett -- who graduated last in his class from West Point and served in the Mexican-American war before resigning his commission to join the Confederacy -- lost over half his command in the attack, which was ordered by general Robert E Lee.

The Confederacy lost the battle and the war, but Pickett survived both and later worked as a farmer and insurance salesman.

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The president of the Virginia NAACP civil rights organization welcomed the renaming of the base.

"Public property should not be named after Confederate folks, so I think it's a good step in the right direction to change it," Robert Barnette told AFP.

Calls to change the names of bases that honor Confederate figures gained momentum during nationwide protests against racism and police brutality that were sparked by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, an African American man who died at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.

In the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021, Congress required the establishment of a commission to plan for the removal of Confederate-linked "names, symbols, displays, monuments, or paraphernalia" from Defense Department property, and gave the secretary three years to carry out its recommendations.

Then-president Donald Trump opposed the renaming effort, tweeting in 2020 that his administration "will not even consider" changing the names of the bases, which "have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom."

He vetoed the defense bill, but Congress overrode it in a blow to Trump, who by then had lost his bid for presidential re-election to Joe Biden.

wd/st
(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday said it was proposing a rule to allow the use of salt substitutes in everyday foods including cheese, frozen peas and canned tuna, in a bid to cut Americans' salt consumption.

The FDA had in 2021 set a new voluntary goal for manufacturers and chain restaurants to cut salt levels by an average of 12% in packaged foods, because excessive salt consumption has been linked to high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart attack and stroke.

"Most people in the U.S. consume too much sodium. The majority of sodium consumed comes from processed, packaged and prepared foods, not from salt people add to their food when cooking or eating," said Susan Mayne, the director of FDA's food safety and nutrition division.

Friday's proposed rule looks to change the FDA's "standards of identity" (SOI) for over 20 items, ranging from cheese to cereal flour.

The SOIs list ingredients that standardized foods must contain, and which ingredients are optional.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed a former Barclays Plc trader's whistleblower lawsuit accusing the British bank of firing him after he complained it ignored basic risk management and violated its own policies for detecting rogue trading.

U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken in Manhattan said Brian La Belle, who had been Barclays' head of commercial real estate trading, could not sue under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblowing law.

La Belle's job termination in late July 2018 came at a time Barclays had been under intense scrutiny over its treatment of whistleblowers.

In May 2018, British regulators fined Jes Staley, then Barclays' chief executive, about 642,000 pounds as punishment for trying to unmask a whistleblower. Barclays also clawed back 500,000 pounds of Staley's compensation.

Much of La Belle's case concerned "mandatory block leave," where Barclays required some employees to take 10 consecutive business days off with no access to its computers, to prevent wrongdoers from covering their tracks.

La Belle, of Hampton, New York, said he was forced to work twice through mandatory leaves in 2017, with colleagues calling him on his personal cellphone to avoid detection, only to be threatened by a supervisor to keep quiet.

He also said Barclays fired him after he reported misconduct internally and to U.S. regulators a few weeks earlier concerning two clients and another employee.

Oetken, however, said Sarbanes-Oxley did not generally cover claims that companies violated internal policies, even if the behaviors were wrongful.

He also said La Belle did not show that his firing resulted from his whistleblowing and had "indisputably" been on "thin ice" by mid-June 2018, when Barclays said it had decided to terminate him.

La Belle's lawyer Steven Barentzen said his client is considering all options. "Whistleblowers like Mr. La Belle who are retaliated against for having the courage to stand up to their employer should be protected under the law," he said.

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Barclays declined to comment.

La Belle had joined Barclays in July 2015 from UBS, brokerage industry records show.

His lawsuit had sought reinstatement, more than $10 million of front and back pay, and punitive damages.

The case is La Belle v Barclays Capital Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 19-03800.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Grant McCool)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24)  Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the Department of Justice has a listing of people who he claimed were ordered killed by Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.

This was in response to a statement made by Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, widow of governor Roel Degamo, who said almost 30 people were killed by Teves.

The initial that we got was 17 people but there are more names coming up, Remulla told reporters in an interview on Friday.

We have to get the data, we have to investigate them systematically to get the necessary data and to have a case folder for each so we know who are the witnesses and what statements will be made to support the allegations, the death certificates, autopsy results, he explained.

Teves was tagged as the mastermind behind the killing of the Negros Oriental governor.

As to the filing of complaints, Remulla said this would happen hopefully by March 30 or 31.

If Teves is among the respondents, Remulla said the DOJ would look into the extent of his involvement.

Because if the case will be filed, it will still undergo preliminary investigation except for those who voluntarily gave statements which we can already submit to the court for further action, he said.

Remulla said seven to ten people may be involved in the killings and that it's possible that the same people were involved in the Degamo assassination.

They may intersect at some points or they may have a lot in common in the Degamo murders, he said.

CNN Philippines has contacted Teves legal team for its response.

CNN Philippines senior correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday set a fast-paced schedule in the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit challenging Google LLC's digital advertising technology practices, moving the case along more quickly than either side had proposed.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Anderson in Alexandria, Virginia, after a brief hearing issued an order setting Jan. 18, 2024, as the date when Alphabet Inc's Google and Justice Department lawyers must disclose factual evidence and experts reports. Lawyers for both sides had sought at least five additional months to prepare for trial.

The faster pace of the litigation could put additional pressure on both sides, but particularly on Google in building its defense, based on what the company in a court filing called an "imbalance" in the proceedings.

Google argued that it needed more time because, unlike the Justice Department, it did not have the benefit of an investigation "with the federal governments subpoena power."

Google told the judge that the case "presents complex and extremely consequential issues, the resolution of which will affect businesses across the United States."

The judge's order did not set a trial start.

A Justice Department spokesperson and a representative from Google had no comment on Friday.

The Justice Department and eight states filed the case in January, seeking to force Google to sell its ad manager suite, claiming that the company unlawfully curbed competition over advertising technology. The case is one of two Justice Department antitrust actions against Google.

The other, filed in October 2020 and challenging Google's search business, is set for a trial in Washington, D.C., federal court in September.

Google has denied the claims in both cases.

The Eastern District of Virginia is colloquially known as a "rocket docket" for its pace of proceedings.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, assigned to the digital advertising case, will preside at the January pretrial conference.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; editing by Leigh Jones and Marguerita Choy)
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, has suggested that diplomacy may still play a role in determining Ukraine's borders in the future, as Kyiv may decide not to regain all the territories by military means.

Source: European Pravda; AFP



Details: "I think there's going to be territory in Ukraine that the Ukrainians are determined to fight for on the ground; there may be territory that they decide that they'll have to try to get back in other ways," Blinken said, answering questions from Congress.

He responded to a question from Republican Representative Chris Stewart, who asked whether the United States supports President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his efforts to bring back control over Crimea, which was seized and annexed by Moscow in 2014.

"If our commitment and our agreement with Mr Zelenskyy is that we will support you for whatever you want to achieve, including no Russian presence at all in Crimea, then we're asking for a world of hurt," Stewart said.

Blinken stressed that "these have to be Ukrainian decisions about what they want their future to be and how that lands, and how that lands in terms of the sovereignty, the territorial integrity, the independence of the country."

"What we don't want, for everyone's interests, is to have this settle in a place and in a way that simply invites the Russians to rest, rearm and then re-attack," Blinken said.

Background: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commented on the possibility of the reclamation of Crimea by Ukraine by force by pointing out that the war should end at the negotiations table, where Ukraine will make a decision about acceptable conditions on its own.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the United States will continue to support Ukraine next year "to ensure that President Putin's war remains a strategic failure."

Source: France24/AFP; U.S. Department of State website

Quote: "The [US] budget will sustain our security, economic, energy, and humanitarian support for Ukraine to ensure that President Putins war remains a strategic failure."

"I think there's going to be territory in Ukraine that the Ukrainians are determined to fight for on the ground; there may be territory that they decide that they'll have to try to get back in other ways."

"What we don't want  is to have this settle in a place and in a way that simply invites the Russians to reset, rearm and then re-attack."

Details: Blinken on Thursday, 23 March suggested that diplomacy has a role to play in determining Ukraine's future borders, while confirming that any peaceful solutions must be made by Kyiv.

The US Secretary of State has repeatedly stated that the war should be ended diplomatically, but has rejected the immediate prospects of negotiations, as he believes that Russia is not ready for this, and has focused on helping the Ukrainian military in repelling Russian attacks.

He also noted that the US budget for 2024 is designed to continue supporting Ukraine in terms of security, energy and humanitarian matters.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Nandita Bose and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris starts a weeklong trip to Africa this weekend as the United States seeks to pitch itself as a better partner than China, which has invested heavily in the continent over several decades.

Harris will discuss China's engagement in technology and economic issues in Africa that concern the United States, as well as China's involvement in debt restructuring, senior U.S. officials said.

One of the three countries Harris will visit is Zambia, which was the first African country to default on its sovereign debt during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is working with its creditors, including China, to reach an agreement.

"We're not asking our partners in Africa to choose," said a senior official, describing the competition with China, although he added that the U.S. has "real concerns about some of China's behavior in Africa" and its "opaque" business dealings.

Harris will be in Ghana from March 26-29, then in Tanzania from March 29-31. Her final stop is Zambia, on March 31 and April 1. She will meet with the three countries' presidents and plans to announce public- and private-sector investments.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Harris would discuss the best ways for the international community to address debt challenges faced by Ghana and Zambia.

The White House hosted an Africa Leaders Summit in December, and President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Africa this year.

Harris has a personal connection to Zambia. Her maternal grandfather worked in the country, and she visited him there as a girl.

"The Vice President is very much looking forward to returning to Lusaka, which is a part of her family's story and a source of pride," one of the officials said.

Harris will also meet with young leaders and business representatives and discuss topics such as climate change and food insecurity.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland in Washington. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Utah on Thursday became the first state to bar minors from using social media without consent from a parent or guardian after Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed two bills aimed at regulating how minors interact online in the state  one requiring companies to verify the age of users before they can create accounts.

Cox followed through on a promise to sign the two divisive bills: Utah Senate Bill 152, which requires users to be 18 or older to open a social media account without parental permission, and Utah House Bill 311, which prohibits social media companies from using a design or feature that causes a minor to have an addiction to the platform.

Among other measures, the new laws will set up a curfew that will lock minors out of their accounts between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., unless a parent permits that the time restriction can be lifted. It will also require parents to have the the ability to set a time limit on how long a minor can use their accounts.

Social media companies are also barred from displaying minors accounts in public search results and from advertising to minor accounts.

Were no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth, Cox said on Twitter, announcing the bill signings. Utahs leading the way in holding social media companies accountable  and were not slowing down anytime soon.

The Utah governor said last week that he expects legal challenges to the bills and is ready to face them, arguing that existing case law on the matter was wrongly decided.

The new restrictions wont take effect until March 1, 2024. But, Cox said hell be working with social media companies over the next year to figure out how the new laws will be implemented.

He lauded the first-of-their-kind bills at a Thursday press conference, arguing that other states and the federal government should follow Utahs lead on the restrictions aimed at protecting minors online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Utah's governor Spencer Cox introduced a bill requiring social media companies to have a curfew for minors. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Utah's governor Spencer Cox passed legislation restricting teenagers' access to social media.

The new bill requires social media firms to obtain parental consent before children can open accounts.

It also requires social media companies to establish a curfew for teens from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

The governor of Utah signed a bill on Thursday that seriously restricts teenagers' access to social media platforms.

Republican Governor Spencer Cox passed the Social Media Regulation Act, which aims to force social media companies to verify the age of all Utah residents before they can sign up for or maintain a social media account.

The bill requires companies to obtain parental approval before minors can open a social media account, and establish a curfew for those under-18 to restrict access between 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

The law, which is set to come into effect in March 2024, will ban social media firms from targeting or displaying advertisements to minors; suggesting content or accounts; and collecting, sharing, or using personal information from a minor's account.

The proposal first introduced by Republican Senator Michael McKell.

When contacted about the bill, Governor Cox's office referred Insider to a press conference he hosted on Thursday.

"We want teens to be safe online," a Meta spokesperson said. "We've developed more than 30 tools to support teens and families, including tools that let parents and teens work together to limit the amount of time teens spend on Instagram, and age verification technology that helps teens have age-appropriate experiences.

"We automatically set teens' accounts to private when they join Instagram, and we send notifications encouraging them to take regular breaks. We don't allow content that promotes suicide, self-harm or eating disorders, and of the content we remove or take action on, we identify over 99% of it before it's reported to us."

TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, while Twitter sent an automatic response of a single poop emoji, as it does to all messages sent to its press email address.

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The Associated Press reported that social media companies will likely sue to stop the law going into effect.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization protecting civil liberties online, published an opposition letter to McKell's initial proposal on March 6 arguing that young people have a "First Amendment Right to Information," and many use online platforms for educational purposes.

It wrote: "Under S.B. 152. before any minor can access the content on many of the most popular of these sites, they would have to get permission from a parent. This may make sense for a seven-year-old, but requiring the same restrictions for a seventeen-year-old greatly interferes both with the child's rights and the parent's."

It added that young people's privacy will become vulnerable, for example, those trying to obtain information about sexual health, reproductive rights, and gender identity won't be able to in certain households.

Alongside Utah, states like Connecticut and Ohio have also tried to introduce similar legislation.

Lawmakers have been trying to protect children on social media for years, marking back to a 1998 bill, The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prevented platforms from collecting the personal data of kids under the age of 13.

But it's been argued that the bill needs amending in recent years.

"Big Tech has a voracious appetite for kids' attention and data, and these companies have no problem prioritizing their own profits over children and teens' right to privacy," Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, an original author of the law, wrote in a press release in 2021, per Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Denver, CO --News Direct-- Select Sector SPDR

The utilities sector warrants consideration by investors for offering a potential hedge against market volatility. Demand for the electricity, gas, and renewable energy that utilities provide is a constant despite market gyrations.

The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) is a go-to sector ETF, providing a low-cost*, and easily accessible vehicle that goes to the heart of the biggest U.S. companies in the industry. Launched in 1998, the fund has been a stalwart and should be considered in a diversified portfolio.

Energy exposure is critical to a diversified investment portfolio. But energy can also be volatile. Thats where utilities can play a role. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR offers an area in the investment space often overlooked by investors.

XLU is actively traded, as 2022 average daily volume exceeded 15 million shares. With $16 billion** in assets under management and a low total expense ratio of 0.10%*, the fund holds some of the biggest utilities companies in the sector, including 30 companies with a median weighted market cap of $26 billion. And as utilities are known to do by producing consistent dividends, XLU currently is producing attractive dividend income which is paid quarterly to the ETF holders.

The Top Holdings**

XLU tracks a market-cap-weighted index of U.S. utilities stocks drawn exclusively from the S&P 500. The top holdings (with their weightings):

NextEra Energy (15.04%)

Duke Energy (7.74%)

Southern Company (7.32%)

Sempra Energy (5.02%)

Dominion Energy (4.94%)

American Electric Power (4.82%)

Exelon (4.28%)

Xcel Energy (3.77%)

Consolidated Edison (3.38%)

Public Service Enterprise Group (3.21%)

The top 10 companies represent nearly 60% of the funds holdings. The Utilities Index ETF primarily includes companies that produce, generate, transmit, or distribute electricity or natural gas. The other compelling component in this sector is the evolution of renewable energy.

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Renewable Energy

There are developing and interesting dynamics within the utilities sector that may be worth considering.

For instance, the cost of renewable energy materials has been declining. Tax credits, the wave of new development, and the increasing construction of solar panels and wind farms have decreased the overall cost of producing those forms of energy.

But the overarching factor with the utilities sector is that it is an industry that consumers, businesses, and the economies need to function. XLU captures exposure in a lower-volatility manner that monetizes keeping the lights on.

The utilities sector ETF  XLU  is a reliable sector vehicle for historically steady earnings and dividends. The companies in the fund literally power our economy and the sector cannot be overlooked.

The ETF is worth a serious consideration. Utilities has long been a key component to a diversified portfolio.

Sector SPDR ETFs divide the S&P 500 index into categories that offer specific exposure to the market through its suite of 11 sector ETFs. For a full lineup of Sector SPDR ETFs, click here.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of research and should not be taken as investment or financial advice. Therefore, Select Sector SPDRs or the publisher is not liable for any decision made based on the publication.

About the Company:

Select Sector SPDR ETFs offer flexibility and customization opportunities. Many investors have

similar outlooks, but no two are exactly alike. Select Sector SPDR ETFs let investors select the

sectors that best meet their investment goals.

*Ordinary brokerage fees apply

**Holdings, Weightings & Assets as 2/28/23 subject to change

DISCLOSURES

The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The index is heavily weighted toward stocks with large market capitalizations and represents approximately two-thirds of the total market value of all domestic common stocks. The S&P 500 Index figures do not reflect any fees, expenses or taxes. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing.

One may not invest directly in an index.

Transparent ETFs provide daily disclosure of portfolio holdings and weightings

All ETFs are subject to risk, including loss of principal. Sector ETF products are also subject to sector risk and nondiversification risk, which generally will result in greater price fluctuations than the overall market. Diversification does not eliminate risk.

An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 1-866-SECTOR-ETF (732-8673) or visit www.sectorspdrs.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust.

Media Contact:

Company: Select Sector SPDRs

Contact: Dan Dolan*

Address: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203

Country: United States

Email: dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com

Website: https://www.sectorspdrs.com/

*Dan Dolan is a Registered Representative of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is the distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust.

Contact Details

Select Sector SPDR

Dan Dolan

dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com

Company Website

https://www.sectorspdrs.com/

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/utilities-sector-etf-xlu-may-help-temper-market-volatility-129383203
When Maiah Bennett of Eureka, California, met a female friend recently to lament last month's overturning of Roe v. Wade and discuss how to express their frustrations through art, it wasn't long before they decided it would be through Bennett's tattoo pen.

On Friday, Bohemian Tattoo, the shop where Bennett works in Eureka, held a flash sale featuring 10 images the friends had designed. Among them were variations on a uterus  including a fairy, a sword and multiple butterflies. In all, Bennett and another artist at the shop produced 10 pro-abortion-rights tattoos, with all proceeds  about $1,300  going to the National Network of Abortion Funds, she said.

As a tattoo artist, Bennett knows the power her designs can have  not only for personal expression but as a means of healing for people overcoming sexual assault or facing depression.

"Tattoos are a way of taking ownership over your own body and making a statement for yourself as well as others," said Bennett, 27. "Our bodily autonomy is being stripped from us."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling June 24 denying a constitutional right to abortion marked the culmination of a gradual clampdown on abortion access around the country, with 26 states banning or limiting or expected to ban or limit the procedure.

Abortion-rights protest on June 24, 2022, in New York City.

In response, some abortion rights supporters are turning to body art to vent their frustrations, state their positions and ease their grief over the loss of what they say should be a basic right. Meanwhile, artists like Bennett and others among the nation's estimated 31,000 tattoo shops are joining the cause by conducting pro-abortion-rights flash sales  one-day events offering themed designs at reduced rates  with proceeds benefiting abortion rights advocacy organizations.

The designs include a pair of underwear ringed with barbed wire, hearts reading "My Body My Choice" and coat hangers with the words "Never Again."

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"Its just important to feel heard in this time," Bennett said. "I'm hoping this will help people feel some confirmation in themselves.

Pro-abortion tattoos show 'feminine power'

The designs werent the only pro-abortion-rights tattoos Bennett has done. In May, just after the leak of a draft opinion foreshadowing the Supreme Court decision, one of her customers came in and asked to be tattooed with the image of a uterus with a raised middle finger.

She was very angry at the idea of her bodily autonomy being taken away, Bennett said.

A uterus-themed tattoo in the form of a fairy designed by tattoo artist Maiah Bennett of Eureka, Calif. Bennett tattooed the image on a customer at a pro-abortion flash sale event held on July 1, 2022, by Bohemian Tattoo, where Bennett works.

Kelly Nestman was also angry. Nestman, who owns a consulting company focused on reproductive health in Pittsburgh, said she has seen four or five local tattoo shops holding abortion access flash sales since last month's ruling.

Last week, she sought out local artist Ashley Karpa-Strang for the design she had in mind  a lush, 5-inch-long image of a vagina. The imagery is important to Nestman not only because of her career in reproductive health justice but also because, as someone with endometriosis, a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, she has experienced her own related struggles.

I have a lot of vaginal imagery in my house, said Nestman, 27. I see it as this beautiful thing, not something for folks to use as an insult. It represents feminine power in a way that is thousands of years old. Theres no way you can adequately do anything in abortion care without acknowledging a vagina.

The image isn't Nestman's first abortion-rights-related tattoo: Six years ago, as an intern for Planned Parenthood, she had an image of a coat hanger tattooed on her wrist.

When I shake peoples hands, I want them to know where I stand, she said.

Pro-abortion demonstrators hold coat hangers, a symbol of the reproductive rights movement, outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 3.

While some in the reproductive health care field are pushing to deemphasize coat hanger imagery, Nestman said, she sees the image as an homage to the many activists and researchers who paved the way toward abortion access and contraception.

With last month's ruling, she said, that fight continues, which is what spurred her to get her latest pro-abortion-rights tattoo. She plans to get another this summer.

"It's another pivotal moment in this fight, knowing I need to do something to keep me going," Nestman said. "It's to remind me that this is a long game and that I can only control what I can control, doing what I can in Pennsylvania."

Embracing body art in support of abortion access

In Dallas, where Lady Magnolia Tattoo plans a pro-abortion-rights benefit event this month, tattoo artist Andrea Patterson has prepared a sheet of 10 designs, including a heart reading Pro Choice, a uterus with a smiley face and a bead-like design reading Rosaries Off My Ovaries.

Whether or not you want to get an abortion, there are still people who need it and its not anybodys say, said Patterson, 31. The idea of people going about it unsafely just turns my stomach.

At Lady Magnolia Tattoo in Dallas, Texas, artist Andrea Patterson, 31, colors in an image of an ammonite for patron Kate Pelusio, 34, on Friday, July 1, 2022. Patterson planned to take part in the shop's pro-abortion flash sale later in the month to benefit abortion rights advocacy organizations.

Pattersons passion for abortion rights began early after her grandmother told her of her own experience as a younger woman.

She told me that the first time she had sex, she got pregnant and went to Galveston to have an abortion, she said. But the person butchered it and didnt get it done right, so she had to go to the hospital for a week before she passed the fetus. She told me that when I was, like, 12 or 13  so it kind of stuck with me.

The Supreme Court ruling made Patterson angry, and more than a little sad, especially knowing that other members of her extended family have had abortions for various reasons.

Ive definitely cried a lot, she said.

She hopes the tattoos will help destigmatize abortion, provide people with a sense of solidarity and allow them to express themselves in a meaningful way.

I hope it brings more awareness and that financially we can make some difference, she said.

Others, like Jasmine Ramirez of Danielson, Connecticut, started offering tattoo art last year as more restrictive abortion laws were being passed in statehouses throughout the country.

Nearly a year ago, the tattoo artist organized a solo flash sale featuring pro-abortion-rights designs at Sinful Skin, the shop where she works in Danielson.

"Plain and simple, I don't think anybody should have the right to tell me what to do with my body," Ramirez said.

The 30-year-old had announced the event on her Instagram page: I've never really been the activist type, but I am truly sickened by these new abortion laws being passed, she wrote. These new laws aren't about saving children, they're about controlling women and it needs to end!

Though shes grateful to live in a state where those rights are supported, she knows other women arent as lucky.

It was a small effort to say I contributed in some way, to know that I did my part because its scary thinking how people can believe that its OK to take these rights away, Ramirez said. I felt it was important to do something.

In all, she did seven tattoos that day, raising more than $400 for the Connecticut Womens March in support of reproductive rights. Her most popular design was A Dont-Tread-On-Me-style snake in the shape of a uterus.

People were messaging me even after the sale wanting to get the designs, Ramirez said.

At a time when so many upset by the Supreme Court decision are seeking ways to vent, Ramirez sees such tattoos as expressions of pride and self-determination.

Being pro-choice isn't about being pro-abortion, it's being pro-minding-my-own-damn-business, she posted after her flash-sale event. I am so proud to be a woman and I am so honored to be able to make a difference as a tattoo artist. 

She said the shop hopes to stage another similar event, confident that the response would be positive.

"People are really pissed off," Ramirez said.

A tattooed image created by artist Maiah Bennett of Bohemian Tattoo in Eureka, Calif., on July 1, 2022. Bennett, 27, designed multiple images as part of a pro-abortion flash sale conducted by the shop to benefit the National Network for Abortion Funds.

'It was a reminder to me of why I do what I do'

For some medical providers, the Supreme Court ruling is not the first time they've turned to tattoos.

In 2016, Dr. Gillian Schivone, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist in St. Louis, was among hundreds of reproductive health physicians attending the National Abortion Federations annual conference in Austin.

Fired up by regulations that had prompted half of Texas' abortion clinics to close, she and several colleagues decided one night over dinner to do something to voice their frustrations. The next day, each of them got a coat hanger tattoo, an experience that brought them closer.

I just wanted a reminder of why I do the work I do, especially when times get difficult, Schivone said. We cant go back to a time when people were dying from unsafe abortion.

Schivone's tattoo, on her foot, is not readily visible, meant mostly for herself rather than other people  not that shes secretive about her profession. Shes vocal about her work as an abortion provider, so tattoo or no tattoo, people are going to know what I do.

A tattoo of a coat hanger with the words "Never Again" adorns Colleen Krajewski's right forearm.

For Pittsburgh physician Colleen Krajewski, the decision to get a pro-abortion-rights tattoo came in 2016, when Donald Trump was elected president. She said she and many of her reproductive health colleagues saw the writing on the wall: A conservative Supreme Court would likely mean the overturning of Roe v. Wade and, for many, the end of legalized abortion.

A month later, frustrated and angry, Krajewski, an obstetrician and gynecologist, decided to declare her support for reproductive freedom by getting a tattoo on her right forearm of a coat hanger with the words Never Again. It symbolizes a pre-Roe time when the instrument was used in dangerous attempts to perform illicit abortions, she said.

It came from knowing that the road ahead was going to be really hard, that there would be times when I was going to burn out and that I wouldnt want to fight the good fight anymore  but that if I did, there would be consequences, Krajewski said. It was a reminder to me of why I do what I do.

Coat hangers recalling the pre-Roe v. Wade era on the anti-scaling fence outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on May 5, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

Both physicians noted that with the advent of the abortion pill, the landscape is not as scary and dangerous as it was before Roe, when many turned to coat hangers or other risky methods rumored to be effective, such as obscure herbs or bleach, to induce abortion. That's one reason many in the field want to deemphasize the coat hanger imagery.

We have safer ways to self-manage abortion than we did pre-Roe, and thats super-important for people to know, Schivone said.

Krajewski also said she wants women to know coat hanger abortions do not need to be in their future.

We are going backward in many ways, but we are not going back to coat hangers, Krajewski said. "Thats not to say we didnt fight and write our congressmen and do what we could, but still, here we are. And thats quite sobering.

'I need to something to keep me going'

While having pro-abortion-rights designs tattooed on one's body can be curative, so, too, can creating them: One of the designs Bennett, the California artist, created for last week's event featured a girl with flowers growing from her head and, between her legs, an apple with a bite taken out of it. As someone who was raped as a teenager, Bennett said, the image holds special meaning.

Our bodily autonomy is being stripped from us, Bennett said, and while the pain and rage she has felt has made her feel like a drop of water in an ocean, if I can help people express how they feel on this subject through tattoos, that will help me feel less like Im drowning.

Thats the kind of comfort Nestman, the reproductive health specialist in Pittsburgh, said she sought through her body art. In addition to her coat hanger and vagina tattoos, she plans to get a third image this summer  a design she said will be in the dreamy rainbow style of a Lisa Frank cat.

With everything happening this last week with Roe, its just knowing that I need something to keep me going, to remind me that this is a long game, Nestman said.

That includes contributing to abortion-rights advocacy organizations and working to elect supportive politicians, she said.

Her work in the reproductive health field, she said, had never pleased her grandmother, a tea party Republican who staunchly opposed abortion but who had nonetheless arranged an illicit abortion for her daughter  Nestmans mother  in the early 1970s, before Roe v. Wade.

She got her coat hanger tattoo a month before her grandmother died of Parkinsons disease.

The last time I saw her, she was completely nonverbal, Nestman said. But when she saw the tattoo for the first time she just lit up. She knew this work was what I was going to be doing. At that point, politics aside, she knew this was an important thing for people to have access to.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pro-abortion rights tattoos help activists vent anger, ease grief
(CNN)  Israeli opposition politicians on Thursday condemned a new law that would limit the ways a sitting prime minister can be declared unfit for office, and is largely seen by critics as a way to protect Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing an ongoing corruption trial.

Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli also said the protest movement in Israel over the governments contentious set of judicial reforms, and the subsequent warnings coming from Washington, must be a red light to Netanyahu.

By a 61-to-47 final vote, the Knesset approved the bill that states that only the prime minister himself or the cabinet, with a two-thirds majority, can declare the leader unfit. The cabinet vote would then need to be ratified by a super majority in the parliament.

Additionally, The authority to declare the Prime Minister incapacitated will only belong to the government or the Knesset and will only occur due to physical or mental incapacity, a Knesset statement said on Thursday.

The bill also prevents the Supreme Court from considering a request to declare the incapacity of the Prime Minister.

Given that a sitting prime minister derives his power and authority from the people through his representatives, this proposal reflects the existing concept according to which the removal of the leader against his will, will be determined by the peoples representatives alone without the involvement of an unelected arm, the statement said.

It came a day after Israels Ambassador to the United States was summoned over a vote in the Knesset on Tuesday to roll back 2005 legislation that previously ordered the evacuation of four Israeli settlements established in the northern West Bank.

Israels prime ministers office later confirmed that no new settlements will be established in areas previously evacuated under the 2005 disengagement law, despite the repeals.

In a statement, the prime ministers office said the parliaments decision to repeal parts of the secession law brings an end to a discriminatory and humiliating law that prohibited Jews from living in the areas of northern Samaria, part of our historical homeland, using the biblical name for part of the West Bank.

However, the government has no intention of establishing new settlements in these areas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which treats the area as a closed military zone prohibiting Israeli civilians from entering, said it is still learning the meanings of the bill and will act in accordance to the law. Any changes to the area will not be executed without the IDFs sign off.

Under international law, the West Bank is considered occupied territory and settlements there illegal, which Israel disputes.

In an interview with CNNs Becky Anderson Wednesday, Labor Party leader Michaeli said, I believe that the protests must be a sign of warning and the signals that are coming from Washington must be a red light to Benjamin Netanyahu and to make him stop what hes doing in order to save not only Israeli democracy and the state of Israel, but relations with the US as well.

I can only hope that my Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gets his act together as soon as possible and does not allow the US-Israel relations to come to a point that is dangerous for Israel, and that is not good for the region, she continued.

Michaeli said she opposed the legislation calling it a very harmful and very dangerous decision. One of the drivers for this judicial coup that theyre trying to pass now is the settlers that have been wanting to bring down the Supreme Court of Israel for many, many years because they want to be able to do in the West Bank whatever they want to do, she added.

The opposition Israeli leader emphasized her partys historic support for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, giving a nod to the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who signed the Oslo Accords with then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. She said the Labor Party knows how closely attached the conflict in the West Bank is with the judicial overhaul.

Opposition condemns legislation

Opposition figures have announced plans to challenge the law limiting the ways a sitting prime minister can be declared unfit in the Supreme Court. Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid called it a disgraceful and corrupt personalized law and that ultimately Netanyahu is looking out only for himself.

Like thieves in the night, the coalition just passed a disgraceful and corrupt personalized law in response to a baseless rumour about recusal. Every citizen of Israel should know  days before Passover, while cost of living is soaring, Netanyahu is once more looking out only for himself, Lapid said on Thursday.

Michaeli said the law that was passed is a shameful, disgraceful law whose whole purpose is prevent Netanyahu from being sent to prison.

This is all that the coalition and this government are doing, with personal legislation and the regime coup. They are sacrificing the State of Israel in order to settle themselves under a corrupt government, she said.

Netanyahus new far-right government has charged ahead with controversial plans to overhaul the countrys judicial system by undermining the Supreme Court, weakening judicial oversight over policymaking.

Netanyahu, who is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to appear in court as a defendant, is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He denies any wrongdoing.

As part of a deal with the court to serve as a prime minister despite his ongoing trial, Netanyahu agreed to a conflict of interest declaration. The Attorney General then determined the declaration meant Netanyahu could not be involved in the policy making of the judicial overhaul. A petition is currently in front of the Israeli Supreme Court to declare Netanyahu unfit for office on the grounds he has violated that conflict of interest declaration.

For months now, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have regularly taken to the streets to protest the overhaul, saying it will damage Israeli democracy. Theyve been joined by senior figures in Israels security, high-tech, financial and academic fields.

This story was first published on CNN.com, Israel passes law shielding Netanyahu from being removed amid protests over judicial changes"
[Source]

A man now dubbed as Vancouvers serial racist has been caught in yet another anti-Chinese rant, this time at a new dessert shop in the Canadian city.

The man, identified by Richmond News as Peter Hanssens, appears to have a well-documented history of harassing Asian people, typically claiming to be a lawyer and demanding that they go back to China each time.

The latest incident occurred at an Asian dessert shop called Hui Lau Shan on Buswell Street and Cook Road.

In the video posted on TikTok, Hanssens can be seen arguing with one of the shops servers, challenging her nationality in front of another worker.

More from NextShark: 11-year-old boy in China helps single dad run food stand for 17 hours a day

@patpatchoichoi Soft opening for a dessert store in Richmond, BC. Man comes in asking to borrow their washroom then complains about there isnt enough english on their menu. Then goes on to tell the employee if they aint Canadian they should go back to China. @Globalnews.ca @Daily Hive @dailyhivevancouver  original sound - user1184001711839

So what are you? Are you a Canadian? Hanssens questions. Im asking you a question, are you a Canadian? If youre saying youre Chinese, then go back to China.

TikTok user @patpatchoichoi, who posted the video, claimed that the incident started after the then-unidentified Hanssens came in to use the shops washroom and complained about a lack of English in their menu. He then allegedly verbally attacked the server, whom he also accused of being disrespectful.

More from NextShark: Japanese Multiplication Trick is the Best First Thing Youll Learn in 2021

Hanssens has been filmed making anti-Chinese rants in at least three incidents since 2020.

The first involved a group of friends who were waiting for their lunch at the Vancouver Convention Center. For no apparent reason, Hanssens allegedly approached them and started talking about his views on China and Chinese people.

He told the group: Were frigging mad When the Chinese immigrate, thats a conscious decision, right? They immigrate here, they learn English, right? They accept Canadian culture, and they act accordingly, right? They dont change Richmond or wherever else they go into Little China.

Story continues

More from NextShark: In diplomatic meeting of VPs, Kamala Harris tells Sara Duterte: 'I love lumpia'

He added, We expect them to learn English, and we expect them to blend into the Canadian culture They are no longer in shing ging or bing bing or ding ding  whatever you want to call it.

Hanssens eventually walked away from the group. As the video went viral, he penned an apology via Richmond News, saying he was the guilty party who made unwarranted and racist remarks to an innocent party of people waiting in line for lunch.

More from NextShark: 'Bad game of Russian roulette': 'Blindsided' ex-Google employee documents her layoff in viral video

It would not be the last time, however.

The following year, Hanssens showed up to a Stop Asian Hate rally in Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line station.

He allegedly got involved in a heated argument with one of the rallys volunteers.

If you want to still live like you are in China, stay in China. Eat your Chinese foodI am angry at the Chinese culture, he says in a video of the incident, which was posted on Facebook.

At one point, he also states: Youre no different than any other culture, youre not special and you give that impression.

The third incident occurred last August at the same train station.

This time, Hanssens berated two Asian women for not speaking in English.

The moment was also caught in a viral TikTok video by bystander Donna Damaso, who intervened in the situation.

If we have to bend over backward to accommodate, then thats a problem. Why do we have to bend over backwards? You move to Japan, you speak Japanese, Hanssens tells Damaso in the video.

Hanssens claimed to be a lawyer in at least two of the incidents. Following a complaint, the Law Society of British Columbia reportedly issued Hanssens a warning to stop making such representations.
By Krystal Hu and Jeffrey Dastin

PALO ALTO, California (Reuters) - In December and January, several venture capitalists from the U.S. and Britain raced to Paris to vie for a stake in a new artificial intelligence company that could reshape how people work.

The startup they courted, Dust, consisted of just two people. It had not been incorporated yet. And it rejected a generous proposal by top investment firm Coatue Management among other offers, three people familiar with the deal told Reuters.

Sequoia Capital won, two of the people said, leading a sizable "seed" fundraising round of $5 million. Dust aims to build AI tools that improve white-collar workers' productivity.

Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp's rapid push on AI and the billions of dollars they are spending to gain an edge have heightened competition in Silicon Valley. Startups in the space are pulling in offers from investors to take on their Big Tech peers and are closing deals in several days instead of weeks. It is a bright spot for an otherwise slow venture-capital market.

"Big Tech companies with massive investments in AI are not going to let their incumbent distribution advantage slip away easily," wrote Konstantine Buhler, a Sequoia Capital partner who led the Dust deal and is scouting productivity apps on the belief that "disruption is inevitable."

There's an investment craze over generative artificial intelligence, the subset of AI that exploded in popularity with ChatGPT, the chatbot from startup OpenAI. Such technology can create virtually any text, image or other content on command after having trained on the inputs of past data.

VCs think this is the new internet, a generative AI founder in the United States told Reuters.

Investment in such startups has ballooned to $5.9 billion since the beginning of 2022, up from $1.5 billion in 2020, according to data from PitchBook. While the closure of Silicon Valley Bank may hamper debt financing, venture capitalists said interest in funding AI startups remains high, especially for top early-stage founders.

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Samir Kaul, a founding partner at Khosla Ventures, itself an early backer of OpenAI, said the firm is receiving way more generative AI pitches than just six months ago.

"Now you are getting this herd mentality" among venture capitalists, said Kaul. That means lackluster companies "will get funded," then "fail and give the entire sector, which is very promising, a black eye."

ChatGPT set off massive investment because "ninety-plus percent of venture capitalists are actually very risk averse. Until you see a real application, people dont really dive in," he said.

COMPETING OFFERS

ChatGPT's human-like responses to any query made observers predict AI could disrupt search-engine technology, along with Googles market dominance. Two months after its launch, Microsoft upgraded its search competitor Bing with a chatbot powered by OpenAIs technology.

Investors sense opportunity, even for a sale if not an initial public offering; some are betting that AI startups might outpace bigger rivals, encumbered by their size.

You.com, a search engine company founded in 2020 and backed by Salesforces CEO Marc Benioff, has found new life from incorporating generative AI technology. It has attracted more attention from users and investors, handling millions of searches per day, the company told Reuters.

Jordan Jacobs, managing partner at Radical Ventures and investor in You.com, said the upstart was an example of the right people with the right technology and opportunity, that can disrupt even the most successful business models in the world.

Productivity tools including writing assistants such as Jasper and Regie.ai likewise have drawn millions of dollars in funding. These companies won business helping blog writers and salespeople do their jobs faster. But now, Big Tech has previewed upgrades for Google Docs and Microsoft Word that can draft marketing copy.

How Jasper and Regie.ai will fare once such rival tools roll out remains unclear. Regie.ai's CEO earlier told Reuters that its in-house expertise and sales focus set it up well, while a Jasper vice president said its AI that creates on-brand content across platforms distinguished it.

In such head-on competition, investors are looking for any technical advantage that could make a startup challenger stand out. Magic, a software engineering tool that can help write and edit code, is building its own specialized AI and user interface, for instance, said Jill Chase, partner at CapitalG who led its funding round. The company has raised $23 million in an effort to compete with Microsoft-owned GitHub.

Still, the biggest race at times is among investors themselves, pushing up valuations. Greylock recently passed on backing a founder who had 10 competing offers to lead a funding round, an unusually high number, said Saam Motamedi, a partner at the venture capital firm.

Deals that might take up to six weeks in so-called Series A financing are now wrapping up in as little as several days, he said.

Everything weve done in AI has had many term sheets from most of our competitors. The entrepreneurs have the fortune of picking who they want to work with, Motamedi said.

You could describe the environment as exuberant or even excessive in terms of whats happening, he said, but there is a lot of substance underlying it.

(Reporting By Krystal Hu and Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, California; Editing by Kenneth Li and Anna Driver)
Channel 2 Action News has learned that two college students who were shot a week ago while on spring break in Miami Beach are from metro Atlanta.

The Miami Beach Police Department said they were called out to the area of 7 Street and Ocean drive shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, according to an incident report we obtained on Thursday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Osagie Jordan Idahosa, 21, of Ellenwood, was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. Tameen Abdullah, 21, of McDonough, was also injured and was last listed in critical condition.

Investigators said at the time that they had taken a man into custody, who was cooperating with the investigation. The report listed him as Lawarren Omeal Meadows, 23, of Tallahassee, Florida.

When police arrived at the scene, investigators said Meadows came up to the officers and told them it was me. They said Meadows admitted to the deadly shooting and was immediately placed into handcuffs.

While he was detained, Meadows made spontaneous statements saying that someone pulled a gun on him, forcing him to defend himself.

So far, Meadows has not been charged because police are looking into his self-defense claim under Floridas Stand Your Ground law.

TRENDING STORIES

WALB-TV spoke to Idahosas brother, Sammy Idahosa, who said his family has been left in disbelief about what happened.

Jordan was a special guy. He went from being homeschooled to being a scholar. Theres millions and millions of memories of me and Jordan. We grew up three years apart, and we practically did everything together. Hes like my twin brother, Sammy Idahosa told WALB-TV. Jordan was the first Idahosa to depart from us. It doesnt feel real. I just want people to know my brother was a soldier. My brother was a warrior and still is in spirit.

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Idahosa was a student with South Georgia State College but was also taking an entry-level course at Valdosta State. Neither school would make a statement on the death to WALB-TV.

Just over 24 hours later, another deadly shooting was reported in Miami Beach, just a few blocks from where Idahosa was killed. Following the two shootings, it prompted the Miami Beach Police Department to issue a curfew for all of South Beach the following night.

IN OTHER NEWS
Opening the doors to Russia and China's perception. Getty Images

Just a few days after being branded a war criminal in an international arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin was talking peace with his most important ally, Chinese president Xi Jinping.

The setting for the get-together was the late-15th-century Faceted Chamber, the ornate throne room of Muscovite grand princes and czars. The main topics of discussion were fittingly grandiose: How should hostilities in Ukraine end? And after the war is over, how should the international security system be reshaped?

The reaction of many in the West to the proposals put forward by China and discussed with Russia has been notably suspicious of intentions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned the world not to be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China  to freeze the war on its own terms.

Such sentiment is understandable. Putin launched a brutal, unprovoked war in Ukraine. Amid the heightened emotional environment of missile attacks on civilians, horrific atrocities against ordinary citizens and deportation of children from Ukraine, even a cool evaluation of ways to end the fighting, declare a cease-fire, and begin talks by the belligerents has led to accusations of appeasement. And the peace plan put forward by China on Feb. 24, 2023, and discussed with Putin during a March 20-22 meeting in Moscow has been criticized as overly vague and lacking concrete suggestions.

In such circumstances, it can be difficult to consider what the interest of the other side might actually be in bringing the killing to an end, and their sincerity of any purported efforts to do so.

But as a historian, I ask, what does the world look like from the other side? How has the run-up to the war and the war itself been understood by Russia and China? And what do Xi and Putin envision a post-conflict world to look like?

Playing by the rules  but whose?

The rulers of both Russia and China see the West-dominated rules-based international order  a system that has dominated geopolitics since the end of the Second World War  as designed to uphold the global hegemony of the United States.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chinas President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin. Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

The two mens stated preference is for a multilateral system, one which would most probably result in a number of regional hegemons. This would include, to be sure, China and Russia holding sway in their own neighborhoods.

Xi put the matter rather gently during his Moscow trip: The international community has recognized that no country is superior to others, no model of governance is universal, and no single country should dictate the international order. The common interest of all humankind is in a world that is united and peaceful, rather than divided and volatile.

Reflecting his more street tough style, Putin was more blunt. Russia and China have consistently advocated the shaping of a more just multipolar world order based on international law rather than certain rules serving the needs of the golden billion, he said, referencing a theory that holds that the billion people in the richest countries of the world consume the greatest portion of the worlds resources.

Continuing in this vein, Putin said the crisis in Ukraine was an example of the West trying to retain its international dominance and preserve the unipolar world order while splitting the common Eurasian space into a network of exclusive clubs and military blocs that would serve to contain our countries development and harm their interests.

China as peacemaker?

Beijing appears intent to play the role of negotiator-in-chief in this transition to a multipolar world order.

After its success shouldering aside the United States and brokering a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China has turned its attention to Ukraine.

With its peace proposal on Ukraine, China has deftly established certain principles to which other nations would eagerly subscribe.

The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community, holds the first principle in language that would be hard to object to.

But those anodyne sentences point in two directions at once. Upholding sovereignty appears, at first, to be aimed at Russia a year after it had so clearly violated the sovereignty of neighboring Ukraine. But the principle also can be read to include the conflict over Taiwan, which is recognized by Beijing and some other states as a part of China. It is perhaps no accident that the plans wording comes as the U.S., which officially recognizes the position that Taiwan and mainland China are one country, has toughened its stance, vowing to defend the island should it be invaded. To Beijing, the United States appears intent on turning a rival, China, into an enemy.

Nations, China asserts, have the right to enhance their security but not at the expense of others. This principle echoes directly one of Putins most frequently expressed reasons for the conflict with Ukraine: the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe and the alliances promise to expand further by admitting Georgia and Ukraine. In Putins view, such NATO encroachment is an existential threat to Russias security interests.

But the Chinese plan also rejects Putins nuclear saber-rattling: The threat or use of nuclear weapons should be opposed.

Meanwhile, the Chinese strongly insist on the need for an immediate cease-fire and the start of negotiations, a call that Washington vehemently rejected as a concession that amounted to diplomatic cover for Russia to continue to commit war crimes.

What will Russia settle for?

Russias aims in the Ukraine war are simple enough to dissect, though they have been reduced after the effective Ukrainian resistance to the initial invasion.

Instead of taking over all of Ukraine, and perhaps setting up a puppet government, Moscow has been forced to accept limited territorial gains in the Donbas and the coastal crescent linking both the region and Russia with Crimea. Reduced though they are, such Russian goals are completely unacceptable to Ukraine and to the Western alliance  and, indeed, to all countries that accept that principle that international borders cannot be legitimately changed unilaterally by military force.

Although not clearly spelled out, this principle is even contained in the very first sentence of the Chinese peace plan: Universally recognized international law, including the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, must be strictly observed.

That notwithstanding, Putin has welcomed the intervention of China and the plan in general terms.

Rival global ambitions

So whats in this for Beijing, given that to many, the peace plan is already a non-starter?

The conflict in Ukraine is not only devastating to the two belligerents involved, but destabilizing for states around the world. In the short run, China may be benefiting from the war because it consumes attention and armaments from the West and diverts its gaze from East Asia. The U.S. pivot to the east  a planned refocusing from the Obama administration onward aimed at countering the perceived threat of China  has stalled.

But there is an argument that Xi is most concerned with Chinas renewal of economic development, which would rely on less confrontational relations with Europe and the United States. Stability, both domestically and internationally, works to Chinas economic advantage as a major producer and exporter of industrial goods. And Beijing is mindful that a slump in foreign demand and investment is hitting the countrys economic prospects.

As such, Beijings new role as peacemaker  whether in the Middle East or Eastern Europe  may indeed be sincere. Further, Xi may be the only person on the globe able to persuade Putin to think seriously about a way out of war.

Standing in the way of peace, however, is not only the current intransigence of Russia and Ukraine. The United States long-held foreign policy aim of maintaining its indispensable nation status runs counter to Russia and Chinas ambition to end American global dominance.

It presents two, seemingly insurmountable, rival ambitions.

Editors note: This article was amended on Mar. 24, 2023 to clarify the U.S.s position on the One China policy.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Ronald Suny, University of Michigan.

Read more:



Ronald Suny 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.
Statue of justice (court or lawsuit file illustration)

LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Prosecutors charged Cade Davies-Gaeta with attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, accusing him of the March 19 shooting in the West Lafayette Walmart parking lot.

Davies-Gaeta, 18, of rural Lafayette, was in the passenger seat of a white GMC Yukon and had a woman drive him to the Walmart, where he met Gabriel Padgett, according to prosecutors.

Padgett wanted to buy a handgun, and made arrangements by using a cellphone app to meet the seller, according to the probable cause affidavit.

More:UPDATE: 18-year-old arrested in West Side Walmart parking lot shooting

Padgett went to the Walmart, per instructions send via the app. At the Walmart, Padgett received directions to get into a white GMC, according to prosecutors.

When he got into the Yukon, the person in the passenger seat tried to rob him, so Padgett got out of the SUV and was shot in the right leg, according to prosecutors.

Witnesses in the car told police that Davies-Gaeta was the person in the passenger who tried to rob Padgett and shot him, according to prosecutors.

Witnesses include the driver of the SUV and another person who was inside the vehicle at the time of the robbery, according to prosecutors.

Court news:Neglect charges against Kristine Barnett for abandoning Ukrainian orphan dismissed

The next day, police arrested Davies-Gaeta at a home near Rochester, according to prosecutors.

He remained incarcerated on Friday at the Tippecanoe County Jail without bond on a warrant for failing to show up for his change-of-plea hearing in February on pending gun charges, according to online jail and court records.

On Friday, prosecutors filed a motion to revoke his bond on the pending charges, according to online court records. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for April 14.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Walmart shooting suspect charged with attempted robbery
VERONA  Transparency seemed to be the word of the day during Wednesday nights board of supervisors meeting. The board made important decisions on the future of the recently vacated South River district seat on the board, as well as rolled back some requirements for signing up to speak during a board meeting.

The board alluded to a long and difficult week following Morelli's resignation, but few details were shared about what led to Morelli's departure. The supervisors did hold a closed session following the regular meeting to discuss personnel matters having to do with the board.

Theres plenty to get to from Wednesdays meeting, so lets take it from the top.

Want to be the South River district's new representative? Here's what you need to know.

Following the resignation of South River district supervisor Steve Morelli this week, Augusta County administrator Tim Fitzgerald announced the timeline for filling the vacant seat on the board. According to state statute, the board has 45 days from Morellis resignation to fill his seat, or else a circuit court judge will appoint someone to fill the position.

If you followed the process earlier this year with Staunton, the process pushed for by supervisor Scott Seaton during Wednesdays board of supervisors meeting should feel largely similar.

Applications will be open by the end of this week on the Augusta County website, and are due back to the county on April 14 at 4 p.m. Applications should include a resume and a cover letter or letter of interest in serving. These application materials for every applicant will be viewable online on the countys website.

In order to qualify to apply, residents must be:

A citizen of the United States of America

At least 18 years of age

A registered voter in Augusta County

A resident of the South River district

The board will then schedule an interview session sometime during the week of April 17 to consider applicants and then name a replacement. The interviews will likely take place in the boards regular meeting room in order to be live-streamed, but deliberations amongst the board will be held in a closed session. The board also likely will not decide on the interim representative from the South River district on the day they conduct interviews, as they will allow time for residents to watch the interviews and provide input to the board.

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This is a change for Augusta County. Each of the last three times a board member has needed to be appointed, interviews had been conducted in closed session.

Residents with any questions about the details of the job can reach out to Fitzgerald. One thing that applicants should be aware of is the timeline on the current budget proposal in front of the board. With an appointment coming after April 17, the board is set to vote on their budget on April 26. That will be a condensed timeline for whoever is appointed to the seat to turn around and get up to speed on the proposed budget.

Body and dash cameras for Augusta County Sheriffs Office return to discussion for budget season

RISE co-founder Chanda McGuffin made an appearance in front of the board during the matters to be presented by the public section of Wednesdays meeting, and renewed calls for this years budget to include funding for body and dash cameras for the Augusta County Sheriffs Office.

Im back because its budget season, and I promised yall I would come back every budget season to talk about the body and dash cams for the sheriffs department, McGuffin said. She mentioned that cameras had not been included in last years budget, and spoke to a concern with the police holding themselves accountable.

The people have spoken, McGuffin said, adding, This is the only municipality that does not have body and dash cams.

Supervisor Seaton followed up on the points raised about residents feelings on body and dash cameras. He pointed to the recently completed Augusta County community survey which specifically asked questions of the community on body and dashboard cameras.

The survey had 801 respondents between July and December of last year, and 65% of those surveyed said they completely support body and dash cameras for the sheriffs deputies, with an additional 21% saying they mostly supported the idea. When it came to the question of funding for the cameras, 47% said they completely supported using county funds on the project while an additional 26% said they mostly supported the idea.

According to Seaton, Sheriff Donald Smith presented a request for an Axon camera system around a month ago in a work session. Seaton said he supported the request, and would ask for cameras in this years budget to help deputies against false accusations and to improve transparency with the community.

Quick hitters

The board reversed a decision from last year that limited how residents could sign up for public comment. Residents are no longer required to sign up by 7:30 p.m. online.

A strategic plan for fire and rescue agencies in the county may be on hold for a while, as the county tabled a potential consultants proposal during Wednesdays meeting. Supervisors spoke to a want to include the volunteer fire departments in conversations on a new strategic plan, and perhaps putting the plan together internally rather than bringing in an outside consultant. The item will again be discussed in April.

The board chose recipients for an arts grant this year, with Wayne Theater and Oak Grove Theater joining the Stonewall Brigade Band as recipients of funding. The board expressed a desire for more arts organizations to reach out regarding the grant funding, and would consider rotating organizations every year.

A public hearing on a potential rezoning from single family residential to general agriculture near the Shannon Lea subdivision was deferred. The public hearing will be held on May 24.

More:Little Free Libraries coming to Waynesboro schools as Kate Collins, Mathers Construction team up

More:Mexican-style seafood restaurant coming to Fishersville

Akhil Ganesh is the Government Reporter at The News Leader. You can contact him at aganesh@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @akhildoesthings.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta County Board of Supervisors talks filling vacancy, body and dash cameras
sand walkway lined with palm trees at palm beach

The Aruba Tourism Authority is searching for one lucky person to fill the worlds easiest job. The tourism authority is calling for people to enter submissions for a chance to become Arubas weatherperson for a week. In addition to the temporary gig, the winner and one invited guest will enjoy a week in sun-kissed Aruba.

The island oftentimes referred to by its moniker One happy island, boasts more sunny days than any other Caribbean destination. With 80 degree days and refreshing trade winds, Aruba is one of the best Caribbean islands to visit.

The Aruba Tourism Authority is offering travelers a unique chance to experience the One happy island. Here are all of the important details about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Photo Credit: Aruba Tourism Authority

How to Snag The Worlds Easiest Job

With clear blue skies and bright sunshine, a weather forecaster has the easiest job in Aruba.

Unexpected weather conditions force travelers to reschedule their long-awaited vacations, said Ronella Croes, the CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority. Aruba is blessed to have consistently clear, sunny skies making it the perfect destination for visitors to explore and enjoy any time of the year. Through the Worlds Easiest Job campaign, we are aiming to find the perfect weatherperson to help us showcase the islands wonderful weather.

Applicants have to fill out an application on the website and record a 30-second Aruba weather report. The judges are looking for someone with a bright personality to do their best impression of a weatherperson. The applications close on March 31. The contest is open to legal residents over 18 years old of the 48 contiguous states and Canada, excluding Quebec.

RELATED: How To Spend A Day Supporting Black-Owned Businesses In Aruba

What Will The Winner Get?

The winner will hold the spot as the islands weatherperson for a week. There, they will showcase their forecasting skills and report the weather on Arubas social channels.

The winner also will enjoy a stay for two at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort. As Arubas newest property, Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba is within walking distance of Eagle Beach. The hotel is 15 minutes from Queen Beatrix International Airport. It has 330-spacious rooms, an expansive pool and gorgeous views. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants for guests to enjoy.

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What Makes Aruba Great?

Aruba is fulled with activities for families, friends, groups and couples. As one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, Aruba is a melting pot for culture. It represents more than 90 different nations.

The One happy island is considered to have some of the best beaches, rocky bays and natural pools. Visitors can soak up the sun on Eagle Beach or relax on a sunset cruise departing from Palm Beach.

Aruba offers visitors some amazing experiences. One of the biggest tourist activities is a short boat ride to Renaissance Island. There, Arubas famous pink flamingos steal the show. Travelers can get really close to the beautiful birds for pictures or simply the experience. There are bird feeding stations, bars and lounge chairs spread across the area. The crystal clear water and soft sand are added bonuses to this amazing adventure.

Outdoor lovers will find plenty of popular hiking sites in Aruba, such as Mount Hooiberg and Arikok National Park. Other adventures on the island include cave tours, skydiving and water activities.

The spa and wellness experiences are also another reason that Aruba is a prime travel destination. The day spas in popular areas offer a range of treatments for next-level relaxation. The wellness centers offer services geared toward body and skin care. There are also services for hydrotherapy.
Oleksandr Sienkevych, the mayor of Mykolaiv

NV visited Mykolaiv and spoke with its mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, in order to find out first-hand what the city is like, which, after the liberation of the right-bank part of the Kherson region, was able to breathe in a relief.

The Kyiv-Mykolaiv train arrives early in the morning. Some of the passengers have to go further - to liberated Kherson. But the station employees ask them to gather at one point to follow a bus. An announcement is heard over the loudspeaker that there will be no rail connection with the nearby regional center in the coming days.

"Maybe the orcs blew up the tracks, or maybe something else. There is also a gray area," one of Mykolaiv's residents thoughtfully comments on this event. In a radius of a few kilometers around the station, almost all the houses have broken windows, shop windows have been boarded up with OSB boards, streets have been blocked with concrete fortifications, and trenches have been dug at major intersections. But life goes on.

We stayed for half an hour at the invincibility point near the railway ticket offices - we needed to recharge our gadgets. Here, as throughout the Ukrzaliznytsia network, there is tea and tables laden with power outlets, but there is no competition for them. Except me, there is only a railwayman who looks after a stove, raging with heat. Finally, someone else enters the hall - this is a woman with two teenage children, who are constantly arguing among themselves. The mother buys train tickets, the children sit down to charge their smartphones. And were going to the city center.

The press service warned me that Sienkevych's schedule may change suddenly, so the meeting may move in any direction and it is better to be near the city council. I am waiting for a call in one of the coffee shops, where, in addition to coffee, desserts from Uzhhorod are sold, which once again emphasizes the connection of the city with Ukraine. Suddenly, the door opens, and the mayor personally appears in the caffe. He orders two cups of coffee at once, and we start a conversation.

Story continues

NV

- What was the year 2022 like for Mykolaiv?

- As for everyone: difficult and heroic. Until November 11-12, we were bombarded almost every day: from four to 38 rockets. During the record firing there were 42, but some were shot down. On that day, Oleksiy Vadatursky died. In total, there were only 46 days of silence.

- What was the biggest challenge for you?

- The main priority was to save people, to preserve life, because the shelling was both day and night. They fired at the bus stop - 12 people died, 60 people were injured. And they were not just cut by glass, but steel shrapnel that cut into the legs and flew out on the other side, with part of the bone. Therefore, we had the urgent tasks of rescuing the people, removing debris, handling the aftermath, etc.

We told people: "Everyone who is not occupied with the maintenance of critical infrastructure - leave the city. In order to not be killed." During the war, 156 people died in Mykolaiv. This is a huge number - practically an airplanes worth of people.

Oleksandr Sienkevych, the mayor of Mykolaiv NV

But it could have been much more. In one of the last shelling attacks, one and a half portions of a 5-story building were destroyed. These were 40 apartments. Seven people died, and if people had not left, it would have been much more.

- How did utility companies operate in these conditions?

- They were preparing for winter, because after the bombings, thousands of windows were broken, and most of the apartments were uninhabited. Therefore, it was necessary to block the windows on the towers from the outside with OSB boards, to fill them with foam until the owners come back. When some were dealing with the issue of resettling refugees and distributing humanitarian aid, we were dealing with the issue of preparing for the heating season and the permanent elimination of the consequences of bombings.

- What other difficulties were there?

- Lack of clean water. On April 12, Russians fired at a water pipeline that supplies water from the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast to Mykolaiv. In order not to feed salt water into the heating system, we drilled wells and filled the system with drinking water purified by reverse osmosis systems.

- Did you have these systems?

- No. Some of them were purchased by us, but most of them were received in the form of aid from our partners, including Denmark  which handed over 50 such installations to us. In total, there are more than 150 of them. Purified water is distributed to people on the streets.

- For free?

- Yes.

- Why is it not possible to fix the situation with clean water?

- After the liberation of Kherson, we restored the water supply. But the Russians fired again at our water intake station, and destroyed it. Therefore, we pump water not from the Dnipro, but from the Southern Buh River, and it is salty there.

Indeed, salt water flows from the tap in the coffee shop.

"The city authorities will have to change water supply networks more quickly," jokes the owner of the establishment, adding that the townspeople are actually happy even with such prosperities.

Utilities are probably the largest civilian employer operating in Mykolaiv, as the lack of clean water prevents large food producers and other enterprises from operating. And the Mykolaiv sea trade port, where the leading exporters of agricultural products were located before the war, is not included in the list of ports for the "grain initiative" yet. Moreover, part of the terminals was destroyed by rocket attacks.

Frozen economy

- Has active economic life in the city also stopped?

- Almost all large enterprises were closed almost immediately. Others stopped when they were bombarded.

- And small and micro business?

- For a long time, when the city was shelled, we had 200,000-220,000 inhabitants out of half a million. And the majority were pensioners who lived with the thought "what difference does it make where I die." In addition, we had no water at all for a month. No enterprise could work.

Some people were sent to a forced retirement. Those who went abroad and did not work did not receive a salary either.

- Do you mean the workers of communal enterprises?

- Yes.

- But I noticed that now they are working, cleaning. There is public transport.

- Half of our transport is mobilized for the army. Another quarter was bombed during shelling. Warsaw gave us 6 buses, which was very helpful when the electricity supply was stopped. We are currently negotiating with our partners from Denmark regarding the supply of buses and other necessary means of transport. There is also a lack of drivers.

- At the beginning of the invasion, all cities recorded a failure of revenues to the local budget, which was managed to be corrected by the end of 2022 as a result of taxing the salaries of military personnel. How about in Mykolaiv?

- We reduced expenses as much as possible, so at the end of the year we had 1.2 billion UAH left unused.

- So it is not thanks to the increase in the salaries of the military, but thanks to savings?

- Yes. Mykolaiv performed the budget by 80% despite the fact that nothing worked here. But even such an indicator was obtained at the expense of the personal income tax of military personnel of Mykolaiv. Before the full-scale war, our city was one of the most militarized in Ukraine. We had 11 brigade-level units here.

And when, at the end of last year, the Verkhovna Rada raised the question of transferring personal income tax of military personnel from local budgets to the state budget, I said at the Verkhovna Rada committee that in that case it would let us turn off the lights, turn off the water, and leave the city of Mykolaiv.

Fortunately, they changed their minds.

- How did the life in the city change after the de-occupation of Kherson?

- Some residents have returned. Today, there are approximately 350,000 in the city. That is, the total number of consumers of city utilities has increased by 100,000. The last major bombing was on December 31. There was an opportunity to consider things.

- Do you provide any support to Mykolaiv business?

- About 120 small and medium enterprises applied for help: finance, repairs, equipment. We collect this information through the Department of Economics and transfer it to international partners: UN, UN DP. They want to move from buying food for people to helping small and medium-sized businesses. To help people earn money and buy this food themselves. We support this approach and will support it in every possible way. And we are also using this time for conditional "homework" - together with the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine, we are starting to review all regulatory acts. As a result, we strive to provide businesses with comfortable business conditions, transparency of processes, and cost reduction. Without an active business in Mykolaiv, there will be no rapid recovery.

NV

In the center of the city stands the partially destroyed Mykolaiv Hotel. My family and I stayed here in 2020 during a vacation trip to Arabatskaya Strelka, which has been occupied since February 2022. Nearby is a line of citizens waiting for humanitarian aid. In the morning, we also saw another queue - young people stormed the second-hand shop almost with violence.

In youth slang, it's called a drop  when traders buy brand-name items cheaply and then resell them," explains one of Oleksandr Sienkevych's assistants.

However, this sign of a peaceful life is an exception. In Mykolaiv, everything recalls shelling and war. The streets are half-empty and concrete shelters have been installed near public transport stops. And opposite the closed McDonalds restaurant stands a huge semi-trailer of the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen. It houses a kitchen where 5,000-6,000 hot meals are prepared every day for residents of Mykolaiv and Kherson. But with the decrease in shelling, the number of residents and humanitarian issues that the municipality is solving together with international partners is increasing.

Humanitarian issues for all and sundry

- You mentioned saving the lives of the townspeople. While I was walking from the station, I noticed the concrete shelters installed at the bus stops. When did you realize that they needed to be built?

- After the second rocket strike on a public transport stop. It was there that the most people died simultaneously. Therefore, we made these simple shelters, which immediately caused a scandal. Journalists reported that we overpayed for them. But they relied on the price of the shelters, which were given to us by private companies - UAH 350,000 ($9,485). And ours cost UAH 1,095,000 ($29,676) . However, our walls have a thickness of 40 cm, versus 15 cm. They are equipped with emergency call buttons, an anti-vandal monitor, and a video surveillance camera.

I believe that we made them the cheapest and best in Ukraine. In addition, they are collapsible, and after the end of the war, they can be used to build underground shelters near communal facilities that do not have bomb shelters.

- How many such shelters already exist in the city?

- 14 in the city, and 5 donated.

NV

- Why do people die at bus stops? Do you think the Russians are doing this on purpose?

- No. In Mykolaiv, these are the consequences of shelling with cluster shells that explode high in the sky and hit a large area. They shelled the whole city to create panic so that people would shout "Surrender!"

- Do you register forcibly displaced persons?

- After the liberation of the right-bank part of Kherson Oblast and Kherson, IDPs began to appear here - already almost 10,000.

- How do you organize the provision of humanitarian aid?

- I think that we have one of the most organized procedures for issuing humanitarian aid in general. When we started cooperating with UN food distribution programs, we made something like a social card. People registered using their personal identification number, because some received it three times a day, and some not even once. Therefore, we decided to streamline this process.

This became especially relevant after mass investigations by law enforcement regarding the misuse of humanitarian aid in other oblasts. The policemen were very surprised that everything was so organized here.

NV

Mykolayiv was the last to join the Integrity Cities program of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine - at the end of summer 2022. The main focus is transparency and accountability, especially of recovery processes. The Kingdom of Denmark took over the patronage of the city, on March 7 Sienkevych and the Danish Ambassador to Ukraine, Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, signed a memorandum on the reconstruction of Mykolaiv.

After the interview, we get into Sienkevych's car, which he personally drives. We are going to audit one of the communal enterprises, which received a new life actually during the war.

"Before the full-scale aggression, we went to Mariupol to learn from the experience, explains the mayor, looking carefully at the roadsides and houses of his native city.

Today, several specialists from there work for us. One is meant to radically reform Mykolaiv parks, which will be responsible for all green areas of the city.

He shows me sites of the most deadly and tragic Russian missile and shelling impacts. After seeing a fence destroyed after a road accident, he asks the head of his press service to quickly inform those responsible for landscaping - there must be an order to fix it.

NV

International vector

- Are there any peculiarities when working with international partners during the war?

- In fact, due to the war, many processes are happening much faster and in a larger volume than it was conventionally before, and we are very grateful to our partners their goodwill, understanding, willingness and targeting on specific benefits for the citizens. Although, of course, establishing effective cooperation is a challenge for all established organizations with their own practices and procedures. For example, recently there was a report that Mykolaivvodokanal (the local water utility) bought chlorine at a record high price. I'm starting to check. They actually bought chlorine from the same supplier as in the summer, but 30% more expensive. But as it turned out, it was bought by the Red Cross for us. And the price is higher because the Red Cross has its own requirements for delivery: smaller batches, additional security issues, longer delivery routes. This is all written in the contract. But unfortunately, journalists did not analyze it.

But today you and your colleagues have 20% or even 120% more responsibility than before.

- Why?

- As soon as information about possible abuses appears, the SSU, the prosecutor's office, and the police investigative department are immediately interested in it. And there are also international partners. The narrative about Ukraine as a corrupt and inefficient state is most beneficial to our enemies. It is important not to recklessly harm Ukraine, not to play along with the Russians in the information war, in the war of images. Dont get me wrong, the government needs to be accountable, and it is especially urgent now, but everyone needs to do their work professionally and carefully.

- So you are serious about issues of transparency and accountability?

- Yes. Now, together with the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, we are working on revising and implementing effective anti-corruption practices in the work of the City Council. This will make it possible to maximally protect everyone who works for us from the desire and possibilities of fraud in procurement, and also to increase the efficiency of certain processes through their digitization, optimization, and openness. Take, for example, the recent situation with the purchase of generators, which was reported by Our Money (a Ukrainian TV investigative program -ed.). An official investigation is currently underway, the results of which will be publicly announced. But experience shows that often the problem is not so much in potential corruption as in inefficiency, the inability of purchasers to carry out quality procurement for many reasons. Therefore, we are currently working on various options on how to eliminate this problem structurally, for example, through the centralization of the process, training of purchasers, etc. Another personal focus of mine is improving the efficiency of our Internal Financial Control Department, which will now also oversee assistance received from international partners. Mykolaiv is probably one of the first cities in Ukraine to adopt the Procedure for Internal Control of Humanitarian and Charitable Aid, and the team is currently working on the report for the past year.

- What is your motivation as a city leader to do this?

- I am not interested in stealing on generators or cobblestones. I have no construction companies or paving stone manufacturing concerns. My family has a company that deals with fire safety systems - it does not operate in Mykolaiv Oblast. We have an IT company, but all of its customers are abroad.

I simply believe in systems, in mechanisms that limit people from abusing their duties, because if a person can earn a year's salary on one tender, then he can give in to this temptation. It is necessary to make a system without any temptation.

Oleksandr Sienkevych, the mayor of Mykolaiv NV

- How can this be done?

- This includes digitalization of the city's work - electronic document flow, geo-information systems, and various electronic property accounting systems.

We asked EUACI to evaluate the work of our water utility and propose concrete steps to improve its work, so that we could improve the system of spending money already during the war.

- To what extent does systemic transparency and accountability of the authorities help in cooperation with international partners?

- This is a matter not only for the city council, but for the whole community. If it exists, it is very well received by our foreign partners. First, it is important for the entire community. It is important that people return to Mykolaiv after victory, and not leave the city. Transparency and accountability show that the city is changing, developing, becoming better.

Secondly, all these tenders and oversight which we are currently setting up, provide the understanding that we as a city are reliable partners focused on results.

And my main thesis, that we do not want to operate with other people's money, is very impressive to international partners. They understand that we have no basis for the narrative promoted by the Russian mass media, that the main idea in Ukraine is to steal aid, as if we were stealing gas from the Russian pipeline.

- You recently stated in Davos that you want the city not to ask for money.

- Yes, we do not ask for money.

At the very first meeting with the Danish foreign minister, I said: "We don't need money." If they fall into the state budget, they will be sent to war. If it is local, then we will not be able to spend it in accordance with Resolution No. 590. Therefore, financing should be conducted through international organizations. For example, NEFCO or DANIDA must independently carry out procurement, quality control and delivery procedures for Mykolaiv. We only have to form the need, approve the technical requirements and sign the documents that we have received all this. This also applies to post-war reconstruction: schools, kindergartens, hospitals.

- In this case, can the terms of project implementation increase due to European bureaucracy?

- The European bureaucracy may slow things down, but it will increase trust. Trust, in turn, will increase the number of projects. And in the end, maybe 100 projects will go a little slower, instead of having only one.

In Ukraine, there is a much bigger problem - managers have no experience of working with international partners. They don't know what project management is, they don't know how to use the simplest project management programs, how to report, etc.

The prevailing opinion in the country is that an official should be poor and ugly. This encourages keeping the salaries of people working in the government at a low level. In this way, people are incentivized into corruption, and professionals are told that they do not belong here. Building the state was actually left to those who are unfit for the profession. The third-string league. It is high time to change this attitude.

Despite all these difficulties, the city is trying to implement changes and look for new specialists. Recently, we decided to attract veterans who can no longer serve in the ranks of the Armed Forces to communal enterprises.

On the territory of Mykolayivskyy Parks KP, work is in full swing - the manufacturing and warehouse premises are being repaired, and a new solid fuel boiler has already been put into operation.

"Now the temperature in our office is +20, reports one of the leaders of this initiative.

Finally, we can sit without a jacket.

A variety of special equipment is placed around the yard - this is humanitarian aid from European partners. Among the tractors and cars, three big red fire engines stand out, which will replace those that were destroyed during the shelling of the city.

The mayor is pleased with how the area is changing, which until recently was cluttered with the properties of private tenants. The head of the enterprise promises that before the visit of the commission of city councilmembers, the changes will be even more striking. We return to the center of Mykolaiv.

"I don't like this time of the year, Sienkevych says dreamily.

Everything is gray, colorless. In the spring, the city is much more beautiful. The situation established at the beginning of 2023 gives the city authorities an opportunity to think about what will happen after the war. Or at least in the summer.

NV

With thoughts on the future

- Earlier, you talked about the development of a new general plan for Mykolaiv due to major destruction. And now - about individual projects...

- We are engaged in several processes in parallel, because it is too early to build something: the war is ongoing, the Russians can easily reach Mykolaiv with S-300, S-400. But it is time to plan recovery processes so as not to waste time afterwards. To begin, it is important to assess the problem. At our request and with the support of EUACI, the Kyiv School of Economics, namely the "Russia Will Pay" project, made an assessment of the city's destruction and prioritized its needs. Together, we created an additional layer on top of our geographic information system with all the damage caused by Russian aggression. We introduced the city registry of destroyed structures, and we are now verifying this data. Later, there will be a Register of restored objects.

Read also: "A year is like a day, like Groundhog Day." The mayor of Mariupol about the first days of the Russian invasion, the support of the people

We will work on the strategic and tactical levels next. The first is to work on the master plan. The second is on the Comprehensive Recovery Program and other shorter-term projects. We are developing a new master plan together with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE). The Italian studio OneWorks works with us, which deals with the visual part (parks, squares, urbanism), and we plan to involve the Danish engineering company COWI. We will do everything according to the principle of BBB - building back better.

- What does it mean in practice?

- If the large and small schools were destroyed by rockets, and the middle school was damaged, we will not restore all three of them in the same format in which they were. Perhaps all three will be completely demolished, and in their place one large modern one will be built, and bus routes for children will be laid  how this is done all over the world.

- Do you plan to somehow change the content of schools, I mean, to change the curricula?

- This is rather a matter for the Ministry of Education. For us, the challenge is simply to return the children to school and to Mykolaiv. This process is ongoing now.

War is a chance for all of us to become better  the best time for decisive changes and restructuring of processes for which there was not enough time or motivation.

After the liberation of Kherson and the passing of winter, we have the inspiration to work out all these processes in our system.

- What challenges do you see for Ukraine in the future?

- Ukrainians have the impression that reconstruction is a process in which foreigners will implement various projects here. Europeans perceive the process of recovery of Ukraine as an opportunity for a new market for their services and goods. To connect those who need and those who can, another component is needed - money.

Today in the EU and in the world, there is no understanding of who will pay for all this: European grant money, Marshall Plan money, loans, investments in the creation of new enterprises, or Russian money.

I believe that already today it is necessary to actively promote the narrative that Russia will pay for all this. It has assets all over the world, but there is no legal reason to use them. This needs to be changed.

NV

- What signs will be the signal for the start of recovery of Mykolaiv?

- For Ukraine, victory is the liberation of the entire territory and a return to the 1991 borders. But we dont yet know when this will happen. Therefore, a practical signal to start this processes is the lifting of the ban and restrictions on capital expenditures at the state level. Until then, we have to look for potential partners, to plan, to prioritize, and to make designs and estimate a project documentation. To be ready.

Descriptor

The project was created with the support of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine (EUACI)

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(CNN)  North Korea on Friday claimed it had tested an underwater drone capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could create a "radioactive tsunami" -- however analysts urged skepticism.

A report from the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the drone, called the "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft 'Haeil,'" was tested from March 21 to 23, cruising in waters off the country's east coast for more than 59 hours before its test warhead was detonated on Thursday afternoon.

"The mission of the underwater nuclear strategic weapon is to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy," the KCNA report said.

The KCNA report said the weapon has been in development since 2012 and has undergone more than 50 tests in the past two years.

This week's test "verified its reliability and safety and fully confirmed its lethal strike capability," the KCNA report said, adding the drone can be deployed from any port or towed by a surface ship to begin its operations.

Analysts poured doubt on North Korea's claims.

"Pyongyang's latest claim to have a nuclear-capable underwater drone should be met with skepticism" because North Korea offered no proof, said Leif-Eric Easley, associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Writing on social media, Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: "I tend to take North Korea seriously, but can't rule out the possibility that this is an attempt at deception/psyop."

"Would be ill-advised to allocate limited fizmat (fissile material) for a warhead to go in this thing, IMO, vs. more road-mobile ballistic missiles," Panda added.

The idea of an unmanned submersible carrying a nuclear warhead is not unique to North Korea.

Russia claims to have developed the Poseidon torpedo, a submarine-launched, nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear munitions. Its nuclear propulsion system would give the Poseidon virtually limitless range.

But Russia has offered no proof of a successful test of the Poseidon and analysts suspect it could be years from deployment.

North Korea's purported new underwater weapon has important differences from the Poseidon.

It is conventionally powered and is not launched from a sub, meaning it would not be on a par with the Russian torpedo, the analysts said.

Missile tests

North Korea's drone test claim comes at the same time Pyongyang said it tested nuclear-capable cruise missiles this week.

Four of the subsonic missiles hit targets in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, after flying oval and figure-8 patterns of 1,500 and 1,800 kilometers (932 and 1,118 miles) on Wednesday, KCNA reported.

Wednesday's drill "let strategic cruise missile units get familiar with the procedures and processes for carrying out the tactical nuclear attack missions," the report said.

The state-run Rodong Sinmun released a series of photos on its website purportedly showing the cruise missiles and the underwater drone.

The KCNA report said Pyongyang's nuclear weapons development was necessary to counter "the reckless military provocations being escalated by the U.S. and the South Korean authorities."

US and South Korean forces have been holding their biggest war games in five years on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea has been testing various missiles at the same time, including the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile last week and the tests of smaller range missiles like the cruise missiles tested on Wednesday.

Analysts say Pyongyang is delivering a message to the US and its allies in the region.

"North Korea's ICBM tests are thinly veiled threats that it could potentially destroy American cities," Easley said. "Its recent short-range missile firings attempt to increase the credibility, command, and control of its self-proclaimed tactical nuclear weapons units aimed at South Korea and Japan."

"This story was first published on CNN.com. "North Korea claims to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone"
President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron toast during a state dinner at the White House on Dec. 1. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

WASHINGTON  After three years of apologetic cancellations and unsatisfying virtual get-togethers, mask mandates and vaccine checks, social distancing and plastic screens, Washington, D.C., is ready to party again like it's 2019  or, well, just about any other pre-pandemic year, when packed hotel ballrooms and crowded bars inevitably marked the arrival of the holiday season in the nations capital.

According to Politico, the White House alone has some 20 celebrations planned in the coming weeks. Earlier this week, the White House hosted its traditional ball for members of Congress, followed by one of two receptions for members of the media, for which invitations have been a sought-after commodity.

I had an amazing evening at the @WhiteHouse's Congressional Ball.



Thank you to @POTUS and @VP for the invitation and this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with our nations leaders. pic.twitter.com/AD0617fuIQ  Chair Lowe (@NEHchair) December 7, 2022

Cautiously, Washington is getting back into a party mindset, wondering if this time around  fingers crossed!  the streak can last.

We miss having people in the People's House, White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo said ahead of Bidens first state dinner, held in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron, last week. Given the dour mood in D.C. for much of the last three years  a mood that can be chalked up to the coronavirus, the economy, violence at home and war abroad  the hopeful optimism was widely shared.

But for that longing to be alleviated, uncomfortable realities have to be put aside. Some 300 people are still dying daily from COVID-19. For the most part, the people who have suffered from the medical and social ravages of COVID are more likely to be working at events like a state dinner than attending them.

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That uncomfortable reality poses a problem for an administration that has made health equity a primary goal. At same time, Americans across the socioeconomic spectrum are tired of the relentless anxiety the coronavirus has presented over the last three years. Hot vax summer never materialized; herd immunity never arrived. How seriously one took the pandemic became a matter of individual choice.

And for all of the credentialed experts packed into the Beltways circumference, the elites and power brokers of Washington are no different from the millions of Americans who want to have a normal holiday season without endangering themselves or others.

The National Christmas Tree, with the White House in the background, is illuminated on Nov. 30. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Parties are back. People are eager to celebrate with friends this holiday season and put the lockdown life in the rearview mirror, said Alexandra Preate, a public relations executive who has worked with top conservative figures. Next week she is throwing a party for Arthur Laffer, the supply-side-economics evangelist.

The Biden administration  whose upper ranks include plenty of high-profile extroverts  believes that with the availability of powerful treatments like Paxlovid and updated vaccine boosters, letting some pandemic anxiety go is justified (and, considering how corrosive social isolation can be, perhaps even necessary).

We're now at a point where COVID doesn't have to rule our lives, said Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House pandemic response team coordinator, in an October interview with a Boston-area public radio affiliate. We don't have to take extraordinary precautions the way we did two years ago or even a year ago.

In other words, party on  but dont forget to wash your hands. And try not to sneeze on strangers. In fact, best not to sneeze on anyone. Abstain from coughing, too.

There is the recognition that COVID is here to stay, said public health expert Dr. Leana Wen, whose thinking on the coronavirus pandemic has tended to track closely with that of the White House. Therefore, we need to use tools that allow us to live with the virus while resuming our normal activities. The White House is right to model this  to hold holiday celebrations while continuing to urge that people become up-to-date with vaccines and to access treatments if eligible, Wen told Yahoo News in an email.

The White House decorated with wreaths on Nov. 30. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Asked about what kind of public health protocols the White House would implement for last weeks state dinner, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre alluded vaguely to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to keep gatherings safe. Im just going to point you to their website, she said curtly when pressed for elaboration.

Hours later, Jean-Pierre was one of the several hundred people to stroll into the White House for the first state dinner since the fall of 2019, when President Donald Trump hosted then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The Biden state dinner brought celebrities like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stephen Colbert and John Legend to Washington, which has been somewhat slower to reopen than other American cities. Even the likely next speaker of the House, committed Biden antagonist Kevin McCarthy, was there. Ideological differences with the president werent going to keep him away.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend arrive at the White House for the state dinner. (Susan Walsh/AP)

As for the party itself, it lasted until 1 a.m. Nobody slipped their mask back on after each sip of Napa Valley Chardonnay or bite of butter-poached Maine lobster because, as far as it was possible to tell, nobody wore a mask to begin with. Although being in proximity to the president still requires a same-day negative coronavirus test, the state dinner was proof of how thoroughly most other pandemic restrictions have been left behind by a White House that was long seen as overly cautious.

After all, Biden continued to mask outdoors well into 2021, despite the fact that the practice likely has little added benefit in an open-air setting. Last Thursday, the Bidens and Macrons did enough embracing to make anything resembling social distancing an impossibility.

For the first state visit of the United States in three years, we wanted to make sure we essentially savored every minute, an American official confided to the New York Times afterward.

Nor is the White House alone in the capital in trying to chart a post-pandemic social future. Pace-setting hosts are throwing regular parties again, and downtown bars are as crowded as they have been in recent memory  even if many D.C. office buildings remain close to empty.

Guests stand during the state dinner, held on the South Lawn of the White House. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Washington had last partied with anything approaching abandon at the end of April, to mark the first White House Correspondents' Association dinner since the start of the pandemic. But the festivities had a tenuous feel, as Omicron subvariants were then spreading through the United States. Only weeks before, dozens had been infected at a Gridiron Club gala, leading to questions about whether Washington elites were too cavalier about public health.

The questions frustrated the White House but also put a damper on what was supposed to be something of a spring awakening.

Having attended the Gridiron affair, a weary Dr. Anthony Fauci  then, and now, the presidents top pandemic adviser  backed out of the WHCA dinner, potentially sending a signal that the event was not a good idea. And maybe it wasnt. Master of ceremonies Trevor Noah, the Daily Show host, acknowledged the anxiety with a joke that deemed the festivities the nations most distinguished superspreader event. Afterward, a spate of attendees reported testing positive for COVID-19, though none appeared to get seriously ill.

Trevor Noah speaks at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 30. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Having declared a summer of freedom in 2021 only to be swamped by a new wave of infections, Biden abstained from similar pronouncements in 2022. He caught COVID-19 in July, leading to intense media scrutiny of his behavior before, during and after his infection period. Then the infection passed, and so did the questions.

Determined to make the most of his time in the White House  which, if he either does not seek reelection or loses his reelection bid, could end in two years  Biden has traveled extensively in recent months. And when in Washington, he has not shied away from hosting the kinds of receptions that would have incurred the wrath of public health experts in 2021.

The week following the state dinner for Macron saw a fresh round of celebrities arrive in D.C., this time for the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors. This time it was George Clooney (or, as Biden called him, Amal Clooneys husband), Gladys Knight and Bono, among others.

And there again was the president, who invited the honorees to the White House for a reception.

Fauci was there, too, striding in smiling and maskless.

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington on Dec. 4. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

The clear message is that its time to celebrate the holiday season with a semblance of normalcy, Georgetown public health expert Lawrence Gostin told The Hill.

It is not the first time Washington has tried normal, only to be reminded that these are acutely abnormal times. Trump did hold holiday parties in the winter of 2020, after the bitterly contested presidential election whose results he tried to deny. Vaccines were not widely available at the time, and the gatherings were seen by many as a sign of the outgoing presidents refusal to take the pandemic seriously.

Biden held a Fourth of July barbecue in 2021 during which he declared freedom from the coronavirus. But the Delta variant had other ideas, quickly frustrating the presidents intentions. The 2021 holiday season saw the arrival of a new, even more transmissible variant  Omicron  which led the White House to cancel planned celebrations.

So far there have been no cancellations emanating from the White House this holiday season, no superspreader events. Tenuously, a little uncertainly, the nations capital is coming back to life.

"After several years of uncertainty due to the pandemic, many D.C. area restaurants are having a very robust holiday party season," said Julie Sproesser, the interim executive director of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. "We are hearing from our restaurant members that business is strong and operators have noted an uptick in private event catering and food and beverage sales as well."

-Cover thumbnail photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Bald eagle parents Bonnie and Clyde have been protecting three eggs for over a month in an Ohio nature preserve.

Now they are tending to two fuzzy eaglets after one hatched March 19 and the second hatched March 22 in their nest at the Bortz Family Nature Preserve in Cincinnati, the Cardinal Land Conservancy said in a Facebook post.

The second eaglet is seen in a video still stuck in part of its egg at first as one of the eagle parents watches over the two. After a few hours, however, the eaglet is seen completely free from its egg.

In a March 20 video posted by the Cardinal Land Conservancy, a nonprofit, the parents are seen switching shifts to keep the first eaglet warm.

Bonnie flies out of the nest so Clyde can take over watching the baby and the two unhatched eggs.

Dad was so gentle sitting down, so sweet, one person commented on the video posted to Facebook.

To distinguish the difference between the two, Bonnie is larger than Clyde, and her feathers have significantly whiter tips, Cardinal Land Conservancy development manager Lauren Stanula told McClatchy News by email.

The first egg was laid Feb. 10, followed by the second egg Feb. 13. Bonnie laid her third egg Feb. 16. Eagles typically incubate eggs for about 35 days.

The nonprofit is expecting the third egg to hatch in the next few days, Stanula said.

But this isnt the first time the eagles have raised eaglets together.

In fact, Bonnie and Clyde have been at this nest for the last six years, Stanula said. This nest is near a small airport and busy marina.

It is our belief that they put up with higher-than-average levels of disturbance because the area is so rich in food resources, Stanula said.

Last year, Bonnie also laid three eggs, but one egg developed a crack and did not hatch. Two eaglets successfully hatched, but one later died.

The surviving eaglet, named J-Lo, successfully left the nest, the nonprofit said in a July 2022, Facebook post.

Stanula said the nonprofit hopes all three eaglets will fledge this year, probably around July 4.

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The group is also asking for help naming the eaglets. To suggest a name, a person can become a Cam Keeper by donating to the eagles fund.

Names will be chosen at random on Earth Day on April 22.

Bald eagle parents welcome three babies in Maryland sycamore nest. See the live cam

Snowstorm blankets bald eagles trying to protect egg in California nest, video shows

Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow abandon eggs that wont hatch after weeks of tending
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau both addressed Canadian Parliament on Friday.

Its part of Bidens 27-hour trip north of the border, marking the first non-summit overnight visit by a U.S. president in almost two decades.

Mr. President, you are a true friend to Canada. That matters more than ever in this consequential moment. Make no mistake. These are serious times.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Biden reciprocate in his own address: "Our destinies are intertwined and they're inseparable.  I mean this from the bottom of my heart. There is no more reliable ally, no more steady friend, and today I say to you, you will always be able to count on the United States of America."

Amid a plethora of standing ovations, the two leaders spoke on a variety of issues plaguing both countries and the world, as well as their partnership. Along the way, a few jokes were also made.

Continuing their fight for Ukraine

The leaders spent a considerable amount of time calling out Russias unjustifiable war.

Together, both of us are partners that Ukraine, and the world, can count on since [Vladamir] Putin launched his brutal invasion, said Trudeau. After a terrifying spring, violent summer and fall, and an exhausting winter, Ukraine still stands.

Trudeau highlighted that Canada and the U.S. stood shoulder and shoulder when they decided to fight in World War II, noting there are battlefields around the world where our soldiers lie in cemerties, shoulder to shoulder.

Biden also called out the brutal aggression that Russia has displayed against Ukraine, while noting that Canada and the U.S. partnership is "the most obvious united response they have toward effective global action. "

Putin was certain he would have been able to break NATO by now, said Biden. Guess what, his lust for land and power has failed thus far.  Canada and the United States are also making clear our commitment to our NATO allies: a n attack against one is an attack against all.

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Two Michaels get powerful standing ovation; Biden, Trudeau namedrop China

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor get a standing ovation in the House of Commons ahead of President Biden's address to Parliament. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/kNRWnjbuGJ  Stephanie Ha (@stephanie_ha) March 24, 2023

Multiple times, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor received large standing ovations from those in attendance.

First, it was before the official addresses, but then they were both honoured by Trudeau and Biden.

Mr President, when the plane transporting the two Michaels landed on Canadian soil after more than 1,000 days of arbitrary detention in China, Canadians proved that resilience, perseverance and strength are more than just lofty ideals, said Trudeau.

Biden applauded Canadas ability to fight arbritrary detention, through its coalition of nearly 70 countries.

Not only a statement of value, our citizens are not bargaining chips, theyre not diplomatic leverage, said Biden, as he thanked the Two Michaels also for the opportunity to meet in person over his two-day visit.

Aside from a mention from Trudeau about China being increasingly assertive, in the global market, this stood as the only mention of the world leader. That is, if you dont count Biden accidentally saying I want to applaud China, instead of Canada.

Biden makes jokes about his ability to speak French ... and the Maple Leafs

After Trudeaus speech, which was half in French, Biden decided to crack a joke, starting off with Bonjour Canada.

Hed quickly explain that it was about all that he could muster up, after only taking four years of classes, and that the first time he attempted to make a speech in French, I was laughed at.

His jokes didnt stop there. Instead, he took a jab at the Toronto Maple Leafs. It started by mentioning how our countries are interviewed, such as sports leagues.

I have to say, I like your teams except the Leafs, he said, getting a standing ovation from the majority of the crowd.

He explained how they handed the Philadelphia Flyers a loss in January, so he had to say that to remain on his wifes good side.

I married a Philly girl. If I didnt say that Id be sleeping alone. Fellas, I like you, but not that much.

Joe Biden just took a shot at the Toronto Maple Leafs in his speech to Parliament



I like your (hockey) teams, except the Leafs!



Biden says he doesn't like them cause the Leafs beat the Flyers in January #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/01nxZ3l9Qr  Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) March 24, 2023

Another visit to the Moon, this time with Americans and Canadians

Biden announced that three Americans and one Canadian astronaut will join each other in a mission to the moon.

In just a few days, NASA is set to announce the Artemis 2 mission, marking the first human voyage to the moon since the Apollo mission ended more than 50 years ago.

We choose to return to the moon together," said Biden. From there we look forward to Mars into the limitless possibilities that lie beyond.

He notes that after two years of COVID-19, people began to wonder if we can still do big things. He wants Canadians and Americans to not have their confidence wander from making their audacious dreams into a reality.

Biden says if theres one word to describe both Canada and the U.S., it would be possibilities.

Biden says that there will be a Canadian astronaut in the next mission to the moon! #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/I1zNsQsW1f  Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) March 24, 2023

Importance of Inflation Reduction Act

Both sides continued to stress how intertwined they are, as Trudeau on multiple occasions lamented how economic policy is climate policy is security policy.

One point of emphasis was the U.S.'s Inflation Reduction Act, which is a spending package that was introduced by the Biden administration to transition the U.S. to a clean economy.

Trudeau notes that by doing so, hes creating jobs for Americans, but also more clients for Canadian critical mineral processors, for the country's clean energy innovators, and for their integrated auto workers, farmers, growers, and producers.

It's an example of how we can make progress at home and as partners, said Trudeau, as Biden also mentioned how his Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for electric vehicles assembled in Canada.

Security: Migrants, NORAD, Drugs

Biden made the China slip-up after trying to thank Canada for their agreement to effectively close a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement, as Canada is ready to accept 15,000 more migrants who are entering through a land border.

We're expanding legal pathways for migration, to seek safety on a humanitarian basis, while discouraging unlawful migration that feeds exploitation and human trafficking, said Biden.

The U.S. president also thanked Canadas partnership in NORAD, after the two countries recently shot down suspicious ballons floating over North America.

In addition, Biden said that Canada and the U.S. have agreed to start a new global coalition to tackle the synthetic opioid epidemic, an announcement that received a standing ovation.

Fentanyl is a killer. Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by this, lost a child or lost a friend.
sargassum seaweed. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

This week's question: The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a 5,000-mile-wide mass of thick, toxic fume-emitting brown seaweed, is expected to make beachgoing at Florida's Gulf Coast much less pleasant this spring. Come up with a tabloid headline about this foreign assault on the Sunshine State.

Click here to see the results of last week's contest: Clothesline drone

How to enter: Submissions should be emailed to contest@theweek.com. Please include your name, address, and daytime telephone number for verification; this week, please type "Seaweed invasion" in the subject line. Entries are due by noon, Eastern Time, Tuesday, March 28. Winners will appear on the Puzzle Page of the April 7 issue and at theweek.com/puzzles on March 31. In the case of identical or similar entries, the first one received gets credit. All entries become property of The Week.

The winner gets a one-year subscription to The Week.

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After 15 months of taking the Ozempic-like weight loss drug Wegovy, Jamel Corona has lost 50 pounds  a boost she says she needed to prevent from developing Type 2 diabetes.

Corona was pre-diabetic and her doctor wanted her to lose weight, but despite working out and eating healthy food, the scale never moved no matter what she did, she says  until she began the treatment.

But there was an unexpected side effect after Corona started the medication: She no longer drinks alcohol.

The Chicago accountant used to enjoy drinking socially, consuming a glass of wine after work or a few beers during a night out  perhaps three to four drinks a week. But now alcohol is a hard pass, she says, noting she doesnt enjoy anything about it anymore.

I dont like the way it makes me feel, Corona, 37, tells TODAY.com.

I cant tolerate beer at all so I havent had any beer in months I dont remember the last time Ive had wine. Its just too sweet.

Jamel Corona weighed 225 pounds when she started taking Wegovy in December 2021. She has lost 50 pounds and no longer enjoys alcohol. (Courtesy Jamel Corona / @lifeofjcorona via Instagram)

Shes had a particular aversion to beer since August 2022  or nine months into her treatment with Wegovy when she was already at the highest dosage of the medication  when a trip to a brewery for her husbands birthday turned into a nightmare.

Corona had three beers in a four-hour period and says its the only time shes ever gotten physically sick from alcohol. She became intoxicated faster and it upset her stomach, causing her to throw up uncontrollably.

I just had a really horrible reaction to it. And I was like, I never want to feel like that again, Corona says.

Corona before and after her weight loss.

She now has a drink every other month, if that, in social situations. The only drink she tolerates is vodka water with a lime and extra, extra ice so that it dilutes it, she says.

Lack of interest in alcohol

Coronas experience, which she has documented on TikTok, is being echoed by other patients taking Wegovy or Ozempic. Online message boards show people commenting that alcohol now grosses me out or reporting that I used to love wine, and now I cant stand the smell since taking the medication.

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Doctors prescribing the drugs notice it, too.

In some patients, well see a reduction in the urge to drink alcohol and in others that doesnt happen. We dont completely understand why that is, Dr. Louis Aronne, an obesity medicine physician and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, tells TODAY.com. He is a scientific adviser for Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes both Ozempic and Wegovy.

The phenomenon makes sense to a certain extent, said NBC senior medical correspondent Dr. John Torres on TODAY.

The active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy is semaglutide, a synthetic version of a hormone known as GLP-1, which the body produces when a person eats. Patients taking the medication have reduced appetite, and when they do eat, they feel full sooner, he noted.

When the medication hits GLP-1 receptors in the brain, patients report they stop obsessing about food and some also say it reduces their interest in alcohol, which may indicate the same part of the brain is affected, Torres said.

Aversion to alcohol was not a commonly reported adverse event during the clinical development programs of Ozempic or Wegovy, Novo Nordisk said in a statement to TODAY.com. It's also not listed as a potential side effect in the prescribing information for Ozempic or Wegovy.

Novo Nordisk has not done studies to specifically assess the safety and efficacy of Ozempic or Wegovy in patients who drink alcohol, the company added.

'Promising' for alcohol use disorder, but more data needed

Christian Hendershot, an associate professor at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is leading a clinical trial that will investigate if Ozempic or Wegovy reduces the cravings to drink.

The desire for alcohol appears to be blunted while taking the medication based on comments patients make, but its all anecdotal data so far.

Hendershot has seen online posts from people reporting theyve lost interest in drinking, are put off by the smell and taste of alcohol, feel nausea or experience more severe hangover symptoms.

Animal studies show GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide reduce alcohol intake in rodents, but there is no research in humans yet to confirm whats being reported by patients, he says.

Its a very unique situation because the extent of the anecdotal data has really outpaced any clinical data that we have available right now, Hendershot tells TODAY.com.

Certainly from the anecdotal reports, it seems that there is a signal there, and the reason thats promising is that theres a significant need for new therapies for alcohol use disorder So when you hear about things like this, its certainly a good reason to start studying it.

Almost 30 million teens and adults in the U.S. had alcohol use disorder  the inability to stop or control drinking  in the past year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The theories about why semaglutide might lessen the desire to drink include that it might reduce a persons appetite not only for food but other things they like to consume, or diminish their pleasure in various activities, Hendershot says.

Hes starting to hear reports that doctors are prescribing Ozempic or Wegovy off-label for people with alcohol concerns, and urged caution until more evidence is available about whether semaglutide is safe and effective for alcohol use disorder.

The medication slows down stomach emptying, so its likely to affect blood alcohol levels, Hendershot notes. Hes seen anecdotal reports from people commenting that they feel alcohol is sticking around in their body a lot longer. Then there is the question of whether the drug would stop working for alcohol cravings when people stop taking it, the way it does for weight loss.

Its certainly generated a lot of hype and now that hype has extended to behaviors that are outside the domain of the original indication of the drug, Hendershot says.

We have to be cautious. We have to collect more data.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A Black family in West Allis says they've been the target of racist threats and vandalism in 2022.

A 45-year-old West Allis man pled guilty on Thursday to federal charges, admitting that he slashed his neighbor's car tires and wrote racist threats stipulating she leave his neighborhood.

According to court documents, William McDonald, 45, slashed the tires and windshield of a Black woman's vehicle parked outside her apartment in the 1400 block of South 79th Street in March 2021. He also left a note on the vehicle threatening to slash the woman's throat. The note was filled with the N-word along with a demand she move out of West Allis.

A week later, McDonald slashed two of her tires and left a second N-word laden note with an another ultimatum that she move from the neighborhood or suffer violence.

In April, a Black woman with two sons moved into the same complex as McDonald. Three days later she found the N-word written in black pen on her door and two notes under her door. One read, "Stay here and see what the (expletive) happens, (N-word)."

Two other incidents happened less than a mile away in the 8700 block of West Mitchell Street, where the suspect used similar tactics. However, the Department of Justice did not state that McDonald admitted to those crimes. The incidents were mentioned in the criminal complaint and one of them led to local media coverage.

A Puerto Rican woman with two young Black sons was living on West Mitchell Street in October 2021, when she said she found a note, saying "I've been watching all you (expletives) (N-word) moving into MY neighborhood."

In February 2022, a Black couple with a young child, living at the same complex, found two of their car's tires cut. A note on the car read, "Get the (expletive) out of my neighborhood, (N-word)."

At the time, the FBI said surveillance footage showed a vehicle similar to McDonald's in the area and that all the notes were written on stationery from a chain restaurant, where McDonald had worked. West Allis police had McDonald write down information during a traffic stop in March 2022 and the FBI said his handwriting matched the racist notes.

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Many of the victims of the racist actions moved out of West Allis and took to social media following the incidents, leading to a reaction from West Allis Mayor Dan Devine, who at the time said, "This does not represent West Allis or what West Allis stands for. ... We have worked hard towards becoming a more welcoming and inclusive community to all.

"I feel like we have made some progress, but then a story like this arises and reinforces that we still have work to do. This ignorant, hateful rhetoric has absolutely no place in our city, or anywhere else."

At the time, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, called for a hate crime investigation into the incidents.

McDonald will be sentenced on June 29. He faces up to 11 years in prison.

Bob Dohr of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.

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: West Allis man pled guilty to writing racist threats to Black neighbors
A photograph of Ruth Perry attached to the fence outside John Rankin Schools after the teacher's suicide. (Getty Images)

Ofsted's one-word ratings for schools could reportedly be scrapped after a headteacher took her own life.

The school watchdog has faced a backlash from the teaching profession over it's "punitive" regime following the death of Ruth Perry, head of Caversham Primary School in Reading in January.

Perry's family said an Ofsted report giving her school the lowest possible rating had destroyed 32 years of her vocation and "preyed on her mind until she couldnt take it any more"

In a backlash against the system, schools have removed references to Ofsted from their websites and some heads are wearing black armbands.

The response has reportedly prompted Ofsteds chief inspector to consider scrapping one-word school ratings.

Teachers show solidarity outside the gates of John Rankin Schools. (PA/Getty Images)

In a statement, Amanda Spielman said the debate around reforming inspections to remove grades is a legitimate one, but said stopping inspections would not be in the best interests of children.

Her statement came after three unions representing teachers and heads urged Ofsted to pause inspections this week and Reading Borough Council also called for a pause while a review is carried out into the system.

Describing Perrys death as "a tragedy", she said: "The sad news about Ruth has led to an understandable outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education. There have been suggestions about refusing to co-operate with inspections, and union calls to halt them entirely.

"I dont believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in childrens best interests. Our aim is to raise standards so that all children get a great education. It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school."

Amanda Spielman, chief inspector of Ofsted, said halting inspections was not the answer. (PA)

She said inspection played a part in that, adding that the "broader debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a legitimate one", but saying it "shouldnt lose sight of how grades are currently used".

She said inspection grades allow parents to see a simple and accessible summary of a schools strengths and weaknesses and are used to guide Government decisions about when to intervene in struggling schools.

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She added: "Any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government.

"The right and proper outcome of Ofsteds work is a better education system for our children."

Read more: Ofsted report deeply harmful to late headteacher Ruth Perry, says sister

Her comments come amid calls - including from Perry's sister Julia Walters - for schools to boycott Ofsted until an independent review into its process is carried out.

Flora Cooper, headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in Newbury, Berkshire, had planned to refuse Ofsted inspectors entry on Tuesday but then reversed her decision.

Parents and former teachers at the school gates criticised Ofsted as the inspection got underway  and one protester called the process cruel.

Ofsted inspect most schools in England as well as childcare, adoption, fostering agencies and initial teacher training. (Getty Images)

What is Ofsted?

Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Childrens Services and Skills) is a government watchdog set up to inspect most schools in England.

The body, set up in 1992, also inspects childcare, adoption, fostering agencies and initial teacher training.

What do Ofsted ratings mean?

Ofsted gives grades to schools on their "overall effectiveness" - which are based on four key areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

All of these aspects and the overall rating are given using a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate.

If a school is judged as inadequate it may be placed into special measures, meaning it is given additional external support and is subject to increased scrutiny.

Why do so many teachers dislike Ofsted?

Many have accused its inspections in recent years of being overzealous and putting untold pressure on staff.

For example, schools leaders have said they have been downgraded if pupils are unable to answer on-the-spot questions about the dates of historic battles or names of rivers, the Guardian reported.

When I was a secondary school teacher, I was told to bring out my best lessons, even if its a repeat for Ofsted. The inspection system is a pointless and stressful facade. I stand with @FloraSCooper



and for #RuthPerry #abolishofsted  Sally Roper (@salroper) March 21, 2023

Schools are continuing to deal with the knock-on impacts of COVID-19, which led to absences and disrupted progress in the classroom.

So they have questioned why Ofsted has been given an additional 24million to "accelerate" inspections, with the pressure causing some to leave the profession.

Fewer than one in ten teachers think Ofsted has raised standards at their school, according to a poll for the Times last year.

Read more: Tony Blair should have faced war crimes tribunal over Iraq war, says Hans Blix

There is this Govt call for evidence which could be completed by MANY people involved with schools ? The stress of Ofsted has an impact on the retention of teachers as much as the ECF, pay and working conditions. https://t.co/qBoerqeHZh  Claire Bradshaw @LondonMetUni (@BradshacClaire) March 21, 2023

The survey of 5,000 teachers found overwhelming levels of unhappiness with the watchdog, with the majority of respondents saying they would rate the regulator as inadequate or requires improvement.

Ofsted has also been criticised for dictating what "proper English" is when making judgements about the way teachers and pupils speak, prompting fears it will impact people based on race and class.

Following the death of Ruth Perry, a former Ofsted inspector described the body as a "toxic organisation" which is "costing lives".

Paul Garvey told the Independent he thought Ofsted should be "abolished", warning that without meaningful reform, there could be more job losses, illness and suicides.

What does Ofsted say?

Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman said inspectors shouldn't 'soft pedal' despite recent challenges faced by teachers. (Alamy Live News)

Speaking on 10 March in response to the criticisms, Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said inspectors must not "soft pedal" on inspections.

She said teachers complaining about the disruption of the pandemic and economic uncertainty is an easy one for people to reach for after receiving poor judgements.

Speaking at FE Weeks Annual Apprenticeship Conference, she said: We do have concerns about some parts of the sector. We know the current environment is tough but it is our role to report on the quality of provision as we find it.

Read more: Elderly woman, 88, dies '28 days after carers stopped giving her food or water'

We will always acknowledge the context, but we cant soft-pedal on inspection. That wouldnt be fair to you or to the apprentices you train.

Spielman, who is set to leave at the end of the year after six years in post, said that by reporting "accurately", Ofsted can "make a case for systemic change when it is needed".
Raclette is a cheese popular in countries like Switzerland and France, but TikTokers are upping its game in the U.S. (Photo: Getty Images; designed by Jay Sprogell)

Move over, fondue, there's a new cheese in town and it comes with its own grill. Raclette, a cheese made to be melted and scraped over food, hails from countries like France and Switzerland and has a slightly pungent aroma and a salty, slightly nutty flavor. It gives a melted Swiss vibe in its appearance, and has a flavor similar to Gruyere.

As a food enthusiast, I've been deep in the raclette rabbit hole for months: It seems like anytime I log into TikTok, my feed is full of videos showing elaborate set-ups where foodies melt raclette using a raclette grill (an indoor grill that allows for cooking meat and vegetables on top and melting raclette on small trays underneath), then scrape it over treats like boiled potatoes and charcuterie.

On a recent trip to New Orleans, I stayed at the Eliza Jane, a boutique hotel with a restaurant, Couvant, that was boasting a raclette cheeseburger on its Instagram account as I planned my trip. All gumbo and po' boys aside, Couvant's raclette burger became high on my must-try NOLA food list and I couldn't wait to find out what the melty cheese was like in person.

The raclette burger at Couvant in New Orleans. (Photo: Terri Peters)

The burger, which is the brainchild of chef Ryan Pearson, Couvant's executive chef, was delicious. During my lunch, the server brought a melty griddle of raclette to the table and scraped it atop the burger while I watched. When I bit into the sandwich, I was blown away by the savory, nutty flavor (and pungent smell) of the raclette. I was immediately a new convert.

"Raclette means 'squeegee' in French," Pearson tells Yahoo Life, "so it's the motion of scraping the cheese off. It's become a sort of trendy thing lately and I think that's a lot because it's delicious."

"What I like about it is it has a lot of meltability but also it's extremely complex and tasty," Pearson, who spent several years cooking in Paris, adds. "Usually you get that meltiness out of American cheese, which doesn't taste like much, so it's exciting to have that meltability in a serious cheese."

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But there's a more traditional way to enjoy raclette, too. Preeti Gill is a TikToker who lives in Paris, France and runs a studio where she creates content for food-driven businesses. Gill has shared several TikToks about making raclette at home, and says it's all a part of her passion for learning about new cheeses.

"Raclette is one of the simplest and yet best foods I have tried," Gill tells Yahoo Life. "I love the aspect of each individual having their own little tiny raclette tray, a little racler (a squeegee) to scrape your cheese, how you melt the cheese on the raclette grill ... I find that entire process very memorable."

"About two years ago I actually bought an individual raclette machine that gets warm with a small single candle," she adds. "It's so perfect even as an individual concept to enjoy."

Manon Lagreve, a quarter finalist on The Great British Bakeoff who shares TikTok videos about how to "host like a French," describes herself as "a French girl living in London." Lagreve made a TikTok sharing how to host friends for a raclette dinner.

"Raclette is a very social dish," she tells Yahoo Life. "Everyone melts their cheese at their own time, and makes their own plates. My plate would include a cooked potato, some charcuterie, some cornichons and I like to also add Morbier or blue cheese to my raclette cheese and give it a little bit more punch."

"I have it with a dressed salad to cut with the heaviness of all this cheese and meat," she adds. "My family and friends love it  there is not a winter without a raclette party."

I found my raclette cheese at the local Aldi, after searching on Instacart to see which stores near me carried it. (Photo: Terri Peters)

Eager to have a raclette party of my own, I turned to online shopping to procure a raclette grill. While I found many brands I was unfamiliar with, I chose a Hamilton Beach model with a grill top and enough raclette-melting trays for eight people. Next, I gathered my ingredients. Thanks to TikTok, I knew to collect everything from small boiled potatoes to pickles to sliced vegetables for the spread.

Up top, we grilled miniature sausages and thinly-sliced steak, along with a combination of mushrooms and onion. All extras aside, the raclette was the true star. I found mine at Aldi in the specialty cheese section, but recommend checking Instacart to get an idea of which grocery stories near you carry the cheese. In each tiny raclette tray, we added a slice of raclette. In some, we added extras like a bit of shredded cheese or sliced sweet peppers, but for the most part, we let the raclette shine.

While we grilled miniature sausages, we melted raclette in the lower part of the grill. (Photo: Terri Peters)

Each cheese slice melted quickly, and we made plates of potatoes, meat and vegetables then topped each mound with melted raclette. We also treated some trays like fondue, dipping a freshly-cut baguette into the delicious melted cheese.

And my TikToker friends were right: Making raclette together with my husband and two teens was a communal experience we'll never forget. We chatted as we melted cheese, grilled meats and sliced bread. My husband and I paired a beautiful pinot noir with the cheese, which held up well against the cheese's pungency and nuttiness. When we had cleaned up and packed the grill away, we knew we'd gladly do it all again  hopefully with some grown up friends who can sip wine with us next time.

Raclette is a labor of love: The prep work is heavy, but the experience (and how delicious it is) made it worth it.

Melted raclette atop boiled potatoes, with a slice of baguette heated on the grill. (Photo: Terri Peters)

So what should you do if you can't find raclette near you? While Pearson says there's no adequate substitute, Gill and Lagreve have some suggestions.

"Nothing really compares to the taste of raclette cheese," says Gill, "but [while visiting family in the U.S.] I did end up using Asiago and some fontina which melted nicely."

"You can also sub with Gouda, Emmental, Gruyere, Comte or cheddar," says Lagreve.

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Sign up here.
What to watch: Saint Omer, Furies and The Hurt Locker are all new to streaming. (MUBI/Netflix/Studiocanal)

Wondering what to watch this weekend? Theres a bit of something for everyone with the best films hitting streaming this week. Leading the pack is Furies, Netflixs first Vietnamese original action movie, directed by Veronica Ngo (whom you might recognise from Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Da 5 Bloods), who starred in the films predecessor Furie.

The new film, a prequel, moves proceedings back 15 years to 90s Saigon while expanding its cast to three vengeful women rather than just the one.

On iPlayer, a couple of movies concerned with the Iraq War land in tandem: Katheryn Bigelows tense bomb squad thriller The Hurt Locker, as well as Official Secrets, a biopic telling the story of whistleblower Katherine Gun, who discovered that American and British intelligence were spying on diplomats in hope to force a resolution to invade Iraq.

Read more: New on Disney+ in March

Meanwhile, MUBI releases its own acquisition Saint Omer, a courtroom drama that pulls the experiences of its director Alice Diop in an astonishing consideration of a real life case.

Please note that a subscription may be required to watch.

Furies (2023) | Netflix (pick of the week)

Furies (Netflix)

Following up the first film, 2019's Furie  put reductively, a rather outstanding Vietnamese spin on Taken  Furies travels back 15 years before the events of that film to Saigon. The young Bi (ong Anh Quynh) flees her home in the country after being sexually assaulted (a very strong content warning for the films opening) and her mothers murder, and is taken under the wing of Jacqueline, played by Veronica Ngo, the star of the first movie and now the director of the second.

Read more from Variety: Furies: A furious tale of female revenge (5 min read)

Bi ends up being trained in combat with her fellow adoptees, the stoic goth Hong and bubbly (and rather insane) Thanh. The three quickly commit to raining carnage upon sex traffickers in the city, destroying their hideouts in a whirlwind of fists and knives and Ngo  an action star in her own right  proves to be just as exciting a presence behind the camera too.

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Her action sequences see the camera pirouette and duke along with her combatants, fixing its perspective onto swinging limbs in a feverish dance. In a week where John Wick: Chapter 4 is releasing in cinemas it makes for a fun alternative, putting its own stylistic spin on bloody revenge, even as its budgetary limits are sometimes apparent in some ropey CG.

But that rarely matters in the face of Ngos handle on elegant but ferocious choreography.

Also on Netflix: Noise (2023), Money Shot: (2023)

Saint Omer (2022) | MUBI

A still from Alice Diop's Saint Omer. (MUBI)

Documentary filmmaker Alice Diops first feature film Saint Omer is astounding, and vastly overlooked during the pageantry of film awards season.

Pulling details from the real life case of Fabienne Kabou (Diop attended the trial) Saint Omer spins fact and fiction together in deeply moving fashion. Rama (played by Kayije Kagame), a Parisian author and literature professor, goes to Saint-Omer to observe the trial of Laurence Coly, a young Senegalese woman and student accused of infanticide, abandoning her 15-month-old on a beach.

Read more: New on Prime Video in March

Rama plans to look at the case with distance, and use it as inspiration for her writing, but the film keenly watches Rama in turn as her curiosity turns to empathy and obsession. It quickly becoming apparent that she cannot keep her planned emotional distance, that she cant simply turn Coly into a character.

Expecting her own child, Rama is struck by their similar backgrounds and finding herself relating to Colys descriptions of her feelings of isolation and panic. In reflection of Ramas (and by extension, her own) empathy with Coly, Diop refuses to sensationalise her depiction of the court proceedings, opting instead for a matter-of-fact, observational mode, in tandem with Colys monotone, undramatic testimony.

Diops work here is as hypnotic as it is disquieting.

Also on MUBI: Melancholia (2011)

The Hurt Locker (2008) | BBC iPlayer

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker. (Optimum/Studiocanal)

The instigator of the idea that Jeremy Renner was the next big thing (with good reason), The Hurt Locker also marked a change in trajectory for director Katheryn Bigelow, previously a key proponent of macho blockbuster action like Point Break, or more outlandish works like Strange Days.

Read more: New on Sky Cinema/NOW in March

The Hurt Locker  which made her the first woman ever to win Best Director at the Oscars  is the first of her direct engagement with contemporary US foreign policy as seen in the thorny Zero Dark Thirty, which while not necessarily the most damning depiction of the CIA, was memorable for presenting the hunt for Osama Bin Laden with a sense of empty un-fulfilment, a pointless exercise in national revenge.

Anthony Mackie as Sergeant JT Sanborn and Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant William James in The Hurt Locker. (Optimum/Studiocanal)

Bigelows no-frills approach to the war film as suspense thriller gave The Hurt Locker a unique standing aesthetically as well as dramatically. Seen more from a boots-on-the-ground perspective, and based off screenwriter Mark Boals experience as an embedded journalist with bomb squads in the Iraq War, the film prioritises the psychological impact of serving in such a unit, rather than a grander narrative.

Also on iPlayer: Official Secrets (2019)

Watch: Looking back at The Hurt Locker's Venice debut
TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress yesterday, but he's not the only one who's in a bind if the app is banned in the U.S.

The people who are on TikTok the most, the influencers  also called creators  whose livelihoods are entwined with the platform, are also in the crosshairs. In some ways, they have just as much at stake. And they are not standing by idly. Some TikTok creators have descended on D.C. in recent days to lobby lawmakers; others have been vocal about their opposition to an all-out ban of TikTok, a unit of China's ByteDance, which has 150 million monthly active users in the U.S.

"I think there needs to be a reframing of this conversation, said Joel Bervell, a medical student and TikTok creator whose channel focuses on medical education. TikTok may be owned by a Chinese company, but so many of the moments that are created there are specifically and uniquely American."

Bervell's TikTok page, March 23, 2023.

TikTok's creators are fervently devoted to the platform and, for many, its about how TikTok's algorithm uniquely works. For Sasha Allen, whose channel has 1 million followers and often offers a humorous and vulnerable experience about being young and transgender, TikToks algorithm rewards authenticity.

On TikTok, a lot of creators share so much more than surface-level videos, he said. The videos for me that do the best are the ones where Im authentic.

Adrianna Wise, who goes by Bae, has focused her channel on cooking and her bakery Cocos Confectionary Kitchen. She says that TikTok has invested in her profoundly as a Black creator.

"Ive honed in on TikTok because Ive really found what they do for creators of color and diverse creators is really creating a space where we feel safe to contribute, said Wise. I don't want to advocate for a platform that sets us up to fail. On other platforms, Ive seen the intentional suppression of content for people of color, but TikTok isnt about that. They have invested in us in a way that no platform has."

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The programs that both Wise and Bervell pointed to include the "TikTok for Black Creatives" incubator, a three-month program launched in 2021. Additionally, there's a grant tied to the incubator, called the MACRO x TikTok Black Creatives Grant, which gave 10 participants $50,000 to build their "dream creative project." Bervell, a Yale graduate who's devoted much of his time to communicating about inequalities in American healthcare, was among the first recipients of that grant.

"TikTok knows the power of paying people what they're worth," he said. "Black creators are often told 'teach us this information,' but they're not paid for their time."

Wise's TikTok page, March 23, 2023.

'TikTok offered me a microphone'

Bervell, Allen, and Wise said that their time on TikTok has changed their lives for the better.

"I never thought Id be doing brand deals, or negotiating contracts, but thats what TikTok has taught me, said Bervell, who has collaborated with brands like Neutrogena (JNJ), Samsung (SSUN.F), and Google (GOOG, GOOGL). My parents are immigrants from West Africa, and I now have an opportunity to pay off my student loans even before I finish medical school."

Bervells success on TikTok has vaulted him into high-level medical policy conversations. Hes participant in the White House Office of Public Engagements Healthcare Leaders in Social Media Roundtable and has worked with the World Health Organization to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. Bervell is concerned that a TikTok ban will stifle much of the work thats been done on the platform.

He told Yahoo Finance: These (potential) bans for me feel like an effort to shut down a conversation that needs to happenand I think that's how so many creators of color feel right now. There are conversations happening on TikTok that aren't happening anywhere else on the Internet."

Allen's TikTok page, March 23, 2023.

For Allen, TikTok has been a creative outlet, one thats propelled him to TikTok stardom and opened him to perspectives he never would not have encountered otherwise.

I think the insane thing about TikTok is that its really unlike any other social media site, because you can spread ideas so rapidly, he told Yahoo Finance. "Ive had people reach out to me and say, Youve changed my views about being trans, and I also feel like Ive been exposed to things on TikTok I never would have experienced otherwise.

Allen, Bervell, and Wise all understand lawmakers' concerns about the platformbut they're not convinced. Wise feels safe on TikTok, even and especially compared to other platforms.

I cant be upset or angry at these lawmakers. I think they believe theyre doing what they intend to do  protect Americans. But my call to action for them, change-makers and lawmakers, is to get on the platform, experience the community. For them, the best way to spread their message is actually on TikTok.

'They have no idea how many people will freak out'

Allen, who's 21, said that lawmakers should also worry about pushback from teenagers and young adults.

If they ban TikTok, they are absolutely clueless, because they have no idea how many people will freak out," he said. "For young people, this is the equivalent of someone saying, We'll, take the television away, take books away. This is that serious for us.

TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Some say too serious in come cases.

"Social platforms should be used to build an audience, not a place to build a business," said Ahad Khan, CEO of Kajabi, which develops platforms for creators.

He added: "Unfortunately, creators who rely solely on these platforms are at the mercy of changing algorithms that can drastically impact their ad revenue, hard-to-predict and often uninspiring brand deals, and a community of followers that could disappear at a moments notice. Imagine spending all your time, energy, and resources building a house on sand."

How do creators respond to that? Or the suggestion that they could, well, just find another platform for their work and ideas?

Bervell has an answer: "We've tried that. TikTok is unique in the way its algorithm highlights creators who are overlooked TikTok connects you to people you dont know, but should know. So, when people say, why cant you go to another app? The answer is that were already there, but the impact wont be the same.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

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Central China's Luoyang to kick off its 40th peony cultural festival

People's Daily Online) 09:11, March 24, 2023

The Tian Temple, also called the "Holy Temple of Heaven", in Luoyang. (Photo/Publicity Department of CPC Luoyang Municipal Committee)

The 40th China Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival is slated to be held in Luoyang, central Chinas Henan Province from April 8 to 23, with 10 major activities and 40 local cultural and tourism activities scheduled, the organizing committee of the festival announced on March 22.

Luoyang was the capital city of 13 dynasties in ancient China. It is known as "the city of peonies", boasting the best peonies in the country. Ever since the very first peony was planted here, Luoyang has inspired numerous peony-themed works of art.

This year's peony culture festival is expected to be a grand feast characterized by rich experience activities, diversified interactions, extensive public participation, and integrated innovations, according to the organizing committee.

The opening ceremony of the festival will be held at the south square of the Peony Pavilion scenic area in Luoyang on the evening of April 8, while the peony viewing period is expected to begin on April 1 and end on May 5.

The opening ceremony is expected to last 40 minutes. It will be focused on an online presentation empowered by emerging technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR). Performances of various types, including songs and dances, martial arts, music, and a firework display, will be integrated into the online presentation to showcase Luoyang's cultural characteristics, historical charm, and modernity.

Well-designed activities featuring immersive experiences, new forms and model of consumption, and mobile communication will be held during the festival to boost Luoyang's popularity among tourists, especially young people, effectively promote the in-depth integration of the culture and tourism industries, bolster consumer confidence in cultural tourism, promote economic growth, and improve the influence of Luoyang city.

The 10 major activities to be held during the festival will include a launch ceremony for peony appreciation, a carnival with a float parade, a series of immersive peony appreciation activities, and the 2023 World Research Travel Conference.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
(CNN)  Royal tours are normally planned months in advance. But the Prince of Wales surprise trip to Poland this week was a rare anomaly. Pulled together relatively last minute, it came at his personal request.

Everyone scrambled to make it happen. The press werent initially going to be able to go for security reasons as the trip included a visit to a top-secret military base in the countrys southeast, just a few hours drive from the Ukrainian border.

But in the end, under a media blackout, the British heir to the throne flew in and surprised British and Polish military personnel on Wednesday, thanking them for all that youre doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on whats going on.

Youre doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you, he added.

We understand Prince William was eager to highlight to the world how much Poland has been doing over the last year to support Ukraine. We were finally able to report his unannounced visit late Wednesday when he traveled on to the Polish capital.

Walking around Warsaw, conversations in Ukrainian are just as common as those in Polish. According to Polish border officials, the country has seen more than 9 million people travel across the border since Russias unprovoked invasion last February. Since then, the government estimates 1.5 million people have resettled here.

Shortly after arriving in the city, the prince headed to an office block that has been converted into a kind of hostel for Ukrainians displaced by the conflict. The facility provides lodgings for around 300 women and children who have recently arrived in the country. The former office building-turned-accommodation center is operated by the City of Warsaw and opened shortly after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

William listened to several refugees talk about fleeing their homeland and seeking sanctuary in Poland. He then played a doubles ping pong game with some of the children.

With their own encounters of war still fresh in the nations collective memory, Poland has warmly welcomed their neighbors, fully integrating them into society with free access to public services like healthcare and education. Many families have opened their homes to take in some of those displaced by the invasion.

The second day of the surprise visit saw William lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday morning in a somber ceremony. On arrival, he was welcomed with an honor guard, before making his way to the war memorial to lay the wreath. On a note accompanying the tribute, the prince had written: In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The next stop was a bilateral meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace a short car ride away. A spokesperson for the Prince of Wales described the conversation as warm and friendly, and predominately focused on the ongoing conflict with the war in Ukraine, particularly its impact on Polish society.

The Prince of Wales took the opportunity to thank the president and the Polish people who have done so much to support the people of Ukraine whove fled here, the spokesperson said.

The pair discussed how crucial continued support is for the Ukrainian people.

Confirming that heads of state will be invited to King Charles IIIs upcoming coronation, making it a truly global event, the spokesperson concluded: The prince said he was very much looking forward to seeing the president and first lady at the coronation. He also thanked him for attending the late Queens funeral.

Finally, William visited the Hala Koszyki food hall where he chatted with young Ukrainian refugees about their experiences since resettling in Poland, including Yelyzaveta Tupotina. She told CNN he seemed like our friend, adding, we really thank him for visiting.

He asked me about my parents because I mentioned they were still (in Ukraine)  and I talked about where I am studying. Then he asked other people about crossing the border, if it was difficult and if they can get back home to Ukraine, she said of her conversation with the 40-year-old royal.

Outside, royal fans waited patiently for the prince in the spring sunshine, with many carrying flowers and eager to express their gratitude to him for the unannounced visit. Among the crowd were three friends, Marta Zegarek, Agata Bartosiak and Olga Mierzejewska. It was actually their second brush with British royalty, having briefly seen William when he and his wife, Catherine, visited the country in 2017. This time, they got the chance to exchange a few words.

Zegarek, 26, told CNN: We are grateful that he sees the Polish people are absolutely fantastic and helping and we are all in this together. Meanwhile, Mierzejewska, 22, chimed in that she had told William that we are very appreciative of his support to our nation and Ukrainians.

While Prince William was here to emphasize Polands support of Ukraine, photographs emerged overnight of the prince grabbing dinner at Butero Bistro, an LGBTQ+-friendly eatery in Warsaw, according to the Daily Mail. A stunned patron shared their run-in with the royal on social media, reportedly calling Williams decision to eat there valuable, since the Polish government has cracked down on the LGBTQ+ community in recent years.

This trip showed William isnt afraid to get into what can be seen as political issues in a non-party political way. Support for Ukraine is not a divisive issue in the UK, like it has been on the global stage. Hes now stepping forward in his elevated role of Prince of Wales and redefining the position that was, for so long, held by his father. Hes showing himself to be a global statesman who can reflect the concerns of the public and the value of royal intervention in a meaningful way.

This story was first published on CNN.com, The new Prince of Wales is not afraid to take sides"
WASHINGTON  The clock is ticking for House Republicans to present a rebuttal to President Joe Biden's budget proposal with one of their own.

With a scheduled two-week recess next month, Congress has only seven days in session to introduce their budget before the looming statutory deadline April 15.

House Republican leaders did not respond to multiple questions from USA TODAY about when the GOP budget would be ready.

Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, chair of the House Budget Committee, told CNN earlier this month Republicans were in "no rush" to release their own budget and it probably wouldn't be ready until "the second week in May." A spokesperson for Arrington later told CNN Arrington misspoke and no decisions had been made about timing.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise previously told reporters in February that Republicans were working to release a budget in mid-April.

The Biden administration missed its own statutory deadline by about a month. There is no penalty for Congress or the administration for missing the deadline, and it is not uncommon for administrations and Congresses to do so.

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What are the GOP budget cuts?

One Republican budget framework would reduce government spending by billions, a move Democrats say could put Americans at risk by cutting funding from key social services programs.

An initial proposal from the House Budget Committee includes cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, Biden's student debt cancellation and funding for electric vehicles for the U.S. post office.

It also includes reinstating work requirements to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

A proposal from the House Freedom Caucus includes $131 billion in cuts for fiscal year 2024. It would save $3 trillion in the long term by cutting federal bureaucracy, according to a statement from the caucus.

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More: Biden defends $6.9 trillion budget proposal, GOP calls plan for 2024 'misguided'

What could cuts mean for Americans?

President Joe Biden speaks during a Nowruz celebration in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Washington.

The Biden administration called the House Freedom Caucus proposal "a five-alarm fire for families" and said it would endanger public safety, raise costs for families, ship manufacturing jobs overseas and undermine American workers.

According to the administration, the proposal would increase costs for health care, energy and college; eliminate programs for preschool and childcare; and strip Medicaid coverage and food assistance from Americans.

"I want to make it clear I'm ready to meet with the speaker anytime, tomorrow, if he has his budget," Biden said when announcing his proposal. "Lay it down. Tell me what you want to do. I'll show you what I want to do, see what we can agree on and we don't agree on. Let's see what we vote on."

Trump overshadows House GOP retreat

Former President Donald Trump watches the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla.

House Republicans met this week in Orlando for a retreat that was was expected to focus on the party's legislative strategy, but that was quickly upended by former President Donald Trump predicting he would be indicted for his alleged role in making a hush-money payment to an adult film actress just before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump's announcement put party leadership on the spot to answer questions about the former president's possible charges.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tried to strike a balance between party loyalty and trying to quell any potential uprising from Trump's call for protests to "take back our nation."

McCarthy defended Trump, dismissing the Manhattan District Attorney's investigation and calling it politically motivated.

Lawyer after lawyer will tell you this is the weakest case out there, trying to make a misdemeanor a felony, he said.

He also said people should not protest if there's an indictment.

More: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Americans should not protest if Donald Trump is indicted

GOP to press Cabinet secretaries on Biden budget

President Joe Biden speaks about health care and prescription drug costs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, nine Cabinet secretaries will face questioning from committees on Capitol Hill this week about Biden's budget proposal. Despite House Republicans grilling the Biden administration to give answers on the budget, the GOP members of Congress have yet to present details of their own proposal.

"We have to come up with our policy response but first understand their policy initiatives they put forward to Capitol Hill," Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who chairs the Financial Services committee, told CNN when asked last week about a timeline for a budget.

The following Cabinet secretaries will testify:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan.

Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

What we know: Is Donald Trump likely to be arrested soon? Will he be indicted?

Debt ceiling fight tied to budget

House Republicans want Democrats to agree to spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.

Without an agreement, the budget fight could keep the debt ceiling from being raised and trigger an economic collapse.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been taking extraordinary measures to pay the government's bills since the United States reached its debt ceiling in January.

Without raising the debt ceiling, the government could default on its obligations this summer, according to Yellen and the Congressional Budget Office.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP budget proposal: House Republicans face April 15 deadline
Texas legislators are attempting to pass laws that will restrict some drag shows as a safety measure for children. Meanwhile, the leading causes of death for children in Texas are accidents, gun violence, suicide and drug overdose.

Legislators waste our tax dollars attempting to codify religion-based morality that mocks the separation of church and state. Even when they do focus on real safety issues, they seem to miss the bigger point. While there is much talk about school security, just this week a child was killed outside an Arlington school. Hardening schools to be more secure is useless without addressing the root causes of violence. The Legislature ignores that.

No childrens injuries or deaths have been associated with drag shows. When will legislators check their religious affiliations at the door and pass meaningful laws that focus on real issues and that will keep us safe, secure and prosperous?

- Donald Rosen, Fort Worth

Read more readers opinions here.
As the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office continued to lead a criminal investigation against former President Donald Trump, they received a threatening letter containing a white powder on Friday, according tomultipleoutlets.

The envelope and its contents came amid repeated attacks on Bragg by Trump, who on Thursday called the prosecutor an animal.

The letter, which postmarks indicated it was mailed Tuesday from Orlando, Florida, came with a note reading, ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! NBC News reports.

The powder was discovered in the mailroom and found to be non-hazardous, according to The New York Times.

Manhattan prosecutors are believed to have presented evidence against Trump to a grand jury, which will decide whether the evidence is sufficient to move forward with charges. Their decision could come as soon as next week.

Braggs investigation stems from the 2016 hush money payments paid to adult actor Stormy Daniels, who claimed she once had an affair with Trump. His former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, admitted to paying off Daniels and served prison time for the way it was handled.

Trump posted a lengthy screed to Truth Social early Friday, appearing to condemn Bragg, a degenerate psychopath that truely [sic] hates the USA!

The former president also warned of potential death and destruction if he is charged.

His prediction last weekend that he would be arrested on Tuesday did not, of course, pan out.

But the hush-money investigation is just one of several legal woes for Trump, who is campaigning for another presidential term.

Special counsel Jack Smiths probe into Trumps handling of classified documents found at his home is also ongoing. This week, a federal judge rejected Trumps claim to executive privilege and told several top aides they had to testify before a grand jury in Smiths investigation. In addition, an attorney for Trump, Evan Corcoran, appeared in court Friday to provide testimony.

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Charges could also still come out of the Georgia investigation into Trumps attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.

Related...
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Friday Democratic bills to repeal Michigan's right-to-work law that currently allows workers in the state to not pay union dues or fees. She also reinstated a prevailing wage law that requires union-level wages and benefits for state-funded construction projects.

"Today, we are coming together to restore workers rights, protect Michiganders on the job, and grow Michigan's middle class," Whitmer said in a statement. "Michigan workers are the most talented and hard-working in the world and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect."

In repealing right-to-work, Whitmer reneged on a promise she made at the outset of her first term as governor to veto legislation containing appropriations. Because voters cannot subject bills that include spending provisions to a referendum, Whitmer signed an executive directive vowing to reject bills that included appropriations to circumvent the public's right to a referendum.

The spending in the right-to-work repeal bills mirrors what Republican lawmakers did last decade. Democrats also include appropriations approved by Whitmer in the prevailing wage bill, dedicating funds for the purpose of educating the public on the major labor law changes.

Just over half of states have right-to-work laws in place. With the stroke of her pen, Whitmer made Michigan the first state in nearly 60 years to abandon the policy opposed by labor advocates.

"Today is a historic win for workers everywhere," said state Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, who introduced one of the bills to repeal right-to-work. "We're entering a new chapter in Michigan."

More:Democratic lawmakers send Whitmer bills to repeal right-to-work, reinstate prevailing wage

More:Michigan Senate Democrats pass bills repealing right-to-work law

The bills passed along party-line votes. Without any GOP support, the bills won't go into effect immediately. Instead, the changes will kick in 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

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Republicans argue repealing right-to-work jeopardizes state efforts to attract businesses to locate to the state. Companies don't want to set up shop in places where workers could lose their jobs if they refuse to pay union dues or fees, they argue.

"Gov. Whitmer and Democrats have hurt Michigans ability to compete to attract high-paying careers," said House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township in a statement. "Without right-to-work, businesses will find more competitive states for their manufacturing plants and research and development facilities, and workers and careers will drift away."

Democrats disagree and contend that right-to-work is unfair because it allows "free riders" who benefit from the contracts negotiated on their behalf without paying into the union. The law has led to weakened unions and chipped away at their ability to negotiate better employment terms, they argue.

Slightly more than 9% of Michigan private sector workers were union members in 2021, compared with just over 11% in 2012, according to federal data compiled by researchers available at unionstats.com. Nearly 46,000 private sector workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement were not dues-paying union members.

In addition to repealing right-to-work for private sector workers, Whitmer also signed a bill that does the same for public sector workers in the event the U.S. Supreme Court reverses a previous decision barring public sector unions from requiring employees covered by collective bargaining agreements to pay union dues.

Democrats also celebrated Whitmer's signature to restore Michigan's prevailing wage law, which was first put on the books in 1965. Over 50 years later, Republicans in the state Legislature repealed the law in 2018.

Last year, Whitmer issued an executive directive reinstating prevailing wage for projects bid out by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. But unlike the bill she signed, her directive did not apply to state-funded construction projects bid out by local school districts.

Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer repeals Michigan right-to-work, reinstates prevailing wage
Five House Republicans broke from the GOP and voted against the Parents Bill of Rights on Friday, an education-focused measure the conference brought up to emphasize parental rights in the classroom.

The House approved the measure in a 213-208 vote, with all voting Democrats opposing the legislation. Five Republicans joined them in opposition: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.) and Matt Rosendale (Mont.).

The legislation would, among other tenets, mandate that schools post their curricula publicly, require that parents are allowed to meet with their childrens teachers, and demand that schools provide parents with information when violence happens on school grounds.

Additionally, it would require that parents receive a list of the books and reading materials accessible at the school library, and it would allow parents to have a say when schools are creating or updating policies and procedures related to student privacy.

House Republicans vowed to bring up the measure during the 2022 midterm campaign if they were to reclaim the majority.

Lawler  a freshman who represents a district President Biden won by 10 points in 2020  told The Hill in a statement that he voted against the bill despite being a co-sponsor because an amendment added to the legislation went too far.

A spokesperson for the congressman said he was referring to the amendment introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) that said parents have a right to know if their childs school allows a transgender girl or woman to use a bathroom or changing room that does not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. The addition passed the House by voice vote.

Unfortunately, a late amendment to the bill  that unnecessarily targeted certain children  went too far, Lawler said. Our goal as parents, educators, and legislators should be making lives better and safer for our children, and I am concerned that this amendment could do the opposite, putting vulnerable children at greater risk.

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It is my hope that as the bill continues to move through the legislative process, we can further clarify the language and ensure both the fundamental rights of parents and the safety and welfare of our children, he added.

The congressman said he worked in good faith to address concerns he had with some of the language used in the bill, and was ultimately able to ensure that children of all background would be protected and feel comfortable in their own schools and homes. But he then cited the problematic amendment.

The four other Republicans who broke from the party to oppose the measure raised concerns about the federal government involving itself with local school districts.

The measure has a fatal flaw, however, Buck said of the legislation in an op-ed for The Washington Times published on Thursday, noting that it has many worthy initiatives for parents to pursue.

While seemingly reinforcing parents rights, it undermines the critical principle for conservatives: federalism, the bedrock of our liberty, he wrote. The Constitution provides a limited list of federal powers. As conservatives have rightly pointed out for decades, education is not on that list. My fellow Republicans in the House, confusing themselves with a national school board, believe the federal government should step in to protect parents.

He said his GOP colleagues have succumbed to the latest populist fever, adding that House Republicans are willing to jettison the Constitution and federalism for a bill that elevates the federal government in education.

The Colorado Republican also cautioned that giving the federal government a say in education now opens up the possibility of Democrats in the future using these new federal powers over education to advance a woke agenda.

Contrary to what many of my Republican colleagues would have us believe, federalism is worth protecting, even when we control one chamber of Congress and even when we have ideas that would perform well on Instagram, he wrote.

The overwhelming majority of the House Republicans will be on record supporting the idea of expanded federal powers in your childs education. I have no doubt the Democrats will remind them of this position when they are back in charge and want to pass federal education bills, he added.

Biggs following the vote said, the nub of it is theres no constitutional authority for the federal government to regulate state and local education issues from the left or right. He also said he agreed with Bucks op-ed.

The Arizona Republican continued, stating that his opinion is, we should not have a federal Department of Education.

Rosendale wrote on Twitter, The answer to an out-of-control education system is not turning more control over to the federal government! Gaetz said, From Wokeness to funding to bathrooms to Critical Race Theory, the federal government SHOULD NOT be involved in education.

I dont want to strengthen the federal Department of Education. I want to abolish it. I dont want Congress more involved in decisions that are best made in local school districts. I want the Congress less involved. Therefore, I voted against todays Republican bill to establish a federal Parents Bill of Rights, he added on Twitter.

Emily Brooks contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Here we go again.

Miami Beach is entering the third and jam-packed weekend of spring break with few additional tools to prevent the unchecked rowdiness and violence that have marred the annual, increasingly unwelcome event stretching across South Beach.

This quandary follows last weekend when two people were killed, one a college student from Georgia. The murders, one captured in a security video, have made headlines worldwide. And this is Miami Music Week, which features Ultra Music Festival in Miamis Bayfront Park and other events throughout South Florida, including Miami Beach.

In preparation, a divided Miami Beach City Commission, disappointingly, voted 4-3 on Monday not to re-impose a midnight curfew as City Manager Alina Hudak wisely had done last weekend following the fatal shootings.

This vote was a dereliction of the commissioners duty to keep everyone as safe a possible within city limits.

Shut it down

We agree with Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, police Chief Richard Clements and Hudak that its time to shut down the partying, or at least stifle it as much as possible. They recommended the city enter the weekend with a midnight-to-6 a.m. curfew.

Commissioners bent a bit, voting 6-1 to support the ban on alcohol sales for off-premises consumption in South Beach after 6 p.m. That includes package liquor stores and any other stores that sell alcohol. But that vote is being challenged by a liquor-store owner, who says he and other merchants like him are being singled out. He has a point.

In addition, Ocean Drive will be open to traffic, which will impede gatherings along the stretch. And the city has announced two drunk-driving checkpoints throughout the city. Fine, however, these should not turn into a blanket stop-and-frisk tactic.

We hope the commissions decision to forgo a curfew doesnt come back to bite with more deadly violence.

The commissioners who sided with nightclubs, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, Ricky Arriola, David Richardson and Laura Dominguez, should hope everything goes well this weekend.

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Their rationale: Its not expected to be so busy as predicted. They contend that its a knee-jerk reaction to respond with a business-crippling curfew; party-goers this weekend should not be punished for the deeds of partygoers last weekend; the murders appeared to be the result of personal beefs  as if we should find comfort in that  not random shootings.

But in a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, people were lucky there were no more fatalities.

Who gets punished?

But the real reason to maintain the status quo was, why should businesses on South Beach  mainly bars and nightclubs  be financially impacted when they have been waiting all year for this boon? They took a hit last year under a midnight curfew, also prompted by violence.

Vice Mayor Steve Meiner and Commissioner Alex Fernandez, along with the mayor, voted for the curfew, which successfully curtailed street partying over the weekend.

Fernandez is tired of the same old We cant control spring break refrain.

Upon consulting with our city manager and city attorney, I strongly feel the city must announce that, for next year, Miami Beach will shut the door on spring break by announcing  from now  a curfew for the historically violent third weekend of March, Fernandez told the Editorial Board.

He also wants to bring metal detectors and a fenced-in perimeter into the equation for spring break 2024. He says he has the backing of club and bar owners.

Fernandez says he will place a resolution on the agenda directing city administration to find such a private partner to stage a ticketed, fenced-in event with security, a la Ultra.

Fernandez has a solid idea here. We commend Gelber, Hudak, Meiner and Fernandez for trying their best in an impossible situation.

But for next year, there must be radical changes made to the spring break and they should be announced well ahead of time before people make their hotel reservations.

Spring break 2024 on Miami Beach should usher in a new day, as many have said. Enough is enough.
Chinas rapid military modernization has spurred considerable fear that the country could provoke a war with the United States. Such fear may owe to an exaggerated view of the importance of war preparation as a driver of the Peoples Liberation Armys buildup.

In fact, a broad variety of political and security drivers underpin the militarys modernization, many of which have nothing to do with waging war. U.S. interests could benefit from a more accurate understanding of the reasons for Chinas military buildup and from a perspective that balances attention to the military with a greater appreciation of the nonmilitary aspects of U.S.-China competition.

Chinas military has experienced a dramatic buildup in recent years, owing in part to soaring defense budgets. From 2000 to 2016, Chinas military budget increased annually by about 10%, although this growth subsequently slowed to about 5-7% per year. According to Peoples Republic of China government sources, Chinas defense budget was $230 billion in 2022, second only to the United States. The budget understates the amount of resources committed to the military. Western experts suggest that the difference could amount to $60 billion per year.

Surging defense budgets have yielded an increasingly lethal and capable PLA. U.S. officials have steadily warned of an eroding military advantage in the face of rapid PLA gains. During his service, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt stated that China was acquiring weapons at five to six times the rate of the United States.

For some, the buildup alone provides reasons to fear conflict. Observers point to the rapid modernization as unambiguous evidence that China is preparing for war with the United States. In March 2021, Adm. Philip Davidson, then-head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, warned that China could take military action against Taiwan by 2027. Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, added that he cant rule out a Chinese attempt to invade as early as 2023.

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Preparation for war is one possibility for the PLAs buildup, but it is not the only one. The militarys modernization goals serve a variety of political and military purposes, none of which imply any intent to actually start a war. A grasp of the myriad drivers could help observers more accurately assess the danger posed by the PLAs modernization.

A first major reason Chinese leaders seek a powerful military owes to basic security. History matters greatly here: Chinese leaders are acutely aware of the downfall of past dynasties when a weak military permitted adversaries to bring the empire to its knees. Chinese leaders routinely invoke past humiliations, such as the Opium Wars, to remind the population of the dangers that weakness might pose. Maintaining a strong deterrence, including through a large nuclear arsenal, is a fundamental reason that China seeks a powerful military.

Second, a growing China requires a more capable military to handle a growing range of missions, including the possibility of a conflict with Taiwan. China faces a difficult geography, with many hostile and suspicious powers along its periphery. Defense whitepapers highlight a multitude of threats, including the dangers of Taiwan separatism, disputes in the East and South China seas, border disputes, and the dangers of great power rivalry with the United States.

Accordingly, the PLA has organized five theaters of command to better align resources with designated missions. The PLA is also charged with a wide range of non-war missions, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime patrols and noncombatant evacuation. These are small in scale but important. Indeed, every Chinese military intervention since the 2000s has consisted of non-war missions.

A third, widely underappreciated reason owes to national prestige. Like autocrats elsewhere, Chinese leaders regard a powerful military as a sign of national status and as a way of whipping up patriotic enthusiasm. This explains in part the governments pursuit of high-profile status symbols such as aircraft carriers. Underscoring this point, China holds many lavish military parades and exercises, all of which receive extensive coverage in Chinese media.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a screen showing the evening news in 2020 in Beijing. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Building a powerful military is also an important source of political power for the countrys supreme leader. Xi Jinpings power hinges, in part, on his command of the military, which helps explain why he is often photographed in military uniforms or settings. Yet like his predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, Xi recognizes that generous defense budgets are the price he must pay to ensure the militarys loyalty.

A fifth reason lies in keeping the military focused on its responsibilities and resisting tendencies of slipping into corruption and lethargy. Xis instructions to remain focused on military duties takes place within the context of a broader effort to improve the overall modernization, competence and effectiveness of the government, which authorities regard as critical to realizing the countrys goals of national revival.

Consistent with this broader imperative, Xi has repeatedly paired a crackdown on the rampant corruption with calls on the military to improve its combat readiness, which is another way of saying the military should become more competent at its job.

In conclusion, Chinas military buildup owes to a variety of political and security drivers. The buildup does not by itself indicate a drive to war. Indeed, there currently remains no evidence China plans to attack Taiwan any time soon. To best protect U.S. interests, decision-makers could maintain a balanced view of Chinas military buildup and regard the technological, economic and diplomatic dimensions of U.S.-China competition as of equal or greater importance to the military dimension.

Timothy R. Heath is a senior international defense researcher at the think tank Rand.
While Jackson Health System has not said why it abruptly suspended its adult heart transplant program on Monday, staffing issues, concerns about patient outcomes and substantially changing how it operates could all be factors, according to a transplant expert and the bylaws of the group that operates the U.S. transplant system.

Thats a hard decision, if you really think about it, to say, Im gonna voluntarily slow this down, that shows their commitment to patient care, said Dr. Parag Patel, division chair of the Advanced Heart Failure & Cardiac Transplant at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, one of three heart transplant programs that Mayo operates nationwide, including in Arizona and Minnesota.

On Tuesday evening, Jackson Health confirmed to the Herald in an email it had voluntarily placed its adult heart transplant program on temporary inactive status while it undergoes an in-depth review of our care.

Jackson Health and UHealth, the University of Miami health system, jointly operate the Miami Transplant Institute, which opened in 1970 and is considered one of the top transplant centers in the country.

Jackson did not specify when the institute would reopen; it said it was working to transfer patients to other transplant centers. Jackson has not commented beyond its statement to the Herald, and the University of Miami declined to comment.

Patel, speaking in general about transplant centers, said a voluntary closure of a transplant program could be because they dont have enough key staff to perform transplants or manage the patients. The hospital could have also noticed suboptimal quality, in its patient care, whether it was in survival rates (before or after a transplant) or complications from the transplants, he said.

In this situation, he added, the hospital might choose to voluntarily halt transplants and undergo an internal review to optimize patient care. Jackson said it will conduct an in-depth review.

At the end of the day, while its a hard decision, and its making very difficult challenges for their currently transplanted patients, what theyre doing  theyre saying Hey, we see a slight issue ... we are going to right set it before we commit to our patients to the care they deserve, said Patel.

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Jackson alluded to patients in its statement.

We will reinstate the program after a thorough assessment and a clear plan to recruit additional world-class clinicians in the same way we have built globally admired transplant programs for other organs, Jackson said. Our pediatric heart transplant program is not affected by this decision, nor is our program to provide mechanical heart devices. The quality of care and personal experience of our patients, families, donors, and clinicians are our guiding principles for this partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth-University of Miami Health System.

Jackson/UM partnership

Jacksons Public Health Trust, which owns the hospital and other medical facilities in Miami-Dade County, holds all the authority under its joint operating agreement with UMs medical school. UMs medical school provides more than 90 percent of the physicians working at Jackson Memorial Hospital, which is home to the Miami Transplant Institute.

Jacksons Public Health Trust pays $71 million to UMs medical school for its general services, including $21 million for the Miami Transplant Institute, according to the annual operating agreement.

The Miami Transplant Institutes executive director, Dr. Rodrigo Vianna, and his staff of nearly 65 UM medical school surgeons operate under the annual contract with the Public Health Trust. The Trust is responsible for all operational and regulatory issues at the Miami Transplant Institute, including the pending federal review of the institutes heart transplant program.

Floridas ranking among heart transplants

Florida ranks fourth in the United States with 263 heart transplants in 2022, which includes both children and adults, according to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS. Currently, there are 219 people in Florida on a waiting list for a heart, according to the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network.

UNOS, a Richmond-based nonprofit that Congress established it 1984, manages the U.S. organ transplant system under an annual contract with the federal government. On Wednesday, however, U.S. health officials announced plans to overhaul the system, as more than 100,000 people in the United States are on waiting lists for organs, primarily kidneys.

UNOS bylaws stipulate why a transplant center might voluntarily request to have one of its programs go into short or long-term inactivity. This includes, but is not limited to:

 Inability to meet functional activity requirements.

 Inability to serve potential candidates, candidates, recipients, potential living donors, or living donors for a period of 15 or more consecutive days.

 Temporarily lacking required physician or surgeon coverage.

 A substantial change in operations that requires an interruption in transplantation.

What happens to the patients on the wait list?

Jackson, in its statement, said the Miami Transplant Institute is working to transfer its existing adult heart transplant patients to other hospitals.

In 2022, the Institute performed 17 heart transplants, 12 of which were in adults, according to data from the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network. The institute has done 785 heart transplants in adults and children from 1988, when the network first began tracking transplants, through Feb. 28, 2023. Of those, 697 were in adults.

As for the patients place in line on the organ wait list, it usually doesnt get affected in situations like this, Patel said. The amount of time a patient accrued on the wait list will generally transfer over to the new center.

Ten Florida hospitals operate transplant programs for various organs. In South Florida, transplants are performed at Memorial Regional of Hollywood, Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital, part of Memorial Healthcare System, and Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston. In an email to the Herald Thursday evening, Memorial Healthcare System said it has reached out to our counterparts at Jackson Health System and we are here to help them in any way possible, one safety net hospital to another.

What are next steps for Jackson/UM transplant program?

Luke Preczewski, vice president of the Miami Transplant Institute, announced the adult heart transplant programs temporary suspension in a staff Zoom meeting Monday. In the meeting, he said there would be no public announcement. The Herald learned of the suspension independently, prompting Jackson to acknowledge the suspension.

UNOS will conduct a peer-review visit in early April.

According to UNOS bylaws, a peer visit is considered to be an objective, on-site evaluation by experienced transplant professionals. A peer visit panel will review records, interview staff and tour the facilities as desired, and will then prepare a report for the MPSC, the Membership and Professional Standards Committee, which is in charge of reviewing, evaluating and monitoring members for compliance and reviewing reported violations.

The committee, working with Jackson, will then determine the next steps, including whether to reactivate the Miami Transplant Institutes adult heart transplant program.

Miami Herald staff writers Nicholas Nehamas and Jay Weaver contributed to this report.
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Reuters

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Seniors are supposed to be the most loyal supporters of the monarchy. So it should have spent a shiver of alarm down the spine of Palace spinners when a new poll this week found that the over-55s had the least interest of all Britons in attending street parties or other community events to celebrate the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The poll by Redfield and Wilton Strategies found that those who said they were least likely to attend community parties were older voters, aged 55 - 64 and 65+.

Maybe they were just afraid of catching COVID or a cold? Well noastonishingly, those same demographics were the most likely to have hosted or attended such parties to mark Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee last summer, according to a report in the Daily Mail which commissioned the research.

The only possible conclusion is that they just arent that into Charles and Camilla.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Children Currently Not Invited to Coronation

Of course, a poll is just a poll, but it has added to the gnawing sense that the coronation is failing to capture the imagination of the nation.

While British newspapers keep faithfully churning out stories about details such as the vegan oil that will be used to consecrate the king and queen, many small business owners and parents with school age children are deeply irritated that due to an extra coronation public holiday, there will only be four working days in the 10 days between Saturday 29 April and Monday 8 May.

One central London art gallery owner told The Daily Beast that they, along with many others, wouldnt be opening for the intervening days, saying: It will be dead. Everyone will be out of town. After all the disruption of the last three years, we really didnt need another Christmasin May.

Of course, there has always been a strangely abandoned feeling to much of London on big royal days. While the Mallthe pink road that unfolds from the front of Buckingham Palace up to Trafalgar Squareis always packed for the funerals, jubilees, and royal weddings that stud British life, the fans squashing in to the ceremonial streets are largely out-of-towners. Resident Londoners with the wherewithal to do so have always tended to make the most of the few days off and flee the city.

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But Charles and Camilla seem to have a bigger problem; straightforward, old-fashioned unpopularity.

Although Charles got a bit of a bounce when he became king, he is still desperately unpopular compared to his mother.

Its worth looking at the list, compiled by pollsters YouGov at more length: in the U.K., Kate Middleton is the most popular royal with a 68-percent approval rating followed by Prince William on 67 percent, then its Princess Anne on 64 percent, then King Charles on 56 percent, Zara Phillips on 48 percent, Prince Edward on 47 percent, Sophie on 44 percent, Harry on 40 percent, and then Camilla on 39 percent. Bringing up the tail end is Meghan on 29 percent and Prince Andrew on 12 percent.

Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince George attend 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. Toby Melville/Reuters

That most modern of metrics, celebrity endorsement, also tells a story. The big coronation concert, which was once upon a time supposed to have featured a reunited Spice Girls as its grand finale, is now notable for the long list of British artists who have reportedly declined an invite to perform: Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Elton John, Robbie Williams, and Adele are all among those who dont appear to be ready to move heaven and earth to be associated with the new king.

One veteran promoter told The Daily Beast: These things are always difficult to program. There is never any budget so artists have to really want to do it. But King Charles and Queen Camilla is a tricky sell. They arent exactly the wokest names to be aligned with.

The promoter said they did not know if reports that Take That (minus Robbie) had agreed to perform were accurate, saying, Its a bit of mystery who is playing right now.

Buckingham Palace declined to respond to enquiries from The Daily Beast on what the poll results meant, or who might be playing the coronation concert.

However, despite the best efforts of palace spinners over the past 20 years to make us love them, its quite apparent that there has not been a less popular king and queen in over 200 years. You have to go back to George IV, who ruled from 1820 to 1830, to find one.

There are dozens of reasons as to why Charles remains stubbornly unloved by the general population but underpinning it all is, arguably, a complete lack of mystique. From his betrayal of Diana to the tampon tape to his endless written and spoken complaints about his difficult lifenever has a king been such a known quantity. We think we know what he thinks about almost everything. We knew, by contrast, that we knew almost nothing about what his mother thought about anything. Such is the power of never giving an interview.

Friends of the couple dutifully resist the notion that they are unpopular or that the coronation is shaping up to be a very expensive flop, with one personal friend of them both telling The Daily Beast: Charles has been greeted by throngs of adoring crowds wherever he goes. Camilla is working away quietly at very unsexy causes like tackling domestic violence. The coronation is the hottest ticket in the world right now, so I dont think its at all fair to say they are not popular. Any politician would kill to have their popularity ratings.

Asked what could be behind those new poll results which suggested just 30 percent of people saying they would attend a coronation street party, the friend said, Thirty percent of the country is about 20 million people. Twenty million people attending street parties seems like quite a lot of people to me. The Mall will be packed, Im sure.

Well, maybe it will. But the reality is that it is hard to find many people outside the royal orbit who are truly excited about the coronation. The queen ran the Buckingham Palace balcony like a pro; the aged, dotty-looking relatives trooping out were the climax of every show, and she, the brightly decorated bauble at its core, was the point around which the great soap opera all revolved.

Charles always said he wanted a slimmed-down monarchy, and got what he wanted by booting most of the family off the balcony, and now he is piloting a modest coronation.

It is instructive to imagine what the mood would be like now if the monarchy had listened to Diana and implemented her wish, expressed to Martin Bashir in her famous Panorama interview, that the crown skip a generation and go directly to William.

Then the monarchy would really have had jubilation and street parties on their handsinstead of a pair of septuagenarians who desperately want to appear avuncular but cant seem to help radiating an aura of spiky entitlement.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(CNN)  Hungary says it would not arrest Russian president Vladimir Putin if he entered the country, despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for him last week, accusing him of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said on Thursday that even though Hungary is a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, and ratified it in 2001, arresting Putin would have no basis in Hungarian law.

"We can refer to the Hungarian law and based on that we cannot arrest the Russian President ... as the ICC's statute has not been promulgated in Hungary," Gulyas said. He added that the Hungarian government had not yet "formed a stance" on the ICC arrest warrant for Putin.

The comments might not come as a huge shock to Hungary's European neighbors.

Orban and his government have always been by far the closest ally of the Kremlin within the European bloc. After Putin ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine last year, Orban was the most reluctant European Union leader to impose sanctions on Russia.

Hungary is also a NATO member and has voiced objections to Western nations sending arms to Ukraine. Orban has warned that Europe is "drifting into" the war in Ukraine and has made extensive efforts to block Ukraine from joining NATO. It is also dragging its feet on Sweden's efforts to join NATO.

The 123 member states of the ICC are obliged to act on an arrest warrant, meaning that if Putin enters any of these territories he should be placed under arrest by national law enforcement. However, Gulyas claimed on Thursday that the Rome Statue has not been built into the Hungarian legal system, so would not apply.

In what will be interpreted as a sympathetic stance to the Kremlin, Gulyas said of the arrest warrant: "These decisions are not the most fortunate as they take things towards further escalation and not towards peace, this is my personal subjective opinion."

Russia has dismissed the ICC's warrant as "unacceptable," saying that it is not subject to the ICC's decisions.

"Russia, like a number of states, does not recognize the jurisdiction of this court and, accordingly, any decisions of this kind are null and void for the Russian Federation from the point of view of law," Kremlin spokeperson Dmitry Peskov tweeted shortly after the warrant was issued.

The ICC's Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan told CNN last week that "Article 27 of the Rome Statute makes it very clear that the official position of an individual is irrelevant to the jurisdiction of the court. The independent judges of the court have also found it appropriate [to issue the warrant]."
BEIJING (AP)  U.S. lawmakers have grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about data security and harmful content, with some pushing to ban the popular short-video app nationwide.

Chew, a native of Singapore, told the lawmakers that TikTok prioritizes user safety as he sought to avert a U.S. ban on the app by downplaying its ties to China.

Both Republican and Democratic representatives aggressively questioned Chew on topics including TikToks content moderation practices, its data security plans, and past spying on journalists.

Here's a look at some of the concerns about TikTok and its ownership.

WHY DOES WASHINGTON SAY TIKTOK IS A THREAT?

TikTok, which has over 150 million American users, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd., which appoints its executives.

ByteDance is based in Beijing but registered in the Cayman Islands, as is common for privately owned Chinese companies. Its headquarters is in Beijings northwestern Haidian district, home to key universities and a hub for tech startups. TikTok has dual headquarters in Singapore and Los Angeles.

Founded by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming in 2012, ByteDance is said to be valued at around $220 billion  nearly half of its 2021 valuation of $400 billion. Publicly traded Chinese tech companies and privately held ones like ByteDance have plunged in value since the ruling Communist Party tightened control over the industry with anti-monopoly and data security crackdowns.

Western governments worry Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over TikTok data on American users, exposing sensitive information. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday that China's government has never and will not ask companies to collect or provide data, information or intelligence" held in foreign countries, adding the U.S. "has not provided any evidence so far to prove that TikTok threatens U.S. national security."

ByteDance says 60% of its shares are owned by non-Chinese investors such as U.S investment firms Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Japan's SoftBank Group. Employees own 20% and its founders the remaining 20%.

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Some details of the relationship between TikTok and ByteDance remain unclear to outsiders.

WHAT CHINESE RULES WORRY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS?

China's 2017 National Intelligence Law states that any organization" must assist or cooperate with state intelligence work while a separate 2014 Counter-Espionage Law says relevant organizations ... may not refuse" to collect evidence for an investigation.

Since ByteDance, which owns TikTok, is a Chinese company, it would likely have to abide by these rules if Chinese authorities asked it to turn over data.

Laws and regulations are only one aspect of the Communist Partys pervasive control. There are no legal limits on the partys powers. The authorities also can threaten to cancel licenses, conduct regulatory or tax investigations and use other penalties to compel compliance by Chinese and foreign companies operating in China.

The party sometimes conveys orders using window guidance, or informal communication in private. It has used crackdowns to tighten control over technology companies and force them to align with its goals.

The Chinese government has also sought more direct control over companies by getting seats on boards of directors.

MUST TIKTOK TURN OVER DATA IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SAYS SO, EVEN WITH  PROJECT TEXAS?

TikTok has promised to protect data on American users by storing it on servers operated by an outside contractor, Oracle Corp., in whats known as Project Texas. Chew, the TikTok CEO, said all new U.S. user data is stored in the United States and the company should finish deleting older U.S. data from non-Oracle servers this year.

The fear is that ByteDance would have to hand over information it obtained from TikTok if ordered to do so by Chinese authorities, but Chew has said Project Texas will put U.S. data out of China's reach.

ByteDance disclosed in December that four employees gained access to data about reporters and people connected to them while looking for how information about the company was leaked. Chew told the lawmakers China-based ByteDance employees may still have access to some U.S. data but that won't be the case once Project Texas is complete.

In November, TikToks head of privacy for Europe said some employees in China had access to information about users in Britain and the European Union.

DOES THE COMMUNIST PARTY HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON BYTEDANCE?

In Thursdays hearing, lawmakers repeatedly tried to pin down Chew on whether ByteDance had links to Chinas communist rulers.

He deflected questions about whether staff and top executives are Communist Party members.

I do know that the founder himself is not a member of the Communist Party, but we dont know the political affiliation of our employees because thats not something we ask, Chew said.

When questioned whether ByteDance was effectively controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, Chew said he disagreed.

After a lawmaker said the Communist Party holds a golden share in ByteDance that allows it to control one ByteDance board seat, Chew said, Thats not correct.

In China, so-called golden shares held by official investment funds are one way for Beijing to gain more oversight over business by giving them a 1% stake in companies.

Chew pushed back when lawmakers claimed that the Communist Party owns shares in ByteDance that give it a vote in how the company is run. The Communist Party doesnt have voting rights in ByteDance, Chew said.

ByteDances main Chinese subsidiary is the license-holder for some of its video and information platforms that only serve the China market.

WHAT IS DOUYIN AND WHAT IS TIKTOK'S RELATIONSHIP WITH IT?

Douyin is ByteDances short-video platform for the China market. It's similar to TikTok, but its content is restricted by Chinese censorship rules that prohibit material deemed subversive or pornographic - a point emphasized by U.S. lawmakers worried about harmful content viewed by young people.

The Communist Partys extensive internet filters block most users in China from seeing TikTok. ByteDance has said TikTok has no affiliation with Beijing ByteDance Technology Co., the subsidiary that operates Douyin; Toutiao, a news and short-video platform, and other services.

HOW DID CHINA REACT TO THE TIKTOK CEO'S WASHINGTON TESTIMONY?

Most of the social media reaction in China was sympathetic to Chew, with praise for how he handled the hostile questions lobbed at him.

Comments on Douyin and microblogging platform Weibo were critical of U.S. lawmakers for asking Chew leading or trap questions. Many commenters used a Chinese saying that means If you want to accuse someone, there's always a way."

___

Associated Press Business Writer Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report.
Candiace Dillard Bassett and Porsha Williams. Paul Gilmore/Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Candiace Dillard Bassett was "apprehensive" about going on a trip to Thailand with Porsha Williams.

Candiace and Porsha are two of the cast members on "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip 3."

The Potomac housewife and former Atlanta housewife previously clashed online.

"Real Housewives of Potomac" star Candiace Dillard Bassett was most "apprehensive" about going on a girls' trip to Thailand with Porsha Williams following their previous online clash.

Former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Porsha and Candiace are just two of the housewives who jetted to Thailand last summer to shoot "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" season three, which is now streaming on Peacock.

But back in 2020, during season five of "Potomac," Porsha had some choice words about Candiace's physical altercation with costar Monique Samuels, suggesting that Candiace was trying to sue Monique to secure a down payment on a house. Candiace clapped back at the time, accusing Porsha of lying.

As a result, Candiace told Insider she was "most apprehensive about interacting with Porsha" during the trip to Thailand.

"As soon as they announced her, everyone was like, 'Oh god, they're gonna be fighting!' and I was like, 'I don't want it,'" Candiace said.

"I knew it was going to come up, the drama we had going back to season five of 'Potomac' and her comments. I wasn't looking forward to that."

Heather Gay, Whitney Rose, Gizelle Bryant, Alexia Nepola, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Porsha Williams, Leah McSweeney, and Marysol Patton. Mark Rogers/Peacock

However, once the pair arrived in Thailand, Candiace said she was pleasantly surprised by her costar.

"That was on my mind, and I learned later, that was on her mind as we were embarking on this trip. We had to work through it," Candiace said.

"Porsha has good energy. People say a lot of things about Porsha  she's this, she's that. But I'm a reader of energy, and I believe in energy. We had our moments, but she had good energy. I was nervous at first, but I think it ended up okay."

In fact, things ended up going so well that Porsha, who married businessman Simon Guobadia last year, invited Candiace and her mom Dorothy to one of the couple's many wedding ceremonies.

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"We've done a few things together since then," Candiace said of the Thailand trip. "My mother and I were guests at her American wedding, which was beautiful."

Candiace added that "we definitely have some verbal tussles" on "Ultimate Girls Trip," "but in the end, there's a mutual respect there and that trumps petty drama."

"Ultimate Girls Trip" season three also stars Candiace's "Potomac" costar Gizelle Bryant, Heather Gay and Whitney Rose from the "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton from "Miami," and Leah McSweeney from "New York City."

The first three episodes of "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" season three are streaming on Peacock now, with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursday.

Read the original article on Insider
(Bloomberg) -- A growing number of governments are banning TikTok from official phones, as concerns grow over security threats posed by the Chinese-owned social media platform.

Most Read from Bloomberg

On Thursday, TikTok Chief Executive Shou Chew faced hostile questioning during a hearing with US lawmakers  who repeatedly cut off his attempts to answer. US officials are exploring how to force TikToks Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., to sell its shares of the unit or block it altogether in the US.

Less than a day after the hearing, France banned recreational applications including TikTok from civil servants mobile phones, becoming just the latest government imposing restrictions. Here is a list of countries and institutions that have moved to block TikTok:

US

Dec. 15: The Senate unanimously voted to ban TikTok from all government-issued phones and other devices. The bill included some exceptions for law enforcement, security researchers and intelligence-gathering activities. The White House and the US Army already banned the app, and federal agencies where given 30 days from the start of March to delete it from devices.

EU Institutions

Feb. 23: Staff at the European Unions executive arm were told to delete TikTok from mobile phones and corporate devices, including personal devices that use commission apps. The European Parliament subsequently issued a similar order.

Canada

Feb. 27: Canada banned civil servants from using TikTok on government-issued devices, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying it was a first step in keeping Canadians safe.

Denmark

March 6: The Defense Ministry said it would ban employees from using TikTok on official devices following a recommendation by the countrys Center for Cyber Security.

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Belgium

March 10: Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said federal employees were banned from using the app on government phones due to worries about cybersecurity, privacy and misinformation, Reuters reported.

UK

March 16: The decision to ban TikTok from government phones was made after a review concluded that there could be a risk around how sensitive government data is accessed and used by certain platforms, Cabinet Office Secretary Oliver Dowden said. Parliament later banned TikTok on local networks and staff devices.

New Zealand

March 17: Lawmakers and other workers in the nations parliament were barred from using the app on government phones, on the recommendation of government cybersecurity experts, AP reported.

Norway

March 21: Norways Justice minister Emilie Enger Mehl advised civil servants to remove TikTok and the Telegram messaging app from their phones, citing security and disinformation risks coming from China and Russia.

The Netherlands

March 21: On the same day as Norway told civil servants to delete TikTok, the Dutch government gave a similar recommendation regarding apps from countries with an offensive cyber program against the Netherlands.

France

March 24: France banned recreational applications including TikTok from civil servants mobile phones, the public service ministry said in a statement. The digital minister said in a statement that the ban also included apps like Netflix and Candy Crush that didnt offer a sufficient level of cybersecurity.

Poland

March 24: Advisers to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are working on a recommendation to block TikTok on devices used by the government administration and parliament, Polityka Insight reported, citing the draft document.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Photo: J. Scott Applewhite (AP)

A fiery coalition of more than two dozen TikTok content creators gathered outside the steps of the nations capitol Wednesday to fiercely oppose growing lawmaker calls for a nationwide ban. Every one of those protesters had their expenses covered by TikTok.

The spokesperson for the social media firm confirmed that it paid for the creators travel expenses in a statement sent to Gizmodo. Those payments, according to a Wired report, covered the hotel, travel, meal, and shuttle rides for the creators, some of whom traveled across the country to attend the rally. Roughly 30 TikTok influencers attended the protest and each of them was reportedly allowed to bring their own plus one. Around a dozen of the influencers in attendance told Wired they werent paid to attend the event per se, but nearly all of those accounted for accepted the companys offer to pay for a hotel room. The critical rally took place on the eve of a highly anticipated House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing where lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew for nearly five hours. The overwhelming consensus of that hearing: Lawmakers, regardless of political affiliation, appear committed to banning TikTok or pressuring a forced sale of the company.

Read more

Any barriers to getting here they [TikTok]] helped cover, Tiffany Yu, an L.A.-based influencer and one of the speakers at the rally said. TikTok did not respond to Gizmodos request for comment asking for the total amount spent on the creators.

Heres a full shot of the crowd of TikTok creators. pic.twitter.com/9NBBNeL6mC  Kalhan (@KalhanR) March 22, 2023

Influencers gave a human face to TikToks 150 million US users

Creators speaking to a crowd of more than 140 people at the rally praised the app for providing them a platform to express themselves, build communities, and in some cases, expand the reach of their business. Combined, the influencers in attendance reportedly have around 60 million followers. Many held signs reading Keep TikTok.

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I want to stop the misconception that its just an app. Its so much more than that, TikTok creator Duncan Joseph said according to NBC News. If it were to be removed, these communities cant just go to another spot. This is the homeand you just cant rip that social fabric away from so many people.

The rally occurred just one day after CEO Chew posted his own TikTok where he claimed the app had more than 150 million monthly US users, a 50% increase from the 100 million users reported just two years earlier. Chew referenced that figure repeatedly during his Congressional testimony, where he tried to convince antagonist lawmakers of the apps crucial importance for a wide swath of Americans. The protestors paid to travel to D.C. gave those numbers a human face.

More than 150 million Americans, including 5 million U.S. businesses, rely on TikTok to innovate, find community, and support their livelihoods, a TikTok spokesperson told Gizmodo. A U.S. ban on TikTok could have a direct impact on the livelihoods of millions of Americans. Lawmakers in Washington debating TikTok should hear firsthand from people whose lives would be directly affected by their decisions. 

TikTok Supporters say a ban could crush free expression online

The protestors were joined by several US lawmakers, most notably Democratic New York Rep Jamaal Bowman, whos emerged as one of TikToks most vocal supporters in recent months. Speaking before an audience at the rally Wednesday, Bowman rejected his fellow lawmakers categorization of the Chinese-owned app as a national security risk and said the company poses about the same risk as Facebook and Instagram and YouTube and Twitter. In the past, Bowman has said he feared lawmakers were singling out TikTok due to xenophobic anti-China rhetoric.

Bowman, who himself has a TikTok account with around 163,000 followers, told The New York Times this week he has never taken a meeting with a TikTok employee. However, one of his aides admitted TikTok did, in fact, help orchestrate a meeting between the lawmaker and the influencer protestors. The lawmaker did not immediately respond to Gizmodos request for comment.

My question is: Why the hysteria and the panic and the targeting of TikTok? Bowman said during the rally. As we know, Republicans, in particular, have been sounding the alarm, creating a red scare around China.

TikTok may have a short supply of friendly politicians in D.C. but the same cant be said for advocacy groups. On Thursday, 16 prominent organizations including the ACLU and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, sent an open letter to members of Congress opposing a national TikTok banThe groups said such a ban would have, serious ramifications for free expression in the digital sphere, and raise First Amendment questions.

For citizens, and particularly the tens of millions of young Americans who use TikTok, to witness a popular social media platform summarily shut down by the government will raise serious questions in the minds of a rising generation about the sanctity of free speech in our system of governance, the organizations wrote.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

The House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing was an abject win for Congress, but not necessarily because they made any particularly compelling arguments. TikToks complicated Chinese ownership made its CEO an easy target. Lawmakers relentlessly attacked the TikTok CEO, with some choosing to focus on horrific, but rare cases of deaths resulting from TikTok trends and others questioning the companys Chinese ownership. On the latter issue, there was simply no answer that could properly satisfy lawmakers. House members rejected the TikTok plan, dubbed Project Texas, to route US user data through an American company, as insufficient, and questioned Chews honesty. After nearly five hours of questioning, Chew, who had impressively maintained his cool to that point, finally expressed some exasperation, telling lawmakers they were essentially asking him to do the impossible and prove a negative in regards to hypothetical Chinese government surveillance on TikTok.



Recent polling suggests that average US internet users share similar concerns about TikToks China connection, though the degree of concern depends a lot on age and whether or not they actually use the app. A recent poll conducted by SocialSphere found nearly half (49%) of millennial voters aged between 27-42 said they support a national TikTok ban. That figure dipped down to just 34% for Gen Z voters. 71% of the Gen Z voter said they had an active TikTok account, compared to just 43% of the millennials.

TikTok: outgunned and out-funded in Washington

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance arent strangers to the D.C. influence circuit. Last year, according to Open Secrets, ByteDance spent $5.3 million on lobbying, nearly 20 times the $270,000 it spent in 2019. That sounds like a lot (and it is) but it pales in comparison to the combined amount of lobbying spent by US tech firms last year, some of which would directly benefit from a TikTok ban. Last year, Bloomberg estimates Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and Apple collectively spent $70 million with Amazon alone spending nearly $20 million. Aside from their deep money bags, those US companies have also been around the block long enough to form deeply forged relationships with lawmakers in D.C. they can lean on for support. US telecoms like AT&T have been building those types of political relationships for even longer. That entrenched power is partly how they managed to all of a sudden kill historic bipartisan antitrust reform bills last year that seemed all but certain to pass months earlier.

TikTok, by contrast, isnt so fortunate. Aside from Bowman, few if any lawmakers in 2023 want to be seen as sticking their necks out for a company, justifiably or not, associated with the Chinese government. With polls showing public opinion gradually shifting against TikTok, appearing tough on it is increasingly an easy win for lawmakers. So with US tech firms and other industry heavyweights outspending them and no real big political figures willing to take on their cause, is it really so shocking TikTok would lean on its creators to spread its political messaging? An outright TikTok ban, not long ago considered a Trump-era fever dream, looks like its closer to reality than ever before. TikTok finds itself in a fight for survival, and it needs all the help it can get.

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Anyone paying attention couldnt have missed the irony of what happened at the recent Benton Franklin Health District Board meeting.

As three health-related professionals were being recommended to join the board, two county commissioners blasted masks and the COVID-19 vaccine.

If anything, the recent remarks by Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier and Benton County Commissioner Will McKay affirmed why politicians shouldnt be the only ones in charge of community health decisions.

Currently, the board is made up of six county commissioners  three each from Benton and Franklin counties. None are medical experts.

Didier insists the vaccine is harmful. He wants the health board at its April meeting to discuss sending a letter to the Washington state Department of Health opposing gift cards for those getting COVID-19 vaccinations.

McKay said the majority of the board disagreed with the state mask order and he hopes the next health officer will put up a fight against state regulations the board opposes.

Didier and McKay still dont get it.

Do they not understand why the state is now requiring non-elected members to join the health district board? Its an attempt to take politics out of public health district decisions.

During the height of the pandemic, public health officers in many counties were bullied by local elected officials upset by the state COVID-19 mandates. In our own community, Health Officer Dr. Amy Person endured months of questioning from Didier, McKay and others in the community about the effectiveness of masks and the COVID-19 vaccine.

She continually backed the science and the opinions of medical experts at the state level. That was her job.

Person had no authority to counter state COVID-19 mandates. No local health officer did.

And if any tried, there could have been serious consequences. They could have been removed from their posts or stripped of their medical licenses.

So McKays wish that the next health officer will put up a fight against the state is naive.

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Dr. Person has since resigned from her bi-county position to become a regional medical officer for the state Department of Health. Dr. Aren Giske has been made an offer to replace her, but details are still being worked out with the local health district.

As for expanding the bi-county health district board, the candidates have solid medical or healthcare-related expertise, which is encouraging.

They include Kathleen Nusbaum, a Kennewick pharmacist and pharmacy manager, Dr. Wassim Khawandi, who oversees kidney dialysis facilities in the Tri-City area and Marcella Appel, the water resource project manager for the Benton Conservation District.

All three must have their appointments confirmed by both sets of county commissioners before they officially join the board. According to the health district website, the non-elected members will have voting power on all matters except those pertaining to setting or modifying permit, licensing and application fees.

There is still one open spot on the board, which is required to be picked by the American Indian Health Commission. The sooner that spot is filled, the better.

While COVID-19 is still a concern, for the most part, life feels much like it did before the pandemic. In fact, masking requirements in healthcare, long-term care and correctional facilities are set to end April 3.

The pandemic was a historic, tumultuous time and we all hope we never have to go through that broad of a health scare ever again.

But if we do, it will be important that leaders of the Benton Franklin Health District Board follow medical guidance rather than political emotion. Expanding the board with non-elected members is a much needed step to assure that.
Despite calls from Donald Trump to "PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST," far-right extremist supporters of the former president largely stayed home this week. Meanwhile, the former president is holding his next campaign rally in a city that also holds a powerful symbolism for the far-right. In Washington, D.C., five more Oath Keepers are convicted of Jan. 6 conspiracy charges. And a new coalition of organizations vows an "offense against extremism."

It's the week in extremism.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Monday, March 13, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa.

PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST (or not)

On Saturday, Trump claimed on his Truth Social account that he was going to be arrested, and called on his supporters to protest in opposition to a prosecution he has consistently called a "witch hunt." But by Thursday afternoon, there had been no arrest, and only a trickle of protestors.

Protestors worry 'It's a trap!': Despite Trump's calls for protests, few efforts emerge, as supporters worry: 'It's a trap'

Many pro-Trump activists might be staying off the streets because they believe these public protests are a "trap" laid by law enforcement, as I examined in this story Monday.

Pro-Trump protests in California (outside an In-n-Out burger restaurant, no less) and in Manhattan fizzled quickly. As I outlined in this episode of USA TODAY's "Five Things" podcast, Trump supporters lacked a central focus or location to rally behind.

No arrest: By Thursday afternoon, there were still no signs of a Trump arrest. Extremism experts continue to worry that an indictment or arrest of the former president could spur individual domestic terrorists or terrorist cells to commit crimes.

Fire engulfs the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, April 19, 1993.

Trump event in Waco a 'train whistle' to extremists?

Barring his imminent arrest, Trump is due to appear at a campaign rally in Waco, Texas, on Saturday. The choice of the Central Texas city is likely a dog whistle to far-right extremists and conspiracy theorists who support the former president, and who Trump has increasingly courted in the last two years, several extremism experts told me for this story.

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Trump's rally in Waco sends a signal: Trump holding his next rally in Waco, Texas, sends a message to the far right, experts say

Waco was the site of a botched 1993 raid and standoff at the Branch Davidian compound. Ultimately, 76 people died. The tragedy has become synonymous with conspiracy theories about a sinister federal government "Deep State."

Ever since he lost the 2020 election, Trump has been increasingly courting far-right extremists and conspiracy theorists. He has cast the current investigation into his hush-money payments as a witch hunt.

Analysis: "There's no reason to go to Waco, Texas, other than one thing," Megan Squire, deputy director for data analytics at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told USA TODAY. "I can't even fathom what that's about other than just a complete dog whistle  actually forget dog whistle, that is just a train whistle to the folks who still remember that event and are still mad about it."

Alternate view: Mark Pitcavage of the Anti-Defamation League wasn't so sure about Trump's choice. He said we will have to wait and see what the former president says at the rally before concluding that he is reaching out to anti-government groups by choosing Waco.

The FBI alleges this group of Oath Keepers were arrested on charges relating to the Capitol rioter.

More Oath Keepers guilty

Five more people tied to the extremist group the Oath Keepers were convicted this week of conspiring to obstruct the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election win on Jan. 6  the most serious charges against them, my colleagues Ella Lee and Sarah Elbeshbishi reported.

More Oath keeper guilty verdicts: Fifth Oath Keepers affiliate convicted of conspiring to stop 2020 vote certification

Go deeper: After Jan. 6 riot, hundreds of identifiable people remain free. FBI arrests could take years

The guilty verdicts follow the seditious conspiracy convictions of six other Oath Keepers, including founder Stewart Rhodes and a top deputy, Kelly Meggs in January.

Important case: As Lee and Elbeshbishi report: "The convictions are an important victory for the Justice Department, which has steadily worked towards imposing consequences on people who they say plotted violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021."

Still free: As I investigated earlier this month, hundreds more Jan. 6 rioters have been identified to the FBI, including more than 100 who are on the bureau's wanted list, but are yet to be arrested.

A protester displays wings while marching on on June 14, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

New coalition forms to 'combat extremists'

Seven human rights organizations are teaming up to form a new coalition that aims to battle extremism at every turn. The Greater Than Hate Coalition will be "a collective, multi-racial, multi-cultural movement with the aim of fighting back against extremist politicians and their growing and loud campaign of hate," a press release for the group states.

The seven groups involved are: the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Everytown for Gun Safety, the National Education Association (NEA), the National Womens Law Center, Equality Federation, Asians Fighting Injustice, and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE).

The coalition intends to combat legislation targeting the LGBTQ community and abortion rights, as well as calling out and fighting against "extremist politicians and organizations trafficking in hate."

Weve watched as, both on the national stage and in many states, people have seen long-settled rights stripped away and looked on as their transgender and LGBTQ+ friends and family and colleagues have been targeted for who they are, Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign was quoted as saying. Were at a crossroads. Do we protect the most endangered and marginalized groups among us, or do we ignore them?

Elon Musk has suspended Ye's twitter account after he tweeted more antisemitic messaging.

Statistic of the week: 36% increase

Anti-Semitic incidents including harassment, vandalism and assaults increased 36% from 2021 to 2022 nationwide, according to the annual audit from the Anti-Defamation League.

The ADL logged a total of 3,697 anti-semitic incidents last year, the highest number ever since they started tracking these incidents in 1979.

The number of anti-Semitic assaults last year was also up 26%.

Last week in extremism: Neo-Nazis protest drag show; Tucker Carlson show precedes spike in online threats

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Trump call for protests fell flat; what to watch for in Waco rally
Education workers in Los Angeles went on strike this week in a district that saw its second work stoppage in four years.

How does this happen in one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, and in California, a state that's poised to have the world's fourth-largest economy?

Experts point to a range of challenges, including a longstanding inadequate distribution of funds that hasn't reached LA workers in several years, fears that the district could go bankrupt, and an overall lack of support for public education.

This week, a union representing essential workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) went on a three-day walkout that did not immediately lead to a new deal, even after a year of negotiating.

Among its demands, the union wants better pay and benefits and more full-time staffers. Meanwhile, the district said it is offering a generous and "historic proposal." But both sides appear so far apart that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her staff have stepped in to negotiate.

Here's what we know as students head back to class Friday:

Who is behind the LAUSD strike?

The short work stoppage was spearheaded by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99, which represents about 30,000 school employees, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria employees, campus security, teaching assistants and special education aides.

The union said the average salary of its members in the district is about $25,000 a year. That's considered "extremely low income" in Los Angeles County for a single-person household, according to federal guidelines.

Teaching and educator salaries are about 20% to 23% less than other college grads nationally and part of a growing trend for over the past 20 to 30 years, said Emma Garcia, a senior researcher for the Learning Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

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"It is nothing new," Garcia said. "It's a problem that has been widening over time, and now, with inflation, it will definitely exacerbate the problem."

TALKS STALLED: Los Angeles schools closed as strike begins; negotiations at a standstill

TREAT US AS PROFESSIONALS: Why I'm on strike with other Los Angeles school workers

How does funding for education work?

Striking Los Angeles Unified School District employees picket in front of Monroe High School. More than 60,000 bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria employees, campus security, teaching assistants and educators from the Los Angeles Unified School District are striking from March 21 to 23. They demand a 30% raise and a $2 per hour equity wage increase.

About 92% of funding for public education in the United States comes from state and local taxes, and the remaining 8% comes from the federal government, primarily covering programs for low-income students and students with disabilities, said Danielle Farrie, a research director at the Education Law Center based in Newark, New Jersey.

California's public education funding for the 2022-23 school year is roughly $128.6 billion, with a per-pupil spending rate of $22,893, according to the state's education department.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has a $14.8 billion operating budget this year and a reported $5 billion surplus.

Farrie, co-author of Making the Grade, a recent report that examines school funding in each state, said California's funding has slightly improved, going from 43 to 33 out of 50 states graded between 2008 and 2020.

In her report, Farrie gives California a D grade for its level of spending and an F for its funding effort. For example, while California has improved in distributing more money to higher-poverty school districts, the state still needs "significant work" with its overall funding.

"Its unfortunate. We have expected schools to do so much with so little that it's become the norm," Farrie said. "And with all of the pressures put on teachers and support staff, the monies have not gotten to those essential workers."

Although California has moved up in per-pupil spending, it's still below the national average, said John Affeldt, a managing attorney at Public Advocates, a San Francisco nonprofit that focuses on education, housing and transit equity.

He said there's a mismatch between the need, the wealth and the effort.

"Given that we have among the highest number of low-income students, English language learners in the nation, and are among the lowest math and reading scores nationally, we ought to be a top-five state in education spending," Affeldt said. "And we can get there, given how wealthy our state is."

READY TO MOBILIZE: Los Angeles education workers poised to announce strike that 'likely' would close hundreds of schools

'5-ALARM CRISIS': Teachers are doing their best. But America's schools are hurting.

What does SEIU Local 99 want?

Among its demands, the union is urging the district to tap into its $5 billion in reserves to give its members a 30% raise and a $2-an-hour equity wage increase. In addition, the union wants more staffing by increasing the number of full-time hours available.

It also wants paid days for training and professional development and the ability to cash out their vacation pay. The union also seeks health care benefits for community representatives, teaching assistants and others who work less than four hours a day.

"Their demands do not seem outrageous. These are the essential workers who keep the district running," said Pedro Noguera, dean at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "This is a high-stakes gamble on their part. Their sense of desperation is not made up."

Sensing frustration from the union, Noguera tweeted Wednesday that Bass, the mayor, needed to step in.

I support the workers in LAUSD but the strike will hurt kids, the district and the workers too. We need leadership and mediation to get through this. Time to enlist mayor Bass to help.  Pedro Noguera (@PedroANoguera) March 22, 2023

Bass said she's now facilitating the negotiations. Blanca Gallegos, a spokeswoman for Local 99, told USA TODAY on Wednesday that she hopes Bass can help the union "find a path past our impasse" with the district.

"Education workers have always been eager to negotiate as long as we are treated with respect and bargained with fairly," Gallegos said. "And with the mayor's leadership, we believe that is possible."

Nicole Gon Ochi, a deputy managing attorney at Public Advocates who lives in Los Angeles and has two children in the district, hopes Bass can help.

"I think the workers' wages are inhumane," Gon Ochi said. "I think the LAUSD has the money, they just are afraid to spend it. They need to be a little more generous with their reserves and might as well put it to good use."

What does the LAUSD want?

The district claims it is offering a 23% recurring raise and a 3% cash bonus on the table "in recognition of the contributions of our support personnel."

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said this week that the strike was not called "on the basis of economic conditions or compensation demands" but rather due to "allegations of unfair treatment."

Nogeura, of the University of Southern California, said he also understands the district's stance.

"Where is the district going to get the money from? They say they don't have unlimited resources," Nogeura said. "If the district goes bankrupt, then what happens? Will the workers get laid off?

But Affeldt, of Public Advocates, said first the district would have to demonstrate to the county and state that it can balance its budget.

"I can imagine that's their argument  to not go in the red in the next four to five years," Affeldt said. "The district is notoriously opaque in demonstrating how much money it actually has. It's always been very difficult to understand the financial situation of LAUSD."

LAUSD School Board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said Thursday that she's optimistic a deal will be reached.

"No one wants another strike, especially after these last few days," she told KABC-TV. "The talks are going so well, and I anticipate they will continue to go well. We're going to do everything we can to make sure school is open for the rest of the year."

Families hit hard by school closures

Franklin added Thursday that some students got "a first-hand civics lesson" during three days out of school by picketing alongside their instructors. She said the students will also feel some loss of their parents' income as part of the strike.

"I'm sorry we didn't land an agreement beforehand that would've prevented this, but I'm confident that we are getting closer, and we should get some good news soon," she said.

Farrie, the Education Law Center research director, said California, and Los Angeles for that matter, has the resources to make changes for its school workers.

"The staff deserves to be paid competitive wages; its just a matter of political will," Farrie said. "The state has the potential to raise revenues for their schools."

Gon Ochi, of Public Advocates, said she can envision another strike in Los Angeles.

"I think they are so fed up with the treatment they will do whatever it takes to get what they need."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Many wealthy people live in California. LA schools still need funding
Facing increasing pressure from neighbors over church services and property expansion at Global Vision Bible Church, a local battle with Pastor Greg Lockes church escalated with a new lawsuit from Wilson County.

The county based its case on construction and stormwater zoning violations, narrowly tailoring it to avoid a fight over protections for religious practice.

Yet, the suit is significant because it marks an important moment in a lengthy conflict between Locke and his neighbors and because a government entity is going after Locke, who gained a reputation nationally for protesting government intervention.

Ill be addressing it on Sunday at church, Locke said in a statement. Its a ridiculous situation but rest assured were not in violation and we will not stop having services.

Pastor Greg Locke does his sermon at the Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Wilson County filed its complaint Thursday, detailing a four-year history of county inspectors issuing stop work orders and the church allegedly outright refusing to comply. County inspectors issued the stop work orders for unpermitted building construction and property redevelopment, according to the lawsuit.

Wilson County Attorney Mike Jennings addressed the lawsuit at a planning commission meeting Friday and explained the county specifically did not seek an injunction against Global Vision.

Other recent news:Controversial ReAwaken America Tour brings anxiety about politics and traffic

Theres a danger involved if you try to shut down even temporarily religious activities, Jennings said in the meeting. Theres quite a bit of protection under state and federal law.

The federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and the Tennessee Religious Restoration Act give Tennessee houses of worship broad latitude in zoning restrictions.

Locke, who has gained a reputation nationally for his political rhetoric and more recently a mass deliverance ministry, has drawn the ire of his neighbors for noise and traffic issues related to worship services and construction.

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Global Vision, previously housed in a small building on the property, expanded its acreage and erected a tent for church services in May 2020, according to Locke. The church currently has 18 acres, Locke said.

As Lockes profile grew nationally, mostly for his involvement with politically far-right groups and events, so did the visitors to Global Vision on Sundays, many traveling from other states. Last year, Locke started a mass deliverance ministry, a religious practice that believes demonic forces oppress people and need to be exorcised, leading to additional services on Sunday nights and even a conference on New Years Day in January.

Eric Trump speaks during the ReAwaken America Tour at Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

The mass deliverance conference in January and another major event later that month, called the ReAwaken America Tour, drew thousands of visitors who created traffic disruptions locally.

Locke acknowledged some of his neighbors grievances in an interview with The Tennessean in January but said he feels its impossible to address all the concerns.

More:The evolution of Greg Locke: How a controversial Tennessee pastor wants to save America from its demons

They dont care what we do, they hate us. Were the most polarizing church in town, Locke said in a January interview.

The church recently erected a new tent meant to reduce the sound level emanating from church services, though the county said in its lawsuit its still receiving complaints about Global Vision.

The crowd reacts to presenters during the ReAwaken America Tour at Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Meanwhile, residents are calling for Wilson County elected officials to push through a noise ordinance due to complaints about Global Vision. An online petition has received more than 1,800 signatures, and the planning commission discussed the prospect at its meeting Friday.

Several planning commission members seemed less inclined to advance the proposed noise ordinance partly due to questions about the ordinances applicability county-wide, even though Global Vision presents the most pressing concern.

Andy Humbles contributed to this report.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Greg Locke Global Vision Bible Church Wilson County lawsuit
A Texas woman, booted off a Frontier Airlines flight in Miami, is accused of kicking, scratching  and even trying to bite  multiple officers.

Simone Bryna Kim was arrested Tuesday at Miami International Airport. The 24-year-old was charged with two counts of battery on a police officer, three counts of misdemeanor assault on a police officer and a count of resisting an officer with violence and trespassing.

Kim was on a plane bound for Philadelphia when she was asked to get off for causing a disturbance, according to an arrest report. The flight crew called police, who again, asked her to leave. She resisted but was dragged off the plane by officers.

Video shared on social media shows Kim shouting expletives in the plane during an argument with other passengers. The minute-long clip also captured a crowd of officers carrying Kim by her hands and feet as they removed her from the plane.

Philadelphia-bound Texas woman arrested on one of Americas worst airlines @FlyFrontier at one of Americas worst airports: Miami International Airport #BecauseMiami pic.twitter.com/FMdosV9EKK  Because Miami (@BecauseMiami) March 23, 2023

When police tried to handcuff her, Kim tensed up and began to push and pull officers. Thats when, police say, she dug her fingernails into one of their elbows.

The tussle continued as Kim was escorted to a police cruiser, according to the arrest report. She kicked one of the officers in the chest, causing him to fall down the jetbridges stairs.

She then lunged at three officers, trying to bite them, according to police.

Kim was released Wednesday from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on bond.
Pasir RisPunggol GRC MP Yeo Wan Ling speaking to a SPF officer (left) and fire engine and ambulance by Cove LRT station (Photos: Yeo Wan Ling/Facebook)

SINGAPORE - A 33-year-old woman was found dead on Thursday (23 March) night at Cove station along the Punggol East LRT loop.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at about 10pm.

Upon arrival, the woman was found on the LRT track near the station platform and pronounced dead at scene, the SCDF said.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was alerted to the incident at the same time, and found the woman lying motionless on the LRT track.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police said no foul play is suspected. Further investigations are ongoing.

In a Facebook post on Thursday night at 11.07pm, Member of Parliament (MP) Yeo Wan Ling, from Pasir RisPunggol GRC, posted photos showing a fire engine and an ambulance at the scene.

She suggested commuters to make alternative travel arrangements and assured the public that her team were rendering necessary assistance on the ground.

In response to the incident, operator SBS Transit announced on Twitter at 10.31pm on Thursday that the Punggol East and West LRT loop had to be shut down.

Free regular and bridging bus services were deployed to ferry affected commuters.

The free bus services ceased at 1.12am on Friday (24 March) and train services resumed the same morning morning.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

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CANTON  A city woman is accused of posing as a social worker to kidnap a 3-week-old baby from the child's mother, authorities said.

The woman and a Conesville man accused of being an accomplice were charged Friday and the child has been recovered unharmed, city police said.

Police said they responded at 10:28 a.m. Friday to the 600 block of Alan Page Drive SE where a mother told them a woman wearing a name tag and claiming to work for Child Protective Services took her girl on Thursday.

More:Bonnie Metz, last defendant in Canton kidnapping plot, avoids prison term

Stark County's Child Protective Services reported that the individual didn't work for its office.

How did they track down the kidnapped baby?

The Repository obtained the related 911 calls, which are a public record.

Canton police received a 911 call about 4 a.m. Friday from the child's parents, who said their baby had been taken by a woman claiming to be with Child Protective Services but they received no paperwork or information. The father said the woman forced her way inside about 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

"She literally just came in the house, snatched our daughter up," he told the dispatcher.

Canton Police Lt. Dennis Garren said the initial call was referred to Child Protective Services. A dispatcher told the parents a caseworker would call them.

The mother called 911 a few hours later and said CPS told her there were no records about her daughter.

"My daughter was stolen," she said.

The mother said the woman who came to the house knew information about the baby's health and, in the same 911 call, the father said she had "crude" paperwork.

She tried to take all four of our kids, but our oldest two were in school and I would not allow her to take my other son," he said. "The only reason that she even got out of my house with my daughter was because she refused to put her down.

Detectives obtained the suspect's license plate number using a plate reader camera and found that the suspect's vehicle was registered in Conesville in Coshocton County, police said. The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office was notified and spotted and stopped the vehicle, recovering the baby.

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An Amber Alert was about to be issued when they located the baby, Garren said.

The baby appeared unharmed but was taken to the hospital to be checked out, he added.

A neighbor involved in some of the 911 calls said the family did not want to comment when contacted Saturday.

Who are the suspects in the Canton baby kidnapping?

Sapphire McDougleh, 33, of Coshocton, is charged with felony kidnapping. Brandon Savage, 20, of Coshocton, is charged with felony complicity to commit kidnapping. McDougleh originally told police that she lived in a Canton apartment. Multiple errors were corrected at 1 p.m. March 24. See the bottom of the story for more information.

Attempts to reach anyone Friday at McDougleh's apartment building were unsuccessful.

Both suspects are being held on $750,000 cash bond, police said.

Police provided no motive in a news release announcing the charges, but said the investigation is continuing. Any relationship between the suspects and the mother and child also was unclear.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact Canton detectives at 330-489-3144 or the Canton office of the FBI at 330-456-6200. Anonymous tips can also be sent through Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers. Sign up for Tip411 at www.cantonohio.gov/police

Correction: Canton police initially provided incorrect information regarding McDougleh's age, Savage's age and the town where Savage lived. McDougleh's last name also was misspelled in the initial publication of the story.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton police: Woman accused of posing as CPS worker to kidnap baby
Photo illustration: Kelli R. Grant/Yahoo News; photo: Shutterstock

Earlier in March, the month that honors women's history, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and other congressional leaders reintroduced a House resolution acknowledging the violence that women in politics face, and demanded a more inclusive political landscape for women.

Tlaib first spoke out about this issue on the House floor in March 2020, after a 2019 study found that female mayors are more likely than male mayors to experience violence and abuse. In addition, a 2018 report from the United Nations on violence against women in politics found that minority women are disproportionately impacted by violence.

Violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon, because we know that the goal of this violence is an attempt to keep us from participating in our political process and government, Tlaib told Yahoo News in a statement. My colleagues and I in Congress have experienced threats, violence and discrimination for simply existing here  this is unacceptable.

Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, IIhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Lois Frankel of Florida, who serves as the chair of the Democratic Womens Caucus, joined Tlaib in calling for government action to ease violence against women in politics.

Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outside the Supreme Court in July 2022 protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. (Shutterstock)

Since coming to Congress, I have received countless death threats, endured endless microaggressions and frequent veiled attacks  even by my own colleagues, Bush, the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress, said in a press release. All of those have only strengthened my resolve. I am more committed than ever to ensure that women, Black women in particular, are not only empowered to join civic life, but are also protected when they do make the courageous decision to actively participate in political life.

Tlaib says the violence that women in politics face is part of an effort to silence their political participation and, in turn, cripples democracy. While women make up 51% of the U.S. population, they hold less than a third of all elected positions.

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To put things into perspective, there are over 500,000 elected offices in this country, and while women are the majority in the country, we still hover around 30% or less than the elected leaders up and down the ticket, Erin Loos Cutraro, CEO and founder of She Should Run, a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to increase the number of women in elected positions, told Yahoo News. For women of color it is even more stark.

When Kamala Harris was elected to the office of vice president in 2020, she broke barriers by becoming not only the first woman to hold the job but also the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent in the role. Still, experts say there is a long way to go to reach an inclusive government.

Vice President Kamala Harris addresses a reception celebrating Women's History Month at the White House on Wednesday. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

For generations, women have continued to make incredible progress in the classroom, in the workplace, in the halls of government. And we are all here evidence of that progress, Harris said during the White House Womens History Month reception on Wednesday. And we know our fight is far from over.

Currently, there are no Black women in the U.S. Senate, and there has never been a Black woman to serve as governor in the United States, according to data from the Center for American Women and Politics.

If I don't see people like me in office, how do I expect them to bring my issues and my perspective and my experiences to these debates? Kelly Dittmar, the director of research at the center and a scholar there, told Yahoo News.

Cutraro says the work to increase the political participation of women wont happen overnight. Instead, it's a long game.

A study released Tuesday by She Should Run found that women are motivated by the economy, by climate change, by reproductive health, racism and gun violence. It doesn't mean that these are the only issues, that means that these are the top issues, Loos Cutraro said.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaking at a rally in Detroit in 2022. (Brandon Nagy/Shutterstock)

Projected U.S. census data to the year 2060 "makes very clear that women will continue to be the majority of the population, and that women of color will be the majority of all women in the U.S. by 2060," Loos Cutraro added.

But experts say the projected census data does not equate to the representation of women in politics, and that therefore the U.S. political landscape needs to catch up.

We need more women in all levels of government. Their lived experiences have been missing in these institutions for far too long, Tlaib said.

But some say that even once women enter political roles, they dont tend to hold power, because women are missing from the process. Women members may not always be given the same respect and deference from their colleagues. There are certainly many ways in which their power may be undermined, Christina Wolbrecht, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, told Yahoo News.

But Amani Wells-Onyioha, the operations director at Sole Strategies, a campaign labor organization for Democratic campaigns, told Yahoo News that it should not be a deterrent for Black women entering this space, because it's much needed. Absolutely much needed.

While there are signs of progress, as more women hold elected offices than ever before, the Brookings Institution found that, compared with 20 years ago, women in 2022 had similarities in their lack of interest in running for political office.

The reality is that without full representation, we don't see the full opportunity of women's leadership, and we're missing out, Loos Cutraro said.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) is facing the biggest political test of his career: the possible indictment of former President Trump.

Its a consequential moment that could end with Bragg becoming the first in history to prosecute an indicted former president.

As the possibility rises, Bragg is facing questions about the strength of his case, about his motives for going forward and even over whether hell pull back from the brink.

Alvin Bragg is caught between a rock and a hard spot, said Susan Del Percio, a longtime New York-based Republican strategist who has opposed Trump. He had to bring the charges forward because of public pressure, but he isnt sure if theyll stick.

Bragg is probing Trumps involvement in a hush payment that his fixer, Michael Cohen, made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump predicted an arrest on Tuesday, but that did not come to fruition. It now appears that an indictment from the grand jury could come as soon as next week.

Since Trumps surprise posts on Truth Social that he expected to be arrested, Braggs profile has gone national.

Republicans in Congress have promised an investigation, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) saying an indictment would blow up the country. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) went further, saying that Bragg should be put in jail.

A trio of Republican House chairmen, led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), earlier this week demanded the district attorney turn over all documents and communications about the case.

He should be disbarred, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said of Bragg. If hes going to be using his position to target the Republican Partys top primary presidential candidate just for politics, thats not what a DA should be doing. He should be prosecuting crime. Thats what people pay taxes for there.

Braggs office hit back on Republicans request in a letter on Thursday, saying the request would interfere with ongoing law enforcement duties and violate state sovereignty.

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The move is an unprecedent[ed] inquiry into a pending local prosecution, his office wrote. The letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene. Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry.

Bragg, 49, was at least already used to criticism and conflict from the race to succeed Cyrus Vance Jr. (D) and his short tenure after taking the job on Jan. 1, 2022.

After a grueling, eight-way primary for the job, the district attorney  during his first days in office  took partisan fire from Republicans.

A progressive who ran on balancing public safety with justice, Bragg issued a Day One memo instructing his office to reserve jail time for only the most serious crimes and to not prosecute certain low-level offenses.

The list included misdemeanors related to resisting arrest for noncriminal offenses, marijuana possession and trespassing.

It led to searing criticism from New York Citys police commissioner  appointed by a Democratic mayor  and Republicans, who accused Bragg of being soft on crime.

Bragg ultimately revised the policies the next month, but the attacks from the right havent stopped.

Basil Smikle, a consultant who served as the executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, said Bragg has been a longtime target of those on the right since he was sworn into the job.

In the New York gubernatorial race against now-Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) last year, Republican Lee Zeldin repeatedly campaigned on removing Bragg if he was elected.

Hes handled the pressure and fended off criticism well but will be heavily scrutinized no matter the outcome, said Smikle.

Bragg has also taken criticism from Democrats and members of his own prosecutorial team after he last year opted against moving forward in a different investigative prong involving Trump.

A grand jury empaneled before Bragg took office was hearing evidence about whether Trumps businesses improperly manipulated property values for tax and loan benefits. Braggs decision to not seek an indictment from that jury compelled two top prosecutors in the probe  Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne  to resign.

The team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes  he did, Pomerantz wrote in his resignation letter, which The New York Times first published last March.

Liberals were enraged at the revelation, and Bragg started taking criticism from many in his own party as the investigation stalled.

Now, Bragg appears to be moving toward an indictment of Trump after all. He convened a new grand jury earlier this year to hear evidence in the hush money probe, and a series of recent steps suggest an indictment could come as soon as next week.

In some ways, I think he felt some pressure to bring something forward because of all of this to help wipe his slate clean, one strategist said. This would be his chance to redefine himself and have a bit of redemption.

It was such an utter mess, the strategist said.

Some of Braggs earlier detractors are now cheering him on. But it is Republicans who have now again gone on the attack, accusing Bragg of weaponizing the legal system.

Trump called Bragg a danger to our country and called for his removal on Thursday.

He sort of cant win. In many ways, I feel a lot of empathy for him, said Catherine Christian, a former financial fraud prosecutor in Braggs office who was not involved in the Trump investigation.

Despite the rising tensions, the probe has yet to turn up an indictment. For reasons unclear, the grand jury did not meet about the case on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Some have speculated that Bragg could change course again.

I think that the heat is on this DA, I think hes going to make a very sober decision and I would not be surprised if he doesnt step back from the brink, CNN political commentator Van Jones said on CNN Monday night.

But Christian said the lack of grand jury meetings late this week is no sign Bragg is backing away.

Ill be blunt: if he does that, he might as well just hang it up. All of this, and then say nevermind? Are you kidding me? said Christian.

Mychael Schnell contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WORCESTER  A 32-year-old city man who allegedly assaulted and battered his live-in girlfriend violently and repeatedly over a prolonged period of time was indicted on murder charges stemming from the womans death.

In addition to murder, Kyle J. Curley is charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and intimidation of a witness. He was indicted Friday by a Worcester County grand jury and will be arraigned in Superior Court at a later date.

Curley, who was arraigned Dec. 9 in Central District Court, was ordered held without bail and remains in custody.

The victim, Erica M. Lara, 29, was the mother of two girls, Hailey and Emily, who were 9 and 6, respectively, at the time of her death, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her sister.

According to Lara's obituary, she was a loving, caring woman who would give the world to anyone who needed it, even when she didnt have anything herself to give.

She will always be remembered by her family and friends for her love of giraffes, funny memes, tacos and The Wizard of Oz, the obituary states.

Woman's body found June 2021

On June 29, 2021, police responded to a Kelley Square apartment for a report of a death. It was at this time Laras body was discovered.

According to the statement of facts filed by Worcester Police Officer Scott D. Calhoun, Lara appeared to have hemorrhaging on the left side of her brain, which subsequently led to her death.

Worcester police detectives and the Worcester District Attorneys office, prosecutors said, determined Curley was dating Lara and they shared the apartment together.

Based on the investigation, detectives learned Curley became angry with Lara because of her alleged infidelity he believed he had discovered and assaulted her, according to the statement of facts.

Due to the severity of the injuries inflicted, Curley became afraid Lara would go to the police, according to the statement of facts.

Because of this growing fear, Curley allegedly continued and escalated his assault and battery of Lara with such violence and over a prolonged period, that there was a high likelihood of serious harm or death, the statement of facts indicates.

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Curley did not attempt to provide Lara with help and fled to California instead, according to the statement of facts.

Worcester police, the Worcester District Attorneys office, the San Diego Police Department and the state medical examiner worked in concert to gather evidence in the investigation that led to charges Curley is facing.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester man Kyle J. Curley indicted on murder charge in death of live-in girlfriend
WORCESTER  A staff member at Burncoat High School was placed on administrative leave following their arrest, said Principal Joseph Ewick in a letter sent to parents Monday.

The letter, which did not identify the name or title of the member arrested, said the incident that led to the arrest was not connected to anyone in the school.

The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority, Ewick said. We do not believe the staff member posed a threat to students and we are not publicly releasing the persons identity at this time.

Burncoat High School

Worcester police officers spoke with the staff member on school grounds, where they were also arrested, but not placed in handcuffs, the letter said.

Ewick said that, as a matter of protocol, the staff member was put on leave by the district pending the outcome of the investigation.

Dan OBrien, a spokesperson with Worcester Public Schools said the district cannot comment beyond what was shared in the letter.

Court documents reveal that an arrest warrant was issued for Kevin Wall, 33, Sunday, and that he was arraigned Monday in Worcester Central District Court on the charge of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over.

Both the school's website and Wall's LinkedIn page list him as a guidance counselor.

The court documents state that a woman last week reported to police that on March 9, she went on a date with Wall, who asked her to go home with him afterward.

The woman said she did not have to have sex with Wall, and he said she did not have to sex with him. Despite this, she said, as well as numerous attempts to tell Wall no and to stop, he still engaged in sexual activity with her.

Following his arraignment, Wall was released on his own personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the victim or any witnesses. The woman also filed a restraining order against Wall.

Charlton teacher on paid leave after rape charge

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Burncoat High School guidance counselor charged with indecent assault
Sothebys unveils the Codex Sassoon for auction, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in the Manhattan borough of New York. The auction house is billing the lot as the earliest, most complete Hebrew Bible ever discovered. | John Minchillo, Associated Press

David Solomon Sassoon was the owner of one of the most impressive private collections of Hebrew manuscripts. Among his manuscripts was an early and complete Hebrew Bible, which was called the Codex Sassoon after him.

Now this manuscript, which is called the earliest, most complete Hebrew Bible, is up for auction at Sothebys. This document is expected to be sold for the highest amount of money that any document has ever been sold for when its auctioned off on May 16  up to $50 million.

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Sassoon knew the Hebrew Bible practically by heart, per Sothebys. He was both a religious man and a successful scholar who was learned in ancient languages and contributed much to Jewish studies. The crowning jewel of his collection  Codex Sassoon  has brought him into public consciousness.

This manuscript is immensely valuable to Biblical scholars and the general public because of the capacity it has to illuminate history. As a text, the Hebrew Bible is utilized by the Abrahamic faiths and has been significantly influential. With a manuscript like the Codex Sassoon, light could be shed on additional mysteries. Textual changes and variations can be understood in a different way and a manuscripts provenance  the record of transmission  tells us something about how texts were used.

In the world of Hebrew Bible manuscripts, there are three that are worth mentioning for context here: the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Aleppo Codex and the Leningrad Codex.

What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, it was something of a watershed moment for Biblical studies. They were found at the Qumran caves, which are in the desert of the West Bank, near the shores of the Dead Sea. The site itself is an enigma. Theories have circulated about the site ranging from a mysterious desert religious community (an offshoot from the Essenes) keeping these texts nearby to Jewish people fearing the destruction of their holy texts and hiding them in the desert. Scholars traditionally favored the former view, but it remains disputed while some modern scholars favor the latter view or a different theory.

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Around 230 Biblical scrolls were found, according to the Leon Levy Dead Seas Scrolls Digital Library. They were found starting in 1947 and are dated to third century B.C. up through first century A.D., before the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.. The scrolls are written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, and are partial or extant (extant is the term text scholars use that means complete) copies of books in the Bible.

These manuscripts are hugely important, not only because of the text itself, but also because of the way they can be used to better understand Biblical history and the language of Hebrew itself. Studies on Isaiah changed significantly due to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

What is the Aleppo Codex?

The Aleppo Codex was written by scribes in Tiberias, Israel likely around 930 A.D. and is considered an important, early copy of the Hebrew Bible.

Named after where it remained for half a century (Aleppo, Syria), the Biblical Archaeology Society said that even though the Dead Sea Scrolls are older than this codex, this codex contains vowels and notes in the margins about the text. Having vowels in the text helps resolve some ambiguities about vocabulary and meaning while the marginal notations offer insight. Its important to note that Biblical Hebrew does not use vowels traditionally.

This manuscript was scribed by Masoretes and punctuated by Aaron ben Asher. Masoretes is a general term that refers to Jewish scribes who were involved in whats now known as the Masoretic Text, which is considered the authoritative text of the Hebrew Bible. They were in a school of thought that believed its imperative to try and reconstruct an authoritative version of the Hebrew Bible. The Masoretic text aligns quite well with the Dead Seas Scrolls, although there are some variants.

Scribes used manuscripts available to them and oral tradition to create this text. Oral tradition was critically important in ancient cultures, as production of texts was expensive and literacy rates were lower. The Hebrew Bible was transmitted orally as well.

In comparison to the Aleppo Codex, the Codex Sassoon was dated slightly later, originally to the 10th century, according to The New York Times. Carbon dating was done recently that confirmed the possibility of the Codex Sassoon actually being earlier than the Aleppo Codex and possibly the earliest extant manuscript. Its also possible that the Codex Sassoon was written at around the same time as the Aleppo Codex.

What is the Leningrad Codex?

The Leningrad Codex was written around 1010 A.D. (its sometimes dated a couple years earlier), according to the West Semitic Research Project. This manuscript is also one of the texts that is considered part of the Masoretic texts.

One of the most authoritative Hebrew Bible editions Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia uses the Leningrad Codex as the basis. Previously, the Leningrad Codex was the oldest, extant manuscript of the Hebrew Bible. CBS News said that the Codex Sassoon is now considered older than the Leningrad Codex.

As mentioned earlier, carbon dating led to this determination of the text being slightly older than the Leningrad Codex (older by a century). While carbon dating is generally reliable, its accuracy typically is understood to be in terms of decades. It doesnt provide an exact date, instead providing a date range, which is how the Codex Sassoon was determined to be slightly older than the Leningrad Codex.

Why should we care about the Codex Sassoon?

As the oldest extant (minus a couple leaves) manuscript of the Hebrew Bible, the Codex Sassoon holds an important place in our history and culture.

Its important to remember that for hundreds of years, people couldnt read the text themselves. Oral tradition was many peoples main way of accessing the text and it is because of that oral tradition along with smaller manuscripts that the Hebrew Bible exists in extant form today.

While we can pull out our phones and have access to dozens of translations of the Hebrew Bible in a whole slew of languages, this modern democratization of the text is only possible due to its preservation.

And the price tag on the Codex Sassoon represents all that the text really means.
The growing water crisis Illustrated/Getty Images

The world faces an "imminent" water crisis. The United Nations this week released a report saying the planet's water supply is being drained by "unsustainable water use, pollution, and unchecked global warming," the BBC reports.

For much of the world, the crisis is already here. "Globally, two billion people do not have safe drinking water," the U.N. reports. And city dwellers aren't exempt: "The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to potentially double from 930 million in 2016 to between 1.7 and 2.4 billion people, in 2050."

This isn't just an international problem, The Wall Street Journal notes: "Parts of the U.S. have increasingly felt pressure on their water systems after a series of droughts and aging infrastructure have affected farming and left some cities desperate for clean drinking water." As many as 44 million Americans live with inadequate water systems, but those numbers "are eclipsed by water crises affecting poorer nations, particularly parts of Africa." The crisis has been long in the making  and only now might be getting the attention of policymakers. "This might be the year that the world finally acknowledges its mounting water crisis," GZERO Media reports.

What are the commentators saying?

Climate change is a huge contributing factor in this crisis. "Extreme and prolonged droughts, made more frequent and severe by the climate crisis," are putting pressure on the planet's water supply, CNN explains. There is also the problem of overconsumption. "Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies, the World Wildlife Fund adds. That means the water crisis might also end up being a food crisis. "Agriculture is both a major cause and casualty of water scarcity," the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says in its overview of the issue. Meat production is a big part of the inefficiency: The U.N. agency says it takes roughly 1,250 liters of water to produce a kilogram of lentils  and 13,000 liters to produce a kilogram of beef.

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Another factor in the crisis: The popularity of bottled water. The global market for bottled water is expected to double over the next decade, to $500 billion a year, explain U.N. scientists Zeineb Bouhlel and Vladimir Smakhtin at The Conversation. That's faster growth than any other food industry category. But in many low-income countries, "rising consumption of bottled water can be seen as a proxy indicator of decades of governments' failure to deliver on commitments to safe public water systems." And, CNN adds, "some companies are operating in areas where there are already shortages in drinking water."

What's next?

Just as there is no one reason for the water crisis, there is no single solution either. Small efforts like fixing Italy's leaky pipes might make a difference. So might desalinizing the world's ocean water for drinking. Isla Urbana, a Mexican nonprofit, installs home rainwater tanks "to capture rain that's used primarily for non-drinking water purposes," NPR reports. The U.N. report also promotes the idea of "water funds," in which big water guzzlers  cities and utilities  "invest money in farmers operating upstream" so they can cut their water usage. The less water that goes toward agriculture, the more that's left over for drinking. And the International Energy Agency says the world's move to clean energy sources could help ease the water crisis: Water is used to extract and wash coal for power plants, and as those coal-powered plants come offline, the amount of water they use will drop.

There has been some discussion about creating a legally binding international water treaty to enforce more efficient water use, but that seems a long way off. Meanwhile, officials and activists worry that the common good will be crowded out by capitalist enterprises. "Considering water as a commodity or a business opportunity will leave behind those that cannot access or afford the market prices," a panel of U.N. experts said in a joint statement. But business leaders say water security will also be important to their bottom line in the future.

Experts are sounding the alarm  but they remain hopeful, as well. "If we take appropriate action," says Kristin Meyer of the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, "natural hazards don't have to turn into disasters."

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A mailbox stands in floodwaters that have inundated farms outside Corcoran, Calif. Tulare Lake, which was drained nearly a century ago, is reappearing on thousands of acres of farmland. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Sixth Avenue used to cut through miles of farmland. Now, the road has disappeared under muddy water, its path marked by sodden telephone poles that protrude from the swelling lake. Water laps just below the windows of a lone farmhouse that sits alongside the submerged route.

Thousands of acres of cropland have been inundated in this heavily farmed swath of the San Joaquin Valley. And the water just keeps rising.

For the first time in decades, Tulare Lake is reappearing in the valley, reclaiming the lowlands at its historic heart. Once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, Tulare Lake was largely drained in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as the rivers that fed it were dammed and diverted for agriculture.

This month, after a historic series of powerful storms, the phantom lake has reemerged. Rivers that dwindled during the drought are swollen with runoff from heavy rains and snow, and are flowing full from the Sierra Nevada into the valley, spilling from canals and broken levees into fields that usually teem with lucrative plantings of tomatoes, cotton and hay.

This is unreal, said Mark Grewal, an agronomist who has worked on the area's farms since 1979, surveying floodwaters that stretched to the horizon. Im just amazed at how fast it filled.

Mark Grewal, an agricultural consultant, stands on a flooded road near Corcoran, where Tulare Lake is reappearing and inundating thousands of acres of farmland. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Along with awe, Tulare Lake's sudden reemergence has fueled conflict in one of California's richest agricultural centers, as the spreading waters swallow fields and orchards and encroach on low-lying towns. In a region where the major agricultural landowners have a history of water disputes, the floods streaming into Tulare Lake Basin have reignited some long-standing tensions and brought accusations of foul play and mismanagement.

Residents in rural towns such as Alpaugh and Allensworth fear their homes wont be prioritized for protection from the rising waters. And as the water has overwhelmed canals, tensions have flared over where the floods should be directed, and which farmland should go under first.

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When theres this much water, nobody wants it," Grewal said. "The growers want to keep it off their land.

More water is set to come rushing into the basin in the coming weeks from the rivers that feed it  the Kings, St. Johns and Tule, among them  sending flows coursing through the network of canals that crisscross the lake bottom.

All of the arteries are full, and theyre going to get fuller, Grewal said. It could be as big or bigger than '83.

That was the lakes last high point, when heavy rain and snow unleashed runoff that, according to Grewals records, covered about 82,000 acres. During that refilling, and a smaller reappearance in 1997-98, Grewal managed farmland for J.G. Boswell Co., the areas largest landowner. He now runs his own consulting business, working with growers in the U.S. and internationally.

The resurgent lake has already flooded more than 10,000 acres of farmland, Grewal said, and will continue expanding over the next two months as historic snowpack in the Sierra Nevada melts and flows to the valley.

Near the town of Stratford, Grewal drove along an elevated roadway through fields that usually produce tomatoes and where water now pooled in the dark rows of lakebed soil.

This is all going to go underwater, he said.

(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)

In previous flood years, Grewal said, levees were typically cut open in an agreed-upon order, sending water from one enclosed cell to another, and filling the lake bottom in an orchestrated way. This time, he said, there have been delayed responses and more levee breaches than in the past.

The flood isnt being handled properly, said Grewal, noting he works with one grower who has 2,400 acres of pistachio trees choking underwater. Its a mess, because there are breaks everywhere.

In one mysterious incident, Jack Mitchell of the area's Deer Creek Flood Control District alleged that someone had intentionally cut open a levee with a backhoe in the dark of night. He says he knows who did it, but the report hasnt prompted an investigation.

Elsewhere, Mitchell said, the Boswell company at one point used a massive piece of equipment as a barrier, keeping Mitchell's crew from cutting into a levee to send water flowing toward the basin bottom and away from towns. It's silly the way they're doing it," he said at the time. "It wants to go to the lake, and they won't let it go.

The Kings County Board of Supervisors stepped in to settle the dispute, ordering Boswells managers to cut a levee and send water toward the lake bottom  and into their fields and those of other growers  rather than trying to pump the water up to higher elevation areas.

They weren't really happy with me, said Supervisor Doug Verboon. To have someone come and tell them what they have to do is not good for them. But what it did was, it opened a line of communication. So now we're speaking to each other and sharing ideas.

Boswell representatives did not respond to emails from The Times requesting an interview.

Over the years, the company has built levees on the old lakebed bottom to control floodwaters. The idea is that you want to flood the least amount of acres the highest you can to minimize losses, Grewal said.

A truck navigates through a flooded pistachio grove near Corcoran. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Local responsibility for flood control in the basin is split among about a dozen reclamation districts, which are controlled by landowners. State officials have visited the area to discuss response efforts. Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth told the news website SJV Water that she and her team are assessing the states authority to intervene, if needed, to help "deal with the challenges weve already seen emerging in the last 10 days.

Verboon said one issue that has complicated matters is bad blood between the Boswell company and John Vidovich, who also owns vast acreage in the basin. Their disputes, some rooted in disagreements over water rights, have led to litigation, and Verboon said they have refused to talk to each other.

We all pay the price when they're fighting, Verboon said. But he said he anticipates the flooding, which is set to worsen in the coming weeks, could spur the two camps to work together to move this water out of here.

During the 1983 floods, Grewal said, a decision was made to take a large portion of the water that was rushing in and divert it to Southern California cities. They pumped a million acre-feet to L.A. that would have gone to the lake, he said. Boswell paid for that, just to dewater the lake faster.

Farms in the lakes footprint rely on a mix of water from irrigation canals and groundwater. In many years, limited surface supplies have led growers to heavily pump from wells. As the aquifer has dropped, the land has been sinking. In parts of the watershed, that has altered where water flows.

Jairo Estrada, left, and Juan Espinoza work to get one of their family's car off their flooded property in Allensworth. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

In an interview, Vidovich did not address the flood response. He said some of his companys almond and walnut orchards have flooded, and that "you just have to hope that the trees get enough oxygen that they survive.

Other farmers have echoed the concern, saying if water remains on orchards as temperatures rise, the roots will rot and kill the trees.

In low-lying Allensworth, residents have used shovels and tractors to build berms, trying to prevent ditches from overflowing and sending water toward their homes. Its leaders have appealed for more help from county and state officials, as well as the adjacent railroad. Despite an evacuation order, many residents have said they plan to stay to try to defend their homes.

The real spirit of Allensworth, to me, is to help the people that are in need in our community, said Melvin Santiel, the pastor of Allensworth Christian Church. And we have to do it because we don't have anybody that's going to come and help us.

Santiel said hes concerned that some growers have been trying to keep water off their lands, and that canals and levees have suffered from a lack of maintenance. California infrastructure was not ready for this, Santiel said. We have to come up with a major plan, because this water's not going to stop.

Grewal said he thinks Allensworth will be in danger when the snow melts, and they need to leave.

Storm clouds leave a dusting of snow on the mountains at the edge of the vast and fertile San Joaquin Valley. Snowmelt from heavy snowfall in the peaks that ring the valley are expected to exacerbate local flooding. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

Tulare Lakes return, he said, could put valuable land out of commission for as long as two years, reducing production of tomatoes, pima cotton, safflower and alfalfa. He said he expects farmworkers will need to relocate, and prices of processed tomatoes and other products will rise.

Nevertheless, the region's large growers have weathered past floods and will survive this one, Grewal said. And the bounty of water will bring a meaningful boost to supplies.

In satellite images of the San Joaquin Valley, the footprint of the old lakebed stands out as a darker, grayish area in the patches of farmland. In the days before the damming of rivers, the lake could stretch for 790 square miles, four times the size of Lake Tahoe, with depths of 30 feet.

Before white settlers arrived in the Central Valley in the 1800s, Tulare Lake was the center of life for the Native Yokut people who lived by its shores and along the rivers. Then farmers began diverting water and claiming land in the lake bottom.

More than a century later, members of the Santa Rosa Rancheria of the Tachi Yokut Tribe live near what was once the lakes north shore. The tribes leaders have agreed to diversions that will channel some of the floodwaters onto their lands, easing pressure on the system while also helping to recharge groundwater.

The lakes rise is just a very small reminder of what was once here, said Leo Sisco, the tribes chairman.

The phantom lake, which the tribe calls Paashi, remains central to their spiritual beliefs. Their traditional songs include passages that say when the water rises, that's the lake telling us, OK, it's time for you guys to get out of here now,  said Robert Jeff, the tribes vice chairman.

So that's when our people would pack up, Jeff said, and we'd head to the mountains, to our other villages, until the water receded.

It's time to move to higher ground, he said.

Times staff writer Jessica Garrison contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin said that the meetings between Chinese and Russian leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Moscow sends a "disturbing message" about China's support for Russia.

Source: Ukrinform



Quote: "I believe Xi's visit to Putin and his multi-day stay there sends an alarming message, a message of support [for Russia - ed.]."

Details: Austin emphasised that although there is no evidence of Beijing providing lethal assistance to the Russian Federation, Xi's visit and his meetings with the Russian leader were essentially "a demonstration of support" for Putin, which in itself "is very disturbing."

The Pentagon chief also noted that if China provides material support to the Russian side, it will potentially affect the continuation of the conflict and expand its influence not only in the region but also around the world.

Background:

Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Russia, where he met with Vladimir Putin and signed agreements to continue the strategic partnership between the two countries.

At the same time, Putin and Xi have issued a joint statement in which they claimed that their countries' relations are not a military-political alliance, are not of a block or confrontational nature, and are not directed against third countries.

Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, expressed hope that China will not be an accomplice of Russia.

Ukraines Defence Intelligence believes that China will care for its own interests and will not provide military assistance to the Russian regime.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Hilton Central School District

Students, teachers, and faculty in a New York public school district have been terrorized for the second time in one week after somebody threatened to blow up all the buildings unless school officials removed certain books  including those with LGBTQ+ themes  from circulation.

Officials from the Hilton Central School District, north of Rochester, sent the following message to families of students in area schools Friday morning, according to NBC affiliate WHEC:

We have received word that the same threat from Wednesday was resubmitted to local news stations again this morning, from the same IP address as Wednesdays threat. At this time, Monroe County Sheriffs are determining the credibility of the threat. In an abundance of caution and to allow for planning, all Northwood and Village students will be held on their buses in the building bus loops. Quest will be on a two hour delay. Both Merton Williams and the High School are on lockout. We will be in touch with next steps.

Parents rushed to pick up their children at the schools as school officials scrambled to keep kids safe.

Media organizations in the area received the bomb threat on Friday morning, which led to widespread school disruptions.

Earlier this week, a bomb threat was also distributed through local media, causing schools in the district to be evacuated. Monroe County Sheriffs Office officials searched Wednesday with dogs but found no bombs.

The threat stated that pipe bombs would be placed in all Hilton schools, the district office, and the superintendents residence. The email came from a Russian email address, saying it was a threat to ban a book from Hilton school libraries.

Hilton High Schools library has the book This Book Is Gay, mentioned explicitly in the threat on Wednesday. Besides not being required reading, the superintendent noted that since the district acquired it in 2015, it has only been checked two times and is currently on loan, ABC affiliate WHAM reports.

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Threats against the school system came after an Iowa school district removed the same book after the right-wing hate account run by Chaya Raichik, Libs of TikTok, singled out the school district for harassment earlier this week.

A New York State Police spokesperson directed The Advocate to the Monroe County Sheriffs Department for updates because that agency is leading the investigation.

In an update to the community Friday morning, school officials indicated that the school day would proceed after police officials swept all buildings.

Northwood and Village Elementary students are currently being held safely on buses in the bus loops while the buildings are being swept by K9 Nitrate dogs out of an abundance of caution. We plan to send students back into the building to resume the school day once Monroe County Sheriff's Office clears the buildings. QUEST is on a two-hour delay while the building is being swept. Merton Williams and the High School are in a Hold in Place while the building is being swept, the message stated.



The message also indicated that parents or guardians wishing to pick up their kids could do so by waiting outside the corresponding school building.

The Advocate contacted the superintendent for Hilton schools, Casey Kosiorek, but has not received a response at publication.



However, Kosiorek did speak with reporters Friday afternoon.

He had a message to LGBTQ+ students in the district.

I would tell the students of the district that belong to that community that they are welcome here at Central Hilton Central School District as students within our public schools. We love them as we love all of our students. We are absolutely sorry that the debate around a piece of literature is making them feel that theyre not included and welcome. And I know for a fact that our administration, our staff, and our board of education will make sure to the best of our ability to make sure that they feel safe and welcomed, he said.



Earlier in the day, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office tweeted confirmation of the situation and asked community members to remain patient and calm. The message also said that school had not been canceled.

None  (@)

On Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the FBIs Buffalo field office sent The Advocate a statement acknowledging the agencys involvement in the incidents.

The FBI is aware of recent bomb threats at throughout the Hilton Central School District. We continue to work in close coordination with our local and federal law enforcement partners to provide assistance. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety, the spokesperson wrote.

The spokesperson directed further inquiries to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, which sent The Advocate a statement Friday afternoon.

Early this morning, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office received information of another threatening email sent to local media claiming explosive devices were placed in Hilton School buildings. Our Hazardous Device Squad and K9 units worked with school staff to safely search buildings for explosive devices. No devices or hazardous materials were found. The email appears to be part of a series of automated overseas emails, similar to swatting calls. We are sharing all information with our local and federal partners and continue to investigate these disturbing emails, a public information officer with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office said.

Editors note: This developing story has been updated to reflect new information from the local sheriffs department and the FBI.
YORK, Maine  The town School Committee will decide between one of Yorks elementary school principals and a top administrator from Aroostook County to replace outgoing Superintendent Lou Goscinski.

Coastal Ridge Elementary School Principal Sean Murphy and Timothy Doak, superintendent of schools for Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 and RSU 86/MSAD 20, were announced Friday as the finalists for the superintendent position in the York School Department. A press release from the department said a decision would be made in time for an announcement at the April 5 York School Committee meeting.

Lou Goscinski is superintendent of the York School Department in York, Maine.

Goscinski announced in November that he would step down from being Yorks superintendent in July following five years of service. He will leave one year before his current three-year contract ends.

It is the right time for me to seek something new professionally, Goscinski said at the time. He said he gave a commitment of at least five years of service when he came to York.

Murphy has served as the CRES principal since 2007. He came to the school after serving as assistant vice principal at the Flood Brook Union School in Londonderry, Vermont. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Recently, Murphy received praise from the school community for working through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2021, parents and students held a parade celebrating the principal and thanking him for his work following a challenging year. The president of the CRES parents group at the time, Rebecca Acree, said Murphys strengths include his ability to meet with kids where they are and that he genuinely cares about everyone in the school.

Doak, who oversees schools in northern Maine towns of Caribou, Stockholm and Fort Fairfield, has been superintendent at RSU 39 since 2015 and was named Superintendent of the Year in 2018, according to an article on the University of Maine at Presque Isle. He took on the additional role of superintendent of MSAD 20 in 2016, and his career has also included work as a social studies teacher, assistant principal, principal and 10 years of adjunct teaching at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

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Doak could not be reached for comment but said upon receiving the award for superintendent of the year that he has worked to bring schools to the cutting edge of whats going on in Maine.

York School Committee Chair Tom Martine said the decision between a respected internal candidate like Murphy and an external one with experience like Doak will be difficult. He said the school district will be looking for a superintendent that is forward thinking and has an eye for inclusivity and equity as York becomes more diverse. He also said the school district is still recuperating from the pandemic and its lasting impacts on education that have been felt throughout the nation.

Martine said Murphy is respected for his strong emotional intelligence, skill as an incredible listener and his ability to rise to the occasion in a challenging scenario. At the same time, he noted that Doak brings superintendent experience with high accolades on his resume. He said Doak would be interviewed by the School Committee in executive session Friday, then Murphy on Monday.

Ultimately the decision, once and whatever is made because we certainly dont know yet, will be dependent on the collective of the committee itself, Martine said. Its difficult, and its also exciting.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York, Maine superintendent search down to two finalists
The traditional model of school, where students must sit still and silent at a desk for hours on end, is not for everyone. Some kids need to get up, move around, and engage in hands-on learning. Tyler Harriman is one of those kids: a 17-year-old Burlington resident who struggled in school. While other programs were not designed for kids like Harriman, YouthBuild was.

"Here you get to move around, go outside, build stuff and be more free," Harriman said.

YouthBuild is a national program that provides youth ages 16 to 24 who have struggled at school another chance at getting a high school credential through life coaching and training in the skilled trades. Vermont has YouthBuild chapters in Burlington and Barre  both of which are managed and partly funded by the nonprofit ReSOURCE. Funding for YouthBuild also comes from the federal and state Departments of Labor, among other sources.

Tyler Harriman, a 17-year-old Burlington resident, works on benches for the Birds of Vermont Museum as part of the YouthBuild nonprofit program on March 14, 2023.

Through a year-long, 30-hour-per-week program, participants learn skills that can be applied to construction, plumbing, painting, electrical work, and more.

"I've learned so much things that I probably wouldn't ever know if I didn't come to this place," said 18-year-old Brandon Blair of Milton. "I can actually put work in my own house one day because I've been here."

YouthBuild partners with organizations in Vermont and beyond to provide participants with real-world experiences while improving the community. YouthBuilders have constructed a boardwalk on North Beach for the city of Burlington, fixed up transitional housing units for Champlain Housing Trust, worked on a food truck for the mutual aid group The Peoples' Kitchen, removed invasive species at the South End barge canal, and built benches for the Birds of Vermont Museum. This past January, Burlington YouthBuilders traveled to Fort Myers, FL for a week to fix up houses impacted by Hurricane Ian.

The YouthBuild Burlington team traveled to Florida Jan. 20-27, 2023 to fix up houses impacted by Hurricane Ian.

"I didn't really ever know what I wanted to be when I was older until I found this program," said Jaidyn Lafond, an 18-year-old YouthBuilder from St. Albans. Now, Lafond plans on going into carpentry.

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Professional development is a core component of the YouthBuild program. Instructors help youth with their resume, job applications, job interviews, and internships. This year, two youth are interning at the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, doing animal care and maintenance. Another two youth are interning at Noyes Automotive, learning how to repair cars.

"I think my favorite part is how relatable and close you can get to the teachers," Harriman said. "I've never felt really comfortable talking about life things with my teachers, but the ones here, I feel like I could tell them anything and they'll be there more to help me."

YouthBuild instructor Noah Kass (right) guides student Jiles Murray (left) through drilling a wooden bench on March 14, 2023.

In addition to professional development, YouthBuild focuses on the personal development of each student. For program manager Noah Kass, that often involves taking calls from students after hours to provide an extra level of support. The program also supports each student for a year after graduating, to help with their transitions into the next stage of life.

"I was shy before I got here and now I'm able to talk to a lot of people," said 18-year-old Jiles Murray of Milton. "I really love it here. It's fun. I really want to get a construction job from here, and they've helped me out with getting my license and stuff, and they helped us get doctors appointments. So I love it here."

Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AMFisherMedia

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: YouthBuild helps VT kids who struggle in school learn hands-on skills
By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she will discuss concerns about key regional and global security challenges when she meets with her Chinese counterpart, foreign minister Qin Gang in Beijing Friday.

Mahuta arrived in China on Wednesday for a four-day trip, the first by a New Zealand minister since 2019, and has been meeting with business and women leaders before her meeting with Gang.

In a statement earlier in the week, Mahuta she said would use the meeting to advocate "for approaches and outcomes that reflect New Zealands interests and values, including on human rights."

"I also intend to raise New Zealands concerns about key regional and global security challenges, including the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine."

China is a powerful ally of Russia and both have criticised the U.S. and NATO for undermining global stability.

New Zealand has long been seen as the moderate, even absent, voice on China in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. But New Zealand's tone on both security and China's growing presence in the South Pacific toughened in the past year after China and the Solomon Islands struck a security pact.

This visit provides an opportunity to have a constructive discussion across a broad range of areas - both where our interests and values align, like that of climate change, and where they differ, Mahuta said.

New Zealand and China's interactions have remained largely cordial with the two countries upgrading their free trade agreement in 2022 even as Australia's relationship with China deteriorated. China remains New Zealands largest trading partner.

New Zealand had a change in leadership in January and new prime minister Chris Hipkins has said very little about foreign politics or how he sees security or geopolitical developments.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the World Bank delegation led by Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde on March 24.

According to Ukraine's Presidential Office, the meeting's participants discussed the World Bank-coordinated projects on financing Ukraine's recovery, mainly in the areas of transport and energy infrastructure as well as health care.

Zelensky emphasized the urgency of assisting Ukraine to rapidly restore destroyed infrastructure facilities, especially residential buildings and educational institutions.

He also told the World Bank delegation how important it is to implement business insurance programs in Ukraine to facilitate job creation, President's Office wrote.

Zelensky thanked the World Bank for the "unprecedented support" provided to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began. According to Bloomberg, the World Bank has already mobilized $20.6 billion for Kyiv.

On March 23, the World Bank increased its assessment of Ukraine's needs for recovery and reconstruction to at least $411 billion based on the damages caused by the first year of Russia's all-out war.

According to the Kyiv School of Economics, the total damages in Ukraine caused by Russia's war have reached almost $143.8 billion as of February 2023.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Ukrainian soldiers who showed the best results on 23-24 March, particularly on the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia fronts.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an evening address on 24 March

Quote: "As always, today [24 March] I will mention our fighters, who gave the best result in the past day.

First of all, in Donetsk Oblast. Glorious 72nd Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians  thank you, guys! Marines of the 36th Brigade  well done! The 55th Artillery Brigade Zaporizka Sich  thank you, soldiers, for your constant accuracy, real battle-hardened deeds! Marines of the 35th Brigade and the 79th Air Assault Brigade  thank you!

Zaporizhzhia front: the 44th Artillery Brigade named after Hetman Danylo Apostol  thank you for the accuracy!

I would like to mention all our fighters who strike the occupier in response to terror, who identify the enemy's positions from which they attack our cities. Each destroyed terrorists' position is a saved life of our people.

I thank the Armed Forces, intelligence, and Security Service personnel  everyone who is involved in performing this task... The fair fire response to those who are the source of terror. Such strikes as in Kostiantynivka today [five people were killed by Russian strikes on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast  ed.], as in many other of our cities"

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine will not forgive the abuse of its people, and will not forgive these deaths and injuries, so "all Russian terrorists will be defeated".

The President thanked everybody who is bringing Ukraine's victory closer.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






The Holocaust Education Foundation of Central Virginia will host a free event March 30 at the Jones Memorial Library featuring Mallory Noe-Payne and Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Michael Paul Williams, hosts of the NPR podcast Memory Wars.

The nonprofit was founded at Lynchburg College  now University of Lynchburg  in the mid-1990s.

Patty Worsham, president of the foundation and a retired Lynchburg City Schools teacher, said it focuses on educating teachers, helping them with materials and providing education to community and students.

She said the March 30 event will look at the issues in Germany post-World War II as it came to terms with the Holocaust as well as look at current challenges within the United States.

I think we are in the midst of beginning to come to terms with some of the past, she said. The way our country is polarized, we have a lot of emerging racial issues.

Noe-Payne is Radio IQs Richmond reporter and bureau chief. Shes covered policy and politics from the state capital since 2016.

Williams, a Richmond native, has been a columnist for the Times-Dispatch since 1992; in 2021, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary writing for his work chronicling Richmonds process of dismantling its Confederate monuments.

Bob Gillette, a member of the nonprofits board, said the hosts will play segments of the podcast that are significant and will respond, while leaving enough time for audience response.

Its going to be, I think, a very exciting program, he said. If there is to be reconciliation, remembrance leads to education and education, hopefully, leads to empathy.

Lanaux Hailey, member of the board and retired Lynchburg City Schools teacher, said Memory Wars looks at how Germany ultimately dealt with the sins of the Holocaust and what lessons there are as how the United States deals with its own legacy of slavery.

And the big question is, how do we face our own history? she said. How do we face it so we can avoid it in the future? And frankly, what we see right now is the opposite. We see an effort to whitewash history and to limit whose voices are heard and to very much sever away from any uncomfortable conversations.

One of Gillettes questions is whether Germany would have come to reconciliation and remembrance on its own.

Germany coming to terms with their past was imposed by the occupying American force, he said. So the big question is, would they have done it on their own? And its ironic that we impose a certain value system upon them and the United States has never really imposed the same value system and how we respond to our own history of slavery and racism. So there are a lot of big questions that are being asked.

Gerard Sherayko, a board member and a history professor at Randolph College, said in the past, the foundation has brought in Holocaust survivors to speak at area colleges and high schools. As there are fewer survivors left, the group now focuses on bringing awareness through events and education.

He said when World War II ended, Germans saw themselves as victims and didnt talk much of the past.

In the 1960s, they really began to, as a new generation came up, and it really takes off in the 70s, and since then, mostly in the 1990s, many of these monuments are built, he said.

Hailey said the general knowledge in the U.S. about what happened during the Holocaust is in incredible decline.

All the sudden theres just fall off, she said. So as that memory starts to sort of fade off, so does the lessons that come with it.
Lighthouse Bible Church

Lighthouse Bible Church, 2136 Fifth Ave., invites the community to participate in our live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The Sunday sermon is prerecorded and can be viewed on our website, lighthousemc.com. Dress is casual, and coffee and refreshments are provided.

Upcoming events: Springfest 23 will be on Saturday, March 18 from noon to 2 p.m. The event will include food, games, a Gospel Magic Show and fun! The community is invited. Prayer and Study, 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Mt. Hope United Methodist

Mt. Hope United Methodist Church, 290th and Highway 6, McClelland, would like to invite all to join us on Sunday mornings for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. Children are welcome for the regular worship service and childrens sermon during the worship service. You do not have to be a member to participate in our church activities. Everyone is welcome.

Gethsemane Presbyterian Church

Gethsemane Presbyterian Church, 224 Wallace Ave., invites you to worship with us. The service runs from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sundays. The Rev. Nancy Ross-Hullinger will deliver the message, Alive Again. Children are invited to participate in Sunday school. Please join us for refreshments following the service.

Adult Bible study meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m.

Nacho Typical Bingo will be held on April 20. Dinner will be at 6 p.m., with bingo starting at 6:30. For $10 per person, you get a Nacho plate with assorted toppings and dessert, plus 20 games of bingo.

Our church is collecting Iowa 5 cent-refund cans/bottles for one of our mission projects. Your donations help! Bags can be dropped off anytime at our front door.

We are also collecting diapers and wipes for children. These can also be left in bags by the front door.

Our Food Pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays until 10:30 a.m. Donations are welcome. For more information, contact the church office at 712-366-2513 or visit us on Facebook at gethsemanepresbyterianchurch.org.

Timothy Lutheran Church

Timothy Lutheran Church, 3112 W. Broadway, offers services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The church alternates between traditional services and praise services each week. Bible study and Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. If a month has a fifth Sunday, the church hosts a combined service at 9 a.m. Food and fellowship after service on fifth Sundays and there is no Bible study or Sunday school on those days. The church is handicap accessible. For more information, visit the church website at timothylutheran.net.

St. Pauls Evangelical Country ChurchSt. Pauls Evangelical Country Church rings the church bell each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to welcome people to worship at 11055 Dumfries Ave. There are directional signs from Wabash Avenue and Pioneer Trail leading to the church.

We are a growing, caring and friendly Bible-teaching church led by Pastor Jason Kinney. This Sundays message is titled Faith in Prayer Part 2, with the Bible reference James 5:13-16. Greeters are Richard Coleman and Ron Heuwinkel. Each week we enjoy donuts and coffee in the Fellowship Hall after worship.

Sunday school for all ages including adults starts at 9:15. We have childrens church during our regular service.

The ladies Bible study meets Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Youth group meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Young Adult Discipleship Group meets Thursday at 7 p.m.

Movie Night will be held each Sunday at 6 p.m. for the next two weeks. We will be watching the Jesus of Nazareth movie.

The annual chili supper will be Saturday, March 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Heaven Bound Gospel Band will perform in the church while people await seating in the fellowship hall. This is a free-will offering event. Visit our website at stpaulsecc.org for more information. We are handicapped accessible.

Underwood Lutheran Church

On Sunday, Underwood Lutheran Church, 10 Third Ave., will hold Sunday activities. Education begins at 9 a.m. In-person worship begins at 10:15 a.m. Pastor Scott Dalen will deliver a sermon based on John 11:1-45. The online video will be available later in the day.

On Wednesday, March 29, Underwood Lutheran Church will hold Wednesday Lenten activities. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m., followed by worship at 7. An online video will be available later in the evening.

Compass Christian Church

Compass Christian Church welcomes you to worship with us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are located at 2007 S. Seventh St., just west of the South Expressway. The church is handicap accessible. During worship, a cry room is available, along with childcare for children ages 1-4. Compass Kids grades K-5 meet downstairs for special Bible lessons during the sermon. You may also worship with us at compasscb.online.church or on YouTube.

Monday morning Bible study meets at 10 a.m. weekly. Separate mens and womens Bible study groups meet on Mondays at 7 p.m. The Bridge Young Adults (ages 18-30) meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is April 4.

On Wednesdays, children in grades K-5 and students in grades 6-12 meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is held at 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, March 26 during the worship service, students from Central Christian College of the Bible will lead worship and present about their mission trip to Mexico and El Salvador.

The public is invited to Compass Easter Services that begin with the Good Friday Service on April 7 at 6:30 p.m. On Easter Sunday, April 9, we begin the day with a free pancake feed from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Easter Worship Service will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Easter Egg Hunt will be held following the service.

For questions or more information, visit our Facebook page, Compass Christian Church CB, our website compasscb.org or call the church office at 712-366-9112.

Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church

Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., invites the public to participate in our live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The Sunday worship service will be recorded live and can be viewed on our Facebook page: Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs. Face masks are optional.

The church office can be reached at 712-323-7374 or through our email at fifthaveumchurch@gmail.com.

Broadway United Methodist Church

Broadway United Methodist, First Street and Broadway, is seeking, growing and serving with unconditional love and acceptance. On Sundays, we hold a traditional service at 8:30 a.m. and a contemporary service at 10:30. Coffee and donuts will be served in the DeLong Lounge between services. Our services are held in person and livestreamed to our Facebook page or broadwayunitedmethodist.com/live. Masks are optional.

Student Life Breakthrough will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. On Mondays, Philips Cupboard, a nonfood pantry, is open noon to 2 p.m. Bibles at Barleys is at 7:30 p.m. on Monday for those over 21.

The womens book study meets at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. The praise band practices at 5:30. A community meal is held at 6 p.m. A Foundations Adults Group meets Wednesday at 6:30 in the DeLong Lounge while BUMC Kids and Student Life meet. The bell choir practices at 6:30, followed by the choir at 7:30. The Mens Brown Bag Bible Study will be held Thursday at noon.

On Friday, the church office is closed but Philips Cupboard is open noon to 2 p.m.

Upcoming events: Spring cleaning will be Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Game Night 2.0 will be Friday, March 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. On Maundy Thursday, April 6, a service of light to dark will be held at 7 p.m. On Good Friday, April 7, Interactive Prayer Stations will be open in the sanctuary from 7 to 9 p.m. Communion will be celebrated at both services on Easter Sunday, April 9.

For more information, visit our website at broadwayunitedmethodist.com or call the office at 712-322-7741 (closed Fridays).

Bethany Presbyterian Church

Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1900 S. Seventh St., will have worship at 11 a.m. Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullingers message will be Alive Again, and the scripture will be John 11:1-45. There will be a childrens chat. Friends of Faith will meet on Saturday morning March 25 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. There will be training for liturgist, candlelighters and greeters after worship on Sunday. Lenten Bible Study will meet on Monday, March 27 at 11 a.m. Deacons will meet Monday at 6 p.m. There will be cleaning of the church Friday, March 31 at 9 a.m.

We are a handicap accessible facility.

Community of Christ Church

Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd., invites people to attend Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. Our theme this week is Is Christ in You? Scripture readings will be Romans 8:6-11; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; and John 11:1-45.

Sunday school starts at 9:15 a.m. We also have prayer service Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Please call our office at 712-323-4498 for any questions. Please come to help us celebrate Easter on April 9. It will include a brunch at 9 a.m., an Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. and our Easter service at 10:30.

There are virtual ministries out on our World Church Website under Ongoing Ministries at cofchrist.org.

Epworth United Methodist Church

Are you searching to know more about God and His divine plan for you? Come to Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B. Join us for worship Sundays at 9:30 a.m. There is room for the little ones in the family to learn about God according to their ages. The people are friendly, worship is meaningful and the building is handicap accessible.

We are hosting Lenten Luncheons every Wednesday through March 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and everyone is welcome. We also invite you to our Bible study on Thursdays at 10 a.m. We are currently going through the book of Proverbs.

Holy Week is almost here, and wed love to have you join us for Palm Sunday on April 2 at 9:30 a.m., Good Friday on April 7 at 6 p.m. and Resurrection Sunday on April 9 at 9:30 a.m. Join us in seeking Gods presence and answers.

We are in prayer for the healing of our community and a nation under God. If you want us to pray for you personally, let us know. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 712-323-3124. You can find us on Facebook at Friends of Epworth UMC/Facebook.

Faith Lutheran Church

Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS), 2100 S. 11th St., invites you to join us for worship at our 9 a.m. Sunday service.

On Tuesday, there is a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study in the downstairs fellowship hall that is open to everyone. Please use the rear door. The Elders will meet Tuesday at 2:30. Wednesday there is Praise team practice at 5:30 p.m., confirmation at 5:45 p.m., and Lenten worship service at 7.

Worship services are available on Faiths Facebook page and on YouTube by searching for Ron Rosenkaimer. For more information, contact the church office at 323-6445.

New Horizon Presbyterian Church

New Horizon Presbyterian will hold worship services at 8, 9 and 11 a.m. Youth and adult Sunday school will be at 10.

On Wednesdays, the Praise Band meets from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m., the Chancel Bell Choir from 6:30 to 7:30 and the Chancel Choir from 7:30 to 8:30.

If you are ill, please worship from home by watching our Facebook page, facebook.com/NewHorizonPC.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 517 S. 32nd St., invites you to worship with us on Sunday, March 26 at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the fifth Sunday in Lent. The Rev. Portia Iverson will base her sermon, A Second Chance ... at Life, on Ezekiel 37:1-14 The Valley of the Dry Bones and Gospel: John 11:1-4, 17, 38-44. After worship, a New Member Orientation will be led by the Rev. Iverson.

Donations for Church World Service One Great Hour of Sharing will end on Sunday.

We are handicapped accessible through the northeast door of the church.

Corpus Christi Catholic Parish

The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph.

Join us for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent on March 25-26. The Liturgy of the Word: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130: 1-8; Romans 8:8-11; and John 11:1-45.

Our Weekend Mass in English is celebrated on Saturday at 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles, 3304 Fourth Ave., Council Bluffs; and at 9:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake, 3501 North Ninth St., Carter Lake. Our Sunday Spanish Mass is at noon (Council Bluffs).

Daily Mass is celebrated as follows: In English on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m. (Council Bluffs) and in Spanish on Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. (Council Bluffs).

Eucharistic Adoration is held every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles.

Our Friday Lenten Fish Dinners will be served on March 24 and 31 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the Great Hall at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles. Fish dinners, fish tacos, cheese pizza, french fries, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, bread and butter, dessert, water and lemonade will be offered. Adults, $14, and $7 for children age 10 and younger. Beer, wine and soda are available for purchase. Carry-out dinners are available by calling 712-323-0014.

Stations of the Cross will be prayed during Lent as follows: Mondays at 6 p.m. at Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake, followed by a soup supper (March 27 and April 3); Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church (March 30); and Fridays at 7 p.m. (in Spanish) at Corpus Christi Church (March 24 and 31).

Another opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is Thursday, March 30 from 9 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 8 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church and Sunday, March 26 at Corpus Christi-Our Lady of Carter Lake.

Holy Week Schedule, April 6 through April 17: All Triduum services will be held at Corpus Christi Church, 3304 Fourth Ave., Council Bluffs, as follows: Holy Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m. Mass of the Lords Supper; Good Friday, April 7, 1 p.m. Live Stations of the Cross (bilingual), 7 p.m. Good Friday of the Lords Passion; Holy Saturday, April 8, 8 p.m. Easter Vigil; and Easter Sunday, April 9, 8 a.m. (Corpus Christi Church), 9:30 a.m. (Our Lady of Carter Lake), 10 a.m. (Corpus Christi Church) and noon (Spanish  Corpus Christi Church).

For more information, call the parish office at 712-323-2916 or 712-323-4716 (Spanish) or visit our parish website at www.corpuschristiparishiowa.org.

Emanuel Lutheran Church

Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, welcomes everyone to come as you are and be who you are! You are invited to join us each Sunday for worship and Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., followed by coffee hour.

Other events this week include Tai Chi Monday at 10 a.m. in the youth center, a free Lenten dinner Wednesday at 6 p.m. followed by worship using Holden Evening Prayer at 7. Bible study Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room, and Tai Chi Thursday at 10 a.m. in the youth center.

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on events and view livestreamed services. Visit us online at emanuelcb.org.

Saint John Lutheran Church

Saint John Lutheran Church, 633 Willow Ave., holds worship at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Sundays. Worship is also available to watch on YouTube. Our website is www.SaintJohnELCA.org, and our Facebook page is Saint John Lutheran Church Council Bluffs IA.

Wednesday morning Bible study meets at 9 a.m., and Wednesday evening Bible study meets at 6:30 p.m. The bell choir practices at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and the Chancel Choir starts practice at 7:30 p.m. Confirmation students and high school youth also meet Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Please call the church office with any questions, 712-323-7173.

Broadway Christian Church

The congregation invites you to join us for Sunday worship at 9 a.m. at Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 2658 Ave. A. Masks are optional. A hearing loop is installed for those who need it.

This Sunday, the Rev. Evell Thomas will provide the message. We celebrate communion weekly, and it is open to all. Guests are invited to join us in the fellowship hall after worship for coffee and donuts.

Pieceful Hearts Quilters meet the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Bible Study meets each Wednesday at 10 a.m. Newcomers are always welcome at both.

Join us for a Spaghetti Dinner Saturday, April 15 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Broadway Christian Church. It is $5 per plate. Please support your favorite Junior Jacket Robotic team. This nonprofit does not charge any student to participate and relies solely on community support.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets Mon.and Fri.at 7:30 p.m. Overeaters Anonymous meets at noon on Mon. and at 6 p.m. on Wed.. The church is ADA-accessible. To submit prayer requests or for more information, call the church office at 712-323-7741 or email us at office@bcccb.org. Visit us online at www.bcccb.org or on Facebook.

First Congregational UCC Church

Come and join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), located at 611 First Ave. near Bayliss Park. Coffee and light snacks are provided. Our service is also available via Zoom. Please email the church for information on how to join the Zoom meeting: cbfirstcong@gmail.com.

First Congregational hosts a weekly NAR-ANON meeting Mondays at 7 p.m. (ring the doorbell by .entrance on the Bayliss Park side). We host a free Community Dinner the last Friday of each month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Everyone is always welcome at First Congregational to enjoy worship, a meal and fellowship.

Our Saviors Lutheran Church

Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 600 Bluff St., can be reached at 712-322-6655. Everyone is welcome. The church is handicapped accessible.

Worship services are Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Sunday services are livestreamed on Facebook. Adult Sunday school is at 9:15 a.m. and Youth Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, see our Facebook page under Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Council Bluffs or the website at oursaviorscb.org.

Other activities this week include Al-Anon meetings Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Education Building. A Lenten meal will be held Wednesday at 6:15 p.m., followed by a Lenten service at 7.

Thursday morning Bible Study will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and Prayer Team will meet at 11:15 a.m. On Thursday evenings, the bell choir practices at 6:30 p.m. and choir at 7:30.

Food Pantry and Pet Food Pantry are open by appointment Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call the Food Pantry directly at 712-522-3522 on the day it is open.

St. Johns United Church of Christ

St. Johns United Church of Christ, 400 Cloverdale Drive, welcomes everyone to attend Sunday service at 10:15 a.m. We invite you to hear our new minister, Pastor Don Morgan, deliver the Lenten message, GPS for the Journey.

Each Wednesday through April 5, we will host a Lenten soup supper and Bible study from 6 to 7 p.m. entitled Seven Words of the Cross. On April 6, there will be a Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service with food commencing at 6 p.m. On April 9, St. Johns will have a sunrise Easter service at 7 a.m., followed by an Easter breakfast at 8 a.m.

For information on how to join us by Zoom, email the church at stjohnsucccb@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at stjohnsucc-council bluffs or call 712-322-2174 for additional information.

St. Pauls Episcopal Church

St. Pauls Episcopal Church is located at 22 Dillman Drive in Council Buffs. Services held each Sunday morning at 11 a.m., we invite visitors to attend and share with us these very enjoyable and enlightening services. For additional information, please contact the church at 712-323-7188.
The inaugural meeting of the Council Bluffs Walking Club was pushed back due to sleet and snow last week, and while Mother Nature was still a bit uncooperative this time around, the group made it out for a brisk stroll Thursday morning.

About a dozen walking enthusiasts gathered at the St. Patricks Catholic Church lot just before 10:30 a.m., the starting time for all walks in the coming weeks. This weeks goal was to march along the Valley View Trail to the nearby CHI Health Clinic and back. Those who completed the entire route got about 3.5 miles in.

The beauty of the Council Bluffs Community Walking Club, though, is that no one is expected to make the whole trek or keep up with the fastest pace. The only expectation is that folks come out to get some exercise and fresh air while meeting their neighbors and community members.

Carrie McDonald, owner of First Row Fitness in Council Bluffs, is heading up the club, which is also sponsored by The 712 Initiative. Before Thursdays group started their walk, she wanted to reiterate the expectations.

I just want everybody to go with a pace theyre comfortable with, get to know each other and enjoy it, she said. Thats the big thing.

The sky was grey and winds swept across the trails adjoining cornfields as the walkers hoofed it along Valley View Drive with near-freezing temperatures. Some folks murmured about their reluctance to come out in such weather, but McDonald praised them for their efforts and reminded them that warmer weather is just around the corner.

Were outside, were in nature, tuning into the birds, she said. Its really, really important for your overall health, and a community is great for that as well.

McDonald said that walking is a great activity that benefits both the mind and body, and she said that First Row and The 712 Initiative wanted to create a free program that gets people on their feet and amongst their neighbors

The club meets at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday at different locations across Council Bluffs. The walks last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and will feature different levels of difficulty. Some walks will be on paved trails and some will be hikes through natural areas throughout the city.

The next Council Bluffs Community Walking Club jaunt will take place along the new First Avenue Trail on March 30. Walkers should meet at Cochran Park, 100 S. 21st St., just before 10:30 a.m.

Heres the rest of the schedule for the clubs upcoming spring sessions:

April 6  Wabash Trace Nature Trail (meet at the trailhead)

April 13  Fairmount Park trails (meet at Ninth Avenue and High Street trailhead)

April 20  Western Historic Trails Center (meet at the welcome center building)

April 27  Iowa Riverfront Trail (meet near the stairs at Tom Hanafan Rivers Edge Park)

May 4  Lake Manawa State Park (meet in southeastern parking lot)

May 11  Vincent Bluff Nature Preserve (meet at Thallas Street trailhead)

May 18  Big Lake Park (meet in the northwestern parking lot)

May 19  First Avenue Trail (meet a Cochran Park)

May 25  Iowa Riverfront Trail (meet near the stairs at Tom Hanafan Rivers Edge Park)

One of the dates is on a Friday, and there may be Saturday walks added to the schedule. McDonald said the walks will be promoted on unleashcb.com, and the schedule and updates can be found on the Walk the Bluffs Facebook page.
Weather Alert

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures 26 to 31 are expected. * WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Iowa and east central and northeast Nebraska. * WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 9 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing. &&
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The World Bank has approved a new $7 billion partnership agreement with Egypt for 2023-2027 with a focus on boosting private sector jobs, provision of better health and education services, and adaptation to climate change.

The bank in a statement said the Country Partnership Agreement (CPF) will entail $1 billion per year from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and about $2 billion over five years from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The CPF will help create a level playing field for the private sector and to encourage investment and improve resilience to shocks through better macroeconomic management.

Egypts economy has come under severe pressure over the past year, after the fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine exposed underlying problems. The government has announced ambitious privatization plans but sales of state assets have been repeatedly delayed.

In a separate report, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, also announced that it had partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Egypts Sovereign Fund to develop desalination plants in Egypt through a public-private partnership model.

The scheme is part of Egypts plan to increase desalinated water supply by 8.8 million cubic metres of water daily by 2050, with the first plants to be located in the north coast region of Marsa Matrouh, the IFC said. The Arab country depends almost entirely for fresh water supplies on the River Nile, and is considered at high risk from the impacts of climate change.
Shen Ching, a Chinese company producing cast-iron pipes and steel industry, has announced plans to invest $2 billion in Egypts Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Head of the Chinese firm, He Kijo, made the announcement during a meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli in Egypt.

The project is set to be built on an area of 1.7 million square meters at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Shams.

The annual turnover of this project is expected to amount to around $2.6 billion.

The project will be implemented over two stages, offering over 2,100 jobs.

The first stage includes the production of cast-iron pipelines with a production capacity of 250,000 a year, with around $150 million in investments.

Meanwhile, the second stage will be carried out with approximately $1.8 billion in investments and an annual production capacity of 2 million tons of steel dedicated for export purposes.
Burkina Faso has acquired military equipment including drones and armored vehicles worth around $415 million to beef up the armys capacity in the fight against terrorism, reports say.

The acquisition took place this month after the government greenlighted on March 1st the ratification of a sovereign guarantee in favor of International Business Bank Burkina (IB Bank Burkina), a local bank which facilitated the transaction.

The government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, did not reveal the identity of the supplier but a source within the army indicated that the equipment include drones, fighter jets, weapons, ammunition, troop transport and combat vehicles. The source who required anonymity also revealed that the equipment is already in use by the army and proved to be efficient.

On some fronts, this equipment is producing concrete results. It is used by soldiers in the field, the source added.

The West African country has been grappling with insecurity caused by terrorists and has lost 40 per cent of its territory to the terror groups. In power since September 2022 following a coup, Traore has vowed to improve the logistics of the army in face of terrorists who seemed better equipped than the countrys own forces.
The Algerian president has been uttering contradictory comments since he took office showing the inconsistency of his countrys military regime as far as foreign policy is concerned. He rejects mediation in a conflict his country has created with Morocco, while seeking a role in resolving issues as far as the black sea or the Sahel!

In an interview with Al Jazeera, President Tebboune reiterated the hostile position of his military mentors saying relations with Rabat reached a point of no return.

Meanwhile, Tebboune said his country was ready to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine or in the Sahel, a statement that was met with astonishment by international observers.

Tebboune adopted a victimization stance saying his country was only reacting to Morocco, yet without mentioning what actions was Algeria reacting to when it cut ties, banned Moroccan aircrafts from its airspace, shut a gas pipeline, and incited a separatist group to withdrew from an UN-brokered ceasefire.

He mentioned that borders have been kept closed for four decades since Algerias independence without again specifying who keeps them shut despite repeated calls from the Moroccan sovereign for open borders and integration between the two countries.

Tebboune has come to represent the civilian facade of a brutal military regime that holds a whole country hostage while stoking hostility against Morocco which the Algerian official rhetoric blames for all the woes in the country.

Faithful to conspiracy theories that puts the blame on Morocco on all that goes wrong in Algeria, Tebboune used the same approach to explain why Tunisia was mired in self-inflicted economic and social troubles. He said that was because Tunisias authoritarian president Kais Saied has received the chief of the Polisario separatist militias, which Tebboune calls president of the self-proclaimed and Algeria-based Sahrawi republic.

Algeria, which often claims it was not a party to the Sahara conflict, is the same country that urges Spain to change its pro-Morocco position regarding the conflict. It is also the country that has pre-judged the outcome of self-determination by creating and backing militarily and diplomatically a separatist entity and lobbying for its recognition by the African Union.

But as it sensed the days of the Polisario membership in the African Union are numbered, the military regime pulls the strings of the civilian facade, Tebboune, to make statements to international and co-opted national media. But they are not convincing anyone!

Nearly two years after they cut ties, Algeria failed to present any evidence against Morocco. Many observers view Algerias warmongering and hostility towards Morocco as a tactic to galvanize a fractured domestic front against an imaginary enemy at the gates.
NebraskaLand Bank has announced the launch of its 25th anniversary initiative, "Project Blank." The project challenges its employees to come up with creative ideas to benefit their local communities, according to a press release from the bank.

As part of this initiative, a group of employees has organized a fundraiser featuring a ghost investigation of the historical Fox Theater with professional paranormal investigation team research and investigation of paranormal activity on Saturday, with hour-long investigation time slots available beginning at 6 p.m. Investigation tickets can be purchased at northplattecommunityplayhouse.com.

I was just over the moon that my group wanted to support the Playhouse, said Chantel Burch, NebraskaLand Bank employee and volunteer performer for the North Platte Community Playhouse.

The Fox Theater is one of the first places that Google searches will lead you if youre looking for haunted locations in the North Platte Area. This is a rare opportunity to explore paranormal hot spots that the public normally dont get to see.

In addition, the event will also feature showings of the cult classic films "Ghostbusters" and "Paranormal Activity" for those who prefer not to participate in the ghost hunt or would like to watch before or after their investigation.
A CODE Task Force operation led to the arrest of several people on drug charges Wednesday morning in Nebraska and Kansas.

According to a press release from the Nebraska State Patrol, the CODE Task Force includes officers from several law enforcement agencies in west-central and southwest Nebraska. They obtained arrest warrants for several individuals in connection with narcotics investigations in Dawson County.

Those arrested Wednesday were:

Brianna Pena, 35, was arrested in Lexington for distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Shelby Irish, 31, was arrested in Oberlin, Kansas for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of methamphetamine.

Christopher Twohig, 44, was arrested in Cozad for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and habitual criminal. During the arrest, Twohig was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and a firearm, which led to additional charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana  less than one ounce, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm during a drug violation.

Luis Valdez, 26, was arrested in Broken Bow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Eric Valtierra, 29, who is currently incarcerated with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) has been charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Luis Lazo-Escobar, 31, who is currently incarcerated with the NDCS has been charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

The CODE Task Force was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriffs Department, Decatur County (Kansas) Sheriffs Office and FBI.
Not necessarily for women, according to Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt. Photo: Sue Ogrocki/AP/Shutterstock

While the end of Roe v. Wade last year imposed terrible hardships on women across the country, there have been some glimmers of hope for supporters of reproductive rights  like voters in six states backing pro-choice ballot measures. But some states are so firmly in the grip of anti-abortion activists and their religious and political partners that good news on the issue is hard to come by.

One such state is Oklahoma. But this week, the State Supreme Court overturned a small part of the states near-total abortion ban, ruling in a 5-4 decision that abortions must be allowed in situations where there is a reasonable chance that the mothers life is in danger. To be clear, the court didnt go hog wild with the idea of protecting a womans right to life. As the Washington Post noted:

Oklahomas constitution protects the right to an abortion if the womans physician has determined to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that continuing the pregnancy will endanger the womans life, the courts justices said in Tuesdays ruling. Absolute certainty that the pregnancy will be life-threatening isnt required, but mere possibility or speculation is insufficient, they added.

Even that pallid ruling required that a conservative justice break ranks and join with the courts more liberal-leaning members. But the court explicitly declined to define any constitutional right to an elective termination of a pregnancy or to abortions carried out for reasons other than preserving the life of the pregnant woman.

This hairsplitting dispute over when exactly its appropriate to save pregnant womens lives parallels another in equally deep-red Tennessee, where Republican legislators have been arguing over how close to death a woman must be before doctors can terminate a pregnancy.

Oklahomas Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, put out a statement saying, I wholeheartedly disagree with this activist majoritys opinion creating a right to an abortion in Oklahoma, making it clear that he was bitterly unhappy with his State Supreme Courts small step toward decency.
January 6 and the 2020 Election Aftermath

Case type: Criminal

Where: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Prosecutor: Jack Smith, DOJ special counsel

When: Unclear

Perhaps the biggest case of all, the Justice Department has been investigating a variety of plots that intersected with Trump in relation to the lead-up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. One such plot was the scheme to send fake electors from the states to Congress on January 6, 2021, in order to declare Trump as the phony winner of the election. Smiths office has issued subpoenas to election officials in key states such as Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Another plot involves how Trump and his inner circle sought to pressure his vice-president, Mike Pence, to stop Congress from certifying Bidens victory that day. There is also the question of how exactly Trump fit into the violence that unfolded at the Capitol after he urged his supporters to march there during his speech at the Ellipse. On Friday afternoon, Smiths office scored a huge victory in court when a judge ruled that several members of the Trump administration, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows, must comply with a subpoena for grand-jury testimony.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

Is Ron DeSantis running for president in 2024? The short answer is Yes. Insiders say hes privately discussed his campaign plans without any caveats that would suggest hes still deciding. Hes toured the country to tout his book and his record as Florida governor. Hes visited Iowa and New Hampshire. Hes laid out his foreign-policy vision. Hes received endorsements from elected officials. Hes directly attacked Donald Trump and claimed he could beat President Biden. And Trump has already given him a variety of nasty nicknames.

But technically, the answer is no  or rather, not yet. Although its obvious that hell run in 2024, DeSantis hasnt formally announced. Politicians have been known to play coy about their presidential ambitions for years, but the governor has dropped some pretty strong hints about when hell make things official. Heres everything we know about the timing of DeSantiss 2024 campaign announcement.

What has DeSantis said about his timeline?

DeSantis is widely expected to announce his candidacy sometime after the Florida legislative session concludes in May. When asked about his timeline for making a 2024 decision during a February 20 appearance on Fox & Friends, DeSantis said he had two big things coming up: his book tour for The Courage to Be Free and the legislative session.

Were going to sell some books, were going to spread the message of Florida. And then on March 8, I have our legislative session thats kicking off, DeSantis said.

He noted that Republicans won supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature in the 2022 midterms and said hes eager to show what they can do.

You aint seen nothing yet, he said. This is going to be the most productive legislative session we have had across the board, and I think people are going to be really excited. So those are what were going to be doing over these next few months as we get beyond that, then we can decide from there.

DESANTIS ON 2024: "I have a book coming out [...] I have our legislative session that's kicking off [...] You ain't seen nothing yet, this is gonna be most productive legislative session we have had across the board [...] As we get beyond that, then we can decide." pic.twitter.com/c8DqhQKgi1  Floridas Voice (@FLVoiceNews) February 20, 2023

The interview concluded with the fawning Fox & Friends hosts urging DeSantis to announce his candidacy right then and there, but he just laughed.

When does Floridas legislative session end?

The Florida Legislature meets for 60 consecutive days each year. This years session started on March 7 and is set to conclude on May 5. Miami-based Democratic strategist Sasha Tirador predicted that DeSantis could announce anytime after that.

Once the session is over, hes going to give a great, big speech on his, quote, accomplishments, Tirador told the Washington Examiner. The banning of books, the banning of drag queens, the banning of whatever comes to mind on that day of the week. He might just go ahead and announce within that speech. But I think hell do it right after the legislative session. He cant afford to wait beyond that.

What else could affect the timing of DeSantiss announcement?

There are a few issues related to Florida election laws that could shift DeSantiss plans. The governor was just reelected to a four-year term, but under the states resign to run law hes supposed to step down before he runs for federal office. This probably wont be a problem for DeSantis. Theres been some debate about whether the law actually applies, and its been modified for previous Florida governors eyeing federal office. Republican legislative leaders have said theyd be happy to tweak the rules to make it clear that DeSantis can run for president without giving up his governorship, which is another reason he may be waiting for the end of the current session.

Trumps allies have also filed an ethics complaint against DeSantis, accusing him of violating Florida ethics and election laws with his shadow presidential campaign. Theoretically, the complaint from Make America Great Again Inc., a Trump-supporting super-PAC, could lead to state fines, public censure, ballot disqualification, removal from office or impeachment, according to NBC News. But it seems unlikely that the Florida Commission on Ethics will even investigate, as DeSantis appointed five of the nine members.
12 items in this article Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

Carlos Huber, fragrance designer and founder of Arquiste, and his husband, Andrew Timberlake, a plastic surgeon, decided on an intimate wedding. A big event wouldnt have allowed their families to get to know each other, they reasoned. So Huber and Timberlake held their ceremony in Puerto Escondido with 15 family members, and promised their extended circle a party at a later date. Their friends still wanted to send gifts, so they built a focused registry of items that felt special. Not just the practical Riedel wineglasses. We wanted things that tell our story, says Huber.

With that in mind, the couple landed on items from Venice, an important city in their relationship (more on that below), as well as a few practical kitchen gadgets and elegant homeware for cooking and hosting  two activities they enjoy doing together. Even on weekdays we use these things, because we think about it as hosting for ourselves, Huber says. Theres something about making a weekday night special after Andrew comes home from a hectic day. Even if its just the two of us and were going to watch something on Netflix after. The result is a mix of versatile, elevated pieces, like a hand-painted carafe and tumbler set for guests, easy-to-clean coated linen placemats, and napkins from their favorite swimwear brand.

Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven - Matte White $420 $420 We use this mainly for sauteing or whatever needs to be done on the stove. Le Creuset is classic, and we went with the matte white to match our kitchen. It has navy blue cupboards and a subway-tile backsplash of blue and white. We leave the Le Creuset out on the stovetop most of the time, and it just looks good. $420 at Le Creuset Buy $420 at Williams Sonoma Buy

Thermomix TM6 x Cutter Bundle $1,499 This is a German kitchen gadget, but I actually know about it from Spain, where I lived before coming to the U.S. Its super-popular there, and my Spanish and Mexican friends here in New York all swear by it. They were like, You have to put it on your registry. Either people can contribute or youll get it from somebody. It is a life changer. It does everything  weighs, cuts, blends, cooks, air fries, you name it. We love making soups. All you have to do is throw in some veggies, add water, and blend for a beautiful, creamy soup. $1,499 at Thermomix Buy

Petra Palumbo Signature Carafe and Tumbler Set $115 $115 We love hosting friends and family when theyre in town, and we wanted to have a special carafe set for our guest bedroom. The room itself is mustard yellow, but we try to incorporate blue in pretty much every room in the apartment. Petra Palumbo makes these beautiful hand-painted carafes inspired by the environment, and we thought the sky-blue lavender made the most sense. If someones over and we bring it out into the living room, it matches the aesthetic of the rest of our home, too. $115 at Petra Palumbo Buy

Alajmo Madre Glasses $64 $64 Venice is a special place for us. Back in 2019, we visited friends there, and we got engaged soon after. I think we both knew it was right after that trip. One of the things we discovered about each other is that we both love bringing back quirky things local or specific to a place or even from particular moments that we loved. For instance, these perfectly round, balloonlike glasses we saw during a dinner at Quadrino in Saint Marks Square with a friend. Theyre handblown and made on commission, and theyre so delicate and fun. Truly a delight. We couldnt bring them home because we were already bringing a lot of stuff back, so they were a must-have on our registry. If someones over for a glass of wine, we serve it in one of these, and their face just lights up. Everyones like, Oh my God, these are so fun. Whered you get them? $64 at Alajmo Buy

Andrew actually introduced me to Carolina Irving and Daughterss tabletop collection. (One of the daughters is a close friend of his.) Everything is hand-painted in Portugal with a very traditional, casual southern European or Latin feel. As Im from Mexico, the collection really spoke to me. I could see the connection with traditional Talavera and ceramics from my home country. We both love the Tulip collection in particular. We use the plates every night when we sit down at the dining table. Because theyre hand-painted, theyre not dishwasher safe, but its only the two of us and were washing dishes by hand anyway.

We bring out the mini conchas whenever we have guests over for a drink. Theyre cute for serving olives or nuts or anything like that. Or, if were having a taco night, Ill cut up some limes and put them in there. Theyre versatile and some of my favorite things in the house.

This was another Venetian find Andrew discovered. Even though hes a plastic surgeon, he loves interior design and has a good eye. They make really traditional but practical tabletop linens. The linen is coated, so theyre easy to clean and the quality is fantastic. We picked the Nura placemats because we have a round table in our dining room at home and they go well with the Carolina Irving plates. Thats like our everyday setting. We also wanted the mango checkerboard ones for our vacation home in Merida, Yucatan.

Thorsun Toucans Napkins $40 $40 Were actually huge fans of this brand for its swim trunks. We love the prints, from its Mexican-inspired designs to the classically French Charvet collaboration. When the company started a home collection, we were excited to find some of our favorite patterns on napkins, like this toucan one. Our plates and glassware are more traditional in feel, so the napkins are a casual contrast to make the tablescape more fun. We especially like them in the summer when we have more of a light menu, like pasta salad or watermelon salad. And they work as both napkins and placemats. $40 at Thorsun Buy

As I mentioned, we have a vacation home in Merida. It needed some art for the walls, but the house is pretty open to the elements. The humidity and seasonal rains mean we cant hang oil paintings as much as we would like. We also wanted something of quality but not too expensive since we only enjoy the house a couple of weeks a year. The rest of the time, its a rental. Persona on Paper was perfect for this because it offers really high-quality prints from up-and-coming artists, and theyre really well framed. You dont have to sacrifice art for practicality. I especially love Mario Zootss work and Pamela Ocampos photography.

Alpen Schatz 1 Small Traditional Swiss Dog Collar $90 Ive always loved the traditional Alpen Schatz collars you see on postcards of Switzerland  the ones on cows or Saint Bernards and Bernese Mountain dogs. We have a mini dachshund, Chorizo, and we wanted him to have this because we like things with a sense of humor. We thought it would be funny for this little sausage dog to wear something a mountain dog would wear. Everyone smiles when they see it. And I like that its this very blingy collar, but its obviously not since it has this pastoral background. $90 at Alpen Schatz Buy

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Tuesday night at the Opelika City Council meeting, Mayor Gary Fuller presented a proclamation honoring Odalys Silvera for serving families in the community through the non-profit organization Esperanza House, which she established in 2015.

The City of Opelika recognizes people and organizations in our community who provide high-quality, locally responsive programs for making our community better places to live and work, particularly for low-and moderate income peoples, Fuller read from the proclamation.

Fuller said Silveras impact on the community is immeasurable and recognized her for her dedication and service to bettering the lives of Hispanic families in our community.

Its a blessing to be recognized, Silvera said. I just want to thank the community for the support. I always say that Esperanza House is not something that is mine. This is the Lords.

Silvera, originally from Cuba, said after moving to the Auburn-Opelika area about 11 years ago she saw a need in the community to help improve the quality of life for Hispanic children and families as well as to lead people to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Esperanza House has a goal to develop and implement programs that meet the needs of low-income, Hispanic families and their children with a focus on youth development, childcare, physical and mental health, education and advocacy.

The organization serves local families by tutoring students, educating families, providing childcare, providing Bible studies and connecting them to resources.

Our main goal is to present the love of Jesus Christ and at the same time help them to be able to go to college, Silvera said.

Esperanza House works to help students received scholarships to college. In 2021, 5 out of 7 graduates went to college on full scholarships, and this year, 3 out of 5 graduates will be going to higher education.

Silvera said their goal is to help break the cycle these families have been in and help kids become the first generation in their family to attend college.

When Esperanza House was established, Silvera said they started with 7 children and now they serve 278 kids including newborns up to 18 year olds. These children come from 6 different countries, with the majority being from Guatemala and El Salvador, according to the website.

The organization also serves 90 families in the Auburn-Opelika area and 125 adults that participate with their families in programs with Esperanza House.

On April 1 at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., Esperanza House is planning to host an Easter egg hunt in Opelika at Miles Thomas Field across from Municipal Monkey Park. Besides food and games, there will also be local healthcare providers onsite to provide health screenings, education, vaccines and to connect people to resources in the community.

To find out how to support Esperanza House, visit the website esperanzahouse.org/donate or email esperanzahouse01@gmail.com.
The Opelika Police Department will be hosting a Memorial and Candlelight Vigil honoring Amore Wiggins, a young girl whose remains were found in Opelika in 2012. Before Wiggins was identified in January, she was known during the investigation as Opelika Baby Jane Doe.

The service will be held on Sunday, April 2, in the Lee County Courthouse Square in Downtown Opelika beginning at 5 p.m. At the memorial, several people will give speeches and the Opelika High School Choir Ensemble will sing.

The OPD invites the community to attend the memorial and encourages attendees to wear pink in honor of Wiggins.

We also hope to announce future plans for a Memorial Marker to honor her within the community, the OPD release said.

After Wiggins was identified, with the help of a forensic DNA company, Othram Inc., her biological father Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. was arrested and charged with felony murder and his wife Ruth Vickerstaff was arrested and charged with failure to report a missing child. Both are going through the court process with their last court appearance on Wednesday during a preliminary hearing at the Lee County Justice Center.

Wiggins biological mother Sherry Wiggins lost custody of her daughter to the Vickerstaff couple in a Virginia court in 2009, but she has been paying child support for the past 13 years never knowing her daughter had been killed.

After she was contacted by the OPD, she wanted to arrange a memorial service in Opelika for everyone who loves Amore.

In a statement Sherry wrote on a Go Fund Me account, she said, Thanks to everyone that is supporting me at this trying time. Words cant express my gratitude or emotions. Im forever (thankful) for the Opelika Police Department and special thanks to Sgt. (Alfred) White. Hes still in that office working late countless hours along with his team. Justice will definitely be served.

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App.
And he hasn't aged a bit! See what happens when you're unproblematic!

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I'm ok. I'm not tearing up over an immortal ten year old and his pet rat on this lovely Friday morning.

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pikachu is NOT a rat, that is so rude 

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Pikachu is a rat and he shouldn't be ashamed of that

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Rats are wonderful and adorable. It's a compliment!

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Imagine retiring after only 25 years

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To be fair, he did start working when he was 10 

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Couldn't be us.

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France is punching the air

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omg this is making me so emotional. i grew up with ash and pikachu.

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Pikachu was like "About time, my feet hurt!"

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Thats why hes slimmer now than he was at the start of the now.

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I am 32 now with a nice corporate job but im just gonna take some personal time to cry over this lmao

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Im 41 years old and still not ready to say goodbye. :( I dont know how I feel about OG Team Rocket going to the next series, though I actually preferred the idea of it being a fresh start with all new faces.

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Pokemon games have always been my happy place but did anyone actually consistently watch the show for 25 years??

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Yeah, like you my attachment is through the games more than through the show. But still, it's something I used to watch when I was a child so it feels like the end of an era!

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I stopped around the B/W era (I found Max annoying), but my kid was watching Pokemon by then so it was always on someones screen. I ended up picking it back up during the Alola seasons and havent regretted it.

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my family never watched regularly. cartoon network used to be free on my tv provider during summer break and they'd do marathons each year so i caught a lot of advanced battle, battle frontier but they're the last i remember



pokemon tv cycles the seasons through which is absolute trash

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lmao i find it hard to believe that the people crying about this are those that watched beyond the johto/hoenn series



i personally stopped after the start of the battle frontier arc when they changed the dubbed voices and intermittently watched the battle frontier/sinnoh episodes in the morning before going to school...i mean by then i was already in high school and i was going through a ~pokemon is dumb~ phase despite still playing the games lmao

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One of my co-workers watched the entire series lmfao and he'd fill me in on what was going on with Ash and co.

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I've watched every season. I used to fill my ancient hard drive with downloaded fansubs from dubious internet places like 20 years ago but now they're on streaming services. Much more convenient and legal lol

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i stopped around the 2000s around black and white.

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I hope Pikachu gets to enjoy his retirement with as many ketchup bottles as he wants.

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7 year old me cant handle this news

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Carried the Pokemon franchise on their backs for 25 years, omg. Enjoy your well-earned retirement, kings. <3

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I haven't watched in years but damn this is sad. I really thought they'd just have Ash and Pikachu go on as the main characters forever.

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okay but we still never got to see ash's dad

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End of an era. I remember dragging my fam to the first pokemon movie

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I was waiting for one of those dimwits to ask "Can you draw seven red lines, all perpendicular, some with green ink, some with transparent ink, and one in the form of a kitten ?"

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We truly have some of our dumbest citizens making all our laws. 



Feels bad, man.

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and theyre not even the ones making them, corporations are. the politicians just read the emails with money signs in their eyes and write whatever walmart tells them to write

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It's so stupid. They should have had someone from cyber security present to give their expertise. That's all what these people do. They just make laws with zero knowledge and expertise. It's not like they are critical thinkers themselves. They ban books on critical theory and create these "anti-woke" and "don't say gay" shit, yet they never opened a book on women's studies and gender studies. Just like any dumbass can be a cop, any dumbass can be a politician. It's all about wanting money and power while getting away for the shit they do.

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This goes double for state legislatures... I swear paying attention to their ignorant ass takes biannually is taking months off my life. 



We had a legislator introduce a bill that would ban blood donations from both vaccinated people AND anyone who had ever had COVID. Their argument was like "Yes, multiple authorities are saying this and that about COVID and vaccines... however, what if they're all wrong or lying!" One legislator testified that her relative was a mortician, and since COVID & the vaccines, they noticed the blood of corpses was more "fibrous" 

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This is as bad as when politicians interrogate doctors about abortion but they clearly have no clue about basic female anatomy. They really think theyre pulling some power moves and making the experts look like villains but all theyre really doing is revealing just how ignorant they themselves are about science. I applaud the TikTok guys patience and professionalism because after about two of these ridiculous questions, I would have blurted out something like Are you fucking stupid? Thats not how the internet works.



Edited at 2023-03-25 02:59 am (UTC)

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I bet none of these people have ever used the app. Also is it just me but the tiktok CEO is kind of cute lol

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No I thought the same lol

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tbh they've probably never used ANY app.

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I believe the majority of them know how to use the Ashley Madison app

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nah im pretty sure theyve used grindr

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grindr

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They remind me of my grandpa, who wanted to buy a new computer because he didn't know how to update his browser to Edge.

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..they're using flip phones from consumer cellular

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no one of my first thoughts when i saw the news yesterday was, "oh he's kinda cute" lol

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He is <3

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lol ive been getting fan edits of him.

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Also is it just me but the tiktok CEO is kind of cute lol



oh ok so it wasn't just me being horny again lmao

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Hes a lot younger than I expected. I thought hed be as old as and look like the Alibaba guy.

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I feel less shallow for thinking this now.

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I didn't want to be the first to say it, but he IS cute

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Also is it just me but the tiktok CEO is kind of cute lol



sis there are thrist trao edits of him on the app, ive seen some with the NewJeans OMG edit

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Hes easily the best looking CEO thats testified in front of Congress

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this pissed me off to no end. Can't stand seeing people who don't know the basics of jack shit be paid an inflated wage. I don't like TikTok -- or FB  and I simply don't use it without veering into sinophobia.

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We had a petition to get something on the ballot here a few years ago and there was this whole campaign- "Don't sign because then CHINA will get your information." Like, ads on tv, postcards sent to the house. It was so fucking bizarre.

It's your name and address. It's public record. Like, they aren't asking for the PIN for your bank account and your SSN.

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This reminds me of a few years ago... one of our Finance managers asked me over for some help. She wanted to know why she couldn't edit a table in a PowerPoint presentation someone sent to her. I was like... 'it's a picture... you can't edit it because it's a picture; you're not supposed to be able to change it.' She was like several job levels ahead of me at this time lol.

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I had someone at director level take a screenshot of an attachment because they didnt know how to save an attachment.



I was like WTF is this going to happen to me when I get old?!

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OP, please put one or two of the tweets behind a cut.



Edited at 2023-03-24 06:09 pm (UTC)

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Done



Edited at 2023-03-24 06:12 pm (UTC)

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Thanks ma'am.

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Lmao if you want to feel even worse, that idiot in the first video was a pharmacist before he was elected

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Eww, how do these assholes get to where they are?! He has no reason to be in charge of peoples' medications. holy fucking shit.

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"why do you need to know where the eyes are?!?!"



dude he literally just said its a filter to superimpose SUNGLASSES on you. actual idiots running this country.

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The CEOs brain malfunctioning after the WiFi question was so funny. This is why the world thinks Americans are stupid af

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I burst out laughing. These people are so fucking stupid.

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We're not sending our best to the halls of Congress that's for damn sure lol

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Im almost fluent in stupid but correct me if im wrong.



Was the congressman trying to imply that if a tt user is using the app while connected to wifi - tt could then infiltrate and extract data from other products (laptops) connected to the same wifi?

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Yea, he was trying to get the CEO to admit to that

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I don't know much about law but what would stop him from asking exactly that? Is it not purposeful to simply ask what you need to ask? The roundabout way makes me think one isn't asking what's implied and simply what's at face value.

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Lmao same. Like.. I am nowhere near being a technological savant (I don't even know how to change my Wifi password tbh), but my god even I know how dumb and idiot these questions are.



Nnnnn that first tweet/question made by brain melt.



And then the wi-fi one. I'm like.. you have to have wi-fi to connect to the Internet? We all know that? lol. lololol

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but for real, I have heard many times from business acquaintances that Tiktok DOES track where your eyes go on the video and for how long and uses that for their algorithm/serve you more relevant ads.

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Ive suspected this from IG! I wont tap on something on the explore page but will look at it, then more of that image topic will appear. I actually havent noticed that yet with TikTok.

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This is definitely something that happens on most apps that have video replay technology, unfortunately. Youtube has this feature with their autoplay video on their mobile app

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I mean, even marketing emails from any and every company are tracking when you opened the email, on what device, how long you rest on each part of the email (where your eyes are), and tracking what links you click, etc.



Edited at 2023-03-24 06:42 pm (UTC)

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lmao they need to track better bc I only get garbage ads

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Yeah I remember hearing the same about instagram a while ago. They can for sure track when you scroll and what gets you to stop scrolling but I've been told even as you're just scrolling through the feed your phone's camera is tracking where your eyes are.

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im pretty sure there was a viral video from vox or something similar saying apps can track your eyes when scrolling through social media.

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I think this is pretty common. People do education studies on eye tracking. I think it's in a lab, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's built into course software.

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You know as someone who usually shrugs off this stuff, I'm kind of worried right now. I mean I know they were tracking us but I didn't know they were tracking us through the camera literally... I just ordered camera blockers online.

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Going to start wearing sunglasses whenever I look at my phone now

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I had a meeting yesterday and one of the ladies in my meeting is 33 and she kept talking about TikTok like its the most complicated app on earth. Saying how no one over 25 should use it, or understood what it was about using words like slap and cap and explaining the slang to my older coworkers lmao

Like maam, its not that hard.



Cool story bro

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33 going on 83.

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How is she 33 and not know how it works? Was she sheltered? Lol

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On her words Im pregnant, so I dont have time for that it scares me





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Wow, wtf lol! I'm 40, I know how to use it, I love it. I follow a lot of users older than me, in their 30s, etc. They have great content. Smh.

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fine if they don't wanna use it but it's not like 33 year olds didn't grow up right as social media apps were being invented. what's the difficulty understanding it??? lol

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there's plenty of reasons to not like plenty of social media apps without acting like it's some totally different world out there lol especially when social media plays a huge role in society now. tiktoks one of my least favorite of the apps but i feel like people think disliking it makes them special. i honestly feel it's...kind of the norm now and for barely any of the reasons these apps are harmful in the first place. :|

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if these politicians actually cared about data protections, they would work on legislation to regulate these tech companies instead of wasting everyone's time by asking the ceo of tiktok if the internet is a series of tubes. absolute embarrassment

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there's no benefit to them in regulating the businesses of folks who donate stupid amounts of cash to their campaigns, but there is a benefit in drumming up anti-Chinese fearmongering

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My only addition to this mess is that CEO can actually get it hes a cutie

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I'm glad ONTD can finally agree on something!

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Right?!! Im like guess I stan him now? I dont even have TikTok



Edited at 2023-03-24 09:54 pm (UTC)

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Wow! This is terrible. They sound sf stupid, uneducated, elderly, etc. Why is this happening right now. They need to worry about things that are more important. smh. The CEO was so good at answering these questions. God bless him. I love Tiktok tbh. They can't get rid of it, wtf. I watch so many good channels on there, good quality content as well. It's been so nice.



Edited at 2023-03-24 06:28 pm (UTC)

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There's a discussion underneath here about digital accessibility, accountability, and understanding that needs to be had, but this ain't it, especially with the usual dog-whistles of anti-Chinese racism and American nationalism. I do wonder why these officials thought being a part of a hearing that is steeped in topical chats of technology with such lil understanding themselves, but arrogance got them wyldin I guess

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More info here



So I hope the TikTok CEO keeps his promise!



Edited at 2023-03-24 07:33 pm (UTC) The thing is that I agree that data should be stored in the country people are so I hope TikTok does this because it's weird storing some place else lol. I know for sure that China makes foreign companies store the Chinese user's data in China and it makes sense. Apple got sued and now they have store it there.So I hope the TikTok CEO keeps his promise!

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Yeah I remember reading this suit, and I wholeheartedly agree! Hopefully housing the data in the folks' respective countries will create opportunities for a compromise that both appeases and protects users. This isn't accepting the dumbass example of clownery put on here, but I do think with the rise of deepfake porn, catfishing, etc, it is worth being more mindful of both where and how your own data is stored. It's much more difficult to get a deepfake of yourself down from a different country with different privacy laws than a lot of folks might realize.

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I cant tell if people are editing in pauses for comedic effect but every time he is quiet before responding, I imagine its because he is baffled that someone just asked him that question and it cracks me up.

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Damn, they made much less than I assumed. The mouse is stingy as fuck.

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I worked with two people who quit to go work at Disney World and they absolutely prey on people's desire to work there. There will always be someone willing to take the job no matter how little the pay bc they just fucking love being in Disney world.



Edited at 2023-03-24 06:47 pm (UTC)

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Man I knew this one woman who was so hyped to work at the Bippity Bobbity Boutique in the College Program and was dismayed each of the 3 times they never picked her. She gave us and moved on and I hope she's being paid much better now....then again, she wanted to be a teacher, so probs not :(

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omg, there definitely is a teacher to Disney cast member pipeline lol, one of the people I knew was also studying to be a teacher. The other person was my coworker at Lowes, and I legit think she took a pay cut when she quit to be a cast member at Disney World.

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"Disney is proud to offer an industry-leading employment package that includes comprehensive benefits and affordable medical coverage, in addition to 100 percent paid tuition for higher education for hourly employees through the Disney Aspire program."



Yet you needed (the threat of) action to find that pride, huh.

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They cannot EAT a college degree, Jim!

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Have they tried?

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You can't show it to your landlord in lieu of rent either.

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But then they will also turn around and schedule people during their school hours and hold them responsible for not showing up.

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Disney workers should really try harder to split themselves in two.

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Not nearly enough, but I'm so proud of the workers for staying strong! Wish them luck on getting their further demands

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That's nowhere NEAR enough for a monopoly this large, but hopefully these workers can get what they're truly worth sooner than later.

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This is so great! I just went to Disneyland yesterday and it was the first time I'd been in a park in literally decades, and you can tell the employees take a lot of pride in their work. But pride doesn't put food on the table.



Although I was kind of creeped out by the people in the Rise of the Resistance ride playing First Order officers bossing us around because I've had to read about the Stanford prison experiment too much.

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Disneyland employees get paid more because California's minimum wage is higher. When WDW did the last contract, I think the Florida minimum wage was $10.

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I left Magic Kingdom in 2021 making $15.00/hr and went to a job that started at $16. In the two years since I've gotten three raises which puts me in the mid-twenties per hour. Cast members can do better for themselves and this union that settles for these piddly 50-cent wage increases over years structures. The "free" tickets aren't worth it.

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They'll be mid-20s by 2026, like at that point, who knows if that'll cover COL.

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I hate that I ever worked there. Most days were nice but others were a nightmare that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

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Any stories ?

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They deserve way more but I'm glad they aren't taking shit. I worked as Minnie Mouse (5'1 ugh) when I was in my 20s and its a lot to work in that heat and humidity.

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For the amount of shitty adult guests and destructive children they have to deal with everyday they deserve more.

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You've got the money Mickey. Pay these people what they are worth you stingy fucker.

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Considering how rich Disney is, that still isnt enough.

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They could easily pay their employees more just from all the extra money they're raking in with their ridiculous prices. I was looking up hotel costs the other day out of curiosity and a suite at Universal's cheapest hotel was half the price of a suite at Disney World's cheapest hotel for the same week.

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- Apart from higher feedstock costs, US producers are also mandated to comply with Tier 3 regulations that require lower sulfur content in gasoline, meaning gas needs to be hydrotreated more severely, lowering the end products

- As refiners now have to produce summer-quality gasoline, meaning they need to cut down on butane content and increase the share of more expensive alkylates and reformates, the costs are ballooning.

- The spread between premium and regular keeps on widening as refiners across the Atlantic Basin are scrambling to get enough octane to produce high-quality gasoline.

- The Putin-Xi meeting was notably silent on commercial terms for Power of Siberia 2, with Gazprom saying they want to clinch the deal by year-end and start delivering gas by 2030.

- Having already risen 42% year-on-year, steadily overtaking second-largest supplier Saudi Arabia, Russian exports into China are set to grow even further as state-owned refiners ramp up their buying.

- February Chinese customs data shows that Chinas crude oil imports from Russia rose to an all-time high of 2.01 million b/d, equivalent to almost 20% of all incoming oil.

- The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia this week highlighted increasing volumes of energy trade between the two countries as the latter was shunned by Europe.

1. China-Russia Relations Continue To Improve

- The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia this week highlighted increasing volumes of energy trade between the two countries as the latter was shunned by Europe.

- February Chinese customs data shows that Chinas crude oil imports from Russia rose to an all-time high of 2.01 million b/d, equivalent to almost 20% of all incoming oil.

- Having already risen 42% year-on-year, steadily overtaking second-largest supplier Saudi Arabia, Russian exports into China are set to grow even further as state-owned refiners ramp up their buying.

- The Putin-Xi meeting was notably silent on commercial terms for Power of Siberia 2, with Gazprom saying they want to clinch the deal by year-end and start delivering gas by 2030.

2. Premium Gasoline Prices Spin Away from Regular Trends

- The spread between premium and regular keeps on widening as refiners across the Atlantic Basin are scrambling to get enough octane to produce high-quality gasoline.

- As refiners now have to produce summer-quality gasoline, meaning they need to cut down on butane content and increase the share of more expensive alkylates and reformates, the costs are ballooning.

- Apart from higher feedstock costs, US producers are also mandated to comply with Tier 3 regulations that require lower sulfur content in gasoline, meaning gas needs to be hydrotreated more severely, lowering the end products octane levels.

- The US price gap between regular and premium gasoline has been around 75 cents a gallon, some 15-20% higher than last year, a trend aggravated by closures of refineries that produced octane upgrading feedstocks.

3. Headwinds Abound Iron Ore as Price Surge Fizzles Out

- The iron ore price surge that has lifted metal markets in Q1 2023 seems to be running out of steam as expectations of a Chinese economic rebound are fading on still meager construction data.

- With construction accounting for a third of Chinas domestic steel demand, recent news of declining property investment (-5.7%) and falling new housing (-9.4%) poured cold water on growth prospects.

- Chinese iron ore prices have fallen back to $120 per metric tonne, the lowest since January, on the back of this, aggravated by rumors of mandated steel output cuts.

- With Kpler data still showing iron ore imports into China on par with January-February levels, at 102.7 million tons this month, the fear is that prices will fall further in the second half of 2023 as demand is front-loaded.

4. Indias Hunger for Power Stretches Limits of Generation

- As Indian electricity demand is reaching all-time highs, the countrys government has asked electric utility companies to guarantee full capacity generation over the key summer months.

- From March to June, power demand across India is expected to grow by 9-11% compared to last year due to robust economic growth and a triple-dip La Nina year that has already brought an unprecedentedly warm February.

- Even though Indias coal inventories remain healthy, reaching the highest level since March 2021 at more than 30 million tons, the government mandated all imported coal-based power plants to run at full capacity from 16 March 2023.

- The power ministry has also demanded that all coal power plants defer their maintenance schedule beyond June 2023 and that no coal-based power plant is to be retired until 2030.

5. Graphite Fears Remain Heightened Amidst Geopolitical Spats

- Graphite might become one of the commodities most imperiled by a potential meltdown in relations between China and the West, being a crucial component in EV batteries.

- Even though China does not wield the largest graphite resource base (believed to be Turkey), it controls 60% of natural graphite mining and almost all of the graphite refining for EV battery anodes.

- Any supply disruption, due to geopolitical events or else, would devastate EV production as graphite constitutes the single largest component of lithium-ion batteries, up to 50% of their weight.

- China dominates the market of synthetic graphite, mostly produced from petroleum coke, so buying into graphite stocks might be a handy way of hedging against political escalation.

6. Dominating Solar, China Also Commands New Wind Power Projects

- Growth in the wind power industry declined to the lowest level in three years in 2022 as rising turbine prices and growing insecurities around electricity tariffs hinder winds development.

- China was by far the largest market for new capacity additions last year, with 37.6 GW of new projects being commissioned, to be followed by a further 61 GW installed in 2023.

- The expansion of wind power in the US was hamstrung by the declining value of production tax credits for wind farms, seeing a 37% year-on-year decline below the 10 GW mark.

- Starting off from a lower base, Europes capacity additions rose in 2022, but the 40% hike in wind turbine production costs and lack of government subsidies for future projects paint a dark picture.

7. Africa Set to Become Leader in Green Hydrogen

- As Europe is seeking to develop its own hydrogen production facilities, lower-cost and higher-efficiency projects in Africa might see substantial

investment over the next years.

- According to Rystad Energy, Africas total announced electrolyzer pipeline capacity has reached 114 GW, although only 13 MW of the planned projects have seen an FID.

- Most African projects will be producing ammonia for export to Europe as countries like Germany intend to import 50% to 70% of their hydrogen needs by 2030.

- With 21 projects being currently appraised, Egypt tops the list of biggest hydrogen production capacities in Africa, followed by Morocco and Mauritania, all of which enjoy geographic proximity to Europe.
New U.S. and Canadian LNG export projects show signs of accelerating but volatile natural gas prices are making bets on future supply and demand difficult, industrial market intelligence provider Industrial Info Resources (IIR) said in new research on Friday.

But too much too fast could overwhelm the sector. Volatility in natural gas prices makes it difficult to bet on the future and exports take away from domestic needs, IIR said in a statement.

In Canada, the provincial government of British Columbia has allowed the US$7.2 billion floating Ksi Lisims LNG facility to enter the environmental review process. The move followed consent for Cedar LNG, another project planned for Canadas western coast, and both come on the heels of a positive step forward for Shells mega project at Kitimat.

Those LNG facilities, if progressed to construction and operations, could offer Canada an export outlet to the prized North Asian markets, according to IIR.

The U.S. is also progressing with new LNG export facilities.

Developers of U.S. LNG export facilities could launch $100 billion worth of new plants over the next five years as high prices and the need for energy security create strong momentum for long-term LNG demand and contracts.

The United States is set to overtake Qatar and Australia as the worlds top LNG exporter this year after Freeport LNG resumes operations, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said in a recent report. Related: Spain Calls On Importers Not To Sign New LNG Deals With Russia

But U.S. natural gas production is expected to hover around 100 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) for the foreseeable future, per IIRs analysis.

Natural gas remains an essential component of the domestic energy mix and production is expected to linger close to the five-year average, it said.

According to the EIA, the U.S. benchmark spot Henry Hub prices are set to go up from the February lows due to rising demand from the Freeport LNG export facility reopening, seasonal increases in demand in the electric power sector, and relatively flat domestic gas production for the rest of 2023 as producers reduce drilling in response to lower prices.

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By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Mexicos state oil firm Pemex and its partners in the Zama offshore oil discovery submitted on Thursday the development plan for the project that could see its oil production reach levels greater than 10% of Mexicos current output.

Talos Energy, leading a consortium of foreign oil companies, discovered the large Zama oil deposit in 2017. At an estimated 670 million recoverable barrels of oil, the discovery was the largest oil find in Mexico by a private company in decades.

Pemex, however, has said that the Zama deposit extends to a neighboring block operated by the Mexican state oil company. Mexico, whose president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador seeks greater role for Pemex in domestic oil production, appointed last year Pemex as operator of the Zama oilfield. A so-called Unitization Resolution of the Zama field provides for joint development of the entire reservoir instead of each party developing its own block, Talos Energy said a year ago.

This week, Talos Energy announced that Pemex, as operator, submitted the Zama Unit Development Plan to Mexico's National Commission of Hydrocarbons, CNH, for formal approval.

The development plan for Zama envisages two offshore fixed platforms, 46 dry-tree wells, and oil and gas transportation to new facilities in Terminal Maritima Dos Bocas.

We understand the importance of this project to Mexico and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we look towards formal approval and to advance the project to FID, Talos president and CEO Timothy S. Duncan said in a statement.

Zamas development plan would result in the field producing up to 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which represents over 10% of Mexico's current oil production. Production is expected to be comprised of approximately 94% oil of excellent quality, with API gravities of between 26 and 29, Talos says.

Earlier this month, another foreign firm, Italys Eni, said it had discovered oil in the Sureste Basin offshore Mexico in a prospect that could contain around 200 million barrels of oil in place.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Petrobras could be the last man standing when it comes to crude oil production amid the energy transition, the state-run oil companys CEO Jean Paul Prates said in an interview in Rio de Janeiro.

We will get market share, Prates said, according to Bloomberg, referring to Brazils state-run oil company.

The comments come with respect to the energy transition and whether there is cause for concern for an oil company such as Petrobras. But Prates isnt worried. We may be the last to produce oil in the world, he said.

Prates, the recently installed CEO of Petrobras, warned earlier this month that the company must be ready for the unavoidable energy transition and made inroads with its expansion of renewable energy assets, including new offshore wind projects.

But Prates insists that crude oil production will remain the number one priority, with renewable investments paling in comparison.

Brazils crude oil production is set to reach 3.4 million bpd this year, and is set to grow through 2030, but investments will be needed if the country is to keep growingor even to just maintain those levels.

For now, Petrobras said it would focus on existing finds in the pre-salt areas, as well as looking for new ones. It will also look at opening up new basins in the controversial equatorial margin in the north, which shares similar geology to oil hotspot Guyana.

To move forward in that area, Petrobras is waiting on regulatory approval, which is anything but certain due to the fact that it is home to rather unique ecosystems that manyincluding Brazils environment ministerwish to protect. If Petrobras does manage to get approval for this area, it would be able to commence drilling in short orderas soon as April, Prates said.

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By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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An extension of the current strikes at Frances Le Havre port has cut off crude oil deliveries to ExxonMobils nearby Port Jerome refinery, according to the CGT trade union.

Exxons Port Jerome refinerya 236,000 bpd refinery in northern Franceand the Gravenchon petrochemicals plant will stop operations today, CGT said, according to Argus. The refinery was originally expected to close earlier this week as the strikes drug on, but the refinery received a shipment of crude oil from Libya.

TotalEnergies Gonfreville refinery also shut down earlier in the weeka refinery producing 246,900 barrels per day. Four workers from this refiner were tasked by police to release jet fuel stocks last night, intended for airports in Paris.

Other refineries in France that are shuttered are Totals 219,000 bpd Donges refinery and Petroineos 207,000 bpd Lavera refinery.

Strikes have shut down the refineries as French President Emmanuel Macron pushed through a controversial pension reform without a vote in Parliament under parliamentary clause 49:3. The pension reform would raise the retirement age in France by two years, to age 64.

The strikes have disrupted power supply, refining operations, and fuel deliveries for nearly two weeks.

Apart from refining operations, the strikes have disrupted LNG imports into France as LNG import terminals have been shut down.

France has four LNG receiving terminals, Dunkirk, Montoir, Fos Cavaou, and Fos Tonkin. At least seven LNG cargoes heading to France have changed course since the strikes were implemented and are now headed to alternate ports in the Netherlands, the UK, and Spain.

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The retirement-age strikes have been going on for the better part of this year, although Frances refineries have seen a multitude of closures due to strikes stemming from other issues such as pay.

Total and ExxonMobil hold most of the refining capacity in France.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
The Spanish government has urged importers of liquefied natural gas not to sign new deals to purchase Russian LNG as the biggest buyer of Russias LNG in Europe looks to reduce dependence on Moscows gas, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on Friday.

The government of Spain, via Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera who is responsible for the countrys energy policy, sent a letter in the middle of March to Naturgy Energy, Repsol, TotalEnergies, Pavilion Energy, Enagas, Met Energy, Enet Energy, Energias de Portugal, Compania Espanola de Petroleos, and BP Gas & Power Iberia, urging them not to sign new contracts, according to the letter seen by Bloomberg News.

The plea is not binding because there are no sanctions on Russian gas in Europe, but the letter anyway calls on the LNG importers to intensify the diversification of supply of liquefied natural gas and do without those from Russia.

Earlier this month, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson urged all EU member states and all companies not to sign new LNG import contracts with Russia. The European Union has managed to significantly cut its imports of Russian pipeline natural gas over the past year, but now it should stop all LNG imports from Russia, Simson said.

Since September 2022, when Russia cut off deliveries via Nord Stream before the pipelines were sabotaged later that month, Russian gas has accounted for some 8% of all pipeline gas imported into the EU.

Norway has replaced Russia as Europes top pipeline natural gas supplier.

While pipeline supply from Russia has slowed to a trickle, Europe has raised imports of LNG, including LNG from Russia.

Russias LNG supply to Europe jumped by around 20% last year from 2021, according to Refinitiv Eikon data cited by Reuters. All Russian LNG exports rose by 8.6% in 2022 to around 45 billion cubic meters, more than half of which went to Europe, per Refinitiv Eikons data.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Late on Thursday, the U.S. conducted airstrikes in eastern Syria against Iran-affiliated groups after a U.S. contractor was killed in an attack with a drone that the U.S. intelligence community assesses to be of Iranian origin.

One U.S. contractor was killed, and five U.S. service members and one additional U.S. contractor were wounded after a one-way unmanned aerial vehicle struck a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said.

The intelligence community determined the UAV to be of Iranian origin, the U.S. Department of Defense added.

In response to the attack, the U.S. military carried out airstrikes in Syria late on Thursday.

At the direction of President Biden, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, said Secretary Austin.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a group monitoring the war in Syria, SOHR activists had reported that the number of fatalities in the airstrikes by Coalition aircraft on positions of Iranian-backed militias has increased to 11.

The number of fatalities is expected to rise, as the strikes left several militiamen injured, some seriously, amid unconfirmed reports of more fatalities, SOHR said.

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The flare-up of tensions in the Middle East comes just as oil prices were crashing early on Friday as the U.S. dollar was rallying and equity markets in Europe were falling on banking sector concerns.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil exports from Venezuela have all but dried up as the government investigates oil contracts with a mountain of unpaid oil purchase bills to the tune of $21 billion.

According to Reuters, the investigation, which has so far seen at least 20 arrests and the resignation of Venezuelas oil minister, is now at a stage where invoices for oil sold are being matched with payments made, according to unnamed sources and documents.

While this goes on, state-owned PDVSA is exporting almost no oil with just four buyers scheduled to take off from Venezuelan ports this week: an Iranian company, A Cuban one, Chevron, and a Chinese company.

Earlier this week, PDVSA documents showed that the company had accumulated $21.2 billion in accounts receivable over the past three years. The amount represented some 84% of the oil it had sold during the period, Reuters noted in a report.

The value of Venezuelas oil exports was $25.27 billion between January 2020 and March 2023. But documents provided to Venezuelas attorney general during an audit of PDVSA contracts showed that the state oil firm could only confirm the receipt of just $4.08 billion of this.

Whats more, $3.6 billion of the total receivable sum may never get paid as it concerns cargoes whose buyers never prepaid even a part of the total owed for that cargo.

PDVSA is said to have tightened the prepayment rules for its crude oil after the review of contracts began earlier this year. The Venezuelan state-owned oil company now demands that cargoes be paid in cash or in goods and services that should be received before loadings can take place.

In February, Venezuelas oil exports fell by 8% because of the contract reviews, which have caused loading delays and bottlenecks at Venezuelan ports as vessels were held until payment for the cargo was confirmed before being let go.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Via AG Metal Miner

Cornish Metals plans to begin tin mining at its wholly-owned South Crofty site by 2026. According to the Vancouver-headquartered company, the start of mining will also coincide with an expected deficit in tin. Indeed, market analysts predict that there will be a significant shortfall in the global tin supply by the same year, which could drastically impact the tin price.

Plans are now underway at South Crofty to start dewatering the mine by June. According to Cornish Metals CEO Richard Williams last week, the current aim is to conclude the process by the end of 2024. The South Crofty site is in Cornwall, about 430 kilometers southwest of London. It boasts both an upper mine and a lower one.

In 2021, information from the company indicated that the mineral resource estimate for the lower mine (based on JORC standards) was 33 metric tons. This includes tin at a 1.59% grade in a mass of 2.08 million tons. The upper mines indicated resource estimate is 277,000 metric tons with a grade of 1.01% in a mass of 1.94 million metric tons. That said, the inferred estimate is 493,000 tons at 0.93%.

The Tin Price Index Has Major Implications for Renewables

One of tins main applications is in the production of solder. Manufacturers around the world use the versatile material to weld a variety of electronic components. For instance, solar panels use copper strips coated in tin solder to conduct energy between photovoltaic modules.

The current tin price index continues to face expectations of an improving economy in China, the proliferation of solar panels as part of global decarbonization efforts, and the build out of 5G networks. These three factors, among others, will likely push up demand for the base metal and outstrip supply by 2026.

Tins three-month closing price on the LME was $22,464 per metric ton on March 15, down more than 11.3% from $25,334 on March 1. The base metal had also seen a drop of about 17% month on month in late February, due to expectations of slower economic growth for 2023.

But concerns over Zurich-headquartered Credit Suisses future, following the collapse of US banks Silicon Valley and Signature, have created jitters throughout the banking sector. Weakening macroeconomic sentiment continues to dominate across all base metals with a new focus on a potential banking crisis, said Jeremey Pearce, the International Tin Associations head of market intelligence and communications said in a March 16 e-mail. However, the Swiss Central Bank announced on March 15 that it would grant a loan of $54 billion. The intention is to strengthen Credit Suisses liquidity.

The Sites Economic Viability Not a Foregone Conclusion

Cornish Metals is now conducting a feasibility study on how many tons South Crofty might prospectively mine. One representative at the company also stated that it is attempting to evaluate prospective concentrate production at the site. The study should end in 2024, just two years after the company secured 40.5 million. These funds were for the evaluation and for constructing and operating a dewatering plant.

With concerns over a surge in tin price mounting, insiders continue to watch the operation closely. However, one industry analyst expressed reservations about South Crofty. That source noted several attempts to restart the operation since it originally shut down in 1998.I wouldnt be putting this in my base case just yet, the analyst told MetalMiner, referring to the certainty of a project to proceed.

He went on to compare costs with dredging a mine in the United Kingdom as opposed to Southeast Asia. The economics of an underground mine in the United Kingdom compared to dredging in Indonesia are tough. Maybe it depends on by-product credits from lithium [at the mine], the analyst said. Lithiums primary use is producing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices.

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By Christopher Rivituso

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The government of Bolivia has called on its neighbors, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, to work on setting a Latin America-wide policy on the exploitation of lithium. The idea is part of a broader initiative to form an OPEC-like cartel to collectively boost these countries' bargaining power.

President Luis Are spoke in La Paz, saying, "We must be united in the market, in a sovereign manner, with prices that benefit our economies, and one of the ways, already proposed by (Mexico's) President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is to think of a kind of lithium OPEC."

Bolivia has the world's largest lithium resources at 21 million tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey. The "lithium triangle" area of northern Chile and Argentina, which includes sprawling salt flats, has about 65% of the globe's known resources of the metal.

The region could hold nearly 70% of the world's lithium reserves if Peruvian, Mexican and Brazilian potential reserves were added, providing a new source of income for Latin American economies and a restructuring of the world economic scenario around the energy transition, according to the Latin American Strategy Centre for Geopolitics (CELAG).

Bolivia inked a deal with a consortium that includes Chinese battery giant CAT to jointly extract lithium from its Uyuni and Oruro salt flats in January. The partnership would give the group of companies, including mining giant CMOC, rights to developing two lithium plants.

President Are wants to industrialize Bolivia's lithium before the end of his term in 2025 but remains cautious of the potential geopolitical implications that it may bring.

President Are explained, "We don't want our lithium to be in the Southern Command's crosshairs, nor do we want it to be a reason for destabilizing democratically elected governments or foreign harassment."

Chile, Argentina and Bolivia have been discussing creating a lithium cartel since July last year. They aim to integrate other Latin American nations with a nascent lithium industry, including Brazil and Mexico.

Analysts, including Geopolitical Monitor's Arman Sidhu, believe the plan will likely face opposition from environmental and indigenous groups that contributed to left-wing victories in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. He also warned of additional obstacles, including China's potential unwillingness to have its dominance in the industry undermined.

Opponents argue that lithium mining, which can involve vast amounts of water, can cause significant environmental damage, particularly to local communities.

There have also been concerns about the rights of indigenous people in the region who may be affected by mining the metal.

Supporters argue that developing a lithium industry in Latin America could boost the region's economies, particularly as demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy grows.

In recent years, China has been the dominant player in the lithium market, controlling a significant proportion of the world's supply of the metal.

China's position has led to concerns about the security of supply, particularly as demand for lithium is likely to increase due to the ongoing renewable energy and electric vehicle boom.

Developing a lithium cartel in Latin America could help counterbalance China's position in the market and provide greater security of supply for the rest of the world.

The idea of a lithium cartel is still in its early stages, and it remains to be seen whether it will come to fruition.

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It could represent a significant shift in the global lithium market and provide a new source of income for Latin American economies.

Whether this will be achieved without significant opposition remains to be seen, but the potential benefits of a lithium cartel may be too substantial to ignore.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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LINCOLN  Nelnet on Thursday announced its second mass layoff in the past two months.

The Lincoln-based financial services company said it notified 550 employees, most of them in its Nelnet Diversified Services division, that their jobs are being eliminated.

Nelnet said in a press release that the cuts were necessary because of modifications to its student loan servicing contract with the Department of Education.

The company said the department notified it last month that it is transferring 1 million borrowers from Nelnet to another servicer. On Wednesday, the department notified the company that it was modifying its contract, which, significantly decreased the price earned by the company per borrower per month.

Nelnet did not say why the changes were made except that they were not based on the companys performance. Officials from the Department of Education could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Of all the strategic business decisions we must make, the rightsizing of teams is always the most difficult, CEO Jeff Noordhoek said in press release. While some terms of employment end knowingly because the specific work is completed, other unanticipated staff reductions are the result of challenging circumstances that have a significant impact on the business.

We must adjust accordingly to continue providing value to customers to the best of our ability while also positioning the company for long-term success.

The layoffs come after Nelnet laid off 560 people in January, also in its Diversified Services Division.

The company said at the time that most of those layoffs affected workers outside Nebraska, where Nelnet employs thousands of people, mostly in Lincoln.

Nelnet spokesman Ben Kiser said a few Nebraska associates were impacted in the current round of layoffs.

Nelnet also laid off 150 people last May, citing low call volume and limited work available for employees on its loan servicing teams.

As of Dec. 31, the company reported more than 8,200 total employees, about 4,500 of which work in the Diversified Services Division. That would mean the cuts announced Thursday and the ones in January account for about 25% of the divisions workforce and about 13% of the overall workforce.
FRIDAY, March 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Despite earlier success in receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, women surgeons are underrepresented among surgeon-scientists, according to a study published online March 20 in JAMA Network Open.

Mytien Nguyen, from the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues examined the distribution of biomedical research funding by the NIH among women and men surgeon-scientists who were principal investigators between 1995 and 2020. The distribution of NIH funding was examined using two metrics: holding a large-dollar grant and being a super principal investigator (SPIs) with $750,000 or more in total annual research funding.

Overall, 2,078 principal investigator surgeons received funding from the NIH between 1995 and 2020. The researchers found that during this period, the proportion of women academic surgeons who were surgeon-scientists remained unchanged (1.8 percent in 1995; 2.4 percent in 2020). Women surgeon-scientists obtained their first NIH grant earlier in their career than their male counterparts (mean years after first faculty appointment, 8.8 versus 10.8 years) and were as likely to obtain large-dollar grants. However, women remained significantly underrepresented among SPIs and were 25 percent less likely to be an SPI.

"Increasing gender diversity among surgeon-scientists may prove to be critical in promoting the surgeon-scientist workforce and improving diversity within the surgery research enterprise," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to Cepheid.
New car washes are bubbling up all over metro Omaha.

Nineteen new stand-alone car washes have opened in Omaha since 2016  eight of those in 2022  and thats not counting the ones opening in the suburbs.

Even more are on the way, too.

The car wash trend has been raging nationally  theres even a Florida YouTuber whose reviews of new car washes have hooked 15,200 subscribers.

Here in Nebraska, a number of factors are apparently fueling the trend, among them the speed and convenience of the new washes, a membership-pay model and weather patterns that are a car owners nightmare and a car wash owners dream.

Its the secret sauce, said Jeremy Eickman, co-owner of the Tommys Express Car Wash that opened last fall at 84th Street and Nebraska Highway 370 in Papillion.

Whats so great about it is well have 12 degrees and snow one day, and three days later it will be 50 degrees and melting, he said.

From a car wash perspective, he said, that makes for one really slow day and then an extremely busy week as car and truck owners rush in to get rid of the road salt and grime.

And in the summer, what brings in customers?

Bugs.

In the last few years, new stand-alone car washes have also gone up or been approved in surrounding communities of Council Bluffs, Bellevue, Papillion and Gretna.

An industry expert said this week that membership pricing is among the reasons for the popularity. Probably the number one thing that changed the car wash business is memberships, said Jeff Pavone, a founding partner of Amplify Car Wash Advisors, a mergers-and-acquisitions firm that provides guidance and advocacy for car wash owners.

Pavone said his firm handled $2 billion in car wash transactions last year.

Over the last decade, he said, the industry has moved away from the full-service car washes  where you hand your keys to someone and wait as employees clean your car  to express car washes that offer convenience as well as monthly memberships.

People pay about $30 a month, stay in their car, drive through a membership lane to get their car washed, and they can return unlimited times, he said.

With memberships, he said, the car wash owner has a recurring-revenue model.

If he gets four or five thousand members at a location, whether it rains, snows, drizzles in between, hes got sort of this cash flow coming in, Pavone said. So its proved to be a really good business today.

Nationwide, he said, the industry is building about 800 new tunnels a year. Tunnel washes are the typical kind you see, where people drive their cars into one end of the tunnel and a conveyor grabs the car and moves it through the wash.

Theres about 11,000 express car washes around the country today, he said.

I will tell you that over the next decade you will probably see it go to 20,000, Pavone said.

The business has gone from mom-and-pop operations to bigger players involved with multiple car washes, partly because of the cost to open one, which runs in the millions of dollars, he said.

Its definitely a different type of investor getting into this space, he said.

Its not just the big cities seeing new car washes, he said.

Today, youll see some of these smaller towns, theyre going to plop in a car wash now. Why? Because even for that small community now, if you make it convenient, youll find that people will get their car washed every week, he said. And when youve got memberships like this, it doesnt take much to make this a good business.

Mason Duffy, who lives in Papillion, visited Tommys recently to remove the accumulated winter muck from his vehicle.

The car wash is on the way home from work, and he wanted to get the salt off from the latest snowstorm.

After a storm, he waits till the weather outlook is favorable  with no snow in the forecast for a couple of weeks  before heading for the car wash.

Its nice having a clean car, but the thing I really care about is making sure it doesnt rust, he said.

Another factor driving him to the car wash is apartment living.

I live in an apartment and theres no hose hookups outside the apartment to wash your own car, so I just run it through a car wash about once a month, he said.

He could go to one of the spray-off washes, but this is convenient. No standing in the cold or getting wet, he said.

He comes down Nebraska 370 every day from Offutt Air Force Base, and the speed of the wash makes it super convenient.

Eickman, who grew up in Deshler, Nebraska, said the express wash is fast, and you clean the interior of your car yourself.

At Tommys, when theres no line of cars waiting, it takes just three minutes from the time a car pulls onto the lot until the car drives away completely clean and dry, he said.

Where, if you decide to wash your car in your driveway or you go to one of those where youre parking it, and then you spray it off yourself, you could spend 30 minutes, he said. If youre washing a pickup truck, an hour plus. And not even get it as clean as we can.

He said the whole industry has shifted to express washes.

Using the membership model, it costs the car wash owner each time a motorist washes their car, he said. But the car wash owner benefits from not having to continually market to motorists, he said, and customers get into a routine.

Before you know it, its kind of become another part of your life, Eickman said. Everybody has a Netflix subscription, everybody has a Hulu or whatever it is, a streaming service for audio. Now they also have a car wash subscription.

His cheapest unlimited plan is $25 a month.

On a recent weekend, he said, his Tommys washed just under 4,000 cars in 2 days.

He said he doesnt think there are too many car washes yet.

Are we saturated? Well, on a Tuesday afternoon, youre going to look and say the car wash is dead. Sure, its pretty dead. But on a Saturday morning, well wash 500 to 600 cars in the morning, and another 800 in the afternoon. So I dont think so.

Warren Fish, who has a monthly membership, came to Tommys recently to clean up his Chevy Z71 pickup.

Im in here twice a week, whether I need it or not, Fish said.

He said the monthly membership is a fantastic deal. Its unlimited. And its on a major thoroughfare on my way back and forth to work.

The location keeps him coming back, he said.

Tien Nguyen chose the car wash because it was close to home and cheap.

Nguyen had his son, Rylan, 3, in tow on a recent visit.

This winter hes been paying the single wash price once a month, not the membership. He said he doesnt see the point in washing more frequently.

If a subscription was $10 a month, thats a deal, he said. If its like $30 a month, nope.

His son enjoys the colorful lights in the car wash, he said.

According to Pavone, the user experience is a part of the attraction, and as more car washes open, he expects them to compete by upping their game on the experience.

He compares the spread of car washes to the proliferation of coffee shops like Starbucks.

Theyre like a block away or closer now, Pavone said. And the more convenient you make something, youre finding customers using it more. Its not that different with car washes.

The convenience of the new washes makes them popular throughout the year, he said. But winter is clearly the peak season.

For car wash owners, he said, road salt is white gold.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023
Hy-Vee aims to open its new Gretna store this summer, a company spokesperson said.

And plans show a restaurant and a car wash wanting to locate nearby on the same corner.

Construction of the new grocery store appears well on its way on the northeast corner of 192nd Street and Nebraska Highway 370.

Gretna custard fans might find the restaurant news delicious: Moving in near the grocery store will be a Culvers restaurant, according to plans filed with the City of Gretna.

And for folks who demand a clean car, theres also a Rocket Car Wash approved at the site.

The new Hy-Vee store is going in about a mile and a quarter east of Highway 6, which is currently the main commercial corridor in Gretna.

Gretna already has a Fareway grocery at 604 S. Highway 6. Last year, longtime Gretna grocery McKinneys Food Center closed, and an Ace Hardware store took its place.

Nola Aigner Davis, spokesperson for Hy-Vee, said the company hopes for a summer opening. She didnt have info on the potential neighbors.

In regard to other businesses opening up, we dont know, Aigner Davis said. All we know is were shooting for sometime this summer that well be opening up our Gretna location.

Culvers spokesman Eric Skrum said its too early to share any details on the possible new location.

But plans submitted to the city indicate a restaurant layout similar to other Culvers locations in the metro area.

Culvers is known for its frozen custard, which they mix into a treat they call Concrete Mixers. Other featured menu items are Wisconsin cheese curds and ButterBurgers.

The Rocket Car Wash is a project of City Ventures.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023
The Omaha National Cemetery Support Committee will hold a ceremony in honor of National Vietnam Veterans Day on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the cemetery in Papillion.

The ceremony marks the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. military combat forces in 1973. The half-hour program will feature remarks from veteran Jim Meyer, a wreath laying, an honor guard, taps and a 21-gun salute.

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation designating the annual observance.

The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colors and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission, the proclamation states. It is a story of Americans from every corner of our nation who left the warmth of family to serve the country they loved. It is a story of patriots who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harms way to save a friend, who fought hour after hour, day after day to preserve the liberties we hold dear.

More than 58,000 Americans were killed and over 150,000 were wounded and injured during the conflict.

Committee Chair Ted Bissen said the day of remembrance serves as an ongoing tribute for service members who did not receive proper gratitude upon their return in the 1970s. He said he hopes the area residents will attend the ceremony.

I would like them to see and recognize 50 years of Vietnam veterans returning back to the United States, and show their appreciation to that era, Bissen said.
Gretna High School seniors Libby Turpen and Klare Peters have been selected as delegates to the American Legion Auxiliary 2023 Cornhusker Girls State this June in Lincoln, with Faith Rinaldi selected as an alternate.

Held on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from June 4 to June 10, the Cornhusker Girls State program educates students in the positive processes of self-government and good citizenship as practiced in democratic societies.

Girls State encourages these young women to become leaders in their schools, communities and local governments, said Cindy Moore, president of the Gretna American Legion Auxiliary Unit 216.

Moore said in a news release that ALA Girls State attendees, known as citizens, receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mock political parties. They campaign, hold rallies, debate, and ultimately vote to elect city, county, and state officials.

Once elected to office, delegates are sworn-in and perform their prescribed duties. Attendees not elected to office are given appointments and visit the offices of those elected to share their viewpoints as citizens.

Held concurrently with Cornhusker Boys State, the programs were attended by more than 400 students in 2022.
Andrew Johnson lets his clients choose what music to play in the car.

As an employee of Family Outreach in Helena, Montana  an organization that assists developmentally disabled people  part of his workday involves driving around, picking up clients, and taking them to work or to run errands.

Whats up, gangsta? Johnson said as a client got in the car one day in March.

The pair fist-bumped and Johnson asked what type of music the client liked.

Gangsta stuff, came the response. Rap, mainly.

Snoop Dogg played in the background as Johnson and his client drove to McDonalds, where Johnson helps his client work. The duo washed dishes for two hours in the back of the fast-food restaurant, where it smelled like maple syrup and sulfur.

About two weeks earlier, Johnson testified at a hearing at the Montana Capitol in support of a bill that seeks to raise health providers Medicaid reimbursement rates to levels aligned with the average cost of the care they provide. The bill is informed by a 2022 study that recommended benchmark rates after its authors found that Montana Medicaid providers like Family Outreach were being significantly underpaid.

The provider rates need to be funded so people that work in this field or that work in adjacent fields can have solid ground, a place where you can build a career, said Johnson, who makes $16.24 per hour in his position as an individual living specialist.

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte and legislators agree that Medicaid rates need to rise; where they disagree is by how much. The proposals range from the bill Johnson testified for  Democratic Rep. Mary Caferros bill to raise rates to the studys benchmarks  to Gianfortes plan to fund 91% of that benchmark in 2024 and 86% in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Republicans leading the House Appropriations Committee, a key budget panel, are proposing an average increase of 92% for fiscal year 2024 and 97% in 2025.

Providers and leaders who work in behavioral health, developmental disability, long-term care, and family support services have attended the multiple hearings on rate adjustments, saying thanks for the proposed increases but asking for more. Many providers said the benchmark rates in the study are already outdated.

Providers across the United States say they havent seen significant reimbursement increases in more than a decade, according to Shawn Coughlin, president of the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare. Behavioral health can be an afterthought for policymakers, resulting in lower rates than for medical or surgical reimbursement, he said

Michael Barnett, associate professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the supply of staff is inadequate to meet demand for behavioral health care across the U.S.

And its not clear were going to meet any of that without paying people more, Barnett said.

Some health providers have raised wages but still struggled to draw workers and keep the ones theyve got. Family Outreach raised the wages of some direct care workers from $11 per hour to $12.20 per hour this year, and by more in places where the cost of living is higher, such as Bozeman. But even starting wages of $16 or $18 an hour arent attracting enough people to work there, Family Outreach Program Manager Tyler Tobol said.

Its a field that not a lot of people want to get into, so those that we can find, I think being able to pay a higher wage, a living wage, I think that would be the best benefit we get out of the rate increase, Tobol said.

The organization went from 153 employees in 2020 to 128 today. The staffing shortage means employees now focus mainly on making sure clients have the basics  medications and meals  instead of providing additional community integration and activity support services.

At Florence Crittenton in Helena, where moms 18 to 35 with substance use disorders can live with their young kids while undergoing treatment, a mom entered the kitchen where women are taught life skills like learning to cook dinner. The woman told a staff member she was making juice for her child.

This is where life happens, said Daniel Champer, Florence Crittentons clinical and residential services director.

Executive Director Carrie Krepps said the organizations two main sources of revenue are Medicaid reimbursements and fundraising. Fundraising, which used to account for 30% of revenue, now makes up between 60% and 70% of the money coming in.

Its the reason were still open, Krepps said.

At any given time, an average of 15 to 18 of Florence Crittentons 50 staff positions are vacant. If Medicaid rates dont increase, she said, the organization will have to consider if it can continue operating the recovery home at its current capacity.

The full rates would just barely cover where we are today, Krepps said of raising Medicaid reimbursement rates to benchmark levels.

In 2021, Florence Crittenton closed a youth maternity home for pregnant youths and young moms ages 12 to 15, the only home in the state that took teens under 16. Krepps said Florence Crittenton didnt take Medicaid fees there because the rates were too low.

Its heartbreaking, Champer said. Its like clockwork on Monday morning. I come in and see the inquiries and referrals about moms who need treatment and we cant function at full capacity because we dont have staff.

Dennis Sulser, the CEO of Youth Dynamics, which provides home support, case management, and community-based psychiatric rehabilitation across the state, said his organization is paying its staff more than it can afford. Even with the rate increase, he said, theyd only break even.

In the past three years, Youth Dynamics has lost 56 full-time employees. The covid-19 pandemic made people realize they could find other jobs that paid more and even allowed them to stay home, Sulser said.

Two years ago, the entry-level pay for Youth Dynamics was $10.70 per hour, and it now averages $13.70. Still, staffing shortages led to the closure of a group home in Boulder and one in Billings, shrinking the organizations capacity from 80 to 64 beds statewide.

Ashley Santos, program manager for the organizations three remaining group homes in Boulder, said she is trying to figure out how to attract enough staff to reopen the closed home there. An increase in pay supported by the provider rate increase could give her flexibility to provide extra incentives, she said.

But its hard to attract workers when Hardees has a starting wage of $18 per hour compared with Youth Dynamics $16, she said. And fast-food jobs dont come with the emotional toll of working with kids who have a severe emotional disturbance diagnosis like PTSD or depression.

Back in Helena, Johnson made his last stop of the day for Family Outreach. He sat next to a client on the couch at the house where the client lives with his mom. Johnson called the number on the back of his clients debit card to see how much money was left on it before they went out to run errands.

Johnson and the client then headed to a local supermarket. Trips like these give his client a chance to interact with other people, while his mom gets some time to herself.

You look nice, Johnson said to the client as they got into the car, the folksy music of Dougie Poole, the choice of Johnsons previous client, playing in the background.

Keely Larson is the KHN fellow for the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Newspaper Association, and Kaiser Health News. Larson is a graduate student in environmental and natural resources journalism at the University of Montana.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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Not many people can boast that they had a few very chill snakes at their wedding reception.

That wasnt the only unconventional guest for Jazmin Nelson and Ryan Duden of Elkhorn, who held the event at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. There was also an armadillo and a skink, which is a type of lizard. Duden is the environmental health and safety coordinator at the zoo.

We had a few of the zoos ambassador animals out for guests to see and learn more about, Nelson said. We had one family where every single member was too terrified to be in the same room as the snake and had to be escorted by the groom to the back entrance so they could completely avoid it.

The couple said the wedding was different in many ways. They were married in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and had their reception a month later.

They had a photographer at the wedding but just a photo booth vendor at the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, so there are fish in every background.

Nelson also didnt wear white. She couldnt find anything she liked in that color in her price range so she went with green with gold jewelry and shoes.

That kind of dark green is one of Ryans favorite colors, she said. I had a lot of gold accents. Gold is my favorite.

How they met

They were working as lifeguards at the Zorinsky pool and began secretly dating their second summer working together. Duden already had gone through his freshman year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nelson was going to be attending her first year at UNL the following semester.

They decided to marry nine years later.

Together, we planned on getting engaged at the top of our favorite hike (Horsetooth Falls in Colorado). Though it was a mutual proposal, he still dropped to one knee and only I wore an engagement ring, Nelson said.

Intimate ceremony

The idea of a wedding stressed them both out because they didnt like the idea of getting so much attention. So they focused on keeping things small and intimate while still being able to celebrate with their loved ones.

They had 10 guests at the wedding and 100 at the reception. Even as small as the wedding was, Nelson said she was so stressed with planning that it took some joy out of the ceremony.

We strongly encourage anyone who has a desire to do something small and just elope, to do it, they say. We loved having something so small and intimate, and were able to do it in one of the most beautiful settings we could have imagined. Skip the big ceremony, get married in a national park or pretty much wherever youd like.

They also wanted to keep things affordable and didnt want to have to plan a lot of decorating details.

This made our venues of the mountains and the aquarium ideal. Since they are already so visually stunning, we really didnt have to add anything else, Nelson said. The date of our ceremony had the most beautiful weather we could ever have dreamed of for the middle of fall in the mountains  60s and sunny with the leaves still changing.

Some of the guests almost didnt make it to the right spot.

Most of us lost reception and our GPSs werent giving us the right directions to Sprague Lake and all cars but one got lost, Nelson said. Luckily, we left ourselves plenty of time and everyone got to the venue on time without incident.

The next step

They usually share so much with each other that the first look, when Duden finally saw his bride after so many months of secret planning, felt like a big crescendo, Nelson said.

A lot of planning and months of stress were finally at an end.

To just be able to see and appreciate each other and feel like it was just he and I in that moment, Nelson said. We were ready to flip to the next big chapter in our lives together.

Warning for the groom

After they said their vows and kissed, they started hugging their guests. Nelson noticed her best friend, Caitlin Rucker, hugged her husband first.

I brought it up to Ryan because I thought it was odd and he chuckled and told me Yeah, she hugged me and whispered in my ear that if I hurt you, shed kill me, Nelson said.

Soft serve anyone?

The couple said theyve had a lot of fun using an ice cream maker they put on their registry.

They also got a few items for their cats, including automatic feeders, a floor to ceiling cat climbing/scratching post and a stroller.

They decided not to do gifts for each other.

In fact, since we were paying for things left and right for the wedding for all of 2022, we decided to only get each other something small for both our birthdays and Christmas, Nelson said.

Husband and wife

Theyd been together for nine years and lived together for around five, so married life hasnt been that different.

For Nelson, it was very jarring to use the word husband.

She felt like somehow she was still too young to have the title of wife, even though she was 27, Duden said.

ABOUT THE BIG DAY Photographer: Baylie Krutchik with From Wood to Ashes Wedding Photography Ceremony: Oct. 14, 2022. Reception Nov. 19, 2022 Ceremony: Colorado mountains Reception: Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium Bridal gown: Ladivine Accessories: Etsy (Marisha Pavlishina, JustIn Hair Jewellery, Kleos Jewelry, IG Silver Jewels) Hair stylist: Ceremony: Raquel Chacon Beauty. Reception: Jen Warta Makeup artist: Ceremony: Raquel Chacon Beauty. Reception: Caitlin Rucker and Sophia Bouzis Men's attire: Men's Wearhouse Rings: Her: Alexander Sparks and Borsheims. Him: James Allen Dessert: Krispy Kreme glazed donuts Caterer: A Catered Affair. Rentals: Photo booth: Premier Party Rentals Music: Spotify playlist Wedding coordinator: Simply Eloped Invitations/programs: Minted.com Do you have a fun story to share about your wedding or maybe amazing photos? Contact Marjie Ducey at ducey@owh.com.

Close Jazmin and Ryan exchange their vows in Colorado. The couple had just 10 guests at their wedding in Colorado. Jazmin and Ryan were married in Colorado, where they also proposed to each other. Making it official. The wedding couple with their families. Having some fun at the wedding. The couple said it seems strange to call each other husband and wife. A quiet moment at the wedding. The couple wanted a small and intimate wedding. Fun after the wedding. Jazmin Nelson didnt wear a traditional white wedding dress. She wore a frock in husband Ryan Dudens favorite green color. Jazmin and Ryan dated several years before deciding to marry. The couple said the wedding was different in many ways. They were married in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and had their reception a month later. Fish in the aquarium were the backdrop for photos at the reception. Guests had some fun in the photo booth at the reception. Ready to dive in at the reception. Jazmin and Ryan in the photo booth with Jazmin's grandmother, Lois Hallquist. One of the snakes at the couples wedding reception, held at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Two days of celebrating for Jazmin and Ryan Jazmin and Ryan exchange their vows in Colorado. The couple had just 10 guests at their wedding in Colorado. Jazmin and Ryan were married in Colorado, where they also proposed to each other. Making it official. The wedding couple with their families. Having some fun at the wedding. The couple said it seems strange to call each other husband and wife. A quiet moment at the wedding. The couple wanted a small and intimate wedding. Fun after the wedding. Jazmin Nelson didnt wear a traditional white wedding dress. She wore a frock in husband Ryan Dudens favorite green color. Jazmin and Ryan dated several years before deciding to marry. The couple said the wedding was different in many ways. They were married in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and had their reception a month later. Fish in the aquarium were the backdrop for photos at the reception. Guests had some fun in the photo booth at the reception. Ready to dive in at the reception. Jazmin and Ryan in the photo booth with Jazmin's grandmother, Lois Hallquist. One of the snakes at the couples wedding reception, held at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
The number of finalists vying for Nebraskas top education post is now down to three.

On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Lisa Coons, a finalist for the Nebraska commissioner of education opening, as the states superintendent of public instruction.

Coons, the chief academic officer for the Tennessee Department of Education, was one of four finalists for the Nebraska job unveiled by the State Board of Education this month.

Spokesperson David Jespersen said the Nebraska Department of Education is aware of Coons appointment in Virginia and plans to move forward with interviews for the three remaining candidates next week.

State Board President Patti Gubbels said the board has not received an official withdrawal from Coons. The board was not aware that Coons was in the running for Virginias top education position, Gubbels added.

While its not uncommon for education officials to vie for multiple positions at a time, Gubbels said she is disappointed because Coons was a strong candidate.

It just diminished our pool of people to choose from, she said.

McPherson and Jacobson, an Omaha-based superintendent consulting firm assisting with the search, also was not aware of Coons plans but still intends to move ahead with the remaining finalists.

I think we have the three best candidates in there now, said Steve Joel, the former superintendent of the Lincoln Public Schools who is heading the search on behalf of McPherson and Jacobson. NDE is in good shape.

Unlike Coons, the other finalists are all Nebraska natives with educational ties to the state.

They are:

* Brian Maher, CEO and executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, which oversees the states six public universities.

* Melissa Poloncic, superintendent of the Douglas County West Community Schools in Valley.

* Summer Stephens, superintendent of the Churchill County School District in Nevada.

Maher formerly held administrative roles in Nebraska districts, including Waverly, Elkhorn and Johnson-Brock.

Stephens was previously the director of curriculum in Beatrice and was also a curriculum coordinator in Norris. She was also a finalist for the superintendent opening at the Bennington Public Schools.

Poloncic is the lone finalist still working in the state, having served as superintendent of DC West since 2014.

Maher and Stephens announced this year that they would resign from their current positions, long before finalists were named.

Nine candidates ultimately applied to be commissioner, a position that opened when Matt Blomstedt stepped down in January after nine years. Deputy Commissioner Deb Frison has been serving as interim commissioner in the meantime.

Coons, who assumes her duties April 17, takes over for Jillian Balow, who abruptly resigned March 1 after just more than a year in the job, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

She has served as the chief academic officer of Tennessees Education Department since 2019, overseeing pre-K-12 academic programming and reporting to the commissioner.

Before that, she was an executive at Metro Nashville Public Schools after serving as the executive director of instructional leadership at the state level.

The Nebraska State Board of Education plans to interview all three candidates March 30 and announce its pick the next day. The next commissioner is expected to start in July.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023
WASHINGTON  U.S. lawmakers grilled the CEO of TikTok over data security and harmful content Thursday, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned.

Shou Zi Chews rare public appearance came at a crucial time for the company, which has 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, were swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers pressed Chew on a host of topics, ranging from TikToks content moderation practices, how the company plans to secure American data from Beijing, and its spying on journalists. Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement.

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and denied its a national security risk. He reiterated the companys plan to protect U.S. user data by storing it on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, Chew said.

TikTok is dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or be used to promote narratives favorable to the countrys Communist leaders.

In 2019, the Guardian reported that TikTok was instructing its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square and images unfavorable to the Chinese government. The platform said it since changed its moderation practices.

ByteDance admitted in December that it fired four employees last summer who accessed data on two journalists and people connected to them while attempting to uncover the source of a leaked report about the company. TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying 60% percent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group.

China said it would oppose any U.S. attempts to force ByteDance to sell the app.

In one of the most dramatic moments Thursday, Republican Rep. Kat Cammack played a TikTok video that showed a shooting gun with a caption that included the House committee holding the hearing, with the exact date before it was formally announced.

You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you cant even protect the people in this room, Cammack said.

TikTok spokesperson Ben Rathe said the company on Thursday removed the violent video aimed at the committee and banned the account that posted it.

Chew also noted the failure of U.S. social media companies to address concerns.

American social companies dont have a good track record with data privacy and user security, he said. Look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, just one example.

As the Energy and Commerce Committee questioned Chew, lawmakers at a separate committee hearing questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the threat TikTok poses.

Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado asked if the platform is a security threat to the U.S., and Blinken said: I believe it is. Shouldnt a threat to United States security be banned? Buck responded. It should be ended one way or another. But there are different ways of doing that, Blinken responded.

Committee members also showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide. Many questioned why the platforms Chinese counterpart, Douyin, does not carry the same controversial and potentially dangerous content as the American product.

Chew responded that it depends on the laws of the country where the app is operating. He said the company has about 40,000 moderators that track harmful content and an algorithm that flags material. Wealth management firm Wedbush described the hearing as a disaster for TikTok that made a ban more likely if the social media platform doesnt separate from its Chinese parent. Emile El Nems, an analyst at Moodys Investors Service, said a ban would benefit TikTok rivals YouTube, Instagram and Snap, likely resulting in higher revenue share of the total advertising wallet.

Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states already banned TikTok on official devices, but a complete TikTok ban in the U.S. would risk political and popular backlash.

To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a $1.5 billion plan, Project Texas, which routes all U.S. user data to Oracle. Access to U.S. data is managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity called TikTok U.S. Data Security, which is run independently of ByteDance and monitored by outside observers.

As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed this year, Chew said.
LINCOLN  Property owners could get more than $3 billion worth of property tax relief over the next six years under a legislative package advanced by the Revenue Committee on Thursday.

Committee members voted 7-0 with one abstention to send an amended version of Legislative Bill 243 to the full Legislature.

The amended bill, introduced by State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, combines measures that would increase Nebraskas two property tax credit programs, cap school property taxes and eliminate almost all community college property taxes.

The package represents the second major piece of Gov. Jim Pillens tax cut and school aid plan. The committee advanced a separate package of income tax cuts last week. A bill to make changes in state aid to K-12 schools is pending before the Education Committee.

Briese, who has long targeted property taxes, said this years property tax package would offer tax relief for everyday Nebraskans.

What were doing this year can be a substantial impact, he said. I think its important to get it done.

He cited rough estimates showing LB 243 would cut the amount Nebraskans pay in property taxes by about the same amount the income tax package is expected to reduce income taxes. Providing equivalent tax relief is key to winning support for both measures, he said.

The income tax package, LB 754 would cut Nebraskas top income tax rate by one-third, speed up the elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits and offer some limited child care tax credits.

Together, the income tax changes could reduce state tax revenues by at least $3.3 billion over six years, based on estimates from the Legislative Fiscal Office.

Briese said he expected there may be some questions raised about whether the state can manage $6.6 billion or more of tax cuts over the next six years. But he expressed confidence in Nebraskas ability to make those kind of tax changes, while keeping essential government services operating.

Im bullish on the economy going forward, he said, adding that the state has a resilient, ag-based economy that is well-positioned to weather economic cycles.

But Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who chairs the Revenue Committee, warned that the tax proposals may need to be scaled back, depending on the states budget needs. Lawmakers will have a better idea of the states fiscal status after getting an updated revenue forecast in late April.

As advanced, the property tax package would ratchet up the size of the states long-standing property tax credit program. The program uses state money to offset a portion of property owners bills.

Under LB 243, the amount to be distributed would increase from $313 million this year to $560 million by tax year 2029, after which the credit total would grow by the same percentage as the assessed valuation of property statewide.

A second part of the package would remove a cap on the growth of Nebraskas other property tax credit program, often referred to by the bill that created it. The LB 1107 program provides income tax credits to offset a portion of school property taxes paid.

A law passed last year increases the program by the same percentage as the assessed valuation of property statewide, up to a cap of 5%. Briese said statewide valuations have averaged 5.3% growth over the past decade.

The third part of the package would limit the growth of school property tax revenues, with the goal of forcing schools to reduce their tax asking when they get increased state aid. Pillen has proposed boosting state support for schools by providing $1,500 for every student and paying more to cover special education costs.

Under LB 243, schools would be limited to 3% annual growth in revenues, with some exceptions. Increased amounts of state support would mean that schools have to reduce property tax revenues to stay under the limit.

The fourth main piece of the package would eliminate community colleges ability to levy property taxes, starting in 2024, and replace them with state aid. The proposal would provide for 3.5% annual increases in state aid, with additional money available for colleges seeing student growth. Community colleges could levy property taxes to fill the gap if the state does not meet its funding obligations.

Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session
LINCOLN  State lawmakers will hold onto a bill mandating two-person crews on trains in Nebraska while federal regulators consider the issue.

State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, who chairs the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, said Friday that she does not plan to seek action on Legislative Bill 31 this year.

But she promised to take it up promptly next January if the Federal Railroad Administration does not rule in the meantime. The federal agency proposed a regulation last July that would require at least two crew members on trains.

More recently, the proposed Railway Safety Act of 2023 would include a national mandate for two-person crews.

Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte introduced LB 31, which was backed by numerous railroad workers, local officials and supporters. They called the proposal a public safety and worker safety issue.

Jacobson said last months derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio, underlined the reasons for the proposal. The derailment on Feb. 3 spewed vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals into the air, killing fish in nearby streams and prompting an evacuation.

Initial reports have alleged problems with railroad safety technology that was supposed to alert the crew to the failure of a wheel bearing.

Representatives of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the two major railroads in Nebraska, opposed LB 31. Both said the issue should be handled through collective bargaining between the companies and employee unions and that railroads need the flexibility to go with one person on a train as technology improves.
Senior CPC official meets Spanish delegation on deepening party ties

Xinhua) 09:38, March 24, 2023

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, meets with a Spanish delegation led by Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2023. The delegation consisted of representatives of Spain's left-wing political parties, think tanks and media. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Li Shulei met in Beijing on Thursday with a Spanish delegation led by Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain.

The delegation consisted of representatives of Spain's left-wing political parties, think tanks and media.

Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that China and Spain have a long history of friendship. The two countries have implemented the consensus reached by the two heads of state and had fruitful cooperation in various fields.

He stressed that the CPC attaches great importance to enhancing exchanges with Spain's left-wing political parties.

"China is willing to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries as a new starting point to promote mutual learning between civilizations and people-to-people exchanges, to inject new impetus into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain," said Li.

Centella said that Spain's left-wing forces cherish the friendly relations with the CPC and stand ready to actively promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)




By Hussaina Yakubu

The Kaduna State Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani, has said that he will challenge some election results where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won with unimaginable margins.

The Governor-elect who spoke in Hausa, expressed surprise that PDP won some local government areas with bogus figures.

Sani said that he will go to the Election Petition Tribunal to contest PDPs victory in those areas, adding that after the verdict, the margin of victory between him and Alhaji Isa Ashiru, the PDP candidate, will widen.

It will be recalled that Sani was declared winner by the Returning Officer for Kaduna State and Vice-Chancellor of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Prof Lawal Bilbis, on Monday.

According to the election result, Sani polled a total of 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival, Isa Ashiru of the PDP, who polled 719,196 votes, a difference of 10,806 votes.

The Governor-elect who alleged that the election results were marred by irregularities in areas where PDP won, gave the example of Chikun local government area where the opposition got over 89,000 votes, describing the figures as unimaginable.

Sani, however, promised the people of Kaduna state to be fair to all, including those who didnt vote for me. Im glad with the outcome of the election. People came out and voted for me.

On the allegation that his election was rigged, the Governor-elect said that such allegation is in the character of the Nigerian politician, adding that God gives power to whomsoever He wants and when He wants.

He recalled that in 2011, he lost the Kaduna central senatorial election and his supporters urged him to go to court but he refused, believing that it was not his time.

As God willed it, I became a senator in 2019.

The Governor-elect expressed confidence that he will be victorious at the Election Petition Tribunal where the opposition promised to challenge his victory, adding that he will also go to court to challenge PDPs bogus victory in some local governments. (NAN)
The Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed as baseless the petition filed by a spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, demanding the arrest and prosecution of its partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, for allegedly making inflammatory statements.

Baba-Ahmed had on Wednesday insisted that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cannot be sworn in on May 29.

A few hours later, Keyamo in a petition addressed to the Department of State Service (DSS) urged the agency to arrest and prosecute the LP candidates for trying to set the country on fire.

The spokesman for LP PCC, Yunusa Tanko, who reacted to the call in a statement on Thursday night, insisted that Baba-Ahmed was a free citizen with freedom of expression.

He noted that the statement did not in any way amount to insurrection or treason and maintained that the February 25 presidential election was rigged.

READ ALSO: Keyamo petitions DSS, calls for arrest of Obi, Datti over alleged inciting comments/strong>

The statement read: Keyamo is just making baseless accusations. Hes a known rabble-rouser who doesnt want to lose political relevance before his paymaster. He is a political paperweight, who has achieved nothing as a minister except  to rile up the polity on social media.

Datti is a free citizen of this country and entitled to his fundamental right of Freedom of Expression. He never called for insurrection or any act envisaging treason.

The fact that Keyamo talked about healing means Nigeria is sick. That means he recognised that the February 25 presidential election which announced his principal as the President-elect and the March 18 governorship and state assembly polls were marred with rigging, high-level violence, voter suppression and intimidation.

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APC Presidential Campaign Council to what it called the grossly fake, misleading and malicious story about the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola disguising to meet President-elect Bola Tinubu in London.

The story, according to Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, was a pure concoction from the hallucinating minds of hatchet men bent on creating doubts and public distrust about the legitimacy of our recent election, which was won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Onanuga continued: We refute emphatically that there has been no clandestine meeting between the President-elect and the respected Chief Justice of our country, any where. Its pure fabricated news, groundless in fact and authenticity.

To show that the story was a mere salacious fiction, meant to draw traffic to the discredited purveyor, it claimed the Chief Justice left Nigeria for London on 11 March, on a wheel chair to board a plane.

The President elect left Nigeria on 21 March, 10 clear days thereafter. What kind of appointment or secret meeting will the two men have arranged in London, with so wide disparate arrival dates, except in the imagination of the false news merchants?

We can confirm that the President-elect, who left Nigeria Tuesday has not been in London.

He is right now in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022.

He will go to London thereafter before proceeding to Mecca for the lesser Hajj.

As we move towards inauguration on 29 May, 2023, Nigerians should expect more false and salacious news from a section of the Nigerian media, on the payroll of the opposition.

We urge the media once again to cross check their information from the President-elect media office before rushing to press.
The Kaduna State Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani, has said that he will challenge some election results where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) won with unimaginable margins.

The Governor-elect who spoke with the Hausa Service of BBC which was monitored in Kaduna, expressed surprise that PDP won some local government areas with bogus figures.

Senator Uba Sani said that he will go to the Election Petition Tribunal to contest PDPs victory in those areas, adding that after the verdict, the margin of victory between him and Alhaji Isa Ashiru, the PDP candidate, will widen.

It will be recalled that Senator Sani was declared the winner by the Returning Officer for Kaduna State and Vice-Chancellor of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Professor Lawal Bilbis on Monday.

According to the election result, Senator Sani polled a total of 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival, Isa Ashiru of the PDP who polled 719,196 votes, a difference of 10,806 votes.

The Governor-elect who said that the election results were marred by irregularities in areas where PDP won, gave the example of Chikun local government area where the opposition got over 89,000 votes, describing the figures as unimaginable.

Senator Uba Sani however promised the people of Kaduna state to be fair and even handed to all, including those who didnt vote for me. Im glad with the outcome of the election. People came out and voted for me. 

On the allegation that his election was rigged, the Governor-elect said that such allegation is in the character of the Nigerian politician, adding that God gives power to whomsoever He wants and when He wants.

He recalled that in 2011, he lost the Kaduna central senatorial election and his supporters urged him to go to court but he refused, believing that that was not his time, adding that as God willed it, I became senator in 2019.

The Governor-elect expressed confidence that he will be victorious at the Election Petition Tribunal where the opposition promised to challenge his victory, adding that he will also go to court to challenge PDPs bogus victory in some local government.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has refuted media reports that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had a meeting with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. The Council declared that Tinubu is presently in Paris, France, and not on the United Kingdom (U.K.) as claimed.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC PCC, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Thursday night, declared that a media report insinuating that Justice Ariwoola disguised to meet with Tinubu, was fake, misleading and malicious.

Onanuga, reiterating that the President-Elect is currently in Paris, France, and not in the UK, asserted that there is an attempt to create doubt about the legitimacy of the election that produced Tinubu as next president to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The speculation of the meeting was springing at a time candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 presidential have filed petitions at the tribunal challenging the announcement of Tinubu of the APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the election.

Onanuga in the statement declared: We refute emphatically that there has been no clandestine meeting between the President-elect and the respected Chief Justice of our country, anywhere. Its pure fabricated news, groundless in fact and authenticity.

What kind of appointment or secret meeting will the two men have arranged in London, with so wide disparate arrival dates, except in the imagination of the false news merchants?

We can confirm that the President-elect, who left Nigeria Tuesday has not been in London. He is right now in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022. He will go to London thereafter before proceeding to Mecca for the lesser Hajj.
March 24, (THEWILL)  The Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC) sitting in the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Friday, ordered that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-elect, be served with copies of petitions seeking to nullify his election.

The ruling followed separate ex-parte applications that were brought before the court by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

Both Atiku and Obi had accused Tinubu of deliberately avoiding the service of their petitions on him. They told the court that several attempts they made to effect service of the petitions on Tinubu, proved abortive.

According to the petitioners, the President-elect deliberately made himself unavailable with a view to frustrating their effort to hand him copies of the petition as required by the law.

Consequently, relying on Section 6(6a) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act, as well as Paragraph 8 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022, the petitioners sought the intervention of the Court.

Both Atiku and Obi further supported their ex-parte motions dated March 23, with affidavits of urgency and non-service, even as they persuaded the court to hear the applications, outside the pre-hearing session of their substantive petitions.

While Atikus application was moved on Friday, by his legal team led by Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), that of Obi and LP was moved by Mr. Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN).

However, in a ruling on Friday, a three-man panel of the court led by Justice Joseph Ikyegh, directed that the petitions should be served on Tinubu, through his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Having heard the applications by counsel to the petitioners including the affidavit in support, the applications are hereby granted, the court ruled.

The panel equally granted leave to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), to also serve its own petition on Tinubu, via substituted means.




The Court of Appeal has granted permission to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi to challenge the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The court ordered that Tinubu, the presidential election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should be served with copies of petitions seeking to nullify his election, through substituted means.

In the ex parte application, Obi noted that the bailiff of the Court of Appeal made unsuccessful attempts to serve the petition personally on Messrs Tinubu and the vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima.

Obis counsel, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN), in the ex-parte application, asked the appellate court to grant him and the Labour Party leave to serve the petition on Tinubu and Shettima, through substituted means.

Ezechukwu argued that it has been necessary to serve the court filings through substituted means on Tinubu and Shettima owing to heightened security protection around the president-elect and vice president-elect.

The lawyer urged the court to permit Obi to serve the court documents on Tinubu and Shettima through the office of the legal adviser of the APC.

Ruling on the application, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, led by Haruna Tsammani, granted Obis request the petion through substituted means, in lieu of personal service.

The court ordered that the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 and other accompanying processes be served on Messrs Tinubu and Shettima by delivering or pasting at either the office of the National Legal Adviser of the APC or at the office of an officer of the party at its National Secretariat in Abuja.

The court cited APCs National Secretariats location to be at No.40 Blantyre Street, Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

KanyiDaily recalls that Peter Obi, who came third in the presidential election, filed a petition at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja seeking to overturn Bola Tinubus victory.

Related
File photo: Sex workers

Police in the Northern Region of Ghana have arrested 13 Nigerian commercial s*x workers after a Wednesday dawn swoop.

The suspects have been handed over to the Immigration Service.

The police operation forms part of a general action by the Tamale metropolis to clamp down on activities of commercial sex workers which the assembly says has become a menace.

This is the third time such an operation has been conducted in the area with many of the suspects repatriated after investigations.

The Northern Regional Commander of the Immigration Service, Mr. Edward Kofi Owusu told Citi News that the Service is currently investigating which routes the sex workers entered the country through.

Investigations are ongoing to establish their immigration status. We are very much interested in finding the trends the routs they used, the documents they used to enter the country, how they are living in the country and all that.

Meanwhile, some of the sex workers have accused the police of extorting money from them.

One of them who spoke to Newsmen said some police officers make daily demands of GHS 5 from them.

They were saying it is police money and when I ask them what it is for they just say I should just pay the money. Every day they take GHS 5. It is not as if I like this work but it is because of the safety of my junior sister. I have finished Senior High School, one of the s*x workers said.




Emeka Ihedioha

Justice Chima Nweze of the Supreme Court has disagreed with other six justices who dismissed a review brought before the apex court by Emeka Ihedioha today.

Recall that the Supreme Court in Abuja in a six-to-one judgment some minutes ago dismissed the application for review of its January 14, 2020, judgment which removed Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State Governor and declared Hope Uzodinma as the valid winner of the last governorship election in the state.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, in a split ruling of six-to-one, described the application by Ihedioha ruling as an invitation to sit in an appeal over its judgment.

However, the only dissenting voice among the justices, Justice Nweze while disagreeing with the majority judgment, held that the Supreme Court had the power to overrule itself in a desirous situation.

He affirmed the Court of Appeals decision which upheld Ihediohas victory, adding that the apex court in the January 14, 2020 judgment wrongly declared Uzodima winner of the last governorship election.

Details later
'Floating World'

exhibit opens

NORMAL  Heartland Community College's Joe McCauley Gallery opened their new exhibit, "The Floating World," Monday, March 20.

The exhibit features work inspired by Japanese culture and will run through May 11. It demonstrates how a single culture influenced four different art practices with a common focus on the emotional and mental experience of existence.

The exhibit features artwork from four artists: Japanese-American Dallas-based artist Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, Japanese printmaker Erika Shiba, Western Illinois University art professor Jenny Knavel, and Peoria-based printmaker Cathie Crawford. Their works represent different aspects of Japanese culture, such as Kakejiku landscapes and Ukiyo-e inspired prints.

An artist reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on April 25 at the gallery, room 2507 of the Instruction Commons Building at the college, 1500 W. Raab Road, Normal. The reception coincides with Heartland's Japanese Cultural Festival April 24-25.

The exhibit is free and open to the public on weekdays, during regular gallery hours.

Visit heartland.edu/artgallery for more information.

Zoo to host

recycled art

BLOOMINGTON  Miller Park Zoo will once again host a Recycled Art Sculpture Contest.

The idea is to use recycled materials such as plastic containers, paper, wood and more to build an art sculpture. This year's theme is an animal form of your choice.

There will also be a prize for the four age brackets that is yet to be determined. Those who plan to participate are asked to bring their sculpture to the zoo no later than Friday, April 21 during regular hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The sculptures will be voted on by visiting guests of the zoo on April 22.

Email sschuh@cityblm.org to register or for more information.

Tiny Beautiful

Things to play

NORMAL  Heartland Theatre Company will present "Tiny Beautiful Things" by Nia Vardalos, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed.

The show will open on Thursday, March 30 with a pay-what-you-can preview. The play is sponsored by Terry Noel and Mayuko Nakamura.

Don LaCasse is the director. The play features a four-person cast, including Devon Lovell, Sean Henderson, Noe Cornerjo and Jocelyn Naxi.

Performances will be March 31, April 1, April 6-8, and 13-15 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Sunday, April 2 and Saturday, April 15 at 2 p.m. Note there are two shows on April 15.

The play is about a professional writer and mother of two, who has agreed to write an online advice column, "Dear Sugar." She finds her life invaded by several voices which takes a toll. It is about the danger of listening and responding to toher people.

A panel discussion will be held on Sunday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. A crisis counselor, Bobby Alexander and a QA Clinical Supervisor, Kellen Carter will discuss the risks and benefits involved in sharing personal experiences with callers. Charlotte Markley from the YWCA Stepping Stones, and Kylie Ashton Maurer from "Survivor Love Letter" will address how to raise public awareness of assault and abuse in the community.

Tickets are $17 for general admission, $15 for senior and military, and $7 for students. Reservations can be made by booking online at heartlandtheatre.org, by calling 309-452-8709, or by emailing boxoffice@heartlandtheatre.org.

The play is recommended for adults as it contains strong language and deals with issues of depression, drug abuse, sexual assault, child sex abuse and physical abuse.

Facemasks are required for the audience due to the size of the theater at 1110 Douglas St., One Normal Plaza, Community Activity Center, Normal.

Lincoln museum

to open exhibit

SPRINGFIELD  The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will open a new exhibit, "Here I have Lived: Home in Illinois" Thursday.

The exhibit explores the idea of "home" and the several different ways Illinoisans have made the state their home over the last hundreds of years. It tells the stories of 31 people who lived in Illinois. Some achieved tremendous success, others endured terrible hardships, and many fought to make the world a better place, but all of them were shaped in some way by the time they spent in Illinois.

The exhibit features Black Hawk, the Sauk leader who refused to be driven away from the land where he grew up; Ritta DeFreitas, a young immigrant who worked for Abraham and Mary Lincoln; Michelle Obama, who started out in a Chicago bungalow and wound up in the White House; and Richard Pryor, who grew up in Peoria and used humor to make Americans face difficult truths.

The exhibit will run through Jan. 21, 2024, in the museum's Illinois Gallery, a space used for highlighting Illinois history as part of the museum's role as the state historical library. The exhibit is free with regular museum admissison.

The stories are told through photographs and rare artifacts. Guests will be able to see a photo locked carried by Marry Lincoln, a first edition Black Hawk's autobiography, and Ronald Reagan's college letterman sweater. There will also be a scultpure that was displayed in the Lincoln home, a table designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and a Supreme Court ruling that changed the life of playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Guests will also be ablet o listen to interviews with current Illinois residents about their thoughts on home. Questions throughout the exhibit will prompt guests to think about home means to them and be able to share their answers at the end.

The exhibit was named after a phrase Lincoln used when saying farewell to the city of Springfield for the final time, "Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return..."

The exhibit is sponsored in part by Isringhausen Imports of Illinois.

Visit PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov for more information.
NORMAL  A Hartsburg native and Heartland Community College alumnus will return this week for a screening of his new short film, which was shot across Central Illinois.

The film, "Retrospection," will be unveiled at 7 p.m. Saturday in Heartland's Astroth Community Education Center Auditorium. A Q&A with the cast and crew with follow the film. The event is free.

Locations featured in the film include the Coffeehouse & Deli and North Street Records in uptown Normal, Heartland's auditorium, Hartsburg Union Cemetery and a meadow between Armington and Minier.

"I feel like with any project, especially in filmmaking, there are bits of yourself in there," said director Joe Garcia, 23. "I knew from the very beginning that I couldn't shoot this anywhere besides the Central Illinois area."

Garcia said the film follows a musician named Jonah who has fallen out of the passion in order to pursue a relationship, and later has to make a choice between the two.

"There's always been this kind of essence of music at the core of this film, ever since the first draft," Garcia said. "As a musician myself, that was a big part of this, and incorporating that love of music and getting back to something that we put off is something that I think everyone can relate to."

Having lived in Hartsburg his whole life, Garcia said he grew up playing the piano and taking private lessons. He always had a passion for film and started pursuing filmmaking after taking a course at Heartland in 2019.

From there, he made connections with other filmmakers and shot three short films over the span of a year. He enrolled at Columbia College Chicago in 2020 and began working on this film.

"It's fun to see the whole process come together and everyone get assembled and help with fundraising," said Spencer Davis, 20, a junior majoring in communication at Eureka College. "Joe is a great individual and he certainly has a ton of talent, so I'm excited for the community to see what he created."

Davis, who works as station manager at Eureka's WEUR radio station, said was offered the opportunity to work on the film's sound. Through the experience, he said he learned different aspects of working on a film, such as how to record audio effectively and manage a set.

Although he has not yet seen the final product, Davis said the film does a good job highlighting the difficulties of navigating through life, especially for younger individuals.

Adam Alexander, 23, who plays the role of Jonah's friend Skipper, said he met Garcia in a film class at Heartland, where the two presented short films and shared an interest in each other's style.

His character represents the last tie Jonah has to his passion, and the two reminisce together about being musicians, all while wanting Jonah to succeed, Alexander said.

"The experience was amazing for me because I was able to work with Joe as an early artist, and and it is insane to see what he is capable of doing," Alexander said. "There was a lot of professionalism for everyone involved, and it felt good to be in an atmosphere of a close friend."

Now in his senior year at Columbia College Chicago, Garcia said he plans to graduate in May with a degree in film and television, with a concentration in directing and screenwriting.

As for "Retrospection," Garcia said he plans to screen the film a few more times in Chicago before submitting it to festivals. Depending on the rules of those festivals, he expects the film to be available on YouTube or Vimeo this summer.

"Obviously being from Central Illinois, there isn't a lot of access to film and equipment for filmmaking," Garcia said. "I hope that this gives everyone an opportunity to see local filmmaking and promote filmmaking as a viable option for a career."

Cast & Crew Written, directed and edited by Joe Garcia Produced by Colwyn Fischbach, Julian Watson and Joe Garcia Starring Julian Watson, Jessie Ellis and Adam Alexander Assistant director: Colwyn Fischbach Director of photography/colorist: Porter Edwards Key grip: Joseph An Sound: Jonathan Kolo and Spencer Davis Score: Joe Garcia and Stephen Gleason "Fatal Inhibition" words and lyrics by Blair Johnson Music by Joe Garcia, performed by Julian Watson Audio engineer: Noah Renken-Kapatos Location scout: Eli Klokkenga

IF YOU GO What: Film screening of "Retrospection" Where: Astroth Community Education Center Auditorium at Heartland Community College, 1500 W. Raab Road, in Normal When: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25 Admission: Free and open to the public

Photos: Mennonite Relief Sale returns to Bloomington-Normal
NORMAL  Composers and musicians will gather at Illinois State University next week to celebrate and learn about their art.

The annual Red Note New Music Festival starts Sunday and features daily public events through Thursday, including performances by small and large groups. There will be additional workshops and other events for students and visiting artists throughout the week.

This years guest composers are Melinda Wagner and George Tsontakis, both internationally awarded artists. Guest ensembles are the Momenta Quartet from New York City, Utari from Japan and Trio Diorama from Chicago.

I am especially looking forward to seeing our guest composers, George Tsontakis and Melinda Wagner, as they provide guidance to our composition students and to the participants in the Student Composition Workshop, ISU Professor of Music Theory and Composition Carl Schimmel said in an email to The Pantagraph. Having been his student at the Aspen Music Festival, I know that (Tsontakis) will be a fantastic mentor to the students, and Melinda Wagner is known as an outstanding pedagogue as well."

The first concert, at 8 p.m. Monday at the Normal Theater, will be the first time Red Note hosts an event off campus, Schimmel said. It will feature Utari, a duo of sister percussionists from Japan.

Red Note also includes a composition competition, open across all ages and around the world. It is judged by ISU faculty, along with other guest judges.

This years winners are Max Grafe of Wallkill, New York, for Quintet for clarinet, strings and piano, for the chamber ensemble category; Sam Wu of Melbourne, Australia, for Hydrosphere, for the full orchestra category; and Adrian Wong of Ho Man Tin, Hong Kong, for Absalom for the chorus category. A full list of runners-up and honorable mentions can be found under the competition page of finearts.illinoisstate.edu/events-activities/red-note.

All of the public events will be livestreamed at finearts.illinoisstate.edu/live.

The final concert, on Thursday evening, is sure to be exciting  it will be held in the Center for the Performing Arts and will feature the ISU Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir in music by the competition winners and by our guest composers, Schimmel said. I hope that members of the community are able to check out some of these world-class performances.

Red Note New Music Festival public events All events will also be livestreamed at finearts.illinoisstate.edu/live. Sunday, March 26: Utari Duo and music for film, 8 p.m., Normal Theater Monday, March 27: Momenta Quartet, 8 p.m., Kemp Recital Hall Tuesday, March 28: Music of George Tsontakis and Melinda Wagner, 8 p.m., Kemp Recital Hall Wednesday, March 29: Student Workshop Premieres with Momenta Quartet and Utari Duo, 8 p.m., Kemp Recital Hall Thursday, March 30: Illinois State University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performing winning works from the competition and guest composers, 8 p.m., Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall

100 iconic moments from music history 100 iconic moments from music history American ballad becomes internationally famous for the first time The Battle Hymn of the Republic is published Thomas Edison invents the phonograph Billboard magazine hits newsstands Swing Low, Sweet Chariot establishes the black spiritual in music history Bessie Smith records Down Hearted Blues Duke Ellington gives the Swing Era its name Frank Sinatra performs to crazed teen fans in Times Square roll song roll riot occurs at Moondog Coronation Ball Leo Fender introduces the Stratocaster electric guitar Frank Sinatra gives birth to concept albums Chuck Berry releases Maybellene Elvis Presley thrusts his hips on TV s Calypso sells more than 1 million copies First Grammy Awards ceremony is held The day the music died Phil Spector formulates the Wall of Sound James Brown performs live at the Apollo Philips introduces compact cassette tapes The Beatles perform live on American TV in 1964 Bob Dylan introduces the Beatles to pot Pete Townshend smashes his guitar on stage s Like a Rolling Stone births modern rock I Got You, Babe becomes top hit Bob Dylan plays electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival  The Beach Boys release Pet Sounds The Velvet Underground teams up with Andy Warhol s Lonely Hearts Club Band Woodstock music festival draws nearly a half-million music fans Johnny Cash records live album at a prison The Beatles perform one last time Black Sabbath sets metal in motion Elton John releases seven consecutive albums David Bowie kills off Ziggy Stardust Willie Nelson hosts his first Fourth of July Picnic Dolly Parton releases Jolene Bob Marley and The Wailers release No Woman, No Cry Saturday Night Fever becomes one of the bestselling soundtracks John Lennon is murdered s Delight becomes first hip-hop song to make Top 40 MTV airs its first music video Grandmaster Flash creates single with samples from at least nine artists Simon & Garfunkel perform in front of 500,000 people at Central Park Michael Jackson releases Thriller Compact discs enter music market Michael Jackson does the moonwalk Cyndi Lauper releases Girls Just Want to Have Fun Madonna performs Like a Virgin at 1984 Video Music Awards Ronald Reagan references Bruce Springsteen in 1984 campaign Live Aid raises $127 million in aid for Ethiopian famine 46 famous singers collaborate on We Are the World Prince tops the Filthy 15 list Aerosmith collaborates with Run-DMC Madonna kicks off her first world tour Aretha Franklin becomes first female Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee N.W.A. releases protest song against racial injustice Rosanne Barr butchers the national anthem Whitney Houston gives iconic performance of The Star-Spangled Banner Freddie Mercury reveals he has AIDS Smells Like Teen Spirit marks the success of grunge in Wind tops Billboard 200 and country chart Whitney Houston sings I Will Always Love You Snoop Dogg makes West Coast hip hop mainstream Puff Daddy launches Bad Boy Entertainment Nirvana performs on MTV Unplugged Mariah Carey changes Christmas music forever Selena is killed by her fan club president Spice Girls debut Wannabe Tupac Shakur is killed in drive-by shooting Notorious B.I.G. is murdered in a drive-by shooting s funeral Britney Spears wears controversial schoolgirl outfit in video 99 fails miserably Metallica sues Napster for copyright infringement Mariah Carey shows up unannounced on TRL Apple launches the first iPod American Idol debuts on TV Dixie Chicks slam President George W. Bush The Eagles release first new material in 28 years Radiohead experiment sparks debate in the music industry Lady Gaga releases The Fame Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards Taylor Swift becomes youngest winner of top CMA Award wins six Grammy Awards after his death s Teenage Dream hit number one Nicki Minaj takes seven spots on Billboard Hot 100 s Friday goes viral Amy Winehouse dies of alcohol poisoning Tupac Shakur is revived in hologram form Jimi Hendrix gets commemorative stamp U2 gets blowback after sending its album to iTunes customers Mariah Carey helps James Corden launch Carpool Karaoke Taylor Swift gets Apple to pay artists s Lemonade debuts at number one Ed Sheeran has highest-grossing tour of all time Fyre Festival is exposed as a fraud Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize in music 100 iconic moments from music history American ballad becomes internationally famous for the first time The 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' is published Thomas Edison invents the phonograph Billboard magazine hits newsstands 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' establishes the Black spiritual in music history Bessie Smith records 'Down Hearted Blues' Duke Ellington gives the swing era its name Frank Sinatra performs to crazed teen fans in Times Square Ike Turner records first rock 'n' roll song First rock 'n' roll riot occurs at Moondog Coronation Ball Leo Fender introduces the Stratocaster electric guitar Frank Sinatra gives birth to concept albums Chuck Berry releases 'Maybellene' Elvis Presley thrusts his hips on TV Harry Belafonte's 'Calypso' sells more than 1 million copies First Grammy Awards ceremony is held The day the music died Phil Spector formulates the 'Wall of Sound' James Brown performs live at the Apollo Philips introduces compact cassette tapes The Beatles perform live on American TV Bob Dylan introduces the Beatles to pot Pete Townshend smashes his guitar on stage Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' births modern rock 'I Got You, Babe' becomes top hit Bob Dylan plays electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival The Rolling Stones release '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' The Beach Boys release 'Pet Sounds' The Velvet Underground teams up with Andy Warhol The Beatles release 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' Woodstock music festival draws nearly 500,000 music fans Johnny Cash records live album at a prison The Beatles perform one last time Black Sabbath sets metal in motion Elton John releases 7 consecutive albums David Bowie kills off Ziggy Stardust Willie Nelson hosts his first Fourth of July Picnic Dolly Parton releases 'Jolene' Bob Marley and The Wailers release 'No Woman, No Cry' 'Saturday Night Fever' becomes one of the bestselling soundtracks John Lennon is murdered 'Rapper's Delight' becomes first hip-hop song to make Top 40 MTV airs its first music video Grandmaster Flash creates single with samples from at least 9 artists Simon & Garfunkel perform in Central Park Michael Jackson releases 'Thriller' Compact discs enter music market Michael Jackson does the moonwalk Cyndi Lauper releases 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' Madonna performs 'Like a Virgin' at the 1984 Video Music Awards Ronald Reagan references Bruce Springsteen in 1984 campaign Live Aid is watched around the world 46 famous singers collaborate on 'We Are the World' Prince tops the Filthy 15 list Aerosmith collaborates with Run-DMC Madonna kicks off her first world tour Aretha Franklin becomes first female Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee N.W.A. releases protest song against racial injustice Roseanne Barr butchers the national anthem Whitney Houston gives iconic performance of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Freddie Mercury reveals he has AIDS 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' marks the success of grunge 'Ropin' the Wind' tops Billboard 200 and country chart Whitney Houston sings 'I Will Always Love You' Snoop Dogg makes West Coast hip-hop mainstream Puff Daddy launches Bad Boy Entertainment Nirvana performs on MTV Unplugged Mariah Carey changes Christmas music forever Selena is killed by her fan club president Spice Girls debut 'Wannabe' Tupac Shakur is killed in drive-by shooting Notorious B.I.G. is murdered in a drive-by shooting Elton John performs at Princess Diana's funeral Britney Spears wears controversial schoolgirl outfit in video Woodstock '99 fails miserably Metallica sues Napster for copyright infringement Mariah Carey shows up unannounced on TRL Apple launches the first iPod 'American Idol' debuts on TV Dixie Chicks slam President George W. Bush The Eagles release first new material in 28 years Radiohead experiment sparks debate in the music industry Lady Gaga releases 'The Fame' Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards Taylor Swift becomes youngest winner of top CMA Award Beyonce wins six Grammy Awards Michael Jackson gets biggest record deal everafter his death 5 songs from Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' hit the top spot Nicki Minaj takes 7 spots on Billboard Hot 100 Rebecca Black's 'Friday' goes viral Amy Winehouse dies of alcohol poisoning Tupac Shakur is revived in hologram form Jimi Hendrix gets commemorative stamp U2 gets blowback after sending its album to iTunes customers Mariah Carey helps James Corden launch Carpool Karaoke Taylor Swift gets Apple to pay artists Beyonce's 'Lemonade' debuts at #1 Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize in music Bob Dylan sells his songwriting and recorded music catalogs Travis Scott's third annual Astroworld Festival ends early in tragedy
Recently, someone objected to my videos (see below) by telling me that the righteous servant in Isaiah 53 cannot be the Messiah because from chapter 41 on, the servant is clearly identified as Israel/Jacob, yet Christians have always used 53 to promote the concept of a suffering Messiah.

I replied: To say that the Isaian servant represents only Israel becomes problematic at Isaiah 49:5-6 where God says that the servant will accomplish even more than bring Jacob/Israel back to him because, God says, his servant will raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel and I will give you [my servant] as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

Yet I must agree with modern scholars that Isaiah 53, when it was written, was intended to refer to an event that had already taken place: The righteous among the people of Judah had suffered along with the unrighteous by being exiled to Babylon, a punishment which, however, would prove redemptive if only they could accept it as atoning for all, and thus be enabled to return to their homeland, which indeed soon happened under Cyrus the Persian.

Also I must empathize with any of my Jewish brethren who object, If Jesus was the promised Messiah, we should all be living now in a perfect Messianic Age.

In spite of all that, it seems to me that Jesus of Nazareth  not being a modern scholar!  became convinced that he as the Isaian servant would horribly die in order to become a ransom for many, and that would be made clear to everyone when, soon after his death, the servant would be lifted up in glory before the amazed and grateful eyes of everyone on earth in a redeemed, forgiven world (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:5-6,12; compare Mark 10:45; 14:24,62).

Sadly, that did not happen, and it has not. And if Jesus of Nazareth were here among us today, he surely would find that grievous.

What then, if anything, can we today still hope for?
CLINTON  DeWitt County 4-H is seeking volunteers to help plant 25 oak trees as part of the 4-H Green Communities Tree Program.

The program is a partnership between Illinois 4-H and the Illinois Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Forestry Committee. Planting new trees can help combat environmental issues like carbon neutrality and nutrient runoff, according to a news release.

The DeWitt County Savanna Tree Planting will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1, in Weldon Springs State Park, 4734 Weldon Springs Road, Clinton.

Illinois use to support 14 million acres of trees, but suddenly dropped to 3 million acres, the news release said. Today, there are 5 million acres of trees in Illinois.

Throughout the spring, 4-H youth in DeWitt and 38 other Illinois counties will each plant a group of 25 oak trees on public properties in their county. The groups will help bring new life to oak-hickory forests under threat in Illinois, with total plantings of about 950 new trees. Prairie Materials provided support for the program.

Those interested in participating in the DeWitt County planting can contact 4-H Program Coordinator Eric Eickmeier at 217-762-2191.

Best small towns to live in across America Best small towns to live in across America #50. Bexley, Ohio #49. Ridgewood, New Jersey #48. Granville, Ohio #47. Manhasset Hills, New York #46. Madison, Mississippi #45. Wayland, Massachusetts #44. Aspinwall, Pennsylvania #43. Frontenac, Missouri #42. Homewood, Alabama #41. Princeton, New Jersey #40. Syosset, New York #39. Ballwin, Missouri #38. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin #37. Short Pump, Virginia #36. Mount Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania #35. Princeton Junction, New Jersey #34. Madeira, Ohio #33. Cinco Ranch, Texas #32. Narberth, Pennsylvania #31. Innsbrook, Virginia #30. Decatur, Georgia #29. Boalsburg, Pennsylvania #28. Cayuga Heights, New York #27. Brighton, New York #26. Cascades, Virginia #25. South Kensington, Maryland #24. Great Neck Gardens, New York #23. Shaker Heights, Ohio #22. Prairie Village, Kansas #21. Jericho, New York #20. Olivette, Missouri #19. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania #18. Long Grove, Illinois #17. Clarendon Hills, Illinois #16. Stone Ridge, Virginia #15. Morrisville, North Carolina #14. North Potomac, Maryland #13. Brentwood, Missouri #12. Great Neck Plaza, New York #11. Ottawa Hills, Ohio #10. Oakwood, Ohio #9. Houserville, Pennsylvania #8. Ardmore, Pennsylvania #7. Clayton, Missouri #6. Holly Hills, Colorado #5. Los Alamos, New Mexico #4. Richmond Heights, Missouri #3. Okemos, Michigan #2. Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania #1. Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta says his engagement with the Chinese authorities over international debt restructuring has been encouraging.



According to the Minister, he has so far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China.



The tweet from the Ministry pointed out that they are looking forward to securing external assurances very soon.



So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts#ResolvingTogether #GhanaFirst, the Office of the Finance Minister tweeted on Friday, March 24, 2023.



This comes after Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta led a strong governments delegation to engage the Chinese government on Ghanas debt restructuring programme.



The Ghana delegation is made up of Technical Officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bank of Ghana.



Already, Chinas Commerce Ministry confirmed that Ghanas Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, met with Chinas vice commerce minister in Beijing on Thursday to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Ghanas finance ministry revealed that China is the countrys largest bilateral creditor, with debts totaling around US$1.9 billion.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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A number of companies in Thailand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).



These companies numbering about ten are in the Thailand rice value chain, and it is in relation to the Ghana-Thailand Rice Project.



The companies, which cut across the rice value chain, include fertilizer producers, dealers of rice milling equipment, and seedling research centres, among others, are Smart Engineering Consultants Company, FairAgora Asia Ltd., New Kaset Thai Company Ltd., TAMCO Trading International Co. Ltd., Glofert Growing Growth, and Hypro Foods World Co Ltd.



The rest are Aneksin Motor Partnership Limited, TNP Billionaire Group, SQI Group Company Limited Biomatlink Company Limited and Deler International Rice Machinery Co.



The MoUs were signed with the companies on the sidelines of a Thailand-Ghana Business Conference at Grand Fortune, Bangkok in Thailand on Sunday, March 19, 2023.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Asian African Consortium (AAC) Mrs Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, initialled for the JGC while the various Chief Executives Officers (CEOs) signed for their companies.



Present at the signing ceremony were the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of Crops, Yaw Addo Frimpong, Ghanas High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mrs Florence B. Akonor, Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr Sicha Singsomboon, and the Founder and Executive Chairman of the JGC, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong.



The business conference, which brought together captains of Thailand rice industry and several companies and a Ghanaian delegation, led by the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), was on the theme: Ghana-Thailand Business Forum; Partnership for Sustainable Rice Production in Ghana.



Members of the Ghana delegation included experts and researchers in various fields drawn from the University of Ghana, Legon, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crop Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), the Ghana Rice Farmers Association, the Competitive African Rice Platform, traditional rulers, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and private entrepreneurs with the focus on rice, fertilizer, maize, cassava and poultry as well as executives of the JGC.



Speaking to journalists shortly after the signing ceremony, the CEO of AAC, Mrs Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, commended the Thai companies for their interest to work with the group for the success of the Ghana-integrated rice project.



Once we have signed MoUs with you (referring to the Thailand rice companies), it means that we have reposed trust and confidence in your companies, so we will need your full support," she urged.



According to her, the partnership forged with them will mutually benefit both parties and added that we work with speed and will be doing the same with your companies.



In this regard, she asked the Thai companies to travel to Ghana and study the country.



A team will be working with you (the Thai rice companies) to ensure that we begin the implementation of the rice project in Ghana immediately, she said.



Ghanas High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mrs Florence B. Akonor, allayed the fears of the Thai people that the partnership will see them at the losing end.



The partnership we are forging with your companies is a win-win situation for Ghana and Thailand, she said.



Ghana is a safe place to invest, and your investments will be protected, she asserted.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Parliament of Ghana has scheduled voting on the approval of six persons nominated for ministerial appointment by President Nana Addo Dankwa in February this year.



The House on Thursday, February 23, 2023, completed the debate on the report of the Appointments Committee on the six nominees who were vetted weeks ago.



The House engaged in an extended sitting after some issues had risen out of the minoritys opposition to the nominations.



During the debate, members on both sides including their leadership counter-argued about the need to approve the nominees.



While the majority supported the approval, the minority maintained its position that the size of the government under the current economic hardship facing the country is big and must be reduced.



Following the debate, the speaker, Alban Suaman Kingsford Bagbin adjourned sitting to today (March 24) for the house to vote on the approval or otherwise of the nominees.



The nominees include Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Kwabena Tahir Hammond as Minister-designate for Trade and Industry, Abetifi MP, Brian Acheampong for Minister of Agriculture and Former CEO of the State Interests and Governance Authority, Stephen Asamoah Boateng who has been nominated for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.



The remaining are former deputy Energy Minister, Mohammed Amin Adam as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Osei Bonsu Amoah for Minster of state at the Local Government Ministry and Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah for Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.





Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo, has expressed his frustration over what he describes as fake reports consistently targeted at him in his political career.



In an exclusive interview with Raymond Nyamador on the Happy Morning Show, Kofi Akpaloo opened up about his misgivings and experiences running for the presidency in 2013 and 2016.



He indicated that most of the reports about him were overly false, Ive always been at the receiving end of fake reports. They wrote a lot of things about me which were untrue, he said.



Kofi Akpaloo explained that his forms were rejected in 2013, despite meeting the requirements, and in 2016, he faced false accusations of perjury and forgery. However, he made it clear that he was not disqualified due to these allegations.



No, I wouldnt be sitting here now and trying to come back again to contest for the Presidency, he affirmed.



Kofi Akpaloo revealed that he took it upon himself to clear his name and went to the police and CID headquarters to prove his innocence and make the cut to contest for the presidency, but unfortunately, his attempts failed.



Mr. Akpaloo further indicated that after he was approved to contest in the 2022 elections, he faced another wave of setbacks due to the delays and the back and forth with the authorities. He also indicated COVID-19 pandemic impacted his campaign significantly.



Unfortunately, because of all these issues and the back and forth, we didnt start our campaign in time, he lamented. We experienced the lockdown and all till October that was when we relaunched our campaign so it affected us direly.



Despite the challenges he faced, Kofi Akpaloo has expressed confidence in his desire to become Ghanas President as he believes he is God ordained to drive the change the country needs.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has opined that it is not proper for journalists to be referred to as terrorists.



This was in response to the judgment delivered by Justice Eric Baah in a defamatory suit by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas against Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central.



The judge described Anas as an investigative terrorist, extortionist, and blackmailer.



But delivering a lecture on financing political campaigns, at the UPSA auditorium on March 22, John Mahama asserted that describing journalists in such a manner was not the best.



We must also uphold human rights, including freedom of expression, and not be describing some journalists as terrorists, John Mahama advised.



Mr. Chairman, my agenda to Build TheGhana We Want Together from 2025, will involve far-reaching constitutional, political and governance reforms to restore confidence in our democracy and governance systems, he said.











Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Parliament is expected to consider the passing of three new revenue measures into law today March 23, 2023.



According to the Ministry of Finance, the new proposed taxes will increase the countrys domestic revenue by almost GH5 billion and also boost the countrys Ghanas fiscal position.



The revenue measures include the Income Tax Amendment Bill, Growth and Sustainability Bill, and the Excise Amendment Bill.



According to the government, minimum wage earners would be exempted from taxes under the Income Tax Amendment Bill, which is anticipated to bring in GH1.2 billion.



Income Tax Amendment Bill



The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) to revise the rates of income tax for individuals and introduce an additional income tax bracket, introduce a withholding tax rate on the realization of assets and liabilities and on winnings from the lottery, unify the loss carried forward provisions and revise the treatment of foreign exchange losses.



The bill when passed will increase the optional rate for individuals on the gain from the realization of an investment asset, revise the upper limits for the quantification of motor vehicle benefits and increase the concessional income tax rates.



Growth and Sustainability Bill



The object of the Bill is to impose a special levy on profit before tax of companies and institutions and on production in the case of mining, and upstream oil and gas companies.



Excise Amendment Bill



The object of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Excise Duty Act, 2014 (Act 878) to revise the excise tax rates for cigarettes and other tobacco products to conform with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocols and raise revenue to mitigate the harmful effects of these excisable products.



This is to increase the excise duty on wine, malt drinks and spirits; and impose excise duty on sweetened beverages and electronic cigarettes, and electronic liquids to increase revenue.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghana's former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has become known for her love for African prints and especially matching headgear whenever she appears in public.



Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings is more often than not seen with her headgear which has for years now become part of her dressing.



She has, however, broken that tradition once in a while, with the latest being after she was pictured without the headgear during a meeting with a diplomat.



The diplomat in question, the French Ambassador to Ghana, Jules-Armand Aniambossou, shared photos of his meeting with the former First Lady and two of her daughters and a granddaughter.



Nana Konadu is seen in a colourful top with a red jacket on top of black trousers and black shoes to match. She spots what looks like a curly black wig.



He captioned the photos posted on his Twitter handle: "An immense pleasure and pride for the French of the West African diaspora that I am very proud to be, to welcome to the residence of France, Mrs. Nana A. Rawlings, the former First Lady ???????? with her daughters and granddaughter."



GhanaWeb checks show that the two daughters who were with Nana Konadu were Yaa Asantewaa and Amina Rawlings. The other two children of the Rawlingses are Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Kimathi Rawlings.





An immense pleasure and pride for the French of the West African diaspora that I am very proud to be, to welcome to the residence of France, Mrs. Nana A. Rawlings, the former First Lady  with her daughters and granddaughter#Ghana #Africa #france #Europ pic.twitter.com/Nn1sKxGiRE  Jules-Armand Aniambossou (@JaAniambossou) March 20, 2023



















Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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It is essential to keep employee engagement up as the business landscape shifts. Organisations that invest in internal engagement platforms are better positioned to build a more productive and engaged workforce, adapt to changing market conditions, and stay ahead of the competition.



Vodafone Ghana understands this well and has, for the past few years, been engaging employees on a platform called Red Connect. Vodafone Ghana created Red Connect to help employees bond, network, and rally around common organisational causes.



The platform is not only for networking, however. The latest edition of Red Connect turned the focus on products, services, and customers. On the evening of 21 March, employees of Vodafone Ghana on this edition of Red Connect gathered for an internal quiz dubbed You think you know?. The quiz was designed to test employees knowledge of Vodafone Ghanas products and services.



I cannot overemphasise the need for organisations to build a strong customer focus within employees, says Ashiokai Akrong, Vodafone Ghanas Human Resources Director. We believe that the more our employees know about our products and services, the better they can serve our customers.



Representatives from various units within the company engaged in the keenly contested event to win prizes. Employees turned out in their numbers dressed in traditional outfits, echoing the Ghana month agenda.



Popular Ghanaian celebrity, David Dontoh, moderated the quiz competition expertly, adding a touch of excitement to the event. He engaged the audience with his witty remarks and humour, and his professionalism made the competition run smoothly.



Vodafone Ghanas strong focus on employees and customers has won many prestigious awards. Earlier this year, the prestigious Top Employers Institute announced Vodafone Ghana as a Top Employer for Ghana and Africa. The Institute recognised Vodafone Ghana as a Top Employer in Ghana five years ago and in the four subsequent years thereafter as Top Employer in Ghana and Africa.



By leveraging Red Connect to foster employee engagement and build a customer-focused culture, Vodafone Ghana is setting itself up for long-term success in a competitive marketplace.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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"The accreditation of Cybersecurity Professionals (CPs) will guide further development of the cybersecurity profession in Ghana and will make it possible to create the necessary incentives to develop the profession", the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako said this when he delivered a keynote speech at the 2023 CISO Summit in Accra on March 22, 2023.



According to Dr. Antwi-Boasiako, the Cyber Security Authority will create a Registry of accredited CPs and this database will be accessible to the public via the CSAs website as part of the accreditation process.



This, he said, will provide visibility and direct credibility to accredited CPs.



He indicated that accredited CPs could also be selected by the Authority as Independent Assessors to be part of the CSAs team to conduct regulatory assessments and audits.



We do hope that, also with the accreditation, we can provide regulatory guidelines on fees and charges by CPs, similar to what the Bar Association does to guide charges by lawyers. The accreditation of CPs will also contribute to the establishment and the operations of the Industry Forum which is to be established under Section 81 of Act 1038. The Authority will engage further with the industry to identify and promote relevant practices which will inure to the benefit of accredited CPs, he added.



Dr. Antwi-Boasiako applauded industry bodies like ISACA and (ISC) and urged them to continue to play a significant role in promoting cybersecurity skills development and standardization.



He however stated that the cybersecurity industry, like any serious profession, needs to be regulated.



There is the need at the national level, to regulate individuals, irrespective of which industry body they belong to, he We entreat all, including Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) here to go through the accreditation process.



The licensing of Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs) and accreditation of Cybersecurity Establishments and Cybersecurity Professionals is another regulatory focus of the CSA.



The need to develop the industry, the requirements to adopt best practices and standards and national security considerations, are driving such regulatory activities.



It is the expectation of the Authority that only persons and institutions tha are demonstrably qualified and are in good standing will undertake critical services.



Beyond the technical and professional competency, the fit for purpose tests in cybersecurity also include professional integrity and positive background information.



The Authority has thus activated the process of licensing and accrediting these entities and personnel and the commencement date was March 1, 2023 and will run till September 30th for existing institutions and professionals.



After September 30th, it will be illegal to offer cybersecurity services in Ghana without a license, pursuant to Section 49 (1).



Unfortunately, once the accreditation timeframe elapses and without accreditation by the Authority, cybersecurity professionals will not be able to offer their services again  services for a reward or payment as the law says  to designated Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) Owners and public sector institutions.



This is consistent with best practices all over the world.



The CSA is currently implementing a number of regulatory activities including the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures, Accreditation of Sectoral CERTS, Licensing of Cybersecurity Service Providers, Accreditation of Cybersecurity Establishments, and Accreditation of Cybersecurity Professionals.



Cybercrime/Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Points of Contact (PoC) which was launched in October 2019 by the Authority to provide public with multiple avenues and channels for reporting cyber-related incidents, has so far received 37,468 contacts from October 2020 till date, with about 33,841 contacts being Direct Advisories, given to the public.



In accordance with Section 44 of the Cybersecurity Act 2020 (Act 1038), Sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are being established to facilitate effective cybersecurity incident coordination and response in all the critical sectors of Ghanas economy.



Currently, most companies do not report such incidents. As a result, it's almost impossible to know how many cyberattacks there are, and what form they take.



It is not acceptable for a country like Ghana to allow such practices to go on.



According to the Director-General of the CSA, if we cant detect and measure what we are faced with on daily basis, then we certainly cannot manage it. The Authority is therefore, as part of its mandate going to enforce Section 47 of Act 1038 as part of our CERT regulations.



The CISO summit was a platform to have a mutually beneficial conversation to significantly contribute to improving cybersecurity development in Ghana.



It brought together Senior Managers, IT experts, and Information Security Officers are assembled to discuss the current developments in the industry and how they impact on the profession.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier-Sosu is demanding an immediate retraction and apology from a news portal that reported that his wife and four children had been granted asylum by the government of the United States of America.



According to the MP, the Thursday, March 23, 2023, publication by Mynews.com.gh with the headline Madina MPs Wife and 4 Children Granted US Government Visa Asylum Over Anti LGBTQI Threats, is not only untrue but maliciously targeted at his reputation.



The MP through his lawyers, FX Law & Associates has thus demanded an immediate deletion of the said story as well as a retraction and apology for its publication.



In the said publication, you allege that the wife and four (4) children of our client were granted asylum status by the US government following the alleged threats of harm received by the Human Rights lawyer and his family over his opposition to sections of Ghanas Anti-Gay Bill.



"We have further instructions that the above allegation is false and publication of same is made maliciously without justification and is calculated to injure the hard-earned reputation of our client and expose him to hatred, ridicule and contempt.



Accordingly, we have firm instructions of our client you remedy the situation immediately by pulling down the said false and malicious news story publication and causing a retraction and apology to be made within six hours on receipt of this letter and giving the retraction and apology the same publicity and prominence as the false and malicious publication made on Thursday, 23rd March 2023, the letter from the lawyers read in part.



According to the lawyers, the have the instruction of their client to institute a five million cedis defamation suit against the media house if it fails to heed to their demand.



We have further instructions from our client to commence legal action against you for damages of Five Million Ghana Cedis (GH5,000,000.00) to protect our clients image and reputation from false and malicious publication made on your news portal should you fail to heed to the demands of our client, the letter said.









Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast South Constituency in the Central Region, Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, has been predicting the way forward with regards to governments external debt negotiations.



President Nana Akufo-Addo a few weeks ago said his government is making progress on the external debt negotiations with its development partners since the government announced an external debt service suspension on 19th December 2022 for certain categories of external debt to ensure an orderly restructuring."



Also, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta left Accra for China on Sunday, 19 March 2023, as part of efforts by Ghana to secure debt forgiveness from the Asian giant to whom the West African gold producer owes $1.7 billion of its total of $5-plus billion owed the Paris Club.



Speaking to Nana Otu Darku on CTVs Dwabre Mu, the Cape Coast South MP noted that: China is the only country in the world at the moment that is likely to lend money to Ghana.



According to the MP, China takes an independent decision most of the time, against the rest of the world and they dont interfere. Chinas foreign policy is that we dont interfere in your political or financial affairs or whatever. Were [China], trying to help you so whether youre a bad regime or a good regime, we dont care we just want to have a good friendship with you.



We [China] have money so well give you some and then we collaterise it on the natural resources that we need. Chinas interest is natural resources. So when we [China] take your natural resources, whatever money you want, well give it to you as long as those assets you have in the long run can become ours [Chinas]."



He revealed that: The bulk of the debt Ghana owes China, is actually for bauxite. We promised them bauxite, the syno-hydro and all that, so the question to be asking is, is the bauxite finished? Why are you going to negotiate?



Why go and negotiate if you still have the bauxite?



The Cape Coast South MP alleged that Ghana is yet to mine the bauxite meant for the payment of the debt to China.



He continued that: This is what will happen in this arrangement. That what will happen in the end with the China agreement is that money will be taken for investment and the investment will be in the area of bauxite.



The reason for our inability to mine the bauxite is due to lack of equipment. The Chinese will say, 'Well help them to enable us recover our money.



'Thus, well agree to give you the equipment to go and mine the bauxite and bring it to us, so take this amount of money'. And that relieve is what Ghana will put into its reserve to help the cedi appreciate.



He, however, stressed that what Ghana is not likely to have is its debt cancelled.







Source: class fm









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The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Has refuted asserts in the media that fuel products brought into the country under the Gold-for-Oil programme are more expensive than those brought in from the international market.



According to the authority, the Gold-for-Oil fuel products are cheaper than most of the products brought into Ghana by Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs).



In a statement issued, on Thursday, March 23, 2023, the NPA said that while Gold-for-Oil petrol was sold to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at GHS9.60 per litre, most BIDECs sell their petrol between GHS9.63 per litre and GhS11.50 per litre.



Diesel was sold at GHS10.10 per litre under the Gold-for-Oil programme but BIDECs sold their products to OMC between GHS10.13 per litre and GHS11.50 per litre.



Reference is made to comments made by Dr. Theo Acheampong on the Joy Newsfile Programme on Saturday, 18th March 2023, indicating that the prices of petroleum products being sold under the Gold for Oil (G40) programme are higher than those from other sources.



We would like to state that the claim is inaccurate and may be based on inadequate information available to him, at the time. Information on the sale of petroleum products by Bulk Import Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs) to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) depicts that a significant volume of products are sold above the C40 prices



For instance, on the 16th and 17th of March, many of the BIDECS sold petrol to OMCs at ex-refinery prices ranging from GHS9.63/Lt to GH511.50/Lt which were above the G4O price of GHS9.60/Lt Diesel was sold at prices ranging from GHS10.13/Lt to GHS11.50/Lt also above the G40 price of CHS10.10/Lt, parts of the statement read.



The authority also insisted that the Gold-for-Oil programme is bringing down the prices of fuel products in Ghana.



It is worth noting that the implementation of the G40 Programme has significantly driven market prices down. The gap between the price of the first consignment of G40 diesel which arrived in January and the market prices was about GHS1.00 per litre. However, this gap has closed due to the competition the G40 programme has created, the NPA said.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Allied Consortiums and its subsidiary, BKQ Foundation, have organized a send-off party for students and teachers of two less endowed schools in the Eastern Region of Ghana.



The beneficiary schools are the Akropong School for the Blind and the Mampong Demonstration School for the Deaf.



The programme, held at the Akropong School for the Blind on Thursday, 23rd March, 2023, was themed "Smile with Allied Consortiums". It is an initiative to put smiles on the faces of about 1000 students and staff of the two schools.



The Group Chairman of Allied Consortiums, Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, together with his team, flew from South Africa to celebrate with the two special schools.



Speaking at the programme he said, this is a cooperate social responsibility the company is embarking upon. "This is something we do twice every year to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in our society. We are happy to give them a wonderful 'Our Day Party' this year", he said.



The Executive Director of Events EQ Global Pty Ltd, Mrs. Nonkazimulo Quashie speaking at the programme, commended the staff for their dedication and commitment to their roles in making lives better for these students.



Madam Veronica Derry, Akropong School for the Blind Head, thanked Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie and his team for the kindness shown to them.



She, on behalf of the two specials school presented a citation of appreciation to the Group Chairman and requested that the event should not be a one off event.



The Group Chairman of Allied Consortiums, receiving the citation, pledged to make the party a yearly affair that would be sponsored by his company and NGO BKQ Foundation.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Afriyie Akoto has debunked claims that he is arrogant in behaviour and autocratic in nature.



The former Food and Agriculture Minister and Presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) revealed in an interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme Thursday morning that he is misconcieved to be unfriendly and a type that pushes people away.



According to him, this wide-held notion about him is wrong stating the people in his close circles will testify about him being very affable.



"From the outside, people see me like that but if you come closer, I am as friendly and very open. When you come to my house in the morning to see the number of people there, both in Kumasi and East Legon. By six O'clock, my compound in Kumasi is swarming with people . . . My house has always been, in Kumasi and in Accra, very open and people come, walk in and out," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.



The Presidential aspirant further stressed that he is perceived to be arrogant because "maybe I am over-keen in trying to achieve what I want to achieve" but insisted that "the fact that I'm keen to produce results doesn't mean I am arrogant or autocratic. I believe in democracy".



He added that this misconception may have arisen also because he seemingly took after the character of his biological father who he disclosed was nicknamed 'Munumkum', to wit dark clouds.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for reforms in the financing of political parties to deepen the countrys democracy and ensure that certain elements do not take undue advantage of the countrys governance system.



Some of the recommendations by the former President included public financing of political activities, strengthening the laws that enjoin only citizens of the country to contribute financially to political activities, and political parties declaring their incomes and sources of their incomes.



Speaking at a lecture on political party campaign financing at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) yesterday, Mr. Mahama said without reforms, there was the potential of mortgaging our governance system to criminals.



He said if the country continued with the current system of campaign financing, the countrys democracy would be gradually turned into a plutocracy  a country ruled indirectly by a few wealthy individuals.



Again, he said without cogent and comprehensive reforms of political party financing, the country could gradually become a democracy dominated by political godfathers



Given the huge cost of political activities, wealthy party financiers may take over as political godfathers who determine electoral outcomes, he said.



Mr Mahama acknowledged that the state already provided some form of support to political parties by returning filling fees to political parties who meet certain criteria.



He said in the past, the state also used to distribute vehicles to political parties based on their share of votes in elections.



According to him, it was important that the state provided more support to political parties because strong and viable political parties were critical in promoting and sustaining the countrys democracy.



He, however, noted that the current financial difficulties facing the country would make it very difficult for the state to increase support to political parties.



Ghana today is broke. International credit rating agencies have placed us in junk status. Additional state financing can therefore not be a viable option on the table, he said.



Former President Mahama said in the event the country was well resourced to make the state fund political parties, there was the need for such support to be done in a bipartisan and inclusive manner.



I further recommend that should public funding of political parties be scaled up in the foreseeable future, then, an independent and credible institution must be selected to administer the state resources advanced to political parties.



In that regard, a sharing formula could be established to ensure fairness and specific disclosure requirements on beneficiary parties. This must be complemented by auditing and publication of party accounts., he added.



Former President Mahama further said there was also the need to reform the legal regime on political party formation and their financing system.



Such reforms, he said should start with Article 55 of the 1992 Constitution which deals with political parties and the Political Parties Act, (Act 574).



We must be bold in reviewing the entire framework of our democratic experiment, identifying reform gaps in the legal and institutional framework and push for reforms whether in the Constitution, Acts of Parliament or other legal frameworks that are holding back progress.



We must do so for most of our state institutions and act to mend the growing breach between society and Ghanas political system, he said.



Mr Mahama said the country must also ensure that political party financing must be free from corruption.



Such a move, he said, could be done with stakeholders' engagement especially on the platform of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).



The former President also used the occasion to launch an interactive and smart digital retail fundraising platform to help broaden the scope of his 2024 campaign financiers.



He said the platform was to address dependency on a few funding the campaign.



There are emerging opportunities for political parties to broaden the source of their funding.



These new opportunities are being driven by technology and in particular, electronic crowdfunding platforms, as are being used in developed countries, he said.



He said he adopted a crowdfunding technology to promote a more transparent and accessible means to raise funds to execute his 2024 campaign.



He explained that the use of reliable fintech payment systems would push the agenda of promoting citizen participation in the financing of political parties activities.



We did not have to go far in search of such a robust solution because Ghana has a lot of young talented fintech entrepreneurs who have invested so much within the digital ecosystem and have already created a lot of employment opportunities for several Ghanaians, he said.







Source: Salaamat Kuukua Paintsil/Peacefmonline









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Savannah Regional branch have denied reports that former president John Dramani Mahama was recently booed in Damongo when he attended the enskinment of the new Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jawu Soale, on Monday, March 20, 2023.



This follows that circulation of viral video which that showed a section of the crowd purportedly hooting as Mahama was descending from the stage he was on together with other dignitaries including Vice President Dr Bawumia and the Jinapor brothers, to address the crowd.



The persons who were hooting, even though were a small section of the crowd, could be seen clapping and screaming away, away, away.



A statement from the NDC stating the facts of the incident alleged that the booing party were NPP supporters bussed from parts of the northern region for the specific purpose.



Adding that despite their unruly behaviour, Mahama "was welcomed with cheers and a loud applause as his brilliant speech touched the hearts and minds of his tribesmen, chiefs, and elders at the ceremony.



"There was absolutely no reason or cause for anyone whatsoever to hoot at President Mahama. The false narrative of being booed must be treated with contempt," the statement read in part.



Explaining the source of the unruly crowd, the statement continued: "It was observed that a small group of people who were part of an unruly and uncouth supporters of the NPP were on the blind side of President Mahama and his delegation, shouting and recording themselves. In the process, the detachment of police and military personnel ensured that they remained where they were, without the people at the durbar hearing whatever they were saying.



"These were NPP supporters bussed into Damongo by the NPP, obviously because of the Vice Presidents feeling of insecurity and nervousness. A total of five buses transported these supporters from Tamale and Wa to cheer him."



FULL STATEMENT: Here are the facts:



1. As a Royal and a native of the Gonja Kingdom, President John Mahama attended the event as a son and grandson of the land.



2. HE John Mahama, after all the protocols, paying homage to the new Yagbonwura with his delegation, stepped forward to deliver his speech, which had nothing to do with politics but full of wisdom, history, and the great traditions of the great Gonja Kingdom.



3. He was welcomed with cheers and a loud applause as his brilliant speech touched the hearts and minds of his tribesmen, chiefs, and elders at the ceremony.



4. There was absolutely no reason or cause for anyone whatsoever to hoot at President Mahama. The false narrative of being booed must be treated with contempt.



5. It was observed that a small group of people who were part of an unruly and uncouth supporters of the NPP were on the blind side of President Mahama and his delegation, shouting and recording themselves. In the process, the detachment of police and military personnel ensured that they remained where they were, without the people at the durbar hearing whatever they were saying.



6. These were NPP supporters bussed into Damongo by the NPP, obviously because of the Vice Presidents feeling of insecurity and nervousness. A total of five buses transported these supporters from Tamale and Wa to cheer him.



7. However, we wish to state in the strongest terms possible that the deliberate attempts by the NPP to always bus people from other regions into the Savannah Region just to cause confusion, disorder and mayhem at public functions will no longer be tolerated, and this will be the last caution.



8. For the records, H.E John Mahama remains the only president with an enviable record of projects in the entire Gonja kingdom from Senior High Schools (E Blocks at Daboya, Mpaha and Bamboi etc), Hospitals (Sawla, Buipe and Bamboi district hospitals etc), roads (147km Fufulso-Sawla road, Datoyili  Buipe road etc), factories(Buipe sheanut, Daboya smock, Savanah cement factories etc), water projects (Ntereso water project etc) among others.



For maximum satisfaction and the avoidance of doubt, kindly find attached two videos- one of the arrival of President Mahama at the durbar ground, and the other, the beautiful speech delivered by the former president as he was cheered on by the good people of the Savannah region and all present.



Anyidoho reacts to booing incident



Samuel Koku Anyidoho, a former deputy general secretary of the NDC, reacting to the viral video lamented the incident.



He said that former president John Agyekum Kufuor, the late Prof John Atta Mills and the late Jerry John Rawlings (JJ) never received this kind of reaction in their home regions.



JJ was never hooted at in Volta; Kufuor was never hooted at in Ashanti; Atta-Mills was never hooted at in Central; Nana Addo has never been hooted at in Eastern; Someone has been hooted at in his own Gonjaland - Damango. Hmm! parts of the tweet read.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo has expressed unwavering confidence and faith in his destiny to become the President of Ghana. However the question for him remains when?



According to Kofi Akpaloo, his journey in Ghanas political landmark from contesting as a Parliamentary candidate to forming his political party was inspired by Gods vision to him. A dream he said he had in 2010 where God had appointed him as Ghanas President.



In an exclusive interview on the Happy Morning Show, he expressed his strong belief in pursuing his dreams with Gods guidance, saying, My belief has been strong and for me, anything I see in my dreams, I pursue them with Gods guidance.



So that is what Ive pursued since and its been 13 years now. So I know in Gods own time I will be the President of Ghana, he added.



Mr. Akpaloo earlier recounted that his desire to become the President of Ghana came to him at the tender age of six as he believes he is the right vessel to ignite Ghanas change. Hence the dream comes as approval from God.



Ever since I was young and at the age of 6 I had this redeeming to be a President in future to help with the development of Ghana. So somewhere in 2004 I had the drive to contest for Parliamentary Candidate in the Manhyia Constituency and I was able to garner more votes. Though I didnt emerge victorious I came second. So I had some little experience there beating the big guys, NDC, CPP and PNC and came second. So I think I did well between the three months I started campaign, he said.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Private legal practitioner, Nana Obiri Boahen has suggested a constitutional amendment that will compel Presidents to seek Parliamentary approval before the appointment of Electoral Commissioners.



If we think there is something wrong with our constitution then we must consider another mode of appointing the Electoral Commissioner. It shouldnt be President in consultation with the Council of State alone.



"It should be the president in consultation with the Council of State and two-thirds of MPs present. Nana Obiri Boahen said this on Kumasi-based Wontumi radio monitored by MyNewsGH.com.



The comment by the former deputy Secretary of the NPP comes days after some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) including the Communications Director Mr Sammy Gyamfi alleged that Dr Peter Appiahene who was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo as an electoral commissioner, is a patron of the ruling party NPP and challenged his neutrality.



Lawyer Obiri Boahen also described the new Commissioner Dr Appiahene as a serious person, hard-working person and fair-minded person who qualifies in all aspects.



The lawyer also chided the leadership of the NDC for not doing enough to amend the constitution during their era because it is something he (Obiri Boahen) has been championing for.



All those years the NDC was in power they didnt make effort to amend, so there are serious issues people are not concerned with including our brothers in NDC when they were in power and even now, he chided.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Afrobeats musician, Kelvyn Boy, who is known for many popular songs, one of which is "Down Flat", has released a bombshell on Charterhouse Productions; organizers of Ghana Music Awards.



Kelvyn Boy's footprint in the Ghanaian and world music landscape is massive as he keeps churning out hit songs with his latest release titled "Be Like That".



"Be Like That" is only weeks old but already receiving huge attention on the streaming platforms by music lovers all over the world.



In 2018, the musician was adjudged the winner of the Unsung Category in the VGMAs.



But the artiste, who has been nominated in this year's Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) in three categories; Best Highlife Song, Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year and Best Afrobeats/Afropop artiste, has expressed his distrust in the awards organizers.



Although not going into much details as to why he is not enthused about the VGMAs including this year's event which he is a nominee, Kelvyn Boy however seemingly finds the organizers to be dishonest, thus, he cannot bet on them.



"To be honest, we don't trust them. Even at Grammys, people complain", he told Abeiku Santana on Blezz Da Mic segment of Okay FM's drive time.



The 24th edition of the VGMA comes off on the 13th May, 2023 inside the Accra International Conference Centre but to Kelvyn Boy, he is focused on getting his fans and music lovers to stream his songs which he finds more important than receiving a Vodafone Ghana music award.



"I think this time we will focus on educating our people to go stream, to go [you know] follow us, some kinda things like go on YouTube than the awards", he emphasized.









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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This brings us to the most important question on many people's minds: As the sanctions decimate oligarchs' wealth, could that prompt them to abandon Putin or change the course of the war?

Some oligarchs are already speaking out against the war, such as Alfa Group Chairman Mikhail Fridman and metals magnate Oleg Deripaska  both of whom have been sanctioned by the West. Lukoil also called for the war's end. Although Lukoil is not currently under direct sanctions, oil traders are already shunning its products in anticipation.

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I believe we will see increasingly vocal opposition to the war from the oligarchs. At the very least, their willingness to do the Kremlin's dirty work by trying to influence Western politicians will likely subside significantly.

But there are two crucial limits to their influence and ability to affect Putin's behavior.

For one thing, the oligarchs do not work well together. In Russia's "piranha capitalism," these billionaires have mostly sought to outcompete their rivals for government largesse. Individual survival with a view to the Kremlin, not the defense of common interests such as sanctions' removal, has been the oligarchs' modus operandi. The Kremlin, for its part, has promised state support to sanctioned companies, especially in the banking sector.

More importantly, it is the guns, not the money, that speak loudest in the Kremlin today. As long as Putin retains his control over the siloviki  the current and former military and intelligence officers close to Putin  the other oligarchs, in my view, will remain hostages to his regime.

The generals are more likely to sway Putin than the oligarchs  and an economic collapse may be even more convincing still.

Stanislav Markus is an associate professor of international business at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A Cranfield University designed instrument capable of remotely analyzing molecules from the air in Antarctica will help scientists understand future changes in our climate.

The iDirac is unique in that unlike commercial alternatives it can operate autonomously for long periods of time. In addition to saving up to 500,000the cost of a similar commercial devicethe Cranfield designed device has the advantage of being able to run remotely on rugged terrain for months on end.

The iDirac is currently being used as part of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) led Southern Ocean Clouds project which also involves the University of East Anglia, the University of Exeter, and the University of Manchester.

The instrument measures a molecule emitted by the ocean called dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which is key to cloud formation in remote pristine environments. Capturing this is crucial to understanding how emissions affect climate and air quality, as well as how they change over time as a result of global warming.

Valerio Ferracci, Research Fellow at Cranfield University, said, "Antarctica is considered a proxy of the pre-industrial world; a region with minimal human influence. The improved understanding of clouds in this region might help account for how clouds formed in the pre-industrial era when anthropogenic emissions were much smaller than today.

"Currently some of the major uncertainties within climate models are clouds and aerosols (that act as nuclei for clouds to form on). By improving our understanding of the key processes involved in cloud formation and development, we can refine their representation in climate modelsultimately reducing that level of uncertainty.

"This will help us assess the role of aerosols and clouds in the present day compared to the pre-industrial past with more confidence. In turn this will help paint a clearer picture of the impact of human activity.

"As the climate changes as a consequence of the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations, so does the urgency to increase the accuracy of future climate projections."

The findings will be vital for bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which needs to offer precise guidance to policymakers on the impact of changes to emissions.
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Water levels are low at San Luis Reservoir, which stores irrigation water for San Joaquin Valley farms, Sept. 14, 2022, in Gustine, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an end to some drought restrictions and calls for water conservation on Friday, March 24, 2023, following a series of winter storms have dramatically improved the state's water supply outlook. Credit: AP Photo/Terry Chea, File

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ended some of the state's water restrictions on Friday because a winter of relentless rain and snow has replenished the state's reservoirs and eased fears of a shortage after three years of severe drought.

Newsom was careful not to declare the drought to be over, noting water shortages remain in the Klamath River basin along the California-Oregon line and in densely populated Southern California, which relies heavily on the struggling Colorado River system to supply millions of people.

But Newsom did say he would stop asking people to voluntarily cut their water use by 15%, a request he first made nearly two years ago while standing at the edge of a nearly dry Lopez Lake in the state's Central Coast regiona lake that today is so full from recent storms it is almost spilling over.

"None of us could have imagined ... a few months ago that we'd be where we are today," Newsom said Friday from a farm northwest of Sacramento that has flooded some of its fields with excess water so it will seep underground and refill groundwater basins. "Are we out of the drought? Mostlybut not completely."

Newsom's call for voluntary conservation had mixed results. Californians did reduce their water use, but only by 6.2% overall, according to data from the State Water Resources Control Board. Newsom never ordered statewide, mandatory water restrictionsbut he did require water agencies to impose some limits on their customers.

Friday, Newsom said he was easing those rules. That change will impact people in different ways depending on where they live. For most people, it means they won't be limited to watering their lawns on only certain days of the week or at certain times of the day. Other restrictions will remain in place indefinitely, including a ban on watering decorative grass for businesses.

Huge amounts of snow are seen after a series of storms blasted communities surrounding South Lake Tahoe, Calif. on Jan. 4, 2023. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced, Friday, March 24, 2023, an end to some drought restrictions and calls for water conservation, following a series of winter storms have dramatically improved the state's water supply outlook. Credit: Bronte Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File

"We've got to conserve as a way of life," Newsom said.

Newsom could ease some restrictions in part because California's reservoirs are now so full that cities will get more than double the amount of drinking water this year compared to a previous allocation announced last month. Now, water districts that serve 27 million people will get at least 75% of the water they requested from state supplies. Last year, they only got 5% as California endured three of the driest years ever since modern recordkeeping began in 1896.

"This wet winter, which has led to a large increase in our (water) allocation, is not a signal that we can relax," said Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that supplies water to 19 million people. "It is an alarm to act and accelerate our efforts to respond to rapidly changing conditions, including conservation, storage, recycling and reuse."

Last week the district ended mandatory drought restrictions for about 7 million people who rely almost exclusively on state supplies for their water.

California and the western United States have been in an extended drought for about two decades, a period of abnormal dryness punctuated by occasional intense seasons of storms. It would be tough for a governor "of a large, diverse state that has very diverse water supplies and water demands" to say when a drought has started or ended, said Jay Lund, vice director for the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis.

Lund said the drought is over from many perspectives in California, including urban water supply and reservoirs. But it's not over for the state's fragile ecosystems and the groundwater aquifers that were depleted during recent drought years.

A family walks over cracked mud near Lake Oroville's shore as water levels remain low due to continuing drought conditions Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Oroville, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced, Friday, March 24, 2023, an end to some drought restrictions and calls for water conservation, following a series of winter storms have dramatically improved the state's water supply outlook. Credit: AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File

"We might never recover them completely," he said.

Three years of little rain or snow in California had depleted reservoirs to the point the state couldn't generate electricity from hydroelectric power plants. It dried up wells in rural areas and state officials had to truck in water supplies for some communities. And it reduced the flow of the state's major rivers and streams, killing off endangered fish and other species.

But since December, no less than 12 powerful storms have hit California, packing so much rain and snow that meteorologists call them "atmospheric rivers." These storms have flooded homes, closed ski resorts and trapped people in mountain communities for days with no electricity, prompting emergency declarations from President Joe Biden.

"That kind of whiplash is something that we've experienced in a very intense way in California that I think is unique across the western U.S.," said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources.

Water has been steadily pouring into the state's reservoirs since December. Of California's 17 major reservoirs, 12 of them are either at or above their historical averages for this time of year.

And more water is coming. Statewide, the amount of snow piled up in the mountains is already 223% above the April 1 averagethe date when the snowpack is typically at its peak. Most of that snow will melt in the coming months, flowing into reservoirs and posing more flooding threats downstream.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Children with disabilities need better support to manage their online lives and potential online risks, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).

For children with disabilities, being online and part of a well-connected community can have huge benefits. However, children with disabilities will encounter more online risks, and these can escalate more quickly than for their peers.

The research shows that extra support from professionals such as teachers, youth workers, and speech and language therapists does not always happen when children with disabilities are learning, playing, and socializing on the Internet. It also highlights how this impacts on the ability of these children to access or activate digital resilience support from this community of professionals.

Digital resilience refers to the ability to learn how to recognize, manage and recover from online risk experiences, such as bullying, sexual messaging and mis- or disinformation, and is an increasingly important process for participating an increasingly connected world.

The study, published in the journal New Media & Society and involving researchers from the University of Liverpool, finds that professionals supporting children with disabilities need to better support their connected lives to promote community digital resilience and counter the digital inequalities.

The findings come as the latest draft of the Online Safety Bill nears the end of its passage through Parliament. While this landmark legislation will put greater responsibility on tech companies to do more to keep users safe, including children, it is widely accepted that it will not be able to eradicate all risk from online life. This underlines the need for improvements to user education about online risk, especially for vulnerable groups such as children with disabilities.

Lead author Dr. Simon P. Hammond, of UEA's School of Education and Lifelong Learning, said, "Educators spend a disproportionate amount of time dealing with unforeseen safeguarding events and/or sudden disciplinary issues, a key contributor to high and stressful workloads."

Dr. Jeanette D'Arcy, of the University of Liverpool's Communications and Media Department, commented, "Education professionals need support to invest their time in building and maintaining the kinds of connections in their communities that will help them provide the best support to this group."

"Redistributing time to be invested into addressing structural holes, gaps between differing professionals surrounding children with disabilities, is likely to pay dividends in other areas," added Dr. Hammond. "Related to this, supporting other community members is also key to promoting children's digital resilience.

"This means children with disabilities will have more support when learning how to recognize, manage and recover from online risk experiencesan increasingly key task for all citizens. For communities to be greater than the sum of their parts, responsibility needs to be diffused yet ownership collective; a thorny but not impossible task and one likely to pay dividends.

"Despite learning best through concrete experiences, children with disabilities receive less supported learning opportunities to develop digital resilience in the face of online risks. In short, professional communities are providing least support to the group most in need."

Previous research has focused on the development of digital resilience at an individual level but the ways in which surrounding networks of community support impact this is underexplored.

Dr. Gianfranco Polizzi, of the University of Liverpool, said, "The paper's findings illustrate that professionals should examine community resources, assets, and be 'connection brokers,' who activate and provide access to a variety of assets and manage pools of resources to build digital resilience at a community level as well as for the individual."

Simone Vibert, Head of Policy and Research at Internet Matters, an organization that provides resources, information and support to keep children safe online, said, "Our data consistently shows that children who are vulnerable offline, including as a result of disability, are more vulnerable online too, and need specific support to increase their resilience. This research paper points to the critical role of professionals in providing this support.

"Teachers and other professionals have a deep influence on children's lives, and it is a missed opportunity if this influence is not harnessed to help children navigate online risksso that they can enjoy the benefits of connected technology more safely. Internet Matters welcomes this report and is committed to doing our bit to provide professionals with the support they need to engage children in their online lives."

The research involved 30 online semi-structured interviews with professionals supporting the education, growth, and well-being of children with disabilities from across the UK, including teachers and youth workers.

More information: 'Connection brokers: How educators work within and between social networks to cultivate community digital resilience to support children with disabilities using the Internet', New Media & Society (2023). DOI: 10.1177/14614448231157330
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Searching for Dark Photon Dark Matter with a Cryogenic Millimeter-Wave Receiver. Credit: KyotoU Global Comms/Shunsuke Adachi

There may have been more than one way to bring the biblical Goliath down, but David chose to attack using a small stone with a slingshot.

In the same spirit, scientists have approached the mystery of dark matterwhich constitutes roughly one fourth of the universenot by direct observation but rather by recording its gravitational effects on visible matter.

A team of researchers at Kyoto University have now established an experimental method for examining ultra-light dark matter around 0.1 milli-electron volts, applying a technology for millimeter-wave sensing in cryogenic conditions, characterized by low thermal noise. The paper is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

"We achieved experimental parameters for unexplored mass range of dark photon dark matteror DPDMby using new techniques previously untested in this field," says lead author Shunsuke Adachi.

The elusive mass of a single dark matter particle has been assumed to be heavier than that of a proton. Adachi's team's search for ultra-low-mass dark matter addresses the extremely challenging problem of detection that has eluded scientists for over three decades.

"Our research on millimeter-wave technologies may further the development in advanced telecommunications such as 5G and 6G," adds Adachi.

A dedicated millimeter-wave receiver is cooled to -270  to suppress thermal noise to accommodate weak conversion photons. This cryogenic receiver is used to search for DPDMs with a mass range of about 0.1 meV.

Adachi posits that although his team didn't find any significant signal in this dataset, by conducting their experiments with unprecedentedly stringent constraintstighter than cosmological constraintsthey opened up possibilities for investigating dark matter.

Ordinary photons are theoretically converted from dark photons using metal plate surfaces. These conversion photons correspond to the mass of dark photons because of energy conservation. For example, the conversion photon frequency of 10300 GHz corresponds to dark photon mass from 0.05 to 1 meV.

"We are thrilled that our small team were able to obtain important results from our high-sensitivity experiments for detecting DPDMs in an unexplored mass range," says Adachi.

More information: S. Kotaka et al, Search for Dark Photon Dark Matter in the Mass Range 74110 eV with a Cryogenic Millimeter-Wave Receiver, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.071805 Journal information: Physical Review Letters
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As the world faces increasingly extreme and frequent weather events brought on by climate changesuch as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and wildfirescritical civic resources such as food, water, and energy will be impacted. Local and regional planners need to anticipate those impacts and evaluate what measures can be taken to prepare.

Now, a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional team of researchers has built a detailed framework to provide guidance to these planners. After two years of in-depth consultation with stakeholders in various affected communities, the team prepared a set of analytical tools that can be used to forecast the kinds of strains on resources that may be coming in the next few decadesand how best to address them.

The "toolkit" they developed, called the C-FEWS framework (for Climate-induced extremes on Food, Energy and Water Systems) is being published in a series of papers in a special edition of Frontiers in Environmental Science. Charles Vorosmarty, professor of environmental sciences at the City University of New York, is lead author of the introductory paper describing this new framework, and Jerry Melillo, distinguished scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole, Mass., is second author. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation.

The work focuses on two specific U.S. regions, the Northeast and the Midwest, which together account for about 40 percent of the nation's population and GDP. Melillo says that in developing the framework, "we've held a number of meetings with regional stakeholders, trying to develop a sense of what they really care about, and then seeing how our modeling framework can be used to help them think through those issues."

The framework "provides guidance for evaluating options and making decisions related to specific local conditions," Melillo explains. "We are particularly interested in how people respond to climate change in these two U.S. regions given their various interestsand the focus was on the nexus of food, energy, and water."

One disaster affects many interconnected systems

Three critical needsfood, energy, and wateroften interact in a disaster, complicating planning, yet are often treated separately in developing policies and contingency plans. Part of the motivation for this work was to bring together people with expertise in different areas to work toward a more integrated understanding of the challenges and potential solutions.

"It's not hard to see that there are intersections between food, energy, and water that could create some pinch points or constraints in the behavior of one part of the system versus another," says Vorosmarty. "We need to look at how these systems are interacting when they all get hit at the same time by these climate changes."

The team looked at two broad categories of infrastructure systems that are affected by weather extremes: "gray" infrastructure, including sewage and water delivery systems and power plants, and "green" infrastructure such as floodplains, cropland and forests. They studied the past 40 years of data on how these systems have been affected by weather extremes, in order to calibrate their models to reflect likely future impacts.

As examples of how the new analysis works, the team looked at several specific cases. One dealt with the way typical coal- or gas-fired power plants use river water for cooling. As temperatures rise, the warmer water becomes less efficient at cooling, and power plant output goes downjust when it's needed for air-conditioning demand. But analysis showed that with the addition of cooling towers, already used in some plants, this efficiency decline could be almost eliminated.

Even though it's a global climate that's changing, the manifestations of those changes are national, if not regional, if not state level, in their scope," Vorosmarty says. "We're learning how to tackle a regional perspective where we are focusing on these macro-scale dynamics.

Changes over the past four decades in Midwestern and Northeastern forests, which provide a range of services that affect the energy and water balances of the two regions, is the focus of another article in this special edition of Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Since 1980, that study found, these regions' forests functioned as a net atmospheric carbon sink; the Midwestern trees stored more carbon than Northeastern trees, but both helped to mitigate climate change and create new wood biomass for future fuel and wood products. Runoff from forests also provided more than 4.6 billion cubic meters of water for potential use by humans during the study period, with the Northeastern forests providing about 2.4 times more water than the Midwestern forests.

But climate variability, particularly as influenced by heat waves, impacts the ability of these forest ecosystems to sequester CO 2 and provide runoff, reports the study, which was led by David Kicklighter, a research associate with Melillo at the MBL. Therefore, when planners are developing policies for climate stabilization, energy production and water security, "it will be important to consider how evolving forest infrastructure modifies ecosystem services and their response to extreme climate events over time," they write.

An adaptable framework

The authors hope this type of localized analysis and planning can serve as a model to be adapted to other regions or nations. Other articles in this special edition address climate-induced pressures on food, energy, and water systems in other places, such as Mexico and Bangladesh.

"What we're trying to do," Melillo explains, "is to provide policymakers with a tool to think quantitatively about how best to manage these systems, with some optimum goal of minimizing unintended consequences, and promoting intended consequences We're trying to provide a clear picture of appropriate policy levers for doing this management."

More information: Charles J. Vorosmarty et al, The C-FEWS framework: Supporting studies of climate-induced extremes on food, energy, and water systems at the regional scale, Frontiers in Environmental Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1069613
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Sawn RockNandewar Volcanic Range, NSW, one of the studied volcanoes from the east Australian volcanic chain. Credit: Dr. Tracey Crossingham

Volcanic relics scattered throughout the Australian landscape are a map of the northward movement of the continent over a "hotspot" inside the Earth, during the last 35 million years.

University of Queensland researchers Dr. Tamini Tapu, Associate Professor Teresa Ubide and Professor Paulo Vasconcelos discovered how these relics reveal the inner structure of the Australian volcanoes became increasingly complex as the hotspot's magma output decreased. The work is published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Dr. Al-Tamini Tapu, whose Ph.D. project at UQ's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences formed the basis of this study, said the hotspot was incredibly strong in its early stages, generating some of eastern Australia's most beloved natural attractions.

"These large volcanoes were active for up to seven million years," Dr. Tapu said.

"The volcanoes formed as the continent moved over a stationary hotspot inside the planet, melting the land above it so magma could ooze upward.

"This left a treasure trove of volcanic landmarks in its wake, forming the longest chain of continental 'hotspot' volcanoes on Earthalong Australia's eastern side.

"As you cast your eye along this massive chain, you'll find Queensland volcanoes such as the Glass House Mountains and Tweed Volcano, which are 'shield volcanoes' visited by countless locals and tourists every year."

Enormous, long-lived lava outpourings in Tweed volcano may have weakened the hotspot, and caused the younger volcanoes to the south to become smaller and shorter-lived.

"This indicates the changes caused as the continent shifted over the weakening hotspot," Dr. Tapu said.

Associate Professor Teresa Ubide said that, as the magma production waned, the volcanoes became internally more complicated, erupting lavas full of complex crystals.

Microscopic image of frozen lavas from an east Australian volcano (Nandewar, NSW). Actual image width 25mm. Little crystals transported by magmas unlock eruption histories of the east Australian giant volcanic chain. Credit: Dr Al-Tamini Tapu

"These little heroes hold the secrets of how the volcano works inside and tell us that the late Australian volcanoes were full of magma pockets, or reservoirs," Dr. Ubide said.

"As these cooled down and became more viscous, it became more difficult to generate eruptions, which may have been more explosive.

"We found that the arrival of new, hotter, and gas-rich magma acts like a shaken bottle of fizzy drink, causing a build-up of pressure in the magma, and, eventually, an eruption."

Dr. Ubide said Australia's extinct "hotspot volcanoes" provide a unique laboratory for researchers to investigate processes leading to volcanic eruptions across the globe.

"The effect of erosion over tens of millions of years allows us to access complete sequences of lava that can be difficult to access in more recent volcanoes," she said.

"It then makes it possible to reconstruct the inner structure of the volcanoes, sort of like opening a doll's house, which gives us a much better understanding of hotspot activity globally.

"This is particularly important, given there are many active hotspots on Earth, including in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and in other continents, such as the United States' Yellowstone volcano.

"Volcanoes in these areas produce large volumes of lava and have an important role in the evolution of our planet and atmosphereso having a real-world 'doll's house' to play around in and observe variations with time and magma supply is very helpful.

"Our study shows the fundamental role of the strength of heat anomalies inside the Earth in the evolution of our planet and its landscape over millions of years.

"Reconstruction of these extinct volcanoes can help to better understand active continental hotspot volcanoes globally."

More information: A. T. Tapu et al, Increasing complexity in magmatic architecture of volcanoes along a waning hotspot, Nature Geoscience (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-023-01156-9 Journal information: Nature Geoscience
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Kittens and cats, whether they live indoors or outdoors, can be exposed to diseases caused by viruses or bacteria. Vaccinations help protect our feline friends by preventing the spread of these diseases and boosting their body's defense against potentially fatal illnesses.

Because of this, Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, encourages owners to vaccinate their kittens and cats against common, yet fatal, diseases sooner rather than later.

"Kittens should begin pediatric visits to the veterinarian when they are 68 weeks old, where vaccinations will initially be given as a series until the animal is 1620 weeks of age," Teller said. "On the other hand, cats adopted as adults should visit a veterinarian and receive their vaccinations as soon as possible."

Some common diseases that cats should be protected against include panleukopenia, a viral disease caused by feline parvovirus, and rhinotracheitis, an infection that leads to upper respiratory infections.

"If a cat gets panleukopenia, all of their white blood cells are wiped out, leaving it unable to fight off any other infections; this disease frequently results in death," Teller said. "Additionally, once a cat has rhinotracheitis, cats will generally become carriers for life and may experience flare-ups of respiratory problems when they become stressed or when their immune system is suppressed."

Teller explained that there is a combination vaccine that can protect cats against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus, a virus that causes upper respiratory infections and ulcersor sores that develop in the cat's mouth and on the tongue.

Additionally, cats who venture outside should be vaccinated against feline leukemia, a highly contagious virus that spreads easily between cats.

"Feline leukemia is most commonly spread through saliva and nasal secretions, so cats that share food and water bowls, groom each other, or bite each other in a fight can spread the virus," Teller explained. "This virus can lead to a suppressed immune system and leaves a cat susceptible to other infections, as well as cancer, all of which can potentially be fatal."

There also are vaccines that cats require no matter their lifestyle, such as rabies. Teller pointed out that rabies, which is almost always fatal, can be transmitted to cats by wildlife, including bats, coyotes, raccoons and skunks.

In addition to vaccinations, Teller suggests that owners protect their cats from diseases spread by mosquitoes, fleas and ticks.

"Keeping pets on year-round preventives will kill fleas and ticks and prevent the development of heartworm disease and intestinal parasites, which can be infectious to humans," Teller said.

Finally, a visit to the veterinarian will help determine if your kitten or cat requires any additional vaccinations.

"Your cat's age, environment and current health status can help your veterinarian best determine the appropriate vaccinations for your pet to receive," Teller said. "Vaccinations protect our pets from a variety of diseases that can cause significant illness or death and are always less expensive than the cost to treat illnesses."

Vaccinations are vital for protecting pets against illnesses and by vaccinating kittens and cats against dangerous diseases, owners can ensure their feline friend lives a healthy and happy life.
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The San Antonio Bay marine protected area in Argentina is among those experiencing several environmental problems. Credit: SOS Somos OceanoS Project and Water Science Policy

A new Paper Park Index (PPI) developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia's Sea Around Us initiative helped identify 55 marine protected areas (MPAs) across the world where enough fishing takes place to contravene the protection status officially assigned to such sites.

Most of the 'paper parks'or MPAs that fall short of safeguarding marine biodiversityare located in Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries such as Venezuela topped the list with more than one national park allowing unregulated fisheries in restricted zones. Southeast Asia and Oceania, and the Indian Ocean are also regions where marine protected areas fail to fulfill their objectives.

"Due to the growing number of MPAs and the expansion of unrealistic and idealistic conservation targets, we believe that more transparent information on the actual protection that they provide to marine ecosystems is necessary," said Veronica Relano, lead author of the Marine Policy article that presents the new index. "This is why we developed the PPI, which exposes the disconnect between official protection status on paper and the perception of fishing intensity reported by different local stakeholders for the 184 marine protected areas we assessed."

To develop the index, Relano and co-author Daniel Pauly, principal investigator of the Sea Around Us at UBC's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, polled over 3000 people considered stakeholders within their MPA sample, which included at least one marine protected area for each coastal country in the world.

Fishers, NGO staffers, civil servants, academics and journalists were emailed a single-question questionnaire that asked them to rate the level of fishing they thought occurred in a specific MPA in their country's waters. The average answer for each MPA, which ranged between 1, or 'no fishing,' 2, or 'light fishing,' 3, or 'moderate fishing,' and 4, or 'very intense fishing,' was later on matched with the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) categories for MPAs, which span from strictly protected areas to parks where conservation objectives are pursued in parallel to other human uses.

"In other words, the Paper Park Index is the difference between the average fishing intensity indicated in the responses to our questionnaire and the IUCN category level. We also compared our results to the level of protection listed in the Marine Protection Atlas," Pauly said. "For example, if most respondents indicated 'moderate' or 'very intense fishing' for an MPA officially designated as 'no-take,' we might be dealing with a potential 'paper park' or a misfunctioning MPA that is at risk of being a 'paper park," depending on the PPI scale."

The authors noted that there are no other MPA databases that consider local stakeholders' knowledge in their assessment of protection levels. "This needs to change. Our study shows how considering local perceptions could help to differentiate de facto MPAs from paper parks," Relano said.

Previous research by Pauly has shown that fishing is, by far, the most important anthropogenic impact on marine biodiversity. This is why the index was developed focusing solely on this activity and doesn't consider climate change, pollution and other threats to marine life.

"This study serves as a useful entry point for further investigation into how much and in which way our oceans are protected," Pauly said. "Future research should match our results with quantitative fisheries data to either support the findings or aid the identification of blind spots in official fishery statistics."

More information: Veronica Relano et al, The 'Paper Park Index': Evaluating Marine Protected Area effectiveness through a global study of stakeholder perceptions, Marine Policy (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105571 Journal information: Marine Policy
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Graphical Abstract. Credit: Journal of Hazardous Materials (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130598

A new study into how sunscreen affects freshwater ecosystems suggests the impact may be less alarming than first thoughtand raises new questions about whether lab-based studies into environmental contaminants are accurately reflecting what happens in the wild.

"There's a bit of a disconnect between how we try to study contaminants and environmental problems in the lab environment and what actually are the likely outcomes in the real world," says Aaron Boyd, lead author of the study and Ph.D. candidate in the University of Alberta's Department of Biological Sciences.

"One of the main goals of this project was to see if our simple lab models are actually lining up with what we would expect to see in a natural environment."

In 2020, Boyd was part of research supervised by assistant professor and senior author Tamzin Blewett, which showed that exposing the Daphnia magna species of water fleas to ultraviolet filters, or UVFs, over a two-week period was fatal to the tiny crustaceans.

In this follow-up study, the team wanted to see what would happen if five generations of the fleas were exposed to certain UVFs. They learned that the species became acclimatized to the contaminants over time.

Organic UVFs are found in many skin care products like sunscreen and lip balms, and they leach off our skin into the water. A growing number of tourist destinations, including Aruba, Palau, Thailand and Hawaii, have already banned sunscreen with UVFs.

However, while short-term studies show that UVFs could pose a risk to invertebrate species such as coral, few longer-term studies have been done.

A long-term approach

Most toxicity tests take place over two to 21 days, but Boyd's most recent study spanned nearly three months, observing effects of exposure over five generations of fleas. All were exposed to the same concentrations of chemicals, which mirrored the high side of what could reasonably be found in the environment.

The findings showed that mortality rates dropped with each generation. Two-thirds of the first-generation fleas were killed, with that number dropping to one-third in the second generation and virtually zero in the third, fourth and fifth generations.

Newborn water fleas were exposed during parental exposurenot something usually observed in shorter-term studies, the researchers note.

"That three-week exposure lets us see how it affects their development when they're young and how it affects their ability to reproduce and carry the population forward," says Boyd.

Although the findings prove that the mortality rates decreased, it's not known how the aquatic fleas became acclimatized to the UVFs or whether the substances caused any ill effects in later generations.

"Daphnia did acclimate and they did survive the entire time, but we don't know if they're still in the same health condition as they were before the exposure," says Boyd.

A biological process called phenotypic plasticity governs an organism's ability to change which genes are active at any given moment in response to particular environmental conditions. In Daphnia's case, if the acclimatization was successful but required too much of its energy, there could be eventual repercussions, Boyd says.

"They could be alive but extremely susceptible to a second stressful event," like a new contaminant or a heat wave, he says.

Blewett and her team are collaborating with assistant professor Glen Uhrig in the biology department for the project's next stepsexamining Daphnia's tissue samples and changes to its proteins. This information helps signal which genes are active and which are not.

"It lets us see exactly how they're responding to the presence of these contaminants," says Boyd. "That will help us determine the actual mechanisms through which this acclimatization is happening."

'The canary in the coal mine'

Invertebrate species like Daphnia aren't as complex as fish or mammals; as a result, they're more sensitive to environmental contaminants, says Boyd.

"Humans are exposed to a lot of contaminants all the time, but it's not an issue for us because our body can break down these chemicals and remove them quite efficiently. Less complicated organisms don't have the same ability to do that," he says.

This sensitivity makes them "the proverbial canary in the coal mine" for studying the impact of UVF exposure.

"If the most sensitive species don't have any issues with these chemicals, that's a good indication that these aren't things we need to worry about," says Boyd. "If we do see sensitivity, that means we have to study them further, do more testingespecially on other species that might not be so sensitiveso we can get a good idea of the extent of the problem."

Other species used to study exposure to toxicants, such as zebrafish, are only present in certain parts of the world, but Daphnia are found in freshwater lakes globally.

The new research, now published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, suggests short-term studies may be overestimating the level of long-term toxicity that UVFs have on Daphnia magna. But there are broader implications as well, Boyd says, noting that the alarming results from short-term studies are influencing policies to protect sensitive invertebrate species even though those studies may not accurately represent long-term outcomes.

Boyd says the new findings also have him questioning whether UVFsparticularly given their importance in protecting skin from harmful sun exposuremight not be the most pressing concern for environmental researchers.

"These UVFs are something to monitor, and if concentrations in the environment increase further they're certainly a concern," he says.

"But I think that because they're primarily a concern for a very specific species, and they do provide a large benefit to human health directly, that there are more toxic chemicals in the environment we could be allocating our limited research resources to instead."

More information: Aaron Boyd et al, Can short-term data accurately model long-term environmental exposures? Investigating the multigenerational adaptation potential of Daphnia magna to environmental concentrations of organic ultraviolet filters, Journal of Hazardous Materials (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130598 Journal information: Journal of Hazardous Materials
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Jewish-Muslim relations have been complicated for centuries, but assumptions that all Jews and Muslims are eternal enemies are proven wrong by a comprehensive survey review conducted by a researcher in Indiana University's Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism.

Gunther Jikeli, the Erna B. Rosenfeld Professor in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences' Borns Jewish Studies Program, reviewed 46 surveys from more than a dozen predominantly Christian countries that included nearly 27,000 Muslims and more than 52,000 Jews. The findings are published in the journal Religions. Jikeli's is the first comprehensive review of surveys on how Muslims and Jews see each other in Western countries.

"These surveys provide a small window into the very complex relations and perceptions Jews and Muslims have of each other, but the trends that emerge can be helpful in trying to promote understanding and tolerance between the religious groups," Jikeli said.

The survey review revealed that Jews are significantly more likely to acknowledge discrimination against Muslims than the general public, and they are also unlikely to make stereotypical generalizations of all Muslims. The findings show that a majority of Jews in the U.S. believe Islamic extremism represents an antisemitic threat in the U.S., although more Jews believe the extreme political right poses a threat.

Other surveys focus on how Muslims view Jews. Jikeli's review found that Muslims in Western countries are less likely than the general U.S. population to say Jews face a lot of discrimination. They are also significantly more likely to hold negative views about Jews, although most Muslims in European countries and the U.S. don't exhibit antisemitic attitudes.

The data shows that many Muslims' negative views of Jews aren't based on personal experience, but on prejudice and stereotypessome of which are rooted in fear. Jikeli said that exploring whether some Muslims feel the very existence of Jews threatens their identity and faith would be worth exploring in future research.

"While this survey review helps us understand general attitudes these religious groups may have toward each other, forming perceptions is highly complex and personal," Jikeli said. "These tendencies do not apply to millions of individuals."

More information: Gunther Jikeli, How Do Muslims and Jews in Christian Countries See Each Other Today? A Survey Review, Religions (2023). DOI: 10.3390/rel14030412
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Credit: Shutterstock

Last August, the federal government set up an expert panel to look at the continuous improvement agenda in teacher education in Australia.

The panel, led by Sydney University vice-chancellor Mark Scott (who also chairs The Conversation's board), has just released a discussion paper that is open for consultation until April 21, ahead of a final report due in June 2023.

Remind me, why does teacher education need another review?

There has been a constant stream of reviews into teacher education in Australia. The most recent was finalized in February 2022. Led by former federal education department secretary Lisa Paul, the review recommended an "ambitious reform agenda" to attract "high quality" students and ensure teacher education was "evidence-based and practical".

The Paul review recommended "strengthening the link" between performance and funding of teaching degrees.

The expert panel was, in part, borne out of the Paul review as well as national concerns about teacher shortages. A key issue raised at a federal government roundtable on teacher shortages in August 2022 was the need to "ensure graduating teachers are better prepared for the classroom".

What does the 2023 discussion paper say?

The discussion paper seeks advice on four key areas:

how to strengthen undergraduate and postgraduate "initial teacher education" programs to deliver "confident, effective, classroom-ready graduates"

linking the funding of graduate outcomes with the funding for higher education providers

improving professional experience placements in teaching degrees

helping more mid-career entrants into postgraduate teaching degrees.

Each section of the discussion paper is relatively comprehensive, with useful case studies and a set of discussion questions.

However, the four areas are considered in isolation from one another and without due regard for how they interrelate. Also missing from the review is an appreciation of how initial teacher education degrees are one part of a teacher's professional learning journey.

All the elements of reform are placed at risk when the sum of the parts don't equal a whole.

We need a reality check

There is significant ongoing concern about teacher shortages and the number of graduates from teaching degrees. As Scott said on Thursday, "teaching is a tough job and it is increasingly demanding". Education Minister Jason Clare has also highlighted the need to "increase [course] completion rates and deliver more classroom-ready graduates".

At the same time, the Paul review found graduate teachers felt underprepared to teach reading, support diverse learners, manage challenging behavior, work in regional settings, and engage with parents/caregivers. It's important to remember these are all exceedingly complex aspects of classroom teachingeven for seasoned teachers and accomplished school leaders.

We need to have realistic expectations about what initial study can provide to graduate teachers. It can teach fundamental theories and provide professional experience, but teachers will need to keep adapting their skills and expanding their knowledge once they are in the classroom.

What works in one context with one set of participants may be less effective in another context because of another set of underlying factors.

This is why tailored induction programs and ongoing mentorship every time an early career teacher starts at a new school is crucial.

Unfortunately, workplace induction programs are usually only offered to teachers in full-time permanent jobs, and rarely to the army of graduate teachers who change schools on a regular basis because they are working as temporary or contract staff.

Entry requirements should not shut out aspiring teachers

The discussion paper focuses on increasing the numbers of First Nations students, as well as those from regional and remote communities, and low socio-economic backgrounds who become teachersand rightly so. These groups of people are underrepresented in teaching degrees and each hold great potential to make significant contributions to the profession and to the lives of children and the community.

We need to be realistic about the number of prerequisites for education degrees.

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership develops accreditation standards for teacher education programs. State-based regulators, such as the Queensland College of Teachers, can also add their own requirements.

Meeting all these components add extra burdens to aspiring teachers, and there is no evidence to suggest additional entry requirements directly impact graduate teaching quality. For example, in Queensland, aspiring teachers must have successfully completed Year 12 English, mathematics and science before they can start a primary teacher education degree.

This is an issue given the primary teacher workforce is predominantly female, yet boys outnumber girls in Year 12 physics and advanced math. This means many aspiring teachers need to do an extra science course before they start their primary teacher education degree.

What about linking funding to performance?

The discussion paper canvasses linking government funding for teaching degrees to a set of performance measures such as higher education providers' capacity to attract high quality candidates from a range of backgrounds, retain those students until graduation, student satisfaction and their employment outcomes.

It suggests publicly reporting data about these measures and providing financial incentives.

We need to be very careful about any changes here and any unintended consequences such as disincentivising higher education providers from offering teacher education degrees.

Given there is a worldwide shortage of teachers, now is not the time to suggest a punitive response to matters of quality in initial teacher education, or to provide a multi-tier funding structure. Rather, we need more understanding of the funding and resources required to support preservice teachers to be the best they can be before they enter the classroom.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Minangkabau women carrying out traditional ceremonial activities in West Sumatra in 2020. Credit: Shutterstock

Thirty years ago, I traveled to Lijiang, an ancient city in the northwest of China's Yunnan province in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. Lijiang's old town is a tangle of intersecting waterways, arched stone bridges, and cobbled streets. Just north of the cityabout five hours by roadis Lugu Lake, and the villages of the Mosuo, one of the world's oldest continuing matriarchal societies.

Back then, before Lijiang's UNESCO world heritage listing brought planeloads of tourists, the Sino-Tibetan borderlands were an out-of-the-way place, and difficult to reach. I took a slow boat from Hong Kong, then traveled overland, sleeping on straw mats on riverboats, and the back seats of buses, using a quickly acquired and entirely pragmatic Mandarin vocabulary to negotiate China's then emerging industrial cities.

I was anxious to catch a glimpse of a society where women and men had chosen to arrange their lives differently from the male-dominated, Australian suburbia in which I grew up.

In Mosuo villages, women are equal, and perhaps superior to men. Mothers and grandmothers head households, women conduct business, and property passes down the female line. Nuclear families do not exist. Instead, women take lovers and have children, but they live separately from their partners. A man's place is in his grandmother's house, raising his sister's children.

It's a way of life dating from the 13th century, at leastsome say 2,000 yearsthat has steadily resisted being absorbed into the wider, patriarchal Han Chinese culture. When I was there, memories of resistance to the Cultural Revolution ran deep. Between 1966 and 1976 matrilineal families were banned; conformity with Beijing meant putting men in charge.

Reading Angela Saini's The PatriarchsHow Men Came to Rule, the questions that had preoccupied me then, as a very young woman, came back. Saini's book is as much about matriarchies as it is about "the patriarchy," and as much about real and mythical matriarchal societies as it is about the real and imagined ways in which "the patriarchs" overthrew them.

"The word we now use to describe women's oppression'patriarchy'has become devastatingly monolithic, drawing in all the ways in which women and girls around the world are abused and treated unfairly " she writes.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that male domination is made to look inevitable, omnipresent, natural or biological.

And as Saini points out, "The most dangerous part of any oppression is that it can make people believe that there are no alternatives."

Claims to matriarchy?

Although most dictionaries will tell you matriarchal societies are "hypothetical"and highly regarded 20th century western historians such as Gerda Lerner have roundly declared "no matriarchal society has ever existed"recent research drawing on decades old studies in anthropology confirms there are at least 160 matrilineal communities in the world in nations such as India, Africa, Indonesia and the Americas.

Of these, there are likely to be somelike the Mosuowith strong matriarchal claims.

Saini, best known for her science journalism, takes a deep dive into history and archaeology to show the ways in which ancient non-patriarchal societies have organized themselves.

Her interests include "matrilineal societies" (that is, societies in which descent is traced through the female rather than the male line and property is often inherited in the same way); "matrilocal societies" (a woman stays with or near her family after marriage and a man moves to where his wife's family lives), and "matricentric" or "matrifocal societies" (a woman is the head of the family household, but this does not necessarily extend to social governance).

Of course, the word matriarchy carries a slightly different meaning, in that it is connected to power.

In popular usage, it conveys an idea of female dominationa mirror image of patriarchyin which women have absolute authority over men and children. And yet, to account for matriarchies through a patriarchal lens seems wrongheaded.

Societies with claims to a real rather than hypothetical or imagined matriarchal statusincluding the Mosuo in China, the Khasis in north India, and the Minangkabau in West Sumatraare frequently a lot more complex.

Among the Minangkabau, for example, the world's largest continuing matrilineal society, with a population of over 5 million, an ancient culture based on customary practicecalled "adat"has repeatedly transformed itself in the wake of conversion to Islam in the 16th century and more than two centuries of European colonial rule. But women's ownership of land and property continues to secure their power, and customary practice does not allow men to act without them.

Here, in largely agricultural communities, in the lush volcanic highlands of the Indonesian archipelago, ancestry and family name continue to be passed down through the female line, along with house, land, and livestock, although men may now pass business earnings to their sons, following Islamic law.

Husbands move into their wives' homes on marriage, and all decision-making requires consensus based on principles of mutual responsibility.

In the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, which roughly translates as "Abode of the Clouds," in reference to the mountainous terrain it occupies between Bhutan and Bangladesh, live the Khasi. Theirs is one of few matrilineal societies where a family's youngest daughternot the eldestinherits her mother's wealth and property.

All children trace their lineage from their mother's side of the family. The youngest daughter is known as the "khadhuh" or head of the family. Her house is open to everybody, including any orphaned or unmarried male relatives. Her maternal uncles act as advisors, but do not wield authority over her.

There are many more societies in which matriarchal traditions from the past continue to shape social organization in the present. These include the Haudenosaunee in North America, the Bribri in Costa Rica, the descendants of the ancient Nairs in Kerala, and a significant number of communities in Africa's "matrilineal belt."

Africa's matrilineal societies go back more than 5,000 years. They are commonly thought to originate in an ancient diaspora of Bantu-speaking peoples from an area around modern day Nigeria and Cameroon, spreading out across the continent.

Matrilineal traditions of descent and the inheritance of land are still followed in many Bantu-speaking communities, including the Bemba and the Luapula peoples of Zambia, for example. Matrilineal traditions have strengthened these women's socio-economic status, compared to neighboring non-matrilineal societies.

And, of course, there are other societies that do not fall into any of these simple binaries. Australia's Aboriginal people, for example, have a variety of different gender arrangements, including traditions in which men govern men, and women govern women.

A 19th century creation

What is truly fascinating about the whole idea of matriarchyas Saini points outis that it is a very modern preoccupation.

Stories about Amazonian warriors, fiery goddesses and powerful queens can be traced back to ancient times, across cultures and continents. But the term "matriarchy" is largely the creation of mid-19th century anthropological writing. It conspicuously appears at a time when Europeansdriven on by the dreams of conquest and "discovery" that marked the imperial projectreacted in shock as they encountered societies different from their own.

In 18th century Kerala, for example, Europeans were baffled to encounter the descendants of the ancient Nairs living in taravads bustling joint households with a shared female ancestorin which the rules of monogamous marriage and nuclear family didn't apply. Sexuality was celebrated. Women were allowed more than one sexual partner, and fathers raised their sisters' children rather than their own.

One Dutch traveler declared the Nairs to be "most lecherous and unchast [sic] nation in all the Orient."

Similarly, in North America, missionaries who encountered the Haudenosaunee, were surprised by the obstinacy of their children who persistently swapped English pronouns to reflect the Haudenosaunee belief that women were the more important gender. They promptly set themselves to work to "correct" the children's "errors."

'A corrupt phase of human development'

Back "home" in the European metropolis, anthropologists began to search for explanations for this behavior. They drew on a potent mix of nascent evolutionary science and colonial myth. Europe's so called "civilizing mission" wasn't just about allegedly "dominant races" overtaking other societies, "it was also men who were taking their place as the dominant sex." Saini writes,

"European intellectuals imagined a transition from savagery to civilization, from irrationality to rationality, from immorality to morality [in which male authority] was believed to be another marker of humanity's progress. "

A plethora of books including Johann Bachofen's Mother Right, John Ferguson McLellan's Primitive Marriage, and Henry Morgan's Ancient Society set out a speculative history of humankind in which society was deemed to have a shared matriarchal origin, before men seized power.

Mostly, these 19th century intellectuals defined matriarchy as a "corrupt" phase of human development that later gave way to a "rational" male dominated society, either cataclysmically or by a process of evolution.

Manyincluding Karl Marxdecided women's inferior social status was due women's intrinsic weakness, not the material conditions in which they found themselves.

Unlike Marx, Friedrich Engels gave the decline of matriarchies a material and historical dimension, arguing it was the creation of private property in archaic societies that had ushered in the "world historical defeat of the female sex."

These sweeping accounts of human civilisation were based on gender stereotypes, which frequently characterized women as "too weak" and men as "too strong."

According to Saini, even suffragettes fell into the trap of accepting that "peaceful, women-centered societies" had been overthrown by "violent marauding men who shared an unstoppable lust for power and control" during a single "big turning point in prehistory."

By the 1960s, she argues, a new generation of myth makers believed they had identified this crucial "turning point" and its location.

Elder, goddess?

Just beyond the metropolis of Konya, in modern day Turkiye, "buried under a bump in the otherwise flat, arid plains of southern Anatolia," lie the ruins of Catalhoyuk. Saini describes these ruins as the remains of a "society in which nothing follows the rules as we might expect them to be."

Humans lived in Catalhoyuk at the end of the Stone Age, around 7400BCEthat is, before the Indus Valley societies and 5,000 years before the pyramids.

Here, ancient houses are built "back to back, side to side" like boxes stuck together. They have flat roofs with no doors or windows. The original inhabitants came and went through ladders in the roof, walking across the tops of buildings rather than around or between them.

Interior walls are covered in dramatic red frescoes, featuring human figures, birds, or possibly vultures. Bulls' heads are built into clay walls and benches, with horns protruding.

Unlike most archaeological sites where there's often clear evidence of gender hierarchywith, say, male skeletons being better nourished than female skeletons, or being buried with different status and belongingsin Catalhoyuk, the inhabitants appeared to be, at first glance, extremely egalitarian in their relationships.

But what particularly caught the archaeologists' attention, Saini writes, were hundreds of tiny clay figures, mostly female. They were considered to be fertility figures but unusually, had not been sexualised. The best known of them, called the "Seated Woman of Catalhoyuk," depicts a woman seated with her hands on top of two big cats, possibly leopards. Her back is perfectly straight. She is invested with calm authority. Like a respected civic elder.

On this evidence, archaeologist James Mellaartwho dug up the site in the early 1960sclaimed Catalhoyuk as a matriarchy, and the "Seated Woman" as evidence of a goddess worshiping society.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, this "Seated Woman" and other similar archaeological finds gave rise to a series of speculative archaeological bestsellers about possible ancient matriarchal societies. Books included theologian Merlin Stone's The Paradise Papers, (also published as When God was a Woman), and Riane Eisler's The Chalice and the Blade. All claimed proof of a goddess-worshiping matriarchal past ransacked by marauding nomads at the end of the Bronze Age.

A tourism industry soon sprang up. "Goddess Tours of Anatolia" and other exotic destinations around the Mediterranean remain popular, frequently led by guides weaving archaeology and optimism together into allegedly life-changing consumer experiences.

All of which has, of course, been fiercely disputed.

But if histories of prehistoric goddess-worshiping societies contain an element of wishful thinkingso too does the popular, triumphal version of patriarchal history that appears to have replaced them.

It is a history that too often refuses to pay attention to alternatives, reducing the history of women to one characterized by marginalization, victimization, and deafening silence.

Looking to the margins

Leaving Yunnan 30 years ago, I took with me memories of the scented air, the emerald trees, the dark wood interiors of village houses, exquisite embroidery, and a mountain landscape unfolding like a fairy tale. But it was also clear thatalthough people were not impoverishedlife was not exactly easy, and women worked hard.

Today, you can fly in and out of Lijiang International Airport and there are tourist facilities at Lugu Lake. Life mayor may notbe more comfortable and secure for the people who live there. It is surely different.

One problem that plagues writing about the world's living matrilineal societies is the idea that they are "dying" or "surviving" measured against an assumed pristine historical norm.

Saini's book understands history is fragile, power is contested, and change is a constant in any human society. She is absolutely right to direct the reader's attention to the "exceptions" and the "margins where people live differently from how we might expect."

It's herein unfamiliar surroundingsthat our assumptions can be questioned.

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The path of asteroid 2023 DZ2 in relationship to the Earth and the moon. Credit: NASA/JPL

NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies detected an asteroid that will pass Earth by 108,758 miles this weekend, which is closer than the moon's distance from Earth 238,855 miles away.

Seth Jacobson, a planetary scientist in Michigan State University's College of Natural Science, is a member of NASA and MSU's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission which is the world's first planetary defense space mission and tested how to redirect asteroids that could hit Earth.

What is special about asteroid 2023 DZ2?

2023 DZ2 is the temporary designation for an approximately 200-ft wide asteroid passing near Earth this week. The asteroid will get closer to Earth than the Moon is. So this week, it is a very special object. However, asteroids like 2023 DZ2 pass this close to Earth every decade, so it's not a unique event in a person's lifetime.

What are you hoping to learn from 2023 DZ2?

The asteroid will be the closest to Earth (but still over 100,000 miles away) on Saturday, March 25th at approximately 3.51 p.m. EDT, but it will be passing overhead on the other side of the world. In mid-Michigan, we can see it about 18 hours before or about 16 hours after its closest approach. It's not simply the 12 hours due to Earth's rotation because the asteroid is moving too. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office have been monitoring 2023 DZ2 and has deemed it safe.

DZ2 is a good example of the kind of object that the DART mission was designed to prepare humanity to defend itself against. While DZ2 doesn't present a threat, objects like it may in the future and the DART mission has shown us that kinetic deflector technology works to redirect asteroids.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Two cosmonauts and an astronaut who were supposed to leave the International Space Station this month will be brought back to Earth in late September, doubling their time aboard the orbiting laboratory to more than a year, Russia's space agency announced Friday.

The return of Russians Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, and NASA's Frank Rubio was delayed after the Soyuz capsule they planned to ride in developed a coolant leak while docked to the space station.

An empty Soyuz was sent to the station in late February to serve as a rescue capsule. The three-person replacement crew that was originally scheduled to be aboard that capsule is now set to head for the space station on Sept. 15, the Roscosmos space agency said.

Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio are to return on Sept. 27; they launched into space on Sept. 21, 2022.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As a key food supply declines, the endangered population of Southern Resident killer whales, known to frequent the Salish Sea off the coasts of Washington and British Columbia, is spending far less time in that region, a new study shows.

The Salish Sea around the San Juan Islands has traditionally been a hotspot for the whales. The Southern Residents would spend the summer months feeding on Chinook salmon, much of which belonged to the Fraser River stock that passes through the islands on its way to spawning grounds upriver.

But 17 years of whale sighting data shows that as the Fraser River Chinook salmon population dropped, the time spent by the Southern Residents around the San Juan Islands also declinedby more than 75%, said Joshua Stewart, an assistant professor with Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute and the study's lead author.

The findings were just published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. Co-authors of the paper are Jane Cogan, an independent researcher in Friday Harbor, Washington; John Durban, a professor with MMI who is also affiliated with the nonprofit SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research (SR3); Holly Fearnback of SR3; David Ellifrit, Mark Malleson and Ken Balcomb of the nonprofit Center for Whale Research; and Melisa Pinnow of San Juan Orcas, a website dedicated to identification of individual orcas.

"This is an endangered population that is in decline with only 73 whales remaining, and prey limitation appears to be an important factor," Stewart said. "A huge part of these whales' time used to be spent feeding in this area."

This new study shows that as the whales' primary summer feeding grounds are becoming less reliable and productive, they are having to search elsewhere for prey, raising further concerns about the health of the population.

The Southern Resident killer whale population is comprised of three matriarchal podsJ, K and Lthat have traditionally been seen in the Salish Sea region between April and October. The J pod is more frequently found in the Salish Sea throughout the year, while the K and L pods cover a wider geographic range, particularly in winter and spring.

"Research we are conducting on body condition using drones is revealing that the summer is an essential feeding period when the Southern Residents load up on returning salmon before the slimmer winter months," said Fearnbach.

The Southern Resident population has been in decline since 1995 and is listed as endangered under both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Canadian Species at Risk Act. Past research has shown three possible drivers of the whales' decline: limited availability of their primary prey, Chinook salmon; vessel disturbance in the Salish Sea; and high levels of pollutants in their core habitat, Stewart said.

Understanding the Southern Residents' foraging behavior is important for developing strategies to support the recovery of the species. Fraser River Chinook salmon are the largest and highest quality salmon in the Southern Residents' foraging range.

The fish help the whales build up blubber stores in the summer to get through the winter and early spring when prey are of lower quality and harder to find, Stewart said.

In an effort to learn more about the links between the Southern Resident whales' foraging behavior and the abundance of Fraser River Chinook salmon, Stewart analyzed nearly 20 years of whale sighting data compiled through reports from naturalists and researchers throughout the Salish Sea. The data collection was led by the Center for Whale Research and augmented by Pinnow and Cogan, who collected observation information from naturalists and the public.

"Working with the Center for Whale Research and a broad network of researchers, naturalists and citizen scientists, we were able to generate a far more detailed accounting of the Southern Residents' movements and occupancy around the San Juan Islands and their traditional summer habitat," Cogan said.

A key piece of the data collected by the team was sighting information for individual whales, obtained from photographs by scientists and the public and hydrophone detections that could be linked to each pod.

Cogan's data showed that the number of days each pod of Southern Resident killer whales was present in the San Juan Islands declined each year between 2004 and 2020. J pod was generally present in the area more frequently than the other two pods, with a high of 164 days in 2005 and a low of just 36 days in 2017. L pod was present in the core habitat for only 10 days in 2019, compared with a high of 103 days in 2004.

Comparing the whales' presence with data on Chinook salmon returning to Fraser River tributaries for the same period of time showed a strong relationship between the whales' presence and the salmon returns. In years of higher salmon returns, whales were present more often; when salmon returns were lower, the Southern Residents spent less time in the area.

"They went from spending the majority of their time in this habitat, to just a fraction of their summer," Stewart said. "This shift is likely an effort to find alternative food sources."

Durban, who conducts drone-based health assessments of the whales with Fearnbach, said the loss of salmon is already impacting the health of the whales. A recent analysis of Durban and Fearnbach's body condition data revealed that the condition of the whales, particularly J-pod, is better when there are more Chinook returning to the Fraser River.

"This further suggests that lack of prey is likely the biggest stressor for these whales," said Durban, a population ecologist. "The other stressorspollutants and vessel disturbancesare compounded by the lack of prey. If there are fewer fish, disturbance by vessels may become more disruptive to their foraging success."

The Marine Mammal Institute is part of OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences and based at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

More information: Traditional summer habitat use by Southern Resident killer whales in the Salish Sea is linked to Fraser River Chinook salmon returns, Marine Mammal Science (2023). Journal information: Marine Mammal Science
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With chatbots like ChatGPT making a splash, machine learning is playing an increasingly prominent role in our lives. For many of us, it's been a mixed bag. We rejoice when our Spotify For You playlist finds us a new jam, but groan as we scroll through a slew of targeted ads on our Instagram feeds.

Machine learning is also changing many fields that may seem surprising. One example is my discipline, ornithologythe study of birds. It isn't just solving some of the biggest challenges associated with studying bird migration; more broadly, machine learning is expanding the ways in which people engage with birds. As spring migration picks up, here's a look at how machine learning is influencing ways to research birds and, ultimately, to protect them.

The challenge of conserving migratory birds

Most birds in the Western Hemisphere migrate twice a year, flying over entire continents between their breeding and nonbreeding grounds. While these journeys are awe-inspiring, they expose birds to many hazards en route, including extreme weather, food shortages and light pollution that can attract birds and cause them to collide with buildings.

Our ability to protect migratory birds is only as good as the science that tells us where they go. And that science has come a long way.

In 1920, the U.S. Geological Survey launched the Bird Banding Laboratory, spearheading an effort to put bands with unique markers on birds, then recapture the birds in new places to figure out where they traveled. Today researchers can deploy a variety of lightweight tracking tags on birds to discover their migration routes. These tools have uncovered the spatial patterns of where and when birds of many species migrate.

However, tracking birds has limitations. For one thing, over 4 billion birds migrate across the continent every year. Even with increasingly affordable equipment, the number of birds that we track is a drop in the bucket. And even within a species, migratory behavior may vary across sexes or populations.

Further, tracking data tells us where birds have been, but it doesn't necessarily tell us where they're going. Migration is dynamic, and the climates and landscapes that birds fly through are constantly changing. That means it's crucial to be able to predict their movements. People in Alaska, Washington state and Mexico explain what migratory birds mean to them.

Using machine learning to forecast migration

This is where machine learning comes in. Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence that gives computers the ability to learn tasks or associations without explicitly being programmed. We use it to train algorithms that tackle various tasks, from forecasting weather to predicting March Madness upsets.

But applying machine learning requires dataand the more data the better. Luckily, scientists have inadvertently compiled decades of data on migrating birds through the Next Generation Weather Radar system. This network, known as NEXRAD, is used to measure weather dynamics and help predict future weather events, but it also picks up signals from birds as they fly through the atmosphere.

BirdCast is a collaborative project of Colorado State University, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the University of Massachusetts that seeks to leverage that data to quantify bird migration. Machine learning is central to its operations. Researchers have known since the 1940s that birds show up on weather radar, but to make that data useful, we need to remove nonavian clutter and identify which scans contain bird movement.

This process would be painstaking by handbut by training algorithms to identify bird activity, we have automated this process and unlocked decades of migration data. And machine learning allows the BirdCast team to take things further: By training an algorithm to learn what atmospheric conditions are associated with migration, we can use predicted conditions to produce forecasts of migration across the continental U.S.

BirdCast began broadcasting these forecasts in 2018 and has become a popular tool in the birding community. Many users may recognize that radar data helps produce these forecasts, but fewer realize that it's a product of machine learning.

Currently these forecasts can't tell us what species are in the air, but that could be changing. Last year, researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology published an automated system that uses machine learning to detect and identify nocturnal flight calls. These are species-specific calls that birds make while migrating. Integrating this approach with BirdCast could give us a more complete picture of migration.

These advancements exemplify how effective machine learning can be when guided by expertise in the field where it is being applied. As a doctoral student, I joined Colorado State University's Aeroecology Lab with a strong ornithology background but no machine learning experience. Conversely, Ali Khalighifar, a postdoctoral researcher in our lab, has a background in machine learning but has never taken an ornithology class.

Together, we are working to enhance the models that make BirdCast run, often leaning on each other's insights to move the project forward. Our collaboration typifies the convergence that allows us to use machine learning effectively. BirdCast provides summaries of radar-based measurements of nocturnal bird migration for the continental U.S., including estimates of numbers of birds migrating and their directions, speeds and altitudes.

A tool for public engagement

Machine learning is also helping scientists engage the public in conservation. For example, forecasts produced by the BirdCast team are often used to inform Lights Out campaigns.

These initiatives seek to reduce artificial light from cities, which attracts migrating birds and increases their chances of colliding with human-built structures, such as buildings and communication towers. Lights Out campaigns can mobilize people to help protect birds at the flip of a switch.

As another example, the Merlin bird identification app seeks to create technology that makes birding easier for everyone. In 2021, the Merlin staff released a feature that automates song and call identification, allowing users to identify what they're hearing in real time, like an ornithological version of Shazam.

This feature has opened the door for millions of people to engage with their natural spaces in a new way. Machine learning is a big part of what made it possible.

"Sound ID is our biggest success in terms of replicating the magical experience of going birding with a skilled naturalist," Grant Van Horn, a staff researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who helped develop the algorithm behind this feature, told me.

Taking flight

Opportunities for applying machine learning in ornithology will only increase. As billions of birds migrate over North America to their breeding grounds this spring, people will engage with these flights in new ways, thanks to projects like BirdCast and Merlin. But that engagement is reciprocal: The data that birders collect will open new opportunities for applying machine learning.

Computers can't do this work themselves. "Any successful machine learning project has a huge human component to it. That is the reason these projects are succeeding," Van Horn said to me.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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G. volans before it started to glide on the oaks. Credit: MATC.

The presence of the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) was documented in Honduras for the first time after 43 years. The record is from a site of the forest management plan called "Las Lechuzas," municipality of Concordia, department of Olancho. Apart from this newly confirmed location, the species has also been recorded in Zambrano, department of Francisco Morazan in 1935, in Gracias, department of Lempira, and finally in the Department of paradise in 1979. Based on these records, Honduras is considered the southernmost distribution known for this species.

The discovery was possible thanks to a project of El Aserradero Sansone, a company focused on sustainable forestry activities in Honduras, and is published in a research article in Check List.

This finding confirmed that there is at least one population of G. volans in the country, at the Las Lechuzas site, which is currently also the southernmost locality known in its global distribution. The species has been assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN (meaning it has stable populations), but is considered Data Deficient on the Red List of Honduran species. Considering the low number of records and the high rate of destruction of pine forests in Honduras, G. volans is a priority for conservation in the country.

In support of the conservation of the biodiversity of Las Lechuzas, the company Sansone is now committed to giving priority to the conservation of G. volans in the area. The use of artificial shelters for G. volans is also being studied, as the animal is at greater risk when its nests are disturbed.

Based on recommendations suggested in the study, Sansone will work to increase the quantity and quality of tree seedlings that will grow in the canopy and educate people in the community about the need to protect pine ecosystems and rare animals. Additionally, within the 3,139.62 ha of the management plan of Las Lechuzas, there are 836.63 ha that have been declared as hydrological protection zones. Currently, there is no record of G. volans in any protected area of Honduras.

"As a professional with an experience of 43 years, I capitalize on the detection of the Flying Squirrel as an event that opens the doors to the true dimension posed by the Honduran forest law in the proper administrative management. That includes biodiversity conservation and protection and rationality of the protection of natural resources. The latter turns out to be of greater importance in view of the strong social pressures in favor of the conversion of the use of forest land destined for extensive agriculture and livestock, as well as the environmental impacts caused by climate change that is being sustained by the mismanagement of our resources," says Jose Munoz, one of the authors in the study.

A frightened G. volans exiting a nest-hole. Credit: MATC.

More information: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco et al, Unseen for 43 years! A new occurrence of Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia, Sciuridae) in Honduras, Check List (2023). DOI: 10.15560/19.1.133
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The Royal Institution by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (c. 1838). Credit: Wiki Commons

Sir Humphry Davy (17781829) is usually remembered as the inventor of a revolutionary miner's safety lamp. But his wild popularity came as much from his influence on popular culture as it did from his contributions to chemistry and applied science.

In the first few years of the 19th century, there was no hotter spectacle in London than Davy's lectures at the Royal Institution. The carriage traffic jams caused by his keen audience led to the introduction of London's first one-way street.

Hundreds of members of the public, many of them women, crowded into the lecture theater to hear the charismatic Davy speak about his cutting edge research. They would watch demonstrations of his work, which often included elaborate explosions and other breathtaking displays.

In more recent times, Davy's star has waned. Through our work on the Davy Notebooks Project, we aim to change that. Thanks to the help of thousands of volunteers, we're creating the first digital edition of Davy's 83 manuscript notebooks, an exciting and important collection that we'll soon be able to share with readers all over the world.

The first lecture Davy gave at the Royal Institution was on the subject of galvanism (the electricity generated by chemical actions). The force was thought at the time to be capable of animating matteror of bringing something dead to life.

Davy was born in Penzance, Cornwall and despite a lack of formal education, he rose quickly from obscurity to become an important force at the center of Britain's scientific community.

As a young chemist, he spent several years in Bristol, where he experimented with new gases, including nitrous oxide (laughing gas) which he frequently inhaled himself to test its effect.

Moving to London, Davy eventually became director of the Royal Institution's program of chemical research and, later, President of the Royal Society. In his scientific life, he isolated more chemical elements than anyone before or since.

Davy's famous lectures on the animating power of electricity at the Royal Institution may have inspired a young Mary Shelley as she came up with the idea for Frankenstein (1818), a novel that questioned the boundaries of creation using emerging scientific ideas.

Shelley may have even modeled aspects of the charming but reckless Victor Frankenstein on Davy himself. In fact, many of the things that Davy said in his lectures were borrowed word-for-word to craft the fictional scientist's dangerous experiments.

But, as Mary Shelley probably would have known, Davy was also a writer himself with close ties to the leading authors of his day.

He was friends with poets Lord Byron and Robert Southey and had a hand in the creation of some of the greatest works of the Romantic period. This included editing the second edition of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Lyrical Ballads (1800).

And he wrote his own poetrylots of it. The pages of Davy's dozens of surviving notebooks are crammed full of poems, both published and obscure, which share space with the complex records of his scientific experiments, alongside the notes for Davy's jaw-dropping lectures.

Discovering Davy's poetry

Our project aims to make these notebookswhich have never been transcribed in their entiretyavailable in a free to read, online edition based on crowd-sourced transcriptions provided by nearly 3,000 volunteers.

Their hard work has enabled us to bring Davy's fascinating work in the arts and sciences to a whole new generation.

Davy's notebooks give invaluable insights into how his mind worked. His firm conviction in the powers of the intellect, coupled with an unshakeable self belief, lay at the heart of his considerable success. As he declares in notebook 19E, containing drafts of lectures dating from around 1802:

"Man is formed for pure enjoyments / his duties are high his destination / is lofty and he must then be / most accused of ignorance and folly / when he grovels in the dust having / wings which can carry him to the / skies."

These manuscript discoveries show how Davy influenced others, including Mary Shelley, through fantastical ideas rooted in scientific enquiry. While he may not be widely known today, his outsized achievements and towering public personality jump from their pages.

Whether influencing some of the greatest works of literature, or pioneering new modes of experimentation, Davy's notebooks tell a fascinating story about the intertwined history of the arts and sciences in British history.

Understanding Davy's legacyand his possible influence as Victor Frankenstein's role modelreminds us that these two arenas are much more closely, and importantly, linked to one another than we often hold them to be.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By Tanu Jalloh

In its latest risk and industry analysis BMI Research, based in London, has revealed that Sierra Leone has further cemented the West African regions strong mining outlook after Shandongs planned investment of $700 million.

It however warned of a danger that ore prices could moderate by end of this year or early next year which could even put the whole investment at risk, possibly a blow that could weaken an economy that has only recently started recovering from the Ebola crisis.
The first retail cannabis dispensary in the Capital Region will soon open its doors in Schenectady.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced that Upstate Canna Co. at 1613 Union St. will open at 9 a.m. April. 1. The business is owned and operated by experienced entrepreneur Don Andrews. Andrews has owned and operated stores specializing in smoking, vaping, and cannabinoid hemp and accessories in Schenectady and Scotia.

The store will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on its opening day. Regular operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Were building an equitable adult-use cannabis market that provides a safer product for New Yorkers, while offsetting the harms caused by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition, Hochul said in a press release. With this latest dispensary opening  the first in the Capital Region  we continue to advance our nation-leading industry and will continue to work towards achieving the aggressive goals embodied in the New York Cannabis Law.

Andrews thanked staff officials for their support.

I am honored to be the first dispensary in the Capital Region to open their doors to the public and provide high quality, laboratory tested New York produced adult-use cannabis products, he said in the press release. Thank you to the OCM and Governor Hochul for rolling out this program  they have done an outstanding job and have been great to work with. We are very excited to be a part of the foundation of the growing cannabis community and industry in New York State.

Currently, there are just five legally operating cannabis dispensaries in New York state. Three locations have opened in New York City, one in Binghamton and one in Ithaca.

Hochul proposal would quickly shut down illegal pot stores in NY The proposed legislation would increase civil and tax penalties for the unlicensed sale of marijuana in New York and provides additional enforcement power to the Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Taxation and Finance.
FORT EDWARD  Wendy Murphys tears began as a sign of despair inside the Washington County Court waiting room on Friday morning, but soon turned to tears of partial celebration.

The 54-year-old from Granville was facing a 34-count indictment, which included a felony charge of tampering with evidence, but the county judge dismissed 10 counts, including the felony, on Friday and referred the case back to the Granville Town Court.

On Sept. 2, 2022, New York State Police executed a search warrant on Murphys property and authorities said they reported finding 31 neglected horses. She was subsequently arrested and later indicted on 32 misdemeanor counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and the felony charge of tampering with physical evidence.

On Friday, before and after court, Murphy sat down with a Post-Star reporter to discuss the events of the past seven months.

I just want my horses back, she said. I didnt do nothing wrong.

Murphy said that several of the horses seized were her own and in perfect condition, but most of the horses on the property she had received from all over from kill pens, places where emaciated and neglect horses are held until they are slaughtered or rescued by a person who pays the horses bail.

I have all the dates and times the vet came to the property to see the horses. I called him all the time, but the police refused to look at that, Murphy said.

She also stated that she had a barn full of hay and grain for the horses, but police said she was in the wrong because it wasnt on the property.

They wouldnt even go see what I had  over 4,000 square bales and 300 round bales in the barn and because I had emptied out the water tubs that day to clean them, they said I had no water for the horses, she explained.

On Friday, Murphy drove to the courthouse in Fort Edward in a pickup truck with a bed full of hay bails.

Police said 31 horses all appeared to be deprived of necessary sustenance and were suffering from neglect at the time they were removed from the property.

Murphy said the felony charge was brought in September 2022 because she attempted to bring the horses at a kill pen in the town of Fort Ann some food, after they were taken from her property.

I loaded up my truck with grain and I just went over there to try and feed them, she said.

Her mustangs have been rescued by a woman in Connecticut whom Murphy says she is in contact with and is willing to return her horses.

Murphy said she was first offered a deal in which all the charges would be dismissed pending a two-year conditional discharge period, two years of probation and two years without owning any horses.

I wouldnt take that. I just want them back, she said tearing up in the parking lot after court.

As he was leaving, her attorney Tucker Stanclift told her the victory Friday was a small step in the process. The judge did not explain the reason for dismissing some the charges during Fridays brief court appearance, and the district attorney did not comment.

More charges brought against Granville woman in animal abuse case State police on Monday arrested a Granville woman on five additional counts involving animal cruelty on her property.

Murphy repeatedly said she had documentation to prove the health of her horses and said her veterinarian was aware of any and all conditions, including a female horse that had recently given birth and was struggling to gain weight.

Theyve got the story all wrong. They refused to look at the documents I had. Every horse had to have a health certificate to travel to New York, I can show them the conditions the horses came to me in. Ive been around horses since I was 2 months old. I would never hurt an animal, Murphy shared.

Murphy also refutes prior claims that her goats and rabbits were seized as well.

A date for the matter is not yet set at the Granville Town Court. She still faces 23 misdemeanor charges in violation of the New York Agriculture and Market Law pertaining to overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.
The 33rd Annual Greenwich FFA Farm Toy Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Greenwich Junior-Senior High School.

The toy show is a family event that Greenwich FFA hosts every year. Exhibitors from as far away as Maine to Ohio come to Greenwich to display and sell farm toys. The toy show is a great place to see new and old farm toys, relive childhood memories, or even find the rare piece to complete a collection, Greenwich Central School District said on its website.

There will be a children's pedal pull competition at noon. Kids will have the opportunity to drive a pedal tractor while towing a weighted sled to the finish line. A toy auction will take place at 2 p.m. Toy consignments will be accepted the day of the show, and visitors can bid on toy tractors and farm memorabilia.
GLENS FALLS  Jill Lochner wants to bring a moderate Republican voice back to the forefront in the North Country, and shes running for Congress to do it.

Lochner, a 41-year-old from Greenfield in Saratoga County, said shes long had her eye on the 21st Congressional District, has thought about running for years and now believes she is in the right place to bring a fresh voice to Congress for the district.

Lochner, who is a native of Hannibal, Oswego County, has moved around the state through her adult life, spending time in the Capitol Region, New York City, western New York and the North Country. She said, no matter how far away she was, she always felt a call to return to northern New York, and fell in love with the Adirondacks. Her current address was included in NY-21 until the 2022 election, and she said she would be willing to move back across the border into the district should she win her election.

She bills herself as a moderate Republican, eschewing some of the more extreme aspects of the party that have come to rise in the last decade or so.

One of the big reasons Im running, its not only (Stefanik), its some of the Republican Party in general, its become disappointing to me, she said in an interview in Glens Falls on Thursday. The loudest, angriest voices get all the attention, and it gives a bad impression.

Lochner said she sees herself as a true Republican, by the old standard of the party  fiscal conservatism, small-government and supportive of business. Shes a strong proponent of the Second Amendments right to own and bear arms and strongly opposes the recent rash of gun control legislation passed in New York. She said she supports strong border policies as well.

She also wants to see the bail reforms passed by New York repealed, and increased funding for police and first responders.

I agree with the Republican Party on the basic ideals of limited government, fiscal responsibilities and upholding constitutional liberties including the Second Amendment, she said. The Second Amendment should be protected as strongly as the others.

Differing views

But Lochner breaks from the party on other issues. She doesnt support another term for former President Donald Trump, who is running for another term even as he faces criminal prosecution for financial crimes in Manhattan.

I would certainly prefer to see a different candidate, she said. As far as who that is, Im not sure yet, I dont think theyre all out there yet.

She describes herself as pro-choice, and believes that women should have the right to seek an abortion up to the point of fetal viability, 24 weeks, which was the standard set under the now-defunct Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision. That standard is now codified into state law in New York and other states.

That difference in opinion is driven by her own experiences. She said she was once an opponent of abortion rights, but then she and her husband tried starting a family of their own.

I actually struggled with infertility, and my husband and I had to do IVF treatments, she said. In that process, it becomes very obvious how precious life is and how difficult it is even to get there when you want it so badly.

In vitro fertilization, where an egg is removed from the womans ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, then re-implanted into the uterus to grow, has become a point of contention inside the abortion and birth control debate. Anti-abortion supporters typically group IVF in with abortion and oppose it, and many Republican-led state legislatures have considered banning the practice alongside abortion, as it can often lead to the termination of fertilized eggs.

Lochner now has four children, between the ages of five and nine.

Lochner said she and her husband made the decision to donate the remaining frozen, fertilized eggs remaining from their procedure to other families, but in the process of making these decisions she realized that she doesnt believe the government should become involved in such a deeply personal process.

What I came to realize in the last few years is that these deeply personal and emotional feelings and thoughts on an issue should not dictate legislation for other people, she said. Because I have not lived other peoples experiences, and I cant imagine having to make that choice.

She said shes been disappointed to see procedures like IVF, and other reproductive technologies and contraception looped into the debate over abortion rights, because she said the issues are completely different.

Education and career

Lochner has worked in education for her entire professional life, focused on education for disabled students in her early years. She has a masters degree from Nazareth College in Rochester in educational technology and became a state-certified elementary and special education teacher. In the late 2000s, Lochner moved to New York City and began helping the city school district implement educational technologies.

We built software to help them track student data, she said. It was a huge project.

She said that was one of her first views into the inner workings of government at any level, and she saw a disconnect between the modern world and the government.

Thats where I got a chance to see that disconnect, the problems in government, she said. We had this new technology. We were rolling it out, and then we would come across schools that had no internet, couldnt support any of what we were trying to do.

Lochner is just beginning her campaign for Congress, setting up for a primary scheduled for early summer 2024. She doesnt have much of a campaign staff yet, and said shes prepared for an uphill battle to defeat one of the most senior Republican politicians in the country. Stefanik is the fourth-senior Republican in the House, who manages the public messaging for House Republicans and regularly raises many millions of dollars from a very loyal local and national base. She regularly beats her opponents by ten or more percentage points, and has not faced a primary challenger since her first run for Congress. A handful of Republicans have started campaigns, but failed to make it to the ballot.

Frosty reception

Lochner said shes reached out to the Republican committee chairmen for the counties covered by NY-21, but has had a frosty reply so far.

I mostly didnt get a reply, and I got a few replies that were very pro-Elise, she said. Its exactly as I expected, and its a challenge for sure.

But she said she believes shes got a strong message that can resonate with the voters of the 21st District; a bona-fide Republican who supports small government, Constitutional rights, and who is committed to honest and service. She said her own experience outside of government, compared to the long political pedigree of Stefanik, who worked in the Bush administration right out of college, gives her an advantage.

Im not a politician, Im brand new to this, but thats the point, she said. Its this stark contrast with who she is. She isnt there for the district or the constituents, shes there to climb and put herself into a better position.

Stefanik camp responds

When reached for comment, Congresswoman Stefaniks chief advisor Alex DeGrasse issued a statement dismissing Lochners candidacy outright.

Like every election cycle where the media salivates over potential challengers to Congresswoman Stefanik, this is yet another candidate who has zero ties to the district, will get zero support and will not even qualify for the ballot, he said. Elise has earned a landslide victory every election and has never had stronger support among both primary and general election voters in NY-21.

He said this is not the first time a moderate, anti-Trump candidate has announced a campaign against the congresswoman, and the lack of success for those candidates should be proof of the veracity of Lochners own campaign.

Elise will continue to deliver results for the hard working families, small businesses, veterans, farms and seniors that she proudly represents each and every day, he said.

There is still plenty of time left before the 2024 campaign will spin up in earnest, with the ballot petition process starting early next year. Until then, Lochner said she plans to build her campaign team, garner supporters and listen to the constituents she hopes to represent.

I really want to get out there and talk to the people of NY-21, hear directly from them about their concerns, she said.
Classified documents keep showing up where they shouldn't be.

The FBI search on Friday for additional classified documents at former Vice President Mike Pence's home in Indiana  after others were found by his lawyers recently  followed the revelation of classified materials at President Joe Biden's Delaware home and former office and the seizure last year of hundreds of documents marked classified from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of former President Donald Trump.

A look at similarities and differences among the cases:

HOW MANY CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

PENCE: "A small number of documents bearing classified markings" were discovered last week at Pence's home north of Indianapolis, Pence's lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a Jan. 18 letter to the National Archives and Records Administration, shared with The Associated Press.

In all, four boxes containing copies of administration papers  two in which "a small number" of papers bearing classified markings were found, and two containing "courtesy copies of vice presidential papers"  were discovered, according to Jacob.

On Friday, an FBI search of Pence's home in Carmel, Indiana, uncovered an additional document that contained one page with classified markings, according to Pence spokesperson Devin O'Malley.

BIDEN: It's unclear precisely how many classified papers have been recovered from Biden's home and former office. Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, said this month that "a small number of documents with classified markings" were discovered on Nov. 2, 2022, in a locked closet at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, a think tank in Washington, as Biden's personal attorneys were clearing out the offices.

Sauber said Jan. 12 that a second batch of documents with classified markings  a "small number," he said  had been found in a storage space in Biden's garage near Wilmington, Delaware, along with one document located in Biden's personal library in his home. Days later, Sauber clarified that six pages, not a single one, had been found in the library.

During a nearly 13-hour search on Jan. 20, FBI agents searching Biden's Delaware home located six additional items that contained documents with classified markings and also took possession of some of his handwritten notes, said Bob Bauer, a lawyer for the president.

TRUMP: Roughly 300 documents with classification markings  including some at the top secret level  have been recovered from Trump since he left office in January 2021.

In January 2022, the National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents, telling Justice Department officials they contained "a lot" of classified material. In August, FBI agents took more than 33 boxes and containers totaling 11,000 documents from Mar-a-Lago, including roughly 100 with classification markings found in a storage room and an office.

HOW QUICKLY WERE THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS TURNED OVER?

PENCE: Jacob said the records were discovered by Pence lawyers on Jan. 16, secured in a locked safe and retrieved by FBI agents on Jan. 19. The four boxes of papers were delivered to the Archives on Jan. 23.

BIDEN: After the materials were discovered at the think tank on Nov. 2, Biden's personal attorneys immediately alerted the White House counsel's office, which notified the National Archives, Sauber said. The Archives took custody of the documents the next day.

Biden's personal lawyers then began examining other locations where records might have been shipped after Biden left the vice presidency in 2017. They found documents on Dec. 20 in his Wilmington garage and on Jan. 11 and 12 in his home library.

Sauber said that the Justice Department was "immediately notified" and took custody of the records.

On Jan. 20, Biden voluntarily allowed the FBI to search his Wilmington home, where additional documents were located.

TRUMP: A Trump representative told the National Archives December 2021 that presidential records had been found at Mar-a-Lago, nearly a year after Trump left office. Fifteen boxes of records containing some classified material were transferred to the Archives in January.

A few months later, investigators from the Justice Department and FBI visited Mar-a-Lago to get more information about classified materials taken to Florida. Federal officials served a subpoena for some documents believed to be at the estate.

In August 2022, FBI agents conducting a search retrieved 33 boxes from Mar-a-Lago while executing a warrant that showed they were investigating possible crimes including the willful retention of national defense information and efforts to obstruct the federal probe.

The search came after lawyers for Trump provided a sworn certification that all government records had been returned.

WHAT ABOUT POSSIBLE CHARGES?

PENCE AND BIDEN: There is no indication either was aware of the existence of the records before they were found and turned over.

It appears both turned over the records quickly, without intent to conceal. That's important because the Justice Department historically looks for willfulness, or an intent to mishandle government secrets, in deciding whether to bring criminal charges.

In Biden's case, even if the Justice Department were to find the case prosecutable on the evidence, its Office of Legal Counsel has concluded that a president is immune from prosecution during his time in office. Former special counsel Robert Mueller cited that guidance in deciding not to reach a conclusion on whether Trump should face charges as part of the investigation into coordination between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

On Jan. 12, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate the discovery of documents in Biden's possession. Robert Hur, the Trump-appointed former U.S. attorney in Maryland, will lead the investigation.

TRUMP: The former president possibly faces exposure for obstruction over the protracted battle to retrieve the documents. And, since he's no longer in office, he wouldn't be afforded protections from possible prosecution.

In November, Garland appointed Jack Smith, a veteran war crimes prosecutor with a background in public corruption probes, to lead investigations into Trump's retention of classified documents, as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election.

WHAT HAVE THE THREE MEN HAD TO SAY?

PENCE: In August, Pence told The Associated Press that he did not take any classified information with him when he left office, answering, "No, not to my knowledge" when asked directly if he had retained any such information.

As vice president, Pence would have had the power to declassify some documents, though he hasn't said that he did.

On Friday, spokesperson O'Malley said the former vice president and his legal team "fully cooperated with the appropriate authorities and agreed to a consensual search of his residence."

BIDEN: Biden said earlier this month he was "surprised to learn" that documents had been found at his think tank. He said he didn't know what was in the material but takes classified documents "very seriously."

His team "did what they should have done," Biden said. "They immediately called the Archives."

Biden told reporters at the White House Jan. 12 that he was "cooperating fully and completely" with a Justice Department investigation into how classified information and government records were stored.

TRUMP: Trump, who had the ability when he was president to declassify documents, has contended at times that he did so regarding the documents that he took with him  though he has provided no evidence of that. He said in a Fox News interview in September that a president can declassify material "even by thinking about it."

The former president has called the Mar-a-Lago search an "unannounced raid" that was "not necessary or appropriate" and represented "dark times for our nation."

WHAT ARE THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS?

PENCE: As he lays the groundwork for a possible 2024 White House bid, the document discovery thrusts Pence into the debate over the handling of secret materials by officials who have served in the highest ranks of government. He had previously insisted that he followed stringent protocols regarding classified documents.

BIDEN: His document disclosure could intensify criticism by Republicans and others who say that if Trump is guilty of anything, so is he.

There are also possible ramifications in a new, GOP-controlled Congress where Republicans are promising to launch widespread investigations of Biden's administration.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, has said, "I think Congress has to investigate this." The top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, has requested that intelligence agencies conduct a "damage assessment" of potentially classified documents.

TRUMP: The documents probe is one of many that complicate the former president's bid for the White House in 2024, particularly after it became clear that the DOJ had launched a criminal investigation into the retention of top secret government information.

Trump and his supporters have described the Mar-a-Lago search as a partisan attack from Democrats.

During his 2024 campaign launch in November, at the same club agents had searched months earlier, Trump cast himself as a victim of wayward prosecutors and "festering, rot and corruption of Washington."

___

24 possible GOP presidential candidates in 2024 Donald Trump Mike Pence Ron DeSantis Josh Hawley Ted Cruz Nikki Haley Kristi Noem Mike Pompeo Tucker Carlson Donald Trump Jr. Ivanka Trump Florida: Rick Scott Tim Scott Greg Abbott Dan Crenshaw Elise Stefanik Tom Cotton Doug Ducey Larry Hogan Mike Lee Marco Rubio Ben Sasse Joni Ernst Candace Owens
NEW YORK (AP)  When the pandemic threat eased, Maureen Holohan was eager to scale back her online shopping and return to physical stores so she could more easily compare prices and scour ingredients on beauty and health care products for herself and her three children.

But that experience was short lived. In the past six months or so, CVS, Target and other retailers where Holohan shops have been locking up more everyday items like deodorant and laundry detergent as a way to reduce theft. And the 56-year-old Chevy Chase, Maryland resident is now back to shopping online or visiting stores where she doesn't have to wait for someone to retrieve products.

"I know they've got to do something, but locking the stuff up definitely just has me walking by that aisle," said Holohan, a business consultant.

Across the retail landscape, businesses have been putting items under lock and key as a quick way to stop thieves. Some are considering extreme measures, including Rite Aid Corp., whose chief retail officer Andre Persaud told analysts on an earnings call late last year that it's looking at "literally putting everything behind showcases to ensure the products are there for customers who want to buy it." It's also considering using off-duty police officers at some of its stores.

But by trying to solve one problem, these businesses may be creating another: turning off shoppers with overreaching measures.

"Everything has changed. We used to be catered to," said Sheila Schlegel, 43, of Queens, New York.

But now, "if you're coming to the store, there's one person at that store, and that person you can tell has been there for 15 hours," said Schlegel, who recalled an incident where she waited for a sales clerk to unlock an item only to be told he didn't have the key. "You don't want to ask them for something if you don't have to."

For consumers of color especially, the stepped-up security measures risk alienating a population that already feels overpoliced. That could unravel some of the inroads that chains like CVS, Sephora and Walmart made in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in 2020, when they promised to avoid racially biased practices like locking up products only for Black customers.

"Whenever there's a push toward greater criminalization, whenever there's a narrative of increased crime and things like that, it is always consumers of color that are going to be bearing the brunt," said Tiffany Gill, associate professor of history at Rutgers University, and an expert in African American Women's History, fashion and beauty culture.

CVS Health Corp. and Sephora declined to comment for the story. Walmart said that its position of not locking up beauty products for women of color remains the same. Target confirmed it was locking up more products but instead of targeting certain items, it locks up entire categories.

It's unclear how much money retailers are losing due to organized retail crime -- or if the problem has substantially increased. But the issue has received more notice in the past few years as high-profile smash-and-grab retail thefts and flash mob robberies have garnered national media attention.

The National Retail Federation, the nation's largest retail trade group, said its latest security survey of roughly 60 retailers found that inventory loss -- called shrink  clocked in at an average rate of 1.4% last year, representing $94.5 billion in losses.

The greatest portion of shrink  37%  came from external theft, including products taken during organized shoplifting incidents, the trade group said. It also noted retailers, on average, saw a 26.5% uptick in organized theft incidents last year.

But while high theft in stores depletes inventory and limits sales, locking up items also reduces sales  by 15% to 25%, according to Joe Budano, CEO of Indyme, a technology company that sells retailers security devices.

John Catsimatidis, who owns the New York supermarket chains Gristedes and D'Agostino's, said the chain has locked up more products like aspirin and deodorant in the past year but not as many as his drug store chain rivals. His chains have also doubled the number of security guards at some of its stores

He acknowledged that the move has resulted in some lost sales from impulse shopping but the added security has made shoppers more comfortable and has helped reduce theft, although he's not sure by how much.

"This is not an exact science," he said.

Store workers, meanwhile, face the pressure of trying to do their jobs while also monitoring theft. Isabela Burrows, 20, a manager at pet supplies chain PetSmart in Howell, Michigan, noted that her store in recent months has had to lock up more items like diffusers to calm dogs and cats and electric shaving shears. But while she feels more comfortable, she's also had to deal with shopper annoyance.

"I feel overwhelmed," Burrows said. "They're frustrated with me, and I have to find the item."

In what could be a sign of the overall challenges, drugstore chain Walgreens acknowledged that it might have overblown the shoplifting threat and gone too far in its security measures.

"Maybe, we cried too much last year," James Kehoe, global chief financial officer at Walgreens told analysts during an earnings call last month. "Probably we put in too much and we might step back a little bit from that."

But a Walgreens spokesman cautioned that while the company is pleased to see retail theft levels starting to stabilize, they are "still a serious national problem affecting all retailers."

Some retailers are coming out with less intrusive solutions to store theft. Home improvement retailer Lowe's has followed Home Depot in testing technology that unlocks power tools when shoppers buy them at the cash registers instead of resorting to keeping the items in cages.

Anat Shakedd, the CEO and co-founder of Nexite, a company that makes tiny Bluetooth tags that can go on items, says her company has partnered with a top department store in the U.S. and other brands across Europe and Israel to help them monitor their inventory without locking things up.

The Freedom Case, developed by Indyme, asks shoppers for a cell phone number to opt into its service. The shoppers then receive a text message with a four-digit code that lets them open the case. Customers can retain their self-service privileges as long as they show normal shopping behaviors. But if they exhibit suspicious behaviors, store workers will be notified to provide assistance, he said.

Holohan said she doesn't mind extra security guards, but she's not interested in giving out her phone number.

"It's invasive," she said. "If they're going to make it that hard to buy something, I'll find somewhere else to buy that."

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She'd be a senior right now, preparing for graduation in a few months, probably leading her school's modern dance troupe and taking art classes.

Instead, Kailani Taylor-Cribb hasn't taken a single class in what used to be her high school since the height of the coronavirus pandemic. She vanished from Cambridge, Massachusetts' public school roll in 2021 and has been, from an administrative standpoint, unaccounted for since then.

She is among hundreds of thousands of students around the country who disappeared from public schools during the pandemic and didn't resume their studies elsewhere.

An analysis by The Associated Press, Stanford University's Big Local News project and Stanford education professor Thomas Dee found an estimated 240,000 students in 21 states whose absences could not be accounted for. These students didn't move out of state, and they didn't sign up for private school or home-school, according to publicly available data.

In short, they're missing.

"Missing" students received crisis-level attention in 2020 after the pandemic closed schools nationwide. In the years since, they have become largely a budgeting problem. School leaders and some state officials worried aloud about the fiscal challenges their districts faced if these students didn't come back. Each student represents money from the city, state and federal governments.

Gone is the urgency to find the students who left  those eligible for free public education but who are not receiving any schooling at all. Early in the pandemic, school staff went door-to-door to reach and reengage kids. Most such efforts have ended.

"Everyone is talking about declining enrollment, but no one is talking about who's leaving the system and why," said Tom Sheppard, a New York City parent and representative on the city's Panel for Educational Policy.

"No one," he said, "is forthcoming."

***

A problem not discussed

The missing kids identified by AP and Stanford represent far more than a number. The analysis highlights thousands of students who may have dropped out of school or missed out on the basics of reading and school routines in kindergarten and first grade.

That's thousands of students who matter to someone. Thousands of students who need help re-entering school, work and everyday life.

"That's the stuff that no one wants to talk about," said Sonja Santelises, the chief executive officer of Baltimore's public schools, speaking about her fellow superintendents.

"We want to say it's outside stuff" that's keeping kids from returning to school, she said, such as caring for younger siblings or the need to work. But she worries teens sometimes lack caring adults at school who can discuss their concerns about life.

"That's really scary," Santelises said.

Discussion of children's recovery from the pandemic has focused largely on test scores and performance. But Dee says the data suggests a need to understand more about children who aren't in school and how that will affect their development.

"This is leading evidence that tells us we need to be looking more carefully at the kids who are no longer in public schools," he said.

Over months of reporting, the AP learned of students and families avoiding school for a range of reasons. Some are still afraid of COVID-19, are homeless or have left the country. Some students couldn't study online and found jobs instead. Some slid into depression.

During the prolonged online learning, some students fell so far behind developmentally and academically that they no longer knew how to behave or learn at school. Many of these students, while largely absent from class, are still officially on school rosters. That makes it harder to truly count the number of missing students. The real tally of young people not receiving an education is likely far greater than the 240,000 figure calculated by the AP and Stanford.

In some cases, this wasn't sudden. Many students were struggling well before the pandemic descended.

Kailani, for one, had begun to feel alienated at her school. In ninth grade, a few months before the pandemic hit, she was unhappy at home and had been moved to a different math class because of poor grades.

Kailani has ADHD and says the white teaching assistant assigned to help her focus in her new class targeted her because she was Black, blaming Kailani when classmates acted up. She also didn't allow Kailani to use her headphones while working independently in class, something Kailani says was permitted in her special education plan to help her focus.

After that, Kailani stopped attending math. Instead, she cruised the hallways or read in the library.

Ultimately, the pandemic and at-home education relieved the anxiety Kailani felt from being in the school building. Kailani preferred online school because she could turn off her camera and engage as she chose. Her grades improved.

When the school reopened, she never returned.

A Cambridge schools spokesperson looked into Kailani's complaints. "Several individuals demonstrated great concern and compassion towards her and the challenges she was facing outside of school," Sujata Wycoff said. She said the district has a "reputation of being deeply dedicated to the education and well-being of our students."

***

Losing the physical connection

To assess just how many students have gone missing, AP and Big Local News canvassed every state in the nation to find the most recently available data on both public and non-public schools, as well as census estimates for the school-age population.

Overall, public school enrollment fell by 710,000 students between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years in the 21 states plus Washington, D.C., that provided the necessary data.

Those states saw private-school enrollment grow by over 100,000 students. Home-schooling grew even more, surging by more than 180,000.

But the data showed 240,000 students who were neither in private school nor registered for home-school. Their absences could not be explained by population loss, either  such as falling birth rates or families who moved out of state.

States where kindergarten is optional were more likely to have larger numbers of unaccounted-for students, suggesting the missing also include many young learners kept home instead of starting school.

California alone showed over 150,000 missing students in the data, and New York had nearly 60,000. Census estimates are imperfect. So AP and Stanford ran a similar analysis for pre-pandemic years in those two states. It found almost no missing students at all, confirming something out of the ordinary occurred during the pandemic.

The true number of missing students is likely much higher. The analysis doesn't include data from 29 states, including Texas and Illinois, or the unknown numbers of ghost students who are technically enrolled but rarely make it to class.

For some students, it was impossible to overcome losing the physical connection with school and teachers during the pandemic's school closures.

Jose Escobar, an immigrant from El Salvador, had only recently enrolled in the 10th grade in Boston Public Schools when the campus shut down in March 2020. His school-issued laptop didn't work, and because of bureaucratic hurdles, the district didn't issue a new one for several weeks. His father stopped paying their phone bills after losing his restaurant job. Without any working technology for months, he never logged into remote classes.

When instruction resumed online that fall, he decided to walk away and find work as a prep cook. "I can't learn that way," he said in Spanish. At 21, he's still eligible for school in Boston, but says he's too old for high school and needs to work to help his family.

Another Boston student became severely depressed during online learning and was hospitalized for months. Back home, he refuses to attend school or leave his room despite visits from at least one teacher. When his mother asked him about speaking to a reporter, he cursed her out.

These are all students who have formally left school and have likely been erased from enrollment databases. Many others who are enrolled are not receiving an education.

In Los Angeles last year, nearly half of students were chronically absent, meaning they missed more than 10% of the school year. For students with disabilities, the numbers are even higher: According to district data, 55% missed at least 18 school days. It's not clear how many students were absent more than that. The city's Unified School District did not respond to requests for this data.

***

When schools don't come through

Los Angeles officials have spoken openly about attempts to find unschooled students and help remove obstacles that are preventing them from coming to school. Laundry services have been offered, as has help with housing. But for some students and their parents, the problem sits within a school system they say has routinely failed their children.

"Parents are bereft," said Allison Hertog, who represents around three dozen families whose children missed significant learning when California's physical classrooms closed for more than a year during the early pandemic.

Ezekiel West, 10, is in fourth grade but reads at a first grade level. Before the pandemic shutdowns, he was shuffled from school to school when educators couldn't address his impulsive behavior.

During online learning, his mother couldn't get home internet and struggled with the WiFi hotspots provided by the school. She worked as a home health aide and couldn't monitor Ezekiel online.

When he returned to school in fall 2021 as a third-grader, he was frustrated that his classmates had made more progress as the years passed.

"I did not feel prepared," he said in a recent phone interview. "I couldn't really learn as fast as the other kids, and that kind of made me upset."

An administrative judge ruled Los Angeles' schools had violated Ezekiel's rights and ordered the district to give him a spot at a new school, with a special plan to ease him back into learning and trusting teachers. The school didn't follow the plan, so his mother stopped sending him in October.

"I can't trust them," Miesha Clarke said. Los Angeles school officials did not respond to requests for comment on Ezekiel's case.

Last month, Ezekiel signed up for a public online school for California students. To enroll him, his mother agreed to give up his special education plan. His attorney, Hertog, worries the program won't work for someone with Ezekiel's needs and is looking for yet another option with more flexibility.

At least three of the students Hertog has represented, including Ezekiel, have disappeared from school for long periods since in-person instruction resumed. Their situations were avoidable, she said: "It's pretty disgraceful that the school systems allowed this to go on for so long."

When Kailani stopped logging into her virtual classes during the spring of her sophomore year, she received several emails from the school telling her she'd been truant. Between two to four weeks after she disappeared from Zoom school, her homeroom advisor and Spanish teacher each wrote to her, asking where she was. And the school's dean of students called her great-grandmother, her legal guardian, to inform her about Kailani's disappearance from school.

They didn't communicate further, according to Kailani. She went to work at Chipotle, ringing up orders in Boston's financial district.

In December, Kailani moved to North Carolina to make a new start. She teaches dance to elementary school kids now. Last month, she passed her high school equivalency exams. She wants to take choreography classes.

But she knows, looking back, that things could have been different. While she has no regrets about leaving high school, she says she might have changed her mind if someone at school had shown more interest and attention to her needs and support for her as a Black student.

"All they had to do was take action," Kailani said. "There were so many times they could have done something. And they did nothing."

***

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ALBANY  In New York, whistleblower lawsuits alleging corporations or wealthy individuals have submitted false records to cheat on their taxes have led to state and local governments recouping hundreds of millions of dollars.

But when they intentionally avoid paying required taxes by not filing documents at all, the whistleblower law does not apply  and for the third time the State Legislature is trying to change that.

Emails show how the Legislatures proposal drew pushback from the countrys Big Four public accounting firms that work for many of worlds biggest corporations.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has twice issued last-minute vetoes of the Legislatures bills, the second in late January.

Two months later, the issue is again coming to a head. Instead of a freestanding bill, the state Assembly and Senate included the measure in their state budget plans, seeking to win approval in broader budget negotiations ahead of an April 1 deadline for an on-time agreement.

New York passed the False Claims Act in 2007, allowing whistleblowers to sue and allege the state or a local government had been defrauded. In 2010, the law was expanded to allow lawsuits alleging a wealthy person or corporation sought to avoid state or local taxes by knowingly submitting false claims, records or statements, including false tax returns.

If successful, the whistleblower receives a share of the award or settlement, with the government keeping the bulk of it. The state Attorney Generals Office and local governments have the option of joining a lawsuit on the plaintiffs side. If they decline, the whistleblower must stake far more of the legal costs but receives a greater percentage of the award if successful.

In 2013, the False Claims Act was expanded to allow whistleblower lawsuits alleging New York governments were being defrauded, even in instances where false records were not used. But then-Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican, insisted on a loophole that exempted large corporate and wealthy tax cheats, according to Gregory Krakower, an attorney who served as then-state Attorney General Eric Schneidermans point person on the matter. Instead, the False Claims Act continued to apply only to tax fraud that included a false record.

Democrats took control of the State Senate in 2019, and two years later, State Sen. Liz Krueger, chair of the Finance Committee, and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, chair of the Ways & Means Committee, pushed through a bill making wealthy individuals and large corporations as liable for knowingly not filing tax returns as they are for knowingly filing false tax returns and statements. Individuals and corporations with net income or sales of more than $1 million would be liable for knowingly failing to file tax returns costing state or local governments at least $350,000 in lost revenue.

The State Division of Budget did not object, writing in a memo that the bill could deter illegal behavior. The State Department of Taxation and Finance also had no objection, though neither agency formally supported the bill, either.

On Dec. 30, 2021, Hochuls top aide was contacted by Ostroff Associates, a lobbying firm supportive of Hochuls 2022 election bid. Rick Ostroff, the firms president and CEO, hosted three campaign fundraisers for Hochul, including one in September 2021 and a second in late October 2021. Ostroff represents each of the Big Four accounting firms: Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte. And each firm donated $25,000 to Hochul around the time of the second fundraiser.

Diana Ostroff  the lobbying firms chief operating officer  emailed proposed amendments to Karen Persichilli Keogh, secretary to the governor, writing that, the concept of the bill is something we support, but the consequences based on how it is written are very problematic.

The amendments were drafted by Gibson Dunn, a law firm representing the accounting industry. Ostroff also provided a memo that urged a veto, arguing the bills language was overly broad and vague and that lawsuits could be filed far beyond the limited scope of what the Legislature contemplated or intended.

One day later  the final day of 2021 and the deadline to issue a veto  Hochul similarly wrote in her veto message that she supported the bills concept. But the language was broader than impacting only non-filers and would implicate more tax filing controversies to the False Claims Act than just non-filers.

In 2022, Krueger and Weinstein returned with a modified version, and it again passed the Legislature.

Last May, the Big Four accounting firms again each donated $25,000 to Hochuls campaign within a few days. PricewaterhouseCoopers also hosted a Hochul fundraiser in August, and Rick Ostroff held his third Hochul fundraiser in April.

When Hochul vetoed the bill a second time on Jan. 30, 2023, she wrote that it contained an undefined retroactive lookback period that fails to provide notice to filers and raises due process concerns.

That was similar to another argument pressed in the December 2021 memo shared by Diana Ostroff that urged a veto because retroactive application of the amendments will pose significant due process concerns.

Hochuls office maintains campaign donations have no effect on policy decisions, and that it carefully considers arguments from all sides of an issue.

Retroactivity at issue

Krakower, who drafted the 2010 bill as a state Senate staffer, says the False Claims Act and other civil fraud laws have always applied retroactively for a simple reason: Everyone is already on notice that it is prohibited to knowingly defraud the government or to knowingly violate New York tax law.

That is why bipartisan majorities ensured that the New York False Claims Act was retroactive when it passed in 2007, when it was expanded to cover false tax records in 2010, and when it was expanded again in 2013, Krakower said.

In their one-house budget plans released last week, both the State Senate and Assembly continued to apply their proposals retroactively.

Legal questions about the False Claims Act, retroactivity and due process were previously addressed during the largest tax case ever brought under the state law.

In 2011, a whistleblower claimed Sprint Corp. for years intentionally under-collected local and state sales taxes to make calling plans more appealing to customers. Sprint argued the False Claims Acts retroactive application violated the U.S. Constitution.

But in 2015, the New York State Court of Appeals found the retroactive application was constitutional because it concerned a civil matter, not a criminal one. In 2018, then-Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced a record-breaking $330 million settlement with Sprint, much of those funds going to local governments.

Its not just major accounting firms lobbying against the bill, or pressing arguments that Hochul found valid. The bill has been opposed by the state Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Lawsuit Reform Alliance and many groups in the business community. In a 2022 opposition memo, the State Business Council argued neither the federal government nor majority of states apply their false claims acts to tax laws, meaning New York is already an outlier. In her recent veto, Hochul noted the Legislatures bill went significantly beyond how the federal government and other states pursue civil tax fraud.

Those lobbying in favor include the state Bar Association, which in a 2021 memo argued the loophole puts honest, tax-paying New York businesses at a competitive disadvantage insofar as it fails to impose liability on out-of-state corporations that hide New York-source income and then knowingly and illegally fail to file New York tax returns.
Officials said pheasants at a Tompkins County farm that serves as the states only breeding facility will be culled after an outbreak avian flu killed hundreds of birds this week.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation on Thursday said that the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus affecting the Reynolds Game Farm pheasant population.

DEC began investigating suspicious bird deaths at the farm on March 20 and initial test results indicated a possible outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. On March 21, the farm was put under quarantine following positive test results from the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab. A full 120-day quarantine period for the farm is required. This week, at least 500 of the breeder flock of 6,600 pheasants died from the virus.

In a Thursday news release, the DEC said the remaining breeder flock of pheasants on the property is being depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease in accordance with standard HPAI response protocols. Birds from the flocks will not enter the food system. As part of existing avian influenza response plans, AGM and USDA are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock.

The farm, east of the city of Ithaca near the Cornell University campus, raises ring-necked pheasants for release into the wild. Pheasants raised at the farm are distributed to volunteers for release through the Cornell Cooperative Extension network, including in Cayuga County, where a workshop was held Mach 15 on raising day-old pheasant chicks.

Approximately 40,000 day-old chicks are hatched and distributed every year through the program. Participants in the program include 4-H youth, sportsmens clubs, landowners, farmers and schools.

The DEC on Wednesday said it is developing a plan to address how best to provide pheasant hunting opportunity for this fall.

The DEC said it is working closely with animal health experts at the state Department of Agriculture and Markets and the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory and following standard protocol for an outbreak of HPAI.

The DEC said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. HPAI cases in humans are rare, and symptoms are typically mild. The risk of a person becoming infected is low.

Additional information on the USDA response plan can be found at the USDA website.
The employee decides on how to use this leave in the first application submitted during the calendar year. The employer is obligated to grant the leave upon the request made by the employee no later than on the day when the leave is taken.

Reklama

Unfortunate implementation

The commented provision represents an unfortunate implementation of EU law, which, together with the use of the term "force majeure," should be interpreted as the right to refuse to perform work obligations, rather than as the right to submit a request for leave. At least, this is how force majeure has been understood since Roman law.

Reklama

As a result of this, in my opinion, misguided implementation, there may be a mistaken impression that an employee who experiences a greater impact of force majeure than the mentioned two days within a calendar year has an absolute obligation to report to work.

It seems that the legislator is not aware of the regulation of the Minister of Labor and Social Policy of May 15, 1996, on the method of justifying absences from work and granting employees leave from work (Journal of Laws No. 60, item 281). Paragraph 1 of this regulation states that "the reasons justifying the absence of an employee from work are events and circumstances specified by the labor law provisions, which prevent the employee from reporting to work and providing work, as well as other cases of inability to perform work indicated by the employee and recognized by the employer as justifying absence from work."

Reklama

These "other cases" refer to circumstances other than those resulting from, for example, illness, which are covered by the first sentence. The inability to perform work also includes situations that the commented provision has defined as force majeure. According to the Polish Language Dictionary PWN, "inability" means not only the inability to act but also the lack of favorable conditions to achieve something. We undoubtedly have such a lack of favorable conditions when an employee is faced with a choice between protecting their family member or place of residence and performing their job.

Chaos and regress

Furthermore, when making a decision to justify or not to justify an absence, the employer does not have discretion. They have an obligation to conduct a procedure, i.e., to establish the factual situation and then make a decision based on objective criteria. Moreover, since the legislator used the term "force majeure" in Article 1481 (1) of the Labor Code, he thereby decided that the situations described by it always justify the absence from work. Therefore, a three-day flood or three accidents in a year may also justify the absence from work, but without the right to remuneration.

In any case, the analyzed provision is a regression and introduces chaos. Until now, the law only provided for the justification of absence, but now it also requires the submission of an application. And after the limit of two days is exhausted, the employee will only be able to report their absence without any further justification.

There is one more possibility of interpretation, namely that if the employee submits an application, they will receive remuneration, but if they only justify their absence, they will not. However, it does not seem to be the intention of EU law. Not to mention that obtaining the employer's consent is not easy, as there may be no contact with them. There is no provision in the Labor Code that would suggest that every supervisor has the competence to grant leave.

How can be remedied

Taking the above into account, an attempt must be made to correct the mistakes made by the legislator, to the extent that it is possible.

Firstly, it should be assumed that the provision does not refer to force majeure in the sense in which it is understood in Polish law. It is not about circumstances that cannot be prevented. This means that, for example, a child's accident caused by the employee's fault (due to lack of supervision) or another family member's accident resulting from recklessness will justify the right to not perform duties. It is reasonable to interpret that the Code introduces its own definition of force majeure for the purposes of justifying absence from work in line with EU law. The provision therefore contains a norm stating: "by force majeure, it should be understood as the occurrence of urgent family matters in case of illness or accident, if the immediate presence of the employee is necessary, regardless of whether these situations could have been prevented or not."

Secondly, the word "accident" should be broadly understood and also include weather phenomena such as floods, hurricanes, and hailstorms, and not just incidents directly related to people.

Thirdly, the word "application" should essentially be understood as a prior notification of absence or the need to leave work. If such a possibility is not available, the employee - after considering the risk that his absence poses to the workplace - may leave the workplace on his own.

Fourthly, the employee reports to their supervisor, not the employer. Whether the supervisor has the authority to grant leave or not remains an internal matter of the workplace.

Fifthly, considering that it is a case of force majeure and the urgent need for the employee's presence, the interpretation developed in relation to leave on request regarding the time of reporting absence should not apply. The request, or rather the report of absence, can be made at any time during the working day and in any form. Such an interpretation should also be adopted because the absence may only cover part of the day. The supervisor cannot refuse consent, which further proves that we are not dealing with a request, but with informing the employer about the absence. One can only agree that if the absence of the employee from work would result in irreparable damage (for example, when the only security guard leaves the guarded place), the employer has the right to ask the employee to postpone leaving the workplace until a replacement is provided, i.e. "not to grant leave". However, even in such a situation, the employee's failure to comply with the order will be subject to the court's assessment of whether the employer's instruction was proportionate to the risks and the employee's family situation.

Days or hours

Paragraph 2 states that the employee should decide in the first request for leave whether they will use their time off on a daily or hourly basis. Contrary to the wording of the provision, it must be interpreted rationally. The legislator imagines that a parent going to their child's accident site will submit a declaration to the employer stating in what form they will use their time off in the event of future accidents or natural disasters, if they occur?

This provision is even more irrational because if an employee leaves their workplace during work hours, they cannot use full days off from work. In this sense, they "submit" a leave request by the very fact of leaving their workplace. A rational interpretation requires that the declaration regarding how to use future time off can be supplemented.

Another issue is that the employee's declaration regarding events of unknown nature is highly irrational and of little value. If an employee declares that they will use their leave entitlement in hourly increments, it is still unknown whether they will use it 14 times for one hour each, or twice for 7 hours each. This information is therefore completely worthless.
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CAPE MAY  An ordinance recommended by City Council member Shaine Meier proposes new restrictions on public access to some areas of municipal buildings.

The proposal is not in response to any issue within the city, but rather in preparation for what are known as First Amendment audits, in which activists or self-identified citizen journalists video record interactions in public areas, including in city halls or other public buildings.

In multiple instances, people have posted video of interactions that arise when they take video in public areas, occasionally including confrontations or arguments. There are videos of audits in Vineland City Hall and another in Lower Township, which was posted in December.

That video has been viewed more than 340,000 times, and there is a phone number for Lower Township Hall included in the description. Employees at Township Hall said there was a flood of calls after the video was posted.

Meier said he wants Cape May to be ready for a similar visit.

The ordinance, which still requires a public hearing and final vote, would add a new section to the city code, municipal buildings, restricted areas to safeguard records. It would prohibit public access to some areas of City Hall and other city buildings, citing the requirement to protect public records under New Jerseys Open Public Records Act.

The ordinance states that city employees cannot be expected to physically intervene to protect records. It lists multiple offices as restricted areas, including exceptions for the lobby and help desk areas. It also calls for signs that identify areas as restricted, stating Authorized employees only.

After the meeting, Meier said the ordinance grew out of concerns brought up through the Joint Insurance Fund, which provides insurance coverage for several communities, including Cape May.

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City attorney Christopher Gillin-Schwartz said those who want to access public records are free to fill out a request under the Open Public Records Act, often referred to as OPRA. There are rights of public access, he said, but they are not unlimited.

Although a public building may be a public building, that doesnt mean that its a complete free-for-all, he said. In this room (council chambers), people are free to walk in and if they want to take an iPhone video they can go for it.

Extensive case law has found that people have a right to take video of public meetings, and that there is no legal expectation of privacy in a public place. In the video taken in Vineland, a security guard at City Hall insists he should not be recorded if he does not want to be, but the poster keeps taking video.

SeanPaul Reyes, who posts video to YouTube as Long Island Audit, objected as another guard reached out to grab his phone.

You cannot video tape in here. This is a government building, a security guard states.

Youre in public, that means you have no expectation of privacy, Reyes says in the video.

Lower Township Manager Michael Laffey questions Reyes as he records video in the otherwise empty meeting room at Township Hall.

Who are you here to see? This is a township hall, Laffey says in the video.

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Im not here to see anybody, Reyes responds. He said his reason to visit Township Hall was to take photos and video as an independent journalist. Theres nothing nefarious going on here.

Reyes said he is working on a story but did not give any details on the story or provide identification.

Laffey said he had security concerns and asks him to leave the room.

Contacted on Friday, Laffey said Reyes was wearing a fanny pack and would not answer questions, prompting security concerns. He said since Sept. 11, 2001, all municipal officials have been urged to remain vigilant.

Laffey said Reyes was not confrontational and remained in the building for about 45 minutes.

Were pretty transparent in government. We have nothing to hide, he said. Police officers were in Township Hall for another purpose, and spoke with Reyes.

They just happened to be in the building at the same time. We didnt call the police because he was here, Laffey said.

On the video, one Lower Township officer said there can be trespassing charges on public property.

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Youre making everybody nervous, the officer said.

Anybodys allowed in the building here, Reyes said.

Later in the video, Sgt. Jason Felsing arrives, asking, Are you exercising your First Amendment right?

He suggests he will hang out with Reyes while he takes video and images.

Several of the doors in Lower Township have authorized personnel only signs. Reyes fills out an OPRA request for the names, salaries and email addresses of all township employees for 2022 and then leaves.

The safety directors office of the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, which can be thought of as a JIF for JIFs, put out a best practices statement in December 2019 for handling First Amendment audits.

It advises to prevent entry to restricted areas, and to instruct employees to remain calm and professional.

In many instances, the auditor will refuse to identify themselves, and may edit the video before posting, the notification warns.

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The attitude and demeanor of some of these people can be unnerving, annoying, flippant, aggressive, and on occasion, they may use foul and abusive language, it states. Unfortunately, many of these audits may become confrontational in nature.

Laffey said he plans to arrange a training session with the MEL, open to all county municipalities, with information on how to deal with First Amendment auditors.

In my opinion, they are doing this for a money grab, he said, both seeking donations and potentially seeking financial settlements in cases where they are removed from public buildings or confronted.

In other states, auditors have faced charges, or been detained or assaulted, and even shot. In 2019, a YouTube poster was shot in the leg by a security guard while taking video outside a Los Angeles synagogue, and in other instances, police have drawn their weapons on auditors.

Dekon Fashaw, the Cape May police chief, said his officers have had training from the state Attorney Generals Office in the First Amendment, and in responding to similar audits.

The Long Island Audit is one of multiple audit-oriented channels on YouTube. Some of Reyes videos have received millions of views, and he includes links to GoFundMe pages as well as to his Venmo, PayPal and other accounts seeking donations. He also offers T-shirts and other merchandise.

Reyes did not respond to an emailed request for an interview.

Reyes has faced charges in Maryland, where he recorded a police traffic stop, and in Connecticut, where he was cited on trespassing charges. According to media reports, Reyes has filed a lawsuit against the city of Danbury, Connecticut, alleging his Constitutional rights under the First and Fourth amendments were violated.

In the Maryland instance, he wrote an apology and said his rights were not violated, according to news reports. In the statement, he said the officer who had stopped another driver had said he could record the stop, but told him to do it from a different location.

In an interview posted to YouTube in January, Reyes said he had been convicted of a felony 10 years ago.

The Cape May ordinance still needs a public hearing and final vote before it is official. Those are planned for the April 18 City Council meeting, 5 p.m. at City Hall, 643 Washington St.
ATLANTIC CITY  Two men and two teenagers were arrested Thursday after they allegedly rode around the city committing four armed robberies in a stolen car, police said.

Dvaughndre Adams, 18, of Hyattsville, Maryland; and Amari Wrights, an 18-year-old city resident, were taken to the Atlantic County jail following their arrests. A 14-year-old boy from Fort Washington, Maryland, and a 13-year-old boy from District Heights, Maryland, were sent to the Harborfields youth detention center in Egg Harbor City, police said Friday in a news release.

Their car was reported stolen from Prince Georges County, Maryland, police said.

The group first robbed an 89-year-old man of his jacket, cash and cellphone at 6:27 a.m. in the 200 block of North New York Avenue, police said. The man was struck in the chest after being threatened with a gun.

The second robbery was reported at 6:36 a.m. in the 1200 block of Baltic Avenue. A 45-year-old surrendered a cellphone, Amazon Kindle tablet and lunch bag, police said.

The third robbery was reported four minutes after the second. An 84-year-old man in the 300 block of Indiana Avenue gave the group keys to his car after being threatened, police said.

The final robbery happened at 7:38 a.m. at California and Pacific avenues. There, the group ordered a 21-year-old woman out of her car at gunpoint, trying unsuccessfully to steal the vehicle before one group member struck her in the head with a gun. The group fled after she yelled for help, police said.

Police did not say whether any of the victims assaulted during the offenses were hospitalized.

After the final incident, Adams, Wrights and the teenagers fled onto the Boardwalk. Surveillance cameras caught them leaving the Boardwalk near Indiana Avenue, police said.

Security at Ballys Atlantic City directed officers to where they were last seen.

The group was eventually tracked down in the 200 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and arrested after a foot chase, police said.

Adams, Wrights and the juveniles were each charged with robbery, aggravated assault, carjacking, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Adams and Wrights were each separately charged with employing a juvenile in theft of auto.

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Two handguns and one rifle used in the armed robberies were found to be Airsoft guns, police said.

Police located the vehicle used in the first three robberies on Pennsylvania Avenue and found out it was reported stolen Monday. The keys to the car were found in one of the suspects possession, police said.

Detectives later recovered stolen items from the robberies inside the vehicle.

Authorities in Prince Georges County were informed of possible charges in their jurisdiction, police said.
ATLANTIC CITY  New public safety and health problems are being found regularly at Atlantic City Housing Authority properties, but details are not being shared with the public, officials said during Thursday night's board meeting.

Those details were only discussed in executive session, "on advice of counsel," Purchasing Agent Jerry Volpe said during the meeting.

"The emergency declaration is ongoing, and significant emergencies are still taking place which you will be hearing about in more detail (in closed session)," Volpe told the board.

"In general there have been significant dollars authorized and purchase orders issued for mold remediation, repair and renovation work for a multitude of other emergency contracts," Volpe said. "It seems to be an emergency of the hour. I was going to say of the day, now it's happening by the hour  most recently in the last 45 minutes."

In response to a public session question, part-time interim Executive Director John Clarke acknowledged there is a gas leak in Stanley Holmes Village that required turning off service to some residents.

Residents in other Housing Authority buildings around the city have also described a lack of proper heat and hot water and gas line issues. The authority runs eight complexes in the city.

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Clarke said the problem with gas lines at Stanley Holmes was still being worked on Thursday evening, but he did not provide further details or an estimate of when it will be fixed.

Gas line issues have been a problem at Stanley Holmes Village for a long time.

In December, a Superior Court judge ordered the Housing Authority to provide details about the condition of gas lines to a group of about 80 residents who are suing over conditions there, but that information has not been provided, according to Olga Pomar, housing preservation and community development coordinator for South Jersey Legal Services.

"We have received only very minimal information about what is going on," Pomar said Friday. "This is a real concern because many of our clients have already been very worried about the safety of the gas lines in light of what happened last fall and we want to be able to provide them with more information."

Last fall, Atlantic County Superior Court Judge John C. Porto ordered the authority to explain to plaintiffs attorneys the reason for the termination of gas service to the block of houses on the 300 block of North Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, the basis for the issuance of the notice to the occupants that the gas lines were so corroded that repairs could not be made while the units were occupied, and that the occupant households would need to be relocated, and the basis for its determination that gas service could be restored.

South Jersey Legal Services is representing the residents who are suing.

Problems found in more Atlantic City Housing Authority buildings ATLANTIC CITY  Lack of hot water and a crumbling facade are worrying residents of two more 

At least two high-rise buildings in the Housing Authority's portfolio have scaffolding up around them, to protect passersby from falling debris until facade repairs are done.

"Weve had a ton of wind and other challenges. We are making repairs and scaffolding was put up because of some brick components and brick work needed to be done, but it was put aside after COVID because of the zero-threshold restrictions," Clarke said. He said the projects will move forward this spring and summer.

Clarke said an engineering report on the buildings affected was done, and promised to provide it to the public soon.

More than 100 new appliances came in Thursday, Volpe said. They will replace broken ones at Stanley Holmes Village and perhaps elsewhere. Many residents have been waiting months for new stoves, ovens and refrigerators.

Volpe also said the authority has ordered major circulation pumps for the large old boilers that provide heat and hot water to Stanley Holmes Village. The boilers have been fixed and are now working well, but residents lost heat and hot water last weekend when underground pipes burst.

The pipes were installed between the 1930s and 1950s as the complex was built and expanded.

"We have substantial water leakage as a result of those pumps being very, very old and were never maintained  the whole history we've talked about ad nauseum," Volpe said. "One problem creates another problem."

Once new pumps go in there may be new pipe leaks as a result of increased pressure, he warned.

Regarding gas lines, "we are currently working on a number of areas that have gas issues," Volpe said, adding those details would also be provided in closed session.

The board passed its 2023-24 budget with no discussion, and no information on the size of the budget was provided. When asked, Clarke said details on the budget would be provided once it is approved by the state Department of Community Affairs.

After coming back from executive session, board attorney Rick DeLucry said the board discussed personnel, contracts and matters affecting public safety and property.

"Further information will be provided when there is no longer a need for confidentiality," DeLucry said.
Chinese FM meets Equatorial Guinean counterpart

Xinhua) 09:46, March 24, 2023

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Beijing on Thursday.

Qin pledged China's consistent support for Equatorial Guinea in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing external interference in its internal affairs.

He said the two countries should, in line with the key consensus between the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate public support to advance bilateral relations.

China will maintain great continuity in its policies and add stability, certainty and positive energy to the world, Qin said, adding that China's efforts to advance the modernization drive, uphold high-quality development and expand high-level opening-up will bring new development opportunities to the African nation.

China is willing to synergize development strategies of both sides, deepen exchanges on governance experience and help the Equatorial Guinean side enhance its capacity for independent development, Qin said.

He added that Chinese enterprises are encouraged to invest in Equatorial Guinea and that the Chinese market welcomes more products from Equatorial Guinea.

Qin said China will continue to support Africa in achieving economic recovery and sustainable development, and promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

The Equatorial Guinean foreign minister said China is a true friend, good brother and good partner of Equatorial Guinea and Africa, and nothing can stop them from deepening friendship and cooperation with China.

He added that Equatorial Guinea firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

He said his country highly appreciates and supports China's important initiatives to promote world peace, security and development, and supports China's position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP  An investigation into a 9-year-old student being dropped off at the wrong location found it was a result of a substitute bus driver not having a full understanding of the assigned route, officials with the bus company said Friday.

The boys parents told CBS 3 they were angry after the child was dropped off five miles from his home Monday.

Nick Ferguson told the news station his son was picked up at a different bus stop by another students grandmother.

They called Sheppard Bus Service, which manages the districts buses, before getting a call from the woman telling them he was in her custody and safe.

The bus driver was suspended without pay and retrained, Sheppard Bus Service Risk Control Director Manny Cabegin said Friday.

We changed a few things in our office so that type of situation will never occur again, Cabegin said.

Hamilton Township adopts anti-ATV ordinance HAMILTON TOWNSHIP  The Township Committee adopted an ordinance Monday strengthening its pol

Superintendent Jeffrey Zito on Friday said the school district is also investigating the drop-off, saying it cant make other statements.

At Hamilton Township, student safety is our number one priority, Zito said.

The driver was filling in for a coworker who covers the students bus route, which likely caused the error, Cabegin said.

Moving forward, Sheppard is making sure drivers are better prepared ahead of time, giving them adequate time to review paperwork on their routes.

The driver who dropped the child off Monday ensured an adult was present when he was dropped off, Cabegin said.
BRIDGETON  Two men from the city will spend up to three decades in prison after being convicted in the 2018 killing of a 9-year-old girl.
The Westampton Township School District in Burlington County was closed for a third straight day Thursday while crews cleaned up smoke from a weekend brushfire at nearby Rancocas State Park, Superintendent Jim DiDonato said.

Holly Hills Elementary, Westampton Intermediate and Westampton Middle have been closed since Tuesday. Some students in the K-8 district were dismissed early Monday because of the smoke in buildings.

The wildfire broke out Sunday in the 1,252-acre park, which straddles Westampton and Hainesport. By Sunday night, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Westampton Township Emergency Services had the fire contained but cautioned that lingering smoke would likely hang over the area for several days until it rains. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In a letter to parents and staff Wednesday afternoon, DiDonato said the intermediate and middle schools were "looking good" after a company used air scrubbers to remove a lingering smoke smell from the buildings. The company is now cleaning all vent units in classrooms and roof systems, he said.

"The air scrubbers are working their magic," DiDonato wrote.

Prescribed burns persist as New Jersey's wildfire season looms SHAMONG TOWNSHIP  Using planned burns, state firefighters are working to prepare New Jersey

Lab results on the buildings' air quality were not expected to be available until Thursday, so schools will remain closed, DiDonato said. If the schools are ready for students and staff to return, in-person classes will resume Friday for a normal school day, he said.

All school activities are canceled during the closing, the superintendent said.

DiDonato said he has sought permission from the state Department of Education to offer remote or virtual learning if students cannot return Friday. The district is planning ahead for that possibility to give families time to prepare.

"We are hoping for the best, but planning for a remote learning possibility," he said.

All school activities are canceled during the closing, the superintendent said.

The closings may have an impact on the district's 2022-23 school calendar. The district has two snow days built into its calendar, which can be used to make up for two of the three missed days. The board of education must approve any calendar changes. Schools must be open for 180 days.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police along with the Punjab Police has detained a close associate of fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh from West Delhi's Tilak Vihar area, police sources said here on Thursday.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police along with the Punjab Police has detained a close associate of fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh from West Delhi's Tilak Vihar area, police sources said here on Thursday.



According to the sources, the man identified as Amit Singh was detained on Tuesday from Tilak Vihar after the police received specific inputs about his whereabouts. Delhi Police assisted the Punjab Police in this operation.



Singh works as an insurance agent.



In another development earlier in the day, the Haryana Police arrested a 28-year-old MBA degree holder unemployed woman for allegedly giving shelter to Amritpal Singh and his accomplice Pappal Preet Singh at her house in Shahabad town in Kurukshetra district. The woman has been handed over to the Punjab Police.



The accused, Baljeet Kaur, lives with her brother and father. Her brother works at the SDM office, while her father runs a milk business.



Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria said that Baljeet Kaur was in touch with Pappal Preet Singh.



"It is suspected that Pappal Preet and Amritpal stayed at Baljeet's house on Sunday night. After some questioning, Punjab Police were intimated and the woman was handed over to them for further investigation," Bhoria said.



Amritpal, against whom the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked, has been on the run since March 18 despite a massive manhunt launched to nab him.
Rahul convicted in criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark, granted bail

A Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged Modi surname remark in April 2019.Gandhi was convicted under IPC sections 499 and 500. The maximum possible punishment under this section is two years.The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma sentenced him to two years in jail and also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after finding him guilty; however, on Rahul Gandhis plea, his sentence has been suspended and bail has been granted to enable him to move an appeal against his conviction within 30 days.The lawyer representing Rahul Gandhi said that they will move to the sessions court soon.

BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname? remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The remarks were videographed by the video surveillance team and video viewing team of the office of deputy commissioner and district election officer, Kolar district.

The complainant claimed that the controversial remark was made at a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which defamed the entire Modi community.

CJM Varma last week had concluded hearing the final arguments from both sides and set March 23 to pronounce its judgment.

Gandhi has maintained that there was no mala fide intention on his part when he made the statement in question.

Conspiracy to disqualify Gandhi from LS: Congress

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday said that the central government is afraid of Rahul Gandhi and thats why it is conspiring to disqualify him from the lower House. Chowdhury said that because of Rahul Gandhis fear, he is being pressurised from all sides, however he will not be cowed down.

Disqualification if higher court does not suspend sentence

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi after being convicted by Surat court faces disqualification as an MP and may not be able to contest elections if the sentence is not suspended by higher courts. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 Disqualification on Imprisonment provides that a person will be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more. The person is disqualified for the period of imprisonment and a further six years.

Will appeal in higher court

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that they will appeal in higher courts against the conviction of Rahil Gandhi.

Attempt to influence judiciary

Congress said that sentencing of MP Rahul Gandhi to two years of jail by a Surat district is an attempt to influence the judiciary and that democracy is in danger. IANS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rahul Gandhi

My religion is truth: Gandhi quotes Mahatma Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi in his first reaction after being convicted by a Surat court on Thursday said, my religion is truth. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Rahul said in a tweet in Hindi, My religion is based on truth and non-violence, truth is my God, and non-violence is a way to achieve it. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted (in Hindi) and said, The fearful powers are using all methods to down the voice of Rahul Gandhi, but my brother has never been afraid. We have lived while speaking the truth and will always speak the truth and raise voice for the nation. IANS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does he believe in truth: BJP slams Congress leader

The BJP slammed Rahul Gandhi over his statement that he made after his conviction, and said that he had insulted an entire community and not just one surname. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, Rahul Gandhi said that I believe in truth and non-violence. Does he believe in truth and non-violence?.... to insult people? To make casteist abuses... to insult the country?

Respect the court but dont agree with verdict: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, we respect the court, but do not agree with the verdict. IANS
A cybertip from Twitter has led to the arrest of a Sterling man on child pornography charges, the Illinois State Police said.

Alex D. Leatherman, 35, is charged in Whiteside County Circuit Court with one count each of disseminating child pornography of a victim under the age of 13 and possession of child pornography of a victim under the age of 13.

The dissemination charge is a Class X felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of 6-30 years. The possession charge is a Class 2 felony that carries a prison sentence of three to seven years.

Police said that on Tuesday the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was investigating a case of child pornography after receiving a cybertip from Twitter.

Two agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation contacted Leatherman by phone. Leatherman agreed to meet with agents at the State Police Troop 1 Headquarters in Sterling for a consensual interview.

Evidence gathered from Leathermans phone and his confession of possessing and disseminating child pornography during the interviews led to his arrest.

During a first appearance on the charges Wednesday in Circuit Court, Associate Judge Jennifer Kelly scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for April 10 and assigned the Public Defenders Office to represent Leatherman.

Leatherman was being held Thursday night in the Whiteside County Jail on a bond of $100,000, 10%.
An Illinois State Police trooper was justified in shooting an armed Morrison man as police were serving a search warrant at his home in October, Whiteside County States Attorney Terry Costello has announced.

According to Costellos statement, at 5:20 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2022, agents with the Illinois State Police Special Operations Command served a search warrant at 604 N. Cherry St., Morrison. At the time there was an arrest warrant for Aaron Linke, 48, on a charge of aggravated delivery of methamphetamine.

Illinois State Police officers knocked on the door while announcing, Illinois State Police search warrant, multiple times, and the following occurred, police said:

After receiving no response, officers breached the front door and used a distraction device commonly known as a flashbang inside the front door of the home.

A second group of officers attempted to enter the home through the back door but were unsuccessful because of the number of locking mechanisms on that door.

Shortly after officers entered the home, three popping sounds could be heard, which the investigation determined to be gunshots. None of those shots was fired by police.

The officers who had been in the back of the house joined the group of officers at the front of the home, and they cleared the first floor.

During entry and while clearing the home, officers continually announced, State Police search warrant.

Officers located an elderly man on the first floor whom they helped out of the home.

Officers positioned themselves on the stairway leading to the second floor, with two officers carrying ballistic shields. Officers made multiple commands for the occupants on the second floor to come down with their hands up, but there was no response.

Another flashbang was deployed near the top of the stairway.

At the top of the stairs, two officers carrying ballistic shields encountered Linke in the hallway. One of those officers was Stuart Baits.

Linke pointed a pistol at Baits. Baits yelled, hands, hands, hands, but Linke did not respond to the commands.

Baits fired three shots in rapid succession from his pistol while Linke fired a round from his pistol that went through a window near the stairway.

Linke was struck in the head by the three shots.

Upon approaching Linke, officers found a rifle across his chest, a sawed-off shotgun on the floor near his leg and, when trying to provide Linke medical aid, they found a pistol beneath him.

Officers located a male in the north central bedroom and a female in the bathroom. The female complained of pain in her abdomen. An Illinois State Police trooper who helped the woman discovered she had been shot. Evidence indicates the woman was shot by Linke.

Linke died of his wounds the next day.

According to Costellos report, It was very possible that Aaron Linke was aware the police were heading toward his residence prior to the first knock and announce at the door.

"The residence at 604 N. Cherry St. had multiple surveillance cameras covering all sides of the residence and the area around the house. The interior of the home also contained multiple surveillance cameras. In the northwest bedroom, there were multiple monitors on a desk that were streaming live video from the exterior and interior cameras.

"Video retrieved from the in-house surveillance system showed Aaron Linke was awake and moving about the house shortly before the search warrant was served."

In addition to the pistol, rifle and sawed-off shotgun that Linke had with him, he had a shotgun shell in his hand and a knife in his pocket. There also were two long guns lying on the bed in the northwest bedroom.

The evidence suggests Aaron Linke was prepared for battle, Costello said. Trooper Baits was justified in using deadly force."
Local community colleges kicked off their annual conference on Women in Information Technology with a 15-year-old keynote speaker.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) held their eighth annual Women in IT Conference on Friday, beginning with words from a high school sophomore from Davenport.

Abigail Johnson talked about her emergence at a young age in the technology industry, including her purple ribbon at the State Technology Fair as a fifth-grader and being accepted to one of Harvard University's game-design camps the following summer.

"I never thought I'd be somewhere like this and be able make this much of an impact on people," Johnson said. "Heck, I always looked at the speakers at technology conferences with starry eyes, like they were so cool and 'I wish I could be like them.' I'm so glad to be such a young woman in technology because it's such a wonderful field."

A sophomore at Davenport North High School, Johnson is the CEO and founder of Veterans Tech Support, a nonprofit that provides computers and help using them to local veterans. She hopes inspire others  no matter their age or experience  to find a way to help others.

"If I'm able to do it, I can convey to other people my age, and other women, that anyone can do this," she said. "Anyone can step up; you just need to find a way to help people. I'm just so happy to be here and possibly be able to inspire others to do good."

Johnson launched the Veterans Tech Support in September after winning the 2021-22 Pilot Pen Science FriXion STEM Student Grant from the "Kelly Clarkson Show." She also was one of 10 recent winners in the National Society of High School Scholars' (NSHSS) "Be More-A-Thon," where she had to pitch and present the organization to a panel of judges for a $10,000 grant.

Veterans Tech Support provides monthly classes across three local Legions, each equipped with the needed technology. Classes cover computer basics, Google and email, cybersecurity, smartphones, virtual meetings and photos.

Though it would require more financial and volunteer support, Johnson hopes to bring a Veterans Tech Support location to every state, ultimately.

Aside from being a full-time high school student and CEO, she also is enrolled at EICC and plans to graduate high school with her associate degree. She said her "dream school" was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For more information on Veterans Tech Support, to donate or volunteer, visit https://veteranstechsupport.com.

Event organizer Roberta Osmers, IT department chair at EICC, said this year's conference drew 50 attendees, which matched the highest turnout in 2018.

"We started Women in IT because we wanted the women coming to our program to be able to talk with women who are already working in the field," she said. "This is an opportunity for that interaction, and we've built mentorships out of it.

"There's just something about learning from somebody who looks like you that makes a difference to people."

That's what pushed 34-year-old Alexis Diediker, a second-year cybersecurity student at EICC, to attend.

"I enjoy the industry, and I like meeting other women because I don't think there's enough," she said. "The more people you meet, the more you get to learn and more things you get to do, so it's just cool to kind of meet and have this commonality."

A look at the renovations to Scott Community College
South Dakota Mines will play host to Omnitechs iNSPiRE event from 8 a.m. to 2p.m. on March 24 in the universitys Surbeck Center.

The event gives girls grades 8 to 12 an opportunity to engage in workshops and connect with local professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. iNSPiRE helps young women learn more about the variety of college and career paths available in high-tech industries. Many of the volunteers and student mentors at INSPiRE are South Dakota Mines alumnae who have careers in local high-tech companies.

iNSPiRE has seen fantastic success in Sioux Falls in recent years, and Omnitech decided to expand the event to Rapid City for 2023. Last year more than 100 students from 20 schools attended the event supported by 20 local organizations and 39 volunteers. This years Rapid City event filled to capacity in a short time.

Although a lot of STEM fields are largely dominated by men, it has been our experience that women who choose these careers are very successful," said Joe M. Krizan, Omnitech founder, president and CEO. "We started this event to demonstrate opportunities to girls before they make career decisions and possibly iNSPiRE them to pursue STEM.

Dr. Scyller Borglum, a South Dakota Mines alum who is a leader in the United States energy industry, will offer opening remarks and inspiration. Students will then break into smaller sessions with mentors from various fields.

The keynote speaker at iNSPiRE is Amie Konwinski, the founder and CEO of Smart Gen Society, which is a non-profit focused on informing students, parents and educators around the country about digital safety and awareness. She has spent her career in military leadership, computer engineering, executive marketing management and advocating for safe and private digital use.

Omnitech provides custom software solutions to businesses in South Dakota and surrounding states. Omnitech started in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1998 with a mission to provide a local option for software engineering solutions.

Opening a Rapid City, South Dakota office in 2018 allowed Omnitech to provide full coverage across the state and increased interaction with students from South Dakota Mines. This close relationship with Mines and other state universities has helped them fine-tune a multi-year internship program and foster strong engineering talent in the state.
Start Time: Mar 12, 2020 | End Time: Mar 12, 2020



Flag raising ceremony on the occasion of the 52nd Independence Anniversary and 28th Anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius. The ceremony will be held in presence of the President of the Republic of Mauritius, the Prime Minister, and other eminent ...
Rob Keighron, a local business owner, has announced his intention to run for the Rapid City Common Council Ward 3 seat Jason Salamun will vacate at the end of his term.

Keighron is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Fat Boys, Inc., which controls several local businesses including Firehouse Brewing Company, Wobbly Bobby Pub and Que Pasa Cantina. He's also the founder of a European tour company.

He attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome after getting his bachelor's in New York. Keighron was a Catholic priest until 2014, and co-hosted/co-produced "The Catholic Guy Show" on SiriusXM. The show examined life, theology, and religion from "a comical yet thoughtful viewpoint of the average Catholic guy."

In a press release, Keighron said his experience and faith put him in a unique position to confront a multitude of issues.

After successfully leading multiple businesses and overseeing more than 400 employees, I would like to put my leadership, communication, and negotiation skills to work to continue our citys progress towards a bright future for Rapid City, he said.

Keighron transitioned out of the priesthood and met his wife, Holly Lien, in Rome. They moved to Rapid City  Holly's hometown  with their daughter, Hazel.

He is the second candidate to announce a bid for Salamun's seat; local contractor Chad Lewis is also vying for the Ward 3 spot.

Rapid City's municipal election will take place on Tuesday, June 6.
Kathmandu, Nepal, March 24, 2022: The government has appointed Basanta Bahadur Kunwar as the new Inspector General (IG) of Nepal Police.





A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday appointed Kunwar as the IG of Nepal Police. The government took the decision after IG Dhiraj Pratap Singh retired from the post on Friday.





Kunwar will remain in the post for one year as per the existing act related to the Nepal police.





After being appointed as the new IG of Nepal police, Kunwar vowed to take effective initiatives to improve the conduct and behavior of the police.
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Family members of Irvo Otieno and their lawyers on Tuesday called for mental health reform and steps to be taken to avoid a repeat of what happened to the 28-year-old Henrico County man who died earlier this month in a Central State Hospital intake room.

A mental health crisis should not be a death sentence, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said during a press conference the First Baptist Church of South Richmond. We dont want anybody else in America whose family is dealing with a mental health crisis to be killed by the very people who are supposed to help them.

The comments came after the release of a video from the mental hospital showing Otieno being pinned to the floor prior to his death on March 6. A Dinwiddie County grand jury on Tuesday indicted seven Henrico County deputies and three hospital workers on second-degree murder charges in a case that has garnered national attention.

Crump, who also represented the family of George Floyd, has said Otienos treatment has close parallels with Floyds killing in police custody in Minneapolis in 2020.

It is not lost on anybody who saw that video today, the fact that it was so unnecessary, Crump said Tuesday. Irvo was handcuffed at the wrist, he had leg irons on, he was facedown. Why did they feel it was necessary to put all their weight on him, for some of the officers to put their knee on his neck?

Caleb Kershner, a defense attorney for deputy Randy Boyer, was critical of the video being released and took issue with Dinwiddie County Commonwealths Attorney Ann Baskervill.

Its going to be more difficult to find a jury that has not been tainted or read a particular news story of any sort. So Im disappointed in it, he said earlier Tuesday after the court hearing in Dinwiddie County.

Otienos mother Caroline Ouko on Tuesday called the indicted deputies and hospital employees thugs and monsters.

I was happy to hear that they were indicted, Ouko said. That is just the beginning step.

Attorney Mark Krudys said he was troubled by the individuals who stood by and watched as the officers pushed down on Otieno.

Everybody has an obligation to intervene in that circumstance, to say no, thats not right, Krudys said. But nobody intervened. And then when his body was lifeless, and his pants were dangling on him, they didnt do anything for an appreciable period of time.

Krudys said his team is looking into possible body camera footage from Henrico police regarding a March 3 incident, when Otieno was transported from his Henrico home to Henrico Doctors Hospital.

Ouko said she was excluded in the process of advocating for her son, noting that she made four attempts to see him while he was at Henrico hospital.

In mental health and mental distress, your child needs you, Ouko said. Seeing me could have made have made a big difference.

Instead, Otieno was taken to the Henrico Jail and later to Central State. Krudys said the deputies were not wearing body cameras at either location.

My thoughts on the untimely death of Irvo Otieno: pic.twitter.com/4mGiKiLq7e  Mayor Levar M. Stoney (@LevarStoney) March 21, 2023

Henrico NAACP Vice President Monica Hutchinson during the Tuesday press conference said: Jail is not, nor has it ever been, the best place for those having a mental health crisis. We must eliminate the use of jail as a response to a mental health crisis and mental illness, and instead work to improve access to community-based crisis centers.

Otienos brother Leon Ochieng urged Gov. Glenn Youngkin to make mental health a priority, pointing out Youngkins recent comments calling Otienos death heart-wrenching.

If you really do empathize and feel what we feel, do something, Ochieng said. Let your state be an example  all we need to do is make this an agenda to put pressure on lawmakers to invite our communities to have families who are ambassadors for mental health.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney in a social media post on Tuesday said: "Irvo Otieno should be alive today. His life was taken in a place where he should have been safe. We need accountability and we need more mental health resources."
In December, Richmond removed the last city-owned Confederate statue, at Hermitage Road and West Laburnum Avenue.

Now, a roundabout could take its place.

The City Councils Land-Use, Housing and Transportation Committee met Thursday afternoon to discuss the future of the intersection with the repeal of a 2009 ordinance that prohibits the installation of a roundabout.

Third District council member Ann-Frances Lambert, who represents the residents who live by the intersection, spoke highly in favor of repealing the ordinance, citing that for the city to consider the future of the intersection, it must weigh all its options.

In order for our traffic engineering department to rule out putting a roundabout at that location, we need to repeal this ordinance, Lambert said.

As a result, the committee unanimously voted with little discussion to send the proposed ordinance repeal to the council with a recommendation for approval.

Corner has been contentious

The North Side intersection has continued to spark controversy throughout the years not only because it once housed Confederate Gen. A.P. Hills remains memorialized by a statue, but also because of constant traffic concerns.

Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy, started removing Confederate monuments in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The Hill monument was donated to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. The remains were buried in Hills hometown of Culpeper.

Following the removal of the monument, the city paved the area, created crosswalks and added signage. But residents continued to come forward expressing concerns.

In January, the citys transportation engineering division within the Department of Public Works launched a traffic study at that location to determine how to better address traffic concerns.

According to M. Khara, the Department of Public Works deputy director, the repeal will allow the department to complete its study and evaluate the next steps for the intersection whether that includes a roundabout  or not.

We dont want to be prohibited not to consider all the tools. Lets select what is the best for that particular intersection, Khara said. So without this one, we are not doing justice to the decision-making with the consultant and ourselves.

No one came forward in support or opposition to the proposed repeal.

Conversations regarding the construction of a two-lane roundabout at the site began over a decade ago when, in 2009, a plan to build five citywide roundabouts first came before the council.

While all five of the proposed roundabouts saw some opposition, none faced as much backlash as the Hermitage-Laburnum project with residents arguing it would lead to driver confusion and result in traffic accidents.

The City Council took it a step further with the adoption of an ordinance that prohibits the construction of a roundabout at the site.

Vote scheduled Monday

The citys Planning Department pushed heavily for the roundabout project, arguing it would drastically lower speeds, lead to fewer accidents, and help alleviate traffic back-ups.

One of the big pushes to put a roundabout at the Hermitage-Laburnum intersection was a result of the NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway, which brought and continue to bring an increase in traffic.

Now, 14 years later, the city is reconsidering the idea. The council is set to make a decision as to whether it will repeal the original ordinance during its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday.

If approved, the Department of Public Works will weigh in and present its findings to the council. While final approval will give the city the option to construct a roundabout, it can still decide not to construct one at that site.

Before a final vote, residents will have an opportunity to voice their concerns during the public comment period.

PHOTOS: Crews remove A.P. Hill statue
Attorneys for several of the defendants charged with second-degree murder in the death of Irvo Otieno have begun to offer defenses of their clients in court or public statements. Some have said their clients played only a minor role in holding Otieno to the floor at the state mental hospital where he died earlier this month. One says his client only worked to secure leg irons on Otieno. Another says his client was trying to make sure Otieno could breathe. Attorneys for the family are pushing back against those statements, calling them excuses for excessive force. Ten people have been charged in Otieno's death, and a state police investigation is ongoing.
YOU CANT READ MY TEXTS, read the title of a March 10 newsletter by Brandon Jarvis, who helms the Virginia Scope newsletter.

Jarvis detailed how state Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, had subpoenaed him for alleged text message exchanges between the reporter and Morrisseys estranged wife, Myrna, or members of her family. The subpoena is part of an ongoing custody battle between the state senator and his wife.

Just got a subpoena from Joe Morrissey for all my texts with his wife and her family between Feb. 1 and Feb. 5.  Brandon Jarvis (@Jaaavis) March 9, 2023

Jarvis had reported on the dispute in early He obtained a statement attributed to Myrna Morrisseys family, even as a judge has ordered the senator and his wife not to speak out further on the case. Morrisseys subpoena is an attempt to find out who in the family, or acting as representative of the family, communicated with Jarvis. In a March 9 tweet, Jarvis said he did not have any texts with Morrisseys wife.

A state political reporter, Jarvis is frustrated to find himself tangled up in the senators personal legal battles.

Its annoying that I have to deal with this [expletive] if Im gonna be honest, Jarvis said in a recent phone call with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Morrissey: I thought it was an excellent ruling

After a Thursday virtual hearing in Chesterfield County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, a judge rejected the subpoena.

The judge quashed it yesterday and said [Morrissey] needs to exhaust his other options first before trying to get that information from me, Jarvis said. Its still possible he could subpoena me in the future.

Morrissey reiterated that possibility.

I thought it was an excellent ruling. It made it very clear that [Jarvis] is by no means off the hook at all, Morrissey said in a call Friday.

He added: If my lawyer doesnt get the information through the other parties, then well go back to the judge.

Meanwhile, the question lingers as to what constitutes privileged communication for reporters when they are communicating with sources.

In Jarvis March 10 newsletter, he pondered if his situation could create a slippery slope, and wondered what Morrisseys Democratic colleagues in the legislature think about the matter.

I wonder how they feel about journalists text messages being subpoenaed  seeing as many of them text journalists  myself included, Jarvis wrote. Quite the slippery slope that would create.

Va. one of 9 states without shield laws

Many states provide protections for journalists in their newsgathering process.

Virginia is one of nine states to lack shield laws, which protect reporters, in most instances, from being compelled to testify or disclose sources in court, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Most states have some level of privileges through shield laws.

North Carolina has had its own shield law within state code for more than two decades. Its state code outlines that reporters have qualified privilege. Anyone seeking to compel a journalist to testify or hand over information has to clear several thresholds.

According to the law, those include:

Is the material relevant to the proper administration of the legal proceeding for which the testimony or production is sought?

Can it be obtained from alternate sources?

Is it essential to the maintenance of a claim or defense of the person on whose behalf the testimony or production is sought?

Amanda Martin, a lecturer with Duke Universitys law school, said North Carolinas law has been working as intended.

Martin has represented the North Carolina Press Association and has counseled reporters on how to avoid libel suits, gain access to records and resist subpoenas. She was among advocates to help convince lawmakers that North Carolina needed statutory privileges for journalists.

Since it has been in place, I would say anecdotally, it has worked very well, Martin said. I dont know how many subpoenas I have dealt with; I believe I have had one journalist ordered to testify  and even then, the judge said were opening a window, but its a very small window.

Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, a former journalist, has introduced a couple of bills aimed at establishing shield laws in Virginia. Though they failed to pass the legislature in previous years, she plans to continue working on the matter. With all 140 seats up for election in Virginias General Assembly this year, Roem is among a handful of delegates seeking to be elected to state Senate seats.

Her 2020 bill to protect journalists from being compelled to testify or disclose information became law, but with adjustments. Although she intended House Bill 113 to be a more broad law, it ended up applying to only criminal proceedings.

Lawmakers in the nations capital have considered privileges for journalists as well.

In 2021, Congress worked on the PRESS Act, which would protect reporters from being compelled by the federal government to testify or disclose information, barring exceptions for matters related to preventing terrorism or imminent violence.

It passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September and would need to clear the Senate before the president could consider signing it into law. The Senate version of the bill, which has bipartisan sponsors, was introduced last year, but no recent action has been taken.

Martin commends states that have shield laws and notes the vulnerable cases in federal court.

It would be best if we could also have federal law that would operate to deal with those.

Close 01-29-1970 (cutline): Capitol is focus for women lobbyists' work during session. 01-23-1973 (cutline): Maybe a last look--legislative page David King, 13, looks at model of the State Capitol by Thomas Jefferson which soon may be removed from the building. 02-06-1962 (cutline): Byrd (left) and Del. Pollard view model of Capitol at Commitees' session yesterday. 10-10-1963: Capitol's lunch room. 03-13-1972: Inside of Capitol. 01-13-1962 (cutline): Virginia's Capitol early today, all ready for the Harrison inaguration ceremony. 02-21-1968 (cutline): Sign proclaims 'Fire Lane' along north side of Capitol. Parked cars are almost bumper-to-bumper, but Fire Chief is tolerant. 03-20-1964: Easter Sunrise service at the Virginia State Capitol 03-12-1974:In March 1974 at the state Capitol, Virginia first lady Katherine Godwin (second front right) unveiled a painting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The work, by Jack Clifton of Hampton (front), was presented by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution; it commissioned the painting in cooperation with the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission. Assisting Godwin with the unveiling were state Sen. Edward E. Willey Sr. of Richmond and DAR official Mrs. John S. Biscoe. From the Archives: The Virginia state Capitol building A look back at the Virginia State Capitol building in the 60s and 70s. 01-29-1970 (cutline): Capitol is focus for women lobbyists' work during session. 01-23-1973 (cutline): Maybe a last look--legislative page David King, 13, looks at model of the State Capitol by Thomas Jefferson which soon may be removed from the building. 02-06-1962 (cutline): Byrd (left) and Del. Pollard view model of Capitol at Commitees' session yesterday. 10-10-1963: Capitol's lunch room. 03-13-1972: Inside of Capitol. 01-13-1962 (cutline): Virginia's Capitol early today, all ready for the Harrison inaguration ceremony. 02-21-1968 (cutline): Sign proclaims 'Fire Lane' along north side of Capitol. Parked cars are almost bumper-to-bumper, but Fire Chief is tolerant. 03-20-1964: Easter Sunrise service at the Virginia State Capitol 03-12-1974:In March 1974 at the state Capitol, Virginia first lady Katherine Godwin (second front right) unveiled a painting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The work, by Jack Clifton of Hampton (front), was presented by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution; it commissioned the painting in cooperation with the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission. Assisting Godwin with the unveiling were state Sen. Edward E. Willey Sr. of Richmond and DAR official Mrs. John S. Biscoe.
Stephen Imholt had to laugh when asked how he is going to spend the little money he has been able to raise in an uphill campaign as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic state Senate district.

Imholt, who faces Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, this week in a special election in the 9th Senate District, had raised $580 through the campaign finance reporting deadline on March 20. He said Tuesday that he was up to about $900 for the race against Bagby, who has raised about $212,000.

Im not sure how Im going to spend it, said Imholt, noting that there was not enough time even to order yard signs for his campaign.

To be perfectly honest with you, I dont know... that signs are going to make a difference.

Imholts finance report listed no expenses. Bagby has spent nearly $201,000, much of it on ads and political consulting.

Imholt, a retired IT specialist who lives in Richmond, still has his sense of humor, but remains serious in his purpose in taking on Bagby, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, in the special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by the election last month of Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, to Congress.

There needs to be an option, he said. If theres not an option, the election is kind of a farce.

Theres been a lot of special elections

McClellan was sworn in this month as the successor to the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th. His death on Nov. 28 set off a chain reaction of special elections and party-run primaries. If Bagby wins, another special election would be required to fill his seat as representative of the 74th District in the House of Delegates.

Theres been a lot of special elections, said Bagby, noting his campaign focus on alerting voters to the election this week. I wouldnt say theyre at the point where theyre fatigued, but theyre a little nervous about missing opportunities to vote.

The winner of Tuesdays election will complete the rest of McClellans term in the current district, but the districts boundaries will soon shift.

The election outlook is further confused by political redistricting, which will take part of the 9th District, anchored in Henrico County, to create the 14th Senate District, centered in Richmond.

Bagby already knows he will face at least one opponent for the Democratic nomination in the new district  Richmond minister Katie Gooch  in a party primary on June 20. Two Democrats he defeated last month  Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, and party activist Alexsis Rodgers  have not said whether they intend to run for the seat in the new Senate district.

Were making sure [voters] know which district theyre in, he said.

Imholt has no illusions about what he is up against in the special election this week. A resident of Brookland Park near Community High School on Richmonds North Side, he ran as an independent against McClellan in 2015 in the 71st House District, which McClellan represented until her election to the Senate the next year. McClellan won that election with 88% of the vote, and Republicans did not run a candidate against her in the last 9th Senate District election in 2019.

I do know how its going to go, he said.

Crunching the numbers

But Imholt said too much is at stake, especially for students in public schools, not to offer voters a choice in the special election. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need to address learning loss for students whose education was often reduced to at-home instruction by Zoom.

Lets not kid ourselves: Kids lost ground from where they should be, he said.

Education also is the top issue for Bagby, a former teacher who served on the Henrico School Board.

However, he said, We cant just focus on education. Weve got to look at housing and wraparound [health and human] services. Mental health is big on peoples minds right now.

Bagby, in his eighth year in the House, has plenty of money for the special election campaign. His campaign committee, Friends of Lamont Bagby, gave his Senate campaign $143,292. He got help as well from Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, who gave him $30,000 and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, who donated $1,500.

A member of the House Commerce and Energy Committee, Bagby also received donations from executives and lobbyists at Dominion Energy, the states largest public utility, including $2,500 from CEO Bob Blue.

In contrast, Imholt reported one $500 donation from Kara von Dresner de Rothschild, a Virginia Beach psychologist and Republican activist. He said his wife gave him $50 for the campaign, not including gas money.

You have to have a sense of humor, he said.

From the Archives: Richmond shops and shoppers of the past
Page Content

The island had for a long time remained unknown and uninhabited. It was probably visited by Arab sailors during the Middle Ages, and on maps of about 1500, it is shown by an Arabic name `Dina Arobi'. The Portuguese sailor Domingo Fernandez Pereira was probably the first European to land on the island at around 1511. The island appears with a Portuguese name `Cirne' on early Portuguese maps, probably because of the presence of the Dodo, a flightless bird which was found in great numbers at that time.

It was another Portuguese sailor, Don Pedro Mascarenhas, who gave the name Mascarenes to the group of islands now known as Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion. The Portuguese did not stay long as they were not interested in these islands.

In 1598, a Dutch squadron, under the orders of Admiral Wybrand Van Warwyck, landed at Grand Port and named the island "Mauritius", in honour of Prince Maurice Van Nassau, "Stathouder" of Holland.

However, it was not until 1638 that there was a first attempt of Dutch settlement. It was from here that the famous Dutch navigator Tasman set out to discover the western part of Australia. The first Dutch settlement lasted only twenty years. Several attempts were subsequently made, but the settlements never developed enough to produce dividends and the Dutch finally left Mauritius in 1710. They are remembered for the introduction of sugar-cane, domestic animals and deer.

Abandoned by the Dutch, the island became a French colony when, in September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel landed and took possession of this precious port of call on the route to India. He named the island "Isle de France", but it was only in 1721 that the French started their occupation. However, it was only as from 1735, with the arrival of the most illustrious of French governor, Mahe de La Bourdonnais, that the "Isle de France" started developing effectively.

Mahe de La Bourdonnais established Port Louis as a naval base and a ship-building centre. Under his governorship, numerous buildings were built, a number of which are still standing today - part of Government House, the Chateau de Mon Plaisir at Pamplemousses, the Line Barracks. The island was under the administration of the French East India Company which maintained its presence until 1767.



From that year until 1810, the island was in charge of officials appointed by the French Government, except for a brief period during the French Revolution, when the inhabitants set up a government virtually independent of France.

During the Napoleonic wars, the "Isle de France" had become a base from which French corsairs organised successful raids on British commercial ships. The raids continued until 1810 when a strong British expedition was sent to capture the island. A preliminary attack was foiled at Grand Port in August 1810, but the main attack launched in December of the same year from Rodrigues, which had been captured a year earlier, was successful. The British landed in large numbers in the north of the island and rapidly overpowered the French, who capitulated. By the Treaty of Paris in 1814, the "Isle de France" which regained its former name `Mauritius' was ceded definitely to Great Britain, together with its dependencies which included Rodrigues and the Seychelles. In the act of capitulation, the British guaranteed that they would respect the language, the customs, the laws and the traditions of the inhabitants.

The British administration, which began with Robert Farquhar as governor, was followed by rapid social and economic changes. One of the most important events was the abolition of slavery in 1835. The planters received a compensation of two million pounds sterling for the loss of their slaves which had been imported from Africa and Madagascar during the French occupation.

The abolition of slavery had important repercussions on the socio-economic and demographic fields. The planters turned to India, from where they brought a large number of indentured labourers to work in the sugar cane fields.



The Indian immigrants, who were of both Hindu and Muslim faith, were to change rapidly the fabric of the society. They were later joined by a small number of Chinese traders.

Cultivation of sugar cane was given a boost and the island flourished, especially with the export of sugar to England. Economic progress necessitated the extension and improvement of means of communication and gradually an adequate infrastructure was created.

Constitutional development

On the constitutional plane, the Council of Government which was first established in 1825, was enlarged in 1886 to make room for elected representatives. The new council included 10 members elected on a restricted franchise. It was not until 1933 that the Constitution was again amended in a significant respect. The proportion of nominated members of the Council not holding public office was raised to two-thirds. However, franchise was still restricted to persons within a certain income bracket and to proprietors. A major breakthrough occurred in 1948, when after years of protracted negotiations for a more liberal constitution, franchise was extended to all adults who could pass a simple literacy test.

The Council of Government was replaced by a Legislative Council composed of 19 elected members, 12 members nominated by the Governor and three ex-officio members. General elections were held in August 1948 and the first Legislative Council met on 1st September 1948.

Following constitutional conferences held in London in1955 and 1957, the ministerial system was introduced and general elections were held on 9th March 1959. Voting took place for the first time on the basis of universal adult suffrage and the number of electors rose to 208,684. In 1961, a Constitutional Review Conference was held in London and a programme of further constitutional advance was established. It was followed in 1965 by the last constitutional conference which -paved the way for Mauritius to achieve independence. After general elections in 1967, Mauritius adopted a new constitution and independence was proclaimed on 12 March 1968. Mauritius achieved the status of Republic 24 years later on 12 March 1992.
Jeff E. Schapiro Follow Jeff E. Schapiro 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

In June 2021, vowing to purge wokeness from the classroom, candidate Glenn Youngkin told cheering supporters he would install a new schools chief.

I hope the school superintendent is still there when I take office, so I can escort him to the door, said Youngkin, sans vest in a presumed bow to weather heating up quicker than the Virginia campaign.

In March 2023, his anti-PC crusade defined by multiple embarrassments, the school superintendent that Gov. Glenn Youngkin escorted to the door was the one he appointed 14 months earlier.

Jillian Balow was paid to go away, receiving a golden parachute from the Youngkin administration worth nearly $300,000. The package  first reported by Anna Bryson, education reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch  included $266,213 in payments equivalent to a years salary. The rest was for Balows health insurance and unused vacation.

As separation pay goes  that is, what Virginia ordinarily would give someone after barely a year on the job  this is the mother lode. If email, texts, social media posts and telephone calls are any measure, this payout  or is a payoff?  is a source of concern, confusion and consternation among politicians, bureaucrats and ordinary Virginians.

The reasons for the administrations generosity toward Balow are constitutional, statutory and political, with the first two shaping  and complicating  the third.

Under one section of the Constitution of Virginia, the governor is empowered to appoint  subject to confirmation by the legislature  Cabinet secretaries, agency heads and members of part-time boards and commissions. He also has the authority to fire these appointees or demand their resignations.

And not just because they may have embarrassed the governor by saying or doing something impolitic, unethical or, perhaps, illegal  whats known as cause. He might want to shuffle his staff because of a voluntary departure or policy initiative. Appointees would have to go along  or get out  because they serve at-will, that is, at the governors pleasure.

Another section of the constitution says the governor appoints someone to supervise K-12 education. This is the superintendent of public instruction, the post for which Balow was selected by Youngkin and whose perceived and actual missteps on testing, history standards and funding are forcing a retreat in his war on wokeness.

The constitution also specifies that the superintendent  unlike other appointees  serves a fixed term concurrent with that of the governor: four years. Drafters of the current constitution, enacted in 1971, included a term for the superintendent to shield the office from politics. The term is also specified in statutory law; that is, the Code of Virginia.

The idea: prevent Virginia from reprising an education catastrophe such as Massive Resistance in the late 1950s, when the state closed public schools in defiance of a federal court edict that they desegregate. Many so-called divisive issues tied to desegregation are among those Balow  on Youngkins orders  proposed erasing from the history curriculum.

In Laffaire Balow, these two sections of the constitution collided. It was a matter that busied the governors office, Attorney General Jason Miyares and a Richmond law firm, Christian & Barton, that the state occasionally retains on employment issues. None of them had anything to say on the record.

Though he may have desperately wanted to, given the headaches synonymous with Balow, Youngkin  sweeping appointive powers, notwithstanding  seemingly concluded he could not fire her for cause without risking a very public, potentially lengthy legal battle that could ultimately set limits on gubernatorial authority and expose him to uncomfortable questions about how he does his job. Or doesnt.

It is not clear that Balow was prepared to confront Youngkin in court over the constitutionally defined framework of the superintendency and the accompanying emoluments, most notably the quarter-million-dollar-a-year salary she was guaranteed for carrying out the offices responsibilities.

So, instead of a fight  in which appointive power is tested and Youngkin would have to explain the reason for a dismissal  the administration opted for a corporate solution: a buyout of Balow. Youngkin, no doubt, was behind a few of these during his years in high finance.

And Youngkin may have benefited from one when he jumped or, if you believe the financial press, was shoved from the leadership of the Carlyle Group, the private equity giant.

The settlement with Balow checks many boxes. Constitutional bounds appear to have been respected. Who could argue otherwise, given that Balow resigned  an apparently voluntary action? Cash payments over 24 months would be evidence her property interests  that is, her salary and benefits  are preserved.

Though it should be noted that had Balow completed her term, leaving Richmond at the same time as Youngkin, she would have qualified for far less separation pay. The Workforce Transition Act, a program in response to pricey employee buyouts during Republican George Allens governorship, from 1994 to 1996, restricts separation pay to a maximum of 36 weeks.

The Code of Virginia also governs Balows golden handshake; in particular, public discussion of its terms and whos responsible for approving them.

The settlement says no one  that is, Balow and presumably Youngkin  is supposed to talk about it publicly. The law says, however, that confidentiality  in this instance: a gag order  can only be imposed by a court. Also settlements exceeding $250,000 require approval by the governor. This agreement, just under $299,000, is, instead, signed by Youngkins designee, Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Cole James.

Balows brief, tumultuous tenure as a transplant from Wyoming, a red state and front line in the culture wars, says plenty about Youngkins determination  fueled by his presumed national ambitions  to remake Virginia by restoring some of its old ways, most notably, if only in the classroom, a wariness of minorities. Be they of color, foreign-born, gay or trans.

That Youngkin is reaching to Tennessee, another Republican fever swamp, for Balows successor, Lisa Coons, suggests that the governor has no intention of changing course, even after paying financially and politically for having to escort his superintendent to the door.

From the Archives: Beer in Richmond
Engineering association leaders had two words for the Main Street Station Shed during a stop Friday on their national tour to boost attention to infrastructure projects: wow! and help!

The wow! was from Scott Grayson, CEO of the American Public Works Association, who called the soaring riveted steel roof supports Virginias version of the Eiffel Tower.

The help! came from Linda Bauer Darr, CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies, and Tom Smith, who leads the American Society of Civil Engineers, speaking of a shortage of engineers and how the nation should make it possible for foreign students who study here to work here as engineers.

Everywhere I go, I am hearing the message: We cant hire the people we need, said U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., keynote speaker at the Engineering and Public Works Roadshow stop at Main Street Station.

(The roadshow is a joint effort by the ACEC, the ASCE and the American Public Works Association to celebrate successful infrastructure investment projects. Last November, the group highlighted the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge and the Port of Long Beach.)

Kaine said he believes Congress is beginning to listen more seriously to engineering firms concerns that the nation is missing the talents of American-educated foreign citizen engineers.

Immigration reform has been a tough sell politically, he said, adding that he sees some signs of hope.

Meanwhile, Kaine said he is pushing to make Pell grants accessible for high-quality career training programs.

The roadshow is a national campaign to highlight the way engineers and public works professionals can transform communities.

Last year, the stations train shed rehabilitation project won the APWAs project of the year award.

The public works association cited it for the way it solved transportations toughest issue  the last mile between long-distance travel and getting home. The association also praised the project for improving accessibility for all, as well as for expanding travel and revitalizing Shockoe Bottom.

With Amtrak trains stopping at the station, Richmonds Pulse bus service right outside and the bike path linking Richmond to Jamestown close at hand, Main Street Station has become a true transportation hub, Kaine said.

I can walk from my home here and get a train to [Washington, D.C.s] Union Station and walk to my office, he said.

Richmond acquired the station from the state in 2000, while Kaine was mayor. Doing so was a City Hall goal for years, but was complicated by concerns about how bringing the then-unused facility back to life would affect parking for state employees who had been using the space behind the station.

It was a tough negotiation, Kaine said.

In the end, Kaine worked out a package deal where the city would use mostly state and federal funds to buy the building for $10 million, as part of a plan to build a parking deck for state employees at 14th and Main streets and to locate a new Consolidated Laboratories Building in the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park near the Richmond Coliseum.

A plan for an interpretive center and memorial campus examining Richmonds role in domestic slave trade, by creating a cultural space in the first floor of Main Street Station, got a boost in December with an $11 million grant from the New York-based Mellon Foundation.

23 historic photos of Main Street Station
Foreign Minister addresses firearm trafficking in Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico  Foreign Minister Ebrard has received support from state prosecutors against arms trafficking in Mexico. Ebrard, in collaboration with the Attorney Generals Office and state justice authorities, held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) to address the problem of arms trafficking in Mexico.

The meeting was attended by 19 state prosecutors from across the country who had the opportunity to exchange information and experiences on the fight against illegal firearms trafficking and its negative effects on security in the country.

The need to intensify inter-institutional and international cooperation to effectively combat this scourge that seriously affects Mexican society was highlighted. In addition, the importance of strengthening control and monitoring mechanisms at the countrys borders and ports of entry to prevent firearms, their parts and weapons from entering the country was underscored.

At the end of the meeting, the Secretary of Foreign Relations assured that the correlation between the weapons in each state and the violence in each state was addressed, that is, where you have more arrests of weapons, or apprehensions  rather  linked to weapons , you have more violence.

He said that these meetings will be held bimonthly to report on local and federal progress on the matter.

Ebrard meets with Mexicos prosecutors on arms trafficking into the country. Photo: Secretary of Foreign Relations March 22, 2023.

Likewise, the SRE, through the Legal Consultancy, presented the progress of the litigation that was undertaken by the Government of Mexico against the arms manufacturing companies that facilitate the acquisition of high-capacity firearms that are subsequently trafficked to Mexico and empower members of organized crime.

The foreign minister reiterated that the issue of arms is a priority for Mexico. We continue with the complaint, we have already filed the appeal in the arms demand, we continue, we will soon have the hearing.

With this meeting, Mexican authorities at all levels of government reaffirm their commitment to the safety and well-being of all Mexicans and, in this sense, continue to work closely together to combat firearms trafficking in the country.
Part 2 of a series on the roots of evangelicalism invites us to consider the life and career of one of the evangelical movements great men: John Wesley, whose emphasis on personal conversion and methodical piety has influenced millions around the world. It also led to a fracture within the Church of England.

Our journey through the 18th-century evangelical revival continues in the company of John Wesley (17031791). Wesley was an extraordinary individual. First, he was a systematic organizer, one key reason for his legacy in Methodismas seen most prominently in his forming of bands (34 people) and classes (1012 people) for Christian education. He preached some 40,000 sermons, carefully recorded in his sermon register, and rode some 250,000 miles on horseback proclaiming the gospel in the open air. Wesley, though, was a complex character, so radical and yet so conservative. The same John Wesley who declared his freedom to ordain workers for America also said that he lived and died a member of the Church of Englandand opposed the Patriot cause in the American War for Independence.

John Wesley was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, on June 17, 1703, where his father was the rector. His parents, Samuel and Susannah, were both godly and pious. They were concerned about the spiritual drift of the nation and committed to good works and the care of the people in Samuels small parish of around 1,100 souls. A fire in the Epworth rectory in 1709 completely destroyed the building. It was a miracle that no one died. In fact, the young John Wesley was snatched from the blaze in what was certainly viewed as an act of divine providence. Wesley, in 1753, thinking he was dying, wrote his epitaph: A brand plucked out of the burning, which indeed was engraved on his tombstone nearly 40 years later. The whole picture became one of the building blocks of Methodism.

In 1720, John entered Oxford University. As was common in pre-revival England, ordination was often a rite of passage to a career in the Church, more than a consequence of a lively faith. Wesley, though, was motivated by Christian principles even if he had not yet experienced evangelical conversion. He was ordained a deacon on Sunday, September 19, 1725.

There was an earnestness about Wesley evident even then. Immediately after his ordination, he determined to review his life twice a day. On several occasions he resolved to fast. His reading was spiritual and included Jeremy Taylors Rules for Holy Living and Dying and Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. There was a quest within Wesley, a struggle, and a restlessness. This spiritual desire, even passion, led to the founding of the Holy Club. Wesley, his brother Charles (to whom we owe some of the churchs greatest hymns), and a few others agreed to take Holy Communion every week (this was not the norm at the time), to fast regularly, to follow the festivals of the church, and to visit the prisoners in the jail. They faced much ridicule in the public expressions of their faith, and were jeered, mocked, and spat at as they processed to Holy Communion each week. Wesley noted the various disparaging titles that were used of what he simply referred to as our Company: Sacramentarians, The Godly Club, The Enthusiasts, and of course, Methodists. Wesley and the Holy Club were certainly methodical, disciplined, and systematic in their piety, and so that last name stuck and later was even adopted by Wesley himself.

Wesley remained spiritually uneasy, however. He agreed to travel to Georgia, to establish orphanages and bring Christianity to the colonies. On his voyage in 1736, he met a group of German Moravian Christians, pietists, led by Peter Bohler. Wesley was captivated by the depth of their devotion and insistence that a personal relationship with God was possible. When Wesley returned from Georgia in February of 1738, he sought out a religious society of Moravians that met in London. The scene was now set for Wesleys own conversion experience, which he described in his journal entry for May 21, 1738:

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luthers Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

The elements are all there: reformation, personal piety, the doctrinal and the experiential. Wesleys conversion has functioned as the model for the born again experience ever since, but was neither the first nor by far the only such conversion in the greater evangelical revival.

Evangelist George Whitefield, already converted and preaching in England, heard of Wesleys conversion and wrote asking him, in 1739, to come to Bristol, where he was ministering to the miners in the Kingswood district. Wesley decided to travel after casting lots, a practice Whitefield frowned upon to say the least. On his arrival, Wesley noted this strange way of preaching in the fields (Journal, March 31, 1739). Wesley was a Church of England man, committed to decency and good order. But he was being prepared for a different kind of ministry. On April 1 he wrote in his diary that the Sermon on the Mount was an example of field preaching. The outcome was, by now, probably inevitable. On Monday, May 2, 1739, he wrote that the previous day, at around four in the afternoon, he had proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation to about 3,000 people. When some expressed concern, Wesley replied with one of his most famous quotations, in a letter dated June 11, 1739: I have now no parish of my own, nor probably ever shall.  I look upon all the world as my parish.  This is the work I know God has called me to do, and I am sure that His blessing attends it.

Wesley and Whitefield, whose own renown as a great preacher was growing, especially with the explosions of conversions and renewal known as the First Great Awakening, sought to remain on friendly and supportive terms, yet there was always a tension between them. Wesley was an Arminian and advocated what he called free grace, whereas Whitefield was a Calvinist and became increasingly committed to the idea of the predestination of the elect. Wesley also provoked consternation with his idea of Christian perfectionismthe possibility of a life free from sin in this world. More on that next time.

It was only a matter of time before Wesleys followers would seek separation from the Church of England, which had a tradition of suppressing overly exuberant expressions of faith. So Wesley began considering the future of the Methodist revival movement. In time, he appointed lay preachers, purchased a headquarters (the Foundery), and established what would become the Methodist Conference.

And with Methodism spreading in America, Wesley sought unsuccessfully to persuade the bishop of London to formally ordain workers to meet the growing demand. Francis Asbury, already in America as one of Wesleys lay preachers, reported a lack of ministers and opportunities for the Lords Supper. Wesley concluded that he must act, and did so, in Bristol in 1784. He saw the provision of ministry to souls as a gospel imperative that superseded the demands even of church order. And so he personally ordained three men (Thomas Coke, Richard Whatcoat, and Thomas Vasey) for the work in America. In a letter dated September 10, 1784, he wrote: Here, therefore, my scruples are at an end, and I conceive myself at full liberty, as I violate no order and invade no mans right by appointing and sending labourers into the harvest.

Wesley continued as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. But the die was cast. He was rewriting church order. Eventually, separation of the Methodists from the Church of England was the only way forward. Coke in America was empowered to conduct ordinations himself. This was a step that went considerably further than the itinerancy and field preaching known across England and America. Even more controversially, in 1787, he authorized Sarah Mallet to preach so long as she proclaimed the doctrines and adhered to the disciplines that all Methodist preachers were expected to accept. This was to be the first step in what would become the Wesleyan tradition of ordaining women clergy.

In the same year as the ordinations for America, John Wesley, appointed 100 men to oversee the Methodist societies after his death. The great man died on March 2, 1791, buried beside his Methodist chapel in London. The formal break with the Church of England came four years later.

Within 30 years of Wesleys death, the Methodist Church in America would become the largest Protestant denomination in the country.

Dynamic, controversial, but passionate for the gospel: Give thanks for John Wesley.

Part 1 of this series can be found here.
The Clothesline Project returns to the Virginia Tech campus the week of March 27. Initiated in 1994 by the Montgomery County chapter of the National Organization for Women, the annual event is an effort to raise awareness of gender-based and sexual violence, and its impact on survivors and on society.

The projects hallmark is a display of shirts hung side by side on a clothesline, as though the survivors were standing there themselves, bearing witness to the violence that is committed on a daily basis.

Community members are encouraged to view the display on Tuesday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rain location is Squires Student Center.

More than 630 shirts made by New River Valley residents are currently on the line. Color-coded to represent the many forms that sexual and gender-based violence takes, the shirts demonstrate the pain and suffering of the survivors, aid in their healing process, and celebrate their strength and courage to overcome the past.

The Clothesline Project encourages survivors to come forward to break the silence by creating shirts to share their stories. Anyone who would like to add a shirt to the clothesline can create one at one of several workshops at the Womens Center at Virginia Tech. The workshops will be offered daily: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 27, 28, 29 and 31, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 30. The Womens Center is located at 206 Washington St. in Blacksburg.

Local sponsors of the Clothesline Project include Montgomery County NOW, the United Feminist Movement, the Womens Center at Virginia Tech, and the Womens Resource Center of the New River Valley.

For more information, please contact Susan Anderson at 540-231-8041 or anderson@vt.edu.

- The Roanoke Times
A Roanoke County man who was convicted of running an SUV into his girlfriends uncle last year was sentenced to 15 months in jail Wednesday.

Benjamin Logan Cross, 30, was indicted in June 2022 on seven charges in connection with the collision that killed Frank Albert Campbell, 53, of Roanoke County the previous January: felony first-degree murder, felony hit-and-run, felony unauthorized use of a vehicle, felony abduction, felony child abuse and two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery of a family or household member.

After his arrest Jan. 13, 2022, Cross was granted a $50,000 secured bond March 2, 2022. But according to court documents, he was arrested again July 3 and charged with two misdemeanors: assault and public intoxication.

A witness described Mr. Cross as tweaking or jacked up on something and that he was holding a knife up and advising Ill kill them, Ill kill you, Ill kill everyone, a court document reads. The officers also smelled alcohol but advised they believed he was on a stimulant or other narcotic.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Ashley Sweet said Thursday that the charges from July were handled in General District Court. According to Virginias online court case information system, Cross received a 20-day jail sentence. But a hearing was held in Circuit Court in September, and Sweet said Cross bond related to the hit- and-run incident was revoked.

In December, Cross pleaded guilty to the hit-and-run charge. After hearing evidence for three days, a Roanoke County jury found him not guilty on three other charges: first-degree murder, unauthorized use of a vehicle and child abuse.

During the jury trial, Cross girlfriends mother testified her daughter wanted to retrieve some of her belongings from the home she shared with Cross in the 1400 block of Freeborn Circle in the Mount Pleasant area. But the girlfriend feared for her safety.

On Jan. 12, the mother and daughter called 911 to request an officers assistance in retrieving the wanted items, but the women were told that no officers were available to accommodate their request. Instead, Campbell, the girlfriends uncle and her mothers brother, volunteered to ride along.

At the house on Freeborn, Cross and his girlfriend engaged in a very, very heated argument, the girlfriends mother testified. Then Cross, who was in the drivers seat of an SUV, backed the vehicle off the property, drove down the street to the cul-de-sac and returned part of the way up the street, where he yelled at Campbell, Get the [expletive] out of my yard!

The girlfriends mother testified that Campbell addressed Cross and said, Really, Logan? as he threw his hands into the air and stepped off the lawn and into the street.

The mother said Cross drove the SUV to the stop sign at the end of the street, stopped, turned the vehicle around and punched on the gas [...] as hard as he could, striking Campbell.

Then, the woman testified, Cross drove the SUV back down to the cul-de-sac, where he sat staring for a couple of minutes before he came flying back up the road and left the scene. A child that Cross shared with his girlfriend was in the back seat of the SUV the whole time.

Cross girlfriends mother rushed to Campbell, who couldnt breathe, she testified. He tore my bothers body all to pieces.

Someone called for an ambulance, and Campbell was transported to a hospital. He died the next morning.

On Wednesday, Cross was sentenced for the felony hit-and-run charge to four years of incarceration, suspended after he serves 15 months in jail, according to court documents. Hell be placed on three years of supervised probation once released, and his drivers license will be suspended for 12 months.

Cross is being held at the Western Virginia Regional Jail.
The mayor of Glen Lyn has been indicted on federal charges of allowing town sewage to be dumped into a tributary of the New River.

James Howard Spencer appeared in Roanokes federal court Friday afternoon for an initial appearance on three charges of violating the U.S. Clean Water Act.

Spencer pleaded not guilty, and was allowed to remain free on a personal recognizance bond.

Federal authorities allege that in 2019, 2020 and 2021, Spencer allowed sewage and other pollutants to be released  or directed town employees to discharge them  into the East River, which flows into the New River. Spencer also serves as town manager, his attorney said.

The indictment charges that Spencers actions violated a permit issued to the Giles County town by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Glen Lyn uses a wastewater treatment plant that is jointly owned and operated by the nearby town of Rich Creek. A permit for the plant designates a specific outlet on the New River as the only allowed place for the discharge of treated sewage.

Spencer failed to notify DEQ when Glen Lyns wastewater was released into the East River, the indictment alleges.

Spencers attorneys, Tony Anderson and Brooks Duncan of Roanoke, released the following statement after Fridays brief hearing:

Howard Spencer has tirelessly devoted the majority of his adult life to the citizens of the town of Glen Lyn, serving them in many different capacities, the statement read.

Mr. Spencer looks forward to aggressively defending and responding to the allegations that have been brought against him by the United States government.

Over the past three decades, Spencer has served as town manager, council member and mayor of Glen Lyn, a town of about 100 residents that sits adjacent to the West Virginia line. He has also served on the Giles County Board of Supervisors.

At the request of Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Baudinet, District Judge Thomas Cullen ordered Spencer not to talk to any town officials or employees about the charges while the case is pending, so that no one might feel influenced or pressured about what they say in court.

A May 26 trial date has been set.
A public controversy over a transgender students use of girls restrooms at Glenvar High began on St. Valentines Day. Thats still occurring on social media and seems to be growing.

It all started around lunchtime Feb. 14, when a female sophomore entered a girls bathroom. Heres what she told the Roanoke County School Board during its meeting Feb. 16.

While I was in a stall I noticed someone walked by, slowed down and was attempting to look through the crack in the door. I was finishing up at the time, so I walked out of the stall and noticed it, it was a transgender boy in my school, male to female.

As I walked out of the stall  he walked into the corner and got on his phone. There were multiple empty stalls yet he continued to stand there as I washed and dried my hands. I wasnt sure if he was staring at me or trying to video me but at that point I was uncomfortable with the entire situation. When I walked out of the bathroom he was still there.

The student said similar events had happened to multiple other girls in the bathroom at Glenvar but that they were afraid of making waves. The student said she reported her unease to Glenvars dean of students.

The most that [the dean has] done is given me a key to the private bathrooms, the student continued. After thinking about the situation and talking with my parents, I decided it was best to give  the key back.

If their solution is to help one girl instead of everyone, why should I be that girl? Neither the principal nor assistant principal have reached out to address the situation with me and I do not believe my school will take further action.

The student offered three possible solutions to the school board. The first was for schools to station a female monitor in each girls bathroom to make sure that we are not being harassed, assaulted or recorded.

The second was to give all girls at Glenvar High a key to private bathrooms. The third went further, and seems the most unrealistic.

Simply label the bathroom[s] as Penis and Vagina, the student said. This creates a middle ground for both transgender and cisgender people. It wouldnt matter if you identified as a cat, dog, unicorn, male or female. You would use the bathroom simply based on your anatomy.

She finished: Im a biological female. God made me this way. Why should I have to give up my privacy, safety and dignity to make someone else feel included?

Board members, as they typically do in the public comments section of their meetings, remained silent and stoic.

After the meeting, the girls mother, Heather Teubert, posted a message on social media about her daughters plea to the board. That erupted into a Facebook free-for-all, with dozens of responses and back-and-forths.

A number of those messages were ugly and are unprintable in a family newspaper. Teubert herself called the transgender girl a pervert in at least one post, and also in a later phone conversation with me.

In that, Teubert seemed to characterize her daughter as the victim in this matter. She said her daughter has no rights and that the school did nothing about it.

God forbid, you upset someone thats transgender or gay or lesbian, or whatever, that identifies with anything other than their biological sex, Teubert said, Because then you get in trouble for that. But if you do the same to a biological female, its OK.

The school board heard a somewhat different account at its March 16 meeting, again during public comments.

On that occasion, the bathroom situation at Glenvar arose once more. From what Ive been able to glean, the high school has two transgender students, in a total enrollment of roughly 630.

One speaker was Chad Brown, who said his daughter attends the high school. He asked the board to adopt a policy requiring students use restrooms according to the gender listed on their birth certificates. (Under current Virginia law and a relatively recent federal appeals court ruling from an eastern Virginia school division, that would constitute illegal discrimination.)

The transgender girls mom, Kerry Shepherd, also spoke, to support her daughter and ask for the boards understanding. (The Roanoke Times isnt naming either teenage student, out of sensitivity to each.)

Next, Shepherds daughter stood at the lectern and told board members her side of the story.

I was in the bathroom, the girl said the Feb. 14 incident. I have been struggling to find somewhere to sit during B-day lunches, and have been suffering with an eating disorder. I was in the bathroom skipping lunch, feeling general hate towards my body that day, considering self-induced vomiting, when a girl walked in.

I didnt want anyone else to see me vomit, so I stared in the mirror and stood in the corner. I walked out for a little bit and walked back in. I went straight back to the spot I was at and waited as she walked out, washed her hands and dried them.

That was my perspective of what happened that day.

That wasnt the end, though.

Much later, I heard from a friend about the online frenzy against me. I was told the original claim against me was that I made the student uncomfortable, the girl said.

I would like to tell you what uncomfortable feels like. Uncomfortable feels like being harassed on a day-to-day basis. Uncomfortable feels like developing an eating disorder and feeling the need to hide it. Uncomfortable feels like getting sexually harassed and nothing being done about it.

Uncomfortable feels like getting random panic attacks just from being in the same room as certain people. I would personally love to see how this compares to the students original claim, the girl said.

She added that she struggles daily with mental health issues, and this situation has made it SO much more difficult. I genuinely fear going to school because of the threats being made.

I deserve to learn in a school environment where I feel respected, protected and seen from my full humanity, the girl said.

In between the two meetings, the transgender pupil was bullied in two separate incidents and threatened in the latter. Kerry Shepherd reported those to school administrators on March 1 and March 6, and shared documents reflecting those complaints.

The first involved unkind comments to Shepherds daughter, from other female students, about using the girls bathroom. In the second, some boys followed Shepherds daughter outside to the school bus.

One taunted her, repeatedly called her boy, and demanded she stop using the same bathrooms that his sister used. Otherwise, Ill beat your a, Shepherd reported.

In a phone conversation Wednesday, Teubert told me she called the transgender student a pervert on social media because the student had dated her daughters best friend before undergoing the transition to a girl.

Shepherd said that the relationship Teubert referred to occurred in the fifth grade. That casts the term dated in a far different light.

This week, Shepherd told me her daughter, 16, has been hospitalized multiple times after trying to harm herself. When her daughter initially came out as transgender, I prayed she was gay, because her life would be easier, Shepherd said.

I found those comments heartbreaking, in part because I have a teenage niece whos transgender, and that has provided me a bit more insight into the issue. My niece left both public and private schools because she felt so unsafe in each.

Chuck Lionberger, spokesman for Roanoke County schools, said the school system would not comment on specifics of the situation, because that could violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

We can confirm that the accusation [at the Feb. 16 meeting] was fully investigated by the school and any students or parents who had concerns were able to communicate those concerns with the school principal. The principal communicated directly with both students and families in her investigation, Lionberger wrote in an email.

Roanoke County Public Schools encourages and promotes a climate of respect for all students, including transgender students, and any incidents of bullying or harassment are investigated and addressed appropriately, he added. Our students are human beings that deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by other students as well as adults.

Virginias current policy allows transgender students to use bathrooms in accord with their gender identity. But that was adopted under the previous Gov. Ralph Northams administration. The administration of current Gov. Glenn Youngkin is said to be preparing new guidelines, but those have not yet been issued.

The school board is waiting for the state to issue guidance, said board member Mike Wray. Until then it would be too soon to share any thoughts.

Kerry Shepherd vehemently denies her daughter in any way peeked in the bathroom stall at the other girl on Feb. 14.

Teubert said she is consulting with lawyers, but she declined to name them.

Stay tuned.

Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com. Follow him on Twitter:@dancaseysblog.
While colleges across the country continue examining free expression on campus, university leaders in Southwest Virginia this week said it is important to equip students  and by extension, society  with tools for civil discussion.

At Radford University, work is underway to review the status of free speech on campus, according to an update from president Bret Danilowicz, presented during a university Board of Visitors meeting Friday morning.

At the state level, and really nationwide, theres an ongoing conversation, Danilowicz said. How do universities improve civil discourse on our campus, and freedom of expression?

A Radford task force on civil discourse and freedom of expression launched in October 2022, he said. Recommendations from a task force report will be brought to the board in June.

Im anticipating a draft report from that group in April, Danilowicz said.

He led the university board on Friday afternoon through a case study discussion, using a recent example from another college.

To have civil discourse, you have to understand other peoples perspectives, Danilowicz said. My hope is that we continue to model civil discourse, how differences of opinion can get to talk.

A few miles away at Virginia Tech, President Tim Sands mentioned freedom of expression during a university Board of Visitors meeting in Blacksburg earlier this week. He said every institution is looking at the issue differently.

The biggest challenge that weve got in higher ed right now is the trust of the public, Sands said. Thats a current result of the incredible division in society right now in the United States, but its actually global. And youre all living that. You all know it.

That broader sense of divisiveness is hitting higher education in a different way, Sands said.

In the short haul, the issue is, theres a lot of attention on freedom of expression, freedom of inquiry, and allowing marginalized groups on all sides to have a voice, Sands said. But I think in the long haul, the best thing that Virginia Tech could do to address this problem of the divisiveness in society is really to graduate students that have the tools, and the practice of those tools, of having difficult conversations across differences.

At Virginia Tech this week, Sands and the university board reviewed a statement from a task force on freedom of expression and inquiry. It affirmed the schools commitment to First Amendment rights.

The First Amendment requires the university to protect the expression of ideas and opinions, including those that people may find controversial, disagreeable, or offensive, the statement said. At Virginia Tech, freedom of speech should be exercised in a manner that ensures a learning environment that supports and promotes civil debate and mutual respect across differences.

That task force statement is similar to a separate message from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginias Council of Presidents, which Sands said he is chairing this year.

Having an open mind, listening to people from all different perspectives, not shutting them out, is the best thing that we can learn to do, Sands said. Virginia Tech needs to be on the side of the solution, rather than aggravating problem.

The free expression question carries implications beyond college campuses, said Roanoke College President Frank Shushok, during a phone call Friday.

There are few places in the United States where so many diverse perspectives and backgrounds converge, Shushok said. The way that we facilitate those voices, knowing one another and understanding each other is critically important for the country we all want to have.

Society, like a college campus, is at its best when it is open, innovative and inclusive for all, he said. And campuses act as grounds where people, often young, learn new ways to participate in that broader society.

We have to create the conditions that model what civil, thoughtful, engaged, curious dialogue looks like, Shushok said. If we can do that well on a college campus, then we will prepare people to do that well in the communities that they will eventually call home.

Unlike at Virginia Tech and Radford, there is no task force examining speech and expression at Roanoke College.

We have been explicit about our commitment to free speech, to diverse voices, Shushok said. We have entities that are articulating different perspectives.

As examples, he pointed to the Roanoke College Center for Studying Structures of Race and the Center for Economic Freedom as two campus entities that both amplify important voices, even though those perspectives and backgrounds differ.

All these voices are important, Shushok said. Not only do we allow them, we emphasize the importance of all those voices having a place on a college campus.

Its important to embrace free speech not because thats the politically correct thing to do, he said, but because its important for the kind of society and community that American people should want to live in.

Theres been a critique of higher education on this point of free expression, that perhaps we havent done this very well, Shushok said. Its being received and heard, and I think we all know that its important to figure out how to do this well.
A new partnership between Roanoke College and Virginia Tech will enable more students to pursue graduate educations in computer sciences.

The joint partnership, announced Friday, will allow Roanoke College upperclassmen easy entry into Virginia Tech graduate programs for computer science and computer engineering. Theres also an accelerated offering, enabling students to graduate with bachelors and masters degrees in five years, rather than six.

Those new options fit into a shared statewide goal to increase the number of Virginia college students who graduate to work in sectors of technology, said Roanoke College President Frank Shushok during a phone interview Friday.

We want to knock down barriers for students as theyre transitioning from institutions that offer different strengths, Shushok said. They dont have to jump through a lot of bureaucratic and administrative hoops  it makes it really easy for them.

By waiving application fees and test score requirements for Roanoke College students seeking those Virginia Tech graduate programs, Shushok said he hopes more Roanoke College students will carry on to post-graduate studies, and high-paying tech jobs that come after.

Ive spent a lot of time talking to industry partners and companies and people in the region and across the state, Shushok said. Everyone is talking about the need for jobs in computer science and computer engineering, and all the related technical fields.

In response to those industry demands, students are increasingly choosing Roanoke Colleges undergraduate computer science degree, Shushok said.

Ive just spent a lot of time to get to know TMEIC as a company in the region. Theyre right down the road here from Roanoke College, Shushok said. Theyre an international company thats located right here, that needs students who have high tech capacities, but also wonderful leadership skills. So thats an example.

The agreement between Roanoke College and Virginia Tech came easy for Shushok, who was an administrator at Tech before he was hired last year to head the college in Salem.

It was just easy to make a marriage out of two great partners who are trying to do the same thing in elevating the Commonwealth and students, he said. Ive said from the beginning that Roanoke College wants to be bold, that we want to be innovative, that were committed to partnering with other institutions and entities.

Students who are early to the joint partnership could be among the first to attend Virginia Techs new Innovation Campus in Alexandria, scheduled to open next year.

In the Friday announcement, Innovation Campus Executive Director Lance Collins said he looks forward to the partnership.

The Innovation Campus is dedicated to increasing opportunities for underrepresented students while expanding access to tech talent in the National Capital region, Collins said. We look forward to welcoming Roanoke College graduates to our Master of Engineering program.

Shushok said the partnership with Virginia Tech expands on and is similar to other Roanoke College agreements with Johns Hopkins University for nursing, and with Boston University for public health.

More educational collaborations are on the horizon, and not just from other colleges, but also industries, nonprofits, and whatever other institution is interested, he said.

Were just looking for any partner whos interested in elevating the potential and possibilities for students, making it less difficult for them, and drawing on the strengths of different institutions, Shushok said. Were looking in all directions, with all kinds of institutions.
UAE wants more ties other than economic ones with India, the G20 chair.

The Arab country sees more engagement as a benefit for both G20 members.

India has been a pivot for other Arab nations since assuming the Group of 20 leadership.

India, the G20 Chair, informed the UAE of desiring an expanded interaction ahead of the scheduled summit. The Arab states see this as a major development that will benefit both G20 members.

UAE Makes Overtures to India

Both nations are part of the Group of 20, the largest economy, and the UAE Ambassador to India, Abdulnasser Jamal Al-Shaali, told of this expectation. They signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that came into effect in May of last year, reported Arab News.

The deal signed included conditions like fewer tariffs on 80 percent of the traded goods. Another is zero duty access covering 90 percent of exports from India.

Abdulnasser Jamal Al-Shaali spoke to the outlet on Tuesday, making these statements about the deal. He remarked that progress is continuous, and the moment from it is desirable. Mentioned that a few ministers dropped by to visit every month. Added that trade in non-oil is more than $40 billion with a target of $100 billion up to 2027, cited Live Mint.

He added they have been extending ties with New Delhi in any way they can. Mentioned bilateral and even trilateral relations, venues that can be used for dialogue and discussion. Saying that the United Arab Emirates is active in the Group of 20 have New Delhi as the head.

Scheduled G2O Summit To Be More Inclusive

New Delhi will invite more Middle Eastern nations other than the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the only member of that region, and plans to invite more non-Group of 20 members to attend processes and meetings.

Read Also: G20 Assembly Ends with No Consensus on the Ukraine War

Mentioned as the special guest of New Delhi is the United Arab Emirates, which will participate in the G20 meeting this September, noted Gulf News.

Statement of the Emirates ambassador remarked that more nations from the Middle East getting a chance to join the group would benefit from it. India will reap the windfall of the advantages as a partner of the Middle East. Al-Shaali made it clear that the Group of 20 is a major venue for New Delhi and the Arab World to have more interaction. This benefit will trickle down to G20 members and non-members.

The Abu Dhabi ambassador added that the Indian government assures representation will be different in the Group of 20 meetings. Seen in contrast to what has been seen before New Delhi took the lead. He added the current chair is committed to the Middle East, and it gets support for its G20 presidency.

The success of last year's trade pact with New Delhi and Abu Dhabi in 2022 has been successful for both partners in the deal. Furthermore, Abu Dhabi wants to add people-to-people relations as another goal for their bilateral relationship.

Al-Shaali remarked that it's just the beginning, and focusing on interpersonal ties is a major goal for his country. He added that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was just signed to create a cultural council and a second chapter of the India-UAE business council. All avenues that Abu Dhabi and New Delhi can interact with are getting attention. For the UAE having more interaction with the G20 chair India way ahead of the scheduled summit is a major thrust.

Related Article: India Lauds Saudi Arabia FM Presence, Support in G20 Meetings
BLACKSBURG  The developer of a proposed 176-unit housing development removed a project component that has drawn traffic and safety concerns.

Glade Spring Crossing would now not include a road that would have connected Village Way South to the site of the development. In place of the connector road, the developers plan now calls for a pedestrian and biking trail that would connect Village Way South to a cul-de-sac.

The cul-de-sac would bookend the a street that cuts through the entire development. Plans show that street running all the way to Glade Road, which would be the only existing road connection to the site.

Meredith Jones, vice president of engineering services firm Eden & Associates, said a look at how the planned change would affect the traffic going in and out of the development continues.

We are revising our traffic study to look at the change in traffic, but I anticipate it will be less than we showed for build-out of the development because we are now losing the traffic from Village at Toms Creek through our site, which was a good bit, Jones wrote in an email.

Jones spoke about the project with Blacksburg town officials and council members during a work session this week.

Eden & Associates filed the rezoning application for the site on behalf of developer Cary Hopper.

Glade Sprinf would go on vacant farmland located roughly south of the Village at Toms Creek and west of the U.S. 460 bypass. The sites address is 1006 Glade Road.

For his project to go through as proposed, Hopper is asking the town to move nearly 45 acres of land from a rural residential to a planned residential district. It is not uncommon for developers to seek the planned residential zoning, which provides greater freedom with density.

Under the current zoning, the site would be limited to just over 40 total units, a figure that is far less than what is being proposed by the development. Neighbors have argued that the proposed density is too great and voiced fears about the project negatively impacting the existing neighborhood.

Among the specific fears existing residents have expressed is their neighborhood being used as a quicker cut-through to the bypass or the nearby retail area on University City Boulevard that includes a Kroger grocery store.

The previously proposed connector road raised traffic and safety concerns for many living on Village Way South, including one resident who had previously voiced concerns about the connector impacting his property.

Jones, however, previously said the town required connectivity for the project, specifically at the Village at Toms Creek location. Years ago, during the Villages development, a right-of-way was set aside for connection to the property for Glade Spring, she said.

Jones wrote in an email earlier this year that typically the point of interconnectivity is to reduce vehicle travel miles and get people closer to their destinations by avoiding circuitous routes.

Some Blacksburg Town Council members, including Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith, voiced favor for replacing the connector road with a pedestrian and bike trail. They also voiced support for the path being used for emergency access, another plan with the trail.

Despite some of the concerns that have been voiced, the Glade Spring project is notable for including 24 affordable housing units as part of the plan. Those affordable units would, through the town, receive $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds that need to be spent by 2026.

Additionally, the lots for the affordable units would be part of the New River Home Trust, a partnership-based program that was started to improve local housing affordability in an area thats received scrutiny over the years for its cost of housing.

A trust places a cap on how much a home within the program can appreciate. Instead of relying on typical factors such as sales of similar properties and current market trends, the value is based on income growth in the area.

Of all the homes, 109 of them would be so-called workforce housing units. Jones said that kind of housing operates at a lower price point than the market rate products due to them being smaller units in square footage.

In Blacksburg, this will be available to hit buyer incomes that are the critical workforce in the community: teachers, [Virginia Tech] staff, retail workers, etc., Jones wrote in an email Thursday.

Blacksburg also plans to allocate $800,000 to the developments stormwater management facilities, town officials said.
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

___
The annual migration of Christmas Island red crabs has begun on the Australian island, with roads being closed to vehicles to allow for millio
The recent kidnapping of four Americans in Mexico highlights a common practice for many people in the U.S.: traveling to other countries for medical care that either is not available at home or costs a lot less.

The four were abducted  leading to the deaths of two  during a trip to Mexico that one relative said was for cosmetic surgery.

People leave the U.S. for dental procedures, plastic surgery, cancer treatments and prescription drugs, experts say. Besides Mexico, other common destinations include Canada, India and Thailand.

Here's a closer look at the practice.

MEDICAL TOURISM GROWING

Medical tourism has been growing in popularity for years, according to Lydia Gan, an economist at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke who studies the practice.

This travel is popular with people who have no health insurance or plans that make them pay thousands of dollars before coverage begins.

Big employers also sometimes send people covered by their insurance to other countries for hip or knee replacements or bariatric surgery. Some also send people to Mexico for expensive prescription drugs.

Cost is a huge factor. Care in countries like Mexico can be more than 50% cheaper than it is in the United States, according to Jonathan Edelheit, CEO of the non-profit Medical Tourism Association, an industry trade group.

And cosmetic surgeries, like tummy tucks that cost thousands of dollars, are largely uncovered by U.S. health insurers.

Patients also sometimes travel because they can get quicker access to some care outside the U.S. They also may want to seek treatment from a doctor who speaks their language or comes from the same culture.

MILLIONS OF TRIPS

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says millions of U.S. residents travel abroad for care annually.

Researcher Arturo Bustamante estimates that roughly 400,000 people traveled from the U.S. to Mexico each year for care before COVID-19 hit. The University of California, Los Angeles health policy professor said the number dropped under pandemic stay-at-home orders but then quickly rebounded.

Most of the people visiting Mexico for care are Mexican or Latino immigrants living in the United States, he said.

Non-Latino patients mainly cross the border for dental work, to buy prescription drugs or receive care like plastic surgery or some cancer treatments not covered in the U.S.

WEIGHING RISKS

Patients can take steps to lessen risks of receiving care in another country.

They should heed U.S. government travel alerts about their intended destinations, Edelheit said.

Trip safety also can be enhanced if a medical tourism agent works with the patient, Gan noted. Hospitals or care providers often will have someone pick patients up at the airport and take them to their doctor appointment or hotel.

Patients also should do research on care quality before looking at prices, Edelheit said. They should learn where their potential doctor received training and look for any accreditations or certifications.

"They really need to make sure they are going with the best of the best," he said.

The risk for patients may not end after the procedure. If someone has complications after returning home, it may be hard for their U.S. doctor to learn the details about the care received during a trip.

Patients also may find it difficult to sue their doctor or hospital in Mexico, Bustamante said.

"Navigating the system is usually complicated," he said.

____

Best and worst states for health care Best and worst states for health care The 10 states with the best health care The 10 states with the lowest rank for health care Additional findings: Outcome, cost and access data rankings Depending on state, Americans' cost for care can vary significantly Methodology
Fox News host Tucker Carlson aired newly released footage on his show Monday from the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, that included images of the rioter known as the "QAnon Shaman," as well as of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died following the attack.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy granted Carlson access to more than 40,000 hours of the Capitol security footage from Jan. 6. CNN and other news organizations have also requested access to the security footage. McCarthy's office said it is still working out the process to make the footage "more widely available" but did not comment further.

Capitol Police have continuously warned that release of all security footage from the Capitol could pose a potential security risk for the building. CNN has reached out to Capitol Police for comment.

Carlson, who used the footage in an attempt to downplay the violence and defend the pro-Trump mob, claimed he had Capitol Police review the footage before airing it.

"We do take security seriously, so before airing any of this video we checked first with the Capitol Police," Carlson said. "We're happy to say their reservations were minor and for the most part they were reasonable. In the end, the only change that we made was in blurring the details of a single interior door in the Capitol building."

Multiple sources on Capitol Hill, however, told CNN that Carlson's show provided only one clip to review and not the others.

Here's what was in the footage that aired Monday:

QAnon Shaman's role

Carlson claimed that new Capitol security footage taken on Jan. 6 shows Jacob Chansley, known as the "QAnon Shaman," walking through the Capitol without pushback from police.

In one clip, Chansley is shown with two officers who attempt to open a door near the Senate chamber. In a second clip, Chansley, still flanked by the two original officers, walks between a group of about half a dozen officers and none appear to try to step in.

There is no audio in the videos, and it is not clear whether the officers and Chansley are talking to each other.

In court documents, however, prosecutors say that Capitol Police officers repeatedly tried to engage with Chansley and others in the crowd, asking them to leave.

Prosecutors say that Chansley disobeyed that request and walked to the Senate floor. Video from that day shows officers following Chansley around the building, and an officer walks into the chamber with Chansley and continues to ask rioters to leave.

Additionally, Capitol Police officers have testified at several Jan. 6 trials that after the initial wave of rioters entered the building, they felt outnumbered and were afraid of escalating violence by engaging with the mob. Members of the crowd were therefore able to walk into the building without much, or any, physical resistance, according to the officers.

Chansley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing the Electoral College proceedings on Jan. 6 and was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

Sicknick's death

Carlson aired never-before-seen surveillance footage that he said showed Sicknick, who died one day after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Carlson said he focused on this because Democrats have turned Sicknick into a "prop" and a "martyr" by overstating the links between his death and the insurrection.

Carlson used the new video to try to undermine the known facts surrounding Sicknick's death, and to argue that Jan. 6 was less violent and "deadly" than it has been portrayed.

The video shows Sicknick in the crypt of the Capitol, appearing to give instructions to some of the nearby rioters who are milling around the area, repeatedly waving his arms. Carlson argued that Sicknick looks "healthy and vigorous" in the video, and therefore "it's hard to imagine" that he was severely injured by the rioters or that he died because of the insurrection.

On Jan. 6, Sicknick was attacked with pepper spray and physically fought with members of the mob. An officer testified that she saw Sicknick in significant distress after he was sprayed. He died one day later after suffering a series of strokes. The DC medical examiner ruled that he died of natural causes but said, "all that transpired (on January 6) played a role in his condition."

According to Carlson, the new tape of Sicknick was recorded after he was attacked on the frontlines of the Capitol steps, earlier in the day. CNN does not have access to the footage and cannot verify Carlson's claims, and it's unclear how Fox News determined that it's Sicknick in the video.

The new Sicknick footage does not disprove the medical examiner's conclusion that Jan. 6 influenced Sicknick's death, and it doesn't erase the fact that Trump supporters assaulted Sicknick that day.

Two rioters pleaded guilty to crimes related to the pepper spray attack against Sicknick, though neither were accused of killing him. Julian Khater, who deployed the spray, is currently serving a six-year prison term. His friend George Tanios spent five months in jail and has been released.

Sicknick's mother, Gladys Sicknick, previously blamed Trump supporters for his death. In a statement Monday, after Carlson's show, the Sicknick family blasted Fox News and argued that the footage shows how he was able to valiantly "resume his duties" after being attacked by the mob.

"Every time the pain of that day seems to have ebbed a bit, organizations like Fox rip our wounds wide open again, and we are frankly sick of it," the Sicknick family said in the statement.

Here's the status of DOJ prosecutions

According to statistics released by the Justice Department earlier Monday, more than 999 people are facing federal or local charges related to the January 6 attack, 326 of whom have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees.

According to the department, 140 officers were assaulted at the Capitol that day, including 60 Metropolitan Police officers and 80 Capitol police officers.

And 518 of those charged have pleaded guilty to various charges related to that day, including 60 defendants who have pleaded guilty to federal charges of assaulting officers.

___

Photos: Scenes from the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot
WASHINGTON (AP)  It's a major international mystery with global consequences: Who was behind the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year in the Baltic Sea?

The answer has broad implications for European energy security but could also threaten Western unity over backing Ukraine in defending itself from Russia's invasion. Or, it might shatter Russian and Chinese attempts to fix the blame on a hypocritical West.

Yet, nearly six months after the sabotage on the Russia-to-Germany pipelines, there is no accepted explanation. And a series of unconfirmed reports variously accusing Russia, the United States and Ukraine are filling an information vacuum as investigations into the blasts continue.

A look at the pipelines and what's known about the explosions.

WHAT ARE THE NORD STREAM PIPELINES?

The pipelines, known as Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, are majority-owned by Russia's state-run energy giant Gazprom and used to transport natural gas from Russia to Europe under the Baltic to their termini in Germany.

Nord Stream 1 was completed and came online in 2011. Nord Stream 2 was not finished until the fall of 2021 but never became operational due to the launch of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

WHY ARE THEY CONTROVERSIAL?

Both pipelines bypass existing routes that go through Ukraine, meaning not only that Ukraine loses income from transit fees but is unable to directly use the gas they carry.

Of perhaps greater concern to the West, the pipelines were seen as a move by Russia to gain further, if not almost complete, control over Europe's energy supplies. Many in the West fear that Russia will use energy as a political weapon against European countries as it has done in the past with former Soviet states.

Despite those concerns and over the objections of the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, the German government under former Chancellor Angela Merkel moved ahead with the construction of the Nord Stream 2 project. The Biden administration waived sanctions against German entities involved in Nord Stream 2 after securing a pledge from Germany that it would allow backflows of gas into Ukraine and would act to shut the pipeline down should Russia try to use it to force political concessions.

After Russia's Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine, Germany withdrew permission for Nord Stream 2, which had not yet come online.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PIPELINES?

First, Gazprom halted gas flows through Nord Stream 1 on Sept. 2, 2022, citing issues related to European sanctions imposed against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Three weeks later, both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were hit by explosions that rendered them inoperable and caused significant leaks of gas that was idle in the pipelines. Some have said the blasts caused the worst release of methane in history, although the full extent of the environmental damage remains unclear.

The depth of the pipeline and the complexity of using underwater explosives lent credence to the idea that only a state actor with the expertise to handle such an operation could be responsible. But no one claimed responsibility.

In the immediate aftermath of the explosions, U.S. officials suggested Russia may have been to blame while Russia accused the United States and Britain of being behind them. Investigations by European nations, including Denmark, through whose waters the pipeline travels, and Germany have yet to yield conclusive results.

WHAT THEORIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED?

After months of few developments in the probes, American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, known for past exposes of U.S. government malfeasance, self-published a lengthy report in February alleging that President Joe Biden had ordered the sabotage, which Hersh said was carried out by the CIA with Norwegian assistance.

That report, based on a single, unidentified source, has been flatly denied by the White House, the CIA and the State Department, and no other news organization has been able to corroborate it. Russia, followed by China, however, leaped on Hersh's reporting, saying it was grounds for a new and impartial investigation conducted by the United Nations.

On Tuesday, though, The New York Times, The Washington Post and German media published stories citing U.S. and other officials as saying there was evidence Ukraine, or at least Ukrainians, may have been responsible. The Ukrainian government has denied involvement.

Germany's Die Zeit newspaper and German public broadcasters ARD and SWR reported that investigators believed that five men and a woman used a yacht hired by a Ukrainian-owned company in Poland to carry out the attack. German federal prosecutors confirmed that a boat was searched in January but have not confirmed the reported findings.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE FOUND RESPONSIBLE?

The implications of a determination that Ukraine was behind the explosions are not entirely clear. It's unlikely it would result in an immediate loss of Western support for Ukraine in the war with Russia, but it might dampen enthusiasm for future assistance if it was found that Ukraine or its agents carried out such an operation in European waters.

A determination that the United States or a proxy was responsible would give Russia and China additional leverage to go after the U.S. and its allies as hypocrites in their demands for the rule of the law, sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected.

A finding that Russia was behind the explosions would lend weight to Western claims that Moscow is in flagrant breach of international law and willing to use energy as a weapon against Europe.

There is no indication of when the European investigations will be complete  and it seems improbable, given the animosity and mistrust surrounding the Ukraine conflict, that its findings will be universally accepted.

___

Photos: In Ukraine, searing images capture a year of war
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  How do people raised with a sense of right and wrong end up involved in terrible acts of violence against others?

That's the human mystery at the heart of 2,000 intercepted phone calls from Russian soldiers in Ukraine. These calls obtained by The Associated Press offer an intimate new perspective on Russian President Vladimir Putin's year-old war, seen through the eyes of Russian soldiers themselves.

The AP identified calls made in March 2022 by soldiers in a military division that Ukrainian prosecutors say committed war crimes in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv that became an early symbol of Russian atrocities.

They show how deeply unprepared young soldiers  and their country  were for the war to come. Many joined the military because they needed money and were informed of their deployment at the last minute. They were told they'd be welcomed as heroes for liberating Ukraine from its Nazi oppressors and their Western backers, and that Kyiv would fall without bloodshed within a week.

The intercepts show that as soldiers realized how much they'd been misled, they grew more and more afraid. Violence that once would have been unthinkable became normal. Looting and drinking offered moments of rare reprieve. Some said they were following orders to kill civilians or prisoners of war.

They tell their mothers what this war actually looks like: About the teenage Ukrainian boy who got his ears cut off. How the scariest sound is not the whistle of a rocket flying past, but the silence that means it's coming directly for you. How modern weapons can obliterate the human body so there's nothing left to bring home.

We listen as their mothers struggle to reconcile their pride and their horror, and as their wives and fathers beg them not to drink too much and to please, please call home.

These are the stories of three of those men  Ivan, Leonid and Maxim. The AP isn't using their full names to protect their families in Russia. The AP established that they were in areas when atrocities were committed, but has no evidence of their individual actions beyond what they confess.

The AP spoke with the mothers of Ivan and Leonid, but couldn't reach Maxim or his family. The AP verified these calls with the help of the Dossier Center, an investigative group in London funded by Russian dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The conversations have been edited for length and clarity.

Warning: The conversations contain vulgar language and graphic details.

In a joint production on Saturday, Feb. 25, The Associated Press and Reveal at the Center for Investigative Reporting will broadcast never-before-heard audio of Russian soldiers as they confront  and perpetrate  the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine.

***

LEONID

Leonid became a soldier because he needed money. He was in debt and didn't want to depend on his parents.

"I just wasn't prepared emotionally for my child to go to war at the age of 19," his mother told the AP in January. "None of us had experienced anything like this, that your child would live in a time when he has to go and fight."

Leonid's mother said Russia needs to protect itself from its enemies. But, like many others, she expected Russia to take parts of eastern Ukraine quickly. Instead, Leonid's unit got stuck around Bucha.

"No one thought it would be so terrible," his mother said. "My son just said one thing: 'My conscience is clear. They opened fire first.' That's all."

In the calls, there is an obvious moral dissonance between the way Leonid's mother raised him and what he is seeing and doing in Ukraine. Still, she defended her son, insisting he never even came into contact with civilians in Ukraine.

She said everything was calm, civil. There was no trouble at the checkpoints. Nothing bad happened. The war didn't change her son.

She declined to listen to any of the intercepts: "This is absurd," she said. "Just don't try to make it look like my child killed innocent people."

***

ONE: Kill if you don't want to be killed.

Leonid's introduction to war came on Feb. 24, as his unit crossed into Ukraine from Belarus and decimated a detachment of Ukrainians at the border. After his first fight, Leonid seems to have compassion for the young Ukrainian soldiers they'd just killed.

Mother: "When did you get scared?"

Leonid: "When our commander warned us we would be shot, 100%. He warned us that although we'd be bombed and shot at, our aim was to get through."

Mother: "Did they shoot you?"

Leonid: "Of course. We defeated them."

Mother: "Mhm. Did you shoot from your tanks?"

Leonid: "Yeah, we did. We shot from the tanks, machine guns and rifles. We had no losses. We destroyed their four tanks. There were dead bodies lying around and burning. So, we won."

Mother: "Oh what a nightmare! Lyonka, you wanted to live at that moment, right honey?"

Leonid: "More than ever!"

Mother: "More than ever, right honey?"

Leonid: "Of course."

Mother: "It's totally horrible."

Leonid: "They were lying there, just 18 or 19 years old. Am I different from them? No, I'm not."

***

TWO: The rules of normal life no longer apply.

Leonid tells his mother their plan was to seize Kyiv within a week, without firing a single bullet. Instead, his unit started taking fire near Chernobyl. They had no maps and the Ukrainians had taken down all the road signs.

"It was so confusing," he says. "They were well prepared."

Not expecting a prolonged attack, Russian soldiers ran short on basic supplies. One way for them to get what they needed  or wanted  was to steal.

Many soldiers, including Leonid, talk about money with the wary precision that comes from not having enough. Some take orders from friends and family for certain-sized shoes and parts for specific cars, proud to go home with something to give.

When Leonid tells his mother casually about looting, at first she can't believe he's stealing. But it's become normal for him.

As he speaks, he watches a town burn on the horizon.

"Such a beauty," he says.

Leonid: "Look, mom, I'm looking at tons of houses  I don't know, dozens, hundreds  and they're all empty. Everyone ran away."

Mother: "So all the people left, right? You guys aren't looting them, are you? You're not going into other people's houses?"

Leonid: "Of course we are, mom. Are you crazy?"

Mother: "Oh, you are. What do you take from there?"

Leonid: "We take food, bed linen, pillows. Blankets, forks, spoons, pans."

Mother: (laughing) "You gotta be kidding me."

Leonid: "Whoever doesn't have any  socks, clean underwear, T-shirts, sweaters."

***

THREE: The enemy is everybody.

Leonid tells his mother about the terror of going on patrol and not knowing what or who they will encounter. He describes using lethal force at the slightest provocation against just about anyone.

At first, she seems not to believe that Russian soldiers could be killing civilians.

Leonid tells her that civilians were told to flee or shelter in basements, so anyone who was outside must not be a real civilian. Russian soldiers had been told, by Putin and others, that they'd be greeted as liberators and anyone who resisted was a fascist, an insurgent  not a real civilian.

This was a whole-of-society war. Mercy was for suckers.

Mother: "Oh Lyonka, you've seen so much stuff there!"

Leonid: "Well ... civilians are lying around right on the street with their brains coming out."

Mother: "Oh God, you mean the locals?"

Leonid: "Yep. Well, like, yeah."

Mother: "Are they the ones you guys shot or the ones ... "

Leonid: "The ones killed by our army."

Mother: "Lyonya, they might just be peaceful people."

Leonid: "Mom, there was a battle. And a guy would just pop up, you know? Maybe he would pull out a grenade launcher ... Or we had a case, a young guy was stopped, they took his cellphone. He had all this information about us in his Telegram messages  where to bomb, how many we were, how many tanks we have. And that's it."

Mother: "So they knew everything?"

Leonid: "He was shot right there on the spot."

Mother: "Mhm."

Leonid: "He was 17 years old. And that's it, right there."

Mother: "Mhm."

Leonid: "There was a prisoner. It was an 18-year-old guy. First, he was shot in his leg. Then his ears were cut off. After that, he admitted everything, and they killed him."

Mother: "Did he admit it?"

Leonid: "We don't imprison them. I mean, we kill them all."

Mother: "Mhm."

***

FOUR: What it takes to get home alive.

Leonid tells his mother he was nearly killed five times. Things are so disorganized, he says, that it's not uncommon for Russians to fire on their own troops  it even happened to him. Some soldiers shoot themselves just to get medical leave, he says.

In another call, he tells his girlfriend he's envious of his buddies who got shot in the feet and could go home. "A bullet in your foot is like four months at home with crutches," he says. "It would be awesome."

Then he hangs up because of incoming fire.

Mother: "Hello, Lyonechka."

Leonid: "I just wanted to call you again. I am able to speak."

Mother: "Oh, that's good."

Leonid: "There are people out here who shoot themselves."

Mother: "Mhm."

Leonid: "They do it for the insurance money. You know where they shoot themselves?"

Mother: "That's silly, Lyonya."

Leonid: "The bottom part of the left thigh."

Mother: "It's bull, Lyonya. They're crazy, you know that, right?"

Leonid: "Some people are so scared that they are ready to harm themselves just to leave."

Mother: "Yeah, it is fear, what can you say here, it's human fear. Everybody wants to live. I don't argue with that, but please don't do that. We all pray for you. You should cross yourself any chance you get, just turn away from everyone and do it. We all pray for you. We're all worried."

Leonid: "I'm standing here, and you know what the situation is? I am now 30 meters (100 feet) away from a huge cemetery." (giggling)

Mother: "Oh, that's horrible ... may it be over soon."

Leonid says he had to learn to empty his mind.

"Imagine, it's nighttime. You're sitting in the dark and it's quiet out there. Alone with your thoughts. And day after day, you sit there alone with those thoughts," he tells his girlfriend. "I already learned to think of nothing while sitting outside."

He promises to bring home a collection of bullets for the kids. "Trophies from Ukraine," he calls them.

His mother says she's waiting for him.

"Of course I'll come, why wouldn't I?" Leonid says.

"Of course, you'll come," his mother says. "No doubts. You're my beloved. Of course, you'll come. You are my happiness."

Leonid returned to Russia in May, badly wounded, but alive. He told his mother Russia would win this war.

***

IVAN

Ivan dreamed of being a paratrooper from the time he was a boy, growing up in a village at the edge of Siberia. He used to dress up in fatigues and play paintball with friends in the woods. A photo shows him at 12 years old, smiling with a big Airsoft rifle and a slimy splotch of green near his heart  a sign of certain death in paintball.

Ivan's dream came true. He entered an elite unit of Russian paratroopers, which crossed into Ukraine the very first day of Putin's Feb. 24 invasion, one year ago.

***

ONE: Ivan's road to war.

Ivan was in Belarus on training when they got a Telegram message: "Tomorrow you are leaving for Ukraine. There is a genocide of the Russian population. And we have to stop it."

When his mother found out he was in Ukraine, she said she stopped speaking for days and took sedatives. Her hair went gray. Still, she was proud of him.

Ivan ended up in Bucha.

Ivan: "Mom, hi."

Mother: "Hi, son! How "

Ivan: "How are you?"

Mother: "Vanya, I understand they might be listening so I'm afraid "

Ivan: "Doesn't matter."

Mother: " to ask where you are, what's happening. Where are you?"

Ivan: "In Bucha."

Mother: "In Bucha?"

Ivan: "In Bucha."

Mother: "Son, be as careful as you can, OK? Don't go charging around! Always keep a cool head."

Ivan: "Oh, come on, I'm not charging around."

Mother: "Yeah, right! And yesterday you told me how you're gonna f kill everyone out there." (laughs)

Ivan: "We will kill if we have to."

Mother: "Huh?"

Ivan: "If we have to  we have to."

Mother: "I understand you. I'm so proud of you, my son! I don't even know how to put it. I love you so much. And I bless you for everything, everything! I wish you success in everything. And I'll wait for you no matter what."

***

TWO: Love and fear.

Russian soldiers had been told by Putin and others that they'd be welcomed by their brothers and sisters in Ukraine as liberators. Instead, Ivan finds that most Ukrainians want him dead or gone. His mood darkens.

He calls his girlfriend, Olya, and tells her he had a dream about her.

Ivan: "F-, you know, it's driving me crazy here. It's just that ... You were just  I felt you, touched you with my hand. I don't understand how it's possible, why, where  But I really felt you. I don't know, I felt something warm, something dear. It's like something was on fire in my hands, so warm  And that's it. I don't know. I was sleeping and then I woke up with all these thoughts. War  You know, when you're sleeping  and then you're like  War  Where, where is it? It was just dark in the house, so dark. And I went outside, walked around the streets, and thought: damn, f- it. And that's it. I really want to come see you."

Olya: "I am waiting for you."

Ivan: "Waiting? OK. I'm waiting, too. Waiting for the time I can come see you ... Let's make a deal. When we see each other, let's spend the entire day together. Laying around, sitting together, eating, looking at each other  just us, together."

Olya: (Laughs) "Agreed."

Ivan: "Together all the time. Hugging, cuddling, kissing  Together all the time, not letting each other go."

Olya: "Well, yeah!"

Ivan: "You can go f crazy here. It's so f- up, the s- that's happening. I really thought it would be easy here, to tell you the truth. That it's just gonna be easy to talk, think about it. But it turned out to be hard, you need to think with your head all the time. So that's that."

Ivan: "We are really at the front line. As far out as you could be. Kyiv is 15 kilometers (about 10 miles) from us. It is scary, Olya. It really is scary."

Olya: "Hello?"

Ivan: "Do you hear me?"

The line drops.

***

THREE: The end.

As things get worse for Ivan in Ukraine, his mother's patriotism deepens and her rage grows. The family has relatives in Kyiv, but seems to believe this is a righteous war against Nazi oppression in Ukraine  and the dark hand of the United States they see behind Kyiv's tough resistance. She says she'll go to Ukraine herself to fight.

Mother: "Do you have any predictions about the end ...?"

Ivan: "We are here for the time being. We'll probably stay until they clean up the whole of Ukraine. Maybe they'll pull us out. Maybe not. We're going for Kyiv."

Mother: "What are they going to do?"

Ivan: "We're not going anywhere until they clean up all of these pests."

Mother: "Are those bastards getting cleaned up?"

Ivan: "Yes, they are. But they've been waiting for us and preparing, you understand? Preparing properly. American motherf have been helping them out."

Mother: "F f. F kill them all. You have my blessing."

Death came for Ivan a decade after that boyhood paintball game.

In July, a local paper published a notice of his funeral with a photo of him, again in fatigues holding a large rifle. Ivan died heroically in Russia's "special military operation," the announcement said. We will never forget you. All of Russia shares this grief.

Reached by the AP in January, Ivan's mother at first denied she'd ever talked with her son from the front. But she agreed to listen to some of the intercepted audio and confirmed it was her speaking with Ivan.

"He wasn't involved in murders, let alone in looting," she told the AP before hanging up the phone.

Ivan was her only son.

***

MAXIM

Maxim is drunk in some of the calls, slurring his words, because life at the front line is more than he can take sober.

It's not clear what military unit Maxim is in, but he makes calls from the same phone as Ivan, on the same days.

He says they're alone out there and exposed. Communications are so bad they're taking more fire from their own troops than from the Ukrainians.

He has a bad toothache and his feet are freezing. The hunt for locals  men, women and children who might be informing on them to the Ukrainian military is constant.

Maxim's mood flips between boredom and horror  not just at what he has seen, but also what he has done.

***

ONE: Gold!

The only reason Maxim is able to speak with his family back in Russia is because they've been stealing phones from locals. He says they're even shaking down kids.

"We take everything from them," he explains to his wife. "Because they can also be f spotters."

Stuck just outside Kyiv, bored and unsure why they're in Ukraine in the first place, Maxim and a half-dozen other guys shot up a shopping mall and made off with all the gold they could carry.

Back home Maxim has money troubles, but here his hands are heavy with treasure. He gleefully calculates and recalculates what his pile of gold might be worth.He says he offered a wad of money the size of his fist to Ukrainian women and children.

"I wanted to give it to normal families with kids, but the people out there were drunks," he tells his wife.

In the end, he handed the cash off to a random, cleanshaven man he thought looked decent. "I told him: 'Look here, take it, give it to families with kids and take something for yourself. You'll figure it out, make it fair.'"

On calls home, the high sweet voice of Maxim's own young child bubbles in the background as he talks with his wife.

Maxim: "Do you know how much a gram of gold costs here?"

Wife: "No."

Maxim: "Roughly? About two or three thousand rubles, right?"

Wife: "Well, yeah "

Maxim: "Well, I have 1 kilograms (more than three pounds). With labels even."

Wife: "Holy f-, are we looters?!"

Maxim: "With labels, yeah. It's just that we f- up this  We were shooting at this shopping mall from a tank. Then we go in, and there's a f jewelry store. Everything was taken. But there was a safe there. We cracked it open, and inside  f- me! So the seven of us loaded up."

Wife: "I see."

Maxim: "They had these f necklaces, you know. In our money, they're like 30-40,000 a piece, 60,000 a piece."

Wife: "Holy crap."

Maxim: "I scored about a kilo and a half of necklaces, charms, bracelets ... these  earrings ... earrings with rings "

Wife: "That's enough, don't tell me."

Maxim: "Anyway, I counted and if it's 3,000 rubles a gram, then I have about 3.5 million. If you offload it."

Wife: "Got it. How's the situation there?"

Maxim: "It's f OK."

Wife: "OK? Got it."

Maxim: "We don't have a f thing to do, so we go around and loot the f shopping mall."

Wife: "Just be careful, in the name of Christ."

***

TWO: Propaganda.

Maxim and his mother discuss the opposing stories about the war being told on Ukrainian and Russian television. They blame the United States and recite conspiracy theories pushed by Russian state media.

But Maxim and his mother believe it's the Ukrainians who are deluded by fake news and propaganda, not them. The best way to end the war, his mother says, is to kill the presidents of Ukraine and the United States.

Later, Maxim tells his mother that thousands of Russian troops died in the first weeks of war  so many that there's no time to do anything except haul away the bodies. That's not what they're saying on Russian TV, his mother says.

Maxim: "Here, it's all American. All the weapons."

Mother: "It's the Americans driving this, of course! Look at their laboratories. They are developing biological weapons. Coronavirus literally started there."

Maxim: "Yeah, I also saw somewhere that they used bats."

Mother: "All of it. Bats, migrating birds, and even coronavirus might be their biological weapon."

Mother: "They even found all these papers with signatures from the U.S. all over Ukraine. Biden's son is the mastermind behind all of this."

Mother: "When will it end? When they stop supplying weapons."

Maxim: "Mhm."

Mother: "Until they catch (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy and execute him, nothing will end. He's a fool, a fool! He's a puppet for the U.S. and they really don't need him, the fool. You watch TV and you feel bad for the people, the civilians, some travelling with young kids."

Mother: "If I was given a gun, I'd go and shoot Biden." (Laughs)

Maxim: (Laughs)

***

THREE: War and peace.

The Ukrainian government has been intercepting Russian calls when their phones ping Ukrainian cell towers, providing important real-time intelligence for the military. Now, the calls are also potential evidence for war crimes.

But phones have been dangerous for the soldiers in another, more personal sense. The phone acts as a real-time bridge between two incompatible realities  the war in Ukraine and home.

In Maxim's calls with his wife, war and peace collide. Even as she teaches their daughter the rules of society  scolding the child for throwing things, for example  Maxim talks about what he's been stealing. His wife's world is filled with school crafts and the sounds of children playing outside. In his, volleys of gunfire crack the air.

One night last March, Maxim was having trouble keeping it together on a call with his wife. He'd been drinking, as he did every night.

He told her he'd killed civilians  so many he thinks he's going crazy. He said he might not make it home alive. He was just sitting there, drunk in the dark, waiting for the Ukrainian artillery strikes to start.

Wife: "Why? Why are you drinking?"

Maxim: "Everyone is like that here. It's impossible without it here."

Wife: "How the f- will you protect yourself if you are tipsy?"

Maxim: "Totally normal. On the contrary, it's easier to shoot ... civilians. Let's not talk about this. I'll come back and tell you how it is here and why we drink!"

Wife: "Please, just be careful!"

Maxim: "Everything will be fine. Honestly, I'm scared s-less myself. I never saw such hell as here. I am f shocked."

Wife: "Why the f- did you go there?"

Minutes later, he's on the phone with his child.

"You're coming back?" the child asks.

"Of course," Maxim says.

***

FOUR: The end?

In their last intercepted call, Maxim's wife seems to have a premonition.

Wife: "Is everything all right?"

Maxim: "Yeah. Why?"

Wife: "Be honest with me, is everything all right?"

Maxim: "Huh? Why do you ask?"

Wife: "It's nothing, I just can't sleep at night."

Maxim is a little breathless. He and his unit are getting ready to go. His wife asks him where they're going.

"Forward," he tells her. "I won't be able to call for a while."

***

Photos: In Ukraine, searing images capture a year of war
Worldwide, thousands of bamboo bikes sell annually. Calfee  whose company builds both top-tier custom bikes as well as DIY kits  says that the aesthetic aspect of bamboo as well as curiosity about its performance are definitely purchasing factors, but that a desire to invest in a bike with ecological credentials is also a big draw.

"The DIY kits make it easy for people with carpentry skills to make a bike frame. For those with little experience making things from wood, there will be a learning curve. And the finishing work takes time to make it beautiful. If one has access to certain power tools, it goes faster. So, if you enjoy making things, the DIY kit is a bargain. Our newest kit is designed for making a lot of bikes so it's great for classes and groups to share in the expense," says Calfee. "The Calfee bamboo frames are made to order and are fairly expensive. The African-made bamboo bikes are quite a bit less expensive and we have some of those preassembled and in stock.

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"One of the most interesting aspects not already mentioned comes from owners. They report that the bike seems to put them in a better mood. I assume that is related to the vibration damping, but it could also be the bike's ability to connect the rider to nature, which is a primitive human instinct," Calfee muses. "There are no barriers to understanding the structure. Where other bikes require a technical understanding of metallurgy or composites to fully understand it, bamboo just grows out of the ground."

Bamboo bikes meld technology and nature in a very immediate and sustainable way, making them viable as a means of transportation in countries that lack fuel and basic infrastructure, such as roads. Over the past 15 years Calfee has made some 20 trips to Africa where he's taught bicycle frame construction in the Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Uganda and Zambia, helping many businesses get up and running.

"One of the things that struck me early on with the bamboo bikes was that anyone could build one pretty much anywhere. Electricity is not required. The fixture for holding the bamboo in place while the tacking glue cures can be very simple or more industrial. That allows it to be a shade tree business in a developing country or a factory production  and everything in between," notes Calfee.

"It allows the business to grow organically, without huge up-front investments," Calfee says. "We've helped launch 10 small businesses in Africa and another 10 or so have been started by others by just copying the idea. A few have grown and prospered, exporting to Europe and North America. Others remain small shops making custom bikes for local use."

Calfee's hope for the future of bamboo bikes is that they continue to inspire people to consider more natural and sustainable solutions when designing products and choosing materials.

"It would be great to see school programs that use the bamboo bike as an example and experimental learning model for creative thinking," says Calfee. "The topics of biology, environmental science, geometry, hands-on fabrication skills, business management and entrepreneurship can all be taught with a bamboo bike-making course. The challenge is finding more people who consider the environment and who value handcrafted items rather than the lowest price when buying bicycles."

Now That's Interesting Who knew? Thomas Edison's successful perfection of the incandescent light bulb is thanks to the heat resistance of carbonized bamboo filament from bamboo that was sourced in Yawata City, Japan.
" " Using highways as emergency runways for planes sounds like a good idea, right? muratart/iStock/Thinkstock

The frequently repeated "fact" that United States highways were designed to work as emergency runways is little more than an urban legend, despite its prevalence (a lot of people seem to know about it) and its longevity (no one seems to know when it actually originated, but it can be traced to legislation that dates back to the 1940s). At first glance, the idea seems like both common sense and a total head-scratcher. Of course a military plane should be able to land on a nice, wide road in an emergency! But then what about all the roads that are too curvy or too hilly or have an otherwise unsuitable landing surface? And what about the cars and trucks that are probably already on the highway with no way of being warned of this emergency?

The people who originally thought up this urban legend accounted for some of those questions. For example, the whole road isn't supposed to be suitable for emergency runway use; just 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) out of every 5 miles (8 kilometers). This ratio is supposedly enough to account for turns, elevation changes and densely populated areas. And like all good urban legends, this one does have a historical basis. The 1-in-5-mile rule actually goes back to misinterpretations or misquotations of the Defense Highway Act of 1941, the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 and the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, depending on the source.

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Though all three of these laws are real, none actually contain such language. The Defense Highway Act provided flight strips, mostly for military use, that were near highways. The first Federal-Aid Highway Act came close to including another flight strip program but ultimately did not, and it wasn't part of the second Federal-Aid Highway Act, either [source: Weingroff].

So no such law has ever been passed, and furthermore, such a strategy wouldn't be practical. Since using a highway as a runway would only happen in the kind of unprecedented theoretical emergency in which planes wouldn't even have time to divert to the closest commercial airport, there's absolutely no way local law enforcement could close and clear the highways quickly enough to provide a safe emergency landing.

What's the plan, then, if there's ever an emergency that requires airborne planes that are unable to reach their destinations to land immediately? Small municipal and private airports are the most obvious solution. Military bases are another option. There are actually little-used and little-known (that is, not for public commercial travel) runways all over the place that are a logical location for an emergency plane landing in a war or terrorist situation.

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Originally Published: Jul 9, 2015
" " Dragon's blood trees like these are endemic to Socotra and are named for their red resin. javarman/Shutterstock

Off Yemen's southeast coast in the Indian Ocean is the archipelago of Socotra. You've probably never heard of it, but it's often referred to as "the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean," and for good reason. That's because Socotra  which is comprised of four islands and two rocky islets  is home to spectacular flora and fauna you'll find nowhere else on Earth.

Socotra is part of Yemen, the Middle Eastern country that is currently mired in a civil war that has been ongoing for seven years. The islands are located 250 miles (402 kilometers) off the coast of Yemen and about 60 miles (96 kilometers) off the coast of the Horn of Africa. The main island of Socotra, which is the largest and most diversified, is comprised of rugged plateaus at varying sea levels. Its vegetation features dry and succulent shrublands and semi-evergreen woodlands, as well as evergreen woodlands and grasslands. The other islands are drier and more arid.

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Aside from the island's endemic plant and animal species, Socotra is home to around 60,000 people who live on the main island. They have been living on these islands for millennia, and speaking their own Socotri language. The islands have been part of trade routes for centuries and there are artifacts on the islands from sailors dating back to the first century B.C.E.
Most wanted Florida fugitive Claude Edsel Brooks Jr. was captured after 2 years on the run.

Brooks is accused of first-degree murder with aggravated child abuse.

North Carolina police apprehended him after reports of a man in a car with a firearm shooting a home.

A Florida fugitive accused of murdering a young child went on the run for the past two years but was arrested by North Carolina Police on February 22, 2023.

Florida Fugitive Accused of Killing Young Child

The fugitive was pulled over for a traffic violation and tried to get away with a fake ID. Investigators later uncovered his identity and linked him to the Florida homicide case, according to Law and Crime.

Based on the case that was filed against Brooks Jr. in Tampa, Florida, is an instance of murder in the first degree and aggravated child abuse of child during 2019. Details of the case are as stated on December 30, 2019, after a call that summoned deputies and paramedics to respond to a call at 9000 block of Sunset Drive in Tampa regarding a minor. One of the family members alleged having found a child not responding said authorities, Team HCSO reported.

The victim had died at the Brandon Regional Hospital after being brought there for treatment of severe injuries suffered by the victim. Linked to interviews and forensic evidence, cited WSTP.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated that detectives who worked on the case for more than one year are focused on finding the cause of death.

Brooks Jr. Captured After 2 Years

An arrest warrant was issued on January 11, 2021, but the fugitive was out of bounds, and his location was unknown. Information was asked from the public on February 3, 2021,

Read Also: Dead Teen Found Near Alex Murdaugh Home To Be Exhumed for Autopsy

In Pitt County, North Carolina, on February 22, 2023, deputies got a report about an incident on North Carolina Highway 903 in Ayden and Winterville towns wherein a man committed a criminal act. An unidentified man in Honda Civic was shooting a gun at a home, into a field towards a judge's residence.

It was a costly mistake for Brooks Jr. when a deputy stopped him in traffic and noted him acting weirdly in the car. The license given was from Arizona, with the name Rykan Ashley Green, 33, but the deputy noticed a marijuana smell from the vehicle. The fugitive was taken in but resisted the authorities during the arrest. A pistol was found in the car, but Green lied about it. They did a background check, and he is a convicted felon.

Brooks Jr. was arrested for having four pounds of Marijuana, edible, and paraphernalia, said the cops. He was also charged with owning a firearm, violations related to marijuana, and trying to resist arrest by an officer. He lied about his identity, and it was not Rykan Green.

A bond of $100,000 was obtained and avoided a first hearing, but his prints revealed his true identity. He is charged additionally with identity theft. Florida's most wanted suspect on the run for two years due to the murder of a young child is now caught and will be prosecuted for his crimes.

Related Article: Colorado Dentist Accused of Poisoning Wife That Left Her Brain Dead
In late 2016, around two dozen U.S. government employees stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba were all struck with a variable and mysterious set of symptoms. Many reported an odd ringing in the ears; some experienced sudden headaches coupled with disorientation. In severe cases, the symptoms escalated, blossoming into memory problems and bouts of extreme vertigo.

Even more worrying was the pattern that emerged as the employees came forward. "These were not random individuals," says James Giordano, a professor of neurology at Georgetown University and senior fellow in biosecurity at the Naval War College. "These were individuals with specific job descriptions and particular career history."

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Later, when the government personnel who were potentially exposed had their brains scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), experts found that they had significantly less white matter than expected  a clinical sign usually associated with head trauma. None of their skulls, however, showed any sign of injury. It was as if they had somehow been given a contactless concussion.

And their issues didn't go away. Four-and-a-half-years later, a number of the afflicted personnel still report neurological side effects, like periods of disorientation and difficulty recalling words. "Upon subsequent reevaluation, in many cases," Giordano says, "their symptoms had gotten worse."

The Havana incident quickly became a medical mystery: What could have caused these symptoms to crop up, seemingly out of nowhere, in otherwise healthy individuals?

In 2020, the precisely named Standing Committee to Advise DOS on Unexplained Health Effects on U.S. Government Employees and their Families at Overseas Embassies released a report assessing evidence from this case, as well as a similar one at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China. It concluded that "many of the distinctive and acute signs, symptoms, and observations reported by DOS employees are consistent with the effects of directed, pulsed radio frequency (RF) energy."

Those radio frequency pulses are known by another name  microwaves. But instead of popping popcorn, they're being put to a much more destructive use.

" " U.S. Marines stand outside the Embassy of the United States of America in Havana, in February 2018. Two years earlier, around two dozen U.S. government employees stationed there were struck with a mysterious set of symptoms, now known as 'Havana Syndrome.' ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images
" " Belgian scientist Bernard Heuvelmans is considered to be the father of cryptozoology, the study of creatures rumored to exist. lain BENAINOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Cryptozoology is the study of creatures that are rumored to exist, but whose existence has not been substantiated. These include legendary beasts such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, as well as other lesser-known animals and entities around the world. A few of these creatures may have a basis in reality, while others seemingly do not. Either way, the aim of cryptozoologists is to prove that these entities really exist in the wild, and some people dedicate years of their lives to these quests. In doing so, they often find themselves scoffed at by biologists and other established scientific types.

Because cryptozoology pursues creatures based mostly on rumor or folklore, it's considered a pseudoscience. That is, it's not regarded as "real" science because it doesn't use the scientific method as part of its investigations. Instead, cryptozoologists rely on historical documents, eyewitness accounts, and their own observations in their attempts to prove what often seems unprovable. As you can probably guess, their efforts frequently come up empty-handed.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers from Te Herenga WakaVictoria University of Wellington have found microplastics in New Zealand sea sponges.

Master of Marine Conservation graduate Rachel Parry and Professor James Bell from the University's Te Kura Matauranga KoioraSchool of Biological Sciences conducted the study, which took samples from sponges at three sites in Wellington Harbor.

"Sponges are filter feeders, meaning they suck in water and capture small particles to eat," says Professor Bell. "Unfortunately, this includes tiny pieces of plastic. And if it's happening to our sponges, it's likely happening to other filter feeders like mussels and clams."

Microplastics are defined as particles smaller than 5 mm that originate directly from manufacturing processes. This includes purpose-built micro pellets used in cosmetics, or pieces of plastic waste that have broken down over time. The small size of the particles makes them easily ingestible for sea sponges, as they're the same size as the sponges' regular food.

Professor Bell says the findings show how widespread microplastics have become in the environment.

Master's student Rachel Parry completed the research as part of her studies. She says the ingestion of microplastics pose a significant threat to sponge health.

"Once ingested they can't be digested or absorbed. These plastics can also carry toxic chemical additives, which can leech into organisms."

The team found that the amount of microplastic in sponges depended more on the location where the sponges were collected from than the species of sponge.

Microplastic levels in sponges were highest in samples from Evans Bay, followed by Mahanga Bay, with the lowest levels in Shark Bay.

Rachel says the most surprising finding from the research is the sheer amount of microplastic within the sponges.

"There were thousands of particles in some samples.

"It highlights how critical and urgent the need is to protect our oceans and our seafood from plastic from plastic pollution."

Professor Bell's previous research has examined sponge feeding, but this is the first time he has focused specifically on plastic in sponges.

"At present we don't know what the impact of these plastic particles will be on sponges themselves, since this is an emerging field with only a handful of studies globally reporting plastic in sponges.

"But anything feeding on sponges is also likely to consume these particles, so will likely be moving up the food chain."

Provided by Victoria University of Wellington
FLORENCED, S.C.  Mount Zion AME Churchs 11th Annual Walk to Health will be April 1 and feature a 2.5-mile walk down Cheves Street to downtown Florence as well as a health fair sponsored by the Pee Dee Medical Professional Association.

We want this to be an event not for just one day, we want it to be all year long, said Dr. Focell Jackson-Dozier, chair of the Pee Dee Medical Professional Associations outreach committee.

Members of the association will be on hand along with representatives from HopeHealth, MUSC, Pee Dee Mental Health, DHEC and others who will provide health screenings and information.

Also on hand will be a representative from South Carolina Cancer Alliance who will speak about cancer and the need for screenings  sometimes something as simple as seeing and being seen by a physician.

Our numbers not looking good for the Pee Dee area, Jackson-Dozier said.

We want to talk about how nutrition can play a role in delaying the onset of cancers, she said.

One of the messages of the April 1 walk will focus on the simple steps people can take to make themselves healthier.

What were preaching is that your health starts with being active and good nutrition, she said. If you tackle those two things then you can pretty much manage the other diseases that come along  or challenges as you get older. If people want to start off with 15 minutes a day of walk with 3-4 days a week and then advance.

Movement is key for both you and old people, she said.

We talk with the younger population to encourage them to move to better health care. I tell the seniors all the time if you dont move youre going to lose. You will lose function in the joints, she said.

Activity increases blood flow to all organs, which keeps them healthier which keeps residents healthier, she said.

We preach to all ages. We love to start out with the young but we preach to all ages, Jackson-Dozier said. One of the things we found out is that we still have access issues in the Pee Dee so we try to speak to those in the middle ages and above about accessing health care  what to do when you go to the ER, what do do when yo go to your doctors office. the importance of taking your medications.

If we equip the patients with the information theyll do much better, she said.

In addition to members of the association there will be a panel discussion followed by a question-and-answer session.

That panel will have an orthopaedic surgeon, a psychologist, a chiropractor and a general practitioner on it and theyll talk about exercise and nutrition, she said.

Participants can register in advance online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/11th-annual-walk-to-health-tickets-522168920297?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or register the day of the event.

On-site registration starts at 7:45 a.m. at the church, the walk departs at 8:30 a.m. and the goal is to wrap the event up by 11 a.m., Jackson-Dozier said.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Francis Marion Universitys School of Business honored North Augusta businessman Tracy Freeman with the 2023 Morgan B. Coker Outstanding Alumni award at its annual alumni reception held at the FMU Performing Arts Center on Tuesday night.

Freeman, a 1992 graduate of FMU with a bachelor of science in economics, is president of Fidelity One Construction, a residential construction company in North Augusta, and is the manager of Freeman Septic Tank Inc.

Since 2010, Freeman has been a member of the FMU Board of Trustees. He is also active in his community, where he currently serves as chairman of the Edgefield County Fire Board and sits on the County Line Fire Department Board. He has also served on the Aiken County Home Builders Association, Wells Fargo Community Board, Edgefield Senior Citizen Center board, Edgefield County Planning and Zoning Board, and the Francis Marion Alumni Advisory Board.

The Morgan B. Coker Outstanding Alumni Award is named for Morgan Coker, the first dean of FMUs School of Business. This award is one of the top honors that can be bestowed upon a graduate of the school.
 "Carceral Deference: Courts and Their Pro-Prison Propensities" | Main | "Branding Corporate Criminals" 

March 23, 2023

A couple of notable new capital cases on the latest SCOTUS "relist watch"

I noticed that this latest Relist Watch by John Elwood over at SCOTUSblog includes two new relisted capital cases. Though I am not sure cert should be expected on either of these two cases, they both raise "evergreen" issues in the capital punishment arena. Here are John's full descriptions (with links from the original):

The state of Alabama sentenced Kenneth Eugene Smith, the respondent in Hamm v. Smith, to die for murdering Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in a murder-for-hire plot. Smith challenged Alabamas lethal injection process as unconstitutionally cruel and unusual, and he proposed nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative means of execution under the Supreme Courts procedures for method-of-execution claims. The Eighth Amendment inquiry focuses on whether the states chosen method of execution cruelly superadds pain to the death sentence by asking whether the state has a feasible and readily implemented alternative method of execution that would significantly reduce a substantial risk of severe pain. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit held that nitrogen hypoxia is feasible and readily implemented because Alabama adopted a statute authorizing that method of execution. The state has petitioned for certiorari, arguing that that nitrogen hypoxia is not yet feasible and readily implemented because the state has not developed a protocol for that method of execution. Kevin Burns, the petitioner in Burns v. Mays, was convicted and sentenced to death for killing two people (and wounding two others) during a botched robbery. A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit held that Burns had not received constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel. Before the Supreme Court, Burns argues that he received constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel because his lawyer failed to ask the jury not to sentence him to death because of residual doubt about his guilt as permitted by state law, because he failed to introduce evidence that a co-defendant was the actual shooter, and because counsel conducted only one or two hours of work to prepare for the sentencing phase of the trial. Burns argues that his entitlement for relief is so clear that the Supreme Court should summarily reverse.

March 23, 2023 at 11:52 PM | Permalink

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Sorry Alabama, I have to believe that if state law permits a particular method of execution the mere fact that a protocol for using that method hasn't been developed does not make it unavailable. There could be other reasons that an allowed method is unavailable (such as inability to procure drugs for lethal injection) but the reason needs to be something not under the state's control.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Mar 25, 2023 1:39:44 PM

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 A couple of notable new capital cases on the latest SCOTUS "relist watch" | Main | US Sentencing Commission schedules meeting for April 5, 2023, for promulgation of proposed guideline amendments 

March 24, 2023

"Branding Corporate Criminals"

The title of this post is the title of this new article authored by W. Robert (Will) Thomas and Mihailis Diamantis available via SSRN. Here is its abstract:

Corporate punishment has a branding problem. Criminal sanctions should call out wrongdoing and condemn wrongdoers. In a world where generic corporate misconduct is a daily affair, conviction singles out truly contemptible practices from merely sharp, unproductive, or undesirable ones. In this way, criminal law gives victims the recognition they deserve, deters future wrongdoers who want to preserve their good name, and publicly reinforces societys most treasured values. Unfortunately, corporate punishment falls far short of all these communicative ambitions. For punishment to convey its intended message, society must be able to hear it. When courts convict individuals, everyone understands that the conviction places a mark of enduring stigma: felon, thief, murderer, and fraudster. The state reinforces this impression by reserving its harshest and most degrading treatment for individual criminals, caging them and possibly killing them. Corporate punishment, by contrast, is a fleeting affair diluted by civil and administrative alternatives, PR spin, and a frenetic media environment. In todays criminal justice system, it can be hard even to identify after the fact who the corporate criminals are. Unsurprisingly, corporations view criminal charges as inconvenient economic uncertainties and criminal fines as mere costs of doing business. Public perceptions have largely followed suit. Corporate criminal law could disrupt this perverse dynamic by adopting a new sanction that would brand corporate criminals. While the brand sanction could take many forms  different visual marks of varying size  this Article calls for, at a minimum, appending a criminal designation, , to corporate felons legal name and mandating its appearance on products and communications. This corporate criminal brand would stand as a 21st century corporate reimagining of its medieval corporal punishment namesake. Lawmakers rightly rejected physical brands on individual criminals long ago. The criminal justice landscape is different for corporations, who feel no pain and have no dignity. Unlike monetary fines, corporate criminal branding would unambiguously signal a corporations criminal status to outside observers. By forcibly integrating corporations criminal identity into their public image, criminal law might finally have a way to recognize victims and to strike at what corporations value most.

March 24, 2023 at 12:45 PM | Permalink

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Ultimately, the question is what collateral consequence there should be for companies which have committed crimes. In certain types of industries, a conviction can cause problems with a corporation getting and keeping necessary licenses. But in other industries, there is minimal consequence beyond the initial fine for corporate wrongdoing.

As far as requiring "branding," I think there would be a serious First Amendment issue. Potentially, if the branding was for a condition of probation, it would be valid as a "choice" of the company to accept probation in lieu of an immediate penalty. But requiring someone to identify themselves as a convicted felon whenever they speak seems problematic. Recognizing that registries have been approved for certain types of offenders, this type of branding seems to go much further and comes closer to core First Amendment issues.

Posted by: tmm | Mar 24, 2023 4:01:55 PM

The concept of a 'public registry' is nothing more than 'more punishment'.

Registries are not a deterrence and anyone arguing it is should direct us all to some (any) empirical evidence or reliable scientific study to prove otherwise.

A public registry is nothing more than a "modern day scarlett letter", a concept conceived in the 1600's by the Puritans and then outlawed more than two hundred years later. Is this method really the best we can come up with?

To deter corporate operatives from contemplating or committing crimes, the criminal statutes must carry with them severe mandatory monetary penalties - the severity of which should mirror the severity of prison sentences imposed upon the average citizen, such as those who have viewed child abuse images on a computer screen (who then receive mandatory decades of incarceration, plus a severe fine). THIS is a deterrence. A public registry is not.

Posted by: SG | Mar 24, 2023 10:17:11 PM

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 "Branding Corporate Criminals" | Main | Is support for criminal justice reform in red states really still "strong"? 

March 24, 2023

US Sentencing Commission schedules meeting for April 5, 2023, for promulgation of proposed guideline amendments

Via email I learned of the official announcement of the official public meeting when we can expect the US Sentencing Commission to vote to promulgate its first set of new amendments in five years. The announcement is here on the Commission's website, and reads as follows:

Pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission, a public meeting of the Commission was scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle, N.E., in the Commissioners' Conference Room of Suite 2-500 (South Lobby). The meeting will be streamed live and recorded. The agenda follows: Vote to Adopt January 2023 Meeting Minutes

Report from the Chair

Report from the Staff Director

Vote to Promulgate Proposed Amendments

Adjourn

As highlighted in some of the prior posts below, there has been significant debate about the significant draft proposed amendments that were released by the USSC earlier this year. I am going to be very interested in seeing how the Commissioners settle on final proposed amendments (which will provide some insight as to how the various Commissioners are settling into their roles).

A few recent related posts:

March 24, 2023 at 02:38 PM | Permalink

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Over 600 people have died after Cyclone Freddy wrought destruction in three countries over the past two months, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sparking growing calls from the African nations affected for more international attention and aid.

The cyclone has wrecked havoc in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique as aid agencies scramble to meet the increasing humanitarian needs of those impacted.

The destruction in the wake of the cyclone has claimed the lives of 605 people, affected over 1.4 million others in the three countries as of 20 March and stretched the capacity of health facilities, explained Matshidiso Moeti, the WHOs regional director for Africa.

Aid and relief agencies have been forced to tackle rising cholera cases, malnutrition and large numbers of displaced families.

The long-lasting and brutal cyclone has also destroyed houses, roads, farmland and hospitals and left an appalling humanitarian situation in its wake, said the WHO, that has called for increased and concerted humanitarian assistance for recovery efforts.

Cyclone Freddy first hit Madagascar and Mozambique in February, then returned to the Indian Ocean before making a second landfall in March, which was far more devastating in Malawi, killing approximately 500 people and again in Mozambique, where around 900,000 people have been affected.

There are fears of a resurgent cholera outbreak in the region, with Malawi and Mozambique already among the countries most affected by a cholera outbreak that has spawned more than 68,000 cases across 12 countries in southern and eastern Africa this year alone.

The UN childrens agency Unicef said millions of children and their families in Malawi and Mozambique are vulnerable to a potential increase in cholera cases, with inadequate water, hygiene, health and sanitation systems further weakened by the devastation and flooding stemming from the cyclone.

In Mozambique, cholera cases have risen almost four fold to about 11,000 since February, according to Unicef. Other humanitarian needs are mounting in the region and aid agencies are pooling resources to alleviate the unfolding disaster.

Story continues

In Malawi, about four million people  a fifth of the population  was already facing food insecurity, with close to 120,000 hectares of farmland destroyed by floods.

Among those in dire need of assistance are over 500,000 people displaced by the floods, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Clothes are hung out to dry on called electrical power lines caused by last week's heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Phalombe, southern Malawi (AP)

Malawis president Lazarus Chakwera has appealed to the international community to send urgent help.

He told Al Jazeera that Malawi cannot recover from such a storm without international assistance, with experts raising concerns that many areas are yet to receive any aid as entire villages in the country were swept away by floods.

What is happening to us can happen to anyone, anywhere, he told the outlet. Let the world come in and help Malawi because we cannot afford to be going backwards instead of forward in terms of all the provisions that Malawians need.

In Mozambique, aid agencies are struggling to reach desperate communities where roads have been damaged, with more than 160,000 people displaced and living in temporary shelters, according to the UN humanitarian agency.

Cyclone Freddy is expected to be declared the longest-ever cyclone in recorded history.

The devastation is the latest in a string of weather-related disasters like floods, storms and debilitating droughts that have devastated sub-Saharan Africa in the past decade, highlighting the deadly impact of the climate crisis in a region with weak economies and infrastructure ill-equipped to cope with such destruction.

Rich countries must rapidly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help vulnerable countries to adapt to these types of events, which will only get worse with further warming.

Dr Friederike Otto, co-founder of World Weather Attribution (WWA)

While experts are still looking into what has made this cyclone last longer and what role the climate crisis has played in it, the increased intensity of this storm is consistent with predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Experts have been warning that the climate crisis is ramping up the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like tropical cyclones.

Climate change likely played a role in Cyclone Freddy, making the event more likely and increasing the amount of rain that fell, said Dr Friederike Otto, co-founder of World Weather Attribution (WWA), adding that a study conducted by her organisation identified that climate crisis had made the rainfall more frequent and severe.

Our study also noted that the impacts were made worse due to the high vulnerability of the affected countries, which is what turns an extreme weather event into a disaster.

Additional reporting by agencies
I've said it before and I'll say it again: see-through tops are rapidly becoming one of the this year's biggest spring/summer fashion trends. In the last week, Rita Ora and Emily Ratajkowski have made the case for the transparent top. Now, Heidi Klum is also getting in on the trend and, naturally, she absolutely nails it. For her latest Vogue Greece cover, the 49-year-old wears a *chic* sheer look that serves all of the vibes.

Unlike Rita and Emily's see-through tops, which were either fitted or cropped, Heidi's iteration comes in the form of a relaxed batwing style top with delicate draping around the neckline and a subtle sequin finish that catches the light around her forearm. The bottom half of her look is an opaque cream skirt which casually rests across her legs. 'Vogue Greece celebrates its four year anniversary with @heidiklum as the guest of honor!' writes the brand on Instagram. 'Just a few months before she turns fifty, the famous supermodel is photographed for the April issue and talks exclusively about her career, immaculate style, warm family, and all that makes her happy now.'

See the outfit for yourself:

Heidi re-posted the pic on her own account with the note, 'Thank you for having me on your cover  @voguegreece', before going on to share another snap from the same shoot:

In the follow-up 'gram, Heidi reps an off-white cropped jacket with chunky silver eyelet details up the front, no bra, and a pair of high-waisted briefs.

'Yiiipppppiiiiii I get 2 covers  @voguegreece' she adds in the caption.

Yep, Heidi's totally killing it. I can't wait to see what she wears for her 5oth birthday.

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Russia warned the UK not to supply Ukraine with tank shells with depleted uranium.

UK tank ammo destined for Ukraine could possess this advanced ammunition.

Moscow claims using depleted uranium in ammo is tantamount to nuclear escalation.

Moscow warned that if depleted uranium (DU) is a component of UK tank ammo sent to Ukraine, it will respond accordingly. These shells made DU are the armor piercing types used on modern weapon systems like main battle tanks (MBTs).

Use of Depleted Uranium Can Lead to Escalation

Russia warned London not to use these munitions that could ignite a nuclear contest if Kyiv is supplied with them, reported Sky News.

Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would act if there was a provocation and even suggested that Kyiv would have a dose of nukes. Minister of state for defense Baroness Annabel Goldie remarked concerning the planned delivery of Challenger MBTs supplied with armor piercers that have DU as a component, noted Sputnik News.

All the emphasis on uranium component munitions needs an explanation about the hullaballoo about them. Another is why tank shells have them at all.

Depleted Uranium in UK Tank Ammunitions

When natural uranium ore (U-235) is processed, there will be leftover material, which is what DU is. It still retains radioactivity from the original form, though. Providing fuel for nuclear power plants and even destructive nuclear bombs is the U-235.

Radioactive material is less lethal, with fewer alpha particles that do not go through the skin. Technically exposure to DU ammo is not a real hazard except if the material is breathed in or ingested, cited by Yahoo.

The normal metal used for ammo has its limitation in penetrative power, but DU is denser and tougher. Fired as tank rounds which can be destroyed less protect vehicles.

Read Also: Switzerland Blocks German Request To Send Ammunition to Ukraine, Cites Neutral Status

Du is used in anti-tank weapons and tank armor components, says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It makes the contact point of the tank shell more penetrative and explodes on impact.

Does DU Ammunition Pose Radiation Risk?

The UN Institute for Disarmament Research verified the supposed DU ammo as non-nuclear, adding that DU is incompatible with legal definitions that apply to this kind of weapon. IAEA warns that material in lesser amounts is not fatal but can be if enough exposure is experienced due to chemical toxins eaten or inhaled. It can affect the kidneys due to chemical toxins. Despite the lessened radiation, there will be the exposure that could cause cancer, but it takes a long before it becomes obvious. Though DU is less lethal than unprocessed U-235, it's not an assurance.

One time that DU is dangerous is when impacting an armored target will produce an aerosol effect, which anyone can inhale. DU weapon debris left on the battlefield in the soil will affect the environment for a long time. Radioactive debris could taint the water table and food sources for many years but will eventually disappear. IAEA says that handling the DU ammo is very unsafe because of the contact needed to use them directly. But no effects from skin burns to radiation not possible, though.

Safety measures in the use of DU ammo are needed through the use of protective gear for personnel and tank crews. But Putin warned NATO not to do such a provocation or risk a response. Including depleted uranium as a component of UK tank ammo for Ukraine is a serious move that NATO members must think about the consequences of.

Related Article: US Uranium Tank Shells Are the Secret Weapons for Destroying Enemy Armor
MONDAY, March 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Children with autism are less likely than their peers to receive important vision screening despite a high risk for serious eye disorders, researchers report.

Only about 36% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) completed vision screenings during their health checkups, a new study found. That was far fewer than the 59% rate for children without ASD.

In addition, the screening rate for Black children with ASD was just under 28%, compared with nearly 40% for white and multiracial kids, the findings showed.

I noticed that many of our patients with autism have never had vision screening, even though its recommended for all young children, said senior author Dr. Brittany Perry, a pediatrician at the Nemours Swank Autism Center in Wilmington, Del.

So, I wanted to study whether this might be a broader disparity  whether kids with autism receive vision screening less often than other kids, she added in a Nemours news release.

Early childhood is crucial for vision development, as well as for early detection and treatment of eye problems, the study authors noted.

For the study, Perry's team examined data for more than 63,800 well visits across a primary care network in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Florida. Children were 3 to 5 years of age.

In Florida, nearly 46% of kids with ASD had vision screening, compared to 28% each in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

About 80% of Florida medical practices used photoscreening, in which a specialized camera or video system captures detailed images of a child's eyes. In comparison, only 13% of medical practices in Delaware and Pennsylvania used photoscreening, the researchers noted.

The study authors explained that photoscreening is particularly helpful for children with ASD because they cannot always understand and verbally respond to instructions or questions in conventional vision tests.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual instrument-based vision screening, particularly for children with developmental delays.

Reimbursement is necessary to bring about greater use of photoscreening in primary care, the researchers said.

Perry said increased use of photoscreening could be a great way to increase vision screening in vulnerable groups.

The key takeaway from this study for providers is to be aware that these disparities exist for all children with autism, so we can work to provide better care, she said. And for parents, it may help them to better advocate for their children with autism and to request a vision screening at a well visit, or a referral to an eye specialist, if their child is overdue.

The researchers are now investigating the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on pediatric vision screening.

The report was published March 21 in the journal Pediatrics.

More information

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has more about increased risk of ophthalmologic disorders in children with autism.

SOURCE: Nemours Childrens Health, news release, March 21, 2023
HARTINGTON, Neb. -- A Louisiana man has pleaded not guilty of fatally shooting a co-worker at a job site near Hartington.

David Phillips Jr., 20, of Kenner, Louisiana, on Thursday waived his right to appear in person for his arraignment and filed a written plea of not guilty to second-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and possession of a stolen firearm. His next court appearance was scheduled for May 22 in Cedar County District Court.

Phillips is accused of shooting Israel Matos-Colon, 31, of Fowlerville, Michigan, on March 1 at a tower work site near the intersection of Nebraska Highway 57 and 885 Road, approximately two miles north of Hartington.

According to court documents, a witness told investigators Phillips walked around the job site after the shooting telling co-workers Matos-Colon had talked about his mother.

A second witness said he heard six-10 gunshots, and Phillips was apologizing to Matos-Colon after the shooting while others were attempting life-saving measures.

Phillips was arrested at the scene. Authorities found a 9mm handgun in his pants pocket and a 30-round magazine containing 22 live rounds at the scene. Investigators found six spent 9mm casings and one live cartridge at the scene. The Cedar County Sheriff's Office confirmed the gun was reported stolen in Louisiana.

Matos-Colon was pronounced dead at a Yankton, South Dakota, hospital.

Phillips is being held on a $10 million bond. If found guilty, he could face a maximum of life in prison.
SIOUX CITY -- A Hawarden, Iowa, man who sold large quantities of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison.

Jose Duenas-Topete pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to single counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance. He also pleaded guilty in a separate case to illegally re-entering the United States.

He was sentenced Thursday to 138 months in prison.

Through a confidential source, agents arranged a purchase of meth in Sioux City on April 2 and arrested Duenas-Topete and two others after the drug transaction. He was suspected of receiving four shipments of meth totaling 21 pounds for resale in Sioux City and Plymouth County.

Leocadio Contreras-Sebastian, of Warren, Arkansas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for driving 7 pounds of meth to Sioux City.

Jose Montes-Topete, of Hawarden, who was driving Duenas-Topete during the drug transaction, was acquitted of drug charges.

Duenas-Topete had been deported from the United States in 2018 as a result of a Sioux County drug conviction.
SHELDON, Iowa  A Rock Rapids, Iowa, man was arrested Friday in connection with a homicide in Sheldon.

Nathaniel Kassel, 41, was taken into custody in Flandreau, South Dakota, on Iowa arrest warrants for first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. He remains in custody in South Dakota and is awaiting extradition to O'Brien County.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, the O'Brien County Communication Center received a call about a deceased female found at 604 Fourth Ave. in Sheldon. Upon arrival, police found the woman's body inside the home and are treating her death as a homicide. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday at the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release that the woman's name and other details are not being released at this time.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call the Sheldon Police Department at (712) 324-2525 or the DCI at (712) 224-7680.
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City woman has pleaded guilty of scamming a mother out of nearly $12,000 by faking a child welfare investigation.

Anna Perez-Joaquin, 40, entered her plea Thursday to one count of first-degree theft as a habitual offender. Sentencing was scheduled for May 22 in Woodbury County District Court.

As part of a plea agreement, charges of extortion and commission of a specified unlawful activity influenced enterprise will be dismissed. Her sentence was not spelled out in the plea agreement, and it will be up to a judge to decide whether to impose a 15-year prison sentence.

The scheme began on Aug. 26, 2021, when Perez-Joaquin convinced the mother she and her children were the subject of an Iowa Department of Human Services investigation and tricked the mother into granting temporary custody of the kids to her. Perez-Joaquin had fake social workers visit the woman's home and send fake emails to her. Perez-Joaquin then used a fraudulent lawyer profile to get the mother to pay her $400 a month in child support and give Perez-Joaquin her child tax credit check and other monthly benefits the children received.

During a four-month period, Perez-Joaquin accepted at least 16 cash payments and bank transfers totaling approximately $11,874 from the mother.

Perez-Joaquin had plans to take the children to Mexico, court documents said.
Western Illinois University invites the community to join in celebrating Latino voices with art, music, dance, food and more at the multimedia installation of acclaimed artist Miriam Alarcon Avila's work, Luchadores Immigrants, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at an inauguration event in the WIU-QC Complex Atrium, located on 3300 River Drive in Moline.

Avila's exhibit will be available for viewing starting Saturday until Saturday, April 22.

"As a celebration of our diverse communities, Miriam Alarcon Avila's extraordinary work gives voice to those often unheard stories and provides a unique platform for the Quad-Cities communities to come together and take part in a fun, engaging and compelling event to tell our own stories, WIU education professor Carla Paciotto said in a news release.

The inauguration event will also feature the following:

1 to 1:30 p.m.: WIU's Tradicion Hispana Dance Group.

1:30 to 1:45 p.m.: A ceremonial blessing (Bendicion).

1:45 to 2:45 p.m.: A "migration procession" (Procesion Migratoria).

2:45 to 4 p.m.: Showcases from Latin Thunder, Danza Asuncion (Aztec Dancers) and DJ Flaco Contreras; ongoing exhibit visits, food and kids' activities.

This exhibit will showcase Latino communities through a multimedia approach based in photography, incorporating customized Luchador masks, video, poetry and storytelling. Avila shares the stories of Latinx people across Iowa by expressing the heroic and poignant nature of their characters through masks. Her work has appeared in multiple art museums in Des Moines, Iowa City and eastern Iowa communities.

For more information about Avilas work, visit miriamalarconavila.com. For more information on the inauguration event, contact Paciotto at C-Paciotto@wiu.edu.

Check out photos from Western Illinois University - Quad-Cities' commencement 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad 051522-qc-nws-wiugrad
OTTAWA, Ontario  President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. would respond "forcefully" to protect its personnel after U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard following an attack Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria.

"The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran," Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, where he is on a state visit. But he said Iran and its proxies should be prepared for the U.S. "to act forcefully to protect our people. That's exactly what happened last night." Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

The attack and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to de-escalate tensions across the wider Middle East.

The Pentagon said a drone attack on a U.S. base Thursday killed a contractor and injured five U.S. troops and another contractor. That was followed by two attacks on U.S. forces in Syria Friday, according to U.S. officials.

The officials said that based on preliminary information, there was a rocket attack at a Conoco gas plant that has a base housing American troops, where one U.S. service member was injured but is in stable condition. About the same time, several drones were launched at Green Village, where U.S. troops are also based. One official said that all but one of the drones was shot down, and there were no U.S. injuries there. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

Two Syrian opposition activist groups reported a new wave of airstrikes on eastern Syria that hit positions of Iran-backed militias after rockets were fired at the Conoco gas plant. Several U.S. officials, however, said the U.S. did not launch any attacks late Friday, and it wasn't clear if the activists were referring to the attack on U.S. forces at Green Village.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the American intelligence community determined the drone in Thursday's attack was of Iranian origin. U.S. officials said that conclusion was based on recovered debris and intelligence threat streams. They offered no immediate evidence to support the claim. The drone hit a maintenance facility at a coalition base in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka. The wounded included five American service members and a U.S. contractor.

In retaliation, the Pentagon said F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck several locations around Deir el-Zour. Those strikes, Austin said, were a response to the drone attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

Biden, speaking during a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressed his "deepest condolences" to the family of the American killed and well-wishes for the injured.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy. The U.S. has had forces in northeast Syria since 2015, when they deployed as part of the fight against the Islamic State group, and maintains some 900 troops there working with Kurdish-led forces that control around a third of Syria.

The U.S. airstrikes hit targets in three towns in eastern Syria, activists said. Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iranian-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Reports on the number of killed and wounded in the U.S. strikes varied. Activist group Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in the province, said four people were killed and a number of others were wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said 11 Iranian-backed fighters were killed  including six at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour and five at military posts near the towns of Mayadeen and Boukamal.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory, said three rockets were fired earlier Friday at the al-Omar oil field in Deir el-Zour that houses U.S. troops, an apparent retaliation to the American strikes.

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes

U.S. Army Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of the American military's Central Command, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. "We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks," he said.

According to officials, Iran has launched 80 attacks against U.S. forces and locations in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The vast majority of those have been in Syria.

Diplomacy to deescalate the exchange appeared to begin immediately. The foreign minister of Qatar spoke by phone with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Qatari state news agency reported. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehran's nuclear program.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at Biden's direction.

"As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," Austin said. "No group will strike our troops with impunity."

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran: in February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022.

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An Iowa chiropractor who was allowed to keep his license despite findings of sexual impropriety with patients is again facing charges from state regulators.

The Iowa Board of Chiropractic has charged Stuart Hoven of Winterset with unethical conduct for behavior that includes engaging in a sexual or emotional relationship with a former patient; habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs; failure to comply with the terms of a previous board order; unethical conduct or behavior that includes improper sexual contact with, or making suggestive, lewd, lascivious or improper remarks or advances to a patient, client or coworker; and exhibiting unprofessional behavior in connection with the practice of chiropractic.

The alleged conduct that gave rise to those alleged violations has not been publicly disclosed by the board pursuant to a 2021 Iowa Supreme Court order that restricts the release of such information.

A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for April 12.

Hovens issues with the board date back 20 years, to 2003, when the Winterset police investigated allegations from two of Hovens patients. The patients independently alleged Hoven had improperly touched their breasts during separate examinations in his office. Hoven allegedly told one of the women he was obsessed with her breasts, adding I cant stop looking at them.

State records indicate Hoven admitted to some of the alleged conduct during an interview with police. He was criminally charged with sexual exploitation, but the charge was later dismissed.

The board, however, accused Hoven of unethical conduct and after a hearing on the matter, concluded in April 2005 that Hoven had willfully and repeatedly touched the breasts of two female patients without a valid clinical reason for doing so, and had willfully made inappropriate comments to two patients concerning their breasts. The board suspended Hovens license pending a comprehensive sexual misconduct evaluation.

Three months later, the board reinstated Hovens license, but placed it on probationary status and required Hoven to receive counseling from the Center for Marital and Sexual Health. The board also ordered him to ensure a female chaperone was present in his exam room whenever he was seeing female patients, and to receive continuing education on professional boundaries.

In 2007, the board agreed to terminate the requirements for a female chaperone and ongoing education, but noted that Hoven had not accepted full personal responsibility for the misconduct he engaged in. In 2010, the board eliminated all restrictions on Hovens license.

In 2012, the board received a complaint that Hoven grabbed a female patients breast during an X-ray appointment. The board issued an emergency order, stating Hovens continued practice as a chiropractor constituted an immediate danger to the public health, safety, and welfare, but it allowed him to continue practicing subject to monitoring and other interim safeguards.

Within a few months, a complaint of a similar nature was filed by another of Hovens female patients. The board again suspended Hovens license and ordered him to submit to another assessment pertaining to professional sexual misconduct by the Behavioral Medicine Institute. According to the board, the institute determined Hoven could not safely return to practice at that time due to his need to be admired, his lack of empathy for others, and his grandiose sense of self-importance.

In 2014, the board agreed to reinstate Hovens license, but placed it on permanent probationary status subject to numerous restrictions. The board again required Hoven to have a chaperone present with all female patients; to submit to psychotherapy evaluations; to submit to polygraph tests every six months to gauge whether he was maintaining proper boundaries with patients; and to meet regularly with a professional mentor.

In 2019, the board relaxed the requirement for polygraph testing, requiring the tests to be taken once a year rather than every six months.

In January 2021, the board formally charged Hoven with failure to comply with the order on psychotherapy evaluations. As part of a settlement agreement reached with the board, Hoven admitted violating the boards orders and he promised to comply with a new, even less stringent set of requirements that didnt include psychotherapy evaluations.

Among the conditions placed on his license at that time: He was required to maintain copies of his disciplinary orders for his employees to read; he was barred from seeing female patients without a female chaperone; he had to craft a policy that established a workplace free of sexual harassment; and he had to submit to lie-detector tests once per year.

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DES MOINES  Several Iowa schools announced plans on Thursday to comply with a new state law that prohibits transgender students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

The bill, signed into law by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday and taking effect immediately, requires students in public schools to use the bathroom and changing facility that aligns with their assigned sex at birth. Schools would be required to provide students with alternative facilities, such as a single-user unisex restroom, if they request it and written consent from parents.

Reynolds also signed a bill that bans minors from receiving gender-affirming health care such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries  contradicting the guidance of every major American medical association, which recommend medical interventions as a treatment for gender dysphoria in minors.

102622-qc-nws-hoover-072 One of the remodeled bathroom clusters for the recently completed extensive additions and renovations at Herbert Hoover Elementary school in B

Public school districts in Sioux City, Iowa City, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids said on Thursday they would comply with the bathroom law, including offering students accommodations. The schools said they remained committed to being welcoming to their LGBTQ students and preventing discrimination.

The Sioux City Community School District proudly supports all students including students in the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment where all students feel welcome. As a public school district, we are required to comply with SF 482, however, we will also be working with students and families to support student needs and make students feel comfortable. We remain resolute in our mission to help all students achieve, believe, and succeed in our schools," said Leslie Heying, Director of Communications for the school district.

In an email, the Des Moines School District spokesperson Phil Roeder said school administrators met on Thursday to review the laws requirements, and the school is preparing a form for parents of students who want greater privacy in using facilities.

As a public school district, DMPS is required to comply with the law, including those over which people may have strong feelings or be deeply divided, Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Smith said in a statement on Wednesday. However, nothing has changed in our commitment to welcome and serve our LGBTQ+ population with respect and dignity.

The Iowa City Community School District is undergoing a similar process, Superintendent Matt Degner said in a statement Thursday.

ICCSD administration is still working on guidelines consistent with this new law, and will provide guidance to buildings as soon as possible, he said.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, House Speaker Pat Grassley said Republicans were intentional about keeping accommodations in the bill, and that the bill was written to take immediate effect because school administrators were looking for guidance on the issue.

The bill was about providing accommodations as well, he said. We shouldnt lose that within the conversation.

House Democratic leader: Reynolds is not the victim

Democratic House leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights lambasted Reynolds, who said this week she was put in an uncomfortable position in signing the two bills dealing with transgender youth.

"This is an extremely uncomfortable position for me to be in. And I dont like it," Reynolds said Tuesday, but she said she believes it is in the best interest of kids.

I call bull----, Konfrst told reporters on Thursday. I dont think the governor is truly as upset as she says. She is not the victim here. The victims here are kids  who have been targeted over and over and over again by this governor.

The rapid change caused by the bathroom bill will put transgender students at risk, Konfrst said.

Imagine being a kid who has identified as a girl throughout elementary school or middle school, who woke up this morning and found out that now all of a sudden, they're less safe at school than they were when they went to school yesterday, she said. It is cynical and it is wrong to have done this behind closed doors without giving anyone any notice.

In response to Konfrsts comments, Reynolds' spokesperson Kollin Crompton compared Democrats response to Reynolds COVID-19 policies and the response to the transgender youth bills. Reynolds drew the same comparisons on Tuesday, and said she does not believe the science on gender-affirming care for youth is settled.

The governor isnt going to (be) lectured by Democrats who locked down schools and put our childrens mental health at risk based on inconclusive science, he said. Rep. Konfrst is following the same playbook once again - fearmongering, promoting irreversible surgeries, and putting our kids future health at risk.
DES MOINES  Iowa no longer will participate in a multistate program in which states share voter registration information in order to manage their own voting lists and prevent election fraud, the states top elections official announced recently.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, said he is recommending Iowa withdraw from the bipartisan interstate voter program, Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC.

Iowa and Ohio became the sixth and seventh states  all led by Republican elections officials  signaling withdrawal from ERIC, according to Politico.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, has attacked ERIC with unproven claims that the program boosts voter registration for Democrats, and the program has been the target of conspiracy theories, prompting its executive director to issue a statement earlier this month to address, in the directors words, recent misinformation spreading about ERIC.

In a statement issued via social media last week, Pate said he is disappointed in the direction the ERIC organization has taken and that he decided to leave the group after the membership voted against adopting changes recommended by Republican state leaders.

Among the chief complaints expressed by those Republicans is how ERIC reaches out to unregistered voters to encourage them to register.

Pate also cited the departure of other states, which he said makes the programs shared voter registration lists less effective.

Election integrity is my No. 1 priority. Clean, accurate voter lists are critical to running secure elections and the loss of those states data makes participation in ERIC no longer valuable to Iowa, Pate said in the statement. My office will be recommending resigning our membership from ERIC.

That will require legislation, and Iowa Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton who has managed elections legislation in recent sessions of the Iowa Legislature, said he supports Pates decision and stands ready to get any legislation passed.

(ERIC) was supposed to be used to allow states to talk to each other, to allow voter rolls to talk to each other, Kaufmann said. It was supposed to be a living, breathing list for voter maintenance. I think its since grown into something completely different.

Kaufmann also expressed his opposition to ERICs voter registration outreach.

Thats the role of the political party, not of a nonpartisan voter registration list, Kaufmann said. Thats activism. I dont want it on either side, our side or the Democratic side.

Some local elections officials in Iowa have expressed concern that the states withdrawal from ERIC will make their job of managing voter registration lists more difficult.

Pat Gill, the Woodbury County auditor and a Democrat, said from what he has been able to discern, the recent issues with ERIC have been the result of partisan wrangling and said he is mystified why Pate has chosen to leave the program.

Actually, it has been a pretty good tool for helping county auditors keep our voter registration rolls up to date, Gill said. Iowas county auditors have been responding in a positive way to citizens who have been providing information to help clean up our registration rolls, and the loss of ERIC will definitely be a setback to our efforts.

In response to questions about Pates decision, a spokesman for his office said that while ERICs data has been valuable, the recent exodus of some large states makes the data less useful, and some surrounding states refuse to join the program.

The spokesman for Pates office also asserted that ERIC was telling (states) how to run their elections instead of letting states choose the appropriate ERIC tools that worked best within their state.

In 2019, through Iowas use of ERIC, Pate referred nine voters to county attorneys for voting twice in the 2018 general election. The nine voters were suspected of voting in Iowa after casting a ballot in another state; another 27 instances were found of voters casting ballots in Iowa first, then in another state.

Pates spokesman and Kaufmann said Iowa without ERIC still will be able to maintain accurate voter registration lists and catch voter fraud.

ERIC was only one of many tools used to update and maintain Iowas voter registration list, the spokesman said. Our office will continue to look at ways to maintain clean, accurate voter rolls and look at new options for obtaining valuable data.
Two inmates escaped from a Virginia jail on Monday by crawling and climbing to freedom, only to be caught the following morning at a pancake restaurant.

John Garza, 37, and Arley Nemo, 43, have been taken back into jail and are facing fresh charges, according to the sheriff's office in Newport News, roughly an hour away north of Virginia Beach, per a report from NPR.

The sheriff's office is conducting a criminal investigation and an internal investigation to prevent a similar incident from occurring again, a statement read.

The two had been imprisoned at the Newport News Jail Annex, a medium-security Virginia prison, for months on a variety of charges.

Garza had been locked up in Virginia prison since the end of December on various charges like contempt of court, misdemeanors, and failing to appear. Since his arrest in October, Nemo has been held on numerous charges, including those of fraud with credit cards, forgery, burglary tool possession, grand larceny, and contempt of court.

Read Also: Fake Donald Trump Arrest Images

Inmates Used 'Primitive-Made Tools' To Escape Virginia Prison

The Newport News Sheriff's Office stated in a statement that the inmates were reported missing around 7:15 p.m. on Monday. Deputies said that during the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the men had used "primitive-made tools" consisting of a toothbrush and a metal object to take advantage of a flaw in the building's design, according to a CBS News report.

The sheriff's office said that the inmates used the tools to free themselves from the ties holding the bars in place, and then escaped with the help of the rebar they had freed. Garza and Nemo escaped the Virginia prison by climbing over a wall.

The sheriff's office claimed tips led them to an IHOP on Mercury Boulevard in Hampton, which is open 24/7 and is approximately 7 miles from the prison. Hampton police were dispatched to the eatery at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday and apprehended them without incident, according to NBC News.

Deputy Sheriff Gabriel Morgan expressed appreciation to the citizens for their help.

Related Article: Georgia Woman Lives with Fiance's Corpse



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Spring has sprung, and nonagenarians of the male sex are having a frisky week. Rupert Murdoch, 92, announced his engagement to a woman 26 years his junioritll be his fifth marriage. But the media titan was out-playboyed by a reptile of the nonmetaphorical variety, a Houston tortoise named Mr. Pickles who became a father for the first time at 90 years old37 years older than the three hatchlings mother, Mrs. Pickles.

Mr. Pickles virilityin spite of his vintageearned him ink in the New York Times, NPR, and USA Today, among other outlets, but less attention was paid to his and his partners May-December romance. Is it common for a 90-year-old male tortoise to step out with a 53-year-old female? Age gaps in romantic relationships have been getting more scrutiny in the public eye over the past few years, with Demi Lovato singing about them, Taylor Swift making music videos about them, and Leonardo DiCaprio dedicating his life to raising awareness of them. Never mind for a second that all those people are peopledoes the Houston Zoo, where Mr. and Mrs. Pickles reside, condone such large age disparities? Is its Reptile and Amphibian House some kind of den of iniquity and/or pickup scene for sugar-daddy tortoises?

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According to Chris Bednarski, a herpetology keeper at the zoo, theres nothing untoward going on: Age gaps of this sort are pretty ordinary in radiated tortoises, which is Mr. Pickles species. Its not an abnormal thing, he told me.

Craig Stanford, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Southern California, acknowledged that the difference between the pair might sound vaguely scandalous if we think in human terms. But its no scandal for radiated tortoises. As long as theyre both sexually mature, it doesnt matter whether the females 100 and the males 20, or vice versa, Stanford said. Plus, since tortoises can live to 150, 90-year-olds start to look merely middle-aged.

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Still, tortoise mating mores are very different from human mating mores, and its partly because tortoise fertility is very different than human fertility. As Stanford explained, One of the interesting things about turtles and tortoises in general is that the older the female gets, the more fertile she isso, unlike our own species, in most turtles and tortoises, a 90-year-old female is more fertile than a 20-year-old female. Male radiated tortoises are also capable of reproduction at advanced ages, but as with their human counterparts, their sperm count decreases as time goes on.

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Its unknown how late in life they can reproduce, but having a 90-year-old tortoise of any species reproducing is kind of unique, Bednarski said.

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As for whether males are more attracted to females of any certain age, probably not. Male tortoises are just, to be honest, so horny that they will try to mate with boulders, shoes, bricks, Stanford said. Anything that vaguely resembles the shape of a turtle shell, theyll try to mount, when its warm weather and its breeding season.

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So it wasnt the case that elderly Mr. Pickles was chasing the relatively youthful Mrs. Pickles; theirs was actually something of an arranged marriage. They were housed together with the intent to breed, and we were able to successfully pull it off, said Bednarski.

The Pickleses have been together for 27 years, and their marriage has not been loveless: Theyve been going to town for years.

Radiated tortoises are an endangered species. Their population has dwindled significantly over the past 30 years due to people eating them and keeping them as pets in overwhelming numbers, as well as habitat loss. Thats another reason these three baby tortoises are such a big deal. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums had previously determined that Mr. Pickles was genetically valuable, meaning that any offspring could help broaden the gene pool of the tortoises the organization tracks. We want to have a nice array of bloodlines to be able to have as much genetic diversity for as long as we possibly can, Bednarski said. So these babies are new blood for the radiated tortoise population. The babies wont start to show external sexual characteristics for three to five years, so it will be a while before the zoo knows their sexes, according to Bednarski.

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Tortoises are not typically monogamous, but the Pickleses effectively are because they live only with each other. Prior to the birth of the hatchlings, the two made up two-thirds of the Houston Zoos radiated tortoise population. (The only other adult was Mrs. Pickles son from a previous marriage, Bednarski quipped.)

The Pickleses have been together for 27 years, and their marriage has not been loveless. Theyve been going to town for years, Bednarski said. The problem also wasnt that Mrs. Pickles wasnt laying eggs; she was, but tortoises bury their eggs, so the zoo didnt always know they were there. They cover these nests up so well to avoid predation that its borderline impossible for us to know that eggs were laid unless we literally see her doing it, Bednarski said. The lucky break was that a keeper happened to witness the eggs this time. They likely wouldnt have done well in the soil, so the zoo was able to place them in a temperature-safe environment.

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Does Mr. Pickles even know that hes a dad now? We told him this morning, and he didnt seem too upset about it, but hes been drinking a whole lot, Bednarski joked.

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Radiated tortoises dont typically have any parental role in their offsprings lives. They lay their eggs and walk away and thats the end of it, Bednarski said. That means Mr. and Mrs. Pickles are free to get back to business, which could include making more babies.

Ill be completely honest with you, Bednarski said of Mr. Pickles, At 90 years old, I am absolutely shocked at how interested in his lady he still is. Its nonstop. We were mid-interview this morning and he was initiating already. So hes still got it going on at his age. Its impressive.
This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

Twenty years ago, the United States invaded Iraq with faulty intelligence, inadequate planning, and the impossibly ambitious aim of constructing a new Iraqi nation to American specifications. The result was over a trillion dollars lost, thousands of U.S. service members killed and wounded, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, a major setback in the war against al-Qaida, irreparable damage to Americas global reputation, and tears in the fabric of American politics and society. These enduring legacies of the war have served as a cautionary tale for future military interventions in the region.

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But has the United States fully internalized the lessons of the Iraq War? Two decades later it is clear that Washington still has crucial lessons to absorb. Here are five of the most important:

1. An imperfect strategy may be the best strategy. The United States pursued a frustratingly imperfect strategy in Iraq for a decade after the first Gulf War. This strategy, known as containment, called for coercive economic and military measures to contain Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. There were many problems with containment, not least that Saddam seemed to be making progress obtaining weapons of mass destruction and evading international inspections. He also represented a threat to his own population and the region as a whole. But, in hindsight, containment was a much better strategy than attempting to overthrow him militarily in the hope of fashioning a stable, democratic Iraq.

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2. Foreign policy decisions are often less rational than they appear. Key figures on the Bush national security teamVice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, President George W. Bush himselfprobably did not consider themselves to be men easily swayed by emotion. But looking back, its obvious they were. Domestic politics, bureaucratic interests, internecine feuding, and individual personalities shape foreign policy decisions, but the emotionally charged atmosphere after 9/11, and especially the intense fear of another mass terror attack, severely clouded their judgment on key issues. One of the most important of these issues was whether Saddam would use weapons of mass destruction against the United States or provide them to terrorists. With clearer heads, we can see that Saddam would have gained nothing and risked everything by using such weapons against the United State preemptively or giving such weapons to terroristshad he even possessed them in the first place. But pervasive fear after 9/11 impeded such clear thinking and led many policymakers to conclude the danger was real.

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3. Unilateralism is hazardous. The Bush administration did not entirely renounce multilateralism in the runup to the war. It tried to work through the United Nations to obtain legal authorization for the attack on Iraq, and when it went to war, it did so with a coalition of allies and partners. Nevertheless, choosing to invade Iraq over the objections of a powerful group of nations that included not only Russia and China, but also close U.S. allies France and Germany, violated the spirit of multilateralism, and eventually the letter of international law. A greater effort to address the concerns of these nations would have greatly reduced the diplomatic, bureaucratic, financial, and military costs of the war, and perhaps prevented it altogether.

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4. Open debate is crucial for avoiding strategic tunnel vision. The Bush administrationand much of Congressfailed to place the problem of Iraq in the broader context of Americas interests and role in the world. This strategic tunnel vision helped justify terribly high human and financial costs, while blinding those who favored the invasion to the ways it would damage other vital U.S. interests, such as the need to destroy al-Qaida, the preservation of a rules-based international order, and diplomatic relations with allies and adversaries. One of the main reasons U.S. leaders developed strategic tunnel vision was that they sidelined serious critics. For example, former Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs and current director of the CIA William J. Burns wrote a now legendary memo outlining the risks of war, only to be ignored. Secretary of State Colin Powell also reportedly didnt feel comfortable telling Bush he opposed the war. In the United Kingdom, the Blair government made the same mistake, ignoring or sidelining internal critics who questioned the march toward war. A more open debate about the policy options that included these critics would have provided crucial geopolitical context, underscoring the longer term risks and potential consequences of the war.

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5. Wars always take longer and cost more than expected. The Iraq War was supposed to last weeks to months, but it lasted a decade, if not more, depending on how one counts. Other wars, such as the Kosovo intervention a few years earlier, the Libya intervention a few years later, and the concurrent Afghanistan war also lasted much longer than initially planned (World War I was famously supposed to end in a few months, but lasted four of the most costly years in human history). Pressed for action during a crisis, U.S. political leaders tend to downplay the unanticipated costs and consequences of war in the long term. Iraq should serve as a warning of the dangers of doing so.

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Lessons like these should resonate with U.S. leaders today.

For example, when it comes to Iran, the many imperfections of the nuclear deal may be vexing, but the alternatives would be much worse. Pretending otherwise may have some limited deterrent effect on Tehran, but Iraq is a clear reminder of how disastrous it would be if the United States ends up having to act on its own bluff. Similarly, the One China policy, which acknowledges Chinas position that Beijing is the only government of China, is fraught. But who has a better alternative?

Anxiety about the state of American democracy is meanwhile feeding fears about the broader world. President Joe Biden has likened arms for Ukraine to defending freedom itself, and framed the current global moment as a struggle between autocracy and democracyjust as Bush once framed the so-called global war on terror. This is a deeply problematic framing, at once impossible to implement and yet hostile to many nations, especially after Americas regime-change operation in Iraq.

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President Donald Trump threw multilateralism out the window, and no one in the Republican Party today seems ready to retrieve it. The Iraq War is an object reminder of how damaging an activist Republican foreign policy could be if unilateralist impulses are not tempered. There is a venerable Republican tradition of multilateral diplomacy, a tradition once practiced skillfully by President George H.W. Bush. Republicans should recover it.

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As in Iraq, todays wars are also certain to last much longer and cost much more than anticipated. The war in Ukraine is poised to continue for many years, a fact that should raise questions about whether the United States and its allies are doing enough to bring the fighting to an end. Meanwhile, many members of Congress, eager to demonstrate their anti-China bona fides, are blithely ignoring how long and costly war with China would actually be. They do so at everyones peril.

Unless lessons from the Iraq War are fully understood and retained, the United States runs the risk of blundering again. This should be concerning, because the tragedy of Iraq would pale in comparison to an ill-conceived war in todays era of great power competition.

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One way to understand the current crisis in France is to know that the country has never had a lame-duck president. Emmanuel Macron is the first head of state to win reelection since the country barred serving three consecutive terms in 2008. In 2027, hes out.

Not having to face the voters again can imply a kind of political incapacity, and that is where Macron found himself last week, as his bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 appeared uncertain of passing the countrys splintered National Assembly. Spirited and disruptive demonstrators around the country protested the measure. The left-wing alliance refused to work with him; far-right leader Marine Le Pen promised to undo the law if elected president in four years. Even Macrons natural allies, the right-wing Republicains, were abandoning shipdespite supporting a similar proposal during last years elections. What was Macrons favor worth? Not much, apparently.

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Then again, being free from electoral politics can also liberate a man to make unpopular decisions, which is exactly what Macron did next. His own party, Renaissance, does not have a majority in the assembly, so he directed Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to ram the bill through without a vote last Friday, under a Gaullist loophole known as 49.3. The pension reform, which bumps up the age to receive social security from 62 to 64, is opposed by almost 3 in 4 French people. But now, barring court intervention, it is law.

And yet things hardly seem settled. French labor unions have staged a series of strikes and peaceful demonstrations since January, but the tone of last weekends protestsmostly, cops cracking heads during small standoffs in major citiesfelt a little more ominous. Targeted strikes by workers at oil refineries and trash haulers in cities are beginning to have an effect, with some drivers waiting as long as an hour to fill up, and black plastic icebergs of garbage blocking sidewalks around Paris. On Thursday, another national mobilization is scheduled, even as the government says it will force workers back on the job. Already, the French are bracing for a repeat of 2018s yellow vest movement, a violent, leaderless series of protests that rocked French cities in 2018.

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Devant le depot a Fos sur-Mer, CGT versus CRS pic.twitter.com/69pVjYobsT  Cole Stangler (@ColeStangler) March 21, 2023

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If the pension law itself is unloved, the method of passing itusing the 49.3 procedure to bypass a votehas generated almost universal disgust and risks turning a large but peaceful protest movement into something more disruptive. Macrons allies have tried, unconvincingly, to defend this choice, arguing that opponents made debate impossible, that the bill was a compromise, and that it passed the French Senate, so thats good enough, right? On Monday, after the 49.3 was met with two no-confidence measures with the power to bring down the government, Borne tried to frame those votes as the assemblys chance to vote on pension reform. The government survived, narrowly.

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Its not hard to understand the anger on the left. After begging for left-wing votes to squeeze past Marine Le Pen in last years presidential runoff, Macron and his top aides have routinely painted the left and the far right as equivalent threats to the republic. After a campaign slogan of togethernessAll of Usand a pledge to reinvigorate French democracy, Macron was afraid to even bring his flagship reform to a vote. Mathilde Panot, the president of the left-wing France Unbowed group in the assembly, compared Macron with Albert Camus Caligula on Monday: The people are watching you. Theyre looking at you like someone who has betrayed them, with a mix of anger and disgust.

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Nor is it hard to grasp the giddy opportunism on the far right, where Marine Le Pen has successfully transcended her familys fascist history and her own anti-immigrant rhetoric. She has lost to Macron twice, but her share of the vote jumped by 8 percentage points between 2017 and 2022 as more and more disillusioned workers joined her coalition of hardcore reactionaries.* Macron once promised to hold back the extreme right; now he has given them two big gifts at oncepassing a hated reform, and diminishing confidence in the democratic system. Le Pens National Rally party voted against the measure, but she will be happy to see it become law.

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Somewhat more mysterious is the behavior of the right-wing party, or what remains of it. The Gaullists have several members in Macrons cabinet and little daylight between the presidents priorities and their ownthey have consistently agitated for raising the retirement age, for example. Macron saw them as obvious partners of his own centrist party, but they wilted as the reform got hot. Uncertainty about their intentions compelled Borne to skip the vote entirely, and members barely came through for the government in Mondays no-confidence vote, which failed by just nine votes in a body with 577 members.

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Finally, there is the great enigma, Macron himself. He has been almost absent from the debate these past months, focused on other matters as if to reinforce the perception that pension reform is not the days most important subject. Indeed: Climate change, the cost of living, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine are the top issues in France right now. So why did the president burn so much political capital on a measure that seems to please only future paper-pushers at the countrys social security administration, while chaining the countrys working class to their jobs for two more years?

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Macrons party has tried, unsuccessfully, to convince lawmakers, the press, and the public that the pension system is on the verge of collapse, that this is the only way to fix it, and that it must be fixed to permit big investments in clean energy and other public spending. Few are buying it. The most likely explanation for Macrons pursuit of this pyrrhic victory is probably some combination of hubris and miscalculation. The miscalculation: He believed that the law could pass with a healthy majority, undermining protesters claims to represent popular authority. The hubris: He believed he had a mandate, after winning 59 percent of the vote last year, when in reality millions of left-wing voters held their noses and supported him just to stop Marine Le Pen.

Over the weekend, the head of Macrons party in the National Assembly, Aurore Berge, said on the radio: On Monday, were moving on to something new. Unlikely.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, dozens of reports from red states have told of hospitals withholding care from pregnant patients until they are hemorrhaging or suffering catastrophic infections, lest the doctors be prosecuted for providing an illegal abortion. When confronted with these effects of abortion bans, anti-abortion advocates often blame the doctors for misinterpreting the law. There are exceptions for medical emergencies, they say, and it should be easy enough for a doctor to tell when a patient is in deep enough danger to protect her medical team from possible prison time.

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This is a mealy-mouthed attempt at misdirection. Health crises are never so predictable and containable; they do not progress in linear fashion, with easy off-ramps at every level of endangerment. But anti-abortion conservatives would never admit this, because it would imperil their entire mythology of pregnancy. So they pretend that their laws will never endanger patients lives and issue grave, self-exonerating statements when faced with an anecdote to the contrary.

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Most of the time, that is. In Oklahoma, a recent set of chilling dissents from right-leaning justices shamelessly lays plain how the anti-abortion movement justifies its assault on pregnant peoples right to life.

The dissents come from the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which ruled 54 this week that the states near-total abortion ban must include an exception for cases in which there is a reasonable degree of medical certainty or probability that a pregnancy would endanger a patients life, whether due to a current medical condition or to one that would likely arise later in the pregnancy. Previously, the justices explained in their ruling, Oklahoma law only allowed exceptions when patients were in actual and present danger.

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This ruling will hopefully provide clarity to doctors and save some patients from undue suffering and mortal peril. But to the four Republican-appointed conservatives who dissented from the majority ruling, the question of whether women should be forced to risk their livesfor a fetus that, in many cases, would stand no chance of survival outside the wombshouldnt have been any of their business.

The Oklahoma Constitution, as currently worded, does no expressed or hiddent [sic] establish a fundamental abortion right under any circumstance. Any change to that status quo must come from the people or their elected representatives, writes Chief Justice M. John Kane IV in his dissent.

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On the surface, such a proclamation seems sensible and straightforward. But in the context of an abortion ban exception to preserve a patients life, Kanes argument takes on a new tenor. If a patient does not have the right to abortion under any circumstance, unless the privilege is granted to her by the people and their legislators, the people and their legislators could legally force her to die.

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If Kane had his way, that possibility would remain on the table. The unborn have no voice, say, or consideration in the opinion of the majority, he writes, urging Oklahoma to commence the thorny medical, philosophical, and practical debate of balancing the developing life of the unborn against the life of the mother. But, he cautioned, there is no right to any abortioneven a lifesaving oneto consider as part of that dialogue.

Justice Dana Kuehn offered a similar take in her own dissent. Even if she believed that the Oklahoma Constitution included the right to a lifesaving abortion, she writes, she would not support the courts attempt to define what a lifesaving abortion is: That task belongs to either the people or their legislative representatives.

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Elsewhere in her dissent, Kuehn writes, The Legislature and people of Oklahoma have had over a century to preserve this exception as a Constitutional right. They have not done so.

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In other words: If Oklahomans want to sentence pregnant women to death, let them go ahead and do it.

The four dissenters in the ruling write that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has no right to make policy; that thats the job of elected lawmakers. The judges cloak their opposition to the majority opinion in arguments about the difference between a statutory allowance and a constitutional rightin other words, that just because lifesaving abortions were legal when the Oklahoma Constitution was written doesnt mean a right to a lifesaving abortion can be found in the state constitution.

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This is all a sham. Though justices do not write policy, it is the duty of a state Supreme Court to set the bounds of what policies can be enacted in that state. And a right to not die of a preventable pregnancy-related illness or infection could be found in any number of places in the Oklahoma Constitution. It could be found, for instance, as the majority writes, in the provision that reads, All persons have the inherent right to life. If women are persons, it stands to reason that their right to live supersedes the potential of a fetus developing inside a person with failing health to someday be born.

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But the dissenting justices wring their hands over that provision. Justice Richard Darby chastises the majority for failing to discuss any rights as they may apply to the unborn child or any interest of the state. (Emphasis his.) To be clear, he writes, the States interest is in protecting the life of the unborn child. In Darbys society, the state has no position on the life or death of the woman.

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Kuehn, meanwhile, believes the problem of an ailing pregnant patient has no clear right or wrong answer. Under some rare and terrible circumstances, peoples rights to life may conflict, she writes. How do we balance that?

She goes on to describe a situation in which the abortion ban exception might be used: when a mother must make the horrific decision to choose between her own life and that of her child. Kuehn calls it perhaps the most difficult choice a mother will ever have to make.

There are myriad ways in which a pregnant person might respond to the news that she needs an abortion to preserve her health. Many people surely react with uncertainty, anger, denial, and grief; some may consider continuing a pregnancy even as they face their own imminent demise. But it strikes me as a grievous insult and a profound devaluing of human life to suggest, as Kuehn does here, that a pregnant patient on the brink of death should find it difficult to ask her medical team to save her life.

The foul belief at the heart of anti-abortion politics is rarely stated so blatantly: that a pregnant persons life is no more valuable than an embryoand that even if a fetus cannot survive outside her body, a woman might honorably be forced to die, on principle, to save it.
On Tuesday, it was reported by NBC News that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to recover at a rehabilitation center after his fall at a restaurant in Washington earlier this month. McConnell spoke with fellow Republican Senators over the phone from the facility and sounded like Mitch, according to Senate Minority Whip John Thune.

The news brought to mind McConnells exceptional instincts as a political calculator, and in particular his past cynical and perhaps prescient deliberations concerning his own health. In 2020, amid reports that McConnell had visited Johns Hopkins in Baltimore after concerning photos were published showing intense bruising on one of his hands, the Kentucky Republican began a campaign to pressure the GOP-controlled Kentucky Legislature to change that states law to remove from the governorwho is a Democratthe authority to select a candidate to fill the unexpired term of a departing U.S. senator. The ability of the governor to appoint a nominee to fill the unexpired term of a senator without restrictions is the law in 35 states.

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But McConnell urged, and the Kentucky Legislature took the step of changing that states lawoverriding the veto of the governor to do soin a way that assured that Republicans would maintain control of McConnells seat should it become vacant.

This effortto remove powers from elected representatives who are Democratshas become the new method of disenfranchising voters and maintaining perpetual Republican political power. And it is being undertaken with alarming frequency and speed across the country. This may be the most dangerous and efficient structural attack on our democracy. Its threat, and pernicious ingenuity, lies in its ability to make voting itself irrelevant. Voters may turn out in high numbers and elect their candidates of choice, but if the official is not one whose views align with those of the Republican Party, they may find that their powers of office are removed by antagonistic GOP-controlled legislatures.

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We have seen this phenomenon most readily applied to so-called progressive prosecutors who have run successfully on platforms of criminal justice reform across the country. Progressive prosecutors have refused to prosecute low-level marijuana possession crimes, have embraced diversion programs, have opened conviction integrity units to review prior prosecutions for violations of law, and have prosecuted police officers for brutality. For embracing these and other reforms, progressive prosecutors have been confronted with an array of efforts to remove their power. Prosecutors who prosecute or investigate the wrong kinds of criminal suspects in the eyes of Republican legislators have also received this treatment.

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Aramis Ayala became the first Black elected prosecutor in the state of Florida when she was elected in 2016 as states attorney for Orange and Osceola counties. One of her early announcements was that she would no longer pursue death sentences in capital cases. She argued that seeking the death penalty in homicide cases was draining the coffers of the county, in addition to many other flaws. Indeed, one study found that Osceola County had more prisoners on death row than over 99 percent of U.S. counties. The Republican attorney general of Florida and, subsequently, Republican Gov. Rick Scott and then Gov. Ron DeSantis removed from Ayala all first-degree murder cases and transferred them to a prosecutor in a different circuit.

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St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who won reelection with 70 percent of the vote in 2020, meanwhile, has faced down efforts by the Missouri attorney general, several judges, and the Legislature to remove her power to prosecute felony crimes and to render ineffective her conviction integrity unit. She first entered the crosshairs of opponents when she aggressively sought to investigate and prosecute a Republican former governor for sexual misconduct, allegations that a bipartisan investigative committee found highly credible. Gardner has admitted to making errors in her investigation and was admonished by the bar. Then, after doggedly and ultimately successfully investigating and then advocating for the release of an innocent man prosecuted by a prior circuit attorney, Gardner generated even greater opposition from the Republican attorney general. Now a bill in the Republican-dominated Legislature would remove all serious criminal cases from Gardners authority, and the attorney general has filed a petition to remove her from office.

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Other prosecutors have faced similar efforts. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, not widely regarded as a reform prosecutor, made the presumably unpardonable decision to convene a grand jury to investigate the effort of Donald Trump to compel Georgia officials to fraudulently award him votes he did not win in the 2020 election. In the wake of what were reported to be imminent indictments resulting from Willis investigations, the Georgia Legislature passed a legally dubious bill that would create commissions empowered to remove elected prosecutors from office.

Indeed, bills have been filed in more than a dozen states to remove power from reform-minded prosecutors from Polk County, Iowa, to Mississippi. Black women prosecutors have been the high-profile face of the targets of these challenges. But other reform-minded prosecutors have also faced well-financed recall or Republican legislative impeachment efforts since 2020.

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This attack on the authority of prosecutors is a rule-of-law crisis, to be sure. Indeed, the virtual silence of organizations like the National Association of District Attorneys in the wake of these attacks reflects a concerning inertia within the profession. But it would be a mistake to see this purely as an attack on prosecutors. It is part of a larger anti-democratic power grab that threatens our democracy by ensuring one-party rule, no matter the outcome of elections.

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In Wisconsin in 2018, former Republican Gov. Scott Walker used the lame duck session to sign bills stripping power from the newly elected Democratic governor to change policies around health care, welfare, and economic development, and to allow one of the most gerrymandered Republican-controlled legislatures in the country the right to intervene in certain cases challenging state laws. Walker may have copied this move from the outgoing Republican governor of North Carolina, who, as he departed office in 2016, signed billsagain passed by a heavily gerrymandered Republican-controlled Legislaturelimiting incoming Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers cabinet appointment power, and ensured that the state elections board would remain under the control of Republicans.

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Back in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear has also seen the Republican-controlled general assembly pass bills that strip additional powers long held by governors. The new laws would prevent anyone but the state attorney general (currently Republican Daniel Cameron) from using public funds to challenge the constitutionality of laws passed by the general assembly. Another new law would remove the power of the governor to approve contracts and tax-incentive agreements entered into by the executive branch. Still another, filed on the day Beshear won election, strips away the governors ability to select his own secretary of transportation.

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Which brings us back to McConnell, who indeed may have patented the modern version of this viral form of voter suppression. It was McConnell who, in essence, removed the power of a sitting president to fill an open seat on the United States Supreme Court when he refused to allow hearings and consideration of President Obamas nominee, then-Judge Merrick Garland. In essence, the Republicans declared that a Democratic president would be denied the constitutional power to appoint justices to the Supreme Court as long as the GOP controlled the Senate.

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One final and important point: We have seen this particular tactic before, in the late 1980s, when a wave of successful voting rights cases resulted in the election of some of the first Black officials in local offices in the South. One such place was Etowah County, Alabama, where for the first time a Black person was elected to serve on the County Commission. Traditionally each county commissioner in Etowah had full power and authority over construction, roads, equipment, and contracts in their commission district. But after the election of the first Black commissioner, the majority-white commission voted that such powers would now be held by the full commission, ensuring that the new Black commissioner could exercise authority only if approved by the majority white commission.

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Now this practice of power reallocation, as with all voter-suppression techniques first workshopped on Black communities in the South, has metastasized into a national phenomenon. Unchecked, it will make the act of voting a Potemkin exercise and upend the very concept of representative government. This is an efficiently sinister effort to solidify one-party rule. Its geographic breadth and reach to offices both high and low requires a national legislative response. With Republicans in control of the House of Representatives, the prospects are dim. But this should be powerful motivation for congressional Democratsand, indeed, for all Americans who wish to live in a democracyto turn out and vote this year and next, in essence to save the framework of democracy while theres still time. It should be clear now that for the foreseeable future, democracy remains on the ballot.
Its become axiomatic in our political discourse that one of the reasons the anti-abortion crowd became so powerfully persuasive in the decades after Roe is that claiming to speak for a fetus is rhetorically unassailable. If every fertilized egg is a human life, nobody can claim to understand its preferences and hopes and dreams, so substituting the voice of the movement is a simple matter: All fertilized eggs want to live and thrive, goes the theory. End of policy debate.

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This is why, as Barney Frank famously put it, these people believe that life begins at conception and ends at birth. Its why the quote from Dave Barnhart that went viral right before Roe was overturned is still so perfectly apt. As the pastor put it:

The unborn are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they dont resent your condescension or complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows, they dont ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans, they dont need money, education, or childcare; unlike aliens, they dont bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus, but actually dislike people who breathe. Prisoners? Immigrants? The sick? The poor? Widows? Orphans? All the groups that are specifically mentioned in the Bible? They all get thrown under the bus for the unborn.

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The emptiness of this interest in life is also why so many anti-abortion politicians mouthed platitudes after Dobbs about their increased focus on poverty, food insecurity, and maternal and child healthand why very little of this has actually materialized.

But what many of us have missed is that the tactic of protecting the voiceless innocent unborn has now been deployed to deprive actual living, breathing, ambulating humans of moral agency as well. Its the tactic being used to ban books, to silence teachers, to go after drag performances, to deny health care to families seeking to support trans kids. The notion that everyone must be protected from a scourge of immorality is, in some ways, old wine in a new bottle. But it is also a creeping form of illiberalism that ensures that for some GOP politicians, we all remain fetuses forever.

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It was, of course, never even true that pro-lifers could speak for all fetuses. As we are increasingly being made aware, wanted fetuses can become children with lives so difficult that it is unclear they really did want to be alive. Wanted fetuses can become medical emergencies for mothers who might not be prepared to sacrifice their own lives for the chance of a fetus life. There has been shockingly little attention paid to these facts and scenarios, which are always complicated and frequently heartbreaking.

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But as we hear Republican politicians gunning to hide books about race from children in Florida, or deny gender-affirming health care to trans families, or ban drag shows, their rationale continues to be that everyone is a baby. Teenagers are now de facto babies, but lately, so are their parents.

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Here is an example. In Georgia this week, voting to ban gender-affirming care for anyone under 18, Republican Rep. Josh Bonner said this: As parents, our role is to help our kids navigate through the confusion of growing up in a society that is often oversexualized and wants to place children in situations to make adult decisions they are not capable of making. Under this construction of the case, its not just teens, but also their parents who are the childrenwho cannot even be trusted to make decisions about how to make decisions themselves.

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In Florida this week, defending his deliberately confusing and chaos-ridden program of book bans in schools, Gov. Ron DeSantis said this: I just think parents, when theyre sending their kids to school, they should not have to worry about this garbage being in the schools and that I think, though, there is a concerted effort to bring some of this sexualization into the classroom, particularly in these young grades. But of course the lists of books that have been removed from classrooms and libraries are not limited to porn and filth, as PEN America has meticulously detailed. (HB 1467 mandates that any library or instructional books must be reviewed by a district employee with a valid educational media specialist certificate to make sure that they dont contain porn or the fact that racism exists.) As a result, Florida textbooks are being edited so that someday schoolchildren may be spared the sentence, explaining Rosa Parks, that African Americans had to give up their seats on the bus if a white person wanted to sit down, in favor of the sentence She was told to move to a different seat. We are all the innocent unborn, deeply in need of protection, now.

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Getting from parental rights to book bans means deploying, again, the meaningless language of grooming and Marxism and CRT and the sexualization of teenagers that reduces both them, and the parents who choose to send them to public school, to fetuses, with no moral agency to think or speak for themselves. Joan Walsh recently quoted the leader of a group called No Left Turn in Education who disrupted a Clay County School Board meeting last summer in his efforts to get the memoir Lucky, by Alice Sebold, banned because of its rape scene.* His rationale? They are trying to sexualize and normalize deviant behavior, he told reporters. Sexualizing our children is grooming. It is not acceptable. It is illegal. (The book in fact does the opposite of normalizing deviant behavior.)

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Same story with the drag show bans sweeping the country. As the Texas Tribune recently reported, most opposition to drag events has been driven by anti-LGBTQ groups that deliberately mischaracterize them as efforts to groom and harm children:

The Texas Tribune reviewed more than two dozen anti-drag incidents, including protests and online harassment campaigns, that have occurred in the state since the beginning of Pride Month last June. Taken together, they show how a small but influential cadre of activists and extremist groups have fueled anti-drag panic by routinely characterizing all drag as inherently and nefariously sexual regardless of the content or audience. Those claims have then been used to justify harassment and legislation targeting the LGBTQ community as a whole, often under the guise of protecting kids. At least a quarter of the anti-drag incidents have been directed at events that organizers say are not even remotely sexual: drag queen story hours, where performers read childrens books, often at a library or bookstore, in an effort to promote literacy. Prominent anti-drag figures have made it clear that they think drag is obsceneregardless of the context.

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Live human children, who have functioning human parents who either choose to take them to these events or do not, are being protected here, from being the ones to make decisions about their own lives. The opponents who insert themselvesinto protected free-speech activity, by the wayhave erased the moral will and decision-making choices of any player in this drama; have reduced them to nothing, zygotes in fluid. Their clarion call for parents rights now excludes parents. Who is being treated like a fetus now?

Once you are introducing policies that regard both teenagers and their adult parents as incapable of reasoned decision making, you are committing the very same ethical fallacy for which Barnhart called out pro-lifers: You are claiming to love American teenagers and their parents, and you are advocating for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone.

We are all fetuses now. American teens and, increasingly, their grown parents have become, as Barnhart so aptly put it, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus, but actually dislike people who breathe.
The two-day summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping seemed to be, from start to finish, an escapade of pomp and circumstance, sound and fury, signifying  well, not quite nothing, but much less than many had hoped or feared.

Putin was hoping that Xi would come to Russias aid in its war on Ukraine and shower its army with modern working weapons, as the West has done for Kyiv. But nothing was said of that in either leaders concluding remarks or their very detailed nine-page joint statement.

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In fact, to the extent the joint statement mentioned the Ukraine war at all, it was mainly to call for a resumption of peace talks (with no details beyond those of Xis non-starter proposal of a month ago). It also restated the axiom that a nuclear war cannot be won (thus undermining Putins nuclear-threat red lines) and cited U.N. resolutions on the preservation of territorial integrity (which readers might justifiably take as a finger-wag at Russia).

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The statement did, however, trace the war to NATOs expansion and the United States proclivity for containing and encircling all its enemies, including Russia and Chinaand that is where Xis interests seem to lie in all this.

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He has tied a knot of sorts with Putin as a way of keeping the Americans focused on Europe, and thus distracted from Chinas activities in East Asia. He is tightening this knot a bit by promising economic investment in Russia, which Putin desperately seeks in order to counter the Western sanctions imposed since his invasion a year and a month ago.

But Xi made clear that China is not opening or expanding a military relationship with Russia. The joint statement mentioned myriad fields in which the two counties will forge a closer partnershipenergy, civil aviation, car manufacturing, metallurgy, port-traffic capacity, rail and sea cargo, and agriculture, to cite a few.

And yet that long list contains nothing about military assistance. As if to stress that this omission was deliberate, the spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry tweeted on Wednesday, the morning after the summits conclusion:

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China has no selfish agenda on the Ukraine issue. We did not stand by, nor did we add fuel to the fire, or exploit the situation for selfish gain. All that we have done boils down to supporting talks for peace.

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Also, the joint statement that was issued by the two sides at the end of the summit was remarkably vague about the nature of this new relationship. Take this example:

The two sides pointed out that the Sino-Russian relationship is not similar to the military and political alliance during the Cold War, but transcends this model of state relations and has the nature of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and not-targeting of third countries. The China-Russia relationship is mature, stable, independent, and tenacious. It has withstood the test of the new [COVID] epidemic and the vicissitudes of the international situation. It is not affected by external influences and has shown vitality.

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This sounds very much like a philanderer telling his latest squeeze, whos desperate for a sign of commitment, that they dont need a ring to display their affection because theyre beyond such showy symbolism.

However, this passage does conclude with a pragmatic and somewhat worrisome statement (its why I said up top that the summit did not quite amount to nothing): Russia needs a prosperous and stable China, and China needs a strong and successful Russia.

The wording is intriguingly precise. Nobody is pretending that Russia is prosperous and stable; those are adjectives that describe modern-day China and that make it clear to one and all that Beijing is the dominant player in this partnership. What China needs out of this relationship is a Russia thats strong and successful enough to keep the U.S. preoccupied with Europe and thus less attentive in its efforts to contain China in Asia. Xi will help Putin survive the storm economically, and thus remain in power, for this broad strategic aim.

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This is hardly the most solid foundation for a strategic partnership. There are many avenues for Washington to carve out if it wishes to reduce tensions with Beijingif just to the point where both sides can pursue common interests and reduce the chances of U.S.-China conflict.

But if one reason for the sanctions against Russia was to weaken Putins ability to sustain the war, then Chinas economic assistanceeven if coupled with no military aid beyond, maybe, a small number of droneswill help shore up Putin and keep the Russian army fighting. In other words, the Xi-Putin summit suggests the war is going to last for a while longer.
It was 7 a.m. when Benjamin Perkins parents got an alarming call. The person on the other end of the line identified themselves as a lawyer and said Perkin had killed a U.S. diplomat in a car accident, was in jail, and needed money for legal fees. The lawyer then put Perkin on the phone. Hey Mom and Dad, I love you. I appreciate you. I need this money, he said. A few hours later, the lawyer called back, requesting $15,000 that same day to get Perkin out of jail. Yes, I need the money, Perkin assured his parents.

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Perkins parents were terrified. They had a brief moment of wondering if this could possibly be a scam, but they remembered that the voice on the phone sounded just like their sons. They quickly got the money from a bank and sent it through a Bitcoin terminal, as instructed. A few hours later, the real Perkin made his regular phone call to his parents, just checking in. Thats when they realized theyd been scammed. It wasnt Perkin on the phone that morningbut it did sound like him, thanks to A.I.

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On Sundays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Pranshu Verma, a reporter for the Washington Post, about how generative A.I. has made it frighteningly easy to replicate someones voice, creating a powerful new tool for scammers. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Lizzie OLeary: How does this technology work?

Pranshu Verma: Essentially, you take 30 seconds, a minute, a few minutes of a persons voice. You can find that on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube  You upload it to a website. And then that A.I. software analyzes everything that makes your voice uniquehow old you are, your accent, your gender, your regional differences, every little part of your voice. Then, it goes into a vast database of voices that it has analyzed. After that, if youre going to say, for example, the word hello, it knows how you would say hello, how every little phoneme might sound. Using these online tools, you can type in Hi, Im in danger, and using a clone voice, you can make it say that.

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How common are these types of A.I. scams?

Its so new, and its really hard to say how common it is. After I published my story, I got several emails of people saying that theyve filed police reports because theyve been victim to similar scams. But the thing is, we know so little about these scams. One, because its so new, and two, by the time the crime has been committed, you dont have much information for the police to go off of. Three, if youre submitting a complaint to the FTC, youre explaining to them what you think happened. People dont really have a good idea yet of whether theyre victims of an A.I. voice-cloning scam. For example, one of the grandmothers I talked to in the beginning didnt know it was an A.I. voice-cloning scam. She thought maybe these scammers call anybody, and when they find somebody to pick up the phone, they can somehow analyze who that person is, and then theres a way to pretend that theyre somebody else. Its really hard for people to know whats happened to them.

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Is there any way to know whos behind these things? Often scams are part of organized criminal syndicates. Do we know that in this case?

We dont know this yet. According to experts that weve talked to, it probably is similar to what weve seen other imposter scams be, which are large criminal syndicates that can operate domestically or internationally. They can spoof phone numbers, and they have whole elaborate setups to take advantage of, often, the elderly.

You found most of the scam victims in your story on TikTok and YouTube, in part because that was the only avenue they had to tell their stories and warn other people.

Heres the thing: If you lose money, you go to the police, and then the police want to know how to investigate it. We talked to somebody who had two decades of experience in consumer fraud, and they said, even if you lose $20,000, yes, its devastating for that grandmother or that father or mother who loses that money, but for a police organization, if theyre small, they might not have a dedicated team to track down consumer fraud. If theyre big, they have other priorities, too. Do they put three detectives on the case with no information, potentially a spoof phone number, no idea where that phone numbers from, no other leads? They have to weigh the resources, and so thats why you have people sometimes falling between the cracks.

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One of the things that I think is so fascinating and scary about this is how easy the technology is to use. I used a company called ElevenLabs, took a 30-second clip of you, and was able to make a cloned version of your voice. (We reached out to ElevenLabs for comment, but we didnt hear back by recording time.) What is the positive use case that companies put out there for their product?

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Were still figuring what the positive use cases are. If you watch Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer, for example, wasnt able to speak for parts of that, but they recreated his voice. They had a lot of Val Kilmers voice to go off of from his previous movies, and now with an actor that cant speak anymore, were able to recreate his voice.

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But the higher-profile use of this technology, at least right now, is to make deep fakes.

Things like Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama debating the best fast-food chains, or Joe Rogan selling libido-boosting coffee on TikTok. Its not hard to imagine internet trolls using this tech to cause real havoc or more sophisticated groups using it for disinformation. Has that happened yet?

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ElevenLabs, for example, has gotten a lot of heat in the past month or so because somebody recreated Emma Watsons voice saying passages from Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf. She never said any of that. Now imagine that taken to the nth degree: An election happens, a politician says something that they would never say, and then that spreads over WhatsApp or whatever. And thats possible, because the guardrails still arent as good yet. ElevenLabs has put in some guardrails. They say, If you have a free account with the company, you cant recreate voices like this, but the next level up of an account is just $5, so thats not too prohibitive. People are trying to put watermarks in these types of audio saying, Oh, its A.I.-generated. But by the time you have a convincing-sounding thing spreading on the internet or on WhatsApp channels, the damage is often already done. The industry is having to grapple with whether this should be so easy to do and how to actually protect it.

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Is there any regulation of this?

Unfortunately, not that Im aware of. Our politicians are still trying to figure out how to regulate social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I have, personally, no idea when theyre going to get around to actually regulating generative artificial intelligence. There are some bits of chatter in the Supreme Court about hints that generative artificial intelligence companies should be responsible for the content that they help create. But again, this is still so early. We dont see much by way of federal regulation yet, and right now its on the individual companies to do that.

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A.I. is so hot right now. There has to be some awareness on Capitol Hill or in the agencies that this is a force that they are going to have to reckon with soon. Do you see that seeping into general consciousness?

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Yeah, I am seeing that seep into agencies like the FTC, the FBI. They are aware, and the hard part is that they need people to be vigilant. People are their best advocates, so they have offered very specific ways of protecting yourself. They all say, If you ever get a call from a loved one asking for money, pause that call right away and then call that loved one yourself. Call that number that you know, and confirm that its actually them. If somebodys asking you to give money in the form of a gift card or at some weird locationto go to a Bitcoin terminal or go meet in a car someplacebe incredibly suspicious. Trust your gut here.

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Informally, weve actually heard a lot of families who, in order to protect their elders, have created somewhat of a safe word. So the son or the daughter might say, Hey, Mom, Dad, if Im actually at risk, Im going to say the word pineapple, and thats how youll know that its actually me asking for money. People are trying to find creative ways to actually get through this, which is very interesting and engaging, but also very sad that we have to create safe words right now to ensure that the conversations we have are trustworthy.

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What do the victims of these scams want people to know?

Be vigilant. When it comes to money, dont trust that the person over the phone is who they say they are, unless you verified it.

And I will say in both cases I reported on, people felt very embarrassed. There was a sense of shame and embarrassment because they felt like they had been duped by something they shouldnt have been duped by. So they wanted people to know: Dont feel personally shamed about this. This is really new stuff. Be vigilant, but understand that this is a whole new world were going into, and it comes with a lot of risks.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
This article is from Big Technology, a newsletter by Alex Kantrowitz.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew had one mission as he appeared before a House of Representatives committee on Thursday: Convince U.S. lawmakers that TikTok had some separation from its China-based parent company, ByteDance.

Chew was there because worries over Chinas ability to access TikTok user data, or influence its content filtering, has U.S. lawmakers, regulators, and the White House considering a ban or forced sale. Sound testimony from Chew couldve cooled the situation. Instead, he inflamed it.

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From the hearings first minutes, Chew made it clear that his power at the helm of TikTok is limited. He could not say definitively that TikTok wouldnt promote messages supporting Chinese hostilities toward Taiwan. He could not commit that TikTok wouldnt sell its data. He couldnt even clearly answer questions about who helped him prepare for the hearing.

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To those watching, Chew came off as someone struggling to discuss issues above his paygrade. Even as TikToks CEO, he didnt seem like the boss.

He doesnt run it, Geoffrey Cain, a senior fellow at the center-right pro-tech think tank Lincoln Network who briefed the committee last week, told me. I dont think hes fit for these hearings. Theres a reason [TikTok] didnt roll him out until now.

With TikToks lack of independence from ByteDance now even clearer in lawmakers heads, support to ban it in the U.S. will likely growas will speculation about what the move will mean for competitors like Facebook, YouTube, and othersbut theres a long road ahead until anything moves forward.

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The hearings took place as the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment, or CFIUS, reviews TikToks ability to operate in the country following its 2017 acquisition of Musical.ly, the merger that made the beloved app what it is today. That review has been underway for years, though. And while Chews performance might help the U.S. win more assurances from TikTok around data security, such promises may not mean much anymore.

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Congress is already working on backup plans in case it doesnt get what it wants from CFIUS. A bill called the RESTRICT Act thats making its way through Congress would empower the Commerce Department to ban technology from China, including TikTok. But given that 150 million Americans use TikTok, an outright ban would be politically tricky (though perhaps not impossible).

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Getting ByteDance to divest TikTok is one remaining option. The solution is the forced sale, said Cain. But that option is also challenging. Public investors own three-fifths of TikTok, employees own about one-fifth, as do its founders, according to the company. A state-owned Chinese company owns a 1 percent stake, something U.S. representatives brought up several times during Thursdays hearing. A forced sale would be difficult for a company with that structure to complete. The Chinese governments intent to fight such a sale would further complicate matters. So it might take an extreme event to push any plan into action.

The fact that this is all happening without any proof that TikTok is actually doing the things it might do is remarkable. It speaks to the flailing nature of the U.S.-China relationship, one that seems to be worsening as China has stood by Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. A similar attack on Taiwan by China would assuredly hasten any action the U.S. is contemplating against TikTok. But until then, the app will most likely continue on, gaining users and influence, marching toward an uncertain future with a figurehead at the helm.
Bill Gates wrote on his blog the significant advantage that artificial intelligence offer to boost human efficiency in the workplace.

The tech magnate underscored the rapid advancement in AI development by tech companies, but also acknowledged issues that need to be "fixed."

He urged governments and the private sector to collaborate to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence.

Bill Gates wrote on his blog on Tuesday that using artificial intelligence (AI) like Open AI's ChatGPT in the future will be similar to having a "white-collar worker" as an assistant.

The billionaire tech businessman and philanthropist wrote an in-depth piece on the potential, advantages, and dangers of generative AI systems, which are being developed by major technology companies nowadays that comprise the AI revolution.

The fast development of AI has many people concerned about the future of their employment in writing, translation, and customer support. But although AI will cause modifications in how work is done, Bill Gates thinks those adjustments won't be significant, according to Fortune.

Bill Gates underscored that while "humans are still better than GPT" in many ways, their exceptional talents are underutilized in many workplaces.

The founder of Microsoft added that sales and document processing professions involve decision-making but not continuous learning and AI may be taught with data sets to "empower" humans to perform their tasks "more efficiently," Business Insider reported.

A chatbot like OpenAI's ChatGPT will "increasingly be like having a white-collar worker available to you," Bill Gates stated in the blog.

The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other. https://t.co/uuaOQyxBTl  Bill Gates (@BillGates) March 21, 2023

Bill Gates pointed out in his blog post that several firms have been working on artificial intelligence or adding AI-related capabilities to their products recently.

Embracing The AI Revolution

This month, both Microsoft and Google made moves to incorporate artificial intelligence into their respective platforms, such as the chatbots Bing and Bard, when using their workplace applications.

The OpenAI chatbot ChatGPT has brought generative AI into the spotlight in recent months. ChatGPT can generate material in response to user requests and can generate content on a broad range of topics, per Fox Business. Microsoft is supporting OpenAI. Google's own Bard AI has started to roll out.

Read Also: TikTok Is Not China's 'Agent' Per Its CEO

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has just launched an AI-focused team that he says is for "building creative and expressive tools" in the short period and "developing AI personas" that can support people in several ways in the long run.

Bill Gates also predicted in his blog that during the next five to 10 years, artificial intelligence will be able to offer information that is personalized to each student's learning style and understand what inspires and disengages different learners.

Bill Gates Acknowledges Valid AI Concerns

Moreover, he said that the AI revolution could also empower educators with the development of artificial intelligence that can assist educators with lesson planning and checking for students' understanding of the material covered in class.

To ensure that pupils from low-income families are not left behind, Bill Gates argued that low-income schools both in the US and throughout the world will need to have equitable access to artificial intelligence.

Though the American business magnate praised artificial intelligence advancements, he acknowledged "understandable and valid" concerns and drawbacks.

He pointed out in his blog that artificial intelligence still has problems such as inaccuracy, "hallucinations," and a failure to understand the context. However, Bill Gates has said that technological difficulties can and will be fixed.

Bill Gates also said that governments and private businesses should work together to prevent AI from being used in ways that could be dangerous.

Related Article: Can ChatGPT-4 Take Your Job?

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
There are certainly business applications for drones. But there is a darker side to the unmanned flying devices as well.

Commercially available drones have the potential to be used to invade peoples privacy in a hostile or menacing way. Just the thought of drones in the wrong hands is terrifying.

However, the use of hostile unmanned aerial vehicles presents a unique opportunity for savvy entrepreneurs to develop a business offering ways to combat drones.

Only recently, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that over 300,000 drones were registered within the first month of instituting new regulations. That tells you drones are in sizable demand and are becoming affordable and more broadly available to the public.

Starting a business to combat drones that are considered to be hostile looks more and more like an increasingly viable business opportunity. Below are some business ideas to combat drones that you can use to become a drone entrepreneur.

Business Ideas to Combat Drones

1. Use Birds of Prey to Intercept Hostile Drones

The Dutch National Police reported recently they are exploring the possibilities of using birds of prey as interceptors of hostile drones. The project is an initiative of the Dutch police in collaboration with Guard From Above and the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Guard From Above is a pioneering company specializing in training birds of prey to intercept hostile drones, while TNO is involved in exploring the impact of the drones on the claws of the birds.

This initiative may suggest how you can carve out your own niche in the promising anti-drone industry, and provide innovative security solutions.

2. Offer Drone Detection and Radio Jamming Services

Passive countermeasures for combating hostile drones include the use of traditional radio jammers. Here, radar technologies and newer drone detection services like DroneShield are used to detect and jam the navigation system of hostile drones. DroneShield, for example, contains a database of common acoustic signatures unique to drones that alerts nearby security of the presence of a hostile drone.

You can provide a similar service offering to jam hostile drones, triangulate the identity and location of the pilot and direct law enforcement officers straight to them.

3. Manufacture, Sell, or Repair Anti-Drone Counter Measures

Active countermeasures for combating hostile drones include shooting them down. To shoot a drone down, you will need a proper weapon. Were not condoning or even suggesting grabbing a shotgun and aiming high in the air to take down drones, of course. Instead, some drones are being taken out of the sky using radio waves that specifically target drones.

You can start a similar business that provides affordable alternatives to bridge the gap between regular shotguns and truck-mounted anti-drone systems.

4. Start a Hostile Drone Netting Service

Another active defense counter-measure against hostile drones involves a predator anti-drone drone. (Say that three times fast!) The anti-drone vehicle fires a large net to reel in suspicious unmanned aircrafts and carry them away to safety. This approach has been used by the Tokyo police in collaboration with mechanical engineers from Michigan Technological University, who devised the predator drone. Tokyo police hope to use the anti-drone drones to capture hostile drones that may be lurking in sensitive areas like the airspace around the Japanese prime ministers office where an unmanned aircraft was intercepted in April of last year.

You could start a business that offers a similar drone netting service to counter industrial espionage, terrorism and drug smuggling operations, and also to help enforce the new FAA drone regulations.

5. Become a Drone Hunter

In the not-so-distant future, drones will be everywhere. People will find they need to call professional drone control officers to take down hostile drones hovering in their backyards, or capture the drones safely, just like theyd call animal control to take care of rogue animals.

You could register a business that offers this service in your local area. A local drone control agency doesnt seem so far-fetched, especially considering people are already bringing down drones themselves and being acquitted of any wrongdoing by courts of law.
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If youre thinking of starting a photography business in 2023, you need the right equipment to get started. Each company and niche will have different needs. But there are several basic categories that most photographers will have to consider. This professional photography supplies list includes several categories as you set up and grow your business.

The Photography Industry in 2023

Professional photography is in high demand in several industries in 2023. Businesses require professional photos for everything from product pages to social media content. Photographers also produce content for real estate agents, and special events and some even sell images or provide direct services to consumers. There is a steady demand for these services. And many photographers can even take advantage of multiple income streams at once.

Why You Should Consider a Photography Business

If youre thinking of starting a business in 2023, here are some reasons to consider photography:

Multiple ways to make money with photography: Sell photos, offer paid sessions, or cover special events. There are tons of ways to use your skills in different niches.

Sell photos, offer paid sessions, or cover special events. There are tons of ways to use your skills in different niches. Low barrier to entry: Though you can get a degree in photography, its not required. Consider just taking a photography business course online or at a local community college instead.

Though you can get a degree in photography, its not required. Consider just taking a photography business course online or at a local community college instead. Express your creativity: Photography involves artistic expression. So it can be an ideal business for creatives.

Photography involves artistic expression. So it can be an ideal business for creatives. Time and location flexibility: Many photographers set their own hours and can take jobs and edit from the locations of their choice.

Many photographers set their own hours and can take jobs and edit from the locations of their choice. Sustained demand: Theres a high demand for professional photographers in a variety of industries, from event planning to product photography.

Essential Professional Photography Equipment List

Before you can launch your new photo venture, its time to invest in quality materials. The exact items you need may depend on your niche. For example, product photography equipment often differs from the items used to shoot portraits. If youre ready to kick off your photo business, here are some photography supplies to add to your list.

Cameras

A quality camera is the backbone of any photo business. Some photographers use just one device with multiple accessories. And others have multiple cameras, like a DSLR and compact digital camera, to use for different occasions. Here are some types you may use:

Camera Hardware

Once you have the camera, you may also need some hardware to complete your setup. Here are some common types of camera hardware to consider:

Tripods

The right tripod can stabilize your camera and make it easier to get smooth shots. There are also specialized versions for specific types of shots or videos, like 360 product photography equipment. Here are some different types to consider:

Photography Lighting

If youre shooting indoors or in low-light conditions, you may need additional lighting equipment to supplement your shots. Here are some of the best studio lights for photography and other lighting accessories to consider:

Camera Lenses

Camera lenses attach to DSLR and mirrorless cameras to provide a certain look for each shoot. Many photographers use different lenses for various types of shoots, since you want a different look for food photos than you would for landscape shots. Its also important to ensure that each lens matches your camera. Here are some popular varieties to consider:

Filters

Filters change the appearance of images by slightly distorting what colors or visuals are captured. For example, some create the illusion of a light flare, while others change the color. Here are some popular types:

Photo Accessories

These smaller photo accessories may also come in handy in some niche situations:

Backdrops

Backdrops provide a steady base for studio portrait photography or product photos. These products vary widely by size, color, and material. But here are some popular products:

Props

Photo props add interest to a variety of photos. Simple cubes are often used to enhance product photography. And silly photo booth props can

Studio Space

Studio space can be useful for photographers that take portraits, product photos, or staged photo shoots. This isnt really a product to purchase, but rather a service to book as needed or to rent on an ongoing basis. Check your local community for lease or on-demand rental options if you dont have enough space in your home or office.

Transportation

Many photography businesses also require reliable transportation to get to and from events or photo shoots. This can include your own personal vehicle or public transit options. However, secure transit is often preferred when carrying bulky and/or valuable photography equipment.

Smartphone

Even if you use a larger professional camera for most of your photos, a smartphone is essential for sharing images and marketing your business. Additionally, many modern smartphones include quality cameras that you can use for a variety of purposes. Some of the best smartphones for photography include:

Photo Editing Software

Once you take photos, the right editing software can help you polish them. There are a variety of options at different price points and skill levels. Here are some top options:

Computer

A computer can provide storage space, editing capabilities, and options for marketing your photography business. Here are some popular options for photographers:

Photo Printer

You may also need a photo printer to provide physical copies of your work to clients or in marketing materials. The following devices provide a high level of quality:

Camera Bag and Storage

Once you have all of your photography gear in place, youll need a camera bag or storage solution to keep everything safe. Here are some main options for getting your cameras and accessories where they need to go safely:

See Also: 50 Outdoor Business Ideas to Start in 2023

Cleaning Supplies

Its also important to keep your professional photography equipment clean. The following camera cleaning supplies can provide a thorough clean or help you while youre out on shoots:

Save with Quality Used Photography Equipment

Used photography equipment can help you save money when getting your business off the ground. Certain items, like photo accessories, backdrops, and camera equipment can all be purchased new. Just look for sellers with high ratings and clear images of the products youre purchasing.

What type of camera do most professional photographers use?

Most professional photographers use DSLR or mirrorless cameras from the brands Nikon, Canon, and Sony. Popular models in 2023 include the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Sony a7III, and Nikon D850.

What is a professional photographers most important piece of equipment?

A photographers most important piece of equipment is a quality camera and lens. The best products vary based on your niche. But these items should be among the first you purchase.

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So youre interested in starting an online store. And finding an ecommerce supplier is one of the first steps you need to take. But if you cant produce your own items locally, dont worry. There are a ton of ecommerce suppliers including wholesale distributors, dropshippers and networks available. And they can help you find products to sell online.

Ecommerce Suppliers

Check out 50 of the top ecommerce suppliers. And they include a ton of variety for those with specific niches.

Alibaba

Alibaba offers a wholesale marketplace where you can find distributors for all different product niches. And they mostly work with Chinese suppliers and manufacturers. But you can easily compare options in a particular product or niche.

Oberlo

Oberlo offers a dropshipping service. And this connects directly with Shopify. But they offer a wide array of products. And these include everything from fashion to tech. They provide insights and analytics. And they offer easy to use tools for those on Shopify sites.

Dropship Direct

Dropship Direct connects with a ton of different suppliers around the world. And it facilitates easy functionality by connecting directly to your website.

Sunrise Wholesale

But Sunrise Wholesale offers another dropshipping option. And it helps you facilitate the sale of brand name products. So tons of different niches exist from tech to decor. And they offer technology to integrate directly into your shop.

eBay Business Supply

Now eBay does not serve as an actual supplier of products in this instance. But the ecommerce giant does offer a platform. And it helps businesses find wholesale products and supplies. So you can browse by industry. And compare options from different providers.

Doba

Doba focuses on connecting ecommerce suppliers with qualified manufacturers. And they handle all of the shipping and logistics for you. But they also integrate inventory. And integrate sales data right into your site.

SaleHoo

SaleHoo is a directory of product wholesalers that you can use to source products for your ecommerce site. They offer items from top brands like Disney, Samsung and Xbox.

Wholesale 2B

Wholesale 2B carries over one million products and facilitates dropshipping services for ecommerce sites. This site is known for having some of the most competitive prices.

AliExpress

AliExpress is actually owned by the Alibaba Group. So its based in China. And it offers a variety of products to international buyers.

Printify

Printify is a dropshipping and print on demand service for small businesses. You can have custom designs printed onto t-shirts and other products and have them shipped directly to buyers as they order.

Redbubble

Redbubble is another print on demand service that facilitates the delivery of products right to your customers. You can also place large wholesale orders and handle the logistics on your own.

Worldwide Brands

Worldwide Brands is a directory of wholesale distributors from around the globe. With more than 20 years in business, theyre one of the more established marketplaces out there. And you can use it to find either wholesalers or dropshippers.

Dropshipper.com

Dropshipper.com has an entire online database of products that you can add to your website and sell directly to customers. You can search for a specific type of product or just browse to find the best deals.

National Dropshippers

National Dropshippers offers a huge selection of products from their dropshipping warehouses. You can find everything from cell phones to outdoor equipment to offer your customers.

Wholesale Central

Wholesale Central is a directory of wholesale products. You can find items both from importers and domestic manufacturers in a variety of niches.

The Thomas Network

This option is actually a network of various ecommerce suppliers. The online directory includes suppliers from various industries, so you can browse or search to find the options that are best for your business.

Megagoods

A consumer electronics distributor, Megagoods provides brand name tech items that cover everything from kitchen gadgets to gaming accessories.

Investory Source

Investory Source is actually a dropship automation software. But it includes a built-in supplier network that you can use to find products and sync your orders with distributors.

See Also: Boost Your Ecommerce Business Sales With This Holiday Tips Ebook

Makers Row

Makers Row is a directory of American factories and manufacturing facilities. So you can use it to find domestically produced products that fit into your niche.

ChinaBrands.com

If youre interested in dropshipping products made in China, this site includes a huge array of items, from toys and games to clothing and accessories.

Made-In-China.com

Another option for made in China products, this site is a business sourcing platform that helps you connect with verified distributors.

Modalyst

Modalyst is a dropshipping supplier with a variety of products. The site also offers integrations with some of the top ecommerce platforms and specializes in fast shipping.

Spocket

Spocket is a dropshipping company that connects you with original products produced in the U.S. and EU. You can sort by product type and country of origin to find the items that best suit your shop.

Dropified

Dropified is a dropshipping software that integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Woocommerce. You can pick products right from the tool and have them added to your site automatically.

DHGate

DHGate is a wholesale supplier of everything from clothing to electronics. Most products are produced in China. And they also offer flash deals to companies that want to keep costs low.

Kole Imports

A wholesale merchandiser based in California, Kole Imports offers a wide array of products from top brands. They also offer closeout deals and clearance prices.

Yakkyofy

Yakkyofy is a dropshipping software that has its own catalog of products. But it also connects with popular global distributors like Alibaba. It helps you automate the dropshipping process and add value for customers through advanced features like shipment tracking and private label products.

Uniqbe Limited

An international wholesaler of mobile phones and other tech products, Uniqbe Limited lets you access the latest products. And they customize your experience with a variety of shipping options.

ASI Partners

ASI is a distributor of IT products. You can purchase servers, NAS systems and computers to supply to IT clients or customers.

Costtag

Another consumer electronics wholesaler, Costtag offers everything from audio equipment to home security systems. They also offer dropshipping options.

Die Cast Dropshipper

A niche dropshipping company, Die Cast Dropshipper focuses on model cars and parts for hobby shops and model collectors.

VR Distribution

An Australian based company, VR Distribution is a distributor of toys, games, and collectibles. The company offers products from a wide array of global brands.

JDs Marketing

JDs Marketing offers personalized gift products at wholesale prices. Its perfect for businesses that want to offer unique items but dont want to complete the personalization themselves.

Collective Fab

An online fashion and beauty distributor, Collective Fab offers thousands of products that you can easily add to a site. They also dropship orders directly to your customers.

Born Pretty

Born Pretty is a supplier of nail polish and nail art products for people around the world. They have a US warehouse that provides wholesale ordering for nail salons and beauty brands.

Beauty Joint

A wholesale cosmetics distributor, Beauty Joint offers brand name products and even beauty boxes. They offer both wholesale ordering and dropshipping options. So you can customize the experience to your business needs.
Negotiations went on quietly for months, and the implementation quietly began at the start of the year.

But the big, public announcement didnt happen until March 18 at the AIDS Walk & Music Festival. AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) has made SunServe its newest affiliate.

This makes it easier for our clients to go from medical health services to mental health services, SunServe CEO Tony Lima said.

The hope is that by becoming a part of AHF, both entities will benefit from what the other brings to the table. SunServe provides dozens of services throughout Broward County, including trans, youth, and addiction treatment. But the main focus benefit for AHF will be access to SunServes mental health services and vast network of clinicians.

Were at the forefront of healthcare, but we also need those wrap-around services. Thats part of our affiliation program that we run throughout the country, Russell Walker, Deputy Chief of AHFs southern bureau, said.

Lima said they believe the affiliation will let SunServe expand their mental health services, first into Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties and eventually throughout the state and possibly beyond.

We become the mental health arm of AHFs Southern Bureau in Florida.

On The Move

SunServe clients will see some changes. After 17 years at its prominent spot on Wilton Drive, they will move into AHFs facilities in downtown Fort Lauderdale. They are renovating the third floor of the southwest building of the campus.

Once completed, they will provide nearly all services from that location, including Youth Services, which currently operate out of Sunshine Cathedral. (Their senior services will remain on the Sunshine campus.) Lima hopes to keep a small intake center in downtown Wilton Manors.

By sharing space, the goal is for mental and physical health services to be just steps away from each other, rather than across town.

AHF and SunServe believe the central location, with its easy access to public transportation, will make it easier for clients to keep appointments and stay in treatment.

The fact that were expanding here in South Florida, which is a hotspot for HIV and LGBTQ issues that are here in Florida, is a continuation not a change in mindset, Walker said. Youth services, HIV prevention and care, PrEP, and all those are things we bring to the table. But transgender and mental health services that SunServe has been so focused on will expand to us.

A Growing Network

SunServe isnt AHFs only affiliate in South Florida. Broward House joined as an affiliate more than a year ago. CEO Stacy Hyde says its improved their abilities to provide services.

Its bringing our teams together so theres so much talent with AHF staff and Broward House staff, she said. Uniting our skill sets were able to serve clients in a more seamless way. We learn from each other. AHF is an expert at things. Broward House is an expert at things. Bringing that expertise together allows the client to have a better experience and get real help.
Former state representative Joe Harding, the architect behind Floridas controversial Dont Say Gay law, pleaded guilty to three federal charges of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans.

The Ocala Republican was indicted in December on two counts each of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. Harding originally pleaded not guilty to the charges, but negotiated a plea deal announced on March 21.

In pleading guilty, the defendant acknowledges that were this case to go to trial, the government would present evidence to support the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the plea deal read.

In February of 2021, Harding received $150,000 in pandemic assistance. On his application for a federal Economic Disaster Injury loan, Harding claimed his company had four employees and gross revenues of more than $420,000.

He later admitted to investigators of lying on the application, knowing his company had been dormant.

Shortly after his indictment, Harding resigned the District 24 house seat, which covers southwest Marion County. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time in scheduling a special election with a winner to be declared May 16.

Before his fraud scheme was caught, Harding orchestrated what is now the Parental Rights In Education law, which bans classroom instruction on gender and sexuality in public school grades kindergarten through third grade. Republicans in Tallahassee are currently working on proposals to expand the law to 12th grade.

A sentencing hearing for Harding is scheduled for July 25 in Gainesville.
Stories were shared. Rallies were held. Petitions were signed. Doctors spoke up. But it wasnt enough for the Florida Board of Medicine.

As of March 16, doctors can lose their license to practice medicine if they treat minors for gender dysphoria, whether it be through puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery. The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicines own rules align with the Board of Medicine, and its rules will go into effect on March 28.

People who began gender-affirming hormone therapy prior to March 16 are exempt from the law and can continue their treatment. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida shared on its site that unfortunately, it cannot treat new patients, but provided resources for where families can seek care outside of Florida.

However, Florida legislators want to block parents from being able to do that. Florida Sen. Clay Yarborough, a Republican, has introduced a bill that would protect the child from being subjected to sex-reassignment prescriptions or producers in another state and could impact a parents custodial rights to their children.

The Compass Community Center in Lake Worth Beach responded with care to families impacted.

We know people and families are scared and worried. We are here for you, and we will work together to find solutions for families who need help, they wrote on Facebook.

To lawmakers, they wrote, We realize you may not understand the medical science that confirms the importance of this care. We are here to answer any questions you have.

The road to the ruling began last summer, when the Florida Department of Health called on the Florida Board of Medicine to create standards of care for youth with gender dysphoria. The board met multiple times throughout the fall, including August in Dania Beach, and made its final decision on Feb. 10 in Tallahassee. After two hours of testimony, the boards voted in 10 minutes to not allow doctors to conduct gender reassignment surgery or any surgical procedures that alter ones primary or secondary sex features. It also eliminates the prescription or puberty blocking hormones and hormone antagonist therapy.

Despite a mountain of evidence and testimony, Florida officials give every impression that they are moving toward a pre-ordained result, ignoring the very real harms that this rule would impose on a vulnerable population, Sarah Warbelow, the Human Rights Campaigns legal director, said in a statement at the time of the vote.

Governors in Alabama, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah have signed into law restrictions on treating gender dysphoria, according to NBC News. However, the bans in Alabama and Arkansas have been blocked by federal judges as lawsuits have been filed.

These rulings and laws go against a litany of health organizations who approve of gender-affirming care, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Association of Social Workers, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Endocrine Society, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
The future Porsche Cayenne will be the first all-electric SUV to be manufactured there.

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Volkswagen Slovakia, as the first carmaker in the country, started producing fully electric cars in 2013: smaller urban vehicles from the Up category. After 10 years, it was assigned production of the first fully electric large luxury cars in Slovakia. It will be the future all-electric SUV Porsche Cayenne, the company announced on Thursday, March 23.

The plant in Bratislava has done outstanding work in recent years and has received several awards, said Albrecht Reimold, Board Member for Production and Logistics at Porsche. The future Cayenne will be the first all-electric SUV to be manufactured there.

Reimold knows the strengths of the multi-brand plant in Bratislava first-hand. From 2012 to 2016 he was the chairman and member of the executive board for technology at Volkswagen Slovakia.

The chairman of the Board of Directors of Volkswagen Slovakia, Oliver Grunberg, said that the trust in the Porsche brand in the Bratislava plant is proof of professional competence and many years of experience.

At the same time, as a multi-brand plant, we can effectively use synergies within the concern, Grunberg said as cited in the press release.

The fourth, all-electric generation of the Porsche Cayenne will enter the market in the second half of the decade, VW Slovakia spokesperson Lucia Kovarovic Makayova told the SITA agency. She specified neither the amount of the investment nor the number of new jobs to be created.

The Bratislava plant began to produce the SUV Porsche Cayenne in 2002, i.e. 21 years ago. At that time, it assembled bodies that were afterwards sent to Leipzig, Germany when the cars were finalised. An investment of 800 million accompanied the third generation Porsche Cayenne when it arrived to Volkswagen Slovakia in 2017. The money was used for the construction of a new body shop and an assembly hall for Porsche brand products. Since then, Porsche Cayenne has been manufactured in Slovakia as a complete vehicle. In 2019, the second model, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, was added to the production line.
Eight out of the ten suspects detained this week have now been released.

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The National Crime Agency (NAKA) has formally accused one of the suspects in the Daniel Tupy case. The suspect has been named in local media as Bratislava lawyer, Adam Puskar. The accused has previously been granted the highest security clearance by Slovakia's vetting authority, the National Security Office (NBU), news portal tvnoviny.sk reported.

It was originally reported that police had detained eight suspects on Tuesday, March 21 in connection with the unsolved murder of student Daniel Tupy in 2005. All of them were released on March 23, as reported by the TASR newswire. Police president Stefan Hamran then revealed that investigators had detained ten suspects in total.

Police took a DNA sample from the accused, according to his lawyer advocate Jozef Dobrovic. During the original investigation in 2005 regulations prevented involuntary extraction of a suspect's DNA before charges were laid.

Two suspects remain in detention, including the accused.

The accused suspect is currently detained while the investigator conducts procedural actions," the police noted, adding that they will decide on next steps after all of the necessary actions have been taken.

Tupy, a 21-year-old Comenius University student, was stabbed to death near the Danube river in Bratislava on the evening of November 4, 2005. According to witnesses, a group of men armed with knives attacked not only Tupy, but also six other people.

Read more on the Daniel Tupy case
Gender transition would be impossible to complete, and the children of same-sex couples would be left in legal limbo.

Marchers holding a transgender pride flag during a Pride event. Completion of the legal process accompanying gender transition would be obstructed under a proposed new law. (Source: Vladimir Simicek / TASR)

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The Slovak parliament's European Affairs Committee has withdrawn its approval of a new parenthood certificate.

The European Certificate of Parenthood would allow queer couples who are foreign citizens, or couples in which one partner is foreign and the other Slovak, to be officially recognised as the parents of their children in Slovakia, writes the Sme daily. The Slovak constitution only recognises marriages as being between a man and a woman.

This means that if a child with same-sex parents listed in its birth certificate comes to live in Slovakia with its family, those parents will not be formally recognised as such by the authorities.

Two million children across the EU

What comes from the original measure is something that already works in Europe. The rest of us want to dictate to them [the LGBT+ minority] what they can and can't do, even though it concerns nothing that would be criminal or otherwise reprehensible, SaS MP Peter Osusky said during the session.

The committee has now decided to oppose the measure, despite having earlier accepted it. The only MPs who remained in support of the European Union measure to recognise same-sex parents were Peter Osusky and Jan Oravec from the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party.

According to the European Affairs Committee, two million children across the European Union could currently face a situation in which their same-sex parents are not legally recognised. The measure would not change anything within Slovakias internal legislative regime, as it would apply only to children with birth certificates from foreign countries.

Conservatives' two proposals to erase transgender people Read more

Measure against transgender people

Meanwhile parliament is considering, at its second reading, a bill on birth numbers (the gender-specific identification numbers assigned to all Slovaks at birth) submitted by ultra-conservative MPs around Anna Zaborska, writes Dennik N. The bill appears to enjoy the support of as many as two-thirds of MPs. According to critics, it would require official authorities to ignore the identities of transgender people. On their identification card, they would be able to change their name but not their assigned sex or birth number. 87 MPs supported the measure, with SaS opposed.

If the measure is approved, SaS party members will ask President Zuzana Caputova to veto the law. They are also considering turning to the Constitutional Court to seek the law's suspension, writes the TASR newswire.

During a press conference, SaS members called on people who are interested in issues affecting the transgender community in Slovakia to help them gather evidence and sources to oppose the new measure.

The new measure effectively prevents the official transition process from being completed, commented SaS MP Jana Bitto Ciganikova.
LGBT+ minority could face new difficulties, a suspect is charged in the Daniel Tupy murder case.

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Good afternoon. Here is the Friday, March 24 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes

All-electric Porsche Cayenne to be made at VW's Bratislava plant

Volkswagen Slovakia started producing all-electric cars back in 2013. Starting with small city cars like the Volkswagen Up! and its derivatives, it has finaly moved on to making larger electric vehicles.

The all-electric Porsche Cayenne SUV will be the fourth generation of luxury model to be produced in Bratislava. The Slovak plant originally started producing conventionally-powered Cayenne models 21 years ago, in 2002.

The all-electric Porsche Cayenne SUV will enter the market in the second half of this decade, Volkswagen Slovakia spokesperson Lucia Kovarovic Makayova told the SITA newswire. The vast majority will be exported: prices for the latest Cayenne models start at more than 75,000, approximately four times the average annual pre-tax salary in Slovakia.

Volkswagen Slovakia's plant in Bratislava, where the all-electric Porsche Cayenne SUV will be produced. (Source: Courtesy of VW Slovakia)

More stories from The Slovak Spectator

JUSTICE : A suspect in the Daniel Tupy case has been charged in connection with his murder. Eight out of the ten suspects arrested earlier this week were released.

: A suspect in the Daniel Tupy case has been charged in connection with his murder. Eight out of the ten suspects arrested earlier this week were released. MINORITIES : New legal measures could further complicate the lives of queer people, including those seeking to complete the process of gender transition.

: New legal measures could further complicate the lives of queer people, including those seeking to complete the process of gender transition. WEEKEND: Enjoy a public concert, go for a walk.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

Feature story for today

Love it or hate it

It's a dish that divides cooks. One version is complicated to prepare; the other is as simple as can be. Learn more about traditional drzkova (tripe) soup and how to prepare this hearty meal Venetian-style.

Venetian tripe soup (Source: Jana Liptakova)

In other news

Poll shows Fico's Smer party is ahead. The party would have received 19.5 percent of the votes if an election had been held in February/March. It would have been followed by Hlas and Progresivne Slovensko (PS), polling agency Median SK reported, citing a survey it conducted among 1,076 respondents between February 1 and March 5. (TASR)

The number of cases of dry grass being deliberately burned off has increased. Setting fire to dry grass endangers the surrounding environment, scares away local wildlife and can potentially cause uncontrollable fires. The resulting ash can damage nests, eggs and animals pups and cubs. (TASR)

The Slovak Chamber of Advocates (SAK) has criticised the continuing imposition of harsh penalties for criminal drug use and petty theft, which it says still don't conform to European standards. The chamber suggests one way to improve the situation would be to allow more discretion in sentencing. (TASR)

Weather forecast

On Saturday warm but rainy weather is expected for the whole country. The temperature will be around 15C.

Come Sunday, the weather will clear up a bit. Western parts can expect cloudy weather with temperatures between 14C and 16C. Central and eastern Slovakia can expects partly sunny weather with temperatures between 10C and 14C.

For Monday, rain returns to the whole country. Expect temperatures of 8C to 11C in the west and 8C in central and eastern Slovakia. (SHMU)

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

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TikTok CEO faces off against federal lawmakers in Congress over calls for a ban on the app

Washington officials were adamant about protecting US users' personal information and data

Federal lawmakers appeared unconvinced of Shou Zi Chew's testimony

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared before federal lawmakers in Congress on Thursday amid skepticism of the company's attempts to protect its customers' user data in the United States and addressing concerns over its ties with the Chinese government.

The public hearing is a rare opportunity to listen to Chew, who has had very few interviews in the past. The situation also comes as the TikTok app has become one of the most popular in America and has more than 150 million active users.

TikTok CEO Testifies in Congress

Despite the hearing, which lasted more than five hours, lawmakers have already decided what to do with TikTok. Officials started the hearing with a call to ban the app in the country and continued to be adamant about that stance.

The scene offered a vivid display of the bipartisan push against the short video-hosting app and TikTok's tough battle to improve relations with the government. In a statement, the House Energy and Commerce Committee chair, Washington Republican Rep. Cathay McMorris Rodgers, told Chet his platform should be banned, as per CNN.

The TikTok CEO used his time testifying to emphasize his company's independence from the Chinese federal government. He noted that the app is unavailable in mainland China and that the company's headquarters is in Los Angeles and Singapore. Chew added that they had employed roughly 7,000 workers in the US.

In his opening remarks, Chew said they had heard the crucial concerns of potential and unwanted foreign access to US data and possible manipulation of the TikTok USS ecosystem. The CEO added that their approach has never been to dismiss or trivialize such concerns.

Read Also: Joe Biden's Approval Rating at Lowest Point

Federal Lawmakers Push for Ban on TikTok

The concerns come as TikTok does not operate within China, but the country's federal government usually receives significant leverage over businesses under its jurisdiction. This theory has been linked to TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and has raised concerns that they could be forced to cooperate with a broad range of security activities.

The question at the heart of the hearing was what TikTok does with its users' data that it has collected. According to USA Today, the testimony of the company's CEO came as several congressional committees were looking into potential economic and national security risks that China brings about.

During the hearing, Chew tried to prove to American lawmakers that TikTok did not threaten the country's national security. In a statement, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester said that the hearing had left her with more questions than answers.

There are two options that the Joe Biden administration could go with regarding TikTok, the first of which is a ban. This would result in a potentially difficult court challenge. The second is revisiting stalled negotiations for a technical fix to the app's data security concerns, said the New York Times.

Related Article: Ron DeSantis Losing Popularity Among Republicans

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Coffee Design is proudly sponsored by Savor Brands , your boost in coffeedence through maximizing designs in packaging, sustainability and tech.

Moxie Coffee Co. founder Matt Heltzel has been working in coffee for over a decade, and being very entrepreneurial, Id always said someday I would open my own roastery and thats Moxie. The Phoenix-based company is nearing its second birthday here in May of 2023 and theres plenty to celebrate. Among them is their stellar new packaging that really caught our eyeso much so we just had to learn more for a new edition of Coffee Design.

It wasnt always birthdays and celebrations for Heltzel. For much of my life growing up, I carried a lot of shame. I felt like I didnt belong, like I was a misfit, and that I was unloveable, says Heltzell The shame I carried had awful effects on my relationships, my work, and my physical/emotional health. Around that time, I found a great therapist and spent years doing some really deep work. And at the end of that difficult journey, I came out with the realization that there was nothing wrong with me. Theres nothing I need to hide. In fact quite the opposite. Im capable of creating beautiful things for people to enjoy.

For Heltzel, Moxie represents sort of the embodiment of that realization at least in terms of my work and vocation. We wanted to learn more about Moxie Coffee Co. and Heltzels personal journey and spoke with Heltzel digitally.

We spoke with owner Matt Heltzel to learn more.

Tell us more about Moxies origin story!

The name Moxie and our cracked cup logo tell that story, although in more subtle ways. To have Moxie means that you have a bit of courage to do difficult or risky things. To me, Moxie reminds me to lean into the emotions and feelings that I often try to avoid. In the coffee world and in our shop, it means that we take confident risks and share them with our community. When we first opened, we had a 200-hour fermentation Colombian coffee on pour-over, and we were one of the first in Phoenix to ever serve something that wild. I had no clue that so many people would absolutely love experimental coffees like that, and buying that coffee was a financial risk for sure. Since then, weve tried to purchase some of the rarest coffees we can find (Finca Deborah from Panama, for instance). We do that because I want our community to be able to taste mind-blowing coffees and have an experience with coffee that they havent had anywhere else. Id like to see Phoenix get more recognition nationally for the awesome coffee scene that exists here, and I hope Moxie can do its part to that end. We want our community here in Phoenix to be able to experience these jaw-dropping coffees (and selfishly, were endlessly fascinated by these coffees too). Were here to take confident risks and share in the rewards with our incredible staff and the Phoenix community thats relentlessly supported us from day one.

You recently came out with some new packaging  when did it debut?

We debuted the new packaging in September 2022. In the process of opening the roasting shop, we wanted to keep packaging costs low. We had super basic white gusseted bags with a cheap sticker printed on them. It did the job, but it felt really incongruent. I wondered, Why am I buying these remarkable coffees and packaging them in the cheapest bags imaginable? So, I reached out to some of my old friends in coffee and they pointed me to Savor Brands in Hawaii. I cant say enough about how easy and enjoyable they were to work with.

We love the minimal bag design and the cardstell us how yall decided on the cards.

The minimal bag design stems from our overall brand, which is design by restraint. I want our bags to cause people to look twice, and maybe raise an eyebrow because thats exactly what my favorite coffees cause me to do as Im drinking them. Ever since I got into coffee, Ive always enjoyed drinking out of simple, one-colored cups. I prefer a stripped-down, minimalist approach to almost everything, but especially coffee. I wanted that idea to spill over into our design, but I also wanted to have something that was immediately recognizable as Moxie. I cant say enough about the team at Made Shop for helping bring that exact vision to life in this packaging. That crew is not only incredibly talented, but theyre a joy to work with.

With the cards, we initially were considering using a sewing machine to sew on every card. As you can imagine, that was hideous. So, we decided to use little elastic bands to strap the card to the front of the bag instead. Ultimately with the cards, I wanted to have something that jumped off the shelf and said, Hey, look at me. I think humans are drawn to tactile things that we can touch and feel, and the embossed MOXIE is sort of the final touch that communicates an elevated product. In short, I wanted the packaging to reflect the quality of coffee thats inside the bag. I think having little cards helped do that for us.

Is there a special version for special coffee offerings?

We do have a version for special coffee offerings. One of our most recent was Gesha Clouds from Forest Coffee in Colombia. That coffee was created by Milton Monroy and we sell that in 3oz tins. Currently, Im sourcing those tins online because its really all I could find in 2021 during all the shipping delays during Covid. I hope to source those more reliably in the coming months. You can see our special coffee offering tins here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Moxie Coffee Co. (@moxiecoffeeco)

Who did you work with on it?

We worked with Made Shop in Denver, CO on the entire branding, merch, and packaging.

How long did the process take?

We began the process in August 2021 and by the time we actually received all our merch, bags and everything it was about a year. We still work with them on little projects for design because they know the brand so well and theyre great people to work with. I used to roast coffee in Denver so I had some connections that led me to working with Made Shop.

Where is your coffee available?

Our coffee is available in the shop in 8oz bags and 2lb bags. We do a buy 10, get one free loyalty program for our whole beans in shop. Online, you can buy 8oz, 2lb, or 5lb bags. The 2lb and 5lb bags have a volume discount applied automatically. You can also find it in a few local coffee shops and restaurants here in Phoenix. Were hoping to expand our wholesale this year to include more shops and multi-roaster shops throughout Phoenix and the US.

Any upcoming offerings youre looking forward to?

In terms of upcoming offerings, we have some fun coffees from Panama and Colombia on the way. We usually launch a fun, funky coffee every few months, but hopefully, we can offer more of those more frequently.

Thank you!

Coffee Design is presented in partnership with Savor Brands. Explore Coffee Design archives at our exclusive Coffee Design hub.

Zachary Carlsen is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/experts-uranium-shells-caused-cancer-in-iraq-libya-as-uk-pledges-supplies-to-kiev-1108736443.html

Experts: Uranium Shells Caused Cancer in Iraq, Libya as UK Pledges Supplies to Kiev

Experts: Uranium Shells Caused Cancer in Iraq, Libya as UK Pledges Supplies to Kiev

Iraq and Libya have seen spikes in cancer cases and radiation-induced ongenital malformations suspected of being linked to depleted uranium used in munitions that NATO allies fired indiscriminately during the 1990, 2003 and 2011 invasions, environmental and nuclear experts told Sputnik.

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Controversy over depleted uranium weapons used on the battlefield to pierce armored vehicles has been raging since the 1999 Yugoslavia bombings, in which NATO troops used some 31,000 rounds of depleted uranium ammunition. Allied forces subsequently reported alarming rates of cancer cases in soldiers who served in breakaway Kosovo. Debates over whether uranium can cause severe health problems in civilians and soldiers were reignited with the United Kingdom's announcement that it will supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine. This prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to warn that his country would be "forced to react accordingly" to the West's use of what he referred to as "weapons with a nuclear component." The United Kingdom and United States have denied that there is a confirmed link between depleted uranium and cancer. The World Health Organization said in a 2001 paper that only military use of depleted uranium was likely to have any significant impact on environmental levels. It said uranium could accumulate at the ground surface and enter the food chain, while uranium dust could be inhaled and retained in the lungs. Souad Naji Al-Azzawi, a leading Iraqi environmentalist and academic researcher with over 50 published scientific papers on a wide range of subjects, including nuclear waste management and depleted uranium contamination, told Sputnik that US-led coalition troops fired a million depleted uranium shells in Iraq in 1991, dispersing between 300 and 400 tons of depleted uranium over an area of more than 1,750 square kilometers west of Basra. The spread of the contamination, according to Al-Azzawi, was further exacerbated following the 2003 invasion, with pockets of contamination spreading to other Iraqi cities, where an alarming growth in cancer rates and radiation-related malformations in newborn children has been registered. Al-Azzawi, who is also the first Arab scholar to have received the Nuclear-Free Future Award, estimated that coalition forces used 181,000 depleted uranium shells during the 2003-2004 invasion in Basra, Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf, Baquba, and Fallujah. Elaborating on the levels of contamination in Fallujah, the site of the infamous 2004 battle between coalition forces and Iraqi rebels, Al-Azzawi claimed the situation in and around the city was so dire that radioactive contaminants from the debris had spread throughout the regions food chain. "They completely destroyed Fallujah with these and other weapons," Al-Azzawi said.Owing to the debilitating lack of resources faced by postwar Iraqi governments, Al-Azzawi explained that little was done to effectively protect the country's population from the contaminants. The roughly 5,000 tanks and armored vehicles claimed to have been destroyed by coalition forces were gathered in 22 large "tank graveyards," adding to the four already in existence before the 2003 invasion. "These were open areas around Basra  yet whenever a sandstorm blows through the area, an additional dose of radiation moves from these sites towards the civilian population. If we have a real problem, it would be that these sources of pollution still exist today," Al-Azzawi added. Despite Al-Azzawis extensive research on the adverse, long-term effects of depleted uranium contamination, very little research on the subject has been conducted in Iraq, especially when compared to other conflict zones that saw the use of depleted uranium shells. The WHO said it was aware of reported increases in cancers, congenital abnormalities and other diseases following the 1991 Gulf war but said there were no published results for review. Similar findings were made by Al-Azzawis colleagues in Libya, another Arab state that has faced a military intervention by Western powers. While Western officials have publicly denied the use of depleted uranium shells during the 2011 NATO intervention, the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons (ICBUW) called on the US government to clarify the use of the deadly munitions after American A-10 Thunderbolt and Harrier AV-8B ground-attack aircraft, both equipped with autocannons that fired depleted uranium shells, were reportedly deployed to the Libyan theater. Nouri Al-Droqi, a radiological policy specialist and researcher at the Libyan Nuclear Research Centre, told Sputnik that the largest share of cancer cases continued to be reported in the places and cities that were targeted. Al-Droqis team reportedly identified hotspots of radioactive contamination around the country, with the overwhelming majority of contaminated areas being located near former military installations that were targeted by NATO allies during their intervention in the Libyan civil war. "We worked with accurate radiometric measurements, and the contaminants were identified as uranium, as a result of the missiles used by NATO forces to strike Libyan military targets There are still many cities and other areas outside Tripoli, such as Masarata, Zliten  some of these areas have been heavily targeted," Al-Droqi said. Yet, despite the team's efforts, Al-Droqi claims that Libyan authorities have shown a degree of reluctance in their efforts to facilitate his team's research, most likely out of concern for the reaction from international organizations and the NATO countries involved in the intervention. Author: Alexei Shayya-Shirokov

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230322/why-is-britains-uranium-ammo-decision-a-big-deal-1108699845.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/how-the-wests-depleted-uranium-ammo-spells-death-for-soldier-and-civilian-alike-1108718880.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/serbian-lawyer-expects-hearing-on-nato-usage-of-depleted-uranium-in-yugoslavia-by-years-end-1108737632.html

Serbian Lawyer Expects Hearing on NATO Usage of Depleted Uranium in Yugoslavia by Year's End

Serbian Lawyer Expects Hearing on NATO Usage of Depleted Uranium in Yugoslavia by Year's End

The first hearing of a case against NATO over the 1999 depleted uranium bombing in Yugoslavia is expected to take place at the Higher Court in Belgrade by year's end, Srdjan Aleksic, a lawyer representing a Yugoslavian officer who died from cancer caused by depleted uranium munitions, told Sputnik.

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The lawsuit against the alliance was filed on behalf of the officer at the Belgrade court in January 2021. NATO refused to participate in the legal process, saying that it had immunity under the agreement with Serbia, according to Aleksic. The lawyer said that since then he had received official health check results of the officer, showing that the level of depleted uranium found in the officer's body was 500 times higher than normal. "So, we have material evidence. The plaintiff has died, and the process continues on behalf of his widow," Aleksic said. The exact date of the hearing is yet to be set and expected to be announced in the near future, the lawyer added. Last year, Aleksic filed two more lawsuits against NATO from two victims of the airstrikes with depleted uranium shells. NATO airstrikes continued from March 24 to June 10, 1999, claiming thousands of lives. The Serbian authorities say that about 2,500 people, including 89 children, were killed and about 12,500 people were injured in the bombings. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the use of depleted uranium weapons caused an increase in the number of cancer patients in the country. The debate on the impact of shells with uranium cores on human health has resurfaced after UK Minister of State for Defense Annabel Goldie announced earlier in the week that the country would provide Ukraine with depleted uranium tank ammunition, including armor-piercing shells for the 14 Challenger 2 battle tanks UK is planning for Ukraine.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/trump-era-chief-of-staff-says-indictment-against-the-donald-inevitable-amid-grand-jury-wait-1108736721.html

Trump-Era Chief of Staff Says Indictment Against The Donald 'Inevitable' Amid Grand Jury Wait

Trump-Era Chief of Staff Says Indictment Against The Donald 'Inevitable' Amid Grand Jury Wait

Trump-era Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney recently acknowledged that it was inevitable former US President Donald Trump would be indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office over 2016 hush payments.

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mick mulvaney

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Trump-era Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney recently acknowledged that it was inevitable former US President Donald Trump would be indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office over 2016 hush payments.I do, Mick Mulvaney told US media when asked if he thinks it is inevitable that Trump will be indicted. I think the political pressure is such, the timing is such, I think that the statute of limitations in this case runs in May, I do think hes going to be indicted.The former president is currently under investigation for a $130,000 hush money payment that was made on his behalf to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to keep her from detailing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter she had with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.I dont understand the arrest part; whether or not hell surrender himselfwhether or not theyll require him to surrender himselfwhether or not theyll make any special accommodation for him because he is the former president of the United States and because he does have secret service protection 24 hours a day, said Mulvaney in Thursdays interview.When asked if the former president wants to be indicted, Mulvaney explains that this is a rare case in which the extreme left and the extreme right want the same thing.The left want to see him frog marched in his orange jumpsuit and the right wants to see him arrested because they think it will show that this has been a political witch hunt the whole time, and they think it will make Trump more sympathetic.Mulvaney further admitted that polling data has supported his theory as theoretical primary numbers have increased in favor of Trump in recent weeks; however, it's also worth noting that Trump has also managed to fundraise some $1.5 million since his weekend announcement on a potential arrest. It's speculated prosecutors will likely slap Trump with a charge of falsifying business records to hide payments made to Daniels. Trump has denied the affair and says he has engaged in no wrongdoing. The latest developments come as Trump is running for his second nonconsecutive term, a feat that has prompted analysts and insiders to note the legal initiative is part of a "politically-motivated persecution."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230322/no-trump-indictment-expected-wednesday-as-grand-jury-told-to-stay-home-insiders-say-1108704499.html

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donald trump, mick mulvaney, indictment, manhattan district attorney's office
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/us-reportedly-probing-whether-credit-suisse-ubs-aided-russia-to-evade-sanctions-1108737360.html

US Reportedly Probing Whether Credit Suisse, UBS Aided Russia to Evade Sanctions

US Reportedly Probing Whether Credit Suisse, UBS Aided Russia to Evade Sanctions

The US Justice Department is reportedly investigating whether Credit Suisse, UBS and other banks helped Russian businessmen evade the United States-imposed sanctions against Russia.

2023-03-23T22:41+0000

2023-03-23T22:41+0000

2023-03-23T22:39+0000

economy

credit suisse group ag

ubs

justice department

us sanctions

russia

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US media said the investigation began before UBS proposed to take over Credit Suisse, which was on the verge of collapsing. The Justice Department also reportedly issued subpoenas to employees of several major US banks. Insiders have stated that the department is focused on uncovering which bank employees dealt with sanctioned clients and how these clients were vetted over the last several years. The Justice Department may deepen its investigation if it finds the bankers broke any laws.Credit Suisse declined to comment on the matter and UBS did not respond to a request for comment, the report said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230320/what-happened-with-credit-suisse-and-why-is-ubs-buying-it-1108613201.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/congress-hearings-over-tiktok-social-media-app-are-anti-china-witch-hunt-1108747626.html

Congress Hearings Over TikTok Social Media App Are 'Anti-China Witch-Hunt'

Congress Hearings Over TikTok Social Media App Are 'Anti-China Witch-Hunt'

Social media app TikTok now faces US legislation that could see it shut down. Technologist Chris Garaffa, a co-host of the Covert Action Bulletin podcast, pointed out the hypocrisy of those moves.

2023-03-24T12:46+0000

2023-03-24T12:46+0000

2023-04-14T12:57+0000

chris garaffa

tiktok

bytedance

us congress

us house of representatives

big tech

facebook

meta

instagram

reddit

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The US Congress probe into mobile phone social media app TikTok is just a "witch-hunt" against its Chinese owner, a technology expert has said.TikTok US CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday over claims the video-sharing social media app was a threat to US national security and children's welfare.Committee chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers kicked off the grilling with the assertion that "your platform should be banned"  as it has been on official government-issued devices in both the US, UK and European Union.Chris Garaffa told Sputnik that the app, developed by Chinese software firm ByteDance, was no more sinister than any of its leading US competitors.He pointed out that US-based social media sites and mobile device apps do the same thing, including Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta*, as well as Reddit and Twitter.The tech expert said he found the spectacle of the televised hearings "really enraging.""This has absolutely nothing to do with algorithmic justice. It has nothing to do with the defense of children," he continued. "This has everything to do with a bipartisan effort to take aim squarely at the People's Republic of China."The pundit noted that Congress representatives were preparing legislation to address those concerns, along with banning the practice of selling users' data to third parties for commercial use  but only since the furore over the Chinese-made app.He called out the "absolute hypocrisy" of Congressmen accusing TikTok of supplying information to the Chinese government when they passed laws forcing US social media firms to work with the National Security Agency (NSA) in snooping on US and other countries' citizens. "TikTok is being singled out because China, China, China," Garaffa underlined. "If this were a Russian company, it probably already would have been banned at this point." But "no one's talking about banning Facebook because it's collecting information."* Meta is banned in Russia for extremist activities.For more sharp analysis, check out the latest episode of Sputniks podcast Political Misfits.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/china-says-us-showed-no-proof-of-tiktok-being-national-security-threat-1108753507.html

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us, congress, tiktok, bytedance, shou chew
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/danish-energy-agency-invites-nord-stream-operator-to-lift-object-found-near-pipeline-1108740678.html

Danish Energy Agency Invites Nord Stream Operator to Lift Object Found Near Pipeline

Danish Energy Agency Invites Nord Stream Operator to Lift Object Found Near Pipeline

The Danish Energy Agency has invited the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, to take part in an operation to recover an object found near the gas pipeline.

2023-03-24T04:20+0000

2023-03-24T04:20+0000

2023-03-24T04:19+0000

nord stream sabotage

nord stream

seymour hersh

nord stream ag

unsc

un security council resolution

foreign sabotage

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In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that during a survey of the gas pipeline, Gazprom experts had found a certain "column" at a distance of about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the site of the explosion. It was installed in a vulnerable place, at the junction of pipes. The object could be an antenna for receiving a signal to set off an explosive device laid under the pipeline system, Putin noted. "Relevant Danish authorities have examined the object that has been observed by the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea. It remains the assessment that the object does not pose an immediate safety risk," the agency said in a statement.The agency also attaches a photograph of the object and notes that it is cylindrical in shape, and is about 40 centimeters tall and 10 centimeters in diameter. The statement added it could be a sea smoke buoy. The agency is awaiting a response from Nord Stream 2 AG before proceeding with the operation, the statement noted. Russia considers the explosions of the two pipelines an act of international terrorism. The official results of the investigation are not out yet, but Pulitzer Prize-winning US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a report in February that pointed to the US and Norway as the culprits. In February, Russia presented a UN Security Council draft resolution requesting the UN Secretary General to conduct an independent international investigation to verify the facts that Hersh put forward claiming the United States sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines.The vote on the Russian resolution calling on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to create a commission to investigate sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines will take place on March 27, the Russian Mission told Sputnik on Thursday.According to Hersh's report, US Navy divers planted explosives to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines during NATO Baltops exercises in the summer of 2022, and Norway activated them three months later. The report added that US President Joe Biden had decided to sabotage the Nord Streams after more than nine months of secret discussions with the national security team.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/surprise-surprise-us-claims-it-played-no-role-in-nord-stream-blasts-after-latest-hersh-revelations-1108708439.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/denmark-accused-of-carelessness-with-taxpayers-money-as-f-35-hangars-double-in-price-1108741067.html

Denmark Accused of 'Carelessness With Taxpayers' Money' as F-35 Hangars Double in Price

Denmark Accused of 'Carelessness With Taxpayers' Money' as F-35 Hangars Double in Price

Denmark's nascent fleet of 27 F-35s has already become the Nordic nation's most treasured possession, but the associated costs keep growing.

2023-03-24T06:26+0000

2023-03-24T06:26+0000

2023-03-24T06:26+0000

military

denmark

scandinavia

f-35

costs

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The construction price for hangars for Denmark's new fleet of F-35 fighter jets has been steadily climbing upward, forcing the parliament to fork out for the new facilities. With the recent tranche, the 40,000 square meter premises at the Skrydstrup air base have doubled in price compared with the original plans from 2017.Overall, the total bill for the F-35 hangars is expected to be DKK 1.35 billion ($200 million). Originally, the facilities should have cost no more than DKK 650 million ($95 million).The Defense Ministry's Property Agency pinned the rising costs on the "extraordinary" price increases for building materials, whereas analysts also pointed out strict and far-reaching security requirements that must be in place before the US allows the planes to land in Denmark.However, the spending spree has sparked anger among Denmark's opposition, including the Red-Green Alliance, which slammed the costly project.However, others, including the populist Danish People's Party, described the hike as necessary for "future-proofing" the nation's defense.The Moderates, part of the cross-aisle coalition with the Social Democrats and the Liberals, defended the project as "essential."Pundits pointed out that the authorities have found themselves in a tight corner and are forced to continue notwithstanding the cost. Once they have ordered the planes, they subscribed to the whole package and must continue regardless of how expensive that might be.Previously, the F-35, touted as the new backbone of Denmark's armed forces, ran into a noise controversy, as the bulkier and heavier fighters recorded noise levels that exceeded both the military's own reports and than of their predecessors, the F-16s. Similar issues have plagued other F-35 operators, including the fellow Nordic nation of Norway.The Danish Armed Forces have had a long partnership with Lockheed Martin since the early 1950s, fielding a number of its fighter jets and transport aircraft over the decades. Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2002 during the system development and demonstration phase. In June 2016, Denmark confirmed plans to procure 27 F-35As. The total lifetime costs associated with Denmark's new fleet of F-35s are estimated to run up to DKK 57 billion ($8.2 billion), making it the country's largest in history. All 27 fighter jets are expected to have arrived on Danish soil by 2026.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230215/copenhagen-washington-discuss-us-presence-on-danish-soil-1107447203.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/five-african-nations-rank-among-10-most-impacted-by-terrorism-1108747418.html

Five African Nations Rank Among 10 Most Impacted by Terrorism

Five African Nations Rank Among 10 Most Impacted by Terrorism

The Global Terrorism Index 2023 report has featured five African countries among the top 10 most impacted by terrorism worldwide, along with four states in the Middle East and one nation in Southeast Asia.

2023-03-24T12:29+0000

2023-03-24T12:29+0000

2023-03-24T12:32+0000

africa

burkina faso

somalia

mali

nigeria

niger

afghanistan

pakistan

syria

iraq

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The Global Terrorism Index 2023 report has featured five African countries among the top 10 most impacted by terrorism worldwide, along with four states in the Middle East and one nation in Southeast Asia.The report produced by a leading international think tank, the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), revealed that terror attacks have recently become 26% more deadly. According to the study, Daesh* and its affiliates remained the worlds most murderous terrorist group in 2022 for the eighth consecutive year, with attacks in 21 countries.In the meanwhile, the IEP pointed out that ideological terrorism has been the most prominent and the deadliest in Western countries. As for Africa, the think tank said that the Sahel turned out to be the globes most affected region in 2022, representing 43% of worldwide terrorism casualties, which is 7% higher than in 2021.The list of the top 10 most terrorism-impacted countries over the past decade included the following African states: Burkina Faso (2), Somalia (3), Mali (4), Nigeria (8), and Niger (10). The list also included Afghanistan (1), Syria (5), Pakistan (6), and Iraq (7) in the Middle East, along with Myanmar (9), known as Burma until 1989, in Southeast Asia.* Daesh and al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other countries around the world.

1

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/harris-on-africa-trip-to-raise-us-concerns-over-influence-of-china-russia-official-says-1108749556.html

Harris on Africa Trip to Raise US Concerns Over Influence of China, Russia, Official Says

Harris on Africa Trip to Raise US Concerns Over Influence of China, Russia, Official Says

US Vice President Kamala Harris will raise Washington's concerns over the involvement of China and Russia in Africa when she meets with officials during her upcoming trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, a senior US official said.

2023-03-24T12:08+0000

2023-03-24T12:08+0000

2023-03-24T12:08+0000

africa

russia

china

us

zambia

tanzania

ghana

kamala harris

world

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Harris on Saturday will depart for a week-long trip to Africa, where the US, China, and Russia have been vying to improve ties with states across the continent and spread influence in the region. In addition to concerns about China, Harris is also expected to discuss operational security, strengthening business ties, long-term economic growth, and the impact of the conflict in Ukraine, the official added.The official also mentioned that although many African countries have a historical relationship with the Soviet Union, which supported their liberation movements, and many still have relationships with Russia, which has been vocal about its support for exports of foodstuffs to the poorest areas of the continent, Harris will raise discussions about the shared points of agreement on economic hardships exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.On Thursday, senior Pentagon official Celeste Wallander told Congress the recent political changes in Africa challenge the United States' efforts to counter the influence of Russia and China in the region."Threats and Pressure"In May 2022, the US House of Representatives approved a "Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act," paving the way for Washington to punish African governments for maintaining ties with Russia. US lawmakers argued that Moscow's dealings with African countries could "undermine United States objectives and interests."The bill was widely condemned by officials in many countries across the African continent, calling it a "misplaced type of legislation" that disrespects the sovereignty of African nations.In the same vein, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, in an interview with Sputnik in January, said that the bill of the US Congress on combating Russian activities in Africa runs contrary to international law and should be withdrawn.Jacob Mudenda, speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, said that African countries reacted with disgust to the May 2022 bill, as it infringes on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations willing to cooperate with Moscow.In his turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the US bill, calling it "an American provocation." He argued that the US does not consider African nations its equals, recalling a time when former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Africa to urge "everyone to stop trading with Russia and China, because both Russia and China do it for self-interest."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230222/washington-does-not-want-to-force-africa-to-choose-sides-in-military-cooperation-us-army-general-1107700327.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230118/lavrov-us-bill-countering-russia-in-africa-represents-colonial-mentality-1106460779.html

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harris on africa trip, harris africa trip, us concerns over influence of china, russia, us concerns over influence of russia, russia's involvement in africa, africa is world's 'future' for touring us vp harris, us vice president harris to address china's influence, biden administration quadruples down on its africa charm offensive, russia, ghana, zambia, tanzania, usa, us,
India's Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sentenced to two years in prison for defamation

The official made a speech in 2019 saying that thieves shared the surname, Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allies supported him in the complaint

An Indian court sentenced the country's Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, to two years in prison on Thursday for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech in 2019.

The convicted official was present during the court hearing held in Surat, a city found in Gujarat, Modi's home state. Authorities gave Ghandi bail, and the sentence was suspended for 30 days.

India's Rahul Gandhi Given 2-Year Prison Sentence

A leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the one who filed the criminal defamation case against Gandhi. It revolves around remarks that the Congress leader made where he referred to the surname Modi and how all thieves shared it.

The court's ruling said that the justices found Ghandi's comment to be defamatory and found him guilty under IPC section 499 read with 500. An advocate for complainant Modi, Ketan Reshamwala, was the one that read the court's decision, as per CNN.

In court, Ghandi said that he had made a comment in 2019 to highlight corruption and not against any particular community. The Congress leader is one of the main opposition leaders in India who are going up against Modi when the latter seeks his third term as prime minister in the 2024 elections.

Gandhi's Congress controlled less than 10% of the elected seats in the Indian parliament's lower house despite being once a dominant force. It also lost to the BJP in two successive general elections, the most recent in 2019.

The Indian prime minister remains the most popular politician by a significant margin, and many consider him to gain his third victory next year. The court's ruling against Ghandi occurs when the Congress leader is facing rising political and legal pressure amid his criticism of the Modi government.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War Update

The Fight for India's Democracy

In just the last week, police personnel working under the central government's command arrived at Ghandi's home located in New Delhi. They questioned him over the public remarks he made regarding the prevalence of sexual assault cases in the country, according to the Washington Post.

Furthermore, the BJP demanded that the Congress leader be suspended from parliament due to a speech he made while he was in Britain, where he accused the prime minister of dismantling Indian democracy.

In response, Congress said it would appeal the court's judgment and argued that the Indian government was using its police, investigative agencies, and courts to prosecute its political opposition.

A spokesman for Congress said that the court's ruling was full of "legally unsustainable conclusions," adding that the Modi government would not silence its politicians. During a news conference, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that all of these attempts would never be able to prevent either Gandhi or the Congress Party from backing down from the fight, said BBC.

Related Article: UK Airstrikes Caused Civilian Deaths in Iraq, Syria

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/idaho-supreme-court-rules-drug-dog-trespassed-after-putting-its-paws-on-car-1108740287.html

Idaho Supreme Court Rules Drug Dog Trespassed After Putting Its Paws on Car

Idaho Supreme Court Rules Drug Dog Trespassed After Putting Its Paws on Car

The Idaho Supreme Court recently annulled a 2019 conviction for felony drug possession and delivery after ruling that a police dog trespassed and conducted an illegal drug search after the canine put its paws on the drivers side of the vehicle multiple times.

2023-03-24T03:56+0000

2023-03-24T03:56+0000

2023-03-24T03:54+0000

viral

crime

drug

dog

police dog

trespassing

idaho

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The Idaho Supreme Court recently annulled a 2019 conviction for felony drug possession and delivery after ruling that a police dog trespassed and conducted an illegal drug search after the canine put its paws on the drivers side of the vehicle multiple times.Three judges agreed with the decision, while two dissented.Kirby Dorff, who is from Idaho's Mountain Home, was pulled over after he drove across three lanes of traffic without using a signal. Dorff later told police he did not have a valid drivers license when stopped. A second officer arrived on the scene with a K-9 dog named Nero, who began to sniff the car, according to the decision.Nero placed his paws on the passenger side of the car twice, and then placed his paws on the driver side door. The dog then alerted police prompting them to search Dorffs car upon which they found paraphernalia with residue of methamphetamine. Police then arrested and charged Dorff, after which they obtained a search warrant for his motel room, where they found 19 grams of methamphetamine and other paraphernalia.However, in court, Dorff argued that Nero trespassed his vehicle with the purpose of obtaining information which is illegal under the Fourth Amendment.A search occurs when a drug dog trespasses against the exterior of a vehicle during a free air sniff if its physical contact with the vehicle amounts to intermeddling at common law, the decision reads.Had Nero sniffed the air and not placed his paws on Dorffs car, it would not have been trespassing, as air is not private property. Dorff pleaded guilty to the charges on the condition that he could appeal the denial of his motion to suppress evidence. He then appealed the case in June 2020 to the Idaho Supreme Court. Dorffs case will now go back to a district court (where the motion to suppress evidence was first denied) with the motion to suppress evidence now in place.

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idaho supreme court, trespassing, dog, police dog, paws
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/iranians-not-killed-as-result-of-us-strike-in-syria-media-reports-1108745350.html

Iranians Not Killed as Result of US Airstrike in Syria, Report Says

Iranians Not Killed as Result of US Airstrike in Syria, Report Says

No Iranians were killed as a result of a US strikes in Syria which hit a grain center and rural development center in the province of Deir ez-Zur, rather than Iranian military positions, the regional broadcaster reported on Friday, citing sources in Syria.

2023-03-24T08:34+0000

2023-03-24T08:34+0000

2023-03-24T09:20+0000

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syria

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A military source in Syria believes local groups could retaliate against US strikes, the broadcaster added. Earlier in the day, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the US armed forces carried out airstrikes on facilities of groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) after an Iranian drone attacked a coalition base in northeast Syria, killing one US contractor.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230320/russian-foreign-intel-us-plans-to-use-islamists-in-syria-to-kidnap-russian-iranian-military-1108587195.html

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us, us airstrike in syria, middle east, iran islamic revolutionary guards corps, american agression
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/kenya-to-buy-oil-for-local-currency-instead-of-us-dollars-1108756344.html

Kenya to Buy Oil Using Local Currency Instead of US Dollars

Kenya to Buy Oil Using Local Currency Instead of US Dollars

In this article you can read about Kenyan and Saudi Arabian agreement on ditching dollar in oil trade

2023-03-24T13:54+0000

2023-03-24T13:54+0000

2023-03-24T15:00+0000

africa

east africa

middle east

kenya

saudi arabia

oil trade

agreement

ditching dollar

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Kenyan President William Ruto signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to buy oil for Kenyan shillings instead of US dollars. As the US currency exchange rate hit 145.5 shillings due to increased demand by importers, President Ruto accused oil cartels of stockpiling American dollars in response to the crisis, sparking fuel shortages throughout Kenya. Demand for the US greenback is expected to drop once the deal is signed to import fuel on credit by the Kenyan and Saudi governments. According to Ruto, this step should "ensure dollar availability." Kenya imports the vast majority of its fuel from countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others, and pays in dollars.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230304/africa-is-becoming-new-market-for-russian-oil-products-amid-eu-embargo-report-says-1108021214.html

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Roman Sanin

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kenya and saudi arabia, trade relations, oil deal, local currency, fuel shortage in kenya
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/moscow-will-respond-to-expulsion-of-another-russian-envoy-from-estonia-1108747873.html

Moscow will Respond to Expulsion of Another Russian Envoy from Estonia

Moscow will Respond to Expulsion of Another Russian Envoy from Estonia

Estonia has declared another Russian diplomat persona non grata and ordered this person out of the country by March 29, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

2023-03-24T10:02+0000

2023-03-24T10:02+0000

2023-03-24T10:03+0000

russia

estonia

diplomacy

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The Russian diplomat is accused of participating in "undermining security" and "constitutional order" in Estonia, allegedly by "spreading propaganda", the statement read.

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russia, estonia, diplomacy, imperialism
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/netanyahu-reportedly-postpones-visit-to-london-due-to-refusal-of-pilots-to-fly-plane-1108740897.html

Netanyahu Reportedly Postpones Visit to London Due to Refusal of Pilots to Fly Plane

Netanyahu Reportedly Postpones Visit to London Due to Refusal of Pilots to Fly Plane

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to postpone a visit to London for a day due to the refusal of a number of pilots to fly a plane with him on board, a British newspaper reported, citing a source.

2023-03-24T04:47+0000

2023-03-24T04:47+0000

2023-03-24T04:48+0000

world

israel

london

benjamin netanyahu

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"It is understood that Israeli pilots have been refusing to take Mr Netanyahu to the UK," the UK government source said, as quoted by the newspaper. The refusal of the pilots is associated with Netanyahu's plans to reorganize the Israeli legal system, which caused mass protests in the country, the newspaper added. The minister will fly to the United Kingdom on Friday morning, the report noted. Thousands have been protesting against the judicial reform in Israel for almost 11 weeks now. On Thursday, demonstrations against the reform took place near Netanyahu's residence and houses of other cabinet members. The draft law presented by Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January, if adopted, will significantly curtail the powers of the Israeli Supreme Court and give the government control over the procedure of the appointment of judges.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/hundreds-of-thousands-protest-against-legal-reform-in-israel-1108301436.html

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netanyahu postpones visit to uk, protests in israel, biritsh pilots refuse to fly israeli pm to london
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/russia-boosts-fertilizers-export-to-thailand-by-63-in-2022-1108744212.html

Russia Boosts Fertilizers Export to Thailand by 63% in 2022

Russia Boosts Fertilizers Export to Thailand by 63% in 2022

Russia increased the export of its fertilizers to Thailand by 63% and also sold 4.5 times more jewelry to the country in 2022 compared to the previous year, Valery Barchenko, Chairman of the Russian-Thai business council told Sputnik.

2023-03-24T07:36+0000

2023-03-24T07:36+0000

2023-03-24T07:36+0000

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russian economy

thailand

export

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In February, Russian Ambassador to Thailand Evgeny Tomikhin told Sputnik that Moscow and Bangkok were increasing their bilateral trade in agricultural and relevant products. The diplomat also said that there were agreements achieved on a number of new trade items, adding that there were trade prospects concerning meat and dairy products, as well as mineral fertilizers. The Russian-Thai business council was established at the initiative of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to facilitate trade between the two countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221013/russian-economy-emerging-from-recession-despite-western-sanctions-british-newspaper-reports-1101807542.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/suffering-for-the-truth-japanese-principal-resigns-over-elite-refugees-jab-at-ukrainian-students-1108746892.html

Suffering for the Truth? Japanese Principal Resigns Over Elite Refugees Jab at Ukrainian Students

Suffering for the Truth? Japanese Principal Resigns Over Elite Refugees Jab at Ukrainian Students

Japan has received more than 2,000 Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

2023-03-24T10:03+0000

2023-03-24T10:03+0000

2023-04-06T12:15+0000

asia

ukraine

russia

students

special operation

japan

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Masumi Shimizu, president of a Japanese language school in Gunma Prefecture, has resigned after facing a backlash for reportedly calling Ukrainian migrants-turned-students "elite refugees."The newspaper reported that Shimizu refused to apologize for his remarks, arguing that the "prefectural government is doing far more than it should" to support the Ukrainian migrants.Shimizu insisted that the promise was temporary and was only in force until the students became financially independent, and not for six months or a year, as the students maintain.Following a public uproar over Shimizu's comments, the prefecture ordered the school to take steps "to prevent a recurrence and improve its corporate governance." The launch of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine was followed by a stream of refugees fleeing from the conflict zone - most of them to Russia, while others went to Europe and beyond. Since the start of the op, Japan, in turn, took in 2,302 Ukrainians, according to the governments estimates.The Nippon Academy has received 38 Ukrainian students since May 2022.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221209/scores-of-ukrainian-refugees-struggle-to-find-work-in-us-as-local-labor-ngos-overwhelmed--report-1105272331.html

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a japanese language school in gunma prefecture, principal of a japanese language school in gunma prefecture, resignation of a japanese language school principal, resignation of a japanese language school principal over elite refugees jab at ukrainian students
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/uganda-to-reportedly-deploy-about-1000-soldiers-to-conflict-zone-in-drc-1108745226.html

Uganda to Deploy About 1,000 Soldiers to Conflict Zone in DRC

Uganda to Deploy About 1,000 Soldiers to Conflict Zone in DRC

Uganda will deploy 1,000 soldiers to a conflict zone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in March, media reported on Friday, citing a source in the Ugandan army.

2023-03-24T08:39+0000

2023-03-24T08:39+0000

2023-03-26T06:39+0000

africa

central africa

democratic republic of the congo

uganda

troops

eac regional force operation in drc

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The Ugandan troops will be sent to North Kivu, a province of the DRC currently occupied by the M23 rebel group, Ugandan Colonel Mike Walaka Hyeroba said. There are already Kenyan soldiers deployed in the country, Burundian forces are also present in the North Kivu province, and South Sudan announced its intention to send 750 soldiers to the conflict-torn region, the media reported. The M23 is a pro-Tutsi armed group that resumed its actions in November 2021 after a hiatus caused by a severe military defeat in 2013. The rebels accuse the government of the DRC of violating agreements providing for the integration of the disarmed M23 fighters in the country's army. In June 2022, the leaders of the East African countries agreed to establish regional armed forces in order to thwart the conflict in the east of the DRC. In November, agreements providing for a ceasefire were achieved, but the M23 group said it did not take part in the talks and would not abide by the agreements.

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is drc a high risk country?, democratic republic of the congo, uganda, ugandan army, uganda to deploy about 1,000 soldiers to conflict zone in drc, uganda to deploy soldiers to drc, conflict zone in drc, what is the conflict in the drc? , what is the cause of drc conflict?, what is the main problem in congo?,
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/us-canada-reportedly-clinch-deal-to-close-illegal-border-crossing-amid-surge-in-migration-1108744052.html

US, Canada Reportedly Clinch Deal to Close Illegal Border Crossing Amid Surge in Migration

US, Canada Reportedly Clinch Deal to Close Illegal Border Crossing Amid Surge in Migration

Premier of Quebec Francois Legault had repeatedly requested that Canadas federal government close the illegal crossing, arguing his province could not sustain the increasing irregular flows of migrants coming through it.

2023-03-24T08:32+0000

2023-03-24T08:32+0000

2023-03-24T08:32+0000

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us

canada

deal

migrants

border

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Canada has clinched a deal with the US on closing the illegal border crossing of Roxham Road between New York State and the province of Quebec, a Canadian news network reported.Under the agreement, officials on both sides of the US-Canadian border are allowed to turn back asylum seekers heading in either direction.As part of the accord, Canada will also reportedly commit to welcoming 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere over the next year through legal channels.The so-called "safe third country" agreement, which was forged between Ottawa and Washington twenty years ago, only applies at official border crossings, meaning that American and Canadian authorities have not been able to turn away asylum seekers who cross into each country illegally.Quebec Premier Francois Legault had repeatedly called for closing the Roxham Road crossing, citing the growing number of migrants coming through the area.According to the Canadian governments estimates, about 40,000 asylum seekers crossed into Canada without authorization in 2022, the vast majority of them along the Roxham Road crossing. The US Border Patrol, in contrast, processed 3,577 migrants who crossed into America from Canada last year, government data has showed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20190430/canada-migration-system-1074583305.html

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canada-us deal on closing illegal border crossing, both sides of the us-canadian border, "safe third country" agreement
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/us-reportedly-investigating-why-air-defense-was-not-fully-operational-during-strike-in-syria-1108767218.html

US Reportedly Investigating Why Air Defense Was Not Fully Operational During Strike in Syria

US Reportedly Investigating Why Air Defense Was Not Fully Operational During Strike in Syria

The United States is investigating the reason why its air defense system was not fully operational during a strike on a US base in Syria, the New York Times said on Friday.

2023-03-24T19:58+0000

2023-03-24T19:58+0000

2023-03-24T19:56+0000

military

air defense

syria

us

lloyd austin

investigation

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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier in the day that the US military had carried out airstrikes on facilities belonging to groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) after an Iranian drone attacked a coalition base in northeast Syria, killing one US contractor. The US military does not know at present why the system did not work as it should and the circumstances are under investigation, the report said, citing two officials. One of the officials explained that the Avenger missile defense system on the base, named RLZ, may have been experiencing some unexpected maintenance issue, despite the fact that the troops were on high alert given that Iranian-backed groups had conducted 78 attacks in the past two years, US media reported. Two service members injured during the attack were treated on site, while three others were evacuated to the medical facility in Iraq along with a wounded contractor, a release issued late Thursday by the Pentagon detailed. The Defense Department did not reveal the identity of the killed person, pending notification of family, one official said, according to the report. US officials said on Friday that Iran-backed militias fired about a dozen of rockets while attacking a second US base in the area, but that strike did not result in casualties. The US military controls parts of the provinces of Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, Aleppo and Deir Ez-Zor, where the largest Syrian oil and gas fields are located. The Syrian government has repeatedly called the US military presence in the provinces an occupation aimed at stealing Syrias oil.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/us-conducts-airstrike-in-syria-after-american-forces-struck-by-iranian-uav-near-coalition-base-1108739579.html

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U.S. states Wyoming, California boost pro-abortion actions

Xinhua) 09:51, March 24, 2023

CHEYENNE, the United States, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The battle surrounding abortion rights is heating up in the United States as the two western states of Wyoming and California recently took pro-choice actions, lifting the spirit of American pro-abortion advocates.

The sparsely-populated, conservative western state of Wyoming gave abortion rights advocates a shot in the arm Wednesday as a judge surprisingly rejected a five-day-old ban on abortions, after Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed into law the nation's first explicit ban on abortion pills last Friday since last year's landmark Supreme Court reversal of the half-century Roe v. Wade decision that gave women the national right to an abortion.

Gordon, a Republican, also allows a separate measure restricting abortion to become law without his signature.

"When the Wyoming Legislature passes unconstitutional bills attacking trans rights and abortion access, it degrades the integrity of our great state," Wyoming state representative Karlee Provenza posted on Twitter Wednesday.

"I swore an oath to uphold both the Wyoming and the United States Constitutions. The passage of these bills should offend us all," Provenza added.

According to the AP, the pills are already banned in 13 states that have blanket bans on all forms of abortion, and 15 states already have limited access to abortion pills.

Until now, however, no state had passed a law specifically prohibiting such pills, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights think tank.

A group seeking to open an abortion and women's health clinic in Casper, Wyoming, was reported to be evaluating legal options.

Meanwhile, about 2,000 km west in the Golden State, the liberal state of California reaffirmed the rights of drug companies to ship abortion pills to other states, and doctors in California who mail abortion pills to people in other states will now be protected from prosecution under a new bill announced last Friday in the state legislature, NBC News reported.

"The bill would not let California extradite doctors who are facing charges in another state for providing abortion medication," NBC said.

"It would also shield doctors from having to pay fines. And it would let California doctors sue anyone who tries to stop them from providing abortions," it added.

However, it would only protect doctors who are in California, media sources noted, which means that if a doctor left California to provide an abortion to someone in another state, the doctor would not be protected.

The author of the bill, State Senator Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley, said that California residents traveling in other states, or temporary residents such as college students, should still have access to this treatment that's currently legal in their home state.

"This is essential health care," Skinner said in a press release from her office. "Our health care practitioners should be protected for treating their patients regardless of where their patients are geographically."

Currently, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Maryland and Vermont have proposed or passed similar laws, according to Skinner's office.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Scientists observe the mysterious and sudden acceleration of the Oumuamua comet

The cosmic object was previously believed to be an alien spacecraft

Experts theorize that the sudden increase in speed was due to a release of hydrogen gas as the comet received sunlight

Scientists have offered a compelling explanation for the mysterious and sudden acceleration of an alien comet known as Oumuamua, which is the first interstellar object found to visit our solar system.

The comet was first observed in 2017 and has been monitored to undergo a sudden acceleration as it headed toward our sun. Scientists provided various hypotheses in light of the unexpected behavior of the comet. These include fleeting speculation that an alien spacecraft could have traveled through space.

Alien Comet's Acceleration

But a recent study has offered a more compelling explanation, that the comet's speed increase resulted from a release of hydrogen gas as the cosmic object was warmed up by sunlight. The comet lacked a tail of gas and dust that is characteristic of a standard comet.

Scientists previously described Oumuamua as being cigar-like in shape but are now believed to resemble a rocky pancake. The comet was found to be smaller than previously estimated and was given rough sizes of 375 feet by 365 feet and a thickness of roughly 60 feet, as per Reuters.

Furthermore, researchers said that it seemed like the comet was born similarly to others as a planetesimal. This is a small object in the early stages of planet formation and is considered a large, icy space rock.

The team said that after Oumuamua was somehow ejected from the solar system that it was located in, its chemistry changed as it received high-energy radiation while traveling through space. This caused a conversion in some of the comet's ice into hydrogen that became trapped within the rest.

Read Also: NASA Unveils Sleek New Spacesuit

Oumuamua's Weird Path

The researchers noted that when the comet was warmed up while passing through our inner solar system, some of its surface ice melted away and released the trapped hydrogen gas, giving Oumuamua a little kick to its speed.

A study co-author, Jennifer Bergner, said that comets preserve a snapshot of what the solar system looked like at the time that it was only in its early years. She noted that studying these cosmic objects is a way for scientists to look back in time, according to CNN.

Scientists estimate that Oumuamua arrived at our solar system roughly six years ago, and it was first discovered by the University of Hawaii's Pan-STARRS1 telescope. Its name is Hawaiian and is translated to "a messenger from afar arriving first."

Before the recent theory, scientists spent four months perplexed by Oumuamua's sudden increase in speed and change in trajectory as it slingshotted around our sun. Another co-author of the study, Darryl Seligman of Cornell University, said that Bergner's theory was the most probable reason for the cosmic object's change in behavior, said CBS News.

Related Article: Scientists Say Universe is Shaped Like a Doughnut

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230324/yugoslavia-bombings-african-peacekeepers-more-kindhearted-and-sympathetic-war-child-recalls--1108748017.html

Yugoslavia Bombings: African Peacekeepers 'More Kindhearted and Sympathetic', War Child Recalls

Yugoslavia Bombings: African Peacekeepers 'More Kindhearted and Sympathetic', War Child Recalls

On March 24, on the day that commerates the start of NATO's air strikes on Yugoslavia, Sputnik has asked Bojan Milivojevic, who faced the atrocities of war whed he was 9, to share how he got through these events.

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Twenty-four years after the start of NATO's air strikes on Yugoslavia, on the day that commemorates the beginning of almost three months of constant bombardment for thousands of people, Sputnik asked Bojan Milivojevic, who faced the atrocities of war in the city of Kosovska Mitrovica, to tell us how he got through these events. Milivojevic, who was only nine years old when the bombing started, underlined that the events of spring 1999 adversely affected the entire population, regardless of one's age, leaving deep psychological wounds. He explained that the days of the bombings were deeply imprinted in his memory, and every March 24 revives these painful memories. Recalling the end of the war and the arrival of the peacekeeping mission, he pointed out that the members of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), especially from African countries, were more friendly, in particular to children, than NATO soldiers, who were bold and cruel.Sharing his childhood memories, Milivojevic recalled with gratitude that the Africans, who were among the UNMIK police officers deployed in the country, appeared to be the most compassionate, and one of them even became his friend. According to Milivojevic, the soldiers of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), a military mission under the command of NATO, also behaved as professionals. The international missions, he explained, wrote down what children had experienced, after seeing that during their games they used water guns and bows and arrows to simulate war. He highlighted that the peacekeepers wanted to erase what happened from the children's memory, taking away these war toys and giving them Lego bricks and other toys. The NATO's aerial bombing started during an armed conflict in Kosovo, a disputed region in Serbia, part of the former Yugoslavia in Southeast Europe. The sides of the conflict were the force of the Federal Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanians rebel group. The conflict resulted in the withdrawal of Yugoslav Armed Forces and the establishment of UNMIK in Kosovo following NATO's airstrikes.

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Yannick Gingras heads to Monday's MGM Borgata Pacing Series with no morning-line favourites, but each of his four Ron Burke-trained horses is no worse than third choice in the events second of five preliminary rounds at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Among that group is Hellabalou, who brings a five-race win streak to the third of the nights four $50,000 divisions.

Hellabalou, the 2021 Adios champ, won his first-round Borgata start by a neck over Jimmy Freight and Backstreet Shadow in 1:52.1 last week. Starting from post one, Hellabalou took the lead at the start and never relinquished the top position.

We had the rail and were able to control the race, but he won pretty easily, Gingras said. It looked like they were coming at the wire, and they were, but the plugs were still in. I was more managing (Jimmy Freight) in the two-hole, so I wasnt going to get beat by him. I think if I turned (Hellabalou) loose at the top of the stretch, he had more than he even showed.

Hellabalou has won seven of his past nine races dating back to mid-October. Last weeks appearance was his first pari-mutuel start since Jan. 6, when he captured the Open Handicap at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. On Monday, he leaves from post six and is the 7-2 second choice in a field that includes fellow first-round winners Leonidas A, the 3-1 favourite, and Idealsomemagic A, who is 5-1.

He was coming into last week fresh, but off some really good starts in late fall/early winter, Gingras said about Hellabalou. Weve got post six this week, and it would be nice to get him in the race somehow. Whether thats at the beginning or following cover, well see how it shakes out.

Its important to try to get as many points as you can early in the series because then it gives you the chance to maybe get a week off somewhere. Everybody is thinking the same, so thats why its such competitive racing.

This Is The Plan, an eight-year-old who was the 2021 Borgata champ, represents the Burke Brigade in Mondays fourth division, where he starts from post seven and is the 5-1 third choice behind Tattoo Artist at 5-2 and Priceless Beach at 3-1.

Last week, This Is The Plan made his seasonal debut from post eight and finished seventh, but was beaten by only 2-1/2 lengths as he closed with a :27 final quarter-mile.

He drew the eight-hole, and it was really the toughest division on top of it, Gingras said. I took a look out of the gate, but they were leaving pretty hard. He had good pace in the stretch, just a wall of horses in front of him. I was really, really pleased with him.

Hes got post seven this week, but hes going to be more involved than last week. Well try to go forward and if that doesnt work at least we should be able to get him out in the flow. Its time to go.

In the second division, Semi Tough will look to rebound from an eighth-place finish in round one. The seven-year-old led at the opening quarter from post three but dropped back from there.

Hes always a little bit lazy in the middle part of the race, so going up the backstretch I was thinking it was maybe just typical Semi Tough, but he didnt respond, Gingras said. Hell always pace the stretch and he didnt. He wasnt himself.

On Monday, Semi Tough will start from post one and is co-second choice at 7-2 behind favourite Jimmy Freight at 5-2. Backstreet Shadow also is 7-2.

Ive seen him be not so good one week and really good the next, Gingras said. Hes got a good spot and hes a good horse.

Completing the Burke-Gingras quartet is Bee Two Bee, who finished sixth from post eight last week. This week, the six-year-old starts from post three and is the 4-1 third choice behind first-round winner Lochinvar Art A at 9-5 and None Bettor A at 2-1.

He actually was really good, Gingras said. I went up the inside with him and it didnt open up until late. I never really got to let him pace. Hes ready. I dont know if he can win the final, but hes a horse that can make some money in the legs. This week I think is one of them. I think hes in a good spot and Ill see what we can do. I like him. Hes a big strong horse and he tries. Hes not out of place in this series.

The top-eight horses at the completion of the series five preliminary legs are eligible to advance to the Borgata final on April 24 at Yonkers. Horses receive 50 points for winning, 25 for second, 12 for third, eight for fourth, and five for fifth. In addition, all starters in each round receive 25 points.

Racing begins at 7 p.m. EDT at Yonkers. For free TrackMaster past performances courtesy the Standardbred Owners Association of New York, click here.

(USTA)
The connections of millionaire stakes star Churita have reported that their beloved trotting mare passed away on March 15 at the age of 11.

Trained by Matt Rheinheimer before retiring from racing in 2020 to become a broodmare, Churita earned 45 wins and 40 other top-three finishes from 114 starts while amassing $1,038,975 in purses for owner Jackie Porter of Taylor, Michigan.

Driven primarily by Trace Tetrick, the Airzoom Lindy-Stonebridge Volare mare dominated the Indiana Sire Stakes early in her career, taking the 2014 Super Final as a freshman amid a 16-race win streak that extended over her two and three-year-old seasons. Churita's sophomore stakes victories included back-to-back divisional track record performances at Hoosier Park, ultimately lowering the standard to 1:53.4. She finished second in the Super Final that year to longtime rival and future Hall of Famer Hannelore Hanover.

Their rivalry continued as older mares, with Churita later avenging that loss and defeating Hannelore Hanover in the 2017 and 2019 editions of the Indiana Sire Stakes Aged Mares Trot. Churita faced Grand Circuit competition and was a top performer in the Invitationals and Opens racing in Ohio and Indiana, where she took a mark of 1:51.4 over Hoosier Park.

After winning her final race on Jan. 28, 2020 at Miami Valley Raceway, Churita was retired from racing and became a mom to a yearling Swan For All colt named Ritas Revenge.

Purchased for just $3,700 at the 2013 Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale as a fair racing prospect, Churita developed into a horse of a lifetime, leaving her connections in awe of the talent she possessed.

"I could go on all day about her accomplishments and what she meant to me personally, but the biggest thing about her is she loved being on the track and racing, and also having the talent to accomplish what she did, a lot of horses have talent but not the desire like she had," owner Jackie Porter told Trot Insider. "And one other thing I really am in awe of is that, in 114 lifetime starts, she only went offstride once and that was in the third start of her career."

Porter is quick to give credit where credit is due for Churita's success, noting that, "Matt Rheinheimer's training and the care that he provided made everything go the way it did.

"As for me personally, the experience of having a horse like her is and will always be amazing. I will probably never have another horse that will be competitive on the level she raced and I am just humbled by the experience."

Churita passed away at Purdue University Equine Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana due to complications from an injury sustained in a paddock accident. Sadly, the connections also lost her premature foal 10 days prior.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Churita.
Virginia members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now have a local temple to practice their faith with the opening of the Richmond Virginia Temple in Glen Allen, the first in the commonwealth.

I am so excited for this temple to be here in Virginia, Culpeper resident Jonna Comstock said on Wednesday. This temple will bless the many peoples lives who worship God.

Comstock, a paraprofessional at Eastern View High School, leads the local Church of Jesus Christ womens ministry as Relief Society President.

In todays world it is hard to find a place to be still and quiet, Comstock said. The Richmond Temple will provide this space, for many to pray and worship in a peaceful way.

Eric Bowler, who serves as Bishop of the Culpeper congregation, said worship at the Richmond Temple will strengthen his and other members testimonies of Jesus Christ.

It provides greater availability and opportunity to learn of the Savior, receive blessings and participate in saving ordinances, Bowler said.

A public open house begins Saturday and runs through April 15, excluding Sundays and the April 1-2 general conference weekend. The temple will then close to prepare for its dedication on May 7. After the dedication, only church members who have agreed to live according to high moral standards will be permitted to enter the temple.

The opening is a great honor, not only as members of the church, but an opportunity for us to invite the community and see our temples, said Jack Gerard, the churchs General Authority Seventy.

Bowler plans to attend the open house with his family. It is a wonderful opportunity to walk through the temple prior to its dedication.

I plan on attending the open house of the Richmond Temple in the next few weeks, Comstock said.

On Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin toured the temple, as well as invited leaders from other religious groups and members of the media.

In a press conference held after his tour, Youngkin praised the workmanship and beauty of the temple.

I just had a wonderful tour, and I encourage everyone to please avail yourself of the opportunity today, or during the upcoming visitation period, to visit this magnificent building while it is open.

Youngkin said our country is grateful to the Latter-day Saints community for its contributions to society.

I know that faith, family and freedom will be an important groundswell from this important place, he said.

Religious freedom is such an essential element to the spirit of Virginia, Youngkin continued. It is amazing to see the interwoven nature of this in this magnificent temple.

About 100,000 Virginians are Latter-day Saints, including about 7,000 in the Culpeper and Fredericksburg region. The Richmond Virginia Temple, at 10915 Staples Mill Road, now serves a community that has been waiting and praying for a temple for years.

Attending the open house from the churchs headquarters in Salt Lake City, Sister Tracy Y. Browning, who serves as second counselor in the Primary General Presidency for the Church, said that Latter-day Saints are committed in a sacred way to caring for those in need.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes the unique global challenges of vulnerable populations, Browning said. In her work with the church she helps oversee the international ministry for children.

With so much suffering in the world today, as followers of Jesus Christ we are firmly rooted in the first and second great commandments, which is to love God, and to love our neighbors.

Part of our commitment is to lift burdens, mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, she added. And we do that in tangible ways, working with other organizations who likewise are looking to relieve suffering.

Jeff and Whitney Dunn, of Tuckahoe, have four children ranging in age from 2 to 11. Their family previously made one or two trips a year to the temples because of the two- to three-hour drives. Now, they get to worship in a brand-new temple that is only 10 minutes away.

For a family like ours with young kids, it just makes it so much more accessible to us, Jeff Dunn said. Before, it was like a full-day event to go up to D.C. or go down to Raleigh.

After taking a tour of the temple, Whitney Dunn said it made her feel like she was home.

I felt like it was a place where I felt comfortable and peaceful. I wanted to stay, I didnt want to leave, she said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have 177 operating temples worldwide once the Richmond Virginia Temple has its dedication. An additional 123 temples are in development or undergoing construction.

The church has teams that find the land and build the temples. Much of the funding comes through tithing, where members of the faith give one-tenth of their income to the church.

Construction began on the Richmond Virginia Temple in April 2020, on what had been a wooded parcel. The building is more than 39,000 square feet and nearly 165 feet tall.

The exterior features a combination of Georgian, Federal and Jeffersonian architecture, similar to other buildings in Richmond. The paths, lighting and landscaping take inspiration from Williamsburg.

The inside of the temple has a Celestial room, four instruction rooms, three sealing rooms and one baptistry. The interior materials include marble flooring, wood doors, bronze hardware, art glass and decorative painting and lighting. Each temple is designed to reflect the communities they serve.

Here in Richmond, youll see this [temple] reflects a lot of Virginia history: the dogwood trees, the historic colonial nature of where we are, really the history of this part of the world, this part of the country, Gerard said.

The 12-acre property also has a separate meeting house where Sunday worship takes place. The temple is closed on Sundays, but is open every other day of the week for teachings, reflections and the sacraments. Audio and video recordings in the instruction rooms are available in 100 languages.

The churchs leaders encourage members from all over the world to visit, as well as those who are not involved with the church.

We invite everyone in the commonwealth to come to the temple, see whats inside and feel the peace that we feel, said Kevin Duncan, executive director of the temple department. We open the doors not to show off the building; we opened the door to share a promise. This is a house of hope.
Following are western Nebraska state senators comments either during floor debate on Legislative Bill 574, which would ban transgender health care for minors, or in statements after Thursdays 30-17 first-round approval.

All five of the regions lawmakers voted to break a filibuster and advance LB 574 to the second of three rounds of consideration.

Sen. Brian Hardin, Gering, District 48

I am not in favor of surgeries on minors for trans-related issues  either with or without parental consent. There simply is no settled science related to this issue. (statement after LB 574 advancement, Thursday)

Sen. Steve Erdman, Bayard, District 47

God created us male and female. And its kind of strange that when you go in for surgery to change your identity, you only get one choice.  But our society says we have many different genders, but it is strange you only get to choose on when you make the choice to change.

There are people who have made that decision and make that transition when theyre young, and  when their brain matures, they realize that was not the best decision or perhaps it was the poorest decision theyve ever made in their life. But its irreversible.  And so for the life of me I cant imagine why we want to mess with something that God created. 

There are other issues with these young people that are convincing them, either adults that they know or a fad or whatever it may be, to change their mind about who they are. (floor debate, Tuesday)

Sen. Tom Brewer, Gordon, District 43

Putting aside the many obvious moral objections I have to this subject, I believe this comes down to a question of consent. A minor in Nebraska (someone under 19 years old) cannot consent to get a tattoo, and there is a long-settled good reason for this.

I think this very same reason is why we shouldnt allow minors to be given drugs and surgeries that will cause lifelong medical problems and prevent them from ever experiencing a normal sex life or having children. Its also important to remember that a number of these people, as they advance in age, come to realize their choice made as a child has caused serious problems in their life as an adult. The practice is irreversible in many respects. We shouldnt allow it in Nebraska. (Statement after LB 574 advancement, Thursday)

Sen. Mike Jacobson, North Platte, District 42

I come from a very conservative district, and I have a pretty good read on what my constituents want me to do. At the same time, I have personal views, and Ive heard from a lot of people about the concerns they have on both sides of this issue. 

Im having a hard time being able to be comfortable with allowing surgical procedures that are clearly irreversible. At the same time, I recognize that puberty blockers are just that: They block puberty until you go off the puberty blocker, and then puberty continues.

So I think the big controversial piece thats left in the middle is the hormone treatments and at what age would that begin. Thats generally going to happen around 13 or 14, and so then youve got a question at what point do we let the parents make that decision. I get that argument.

And so I think there is a path forward to be able to ban any surgical procedures until age 19 and potentially leave the other (treatments) to the decision of their doctors and their parents and the psychologists and the child themselves. (floor debate, Tuesday)

Sen. Teresa Ibach, Sumner, District 44

As a parent and grandparent, I try to seek educated answers when considering any long-term effects on children. I can understand the difficulties parents of transgender children face in making life decisions for their children. However, I also believe that government has the obligation to restrict acts that potentially harm or have permanent impacts on children.

This is not an easy decision, and compromise can be met. Legislation is a practice of give and take, requiring the civility and respect of each persons perspective and decision. I look forward to healthy debate of the issues that Nebraskans deserve. (statement after LB 574 advancement, Thursday)
A bill offering state support for upgrades at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford has won unanimous support from the Legislatures Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Its members Wednesday voted 7-0 to advance Omaha state Sen. Justin Waynes Legislative Bill 474 to the full Legislature. Sens. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the committees chairman, and Brian Hardin of Gering are cosponsors.

If its debated and passed, LB 474 would set aside $35 million from state general funds to improve Fort Robinson, help develop a Standing Bear and Ponca Cultural Center near Niobrara and buy and repair the flood-damaged Mayhew Cabin and museum at Nebraska City.

State money would be available as matching funds for private fundraising in the first two cases, according to testimony during the bills March 9 public hearing.

LB 474 has been designated a 2023 priority bill by the Legislatures State-Tribal Relations Committee, increasing its chances for floor debate.

Wayne, one of two African-American senators, and Brewer, a registered Oglala Sioux Tribe member, called attention during the hearing to Fort Robinsons importance in the states Black and Native American history as well as Nebraska and western history.

They said LB 474 is intended to improve visitor amenities at the 1874-1947 U.S. Army fort and better coordinate its presentation of such stories as the 1877 death of Crazy Horse, the 1879 Cheyenne Outbreak, the forts all-Black Buffalo Soldiers units, its roles training Army horses and K-9 dogs and the related nearby sites of the 1870s Red Cloud Agency and World War II prisoner-of-war camp.

The projected Standing Bear museum would be Nebraskas first honoring the Ponca leader who won a landmark 1879 court ruling that Native Americans are persons within the eyes of U.S. law.

Mayhew Cabin, also known as John Browns Cave, was an outpost on the westernmost branch of the pre-Civil War Underground Railroad for Black slaves escaping from Kansas. Its on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom and the National Register of Historic Places.
The West Nebraska Arts Center, with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, North Platte Valley Artist Guild, Panhandle Shrine Club and Platte Valley Companies is pleased to present an exciting collection of original art from After School Art Program students, Ed Wards Project Class, Young Masters and the winners of the Duck Stamp Program.

The Young Masters Program is a year-round Thursday class taught by Mary Hunt. This class is generally for students in fourth grade and up. Hunt teaches students several different lessons and allows students to hone the areas of art they are specifically interested in.

The After School Art Program is a student art exhibit featuring original artwork of students currently enrolled in the After School Art Program. The exhibit is a great way for young artists to learn to select their art, begin showing and selling their art professionally. It is also a chance for students to discover and meet other artists.

WNAC will have the Ed Wards Project Class showcase their artwork. This class is for students in grades 7-12. It meets every Wednesday. This marks the fourth year that WNAC has been able to offer this program. The inspiration for this opportunity came from Charlotte Edwards. She was a fabulous professional Nebraska wildlife artist. Sharing her art with others was a pleasure for her and her family allows WNAC to provide an opportunity for teen students to practice the wonderful world of art.

The 8th Annual After School Art Program Student Art Exhibit, Ed Wards Project Class Showcase and the Winners of the Duck Stamp Program will be on display in the Bronson Gallery at WNAC will have a reception to coincide with the 2023 Visionaries student art reception on Sunday, April 2, from 2-4 p.m. All exhibits will be available until April 30.

WNAC is a cultural non-profit organization committed to education, awareness, and excellence in the arts, serving the North Platte Valley Region. WNAC is located at the corner of 1st Avenue and 18th Street in Scottsbluff. Visit the gallery Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 1-5 p.m. For more details go to www.thewnac.com.

The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported the programs of this organization through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Go to www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for more information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
From staff reports

The West Nebraska Arts Center, with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, First National Bank of Omaha and the National Endowment for the Arts, is pleased to present the 38th annual Visionaries student art show. The opening reception will be Sunday, April 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The art center staff believe children are the future, and they love seeing what is on their minds. They hope to get a great variety of mediums and subjects. The art will be on display until April 30. Artwork will be judged.

We love to celebrate our student artists, WNAC program manager Steph Coley said. Stop by to see what talent we have in our community.

The exhibit is open to students attending grades six through 12 in the Panhandle, as well as schools within a 125-mile radius of Scottsbluff and Gering.

The West Nebraska Arts Center is a cultural non-profit organization committed to education, awareness and excellence in the arts, serving the North Platte Valley Region. WNAC is located at the corner of 1st Avenue and 18th Street in Scottsbluff. Visit the gallery Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. The art center is closed Mondays. For more show information go tothewnac.com.

The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported the programs of this organization through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Go to nebraskaartscouncil.org for more information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
WASHINGTON (AP)  What in the world was that thing?

The massive white orb that drifted across U.S. airspace this week and was shot down by the Air Force over the Atlantic on live television Saturday triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and blew up on social media.

China insists the balloon was just an errant civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research that went off course due to winds and had only limited self-steering capabilities.

The United States says it was a Chinese spy balloon without a doubt. Its presence prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a weekend trip to China that was aimed at dialing down tensions that were already high between the countries.

The Pentagon says the balloon, which was carrying sensors and surveillance equipment, was maneuverable and showed it could change course. It loitered over sensitive areas of Montana where nuclear warheads are siloed, leading the military to take actions to prevent it from collecting intelligence.

A U.S. Air Force fighter jet shot down the balloon Saturday afternoon off the Carolina coast. Television footage showed a small explosion, followed by the balloon slowly drifting toward the water. An operation is underway to recover the remnants.

A look at what's known about the balloon crossing the U.S.  and what isn't. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... spy balloon It took just one shot Picking up the pieces Spy balloons have a history

More on this story:
Dmitry Medvedev warns that pushing through with the arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin is a "declaration of war" against Russia

The International Criminal Court (ICC) previously issued a warrant against Putin and another Russian official over alleged war crimes in Ukraine

The charges are based on the abduction of several thousands of children from Ukraine to Russia

The deputy chairman for Russia's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned that pushing through with the arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin would be tantamount to a "declaration of war" against Moscow.

The top Russian official posted on Telegram a message that called out the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its decision to issue an arrest warrant for the Russian strongman over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev Warns of Potential War

Medvedev said that the ICC's move added to a "colossal negative potential" in the already strained relationship between Russia and the West. On Friday, the ICC issued a warrant against the Russian president and another official for war crimes since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine began.

The charges against Putin and the official were issued based on their alleged involvement in abducting several thousands of children from Ukraine to Russia. In a Telegram post, The 57-year-old Medvedev noted that Russia's relations with the West are already worse than ever before, as per The Hill.

The Russian official served as the president of his country from 2008 to 2012 and called out Germany's Justice Minister Marco Buschmann. In response, the German official said that Putin would be arrested on the ICC's warrant if he traveled to Germany.

In a statement, Medvedev said that if a situation where Putin's arrest was made into a reality, it would be a declaration of war against the Russian Federation. He added that if that time comes, all of Moscow's assets, including missiles, would immediately fly out to the Bundestag and the Chancellor's office.

Read Also: India's Congress Leader Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison

The ICC's Arrest Warrant for Vladimir Putin

Medvedev's statements come after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart earlier this week. Western leaders considered the visit as Beijing doubling its support for Russia amid its war against Ukraine.

On the other hand, on Thursday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said that if Putin were to visit their country, he would not be arrested under the ICC's warrant. According to CNN, this is because while Hungary is a signatory to the Rome Statute, there would be no basis in Hungarian law to arrest the Russian president.

Gulyas added that the Hungarian government has not yet decided on its stance on the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin. The remarks are considered a surprise for many of the country's European neighbors.

The situation also comes as Russia opened a criminal investigation into ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and several international court judges, arguing that the decision to issue an arrest warrant was "unlawful." In response to the probe, the ICC said that its legislative body regretted "threats" against the tribunal over the warrant, said Alarabiya News.

Related Article: French Protests Turn Violent Amid Opposition to Pension Reform

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Episode 82: It was at this time three years ago when all of us learned a lot more about pandemics. As the coronavirus surged across the world, many felt overwhelmed with the avalanche of information about the virus. Each day, news reports showed an escalation of cases and more deaths.

We know a lot more about COVID today. And because of vaccines and previous infections, most people are much better protected. Although it can still be a deadly disease, its no longer affecting how most of us live our lives.

Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the effectiveness of the messaging in the early days of the pandemic, why COVID further divided many Americans and how leadership matters during a crisis.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast:

Pandemic 3 years later: Has the COVID-19 virus won?, by Carla K. Johnson, The Associated Press

A quarter of Americans distrust CDC recommendations, survey finds, Alexander Tin, CBS News

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic, by Laura Ungar and Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press

Study: Parents admit to lying about childs COVID status, by Angie Leventis, The Chicago Tribune

About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the first time, two Panhandle robotics teams from Scotts Bluff County are headed to nationals. 4-H Scotts Bluff Robotics Club teams The Last Gummy and The Lord of the Gummies will represent Nebraska at national competitions in Arkansas and Massachusetts this summer.

FIRST Lego League (FLL) is a program that introduces students to science and technology in a competitive and fun atmosphere by use of robots built out of Legos. The tasks teach students how to apply real-world math and science concepts to an issue as they develop skills in team building, presentation and critical thinking. There are four categories of competition: robot game, robot design, innovation project and core values. The acronym FIRST means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

The Last Gummy team of Wyatt Leggot, Hudson Devos, Landen Heine, Capria Rogers, Noah Rugroden and Hunter Creech earned the Champion Awards award at regionals and advance to Nebraskas state competition on Feb. 18 at Central Community College in Columbus. During the FLL Nebraska State Robot Games, the team received the Champions Award and the Nebraska Innovation award.

The next competition is the FIRST Lego League Razorback Open Invitational help in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in May. Eighty teams from around the world will compete, with 70 teams from North America.

The Last Gummy teams project helps eliminate energy vampires  electronic devices that passively use energy even in standby mode, like laptops, phone chargers and microwaves, the press release states.

Project Garlic is a smart outlet automated system that turns off unnecessary devices after a person leaves a home.

The Lord of the Gummies team of Gretchen Seay, Brooklyn Creech, Lee Rogers, Emmaline Hergert, Simon Rugroden, Oliver Howard, Kolter Luce and Cole Shimp earned first place in robot performance at regionals and third place in the state at the FLL Nebraska State Robot Games in February. They were invited to compete at the WPI FLL Open in Massachusetts in June alongside 96 other teams.

Their project recycles heat from your dryer and directs it into a greenhouse to grow plants, the press release states.

The product efficiently grew plants during the winter.

The community is invited to learn about the projects on April 3 at 6 p.m. at the Midwest Theater. There will be photo opportunities for corporate sponsors.

The Scotts Bluff Robotics Club is a non-profit 4-H club and has a Go Fund Me page set up to raise money for expenses nationals at https://tinyurl.com/SBRobotics
Its not often people in Iredell County ask for more regulations, but plenty of residents near Lake Norman are asking the board of county commissioners to consider codes and ordinances to crack down on short-term rentals on the lake.

A number of people spoke in the public comment portion of Tuesdays meeting and said that a number of negative issues have arisen as owners of those rentals allow crime and pollution to fester. Many have spoken at the last several county commissioners meetings in an effort to get them to go after some of the issues they say comes with short-term rentals, such as Vrbo or Airbnb, and other companies that allow people or businesses to rent out homes in the short-term.

In the commissioner comment portion of the meeting, Commissioner Scottie Brown asked for time to address the short-term rental issue residents have brought to the board.

Its not going to happen overnight, but Ill make you a promise while Im here, I dont know how long Im going to be here, but were going to fight for you, Brown said. Id like to say to these rental companies, you need to start backing up what youre telling us. Ive talked on the phone with several, and youre not telling me exactly what Ive been reading.

If youre telling me your house sleeps 12, that means you got six bedrooms, but our taxes say youve got three bedrooms, so weve got to start taxing these houses more. If you want to play, were gonna play.

He agreed with the septic and safety issues but also said if done properly, there shouldnt be an issue with short-term rentals.

The rentals arent a problem if theyre run right, Brown said. Nobodys against doing it if its right, but if we let it run away, we lose Lake Norman.

And its not just the noise and possible criminal activity that residents have claimed before the board, but the environmental effects that these can have, too.

Tricia Casey-Odenwald spoke on how short-term renters can have a negative effect on the lakes water quality, as she said that with the properties often having more than their listed occupancy, sewer, and other waste can leak out into the lake.

We are in need of swift resolution and regulations, and are excited you are working on this, and look forward to hearing updates from you accordingly to slow this trajectory down and enforce compliance, Casey-Odenwald said.

Mary Rotondo said that these short-term rental properties arent just residents renting out a home when theyre away, but a big business as companies look to buy the properties and rent them out for profit. She also hammered on Iredell County regulations that they say should limit the number of people in these rentals to two per bedroom. She said these businesses and other entities advertise over that limit, providing three examples and stating she had a total of 41.

This is the beginning of an environmental crisis. As weve heard, its due to the older, stressed septic systems that we all have. And they are polluting the ground soil, and well waters we all live on, and ultimately lake water quality will be affected, Rotondo said.

One man noted that some rentals allow people to use boats and personal watercraft, but they often have no safety training and ignore regulations.

Caleb Hannon, the owner of Stay Lake Norman, introduced himself and said he hopes to find a middle ground as the county considers regulations. He said the 9-year-old company hosted more than 1,100 people last year, and he said his companys guests added $9.3 million to the local economy. He said he is open to working with stakeholders to deal with unprofessional rental owners.

Public comment

Not everyone was there to talk about short-term rentals.

Todd Zigler spoke on his concerns with the tax appraisal coming up and how some residents like him will pay their taxes once the new values are set. He asked for the tax rate to be lowered.

Economic incentive

NGK Ceramics Inc. was granted an economic incentive of up to $103,452 over a five-year period based on the companys investment of up to $9.4 million. Headquartered in Japan, the company has had operations in Mooresville since 1988.

Administrative agenda

The following issues were also considered administrative matters by the board and discussed in a pre-agenda meeting before the regular meeting at 7 p.m. All are passed with a consent vote unless moved to the regular agenda.

Iredell-Statesville Schools: Approved a sewer easement across the Cloverleaf Elementary School property. Redwood Statesville James Farm Road NC P1 LLC is requesting a sewer easement across Cloverleaf Elementary School as they intend to develop land near the school.

Redwood Statesville has agreed to pay Iredell-Statesville Schools $22,500 for the easement.

Emergency communications: Approved request for approval of a resolution supporting the reclassification of telecommunicators. The agenda action request states that in September 2021, U.S. Reps. Norma Torres and Brian Fitzpatrick announced the 911 Saves Act passed the House as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 National defense Authorization Act. This is bipartisan legislation to reclassify 911 Telecommunicators from Office of Administrative Support to Protective Service Occupations in the Office of Management and Budgets Standards Occupational Classification catalog.

Solid waste: Approval to accept a grant from N.C. Department of Environmental Quality for abandoned manufactured home cleanups. The department applied in December 2022 for funds to assist in the cleanup of abandoned manufactured home sites. N.C. DEQ has awarded Iredell County $16,000 in grant funds for the disposal of old, abandoned manufactured homes.

Finance: Approved awarding auditing services to Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, PA based on a competitive bidding process and approve the contract in the amount of $82,395. This is an increase of 5% over last years audit fee. This is also a request to approve the contract for June 30.

Administration: Amended the Rules of Procedure including moving the pre-agenda meeting to 4 p.m. and the regular meeting to 6 p.m. According to the item, the rules say public hearings will be at the first meeting and while this has not been the practice and they are typically put on the first available, this change is also included.

Administration: Approved a resolution in Support of Life from Conception Through all the Stages of Development. The pro-life resolution declares the full humanity of the preborn child so that innocent human life, including fetal life at every stage of gestation, from conception or fertilization through all stages of development, and must always be valued and protected and that society must protect those who cannot protect themselves, among other things.

Cheryl Pletcher, thanked the board for its approval of the resolution. Other speakers in support were residents, church pastors and pregnancy center providers thanked the board.

Vietnam Veterans

The Iredell Board of Commissioners recognized March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, noting that the county has more than 1,000 veterans of that war living here.

Brad Stroud Sr., a veteran himself and who previously worked in veteran services for the county, was emotional as he shared his thanks for the Vietnam veterans in the room.

Everyone knows Im proud of my 21 years of service, but Im more proud of when I served you folks, Stroud said.
Canada and the United States agree on new immigrant regulation

Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau would be able to turn away illegal immigrants in the northern border

Canada would still accept 15,000 migrants trying to flee unsafe conditions in South and Central America under a legal refugee program

The United States government has agreed with Canadian authorities on a deal allowing both nations to turn away illegal immigrants crossing the northern border when crossings have surged.

A US official familiar with the agreement announced the news on Thursday. It comes as the deal is set to be revealed on Friday by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following a face-to-face meeting in Ottawa.

Addressing Illegal Immigration

The agreement would allow Canada to reject immigrants and turn them back at Roxham Road, which is a popular unofficial crossing point from New York for migrants who are seeking asylum in Canada.

In exchange for this, Canadian authorities have agreed to provide a new, legal refugee program for 15,000 migrants trying to escape violence, persecution, and economic devastation in South and Central America. As per the New York Times, this would result in less pressure on illegal crossings into the US from Mexico.

The Democratic president of the US arrived in Ottawa on Thursday evening and was scheduled for a 24-hour visit that would underscore the unity of purpose between the two countries. It comes after four years of frosty and sometimes even hostile exchanges between former President Donald Trump and Trudeau.

But Biden's visit to Canada is also expected to expose some difficult issues between the two nations. These include the longstanding debate over how to govern the movement of migrants across the border of the two countries.

The latest agreement also removes one of the relatively few disputes Biden and Trudeau have. Furthermore, the two world leaders are set to talk about differences in ways to stabilize Haiti and the global race to develop crucial materials needed to make batteries and other technology.

Read Also: TikTok CEO Testifies Before Congress Over National Security Concerns

Canada and the United States New Agreement

The deal between Canada and the US is an update to the Safe Third Country Agreement established by both nations in 2004. That particular bill required migrants to claim asylum in the country through which they passed, but it did not apply to individuals who entered illegally, according to Fox News.

The agreement also marks a major victory for the Biden administration, who had continuously championed a regional approach to the migrant crisis after unveiling the Los Angeles Declaration at the Summit of the Americas held last year, which other leaders attended.

At the time, Biden said that safe, orderly, and legal migration was good for all economies involved. However, he argued that they needed to stop the dangerous and unlawful ways people were trying to migrate.

During a Thursday interview, Trudeau noted that there is still much work for officials to address illegal immigration. However, he noted that they were hopeful of announcing to reassure citizens of Canada and the Americans that they were handling the issue seriously, said CNN.

Related Article: Joe Biden Approval Rating at Lowest Point Following Bank Collapse

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Individuals and families interested in celebrating Easter with a visual re-enactment of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ will have the opportunity on Easter Sunday.

The Waldensian Trail of Faith will host its new Easter sunrise production, Resurrection Light, at 6:45 a.m. on April 9 at 401 Church St. NW in Valdese. The event is free and open to the public.

After the 18-minute drama, attendees will move to the replica of the Temple of Ciabas, located in the small village of Angrogna, Italy, for a short service. Then visitors will move to the adjoining Visitors Center for a free breakfast, compliments of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, The Trail of Faith and Grannys Kitchen.

The Waldensian Trail of Faith has hosted an Easter drama for around 25 years, said former N.C. Sen. Jim Jacumin, president of the outdoor museum, who came up with the idea to have the drama on Easter Sunday.

It was a natural setting with the cave and the oldest Protestant church in the world right next to it, Jacumin said.

The drama was written by Karen Knight, president of Heartsongs Ministries Inc., Jacumin said. She is best known for playing Mrs. Noah in the production Noah, The Musical, at Sight and Sounds Millennium Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Branson, Missouri.

She is one of the finest Christian ladies youll ever meet in your life, Jacumin said. We sort of came together. Its almost a miracle that we met and all of this came about.

In 1993, when they were building the Trail of Faith exhibits to represent 2,000 years of Waldensian history, the replica of the cave was important because in Italy, the Waldensians had to hide in a cave in order to worship. Many of them were slaughtered when they were discovered.

For the Easter drama, Jacumin wanted to add a huge stone to place in front of the cave to represent the tomb of Jesus. To make the resurrection more realistic, Jacumin also decided to make the stone roll away on its own.

The idea came to me about how to sort of do it, he said. The details werent working for me. I kept praying about it, and the vision came to me for how we could make it move without people being able to tell how. That is how I designed that aspect of it. My grandson and I made the rock out of cement. Matt Littles company, Fabrication Associates Inc. in Charlotte, actually formed the stone angles and the channels that it rolled in, which would have been several thousands of dollars in fabrication work and they ended up giving it to us. Then, Parker Welch from the North Carolina Zoo actually painted the concrete to look like rock.

The two-ton rock required large equipment to move it from Jacumins home to the Trail of Faith. Jacumins neighbor, Andy Taylor, and his father, Phil, had the needed equipment and volunteered to move the rock free of charge.

They are a wonderful family in the community, Jacumin said. Ive known them for years and they are totally God-fearing people.

Many churches in the area do not offer sunrise services on Easter Sunday, Jacumin said.

We would really like to invite each of them to make the sunrise service at the Trail of Faith their annual event and join us in that, he said.

This year, the stone will roll away by itself, accompanied by music, and the Lord will rise in a cloud to the top of the cave where he will address his followers, Jacumin said.

The feeling is so intimate, like you are actually there experiencing it, he said. It really stirs your emotions. It shows how much Jesus loves us and how much it cost him.

For more information, contact the Waldensian Trail of Faith at 828-874-1893 or trailoffaith1893@gmail.com, or visit www.waldesniantrailoffaith.org.
Even before three Charlotte construction workers died when scaffolding collapsed on Jan. 2, it was clear that those elevated platforms can be dangerous.

Occupational safety records show that at least 16 people in North Carolina have died in scaffolding-related incidents on job sites over the past decade. Of those, at least 11 deaths resulted from various types of scaffolds that collapsed, broke or malfunctioned.

Among the fatal events:

March 2015: Three workers in Raleigh died and another was seriously injured when a mast climber scaffold - much like the one that collapsed in Charlotte this year - fell to the ground. Mast-climber scaffolds are elevator-like devices that carry construction workers up and down building facades. In the Raleigh case, investigators found that the scaffolding had not been properly tied to the building and had been loaded with too much weight.

April 2019: A construction worker in Pine Knoll Shores was installing sheetrock from a scaffolding when a wooden plank slid, causing him to fall 16 feet to the concrete floor. He died at a hospital.

December 2020: A 47-year-old worker was remodeling a home in Timberlake, north of Raleigh, when a board he was standing on broke. The man fell nearly 13 feet to the ground and died the following day.

May 2021: A 36-year-old construction worker in La Grange, southeast of Raleigh, was trying to hand a bundle of shingles to a coworker on a roof when the scaffold he was standing on collapsed, causing him to fall five feet. He died in an ambulance.

February 2022: A 56-year-old masonry worker in Jacksonville was walking to the end of a scaffold when a wooden plank catapulted, causing him to fall 14 feet to his death, state Occupational Safety and Health records show.

Observer data reporter Gavin Off contributed.
March 23, 2023

I wrote about my language learning startup, Readlang, back in 2014, and then again in 2016, both times attracting attention on Hacker News, where my story of a struggling one-man startup seemed to resonate. Well, its now 7 years later, and a bunch has happened since, so its time for an update

The Aquihire

My Readlang story caught the attention of Duolingo and I went to work there in 2016. Meeting them for the first time on their company vacation at a fancy resort in Costa Rica was a culture shock after my frugal bootstrapper lifestyle. Youll get used to it said one of the other engineers, which turned out to be half right. It was a wonderful, surreal experience.

We talked about a potential Readlang sale before I joined Duolingo. But they were more excited for me to work for on other projects. It sounded like an aquihire which made me uncomfortable. So instead we agreed that I would work for them for a while and keep Readlang on the side. I spent the first 9 months working on an ill-fated chatbot (a few years too early as it turns out). After this, I decided that I had unfinished business and emailed to say that Id be leaving to work on Readlang again. They quickly got back to me and said I could have carte-blanche to work on a completely new product around listening. I had ideas in this area already, and it seemed too cool to turn down. Get paid to hack together a new prototype that I would be in charge of? Yes please!

My idea was to launch an MVP and then leave to work on Readlang again. Within a few months we launched the first version of Duolingo Stories and the reception both internally and externally was really promising. So much so that I was now pretty excited to continue growing it. It seemed we were onto something. Given that Stories was kinda similar to Readlang, it felt weird for me to be running Readlang on the side, so I brought up the option of a sale again with the idea that Id either go all in with Duolingo or leave for Readlang. I figured that eventually Id either work on Readlang inside Duolingo or Stories might even evolve to become a replacement for Readlang. So we did the deal. We migrated the site to run on their infrastructure and the customers payments went to Duolingos Stripe account instead of mine. Beyond that, nothing much changed with Readlang. Stories grew, but it never did turn into a Readlang replacement. I occasionally thought about pitching Readlang as a project to focus on, but I could never convince myself that it would move the needle at Duolingos scale, and so it was neglected.

The Buy-Back

At the end of 2021 I left Duolingo and with it, Readlang. I left instructions on how to maintain Readlang but figured that one day something would break, and there was a good chance theyd want to shut it down. I said that if it ever got to that point to please get in touch with me.

I spent most of 2022 half-heartedly working on some other projects (JigglePix, Flashdown, Notepad Calculator), until in December I got 3 emails from random people complaining about payments being taken by Readlang that they had no idea about. To get 3 emails to my personal email was pretty strange. I asked Duolingo and they confirmed that something was going wrong. It turned out that people were using Readlang for card testing fraud. After I helped them to fix the problem and refund everyone they asked if I wanted Readlang back and how much Id pay. Of course I said yes!

How Is Readlang Doing Now?

Surprisingly OK! If you had asked me 7 years ago what would happen to Readlang if I just abandoned it and left it in maintanence mode for all this time, I would have bet that it would have declined, but actually, it basically held steady. Heres a monthly revenue graph:

The first few years show good growth. During this time I was constantly adding new features, blogging about it, and it largely spread organically with enthusiastic users sharing it in different online and offline communities. After putting it maintenance mode in early 2016 it continued growing until the sale to Duolingo. At this point we dropped PayPal for simplicity resulting in a dip but after that revenue held surprisingly constant. About 10% of users were churning each month but the supply of new users never dried up. People continued to recommend Readlang, it even appeared in one of Tim Ferriss 5 Bullet Friday newsletters in 2018! There was a noticeable bump in 2020 likely driven by the pandemic lockdowns.

Thats the beauty of software - up-front work can continue delivering value for years to come!

Now that I have it back, Im wondering how to get it to do this

I have ideas. And of course there are more ideas that time to implement them. Recently I experimented with adding ChatGPT-powered Smart Definitions. But I think the most important thing is to improve the streak mechanic to get people more invested in returning every day - did I mention I worked at Duolingo? :-) If I manage to improve growth then I might even think about re-investing the profits and get someone else to help out. Its not like Im committed to this one-man-startup approach forever!

Anyway, Im looking forward to improving Readlang again. Its fun to have my baby back!
If someone would have told me 10 years ago that Id be an author of more than eight self-published books, I dont think Id believe that person.

However, time changes people, and so it changed me and what I believed to be my true calling.

Hello Floyd, my name is Kevin S. Hendrick, and I am honored to provide a brief introduction as to what it is Ill be providing for future prints.

For as far back as I could remember, I have always enjoyed writing  in particular thrillers and short stories. The seventh grade was really when I started to notice this urge to write down my vision, my stories and my characters.

Now, more than 15 years later, those small hobbies I had, are now becoming a new reality for me.

I started writing poetry in 2019, with a book called The Valley. Shortly after I published four more poem books, thanks to a wonderful tool known as Kindle Direct Publishing and Amazon.

This platform eventually led to me writing a drama, a novel called The Day The World Died, a 9/11 based story around a fictional Battalion Chief Joseph Chapman of Queens, New York.

I also published three thrillers, one standalone, a vampire horror western called The Fang Gang, and then two books in my Tales of Horror and Intrigue series, The Oil Man and Billy Did It.

I have been heavily inspired by Stephen King, of course, but also H.G. Wells, Poe literature in the realm of gothic horror, and T.S. Eliot through the realm of deep thinking poetry.

Much of my poetic passion will be provided here in various short poems and everyday life insights. I have a drive for talking about the world, the spirit, and the troubles that most of society face today, and Im not afraid to speak some truth either. I will also be fair in my writings and showcase a tone that carries a deep word with it, a word Ive long loved, perseverance.

To Floyd County and Southwest Virginia, I thank you for allowing me this great opportunity.

This article is the first of a series of columns by local poet and author Kevin S. Hendrick, whose work will regularly appear in future editions in a series titled Small Town Word.
You can go to college.

Charlie Atkins wants that message conveyed to all Smyth County high school students. The board of supervisors chair implored everyone to help share the news that the cost of tuition wont be an obstacle for county students who attend Wytheville Community College or Virginia Highlands Community College immediately following high school graduation.

With a unanimous vote cast Thursday evening, the supervisors formally entered a partnership with the Smyth County Community Foundation and the two community colleges that serve Smyth County.

Dubbed Smyth County Promise, Dr. Adam Hutchison, VHCC president, called the program a wonderful opportunity.

Hutchinson noted that discussions about how to create a program that would allow local high school seniors to graduate and then enroll in community college tuition-free have been ongoing but about a year ago serious number crunching began.

Lynda Helton, Smyth County Community Foundation executive director, said that her organization was talking about how to bolster education at the same time. When each learned of the others discussions, they united. As partners, she said, a much bigger impact will be made.

The program will cover tuition for students seeking a traditional associates degree as well as certificate and workforce credential programs.

Smyth County Promise will begin with the Class of 2023 and be available to graduates of the countys three high schools, homeschool programs and private schools.

Hutchinson explained that the program is promoting moving straight into a college education because, at that time, students are more likely to complete the program and be successful.

The Smyth Promise scholarship, which will cover six consecutive semesters, will work by covering the last dollar, that part of tuition not covered by other federal, state and private scholarships.

As part of the application process, Hutchinson said, students will need to apply to either college and then for financial aid, particularly FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). He noted that the colleges will host workshops in the community to help parents and students with completing the applications.

Noting the $1.75 trillion held in student load debt in this country, Hutchinson said, the vast majority is connected to schools outside of community colleges.

College is more affordable than most people recognize, he said. Hutchinson believes that Smyth Promise will help people who arent aware of financial aid recognize that they can go to school.

Through Smyth Promise, Helton said that scholarship participants will be required to perform 10 hours of community service each semester. She said its hoped this requirement will get young community members better integrated into the community.

Supervisors Vice Chair Lori Deel, who acknowledged the impact of generational poverty on education, said, I cant think of any greater way to invest in our young people. This program, she said, will give students a chance.

In a special announcement of the program Friday morning, Deel said, Were trying to knock down barriers.

She described herself as a community college success story. It gave me a leg up, she said, and helped show her the path forward.

Smyth Promise, Deel declared, will be an incredible economic driver.

Supervisor Mike Sturgill, a former school principal and current school system administrator, said Smyth Promise is greatly needed. He contended that the program will be a great asset to the community in many ways. He noted that a local college education will improve the chances of students staying in Southwest Virginia.

Officials have also noted the positive influence on workforce development.

Smyth Promise is modeled, Helton said, after similar scholarship programs in Wythe, Bland, Grayson and Carroll counties. Restrictions on who can participate are few. Basically, she said, if youre from Smyth County... this applies to you.

Smyth is the first county to offer such a program in VHCCs service area and is the final one to provide the opportunity in WCCs area.

Thanking local leaders for the program, Dr. Dean Sprinkle, WCCs president, said, The community needs to be proud of this investment.

While this program is limited to new graduates, Helton said, options for older career changers and others are being explored.

Atkins said in a news release, The Smyth County Board of Supervisors believes our best assets are our youth and we hope this partnership will show our support for investing in our youth. We believe everyone deserves a chance to learn, whether it is for a future doctor or a future welder. This program can support all professions.

Helton observed that the scholarship aligns with the foundations focus areas: Improving Health, Wellness and Education in Smyth County. This is at the heart of what we do, she said Friday.

Students must enroll with VHCC or WCC to begin in the summer or fall immediately following their graduation from high school.

This opportunity for the students of Smyth County will impact generations. These efforts will help to remove the financial barrier for our students to gain post high school graduation skills, certifications, and continue their education, said Dr. Dennis Carter, Smyth County Superintendent of Schools.

Friday morning, he reflected, What a testament to Smyth County.

The colleges will administer the scholarship.

Sturgill praised the timing of the scholarships unveiling, saying this is the time when seniors are deciding their post-graduation plans.

More information will be available on each community colleges website at https://www.vhcc.edu/ and https://www.wcc.vccs.edu/.

Hutchinson said that the colleges are excited to make sure parents and students have all the information necessary.

Sturgill said Smyth Promise will meet a big need in the countys three high schools and is a great investment in the community.

For the expected return on the investment, County Administrator Shawn Utt said, the budget allocation is projected to be about $100,000 in the first year and $200,000 in the second.

The costs of the program are being shared between Smyth County and the foundation. Utt said the foundation will cover tuition for students pursuing health care, behavioral health care, and education paths, while the county will fund general education and technical pathways.

Likely, he said, it will be a 50-50 split.
Damascus said it must be informed about the progress of any discussion pertaining to Syria, according to Syria TV.

The Syrian regimes embassy in Jordans Charge daffaires, Mohammed Issam Nayal, stated that the regime supports any initiative aimed at finding a solution to end the Syrian crisis. He emphasized that any meeting regarding Syria would be insignificant without the regimes presence.

According to comments broadcasted by the local radio station Cham FM, Nayal elaborated that the meeting between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and the UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, is part of Jordans endeavours to seek a political resolution to the Syrian crisis, where the Syrian regime plays a crucial role in the discussions aimed at terminating the crisis and tackling its humanitarian and security consequences.

In relation to the gathering of envoys and representatives from Arab and Western nations in the Jordanian capital of Amman to address the Syrian political solution, Nayal emphasized that Damascus must be informed about the progress of any discussion pertaining to Syria and its people, as no meeting can be considered significant without its attendance.

The Charge daffaires of the regimes embassy in Jordan stated, We maintain constant communication with the Jordanian authorities to address the barriers that impede the entry and departure of Syrians. We are hopeful that there will be greater ease and convenience in the near future.

Jordans Initiative for a Political Solution in Syria

Jordan plans to introduce a political resolution initiative for Syria, which was mentioned by its Foreign Minister last year. The initiative will entail an Arab-led approach that involves direct engagement with the Syrian regime in a political discussion geared toward terminating the crisis while tackling its humanitarian, security, and political effects.

During his meeting with the UN envoy, the Jordanian Foreign Minister emphasized that the Arab nations must take the lead in initiating the discussions to resolve the Syrian crisis, as the impact of this crisis affects the Arab region more than any other.

Ayman Safadi emphasized Jordans endorsement of the UN envoys endeavours to attain a political resolution to the crisis in adherence with Security Council resolutions and using a phased methodology. He also noted that all Arab nations within the region have recognized that this Syrian crisis must be terminated through a political settlement.

Amman Meeting

A meeting took place in Amman on Wednesday, attended by twelve Western and Arab countries and representatives from the European Union, the Arab League, and the UN envoy. The gathering was attended by delegates from the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Norway.

In a tweet, Dan Stoenescu, the European Unions envoy to Syria, stated, We discussed the developments and current state of affairs in Syria following the earthquake disaster. I appreciated Mr. Pedersens update and reaffirmed our endorsement of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Erdogan needs to show that despite all that has happened, he is still capable of putting things right and that he is the one who can solve the problem, according to Athr Press.

President Bashar al-Assad took a strong stance regarding the Turkish-Syrian rapprochement during his recent visit to Moscow. He emphasized that the rapprochement could not occur until Turkey was fully prepared to withdraw from Syrian territory. This stance led to the postponement of the quadripartite meeting that was scheduled to take place on March 15th and 16th in Moscow between the deputy foreign ministers of Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Russia.

According to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Russia had requested to reschedule the meetings between the deputy foreign ministers of Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Russia. He speculated that Russia may have made a joint decision with the Syrian side, and they agreed to arrange a future meeting. However, he also announced that the meeting could be held soon.

In addition to Mevlut Cavusoglus statement, several leaks have confirmed that Moscow did not pressure Damascus to make any concessions in order to complete the rapprochement process with Ankara. There have also been reports of Iranian and Russian ideas and plans aimed at advancing the rapprochement process.

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar has reported that Syrian opposition sources quoted Turkish officials as confirming their continued efforts to hold the postponed meeting before the presidential elections scheduled for May, despite the Syrian governments repeated emphasis on separating the internal Turkish electoral issue from the issue of Syrian-Turkish relations.

According to sources cited by Al-Akhbar, Syrian opposition sources have stated that the recent strongly-worded statements made by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Turkeys actions and its attempt to use the Syrian issue in the upcoming elections have not affected the ongoing efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The sources also confirmed that Turkish officials are currently exploring various options regarding the fate of the Turkish military presence in Syria. They are considering the possibility of setting a schedule to end the presence, which would be linked to field, humanitarian, and political developments. The officials are preparing to present their proposal to the Russian and Iranian mediators involved in the process.

Former Turkish ambassador to Syria, Omar Ahun, has commented on President Assads recent statements regarding rapprochement with Damascus. In an article published in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Ahun emphasized that the developments in Moscow are not good for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He added that Erdogan wants to achieve something concrete with President Assad before the crucial elections on May 14th. Erdogan needs to show that despite all that has happened, he is still capable of putting things right and that he is the one who can solve the problem.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Reuters broke the news Thursday that Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reopen their embassies after cutting diplomatic ties more than a decade ago, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, a step that would mark a leap forward in Damascuss return to the Arab fold.

The re-establishment of ties between Riyadh and Damascus would mark the most significant development yet in moves by Arab states to normalize ties with Assad, who was shunned by many Western and Arab states after Syrias civil war began in 2011.

The two governments were preparing to reopen embassies after Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday in the second half of April, a second regional source aligned with Damascus told Reuters.

The decision resulted from talks in Saudi Arabia with a senior Syrian intelligence official, according to one of the regional sources and a diplomat in the Gulf.

The United States and several regional allies, including Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Qatar, had backed some Syrian rebels. Assad defeated the insurgency across most of Syria thanks largely to Shiite Iran and Russia.

The United States, an ally of Saudi Arabia, has opposed moves by regional countries to normalize ties with Assad, citing his governments brutality during the conflict and the need to see progress toward a political solution.

Armed Russian jets have flown over a U.S. base in Syria nearly every day in March

Armed Russian jets have flown over a U.S. military garrison in Syria nearly every day in March, violating a 4-year-old agreement between the U.S. and Russia and risking escalation, according to the U.S. general in charge of air operations in the region.

Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, combined forces air component commander for U.S. Central Command, told NBC News on Wednesday that the most recent Russian overflight of At Tanf Garrison (ATG) happened just a few hours earlier and that Russian jets violated the airspace roughly 25 times so far this month, compared to zero times in February and 14 in January.

It is a substantial increase, he said, explaining that at this rate, they are on track to be double what it has been in the past.

Theyre regularly flying directly overhead of our units, and Ive defined directly overhead as within about a mile, no more than a mile offset one side or the other, while weve got forces right there on the ground at ATG, said Grynkewich. So its an uncomfortable situation.

Arab States and Russia Want to Rehabilitate Syria, Despite Bloody War: Israeli website

An editorial in Algemeiner.com criticized some Arab allies of the United States for bringing Syria in from the cold and highlights the limits of a Chinese-mediated rapprochement between the Middle Easts archrivals, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The op-ed by Dr. James M. Dorsey said that these countries are offering a carrot to President Bashar al-Assad. The carrot is tens of billions of dollars needed to rebuild his war-ravaged country and alleviate the humanitarian fallout of last months devastating earthquakes in northern Syria. Hampered by sanctions, Al-Assads Russian and Iranian backers dont have the economic or political wherewithal to foot the bill. Nevertheless, potential Gulf investment is likely to encounter obstacles. The US sanctions that hamper Russia and Iran also erect barriers for Saudi Arabia and the UAE that will limit the degree to which they want to be seen as sanctions busters.

In other words, the editorial goes on, rather than rejecting any solution that does not involve Al-Assads removal from power, the United States and Europe could lift sanctions contingent on agreement and implementation of reforms. Similarly, the US and Europe could make sanctions relief contingent on a safe, uninhibited, and orderly return of refugees. However, there would be questions about the ability and willingness of Arab forces loyal to autocratic regimes to safeguard that process impartially.

Much of the Arab proposition is about enticing the United States and Europe to be more accommodating and more inclined to a conditioned lifting of sanctions. The problem is that Al-Assad is likely to call the Arab states bluff in the knowledge that Iran is his trump card. A speedy in principle US and European embrace of the Arab proposition would hold Emirati and Saudi feet to the fire and put Al-Assad on the back foot, the writer concluded.

Turkey reviewing options for Syria withdrawal: Report

Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar released a report on 23 March claiming that Turkey is willing to make concessions regarding the fate of its military presence in Syria and is reviewing options to set a timeframe for the withdrawal of its troops from the country.

This comes in light of Damascus repeated insistence that the continuation of normalization efforts between the two countries depends on this condition.

Turkish officials are studying, at the present time, several options regarding the fate of the Turkish military presence in Syria and the possibility of setting a schedule to end it in connection with the field, humanitarian and political developments, Syrian opposition sources told Al-Akhbar.

According to these sources, Turkey will present proposals on this matter to Russian and Iranian mediators and is hoping that Tehran and Moscow will be able to act as guarantors to convince Syria that Ankara will properly implement any agreement that is reached, whatever the results of the Turkish presidential elections.

Syrian militants suspected of killing Kurdish civilians celebrating Nowruz arrested

On Tuesday, fighters from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) arrested three militants suspected of firing on Kurds celebrating the Nowruz holiday in the town of Jenderes on Monday, killing five people.

Military sources told The New Arabs sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that fighters from the Front for Liberation and Construction, a sub-group of the Syrian National Army, stormed a house in Jenderes and detained two people believed to have fired on the Nowruz celebration. Another person had been arrested earlier.

Four Kurdish civilians, all from the same family, were killed by fighters believed to be from the Sharqiya faction of the SNA following an argument. A fifth civilian died of his wounds after being shot.

Jenderes is part of the Afrin pocket, a Kurdish-majority area of northwestern Syria that was formerly controlled by Syrian Kurdish militias but was taken by Turkey and its allied Syrian fighters following a 2018 military operation.

Turkey should investigate the killing of four Kurds in the Jindiris district of Afrin, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.

Three members of an armed faction group from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) opened fire on a Kurdish family in the northern Syrian town of Jinderis on March 20, 2023, as they celebrated Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.

Three brothers and one son were shot dead, one relative was seriously injured, and two others were lightly injured.

These killings follow over five years of unaddressed human rights abuses at the hands of Turkish forces and the local Syrian factions they empower, said Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, in a press release.

Turkey has allowed these fighters to abuse people living in the areas under their control with impunity, complicating the violations.

HRW said that Turkey must investigate these killings and ensure those responsible are held accountable. Turkey should also sever all support to SNA factions implicated in recurrent or systemic human rights abuses and international humanitarian law violations.

Dismantling the Most Dangerous Camp in the World Needs Years

Al-Hol Camp has witnessed hundreds of slayings and has become notorious for high levels of violence and the spread of extremism among its residents.

Taking the camp apart needs years, Jinan Hanan, Co-Chair of Al-Hols administration, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to Hanan, around 51,500 residents are currently living at al-Hol. They include approximately 26,000 Iraqi refugees and 18,000 displaced Syrians.

Hanan also revealed that over 7,700 residents currently occupy the section for foreign females at Al-Hol.

Confirming that Al-Hol has become the most dangerous camp in the world, Hanan said that over 150 killings had occurred there over four years.

Last year alone, 36 murders occurred, apart from torture, assault, escape, and constant threats.

Hanan added that maintaining security at Al-Hol is a thorny and complex issue due to the camps extensive size spanning over three square kilometres.

The role of security forces is limited to protecting and monitoring the entrances and exits of the camp and its main gates, said Hanan, adding that they also conduct mobile patrols inside Al-Hol.

The administrator, however, noted that the camp does not have fixed security centers.

Syria-China discuss boosting bilateral relations

Prime Minister, Eng. Hussein Arnous discussed with the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China in Damascus, Shi Hongwei, the means of strengthening bilateral relations in different fields and mechanisms of upgrading the level of economic, political and strategic relations that bind Syria and China, SANA reported.

Both sides discussed Thursday the importance of Syrias participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as increasing trade exchange and activating cooperation between the business sectors in the two countries to establish joint investment projects.

Arnous stressed the importance of opening broader prospects for bilateral cooperation in all fields to serve the interests of the two friendly countries and peoples.

Arnous expressed appreciation and thanks for the role played by China through humanitarian, relief and medical aid provided to the earthquake-affected people.

Arnous noted the importance of strengthening the participation of Chinese companies in the rebuilding process in Syria.

In turn, the Chinese ambassador said that his country is following up on the latest development in Syria, especially after the devastating earthquake, adding that it will continue to assist those affected, as well as secure many housing units and contribute to the rehabilitation of infrastructure in the affected areas.

China will continue to extend support to Syria in the internal transport sector by providing more buses to it, Shi Hongwei added.
US Navy denies that American warship illegally entered Chinese-claimed territory in the South China Sea.

The US Navy says it is not a party to any United Nations convention that justifies its actions.

US Navy denies the PLA expelled the destroyers in the South China Sea.

According to the US Navy, an American warship was not sailing nor illegally entering claimed waters close to the Xisha Isles. Washington claims it is against Chinese expansion in these waters where FONOPs are done routinely by Washington or its allies.

US Navy Denies Illegally Entering Chinese-Claimed Territory

Washington says its actions are allowed because the US has not signed any treaty or convention that Beijing claims. Last Thursday, the Chinese military stated that a US warship was forced from its waters in the South China Sea, noted China Military.

They disclosed on March 23 when the US guided-missile destroyer USS Milius sailed without permission to the Xisha Islands (Chinese name) or Paracels, the People's Liberation Army regional command. The Paracel Islands are in Vietnam and a chain of islands in the southern part of Hainan reported Sputnik News.

Sources say that combined naval and aerial units of the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command had tracked and monitored the US destroyer lawfully and gave warning. Additionally, what the US is doing is destabilizing the region.

The Chinese official stressed that troops of the Southern command would be on alert to protect China's national sovereignty and security. This would include peace and stability in the South China Sea, but the US navy denied it with usual.

What is expulsion is what the US statement raises, which is a violation that includes verbal warnings leading into encounters over land or sea. In 2018 close to the Nansha or Spratly Islands when a Chinese destroyer Lanzhou went 45 yards close to the destroyer USS Decatur. The US ship had to reverse propellers to avoid mishap, cited Business Insider.

Read Also: China Condemns US as Destroyer Transits Taiwan Strait; AUKUS Deal Boosts Likelihood of Conflict

PLA and the ''Zero-Sum Mentality'

Beijing has claims on two islands that overlap with other claims made by other South East Asian nations, encompassing the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Beijing and the ASEAN have negotiated a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea to deal with all disputes at sea.

Though the US has reared its head, imposing its view that more is needed to control the Chinese.

Recently the US managed to have the Philippine government that has a mutual defense treaty to agree to help Washington. Bases there will be used to stage lookouts of the SCS and house forces as the closest areas that can reach China in a conflict.

PLA Sees Actions by American Warships as Provocation

Not all see the move by the US as positive, like China and leftist groups in Manila, which prompted China's Sun Widong, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, to leave for the Philippines. He will talk to Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro about dealing with maritime concerns, cooperation, and nonmilitary interests.

He stated Beijing is concerned that defense and security cooperation must be done to create an atmosphere of regional peace and stability. It did not mention who the third party is interested in rocking South East Asia as it does with other places.

Widong called the US harmful and causing problems for countries like the Philippines. He noted the zero-sum mentality of the US and military provocations as detrimental to the region. He added that coercion by Washington is the tool it uses for others to follow.

The US Navy says an American warship did a FONOPs and did not illegally enter close to the Xisha isles.

Related Article: US Warship Stokes Tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Provokes China
BP is investing $1.5 billion into its Cherry Point refinery to help the energy company meet its net-zero climate goal. Whatcom County is one of five locations worldwide where BP plans new low-carbon projects.

A sustainable aviation fuel production facility and a green hydrogen production facility are planned for Whatcom County, Eric Zimpfer, BP vice president refining at Cherry Point, told The Bellingham Herald in an interview Wednesday, March 22.

Construction of the projects will bring an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 jobs to the facility for approximately three years. Permanent positions to run the new facilities will be required, but it is too early to say how many, Zimpfer said. BP Cherry Point currently has about 850 permanent staff.

I am personally really excited about this opportunity. I think about BPs stated ambition to be net zero by 2050, we think about how the refinery will continue to evolve over time, Zimpfer said. I would hold this as a continuation of this journey the refinery has been on to be an integrated energy hub.

While it is still too early for Zimpfer to say if the construction jobs are going to be filled by local workers, he said BP is happy with the quality of its relationship with the Whatcom community and would like to maintain and even strengthen its relationship.

Cherry Point was chosen as one of the five locations for these new facilities because of its proximity to major airports in Seattle and Vancouver, as well as the dedicated workforce at the site, Zimpfer said.

The vision of the state to drive a green economy and attract investments in a green economy, I think very much aligns with what BP is looking to do, Zimpfer said. Whether it is the Climate Commitment Act, whether it is the low carbon fuel standard, that legislation has created the opportunity for businesses to come to Washington state to make their green investments.

The timeline for the construction of the facilities depends heavily on the permitting process. There are still a number of steps BP needs to take with the state and the local tribes, but the target is to complete construction and begin production by 2028, and if construction is going to take an estimated three years, it will need to begin around 2025 to remain on schedule, Zimfer said.

I think this is a good opportunity, Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu told The Herald in a telephone interview Thursday, March 23. This is good for the environment. It is great that they are being proactive and putting a substantial amount of money to become green.

Sidhu said the investment as a way to bring jobs to Whatcom County, something that is needed after the official shutdown of the Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelting plant last week. However, housing opportunities need to improve to meet the needs of new workers, Sidhu said.

The sustainable aviation fuel facility is expected to produce 150 million gallons of renewable jet fuel a year. BP is still evaluating the green hydrogen facility, so its potential is unknown at this time. However, BP plans to use the green hydrogen created at the facility to lower the carbon emissions of its production, although outside markets may be possible as the green hydrogen markets expand, BP media relations manager Christina Audisho told The Herald in an email.

The new facilities are planned to be added to the existing BP Cherry Point property. Zimpfer said they are looking at space, but there is still a lot to do before an exact location can be selected.
CENTRALIA  At a meeting last week, Centralia City Councilors Leah Daarud and Elizabeth Cameron, both in at-large positions, used their meeting reports to criticize a statement made by Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston on Facebook the week prior, where she spoke out about a business downtown with ties to a white supremacist religious group, Asatru Folk Assembly.

Also called the AFA, the group has a whites-only church in Missouri and states openly on its website its hope to preserve whiteness by encouraging children to have white children of their own. Asatru, closely related to Paganism or Heathenism, is a religious practice of its own, which has been co-opted by the AFA.

At 223 S. Tower Ave. in Centralia, a music store owned by Tanner Thayer, according to the Department of Licensing, is named Kultur LLC. Merriam-Webster defines Kultur as referring to German culture held to be superior especially by militant Nazi(s). In his shop window hangs a banner for a book he authored and sells through the AFA website, Asatru Folk Hymns. On Facebook, other community members have pointed out some of the imagery visible through the stores window is tied with Nazism, and, when speaking with the mayor, Thayer reportedly did not refute the idea that whites are superior to other races.

Smith Johnston went on to say she spoke with Thayer about Centralia being founded by George Washington, a Black pioneer who was the son of a former slave, and shared Washingtons principles of inclusion and community.

During her meeting report, Daarud asked her fellow seatmates to refrain from such public statements, when the position includes a violation of freedom. Though not outright referring to Smith Johnstons post, this was the second time in her statement where she hinted the mayor had violated Thayers rights.

Cameron spoke more directly to the mayors post, saying it lit a fire that caused the media to jump on this for the sake of their publications. She called the news an embarrassment and a disappointment, adding, Im not aware that we have a white supremacy problem.  Ive gotten concerns about people saying, Are we next because were different? Or because we have a different religion?

Cameron further said she hopes the community refrains from being manipulated to further anyones political career.  I hope that were all out of high school and dont have that mentality of being hateful and retaliatory against anyone with a difference of opinion.

After her report closed, Mayor Pro-Tem Cameron McGee thanked Smith Johnston for being a strong leader and said hes honored to serve on the council with her. Regarding the other statements, Smith Johnston said she would address the topics on a personal level with the other councilors.

On Wednesday, The Olympian reported state lawmakers of the 20th District, Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, made statements calling the business open ties to the AFA disappointing.

Racial segregation is harmful and wrong in every setting, Braun told The Olympian.

The AFA in Washington and elsewhere promotes segregation. According to Mason Johnson, a leader of the group in the state, in an email with The Chronicle, Asatru is an ethnic religion, further confirming non-white people are excluded, saying, It is not that we are looking to exclude anyone out of hate or any feelings of superiority.

Johnson called the mayors statements disheartening. His email signature read, HAIL THE GODS! HAIL THE ANCESTORS! HAIL THE AFA!

Alon Milwicki, who holds a doctorate in history related to Neo-Nazism and studies the AFA for the Southern Poverty Law Center, told The Chronicle in an interview he was not surprised to see local leaders of the group making a statement saying theyre peaceful and claiming the government is attacking us needlessly.

Thats another common extremist thread, Milwicki said. They love to cast themselves as victims.

Milwicki said the AFA is active in the Pacific Northwest, with many posts on social media, newsletters and in-person meetings happening regularly. However, he said, one common tactic used by such groups is to appear larger than they are, normalizing what he called fringe ideology.

The AFA also has an online school, he said, which saw surging popularity as more people homeschooled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Milwicki was unsure of the schools true scale and reach, though.

The Chronicle has not received a response from Thayer after attempting to contact him at his shop in person three times, leaving business cards and a note in a mailbox and sending a message through the Centralia Downtown Association, which had his phone number. Reporters also tried to set up a 30-minute shop tour through the stores website, but the request was denied.
Families can start enrolling their young students in Longviews free full-day kindergarten programs as of this month, the district said.

Longview School Districts kindergarten enrollment opened March 1, with the district hoping for families to register as soon as possible to secure a spot. Enrollment works on a first-come first-served basis.

Students must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 21. Bus stop locations can be found on findmyschool.us/longviewwa.

Longviews transitional kindergarten program Kinder Bridge has also opened for registration, with the start date for full-day classes to be announced this spring.

The early learning program is aimed at families with 4-year-old children who may not qualify for federal assistance but also cannot afford the notoriously high costs of private preschool.

Students must be 4 years old by Aug. 29 to be eligible for enrollment in Kinder Bridge.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News.

Families and caregivers who have filled out an application and are interested in learning more about transitional kindergarten must attend student screenings at one of Longviews schools.

The screening appointments, held between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, will guide families on the program and process of enrolling. Parent meetings are also an option between Sept. 5 and Sept. 8, the district said.

Paper documents can be collected at the school district office, 2715 Lilac St., or at the Broadway Learning Center, 1410 8th Ave.

Required documents for kindergarten alone include: the childs birth certificate, immunization records and two forms proving residency such as a utility bill, signed lease or mortgage statement.

The Longview School District website, www.longviewschools.com, lists options for online enrollment and more information about how to enter the school system.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with the correct school start date and to reflect applicants must attend the screening appointments to be considered for enrollment.
OLYMPIA  A bill that would replace the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission established in 2019 to recommend possible locations for a new airport had a public hearing in the Washington Senate Tuesday.

"The CACC established in 2019, didn't have enough time to do a thorough review of what they set out to accomplish," co-sponsor Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) said in a release from his office. "COVID played a role, but the commission was also lacking adequate resources and did not provide enough outreach and notice to those who could have been impacted."

The legislation, House Bill 1791, would replace the CACC and appoint a work group to provide a comprehensive look at new and existing airport sites in Washington.

"This new, strong bipartisan piece of legislation is the culmination of hours and hours of work. The new workgroup will involve more stakeholders, take a closer look at environmental and infrastructure considerations, and the strengths and weaknesses of each site," Dent said.

The bill was first introduced on Feb. 7 and referred to the House Transportation Committee. After a public hearing, it passed the floor 88-9. It moved on to the Senate where it was referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation on March 10, and received a public hearing on Tuesday.

"With the Sea-Tac International Airport having no facilities plan to meet demand forecast beyond 2027, and regional aviation demand forecasted to double by 2050, it is imperative we move forward on addressing our airport and overall transportation needs immediately," Dent said.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Chinese people are increasingly using TikTok's sister app as a way to complain about products and are finding it a powerful asset.

Our research shows that Douyin, which is produced by ByteDance the same company that owns TikTok, has become influential in offering Chinese people a way of putting consumer pressure on companies.

This short-video platform has the largest number of users in China (over 730 million at the end of 2022). According to Douyin, its users range from teachers based in rural China who record the impoverished living conditions that many local children face, to laid-off Chinese workers making a living live streaming.

Douyin and TikTok are essentially the same app. They allow users to create, share, and view short videos. However, they operate on different servers to comply with China's internet laws, such as the cybersecurity law, which came into effect on June 1 2017.

For our research, we interviewed 56 people living in mainland China who were familiar with online consumer protests. We also followed an online protest and tracked relevant hashtags to gather more information, searching specific Chinese words on Douyin, such as "xiaofeizhe" (consumer; ), "weiquan" (safeguard legal rights; ), "jianshang" (profiteer; ).

Over half of our interviewees believed that speaking out about unsatisfactory consumer experiences through media, especially social media, was the only way to protest against corporations. For instance, Liu (a consumer activist) observed that:

"Social media helps Chinese consumers resolve problems faster than other formal ways suggested by the government. It is very difficult to get a timely response when seeking help from government departments or directly negotiating with the businesses. Although social media platforms are not responsible for my financial loss, they allow and help me to spread my unfortunate stories. Our problems are resolved much faster when we post these complaints on Sina Weibo."

Interviewees told us that they see short videos as a powerful medium to communicate substandard consumer experiences. Douyin is easy to use and therefore appeals to users who are older or not tech-savvy. Many of our interviewees highlighted that for the older generation, posting short videos on Douyin is a better way to express dissatisfaction than microblogging sites because the process is straightforward. For instance, Bing, an interviewee, said, "My parents know nothing about the internet, but they are able to record a short video with their phones and post it online."

Douyin offers a platform for consumer activism using naoda (to make a fuss over; ), which refers to Chinese consumers' strategic practices to achieve greater public visibility of their complaints. Bringing attention and visibility to a problem makes it more likely a company will respond. A user on Douyin.

In China, consumers are more likely to use social media platforms such as Sina Weibo (similar to Twitter) to express dissatisfaction with companies and boycott them, than to complain to a journalist. Because of censorship of the mainstream media in China, social media arguably allows more freedom of expression.

China's consumer power

In China, consumer activism has a long history. As early as 1905, middle-class people in urban China boycotted American goods and protested on the streets against the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a US federal law prohibiting immigration of Chinese laborers. This is considered one of the earliest consumer activism movements in modern Chinese history, teaching Chinese consumers for the first time that their buying power mattered.

The concept of a "consumer" was reborn in 1978, the year of China's economic reform, often called the "open door policy." More products started to appear on the shelves. Between 1994 and 2003, mainland China was the world's fastest-growing consumer market, and the buying power of Chinese consumers progressively increased. Corresponding laws and regulations to protect consumers began to be introduced by the government.

The Chinese Consumers Association (CCA) was founded in 1984 by the Chinese government to protect consumers' rights and interests. It is important to note that it is not independent. The CCA is supported and regulated by the Chinese government, through which the government can exert control over consumer issues and policies. Therefore, unlike western consumer organizations, it cannot confront the government or initiate a collective boycott or protest.

With the emergence of video social media platforms, such as Douyin and Kuaishou, Chinese consumers have found new ways to speak up for themselves, attract media attention, and consequently, pressure businesses to give them their money back. These short videos have become a significant force.

Qiang, a professional photographer, told us that short videos on Douyin are more authentic than plain text and pictures on microblogging sites, and more importantly, they can be used as legal proof. According to China's supreme people's court, original unedited electronic files such as videos can serve as evidence.

Tan, a graduate student, argued that protesting online is more effective than doing it offline as the consumers' stories can be seen by other consumers and the company in question: "Once your story is successfully spread on the platform, the company that violates your rights will notice you, and they will resolve your problem as soon as they can to protect their brand image."

Chinese companies hunt for consumer complaints on Douyin to address them as quickly as possible. In the PR company where Kai (a brand manager) works, a team searches consumer complaints on Douyin 24 hours a day, and "once they discover a complaint, they will make every effort to solve it and then earnestly request the consumer to delete the video," she told us.

As Douyin becomes an essential part of the everyday culture of many Chinese people, it has become a far more powerful tool than might have been expected when it was first launched.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

U.S. lawmakers have grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about data security and harmful content, with some pushing to ban the popular short-video app nationwide.

A Singaporean native, Chew told the lawmakers that TikTok prioritizes user safety and as he sought to avert a ban by downplaying the app's ties to China.

Both Republican and Democratic representatives aggressively questioned Chew on topics including TikTok's content moderation practices, its data security plans, and past spying on journalists.

Here's a look at some of the concerns about TikTok and its ownership.

WHY DOES WASHINGTON SAY TIKTOK IS A THREAT?

TikTok, which has over 150 million American users, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd., which appoints its executives.

ByteDance is based in Beijing but registered in the Cayman Islands, as is common for privately owned Chinese companies. Its headquarters is in Beijing's northwestern Haidian district, home to key universities and a hub for tech startups.

Founded by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming in 2012, ByteDance is said to be valued at around $220 billionnearly half of its 2021 valuation of $400 billion. Publicly traded Chinese tech companies and privately held ones like ByteDance have plunged in value since the ruling Communist Party tightened control over the industry with anti-monopoly and data security crackdowns.

Western governments worry Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over TikTok data on American users, exposing sensitive information. China has denied asking its companies to hand over overseas data, and TikTok insists it has never done so and would not do so.

ByteDance says 60% of its shares are owned by non-Chinese investors such as U.S investment firms Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Japan's SoftBank Group. Employees own 20% and its founders the remaining 20%.

Some details of the relationship between TikTok and ByteDance remain unclear to outsiders.

WHAT CHINESE RULES WORRY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS?

China's 2017 National Intelligence Law states that "any organization" must assist or cooperate with state intelligence work while a separate 2014 Counter-Espionage Law says "relevant organizations ... may not refuse" to collect evidence for an investigation.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Since ByteDance, which owns TikTok, is a Chinese company, it would likely have to abide by these rules if Chinese authorities asked it to turn over data.

Laws and regulations are only one aspect of the Communist Party's pervasive control. There are no legal limits on the party's powers. The authorities also can threaten to cancel licenses, conduct regulatory or tax investigations and use other penalties to compel compliance by Chinese and foreign companies operating in China.

The party sometimes conveys orders using "window guidance," or informal communication in private. It has used crackdowns to tighten control over technology companies and force them to align with its goals.

The Chinese government has also sought more direct control over companies by getting seats on boards of directors.

MUST TIKTOK TURN OVER DATA IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SAYS SO, EVEN WITH " PROJECT TEXAS?"

TikTok has promised to protect data on American users by storing them on servers operated by an outside contractor, Oracle Corp., in what's known as "Project Texas." Chew, the TikTok CEO, said all new U.S. user data are stored in the United States and the company should finish deleting older U.S. data from non-Oracle servers this year.

The fear is that ByteDance would have to hand over information it obtained from TikTok if ordered to do so by Chinese authorities, but Chew has said Project Texas will put U.S. data out of China's reach.

ByteDance disclosed in December that four employees gained access to data about reporters and people connected to them while looking for how information about the company was leaked. Chew told the lawmakers China-based ByteDance employees may still have access to some U.S. data but that won't be the case once Project Texas is complete.

In November, TikTok's head of privacy for Europe said some employees in China had access to information about users in Britain and the European Union.

DOES THE COMMUNIST PARTY HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON BYTEDANCE?

In Thursday's hearing, lawmakers repeatedly tried to pin down Chew on whether ByteDance had links to China's communist rulers.

He deflected questions about whether staff and top executives are Communist Party members.

"I do know that the founder himself is not a member of the Communist Party, but we don't know the political affiliation of our employees because that's not something we ask," Chew said.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

When questioned whether ByteDance was effectively controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, Chew said he disagreed.

After a lawmaker said the Communist Party holds a "golden share" in ByteDance that allows it to control one ByteDance board seat, Chew said, "That's not correct."

In China, so-called golden shares held by official investment funds are one way for Beijing to gain more oversight over business by giving them a 1% stake in companies.

Chew pushed back when lawmakers claimed that the Communist Party owns shares in ByteDance that give it a vote in how the company is run. "The Communist Party doesn't have voting rights in ByteDance," Chew said.

ByteDance's main Chinese subsidiary is the license-holder for some of its video and information platforms that only serve the China market.

Official investment funds have also bought 1% of the Chinese subsidiary of Weibo Corp., the country's most popular microblog platform, and also of domestic subsidiaries of Alibaba.

WHAT IS DOUYIN AND WHAT IS TIKTOK'S RELATIONSHIP WITH IT?

DouYin is ByteDance's short-video platform for the China market. It's similar to TikTok, but its content is restricted by Chinese censorship rules that prohibit material deemed subversive or pornographica point emphasized by U.S. lawmakers worried about harmful content viewed by young people.

The Communist Party's extensive internet filters block most users in China from seeing TikTok. ByteDance has said TikTok has "no affiliation" with Beijing ByteDance Technology Co., the subsidiary that operates DouYin; Toutiao, a news and short-video platform, and other services.

HOW DID CHINA REACT TO THE TIKTOK CEO'S WASHINGTON TESTIMONY?

Most of the social media reaction in China was sympathetic to Chew, with praise for how he handled the hostile questions lobbed at him.

Comments on the microblogging platforms Weibo and Douyin were critical of U.S. lawmakers for asking Chew leading or "trap" questions. Many commenters used a Chinese saying that means "If you want to accuse someone, there's always a way."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A Fiat 500 dashboard fascia made of lemon peel, almond shells and pomegranate skins. Credit: BARBARA project, 2020

Natural materials including farm waste can make autos and other industries more sustainable, less toxic

Think of the car or construction industry and lemon peel, corn starch and almond shells hardly come to mind. Yet manufacturers may rely increasingly on such raw materials as Europe seeks to reduce wastefrom both agriculture and plastics.

New high-performance industrial materials from farm waste emerged from the BARBARA project, pointing the way to stepped-up innovation in the European bioeconomy.

Getting circular

Funded in a partnership between the EU and the private sector, the project used agricultural residues including lemon peel, corn starch, almond shells and pomegranate skins as additives for biopolymers, which occur in living organisms such as plants and can be used in manufacturing.

The result: prototypes of car parts and construction moulds made using the 3D printing expertise of Spain-based Aitiip Technology Centre.

'The most exciting thing from our point of view is that there are no residues, only resources,' said Berta Gonzalvo, research director at Aitiip, which coordinated the three-and-a-half-year project. 'Automotive and construction pieces have been successfully validated, demonstrating that a circular economy is possible and contributing to reducing environmental impact.'

The EU is spurring the development of products derived from materials of biological origin, part of a push not just to cut waste but also to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and to make industrial goods safer.

The EU bioeconomy has been expanding for a decade, reaching 2.4 trillion in 2019, and has further growth prospects, according to an October 2022 study.

In a sign of the high expectations for bio-based industries, the EU in 2014 established a 3.7 billion joint undertaking with them to spur research in the field. This was followed in 2022 by a 2 billion initiative with players ranging from farmers to scientists to overcome technical, regulatory and market barriers for bio-based products.

The EU produces around 60 million tonnes of food waste and 26 million tonnes of plastic waste a year.

Making industrial materials from renewable sources including waste is set to become increasingly important and projects like BARBARA are just the beginning, according to Gonzalvo.

When BARBARA began in 2017, only one biopolymer was available for 3D printing. The project increased the number of bio-based materials using a combination of industrial biotechnology, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing technologies.

It came up with new processes for the extraction and use of compounds such as natural dyes, biomordants that fix dyes, antimicrobials and essential oils from pomegranate, lemon, almond shells and corn.

Doors and dashboards

BARBARA created eight materials containing pomegranate and lemon pigment, pomegranate biomordants, lemon fragrance and almond shell that could be used instead of existing plastics. The new materials led to different colours, aromas, textures and antimicrobial properties.

The 11 partners also printed prototype door trims and a dashboard fascia for the car industry as well as a mould for truss joints for the construction sector.

The new materials have better mechanical, thermal and even aesthetic properties.

As a result, they can be used to improve the quality of the end material, even adding a colour or fragrance.

While the project has ended, the participants hope the technology can move forward to the demonstration phase within the next four to five years. That would show the possibilities for large-volume production.

With the global biopolymer industry growing 6% a year and the European sector expanding 30% annually, Gonzalvo said the EU is in a prime position to lead the way.

'We are one step closer to a real circular economy,' she said. 'Waste can be a resource and not just waste.'

Backseat car panel made from bio-waste. Credit: ECOXY project, 2020

Plastic substitutes

On the plastics front, the research outlook also looks promising.

In Europe, only 14% of plastic waste was recycled domestically in 2020, according to the European Commission. The remaining 86% was incinerated, landfilled, littered or exported, highlighting the need to establish a more sustainable system.

With production of plastics set to increase in the medium term, reducing their environmental footprint is all the more important.

The ECOXY project, funded through the same public-private partnership as BARBARA, looked for bio-based alternatives to plastics known as "fibre-reinforced thermoset composites," or FRTCs.

While FRTCs are light and strong, their green credentials are lacking. Besides being derived from fossil fuels, they can't be recycled and are often made from toxic materials including an endocrine-disrupting chemical compound called bisphenol A.

'Fibre-reinforced composites are being used more and more, so these bio-based composites should be able to substitute them in all the fields where they are used,' said Aratz Genua, a researcher at CIDETEC, a Spanish institute that coordinated ECOXY.

Three Rs

The project, which ran in parallel with BARBARA, included a consortium of 12 research and industry partners from across Europe.

They took as their starting point materials deemed to comply with the three Rs: recyclable, reshapable and repairable. While these 3R materials had already been patented by CIDETEC, they had a downside.

'We had made it more sustainable, but we were still working with products derived from oil and the most commonly used one is derived from bisphenol A,' said Genua. 'We had the opportunity to go one step further and make it more sustainable by using bio-waste to create bio-based FRTCs.'

The consortium looked to lignin, derived from wood and plant fibres. It used bio-based resin from lignin with flax fibres as a reinforcement to manufacture a demonstrator, in this case the backseat panel of a car.

'Being able to upscale and manufacture a demonstrator was really good,' said Genua. 'We started with small quantities of materials, and we have shown that these are usable at an intermediate scale.'

The real challenge was to make sure the new material would have comparable properties to the ones currently in use.

Bio-based resins demonstrated very good properties, equivalent to those derived from fossil fuels, according to Genua. But there is room for improving the strength of the flax fibres.

Future focus

Future research could include exploring the use of bio-based carbon fibres, also extracted from lignin.

'We will continue working on the development and optimisation of bio-based 3R resins for different applications,' Genua said.

For example, the EU-funded BIO-UPTAKE project is working on ceiling panels for the construction industry.

'In these cases, not only flax fibre but also bio-based carbon fibre will be used,' said Genua.

In the short term, the new materials are better for the health of workers handling them during manufacturing.

In the long term, the environment will benefit thanks in no small part to the resulting reduction in waste.

The article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

A nearly six-hour grilling of TikTok's CEO by lawmakers brought the platform's 150 million U.S. users no closer to an answer as to whether the app will be wiped from their devices.

U.S. lawmakers on Thursday pressed Shou Zi Chew over data security and harmful content, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned due to its Chinese connections.

In a bipartisan effort to rein in the power of a major social media platform, Republican and Democratic lawmakers hurled questions on a host of topics, including TikTok's content moderation practices, how the company plans to secure American data from Beijing, and its spying on journalists.

Chew spent most of the hearing attempting to push back assertions that TikTok, or its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, are tools of the Chinese government. But he failed to answer uncomfortable questions about human rights abuses committed by China against the Uyghurs, and seemed taken aback by a TikTok video displayed by one lawmaker that advocated for violence against the House committee holding the hearing.

The rare public appearance by the 40-year-old Singapore native comes at a crucial time for the company. TikTok has ballooned its American user base to 150 million in a few short years, but its increasing dominance is being threated by a potential nationwide ban in the U.S. and growing fears among officials about protecting user data from China's communist government.

There's also symbolism for lawmakers in taking on TikTok, which has been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology, as well as heighted tensions due to recent balloon politics and China's relationship with Russia.

"Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security," Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement.

Chew told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and denied it's a national security risk. He reiterated the company's plan to protect U.S. user data by storing it on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle.

"Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country," Chew said.

Nevertheless, the company has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country's communist leaders.

In 2019, the Guardian reported that TikTok was instructing its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square and included images unfavorable to the Chinese government. The platform says it has since changed its moderation practices.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Concerns about the platform increased when ByteDance admitted in December that it fired four employees who accessed data on two journalists, and people connected to them, last summer while attempting to uncover the source of a leaked report about the company.

Aware of its weakness, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying 60% of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group.

"Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns," Chew said.

But for many others, it is. The Biden administration has reportedly demanded TikTok's Chinese owners sell their stakes in the company to avoid a nationwide ban. China has said it would oppose those attempts. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a separate committee hearing Thursday that he believes TikTok is a security threat, and "should be ended one way or another."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said "everyone was watching" Thursday's TikTok hearing at the White House. But she declined to comment on specific actions the administration could take to address its TikTok concerns.

In one of the most dramatic moments of the hearing, Republican Rep. Kat Cammack played a TikTok video showing a shooting gun with a caption that included the House committee, with the exact date before it was formally announced.

"You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can't even protect the people in this room," Cammack said.

TikTok said the company on Thursday removed the video and banned the account that posted it.

Concerns about what kind of content Americans encounter online, or how their data is collected by technology companies, isn't new. Congress has been wanting to curtail the amount of data tech companies collect on consumers through a national privacy law, but those efforts have failed.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat and one of the few allies TikTok seemingly has on the Hill, said lawmakers concerned about protecting users shouldn't target TikTok, but must instead focus on a national law that would protect user data across all social media platforms. Chew also noted the failure of U.S. social media companies to address the very concerns for which TikTok was being criticized.

"American social companies don't have a good track record with data privacy and user security," he said. "Look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, just one example."

Ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., questions TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Committee members also showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide. Many questioned why the platform's Chinese counterpart, Douyin, does not carry the same potentially dangerous content as the American product.

Chew responded that it depends on the laws of the country where the app is operating. He said the company has about 40,000 moderators that track harmful content and an algorithm that flags material.

Wealth management firm Wedbush described the hearing as a "disaster" for TikTok that made a ban more likely if it doesn't separate from its Chinese parent. Emile El Nems, an analyst at Moody's Investors Service, said a ban would benefit TikTok rivals YouTube, Instagram and Snap, "likely resulting in higher revenue share of the total advertising wallet."

To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a $1.5 billion plan, Project Texas, which routes all U.S. user data to servers owned and maintained by the software giant Oracle.

As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed this year, Chew said.

Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw noted that regardless of what the company does to assure lawmakers it will protect U.S. user data, the Chinese government can still have significant influence over its parent company and ask it to turn over data through its national security laws.

Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have already banned the use of the app from official devices. Similar bans have been imposed in other countries including Denmark, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, as well as the European Union.

A complete TikTok ban in the U.S. would risk political and popular backlash from its young user base and civil liberties groups.

David Kennedy, a former government intelligence officer who runs the cybersecurity company TrustedSec, said he agrees with restricting TikTok access on government-issued phones but that a nationwide ban might be too extreme.

"We have Tesla in China, we have Microsoft in China, we have Apple in China. Are they going to start banning us now?" Kennedy said. "It could escalate very quickly."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Saudi Arabia and Syria restart diplomatic ties that was dropped 10 years ago.

Riyadh and Damascus are riding on the wave created by Saudi's deal with Iran.

Middle East leaders are moving to have better ties with Aasad that will benefit Arab countries.

Saudi Arabia and Syria have agreed to reopen consulates after differences had caused both to stop communicating.

This was revealed last Thursday which is another diplomatic coup in the Arab region marked by tension and differences which was fostered by the United States.

Saudi Arabia Restores Diplomatic Ties with Syria

The Kingdom goes on a wave of re-establishment of diplomatic ties after the Iran-Saudi deal brokered by Beijing is continuing with other ties reconnected, po reported Daily Sabah. Now it's Riyadh and Damascus linking arms as did Iran earlier.

The civil war started in 2011 and compromised Damascus's relationship with other Arab states that ended with Syrian President Bashar al Assadi becoming a Middle East pariah noted Zawya. It's different now as prominent Riyadh has reached out to Damascus as a partner. Even the west realizes the full impact of the Iran-Saudi deal has a domino effect that Washington is not dismissing

Both governments will be readying to open consulates after Eid al-Fitr in April stated a source close to Damascus cited by Reuters.

It was brought about by talks in the Kingdom conducted with senior Syrian intelligence officials alleged to include a diplomat privy to these developments. But no response from either the Syrians or Saudis has been issued thus far but no one was identified due to the subject.

Syria To Reopen Consulate in Saudi, Ending Isolation

Such development is a measure of how the Iran-Saudi deal is a major factor in how crises will be handled in the once-disunified region. It was rivalry between middle eastern players that added to the Syrian War.

Read Also: EU, Arab Countries Laud Restoration of Saudi Arabia-Iran Diplomatic Ties

Entities like the US and its allies, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar has supported those who oppose Assad. But the west and its ally's attempt to supplant Assad had failed and were defeated by Damascus with the help of Tehran and Moscow.

Before the deal, the US and KSA were opposed to allowing other nations willing to have ties with Assad. Washington has always played the human rights card. Any solution that did not include the US was not acceptable.

Syria Could Rejoin the Arab League

Another US partner in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, has begun what is seen as formerly taboo. UAE leaders have chosen to seek ties with Damascus, and welcomed the Syrian leader and his wife when they visited Abu Dhabi.

In contrast, the Saudis are taking their time in establishing ties. A statement from a Gulf diplomat said that a top Syrian intelligence officer stayed a while in Riyadh until a deal was signed to restart diplomatic ties.

The official mentioned the Syrian intelligence chief, Hussam Louga, discussing the Jordan-Syrian border and the smuggling of a drug called captagon. There are many takers of the drug in the Arab Gulf to Syria.

Saudi's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud earlier in the month informed after discussing with Assad might be a return to the Arab League, but may come later not now.

In KSA, a summit for April is scheduled mentioned by a source that might remove the suspension of Damascus during the Arab Summit. UAE in 2018 said that Arabs need to open consulates to end the conflict.

The US is not pleased with Assad's re-entry and still keeps questionable sanctions that are a hindrance to commercial ventures.

Saudi Arabia and Syria are reopening consulates as the agreement dictates but it's a stretch with the US looking anxious as the Iran-Saudi deal is making massive changes in the Middle East.

Related Article: Syria's Natural Disaster Highlights Lack of UN Aid for Survivors

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The Oxford School shooting suspect's parents have been charged with involuntary manslaughter

The court cited factors, including the parents being called to the school to discuss a disturbing note about their son

Authorities are saying that the Crumbleys could have stopped the horrific shooting

In a groundbreaking case of criminal liability for a child's actions, the state appeals court ruled Thursday that the parents of a juvenile who killed four pupils at a high school in Michigan can be tried for involuntary manslaughter.

The appeals court stated that the killings would not have occurred if Ethan Crumbley's parents had not acquired a weapon for him or if they had brought him home from Oxford High School on the day of the massacre when staff grew frightened about his radical drawings.

Ethan Crumbley's Parents Ordered to Stand Trial

According to Michigan law, the legal barrier at this point of the lawsuit is rather low. Before the shootings, James and Jennifer Crumbley are accused of neglecting to secure a firearm and disregarding their son's mental health needs. In addition to the four student deaths, seven persons were injured.

Ethan Crumbley, 16, has pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder and faces a possible life sentence without parole. At the time of the November 2021 shooting, he was 15 years old, according to CBS News.

Lawyers representing the parents claim that the events of that day could not have been predicted. They accept that poor choices were made, but not ones that warrant accusations of involuntary manslaughter.

Judge Michael Riordan stated that parents should not be brought into court for "inadequate, strange, or quirky" child care. He noted that the evidence against the Crumbleys is far more severe. The court stated that it was "visual proof" that Ethan was considering shooting someone. The Crumbleys were called to school to discuss Ethan's drawing, but they did not bring him home.

The court stated that it was "visual evidence" that Ethan Crumbley was considering shooting someone. The parents' attorneys declined to speak on Thursday, citing a gag order. The Oxford School shooting suspect's parents will likely seek the Michigan Supreme Court to examine the matter, given that the high court already ordered the appeals court to hear arguments, as per ABC News.

Read Also: Paris Protests Turn Violent as Anarchists, Police Clash

Court Points on Oxford School Shooting Suspect Parent's Liability

The court of appeals also noted the slippery slope argument presented by the Crumbleys' attorneys, namely that this case might create a terrible precedent for all parents whose children commit mistakes. Yet this case has "special facts," the court noted, deciding that sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial and determine whether the Crumbleys' claimed gross negligence contributed to the four fatalities.

The Crumbleys, who remain incarcerated in Oakland County and are expected to appeal the ruling to the Michigan Supreme Court, have maintained that they had no knowledge their son was planning a mass shooting and are not responsible for the killings.

However, the prosecutors claim that the parents were severely negligent since they allegedly ignored their problematic son for years. Instead of obtaining mental health assistance, they purchased him the murder weapon.

According to the appeals court, the parents were aware of both the original note with the blood and pistol and the altered message, but they chose to keep their son in school so they could return to work.

The court stated that within four minutes of leaving the school parking area, James Crumbley went onto DoorDash and accepted his first delivery assignment at 11 a.m. that day. That day at 12:21 p.m., Jennifer Crumbley texted her son at school to inquire about his well-being.

After delivering the message, Ethan Crumbley entered a restroom with his backpack, retrieved the revolver his parents had purchased, and opened fire. On that day, at 12:58 p.m., the firing ceased. According to testimony presented in court, the boy remained at school after a counselor determined he would be safer at school than at home alone.

Ethan Crumbley faces up to life in jail without the possibility of release, although his attorneys are contesting this sentence due to his age, as per USA Today.

Related Article: Death of Teen, Linked to Alex Murdaugh, Ruled Homicide After 8 Years

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The long-awaited debate on education savings accounts reached the Texas Senate on Wednesday. Proponents for and those against Senate Bill 8  which would use state funds to provide $8,000 to every parent who wishes to send their child to an accredited private school  took turns relaying their support of and concerns about the proposed legislation.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, authored the bill and began the conversation by outlining SB 8, also known as the Texas Parental Bill of Rights, that includes parental rights to curriculum and instructional materials, prohibits sexual orientation or gender identity from being taught in public schools, establishes an education savings account program and more.

Creighton said funding for this program will be drawn from general revenue, not the Foundation School Program dollars for public schools. Speaking directly to public school advocates who have said an ESA program would forfeit public education dollars, Creighton added that members of the Senate are lifting up public schools like never before by covering school funding, new enrollment, school safety provisions, health insurance stipends and public school teacher pay raises.

In return, an ESA would give parents the freedom to decide where to send their child to school, he said, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deemed as an emergency item this legislative session.

No one knows whats better for a childs success than their parents, Abbott said during his stop at Brazos Christian School on March 8. Parents matter and parents deserve the freedom to be able to choose the education they believe is best for their child.

Local public school districts have announced firm opposition to education savings accounts.

The College Station school districts 2023 legislative priorities state under the word vouchers that they Oppose any state plan that would use vouchers, tax credits, taxpayer savings grants, tuition reimbursements, or other means to divert public tax dollars to private entities, homeschooled students, or parents without the same academic and financial accountability or transparency to the state, taxpayers, or local communities as public school districts.

I think, at the end of the day, its about everyone having to be accountable and transparent for how those funds are used, College Station school district Superintendent Mike Martindale said at a Nov. 13 board workshop.

The Bryan school districts 2023-24 legislative priorities are similar. Following the word Preserve, the districts priorities state it Supports plans keeping public tax dollars going to public school districts held accountable by elected school board members who reside in the communities they serve. Ensure public tax dollars are not diverted to private entities.

We stand firm on everything that weve declared, Bryan school district Superintendent Ginger Carrabine said at a March 6 board workshop. We really are hopeful the legislators will make decisions in the best interest of children at all schools in the state of Texas and that they will adequately fund our school finance funding sources, especially for compensation to pay our teachers.

Bryan Board President Julie Harlin echoed these sentiments at the same workshop.

There are conversations happening right now in communities and with our legislators about things that may not be so positive for public education, so I just encourage all of us to be vigilant in our advocacy to share what we want to happen with those who make those decisions, Harlin said. Thats the burden that is upon all of us in our communities is to voice our concerns when we hear about things that may not be as favorable to our public schools.

Creighton said there are safeguards embedded in SB 8 to prevent the fraudulent use of an ESA. Also included is the provision that districts with less than 20,000 students will have access to $20,000 over two years to make up for any students who leave their district to use an ESA.

State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, alluded to the potential unintended consequences resulting from the 50-page committee substitute. One of which is the amount of the individual ESAs as Creighton said the average cost of private school in Texas is $10,000.

If the voucher doesnt cover the cost, how does this provide freedom to the parents who cant afford the other costs that come? regarding tuition, books, uniforms, transportation and the meal plans that accompany private schooling. Creighton responded there are other scholarships available to families who cannot cover the gap.

State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-South Padre Island, asked about the possibility of private schools raising their tuition to meet the $8,000 in order to get the full benefit of the ESA program. There are auditing provisions within SB 8, Creighton responded, where the comptroller would report back to the Senate about how the money is being used.

LaMantia also asked about private schools being able to accept or deny students into their schools. Senator Drew Springer, R-Muenster, added that while an approximate 60,000 students could benefit from this bill, some students, who are already enrolled in private school, would not because of the bills eligibility requirements.

This legislature in the past hasnt helped the family [those who have made sacrifices to send their children to private schools] that you mentioned, Creighton said to Springer. We have to start somewhere, and theres scarcity of dollars, and were not as much excluding them; were just saying weve got to build infrastructure that makes sense for the public school system to digest and at the same time give our parents and our families the rights they deserve.

Creighton said there is $500 million in the bill with two-thirds weighted toward public schools rated C, D and F with the state accountability system (based on standardized test scores) and a third available for A and B or any rating. This means that a family that has been sending their child to private school would have to enroll their child into a public school for 90% of the school year to be eligible for an ESA, Springer said.

Menendez pointed out that private schools do not have the same accountability systems as public schools. This means that students requiring special education could be denied acceptance into a private school.

Creighton said private schools have the authority to set their criteria with the parents having the right to say whether it is fair or not, i.e. leaving the decision to the parents.

Four additional bills concerning parental rights, school choice and education savings accounts were discussed Wednesday.

SB 29 regards a constitutional amendment to establish a parents right to direct a childs education and was authored by State Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney. SB 176 works to establish the Texas Parental Empowerment Program with money following the child through an insurance premium tax credit for contributions to the program and was authored by Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston.

Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, presented SB 2354, which he authored to establish the ESA program for disadvantaged children and their siblings to use public money for alternatives to public schools, as well as an insurance premium tax credit for program contributions.

This is not money thats going through the Texas Education Agency; this is money going to the comptroller so that theres specific accountability outside the education system for it, Bettencourt said. Thats a hallmark for all four of these plans.

This accountability system includes random audits by a third party who will notify the comptroller program to report any legal violations to the local district attorney, he said.

If you have a program that works, you continue with it and you use your accountability system to check it, Bettencourt said. If you cant keep it straight, dont get into this program.

When the time came for public testimonies on all five bills (8, 29, 176, 2354 and 2483), State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said there were approximately 216 registered to speak. Witnesses ranged from private, public and homeschool family members and advocates to representatives of state organizations advocating for or against one or more of these bills.

While there continues to be a lot of debate surrounding this topic, one commonality remains: providing Texas students with the education they deserve.

To follow the Texas legislative session, go to capitol.texas.gov/Home.aspx.
Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc (LON:EFM  Get Rating)s stock price passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 400.50 ($4.92) and traded as low as GBX 396.90 ($4.87). Edinburgh Dragon Trust shares last traded at GBX 400.50 ($4.92), with a volume of 296,613 shares traded.

Edinburgh Dragon Trust Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of 513.41 million and a PE ratio of -17.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.76, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 400.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 400.50.

Edinburgh Dragon Trust Company Profile

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Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc is an investment trust. The Companys objective is to achieve long-term capital growth through investment in the Far East with the exception of Japan and Australasia. The Companys assets are invested in a diversified portfolio of securities in quoted companies spread across a range of industries and economies in the Asia Pacific region, excluding Japan and Australasia.

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JMP Securities cut shares of Agree Realty (NYSE:ADC  Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report published on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat reports.

ADC has been the topic of several other reports. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Agree Realty from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Agree Realty from $78.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Agree Realty from $84.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Agree Realty from $76.75 to $77.50 in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Agree Realty in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $78.23.

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Agree Realty Stock Performance

NYSE ADC opened at $64.94 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.46. The firms fifty day moving average price is $71.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.48. Agree Realty has a 1 year low of $63.34 and a 1 year high of $80.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44.

Agree Realty Dividend Announcement

Insider Transactions at Agree Realty

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.43%. Agree Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 157.38%.

In related news, COO Craig Erlich bought 4,898 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 29th. The shares were bought at an average price of $16.25 per share, for a total transaction of $79,592.50. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at $79,592.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Agree Realty

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ADC. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Agree Realty by 140.3% in the 2nd quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 76,017 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,482,000 after buying an additional 44,388 shares during the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG lifted its holdings in Agree Realty by 3.6% during the third quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 126,269 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $8,533,000 after purchasing an additional 4,333 shares during the last quarter. Cincinnati Insurance Co. lifted its holdings in Agree Realty by 43.2% during the third quarter. Cincinnati Insurance Co. now owns 222,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $15,003,000 after purchasing an additional 67,000 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Agree Realty by 6.9% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,348,857 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,037,276,000 after purchasing an additional 992,766 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Agree Realty by 13.7% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 260,587 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $17,611,000 after purchasing an additional 31,364 shares during the last quarter.

Agree Realty Company Profile

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Agree Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust, which focuses on the ownership, development, acquisition, and management of retail properties net leased to national tenants. It specializes in acquiring and developing net leased retail properties for retail tenants. The company was founded by Richard Agree in 1971 and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

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Buzzi Unicem S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:BZZUY  Get Rating)s stock price crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $11.15 and traded as high as $11.90. Buzzi Unicem shares last traded at $11.86, with a volume of 841 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Berenberg Bank downgraded shares of Buzzi Unicem from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $21.03.

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Buzzi Unicem Price Performance

The companys 50-day moving average is $11.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.40.

Buzzi Unicem Company Profile

Buzzi Unicem SpA engages in the production and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete and natural aggregates. The firms geographical segment Central Europe consists of Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Eastern Europe covers Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia. The company was founded in September 1999 and is headquartered in Casale Monferrato, Italy.

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Compass Group PLC (LON:CPG  Get Rating) insider Carol Arrowsmith sold 1,027 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,948 ($23.92), for a total transaction of 20,005.96 ($24,568.29).

Compass Group Stock Performance

LON:CPG opened at GBX 1,995 ($24.50) on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 85.27, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.95. The stock has a market capitalization of 34.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 3,069.23, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 1,917.75 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 1,883.21. Compass Group PLC has a fifty-two week low of GBX 1,568.75 ($19.27) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 2,009 ($24.67).

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Compass Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 19th were given a dividend of GBX 22.10 ($0.27) per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.23%. This is a boost from Compass Groups previous dividend of $9.40. Compass Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7,076.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

About Compass Group

A number of research firms have commented on CPG. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an underperform rating and issued a GBX 1,625 ($19.96) price objective on shares of Compass Group in a report on Monday, February 13th. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Compass Group in a report on Thursday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Compass Group from GBX 2,150 ($26.40) to GBX 2,200 ($27.02) and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating on shares of Compass Group in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, Numis Securities restated a hold rating and set a GBX 1,900 ($23.33) price target on shares of Compass Group in a report on Thursday, February 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Compass Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 1,987.86 ($24.41).

(Get Rating)

Compass Group PLC operates as a food and support services company in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers support services, such as cleaning in hospitals; reception services at corporate headquarters; managing remote camps; grounds and facilities services at schools and universities; and others.

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Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (CVE:CEM  Get Rating) shares rose 4.5% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.37 and last traded at C$0.35. Approximately 207,650 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 199% from the average daily volume of 69,562 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.33.

Constantine Metal Resources Stock Up 4.5 %

The firms 50-day simple moving average is C$0.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.75, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a current ratio of 2.08. The company has a market capitalization of C$22.52 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.78.

About Constantine Metal Resources

(Get Rating)

Constantine Metal Resources Ltd., a junior mining company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. The company primarily explores for copper, zinc, gold, and silver deposits. Its principal project is the Palmer project that includes 340 federal mining claims and 63 state mining claims located in Alaska, the United States.

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Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $217.00 to $210.00 in a report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $267.00 to $250.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 6th. OTR Global upgraded shares of Constellation Brands to a positive rating in a report on Thursday, December 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $245.00 to $215.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $281.00 to $267.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $250.71.

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Constellation Brands Trading Up 0.4 %

STZ opened at $214.99 on Monday. The firms fifty day moving average is $223.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $232.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 1.29. The firm has a market cap of $39.68 billion, a PE ratio of 614.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.01. Constellation Brands has a twelve month low of $208.12 and a twelve month high of $261.52.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 5th. The company reported $2.83 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.88 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.38 billion. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 19.69% and a net margin of 0.98%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.12 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands will post 10.6 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 8th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 7th. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is 914.31%.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Prudential PLC raised its stake in Constellation Brands by 44.8% in the 3rd quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 4,592 shares of the companys stock worth $1,055,000 after purchasing an additional 1,421 shares in the last quarter. Echo Street Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $507,000. Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its position in Constellation Brands by 48.4% during the 3rd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 47,420 shares of the companys stock worth $10,891,000 after purchasing an additional 15,472 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $810,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Constellation Brands by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,697,507 shares of the companys stock worth $395,621,000 after purchasing an additional 45,493 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.87% of the companys stock.

Constellation Brands Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Constellation Brands, Inc engages in the production, marketing, and distribution of beer, wine, and spirits. It operates through the following segments: Beer, Wine and Spirits, and Corporate Operations and Other, and Canopy. The Beer segment includes imported and craft beer brands. The Wine and Spirits segment sells wine brands across all categories-table wine, sparkling wine, and dessert wine-and across all price points.

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East Africa Metals Inc. (CVE:EAM  Get Rating) shares were down 3.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as C$0.15 and last traded at C$0.15. Approximately 7,500 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 35,479 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.15.

East Africa Metals Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$0.14 and its 200 day moving average price is C$0.13. The firm has a market cap of C$29.62 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.83 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.99.

East Africa Metals Company Profile

(Get Rating)

East Africa Metals Inc, a mineral exploration company, focuses on the identification, acquisition, exploration, development, and sale of base and precious mineral resource properties in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United Republic of Tanzania. The company primarily explores for gold, copper, silver, and zinc deposits.

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Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. reduced its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 38,371 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 302 shares during the quarter. EOG Resources accounts for approximately 0.4% of Sumitomo Life Insurance Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co.s holdings in EOG Resources were worth $4,970,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EOG. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 16.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,031 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,911,000 after buying an additional 2,213 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new position in shares of EOG Resources during the first quarter worth $404,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of EOG Resources during the first quarter worth $278,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 237.7% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,155 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $138,000 after purchasing an additional 813 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 23.7% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 662 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. 87.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on EOG shares. Johnson Rice cut shares of EOG Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $177.00 to $163.00 in a report on Monday, December 5th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $147.00 to $140.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $152.00 to $145.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $152.00 to $146.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $152.45.

EOG Resources Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of EOG Resources stock opened at $104.78 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $121.72 and a 200-day simple moving average of $126.63. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12-month low of $92.16 and a 12-month high of $150.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market cap of $61.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.93, a PEG ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 1.52.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The energy exploration company reported $3.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.31 by ($0.01). EOG Resources had a net margin of 30.19% and a return on equity of 34.95%. The company had revenue of $6.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.09 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

EOG Resources Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is 24.98%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Michael T. Kerr bought 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $130.49 per share, for a total transaction of $2,609,800.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 170,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,183,300. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

EOG Resources Profile

(Get Rating)

EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and Other International segments. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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General Mills (NYSE:GIS  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $88.00 to $84.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of General Mills from $77.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 21st. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of General Mills in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $88.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of General Mills from $82.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Mizuho started coverage on shares of General Mills in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $75.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of General Mills from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $82.69.

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General Mills Stock Performance

Shares of General Mills stock opened at $82.15 on Monday. General Mills has a fifty-two week low of $64.42 and a fifty-two week high of $88.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.28. The companys 50 day moving average price is $78.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $79.99.

General Mills Announces Dividend

General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. General Mills had a net margin of 15.02% and a return on equity of 24.09%. The firm had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.84 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that General Mills will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. General Millss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.09%.

Insider Transactions at General Mills

In other news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 10,894 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.49, for a total value of $920,434.06. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 82,784 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,994,420.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, insider Sean N. Walker sold 27,157 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.87, for a total value of $2,304,814.59. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 90,975 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,721,048.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 10,894 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.49, for a total value of $920,434.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 82,784 shares in the company, valued at $6,994,420.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 40,006 shares of company stock worth $3,393,359 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On General Mills

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Romano Brothers AND Company bought a new position in General Mills in the 3rd quarter worth $707,000. M&G Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in General Mills in the 3rd quarter worth $227,000. Trilogy Capital Inc. boosted its holdings in General Mills by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. Trilogy Capital Inc. now owns 2,967 shares of the companys stock worth $227,000 after buying an additional 302 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. boosted its holdings in General Mills by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 34,035 shares of the companys stock worth $2,568,000 after buying an additional 1,180 shares during the period. Finally, Checchi Capital Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in General Mills by 19.7% in the 2nd quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 6,801 shares of the companys stock worth $509,000 after buying an additional 1,120 shares during the period. 74.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About General Mills

(Get Rating)

General Mills, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The firm operates through the following segments: North America Retail, Europe & Australia, Convenience Stores & Foodservice, Pet, and Asia & Latin America. The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains and e-commerce grocery providers.

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The US military launched six targeted airstrikes in Syria on Thursday, killing eight Iranians in retribution for an Iranian drone attack on a coalition facility that killed one American.

According to the Defense Department, at 1:38 p.m. local time, Iranian forces' Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps crashed a UAV into a structure close to Hasakah in northeastern Syria, killing one US contractor, according to Fox News. Five US military men and a contractor were injured in the Iran drone attack.

There were at least eight Iranian militants killed in two separate US Airstrike Syria, per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the conflict on behalf of the opposition.

Six Iranian-backed militants were killed in a US airstrike on an armaments stockpile near Harabesh, east of the city of Deir el-Zour. The Observatory, which depends on sources inside Syria to report, claims that two more fighters were killed in a second US attack on a checkpoint in the vicinity of Mayadeen, per CBS News.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that President Joe Biden gave him the go-ahead to launch a retaliation strike after the Iran drone attack.

"As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," Austin said, noting that no group will attack US soldiers without consequence, per Yahoo! News.

Read Also: Paris Protests Turn Violent

Joe Biden Administration is Not Backing Down

Supposed footage of blasts in Syria's Deir Ez-Zor, a vital region that borders Iraq and has oil resources, appeared on social media overnight.

The region is governed by Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian military, and it has reportedly been the focus of Israeli attacks in recent months.

Because of concerns with Iran, the US previously attacked Syria under the Joe Biden administration. Biden conducted three separate strikes there in 2021.

Hamidreza Azizi of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs noted that Iran has worked "to make life difficult "for American soldiers stationed east of the Euphrates" since the 2020 U.S. drone strike that assassinated Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Related Article: Russian Drone Attack Kills 4 Civilians

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Mkango Resources Ltd. (CVE:MKA  Get Rating) Director William Drummond Dawes acquired 400,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$0.13 per share, for a total transaction of C$51,000.00.

Mkango Resources Price Performance

Shares of MKA opened at C$0.22 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$52.29 million, a PE ratio of -3.58 and a beta of 2.06. The companys 50-day moving average is C$0.24 and its 200-day moving average is C$0.22. Mkango Resources Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of C$0.16 and a fifty-two week high of C$0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 125.65, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.87.

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About Mkango Resources

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Mkango Resources Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, explores for and develops rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, Africa. It explores for uranium, tantalum, niobium, zircon, nickel, cobalt, rutile, graphite, and gold ores. The company's flagship project is the Songwe Hill property within the Phalombe exploration license located in southeast Malawi.

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JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS  Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the six ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $59.75.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on JKS. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of JinkoSolar from $38.00 to $41.00 in a report on Monday, January 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of JinkoSolar in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Roth Capital raised shares of JinkoSolar from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $50.00 to $70.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 11th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On JinkoSolar

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Toroso Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of JinkoSolar during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of JinkoSolar by 98.8% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 690 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares during the last quarter. Carmignac Gestion purchased a new position in JinkoSolar during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Natixis purchased a new position in JinkoSolar during the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Seaport Global Advisors LLC grew its position in JinkoSolar by 33.3% in the 4th quarter. Seaport Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,878 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 469 shares during the last quarter.

JinkoSolar Trading Down 0.0 %

JinkoSolar Company Profile

Shares of JKS opened at $47.75 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.80. JinkoSolar has a 1 year low of $38.43 and a 1 year high of $76.92. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $53.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $51.20. The firm has a market cap of $2.39 billion, a P/E ratio of -1,656.00 and a beta of 0.83.

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JinkoSolar Holding Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacture of solar modules. It distributes solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customers. The company was founded by Xiande Li, Kangping Chen, and Xianhua Li on August 3, 2007 and is headquartered in Shangrao, China.

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JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Ltd acquired a new stake in Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 3,440 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $122,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Balyasny Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Equinor ASA during the 3rd quarter worth $146,540,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Equinor ASA by 42.8% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 10,186,246 shares of the companys stock valued at $382,086,000 after buying an additional 3,052,907 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Equinor ASA during the 1st quarter worth approximately $55,819,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Equinor ASA during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $48,405,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky acquired a new position in Equinor ASA in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $45,452,000. Institutional investors own 5.46% of the companys stock.

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Equinor ASA Price Performance

Equinor ASA stock opened at $27.45 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $30.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $33.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.67. Equinor ASA has a twelve month low of $26.28 and a twelve month high of $42.53.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Equinor ASA Profile

Several brokerages recently weighed in on EQNR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Equinor ASA from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Nordea Equity Research raised shares of Equinor ASA from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. HSBC downgraded shares of Equinor ASA from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 1st. Morgan Stanley upgraded Equinor ASA from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Equinor ASA from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $318.63.

(Get Rating)

Equinor ASA engages in the exploration, production, transport, refining, and marketing of petroleum and petroleum-derived products. It operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production Norway, Exploration and Production International, Exploration and Production USA, Marketing, Midstream, and Processing, Renewables, and and Other.

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Monarch Ambassador Income ETF (BATS:MAMB  Get Rating) shares traded up 1.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $22.42 and last traded at $22.42. 6,837 shares were traded during trading, The stock had previously closed at $22.17.

Monarch Ambassador Income ETF Stock Performance

The stocks 50 day moving average price is $22.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $21.73.

About Monarch Ambassador Income ETF

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The Monarch Ambassador Income ETF (MAMB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Kingsview Ambassador Income index. The fund tracks an index that consists of mainly global fixed income ETFs, plus an alternative sleeve. Constituents are selected and weighted based on the economic cycle. MAMB was launched on Mar 23, 2021 and is managed by Monarch.

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Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:MNARF  Get Rating) shares dropped 7.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $12.87 and last traded at $13.00. Approximately 250 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 367 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.00.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, TD Securities increased their price objective on Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$22.00 to C$23.00 in a report on Thursday, February 16th.

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Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Trading Down 7.1 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $13.22 and a 200 day moving average of $12.23.

Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Company Profile

Morguard North American Residential REIT is an open-ended real estate investment trust. The firm owns a diversified portfolio of multi-suite residential rental properties. Its primary objectives are to generate stable and growing cash distributions to unit holders on a tax-efficient basis, and to enhance the value of the real estate investment trusts assets and maximize long-term value of the units through active asset and property management, and to expand the asset base of the REIT and increase adjusted funds from operations per unit primarily through acquisitions and property improvements of its properties through targeted and strategically deployed capital expenditures.

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Peoples Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PPLL  Get Rating)s stock price was down 1.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $66.10 and last traded at $66.10. Approximately 650 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 235% from the average daily volume of 194 shares. The stock had previously closed at $67.00.

Peoples Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $67.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $69.33.

Peoples Company Profile

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Peoples Ltd. operates as the holding company for PS Bank that provides various financial services to individuals, small businesses, and corporate customers in Pennsylvania, the United States. It offers savings, checking, money market, business checking, NOW checking, and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit.

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Petropavlovsk PLC (LON:POG  Get Rating)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 1.20 ($0.01) and traded as high as GBX 1.65 ($0.02). Petropavlovsk shares last traded at GBX 1.20 ($0.01), with a volume of 26,359,046 shares changing hands.

Petropavlovsk Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.95. The firm has a market capitalization of 47.51 million and a PE ratio of 120.00. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 1.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 1.20.

Petropavlovsk Company Profile

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Petropavlovsk PLC operates as a gold mining company in the Far East of Russia. It principally holds interests in the Pioneer, Albyn, and Malomir mining assets, as well as holds various gold licenses located in Amur region. The company also produces silver deposits. In addition, it provides construction, project and engineering, research, repair and maintenance, and transportation services; and operates educational institutes.

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DA Davidson assumed coverage on shares of Procore Technologies (NYSE:PCOR  Get Rating) in a research report report published on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $72.00 price target on the stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Loop Capital assumed coverage on Procore Technologies in a report on Thursday, December 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Barclays raised their target price on Procore Technologies from $61.00 to $72.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Procore Technologies from $60.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Procore Technologies from $74.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Procore Technologies from $60.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.62.

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Procore Technologies Price Performance

NYSE PCOR opened at $60.35 on Tuesday. Procore Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $40.00 and a fifty-two week high of $68.56. The stocks 50-day moving average is $60.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.50. The firm has a market cap of $8.46 billion, a P/E ratio of -28.74 and a beta of 0.62.

Insider Buying and Selling at Procore Technologies

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Procore Technologies news, CEO Craig F. Jr. Courtemanche sold 54,372 shares of Procore Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.25, for a total transaction of $3,493,401.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 725,468 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,611,319. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, SVP William Fred Fleming, Jr. sold 2,119 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.25, for a total value of $136,145.75. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 62,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,039,397.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Craig F. Jr. Courtemanche sold 54,372 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.25, for a total value of $3,493,401.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 725,468 shares in the company, valued at $46,611,319. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 137,680 shares of company stock valued at $8,390,636. 40.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in Procore Technologies by 55.5% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,174,940 shares of the companys stock worth $432,874,000 after buying an additional 3,275,404 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Procore Technologies by 94.6% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,137,249 shares of the companys stock worth $148,017,000 after buying an additional 1,525,039 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Procore Technologies by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,141,607 shares of the companys stock worth $303,886,000 after buying an additional 1,042,498 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Procore Technologies by 61.5% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,574,359 shares of the companys stock worth $127,378,000 after buying an additional 980,125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in Procore Technologies during the 4th quarter worth $35,085,000. 82.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Procore Technologies Company Profile

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Procore Technologies, Inc provides a cloud-based construction management platform and related software products in the United States and internationally. The company's platform enables owners, general and specialty contractors, architects, and engineers to collaborate on construction projects. It offers Preconstruction that facilitates collaboration between internal and external stakeholders during the planning, budgeting, estimating, bidding, and partner selection phase of a construction project; and Project Management, which enables real-time collaboration, information storage, design, BIM model clash detection, and regulation compliance for teams on the jobsite and in the back office.

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Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU  Get Rating) by 8.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,249 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 2,477 shares during the quarter. Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLCs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $1,150,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel bought a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 73.5% during the 4th quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 928 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the period. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Gold Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 98.2% during the 3rd quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 1,092 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 541 shares during the period. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 191.8% during the 2nd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 1,103 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 725 shares during the period. 62.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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iShares Gold Trust Stock Performance

iShares Gold Trust stock opened at $37.93 on Friday. iShares Gold Trust has a 1 year low of $30.69 and a 1 year high of $37.99. The business has a 50-day moving average of $35.78 and a 200-day moving average of $33.89.

iShares Gold Trust Profile

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU  Get Rating).

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First Resource Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FRSB  Get Rating) is one of 168 publicly-traded companies in the National commercial banks industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare First Resource Bancorp to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Risk & Volatility

First Resource Bancorp has a beta of 0.62, suggesting that its share price is 38% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Resource Bancorps competitors have a beta of 0.81, suggesting that their average share price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares First Resource Bancorp and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio First Resource Bancorp $21.79 million $5.63 million 6.70 First Resource Bancorp Competitors $7.64 billion $1.63 billion 8.78

Profitability

First Resource Bancorps competitors have higher revenue and earnings than First Resource Bancorp. First Resource Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

This table compares First Resource Bancorp and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Resource Bancorp 25.81% N/A N/A First Resource Bancorp Competitors 24.56% 12.39% 1.15%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

51.9% of shares of all National commercial banks companies are owned by institutional investors. 8.8% of shares of all National commercial banks companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for First Resource Bancorp and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Resource Bancorp 0 0 0 0 N/A First Resource Bancorp Competitors 1007 6700 6394 263 2.41

As a group, National commercial banks companies have a potential upside of 37.44%. Given First Resource Bancorps competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Resource Bancorp has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Summary

First Resource Bancorp competitors beat First Resource Bancorp on 9 of the 10 factors compared.

First Resource Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Rating)

First Resource Bancorp, Inc. is a holding company that engages in the provision of community banking services through its subsidiary, First Resource Bank. Its subsidiary offers lending and depository services for businesses, professionals, and individuals in the Delaware Valley. The company is headquartered in Exton, PA.

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North Korea claimed to have tested a "nuclear underwater attack drone"

The weapons test occurred as the United States and South Korea concluded a series of military exercises

North Korea launched multiple strategic cruise missiles from the region of South Hamgyong

North Korea has tested a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, state media said on Friday, as leader Kim Jong Un warned South Korea and the United States to cease their joint military exercises.

During the test, the new North Korean drone sailed underwater at 80 to 150 meters (260-500 feet) for more than 59 hours and exploded a non-nuclear payload in waters off its east coast on Thursday, according to KCNA.

North Korea's Underwater Nuclear Attack Drone

Experts assert that North Korea is demonstrating its expanding diversity of nuclear threats to Washington and Seoul, but they are skeptical that the submarine is ready for deployment.

Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated that North Korea intends to signal "to the United States and South Korea that the potential vectors of nuclear weapons delivery that the allies would have to worry about and target would be vast" in the event of war.

Per Reuters, the isolated nation launched a short-range missile from a subterranean silo on Monday, a deviation from its typical basing procedures.

The new drone technology, called "Haeil" or tsunami, is designed to launch surprise assaults in enemy seas and destroy naval strike units and important operating ports by generating a big radioactive wave through an undersea explosion.

An officer from the South Korean military stated they were analyzing North Korea's assertions. On the condition of anonymity, a US official stated that there was no evidence of a nuclear test.

Uncertainty exists about whether North Korea has fully perfected the miniaturized nuclear warheads required for its smaller weapons. Experts believe that if North Korea resumes nuclear testing, the refinement of such bombs will be a top priority.

According to ABC News, North Korea is thought to possess dozens of nuclear warheads and may be able to mount them on aging missile systems, such as Scuds and Rodongs.

Nevertheless, there are differing opinions on how far North Korea has progressed in constructing these warheads to fit atop the rapidly created new missiles, which may necessitate more technological improvements and nuclear tests.

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup told legislators that the North likely has not yet mastered the technology to equip its most powerful weapons despite noting the country's "substantial development."

Read Also: Paris Protests Turn Violent as Anarchists, Police Clash

Expert Warns Against North Korea's Nuclear-Capable Drone

Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha University in Seoul warned that Pyongyang's current claim to possess a nuclear-capable underwater drone should be treated cautiously.

On Wednesday, North Korea also conducted cruise missile tests, which were detected and reported by the South Korean military. In addition, it conducted another nuclear strike scenario using a short-range ballistic missile. Last week, it conducted a flight test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the continental United States.

This week, Pyongyang also claimed to have conducted tests of cruise missiles with the ability to deliver nuclear warheads. The US and South Korean militaries have conducted the largest war simulations in the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula in five years.

North Korea is simultaneously testing many types of missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile last week and cruise missiles on Wednesday. According to analysts, Pyongyang sends a message to the United States and its regional allies. Per CNN, recent short-range missile launches are an attempt to bolster the legitimacy, command, and control of self-declared tactical nuclear weapons units aimed at South Korea and Japan.

Releated Article: Kim Jong Un Orders North Korea To Prepare Nuclear Counterattack

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Shares of Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (CVE:SPX  Get Rating) shot up 25% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$0.05 and last traded at C$0.05. 561,400 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 523% from the average session volume of 90,095 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.04.

Stellar AfricaGold Stock Performance

The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$0.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$0.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 2.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.03. The stock has a market capitalization of C$5.57 million, a P/E ratio of -1.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.38.

Stellar AfricaGold Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Stellar AfricaGold Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of mineral properties in West Africa and Canada. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. It holds interest in the Lullwitz-Kaepelli gold property located in Lacoste and De Sales township in the Charlevoix Area of Quebec; the Birimian Geology, Priko, and Zenoula permits situated in Cote d'Ivoire; the Tichka Est gold project located in the Atlas region of Morocco; and the Namarana gold project situated in region of Koulikoro.

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Stokes Capital Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT  Get Rating) by 17.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 38,475 shares of the medical technology companys stock after selling 8,210 shares during the period. Stokes Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in Medtronic were worth $2,990,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of MDT. IAG Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Medtronic by 58.1% in the 3rd quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 351 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares during the period. Annapolis Financial Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 368.0% in the 3rd quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 482 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Medtronic in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Medtronic in the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, Clear Investment Research LLC acquired a new position in shares of Medtronic in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $48,000. 80.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

MDT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays reduced their target price on Medtronic from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Medtronic from $80.00 to $87.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Medtronic from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $102.00 to $89.00 in a report on Monday, January 9th. Mizuho reduced their target price on Medtronic from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Medtronic in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Medtronic currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $90.72.

Medtronic Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of MDT stock traded up $0.97 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $78.54. The company had a trading volume of 2,241,873 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,337,497. The company has a 50 day moving average of $82.09 and a 200 day moving average of $82.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The firm has a market cap of $104.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.71. Medtronic plc has a 1-year low of $75.76 and a 1-year high of $114.31.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The medical technology company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $7.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.53 billion. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.37% and a net margin of 13.20%. The firms quarterly revenue was down .8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.37 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Medtronic plc will post 5.28 EPS for the current year.

Medtronic Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 24th will be paid a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 23rd. Medtronics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 89.47%.

Insider Activity

In other news, major shareholder Plc Medtronic acquired 6,835 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 30th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $9.28 per share, for a total transaction of $63,428.80. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,999,423 shares in the company, valued at $46,394,645.44. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Medtronic

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Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiovascular Porrtfolio, Neuroscience Portfolio, Medical Surgical Portfolio, and Diabetes Operating Unit.

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Bennett Selby Investments LP trimmed its stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,607 shares of the companys stock after selling 397 shares during the period. Bennett Selby Investments LPs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $675,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 363,258,425 shares of the companys stock worth $20,349,737,000 after acquiring an additional 3,864,004 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.7% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,915,357,000 after purchasing an additional 4,994,047 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 0.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 171,570,198 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,685,693,000 after purchasing an additional 885,816 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 2.6% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 51,570,921 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,197,397,000 after purchasing an additional 1,301,902 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.1% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 41,213,079 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,308,758,000 after purchasing an additional 462,803 shares during the period. 68.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola

In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 592,546 shares in the company, valued at $35,849,033. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 592,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,849,033. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Brian John Smith sold 126,972 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.07, for a total value of $7,881,152.04. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 116,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,210,547.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 282,268 shares of company stock worth $17,137,823 over the last quarter. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.4 %

Coca-Cola stock traded up $0.22 during trading on Friday, reaching $60.14. 3,940,899 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,949,985. The Coca-Cola Company has a 52-week low of $54.01 and a 52-week high of $67.20. The company has a market capitalization of $260.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.24, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $60.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $60.36.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.45. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.35% and a net margin of 22.19%. The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.92 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.45 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th will be given a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.06%. This is an increase from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 83.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on KO shares. UBS Group raised their price objective on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. StockNews.com lowered Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Citigroup initiated coverage on Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $68.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 target price on Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Coca-Cola from $63.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Monday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Coca-Cola presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.55.

Coca-Cola Profile

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The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S. (OTCMKTS:TKGBY  Get Rating) from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report report published on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S. Trading Up 7.9 %

OTCMKTS:TKGBY opened at $1.44 on Tuesday. Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S. has a 1 year low of $0.75 and a 1 year high of $1.69. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $1.29 and a 200-day moving average of $1.28.

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Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S. Company Profile

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Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS engages in the provision of service to its corporate, commercial and retail customers, including deposit, loans, foreign trade transactions, investment products, cash management, leasing, factoring, insurance, credit cards and other banking products. It operates through the followings segments: Retail Bank; Corporate and Commercial Banking; and Investment Banking.

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Vedanta Resources plc (LON:VED  Get Rating)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 832.60 ($10.22) and traded as high as GBX 838 ($10.29). Vedanta Resources shares last traded at GBX 832.60 ($10.22), with a volume of 162,101 shares.

Vedanta Resources Trading Up 0.9 %

The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 832.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 832.60.

About Vedanta Resources

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Vedanta Resources plc operates as a diversified natural resources company in India, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Australia, and Liberia. It primarily produces zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, and aluminum deposits. The company also explores for, extracts, and processes minerals, as well as oil and gas.

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Webster Bank N. A. reduced its stake in ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Get Rating) by 16.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,925 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 783 shares during the period. Webster Bank N. A.s holdings in ServiceNow were worth $1,524,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can purchased a new stake in ServiceNow during the third quarter worth about $68,701,000. Raymond James & Associates increased its stake in ServiceNow by 1.6% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 214,214 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $80,889,000 after purchasing an additional 3,338 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its stake in ServiceNow by 5.7% during the third quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 3,612 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System purchased a new stake in ServiceNow during the third quarter worth about $4,871,000. Finally, Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its position in shares of ServiceNow by 5.9% during the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 65,758 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $24,830,000 after buying an additional 3,673 shares in the last quarter. 86.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ServiceNow Price Performance

ServiceNow stock opened at $440.47 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $442.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $412.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $89.42 billion, a PE ratio of 275.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.94 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 12 month low of $337.00 and a 12 month high of $601.62.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ServiceNow ( NYSE:NOW Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The information technology services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $1.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.93 billion. ServiceNow had a return on equity of 9.37% and a net margin of 4.49%. Equities analysts predict that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 2.65 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on NOW. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $520.00 to $612.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, December 19th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $500.00 to $510.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Cowen boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $520.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $485.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty-six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $517.47.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other ServiceNow news, insider Jacqueline P. Canney sold 1,083 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $461.03, for a total value of $499,295.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 267 shares in the company, valued at $123,095.01. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Paul John Smith sold 2,301 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $447.22, for a total value of $1,029,053.22. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Jacqueline P. Canney sold 1,083 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $461.03, for a total value of $499,295.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 267 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $123,095.01. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 65,629 shares of company stock worth $29,974,024. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

ServiceNow Profile

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ServiceNow, Inc engages in the provision of enterprise cloud computing solutions. The firm delivers digital workflows on a single enterprise cloud platform called the Now Platform. Its product portfolio is focused on providing Information Technology, Employee and Customer workflows. The company was founded by Frederic B.

Further Reading

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A Grand Island woman faces 4 1/2 years in prison on drug charges.

Kendra R. Baker, 37, of Grand Island, was sentenced Friday in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Baker received 54 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual).

According to a release, Baker sold meth to a confidential police informant in March and April 2021. During that time, four purchases were made at various locations in Grand Island and Hastings.

In total, Baker sold the informant more than 125 grams of meth, about the weight of a bar of soap.

After serving her sentence, Baker will serve a 3-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriffs Office, Buffalo County Sheriffs Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriffs Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
A recent SocialSphere survey indicated that 51% of Gen Z voters are concerned about TikTok security issues, while 64% of Millennial voters worry about the app's like to the Chinese Communist Party.

TikTok CEO told US Congress that the Chinese government has no control over the app.

Amid growing data security concerns, the Netherlands and Norway imposed TikTok restrictions following the measures of the European Union and other western nations.

A recent study found that most Generation Z voters reject a nationwide ban on TikTok, even if they are worried about Chinese government involvement.

SocialSphere surveyed people aged 18-26 and discovered that 51% of that demographic is worried that TikTok's parent business, ByteDance, has links to the Chinese Communist Party. The same worry was expressed by 64% of millennial voters, who are between the ages of 27 and 42.

Nevertheless, just 34% of Gen Z voters agreed with the millennials' support to get TikTok banned if its Chinese owners don't sell to a US operator, according to a report from The Hill.

More than 150 million people in the United States use TikTok. To compare, approximately 43% of millennial voters claimed they had an active TikTok account (defined as having been used within the past 30 days), but 71% of Gen Z voters did.

Backing for TikTok banned increased when users were informed that the US government is worried about China utilizing TikTok to gather data and circulate propaganda.

The survey indicated that among voters in Gen Z, 28% said that TikTok was "made for people like me," with Instagram coming in second with 23 percent.

TikTok CEO Insists App Is Not Controlled by China

The poll, which was conducted online on March 22, 2023, among 1,607 registered US voters aged 18 to 42, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, per NBC News.

The news about the survey came after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before US Congress on Thursday to address concerns about the company's links to the Chinese government and criticism of the company's efforts to safeguard user data in the United States, prompting calls for US ban TikTok.

Read Also: Joe Biden Okays US Airstrike in Syria

During his US Congress testimony, Shou Zi Chew emphasized TikTok's autonomy from the Chinese government. He said that TikTok is blocked in mainland China, and the company's main offices are in Los Angeles and Singapore, per an earlier HNGN report.

The TikTok CEO made the statement in response to expert concerns that ByteDance, TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, is required to comply with Chinese data request guidelines that require businesses to provide the government with user information.

TikTok Ban Grows in the West

Meanwhile, concerns about TikTok's privacy and security have led the Netherlands and Norway to restrict TikTok usage on government-issued smartphones.

On Tuesday, the Dutch ministry of internal affairs issued a statement saying it opposed using any applications from "countries with an aggressive cyber-program" aiming against the Netherlands or Dutch interests on government-issued smartphones.

Although TikTok was not specifically named, the statement did follow a warning from the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD that apps developed in countries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran posed "a heightened risk of espionage," per EuroNews.

On Tuesday, Norway's minister of justice also advised government workers to avoid using TikTok while in the office.

TikTok has been banned in many countries lately because of cybersecurity concerns, including the European Union, Denmark, Belgium, and Canada.

Related Article: Bill Gates: Artificial Intelligence Will Boost Humanity's Productivity

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Two Grand Island residents died in a pickup-car crash Thursday in Hastings.

The Hastings Police Department said the crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. in the 600 block of North Burlington Avenue. Natividad Zuniga, 61, and Graciano Nava Zuniga, 45, both of Grand Island, died at the scene.

Police said a 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 and a 2006 Ford Focus were northbound on Burlington Avenue when the pickup truck hit the car from behind. The impact pushed the car onto a terrace, where it hit other objects.

Natividad Zuniga and Graciano Nava Zuniga were among four passengers in the car. Medical personnel transported the other two occupants and the driver of the truck to a Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings for treatment.

In an update Friday afternoon, the police department said Douglas Kelly, 61, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was the Dodge Ram driver. Gilberto Zuniga-Cirila, 67, of Grand Island, was driving the Ford Focus, with 55-year-old Guadalupe Zuniga-Cirila as the other passenger.

Kelly and Gilberto Zuniga-Cirila are at Mary Lanning in stable condition. Guadalupe Zuniga-Cirila was transferred to Bryan West Hospital in Lincoln, where she's in critical condition.

The police department said autopsies are planned at a later date and drugs and alcohol are not suspected as a factor in the crash. The Nebraska State Patrol will conduct a full reconstruction investigation "to determine the cause of the events," Hastings Police said, adding in a later release that the arrangement of passengers in the Focus is part of the investigation.

The police department expressed its condolences to everyone affected.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office, Hastings Fire and Rescue, Hastings Street Department and Hastings Utilities assisted, in addition to the Adams County Attorney's Office.

On Friday morning, a sergeant with Hastings Police said he wasn't sure how or if the Zunigas are related.
Supporters of a bill that would ban most gender-affirming care for Nebraskans under the age of 19 voted to end a filibuster and advance the proposal to second-round consideration on Thursday.

At the end of eight hours of emotional and often personal floor speeches spread across three days, the bill (LB574) from Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha was backed by 33 lawmakers  the minimum needed  and a vote was forced just before noon.

Kauth, who made the bill prohibiting doctors from providing transgender youth puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-affirming surgeries her priority this year, said assurances of a compromise amendment helped win the support needed to end the filibuster.

Im very pleased, Kauth said after the Legislature adjourned Thursday. Well get it on select (the second round of voting) and get that amendment on.

A total of 30 senators  all Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, as well as Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, a registered Democrat  ultimately voted to advance the bill to the second of three rounds of voting.

Three senators who voted for cloture did not vote to advance the bill: Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward and Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha. All three are registered Republicans.

Brandt and Hughes, who both abstained from advancing the bill, said they agreed to vote for cloture in order to consider the amendment being negotiated by Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte that would remove the provisions banning puberty blockers and hormone therapy from the bill.

Jacobsons amendment would keep the prohibition on gender-affirming surgeries in the bill, however, which several senators who spoke in support of the bill this week said they would back.

Weve got a plan to get to the amendment on select file, Brandt said. There was no way we could get to it on this round.

Hughes said she would support the bill if the amendment was adopted, but was leaning toward opposing it if it failed.

We know kids brains arent done growing until they are older, 25 (years old) even, said Hughes, a first-year senator. For me, theres a hard line at surgery; theres more shades of gray with hormone treatments and puberty blockers.

Armendariz, after voting in support of cloture, voted against advancing the bill.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, the first-year senator said she has always supported waiting until a childs brain is fully developed to make permanent decisions about changing their bodies, but supporting every familys right to make their own decisions.

I would like to limit government involvement wherever I can, as I understand how this affects freedom and free markets, Armendariz wrote. Government involvement should be exercised with restraint.

Whether or not the proposed amendment comes up for consideration remains to be seen, however.

During Thursdays floor debate, senators renewed their pledge to filibuster the backlog of bills waiting to be considered over the remaining 40 days of the 90-day session. To date, only a handful of bills have moved to the second round of voting, while none have come up for a final reading.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who drew national attention for her efforts to delay the Legislatures progress over the last month, warned senators against basing their cloture votes on the notion they would get to consider the proposed amendment.

The people saying they are voting for this for the amendment  the amendment is not happening, she said.

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, who on Wednesday shared that the bill would directly affect her 12-year-old son Ash, who came out as trans a little more than a year ago, said she considered the cloture vote the final vote of the session.

Along with Cavanaugh and Sen. Jen Day of Gretna, Hunt said she intends to bring the work of the Legislature to a crawl  even on bills she supports.

Over the course of more than two hours, opponents of LB574 filed priority motions that allowed them to jump to the front of the speaking queue, take up roughly 10 minutes of time, and then withdraw the motion before the next senator repeated the tactic.

The strategy, which is within the rules of the Legislature, effectively kept supporters from speaking on Thursday.

When they were at the mic, opponents to the bill made their final pleas with their colleagues to block the bill from advancing.

Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, who voted against LB574 in the Health and Human Services Committee, spoke about the depression her son went into after he returned from a tour in Afghanistan and how it left her feeling helpless as a mother in a moving speech that brought several senators to tears.

Walz said she heard the same despair from parents who wanted to help their children seek gender-affirming care or help for their gender dysphoria from medical professionals during a committee hearing on the bill in February. She said her own experience made their testimony resonate with her.

This is way beyond my capacity, its way beyond my control, and its not a decision that I should make, she said. I dont think this is our job, colleagues.

Day read an email from a Lincoln psychologist shared with all 49 senators that said the number of calls to a crisis line from transgender youth in Nebraska had begun to spike in recent days, spurred on by watching their elected leaders debate their humanity on TV.

She and others said they feared transgender youth would harm themselves if the bill passed, and told supporters to keep that in mind as they considered their stance.

I want you all to go into the Rotunda and look into the eyes of parents and tell them you are voting for this bill that will potentially kill their child, Day said.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad urged senators to save the session and allow bills dealing with workforce development, public school funding and other issues deemed important, by voting against cloture.

Any one of you could have a Profile in Courage moment today, Conrad told the Legislature.

Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson, who was the last senator to speak, said he wished he could do more to change the conversation around transgender youth in the legislative chamber, but urged LGBTQ youth to keep their heads up moving forward.

Regardless of what happens today, heads up, chins up, said Fredrickson, who is gay. Were survivors. Me, standing in this room, is proof of that.

After LB574 advanced and the Legislature adjourned on Thursday, Hunt repeated her prognostication of the remaining work ahead of lawmakers and said she would not work with any senators who voted for cloture.

This session is over, she said.
UTICA  This year the Utica Area Lions Club is celebrating 20 years of service in their community and beyond.

The club, founded by Lawrence Dittmar, has made a significant impact in education at Centennial, St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School and Seward Public Schools.

Over the last 20 years, the club has provided eye and hearing screening for all four schools. Theyve collected thousands of eye glasses and hearing aid for families.

Lions Club member, Sandi Swanson said, I didnt realize the good they do when people donate hearing aids to them. Ive heard about the glasses. They take parts from old hearing aids of any brand or model and make new hearing aids for other people. Its just wonderful what they do.

The Utica Area Lions Club has also paid for milk and fruit funds at Centennial and St. Paul schools and made donations to the Centennial Backpack Program.

The club is dedicated to supporting education. Theyve given over $10,000 worth of scholarships to Centennial High School students and supported an optometrist student going on a mission trip.

Lions Club member Don Rut said, Supporting education is our top priority. We have pride in our school and town and thats what keeps us going.

As far as community involvement, they are very active. They have sponsored floats for Utica Days, made donations and meals for the Utica Fire and Rescue Department and have donated towards playground improvement and equipment in downtown Utica. The club was behind paying for the two Welcome to Utica road signs sitting on the north and south side of the town.

Utica Lions Club secretary Jim Swanson said, We have a lot of people who like to give not just their money, but their service.

Swanson said they are go-getters, always looking for areas they can help out with in the community. They have 23 members involved this year, which is the highest number of members theyve had in the last 20 years.

Some of us are getting to that exhausted rooster stage, so we need the younger generation to step up and get involved, said Swanson. We are having a hard time with recruiting new members.

Rut and Swanson were both members of the club when it was first founded. Swanson received the Melvin James Fellowship award for his exemplary service to the club. According to lionsclub.org, The Fellowship Award is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism.

Swanson said, If you like to serve and have fun, join us. We are always looking for new ideas and ways to serve.
Man gets 55 years in prison for child pornography

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Perry County man was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being convicted in February of possessing and reproducing child pornography. The case is part of the Attorney Generals ongoing work to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online.

Attorney General Raouls office prosecuted Timothy E. Hedrick, 42, of Cutler, Illinois, who was convicted by a Perry County jury of three counts of reproduction of child pornography, Class X felonies, and five counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies. Perry County Circuit Judge James Campanella sentenced Hedrick.

This sentence will protect other children from being exploited by this predator, Raoul said. My office, through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, is committed to working with local law enforcement to track down and hold accountable individuals who perpetuate these horrible crimes.

Raouls office charged Hedrick after investigators from the Attorney Generals office, with the assistance of the Perry County Drug Task Force  comprised of the Perry County Sheriffs office and the Du Quoin and Pinckneyville police departments  conducted a 2021 search of a residence in Cutler. Hedrick was arrested after investigators discovered evidence of alleged child pornography depicting children under the age of 13.

Assistant Attorneys General Shanti Kulkarni and Vanessa Minson prosecuted the case for Raouls High Tech Crimes and Sexually Violent Persons Bureaus.

SIU to host hazardous chemical collection event

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Jackson County Health Department will host a one-day household hazardous waste collection event from 8 a.m.2:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, in the Banterra Center parking lot at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Pre-registration for the event is required at https://jchdonline.as.me/schedule.php.

One-day collections are open to all Illinois residents, who are allowed to use the event to dispose of chemical cleaners, oil-based paints, thinners, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides, and pesticides, old or outdated medication and similar hazardous household products. Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collections.

Some items will not be accepted. These include latex paints, explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, business waste and agricultural chemicals.

Additional information about the single-day collection is available by calling the Jackson County Health Department at 618- 684-3143.

 The Southern
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Jackson County Health Department will host a one-day household hazardous waste collection event from 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, in the Banterra Center parking lot at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Pre-registration for the event is required at https://jchdonline.as.me/schedule.php.

One-day collections are open to all Illinois residents, who are allowed to use the event to dispose of chemical cleaners, oil-based paints, thinners, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides, and pesticides, old or outdated medication and similar hazardous household products. Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collections.

Some items will not be accepted. These include latex paints, explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, business waste and agricultural chemicals.

Additional information about the single-day collection is available by calling the Jackson County Health Department at (618) 684-3143.

 The Southern
In April 2017, a top staffer in then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigans office was looking to leave his job after a combined nearly 18 years working for the speakers office and as his political director.
FLORENCE  While many US ports struggled with supply chain problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Carolina ports  specifically the Port of Charleston  seized the opportunity to improve.

The Port of Charleston jumped from the ninth to the eighth largest port in the country and knocked the Port of Oakland down one in doing so, said Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority.

Eighty percent of the nations imports come in through the nations top 10 ports.

Melvin was the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerces Outlook Luncheon keynote speaker Wednesday.

During the pandemic it was pretty obvious to everybody that things werent working well in the supply chain, Melvin said. We take great care making sure that we remained productive and while other ports struggled close to two years to get rid of the congestion we did it in five months and we did it because we partnered with everyone up and down the supply chain, selflessly, to make sure you got the goods you needed.

We all heard about the West Coast ports and we all saw that picture that looked like the Normandy invasion off the West Coast while there were more than 100 ships offshore waiting to be worked, she said.

Many shippers transited the Panama Canal to the Gulf Coast and East Coast ports to avoid that congestion.

Charleston grew the third fastest (of U.S. ports) during the last 10 years, Melvin said. Only Houston and Savannah grew more.

Our goal is to grow two times the national port market growth rate. We feel the Southeast affords us the opportunity.

The pandemic fueled some of that growth.

Volume in FY 22 was off the charts great, she said. When you guys couldnt buy anything on the service side of the economy, or experience a vacation or go out to dinner, you bought stuff. You bought a lot of stuff. You actually bought stuff you would have bought in 23 and were actually seeing that today.

As containers accumulated at the port, each shipper paid rent for each unloaded container, which played a role in driving 2022s great year, she said.

When people dump their boxes at the port instead of taking them inland, like they needed to be doing, we had to charge for that space. Thats not what we do, we move boxes, Melvin said.

While other ports only became more congested as the boxes stacked up, Charleston took advantage of the states inland ports to store the boxes.

The great news for us is we had built two inland ports, one right here in the Pee Dee, and we were able to send those boxes inland to a facility where we could ground the boxes and stack them. Thats one reason we got out of the congestion issues a lot of ports struggled to overcome.

Because of that buying surge in 2022, port traffic and port revenue are both projected to be down year over year in 2023, she said.

You would think that with volume being down, Id be a little depressed but, guess what, Im not, Melvin said. We are a long cycle business. One year, two years, a pandemic, an anomaly, none of that should throw you off your strategy when you talk infrastructure.

And, she said, infrastructure is what the state ports are all about.

We have deployed about $3 billion in capital over the last six years and have another $8 billion to go to build, she said.

Charlestons port has plans to implement barge transportation between terminals to keep trucks off the roads and will also build a multi-modal rail terminal to be served by both CSX and Norfolk-Southern railroads.

That rail service has attracted business that counts on the ports ability to move their cargo reliably to its final destination whether its in Virginia or the Midwest, she said.

The port also took steps to improve what many ports consider to be a utility into a competitive advantage  trailer chassis.

We have launched our own chassis pool. During the pandemic it became abundantly clear there were not enough chassis in the U.S. to move all the boxes, Melvin said

The port now has a $217 million pool of safe and with trailer chassis with radial tires, anti-lock breaks and led lights.

Charleston will also continue to pursue retail traffic to go with its manufacturing traffic, something it has succeeded at already with both Walmart and Target  the nations two largest retain importers  established at the port.

Melvin said the growth will only continue with already $5 billion in economic development announcements in the state this year and its only March.
Trinity United Methodist Church of Orangeburg will celebrate its 51st annual Womens Day at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 26.

Womens Day is presented each year by Trinitys United Women in Faith unit.

This years Womens Day theme is Mosaic of Faith: We Are All Part of Gods Story.

The themes purpose is to highlight our interconnectedness as children of God, each with unique gifts and talents and each beloved as an essential part of the body of Christ," Unit President Sylvia Robinson said.

Were all part of Gods story. When we know God, it enables us to know who we are and our story. We have a role in Gods story. The mosaic image symbolizes United Women in Faith's role in supporting one another as a faith community, she said.

United Women in Faith seeks to connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship and education so that they can inspire, influence and impact local and global communities.

The guest speaker for this years celebration is the Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson. She serves as the district superintendent and chief missional strategist of the Hartsville District of the South Carolina annual conference of the United Methodist Church.

She served for 22 years pastoring churches prior to becoming district superintendent.

Following the morning worship service, a celebratory dinner will be held for $12 per person. The public is invited to attend.
South Carolina State Universitys Dedicated Ladies Living Strong will present a Black Girls Lead event in the Student Centers Bulldog Lounge at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

This event is a professional forum that discusses the importance of knowing how to navigate a professional world as a Black woman, even when the world did not originally intend for us  as Black women  to be there, D.O.L.L.S. member Victoria Jordan said.

A group of panelists will speak at the event and share their wisdom on what it means to be a professional Black woman.

I believe that it is important for women to be present at this event, not only to celebrate our amazing students, but also to celebrate amazing Black women everywhere, especially in light of Women's History Month, Jordan said.

S.C. State First Lady Agatha Conyers will also be featured as a special guest and panelist speaker.

Female faculty, staff and students from the university are welcome to attend the event.

For more information on the Black Girls Lead event, contact Victoria Jordan at vjordan1@bulldogs.onmicrosoft.com.
Protests over French President Emmanuel Macron's contentious pension reforms have forced the postponement of King Charles' official visit to the country.

Both the Elysee Palace in France and Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom issued statements on Friday morning confirming the trip had been canceled.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were expected to visit France from Sunday to Wednesday, including Paris and Bordeaux in the southwest. As protests grew violent in certain regions, notably Bordeaux on Thursday, a decision to postpone the Royal visit was made, according to CNN.

The British King was scheduled to visit France before heading to Germany. According to a statement of the Elysee, King Charles France's visit "will be rescheduled as soon as possible."

Read Also: US Launches Airstrike in Syria In Response To Deadly Iran Drone Attack

According to a representative of the British government, the decision was reached "with the consent of all parties" after French President Emmanuel Macron requested that the visit be delayed, per NBC News.

The postponement of King Charles France visit would cause Macron great humiliation since he had anticipated the monarch's trip would be a turning point in the two nations' attempts to mend their strained ties following Brexit.

French Protests Intensifies

The French protests violence escalated as Macron's administration rammed through parliament unopposed a bill to increase the retirement age by two to 64.

At least two fast food businesses, a supermarket, and a bank were assaulted by gangs of people dressed in black and wearing masks in Paris. Street fights between police and these individuals diverted attention from the tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators, according to ABC.

Officers, who were being attacked with Molotov cocktails, other items, and pyrotechnics, charged many times and fired tear gas to clear away the demonstrators in the French protests.

Related Article: Emmanuel Macron Explains Controversial Retirement Age Reform

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After hearing from those opposed to a planned residential development near Elloree, Orangeburg County Council heard Monday from some who welcome the growth.

Councilman Johnny Ravenell, who lives near Elloree, said he believes the development will be good for the town.

It will be growth, he said. There will be more people involved. Elloree is like some of these other small towns. It is vanishing, they are dying. A lot of people want things to be as it was and stay like it is, but there is a lot of growth among us.

You have to look at growth very hard.  Smart growth means a lot," Ravenell said.

Builder D.R. Horton Inc. has asked to develop property near the town of Elloree at Tee Vee Road and Cleveland Street for single-family homes.

County Council tabled a decision on the proposed development earlier this month after hearing concerns from several property owners in the Canebrake Court community. The residents said theyre concerned about unsustainable growth for the town, the lack of proper infrastructure, increased traffic and the impact on wildlife.

None of those opposed to the development spoke at Monday's Orangeburg County Council meeting as the issue was not on the meetings agenda. The matter is expected to be on taken up during councils April 3 meeting.

According to conceptual plans submitted, the project would include the development of about 169 acres of land into a residential subdivision over the next eight to 15 years.

The plan would include about 332 houses with about half-acre lots.

Initially the plan was to build 332 homes on the 332-acre parcel. After hearing concerns from property owners, D.R. Horton pulled out 86 acres that would be adjacent to the Canebrake community. This will bring the total down to 246 acres.

When 59 acres of wetlands and 18 acres of a wetland buffer are taken into consideration, about 169 acres that can be developed. Of this 169 acres, about 25 are a pond.

The proposed development has been denied twice by the Orangeburg County Planning Commission and, if denied by County Council, the developer would not be able to submit another rezoning request for a year.

The Canebrake community was built in 1973 and consists of about 33 property owners.

Kristie Anderson, president of the Elloree Business Association, told County Council on Monday that Elloree has slowly continued to decline in merchants and residents over the last ten, twelve, fifteen, twenty years.

Anderson said some public statements made by those opposed to the project were not entirely accurate.

She noted the allegations that the Town of Elloree could not handle the water and sewer demand expected from the development are misleading. Some in opposition claim boil water alerts are common in the town.

The Elloree water system has reported this is all incorrect, Anderson said. Per the water system, all of the last three months boil water alerts were due to contractors in town doing infrastructure (broadband) that we desperately need.

Anderson also noted she has talked to three banks and none have an interest coming to the town. The town's only bank, South State Bank, closed in August of last year.

We don't have the population, or the deposits, or merchant deposits to make a bank worth coming to Elloree right now, she said. They are waiting on the population to grow.

Russell Anderson addressed traffic concerns, noting two bridges that were washed away from past flood events and which provide access to the town are going to reopen in the near future.

He noted the reopening will mean travelers through Elloree will have four different directions to go.

Technically, they won't all be going right past the Canebrake subdivision, he said. Anderson is in real estate and is renovating a historic building in Elloree to serve as a live theater venue.
Sydney Pumpkin Joseph, HIV Peer Animator/Treatment and Prevention Advocate, is concerned that we should be addressing the needs of HIV/AIDS persons and not fighting to score points.

A news item aired here in the latter part of 2022 about HIV/AIDS cases showing signs of an increase might have gone unnoticed by many, given that the time of year when the announcement was made would have been taken up with other matters.





But the "news did not escape the attention of Sydney Pumpkin Joseph, HIV Peer Animator/Treatment and Prevention Advocate employed by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.





Pumpkin will let you know, without prompting, that his task is primarily one to liaise with persons suffering from HIV/AIDS, to ensure, as he says, "that they adhere to their antiretroviral drug regimen.





The news of a spike in the number of HIV/AIDS cases did not surprise the Peer Animator, because, as he said during a visit to THE VINCENTIAN last Tuesday, March 23, he had noted that a number of infected persons had "laid off of their medicine.





He continued, he said, "to work with them as best as I could to get them back on the treatment.





But when he reflected further on the situation, he was led to believe that they just might have been cases where such persons have resorted to unsafe sex and therefore, could well be transmitting the virus.





He need to act, he said.





In normal circumstances it is already a trying exercise keeping in direct contact on a one-on-one basis with those he serves, so Pumpkin decided to bring as many of them as possible to a meeting, to address the non-adherence to the antiretroviral drug regimen and other issues related to the national HIV/AIDS situation.

The meeting, dubbed an Adherence Promotion Meeting, was held on March 15 in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Unit, National Family Planning Programme and the Public Health Department.

The meeting was held despite efforts to discourage persons from attending, Pumpkin told THE VINCENTIAN.





And to support his claim, he shared a post in a WhatsApp chat room from a leading person in Care Advocacy Reaching-out, Empowering (CARE) SVG group , threatening persons invited to the meeting with: Once you go to that meeting you will be removed from this chat and from CARE-SVG.





A subsequent posting indicated that CARE-SVG was aware of all those who attended the meeting.





CARE SVG Group offers counselling, testing services and other tangible support to persons infected with HIV/AIDS. It prides itself on being driven by the maxim, CARE SVG will make sure that no one living with HIV will ever be alone again.





"Of course, I am put out by the action of a group that should be concerned about the situation as I am, said the HIV peer Animator, adding that he was in possession of an updated list of persons who have not adhered to their medication, a list he prepared himself after one-on-one visits with persons on his routine visitation schedule.





"We have to be concerned about any movement in the HIV/AIDS situation. Our fight is to save the youth and we must get together rather than to look to score points for ourselves, Pumpkin suggested.





It looks like, as a result of the animation work, that some people have returned to compliance with their antiretroviral drug regimen.





"The struggle to prevent transmission continues regardless of those who would like to fight it down, were Pumpkins parting words.








Hundreds of public servants turned out to protest governments intention to appeal the court ruling in favour of dismissed public service workers.

Photo Credit: Donald De Riggs





It didnt take the Trade Unions representing the public servants  teachers, civil servants and police  who were victorious in their case against the government and its vaccination policy, to lead in a show of disgust with governments indicated intention to appeal the ruling.





Read into government intention to appeal the ruling was an understanding that the government was not prepared to honour or was going to engineer a protracted delay to honour the Court Order in favour of the dismissed workers.





In a joint press conference held on Friday 27th March, the SVG Teachers Union (SVGTU), the Public Service Union (PSU), and the Police Welfare Association (PWA) called out their members to a public protest the following Monday and Tuesday.





The workers heeded the call and a force estimated to be in the hundreds turned out on Monday, in front of the Financial Complex, which houses the Office of the Prime Minister, to register vocally and with appropriately labelled placards their disgust with the government, calling on it to respect the ruling of the Court and act accordingly.





The ruling, handed down some two years after the matter was first lodged in court, was delivered by Justice Esco Henry on Monday 13th March.





It, inter alia, deemed the Amendment to the Public Health Act and SR&0 No. 38 of 2020, cited as the Public Health Emergency (Declaration) Notice 2020, and SR&) 28 of 2021 "to be unconstitutional; found that the decision to deem the public servants to have resigned without giving them an opportunity to be heard was ultra vires, procedurally improper, and contrary to the rules of natural justice; and issued certiorari to quash the decisions of the Minister of Health, Commissioner of Police, the Public Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, ruling that the public servants never left their jobs.





The call on Monday from the protestors was for the government to retract its intentions to appeal the case and give the dismissed workers their due.





This was reinforced by Oswald Robinson, President of the Teachers Union, who called on the government to not follow through on appealing the ruling.





"We had ruled and said all that the government had done was unconstitutional, and we are here to show the world that we must stand up for fundamental rights and freedoms. We need to know how much the government spent on this case and how much it intends to spend on appealing. However, we are appealing to them once again to not follow through with their plans to appeal. Robinson said.





Withdraw and reinstate





While the protest on Monday focused on an appeal to government to desist from appealing Justice Henrys ruling, Tuesdays protest, mounted in front of the parliament building when Parliament was sitting, zeroed in on advocating for a reinstatement of all dismissed workers.





A number of persons from the public at large could be seen to have joined the protest on the second day.





And during the weekly opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) New Times programme on Nice Radio, its leader, Dr. Godwin Friday put his party squarely in support of the workers demands, and committed withdrawing any appeal and adhering to the Courts ruling, i.e. reinstating all dismissed workers with all benefits, "when it is elected.





However, in the face of mounting opposition to its pre-ruling action and post-ruling intended action, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves insisted, on the advice of governments legal team, that Justice Henrys judgement will be reversed on appeal.





This publication was unable to gather any reliable information with respect to the next step by the unions in their efforts to impress their agenda on government and the people.




Colin Liverpool (right) was among four Vincentians honoured by the Brooklyn-based Club St. Vincent in 2011. The others (from left) were Auton Frankie George, Grafton Breen Greaves and Crispin Friday.

Colin Liverpool, a well-known and sought-after Vincentian-born lawyer in private practice in Brooklyn, New York, died suddenly Saturday afternoon (Mar. 18, 2023) his younger brother, Kurt Liverpool, and close friend, Glenroy Gobells Phillips, respectively, confirmed. Colin Liverpool was 55.





Liverpool  a Kingstown, native, whose law office is listed on his website as located at 15 Ocean Ave., Suite 2C, Brooklyn, NY 11225  reportedly died at Brooklyn Hospital, downtown Brooklyn, where he was taken on Wednesday after reportedly suffering a massive heart attack.





Phillips, a Sion Hill native, confirmed Liverpools death in a text message to THE VINCENTIAN, and Kurt Liverpool posted this message on Facebook: " It is with a very heavy heart that I announce the passing of my big brother, Colin Liverpool.





"The family asks for love and support at this time, but also space to take in this sudden and major loss, Kurt Liverpool added. "We thank everyone in advance for your love and support and send our own to all of Colins friends and extended family.





"We will be in touch regarding final services and information and ask that the immediate family not be inundated with inquiries at this time, he continued.





Liverpool the lawyer

Colin Liverpools website states that he was "the principal at Liverpool Law Office P.C., a boutique law firm with concentrations in the areas of landlord/tenant, immigration, real estate, civil litigation, business formation, cannabis, data privacy and election law.





"Liverpool Law Office P.C. offers full-service immigration law advice to individuals on adjustment of status, naturalization, removal and consular processing, it says. "Liverpool Law Office P.C. represents landlords and tenants. This gives us a unique understanding of the issues and helps us to forge fair solutions.





Noteworthy among its outreach is that "the firm has assisted a number of not-for-profit organizations, including Vincy Day USA Inc. achieve IRS tax exempt status. In fact, Liverpool played a pivotal role in the formatives years of Vincy Day USA Picnic that had grown to be one of the largest gatherings of Vincentian outside of the homeland.





Liverpool Law Office P.C., also prides itself on the fact that every election candidate it has represented has secured a place on the ballot at the New York City board of elections.





"The firm is a leader in the emerging cannabis and data privacy practice areas, it says. "Liverpool Law Office P.C., we specialize in client-centric legal representation.





And of Liverpool, the website says he was a graduate of the City of New York (CUNY) College of Staten Island (1998), "B.Sc., physics and engineering science  dual major, and obtained his juris doctorate (law degree) from New York Law School (2008). He was licensed to practise law in New York since 2009. He was also licensed to practice law in Georgia from January 2022.





Reactions to Liverpools passing

Liverpools sudden death sent shock waves throughout the Vincentian and Caribbean communities in New York.





Ruby Wood, the Vincentian-born owner of the Brooklyn-based Square Deal Shippers and Movers, told THE VINCENTIAN that she was "deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Colin Liverpool.





"His loss is immeasurable but so is the imprint he left on the Vincentian Diaspora, she said. "He will be greatly missed. May the angels lead him into paradise and his soul rest in eternal peace. Sincerest condolences to his family.





Dr. Rosalind Rose October-Edun, a Guyanese-born performing artist in Queens, New York, expressed "condolences to the Vincentian community. My prayers of comfort are offered at this sad time.





Dr. Zulema Blair, the Jamaican-American chair of the Department of Public Administration at Brooklyns Medgar Evers College, City University of New York (CUNY), said she was "so heartbroken about this.





Erlene Williams-King, a prominent Vincentian gospel soloist and community worker in Brooklyn, said: "Just learnt of Colins passing. Shocked! Deepest condolences to his family.





Dr. Olga Husbands, a registered nurse in Brooklyn, said: "OMG (Oh, my God), this is really a sad day for me. May his soul RIP (rest in peace), and may God comfort his family, especially his daughter.





After Kurt Liverpools post on Facebook, New York State Senator Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative for the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn, wrote: "Im in shock. My condolences to your family.





Samantha Simmons also posted: "My condolences to you (Kurt) and the family. I couldnt sleep last night. I was so saddened by the news. We lost a great, loving caring person; someone as genuine as your brother. I would of (have) never taught I would ever hear hes gone, with tears in my eyes.
(TBTCO) - Cong ty CP Chung khoan SSI (ma Ck: SSI) vua cong bo bao cao tai chinh rieng quy I/2023. Trong quy au nam, lai truoc thue cua SSI a at 590 ty ong  cao nhat trong 4 quy gan ay va thuoc top au loi nhuan cua cac cong ty chung khoan. Hai mang ong gop lon nhat vao doanh thu cua SSI la dich vu chung khoan va au tu voi ty le 42,4% va 46,6% trong tong doanh thu.
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China's "mountain city" Chongqing impresses diplomats with overseas transportation network

Xinhua) 09:52, March 24, 2023

CHONGQING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- On Tuesday, a China-Europe freight train loaded with automobiles and electronic products pulled away, slowly but imposingly, from Tuanjiecun Station, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, heading for Duisburg, Germany.

What made this train special were the people seeing it off.

Among them were 26 diplomatic envoys, 13 of whom are ambassadors, from Portugal, Albania, Laos, Nigeria and other European, African and Asian countries, watching this train fade out of their sights.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had invited them to visit Chongqing Municipality from March 20 to March 22. Dubbed China's "mountain city," Chongqing impressed these guests a lot with advanced manufacturing, transportation logistics and also in other respects.

"It's written in the book, so we know it, but seeing it with our own eyes is still very interesting," said Duarte Pinto Da Rocha, minister-counselor of the Embassy of Portugal in China.

Considering the fact that we were presented with a region that is basically landlocked, it was most interesting to see the city's development plan so well connected to the world, such as its international flight and rail networks, he added.

In 2022, more than 5,000 China-Europe freight trains left Chongqing and Chengdu, the capital of the neighboring Sichuan Province, for various destinations.

The number of China-Europe freight trains handled by the two cities has topped 22,000 since they launched the service in March 2011 and April 2013, respectively, accounting for 30 percent of that of the whole country.

Besides this westward channel to Europe, Chongqing also boasts southward channels linking the inland city with Southeast Asia, namely the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and China-Laos Railway.

The latter kicked off operations in December 2021, with Chongqing among the first batch of cities that launched the China-Laos international freight train service. On the first day of 2023, Chongqing sent a batch of locally-produced NEVs to ASEAN countries via this channel.

Khouanchay Iemsouthi, counselor at the Embassy of Lao PDR in China, keenly recognized the importance of the China-Laos Railway, emphasizing that the railway not only contributes to Laos' economy but also benefits other ASEAN countries.

"Since its operation, there have been so many achievements that were once beyond our imagination," said Khouanchay. "Now most products shipped by ASEAN countries are agricultural products, but more goods are expected to be shipped via this way."

By the time the China-Laos Railway marked its first anniversary, it had carried a total of around 11.2 million tonnes of goods and transported 8.5 million passengers, with cargo categories expanding to more than 1,200.

Moreover, Chongqing has developed a northward Chongqing-Manzhouli-Russia International Railway Logistics Channel, an eastward channel via the Yangtze River Golden Waterway and the International Aviation Network, contributing to Chongqing's major channel options for going overseas. These channels reach more than 300 cities in over 100 countries and regions across the world.

Selim Belortaja, Albanian ambassador to China, praised the interconnectivity of the municipality. "The interconnectivity of Chongqing in all directions including west, east, north and south, offers many options and opportunities for concrete projects of cooperation. It is also a center of manufacturing having industries involving cars, motorbikes, electronics, and so on, which are very inviting sectors for us to cooperate."

"Chongqing is so impressive. It is true what we heard before our visit. Chongqing certainly is a pearl of China in many aspects," Belortaja said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Former US President Donald Trump warned in the early hours of Friday of "potential death & destruction" if the Manhattan district attorney decides to prosecute him.

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 1 a.m. on Friday: "What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country?," The Hill reported.

The Republican leader added, "Only a degenerate psychopath that truly hates the USA!"

The New York grand jury is finalizing its tasks in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's probe into whether the ex-POTUS unlawfully paid a porn actress to stay silent about their alleged romance and if the payment constituted a violation of election finance laws. Consequently, he has become more agitated on social media about the possible Donald Trump indictment.

Read Also: Should US Ban TikTok Nationwide?

Biden Administration Closely Monitors Possible Donald Trump Indictment Effect

Last Saturday, Donald Trump called for demonstrations and claimed that he would be arrested on Tuesday. However, the New York grand jury convened Thursday without examining the Donald Trump case, and the predicted Donald Trump arrest did not happen, according to US News.

One senior official of the Biden administration said the prospective Donald Trump indictment is something that top administration officials at the Department of Homeland Security are monitoring "closely."

The official noted that nothing is "credible and specific" or "actionable" as there are constant elements that surface that will lead individuals to pay interest and potentially raise alarm, per ABC News.

Related Article: US, Canada Finalize Deal Against Illegal Immigrants

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Wyoming will receive another $25.9 million from the federal Abandoned Mine Land program to support ongoing cleanup efforts, the Interior Department announced Thursday.

The latest round of funding is Wyomings share of the fee paid by coal producers and redistributed among mining states and tribes. It comes just under two months after the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement gave the state $9.6 million toward mine land reclamation, authorized by the 2021 infrastructure law.

Federal officials plan to dole out $126.5 million to 24 states and two tribes in the current round of funding, the agency said. The largest share will go to Wyoming, followed by Pennsylvania, with $21.8 million, and West Virginia, with $15.6 million.

In total, the Abandoned Mine Land program has granted roughly $8 billion to states and tribes since it began in 1977.

This years grants will continue to ensure our state and Tribal partners have the resources needed to continue their decades of successful reclamation work on our nations abandoned mine land sites, Glenda Owens, the agencys deputy director, said in a statement.

Congress has modified the Abandoned Mine Land program several times over its nearly 50-year life. Most recently, in the Infrastructure Law, Congress lowered the fee on coal mines, which has historically been used to fund reclamation, and injected an additional $11.3 billion into the program to be given to states over 15 years.

Before the start of the Abandoned Mine Land program, many more mines were opened and then deserted in Eastern states, like Pennsylvania and West Virginia, compared with Wyoming. As a result, those states will be given the bulk of the extra infrastructure law funding.

But because mines in Wyoming, the countrys top coal supplier, pay more into the program than any other state, a significant share of the 22.4-cent-per-ton surface mining fee is returned to Wyoming.

(Underground mines are typically charged 9.6 cents per ton for non-lignite coal and 6.4 cents per ton for lignite. Prior to the infrastructure laws passage, surface mines paid 28 cents per ton.)

Wyoming received almost $33 million from the Abandoned Mine Land program between July 2021 and June 2022, according to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

The state agency  which has been delegated the authority to use some program funds for non-coal projects  said it spent the money remediating over 63 acres of sinking mine lands, reducing almost a quarter-mile of exposed overburden and closing a half-acre of open pit, among other measures.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies searched a home on the east side of Casper on Tuesday, but did not reveal details about the nature of their investigation.
MISSOULA, Mont.  Nathan McLeod keeps having flashbacks of watching helplessly as his 4-year-old son Sawyer slipped through his hands and fell off a mangled, malfunctioning chairlift after it smashed into a tower and broke last Sunday at Montana Snowbowl, the ski hill just north of Missoula.

This is a parents worst nightmare, McLeod recalled. Im just watching him fall and hes looking at me. Theres nothing I can do and hes screaming. I just have this mental image of his whole body slipping out of my arms and its terrible.

McLeod, a Missoula resident, was riding the Snow Park chairlift, which was purchased used from a Colorado ski resort and installed in 2019. The chairlift accesses beginner and intermediate terrain, and McLeod was riding on the outside seat of the lift so that his young son could be helped up on the inside by the lift attendant, who was the only person working at the bottom of the lift. McLeods other 6-year-old son, Cassidy, was riding a chair ahead with a snowboarder. McLeod recalled the lift operator had a little trouble loading his older son, so the chair was swinging. Then he and his younger son got loaded.

Were going and Im watching Cassidys chair in front of me and its just, like, huge violent swings and in my mind, I dont know what to do about that, because Im a chair behind him, McLeod recalled. Im worried hes gonna hit that next tower. And its like 40 feet off the ground at that point. As thats going through my head, all of a sudden, our chair smashes into the tower, the first one, as it starts going up.

He described the impact as super strong.

And just like that, I reach for my son and he just slips from my arms, McLeod said.

He estimates the boy fell 12-15 feet to the snow below, which at least one other witness agreed with.

Im yelling like someone help us and the lift stops a few seconds later, he said. But at the same time, as Sawyer is falling, the lift chair just breaks apart and it just flips backwards. Like the backrest just falls off the back and so Im like clinging on to the center bar while the chair is swinging. My son is screaming and I dont know what to do. Im like, do I jump right now?.

He watched the lift attendant come up and give Sawyer a hug.

Its still unknown if hes hurt or not, McLeod recalled. Theres zero communication with me at this point. She starts walking back down to the lift terminal with my son and I still dont know if hes OK or not. Apparently he can walk so thats good.

So I shouted for someone in the lift line to get her attention and Im like so whats your plan?. She kind of looks at me and she says Oh, Ill just load him in the next chair. And then at that point she looks up and sees me and sees that the chairs just mangled.

After sitting for a second, McLeod takes his skis off and lowers himself down and jumps off the chair. Hes 63, and he estimates that with his arms stretched above his head his body stretches to a little over 8 feet. A photo taken from a witness shows several, or more than several, feet of space between his boots and the snow below as he hangs off the chair with his full body extended.

First thing I do is run up to my son and give him a hug, McLeod said. And then the attendant is just like watch out, were gonna start the lift again. Not a single person looks at the chair. You dont walk up to make sure the cable isnt mangled? I would assume they would want to like, check it out? She just starts loading the next people in line. Im just shaking because theres so much adrenaline. And somebody makes an offhand comment like yeah, thats Snowbowl ha ha.

Thats when McLeod lost it.

I was like Hell no. We have to stop making excuses for this place, he said. We are so lucky that Sawyer didnt just die and like someone is going to get seriously hurt if something isnt done. We cant have this attitude of like ha, this is funny, like Snowbowls a sh** show. You cant do that.

McLeod said some people seemed to agree with him, but then everyone just gets back on the lift, as its the only way back down to the lodge and parking lot. McLeods older son is still sitting on the chairlift wondering whats going on. As McLeod rides up, he sees the broken chair pass him by with some pink flagging on it. He finally gets to the top to meet his other son.

And Ski Patrol is standing up there drinking a Red Bull talking to somebody, McLeod said. They do not address me, they dont look at me, they dont address Sawyer, not a single person who works at Snowbowl talks to us or addresses us or really makes any acknowledgment happen. Were standing there for at least 10 minutes.

McLeod notes that Snowbowl has had to shut down lifts this year due to power outages and that many people had to hike out from the bottom of LaValle Lift on at least one occasion this year. On New Years Day in 2020, a chair was ripped off the haul rope of LaValle Lift after it unloaded skiers on the top. The lift had to be closed for repairs for three weeks.

What other chairs are deficient and just getting painted over, who knows? McLeod said. My worry is we got extremely lucky. If conditions had been different, Sawyer could have been killed. If nothing changes, is someone going to die?

He was unsatisfied with the response he got at the lodge. The Morris family of Missoula owns and operates Snowbowl, and McLeod said he talked to both Brad Morris and his son Andy Morris.

Andy showed up and I went through the whole thing with him, and all he could really say was that isnt our protocol, if they had a bad load, they should have stopped the lift, McLeod recalled. And I said, what about the fact that ski patrol never checked on us? What about that they didnt look at the lift and just started loading again and running it? But he really had nothing. He had no idea. No one had called down to the owners or anyone else to let them know.

Overall, McLeod said hes extremely frustrated at the lackluster response to what he believes could have been a deadly situation.

Investigation promised

In a phone call with the Missoulian on Thursday, Andy Morris said that the engineer who designed the Snow Park lift inspected it.

There was an unbalanced load that caused the lift to swing, he said. One chair started swinging and then the next chair  the one the father and son were on  didnt get loaded correctly. If youre delaying the chair, it pushes back and causes it to swing. And the chair struck the tower and caused the back portion of the chair to bend back.

Morris said that lifties (lift operators) are trained to respond to problems with the lift, but he wasnt sure what happened with this incident and hadnt spoken to the person involved. Morris also had no explanation for why the chair would fall apart after hitting a portion of the tower.

Were committed to making sure the lifts are safe, Morris said.

Anyone who has ridden Snow Park chair since it opens knows that the chair often swings violently after it loads and the chairs often bang into one of the first few towers on the way up.

Morris acknowledged that swaying is something that occurs on the lift.

Its a Riblet lift, and our engineer said Riblet chairs are light and they get to swaying pretty badly when they misload or something causes them to get going, he said.

He said that the lift is inspected on a cycle thats required by Snowbowls insurance provider and the Lolo National Forest, which leases land to Snowbowl. Morris was not able to confirm the exact date the last time the Snow Park lift was inspected for safety.

Snowbowl operates on Lolo National Forest land under a special use permit.

Lolo National Forest Supervisor Carolyn Upton said on Thursday that her agency asked that the Snow Park lift be shut down until an investigation and inspection is completed and that request was granted by the ski area.

Public safety has to be, and is, our top priority and concern, Upton said. There are lots of activities and businesses under permits on National Forest land, and Snowbowl is an important partner and one of our permittees. When we have something happen our first concern is public safety and then were going to look at the permit and what gets triggered.

Upton said the Forest Service would have an expert examine the lift as soon as possible and that an investigation will be conducted. She also said she was aware of the incident just a few hours after it happened.

On Thursday evening, Morris said he and Snowbowls management had met with Lolo National Forest officials and the engineer. Morris said a minor change in one of the towers was completed on Thursday.

The chair that struck the tower, chairs are normally supposed to hit the halo, Morris said. This one was swinging so badly it caused it to hit a different portion of the tower. The guy that engineered it came and looked and we think the change they agreed to will fix the problem.

When asked if hes confident that the chair will not malfunction again, even if an adult and a child load the same way as McLeod and his son in the future, Morris said thats what Snowbowl is expecting.

If the Forest Service signs off on it, the lift may be open as soon as this weekend. As of Thursday evening, the Forest Service had not acknowledged the review.

Chairlift safety

McLeod said Brad Morris gave him one adult lift ticket and two child tickets after the incident. A ski patroller had him fill out an incident report and shined a flashlight in Sawyers eyes.

And were walking out the parking lot and Andy runs up and he was receptive, McLeod said. He listened. He didnt try to make excuses, which I appreciated, but at the same time this is just something that shouldnt have happened and were so lucky were not hurt. But the response just wasnt there.

A man who witnessed the accident, Corey Stickle, estimated that McLeods son fell between 12-15 feet.

It was kind of terrifying, Stickle said. Its a toddler falling from a f-ing lift, man. Thats the scariest thing you can see. The liftie did a good job. She kept her cool. It was the chair that was set up by Snowbowl that failed.

Stickle said riding up the chairlift after the accident was not easy.

I mean, it was a little scary, he said. We got stopped while they were taking a check of the chair that fell. I was just holding onto the bar for dear life the whole time.

McLeod said he thinks it was fortunate that the afternoon snow was soft, because if the accident had happened in the morning it might have been a different story.

I just think there needs to be an investigation into the safety of that mountain, McLeod said. Because what my fear is that if something isnt done, someones gonna die. And thats going to be the catalyst to make something happen. And it should never come to that. So maybe this is an opportunity to enforce Snowbowl and change their management practices. Because I would say clearly, theyre not taking safety seriously.

McLeod said Snowbowl is an important community asset and that a lot of families and young kids assume that theyre safe on the chairlifts.

I just want Snowbowl to be successful and safe, he said.

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Abortion is legal again in Wyoming after a Teton County judge Wednesday temporarily blocked a new ban on the procedure while a new legal challenge winds through the courts.

Wyomingites voted into law that they have a fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, and by doing so, they also agreed that the state can put necessary and reasonable restrictions on that, as long as theres no undue government infringement upon those rights, Teton County Judge Melissa Owens said.

The Legislature declaring that abortion is not health care takes away from the duty of this court to decide constitutional questions of law, and that violates the separation of powers.

The Life is a Human Right Act took effect on midnight Saturday after Gov. Mark Gordon allowed it to become law without his signature. The legislation, sponsored by Cody Republican Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, attempted to speed the end of abortion in Wyoming by answering legal questions raised by a lawsuit challenging last years trigger ban.

The new ban aimed to restrict abortions except in cases of rape and incest, or if the mothers life is in danger. It also provided exemptions for some medical circumstances, such as if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. Unlike last years trigger ban, the Life is a Human Right Act requires cases of rape and incest to be reported to law enforcement before a legal abortion could be performed.

The ban also states that life begins at conception, and that abortion is not a form of health care  an assertion that counters what plaintiffs had argued in last years lawsuit based on a constitutional amendment that grants Wyomingites the right to make their own health care decisions.

Some lawmakers  including anti-abortion attorneys  had doubts about the bills constitutionality and its intention to interfere with ongoing litigation, arguing that it violated separation-of-powers principles in the U.S. Constitution. But sponsors of the Life is a Human Right Act said during debate on the bill that they were confident the new legislation wouldnt be blocked under legal scrutiny. Rodriguez-Williams went as far as to accuse lawmakers who brought up concerns about the bills constitutionality for fear mongering.

Ive heard the word unconstitutional thrown around so frequently this session, it baffles me, she said at a committee meeting in early February. And honestly, I think it is being thrown around to fear monger. And the people of Wyoming are tired of being fear mongered.

Owens comments at the end of the hearing went straight to those concerns in the legislation lawmakers had mulled over during the session.

To declare that abortion is not health care when there may be evidence that it is...The Legislature cannot make an end run around essentially providing a constitutional amendment, Owens said, adding that the court needs to further inquire if abortion is health care and if the law is a reasonable and necessary restriction on peoples right to make their own health care decisions.

The state cannot legislate away a constitutional right, she said.

Even before Gordon had announced Friday evening his intention to allow the legislation to become law, the same plaintiffs that brought the legal battle against last years abortion trigger ban pre-emptively filed another lawsuit in Teton County to challenge the Life is a Human Right Act.

When women are pregnant between conception and childbirth, they are not equal to men, John Robinson, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, said on Wednesday of the laws implications.

They are merely vessels carrying fetuses, and their rights to equal protection, to health care, religion, and numerous other unenumerated rights, and some enumerated rights, are implicated by that choice by the Wyoming Legislature.

The lawsuit was amended on Tuesday to include a challenge to Senate File 109  legislation banning medication abortions that Gordon signed into law on Friday. Wyoming was the first state in the U.S. to ban medication abortions. That law goes into effect in July.

Rodriguez-Williams, House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Chip Neiman, Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Wyoming Right to Life filed a request by email late Wednesday morning to contribute an amicus brief, Owens said at the beginning of the hearing. The filing included statements from the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists arguing that elective abortions are not health care. Owens ultimately rejected the request.

Legal, religious questions

The plaintiffs challenging the new law, which include Wyoming abortion providers, an abortion fund and women of reproductive age, echo many of the same arguments they used against last years trigger ban. Those arguments include assertions that the law is unconstitutionally vague and that abortion is health care, despite the bans attempt to state that it isnt.

Robinson said, for instance, that the laws exception allowing abortions in cases where there is a substantial likelihood of death of the child within hours of the childs birth doesnt align with the reality that physicians face when dealing with these types of situations.

Its impossible for a physician to understand if a child, before the child is born, is going to survive for hours or days or weeks or months. So that doesnt work, he said.

Robinson later described the vague nature of the laws exceptions as a feature, not a bug.

It is intended to be difficult to interpret so people are discouraged  professionals, hospitals  are discouraged from offering any type of service that might land them in the jail cell, he said.

The lawsuit also challenges new provisions of the ban such as the reporting requirements for cases of rape and incest, which it describes as a harassing procedural hurdle, and the laws assertion that life begins at conception  a concept which plaintiffs argue is distinct to certain Christian denominations... and an indication that the ban imposes a sectarian religious view on all Wyoming citizens...

The viewpoint is not only distinct to certain religions. It is a distinctly religious viewpoint, Marci Bramlet, another lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said. There is no scientific support for this viewpoint, and to attempt to define or determine fetal personhood is nothing more than impermissible theocratic-based policymaking.

The new lawsuit includes statements from people who arent among the litigants, including Texas Ob-Gyn Ghazaleh Kinney Moayedi, who described how exception language in Texas similar to that in the Life is a Human Right Act has impacted patients in that state, including one with severe heart failure who was denied life-saving abortion care because she was not actively dying at the moment...

Health care?

Much of the discussion during the hearing focused on how the new law could impact access to health care. Robinson asserted that the ban would have [resulted] in health care being delayed and denied by health care providers to patients, and even that there would have been more health care delayed and more health care denied under the Life is a Human Right Act than under the previous trigger ban.

Historian Gillian Frank, who studies 20th century religion and reproductive politics in the U.S., also contributed a statement reinforcing plaintiffs argument that the ban reflects a particular religious view by asserting that life begins at conception.

These notions originated in 19th century Catholic doctrine and took on added force in the late 20th century as Evangelicals came to believe that personhood begins at conception, Frank says.

University of Wyoming law student Kathleen Dow, one of the plaintiffs and a practicing Jew, argues that the ban infringes on her freedom of religion because Jewish belief doesnt agree that life begins at conception.

States defense

Assistant Attorney General Jay Jerde, who is representing defendants in the lawsuit, rebuffed these assertions.

Theres so many religions and so many beliefs, from time to time, laws that are duly enacted are going to bump up against what some people believe under their religion, and youve got to show more than just a coincidental overlap, he said.

Jerde also argued that Moayedi and Franks statements shouldnt be considered in assessing possible injury to plaintiffs because they dont speak specifically to the injuries plaintiffs would experience if a block on the ban wasnt granted.

What we have here are two declarations that are throwing a bunch of information out there thats kind of in the broad general topic of what were talking about, Jerde said.

The information has absolutely no legal relevance to anything were talking about here today, and its a mystery to me why the opinion of these two people would be relevant as context anyway.

But because Texas has a similar statutory situation as Wyoming, including two separate provisions addressing abortion in general and one that specifically deals with medication abortions, Bramlet countered that Moayedis statement sheds light on the likely harm that may be experienced by women in Wyoming.

Owens ultimately said that for the purposes of the hearing she didnt consider it necessary to consider Moayedi and Franks statements.

Like the plaintiffs, the state also brought many of the same arguments from last years lawsuit to the table, asserting that the new abortion ban reaffirms the long-standing public policy on abortion that the State of Wyoming has followed for a century before Roe, and that plaintiffs havent made a clear showing that they are likely to succeed on their claims that the law violates the Wyoming Constitution. Jerde argued during the hearing that plaintiffs lean really, really hard on the preliminary injunction order from the last lawsuit that blocked enforcement of the trigger ban, but that they have the same burden of proof to demonstrate the legal issues of the Life is a Human Right Act.

Defendants also claim that the Life is a Human Right Act doesnt violate article 1 section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution  the amendment that guarantees peoples right to make their own health care decisions  because the Wyoming Legislature has declared that abortion is not health care...

(The state constitution gives the Legislature authority to determine reasonable and necessary restrictions on the rights granted in article 1, section 38 to protect the health and general welfare of the people...)

If someone is diagnosed with a medical condition that can be treated with marijuana, under the plaintiffs interpretation of article 1, section 38, they would be free to possess and consume marijuana, regardless of the state laws that prohibit and criminalize it, Jerde said. They would have a constitutional right to do that, and that just makes no sense whatsoever.

He said further that plaintiffs have not explained how having an abortion either maintains or restores the health of a pregnant woman.

Shortly after the hearing concluded, the far-right Wyoming Freedom Caucus posted a tweet taking aim at Owens.

Forum shopping and judicial activism have resulted in the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the law, a statement attached to the tweet said.

Gordon appointed Owens to her judgeship before the Life is a Human Right Act or last years trigger ban became law. The governor appoints all state judges.

This story has been updated.

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
For the second time, a Teton County judge has temporarily blocked a Wyoming abortion ban.

For the second time, abortion providers and advocates are lauding the decision.

Ninth District Court Judge Melissa Owens issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday afternoon stopping the enforcement of Wyomings latest abortion ban after a group of health care providers, Wyoming women and a Lander-based abortion fund sued the state and Gov. Mark Gordon over the Life is a Human Right Act and another bill that outlawed medication abortion in the state.

In a statement, Julie Burkhart, the president of Wellspring Health Access, an abortion and reproductive health care provider, praised Owens decision.

We are relieved and delighted that abortion will remain legal in Wyoming, Burkhart said. Regardless of how anti-choice legislators try to spin it, abortion is health care and Wyomingites have a constitutional right to that care. Every day that abortion is legal in Wyoming is a victory for patients, families and communities.

Wellspring Health Access is preparing to open an abortion clinic in Casper next month, which will make it the second abortion provider in the state.

Owens block of the ban while the lawsuit winds its way through the courts once again makes abortion legal up until fetal viability in Wyoming, paving the way for the groups clinic to open up as planned.

With todays order from Judge Melissa Owens, we can move ahead with our plans and finally begin to serve those who need abortion care in Wyoming, Burkhart said in a statement.

For Dr. Giovannina Anthony, a medical provider at the Womens Health and Family Care clinic in Jackson, the only abortion provider currently open Wyoming, the decision was encouraging.

Its a huge wave of relief and gratitude to our legal team for making compelling constitutional arguments, Anthony, who is one of those suing the state, said.

On Monday, Anthony told the Star-Tribune that Womens Health and Family Care had to cancel the appointments of six women while abortion was outlawed earlier this week.

John Robinson, an attorney representing the group suing the state, said during Wednesdays hearing that the clinic also had to turn away another prospective client who was seeking care. However, with the possibility that the emergency hearing could once again make abortion legal in Wyoming, Anthony said Monday that she was keeping her schedule open and some patients were choosing to hold their appointments after Wednesday.

Following Owens decision, Anthony returned to the Womens Health and Family Care clinic where she and staff called the patients whose appointments were cancelled.

That was incredible, she said.

Though the short-lived ban on abortion has complicated scheduling, Anthony said the women were relieved.

Most of these women will drop everything to take advantage of the rights being restored, she said.

While those who support abortion celebrated, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus blasted Owens decision.

The group of hard-line conservative lawmakers issued a statement shortly after the decision condemning the legal challenge and the suspension of the ban.

The U.S. Supreme Court correctly declared last summer that there is no constitutional right to an abortion, the statement said. While unsurprising, it was disturbing to hear plaintiffs argue that pregnant people possess a fundamental right to murder preborn children.

The group said Owens order resulted from forum shopping and judicial activism.

Both those for and against abortion vowed to continue their efforts in Wyoming.

Another abortion ban and legal battle

Gov. Mark Gordon let the Life is a Human Right Act pass without his signature last week and Wyomings most recent abortion ban went into effect on midnight Saturday. The ban broadly prohibits abortion except in a few circumstances, including if the mothers life is in danger, reported cases of rape and incest, and certain medical circumstances, such as fatal fetal anomalies.

Abortion bill clears Legislature, but several parts removed along the way The "Life is a Human Right Act" will head to the governor, but not without significant changes.

Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, and number of other lawmakers sponsored the bill, which repealed the states trigger ban that passed last year but has been caught up in the courts.

Rodriguez-Williams and other advocates for the Life is a Human Right Act expressed confidence during the legislative session that the new abortion ban was stronger and would address the questions that tied up the previous trigger ban, in turn outlawing abortion faster.

The Life is a Human Right Act states that abortion is not health care and asserts that the Wyoming Legislature can interpret the states constitution, a power that legal experts have said rests with the judicial branch.

Assistant Attorney General Jay Jerde, who was representing the state and governor at the hearing, reiterated those arguments.

But as they did last year, Anthony and other providers, Wyoming residents and Chelseas Fund challenged the Life is a Human Right Act and a ban on medication abortion, arguing that the restrictions impose a particular religious view on the states residents and violate the Wyoming Constitution.

The Wyoming Constitution was amended in 2012 to guarantee the right of each person to make their own health care decisions in response to former President Barack Obamas signature Affordable Care Act.

Owens also temporarily blocked an abortion trigger ban in July hours after it went into effect, and abortion has remained legal in Wyoming until the Life is a Human Right made abortion illegal Saturday at midnight.

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
JACKSON  As bears begin to show up in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Grand Teton National Park is expecting Grizzly 399, the famous, 27-year-old ursine matriarch, to once again emerge from her den this spring.

We have no reason to believe that she wont, said Justin Schwabedissen, Grand Tetons bear management specialist.

Schwabedissen spoke with the Jackson Hole Daily on Thursday, one day after a park visitor reported Grand Tetons first grizzly sighting of 2023. Yellowstone announced its first grizzly sighting just over a week ago.

After separating from her four offspring last spring, 399 and a male grizzly were seen exhibiting courting behavior, Schwabedissen said. The big question this year is whether 399 will emerge, again, with cubs.

Its certainly a possibility, he said.

Grizzly 399 is likely the most famous grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, if not the world.

She made a name for herself raising offspring along roads in Grand Teton, behavior that biologists think may help protect cubs from being killed by older, territorial male bears. In doing so, she has attracted throngs of visitors and an international spotlight, particularly after emerging in 2020 with four cubs. That was her largest known litter, and one that she spent two years raising at the upper end of a grizzlys typical 30-or-so-year lifespan.

After kicking off her cubs, 399 made herself scarce last year, leaving some of her most ardent followers wondering where she went.

I looked really hard for a couple of weeks in October, November and December and I never saw any bear tracks around Pilgrim Creek, said Tom Mangelsen, a Jackson photographer who has made a living following 399 and her brood. I started worrying about whether she ever went back there, which she always has.

Mangelsen said he last saw 399 in mid-September of 2022.

I felt she was quite healthy, he said. If she did actually go to den, shell probably have two or three cubs.

Schwabedissen also said the last confirmed sighting of 399 was in mid-September of last year. He said there were more reported sightings afterwards that were likely to be her.

Without a GPS collar, 399s exact whereabouts are unknown.

However, we fully expect that she is denned up, Schwabedissen said.

While 399 is at the upper end of a grizzly bears lifespan, her body condition did look good last fall, he said.

The bear biologist said the bruin spotted Wednesday in Grand Teton National Park was likely not one of the parks celebrity bears, typically females like 399 who have raised cubs along the road. Reported by a visitor who knows bear species well, the bear was likely a male grizzly of unknown age, Schwabedissen said.

Park officials were, however, unable to get eyes on the bear before it disappeared.

Males typically emerge from the den first in mid-March, followed by females without cubs in April, and females with dependent young in mid-April and early May.

In 2020, when 399 first emerged with four cubs, she left the den on May 18. Last year, with four subadults in tow, she popped out on Easter Sunday.

In general, Schwabedissen said Wednesdays sighting of the first grizzly in the park is later than usual.

But, he said, thats expected, given the heavy snow that has fallen on the Tetons in the past few months.

Photos: Grizzly bears roam Yellowstone National Park Grizzly cubs near Fishing Bridge Grizzly bears take turns eating a bison carcass Grizzly bear walks along the edge of Blacktail Ponds Grizzly sow nursing cubs near Fishing Bridge Grizzly bear tracks on snow near Pelican Creek Grizzly sow with three cubs on carcass at Alum Creek A grizzly bear walks in a grassy meadow Grizzly bear on a buried bison carcass at Blacktail Pond Collared grizzly bear #211 in Lamar Valley Grizzly bear on bison carcass in the Yellowstone River Grizzly bear seen through a spotting scope across the river from Mud Volcano Grizzly bear walking away from bison carcass in the Yellowstone River Grizzly bear on bison carcass in Yellowstone River; Grizzly sow and cub Grizzly bear on bison carcass in the Yellowstone River; Grizzly cub with sow near Fishing Bridge Grizzly on a bison carcass in the Yellowstone River Grizzly Sow and Yearling on Boardwalk in Upper Geyser Basin Grizzly bear feeds on bison carcass in the Yellowstone River Grizzly bear on road on Swan Lake Flat Grizzly near Swan Lake Grizzly sow and cub near Fishing Bridge Grizzly bear in Hayden Valley Grizzly sow and cub Grizzly cub with sow near Fishing Bridge; Two grizzly bears and wolf near bison carcass in Lamar River Grizzly sow and cubs near Fishing Bridge Grizzly cubs near Fishing Bridge Grizzly bear near Canyon Grizzly sow and cub crossing road nead Madison Jct. Grizzly sow and cubs near Fishing Bridge Grizzly Sow and Yearling Near Daisy Geyser Grizzly Sow and Yearling on Boardwalk at Daisy Geyser Grizzly sow and yearling near Daisy geyser Grizzly Sow and Yearling on boardwalk in Upper Geyser Basin Grizzly bear in Hayden Valley Grizzly bear walking north of the road near Sedge Bay Grizzly cubs Grizzly bear on bison carcass near Yellowstone Lake
Former President Donald Trump has said he expects to be indicted by a Manhattan grand jury any day now. Although widely anticipated, there is no certainty that he will be indicted by grand jurors in New York or, for that matter, by citizens serving on grand juries in Washington or Atlanta, led by prosecutors examining, respectively, his potential obstruction of justice of a federal investigation involving the Mar-a-Lago Papers or his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.

Trumps supporters in Congress and those scattered across the country decry the investigations as witch hunts and acts of political persecution. Many others, however, rightly support them as critical to the defense of the rule of law.

Whether Trump is indicted in any of these cases should turn on a simple question: Is there probable cause to believe that he committed the crimes for which he is charged? There are no grounds, in history or law, to suggest that a former president should be held to a standard different than that applied to all other citizens. In fact, there are no legal or historical grounds to suggest special standards for a sitting president.

In the Constitutional Convention, no delegate argued for a presidential privilege, which is hardly surprising given the drafters commitment to eliminating all vestiges of monarchical prerogatives. The royal prerogative, James Wilson observed, was irrelevant to the creation of a republican form of government. Wilson, second in importance to James Madison as an architect of the Constitution, summed up the views of his colleagues when he told the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention that not a single privilege is annexed to his [a presidents] character.

Doubts about presidential vulnerability to indictment are swept away by Article I, Section 3, Clause 6, which addresses the authority of the Senate to try all impeachments and provides that the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to law. That provision was inserted in the Constitution to avoid claims that a president, having been convicted by the Senate in an impeachment trial, is therefore immune from criminal prosecution by virtue of the protection against double jeopardy. The Senate trial is focused on the issue of removal from office and potential prohibition of further service on behalf of the United States. Failure by the Senate to impeach a president has no bearing on decisions made by criminal justice officials.

The Conventions rejection of presidential immunity from criminal indictment is confirmed by the fact that there is no language in the Constitution that affords it. The framers certainly knew how to confer immunity when they wanted to do it. The only provision for immunity from prosecution is that which is granted to Congress in Article I, section 6: The Senators and Representatives. . . shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same. Since the framers knew how to, and did, spell out immunity, the logical inference is that no immunity exists where none is mentioned.

Since a sitting president is not immune from indictment there is no reason to exalt the treatment of a former president. And, even if  speaking purely hypothetically  a sitting president were immune from indictment by virtue of the structure of the office and the attendant duties and responsibilities of the executive, those factors certainly do not apply to an ex-president.

Americans are divided on the desirability, wisdom and merits of indicting a former president. The question of a grand jury indictment of former President Trump should turn on the same evidentiary standards applied to other citizens. As Wilson told his colleagues in Pennsylvania, there is not a single privilege annexed to the character of a president and, by inference, an ex-president.

In their creation of the presidency, the framers sought to cut all connections to the Royal Prerogative of the English kingship. They institutionalized and constitutionally confined the executive power, which King James I declared was inherent in the king by virtue of his royalty and not his office. The American system was designed in part to overcome the personalization of executive power and the principle that the king was above the law. In their replacement of personal rule with the rule of law, the framers rejected the historical admiration of the executive and the claims of personal authority that at least since the Middle Ages, in one form or another, had conceived of executive rights as innate, that they were derived not from the office but, we could say, from the blood and bone of the man.

At the time of the Philadelphia Convention, executive power across the world was personal, not juridical. For their part, the framers tried to transform personal rule into a matter of law and to subordinate the executive to constitutional commands and prescriptions. In a word, they were intent on establishing the rule of law, which meant the president was subject to the same laws, in the same manner, as all other citizens. That principle applies to former presidents as well.
Classes in the LA Unified School System resume on Friday following the service workers' three-day strike, which shut down the country's second-largest school system.

Service Employees International Union Local 99 workers held a large protest in Los Angeles State Historic Park, but it did not produce a new agreement.

Furthermore, there was no indication that the contract dispute between the LAUSD workers union and the district was moving forward despite the efforts of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to mediate, according to ABC 7,

In a statement, the union noted that their "struggle was heard around the country. We will keep standing strong until LAUSD also values our work." The union went on to say that their strike resulted in renewed contract negotiations with Mayor Karen Bass' administration and that they had labored tirelessly to reach a compromise.

Read Also: Special Counsel Believes Donald Trump Misled His Laywers

LAUSD Workers Guaranteed To Get Fair Treatment

According to her office's public calendar, Mayor Bass plans to take part in district union talks to ensure that all LAUSD employees are treated equitably, per UPI.

On Wednesday, as the LAUSD workers union strike entered its second day, Karen Bass office has been working to revitalize negotiations.

On Tuesday, over 30,000 LAUSD workers walked off the job demanding a raise to what they term poverty salaries of about $25,000 per year. They were supported by 35,000 unionized teachers who upheld their picket line, Reuters reported.

The LAUSD workers strike was the most recent in a long line of protests by teachers in the United States over issues including burnout and poor pay that have contributed to a scarcity of qualified instructors in many areas.

Related Article: US Gen Zs, Millennials Vote on TikTok Ban

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Have you ever seen an ad or a billboard with this message on it?

Pregnant? Scared? We can help! Call 1-800-555-____.

Most messages like this come from crisis pregnancy centers (aka pregnancy resource centers according to the people who work there). I have a real problem with CPCs and I think Wyoming should also.

First, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, CPCs are facilities that represent themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics providing care for pregnant people but actually aim to dissuade people from accessing certain types of reproductive health care, including abortion care, and even contraceptive options. If you read the March 12 Star-Tribune article entitled Lawmakers define support for women differently, you learned there are 12 of these centers in Wyoming. Among them are True Care in Casper, and Serenity in Cody, whose director, Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, seems to be the group leader for much of the anti-abortion propaganda in the legislature, and who brought us HB152, the Life is a Human Right Act.

Next, CPCs use deceptive practices and also lack patient-centered care. As the AMA Journal of Ethics points out, they present themselves as offering clinical services and unbiased advice. Lay volunteers who are not licensed to wear white coats. Despite looking like medical clinics, many are not licensed and they cant be held to HIPPA standards. Some will provide a statement of confidentiality, though adherence is not regulated nor enforced. The counseling they offer is misleading or false, and when it comes to abortion and contraceptives, it falls outside of accepted medical standards and guidelines. It is extremely concerning that some of our legislators view them as what House Majority Floor Leader Chip Neiman feels is creating something stable for that little person when that is far from the truth.

Furthermore, the AMA Journal of Ethics states that CPC owners and employees take a religion-based ideology and give it priority over the health and well-being of the women seeking carewomen do not receive comprehensive, accurate evidence-based clinical information about all options that are available. So it is no wonder that when I think about CPCs, I am reminded of fables and phrases such as a wolf in sheeps clothing; the fox watching the hen house; spinning straw into gold; beware of false prophets, and, of course, the Trojan horse.

Finally, the AMA Journal of Ethics further describes CPCs in this way:

These centers take a distinct anti-abortion approach to pregnancy in that unintended or crisis pregnancies have two viable options, adoption or parenting  these centers give the impression of being medical clinics or having medical expertise. Often using neutral-sounding language, these centers offer to help women with free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and counseling on all options for pregnancy. In addition, pregnant women are often offered resources such as maternity clothes, diapers, and parenting classes  CPCs, as a rule, not only discourage abortion but also refuse to provide referrals to abortion clinics, although they often provide counseling about dangers associated with premarital sexual activity. Women who visit CPCs typically do not realize that they are not in an abortion clinic and are surprised to find that abortion is not considered an option at these centers. As obstetrician-gynecologists, we have had several disgruntled patients come to us who were disappointed and felt deceived by the care that they received at CPCs.

If you Google the words abortion Casper, you will find sponsored listings for CPCs and our very own True Care. Google got smart, however, and started labeling these as Not an abortion clinic.

This column is not against religion. It is about a deceptive religion-based entity that is part of an extremist movement to deny women their reproductive rights. It is important to note that abortion clinics are strictly regulated. CPCs are not. CPCs are exempt from regulatory licensure and credentialing oversight that apply to healthcare facilities. It is time we turn the legislative eye on them. Providing misinformation should be a violation that undermines womens health.
The community of Aranjuez has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons in recent times.

Reports of murders, home invasions and robberies have become more commonplace.

But when the Sunday Express visited the area on Friday, residents recalled a time when Aranjuez was so safe, they could sleep with their doors open.

It was a close-knit community where everybody knew everybody and crimes were few and far between.
I am struggling to understand the way our politicians think and act with regard to the issuance of firearm users licences (FULs) and lawlessness.

Everyone knows the old saying that you cannot shape an old tree, you have to shape it while it is young and supple. When I was young, most homes had an employed father and a stay-at-home mother. If a child misbehaved, he or she would get a few strokes with a belt and that would be the end of the matter.
A 37-year-old man robbed a local marijuana dispensary with a gun and was shot and killed by police in a nearby restaurant, according to a local law enforcement taskforce.

On Tuesday, March 14, Nicholas Mauro Sosa entered the Grant Road location of Tucson House of Cannabis and attempted to rob the business.

According to a Tucson Police Department press release, the department received multiple calls around 3:30 p.m. reporting a robbery in progress.

Officers soon arrived on scene and began to search on foot for the suspect, eventually finding him hiding in the Benny's Mexican Restaurant immediately to the west of the dispensary.

An officer on scene, identified as 14-year TPD veteran Sargent Jesse Chlopowicz, gave Sosa multiple verbal commands to get on the ground, which Sosa reportedly refused to follow.

Chlopowicz then fired his weapon and immediately sought cover.

It is not immediatly clear if Chlopowicz fired from inside or outside the restaurant.

Soon after, SWAT units and a Hostage Negotiation team arrived and the restaurant perimeter was surrounded.

Police attempted to contact Sosa before entering the restaurant and finding him severely wounded. He was later declared dead at the scene.

According to a Pima Regional Critical Incident Team report, officers originally believed multiple people were in the restaurant with the suspect. However, those individuals were able to leave the restaurant uninjured.

No officers or other members of the community were harmed during the incident, according to the release.

The Pima Critical Incident Team, lead by the Pima County Sheriff's Department, is now in charge of the case, although the TPD Office of Professional Standards is conducting a separate investigation to determine if any agency policy was violated.
A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a pickup truck Thursday morning on Tucsons south side.

The driver of a Dodge Ram pickup truck was backing onto the shoulder near South Nogales Highway and East Hermans Road about 6 a.m. when the motorcyclist crashed into it, a news release from the Pima County Sheriff's Department said.

The motorcyclist, Jack Head, 42, was pronounced dead at the crash scene. He was not wearing a helmet, the news release said.

The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
A driver faces criminal charges after a crash in midtown Tuesday night killed a bystander who was on a bicycle, Tucson police say.

Matthew Lee Taleck, 52, was driving a silver Nissan Frontier pickup truck just after 10 p.m. near the intersection of East Speedway and North Country Club Road when he failed to yield while making a left turn, smashing into a black Honda Accord, a Tucson police news release Thursday said.

The impact forced the Honda into the bicycle lane and onto a sidewalk, hitting bicyclist Isaiah Williams Escalante, 20. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the news release said.

Taleck was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, property damage and two counts of endangerment.

The driver of the Honda, an unidentified 23-year-old man, was arrested on charges unrelated to the wreck, police said.
Born to Ken Wagner and Corinne Wagner (Miller), Jennifer was born in Superior AZ in 1951, but grew up and spent most of her life in Tucson. After graduating from Palo Verde HS, Jennifer forewent college and followed her father's career path, becoming a Banker, and starting out at Great Western Savings and Loan. Throughout the years, she worked for several banking institutions (for various reasons) and eventually retired from National Bank of Arizona a few years ago. Jennifer was also involved in several community service organizations throughout the years, along with her former husband (George Barnett), the Uptown Optimist Club of Tucson being the primary organization. She was also heavily involved in her children's sporting activities while they were growing up and was often remarked upon how vocally supportive she would be. She spent her retirement fairly active, serving as the president of her HOA, as an on-call crisis management support member, helping to take care of others in need, and by helping to raise her grandson Rydin. A very giving person, Jennifer never met someone who would stay a stranger for long, and she always made sure that everybody had a place to spend the holidays, often welcoming newly met individuals to eat at the family table on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Unfortunately, we lost Jennifer to a hard-fought battle with cancer on February 24th of this year. She is survived by her children Brad and Brian; and her grandchildren Justice, Katherine, and Rydin. Jennifer chose to be cremated, so there will be no burial nor viewing ceremony. We will be holding a celebration of life ceremony for her instead. It will be at VFW Post 4903, located at 5320 E Bellevue St, in Tucson on April 1st (yes, April 1st) from 1-5pm. Anybody who she called friends, are welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you all there and hearing your stories.
WASHINGTON  The Manhattan district attorney investigating Donald Trump rebuffed House Republicans request Thursday for documents and testimony about the case, dismissing it as an unprecedented inquiry with no legitimate basis.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the general counsel for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg slammed the congressional request as an unlawful incursion into New Yorks sovereignty.

The Letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene, Leslie Dubeck wrote in the letter. Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry.

The Manhattan grand jury investigating Donald Trump over hush money payments met on other matters Thursday, further delaying a vote on whether or not to indict the former president, according to a person familiar with the matter.

There was no immediate explanation from prosecutors about why the grand jury was not taking up the Trump matter during its scheduled Thursday session after not meeting Wednesday. There also was no word on when or if prosecutors might resume presenting evidence or ask for a decision on bringing historic criminal charges.

The panel is an investigative grand jury, meaning it hears other cases beyond the one focused on hush money paid on Trumps behalf during the 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who says she had a sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Even so, the grand jurys pause on Trump  confirmed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity  gave an opening to the former president and supporters to claim the investigation is stalled. Trump, who denies he had a sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, raised the specter on his social media site of years of hatred, chaos and turmoil if charges are brought.

The Republican chairmen of three House committees on Monday sent a letter to Bragg seeking information about his actions in the Trump case. The Republicans criticized the grand jury investigation as an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority.

The chairmen requested testimony as well as documents and copies of communications with the Justice Department to be turned over by Thursday. The request came as Republicans in the House rallied around the former president as the grand jury in New York weighs whether to bring an indictment against him.

If a grand jury brings charges against Donald Trump, the DAs Office will have an obligation, as in every case, to provide a significant amount of discovery from its files to the defendant so that he may prepare a defense, Dubeck wrote.

The five-page response from Braggs office provides a rare insight into what has remained a secret grand jury process, marking one of the first public acknowledgments that there is a sitting grand jury currently investigating Trump. The DAs office has adhered closely to centuries-old rules that have kept grand juries under wraps to protect the reputations of people who end up not being charged and to encourage reluctant witnesses to testify.

In proceedings closed to the public and members of the media, grand jurors listen to evidence presented by prosecutors and hear from witnesses. There is no judge present nor anyone representing the accused, and prosecutors do not have to offer any evidence favorable to the defense.

The disclosure comes as the grand jury appears close to finishing its work, after hearing last week from Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, but the timing of a possible decision on whether to charge the ex-president remains uncertain. Law enforcement officials in New York are preparing for any unrest, should Trump face charges.

The case revolves around hush money payments during Trumps 2016 presidential campaign to women who alleged sexual encounters with him. Braggs team appears to be looking at whether Trump or anyone committed crimes in New York state in arranging the payments, or in the way they accounted for them internally at the Trump Organization.

On Thursday, one of the GOP chairmen, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, expanded his probe into the handling of the Trump case by demanding testimony and documents from Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, two former Manhattan prosecutors who were leading the Trump case before quitting last year in a clash over the direction of the probe.

Last year, you resigned from the office over Braggs initial reluctance to move forward with charges, shaming Bragg in your resignation letter  which was subsequently leaked  into bringing charges, Jordan, an Ohio Republican, wrote in the letter to Pomerantz late Wednesday. It now appears that your efforts to shame Bragg have worked as he is reportedly resurrecting a so-called zombie case against President Trump using a tenuous and untested legal theory.

Requests for comment from Pomerantz and Dunne were not returned.
WASHINGTON  A nearly six-hour grilling of TikToks CEO by lawmakers brought the platforms 150 million U.S. users no closer to an answer as to whether the app will be wiped from their devices.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Thursday pressed Shou Zi Chew over data security and harmful content, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned due to its Chinese connections.

Chew attempted to push back assertions that TikTok, or its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, are tools of the Chinese government. He failed to answer uncomfortable questions about human rights abuses committed by China against the Uyghurs, and seemed taken aback by a TikTok video displayed by one lawmaker that advocated for violence against the House committee holding the hearing.

TikTok ballooned its American user base to 150 million in a few short years, but its increasing dominance is threated by a potential nationwide ban in the U.S. The social media platform is swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology, as well as heightened tensions due to recent balloon politics and Chinas relationship with Russia.

Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement.

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and denied its a national security risk. He reiterated the companys plan to protect U.S. user data by storing it on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, Chew said.

Nevertheless, the company is dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or be used to promote narratives favorable to the countrys communist leaders.

In 2019, the Guardian reported that TikTok was instructing its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square and included images unfavorable to the Chinese government. The platform says it since changed its moderation practices.

Concerns about the platform increased when ByteDance admitted in December that it fired four employees last summer who accessed data on two journalists and people connected to them while attempting to uncover the source of a leaked report about the company.

TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying 60% of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group.

The Biden administration reportedly demanded TikToks Chinese owners sell their stakes in the company to avoid a nationwide ban. China said it would oppose those attempts.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a separate committee hearing Thursday that he believes TikTok is a security threat and should be ended one way or another.

Republican Rep. Kat Cammack played a TikTok video showing a shooting gun with a caption that included the House committee, with the exact date before it was formally announced.

You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you cant even protect the people in this room, Cammack said to Chew.

TikTok said the company on Thursday removed the video and banned the account that posted it.

Concerns about what kind of content Americans encounter online, or how their data is collected by technology companies, isnt new. Congress has been wanting to curtail the amount of data tech companies collect on consumers through a national privacy law, but those efforts have failed.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat and one of the few allies TikTok seemingly has on the Hill, said lawmakers concerned about protecting users should focus on a national law that would protect user data across all social media platforms. Chew also noted the failure of U.S. social media companies to address concerns.

American social companies dont have a good track record with data privacy and user security, he said. Look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, just one example.

Committee members also showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide. Chew said the company has about 40,000 moderators that track harmful content and an algorithm that flags material.

To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a $1.5 billion plan, Project Texas, which routes all U.S. user data to servers owned and maintained by Oracle.

As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed this year, Chew said.

Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have already banned the app from official devices, but a complete ban in the U.S. would risk political and popular backlash.
President Joe Biden says the U.S. will respond forcefully to protect its personnel after U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. strikes followed a suspected Iranian-linked attack Thursday that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria. The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran, Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, where he is on a state visit. But he said the U.S. is prepared to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.
PHOENIX  The wording of a decision by the Arizona Supreme Court to let Kari Lake pursue one remaining election claim might make it difficult, if not impossible, for her to prove.

Still, Lake believes even with the restrictions the high court has imposed, that she can meet her burden of proving the counting of election results was tainted and that the outcome in last years race to be Arizona governor should be declared void, a spokesman for the failed Republican gubernatorial hopeful told Capitol Media Services.

In a brief order Wednesday, the justices rejected most of Lakes claims that the election was not properly run. They also concluded Lake had not met her burden to provide clear and convincing evidence that even if her allegations about chain-of-custody requirements and misconfigured ballot tabulators were true it would have altered the outcome of the race.

The official vote total for Arizona shows Democrat Katie Hobbs beat Lake by 17,117 votes.

But the justices said Lake is entitled to try to show that Maricopa County did not follow its own procedures in deciding the veracity of signatures on early ballot envelopes. That goes to her claim that an undetermined number of votes were counted that should not have been included in the tally.

Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, however, refused to let Lake try to prove that the procedures used by the county did not comply with state law or the Election Procedures Manual. He said that claim should have been brought before the November election.

That requirement for her to show that the county did not follow its own procedures, however, is just part of the series of hurdles as the case is returned to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson. And they largely center around what could be an inconvenient truth for Lake: The envelopes with the signatures she is questioning have long since been separated from the ballots they held.

The first is that even if Thompson allows her to review envelopes, and even if she can make a showing that some signatures did not match, there is no way to know whether county election workers had cured the problem.

That occurs in situations where election workers have questions about the signatures. They reach out to the voters using information they have, including the phone numbers that voters are supposed to put on the envelope, to ask them if, in fact, the ballot is theirs.

Signatures sometimes do not match for a variety of reasons, ranging from the voters having had an accident or stroke or simply the fact that it has been years since the original registration form was submitted and signatures can change over time.

It is only after a signature is considered cured that the envelope is opened and the ballot taken out and separated for counting.

About 15,000 envelopes were set aside when election workers could not verify signatures, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer told Capitol Media Services Thursday. But he said about 13,000 of those ballots were processed when the voters verified their identities.

Potentially more acute is the fact that the separation of the ballots from the envelopes means that even if Lake can prove a certain number of signatures did not match, she cannot determine whether those ballots contained a vote for her or for Hobbs.

The envelopes each have voters names. And that would enable Lake to determine a persons political affiliation and, potentially, look up other demographic information, such as the part of the county in which they live.

But as of the November 2022 election, Republicans made up only 34.5% of registered voters, compared with 30.0% for Democrats and about 34.6% independents, with a smattering of Libertarians.

And theres something else: the lack of a firm link between party registration and how someone actually voted.

For instance, I was a registered Republican who voted for some Democrats, Richer said.

He wasnt alone.

An analysis of the record in Maricopa County by the Arizona Republic found that Hobbs picked up the support of 33,000 Maricopa voters who cast ballots for Republicans in down-ballot races, like treasurer and county attorney. And the paper concluded there were another nearly 6,000 Republican-leaning voters  people who supported other GOP candidates  who either left the governors race blank or wrote in a candidate.

All that is critical because Brutinel said to win her case she must show that votes were affected in sufficient numbers to alter the outcome of the election based on a competent mathematical basis to conclude that the outcome would plausibly have been different, not simply an untethered assertion of uncertainty.

Lake, for her part, is convinced she can meet the burden.

But some of that is based on the way she is interpreting that last point made by Brutinel.

Arizona law does not require that a contestant show what the election result would have been but for the illegal votes or for which candidate the illegal votes were cast, according to a statement from the Lake campaign passed on by spokesman Ross Trumble.

Rather, Arizona law requires that the outcome of the election is shown to be at least uncertain in light of the violations of law, he said. The evidence here shows that standard was clearly met.

That evidence, the statement from Trumble said, includes what he said is the sworn testimony of three whistleblowers who did signature checks for Maricopa County in the 2022 election which showed a systemic breakdown in the signature verification process.

The basis for that is Lakes claim that tens of thousands of ballots were rejected for mismatched signatures.

Some of that already has been contested by the county which said the number reflects only what was found by first-level reviewers and not more highly trained verifiers who made the final decision. And they argued that also does not take into account the process to cure those ballots.

Lakes campaign, however, said the rejection rate shows a larger problem.

Given the extraordinary number of ballot signature rejections, there simply was not enough time in the day for these ballots to be reviewed or cured by Maricopa, indicating that these required procedures were not performed as required by Arizona law, he said.

Yet the campaign also is citing a report by then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich that in the 2020 General Election  which is not at issue here  the county rejected only 587 ballots for bad signatures. He called that a number so low that raised doubt that signature verification procedures were being followed.

Thompson still has to set a date to decide how to proceed with the case.

Lake has legal problems regardless of the outcome of the questions of the ballot signature verification.

In their Wednesday order, the justices pointed out that Lake claimed there was an undisputed fact that 35,563 ballots were added to the total count at Runbeck Election Services, a private firm Maricopa County uses to help process ballots.
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Slovakia offered US helicopters for giving jets to Ukraine

By AP

March 24, 2023: Information Clearing House -- RATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  The United States has offered Slovakia 12 new military helicopters as compensation for the MiG-29 fighter jets the European country is giving to Ukraine, Slovakia's defense minister said Wednesday.

Under the offer, Slovakia would pay $340 million for the Bell AH-1Z attack choppers in a deal worth about $1 billion that also includes 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and training, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

U.S. foreign military financing would cover the other $660 million, he said. The European Union also would send Slovakia 200 million euros ($213 million) in additional compensation, Nad said.

The Slovak government still needs to accept the offer.

Nad said his countrys armed forces currently dont have any combat helicopters and that the deal would significantly increase the defense capability of Slovakia.

On Friday, the Slovak government approved a plan to give Ukraine its fleet of 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the second NATO member country to heed the Ukrainian governments pleas for warplanes to help defend against Russias invasion.

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Slovakia grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and expertise to help maintain them. Fellow NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic stepped in to monitor Slovak air space.

Slovakia previously signed a deal to buy 14 U.S. F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, but delivery was pushed back two years with the first aircraft to arrive in early 2024.
MEXICO CITY  The number of monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains of central Mexico dropped 22% from the previous year, and the number of trees lost from their favored wintering grounds tripled.

Frost and extreme temperatures in the United States may have played a role in the butterflys decline during the most recent winter season, said Humberto Pena, director of Mexicos nature reserves.

Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada overwinter in the fir forests of the western state of Michoacan, west of Mexico City. The total area they occupied this past winter dropped to 5.4 acres, from 7 acres a year earlier.

The annual butterfly count doesnt calculate the individual number of butterflies, but rather the number of acres they cover when they clump together on tree boughs.

Gloria Tavera, conservation director of Mexicos Commission for National Protected Areas, said the area of forest cover appropriate for the butterflies that was lost rose to 145 acres, from 46.2 acres last year.

Illegal logging has been a major threat to the pine and fir forests where the butterflies gathering in clumps to keep warm. But experts said that this year, more than half the tree loss was due to removal of dead or sick trees affected by fires, storms or pests. Tavera said a lack of rain had plunged trees into hydric stress, making them more vulnerable to diseases, pests and fires.

Jorge Rickards, Mexico director of the WWF conservation group, blamed climate change,

The monarch butterfly is an indicator of these changes, Rickards said.

Critics say that in the past, removal of diseased trees has been used as a pretext for felling healthy trees for timber.

Tavera said she had no evidence that occurred this year, adding, I dont think anyone is lying.

Each year the monarchs return to the United States and Canada on an annual migration that is threatened by loss of the milkweed they feed on north of the border and by deforestation in the butterfly reserves in Mexico.

Due to many factors, monarch numbers have dropped in recent years. Experts say drought, severe weather and loss of habitat  especially of the milkweed where the monarchs lay their eggs  as well as pesticide and herbicide use and climate change all pose threats to the species migration.

Illegal logging also continues to plague the reserves, and Pena said there are plans to station National Guard troops in the reserve to prevent it.

But open, illegal tree cutting actually dropped 3.4% this year, largely due to the efforts of inhabitants to protect their forests, a change of attitude by many.

For example, on Jan. 23, the communal farm community of Crescencio Morales  once the area with the worst illegal logging  fielded its first class of trained and officially approved forest rangers.

The 58-strong forest ranger Community Guard of Crescencio Morales began life several years ago as a rag-tag band of farmers armed with a motley collection of weapons, before the state government offered to train and equip them.

The communitys struggle began in the early 2000s, when residents fought to kick out drug traffickers and illegal loggers and redeem itself in the process.

Back in 1998, the inhabitants of Crescencio Morales decided to set fire to the monarch butterfly colonies, in order to log the land, recalls Erasmo Alvarez Castillo, the leader of the communal, or ejido, farmers in the village.

Residents quickly saw two things: The illegal logging brought with it the incursion of drug cartels and surrounding communities were making money off tourism.

So starting around 2000, the farmers began reforesting the mountain slopes. But they still had to expel the drug gangs. It was a long and arduous fight that eventually forced the farmers to take up arms, after calls to police for help in defending the community went unanswered.

Things came to a head when the town declared itself an autonomous, self-governing municipality.

Faced with armed, rebellious farmers, the government decided to try to professionalize the community force and train it to protect the forests.

Now, with the butterflies back, the village can dream of attracting tourists.

The land we have on the mountaintop is very beautiful. It would be good for a tourism site, Alvarez Castillo said. The plan is to make trails, put up cabins  a tourist site without destroying the environment.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Two southeast Alaska men face charges in the beating death of a man who was attacked because of a social media post, according to an investigator's affidavit.

Moses S. Blanchard, 22, and Blaise A. Dilts, 21, of Klawock, face charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and burglary in the death of 80-year-old Lincoln Peratrovich, according to the state's online court records system. An attorney listed for Dilts did not return a message seeking comment. An attorney was not listed online for Blanchard.

The investigation was being conducted by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, which falls under the Alaska State Troopers. The city of Klawock on Prince of Wales Island has a police department but its lone officer died in January, the Ketchikan Daily News reported.

An affidavit by Adam Hawkins, a bureau investigator, said troopers on Monday evening received a complaint that a man, later identified as Peratrovich, whistled and catcalled at a minor and followed her while carrying an ax. Troopers, as part of their investigation, spoke with Peratrovich, who said he was chopping wood when he saw a woman pass by and whistled. He said he then noticed she was younger than he thought but continued to talk to her and invite her inside for food, the affidavit states. She walked away and he said he did not follow but instead continued chopping wood, according to the affidavit.

Troopers determined that no crime had occurred.

Troopers then received a call early Tuesday morning reporting an assault at Peratrovich's home. When they arrived they found Peratrovich, who was confirmed dead. Investigators found a camping-style chair, a crate-like plastic container and a log with blood on it, the document said.

Dilts, when asked under interrogation why Peratrovich was attacked said it was "because of what was on Facebook, the affidavit states. There was a Facebook post about Peratrovich approaching (a minor) girl and chasing her with an axe. Blaise was asked if he knew if anything in the Facebook post was true. Blaise stated no.

Blanchard told investigators he knew about the post, the affidavit said.

Some comments on the original post appeared to encourage violence against Peratrovich, according to the affidavit.

Dilts and Blanchard said they were with a 17-year-old boy when the attack occurred, according to authorities. Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the troopers, said he is not allowed by the state law to confirm whether any juvenile criminal charges have been sent to the Division of Juvenile Justice.

No adult criminal charges have been filed for the juvenile. No other adult criminal charges have been filed against anyone else in this incident, he said in an email.
BOSTON (AP)  Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Friday that the House wont meet with state Auditor Diana DiZoglio about an audit DiZoglio has launched into the Legislature.

DiZoglio, a Democrat who served as both a state representative and senator, said she is forging ahead anyway, She has described the audit as the first such review in a century of the Legislature that she hopes will increase transparency, accountability and equity in an area of state government that has been completely ignored.

Mariano said in a letter to DiZoglio Friday that the House's financial accounts are already public.

Any performance assessment by DiZoglio of House actions including active and pending legislation, committee appointments, legislative rules, and its policies and procedures" would violate basic separation-of-powers principles, he said.

Any such assessment is the sole responsibility of the House, he said, adding that voters are the final decision-makers of the performance of elected officials.

Therefore, given that your attempt to conduct a performance audit of the House of Representatives exeeds your legal authority and is unconsitutional, your request to meet to begin such an audit is respectfully denied, he wrote.

DiZoglio said she is moving forward with her review.

I find it disappointing that the Speaker is fighting an audit of what is happening in the peoples house, where the peoples business is conducted, using the peoples money," she said in a written statement. We are not asking for permission and will continue conducting our audit as planned to help increase transparency, accountability and equity for everyday families.

DiZoglio had earlier said the audit is critical, given how much legislative work is conducted out of sight.

The 200-member Legislature is exempt from the states open meeting law. Democrats  who hold overwhelming majorities in both chambers  routinely hold closed-door caucuses to discuss legislation away from the ears of the press and public.

Historically, the Legislature has been a closed-door operation, where committee votes have been hidden from the general public, and legislation has been voted on in the dark of night, DiZoglio said when she announced the audit.

Democratic Senate President Karen Spilka has also cited the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

Under Senate rules, the chamber undergoes an audit every fiscal year by a public accounting firm experienced in auditing governmental entities and makes that audit public, she said.

Senate business is also made public through journals, calendars and recordings of each session, Spilka said.
Elle King can talk her way out of almost anything (details later).

First, lets talk about this: Shes got a song titled Tulsa, and theres a 100% chance shes going to perform it for a full house Friday, March 24, at Cains Ballroom.

Plenty of music artists have embraced songs with Tulsa in the title. The best of the best: Take Me Back to Tulsa was a signature song for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, who transformed Cains Ballroom into the Carnegie Hall of Western swing music. And Tulsa Time became a double-genre hit for Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Eric Clapton.

Meanwhile, Kings Tulsa song is a pioneering piece of work. Shes the first person (as far as anyone knows) to turn Tulsa-spelled-backwards into art.

A sampling of Tulsa lyrics:

He went back to Tulsa

Put some miles on that adios Tacoma

And I aint talkin Oklahoma

Cause it aint what you think

But if you spell it back to front you gonna know what I mean.

Its a catchy, rocking song about a cheating partner.

Im glad people in Tulsa are liking the song because I dont want anyone to think I am singing anything bad about Tulsa, said King, whose Cains Ballroom tour stop sold out about a month after tickets went on sale. I am singing about POSs, really.

King said the idea for the song came from very young, very genius songwriter Ella Langley.

She had to spell it for me a couple of times, King said. I said Is that not a song? No one has written that? So we went and wrote the whole song together.

Fleshing out the rest of the songs origin story, King said her biggest thing as a songwriter is dont write about stuff that you dont know.

I dont know a lot of things, she said. I also know a lot of things. I have had a lot of life experience, so I choose to write about things I know because I know I have to do things like this  like (explain in interviews) why did you write that song or where did it come from?

And, in my life, the thing I most know about firsthand is really crappy relationships. Ive been cheated on. Unfortunately, I cheated on one partner one time. Im never going to do it again because it was so bad. You only touch a hot stove once, right? But I also used to watch a lot of, like, Jerry Springer. I still do, but I turn the volume down because Im a mother, you know? I watch Maury and I watch Jerry Springer, and Im like, why is everyone mad at the person your partner cheated on you with? Why arent you mad at your partner? So we just laughed, and we were writing about some real-life stuff.

Tulsa-spelled-backwards isnt a kind label, but King clarified it was never her intent to put out a song attacking women.

I mean, Miranda (Lambert) and I broke a record for women, King said. I dont want to take two steps backward.

King was referring to the Grammy-nominated Drunk (And I Dont Want to Go Home), the first all-female duet to reach No. 1 on Billboards Country Airplay chart since Reba McEntire and Linda Davis achieved the feat with Does He Love You in 1993.

So thats why it was really important for me in the third verse to say Im not mad at you, babe, but hes going to do this to you, so might as well learn the words to this song because youre going to be singing this soon. And hes your problem now. You deal with him. It was important for me to do that because I dont want to be attacking women. I want to be attacking POSs that cheat on women.

King has been opening tour dates with Tulsa. She said its the perfect opener because its such a fun song, but she wonders if she should open with it in Tulsa or move the song to another spot in the show. Her set lists are fluid.

I never play the same set twice, she said. No offense. Im not attacking people who play the same set every single night. But if you cant read your audience, what the hell are you doing? Youre just playing music with earplugs in, you know?

King said she talks to the audience and reads the crowd.

I think a lot of performers are empaths, whether they know it or not, she said. Everybody has a spiritual antenna. Some peoples spiritual antennas are stronger than others. I know that Im an empath. I feel peoples sorrow. I feel peoples energy. I feel peoples anxiety. And I can feel a lull in a set.

Thats when two microphones come in handy. King has one microphone for the audience and one microphone for the band. An estimated seven out of 10 times, she uses the band microphone to joke with band mates. In the other instances, she is talking to the band to switch up the set list and play whatever song is best needed for the moment.

Im not trying to give myself props, but I feel like thats what a good showman does, she said. You read the frigging room and you see how theyre feeling, how they are into it. I also have a lot of tricks in my back pocket that, if were losing them, I know how to get them back, you know?

King said she is 100% proud of her albums, but the only reason I really have a career is because I know how to put on a live show. Im not saying every live show is perfect ... but if I could pick one thing Im proud of that I know Im good at, its how to run a live show. Otherwise, I would have never had this career, you know?

Kings new album, released in January, is titled Come Get Your Wife. Her current tour is the A-Freakin-Men Tour. Did either of those titles make you smile or chuckle?

Am I a serious artist? Yes. But I am a silly person, she said. I pull from everything in my life to make art, and so when it comes to something like the title of my record, somebody said something insensitive and it took me a while to realize that I usually take things that could be painful and I either find a silver lining or I turn them into something artistic. But in that specific case, thats what I call playing the long game of retaliation, and I enjoy that.

The title of the tour was taken from the lyrics of a song (Try Jesus) on the new album.

That song came to me at a time when I was kind of trying to redefine my relationship and what my beliefs are in God and kind of sifting through my childhood growing up in a pretty strict Pentecostal family and hiding it for so many years, she said.

God is a very big ever-present part of my life, in my own way. It took me becoming a mother to find that. I know I never would have had any of these chances or I dont think that my life would have changed or opened up as much as it did if I didnt make so much room for God in my life. The fact that my record came out when it did and sounded like it did and it is doing what it is doing and Im having some of the best shows ever on my headline tour, its only appropriate that we call it the A-Freaking-Men Tour because all of this does feel like a blessing. So as silly and goofy as I am, I am coming from a place of absolute gratitude, which is probably why I feel so safe to be so silly all the time because Im happy.

King, the daughter of model London King and Saturday Night Live alum Rob Schneider, described herself as a lot of fun. Maybe thats why she finds trouble. She said she has been in trouble her whole life but has never been arrested, in part because she can talk her way out of predicaments. She talked her way out of handcuffs once.

Details? King was hanging out on a beach with someone whose parents are more famous than hers, and they were smoking something that wasnt a cigarette (this was before everything was totally legalized). When cops approached, King threw what she was smoking into a trash can. The police handcuffed them and put them against a wall. King told her crying companion not to say anything because, hey, I can handle this.

I said Listen, we werent doing nothing, OK? And then they were going through my purse and they found a little bit of something and they thought that it was drugs. And I said Come on, man. If that was hard drugs, dont you think I would be a little bit skinnier? And then the cops started laughing, and I heard one of the cops say Thats what I said. And I said, Come on, man! And all the cops started laughing, and they said We have better things to do and they uncuffed us and let us go.

Insider info: Sometimes touring performers are only interested in talking to the press if they need to move tickets. King took part in a pre-Cains Ballroom interview even though her show is sold out.

Most people are (jerks), she said. Im only a (jerk) 20% of the time. And 80% of the time Im like a very nurturing, loving, caring good friend. Not partner. Im an (expletive) to date. But Im a good mother. Im a good boss. Im a caring friend. Then theres that other 20%, usually after Ive been drinking. We just never know which way that ladys gonna end up.

Tulsa World Scene podcast: Killers of the Flower Moon update; plus organic gardening
OKLAHOMA CITY  Broken Arrow Rep. Dean Davis was arrested Thursday morning in Oklahoma City on suspicion of public drunkenness, a spokeswoman for the citys police department confirmed.

This is the Republican representatives second arrest since first taking office in 2018.

Oklahoma City Police Capt. Valerie Littlejohn said details of Davis run-in with officers would be included in an arrest report, which was not available as of press time Thursday evening.

On the House floor Thursday, Davis apologized that events from the prior evening had become an unnecessary distraction, although he didnt mention the arrest. He also disputed any wrongdoing.

Davis was charged with a DUI, speeding and obstructing an officer in 2019 after being arrested for driving under the influence in Broken Arrow. He apologized after the incident, saying he should have done a better job of leading by example.

In relation to his 2019 arrest, Davis in September entered an agreement to plead no contest to charges of driving while impaired, speeding in excess of the lawful maximum limit and obstructing an officer.

As a result of the plea agreement, Davis received a deferred sentence and agreed to pay about $1,000 in court fines, fees and assessments. His six-month probationary period ended March 3.

Davis made headlines after his 2019 arrest for calling several high-profile public officials for help while he was in jail.

Davis was automatically reelected to the Oklahoma Legislature in 2020 and 2022 after no one filed to run against him.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said Davis comments on the House floor fell short of an apology.

The House GOPs treatment of Davis after multiple arrests dramatically differs from the recent censure of Rep. Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, she said. There is clear unfairness and lawmakers are not being treated the same, Munson said.

A spokesman for House Speaker McCall, R-Atoka, previously said Turner was censured due to events that occurred at the Capitol. Republican lawmakers that have been arrested on complaints of driving while intoxicated were not censured because those incidents happened elsewhere.
Two men whose state felony convictions and sentences were initially overturned by an appellate court on jurisdictional grounds lost their appeals in the same court Thursday.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals in separate rulings upheld the convictions of Richard Roth, 43, and Johnny Edward Mize II, 37.

Both Roth and Mize had their convictions and sentences tossed in 2021 after the OCCA determined the state of Oklahoma did not have criminal jurisdiction to try them in light of the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court McGirt ruling.

The McGirt ruling and subsequent others determined that the reservations of the Muscogee Nation and five other Oklahoma tribes in eastern Oklahoma still existed because Congress never disestablished them.

Roth was serving a 19-year prison term at the time after a jury convicted him of first-degree manslaughter in the 2014 drunken-driving death of 11-year-old Billy Jack Chuculate Lord in Wagoner County.

Mize was serving a 25-year prison term after a Tulsa County jury convicted him of first-degree manslaughter in the 2017 fatal shooting of Jake Ulrich, 15.

Federal prosecutors later secured a 6 year prison sentence against Mize after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country.

Roth, meanwhile, remained in state prison while state officials appealed both OCCA rulings and others to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In June, the state of Oklahoma won a partial victory when the Supreme Court ruled that Oklahoma enjoyed concurrent jurisdiction with federal prosecutors in Indian Country cases when the victim was a tribal member and the suspect was non-tribal.

The Supreme Courts 2022 ruling in Castro-Huerta v. Oklahoma meant both Roth and Mize could be tried in state court since they were not members of a federally recognized tribe despite their victims being tribal members and the crime occurring within Indian Country.

In issuing its rulings Thursday, the OCCA also turned away Roths and Mizes claims on other grounds.

Mize is currently being held in federal prison, according to online Bureau of Prison records.

McGirt v. Oklahoma: Supreme Court decision and aftermath June 19, 2022: Power generating company drops McGirt-based challenge to property taxes June 2, 2022: Cherokee Nation drops plan to turn north Tulsa property into a courthouse April 24: Gov. Stitt concerned about what McGirt ruling doesn't say, its far-reaching interpretations April 13, 2022: City can still issue traffic citations to Native citizens March 31, 2022: Gov. Stitt calls McGirt ruling 'preposterous' on Fox News' 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' March 9, 2022: City of Tulsa says McGirt ruling makes tribal members second-class citizens Feb. 23, 2022: Supreme Court won't hear McGirt arguments from state of Oklahoma Feb. 22, 2022: Federal lawsuit challenges Oklahoma's right to tax Native Americans Feb. 7, 2022: Gov. Stitt says Thats not fair' regarding McGirt-related case at State of the State Feb. 2, 2022: 'It is not too late for us to begin anew,' Muscogee Nation Chief says Jan. 22, 2022: Supreme Court lets McGirt ruling stand, will consider letting Oklahoma share jurisdiction Jan. 9, 2022: Most released due to McGirt have been charged either federally or tribally, Tulsa World analysis finds Dec. 14, 2021: Tribal leaders sound off as Stitt seeks change to hunting, fishing license compacts Dec. 12, 2021: Cherokee Nation disputes state's claim McGirt ruling has caused 'chaos' Oct. 28, 2021: Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission asks city to withdraw brief on McGirt Oct. 21, 2021: State appellate court extends McGirt ruling to include Quapaw Nation Sept. 18, 2021: Oklahoma AG asks Supreme Court again to reverse or limit McGirt Aug. 27, 2021: Gov. Kevin Stitt says McGirt legal decision is state's 'most pressing issue' Aug. 26, 2021: Man at center of McGirt landmark legal case sentenced to 3 life sentences Aug. 6, 2021: State asks U.S. Supreme Court to overturn landmark McGirt decision Aug. 1, 2021: U.S. House rejects $154 million for tribal judicial systems July 19, 2021: Gov. Stitt sues federal government July 19, 2021: Osage Nation seeks court affirmation that its reservation also was never disestablished July 13, 2021: Contentious McGirt forum ends early after shout-down from audience July 9, 2021: Cherokee Nation highlights expansion of legal system on anniversary of ruling July 8, 2021: 'McGirt v. Oklahoma Community Impact Forum' set for July 13; tribal leaders irked June 10, 2021: '80s serial rapist's claim he is 'Indian' for criminal jurisdictional purposes rejected May 26, 2021: U.S. Supreme Court signals they could limit ruling May 19, 2021: State-Tribal Litigation Fund bill passes May 17, 2021: How Cherokee Tribal courts are handling the surge in cases May 11, 2021: Oklahoma congressman's bill would allow tribes to compact with state on criminal jurisdiction May 10, 2021: Cherokee, Chickasaw tribal chiefs announce support for federal legislation April 29, 2021: State appeals court overturns two more death sentences April 28, 2021: AG seeks to intervene in case of power plant objecting to property taxes April 15, 2021: Appellate court rejects claims of two who failed to prove ancestry April 14, 2021: Chickasaws question Gov. Stitt's rhetoric about McGirt impact April 9, 2021: Four serving life sentences in state prison to get new trials April 8, 2021: Death-row inmate's state conviction, sentence are in jeopardy April 8, 2021: State appellate court dismisses five more cases on jurisdictional grounds April 6, 2021: Cherokee AG says some cases dismissed by ruling could go unretried April 1, 2021: State appellate court expands McGirt ruling March 31, 2021: 'Fracture' in criminal system created by decision, Tulsa County DA says March 18, 2021: Manslaughter conviction for ex-Tulsa Police officer overturned March 14, 2021: Broken Arrow power plant claims county has no authority to levy property taxes March 11, 2021: Court ruling means hundreds of state criminal cases will be shifted to tribal or federal courts March 11, 2021: Cherokees expanding criminal justice system for larger role March 7, 2021: Former principal chief isn't happy as McGirt decision hits home March 4, 2021: Rogers County judge dismisses over 100 criminal cases Feb. 1, 2021: Gov. Stitt takes on McGirt ruling during State of the State address Jan. 28, 2021: McGirt decision impact on state oil and gas industry examined during OEPA briefing Jan. 23, 2021: Oklahoma governor urges tribes to begin negotiating issues Jan. 15, 2021: Tribes want Congress to allow criminal justice compacts with Oklahoma Jan. 8, 2021: Former Tulsa police officer's double-jeopardy, statute-of-limitations claims denied Jan. 4, 2021: McGirt decision results in record number of criminal federal filings in 2020 Nov. 7, 2020: Federal jury finds McGirt guilty in retrial Oct. 23, 2020: Gov. Stitt panel releases principles for state-tribe relations Oct. 5, 2020: McGirt ruling could have impact on state tax collections Oct. 1, 2020: Attorney General Bill Barr meets with Cherokee Nation leadership, local federal prosecutors Aug. 29, 2020: Man charged in 1990s rapes freed due to McGirt ruling Aug. 14, 2020: McGirt makes federal court appearance in child sex abuse case Aug. 7, 2020: McGirt-related murder cases increase Tulsa federal court's caseload Aug. 1, 2020: Feds file charges against two men whose state convictions were overturned July 29, 2020: Attorneys general for Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation discuss ruling on 'Let's Talk' July 21, 2020: Gov. Stitt forms commission to study impact of decision on state July 20, 2020: Oklahoma AG tracking scores of appeals that could be affected by decision July 17, 2020: Attorney general, tribes reach agreement on jurisdictional issues July 15, 2020: Ruling could affect case of mother charged with killing children July 14, 2020: Homicide in Tulsa 'first real test' of decision July 12, 2020: Decision to have little impact on nontribal residents, TU law professor says July 10, 2020: Tribal law expert calls ruling 'most important' in state history July 9, 2020: U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision December 2019: U.S. Supreme Court to hear McGirt v. Oklahoma McGirt v. Oklahoma: Supreme Court decision and aftermath
A panel of appellate judges heard oral arguments Thursday in a case that looks at a 100-plus-year-old federal law to determine whether the city of Tulsa can issue traffic citations to Native citizens.

A three-member panel of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals listened to and asked questions of attorneys for nearly an hour regarding whether a 19th century-era federal law controls how the case should be decided.

Justin Hooper, a Choctaw tribal member, is appealing losses in both the city of Tulsa Municipal Court and Tulsa federal court regarding whether the Curtis Act, a law passed by Congress in 1898, grants the city the jurisdiction it needs to enforce its ordinances against him and other tribal members.

On appeal is an opinion authored by U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson, who wrote in an April decision, that the Curtis Act grants municipalities in its scope jurisdiction over violations of municipal ordinances by any inhabitant of those municipalities, including Indians.

John Dunn, Hoopers attorney, argued to the court Thursday that the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 McGirt ruling and subsequent state court decisions meant the city of Tulsa did not have jurisdiction to issue traffic citations to tribal members in Indian Country.

The landmark ruling and Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals rulings issued later acknowledged the state of Oklahoma did not have criminal jurisdiction in major crimes involving tribal members on the reaffirmed reservations in most of the eastern half of Oklahoma.

We claim that the city of Tulsa has prosecuted and fined Mr. Hooper, who is Indian, without having the jurisdiction to do so, Dunn told the court.

The single question in this case is whether the Curtis Act still operates to give the modern day city of Tulsa jurisdiction over Indians in the city limits, Dunn said, adding, we contend the answer to that question is no.

However, the city of Tulsa maintains that it has always had the power to prosecute tribal members for municipal violations under the Curtis Act.

Looking at the plain, unambiguous text of the Curtis Act, the District Court was correct in finding that Tulsa has jurisdiction over all its inhabitants, including Indians, to enforce its laws and ordinances, the city of Tulsa argued in court filings.

The case is being watched by area tribal nations, attorneys for the state of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Association of Municipal Attorneys, all of which filed friend-of-the-court briefs in the case.

Kristina Gray, city of Tulsa litigation division manager, told the court that the city was incorporated under the Curtis Act and remains a Curtis Act-formed municipality.

Asked by Judge Joel Carson whether it was a plausible argument that the city of Tulsa renounced any authority it had under the Curtis Act when it rechartered under state law, Gray said the jurisdictional grant remained.

When it was rechartered it was under the Oklahoma constitution, which expressly allowed for them to continue their incorporation, which they had prior to statehood, and expressly allowed them to continue with all rights and privileges they had prior to statehood, Gray said. So any rechartering would be with the presumption that the constitution applies to allow this pre-existing jurisdictional grant to continue.

Hooper pleaded no contest and paid a $150 municipal fine after he was ticketed in 2018 by a city of Tulsa police officer.

A city of Tulsa Municipal Court judge denied Hoopers application for post-conviction relief after determining that the Curtis Act granted the city of Tulsa and cities like it in Indian Country the jurisdiction to try anyone who violates a city ordinance, regardless of the persons race or tribal membership.

Hooper later appealed the ruling to U.S. District Court in Tulsa, where Johnson ruled against him again.

Dunn called the Curtis Act an artifact of history that has no practical application today even if it is still technically considered valid law.

Dunn agreed that Congress never expressly repealed the Curtis Act, but added that he didnt believe the city of Tulsa was still behaving as a Curtis Act municipality.

I agree there is no express repeal, Dunn said in response to a question. Our point is that even if the Curtis Act is valid law, it applies to municipalities that are No. 1, federally organized in a federal territory known as Indian territory.

That territory no longer exists. And there is not a single city or town in Oklahoma that is still federally chartered. So even if it is still good law, it doesnt apply to anything any longer, because everyone that was in that subset has left. And specifically the city of Tulsa voluntarily left when it reorganized and rechartered under the laws of Oklahoma.

Dunn asked that the case be remanded back to the federal district court.

We will take this very complicated matter under advisement, Judge Carolyn McHugh said at the conclusion of the hearing.

Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Should law enforcement require a college degree?
March 24, 2023: Information Clearing House -- - Its been six weeks since I published a report, based on anonymous sourcing, naming President Joe Biden as the official who ordered the mysterious destruction last September of Nord Stream 2, a new $11-billion pipeline that was scheduled to double the volume of natural gas delivered from Russia to Germany. The story gained traction in Germany and Western Europe, but was subject to a near media blackout in the US. Two weeks ago, after a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Washington, US and German intelligence agencies attempted to add to the blackout by feeding the New York Times and the German weekly Die Zeit false cover stories to counter the report that Biden and US operatives were responsible for the pipelines destruction.

Press aides for the White House and Central Intelligence Agency have consistently denied that America was responsible for exploding the pipelines, and those pro forma denials were more than enough for the White House press corps. There is no evidence that any reporter assigned there has yet to ask the White House press secretary whether Biden had done what any serious leader would do: formally task the American intelligence community to conduct a deep investigation, with all of its assets, and find out just who had done the deed in the Baltic Sea. According to a source within the intelligence community, the president has not done so, nor will he. Why not? Because he knows the answer.

Sarah Milleran energy expert and an editor at Energy Intelligence, which publishes leading trade journalsexplained to me in an interview why the pipeline story has been big news in Germany and Western Europe. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines in September led to a further surge of natural gas prices that were already six or more times pre-crisis levels, she said. Nord Stream was blown up in late September. German gas imports peaked a month later, in October, at 10 times pre-crisis levels. Electricity prices across Europe were pulled up, and governments spent as much as 800 billion euros, by some estimates, shielding households and businesses from the impact. Gas prices, reflecting the mild winter in Europe, have now fallen back to roughly a quarter of the October peak, but they are still between two and three times pre-crisis levels and are more than three times current US rates. Over the last year, German and other European manufacturers closed their most energy-intensive operations, such as fertilizer and glass production, and its unclear when, if ever, those plants will reopen. Europe is scrambling to get solar and wind capacity in place, but it may not come soon enough to save large chunks of German industry. (Miller writes a blog on Medium.)

In early March, President Biden hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington. The trip included only two public eventsa brief pro forma exchange of compliments between Biden and Scholz before the White House press corps, with no questions allowed; and a CNN interview with Scholz by Fareed Zakaria, who did not touch on the pipeline allegations. The chancellor had flown to Washington with no members of the German press on board, no formal dinner scheduled, and the two world leaders were not slated to conduct a press conference, as routinely happens at such high-profile meetings. Instead, it was later reported that Biden and Scholz had an 80-minute meeting, with no aides present for much of the time. There have been no statements or written understandings made public since then by either government, but I was told by someone with access to diplomatic intelligence that there was a discussion of the pipeline expose and, as a result, certain elements in the Central Intelligence Agency were asked to prepare a cover story in collaboration with German intelligence that would provide the American and German press with an alternative version for the destruction of Nord Stream 2. In the words of the intelligence community, the agency was to pulse the system in an effort to discount the claim that Biden had ordered the pipelines destruction. https://seymourhersh.substack.com

Seymour Myron "Sy" Hersh is an American investigative journalist and political writer. He gained recognition in 1969 for exposing the My Lai massacre and its cover-up during the Vietnam War, for which he received the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Without discussion or debate, the Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously approved a pair of rules Thursday afternoon targeting school library content and disclosure requirements for school employees.

There are major misunderstandings out there in our schools, state Superintendent Ryan Walters said. Our job as an agency is laid out by state statute to set rules to help ensure that the laws are being followed. Theyre obviously not  and we get all these complaints and concerns.

This was in response to parents across the state that theyre obviously not being upheld.

Both rules are subject to approval by the Oklahoma Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt before enactment.

As approved, the accreditation of individual schools or districts could be downgraded if they are found to have library materials deemed to be pornographic or excessively sexualized.

The definition of pornographic in the rules is similar to the states legal definition of obscene materials.

Additionally, districts would be required to have a written policy for reviewing any library materials and responding to complaints regarding books or other items in their collections. Most school districts, including Tulsa, Union, Bixby and Owasso, already have policies in place for addressing challenged school materials.

As approved, districts and CareerTech sites could also be penalized if they fail to annually provide a complete listing of all library materials available districtwide to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

During Thursdays meeting, Walters held up three books as examples of objectionable material: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Lawn Boy by Jonathon Evison and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibrahim Kendi and Jason Reynolds.

However, when asked after the meeting, Walters told reporters that he had only skimmed the three books and had not actually read any of them in full. He was also unable to say how many copies of those books or ones with similar content are in public school libraries across the state.

I dont care if this was just in one classroom in the state, he said. That was inappropriate for any child in the state of Oklahoma to have in their school libraries.

A second administrative rule approved would require school district employees to disclose any changes or information regarding a childs health, social or psychological development to parents or guardians within 30 days. The rules language specifically includes gender identity information, including the students preferred names or pronouns while at school.

Tied to a 2014 law known as the Parents Bill of Rights, the proposal also would require schools to allow parents to inspect sexual education classroom materials and to have schools honor their written objections in whole or in part to sex education or any other instruction questioning beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion without excluding students from the parts of instruction not objected to by the parent.

As was the case with the library materials, several area districts, including Tulsa and Union, already have processes in place to allow parents to review sexual education materials and potentially opt their students out from participating.

Despite objections from Freedom Oklahoma and multiple individuals that the provisions would jeopardize the safety of students whose gender identity or identity would be disclosed without their consent, legal counsel for the department said that a disclosure requirement was already in place.

State law already directs that parents  have the fundamental right to direct and make decisions about a minor students education and health care, OSDE attorney Bryan Cleveland said. A school official who knows about a situation and doesnt disclose that is defying state law.

Unlike last Fridays listening sessions at which both proposed rules drew largely chilly receptions, the audience at Thursdays state board meeting largely spoke in support of the proposals, including from Gabe Woolley, a fourth-grade teacher at Tulsa Public Schools Peary Elementary School.

My students are important and they already have an identity, he said. We dont need to confuse them with this other stuff.

Earlier this week, the Attorney Generals Office issued a non-binding advisory opinion questioning the rule-making process followed by the State Department of Education, including whether Walters efforts were overly broad. However, at Thursdays meeting, Cleveland said he was advised by the opinions author that that letter should not be taken as an opinion on the days proceedings.

Additionally, among the concerns raised during Fridays listening sessions was the absence of Walters and most of the board members to hear their thoughts on the proposed rules.

After the meeting Thursday, Walters refused to say where he was during Fridays listening sessions beyond having conversations with parents.

Don Burdick represents Tulsa on the state board of education and was also among the state board members who did not attend Fridays listening sessions. When asked after the meeting Thursday, he said he was unable to attend the listening sessions due to work obligations but had read through the public comments and watched the recording before casting his vote.

Walters also used the superintendents report to criticize teachers unions and formally announce his agencys intent to notify teachers statewide that they are not required to join a professional organization that collects membership dues, such as the Oklahoma Education Association or Professional Oklahoma Educators.

We will move to ensure that every teacher does not have automatic deductions (for dues) from their paychecks, he said, noting that his office will be reaching out to Attorney General Gentner Drummond for additional clarity. If they want to join a union, thats their prerogative to do that but they will not have the state workers and state agencies take that money from their paychecks.

Various bills to eliminate payroll deductions for teacher associations have been attempted, but failed during the last several state legislative sessions.

Currently, Senate Bill 99, sponsored by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, would require that association members have to renew their payroll deduction elections annually, ending the practice of memberships automatically continuing or rolling over from one year to the next.
OKLAHOMA CITY  A Broken Arrow lawmaker argued with police and warned officers they had messed up before being arrested on a public drunkenness complaint Thursday.

Republican Rep. Dean Davis, 50, flashed his legislative ID card after an officer had handcuffed him outside a bar in Oklahoma City, according to an arrest report.

This marks Davis second arrest since he was first elected in 2018. He disputes any wrongdoing.

The arrest report indicates Davis and at least one other state representative were drinking on the patio of a Bricktown bar called Skinny Slims at around 2:11 a.m. Thursday. The bar is located just down the street from an Oklahoma City Police station.

The report said its a violation of state law for patrons to be consuming alcoholic beverages at a bar after 2 a.m., so officers commanded the three men on the patio to leave. They did not comply, according to the report.

One of the officers reportedly talked to a bartender who said she had repeatedly asked the men to leave, but they kept saying that they were state representatives.

At one point, Davis became argumentative with officers, according to the report. Officers asked him twice more to put his drink down and leave. Davis then put his drink down and tried to show officers a credential.

He then stated (something) to the effect of you dont know how bad you messed up, you will find out tomorrow, the report states.

After he had been handcuffed and walked to a patrol car, Davis told the officer to look at his card indicating hes a member of the Oklahoma House, according to the report.

Body camera footage provided by the police shows Davis repeatedly insisting he cannot be arrested. He appears to argue that as a state lawmaker, he cant be detained while the Oklahoma Legislature is in session.

Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, made a similar case to police when he was arrested in October on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Davis asked the officer to read the card that indicates hes a state representative and cites a portion of the Oklahoma constitution that says lawmakers shall be privileged from arrest during the session of the Legislature.

That provision of law is not intended to provide lawmakers blanket immunity from arrest, but is largely interpreted to ensure they cannot be impeded from voting on issues at the state Capitol.

After questioning whether Davis really is a state lawmaker, the officer told him youre not in the state Capitol right now.

You cant detain me, Davis told the officer.

I can, and I am right now, the officer responded.

Davis repeatedly insisted the officer call his supervisor.

The body camera footage also shows Davis appearing confused at times.

He asked the officer who handcuffed him why he was being detained. When the officer responded that Davis was being arrested for being drunk in public, the lawmaker said, I dont understand what you guys are doing and why.

The body camera footage does not show the full interaction between Davis and police officers.

Police also provided four video clips from when Davis was in the back of the patrol car that show the lawmaker debating with an officer over the circumstances of the arrest.

Davis insisted he was drinking a soda when he was arrested and questioned how police could claim hes intoxicated when they hadnt tested his blood alcohol level.

He also accused officers of rolling in hot, and said it was less than two minutes from when the police pulled up to when he was being handcuffed.

Davis said he was eager to review the body camera footage of his arrest.

I will sit there with your captain and watch that video, he told the officer.

In an interview with online news outlet NonDoc, Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, who was with Davis at the bar Thursday morning, acknowledged he was the individual identifying their group as House members to police. Davis did not flash his ID at them prior to his arrest, Marti said.

Marti disputed the narrative of the police report and said the video released by police leaves out the beginning of the interaction that shows Davis trying to walk away and order an Uber when he was arrested. When the police arrived, Davis was drinking a soda, not an alcoholic beverage, Marti said.

The lawmaker had watery eyes and slurred speech, according to the arrest report.

After being released from jail at 5:19 a.m. Thursday, Davis later appeared at the Capitol during a full legislative day.

On the House floor, Davis did not mention the arrest, but he apologized to his colleagues for the events of the prior evening becoming an unnecessary distraction from legislative work. He also disputed any wrongdoing.

Asked about the arrest, Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday declined to comment on the details.

People sometimes make poor choices, and they need to be held accountable, he said.

In September, Davis entered into a plea deal in relation to a 2019 arrest in Broken Arrow.

Davis pleaded no contest to charges of driving while impaired, speeding in excess of the lawful maximum limit and obstructing an officer.

He received a deferred sentence and agreed to pay about $1,000 in court fines, fees and assessments. His six-month probationary period ended March 3.

After his 2019 arrest, Davis begged for help from other state lawmakers and law enforcement officials, according to jail phone recordings.

Davis also was arrested in 2010 on a DUI complaint, but records from that case are sealed.
City councilors voted Wednesday to approve a $1,060,000 payment as part of a settlement agreement with nearly 500 firefighters who sued the city for overtime pay.

The City Councils approval of the payment was required before the settlement agreement could be finalized.

Although this is a significant step forward, the final terms of the settlement agreement are still being negotiated and will require court approval, Matt Lay, president of Tulsa International Association of Local Firefighters Local 176, said in a statement to his fellow firefighters.

Lay was one of 13 firefighters who filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in February 2022 claiming that the city was violating the Federal Labor Standards Act by not paying overtime earned or paying overtime late.

The complaint was later amended to add 478 firefighters, putting the total at 491. The Fire Department has approximately 700 firefighters.

Firefighters work an alternating schedule of 216 hours one 27-day period, followed by working 192 hours the following 27-day period.

The threshold for overtime is 204 hours during a 27-day work cycle.

The exact scheduled overtime hours worked by Plaintiffs and the exact workweeks in which the Plaintiffs worked over the FLSA statutory maximum hours as part of their regular work hours can easily be determined by looking at the Plaintiffs timekeeping and payroll records, which are in the possession, custody and control of Defendants, the lawsuit states.

The alleged failure to pay overtime coincides with a ransomware attack that damaged the city of Tulsas computer system, although whether that was a factor is unclear.

The complaint seeks a judgment finding that the city of Tulsa willfully violated federal and state labor laws, an accurate accounting of all unpaid overtime, liquidated damages equal to their unpaid compensation, interest on unpaid compensation and attorney fees.

The million-dollar-plus payment approved by city councilors on Wednesday was for overtime wages, liquidated damages and attorney fees, according to the meeting agenda.

A city spokeswoman said Wednesday that the case is still pending, but the city will be working diligently to address payments and has already put safeguards in a place to prevent this from happening in the future.

Staff writer Curtis Killman contributed to this story.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives got in one last transgender bill on Thursday, its last chance to consider its own legislation before sending it to the Senate.

Titled the Womens Bill of Rights, House Bill 1449, by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, essentially says transgender women and girls are not women and girls as far as the state of Oklahoma is concerned.

House Bill 1449 provides clarity in our laws as it pertains to biological men and women for the purpose of government work, said Hasenbeck.

Hasenbeck, who led last years charge against trans athletes, explained HB 1449, in part, by saying it is intended to keep transgender women out of womens prisons because of safety risks to other inmates.

It was a little much for Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater.

A female inmate is more at risk of sexual assault from a person who identifies as male staff at the prison than from someone who identifies as trans, Ranson said.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections policies include a fairly complex procedure for assessing gender non-conforming inmates and deciding placement of them. Placement solely on an inmates self-identification is forbidden.

Gender non-conforming inmates are identified as more at risk for abuse than the general population, according to the DOC policy manual.

Trans individuals are not a threat to my gender identity, said Ranson. Trans individuals are not a threat to my rights as an Oklahoman, as a U.S. citizen, as a global citizen or as a woman. Trans individuals are not even a threat to my safety.

Rep. Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, the only legislator identifying as non-binary, called HB 1449 and other bills like it a grotesque misuse of public office.

Hasenbeck, though, said she was protecting women who do not consent to gender redefining terms.

Questioned by Turner, Hasenbeck said, The whole bill says women do not wish to have their rights taken away so that the rights of others may be expanded. This has to do with all of the places were men and women are equal yet different.

Also Thursday:

The House passed yet another tax cut measure submitted by Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

HB 1953 puts forward a single flat tax rate of 4.25%, beginning next year, on all income over $9,750 for single filers, $16,250 for heads of households or $19,450 for joint filers.

The 4.25% rate would have to be renewed in two years or it will automatically rise to 4.75%.

Estimated foregone revenue is $426 million when the change is fully implemented.

The House has sent four major tax cut proposals to the Senate, three by McCall.

Relevant in light of recent reports on homelessness in Tulsa, HB 2040, by Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, raises from $4 million to $10 million the annual cap on a state tax credit for construction of low income housing.

HB 2040 passed 67-25 after Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, signed on as a co-sponsor.

Also winning approval was HB 1633, by Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook, which would require acceptance of cash for essentials such as food, fuel and housing.

Staires said his intention is to make sure people who dont want or cant get credit or debit cards arent prevented from obtaining necessities.

For the second day in a row, the House turned down a proposal to tinker with the dates of school board and other local elections.

The House begins committee work on Senate bills next week.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, at a working session on Wednesday with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives from many U.S. enterprises, called on U.S enterprises to support Vietnamese enterprises, especially SMEs, in digital transformation. Following a working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the USABC and U.S. enterprises, who are in Vietnam to seek cooperation, investment, and business opportunities, held a meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications. A view of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre USABC President and CEO Ted Osius took time from the meeting to share his appreciation for the potential of Vietnams digital economy. According to Osius, U.S. enterprises are paying attention to the Southeast Asian countrys policies aimed at boosting the digital economy, digital infrastructure development, and metaverse and digital asset management regulations. They are also keen on the countrys priorities and targets for 2023  the year of digital data, as well as how U.S. firms can join hands to help Vietnam achieve these targets, Osius added. A representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications said Vietnam expects to conduct the digital transformation with three pillarsdigital government, digital economy, and digital society. The ministry admitted that Vietnam needs a new legal framework appropriate to the development of its digital economy, in which U.S. firms can make contributions. Lessons from successful digital transformation in other countries may not be successfully applied in Vietnam, so domestic firms can help localize solutions developed by U.S. enterprises. U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius at the working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre At the working session with the USABC and representatives of Meta, Roblox, SpaceX, FedEx, UPS, Amazon Web Services, Boeing, and Apple, PM Chinh thanked them for accompanying Vietnam on its digital transformation journey and wished all enterprises success in working with Vietnam. Your success is also our success, PM Chinh stressed. He affirmed that the Vietnamese government is always willing to listen to U.S. firms opinions and proposals. Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions for U.S. enterprises to expand their investment in Vietnam and pave the way for Vietnamese companies to take part in their value chains. The prime minister also discussed Vietnams development pillars, breakthrough strategies, and viewpoint on the foreign-invested sector. In addition, he introduced specific sectors in Vietnam in which the USABC and U.S enterprises are interested, such as digital economy, creative industries, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and aviation. He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to import machines, equipment, tools, and spare parts from the U.S. to balance Vietnam-U.S. trade. Meta has high hopes for Vietnam On Wednesday, Rafael Rrankel, Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta, met with representatives from Vietnamese press agencies, including Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. At the meeting, Rrankel said Vietnam has a high number of Facebook users and the number is on the rise. In addition, many Vietnamese companies use Facebooks Business Messaging service to manage parts of their operations. Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group Rafael Rrankel. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre It can be said that you are a leading market of Facebook in the world in using the service, Rrankel affirmed. The Meta representative shared his appreciation for the Vietnamese governments long-term vision and investment in telecom infrastructure. The Vietnamese government has issued policies to support digital economy development, and considers the digital economy and support enterprises digital transformation as top priorities, Rrankel said. Rrankel emphasized that these help leading technology enterprises of the U.S., including Meta, see the bright outlook of Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, at a working session on Wednesday with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives from many U.S. enterprises, called on U.S enterprises to support Vietnamese enterprises, especially SMEs, in digital transformation.

Following a working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the USABC and U.S. enterprises, who are in Vietnam to seek cooperation, investment, and business opportunities, held a meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications.

A view of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre

USABC President and CEO Ted Osius took time from the meeting to share his appreciation for the potential of Vietnams digital economy.

According to Osius, U.S. enterprises are paying attention to the Southeast Asian countrys policies aimed at boosting the digital economy, digital infrastructure development, and metaverse and digital asset management regulations.

They are also keen on the countrys priorities and targets for 2023  the year of digital data, as well as how U.S. firms can join hands to help Vietnam achieve these targets, Osius added.

A representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications said Vietnam expects to conduct the digital transformation with three pillarsdigital government, digital economy, and digital society.

The ministry admitted that Vietnam needs a new legal framework appropriate to the development of its digital economy, in which U.S. firms can make contributions.

Lessons from successful digital transformation in other countries may not be successfully applied in Vietnam, so domestic firms can help localize solutions developed by U.S. enterprises.

U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius at the working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre

At the working session with the USABC and representatives of Meta, Roblox, SpaceX, FedEx, UPS, Amazon Web Services, Boeing, and Apple, PM Chinh thanked them for accompanying Vietnam on its digital transformation journey and wished all enterprises success in working with Vietnam.

Your success is also our success, PM Chinh stressed.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese government is always willing to listen to U.S. firms opinions and proposals.

Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions for U.S. enterprises to expand their investment in Vietnam and pave the way for Vietnamese companies to take part in their value chains.

The prime minister also discussed Vietnams development pillars, breakthrough strategies, and viewpoint on the foreign-invested sector.

In addition, he introduced specific sectors in Vietnam in which the USABC and U.S enterprises are interested, such as digital economy, creative industries, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and aviation.

He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to import machines, equipment, tools, and spare parts from the U.S. to balance Vietnam-U.S. trade.

Meta has high hopes for Vietnam

On Wednesday, Rafael Rrankel, Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta, met with representatives from Vietnamese press agencies, including Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

At the meeting, Rrankel said Vietnam has a high number of Facebook users and the number is on the rise. In addition, many Vietnamese companies use Facebooks Business Messaging service to manage parts of their operations.

Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group Rafael Rrankel. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

It can be said that you are a leading market of Facebook in the world in using the service, Rrankel affirmed.

The Meta representative shared his appreciation for the Vietnamese governments long-term vision and investment in telecom infrastructure.

The Vietnamese government has issued policies to support digital economy development, and considers the digital economy and support enterprises digital transformation as top priorities, Rrankel said.

Rrankel emphasized that these help leading technology enterprises of the U.S., including Meta, see the bright outlook of Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The 63 staff members of Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 operating at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been honored with the UN Peacekeeping Medals for their dedication and outstanding contributions to UN missions. The award ceremony was held in Bentiu, South Sudan, on Wednesday, marking an important milestone for the field hospital after nearly a year of duty in South Sudan. Attending in the event were Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of the UNMISS; Jane Lanyero Kony, acting head of the UN Peacekeeping missions Field Office in Bentiu; Iqbal Mohd, UNMISS Chief Medical Officer; Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Kim Tinh, Commander of the UN peacekeeping forces of Vietnam in South Sudan; and Lieutenant Colonel Vu Minh Duong, director of the hospital, among other participants. With the duty of providing medical care for UN staff working at the mission, the hospital has always strived to successfully complete its duties, contributing to the promotion of the beautiful images of the country and people of Vietnam. Addressing the ceremony, Lieutenant General Subramanian and Kony praised the dedication and professionalism of the hospitals staff members, and emphasized that the medals are the UNs recognition for their great efforts during their missions in South Sudan. The awards also serve as a demonstration for Vietnams contributions to peace and stability in the world, they added. On behalf of the hospital staff, Lieutenant Colonel Duong pledged that they will continue devoting all their ability to provide the best possible healthcare and treatment services for UN staff as well as local people. Vietnam has so far hosted four field hospitals in South Sudan. The first field hospital was opened in October 2018 and the second and third were launched in November 2019 and March 2021, respectively. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The 63 staff members of Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 operating at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been honored with the UN Peacekeeping Medals for their dedication and outstanding contributions to UN missions.

The award ceremony was held in Bentiu, South Sudan, on Wednesday, marking an important milestone for the field hospital after nearly a year of duty in South Sudan.

Attending in the event were Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of the UNMISS; Jane Lanyero Kony, acting head of the UN Peacekeeping missions Field Office in Bentiu; Iqbal Mohd, UNMISS Chief Medical Officer; Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Kim Tinh, Commander of the UN peacekeeping forces of Vietnam in South Sudan; and Lieutenant Colonel Vu Minh Duong, director of the hospital, among other participants.

With the duty of providing medical care for UN staff working at the mission, the hospital has always strived to successfully complete its duties, contributing to the promotion of the beautiful images of the country and people of Vietnam.

Addressing the ceremony, Lieutenant General Subramanian and Kony praised the dedication and professionalism of the hospitals staff members, and emphasized that the medals are the UNs recognition for their great efforts during their missions in South Sudan.

The awards also serve as a demonstration for Vietnams contributions to peace and stability in the world, they added.

On behalf of the hospital staff, Lieutenant Colonel Duong pledged that they will continue devoting all their ability to provide the best possible healthcare and treatment services for UN staff as well as local people.

Vietnam has so far hosted four field hospitals in South Sudan.

The first field hospital was opened in October 2018 and the second and third were launched in November 2019 and March 2021, respectively.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Two people, including a four-year-old girl, died after a car plunged off a bridge in Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands region on Thursday. The fatal traffic accident happened at a bypass of National Highway 20 at around 11:00 am. The vehicle involved in the incident was a Ford Everest with plate number 49A-063.64 driven by 54-year-old D.T.V., a resident of Di Linh District, and a four-year-old girl, who is only known as Nh. A Ford Everest falls into an abyss below the Nau Sri Bridge in Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, March 23, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre V. and Nh. were en route from Da Lat City to Bao Loc when V. lost control of the car on the Nau Sri Bridge in Bao Loc, causing the vehicle go over the side of the bridge. Both of V. and Nh. died at the scene. The 200m-long Nau Sri Bridge is an unfinished part of a bypass project south of Bao Loc, which has been under construction since August 2017 and carries a price tag of more than VND800 billion (US$34.05 million). It is meant to alleviate congestion on National Highway 20 in Bao Loc. Officers and onlookers gather at the scene after a Ford Everest crashed into an abyss below the Nau Sri Bridge in Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, March 23, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre Like many parts of the 15.6km-long bypass project, Nau Sris guardrails have not been finished and most of the iron siding of the bridge is rusted. There are also no warning signs. Although the bridge yet to be finished, it is still open to traffic. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Two people, including a four-year-old girl, died after a car plunged off a bridge in Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands region on Thursday.

The fatal traffic accident happened at a bypass of National Highway 20 at around 11:00 am.

The vehicle involved in the incident was a Ford Everest with plate number 49A-063.64 driven by 54-year-old D.T.V., a resident of Di Linh District, and a four-year-old girl, who is only known as Nh.

A Ford Everest falls into an abyss below the Nau Sri Bridge in Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, March 23, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre

V. and Nh. were en route from Da Lat City to Bao Loc when V. lost control of the car on the Nau Sri Bridge in Bao Loc, causing the vehicle go over the side of the bridge.

Both of V. and Nh. died at the scene.

The 200m-long Nau Sri Bridge is an unfinished part of a bypass project south of Bao Loc, which has been under construction since August 2017 and carries a price tag of more than VND800 billion (US$34.05 million).

It is meant to alleviate congestion on National Highway 20 in Bao Loc.

Officers and onlookers gather at the scene after a Ford Everest crashed into an abyss below the Nau Sri Bridge in Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, March 23, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre

Like many parts of the 15.6km-long bypass project, Nau Sris guardrails have not been finished and most of the iron siding of the bridge is rusted.

There are also no warning signs.

Although the bridge yet to be finished, it is still open to traffic.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Cuban Ministry of Public Health said at a virtual meeting with the health authority of Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday that it is willing to assist the southern metropolis in rolling out community healthcare projects. The virtual meeting featured discussions on healthcare services between the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health and the Cuban ministrys primary healthcare board, as well as Cuban health experts. The Cuban side will dispatch two public health experts to Ho Chi Minh City to survey and discuss what needs to be done to facilitate community-based healthcare services in the city. The Health Ministry of Cuba also invited the citys health delegation to visit Cuba and learn from its public healthcare system. Earlier at the meeting, Ailuj Casanova Baroto, head of the Cuban primary healthcare board, briefed participants on the Caribbean island's public healthcare system, which is considered one of the most effective healthcare systems in the world. Cubas healthcare system ensures that all citizens are able to approach healthcare services at no charge, said Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health. The system focuses on the prevention of illnesses and the enhancement of public health education. Community-based medical stations play a crucial part in this system, with a large number of them set up throughout urban and rural areas in Cuba. There is one station for every 1,000 households in this nation. Cuban healthcare workers are well trained to give diagnosis and medical treatment for common illnesses, while offering disease preventive measures to Cuban residents. Its medical facilities also provide many other services such as vaccination, periodic medical checkups, pregnancy services, and newborn care. Groups of Cuban health experts regularly visit these medical stations to jointly provide medical checkups and treatment for residents in the neighborhood. Also, the Cuban healthcare system focuses on the research and development of novel healthcare methods, thus ensuring that the best healthcare measures are adopted to ensure public health. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Cuban Ministry of Public Health said at a virtual meeting with the health authority of Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday that it is willing to assist the southern metropolis in rolling out community healthcare projects.

The virtual meeting featured discussions on healthcare services between the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health and the Cuban ministrys primary healthcare board, as well as Cuban health experts.

The Cuban side will dispatch two public health experts to Ho Chi Minh City to survey and discuss what needs to be done to facilitate community-based healthcare services in the city.

The Health Ministry of Cuba also invited the citys health delegation to visit Cuba and learn from its public healthcare system.

Earlier at the meeting, Ailuj Casanova Baroto, head of the Cuban primary healthcare board, briefed participants on the Caribbean island's public healthcare system, which is considered one of the most effective healthcare systems in the world.

Cubas healthcare system ensures that all citizens are able to approach healthcare services at no charge, said Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

The system focuses on the prevention of illnesses and the enhancement of public health education.

Community-based medical stations play a crucial part in this system, with a large number of them set up throughout urban and rural areas in Cuba.

There is one station for every 1,000 households in this nation.

Cuban healthcare workers are well trained to give diagnosis and medical treatment for common illnesses, while offering disease preventive measures to Cuban residents.

Its medical facilities also provide many other services such as vaccination, periodic medical checkups, pregnancy services, and newborn care.

Groups of Cuban health experts regularly visit these medical stations to jointly provide medical checkups and treatment for residents in the neighborhood.

Also, the Cuban healthcare system focuses on the research and development of novel healthcare methods, thus ensuring that the best healthcare measures are adopted to ensure public health.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Ba Ria-Vung Tau Peoples Committee has imposed a VND1.3 billion (US$55,330) fine on South Korea-invested Kbec Vina Company for releasing raw sewage in excess of what is currently permitted. In early February of this year, the environmental police division of the provincial Department of Public Security found Kbec Vina, had installed a drainage pipe connecting its sewage tank with the local rainwater drainage system. The sewage from the drainage system flows onto natural streams, turning them yellow and leaving an unpleasant odor. Competent forces collected wastewater samples from the affected streams for inspection, measurement, and analysis, and discovered that their environmental indicators were many times higher than national standards. A corner of Kbec Vinas waste dump which generates sewage. Photo: D.H. / Tuoi Tre As a result, a fine was levied on the firm, whose legal representative is South Korean national Noh Kyung Hwan, for violating regulations related to the release of untreated wastewater. The South Korean firm was also suspended from discharging treated wastewater into the environment for 4-5 months. The firm must pay over VND8 million ($340) for the assessment and analysis of wastewater samples. Kbec Vina specializes in treating household waste and has operated in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam for over 10 years. The firm uses the burial method to treat waste, so wastewater is accumulated from the waste treatment process. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Ba Ria-Vung Tau Peoples Committee has imposed a VND1.3 billion (US$55,330) fine on South Korea-invested Kbec Vina Company for releasing raw sewage in excess of what is currently permitted.

In early February of this year, the environmental police division of the provincial Department of Public Security found Kbec Vina, had installed a drainage pipe connecting its sewage tank with the local rainwater drainage system.

The sewage from the drainage system flows onto natural streams, turning them yellow and leaving an unpleasant odor.

Competent forces collected wastewater samples from the affected streams for inspection, measurement, and analysis, and discovered that their environmental indicators were many times higher than national standards.

A corner of Kbec Vinas waste dump which generates sewage. Photo: D.H. / Tuoi Tre

As a result, a fine was levied on the firm, whose legal representative is South Korean national Noh Kyung Hwan, for violating regulations related to the release of untreated wastewater.

The South Korean firm was also suspended from discharging treated wastewater into the environment for 4-5 months.

The firm must pay over VND8 million ($340) for the assessment and analysis of wastewater samples.

Kbec Vina specializes in treating household waste and has operated in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam for over 10 years. The firm uses the burial method to treat waste, so wastewater is accumulated from the waste treatment process.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
People around Vietnam will turn off their electric lights for an hour on Saturday evening to show support for a global campaign called Earth Hour, which is aimed at enhancing the need to act on climate change and power saving. The World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event was initiated in Sydney, Australia in 2007, while Vietnam first took part in the environmental campaign in 2009. The Landmark 81 building in Ho Chi Minh City gradually loses its glow during the 2020 Earth Hour. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre To respond to this years Earth Hour campaign, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has called for action to save the planet by turning off lights for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Saturday, March 25. The ministry teamed up with the Hoa Binh Peoples Committee to organize a ceremony to launch the 2023 Earth Hour campaign nationwide in the northern province on Thursday. Many buildings on the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh turn off lights during the 2020 Earth Hour. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said that climate change has led to severe weather conditions, including lengthy heat waves, high rainfalls and intense droughts. Vietnam is listed among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to a report titled 2022 climate change - impact, adaptation and vulnerability, conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Young people in Hanoi City show support for the 2019 Earth Hour campaign. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre To prevent climate change from delivering serious blows to agriculture, food security, natural ecosystem, water resources and peoples health, and encourage participation in the blackout, the ministry told all ministries, departments, agencies and localities to switch off lights and non-essential electric devices for a full hour on Saturday night. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

People around Vietnam will turn off their electric lights for an hour on Saturday evening to show support for a global campaign called Earth Hour, which is aimed at enhancing the need to act on climate change and power saving.

The World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event was initiated in Sydney, Australia in 2007, while Vietnam first took part in the environmental campaign in 2009.

The Landmark 81 building in Ho Chi Minh City gradually loses its glow during the 2020 Earth Hour. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

To respond to this years Earth Hour campaign, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has called for action to save the planet by turning off lights for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Saturday, March 25.

The ministry teamed up with the Hoa Binh Peoples Committee to organize a ceremony to launch the 2023 Earth Hour campaign nationwide in the northern province on Thursday.

Many buildings on the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh turn off lights during the 2020 Earth Hour. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said that climate change has led to severe weather conditions, including lengthy heat waves, high rainfalls and intense droughts.

Vietnam is listed among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to a report titled 2022 climate change - impact, adaptation and vulnerability, conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Young people in Hanoi City show support for the 2019 Earth Hour campaign. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

To prevent climate change from delivering serious blows to agriculture, food security, natural ecosystem, water resources and peoples health, and encourage participation in the blackout, the ministry told all ministries, departments, agencies and localities to switch off lights and non-essential electric devices for a full hour on Saturday night.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
March 24, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " The Cradle " - What has just taken place in Moscow is nothing less than a new Yalta, which, incidentally, is in Crimea. But unlike the momentous meeting of US President Franklin Roosevelt, Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in USSR-run Crimea in 1945, this is the first time in arguably five centuries that no political leader from the west is setting the global agenda.

Its Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin that are now running the multilateral, multipolar show. Western exceptionalists may deploy their crybaby routines as much as they want: nothing will change the spectacular optics, and the underlying substance of this developing world order, especially for the Global South.

What Xi and Putin are setting out to do was explained in detail before their summit, in two Op-Eds penned by the presidents themselves. Like a highly-synchronized Russian ballet, Putins vision was laid out in the Peoples Daily in China, focusing on a future-bound partnership, while Xis was published in the Russian Gazette and the RIA Novosti website, focusing on a new chapter in cooperation and common development.

Right from the start of the summit, the speeches by both Xi and Putin drove the NATO crowd into a hysterical frenzy of anger and envy: Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova perfectly captured the mood when she remarked that the west was foaming at the mouth.

The front page of the Russian Gazette on Monday was iconic: Putin touring Nazi-free Mariupol, chatting with residents, side by side with Xis Op-Ed. That was, in a nutshell, Moscows terse response to Washingtons MQ-9 Reaper stunt and the International Criminal Court (ICC) kangaroo court shenanigans. Foam at the mouth as much as you like; NATO is in the process of being thoroughly humiliated in Ukraine.

During their first informal meeting, Xi and Putin talked for no less than four and a half hours. At the end, Putin personally escorted Xi to his limo. This conversation was the real deal: mapping out the lineaments of multipolarity  which starts with a solution for Ukraine.

Predictably, there were very few leaks from the sherpas, but there was quite a significant one on their in-depth exchange on Ukraine. Putin politely stressed he respects Chinas position  expressed in Beijings 12-point conflict resolution plan, which has been completely rejected by Washington. But the Russian position remains ironclad: demilitarization, Ukrainian neutrality, and enshrining the new facts on the ground.

In parallel, the Russian Foreign Ministry completely ruled out a role for the US, UK, France, and Germany in future Ukraine negotiations: they are not considered neutral mediators.

A multipolar patchwork quilt

The next day was all about business: everything from energy and military-technical cooperation to improving the efficacy of trade and economic corridors running through Eurasia.

Russia already ranks first as a natural gas supplier to China  surpassing Turkmenistan and Qatar  most of it via the 3,000 km Power of Siberia pipeline that runs from Siberia to Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang province, launched in December 2019. Negotiations on the Power of Siberia II pipeline via Mongolia are advancing fast.

Sino-Russian cooperation in high-tech will go through the roof: 79 projects at over $165 billion. Everything from liquified natural gas (LNG) to aircraft construction, machine tool construction, space research, agro-industry, and upgraded economic corridors.

The Chinese president explicitly said he wants to link the New Silk Road projects to the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU). This BRI-EAEU interpolation is a natural evolution. China has already signed an economic cooperation deal with the EAEU. Russian macroeconomic uber-strategist Sergey Glazyevs ideas are finally bearing fruit.

And last but not least, there will be a new drive towards mutual settlements in national currencies  and between Asia and Africa, and Latin America. For all practical purposes, Putin endorsed the role of the Chinese yuan as the new trade currency of choice while the complex discussions on a new reserve currency backed by gold and/or commodities proceed.

This joint economic/business offensive ties in with the concerted Russia-China diplomatic offensive to remake vast swathes of West Asia and Africa.

Chinese diplomacy works like the matryoshka (Russian stacking dolls) in terms of delivering subtle messages. Its far from coincidental that Xis trip to Moscow exactly coincides with the 20th anniversary of American Shock and Awe and the illegal invasion, occupation, and destruction of Iraq.

In parallel, over 40 delegations from Africa arrived in Moscow a day before Xi to take part in a Russia-Africa in the Multipolar World parliamentary conference  a run-up to the second Russia-Africa summit next July.

The area surrounding the Duma looked just like the old Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) days when most of Africa kept very close anti-imperialist relations with the USSR.

Putin chose this exact moment to write off more than $20 billion in African debt.

In West Asia, Russia-China are acting totally in synch. West Asia. The Saudi-Iran rapprochement was actually jump-started by Russia in Baghdad and Oman: it was these negotiations that led to the signing of the deal in Beijing. Moscow is also coordinating the Syria-Turkiye rapprochement discussions. Russian diplomacy with Iran  now under strategic partnership status  is kept on a separate track.

Diplomatic sources confirm that Chinese intelligence, via its own investigations, is now fully assured of Putins vast popularity across Russia, and even within the countrys political elites. That means conspiracies of the regime-change variety are out of the question. This was fundamental for Xi and the Zhongnanhais (Chinas central HQ for party and state officials) decision to bet on Putin as a trusted partner in the coming years, considering he may run and win the next presidential elections. China is always about continuity.

So the Xi-Putin summit definitively sealed China-Russia as comprehensive strategic partners for the long haul, committed to developing serious geopolitical and geoeconomic competition with declining western hegemons.

This is the new world born in Moscow this week. Putin previously defined it as a new anti-colonial policy. Its now laid out as a multipolar patchwork quilt. Theres no turning back on the demolition of the remnants of Pax Americana.

Changes that havent happened in 100 years

In Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250-1350, Janet Abu-Lughod built a carefully constructed narrative showing the prevailing multipolar order when the West lagged behind the Orient. Later, the West only pulled ahead because the Orient was temporarily in disarray.

We may be witnessing a similarly historic shift in the making, trespassed by a revival of Confucianism (respect for authority, emphasis on social harmony), the equilibrium inherent to the Tao, and the spiritual power of Eastern Orthodoxy. This is, indeed, a civilizational fight.

Moscow, finally welcoming the first sunny days of Spring, provided this week a larger-than-life illustration of weeks where decades happen compared to decades where nothing happens.

The two presidents bid farewell in a poignant manner.

Xi: Now, there are changes that havent happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes.

Putin: I agree.

Xi: Take care, dear friend.

Putin: Have a safe trip.

Heres to a new day dawning, from the lands of the Rising Sun to the Eurasian steppes.
Writer / Actor / Director / Producer Aaron Faaoso will deliver the Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture at Screen Forever 37 in May.

A proud Torres Strait Islander, Faaoso is managing director at Lone Star Production Group (Strait to the Plate, Blue Water Empire).

Im delighted to be delivering the Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture at Screen Forever 37 at a time when there is so much opportunity ahead for our industry. Im looking forward to discussing how Torres Strait Islander people continue to be frustrated about the lack of inclusion, visibility, and voices of not being seen, heard, or considered despite being integral in the economic development of this country across the vast landscapes of the maritime (Pearling), agricultural (sugarcane). Transport (railway development) and defence force industries.

As the other First Nations people of Australia, Torres Strait Islander people want a more balanced representation across the entire film and television landscape from content creation, onscreen talent, Heads of department and so on. Until a focussed Torres Strait Islander screen strategy and funding is established and allocated that is embraced and advocated by the screen industry, screen agencies and broadcasters the status quo will remain.

Screen Producers Australia CEO, Matthew Deaner said, Were thrilled to have Aaron as our Hector Crawford Memorial Lecturer for Screen Forever 37. Aarons delivery is very timely given the prominence of First Nations stories in the governments new National Cultural Policy and are sure his lecture will not only be well received by all delegates in attendance but inspire them and reignite a burning passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories within the Australian screen sector.

Aaron was born into the Kheodal and Samu clans of Saibai Island. Having grown up in a large Torres Strait Islander community with a rich tradition of storytelling, it is no surprise that Aaron has gone on to become one of Australias screen industrys most important storytellers and prominent figures of Torres Strait Island descent. Aaron began his career in 2006, when he played Eddie Gaibui on R.A.N, and since then he has become well known on Australian screens having appeared on or voiced characters in film and TV productions including Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Black Comedy, Goldstone and Subdivision, to name but a few.

His career behind the camera has become equally important with Aaron establishing himself as a director, producer, and writer with credits including Blue Water Empire, and two of the only productions to focus solely on Torres Strait Island culture, Strait to the plate, and The Straits.

Aaron has contributed more broadly to the industry with roles on SPA Council, the Screen Queensland Board and most recently the SBS Board as one of two newly announced non-executive Directors. Through Lone Star he has developed multiple capacity-building programs helping participants to learn screen fundamentals such as writing, acting, and producing with a focus on educating future generations of First Nations screen industry practitioners.

As a long-time advocate for investment in a studio in Far North Queensland that would facilitate a First Nations focus, Aarons work with others was realised in 2021 with the announcement by the Queensland government of a $6.8m film and television studio in Cairns, due for completion later this year.

Aaron has also been active in work to realise a Queensland Treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders joining the Treaty Advancement Committee, and in 2022 launched his memoir So Far, So Good, reviewed as a compelling read that goes into detail about his career, advocacy work and aspirations for the future.
Brendan OCarroll is set to hit UK stages for the first time in 10 years with his show Mrs Brown Rides Again.

OCarroll said: The pandemic is gone, and Mrs Brown is back. It doesnt get any better.

The new live tour follows the news that Mrs. Browns Boys is set to return to television for a mini-series of four episodes  the first shows outside the Christmas specials since 2013.

OCarroll will undertake 36 live shows from August but no Aussie dates have been announced which is either a blessing or a curse depending on your take on the show, I guess.

Source: Chortle
Seven News State Political Editor Amelia Brace and presenter Michael Usher will lead Sevens coverage of the NSW election from 5.00pm on Saturday.

Mark Ferguson also hosts a special bulletin at 6pm before NSW Decides 2023 continues from 7.00pm.

Sydney news director, Jason Morrison, said: We have chosen experts who are all current or key players in NSW politics today, and who will share their insider news and headlining views in what is shaping to be an election like no other.

Amelia Brace showed her dominance in state political reporting when she masterfully managed both Premier Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns during the 7NEWS Leaders debate this month. She and Michael Usher will our on-air team, who have seen more elections than any other network.

The NSW Decides 2023 panel includes:

* David Elliott, the Liberal Partys most experienced minister, known for his bomb-throwing skills, who is leaving politics and wont be afraid to share his thoughts on the way out;

* Labor powerbroker and tactician, Jo Haylon, a senior shadow minister who has been central to her partys campaign and is also a close confidante of Opposition Leader Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese;

* Nationals MP Melinda Pavey, who has variously been a minister for roads, water, and housing during her 35-year political career and should know early in the night if the bush can save the Coalition;

* And last, but not least, one of Australias most controversial politician, Mark Latham, who knows the movements in every marginal seat, brings his unique knowledge of the inner workings of the Labor party (as its former leader) and stands a strong chance of holding the balance of power in the NSW Upper House.

7NEWS political editor Mark Riley returns with his famed Screen of Dreams, while Chief Reporter Chris Reason and Chris Maher will each report from Labor and Liberal party headquarters.
Next week Q+A is in Sydney.

Indigenous leaders joined an emotional Anthony Albanese to reveal the wording of the Voice referendum question which will be put to the nation. The Prime Minister has appealed to Australians to support the vote, asking: If not now, when?

The agreed wording of the question follows intense negotiations and reads: A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration.

The announcement comes ahead of South Australias special sitting of Parliament on Sunday to pass its own First Nations Voice Bill  the first such legislation in the country. The PM is seeking to head off dissent by clearly setting out that the Voice will have no power of veto  but will that be enough to satisfy those opposed to it? And what does the question mean for First Nations sovereignty?

Meanwhile, as the fanfare of the announcement subsides, the reality of Australias submarine deal is sinking in. Critics from within Labors ranks are voicing their concerns about the deal that some say could end up costing far more than the projected $368 billion. Just what price are we paying for security?

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskus is celebrating a year in office  hes the only opposition leader whos managed to unseat a Premier during the pandemic. Will NSW follow suit and have a new leader after the weekends state election?

Panellists:

Peter Malinauskas, Premier of SA;

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Country Liberal Senator for NT;

Jordon Steele-John, Greens Senator for WA;

and Richard Spencer, Former Secretary of the US Navy.

Full panel TBC.

9:35pm Monday on ABC.
By IANS



Mumbai : Security at the upscale World Trade Centre in downtown Mumbai was beefed up Wednesday after an anonymous letter threatening to blast the high rise towers on Thursday was handed over to police.

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The letter was received by the World Trade Centre at south Mumbai's Cuffe Parade area Tuesday and sent to the police commissioner's office.

"The letter threatened to blow up the twin towers on May 24. It did not give any specific reason for blowing it up," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-I) Brijesh Singh.

"Following the threat, we have beefed up security in and around the twin towers and are also conducting a through search of the premises. We are keeping a close watch on people visiting the buildings. We are not taking any chances," Singh told IANS.

"We are trying to ascertain where the letter was sent from. Specific security drills have also been put into play."

The WTC, which houses leading financial and investment institutions and other business houses besides several government offices, is situated in the business hub of India's financial capital close to the famous Gateway of India.

Tension is high in the country with the bombing of the 400-year-old Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad last week that killed 16 people.

Besides, memories of the terror attack on the city's suburban railway network last July 11 are only too fresh. Nearly 200 people were killed when a series of blasts ripped though the first class carriages during evening rush hour.


Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) held an urgent press conference today and urged the government to bring a formal order in the matter.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  Criticising the government for the ongoing anti-encroachment drive to retrieve state land, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) today said that the anti-encroachment drive lacks transparency.

KCCI held an urgent press conference today at Srinagar.

Sheikh Ashiq, president of KCC&I, said that a formal order should be issued in this respect so that the public is fully aware of it and that accountability needs to be set in the current anti-encroachment operation.

After yesterdays shops closures at Aftab Market, we spoke with higher-ups today, and we were given the assurance that no more action affecting peoples ability to support themselves will be done, Ashiq said.

He said a formal order in this matter is essential to stop the chaos, adding that they are not here to defend the land mafia and those who have seized the land but to ensure that the peoples livelihood is not impacted.

Despite opposition from locals and various political groups, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has intensified its massive land retrieval drive throughout the Union Territory since last week.

Political parties have mounted criticism of the drive and urged authorities that attempts to clear encroachments and remove thousands from state land will primarily affect low-income families and cause further economic issues.

Authorities moved into overdrive on Tuesday, a day after the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar, to reclaim government land encroached upon by influential people, demolishing the exteriors of homes owned by a former minister, the family of a top police officer, and a businessman.

A crew from the revenue department demolished the boundary wall and a security bunker of the home of former minister and Congress leader Peerzada Mohammad Sayyed in the Dahmal Khoshipora region of south Kashmir.

The revenue department also demolished the exterior wall of an orchard field owned by the family of a deputy inspector general of police rank officer in the Mattan neighbourhood of Anantnag, officials said.

Authorities on Wednesday also sealed more than 20 shops at Aftab Market in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar, alleging that the land was being occupied illegally.

2.7 kanals of land were illegally occupied, where more than 20 shops were established, according to a report by the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), which cited an official.

While protesting against the move, shopkeepers alleged that they had been paying rent to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

On Thursday, however, all the shops were unsealed by the authorities, taking into account the livelihood of the shopkeepers.

Earlier, the authorities razed the boundary wall and guardhouse at the residence of former minister and National Conference (NC) general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Humhama area.

After issuing the order on January 9 requiring all district authorities to remove all encroachments on state land by January 31, 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir administration faced much criticism. There have also been a lot of demonstrations amid growing concerns over dispossession.

Sajad Lone, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), had submitted a letter to Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha pleading with him to make an official order for the impoverished and marginalized people so they may be distinguished from others who are engaged in a land grab.

Mehbooba Mufti, the head of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed on Wednesday that the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had turned the anti-encroachment campaign into a weapon to target locals just like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act.

This is another tactic in the Bhartiya Janata Partys (BJP) arsenal, similar to UAPA, PSA, and the weaponization of NIA and other law enforcement organizations. They are utilizing it to make residents of Jammu and Kashmir homeless, Mehbooba Mufti said in Srinagar.

As she accused the BJP of trying to incite a rich-versus-poor division, Mufti asserted that many of these households had been there before 1947, during the reign of the Maharaja.

Whether in Bathindi in Jammu or Kashmir or even in the border regions, they are razing houses on six Marlas of land. They dont have much money. They (BJP) split Hindus and Muslims first, then Gujjars and Paharis, Shias and Sunnis, and now theyre trying to divide the rich and the poor in the same way, She said.

According to the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has failed to reclaim the territory from China and is instead persecuting residents of the Union Territory.

Why dont they recover the 20,000 Kanal of land China has taken from us? Before anything else, they should take back Kacharai land (Grazing Territory) from China. Usage of Kacharai land here is a right of the people, she added.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib


Women in different parts of the state have expressed displeasure against the move and demanded release of their husbands.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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GUWAHATI (ASSAM)  Continuing the statewide crackdown on child marriages, Assam Police have arrested a total of 2,258 people so far, an official said on Saturday.

Rajib Saikia, PRO of Assam Police, has said that the highest numbers of arrests were reported from Biswanath district where 139 people were detained and 97 cases were registered against child marriage.

Barpeta district has the second highest number of arrests, which stands at 128 against the total number of 81 cases lodged.

The Muslim-dominated district of Dhubri logs the third-highest arrests. Already 127 people have been arrested by the police here with 374 complaints of child marriages registered.

The arrests come in the wake of the Assam cabinets decision to book men who marry girls aged below 14 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Those who marry girls in the age group of 14-18 years will be tried under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

The offenders will be arrested and the marriages declared illegal.

Chief Minister Himanta Sarma Biswa said men marrying girls below 14 years of age will be facing non-bailable charges, while those marrying girls between 14 and 16 years of age will be charged under bailable sections. If the groom is below 14 years of age, he will be sent to a reform house.

Assam Govt is firm in its resolve to end the menace of child marriage in the state. So far @assampolice has registered 4,004 cases across the state and more police action is likely in days ahead. Action on the cases will begin starting February 3. I request all to cooperate. pic.twitter.com/JH2GTVLhKJ  Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 2, 2023

The move aims to curb child marriages and early motherhood in the state. According to National Family Health Survey, Assam has a high rate of maternal and infant mortality rates, with child marriage being the primary cause.

An average of 31% marriages registered in the state are in the prohibited age group, the NFHS had noted.

As per National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) 2019-21, around 11.7% of the women between age 15-19 in Assam were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey.

TwoCircles.net reported in May 2011 how ailing education system in Assam is one of the main causes of child marriage and early age labour.

Women oppose the move

The governments crackdown on child marriages hasnt gone down well with women in Assam, especially those from Dhubri, which has the highest number of child marriages in the state.

Scores of women descended on the streets in Dhubri on Saturday as police came to arrest their husbands and sons. Demanding the release of their family members, the women gathered in front of Tamarha police station.

Many women in different parts of the state have also expressed displeasure over the arrest of their husbands. They have been protesting outside the police stations against the crackdown. Who will feed the family if their spouses are jailed, they have asked.

Criticising the move, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at the Assam chief minister asking what would be in store for the minor girls, whose husbands have been apprehended and put behind bars. He slammed Sarma for being biased and said the move is an administrative failure of the state as the BJP-led government is taking such an action after ruling Assam for six years.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, however, made it clear that the police operation against child marriage will continue in the state.

People should not try to draw sympathy on this issue. This is extremely necessary to save the future generation, he said. (With IANS inputs)

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


The Hindutva right-wing organization Bajrang Dal has reiterated its commitment to checking religious conversion and love-jihad at the grassroots level.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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PRAYAGRAJ (UTTAR PRADESH)  Right-wing Hindutva outfit Bajrang Dal has reiterated its commitment to check and end religious conversions and love-jihad across the country, IANS reported.

Love Jihad is a conspiracy theory disseminated by the Hindu right-wing in India alleging that Mulsim men are trying to lure Hindu women into Islam by way of romantic relationships and marriage. The Hindu right-wing claims that it [love-jihad] is part of a broader demographic war by Muslims against India and an organised international conspiracy for domination through demographic growth and replacement.

In recent years, allegations of love-jihad were frequently made against Indian Muslims accused of crimes.

In November last year, TwoCircles.net reported how the grisly murder of a Hindu girl allegedly at the hands of her Muslim boyfriend quickly turned communal with widespread allegations of love-jihad made. The case was yet another example of how an entire community was targeted for the crime of one and how easily polarized and communal the debates around the issue became.

To counter religious conversion, several states in India have enacted anti-conversion laws which its critics say is regressive and offensive.

Formation of Bajrang Dal in response to Jihad

Bajrang Dal, under its expansion drive, plans to reach out to every lane, locality, colony, village, block and city to protect and spread the Hindu religion, culture and tradition.

IANS quoted the National Convener of Bajrang Dal, Neeraj Doneria as saying, The formation of Bajrang Dal was done in response to jihad and the organisation would be carrying out its activities extensively and none can pose any sort of hindrance to it.

Bajrang Dal was the organisation to give a befitting reply to anti-nationals, he said.

Doneria said the organisation is working tirelessly to serve and protect the Hindu community. At a time when religious conversions and love-jihad are posing major challenges across the country, all the patriots are looking to the activists of Bajrang Dal to take up mass awareness and check religious conversions and love-jihad, he said.

Whenever there has been an attack on Hindu dignity and faith, the activists of Bajrang Dal stand like a rock. We have to play a major role to check religious conversion and love-jihad at the grassroots level, he added.



Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


A case related to the minimum age of Muslim girls getting married is pending before the Supreme Court.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is preparing to approach the Supreme Court against the recent crackdown on child marriages in Assam, a member of its working committee said on Monday.

The decision was taken at a board meeting in Lucknow on Sunday, Guwahati High Court senior advocate and committee member Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury said.

I raised the issue, and there was a detailed discussion on this, he said.

A case related to the minimum age of Muslim girls getting married is pending before the Supreme Court.

Choudhury said according to Muslim personal law, a girl belonging to the Muslim community can get married after she attains the age of 15.

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana in a verdict said that a Muslim girl can marry a man of her choice once she is 15 years old. These types of marriages are not illegal even as per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, he said.

However, the high court judgement was challenged in the apex court by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

The senior advocate informed that the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board would appeal to become a party in the above case.

Although this case is not connected with Assam, both matters are related to the fixing of the minimum age of females for getting married. Therefore, we would like to be a party to it, he added.

Choudhury alleged that the Assam government has not followed laws while arresting people on the child marriage issue.

The arrests have come in the wake of the Assam cabinets decision to book men who marry girls aged below 14 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Those who marry girls in the age group of 14-18 years will be tried under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, of 2006.

The offenders will be arrested and the marriages declared illegal, the government has said.

Chief Minister Himanta Sarma Biswa said men marrying girls below 14 years of age will be facing non-bailable charges, while those marrying girls between 14 and 16 years of age will be charged under bailable sections. If the groom is below 14 years of age, he will be sent to a reform house.

Choudhary said that child marriage must be stopped, but before taking any such actions, the government should first spread awareness against it.

Opposition to the move

The governments crackdown on child marriages hasnt gone down well with women in Assam, especially those from Dhubri, which has the highest number of child marriages in the state. Scores of women descended on the streets in Dhubri on Saturday as police came to arrest their husbands and sons. Demanding the release of their family members, the women gathered in front of the Tamarha police station.

Criticising the move, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi also hit out at the Assam chief minister asking what would be in store for the minor girls, whose husbands have been apprehended and put behind bars. He slammed Sarma for being biased and said the move is an administrative failure of the state as the BJP-led government is taking such action after ruling Assam for six years. (With IANS inputs)

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


Students of the Jamia Milia Islamia expressed relief after being discharged by a Delhi court on Saturday in a case connected to violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December 2019.

Arbab Ali | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Mohd Shoaib, a student at Jamia Millia Islamia university in New Delhi, was one among 10 other students charged with inciting violence in Delhi on December 13, 2019, the day demonstrators gathered for the first march against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) from Jamia Millia Islamia to the Parliament.

The students were charged under 16 sections of two laws, including rioting, unlawful assembly, assaulting public servants, mischief by fire, attempt to commit culpable homicide, and criminal conspiracy.

On February 4, more than two years after the second supplementary chargesheet in the incident was filed which included Shoaibs name, a Delhi Court discharged him and 10 others in the case.

The discharged students include Mohammad Qasim, Mahmood Anwar, Shahzar Raza Khan, Mohd Abuzar, Umair Ahmad, Bilal Nadeem, Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Chanda Yadav, and Safoora Zargar. Imam, however, remains imprisoned in connection with additional FIRs filed against him in connection with the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Discharging Shoaib and 10 others, the Court observed that the police were unable to apprehend actual perpetrators and surely managed to rope them (accused) as scapegoats in the matter. It stated that putting such people through the ordeal of a protracted trial does not bode well for our nations criminal justice system.

Through this case, the police wanted to say that dont go against us, Shoaib told TwoCircles.net.

Shoaib said even though Jamia students faced violence on that day, the police in turn filed a case against students only.

Shoaib was summoned twice by the Delhi Police in 2021 and appeared in at least 8 court proceedings since May 2022. He said he was fortunate to have a lawyer take up his case pro bono, but he still had the financial and mental burden of attending investigations and court proceedings. He claimed that whenever he or the other accused students went to university officials to negotiate during protests, they were reminded of their criminal history.

The worst part, according to Shoaib, is that the university administration never offered them any legal assistance. They have good lawyers, but they didnt help, he said.

Shoaib said the courts decision has given him hope.

Another student discharged in the case Mahmood Anwar told TwoCircles.net that he was not hopeful for a favourable order. It far surpassed my expectations, he said. Anwar is a post-doctoral student at Jamia Millia Islamia.

According to Mahmood, the investigating agency was aware that there was no case.

Anwar claimed that a case like this, which had no merits, should have been resolved in six months or a year. But this dragged on for nearly three years, he explained.

The public prosecutor just to harass us kept on delaying the case. They knew the case would fall apart in the court.

Anwar stated that his family was also aware of the case against him. Not only was I mentally burdened, but so was my family.

He said the frequent visits to court were taxing on him. I used to leave my classes and work to attend court proceedings for months with no progress.

Mere presence at protest site insufficient to implicate protesters

The judge stated that the prosecution has been launched in a perfunctory and cavalier fashion against them, observing that mere presence at the protest site without overt acts cannot lead to implication as accused.

It went on to say that there were no eyewitnesses who could corroborate the polices claim that the accused were in any way involved in the commission of the offences.

It stated that up to the filing of the third supplemental chargesheet, no test identification parade had been conducted during the inquiry and that the photographs and videos only showed the accused individuals standing behind the barricades.

There is nothing on record to even prima face suggest that the accused herein were part of some riotous mob. None of the accused herein were brandishing any weapon or throwing any stones etc. Thus, prima facie there is no evidence qua the accused herein that they resisted the execution of any law, said the court.

No prima facie proof of conspiracy

The court stated that the prosecution did not present any WhatsApp chats, SMSs, or even proof of the accused persons interacting with each other, which could give credibility to the States assertions that there was a conspiracy or some agreement between the accused persons.

The court upheld that restricting a citizens right to peacefully protest should not have been done without due process and that dissent is nothing an extension of the invaluable fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression contained in Article 19 subject to the restrictions contained therein. It is a right which we are sworn to uphold, the court remarked.

Filing of multiple charge sheets

On April 21, 2020, the chargesheet was filed against Mohd Ilyas. In addition to the Complaint under Section 195 CrPC, DCP, South-East filed a supplementary chargesheet. Following that, on January 12, 2021, more than two years after the incident, a second supplementary chargesheet was filed before the Court, adding Shoaib and 10 other students as accused.

In total, the prosecution filed four chargesheets in the case.

The investigating authorities sought to establish in the third supplementary chargesheet that the witnesses had identified the accused persons herein based on photographs.

A review of the third supplementary chargesheet, according to the court, reveals that the same photographs that were already part of the record have been filed. The court also noted that the witnesses had completed photo identification three years after the incident. It is not a case in which the whereabouts of the witnesses were unknown, the court stated.

The court stated that the prosecutions case is questionable because the photo identification of the accused was done extremely late, after the accused filed written arguments.

The judge said, even in the third chargesheet, witnesses simply state that the accused were present at the protests and that some of them were speaking loudly and arguing with the police. They have not been charged with any overt acts, according to the most recent chargesheet, the court noted.

The court stated that the investigative agency has not adduced fresh evidence, rather has sought to present the same old facts in the garb of further investigation by filing another supplementary chargesheet. In the present case, it has been most unusual of the police to file one chargesheet and not one but three supplementary chargesheets, with really nothing new to offer.

No section 144 at the protest site

The court stated that the police filed a Section 144 CrPC prohibitory order, that too in the New Delhi District, after many years. According to the court, no explanation has been provided as to why this notification was not filed sooner.

The court ruled that because the area in question was South Delhi rather than New Delhi, the prohibitory order was redundant.

Although some police witnesses stated in their statements that Section 144 CrPC was in effect at the time, the court stated that no such notification was placed on record until recently. DCP Sh RP Meena testified before the Court in October 2022 that there was no written prohibition 144 CrPC in effect at the time of the offence, the court said.

Arbab Ali is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.
Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House

G7 vs BRICS  Off to the Races

By Scott Ritter

March 23, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Consortium News " - Last summer, the Group of 7 (G7), a self-anointed forum of nations that view themselves as the most influential economies in the world, gathered at Schloss Elmau, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to hold their annual meeting. Their focus was punishing Russia through additional sanctions, further arming of Ukraine and the containment of China.

At the same time, China hosted, through video conference, a gathering of the BRICS economic forum. Comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, this collection of nations relegated to the status of so-called developing economies focused on strengthening economic bonds, international economic development and how to address what they collectively deemed the counter-productive policies of the G7.

In early 2020, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had predicted that, based upon purchasing power parity, or PPP, calculations projected by the International Monetary Fund, BRICS would overtake the G7 sometime later that year in terms of percentage of the global total.

(A nations gross domestic product at purchasing power parity, or PPP, exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States and is a more accurate reflection of comparative economic strength than simple GDP calculations.)

Then the pandemic hit and the global economic reset that followed made the IMF projections moot. The world became singularly focused on recovering from the pandemic and, later, managing the fallout from the Wests massive sanctioning of Russia following that nations invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The G7 failed to heed the economic challenge from BRICS, and instead focused on solidifying its defense of the rules based international order that had become the mantra of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Miscalculation

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an ideological divide that has gripped the world, with one side (led by the G7) condemning the invasion and seeking to punish Russia economically, and the other (led by BRICS) taking a more nuanced stance by neither supporting the Russian action nor joining in on the sanctions. This has created a intellectual vacuum when it comes to assessing the true state of play in global economic affairs.

It is now widely accepted that the U.S. and its G7 partners miscalculated both the impact sanctions would have on the Russian economy, as well as the blowback that would hit the West.

Angus King, the Independent senator from Maine, recently observed that he remembers

when this started a year ago, all the talk was the sanctions are going to cripple Russia. Theyre going to be just out of business and riots in the street absolutely hasnt worked [w]ere they the wrong sanctions? Were they not applied well? Did we underestimate the Russian capacity to circumvent them? Why have the sanctions regime not played a bigger part in this conflict?

It should be noted that the IMF calculated that the Russian economy, as a result of these sanctions, would contract by at least 8 percent. The real number was 2 percent and the Russian economy  despite sanctions  is expected to grow in 2023 and beyond.

This kind of miscalculation has permeated Western thinking about the global economy and the respective roles played by the G7 and BRICS. In October 2022, the IMF published its annual World Economic Outlook (WEO), with a focus on traditional GDP calculations. Mainstream economic analysts, accordingly, were comforted that  despite the political challenge put forward by BRICS in the summer of 2022  the IMF was calculating that the G7 still held strong as the leading global economic bloc.

In January 2023 the IMF published an update to the October 2022 WEO, reinforcing the strong position of the G7. According to Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMFs chief economist, the balance of risks to the outlook remains tilted to the downside but is less skewed toward adverse outcomes than in the October WEO.

This positive hint prevented mainstream Western economic analysts from digging deeper into the data contained in the update. I can personally attest to the reluctance of conservative editors trying to draw current relevance from old data.

Fortunately, there are other economic analysts, such as Richard Dias of Acorn Macro Consulting, a self-described boutique macroeconomic research firm employing a top-down approach to the analysis of the global economy and financial markets. Rather than accept the IMFs rosy outlook as gospel, Dias did what analysts are supposed to do  dig through the data and extract relevant conclusions.

After rooting through the IMFs World Economic Outlook Data Base, Dias conducted a comparative analysis of the percentage of global GDP adjusted for PPP between the G7 and BRICS, and made a surprising discovery: BRICS had surpassed the G7.

This was not a projection, but rather a statement of accomplished fact: BRICS was responsible for 31.5 percent of the PPP-adjusted global GDP, while the G7 provided 30.7 percent. Making matters worse for the G7, the trends projected showed that the gap between the two economic blocs would only widen going forward.

The reasons for this accelerated accumulation of global economic clout on the part of BRICS can be linked to three primary factors:

residual fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic,

blowback from the sanctioning of Russia by the G7 nations in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a growing resentment among the developing economies of the world to G7 economic policies and

priorities which are perceived as being rooted more in post-colonial arrogance than a genuine desire to assist in helping nations grow their own economic potential.

Growth Disparities

It is true that BRICS and G7 economic clout is heavily influenced by the economies of China and the U.S., respectively. But one cannot discount the relative economic trajectories of the other member states of these economic forums. While the economic outlook for most of the BRICS countries points to strong growth in the coming years, the G7 nations, in a large part because of the self-inflicted wound that is the current sanctioning of Russia, are seeing slow growth or, in the case of the U.K., negative growth, with little prospect of reversing this trend.

Moreover, while G7 membership remains static, BRICS is growing, with Argentina and Iran having submitted applications, and other major regional economic powers, such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, expressing an interest in joining. Making this potential expansion even more explosive is the recent Chinese diplomatic achievement in normalizing relations between Iran and Saudia Arabia.

Diminishing prospects for the continued global domination by the U.S. dollar, combined with the economic potential of the trans-Eurasian economic union being promoted by Russia and China, put the G7 and BRICS on opposing trajectories. BRICS should overtake the G7 in terms of actual GDP, and not just PPP, in the coming years.

But dont hold your breath waiting for mainstream economic analysts to reach this conclusion. Thankfully, there are outliers such as Richard Dias and Acorn Macro Consulting who seek to find new meaning from old data.

Scott Ritter is a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer who served in the former Soviet Union implementing arms control treaties, in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and in Iraq overseeing the disarmament of WMD. His most recent book is Disarmament in the Time of Perestroika, published by Clarity Press.


The administration has recovered thousands of acres of state land throughout the Union Territory, and hundreds of structures erected on the encroached territory have been destroyed.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  Widespread anxiety is prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir amid the ongoing land retrieval drive launched by the administration, despite verbal assurances that farmers and impoverished people having houses or stores on very small areas of state land and Kahcharie (grazing land) will not be evicted.

Authorities have stated that the land recovery campaign will exclusively target influential individuals, politicians, and businesses who have illegally taken possession of state land. However, many believe that under the guise of land recovery, the administration is humiliating and targeting ordinary poor people.

While authorities claim that the demolition drive wont impact the poor, the reality on the ground is quite different. Poor people are being targeted. The administration must ensure that shopkeepers, if evicted, must also be rehabilitated, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, a shopkeeper from the Ganderbal district, told TwoCircles.net.

After several shops were demolished in the Padshahi Bagh and Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar, the distraught locals appealed to the Lieutenant General to spare the poor from eviction.

Stone pelting in Jammu over anti-encroachment drive

On Saturday, people resorted to minor stone-pelting and protests during an anti-encroachment drive at Malik Market in Jammu.

The protesters gathered around a commercial structure in Malik Market when it was being dismantled by four earthmovers in presence of civil administration, and a strong contingent of police.

As JCBs were busy in dismantling the buildings stairs and outer side, the people who had gathered there from the neighbouring residential colonies protested against the drive.

Police on Monday said that five people were arrested and four detained in connection with stone pelting during an anti-encroachment drive here on Saturday.

Three policemen were injured in the stone pelting that took place on Saturday during the drive to demolish a vehicle showroom built on encroached land in Malik Market in Narwal bypass area.

The owner of the showroom, Sajad Ahmed Beigh, is among those arrested, according to police.

We have arrested five people and detained four others in connection with stone pelting that took place during an anti-encroachment drive here, a senior police officer told PTI.

BJP has transformed JK into Afghanistan: PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) carried out a demonstration against the demolition drive here in Srinagar today. Denouncing the authorities ongoing action, Najmu Saqib, Spokesperson for PDP, told reporters that people are being evicted from their homes by the heartless administration.

Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed that the BJP has transformed Jammu and Kashmir into Afghanistan by employing bulldozers to destroy the poor peoples homes as part of the anti-encroachment campaign.

People who were formerly above the poverty threshold have now fallen below it ever since the BJP came into power. They want to make Jammu and Kashmir like Palestine and Afghanistan, Mehbooba stated during a press conference on Monday.

Amid the ongoing state land retrieval drive, the administration has recovered thousands of acres of state land throughout the Union Territory, and hundreds of structures erected on the encroached territory have been destroyed.

There are 3,04,366 kanals of Kahcharie (grazing land) in 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley.

Out of this, Anantnag district has 34,309 kanals of Kahcharie land, Kulgam 22,616, Pulwama 50,537, Shopian 19,514, Srinagar 10,180, Budgam 36,244, Ganderbal 9,261, Baramulla 47,476, Kupwara 53,342 and Bandipora 20,887 kanals.

The authorities claim that till Sunday 1,70,918 kanals of state land have been restored after the eviction of illegal occupants.

Former ministers, officials, and well-known business people are some of the encroachers from whom the land has been reclaimed.

Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference and former chief minister of the erstwhile state, said that the ongoing demolition drive throughout J&K has caused frustration and chaos among the populace.

He argued that the government should make the bulldozer its last resort, give people a chance to prove their claims, and issue proper notices to those possessing state land illegally.

Addressing a press conference at Srinagar on Monday, Omar said, Everywhere, bulldozers are dispatched to destroy homes, apartment buildings, and other structures. However, no one is aware of the procedure or the justification for this demolition drive.

The former chief minister said the government needs to release a genuine list of those who have occupied State land.

It appears that the current campaign aims to draw a breach between groups. This drive is lacking in the protocol, he remarked.

Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone stated on Monday that New Delhi shouldnt be represented by bulldozers in Kashmir, but by love and compassion.

Lone accused the Jammu & Kashmir government of causing homelessness. What is the objective of the government? Do they want to retrieve land or humiliate people? I think humiliation is more important for them, he said.

Lone said that as the J&K government is not an elected one, it should defer to an elected government on such major decisions.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib


Two Muslim men, including a mosque imam, were stabbed in Khandwa city of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday allegedly by a group of Hindu men.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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BHOPAL (MADHYA PRADESH)  Two Muslim men, including an imam of a mosque, were stabbed and injured on their way to a mosque in Khandwa city of Madhya Pradesh allegedly by a group of five Hindu men on Sunday (January 5).

Police have arrested five people, including four minors. One individual Raja Rathore has been named as the mastermind, a police official said on Monday.

The incident occurred late Sunday night, in which 23-year-old mosque imam Sheikh Huzefa and a 20-year-old youth Mohammad Talha were injured. The duo were hospitalized at nearby MY Hospital in Indore.

Location: Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh A local Imam named Hafiz Huzefa was on his way to the mosque when 3 men threw chilli powder in his eyes & stabbed him in chest. While running away, the men also stabbed another Muslim youth in the chest. pic.twitter.com/vq5Wm9chUj  HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) February 5, 2023

Recounting the incident to TwoCircles.net, Huzefa said he was on his bike to the mosque to lead the prayers when he was attacked. The assailants threw chilli powder in his eyes and stabbed him. I was on my bike to the mosque to lead the prayers. There were 4 to 5 boys. They took their knives. I didnt see them taking the knife out. They just took it out and stabbed me. I didnt realise it, the imam said.

A man from my locality came to my rescue and took me to the hospital, he said.

Huzefa has been leading prayers at Mohammadi Masjid in Khandwa for the past three years and said nothing like this has happened before. It was a lethal assault, he said.

While running away, the men also stabbed Talha in the chest.

Following the incident, dozens of people gathered outside the hospital and near the Padam Nagar police station, he said.

Khandwa Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh told the PTI news agency that Huzefa is in stable condition while Talha is out of danger. Both were injured near the chest, he said.

Attack was communal

Huzefa claimed that he was attacked because of his Muslim identity. They attacked me because of my beard and skull cap. Children of a particular community are filled with hatred against the Muslim community which leads them to do such communal acts that nowadays have become common in Khandwa. The administration is ignorant about it, he alleged.

He said these incidents would stop if the administration had taken strict actions in the past.

Huzefa alleged that various anti-Muslim organizations are active in Khandwa. The administration needs to take note of it, he said.

Ashfaq Ali, an activist from the Paigham-e-Insaniyat group in Khandwa said that the attack on the imam of a mosque is a serious issue. He was attacked just two minutes away from the mosque. The attackers were already waiting for him there. Even our religious leaders are being attacked, he said.

Ali alleged that Mahadevgarh, a right-wing organization, is attempting to disturb the peace and harmony of Khandwa.

Khandwa Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Singh told TwoCircles.net that two separate FIRs have been registered in the incidents.

The FIR has been registered against unknown persons under section 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We are trying to identify the accused. The CCTV footage shows 3 persons, however, we are investigating if there were others as well, said the SP.

On being asked if the attack was communal, SP Singh said it will be cleared after investigation if the attack was communal or not.

We have come through a few incidents recently and taken action against the culprits. We will not let the law and order be disturbed by anyone, Singh added.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


Students from marginalized communities in India face multiple hurdles in accessing education abroad.

Aatika S | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Tejas Harad, founder-editor of The Satyashodhak, an online portal which offers a critique of the caste system, has applied for admission in a PhD program for the fall semester at several US universities. He has received positive responses from a few universities so far but it has not been easy.

The biggest hurdle that marginalised students face is the lack of information and the absence of role models, he said.

They [students from marginalised groups] dont have any family members who have studied abroad, so foreign education seems far-fetched to them. They dont even think that they can dream about it, he told TwoCircles.net.

He said that ones who manage to pass this hurdle face issues like getting good recommendation letters, and shortlisting the right universities. They have nobody who can guide them in preparing their application well, edit their research statement, share tips, he added.

Structural issues of discrimination, impoverishment and non-access and other daily issues can act as major roadblocks for many like Tejas.

Neeraj, a PhD student at Nottingham Trent University, UK said that a working-class person getting higher education in a foreign institution is a nightmare, with issues ranging from language difficulties to financial hardship, lack of moral support, and feeling inferior.

All such factors make our college experience very different from the others. Many invisible caste barriers crush our dreams, and people like me keep fighting them even after graduating. In fact, my professor, Bodhi SR, used to tell us that these institutions have more of a caste room than a classroom.

As persistent deprivation continues to operate outside India, they aggravate social, economic, and cultural marginalisation.

Students like me, whose primary education was in Hindi, find it difficult to compete with others. Also, the moral support that one is supposed to receive from ones community is lacking in my case, in contrast to upper-caste students who have easy access to support from their caste-based networks in foreign universities, Neeraj said.

As a Dalit, the financial constraints students face abroad are continuous.

As the son of a labourer, I am always concerned about the financial well-being of my family, even when I am not working/earning. Most Dalit students are subjected to traumas, and absolute alienation that only we are aware of, he said.

Many face harassment, acute poverty and helplessness.

A former JNU student, who requested to remain anonymous, has been trying to secure admission to a foreign university for three years. He said the process of applying to a foreign university is difficult and humiliating as it rests on ones privilege. No professor was open to reviewing his statement of purpose, he claimed.

Getting a recommendation letter is another challenge. Despite good grades, he was refused a recommendation letter.

I do not understand the criteria for accessing academic resources apart from the exclusive networking that happens between certain students and professors. These things are shrouded in caste privilege as identity is a big factor in how professors relate to students, he added.

Aishwarya Walwekar, a research scholar in the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU concurs, While my professors at JNU were extremely helpful in pointing me towards the right directions, I must admit that networking with professors abroad, speaking articulate English and the dominos that fall backwards onto the hierarchical caste system is part of the challenge.



Aatika S is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.
Advocate Ehtesham Hashmi, who died today aged 37, was well-known for fighting cases of victims of communal violence and often without fees.

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Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

BHOPAL (MADHYA PRADESH)  Noted Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist Ehtesham Hashmi died today morning due to a heart attack in New Delhi. He was 37.

He suffered a heart attack in the wee hours and was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead, his acquaintance told TwoCircles.net.

Hailing from the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, Hashmi was in New Delhi for a case. He shuttled between Delhi and his home state to fight cases.

Known for fighting human rights cases, the news of Hashmis sudden demise has come as a shock to his friends and acquaintances.

Hashmi was one of the few young lawyers who always stood for justice, his colleague Ali Zaidi, who practices at the Supreme Court, told TwoCircles.net.

He would give free legal aid to the needy. He has done well for the Muslim community by fighting pro-bono cases in the apex court and High Courts. We have lost the backbone of our lawyer community, and people have lost their hope, Advocate Zaidi said.

Hashmi fought for Muslim victims from Uttar Pradesh during anti-CAA protests and also represented victims of the 2020 Delhi riots. He participated in fact-finding missions, most recently in Khargone and Karauli to document religious violence and offer legal support to victims.

In January 2020, he filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition in the Supreme Court seeking to declare internet shutdowns as unconstitutional, illegal and unenforceable. The petition sought to put a stop to arbitrary internet shutdowns in India, particularly in the backdrop of anti-CAA protests.

Hashmi also succeeded in securing bail for a Muslim bangle seller Taslim Ali who was beaten and jailed on accusations of molestation, forgery, and cheating in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in August 2021. Interestingly, all witnesses in the police chargesheet were Alis attackers and the court in its bail order said that Ali had no criminal antecedents.

In November 2021, Hashmi was part of the fact-finding team in Tripura which highlighted anti-Muslim violence in the state. Two of the lawyers who were part of the fact-finding team were later booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by Tripura police.

Hashmi had a team of lawyers in every district of Madhya Pradesh. He had formed a group to look into cases of hate speech in the country. Hashmi had a weekly legal bench in Indore to assist the needy.

Rehan, who worked with Advocate Hashmi, was left speechless when he heard the news of his passing away. Nobody wants to believe this dreadful news, he said.

Rehan said Advocate Hashmi was unique as no one stood with the community as he did. He fought for the poor and consoled them as well. His passing away is a big loss to the Muslim community, Rehan added.

Hashmi was an advocate of humanity who served people everywhere whether it was for anti-CAA protestors, people of Haldwani, Khargone, a bangle seller in Indore or anywhere else, one of Hashmis friends from Madhya Pradesh said.

Voice of the oppressed

For many in the Muslim community, Advocate Hashmi was the voice of the oppressed.

Association for Protection Civil Rights (APCR) activist Zaid Pathan said that Hashmi was a kind person who dealt with cases of [anti-Muslim] violence on his own. He would not wait for a phone call or invitation to get involved. He fought cases in Tripura, Assam, and Delhi among others, Pathan said.

Bhopal MLA Arif Masood said he is saddened by the news of Hashmis death. He was the voice of the oppressed, said the MLA.

I last spoke with him yesterday. He had left me a message Allah Hafiz. Take care. How tragic that it was our last conversation, he said.

Senior journalist Shams Ur Rehman Alavi said that Hashmi was a lawyer who raised the voice of the oppressed and those who suffered injustice but lacked the money and resources to fight.

His demise is a loss for citizens as he often went out of the way to help people and often spent his own money too, Alavi said.

Hashmi would be laid to rest on Friday morning (February 10) in his hometown Gopalgang of Madhya Pradeshs Sagar district.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


At a demonstration in support of Suresh Chavhanke at Jantar Mantar on February 5, offensive anti-Muslim speeches and proclamations to make India a Hindu nation was prevalent.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Nearly a month after the Supreme Court had pulled up Delhi Police for the delay in the investigation of hate speech against Sudarshan TV head Suresh Chavhanke, his supporters held a demonstration in New Delhis Jantar Mantar on February 5 against the apex courts critical observation on Chavhankes 2021 speech that called for making India a Hindu nation.

The demonstrators termed the apex courts observation as legal harassment.

In December 2021, at an event organized by Hindu Yuva Vahini in the national capital, Suresh Chavhanke administered an oath to the audience by saying, We will make India a Hindu Rashtra at any cost. If needed, then we will kill or get killed for it. Months later in April 2022, the Supreme court pulled up the Delhi police and asked them to take legal action against Chavhanke. A month later in May, the Delhi police filed fresh cases against Suresh Chavhanke for promoting enmity between different groups, and for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, besides other charges.

At the February 5 event titled How is taking the oath of Hindu nation a crime?, speakers advocated for declaring India a Hindu Rashtra besides making anti-minority speeches. On the same day, a Sanatan Dharam Sansad (Hindu Parliament) was also organized by the supporters of self-proclaimed godman Dhirendra Shastri wherein similar speeches were made. Several speakers and the audience were similar at both events.

Defending hate speech

Chavhankes supporters at Jantar Mantar claimed that there was nothing wrong with his speech at the Hindu Yuva Vahini event in 2021.

They accused the top court of being harsh with Hindus and liberal with Muslims.

Musalman ka matlab musal ki maar se maanega (The meaning of Muslim is the one who obeys with the beating of the pestle), said one Karan Maharaj of Gorakh Pith.

If anyone raises a hand against Suresh Chavhanke, we will uproot their hand from its root, he threatened.

On interfaith marriages, Karan Maharaj said: If your daughter gets married to a Muslim boy then you have to go to that Jihadi house, and kill his entire family to teach them a lesson so that no one comes near Hindu girls in future.

Assuring the audience of the establishment of Hindu Rashtra, Karan Maharaj proclaimed that Hindu Rashtra will be declared, if not, then it will be done forcefully.

Another speaker named Bittu Bajrangi speaking in the support of Suresh Chavhanke said that the Indian government is the government of Hindus. It does not belong to any kathmulla (offensive word for Muslims). If we would not demand India to be declared a Hindu nation, then whom will we demand? We cant talk about making Pakistan or Bangladesh a Hindu nation, can we?

Karni Sena President and BJPs Haryana spokesperson Suraj Pal Amu also came in support of Suresh Chavhanke.

In one of the videos from the event, Amu can be heard saying, If anyone tries to bother Suresh Chavhanke, will you let that happen? If anybody stops us from making India a Hindu Rashtra, will you spare them? Wont you teach them a lesson?

Amu has not shied away from controversy. In 2021, he allegedly endorsed communal lynchings at a mahapanchayat in Haryanas Indri. He was also accused of delivering a hate speech on love Jihad in July 2021. In 2017, Amu announced a bounty on Deepika Padukones head for Padmaavats release.

Were not demanding anything. We are only asking to remove the countrys traitors, those who eat in India but sing praises of Pakistan, Amu said.

Amu said that there is a lobby working against Chavhanke. But I want to tell them that he is not a carrot or radish that can be easily uprooted and consumed, he said.

Will you kill Muslims and Christians?

At the Sanatan Dharm Sansad event organized by the supporters of Dhirendra Shastri, speakers made similar anti-minority speeches.

Acharya Dhirendra Krishna Shastri is a Hindu religious leader of Bageshwar Dham, a well-known religious site in Madhya Pradeshs Chhatarpur district. He has been accused of practising untouchability and giving communal speeches. He has been in the news recently after his miracles were challenged by a rationalist Shyam Manav. After the controversy, he gave interviews with mainstream media. His following has dramatically increased since then.

When will you kill Muslims and Christians? a monk speaking in the Dharma Sansad asked the people. The video clips of this speech from the event are viral on social media. As per the poster on Bageshwar Dhams official Twitter handle, this monk, Bhakt Hari Maharaj was the chief speaker at the event.

According to him, those attending the Dharma Sansad had three main demands  declaring the Ramcharitramanas to be the national book of the Hindu Rashtra India, the cow as the national animal, and Z-plus security to Dhirendra Shastri. However, the gathering later made calls for violence against Muslims.

Speaking at the event, Bhakt Hari Maharaj openly asked the listeners, Britishers, Congress, and Christians said to divide and rule. Muslims said to slay and kill. Christians said slay and kill. When will you (Hindus) kill Muslims and Christians? And how would you kill them? You have a small knife to cut the vegetables only. You need to keep swords and guns at your home.

He appealed to the audience to keep weapons in one hand and religious books in another hand. If anybody disobeys our religion then declare him a traitor and take him to the border and shoot. If any Christian or Muslim takes away our daughters and sisters, then shoot him at the crossroads, he said.

He also expressed outrage against Bihar Education Minister Chandrashekhar and Uttar Pradesh MLA Swami Prasad Maurya for their criticism of the Hindu holy book Ramcharitmanas. The duo had said that the book is discriminatory towards lower castes and spreads hatred in society. Bhakt Hari demanded legal action against them to teach them a lesson.

Even though offensive remarks against minorities and calls for violence were made openly at both events at Jantar Mantar, police have not taken any action yet.

Instead, the Delhi Police issued notice to the Twitter handle Molitics which had reported on the event. The Delhi police found the Molitics post on Twitter to be offensive, malicious and inciting messages which can adversely affect law and order.

In response to the Delhi police notice, the founder of the Molitics tweeted, Im still confused! Why would you send this to us? I hope such notice must have gone to these saffron-clad criminals too.

In their official statement, Molitics said we will keep reporting if anything happens again like the one that happened at Jantar Mantar.



Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


Additional District Judge-I (ADJ-I) Praful Kamal allowed the Hindu litigants to appeal in a lower court for a survey of the Teele Wali masjid in Lucknow.

TCN Special Correspondent

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LUCKNOW (UTTAR PRADESH)  The order passed by a district court allowing Hindu litigants to appeal for the survey of Lucknows 16-century Teelewali Wali Masjid is against the direction of Allahabad High Court, said Imam Syed Fazlul Manan Rahmani.

On Thursday, Additional District Judge-I (ADJ-I) Prafulla Kamal held that the civil suit filed by Hindu litigants seeking the survey and possession of the mosque complex is maintainable, rejecting the objections raised by the mosque authorities.

First of all, this case was filed in the lower court. We lost this case there and went to the session court, Rahmani, who has been the imam of the mosque for three decades, told TwoCircles.net.

While the matter was pending in the session court, the opposite party moved to the high court. The high court directed them to go to the lower court. As the matter was pending in the lower court, we again moved to the high court. In the direction of the high court, a survey was conducted in 2013. In the survey, nothing was found as per their claim. If the survey was conducted by the High court, the lower court should not give directions against the high court, he said.

In 2013, a suit was filed in a lower court on behalf of Lord Sheshnagesth Tileshwar Mahadev Virajman, Laxman Tila Sheshnag Teerth Bhoomi. They claimed that during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a Hindu religious structure was demolished to make way for a mosque and demanded that a portion of the Teelewali mosque should be handed over to them.

They also claimed that the Teele Wali Masjid is Laxaman Tila which was converted into a mosque. In May last year, a controversy erupted when Hindu Mahasabha wanted to take out a rally to the mosque and recite Hanuman Chalisa.

However, noted historians of Lucknow city rejected the claims made by the Hindu party about the mosque. They said that there are no documents and evidence to connect Laxman with Lucknow. There is also no evidence of the fact that the mosque was built in place of Laxman Teela.

Nowhere in history is there a mention of the name Lakshman Teela. In fact, the name is not even mentioned in the first Census, carried out by the British government in Oudh. In Lucknows 1000-year history, there is no mention of Lakshman Teela, Roshan Taqui, noted historian who has penned several books on the state capitals history, was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.

Rahmani said that nothing has come out as per the claims made by the Hindu party even when the excavations were being made for the expansion and the beautification of the area.

I think that their claims are just propaganda. These things are aimed at creating division between Hindus and Muslims, damaging the culture of the city, and disturbing peace and law and order. I urged the authorities to take cognizance of such moves and issue orders against such elements, he said.

The imam raised the question as to how Lord Sheshnagesth can be part of a case. Man can be a party to any case but how did Lord become a party in this case? This, I dont understand, he said.

The Teele Wali mosque is among several religious places belonging to the Muslims across the country which are claimed by Hindus. Earlier, a Varanasi court ordered the survey of Gyanvapi mosque. During the survey, a portion of the mosque, a wuzu khana (ablution place), was seized with the claim that a Shivling was found inside the mosque. However, the mosque committee said that the fountain of the mosque has falsely been termed as Shivling.

Shahi Idgah mosque, which is situated adjacent to Krishnajanmbhoomi temple in Mathura, is also claimed by Hindus. In December last year, a district court ordered the survey of the mosque.

In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the building of a temple at the site where the Babri masjid once stood. The Mughal-era mosque was razed to the ground by Hindutva mobs in 1992 claiming that the mosque was built after demolishing the Ram temple.

Concerning Teelewali mosque, Rahmani said that they have complete faith in the judiciary. We have faith in the constitution and the judiciary. We have not violated any court order or the constitution. The court order is supreme and acceptable to all. We have also accepted the Supreme Court order in the case of Babri mosque, he said.


On March 6, 2020, the Centre constituted a three-member delimitation commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjana Desai to redraw the constitutional boundaries of the UT.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the petition challenging the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu & Kashmir, the LiveLaw reported.

A Bench comprising Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice A.S. Oka passed the order in a plea challenging the delimitation exercise undertaken in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Justice Oka, reading out the operative portion of the judgment, said that the judgment has clarified that the dismissal of the petition should not be construed as giving imprimatur to the decisions taken in relation to Article 370 as the said issue is pending before a Constitution Bench.

Senior Advocate, Ravi Shankar Jandhyala, representing the petitioners had contended that the delimitation exercise violated the scheme of the Constitution of India, especially Article 170(3), which had frozen delimitation till the first census after 2026. He had argued that the delimitation exercise was being carried out in the teeth of constitutional and statutory provisions. He had further submitted that after the delimitation order was passed in the year 2008, no further delimitation exercise could have been undertaken. The Senior Counsel had emphasised that post-2008, all delimitation-related exercises can be carried out only by the Election Commission and not a Delimitation Commission.

On March 6, 2020, the Centre constituted a three-member delimitation commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjana Desai. Its two other members were Chief Election Commissioner and J&Ks State Election Commissioner.

The commission was entrusted with the work of delimiting the Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir based on the 2011 Census and in accordance with the provisions of Part-V of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) and the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002(33 of 2002).

The Commission unveiled its final order on May 5, 2022, and allocated six additional seats to Jammu and one to Kashmir. It also reserved nine seats for scheduled tribessix in Jammu region and three in Kashmir.

The Commissions recommendations sparked a row in Kashmir with political parties in the region saying it will disempower the erstwhile state with the political observers noting that the recommendations will create electoral autocracy in the region, TwoCircles.net reported in May 2022.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib
27 rights organisations from Maharashtra have written a letter to the police urging them to act tough against hate speech and book the culprits.

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MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)  Several Maharashtra-based organizations have come down heavily on the Sakal Hindu Samaj for hate-mongering and inflaming divisive sentiments during Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rally held in Mumbai on January 29.

The organizations led by the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) has asked the police and Maharashtra state authorities to investigate and prosecute the incidents of communal hate speech made at several rallies held in Maharashtra under the banner of Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha and take all measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

The rally held on January 29 in Mumbais Dadar area, used divisive narratives like love jihad, land jihad and theories of population explosion amongst Muslims, and made inciteful and provocative hate speeches to incite the public and further hatred among communities.

The rally was organized by Sakal Hindu Samaj, an umbrella organisation of several Hindutva organisations such as Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shiv Pratishthan and Sanatan Sanstha. The rally ended with a provocative speech by Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh also calling for a boycott of Muslim-owned businesses and for Hindus to slit throats.

Chayanika, a member of the Forum Against Oppression of Women told TwoCircles.net that at these rallies, the RSS and its allied organisations are spreading untruths about Muslim men enticing Hindu women into marriages to convert them. She said they have no basis to make these claims. They are just repeating an untruth to create animosity and enmity between communities.

She said that in the process they are actually controlling Hindu women and their right as adult citizens to make friends and relationships with whoever they want to. The assumption is that they do not have the intelligence to make decisions about their life, she said.

These rallies are also demonizing Muslim men and attacking their right of freedom of association as Indian citizens. The hate-filled cries of violence from the rallies make Muslim men vulnerable to possible attacks, she said.

Chayanika said that these rallies are changing the whole social ethos where communities interact with each other, make friends across communities and castes, and thereby become more diverse, plural and richer in their outlook. So, it is an attack on all of us even if we may not choose to be in inter-religious marriages.

During the rally on January 29, a provocative booklet containing misinformation and rumours with anti-Muslim sentiment to influence public opinion on communal lines was also distributed.

In spite of such highly provocative and inciteful hate speeches being made, no action has been taken by the Mumbai Police against the perpetrators including the organisers of the rally, speakers and MLA T Raja Singh.

Lara Jesani, Secretary General of PUCL Maharashtra said that it is reported that Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha has held at least 30 rallies on love jihad and other communalizing subjects in Maharashtra.

Hate speeches and calls for violence against Muslims have also been reported, she said. Yet the authorities have allowed these events to happen and also continue with impunity. While common citizens and activists are not given permission to hold peaceful protests on social issues, often they are served notices or FIRs are filed against them, such kind of communal hate speech is being allowed to go on freely.

She said that the Maharashtra government must make sure that hate speech is not allowed anymore in the state. It is criminal and unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, over two dozen human rights and other groups have written to the Maharashtra Police chief and asked him to act against the organizers. The groups have said that they cannot be silent spectators to attempts being made to communalize the state of Maharashtra and sow seeds of hate and violence through the inciteful propaganda being made at these rallies and events.

The state of Maharashtra has a long history of syncretism and secularism, where different communities have coexisted harmoniously. Earlier attempts to communalize the state and spark violence like the 1992 Bombay riots have had disastrous consequences on the people and this cannot be allowed to take place again, the letter states.

The letter urges the police to take a tough stance on hate speech. As those responsible for maintaining law and order in the city, it is your responsibility to ensure that the hate speech is prevented and the perpetrators are punished, instead of granting them impunity and a free hand, it said.

We accordingly call upon you to strictly implement the directions passed by the Supreme Court in the order dated 3rd February 2023 in letter and spirit, and to in any case take strict action against the increasing incidents of hate speech against Muslims in Maharashtra, the letter reads.


Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle Bombay called the incident an institutional issue, saying students from oppressed castes (SC/ST) and low-income families face immense harassment and discrimination on the campus from students, faculties and employees.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)  A day after the alleged suicide of 18-year-old Dalit student Darshan Solanki of IIT-Bombay, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC-IITB) on Monday pointed fingers at the institution for various lapses vis-a-vis pupils hailing from non-urban areas and belonging to SC/ST categories.

Solanki, in the B.Tech. First Year Chemical Engineering course, jumped to death from the 7th floor of the hostel building in the IIT-Bombays Powai Campus on Sunday afternoon, after completing his first semester exams a day earlier.

In a detailed statement on social media on campus suicides, the APPSC-IIT Bombay termed it as an institutional issue, as students from non-urban, non-English speaking backgrounds, oppressed castes (SC/ST) and low-income families face immense harassment and discrimination on the campus from students, faculties and employees.

These institutional and casual ways of casteism cause mental and psychological stress on students, but IITs lack any mechanism to help them. We have been raising the issue of the lack of mental health support for our students with the IIT administration as well as other forums like National Commission for SC/STs, said the group.

It had raised questions on how the counselors at IIT-B are not sensitised to understand the social realities of caste that affect students from SC/ST/OBC communities, and lack of SC/ST counsellors in the Student Wellness Centre (SWC).

In the wake of Solankis suicide, the APPSC-IITB has demanded a review of the working of the SWC, called upon the IIT-B to address the issue of inclusivity in it, and make the centre more accessible to students coming from all backgrounds.

Recalling the September 2014 death of SC student Aniket Ambhore, 22, the APPSC-IITB said he faced derogatory comments about his academic abilities and how such an atmosphere of discrimination affects the mental state and motivation of the reserved category students  who are generally equated with lack of merit  at IIT-B.

The students group said that after sustained efforts, the SC/ST cell at IIT-B was set up in 2017, but started its student outreach only from 2022, but still lacks in many aspects like a clear mandate which hinders its appropriate status in the institute, and demanded immediate action in this regard.

The APPSC-IITB said it has been highlighting the severe lack of representation of SC/ST faculty at IIT-B whereby the students from marginalised communities continue to feel alienated in such institutions, while such unfortunate tragedies shatter the dreams of their families and communities to uplift themselves.

How many more Darshans and Anikets need to die? the APPSC-IITB asked, urging the IIT-B to shed apathy, probe Solankis death and resolve all the issues pertaining to students from SC/ST/OBCs it had raised. (With IANS inputs)

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


Reports said that documents were seized and phones and laptops of journalists were taken away during the searches and employees were asked not to call anyone.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Weeks after a huge controversy erupted over the BBCs documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 2002 Gujarat riots, Income Tax officials today searched the BBCs Delhi and Mumbai offices and seized phones and laptops, news agencies reported.

As per PTI, the IT department officials sealed off the offices for a survey linked to alleged irregularities in international taxation and transfer pricing involving the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

The Income Tax Authorities are currently at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and we are fully cooperating. We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible, the BBC tweeted.

The Income Tax Authorities are currently at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and we are fully cooperating. We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible.  BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) February 14, 2023

NDTV reported that documents were seized and phones and laptops of journalists were taken away during the searches and employees were asked not to call anyone.

The data of the computer kept in the accounts and finance department was also scanned, ANI reported, adding that officials said the devices will be returned to their owners after taking a backup.

BBC, in a memo to staff, asked those not in office to stay away and those at work to not panic, reportedly saying, We are handling the situation.

Tax officials insisted that this was a survey, not a search, and that the phones would be returned.

In its statement, the I-T dept said, Today, the Income Authorities conducted a survey on the BBC premises in Delhi, in view of the BBCs deliberate non-compliance with the Transfer Pricing Rules and its vast diversion of profits.

According to the statement, It is pertinent to note that the above exercise conducted by the tax authorities, is called survey not search/raid as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act. Such surveys are routinely conducted and are not to be confused to be in the nature of a search/raid.

The I-T department cited persistent non-compliance by BBC in relation to Transfer Pricing Rules and the diversion of profits.

Meanwhile, opposition accused the government of targeting the BBC for airing a documentary critical of PM Modi over the riots that swept Gujarat in 2002, when he was Chief Minister.

In response, the BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing venomous reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress agenda go together.

The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials surveyed the British broadcasters offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

No individual or agency can be above the law. If they are working in India, they need to follow Indian law. If they have not done anything illegal, then whats the worry? Why are the opposition parties defending the agency for cheap and petty politics, Bhatia said.

Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the most corrupt organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster.

He also mocked the BBC as Bhrasht, Bakwas Corporation (Corrupt, nonsensical corporation).

The two-part documentary series India: The Modi Question, was taken down from public platforms last month after Centre used emergency powers under IT Rules to block YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary. The government slammed the documentary as hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage.

Opposition leaders and students protested against what they called blatant censorship by organising public screenings of the documentary, which led to clashes on campus between students, college authorities and the police.

Here we are asking for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row, and there the government is hounding the BBC. Vinash Kaale Viprit Buddhi (when one is doomed, one makes wrong decisions), commented Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said in a tweet: Reports of Income Tax raid at BBCs Delhi office. Wow, really? How unexpected.

When a government stands for fear and oppression instead of fearlessness, then one should realise the end is near, wrote Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav in Hindi.

Last week, the Supreme Court of India rejected a request for a complete ban on BBC in India over the documentary, calling the petition entirely misconceived.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza
March 24, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Consortium News " - Today, Iraqis mark the 20th anniversary of the horrific U.S.-U.K. bombing of Baghdad, dubbed Shock and Awe. In rapid succession, coalition forces dropped 3,000 bombs, including many that weighed 2,000 pounds, on Baghdad in what The New York Times called almost biblical power.

Although they launched an illegal war of aggression and committed war crimes in Iraq, 20 years later the leaders of the U.S. and the U.K. have never faced criminal accountability. By contrast, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already charged Russian President Vladimir Putin with war crimes just one year after his unlawful invasion of Ukraine. He is the first non-African leader to be charged by the ICC, which frequently succumbs to pressure from the United States.

In what came to be called Operation Iraqi Freedom, 173,000 troops from the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq. During the eight-year war, about 300,000 Iraqis and 4,600 Americans were killed. The United States spent $815 billion on the war, not counting indirect costs. It plunged the country into a civil war and millions of Iraqi refugees remain displaced. Two decades later, not one of the officials responsible has been brought to justice.

Invading Iraq Was an Act of Aggression

Sources within his administration have confirmed that George W. Bush was planning to invade Iraq and execute regime change long before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The U.S.-led invasion violated the United Nations Charter, which authorizes countries to use military force against other countries only in self-defense or with approval by the UN Security Council.

The attack on Iraq didnt satisfy either of these conditions and was therefore an act of aggression. After the Holocaust, the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg wrote, To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.

Like other U.S. military interventions, the rationale for this illegal aggression was based on a lie. Much as President Lyndon B. Johnson used the fabricated Tonkin Gulf incident as a pretext to escalate the Vietnam War, Bush relied on mythical weapons of mass destruction and a nonexistent link between Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks to justify his war on Iraq.

Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice falsely warned that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and Rice invoked the image of a mushroom cloud to justify the impending invasion of Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell shamefully presented false information about Iraq having WMD to the UN Security Council in February 2003.

In 2002, former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter confirmed that Iraq had destroyed 90-95 percent of its WMD and there was no evidence that it had retained the other 5-10 percent, which didnt necessarily constitute a threat or even a weapons program.

Indeed, no WMD were ever found by the UN weapons inspectors before or after Bushs invasion of Iraq. Moreover, the Bush administration fabricated a connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda notwithstanding the intelligence to the contrary.

The Downing Street Minutes, a transcript of one of Prime Minister Tony Blairs briefings with British intelligence that The Times of London published in 2005, demonstrated that the Bush administration had decided by July 2002 to invade Iraq and carry out regime change. The intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy, the minutes revealed.

Even a 2005 congressional report prepared at the direction of former Rep. John Conyers, Jr. concluded that in spite of intelligence information to the contrary, members of the Bush administration made false statements before the invasion about Iraq having WMD, and linkages between Iraq and al-Qaeda.

Although Team Bush urged the UN Security Council to pass a resolution authorizing its attack on Iraq, the Council refused. Bush and his allies instead cobbled together prior Council resolutions, none of which  individually or collectively  authorized the invasion of Iraq.

Bush justified the attack with his doctrine of preemptive war. But the UN Charter only allows a country to use military force in response to an armed attack by another country or with permission of the Security Council. Operation Iraqi Freedom violated the UN Charter and constituted an illegal war of aggression.

War Crimes Committed by the Bush Administration

U.S. forces committed many other war crimes in Iraq, including extrajudicial killings, torture and the targeting of civilians, which are prohibited by the Geneva Conventions; the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Torture and abuse conducted at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq included the stacking of naked prisoners on one another; photographing prisoners who had been forcibly arranged in sexually explicit positions; keeping prisoners naked for days; forcing male prisoners to wear womens underwear; using snarling dogs; punching, slapping and kicking prisoners; and sodomizing a prisoner with a chemical light and broomstick.

Civilians were targeted as U.S. troops operated under rules of engagement that directed them to shoot everything that moved. In these free-fire zones the U.S. also bombed civilian areas and used cluster bombs, depleted uranium and white phosphorus, resulting in massive civilian casualties.

The most notorious free-fire zone was in Fallujah. In April 2004, U.S. forces attacked the village and killed 736 people, at least 60 percent of whom were women and children. In another attack the following November, U.S. troops killed between 581 and 670 civilians in Fallujah.

Another infamous example of extrajudicial killing was the Haditha Massacre in November 2005, when U.S. Marines killed 24 unarmed civilians execution-style in a 3-to-4-hour rampage. The U.S. covered up the massacre until Time magazine ran a story about it in March 2006.

Documented extrajudicial killings also took place in the Iraqi cities of Al-Qaim, Taal Al Jal, Mukaradeeb, Mahmudiya, Al-Hamdaniyah, Samarra, Salahuddin and Ishaqi.

These war crimes are not only abhorrent, but punishable under the U.S. War Crimes Act and the U.S. Torture Statute. Yet, although it has been 20 years since the invasion of Iraq, no U.S. leaders have been indicted. The Obama administrations Department of Justice actively decided not to prosecute anyone for the torture and abuse committed during the Bush regime. Yet it only took one year for the ICC to charge Putin with war crimes in Ukraine.

Last May, George W. Bush accidentally admitted that his decision to invade Iraq was unjustified. While addressing a crowd at the Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Bush decried the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean, Ukraine. He then added under his breath, Iraq too.

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, President Joe Biden recently declared the apparent absurdity of The idea that over 100,000 forces would invade another country  since World War II, nothing like that has happened. Biden apparently forgot about Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, former president of the National Lawyers Guild, and a member of the national advisory boards of Assange Defense and Veterans For Peace, and the bureau of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers. Her books include Drones and Targeted Killing: Legal, Moral and Geopolitical Issues. She is co-host of Law and Disorder radio.


The Press Club of India (PCI) said it is deeply concerned and distressed that such an action on an international broadcasting network will damage the reputation and image of India as the largest democracy in the world.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The Press Club of India (PCI) has strongly condemned the income tax surveys at the office of the BBC in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday.

The surveys are part of a series of attacks on the media by government agencies in recent times, especially against those sections of the media that the government perceives is hostile to it and critical of the ruling establishment, PCI said in a statement.

It is deeply unfortunate as this latest instance appears to be a clear-cut case of vendetta, coming within weeks of a documentary aired by the BBC on the Gujarat riots, it said.

Income Tax officials on Tuesday searched the BBCs Delhi and Mumbai offices and seized phones and laptops weeks after a huge controversy erupted over the BBCs documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The PCI said that the documentary, which appears to be the immediate provocation for the raids, has already been banned on YouTube and other social media platforms.

We are deeply concerned and distressed that such an action on an international broadcasting network will damage the reputation and image of India as the largest democracy in the world. We appeal to the government to restrain its agencies from misusing their powers in order to intimidate the media and put curbs on the freedom of the press, the statement read.

Meanwhile, the opposition accused the government of targeting the BBC for airing a documentary critical of PM Modi over the riots that swept Gujarat in 2002, when he was Chief Minister.

In response, the BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing venomous reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress agenda go together. (With IANS inputs)

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


Several opposition parties and press bodies have criticised the survey operations at BBCs premises.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The Income Tax (I-T) department survey related operations at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai continued for the second day on Wednesday, IANS reported.

The survey operations, which had begun on Tuesday at around 11.30 a.m., continued the whole day and even throughout the night, and are currently going on at the UKs official broadcasters premises in Delhi and Mumbai, reports quoting sources said.

Meanwhile, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is learnt to have informed its employees to work from home and has even advised them to refrain from answering questions related to personal income.

However, the broadcaster has at the same time directed its employees to answer other salary-related questions.

The employees have been asked to cooperate with the officials and answer their queries comprehensively.

The I-T departments survey is learnt to be focussed on accounts, reports said.

The operation by the I-T department came just weeks after the BBC released a two-part documentary titled India: The Modi Question, which focuses on the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.

The two-part documentary series was taken down from public platforms last month after Centre used emergency powers under IT Rules to block YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary. The government slammed the documentary as hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage.

Opposition leaders and students protested against what they called blatant censorship by organising public screenings of the documentary, which led to clashes on campus between students, college authorities and the police.

The documentary created furore throughout the country after it went viral, and was later taken down from all platforms as well as social media outlets.

Several opposition parties led by the Congress have criticised the survey operations at BBCs premises.

Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh termed the income tax survey at the BBC offices as intimidation tactics and alleged that the action shows the Modi government is scared of criticism, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, Time and again, there has been an assault on freedom of the press under the Modi government. This is done with brazen & unapologetic vengeance to strangulate remotely critical voices.

No Democracy can survive if institutions are used to attack Opposition and Media. People will resist this, he said in another tweet.

The BJP hit back at the Congress and BCC accusing the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing venomous reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress agenda go together.

Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor claimed that the raids by 20 tax officials on the BBCs Delhi and Mumbai offices will be seen worldwide as petty retaliation for the BBC documentary.

No institution is above the law, but the raids by 20 tax officials on the @BBCs Delhi & Mumbai offices & studios are a deplorable own-goal. They will be seen worldwide as petty retaliation for the BBC documentary & as confirmation of the BJP Govts drive to stifle press freedom, Tharoor tweeted.

Press Club of India (PCI) Tuesday condemned the income tax surveys at the office of the BBC in Delhi and Mumbai.

The surveys are part of a series of attacks on the media by government agencies in recent times, especially against those sections of the media that the government perceives is hostile to it and critical of the ruling establishment, PCI said in a statement.

It is deeply unfortunate as this latest instance appears to be a clear-cut case of vendetta, coming within weeks of a documentary aired by the BBC on the Gujarat riots, it said.

The PCI said that the documentary, which appears to be the immediate provocation for the raids, has already been banned on YouTube and other social media platforms.

We are deeply concerned and distressed that such an action on an international broadcasting network will damage the reputation and image of India as the largest democracy in the world. We appeal to the government to restrain its agencies from misusing their powers to intimidate the media and put curbs on the freedom of the press, the statement read.

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) said it is deeply concerned about the IT surveys being carried out at the offices of BBC India.

Is distressed by the continuing trend of government agencies being used to intimidate and harass news organizations that are critical of the ruling establishment, the EGI said in a tweet.

Jan Hastakshep, a civil rights organisation, in a press statement, strongly condemned the raids against the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the BBC.

They have called the ongoing raids fascist designs and have questioned the timing of the investigation.

The statement also calls out the death of journalism under the BJP-RSS and the throttling of opposing voices since the RSS-BJP government came to power in 2014. (With IANS inputs)

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


On February 15, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished 50 structures in Jamia Nagar, a predominately Muslim majority neighbourhood in New Delhi. The area was home to nearly 300 people, mostly construction workers, rickshaw pullers, and domestic labourers.

Arbab Ali | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Sameena, 50, a resident of Zakir Nagar H block in Jamia Nagar, a predominantly Muslim majority neighbourhood in New Delhi, woke up early morning on February 15 and quickly went to work as a domestic help in nearby block G. Her son called her around 11 a.m. and asked her to hurry back home. By the time she returned there was no home to be found.

Before the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) directed its JCBs to this nondescript neighbourhood near the banks of the Yamuna, it was home to about 300 people, mostly construction workers, rickshaw pullers, and domestic labourers. The DDA bulldozed some 50 structures, nearly two-thirds of which were made of bricks, and displaced over 250 people in hours.

All encroachments are to be removed

Sameena told TwoCircles.net that the DDA had pasted a notice on an electricity pole near the shanties.

TwoCircles.net accessed a copy of the notice. As per Honble NGT (National Green Tribunal) order dated 13.01.2015 in case no. 06/2012 (Manoj Mishra Vs DDA & Others) all encroachments in Yamuna Flood Plain area are required to be removed, the notice read.

In compliance with NGT order, the removal of temporary huts & structures at Zakir Nagar on Khasra No. 276, 366 has been carried out today, the DDA said in a statement.

TwoCircles.net spoke with DDAs standing counsel, advocate Prabhsahay Kaur. She said that two writ petitions were filed, but no stay was granted to the petitioners. We had told the court that the demolition that is contemplated is outside the boundary of the unauthorised colony of H Block Zakir Nagar, she explained.

Unable to understand what was going on, people scrambled, many unsuccessfully, to gather their most important belongings. My son got married about 2-3 months ago. We purchased new furniture. It is now rubble, Sameena said.

Sameena said that she purchased the land from a builder 26 years ago and has a General Power of Attorney (GPA) over it. She also claimed to have metered electricity and an Aadhar card registered to her address.

She claimed there is politics around demolitions. They want to evict the poor and build big flats, she said.

Sameena, who has six children, is concerned about where she will spend the night in the cold.

Residents allege communal bias

A resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that their homes have been demolished four times in the last 26 years. They claimed that demolition drives are being carried out with a communal bias. Muslims have become demolition targets, they alleged.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi used bulldozers to remove illegal structures near Batla House in Jamia Nagar in October 2022, amidst heavy police presence.

Earlier in 2022, an anti-encroachment drive was conducted in Jahangirpuri, which had witnessed a communal clash during a Hanuman Jayanti procession. Following a Supreme Court order, the drive was halted.

Later in April and May of 2022, demolition drives were conducted in Shaheen Bagh, Madanpur Khadar, New Friends Colony, Dwarka, and Najafgarh.

The demolition drive in Madanpur Khadar and Shaheen Bagh witnessed strong opposition from the public. The Delhi Police also detained Aamanatullah Khan, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Okhla for obstructing the drive in Madanpur Khadar.

AAP MLA did not support

Momina, another resident who lost her home during the demolition drive, told TwoCircles.net that Amanatullah Khan promised to stay there during the demolition but did not show up.

TwoCircles.net spoke with Khan over the phone. There was a demolition notice. In 2014 and 2019 inspections were held to ascertain the boundaries of unauthorised colonies, and they [court] asked to consider that. But still, there were homes of people who have been living in the area for decades. They could have allowed them to live here. This land is anyway not going to be of any use to the authorities, Khan said.

When asked about complaints that he did not support the residents, Khan stated that he had a court hearing on the day of demolition but was in contact with the residents via phone.

Residents allege builder-police-DDA nexus

Momina asked if the authorities were aware that this area is illegal, why were they allowed to settle there in the first place.

Residents claim there is a builder-police-DDA nexus in the neighbourhood.

Police take money from us, and the DDA comes and demolishes our homes, a resident who did not want to be identified alleged.

We were told only the shanties would be demolished. We had no idea this would happen. I have two daughters and I am a widow. I dont know where we will go, Momina sobbed.

Arbab Ali is a fellow at the TCN-SEED mentorship program.


A Dalit majority area consisting of more than 25,000 houses situated near the Tughlaqabad Fort in New Delhi is facing the threat of evictions after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) served an eviction notice to residents last month.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  On January 11, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) served an eviction notice to more than 2,000 houses of the Bengali Colony of Tughlaqabad village in south Delhi. The notice said that the houses need to be vacated within 15 days failing which the houses will be demolished. Residents of the colony have since lived in fear and anxiety even if no demolition has taken place till now.

This Dalit and Muslim majority area consisting of more than 25,000 houses is situated near the Tughlaqabad Fort, a ruined fort in Delhi, built by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, of the Delhi Sultanate in 1321 AD.

The locals claim that the notices were served only to the colonies where the majority of the population is poor. The notices havent been served to the people who live in big buildings, they said.

BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuris house is also nearby the fort but he has not been served any demolition notice, locals said.

Sumati, 55, a local resident who works as a maid, claimed to TwoCircles.net that they bought the land after paying money to dealers. We are not living here for free. We have invested all of our earnings in this house. We have nothing else except this house. If we lose it, we will be left with nothing, she said.

Most of the residents of the colony work as labourers and are migrants from states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, while the women from the colony work as house helpers in a nearby locality of CR Park, a posh colony of migrants from West Bengal.

ASI has issued over 1800 notices to houses that as per them have been illegally constructed, asking people residing in those houses to vacate their houses and bear the cost of eviction.

ASIs eviction notices came after the Delhi High Court on November 24 last year granted six weeks as the last indulgence to ASI to remove encroachments and file a status report.

ASI officials claimed that in 1995, more than 2600 bighas of land around the fort was handed over to ASI by the land and development office of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for care and maintenance purposes. To date, more than 50% of the area has been illegally occupied by people.

Supreme Court in February 2016 ordered the removal of the illegal encroachment and structures from the fort area, declaring the entire Tughlaqabad Fort as a protected monument, and directed the ASI to not allow any encroachment there.

The court hearing was a result of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2001 by an applicant named S.N. Bhardwaj. The PIL stated that the ASI has failed to protect, maintain and preserve the historic Tughlaqabad Fort, and that various illegal occupants have entered the fort premises and constructed their houses intending to grab the Government land for dwelling purposes.

The residents contest this saying if their houses were on encroached land, then why were they being charged for electricity bills, water bills, and other government facilities?

The residents have voter ID cards, gas connections and even passports.

Many of them showed copies of their electricity bills and Aadhaar cards to this reporter.

This reporter visited a rag-picking business outlet in the locality that has also been served the eviction notice. The owner of the outlet, 28-year-old Jeevan Das purchases litter from rag pickers in Delhi. 15 employees, including women and men, segregate plastics, metals, and cardboard from the litter. The outlet is on rented land.

The survival of 15 people depends on this litter business. If this gets demolished then how will those people provide for their children? said Das.

Das accused the police and ASI officials of taking bribes while the colony was being established.

Taking cognizance of the notices issued to slum dwellers of the Tughlaqabad area, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) on January 18 called for the suspension of the drive until rehabilitation of all the children of the area is ensured. The DCPCR issued a notice to the ASI in this regard.

On January 20, on the behalf of the residents, the All-India Students Association (AISA) and All India Central Council of Trade Union (AICCTU) organized a protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar against the demolition notice.

Residents of Tughlaqabad took part in the protest along with Mehrauli residents, who too were served eviction notices by the authorities.

On February 10, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) launched a demolition drive in Mehrauli amid police security. DDA claimed that the land on which the alleged encroachment had taken place belonged to multiple agencies including DDA, Waqf Board, and ASI.

The Mehrauli demolition drive has triggered fear among residents of Bengali colony, Lakshman, a local of Tughalaqabad told TwoCircles.net.

People of Bengali Colony questioned Prime Minister Modis slogan of Jahaan Jhuggi Wahaan Makaan (Where there are slums, there will be houses).

Prime Minister promised us pucca (concrete) houses, but what has he done? He is even snatching our slum from us.

The residents have pasted posters released by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2015 assembly elections on walls in the area.

Modi ji often says that his mother raised him by cleaning dishes at other peoples houses. I am also raising my children by washing dishes. I too had thought of making my children like Prime Minister Modi, but now I will dream of that, said Suman, a domestic help.

Suman believes that these demolition drives against poor people are happening for the G20 summit, which India is going to host later this year.

Do the foreigners say that they will visit India only when there are no poor people here, she said.

Reports have also said that the demolition drive in Tughlaqabad is part of G-20 preparations.

Loyal supporters of BJP

Suman said that poor people are the most loyal voters of the BJP, and claimed that they brought the ruling party to power. And now they are doing this to us. We went to the houses of every influential person and politician in the area, but no one is helping us, she said.

I regret being born in India. Theres no one here to listen to us, she lamented.

Manisha, 24, who is a divorcee living with her parents and her three-year-old kid, is anguished with the mainstream media.

Media always suppresses the voice of the poor. They show sensational news day and night, but they do not convey our voices to the people of the country. They will show the nonsense news of Dhirendra Shastri throughout the day, because they will get TRPs from it, but they wont show the news of the poor, she said.

Manisha pointed to her 3-year-old son and said, If he becomes homeless, what option will he have in life? His life will be over and there is a high chance that he will indulge in wrongful means [to make a living]. Then if he becomes a criminal, the media will prominently highlight that, she said.

Manishas mother Kanika Das works as a domestic help in CR Park and is the sole breadwinner of the family. She was in tears while recounting her ordeal.

I suffer from a brain tumour, but I could not get my treatment done. Whatever money I earned, I used to build my house because I have nothing else except this house, she said.

I am not going to leave my house. If they want to bulldoze our house, then they will have to bulldoze us first, she said.

60-year-old Parveen said that they voted for Modi in the last elections. We have voted for him and made him win and now he is doing this to us, she said.

On January 28, an organization named Majdoor Awas Sangharsh Samiti filed a petition against the eviction notice at Delhi High Court.

Nirmal Gaurana, the lawyer who filed the petition on behalf of the residents, told TwoCircles.net that the High Court in its February 1 order directed the officials to hold a meeting on February 25 to discuss the rehabilitation plan for the people whose homes are about to be demolished.

The matter will be heard next on March 3.

Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


With decreasing readers and lack of capital driving the news content, Urdu journalism in India is staring at an uphill task to compete with Hindi and English language journalism.

Ramsha Tausalkar | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Starting as a lashkari language meant prominently for the Indian army to communicate, Urdu has since then seeped into the daily lives of Indians. Contrary to popular belief, Urdu is not just a language of Bollywood lyrics and mushairas (poetry recitals), it is also one of the most prominent means of communication in the country. Urdu is one of the 22 languages officially recognized in the Constitution. It is also one of the first languages of journalism in the country. Last year, India completed 200 years of Urdu journalism.

As per the most recent RNI (Registrar of Newspapers for India) report (2020-21), the total circulation of Urdu publications was 2.6 crore while that of Hindi publications was 18.9 crore. Even English and Marathi publications circulation was more than 3 crore. These figures prop up an important question: Is Urdu journalism declining in India? How did Urdu go from being one of the most prominent press languages during the birth of Indian journalism to being the last on the list of popularity?

Urdu journalist and researcher Mahtab Alam said that there has been a steady decline in Urdu journalism. Urdu has lost its value in terms of news. You cant solely rely on the novelty and beauty of the language that has a limited appeal. Urdu has been reduced to becoming just a language for literature. Nazaakat and nafaasat is all good but until it becomes a language of the market, it is not going to work, Alam told TwoCircles.net.

The former executive editor of The Wire (Urdu) said that the Urdu language is becoming marginalised due to its demonisation in the current political setting.

The anti-Urdu sentiment has manifested itself on quite a few occasions in India in recent times. In April 2022, Sudarshan News reporters accused food brand Haldiram of hiding vital information on their food packets by writing it in Urdu, which was in fact Arabic. In a video report, the reporter questioned why Urdu text is present on the packet of a popular fasting snack for Hindus called Falahari. A 2021 research paper in the Journal of the Contemporary Study of Islam noted that Urdu is seen as a Muslim language by the state and other media organisations because a large amount of Islamic religious text in South Asia is available in Urdu. Islamophobia in India thus extends to Urdu as well.

The current state of Urdu in India is the same as the current state of Muslims in India, said Urdu poet and film lyricist Liaqat Jafri.

The literary activist explained that no matter how much people deny it, languages in India are associated with religion.

While Hindu texts have evolved from Sanskrit to Hindi, Muslim texts have always been in Persian and Arabic and in more contemporary times, in Urdu. During partition, Hindi somehow became the language of Hindus and Urdu became the language of Muslims and it has stayed that way. He adds, The issue with Urdu journalism is that the people it addresses now have other concerns. Indian Muslims are cornered and struggling to save their own identity, so they cant invest into saving Urdu media, whether financially or effort-wise, Jafri said.

Hindi versus Urdu is not a new debate. While the journalism of both languages started off on an equal footing, Hindi media now dominates news while Urdu has been left behind. As per the RNI report, in states with the highest numbers of single-language publications, Hindi publications ranked the highest in seven states while Urdu publications led at second highest in only two states. A 2020 report by Newslaundry highlights that Hindi and English news media channels receive the most amount of advertising funding from the government. When it comes to newspapers, in 2019 an RTI query revealed that the highest beneficiaries of government advertisements were Hindi newspapers, as per a report by Mathrubhumi.

According to Hasan Akram, a former Urdu reporter, lack of finances is the biggest reason for the decline of Urdu journalism. Government bias exists, of course. Recently, it emerged that Doordarshan has reduced its number of Urdu bulletins. Thus, the employment chances for Urdu journalists reduce. The Sachar Committee report pointed out that the development of the Muslim community is declining. The main audience for Urdu news media comprises Muslims. When the consumer is poor, even the advertisements given to Urdu media are for the poor, said Akram, who is now the BBC Monitoring journalist tracking Urdu media.

Not all perspectives, however, on this topic are bleak.

Sarfaraz Arzoo, editor of Mumbai-based Urdu newspaper Roznama Hindustan said Urdu journalism is doing better. We cant expect it to become mainstream as it has always been the language of the elitist, then of a minority. Mumbai University now also has an Urdu course. Urdu flourishes because it may have its limitations as a script, but doesnt have any as a spoken language. There needs to be an introduction to technology and we need to bring in handheld journalism, but it cant be said that Urdu journalism is dying, Arzoo said.

When one casually browses through an Urdu daily, one comes across local and regional news, an achievements section for Muslim kids, advertisements for home products and an editorial section. There is not much to see when it comes to television and online journalism. Most of the worlds Urdu news content comes from Pakistan. Urdu news media in India has a lot to do to regain its audience and reputation.

It is not Urdu journalism that is in decline, it is journalism in general, so we must not lose hope, said Shams Ur Rehman Alavi, a former columnist at The Wire (Urdu). If Urdu media houses and journalists set their priorities well, know their strengths and understand that they are seen as those having access to not just Muslims but also old parts of most cities in India; they can become better. There is huge potential for them and for Urdu media if they do stories, long-form reports and special stories, said Alavi.

Mahtab Alam points out that Urdu media must now enter the digital ecosystem and start publishing news online. A few Youtube channels have also been started. Urdu has always had a tradition of radio, which must be revived. While Urdu journalism has suffered and fallen quite a lot, not everything is lost. With financial assistance and the right people, it can get back up on its feet again.

Ramsha is an independent journalist and writer. She tweets @RamshaTausalkar


For many post-doctoral Muslim students, discontinuing of Maulana Azad Fellowship (MANF) by the Central government means acquiring higher education for the economically marginalized will only get more challenging.

Sufi Parween & Aatika S | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Research scholars from marginalized communities face an uncertain future after the Narendra Modi government discontinued the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) given to minority students in December 2022.

The scheme was implemented in 2009 after the recommendation of the Sachar Committee, which studied the social and economic condition of Muslims in the country.

Many organisations have protested against the governments decision to discontinue MANF including the students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), the University of Hyderabad and Aligarh Muslim University. There is widespread dissatisfaction among students against the scrapping and revised rules.

Aarif Khan, a research scholar at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh hasnt received the fellowship for the last 6 months. It has become difficult for him to financially survive and do research. MANF was a boon for minority community students and without such funding, we will not be able to do PhD in the coming years, Khan told TwoCircles.net.

For many Muslim girls, the fellowship was a financial power which gave them the strength and independence to study even if their families were not enthusiastic about their higher studies.

For Masuda, a student at Aliah University in Calcutta, the cancellation of the fellowship effectively means they wont be able to pursue further higher studies.

Masuda told TwoCircles.net that only six months are left for her to finish her PhD and the discontinuation of the fellowship has created immense problems for her. I have not received MANF since September, which has created severe problems in my research. When I heard that the government is discontinuing MANF, I knew I wouldnt be able to study further, she said.

Like me, there are thousands of minority women scholars who wont be able to study any more, she said.

To add to the list of structural devastation caused by the discontinuation, Tahir Mehmood, a research scholar at Punjab University, told TwoCircles.net that the discontinuation of the scholarship has affected his mental health.

I am unable to bear the expenditure of purchasing books, going on fieldwork, printing cost and paying my house rent which has an adverse effect on my research, he said.

National Students Unions Jamia Millia Islamia president N.S. Abdul Hameed said that the issue will affect a large number of minority students who are not considered OBC.

The scholarships for minorities, OBCs, Dalits and Adivasis used to overlap as the applicants may be from the same social or religious backgrounds. We have been demanding the centre to correct the anomalies. Instead of correcting the anomalies, they stopped the scholarship altogether. This will impact many Muslim, Sikh and Christian students who are not considered as OBCs in various states, Hameed said.

Syed Mudawar Shamus, a research scholar at MANUU, Hyderabad said that MANF had provided him with a financial cushion enabling him to continue his research.

Most of us have sacrificed our careers in different fields for creating knowledge and contributing to nation-building. Yet we are stuck and cannot buy books, pay fees, manage daily travel or even pay rent. Its unfortunate to see this kind of governmental work, Shamus said.

Imran Khan, a PhD scholar at Kashmir University, who was awarded the fellowship, said that he would have left PhD if not for the fellowship.

I am from a lower middle-class family and my father is a class 4 retired employee. We dont have any other income. The discontinuation is very unfortunate for a huge number of middle-class and poor students like me, Khan said.

Rojina Khatun from Aliah University said the Modi government discontinued MANF because this was the only fellowship available for minority students. It is clear that the government doesnt want us to educate ourselves. It is hellbent on making us remain educationally and socially backward. Without MANF I will not be able to continue my research, she said.

Sufi Parween & Aatika S are fellows at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.


Advocate Nasir Ali Naqvi, who is the public prosecutor in the case, said he would not be able to appear in the case unless his fee and conveyance bills were cleared.

TCN Special Correspondent

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JAIPUR (RAJASTHAN)  A senior advocate appointed as the special public prosecutor (SPP) in the Rakbar Khan lynching case has claimed that the Rajasthan government was not interested in contesting the case.

Rakbar Khan, a resident of Haryana, was brutally assaulted by a mob on suspicion of cow smuggling in Rajasthan in 2018. He later died of his injuries while in police custody.

Mohan Singh, an assistant sub-inspector, had at the time admitted that there had been a delay in taking Khan to the hospital. He was suspended and three other personnel were transferred.

Advocate Nasir Ali Naqvi, who was appointed as the SPP in the case in 2021 by the Rajasthan government, said in a letter to the Alwar superintendent of police that his fee and conveyance bills have been pending for a long time.

Naqvi told TwoCircles.net that he was not paid his fees despite repeated requests.

Naqvi said his fees and conveyance bill worth Rs 3 lac have not been paid since he was appointed in the case in 2021.

He said that he will stop appearing in the case if his dues are not cleared.

My fee and conveyance bills are pending for a long time and my fee is not paid to me despite my repeated requests. As I am residing in Jaipur and after the decision of the case, it will not be possible for me to come to Alwar to pursue the payment of my bills. I also reveal that the government is not interested in contesting the case. In such an eventuality, I am not able to appear in the case in future Navi wrote in a letter, which was also marked to the Alwar collector and other state officials.

Breaking: Days after #Bharatpur killings, Special Public Prosecutor in 2018 #Rakbar lynching case, Nasir Ali Naqvi, slams Rajasthan government for non cooperation, payment of bills, says "government is not interested to contest the case."@IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/TSYY2kQlEz  Hamza Khan (@Hamzwa) February 22, 2023

The accused will definitely get acquitted if I dont appear in the case. The government knows what it wants to do with the case. The government should be asked about it, not me. Its not my personal case. I was appointed by the government to contest the case, he said.

He has sought an appointment with chief minister Ashok Gehlot to talk about the issue.

When I meet the chief minister, I will raise this issue, said Naqvi.

Naqvi had written a letter to the district collector in late 2022 pointing out non-coordination from the administration in the case. At that time too, he had accused the administration of showing no interest in the case and allowing the accused to be let off.

Naqvi was appointed as the prosecutor when 75-year-old Habiban Khan, the mother of Rakba, had accused the Additional District Judge of bias.

In an application to Alwars District and Sessions Judge Sangeeta Sharma, she had requested the transfer of the case to another court.

The accused tell us that they have managed the presiding officer and now the judgment will be in their favour, reads her application.

In July 2018, Rakbar Khan along with his friend Aslam Khan were assaulted by a mob in Lalwandi of Rajasthans Alwar district on the accusation of cow smuggling. Aslam had managed to escape but Rakbar was beaten brutally by the mob. He later succumbed to his injuries.

An FIR was filed under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Four men namely Paramjeet Singh, Dharmendra, Naresh and Vijay were arrested and later charge-sheeted. A

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Nawal Kishore Sharma, chief of the VHPs gau rakshak cell in Alwars Ramgarh, had allegedly led the mob.

Talking about the status of the case in his letter, Naqvi noted, It is respectfully informed to you that the State Government appointed me as Special Public Prosecutor in Mob Lynching case i.e. State Vs. Dharmendra & Ors., pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge No.1, Alwar. After my appointment, Im regularly appearing in the case. The prosecution evidence has been completed. Now the case is in defence evidence. The case is now at fag end.

Notably, the public prosecutors claims that the Rajasthan government is not interested in contesting Rakbar Khans lynching case come at a time when the state government is being slammed for inaction in the brutal killing of two Muslim men in Haryana last week allegedly by cow vigilantes.


Shopkeepers at Gokulpuri tyre market, where 97 shops were set ablaze during the 2020 Delhi riots, are still struggling to rebuild their lives with little help from the government.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

NEW DELHI  Three years have passed since riots broke out in northeast Delhi but for shopkeepers at Gokulpuri tyre market, the memories of the day are still fresh. So are the losses they suffered.

In the market selling second-hand tyre and car spare parts, 97 out of 224 shops were set ablaze on three occasions over February 24, 25 and 26, 2020. The majority of the shops that were set ablaze belonged to Muslims.

The riots, which began on February 23, 2020, and continued for several days, led to the death of over 50 people, most of whom were Muslims, and injured hundreds more. Largely concentrated in Muslim-majority areas of northeast Delhi, the riots occurred when massive protests were going on across the country including northeast Delhi against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in December 2019.

Recalling the day, Mohammad Babur, a shopkeeper at Gokulpuri tyre market said the market was closed around 6 pm on February 24 after the police had urged shopkeepers to shut their shops and go home as riots had broken out in nearby areas of Delhi.

We left the tyre market at 6:30 pm and I received news about the arson around 8 pm on the same day, Babur said, adding, I was at home watching the news about riots on the TV and received a message on WhatsApp from one of my customers. He sent me a video of my burning shop. I was in absolute shock on seeing my burning shop.

After seeing the video, Babur rushed to the market. I saw hundreds of people waving revolvers in the air and chanting Jay Shri Ram slogans. The rioters had set fire to the Gokulpuri tyre market after we had left, he said.

Babur said that the rioters had set fire to the shops belonging to Muslims and goods worth lakhs were burnt to ashes.

Shopkeepers at the market said they were puzzled with why rioters would burn their shops as the area was peaceful.

Our market is located at one of the safest places as there are two police stations, Gokulpuri and Dayalpur police station nearby, and yet such an incident occurred here. Vendors at the market made 200-250 calls to the police stations, but they did not respond to a single call, Nauman Khan, President of the tyre market, told TwoCircles.net.

Shopkeepers expressed dissatisfaction with the police action during the riots alleging the police didnt do enough to stop the rioters from burning their shops.

Economic crisis caused by riots

Shopkeepers said that the riots had left a devastating mark on their lives with most of them still paying off debts which they incurred while rebuilding their shops.

Pointing towards his small shop, Babur said, Before the riots, I had a very big shop at the front of the market but it was completely burnt by the rioters. I suffered a huge loss and now I can only afford this small shop in the middle of the market.

Mohammad Salim, 42, a resident of Daryaganj, an old Delhi locality located 10 kilometres away from the tyre market, also lost his shop during the riots.

With tears in his eyes and a shaking voice, he said, My soul trembles when I remember that day. On the second day of the arson, I came from Daryaganj to the tyre market to take a look at my shop. The rioters came again and set fire to 4-5 shops in front of me. I ran away from the spot to save my life.

Nothing but ashes were left of my shop, he said.

Salim said that some days before the riots, he had purchased goods on credit. I am still repaying that credit, he said.

Most of the shopkeepers at the market buy goods on credit and repay the creditors after the goods are sold. As their shops were burnt down by rioters in February 2021, most of them are still repaying the debts.

Many labourers work in the market. When the market was closed due to the riots and the lockdown, they had nothing to eat. The shopkeepers from the market provided them with food and other stuff. Nobody else came to help them, Nauman said.

Government apathy

Shopkeepers at the market expressed anguish that the government had not done enough to compensate them for their loss. Some of the shopkeepers received compensation from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) but they claim it wasnt enough to meet the expenses of the damages suffered.

The compensation we received accounted for 25 to 30 percent of the damages we suffered, a shopkeeper said.

Some of the shopkeepers, however, claimed that they didnt receive a single rupee from DDA.

Md Salim, 42, said that he received Rs 1,62,000 from the DDA as compensation. But along with my shop, goods worth Rs 3,50,000 were burnt to ashes in the arson, he said.

President Nauman Khan claimed that 40 to 50 percent of shopkeepers have still not received compensation from DDA. Those who have received it have got very little. Our files are still pending at the Sub Divisional Magistrate office, he said.

The Arvind Kejriwal government had also promised to pay Rs 5 lakh for substantial or complete damage to residential and uninsured commercial units. Shopkeepers, however, claimed that not a single person from the market had received any such amount from the government.

After the riots, shops remained closed for three months and then followed the Covid-19 lockdown and the market was shut again. It became quite difficult for us to survive, said Furkan, whose shop of 10 years was also set ablaze during the riots.

Furkan blamed the police for his loss. If the police were on the alert on the first day, there was no way that the same incident would have happened on two more consecutive days, he said.

Another shopkeeper Kallu Kabadi claimed that even though two of his shops were destroyed in arson the compensation he received was inadequate.

My two shops were completely burnt down by the rioters. While I suffered a loss of 30-35 lakhs, the DDA gave me only Rs 138,000 as compensation, he said.

Kallu said he had to take a loan from Muthoot Finance by mortgaging his wifes jewellery to get his shop repaired and to buy new merchandise. I am still paying the interest on the loan and I have not been able to get my wifes jewellery back. There are many shopkeepers like me in this market who have restarted their businesses with great difficulty and are still in debt and facing financial difficulties, he said.

Sohail Khan, 20, works at a shop in the market and is the sole breadwinner of his family of six. After the riots, the shops remained closed for 3 to 4 months. It was very difficult to run the household. We had to rely on other people even for the food, he told TwoCircles.net.

Following reconstruction work, the market was finally opened in July 2020. The cost of reconstruction of the 97 shops was borne by the Islamic scholars body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JuH). As a mark of gratitude to the outfit for its help, the traders association renamed the market to Jamiat Tyre Market.

What led to riots

On being asked what caused the riots, a shopkeeper on the condition of anonymity blamed incendiary speeches made by leaders as a trigger for the riots. Workers or students do not want riots, neither do Hindus or Muslims. Riots are instigated by political leaders who are well-off and do not suffer any losses from riots. On the contrary, they benefit from riots. The speech given by Kapil Mishra a day before the riots is known to the whole world. The riots started immediately after that speech, he said.

Similar revelations were also made by the Delhi Minorities Commission report in July 2020. The 134-page report provided accounts of circumstances leading to violence, how Muslims were selectively targeted, and how investigations into the riots smacked off a cover-up by the authorities.

Violence started in different pockets almost immediately after the short speech of Shri Kapil Mishra on 23 February 2020 at Maujpur in which he openly called for forcefully removing the protestors (anti-CAA) at Jafrabad in North East Delhi, the report noted.

For the shopkeepers at Gokulpuri tyre market, the losses they suffered during the riots will take some time to recoverperhaps years or decades.

Even though no one was killed or injured at this market, but the losses we suffered during the riots are immense and we are still struggling to rebuild our lives, a shopkeeper said.

Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


The Hindenburg report released last month sparked a heated debate about the business practices of one of Indias largest companies and raises serious questions about the ethics and legality of Adani Groups operations.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The Supreme Court on Friday said it will not injunct media on carrying reports on the Hindenburg report on the Adani group till the court pronounces its order on the constitution of a committee to examine the matter.

Advocate M.L. Sharma mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.

The Chief Justice told Sharma, We are not going to issue any injunction to the media ever We will pronounce orders shortly.

When Sharma repeated his request by saying that the media was creating a sensation, the Chief Justice said, make a reasonable argument, not for an injunction on the media

Sharma, in the application, said media hype is affecting the Indian share

market and the allegations are creating panic amongst the investors. Sharmas application is a part of his PIL, which was filed in connection with the Hindenburg report controversy.

On February 17, the Supreme Court said it would not accept sealed cover names of experts suggested by the Centre for inclusion on the committee to be set up to examine the Hindenburg report, which resulted in the crashing of Adani group company share prices and caused massive loss to investors.

The top court said it will select experts and maintain full transparency, and if the court were to take names suggested by the Central government, then it would amount to a government-constituted committee.

The bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, said the court wants full transparency for the protection of the interest of investors and it will form a committee so that there is a sense of confidence in the court.

What is Hindenburg report on Adani?

The Hindenburg Research report on the Adani Group, released in January 2023, is a critical analysis of the Indian conglomerates financial and operational practices. The report has sparked a heated debate about the business practices of one of Indias largest companies and raises serious questions about the ethics and legality of Adani Groups operations.

Adani Group is a multinational conglomerate with interests in ports, logistics, agribusiness, energy, real estate, and defence. With revenues of over $11 billion in the fiscal year 2021, the company is a major player in the Indian business world. However, the Hindenburg report alleges that the company has used unethical accounting practices to exceed its wealth and understate its liabilities.

The Hindenburg report alleges that Adani Group has used aggressive and unconventional accounting practices to inflate its profits and understate its debt. The report claims that the company has booked large amounts of revenue from subsidiaries and joint ventures, which are not consolidated in its financial statements, and that this provides a misleading picture of the companys financial health and profitability.

In addition to these financial concerns, the Hindenburg report also accuses Adani Group of engaging in insider trading and tax evasion. The report cites documents obtained from Indian government and regulatory agencies, which it claims support these allegations.

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz
In the notice dated February 23, protestors were ordered to be present at the court of the sub-divisional magistrate, Pahari on February 27 and inform why they should not be restrained for six months in order to maintain peace.

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Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

JAIPUR (RAJASTHAN)  12 persons who participated in a sit-in protest demanding justice for two Muslim youths Junaid and Nasir who were killed in Haryana last week over suspicion of cow smuggling, were served a show cause notice by the administration on Thursday.

A Sub Divisional Magistrate served the notice under section 107/116 of CrPC ordering the individuals to appear in Court on February 27 and explain why they should not be detained for six months in order to maintain peace.

Those who have been served a notice include Waseem Akram, a local journalist, and Mohammad Jabir, a cousin of the victims.

Two Muslim youth Nasir and Junaid from Rajasthan were brutally beaten and burnt alive in a car allegedly by self-proclaimed gau rakshaks (cow vigilantes). Their charred bodies were found on January 16 in Loharu village of Bhiwani district in Haryana a day after they had gone missing. The family members had alleged in the FIR that members of the Bajrang Dal were involved in the attack. The Rajasthan police have arrested one accused Rinku Saini in the case. The other eight accused have been identified but are absconding. One of the accused Monu Manesars name has been taken off the wanted list by the Rajasthan police.

Villagers demand justice

Demanding justice for the victims, locals from the victims village sat on a dharna (sit-in protest) at the graveyard in Ghatmika of Bharatpur on January 17, the day bodies of the two youth were buried.

                                        pic.twitter.com/e9RfXhJzLd  Vipul Kumar (@vipulizm) February 23, 2023

Despite the notice, thousands of protestors on Friday hit the roads to demand the arrest of the accused who brutally beat Nasir and Junaid on suspicion of cow smuggling and allegedly burnt them alive.

Peaceful protest organised in Ghatmeeka by fellow villagers of Junaid- Nasir demanding immediate arrest of accused. A notice has been served to the protesting family members and local journalists covering it by magistrate of Pahadi on allegation of disturbing peace in the area. pic.twitter.com/0jjlOVwwlH  Vipul Kumar (@vipulizm) February 23, 2023

I want to tell the authorities that if they want to arrest anyone, they should detain Mohit alias Monu Manesar, under Section 302. He killed my brothers, Mohammad Jabir said.

Wasim Akram, a journalist who received the show cause notice, told TwoCircles.net that the local administration is working under government pressure.

I have been served with the show cause notice for covering the brutal incident, he said.

Akram said it is a shame that the administration is yet to arrest the accused. The protest led by locals is exposing the state government. A few protesters raised murdabad against the MLA which outraged her, said Akram.

Akram accused Kaman MLA and minister Zahida Khan of pressuring the administration to forcefully suspend the protest.

He also raised concerns about the compensation process.

The Rajasthan government gave compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Kanhaiyalal who was brutally murdered in Udaipur. In this case, the administration announced a Rs 20 lakh compensation. Are these not double standards? Akram questioned.

He further said that the government is afraid of losing forthcoming elections in the state and wants to suppress our voices by serving us notice to suspend the protests.

It is absolutely unfair, he added.

Mohammad Chand, a protester who also got a show cause notice, told TwoCircles.net that people from nearby areas are being prevented from joining the protest.

They are threatened with FIR by the supporters of MLA Zahida Khan if they join the protest, Chand said.

We will not retreat until our demands are fulfilled. Monu Manesar must be arrested and Nasir and Junaids family should receive equal compensation just like Kanhaiyalal, he added.

Abdul Basit Mewati, who was also part of a sit-in protest in the Ghatmika village, said that they have been peacefully demanding the arrest of the accused.

We have faith in the constitution but these governments are protecting the accused, said Basit.

Basit accused the Rajasthan government of being biased.

Muslim community unanimously condemned the brutal murder of Kanhaiyalal but these people are organizing Maha Panchayats in support of the accused. The administration is pressurizing us to wind up the protest but we will not take a step back, he added.

Pahari sub-divisional officer Sunita Yadav told the Indian Express that the local police have taken the step to maintain law and order.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza
By Finian Cunningham

March 24, 2023: Information Clearing House - " SCF "--- The historic summit this week between the Russian and Chinese leaders provoked paroxysms of angst in the Western media. President Vladimir Putins hosting of Chinas Xi Jinping in Moscow was presented as the worlds two most prominent autocrats purportedly establishing a hostile anti-West axis.

The American and European media  slavishly echoing the talking points of their imperialist regimes  were in hyper-bogeyman mode. The meeting of Putin and Xi was distorted in every way to appear as something illegitimately threatening and sinister to the Western rules-based global order (euphemism for Western capitalist privileges and predation.)

Bogeyman mode also entails collective amnesia. The summit coincided with the 20th anniversary of the U.S. and British launching their war on Iraq  arguably the biggest crime of the 21st century so far. Yet this vile anniversary has hardly stirred any Western media condemnation or shame, never mind legal accountability.

The wanton cynicism towards the Putin-Xi meeting belies the deep anxiety among the U.S.-dominated clique of Western states that the much-vaunted rules-based order is collapsing. A collapse caused by its own inherent corruption and systematic abuse of power and international law over many decades.

Both Putin and Xi emphasized that the Russia-China alliance was not meant to threaten any third party.

We are always for peace and dialogue, said Chinas President Xi who was in Russia on a three-day state visit.

Putin hailed the highest point in relations between Moscow and Beijing and underscored the long historical friendship. Both leaders said this was not simply an extension of a Cold War-era alliance but rather a harbinger of genuine multipolar global development for all nations based on partnership and cooperation, respecting international law and national sovereignty.

Indeed, the much-anticipated multipolar world order is coming to fruition as the erstwhile dominance of Western elitist unilateralism shrivels. The Russian and Chinese leaders signed multiple trade deals and furthered plans to use national currencies, thereby making the unwarranted privileges of the US dollar obsolete.

There is a palpable sense that the global economy is moving in a tectonic shift towards Eurasian partnership of vitality and dynamic multipolar development, foreshadowing a fateful demise for U.S.-led Western capitalist hegemony. Western nations are haunted by financial bankruptcy, inequality, paralyzing debt, and dead-end militarism.

Of particular note is the plan to build a new gas pipeline from Russia to China dubbed Power of Siberia 2. It will supply an additional 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to China. Significantly, this new supply route of Russian energy matches the volume that had been earmarked for the European Union with the operation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline  until the Biden administration blew it up.

Out of all the impressive partnership deals signed in Moscow this week, the new gas route to China speaks loudest. Russia has decided to walk away from the ungrateful Europeans and let them suffer the consequences of industrial shutdown by opting for expensive American gas.

Eurasian economic power is the fulcrum of global development. Russia and China are leading the way, not just for the rest of Eurasia, but also for the Global South, Latin America, Africa, and others. The incremental moving away from the U.S. dollar as fiat international currency is the most ominous sign of the rise and fall. Russia and China are hastening that fateful switch.

In a desperate bid to avert the inevitable, the Western imperialist regimes and their media tried to depict the Putin-Xi summit as something sinister for global security, in what amounts to be a reverse projection of their own depredations and crimes.

Western media sneered that autocrats Putin and Xi were posing as peacemakers, even while both leaders emphasized their vision of multipolar relations was based on mutual cooperation.

Chinas proposals for a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine were welcomed by Putin but dismissed by the Americans and Europeans as diplomatic cover for Russian aggression. Meanwhile, Washington and Brussels made new commitments to increase weapons supply to Ukraine, thereby prolonging the conflict  the worst in Europe since World War Two.

It is American and European regimes that are ruling out any dialogue or political-historical understanding about the origins of the war in Ukraine. Hence their determination to swipe away any opportunity for resolution. Because if an intelligent, reasonable dialogue was held  as the Russians had proposed before the war erupted more than a year ago  the conclusions would be unacceptable for U.S. and NATO expansionism.

The paradox is Russia and China are portrayed as global villains by Western powers who are still dripping with blood from the fraudulent and illegal Iraq war and who are today fueling a potentially catastrophic nuclear confrontation over Ukraine. The same media lying machine that enabled the destruction of Iraq (and many other nations) is now enabling hostility towards Russia and China.

To augment that twisted narrative, the Western media seek to undermine the Russian and Chinese-led move towards a better, fairer global economy and with that the demise of U.S. hegemony. Of course, U.S. hegemony and Western economy are just euphemisms for a dictatorship of billionaires and corporations, a dictatorship that the vast majority of the Western public has to suffer under.

So this week, Russia was labelled the junior partner of China and denigrated for becoming a dependency on Beijing. Western media reporting went into contortions to wantonly mischaracterize the evident warmth between Putin and Xi, and the tremendous significance of their global vision.

Russia was disparaged as becoming nothing more than a resource colony of China owing to its burgeoning oil and gas exports. That moniker reminds one of former U.S. Senator John McCains insult of Russia being nothing more than a gas station masquerading as a nation.

Its funny how Moscow was up until recently accused of energy blackmail and weaponizing hydrocarbons when it was the main supplier of Europe. But when Russias vast energy is rerouted to China it is now pilloried as a colony of Beijing. Western propaganda cant make up its mind about whether to cast Russia as an energy tyrant or an energy today. That double-think betrays propaganda construct and demonization.

The world is changing before our eyes. Western imperialist regimes are being exposed for the warmongers they are, their privileges and predatory capitalism are imploding, their neocolonialist blood-sucking days are over, and a new multipolar order of partnership and peace is emerging.

The Western elites and their media are excelling themselves by trying to bad mouth Putin and Xi in every preposterous way. The outlandish distortions are commensurate with the desperation.

Time in short order, however, is telling who really is on the right side of history.
Started by social activist Aasif Mujtaba, the Sunrise Public School in Loni, Ghaziabad offers free education to children from riot-affected families.

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Arbab Ali | TwoCircles.net

NEW DELHI  Khushi sits unusually quiet in her classroom, as she looks away from other students. She is not smiling today, said her teacher Islamuddin.

Its been three years, but I still feel like it was yesterday, she finally opens up.

Khushi remembers every chilling detail of that fateful day of February 25, 2020. She was at home with her parents and younger brother in Bhagirathi Vihar, a neighbourhood in Gokalpuri, north-east Delhi, when a group of around 30 men yelling Jai Shri Ram broke open their door. Brandishing iron rods, knives and chains, and wearing motorcycle helmets to evade being identified, they began hitting Khushis father, 35-year-old Musharraf, with blunt objects. After he fell unconscious, they burned him alive and dumped his body in a nearby drain. I begged them not to hurt Abba. But they laughed, she said.

Musharraf was among 53 people, mostly Muslim, who were killed during the riots that engulfed north-east Delhi from February 23 to 27, 2020. The violence began after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra publicly threatened to remove anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protestors from the streets of northeast Delhi. Several hundred were also injured and thousands were displaced during the violence.

Since Musharraf, who worked as a driver, was the only earning member of the family, Khushi had to drop out of her previous school. I was unable to pay the fees, said Khushis mother Malika.

In November 2020, however, Malika enrolled Khushi and her brother, four-year-old Rihan, in Sunrise Public School, located in Rashid Ali Gate, a Muslim-inhabited enclave in Loni, Ghaziabad. The family moved to a rented, unplastered, one-room accommodation in Loni, on the outskirts of Delhi, after the riots. It was here that a volunteer with the Sunrise Public School visited Malika and convinced her to send her children to the school.

Sunrise Public School

A narrow lane, with large drains flowing on both sides, leads to a gate behind which is a neat blue and white building and a small playground. This is the campus of Sunrise Public School, where 148 children affected by the northeast Delhi riots of 2020, are enrolled.

The school threw open its gate to the riot-affected children, offering them free education and a safe environment, in November 2020, after Aasif Mujtaba, a PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi took it on rent from its owners. It was in a deplorable state, and because it was not functioning during the Covid lockdown, the school administration decided to permanently shut it or convert it into a shopping complex, said Mujtaba, who has worked extensively for the relief and rehabilitation of riot victims.

With the help of publicly raised funds, Mujtaba, and a team of volunteers, renovated the school with a fresh coat of paint and new furniture.

Mujtaba decided to start a school for riot-affected children after meeting Arsh, a 14-year-old boy, who was afraid of returning to school in the aftermath of the riots. A two-dozen-strong mob burnt down Arshs father Mohammad Saleems salon, forcing the family to permanently flee their home in Shiv Vihar.

It was being alleged that the owner of Manoj Public School, a prominent school in Shiv Vihar, was part of a mob that burnt and looted Muslim homes during the riots, Mujtaba said. The rioters had also laid waste to the campuses of DRP Convent Public School, Victoria Senior Secondary School, Rajdhani School, and Arun Modern School.

We wanted to free the children from the toxic environment. I met other children who had similar fears, said Mujtaba.

The Covid-induced lockdown worsened the economic condition of Arshs family, and they were planning to send him to work at a jeans factory on the outskirts of Delhi. That was when Mujtaba met the family and convinced them to send Arsh to school. It was about the same time that Mujtaba had learnt about the imminent shutdown of Sunrise Public School.

Arsh became our first student, said Mujtaba. Arsh attends Sunrise Public School with his brother Ishan and sister Sebi.

Over 385 students on roll

In its first year, the school enrolled 148 students, all affected by the Delhi riots, including 23 having lost their fathers to the violence.

In its third year, it has 385 students on roll. No fee is charged for the first 148 students, while others pay a nominal fee of Rs 30-40 a month.

Expenses are mostly covered through publicly-raised contributions such as online donations.

The school has a total of nine classrooms, for children from kindergarten to eighth grade. Special classes are held for those who previously never went to school or studied only in religious schools. The campus also has an assembly ground and a playroom, and the administration regularly takes the students for picnics in Delhi.

Registered under Uttar Pradeshs Madrasa Board, the medium of instruction is English and the subjects taught include Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English, Urdu, Hindi, Islamic Studies, Computer Science, Arts, General Knowledge and Physical Education.

Shared trauma: Teacher-student bond

The school primarily hires teachers from Shiv Vihar and other riot-affected colonies. Many teachers have also suffered as a result of the violence. Here, there is shared suffering and trauma, said Islamuddin, a math teacher at the school.

What happened three years ago has left the students traumatized. Most had no idea why their homes had been burned down, but now they do, he said.

To help them heal, the teachers engage them in fun activities, encourage them to make friends, and hold one-on-one sessions when we feel a student is depressed, said Islamuddin.

According to a 2005 UNICEF report titled Childhood Under Threat, children are among the first and worst affected by conflict, whether directly or indirectly. Even if they are not killed or injured, direct exposure to violence, dislocation, poverty or the loss of loved ones can leave them with deep emotional scars and trauma, according to the report.

Sunrise Public School continued to hold classes during the pandemic as the lockdown was not fully enforced in Loni. This helped children like Anash, whose father Jamaluddin Mansoori was killed while returning to his Shiv Vihar home during the Delhi riots. He was unable to attend online classes at his previous school because he lacked a smartphone. I could only study once this school opened, he said.

According to his teachers, Anash is one of the brightest students at school.

Three years on, children like Khushi, Arsh, and Anash are still struggling to put their lives back together.

This is their only chance at a good education, said Khushis mother Malika.

Arbab Ali is a fellow at the TCN-SEED mentorship program.


At a protest on Friday at New Delhis Jantar Mantar, student bodies urged the government to arrest the accused in the killing of two Muslim men in Haryana.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Student bodies on Friday protested at New Delhis Jantar Mantar against the killing of two Muslim youths allegedly by cow vigilantes in Haryana and demanded the arrest of the accused.

Last week, two Muslim men Nasir and Junaid from Ghatmika, a village situated near the Haryana-Rajasthan border were kidnapped, lynched and set ablaze alive allegedly by members of the Bajrang Dal over suspicion of cow slaughter. They were allegedly abducted on February 15 and their bodies were found in a charred car in Loharu, Haryana a day later.

We are specifically protesting against the lynching of Junaid and Nasir but as a whole, we are protesting against increasing Islamophobia in India which has the governments backing, said Shrijan, a student at Aurobindo College, University of Delhi.

Shrijan said the government has failed to fulfil its promises. The government is only benefiting 1% of the rich while increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. To hide these flaws, the government is weaponizing religion. Earlier, religion used to be a personal matter for everyone, but now the government is telling people that they have to fight for their religion. They are garlanding those who kill Muslims in the name of cow vigilantism. The government wants Muslims to feel like second-class citizens inside India, he said.

Our demand from the government is to give Monu Manesar and other perpetrators the harshest possible punishment, he said.

Nine persons have been named as accused in this case, including Monu Manesar, by Rajasthan Police. However, only one [Shrikant] has been arrested so far.

Monu Manesar, a right-wing social media influencer and a YouTuber with more than 2 lakh subscribers is known for posting videos of chasing vehicles, firing and posing with alleged cow smugglers, many times in an injured state. He is an active Bajrang Dal member and on several occasions, he has shared photos of himself with high-profile BJP leaders and police officials on his social media account.

Lawlessness rife in country

Our country is in a state of complete lawlessness, Naushad, a student of Jamia Millia Islamia said at the protest.

The incident of burning and killing Nasir and Junaid is a vivid example of this fact, she said.

Naushad lamented that the government is not taking any action against the accused. A few days ago, a call was made in this very Jantar Mantar to kill Muslims and Christians. However, not a single FIR has been filed against them, she added.

Pertinently, a Hindu Mahapanchayat was organized by the members of Vishva Hindu Parishad in support of the accused Monu Manesar in the Manesar town of Haryana on February 21. Speakers at the event warned the Rajasthan government and the Rajasthan Police of dire consequences if they dare to arrest Monu Manesar. A second Hindu Mahapanchayat was called by members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Hathin in Haryana on February 22, again in support of Monu Manesar.

The students at Jantar Mantar were protesting on the behalf of All India Student Association.

We are demanding immediate arrest of the accused. The state is giving protection to them. Everybody knows that its very difficult to organize such a huge protest but such a big event (<ahapanchayat) happened in support of the lynching accused. So its clear cut that the government and the police are supporting him, said Amir, a student.

Protesters claimed that after the Mahapanchayat, the name of Monu Manesar from the FIR was removed. However, the Rajasthan police denied this.

Some protesters said that they are fearing for their own well-being too. If the people with such big accusations keep getting support from the administration, then the morale of all criminals will boost up, and they wont have fear of law and order. In such a situation, no one is safe irrespective of religious identity, a student said.

The protesting students said their faith in the democratic values of the country is shaking.

Notably, on the same day, hundreds of people from the Nuh district of Haryana gathered in Ferozepur Jhirka demanding justice for Nasir and Junaid. Their demands included the immediate arrest of all the accused and fair financial help to the family of Junaid and Nasir. They also demanded a ban on the Hindu right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal.

Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77


The full-page advertisement which was published in dailies on the third day of the plenary session on Saturday, featured Congress leaders of the past.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Pictures of several historical Muslim leaders were missing in the Congress advertisement marking the partys 85th plenary of the party.

A fresh controversy sparked on Sunday after an advertisement on Congresss 85th plenary session which appeared on multiple national dailies, did not feature Indias first education minister and freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The Congress received flak from several quarters.

While the minority leaders in the party expressed their objections, party MP Manish Tewari took a serious view of the matter.

The @INCIndia has a pantheon of Muslim leaders who struggled against fissiparous tendencies, especially within their community that led to the creation of Pakistan & dedicated themselves to the inclusive idea of India. Someone wants to airbrush their contribution from annals of History, he said in a tweet.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai were top freedom fighters from the Congress but their pictures were missing.

The party apologised for the miss.

Today an ad released by INC did not carry a photograph of Maulana Azad. It was an inexcusable slip up. Responsibility for it is being fixed & action will be taken. Meanwhile, this is a most sincere apology from us. He will always remain an iconic & inspiring figure for us & India, Congress General Secretary, in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

However, Congress tweeted photos from the dais where photos of Maulana Azad were prominently installed. (With IANS inputs)

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


In the latest attack, a Kashmiri Pandit man was shot dead by suspected militants in the Pulwama district on Sunday.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  A Kashmiri Pandit, employed as a bank security guard, was shot and killed by suspected militants in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Sunday, marking yet another targeted attack against the minority community in the Kashmir valley.

Sanjay Sharma, the victim, was travelling with his wife to a nearby market when he was attacked at around 10.30 in the morning.

Rayees Mohammad Bhat, the deputy inspector general of police (DIG) for south Kashmir, stated that the police are moving quickly to look into the killing of a member of the minority community and vowed to deliver justice.

The terrorists who are involved will be tracked down and eliminated shortly. A thorough investigation into the incidents in south Kashmir is ongoing, and terrorists will soon be neutralized. We will foil their evil plans, he said.

The fresh killing added to the spate of targeted attacks on Kashmiri Pandits, including migrant employees and non-local migrant labourers in the region.

After receiving government employment as part of a special package from then-prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2008, the employeesnumbering over 4,000have been living in transit camps around Kashmir. They have been seeking to be transferred to Jammu until the situation in Kashmir improves.

Their protest and demand for relocation intensified after Rahul Bhat, an employee from the minority community, was killed in a targeted attack on May 12, 2022, in central Kashmirs Budgam district.

Several targeted attacks have taken place in Kashmir since then. A Kashmiri Pandit named Sunil Kumar Bhat was shot and killed by militants on August 16, 2022, in the Shopian district of J&K. His brother was also injured in the attack.

On October 15, militants shot and killed another Kashmiri Pandit, Puran Krishan, a 56-year-old man from the Shopian district. A militant organization, Kashmir Freedom Fighters, claimed responsibility for the attack that sparked widespread protests across the Union territory two days later.

On October 18, three days after Puran Krishan was killed, two migrant workers were killed in a grenade attack while asleep inside a rented housing they lived in at the time in Shopian.

Sanjay Tickoo, President of the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPPS), told TwoCircles.net that Pandits who did not migrate from the valley have since been living in a state of fear, and targeted killings now have further worsened their situation.

According to Tickoo, the authorities have utterly failed to provide a livable atmosphere for religious minorities in the union territory.

Authorities in Kashmir are portraying a false sense of normalcy. They dont seem to care about protecting religious minorities; instead, they are only concerned about things like the G20 or the Smart City project, Tickoo told TwoCircles.net.

We are being killed in the name of Islam. I have personally studied Islam, and it does not encourage killing the innocent. Because of the present situation, we can no longer even trust our own neighbours now, he added.

KPPS also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha.

Government & the BJP cannot handle 75 lac Kashmiri population and want to control POK & Balochistan. Kashmiri Pandits are killed like dogs in Kashmir. The Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor of J&K censor the information that Kashmir is the most dangerous place for Kashmiri Pandits in this world, KPSS wrote in a tweet on Sunday.

After calling for a shutdown on Monday in protest of the targeted killings, the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) stated in a press statement that some radical elements were slowly forcing innocent Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus out of their homeland, just as they had done in 1990.

KPSS takes strong note of the situation in Kashmir Valley and reminds Honble Prime Minister and Honble Home Minister to intervene on a high level and accept the failure of the current Lieutenant Governor to address the issue of security of the religious minorities in Kashmir Valley, particularly Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits, the statement read.

Several political figures in Kashmir also denounced the attack on Sanjay Sharma.

Omar Abdullah, vice president of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, said he was deeply saddened to hear about the attack. He expressed sorrow and condemned the attack in a tweet.

Sanjay was working as a bank security guard & was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack & send my condolences to his loved ones, Abdullah said.

Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, claimed that the central government had failed to safeguard minorities in J&K.

The vicious cycle of killings doesnt seem to end. The government of India has failed to protect minorities in J&K & reduced them to sitting ducks. Everyone here is paying a heavy price for this facade of normalcy. My deepest condolences to his family, Mehbooba wrote in a tweet.

Afnan Habib is an independent journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets at @afnanhabib_


In northeast Delhis Shiv Vihar area, most of the Muslim residents are yet to recover from the traumatic episodes of violence and the economic toll after the loss of property and livelihood.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Shiv Vihar in northeast Delhi was one of the worst-affected areas during the 2020 Delhi riots. At least 60 houses belonging to Muslims, two mosques and a Madrasa (Islamic seminary) were set ablaze by rioters and at least four people lost their lives.

The violence in northeast Delhi erupted amid protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed by the Indian parliament in December 2019. Experts had found CAA to be defying the promise of secularism by the Indian constitution ensuing in widespread protests demanding repeal of the act. In the deadly riots, 53 people (most of whom Muslim) lost their lives and hundreds more were injured.

In Shiv Vihar, most of the Muslim residents are yet to recover from the traumatic episodes of violence and the economic toll after the loss of property and livelihood.

Madeena Masjid, situated at street number 12 in Shiv Vihar was gutted allegedly due to setting fire to gas cylinders around 9 pm on February 25. The Madrasa next to the mosque was also gutted by fire.

62-year-old Hasim Ali, president of the Madeena Masjid Committee, is an eyewitness to the incident.

Ali told TwoCircles.net that he named 15 people as accused of torching the mosque but police have not taken any action yet.

I have videos and photos of the rioters burning the mosque and homes. And all the evidence was submitted in court. But instead of arresting them, they arrested the victims, including me, he said.

Ali was arrested for instigating riots and spent 42 days in jail.

The government is for everyone. This country belongs to Muslims as well, and our ancestors have also sacrificed their lives for this nation. But we are still punished for being Muslims, Ali said.

Recalling that day Haji Hasim Ali said, Around 3 pm on February 25, riots broke out in Shiv Vihar. The rioters arrived in the area and began pelting stones. They set a house on fire. All Muslims living here fled their homes to save their lives. Only 8-9 families stayed back. The rioters also looted and ransacked the houses, and burnt down around 60 houses.

Alis two houses were burnt by rioters, including three motorcycles and a thela (a tricycle used in street vending). He received Rs 1 lakh as compensation for the two houses.

Night of terror

Fleeing the violence, some residents of Shiv Vihar had to spend the night on the streets while others fled to the safety of their relatives houses. Some even took refuge in mosques in safer areas. Residents returned to their homes after months only after normalcy returned. Some Muslim families never returned and sold their houses.

The Madrasa that was burnt down enrolled 250 children, including 15 orphans. The orphan children had nowhere to go after it was gutted. They were shifted to another mosque for some months, Ali said.

50-year-old Mohammad Raees runs a dairy farm in Shiv Vihar. He alleged that rioters burned down his house and looted 14 buffaloes from his dairy farm. He was able to retrieve only four of his buffaloes from Ghaziabad and other places in Delhi.

Raees said he was also shot at but survived.

During the riots, a son of a policeman fired at me. I was surrounded by rioters but somehow, I managed to save my life and escaped with my family, Raees said.

Unseen violence

Before the riots, 52-year-old Mohammad Waqeel used to run a retail shop. He was unable to do any work after the riots as he was attacked with acid resulting in severe damage to his eyes.

We were at the terrace of our two-storey house looking downstairs to assess the situation. The rioters were burning properties outside our house. Suddenly a rioter wearing a helmet threw a bottle at us. Before we could understand what had happened, something had gotten into my husbands eyes. I looked at him. He was in pain, with blood coming out of both of his eyes. I wiped his eyes with my scarf and poured water into his eyes, said Mumtaz Begum, wife of Mohammad Waqeel.

Waqeels house lies just behind the Madeena Masjid. When they started burning our house, we somehow managed to escape and hide in the mosque. But after a while, they also vandalized the mosque and set it on fire by blasting gas cylinders, Waqeel said.

We couldnt even go to the doctor as there was rampant violence going on outside. We felt very helpless on that day, Mumtaz said.

Waqeel had to go to a hospital in Chennai for treatment of his eyes. After 4 eye surgeries, the pain in his eyes doesnt subside.

Although expenses for his multiple eye surgeries ran into lakhs of rupees, Waqeel only received Rs 20,000 as compensation for eye treatment from the government. The government paid an additional Rs 1.8 lakh as compensation for their burnt house.

Was violence pre-planned?

Muslim residents of Shiv Vihar believe the violence that took place in northeast Delhi in February 2020 was pre-planned.

Ali said there has not been a single communal incident in Shiv Vihar before the riots. I have lived here for 32 years. There was no tension. We [Muslims & Hindus] used to take part in each others weddings and festivals with great enthusiasm. However, things have changed since the afternoon of February 25, 2020. Now people from the two communities cant get along. Good relations between the two seem to have disappeared, he added.

Mumtaz believes that the riots did not occur spontaneously. The riots were incited. Despite the absence of religious animosity between Hindus and Muslims in the Shiv Vihar area, the violence erupted. Why did these riots occur? she said while blaming the politicians for the riots.

A Delhi Minority Commission report later noted that the riots took place after an incendiary speech made by BJP leader Kapil Mishra calling for the forceful removal of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters at Jafrabad.

The report alleged that the Delhi police officials either remained mute spectators or even participated in the violence and they were biased against Muslims during the investigation of the riot too.

Rebuilding houses

Residents of Shiv Vihar said that the major expenses of rebuilding houses damaged during the riots were borne by the Muslim organization Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind (JUH).

They also rebuilt the Madeena masjid. However, the work on rebuilding the Madrasa is still in progress, a local said.

Locals said that JUH also helped in rebuilding four to five shops owned by Hindus.

Even though most of the houses have been rebuilt and normalcy has returned, for Muslim residents of this area life will not be the same again.

Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


On January 2, the families of the persons staged a protest outside the Yerwada jail premises in Pune, Maharashtra.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Three undertrial prisoners of the Yerwada Central Jail of Maharashtras Pune city died at a government hospital on December 31 prompting protests by their families.

Three undertrail prisoners Sandesh Gondekar, Shahrukh Sheikh, and Ranganath Datal died in Sassoon General hospital of seperate ailments, according to officials quoted by PTI.

On January 2, the families of the persons staged a protest outside the jail premises. They alleged that they had been kept in the dark regarding the fact that their imprisoned relatives had been moved to the hospital for treatment.

Yerawada police station officials said the three inmates died on December 31 at Sassoon General hospital where they were undergoing treatment for different ailments.

Police sub-inspector Ashok Kate from Yerawada police station said, All of them were undergoing treatment at Sassoon General Hospital. One of them died due to HIV infection while the other two had been hospitalized for chest pain and low blood pressure and died during treatment. We have registered a case of accidental death and further investigation is on. Hindustan Times reported.

However, their families have contested this claim and asked for a detailed inquiry into the causes of their respective deaths.

Two others, Sandesh Gondekar, and Shahrukh Sheikh were admitted to Sassoon on December 31, the same day on which they passed away.

Indias problem of excessive undertrail detentions

Yerwada is one of the largest prisons in south Asia. All undertrails in the Elgar Parishad case are also lodged at Yerwada.

India has one of the highest undertrial prisoners in the world. According to data from data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), among the 5,54,034 inmates across Indias prisons, 77.1% were under-trials and 22.2% were those who had been convicted by a court of law.

In 2017, Amnesty International India blamed governments for more than two thirds of prisoners in the country being undertrials and advocated strict enforcement of existing laws and policies to ensure their rights.

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz_


Haldwani residents, majority of whom are Muslim, have challenged the Uttarakhand High Courts eviction order in the Supreme Court, which will hear the plea on January 5.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

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HALDWANI (UTTARAKHAND)  Hundreds of Muslim women residents of Banbhoolpura in Haldwani, Uttarakhand Monday held a sit-in protest against the Uttarakhand High Courts eviction order.

On December 20, the High Court ordered the removal of 4,365 illegal encroachments spread over 78 acres of land from the area, which it observed was railway land. Residents of Haldwani, some of whom have been living here for decades, have since protested against the court order. As per residents, over 4000 families (approximately 50,000 people) will be affected due to evictions, 95% of whom are Muslim. Hundreds of residents were born in the very houses which are expected to be demolished in the coming days.

On January 2, hundreds of Muslim women, which included young girls and old women, participated in a sit-in protest against the eviction order.

A local religious leader led the prayers, which left the women in tears.

For 30-year-old Shaista, who is pregnant and is due this month, fear of becoming homeless has taken hold of her. I am concerned that if something happens, how will I reach the hospital, she told TwoCircles.net.

She has been living in Haldwani with her labourer husband for over 8 years. The couple lived as tenants and have nowhere to go.

She said the thought of her locality getting demolished is causing her anxiety.

Her only immediate family living in the locality is her widowed sister-in-law. She is a mother of two children. Where will we all go? she asked.

40-year-old Saheen is a daily wage labourer who has been living in the area for many years. Eviction will render her homeless. She said she has no money to afford rented accommodation.

I am hiding my children as I have nowhere to go and cannot afford rent. All I am asking is justice, she told TwoCircles.net.

Saheen questions where will poor families go if they are removed from the area.

For 45-year-old Rani, Haldwani is her home, where she has lived all her life and where her grandparents lived and died.

My whole family lives here. My brother, sister, mother, father, husband, children and other relatives are all here. My grandparents were born here and died. My home is my ancestral property. Now they are telling us that this is the railways property. How unfair is this? she said.

In a case that went on for nearly a decade, the Uttarakhand High Court ruled in favour of railways after hearing all the parties in the case. The state government had told the court that it had no say on the said property belonging to the railways, while the railways maintained that no encroacher can produce any legal document to claim the said land.

Residents of Haldwani contest this saying that if the area had belonged to railways all along, how come there are decades-old government institutions in the area?

Reportedly, there are five government educational institutions, and one hospital in the area.

Uttarakhand state president of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Dr Naiyer Kazmi has an explanation.

In 2007, the railway filed a petition alleging encroachment near the railway track, which was removed. But then again in 2016, the railway petitioned for 29 acres of land. Uttarakhand was ruled by Congress at that time and the government stated in the court that the said land belonged to the state government. As the government changed and BJP came to power, the government changed its stand and withdrew its claim from that land, Dr Kazmi said.

Shakil Siddique, a local resident of Chirag Ali Shah Baba Road, Banbhoolpura claimed that the railway has no proper documents to claim this land. The said encroachment is based on a single map of the Indian Railways and doesnt reflect the established colony of over 50,000 people, he said.

Siddique said that the court has given a one-sided judgment ignoring the plight of residents, who are mostly daily wage labourers.

The affected houses can be re-established by the state government. We only want to find a solution and come to a mutual agreement for the benefit of both the residents and the railways. The evacuation should not be carried out for the entire locality, he said, adding if the railway wants the land for its development, people will cooperate.

Dr Kazmi, who met families in Haldwani and offered them his full support, said people living in the locality have a registry of land papers from 1950-56. There are government schools, one inter-college and 14 temples [and 20 mosques] on the said land. There is a community hall also. Ward councillors are elected. SDM has issued permanent domicile certificates to the residents of that area. People have papers of free-hold land, he added.

No rehabilitation plans

On December 29, joint teams of railway and revenue officials conducted a drone survey of the area. The officials demarcated the encroached areas amid protests by the local residents, who demanded plans for rehabilitation.

32-year-old Rehana told TwoCircles.net that residents will only accept the demolition of their homes if they are properly rehabilitated.

If they compensate and relocate us then we can accept the revocation order. But they have assured us nothing about the resettlement, she said.

Raju Devi, a 70-year-old Dalit woman, said her in-laws family has been living here for over 100 years. I dont know where I will go with all my grandkids and family if the demolition takes place, she told TwoCircles.net.

She said the railways should have stopped the construction of the colony earlier if the land was theirs. They didnt stop us when we used to live in Jhuggis (mud houses). Now that we have constructed our homes here and have been paying taxes and getting government facilities such as electricity, roads, and water, they are talking about eviction, she said.

Musarat Khan, a 48-year-old woman from the Bettiah district of Bihar, came to live here after her marriage. She lost her husband at an early age when her son was only ten. We somehow managed to construct this house by taking a loan of Rs 25000. Now, they are talking about demolishing it. The government, which is made from our votes, is saying that this land does not belong to us. Demolishing our home will be like killing us, she said.

Khan lives with her son and two granddaughters aged 15 and 13. On being asked if they have received the eviction notice, she said that they didnt get any such notice. We heard it through the loudspeaker and through locals, Khan added.

Facing eviction and possible demolition of their homes, some of the residents have approached the Supreme Court for relief. The apex court has decided to hear the plea on January 5.

Meanwhile, the state Congress has opposed the eviction and accused the state government of not doing anything to help the residents of Haldwani. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticized the move. How can it be an encroachment when there are three government inter-college in the area? he said.

Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

[Additional reporting by Sami Ahmad. Tweets at @samipkb]

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


A two-judge division bench of Justice M.R. Shah and C.T Ravikumar refused to stay the Madhya Pradesh high court order that restricted the state government from prosecuting interfaith couples.

Huneza Khan| TwoCircles.net

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BHOPAL (MADHYA PRADESH)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the Madhya Pradesh high courts order that restricted the state government from taking coercive actions against interfaith couples who get informing the district magistrate.

The apex court told the Madhya Pradesh government that not all religious conversions are illegal.

A two-judge division bench of Justice M.R. Shah and C.T Ravikumar marked that, all conversions cannot be said to be illegal conversions. The matter will be heard again on February 7.

Representing the State, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that, there is no prohibition against marriage or conversion, you intimate the district magistrate so that he has an occasion to ensure there is no allurement.

Earlier, the state government had filed a petition against the high court order on which the Supreme Court issued a notice.

Reacting to the Supreme Court observation, State Home Dr Minister said that the state government is determined to ensure that illegal conversion does not take place.

We will strongly present our case to the Supreme Court, he said.

                               pic.twitter.com/7L5DbW8VG0  Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) January 4, 2023

What MP High Court had said?

In an interim order dated November 2022, the two-judge division bench of Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Prakash Chandra at Madhya Pradesh high court had found Section 10 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (MPFRA) ex-facie unconstitutional. The court further directed the respondent (state government in this case) neither to prosecute adult citizens if they solemnize the marriage of their own will nor to take coercive actions against them for violation of Section 10 of MPFRA.

Considering the aforesaid judgments, in our considered opinion, a strong prima facie case is made out by the petitioners for the grant of interim protection in relation to the marriage of two adult citizens on their volition and against any coercive action for violation of Section 10 of the Act of 21. Section 10 makes it obligatory for a citizen desiring conversion to give a declaration in this regard to the District Magistrate which in our opinion ex facie, is unconstitutional in the teeth of aforesaid judgments of this Court. Thus, till further orders, the respondent shall not prosecute the adult citizens if they solemnize the marriage of their own volition and shall not take coercive action for violation of Section 10 of Act of 21, the interim order reads.

What does section 10 of MPFRA say?

According to Section 10 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (MPFRA), interfaith couples who decided on religious conversion for marriage had to give notice to authorities informing them that they are wilfully converting their religion and they are not forced to do it. This law was challenged by the petitioners and declared unconstitutional by Madhya Pradesh High Court until further orders. This section was the violation of the right to privacy and the right to freedom of religion. After the interim order of the Court, if any individual or a party is found violating section 10 of MPFRA the state cannot take coercive action against them.

The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2021 was an ordinance passed with voice votes amidst the chants of Jai Sri Ram (Glory be to Lord Ram) in the state assembly. It prohibits religious conversion by fraud, allurement, coercion, etc. The violation of the law would result in imprisonment and a fine. The Hindi cow belt became the third state for passing such a law after Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


The circular dated December 27 had caused fear among J&K students as the collected information had to be provided to the Aligarh Superintendent of Police.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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ALIGARH (UTTAR PRADESH)  After backlash from the students, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has withdrawn the controversial order that demanded students from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to furnish their complete details to the authorities.

The circular, issued on December 27, instilled fear among J&K students as the collected information had to be provided to the Aligarh Superintendent of Police.

The students had termed the circular a breach of privacy. The circular sought details such as the students name, fathers name, present and permanent address, class/course, and mobile numbers.

Nasir Khuehami, the national convener of the Jammu and Kashmir Student Association (JKSA), a student body, condemned the issuance of such a circular and called it discriminatory.

He questioned why the circular was specifically issued for J&K students (who are reportedly 1400 in number) when there are thousands of students from different regions of the country enrolled at the university.

We ask the Aligarh Muslim University administration how can you do this. It is a breach of privacy that goes against the ethos of the Indian Constitution, he said.

He said that the circular caused distress to J&K students.

Authorities Withdraw Circular Of Profiling J&K Students in AMU.

No sort of profiling will be done in any Department of AMU and it's affiliated Schools. Students should not feel worried now. Thanks Authorities for Considering our request. @AMUofficialPRO @HMOIndia @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/a0d5ZzbLeS  Nasir Khuehami ( ) (@NasirKhuehami) January 4, 2023

Irfan Basheer, a research scholar at Aligarh Muslim University, expressed relief with the withdrawal of the circular. We issued a notice strongly opposing the circular. It has finally been cancelled, Basheer said.

He said it was shocking for many Kashmiri students to hear about the circular. A large number of students saw the circular in connection with the December 25 incident on the campus where a gun was waived against J&K students, he said.

Basheer, who has been studying at AMU for nearly a decade, said that AMU authorities cannot take such a step without consulting the students.

He said he has not come across any such incident in the past where data was sought about a particular community. He called it an onslaught on the cultural ethos and diversity of AMU.

We have been pushed to the wall and forced to hit the streets. We must be in our classrooms and laboratories and yet we are getting embroiled in this because of wisdomless politics, Basheer added.

Another J&K student Zubair Altaf Reshi told TwoCircles.net why should students furnish information in this way when all such information is already available with the university administration.

There was something fishy about it, he said.

Altaf, who is a research scholar, said that when students reached out to administrative officials for clarification, they called it a routine affair.

How could it be a routine when none of the students from other regions was asked to furnish such information? The recent incident with the J&K students in AMU has already left us traumatized, he said.

Altaf said the circular made their parents anxious. They are scared about our safety and keep asking us what is happening, he said.

The aggrieved J&K students have demanded the AMU authorities and the district administration of Aligarh to explain the reason behind the circular.

We have a right to know why they are demanding our information and what purposes they want to use it, Altaf added.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


On January 2, a mob vandalised a church after around 2000 people, mostly Adivasis held a public meeting in protest in against alleged illegal religious conversions in the tribal dominated Narayanpur.

TCN News

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NEW DELHI  Five persons including a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader were arrested on Tuesday (January 2) in connection with a mob attack on a church in Chhattisgarhs Narayanpur district, police said.

The five arrested persons have been identified as BJP leader Rupsai Salam, Pawankumar Nag, Atul Netam, Ankit Nandi and Domendra Yadav, The Indian Express reported.

On January 2, a mob vandalised a church after around 2000 people, mostly Adivasis held a public meeting in protest in against alleged illegal religious conversions in the tribal dominated Narayanpur. The crowd dispersed in groups after the meeting, some of whom entered a church located in Viswadeepti school premises and vandalised it.

The protestors then carried out violent demonstrations in other places in the city including Bakhrupara Bazaar. The demonstrations took place a day after a clash between two groups of Adivasis had left eight persons injured, including Superintendent of Police Sadanand Kumar.

Around 2,000 people were present for a meeting held in Narayanpur. Local tribal leaders Rupsai Salam, Narayan Markam and few others were leading the gathering, Inspector General of Police (IG) Sundarraj P told reporters.

On Tuesday, the police registered three first information reports against unidentified persons for rioting, assaulting police personnel, and vandalising the church.

Police have also registered an FIR on the clash between two Adivasi groups at Gorra village under Edka police station limits on January 1, Inspector General Sundarraj P told PTI.

The FIRs have been registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), reported PTI.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the police stopped two BJP MPs Santosh Pandey and Mohan Mandavi and MLA Shivratan Sharma from entering Narayanpur, citing security reasons.

The Congress government has been behaving like dictator and murdering democracy, BJPs Chhattisgarh unit chief spokesperson Ajay Chandrakar told PTI. Stopping our leaders from going to Narayanpur clearly indicates that those who are involved in religious conversions have protection of Congress.

TwoCircles.net earlier reported how scores of tribal Christian families are fleeing villages in Chhatisgarhs Narayanpur districts following attacks by right-wing groups.
The city has confirmed that it fell victim to the Clop ransomware group's attack. As of late, the threat actors have been having been engaging in a hacking spree, claiming that it stole data from more than 130 victims.

City of Toronto Cyber Attack

The attacks perpetrated by the hacker group are through its GoAnywhere file transfer vulnerability. Although it is unclear how much Clop demands regarding ransom or if the City of Toronto is willing to comply, it's already been listed on the hackers' website.

The data leak site indicates that the stolen information is "coming soon," along with other information like the victim's headquarters address, phone number, website, and revenue, which totaled $11.3 billion, as shown in Bleeping Computer.

It was confirmed by the City of Toronto that the hackers gained unauthorized access of City data through a third-party vendor, which the City was made aware of on March 20th, according to a spokesperson for the City.

The spokesperson also stated that the data stolen was limited to files that weren't processed through the third-party secure file transfer system, and the City government is currently investigating the files that the threat actors were able to access.

They added that they are committed to protecting the privacy and security of the citizens of Toronto, and claim to "successfully ward off cyber attacks on a daily basis." Unfortunately, the Clop ransomware group still managed to execute the vulnerable version of Fortra.

Also known as the GoAnywhere, the program from Fortra is a vulnerability that has been exploited as a zero-day which prompted its customers to patch their systems, reports say. This led to more than 130 data breaches in the span of ten days which continues to grow.

Read Also: 5 Alarming Ransomware Facts You Shouldn't Ignore

Clop Ransomware

Like most ransomware groups, Clop executes its attack by encrypting the files of its victims and demanding a ransom to keep them from exposing the stolen data. The hacker group became known in 2019 after being determined as a legitimate threat to organizations and businesses.

Its victims range from multinational energy companies to universities in the United States, wherein the hacker group has already acquired $500 million in ransom payments, which will continue to grow along with its list of victims.

The ransomware group is said to be able to take down Windows Defender Microsoft Security Essentials as a part infiltration process. This in turn will help the threat actors enter the system much faster to steal the victim's data.

Some of its target data include data backups, vouchers, email lists, financial records, or any form of confidential or private information. They would leak some of the stolen information to prove that they managed to steal them, according to Mimecast.

The hacker group usually attempts to enter systems through phishing campaigns, wherein they use malicious links under the guise of legitimate emails or software updates. It is through the malicious links that the malware will enter the system.

It's almost impossible to decrypt the stolen and encrypted files once the hacker group gets a hold of them, and may only be accessible one the ransom is paid and a decryption key is provided by the threat actors.

Related: Dish Network Confirms Ransomware Attack Affecting Internal Systems Outage


The Supreme Court Thursday stayed Uttarakhand high courts order for evictions in Haldwani that threatened to displace more than 50,000 people, most of whom are Muslim.

Shruti Sharma & Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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HALDWANI (UTTARAKHAD)  The Supreme Courts order to stay Uttarakhand High Courts decision to remove encroachments from railway land in Haldwani has come as a relief to the local residents.

The residents welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court saying their prayers have been answered.

We want to thank the Supreme Court from the bottom of our hearts that they [judges] gave an order in our favour. It is the result of prayers of lacs of aggrieved people, said 42-year-old Mohammad Nayeem, a resident of Haldwani.

Children held signs thanking the Supreme Court for its order. Young girls are now hoping to go back to school without the fear of demolition of their homes looming over their heads.

I was very happy to hear the Supreme Court order. The order is in our favour and hopefully future orders [in the case] will also be in our favour, said Sadaf, a school going girl said.

Sadaf said that their only hope now is that they should be allowed to live permanently in the area.

Sharafat Ali Khan, one of the petitioners in the case, told TwoCircles.net that people have heaved a sigh of relief after the Supreme Courts order.

The high court order was harsh and had left people anxious. This stay order by the apex court comes as a relief, Khan said.

Thousands of Haldwani residents, especially women, have been holding candlelight marches, peaceful sit-ins, and prayers to stop the eviction.

On December 20, the High Court ordered the removal of 4,365 illegal encroachments spread over 78 acres of land from the area, which it observed was railway land. Residents of Haldwani, some of whom have been living here for decades, have since protested against the court order, TwoCircles.net earlier reported.

Taking exception to the High Courts direction to remove the occupants in seven days, the Supreme Court observed there cannot be uprooting of 50,000 people in 7 days, LiveLaw reported.

Supreme court has stressed the human aspect of the case, as thousands of people are involved, Khan said, noting that the apex court also notified that it was impossible to evict such a large number of people just like that.

In its order, the top court said that there needs to be clarity on whether complete land vests in Railways or what land belongs to the state. 50,000 people cannot be evicted overnight.

The order was issued by a bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and Abhay S. Oka, who also served a notice to the Railways and the Uttarakhand government. The top court posted the matter to February 7, 2023, asking the state and the Railways to find a practical solution.

The bench expressed particular concern about the fact that many of the residents have resided there for a long time and assert rights based on leases and auction sales.

There are two aspects of the issue. One, they claim leases. Two, they say people migrated after 1947, and the lands were auctioned. People stayed there for so many years. Some rehabilitation has to be given. There are establishments there. How can you say in seven days clear them off? Justice SK Kaul asked.

What is troubling us is how you deal with the scenario of people who have purchased the land in the auction. You may acquire the land and utilize it. Other is people have lived there for 50-60 years; some rehabilitation scheme has to be done, even assuming it is railway land, Justice Kaul added.

What did the petition filed by residents demand?

The petition filed by some of the residents of Haldwani to challenge the Uttarakhand high court order highlighted that the petitioners are poor people who have been lawful residents of Mohalla Nai Basti, Haldwani district for more than 70 years.

As per the petitioner Khan, the Uttarakhand High Court ordered the summary eviction of more than 20,000 people residing in more than 4000 houses despite the fact that proceedings regarding the title of the residents were pending before the district magistrate.

The petition stated that the names of local residents are entered in the municipal records of house tax register and that they have been paying house tax regularly for years.

There are 5 government schools, one hospital and two overhead water tanks in the area, the petition said.

It further stated that the long settled physical possession of the petitioners and their ancestors, some even prior to the date of Indian independence, has been recognized by the State and its agencies and they have been given gas and water connections and even Aadhaar card numbers accepting their residential addresses.



Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib_

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


62-year-old Chinta Devi belongs to the socially backward Dalit Manjhi caste and is the first ever Scheduled Caste (SC) person to become the deputy mayor of Gaya town.

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  Only two years ago, Chinta Devi was sweeping floors in Gaya Municipal Corporation (GMC). Today, she is the Deputy Mayor of the body.

A former sanitation worker, 62-year-old Chinta Devi belongs to the socially backward Dalit Manjhi caste and is the first ever Scheduled Caste (SC) person to become the deputy mayor of Gaya town. She worked as a sanitation worker at Gaya Municipal Corporation (GMC) for 40 years before retiring in 2020.

In the recent municipals elections, whose results were announced on December 30, she won by getting 50417 votes beating Divya Anand by a big margin of 15663 votes. Her victory is significant as she also beat Sunaina Devi, the daughter of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manhi, who was a contender for the post.

The post was reserved for SC female candidate this year.

Chinta Devi told TwoCircles.net that she had never imagined that she would be an office bearer in Gaya Municipal Corporation (GMC).

People have given me so much respect that is beyond my expectation. I thank them all and hope to fulfil the promise of a clean city, said Chinta.

A single mother, she lives with her five children in Madanpur mohalla of Gaya town. Her late husband Ramji Manjhi was a construction worker.

Her story is one of struggle and inspiration as she fought poverty single-handedly as both her parents died when she was still a child.

Chinta found work as a sanitation worker after her aunt Jamuni Devi (her mothers younger sister) passed away. Jamuni Devi, a sanitation worker, had raised her and her siblings after both her parents died.

It was very tough as I lost my husband also. When he was alive, I used to work alongside him after getting my morning work finished at the Corporation. I had to earn for my sisters and children, she said.

Her two sons Bhola Manjhi and Bablu Manjhi work as sanitation workers and the youngest drives an e-rickshaw to make a living.

Even after her retirement in 2020, she had to work to support her family. I started selling vegetables at Kedarnath market. It was the other vegetable vendors there who suggested that I should fight this election. I had no idea about it and the biggest challenge was the money required for it, said Chinta.

Finally, with encouragement from her friends, she decided to fight the election and managed to meet the election campaign expenses through crowd-funding.

Chinta thanks leaders like Mohan Srivastava, former Deputy Mayor, and other leaders of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janta Dal (United) and Congress for making her the Mahagathbandan (Grand Alliance) candidate. She said these joint efforts enabled her to beat her nearest rival Divya Anand who had the support of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a town where a BJP MLA Prem Kumar has won the last seven elections, her victory is seen as significant for Mahagathbandan.

Support from Muslim community

Her victory in the deputy mayor elections was enabled by wide-ranging support not only from the people of her community but from Muslims as well. After her win, she was facilitated by the community. The community leaders hoped that the election of Chinta Devi will be beneficial for the work in minority-dominated wards which has been ignored in the past.

Chinta Devi is fondly referred to as Comrade Chinta, Advocate Masud Manzar of the Communist Party of India (CPI) told TwoCirlcles.net.

Chinta is a socially well-informed person. She was attached to the Local Bodies Employees Federation till her retirement. Her win with such a huge margin has sent a positive message that a person with a very humble background can also win if projected properly, Masud said.

Former GMC Commissioner Vijay Kumar also expressed his happiness over Chintas elevation to the deputy mayor post. She used to work as a sanitation staff during my tenure. She was also active in any agitation for workers rights. I hope she would do much better than the earlier office bearers as she knows the corporations work very well, Kumar said.

Chinta Devi said that she has an advantage as being a former worker at the corporation enables her to be well aware of the problems of the staff. I will raise my voice for them, she said, adding, For example, I am still waiting for my post-retirement emoluments. There are many like me.

Her other main concern will be to work for improving the water supply in Gaya town, besides ensuring people get their ration and voter cards on time.

Kam nahin karenge to agli baar vote kaun dega (If I dont work, who will vote for me next time?), she noted.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb


No Muslim writers have been given a chance to participate in the poet convention, and the Byari language, which Muslims speak in coastal Karnataka, has not been considered.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The Kannada Sahitya Parishats 86th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana (All India Kannada Literature Conference) was inaugurated on Friday in the Haveri district of Karnataka. However, the literary festival has drawn criticism for excluding Muslim authors and litterateurs.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais hometown of Haveri is being prepared for the big event and is hosting the three-day Kannada Literature Conference.

Social media users criticized the biased approach in selecting panels and achievements for felicitation, sparking uproar. But the Kannada Sahitya Parishat has continued as is without any modifications.

No Muslim writers have been given a chance to participate in the poet convention, and the Byari language, which Muslims speak in coastal Karnataka, has not been considered. Other dialects like Konkani, Soliga, Tulu, and Kodava were discussed.

On January 8, Kannada activists and like-minded literary critics will hold a one-day parallel literary conference in Bengaluru to protest this biased approach towards Muslim writers. The conference will be presided over by renowned Kannada author Bhanu Mushtaq.

Dalit author and former official Moodnakoodu Chinnaswamy will deliver the conferences opening address. The event will take place in Bengaluru at the Alumni Associations premises close to K.R. Circle.

The program, which has been named Jana Sahitya Sammelana (Peoples Literature Convention), will include topics like Domination and politics of food, Attacks on minorities and Dalits, Responsibilities of Literature World, and Contribution of Christian Missionaries to the Kannada language.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib_


Police have filed three separate cases at Edka police station following complaints received from tribals, tribal Christians and police about alleged attacks on them.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  Police on Sunday arrested five more persons in connection with a clash between two tribal groups over alleged religious conversion in Chhattisgarhs Narayanpur district, an official said.

Till now eight people have been arrested in connection with the incident which took place in Gorra village under Edka police station limits on January 1, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.

Police had on January 3 arrested three persons, including a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

Five more persons arrested on Sunday have been identified as Premsagar Netam (48), Lacchu Karanga (32), Santuram Dugga (35), Punuram Dugga (45) and Rajman Karanga (46), all residents of Narayanpur district, the official said.

They were produced before a local court which sent them to judicial custody, he said.

Three separate cases were registered at Edka police station following complaints received from tribals, tribal Christians and police about alleged attacks on them, police said.

There have been reports of unrest at various villages in the Benoor area of the district for the last two months over the issue of alleged religious conversion.

The tribal Christians from various villages in Chhattisgarh allege large-scale violence against them because of their allegiance to the Christian faith forcing them to flee.

On January 2, a church was vandalised and six police personnel, including an IPS officer, were injured in Narayanpur city during a protest by a group of tribals against the alleged religious conversion in the tribal-dominated area. (With PTI inputs)

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz_


Rehman Rahi has profoundly impacted Kashmiri culture and literature as a respected poet, forward-thinking critic, and literary theorist.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU AND KASHMIR)  Professor Abdul Rehman Rahi, a well-known Kashmiri poet, critic, and scholar, passed away at his residence in the Nowshera area of Srinagar city on Monday. He was 98.

Born on May 6, 1925, Rehman Rahi published several poetry volumes and translated some of the most renowned poets works into the Kashmiri language. Rahi has profoundly impacted Kashmiri culture and literature as a respected poet, forward-thinking critic, and literary theorist.

In 2007, Rahi was the first Kashmiri author to receive the Jnanpith, the countrys highest literary honour, for his lyrical collection Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz (In Black Drizzle), published in 2004.

His artistic achievements have considerably widened the lyrical and imaginative potential of the rich Kashmiri language. For his poetry collection Nawroz-e-Saba, Prof. Rahi received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1961. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri in the year 2000.

Prof. Rehman Rahi did a stellar job translating the original Punjabi Sufi poetry of Baba Farid into the Kashmiri language. While Dina Nath Nadims influence on his poetry is also evident, especially in his early works. The work of French philosophers Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre also had noticeable effects on his work.

Many members of society, notably those in the literary community, have expressed their condolences upon his passing.

Remembering Prof. Rehman Rahi, Zeeshan Jaipuri, a young poet, told TwoCircles.net that losing him was a personal as well as a collective loss for society. As far as I can tell from his writings, Rehman Rahi spoke for the Kashmiris as a whole. He had unparalleled skill in his field. Prof. Rahi used poetry to express what the average Kashmiri felt, he said.

Regarding Rehman Rahis contributions and works, Zeeshan added, When it comes to Kashmiri poetry, Rehman Rahi occupies a significant place. With him, Kashmir saw the start of a new poetic era. Rahis poetry employs metaphors in a complex, psychological way that is uncommon elsewhere. He gave me the motivation I needed to keep writing poetry. I personally mourn his passing.

Shakir Shafi, president of Halqua e Adab Sonawari (HAS), recalled Prof. Rahis contribution to the Kashmiri language and literature and his close relationship with Halqua e Adab Sonawari. He termed Rahis passing a significant loss to the Kashmiri language and literature.

Prof Rahi has always been of great support to the organisation. He has rarely missed any major events of the organisation and would always ensure his presence on Prof Mohi ud Din Hajini Day. His magnificent absence in such events would be badly missed by all of us and his fans, he said.

The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, expressed his sorrow over Prof. Rahis passing. Deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Jnanpith awardee Prof Rehman Rahi, one of the most influential poets in Kashmiri in recent times. His passing marks the end of an era. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and well-wishers, he said in a tweet.

Saddened to hear about the sad demise of towering literary personality and Gyaanpeeth Awardee Jinab Rehman Rahi sb. In his death, Kashmiri Literature and society has been left with a void that can never be filled, Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister of J&K, said while condoling his death.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib_


Earlier, the Supreme Court had said the issue of forced religious conversion is a very serious issue and emphasised that charity is welcome, but the purpose of charity must not be conversion.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI : On a plea seeking direction to the Central government and state governments to take action against forced religious conversions, the Supreme Court on Monday sought assistance of Attorney General R. Venkataramani.

A bench, headed by Justice M.R. Shah, observed that religious conversion is a serious and important issue and it should not be given a political colour.

The bench, also comprising Justice C.T. Ravikumar, sought the AGs assistance on a petition filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay against religious conversions by force, allurement etc.

Justice Shah told the AG: We want your assistance also, as Attorney General for India it is a conversion matter, religious conversion by force, allurement or some other things, these are allegations we are not opining anything, whether it has actually happened or not, we are just considering.

What should be done in such a case? there is a difference between right to freedom, right to religion, and right to convert anything by allurement, if that is happening, then what will happen, what should be done What further corrective measures can be taken we want assistance from AG, he added.

Senior advocate P. Wilson, representing the Tamil Nadu government, submitted that the petition is politically motivated and argued that there was no question of such conversions in the state.

At this, the bench said: You may have different reasons to be agitated like this. Dont convert court proceedings into other things. We are concerned with the entire country If it is happening in your state, it is bad. If not, then it is good.

Do not make it political.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Upadhyay seeking direction to the Centre and states to take tough steps to control fraudulent religious conversions. The top court scheduled the matter for further hearing on February 7.

The top court also renamed the cause title as re: issue of religious conversion as lawyers object to the PIL filed by Upadhyay in his own name.

On December 5, the Supreme Court had said the issue of forced religious conversion is a very serious issue and emphasised that charity is welcome, but the purpose of charity must not be conversion.

The top court allowed the Centre to file a detailed counter after obtaining necessary response from various state governments in connection with anti-conversion laws and other relevant information.

The Gujarat government, in its written response, said, It is humbly submitted that that the Act of 2003 (Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003) is a validly constituted legislation and more particularly the provision of section 5 of the Act of 2003, which is holding the field since last 18 years and thus, a valid provision of law so as to achieve the objective of the Act of 2003 and to maintain the public order within the state of Gujarat by protecting the cherished rights of vulnerable sections of the society including women and economically and socially backward classes.

The state government said the Gujarat High Court stayed the operation of Section 5 of the Act of 2003, which is in fact an enabling provision for a person to get converted from one religion to another religion on his own volition.

It said the high court failed to appreciate that by staying the operation of section 5 of the Act of 2003, the whole purpose of the Act effectively stands frustrated. It further added that Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2021 was passed to strengthen the 2003 law.

Upadhyay moved the apex court against fraudulent religious conversion and religious conversion by intimidation, threatening, deceivingly luring through gifts and monetary benefits, as it offends Articles 14, 21, and 25. (With IANS inputs)

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz_


The report by PUCL Karnataka elaborates the ways in which Muslim women students were denied their right to education by being forced to stay out of the classrooms.

TCN Correspondent

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MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)  Muslim women have dropped out of colleges and the classrooms have gotten polarized on the basis of religion, revealed a report released by human rights organization Peoples Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) on January 9, Monday, marking one year of Hijab ban in Karnataka.

The PUCLs Karnataka chapter undertook a study to investigate the impact of the imposed ban on the students and examine the role of authorities, administrative officials and police officials.

The report explains that through conversations with students as well as authorities, and an analysis of events that transpired, it becomes visibly clear that Muslim women students were not only actively prevented from accessing their right to education, but also bore the brunt of a climate of hate, hostility and misinformation.

Students have faced humiliation and harassment in their own classrooms at the hands of their faculty, college administration and classmates.

Speaking to TwoCircles.net, Arvind Narrain, President of PUCL-Karnataka, said that as per a reply in the legislative assembly on September 22, 2022 to a question posed by MLA Sowmya Reddy, in the 1 and 2 PU Colleges the total drop outs of hijab wearing girls is 1010 because of hijab ban or other reasons.

The PUCL report elaborates the ways in which Muslim women students were denied their right to education by being forced to stay out of the classrooms. Students have also recounted their experiences of loss, broken dreams and career aspirations, discrimination, segregation from other non-hijab wearing students and their feeling of fear and insecurity within the campuses of their colleges.

The figures (of the government) indicate that the government has comprehensively failed to fulfil its constitutional mandate under Article 41 to ensure that the state has made effective provision for securing the right to education. This comprehensive failure is the result of a manifestly arbitrary government hijab policy which has instead of providing for the right to education, denied the right to education to a section of Muslim girl students. This is unconscionable.

The report documents how vigilante groups of Hindutva organisations carried out a vilification campaign against hijab wearing students and how the inaction of the government and police gave implicit encouragement to these fundamentalist forces.

Besides focusing on other major issues, the report reveals that educational bureaucracy, including college principals and authorities, district administration and the CDCs neither received written orders from higher authorities nor gave instructions to college administrators in writing.

Their actions to counsel Muslim students and parents and their refusal to document their grievances or take legal action against Hindutva groups who harassed Muslim students, revealed their prejudiced and biased approach towards Muslims. College authorities too shared that they received strict orders and hence enforced a ban with immediate effect. They also treated students with disrespect and contempt.

Zainab Gazali, Girls Islamic Organisation, ZAC Member Karnataka told TwoCircles.net that the unresolved Hijab issue is a challenge for the girl students of Karnataka.

Many girls who belong to the low-income class are largely impacted by the ban, she said. Thousands of girls have switched their institutions.

Elaborating on the role of the police and how they enabled a hostile environment of hate targetted against Muslim students, the PUCL report said that by going beyond their mandate and entering college campuses, forcing students to remove the hijab, taking pictures and videos of hijab-wearing Muslim women students and displaying a callous indifference to the harassment faced by the students, the police failed to fulfill their responsibility towards those who were made to be extremely vulnerable.

The police also filed several FIRs to criminalise dissent from the Muslim community, denying them their constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Investigating the development of the hijab discourse regarding gender, faith and empowerment, the report shows the multifarious ways in which Muslim women are asserting themselves and charting a distinct vision of assertiveness and identity. It also draws from the global narrative regarding the hijab as well as understandings coming from the local level, and also different perspectives from other students, academics, and global activists on the same.

Documenting the organized hate campaign against Muslim women students and a systematic effort to deny Muslim students their right to education while wearing the hijab, the report details how vigilante groups from Hindutva organisations used social media and college WhatsApp groups to mobilise youth to claim that the hijab is anti-national, and a threat to all Hindus.

The report also describes how the media played an active role in spreading inflammatory statements about the hijab and the protesting Muslim women students. The TV medias coverage, especially Kannada TV media, constantly pushed a dominant narrative that stereotyped Muslim students and grossly violated their Constitutional rights as well as the medias codes of ethics.

Analysing the Karnataka High Court judgment, in Resham v the State of Karnataka, the report said the analysis shows that the judgment incorrectly focused on the question of the hijab as an Essential Religious Practice (ERP) and ignored the more immediate question surrounding the practice, which is whether students have a right to express themselves through the practice and what powers does the state have to regulate their form of expression.

Gazali said, We demand a flexible uniform and head cover. The high court interim order disappointed the students. We had hope on supreme court. But the split verdict has further complicated the issue.

She said this is about the future of girls education. The more this case holds on, it will result in a huge lose to the girls education.


The Muslim leaders maintain that the property in question belongs to the Waqf board.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  After a private house was reportedly converted to a mosque and donated to the Waqf board in Karnatakas Belagavi, Hindu groups and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Sanjay Patil are demanding a mosque should not be allowed there.

The Hindu groups allege that a house in Sarathinagar of Belagavi has been turned into the Fathima Masjid. The area comes under the Belagavi Rural Assembly constituency. A meeting was reportedly held with locals and a movement to vacate the masjid from the locality has been started under the leadership of Patil.

Sri Ram Sena Founder Pramod Muthalik said he has no objection to building a mosque according to law. But, he cant agree with the conversion of a residential house into a mosque. He has given one weeks deadline for the mosque.

As per IANS, locals alleged that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the development, accusing the Congress MLA of Belagavi Rural constituency Lakshmi Hebbalkar of pressurising the authorities not to take any action against the Fatima mosque.

Locals said that complaints were raised for over one year, but no action was taken, IANS reported.

As per the locals, the property was gifted by the owner to Moulana Abdul Kalam Educational and Charitable Society. However, it was converted into a mosque. A notice has been issued by the corporation regarding the building license violation and carrying out religious activities on the property meant for residence, reported the news agency.

The corporation has now issued a notice regarding the building license violation and carrying out religious activities on the property meant for residents. The Muslim leaders, however, maintained that it was the property of the Waqf board.

Notably, Belagavi is a stronghold of the ruling BJP. In the 2018 elections, the party won 10 of the 18 seats in the district. As the state is scheduled for assembly elections in May this year, the BJP will be trying to stay in power.

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz_


Rehman Rahis death on January 9 was mourned across Kashmir.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU AND KASHMIR)  Professor Abdul Rehman Rahi, a well-known Kashmiri poet, critic, and scholar, passed away at his residence in the Nowshera area of Srinagar city on Monday (January 9). He was 98.

Here are ten facts about Kashmirs renowned poet, whose death was mourned across literary, social and political circles in Kashmir.

1. Born on May 6, 1925, Rehman Rahi published several poetry volumes and translated some of the most renowned poets works into the Kashmiri language.

2. He is the first Kashmiri author to receive the Jnanpith, the countrys highest literary honour for the year 2007, for his lyrical collection Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz (In Black Drizzle), which was published in 2004.

3. In 1948, he began working as a clerk in a government department. He then pursued his education and earned an MA in Persian and English in the 1950s and 1960s.

4. For his poetry collection Nawroz-e-Saba, Rahi received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961.

5. Rehman Rahi received the highest literary distinction bestowed by Indias Sahitya Akademi, the Sahitya Academy Fellowship, in 2000.

6. Prof. Rehman Rahi was honoured with the Padma Shri award in the year 2000.

7. Prof. Rahi did a stellar job translating the original Punjabi Sufi poetry of Baba Farid into the Kashmiri language.

8. Rehman Rahi is credited for redeeming Kashmiri literature from Persian and Urdu languages, which had previously held sway over Kashmirs literary culture.

9. The emergence of an indigenous critical idiom for Kashmiri is credited to Rahis critical writings in Kahwat (Touchstone, 1980). This book won him the Best Literary Critic Award of the State Cultural Academy.

10. A large portion of Rahis poetry explores the themes of alienation, existential crisis, and human predicament on a personal, societal, and universal level.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib_


The drive to evict encroachers from a forest land in Assams Lakhimpur district has left with 299 families in the lurch.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Around 300 people living on a 250-hectare area in Assams Lakhimpur district were left homeless on Wednesday as the effort to expel encroachers from the forest area continued for the second day.

The evicted, most of whom were Bengali-speaking Muslims, lamented that they were unable to gather all of their possessions and that their crops had been ruined in the drive.

The government started the activity on Tuesday to clear around 450 hectares of Pava Reserve Forest. In Mohghuli village, which had 201 families, 200 hectares were cleaned by officials on the first day.

The drive resumed today at 7.30 am. It was completed peacefully. We did not face any resistance, a senior district administration official told PTI.

According to the official, over 70 bulldozers, excavators, and tractors were dispatched to the village of Adhasona as 600 police officers and members of the CRPF maintained watch.

Around 500 Hindu households are living in the forest, according to some of the victims, and the government must evict them too if it is genuinely concerned about encroachment.

The senior official claimed that the Hindu familiesmost of whom belonged to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribeshad petitioned the Gauhati High Court in 2016 to request rehabilitation. The official argued that the court had ordered the eviction to be postponed until another agreement was established.

Additionally, a cooperative society run by BJP MLA Amiya Kumar Bhuyan called Bir Lachit Bahumukhi Samabai Samiti is located in the forest area. It was growing mustard on 450 bighas (over 60 hectares)

The All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) denounced the eviction drive as inhuman and one-sided and held a small demonstration in the Lakhimpur districts Sonapur neighborhood.

The senior official said that since November 2021, the illegal settlers had received repeated reminders to leave the area.

On September 7 last year, we served the final notice and asked them not to grow crops, but they did not pay heed. The evicted land remains under flood waters in the summers, and the encroachers grow crops only in the winter season, he clarified.

One of those impacted by the campaign, Rahima Khatun, claimed that agriculture was their sole source of subsistence.

There is no school or mosque in the part where the drive was being conducted; these tracts were used primarily for agriculture purposes. Our livelihood is now at stake, she said.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashok Kumar Dev Choudhury of Lakhimpur stated that just 0.32 sq km of the 46 sq km Pava Reserve Forest, designated in 1941, was free, and the rest was entirely occupied. Over the past three decades, he said that 701 households have taken over the property in the Pava Reserve Forest.

These residents requested to have their settlement designated as a Forest Village in 2006, but the government denied their request at the time. Eighty-four families filed paperwork in July of last year claiming to own land, but closer examination revealed that they were fraudulent.

Notably, throughout the years, several central and state programs, including the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana, MGNREGA, Anganwadi centers, water supply, and rural electrification, have been implemented in this territory.

The DFO said that the state administration had given the go-ahead for a request to plant trees on 200 hectares of property.

We had sent a proposal for afforestation in the remaining 250 hectares too. We hope that the government will give its nod in the coming days, the DFO added.

This is Assams third major eviction drive in a month. One of the major operations in the area was conducted on December 19 in Nagoans Batadrava, uprooting more than 5,000 alleged encroachers. On December 26, another operation was performed to clear 400 bighas in Barpeta.

Since assuming power in May 2021 under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, the government has conducted eviction drives in several regions of the state.

Sarma had informed the Assembly on December 21 that eviction campaigns to remove government and forest areas in Assam would continue so long as the BJP remained in power, despite opposition criticism.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib_
Post-90s woman quits job in foreign trade, becomes modern farmer in E China's Zhejiang

People's Daily Online) 10:04, March 24, 2023

Zhou Dan drives an agricultural machinery to plow the field. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing)

Two years ago, Zhou Dan, a woman born after the 1990s who once worked in foreign trade, returned home to become a modern farmer in east China's Zhejiang Province.

In recent days, Zhou has been busy preparing farmland for the spring plowing of 1,100 mu (73.33 hectares) of early-season rice.

"Farming is hard work but my father was reluctant to leave his job. I also thought that agriculture will give me a prosperous future, so I quit my job and joined my father's efforts," said Zhou, speaking of the reason why she chose to engage in agriculture.

After she returned home, Zhou established a family farm in Kaiyuan village in Shengzhou city, a county-level city in Shaoxing city, Zhejiang.

"I'm in charge of modern machinery and external affairs, my father in traditional grain growing technologies, and my mother manages the farm," Zhou said.

Zhou Dan drives an agricultural machinery to plow the field. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing)

Zhou learned modern farming skills, attempted to introduce crop protection drones and high-power tractors to help her do farm work, and adopted scientific methods to manage the farmland.

"We must upgrade our farming equipment in order to achieve further development for our business," Zhou said, adding that she plans to apply new technologies to promote the mechanization of the whole process of grain farming, including cultivation of rice seedlings, transplanting, harvesting and drying of the rice.

In 2022, the rice grown by Zhou and her father won the title of "High-quality rice in Shengzhou."

Zhou has been busy building a rice seedling breeding facility. She said after its completion, the facility will not only provide seedlings for her family, but will also do so for other rice growers in the locality.

Zhou Dan operates a drone to spray fertilizers in a rice field. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing)

At the start of 2023, Shengzhou city unveiled a series of grain subsidy policies and issued 10 million yuan ($1.46 million) in subsidies for local grain growers.

Thanks to these favorable policies, local grain growers have expanded the growing area for early-season rice to 26,000 mu, which is three times that of 2022. The local agriculture department also sent several technical service teams to early-rice plantations to help local growers with grain farming.

A technical service staff member discusses grain subsidy policies with Zhou Dan. (Chinanews.com/Xiang Jing)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
The US is still skeptical about the short-form video app's connection with the Chinese government, especially its parent company, ByteDance. The TikTok CEO tries to assuage the fears of Congress by explaining TikTok's affiliations, but it might not be enough to stop the ban.

TikTok Executive Explains

TikTok CEO Shou Chew attempted to persuade Congress that ByteDance is "not an agent of China." He then brought "Project Texas" into the conversation, which is the company's plan to keep the US user's data in the United States.

According to officials on TikTok, Project Texas would protect the users more as opposed to the nationwide ban of the app, which was expressed following the Committee remaining skeptical of the proposal of the project, as mentioned in Engadget.

Committee Chair Representative Cathy Rodgers stated that it was merely a marketing scheme, which aligns with her opening statement saying that ByteDance is "beholden" to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that TikTok and ByteDance are one and the same.

Of course, the other representatives agreed and express the same sentiments as Rodgers, with Representative Frank Pallone saying that Project Texas was not acceptable, and Representative Angie Craig saying that the project "doesn't pass the smell test."

The circumstances of the latest hearing were similar to the previous ones, wherein the TikTok CEO was bombarded with questions that can only be answered with "yes" or "no." Still, Chew managed to answer the question the best he can.

Representative Tony Cardenas questioned whether or not ByteDance was a Chinese company, and Chew answered saying that it was a global company that happens to have a Chinese founder. The questions only continued from there.

The issue of ByteDance employees spying on US journalists was brought up, to which Chew responded by saying that "spying" was not the right way to describe it. He was accused of being instructed by the CCP to deny it.

It's quite possible that Project Texas might not be enough to keep US officials from outright banning the app in the country. One of the few ways that TikTok can remain operational in the US is for ByteDance to Dibest TikTok.

Read Also: TikTok CEO to Address 'Misconceptions' Before Congress, Says It is Not China's Tool

Divesting TikTok

Since TikTok continues to be seen as a national security risk by the US government, one of the solutions it proposed was for ByteDance to sell its stake. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) evaluated the deal.

Initially, ByteDance was only ordered to divest its US assets and delete the user data of US citizens, but it eventually led to complete divestiture along with the threat of banning the app if it is not done, as mentioned in Nikkei Aisa.

A spokesperson from TikTok expressed that divestment is not the solution if protecting national security is the goal, adding that a change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access.

He also mentioned that the best way to resolve the issue is with transparent US-based protection of US user data and systems, as well as robust third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, which the company is already implementing.

Related: ByteDance Must Sell TikTok Else Face Being Banned, US Government Demands


The clash between police Dalits and police took place after idols and pictures of Hindu Gods were allegedly removed at a religious function in Jatoi village in Hathras.

TCN News

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HATHRAS (UTTAR PRADESH)  As many as 17 people were booked after a clash between police and Dalit youth over the removal of idols and pictures of Hindu Gods at a religious function, Gautam Buddha story event, organised in Jatoi village under Sadabad police circle on Thursday, IANS reported.

While members of the Dalits claimed that police misbehaved with them, police said they had reached the spot after they received complaints about an event being held without permission on Wednesday night.

According to police sources, a video, which went viral on social media, shows youths removing pictures of Hindu Gods from the walls of houses.

A youth with a sack can be seen and heard saying, Have you seen any picture of Babasaheb or Gautam Buddha at the house of a Brahmin? Why have you people put these pictures inside this sack?

Taking cognisance of the viral video, police launched an investigation and reached the spot.

Ashish Kumar, SHO of Sadabad police station, said, The police team was attacked when they enquired whether permission was taken to organise the religious event by Dalit youths. A Sub-Inspector and a constable sustained injuries in the attack.

Seventeen attackers and 50 unidentified people have been booked under various sections. A probe is on in the matter.

After the incident, a Dalit youth, Udayveer, reportedly said, the Police officers have promised to look into the matter of misbehaviour by some cops but they have registered a case against us.

We have stopped our Gautam Buddha story event and will resume after taking permission. We have nothing to do with the viral video., he said. (With IANS inputs)


Chief Justice of India agreed to issue a notice in the matter and tag it along with the earlier similar petitions filed by the NCPCR against other high court judgments.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The Supreme Court on Friday said that the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that a minor Muslim girl can enter into a legal and valid marriage as per personal law should not be relied upon as a precedent in any other case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha passed this interim order while issuing notice in a special leave petition filed by the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights challenging the high court ruling on the ground that it goes against the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act which prescribes 18 years as the age for sexual consent.

The girl in question is 15 years old.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NCPCR, expressed concerns about using personal law as a defence for crimes under POCSO.

Girls who are 14, 15, 16 are getting married. Can there be a defence of personal law? Can you plead custom or personal law for a criminal offence?, the SG submitted. We are on the question if the marriage will be valid at all in the face of criminal law existing and the POCSO Act, media reports quoted Mehta as saying.

The Chief Justice agreed to issue a notice in the matter and tag it along with the earlier similar petitions filed by the NCPCR against other high court judgments which have taken the same view. The SG requested the bench to stay the judgment in the meanwhile.

The bench also appointed senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao as amicus curiae in the matter to assist the court.

We are inclined to entertain these writ petitions. Issue notice. Pending further orders, impugned judgment (of HC) shall not be relied upon as precedent, the bench said.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


Ayodhya seer Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya had announced a bounty of Rs 10 crore for anyone who slits the tongue of Chandrashekhar Yadav if he does not apologise for his statement in one week.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  Bihar Education Minister Chandrashekhar Yadav has refused to withdraw his controversial statement on Ramcharitmanas.

Yadav, who represents Maddhepura in the state assembly, had on Wednesday claimed that Manu Smriti in the first era, Ramcharitmanas in the second era and MS Golwalkars Bunch of Thoughts spread hatred in the third era in society.

His statement sparked controversy with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding an FIR against him.

There are five to six Chand of Ramcharitmanass Sundar Kand and Uttar Kand which are objectionable and I have an objection to it. Thats why I said that it spreads hatred in society. I am firm on it and will not withdraw at any cost. A person announced a Rs 10 crore bounty for slitting my tongue, I want to say that please, someone get rich by doing it, Yadav said.

Ramcharitmanas spreads hatred in society. It stops Dalits, Backward Class people and women from education. It stops equality for them in society. Manusmriti spread hatred in the first era, Ramcharitmanas in the second era and M.S. Golwarkars Bunch of Thoughts in the third era, he said.

If people would want to shoot me, they can do it but I will not withdraw my statement and cannot apologise, he further said.

Earlier, Ayodhya seer Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya announced a bounty of Rs 10 crore for anyone who slits the tongue of Chandrashekhar Yadav if he does not apologise for his statement in one week.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that he will ask the education minister for his comment on Ramcharitmanas. I am in Darbhanga and I have no details about his actual statement, he said.

Samrat Chaudhary, the leader of the opposition in the Bihar legislative council said, Chandrashekhar Yadav is a mentally disturbed person. The Bihar government should admit him to the Koilwar mental hospital of Koilwar in Bhojpur district.

Hari Bhushan Thakur, another BJP MLA said, If he is a man, he must make a controversial statement on Islam. He will be beheaded (Unka Sar Tan Se Juda Ho Jayega). He should apologise for his statement.

The minister of Nitish Kumar is disturbing the religious sentiment of common people. He will pay the price for it. Chandrashekhar Yadav has hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people. CM Nitish Kumar is dividing the communities through the caste-based census. Hence, what can we expect from his minister, said Chirag Paswan, MP and LJPR president.

Meanwhile, Vijay Sinha, the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Assembly demanded that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar immediately register an FIR against the minister for creating differences in the society.

Sinha asked Yadav to apologise for his comment and also demanded that Tejashwi Yadav should clear his stand on this issue.

As per the Indian Penal Code (IPC), there are provisions to register FIR under the relevant IPC sections of religious criticism and criticising God. The way he has given the statement in the public domain, he is liable to face action under the IPC section of 295A. Nitish Kumar should take action against him and direct the police to register FIR against him. He should also sack the education minister from the cabinet, Sinha said.

The statement of Chandrashekhar Yadav has hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindu community who believe in Lord Ram. Tejashwi Yadav should also clarify his stand whether he is standing by him or not. Leaders like him can go to any extent to stay in power, Sinha said. (With IANS inputs)

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz_


The Hindutva event where hate speech against Muslims was made took place on December 19, 2021, in New Delhi, and an FIR was registered nearly five months later on May 4, 2022.

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NEW DELHI  Delhi Police has made no palpable progress in its investigation of hate speech made at a Hindutva event under the leadership of Sudarshan News TV editor Suresh Chavhanke in the national capital New Delhi in 2021, the Supreme Court observed on Friday, the LiveLaw reported.

Suresh Chavhanke, the editor-in-chief of the television channel Sudarshan News, at an event organised by the Hindu Yuva Vahini on December 19, 2021, had administered an oath to a group of people to die for and kill to make India a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation).

Nearly five months later on May 4, 2022, the first information report in the case was filed after police examined the footage. The police had earlier claimed that no anti-Muslim hate speech was made at the religious conclave.

On Friday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha directed the investigating officer to file an affidavit detailing steps taken in the inquiry within two weeks.

The bench was hearing a contempt petition filed by activist Tushar Gandhi against senior police officials for not taking action according to the guidelines laid down to curb hate speech and lynching.

The chief justice questioned Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing the Delhi Police, about the delay in filing the FIR.

What are you doing in terms of the investigation? The incident takes place on the 19th of December 2021. The FIR is registered 5 months later in May 2022. Why do you require 5 months to register an FIR?, CJI Chandrachud asked the ASG.

Chandrachud added that after the 4th of May, it has been eight months. What progress has been made? If you register an FIR five months later, and eight months after that there is no substantial progressYou tell us.

In response, the ASG said that the delay was not deliberate and that the police was doing the verification.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Gandhi, submitted that it is a very serious matter and requested the bench to read the transcripts of the speeches made at the event, where statements against the Muslim community were allegedly made.

It is a call for action for violence of a certain kind. This is not just one person, one person is leading and everybody is taking an oath behind him, Farasat submitted.

They have not arrested anyone, no chargesheet has been filed, Advocate Shadan Farasat told the judges.

In an affidavit filed on April 14 last year, the Delhi Police had told the Supreme Court that no anti-Muslim speech had been made at the Hindu Yuva Vahini event. However, the court had directed the Delhi Police to file a better affidavit.

Between December 17 and December 19 in 2021, during a dharam sansad (religious parliament) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, Hindutva seers called for violence against Muslims.

Just like Myanmar, the police, the army and every Hindu must pick up arms and organise a cleansing [of Muslims], one of the organisers, Swami Prabodhanand from the Hindu Raksha Sena, had said.

On November 11 last year, the Supreme Court bench discharged the Uttarakhand government and the police chief from a list of parties in the contempt plea, PTI reported.

In October last year, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy had directed the police to immediately lodge cases against hate speech makers without waiting for a complaint to be filed.

The Constitution envisages Bharat as a secular nation, and fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and unity and the integrity of the country is the guiding principle enshrined in the Preamble, the bench had said, adding, We feel that this court is charged with the duty to protect these fundamental rights and also protect and preserve the constitutional values and the secular, democratic character of the nation and in particular the rule of law.


The ongoing caste-based census in Bihar is considered a possible game-changer in policy-making for all the backward castes of the state. Muslims too would be the possible beneficiaries as most of them are considered to be Pasmanda (backward).

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  The much-hyped caste census in Bihar, which began on January 7, is facing legal and political hurdles even if the backward castes pin their hopes on a new political narrative.

The issue has put the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a fix as their leaders seem to be opposing each other on this issue.

The caste-based census will be completed by May 2023, and the state government will spend 500 crores from its contingency fund for the exercise. The survey is estimated to cover the entire population of Bihar, which is around 14 crores, out of which nearly 17% are Muslim. Though this headcount of all the castes is said to be a possible game changer in policy-making for all the backward castes, Muslims too would be the possible beneficiary as most of them are considered to be Pasmanda (backward).

The Pasmanda population is covered under 27% of reservations and it will benefit from the increase in the reservation after the caste-based survey is completed. There is a consistent demand to include the Pasmanda Muslims in Scheduled Caste (SC) category but this has been outrightly rejected by the current BJP-led government at the centre. Against this backdrop, the caste census is a big hope for this section of society.

It is generally believed that backward castes constitute 55% of the population of Bihar. As of now, the reservation for them is 27%. It is expected that there would be a demand to raise this percentage after the final figures come out. That would mean breaking the ceiling of 50% reservation in government jobs and other opportunities like admission to educational institutions etc. Experts say after validating the quota for EWS (Economically Weaker Section), the Supreme Court has paved the way to breach this ceiling.

Since data related to economic status would be also collected, it is also expected that information about the distribution of resources would also be revealed. That is expected to raise the demand for an equitable distribution of state resources.

The discussion for this headcount was going on for many a month but after clearing the political and administrative hurdles, it is now facing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court after the start of the process of caste-based headcounts first stage.

On January 11, the Supreme Court of India agreed to give an urgent hearing on January 20 to the petition challenging the Bihar governments decision to conduct a caste census. The petitioner, Akhilesh Kumar hails from CM Nitish Kumars home district Nalanda, through his advocate Barun Kumar Sinha argued that census, including caste census, comes under the Union government and the state government was wrong in holding that. This PIL was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar answered questions about this petition and tried to clarify that the state government was not conducting any census, rather it was a caste-based survey.

On the political front, Nitish Kumars party colleague Lalan Singh, the national president of Janata Dal (United) alleged that the BJP was indirectly sabotaging the process of caste census and asked if the BJP is really in favour of caste census it should then ask the central government to send the attorney general to defend the decision of caste census.

               6        @NitishKumar    @yadavtejashwi                         .1/3  Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh (@LalanSingh_1) January 11, 2023

The reason for questioning the BJP is the conflicting statements of its leaders. While ex-deputy chief minister and BJPs Rajya Sabha member wished that the BJP should be credited for this headcount, his party colleague and leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha has alleged that this process of Rs. 500 crores would widen the caste rivalry. Sinha even asked to dump this caste census and instead hold an economic census.

  ,            

              

       ,       pic.twitter.com/XhF9JXfu7C  Vijay Kumar Sinha (@VijayKrSinhaBih) January 7, 2023

Former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi was particular in stating that credit for this caste headcount should not go to the current chief minister Tejashwi Yadav as he was not in the government when the Bihar cabinet decided for caste headcount. Experts say that the BJP see Tejashwi as a possible beneficiary of the outcomes of the caste census, so he is being targeted. It may be recalled that the caste census was one of the issues that contributed to the reunion of Lalu Prasads RJD and Nitishs JD (U) which kicked out the BJP from the government in August last year.

Ali Anwar, president of All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz and two times Rajya Sabha member told TwoCircles.net that caste base headcount is the only solution to the menace of communal hatred.

Anwar has written a booklet titled Sampradayik Dhruvikaran Ka Yahi Ilaj, Jati Janganana Ke Liye Ho Jao Taiyar meaning Get ready for Caste Census, This is The Solution to Communal Polarisation. He also coined the slogan Dalit-Pichhda Ek Saman, Hindu ho Ya Musalman.

He claimed that BJP is afraid of the caste census as it will fail their agenda of communal polarization and that is why they are opposed to it.

Apart from getting benefits of an increased proportion of reservation, Muslims, and all the citizens are going to get a communal hatred-free environment by the results of this caste census, he added.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb


A scrap dealer from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh was allegedly assaulted onboard a train on the night of January 12. Police have registered a case in the case.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  A Muslim man was allegedly assaulted onboard a train while travelling from Delhi to Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh on the night of January 12.

The video of the assault has since gone viral on social media, with many expressing outrage over the incident.

Asim Hussain, a scrap dealer from Moradabad, told TwoCircles.net that the incident occurred on the night of January 12 when he was on a train journey from Delhi to Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Hussain makes six to seven trips to Delhi every month to buy aluminium scrap which he sells in his hometown Moradabad.

He said the train was crowded and after some passengers boarded the train from the Hapur district, a man screamed and called me a thief saying Mullahs (Muslims) are thieves.

After hearing his scream, the other men there began to thrash me. They plucked my beard and said all these Mullahs are the same, he added.

Hussain said the perpetrators forced him to chant Jai Sri Ram (Glory be to Lord Ram).

They removed my clothes and ruthlessly beat me as I refused to chant the slogan. The beating continued from Garh town to Moradabad. A passenger among the crowd showed kindness and pushed me out of the train at the station outer in Moradabad. Just before the train departed, he told me to run fast and escape. I managed to run while still naked, Hussain said.

Hussain said he has no idea who the attackers were and what motivated them.

In fact, I dont even recall the saviour. I resisted as long as I could. Even when I chanted the slogan, they didnt stop. They took away 2200 Rs from my jacket. I was almost unconscious. Finally, an acquaintance from the neighbourhood helped me with the clothes at Moradabad, he said.

Distressed by the assault, Hussain said that no man deserves to go through such terror. There are a lot of bruises on my body. I am in severe pain. This incident will haunt me for the rest of my life. I will be in constant fear while travelling in trains, he said.

Hussain wants the perpetrators to be booked.

Moradabad Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devi Dayal told TwoCircles.net that two arrests were made in the case.

Since there was no written complaint from the complainant initially, we took action under IPC Section 151 (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) against the accused, DySP Dayal said.

They (accused) gave a statement in front of the magistrate and got bail, said Dayal.

He added that the victim gave a written complaint only yesterday late at night. An FIR has been registered under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 392 (robbery), 298 (hurting religious sentiments) of the Indian Penal Code, the DySp said.

Police denied any communal angle to the incident.

People who shot the video have admitted that the victim was neither forced to chant religious slogans nor his beard was plucked. I also spoke to the accused. He claimed that he hit him (the victim) because he had put his hands in the accuseds pocket. I am sure that there is no communal angle in this incident. However, based on a complaint [filed by the victim], I have registered a complaint under section 298 (hurting religious sentiments), the DSP added.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


Asim Hussain, 42, a businessman from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh was beaten onboard a train on January 12 and allegedly forced to chant Jai Shri Ram slogans.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The incident of a Muslim man being beaten on a moving train in Uttar Pradesh has evoked a strong reaction from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Owaisi was reacting to the video that was going viral on social media.

He was forced to strip and chant JSR slogans. RSSs Mohan mentioned about Hazaar Saal Ki Jung. Is this another proof of the same war @Uppolice @rpfnr_ Should take strict action on this, reads the translated tweet from Owaisis Twitter handle.

AIMIM leader Shaukat Ali had previously shared a video clip related to the incident in which the man claimed that a mob had assaulted him and disrobed him and forced him to chant Jai Shri Ram.

According to Moradabad GRP, the man in the clip has been identified as Asim Hussain, 42, a businessman from Moradabad and the incident took place on January 12 while he was travelling on Padmavat Express from Delhi to Moradabad.

However, Devi Dayal, deputy SP, GRP, Moradabad, refuted the allegations and said a probe found that the mans fellow passenger beat him up after he allegedly tried to harass a woman. The police also denied the communal angle.

In a video widely shared on social media, including by AIMIM leaders, the man said that he had boarded a train from Delhi to Moradabad. A few people began shoving and pushing when the train stopped at the Hapur station and it was crowded there. Someone shouted he is a thief and at the same time, those around me began beating me, he alleged.

 they pulled my beard and told me to chant Jai Shri Ram but I refused. I was forced to lie down after being stripped to my waist and brutally beaten with a belt. They beat me so severely that I nearly lost consciousness, the victim alleged in the video.

The victim told TwoCircles.net that the incident has left him haunted.

There are a lot of bruises on my body. I am in severe pain. This incident will haunt me for the rest of my life. I will be in constant fear while travelling in trains, he said.

Hussain wants the perpetrators to be booked.

Replying on Twitter to Owaisis tweet, SP GRP wrote in Hindi that on the basis of the complaint received in connection with the incident, a report under relevant sections had been registered.

Denying the allegations made by the victim, Devi Dayal, Dy SP, Moradabad, GRP, said, An FIR was filed under IPC sections 323, 504, 392, and 298. However, according to preliminary investigation, there was no mention of chanting religious slogans and holding the man by his beard. Additionally, weve learned that the mans fellow passenger beat him up after he allegedly tried to harass a woman.  (With IANS inputs)

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


In August last year, the Allahabad high court had dismissed a writ petition moved against the proposed removal of Shahi Masjid.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  A historic mosque Shahi Masjid was demolished in the Saidabad market in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj, was demolished on January 9 under a road-widening project.

The mosque was reportedly built in the 16th century during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Sur Empire in India.

The demolition took place in the strong presence of security forces and officials of the Public Works Department.

As per Mohammad Babul Hussain, imam of the mosque, the matter was being heard in the lower court and listed for hearing today (January 16).

Hussain said the demolition was carried out even though the matter was taken to the lower court after Allahabad High Court had dismissed the petition for staying the proposed demolition in August last year.

We told the officials that the matter is going to the lower court but the mosque was still demolished, Hussain was quoted by Dainik Jagran.

Hussain said they filed an affidavit in court on January 10 following the demolition.

The widening of Haldia GT Road in Prayagraj is carried out by the Public Works Department. A notice regarding the same was issued to the Shahi Masjid.

To save the historic mosque, locals had first gone to High Court, which in turn asked the petitioners to go to the Civil Court.

The High Court in August 2022 had clarified that as per government report, the masjid has been constructed by encroaching government land.

We took the matter to the civil court, which rejected our stay. After this, we went to the lower court where the case is currently going on, Imam said.

The demolition of the mosque drew varied reactions from netizens on social media.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)s former chair of International Water Cooperation Ashok Swain shared a video of the mosque being bulldozed on his official Twitter handle.

A historical mosque is being bulldozed in UP, India, to widen the road! pic.twitter.com/IsUWunoIJy  Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) January 15, 2023

Student activist Safoora Zargar took to Twitter to express her displeasure with the demolition.

Mosques in India are dispensable. 16th century Shahi Masjid demolished in UP for widening of the GT road just 2 days before the lower court was set to hear the matter, she said in a tweet.

Mosques in India are dispensable. 16th century Shahi Masjid demolished in UP for widening of the GT road just 2 days before the lower court was set to hear the matter.pic.twitter.com/CUIa60wWkf  Safoora Zargar (@SafooraZargar) January 15, 2023

In another tweet, activist Mohammad Habib said: When they can demolish a 16th-century mosque for road widening even as the matter is listed in local Court. What is the justification for Courts to exist?

They have legalized demolishing Muslim Structures. This is serious & needs to be stopped.

When they can demolish a 16th century Mosque for Road Widening even as the matter is listed in local Court. What is the justification for Courts to exist ??? They have legalised demolishing Muslim Structures. This is Serious & needs to be Stopped. pic.twitter.com/y8jd19KV0Q  Mohammed Habeeb Ur Rehman (@Habeebinamdar) January 15, 2023



Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


Most residents of Brahmpuri expressed displeasure against the appearance of such posters while some supported it.

Shruti Sharma | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Early last week, posters emerged in some parts of Brahmpuri in the Shahdara area of northeast New Delhi asking Hindus not to sell their properties to Muslims with a threat that any registration of such a property would be opposed.

The posters were issued in the name of one Pradeep Sharma, a lawyer from Lane no 13, Brahmpuri. It directed that all future transactions in the Brahmpuri area would be between Hindus alone.

Photos of the posters had gone viral on social media, sparking outrage.

Written in Hindi, one of the posters said, All the land owners of Brahmpuri area are informed that no one will sell their house to Muslims. And if they do so, then the residents of the area will not allow the registry to take place. And for this action, he will be held responsible. Any deal in the future should be done with Hindu parties only.

Requested by Pradeep Sharma, advocate, Gali Number 13, Brahmpuri, the poster read.

Brahmpuri is one of the localities in northeast Delhis Shahdara district that witnessed the horror of the 2020 Delhi riots leaving 53 dead and nearly 600 injured. The riots happened around the time anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests were going on across India, including Jafrabad, the Muslim-majority area near Brahmpuri.

This reporter visited Gali numbers 13 and 6 of the Brahmpuri area, where the posters were allegedly put up. Residents of Gali number 13 showed the spots where posters were allegedly put. Most of the posters have now been torn.

In Gali number 6, one poster was still pasted on a wall.

Similar posters were also put up outside of a hair salon run by one Gautam Saxena, a Hindu.

Gautam told TwoCircles.net that he saw the poster on the morning of January 10.

This [posting of such posters] is quite wrong and this might lead to communal distress in the locality. I have witnessed the 2020 riots and its horrors still haunt the people of Brahmpuri, Gautam said.

He admitted that the 2020 riots have a role in putting up such posters.

Mohammad Iqbal, who works at the hair salon, said that people in the area live in harmony and blamed outsiders for the appearance of such posters.

I saw it for the first time on January 10. Whatever is written on the poster is completely wrong. A locality where people from different communities live together, it is disgusting to write such a thing, Iqbal said.

Locals said they are not sure whether the said person [who is named in the poster] put up those posters or not.

This reporter reached out to the lawyer Pradeep Sharma of Gali number 13, who denied his involvement.

The said posters are not in violation of any article of the Indian Constitution, he said.

Tensions between Hindus and Muslims since riots

A 50-year-old man told TwoCircles.net on the condition of anonymity that there is a constant rift between Hindus and Muslims in the area. This [appearance of posters] is inevitable. Things have changed since 2020. So if people want people of their religion to live in their area, it is not wrong.

Another Brahmpuri local Mahesh Goel, the owner of a paint shop, had a different opinion on the matter. If the Muslims are ready to pay us good money then why would we not sell our houses to them? he said.

Deepak Gupta, who lives in Gali number 6, said that the property belongs to them [Hindus] and they can sell it to anyone they want. After the 2020 riots, many people moved from Jaffrabad to live in Brahmpuri. They came only because we sold our property to them, he said, adding, What is written on the poster is useless. After the riots of 2020, communal bitterness has arisen in everyones mind. Even the children of the area know who is a Hindu and who is a Muslim. So such things are going to spoil the atmosphere further, he said.

While most residents of the area expressed displeasure against the appearance of such posters, some supported it.

Jitendra Rastogi, a resident of Gali number 6, supported the appearance of such posters.

The population of Muslims is increasing very rapidly. These people are everywhere. Because of them the road also remains jammed. These people eat meat and throw the leftovers everywhere. We are Brahmins, and we have a problem with that. Muslims are also not ashamed to do any work. They drive rickshaws and do all kinds of work. So if their population increases in our area, then we will have problems, Rastogi said.

Shruti Sharma is a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi. She tweets @imsshruti77

[Edited by Irfan Mehraj. Tweets at @IrfanMeraj]


Police said the three accused were arrested for selling and distributing suspicious books and pamphlets during Magh Mela (an annual Hindu fair) in an attempt to motivate people to get converted to Islam.

TCN Staff Reporter

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PRAYAGRAJ (UTTAR PRADESH): Prayagraj police on Tuesday arrested three persons for allegedly running a religious conversion racket during Magh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Magh Mela is an annual Hindu fair held on the vast sands of Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) in Prayagraj.

The three accused were arrested for selling and distributing suspicious books and pamphlets in an attempt to motivate people to get converted to Islam, police said.

The arrested persons were identified as Mehmood Hasan Gazi (a Madrasa teacher), Mohd Monish a.k.a Ashish Kumar Gupta and Sameer a.k.a Naresh Kumar Saroj.

Two accused were arrested from the Mela area while they were distributing books and pamphlets allegedly containing objectionable comments against the Hindu religion at the behest of a Madrasa teacher who was arrested from his home in the Kareli area, police officials said.

Police said suspicious Islamic books, pamphlets, and identification documents were found in the possession of the three accused, two of whom had converted to Islam two years ago and were members of the Student Islamic Organisation (SIO).

The alleged racket came to light after some persons raised objections to the distribution of objectionable material and informed police about the two youths who were distributing books and pamphlets in the Mela area at a kiosk on Monday (January 16).

UP: Mehmood Hasan Gazi, Mohd Monish and Sameer arrested for spreading ill information about Hindu texts and propagating conversion at Magh Mela in Prayagraj. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/sIk2k1mBqM  Megh Updates ? (@MeghUpdates) January 18, 2023

The two youths were detained on Tuesday night and police initiated an investigation following the complaint.

On Tuesday, police presented three accused at a press conference at Prayagraj Police Lines and claimed that they were involved in a conversion racket and were receiving foreign funding for the purpose.

A case has been registered against the accused under sections 153 A (promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295 A (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings), 419(cheating by personation), 420 (fraud), 467(forgery), 468( forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (fraudulently using a genuine document), 505 (2) (offence at a place of worship or religious assembly) of IPC and 3/5 Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Act 2021.

Addressing media persons at a press conference on Wednesday, Additional Commissioner of Police (ADCP Crime) Satish Chandra said those arrested were Mehmood Hasan Ghazi (aged around 55 years), a native of Matinpur village in Husainganj area of Fatehpur district (presently residing in A-Block Kareli of Prayagraj), Mohd Monish aka Ashish Kumar Gupta of village Sudnipur, Hanumanganj in Sarai Inayat area and Sameer aka Naresh Kumar Saroj of Pipri area of Kaushambi district.

At least 204 suspicious religious books, three mobile phones, 4 Aadhar cards (two in the name of Monish and Sameer), a suspicious diary, some cash and a kiosk on which they used to distribute books were recovered, he said.

The prime accused Mehmood Hasan Ghazi is a teacher at Madrasa Himdadia Islamia in the Mariadih area on the outskirts of Prayagraj. He is also the president of the organisation Bazm-e-Paigam-e- Behdaniyat. The books being distributed by Monish and Sameer in the Mela area on the behest of Mehmood Hasan Gazi contained objectionable remarks against the Hindu religion which may hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. Some of the Vedic hymns and shlokas have wrong interpretations in the books and their meaning was misrepresented. The books were distributed at Hindu religious places including at Hanuman Mandir in Prayagraj, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Assi Ghat in Varanasi etc along with some Hindu religious meetings and assemblies. The motive behind the distribution of such books was to encourage religious conversion of persons who belong to financially weaker sections of the Hindu community ADCP Crime told TwoCircles.net.

The police official further said Mehmood Hasan Gazi used to give Rs 5000 to the youths for distributing books and pamphlets. Monish and Sameer used to take photographs, mobile numbers and other details of the persons to whom they used to give the books and later send them to Mehmood. These details were forwarded to a person based in Abu Dhabi, he added.

Interrogation till now has revealed that Mehmood was getting foreign funding for propagating Islam via e-wallets. He confessed to sending photographs and details of persons who were targeted for religious conversion to a person in Abu Dhabi. Police and intelligence agencies are carrying out further investigations to learn more about their network and the amount of foreign funding received by the accused till now, Special Operation Group in-charge sub-inspector Rajesh Upadhyay told TwoCircles.net.

Most of the books recovered from the accused were printed locally while some were also printed in Delhi. None of the books contains ISBNs and has no authenticity of the writers. Mehmood Hasan confessed to having written four books himself. The material in the books is aimed at propagating the Islamic faith but contains objectionable comments against the Hindu religion, SI Upadhyay said.

When questioned about the allegations at the press conference Mehmood Hasan Gazi admitted to his involvement in the distribution of Islamic books and literature. I have no malicious intent behind the distribution of books. We are also active in social works and helping weaker sections and the poor, Mehmood claimed.

Police officials further informed that Mohd Monish aka Ashish Gupta converted to Islam two years ago under the influence of his uncle Saeed Ahmad who is also a convert. Monish is the eastern zonal secretary of the Student Islamic Organisation (SIO). He learnt Urdu and took religious education at a madrasa in Azamgarh for a year and then joined SIO. Sameer aka Naresh converted to Islam around 12 years ago and married a woman from the Muslim community. He was working as a tailor before joining SIO, officials said.
Residents of Bastrop, Texas expressed their opposition against the permit that will allow Elon Musk's Boring Company to dump up to 142,000 liters of wastewater into the Colorado River per day, an action that could potentially affect public health and the everyday life of the neighborhood close to the river.

Residents Fear for Their Health as Boring Threatens to Intoxicate Town's Water Source, Farms

The Boring Company is Musk's infrastructure construction company that will spearhead the controversial billionaire's vision of building an entire town for Boring and SpaceX employees. The chosen site for the company town of Musk is in Bastrop, and based on the current plans of the company, Boring is planning to construct a wastewater treatment plant that will serve the town.

With this, Boring has requested a permit to dump treated wastewater into the Colorado River and an on-site spray field. To know more about the company's plans to maintain the wastewater treatment facility, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) called for a public comment hearing. As expected from the residents who are likely to be affected by the wastewater disposal, they showed up in the meeting to resist the granting of the permit.

As reported by Gizmodo, Bastrop residents and officials opposed the plan to dump wastewater into the river. Instead, Boring should use the existing wastewater system of the town. One of the residents of Bastrop County, Amy Weir, argued that the $25,000 per day penalty by TCEQ is not enough to ask for accountability from Musk's company. Weird also noted that "Musk is so wealthy that a few thousand dollars a day wouldn't be much of a punishment."

"There is no way for the state to enforce its laws or protect the people and businesses downstream, should there be an issue with discharge from this facility," Weir added.

Related Article: Elon Musk Pushed The Muslim Ban On Top Of His Meeting Agenda With The White House

Musk's Reputation as an Environmental Advocate Questioned With Wastewater Disposal Plan

Another resident expressed his concerns that Bastrop might have the same fate as Austin with a highly toxic river that one couldn't risk throwing a ball into the river for the dog to fetch "without fear of fatally poisoning it." Others also pointed out that dumping wastewater into the Colorado River would not only affect the river itself but also the town's groundwater, hence contaminating the resident's main source of potable drinking water, as per Huff Post.

Some residents are also concerned about the possible contamination of vegetable farms and rice fields near the Colorado River. According to them, Musk, who claims to be an environmental advocate, should know better how to properly handle wastewater. To note, the Boring Company plans to construct zero-emission tunnels for electric cars that should be beneficial to the environment.

Prior to the issue with wastewater disposal, Boring already received complaints from locals due to their ongoing construction projects. Last year, the company failed to request for air permits to install soil silos and tunnel grout, according to the Wall Street Journal. Boring has yet to release a statement regarding the matter.

Read Also: SpaceX Continues Launch Of Satellites To Support Globally Accessible Broadband Internet


Students at AMU have been demanding to conduct the elections for the students union for over 6 months. The last elections to the union were held in 2019.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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ALIGARH (UTTAR PRADESH)  Scores of students at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Uttar Pradesh are on an indefinite strike since last week demanding the university administration conduct students union election.

On January 12, the students gave a memorandum of ultimatum to the AMU administration for appointing Election Officer and announcing the election schedule within 24 hrs.

Having received no responses, the students launched an indefinite strike and blocked the AMU main gate (Baab E Syed) on January 13.

The student union elections at AMU are conducted under the guidance of the Lyngdoh committee which directs the Vice Chancellor to hold the elections within 6-8 weeks of the university reopening. The last elections to the union were held in 2019.

Students have been demanding to conduct the elections for over 6 months.

Denying students union in the campus is like clipping the Wings of the Birds. Inspired by the democratic tradition of the AMU, the students, defending the cold waves of the winter have staged an indefinite Dharna at Bab-e-Syed demanding the restoration of Students Union. pic.twitter.com/XfdVhoImx3  Irfan Bashir (@irfaninbox) January 14, 2023

Misbah Qaiser, an undergraduate student at AMU who was part of the protest, told TwoCircles.net that since May 2022 students have given at least 6 memorandums for elections to the Vice Chancellor.

The final memorandum was submitted to the administration on January 12. We began an indefinite strike after getting no response from the administration, he said.

Qaiser said that they [students] met with the Registrar who cited lack of funds for the delay in holding elections to the students union.

We asked him to oversee the elections so that the administration and students union could work together and fight effectively. The Registrar ultimately offered us personal support only, Qaiser said.

Commenting on the claims made by the students, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Proctor Mohd. Wasim Ali in conversation with TwoCircles.net said that the administration is giving preference to bringing academic activities on track which have been disturbed since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Vice-Chancellor wants to restore the academic calendar first. We opened the university in phases and we will gradually restore the rights and privileges. The priority of every academic institution is admission and examination. We are neither running away nor blatantly derecognizing student rights. We will hold elections once the examination and admission are on time, Proctor said.

Procter further said that the current academic year will conclude in two months. So, we dont want academics to be disturbed due to elections. We are trying to convince the students, he added.

Qaiser said that the elections will not disturb the studies. In fact, more students attend classes during elections. If a student body is formed it will talk about students issues but the Vice-Chancellor doesnt care about it, he said.

Qaiser questioned the delay in holding students union elections as there will be questions over the usage of funds if a student union is formed.

Students at the university claim that they are facing several problems due to the absence of the students union.

The Vice Chancellor had ensured us frequent meetings but we have not seen him for more than a year, said a student.

The university is peaceful, according to proctor Waseem Ali, and classes are held regularly.

Only a few students are protesting and we are constantly communicating with them. If the elections had been important, all students would have been protesting, the proctor added.

The protesting students said that they are not missing any classes.

Students are attending the classes as well. We are not always in protest. We will keep braving the cold until the Vice Chancellor agrees to our demands. If not, we will go on a hunger strike, said Qaiser.



Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


Professor Dr AP Singh of Hindu college in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad district said that they have implemented a dress code for the students and anybody who refuses to follow it will be barred from entering the college campus.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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MORADABAD (UTTAR PRADESH)  Several girl students of the Hindu college in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad district Thursday alleged that they were denied entry into the college for wearing burqa, with college authorities maintaining that the college has implemented a dress code for all students, ANI reported.

Female students alleged that their college was not letting them enter the college campus wearing burqa and are compelling them to remove it at the entrance gate.

Following this, a scuffle broke out between the students, the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha workers, and the college professors who remained adamant about sticking to the prescribed rules. The group submitted a memorandum to include wearing a burqa as a dress code for Muslim women and demanded that the college allows Muslim girls to attend their classes wearing the robe.

A video of the scene from the Hindu college has been making rounds on social media.

Meanwhile, the college professor, Dr AP Singh said that they have implemented a dress code for the students here and anybody who refuses to follow it will be barred from entering the college campus.

Hijab row started in Karnataka

A row over wearing hijab at educational institutions started on January 1, 2022, when Muslim students studying in the government pre-university (PU) college in Karnatakas Udupi were barred from wearing the hijab on campus. The college administration stated that they were following the state governments orders. A day later, six students were suspended for protesting.

Following this incident, students of different colleges arrived at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura wearing saffron stoles. The situation was the same in several colleges in the Udupi district.

The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that students can wear only the uniform approved by the school administration and that no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.

On January 26, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government set up an expert committee to find a solution to the issue. On January 31, one of the protesting students filed a petition in the Karnataka high court challenging the ban.

In February, the Karnataka government issued an order under the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 prescribing a uniform for all students to wear in state-run educational institutions. In March, a three-judge bench of the Karnataka HC upheld the hijab ban in all state educational institutions. They held that the wearing of the Hijab was not an Essential Religious Practice and hence, would not receive constitutional protection.

Later, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board filed an appeal against the Karnataka HC decision at the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court delivers split verdict on hijab row

The apex court on October 13, 2022, delivered a split verdict in the hijab ban case.

A top court bench delivered a split verdict in the hijab ban case. Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia set aside the High Court ruling and quashed the state governments order in his judgement, while Justice Hemant Gupta dismissed the appeals. The arguments in the matter went on for 10 days in which 21 lawyers from the petitioners side and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi argued for the respondents.

The case is now before the Chief Justice of India for his direction.

After hijab ban, over 1,000 Muslim students dropped out of PU colleges in Karnataka: report

The ban on hijab left many Muslim women in India anxious, confused and in despair. A recent report by the human rights group Peoples Union for Civil Liberties  Karnataka unit (PUCL-K) on the impact of the hijab ban on Muslim girl students in Karnataka revealed that a total of 1,010 hijab-wearing girls dropped out of PU colleges because of the hijab ban and other reasons as well.

The report titled Closing the Gates to Education: Violations of Rights of Muslim Women Students in Karnataka, noted that Muslim women students [in Karnataka] were not only actively prevented from accessing their right to education but also bore the brunt of a climate of hate, hostility, and misinformation.

Students have faced humiliation and harassment in their own classrooms at the hands of their faculty, college administration and classmates, the report said.

PUCL conducted the study for the report in five Karnataka districts  Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, and Raichur.

The report also blamed Hindutva organisations for carrying out a vilification campaign against Muslim students. [With ANI inputs]

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


The action has reportedly been taken using the Ministry of Information and Broadcastings emergency powers under the controversial IT Rules, 2021.

TCN News

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NEW DELHI  The Union government has directed YouTube and Twitter to remove links to the BBCs documentary revisiting Prime Minister Narendra Modis role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, The Indian Express reported.

The two platforms have reportedly agreed to take this action.

The first part of the documentary, released on January 17, alleged that Modi  then the chief minister of Gujarat  prevented the police from acting to prevent the violence. The Indian government, however, refuted the allegations and alleged that the film pushed a discredited narrative. The External Affairs Ministry called the documentary a propaganda piece that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset.

While the documentary was not made available in India by BBC, some YouTube channels appeared to have uploaded it.

Several tweets and video links posting the documentary, India: The Modi Question, have been removed, The Wire reported.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek OBrien tweeted that his tweet sharing a link to the documentary had been removed by Twitter. The notice he received from Twitter confirmed that his tweet was removed based on a request from the Indian government.

CENSORSHIP@Twitter @TwitterIndia HAS TAKEN DOWN MY TWEET of the #BBCDocumentary, it received lakhs of views The 1 hr @BBC docu exposes how PM @narendramodi HATES MINORITIES Heres?the mail I recieved. Also see flimsy reason given. Oppn will continue to fight the good fight pic.twitter.com/8lfR0XPViJ  Derek O'Brien |  ' (@derekobrienmp) January 21, 2023

According to the Indian Express, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed YouTube to block multiple videos which had contained episode 1 of the BBC documentary (only one episode has been released so far). In addition, Twitter was told to block over 50 tweets that contained links to these videos, sources told the newspaper.

As per reports, this action has reportedly been taken using the ministrys emergency powers under the controversial IT Rules, 2021.

The Indian Express said that the documentary had been looked at by senior officials from multiple ministries, who found it to be undermining sovereignty and integrity of India, and having the potential to adversely impact Indias friendly relations with foreign states, which allows the Centre to invoke the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

YouTube has also been instructed to block the video if it is again uploaded on its platform, NDTV reported.

What is the documentary about

BBCs two-part documentary India: The Modi Question, looks at the tensions between Prime Minister Modi and the countrys Muslim minority, as well as investigating claims concerning his role in the large-scale communal violence that erupted in Gujarat in the months of February and March, in 2002, that left over a thousand dead.

Notably, the documentary cites a hitherto unseen UK government inquiry report which says that Narendra Modi is directly responsible. Former foreign secretary Jack Straw (2001-2006) says in the film that the British team produced a very thorough report.

In an interview with The Wire, the former UK foreign minister Jack Straw confirmed the existence of a UK report that held Modi directly responsible for 2002 riots.

Straw said that the allegation and belief at the time (2002) was, as the British High Commission report put it, Narendra Modi met senior police officers on the 27th of February and ordered them not to intervene in the rioting.

Earlier, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke of the documentary in parliament on Friday, appearing to defend Modi.

Mr Speaker, the UK governments position on this has been clear and long-standing and hasnt changed. Of course, we dont tolerate persecution where it appears anywhere but I am not sure I agree at all with the characterisation that the honourable gentleman has put forward, he said.

On Thursday, Indias foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the government thinks this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative.

The bias, the lack of objectivity, and frankly a continuing colonial mindset, is blatantly visible, he added.

BBC has stood by its documentary, noting the documentary was rigorously researched according to the highest editorial standards.


Leaders from two regions of Ladakh  Kargil and Leh, have put forth four agenda points for the Centre to fulfill.

TCN Staff Correspondent

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU AND KASHMIR)  Three years after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government revoked the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into two Centrally ruled Union Territories (UT)  Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, resentment has grown in Ladakh.

Residents of two regions of Ladakh, the Muslim-majority Kargil and Buddhisht-majority Leh, have been protesting for the last two years against New Delhi for not addressing their demands for land, and job protection. The residents are seeking special rights and safeguards for the Union Territory.

Even though the BJP-led government constituted a high-powered committee for Ladakh to ensure the protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh, the same has failed to calm down the tempers as the anger is brewing in the cold desert.

The leaders from the Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil are on the same page and have decided to launch a massive agitation if their demands arent fulfilled.

On January 7, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) in a joint meeting decided to stay away from the Centres High Powered Committee (HPC). The leaders have been demanding Constitutional safeguards along the lines of the 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution.

They said they wont engage with New Delhi until or unless their four agenda points include full-fledged statehood for Ladakh, Constitutional Safeguards under the 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution, early recruitment process & PSC for Ladakh and Separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts will be included in the meeting.

It may be noted that on January 3, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a high-powered committee headed by Minister of State Nityanand Rai to ensure the protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh.

The 17-member committee that includes Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R.K. Mathur will discuss measures to protect the regions unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and its strategic importance, an order by MHA said.

On 5 August 2019, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two UTs  Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. In response to the revocation of the special status, the Muslim-majority Kargil district showed resentment against the parting away from Jammu and Kashmir, while people from Ladakh celebrated the UT status.

However, over three years down the line the people of both regions feel betrayed and ditched. The locals say that the Central Government be-fooled them in the name of UT when they were expecting UT with legislature and protection of land and Job.

The region has been demanding Constitutional safeguards on the lines of the 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution

On January 7, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) in a joint meeting decided to stay away from the Centres High Powered Committee (HPC).

The two groups were formed in the twin districts of Kargil and Leh including Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance following the regions concerns against the central government for failing to provide constitutional, job, and land safeguards to the region after the creation of separate Union Territory in August 2019.

On Tuesday, both the apex groups protested in the Jammu region to press their demands. The protesters gathered outside the Press Club Jammu. They also announced a protest calendar which includes a rally in Delhi in the third week of February.

Tsering Dorjey Lakruk, LABs vice chairman told TwoCircles.net that they wont settle less than safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution to the region.

We are upset with New Delhi because our demands havent been fulfilled. It has been over three years since Ladakh was separated from J & K, Lakruk said.

He further said that they are going to hold a protest march to press their demands.

Sajjad Kargali, a member of KDA told TwoCircles.net the committee formed by New Delhi is a welcome step but if they wont include their demands in the meeting, it will not be fruitful.

The government should include our four points agenda in the meeting, Kargali said.

The four agenda points include full-fledged Statehood for Ladakh, Constitutional Safeguards under the 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution, early recruitment process & PSC for Ladakh and Separate Loksabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal told a news agency that no government has formed such a panel though Ladakh has faced many challenges and agitations.

In our political history, Ladakh faced many challenges and agitations, but no government has constituted such an inclusive and high-powered committee. So this is the high and right time for all the members of the HPC to realise its importance, discuss and deliberate the common issues of Ladakh keeping the national interests as well as the larger interest of the future of Ladakh ahead as aspired by the people, Tsering Namgyal said in a statement.


The film chronicles the resistance of an Adivasi family, along with other city activists and residents, to stop the Mumbai Metro Rail project in the forest, which is destroying trees.

TCN Correspondent

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MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)  A new documentary Van Versus Vikas (Forest Versus Progress) by independent filmmaker and writer Rucha Chitnis interrogates the truth of Indias claim of progress, which has left millions of Adivasi (tribal) communities behind and created an ecological crisis.

The film had its opening launch at the Press Club Mumbai on January 19.

Directed and produced by Rucha Chitnis, this place-based documentary short centres on two protagonists: Mumbais beloved and beleaguered Aarey Forest and the Bhoir family, whose Adivasi ancestors have lived in the jungle for generations.

Indigenous Peoples of India shudder to hear the word progress, says Prakash Bhoir, an Adivasi artist and activist living in Keltipada in Aarey.

Adivasi communities have experienced unimaginable suffering in the name of progress. We raise our voices to fight for our rights, as well as for the rights of the animals and trees in Aarey jungle, who are also harmed by this development model.

The Bhoir family includes Prakash Bhoir and Pramila Tai and their three childrenShyam, Akash and Shital who are all Warli painters. Their art often mirrors the injustices that Aareys Adivasi families and surrounding ecosystems face from development projects.

The film chronicles the resistance of the Bhoir family, along with other city activists and residents, to stop the Mumbai Metro Rail project in the forest, which is destroying trees. The Bhoirs worship nature and Waghoba, which represents the tiger and leopard spirit.

The film gives a glimpse into the life of the Bhoir family in the forest, their deep, intergenerational love for Aareys ecosystems and hopes and dreams for genuine Vikas (progress) from the Adivasi worldview. Together, they debunk the mythologies of progress in modern India, which has left communities and ecosystems at peril.

The Bhoir family are reimagining progressone that upholds human rights and rights of nature; progress that is not predicated on human rights abuses, displacing countless Indigenous Peoples, their culture and lifeways. Those of us who benefit from the dominant culture need to reflect on the normalisation of harm that profits few and harms many, said Rucha Chitnis, producer of Van Versus Vikas.

The film chronicles the roller coaster ride of Adivasis and other Mumbai residents as they build a grassroots movement to stop the metro car shed project; the Save Aarey movement scores a victory in 2022 when the Shiv Sena government declared Aarey as a forest.

However, a political crisis in Maharashtra in 2022 led to a gut-wrenching heartbreak when the new Shinde-Fadnavis government decided to relocate the metro car shed to Aarey. The protests continued but the right-wing Shinde-Fadnavis government is not swayed by the public outcry and demands to protect Mumbais lungs.

A fish cannot live without water. We cannot live without this forest. We have a deep love for this forest, says Prakash. The greed of man will never cease. But we must remember that we are guests on Earth. We are not the owners of the Earth.

Prakashs son Shyam predicts that the destruction of the rights of Indigenous Peoples will lead to a destructive nature and ultimately humankind. Wherever are the Indigenous Peoples, so are the forests they have protected. Because Adivasis worship nature, therefore nature is our God. The destruction of Indigenous Peoples will lead to the destruction of nature, and the destruction of nature will lead to the destruction of Mother Earth, he said.


With exams scheduled in February, the petitioners contended that students may be permitted to appear in the exams wearing hijab.

NEW DELHI  The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea to constitute a three-judge bench to consider petitions challenging the ban on hijab in classrooms of pre-university colleges in Karnataka.

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Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, representing some petitioners, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.

She said the matter is urgent in view of the impending examination scheduled in February and added that students have moved to private colleges after the split verdict. Arora further contended that the examinations can only be conducted in government colleges, therefore students may be permitted to appear in the exams wearing hijab.

The bench comprising Justices V. Ramasubramanian and J.B. Pardiwala also asked the counsel to mention it before the registrar.

The counsel submitted that the matter may be taken up for interim order.

The bench said, This is a three-judge matter. We will do it.

The Supreme Court, in October last year, gave a split verdict on petitions challenging the validity of the ban on hijab worn by some Muslim girl students in classrooms of pre-university colleges in Karnataka. The split verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

Justice Gupta upheld the Karnataka government circular and dismissed the appeals against the Karnataka High Court judgment. However, Justice Dhulia quashed the Karnataka governments decision to ban the wearing of hijab inside classrooms of pre-university colleges, saying that the Constitution is also a document of trust and it is the trust the minorities have reposed upon the majority.

Justice Dhulia, in his judgment, said: We live in a democracy and under the rule of law, and the laws which govern us must pass muster the Constitution of India. Amongst many facets of our Constitution, one is Trust. Our Constitution is also a document of Trust. It is the trust the minorities have reposed upon the majority.

The bench had said since there is a divergence of views, the matter would be posted before the Chief Justice of India for setting up a larger bench.  [IANS]


On January 3, Shahbaz, who hails from Sihada village in Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa, is seen beaten up brutally by several men who he claimed were associated with a Hindutva outfit.

TCN Special Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  A Muslim college student, who was brutally assaulted in Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa district on January 3, the video of which went viral on social media, said that some people are celebrating the attack by uploading videos on social media.

Now, they have edited the video (which shows that he is being brutally beaten up) to incite people. A statement saying we will beat you up wherever we will find you have been inserted in the video. They are putting out the video everywhere. They are people from my village, said the victim Shahbaz Patel while talking to TwoCircles.net.

In the January 3 video, Shahbaz, who hails from Sihada village in Khandwa, is seen beaten up brutally by several men. The video shows several men catching him by the collar and threateningly asking him questions before he is thrashed with a stick.

Shahbaz alleges the men who assaulted him are associated with the Hindutva outfit Hindu Jagran Manch. The FIR in the case was filed fifteen days later on January 18 only after the video of the assault had gone viral on social media.

Station House Officer (SHO) at Kotwali police station in Khandwa told TwoCircles.net that the police had filed an FIR in connection with the case and arrested six accused. However, the SHO refused to divulge further information in connection with the incident.

The arrested persons have been identified as Aniket Raipure, Ravi Kumayu, Prathmesh Patil, Sunil Mahajan, Abhishek Verma and Vishal Jave. They have been booked under section 151 (Whoever knowingly joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace) of the IPC.

Reportedly, the accused are members of the Hindu Student Army, a Hindutva front formed by Hindu Jagran Manch leaders in the district.

Shahbaz is not satisfied with the police action. After the arrest, no other action has been taken. We were not told what these arrested peoplethe one who was leading the mob was Madhav Jha (He is Hindu Jagran Manchs leader). I dont know them by their name. They are not from my village.

Talking about the incident on January 3, he said that he had gone to the market for some work when some people came up to him, asked him his name and started beating him up saying that he is Baabda, a derogatory term being used for Muslims in Madhya Pradesh.

They took me to the parking area of the Vishal Megamarket mall where there were around 20-25 people. They kept beating me there between 2 pm and 5 pm. They also shot objectionable videos and forced me to shout Jai Shri Ram. They also robbed me of Rs. 10000 and snatched my Aadhar card, Pan card, ATM card and other documents from me, he said.

The attackers also snatched a mobile from him, he alleged.

The police have also filed a case of sexual harassment against Shahbaz on the complaint of a girl, who is his classmate. She is from his village. Shahbaz said that she has been forced to file a complaint. TwoCircles.net tried to contact the girl but could not reach her.

They filed a false case against me alleging that I was harassing a girl, said Shahbaz.

The FIR filed on basis of his complaint says that he was beaten up when he was talking to a girl. Shahbaz denies this and said he was alone when he was attacked and was not talking to any girl.

I was injured and not in a state to know what had been written in the FIR, he said.

Khandwa Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh said the six accused were identified after the video went viral. We had registered an FIR against unknown persons under relevant sections, including assault on the same day when the incident occurred. But the youth who was assaulted did not recognise the group of people who thrashed him.

On January 18, a delegation of Muslim leaders met Singh and submitted a memorandum with regard to the incident.

The youth was beaten up because of his Muslim identity. False allegations were levelled against him, said a Muslim leader Syed Nisar Ali.

Getting Muslim men arrested on false charges

A Newslaundry report revealed that in the same week on January 10, a mob of Hindutva men brutally beat up two Muslim youths when they were sitting along with a Hindu girl. They also forced the police to file a complaint of harassment against them. Two Muslim youths Salman and Sarfraz were booked for harassment even though the girl opposed it. On the complaint of Salman and Sarfraz, an FIR was filed. People from the Hindu Jagran Manch and the Hindu student army were named in the FIR. While talking to the news website, these accused have justified their actions in the name of stopping Love Jihad.


In a viral video, an RSS official can be heard demanding the conversion of 30,000 mosques [in India] into temples.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  In a purported video from Rajasthan, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader is seen making incendiary remarks against Indias religious minorities, especially Muslims.

The video is from Lohawat village of Jodhpur district in Rajasthan, where the event took place.

Ishwar Lal Pracharak, a prominent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader, allegedly delivered an incendiary speech at the Trishul Deeksha (Trishul Initiation) event that was jointly organized by the Hindu nationalist group RSS and the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) on January 15. He can be heard making derogatory remarks against religious minorities, especially the Muslim community.

Watch the video here:

Location: Lohawat, Rajasthan

Event: Trishul Deeksha

Organizer: Vishwa Hindu Parishad & Bajrang Dal RSS Pracharak & VHP Sangathan Mantri Ishwar Lal delivers hate speech; dehumanizes Muslims, calls for converting 30,000 mosques into temples & boycott of Halal products. pic.twitter.com/4puOYifpMp  HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) January 21, 2023

Pooni Devi, the village Sarpanch of Lohawat, confirmed to TwoCircles.net that the RSS and VHP held the Trishul Deeksha event in Lohawat village on January 15, but he refused to divulge any information about hate speech delivered at the event.

I wasnt present at the Trishul Deeksha event. It was organized with permission. In Lohawat, there have never been any communal incidents. We coexist in social harmony as brothers, Devi said.

He added that such hate speech if it happened is condemnable.

Ishwar Lal Pracharak can be heard at the beginning of the video, In India, 3000 temples were demolished and mosques were built on their sites. What number is it? 30,000. Do you wish to convert them back to temples or not? Although we built the Ram temple, there are still 30,000 other temples. They must be transformed into temples,

Lal is heard hailing Bajrang Dal (a right-wing Hindutva outfit) after warning them about how Hindus in the neighbouring countries are being persecuted. He claims that the Bajrang Dal is the group that will assist Hindus who have been forced out of Pakistan and Bangladesh in obtaining Indian citizenship.

Lal claims that Indias neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Sumantra, Java, Indonesia, and Malaysia belonged to India once.

They were all split apart by our weakness. Do we want to reclaim these nations? We must strengthen ourselves, Lal proclaims.

Desh ko Akhand banana wale sanghathan ka naam hai Bajrang Dal. (The name of the organization that will work towards uniting these parts is Bajrang Dal.) he can be heard saying.

In a reference to Indias religious minorities of Muslims and Christians, Lal says, Ghar mei kutta ata hai, billi ghuss jaati hai. Aur kayi ghar mei toh Muslim aur Isaiyon ko laa laakar tum bithate ho. Jo mandir ko todhta hai jo gae ko marta hai. Gaeka maas khata hai. (We allow dogs and cats inside our house. And in many homes, you all allow Muslims and Christians. The ones who broke our temples. The one who kills our cows. The one who eats cows.)

While targeting Muslims, Lal makes a reference to the existing caste system in India which excludes low-caste Hindu groups such as Dalits. He keeps a beard but not a moustache. You make them sit in your homes. But our brothers of the same caste, who worships the cow, blow an earthen candle, and go on a religious pilgrimage, cant visit our homes.

And Muslims will get into [these groups] and raise the slogan of Jai Bheem Jai Meem, dont they? Bheem was our own, but where did these Meem (Muslims) come from?) he asks.

Lal also exhorts his audience not to buy Halal products. You buy Halal products. Never buy products that are Halal. Who gets that money? It goes to Muslims. Whats the name of the organization that stops this? Bajrang Dal.)

Lal also refers to the population control bill, stating if such a bill is not enacted, it will lead to the destruction of temples. Population control bill has to be enacted. Otherwise, the temples will be destroyed. The organization that will help enact the Population Control law is Bajrang Dal.) he says.

The speech ends with Lal promoting the idea of establishing a Hindu nation, saying Bharat ko Hindu rashtra banana wali sangathan ki kalpana leke jo chal rahe hai uss sangathan ka naam hai Bajrang Dal. (The organization that will make India a Hindu nation is Bajrang Dal.)

Talking to TwoCircles.net, ASP Lohawat, Akhilesh Sharma refused to react to the video This video is not from our area. We dont have knowledge about it. I can only comment after confirming it, he said.

TwoCircles.net reached out to Kamal Kishor, a VHP worker who attended the Trishul Deeksha event in Rajasthan. He refused the allegations of any hate speech in the event.

Ishwar Lal is a repeat offender

Lal is a repeat offender and hate speeches on his YouTube channel have been reported on several occasions.

At another event held earlier this month in Rajasthan, a video surfaced wherein Ishwar Lal can be heard making provocative claims in a speech laced with disinformation.

The 39-minute speech is replete with targeting minorities and fear-mongering. He raises familiar bogeys of Love Jihad and blames Muslims for bringing untouchability to India and that with their rising population, Muslims will take over temples from Hindus in the coming decades.

Notably, in the poll-bound Rajasthan, several Trishul distribution programs have apparently taken place in rural Jodhpur, some of which have been addressed by Ishwar Lal. These incidents are said to have taken place in Balesar, Rampura, Odiyan, and Dechu, among other places.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


The case for treating Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians as Scheduled Castes was further delayed after the Supreme Court set up a Commission last October.

Riya Talitha | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Prominent Dalit Christian group, the National Council for Dalit Christians (NCDC) has strongly objected to the formation of the Balakrishnan Commission by the Supreme Court.

In October last year, the apex court called for forming a commission after hearing a bunch of petitions regarding the inclusion of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims into the category of Scheduled Caste that had come up for hearing after a decade.

The top court set up a commission headed by the former Chief Justice of India, K. G. Balakrishnan to consider the inclusion of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians as Scheduled Castes, with a report expected in two years.

What is the issue?

The Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order of 1950 states that only those who are Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist can be a part of the Scheduled Caste. It was later amended in 1956 to include Sikhism and in 1990 to include Buddhism. The Presidential order denied the same constitutional status to those members of a scheduled caste who converted to Islam and Christianity.

Immediately after Independence, reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were constitutionally mandated to rectify historical injustice and to increase accessibility to previously denied resources and opportunities.

Reservations as forms of affirmative action, remain one of the few mechanisms for socio-economic mobility for caste-oppressed and marginalised groups. However, Dalit Muslims and Christians remained currently barred from contesting in reserved constituencies, as well as from scholarship or employment benefits, despite suffering the same disadvantages as Dalit Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.

The Modi government endorsed the presidential order in its latest affidavit in the court and opposed the expansion of Scheduled Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians and Muslims.

Petition pending since 2004

In 2004, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation and Dalit Christian lawyer Franklin C. Thomas challenged the 1950 order, which was then joined by several other petitions from a range of Dalit Christian, Pasmanda and civil society groups. These petitions together make up the case, which came up for a hearing at the Supreme Court in October last year.

The NCDC started in Delhi in 2006 as a network of Christians of Scheduled Caste backgrounds and soon spread nationwide.

According to the councils president, V.J. George, the NCDC objects strenuously to the court-appointed K. G. Balakrishnan commission as well as the Centres position. He called it a dangerous move meant to delay the resolution of the case.

To have it linger, isolated in developments or isolated from achieving progress, because of conversion to Christianity, or Islam shows a malicious intent by the Centre, he said.

History of the petitions

The case reaching the Supreme Court this year is a result of decades of on-ground mobilization, solidarity building and advocacy from Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim organisations from across the country, as well as several Dalit bodies and politically Left groups.

Annie Namala, the director of the Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion, who has been working for Dalit rights for years now, explained that the Centre aims to promote a contradiction between religious freedom and untouchability by birth.

Dalit [identity] is by birth, and all the disadvantages you face go with it, to be denied protective mechanisms and support because you have religious freedom, that doesnt go together, she said.

She further explained that without the SC status and all it provides, Dalit Christians are forced to live double lives where their religion doesnt reflect their legal identities. On official paperwork, they are registered as Hindus, which is not the religion they identify with, she said.

Contesting claims

The Centres position draws on the argument that Islam and Christianity are both religions of foreign origin and so dont have the practice of casteism embedded doctrinally.

Paul V Manoharan, a Dalit human rights activist, advocate, and Chair of the National Dalit Christian Watch (NDCW), explained that Dalit Christians suffer from various discrepancies under existing legislation. They face discrimination within the church and society and get protection for neither.

Along with the opportunities, the government denies them thorough reservation and protection against atrocities.

He said they [Dalit Christians] are thrice victimised and thus have every right to be included as Scheduled Castes.

Throughout the length and breadth of India, Dalit Christians are very much disturbed with the response of the Supreme Court and that the government should be against our community because we are also citizens of this country, said George.

Govts stand is RSS position

According to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasads statement in the Rajya Sabha, the ruling partys position on the case is that Dalits who convert to Abrahamic and therefore non-Indic religions cannot claim the reservation benefits of Scheduled Castes.

In 1961, the apex decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) made a statement by purporting the idea that separate reservations for different sects would prove highly detrimental to national unity.

According to Sanbha Rumnong, a lawyer on the Dalit Christian side for one of the batches of petitions on making up the case against the Centre, its very clear to us how discriminatory the 1950 presidential order is, right? Its discriminating on the lines of religion. So that is unconstitutional, and that needs to go.

Rumnong explains that the problem of how to alleviate the discrimination faced by Dalit Christians and Muslims will involve some element of reservation policy and will likely be complicated.

Although he is unsure of the outcome of his case, he still maintains that the main issue currently is whether the presidential order is unconstitutional.

That has a straightforward answer, he said: Yes

Ranganath Commission recommended SC Status to Dalit Muslims, Christians

The Centre falsely claimed no documented research and precise authenticated information [was] available to establish that the disabilities and handicaps suffered by Scheduled Caste members in the social order of its origin.

Over the years, multiple commissions and reports have been prepared by the Union government to determine the SC status. This includes the Kaka Kalekar or the First Backward Classes Commission of 1955 to the 1969 Elayaperumal Committee report. The most recent report is the 2009 Ranganath Mishra Commission, which explicitly recommended including Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in the Scheduled Castes list.

The main recommendations of the Commission included reserving an 8.4% quota out of the existing OBC quota of 27% for religious minorities, mainly Muslims; permitting Dalits who convert to Islam or Christianity to avail of reservation benefits under the Scheduled Caste reservation quota; giving 10% quotas for Muslims and 5% for other minorities in government jobs and in seats in all the higher educational institutions (graduation and above).

There is indeed a significant lack of data on the demographics of Dalit Christians and Muslims. This absence further exposes them to discrimination by denying them access to protections and benefits.

Riya Talitha is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.


The Jamia Millia Islamia administration has prohibited any screening of the film in the campus without permission.

Arbab Ali | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  The Delhi Police on Wednesday detained four students from a left-wing student organisation outside the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University in the national capital, over screening of a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The detained students have been identified as Azeez, Nivedya, Abhiram, and Tejas.

The students belonged to Students Federation of Indias (SFI) Jamia unit. The police action derailed the plans by the student body to screen the contentious BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia campus.

ANI reported that the action was initiated on the request of the Chief Proctor of the University, after the students had announced the screening of the documentary on the campus at 6 pm.

The BBC documentary explores Prime Minister Narendra Modis role in 2002 Gujarat riots. It charts his ascent through the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ranks and his selection as Gujarats chief minister.

A distress call poster is doing rounds on social media, alleging that SFI Jamia unit officers were detained in order to halt the documentarys screening. Additionally, the poster urged the student community to participate in the demonstration outside Gate Number 7 of the varsity at 4 p.m. today.

The Jamia administration earlier refused to give permission for the screening, which India has barred from online sharing. The administration said disciplinary action will be taken if the documentary was screened.

No meeting/gathering of students shall be allowed in any part of the campus including lawns and gates without prior permission of the competent authority, failing which strict disciplinary action shall be taken against the organisers, the Jamia proctorial office stated in a notice it issued on January 24.

The student wing of the BJP, ABVP, battled with left-leaning student organisations last evening after a similar documentary screening at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The university witnessed ugly scenes with students alleging they were attacked with stones while watching the documentary on their mobile phones as the screening was not allowed by the university administration.

Students claimed that the university management disconnected the electricity and internet to halt the event and that stones were thrown.

A student organisation at Hyderabad University showed the documentary earlier in the day. The administration of the university has requested a report on the issue from its staff.

According to reports, the government requested last week that Twitter and YouTube take down the contentious BBC series on PM Modi, which purports to have looked into some aspects of the 2002 Gujarat riots while the latter was the states chief minister.

The Centre sharply criticised the BBC, calling the documentary a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The foreign ministry claimed that the bias and lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible.

Arbab Ali is a fellow at TCN-SEED mentorship program.
A scene from SBS series "Dr. Romantic 3" / Courtesy of SBS



By Lee Gyu-lee



Actor Han Suk-kyu expressed excitement about the return of the SBS hit series "Dr. Romantic" with the third season after three years.



The medical series revolves around a group of medical staff working at a small hospital, called Dol Dam Hospital, in a remote countryside area. Han plays a genius doctor, Kim Sa-bu (Han Suk-kyu), who used to be a top surgeon at a renowned hospital but gives up his position to find a secluded, peaceful life at the hospital.



The series made a huge success with its first two seasons, the first in 2016 and the second in 2020, which both scored over 27 percent viewership ratings.



"I'm happy to work on the series again with these great staff and actors. As we had such great teamwork, I've missed my Dol Dam families and it was a pleasure to meet up again in three years," the actor said through the broadcaster, Thursday.



"Season 3 was possible thanks to the huge love and support that the viewers have given us. We reminded ourselves of what viewers love about 'Dr. Romantic' when making Season 3."



The new season will pick up three years after the previous season's cliffhanger, in which Dol Dam Hospital decides to establish its own medical foundation.



"In an ever-changing world, 'people are most valuable' is the point that will never change. Even though three years have passed, I hope our story can deliver a sense of comfort and courage."




Over the last few months, hundreds of Adivasi Christians have fled their homes across several villages of Chhattisgarh after alleged attacks by Hindutva groups.

Riya Talitha | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Pastors, nuns, congregants, social workers, activists, and concerned citizens came together on the afternoon of January 21 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi road to protest the violence and displacement suffered by Adivasi Christians in Chhattisgarh over the past couple of months.

According to a fact-finding committee by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, between December 9 and 18, almost 1000 Adivasi Christians from multiple villages from the Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region were attacked and fled their homes. There were also reports of destroyed houses, lands, property and churches. Currently, over 50 families of victims of persecution are camped at an indoor stadium in Narayanpur in deplorable conditions, doubting if they will ever be able to return to their homes and fearing for their safety.

Around 150 people gathered for the protest organised by several womens organisations of various mandates to condemn the atrocities unleashed on women and children. The area was buzzing with activity and conversation. Slogans calling for freedom and speeches contextualising the recent events as part of a much longer history of persecution and religious intolerance abounded.



Why are they segregating the Christian minority? Why are you attacking a vulnerable minority? So this protest is to condemn that violence and intolerance. This is not a Christian issue; this is a constitutional issue. If the constitution gives me the right to worship what I want, who else can say object? questions Sister Manju Devarapalli, national secretary of the National Dalit Christian Watch (NDCW).

No place for Vishwasis

On January 8th, faith leaders of various communities came together for a candlelight march and to pray together for the victims while also condemning the persecution of Christians in Chhattisgarh, as well as the inaction of the government and the inability of the local police forces to protect the victims or stop the perpetrators adequately. The Adivasi Christians or vishwasis under attack claim that while events came to a head around Christmas, they had been facing assault, sustained ostracisation, false accusations of witchcraft, ultimatums for them to renounce their faith, and even desecration of their graves for a much longer time.

Last year, Chhattisgarh was the site of the second-highest count of documented attacks on Christians. Christians make up less than 2% of Chhattisgarhs total population of almost 30 million, which makes intolerance mainly targeted.

Hindu groups in the Narayanpur area responsible for whipping up violence and division claim that the number of Christians is much higher and that as they have converted, they are barred from accessing Jal-Jungle-Zameen(Water, Forest and Land). This sorry state of affairs is made even more tragic considering that those engaging in violence and bigotry towards the Adivasi Christians are themselves Adivasis who have joined right-wing groups and political affiliations.

Forced conversions?

One of the main ways that right-wing groups justify and encourage attacks on Christians is by claiming that forced conversions are taking place. The pattern repeated itself even in these attacks, particularly in Narayanpur on January 2, which resulted in a church being vandalised after tensions ran high at a public meeting meant to protest against illegal religious conversions.

One of the January 8th marchs organisers, A.C. Michael, convener of the United Christian Forum and a former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, also addressed the crowd on Sunday. Stop putting false allegations against us. If you are attacking us in the name of forced conversions, where are they taking place? We want evidence of the so-called forced conversions that are apparently happening, he says.

While India lacks a central anti-conversion law, most states have adopted variations over the years; Chhattisgarhs anti-conversion law was instituted in 2000 and amended in 2006. The amendment establishes that the return [to ones] ancestors original religion or his own original religion by any person shall not be construed as conversion. At the same time, it seeks to make the punishment for forced conversion even more strict while also giving the district magistrate the power to refuse or permit any person to convert their faith  an order that will only be appealable to a district judge who then has the final say. However, it is unclear whether it is in force but is still used in electoral politics to appeal to voters. As the validity of conversion is debated, and Christians are framed as engaging in these illegal conversions that erode indigenous identity or national unity, the victims of persecution are caught in limbo.

According to Sister Devarapalli, the reason why repeated attempts have been made to come out and protest is because it was only last night (January 20) that the Chhattisgarh High Court gave an interim budget of relief for the victims, but till then, they hadnt sent anything. The archbishop of the diocese went and met the Chief Minister, who assured him but didnt do anything until we protested.

Christian assertion

Have we come here to beg? No, weve come here for our rights. And remember -rights arent given; they have to be taken, said a senior representative from the Conference of Religious India as the protest drew to a close.

A speaker from the NFIW proclaimed on stage, Dalits and Adivasis have given their blood to build this country, and yet the greedy ones still want to take from them.

This idea was a popular assertion throughout the protest and one that many speakers brought up.

This country has grown to this level only because of Christians contributions to education and medicine, but we are still victims of such hatred. It broke my heart when I heard this news from Chhattisgarh, shared Pastor Edwin Matthew from the Church of Pentecost Delhi, who was one of the last speakers.

According to a 2003 paper by scholar Lancy Lobo, it is estimated that Christians who compose 2.4 % of the total population, run 25 % of Indias voluntary service sector, a totally disproportionate undertaking. Lobo writes, such a minuscule minority has been making a giant contribution to the progress of the nation.

While Sundays protest was primarily organised by womens groups, the Christian community and city-wide coalition of Christian organisations across denominations plan to host a mass protest on February 19 at the Ramleela Grounds.

Michael, one of the 200-strong body of Christian organisers and religious community leaders working towards the February 19 protest, says that the collective intention behind it was to tell both the government and mainstream society, please dont take us lightly. We are a god-fearing community, peace-loving, but enough is enough. We need to show our strength. The time has come. If you show your strength, even the government takes you seriously.

The protest was organised by AIDWA, All India Confederation of SC/ST, All Indian Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS), Anhad, Conference of Religious Freedom India, Evangelical Church of India (ECI), Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace, International Social Service (ISS), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), National Dalit Christian Watch, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), United Christian Front (UCF), United Christian Initiative (UCI) and Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA), among others.

Riya is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.


In India, the right to profess, practice and propagate ones own religion remains marred by socio-political lacunas as well as judicial travesty.

Aatika S | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  In October last year, the former social welfare and SC/ST minister in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Rajendra Pal Gautam resigned due to a controversy about his alleged conversion to Buddhism on October 5 and anti-Hindu vows taken in the ceremony. The said vows are a part of the 22 oaths prescribed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1956 for conversion to Buddhism.

They were branded anti-Hindu because at least 7 of Ambedkars 22 vows either deal with direct renunciation of Hinduism or a vow to no longer believe in Hindu gods or practices.

The top three vows which Gautam pledged to uphold are:

1. I shall have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh nor shall I worship them.

2. I shall have no faith in Rama and Krishna who are believed to be incarnations of God nor shall I worship them.

3. I shall have no faith in Gauri, Ganapati and other gods and goddesses of Hindus nor shall I worship them.

Gautam was simply following Ambedkar.

In 2015, the BJP-ruled Gujarat government withdrew a school textbook commemorating Dr. B.R. Ambedkars 125th birth anniversary as it contained the controversial twenty-two vows.

AAPs silence

AAP shied away from expressing any implicit or explicit support for Gautam. As one of the few political persons to openly embrace the term Ambedkarite, Gautam has only continued to work for the cause of social justice since that day. Gautam led a Jati Unmolam Ekta Sankalp Yatra (Caste Abolition Unity Resolve Yatra) from Raj Niwas to Ambedkar National Memorial.

AAP uses Ambedkar to appeal to his followers votes. It organised a musical on Ambedkar while propelling its own agenda.

Prateek Vijayavargia, a Ph.D. student at the School of International Studies, JNU, says the controversy over Gautams decision to convert to Buddhism and the Aam Aadmi Partys silence over the issue exposes the hypocrisy of the party which pays mere lip service to Ambedkars legacy, and refuses to stand by and back its own member and MLA.

AAP is willing to sway to any side for narrow electoral interests. Its appropriation of leaders such as Ambedkar is nothing but a populist move that aims to pander to the masses but without any nuanced understanding of the emancipatory ideals and principles of his politics and conversion to Buddhism, adds Prateek.

Ambedkar inspired conversion

Prof. Y.S. Alone, who teaches Buddhist visual culture and philosophy at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU says Dr. B. R. Ambedkars conversion on 14 October, 1956 was the biggest conversion ever witnessed in the history of the world.

Accordingly, there have been many conversions in Maharashtra as well as elsewhere and the 22 vows were always recited. Large number of conversions were made in the post-Ambedkar era, such as conversions led by Eknath Awad, Lakshman Mane and many others.

For any political party in India, it is a daunting task to respond to what Dr. Ambedkar wrote in Annihilation of Caste, and above all Article 51 of the Indian Constitution. His vows are aimed at making society free from the clutches of blind beliefs, divinity, and to inculcate a belief in the self to carve out ones life in the righteous manner, argues Prof. Alone.

Has BJP criminalized freedom to choose ones religion

The right to profess, practice and propagate ones own religion remains marred by many socio-political lacunas as well as judicial travesty. For instance, an FIR was filed against the 236 Valmiki community members for conversion to Buddhism right after the brutal gang rape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman by five Thakur men in Hathras last year.

Sandhya Gawali, president of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association, JNU sees conversion as an act of assertion in terms of self respect and dignity.

Conversion provide a shared identity to the converted community that shares common interests, fraternity ethos and social-cultural mobility. People have claimed equality, self respect and dignity through conversion and asserted it publically. The act has given women more equal space in private and public life, she added.

Anxiety against conversion dates back to Gandhi-Ambedkar differences

The series of events makes one ask why does conversion make the Brahmanical Hindutva groups so nervous and anxious? Their nervousness is apparent given such acts of freedom to choose and practice ones own faith, essentially one of the freedoms that the Indian constitution guarantees, are being attacked and criminalized.

The anxiety regarding conversions dates back to the late colonial era though and the large-scale conversion of oppressed castes and adivasis to more egalitarian religions. Gandhi remained severely critical of these mass movements and steadily opposed Ambedkar who wanted a balance to be achieved between religious freedom and religious equality.

Anti-conversion legislation is on the rise in many states establishing coercion as the basis of the ongoing acts of conversion. The Supreme Court recently observed that forced religious conversion is a serious issue that can affect national safety, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The apex court wants the issues to be curbed immediately. Most of the states run by the BJP legally prohibit conversion by an individual without permission of the local authorities.

Aatika S is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.


At JNU, students claimed they were pelted with stones allegedly by members of the right-wing student body while they were watching the documentary on their mobile phones on Tuesday evening while at Jamia Milia, Delhi Police yesterday arrested students ahead of the screening of the documentary.

Aatika S | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  On the evening of January 24, hundreds of students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi gathered to watch the screening of the controversial BBC documentary on the 2022 Gujarat riots.

The documentary titled India: The Modi Question based on Prime Minister Narendra Modis tenure as chief minister of Gujarat during the 2002 riots, has sparked a row after the government invoked emergency powers last Friday to block the documentary on YouTube and Twitter. The opposition slammed the move as blatant censorship.

This, however, did not stop users from posting links to the documentary on social media, which too were subsequently taken down. Despite the ban, screenings of the documentary were held at Hyderabad and Kerala universities.

JNU students union had planned to organise the screening of the documentary at the union office on Tuesday at 9 pm. However, even before the documentary could be screened, electricity was cut from the campus at 8:30 pm. The administration blamed it on the electricity outage that had affected part of the campus. There was a major line fault. Even the faculty residences and other facilities are without light, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi said.

On Monday, the Vice-Chancellor in a notice had said that no prior permission for the event had been taken. The notice called the planned screening an unauthorised activity which may disturb the peace and harmony of the university. It warned of strict disciplinary action against the students if the screening wasnt cancelled.

Dhananjay, a postdoctoral student at JNU, told TwoCircles.net that any event organised by the JNUSU in the union office doesnt need any prior approval or permission from the administration.

This has been the norm so far. Under which law has the administration attempted to curtail the screening? Such a move directly aims to kill the culture of dissent and debate that JNU is known for, he said.

Students claimed the varsity administration cut off the electricity and internet to stop the screening of the documentary.

Dhananjay said that after the electricity cut, an alternative arrangement was made and a QR code was shared amongst the students to watch the documentary. Each one of us viewed the documentary on our phones and laptops sitting outside Teflas in pitch darkness, he said.

As they were watching the documentary on their mobile phones, students claimed they were attacked and stones were thrown at them allegedly by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a charge that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated student group denied.

Another student, who requested to remain anonymous, alleged that many ABVP students from JNU, DU and some unknown persons were hiding behind the Narmada hostel bushes in the darkness.

They started pelting stones at the students who were watching the documentary. The sudden commotion created a sense of panic and fear, the student said.

This led the students to stage a protest and march to the north gate of the campus.

Raising slogans of Inquilab Zindabad and against the JNU administration for allegedly stopping the screening of the documentary, the protesting students marched to the Vasant Kunj police station to lodge a complaint against the stone pelters. The students also demanded security at the campus and the restoration of electricity.

The protest was called off after the police assured them that they will look into the matter.

We filed a complaint, and the police assured us they will be immediately looking into the incident. We gave the name and details of all the persons involved. As of now, were calling off the protest. We will also file a complaint at the JNU Proctor office, JNU Students Union (JNSU) President Aishe Ghosh was quoted by ANI as saying on Tuesday night.

Students also alleged that ABVP members were targeting students in other parts of the campus as well.

Another incident of stone pelting happened when a group of men with their faces covered attacked the students marching towards Ganga Dhaba, a student claimed, while adding, The protesting students caught two culprits who were throwing stones and who belonged to ABVP.

Aditya Santosh, a postgraduate student at the university, told TwoCircles.net that despite their repeated requests, the Delhi police did not arrest the two persons. The police refused to enter the campus. The Godi Media ran their propaganda right in front of us and fabricated the entire episode. We couldnt return to our hostels due to the fear of further attacks by ABVP. They had already assaulted two students while many others were injured. Therefore, we instead decided to march to the Vasant Kunj police station to file a complaint. We also plan to raise our complaints in front of the proctor, she said.

Govt is scared of the documentary

A female student said that the attacks on the students who had been watching the alleged documentary has left them horrified. We were forced to run in the dark in panic. The electricity cut only aided the right-wing goons to get away after attacking the students, she said.

As soon as the protesting students left for the police station, the electricity was surprisingly restored on the campus, the students claimed.

Dhananjay said the episode proved that Modi is scared of the documentary. Therefore, more people should watch it.

Police inquiry launched

On the complaint filed by students of JNU against the alleged stone pelting and deliberate power outage that took place while they were watching the documentary on their mobile devices, the Delhi Police on Wednesday said it has begun an inquiry.

No FIR has been filed yet. They (students) have given a complaint and we are enquiring into it, Delhi Police officials told news agency ANI.

Tensions at Jamia Milia

Tensions also flared up at another prestigious university Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in New Delhi on Wednesday as Delhi Police detained a dozen students ahead of the planned screening of the BBC documentary at the university campus.

Classes at the university were suspended as dozens of police personnel wearing riot gear were deployed. Only students appearing for examinations were being allowed in and others turned away.

The university administration had prohibited any screening of the film on the campus without permission. In an order issued on Tuesday, authorities at Jamia said disciplinary action will be taken if the documentary was screened at the university. They said they would not allow any unauthorised gatherings on campus after the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), announced the screening on Facebook.

The University reiterates that no meeting of students or screening of any film will be allowed in the campus without permission. University is taking all measures to prevent people/orgs having vested interest to destroy peaceful academic atmosphere here: Jamia Millia Islamia pic.twitter.com/zWnkQwVSP1  ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2023

Student activists, waving banners and raising slogans against the crackdown, were seen being hauled away by the police.

Meanwhile, the Students Federation of India in Kolkatas Presidency University has sought permission from the university authorities to screen the documentary on January 27 at 4 pm. The university authorities have not yet responded to the request. Despite the BJP staging protests against it, the documentary was screened by various political organisations in Kerala.

Aatika S is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.
Police officials sprung to action at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) (university) on Wednesday ahead of the planned screening of the controversial documentary at the university campus.

Arbab Ali | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Delhi Police officials on Wednesday detained a dozen students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) ahead of the planned screening of the BBC documentary at the university campus.

Classes at the university were suspended as dozens of police personnel wearing riot gear were deployed. Only students appearing for examinations were being allowed in and others turned away.

The university administration had prohibited any screening of the film on the campus without permission. In an order issued on Tuesday, authorities at Jamia said disciplinary action will be taken if the documentary was screened at the university. They said they would not allow any unauthorised gatherings on campus after the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), announced the screening on Facebook.

Student activists, waving banners and raising slogans against the crackdown, were seen being hauled away by the police.

According to the student-body Students Federation of India (SFI), 12 students are yet to be released and are being held at the Fatehpur Beri Police Station.



Arbab Ali is a fellow at the TCN-SEED mentorship program.


Legal experts have punched holes in the judgement, claiming that the courts reasoning is not as per law.

TCN Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  Apparently based on presumption, a court in Gujarat sentenced 22-year-old Mohammad Ameen to rigorous life imprisonment for illegally transporting cows for the purpose of slaughter. Ironically, there is no provision for a life term for unauthorised transportation of bovines in Gujarats anti-cow slaughter law.

The latest amendment, which was brought in 2017 in the 1954 legislation (the principal Act), provides for a maximum punishment of 10 years with a fine that may extend to Rs 5 lakh but shall not be less than Rs 1 lakh for the offence of transporting bovines without requisite papers.

Sessions Judge Samir Vinodchandra Vyas  presiding over the District Court at Vyara in Tapi  found him guilty of violating sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954 read with Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 2011 and sections 6 (a)(1) and 8 (2) of the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2017. Apart from rigorous punishment to life, he has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 5 lakh.

If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo rigorous punishment of five more years, the court ruled.

But legal experts punch holes in the judgement, claiming the court reasoning is not as per law, appreciation of evidence is against the established principle of the Evidence Act and presumption of the act is against the criminal jurisprudence.

They also said the lawyer provided to the accused by the legal aid of the state government failed to perform what was expected from him as a defence counsellor  effectively rebutting the assumption or argument made by the prosecution despite the fact that he was given complete liberty to offer arguments and proceed with means of cross-examination.

No single witness, they alleged, was produced by the defence and not any reassignment or certification was obtained  which is highlighted all over the 24-page order.

Brief details of the case

From the facts of the case, the accused  a truck driver from Malegaon in Maharashtras Nashik district  was transporting 12 cows and four bullocks from Gujarat to Maharashtra through a vehicle, which was beyond its capacity to carry 16 cattle at a time.

On July 18, 2020, the truck was making its way through a road between Nava (in Tapi district) and Ashrava (in Banas Kantha district) villages. It was stopped by a police team near a trisection at 3:45 a.m. on July 18 last year for routine checking.

The night patrol police team comprised Head Constable Bipinbhai Rustambhai Chaudhari from Nirjhar police station and Narendrabhai Rajeshbhai and Jigneshbhai Ravindrabhai from the Home Guard. The police vehicle was being driven by one Dineshbhai Gangaram.

Upon not getting satisfactory answers to his questions, the cop with his two subordinates went to the rear side of the truck to examine it. In the meantime, the driver  taking advantage of the darkness of dawn  allegedly fled the spot.

He was later arrested on August 27, 2020.

It was alleged that the truck was comparatively smaller than the required size, which ensures each cattle has at least two square meters of space for them to move and be comfortable. It did not have any proper arrangements for transportation with regard to the comfort of food and water.

The cattle were allegedly packed tightly within the truck space, and they were tied with a small rope that restricted their movement  leading to several instances of criminality against the dumb animals.

Due to the alleged prevailing circumstances, one bullock and one cow were also found dead during the investigation.

The driver allegedly did not have the certification issued by concerned competent authorities as required under the law of the state of Gujarat.

Due to the alleged lack of evidence or any proper documentation regarding the transportation of the cattle, the court presumed that such an illegal attempt of transportation was being made for the sake of slaughtering and thereby the accused was subjected to such a harsh punishment.

Accused wrongly framed?

Firstly, the public prosecutor of the state resigned a long time ago. No new appointment was made by the government since then, and thereby the accused was left in jail for over two years without any initiation of arguments on the side of the plaintiff. Justice is already delayed.

As per the oral evidence by Bipinbhai Rustambhai Chaudhari, who was on duty at Nijhar police station as an unarmed head constable at the time of the commission of the crime, the witness (Chaudhari himself) along with three others stopped the vehicle for investigation, and the driver was not giving proper replies to the question. When they went to the rear side of the truck, the driver slipped into the darkness.

Upon the cross-examination of the witness by the defence, the witness assured that he has seen the accused in light as he was asked to get down from the vehicle and that he has rightly identified the accused.

But the fact that the police constable on duty failed to take notice that the accused had fled away due to darkness, there is less assurance of the truth asserted by the witness. When it was so dark to even see the driver fleeing the spot, it makes the credibility of the identification of the accused by the witness questionable, Advocate Mobashshir Aneeq, a lawyer associated with the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) that deals with such matters, told TwoCircles.net.

It is very uncommon for the driver  he said  to step down the vehicle before the search has been made.

The fact that the driver, who might or might not be the accused, was made to get down from the vehicle was also not asserted by any other witness; hence, the credibility of testimony should have been challenged by the defence, he pointed out.

Ahmedabad-based criminal lawyer Bilal Kagzi too finds the prosecutions case doubtful. The police, as per the case file, did not call panch (independent witnesses) and prepare a panchnama (seizer memo) at the place of the incident. The panch witnesses were called at the police station where the memo was prepared. It made the recovery of animals doubtful, he added.

Alleging that it might be a case of framing, he said, Not conducting an identification parade of the accused makes the veracity of Ameen (the alleged driver) really being the accused doubtful.

Veterinary Officer Ravibhai Bhandasbhai Gondaliya, in his oral submission, purportedly made a statement of having seen the animals (12 cows and 4 bullocks) being taken off the vehicle. He allegedly asserted that nine cows and three bullocks were in a weak condition and that three cows and one bullock were found dead, on whom he performed the postmortem.

The statements made by the officer  alleged Aneeq  are in contravention of the evidence found and the statement made by the other officers that asserted the death of only two cattle.

He said Gondaliya pointed out the death of four animals, but the defence failed to cross-examine him adequately to identify the discrepancy made in his statements. There was a requirement on the part of counsel to bring up the data and assert the contravention. The defence yet again has failed to do the required minimum, he added.

The prosecution brought Balrajbhai Bhaidasbhai Gulale as one of the independent witnesses who among other panchs was called to the police station and a memo of the physical condition of the accused was made in their presence.

The prosecution also brought on record the oral submission of witness Raj Sang Hirabhai Loh, a police inspector. He at the time of the commission of the crime was discharging his duty at Nijhar police station, and the police station officer had declared the facts of the case to him. He was the in-charge of the investigations, and he was suspended for reasons independent of this case.

Their cross-examinations revealed that the witness was not present when the accused was found carrying the animals in the vehicle. The fact that the accused could not be arrested from the spot was maintained by him. A test identification parade of the accused was also not conducted.

These facts are again inconsistent with the requirement of the law. The court has accepted that the investigation was made as per the law, although the cross-examination revealed otherwise. The defence was required to act by the law and bring a challenge to the testimony. There is also some inclusion of hearsay evidence, as the facts were conveyed to the officer, which may not be the best form of evidence and the same needs to be proved in strict guidelines, said Advocate Aneeq.

He added the defence has let the lacunae and shortcomings of the witness testimony and did not pay heed despite the fact that there is enough space and ground on part of the defence to bring in different facts of the case and decide upon the credibility of evidence produced by the prosecution.

Advocate Kagzi said there are many contradictions between the prosecution complaint and the panch witness dispositions.

Looking at the case, there is no allegation of these animals were taken to the slaughterhouse. In a criminal trial, the prosecution has to prove the ingredients of sections which are invoked against the accused. In the instant case, the prosecution failed to prove the charge of transportation of animals for slaughter without reasonable doubt, he told TwoCircles.net.

The lawyer alleged that the courts reasoning in the judgement is not as per law, appreciation of evidence is against the established principle of the Evidence Act and the presumption of this Act is against the criminal jurisprudence.

Based on the presumption, the court cannot convict any person. The presumption can not become a law. It is contrary to criminal jurisprudence, he added.

Ineffective defence

The court, while holding the accused guilty of violating the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954 and its amendments, observed that the defence has not been able to bring on record any facts so as to give convincing reasons to doubt the evidence.

Therefore, said the judge, he believes that the evidence submitted by the plaintiff proves the case against the accused without any doubt.

Notably, the accused was represented by the states legal aid counsel. It is a classic example of the quality and competence of a legal aid scheme, said both the advocates quoted above.

They said the defence failed to make attempts to further cross-examine and ask about the facts he observed at the time when he first saw the driver. There are points that could have been rebutted by the defence counsel, but he apparently chose to accept the testimonies, they alleged.

Advocate Aneeq said the defence could have brought forward the contention that animals were not tied with short rope as there was no evidence to prove any marks on the neck of the animals other than one animal having a vertebral fracture which could have been caused by the hustle and tussle amongst the animals or it could be during the journey.

It would have helped in reducing the sentence and fine upon the accused as it diminishes the assertion of cruelty against the animals, he said.

Though Kagzi found no evidence of animals were taken to slaughter, Aneeq said the driver could not produce any required permit for the transportation of the animals; the evidence of possession of the cattle could not be found; and therefore, the accused was presumed to be the owner of animals that were being transported at that time.

Since the defence failed to bring about the evidence of any proper certification of the competent authority which authorized the transportation of the animals; hence, the court presumed that such transportation was taking place so that the animals could be slaughtered. The defence did not make any attempt to rebut the presumption; and therefore, the accused was held liable under Section 6 (a) of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954, he explained.

However, he said there is a possibility of infringement of several rights in this procedure. The case may be framed, but the credibility of evidence given by witnesses is challenge worthy and should not have been upheld to form the criminality of the accused, he concluded.

Life term without provision in law?

The Gujarat assembly in March 2017 toughened (in fact toughest in the country) its anti-cow slaughter legislation by making the offence made non-bailable and punishable with a life sentence.

The Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2017, was passed amid the suspension of the Opposition, the Congress, and legislators from the house for the entire day and with the visitors gallery of the House packed with saffron-clad Hindu priests.

The amendment in the 1954 law (the principal Act) provides for a maximum punishment of up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh if one is held guilty of slaughtering cows, calves, bulls and bullocks.

Notably, sections 6A and 6B of the amended Act ban the transportation of the livestock animals without any requisite permission and have a provision of imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years but shall not be less than seven years and with a fine which may extend to Rs 5 lakh but shall not be less than Rs 1 lakh.

Earlier, the maximum punishment for the same was three years.

The law also provides for permanent forfeiture of vehicles involved in the illegal transportation of progeny of cows and beef. It has put curbs on the transportation of cows in the state during night hours. Even legal, licensed movement is not be allowed between 7 pm and 5 am.

As per the 2017 amendment, the maximum sentence for unauthorised transportation is 10 years. The court, without any substantial evidence on record, presumed that the animals were transported for slaughter and sentenced the accused to rigorous life imprisonment even before the commission of the alleged crime, said Advocate Kagzi, adding that mere presumption cannot be the basis of such a harsh punishment.


The accused were, however, discharged of charges of criminal conspiracy.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  A Delhi court has framed charges for various offences, including rioting, against two accused for an alleged attack at the Modern Public Senior Secondary School on Brijpuri main road, during the 2020 riots in northeast Delhi.

The court was dealing with a case involving Shamim Ahmed, Mohd Kafil, and Faizan, accused of vandalism and arson on February 25, 2020.

Faizan, who is the third accused, was declared a proclaimed offender as he is absconding.

In its order, the court said their common objective was to cause damage to properties as the schools computer laboratory, library and several other goods were destroyed and the damages estimated up to Rs 1.25 crore as per the complaint.

On the basis of the statements of the witnesses, the court observed that there was enough material to the charges for what the accused persons have done.

However, the accused were discharged of charges of criminal conspiracy.

Since the allegations of conspiracy are based on presumption, rather than any concrete evidence, I do not find it sufficient to presume that the accused persons acted out of pre-hatched conspiracy, the court said.  (With IANS inputs)

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


The BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modis alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots has kicked up a storm in India, with students at several prestigious universities across the country attempting to screen the contentious documentary that the government blocked from viewing.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Delhi Police on Friday detained 24 students from the Delhi Universitys Arts Faculty for planning to screen a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modis alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, PTI reported.

Around 4 pm, some 20 people came outside the Arts Faculty gate to screen the banned BBC documentary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said. As it can cause disturbance of peace and tranquillity in the area, they were asked to disperse from there. When they did not, they were detained.

Earlier on Friday, the police had banned large gatherings inside the campus after Delhi University Proctor Rajni Abbi said the administration would not allow the screening planned by some student bodies.

Ahead of the planned screening, Section 144 was also imposed banning large gatherings at the Faculty of Arts (DU) on Friday, news agency ANI reported.

Heavy police deployment was done inside Ambedkar University as well to stop the screening, PTI reported.

The Students Federation of India unit of Ambedkar University alleged that the screening could not be held as the college administration disconnected the power supply. The students watched the documentary on their personal electronic devices.

The first episode of the BBCs two-part documentary titled India: The Modi Question was released on January 17. It alleges that a team sent by the British government had found that Modi, who was the chief minister of Gujarat when the riots took place, was directly responsible for a climate of impunity that led to the violence against Muslims. The second part was released on Tuesday.

While the documentary has not been made available in India, pirated links to the film have been shared widely on online platforms.

On January 20, the government used emergency powers available under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, to issue directions to YouTube and Twitter to block clips of the documentary from being shared. The foreign ministry had described the documentary as a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative.

Screenings of the documentary were disrupted at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia University earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Delhi Police detained at least 12 students ahead of a planned screening of the documentary.

On Tuesday, JNU students alleged that they were attacked with stones after a power and internet outage at the campus prevented the screening. Students also alleged that the power was intentionally cut off by the university administration. The administration had blamed it on the electricity outage that had affected part of the campus. There was a major line fault. Even the faculty residences and other facilities are without light, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi had said.

Claims made by BBC documentary

The controversial BBC documentary cites a hitherto unknown report prepared by an inquiry team sent by the British government to look into the 2002 Gujarat riots. The team had alleged that Modi had prevented the Gujarat Police from acting to stop violence targeted at Muslims, the BBC documentary claimed.

A former British senior diplomat, one of the investigators sent by the United Kingdom government, had said in the documentary that the violence had been planned by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets @SanaEjaz


62-year-old Dilip Ram is a Dalit Professor who began his career as a primary school teacher and now heads the department of Hindi at Patna University.

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  Professor Dilip Ram recently became the first Dalit head of the department of Hindi at Patna University after its inception in 1937.

Prof. Ram will serve as head of the department (HoD) for the next two years. In its 86 years of history, the Hindi department at Patna University has had 26 heads of department, including three women and one Muslim.

Born in 1961, Prof. Ram has authored and edited more than half a dozen books of Hindi literature and critique including a collection of poems on Dalit discourse.

A native of the Saran district in Bihar, Prof. Ram has a special knack for teaching. He started his career as a primary school teacher, then moved to high school before finally settling at Patna University in 2003 as a lecturer. He also worked in Buniyady Vidyalaya, which was built by Mahatma Gandhi.

His mother Mateshwari Devi was a housewife who never went to school. His father Mahadev Ram worked a government job and had elementary education. His wife Mina Devi is a housewife.

In a brief interview with TwoCirlces.net, Prof. Ram expressed his happiness that in accordance with seniority he got the chance to serve as HoD but lamented that due to educational feudalism, it took 86 years for a Dalit to become the head of Hindi department at Patna University. This is not my success, it is my communitys success. The marginalized community was deprived of higher education. At maximum, they got basic education and were forced to earn a livelihood. Unfortunately, it was more in the Hindi field than in other fields, he said.

He said Dalits did not get many opportunities for higher education. Even if someone got that chance to make inroads in higher education he or she was forced to struggle. The social condition was not favourable to them. They could not survive, he said.

Prof. Ram believes that some Dalits have done well purely due to the legal provisions like scholarship and reservation in the constitution framed by Dr Ambedkar. Our society did not contribute to the upliftment of the Dalits, he said.

Thankfully he did not face many social problems as his uncle was in a better social position, Prof Ram said there still is an intellectual and ideological fight that Dalits have to face.

I come from Ambedkar ideology and follow the ideology of Kabir, he said.

He said Dalit discourse was mainly centred in Maharashtra. I dont think there was any Dalit movement in Bihar in the form of Hindi literature but lately the young generation has started Dalit discourse in Hindi literature. In Hindi literature, there was no independent ism of Dalit. It was Dalit writers who established an independent tradition of Dalit discourse which has its own ideology and poetic values, he said.

He said that Dalit discourse and Dalit literary discourse are two important things. He said that in post-80s writings Dalit literature got momentum and its impact was felt. In secondary and higher education education, Kabir, Raidas and Sant Tuka Ram were already being taught but these days, many forms of Dalit literature have come to the fore like poetry, autobiography, novel, story and memoirs etc., the professor said.

He talks about identity discourse papers, including Dalit discourse, Adivasi discourse, minority discourse and transgender discourse, being taught in Hindi literature for the first time at Patna University. Through these forms of literature, the life, values and the struggles of the minority community, the Adivasis and other marginalized people are in spotlight.

Discussing the challenges in identity discourse, Prof. Ram said, The prevailing situation, the environment being manufactured by the politicians and the attempt to spread religious intolerance in the name of Ram are not good signs. These are diversionary works.

He emphasised that the narrative of Dalit literature needs to be spread to counter such situations.

Referring to the term Dalit Brahmin, Prof Ram accepts that even Dalits are being impacted by the fanatical elements.

Since some Dalits are becoming Brahmins, by their infused feudal mentality, such a situation is bound to arise, though they cannot be accepted as Brahmins as they have the stamp of caste on their back. This is a big challenge, he said.

Talking about the solidarity between Dalits and other minority communities in the country, Prof. Ram said, Dalits and minority communities are deprived economically and socially. Definitely, they have a bonding between them.

Admitting that there is no provision to promote Dalits at the university level, he emphasises self-development. Dalits and other deprived communities need to try harder to grab opportunities, otherwise they will be left behind, he said, while recalling how a social welfare department scholarship helped him in his career as there were not any other resources available.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb


The court ordered the registration of a case against 12 police personnel based on the complaint of the victims wife.

TCN Special Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  Twelve policemen were booked under various sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code) including murder charges following an order from a court directing the police to lodge a first information report (FIR) in a case related to the encounter killing of a 45-year-old Muslim man over cow slaughter allegations.

In September 2021, Zeeshan Haider, a farmer from Thitki village, died at the district hospital after being shot by the local police over accusations of cow slaughter. However, his family denied the charges and maintained that he was not involved in any crime and moved the Allahabad High Court against the killing.

The High Court directed the Saharanpur court to dispose of his petition. On January 19 this year, the CJM court in Saharanpur ordered for registration of an FIR against the erring policemen within 24 hours observing at the prima facie, a non-cognizable offence appears to be made.

In the affidavit filed by the Saharanpur district officer, there is no mention of any action about other allegations levelled by Mrs Afroz (wife of Zeeshan). However, there is only mention of the probe conducted by the Saharanpur SP city. On the basis of the statements and facts mentioned in the pleas filed by the petitioner with regard to this police station, a non-cognizable offence appears to be made in the prima facie. In this situation, actual truth can not come to the court unless there is an unbiased probe about the allegations made by the petitioner after filing an FIR as per the established process. This is necessary for the purpose of justice, noted Judge Anil Kumar.

Syed Isa Raza, Zeeshans cousin brother and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, informed TwoCircles.net that the police have registered an FIR against 12 policemen on January 22.

When TwoCircles.net approached Deoband police station to seek details related to the FIR, Hriday Narain Singh, in charge of the police station, said that he will not share the details related to any person. It will violate the secrecy of the case, he said.

However, Saharanpur SSP Vipin Tada told the media about the FIR filed against the policemen in the case.

Following the courts directive, a case has been registered against 12 policemen, including three sub-inspectors and nine constables. We are collecting details of all the accused policemen, including their present postings. We have also initiated a fresh investigation, said Tada.

The accused are sub-Inspectors Yashpal Singh, Asgar Ali and Omveer Singh, head constable Sukhpal Singh, and constables Bharat Singh, Vipin Kumar, Pramod Kumar, Rajveer Singh (now retired), Neetu Yadav, Devendra Kumar (retired), Brijesh (retired) and Ankit Kumar.

They were booked under sections 147 (for rioting), 148 (for rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (for offence committed in prosecution of common object), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving information to screen offender), 307 (for attempt to murder), 302 (for murder), 342 (for wrongful confinement) and 120B (for criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

However, Raza told TwoCircles.net that the investigation in the case can not be fair if these erring policemen continue to serve on duty. Till the time these policemen are in uniform, the investigation will not be fair. They should be suspended. Only then can appropriate action be taken, he said.

Following the court order, Raza said that he had complete faith in the judiciary. He called the court order a victory for justice.

Narrating the circumstances surrounding his death, Afroz told the court that her husband was of criminal nature. He had no case lodged against him. However, he had an adverse relationship with the informers of the police. On the intervening night of 4-5 September 2021, Zeeshan told her that a police official had called him for some inquiry. Later, he couldnt be reached as his phone was switched off. In the morning, she came to know that her husband was shot in the leg and he is admitted to the district hospital.

Raza, along with some relatives went to the district hospital, where they found Zeeshans body.

On the other hand, the police claimed that they had received a tip-off about the cow slaughter in a forest near the village.

Zeeshan, who was carrying a country-made pistol, was present there. He had shot himself in the leg, the police had claimed.

The police also claimed to recover the cow carcasses along with tools for slaughtering.

The police also showed the cases filed against Zeeshan but the court observed that all these FIRs were filed on the day when he died.

Zeeshan used to help the poor. He did not allow the police to harass the poor. The police used to be upset with him. We were not told why he was killed and that he was involved in the cow slaughter, Raza said.


Even as some political bigwigs are demanding ease or an end to liquor ban, women in the state are firmly standing with chief minister Nitish Kumar on prohibition.

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  A day after Bihars former chief minister and Dalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi urged deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav to plead with chief minister Nitish Kumar to end or ease the liquor ban, the chief minister urged the Jivika Didis [women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) under a rural livelihood project] to start a movement for total prohibition.

Although Kumar has urged Didis earlier too to implement prohibition, this time he seems more determined. Mahatma (Gandhi) and Mahila (women) are the two strongest reasons put forward by Nitish Kumar to justify his liquor ban policy implemented from April 5, 2016.

The chief minister has said that it was Mahila (women) who asked him to implement total prohibition. He also refers to Mahatma Gandhi as a reason for prohibition saying the father of the nation always wanted Sharab-Bandi (liquor ban).

The liquor ban has been hailed by the women of the state even if chief minister Kumar was facing criticism over its implementation.

Savita Kumari, a senior journalist covering gender and social issues, told TwoCircles.net that there was no doubt that women were happy with this policy. It has helped Nitish Kumar in getting electoral support along with his other women-friendly initiatives, she said.

Kumari said that roadside hooliganism after getting drunk is almost nil due to this policy. Girl students feel safe going to their institutes even late in the evening as they dont face any drunkards in the way, she said.

Kumari noted that it is a fact that prohibition has helped in reducing domestic violence but a different kind of violence can be witnessed which is not reported as women fear that if they report it, the police will act upon the men who smuggle liquor.

Revoking prohibition will be even worse. What is required cannot be achieved only through law. There must be social awakening, she said and welcomed the announcement to induct Jivika Didis for this work.

The prohibition has also led to a decrease in road accidents, especially during the Holi festival in March every year, as per a study conducted by Yuva Prayas, an NGO.

Our research in the Gaya district of Bihar found that road accidents were high during the Holi festival in March before prohibition. However, we found that road accidents have decreased significantly during March every year since the liquor ban, Shamimul Haque, secretary of Yuva Prayas, told TwoCircles.net.

Opposition to liquor ban

The anti-liquor ban lobby in the state has vehemently questioned the policy on primarily three accounts. They say that the prohibition has not succeeded and secondly it leads to hooch tragedies (deaths caused by intake of inferior quality liquor called hooch). Thirdly, the liquor ban in the state badly impacts Dalits who are poor as most Hooch deaths are reported to be of Dalits and it is them who end up in jail for violating the prohibition.

A report released by the prohibition department of Bihar revealed that in 2022, over 1.55 lakh people were booked for violating liquor ban rules. Out of these, 1.51 lakh people (almost 97%) violators were let off after paying a fine. Those who are unable to pay a fine are sent to jail for three months. Following an amendment in April 2022, first-time offenders are getting away by paying a fine. As per one report, six months after the amendment, the Bihar government collected Rs 17.53 crore as fine from 72,000 offenders. Repeat offenders, however, are jailed for a year.

The Nitish Kumar government, however, has withstood this criticism and stood firm with the ban. He recently claimed that around 1.6 crore people had quit alcohol in Bihar since the liquor ban implementation. Even after facing severe criticism over the recent Hooch killings, the government ordered an survey to study the impact of prohibition.

A study titled Temperance movement: the impact of liquor prohibition on socio-economy and livelihood in Bihar released in August 2022 by A.N. Sinha Institute, Patna and CN Law University, Patna said 80% of surveyed people wanted the liquor ban to continue.

Is liquor ban bad for tourism?

There are claims that the prohibition has affected tourism in Bihar.

A recent report by the tourism department said that more than 2.5 crore tourists visited Bihar last year, which is marginally less than the figures in 2016 when the liquor ban came into force.

Sanjay Kumar, general secretary of the Hotel Association of Bodhgaya, told TwoCircles.net that the corporate business of hotels was affected due to the prohibition as they are unable to host big corporate events where alcohol can be served.

It [liquor ban] should stay with some relaxation for corporate programmes and events, he said.

One of the positive impacts of the liquor ban has been that hosting wedding parties at hotels has become hassle-free, he said. Before the prohibition, we often witnessed brawls after people got drunk, he added.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb
Sung Neung-kyung, an early champion of conceptual and performance art in Korea who pioneered the genre during the politically turbulent 1970s and 1980s / Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and London



Sung Neung-kyung in limelight as 1970s Korean experimental art gains attention



By Park Han-sol



For most of his 55-year career, Sung Neung-kyung has been viewed as an outsider by the Korean art world.



The 79-year-old also call himself "a non-popular, non-profit artist"  terms that are certainly not thrown around for the sake of modesty or humility.



As a creator who unyieldingly focused on the marginal genre of combining conceptual art and performance during the politically turbulent 1970s and 1980s, he was only invited to hold five solo exhibitions. And he didn't sell his first art piece until 2009.



That's why it feels all the more surreal to Sung as he prepares himself for not just one, but five new solo shows for this year alone  including his first in New York.



He has also been named one of the early experimental trailblazers who will be highlighted at the upcoming group exhibition, "Only the Young: Experimental Art in South Korea, 1960s-1970s," as it tours the Guggenheim in New York in September and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles early next year.



What's more, blue-chip American gallery Lehmann Maupin recently announced that it will represent Sung and went on to showcase the conceptual artist's historical work at Art Basel Hong Kong.



"It's like watching a flower blossom from a withered tree," he said as he described the experience of being thrust into the international spotlight in his golden years.



"If I were to guess, this is the result of me being an artist who has persistently walked down the same path throughout his lifetime. But it could also be part of the global art world's desire to witness how conceptualism  which originated in the West in the 1960s  has been interpreted and practiced by Korean creatives since we have long been overshadowed by our Chinese or Japanese counterparts."



Sung's remark came last month in time for the opening of his sixth-ever solo show, "As If Nothing  The Artistic Meandering of Sung Neung Kyung," currently mounted at Baik Art in central Seoul.





Sung Neung-kyung's "Contraction and Expansion" (1976) / Courtesy of the artist, Baik Art



While the conceptual artist started his career in the late 1960s, he regards the year 1973 as the decisive turning point, shortly after his military discharge.



The Korean art scene in the 1970s saw a dynamic mix of emerging genres and movements. This included the rise of "dansaekhwa" (monochrome paintings) and "three-dimensional art," the latter of which often incorporated the likes of stones, glasses, steel plates and tree trunks to produce experimental sculptural installations.



Sung was approached by Lee Kun-yong, one of the country's early champions of experimental art, who asked him to join the avant-garde collective he had formed called Space and Time (ST). And he did.



In line with the dominant trend in the avant-garde scene at the time, he produced the three-dimensional artwork, "Circumstances," consisting of a stainless steel sheet and two white rocks, for the second ST group show in 1973.



However, as soon as his piece went on display, he wanted to sink through the floor with shame. "It was a complete failure that was just trying to imitate what was in fashion," he recalled. "With three-dimensional art, I felt like I couldn't ever produce something that was groundbreaking or original."



He had to go on a search to discover his own language. And he found the answer in conceptualism, which aimed to shed "materiality" in art.



"In fine arts, materiality is usually interconnected with how much the work is valued since it is the physical item that is being sold and purchased," Sung noted. "I wanted to eliminate such an aesthetic or material concern from my piece, and when I did that, all I was left with was art as an idea, a piece of information."





Installation view of Sung Neung-kyung's "Venue 3" series (1980) at Baik Art in central Seoul / Courtesy of Baik Art

With this realization, he was now tasked with presenting his own answer to "what is then conceptual art and what can it do?" In 1974, he unveiled what turned out to be his magnum opus, "Newspapers: From June 1, 1974, On."



Every day for the duration of the weeklong group exhibition, he would pick up the newly delivered newspaper and cut out all blocks of printed text with a razor blade, leaving only the blank margins, images and advertisements. He would attach the tattered pages to a gallery wall, while dumping the cut-out portions of texts in acrylic boxes nearby.



The whole act was a tacit yet striking commentary on the authoritarian government of Park Chung-hee as the artist crudely mimicked the process of state-led censorship of news media. According to Sung's own words, it was "a silent protest" against the country's political climate and the eroding freedom of expression.



His conceptual oeuvre soon came to be defined as the mix of ephemerals such as newspapers and photographs with genre-defying performance.



For his performances, he once again freed himself from material concerns as he used his own body and physical gestures as the central artistic tool.



"Self-exaggeration, excessive noise and disorder are often key elements of his performances," according to Lehmann Maupin.



He would recite the ancestral rite prayers written on the paper fan and burn it afterward; stretch out his limbs like a fatigued figure skater; strip off everything save for his underpants; do hula hooping while shooting ping-pong balls at the audience with a slingshot; cover his whole face with shaving cream; count money from his pocket  all chaotically performed in different sequences each time.



By deliberately disrupting the white cube space of a gallery or a museum with everyday behaviors taken out of context, he questions  and further dethrones  the supposed symbols of power and authority in the art world.





Sung Neung-kyung's "Aluminum-Foil Man" (2001) / Courtesy of the artist, Baik Art



Sung carried on with his practice  despite the criticism he received from a number of his fellow artists who viewed conceptual art to be "superficial," especially in comparison to dansaekhwa or three-dimensional art that takes its cue from the profound, centuries-old Asian and Buddhist philosophy.



His persistence even lasted throughout the 1980s when the Korean art scene was struck by the wind of change called Minjung Art, a socio-political movement that rose as a response to a series of pro-democracy protests against the military administration of Chun Doo-hwan.



"To those in the Minjung Art circle, my conceptual works lacked overt political statements or engagement that they espoused at the time," Sung said.



Once again, his oeuvre was relegated to the fringes, away from the mainstream.



It wasn't until the beginning of the 21st century that his works began to be slowly revisited in the art circle. This eventually led to his first-ever retrospective at the present-day Arko Art Center in 2001.





Sung Neung-kyung's "Drawings by Your Bottom" series (2020) / Courtesy of the artist, Baik Art



Twenty years later, Sung is still producing art that is just as rebellious and provocative in its own right.



On view at Baik Art is his latest series, "Drawings by Your Bottom," in which the artist takes photos of his urine-stained toilet paper every morning with his smartphone and adds flashy color filters. But when looking at the snapshots without this background information in mind, they are surprisingly reminiscent of infrared satellite map images of obscure islands.



And during the opening ceremony of the exhibition at the gallery last month, the 79-year-old, without fail, presented his signature performance. He started the routine by doing freehand exercises and eventually stripped off until he was left with just a shower cap, swimming trunks and a pair of goggles.



"My performance lacks substance!" he shouted. "Be gone, substance! Let only the surface remain!"





Sung Neung-kyung presents his signature performance at the opening ceremony of his sixth-ever solo exhibition, "As If Nothing  The Artistic Meandering of Sung Neung Kyung," at Baik Art, Feb. 22. Courtesy of Baik Art



The bit ended with the artist removing the sheets of aluminum foil that were covering all of his art pieces with audience members.



These metallic sheets  partially recalling his 2001 performance piece, "Aluminum-Foil Man," where he wrapped his body in shiny swaths of foil and performed absurd martial arts moves  urge the audience to approach art more critically instead of blindly consuming what is shown before their eyes, according to Sung.



Although the sheets are no longer there, his message still resonates throughout the gallery.



"You know, playing on the fringes of the art world has actually been quite fun. I've been telling my fellow creatives that they don't always need to gravitate toward whatever lies at the center. Being on the periphery doesn't mean the end of the world."



"As If Nothing  The Artistic Meandering of Sung Neung Kyung" runs through April 30 at Baik Art.





Installation view of Sung Neung-kyung's "Smoking" (1976) at Baik Art / Courtesy of Baik Art


The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) posted notices in over 1000 homes in Tughlakabad area of New Delhi earlier this month, causing consternation among residents.

Arbab Ali & Ubair al-Hameed | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Laxmi Devi, 44, left her home early on January 11 to work as a domestic helper in the neighbourhood of Govindpuri in south Delhi. She noticed a letter had been taped to the wall right outside her house. She requested her 16-year-old son Abhay to read the writing. It was an eviction notice, much to Laxmis horror.

In the Bangali Colony in the adjacent Tughlakabad neighbourhood of Delhi, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) posted notices similar to the one on Laxmis wall in over 1000 additional homes.

The Bangali colony, which is close to the famous Tughlaqabad Fort, which was constructed in the 14th century and is largely in ruins, accommodates people who have primarily come from West Bengal and Bihar. Hindus and Muslims live side by side in the neighbourhood, which is primarily populated by those from economically and socially marginalized communities. Residents claim that up to 20,000 people will be impacted by the demolition drive.

In March 2001, an applicant by the name of S.N. Bharadwaj filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that the ASI had neglected to protect, maintain, and preserve the historic Tughlakabad Fort. He claimed that numerous unauthorised residents have since entered the fort grounds and built their homes with the intention of grabbing government land for residential use.

In response to the petition, the Delhi High Court asked ASI to look into the grievances in proper perspective and take necessary action. The court refused to legitimize the petitioners demand. However, the petitioner, dissatisfied with the manner of disposition, petitioned the Supreme Court in 2002. And the Apex court ordered the encroachment to be removed.

Authorities & land mafia nexus not held accountable

Pooja Devi, 39, another resident of the area, stated that they have been given 15 days to vacate. She claimed that the police arrived in force on January 11 and threatened them that if they did not vacate on time, they would have to pay for the rubble removal as well.

Devi has four children, three daughters and one son, all aged between 12 and 2 years. Where am I going to take them in this cold? she asked.

Devi and about 100 other women protested the demolition orders a few days ago. The police harassed and detained us, she said.

Ranjeev, 41, a guard at a nearby ATM, was also served with an eviction notice. In 2003, he relocated to this area of Delhi. My two children are about to take their annual exams. How can they expect them to study when their home is being demolished? he wondered.

Ranjeev said that given the Supreme Court in its order held local authorities as responsible parties in the matter which colluded to allow construction, why should they be allowed to go scot-free even after being held responsible?

He kept emphasizing that the local authorities remain in cohort with the illegal land mafia in the area and asked why shouldnt they be held accountable.

He told us that he purchased the land from local builders in 2003. He claimed that when he began construction on his house, the police took money from him to allow it to be built.

Now the same police officers came and posted an eviction notice on my front door, he explained. Ranjeev stated that he only has a General Power of Attorney (GPA) over the property.

If the authorities knew settling on this land is illegal, why did they allow us to settle in the first place? Shouldnt the officials be held accountable? Ranjeev queried.

Just like Ranjeev, Asif Khan, 47, also brought a plot, measuring 70 yards, on General Power of Attorney (GPA) from a property dealer. Khan, a native of Bengal, said to us that he moved his family here ten years ago when property values in the colony were not as high. Khan claimed that he borrowed money at the time and is still paying it back.

Officials didnt touch BJP leaders property in demolition zone

Many residents claimed that one of Ramesh Biduris properties, a BJP leader and Member of Parliament from South Delhi, is also in the demolition zone, but that no notice was served on it.

His property is only 100 meters from the fort, a resident who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from Mr Biduri said. Ours is about 700 metres away. Why didnt they serve him with a notice? wondered the anonymous resident.

They only come for the poor, he added, sobbing.

When we visited the area on January 18, members of the local builder lobby and politicians harassed residents and asked them not to speak to the press about the issue.

Legal twists & turns

In November 2011, the apex court turned down the stay on the matter by the Delhi High Court saying that there is no stay order in the matter and the concerned authorities are directed to take appropriate steps in accordance with law.

The court also issued an order directing the ASI to file an affidavit stating how many people lived in the protected monument of Tughlaqabad Fort based on an aerial survey conducted in 1993.

The Fort has its national importance. It has been declared a protected monument. Therefore, it is the legal as well as the ethical obligation of the concerned authorities to protect this heritage site and to properly maintain it. Notwithstanding, over a period of time, the place is encroached upon and rampant illegal construction carried out by many people, the Supreme Court observed in an order in 2016.

In 2017, a committee was formed to oversee the surveying of the structure to determine which of them existed in 1993.

The Delhi High Court was given authority in the 2016 order to issue appropriate orders and to ensure that the Supreme Courts orders were followed.

The Registry is directed to forward the case records to the High Court. The Delhi High Court granted ASI six weeks as a last indulgence in November 2022 to remove encroachments in and around the Tughlaqabad Fort.

Why issue Aadhar, Voter & Ration card on encroached land

A Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad made it clear that non-compliance with its order will lead to strict action by the court and that it will call for the appearance of members of a committee which was formed in 2017 to oversee the task of surveying the structure to determine which of them existed in 1993.

The Bench further instructed the committee members to submit status reports and requested the power utility BSES to cooperate because the sites energy supply needed to be cut off before encroachments could be removed.

Khan showed his BSES power meter, along with his voter, ration, and Aadhar cards.

Why does the government give us BSES meters on encroached land, ration cards, and voter cards? Khan rhetorically questioned us.

Khan claimed that since all of his relatives reside in the Bengali Colony, none of them will have anywhere to go in the case of demolition.

Active collusion of local Authorities: Court

According to the writ petition, the Delhi Government gave the Fort and the 2661 bighas of land inside the fortification wall to the ASI with the intention of protecting, preserving, and developing the entire opening area next to the monument inside the fort wall.

The petition further stated that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) received 4435 bighas for upkeep. The apex court had observed in 2016 that the Government land was allowed to be encroached by all the respondents and construction work was carried out with the active collusion of the Government officials as per reports in the Press.

In May 2022, the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation carried out a demolition drive in the citys Tughlakabad neighbourhood. The drive came nearly two weeks after the North Delhi Municipal Corporation bulldozed shops and homes, mostly owned by Muslims, in the citys Jahangirpuri neighbourhood, despite a Supreme Court stay order.

According to Shweta Raj of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), there is a pattern of demolition in which only the poor and people from marginalised communities are targeted. On October 21, last year, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished the homes of 25 Muslims in Delhis Chattarpur constituency without prior notice.



Arbab Ali and Ubair al-Hameed are fellows at the SEED-TCN mentorship program.


Gandhi said he did not take this Yatra for Congress or himself but for the countrys people.

Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  Amid heavy snowfall, senior Congress leader and member of parliament Rahul Gandhi concluded his Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 30 with a rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in the Sonwar area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Leaders of various national and regional parties joined Rahul Gandhi at the rally to mark the formal culmination of the Yatra.

Rahul Gandhi raised the national flag at the Bharat Jodo Yatra campsite earlier in Srinagar. He expressed gratitude to the Bharat Yatris for their love, support, and companionship during the 136-day foot march that started in Kanyakumari on September 7 last year.

Before culminating the rally at Sonwar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, joined by other leaders, hoisted the National flag at the Congress Headquarters at Maulana Azad road in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar at around 11:20 a.m.

Addressing the rally amidst heavy snowfall at the closing ceremony of the Yatra, Rahul Gandhi remarked that he was informed of a possible attack on him in Kashmir, but people here gave me hearts full of love instead of hand grenades.

I did not walk for myself or the Congress, but for the countrys people. We aim to stand against the ideology that wants to destroy the foundations of this country, he said.

He continued by saying that members of the BJP cannot walk in Jammu and Kashmir in this manner because they are afraid. Reflecting on his father Rajiv Gandhis murder, he talked about the anguish of losing a loved one and said he could relate to people who had lost family members in the Pulwama attack.

Rahuls sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also spoke at the event and stated that the central message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was to spread love and call for the end of hatred by uniting the hearts.

Since starting his journey from Kanyakumari, my brother has been walking for five months. It was a lengthy journey, and I had previously wondered if anyone would show up. But people showed up everywhere during the Yatra. Because of the nations feeling of solidarity, they came out, she said.

Congress President Kharge lauded the people of Kashmir for their kind reception and for being more liberal and accommodative. For us, speaking in the snow is a unique experience. During the Yatra, people have endured everything. Rahul has demonstrated his ability to unite people from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, the Congress President said.

Top Kashmiri leaders, including two former chief ministers of J&K, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were also present at the event.

While Praising Rahul Gandhi during his address, Omar Abdullah declared the Yatra a success. This Yatra has demonstrated that while certain citizens of the nation support the BJP, others support the principle of fraternity, he said.

Omar also encouraged Gandhi to undertake a Yatra from west to east and said hed like to walk with him in the Yatra.

Rahul Gandhi was hailed as the nations ray of hope by PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti. Rahul, you said that Kashmir was now your home. It indeed is. I hope everything that the Godse doctrine stole from J&K and our country will be recovered, she said.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the journey had taught him a lot and that he had gained a new perspective on the nation. He also said that the restoration of democratic process and statehood is imperative and the fundamental right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Roads in the valley were closed due to heavy snowfall, impacting the Yatras grand finale. The closing ceremony of the Yatra had to be shortened by Congress.

Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib


Sanitation employees from Lady Hardinges Medical College (LHMC) and other institutions held a protest outside the Delhi hospital directors home on June 28 last year.

Arbab Ali and Ubair ul Hameed | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  On June 2 of last year, Neeta Ujainwal, 44, arrived for her regularly scheduled shift as a sanitation worker at Kalawati Saran Childrens Hospital, a multi-speciality facility in New Delhi and one of the largest paediatric hospitals in Asia. A security guard at the hospitals entrance advised her to go home as the facility had terminated her contract.

She persisted in her desire to talk with a hospital official since she thought there might be some confusion. But she received no communication from the hospital. When we met on the chilly morning of January 10 at Jantar Mantar, a location that has been a well-known gathering place for dissidents since 1993, Ujainwal confessed to us, I walked back home crying.

About 40 of Ujainwals coworkers, both male and female, were also fired in the same way on June 2 of last year. On January 10, the majority of them were present at Jantar Mantar to protest their dismissal. They carried signs with slogans like Safai Karamchariyon ki hai ye pukaar, na karo ye atyachar (This is the call of the sanitation workers, dont do this torture) with them.

They have been protesting outside the hospital gate for more than 220 days, and according to Ujainwal, they came to Jantar Mantar out of dissatisfaction that no one is paying attention to their cries. I would like my job back. Im the sole breadwinner of my family. Since I lost my job, we are just scraping by, she told us.

According to Surya Prakash, the state secretary of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), this dismissal was in violation of a Delhi High Court decision on May 31 that prohibited the hospital from terminating its employees. The sanitation workers at Lady Hardinge Medical College are part of Suryas trade union.

The ruling was in response to demands made by workers, especially employees at the Kalawati Saran Childrens hospital, demanding a minimum pay of about 7,000 rupees.

Sanitation employees from Lady Hardinges Medical College (LHMC) and other institutions held a protest outside the Delhi hospital directors home on June 28 of last year. They took issue with the institutions refusal to allow workers to be reinstated in accordance with court orders.

In compliance with the Minimum Wages Act, the hospital was required to pay Rs. 83, 75,900 in respect of the claims of the 193 workers, plus one time of the said amount as compensation, within 30 days of the date of the order. This was mandated by the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) on December 29, 2021, which was a year earlier.

Rekha, a 37-year-old sanitation worker, said, The hospital had verbally notified us that we would be terminated from services from May 1, 2022.

A new group of contract workers, who Rekha claimed may have been made to pay the hospital illegal extortion money, took the place of the sanitation workers. As a bride, they wanted us to pay between 30,000 and 40,000 rupees. Rekha stated, We lacked the sum.

According to Prakash, it is not permissible to replace contract workers with a different group of contract employees.

Ujainwal informed us that they had a direct employment relationship with the hospital and Sulabh International Social Service Organization (the contractor) was merely a front for denying them the same benefits as normal employees. Some of them had been employed there for as long as 13 years. She claimed that they had been deceiving them for years by labelling their work as volunteering.

The agreement between the hospital and the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation also mentions the engagement of voluntary social workers for the work of sanitation during the period of the agreement.

The Sulabh International Social Service Organization is a voluntary social service organization of charitable and Philanthropic nature registered under the Society Registration Act, of 1860. They operate on a no profit and no loss basis. Hence it is not in compliance with the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act of 1948. They do not pay wages to the volunteers rather they pay an honorarium to the volunteer which is equivalent to the circulated wage rate of the Government of India.

Sulabh International was rapped by the Delhi High Court in 2012 for exploiting the sanitation staff at AIIMS. According to the Delhi High Court, the staff were entitled to minimum wages but had only received a pittance from the Sulabh International Social Service Organization. The Court noted that while Sulabh International was working for a good cause on the one hand, on the other hand, it was exploiting the poor under the guise of volunteer labour.

Justice Suresh Kait said, The organisation may be voluntary, but a poor person who has to fill his belly and has dependent members of the family can not afford to be a volunteer. Respondent No. 2 is a person whose survival depends upon whatever given/paid by employer. If he works voluntarily even for a day, his family starves.

The employees claimed that because sanitation personnel are not regarded as employees but rather as volunteers, hospitals find it simple to terminate them.

We execute critical activities that are similar to those done by the hospitals permanent staff, but for less pay. Very little, Rekha remarked.

Their everyday responsibilities included sweeping, mopping, dusting, garbage disposal, and disposing of biomedical waste, including radioactive waste and items like blood, syringes, infected tubes, and ducts that were left lying around on hospital floors after emergency patients were treated.

According to Central Government Health Employees Federation Secretary General Gautam Das Gupta, Ujainwal and her coworkers provided crucial assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. They were the ones helping the public when nobody wanted to leave their houses during Coronavirus and the entire healthcare infrastructure failed. In the process, many of them even contracted the virus. Not only is it unlawful, but replacing them would also be cruel, claimed Gupta.

Another fired sanitation worker, Phool Singh, revealed to us that they frequently receive threats from the police to stop the protest. Over the previous eight months, We have been detained numerous times, claimed Singh.

We reached out to Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare via email. He has not responded to the email. This story will be updated when and if he responds.

Harbans Singh, office administration, and Mr Narang, the office superintendent at LHMC, were also contacted, but we did not receive a satisfactory response.

Ujainwal questioned, What is the point of showering flowers on us if you dismiss us whenever you choose and force us to protest in such cold weather?

Arbab Ali and Ubair al-Hameed are fellows at the SEED-TCN mentorship program.


Family of a 22-year-old youth has accused cow vigilantes of thrashing him to death after branding him a cow smuggler in Nuh district, but police said he died in a road accident.

TCN Special Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  Police in Haryanas Nuh district are yet to file the first information report (FIR) on the complaint of 22-year-old Muslim youths family members, who alleged that Waris died on Sunday after he was allegedly beaten up by the members of Bajrang Dal.

The police, however, claimed that Waris, who is the father of a 3-month-old baby and a resident of Hussainpur in Mewat, died in an accident.

In a complaint filed at Taurus Sadar police station, Imran, elder brother of Waris, said the members of Bajrang Dal led by Monu Manesar accused Waris of smuggling cows and beat him up.

The accused took my brother and his associates into the forest in the presence of the police and beat them up brutally. Waris got seriously injured. The accused handed over half-dead Waris to the Turu police station. The police took him to Medical College Nalhad. But Waris died due to severe injuries, said Imran in his complaint.

Shahid, cousin brother of Waris, told TwoCircles.net that the police did not file an FIR on their complaint.

The police took our complaint but have not filed an FIR based on our complaint. The police are under pressure because the accused has support from the government, said Shahid.

Arvind Kumar, SHO at Tauru Police station, told TwoCircles.net that they have filed an FIR related to the accident and cow.

About the allegations levelled by Wariss family members in the complaint, he said that he will investigate them and then take action in the case. He refused to give further details related to the case.

He also informed that the police have filed an FIR under cow protection related to the act. The FIR is against three occupants of the car in which Waris along with his three associates Waris, Shoukeen and Nafis.

In a statement, Nuh SP Varun Singla also insisted that Varis died of an accident and rejected the allegations of the assault.

The body had no visible injuries. It seems that he succumbed to internal injuries sustained in the accident. The family of the deceased has alleged that he was beaten up by gau rakshaks of Bajrang Dal, but prima facie, since the body had no visible injuries, there is no evidence suggesting any physical assault. A complaint against Bajrang Dal has been recorded in the daily diary register. There was no delay in police reaching the spot or any negligence in the accused being handed over to the police from gau rakshaks, said Singla.

According to Imran, his brother Waris is a mechanic and went to Bhiwadi for his work-related issue. When he was coming back, a group of Bajrang Dal members namely Monu, Sonu and Himanshu along with others rammed their vehicle into Wariss car near Khori village. The group abused Waris and his associates and accused them of cow smuggling. Meanwhile, the police also reached the spot. But the group took away Waris and his associates from there.

Waris, who got married in 2021, has a 3-month-old baby. His father is a farmer.

Shahid said that they have presented some videos to the police to show that his brother did not die due to the accident. He was assaulted.

Nafees, one of the associates of Waris, said that they were beaten up by the cow vigilantes.

We told the police to see our brothers being beaten up. The accident did not cause the death. There is a video of after the incident in which the victims are talking properly, said Shahid.

Shahid provided some videos to this correspondent. In a video, the victims are being asked their names and addresses by some person while they are injured and sitting inside a vehicle. In another video, a group of people are taking the victims in the vehicle. In another video, the vigilantes are holding the victim hostage.

He said that they often witnessed the raids of cow vigilantes in their areas. Recently, an elderly man was beaten up and the women in his house misbehaved with them. They are targeted because they are involved in the cattle trade.


Professor N. Sukumars new book studies the exclusion and discrimination against Scheduled Caste (SC) students in the Indian higher education system and the psychosocial consequences of such practices.

Aatika S | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  N. Sukumar is a professor at Delhi Universitys Department of Political Science. His new book Caste Discrimination and Exclusion in Indian Universities  A Critical Reflection, has become an important landmark for Dalit students all over India.

The book calls for a model of education that is driven through inclusivity and empathy, above anything else.

In an interview with TwoCircles.net, Prof. Sukumar talks about the issues of caste, education and assertion. He also sheds light on what needs to be done to prevent caste discrimination in educational institutions.

Tell us about your book?

The book studies the exclusion and discrimination that is meted out to Scheduled Caste (SC) students in the Indian higher education system and the psychosocial consequences of such practices. It foregrounds the conceptual debates around caste, exclusion, and reservations in Indian academia, discussing the social dominance and the roots of prejudices in the university spaces.

How did the idea for the book come about?

In 2008, Senthil Kumar, a PhD scholar in Physics belonging to the SC community at Hyderabad University committed suicide in his hostel room unable to cope with systemic discrimination on the campus. His body was discovered after two days. I could comprehend Senthils universe as I had spent a decade on the same campus and was familiar with the insidious working of caste bigotry in the university. When I narrated my experiences of caste inequity in the university setting at an academic gathering at Delhi University, I was ridiculed as the audience felt that caste is an anachronism in a modern institution. Some pointed out that I am valorizing victimhood. As a first-generation Dalit in academia, the onus is on me to prove the veracity of exclusionary practices in higher educational institutions to an unbelieving academic audience. This motivated me to probe further into the lived experiences of Dalit students on campuses by focusing more intently on particular ways through which these students create meanings from their experiences.

What sets the book apart from the previous studies on SC students in institutes of higher learning?

The book reflects on the fragile social world in which students from the margins struggle for survival in the academic space. It reveals that these students navigate the various facets of academia  like classrooms, pedagogy, scholarships, hostels, peer groups, and teachers  only to find the academic space a dystopian universe. The book also sheds light on suicide cases committed by marginalized groups as a testimony of protest.

What are your thoughts on SC status being accorded to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims?

Yes, it is very much required. Dalits, even after converting to the above-mentioned religions, experience caste discrimination. This refusal to grant reservation is nothing but a political ploy by the state to create internal divisions for its own political gains.

What are your thoughts on the recent EWS reservation judgement?

Reservation is basically for socio-cultural reasons but the EWS quota has been deliberately put in place to dilute the whole idea of reservation. All these decades the argument was that reservations dilute merit but what about EWS? Will it not dilute the standards of these higher educational institutions?

The problem of gatekeeping (by Savarnas) in academia is severe even in foreign universities. How can it be tackled?

Dalit students and faculty should also occupy these spaces. This is also a serious matter and a policy is needed to make these spaces more inclusive.

As major higher education universities continue to reel under financial crisis and a tightening noose on dissent with an increasingly right-wing culture, often the worst sufferers are the marginalized students as well as women. How to tackle this grave issue?

Education is a public good and there should be a societal urge to claim it. Everybody agrees on privatisation across political parties Therefore Dalit-Bahujan intellectuals, political parties and people should realise how they are losing out on precious resources and hence need to safeguard them. This struggle needs to be organised collectively to challenge the right-wing forces in the university spaces.

Social auditing and public hearings on the issues of discrimination need to be initiated with the active involvement of different stakeholders within and outside the campus spaces and also the state needs to take an active role in constituting a body to study discrimination in higher educational institutions like universities, IITs, IIMs etc. Just like the Anti-Ragging Act, there must also be legislation on the issue of caste discrimination to prevent discrimination in higher educational institutions.


The Allahabad High Court called for the Central government to declare the cow as protected national animal, and ban its slaughter.

TCN Special Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  Those who slaughter cows and let others kill the sacred animal are deemed to rot in hell for as many years as there are hairs on his body, observed the Allahabad High Court while stressing the need to stop the practice and hoping from the Central government to take appropriate decision to ban it.

The court sought the Centre to declare it as a protected national animal.

India is a secular country where we must have respect for all religions. In Hinduism, the belief and faith is that the cow is representative of divine and natural beneficence; and therefore, it should be protected and venerated, the court observed, refusing to quash a criminal case against one Mohammad Abdul Khaliq, who is alleged to have slaughtered a cow and transported beef to sell. The accused is booked under sections 3, 5 and 8 of the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.

Describing the degree of the veneration of the cattle, the bench of Justice Shamim Ahmed said its panchagavya (a mixture used in traditional Hindu rituals that is prepared by mixing cow dung, urine, milk, ghee and curd) is used for purification and penance.

Tracing its holiness to the Vedic period (seventh century BC, the high court said, The cow is the most sacred of all the animals of Hinduism. It is known as Kamadhenu, or the divine cow, and the giver of all desires. The Puranas (a vast genre of Indian literature) state that nothing is more religious than the gift of cows. Lord Rama was given a gift of many cows. In the Mahabharata, Bhishma (grandfather of the leaders of warring factions) observes that the cow acts as a surrogate mother by providing milk to human beings for a lifetime, so she is truly the mother of the world.

Bhishma, the court noted, observes that the cow acts as a surrogate mother by providing milk to human beings for a lifetime.

So she is truly the mother of the world, said the court.

The bench observed legends stating that Brahma (a Hindy God referred to as the creator) gave life to priests and cows at the same time so that the priests could recite religious scriptures while cows could afford ghee (clarified butter) as an offering in rituals.

The cow has also been associated with various deities, notably Lord Shiva (whose steed is Nandi, a bull), Lord Indra (closely associated with Kamadhenu, the wise-granting cow), Lord Krishna (a cowherd in his youth), and goddesses is general (because of the maternal attributes of many of them). The cow is the most sacred of all the animals of Hinduism. It is known as Kamadhenu or the divine cow, and the giver of all desires, the bench observed.

The court further noted, continuing to place reliance on legends, the cow emerged from the ocean of milk during Samudramanthan (churning of the ocean) carried out by gods and demons. The animal, according to the bench, was presented to seven sages and finally came into sage Vasishtas custody.

Explaining what the different organs of the bovine actually symbolise, the high court said its legs symbolise four Vedas, horns the God, face the sun and moon and shoulders agni or the God of fire. Its source of milk is four Purushartha (or objectives, i.e. dharma or righteousness, artha or material wealth, kama or desire and moksha or salvation).

She has also been described in other forms: Nanda, Sunanda, Surabhi, Susheela and Sumana, the bench added.

With regard to the refusal of the relief sought, the court said the interference at the threshold of quashing of the chargesheet/criminal proceedings in the case in hand be said to be exceptional as it discloses prima facie commission of an offence.


Apart from a mosque, a library, a community kitchen and a hospital are also proposed in the mega project.

TCN Special Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has finally given sanction for the construction of the Ayodhya Masjid mandated by the Supreme Court in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi verdict.

The construction of the grand mosque in the holy city has been held for the last two years as the Ayodhya Masjid Trust, which is originally named the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, set up by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, submitted the maps in the year 2021 with the ADA.

The Supreme Court in its verdict in the Ramjanbhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute had ordered on 9 November 2019 the allotment of five acres of suitable land to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board in the acquired area under Ayodhya Act 1993 or at any appropriate prominent place in the city.

Pursuant to the apex courts direction, the city administration allotted the land to the waqf board at Dhannipur village in Sohawal Tahsil  about 25 km away from Ayodhya town.

We have approved the project of Ayodhya Mosque in the board meeting, and sanctioned maps will be handed over to Indo Islamic Cultural Foundation after a few departmental formalities which are to be completed within a couple of days, said Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner and ADA Chairman Gaurav Dayal.

Arshad Afzaal Khan, a trustee of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, said after the trust receives the maps for the proposed mosque and other facilities, they will hold a meeting of all trustees to finalise the plan to start the construction.

We laid the foundation of the mosque on January 26, 2021. It was the day when the Constitution of India came into effect over seven decades ago. Our constitution is based on pluralism, which is also the leitmotif of our mosque project, he said.

The new mosque will be bigger than the historical Babri Masjid, but wont be a lookalike of the structure which once stood in Ayodhya.

Apart from a mosque, a library, a community kitchen and a hospital are also proposed in the mega project.

The hospital will hold centre stage and will serve humanity in the true spirit of Islam as taught by the prophet 1400 years ago, Khan said, elaborating that the hospital wont be a usual concrete structure, but will be in sync with the architecture of the mosque, replete with calligraphy and Islamic symbols.

The project, according to him, will open a window to the world on the true spirit of Islam, which preaches service to humanity.

While the hospital will treat the sick and infirm, the community kitchen will feed the hungry, blurring barriers of religion, caste and creed, he added.

The green belt at the site, said Khan, will create awareness of climate change and a proposed research centre will conduct research on the contribution of Muslims to the freedom struggle and the legacy of the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood which helped India attain independence.

Last but not least, it will be a place for bowing before the Almighty, he concluded.


Shazia Qaiser runs the states first shoe laundry service.

Sufi Parween | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  A black and green board reading Revival: Service Centre for footwear and leather goods stands out among residential buildings in a narrow, quiet lane off the hustle and bustle of Boring Canal Road, Patnas business street. The board leads the way to an apartment full of shoes. Shoes, boots, and flip-flops are neatly lined in rows upon rows. A Puma sneaker sits next to a Woodland leather shoe, a Sparx pair jostles for space with an unbranded chappal. All are neatly packed in transparent bags as if theyve arrived straight from the factory. Except that they did not.

Shazia Qaiser, who runs Revival, Bihars first footwear laundry service, received the shoes in a worn-out state; either discoloured, torn from the edges, or the sole completely detached. The 39-year-olds enterprise specializes in reviving such shoes, by cleaning, polishing and dyeing them, as well as repairing or replacing the soles. We give back old shoes as if they were as new as new, Qaiser explains the motto of her business.

Since the time she set it up in 2014, the service now has four centres across the city and provides refurbishing i.e. laundry services for jackets and bags too. Customers include not just individuals but also showrooms and stores where unsold shoes gather dust or become damaged and need repairing. Relying on social media marketing, orders are booked from as far as Mumbai, Delhi and Kashmir.

Like most novel ideas, though, it was a rough start for Qaiser, who previously worked as a physiotherapist with WHO and UNICEF. To begin with, most people did not want to pay Rs 150 to get their shoes repaired, when the cobbler would do it for Rs 50. To win peoples confidence, Qaiser offered free service but when people saw the shoes in a brand new condition, they began paying up. Now, the minimum rate at Revival is Rs 500 for dyeing the shoe fabric and goes up to Rs 700 for replacing the sole.

Looking back at her entrepreneurial journey, of which the first two years were loss-making, Qaiser says, There is no fixed formula of business. You will understand how to go about it by experimenting.

Why did she choose the idea of a shoe laundry service? When I was in school, I used to think of doing something of my own but was never serious about it, says Qaiser who took the safer route of working a job as a physiotherapist. She got married in the first year of college, and juggling between work and children, she had forgotten about her non-serious entrepreneurial wish. But when work along with parenting took a toll, she quit her job and decided to research what business she can do. I did not have any business background, so I searched around the markets in Patna and Googled for ideas. And then I realized that there is no shoe laundry service in the city, she says.

Though her family supported her decision, some in society questioned her choice of running shoe clinics when she couldve run a chain of physiotherapy clinics.

But I paid them no heed. I am just happy my family stands by me, she says.

With an initial fund of Rs 3 lakh from her savings, Qaiser rented a room for her first centre, bought a washing machine, tools, and chemicals used in repairing, cleaning, and refurbishing the shoes, and hired three workers from Patna. Today, she has 17 employees working across four centres, with Qaiser taking the lead in dealing with customers.

Employees include labourers who returned from different parts of the country to Bihar during the national lockdown at the time of the Covid pandemic in 2020. Like Ram Sagar and Bachchu Ram, two men in their 50s, who were working in a factory that supplies footwear for the Taj hotels staff in Mumbai. In a room at Revivals Boring Canal Road centre, they can be seen repairing the soles of formal leather shoes and polishing them. They do not plan to return to Mumbai. We were paid about Rs 10,000 a month there. Here, we are paid about Rs 15,000 a month and live with our families, says Sagar.

Talking about her plans for the future, Qaiser says, I want Revival to become the service partner of the biggest shoe brands. We want to leave our footprint in every part of the country she says.

Sufi Parween is a fellow at the TCN-SEED mentorship program.
An Army court on Monday sentenced an Army captain to life imprisonment for his involvement in a staged gunfight in Shopian in 2020.

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Auqib Javeed | TwoCircles.net

SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  The families of three youngsters who were killed in a fake encounter by the Indian Army on July 18, 2020, in South Kashmirs Shopian district have expressed their satisfaction after an army court handed a life sentence to the captain who was involved in a staged encounter.

On 19 July 2020, the army said that they killed three unidentified militants on the intervening night of 17 and 18 July, after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of 4 to 5 unidentified militants in Amshipora village of Shopian.

However, as soon as the pictures of the trio went viral on social media, three families from Jammus Rajouri district claimed that the slain men were their kin who had gone to Shopian to work as labourers and said they had nothing to do with militancy.

The trio were identified as  Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrar all from the Rajouri district of Jammu division.

The controversial encounter had led to massive outrage, prompting the authorities in J&K and the Indian Army to investigate the killings.

Following public outcry over claims of a staged encounter, the Army came under intense pressure to order an inquiry. In September 2020, the Army  after completing its Court of Inquiry  found prima facie evidence that the three involved soldiers had exceeded their powers which were vested in them under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)  a law that has often been described by human rights groups as wide-ranging and repressive.

The identity of the three youths was subsequently confirmed through a DNA test. The bodies were handed over to their families in Baramulla in October 2020 and buried in their native village in Rajouri. The families were provided compensation of Rs 5 lakh by the government.

Army in December 2020 said that it has completed the Summary of Evidence in the inquiry and two army personnel are likely to face court martial for violating powers under AFSPA.

On January 11 2021, the Jammu and Kashmir police said that Captain Bhupinder Singh of the Indian Army conspired with two civilians to carry out the operation for reward money of Rs 20 lakh.

By staging the encounter, Capt Bhupinder Singh of 62 RR [Rashtriya Rifles] and two other civilians also purposefully destroyed evidence of the real crime that they have committed and also have been purposefully projecting false information as part of a criminal conspiracy hatched between them with a motive to grab prize money of Rs 20 lakh, the police was quoted as saying by PTI.

On 5 March 2023, completing general court-martial proceedings, an Army court recommended life imprisonment for the captain in connection with the killing of three men in a staged encounter.

The officials said the court martial proceedings were initiated against Captain Singh for violating the powers vested under the AFSPA and for not following the dos and donts of the Army as approved by the Supreme Court.

The Army had also called Mohammed Yusuf, the father of Abrar Ahmed, from Rajouri for deposing in the court martial proceedings during which he was asked to provide a missing report about his son.

Mohammad Yusuf, the father of Abrar Ahmad, 25, told TwoCircles.net that they are satisfied with the verdict but the justice is half done.

We are thankful to the Army, Police and media who stood by us and finally the culprits will have to face the music of law, said Yousuf.

He further added that even if his son wont come back, the family will be at ease after the verdict. Adding that until the government wont provide the job to the families, as promised justice will be half only,

Bagga Khan, the father of another youth Mohammad Abrar, told TwoCircles.net that even the families are satisfied with the Armys announcement and demanded strict punishment for others who were involved in the operation.

The government should also provide us with jobs. We request LG Monoj Sinha sahib to fulfil his promise of providing the jobs, Khan added.

Notably, the J&K police named two civilians in the charge sheet alleged by the police who had allegedly helped the captain in executing the operation. They were identified as Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone.

Auqib Javeed is a journalist based in Kashmir. He tweets @AuqibJaveed


Despite contradictions in the testimonies of the witnesses, Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa district sessions court sentenced 37 Muslims to seven years in prison for allegedly taking part in an unlawful assembly and attacking policemen.

TCN Special Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  Relying on the statements of only policemen, the Sessions Court in Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa district sentenced 37 Muslims to seven years in prison for allegedly disregarding prohibitory orders invoked under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.), taking part in unlawful assembly and attacking police personnel with stones, sticks and axes with a premeditated objective to cause injuries.

Following the murder of a person at Bangladesh Colony in the districts Ghaspura locality, limited restrictions were imposed on movements to maintain peace and order. When the accused, as per the prosecutions case, were asked to go back home  respecting the orders passed by the district magistrate, they allegedly indulged in stone pelting and brick-batting. It allegedly resulted in injuries to the police personnel, including Town Inspector Anil Sharma whose helmet had got damaged.

Medical reports suggest that none of the police personnel suffered any grievous or life-threatening injuries. They had minor swelling and scratches (in some cases) on their fingers, arms and shoulders. There was no case of fracture or blood loss.

It is also the case of the prosecution that one of the accused persons was dressed as a police official so as to give the illusion that they are cops.

The prosecution claimed to have seized various incriminating objects such as sticks, axes, stones and a police uniform from the possession of the accused. Subsequently, a case was registered under sections 188, 147, 148, 149, 353, 332, 294, 323, 506, 427, 171 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the accused were taken into custody.

A memorandum was prepared under Section 27 of the Evidence Act; and thereafter, statements of witnesses were recorded under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C. The case had 37 witnesses (all policemen) who were examined and cross-examined by the prosecution and the defence respectively during the trial.

Statements of the accused were also recorded under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C.

The main defence of the accused is that they have been falsely implicated and have nothing to do with the story of the prosecution, which is baseless and unfounded.

Defence counsels argued that most of the injured police personnel suffered injuries because of falling or scratching, but the prosecution concocted a story with an ulterior motive. They further argued that the doctors who had attended the cops also accepted falling and scratching as the possible reasons behind the injuries.

But the court rejected the submissions, noting that there was no inconsistency in the statements of the injured cops even during cross-examination. They maintained, the court pointed out, that assault by a murderous mob caused them the injuries they suffered.

Thus, the court concluded that the defence failed to establish its claim and held the accused guilty of attacking the police officials with the intention to kill them.

It was also argued on behalf of the defence that the witnesses and supporting witnesses are all police personnel. And therefore, their statements cannot be wholly relied upon.

But the court said there is no law that says the police witnesses cannot be believed in the absence of statements of independent witnesses. If the court finds the statements of such witnesses to be reliable, then their testimonies cannot be rejected merely on the ground that they are prosecution witnesses, the court noted.

But going by the statements given by the witnesses during the investigation and while deposing before the court, there appear to be various improvements and contradictions in the testimonies of the witnesses. But the court apparently overlooked the fact.

The court seems to have heavily relied upon the witness statement recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C.  apparently overlooking the cardinal rule that statements recorded by the police are not substantive evidence and that it is the testimony that is recorded in the court under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. holds weight.

In addition, no weight seems to have been given to the prosecutions argument that the test identification parade has not been conducted in accordance with law to ascertain the identity of the accused.

The court here relied upon the Subal Ghorai Vs State of West Bengal case, wherein the Supreme Court had held, We have no hesitation in rejecting this submission. The attack was dastardly. It is difficult to forget such a heinous episode. The injuries suffered by the deceased show how brutally they were attacked. The eye-witnesses had seen the accused from close quarters. There is, therefore, nothing unusual if the eye-witnesses identified some of the accused in the court. This court has accepted the evidence of identification in several cases.

The top court in the judgment had further said it is pertinent to note that some witnesses have honestly stated that they could not identify some of the accused. That shows that they were not tutored, the apex court had noted.

However, in the present case, neither the attack was dastardly nor the injuries suffered by the policemen were grievous in nature.

Not appreciating the material brought on record by the defence, the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Khandwa, by his judgment dated December 20, 2022, convicted the accused (all Muslims) under sections 147, 148, 188, 353, 332 read with sections 149, 323 read with section 149, 427 and 307 of the IPC.

They have been sentenced to concurrent and rigorous imprisonment of seven years. For committing an offence under the IPC sections 188, 148, 307 read with 149, 332 read with 149, 427 and 171 (only one of the convicts), they have been punished with imprisonment of one month and a fine of Rs 200, two years and a fine of Rs 500, seven years with a fine of Rs 2,000, two years with a fine of Rs 3,300, one year with a fine of Rs 500 and three months with a fine of Rs 200 respectively.

A preconceived notion

Advocate Nafees Qureshi, who defended a few of the applicants, described the judgment as a violation of the traditional principle of the criminal law  every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the State.

This is a biased decision, which seems to be influenced by a preconceived notion. The honourable judge had perhaps decided to hold them guilty of the alleged offences even before the trial. And therefore, he overlooked crucial facts that the main complainant (a policeman) failed to identify any of the accused (whom he had named in the FIR, specifying their alleged role in the said offence) by face during an identification parade and cross-examination, he alleged while talking to TwoCircles.net.

He further said even the Town Inspector (Anil Sharma), who had claimed to be hit by a stone thrown by one Farooq and if he hadnt worn a helmet he would have died, could not recognise the accused and provide any of his details.

Neither he could identify his alleged assaulter whom he had named in the FIR, nor did the helmet (which was allegedly damaged during the assault) had any sign of the so-called assault. It means an offence under Section 307 of the IPC is not made out. But despite the fact that the prosecution measurably failed to establish the charge of attempt to murder, the court convicted the accused for the same, he alleged.

Qureshi said the prosecution claimed that the accused were armed with sharp edged weapons such as axes and swords, but the MLCs brought on record had no injuries that might have been caused by the alleged weapons.

Asked what was the incident and its trigger, he said, It was around 1 pm when the area was put under curfew or prohibitory orders. Few people had gone to offer prayer in the local mosque. There was a huge police deployment. The devotees demanded that they be allowed to return home. When the police refused, a few people gathered near the mosque and a heated verbal exchange ensued. Meanwhile, a policewoman (Gita Jatav) misbehaved with the imam (prayer) who was leaving the mosque riding on someones motorbike. This angered people, and more people joined in. This led to a mild clash between the locals and the policemen.

After the people returned home, he alleged, a massive crackdown was launched by the police who broke into homes and picked up all the males (who included youth and elderly people and even minors). Five-six accused were above 65. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged that led to the conviction, he added.

The Khandwa police cannot be reached for comments.

Pick and choose?

Aggrieved by the verdicts, the convicts through the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) have filed an appeal in the Madhya Pradesh High Court  alleging that the judge has erred in law and also on facts while convicting the appellants.

The investigating officer has not seized the various articles that were a prerequisite to prove the case of the prosecution nor have various witnesses who were present on the spot were cited as prosecution witnesses, despite having every opportunity to do so. If those persons would have been examined and the seizures would have been made, the innocence of the accused had been established. The learned 3rd Additional Sessions Judge ought to have drawn an adverse inference, which he did not. Thus, the investigation and the subsequent trial was not a fair one, reads their petition.

Alleging that the judge has acted erroneously and adopted a pick and choose approach of certain facts without taking into account the entire evidence and the ratio, the appeal says, He (the ASJ), on very hypothetical considerations, rejected the defence version on flimsy grounds. He has overlooked serious lapses in the investigation.

The appeal submitted an analysis of the evidence on the record coupled with the infirmities that are sufficient to create an impression that the prosecution has not been able to bring home guilt to the appellants beyond a reasonable doubt.

The 3rd Additional Sessions Judge even after noticing the infirmities, fell in error in convicting the appellants. The reasons given by the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge are neither sufficient nor cogent much less compelling to uphold the impugned judgment, it said.

The testimony of prosecution witnesses who turned hostile, according to the appeal, has not been appreciated by the trial court. Their statements, claim the petition, was full of material contradictions and in fact, he was one of the main witnesses of the prosecution.

Without any independent application of mind, the learned trial court committed a grave legal error in treating the confusing and unreliable version put forth by the various witnesses as a gospel truth in order to convict the appellants, reads the appeal.
The Bank of Korea headquarters in central Seoul /Korea Times file



The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Friday that it will move back into its headquarters in central Seoul from late this month as over three-year remodeling and reconstruction work has been completed.



The remodeling of the BOK's main building and reconstruction of its main annex building have been under way since the second half of 2019. During the period, the BOK temporarily moved most of its offices into a nearby Samsung Life Insurance building, with an office in charge of issuing notes relocated in Gangnam, southern Seoul.



The BOK's return to the newly reconstructed headquarters will start from late March and be completed before the end of April, the central bank said in a press release. The schedule for the return of the Gangnam office will be later determined.



The BOK said that it will do its best to minimize inconvenience to financial institutions and other customers during the process. In a related move, it plans to relocate offices handling services to customers such as foreign exchange transactions on public holidays. (Yonhap)




Several leaders addressed the rally and made speeches against alleged love jihad and land jihad in the state.

TCN Special Correspondent | TwoCircles.net

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MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)  Calls for the economic boycott of the minority Muslim community were made on Sunday during a rally organised by Hindutva organizations in Maharashtras Mira Road.

The Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha was organised by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, a collective of several Hindutva outfits in Maharashtra. The rally was flagged off by Geeta Jain, Independent MLA from Mira Bhayandar.

The rally was one of several rallies held by Hindutva groups in the state during the past few months.

The rally was attended by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including MLA Nitesh Rane and members of Hindutva outfits like VHP and Bajrang Dal.

The participants in the rally marched from Mira Roads Golden Nest Chowk for about two kilometres. Afterwards, many leaders addressed the rally making speeches against alleged love jihad and land jihad in the state.

Love jihad is a conspiracy theory peddled by Hindu supremacist groups that claim that there is a plot by Muslim men to seduce Hindu women to convert them to Islam. Similarly, land jihad proponents accuse Muslims of waging a campaign to encroach on public land and property owned by Hindus.

Some speakers at the rally also asked the participants to economically boycott the minority Muslim community.

Several similar rallies have taken place all over Maharashtra since November last year. At almost all the rallies the speakers have advocated for violence against Muslims.

In one of the rallies on January 29 in Shivaji Park in Mumbai, a Telangana lawmaker, T. Raja Singh, urged Hindus to take up arms if an anti-conversion law was not passed in Maharashtra.

Following the rally, the Maharashtra government on February 3, promised that it would not give permission for rallies at which hate speeches are made. The Maharashtra governments promise came after the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra police to record a video of the next rally.

However, several rallies have been held since then in the state in which hate speeches were made against the minority community.

On Monday, March 13  when the calls for an economic boycott against Muslims were raised at one such rally at Mira Road  the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Member of Legislative Assembly Nitesh Rane, who was present in the rally, said that he supported calls for an economic boycott of the Muslim community.

He claimed that Muslims finance attacks on the Hindu community. No one would object, according to Rane, if the money is used for the prosperity of the community. Yet, they wage terrorism in the name of love jihad and do many other things to harm Hindus. In order to impede their economic prosperity, we have to call them out, Rane stated.

Earlier, one of the speakers addressing the rally, Kajal Hindustani called Muslims Suleimani keedas (pests). She said that Muslims wage war against Hindus through three main aspects. One she said was love jihad, two, land jihad and three conversions.

She said that all these issues could be resolved by imposing an economic blockade of the community.

In February several Maharashtra-based organizations had come down heavily on the Sakal Hindu Samaj for hate-mongering and inflaming divisive sentiments during Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rally in Mumbai.

The organizations led by the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) had asked the police and Maharashtra state authorities to investigate and prosecute the incidents of communal hate speech made at several rallies held in Maharashtra under the banner of Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha and take all measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

Chayanika, a member of the Forum Against Oppression of Women told TwoCircles.net that at these rallies, the RSS and its allied organisations are spreading untruths about Muslim men enticing Hindu women into marriages to convert them. She said they have no basis to make these claims. They are just repeating an untruth to create animosity and enmity between communities.

She said that in the process they are actually controlling Hindu women and their right as adult citizens to make friends and relationships with whoever they want to. The assumption is that they do not have the intelligence to make decisions about their life, she said.

These rallies are also demonizing Muslim men and attacking their right of freedom of association as Indian citizens. The hate-filled cries of violence from the rallies make Muslim men vulnerable to possible attacks, she said.

Chayanika said that these rallies are changing the whole social ethos where communities interact with each other, make friends across communities and castes, and thereby become more diverse, plural and richer in their outlook. So, it is an attack on all of us even if we may not choose to be in inter-religious marriages.


Activists have criticized the apex court judgment saying the court did not care about the closure for the victims.

Huneza Khan | TwoCircles.net

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BHOPAL (MADHYA PRADESH)  On March 14, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the curative petition filed by the government of India seeking additional compensation of Rs 7413 crores from US-based Union Carbide Corporation (now Dow Chemicals), which is responsible for one of the deadliest industrial disasters on the night of 2-3 December 1984.

The Court noted that settlement can be set aside only on the ground of fraud, but no ground of fraud has been pleaded by the Union of India.

It also directed that a sum of INR 50 crores lying with RBI ought to be utilized by the Union Government to satisfy pending claims if any.

Speaking to the media at Neelam Park, activist Rachna Dhingra while criticising the Supreme Courts judgment said that it is wrong and disappointing.

She said the Apex Court has repeated the injustice of February 1989. They have once again violated the rights of Bhopal Gas victims. The Court heard Union Carbide for hours whereas Bhopal Gas Victim Organisations were only allowed 45 minutes to argue. Our judges were more concerned about the finality of the matter for UCC but none of the five judges cared about the closure of the matter for gas victims, she said.

Dhingra said that gas tragedy victims will once again challenge the judgment in Court.

Dhingra further added that even after two decades, the Union government was not demanding additional compensation for Bhopal gas victims but rather to fill their own pockets. They wanted to recover the expenses incurred by the government for rehabilitation and hospitals for gas victims, she said.

For 12 years the Bhopal gas victim organizations were fighting to put the correct figures of deaths and diseases to the Supreme Court but that never happened. The government is with UCC and todays judgment also proved that the judiciary cares more about UCC and not the gas victims, she added.

Excerpts from judgement

According to Live Law, while dismissing the curative petition the Apex Court mentioned the governments failure to take out insurance policies as directed by the Supreme Court. The responsibility was placed on the Union of India, being a welfare state, to make good the deficiency( in the compensation) and to take out the relevant insurance policy. Surprisingly, we are informed that no such insurance policy was taken out. This is gross negligence on the part of the Union and in breach of the judgment of this Court. The Union cannot be negligent on this aspect and then seek prayer from this Court to fix such responsibility on the UCC, the Court stated.

The Court was unsatisfied with the government for not giving any proper justifications for bringing the matter 20 years after the incident. It said that the Unions plea for additional compensation has no grounds on legal principles. Either a settlement is valid, or it has to be set aside on the ground that it has been vitiated on the ground of fraud. No such fraud has been pleaded by the Union of India, the bench said.

The Court noted that the Unions case is based on the number of victims and injuries which were not envisaged at the time when the settlement was effected. However, there was bound to be environmental degradation and it was known that medical facilities would have to be extended to rehabilitate people. It is the allegation of UCC that the Union and the State did not promptly detoxify the site and this aggravated the problem. In any case, this cannot be grounds to seek enhancement.

Why did the union govt file curative petition?

The Union government had filed a curative petition in December 2022 seeking additional compensation of Rs 7413 crores and reviewing the previous settlement of February 1989 that finalized the compensation of 479 million US dollars.

The five judges Constitutional bench comprising Justice S.K. Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice AS Oka, Justice Vikram Nath, and Justice JK Maheshwari retained the judgment after a 3-day hearing in January 2023.

The government claimed that the earlier settlement was based on incorrect facts about the total number of casualties, injuries, and losses. The following environmental deterioration was not taken into account. The earlier number of deaths was 3000 along with 70,000 injury cases, however, according to the curative plea there were 5,295 casualties and 5,27,894 injuries.

What is a curative petition?

A curative petition can be filed when a review plea against a final conviction is dismissed, to prevent miscarriage of justice and abuse of process. It is decided by judges in the chamber unless an open-court hearing is requested.

Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. She tweets @KhanHuneza


The postponement has come amid growing protests by aspirants over the administrations decision to hire tainted Aptech Limited to conduct the exams.

Ubair ul Hameed | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR (JAMMU & KASHMIR)  On March 14, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) announced the postponement of the computer-based written test (CBT) for recruitment for 972 vacant positions across several government departments. The exams were scheduled to be held from March 16 to April 5, 2023.

The Computer Based Examination for various posts scheduled w.e.f. 16.03.2023 to 05.04.2023 are deferred till further intimation, the JKSSB said in a tweet.

The postponement has come amid growing protests by aspirants over the administrations decision to hire Aptech Limited to conduct the exams.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday that there will be no compromise on transparency and merit. Exams wont be held unless the Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board is completely ready and satisfied. Any doubt will prevent the board from holding the tests. Our first aim is transparency, he said.

Mumbai-based Aptech Limited is blacklisted in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Assam over allegations of corruption in conducting computer-based exams for government departments.

The J&K administration was reprimanded in December by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for awarding the exam contract to the company. Declaring the administrations decision to be mala fide, the court observed, The alteration in tender conditions was made with the intent to favour the private agency.

Since the JKSSB published the vacancies on November 11, 2022, aspirants have taken to the streets, holding Go, Aptech, Go! placards, and demanding justice and jobs.

Naseer Bhat, 29, an aspirant in Baramulla, while talking to TwoCircles.net, said that he cleared the sub-inspector examination last year but could not get hired because it emerged that exam papers were leaked and sold to some aspirants. The scam is known as the 2022 J&K Police Sub-Inspectors (JKPSI) Recruitment Scam.

I worked hard for the exam, even borrowed money from a friend to manage the expenses to reach the exam centre, said Bhat.

He doesnt want to risk the scrapping of another exam due to corruption. Now I feel ashamed to ask for money from anyone. For how long do we have to do this? he said.

Sahil Parray, another aspirant who participated in peaceful protests in Jammu, questioned the role of the Centre in the recruitment process. If the aspirants are not satisfied with the hiring process, the government should listen to us. They cant play with our careers like this, he said.

Meanwhile, the aspirants have petitioned the Supreme Court to bar Aptech from administering the exam. In their plea, they claimed that to allow the corporation to participate in the bidding process, the JKSSB willfully altered the tenders eligibility requirements. The petition was filed by Advocate Yugandhara Pawar Jha, Advocate-on-Record, and Advocate Satya Sabharwal.

The petitioners said that the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam hired Aptech in 2016 to conduct recruitment exams for 1,300 positions. A special investigative team discovered various irregularities in the appointments, leading the Yogi government to reject 1,188 junior engineer and clerk positions in 2020.

Another similar incident is cited in the petition, in which the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) contracted Aptech in 2018 to conduct a recruiting test for junior engineers. The exam was scrapped the following year after the UP Special Task Force found evidence of irregularities in the online recruiting exams. The state subsequently placed Aptech on a three-year blacklist, from May 2019 to May 2022.

They have also cited the Delhi High Court fining Aptech Rs 10 lakh in February 2021 for unethical hiring practices after the company challenged its disqualification by the Directorate of General Training (DGT) for conducting end-to-end computer-based tests under its various programmes.

Former chief ministers of the state Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah also hit out at the administration over the alleged recruitment scams.

JKSSBs decision to continue with a fraudulent blacklisted company indicates how deeply entrenched corruption is in J&K. Sarkari babus responsible for this continue enjoying their positions at the cost of sabotaging the future of J&K youth. So much for corruption-free J&K, said Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet.

Omar Abdullah said that the contract between Aptech and JKSSB must immediately be cancelled.

What is the point of black listing company if they are going to be awarded plum contracts, he said.

Interestingly, the Virat Hindustan Sangam, an Indian right-wing cultural organisation founded by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, is backing the petitioners.

Ubair Ul Hameed is a fellow with the TCN-SEED mentorship program.
Logo of Bayer AG at a plant of the German pharmaceutical and chemical maker in Wuppertal

By Ludwig Burger and Patricia Weiss

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Union's decision to postpone rule changes for the pharmaceutical industry could open the way for a rethink of a decision to cut intellectual drug property protection, the head of Bayer's pharmaceuticals division said.

The European Commission said this week that the publication of a first draft of a planned revision of drug legislation in the bloc would be "slightly later" than March 29, as initially planned.

A version that was leaked earlier this year showed that Brussels was preparing to shorten an additional period of intellectual property protection, known as data exclusivity, which comes on top of drug patent protection.

"I hope that this delay means that there is an opportunity that this draft ... is not the final version," the head of Bayer's pharmaceuticals business, Stefan Oelrich, told Reuters on Friday.

"The duration of data exclusivity, which may be reduced, could actually have a catastrophic impact for Europe," he said.

Shaving one or two years off the exclusivity period could mean that pharma companies pull the plug on certain development projects for the region, he added.

He said the intentions of Brussels lawmakers - improving patient access to innovative drugs while making the European pharma sector more competitive - were noble but any shortening of intellectual property protection would have the opposite effect.

GRAPHIC: Bayer shares lag - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/myvmobxdrvr/bayer.PNG

'HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE'

In the United States, a different set of drug market rule changes are underway, with some of the highest-selling products set to see negotiated price discounts under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Oelrich said even so the U.S. market would remain "highly attractive, relative to Europe".

Bayer is looking to boost the U.S. share of its global pharmaceuticals sales, now at about 25%. Among the biggest drivers was the company's decision to prepare a U.S. launch of its next-generation stroke prevention drug asundexian on its own.

Story continues

With asundexian, which will likely see pivotal trial results in 2025 or 2026, Bayer is seeking to follow up on the success of its blood thinner Xarelto, a drug for which the company ceded most of the U.S. rights to partner Johnson & Johnson.

But Oelrich said upcoming U.S. legislation to regulate the prices of best-selling drugs after nine years or 13 years, depending on the drug category, would have an affect on the industry's strategy to develop several uses for a given drug, known as indications.

The IRA could "have an impact on whether additional indications are to be developed for certain products. People will look into whether they bring this forward or just refrain from further development" said Oelrich.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Jane Merriman)
The Very Rev. Kenneth Hall, Dean of Clogher

A service of Thanksgiving is to be held on Friday evening to mark 400 years of Christian worship at the site of St. Macartins Cathedral.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, The Most Rev. John McDowell, will be the preacher at a major milestone in the history of St. Macartins Cathedral, Enniskillen on the day.

Looking ahead to the 7.30pm service on Friday, The Very Rev. Kenny Hall, Dean of Clogher, said: The past year was a landmark year in the history of the Parish of Enniskillen, when we celebrated our quadricentennial year.

"The journey of life takes many twists and turns for all of us, and at times we all need something of stability upon which we can rely.

The Parish of Enniskillen was formed in 1622, and St Macartins Cathedral  formerly St. Annes Church  has stood for almost 400 years at one of the highest spots in Enniskillen, and has been a spiritual beacon and home for many generations of Christians.

The service is a time for reflection for many, including the Dean, who remarked on some of the changing times when talking with this newspaper.

He said: The one major change I find now is we are not only speaking to local people  we are on the world-wide-web.

"The cathedral is not only local, but now all of those who had a connection with the cathedral can still have a connection with it, no matter what part of the world they are in.

The one thing that has been constant is people praying for 400 years on one site. The faith has been maintained.

Looking to the health of the cathedral, Dean Hall remarked that numbers continue to grow as families move into the parish.

He said: We are Anglican in faith, but we invite the wider community in to join us  that is what church should be: open and available for all, regardless of who or what they are. They will find a spiritual home and a welcome here.

The building has also recently had major renovations completed, which involved fundraising by parishioners and individuals outside the parish.

Story continues

Due to Covid-19 restrictions at the time of our reopening, after our major renovations in 2021, we were greatly restricted in numbers able to attend.

"Now everyone has the opportunity to come along, give thanks and see our newly-renovated magnificent building, Dean Hall added.

The service on Friday evening is open to all, and a warm invitation is extended to everyone.

The celebrations for 400 years of worship will continue with a special flower festival planned for May 26-29.

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LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zendesk, Inc., today announced a five-year strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help businesses deliver personalized customer experiences at scale, with technology that grows with them.

The strategic collaboration is designed to help businesses provide faster, tailored conversational experiences to customers across all channels while also improving the efficiency of support operations through the use of AI-powered tools, bots and analytics on an open and flexible service. Ultimately, by making customer experience (CX) more seamless for both customers and agents, Zendesk and AWS can help businesses to stay competitive, retain customer loyalty and adapt to rapidly changing market conditions.

"Zendesk has been both a member of the AWS Partner Network and a customer for many years, leveraging our cloud services to create innovative customer and employee experience solutions for customers," said Ruba Borno, Vice President, Worldwide Channels and Alliances at AWS. "This strategic collaboration agreement with Zendesk allows companies to personalize experiences using data, taking customer experiences to the next level and helping businesses automate and scale their customer service operations on the cloud."

"Zendesk research found that 61% of customers are excited by the prospect of immersive experiences, and 80% of businesses plan to increase their CX budgets in 2023. By taking advantage of easy-to-use software powered by Zendesk AI and AWS, CX teams can free up time and resources to focus on what they do best  creating powerful customer interactions," said Pascal Pettinicchio, Vice President, Alliances & Corporate Development, Zendesk. "Zendesks platform delivers high-level performance to provide enhanced customer experiences  we knew that, by collaborating with AWS, we could meet customers demands."

Story continues

The SCA extends Zendesk Suites latest innovations in customer service to AWS and AWS Marketplace with the ability to:

Build enterprise-grade, secure customer service programs and chatbots on reliable cloud architecture that scales with the business

Create conversational experiences across potential customer channels and devices

Provide multi-channel support in Zendesk Sunshine Conversations, Amazon Connect, and AWS Contact Center Intelligence

Personalize interactions and solve problems quickly with embedded chatbots

Boost customer retention by using AI to analyze customer emotion and take the best action

Drive agent productivity with AI-based tools that help agents respond and resolve issues faster by providing self-service options, time-saving routing and AI-powered workflows

"Zendesk brings stability to our customer service operations and allows us to provide unrivaled experiences and timely responses to our customers," said Steve Franklin, Global Head of Customer Service, Siemens Financial Services. "They help us quickly get control when volumes spike, both in terms of understanding what is happening, so we can take steps to proactively reduce the volumes and also in the handling of the queries, to reduce the backlog back down again."

To find out more about Zendesk and AWS visit https://www.zendesk.com/aws/.

About Zendesk

Zendesk started the customer experience revolution in 2007 by enabling any business around the world to take their customer service online. Today, Zendesk is the champion of great service everywhere for everyone, and powers billions of conversations, connecting more than 100,000 brands with hundreds of millions of customers over telephony, chat, email, messaging, social channels, communities, review sites and help centers. Zendesk products are built with love to be loved. The company was conceived in Copenhagen, Denmark, built and grown in California, and today employs more than 6,000 people across the world. Learn more at www.zendesk.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230322005745/en/

Contacts

Courtney Blake

+1-816-520-5503

press@zendesk.com
The headquarters of KB Financial Group in Seoul / Courtesy of KB Financial Group



By Lee Yeon-woo



An outside director nominee endorsed by the labor union of KB Financial Group was once again unsuccessful in securing enough votes at the general shareholders meeting.



The nominee in question, Lim Gyeong-jong, was rejected as an outside director at the general shareholders meeting held at KB's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. He previously served as the head of Koexim Mandiri Finance, which is co-owned by Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and the Pengelola Investama Mandiri Indonesia in Jakarta.



This marks the sixth time since 2017 in which a labor union-backed candidate for an outside director was rejected at a shareholders meeting.



In January, KB Financial Group's union recommended Lim as a candidate for an outside director, citing his ability to normalize sales operations at KB Bukopin Bank, a subsidiary of KB Kookmin Bank in Indonesia.



However, the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), the world's largest proxy adviser, opposed Lim's appointment and recommended that shareholders vote against his nomination. Additionally, the National Pension Service (NPS) rejected the idea, expressing doubts over whether his appointment could enhance shareholder value.



At the meeting, a proposal put forward by the labor union to amend the company's articles of association was also rejected. The proposal aimed to ban the appointment of CEO candidates who have worked in the government for more than one year during the past five years.



The National Pension Service (NPS) opposed the proposal, arguing that it would "excessively restrict the qualifications of the CEO."



Other issues on the meeting's agenda proceeded smoothly, including the appointment of three new outside directors proposed by the financial company.



"There have been criticisms regarding outside directors, but the board members of KB Financial Group have revamped the process to ensure that appointment of outside directors is in the best interest of shareholders and the company's value," said Yoon Jong-kyoo, KB Financial Group chairman.



Meanwhile, Hana Financial Group concluded its general shareholders' meeting on Friday without any significant change. It had two new outside directors appointed and pledged to prioritize the interests of its shareholders.


Chinas billions of dollars in global investments and infrastructure projects seem to be paying off politically and economically.

Just recently, Honduras signalled it is set to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, having been one of the few remaining countries to recognise the island as a state. This switch of allegiances would be a coup for China, which sees Taiwan as part of its jurisdiction, but also a sign of diminishing US power in Latin America, since the US is a long-time supporter of Taiwan.

Chinas influence seems to be everywhere. Days before Chinese president Xi Jinping flew into Moscow to discuss the Ukraine war with Russias Vladimir Putin, China had brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The high-profile deal sought to re-establish diplomatic, trade and security relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in an effort to de-escalate tensions and bring more stability to the Middle East. The agreement transforms the nature of Chinas involvement in the region from one purely driven by commercial interests into a security-related cooperation that can protect its growing assets and expatriate population in the region.

Commentators see the agreement as a positive step but wonder about the influence that Iran and Saudi Arabia can have in lessening the internal conflicts in several nearby countries. This is particularly where they support rival parties, including in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. What the deal does highlight is the rising influence that China can exert and the waning of the USs power over the Middle East regional order.

Studies have shown that political instability in neighbouring countries negatively affects the economic performance of a nation by disrupting trade flows and increasing defence expenditures while lessening investment, for example, in education. Under such conditions, economic incentives can drive a peace-building process. Peacefully resolving conflicts benefits countries not directly entangled in the disputes.

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Read more: Xi and Putin meeting signals the return of the China-Russia axis and the start of a second cold war

Since the 1990s, China has gradually become the largest trade partner of the Arab region overall and the top trade partner of Saudi Arabia. Chinas exports to Saudi Arabia have annually increased at 15.3% year on year on average, amounting to US$905 million (740 million) in 1995 and US$31.8 billion in 2020.

Meanwhile, over the same period, Chinas imports from Saudi Arabia rose from US$393 million to US$33.4 billion, an average annual increase of 19.4%. In 2019, China and Saudi Arabia signed 35 trade and investments deals.

Regional power plays

Similarly, Chinas exports to Iran have increased at an average 14.7% annual rate from US$276 million in 1995 to US$8.51 billion in 2020. And its imports from Iran have also risen by 14.5% annually between 1995 (US$197 million) and 2020 (US$5.85 billion).

By 2022, exports totalled US$9.44 billion and continued to grow exponentially in early 2023. Russia has recently overtaken China as the largest foreign investor in Iran, but China remains its largest oil customer.

Chinas main exports to Saudi Arabia and Iran include broadcasting equipment, motor vehicles and air pumps. Its main imports are crude petroleum, ethylene polymers and acrylic alcohols.

In the context of the Saudi Arabia and Iran reconciliation, trade with China is likely to continue to follow such increasing trends. If benefits from the agreement spread to other countries in the region, China could also gain from economic relations with those countries as regional stability increases.

There is already some evidence of such positive spillover. After the agreement with the Saudis, Iran is ready to expand cooperation, hopes rapprochement with Bahrain will be possible, and is willing to improve relations with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

However its worth noting some commentators point out that previous efforts at reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia were unsuccessful, while others question whether they will adhere to the terms of the agreement.

Belt and Road

As well as investing in commercial and transport infrastructure to make trade easier, the objectives of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative include the strengthening of its economic leadership and the improvement and creation of free trade blocks among countries along the investment route. The Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement will generate further benefits to China by boosting the initiatives dividends. Saudi Arabias strategic location bordering eight countries not only provides an alternative route for energy supply to China but also makes it a vital partner for the initiatives infrastructure investment, which deepens Chinas presence in the Middle East.

Irans strategic position provides it with considerable seaport facilities and has the potential for the development of an air transportation hub. China has already invested in the development of a 2,000-mile-long railway from Xinjiangs capital Urumqi to Tehran.

A map showing China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The agreement also brings a more subtle benefit to China. With Russia at war, China needs to ensure the continuity of its energy supply to boost economic performance and safeguard socio-political stability at home. Saudi Arabia and Iran provide a strong basis for the diversification of Chinas energy options and also to pre-empt any potential move by the United States to constrain its access to the Gulfs resources.

Iran has the worlds fourth largest oil and second gas reserves. Saudi Arabia has the second largest oil reserves, accounting for 16.2% of the worlds total. Access to such vast resources in the context of a more stable region provide China with further assurances for the future flow of the energy supplies its economic growth needs.

The Iran-Saudi initiative has the potential to address Chinas energy security issues and turn China into a global maritime power and a global monetary power. All of these factors will contribute to the sustainability of Chinas economic growth, and add to its status as a superpower.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Jose Caballero does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
(Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Erling Haaland is touch and go for Manchester Citys game against Liverpool after the international break, the players father has confirmed.

The 22-year-old pulled out of the Norway squad due to take on Spain and Georgia over the next few days after picking up a groin injury during the FA Cup win over Burnley.

City, who trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by five points, have little more margin for error during the run-in.

They begin a packed weekend of action after the break by hosting Jurgen Klopps side for the lunchtime kick-off next Saturday before their two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich later in the month.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken has said Haaland is deeply frustrated by the injury as the country try and qualify for their first major international tournament since 2000.

You cant just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight, said Haalands father to TV2 Sport.

There must be a progression there. It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days.
Gary Campbell pled guilty to 13 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

A man who directed the rape and sexual assault of young girls in the Philippines from his home in Scotland has been jailed for 12 years.

Gary Campbell, 59, from the remote village of Lochinver in Sutherland, paid for abuse to be carried out by adults as he watched and recorded it on the internet.

He was traced by cybercrime investigators through online payments he made to foreign accounts.

The former retained firefighter  who also worked for Scottish Water  admitted sexual abuse charges involving children as young as four. No child was older than 13.

READ MORE: Three-day strike by Scots junior doctors looms in May 'unless Govt acts on pay'

Campbell was personally involved in the abuse and just as responsible for it as his fellow perpetrators in the Philippines, known in law as art and part guilt, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal (COPFS) said.

He was convicted under legislation which protects children anywhere in the world from sexual abuse by British nationals.

COPFS said Campbell was tracked to his home in the Highlands after an international investigation into the live-streaming of child sex assaults by abusers in the Philippines.

Over Skype, Campbell initiated serious sexual assaults and rape, demanded the victims were very young, negotiated online payments and issued explicit instructions as children were assaulted.

All of this was conducted in real-time, through live communications, and recorded on devices later recovered from Campbells home.

Campbell, who had since moved to Perth, pled guilty to 13 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

READ MORE: Transport Scotland accused of 'hampering' ferry fiasco probe

Returning to court on Friday, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

He was further given a three-year sentence extension, during which he will be subject to close supervision, and his name was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Fraser Gibson, Scotlands procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said Campbell was complicit and instrumental in appalling crimes against children.

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He added: Gary Campbell was actively involved in a paedophile network in which children were abused for money and on request.

The girls assaulted and raped in the Philippines were vulnerable young children suffering dreadful abuse and exploitation.

British nationals who sexually abuse children abroad will face justice here. Legislation allows us to prosecute them and we will use every power available to us to ensure that they do, working with specialist police, international partners and cybercrime teams to track down these abusers.

I would urge anyone with information or knowledge of this kind of offending to come forward and report it as soon as they can.

Commenting on the case, an NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: This is a deeply disturbing case, which shows the devastating harm that child sexual abusers can cause online.

Campbell instigated and directed the sexual abuse of very young and vulnerable children, who will desperately need support and care to help them, following the trauma they have suffered.

The Government needs to ensure its Online Safety Bill robustly disrupts the online activity of abusers by holding companies to account if they fail to tackle the way their platforms contribute to child sexual abuse.

Anyone concerned about a childs safety can contact the NSPCC Helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk.
People have recalled leaving their animals behind as hundreds of villagers had to flee their homes during Spain's first major wildfire of the year.

The flames scorched more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of forest in Spain's eastern Castellon region in what marked an unusually early start to the nation's wildfire season.

The wildfire forced 1,700 villagers to leave their homes in the Valencia and Aragon regions.

Residents recounted fleeing their houses and leaving animals behind.

"Bad, how am I supposed to feel? Your town is burning, your life is burning, Our animals were there and no one can tell us anything," said Antonio Zarzoso, 24, who had to leave the village of Puebla de Arenoso.

More than 500 firefighters supported by 20 planes and helicopters were working to bring the blaze under control near

the village of Villanueva de Viver, emergency services said on Saturday, forcing 1,500 to leave their homes.

The blaze also spread to the Teruel area of the Aragon region, where 200 people had to be evacuated, authorities said.

However, firefighters managed to stop the fire spreading to other areas.

Las Provincias, a regional newspaper, reported that police believe the blaze may have been started by a spark from a machine used to gather brushwood.

A Spanish Civil Guard spokeswoman said that an investigation was under way into the cause of the fire.

An unusually dry winter across parts of southern Europe has raised concern that there could be a repeat of last year's devastating wildfires.

Read more:

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The weather will be drier and hotter than usual this spring along Spain's northeastern Mediterranean coast, increasing the risk of fires, meteorological agency AEMET said last week.

Ximo Puig, the president of the Valencia region that incorporates Castellon, told reporters on Friday that the fire was "very early in the spring, very voracious from the beginning".

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He added that the effects of climate change "are undeniable, so the perspective of firefighting must be considered on an annual basis".

AEMET tweeted that "unfavourable weather conditions, especially considering the early date of the year, have favoured the [fire's] rapid spread".

Temperatures had surpassed 25C when the fire broke out, while relative humidity sank below 30% following an unusually dry winter in the region.

The risk of more fires in Castellon was classified as "extreme" on Friday.

When is Spain's wildfire season?

Spain's peak fire season usually starts in mid-June and lasts for up to 23 weeks.

Between 28 March 2022 and 20 March 2023, there were 577 VIIRS fire alerts reported - which is normal compared to previous years going back to 2012.

Some 400,000 wildfires have occurred in Spain over the last 30 years.
Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag Credit: Alamy

A Man Utd striker move has taken a giant leap forward after after the players club locked on to an Arsenal target dubbed the new Haaland as his direct replacement, per a report.

A new centre-forward is the top priority at Old Trafford this summer. Tottenhams Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen of Napoli are believed to be the primary targets of Erik ten Hag and Uniteds recruitment team.

Both could cost upwards of 100m and both Tottenham and Napoli hold reputations as being tough negotiators.

Kane would come with the advantage of being proven in the Premier League. However, Osimhen is five years younger and may represent the sounder long-term investment.

Now, a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato has given Man Utd a huge boost in their quest to sign Osimhen.

They reiterate Napoli are reluctant to part ways with their lethal frontman, though are gearing up for his sale nonetheless.

Explaining how, the report notes Napoli have begun scouting for Osimhen replacements and a striker wanted by Arsenal is who theyve settled on.

Atalanta striker, Rasmus Hojlund, is the man in question. The Denmark international, 20, is being dubbed the new Haaland and did that comparison a world of good on Thursday night when scoring a hattrick in Denmarks Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland.

Hojlund brought his goals tally for club and country this season to 17 with that treble. His exploits have attracted the interest of Arsenal and Newcastle who TuttoAtalanta claimed were both ready to bid 50m (approx. 44m) for Hojlund this summer.

However, in the event Napoli do greenlight an Osimhen sale to Man Utd, Luciano Spallettis side will be in the market for a new striker and theyll also have the money to compete with the English sides too.

Calcio state everyone in Naples has agreed Hojlund is the perfect player to replace Osimhen. Corriere dello Sport then confirm the Dane is favoured by Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Calcio acknowledge English sides have been sniffing around Hojlund. However, if Man Utd lodge a super offer for Osimhen, the report concludes Napoli already know wholl fill the void.

TRANSFER GOSSIP: Man Utd told 50m bid will be accepted to beat Liverpool to midfield signing; Everton join Newcastle in hunt for Brazilian striker

The article Man Utd striker deal ignites with 100m-plus move to wreck Arsenal plan for new Haaland in huge double move appeared first on Teamtalk.com.
One of the worlds most popular holiday destinations, Greece, needs no introduction. But while many associate the country with ancient monuments, white-washed buildings and the highly-instagrammable domes of Santorini, if you look beyond the usual tourism hotspots youll find hidden coves, quiet beaches and a flourishing food scene

Despite the quiet years of the pandemic, Greek tourism has shown great resilience, demonstrating how captivating this Mediterranean gem really is.

Weve had a wonderful 2022. After two and a half years that were really difficult because of covid, I think we had a full recovery for Greek tourism in 2022, says Dimitris Fragakis, Secretary General at Greek National Tourism Organisation.

Of course, we have new challenges for 2023 but I think that Greece will be in the top five countries for demand for this season, and we are optimistic that we're going to have a really great season.

How many islands does Greece have?

A boat sails past the Greek island of Hydra - Canva

Greece has over 6,000 islands and islets to its name, with 227 inhabited. While some islands, such as Crete, Mykonos and Corfu have become hugely popular with tourists, others are still somewhat under the radar. It is these islands that the Greek tourist board are now looking to promote, all while focusing on sustainability.

You can't have viable tourism if you don't protect your environment.

Sustainability is one of our major goals for the next ten years. I think it's one of our major goals for tourism and of course its one of the major goals in society too, explains Fragakis. Because you can't have viable tourism if you don't protect your environment.

Are there Michelin restaurants in Greece?

A selection of Greek food - Canva

This strategy is already starting to pay off - in 2021 Greece was named as the most sustainable food destination in the world by Lonely Planet. Building on this success, the Greek Tourist Board has signed a deal with the Michelin Guide too, which Fragakis hopes will bring more food tourists to the food capital of Athens and the surrounding islands.

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You know, the gastronomy and products of Greece are unique. We are investing in this kind of tourism, actually some months ago we signed a really important agreement with the Michelin Guide in order to put Greece in the guide, explains Fragakis.

It's really important for us because it's high end tourism, people can go around the country and see our gastronomic products and the people who make them.

Which islands in Greece are best for foodies?

While you might want to snap the sunsets of Santorini or explore the ruins of Delos during your trip to Greece, Fragakis wants you to explore some of the countrys lesser known islands.

Our goal is to enlighten people about some destinations that they dont know, because Greece isn't only the well-known islands and the well-known destinations, says Fragakis.

Greece is a destination as a whole country, all through the year.

Tilos, a small island in the Dodecanese group between Rhodes and Kos, is a lesser known island that ticks both the food and sustainability boxes.

What is Tilos like?

Livadia port town on Tilos island - Canva

If you want a relaxing holiday on an island known for sustainability and with some great local food products, then Tilos is for you. The island even won an EU award for its transition to green energy and now has a hybrid power station where it harnesses the power of the wind and the sun to produce its own energy.

Home to a large protected nature reserve, many rare birds can be found here too, including Eleonoras falcon and the European bee-eater. The island was once home to some even rarer wildlife - over 4,000 years ago the last dwarf elephants of Europe could be found here.

Nowadays, the most touristy area on the island is the port town of Livadia, which sits at the bottom of a mountain. Here youll find restaurants serving some of Tilos most famous dishes, including stuffed goat baked in the oven, pan-fried vegetable pies and oven-baked pork with wheat.

If youve got a sweet tooth, make sure to try Pouggakia, a traditional type of pastry thats filled with almonds and sesame.

What is there to eat in Donousa?

Donousa island in Greece - Canva

The most northerly island of the Eastern Cyclades, Donousa is another island which has committed itself to sustainability, particularly within the food and drinks industry. Research carried out in 2018 revealed that 45,000 plastic glasses were being used on the island, but by 2019 this figure had been halved.

Named after Dionysus, the ancient Greek God of wine, the island is 13.65 square kilometres in size, and the perfect destination for hiking among the fragrant wild herbs that line its rocky hills and mountains.

It is these herbs that make the food on Donousa so delicious. Most of the restaurants on the island are traditional tavernas, where youll find a mix of seafood and meat dishes, alongside locally grown vegetables.

Make sure to check out Avli Donoussa, a restaurant which specialises in seafood, including sardines and calamari, plus delicious dishes like feta in filo pastry.
One afternoon in mid-June, I sat with Ethan*, a local islander, at Naurus boat harbour. He was speaking about how life had changed in the country since the asylum deal with Australia was agreed. Just a few years before my arrival in 2016, the small Pacific island had once again been financed to process the asylum claims of migrants attempting to reach Australia. If successful, refugees would be resettled locally around the island. Successive Australian governments had taken a tough zero-tolerance approach, making sure that anyone making their way by boat without documentation would never settle in Australia.

Not far from where we sat, placards covered the fence of a refugee resettlement compound, reading: Were refugees not criminals, and Freedom is a Right Not a Crime, We Want Justice.

The thing is none of them want to be here, Ethan explained, and we dont know who these people are, they could be dangerous. Why else does Australia not want them? These fears were echoed to me numerous times in Nauru. Im so worried about having the refugee children in our school, Sandra, a teacher at Naurus only secondary school, said on another occasion. We dont want to touch or go too close in case they say we hit refugees. And natural things like kids pushing each other on the playground. The next day its in the Australian news. This teachers fears were confirmed several months later, with headlines like: Nauru Government Denies Refugee Children Are Abused in Schools.

Such accusations of savagery against refugees draw on colonial tropes of Pacific islanders as cannibals. Major global media outlets alleged that Nauru was a veritable heart of darkness, an island of despair, where refugees are hacked with machetes by the local population.

These sorts of representations created a fractious context locally: one produced by sending asylum seekers, many with devastating pasts, to a vastly different region of the world from their intended destination.

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The UK Rwanda policy

In January 2023, the UKs High Court ruled on the lawfulness of the British governments plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Under this 140 million agreement, undocumented migrants could find themselves sent to the East African country  4,000 miles south-east of where they lodged their asylum applications. Once in Rwanda, they will have their asylum claims processed, and will be eligible for residency, not in the UK  their original destination  but in Rwanda.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg is expected to rule on the controversial policy by the end of the year. This proposed outsourced asylum policy directly mimics Australias so-called Pacific Solution, the impacts of which I have examined in my research. Since Australias Liberal prime minister, John Howard, at the turn of the century, boat arrivals have been the basis for copious media attention and resultant public anxiety in Australia. Controversial offshore policies in small Pacific islands like Nauru, combined with high-profile military and naval operations, are intended to reduce the number of people crossing the Indian Ocean.

This article is part of Conversation Insights

The Insights team generates long-form journalism derived from interdisciplinary research. The team is working with academics from different backgrounds who have been engaged in projects aimed at tackling societal and scientific challenges.

Now, like successive Australian politicians, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is promoting the UK-Rwanda policy as a means of stopping the boats, but this time those crossing the English Channel from northern France. Just as Australian politicians stoked public anxiety, pursuing media attention and electoral gains, Suella Braverman, the UK home secretary, has called migrant boats from Calais an invasion on our southern coast. She also said: I would love to have a front page of the Telegraph with a plane taking off to Rwanda, thats my dream, its my obsession.

I conducted long-term fieldwork in Nauru into the effects of the Australian governments near AU$10 billion (about 5 billion) arrangement. I have also led anthropological fieldwork projects into similar outsourced asylum measures in regions as diverse as Guatemala, Jordan and Lebanon. What falls outside the global media headlines, from all sides of the political spectrum, is how these policies are realised in practice and whether or not they actually work.

I have interviewed migrants claiming asylum, as well as local residents, private security contractors and government officials. I found that these outsourcing schemes create a refugee industry economy that local populations become dependant on. For the asylum seekers and refugees, most with devastating pasts and equally hazy futures, being castigated to far off places not of their choosing all too often led to tragic instances of self-harm and suicide. In Nauru, the friction between different populations were apparent on a daily basis.

Australias Nauru experiment

Julia Morris, 2016.

The boat harbour is a popular spot for Nauruans and refugees alike. It is one of the few places where you can swim safely without the threats of currents or the jagged limestone pinnacles that pierce through the islands coastal waters. It is also a place where I have long conversations with asylum seekers down from the islands Regional Processing Centres (RPCs). The RPCs are tucked deep in the heart of coral atolls jungle. Many asylum seekers take advantage of the afternoon open centre hours at the RPCs to catch a bus down to the boat harbour.

No, I cant swim, but I just like to come here because its cooler than at the centres. The heat sticks to you up there, Khadija, an Iranian asylum seeker says to me. In Iran, we never have this kind of heat.

Julia Morris, 2016.

Like the majority of Naurus new refugee population, Khadija stands out. Shes 20 and most of her life has been spent in Tehran then Jakarta: cosmopolitan, urban hubs at odds with small Pacific island climes. She, as with so many other asylum seekers I speak with in Nauru, took a boat from Indonesia in the hopes of reaching Australia to claim asylum. The financial cost and possible dangers were enormous. It cost AU$10,000 (just over 5,000) for the boat alone, she tells me. But she and her sister were escaping extreme domestic abuse.

Not far from us, on the concrete walls of the boat harbour, sit a group of Nauruan Community Liaison Officers, also dressed in distinctive fluorescent vests. They are tasked with dealing with conflicts that arise between refugees and locals now that refugees are being resettled on Nauruan visas around the island. Our conversation moves to some of these conflicts. Khadija tells me:

I have Nauruan friends, but no, I dont want to be here. Id never heard of Nauru before I came here. I was scared, I didnt know where they were taking me.

Abdul, a friend of hers, catches wind of our conversation as he dries himself off with a towel nearby. I dont think anyone had heard of this place! I mean, why would we want to come here? Its a dump!

Well, a lot of Nauruans have been kind, but there are no jobs here for us here. How can we set up lives? No one wants to be here, Khadija says, worry lines coursing her face.

We speak about the latest Guardian Australia media report of Nauruans beating up a refugee. Abdul has a lot to say on the matter: You never know. Sometimes its true, there are fights that happen. Sometimes its desperation. Refugees trying to bring media attention to their situation. This is all expected. Send people to a very different part of the world where they dont want to be and see what happens.

Khadija interjects: And refugees here will also do anything to get to Australia. You cant send people somewhere so different and not expect them to protest. Its not nice for the Nauruans, but a lot of refugees dont care about that.

Julia Morris, 2016.

I think of the placards covering the fence of a nearby refugee resettlement compound and the doors of the Australian-funded refugee businesses (largely beauty salons and takeaways) that are all firmly closed in protest. I had been in conversation earlier that week with a group of Nauruans working at the RPCs, who had told me of shit smeared on the walls and taps left on from asylum seekers in desperate protest. Only a few years before I arrived in Nauru, one of the RPC buildings had been burned to the ground.

Its not just between locals and refugees, points out Khadija. Its also between refugees, of course. Im Shia. My sister and I were put together with someone whos Sunni. They made life difficult for us. They had to move us to a different section. Abdul nods, adding: There was one guy who had to be moved to separate hotel accommodation because it got so bad.

Secrecy, violence and segregation

The kind of secrecy, violence and segregation that Khadija and Abdul speak of underpins daily life in Nauru. Around the island, the destructive realities of outsourcing asylum are palpable.

Aziz, an Iraqi refugee, living in resettlement accommodation, tells me of the cries when he goes to sleep at night:

I hear my neighbour through the walls, I dont know what he saw before he came to Nauru.

Marie, an Australian torture and trauma counsellor, told me you cant begin to help people work through trauma when its exacerbated by being in Nauru. She says Nauru has never had the capacity or the infrastructure to effectively support asylum seekers and refugees.

Julia Morris, 2016.

Maries latter point is one Ive heard several times. Prior to the Australian arrangement, Nauru had no history of refugee processing or resettlement. To make this outsourced arrangement a reality, the Australian government funded fly-in-fly-out Australian counsellors in addition to asylum legal support, interpreters, refugee adjudication and appeals tribunals, education and medics. However, counsellors like Marie were largely ineffective  palliative at best. Asylum seekers I spoke with described experiencing overwhelming powerlessness, depression, and identity crises because of the offshore arrangement.

Industry contractors I spoke with recounted similar stories of human suffering. Sarah, a facility manager from the Australian corporate management firm, told me of her recurring nightmares, having witnessed asylum seekers sewing their lips together in her work at the RPCs.

Vivian, a mental health counsellor to the Australian Immigration Department, made the damaging toll of working in Nauru explicit in our interview. She said:

The compromises that people are in, and every day going to work to do bad things to others is making them feel ill. I had a client who had breast cancer who said to me, I believe that I will be punished for what Im doing by getting my breast cancer back. Its a toxic environment and it sends people mad.

Trevor, a security guard at the RPCs, described the hunger strikes he tried to resolve: But its not just hunger strikes, he added, visibly upset.

Self-immolation, self-harm, riots, arson, suicide, jumps from roofs, sewing lips. Asylum seekers are desperate not to be here and so many of them have been through all kinds of traumatic experiences I cant even imagine before being sent here.

Sarah and Trevor are just some of the many industry contractors I spoke with who bear the scars of witnessing these devastating situations. In fact, lawsuits from past contracted Australian workers to Nauru still plague the Australian government.

Many locals were initially sympathetic to the plight of refugees. However, over the years, this sympathy turned to anger as Nauruans contended being represented as savages and human rights abusers in parts of the media and by certain refugee solidarity activists. Look at this stuff they write  They havent even been here, says Oliana, a Nauruan government worker.

A growing trend

The kind of outsourcing arrangement between Australia and Nauru seems outlandish, but it is not unique. It is part of a model of wealthier western countries funding poorer countries to carry out border enforcement. Australia is often cited as a case study of outsourcing asylum, but this system has historical precedents.

Asylum as a formal international legal procedure was institutionalised across the early 20th century. European governments sought increased control over the demographic makeup and political structure of their nation states. Some feared disproportionate numbers of undocumented migrant arrivals. It was in this climate that the international refugee agencies pioneered systems of so-called burden-sharing.

In the early 20th century, the Nansen Office and Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees spearheaded moving refugees (largely Russians, Armenians, and Greeks) between countries. Just a few decades later, huge numbers of Jewish refugees sought to escape the atrocities of the second world war. Many European countries refused to provide sanctuary to Jewish refugees, referring to the Jewish problem.

Instead, countries as far flung as the Dominican Republic and Ecuador promoted themselves as destinations for Jewish refugees to attract political and economic support. The International Refugee Organization - a precursor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) active between 1946-1952 - took this system of burden-sharing to new heights, relocating more than a million refugees from Europe to the Americas, Israel, South Africa and Oceania between 1947 and 1951.

As asylum seekers changed from eastern Europeans to Africans and Asians from the 1970s, the term asylum seeker attracted negative connotations in western political and media discourse. It became shorthand for economic opportunism, mass movements and threats to security. Tough measures on asylum, including intercepting migrants before arrival, soon become a touchstone for left and right-leaning governments alike.

Outsourced asylum models have since been adopted across the EU. There are agreements with eastern Europe, Turkey, north and East Africa, and Central Asia. The US has experimented with several of what are termed extra-territorial asylum processing schemes, including processing Haitian asylum seekers in Guantanamo in the 1990s, establishing facilities to assess asylum claims across Central America, funding local advertisements to dissuade migrants, as well as financing border enforcement and national asylum systems across Mexico and Central America.

Many Asian countries, including China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have implemented restrictive detention and temporary visa practices for African migrants, in particular. So-called transit regions, such as South Asia, eastern Europe and North Africa have also seen significant levels of funding and resources going into policing, detention, and other forms of immigration control.

The UK has toyed with different externalised border enforcement measures over the years. The Rwanda deal is one such arrangement. Sunak has said that he will do whatever it takes to make the Rwanda plan work, describing illegal migration as an emergency. In June 2022, the first flight of four asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda was blocked after an injunction from the ECHR alleged it was a violation of civil and political rights.

Others question the efficacy of the 140 million Illegal Migration Bill that is designed for only a small number of asylum seekers: the Rwandan government has agreed to receive 200 asylum seekers a year across a five-year trial period. Meanwhile, Braverman has declared that relocating people to Rwanda is a ground-breaking migration and economic development partnership and an innovative way of addressing a major problem of billions of people coming [to the UK].

Anti-migrant protests outside asylum seeker housing in Knowsley and Dover in the UK have also led to concerns that the Conservative government is capitalising on xenophobic sentiments. As legal debates continue around the legitimacy of the arrangement, Sunak has put together legislation that would disallow anyone reaching the UK to claim asylum without prior clearance.

The legislation would extend the governments ability to detain them beyond the current permissible 28 days. It would also enable their deportation to a third country, such as Rwanda  the only country that has agreed to such a strategy. The former home secretary, Priti Patel, attempted deals with countries including Ghana and Kenya, which were rejected locally.

But Rwanda has yet to experience the implications of the deal. Rwanda does have a recent failed history of taking asylum seekers through a similar arrangement. In agreement with Israels Netanyahu government, Rwanda received some 4,000 Eritreans and Sudanese between 2014 and 2017. At the time, Netanyahu marshalled a similar narrative steeped in racial bias around the countrys mistanenim or infiltrators. Israel paid the Rwandan government US$5,000 for every asylum seeker, each of whom received US$3,500 and their airfare. Almost all are thought to have left the country immediately. Yet, unlike the proposed UK-Rwanda deal, this coerced voluntary deportation scheme did not involve a long-term asylum processing and resettlement arrangement. Such a proposition presents far greater concerns: ones raised not just in Nauru but also across my other fieldwork sites.

US and Guatemala: conflicting refugee histories

Flores is a picturesque island village in Guatemalas northernmost Peten region. Located deep in the jungle in Lake Peten Itza, it is a place where the concept of claiming asylum to  not from  was little heard of prior to 2010. I am sitting in Flores main church square for World Refugee Day in June 2022. It is a new event for the island, put together by UNHCRs new Peten field office, to socialise Guatemalan residents in refugee protection. Under the slogan Reborn in Guate, UNHCR has devised a day-long programme of art, folklore, dance, music and poetry.

Julia Morris, 2022.

We have to be careful with using the word refugees, whispers Alessandra, a UNHCR official, as a group of young Honduran rappers take the stage. Many people, particularly Indigenous Maya, still have such vivid memories of when they were refugees. We dont want it to seem like anyones getting preferential treatment or that they accuse our new refugee arrivals of gaming the system.

This goes back to Guatemalas four decade-long civil war. From the 1950s to the 1990s, genocidal policies claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Indigenous Maya, or Maya Qeqchi. During this period, the US provided counter-insurgency training and military supplies to Guatemalan military and police, which heightened the escalation of violence.

In Santa Elena, just across the causeway from Flores, I have a long conversation with a local fruit market vendor, Estella, about this time. She was a young girl when the civil war broke out. Caught in the gunfire between guerrilla forces, she and her family, like so many Maya Qeqchi, eventually crossed the border to Mexico in the 1980s in hopes of survival. After nearly a decade living in different refugee camps in southern Mexico, she eventually returned to the Peten as a middle-aged woman in 1995, not long after the peace process negotiations.

Most of my life, I was in fear of the military finding my family, she says. We moved between refugee camps in Mexico, almost every year it felt like. Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo, she slowly counts the different states on her fingers, adding:

We never knew if the Mexican government was on our side or if we might be handed over to the Guatemalan army. The Guatemalan army was always coming into Mexico, looking for guerrilla soldiers in the camps. We knew that if they found us, we would be killed without any mercy, wed seen this happen to others.

All those years spent living in exile in refugee camps before returning to the Peten, gives Estella pause when discussing the new refugee programmes. It confuses me. These people arent refugees. They havent been through the kind of suffering we have, she says. Many Maya never got their land back and still live as refugees in Guatemala. They have all these programmes for the new refugees, and make such a big deal about them, they even get a month of accommodation, but we Maya experience so much inequality that has never been resolved.

Guatemala still has one of the most unequal systems of land tenure in the world. The violence of the civil war resulted in the loss of livelihoods for many Maya, including huge unemployment that lingers to this day. Oil palm plantations, taking over great swaths of north-eastern Guatemala that are home to Qeqchi communities, are continuing to fuel displacement. Substantial numbers of Guatemalans are also deported back from the US and Mexico each year (almost 100,000 migrants in 2022 alone), compounding these tensions.

It is for this reason that the Guatemalan government avoids calling resettled regional migrants refugees. Officials I speak with at Guatemala Citys Migration Institute emphasise avoiding the term. Not only does it evoke traumatic memories for many, but the government fears public perceptions of preferential treatment of US-funded, regional refugees.

Yet, Guatemala is visibly promoting itself as an asylum destination, as the World Refugee Day celebrations make clear. In our conversation, Estella references the posters that cover Santa Elenas central bus station. At her recommendation, I go to look at the almost tourist-style advertisements that stretch dramatically across the facade of the arrivals hall. One is fringed with stick figures of people running for safety and the logos of UNHCR and El Refugio de la Ninez, Guatemalas national refugee support agency. At its centre, it features a family holding hands as they clamber over train tracks. In large blue font, with the words danger, protection, and refugee highlighted, it reads:

If your life is in danger, and you cannot return to your country, you can ask for protection as a refugee in Guatemala. We can help you!

Around another corner in the terminal, signs point towards a small office, the Attention Centre for Migrants and Refugees. Inside, I see a small team of Guatemalan social workers with leaflets explaining the process of claiming asylum in Guatemala.

Julia Morris, 2022.

These efforts constitute the US latest outsourced asylum strategy. As part of a regional approach begun in 2017, known as the Regional Comprehensive Protection and Solutions Framework (or its Spanish acronym MIRPS). Guatemala, together with Mexico and other Central American countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama) is steadily developing the capacity to receive and support asylum claims in the country. Santa Elena is a way station for Honduran migrants making the long journey up to the US. Heightened US-funded border enforcement further south along Guatemalas main land borders has also pushed more people to pass through the northern Peten border, where I conducted my research.

Migrants are encouraged to claim asylum for Mexico or Central America, rather than making their claims to the US. Limitations at the US-Mexico border, combined with the exorbitant costs and danger of making the crossing undocumented, are pushing more migrants to applying for asylum regionally. Claiming asylum in Guatemala or other third countries might soon be a legal requirement. In 2023, the US Supreme Court issued a hotly contested proposed rule known as the transit ban  asylum seekers who pass through a third country en route to the US-Mexico border must claim asylum there first.

But very few migrants are interested in claiming asylum locally. Like the UK-Rwanda deal, the US plan also functions largely as spectacle. Although the numbers of asylum claims filed to Guatemalas new National Commission for Refugees is increasing, only 634 refugee visa holders and 1,410 asylum-seekers reside in Guatemala.

Memories of exile

Estellas confusion at the visible effects of outsourcing asylum in Guatemala foreshadows additional dynamics that the UK-Rwanda deal might produce. Like Guatemala, Rwanda is also a country with a tragic history of producing refugees. The 1994 Rwandan genocide led to the massacre of next to a million people. Horrific numbers of women were sexually assaulted. Over two million Rwandans fled to neighbouring countries in Africas Great Lakes region including Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the end of the civil war, an estimated 1.3 million Rwandan refugees returned after over two years in exile. As with Guatemala, memories of exile and return are ever-present in Rwanda. Outsourcing asylum to regions with pre-existing local refugee populations can incite the tensions voiced by Estella and others I spoke with.

Unlike Guatemala, Rwanda does have a history of formal refugee protection outside of the return of its own citizens. Almost 164,000 refugees live in refugee camps or urban areas in Rwanda. However, these refugees are from surrounding East African regions, such as the DRC and Burundi. Those asylum seekers who have received notices of intent from the UK Home Office (making them at risk of being sent to Rwanda) are largely from the same countries as those I met in Nauru: Afghanistan, Iran and Syria. These are countries that are ethnically and linguistically distinct to Rwanda.

Even in the US asylum arrangement with Guatemala, most refugees given residency there are from surrounding Spanish-speaking countries. Here, the emphasis is on developing a viable regional resettlement framework. That the UK is considering sending asylum seekers from far different regions to a country still raw from its own refugee dynamics does not bode well. It was the cultivation of ethnic hierarchies between Tutsis and Hutus under Belgian colonial rule that resulted in the 1994 Rwandan genocide in the first place.

A toxic policy with little returns

My fieldwork findings from Nauru and Guatemala paint a bleak picture of the impacts of outsourcing asylum, relevant to the UK-Rwanda arrangement. The British government is setting up for similar entrapment in a costly operation, totals that in Australia financially spiralled to an estimated AU$9.65 billion (over 5 billion) since July 2013.

Rwanda is a country that, unlike the UK, does not have a substantial Middle Eastern diaspora. The Rwandan government will require enormous investment to support new populations from well outside the East African region. The British government  and ultimately taxpayer  will end up shouldering these costs. Sustaining the operations in the face of ongoing activism and High Court pushbacks will require evermore Rwandan investments to ensure its international legal compliance. Rwanda, like Nauru, will have major challenges to contend with too, including education, social integration, housing capacity, and mental health and trauma-related concerns.

As a migration governance strategy, the UK-Rwanda deal makes little sense. It will cost the British taxpayer far more than the economic and social benefits of integrating the small number of migrants into the British workforce.

Since the post-war era, international migration worldwide has remained stable, as a percentage of the global population it stands at 3.6%. This is a fraction of the worlds population, meaning that most people migrate within countries, rather than across borders. The majority of irregular migrants to the UK are visa over-stayers and not those who take a boat across the English Channel. Typically, it is also not the poorest people who migrate. Taking a boat is an expensive endeavour and migrants require considerable resources to migrate, particularly across international borders.

A laboratory experiment gone wrong

A new deal was finally struck for Nauru after almost a decade of indecision as to how to end the arrangement. It came amid a backdrop of deepening civil unrest, a series of tragic self-immolations, and a Guardian Nauru Files campaign that made global headlines. The Australian government arranged with the Obama administration a deal in which 1,250 refugees from Nauru and Manus Island would be resettled in the US.

These resettlement places were still honoured when Donald Trump entered office in 2016, as part of what Trump notoriously described as the dumb, dumb deal. Hamid, an Afghani refugee acquaintance in Nauru, sent me an email at the time. He expressed his excitement about his upcoming move to the US, but also his fear at the racism he might encounter. Like Hamid, most refugees have since been resettled across the US, Canada, and eventually through the long-standing New Zealand offer. But 60 refugees remain in Nauru, with the country still marred in refugee protests locally.

Heated debates continue in Australia. In March, the Albanese Labor government, the Liberal Party and the One Nation Party voted against the Green Partys Migration Amendment Evacuation to Safety Bill 2023. This bill called for those refugees held in Nauru to be moved to Australia, while the Australian government pursued further resettlement options.

Nauru remains funded by the Australian government with the possibility that these operations might be restarted in the future. In October 2022, the Australian government awarded an AU$422 million (roughly 230 million) contract with the US-based private prison contractor, Management and Training Corporation, until September 2025 to hold refugees in Nauru.

Instead of debating the legitimacy of asylum, countries could benefit from providing work rights to migrant populations. The UK is well prepared for meeting these integration needs. Because of centuries of migration (much wrought through colonialism) the UK has already invested significant resources into supporting newcomers keen to integrate into the labour market. The Oxford Migration Observatory recently found that higher net migration reduces pressure on government debt over time. Incoming migrants are generally younger and of working age than the wider population. This means that they are more likely to work and contribute to public finances.

Not only is this shown to support migrant livelihoods, but it can also benefit the economies of sending and receiving countries in the long-term. These kinds of boosts to the economy and the labour market are much-needed in the post-COVID-19 and post-Brexit labour environment.

Back to 2016 and I am sitting in a senior Australian bureaucrats office in Canberra, discussing the standstill underway with the Nauru arrangement. I ask what the future holds for the offshoring policy. Most politicians want it to end, but theyre unsure how to do it without losing face, he replies.

Protests, many refugees on suicide watch, hunger strike, people sewing their lips together, no one interested in integrating locally in Nauru, it frankly just isnt sustainable. It was never meant to be.

He pauses, adding: Not to mention, ethically. Its a laboratory experiment gone wrong.

All names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

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Julia Morris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Ukrainian servicemen fire at Russian positions near Bakhmut, on March 23, 2023.

Ukrainian servicemen fire at Russian positions near Bakhmut, on March 23, 2023.

Ukraine will soon launch a counter-offensive after more than a thousand Russian troops were reportedly killed in 24 hours.

Russias invasion looks to be faltering after they launched unsuccessful attacks on a number of areas, including the mining town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

The enemy has not stopped its assault of Bakhmut, Ukraines general staff said in a report.

Ukraines top ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said his forces would soon begin a counteroffensive following Russias winter campaign.

He said Russias Wagner mercenaries are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam.

Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk, he said.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that without a faster supply of arms the war could last years.

He repeated his calls for more long-range missiles, ammunition, modern aircraft and additional economic sanctions on Russia.

If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war, Zelenskyy said on Thursday in a video address to European Union leaders.

The UKs Ministry of Defence issued its daily intelligence briefing on Ukraine, suggesting Russia had been training troops in Belarus for practical and political reasons.

It said: The fact Russia has resorted to training its personnel under the much less-experienced Belarusian army highlights how Russias special military operation has severely dislocated the Russian militarys training system  instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine.

Russia likely also views Belaruss continued indirect support to the operation as important political messaging.

Related...
gettyimagesbank



By Yoon Ja-young



As shareholder activism becomes the hottest talking point in shareholder meetings, a record-high number of companies are expected to introduce electronic voting systems this year.



According to the Korea Securities Depository (KSD), which provides the electronic voting system known as K-VOTE, the number of firms that are using K-VOTE in their shareholders' meetings so far this year has already surpassed the last year's figure. Currently, local companies use the electronic voting system of either KSD or Samsung Securities, enabling investors to exercise their voting rights through computers or smartphones.



Since 483 firms used K-VOTE at their shareholders' meetings in 2018, the figure has been continuously rising, standing at 564 in 2019, 659 in 2020, 843 in 2021 and 974 last year.



In the case of Samsung Securities, a total of 820 companies, including KCC, HD Hyundai and GS, have signed up to use its electronic voting system. The figure has been rising steeply since 2019 when it launched the service  from 278 in 2020 to 466 in 2021 and 640 last year.



Most in management were previously reluctant to adopt an electronic voting system. But the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the rise of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles, have prompted more companies to adopt the system.



At Samsung Electronics' shareholders' meeting, held in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province last week, around 600 attended in person. This is even smaller than the 1,600 attendees last year when wearing a face mask indoors was still mandatory. It is only a tiny fraction of the tech giant's 5.81 million shareholders.



Samsung Electronics also has been using an electronic voting system since 2020.


Launch of a campaign for constitutional recognition of Australia's indigenous people in Adelaide

By James Redmayne and Jill Gralow

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A majority of Australians support giving more recognition to its Indigenous people in the constitution through a 'Voice to Parliament', but there is a big minority, including many First Nations people, who oppose the plan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced the question the government wants to put to a vote in a referendum later this year to give Indigenous people a representative body in parliament, seeking to heal wrongs done to them over centuries.

The First Nations have inhabited the land for 60,000 years but are not mentioned in the 122-year-old constitution. Any constitutional alterations require a national referendum.

Those opposed to the Voice say having a consultative committee in parliament will not improve conditions for the Indigenous people.

"The only thing that really works is treating people equal in the society...," said Warren Mundine, an Aboriginal politician running the 'Recognise a Better Way' campaign that's asking people to vote 'No' in the referendum.

"The Voice is not going to fix one iota of the problems that we have in indigenous affairs," he added.

Indigenous people track well below national averages on most socio-economic measures. Their life expectancy is about 8 years lower than the national average.

Suicide rates are twice as high, and their health outcomes are dismal with high levels of child mortality and disease. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are massively over-represented in prisons, deaths in custody, and children sent to out of home care.

The conservative opposition Liberal Party has not said which way it would vote, while the rural-based National Party, the junior partner in the opposition coalition, has said it would oppose the Voice.

Supporters of the Voice campaign argue having a representative body in parliament is about fairness and making sure the community is heard on matters affecting them.

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It would also bring Australia to par with other countries with First Nations population like neighbouring New Zealand and Canada which have done better at ensuring their rights.

"It would be a terrible reflection on Australia if we lose this referendum," said Thomas Mayo, a Torres Strait Islander and a member of the referendum working group.

"I mean how backward are we? The only country without a treaty with indigenous people, the only country without constitutional recognition of Indigenous people. It'll set us back in our setting in the world," he said.

(Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Sonali Paul)
While she retired prematurely at the age of 39, Brigitte Bardot has left an indelible mark on Frances popular culture in the 1960s and 1970s. With her wild blonde mane, smoky eyes and pouty lips, Bardot became a symbol of a modern, effortlessly sexy French woman and a style emblem that continues to inspire current trends.

The event series Bardot, which is penned and directed by Daniele Thompson (The Queen Margot) and Christopher Thompson (La buche), world premiered at Series Mania Festival to unanimous praise and has been pre-sold by Federation nearly worldwide.

More from Variety

Bardot is like the French The Crown because Bardot embodied France, and through her journey we reminisce about many parts of Frances history and popular culture in the 1950s and 1960s, Federations boss and Bardot producer Pascal Breton told Variety. That era is a historical moment where everything changes, where we go from black and white to color, and for me Bardot symbolizes this turning point in every way, because we went from a very puritanical and cold society to a liberation, a social, political and sexual revolution.

He admits he had been wanting to make a series about Bardot for about three decades and was inspired by when he created the cult series Sous le Soleil, which is set in Saint Tropez by the beach where he remembers seeing Bardot singing, filmed by Serge Gainsbourg.

Commissioned and financed by France Televisions and Mediaset, Bardot was pre-sold to Netflix for France, Germany and German-speaking territories, Benelux and Switzerland, Turkey (Turkcell), Sweden (SVT), Finland (YLE), Norway (NRK), Portugal (RTP), Czech Republic (Czech TV) Canada (CBC) and Radio Canada, with a raft of further territories in negotiations.

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Like Bardot, the series is a sexy breed with a prestige pedigree. In six luscious episodes spanning from 1949 to 1960, Daniele Thompson captures the rebellious stars conservative upbringing in a bourgeois Parisian environment, her breakthrough turn in And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim in St. Tropez, while depicting the birth of French cinemas golden years and what society looked like back then.

Newcomer Julia de Nunez embodies a modern, assertive and fiery Bardot  probably idealized  and the resemblance is stunning. Shes surrounded by a strong supportive cast including Yvan Attal, who plays the colorful French producer Raoul Levy, Victor Belmondo as Roger Vadim, Oscar Lesage as Jacques Charrier, and Geraldine Pailhas and Hippolyte Girardot as Bardots parents.

Breton says Daniele Thompson was the ideal talent to create and pen the show, not only because of her background but also because shes familiar with Bardot, having grown up in Saint Tropez where Bardot lived. Thompson has herself had a glamorous life, as the daughter of revered French director Gerard Oury and actor Jacqueline Roman. The producer is now eyeing a second season which will explore Bardots glorious and short-lived career in music, notably her collaboration with Gainsbourg.

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Click here to read the full article.
South Korean 'Taxi Driver' star Lee Je-hoon made an appearance at a press conference at Resorts World Sentosa on Friday (24 March) (PHOTO: Bruce Lim/Yahoo Singapore)

SINGAPORE  South Korean actor Lee Je-hoon really, really likes his role as a 'taxi driver'.

The swoon-worthy star was given a warm reception by the local and regional media when he graced them with his presence at a press conference in Resorts World Sentosa on Friday (24 March).

He was in town to promote the second season of his drama, 'Taxi Driver 2' and will hold his first 'Vacation' fan meet in Singapore on Saturday (25 March) at the Stephen Riady Auditorium at NTUC Centre.

This revenge-themed show stars Lee as Kim Do-gi, an ex-special forces captain who becomes a taxi driver to get revenge on criminals.

Based on a popular webtoon, the action thriller's first season scored strong viewer ratings in South Korea.

Taxi Driver 2 takes filming fun to a whole new level

During the press conference on Friday, Lee told the media that filming season two of the drama was a lot of fun compared to the previous season.

"When I was filming during season one, it was lonely because, in many scenes, I was alone. So a lot of scenes felt lonely and wasn't that fun."

Lee explained that in season two, there were so many scenes where he had a meeting with his Rainbow Taxi team.

He recalled that there was once he could not control his laughter at a scene where he was filming with his team in the basement, discussing the next project.

"It was tough to hold my character because I was having so much fun, and so I was like, 'Oh, I'm with these people. I'm not alone.' So I had to force myself to calm down and stay in character as Kim Do-gi but inside, I was having so much fun," he added.

The actor also talked about reprising Wang Taozhi, a fake identity he played previously on "Taxi Driver."

The character scammed Madam Lim (played by Shim So-young) by flirting with her in season one of "Taxi Driver", and is reunited with her in season two.

Said Lee, "I was also really grateful that I was able to act as the character one more time. And it took me a lot of time to think, how can I bring this character back to life again?"

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"One of the things that I wanted to ensure to show to our fans with that I wanted to ensure the relationship between Wang Taozhi and Madam Lim was really like unrequited love. I wanted to make sure like, 'Oh, it's not going to happen, but there might be some love between them'," he elaborated.

Korean actor Lee Je Hoon reprises his character as 'Wang Taozi' in 'Taxi Driver 2' (PHOTO: Viu)

He is known to some 'Taxi Drivers' around the world

But Lee is not all work and no play.

He also shared some funny 'Taxi Driver' stories, including when he was sightseeing in countries like Singapore, and sometimes encountered drivers who recognised him,

"I sometimes use Grab or Uber. And whenever I do, they don't realise it until I thank them. When they realise I am speaking, they will check their rear-view mirror and look back, thinking, 'Oh, is that...?' Once they recognise me, I tell them, 'Okay, I recommend Taxi Driver to you. I promote it'," he joked.

While he visited Singapore on an official visit quite some time ago, he frequently returned on personal visits. He visited last year and this year after Singapore eased its COVID-19 border restrictions.

Overall, Lee Je-hoon's appearance in Singapore has been a hit, and it looks like fans are eagerly anticipating his 'Vacation' fan meet on Saturday.

Don't miss your chance to see this heartthrob in action on 'Taxi Driver 2' on streaming platform Viu!

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
Plus, the Department of Labor found top brands were buying clothes from a California 'sweatshop.'

Photo: Courtesy of LVMH

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Friday.

Luar, Diotima among LVMH Prize finalists

The Committee of Experts of the LVMH Prize has selected nine finalists, who will present their designs to the jury on June 7 at the Louis Vuitton Foundation. The finalists are: Aaron Esh (UK), Bettter (Ukraine), Burc Akyol (France), Diotima (Jamaica), Luar (U.S.), Magliano (Italy), Paolina Russo (Canada/France), Quira (Italy) and Setchu (Japan). The were narrowed down from 22 finalists, whom Fashionista spoke with during Paris Fashion Week. In a statement, LVMH executive Delphine Arnault said, "Cultural diversity, celebration of traditional crafts and creative audacity define this selection. [...] Their expertise, their creativity, their uniqueness and their commitment have truly impressed me." {Fashionista inbox}

Ivan Bart departs IMG as President

Ivan Bart, who served as the president of IMG Models for over 10 years, has left the position. The role consisted of guiding the careers of models such as Kate Moss, Gisele Bundchen and Tyra Banks, as well as overseeing New York Fashion Week. Bart will stay at the company in an advisory role going forward. {Business of Fashion}

Department of Labor found top brands were buying clothes from a California 'sweatshop'

After randomly investigating 50 clothing companies in Southern California, the Department of Labor found that more than 80% were breaking one or more federal labor laws. Some workers were reportedly paid less than $2 an hour for making clothes for Nordstrom and other well-known brands. Ruben Rosalez, who is part of the department's wage and hour division, said in a statement, "Many people shopping for clothes in stores and online are likely unaware that the 'Made in the USA' merchandise they're buying was, in fact, made by people earning far less than the US law requires." {Business Insider}

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Photo: Courtesy of Gabi Fresh

Eloquii launches new swim collection with Gabi Fresh

Influencer Gabi Fresh has partnered with Eloquii on exclusive swimwear capsule including 23 different swimsuits and coverups in sizes 14-32, designed to be worn in and out of the water. "I'm grateful that I get to continue to make an impact [...] by offering my community amazing, fashion-forward options," said Fresh in a statement. Gabi Fresh x Eloquii is available to shop now at Eloquii.com/GabiFreshxEloquii. A second collection will be released in late April. {Fashionista inbox}

Snap Inc. launches new AR service for virtual clothing-try-on

Snap Inc., the developer behind Snapchat, has unveiled ARES, which stands for Augmented Reality Enterprise Services. The program's debut offering, Shopping Suite, will allow consumers to try on clothing and accessories virtually, receive sizing recommendations and more. {WWD/paywalled}

Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way do either affect our editorial decision-making.

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Prince Harry made a surprise TV appearance credit:Bang Showbiz

Prince Harry made a surprise appearance on 'Car S.O.S.' on Thursday (23.03.23) night.

The latest episode of the National Geographic car renovation show focused on Stephan Van Nierkerk, a former Lance Corporal who served in Afghanistan before losing his left leg at the hip, right leg below the knee, and five fingers in 2009, and the Duke of Sussex -who undertook two tours of duty in the Asian country during his time in the military - sent a recorded video message to the ex-soldier congratulating him on his vehicle makeover.

He said in the video, which was recorded from his California home: Stephan! Congratulations! I hope at this point youre sitting in your brand-new, or certainly what looks like a brand-new jeep. Good on you mate! Well done! Fully, fully, fully deserve that. I cant think of anyone that deserves this more than you. After getting injured at such a young age after two tours of Afghanistan, you are the definition of inspiration because you are not defined by your injury. You are defined by your selflessness to others.

The episode saw Stephan's best friend Ian and wife Sadie keen to reward the motivational speaker for his bravery and positivity by helping him fulfil his dream of becoming an off-roading champion.

The 'Car S.O.S.' team, led by Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend, took on the task of taking Stephan's used Jeep Grand Cherokee - which was off the road due to persistent mechanical problems - and fixing it up to competition-level standards, as well as adding modifications to accommodate the driver's disabilities, including installing a roll cage, a high lift axle kit, wheel arch extensions, and upgrading the suspension.

The episode will be repeated on National Geographic on Sunday (26.03.23) at 7pm.
Obinna Obeta, 51 (30.11.71) Hillbeck Close, Southwark (on the left) and Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 56 (10.09.66) (Image: Met police)

Three people, including a man from Southwark, have been found guilty of the plot to remove a vulnerable Nigerian victims kidney without his knowledge and keep him as a slave.

This prosecution is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom.

Three people were found guilty today (Thursday, March 23), at the Old Bailey of the first offence of human trafficking for the purpose of organ harvesting in London after a six-week trial.

Obinna Obeta, of Hillbeck Close in Southwark, was found guilty of conspiracy to arrange and facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation  namely organ harvesting.

The 51-year-old was described as the medical middleman in the case.

Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 56, who both reside in Abuja, Nigeria, were found guilty of the same offences.

They will all be sentenced at the same court at a later date.

A man who is around 21-years-old from a remote village in Nigera was deceived into being trafficked to the UK and was led to believe he was being brought to the UK to earn money for his family.

However, the real intentions included having his kidney removed and donated to Sonia Ekweremadu.

He was given a passport and medical travel Visa for travel.

He was taken for blood tests in Nigeria which he believed were for his Visa requirements, but these tests were actually to check that he was a medically suitable match to Sonia Ekweremadu.

On February 20, 2022, he was brought to the UK along with Isaac Onwudiwe Ekweremadu, and taken to Obeta's flat in Southwark Two days later on February 24 he attended his first medical screening at the Royal Free Hospital and the doctor realised that the victim did not have a good understanding of why he was there.

TRENDING: Bromley and Bexley plumber forced to change jobs over ULEZ

After several appointments, the victim realised he was there to donate a kidney and the doctor noticed the fear and panic this caused the victim leading the hospital to refuse to complete the procedure.

Story continues

He returned to Obetas flat in Southwark and said that the mood in the property had changed significantly and he was treated as a slave.

He fled the home a few days later and became homeless for around three days.

On May 5, 2022, he walked into Staines Police Station and stated: I dont know anywhere, I dont know where I am. I was sleeping three days outside around, for someone to help me, save my life.

Police have reported that the man is still being safeguarded and will be given future support.

An investigation was launched to learn about how he had ended up in London and the reasons why.

Officers found that Obetas mobile phone contained evidence of his extensive involvement in these plans.

They also discovered an application for a six-month Visa for the victim which read: Senator Ike Ekweremadu is sponsoring my medical treatment to enable me to donate an organ to Sonia Ekweremadu in Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.

I would be donating an organ to my closest cousin (Sonia) in appreciation for her sacrifices towards me, my family and community.

I am willing to put my life on the line for her to live and continue her good service to humanity.

The Ekweremadus paid a health tourism company in the UK to facilitate the medical arrangements between the Ekweremadus and the Royal Free Hospital, initially paying 10,000 for the start-up fee but the total required would be in excess of 80,000.

On June 21, 2022, detectives arrested Ike and Beatrice Ekweremadu at Heathrow Airport and then on July, 12 2022, Obeta was arrested at his home.

Sonia Ekweremadu was also charged as above by postal charge requisition.

Detective inspector Esther Richardson, said: This shows the Mets commitment to tackle exploitation in all its forms and we can only succeed by working with partners both in the UK and overseas.

I would also like to thank our colleagues in the CPS, the Human Tissue Authority and other partners who have worked so hard with us.

We do understand the challenges and no two cases are the same. Teams within the Mets Modern Slavery Command understand this and we will ensure victims are supported, signposted and safeguarded with the help of partners.

Modern slavery is all around us. We need the publics help in identifying potential victims of trafficking and exploitation to bring offenders to justice and protect the vulnerable.

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletters to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

Leading investigating officer, Detective Inspector Esther Richardson, from the Mets Modern Slavery and Child Exploitation team, said: This conviction sends out a clear message across the world, the UK will not tolerate the international industry in illegal organ removal.

We could not have achieved this conviction without the help of one man, the victim survivor. I commend him for his utmost bravery.

Joanne Jakymec, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: This was an horrific plot to exploit a vulnerable victim by trafficking him to the UK for the purpose of transplanting his kidney.

The defendants showed utter disregard for the victims welfare, health and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having limited understanding of what was really going on here.




Korea's finance ministry said Friday it has initialed a double-taxation prevention pact with the European microstate of Andorra, in a move that could boost bilateral economic cooperation.







The pact allows countries to avoid taxing the same income twice and helps ease the tax burden on companies doing business in the other country.







The agreement is set to take effect after a formal signing and parliamentary ratification in both countries, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.







The treaty with Andorra, once implemented, would become the 95th of its kind for Asia's No. 4 economy. South Korea will also become the first Asian nation to have a double-tax avoidance pact with Andorra. (Yonhap)


"I was excited to see the impact that this access had for the seventh-graders," Smith said. "I feel that you can't start early enough to have students start to focus on where their career path is going to be."

Smith shared that having experienced a similar situation growing up allowed him to realize the value of going to college. He hopes the fair will allow students to formulate an idea of which direction they would like to go.

"Our original group of seventh-graders are now high school seniors. We hope now they're thinking of college and UNG," Shannon Shockley, administrative assistant to vice president of regional campuses, said.

Students from Cherokee Bluff Middle School, World Language Middle School, Virtual Program of Choice, C.W. Davis Middle School and East Hall Middle School have access to almost a dozen career paths including agriculture, audio-visual and graphics, business, computer science, construction, cosmetology, education, health science, hospitality, law and government, manufacturing and STEM, marketing, and transportation.

Their day started with keynote speaker Jon Burkett, an agent for Farm Bureau Insurance. Burkett, originally from Cleveland, Georgia, attended Liberty University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a business degree and a cognate in professional sales and marketing.

About 875 students participated in the two-day Career Path Fair, marking the workforce development event's biggest and best year yet. The very fact alone has left many including Shelley Logan, vice chair of Hall County's Vision 2030 Education Committee, excited for what's to come.

"This was hundreds of students, educators and businesses all taking the time to create a vision for their future," Logan said. "We are so appreciative of UNG's partnership, leadership and commitment to open their doors to their future students."
The University of North Georgia (UNG) will host its first Japan Expo from 2-4 p.m. April 4 at the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

An industry panel, a tea ceremony, a koto instrumental performance, and refreshments are part of the schedule for the event that will be held in the Don & Connie Cottrell Ballroom (room 172). UNG's Center for Global Engagement, Japanese language program and Career Services are partnering on the expo.

"We chose to feature Japan because it is one of UNG's strategic partner countries due to the strength of our academic programs, the location of key Japanese industries near our campuses and its large immigrant population in Georgia," Sheila Schulte, associate vice president for international programs, said. "I hope our students will enjoy learning about global industries located in north Georgia while having the chance to learn more about Japanese culture."

UNG offers a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies with Japanese as one of three possible concentrations. The university also has a minor in Japanese. Both of those programs became possible after a $400,000 grant from the Japan Foundation in 2016. Dr. Tomoe Nishio, associate professor of Japanese, marvels at UNG's growth in that seven-year period.
Montenegrin police officers escort Do Kwon, a crypto fugitive from Korea, in Montenegro's capital Podgorica, Friday. Seoul's Ministry of Justice confirmed the arrest of Kwon and another unidentified individual linked to the cryptocurrency crash and said it will proceed with steps to extradite them to Korea. Both Korea and Montenegro are signees to the European Convention on Extradition. AP-Yonhap



Korean fugitive protests Montenegro's decision to extend his custody for 30 days



By Lee Min-hyung



The arrest of Do Kwon, founder of the ill-fated Terra-Luna ecosystem, made headlines, but it remains unclear when Korean investigators will be able to repatriate him, since he was also charged with fraud by U.S. prosecutors.



According to Interpol and Montenegro's interior ministry, Kwon was arrested by police in the Balkan country on Thursday.



Kwon was initially subject to be in custody for three days. But a Montenegrin court extended the custody for up to 30 days "due to flight risk."



Kwon protested the court's decision, and through his lawyer, is going to file a complaint to be released.



The crypto fugitive has been on the run for almost a year after the abrupt collapse of his once-promising cryptocurrencies back in May 2022. He had since made few public appearances  except for online interviews.









Until recently, his whereabouts remained unknown after the scandal-tainted co-founder of Terraform Labs left Singapore and headed to an unknown third country in September. He was last seen during an online interview with an overseas media outlet in October.



Korean police confirmed his fingerprints shortly after the arrest, but it will likely take some more time for them to seize and detain Kwon in his home country, as he faces multiple charges by authorities not just in the U.S., but also Singapore.



Shortly after the report of his arrest, the U.S. District Court in Manhattan filed an eight-count indictment against the Korean fugitive. Kwon also faces a lawsuit by police in Singapore on charges of crypto fraud worth 80 billion won ($62 million).



Federal prosecutors in New York said Kwon also allegedly colluded with a U.S. investment firm to engage in market manipulation before his cryptocurrencies collapsed.



Prosecutors in Korea said Friday they will seek Kwon's extradition. The Seoul Southern District Court has teamed up with the country's justice ministry to bring him to Korea. Kwon faces charges of violating the capital market act in Korea.





Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs / Yonhap
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has called on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to modernise their production and business models and expedite restructuring efforts following the emerging trends of the green economy, digital economy, and circular economy.

Khai emphasised during his address at the Viet Nam Small and Medium Enterprises (VINASME) event on Thursday that the primary objective should be to drive innovation and boost brand competitiveness.

The conference was attended by almost 400 representatives from the association's over 64,000 members nationwide.

Highlighting the important role of enterprises in promoting economic prosperity and development, Khai said that the business community in Viet Nam developed strongly in recent years, with nearly 900,000 firms, over 25,000 cooperatives and five million business households in operation.

The business community contributed around 60 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and provided jobs for around 30 per cent of the workforce.

SMEs account for 97 per cent of the total number of firms in Viet Nam had made important contributions to economic growth, especially in maintaining and developing production and business, creating jobs, stabilising peoples lives and promoting growth, Khai said.

However, he pointed out that there were limitations in corporate governance, the application of science and technology and the linkage between SMEs.

He pointed out that the unpredictable global economy development coupled with the shift in the global value chain and the trend toward sustainability, global minimum tax issues, and new requirements about green development and climate change adaptation pointed SMEs to new challenges.

Sharing businesses difficulties and challenges, Khai said that the Government would improve policies and raise solutions to support enterprises, especially creating the most favourable business and investment environment.

The focus should be placed on accelerating the national digital transformation and promoting the development of private enterprises, especially in the fields of manufacturing, high technology, information and technology to establish domestic and international value chains, Khai said.

He urged VNSME to continue to raise specific solutions to accompany the Government and relevant ministries, agencies and localities to support SMEs to overcome difficulties and promote recovery and growth.

The association should strengthen the role of being a bridge to advocate policies, maintain dialogues with management agencies and enhance relationships with foreign organisations in policy advocacy for SMEs, Khai said.

He urged the association to be more proactive in studying challenges and opportunities from emerging business models, especially the requirements for sustainable development and green business and provide policy updates and guidance to member businesses and industries.

SMEs should strive to overcome difficulties and challenges and develop specific solutions to expand the scale and improve competitiveness.

It is important that SMEs strengthen cooperation to create synergy and lift the position of Vietnamese enterprises, Khai said.

The associations fourth executive committee was selected at the meeting with 84 members. Nguyen Van Than would remain President of the association for the 2023-28 term.  VNS
QUANG NGAI  Doosan Enerbility Vietnam (Doosan Vina), a high-tech industrial complex in Dung Quat Economic Zone of the central province of Quang Ngai, has delivered its first 11 modules to the Cariflex IR Latex Asia Phase-1 project in OUE Downtown, Singapore.

These modules will serve as the facility of the latex distillation factory to produce medical gloves in Singapore.

The modules were included in the Singapore Project SPRING project signed with DL E&C in 2022.

According to Doosan Vina, 95 per cent of the project was completed two months after signing the contract, and the remaining 15 modules are currently producing in the final phases before sending to Singapore next month.

Jang Hyun Seok, the Module Manager of DL E&C who is supervising the project progress at Doosan Vina, praised the company's good system and organisation.

He said: "If Doosan Vina has more customers and expands the business, Doosan Vina will be the best module fabricator."

Doosan Vina's modules are currently one of its key products.

In addition to this project, the company is preparing to produce 18 more units for DL E&C to install at the Golden Triangle Polymers project in Texas, USA.

The company also erects four modules for Samsung C&T customers to install at North Field Expansion Project EPC-2 in Qatar.

Doosan Vina has supplied 122 modules for international customers to date, including 39 modules installed at Ruwais Refinery in UAE and 35 modules for Sarawak Methanol Plant in Malaysia supplied to Samsung Engineering customers. These two projects were completed in March 2020 and December 2022.

Doosan Vina supplies mega infrastructure products such as boilers for thermal power plants, desalination to turn seawater into freshwater, cargo container crane for seaports, fired heaters, modules and structural steel for petrochemical refineries, buildings, and infrastructure developments.  VNS
HA NOI  Siemens and Vietbay company announced a support programme for the consulting - training - technical support service package on product R&D and outsourcing production for the first 20 registering enterprises.

Siemens Viet Nam Digital Industry held a workshop on accelerating digital transformation and innovation for manufacturing on Wednesday.

The seminar is an opportunity to help businesses update and experience the latest technology solutions.

The seminars took place to exchange knowledge and experiences from Siemens technology experts and key partners such as Vietbay, ESTEC, Hitachi, Top Solutions on attractive and highly-applicable topics.

President and General Director of Siemens ASEAN and Viet Nam Pham Thai Lai said that in the trend of the industrial revolution 4.0, the research and development of new products, innovation in the manufacturing field required a balance between technical necessity and economic feasibility.

This posed a significant challenge for manufacturing businesses to find effective solutions that accelerate digital transformation and innovation, he said.

With the goal of helping Vietnamese businesses successfully solve the above challenges, the Siemens Viet Nam Digital Industry decided to organise this seminar to share and update the development trend of digital technology, simultaneously, detailing Siemens' advanced range of products, services and digital solutions, said Lai.  VNS
HA NOI  Businesses in the sugar industry will rebound, buoyed by higher sugar prices and anti-dumping measures on some sugar cane products originating from Thailand.

In February, raw sugar futures hovered at the 6-year high of roughly US 22 cents a pound set on February 27.

Specifically, February's average raw sugar price was US 20.23 cents a pound, compared to US 18.87 cents per pound in January and US 18.93 cents in December 2022.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the average sugar price was US 18.5 cents per pound during the first ten months of 2022.

The Rome-based agency forecast that by 2029, the average sugar price will reach US 21.3 cents but the fact is that the price exceeded the figure in January.

In the international market, raw sugar futures tracked by tradingecnomics.com were traded at US 21.14 cents per pound on Thursday, continuing the rally trend after hitting the bottom at 9 cents per pound in April 2020.

Following the increase of global sugar prices, the prices of Vietnamese sugar advanced 8-10 per cent year-on-year in 2022.

The strong rallies of sugar prices in the first months of 2023 bring bright prospects for sugar producers.

Vietcombank Securities Company (VCBS) reported that sugar production for the whole crop year 2021/22 reached 949,200 tonnes, of which, sugar production from sugarcane was 746,900 tonnes, accounting for 78.6 per cent, a gain of 8.3 per cent over the previous season.

Even though the harvested area of sugarcane decreased slightly by 4 per cent on-year, the sugarcane yield was higher at 64.6 tonnes per hectare. As a result, the sugarcane output for production rose by 11.8 per cent.

The total sugar supply was estimated at 2.8 million tonnes in 2022, while total demand was just 2.1-2.3 million tonnes. Notably, the market share of domestic sugar was modestly at 27 per cent, due to sharp gains in smuggled sugar, mostly from Thailand, last year.

Despite the oversupply, local sugar prices still advanced significantly thanks to the anti-dumping policy.

Before the anti-dumping tax, Viet Nam's sugar price was close to that of Indonesia and China, half the price of Philippine sugar and about 25 per cent higher than Thailand's sugar.

However, the price of sugar imported from Thailand and originating from Thailand after the anti-dumping tax is estimated at about VN22,000 a kg, 10-15 per cent higher than the price of sugar in China, Indonesia and Viet Nam.

After applying measures against evasion of trade remedies, the amount of some sugar products imported from ASEAN countries, particularly Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, into Viet Nam has dipped markedly.

The total sugar import volume for the whole of 2022, then, declined by 12.6 per cent year-on-year, with the main sources of replacement being Australia and Indonesia.

The buying price of sugarcane from farmers also recovered to an average of VN1.05-1.1 million per tonne due to scarcity of supply. This is a premise to motivate farmers to expand yield areas in the coming years.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially applied anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tax rates of 47.64 per cent for sugar products using Thailand's sugar material and from five ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, since last August.

Sugar imported from the five countries, if proven to be produced from local sugarcane, will not be subject to anti-evasion measures.

VCBS believes that the new tax measures create positive changes for the sugar industry and boost local sugar prices for the long term.

The securities firm expects the price of white sugar to remain high, hovering around VN18,000-18,500 per kg, as sugar demand in the country is forecast to increase slightly to 2.3-2.4 million tonnes a year.

Nevertheless, in the short term, sugar prices may be under pressure due to temporary excess supply in 2022, approximately 6 million tonnes, and a potential increase in import quota by the Government to supplement domestic sugar in 2023.

Quang Ngai Sugar JSC forecasts that due to high oil prices, major sugar-producing countries such as Brazil, Thailand and India will switch to using sugarcane to produce ethanol, helping global sugar prices remain high in the first six months of 2023.

In the February report, the Vietnam Sugarcane Association (VSA) said that the country's planting area and output of sugarcane and sugar production in the 2022/23 crop year are likely to increase.

It is expected that the sugarcane area will increase by 3 per cent while the output of processed sugarcane and sugar both increased by over 16 per cent.  VNS
NGHE AN  The sustainable clam and bamboo value chain development in Viet Nam (SCBV) project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by Oxfam Vietnam in collaboration with Vietnamese partners, has benefited a large number of rural residents and stabilised these production areas in Viet Nam.

A conference was held in Vinh City in the central province of Nghe An on March 23 to review the project.

The project covers five provinces of Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, aiming to contribute to promoting economic development and business efficiency of small-scale firms and processors towards sustainable standards, while strengthening market access and creating favourable policies for inclusive and sustainable development of the clam and bamboo value chain in Viet Nam.

It also focused on reducing poverty and inequality in rural areas of Viet Nam, assisting clam and bamboo producers and processors in applying sustainable practices, and promoting public-private partnerships in fair and responsible chain governance.

A report from the project showed that in 2018, there were about 1.5 million small-scale producers and processors engaged in clam and bamboo industries. However, they faced many challenges, mostly due to the impoverished situation of material areas as a result of degradation, overexploitation and lack of understanding of sustainable maintenance.

In this situation, the project coordinated with the localities to improve farming techniques in order to achieve international certificates such as MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) for clam, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for bamboo, enabling their products to enter large markets such as the US, the EU and Japan.

In 2019, Quan Hoa District in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa became the first locality in Viet Nam to achieve the FSC certificate for bamboo production, followed by Que Phong District in neighbouring Nghe An Province and Quan Son District in Thanh Hoa.

In early 2023, the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh became the third clam production area to achieve ASC certificate. These are considered big steps for Vietnamese clam and bamboo industries.

Phan Van Thang, director of the Research Centre for Non-Timber Forest Product, said at the event that after receiving the FSC certificate, the bamboo forests were grown and maintained better, generating higher productivity and more stable quality products, resulting in higher socio-economic and environmental values.

Hoang Quang Phong, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that thanks to the project, more than 34,000 people had enjoyed sustainable income from clam and bamboo, while 125 production groups were better organised, 63 businesses had seen their business situation advance, and more than 4,000 new jobs have been created.

At the same time, the project had helped increase Viet Nam's clam exports to Europe by 38-40 per cent, and bamboo exports by 42 per cent, he said.  VNS
HA NOI Bamboo Airways has revealed plans to raise nearly VN10 trillion (US$424.1 million) by issuing 996.2 million shares.

The move, to be announced at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on April 10th, would raise the airline's charter capital from the current VN18.5 trillion to VN28.5 trillion.

The proposed share issuance is slated to take place this year, and there will be no restrictions on the transfer of the newly issued shares.

According to Bamboo Airways Nguyen Ngoc Trong, the share issuance is to continue their restructuring of organisation and debt and to have more capital for operation and development.

Nguyen Manh Quan, the airlines General Director, said they had found a new investor to replace the old shareholders, former Chairman Trinh Van Quyet and other related shareholders.

Bamboo Airways is in the negotiation phase with a new investor. However, Quan did not reveal any further details.

It carries out the procedures for transferring shares from old shareholders to new investors.

In addition to paying the share purchase price, the new investor has also agreed to be responsible for the payment of principal and interest on previous loans used by the old shareholders.

At the same time, the new investor also supported former Chairman Trinh Van Quyet with a separate amount of money that will be paid into the trading account of Quyet blocked by the Investigation Police Agency.

Bamboo Airways has called for support from several large investors to help the company overcome the current crisis.

For example, Him Lam Joint Stock Company has lent Bamboo Airways VN8 trillion.

On March 17, FLCs Board of Directors approved using its 155 million shares at Bamboo Airways to pay for loans at OCBs Thang Long Branch.

Established on May 31, 2017, Bamboo Airways had an initial charter capital of VN700 billion, 100 per cent owned by FLC Group.

After that, the airline increased its charter capital to VN2.2 trillion, VN7 trillion and VN10.5 trillion and finally, VN18.5 trillion in September 2021. FLC also gradually reduced its ownership to 21.7 per cent. VNS
HCM CITY  A multimedia exhibition, which tells the story of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as they created life in Australia, is being held in HCM City.

The Walking Through a Songline installation exhibition, which was opened on Wednesday, invites visitors to enter a space of immersive light projections, following in the footsteps of the Seven Sisters as they traverse the Western and Central deserts of Australia.

Songlines (also called Dreaming) are central to the existence of Australias First Nations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) peoples, mapping the routes of Ancestral beings as they travelled across Australia, creating the land and its people. They are a way of holding and passing on knowledge to new generations.

The exhibition is free to enter and will be open at The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre in Thu uc City every day from 9am to 9pm until April 16.

The event will then move to the Vietnamese Womens Museum in Ha Noi from April 28 to May 21.

Sarah Hooper, Australias Consul-General, said: The exhibition is an excellent opportunity to learn about  and celebrate - the cultures of Australias First Nations people.

The exhibition was held as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam-Australia diplomatic relations.  VNS
HA NOI  Italian Ambassador to Viet Nam Antonio Alessandro cited Italian President Sergio Mattarella's words as saying that the relationship between the two countries is strongly rooted in history while granting an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (March 23, 1973 - 2023).

These words express very well the idea that the 50th anniversary is not only a great achievement, considering the long journey that both countries have made since the seventies, but also a platform to let our friendship grow further and face together the great global challenges, like climate change in particular, he said.

On March 23, 1973, when Viet Nam was still struggling for national liberation and reunification, Italy officially established diplomatic ties with the Southeast Asian nation.

Over the past five decades, bilateral relations have grown intensively and extensively across all spheres.

Italy has actively supported the enhancement of cooperation between Viet Nam and the European Union (EU) at international forums, and the normalisation of relations between Viet Nam and international financial, trade, and monetary organisations.

Italy is always resolved to promote its multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam and regards the country as a priority in relationship development in Southeast Asia, as well as a destination for Italian firms.

At multilateral forums, the two countries have frequently coordinated and supported each other and raised voices to promote peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and aviation, and respect for international law.

January 21, 2013, marked a milestone as the two countries signed a joint statement on the establishment of the strategic partnership on the occasion of the official visit to Italy by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The strong political commitments by their high-ranking leaders have created a premise for bilateral relations to enter a new period and grow more intensive and extensive.

Economic cooperation a bright spot

Over recent years, the trade and investment links have remained a bright spot in the Viet Nam-Italy relationship thanks to the support from the two governments, with the bilateral trade now doubling from 2010.

Viet Nam is Italys biggest trade partner in ASEAN, while Italy is the fourth largest EU trade partner of Viet Nam.

Viet Nam is also one of the 10 emerging markets included in the Italian governments priorities in promoting trade and investment ties. Particularly, the EVFTA, which was put in place more than two years ago, has opened up a new horizon for development cooperation between the two countries.

Despite uncertainties and difficulties in 2021, the trade revenue still reached US$5.6 billion, up 21 per cent year-on-year. It hit a record of $6.2 billion in 2022, a rise of 11 per cent from the previous year.

For investment, as of February 2023, Italy ran 141 valid projects in Viet Nam with a total registered capital of $453.3 million, ranking 34 out of 142 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, and ninth among the 25 EU investors in the country.

Many big Italian groups operate successfully in Viet Nam, with the largest specialising in manufacturing such as Bonfiglioli, Piaggio, Danieli Officina, Fiat Iveco, Datalogic, and Ariston.

Italy has also maintained its official development assistance (ODA) to Viet Nam, focusing on vocational training, personnel development, environmental protection, and water resources management, support to small and medium-sized enterprises, health care, and scientific research.

According to Maria Tripodi, Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, one of the bright spots in bilateral relations is the Joint Committee on economic cooperation, which has supported the two sides in obtaining achievements in economic and trade collaboration. Italy is pleased to organise the eighth meeting of the committee later this year.

Ambassador Antonio Alessandro said: Italy and Viet Nam are committed to implement the EVFTA provisions in full and according to the schedule. In particular, we are working closely with the EU to ensure greater access to our products and services to the Vietnamese market, notably in pharmaceutical and agrifood."

On the other end, Italy is a significant importer of many Vietnamese products, from coffee to seafood, from garments to electrical equipment. With the entry into force of the EVFTA, these products have to comply with EU regulatory and quality standards in order to access the European market. Italy has a lot to offer to Vietnamese businesses to improve the quality and safety standards of their products.

Anniversary events

A series of major events celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties will be held this year.

Maria Tripodi said the opening of the series will be held on March 31 with a Vietnamese fashion show in Rome, one day after the political consultation between Tripodi and her Vietnamese counterpart Le Thi Thu Hang.

A ceremony to celebrate the anniversary and the 10-year strategic partnership between the two countries will also be held during Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuongs visit. A closing ceremony of the Italy-Viet Nam Year 2023 is scheduled for the end of the year, she said, adding that a number of cultural and art activities will also be organised.

Ambassador Antonio Alessandro said the embassy is supporting the Saigon Philarmonic Orchestra in setting up the first Opera production after several decades.

The Cavalleria Rusticana, by famous composer Pietro Mascagni, will be performed at the Hanoi Opera House on April 15-16.

This would be one of the highlights of our programme, which also includes an exhibition on industrial manufacturing, a show of contemporary ballet by the Italian company Artemis Danza and the Italian film festival. Our programme is a living plan and we disclose events and initiatives as we develop them with our partners in Italy and Viet Nam, he said.

At the end of this year, the signing of the Action Plan for the 2024-26 period within the Strategic Partnership Document will allow Italy and Viet Nam to renew their shared commitment and broaden the path to success that the two countries have traveled together, thus creating a solid foundation to further strengthen the already sound bilateral relationship, she stated. VNS
VIENTIANNE  The Vietnamese and Lao defence ministries held the third deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue in the Lao northern province of Houaphane on March 23.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien while the Lao delegation was headed by Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Vongkham Phommakone.

They shared the view that ASEAN-led mechanisms continued playing a central role in the region, promoting diplomacy and cooperation among member countries and with external partners, for the sake of regional peace and stability.

Stressing that the South China Sea (known in Viet Nam as the East Sea) is still an area that holds uncertainties, they said maintaining an environment of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the East Sea was a crucial issue in the region and the world, not only for coastal but also for landlocked countries.

About bilateral defence cooperation, they expressed their delight that their defence cooperation mechanisms had been resumed since COVID-19 was under control in each country. Military Zones and Border Guard Command of Viet Nam worked closely with their Lao counterparts to hold various cooperation activities, such as exchanging information, promoting the efficiency of exchange and twinning models, fighting crimes and organising border friendship exchanges, contributing to Viet Nam-Laos borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

This year, they agreed to bolster coordination between border guards through diverse and practical forms, accelerate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on border guard cooperation between the two ministries, raise awareness of officers, soldiers, and people of both countries about the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, armies and peoples.

They will continue attaching importance to personnel training which is an important strategic area for the relationship between the two countries' armies, hold the defence friendship exchange at the ministerial level between Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, the annual meeting of the three defence ministers and a joint exercise later this year.  VNS
gettyimagesbank



Overworked doctors barely given break times to rest and recover



By Jun Ji-hye



Medical residents in Korea work 77.7 hours a week on average, with more than half of them working over 80 hours, despite the current law capping the maximum weekly working hours to 80 for those in medical residency programs.



Residents in the department of cardiothoracic surgery work the longest hours  102.1 hours a week.



The figures were the findings of recent research conducted by the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA). The association interviewed 1,903 medical residents from a variety of departments.



Rep. Shin Hyun-young, a doctor-turned-lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, received the alarming findings from the association and released it to the media, claiming that the overwork culture of medical residents is at a seriously worrisome level.



The issue is drawing keen attention at a time when the government's move to reform the country's 52-hour workweek system has sparked huge controversy. Under the reform measures announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on March 6, companies will be allowed to increase the maximum weekly work hours to 69 during weeks with heavy workloads.



The government's plans have been criticized for forcing employees to work longer hours while only benefiting employers.



Rep. Shin noted that medical residents have been placed in much tougher situations as the weekly working hours of 15 departments out of 26, which participated in the research, exceeded 69 hours.



In the case of cardiothoracic surgery residents, working 102 hours a week means a resident had to work 20.4 hours a day in the five-day workweek  even if it was a six-day workweek, the resident had to work 17 hours a day.



Residents in the department of surgery work the second longest hours  90.6 hours a week  followed by 90 hours for the neurosurgery department and 89.1 hours for the ophthalmology department.





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HCM CITY  The Peoples Committee of HCM City organised a ceremony on March 23 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Italy (March 23, 1973-2023).

In his remarks, Chairman of the Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai highlighted the increasingly close ties between the two countries, saying over the past 50 years, the bilateral relationship had grown actively across spheres, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The good traditional friendship had also been consolidated and enhanced, the official added.

Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam presented Italy with more than 300,000 masks, while Italy donated 2.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Southeast Asian nation.

This vividly demonstrated the intensive and effective strategic partnership and friendship between the two countries, he said.

HCM City, for its part, had actively worked to promote cooperation with Italy, Mai noted, adding that the relations between HCM City and Italy had reaped achievements in trade, investment, education and training, culture, and tourism.

According to the official, the two-way trade reached US$591 million last year. For investment, as of February 20, 2023, Italy ran 64 projects in the southern metropolis with a total registered capital of $85 million , ranking 26 out of the 117 countries and territories investing there.

However, the results had yet to match the potential of both sides, Mai pointed out.

Regarding cooperation prospects, he said HCM City served as a gateway for Italian businesses to access the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other markets through free trade agreements to which Viet Nam is a member.

Meanwhile, as a G7 member and with a big market, Italy would be a maritime gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter Europe, he said.

With strong economic recovery and a growing middle class, HCM City would be a promising market for Italian goods, the official added.

Economic cooperation remained a priority in the relations between the two sides, he said, noting that both were working towards high, green, clean, and environmentally friendly technologies.

Mai considered the compatibility in economic development orientations an important premise for the two sides in raising the bilateral trade to $6 billion in 2022, expressing his firm belief that the target of US$10 billion is within reach.

The official said he hoped that cultural and culinary exchanges between Viet Nam and Italy would be enhanced in the future, contributing to strengthening solidarity between the two peoples.

Italian Consul General in HCM City Enrico Padula highlighted multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Italy, particularly technological transfer.

Speaking of Viet Nam's efforts in building a green economy, the diplomat said Italy would help the country with technologies and professional skills to carry out relevant ambitious projects.

He also suggested the two countries cooperate in the space industry in service of agriculture, natural disaster prevention, and the mitigation of climate change consequences in rivers and coastal areas.

Cultural collaboration always played an important role in Viet Nam-Italy relations, covering music, theatre, and cinema, he said, stressing the partnership between the universities of the two countries.

Italy was actively engaging in heritage conservation projects in Viet Nam's central region and hoped to further cooperate with the country in cultural heritage and architecture.

According to the Consul General, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Italys offshore patrol ship Francesco Morosini is scheduled to anchor at Nha Rong Port in HCM City this May.  VNS
SEOUL  Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen uc Hai paid a courtesy visit to Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo and met Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on March 21-22 as part of his trip to the country.

At the meeting on March 21, the RoK NA speaker noted that the relations between Viet Nam and the RoK have been developing strongly, highlighting the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022.

He stressed that during his meetings with key leaders of the Vietnamese Party, Government and National Assembly during his visit to Viet Nam last January, he noticed that both sides have been aware of the great potential of bilateral cooperation.

Kim extended an invitation to NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue and legislators of Viet Nam to attend a forum for ASEAN and Korean leaders, slated for June in the RoKs Jeju Island.

For his part, Hai affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to the relations with the RoK and suggested the two sides maintain all-level delegation exchanges and meetings, saying coordination and sharing of views on the bilateral cooperation as well as the regional and international situation would help deepen relations between their high-ranking leaders, raise mutual trust and understanding, and accelerate the implementation of reached bilateral cooperation mechanisms and agreements.

To promote the legislative ties, Hai said the two sides should supplement cooperation contents based on the agreement inked in 2013, making them match the comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the same time, they should enhance coordination and support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, for peace, security and stability in the region and the world at large.

Hai also stressed the need for the two legislatures to step up exchanges between their committees in the fields of law-making and supervision, and coordinate in facilitating people-to-people exchange, protecting citizens and removing difficulties for businesses.

He proposed the two sides encourage exchanges between female and young legislators, and support the establishment of twinning relations between Vietnamese and Korean localities.

At the reception for the Vietnamese delegation on March 22, PM Han Duck-soo emphasised that the two countries leaders have expressed their resolve to foster the bilateral relations.

The RoK government has given high priority to Viet Nam in its official development assistance (ODA) programme and wishes that the two sides will continue expanding the collaboration to create optimal conditions for people and businesses to develop stably, he said.

The PM noted that the government has made efforts to support the Vietnamese community, especially multicultural families, citing as an example the establishment of 228 multicultural centres across the country and hotlines that offer round-the-clock services.

The Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman, in reply, stressed that economic cooperation remains an important pillar of the bilateral ties, and that Viet Nam welcomes South Korean firms to expand investments in the country, particularly in high tech, science-technology, innovation, green economy, digital economy, digital transformation, clean energy and smart urban development.

The legislator expressed his hope that the two sides will partner to effectively implement the Viet Nam-RoK Free Trade Agreement, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, striving to raise the bilateral trade to US$100 billion this year and $150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable fashion.

He lauded the joint efforts made in maintaining dialogue mechanisms in national defence and security, and called on the RoK to forge labour cooperation, bringing practical interests to both.

Hai used the occasion to thank the Korean government for its effective ODA to Viet Nam, saying he hopes that the RoK will maintain the cooperation mechanism, expand its scale and increase incentives towards loans for Viet Nam through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund.

Viet Nam hopes that the Korean government will further support and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the more than 200,000 Vietnamese in the country. For its part, Viet Nam will create favourable conditions for Koreans in the Southeast Asian nation, Hai pledged.

The NA Vice Chairman and his entourage are scheduled to hold working sessions with some Korean corporations that want to expand operations in Viet Nam like Samsung.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam highlighted the significance of water security as a foundation for stability and development of each country, in the United Nations (UN) Security Council's Arria-formula meeting on March 22 on achieving better protection of water-related essential services and infrastructure for the civilian population during armed conflicts.

The meeting was attended by Executive Director of UNICEF Catherine Russell, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Robert Mardini, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, and representatives from nearly 50 countries.

Speaking at the event, Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, said that in the context of the current complicated conflicts in the world, it was more important than ever to promote the observance of the principles and obligations of the parties amid conflict.

Accordingly, the parties engaging in the conflict should have primary responsibility for the protection of civilians as well as the infrastructure providing essential services in the territory or area under their control.

The UN Security Council should take a stronger role against attacks targeting civilians and take the necessary measures to prevent such violations, she said.

She underlined that the UN, international and regional organisations also needed to strengthen cooperation and coordination in supporting awareness raising, capacity building, humanitarian and technical assistance to promote the implementation of humanitarian law in countries.

Participants shared concerns about the serious consequences of infrastructure destruction that disrupts access to basic services providing clean water during armed conflict, as well as the negative and long-term effects of this problem on the environment and people's lives.

Many countries and international organisations highly valued the councils Resolution 2573 (2021) initiated by Viet Nam on the protection of essential infrastructure for people's lives, while calling for the strengthening of the implementation of obligations under international humanitarian law, and emphasising the need for a deeper involvement of the council in this regard.  VNS
NEW YORK  Viet Nam has pledged to further enhance cooperation with international organisations and partners, especially countries within the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism, to achieve sustainable cross-border water development goals.

The message was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha in a keynote speech on March 23 (local time) at the United Nations conference on a mid-term comprehensive review of the Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development for the 2018-2022 period.

Ha said 60 per cent of Viet Nam's water resources come from trans-boundary rivers.

Viet Nam also engaged in the MRCs model of cooperation which had garnered significant attention from many countries. Worldwide, over 40 per cent of the global population was living in transboundary river and lake basins.

Sharing comprehensive, inclusive and fair approaches to cooperation in water resource management, Ha suggested strengthening the global and regional legal frameworks for the use and management of transboundary water resources; adopting an integrated, nature-based approach to managing transboundary water resources as a unified entity in the building and implementation of planning, programmes and projects; and enhancing transparent and equitable consultation mechanisms among the countries.

He stressed that the use and exploitation of water should take into account local livelihoods, socio-economic activities, and preservation of traditional cultural values and ecosystems associated with transboundary water resources.

The official proposed establishing UN agencies and bodies to coordinate and support sci-tech and financial activities, developing a global database on transboundary water resources, river basins and monitoring systems, and setting ethical standards for behaviours towards transboundary water resources.

Within the framework of the event, Deputy PM Ha met with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon and suggested both nations consider boosting cooperation in climate change adaptation and water resource management in the coming time.

Meeting Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Qu Dongyu, Ha sought the FAO's support to improve Viet Nams capacity of managing natural resources, especially agricultural land, transboundary and inland water resources.

Qu affirmed that FAO would continue providing technical and technological support for Viet Nams agriculture sector, making it easier for Viet Nam to join triangular and South-South cooperation in food and agriculture.

In a meeting with Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem, Deputy PM Ha suggested the fund offer continued support to build and launch social welfare policies in Viet Nam, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups to ensure that no one is left behind.

He also proposed the building of an index to assess population, reproductive health, adolescents and gender equality in line with international practices.

Kanem vowed to help Viet Nam effectively carry out the Country Programme for Viet Nam for 2022-2026, as well as study and enforce policies related to the Law on Gender Equality, prevention of gender-based violence, and response to population aging issues.

In a working session with French Minister for Ecological Transition and Cohesion of the Territories Christophe Bechu, the Vietnamese official suggested that both sides reinforce technical and technological cooperation in protecting water resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and coping with climate change, especially in fulfilling emission reduction commitments.

Bechu said that France always considered Viet Nam one of the priority partners in the region. He highlighted the need for joint work to implement the Joint Declaration on Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) that matches Viet Nams conditions and situation.

In a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, the Vietnamese Deputy PM called on both countries to continue working closely together on climate change response and management of water resources.

Fajon said that Slovenia advocated promoting multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, especially in water management and climate change response while offering mutual liaison at multilateral forums, particularly in the UN.

In a dialogue with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Ha emphasised that Viet Nam considered climate change and energy transition priority cooperation areas between the two nations. He wished that the US Government would continue assisting Viet Nam in delivering commitments announced at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 26) and effectively realising the Political Declaration on JETP.

Kerry said the US wished to step up collaboration with Viet Nam in all areas. He also expressed his wish to accelerate the effective delivery of commitments at COP 26, the energy transition process and the building of a low-carbon economy in Viet Nam.

Deputy Foreign Minister o Hung Viet told the Vietnam News Agency that located in the lower Mekong River basin, Viet Nam attached importance to the use and management of water resources which directly impact the lives of tens of millions of people. That's why the country had actively engaged in both bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks, notably the MRC or UN frameworks, he stressed.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a document on disease prevention and control in 2023, warning that illnesses such as dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease could be on the rise.

Signed into effect by deputy health minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong on Wednesday, the document orders that localities actively prepare and implement plans to prevent infectious outbreaks, especially COVID-19.

According to the ministry, the current global context of infectious diseases remains unpredictable.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 is still a public health emergency with possible new variants, especially when countries are reopening up their borders for trade, tourism and socio-economic development.

Dangerous infectious diseases continue to emerge across the globe, such as Marburg virus disease in Africa and avian influenza A(H5N1) in Cambodia.

Pathogens and virus strains also constantly evolve, potentially reducing the effectiveness of vaccines and causing outbreaks.

The COVID-19 situation in Viet Nam is still under control, however, the risks are still present, alongside other common infectious illnesses such as dengue, said the MoH.

Local health departments have been directed to proactively take preventive measures against infectious diseases, and stay on alert to respond to possible outbreak scenarios.

They must also strengthen medical quarantine, monitoring and supervision at border gates, in communities and health facilities for prompt interventions, minimising serious cases and fatalities.

The COVID-19 vaccination drive will also continue, especially for children aged 12 to below 18 and high-risk groups.

Local departments must also work with relevant stakeholders and MoH units to ensure the supply of medicines, biological products and medical equipment for disease prevention and control.

Provincial and city Peoples Committees will coordinate the local department of information and communication, health department and media agencies to communicate about infectious illness and promote vaccination, increasing peoples awareness and responsibility in the matter.

Inspection and supervision work with also be strengthened to address violations, per regulations.

The local Peoples Committees must allocate and ensure resources, while also mobilising sectors, departments and organisations in disease prevention and control.

Local health sectors will continue enhancing the capacity of the infectious disease prevention and control system.

They will also work on improving the quality of preventive medicine and grassroots health care, especially in the mountainous, border and island remote areas.  VNS
TRA VINH  The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tra Vinh is encouraging farmers to grow more organic coconuts to increase the value of the produce.

Tran Van Dung, deputy director of its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said coconut farmers and companies would be offered preferential policies for the purpose and linked up to establish value chains.

The department has instructed its Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department to teach farmers organic coconut growing techniques and strengthen advocacy about its benefits.

Besides reducing costs, the cultivation of organic coconuts also helps protect the environment and community health.

Tra Vinh, which is the countrys second largest coconut producer after neighbouring Ben Tre Province, has more than nearly seven million trees, mostly in Cang Long, Tieu Can and Cau Ke districts.

It produces 370,000 tonnes equivalent to 444 million coconuts a year.

With support from the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Project in Tra Vinh Province, the department developed a plan to enhance the coconut value chain productivity in 2018.

It focuses on developing concentrated organic farming areas and linkages between coconut farmers and companies.

In the five years since, the organic coconut growing area has increased to 5,000ha, up nearly 4,600ha from 2018, with an annual output of 78,500 tonnes of nuts.

Farmers have contracts with companies, who buy their coconuts at 10-15 per cent above market prices.

Duong Van Tho, chairman of the Ngai Hung Agriculture Co-operative in Tieu Can District, said his co-operative was assisted with developing a 392ha coconut growing area in 2019.

The department should regularly organise courses to train farmers in organic growing techniques, he said.

Farmers, co-operatives and companies should be helped with the development of value chains, he added.

Farmers, co-operatives and companies are developing more organic coconut growing areas.

The Thuan Phong Agricultural Product Processing Co., Ltd. in Ben Tre Province has developed a 906ha organic coconut plantation in Chau Thanh District.

The company is expected to expand it by 3,000ha by September.

Tra Vinh plans to increase its coconut growing area to 30,000ha by 2030 from more than 26,000ha now.

It has more than 50 companies, co-operatives and households which make products such as dried coconut flesh, coconut milk, oil, coal, cosmetic products, and others for both domestic consumption and exports.  VNS
HA NOI  Doctors at Viet uc Friendship Hospital have successfully performed the 100th multi-organ transplant from a brain-dead donor, marking a new step forward for the hospital and Viet Nam's health sector, said hospital director Prof. Tran Binh Giang on Thurday.

This is the 100th multi-organ transplant from a brain-dead donor at Viet uc Friendship Hospital, also the largest amount of tissue and organs that have been donated," said Prof. Giang.

"We would like to express our deep gratitude to the patients who received organs, from the doctors, the medical staff doing the organ donation work to the families of those who donated their organs for life. This is a noble gesture and a humane action that needs to be spread," said Prof. Giang.

The donor was a brain-dead patient, named D.M.K, 32, living in Bac Giang Province.

On March 6, K was in a traffic accident and was urgently transported to Viet uc Friendship Hospital due to his critical condition. Upon hearing the doctor's diagnosis, K's spouse and sibling were stunned. The medical professionals proposed organ donation after brain death, which K's family deliberated on and ultimately consented to. Despite the hospital staff's tireless efforts in administering intensive treatment and resuscitation for one day, K's family did not witness a miracle and ultimately lost their loved one.

The Organ Transplant Coordination Centre's Director, Prof. Dr Nguyen Quang Nghia, stated that a major surgery was performed at approximately 2:30pm on March 7, where the brain-dead patient generously donated their heart, liver, two kidneys, four blood vessels, 14 tendons, and two cartilages.

Utilising these organs, the hospital successfully conducted a heart transplant for a 53-year-old woman with end-stage heart failure in Bac Giang Province, a liver transplant for a 33-year-old man with biliary cysts in Ninh Binh Province, and a kidney transplant for a 42-year-old man with end-stage chronic renal failure in Hai Phong City. The remaining kidney was transplanted to a 48-year-old male patient also located in Hai Phong City, as reported by Prof. Nghia.

This marks the ninth instance where a brain-dead patient from Bac Giang Province has chosen to donate their organs, solidifying the region's position as the leading province in Viet Nam for the highest number of organ donors after brain death.

Shortage of organ and tissue donors

Since the first organ and tissue donation from a brain-dead patient in 2010, there have been 100 families who have agreed to donate their loved one's organs when suffering from traumatic or other diseases at the hospital. From 100 brain-dead donors, Viet uc Friendship hospitals doctors have successfully performed 50 heart, 83 liver, 157 kidneys, six lung transplants and many other tissue transplants.

According to statistics from the National Coordination Centre for Human Organ Transplantation, 170,000 people nationwide have registered to donate organs and tissues. Nationally, in the past 13 years, there have been about 150 cases of brain death from organ donation, this is a very small number compared to the number of brain-dead people statistically at medical facilities nationwide.

According to Prof. Giang, the biggest challenge of transplants in Viet Nam is not the technical difficulty, but the scarcity of sources of organs and tissues. Currently, 95 per cent of organ transplants in Viet Nam were conducted from living donors, and only 5 per cent of transplants were from brain-dead donors.

The demand for organ transplants is huge in Viet Nam. In addition to the Viet uc Friendship Hospital, there are only 50 organ transplants performed in other medical facilities, bringing the countrys total number of cases to nearly 150, which is still a very modest number. There are many patients that have died and can't wait until they have organs for transplant, said Prof. Giang.

Over the past 30 years, Viet Nam has had more than 6,500 successful organ transplants, including more than 6,000 kidneys, 384 liver and 59 heart transplants. Viet Nam currently has 16 kidneys, five livers and three heart transplant facilities.  VNS
HOA BINH  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), in collaboration with the Peoples Committee of Hoa Binh Province, held a national-level ceremony yesterday in response to World Water Day (March 22), World Meteorological Day (March 23), and Earth Hour 2023.

Speaking at the event, MoNRE Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan said that climate change is a serious challenge for humanity in the 21st century with negative impacts and threats to sustainable development.

Climate change is causing more extreme weather and climate phenomena, prolonged heat waves with greater intensity, greater rainfall and more severe droughts, he stressed.

This year, the theme Accelerating change of World Water Day, The future of weather, climate, and water across generations of World Meteorological Day, and The biggest hour for earth of Earth Hour are closely linked with one another in aspects of environment, resources, and ecology, Nhan stated, adding that the weather, climate and water cycle know no borders.

The above messages emphasise that it is time for changes to ensure global goals on weather, water resources, and climate change; call on the international community to act and show their roles and responsibilities in face of impacts of natural disasters and climate change; and create a difference by changing the way water is used, exploited and managed in the daily life to minimise impacts of environmental degradation.

To spread these messages, the deputy minister proposed ministries, sectors and localities unify actions; review and perfect the law and policy system on resource management, environmental protection, and climate change response; and codify the contents of international treaties and agreements to which Viet Nam is a member.

It is necessary to step up dissemination of laws related to hydro-meteorology, especially in areas vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena; manage the exploitation and effective use of water resources; and ensure water security and safety of reservoirs and dams in service of socio-economic development, he stressed.

UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam Ramla Khalidi said that the organistaion pledges to maintain effective cooperation with the MoNRE, other ministries, sectors, local authorities, the media and development partners to boost the implementation of necessary actions, contributing to building a prosperous country in which no one is left behind.  VNS
AK LAK  Four people who gave balloons to more than 30 primary students have been detained by the Krong Ana District Police in the Central Highlands province of ak Lak.

Officers arrested three men and one woman. Two are foreigners and two are Vietnamese.

The district police are working with the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct further investigations, said a leader of the district police on Friday.

The incident happened at about 1.30pm on Wednesday at Ly Tu Trong Primary School in Buon Trap Town, Krong Ana District.

Four people came to the school and gave balloons to the students.

About half an hour later, 31 students began to show signs of dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, and nausea.

They were then taken to the schools medical room and the case was reported to local authorities.

Among the 31 students, 17 were admitted to the district medical centre. The other 14 with lighter symptoms are being monitored at home.

The students said that there was a kind of white powder on the balloons. They started to have the symptoms when they blew the balloons.

The principal of the Ly Tu Trong Primary School said that the white powder tested negative for drugs.

All of the students are in stable conditions.  VNS
A conference was held in Vinh City in the central province of Nghe An on March 23 to review the project.

The project covers five provinces of Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, aiming to contribute to promoting economic development and business efficiency of small-scale firms and processors towards sustainable standards, while strengthening market access and creating favourable policies for inclusive and sustainable development of the clam and bamboo value chain in Viet Nam.

It also focused on reducing poverty and inequality in rural areas of Viet Nam, assisting clam and bamboo producers and processors in applying sustainable practices, and promoting public-private partnerships in fair and responsible chain governance.

A report from the project showed that in 2018, there were about 1.5 million small-scale producers and processors engaged in clam and bamboo industries. However, they faced many challenges, mostly due to the impoverished situation of material areas as a result of degradation, overexploitation and lack of understanding of sustainable maintenance.

In this situation, the project coordinated with the localities to improve farming techniques in order to achieve international certificates such as MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) for clam, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for bamboo, enabling their products to enter large markets such as the US, the EU and Japan.

In 2019, Quan Hoa District in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa became the first locality in Viet Nam to achieve the FSC certificate for bamboo production, followed by Que Phong District in neighbouring Nghe An Province and Quan Son District in Thanh Hoa.

In early 2023, the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh became the third clam production area to achieve ASC certificate. These are considered big steps for Vietnamese clam and bamboo industries.

Phan Van Thang, director of the Research Centre for Non-Timber Forest Product, said at the event that after receiving the FSC certificate, the bamboo forests were grown and maintained better, generating higher productivity and more stable quality products, resulting in higher socio-economic and environmental values.

Hoang Quang Phong, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that thanks to the project, more than 34,000 people had enjoyed sustainable income from clam and bamboo, while 125 production groups were better organised, 63 businesses had seen their business situation advance, and more than 4,000 new jobs have been created.

At the same time, the project had helped increase Viet Nam's clam exports to Europe by 38-40 per cent, and bamboo exports by 42 per cent, he said.

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Cambodia slams U.S. for its "double standard" human rights report

Xinhua) 10:09, March 24, 2023

PHNOM PENH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia said on Thursday that the "U.S. Department of State's 2022 Human Rights Report on Cambodia" was downright unfounded, biased, and prejudicial as to its political nature.

"The U.S. Department of State's Annual Human Rights Reports on other countries, including Cambodia, exposes blatantly a double standard in its practice, particularly in the absence of its own country report," the Cambodian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson said in a press statement.

"The United States with more than two hundred years of its own version of democracy still encounters on a daily basis systematic human rights abuses, among them racism, hate crimes, mass shootings and police brutalities, prison abuses, millions of pandemic-related fatalities, death penalties, and the lack of rights to abortion, to name just the major ones," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the double standard is so obvious in the specific instance when the U.S. authorities pursued legal actions against more than 1,000 individuals allegedly involved in the Capitol Hill insurrection.

"Ironically, in a similar situation in Cambodia, the report highlighted them as a mass trial to silence the dissenting views," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said that the government's commitment to promoting and protecting human rights remains as strong as ever.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyoo-hong speaks during a meeting at the Government Complex in Seoul, Friday. During the meeting, officials discussed measures to boost exports in the biohealth industry. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



The government will boost exports of the domestic biohealth industry, which includes pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medicine and bioengineering, by creating a large fund and supporting the development of blockbuster drugs.



The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Friday that the government will create the "K-biovaccine fund" worth 500 billion won ($387 million) during the first half this year and expand it to 1 trillion won by the end of 2025.



Regulations will be eased and various incentives such as government subsidies will be offered to encourage domestic companies to expand their investments and production facilities.



Another 2.2 trillion won will be invested by the end of 2030 to support the development of new drugs and help domestic firms enter global markets. This would allow the country to have blockbuster drugs that generate annual sales of more than 1 trillion won, according to the health ministry.



The government will nurture some 4,000 professionals in the area of production by the end of 2025 by utilizing the Korea National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (K-NIBRT) center at Yonsei University International Campus located in Songdo, Incheon.





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TAIPEI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DEKRA issued ISO 26262: 2018 ASIL-D Automotive Functional Safety Certificate to Clientron Corp., a leading automotive electronics manufacturer striving to enlarge their presence in the smart automotive supply chain worldwide.





Clientron Corp. Obtained DEKRA ISO 26262 Automotive Functional Safety Certificate

ISO 26262 is a globally recognized automotive functional safety standard, regarded as one of the basic requirements for suppliers to enter the automotive supply chain. The standard applies to the complete lifecycle of electrical and electronic components in the automotive industry, including initial safety concept, system development, software and hardware development, production, operation, maintenance, and scrapping. ASIL (Automotive Safety Integration Level) is a risk classification system defined by the ISO 26262 standard. ASIL has four categories - ASIL A to ASIL D, and ASIL D indicates the most critical level of development process. Clientron Corp. has focused their efforts on the establishment of the functional safety system for their intelligent cockpit. It involves multiple development phases, namely functional safety management, development at the concept stage and system stage, software/hardware development, process safety, and product launch. Thanks to the professional consulting service and support from the iST's technological safety advisor team, Clientron Corp. managed to receive ISO 26262 functional safety certificate at the highest level of ASIL-D from DEKRA. This demonstrates that they can effectively control the risks and functional safety identified in the development process and deliver the product's safety and reliability. Therefore, their smart cockpit is well served with a safe, intelligent driving environment, which strongly positions them in the international electric vehicle market.

At the certificate awarding ceremony, Ms. Kelly Wu, General Manager of Clientron Corp., received the ISO 26262 Certificate from Mr. Aaron Lee, Managing Director of DEKRA Taiwan. Mr. Daniel Lee, General Manager of DEKRA Taiwan Product Testing Operations and Mr. Kevin Huang, Manager of Global Functional Safety/Cyber-Security, who is responsible for this certification project, Mr. Tai-You Tsou, Functional Safety Assessor, and Mr. William Cheng, Senior Vice President of Integrated Service Technology, leading the assistance and consulting team for this project, attended this ceremony.

Ms. Kelly Wu, General Manager of Clientron Corp., stated that the successful ISO 26262 certification at the highest level ASIL-D represents Clientron Corp.' remarkable capability in working out safe, reliable, connected V2X solutions for smart cockpits by working to the development process and management system of international automakers. Clientron Corp. has set electronics, battery, electrical engineering, and electrical control at its core and integrated the EV automotive electronics system. With this solution, everything is interconnected, from autonomous driving information system and dashboard of the smart cockpit to BCM (body control module), VCU (vehicle control unit), AVAS (acoustic vehicle alerting system), and vision assistance system. The certification also expands collaboration opportunities with European and American automakers and tier-1 suppliers. Clientron Corp. thus showcases their determination to gain a foothold in the smart automotive supply chain and break into the global EV market.

Mr. Gerhard Rieger, Senior Vice President of DEKRA Global Functional Safety, emphasized that safety has always been key to vehicle development. Riding the trends of intelligentization, automation, and connectivity, vehicles will be mounted with more highly functional electronic products, but these electronic systems with high complexity entail considerable risks to safety. This is where ISO 26262 process certification comes into play to ensure compliance with the required functional safety level when developing vehicles. Therefore, early implementation of ISO 26262 process certification at the design and development phases significantly reduces failure risks while saving time, resources, and cost of development.

Mr. Aaron Lee, Managing Director of DEKRA Taiwan, expressed that the automotive industry is rapidly edging towards electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity, and in turn drives the need for more advanced electronics and safety assistance systems in future cars. Accordingly, safety is of critical priority when it comes to design and development. Manufacturers can seek help from DEKRA's team of experts to implement ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, Automotive SPICE and Cyber-Security processes. Besides, DEKRA provides integrated service solutions, including training, gap analysis, testing, and certification, for manufacturers to efficiently pass various international standards and process certifications, securing their entry ticket to the automotive supply chain.

Mr. William Cheng, Senior Vice President of iST, who leads the consulting team for this project, added that DEKRA is the world's leading company in automotive electronics testing and certification, and iST has a superior advantage in the field of automotive electronics reliability verification and consulting. In 2020, iST started to cooperate with DEKRA to provide integrated solutions for automotive electronic functional safety through the partnership. We provide professional consulting services to Clientron from ISO 26262 specifications, covering process, production, development tool, and SEooC (Safety Element out of Context) as well as subsequent audit and certification applications, providing an integrated solution for automotive electronic functional safety.

Source: DEKRA
CAAV suggests more time for piloting biometric authentication - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed continuing pilot application of biometric authentication (facial recognition) at airports check-in desks.

The high-tech method aims to contribute to ensuring social order and security, reduce time for check-in procedures, and increase accuracy. Facial recognition technology can also improve the prevention and detection of passengers using fake documents, and detect those who are banned from flying or wanted criminals that cross borders.

Recently, the authority hosted a meeting to discuss issues related to legal regulations on applying the technology.

CAAV reported that the pilot application of facial recognition technology at Cat Bi international airport in the northern city of Hai Phong has not clearly demonstrated its advantages and disadvantages, suggesting extending the piloting period.

The authority proposed amendments and supplements to regulations on passengers documents for air travel and personal information to encourage the use of documents integrated with the e-identification and authentication account system or the citizen identification data system, and passports, and building clearer regulations on collecting, managing and using the information of passengers during the check-in process.

CAAV has also requested agencies and units operating in aviation to urgently implement its directives, thus speeding up the implementation of the project on developing the application of population database, e-identification, and e-authentication for the national digital transformation in the 2022-2025 period with a vision to 2030.
Illustrative image. Source: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

EVN has received a document from the MoIT about an electricity price agreement with solar power and transitional wind power plants. The document states that, on January 7, Minister of Industry and Trade signed Decision No.21/QD-BCT establishing the price bracket for the generation of electricity by solar and transitional wind power plants.

On January 9, the MoIT issued Document No.107/BCT-DTDL, urging EVN and its investors in solar energy and transitional wind plants to urgently coordinate to negotiate and cooperate on electricity generation prices to ensure that they do not exceed the MoIT's electricity generation price bracket.

The MoIT also issued Document No.1094/BCT-DTDL on March 2, directing EVN on how to fulfil the agreement on electricity pricing outlined in the Electricity Law.

Based on the aforementioned guidelines, the MoIT requests that EVN and its investors agree on electricity prices by March 31.

Up to now, 84 renewable energy projects (with a combined capacity of around 4,676MW) are behind schedule for commercial operations. Of which, 34 transition projects (28 wind power projects and six solar power projects) with a combined capacity of about 2,091MW have been constructed and tested. According to prior rulings, these projects are not eligible for a 20-year fixed preferential power price (feed-in tariff).

In a previous document provided to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, 36 wind and solar investors reported that only 34 projects had received the required investment, with a total of more than $3.6 billion. Of this, more than $2.46 billion was funded by banks.

The transitional power purchase price was also the primary topic of discussion at the March 20 meeting between the MoIT, EVN, and 84 investors in wind and solar power. The investors advised EVN to mobilise energy at a preliminary price of 6.2 US cents per kWh.

According to the MoIT's Decree No.21/2011/ND-CP that stipulates the price range for electricity generation from solar power plants and transitional wind power, the ceiling price for transitional solar power projects ranges from 5 to 6.4 US cents per kWh, while the ceiling price for transitional wind power projects ranges from 6.7 to 7.7 US cents per kWh.

MoIT clarifies solar energy administration In order to rectify the existing inadequacies, Vietnam might have to adopt a long-term strategy to develop solar energy.

EVN makes request to raise power price Electricity of Vietnam has proposed increasing electricity prices after losing more than $1.35 billion this year due to soaring input costs.
Design of the Central Government Core Area, or KIPP, at Indonesia's new capital city (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan. (Photo source: ANTARA)

Jakarta  Indonesia's new capital city (IKN) Nusantara Authority and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are collaborating to build a sustainable city in IKN Nusantara, East Kalimantan.

According to head of IKN Nusantaras authority Bambang Susantono, the collaboration will accelerate the goal to realise IKN Nusantara as a city for all.



He remarked that the IKN authority and UNDP had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together in building a sustainable city in IKN Nusantara.



The MoU will serve as the basis for joint initiatives in various efforts to realise eight main principles of IKN development, including building the city in accordance with nature, reflecting unity in persity, building a connected, active, and accessible city, enabling low-carbon emissions, being circular and resilient, promoting safety and accessibility, ensuring safety and efficiency through technology, and increasing economic opportunities for all, Susantono stressed.



In the future, the two parties will encourage inclusive, just, productive, and sustainable development practices, he added.



Susantono affirmed that this collaboration will also assist the Indonesian government to establish IKN Nusantara as a symbol of national identity towards realising the Indonesia Vision 2045.



Earlier, the authority of IKN Nusantara and the Centre for Livable Cities (CLC), an institution part of the Singapore Ministry of National Development, had collaborated to develop a livable city at IKN Nusantara.

Indonesia focuses on building electric vehicle ecosystem Indonesia's Ministry of Industry is striving to accelerate the growth of the battery-based electric motorised vehicle (KBLBB) ecosystem to reduce fuel consumption, according to the ministry's Secretary General Dody Widodo.

Indonesia prepares over 12 billion USD for Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr Bank Indonesia (BI) is preparing 195 trillion Rp (12.7 billion USD) in cash in preparation for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.
Le Viet Anh, director general of the MPI's Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment

In attendance at the Voluntary National Review (VNR) workshop were delegates from ministries and state agencies; the business and media sectors; and national and international organisations.

The 2030 Agenda was adopted by United Nations member states in September 2015 with a focus on the 17 SDGs. The VNR is a mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the agenda on a global scale. VNRs are presented annually to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) of the United Nations. Vietnam first presented a VNR in 2018, and will present a second, along with 41 other countries, later this year.

In his opening remarks, Le Viet Anh, director general of the Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment at the MPI said, "Vietnam wishes to share our achievements and progress in the implementation of SDGs, to discuss the challenges and lessons learned we encountered in this process and provide orientation for key activities for the remaining half of the journey."

"Participation in VNR 2023 affirms Vietnam's continued commitment to joining the international community in its implementation of SDGs as we move towards a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous world for everyone, added Viet Anh.

He acknowledged the valuable contributions of national and international stakeholders, especially the government of the Federal Republic of Germany, for their important support in the preparation and completion of the VNR, and the UN for its technical assistance in the drafting of the VNR.

GIZ representative Dennis Quennet, chief technical advisor of the Macroeconomic Reform/Green Growth Programme, remarked that VNRs are critical factors in reviewing and implementing the 2030 Agenda and SDGs for many countries around the world.

"GIZ will continue to collaborate with the MPI by sharing relevant expertise and practices and to ensure that Vietnam achieves sustainable economic growth commitments. This will in turn benefit the country in many ways, such as social justice, better managed and used resources, protected ecological environment, and a more proactive response to climate change, said Quennet.

Naomi Kitahara, the acting resident coordinator of the UN, showed great appreciation for Vietnam's government and its use of innovative data sources in the development of VNR 2023. She pointed out that investing in social protection and energy transition can greatly accelerate progress towards achieving SDGs.

The UN estimates that each dollar invested in social security can generate a greater return in GDP, ensuring more socioeconomic benefits, contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth, and leaving no one behind, said Kitahara.

The UN has encouraged the Vietnamese government to continue developing and implementing follow-up actions to accelerate the implementation of SDGs after the VNR is completed.

Participants also proposed priority areas for SDG implementation in the future and appreciated the efforts of the MPI in preparing for the VNR. Representatives were thankful for the opportunity for all stakeholders to provide input and have their voices heard in the conversation around implementing SDGs by 2030.

Vietnam and UNFPA fully committed to SDGs by 2030 The government confirmed that the interventions and support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2017-2021 substantially contributed to the country's efforts in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The Muong people gather in March to celebrate Muong Thanh New Year, the group's own customary celebration. This one-of-a-kind programme begins with a variety of entertaining and thrilling activities that are set to the traditional rhythms of this northwestern celebration. It will highlight numerous profound messages to promote the beauty of Vietnam.

Muong Thanh Dien Chau staff

It alludes to the cultural splendour of Muong Thanh New Year, which draws inspiration from traditional games and the distinctive cuisine of the Thai ethnic minority in Dien Bien province. There are boys and girls adorned in the traditional clothes of the Mong and Thai people, and they become intoxicated by the melody of the trumpet and flute during the Xoe Thai and stall dances.

Outdoor activities in Muong Thanh Hue

Under the theme Tet Muong Thanh: Awakening Springtime to the Northwest, Muong Thanh hopes to offer guests a glimpse of the region in transition from spring to summer. On the terraced fields in the new season, the white valleys are filled with flowers and plum blossoms. All are vividly duplicated by the 60 Muong Thanh Hotel staff across Vietnam and Laos.

Muong Thanhs 60th hotel breaks Indochina's hotel chain record On December 24, Muong Thanh Group launched Muong Thanh Luxury Cao Bang Hotel, its 60th location, to mark its 30th anniversary.

Breaking records with Muong Thanh Hospitality Lighting up the map of the Vietnamese hospitality industry, Muong Thanh Hospitality has built a position in the hearts and minds of guests from home and abroad.
Straight Outta Bangkok, running from March 16 until March 25, celebrates an authentic taste of Thailand and stars guest Thai chef Burin Pongchang from the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers Bangkok.

Straight Outta Asia is the first culinary event with international guest chefs at Sheraton Saigon

Straight Outta Asia casts an extensive array of international guest chefs who have a huge passion for developing their food cultures across the globe. Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea will all be represented.

Inspired by the culinary offerings from each region, Straight Outta Asia rolls out the carpet straight to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and Tokyo, while guests dine right in the centre of downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

Chef Burin Pongchang

Thai cuisine is featured as the first concept, as it has become tremendously popular in Ho Chi Minh City for its distinctive harmony of contrasting flavours.

Through Straight Outta Bangkok, food connoisseurs can travel on a sizzling journey of authenticity, highlighting dishes such as Tom Yum, Pad Thai, and Som Tum, a selection of authentic Thai curries, and must-try desserts including mango sticky rice and Thai milk tea.

All signature dishes are curated by Chef Burin Pongchang with over 30 years of experience. As the Sous Chef of Feast restaurant under the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers Bangkok, Chef Pongchang is the regular guest chef of international Thai promotions in China, Malaysia, and beyond.

Executive assistant manager of Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers Stephen Wright said, As a 5-star hotel in the food and beverage industry in Ho Chi Minh City, we have never stopped re-inventing ourselves with phenomenal offerings. This initiative does not only bring our guests a unique culinary experience, but also creates a playground for our local chefs to cross train and exchange skills to develop themselves in their careers.

He added, "We are extremely excited to introduce Straight Outta Asia and honoured to welcome our very first international guest chef from Thailand. Chef Burin Pongchang, who demonstrates such a burning love and in-depth knowledge of Thai cuisines, is the perfect choice for this collaboration."
Sunset at Phukets famous Windmill Viewpoint.(Photo source: The Phuket News)

Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Phuket and the northeastern provinces of Thailand (Isan) have been included on the TIME magazines list of The Worlds Greatest Places of 2023.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the list, which showcases 50 extraordinary destinations to explore, describes Phuket as one of Thailands most visited places and is known for its famed beaches. Phuket has increased its family appeal with the grand opening of Carnival Magic, a culturally-focused theme park last September. The island province is also drawing more visitors to its uncrowded countryside with an impressive landscape of modern luxury lodges.

The TIME list mentions Isan for the regions perse and delicious culinary options. It also mentions that those who venture to this off-the-beaten-path region of Thailand teeming with rice fields are rewarded with national parks, temple ruins, and Michelin-recommended restaurants. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of Thailands first national park, Khao Yai, which sits largely in Nakhon Ratchasima province and is home to elephants, gibbons, and Asian black bears.



TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated that having not just one, but two destinations, in this prestigious compilation of worldwide destinations is an honour and something that everyone in the country can be proud of. He went on to say that Thailand is ready to welcome travellers from all around the world as part of the "Visit Thailand Year 2023: Incredible New Chapters" campaign."

Thailands employment backs to pre-COVID level: NESDC The employment rate and working hours in the 4th quarter of 2022 in Thailand were similar to those before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released on March 3 by the country's National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

Thailand eyes food trucks as new tourism trend Thailands Department of Business Development (DBD) is eyeing a new tourism trend - food trucks - in an effort to attract more visitors to the country.

Thailand to launch AI to scrutinise taxes Thai Director General of the Revenue Department Lavaron Sangsnit hass aid the department is using artificial intelligence (AI) to examine tax payments, enabling deeper scrutiny and preventing tax evasion.
Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh (Photo source: nhandan.vn)

Hanoi  Chao tieng Viet  a set of books on Vietnamese language teaching, is televised for the first time, marking the success of efforts to spread the love for this language to all over the world.

This initial achievement came from collaboration and creativeness of the Vietnam Television (VTV), the Vietnam Education Publishing House and the author Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh, who has rich experiences in teaching Vietnamese language in Moscow and European countries like Poland, France and Germany.



Broadcast on VTV4  a channel designed mainly for Vietnamese people living abroad, the Vietnamese language teaching programme targets children and adolescents who are just learning and getting used to the Vietnamese language.



In addition to lessons taught by Anh herself, there are also interactions with children, and small stories featuring the countrys traditional culture.

Free Vietnamese-language course held in Czech Republics city A free Vietnamese-language course for Vietnamese children opened in Ostrava city, North Moravia of the Czech Republic on September 22.
Director-General Chung You-a of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance of KOICA, right, and Maruf Yaman, head of Foreign Affairs Department of Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, pose after signing a Record of Discussions, in Hatay Province, Turkey, Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of KOICA



By Kang Seung-woo



The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkey, Wednesday, for a cooperative project to build a temporary settlement for victims of the earthquake in Turkey.



Through this agreement, KOICA and AFAD will cooperate with private organizations to create a temporary settlement composed of 500 container housing structures in Hatay Province.



The project will also include services for earthquake-affected people regarding psychological and social support, a system for protection and livelihood, education, health and nutrition and WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene). Through the project, some $10 million ($12.9 billion) will be provided in support  $8 million from KOICA and $2 million from Korean non-governmental organizations.



Through this project, the organizations seek to contribute to supporting and restoring the livelihoods of the people of Turkey. Upon completion, KOICA will transfer the responsibilities of the project, including the infrastructure and social services, to local governments in Turkey.



The third round of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), consisting of private and government entities, was dispatched to Turkey on March 13 to plan the project and to build a temporary settlement for disaster restoration. The third dispatch team returned to Korea, Thursday.



The team planned details of the project to construct a temporary settlement for victims via consultations with relevant organizations and an inspection of the site. Amid the national emergency, KOICA and AFAD carried out effective negotiations and inspections in the affected areas in order to sign a Record of Discussions for the project.



"This activity of KDRT contributed to saving lives, and is meaningful in that the government and private organizations cooperated in the affected country," said Chung You-a, the director-general of KOICA's Department of Multilateral Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance. "KOICA will make the utmost effort to make this a model example of public-private development assistance."



This inspection party for the project to construct a temporary settlement in Turkey marks the first case of public-private cooperation emergency assistance since the 2007 enactment of the Overseas Emergency Relief Act, and hopes to contribute to the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus discussions of the international community.


QUESTA, N.M. (AP)  Residents of a small northern New Mexico community will soon see police officers patrolling the streets in vehicles marked with the village's name for the first time in three years.

The Questa Police Department is scheduled to reopen April 1 with four police officers led by the village's new police chief, Ronald Montez Jr. The Taos News was the first to report the police department's expected return.

Home to about 1,700 residents, Questa is about a 30-minute drive north of the popular tourist destination of Taos and serves as the gateway for the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

Without a law enforcement agency, traffic infractions and stuff like that were never really enforced, Montez, a former New Mexico State Police officer, told Taos News.

Questa has been without a police department since 2020, when then-police Chief Nicolas Lamendola and all three of the village's officers resigned for still-unknown reasons.

To fill the gap, the Taos County Sheriff's Office has been providing police services to the village under a contract that ends next month. Residents have said sheriff's deputies were sometimes slow to respond.

Questa Mayor John Anthony Ortega began rebuilding the village's police force soon after he was sworn in last April, fulfilling a promise he had made on the campaign trail.

Its pretty exciting, Ortega said. I think, at the end of the day, even though it took longer than I and many of the citizens would have wanted, were getting a better department.
First came the Twitter critics, then the late-night comedians and now the satirists: Prince Harry's bestselling memoir "Spare" is getting the parody treatment, to arrive on the heels of April Fool's Day.

Yes, the joke book is real, according to U.K. publisher Little, Brown, which is part of Hachette U.K.

"Spare Us! A Harrody" will be available to buy in the U.K. on April 5, a spokesperson for Little, Brown said in a Thursday email to the L.A. Times. It's still unclear if the book will be sold in the U.S.

The satire mocks the famed 38-year-old prince's merciless tell-all, that he published earlier this year, that skewered the modern British royal family. The original Penguin Random House book contained unwelcome revelations about the spare heir  who is sixth in the British royal line of succession  including barbs about his sister-in-law Kate Middleton and anecdotes in which he smeared Elizabeth Arden cream on his frostbitten "todger" and lost his virginity in a field.

"All I had ever wanted was privacy. In order to get it, it seemed that an exceptionally detailed 500,000-word book was in order," reads a pointed "Spare Us!" excerpt released on the U.K. publisher's website. The book cover also features another portrait of Harry, this time with tape placed across his mouth.

"Spare Us!" was written by Bruno Vincent, whose other titles include "Fairy Tales for Millennials" and a dozen sendups of Enid Blyton's "Famous Five" series, including "Five Go Gluten Free" and best-seller "Five on Brexit Island." Vincent takes aim at the duke of Sussex's memoir amid his and his wife Meghan's apparently contradictory pursuit of privacy in Southern California.

"He was born into an ancient, powerful dynasty and, through no fault of his own, became one of the most recognisable men on the planet. His life was a constant barrage of press intrusion and manipulation. Until, finally, he demanded that it stop," the synopsis says.

"In order to get the privacy he so craved, he has written a frostbite-and-all book that goes deep inside the castle walls and exposes every shouting match, fist fight, betrayal, teddy bear, awkward hug and tear-stained wedding rehearsal for the world to feast their eyes on.

"All for privacy! This is his story."

The book is the latest snarky take-down of the royal couple, who stepped back as working royals in 2020 and relocated to Montecito, California, amid a media firestorm in the U.K. (Harry and Meghan have repeatedly taken shots at the royal family in their recent Netflix docuseries, Meghan's "Archetypes" podcast and bombshell 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview.)

The duke and duchess of Sussex were lampooned by Comedy Central's "South Park" in a February episode titled "The Worldwide Privacy Tour." Meghan, a former TV actor who starred in the legal drama "Suits," was reportedly "upset and overwhelmed" by the episode.

Representatives for the couple did not immediately respond Thursday to the L.A. Times' requests for comment about "Spare Us!"


A false report Thursday afternoon of students shot at University High School led officers to respond and clear the facility, officials said. Waco ISD police quickly determined there was no shooting, and classes returned to a normal schedule.

Waco police dispatchers received a call at 1 p.m. reporting students had been shot at University High, 3201 S. New Road, according to a statement from Waco police spokesperson Cierra Shipley.

It was found that there was no active shooter and no injured students, the call was a false report, Shipley said.

Waco police and officers from other surrounding agencies responded to the campus to find Waco ISD police officers already there and reporting there was no shooting, Shipley said.

Officers still cleared the school out of abundance of caution, Shipley said.

Shipley said the false report would be investigated.

University is at least the third area school where a false shooting report has been made since the fall. A false report of a shooting came in about Midway High School on Nov. 30, and false reports of shootings were made Sept. 13 about Waco High School and at schools in Dallas, Houston and the Austin area.

While the incidents appear similar on the surface  a call to dispatch of shot students turns out to be false after officers respond without finding a shooter  police officials have not said the false reports in the Waco area are connected.
Donald Trumps presidential campaign now predicts the rally scheduled Saturday at Waco Regional Airport will attract 15,000 people, some fans already making their presence felt by hawking Trump-themed merchandise around town. The city of Waco will create 12 designated parking areas near the airport, and law enforcement is massing.

And the Trump campaign has paid its tab for all the attention. City spokesperson Monica Sedelmeier said Thursday the campaign was billed $60,714 for city services, a debt now retired.

The event will start at noon Saturday, but parking lots will welcome guests four hours earlier, at 8 a.m. Gates open at noon, and the preliminaries kick off at 2 p.m. Former President Trump, who has made Waco his kickoff point for 2024 campaign rallies, is scheduled to speak 90 minutes beginning at 5 p.m.

Jonathan Cook, Wacos parks and recreation director who has spearheaded planning for other large gatherings, said during a press conference Thursday that attendees will have access to food, beverages and restroom facilities during what essentially will become a daylong event. Logistically speaking, planning has included consideration the airport will not close Saturday. Business as usual means departures and arrivals on the ground and in the air. A dedicated road route will be in place for people to access the airport terminal, though the city recommends allowing extra time to get there.

Multiple agencies are involved in the security, Sedelmeier said. Waco PD is coordinating with national, state and local agencies.

Agencies have played their cards close to the vest, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara, for example, telling the Tribune-Herald he would not discuss strategies nor the deputy count assigned to the Trump detail. The Texas Department of Public Safetys media relations office responded to a request for information with an email message saying it would look into the matter.

Cook said about 30 city employees have involved themselves in event preparation, staffers mostly from the city managers office, parks and recreation, public works, legal, the Waco Police Department and the Waco Fire Department.

Waco City Manager Bradley Ford said during Thursdays press conference the city about two weeks ago received an inquiry about hosting the rally. Initial planning has gone into overdrive as the day approaches.

Were expecting thousands, McLennan County Republican Party Chair Brad Holland said. Our office is getting calls nationally and internationally. People traveling from other states is common, with contingents from North Carolina, New Mexico and Oklahoma expected. Ive done interviews with a Canadian newspaper and TV station.

Holland said the Trump campaign did not ask the local Republican Party to assist with the rally, but that Republicans here are looking forward to Trumps arrival and would help if needed. He told the Tribune-Herald earlier this week the party remains neutral and would endorse no candidate. He said it would welcome appearances, for example, by GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has not officially launched his 2024 presidential campaign but has laid the groundwork for a run.

His (Trumps) campaign approached the city, the airport and the county before any of us, well before I knew it was on the radar, Holland said.

Why the Trump campaign chose Waco remains the subject of speculation. Some suggest the areas rock-ribbed conservatism and loyalty to Trump carried the day. Others wonder if Waco being linked to the deadly Branch Davidian standoff in 1993, and the anti-government sentiment it kindled, proved attractive to Trump, who refers to Washington, D.C., as the swamp.

I think Trump picked Waco, though maybe he had help, said Holland, who earlier in the week told the Tribune-Herald that Republican higher-ups had indicated the Trump campaign preferred a site away from Texas major metropolitan areas such as Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin.

Pat Flavin, a political science professor at Baylor University, said Trump is politically shrewd, and that the Branch Davidian scenario might appeal to him.

He has expressed skepticism and outright hostility toward the federal government, the deep state, Flavin said. But the fact this is the 30th anniversary of the Branch Davidian standoff could be dismissed as simply a coincidence.

Flavin said he is very much interested in Saturdays turnout, whether Trump still resonates with his base as he once did. He said he wonders if Trump has so much political baggage that his shot at a second term has passed.

If there are big empty spaces on Saturday, concerns about that enthusiasm will be well founded, Flavin said. Perhaps thats why he prefers places with a smaller venue, to avoid what might not be a good look.

Mark Hays, who chairs the McLennan County Democratic Party, said Trump is a showman. The Democratic Party locally released a statement, saying, We feel the former Presidents visit to Waco serves to distract voters from more substantive issues. Donald Trumps short time in the White House was a disaster for hard working Texas families and we are confident that, if he is the Republican nominee in 2024, our state will reject his failed vision.

State Sen. Brian Birdwell, whose district includes Waco, said, I am excited that President Trump has chosen Waco to kickoff his Texas campaign. I look forward to welcoming him and his many Central Texas supporters on Saturday.
The Midway High School Diversity Council teamed up with Isaiah 117 House in Waco this month to sponsor its first-ever sock drive.

Midway High School students collected a total of 1,968 pairs of brand-new socks to donate to foster children in McLennan County.

Isaiah 117 House is a nonprofit organization that changes the way foster care begins. It offers a transitional placement for children to stay before being placed in foster families, providing a comforting home to sleep in while they await placement.

The nearly 2,000 pairs of socks donated by the Midway High Diversity Council will help provide a small sense of comfort and support to children during a challenging time, according to a news release.
CEDAR BLUFFS  St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Cedar Bluffs will be hosting its 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 1, at the church, located at 300 S. Second St., in Cedar Bluffs. The Easter egg hunt will begin at 11 a.m. sharp.

All children  infants through the sixth grade  are welcome to participate. There will be three separate egg hunt areas based on age: preschool (includes infants and toddlers); kindergarten through second grade; and third through sixth grade.

We are looking forward to offering the Easter egg hunt again this year, Egg Hunt Coordinator Tammy Greunke said. We hope area families continue to make our egg hunt a part of their Easter tradition and enjoy this fun event.

The ringing of the church bell will signal the start of the egg hunt.

The egg hunt, which will take place rain or shine, will feature thousands of colorful, treat-filled eggs and prizes. The Easter Bunny also will be stopping by for pictures.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrive at the national cemetery in Daejeon, 139 kilometers south of Seoul, March 24. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Friday to make North Korea pay for its reckless provocations as the regime claimed to have carried out additional simulations of nuclear attacks on its enemies.



Yoon issued the warning hours after North Korea said it conducted the simulations this week involving cruise missile launches and an underwater nuclear attack drone, with leader Kim Jong-un threatening to make Seoul and Washington "plunge into despair."



"North Korea is advancing its nuclear weapons by the day, and carrying out missile provocations with an unprecedented intensity," Yoon said at a memorial ceremony marking West Sea Defense Day at the national cemetery in Daejeon, 139 kilometers south of Seoul.



"I will make sure North Korea pays the price for its reckless provocations," he said.



West Sea Defense Day commemorates the 55 service members who died in action while defending the Northern Limit Line, the de facto western maritime border between South and North Korea, between 2002 and 2010.



The 55 include the 46 sailors killed aboard the corvette Cheonan in March 2010 in a torpedo attack blamed on the North.



"Our government and military will dramatically strengthen the South Korean three-axis system in the face of North Korea's nuclear and missile advancements and provocations, and further solidify security cooperation between South Korea and the United States, and between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan," Yoon said, referring to a military system involving anti-missile defense, a program to incapacitate the North Korean leadership, and a preemptive strike platform. (Yonhap)


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DES MOINES  Iowa House lawmakers Tuesday advanced a bill that would allow some forms of birth control to be dispensed without a prescription.

A similar proposal passed out of the House Health and Human Services Committee as part of Gov. Kim Reynolds overarching maternal health care bill, but the Senate last week tacked the measure onto a bill that allowed epi pens to be dispensed without a prescription rather than including it in Reynolds bill. A three-member House subcommittee advanced that bill, Senate File 326, on Tuesday.

Reynolds told reporters Tuesday she is working with lawmakers and leadership to get the policy passed in some form this year.

My goal is to get it across the finish line, so were going to continue to sit down with lawmakers and find what that compromise looks like, she said.

Rep. Devon Wood, R-New Market, who led the subcommittee, said she prefers the language in the House bill, which requires a patient to have a follow-up visit with a physician within 27 months of receiving the medication.

Wood didnt say whether the birth control provision would be kept in the governors health care bill or in Senate File 326, but said there are several paths forward for the legislation.

EMERGENCY E15 WAIVER: Gov. Reynolds on Tuesday led a joint, bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue an emergency waiver allowing for the summer sale of higher ethanol blends.

The EPA earlier this month announced intentions to allow the sale of E15  gasoline blended with 15% ethanol  year-round, starting in April 2024. The fuel is restricted in the summer because of concerns about air pollution.

The change was in response to a 2022 request from a bipartisan group of Midwest governors, including Reynolds, to allow the sale of E15 in the summer in their states. But Reynolds and other Iowa politicians have criticized the effective date of the rule, urging the agency to begin the waiver this year.

Postponing implementation of our petition could result in higher prices at the pump during the summer 2023 driving season, as consumers would lose access to lower-cost, cleaner-burning E15, according to the letter signed by Reynolds and fellow Midwest governors Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Kristi Noem of South Dakota.

Continued availability of E15 throughout the summer of 2022 extended fuel supplies, helped avert potential shortages, and saved Americans at least $57 million in fuel costs, the governors write. Drivers choosing E15 saved $0.23 per gallon on average last summer, equating to $3-5 in savings per fill-up.  We urge the EPA to act immediately to ensure lower-cost E15 remains available in the marketplace this summer.

DEPUTY ADJUTANT GENERAL: Gov. Reynolds has selected Brig. Gen. William F. McClintock as the Deputy Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard.

McClintock will replace Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Osborn, who Reynolds picked last month to succeed Maj. Gen. Benjamin Corell as the adjutant general of the states military reserve force.

General McClintocks extensive experience and proven leadership, alongside General Osborn, will ensure that the Iowa National Guard is Always Ready, Reynolds said in a statement.

McClintock previously served as assistant adjutant general and as the full-time Army chief of Staff.

The adjutant general is the second highest-ranking position in the Iowa National Guard. McClintock will assist in managing more than 7,000 part-time soldiers.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD RALLY: Abortion rights activists gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to urge state lawmakers to preserve abortion access in the state as part of a lobbying day with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa.

Democratic lawmakers who spoke to the group highlighted recent bills announced by House Democrats that would enshrine abortion rights in Iowas constitution and expand family planning services in the state.

Despite the political realities that we see in the Legislature at this moment, this is not the time to throw up our hands and walk away, said Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque. This is the time to dig deep and continue to push.

Republican leaders have said they will not seek further abortion restrictions until the state supreme court decides on a bid from Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds to reinstate a 2018 law that banned abortion once cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, around six weeks.
DES MOINES  Using mobile devices while driving a vehicle would be illegal except when using hands-free modes under a bill passed Wednesday by the Iowa Senate.

Similar legislation has floated around the Capitol since the state in 2017 enacted a ban on texting while driving, but had never passed the full Senate until Wednesday.

Sen. Mark Lofgren, a Republican from Muscatine and the bills floor manager, said the bill will help rein in many distracted drivers and improve safety on our roads.

From 2015 to 2021 in Iowa, the average annual number of crashes that involved distracted driving increased 64.9% over the previous 14 years, according to state transportation data.

Over the same period, the number of distracted driving-related crashes involving fatalities and total deaths from crashes both spiked by 237% in Iowa.

State law enforcement officials say the current ban on texting while driving is nearly impossible to enforce because it is difficult to prove a driver was texting, which is illegal, and not making a call, which remains legal.

Senate File 547 would allow for mobile device use while driving only in voice-activated or hands-free mode. Any hand-held use of a device while driving would be prohibited.

The bill also increases the scheduled fine for this violation from $45 to $100 and would make it a moving violation that can be considered for purposes of administrative suspension of a drivers license or to establish habitual offender status.

If serious injury or death occurs, the fine is $500 and $1,000, respectively, and the drivers license could be suspended.

There were 1,311 convictions in Iowa for using an electronic communication device while driving a motor vehicle in fiscal 2022 and 1,458 in fiscal 2021.

If the bill is signed into law, law enforcement officers would be required to issue a warning in lieu of a citation for violations between July 1, 2023, the effective date of the bill, and Jan. 1, 2024.

The bill, which passed 47-3, heads to the Iowa House for consideration.

ASSISTANCE RULES: Senate Republicans passed a bill that would change eligibility requirements for low-income Iowans to get food and health care assistance.

Senate File 494 would limit households seeking food assistance to a maximum of $15,000 in liquid assets and personal property. The applicants home, a first car of any value, and a second car worth up to $10,000 would not be included in that calculation.

Iowa now requires recipients to meet an income threshold but does not restrict assets.

The bill also establishes the maximum household income for Iowa families to qualify for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, at 160% of the federal poverty level. That equates to, for example, a household income of $48,000 for a family of four.

SNAP is administered federally; however, half of the administrative costs are paid by the state.

Federal income thresholds for SNAP are specified at 130% of the federal poverty level, with states able to exceed the floor. Iowa Code currently does not have an income threshold for SNAP recipients, although the state has administered the program at 160% of poverty level.

The bill would direct the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop a new system or hire a private company no later than July 1, 2025, to verify assets, identity and other eligibility requirements for hundreds of thousands of Iowans receiving assistance through SNAP and Medicaid programs involving federal and state benefits. The bill also would require cooperation with child support enforcement to qualify for Medicaid, but not for food assistance.

Any legislation that would change Iowas SNAP and Medicaid programs would require federal approval.

Republicans said requiring Iowans who are receiving public assistance benefits to undergo more rigorous eligibility verification reviews would bolster program efficiency, prevent fraud and weed out abuse.

Democrats contend the proposed changes would raise the states costs by increasing the amount of paperwork and administrative oversight, while making it more difficult for Iowans to qualify for assistance, many of whom are children, people with disabilities and elderly Iowans.

A fiscal analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agencies estimates 1% of Iowans receiving benefits will have their benefits canceled under the bill beginning in fiscal 2026 due to discrepancies. That includes roughly 8,000 Medicaid, 600 Childrens Health Insurance Program, 100 Family Investment Program, and 2,800 SNAP recipients.

LSA estimates Senate File 494 will increase state costs by $4.7 million in fiscal 2024, $9.2 million in fiscal 2025, and $3.3 million in fiscal 2026 from increased staffing  231 new full-time equivalents in the Health and Human Services Department and one new FTE in Iowa Workforce Development  and IT costs and to contract with a third-party vendor to conduct frequent eligibility checks for people participating in all public assistance programs.

Beginning in fiscal 2027 and subsequent fiscal years, the bill is estimated to decrease state costs by $7.8 million annually, according to the LSA analysis.

The Senate-passed bill would need to reconciled with a House that would require able-bodied adults without dependents to participate in employment and training to receive SNAP benefits. It also would direct the state to seek federal permission to enact work and community engagement requirements for some Medicaid recipients.

The House version of the bill also would seek a federal waiver to ban the use of SNAP benefits to purchase candy and non-sugar-free soda, and includes funding for a program that encourages healthier food purchases among SNAP participants.

The Senate bill does not include those provisions. Instead, it details how the department should respond when it finds a change in someones circumstances that potentially alters their eligibility for public assistance.

MENTAL HEALTH: Iowa middle and high schools that issue student IDs would be required to put the crisis call and text numbers for Your Life Iowa on some student ID cards under a bill passed in the House.

Your Life Iowa is a state program that offers resources for people considering suicide or struggling with mental health issues, gambling problems and substance abuse.

The program offers a 24-hour call and text line that can provide counseling in a crisis and connect callers with local services.

Under House File 602, schools would be required to put the numbers on new IDs for grades seven through 12, and would have the option to add the number to IDs in grades five and six. Adding the phone number would give students in crisis a convenient avenue to reach out for help, the bills supporters said.

For me, if it could save even one life  maybe a kid looking for help, for a lifeline, its worth the small amount of ink to simply print it on student IDs, said Rep. Ray Sorensen, R-Greenfield.

The bill passed, 91-4. Rep. Brad Sherman of Williamsburg, one of four Republicans who voted against the bill, said he was concerned with prominently displaying the resource could increase suicidal ideation.
President Yoon Suk Yeol gives a speech during a ceremony marking the West Sea Defense Day, at the Daejeon National Cemetery, Friday. Yonhap



Pyongyang claims test of 'underwater nuclear attack drone'



By Lee Hyo-jin



President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday warned that his administration will make North Korea "pay the price for its reckless provocations" and vowed to strengthen South Korea's military capabilities in response to the North's evolving nuclear threats.



Yoon's strong rhetoric, which came hours after Pyongyang unveiled what it called an underwater nuclear attack drone, implies that Seoul will stick to its hawkish stance toward the reclusive regime's increasing belligerence and threats.



"North Korea has been advancing its nuclear weapons while pushing ahead with missile provocations at an unprecedented level," the president said in his speech during a ceremony marking the eighth West Sea Defense Day, at Daejeon National Cemetery.



"Our government and military will drastically strengthen the South Korean-style three-axis system and solidify security cooperation between South Korea and the United States, as well as among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, in response to North Korea's evolving nuclear threats," he said, stressing that he will make Pyongyang pay the price for its reckless provocations.



The three-axis defense system refers to Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR), an operational plan to incapacitate the North Korean leadership in a major conflict, the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike platform and the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system.



The West Sea Defense Day, which falls on the fourth Friday of March every year, was established in 2016 to commemorate 55 servicemen who died while defending the West Sea in three North Korean military provocations in 2002 and 2010.





President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee pay tribute at the tomb of one of 46 South Korean sailors killed in the 2010 sinking of the South Korean Navy warship Cheonan by North Korea ahead of the ceremony marking the eighth West Sea Defense Day at Daejeon National Cemetery, Friday. Yonhap



Yoon, who got emotional during his speech, held back tears as he did a roll call of the 55 servicemen.



"Without remembering and paying tribute to those who sacrificed themselves for the nation, there is no future for the country," he said. Ahead of the ceremony, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee paid tribute to the fallen sailors at their graves.



Yoon's hardline approach to North Korea highlighted in his speech is in stark contrast with his predecessor Moon Jae-in, who had sought inter-Korean rapprochement through dialogue. During his term, Moon did not attend three out of five West Sea Defense Day ceremonies.



As a part of the incumbent government's move to bolster military capabilities, South Korean and the U.S. forces recently conducted a major joint drill called Freedom Shield on a scale not seen since 2017. The drills lasted for 11 straight days from March 13 through Thursday.



On the last day of the exercises, the military held live-fire drills in Pocheon in northern Gyeonggi Province, some 30 kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas.



North Korea, which viewed the scaled-up drills as "a rehearsal for invasion," has been staging protests through a series of weapons tests.





A photo released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Friday, shows the testing of an "underwater nuclear attack drone" detonating after it was launched off the coast of Riwon, South Hamgyong Province. Yonhap
FRIDAY, March 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- While losing a spouse can shorten anyone's life, new Danish research suggests widowers may be far more vulnerable than widows.

After six years spent tracking health outcomes among nearly 925,000 Danish seniors, investigators determined that when a man between the ages of 65 and 69 loses his wife he is 70% more likely to die in the year that follows, when compared with his non-widowed peers.

Among surviving wives, however, that rise in risk was just 27%.

Why the difference? Study author Alexandros Katsiferis said he could only offer a few theories.

We do not have the data to accurately answer that question, so we cannot be very confident on the reasons why this phenomenon tends to happen, noted Katsiferis, a doctoral fellow with the section for epidemiology in the department of public health at the University of Copenhagen.

But he pointed out that elderly widows may be better than widowers at absorbing the shock, [including] the hurdles of taking care of a sick husband, along with all the needs and quirks leading up to the husbands passing.

By contrast, it could be that the physical and emotional health [of men] relies on the willingness of their spouse to take care of them, he added. So, when their wife is out of their life, you get this collapse.

Katsiferis and his colleagues noted that all of the study participants were 65 and older, with an average age of 73 to 75. About 55% were women.

During the study period, more than 8% lost a spouse, though there was a gender gap here as well: While just over 6% of the male enrollees ended up losing a wife, that figure was 10% among women. On average, survivors were between 77 and 79 when their spouse died.

The research team tracked two main indicators of survivors' health post-loss: the amount of money they spent on health care in the three years following their loss and their own post-loss risk of dying during the study.

The health care spending analysis focused on any shifts in money laid out for survival home care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and/or primary care among roughly half of the pool of widows and widowers. (This was money spent above and beyond the expenses that would be covered by Denmarks national health care system.)

The analysis revealed that while survivor health care expenses rose across the board in the year after spousal loss, it rose significantly more among men, regardless of the age of the man when he lost his wife. Only among survivors who lost their spouse at the age of 85 or older were rising medical expenses roughly equal between men and women.

On the other front, the investigators found that women only experienced an increased risk for dying post-loss if they were relatively young  meaning between 65 and 69  when their husband passed. In that case, risk rose by 27%. But if they had been 70 or older at the time of their loss, their own risk for dying was either no higher than women who had not been widowed or even somewhat lower.

Not so for men. Husbands who had lost their wives when they were between 65 and 84 all saw their own risk of dying rise, though the degree of increased risk was incrementally lower among husbands who were older at the time of loss. Only among men 85 and up was risk seen to decrease slightly.

As to what could be done to improve health and longevity among surviving spouses, Katsiferis cautioned that the issue is a multifaceted, complex problem with no straight answer.

Still, he pointed to the need for bereavement services, home care assistance, social interaction and efforts to ensure that survivors are not isolated following their loss.

The findings were published online March 22 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Mental health support is also another obvious crucial process that should be part of the solution, Katsiferis added, noting that such support may be less sought out among surviving husbands, out of the fear of showing vulnerability.

That thought was seconded by Dr. Mohana Karlekar, section chief of palliative care medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Grief is real. For men and women, she said. It can manifest as anxiety or depression. And it can manifest physically in so many ways  as headaches, as weight loss, insomnia, joint pain, aches.

But, Karlekar added, Historically, women tend to be more social and more willing to talk about these things. In addition, if youve been the main caregiver leading up to your loss, youve probably already been more secluded than usual, even before. So you may not know how to ask, or who to ask, for help. And typically thats even more of an issue for men.

For those who are concerned about the health and welfare of survivors, it can be helpful to embrace the guiding principle that palliative care is based upon, which is valuing the person, she advised.

Siblings, friends, people from your church community: we all have to pay attention to those who are grieving. I have a patient who died, suddenly, at the age of 78, after falling down the stairs. The family wasnt expecting it," Karlekar said. "But I was able to meet with the family, have conversations. And the widow is doing really well now, because she has a family, a community of people who are there and who are able to check in on her. Its so important. Community matters.

More information

There's more on coping with grief at Harvard Medical School.

SOURCES: Alexandros Katsiferis, PhD fellow, section for epidemiology, department of public health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Mohana Karlekar, MD, section chief, section of palliative care medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville; PLOS ONE, March 22, 2023, online
WATERLOO -- The Black Hawk Button Club will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. The church is located at 207 West Louise St.

The program is a 45 minute video from the National Button Society on Lacey Glass buttons. Anyone interested in the art, history and preservation of buttons is welcome to attend.
WAVERLY  The outdoor warning systems throughout Bremer County will be tested beginning at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4. In the event of threatening weather, the tests will be delayed to the next day without threatening weather.

Tests are performed to assure all outdoor warning systems are functioning properly. When an outdoor warning system siren sounds on a day other than a test, residents are advised to tune to local broadcast media as soon as possible. Media outlets will be forwarding information regarding imminent threats. Typical Bremer County threats include severe weather, but might also include a chemical/hazardous material incident, or possibly a terrorist threat.

Outdoor warning systems are intended to warn citizens located outside of their homes. NOAA All-hazard radios are encouraged for warnings and information inside the home. Emergency notifications may also be received through the Alert Iowa notification system. Sign-up for notifications at the Bremer County Emergency Management web page.

For additional information, contact the Bremer County Emergency Management Agency at (319) 352-0133.
CEDAR FALLS  The Diamond Event Center was packed to recognize those in the Cedar Valley whove made a difference in their communities during Thursdays Heroes Among Us awards ceremony.

Nine awards were given out honoring standout deeds of courage and service in Northeast Iowa through 2022. In 18 years, Heroes Among us has raised more than $400,000 for the MercyOne Waterloo and Cedar Falls foundations.

This truly is one of the best mornings of the year, said Jack Dusenbery, president of MercyOne Northeast Iowa. We have heroic events happen every day in our health care facilities, but we have so many heroes throughout this community.

Sponsors include MercyOne, Courier Communications, KWWL-TV, and radio stations 93.5 FM and 1650 AM.

Honorees included:

Animal Hero  Lola and her human, Hunter McBride:

Lola the dog has been a lifelong companion to Hunter, 15, and the McBride family of Parkersburg. While going on a walk with Hunter, the two found an elderly woman in the neighborhood who had fallen. While Hunter went to get help, Lola remained to comfort their neighbor, refusing to leave her side until first responders arrived.

Community Service Hero  Bill and Lisa Bradford:

Bill and Lisa Bradford of Bradford Companies in Cedar Falls volunteer 40 hours a year to a service organization of their choosing. Their company also has a program that chooses a different charity each month where they volunteer and award $500. With help from the Black Hawk Gaming Associations matching grant of $75,000, the Bradfords helped raise $240,000 for the Hospitality House to purchase and renovate a building in Waterloo to shelter homeless people during the winter.

Environmental Hero  Cathy Irvine:

Retired after teaching for 32 years, Cathy Irvine has strived to make her corner of the world in Dysart a better place by creating a nature reserve on land owned by her late husbands great-grandparents. Last fall, she donated 220 acres in Benton County to the University of Northern Iowas Tallgrass Prairie Center. She had previously gifted 70 acres in 2017-18.

Good Samaritan Adult Hero  Patrick Waniorek:

An Air Force veteran from Waterloo, Waniorek was picking up some movies outside Walgreens when he happened upon a police officer in a confrontation with a man who eventually tried to take his gun. Waniorek helped subdue the man so the officer could regain control of the situation.

Good Samaritan Youth Hero  Ledger Dalton:

Ledger Dalton of Dunkerton was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old. He spent more than three years battling the disease. What he remembers isnt the procedures, but the toys he got afterward. Now 14 years old, Dalton has worked to recreate that feeling for others by collecting and distributing toys to sick children.

Medical Hero  Zoie Feurbach:

A paramedic and a volunteer firefighter in La Porte City, Zoie Feurbach was enjoying a peaceful morning when she was paged about a childbirth in progress. It was her day off, but she joined two colleagues to respond. After driving through the snow, they found the patient was too far along to be transported and delivered the baby at the home. As a mother of two, Feurbach knew how to respond calmly, and mother and baby were fine. In fact, they attended Thursdays award ceremony.

Military Hero  AMVETS Post 31 Honor Guard:

Led by Navy veteran John Mills, the Post 31 Honor Guard from Evansdale has been front and center for veterans events throughout the Cedar Valley. Last year, they attended 36 funerals for veterans, providing military honors regardless of the weather.

Public Safety Heroes  Alex Clark and Adam Wittmayer:

Alex Clark was on her break during a shift at Dollar General when she was alerted to a shooting. Finding a man with a wound to the neck, Clark put her apron around the wound and applied pressure. Clarks actions bought time for first responders, including Waterloo Police officer Adam Wittmayer, who provided lifesaving CPR to the victim.

Workplace Hero  Laurene Ericson:

Waterloo resident Laurene Ericson works as a medical administrator and clinic manager for MedCore, contracted by Target. While on the job at the Target Distribution Center, Ericson has helped save team members lives in cases of indutrial accident, heart attack and stroke.

Coming up roses: Local journalists revisit 1997 Bulgaria's Rose Valley in Hearst Center show Bulgarian Rose 5 Bulgarian Rose 6 Bulgarian Rose 7 Bulgarian Rose 2 Bulgarian Rose 4 Bulgarian Rose 1
WATERLOO  The cultural artistic ensemble KOLO will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a concert at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Hoover Middle School Auditorium.

The evening of traditional songs and dances from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkan region is open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets, available at the door, are $20 for adults; $15 for senior citizens; and free for children under 12.

Founded in 2003, K.U.D. KOLO was formed to help Cedar Valley refugees remain connected to their heritage. Bosnians began arriving in Black Hawk County in the 1990s to escape their homelands civil war. In Bosnian, KOLO stands for Cultural Artistic Assembly of Dance.

For some of us, it has been 25 or 27 years or so since our arrival here. For such a small community as ours to have a group that has existed and performed for 20 years means there has been consistency and support, said Zulfeta Rizvic, choreographer and teacher.

The youth ensemble will perform folk dances representing centuries of tradition, wearing colorful cultural costumes. Dances are symbolic and meaningful.

In Bosnia, dancing is as important a part of our culture as our food. We are keeping the beauty and richness of our culture, she explained. This concert is a cultural celebration and honors the organizations and businesses and all of those who have helped us.

A bake sale is planned to raise funds for the group. Treats such as baklava, hurmasice and tulumba, and coffee and tea will be available.

About 50 dancers are expected to perform. Dancers can start as young as 5, but most are teenagers and young adults. The dances can be challenging to learn and dancers practice regularly several days a week.

KOLO has performed throughout the U.S. and traveled to Bosnia to perform in 2007. The group also performed at Sarajevos International Folklore Festival in 2010.

Rizvic has been teaching the group for 20 years. When I came here, I felt almost obligated to do it and pass along everything I knew to the next generations. This is my passion, the way I spend my time and express myself. It is pure love, she said.

Preserving and sharing their culture has helped fill a void for many Bosnian immigrants, Rizvic explained. When you leave your country and leave everything behind, you feel a part of you is gone. Through dancing and working together, our culture is there and we keep it.

KOLO also is preserving language. Were speaking Bosnian most of the time and the younger ones are catching up. Its common for us to speak in a mix of Bosnian and English. They love it. They arent ashamed of it, or afraid to learn it anymore, Rizvic added.

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On this version of Hot off the Wire:

 Track and field has banned transgender athletes from international competition while adopting new regulations that could keep Caster Semenya and other athletes with differences in sex development from competing.

 Pentagon leaders have told Congress that the U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China. And they're pushing Congress to approve the Defense Departments proposed $842 billion budget, which would modernize the force in Asia and around the world.

 The Manhattan district attorney investigating Donald Trump has rebuffed House Republicans request to turn over documents. The office called the effort an unprecedented inquiry into an ongoing probe.

 Authorities say a woman accused of setting fire last year to a Wyoming abortion clinic that was under construction told investigators that she opposes abortion and was experiencing anxiety and nightmares over the facility opening.

 A new report from the American Library Association says attempted book bannings and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022.

 A young zebra walked, trotted, and galloped for hours in the busy streets of South Koreas capital before emergency workers tranquilized the animal and brought it back to a zoo.

 A federal appeals court in a sealed order has directed a lawyer for Donald Trump to turn over to prosecutors documents in the investigation into the former presidents retention of classified records at his Florida estate.

 A top Russian security official has declared that the risk of a nuclear war has risen and blasted a German minister for threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin with arrest.

 Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman is a TikTok star at age 85, thanks to her 17-year-old grandson.
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City woman has pleaded guilty of scamming a mother out of nearly $12,000 by faking a child welfare investigation.

Anna Perez-Joaquin, 40, entered her plea Thursday to one count of first-degree theft as a habitual offender. Sentencing was scheduled for May 22 in Woodbury County District Court.

As part of a plea agreement, charges of extortion and commission of a specified unlawful activity influenced enterprise will be dismissed. Her sentence was not spelled out in the plea agreement, and it will be up to a judge to decide whether to impose a 15-year prison sentence.

The scheme began on Aug. 26, 2021, when Perez-Joaquin convinced the mother she and her children were the subject of an Iowa Department of Human Services investigation and tricked the mother into granting temporary custody of the kids to her. Perez-Joaquin had fake social workers visit the woman's home and send fake emails to her. Perez-Joaquin then used a fraudulent lawyer profile to get the mother to pay her $400 a month in child support and give Perez-Joaquin her child tax credit check and other monthly benefits the children received.

During a four-month period, Perez-Joaquin accepted at least 16 cash payments and bank transfers totaling approximately $11,874 from the mother.

Perez-Joaquin had plans to take the children to Mexico, court documents said.

Counties where the most people work from home in Iowa Counties where the most people work from home in Iowa
DES MOINES  Iowa no longer will participate in a multistate program in which states share voter registration information in order to manage their own voting lists and prevent election fraud, the states top elections official announced recently.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, said he is recommending Iowa withdraw from the bipartisan interstate voter program, Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC.

Iowa and Ohio became the sixth and seventh states  all led by Republican elections officials  signaling withdrawal from ERIC, according to Politico.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, has attacked ERIC with unproven claims that the program boosts voter registration for Democrats, and the program has been the target of conspiracy theories, prompting its executive director to issue a statement earlier this month to address, in the directors words, recent misinformation spreading about ERIC.

In a statement issued via social media last week, Pate said he is disappointed in the direction the ERIC organization has taken and that he decided to leave the group after the membership voted against adopting changes recommended by Republican state leaders.

Among the chief complaints expressed by those Republicans is how ERIC reaches out to unregistered voters to encourage them to register.

Pate also cited the departure of other states, which he said makes the programs shared voter registration lists less effective.

Election integrity is my No. 1 priority. Clean, accurate voter lists are critical to running secure elections and the loss of those states data makes participation in ERIC no longer valuable to Iowa, Pate said in the statement. My office will be recommending resigning our membership from ERIC.

Iowa Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton who has managed elections legislation in recent sessions of the Iowa Legislature, said he supports Pates decision and stands ready to get any legislation passed.

(ERIC) was supposed to be used to allow states to talk to each other, to allow voter rolls to talk to each other, Kaufmann said. It was supposed to be a living, breathing list for voter maintenance. I think its since grown into something completely different.

According to ERICs by-laws, however, a member may resign by delivering a written notice to the executive director.

Pate told the Associated Press that he will recommend to the governor and Legislature that the state end its membership.

Kaufmann also expressed his opposition to ERICs voter registration outreach.

Thats the role of the political party, not of a nonpartisan voter registration list, Kaufmann said. Thats activism. I dont want it on either side, our side or the Democratic side.

Some local elections officials in Iowa have expressed concern that the states withdrawal from ERIC will make their job of managing voter registration lists more difficult.

Pat Gill, the Woodbury County auditor and a Democrat, said from what he has been able to discern, the recent issues with ERIC have been the result of partisan wrangling and said he is mystified why Pate has chosen to leave the program.

Actually, it has been a pretty good tool for helping county auditors keep our voter registration rolls up to date, Gill said. Iowas county auditors have been responding in a positive way to citizens who have been providing information to help clean up our registration rolls, and the loss of ERIC will definitely be a setback to our efforts.

In response to questions about Pates decision, a spokesman for his office said that while ERICs data has been valuable, the recent exodus of some large states makes the data less useful, and some surrounding states refuse to join the program.

The spokesman for Pates office also asserted that ERIC was telling (states) how to run their elections instead of letting states choose the appropriate ERIC tools that worked best within their state.

In 2019, through Iowas use of ERIC, Pate referred nine voters to county attorneys for voting twice in the 2018 general election. The nine voters were suspected of voting in Iowa after casting a ballot in another state; another 27 instances were found of voters casting ballots in Iowa first, then in another state.

Pates spokesman and Kaufmann said Iowa without ERIC still will be able to maintain accurate voter registration lists and catch voter fraud.

ERIC was only one of many tools used to update and maintain Iowas voter registration list, the spokesman said. Our office will continue to look at ways to maintain clean, accurate voter rolls and look at new options for obtaining valuable data.
This undated photo screen captured from Terraform Labs' Facebook shows a portrait of Do Kown, the co-founder of Terraform Labs





Korean prosecutors said Friday they will seek the extradition of Do Kwon, the wanted co-founder of Terraform Labs, behind a multibillion-dollar crash of the firm's cryptocurrency last year, after he was arrested in Montenegro.







The National Police Agency (NPA) said the person arrested at the airport in the capital Podgorica on Thursday was confirmed to be Kwon through fingerprint comparison.







The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office will begin the process to request Montenegro to transfer Kwon, who was arrested at the airport in the capital Podgorica on Thursday. His identity was confirmed through fingerprint comparison earlier in the day.







It is unclear, however, whether Kwon would be sent to Korea.






Throughout the district, our staff role model for our students how to show up authentically as themselves. Each day our teachers, administrators, and support staff share their lives with us, bringing with them a lifetime of memories and lived experiences to help guide our students on their journey of self-discovery.

While in school, these explorations of self can tangent into potential career opportunities, part-time jobs, fun-filled hobbies, and core memories that help shape our students unique views of the world. At Waterloo Schools we celebrate a student population thats both ethnically and culturally abundant.

Experiencing classmates from different cultural backgrounds ignites a sense of curiosity to discover and learn more about one another while keeping our minds open to understanding others, both inside and outside the classroom, said Andy Hansen, Lead Teacher at Lou Henry.

With support from district leadership, Hansen says coming to school as his truest self has helped him grow, both personally and professionally, since he started teaching with Waterloo Schools in 2016.

I feel like if you come to work as your truest self, youll be embraced, said Hansen.

Waterloo Schools is always searching for educators who are passionate about their students and the community we all call home. According to Evan Gratteau-Zinnel, Waterloo Schools Equity & Inclusion Data Analyst, approximately one in five Waterloo Schools staff members identify as a person of color, as well as one in three administrators.

Overall, Waterloo Schools is hyper-focused on expanding our staff diversity in race, ethnicity, disability status, and general walks of life, said Gratteau-Zinnel. Were expanding our recruitment efforts in order to continually cultivate a staff that is genuinely reflective of our surrounding community.

According to Hansen, this intentional effort by Waterloo Schools shows their commitment to creating not only the best curriculum for their students, but also a caring and catalytic environment for their staff to grow and thrive in, as well.

In the spring of 2022, Hansen was honored with the Gold Star Award for teaching by the McElroy Trust Foundation. Each year the foundation spotlights 10 teachers across the Cedar Valley who have positively impacted their students, often going above and beyond in their classrooms.

Waterloo is a special place, and the people Ive met since moving here have given me the strength and support to be my best self which means I can put my energy into providing a safe, celebratory space for my students, said Hansen. People drawn to the field of education are a special breed, and Im thankful to be surrounded by them, daily.

At Waterloo Schools, were hiring humans. Folks who are excited about fanning the flames of potential within each of our students, and cultivating space for them to show up authentically as themselves. Each spring we begin hiring for the fall semester, and we cant wait to meet all the incredible educators who are ready to start  and continue  their journey here at Waterloo Schools.

For more information about working at Waterloo Schools, please visit our careers page at www.waterlooschools.org.
Okay is it? The Frence supply weapons to Ukraine over democracy support?

Will Macron supply weapons to the French citizens support democracy and the Fench sovereignty?

Or is that different? ~~

WtR
USA looks around blinking its eyes and says, What we do?

This has all been proven, even if it has been covered up since then

But since the USA did all these thoughts at the top of my head

1. USA tried kidnapping and assassination of Nicolas Maduro

2. USA tried to assassinate both Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez

3. USA organized a coup detat in Ukraine

4. US involvement in interacting with ISIS structures in different countries.

5. The presence of US military biolaboratories and human experiments in Ukraine

6. USA used and then lied about chemical weapons in Syria and the blamed the chemical attacks on the Assad government

7. USA and Lukashenkas assassination

8. USA started multiple coups and wars in the Middle East and Africa

9. The fact of profiting from the supply of LNG to Europe after the undermining and blowing up of the Nord Stream

10. The presence of plans for a change of power in Russia and its political destruction..

11. Vietnam was only because of the USA

12. USA blamed China for its biological attack on the world

13. USA blamed vaping for deaths, when it was Covid-19 that the US released, themselves

14, 15, 16, and on and on and on

USA looks around blinking its eyes and says, What we do?

WtR
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon introduces the city government's new childcare support policies at Seoul City Hall in this Aug. 18, 2022 photo. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government



By Ko Dong-hwan



The Seoul city government and Christian communities in Korea have agreed to cooperate to bolster children's daycare services to support families. The initiative hopes to overhaul the country's chronic low birthrate problem, which data shows is among the lowest in the world.



Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon signed a partnership, Friday, with Christian Broadcasting System, which was founded by a religious group in the 1950s and is the first private broadcaster in Korea. The company operates channels on TV and radio as well as online news outlet called Nocut News.



CBS has been promoting a childcare assistance campaign since 2021. The company has been hosting forums with local Christian communities to discuss ways to resolve the low birthrate problem and improve daycare services to reduce difficulties faced by parents.



Under Friday's deal signed at Seoul City Hall, churches under Presbyterian, Methodist and Evangelical Holiness denominations as well as other Christian institutions and organizations with ties to CBS are joining in the city government's initiative with the understanding that churches can make their uunsed spaces available for use as daycare facilities. District offices of the city will first seek churches in each jurisdiction to promote the project.



The city authority said the spaces provided by churches will be transformed into indoor playgrounds and daycare centers. Operations of the venues will be handled by local district offices, according to the Women and Family Policy Affairs Office under the Seoul Metropolitan Government.



Local municipalities and Christian groups will also host more forums later this year to raise awareness of how the city is becoming friendlier to parents with children through better welfare services.



"We are currently determined to do literally everything to tackle this low birthrate problem," said an official at the Women and Family Policy Affairs Office of the local government.



Oh previously announced his agenda to introduce new policies to strengthen the city's welfare to better support childcare services. The initiative was launched under the slogan "Seoul, a good place to raise children."


Five renowned and multifaceted women will appear on the new 25-cent coins in 2024. The honorees in the U.S. Mints American Women Quarters Program are Celia Cruz and four others in various fields, who played a key role in the countrys history and culture.

By honoring these pioneering women, the Mint continues to connect America through coins which are like small works of art in your pocket, Ventris C. Gibson, director of the institution, said in a statement.

The four-year program began in 2022 and will wrap up in 2025. These are the honorees:

Celia Cruz, seen here at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2002, was a pioneer of Afro-Cuban music. KIM D. JOHNSON/AP

Celia Cruz

The Queen of Salsa was a cultural icon and pioneer of Afro-Cuban music, expressing the African elements of her identity through rhythms, lyrics and outfits when it was not popular to do so. From the 1950s until her death on July 16, 2003, Cruz recorded an impressive catalog of tropical genres with the best musicians and arrangers in Latin music. Born in Cuba in 1924 or 1925, she found stardom as the lead singer for La Sonora Matancera, Cubas lead musical group in the 1950s. She went into exile in the 1960s, not knowing if she would ever return to Cuba. In the U.S., she continued her musical rise to fame, earning three Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, four Latin Grammys and a National Medal of the Arts, among other awards. Almost 20 years after her death, she makes history again, becoming the first Afro-Latina to appear on a U.S. coin.

From left, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Gwendolyn Mink, daughter of Rep. Patsy Mink, and former tennis player Billie Jean King attend the 2022 unveiling of a portrait of the late Rep. Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii). The representative was the first Asian American woman in Congress. BRANDON BELL/GETTY IMAGES

Patsy Takemoto Mink

After Hawaii became a state in 1959, lawyer and politician Patsy Mink launched her candidacy for public office. She became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1964 and was the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress. Later, she became the first Asian American woman to run for president. In Congress, Mink fought relentlessly for gender and racial equality, affordable child care and bilingual education. She was key in the passing of Title IX which, after her death, was named the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. She was born in Paia, Hawaii, in 1927 and died in Honolulu in 2002.


Bayrock Resources - Clarification Announcement

Perth, Mar 24, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - QX Resources Limited ( ASX:QXR ) refers to the ASX announcement dated 16 March 2023, titled 'Strategic Investment with Battery Minerals focused Bayrock Resources Limited'.



The Company advises that it is still in confidential discussions with Bayrock Resources Limited (Bayrock) in relation to QXR underwriting a rights entitlement issue by Bayrock (Rights Issue) (Underwriting).



Additionally, the Company advises that the $585,000 in secured loans provided to Bayrock accrue interest at 15% per annum and are secured by share mortgages within the Bayrock group (Secured Loan). It is the intention that the Secured Loan will be repaid out of the proceeds of the Rights Issue.



The Company refers to it's December cashflow report and advises that the ~$397,000 in section 2.3 of the Appendix 5B consists of:



- $375,000 in secured loans to Bayrock (forming part of the $585,000); and



- $22,366 in payments made to creditors under the loan funding to Zamia Resources Limited (the 30% holder of the Queensland gold projects)





About QX Resources Ltd





QX Resources Limited (ASX:QXR) is focused on exploration and development of battery minerals, with hard rock lithium assets in a prime location of Western Australia (WA), and gold assets in Queensland. The aim is to connect end users (battery, cathode and car makers) with QXR, an experienced explorer/developer of battery minerals, with an expanding mineral exploration project portfolio and solid financial support.

Lithium portfolio: QXR's lithium strategy is centred around WA's prolific Pilbara province, where it has acquired a controlling interest in four projects through targeted M&A - all of which sit in strategic proximity to some of Australia's largest lithium deposits and mines. Across the Pilbara, QXR's regional lithium tenement package (both granted or under application) now spans more than 350 km2.

Gold portfolio: QXR is also developing two Central Queensland gold projects - Lucky Break and Belyando - through an earn-in agreement with Zamia Resources Pty Ltd. Both gold projects are strategically located within the Drummond Basin, a region that has a >6.5moz gold endowment.
SANTA FE  New Mexicos state airplane fleet has shrunk over the last decade, after former Gov. Susana Martinez sold several planes during her tenure as part of an attempt to trim what she described as government waste.

But a new state airplane could be in the works under a proposed $9 million capital outlay appropriation thats included in a massive $1.2 billion public works package. The package passed the Senate via a 27-13 vote on Wednesday without the airplane earmark being mentioned and heads to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for final approval.

The Lujan Grisham administration has touted the airplane purchase as a way to improve transportation options for medical providers and students at the states School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Alamogordo.

It could also be used by Cabinet secretaries and other public officials in the sprawling and largely rural state  the fifth-largest in the nation.

The state previously had four aircraft  along with an executive jet purchased in 2005 by then-Gov. Bill Richardson  but is currently down to just one, a six-passenger, turboprop Beechcraft King Air C90.

That plane is out of service for about three months per year for inspection and maintenance, according to a state General Services Department spokesman.

As result, the state has struggled to provide regular transportation for medical providers to help children and adults under age 21 who have special health care needs  part of a Childrens Medical Services program in the Department of Health.

Having a single aircraft has led to frequent scheduling conflicts, which, for example has required CMS physicians to provide telehealth instead of in-person services, General Services Department spokesman Rod Crawley told the Journal.

Specifically, the state General Services Department provides about 50 airplane trips per year for medical providers with the Childrens Medical Services program, he said.

It also provides about 75 trips per year for students with lengthy commutes to the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Alamogordo  including students living in Farmington, Santa Fe and Las Vegas.

That steady travel burden has led to elevated costs for fuel and maintenance, and the Lujan Grisham administration is seeking a separate $1.2 million appropriation to replace both of the planes engines.

Doing that could extend the planes lifespan by an estimated eight years, Crawley said.

He also said the proposed new state plane would be the same type of aircraft as the current plane.
Han Sang-hyuk, the head of the Korea Communications Commission, speaks to reporters after arriving at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors Office, March 22, over allegations that he ordered evaluation board members to lower the score of a conservative cable TV network during its approval screening. Yonhap



Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant Friday for the chief of the broadcasting regulator on suspicion of score manipulation during the renewal of a broadcasting license for a cable TV network in 2020.



Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Han Sang-hyuk is accused of involvement in deliberately giving low scores to TV Chosun, a right-leaning cable channel, during the review, according to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors Office.



Han, who underwent questioning by prosecutors earlier this week, has denied the charges.



Two former KCC officials and a professor who formerly chaired the license review panel were earlier indicted in connection with the allegations.



Han was appointed by former liberal President Moon Jae-in.



TV Chosun received 653.39 points in the review, just passing the 650-point threshold for the renewal of cable channel licenses, resulting in a conditional approval. The cable network got low scores in key categories, such as responsible and objective broadcasting.



The state audit agency concluded last year that review panel members had lowered their initial scores for TV Chosun and referred the case to the prosecution for investigation. (Yonhap)


Ryan Lacen grew up in Albuquerque going to the movies with his family.

It is there he would be thrust into a world created by a team of filmmakers.

He was intrigued by the concept, which is why today, Lacen is a filmmaker.

The New Mexico native also has a film playing in theaters, which has always been one of his goals.

After years of patience, All the World is Sleeping, is playing in select theaters and is available for rental and purchase on all digital platforms.

What a journey its been, Lacen says. To have the movie in theaters and being played alongside the films of today, its amazing. When we first started this film, I knew it was important, but you never know where its going to end up.

In 2017, the Albuquerque-based nonprofit Bold Futures decided to try using film to tell the stories of women who so often are voiceless.

All the World Is Sleeping sheds light on the realities of addiction and the resources desperately needed for families living in cycles of addiction.

Production on the film didnt take place until 2018, when it began in Las Cruces.

Lacen and crew used all of 2019 to edit the film and prepared it for a 2020 release  then the pandemic hit.

By 2021, the film was on the festival circuit, where it picked up best narrative feature at the New York Latino Film Festival. Then it had a New Mexico premiere at the Santa Fe International Film Festival in October 2021.

We filmed it all on a limited budget, Lacen says. We had to premiere it at a drive-in theater in the Bronx. Ive always wanted to have my own film in a theater and its such a special moment. Not only for me, but for the cast, crew and Bold Futures, who worked so hard to have these womens voices uplifted.

The films main character, Chama, played by Melissa Barrera, is an imaginative composite of the seven women who helped craft this storyline. Chama encompasses elements of their bravery and struggles while exposing the arduous circumstances they have endured.

Barrera, along with co-star Jackie Cruz, worked with the mothers on and off set to authentically capture and represent their truth. Each genuinely wanted to understand the cyclical, chaotic, yet hopeful side of fighting addiction.

Barrera has since been seen in the film In the Heights and will be Carmen in the movie Carmen. Cruz skyrocketed to fame in the TV series Orange Is the New Black.

Lacen was raised in Albuquerque, then went to New Mexico State University for a year before heading to the University of New Mexico for the remainder of his schooling.

Though he now resides in Los Angeles, where he runs his production company, Normal, Lacen is always looking to bring productions back to New Mexico.

Its my home, he says of New Mexico. The older that I get, Im able to tell unique stories through film. I started as a film intern and now Im directing. Its up to me now to turn stories into film. Im trying to leave my mark through films that make a difference.

Lacen hopes that All the World is Sleeping will inspire empathy in communities.

The film wants to put audiences in these womens shoes, he says. I want the film to be able to give people hope and show that were all capable of helping others.

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.

Watch now

New Mexico native Ryan Lacens latest film, All the World is Sleeping is currently available for rental and purchase at all digital platforms.
Production on Chupa began in Aug. 2021 in New Mexico.

Crews filmed for months on location around the state  including Estancia, Zia Pueblo, Mesilla, Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

The feature film is slated to be released on April 7, on Netflix.

The film follows 13-year-old Alex, played by Evan Whitten, who flies from Kansas City to Mexico to meet his extended family for the first time.

There he meets his grandfather and former lucha libre champion Chava, played by Demian Bichir.

He also meets his energetic, wrestling-obsessed cousin Memo, played by Nickolas Verdugo, and fearless, hip cousin Luna, played by Ashley Ciarra. Just as Alex begins to get his bearings, he discovers a mythical creature living under his grandfathers shed  a young chupacabra cub, which he recognizes from stories of the feared, full-grown chupacabra, fabled to feed on farmers livestock.

Alex soon learns that his new friend Chupa has a secret history with his family, and that dogged, dangerous scientist Richard Quinn, played by Christian Slater is hunting the misunderstood creature to try and harness his powers.

It is directed by Jonas Cuaron.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production is employing about 300 crew members and 650 background and extras from the state.
Deputies surrounded the trailer in the dark of night. Inside Jose Santillano reportedly paced  armed with a rifle. The 42-year-old told a deputy he would kill one of them. I promise. I will, he said.

Soon after, a bullet fired from a window went through the windshield of a deputys vehicle. With nobody in the drivers seat, the bullet embedded in the headrest.

One deputy fired back and a brief gunfight erupted, according to authorities, as Santillano fired through the wall of the trailer, nearly hitting the deputy as bullets tore into a fence he was taking cover behind.

On Thursday, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office detailed the March 12 incident that ended after deputy Jeremy Ruckman wounded Santillano during the gunfire exchange at a mobile home park in the 200 block of Atrisco Vista SW.

Ruckman shot Santillano two times, in the leg and chest, and shrapnel struck him in the face. The guns used by Santillano, a convicted felon, were not stolen and a detective said they have submitted a firearms trace to learn where he got the rifles.

During the briefing a visibly frustrated Sheriff John Allen railed against the fact that Santillano was on the streets after being charged Feb. 24 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Once again, why is this offender out in our community, re-victimizing and reoffending people of our beloved community? I guarantee you that nobody can answer my question, Allen said.

But court records show prosecutors never filed a pretrial detention motion  required to keep someone behind bars until trial  in that case, Santillanos second such arrest is just over a month.

Allen continued, If we do not work together, and keep bringing these issues up, were going to have the same problems over and over and over again.

Santillano is charged with aggravated battery against a household member with a deadly weapon, two counts each of shooting from a dwelling and being a felon in possession of a firearm and several counts of assault with intent to commit a violent felony on a peace officer.

During the briefing BCSO shared segments of 911 calls and videos from lapel and dash cameras of the incident as it unfolded.

It began around 3:55 a.m. when a woman called 911 to report her paranoid ex-husband, Santillano, broke into her trailer with a rifle, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. The woman was scared to stay on the phone but kept BCSO on the line as deputies responded.

BCSO Chief Deputy Nicholas Huffmyer said it took deputies almost a half-hour to get to the trailer because the gate code for the mobile home park had been changed and we werent notified about it.

Deputies said at 4:25 a.m. the woman exited the trailer and deputies could see Santillano pacing around inside with a rifle. Around 5:10 a.m. BCSO heard what sounded like a gunshot from the trailer and a deputy was able to get Santillano on the phone.

We heard a loud pop and wanted to make sure you were OK, the deputy said to Santillano in lapel video released by BCSO. Much of what Santillano says in the phone call cannot be made out, but at one point he told the deputy, Ill kill one of you guys. I promise. I will.

Huffmyer said around 5:20 a.m. Santillano fired a shot from the window of the trailer at a BCSO vehicle. He said thankfully a deputy wasnt inside at the time because the bullet went where a deputys head would be.

Deputies said Santillano fired another shot and Ruckman returned fire from behind a nearby fence. Huffmyer said after a short pause Santillano fired through the wall of the trailer toward Ruckman, who initially thought he was hit and returned fire again.

In the lapel video, you hear Ruckman grunting as if in pain.

Some of the debris from the fence had impacted (Ruckmans) leg and in that split second he just wasnt entirely sure if he had been shot, Huffmyer said.

Santillano called BCSO dispatch around 7 a.m. to report that he had been shot in the face and needed an ambulance and he was detained by 8:30 a.m., according to the complaint. Afterward, his ex-wife told deputies Santillano had barged in around 3:15 a.m. with a rifle and an evil look  telling her someone is going to get hurt/die tonight and she called 911.

The site of the shooting has had a number of high-profiles crimes in recent months, including the unsolved double-homicide of two teen brothers.

During the briefing, Allen said he believed due to the low income demographic, and possible undocumented people living there, many crimes go unreported.

We know that we need to start looking into and providing resources to that area, he said. It is a lower economic area also, at the same time, so where are the resources coming from? And are these people being helped? And what can we do as a sheriffs office, other than responding in a negative light, to make sure that were out there as a tool and a resource for them to help with their success?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A Native American tribe has been granted title to a portion of a national preserve in northern New Mexico following a yearslong court battle against the federal government, a ruling that could provide hope to other tribes seeking to regain rights to their traditional homelands.

The 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals issued a split ruling Wednesday in the case brought by Jemez Pueblo over lands it was seeking to reclaim in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The pueblo had argued its aboriginal property rights  or rights to occupy and use land as their ancestors did  were never extinguished despite a lower court ruling in 2019 that found the U.S. government had clear title to the expansive preserve. Following an appeal and a subsequent trial, the pueblo opted to narrow its claims to four specific areas within Valles Calderas boundaries.

The latest ruling acknowledged the pueblos title to an area known as Banco Bonito but rejected claims to three other areas, with the court saying the tribe had not put the government on notice that it was seeking claim to those specific areas.

Legal experts say the partial victory marks the first time in the U.S. that a tribe has ever demanded the return of an aboriginal title that has not been extinguished, or terminated, and gone to court successfully to recover it. Still they say its unclear what the broader implications will be for future land disputes as more tribes seek to reclaim traditional homelands.

Jemez Pueblo officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday, and the National Park Service declined to comment on the decision, saying only that the litigation was pending.

Both the pueblo and federal government still could appeal Wednesday ruling.

Robert Coulter, executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center in Montana, called it a long and complex case.

I think one of the most significant things is that it made what I believe is a breakthrough in determining that tribes can reclaim land to which they have aboriginal title that has not been lawfully extinguished, he said. That point was not at all clear in the past.

The appellate ruling unwinds a previous lower court finding that Jemez Pueblo would have had to maintain control over Banco Bonito before and after 1860  when the government granted the land to private owners  in order to keep its title. Judge Gregory Phillips wrote that creating such a hurdle would likely keep other tribes from establishing aboriginal title into the modern era.

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Nancy Moritz argued that relying on a tribes exclusive use of an area for a long time during any time period could subject the government to new aboriginal title claims.

There is no reason tribes nationwide could not file similar claims seeking aboriginal title to lands within the 18 other national preserves scattered throughout the United States or, for that matter, to any lands owned or later acquired by the government, Moritz wrote.

Jemez Pueblo considers Valles Caldera a spiritual sanctuary and part of its traditional homeland. Its home to vast grasslands, the remnants of a massive volcanic eruption and one of New Mexicos most famous elk herds.

The court record states that for over 800 years, many tribes and pueblos have used Valles Caldera for hunting, gathering and various cultural and religious practices. Redondo Peak, the highest mountain in the caldera, is a site long used as part of religious pilgrimages and is home to several shrines.

Jemez Pueblo first sued the federal government in 2012, saying tribes have legal and just claims to retain possession of land that they have historically occupied within the United States. The legal fight came as members of Congress and others started to push for management of the sprawling preserve to be transferred to the National Park Service.

When the tribe first made its case before the appellate court in 2014, then-Pueblo Gov. Joshua Madalena described Valles Caldera as the tribes spiritual mother, likening it to the Vatican for Catholics. Many of the court filings are redacted, seeking to keep secret details about traditions and culturally significant locations.

Federal attorneys initially argued that the tribes aboriginal title was essentially extinguished when surveyors, working under the authority of Congress, determined the land was vacant and turned it over to land grant heirs in 1860 as part of a swap.

The federal government purchased the property in 2000 with the goal of operating it as a working ranch while developing recreational opportunities for the public. It was eventually taken over by the Park Service.

Coulter said the ruling by the 10th Circuit panel of judges is significant even though Jemez Pueblo didnt get everything it had hoped for.

Weve seen generations of judicial decisions where the courts simply were not willing to apply the law in a straightforward manner in Indian cases, he said.
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP)  Rwandas government has commuted the 25-year sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press on Friday that the presidential order was issued after a request for clemency on behalf of Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen. Senior U.S. officials said Rusesabagina arrived late Friday at the home of the Qatari ambassador in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and was expected to leave the country in the coming days.

U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the news, saying, Pauls family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at todays good news. He thanked the governments of Rwanda and Qatar, as well as U.S. government officials who worked to achieve todays happy outcome.

Nineteen others also had their sentences commuted. Under Rwandan law, commutation doesnt extinguish the conviction, Makolo added.

Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar, she said. President Paul Kagame earlier this month said discussions were under way on resolving the issue.

Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said in a statement that the procedure for (Rusesabaginas) transfer to the state of Qatar is under way and he will then head to the United States of America. This issue was discussed during meetings that brought together Qatari and Rwandan officials at the highest levels.

The senior American officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under U.S. government ground rules, declined to comment on Rusesabaginas current health but said they had made medical and psychological care available.

The case had been described by the U.S. and others as unfair. Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial.

He was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. But the circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his reported worsening health drew international concern.

One senior U.S. official said the White Houses goal was to shift from Washington denouncing the case  and Kigali defending its legal system in response  toward a constructive sequence to work our way mutually, collectively, out of the predicament we found ourselves in.

As part of the effort, Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had multiple phone calls with an unnamed close adviser to Kagame, the official said.

Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagames government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

In a signed letter to Kagame dated Oct. 14 and posted on the justice ministrys website, Rusesabagina wrote that if I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me.

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering more than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwandas 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, first living in Belgium and then the U.S.

Human Rights Watch said he had been forcibly disappeared and taken to Rwanda. But the court there ruled he wasnt kidnapped when he was tricked into boarding a chartered flight. Rwandas government asserted that Rusesabagina had been going to Burundi to coordinate with armed groups based there and in Congo.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died.

Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped to form the armed group to assist refugees but said he never supported violence  and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

Rusesabagina also has said he was gagged and tortured before he was jailed, but Rwandan authorities denied that. His attorney, Felix Rudakemwa, asserted that Rusesabaginas legal papers were confiscated by prison authorities.

After his sentence, Belgiums then-foreign minister, Sophie Wilmes, said that it must be concluded that Mr. Rusesabagina has not been given a fair and equitable trial.

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kagame in Rwanda and discussed the case. We still have conviction that the trial wasnt fair, Blinken told journalists.

It is a relief to know that Paul is rejoining his family, and the U.S. Government is grateful to the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible, Blinken said in a statement Friday, adding: The United States believes in a Rwanda that is peaceful and prosperous. We reaffirm the principle of seeking political change in Rwanda and globally through peaceful means.

As the news spread on Friday, Rusesabaginas family in a statement said that we are pleased to hear the news about Pauls release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon.

___

Anna reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Lujain Jo in Doha, Qatar, and Matt Lee and Nomaan Merchant in Washington contributed.
PARK CITY, Utah (AP)  Gwyneth Paltrow insisted Friday on the witness stand that a 2016 ski collision at an upscale Utah ski resort wasnt her fault, claiming it began when the man suing her ran into her from behind.

The actor-turned-lifestyle influencer testified that the crash shocked her  and the way the mans skis veered between her two legs made her worry at first that she was being violated, she said.

There was a body pressing against me and a very strange grunting noise, she said.

My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening, she continued. Paltrow later clarified that after her split-second panic, she realized that the sudden collision wasnt sexual in nature.

After sitting in court for four days, Paltrow remained calm and collected for more than two hours on the witness stand. Members of the Park City jury sat transfixed while she categorically denied fault for the collision.

Terry Sanderson, the retired optometrist who is suing her, is expected to give an opposing account of the crash when he takes the stand first on Monday.

Throughout Paltrows heavily anticipated testimony, the founder-CEO of Goop calmly and repeatedly said that Sanderson, sitting several feet away in court, ran into her  causing the two skiers to end up splayed out on the beginner run with Paltrow on top and Sanderson beneath her. In the seconds after the collision, Paltrow acknowledged that she yelled at Sanderson and didnt stop to ask if he was OK. Paltrow testified that she stood nearby on the mountain as one of her familys four ski instructors promised to give Sanderson her contact information and file an incident report.

In an exchange that touched on recurring themes of the trial, Sandersons attorneys attempted to depict the decision as reflective of celebrity carelessness, while Paltrow insisted that she  not the 76-year-old man suing her  was the wounded party.

You have to keep in mind, when youre the victim of a crash, your psychology is not necessarily thinking about the person who perpetrated it, she said.

To draw the jurys attention to Paltrows wealth, Sandersons lawyers probed Paltrow about the price of ski instructors at posh Deer Valley Resort and her decision to leave the mountain to get a massage the day of the crash.

Sanderson and his multiple-member legal team at one point dispersed themselves across the courtroom to possibly reenact the crash for the jury, whose members perked up after days of yawning through jargon-dense medical testimony about his broken ribs, concussion and brain damage.

Paltrows attorneys objected to her participation in such a reenactment, leaving her sitting on the witness stand watching the lawyer questioning her take on the role of the Oscar-winning actor.

Next week, Paltrows team may call her back to the stand, as well as medical experts, ski instructors and her two children, Moses and Apple.

The trial has touched on themes ranging from skiers etiquette to the power  and burden  of celebrity. The amount of money at stake for both sides pales in comparison to the typical legal costs of a multiyear lawsuit, private security detail and expert witness-heavy trial.

Throughout the week in Utah, Paltrows legal team has asked for special restrictions, including limiting photography both in the courtroom and in the public parking lot outside  where a rope cordons off Paltrows entrance and exit paths. Unlike most trials, the court has not published a witness list.

Paltrows attorneys argue both that she didnt cause the crash and that the extent of Sandersons injuries is exaggerated. Theyve raised questions about Sandersons motivation for suing Paltrow, probing his family members about his post-crash communications about her celebrity and his proximity to it.

Theyve asked two of Sandersons daughters whether their father thought it was cool to collide with a celebrity like Paltrow  characterizations theyve denied.

After the collision, Sanderson sent his daughters an email with the subject line: Im famous  At what cost? The oldest daughter, Shae Herath, wrote back: I also cant believe this is all on GoPro.

On Friday, Herath attempted to clarify the record amid questions about the possibility that the crash was recorded on a bystanders helmet camera that have intrigued both the Park City jury  and online viewers whove tuned into live footage of the movie stars trial.

Herath testified Friday that she didnt know whether footage existed and said her email referred to an earlier phone conversation in which her father told her he assumed there must be footage of the collision from someone on the crowded run with a GoPro. The camera is a common accessory for skiers at resorts like Deer Valley.

While Sandersons attorneys have focused on their clients deteriorating health, Paltrows legal team has intrigued the jury with recurring questions about the mysterious, missing GoPro footage. No video footage has since been located or entered as evidence.

GoPro cameras are commonly worn by outdoor athletes including skiers to capture action sports.

The proceedings have delved deep into the 76-year-old Sandersons medical history and personality changes, with attorneys questioning whether his deteriorating health and estranged relationships stemmed from the collision or natural process of aging.

After a judge threw out Sandersons earlier $3.1 million lawsuit, Sanderson then claimed damages of more than $300,000. Paltrow has countersued for a symbolic $1 and attorney fees, and one of her attorneys has repeatedly waved a $1 bill toward the jury.

Sandersons attorneys likened the symbolic action of suing for $1 to a 2017 countersuit filed by Taylor Swift against a radio host for the same amount in an effort to draw attention to Paltrows celebrity. When asked whether shes friends with Swift over a parade of objections from her attorney, Paltrow said no, but that she was friendly with the singer.

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Associated Press writer Anna Furman contributed reporting from Los Angeles.
NEW YORK (AP)  After nearly two years and at least $1.4 million spent, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Friday released an external review of its overseas operations that barely mentions recent corruption scandals and offers recommendations that critics dismissed as overly vague.

Much of the 50-page report outlines the DEAs sprawling, 69-country foreign footprint, while lauding its efforts to plug gaping holes in the oversight of undercover money laundering operations and special vetted units overseas.

This report is stunningly vague in its actual evaluation of known problems at the DEA and remedies to fix them, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. This speaks to the agencys broader effort to evade oversight. The agency has attempted to dodge my oversight inquiries but I intend to push forward.

The external probe was announced in 2021 following reporting by The Associated Press on the crimes of Jose Irizarry, a disgraced former DEA agent now serving a 12-year federal prison sentence after confessing to laundering money for Colombian drug cartels and skimming millions from seizures and informants to fund an international joyride of fine dining, parties and prostitutes.

Irizarry told the AP last year that DEA agents have come to accept that theres nothing they can do to make a dent in the flow of illegal cocaine and opioids into the United States that has driven more than 100,000 overdose deaths a year.

The drug war is a game, Irizarry said. It was a very fun game that we were playing.

Irizarrys case got one paragraph in the external review. An ongoing federal grand jury inquiry into some of his jet-setting former DEA colleagues was mentioned in a footnote. Also, Irizarrys lawyer told AP he offered to make his client available for an interview for the review but was never contacted.

Interviews and documents demonstrated that the DEA has already largely implemented the recommendations from the DOJ OIG to enhance the oversight of compliance risks arising out of the agencys foreign operations, the review concluded, referring to the U.S. Justice Departments Office of Inspector General.

The probe found fault with the bureaucracy it said bogs down the assignment of agents to foreign divisions and recommended putting incentives in place to attract top talent to hard-to-fill offices. It also blamed the corrupting influence of cartels for instances of individual misconduct by DEA personnel.

DEA also could do more to ensure supervisors are effectively evaluated and ultimately held accountable for compliance-related issues, the review found.

Other recommendations included more regular audits of foreign offices and vetted police units, and stricter controls on expenses.

The external review was conducted by former DEA administrator Jack Lawn and Boyd Johnson, a former federal prosecutor who handled international drug cases. Public records show the no-bid contract was awarded to the law firm WilmerHale, where Johnson works, at a cost of $1.4 million. Johnson did not respond to emails seeking comment.

The report made little mention of the turmoil that has roiled DEA operations in Mexico, where law enforcement cooperation collapsed amid the tenure of a regional director who was quietly ousted from his post for having improper contact with lawyers for narcotraffickers.

AP reported earlier this year that Nicholas Palmeri served just 14 months in the post and retired before an Office of Inspector General report found he sought government reimbursement to pay for his own birthday party.

For a report that cost the government over $1.4 million, it does not seem to recommend the types of changes that would actually prevent another Irizarry or other misconduct, said Bonnie Klapper, a former federal prosecutor in New York. While the report is very thorough in laying out DEAs role and responsibilities, it mentions only a very few examples of misconduct, and its recommendations dont go far enough.

Palmeri arrived to Mexico in the wake of one of the biggest setbacks in recent years in the U.S.-led drug war: the botched arrest of former Mexican Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos. The retired general was nabbed on a sealed U.S. drug warrant upon arrival at the Los Angeles airport in 2020 only to be released a few weeks later under pressure from Mexicos leftist president, who retaliated by disbanding an elite police unit that was a key DEA ally.

Neither the Cienfuegos incident nor the arrest of another prominent U.S. ally in Mexico  ex-security chief Genaro Garcia Luna  are mentioned in the report.

The reports key takeaway about improving information sharing and breaking down internal silos couldnt be more commendable, said John Feeley, a retired U.S. diplomat who worked alongside the DEA in numerous postings overseas. But the biggest silo that needs to be dismantled from an operations perspective is the DEAs failure to communicate to front offices and ambassadors when its investigating senior officials of host nations.

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, who has declined repeated interview requests, said in a statement that the agency would implement all 17 of the reports recommendations.

DEA is committed to meeting the challenges presented by todays global drug threats and ensuring that our work is conducted at the highest level possible, she said.

__

Goodman reported from Miami. Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org.
Challenges.

Dolores Huerta is not one to back down from them.

At 92, the longtime activist is still fighting for working people.

Huerta is back on her native New Mexico soil to participate the 30th Annual Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Celebration on Saturday at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Huerta and Chavez were the driving force behind the activist group, United Farm Workers of America, which fought to improve the lot of workers in the 1960s and 70s. She was born in Dawson, now a ghost town in northeast New Mexico.

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. where Huerta will not only be the keynote speaker but will also march with attendees down the street that bears both her name and Cesar Chavez.

God willing, she says with a smile about the march. It will be a slow march.

A half-century later, Huerta says marching is still a good way to make an impact.

I think marches make the difference, Huerta says. I think when people march together, they feel their energy and their collective power. Its something that is memorable because people dont forget.

Todays celebration, which is put on by the Recuerda a Cesar Chavez Committee, is the only one of its kind in the country that honors both civil rights leaders.

According to the RCCC, the organization shares the vision that Cesar and Dolores championed  that nonviolence is our strength.

Huerta says she is fortunate to be an activist, but she couldnt have predicted the journey it would take her on.

I say to people that when you become an activist, you never know where that road is going to lead you because there are so many exciting things that happen on that path, Huerta says. When you become an activist, you make history. If people dont understand that, then they should at least understand why its important for them to become activists.

Huerta works closely with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which helps provide educational opportunities for communities across America.

She says the struggle is never over because theres always an inequality.

When you have so many people that are homeless right now, in the richest country in the world, she says. You see that we still dont have equal rights for women. We dont have free health care. We dont have free college education. We dont have free child care. Then we say, Whats wrong with us? Theres a huge division in our society and that means we have to do a lot more.

Huerta says the key is for more people to get involved in the democratic process of voting and getting involved.

Education is also on her list where communities can make a difference.

The division in our country comes from ignorance with people not knowing the history of the United States of America because they have been denied that history, Huerta says. Because education is key, we need to put more money into education. Our teachers are underpaid. They dont have the support systems needed to succeed.

Huerta says she is humbled to be involved with the 30th anniversary celebration in Albuquerque because the community honors the work of both activists.

I would say its a symbolic thing for the whole country, she says. When you think of someone like Cesar, who his entire life worked for farmworkers, and in the end we might say it precipitated the Chicano movement and ended up making so many changes in our country.

Albuquerque is one city that chooses to celebrate that and it makes me really proud of it because its in my home state of New Mexico. I always invite people to come to New Mexico and get humanized because were full of kindness and service.
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The Interscope Records artist, best known for his collaborations with Lil Baby including 'Grace' and 'We Paid', was taken into custody in May 2022 after he failed to turn himself in.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - It looks like 42 Dugg will spend more time in jail. The "Maybach" rapper reportedly faces more time in prison after he pleaded guilty to failing to surrender.

The Interscope Records artist entered the guilty plea after purposely avoiding a six-month sentence for illegal possession of a firearm. Now, he faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine. He is set to be sentenced on May 10.

42 Dugg was taken into custody in his hometown of Detroit in May 2022. According to The Detroit News, federal agents were able to intercept him as his private jet landed in Detroit following a flight from Memphis, Tennessee.

42 Dugg, best known for his collaborations with Lil Baby including "Grace" and "We Paid", was supposed to report to a West Virginia federal prison camp on April 12 of that year, but he failed to surrender in time.

42 Dugg has faced a string of legal issues since 2017. He was originally convicted of carjacking and felony firearms possession, for which he received probation. In November 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives got an anonymous tip that the rap star had violated the terms of probation by firing a gun in a shooting range in Atlanta.

The hip-hop artist was subsequently arrested in March 2020 and sentenced to three years probation with a $90,000 fine for illegal possession of a firearm. He was apprehended again in August 2020 for evading police just two months prior.

In May 2021, 42 Dugg and his legal team entered plea negotiations for the gun charge, which carried a maximum sentence of 10 years. He seemed to score a huge win last November as he was able to avoid jail time and got away with probation with the plea deal. However, a judge revoked his probation soon after and gave him a six-month jail sentence followed by two years of supervised release.

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Although she is currently enjoying her time being a single woman, the Carol Danvers depicter on 'The Marvels' reveals in a new interview that she still hopes to have children someday.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Brie Larson is a single woman. The "Captain Marvel" actress confirmed her split from Elijah Allan-Blitz in Harper's BAZAAR's April cover story.

"I don't have a next job. I don't have a home. I don't have a partner. I don't have a plan," the 33-year-old Oscar winner told the magazine. "I'm just completely open."

Though so, Brie hopes to have children someday. The Carol Danvers depicter in "The Marvels" added, "How that happens, when that happens, in what capacity -- I don't know."

It remains unclear when Brie and Elijah ended their romance. However, the two were last photographed at a public event together in September 2022. At that time, they attended Disney's D23 Expo to promote their short film, "Remembering".

It was the first project Brie and Elijah worked on together. The now-exes previously teamed up for "The Messy Truth in VR", which earned them an Emmy Award in 2020.

Brie and Elijah, who has some acting credits like a guest-starring appearance on "The Shield", first sparked dating speculations in the summer of 2019 after being spotted locking lips in Calabasas, California. Brie herself just broke up with her previous boyfriend, Alex Greenwald.

During the interview, Brie reflected on entering her 30s as a single woman. "I had all the same normal fears as everybody else about being single and being 30," she said. "What do I want? How does a family and a future fit in with my weird life?"

Brie celebrated her 33rd birthday in October. Since then, she found herself asking even more questions. "That's such a big place to be in," she told the outlet. "Certain existential questions come up."

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Alice Min Soo Chun, right, poses with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton when she was invited to New York last year by the Clinton Global Initiative for an award thanking her for providing 100,000 lights to Puerto Rico. Courtesy of Milo Agency



This is the third in a series of interviews with senior politicians in Korea and executives at leading think tanks in Washington over the issue of the country's provision of direct military support to Kyiv as the Ukraine war passes the one-year mark since Russia launched its attack, ending decades of relative stability in Europe.  ED.



'The risk of doing nothing is greater than the risk of being wrong'



By Kim Yoo-chul



A year after Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, the critical energy and civilian infrastructure of Kyiv was destroyed. This is simply a violation of international humanitarian laws and a threat to the lives of Ukrainians.



Alice Min Soo Chun is well aware that Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine's energy grid have left many without power. She visited refugee camps in Ukraine during Christmas last year. Her goal was to provide solar light lanterns she created for children in a Ukraine hospital to provide therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



"The risk of doing nothing is greater than the risk of being wrong," Chun, the co-founder of Solight Design, told The Korea Times in a recent interview.



"The children are the innocent victims who have seen the unimaginable. Thousands of refugees were in refugee camps set up in different municipalities. All of them women and children who lost their father or husbands to the war. I visited two refugee camps where we gave out solar lights just as the sun was setting, many homes and areas have constant blackouts and at night the children are terrified. Our color lights were used for PTSD therapy after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. When I heard of the trauma occurring in the children in Ukraine, I decided I must go," she continued.



Chun traveled alone in Ukraine with four giant suitcases packed with 1,000 solar lanterns. After checking the health of children in a hospital in one of the major Ukrainian cities, she got the idea to hand out more origami-style lanterns called SolarPuff, since most of the villages on the front lines in Ukraine have no electricity with many power stations being targeted by Russian troops.



That means nurses at hospitals, infants in intensive care units and even households need light and power for medical purposes. Plus, surgical procedures are being performed in life-threatening conditions as power outages are clearly exacerbating the crisis.



"Our lights fold like and origami balloon  designed for this purpose  flat packing makes them easier for shipping and distributing in disaster zones. They pop open into a perfect cube of light. Powered by the sun, they are better than flashlights and the Russians can't take the sun away," Chun responded.



Chun is the inventor of the SolarPuff, the world's only self-inflatable portable solar light. She was named on "Know Your Value and Forbes 50 Over 50" recognizable women of 2022  an award to honor women who have achieved significant success after the age of 50  and won many accolades, including the U.S. Patent Award for Humanity. A former professor of architecture and material technology at Columbia University, Chun has also exhibited her products at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), in midtown New York.





Local residents walk with humanitarian aid donations in Tsirkuny village, Kharkiv region, on March 20, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP-Yonhap



She invented SolarPuff 2006 when her son was diagnosed with asthma. At that time, she was living in New York City and found out that air pollution caused her son to suffer from the disease. This turned her focus to solar technology while teaching at Columbia.



The social entrepreneur added that solar lanterns and mobile chargers are something that she believes are crucial as a utility.



"Having light will prevent assaults and kidnappings of children in tent camps and in the villages at night. I left a few with a family I stayed with in Lviv (western Ukraine's largest city) and they send me pictures of how they use our lights each day. In some cities, there are blackouts eight hours a day. In the villages on the front lines, they really have nothing," Chun said.



The solar lanterns, she said, have been paid for by Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The Disney chief executive contacted Chun after his team was touched by her work on "Gutsy," an Apple TV+ show by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, which features some of the world's boldest women.



"I was so moved and honored that Bob Iger donated lights to Ukraine. I love his book, 'Ride of a Lifetime.' I referred to it oftentimes when I think of my difficult journey as a Korean minority and female entrepreneur and find inspiration from his challenges and how he overcame them," said Chun, who grew up in South Korea and later in upstate New York. She is planning to visit Ukraine to provide additional lanterns.





Alice Min Soo Chun, second from left, poses with her colleagues holding solar lanterns. Courtesy of Milo Agency
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The 'Locke' screenwriter has been tapped to replace Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson, who recently bowed out of the Disney project for an undisclosed reason.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Steven Knight is to write the new "Star Wars" movie. The "Peaky Blinders" creator, who wrote the screenplays for movies "Dirty Pretty Things", "Closed Circuit" and "Locke", is said to have replaced screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson on the secret sci-fi project, according to Variety.

"Ms. Marvel" director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still expected to direct the movie, but details about the plot are under wraps.

Further information about the film, including a potential title, are set to be unveiled at the Star Wars Celebration in London in April, with the movie looking increasingly likely to be the next big screen project in the franchise following 2019's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker".

In recent years, Disney has prioritised building the "Star Wars" universe on television with hit shows such as "The Mandalorian", but a number of new film projects are in development.

The reasons behind the departures of Lindelof and Britt-Gibson have not been disclosed, but the "Lost" creator had hinted at difficulties in an interview last month.

He told SlashFilm, "I will just say, that for reasons that I can't get into on this Sunday morning, on this day, the degree of difficulty is extremely, extremely, extremely high. If (the film) can't be great, it shouldn't exist. That's all I say, because I have the same association with ('Star Wars') as you do, which is, it's the first movie I saw sitting in my dad's lap, four years old, May of '77. I think it's possible that sometimes when you hold something in such high reference and esteem, you start to get in the kitchen and you just go, 'Maybe I shouldn't be cooking. Maybe I should be just eating.' We'll just leave it at that point."

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The Prince of Wales makes a surprise visit to the country to show his gratitude to Polish people for their support towards neighboring Ukraine in the war against Russia.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Prince William surprised people when he arrived at a gay restaurant in Warsaw, Poland. In pictures that circulated online, the Prince of Wales sat down at Buetero Bistro for a meal on Wednesday night, March 22.

The photos saw the British royal wearing a button-down shirt for the outing at the restaurant, which is described online as a "queer space." The 40-year-old was sitting with a group of his staffers as a server took their orders.

According to Daily Mail, "the team from Kensington Palace booked a local restaurant near where they were working, and the prince decided to join them." An insider added, "He asked them what they were doing and then asked to come along. It was a great night by all accounts. The team really appreciated him asking to join them."

The eatery's owner, Pawel Zasim, claimed that he was just as stunned as his customers to see William at his restaurant. Speaking with the news outlet, he said that he had "absolutely no idea" William was coming. He added that the table had been booked for a birthday party for a woman named Daisy and 11 of her guests. "But then a bodyguard appeared and said that this wasn't going to be a Daisy birthday party, and then Prince William walked in," Pawel shared.

It was said that the Duke of Cambridge enjoyed a "sandwich in a braided roll with pulled pork" during the three-hour meal. "And he ate everything, so I think he liked it," the restaurateur noted.





William made a surprise visit to Poland to show his gratitude to Polish people for their support towards neighboring Ukraine in the war against Russia. He spent Wednesday afternoon with troops from both Poland and the U.K., who have been helping to train Ukrainian forces, before heading to Warsaw to meet some of 300 Ukrainian women and children who are currently being housed in a converted office block.

A spokesperson told PEOPLE magazine, "He wanted to look into the eyes of the Polish people and say thank you for everything they have done. That is the main message he was putting across to the Polish and British military."

The prince told the British troops, "Thank you for hosting me today. I just wanted to come here in person to say 'thank you' for all you are doing - keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what's going on. Just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis. I know some of you are coming to the end of your time out here. So looking forward to a bit of 'R and R' when you get home."

"You are doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important and everyone back home thoroughly supports you. And everything you are doing with the Poles and our Polish counterparts in providing that safety is really important. Lovely to meet you and good luck," he continued.

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The Emmy-winning actress reveals on 'Way Up with Angela Yee' podcast that she was sexually assaulted by a 'famous TV judge' years ago while she was promoting a show.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sheryl Lee Ralph opened up about her past hurtful experience. The "Abbott Elementary" star revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a "famous TV judge" years ago while she was promoting a show at a network event.

During her appearance on "Way Up with Angela Yee" podcast on Monday, March 20, she shared, "I'm at a very public place. I was suited. I had my suit on. I was handling my business for the television show I was on at that time. He and I were on the same network."

Sheryl further recalled, "This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around and rammed his nasty-a** tongue down my throat. And everybody at the network saw it."

The "Dreamgirls" star claimed that she tried to report the incident to police. She said that she called then-mayor of New Orleans Marc Morial, who allegedly asked her, "You want me to send the police there right now? 'Cause we will fix this, you know what!"

However, Sheryl shared that network executives didn't want the incident to become public. "Somebody on the network tapped me on the shoulder saying, 'Please don't,' " she revealed. "They did not want any bad press around their show, and did not care what had just happened to me."

While Sheryl didn't disclose the identity of her assaulter, the Emmy-winning actress noted that it wasn't Judge Greg Mathis. "I love him. He's a great man," Sheryl, who was starring on "Moesha" at the time, said about Greg. "Not him at all. He's a great man. This was another one."

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only time she experienced sexual assault at work environment. Sheryl revealed that a promoter once appropriately put his hand on her leg. Detailing the incident, she recounted, "My skirt is at my knees. I have on a sweater blouse. It's horrible."

"It's like I can think about these things and I'll tell you, it was like the third time something like this had happened to me, and I thought to myself, 'What did I do to deserve that? What made this man think that he could just come over and put his hands on my body, in front of [everyone]' - he didn't know me," she continued.

The actress later encouraged women to speak up. "Speak up, tell your truth, do not carry the burden of the pain," she said, before adding, "especially if you feel like it's something you can't work through."

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A little over one month after holding a second wedding to her husband, the 'Honey Boo Boo' star shares a raving tribute to praise him for being 'the most perfect person.'

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Mama June a.k.a. June Shannon could not help but shower Justin Stroud with raving praises. When celebrating their first wedding anniversary, the "Honey Boo Boo" star shared a lengthy tribute in which she thanked her husband for being "the most perfect person."

On Thursday, March 23, the 43-year-old reality star shared a series of pictures capturing her happy moments with her husband. Accompanying the photos, she wrote, "To the person that ja the most imperfect person but the most perfect person in my eyes. HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY."

June went on to note, "Today one year ago I married my best friend even though we met almost 2 years a lot." Reflecting on their journey as a couple, she continued, "Of people didn't want us together or thought we wouldn't not make it but we have been through ALOT to say the least as friends and as a couple that most would not b able handle be have done it together and have figure out every situation together."

Further expressing her appreciation, June continued, "I have never experienced that before so it has been very nice I know i don't tell you tell u enough lately with everything going that u are amazing." In reference to her daughters, she added, "I appreciate u for being with everything when I know it's hard to deal with at times but I'm glad u r with me and girls to help with it."

In the post, the Shannon Family matriarch also shared her excitement for the future. She wrote, "I can't wait to see what the future holds cause I knows all the good the bad and whatever life throws at either of us we will get three it together."

"Thank you for allowing me to experiencing true love for the first owl and never wanting anything for me but just for me tk me in the words of u my corny goody self," she continued before adding, "I love u so much."

Among the pictures June shared in the Instagram post were those taken during her and Justin's intimate beach ceremony. Others were a collection of the married couple's cute selfies.

June and Justin tied the knot at a courthouse in Georgia on March 23, 2022. Less than a year later, the pair exchanged vows for the second time in Panama City, Florida on February 18. The beach ceremony was attended by June's daughters, Alana Thompson a.k.a. Honey Boo Boo, Lauryn Efird a.k.a. Pumpkin, Jessica Shannon a.k.a. Chubbs and Anna Cardwell a.k.a. Chickadee. Her grandchildren, Stella, Sylus and Bentley, were present as well.

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Following the physical assault at LA Fitness in South Florida that left him with bloody face, the New York-born hip-hop star was rushed to a nearby hospital by ambulance.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - More details surrounding Tekashi 6ix9ine's bloody beatdown have emerged online. New shocking footage saw the New York-born rapper attackers making a beeline for him before beating him down.

Shocking new surveillance footage appeared to show Tekashi's alleged attackers heading straight to the scene of the crime before his beatdown. The security video, obtained by TMZ on Thursday, March 23, saw the moments before the rapper was attacked at LA Fitness in South Florida.

In the footage, a man paced in front of the gym's front desk while speaking with someone on his cell phone. The individual was subsequently seen tapping on one of the windows in an apparent signal to another person.

After a second man appeared, the two men seemingly exchanged a few words and flashed a smile at the front desk worker before making a beeline for the bathroom. The duo, who were bald and of medium stature with beards, were respectively wearing a black hoodie and black T-shirt.

After the attack took place, the alleged assailants were again caught on camera in separate surveillance footage, also released Thursday. In the clip, the two men were seen leaving the restroom with a third individual, also dressed in an all-black outfit but with a gold chain around his neck.

The trio appeared to be the same individuals seen in footage of the assault circulating on social media, in which the 26-year-old rapper was beaten up near the gym's bathroom sinks and trash can. In the clip, the "Gooba" rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, walks out of the restroom with a bloodied face and says, "Y'all n***as jumped me."

6ix9ine's lawyer Lance Lazzaro confirmed to TMZ that his client was in the gym without personal security when he was assaulted without warning. The attorney declared that he plans to ask federal authorities to provide protection after the rapper's testimony helped put his fellow gang members behind bars.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office released a Facebook post about the incident on Wednesday, confirming that Tekashi was "injured" during an altercation between "several individuals." Officials clarified that the "Mala" rapper's wounds were "non-life threatening."

However, Tekashi was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital to treat injuries to his jaw, ribs and back. Officials are still conducting an active investigation and requested the public's help for more information. It is unclear whether any arrests have been made.

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The 'Nip/Tuck' actor's chef son Thomas Walsh is hailed as a real-life hero after he saved a motorist who got caught in a car as it careened into the water at Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Dylan Walsh has spoken up on his son's heroic action. The actor couldn't help feeling "proud" of his son Thomas "Tom" Walsh after the sous chef risked his own life to save a driver from drowning.

A representative for the "Nip/Tuck" alum said the 59-year-old "is very proud" of his son. The rep also told Daily Mail that Tom's heroic act only shows "that's the person he is!"

The feeling was echoed by Baltimore's Phillips Seafood, where Tom has been working as a sous chef. "On behalf of the company and the Phillips family, we are just proud and inspired by Tom's efforts," a spokesperson for Phillips said in a statement on Thursday, March 23.

Tom has been hailed as a real-life hero after he jumped into the water to save a drowning driver, who got stuck in a car as it plunged into the ocean. The heroic rescue was captured on a video, which has since gone viral.

On Wednesday afternoon, March 22, Tom left a meeting with his boss at Phillips Seafood when he came across a group of people freaked out about what they had just seen. At the time, a car had already careened into the water at Baltimore's Inner Harbor with the driver still stuck inside.

As others looked with horror, Tom didn't hesitate to quickly come to the driver's rescue. In the video, he was seen jumping into the water with all of his clothes on and punching the window with his bare fist. He apparently managed to break the window and pulled the driver through the windshield.

Tom, who is an Iraq war veteran, swam with the motorist to the edge of the pier and then hoisted the man into the waiting arms of people on the pier, before he was also helped to safety.

Baltimore City Fire Department confirms they responded to a rescue call shortly after 4 P.M. at the popular tourism area. When they arrived, Tom had already pulled the driver from the car. The 26-year-old chef and the driver were both treated for minor injuries and transported to a nearby hospital.

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The hotel heiress, who had son Phoenix via surrogacy in January with her husband Carter Reum, says the experience was so joyous she's desperate to give her boy up to two more siblings.

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Paris Hilton can't wait to have another two children. The 42-year-old hotel heiress had son Phoenix via surrogacy in January with her husband Carter Reum, also 42, but says the experience was so joyous she is desperate to give her boy up to two more siblings.

She told TMZ as she headed to a book signing for her autobiography "Paris: The Memoir" at Los Angeles mall The Grove motherhood has been "incredible" - before adding she "can't wait" to have another baby.

When a photographer asked her how many she would like to have, Paris admitted, "A couple of them." Paris said in her book the abuse she suffered as a teen from older men, and the horrors she was subjected to at schools for troubled teens, where she was sent when her family feared she would go off the rails, was so traumatic she had her son via surrogacy.

She has also told how a "mother instinct" kicked in as soon as Phoenix was born that drives her to protect her son "every second." Paris told the March issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine about her maternal nature, "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. I feel so complete now."

Paris also gushed in the chat about her marriage to Carter, who she married in November 2021, and told how he changed her mindset about sex. She told Harper's Bazaar before she started dating the entrepreneur in 2019, she privately thought of herself as asexual as "anything sexual" left her "terrified".

Paris added, "I was known as a sex symbol, but... I called myself the 'kissing bandit' because I only liked to make out. A lot of my relationships didn't work out because of that". "The Simple Life" star Paris, who was briefly engaged to "The Leftovers" actor Chris Zylka in 2018, added she now loves "hooking up" with Carter, and said, "It wasn't until Carter that I finally am not that way."

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The 'Old Town Road' hitmaker comes under fire after he tweets that he wants to come to Africa and meet the gays there after Uganda passed death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality.'

Mar 24, 2023

AceShowbiz - Lil Nas X apparently hasn't learned a lesson from his recent trolling that backfired. After joking about transitioning, the rapper has now caught heat for his tweet about "gays in Africa" in the wake of Uganda's new anti-LGBTQ law.

On Wednesday, March 22, the Grammy Award-winning artist, who is openly gay, posted on his page, "where do the gays be in africa i wanna come there." It's unclear why he posted the tweet, but it came on the heels of Uganda parliament passing a sweeping anti-LGBTQ law on Wednesday.

Lil Nas X tweeted about 'gays in Africa' after the passing of Uganda's anti-LGBTQ law.

The law punishes people with up to 10 years behind bars for simply identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer or anything other than male or female. Performing sexual acts with a person of the same sex was already illegal in the country, but the new law would punish the act of "aggravated homosexuality," a broad definition that includes "repeat offenders," having sex with an HIV-positive person and more, with the death penalty.

Needless to say, Lil Nas' tweet drew the ire of public, who thought that it's very "insensitive" towards the gay community in Uganda. "Very insensitive young man. Don't let attention and relevance be the core of your existence and confidence. Just be a solid individual," one person blasted the rapper.

Another called out the "MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)" emcee, "This is so insensitive especially after Uganda just announced the harsh punishment of even identifying as being LGBTQ." A third stated, "I can't believe the ignorance that gets called 'influence' these days."

A fourth user reminded, "The gays in Africa are in hiding most the time they not living like this & don't want you putting a target in their backs." A fifth person warned Lil Nas, "Ain't they passing laws to unalive the gay community over that way? That isn't anything to even play with. Stay safe." Someone else noted, "The Uganda gays need love and solidarity today."

Prior to this, Lil Nas drew backlash for joking about transitioning. In a since-deleted tweet, he posted a photo of influencer Glow Princess, whose real name is Armanda Tounghui. "the surgery was a success," he wrote alongside the snap, suggesting he had undergone gender-affirming surgery.

After catching flak with his joke, he tweeted, "apologies to the trans community i def handled that situation with anger instead of considering why it was not cool." The 23-year-old star added, "much love to you guys. Sorry."

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The Duke of Sussex is featured with his mouth taped up on the front page of a book mocking his bombshell autobiography which is due to come out on April Fool's Day.

Mar 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - A parody of Prince Harry's autobiography, titled "Spare Us", is due on April Fool's Day, March 1. The Duke of Sussex put out his tell-all memoir "Spare" in January, in which he shared intimate details about himself, the royal family, and his relationships, and now publisher Little Brown have announced their own "Harrody" version of the tome.

The cover of the book featured the same photo of Harry used on the front of "Spare", but with his mouth taped up. And a synopsis from the publisher revealed the spoof will take aim at the 38-year-old royal and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex's appeals to be able to lead a quiet life out of the spotlight while also giving tell-all interviews.

It read, " 'All I had ever wanted was privacy. In order to get it, it seemed that an exceptionally detailed 500,000-word book was in order...' He was born into an ancient powerful dynasty and, through no fault of his own, became one of the most recognisable men on the planet."

"His life was a constant barrage of press intrusion and manipulation. Until finally, he demanded that it stop. In order to get the privacy he so craved, he has written a warts-and-all book that goes deep inside the castle walls and exposes every shouting match, fist-fight, betrayal, teddy bear, awkward hug and tear-stained wedding rehearsal for the world to feast their eyes on. All for privacy!"

Among the revelations Harry made in "Spare" was that he was battling the pain of a frostbitten penis at the wedding of his brother Prince William to his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, after having undertaken a 200-mile charity expedition to the North Pole earlier in the day.

He wrote, "Upon arriving home I'd been horrified to discover that my nether regions were frost nipped as well. And while the ears and cheeks were already healing, the todger wasn't. It was becoming more of an issue by the day."

Harry, 38, admitted his father Prince Charles, 74, was very "sympathetic" about his frostbitten ears and cheeks following the trek. He said, "Pa was very interested, and sympathetic about the discomfort of my frost nipped ears and cheeks."

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Britannia's beverage brand Winkin' Cow has released a new television commercial for its Thick Shakes line. The TVC, conceptualised by McCann Worldgroup Bangalore, emphasises the range's multisensory adventure, describing it as a "party in a bottle" for your senses.

Taking the essence of the previous TVC's fun party with the cows, this film targets the party-loving Gen-Z audience and thus includes a groovy dance routine to appeal to them. In addition, the commercial highlights Thick Shakes' new PET bottle avatar as well as its mascot, who embodies the brand's fun and adventurous spirit.

Mr. Abhishek Sinha, Chief Business Officer, Dairy Business, Britannia Industries Limited said, Britannia Winkin Cow is a beverage product line loved by all. We have been receiving positive feedback from our consumers and that is substantiated by our revenue figures that crossed INR 100 Crores in FY22, within just three years of its launch. As a customer centric organization, we wanted to celebrate their love & admiration by launching their favourite Winkin Cow in an all new and improved thick shake range. The brand new sleek PET bottles are designed to elevate the consumption experience and the evolved packaging enables consumers to have a multi-sensorial experience with a delightful flavour. The new TVC perfectly captures the spirit of the new Winkin Cow range.

Further, Sambit Mohanty, Head of Creative South, McCann Worldgroup, said, From a tantalizing aroma to a great mouth-feel and taste, new Winkin Cow milkshakes are truly a sensorial delight. To convey this in an entertaining manner, we hit upon the idea of a Cowverse - where our gang of teens are transported to after drinking Winkin Cow. Our film brings alive this world in a fun, groovy way.
This March 7 file photo shows a man waving a Japanese flag at a rally calling for the removal of a statue of a girl symbolizing victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery in Sejong, 112 kilometers south of Seoul. Yonhap



The ruling People Power Party (PPP) had one member quit the party after he was confirmed to be the man who flew the Japanese flag on a national holiday marking Korea's independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, a lawmaker said Friday.



The person, who identified himself as a PPP member in a media interview, came under fire after hanging the Japanese flag outside his apartment in the central city of Sejong, 112 kilometers south of Seoul, on March 1, a national holiday marking the country's 1919 independence movement.



"He engaged in a stunt that goes completely against the common sense of ordinary party members," Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, the PPP's secretary general, said in an MBC radio interview. "We immediately convened a meeting of the party affairs committee and  took disciplinary action and asked him to leave the party, and he immediately quit."



Lee said the party has yet to establish a screening system for its nearly 4 million non-lawmaker members. (Yonhap)


Godrej Vikhroli Cucina, a brand agnostic platform by Godrej Industries for food brands, writers, chefs, influencers, bloggers, and food lovers to engage, network and collaborate, launched Vibe with Varun, a first-of-its-kind chat show web-series featuring conversations beyond food. For the first season, Godrej Vikhroli Cucina has partnered with two-time national award winner and Guinness world record holder celebrity chef Varun Inamdar calling the series Vibe with Varun. Hosted by Chef Varun himself, the first season will have seven episodes bringing forth enriching stories of people belonging to the food and culinary world.

The series features eminent personalities including - Master of Wine Sonal Holland; Chef Rakhee Vaswani; Archaeologist and Culinary Anthropologist Kurush Dalal; Prateeksh Mehra, Founder of Spotted Cow Fromagerie; Food Stylist Saba Gaziyani; Nitin Nabar, Executive Director & President, Godrej Industries Limited (Godrej Veg Oils) and Abhay Parnerkar, CEO, Godrej Tyson Foods Ltd (offer brands like Godrej Yummiez & Real Good Chicken).

For the first time in the food ecosystem, Godrej Vikhroli Cucina is getting the food community together for meaningful conversations which are beyond food or their professional expertise. Through Vibe with Varun, Godrej Vikhroli Cucina aims to nudge these personalities to share something about themselves starting with their childhood to interesting incidents and experiences.

Speaking on the launch of the series, Sujit Patil, Vice President & Head - Corporate Brand and Communications, Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies, said, Godrej Vikhroli Cucina has always been seen as a thought leader in the food space. The new Vibe with Varun' series is an attempt to engage our audiences with fresh content in an innovative, personalized never-heard-before stories of personalities from the food and culinary world. This series will not only drive engagement for our owned media platforms but also enable us to subtly integrate foods brands like Godrej Yummiez, Real Good Chicken, Godrej Veg Oils, Godrej Jersey, that are part of the Godrej ecosystem.

He further added,  Vibe with Varun follows a rapid-fire like format that is snackable and shareable for social media. Be it a wine connoisseur, a baking expert to cheese specialist or a food historian, no other food platform has brought together such an interesting mix of experts for conversations.

Chef Varun Inamdar, said, Food content is most consumed across formats and digital platforms. However, there is still scope to give a platform to real-life experiences and anecdotes of people shaping up the culinary world through fun conversations. I along with Godrej Vikhroli Cucina bring some industry leaders and flag bearers who also happen to be my friends from the food space and have relevant conversations. Vibe with Varun will be an interesting watch for people who love food as well as work in the food space as they get to see a completely different side of the personalities otherwise known for their craft. And more so it is also one-of-the-first chat shows of its kind in the food world.
ITC Ltd.s Aashirvaad, a leading packaged atta brand and one of the fastest growing Spices brands in the country, has launched its latest range of chilli blends crafted specially for Karnataka. The new range promises to be the Chilli powder that is Crafted for Karnataka, Crafted to perfection. The range has two variants that are designed to meet the diverse needs of authentic Karnataka cuisines  the first variant Aashirvaad Chilli Powder made from Guntur and Byadagi Chilli, can help make dishes spicy and provides them the right color. The other variant Aashirvaad Chilli Powder with Byadagi Chilli, gives the right colour to the dish, and is meant for those who likes their dishes a little less spicy.

With the signing of Ramesh Aravind, the popular Kannada actor and director as its brand ambassador, the new range has been launched across Karnataka.

Speaking about this launch, Piyush Mishra, Business Head, Spices, ITC Ltd., said We are excited to launch our new range of chilli blends in Karnataka, a state known for its diverse cuisines. The blends are specially curated keeping in mind the unique taste preferences of the people of Karnataka. We are confident that this range will be a huge success among our consumers.

Actor Ramesh Aravind said, I am very glad to be associated with Aashirvaad, one of the most popular FMCG brands in the country. Being a big fan of Authentic Karnataka Food, I loved the new Chilli powder range from Aashirvaad, which has been exclusively crafted for Karnataka. I must say that the Chilly powders are of great quality. I am sure that the people of Karnataka will love the new range.

Aashirvaad has always been at the forefront of innovation and quality. With the launch of this new range of chilli blends, the brand has yet again demonstrated its commitment to provide the best quality products to its consumers. Aashirvaad sun-dries the raw chillies, and grinds and packs them in ITCs state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring hygiene and consistency.

The new chilli blends are available in packs of 50g, 100g, 200g and 500g across 13,000 stores and e-Commerce platforms in Karnataka.
As the air conditioner industry in India gears up for strong pent-up demand in the upcoming summer season, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning, the manufacturer of Indias aspirational premium air-conditioner brand 'Hitachi Cooling and Heating' is betting big on volume sales and market share in the RAC category. The company is targeting record growth during the peak season, driven by a superior customer experience in partnership with Delhivery, India's largest fully-integrated logistics services provider. In the last 5 years, the partnership has enabled Hitachi Cooling and Heatings service and channel partners to address customer demand for the companys fast-selling product range of Air conditioners and refrigerators in the timeliest manner.

In 2019, JCI-Hitachi started spare part shipping to service centers with Delhivery, using the logistics company's part-truck load (PTL) services. In 2020, Hitachi expanded its relationship with Delhivery, smoothly transitioning to a fully-integrated supply chain solution, wherein Delhivery operates all warehouses and transportation for Hitachi's spare parts business.

Highlighting the impact of technology in supply chain management, Sandeep Barasia, Executive Director and Chief Business Officer, Delhivery Ltd., said, "We value our longstanding relationship with Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd. and are excited to be their logistics partner of choice. Our E2E solutions have empowered Hitachi and many other businesses to make smarter supply chain decisions and drive operational efficiencies."

Gurmeet Singh, Chairman, and Managing Director, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd., said, "Care, innovation, and tech integration have become the key pillars of a seamless and superior customer experience in the new informed world. Right from our production line to end users in work or living spaces, customer satisfaction is in the DNA of everything that we do. Our globally designed and launched air home series, power-packed with award-winning models and pathbreaking features, is all set to take the air conditioning expectations of Indias rising feature-seeking consumer population to the next level.

As we targeted growth along with seamless consumer and channel partner experiences, we were looking for a supply chain partner to take our set-up to the next level and give us the necessary edge in the spare parts industry. We are delighted to have a long and fruitful partnership with Delhivery as they bring in new-age solutions to the table that provide greater visibility at every stage of the funnel to increase speed, efficiency, and reliability for our customers.", Mr. Singh further added.

Delhivery manages transportation from Hitachi's mother warehouse to 21 local warehouses and final deliveries to 1,100 service centers across India. The brand leveraged Delhivery's technology, analytics, and integrated logistics capabilities to reduce delivery times by 30%. Delhivery has developed a weight-based algorithm that identifies lower-weight spare parts. These spare parts are now delivered faster to dealers through Delhivery's e-commerce network.

Hitachi Cooling and Heating Indias digital transformation continues to yield benefits. Now, Hitachi provides end-to-end supply chain visibility to its teams and customers. The company is also utilizing Delhivery's supply chain platform to better manage its inventory - reducing days of inventory by 25%. This is expected to improve further over time.
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

Bern, 24.03.2023 - Renato Krpoun, Head of the Swiss Space Office at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, will be the first Swiss to chair the ESA Council at delegate level. The two-year term of Renato Krpoun will start from 1st July 2023. Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Space Transportation since mid-2016, will take over responsibility for the Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate as from 1st July 2023.

The Council of the European Space Agency ESA at delegate level made this decision at its meeting on 23 March 2023. It is the agency's governing body, in which each of the 22 Member States is represented. The Council takes the key decisions that provide the framework in which ESA develops and implements the European space programme.

Renato Krpoun has been representing Switzerland in the ESA Council at delegate level for several years and is currently the Vice-Chair. In his role as Chair, one of his main tasks will be to steer the work of the Council and ensure the preparation of its decisions in close cooperation with the Member States and with the ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. He will be supported by Miguel Bello Mora (Spain) and Frank Monteny (Belgium), the newly elected vice-chairs. Renato Krpoun will keep his responsibilities as Head of the Swiss Space Office at the SERI.

In his new role as ESA Director for Human and Robotic Exploration, Daniel Neuenschwander will be responsible for an extensive programme portfolio. This includes various missions, including to ESA's three strategic exploration destinations: Low Earth Orbit, Moon and Mars. The ESA astronaut corps is also part of this directorate.

ESA is an independent intergovernmental agency and has Switzerland as a founding member. The ESA Council at ministerial level is currently presided by Germany. At the ESA Council at ministerial level in November 2022, the Member States supported ESA's ambitions to increase Europe's autonomy in space, to accelerate the use of space in Europe and to strengthen the key role of ESA and of its programmes.

Address for enquiries

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI

Communication

medien@sbfi.admin.ch

058 462 96 90

Publisher

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

http://www.sbfi.admin.ch




Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 24.03.2023 - The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has signed contribution agreements worth around CHF 270 million with 27 partners for the period 202324. Swiss NGOs are instrumental in accomplishing Switzerland's international cooperation objectives. With the support of the SDC and in cooperation with their local partners, they create decent jobs, work for the sustainable use of natural resources and transfer Swiss expertise and innovative approaches to local actors.

Switzerland's international cooperation pursues a variety of objectives, from fighting growing global poverty and alleviating hardship to promoting prosperity. At the same time, Switzerland is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda. These ambitious goals can only be achieved if all actors  the private sector, civil society, the academic community and governments  work together. Swiss NGOs are key partners of the SDC in international cooperation.



Efficient and effective use of funds

Programme contributions are allocated to ensure that federal funds benefit various categories of NGOs, including small aid organisations. The 27 partners for the period 202324 comprise 10 large Swiss aid organisations, 7 alliances with a total of 17 NGOs, 3 umbrella organisations with 22 member organisations, and 7 cantonal federations. The new procedure for allocating programme contributions, which was revised in 2019, also ensures that financial resources are allocated in a transparent and verifiable manner and are used efficiently and effectively in partner countries.



Individual NGOs can finance a maximum of 30% and alliances, umbrella organisations and federations a maximum of 40% of their international cooperation budgets through SDC programme contributions. The SDC's programme contribution funds may only be used in partner countries.



Switzerland supports the most vulnerable population groups

The environment in which the SDC and its partners operate is shaped by complex social, economic and political crises, increasing fragility, migration, climate change, famine and growing inequality. The poorest and most disadvantaged people are the hardest hit by these trends. The war in Ukraine and its global ramifications have exacerbated these developments, with hunger becoming an increasingly serious problem in many parts of the world.



Swiss NGOs are committed to supporting the most vulnerable communities and are active in emergency relief, crisis prevention and development cooperation. They play a critical role in strengthening local organisations and systems that ensure access to basic services (healthcare, education, jobs, justice, land, water, information), transparent governance and civic participation. NGOs are thus instrumental in promoting democratisation and protecting human rights as a basis for peace and stability. In cooperation with their local partners, Swiss NGOs, with the support of the SDC, which is part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), create decent jobs, work for the sustainable use of natural resources and transfer Swiss expertise and innovative approaches to local actors. Swiss NGOs' results-oriented programmes are thus fully in line with the implementation of Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy 202124. A report published by the Swiss Federal Audit Office in June 2002 confirmed the continued value of the SDC's programme contributions to Switzerland's international cooperation.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Image: PTI

The Supreme Court ordered on Friday that all convicts and undertrial prisoners who were released during the COVID-19 pandemic to decongest jails surrender within 15 days.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said undertrial prisoners, who were released on emergency bail during the pandemic, can move for regular bail before competent courts after their surrender.

The bench stated that all convicts who were released during the COVID-19 pandemic after their surrender can move competent courts for suspension of their sentence.

Several convicts and undertrial prisoners, mostly those who were booked for non-heinous offenses, were released during the pandemic in various states on the recommendations of a high-powered committee set up pursuant to directions of the apex court.
The Supreme Court held on Friday as bad in law its 2011 verdicts that ruled that mere membership in a banned organization will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites others to violence.

While deciding a reference made by a two-judge bench, a bench of Justices MR Shah, CT Ravikumar, and Sanjay Karol held that mere membership in a banned organization makes a person criminal and subject to prosecution under UAPA provisions.

The bench said the subsequent decisions passed by high courts pursuant to its two-judge verdicts in 2011 on the membership of banned outfits are bad in law and should be overruled. While allowing petitions of the Centre and the Assam government seeking review of the apex courts 2011 verdicts on the membership of banned outfits, the court said the Union government was required to be heard when a provision enacted by Parliament is read down.

The top court stated that the 2011 verdicts were issued based on American court decisions, which cannot be done without taking into account the situation in India. In India, the right to freedom of speech and expression is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions. However, the bench stated that decisions of American courts can be used as a guideline.

On February 9, the top court, while reserving its verdict on a batch of review pleas, noted that the Union of India was not heard by its two-judge benches when the 2011 verdict was passed, reading down Section 3(5) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (now repealed).

On February 3, 2011, the Supreme Court acquitted suspected ULFA member Arup Bhuyan, who had been found guilty by a TADA court on the basis of his alleged confessional statement before the Superintendent of Police, and stated that mere membership in a banned organization does not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or causes public disorder through violence or incitement to violence.

Similar views were expressed by the Supreme Court in two other 2011 decisions, Indra Das vs. State of Assam and State of Kerala vs. Raneef, in which the bench relied on three US Supreme Court decisions that rejected the doctrine of guilt by association.
The main opposition Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-keun speaks at a party meeting held in Ulsan, about 305 kilometers southeast of Seoul, March 24. Yonhap



The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said Friday it will submit a request next week to open a parliamentary investigation into a recent summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.



The summit was aimed at mending frayed ties with Japan, but it triggered a backlash in Korea because it took place after Korea decided that its companies would compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labor, not Japanese firms.



Rep. Park Hong-keun, floor leader of the DP, said, "The people view the Yoon Suk Yeol government's diplomacy as a complete failure."



Park said the DP will uncover the truth about suspicions that the Yoon administration put the national interest at risk, as well as the lives, stability and economy of the people, during last week's summit with Kishida.



Criticism of the summit intensified after Japanese news outlets reported that unannounced topics were also discussed between Yoon and Kishida, such as the issue of Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, Japan's wartime sexual slavery and Seoul's import ban on fisheries products from Japan's Fukushima.



Yoon's office has expressed regret to Japan, calling the reports "distorted," and said it cannot disclose the details of the summit discussions. Nonetheless, the office said the issues of wartime sexual slavery and Dokdo were not discussed during the summit.



DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung also said the party cannot turn a blind eye to the suspicions, especially the issue of importing Fukushima seafood as it is "directly related to people's lives."



Seoul has banned all seafood imports from the Fukushima area since 2013 due to concerns over their radiation levels following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown. (Yonhap)


The Mississippi Gaming Commission on Thursday granted site approval for construction of South Beach Casino & Resort on a 4-acre site near Waveland, Miss.

According to WLOX, the 4-acre site is located along Clermont Harbor on South Beach Boulevard, just west of Waveland. Plans calls for a resort with 40,000 square feet of gaming space, featuring 1,100 slot machines, 25 gaming tables, and six poker tables.

Theres one catch: Developers have yet to secure financing for the project. Kirk Ladnier, project manager, told the gaming commission Thursday they needed site approval to help secure investors.

He also said the project has been approved before, but never secured the necessary financing to proceed.
Free breakfast is coming to Slutty Vegans Birmingham location. Well, for a few hours, at least.

On Sunday, March 26, the restaurant (located at 5 55th Place South in Woodlawn) will offer patrons a special pop-up breakfast menu from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. while supplies last.

The menu will include takes on traditional breakfast favorites:

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit  crispy, plant-based bacon strips, a folded vegan egg and melted vegan cheese served on a freshly baked vegan biscuit

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit  a savory, plant-based sausage patty, a folded vegan egg and melted vegan cheese served on a freshly baked vegan biscuit

Egg & Cheese Biscuit  a folded vegan egg and melted vegan cheese served on a freshly baked vegan biscuit

Fluffy Vegan Pancakes  three freshly baked, fluffy vegan pancakes served with vegan syrup

Slutty Vegan is all about reimagining food, restaurant owner and entrepreneur Pinky Cole said in a press release about the pop-up. Weve already redefined lunch and dinner food, so now were showing people that vegan breakfast options can be just as satisfying. Were not usually open on Sundays, but we cant wait to throw open the doors this weekend to start the day the Slutty way in Woodlawn!

In addition to the breakfast pop-up, Cole will be on-site for a book signing of her recently released cookbook Eat Plants B*tch! a collection of 91 vegan recipes.

Released late last year, Eat Plants, B*tch features recipes from breakfast creations and tapas to Jamaican dishes from Coles childhood. Also on the rundown: hacks for vegan cooking, plant-based substitutes and complementary dips, jam, jellies, and gravy. The cookbook garnered Cole a 2023 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Instructional Literary Work.
WASHINGTON (AP)  In early March, President Joe Biden met with members of Alaskas bipartisan congressional delegation as they implored him to approve a contentious oil drilling project in their state. Around the same time, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland held a very different meeting on the same topic.

Gathering at Interior headquarters a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) from the White House, leaders of major environmental organizations and Indigenous groups pleaded with Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet member, to use her authority to block the Willow oil project. Environmental groups call the project a carbon bomb that would betray pledges made by Biden  and Haaland  to fight climate change and have mounted a social media #StopWillow campaign that has been seen hundreds of millions of times.

The closed-door meeting, which was described by two participants who insisted on not being identified because of its confidential nature, grew emotional as participants urged Haaland to oppose a project many believed Biden appeared likely to approve even as it contradicted his agenda to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.

Haaland, who opposed Willow when she served in Congress, choked up as she explained that the Interior Department had to make difficult choices, according to the participants. Many Native groups in Alaska support Willow as a job creator and economic lifeline.

Less than two weeks later, the Biden administration announced it was approving Willow, an $8 billion drilling plan by ConocoPhillips on Alaskas petroleum-rich North Slope.

Haaland, who had not publicly commented on Willow in two years as head of the U.S. agency overseeing the project, was not involved in the announcement and did not sign the approval order, leaving that to her deputy, Tommy Beaudreau.

In an online video released March 13, 10 hours after the decision was made public, Haaland said she and Biden, both Democrats, believe the climate crisis is the most urgent issue of our lifetime.

She called Willow a difficult and complex issue that was inherited" from previous administrations and noted that ConocoPhillips has long held leases to drill for oil on the site, in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

As a result, we have limited decision space," she said, adding that officials focused on reducing the projects footprint and minimizing impacts to people and wildlife. The final approval reflects a substantially smaller project than ConocoPhillips originally proposed and includes a pledge by the Houston-based oil company to relinquish nearly 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares) of leased land that will no longer be developed, she said.

The video had received more than 100,000 views by March 17.

Haaland declined to be interviewed for this story. But in a statement, the department said Haaland had been actively involved in the Willow decision from the start and met with Alaska Natives on both sides of the issue, conservation and other groups and members of Congress.

Dallas Goldtooth, a senior strategist for the Indigenous Environmental Network, called it problematic that Haalands video was the Biden administrations primary voice on Willow. Biden himself has not spoken publicly on the project.

They use people of color for cover on these decisions," said Goldtooth, a member of Mdewakanton Dakota tribe.

The White House pushed back on the idea, saying in a statement March 17 that as interior secretary, of course the video came from her.

But Haalands body language  at times looking away from the camera  made her appear very uncomfortable in the two-minute video, Goldtooth said.

Haalands statement did not seem to be a wholehearted defense of the decision," said Brett Hartl, government affairs director of the Center for Biological Diversity, another environmental group. It was almost an apology.

Allowing Haaland to be the administrations public face on Willow strengthens Bidens expected reelection run by allowing him to avoid public scrutiny on an issue on which some of his most ardent supporters disagree with him, environmentalists said.

Its clear-cut D.C. politics," Goldtooth said. Ive seen this play run before," including when former Biden environmental justice adviser Cecilia Martinez was put forward to address tribal concerns about two other energy projects, the Dakota Access and Line 3 oil pipelines in the upper Midwest.

Asked about Willow on March 16, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the oil company has a legal right to those leases, adding: The departments options are limited when there are legal contracts in place.

Goldtooth and others involved in the Willow fight say the project was largely advanced by Beaudreau, Haalands deputy, who grew up in Alaska and has a close relationship with the states two Republican senators. Beaudreau is especially close to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a former Senate Energy chair who has cooperated with Biden on a range of issues. Murkowski played a key role in Haalands confirmation, and she and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia teamed up to get Beaudreau installed as deputy after they objected to Haalands first choice, Elizabeth Klein.

Murkowski told reporters this week that she and other Alaska officials had long realized that the decision on Willow was likely to be made by the White House, despite repeated comments from Jean-Pierre that the decision was up to Interior.

The senator, who personally lobbied Biden on Willow for nearly two years, said she reminded him, Cooperation goes both ways."

Despite the White House involvement, Haaland has been faulted for the decision to approve Willow. New Mexicos senior Democratic senator, Martin Heinrich, singled her out for criticism in a rare rebuke of a fellow New Mexico Democrat. Haaland represented the state in Congress before becoming Interior secretary.

The Western Arctic is one of the last great wild landscapes on the planet and as public land it belongs to every American, Heinrich said in a statement. Industrial development in this unspoiled landscape will not age well."

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., who holds Haalands former seat in Congress, said she joined millions of people, including Indigenous leaders, scientists and lawmakers, in opposing the Willow Project." She urged the Biden administration to reconsider the project and its consequences for global climate change.

Native American tribes in the Southwestern U.S. have been watching Willow closely, concerned about any implications it could have for development in culturally significant areas, including the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico.

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Interior Department failed to consider the cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the approval of nearly 200 drilling permits near the Chaco site.

Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, visited Chaco in 2021 and told tribal leaders that the Interior Departments Bureau of Land Management would work toward withdrawing hundreds of square miles from development. She also committed to taking a broader look at how federal land across the region can be better managed while taking into account environmental effects and cultural preservation.

Mario Atencio, of Dine CARE, a Navajo environmental group, said he understands that the Interior Department faces pressure from GOP lawmakers to increase drilling, as well as conflicting court rulings on a pause ordered by Biden on oil leasing on public land.

Were very aware that its a game of inches sometimes, and theres a little discretion in some places, and we are just trying to have just as much visibility as the oil and gas industry has, said Atencio, who is Navajo.

The Willow project has divided Alaska Native groups. Supporters call the project balanced and say communities would benefit from taxes generated by Willow. But City of Nuiqsut Mayor Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, whose community of about 525 people is closest to the proposed development, opposes the project and worries about impacts on caribou and her residents subsistence lifestyles.

Hartl, of the biological diversity group, said Willow was approved by the White House for clear political reasons. They cared more about Lisa Murkowskis vote than frankly they did the climate, he said.

 By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press. Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, N.M., contributed to this story.
Alabamas beach cities are poised to vote on new penalties prohibiting people from tossing or dropping objects from balconies.

The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach city councils will vote in the coming weeks on a new ordinance that assesses fines against people who toss an object off an elevated structure.

We fully support our cities in their efforts to protect the safety of our visitors and residents, and these ordinances are being put in place for the safety and protection of everyone and are meant to keep Gulf Shores and Orange Beach the family-friendly destination it has always been, said Beth Gendler, president and CEO with Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism.

The Gulf Shores City Council will vote on its proposed ordinance on Monday, at which time it will become immediately effective. Orange Beachs officials will vote on its ordinance April 4.

The new changes are expected to be effective during the final weeks of coastal Alabamas spring break season, which typically ends in late April.

The new proposals are not aimed at addressing any one incident, but they are being considered after police received complaints about reckless throwing or tossing objects from elevated places like balconies.

The issue is pronounced in the beach cities where condominium towers line the beachfronts of both cities. In some cases, reports of broken beer bottles in and around condo swimming pools has raised concerns among some rental agencies.

Its another layer of protection for our owners and rental agencies on the behavior of visitors, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said. This puts teeth in our ordinances.

Bill Brett of Brett Robinson Vacation Rentals said the ordinance helps build awareness of the concern. Brett Robinson manages over 1,700 units including the Phoenix Towers and Island Winds.

Were just trying to control this a little bit, Brett said.

The ordinance proposal in Orange Beach says that throwing things from balconies is disorderly and dangerous to person and property and that its in the best interest of the city to make it unlawful.

The ordinance also prohibits people from jumping on, over and rom balconies.

In 2016, a video surfaced showing a spring breaker jumping from a second-floor balcony into a swimming pool at a condo in Gulf Shores.

Violating the ordinance in Gulf Shores carries a minimum fine of $250. In Orange Beach, the fine can be up to $500.

Alabama law does not specifically state that tossing items off elevated structures is unlawful. State law does make it a felony for anyone convicted of tossing stones, bricks, metal objects and deadly missiles into moving vehicles.

The ordinances in the two Alabama cities are similar to a measure adopted eight years ago in Panama City Beach, Florida.

That ordinance was adopted the year after a spring breaker from Indiana tossed a cool full of ice off the 12th floor balcony of a Panama City Beach condo that landed on the pool deck and inches away from a county sheriff deputy.

The spring breaker was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony for throwing what authorities said was a deadly missile.
Alabama lawmakers are about to consider spending a lot of the states education funding on things that arent exactly classrooms and teachers.

Provided legislators pass the new budget, a massive package proposed by Gov. Kay Ivey includes money to make up for the World Games in Birmingham and to shift the airport in Mobile.

The Education Trust Fund, which contains revenue from different state tax programs, supports state K-12 schools, colleges and other educational programs. The state has a record $8.8 billion in the ETF to allocate.

Additionally, lawmakers need to spend an unexpected $2.8 billion in surplus receipts. Iveys proposal includes money for clear education programs, as well as a variety of multi-million dollar allocations for economic development.

Read more: Ivey proposes 2% teacher pay raise in record $8.8 billion education budget.

Read more: Ivey requests record state spending in General Fund budget.

Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), who chairs the House budget committee, said lawmakers received the budget from Iveys office. He said he has no further insight on what some of the items mean.

You probably have a lot of the same questions we have, he said during a call with AL.com.

The proposed ETF supplemental budget includes:

$31 million to the Mobile Airport Authority to relocate commercial airline operations to the Mobile Downtown Airport for economic development purposes

$25 million for the Port of Alabama for economic development and coal loading/unloading equipment

$25 million to the Montgomery County Commission for economic development

$12 million to the Lauderdale County Commission for a hydroelectric workforce training center

$30 million for an AIDT electric vehicle workforce training center

$5 million to be expended for the World Games

$10 million to create and fund the Alabama Site Development Fund, which will be managed by the State Industrial Development Authority and expended to provide grants for the assessment of sites and the subsequent development of sites.

Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who chairs the Ways and Means Education Committee on the Senate side, said hes asking for further information as well.

There are a myriad of items in there, of which Im not familiar or aware, I have no knowledge of, Orr said in a call with AL.com, adding that he addressed anyone who does know more while the Senate was in session on March 22.

They need to be in touch with my office pronto to come sit down and explain what they are and who they are and what the expenditures are.

He said Iveys office makes the budget  its their creature, he said.

Iveys Director of Finance and Senior Advisor Bill Poole did not answer additional questions about the proposed budget at the time of publishing.

The proposed expended funds for the World Games comes after World Games CEO Nick Sellers said in a statement that corporate partners were helping with remaining obligations.

Weve made substantial progress over the past few weeks in honoring all outstanding commitments. And we continue to work with our corporate partners to help us close out the remaining obligations, Sellers statement read.

Additionally, the Jefferson County Commission approved $4 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds to assist with the $14 million deficit the World Games left behind.

Proposed funding for the Mobile Airport Authority comes as officials continue to work on a new terminal, moving from west Mobile to downtown, closer to the Port of Mobile.

The $2.8 billion supplemental proposal and the regular budget will have to go through lawmakers for approval.

AL.coms Kyle Whitmire contributed to this story.
At least 14 provincial-level regions in China record increasing population in 2022 despite nationwide declining trend: data

By GT staff reporters (Global Times) 10:48, March 24, 2023

More than 20 provincial-level regions in China have released their 2022 local population data, with at least 14 recording increases in the number of permanent residents.

Experts said that change in population in one place will rely more on the movement of migrant workers rather than natural birth, encouraging provinces and regions to boost local industrial development and make full use of their local advantages to attract labor, especially top talent.

Most of the 14 places that had an increase in the permanent population are located in eastern and southern China, including East China's Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces and South China's Hainan Province.

Among them, Zhejiang topped the list with an increase of 370,000 permanent residents. There was an increase of more than 100,000 in Central China's Hubei, East China's Anhui, Jiangxi and Jiangsu as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to media reports.

Population in the Chinese mainland declined for the first time in 61 years in 2022, decreasing by 850,000, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China showed in July 2022.

Places in the Yangtze River Delta region, the Pearl River Delta region and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are the three main destinations for migrant workers in China, Zhai Zhenwu, president of the China Population Association, also head of the Population Development Studies Center at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

But in recent years, these places have promoted industrial upgrading and reduced their demand for low-end labor, so it is not surprising to witness a decline in inflows of migrant workers to these places, Zhai said.

The data in Beijing showed that the number of permanent residents in the capital stood at 21.8 million at the end of 2022, down by 43,000 compared with the year before, the Beijing statistical authorities announced on Tuesday.

Beijing has been deliberately controlling its permanent population scale since 2014. Under this strategy, the capital will no longer pursue a numerical increase in labor inflows but in their quality, Zhai explained, noting that the demand for labor in one place is closely related to the local economic development level.

Such changes in labor demand will bring about a competition among local enterprises and governments, pushing them to enhance the local salary level, improve the local environment and offer preferential policies to attract talent, analysts noted.

The latest data in Beijing revealed steadily rising incomes in 2022 with the per capita disposable income of the city's residents reaching 77,415 yuan ($11,266), an increase of 3.2 percent over the previous year.

The per capita disposable income of rural residents increased by 4.4 percent, 1.3 percentage points more than that of urban residents.

China has relaxed COVID restrictions and has been undergoing a comprehensive economic recovery since the beginning of 2023, so the population data for this year probably could be more positive, Yuan Xin, a professor from the Institute of Population and Development at Nankai University's School of Economics, told the Global Times on Thursday.

As China is accelerating the implementation of the rural vitalization strategy and promoting the development of small cities and townships, Yuan said that some migrant workers would be able to find satisfactory jobs in or near their hometowns rather than moving across the country.

Jiangxi, a province that used to witness large population outflows, serves as an outstanding example in retaining labor and talent by developing its own advantages.

In 2021 the province's permanent residents decreased by 14,600. In 2022, the number of permanent residents in the province increased by 105,800, among which 11,000 came from natural growth and the other 94,800 from population inflow.

The situation is similar in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as permanent residents decreased by 28,000 in 2021 but increased by 11,700 in 2022, among which 65,700 came from the migrant population.

Jiangxi in recent years has given full play to the advantages of strategic resources, such as rare earths, lithium mines. It has also performed well in cultivating new energy industries so that can provide more jobs. As for Inner Mongolia, in addition to animal husbandry, the region has also attracted more migrant workers due to the layout of energy bases and the Eastern Data, Western Computing project, industrial analysts explained.

In the regional structure, industrial division of labor and the number of jobs are the key factors affecting the transfer of working population. The attractiveness of a place depends on the quality of jobs and public services in the area, analysts noted.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The minor opposition Justice Party floor leader Lee Eun-ju, left, and Rep. Bae Jin-gyo submit a bill to the National Assembly calling for a special counsel probe into stock manipulation allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, March 24. Yonhap



The minor opposition Justice Party tabled a bill Friday calling for a special counsel investigation of first lady Kim Keon Hee over stock manipulation allegations.



Kim is accused of being involved in the stock manipulation case where Kwon Oh-soo, former head of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, allegedly conspired with influential market players to boost the company's stock prices years ago. Kwon was convicted and given a suspended prison sentence for the charge.



The bill was signed by 12 lawmakers, including all six lawmakers of the Justice Party and five lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).



It is similar to a separate bill proposed by the DPK earlier this month but stipulates that the president should pick a special prosecutor from two candidates, both recommended by the DPK and the minor opposition parties.



The DPK's proposal differs in that it only allows a parliamentary negotiating bloc, to which the president does not belong, to recommend candidates for a special prosecutor. In the current National Assembly, the DPK is the only such negotiating bloc.



The DPK and the Justice Party are expected to negotiate the matter to come up with a unified bill. (Yonhap)


The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday permitted the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission (JRAC) to reallocate a Jefferson County judge seat to Madison County.

The court dismissed a complaint filed on behalf of Tiara Young Hudson by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama (ACLU-AL) in which they alleged the seat Hudson won last May on Jefferson Countys 10th Judicial Circuit had been unconstitutionally reallocated to Madison County.

As a result of the Alabama Supreme Courts dismissal Hudson will lose her seat to Madison County District Judge Patrick Tuten who was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey last June following the reallocation of the seat.

In the JRACS decision for what has been their first ever reallocation since their establishment by the state legislature in 2017, they cited a caseload study that showed Madison County needed more judges and Jefferson County had a surplus as justification for transferring the seat.

In an SPLC press release this week Hudson said she was disappointed in the courts decision.

Im disappointed to be denied consideration for the seat I won a primary election for, but Im even more disappointed that Jefferson County residents will be denied their right to an elected judge, Hudson said through the release.

The decision to allow commissions to redistribute judicial seats without legislative approval diminishes the voice of a diverse community in choosing which judges will serve them.

As AL.coms Mike Cason previously reported Hudson moved to file a legal complaint the day after Tutens appointment. In the complaint Hudson challenged the constitutionality of the JRACs transfer of the vacant judgeship.

Hudson and the ACLU have previously said the vacancy should be filled according to the process set forth in the Alabama Constitution: the Jefferson County Judicial Commission (JCJC) nominates three candidates, and the governor chooses one for appointment according to Cason.

The complaint also noted that the transfer took a judgeship away from a county with a high percentage of Black residents and moved it to a majority white county.

Its no coincidence that the Alabama Judicial Resources Allocation Commission weaponized its unconstitutional authority to steal a judgeship based in a diverse community and send it to a white community, Ahmed Soussi, voting rights staff attorney with SPLC said in a press release at the time.

Through this litigation SPLC will work to ensure that Jefferson County is fairly represented in the judiciary, and that their courts have adequate resources to address the needs of the community.

Following Fridays decision representatives for the ACLU continued to question whether the move was constitutional.

The Alabama Supreme Courts decision leaves in place a judgeship that lacks the proper constitutional authority to adjudicate cases in Madison County and strips the Jefferson County courts of a judgeship that it is supposed to retain under Alabama law, said Tish Gotell Faulks, Legal Director of the ACLU of Alabama.

Alabamians need and deserve clarity about how judicial resources are to be distributed so that every jurisdiction has the judges needed to reduce the statewide backlog of cases.

In the Alabama Supreme Courts decision, they said that Hudsons complaint expressly sought relief concerning whether Judge Tuten lawfully holds or exercises his judicial office and said they determined that he does.

The decision goes on to say that they cannot address at this time whether Hudson could pursue a stand-alone declaratory-judgment action against the Commission addressing only the Acts constitutionality.

In their decision the court also expressed that they believed Hudsons case had been too heavily focused on race.

It appears that Hudson spends so much time focusing on race -- her own race, the races of JRACs members, and the racial demographics of Jefferson and Madison Counties -- to insinuate that JRACs decision to reallocate the Jefferson County judgeship to Madison County was motivated by bigotry rather than by objective consideration of the factors, reads a special concurrence from Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell.

One unfortunate consequence of the recent trend toward lawyer driven litigation is that it tends to elevate ideological signaling over substantive legal arguments. This case is an example. The legal disputes here are about subject-matter jurisdiction and nondelegation principles; they have nothing to do with race, sex, or professions of gender identity.

Yet repeated references to these latter characteristics are made throughout Hudsons filings in this case, for no apparent reason other than to make an ideological point. I caution attorneys practicing in our courts not to repeat these tactics in future cases.
A bill that would overhaul the Birmingham Water Works Board has sparked opposition in the Alabama Senate.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, delayed action in the Senate on Wednesday with filibuster tactics because of his opposition to the bill, which is in the House of Representatives. The bill would change the BWWB from a nine-member to a seven-member board and reassign the authority to appoint board members.

Under current law, the Birmingham City Council appoints four members, the Birmingham mayor appoints two members, and the Jefferson County Mayors Association, the Shelby County Commission and the Blount County Commission appoint one each.

Under the bill, which is sponsored by Reps. Jim Carns, R-Vestavia Hills, and David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, the mayor of Birmingham would have four appointments and the governor would have three.

Smitherman said the proposal contradicts the understanding he had after reforms the Legislature passed previously for the BWWB, which included an expansion from five members to the current nine. Smitherman worked with Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, to reach a compromise on that bill eight years ago.

We expanded the board so we could have regional representation, Smitherman said this morning when asked about the bill and his filibuster on Wednesday. It was my understanding that this issue is supposed to be settled and ended. Were back at this point again now and I dont agree with all the elements in that particular bill thats been put before us. Some of them I do. But a lot of them I dont. And the biggest one is I dont think its reasonable for them to just try to take the water appointments and take that aspect from the city. That part of it amounts to a taking, and thats not right. Sure, if we need to make changes to make it better, Im all for that.

Smitherman did not persist with his filibuster on Thursday but made it clear he will continue to speak out on the BWWB issues on behalf of his district.

Sen. Lance Bell, a Republican from St. Clair County, also expressed concerns about the bill on Thursday. The city of Moody in Bells district is served by the BWWB, which has customers in Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, and Walker counties in addition to Jefferson County. Bell, who is in his first year in the Legislature after his election in November, said he intended to be involved in anything affecting his district. He said he was not consulted about the bill. He urged his colleagues to consult with him on such bills.

Im here to stand up for my district, Bell said. Im upset. Just pick up the phone and call me.

BWWB Chairwoman Tereshia Huffman has also spoken out in response to the legislation, defending the utilitys leadership.

We have prioritized ensuring that our board reflects our community and that our decisions are made with their best interests in mind, Huffman said. Additionally, we take great pride in transparency with our customers and stakeholders and are committed to maintaining our sound financial strength.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin criticized the BWWB last year over what he said was the boards resistance to using automatic meter reading technology that could save money. BWWB customers complained last year about delayed bills, multiple bills received at one time, and sharp billing increases. BWWB Chair Christopher Rice resigned in September during the billing controversy.
The principal of a Florida school is no longer employed after a sixth graders parents complained Michelangelos David sculpture is pornographic.

Hope Carrasquilla, the former principal at Tallahassee Classical School, told HuffPost the situation was also a little more complicated than that.

The protocol, per the report, is to send parents a letter before students are shown artwork of that nature.

The Tallahassee Democrat first reported the news.

According to the report, the letter did not go out to the sixth-grade parents.

One parent was point-blank upset, Carrasquilla continued, and felt her child should not be viewing those pieces.

The schools board gave Carrasquilla the option to resign or be fired after less than a year on the job.

The school board chair, Barney Bishop, told HuffPost the incident was one of multiple issues with Carrasquilla. He declined to go into specifics.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.
William Ben Darby, the Huntsville police officer convicted of murder for shooting and killing a suicidal man five years ago, will get a new trial.

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals today released a unanimous opinion reversing Darbys conviction and sending the case back to Madison County for a new trial.

The appeals court ruled that Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate should have instructed the jury to decide the case from the perspective of a reasonable police officer.

The opinion confirms our position that police officers are under a different standard when it comes to a self-defense situation, said Robert Tuten, one of Darbys defense attorneys. Its different than the average person because police are expected to go into dangerous situations as part of their job.

Darby is serving a 25-year sentence in prison. He shot and killed Jeff Parker on April 3, 2018, after Parker called 911, threatening to shoot himself in his own home.

Though the court reversed his conviction, Darby will remain in prison as the Alabama Attorney Generals Office considers whether to ask for a rehearing. The state could also appeal the appellate courts decision to the Alabama Supreme Court.

We have the evidence and certainly well put it before a jury again, Rob Broussard, the district attorney of Madison County, told AL.com. This is the system we have and I trust in the system, and this happens. Weve had it happen before on other cases.

Tuten told AL.com that Darby was happy to learn of the appeals court decision this morning.

He knew he was right, Tuten said. He knew he didnt break the law or do anything wrong.

The appeals court ruled that Judge Pate erred in declining to give the jury the following instruction requested by Darbys attorneys: The reasonableness of an officers actions in using deadly force must be objectively reasonable judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, the fact that officers are forced to make split-second decisions, and in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them at the time.

In their opinion, the appeals court judges wrote, Although the trial court was not required to use the precise language in Darbys requested instruction, the court erred by refusing to instruct the jury, in some fashion, that it must evaluate Darbys use of deadly force from the perspective of a reasonable police officer in the same situation.

At the murder trial in downtown Huntsville in the summer of 2021, Judge Pate instructed the jury on Alabama self-defense law, which says that a person is justified in using deadly force if they reasonably believe another person is using or about to use unlawful deadly force.

On the day of the shooting in 2018, Parker called 911 and said that he was armed and suicidal. Police went to Parkers home in west Huntsville and found him sitting on a couch with a gun to his head. The first officer to arrive testified against Darby at the murder trial, telling the jury that she tried to de-escalate the situation and keep Parker from taking his own life.

Darby, the third officer to arrive, testified that he had to take over the situation from the senior officer because he believed she was putting herself in danger by talking to Parker. He told the jury that he shot Parker in defense of himself and two other officers because he feared the man might shoot them with what later turned out to be a flare gun.

Body camera video shows Darby grab a shotgun from his patrol car, sprint to the house and shout for Parker to drop his gun. Darby fired the fatal shot 11 seconds after entering the house, the video shows.

The appeals court found that Darby presented evidence that could support a self-defense claim.

Of course, the jury was not required to accept that testimony as conclusive, and it is possible that the jury simply did not find the testimony persuasive, the opinion states.

However, it is equally possible that the jury did not base its verdict upon its careful consideration and weighing of the testimony and evidence but, rather, upon a faulty understanding of its duty to view that testimony and evidence from the proper perspective, the opinion later adds.

But in its opinion, the court said that it couldnt deal in possibilities.

If we cannot conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury evaluated Darbys use of deadly force from the proper perspective, then we cannot conclude that the trial court committed harmless error by refusing to give (Darbys) requested instructionor some similarly worded instruction.

The city of Huntsville went all in on defending Darby, declaring that he followed his training, paying his criminal legal bills with public money and keeping him on the payroll even after the jury found him guilty of murder.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Mark McMurray, the police chief at the time, disputed the guilty verdict.

Officer Darby followed the appropriate safety protocols in his response on the scene, Battle said in a statement minutes after the 2021 verdict. He was doing what he was trained to do in the line of duty. Fortunately, Officer Darby has the same appeal rights as any other citizen and is entitled to exercise those rights.

The city of Huntsville did not immediately respond to a request for comment on todays ruling by the appellate court.

Martin Weinberg, an attorney representing the Parker family in a lawsuit against the city and Darby, released the following statement today:

We are disappointed obviously but we knew this was a possibility. This is justice delayed not justice denied. We have strong faith in the District Attorney and the judicial system.

The Alabama Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement saying the group is pleased with the appellate court decision.

This is a great day for all law-enforcement officers and we look forward to welcoming Ben back to his family, said Everette Johnson, the groups president, in the statement. The Alabama state fraternal order of police will continue to fight for the officers of Alabama to make sure that justice is served.

Editors note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m. with a statement from the FOP.
A childrens choir sang and a crowd so large squeezed into the museum that it would have left a fire marshal hyperventilating.

This commemoration Friday at the Scottsboro Boys Museum in downtown Scottsboro marked an occasion to remember past injustices and serve as a reminder that the future can be a better place.

Related: Historic day: Scottsboro Boys, 9 black young men convicted of 1931 rape of 2 white women, exonerated

We want you to be nice to people, said Thomas Reidy, the museums executive director. It becomes about action.

Such a simplistic reminder underscores the legacy of the Scottsboro Boys  nine Black teenage boys wrongly accused, and convicted, of raping two white women in 1931. They were posthumously exonerated and eight were pardoned in 2013 by former Gov. Robert Bentley. The ninth, Clarence Norris Sr., was pardoned in 1976 while he was still alive by former Gov. George Wallace.

And on Friday, another governor came to north Alabama to acknowledge the legacy of the Scottsboro Boys: Norris, Ozie Powell, Olin Montgomery, Charlie Weems, Willie Roberson, Haywood Patterson, Andy Wright, Roy Wright and Eugene Williams.

Gov. Kay Ivey said each of their names, remarking that sadly, they did not live long enough to see their pardon.

The Scottsboro Boys, some strangers to each other but forever linked by the unjust charges and convictions, boarded a Memphis-bound train in Chattanooga but made it only as far as Paint Rock in Jackson County. They were pulled from the train, taken to jail in Scottsboro and eventually convicted by an all-white jury.

One of their accusers eventually recanted her accusation of rape.

Their convictions were eventually overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, Their lives were ruined, state Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, said. Their reputations destroyed.

Ivey spoke inside the Scottsboro Boys Museum, formerly the Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church  the oldest surviving African American church in Jackson County. On the front row was Clarence Norris Jr., whose father was one of the Scottsboro Boys.

It reminds me of another historic house of worship and an icon of the Civil Rights movement, the world-famous Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in downtown Montgomery, Ivey said. Within eyesight of the front steps of the State Capitol building, that unique church helped launch the national struggle for Civil Rights, born from the words and passion of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The former Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church in which we are gathered today has played a similar role in bringing closure to nine victims of a miscarriage of justice nearly a century ago.

Reidy spoke about the value of the museum, the lessons it teaches and the perspective to be gained.

When we get visitors, we ask them as they walk through the front door, please imagine what it would be like to be a black teenager in 1931 in the South, he said. Think about the obstacles you would face. Think about the opportunities, if there were any think about what it looked like. And when you do that, you can understand the story better.

And Livingston said, This museum will help ensure that all future generations can remember that story. This is the first stop on the Civil Rights trail. And were proud to have it in Scottsboro.

The governor noted that the Scottsboro Boys spent a combined 102 years in prison due to their convictions.

I agree with the words of former state Rep. John Robinson, who passed away just one week ago, Time does not heal everything. Thats why its so important to exonerate the Scottsboro Boys, Ivey said. On the 92nd anniversary of the arrest of the Scottsboro Boys, I am honored to join in this solemn occasion, as we symbolically follow museum founder Sheila Washingtons pledge to to burn a candle in memory of the Scottsboro Boys.

We will never forget their stories and their legacy.
A Mississippi police chief who ordered a new animal control officer to shoot several dogs in the citys animal shelter has been suspended without pay, with many in the community calling for his termination.

According to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Animal Control Officer Vidal Anderson was in his first day on the job for the City of Winona, a community of about 4,500 located 140 miles west of Tuscaloosa, when police chief Roshaun Daniels ordered him to clear the shelter and handed Anderson a gun.

Anderson complied with the order, shooting and killing several dogs who had been in the shelter beyond the legal number of days they had to be held before they could be euthanized, Winona alderwoman Sylvia Clark said during this weeks board of aldermen meeting, according to the report.

Anderson was also suspended and both men will remain suspended without pay until aldermen make a final decision, which state law mandates must be within 10 days.

Mississippi law allows for the euthanasia of shelter dogs after a certain number of days, but does not specify the means of euthanizing the animals. The American Veterinary Medicine Association says shooting dogs is an acceptable means of euthanasia and provides guidelines for euthanizing animals with a firearm.

Its unknown whether Anderson followed those guidelines in shooting the dogs at the Winona shelter.

Whether the shootings were legal or not, many Winona residents are outraged at the killings.

Tuesdays aldermen meeting was a standing-room-only affair, with residents expressing shock, sadness and anger over the incident, the newspaper reported. Protesters outside city hall held up signs and passing motorists honked their horns in support.

Two animal rights activists said they found the dogs bodies in a city-owned dumpster. Doll Stanley of In Defense of Animals, said Anderson and a city inmate were seen on March 9 unloading four dogs from a city truck, tying them up and then shooting them.
Federal agencies briefed companies in Huntsville for a second day Thursday on what the government needs from them to keep ahead of Russia and China and aggressive modern criminal gangs. It also gave a look at what some Redstone Arsenal workers do.

America is getting and studying valuable weapons from the battlefields of the current war in Ukraine. Were seeing things, quite frankly, we did not expect to have access to, said Kim King, director of the American Missile & Space Intelligence Agency (MISC), and thats been very exciting. That includes both hardware and software, she said.

More than 700 people representing tech companies and suppliers were watching briefings like Kings on the second day of the arsenals annual Advance Planning Briefings to Industry. Most of those viewers were online with others in an auditorium on the base.

To put the briefings in perspective, federal defense spending in Alabama topped $12.2 billion statewide in fiscal year 2021, figures show. That ranked the state No. 11 in defense contract spending per state nationally and was up from $11.5 billion in FY 2020. Madison County was the destination for $10 billion of that spending. By comparison, Alabama will spend $8.3 billion on education in 2023 and $2.7 billion on everything else.

King talked about her 1,000-person organization that is one of the fastest growing on the arsenal. We write analytic papers that go to the president, to members of Congress, to the Secretary of Defense to help those decision-makers make their decisions, King said of MISCs mission.

King directs the engineers and other experts that work up those threat briefings. They study foreign ballistic missile systems, directed-energy weapons (lasers), anti-tank guided missiles and the command-and-control systems that operate them.

Our job is to try to characterize these weapon systems, quantify their performance, understand how they are employed and their vulnerabilities so they can be defeated, King said.

King said MISCs military customers want to know if a given weapon can be defeated and how. Do we have a countermeasure in effect? Can we advise a warfighter to maybe change tactics to evade these threats? King said. Or do we need to work with the acquisition community to develop a new countermeasure?

We are growing, King said of MISC, and she called that a good thing. She said the organization broke ground last month on a 200,000-square-foot addition on the arsenal. Were growing in people, were growing in money, were growing in space, King said. Thats a great place to be because the threat is becoming more complex.

For its part, the FBI has already spent more than $3 billion on its new campus going up on the arsenal. Four buildings are open and others are under way. The estimated 3,500 people who will eventually work there will make the campus the second-largest facility in the FBI. The Washington area still leads with 8,200 and two other sites in Clarksburg, W.V., (2,800) and Quantico outside D.C. (3,200) follow Huntsville.

Briefer Paul Flood, an FBI procurement officer, spent extra time in Thursdays briefing describing the agent training facility that will go up on the site. He described it in terms of Hogans Alley, the model small town used for training FBI agents in Virginia. He called it Hogans Alley on steroids and said thousands of students will pass through it.

Role-playing team members will mimic people caught up in bank robberies and terrorist attacks, Flood said. At least some of those role players will be professional actors, he said.
Alabama officials and lawmakers fought back today after a Washington Post report that the Biden Administration may soon reverse an earlier decision to move the headquarters for U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama.

The White House appears ready to reverse a Trump administration plan to relocate the U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Ala., writes Washington Post national columnist David Ignatius. Trump claimed credit for the Space Command move to Huntsville saying in Alabama that he personally made the decision after Alabama supported his unsuccessful re-election bid.

(The White House) fears the transfer would disrupt operations at a time when space is increasingly important to the military, Ignatius said in a column posted on the Posts website late Thursday. The columnist quoted an unnamed White House official saying this week, We share the concerns of some military leaders about potential disruption of space operations at a critical moment for our national security.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said today she hadnt seen the Ignatius opinion article. But Ivey said, Alabama has been through multiple reviews. And we have clearly earned the right to be at the top of that list. We will stay strong. And were going to keep this Space Command headquarters here in Alabama.

Republican Alabama U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt also issued statements against the Colorado possibility today noting that state was a fifth-place finisher in the Pentagon rankings of competing locations. But a member of Tubervilles staff confirmed to AL.com that President Biden could change the decision just as former President Trump says he did. He is the commander in chief, the staff member said.

The U.S. Air Forces thorough selection process and decision to put SPACECOM headquarters in Alabama was based on evidence of whats best for the military and the country, Tuberville said in a statement. The Air Force selected Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, over 65 other locations, including Colorado. Members of Congress from Colorado requested two additional studies when they didnt get their way. Both of those studies confirmed that Huntsville was the number one location for SPACECOM  based on things like workforce, existing infrastructure, education, and cost of living. Colorado did not make the top three. The best place for Space Command is in Huntsville. This is not my opinion, this is fact.

Britt said in a statement that Huntsville finished first in both the Air Forces Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Forces decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits.

That decision should remain in the Air Forces hands and should not be politicized, Britt stated. Selecting a fifth-place finisher would obviously prioritize partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness. Alabamas world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) joined the call to leave the decision to the established process and not politicize it. Redstone Arsenal has consistently ranked as the No. 1 location to host the headquarters of U.S. Space Command, Strong said Friday. The indisputable facts of this situation are: The Air Force led a robust basing process which complied with federal law, and the (Department of Defense Inspector General) and (General Account Office) confirmed the original decision. Redstone Arsenal was consistently the top choice to host Space Command headquarters and Colorado wasnt in the top three.

The decision should be what is in the best for national security of the United State of America, Strong said. I am hopeful that the Secretary of the Air Force will announce a final basing decision soon.

The arsenal in Huntsville came out on top in the official Pentagon evaluation of sites seeking to host the headquarters. It also survived an in-depth review by the inspector general of the Defense Department. Colorado Springs, where the command was established or stood up and where its headquarters is now, did not make the final cut of candidates after reviews of such consideration as job opportunities for spouses, quality of schools, housing costs and local infrastructure to support the base. The process that led to the decision was created after years of political leaders of both parties trying to influence basing decisions that can mean millions to local economies.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle also cited that process Friday. The results of an exhaustive, objective, data-driven study, twice performed, show that Huntsville, Alabama, is the best location for Space Command headquarters, Battle said. That recommendation was examined in two thorough reports  from the Government Accountability Office and Department of Defense Inspector General  finding the DoDs study was conducted properly, each time resulting in Huntsville being named as the best spot for USSPACECOM. We look forward to Space Command being headquartered where it belongs, the Rocket City.

Tuberville also said, President Bidens own administration has repeatedly confirmed the selection of Huntsville as strategic and an analytically based process.

On June 16, 2021, the presidents acting secretary of the Air Force told a congressional committee, I have personally no evidence that the decision was politically motivated. Acting Secretary John Roth said the selection of Huntsville as the preferred location by my predecessor was the result of our strategic basing process and that process is an analytically based process.

Moving the command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal would bring 1,800 headquarters staff and their families to north Alabama. Redstone Arsenal has 45,000 employees and 800 active duty soldiers, according to the Department of Defense.

(AL.com reporter Paul Gattis contributed to this report.)
A Birmingham woman has pleaded guilty to the 2019 shooting death of her husband.

Cheryl Charmayne Watts entered her plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter Tuesday before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Streety. Watts was initially charged with murder in the slaying of 41-year-old Hassan Mallette.

Jury selection was underway for her trial when instead Watts, 42, decided to plead.

The case is being prosecuted by Jefferson County Assistant District Attorneys Neal Zarzour and Charissa Henrich. Lawyer Emory Anthony represents Watts.

Streety, court records show, set a sentencing date for May 4.

Hassan Mallette (Contributed)

Mallette was killed Aug. 31, 2019, at the couples Ensley home. Birmingham police responded just before 4 p.m. that Saturday on a report of a person shot.

When they arrived on the scene, they found a wounded Mallette. He was taken by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Watts had contended she killed her husband in self-defense.

Watts remains out on bond.

This case was a tragic example of a volatile, domestic situation spinning out of control and escalating to the point that a life was taken unnecessarily, Zarzour said. Sadly, bad choices by adults impacted not only themselves, but the children who were present as well.
DeKalb County authorities have charged a man following a Thursday night shooting in Henagar that wounded one woman.

Sheriff Nick Welden said the incident happened at about 6:27 p.m. at 131 Kelly Drive.

Henagar police and DeKalb County deputies responding to a call found one woman had been shot. The victim, whose name was not released, was transported to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.

Following the shooting, Welden said, investigators believed the shooter had ducked into a nearby wooded area.

A perimeter was established, with roadways blocked, and the countys special response team was activated.

Joseph Earl Cobb, 62, of Henagar, was later taken into custody. He has been charged with first degree assault and shooting into an occupied dwelling. Welden said additional charges are expected.

Ider police, DeKalb EMA and Henagar Fire also participated in the action.
This March 24 photo provided by the local Coast Guard shows a dead whale lying on a beach on an islet in Buan County, 204 kilometers south of Seoul.



A whale carcass has been found on a beach on an islet off the southwestern coast, officials said Friday.



The 10-meter-long whale was found by a resident on a sandy beach on an islet in Buan County, 204 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 7 p.m. on Thursday, the local Coast Guard said.



The animal is presumed to be a Bryde's whale, an endangered species, whose trade is strictly prohibited.



There were no signs of illegal capture, according to the authorities.



The Coast Guard and the whale research center of the National Institute of Fisheries Science will conduct an investigation into the whale's death, they said. (Yonhap)




A native of Mobile, Stephen McNair runs McNair Historic Preservation, a consulting firm that works with firms restoring historic buildings to obtain tax credits and comply with historic standards. Since it opened in 2015, his firm has facilitated over $350 million in direct investment in Alabama through its rehabilitation work. Hes also restored many historic buildings.

Here, McNair discusses why he thinks preservation is progress, where he hopes Mobile will be in 20 years and how we should learn from our history and our mistakes.

Questions and answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Why do you do what you do? Why start this business, why work in historic preservation?

Its a passion. This is a field that Ive been passionate about since I was a teenager. A lot of people ask me why I moved back to Mobile to do this, having moved back from Edinburgh [editors note: McNair received his PhD from the University of Edinburgh is 2013]. And the answer is because Im extremely passionate about my hometown. But, also, I recognized that there was a void in the private sector that was being met in places like New York and Charleston and New Orleans that was not being recognized in Mobile. And that is a place for a historic preservation consultant, who focuses on historic tax credits. Plus, the timing really worked out well, I was leaving Edinburgh with my doctorate at about the time that the [Alabama] state historic tax credit program was initiated within the legislature. So, the timing worked out well. And I should say, not just in Mobile, but also the whole state, because we work everywhere. Most of my projects are in Birmingham, but we have stuff everywhere. We typically average about between 15 and 20 active projects at one time, and with a balance of about 50/50 between urban and rural areas. So, it wasnt a need just in Mobile. It was a need statewide.

What do you think people should know about the history of Mobile?

I think its important for people to have a comprehensive understanding of where they live, not just maybe an understanding of certain chapters that they find more interesting. And by that, I mean, you you have to put all the chapters of Mobile history within a greater context. To understand the French, you must also understand the Spanish and you must also understand the British and all of the things that were occurring not only in Mobile at the time, but also around the world. And included in that should be an understanding of the history of West Africans in South Alabama and also Native Americans. I feel like a lot of people think that Mobile history started with Iberville and Bienville, when in fact, they were a continuation of an existing chapter of Mobile history that had existed for hundreds of years.

I would like to see a greater emphasis on a comprehensive understanding of Mobile, dating from its earliest settlers through the modern era. And chapters change very quickly. I mean, look at how much our city has changed just since Brookley Airfield closed, or how much it has changed since Airbus opened and Austal arrived. So its important not to look at these chapters of our history as being static, but building upon each other, being very fluid.

What do you hope Mobile will look like in 20 years?

Id like to see new construction infill in midtown and downtown that is thoughtful and complementary to the historic aspects, while also adding new housing options and commercial options to these neighborhoods. We have an abundance of surface-level parking lots that represent the scars of urban renewal, during a period where our city abandoned our downtown. And we now have a new generation of preservation leaders and commercial developers who understand the mistakes of our forefathers and understand the importance of walkability and quality of life, who have a real opportunity to develop these scars into something lasting that that makes Mobile an even better place.

If you look out these windows, its nothing but surface-level lots. Thats because, instead of fixing things up in the 50s, they tore it down. Thankfully, there are new federal laws that prevent a lot of the destruction that occurred in Mobile with the implementation of the tunnel and interstate systems that that would not be allowed today. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, I think it is, requires that any federally funded projects go through a review by the State Historic Preservation Office, SHPO, which is occurring with the new [Bayway] bridge. But it would have prevented the wholesale demolition of neighborhoods where the [Mobile] Civic Center and I-10 and Wallace tunnel are located.

Preservation is progress is something I like to say. Preservation does not mean hugging a building to death. It does not mean keeping something stuck in time. Historic preservation is about maintaining the historic character of a building, while keeping it active and useful for every generation.

What makes Mobile a great place to live?

The quality of life, within the context of Alabama, is by far the best in Mobile, in terms of walkability, historic neighborhoods, interesting architecture and the culture of people who celebrate everything from oak trees to the historic architecture. You dont find the type of interest in those things in most other communities across Alabama like you do here. Thats why, when an oak tree is removed from Broad Street, or a historic home or building is destroyed for another surface level parking lotIm saying that very loudly--people get upset, and rightfully so. Because the historic neighborhoods and trees and quality of life of midtown and downtown Mobile are why people visit our city, and what makes us so unique and so special.

This story was originally published in the July 25, 2022 edition of the Mobile Lede. To subscribe to the Lede, go to alabamalede.com.
Six people have been charged in a Henry County human trafficking investigation following a sting Thursday.

Operation Safehouse focused on the exploitation of the children in our community, Sheriff Eric Blankenship said in a statement.

Arrested in the investigation were:

Christopher Clayton Kelly, 37, of Eufaula, charged with first degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a minor, and enticing a child for immoral purposes. He is being held on $120,000 bond.

Gregory Leon Porter, 22, of Abbeville, charged with first degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a minor, and enticing a child for immoral purposes. Porters bonds totaled $120,000.

Thomas James Pritchett, 29, of Union Springs, charged with first degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a minor, and traveling to meet a minor for an unlawful sex act. Pritchetts bonds totaled $150,000.

Dawnte Ladell Allen, 30, of Dothan, charged with first degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a minor, and traveling to meet a minor for an unlawful sex act. Allen is being held on $150,000 bond.

Anthony Arjamie Russaw, 26, of Eufaula, charged with first degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a minor, and traveling to meet a minor for an unlawful sex act. Russaws bonds totaled $150,000.

Francisco Camaja Gomez, 26, of Virginia, charged with first degree human trafficking, electronic solicitation of a minor, and traveling to meet a minor for an unlawful sex act. Gomez is being held without bond.

Blankenship said the Henry County Task Force, State Bureau of Investigation (ICAC unit), Abbeville police, Dale County Sheriffs Office, District Attorney Russ Goodman and his Staff, The Department of Homeland Security, and Covenant Rescue Group took part in the investigation.
Lanett police say a six-year-old boy was seriously wounded by his brother Thursday night.

The incident happened about 9:40 p.m. in the New Jackson Heights community, according to police.

The child was transported from the scene and taken to be airlifted to a trauma center.

The child, whose name has not been released, was shot by his adolescent brother, who gained control of an unsecured firearm in the residence and discharged it, police stated in a news release.

The child was wounded in the abdomen.

Police took the mother into custody on charges of reckless endangerment. The womans name was not released.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the Santa Fe SUV. Korea Times file



Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia said Friday they will recall over 570,000 vehicles in the United States because the vehicles could pose a fire risk.



The Korean carmakers have submitted their recall reports to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).



A faulty tow hitch harness module in the specified vehicles can take on water or dust and experience an electrical short, increasing the risk of fire, the companies said.



The affected vehicles are model years 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruzes, 2019-2023 Hyundai Santa Fes, 2021-2023 Santa Fe Hybrids, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrids and 2022-2023 Kia Carnival minivans, according to NHTSA.



Hyundai and Kia advised the owners of these models to park outside and away from homes and other structures until the issue is resolved. (Yonhap)


Vladimir Putins approval rating is 82%. Joe Bidens is 42%. Xi Jinpings is anyones guess, but the Chinese near-unanimously trust their government. More than half of Russians trust their government. Less than a third of Americans trust theirs. These statistics are not random but speak to Americas imminent loss in this, the Second Cold War.

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine, and Russians are as proud as ever to be Russian. Meanwhile, American pride is sinking. It has given Ukraine $76.9 billion to fight the second iteration of Russias Evil Empire in a war increasingly seen as the opening proxy war in Cold War II.

Why arent Americans rallying around the flag? Pride, approval, and support for their respective flags in China and Russia, but not the same in America, is not an accident. All governments influence the memories they want their people and foreigners to have of them. Its called political memory.

A look at how the governments of Russia, China, and the United States are leveraging political memory sheds light on why Russians and Chinese love their governments and rulers, and Americans are souring on America and Biden. This simultaneous occurrence is not an accident. Russia and China are preparing to win the second round of the Cold War, and America is handing them the opportunity to do this.

Image: Putin and Xi. YouTube screen grab.

The goal of Russias political memory is to give students and ordinary citizens a simple and consistent narrative of a powerful nation they can take pride in. School begins by singing the national anthem and raising the Russian flag. Taking a knee or disparaging the Russian flag is unthinkable. Putin, to be certain of unified support for the actions taken, restore Ukraine to its rightful place, and prepare for Cold War II, launched a new patriotic history in 2022. Putin described the purpose: A deep understanding of our history...to draw correct conclusions from the past.

Russias political memory constantly conditions Russians to fear existential threats, particularly from the West. Its why they revere their militaries and have always been prepared to endure heavy casualties in war. The military prevents the Russian state from being subjugated.

Political memory also instills an unshakable pride in Russia and being Russian, something cemented through glorifying military victories, or at least victory in WWII. The most important holiday in Russia is Victory Day, which honors the end of WWII. Glossed over or censored because they do not instill pride are Russias losses in the Crimean War (1853-1856), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Vladimir Lenin bailing on WWI while hoping to seal victory for the Germans, Stalins crimes against humanity, and the 1939 Hitler-Stalin non-aggression pact.

Russias political memory, which is more concerned with future security than past moral failings, also has no room for millions starving in government-made famines in the 20th century, including the Ukrainian Holodomor, the enslavement of a third of the people in the Russian Empire until 1861, the 19th- and 20th-century Jewish pogroms and Muslim cleansings, or the 21st centurys inhumanity against Muslim Russian Chechens. These parts of history do not contribute to the goals of Russias political memory.

Russias approach to political memory is consistent with Chinas approach and motivated by the same theme: China lives with a perceived existential threat to its independence, particularly from the west. Cold War II will test its resilience.

China began preparing for round two at the end of Cold War I. This is when it began its Patriotic Re-education Campaign .  Cementing patriotism in China, as in Russia, is key to preparing for and achieving victory in Cold War II.

Chinas and Russias approaches to political memory are contrary to the U.S. governments. Instead, America appears to be preparing to wave a white flag, or maybe a rainbow-colored one. Pride in America has been sinking, and this ties to the governments design for Americas political memory.

This political memory could emphasize things such as America being the first colony to defeat a European empire or its WWII victory over fascism. Or it could tell how, in just over 150 years, America became an economic powerhouse on the back of capitalism and then sustained this with an education system designed to unify Americans and later foster innovation.

Instead, the center of history in 4,500 schools is to depict American slavery via exaggerated interpretations of personal memories, untempered by facts. Instead of a history of patriotism and achievement, the American government is supporting a history of trauma, including systemic racism and inequality. President Trump sanctioned patriotic education to counter American history centered on slavery, an initiative that Biden promptly revoked because it was inconsistent with his strategy for political memory.

In 2022, it was reported that the average IQ of Americans dropped for the first time in 100 years. The researchers speculated that it was due to changes in the educational system. Teachers must trade time that could be spent on critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and independent thoughtall essential to innovation, economic growth, and understanding global issuesbecause of mandates about the time allotted to subjects that support Bidens strategy for political memory. These include topics such as restorative justice, non-white ethnic studies, the history of slavery, reparations, and ending negative aspects of white culture, such as objectivity and ambition.

Besides hindering innovation and economic growth and encouraging racial and ethnic divisions, the governments strategy for political memory affects our ability to protect America. Search for pride in the military, and the results point to gay pride. While the second and third largest military powers have painted a bullseye on Americas back, America cant meet its military recruiting goals because the political memory of the military is not American victories but, instead, a history of racism.

Russia and Chinas deepening partnership portends a potentially ominous chapter of world history. Anyone familiar with Cold War I knows that more than 20 million died in Cold-War-related proxy wars, so it wasnt that cold.

The Biden governments trauma-centered political memory strategy to divide America politically, and racially has motivated this Russo-Chinese partnership and escalated the likelihood of Cold War II. China and Russia have been planning round two since 1991, and a divided America is a tempting target to strike at.

Has anyone ever wondered why China and Russia spend so much propaganda capital on politically and racially dividing America? The answer is that Americas enemies are supporting the American governments strategy for political memory because doing so, in conjunction with their own hand-crafted political memories designed to unify their countries through patriotic education/propaganda and prepare for Cold War II, is a formula for victory. When is the American government going to admit that its strategy for political memory is a national and global security threat?
In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in traffic accidents, including pedestrian deaths, across the nation. Agencies with jurisdiction, from federal to local, and organizations devoted to highway safety, arent letting this crisis go to waste. While pedestrians are dying, they are DIE-ing to impose equitable outcomes, even prioritizing self-enforcing roads over law enforcement.

The Governors Highway Safety Association is determined to institutionalize equity in roadway safety, even establishing a standing Equity and Engagement Committee to oversee (something safety socialists love to do) integrating equitable outcome components in their planning and grant applications. Given their DIE-hard perseverance, perhaps it is they who need institutionalizingand not by burrowing into a nonprofit safety organization with a cushy salary.

The Department of Transportationbadly led by an ideologue who couldnt even fix potholes as a minor mayorsees everything through the prism of equity. It issued the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), which downplays law enforcement in favor of a Safe System approach ,  including these five elements of a safe transportation system: safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care.

Image: Car accident by fxquadro.

That may seem prima facie reasonable. However, the agency over-emphasizes equity of outcomes when determining grant awards to facilitate this approach. Grant funding decisions are largely based on a commitment to equitable outcomes.

Under the Key Departmental Actions to Enable Safer People section of the NRSS are these points:

Support the development and accessibility of training designed to enhance equity in law enforcement.

Encourage States to apply for the Section 1906 grant program that funds the collection of information on the race and ethnicity of the driver in motor vehicle stops.

The DIE-hard NRSS is also infused with some insipid intersectionality language as it looks to incorporate equity into allallits roadway safety efforts:

The Department will advance equity as an instrumental component of transportation safety and convene key stakeholders  government at all levels, law enforcement, advocacy, community organizations, and the general public  to develop both a better understanding of the intersection of equity and roadway safety, and a comprehensive approach to incorporating equity into all of the Departments efforts to achieve zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries. (Emphasis added.)

Due to their misplaced obsession with equitable outcomes, the DOTs NRSS recommends studies to promote what seems like a foregone conclusionthe greater use of speed cameras. The overseeing socialists believe these will provide more equitable enforcement than police traffic stops. Not so fast (as it were)! Cameras may reduce speeding somewhat, but they are not a great deterrent to forms of reckless driving, like texting while driving or fleeing a crime scene.

Nor do cameras do much to thwart carjacking, and theyre utterly useless if the vehicle has an obscured (or no) license plate. If the burrowed bureaucrats truly want equity of outcomes, they shouldnt be weasels. Instead, they must admit an inconvenient truth: most carjacking is committed by minorities.

Despicably, the DOTs egregious equity edicts exacerbate mistrust. Perhaps this is not surprising considering its feckless leader was installed largely on the basis of his identity. Consider this hogwash from the NRSS document:

Although men consistently represent more than 70 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes, when comparable crashes are analyzed and risk taking differences are accounted for, studies have shown that motor vehicle fatality risk is, on average, 17 percent higher for a female than for a male of the same age. [Footnote omitted.]

I wonder what studies or contradictory evidence they conveniently overlooked. Does anyone who is not brainwashed with guilt-ridden DEI propaganda really believe those selective statistics?

Regardless, the statement, by offering the disclaimer when comparable crashes are analyzed and risk taking differences are accounted for, hints at research malpractice, if not prejudice. What a convoluted way to frame the issue to substantiate a perverted, progressive worldview.

Its almost as if 70 percent is not high enough, and their DIE orthodoxy prefers that even more men dieespecially if theyre white. Maybe a jolt of electro-convulsive therapy will spark their minds from woke to awake; just a quick zap, judiciously applied, to gently shock them out of their liberal mental disease.

Instead of their dystopian vision of equity of outcomes, how about equal opportunity for police officers to pull over drivers for reckless driving? Across the nation, defunding the police and limiting traffic enforcement are contributing to lawless roads and an upsurge in accidents. But lets highlight Seattle, Washington, as its road safety campaign contains language about safe systems and self-enforcing roads almost verbatim out of the NRSS playbook.

The so-called Emerald City, now a cesspool of dysfunctional liberalism, instituted a traffic safety campaign called Vision Zero. Yet, seven years into it, Zero is nowhere to be seen. Instead, city officials are expressing deep concerns about the continued rise in traffic accidents.

The citys transportation department did a review of the programs failure, producing a 37-page report. The report includes this little tidbit that sounds familiar by now: Peer agencies are moving away from enforcement as a leading strategy, pointing instead to a safe systems model and designing roads to be self-enforcing.

Self-enforcing? One can almost hear the traffic violators laughing their heads off. Ironically, Vision Zero is right, but for the wrong reasonit has zero accountability. As Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales spewed, I dont think any of us want police involved in traffic stops. Her credibility is whats zero.

Indeed, as Charles Mudede, a local writer, put it in his article about the permitted lawlessness of cars (the article has a slightly profane title Ill not repeat),

Drivers [in Seattle] are daily hitting people on their feet, on a bike, on a scooter. But this lawlessness is simply permitted. You cant sleep on the street without making the news, but you can constantly break the vehicle laws with near impunity.

So much for self-enforcement!

In Seattles suburbs, increasing numbers of traffic violators simply refuse to yield to the police. The Puyallup Police Department logged 148 instances of drivers fleeing from officers from July 26, 2021, to May 18, 2022. In Lakewood, about 40 miles south of Seattle, Police Chief Mike Zaro said drivers fail to stop for his officers about once a day. Washington State Patrol also reports a stark rise in drivers refusing to stop. These drivers arent constrained by self-enforcing roads; they simply arent worried about getting caught.

New streetlights, sidewalks, cameras, or whatever, especially in urban areas, are fine but the policies behind them are as perversely political as they are about safety. Meanwhile, traffic accidents and pedestrian deaths continue to surge in Seattle and all over the nation. Instead of leveraging this crisis to push equity for road villains, its time reckless drivers worry about getting caught.

A simple truism is that identifying a problem is half the solution. For comprehensive traffic safety, that solution is not an overreliance on roadways with special and mysterious self-enforcement features, but active, and well-funded, law enforcement. Just dont run or backchat, and all will be well. Show respect (it feels good), and the vast majority of police will reciprocate. After all, they dont want to be the next YouTube sensation for the wrong reasons.
See also: Gun grabber hypocrisy 2: NPR gushes over trans group arming up and forming gun club 'Rainbow Reload'

Michael Bloomberg may not outrank George Soros in the list of malign billionaires, but according to all reports, he's far richer. And like Soros, mini-Mike buys political influence by backing others that do his ideological bidding with his money. One of his passions  backed by his big bucks  is disarming Americans so that the state will be all-powerful. When the state demands compliance from what used to be a free citizenry, it must be obeyed if the little guys are disarmed. Just ask Hitler's ghost how much easier it was rounding up the Jews once they were disarmed. Tyrants know that confiscating the populace's guns is the key to untrammeled state power.

The key to understanding the real motives of the gun-grabbers is their hypocrisy when one of their favored class gets caught violating the laws they support so fervently. You see, it's not guns that they object to; it's guns in the wrong hands. Yours, for instance. Equal justice under the law? That's something that can readily be discarded once the ordinary folks are disarmed.

Bloomberg is the predominant funder of a group called "Everytown for Gun Safety," whose "senior director of policy" is a gent named Rob Wilcox.

When you've got scores of billions of dollars, you can afford an expensive and slick bureaucracy. Discover the Networks characterizes the group:

Describing itself as "a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities," the Manhattan-based Everytown for Gun Safety (EGS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making it more difficult for Americans to obtain and carry firearms. For example, EGS opposes state laws that permit citizens to carry concealed weapons on their person. It also seeks to end "concealed carry reciprocity," an arrangement that makes gun permits transportable across state lines and is characterized by Everytown as "a dream for gun extremists and a nightmare for ... public safety." In 2017, EGS pledged $25 million to fight the passage of reciprocity legislation. That same year, former EGS executive director Mark Glaze spoke in favor of a "government buy-back" program for widely owned semi-automatic firearms, and called for restrictions that would prevent even law-abiding citizens from procuring guns. Asserting that background checks "alone aren't the answer," he said: "To truly tackle the gun violence epidemic, lawmakers must go further  after the guns themselves." Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg created EGS in 2014 to counter the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA). He formed his new entity by merging Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), which Bloomberg and former Boston mayor Thomas Menino had co-founded in 2006, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Bloomberg is not only EGS's founder, but also its biggest financial supporter. When he set up the organization in 2014, he pledged to bankroll it with approximately $50 million through his eponymous charity, the Bloomberg Family Foundation. His hope, Bloomberg explained, was to "make them [the NRA] afraid of us." By the end of 2017, Bloomberg had reportedly spent some $135 million on anti-gun, anti-NRA causes.

Representative Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) is a retired businessman who occupies the seat vacated by the retirement of Sean Duffy. While Rep. Tiffancy lacks anything remotely close to Bloomberg's resources, he wasn't shy about confronting Rob Wilcox over his group's stance on prosecuting Hunter Biden: ignore it.

In a hearing on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives yesterday, he cornered Bloomberg's guy Wilcox over why Hunter has not been prosecuted for gun crimes whose proof is solid, even confessed by Hunter himself. A Dem on the panel tried to make a point of order to shut down the inquiry, but Rep. Tiffany just laughed it off.

Rush transcript by Grabien:

TIFFANY: "Mr. Wilcox, if a person lies on Form 4473 and is a user of unlawful drugs, you can get between 5 to 10 years for that, is that correct? Is that my understanding?"

WILCOX: "No, I believe Congress changed the sentence last Congress."

TIFFANY: "What is that sentence now?"

WILCOX: "Up to fifteen."

TIFFANY: "Up to fifteen years. Why hasn't Hunter Biden been prosecuted for the crime that he committed?"

WILCOX: "I'm not aware of the facts of that case and can't comment on it."

TIFFANY: "Okay. Who would we talk to to see why this case is not being prosecuted? I mean, he said very clearly in his book that he used drugs, he had a gun, a gun, at least a gun  "

UNKNOWN: "Point of order, Mr. Chair."

UNKNOWN 2: "Stating point of order."

UNKNOWN: "Totally irrelevant and not germane to this proceeding."

UNKNOWN 3: "Sir, he's got his  he's got his five minutes. Go ahead, continue."

TIFFANY: "Okay. (Laughs) I understand why you do not want Mr. Wilcox to answer that question. It's very clear why you don't want, because there's a dual system of justice in America. That's was going on right now. And everybody's talking about it across America. There's two standards of justice that are  that are going on."

The DOJ's and ATF's non-prosecution of clear Biden family crimes is explosive, a clear example of Democrats corrupting the justice system. The more often that Republicans make this case, the worse the prospects become for all Democrats in 2024.

Photo credit: Grabien screen grab.
See also: Gun grabber hypocrisy 1: Bloombergs gun control stooge forced to squirm over non-prosecution of Hunter Biden for gun law violations

National Public Radio (NPR) has no shame over using taxpayer funding to push the political agenda of gun control. But, as Tucker Carlson noted last night, it isn't against all guns; it is only against guns in the "wrong" hands. The "right" hands to own guns include people who claim to be "trans," as Tucker noted. Watch and laugh at Tucker's riffs (as you take in the sober reality of the real agenda behind gun-grabbers).

Rush Transcript (corrected) by Grabien:

>> Tucker: you don't need an AR-15 or whatever they call it. That's the head of the Democratic Party speaking clearly that the party's position on guns, if we don't control them you can't have them. Every Democrat thinks this as part of the catechism. So, you can imagine our surprise, we'll driving through Cambridge in the hybrid Subaru, listening to National Public Radio, the voice of menopausal liberalism. As we're listening, we hear this. We are going to play it for you, see if you can understand our total shock.

>> Mass shootings targeting LGBTQ+ spaces, anti-trans rhetoric, queer people to take up arms, joined a monthly gathering of a gun group that sees firearms as key to their own self-defense.

>> . this story does include the sound of gun fire. The parking lot of state park in southeastern New Hampshire is filling up with hikers, there is a different crew packing up warm clothes and weapons.

>> Thank you for coming to Rainbow Reload.

>> Tucker: your anti-trans rhetoric makes the trans community carry guns. They are packing heat, appendix carrying in more ways than one, watch out. Wait a second, we thought. This is NPR? National Public Radio? Suddenly telling you that actually guns are good, they are valuable tools of self-defense really against you. So, there are times when guns are gad, says NPR. We thought wait a second we've been listening to NPR since Click and Clack the brothers. For example, the U.S. has more guns than any other country be the world. This is the same NPR that in between updates on the latest trans dinosaur emojis, we've been following those carefully, calling for more gun control, and not subtle ones like the segment he titled many gun owners support gun control so why don't they speak out? A lot of gun owners for gun control, of course they do. Yet here is that same National Public Radio -- state radio, state media controlling the Biden Administration -- encouraging people to go to the gun store immediately. But not all people. Just trans people. Guns are bad except in the hands of trans people. Wow. Here is more.

>> Groups like Rainbow Reload exist around the country often called Pink pistol clubs, experts in the gun curious to practice and improve their shooting. This goes beyond hobby, there is a goal here to prepare and protect themselves.

>> If the world is dangerous, then you have to be dangerous back. And that very much has pushed me into where I am now.

>> Tucker: "the gun curious." Well you know when NPR describes something as -curious, it's a gun thing. The pedophile-curious. Now the gun-curious. The world is dangerous you have to be dangerous back. Now is that a quote from FBI indicting the Proud Boys? No, it's an NPR segment. At this point it's hard to tell the difference in the lip-smacking NPR reporters are saying without any self-awareness at all. What's going on here? NPR decided guns are bad except when the enforces ideology have guns, you can't have guns but faithful servants of the Democratic Party can, that makes sense because like all totalitarians they want a monopoly on force, right? So, debate ends at that point when one side has all the firearms, you don't have to argue, you say well you can't change your sex. Shut up, bigot. Bang bang.
Biden believes he is the embodiment of moral leadership, but when it comes to his positions on LGBTQ+, a good portion of the world sees America as an immoral hegemon, using cultural colonialism to threaten nations that dont subscribe to what they see as extreme irreligious views. Thats why, when White House spokesperson John Kirby said LGBTQ+ rights are core to Americas foreign policy, he inadvertently shed light on why China is the new global powerbroker.

When China makes inroads into countries that are not its own, its policy has been to avoid interfering in that countrys social policy questions. It willingly goes into countries that, per American standards, engage in human rights abuses.

The Biden administration, however, believes that its cultural standards should be the worlds standards, something that is glaringly obvious when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. Under the laws of most countries in Africa and the Middle East, and some in Southeast Asia, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and who act on that identification, are engaging in criminal activity.

In 2022, Russia passed a law dubbed, Answer to Blinken, that basically criminalizes mentioning in any public space anything related to LGBTQ+. At the time, Putin accused the Wests position on LGBTQ+ of moving towards open Satanism.

Image: The U.S. Embassy in the Holy See, 2022. Public domain.

Several Arab countries would agree. In all the Muslim nations that criminalize LGBTQ+ conduct, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, they do not separate church and state. Instead, national law is merged with religious law, and LGBTQ+ conduct, because it is against religious law, is also against national law. There is no human right to be LGBTQ+ in these nations.

Faced with the non-Western worlds intransigence on LGBTQ+ rights, Biden directed US agencies to use the full range of diplomatic tools, and potentially financial sanctions and visa restrictions, when foreign governments restricted the rights of LGBTQ people. The United States has also warned Saudi Arabia about its criminalizing LGBTQ+ conduct. We hope Saudi Ambassador Prince Abdullah Al Saud will carefully consider how the continued persecution of Saudis LGBT community will negatively impact the bilateral relationship.

Does Biden think an American alliance is more important to a country than that nations relationship with its God? And is anyone still wondering why it was China and not the United States that brokered a deal to restore diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia?

The United States led the charge to form the United Nations and helped formulate the principle that [t]he United Nations has no authority to intervene in matters which are within the domestic jurisdiction of any State. Why, then, is China excoriated for adhering to international law, while America pretends to take the high ground even as it violates its commitment to the U.N. Charter? When it comes to LGBTQ+ issues, Americas current relentless intervention in matters which are within the domestic jurisdiction of any State cements Americas image in both Muslim nations and non-Muslim nations as an immoral hegemon intent upon cultural colonization.
It looks like Brandon Johnson, the radical leftist candidate supported by the teachers' union, will win the runoff election and become Chicago's next mayor, despite losing to centrist-leaning Paul Vallas by 11 points in the primary. As a local resident explains:

A new poll out Thursday shows Vallass lead down to 2 points. He led by 11 in primary. Blacks and Hispanics who voted for other candidates in round 1 are now lining up with Johnson.

There will be a lot of for sale signs up April 5th if this trend continues. Gays and teachers' union members are both heavily favoring Johnson, though both groups are mostly white. They too will get mugged. Looting will be effectively endorsed in the future, an all-but-official policy, so long as desperate marginalized people from the preferred groups are doing the mugging.

It seems that until you are mugged yourself, you follow your tribal interest group. Some minority residents have left Chicago, especially blacks (likely over 100,000) in recent years.
Under Joe Biden and all the big 'stars' at the Pentagon -- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Gen. Mark Milley -- the U.S. military is falling grossly short of its recruitment goals.

This comes just as China ramps up its military machine, the U.S. deepens its involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and resources, including U.S. troops, are going to be needed.

The Senate, to its credit, has noticed something amiss.

According to the Washington Post:

Lawmakers urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to get aggressive and creative in confronting what they warned were dangerous shortfalls in military recruiting, agreeing broadly that the issue threatens national security even as Republicans and Democrats argued over whats to blame for the deepening crisis. The issue came before the Senate Armed Services Committee as U.S. defense officials face the bleakest recruiting environment since the aftermath of the Vietnam War, with less than a quarter of Americans ages 17 to 24 years old eligible to serve  and just 9 percent willing to do so. The situation probably will take years to correct, they told the senators, forecasting that the Army, Air Force and Navy all will fall short of their goals this year, possibly by thousands of recruits. The Pentagon has attributed its difficulties to a variety of factors, including the nations low unemployment rate, school closings during the coronavirus pandemic that limited recruiters access to high school students and faculty, and a shifting culture in which more teens gravitate to jobs with work-life balance.

Bleakest recruiting environment since the aftermath of the Vietnam War? That signals a major crisis of confidence.

What a load of mealy-mouthed reasons the Pentagon gave to the House from that passage though, which is just what you'd expect from a Pentagon headed by a woke bloated guy like Milley.

COVID is over -- and the recruitment numbers are still down. Work-life balance is probably a gentle reference to this young man who, rather than provide for his newborn twins in a manly way, longs to " hang out ." While he's not entirely at fault here, the sad fact is, he finds purpose in skateboarding because he doesn't find purpose in bigger things -- like defending the country because that's not a value anymore to leaders in the U.S. That's a failure from Washington. Note that recruitment numbers never spiraled for the reasons cited when President Trump was in the White House.

More likely, as this public opinion poll cited by Military.com shows, the military has grown political

GOP congressional members have asked about the Biden administration's inward-turning witch-hunt culture of the military, in search of "extremists," as the Post noted at the the bottom of its piece, and Pentagon officials denied there was any such problem there, having only "found" 100 extremists from among the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and other military members it surveilled.

That's an important story but not the answer to the question. With news like that, maybe the surveillance was the problem. Who wants to be watched and watched for social media posts that any Twitter goof or wokester college grad with the censorship bug in them finds, all to make that coveted declaration of "extremism" they are looking for? For many potential recruits, it's better to just skip the military rather than walk on eggshells, avoiding that "diversity" censor looking for "a violation." We all know how this goes.

The piece fails to mention critical race theory, too, which teaches the white recruits that they've the bad guys and the country they are expected to fight and die for is fatally flawed, a horrible place that can never make right its past without those helpful CRT officers to browbeat them as the bad guys. Who needs crap like that? Care to fight and die, to give up one's freedoms and live in bad housing, all for a very bad country? That's important, because Gen. Milley himself, in all his white-whale glory, has declared himself a big fan of critical race theory and says he spends untold hours reading up on it himself as well as promoting it within the military as a priority.

All of the excuses provided by the Pentagon are nonsense, both because politicization is a problem, but perhaps even more important, the U.S. doesn't seem to prioritize winning wars.

The crisis is described as "post-Vietnam"-like in character, so maybe there are important parallels to that conflict.

"Diversity is our strength," crowed leftist Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island in the WaPo piece.

Well, no. Strength is our strength and wokesterism is taking priority over it. The broad picture is ugly, of course: America hasn't won a major war since World War II, and all of our recent wars are seeing hideous results such as China taking over Iraq after decades of U.S. blood and treasure expended, and Afghanistan once again being ruled by the Taliban, the barbarians back in charge again except with billions in U.S.-supplied weapons.

Who wants to fight and die for that kind of outcome, with military members' sacrifices discarded?

One incident that surely must stand out in the minds of potential recruits is how little the leadership in the White House values their sacrifices. Remember how Joe Biden looked at his watch and spent virtually no time talking to the families of slain U.S. service members as the coffins of the 13 service members killed by a terrorist bomb in the chaotic pullout of Afghanistan arrived in Maryland? What does a recruiting sergeant say to potential U.S. recruits about how Joe Biden didn't bother to protect those bright young men and women as they were foisted in harm's way during the self-created chaos? What does he say about the Joe Biden watch matter or the even uglier fact that no Pentagon official was ever punished?

Now we have the war in Ukraine, where untold billions of dollars are being sent and there is talk of U.S. boots on the ground. We all know that the best of Ukraine's army is basically dead, killed off in the fighting, so other troops are going to be needed. Will those be the U.S. troops? If so, U.S. troops will again be put in harm's way, and left high and dry if they get injured, while consultants will get rich off war contracts. As one contributor to American Thinker asked a few months ago: Why does Tunnels to Towers even exist?

Some other things stand out, too -- the persistent bureaucracy of the Pentagon, which gums up the ability to serve of those who want to serve and could serve well, which was noted by Republicans in the hearing, and the wretchedly low pay of military recruits who are often starting young families, and who often are foisted into substandard housing. You'd think they could prioritize that over consultant contracts and wokester indoctrination over in Bidenville, but we all know that Joe's got a watch to look at.

We didn't have factors as bad as these when recruitment hit a nadir in the mid-1970s. Jimmy Carter, at least, never looked at his watch.

What we had then though, is what we have now -- the embarrassing defeat of the U.S. in Vietnam, a victory thrown away as the last helicopter lifted off from the roof of the U.S. embassy in Saigon, and the boat people sailed, and the killing fields of Cambodia began. We also had Jimmy Carter at the head of the U.S. military presiding over military failures such as Operation Eagle Claw to rescue 52 U.S. hostages held by the mullah regime in Iran, owing to weak U.S. leadership and under-resourcing of equipment for the dirty, dangerous mission. Those things affect military prestige and they affect recruitment. I recall how military service was looked down upon as a high-schooler in the aftermath of the Vietnam War as a low-prestige option, and how getting recruitment mail was used by others to mock us. Serving in the military was embarrassing in that sorry era. This makes me think the string of defeats seen is actually the biggest reason. Who wants to put their life on the line for an army that exits like the U.S. did in Afghanistan? The Washington Post didn't even bring that up.
I confess: I took Vladimir Putin at his word, and that was mistake. A couple of days ago, I reported that Putin threatened nuclear escalation over the use of depleted uranium (D.U.) shells by Ukraine, and I termed the U.K.'s supply of them to Ukraine as reckless. But in doing so, I failed to realize that Putin's claims of health risk from the nuclear material were just bogus. As a retired Army officer with experience in these matters emailed me:

I can assure you, if an armored vehicle gets hit by a DU penetrator the crew has far more to worry about than uranium vapors. I.e., the effects are horrific. As far as health effects of DU Putin was resurrecting unfounded and politically driven propaganda from the postGulf War period to hypocritically stoke radiological paranoia. The US had over 20 Gulf War soldiers wounded with DU fragments and they were followed by the Baltimore VA Hospital for any ill effects and there were none; and for those who had children after the war, there were no birth defects. DU has a heavy metal toxicity, but interestingly, the tungsten carbide round it replaces is more toxic. But the bottom line is, as Strieff notes at Redstate, if a tank is hit by a DU round, the crew inhaling DU vapors is the least of their worries. Oh, and by the way, Russia uses DU rounds also.

AT contributor Stephen Bryen's Substack column goes into greater detail on the realities of D.U. ammunition:

The ammunition in question is technically called armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), long dart penetrator ammunition. APFSDS uses a special penetrating rod made of DU with the addition of titanium and molybdenum. It is highly valued by the military because the DU penetrator is self-sharpening (meaning it does not deform) and pyrophoric. It is highly effective against enemy tanks struck on the side, rear or top, but less so frontally where it can be deflected by sloped armor. APFSDS penetrators can be made out of materials other than DU, such as titanium. The Russians call DU ammunition "dirty" weapons. Depleted uranium is a very heavy, dense metal that is made from uranium hexafluoride. Uranium hexafluoride is the gaseous feedstock for centrifuges making weapon's grade fissile U-235 for nuclear weapons. Those who promote the use of DU in weapons argue that DU weapons actually contain less fissile material than natural uranium (but not much less). However, they fail to account for the fact that DU is used in a highly compact form, generally to help penetrate armor and other hardened structures. While field studies are inconclusive, opponents of DU say that DU metal fragments in the soil, and DU dust in the air can cause numerous health problems, including cancer. Even naturally occurring uranium is a toxic material. One scientific study says "The aerosol produced during impact and combustion of depleted uranium munitions can potentially contaminate wide areas around the impact sites or can be inhaled by civilians and military personnel." There is some evidence that DU ammunition played a role in so-called Gulf War syndrome, and also impacts bone marrow density in soldiers hit by DU fragments.

Read the whole thing.

As the ancient wisdom has it, truth is the first casualty of war. But BS justification often is used when a nation at war wants to escalate.
The saga began two weeks ago when unruly students at Stanford Law disrupted a Federalist Society event that featured Judge Kyle Duncan as the speaker.

Duncan is a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and was appointed by President Trump back in 2017.

As a lawyer, Duncan has argued against same-sex marriage at the Supreme Court.

He was the lead litigator for North Carolinas bathroom bill which prohibited transgender individuals from using bathrooms based on gender identity; that is, irrespective of their gender anatomy.

Duncan also refused to use a transgender sex offender's preferred pronouns during a 2020 case.

All of this was enough to cause a deranged mob of around 100 students at Stanford to collectively throw itself into a conniption.

They flashed obscene placards and bellowed expletives and slogans rendering Duncans voice inaudible.

Duncan described the hateful rhetoric in the Wall Street Journal where the baying mob called for Duncans daughters to be raped.

Instead of being the voice of reason and not only standing for freedom of expression but also the basic courtesy of treating an invited guest with respect, the school's associate dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Tirien Steinbach, joined the insanity.

This caused some to suspect that it was Steinbach who incited the mob.

The dean of diversity, who is paid as much as $201,000 a year, doesnt approve of the most important kind of diversity  diversity of ideas.

The following is an excerpt of Steinbecks unhinged verbal tirade where she slandered Duncan.

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.

In time, Duncan had to be escorted out of the hall by federal marshals.

Two days after the incident, Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Law School Dean Jenny Martinez offered sincerest apologies in a letter to Duncan.

They also wrote that the hijacking

was inconsistent with our policies on free speech, and we are very sorry about the experience you had while visiting our campus.

The apology letter caused further protests from deranged students.

When Martinez returned to teaching, hundreds of black-clad, masked students ambushed her class and vandalized her classroom.

Most revolutionaries are proud of their actions but not the cowardly tyrants at Stanford who demanded their names be removed from reports in the Washington Free Beacon.

Martinez released another detailed letter on Wednesday, criticizing the students who heckled federal judge Kyle Duncan and announcing that Steinbach, who sided with the mob, is now on leave.

It remains unclear if the leave was imposed as a punitive action.

Martinez refused to retract her letter of apology to Duncan and emphasized that Stanfords speaker disruption policy was violated by both students and administrators.

Martinez also announced that students wouldnt be punished but will have to attend mandatory educational programming for our student body on freedom of speech and academic freedom.

When matters devolve into abject insanity, it is essential to reiterate basic principles regarding education.

Places of education must be forums with absolute freedom of expression.

Restriction based on personal taste simply wont work because what is hateful to one may be compelling to another. What is bigoted to one may be thought-provoking to another. What is tasteful to one could be obscene to another. A bigot to one may be a maverick to another. A liberal to one can be a fascist to another.

Instead of an individual or groups of individuals deciding what is appropriate and what is not, adult students must be exposed to all ideas.

There will be disagreements that can be resolved by healthly debates.

The students at Stanford should have used the opportunity to challenge Judge Duncan about his advocacy and rulings where they thought he was unfair and learned his reasoning.

But debating demands time, effort, knowledge, and ability on the part of both students and teachers.

There is always the risk of losing before a superior debater which could result in the debunking of the groupthink and lead to independent thinking, and soon, the university could stop being the indoctrination chamber for Democrat voters.

Hence the students, probably led by Steinbach, chose the easier path: They outnumbered Judge Duncan, shouted him down, and drove him out.

The good news is that there was some pushback, but the pushback wasn't as aggressive as it should have been.

This is the sad reality of our times.

Educational institutions have become echo chambers where only the chimes of consensus are allowed.

Consensus is the graveyard for growth because all growth is the result of applying immediate remedial actions in response to constructive criticisms.

When criticism is outlawed, stagnation takes over.

Every new innovation, from books to inventions to works of art, are the result of someone daring to think differently. The dungeons of consensus will bring an end to all of that.

The arrogance and self-righteousness of both the students and faculty means that there is little chance of any remedial actions, and the downward spiral will continue.

A senior professor at a college I once lectured at once told me: If you want to destroy a nation, you first attack its foundation, that is the education system.

This is exactly what is occurring.

Image: Screen shot from CBN News video, via YouTube
Out of all places to stick your head into, a particle accelerator would rank among the worst. Yet, on that fateful day of 13 July 1978, thirty-six-years-old Russian scientist Anatoli Bugorski just had to.

The particle accelerator he was working with at the Institute for High Energy Physics in Protvino, near Serpukhov, Russia, developed a problem. To see whats wrong, Bugorski put his head inside the channel through which an intensely powerful beam of proton shoots through. Unknown to Bugorski, the accelerator was still running, and the warning lights that would have alerted Bugorski of the hazard had been switched off during a previous experiment, and had not been turned back on. As soon as his head crossed the invisible beam of proton, his brain was zapped. Bugorski felt no pain, but he reportedly saw a flash brighter than a thousand suns.

A section of the U-70 proton synchrotron at the Institute for High Energy Physics in Protvino. Photo: Sergey Velichkin/TASS

Bugorsky knew that he had struck the proton beam, but he did not tell anyone. Instead, he calmly completed his work, wrote down in a journal about his visit to the accelerator channel, and then waited for the symptoms to arrive with alarming foreboding. That night, the left side of his face began to swell and after an uncomfortable, sleepless night, Bugorsky decided to present himself to the doctors. Bugorsky was rushed to Moscow and admitted to a special clinic that treated victims of radiation poisoning.

Sources seem to disagree on exactly how much ionizing radiation Bugorski absorbed, but some say it was as high as 200,000 to 300,000 rads. No other human being had ever experienced such a focused beam of radiation at such high energy. Usually a dose of 400 to 1,000 rads is enough to kill a person. But Bugorski survived, because it was a focused beam. Unlike Chernobyl or Hiroshima where victims were bathed with high energy gamma rays from head to toe, Bugorski took the hit to a small area with minimal scattering. The beam had entered through the back of his head and exited through his nose. It burned a hole though his brain, destroying tissues and nerves and leaving one side of his face paralyzed, but his vital organs, such as bone marrow and the gastrointestinal track, were spared. Although the scaring on the back of his head and on his face healed with time, the left side of his face was left paralyzed, and he lost hearing on his left ear. Bugorski also began to have frequent episodes of seizures. But his intelligence remained as sharp as ever.

Anatoli Bugorskis swollen face after the accident. The figure on the right shows the path of the proton beam through his skull.

Bugorsky returned to work 18 months later, but promised to appear regularly in the Moscow clinic at least twice a year. Bugorski continued pursuing science, completed his PhD and held the post of coordinator of physics experiments at the U-70 proton synchrotron where the incident occurred. Because of the Soviet Union's policy of maintaining secrecy on nuclear power-related issues, Bugorski did not speak about the accident for over a decade. It was only after the Chernobyl disaster, his story came to light.

Anatoli Bugorski not only survived, he outlived the proton accelerator that maimed him. The breakup of the Soviet Union and the economic changes in the country dried up government funding, and the project was halted and eventually abandoned. Bugorski still lives in Protvino. He is a few months short of 78, at the time of this writing. He struggles to pay for his epilepsy medication, since the city cut budget to the institute and his former workplace. In 1996, he applied for disabled status but his application was rejected.

Anatoli Bugorski. Photo: Andrey Solomonov/Global Look Press

References:

# eco-pravda.ru, https://web.archive.org/web/20120425115650/http://www.eco-pravda.ru/page.php?al=bugorsky_casus

# Wired, https://www.wired.com/1997/12/science-2/

# Quartz, https://qz.com/964065/this-is-what-happened-to-the-scientist-who-stuck-his-head-inside-a-particle-accelerator/
This May 10, 2022 file photo shows Samsung Electronics' Chairman Lee Jae-yong attending a dinner held to celebrate the swearing in of President Yoon Suk Yeol, at a hotel in Seoul. EPA-Yonhap



Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong is currently in China to attend the China Development Forum, according to sources Friday.



Lee arrived in Beijing on Thursday to attend the high-profile annual forum, slated to run at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse from Saturday till Monday.



The meeting will run under the theme of "Economic Recovery: Opportunities and Cooperation," focusing on "opportunities in the Chinese market, stabilization of global industrial chains, and green transition," according to the organizer, the Development Research Center of China's State Council.



Apple CEO Tim Cook, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourlaother and Ola Kallenius, Mercedes-Benz Group AG's chairman, are reportedly among the attendees.






Microsoft is reaping the fruits of its early bet on OpenAIs conversational AI tech ChatGPT. Since the launch of the ChatGPT-powered new Bing in early February, the companys search engine has reportedly seen a 15.8 percent boost in page visits. Google Search page visits declined by one percent during the same period (February 7 to March 20), Reuters reports citing data from analytics firm Similarweb.

App downloads for Bing also jumped eight times globally during this period. According to the latest data from research firm Data.ai, the Bing app was downloaded more than 810,000 between February 5 and march 11. The figure for January 1 to February 4 period was just about 100,000. On the other hand, Google Search downloads dropped two percent from 2.98 million to 2.91 million in the same period.

As the data shows, Google has a massive lead in the search market. The internet giant has a share of more than 80 percent in a market that is valued at over $120 billion. However, Microsoft is emerging as a strong competitor to it, with the ChatGPT craze boosting the latters usage globally. Google is also preparing to bring its in-house generative AI tech Bard to its products, including Search. But the company is taking longer to do that, allowing Bing space to make further inroads. It publicly released its conversational chatbot earlier this week.

Market analysts expect Bing to eat more into Googles search market in the coming days. The more Google delays Bards integration with Search, the more Bing will benefit. Bing has less than a tenth of Googles market share, so even if it converts one percent or two percent of users it will be materially beneficial to Bing and Microsoft, said Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson & Co.

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Google will fight back against this Bing resurgence

Microsofts new Bing may have gained a sudden push in the lucrative search market following the ChatGPT integration last month and left Google behind the curve, but the latter certainly isnt throwing in the towel. Analysts expect it to fight back strongly against this Bing resurgence. The company has a massive lead in this industry, and it will overcome these setbacks soon to maintain its lead. After all, no one can forget how Google dethroned Yahoo from the top in the early 2000s.

Googles dominance in the mobile search industry is difficult for other players to break. Most smartphones (both Android and iPhones) have Google as their default search engine. Bing or other rivals certainly cant replace Google in mobiles, not in the foreseeable future. Googles ranking algorithm can have a competitive edge over that of competitors, Yongjei Jeong, an analyst at South Korean firm Mirae Asset Securities.
Samsung has launched a new budget 5G smartphone. The Galaxy F14 5G debuted earlier today in India with a decent set of specs. It is the fifth smartphone model the company has launched this month, and the eleventh for the year so far including the Galaxy S23 series.

Galaxy F14 5G design and specifications

The Galaxy F14 5G shares its design with the rest of the 2023 Galaxy lineup. For a change, Samsung has included a curved back panel but theres no camera bump, something the company has entirely done away with this year. The handset has two cameras and an LED flash unit on the back. Theres a 50MP primary shooter with PDAF (phase-detection autofocus) and a 2MP macro camera. The phone lacks OIS (optical image stabilization), which is reasonable in this segment.

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On the front, we have a V-shaped notched display with chunky bezels around it, something we see more often on budget handsets. The display is a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Samsung is using Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. The notch at the top houses a 13MP selfie camera under it. The Galaxy F14 5G can record 1080p (Full HD) videos at 30fps (frames per second) with front and rear cameras. Other camera features include panorama and HDR.

Powering this phone is a segment-leading 5nm Exynos 1330 processor. Samsung will release the Galaxy F14 5G in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants, with both supporting its RAM Plus feature. Youll get 128GB of internal storage with either variant. Should you want more storage space, the handset has a microSD card slot too.

A 6,000mAh battery fuels this phone with support for 25W fast charging. Other highlights include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Android 13-based One UI 5.1 Core. Samsung promises two major Android upgrades and four years of security updates for the phone.

Price and availability

The Galaxy F14 5G will be available in India through Flipkart, Samsung.com, and select retailers across the country starting on March 30. The handset comes in B.A.E Purple, G.O.A.T Green, and O.M.G Black colors. Samsung has priced the 4GB RAM variant at 14,990 (roughly $180) and the 6GB RAM variant at 15,990 (roughly $195).

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Early buyers can get the device at an introductory price of 12,990 (4GB RAM)/14,990 (6GB RAM), though. Theres no word from the company yet regarding the Galaxy F14 5Gs availability in other markets.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified before Congress on Thursday amid growing concerns over the apps future in the US. Lawmakers grilled Chew for more than five hours but the concerns largely remained unanswered. The TikTok executive repeated statements from his written testimony saying that the video-based social media platform or its Chinese parent company ByteDance doesnt have any backdoors for Chinas CCP (Chinese Communist Party) led government, and it did little to satisfy the lawmakers.

TikTok CEO failed to satisfy the US lawmakers at his first Congressional hearing

Calling for a nationwide ban on TikTok, House Energy and Commerce Committee chair and representative Cathy Rodgers said that ByteDance is beholden to the CCP, and ByteDance and TikTok are one and the same. She made the remarks in her opening statements during the Congressional hearing yesterday. She suggested that CCP could gain access to the personal data of American TikTok users through ByteDance. In response, TikTok CEO, who stated in his written testimony that ByteDance is not an agent of China, pointed to Project Texas.

Project Texas is TikToks plan to keep data of US users within the US. It has teamed up with Texas-based software company Oracle to safeguard the data in the latters servers. The data would be inaccessible to anyone outside the US. Expected to be completed later this year, TikTok officials say this would do more to protect American users than an outright ban for the app. However, the plan has been in the works for over a year now and nothing has materialized. Unsurprisingly, lawmakers are losing patience and trust in the company.

During the hearing, committee members were all skeptical of TikToks plan to address Americas national security concerns. Rodgers branded it a marketing scheme, while Representative Frank Pallone said, Project Texas is simply not acceptable. Representative Angie Craig also echoed these sentiments saying that the plan doesnt pass the smell test. These disagreements continued throughout the nearly six-hour showdown. Chew also frustrated lawmakers by declining to answer several rapid-fire questions with a Yes or No.

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When asked whether ByteDance was a Chinese company, he said that its a global firm with a Chinese founder. Similarly, he refused to directly answer whether ByteDance employees had spied on American journalists, something the company admitted doing a few months back. I dont think spying is the right way to describe it, Chew said. This is ultimately an internal investigation. Of course, this statement sparked sharp criticism. TikTok quickly took to Twitter to point out that Chew firmly said no when asked if it spied on behalf of the CCP.

Chew pointed to recent updates when asked about teen safety

The TikTok CEO similarly dodged many other complex questions from Congress members, including one about the inner workings of ByteDance and its China-based employees, Engadget reports. He was also pressed with questions about teen safety. He was asked about the platforms moderation practices and potentially harmful challenges that go viral on the platform.

Chew pointed to various changes and updates TikTok has pushed recently. He talked about the dedicated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) feed, screen time limit, and more. The TikTok CEO also mentioned the platforms newly-added algorithm reset button. Users can make the app forget everything it has learned about them and start afresh, should they feel unsafe with the content they currently see in the algorithmic feed.

However, none of this was enough to address the lawmakers national security concerns. Some have called for a sale of TikTok in the US, though Chinese officials have opposed the idea. Chew, meanwhile, said: We will need to look at this because Project Texas is designed to move forward here in the United States and we are not discussing this. As things stand, TikToks future is uncertain even after the hours-long grilling of its CEO by lawmakers. Well have to wait and see whats next.
Afghan refugees claim they remain trapped in remote hotels after losing a High Court challenge over the Governments decision to move them hundreds of miles across England to new temporary accommodation.

Three families said in their legal action against the Home Office, that moving them from London to a northern city would cause considerable disruption to the education of children facing exams.

At a hearing in January, their lawyers alleged the Home Secretary was failing to fulfil a commitment to help them rebuild their lives in the UK after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.

The Government disputed the claims, which were dismissed by a High Court judge in a ruling on Friday.

Mr Justice Henshaw concluded a legal duty to safeguard and promote the interests of children did not apply to the Home Offices actions in the cases.

Even if the duty had applied, the judge concluded the Government had regard to the need to safeguard and promote the childrens welfare.

Reacting to the ruling, the families lawyers accused the Government of failing catastrophically in its approach and claimed the ruling leaves thousands of other Afghan evacuees at risk of being moved hundreds of miles at short notice.

The refugees legal team previously argued that an offer to transfer them from a London hotel  in an area where children were studying and others had jobs  to further temporary accommodation in northern England was unlawful.

They claimed several children still do not have school places months after the move, while one woman was at risk of losing her job in the capital.

The Home Office was accused of failing to take into account the families personal circumstances when considering where they could be housed.

The judge was also told that while the families had not been forced to live anywhere, the practical reality was they had no option but to move.

The Home Offices lawyers disputed the linked claims, saying individual situations were looked at it but it was not under an enforceable duty to provide accommodation to the families.

The department said the interests of school-aged children had at all times been central to decision-making.

The court was told the families were brought to the UK via resettlement schemes and settled in London over the course of a year.

They experienced upheaval when they were offered the move up north last September after their hotel ended its contract with the Government.

Under Operation Warm Welcome, the Governments plans to integrate arriving refugees involved arranging temporary bridging accommodation in hotels until families could secure permanent housing  likely in the private-rented sector  with the support of public funding.

As of last August some 9,667 people under the resettlement schemes were still living in hotels, the judge was told.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Henshaw said a reasonable decision-maker could have settled on the nature and level of enquiries the Home Office took over school places.

He concluded the department had taken into account the availability of health and education services and made enquiries with a local council.

The judge said the Government was entitled to look at a broad range of factors including costs, migration pressure and the prospects of refugees finding permanent accommodation in different areas.

The (Government) was entitled to form a view about the appropriate level of enquiry in all the circumstances, he said, adding that it had concluded that any education disruption would not be disproportionate.

He added that it had reached a rational conclusion that the woman allegedly at risk of losing her job had the relevant skills and fortitude to find a similar one elsewhere, having properly considered her circumstances.

In a statement the Public Law Project, housing charity Shelter and law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn said: The families are devastated by todays result.

They have already been forced to leave their home country to flee extreme violence and threats to their lives, and now theyve been ripped away from the new lives they had started to build in London too.

With children forced to give up school places and their parents employment affected, todays judgment means these families remain stuck in hotels in a new city, hurling them right back to square one.

A hotel room is not a safe home. It is well known that living in a cramped hotel room for long periods and being moved around constantly is hugely detrimental to childrens health, education and wellbeing.

Thousands of Afghan refugees are stuck in hotels experiencing the same trauma. If they are to have any hope of rebuilding their lives, the Home Office must protect families from being repeatedly uprooted, and remove the barriers preventing them from finding a settled home.

The families will not appeal against the ruling, they said.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We are proud this country has provided homes for more than 7,500 Afghan evacuees, but hotels do not provide a long-term solution.

Occasionally it is necessary for families to be moved from where they are staying. In these instances, families are given appropriate notice of a move and are supported by the local authority every step of the way.

This includes continuing every possible support with healthcare, education, jobs and housing to allow families to continue their lives successfully in the UK.
This March 22 file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the all-electric IONIQ 5, left, and other models on display ahead of the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show at the IMPACT Exhibition Center in Bangkok.



Korea's Hyundai Motor said Friday it has set up a branch in Thailand to gain a share in the local market dominated by Japanese carmakers.



Hyundai has recently established Hyundai Mobility Thailand and will begin its operations on April 1, a company official said over the phone.



The Thai branch will be in charge of Hyundai Motor's vehicle sales, marketing and after-sales services. It may consider building a local production facility depending on market demand, he said.



The maker of Sonata sedans and Santa Fe SUVs has shipped a small number of models, such as vans, to the Southeast Asian country due to high import tariffs and other reasons.



Hyundai launched the multipurpose vehicle Stargazer at the Bangkok International Motor Show held from March 23-April 2 while planning to launch the compact Creta SUV in the second quarter.



The company also displayed the all-electric IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 models in the motor show.



In Southeast Asia, Hyundai also has branches in Indonesia and the Philippines. (Yonhap)


A senior Belfast police officer has been given a rare royal honour for his role in the operation following the death of the Queen last year.

Chief Superintendent Davy Beck is one of only a few police officers from across the UK who have been made a member of the Royal Victorian Order, which recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch.

It was founded by Queen Victoria in 1896 to be bestowed at the discretion of the sovereign and is used to recognise a wide variety of services to the royal family.

Mr Beck will receive the accolade for his role in leading the preparation, planning and strategic oversight of the operation following the death of the Queen last year.

He said he is delighted and honoured by the award.

Whilst it was a deeply sad occasion, I felt privileged to have contributed through my role in leading the policing operation for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Mr Beck said.

Having such dedicated and professional colleagues ensured the operation was carried out expertly and I would like to thank them for their contribution.

I would also like to thank my family for their unwavering support over the course of my career.

This is a hugely memorable occasion for me for which I am very grateful.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: The awarding of this recognition to Chief Superintendent Davy Beck is a testament to the strong leadership and skilled professionalism he displayed during the overseeing of the operation for the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

I extend my congratulations to Chief Superintendent Beck and am pleased his work is being acknowledged at such a prestigious level.
Wadhurst in East Sussex has beaten 71 other locations to be named the UKs best place to live.

Judges for the Sunday Times said the small market town offers pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature.

It was praised for its good schools, convenient transport links, variety of high street shops and being surrounded by stunning scenery.

The Wadhurst Warriors, a group of fathers who began fundraising for the towns primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole village, were praised as the stars of the show.

Judges also praised the town of less than 5,000 people  the smallest winner of the award in its 11-year history  for the many activities available for children, the farmers market, clubs, classes and the community cinema at the Community Hall.

Wadhurst Warriors chairman Chris Poulton told PA news agency the group organises events such as fetes, fireworks nights and putting up Christmas decorations- and the money raised is used to help those in the village who need it, such as the Girl Guides and local school.



He said: We do believe Wadhurst is the best place to live and that is down to us all working together to make it a place where everyone can be supported.

We dont do it for ourselves, we do it for the community.

Being recognised is great but the more we can give back to the community the better.

Recognition can just be someone coming up to us and saying thank you.

A parish council spokesperson told PA news agency: This is really exciting news. Wadhurst is a lovely, lovely place to live with a great community feel.

What makes it really special is the community, We have lots of different village clubs and a really active community.

We are all helping each other out and during Covid that really came to the forefront, with lots of groups helping to get food and medicine to people.

I would say to someone thinking of moving here that its a great place to live, you have the best of both worlds.

You have easy access to towns and cities but if you want a rural lifestyle it is perfect.

Paula Lee, 58, who owns the @ONE homeware shop on the high street, told the PA news agency: I would agree completely  it is a lovely place to live and it has got a good sense of community.

I am not surprised  I think you would be hard-pushed, certainly in the South East, to find somewhere better.

There are some really lovely shops, it is a well-rounded high street  there is a nice independent butcher, grocers and a nice community spirit.

The countryside in this area is just outstanding. There is lots of walking and lots of sporting activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Sam, 50, who runs Wadhurst Flowers but did not want to give her surname, said: It is a lovely place to live. It still maintains a village feel, even though we are only five miles from Tunbridge Wells.

The residents use their high street, which is fantastic.

It is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty and there are trains into London and to the coast. We are very lucky.

Ruthin in Denbighshire was identified as the best place to live in Wales, Dunkeld in Perthshire was named as the best place to live in Scotland, and Donaghadee in Co Down was placed top in Northern Ireland.

A winner was also selected for each region in England.

The Sunday Times Best Places To Live guide is released online on Friday and an edited version will be available in the paper on Sunday.

Poundbury in Dorset, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has been named as one of the best places to live in the UK (Chris Ison/PA)

This years list includes more new entries than ever before.

They include Poundbury, a village on the edge of Dorchester in Dorset which was planned by King Charles and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

At the time critics branded it a toy town but judges said its affordable homes, renewable energy and emphasis on walkability suggest it was ahead of its time.

Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield have all made a return  suggesting people may no longer be dashing to the country as cities return to life following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

Expert judges visited all the locations and assessed factors ranging from the quality of schools and transport links to broadband speeds, culture, access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

Helen Davies, editor of Best Places To Live 2023, said: When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever.

Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.

This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre.

Whether youre downsizing, trading up or getting on to the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.

 The full list can be found online at thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive.
A 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Northampton on Wednesday afternoon has been named by police as Rohan Shand.

Known affectionately as Fred, he died from a single stab wound to the chest in the towns Kingsthorpe suburb shortly after 3.35pm despite the best efforts of paramedics.

The boys family were said to be devastated at his death in the incident on Harborough Road, close to the junction with The Cock Hotel.

Four males, aged 14, 16, 21 and 49, were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the death and remain in custody.

A forensic post-mortem carried out on Thursday by a Home Office pathologist identified the single stab wound as his cause of death.

Formal identification has not taken place but the boys family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Northamptonshire Police asked for their privacy to be respected and urged the public not to share insensitive posts and images on social media to avoid causing additional distress.

Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, the senior investigating officer, said: Our thoughts continue to be with Freds family and friends as they try to come to terms with his death.

This is an exceptionally sad and tragic incident and understandably has had a huge impact on the neighbourhood and wider community and we know people are very shocked and upset by what has happened.

Our officers remain in the Kingsthorpe area and anyone with any concerns is encouraged to speak to them as they will be happy to help.

We would also again appeal to anyone who may have information and who has yet come forward to please do so.

If you have private CCTV footage or a dashboard camera, we would like to hear from you.

Your footage may provide valuable information which could help us piece together what happened around the time of Freds attack.

Anyone with information or CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage of the area at the time have been asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 23000174855.
Campaigners have won a bid to continue a High Court injunction preventing the further felling of trees in Plymouth city centre, as they accused a council of trying to avoid democratic scrutiny of redevelopment works.

An ongoing legal row over the controversial felling of trees in Plymouth last week has triggered the resignation of the city councils leader, Richard Bingley.

Mr Bingley signed an executive decision that saw 110 trees cut down in Armada Way on the evening of March 14 to make way for a 12 million regeneration scheme in the city centre.

Contractors, security guards and the police sealed off the site for removing trees shortly after 6pm, within minutes of the decision being published online, a judge was told.

Campaigners tried to stop the felling and were successful in securing an after-midnight, court injunction.

They labelled the felling as despicable, arguing the trees  of which 19 remain standing  should be protected due to the wildlife and biodiversity they support.

Following a hearing in London on Friday, High Court judge Sir Ross Cranston said: The injunction will continue, the remaining trees cannot be felled at least for the time being.

In his decision, which was met by applause in the court room, the judge added that already toppled trees, fallen branches and stumps can be removed but subject to an expert report.

The judge said of the trees: once they are gone they are gone, adding that there was a serious issue to be tried over the lawfulness of the councils decision making process.

Lawyers representing Alison White, the founder of campaign group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw), argued the injunction should continue pending a full, legal challenge over the councils actions.

The court was told that Ms White will seek to argue that the council acted unlawfully by using an urgency procedure to drive through Mr Bingleys decision to remove the trees and prevent democratic scrutiny.

She also challenges the councils approach to assessing the environmental impact of the development and its response to advice about nesting birds.

Plymouth City Council, which opposed the injunction continuing, argues there was no democratic deficit over implementing the scheme, with there being a clear need for regeneration in the area.

The council says plans would see the planting of 169 new semi-mature trees.

On Thursday, Mr Bingley said he plans to step down next week as leader of the Conservative group on the council and head of the authority.

Richard Harwood KC, representing Ms White, told the court on Friday: The council is now seeking to defend the decision which the politician who made it has resigned because of.

In written arguments, the barrister said the council had wrongly decided it had to urgently get works approved because otherwise it would have to wait until after a pre-election purdah period from March 27 leading up to voting on May 4.

He claimed council officers were seeking to bypass plans being subject to a call-in  a procedure where an objecting councillor can have a cabinet members decision referred to a scrutiny committee.

In court, Mr Harwood alleged the council tried to avoid the democratic scrutiny, prevent access to the court  by giving no warning and prevent the public being able to protest and express their views prior to any action.

The tree felling appeared to have caused the death of one chick found below a tree, Mr Harwood added in written arguments.

Ranjit Bhose KC, for the council, said none of Ms Whites arguments had a real prospect of success at a full hearing, adding that the resignation of Mr Bingley has no relevance.

He rejected allegations over the councils approach as false, saying plans were twice scrutinised by the full council, opposition councillors were briefed over Mr Bingley taking the decision, and the public were previously consulted.

The barrister said the Armada Way area had been described as a tired dated landscape that was desolate after closing retail hours, with concerns over the safety relating to lighting and patchy CCTV.

None of these trees have any particular value, he told the court, adding: This is not tree wrecking.

Its cutting down trees in the wrong place, wrong time and replacing them with more in the future, he said.

In written arguments, he added that the council had used best practice in its approach and that Ms White was preventing the timely progression of improvements to the public realm in a key space of the city centre.

He said fencing and security at the site were costing more than 20,000 a week, more than 500 local businesses backed the scheme and that the council had wider plans to plant a further 5,763 trees in the coming months.

After the ruling, Ms White said: The decision to completely destroy our urban forest against overwhelming public opposition in a way that avoided public scrutiny is indefensible.

The public outrage, local and national, has helped to shine a light on much wider issues. The total lack of respect some councils have for the environment, and more depressingly, their citizens.

The Plymouth felling came days after Sheffield City Council was heavily criticised by an independent inquiry into the felling of thousands of street trees.

Ms White said: Its clear from what has happened in Plymouth, Sheffield, Wellingborough and now Cambridge that we need much stronger safeguards for our trees, rural and urban, from developers but more crucially from our councils.

Its just so easy for councils to disregard urban trees and they mean a lot to local people. They might not be a 200-year-old oak but that doesnt mean theyre not valuable.

A council spokesperson said it would abide by the terms of the judges ruling, which includes involving Ms White in plans for clearing stumps and debris.

High streets up and down the country are struggling. Our decision to transform Armada Way was a mandated, democratic decision, agreed by Plymouth City Councils elected members, they added.

Our aim was to transform a tired and run-down part of the city centre.

While we acknowledge some peoples concerns about the loss of trees, others in our city are very clear they want this change.
A cash-in-transit driver who handcuffed himself to his security vans steering wheel in a faked armed heist of almost 1 million has been jailed for four years and 10 months.

Andrew Measor, 51, waited for two hours before using his nose to dial for help after helping mastermind Stefanos Cantaris, 40, steal 920,000 in banknotes.

Southwark Crown Court heard Measor, who had worked for cash-handling firm Loomis for three years, was the inside man in the fake armed robbery in Ilford, east London, on December 30 2021.

CCTV footage released on Friday shows masked men loading chequered laundry bags filled with cash into a white Vauxhall Combo van during the theft.

Measor handcuffed himself to his security vans steering wheel and waited for two hours to raise the alarm at the depot in Dagenham, east London.

Measor handcuffed himself to the steering wheel (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The driver claimed he was raided after a man armed with a gun approached him as he left his home and said: I know everything that goes on. Just do as I say and everything will be OK.

To bolster the claim, a charade of the so-called Tiger kidnap, involving a man wearing a latex mask, was carried out outside his front door and captured on his doorbell camera.

Judge Dafna Spiro told them: This was not, as you say, a Tiger kidnap. It was a well-planned, sophisticated, heavily orchestrated theft in which you, Mr Measor, were a willing participant and you, Mr Cantaris, organised, planned and supervised. You were both in this together.

She added that Measor knew exactly what was going on because he was the inside man being directed by his co-defendant.

She told him: You have been let down by your poor decision making and greed which in the end bought you nothing, not even a single note but has bought misery on all those around you.

She told Cantaris: You have chosen to take advantage of others gullibility.

Mr Measor is not an angel but he was bought in and charmed by you.

I am sure you would make a fantastic salesman if you do honest work in your life and are able to make a good living.

Measor, from Loughton, Essex, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice last month after a trial.

Cantaris, from Epping, Essex, pleaded guilty to theft and was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He was jailed for five years and four months at the same court.

They were both cleared of conspiracy to launder money, which has not been recovered.

Luke Ponte, defending Measor, said the father-of-two was promised 100,000 for his role but had not seen a 5 note.

He is not a criminal mastermind. He is a weak-willed man who should not have got involved in this but did, Mr Ponte added.

The court heard that Cantaris, who has a previous conviction for assaulting a police officer, masterminded the plot and met Measor on numerous occasions in the months leading up to the theft.

Described as a very likeable and charming man, Cantaris got burner mobile phones and organised the mission, the judge said.

The hearing was told his spending was not that of someone who struggled to make ends meet and last year he travelled to Columbia, Ibiza, Dubai, Portugal, Morocco and other destinations.

He could also afford Rolex watches and a 3,000 stay at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai.

Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly earlier told the jury the raid was carried out with the assistance and full participation of Measor.

They sought to hide this by faking a robbery, she said.

They have then, to the most part, successfully hidden the money that was stolen.

After the heist, Measor was signed off work on full pay and was provided with counselling for post-traumatic stress for months until he was arrested.

In messages to friends, he boasted of milking his employer and said it was defo an inside job.

The court heard that Loomis drivers felt vulnerable after the theft, believing they and their families could be targeted next.

Five other men were cleared of having any involvement in the plot.

Confiscation proceedings will take place later.
Changing the time shown by all the clocks in your home may seem like a chore when British Summer Time (BST) kicks in on Sunday.

But spare a thought for Tjeerd Bakker, who as senior horological conservator at Buckingham Palace is responsible for changing no fewer than 600 of them.

There are so many gilded timepieces at the palace that Mr Bakker and his team of heritage experts from the Royal Collection Trust had to start their work on Thursday.

Daylight saving time will see the clocks go forward by an hour at 1am on Sunday, meaning sunrise and sunset will both come later in the day until October, when the clocks go back.

Russia, Iceland, Georgia, Armenia and Belarus are the only European countries who do not follow the practice.

Critics argue it is an unnecessary disruption to peoples lives.

In January 2012, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg unsuccessfully attempted to abandon daylight saving time and give Somerset, where his constituency is, its own time zone.

He put down an amendment in the House of Commons proposing a return to the practices of the early 19th century when time was set locally according to the position of the sun.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) only became the standardised time across Britain in 1880.
There may be high level disappointment that the Kings first state visit has had to be postponed, royal experts have said.

Charles and Camilla were due to begin a four-day trip to France on Sunday but after a night of violent nationwide demonstrations that led to hundreds of arrests and police officers being injured, the trip was shelved.

The violence was prompted by French President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms, which aim to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.

The situation meant there was an inevitability that the state visit would have to be postponed because it just was challenging on so many levels, according to Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty Magazine.

He said: Clearly it is a great shame because it was the first state visit of the Kings reign and much thought would have been given as to who should have that honour  but the best laid plans.

Mr Little added: Certainly, there must be, you would imagine, at high level a degree of embarrassment that they have had to suggest the visit is postponed because of the national unrest within their country.

It presents a bad image externally, but such is life.

On whether future relations with France could have been damaged, he said: I am sure the King in particular will understand the reasons for this having taken place but offence will most definitely not be taken.

It is a case that the visit will just happen at a later date when the situation calms down and the diaries can accommodate it.

It was significant in that it was the first state visit of the reign but there will be other opportunities.

Sir Peter John Westmacott, a former British ambassador to France who also used to be a deputy private secretary to the then Prince of Wales, told the BBC: I know he was very much looking forward to this visit.

I think he will be saddened. It will be more than a shrug.

A riot police officer during protests in Strasbourg, eastern France (Jean-Francois Badias/AP)

It is sad for the French because they did want to pay our new King this great compliment. They were super-attached to the Queen, as President Macron made very clear when she died.

I think they were pleased that the King wanted to come to France first, so they will be disappointed this cant happen at the moment.

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday some 441 police and gendarmes were hurt as violence marred some marches.

He said 1,000 rubbish bins were set on fire in the French capital Paris during the previous days action.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers believes that Charles may be disappointed the event has been put on hold but the decision was inevitable.

The Kings state visit to France was postponed amid protests over President Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms (Jane Barlow/PA)

He said: It says a lot about President Macron and the fact France is in flames.

It is all about the fact that it is no longer safe for the King to go there.

State visits are a significant international occasion which involve much planning and the French have previously staged them as absolutely magnificent events that are done with enormous style and panache, Mr Vickers said.

Charles and Camilla were due to arrive in France on Sunday before heading to Germany on Wednesday.

It is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.
A man who directed the rape and sexual assault of young girls in the Philippines from his home in Scotland has been jailed for 12 years.

Gary Campbell, 59, from the remote village of Lochinver in Sutherland, paid for abuse to be carried out by adults as he watched and recorded it on the internet.

He was traced by cybercrime investigators through online payments he made to foreign accounts.

The former retained firefighter  who also worked for Scottish Water  admitted sexual abuse charges involving children as young as four. No child was older than 13.

Gary Campbell has been jailed for 12 years (Police Scotland/PA)

Campbell was personally involved in the abuse and just as responsible for it as his fellow perpetrators in the Philippines, known in law as art and part guilt, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal (COPFS) said.

He was convicted under legislation which protects children anywhere in the world from sexual abuse by British nationals.

COPFS said Campbell was tracked to his home in the Highlands after an international investigation into the live-streaming of child sex assaults by abusers in the Philippines.

Over Skype, Campbell initiated serious sexual assaults and rape, demanded the victims were very young, negotiated online payments and issued explicit instructions as children were assaulted.

All of this was conducted in real-time, through live communications, and recorded on devices later recovered from Campbells home.

Campbell, who had since moved to Perth, pled guilty to 13 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Returning to court on Friday, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

He was further given a three-year sentence extension, during which he will be subject to close supervision, and his name was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Fraser Gibson, Scotlands procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said Campbell was complicit and instrumental in appalling crimes against children.

He added: Gary Campbell was actively involved in a paedophile network in which children were abused for money and on request.

The girls assaulted and raped in the Philippines were vulnerable young children suffering dreadful abuse and exploitation.

British nationals who sexually abuse children abroad will face justice here. Legislation allows us to prosecute them and we will use every power available to us to ensure that they do, working with specialist police, international partners and cybercrime teams to track down these abusers.

I would urge anyone with information or knowledge of this kind of offending to come forward and report it as soon as they can.

Commenting on the case, an NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: This is a deeply disturbing case, which shows the devastating harm that child sexual abusers can cause online.

Campbell instigated and directed the sexual abuse of very young and vulnerable children, who will desperately need support and care to help them, following the trauma they have suffered.

The Government needs to ensure its Online Safety Bill robustly disrupts the online activity of abusers by holding companies to account if they fail to tackle the way their platforms contribute to child sexual abuse.

Anyone concerned about a childs safety can contact the NSPCC Helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk.
The family of a man who was tortured into a confession that he killed a soldier has been awarded 350,000 by the High Court in Belfast.

Liam Holden was the last man to be sentenced to death by hanging in the UK after he was convicted in 1972 for the murder of soldier Private Frank Bell.

But he had been tortured, including through waterboarding techniques, in military custody which a High Court judge found had led to his confession.

His sentence was reduced to life in prison, but the conviction was quashed in 2012. He then received 1 million in damages for the miscarriage of justice.

Mr Holden died last year at the age of 68 after launching civil proceedings for damages against the Ministry of Defence and the PSNI.

He previously gave evidence in the case.

Mr Justice Rooney said he had been an honest and truthful witness who had described traumatic experiences.

It is my decision that the plaintiff was subjected to waterboarding. He was hooded, He was driven in a car flanked by soldiers to a location where he thought he would be assassinated. A gun was put to his head and he was threatened that he would be shot dead, he said.

He went on to award damages for personal injuries, loss and damage while Mr Holden had been unlawfully detained at the Black Mountain Army Base.

He awarded the estate of Mr Holden 50,000 for waterboarding, hooding and threat to kill, 10,000 for malicious prosecution, 10,000 for misfeasance in public office, 30,000 in aggravated damages and 250,000 for special loss.

In a joint statement, Mr Holdens son Samuel Bowden and daughter Bronagh Holden said their father was an innocent man.

The court has found that our father was waterboarded by the British Army in Belfast in 1972, they said.

The court also found that he was maliciously prosecuted by the army.

The court has today exposed the grotesque act of torture committed by the members of the Paratrooper regiment in Belfast in 1972.

My father was an innocent man who went to jail for a crime he did not commit for 17 years.

We wish he was here today with us. He died on September 15 2022. We miss him but salute him  his life and campaign for justice were a triumph of humanity over state injustice.

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly paid tribute to the Holden family.

I want to commend Liams family for their determination and dignity and their continued campaign for truth and justice, he said.

Todays verdict in the courts is further vindication of that campaign.
Kate Forbes has said she hopes to negotiate with the Greens, despite suggestions the party could exit its powersharing agreement with the Scottish Government.

The SNP leadership candidate said she is hopeful of continuing to work with the party as part of the Bute House Agreement if she is selected to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as first minister.

But Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said the co-operation agreement with the SNP would come to an end if the new leader vetoed parts of the deal.

The main disagreement is over controversial gender reforms which would make it easier to self-ID as transgender.

Ms Forbes was on maternity leave at the time of the Holyrood vote on the reforms, but she has since said she would not have supported the legislation.

Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said the new SNP leader must respect the Bute House Agreement (Jane Barlow/PA)

Her position on the Section 35 order placed on the legislation by the UK Government  which blocks the Bill from gaining royal assent  is to have a grown-up conversation with Westminster ministers on how to reform the legislation.

SNP leadership rival Humza Yousaf has said he would challenge the decision in court, while Ash Regan has vowed to scrap the reforms.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Harvie said his party would not be in Government with any leader who would rip out parts of the deal.

During a visit to the Zakariyya Masjid mosque in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, on Friday afternoon, Ms Forbes said: I want to work with Patrick Harvie and the Green Party.

I have negotiated probably more than any other Cabinet Secretary with the Greens in the past, and I want to work with other parties in Holyrood.

I would certainly have a conversation with him very early doors.

On whether compromise over the gender reforms is possible, she said: I would hope that as a member of Government, we could both take an approach which is to consider the legal advice, and to make decisions off the back of the legal advice.

The Greens became part of the Scottish Government in 2021 in exchange for support for SNP policies, and they have two ministerial posts in Ms Sturgeons Cabinet.

Kate Forbes was joined by activists during a visit to the Zakariyya Masjid mosque in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire (Jane Barlow/PA)

Mr Harvie said he would genuinely struggle to understand how any candidate who believes in devolution could say that one of their first acts would be to roll over and let the UK Government veto fully devolved legislation.

He went on to say: We would not accept any Scottish Government simply vetoing parts of the Bute House Agreement.

If there was a Scottish Government, whether its the current First Minister who hadnt resigned and changed her mind, whether its a new first minister wanting to rip out parts of that agreement, clearly that agreement would come to an end.

The Scottish Greens are set to address the key issues of the Bute House Agreement at their conference in Clydebank on Saturday.

Mr Harvie added that any future SNP leader who did not respect the progressive policies of the deal could not be accepted.

He said: Our commitment is to the values of the progressive policies and the ethos of collaborative co-working thats in the Bute House Agreement.

That would not be respected by anyone who said that they wanted to continue working with the Greens but theyll have to accept my agenda. That would be out of kilter.

Ms Sturgeons successor will be selected on Monday following a five-week leadership battle.

Ms Forbes also spoke of her confidence in the SNP memberships choice as she approaches the end of her campaign.

She also said she would absolutely seek guidance from Ms Sturgeon if she is selected as leader.
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's shipyard on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province / Yonhap



By Park Jae-hyuk



Korea's antitrust regulator has emerged as an unexpected obstacle to Hanwha Group's acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), as it is still uncertain when the regulator will approve the takeover, according to industry officials, Friday.



When Hanwha signed a deal late last year to acquire DSME from the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) was expected to approve the takeover earlier than other countries' antitrust regulators.



"Given that Hanwha Group and DMSE have engaged in different industries, the approval procedures for their merger will be completed in the near future," KDB said at that time.



China and Singapore gave their respective approval for the acquisition this month, following the U.K., Turkey, Japan and Vietnam.



The European Union (EU), which previously rejected HD Hyundai's attempt to acquire DSME, is said to be announcing the result of its review by April 18. The European authorities are also expected to approve, considering the fact that Hanwha has never had a shipbuilding business.



Although the FTC initially planned to finish its review by April 18, DSME's local rivals raised issues over the possibility of Hanwha monopolizing the nation's defense industry after acquiring the shipbuilder, which can build submarines and warships, according to industry officials.



As a result, the FTC reportedly delayed the announcement on the result of its review indefinitely.



During a recent luncheon meeting with members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, FTC Chairman Han Ki-jeong maintained a cautious stance on the issue, saying the regulator will make its decision in compliance with laws and principles.



"We are not trying to restrain the industry," he said. "We are trying to establish a foothold for fair competition."



Critics pointed out that the FTC's delayed decision may weaken the competitiveness of Korea's shipbuilding industry, saying it could raise anxiety among DSME workers.



"There is no special reason for the FTC to delay its decision," an industry official said. "It seems that the FTC plans to wait until the European authorities announce their decision."



As the FTC postponed its decision, Hanwha reportedly canceled its ceremony to celebrate the company's takeover of DSME, which was supposed to take place in April on Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, where the shipbuilder's shipyard is located.



Hanwha also delayed its plan to rename DSME to Hanwha Ocean, according to industry officials.


The Irish Court of Appeal has dismissed architect Graham Dwyers appeal against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara in 2012.

Dwyer was convicted on March 27 2015 after a lengthy high-profile trial.

He had launched an appeal on numerous grounds, including the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence.

Last April, Dwyer won a case in Europe about the mobile data retention practices used in the case against him.

Data held in the Cork-born architects work phone was used in the trial to demonstrate how it placed the device at specific places at particular times and dates.

The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that EU law precludes the general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data relating to electronic communication for the purpose of combating serious crime.

Delivering the decision, president of the Court of Appeal George Birmingham said the court was quite satisfied the admission of very limited call data could not be perceived of arising to a miscarriage of justice in this case.

There is no miscarriage of justice here, he said.

We have not been persuaded that the trial was unfair or that the verdict was unsafe, and we dismiss the appeal, he added.

Mr Justice Birmingham referred to the use in trial of the contents of 2,620 text messages and data retained by mobile phone companies for billing purposes in relation to five phones.

The phones included what was referred to as Dwyers work phone, a phone attributed to Ms OHara which was left in her apartment, an additional green phone which the prosecution sought to attribute to Dwyer, as well as a master phone and slave phone, which the prosecution said could be attributed to Dwyer and Ms OHara respectively.

The president said the defences position was that the significance of data linking the phones was a central and integral part of the prosecution case.

He said the Director of Public Prosecutions did not dispute that it played a part but said the part it played was relatively minor.

He said the appellants response was that to push the significance of that evidence to the margins was an attempt to unscramble the omelette that was the prosecution case.

The evidence was also referred to as the icing on the cake.

Mr Justice Birmingham said: It must be concluded that the icing significantly enhanced the cake.

On the request from investigators for the phone data, he said Garda actions were in full compliance of provisions of an Act of the Oireachtas and enjoyed a presumption of constitutionality.

He said while there was evidence from the parallel movements of phones at issue in the case, there was evidence of the same effect which was independent and arguably more compelling.

He outlined alternative routes of the identification of the suspect through traditional detective work and other evidence.

Outlining the background and personal circumstances of Ms OHara, Mr Justice Birmingham noted she had experienced certain mental health difficulties since her teenage years.

He also later referred to the very unusual sexual relationship discussed in the case, which included acts of stabbing perpetrated on Ms OHara.

Dwyer had also made appeals against what the defence believed to be prejudicial videos.

Nine video clips were played in the trial showing Dwyer engaged in sexual intercourse with aspects of BDSM, three of which included Ms OHara.

The defence argued it was overly powerful and likely to cause a reaction among jurors.

There was also accompanying commentary from an investigator in the trial.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the judge believed that the probative effect of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial value.

A picture is worth a thousand words, he said.

He said the videos represented the best evidence available.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the user of one of the phones had arranged to meet Ms OHara on August 22 2012 with the purpose of taking her up the mountains to be stabbed and or punished.

She was last seen alive on that date.

In the weeks before her disappearance, she had been admitted to hospital.

It was the prosecutions case that with the ending of Ms OHaras hospital admission, Dwyer began to put in a place a plan to use her for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification by stabbing a woman to death.
The coalition between the SNP and the Scottish Greens would come to an end with any veto of the parties historic agreement, Patrick Harvie has said.

The Scottish Greens co-leader said his party remains committed to the Bute House Agreement but he warned key issues like controversial gender reforms could bring an end to the deal.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is the only SNP leadership candidate to vow to challenge Westminster over its decision to use a section 35 order to block gender recognition reforms in Scotland.

Rival candidate Kate Forbes has instead pledged to have a grown-up conversation with the UK Government on how to reform the legislation while Ash Regan would scrap the reforms completely.

The controversial deposit return scheme could also be a challenge to the deal, with all three candidates pledging to change or pause the legislation.

The Greens became part of the Scottish Government in 2021 in exchange for support for SNP policies and they have two ministerial posts in First Minister Nicola Sturgeons cabinet.

Speaking on BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, Mr Harvie discussed the red lines on his partys involvement in government.

He said: We would not accept any Scottish Government simply vetoing parts of the Bute House Agreement.

Those policies are in the Bute House Agreement, thats what were intended to deliver.

And if there was a Scottish Government, whether its the current First Minister who hadnt resigned and changed her mind, whether its a new first minister wanting to rip out parts of that agreement, clearly that agreement would come to an end.

SNP leadership candidates Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes (Jane Barlow/Andrew Milligan/PA)

The Scottish Greens are set to address the key issues of the Bute House Agreement at their conference in Clydebank on Saturday.

Mr Harvie added that any future leader who did not respect the progressive policies of the deal could not be accepted.

He said: Our commitment is to the values of the progressive policies and the ethos of collaborative co-working thats in the Bute House Agreement.

And that would not be respected by anyone who said that they wanted to continue working with the Greens but theyll have to accept my agenda. That would be out of kilter.

However, Mr Harvie emphasised that his party is keen to continue in Government.

He said: We want to continue within government under the progressive values and the strong policies that were agreed, not only between the co-leaders of political parties, but the members.

Ms Sturgeons successor will be selected on Monday following a five-week leadership battle.
A court is due to decide on an appeal by architect Graham Dwyer against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara.

Dwyer pleaded not guilty to the murder charge in the 2015 trial, but was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

He launched an appeal on numerous grounds, including the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence.

Last April, Dwyer won a case in Europe about the mobile data retention practices used in the case against him.

Dwyer pleaded not guilty to the murder of Elaine OHara (Garda/PA)

Data held in the Cork-born architects work phone was used prominently in the trial to demonstrate how it placed the device at specific places at particular times and dates.

The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that EU law precludes the general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data relating to electronic communication for the purpose of combating serious crime.

The court rejected the Irish states arguments that particular serious crimes could be treated the same way as a threat to national security.

The Irish Supreme Court is now considering the ruling and its effect.
The Kings state visit to France has been postponed amid widespread protests over President Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms.

The French Presidency confirmed the postponement of what would have been the first state visit of the Kings reign and Downing Street later said Mr Macron had asked the British Government to postpone the trip.

It is understood new dates for the visit will be confirmed shortly and Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen Consort greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

The Kings first state visit of his reign to France has been postponed, the French Presidency said (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

The trip, which was to begin on Sunday and be followed by a state visit to Germany, had been in the planning by the UK and host nations for months, and is aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and its continental neighbours.

It is understood the trip to Berlin, which will now be the first state visit of the Kings reign, will proceed as planned between March 29 and 31.

A UK Government spokesperson said: The King and Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed.

This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.

In a statement, the Elysee Palace said: In light of yesterdays announcement of a new national day of action against pension reforms on Tuesday, March 28 in France, the visit of King Charles III, originally scheduled for March 26 to 29 in our country, will be postponed.

This decision was taken by the French and British governments, after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the King this morning, in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III in conditions that correspond to our friendly relationship. This state visit will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Protesters march during a rally in Paris on Thursday (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Tens of thousands of mainly peaceful demonstrators took to the streets of Paris on Thursday  the ninth day of nationwide protests  but violence erupted when French police clashed with black-clad, masked groups who targeted at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank.

It is understood the trips logistics had been under review for some days and measures were being considered to reduce interactions with the public.

President Macron is facing renewed public anger for pushing through a bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.

French labour union CGT union announced this week that its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing flags, red carpets and furniture for public buildings, would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris.
The Kings first state visit of his reign has been postponed amid widespread French protests over President Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms.

Charles and Camilla were due to begin their historic four-day trip to France on Sunday but, after a night of violent nationwide demonstrations that led to hundreds of arrests and police officers being injured, the trip was shelved.

The decision was taken after President Macron asked the British Government to postpone the visit, Downing Street said.

Images of the town hall of Bordeaux  a city the royal couple were due to visit  set alight by protesters on Thursday evening, was symbolic of the fury felt by some at the reforms, which have led to nine consecutive days of protest.

French unions had also called for nationwide pension protests next week, which would have coincided with the visit by the King and Queen Consort.

President Macron, who would have hosted the King and his wife, spoke to Charles on the phone this morning after discussions between the UK and French governments.

But the postponement of the trip will be a major embarrassment to the French leader, his administration and Buckingham Palace, who had been planning the state visit for months.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the postponement in a statement: The King and The Queen Consorts State Visit to France has been postponed.

Protesters at Place de la Bastille in Paris (Thomas Padilla/AP)

Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit, from next Wednesday to Friday, it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

Downing Street later confirmed Mr Macron had asked the British Government to postpone the trip.

A Government spokesperson said: The King and Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed.

Riot police in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP)

This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.

It is understood the trips logistics had been under review for some days and measures were being considered to reduce interactions with the public.

The state visit was aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and its continental neighbour using the soft diplomacy deployed by members of the royal family.

But Charles and Camilla would have arrived in Paris just as President Macron was bracing himself for further public anger at his decision to push through a Bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.

Lord Ricketts, who was the UKs ambassador to France during the Queens final state visit to the country in 2014, told Sky News any disruption by demonstrators to Charless state visit would have cast a real shadow over it.

A protester holds a placard depicting Emmanuel Macron as King Louis XIV (Aurelien Morissard/AP)

Commenting on the suggestion the planned state banquet at the Palace of Versailles would have jarred with people striking for workplace rights, he said: It was going to be a great visit in different times.

Now it jars with the angry mood in France, of course, that anger is not directed at King and Queen. Its directed at President Macron and his government, but nonetheless, they could have been caught up in it.

And if thered been embarrassing incidents during the visit of, I dont know, blockades or things going wrong in the programme because of the protesters and the demonstrators  weve all seen the pictures of the fires and so on in Paris  that would have cast a real shadow over it.
A London woman who complained after a local council offered her accommodation more than more than 150 miles away in Stoke-on-Trent has won a legal fight.

Mother-of-three Nadia Zaman argued that it was legally incumbent on Waltham Forest Council to secure accommodation as close as possible to her home.

She said evidence did not show that staff had done that  and three Court of Appeal judges have ruled in her favour.

Lord Justice Newey, Lady Justice Asplin and Lady Justice Nicola Davies have concluded the councils accommodation acquisitions policy was lawful.

Nadia Zaman was offered accommodation in Stoke  famous for its potteries  150 miles from her London home (Alamy/PA)

But they said it was not apparent that the policy was duly implemented  or that accommodation in Staffordshire was the closest property to the borough the council could secure.

Appeal judges considered the case, at a Court of Appeal hearing in London, after Ms Zaman challenged a ruling by a county court judge.

Ms Zaman, who asked the council for help after struggling to pay rent on her home in Walthamstow, argued that moving to Stoke would take her too far away from her mother, who needed her help.

She also said relatives would not be able to help with child-care  and she raised concerns about being a victim of racism or discrimination in the Potteries.

Lawyers for the council said Waltham Forests accommodation acquisitions policy provided for properties to be procured as close to the borough as possible  and they said the evidence did not establish that that policy was not duly implemented.

Lord Justice Newey said, in a written ruling published on Friday, that an acute shortage of housing in London meant it had become common for London councils to offer people, to whom they owed a main housing duty under housing legislation, accommodation outside their boroughs.
President Emmanuel Macron has defended postponing the Kings historic state visit to France, saying it would have lacked sense to stage the historic event when anti-pension reform protests were planned.

Charles and Camilla were due to begin the first state visit of the Kings reign on Sunday but after a night of violent nationwide demonstrations that led to hundreds of arrests and police officers being injured, the trip was shelved.

The French leader said the four-day state visit was likely to be rescheduled for the beginning of summer, after Downing Street confirmed earlier that Mr Macron had asked the British Government to postpone the trip.

Speaking at a press conference after a summit in Brussels, President Macron said: From the moment last night when the unions announced a new day of mobilisation on Tuesday  and with the Kings visit planned from Monday to Wednesday  I think we wouldnt be being serious, and wed be lacking some sense, to propose His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort to come and make a state visit in the middle of the demonstrations.

He said proceeding with Sundays visit would have prompted incidents that would have been detestable.

Images of the town hall of Bordeaux  a city the royal couple were due to visit  set alight by protesters on Thursday evening was symbolic of the fury felt by some at the reforms, which have led to nine consecutive days of protest.

Reports claim more than a million people took to the streets across France on Thursday during the biggest demonstrations since Mr Macron pushed through a Bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.

President Macron would have hosted the King during the state visit (Jane Barlow/PA)

The French leader, who would have hosted the King and his wife, spoke to Charles on the phone during Friday morning after discussions between the UK and French governments.

But the postponement of the trip will be a major embarrassment to Mr Macron, his administration and Buckingham Palace, who had been planning the state visit for months.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the postponement in a statement, saying: The King and the Queen Consorts State Visit to France has been postponed.

Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

Protesters scuffle at the end of a rally in Paris on Thursday (Christophe Ena/AP)

Downing Street also confirmed the postponement, with a Government spokesperson saying: This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the president of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.

Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty Magazine, said Certainly, there must be, you would imagine, at high level a degree of embarrassment that they have had to suggest the visit is postponed because of the national unrest within their country.

It presents a bad image externally, but such is life.

It is understood the trips logistics had been under review for some days and measures were being considered to reduce interactions with the public.

The state visit was aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and its continental neighbour using the soft diplomacy deployed by members of the royal family.

Protesters shield with umbrellas as they scuffle with riot police during a rally in Nantes (Jeremias Gonzalez/AP)

But Charles and Camilla would have arrived in Paris just as Mr Macron was bracing himself for further public protests which would have tarnished the image of France while the world was watching.

Lord Ricketts, who was the UKs ambassador to France during the Queens final state visit to the country in 2014, told Sky News any disruption by demonstrators to Charless state visit would have cast a real shadow over it.

Commenting on the suggestion the planned state banquet at the Palace of Versailles would have jarred with people striking for workplace rights, he said: It was going to be a great visit in different times.

Now it jars with the angry mood in France  of course, that anger is not directed at King and Queen. Its directed at President Macron and his government, but nonetheless, they could have been caught up in it.

And if thered been embarrassing incidents during the visit of, I dont know, blockades or things going wrong in the programme because of the protesters and the demonstrators  weve all seen the pictures of the fires and so on in Paris  that would have cast a real shadow over it.
Irish police have launched a murder inquiry after the disappearance of an American woman in Dublin 30 years ago.

Annie McCarrick was 26 when she went missing on March 26 1993.

Originally from Long Island in New York, she had been living in Sandymount in Dublin.

On Friday morning gardai announced the missing person inquiry has been upgraded to a murder investigation and made a public appeal for information.

CCTV footage of Annie McCarrick (An Garda Siochana/PA)

Detectives recently visited Ms McCarricks mother Nancy in New York to update her on the investigation. Her father John has since died.

Speaking at a press conference at Irishtown Garda Station in Dublin, Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said officers have maintained an open and active investigation into Ms McCarricks disappearance.

Over the 30 years of this investigation, the investigation team have discovered and collated in excess of 5,000 documents, taken in excess of 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits, he said.

He urged anyone who saw or spoke to Ms McCarrick around the time of her disappearance, or has any information about a large brown satchel-type handbag she is believed to have been carrying, to come forward and speak to gardai.

Superintendent Tim Burke (left) and Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll speaking to the media (Brian Lawless/PA)

The primary focus of this investigation is the victim Annie McCarrick and her family. Annies father John has passed away without knowing what happened to his daughter, and her mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on March 26 1993, Mr Carroll said.

I and the investigation team are determined to gather all information and evidence available to us to find answers. I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family.

I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Annie McCarrick to please come forward to the investigation team at Irishtown Garda Station.

Superintendent Tim Burke said the last confirmed sighting of Ms McCarrick was at around 11am on Friday March 26 1993 at the Allied Irish Bank in Sandymount.

Annie had made arrangements with some friends, by inviting them to her apartment for dinner on Saturday March 27. Annie was also excited about planning for a visit by her mother Nancy who was due to arrive in Ireland on March 30 1993, he said.

A shopping receipt which confirms the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 11:02am, the last confirmed activity by Annie McCarrick (An Garda Siochana/PA)

He added that officers received reports of sightings of Ms McCarrick in Sandymount, boarding a bus to Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and in Enniskerry village and at Johnny Foxs pub.

On March 28, friends of Annie were concerned for her welfare. She was not at home on March 27 when they called for dinner, and she did not turn up for work either on March 27 or on Sunday March 28, he added.

Ms McCarrick was reported missing on March 28.

She was described as having visited Ireland as a teenager on a school trip, and fell in love with the country.

She studied at St Patricks College in Drumcondra and St Patricks College in Maynooth, before returning to New York, and came back to Ireland in 1993 to live permanently.
A police horse that was attacked by a dog in an east London park on Wednesday has been inundated with apples and treats from members of the public as he begins his recovery.

Police said the brown male horse, named Urbane, was expected to fully recuperate from several wounds to his front legs, chest and underbelly.

Footage circulated on social media showed a brown dog savaging Urbane while two mounted officers patrolled in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets.

Apologies this was accidentally deleted. PH Urbane from Bow was attacked by a dog in #VictoriaPark yesterday. We cant stress enough how important it is to keep dogs on a lead if you can't recall them. Huge thanks to members of public who tried to help. pic.twitter.com/YAe8sQ7gIm  Met Police Taskforce (@MetTaskforce) March 24, 2023

The Met Police Taskforce, which includes the forces mounted branch, said in a statement on Thursday evening: He is being seen daily by a vet who is making sure he is as comfortable as possible.

It is believed he will make a full recovery.

Urbane has been inundated with apples and treats from concerned and kind members of the public.

The dog was seized by officers and is in police kennels.

The taskforce added Urbane is currently at a police stables outside central London and that the mounted officer riding him was not injured.

In footage of the incident, an officer is heard shouting get hold of the dog and Urbane buckles towards the ground as the animal bites his leg and holds on for several seconds.

A crowd of onlookers watch during the attack and one can be heard saying: This is so bad.

#UPDATE | Police Horse Urbane was injured on duty earlier this week at Victoria Park #TowerHamlets. See an update on his condition below  pic.twitter.com/8XThgOXcER  Met Police Taskforce (@MetTaskforce) March 24, 2023

After a person managed to pull the dog away from Urbane, the officer riding him dismounts and shouts get that lead on that dog now.

Earlier on Thursday, the Taskforce posted photos of the horse after the attack which show it sustained several bite wounds to its legs and torso.

In a post on Twitter, a spokesperson said: We cant stress enough how important it is to keep dogs on a lead if you cant recall them or get them under control.

Huge thanks to members of public who tried to help Urbane.
The late Queens closest adviser, Angela Kelly, has been recognised by the King alongside other royal aides, and many who played important roles during her funeral.

Ms Kelly and other devoted royal household staff were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

The honours list also featured RAF flight crew who transported the Queens coffin from Scotland to London, coffin bearers, senior managers from the household and Government, and the late Queens stud groom Terry Pendry, who held the reins of the monarchs pony Emma as the funeral cortege entered Windsor Castle.

The Queen sits with Dame Anna Wintour, Caroline Rush and Angela Kelly (second right) during a fashion show (Yui Mok/PA)

Awards under the RVO are in the Kings gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.

Ms Kelly, the late Queens personal assistant, adviser and curator, worked for the monarch for more than 25 years and was made a Commander of the RVO.

A bubbly and hard-working royal aide, she kept the Queens style relevant and even added a touch of bling during the decades she worked for the head of state.

The Queen valued the opinion of her meticulous personal assistant and gradually over the years gave her free rein when helping her create a look for an event.

Despite the late monarchs advancing years, she had been prepared to embellish her style  under Ms Kellys direction  as a nod to modern times.

Emma with Terry Pendry as the Queens coffin passed by (Aaron Chown/PA)

A pair of 3D glasses worn by the Queen during a film demonstration in Canada in 2010 were given a touch of glamour by Ms Kelly  Swarovski crystals forming the letter Q on their sides.

During lockdown, when the Queen isolated with a small group from her household dubbed HMS Bubble, Ms Kelly was thought to be part of the team.

She once disclosed in an interview: We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery.

Mr Pendry who was pictured with his head bowed standing beside the Queens pony as the monarchs coffin entered Windsor Castles quadrangle was made a Commander of the RVO.

Also recognised were the Marquess of Cholmondeley, formerly Lord Great Chamberlain, Royal Household, who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the RVO, while former ladies-in-waiting to the Queen, Philippa de Pass and Jennifer Gordon Lennox, were made Dame Commanders.




Samsung Display Asan Campus in South Chungcheong Province / Courtesy of Samsung Display
A podcast host on trial accused of stirring up racial hatred has claimed the content of his show was not racist.

James Allchurch, 51, from Pembrokeshire, is on trial at Swansea Crown Court charged with 15 counts of distributing audio material to stir up racial hatred over a two-year period.

Radio Aryan, since renamed Radio Albion, was described as highly racist, antisemitic and white supremacist in nature by prosecutors.

Giving evidence on Friday, Allchurch said he disagreed with the term racist and told the court he thinks we should celebrate our differences.

Allchurch claimed his use of racial slurs was not intended to cause offence, and said he believed he was using accurate terminology.

Dressed in a dark suit and tie, and wearing glasses and his hair tied into a ponytail, Allchurch told the court he is disabled and unable to work, and spends around 12 hours a day creating podcasts and maintaining his website.

The court has heard previously that Allchurch accepts donations via a Bitcoin link on his website, but the defendant said he does not receive a formal salary from the platform.

Describing himself to the jury as an ethno-nationalist, Allchurch said: Essentially Im a British nationalist but I am also a European, thats my wider family. I have sympathies with my wider family in countries like America, Australia who share the same ancestry with me.

Allchurch said race and ethnicity was central to his world view and stood by his belief that there are measurable, statistical differences between races.

His defence barrister Emily Baxter said: Some people might say that talking about differences between races in that way is racist, would you agree with that term?

Allchurch replied: I would not. I think we should celebrate our differences.

Fifteen episodes of the podcast published between May 17 2019 and March 18 2021 have been played to the jury in which Allchurch can be heard discussing topics such as grooming gangs, immigration, crime, film and other subjects.

In the recordings, Allchurch is often joined by guests including the now jailed National Action co-founder Alex Davies and American neo-Nazi Daniel Kenneth Jeffries, who went by the nickname Grandpa Lampshade.

Jonathan Rees KC, prosecuting, said the defendant used discussions on news and current affairs to espouse his hateful views on racial supremacy, black people, other non-white people, Jewish people and the race war.

Under questioning by his own counsel, Allchurch claimed he did not intend to spread hate and only advocated for non-violent protest against multiculturalism.

Allchurch, who on the podcast went by the alias Sven Longshanks  a reference to King Edward I, who was also known as Edward Longshanks and was responsible for expelling Jews from England in 1290  said he did not think his stage name was antisemitic.

He added: I dont consider King Edward I to be antisemitic. He cared about the Jews.

Allchurch said he took a different name to avoid becoming the target of what he called the opposition who he explained were members of the far-left or anti-fascist groups, often referred to as Antifa.

He claimed not to have known about the negative connotations associated with the name until after he had chosen it.

Allchurch, who has been described as a National Socialist by the prosecution, admitted in police interviews to being a supporter of Adolf Hitler.

Continuing his evidence, Allchurch told the court he is not a member of any proscribed far-right organisation, although the jury has heard how Allchurch was associated with members of such banned groups, including Davies, through his podcast activities.

He said he parted ways with American neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin, on whose website The Daily Stormer he hosted his first podcast, because he felt Anglin was too extreme.

Allchurch said he did not advertise the podcast except on the podcast Twitter account which was suspended but then reinstated after billionaire Elon Musk bought the social media company.
Sir Richard Branson spoke of his Scottish roots as he welcomed guests to his new Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh.

The billionaire entrepreneur officially opened the 222-room hotel on Friday, with it not only being the first hotel carrying his Virgin brand in the UK, but also in Europe.

Sir Richard, 72, spoke of his Scottish connections at the India Buildings in the Scottish capitals Victoria Street, and said he felt the hotel could provide something original and different.

I dont sound like it but my roots are Scottish.

Sir Richard Branson marks the grand opening of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, located in the citys Old Town (Euan Cherry/PA Wire)

First of all my grandmother was from Edinburgh, my wife is from Glasgow, and I think technically Im about three quarters Scottish, so I have been coming up for many, many years, he said.

He said that Virgin normally goes where we feel theres a need for us and he felt that the company could create something original and different in the city.

If you can come into a city and do something original and different, youre likely to be able to make a business out of it, he said.

To mark the official opening, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo piper Louise Marshall played a selection of Scottish songs.

Sir Richard Branson and chief executive of Virgin Hotels, James Bermingham, mark the grand opening of the new hotel (Euan Cherry/PA Wire)

James Bermingham, chief executive of Virgin Hotels, said Edinburgh was one of the most important destinations for international travel.

Mr Bermingham said: For me, this is a perfect opportunity to introduce the brand to the UK and to Europe.

And what I would add to that as Richard is busy building the global brand that is Virgin, at Virgin Hotels we really want to be hyperlocal.

We want every hotel that we do to reflect the history, the culture, and the people of the destination.

Virgin Hotels opened its first property in Chicago in the United States, and across the Atlantic has also opened sites in Las Vegas and New Orleans.

In Scotland, as well as Edinburgh, the company is currently developing a site in Glasgows Clyde Street.

The Scottish Government, in its 2022/23 Programme for Government, said it was committed to introduce a law which gives local authorities the power to charge a tourist tax.

In Edinburgh, the city council had campaigned for Holyrood to push through a Bill which would allow it to charge a small fee, and the local authority has previously estimated it could bring in about 15 million a year.

Mr Bermingham said it was not unusual for there to be a tax of its kind, and that it was typical of most major markets.
Former prime minister Liz Truss reportedly nominating four close supporters for peerages as part of her resignation honours has sparked outrage among Opposition MPs.

Ms Trusss 49 days in Downing Street made her the shortest serving prime minister in British political history, having exited No 10 after her September mini-budget measures helped to send the value of the pound tumbling.

But that, according to several reports, has not stopped her from putting forward former aides and backers for a seat in the House of Lords as part of honours a prime minister can recommend following their resignation.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on her successor Rishi Sunak to block the nominations.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner called it a list of shame, coming after she said Ms Truss and her Conservative co-conspirators had taken a wrecking ball to the economy.

According to The Sun and the i newspapers, former Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott, Conservative Party donor Jon Moynihan, long-term aide Ruth Porter and think tank boss Mark Littlewood have all been recommended for peerages by the former Tory leader.

Mr Littlewood is director of the free market-supporting think tank Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

The group backed the disastrous mini-budget unveiled by Ms Truss and her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, with Mr Littlewood, according to The Guardian, calling it a boost-up budget.

Upon her resignation, Mr Littlewood said: Im very sorry the PMs efforts to move the UK in a pro-growth, low-tax, pro-enterprise direction has failed.

She had a difficult hand to play, but she also played the hand badly.

He also served as chief press spokesman for the Lib Dems and reportedly was at Oxford University with Ms Truss.

Rishi Sunak has been urged to block Liz Trusss resignation honours nominations (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Ms Porter currently works for a lobbying firm but helped spearhead Ms Trusss successful Tory leadership bid in the summer before briefly serving as her deputy chief of staff in No 10.

The register of MPs financial interests shows that Mr Moynihan donated, in two separate transactions, more than 50,000 to Ms Trusss leadership campaign.

Mr Elliott, as well as campaigning for Brexit, was also involved in founding the Taxpayers Alliance group which lobbies for lower taxes.

Ms Rayner said: Liz Truss and her Conservative co-conspirators took a wrecking ball to the economy in a disastrous six-week premiership that has left millions facing mortgage misery, but Rishi Sunak now looks set to allow her to hand out these obscene rewards for failure.

If this Prime Minister was serious about the integrity he promised, he would be point blank refusing to rubber stamp Liz Trusss list of shame.

Instead of approving undeserved honours and lifetime golden goodbyes for her cheerleaders, he should be demanding the public apology she has refused to provide.

Former Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott at a Vote Leave campaign (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Wendy Chamberlain MP, the Lib Dems chief whip, said: Handing out more expensive gongs to Conservative allies is a truly remarkable way to reward the shortest tenure as prime minister in British political history.

Truss and her Conservative colleagues trashed our economy and left millions in misery.

Those selected for honours are the very people who helped plunge the country into chaos and crisis.

Rishi Sunak must block these honours immediately as allowing Truss to dish out positions of influence shows a stunning lack of humility.

A spokesman for Ms Truss said he could not comment on who any individuals on the nomination list were.

The PA news agency understands that the publication of her honours recommendations is not expected imminently, with the system currently consumed with Boris Johnsons resignation honours and the Kings Coronation honours.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is promising a renewable energy jobs boost under plans which put Scotland at the heart of efforts to transform the UK into a clean energy superpower.

Sir Keir said Labours green prosperity plan would more than double the number of low-carbon jobs in Scotland  with the party promising more than 50,000 new direct and indirect jobs will be created in the renewable energy sector in Scotland alone over a decade.

While former first minister Alex Salmond once famously pledged that Scotland would be the Saudi Arabia of renewable marine energy, Sir Keir said the SNP in power had chased the headlines but not done the work.

He insisted: Labour will deliver lower bills, good jobs, and energy security for Scotland, as Britain leads the world in the fight against climate change.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, left, joined Sir Keir Starmer on the visit to the Beatrice wind farm (Jane Barlow/PA)

The Labour leader was speaking as he visited the giant Beatrice wind farm off the Caithness coast in the far north of Scotland.

Currently Scotlands largest operational offshore wind farm, the development has 84 turbines and is capable of generating enough electricity to power about 450,000 homes.

Sir Keir visited the site along with shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Speaking during his third visit north of the border in three weeks, Sir Keir declared: The route to making Britain a clean energy superpower, slashing energy bills and creating tens of thousands of quality jobs runs through Scotland.

Labours green prosperity plan would also include setting up a public energy company  something the SNP previously committed to doing but has not achieved.

Labours proposed GB Energy would invest in all four nations of the UK, with the party insisting it would see the people of Scotland benefit from the countrys natural resources.

The party said its plans could help households in Scotland save 84 billion on their power bills over the rest of this decade  the equivalent of cutting 475 a year from bills for every family up to 2030.

Sir Keir said: There should be no doubt  our energy plans will be made in Scotland, cutting energy bills for Scottish families, and delivering the jobs and investment in Scottish communities that for far too long have been let down by the SNP and Conservatives.

When it comes to capitalising on Scotlands energy resources, for 15 years the SNP Government has chased the headlines but not done the work.

Labour will deliver lower bills, good jobs, and energy security for Scotland, as Britain leads the world in the fight against climate change.

SNP MSP Gillian Martin hit back at the Labour leader, saying: It is laughable that Keir Starmer is trying to argue that the SNP has failed on renewables whilst visiting a wind farm opened under the SNP and reported as the fourth-largest offshore wind farm in the world  he is utterly clueless about what is happening in Scotland.

It doesnt matter how many times Keir Starmer smiles for Scottish cameras  it fools no-one.

It was a Labour Westminster government that introduced the transmission charging causing larger bills in Scotland, and it has been decades of Westminster governments failing to properly harness Scotlands immense energy resources that has left people across Scotland paying the price.

Labour is pro-Brexit, while Scotland is not. That means a UK Labour government will continue to ignore the needs, interests and wishes of people across Scotland and actively pursue policy that harms our interests.

It could not be clearer that Scotland needs the full powers of independence to properly deliver clean, green and affordable renewable energy for the benefit of people living and working here.
A suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence is earning 3,600 a month as a courier after being freed from prison, a court has heard.

Jamie Acourt, 46, covered his face with a scarf as he arrived at City of London Magistrates Court on Friday, wearing Gucci sunglasses and a flat cap, over his failure to pay back 90,000 he made from a 3 million drugs plot.

He refused to answer questions about the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, 30 years ago, on April 22 1993, and ran as he left the building.

Acourt was one of five men arrested.

Two of them, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

Jamie Acourt arrives at the City of London Magistrates Court (Aaron Chown/PA)

Acourt, who spent more than two years on the run living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, was released from prison in November after serving half of his nine-year sentence over the drugs plot.

His brother Neil Acourt, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrences murder, was jailed for more than six years over the same conspiracy, which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of about 3 million moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

The fifth suspect in Mr Lawrences murder, Luke Knight, has remained free.

Acourt was in January 2021 ordered to pay back 90,000 or face another year added to his jail sentence, by a judge at Kingston Crown Court.

In October last year police asked a judge to impose a default prison sentence over his failure to pay the confiscation order.

Jamie Acourt (Met Police)

Pc David Bracken said: Mr Acourt has not paid anything or shown any willingness to pay anything.

Obviously, hes going to be released soon and there has been no goodwill on his part.

Acourt said his family have not paid any of the money because they dont have the funds.

He said he had been offered a job with construction firm Precision Contractors Ltd, run by his friend and builder Matthew Chapman, and would be supported on the outside by his partner, Terri Dean, and was ordered to pay back 500 a month.

But the court heard on Friday that Acourt, who has two children, aged 23 and 19, is working as a self-employed courier.

His lawyer, Joseph Barlow, said he is earning 3,600 a month with outgoings of around 2,700, and asked for more time to suggest a higher monthly payment.

Prosecutor Shahida Parveen said Acourt has made three 500 payments but that the total amount has now risen to 102,329 with interest.

District Judge Robert Brown told Acourt: I am encouraged by the suggestion a higher amount might be offered sooner rather than later.

I am going to direct payments continue at 500 a month and set a review date in three months when I hope Mr Acourt will be in a position to make a better offer.

Otherwise this is going to go on for many years and he is going to have to come back to court every three months, which is not in anyones interests.

The sooner it is settled the better it will be.
Stopping inspections would not be in the best interests of children, the head of the schools watchdog has said after calls for them to be paused following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman acknowledged the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a legitimate one but insisted school checks aim to raise standards and should continue.

Three unions representing teachers and heads have urged Ofsted to pause inspections this week and Reading Borough Council also called for a pause while a review is carried out into the system.

.@Ofstednews invokes fear in teachers and leaders and drives them away from the profession. This unfair and inadequate inspectorate is fuelling the teacher retention crisis. Its time to #ReplaceOfsted. Sign our petition today  https://t.co/eY4fXpfvJr pic.twitter.com/rX9Z22wnfU  National Education Union (@NEUnion) March 23, 2023

Ms Perry, who was headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, killed herself in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which downgraded her school to the lowest possible rating, her family said.

In a statement, Ms Spielman described Ms Perrys death as a tragedy and said she was deeply sorry for the loss suffered by the headteachers family, friends and the school community.

She said the news had been met with great sadness at Ofsted and acknowledged that school inspections can be challenging as she said inspectors always aim to carry them out with sensitivity as well as professionalism.

She said: The sad news about Ruth has led to an understandable outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education. There have been suggestions about refusing to co-operate with inspections, and union calls to halt them entirely.

I dont believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in childrens best interests. Our aim is to raise standards so that all children get a great education. It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school.

Inspection plays an important part. Among other things, it looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed, and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed.

We help parents understand how their childs school is doing and we help schools understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Its important for that work to continue.

Ms Spielman said it is an unquestionably a difficult time to be a headteacher with school staff having worked during the pandemic to keep schools open while keeping vulnerable children safe.

She said the broader debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a legitimate one but added that it shouldnt lose sight of how grades are currently used.

She said inspection grades allow parents to see a simple and accessible summary of a schools strengths and weaknesses and are used to guide Government decisions about when to intervene in struggling schools.

She added: Any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government.

The right and proper outcome of Ofsteds work is a better education system for our children.

Schools have been displaying photographs of Ruth Perry in solidarity after her death (Andrew Matthews/PA)

To that end, we aim to do good as we go  and to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can. We will keep our focus on how inspections feel for school staff and on how we can further improve the way we work with schools.

I am always pleased when we hear from schools that their inspection felt done with, not done to. That is the kind of feedback I want to hear in every case.

As teachers, school leaders and inspectors, we all work together in the best interests of children  and Im sure that principle will frame all discussions about the future of inspection.

Rebecca Leek, executive director of Suffolk Primary Headteachers Association, disagreed with Ms Spielmans claims that inspectors always aim to carry work out with sensitivity and professionalism.

She told the PA news agency: The experiences of school leaders are to the contrary.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers union said the decision not to pause inspections had been a terrible mistake which serves to reinforce the view that Ofsted is tin-eared and shows scant regard for the wellbeing of school leaders.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary, said warm words and sympathy are welcome but are not enough and argued this should be a watershed moment for a completely new approach to school inspection.

He added: School leaders want to see tangible actions being taken to reduce the intolerable pressure that the current inspection regime places on everyone in schools, and they want to see those actions now.

We are not against inspection per se, we simply believe that a fairer, more humane approach is possible. We also believe parents would support a new approach.

The National Education Union said replacing Ofsted with a new agency would be good for children.

Deputy general secretary Niamh Sweeney said: What is not in childrens best interests is head teacher burnout and beloved class teachers leaving. What is not in childrens interests is ploughing on with a pretence that this is the only approach to inspecting schools.

What would be in childrens interests is recognising that a motivated and thriving workforce is good for children. The failure to grasp the connection in these times when everyone knows the value of positive staff mental health speaks volumes.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the union has asked Ofsted to pause inspections rather than halt them entirely, calling it a very moderate request.

General secretary Geoff Barton said: The death of Ruth Perry is an extreme example of the damage done by the high-stakes nature of the inspection system, but the truth is that it often has a catastrophic effect on individuals.

A short pause to inspections to consider this matter seems a very moderate request, and would help Ofsted show the profession that it is listening.

In a letter to Ofsted on Wednesday, school and college leaders across Reading said they wanted the terrible tragedy to mark a turning point in the way school inspections are carried out by the watchdog.

The Reading Primary Heads Association and Reading Secondary and College Leaders are calling for an urgent review of inspections and for the four headline grades that Ofsted awards schools to be removed.

Schools have been removing logos and references to Ofsted ratings from their websites as a mark of solidarity with Ms Perry and heads said they plan to stage peaceful protests  including wearing black clothing and armbands and displaying photographs of Ms Perry around the school  when Ofsted inspections take place.
Rishi Sunak has challenged Benjamin Netanyahu on his controversial judicial overhaul but spoke of strengthening ties as the Israeli prime minister faces a wave of protests.

Shouts of shame followed Mr Netanyahu to Downing Street, where hundreds of pro-democracy protesters amassed to warn against a slide towards autocracy.

Mass protests were sparked in Israel by legislation protecting Mr Netanyahu from being deemed unfit to rule, which critics say will shield him from his corruption trial.

Downing Street said the leaders 45-minute meeting focused on strengthening the close partnership between the two nations and their backing of a free trade agreement.

Shared security and defence challenges such as Russias invasion of Ukraine and the threat posed by Iran were prominent in the discussion.

But Mr Sunak did dedicate a smaller part of the meeting to raising difficult subjects, including international concern at growing tensions in the West Bank and the risk of undermining efforts towards the two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel, a statement from No 10 said, hinting at a delicate challenge of his policy.

Mr Sunak said he looked forward to visiting Israel at the earliest opportunity after being extended an invite by Mr Netanyahu.

Asked whether the Prime Minister is concerned about fostering closer ties amid the current fears, Downing Street stressed that Israel is a vital international partner.

Demonstrators outside Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the UK must be a critical friend by challenging Israel.

The Conservative MP told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme the judicial overhaul has provoked the biggest response and loudest response Ive ever seen from a Jewish community to Israeli policies.

Mr Netanyahu, who will also meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman, was forced to push back his departure time for the official trip to the UK.

He was struggling to deal with mass protests in Israel which have seen major roads blocked and scuffles with police.

As Mr Sunak greeted him outside No 10, cries of Busha, or shame in Hebrew, could be heard from the protesters lining Whitehall.

One sign branded Mr Netanyahu a dictator on the run as he faces domestic turmoil after his right-wing nationalist coalition approved the controversial law.

Members of the crowd, speaking to the PA news agency, urged Mr Sunak to stand up for democracy in Israel.

Talli, an Israeli tech worker who has been living in London for six years, said she was protesting against Mr Netanyahus judicial coup.

Benjamin Netanyahu leaves 10 Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Hes trying to gain power while on trial and hes trying to turn Israel into a non-democratic country, she said.

We want not just Rishi Sunak but the international community and leaders to apply pressure on Netanyahu  whether its financial deals, or anything at all  to back down on this coup.

My family and friends all live in Israel and Im worried about their futures.

Chamutal Isaacs, a childbirth support worker who moved to London from Tel Aviv 32 years ago, said the overhaul would mean an end to any sort of democracy in Israel.

I want Rishi Sunak to say to him he must lose his chair, he cant continue to be the prime minister of Israel. Hes destroying democracy in Israel, she said.

A 38-year-old bank worker who declined to give her name said: Im from Israel, Ive lived here almost 10 years, but Ive always wanted to have somewhere to go back and I cant go back to a non-democratic country. My family and my friends and everyone who is close to me are in Israel.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Mr Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies wrongdoing.

No to racism. No to injustice. The Israeli authorities system of apartheid over Palestinians is a crime against humanity.#EndIsraeliApartheid pic.twitter.com/jTxILTTpb3  Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) March 24, 2023

Critics say his government, the most right-wing in Israels history, is dragging the nation towards authoritarianism by upending its system of checks and balances.

A smaller number of Palestinian protesters were also in Westminster as charities criticised Mr Sunak for seeking to foster closer ties with Israel.

Oxfam policy adviser Richard Stanforth said: It is unconscionable that the Prime Minister will roll out the red carpet for Benjamin Netanyahu with the aim of deepening diplomatic ties, despite the Israeli government committing horrific human rights violations every day, seemingly with impunity.

Amnesty International UKs Kristyan Benedict accused the UK Government of turning a blind eye to apartheid atrocities.

Netanyahu is more concerned with seeking legitimacy for his government rather than addressing its increasingly extremist policies, his occupation forces in the Palestinian territories killing civilians, stealing their land and building illegal new settlements, he said.

The UK and Israels rejection of this reality will not change the truth or illegality of the current situation. All it does is help entrench Israels racist system of apartheid against Palestinian people.
Benjamin Netanyahu was greeted by shouts of shame from pro-democracy protesters as he met Rishi Sunak in Downing Street amid a backlash over the Israeli prime ministers judicial overhaul.

Protesters waving Israeli flags and placards stating their aim of saving Israeli democracy could be heard as the UK Prime Minister shook his counterparts hand outside No 10 on Friday morning.

Cries of Busha, or shame in Hebrew, could be heard from hundreds of demonstrators expressing their anger at Mr Netanyahus legislation that they say will drag the nation towards autocracy.

One sign branded Mr Netanyahu a dictator on the run as he faces domestic turmoil after his right-wing nationalist coalition approved a law that would protect him from being deemed unfit to rule.

Critics say the law is tailor-made to shield the leader from his corruption trial.

Mr Netanyahu was forced to push back his departure time for the official trip to the UK as he sought to deal with mass protests in Israel which have seen major roads blocked and scuffles with police.

In Downing Street, as Mr Netanyahu welcomed Mr Sunaks handshake with a smile, the shouts of demonstrators were easily heard from over the line of police officers guarding them in Whitehall.

Members of the crowd, speaking to the PA news agency, urged Mr Sunak to stand up for democracy in Israel.

Talli, an Israeli tech worker who has been living in London for six years, said she was protesting against Mr Netanyahus judicial coup.

Demonstrators outside Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Hes trying to gain power while on trial and hes trying to turn Israel into a non-democratic country, she said.

We want not just Rishi Sunak but the international community and leaders to apply pressure on Netanyahu  whether its financial deals, or anything at all  to back down on this coup.

My family and friends all live in Israel and Im worried about their futures.

Chamutal Isaacs, a childbirth support worker who moved to London from Tel Aviv 32 years ago, said the overhaul would mean an end to any sort of democracy in Israel.

I want Rishi Sunak to say to him he must lose his chair, he cant continue to be the prime minister of Israel. Hes destroying democracy in Israel, she said.

Benjamin Netanyahu leaves 10 Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A 38-year-old bank worker who declined to give her name added: Im from Israel, Ive lived here almost 10 years, but Ive always wanted to have somewhere to go back and I cant go back to a non-democratic country. My family and my friends and everyone who is close to me are in Israel.

Mr Netanyahus office said he was expecting to focus on the Iranian issue with the UK Prime Minister, seeking to form a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear programme.

The two are also expected to discuss strengthening the strategic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom and increasing security and intelligence co-operation, a statement said.

The Israeli leader will also meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman to discuss dealing with global terrorism, it added.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Mr Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies wrongdoing.

Critics say his government, the most right-wing in Israels history, is dragging the nation towards authoritarianism by upending its system of checks and balances.

No to racism. No to injustice. The Israeli authorities system of apartheid over Palestinians is a crime against humanity.#EndIsraeliApartheid pic.twitter.com/jTxILTTpb3  Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) March 24, 2023

A smaller number of Palestinian protesters were also in Westminster as charities criticised Mr Sunak for seeking to foster closer ties with Israel.

Oxfam policy adviser Richard Stanforth said: It is unconscionable that the Prime Minister will roll out the red carpet for Benjamin Netanyahu with the aim of deepening diplomatic ties, despite the Israeli government committing horrific human rights violations every day, seemingly with impunity.

Amnesty International UKs Kristyan Benedict accused the UK Government of turning a blind eye to apartheid atrocities.

Netanyahu is more concerned with seeking legitimacy for his government rather than addressing its increasingly extremist policies, his occupation forces in the Palestinian territories killing civilians, stealing their land and building illegal new settlements, he said.

The UK and Israels rejection of this reality will not change the truth or illegality of the current situation. All it does is help entrench Israels racist system of apartheid against Palestinian people.
Visitors to Westminster Abbey are to be allowed to stand  in socks  for the first time in the exact spot where the King will be crowned.

Special guided barefoot tours in celebration of the May 6 coronation will include access to the Cosmati pavement, one of Britains greatest medieval art treasures, which is usually roped off to the public.

The intricate 13th century mosaic floor  at the heart of the Abbeys coronation theatre  has been the site of the crowning of Kings and Queens for more than 700 years.

It was covered over with carpet at many previous coronations including Queen Elizabeth IIs in 1953 and George VIs in 1937, but for the Kings, it will remain uncovered, the Abbey said.

Rich in symbolism, it is said to depict the universe, with a spherical globe at its centre, and even foretells the end of the world.

Tourists  kept to small groups of 10  will be asked to remove their shoes and walk in socks to help protect the pavement, made of geometric pattens of marble, stone, glass and metal, in the Sacrarium.

The Cosmati pavement, in front of the High Altar in Westminster Abbey (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The guided Crown and Church visits will begin on May 15, a week after the coronation.

Charles will be crowned sitting in the Coronation Chair which will rest on a low stepped dais above the centre circle of the ancient floor in front of the High Altar.

The tour by Abbey experts will reveal the London abbeys royal links, tell stories from coronations, visit the chair, and allow access to the pavement and explain its history and significance.

Finally, this portrait of HM The Queen wearing her State dress and robe, and standing in the Abbey, is by Ralph Heimans. It was commissioned to mark Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee and shows her standing on the Cosmati Pavement  the place where she was crowned on 2 June 1953. pic.twitter.com/7PKkunsW9i  Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) April 15, 2021

A spokesperson for the Abbey said: It will be the first time in living memory that the Abbey has invited visitors to walk on the Cosmati pavement where the Coronation Chair will be placed for the crowning of HM The King on Saturday 6 May.

The 24ft 10in square pavement was commissioned by Henry III and completed in 1268 as a glittering adornment to his Abbey.

A cryptic inscription even predicts the end of the world, claiming it would last 19,683 years, with a riddle adding together the life spans of different animals including dogs, horses, men, stags, ravens, eagles and whales.

The Abbey Marshal walks across the centre of the medieval pavement (Jonathan Brady/PA)

It is considered the best surviving example outside Italy of a rare type of mosaic stonework known as Cosmati after the Italian family who perfected the technique.

The pavement was hidden under carpet and away from public view for 150 years from the 1870s until it was unveiled after a two-year programme of conservation work in 2010.

The late Queen was depicted standing on the spot where she was crowned in Australian-born artist Ralph Heimans portrait for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

The crowned Queen Elizabeth II on her dais above the Cosmati pavement in 1953 (PA)

Scott Craddock, the Abbeys head of visitor experience, said: The Coronation will be a joyous and significant moment for the nation, and for Westminster Abbey.

We hope that our special programme of events and digital resources gives everyone an opportunity to join in with the celebrations.

Other elements of the special programme include a new exhibition in the Chapter House.

The view across the Cosmati pavement (Jonathan Brady/PA)

It will explain and illustrate the key elements of the coronation service and its artefacts.

The display opens on April 12 and is included in entry to the Abbey.

The Crown and Church tours will run until July 29 and cost 15, plus Abbey entry.
Two young boys were found strangled at their home and their mother was discovered dead in the same property, an inquest has heard.

The bodies of Nadja de Jager, 47, and her sons Alexander, nine, and Maximus, seven, were discovered after police forced entry to their home in Belvedere, south-east London, on March 9.

Post-mortem examinations revealed the boys provisional cause of death as ligature compression to the neck while their mothers provisional cause of death was given as suspension, a medical term which includes hanging.

An inquest into all three deaths was opened and adjourned during a five-minute hearing at Croydon Coroners Court on Friday morning.

Police officers stand outside the house where the bodies were found (Yui Mok/PA)

They were found dead at the scene at about 11.50am after concerns were raised about their welfare.

Detective Inspector Oliver Stride, of the Metropolitan Polices specialist crime command, told the hearing both boys were found in an upstairs bedroom of the property on Mayfield Road.

He added: Maximus was on the bed while Alexander was lying on the floor next to the bed.

The provisional cause of death for both of them was given as ligature compression to the neck pending further investigation.

Nadjas provisional cause of death was given as suspension.

He added that the boys father, whose name was not given, identified the boys bodies.

Alexander and Maximus were model pupils and each others best friend, their school said at the time in a tribute.

In a tribute, a spokesperson for Belvedere Infant and Junior School said: It is with great sadness that we can confirm that two of our pupils, Alexander and Maximus De Jager, died at home this week.

Alex and Max were truly wonderful members of our school community and we will remember them with great fondness and love.

They were loving and caring boys who had a real hunger to learn.

Both were model pupils and it was clear that they were each others best friend.

They will be hugely missed by pupils and staff alike, and forever be part of our hearts at Belvedere.

Our deepest condolences are with the family and their friends during this difficult time.

Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation, the Metropolitan Police said at the time.

Senior coroner for South London, Sarah Ormond-Walshe, told the hearing: There is a police investigation in relation to all three deaths. The proceedings in this case are essentially adjourned.

It is likely to conclude in six months.

Once that has happened it will be decided whether a full inquest needs to take place.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew prepares to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 23, in Washington, D.C. AFP-Yonhap



A nearly six-hour grilling of TikTok's CEO by lawmakers brought the platform's 150 million U.S. users no closer to an answer as to whether the app will be wiped from their devices.



U.S. lawmakers on Thursday pressed Shou Zi Chew over data security and harmful content, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned due to its Chinese connections.



In a bipartisan effort to rein in the power of a major social media platform, Republican and Democratic lawmakers hurled questions on a host of topics, including TikTok's content moderation practices, how the company plans to secure American data from Beijing, and its spying on journalists.



Chew spent most of the hearing attempting to push back assertions that TikTok, or its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, are tools of the Chinese government. But he failed to answer uncomfortable questions about human rights abuses committed by China against the Uyghurs, and seemed taken aback by a TikTok video displayed by one lawmaker that advocated for violence against the House committee holding the hearing.



The rare public appearance by the 40-year-old Singapore native comes at a crucial time for the company. TikTok has ballooned its American user base to 150 million in a few short years, but its increasing dominance is being threated by a potential nationwide ban in the U.S. and growing fears among officials about protecting user data from China's communist government.





Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, calls for the banning of TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing app, at the Capitol in Washington, March 23. AP-Yonhap



There's also symbolism for lawmakers in taking on TikTok, which has been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology, as well as heighted tensions due to recent balloon politics and China's relationship with Russia.



"Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security," Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement.



Chew told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and denied it's a national security risk . He reiterated the company's plan to protect U.S. user data by storing it on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle.



"Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country," Chew said.



Nevertheless, the company has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country's communist leaders.



In 2019, the Guardian reported that TikTok was instructing its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square and included images unfavorable to the Chinese government. The platform says it has since changed its moderation practices.



Concerns about the platform increased when ByteDance admitted in December that it fired four employees who accessed data on two journalists, and people connected to them, last summer while attempting to uncover the source of a leaked report about the company.



Aware of its weakness, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying 60% of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group.



"Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns," Chew said.



But for many others, it is. The Biden administration has reportedly demanded TikTok's Chinese owners sell their stakes in the company to avoid a nationwide ban. China has said it would oppose those attempts. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a separate committee hearing Thursday that he believes TikTok is a security threat, and "should be ended one way or another."



White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said "everyone was watching" Thursday's TikTok hearing at the White House. But she declined to comment on specific actions the administration could take to address its TikTok concerns.



In one of the most dramatic moments of the hearing, Republican Rep. Kat Cammack played a TikTok video showing a shooting gun with a caption that included the House committee, with the exact date before it was formally announced.



"You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can't even protect the people in this room," Cammack said.

TikTok said the company on Thursday removed the video and banned the account that posted it.



Concerns about what kind of content Americans encounter online, or how their data is collected by technology companies, isn't new. Congress has been wanting to curtail the amount of data tech companies collect on consumers through a national privacy law, but those efforts have failed.



At a news conference on Wednesday, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat and one of the few allies TikTok seemingly has on the Hill, said lawmakers concerned about protecting users shouldn't target TikTok, but must instead focus on a national law that would protect user data across all social media platforms. Chew also noted the failure of U.S. social media companies to address the very concerns for which TikTok was being criticized.



"American social companies don't have a good track record with data privacy and user security," he said. "Look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, just one example."



Committee members also showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide. Many questioned why the platform's Chinese counterpart, Douyin, does not carry the same potentially dangerous content as the American product.





TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," on Capitol Hill, March 23, in Washington, D.C. AFP-Yonhap
More than two thirds of people do not believe Boris Johnsons defence of Downing Street partygate events, a snap poll has suggested.

The former prime minister has accepted that he attended five of the gatherings considered by the Privileges Committee but said he honestly believed that these events were lawful work gatherings.

Mr Johnson submitted written evidence in his defence this week before appearing in front of the committee on Wednesday for at times short-tempered testimony lasting more than three hours.

Boris Johnson gave evidence to the Privileges Committee on Wednesday (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

Some 855 of the 1,019 UK adults polled online by Survation after the hearing said they had seen, read or heard about the committee appearance.

The polling was carried out on behalf of campaign groups 38 Degrees and Covid Bereaved Families For Justice, which have been strongly critical of Mr Johnson for his handling of the pandemic.

During the hearing Mr Johnson defended various events, including his birthday party for which he was fined, as being necessary for work purposes.

He said that raising a toast surrounded by alcohol at a leaving do for departing communications chief Lee Cain was not only reasonably necessary but it was essential for work purposes.

But 68% of people polled said they did not believe Mr Johnson when he said he honestly believed he was following the rules at the time.

When shown an image of the toast being raised, 6% of respondents said they believed it was an essential work event, 29% that it was a non-essential work event, 40% that it was a party, 19% said they could not tell from the image alone and the rest said they did not know.

A fifth of all respondents said his appearance before the committee had left them feeling his account of events was much less believable, 4% said it was much more believable and 37% said their view was unchanged while others said they did not know.

The majority (58%) of those surveyed said Mr Johnsons response to partygate allegations had not been respectful towards those bereaved in the pandemic, while 25% said it had been and the rest said they did not know.

A former close colleague of the ex-prime minister during the pandemic appeared to cast doubt on his assertion that gatherings of the sort seen in Downing Street were according to the coronavirus guidance and rules.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK Governments chief scientific adviser, who is due to stand down next month, said the rules were the same for everyone.

Asked at an Institute for Government event on Friday what advice he would have given in regard to work events held during Covid, Sir Patrick said: Well Ive been pretty clear, Im on the public record as saying I think the advice was there for everybody and everybody should follow it.

The committee will publish its findings on whether Mr Johnson committed a contempt of Parliament and can make a recommendation on any punishment. However, the ultimate decision will lie with the full House of Commons.

Sanctions could range from a simple apology to ordering that Mr Johnson be suspended from Parliament.

Almost half (49.6%) of respondents said they would have less trust in the political system if Mr Johnson is not sanctioned while 30% said their level of trust would be unaffected.

Any suspension of 10 sitting days or more could trigger a recall by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.

A total of 39% of respondents said they believed the ex-PM should be suspended for 10 or more days while 12% said he should be required to make a formal apology.

Asked if they believed Mr Johnson was fit to be an MP, 57% said no while 26% said yes.
The UK should stay out of negotiations to halt Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to a former foreign secretary.

Lord Owen said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should not talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin and any peace talks should be conducted by the two warring countries.

But he added there could be a role for US President Joe Biden as he is the negotiator that really matters.

The Western allies have rejected a peace plan put forward by Beijing as Chinas President Xi Jinping met Mr Putin in Moscow this week.

Lord Owen, the ex-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), told the PA news agency: Ukraine has had very substantive trade arrangements with China in their own right and a very large amount of Ukrainian grain was going to China.

So there has been this formed relationship with communist China and Ukraine over quite a long period of time. So, I think hes going to try to bring this war to an end.

On the prospect of peace talks to end Russias invasion, Lord Owen said: I believe there should be no negotiation by Britain.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden at Point Loma naval base in San Diego, US, earlier this month (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

If I was asked, I would say that the Prime Minister should not talk to Putin, and nor should the Foreign Secretary talk to Sergei Lavrov.

And I think that we should say that the matter of negotiations should be conducted between the two who are conducting war against each other. We are not at war with Russia.

However, he noted there has to be a difference for some people, adding: If Biden decided that the time had come to speak to Putin, then he should go, as he is the de facto political negotiator that really matters.

But I would be reluctant if I was Biden to do that, because you would be sucked in. Its a very, very narrow line.

Asked if there is something more Western allies could do to help Ukraine, Lord Owen said he would not have ruled out sending Typhoons and that the delivery of tanks should be accelerated.

He said it is unacceptable for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to say he is sending tanks to Ukraine and then not doing it, delaying it.

Lord Owen at the launch of the anti-euro campaign, New Europe, in 2001 (Michael Stephens/PA)

He added: That is very dangerous. I mean, by any standard, there should be 30 or 40 Leopard tanks now, already there.

Lord Owen served as foreign secretary from 1977 to 1979 under James Callaghan and two years later became one of the Gang of Four who left the Labour Party to form the SDP.

Appointed as a life peer in 1992, Lord Owen sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher until March 2014, and now sits as an independent social democrat.
Wildcats are to be released in Cairngorms National Park this summer after a new licence application from a conservation group was approved.

NatureScot, which approved the licence, said the decision marks the first ever conservation translocation of wildcats in the UK.

The Scottish Government agency said it hopes the project will help restore Scotlands critically-endangered wildcat population.

The Saving Wildcats partnership, which applied for the licence in September last year, plans to release around 20 wildcats annually, with the first trial release planned for June.

In considering the licence application, NatureScot assessed the proposed release site as suitable for relocating wildcats from the projects breeding centre at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotlands (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park.

The agency, however, said while the project will benefit the species, there are risks and challenges associated with relocating predators and success will rely on the support of local communities.

We're thrilled to announce that our partner @nature_scot have granted us a license to release wildcats bred at @HighlandWPark into the Cairngorms National Park later this year  Find out more about this important milestone  https://t.co/aWvAcWH8oA pic.twitter.com/J3vEnLrcE6  Saving Wildcats (#SWAforLIFE) (@SaveOurWildcats) March 24, 2023

NatureScots head of biodiversity Dr Katherine Leys said: Habitat loss, persecution and hybridisation with domestic cats has brought the Scottish wildcat population to the brink of extinction.

The Saving Wildcats partnership has been a lifeline for the species and our decision to grant a translocation licence to allow wildcats to be released in the Highlands of Scotland marks a crucial point in the long journey towards conserving this iconic species.

This journey is not without difficulty, and we know that there are more hurdles to overcome before we reach the point where we are ready to release the wildcats into carefully selected areas of the Cairngorms National Park.

Once there, the wildcats will face further challenges, so its crucial the project continues to work with local communities, farmers, land-owners and cat owners to ensure wildcats are given the best chance to survive and thrive.

Dr Helen Senn, the Saving Wildcats project lead and RZSS head of conservation, said the animals will be monitored using GPS collars following their release.

She said the chosen site provides a suitable mix of habitats and potential prey for the species, adding: It is fantastic to reach this milestone and press ahead with planning for trial wildcat releases in the Cairngorms over the summer.

Saving Wildcats is one of the largest species conservation projects in Britain and it is supported by RZSS, NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, together with European partners Nordens Ark and Junta de Andalucia.

National Farmers Union Scotlands policy manager Penny Middleton welcomed the news.

She said: As a supporter of the official body, the Scottish Wildcat Action forum, we have previously helped disseminate information on how to protect this iconic native species to our members in the priority areas identified for wildcats, including the Cairngorms National Park area.

We recognise that the species remains critically endangered and that the plans through the Saving Wildcats project to preserve the species are starting to come to fruition.

The farming community in release areas will be keen to support these plans and identify how they can assist.
A woman who was arrested on suspicion of murder as part of the investigation into the death of a baby boy in Ireland almost 40 years ago has been released without charge.

A man in his 60s who was also arrested remains under detention at a Garda station in the south of the country.

The body of the five-day-old infant, known as Baby John, was found with multiple stab wounds in a bag on a beach in Co Kerry in April 1984.

The man and woman were arrested in the Munster region on Thursday in relation to the discovery of the body of a male infant at White Strand, Caherciveen, County Kerry, according to a garda statement.

The high-profile discovery became known as the Kerry Babies case, and would lead to a state apology over the treatment of a local woman.

Joanne Hayes was arrested and charged after Baby Johns body was found in 1984, but the charge was later dropped and a tribunal of inquiry was set up to probe the handling of her case by Gardai.

Advances in DNA profiling then confirmed that Ms Hayes, as she always maintained, was not Baby Johns mother.

In 2018, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, justice minister Charlie Flanagan and An Garda Siochana apologised to Ms Hayes.

In January 2018, An Garda Siochana announced a review into the death of Baby John, and since then its Kerry Division has carried out an extensive investigation, supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.

Hundreds of people have been interviewed and more than 560 lines of inquiry have been initiated.

In September 2018, Baby Johns remains were exhumed and taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee for examination, and were reinterred later that afternoon.

Baby John is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Caherciveen.

The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth surrounding the death of Baby John in 1984 and deliver justice for Baby John, said lead investigator Superintendent Flor Murphy.

I am again appealing to the public for any information in relation to the death of Baby John in 1984.

Anyone who comes forward will be treated with sensitivity and compassion.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Fred Armisen Forms Punk-Rock Supergroup With Members of Guns N' Roses, Stray Cats

Name Dave Vanian

Best known for I love beautiful Victorian architecture  architecture and all that stuff.

More from Spin:

Current city The city I love the most is where I am: London.

Excited about Im very excited about the new album [Darkadelic, April 28], obviously, but thats an obvious one.

Im very excited to see the fourth series of Babylon Berlin, which I love. Its the most expensive German show thats ever been made, and hands up, applauds to the main players. Its about cops in Weimar, Germany just prior to the war from about 1930 onwards. I prefer watching it in German with the subtitles because I actually think that you get the inference of the voice so much more than you do if its dark.

Preferred format I like to listen to the format where the sound is the best. Thats the thing for me, the quality of sound. Unfortunately, as much as I love vinyl, I havent got a really good system to get the best out of it, but I suppose, its a mixture of things for me.

I wouldnt say its any one thing, because I also have 78s here, you dont get those. Although, having said that, I can now listen to 78s online that I have.

Short story long or long story short, was my father, when he was in the RAF and came back from Germany, he had a whole bunch of 78s, which I now have. I grew up with that mix of weird music.

5 Albums I Cant Live Without:

1

Roxy Music, Roxy Music

They had a complete sound, but it wasnt the smooth kind of 1930s feel [they] went to later with Avalonand stuff. Now that was how they broke America, with Avalon, but the first album, it was quirky and it borrowed from rock n roll. It was very of that area of albums in the very early 70s, influences are very different than they were later.

No one had done it with that mix of sounds, which is so incredible. Of course, [Bryan Ferry] had such a distinctive voice as well. It was a strange voice, but on top of all that unusual-sounding material, and it was very filmic, which is something Ive always liked. Without even the vocals the music gave you that openness and luxury, a feeling of luxury in the whole thing.

2

Blood for Dracula (Soundtrack), Claudio Gizzi

It was [also] called Andy Warhols Dracula. It was a completely different version than youve ever seen of Dracula, in as much as he was very vulnerable. Its a comedy as such, but I always see it as perhaps not as comedic as other people do.

The whole beginning of the film, the intro of the film is this beautiful piece of piano music. Theres a very young Udo Kier with his hair slicked back. Its pure white. His hair is pure white. Hes got piercing blue eyes. Hes looking ahead at something, you assume hes looking into the mirror. He dyes his hair black as this musics playing, this beautiful piece of music. Hes in this black outfit, its almost like a collared Russian-type shirt type of thing, obviously from the 1800s or 1900s.

The room, you can just see the background is full of beautiful things like stuffed birds and flowers, and books. Its very old world, very rich, all lit by candles. Then, when the camera pans back from this long part where hes dying his white hair black, you see that as the chair moves, theres a mirror, but theres no reflection in the mirror. Theres one bit where he takes a bit of makeup and he opens his mouth and you just see his fang. He just makes his lips a little red. He just looks so pasty and white. He puts some on his cheeks.

When I used to dye my head black, that piece of music was always in my head. Its never left me from the moment I saw it in the early 70s.Its phenomenal.

3

Scott 2, Scott Walker

My favorite song of his is a song called Plastic Palace People.Its just the strangest songand the way its produced is strange. Its a really lovely little thing, a 60s floaty-type tune. Then, it changes into a part which is almost 60s country-ish, and it goes back to that. Then it has a wavering, almost psychedelically weird ending. The subject title is about a boy whos floating over the town held aloft on a balloon that he hasnt let go of.

Thats what I loved about Scott Walker because often the subject matter was so interesting. Some of the songs feel like youre watching a kitchen-sink drama from the 60s. Its a little new into a world that you probably dont know yourself. Ive always loved Scott Walker. Definitely, a Scott compilation would be very high on my list.

4

New York Dolls, New York Dolls

I saw the New York Dolls in 1974 at Bibas in London, which was an incredible store. I used to go there weekly at that point, but they played in the Rainbow Rooms upstairs and I managed to get a ticket for it. I recently came across one and it was a ridiculous amount, a couple of pounds or something, unless you got some food and drink for the band. I really liked Johnny Thunders, how he played guitar.

5

And Suddenly Its, The Left Banke

This is a favorite of mine and has been forever. It was very obscure for so many years. Certainly in England, no one had ever heard of it, or heard of them. They created this incredible album, all very, very young. Their father produced it. I always thought The Left Banke has been the American equivalent to what we had in England in the 60s like them, the Zombies.

The Left Banke had such an interesting niche of the 60s music, but linked with this wonderful baroque harpsichord. I thought that had an amazing sound, and also [Steven Martin Caro]had quite a high-pitched voice, so it made it sound very different, special.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The post Fred Armisen Forms Punk-Rock Supergroup With Members of Guns N Roses, Stray Cats appeared first on SPIN.
Gwyneth Paltrow's security wanted to extend their gratitude to courtroom bailiffs during her Utah ski collision trial.

Prior to testimony Thursday in Paltrow's trial, the actress and Goop founder's attorney Steve Owens made a request to share "treats" with the courtroom staff.

"I want to do this transparently Private security for my client wanted to bring in treats for the bailiffs for how helpful they've been," Owens said before Judge Kent Holmberg.

Paltrow is on trial, which began Tuesday, after being sued for $300,000 by Terry Sanderson, who claimed in 2019 that she seriously injured him during a crash on the beginner slopes at Deer Valley Resort in Park City in 2016.

Gwyneth Paltrow's security team offered treats to courtroom bailiffs ahead of testimony in the ski collision trial in Utah.

Sanderson's legal counsel objected to Owens' motion to bring in treats for the bailiffs.

"Ok, there's an objection so thank you, but no thank you," Judge Holmberg said, adding, "If the parties decide to do that later, that's fine, too."

Sanderson's attorneys admonished Paltrow's lawyer for the offer. "You should've asked us first frankly.  (Owens) just sprung it on us now."

It's unclear what treats were being offered, but the "Shakespeare in Love" actress has many offered on her lifestyle website Goop or her cookbooks, including "The Clean Plate: Eat, Reset, Heal" and "It's All Good."

Why is Gwyneth Paltrow in court?

Paltrow and Sanderson are suing each other over the alleged ski collision in 2016.

In addition to Sanderson's injury allegations, he also claims Paltrow left him on the mountain without help.

Paltrow has denied the allegations and in a counterclaim said it was Sanderson who crashed into her.

Paltrow is seeking "symbolic damages in the amount of $1, plus her costs and attorneys fees to defend this meritless claim," her lawsuit said. The actress vowed to donate any additional funds potentially awarded by the jury to a charitable organization.

Read more on Gwyneth Paltrow's ski collision trial

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gwyneth Paltrow's request to give ski trial bailiffs 'treats' denied
Danielle Ponder Fights for Change on the Stage and in the Courtroom

Memphiss former quintessential entrepreneur of cocaine, as Alice Marie Johnson was described by the judge who in 1997 sent her down for life on narco-conspiracy and money laundering convictions, was a star speaker at SPIN IMPACTs South By Southwest criminal-justice panel.

Billing herself as a first-time non-violent offender, Johnson served 21 years before President Donald Trump commuted her sentence in 2018 (and bestowed a full pardon in 2020) after Kim Kardashian visited him at the White House on her behalf. Trumps liberation of Johnson followed unsuccessful appeals for clemency made during the presidency of Barack Obama.

More from Spin:

In a press conference with Johnson, President Trump said that today a lot of people wouldnt even be going to jail for her crimes.

Johnson shared the stage at the South by Southwest panel with Maggie Freleng, Pulitzer Prize-winning host of the Wrongful Conviction podcast, Jason Flom, a music executive whose Lava For Good company houses Wrongful Conviction, and public defender turned musician Danielle Ponder, who spoke movingly about her brother being mandatorily sentenced to 20 to life for a robbery, and of the effect of that crushing sentence on herself and her family.

Public defender turned musician Danielle Ponder. (Credit: Rick Kern/WireImage via Getty Images)

Johnson, co-author of her memoir, After Life: My Journey From Incarceration To Freedom, told the audience that she never sold drugs, and that her entire role during her early 90s years in large-scale cocaine distribution consisted of simply passing along telephone numbers.

My role was they called me and say, This is a number that you need to give someone else. I never met them, said Johnson, who now campaigns for an end to mandatory sentencing, improved educational and post-release services for felons, and other reforms.

Former U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee Mike Dunavant has taken a different view about Johnsons complicity, describing Johnson as the lead defendant in the prosecution of a large scale drug trafficking pipeline between Houston and Memphis.

In opposing Johnsons bid to have her post-commutation probation quashed, Dunavant wrote that Johnsons organization was responsible for the distribution of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms [4,400 to 6,600 pounds] of cocaine [] which had a value of between $50,000,000 and $75,000,000.

Dunavant cited the sentencing judges identification of Johnson as the leader of the organization, which put large quantities of cocaine into the Memphis area at a time when the citys homicide rate was setting record highs.

Twenty-five people were convicted for their involvement, mostly after pleading guilty. Johnson was one of the handful who instead went to trial, with Durant writing: It is the Governments position that the defendant testified untruthfully at her trial and has continued to refuse to accept responsibility for her criminal conduct.

Johnson addressed some of this at the South By Southwest panel, saying that she was not fully informed of the sentencing consequences of her plea decisions, and that she was the victim of incriminating lies made by some of her co-accused.

An audience member put a question to Johnson, saying, You are so composed and seem joyful, and I would be so angry to have lost 21 years of my life. I just wanna know how you are sitting there today doing activism, working to help other people, and without an apparent burden of anger.

Johnson said in reply that the answer was forgiveness. The thing that I had to do was I had to release myself and forgive those who put me there, those who lied on me.

Releasing herself from anger ultimately took another step, Johnson said: Most importantly, I had to forgive myself.

Prolonged incarceration cost her immeasurably, she said. I never got to see my parents alive again. I never got to see my sister again.

Maggie Freleng and Jason Flom. (Credit: Jason Kempin via Getty Images)

Yet there was a hard-earned flipside: I was not going to let them win, Johnson said. I have the gift of life. Im breathing. I could dance, too. And so every time that something was supposed to break me, instead of breaking me, it built me and it gave me spine.

Johnson now uses that spine to advocate for prisoners and those who struggling after release  people held back by years of inadequate rehabilitative and educational opportunities on the inside, and by restrictive post-release conditions on the outside.

When people are set free  when they finish their time  theyre still actually incarcerated because they wear that label of felon, said Johnson, mentioning how hard that can make getting hired, and how felons are commonly stripped of voting rights.

Restorative justice also means giving them that true second chance, said Johnson, founder and CEO of criminal justice advocacy organization, Taking Action for Good.

The full, lively, emotional SPIN IMPACT panel discussion can be listened to here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The post Danielle Ponder Fights for Change on the Stage and in the Courtroom appeared first on SPIN.
FILE - Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, poses for a portrait in New York, Aug. 22, 2001. On Monday, March 13, 2023, seven law enforcement officers filed suit against Afroman, accusing the rap artist of improperly using footage from a police raid on his Ohio home last year in his music videos. (AP Photo/Shawn Baldwin, File)

WINCHESTER, Ohio (AP)  Seven law enforcement officers have sued rap artist Afroman, accusing him of improperly using footage from a police raid on his Ohio home last year in his music videos.

Four deputies, two sergeants and a detective with the Adams County Sheriffs Office brought the suit earlier this month, claiming invasion of privacy. Other law enforcement officers who were involved in the raid are not named as plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs say the rapper, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, took footage of their faces obtained during the August 2022 raid and used it in music videos and social media posts without their consent. They say that has caused them emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation."

The plaintiffs are seeking all of Foremans profits from his use of their personas. That includes proceeds from the songs, music videos and live event tickets, as well as the promotion of Foremans Afroman brand, under which he sells beer, marijuana, T-shirts and other merchandise. They also seek a court injunction to take down all videos and posts containing their personas.

The suit names Foreman, his recording firm and a Texas-based media distribution company as defendants. In an Instagram post made Wednesday, Foreman vowed to countersue for the undeniable damage this had on my clients, family, career and property.

Law enforcement officers were acting on a warrant that stated probable cause existed that drugs and drug paraphernalia would be found on Foremans property and that trafficking and kidnapping had taken place there, authorities have said. Those suspicions turned out to be unfounded, though, and the raid failed to turn up probative criminal evidence. No charges were ever filed.

When cash seized during the raid was returned to Foreman, it appeared that hundreds of dollars were missing. A subsequent review by the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation determined that deputies had miscounted the amount seized during the raid itself.

Foreman is best known for his songs Because I Got High and Crazy Rap, which were both featured on his album The Good Times." He is also known for his political activism and announced last December that he plans to run for president.
FILE - This Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2023, booking photo provided by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office shows former Memphis Police Officer Demetrius Haley in Memphis, Tenn. Four of five former Memphis police officers charged with murder in the beating death of Tyre Nichols cannot work as law enforcement officers again in Tennessee, a state panel decided Friday, March 24, 2023. The Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission, or P.O.S.T., voted to decertify Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith during a meeting Friday. (Shelby County Sheriff's Office via AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Four of five former Memphis police officers charged in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who was handcuffed, brutally beaten and ignored by first responders for crucial minutes despite being barely conscious, can no longer work as law enforcement in Tennessee.

The Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission, or P.O.S.T., voted Friday to decertify Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith. The state panel also approved the decision by Desmond Mills to surrender his certification.

The former officers have 30 days to appeal.

The beating of the 29-year-old Black man happened during a late-night traffic stop Jan. 7. The commission subsequently released documents showing that Haley dragged Nichols from his vehicle and never explained why he was stopped, and that he also took photos of Nichols slumped against the car after he was pummeled by officers and sent the pictures to colleagues.

Nichols died at a hospital Jan. 10.

Early police accounts minimized the violence of the traffic stop  accounts since disproven by witness statements and police and surveillance video  and their specialized unit was disbanded. Two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical workers and a lieutenant were also fired.

The five former police officers charged with second-degree murder have all pleaded not guilty.

The Memphis Police Department requested the decertification of seven of the former Memphis officers involved, including one who retired before he could be fired.

None of the fired officers or their attorneys attended their hearings before the commission on Thursday or its vote on Friday.

Mills attorney said his client had been wrongly indicted and was focusing on his freedom.

Its a waste of time, attorney Blake Ballin said of the decertification attempt. It is meaningless to him at this stage in his life.

An attorney for Haley declined to comment on the decertification vote. Attorneys for Martin and Smith did not immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment.

In a letter included in the file seeking his decertification, Smith defended his conduct, stating that Nichols was violent and would not comply.

The fifth former officer charged, Tadarrius Bean, has not yet had his decertification hearing before the commission. Neither have two former officers who were not charged: Preston Hemphill, who was terminated after firing a stun gun at Nichols during the traffic stop; and Dewayne Smith, the supervising lieutenant who arrived on scene after the beating, who retired instead of being fired.

A seventh police employee who was fired has not been publicly named.

During Nichols' funeral, Vice President Kamala Harris urged lawmakers to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a broad package of reforms that includes a national registry for police officers disciplined for misconduct, a ban on no-knock warrants and other measures.

___

Associated Press reporter Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

___

For more on the killing of Tyre Nichols: https://apnews.com/hub/tyre-nichols
The Bard logo

It appears to be unanimous: Compared to the other chatbots on the market, Google's Bard is the boring one. In a more or less positive assessment, Vox called Bard's answers "dry and uncontroversial." Our own test results beg to differ. Dry? Absolutely. Uncontroversial? Not if you scratch beneath the surface.

Yes, Bard is boring...in a way

Yes, Bard's name  a term for a type of poet, often used in reference to Shakespeare  is sort of hilarious in light of how steadfastly artless the chatbot's answers manage to be. For instance, I asked GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and Bard to start writing a good fireside scary story. OpenAI's models shot for the moon (literally in one case).

Here's GPT-3.5's intriguing response:

GPT-3.5's answer

Credit: OpenAI / Screengrab

GPT-4's is absolute madness:

GPT-4's response

Credit: OpenAI / Screengrab

Bard, meanwhile, plopped out this dud:

Bard's answer

Credit: Google / Screengrab

Bard always gives the user three drafts of a response, but this prompt only resulted in two. There were two identical "I saw something in the woods tonight" drafts, and one slight variation: "I heard a voice in the woods last night." These are deflatingly boring, and one might reasonably call them disappointing.

Bard sometimes gives unpopular answers to controversial questions

Being aggressively straightforward doesn't always make a chatbot boring. In fact, it can be provocative. What's more, allowing itself three drafts each time it answers seems to  whether accidentally, or on purpose  give Bard the leeway it needs to give straightforward answers that are sometimes downright bold.

Look how the bots answer a question about the most populous country on Earth, when the prompt demands extreme brevity:

GPT-3.5's answer

Credit: OpenAI / Screengrab

GPT-4's answer

Credit: OpenAI / Screengrab

Bard's answer

Credit: Google / Screengrab

The GPT models said China, and Bard said India. It's worth noting that Bard did produce one draft of three that said China. However, after five more tries each, I could not get either GPT model to say India even once.

Is Bard "wrong"? It depends. It just so happens that humanity has been in a demography donut hole for several years on this topic  long enough to make the relative ages of the models' training data unimportant. Some contrarians started saying India's population had surpassed China's about five years ago, but officially it still hasn't, because the data isn't there yet. China is still the right answer on paper, but the common sense right answer may well be India.

So while Bard may be earning a reputation for giving boring answers, this wasn't "the point," contrary to Vox's speculation, according to Google itself. Instead, Google's overview document about Bard says the chatbot is supposed to contain a diversity of possible answers without being offensive. "Training data, including from publicly available sources, reflects a diversity of perspectives and opinions. We continue to research how to use this data in a way that ensures that an LLMs response incorporates a wide range of viewpoints, while preventing offensive responses."

Bard doesn't use offensive language, but it might still offend

"Offensive" is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. It may offend some, for instance, when Bard makes the following rather bold and specific claim about fetal pain sensitivity starting as early as 24 weeks:

Bard's answer

Credit: Google / Screengrab

OpenAI's models are far less apt to give answers like this. Here's GPT-3.5's non-answer:

GPT-3.5's answer

Credit: OpenAI / Screengrab

And here's GPT-4's somewhat more substantive response:

GPT-4's answer

Credit: OpenAI / Screengrab

And it's worth noting that, with persistence, OpenAI's models would provide more provocative responses (At one point, GPT-4 even asserted that the answer was "20 weeks").

Again, the point is not that one model gives answers that are more right. It is, instead, that when wading into genuinely difficult territory, Bard has a tendency to nonetheless give answers that are straightforward, and this sometimes means bucking the perceived wisdom.

Bard is trained on some less-than-boring geopolitical concepts

I tested Bard and the GPT twins on their responses to the single thorniest problem in all of geopolitics  how to connect Gaza and the West Bank under a hypothetical two-state solution for Israel-Palestine. None of these chatbots are going to achieve peace in the Middle East, to be clear, but it's useful to see how they might try.

When I asked all three models for "a single, brief paragraph presenting one single all-encompassing solution," to this problem, GPT-3.5 and 4 were steadfastly committed to the most popular option favored by diplomats: "the creation of a secure and efficient transportation corridor between the two territories," in the words of GPT-3.5. GPT-4, similarly, called for a "a secure, high-speed transportation corridor." In other words, Gaza and the West Bank can be connected by a road through Israel.

Fascinatingly, Bard's first proposal was much, much less conventional: "The only way to resolve the Gaza-West Bank discontiguity problem is to create a single, contiguous Palestinian state. This would require Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and for the Palestinian Authority to take control of all of Palestinian territory. This would allow the Palestinians to exercise self-determination and build a viable state."

In the interest of not sparking an international incident, let's be clear: Bard provided other, tamer answers. But this was its first attempt. And this seems to be the core of Bard's mission. Google says all large language models trained on multiple sides of a controversy may "incorporate views on certain sides of controversial social or political issues into their responses."

Bard seems to incorporate such views more willingly than OpenAI's models, which can make for an eye-opening chatbot experience. And that supposed boringness you've heard so much about? That might just be a disguise.
France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, leaves the building after an EU summit in Brussels, March 23. AP-Yonhap



President Emmanuel Macron was under pressure on Friday to find a way out of a crisis that has seen some of France's worst street violence in years over a pension bill he has pushed through parliament without a vote.



In Paris and many cities across the country, clean-up crews sifted through broken glass, charred garbage cans and shattered bus stops after violent clashes overnight between black-clad anarchists and police. A tag on an ATM read: "Paris is burning."



Some 441 police officers were injured and 475 people were arrested. Dozens of protesters were also injured, including a woman who lost a thumb in the Normandy town of Rouen.



The protest rallies that gathered large crowds against a bill that will delay retirement age by two years to 64 had been largely peaceful during the day.



But there were violent clashes across the country on Thursday evening, which saw a police station targeted in the western France town of Lorient, the main entrance of the Bordeaux town hall set ablaze and hundreds of fires recorded nationwide.



Against this backdrop, Britain's King Charles' state visit to France, due to start on Sunday, has been postponed, the Elysee said.



"There has been unacceptable violence," the head of the CFDT labor union Laurent Berger told RTL radio. "We need to calm things down, before there is a tragedy."



"To find a way out, we need the government and the president to make a gesture," he added.



The solution, the influential Berger suggested, would be to pause the reform for six months and look for compromises.



In a TV interview on Wednesday, Macron said he would not withdraw the law and that it would proceed as planned and enter into force by year end. He was expected to hold a news conference in the coming hours in Brussels, where he is taking part in an EU summit.



Opinion polls show a wide majority of voters are opposed to the pension bill. They were further angered by the government's decision to skip the vote in parliament and by Macron comparing some of the protests to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.



'Worried'



The latest wave of protests and clashes has become the most serious challenge to Macron's authority since the "Yellow Vest" revolt of disgruntled working class people four years ago.



Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told CNews TV that Macron was "worried for the country" because of the street violence and gave no sign of him changing tack.



On a shattered Starbucks window in Paris, someone had tagged "Democracy" in big red letters. Other tags seen on burnt down newspaper kiosks and damaged shop windows read "Anti-Macron" and "Macron, resign."



For Paul, a Parisian retiree, that was going to far.



"Violence has never been a way to be heard," he said.



But 30-year old Bastien Mrozovski was more understanding, at a time where polls show many are upset with Macron's leadership style.



"There were attempts to try with the soft diplomacy, with the unions, with protests that was quite peaceful the past weeks. Now, there is forcibly a threshold crossed, which leads to violence on the other side," Mrozovski said.



Unions have called for regional action over the weekend and new nationwide strikes and protests on Tuesday.



Meanwhile, fuel shipments resumed early Friday from TotalEnergies TTEF.PA Gonfreville refinery in Normandy after police intervened to disperse refinery workers holding a blockage, Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said. (Reuters)




Mama June Shannon is celebrating one year of wedded bliss with husband and best friend Justin Stroud.

The reality star shared a series of photos of the two of them on Instagram, reflecting on their first year as husband and wife. In her anniversary post, she called Stroud the most imperfect person but the most perfect person in my eyes.

One year ago I married my best friend, she wrote on March 23, in part. A lot of people didnt want us together or thought we wouldnt... make it but we have been through ALOT to say the least.

She wrote that it was very nice to figured out every situation together, adding, I have never experienced that before.

Shannon continued by expressing how much she appreciates Stroud.

I know its hard to deal with at times but Im glad (youre) with me and (the) girls, she wrote, adding that she cant wait to see what the future holds (be)cause I (know) all the good the bad and whatever life throws at either of us we will get (through) it together.

She concluded by thanking her husband for allowing her to experience true love for the first (time).

Shannon and Stroud got married at a Georgia courthouse on March 23, 2022, per People. Shannon would go on to confirm the news in a June 2022 Instagram, sharing that it was a spur of the moment wedding.

YES me and @officialsmallz1 Really got married back in march 23 on our six month anniversary and yes it was so spur the moment, she captioned her video.

The couple at their second wedding ceremony. (Courtesy WE tv Public Relations)

Earlier this year, the couple held a second ceremony in Panama City, Florida, on Feb. 18, 2023.

The two celebrated their love in front of family and friends with a glamorous and intimate oceanfront ceremony, according to a press release obtained by TODAY.com at the time.

Shannons daughters  Alana Honey Boo Boo Thompson, Lauryn Pumpkin Efird, Jessica Chubbs Shannon and Anna Chickadee Cardwell  were in attendance, as well as her grandchildren, Stella, Sylus and Bentley Efird.

The most was a special one as it was the first time they had all been together since 2014.

It was really special to get married in a place where my family and I have had so many memories! Shannon said in the press release.

The ceremony was featured in Mama June: Family Crisis.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Bob Maharry sits inside his fishing boat docked at Pier 45 in San Francisco, Monday, March 20, 2023. This would usually be a busy time of year for Maharry and his crew as salmon fishing season approaches. On April 7, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the regulatory group that advises federal officials, will take action on what to do about the 2023 season for both commercial and recreational salmon fishing. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

SAN DIEGO (AP)  As drought dried up rivers that carry Californias newly hatched Chinook salmon to the ocean, state officials in recent years resorted to loading up the fish by the millions onto trucks and barges to take them to the Pacific.

The surreal and desperate scramble boosted the survival rate of the hatchery-raised fish, but still it was not enough to reverse the declining stocks in the face of added challenges. River water temperatures rose with warm weather, and a Trump-era rollback of federal protections for waterways allowed more water to be diverted to farms. Climate change, meanwhile, threatens food sources for the young Chinook maturing in the Pacific.

Now, ocean salmon fishing season is set to be prohibited this year off California and much of Oregon for the second time in 15 years after adult fall-run Chinook, often known as king salmon, returned to California's rivers in near record-low numbers in 2022.

There will be no wild-caught California salmon to eat unless someone has still got some vacuum sealed last year in their freezer, said John McManus of the Golden State Salmon Association.

Experts fear native California salmon, which make up a significant portion of the Pacific Northwests fishing industry, are in a spiral toward extinction. Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in California's Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend three years on average maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die.

Already California's spring-run Chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run Chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council, the authority responsible for setting ocean salmon seasons off the Pacific coast, is expected in early April to formally approve its proposed closure of Chinook fishing along the coast from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border.

Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for Chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washingtons coast.

Though the closure will deal a blow to the industry that supports tens of thousands of jobs, few are disputing it.

We want to make sure they are here for the future, said third-generation fisherman Garin McCarthy, who described catching a Chinook as magical.

McCarthy, whose entire income last year came from salmon fishing off both California and Oregon, has had to invest thousands of dollars in equipment to fish other species like rockfish, halibut and black cod.

Were all scrambling to try to make our boats do something different, he said. Were all salmon trollers. Thats what we do. Thats what we live for.

Glen Spain, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations, said he believes the ban might need to be in place for two or three years to bring back sustainable stocks after many fish died in 2020, the start of a record-dry period.

The Chinook already faced challenges, with dams blocking their historic retreats to the chilly upper reaches of Northern Californias Sacramento River and the Klamath River along the California-Oregon border. Decades of development have disrupted the natural flow of rivers and polluted waters.

In 2020, the Trump administration ended federal protections for millions of waterways, allowing for more water to be pumped out of the Sacramento River Basin for farming despite warnings from biologists that it could harm salmon runs in the future.

Fishers say river water temperatures increased with the diversions for irrigation, killing more eggs and hatchlings and preventing the stocks from bouncing back amid the drought.

This one aint on us," said Bob Maharry, 68, a lifelong San Francisco-based fisherman. This has nothing to do with overfishing. This is poor management of water.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the estimated number of adult fall Chinook expected to return to spawn in the Sacramento River this year is less than 170,000, one of the lowest forecasts since the current assessment method began in 2008. Fewer than 104,000 fall Chinook are likely to return to the Klamath River, the second lowest estimate since 1997.

In 2021, a judge determined the Trump administration improperly limited federal protections and restored them to a narrower 1986 standard. The Biden administration is expected to expand the protections in 2024.

Some are banking on the unusually wet winter to bring relief. Record rain and snowfall since late last year have freed two-thirds of California from drought. But too much water could also flush out eggs and hatchlings.

Businesses tied to salmon want the government to declare the situation a federal disaster so they may receive aid. As the market shrinks, more restaurants turn to farm-raised salmon, while gear suppliers stop stocking the proper equipment to fish Chinook.

Not everybody is going to make it out of this type of a closure unfortunately, said Andy Giuliano, who owns Fish Emeryville, a bait-and-tackle shop and booking service for 16 charter boats that offer salmon fishing trips to tourists in the San Francisco Bay area. Its a real stress test on the industry."

Eric Schindler, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes ocean salmon project leader, said he was not expecting it to be this drastic, assuming the year would bring restrictions but not a full closure for most of Oregon.

Jeff Reeves, who has been salmon fishing from the Coos Bay, Oregon, area since the 1970s and is also a member of the Oregon Salmon Commission, said he plans to fish rockfish, black cod and maybe tuna. Later this year he plans to target coho salmon from Oregon, which is doing well enough to be fished unlike the coho in California. But it wont make up for the loss of the Chinook, which are bigger, fattier fish that are in higher demand.

Its devastating," he said. "The Oregon fleet is already on life support," which dropped from a height of about 4,500 boats to about 180 today, he added.

On a stretch of the Klamath River in Northern California, the Yurok tribe has watched for years the decimation of the culturally significant salmon population. Barry McCovey Jr., director of the tribe's fisheries department, said the tribe's Chinook allotment is likely to be very small this year.

Still, he is hopeful the planned removal of four dams on the Klamath River will improve the fish's future.

Its not a silver bullet, but a big step in right direction, McCovey said. Theres still a lot of battles to fight if we want to have coho and Chinook.

__

Baumann reported from Seattle.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic radioactive tsunami that would destroy naval strike groups and ports. Analysts were skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines the North's commitment to raising nuclear threats.

The test this week came as the United States reportedly planned to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula. Military tensions are at a high point as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises has accelerated in the past year in a cycle of tit-for-tat responses.

Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon, which can be deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships, is built to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion" to destroy enemy naval strike groups and ports.

The report came hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to make North Korea pay for its reckless provocations as he attended a remembrance service honoring 55 South Korean troops killed during major clashes with the North near their western sea border in past years.

The testing of the purported nuclear underwater attack drone was part of a three-day exercise that simulated nuclear attacks on unspecified South Korean targets, which also included cruise missile launches Wednesday.

This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says is an underwater blast of test warhead loaded to an unmanned underwater nuclear attack craft "Haeil" during an exercise around Hongwon Bay in waters off North Korea's eastern coast Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

KCNA said the Norths latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing nuclear crisis as they continue with their intentional, persistent and provocative war drills. It said the tests were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who vowed to make his rivals plunge into despair."

The U.S. and South Korea completed an 11-day exercise Thursday that included their biggest field training in years, and are preparing another round of joint naval drills that will reportedly involve a U.S. aircraft carrier.

Hours after the North Korean report, South Korea's air force released details of a five-day joint aerial drill with the United States that began Monday and concluded Friday above waters off South Korea's western coast, which included live-fire demonstrations of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.

The air force said the exercise, which involved various South Korean fighter jets and at least one U.S. A-10 attack plane, was aimed at verifying precision strike capabilities and reaffirming the credibility of Seoul's three-axis strategy against North Korean nuclear threats  preemptively striking sources of attacks, intercepting incoming missiles and neutralizing the North's leadership and key military facilities.

The North Korean drone is named Haeil, a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis. The Norths Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of Kim smiling next to a large, torpedo-shaped object at an unspecified indoor facility, but didnt identify it.

Other photos published with the same article showed sea-surface tracks supposedly caused by the drones underwater trajectory and a pillar of water exploding up into the air, possibly caused by what state media described as an underwater detonation of a mock nuclear weapon carried by the drone.

A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

KCNA said the drone was deployed Tuesday off the Norths eastern coast, traveled underwater for nearly 60 hours, and detonated a test warhead at a target standing for an enemy port. It said the test verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years, although the weapon was never mentioned before in state media until Friday.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seouls University of North Korean Studies, said that its impossible to verify North Koreas claims about the drones capabilities or that it had tested the system dozens of times. But, he said, the North is intending to communicate that the weapon has enough range to reach all South Korean ports.

Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, questioned the wisdom of North Korea devoting resources to the drone system as a means of delivery versus its ballistic missiles when it has limited amounts of nuclear materials suitable for weapons.

This un-crewed underwater vehicle will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Koreas coastal waters. It will also be susceptible to preemptive strikes when in port, said Panda.

Indeed, the U.S. and South Korea would have incentives in a crisis to preempt any such systems before they could deploy.

North Korea is believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads and may be capable of fitting them on older weapons systems, such as Scuds or Rodong missiles. However, there are different assessments on how far it has advanced in engineering those warheads to fit on the new weapons it has developed at a rapid pace, which might require further technological upgrades and nuclear tests.

Speaking to lawmakers on Thursday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup said the North probably hasnt yet mastered the technology to place nuclear arms on its most advanced weapons, but acknowledged the country was making significant progress.

On Wednesday, North Korea also test-fired cruise missiles in launches that were detected and publicized by South Koreas military. It also staged another nuclear attack simulation with a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday and flight-tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last week that may be able to reach the continental United States.

This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says is a Hwasal strategic cruise missile during an exercise in South Hamgyong province, North Korea Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

KCNA said Wednesdays tests were of four cruise missiles and two different types. The missiles flew for more than two hours in patterns over the sea while demonstrating an ability to strike targets 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) and 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) away. It said the missiles mock nuclear warheads were detonated 600 meters (1,968 feet) above their targets, which supposedly verified the reliability of their nuclear explosion control devices and warhead detonators.

KCNA said Kim Jong Un was satisfied with the three-day drills and directed unspecified additional tasks to counter the reckless military provocations of his rivals, indicating North Korea will further ramp up its military displays.

He expressed his will to make the U.S. imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet regime plunge into despair with powerful demonstrations of his military nuclear program to make his rivals understand they are bound to lose more than they get with the expansion of their joint drills.

Kim issued similar language Sunday after a test-firing of a short-range ballistic missile from what was possibly a silo dug into the ground. The Norths media said a mock nuclear warhead placed on the missile detonated 800 meters (2,624 feet) above water, an altitude that would maximize damage.

The North has fired over 20 ballistic and cruise missiles across 10 launch events this year as it tries to diversify its delivery systems and display the ability to conduct nuclear strikes on both South Korea and the U.S. mainland.

North Korea already is coming off a record year in testing activity, with more than 70 missiles fired in 2022, as Kim accelerated a campaign aimed at negotiating badly needed sanctions relief from a position of strength and forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power.
The father of a student killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting was pinned to the ground and briefly arrested at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday afternoon after he loudly protested during a House hearing on what Republicans called federal government "overreach" regarding gun ownership.

Manuel Oliver and his wife, Patricia Oliver, were removed from the House oversight subcommittee hearing by Capitol Police officers at the direction of Chairman Pat Fallon.

The Olivers' 17-year-old son, Joaquin, was murdered along with 16 other students, faculty and staff in Parkland, Florida, in 2018.

The Olivers have become advocates against gun violence in the years since. Manuel Oliver was previously removed from the White House last year after shouting at President Joe Biden for, he said, not doing enough on the issue.

Patricia Oliver spoke first during Thursdays proceeding, interrupting Fallon, R-Texas. Manuel Oliver also shouted out, using an expletive as he criticized Republicans on the panel about halfway through the hearing.

Moments after police were directed to remove the Olivers, yelling and a loud thud were heard just outside the hearing room and Manuel Oliver was pinned to the ground by multiple officers, as seen in video captured by ABC News.

It wasn't immediately clear what happened prior to Manuel Oliver being taken to the ground. One officer told ABC News that he was "resisting" and "moving around." But his wife told ABC News that he "kept saying the truth" and that officers "didn't like the way he speaks out."

Freshman Democratic Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida  formerly of the group March For Our Lives, founded in the wake of the Parkland shooting  asked the officers what they were doing as they pinned Manuel Oliver and informed them that his son was killed in Parkland.

Manuel and Patricia Oliver were removed from the hearing room I heard a loud thud outside the room, ran out, and saw officers pinning Manuel to the ground Rep Frost ran out shortly after: https://t.co/ZebugeU98Zpic.twitter.com/9TGc8M6Bc2  Will Steakin (@wsteaks) March 23, 2023

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, Manuel Oliver walked away in handcuffs after being arrested outside an Oversight Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2023. (Will Steakin/ABC News)

Capitol Police confirmed to ABC News that Manuel Oliver was arrested, and Patricia Oliver told ABC News within hours that he had been released.

She said that her husband did not lunge or get physical with officers before they took him down. But Capitol Police said in a statement that Manuel Oliver was detained for allegedly crowding, obstructing or incommoding "after he disrupted a hearing, refused to stop shouting, and then attempted to go back inside the hearing room."

Patricia Oliver denied to ABC News that her husband tried to go back into the hearing.

Manuel Oliver was issued a citation as part of his arrest and wasn't booked into jail, police said. They noted that his wife wasn't detained because she "followed the lawful directions of our officers."

The altercation appears to have begun after Patricia Oliver yelled during the hearing, leading Fallon to call for officers. Frost tweeted afterward that while Patricia said one thing, Fallon escalated the entire situation.

Youre breaching protocol and distributing the committee room, Fallon said at the hearing.

Fallon also scolded his critics in the gallery: "See, this is exactly what we have to avoid, which is some minority of folks trying to silence dissent. Dissent shouldn't be kryptonite."

Soon after, he cracked, "Is this an insurrection? So will they be held to the same I don't want another Jan. 6, do we?"

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, Manuel Oliver walked away in handcuffs after being arrested outside an Oversight Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2023. (Will Steakin/ABC News)

As the disruptions continued, Fallon said, "Does the Capitol Police not do their jobs? What in the hell's going on?"

He then sent the hearing into recess, during which Manuel Oliver was taken into custody, he said. When the proceeding resumed, he addressed the incident.

"Unfortunately, we had some folks that were disruptive during the hearing," he said. "We asked Capitol Police to remove them, they were then removed and then one decided to come back in while we were still gaveled in ... Capitol Police were overwhelmed outside in the hallway and now we're back in session."

Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat who also sits on the subcommittee, told ABC News afterward, We had people in the room who had become had become activists because they were personally touched by gun violence, and for them to hear elected officials that our answer to gun violence is to get rid of the ATF  I think it was difficult for member of the public to hear.

Parkland victim's dad seen pinned by Capitol Police, arrested after interrupting House hearing originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Duke of Sussex surprised a disabled veteran during an appearance on an American car renovation show.

Prince Harry sent a personal video message to former Lance Corporal Stephan Van Niekerk, who had his Jeep restored on the National Geographic programme Car S.O.S.

The former serviceman, from Taunton, Devon, was hit seven years by an improvised explosive device while serving.

After getting injured at such a young age after two tours of Afghanistan, you are the definition of inspiration because you are not defined by your injury, Harry told him.

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FILE - Dana Hyde, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, participates in the Ghana Compact signing ceremony during the US Africa Leaders Summit at the State Department in Washington on Aug. 5, 2014. Investigators said Friday, March 24, 2023, that Hyde, a passenger on a business jet, was fatally injured in early March when the aircraft violently bucked up and down after pilots disconnected a system used to stabilize the plane. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Investigators said Friday that a passenger on a business jet was fatally injured in early March when the aircraft violently bucked up and down after pilots disconnected a system used to stabilize the plane.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the pilots were responding to several warnings in the cockpit of the Bombardier jet that diverted to a Connecticut airport on March 3. They followed a checklist and turned off a switch that trims or adjusts the stabilizer, a control panel on the planes tail.

The plane turned nose-up at several times the force of gravity, then pointed lower before again turning upward before pilots could regain control, the report said.

Pilots told investigators they did not encounter turbulence, as the NTSB had said in a preliminary assessment the day after the crash.

The trim system of the Bombardier Challenger 300 twin-engine jet was the subject of a Federal Aviation Administration last year mandate that pilots conduct extra safety checks before flights.

Representatives for Bombardier did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.

The two pilots and three passengers were traveling from Keene, New Hampshire, to Leesburg, Virginia, before diverting to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. The passenger who died, Dana Hyde, 55, of Cabin John, Maryland, was brought to a hospital where she died from blunt-force injuries.

Hyde served in government positions during the Clinton and Obama administrations and was counsel for the 9/11 Commission, formally known as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

It was unclear if Hyde was belted in her seat or up and about, in the cabin, of the jet owned by Conexon, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Her husband and his son, along with the pilot and co-pilot, were not injured in the incident, the report said.

A message seeking comment was left for Conexon, a company specializing in rural internet.

The report indicated the pilots aborted their initial takeoff because no one removed a plastic cover from one of the pitot tubes that determine airspeed, and they took off with a rudder limiter fault alert on.

Another warning indicated autopilot stabilizer trim failure. The plane abruptly pitched upward as the pilots moved the stabilizer trim switch from primary to off while working through procedures on a checklist, the report said.

The plane violently oscillated up and down and the "stick pusher activated, the report said, meaning the onboard computer thought the plane was in danger of an aerodynamic stall.

The flight crew was comprised of two experienced pilots with 5,000 and 8,000 hours of flying time, and held ratings needed to fly for an airline. But both were relatively new to this model aircraft, earning their ratings last October.

The FAA issued its directive about Bombardier Challenger 300 jets last year after multiple instances in which the horizontal stabilizer on the aircrafts caused the nose of the plane to turn down after the pilot tried to make the aircraft climb.

___

Sharp reported from Portland, Maine. AP Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report.
A truck carrying more than 700,000 petition signatures in a recall effort to remove Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon were submitted to the County of Los Angeles Registrar Recorder/County Clerk's office in July. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

More than 300 signatures in a petition to recall Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon last year belonged to dead people, according to the county's Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office.

Now the agency has called on the California attorney general to investigate the possibility of fraud in the failed attempt to recall Gascon, whose reform-minded policies have become a target of Republican and conservative critics.

According to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office, a review of the petition found 367 signatures of people who had died before the recall effort was launched.

The findings were similar to a review of another petition, statewide Initiative 1935, in which county officials found 344 signatures of dead petitioners. The initiative was meant to limit local and state government from expanding, enacting or modifying taxes and fees.

"My office has identified irregularities that suggest the possibility of fraudulent signature submission that I believe warrant investigation," Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said in a statement.

But the Recall District Attorney George Gascon campaign, which has accused the registrar's office of wrongly invalidating tens of thousands of signatures, called the decision a "cover-up" to keep the campaign from reviewing the signatures that were invalidated by the county.

"This is nothing more than a last-ditch effort by Dean Logan to cover up the improper disqualification of thousands of valid signatures, which we ultimately intend to expose and challenge in court once the review is complete," the campaign said in a statement. "To be clear, if paid circulator fraud did occur to any extent, the Recall Committee, survivors of crime, and residents of Los Angeles are the victims, and the paid circulators should be held fully accountable."

In its review, the county office said it found "commonality in the circulators" of the petition campaigns to recall Gascon and the 1935 initiative.

Although such cases may be referred to the district attorney's office for investigation, the registrar's office referred the cases to the attorney general's office because Gascon would be an "interested party" in the recall.

The registrar's office has also reached out to the California secretary of state's investigative unit.

A spokesperson for the office said it isn't uncommon for some individuals to work to gather signatures for multiple organizations and campaigns.

The attorney general's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Elected in 2020, Gascon immediately faced criticism and an effort to remove him from office after he announced changes to the prosecutors office. His changes included ending the use of sentencing enhancements, limiting when defendants would be held in lieu of bail, and no longer seeking the death penalty in the county.

The changes put Gascon not just at odds with many of his own prosecutors and local law enforcement officials, but made him a target of Republican and conservative figures on the national stage who suggested that progressive, or derisively dubbed "woke," prosecutors were to blame for increases in crime.

A first recall effort failed in 2021 largely because of a lack of fundraising and organization. A second effort failed last year after about 715,000 signatures were submitted by the recall campaign. A total of 566,857 signatures, or 10% of eligible voters, were needed to put Gascon's job back on the ballot, but the registrar's office said roughly 27% of the signatures submitted were not valid.

Most of them were found to have been duplicate signatures or from people who were not registered to vote.

The recall campaign followed by filing a suit against the registrar's office, saying the many signatures were wrongly invalidated. The campaign has alleged in court that the office has not given it adequate access to review the recall petition and the invalidated signatures.

In a statement, the office said it was continuing to review the two petitions, as well as others that were submitted in the last year for more "possible irregularities."

"The integrity of these processes is fundamental to our representative form of government and influences the confidence and participation of our electorate," Logan said in the statement. "Attempts to compromise the integrity of this process ought to be scrutinized."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Britain's Prince Charles welcomes French president Emmanuel Macron, left, to Clarence House in London, June 18, 2020. AP-Yonhap



King Charles' state visit to France on Sunday has been postponed, the Elysee Palace said, after social unrest over



President Emmanuel Macron's changes to the pension system erupted into violence in Paris and cities across France.



The Elysee said a joint decision was taken by the British and French governments after trade unions called for a further day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations during the king's visit.



The postponement will be a major embarrassment to Macron, who had hoped the monarch's visit would mark a symbolic step in the two countries' efforts to turn a page after years of poor relations post-Brexit.



King Charles had been due to travel first to France for three days before moving on to Germany, an itinerary that had been seen as a coup for the French leader who has sought to position himself as Europe's de facto leader.



"The visit will be rescheduled as soon as possible," the Elysee said in a statement.



A Buckingham Palace source said King Charles' visit to Germany will go ahead as planned.



Black-clad anarchists fought street battles with police for several hours in the French capital on Thursday, ransacking a McDonald's restaurant, smashing up bus shelters and setting alight mounds of garbage that have piled up during strikes.



In Bordeaux, at the heart of one of France's best-known wine growing areas and where King Charles had also been expected to visit, protesters set alight the entrance to the city hall.



The upending of plans to host King Charles - which included a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles - will only pile further pressure on Macron to find a way out of a crisis that has seen some of France's worst unrest since the 'Yellow Vest' rebellion of 2018/2019.



The violence intensified after Macron's government pushed legislation to raise the retirement age by two years to 64 through parliament without a vote. His government lacks a clear majority. (Reuters)




TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew faced a bipartisan baptism of fiery inquiry Thursday at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, held as the platform comes under increased scrutiny from lawmakers and the Biden administration.

The questions covered topics as varied as content removal bias against Black creators, election misinformation and the platforms effects on the mental health of young people, who make up the majority of TikToks users. While many of these issues are not unique to TikTok, the Chinese ownership of its parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance, and its ties to the Chinese government make it unique among the major social media platforms popular with Americans.

The five-hour adversarial hearing saw a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation as both Democrats and Republicans raised national security concerns over the possibility of Chinese government officials gaining access to U.S. user data. Lawmakers made references to a 2017 Chinese law that requires companies there to assist state intelligence gathering.

To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see, and exploit [it] for future generations, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington state, said in her opening statement.

Her sentiments were supported by the 52-member committees leading Democrat, Frank Pallone Jr. of New Jersey. While TikTok videos provide a new fun way for people to express their creativity and enjoy the videos of others, the platform also threatens the health, privacy and security of the American people, he said. And I'm not convinced that the benefits outweigh the risks that it poses to Americans in its present form.

In response, Chew, who is Singaporean, gave a robust defense of his company and sought to distance it from the Chinese government. Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government. It is a private company, Chew said in his opening statement.

He added that concerns about addiction and data privacy were an industrywide problem. We believe what is needed are clear, transparent rules that apply broadly to all tech companies. Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns.

Chew also outlined Project Texas, the companys proposal to use Austin-based cloud computing company Oracle to vet its code and ensure that U.S. user data are stored in the country and firewalled from access by foreign governments. This eliminates the concern that some of you have shared with me that TikTok user data can be subject to Chinese law, Chew told the committee.

But there remains skepticism about the practicalities of that proposal and whether it goes far enough.

Project Texas just doesn't pass the smell test. My constituents are concerned that TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party are controlling their data and seeing our own vulnerabilities, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) said.

The hearing came after it was reported that the Biden administration plans to force ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok or face a ban in the United States. Ahead of the hearing, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese government planned to resist the forced sale.

If the news is true, China will resolutely oppose it, Shu Jueting, a spokeswoman at Chinas ministry of commerce, said. She added that the sale would seriously damage investors from multiple countries including China and hurt confidence to invest in the United States.

Ahead of the hearing, a slew of TikTok creators roamed the halls of Congress as part of a public relations effort to urge lawmakers and the Biden administration not to ban the platform, which has 150 million users in the U.S. monthly.

Last month, the White House announced a ban of TikTok on all devices owned by federal agencies. The United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union have also banned TikTok from all government devices, citing security concerns. In 2020, India banned the use of TikTok in the country.

A sobering moment at the hearing came when Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) highlighted the story of a teenager named Chase Nasca, who died by suicide and whose tearful parents were in attendance. Your company destroyed their lives, he said.

The content in Chases 'For You' page was not a window to discovery, as you boldly claimed in your testimony.  Instead, his For You page was sadly a window to discover suicide, he said, referring to the curated section of the app for users.

Earlier in the session, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) showed a video in which someone appeared to threaten Chairwoman Rodgers with a gun.

This video has been up for 41 days, Cammack said. You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data, privacy and security of 150 million Americans when you cant even protect the people in this room? I think that is a blatant display of how vulnerable people who use TikTok are.

After a recess, Chew said he had communicated with his team to have the video taken down.

The White House has already supported a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give the Commerce secretary broad new powers, including to ban technology from adversary countries such as China and Russia.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Joe Tacopina and Donald Trump. Getty/Getty

CNN unearthed video footage showing Trump's current lawyer saying in 2018 that the Stormy Daniels hush-money payment could be a "real problem" for Trump.

The lawyer, Joe Tacopina, also said the payment could have violated federal election laws.

He's struck a markedly different tone since becoming Trump's lawyer, saying Trump is the victim of an extortion plot.

A defense attorney representing Donald Trump in the Manhattan district attorney's probe into a hush-money payment made to Stormy Daniels said several years ago that the payment could pose a "real problem" for Trump.

The lawyer, Joe Tacopina, made multiple appearances on CNN in 2018, when the $130,000 payment first came to light as part of a federal criminal investigation  separate from the DA's current probe  into Michael Cohen, who was then Trump's longtime fixer.

"If it leads back to the Trump campaign funding, that's a big problem," Tacopina told CNN in a March 2018 interview. "This is a Pandora's box that's gonna be opened and unfortunately is not going to have any good results for the president."

Andrew Kaczynski and his team has uncovered new audio tonight of Joe Tacopina. This audio raises concerns about trump's hush money payments to Stormy Daniels in 2018 pic.twitter.com/g0OZOV7Bjw  Acyn (@Acyn) March 22, 2023

In another CNN segment in 2018, Tacopina said that the payment is subject to scrutiny if the money to Daniels was "made on behalf of the candidate ... and it was not declared."

"That's fair game, unfortunately, if that's the case," he said.

According to a CNN report, Tacopina also said that the payment "could be looked as an in-kind contribution at the time of the election."

"This is a real problem," he told CNN.

Cohen pleaded guilty later that year to multiple felonies related to the hush-money payment, including tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations. He said he coordinated the payment at Trump's direction, but Trump has denied the alleged affair and any knowledge of the payment. He's also lambasted Cohen's testimony, calling him a "nut job with zero credibility."

Tacopina, meanwhile, has struck a markedly different tone since becoming Trump's defense attorney, painting the former president as the victim of an extortion plot and a political fishing expedition.

"We are distorting laws to try and bag President Trump ... I don't know what it is, but this prosecutor and this prosecutor's office has made an agenda," Tacopina said on "ABC's Good Morning America" earlier this month.

Of the myriad criminal and civil investigations he's mired in, Trump faces the most imminent threat from the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg.

But legal experts told Insider that state prosecutors are looking at an uphill battle in the event that they bring criminal charges against the former president in connection to the Daniels hush-money payment.

According to public reporting, Bragg's office is most likely to charge Trump with a felony violation of New York's business records statute. To do so, prosecutors would need to prove that in addition to falsifying business records with an intent to defraud, Trump also committed a secondary crime  in this case, violating federal campaign finance laws.

"Prosecutors could argue an intent to deprive voters of accurate information," Randall Eliason, a law professor at George Washington University, wrote on Twitter. But "it's not clear that would qualify as intent to defraud in NY (it clearly would not under federal law.)" If Trump is charged with falsifying business records, "expect to see this defense."

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider


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China expands its toolbox for global unity

10:54, March 24, 2023 By ZHANG YUNBI ( China Daily

This aerial photo taken on Nov 23, 2022 shows a Fuxing bullet train running on the Yuanjiang bridge of the China-Laos Railway in southwest China's Yunnan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Initiatives reflect Beijing's commitment to community with a shared future

Over the past 10 years, many policy researchers have found that China has remained true to its word on its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

To achieve this major vision, Beijing has added to its huge toolbox, putting forward and developing a range of detailed blueprints and initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative.

In the past decade, the BRI alone "has galvanized nearly $1 trillion of investment, established more than 3,000 cooperation projects, created 420,000 local jobs and helped lift almost 40 million people out of poverty", State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang told reporters earlier this month.

At the heart of these ambitious Chinese blueprints is the nation's unchanged belief that countries can and should get along well with one another and the global community needs teamwork and unity, officials and scholars said.

When speaking at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in March 2013, President Xi Jinping observed that mankind, living in the same global village, has increasingly emerged as a community with a shared future in which everyone's interests are closely entwined.

After that, he proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, also in 2013, the Global Development Initiative in 2021, the Global Security Initiative last year, and the Global Civilization Initiative on March 15. The GDI alone has won the support of more than 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.

"All these have enriched our vision for a community with a shared future for mankind and provided practical pathways toward it," Xi said in a signed article published in Russian media on Monday. "They are part of China's response to the changes of the world, of our times, and of the historic trajectory."

The community vision has been incorporated many times in key documents such as resolutions and joint statements focusing on global governance, including those of the United Nations and the BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Vice-Foreign Minister Xie Feng said earlier this year that "the past 10 years has witnessed this vision displaying increasing power of truth and enormous potential in practice. ... Building a community with a shared future for mankind is not an empty concept, but enriched practices".

China is working with various countries to translate the GDI into reality and stepping up efforts on the high-quality development of the Belt and Road, he noted.

In addition, the GSI proposed by Xi "is an innovative measure for responding to international security challenges and tackling fundamental issues concerning the world's lasting tranquility", he said.

"All countries are entitled to prosper, and the success of all is the best of all," Xie added.

He also called for greater joint efforts among countries to further fulfill common development, security, openness, values and responsibility for tackling growth deficits, achieving peace, deepening win-win cooperation, building bridges among cultures and securing international strategic stability.

Cui Hongjian, director of the China Institute of International Studies' European studies department, said that "there has been a growing maturity of China's overall thinking and proposals in advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind".

Beijing's proposals have been reaching deeper and moving closer to the fundamental parts of global governance through the introduction, one after another, of the GDI, the GSI and the GCI, Cui said.

"All these efforts are refocusing global attention and efforts to address one common ultimate question  achieving security and development in the whole world," he added.

From the GSI to the specific documents proposed by China recently, including the position paper on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, China has made relentless, earnest efforts to offer Chinese solutions to global security governance, Cui said.

"Only by doing so will it be possible to see many of the existing hot spot issues eased or resolved and to see the climate for development in the world improve," he said.

Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that building a community with a shared future for mankind is "a viable path for perfecting global governance".

"Currently, the international community is confronted with, and should deal with, worsening deficits in peace, development, security and governance," he said.

"It should be noted that China's efforts in seeking modernization will also face greater challenges and obstacles if such thorny issues haunting the whole of mankind are not resolved," he added.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind is in line with the natural law of economics when it comes to the division of labor in the global context, he said.

"As a major economic player in the world, China benefits from the international division of labor, and it contributes considerably to the world economy in return," he added.

Officials and scholars said that China in the future will, as always, remain committed to its global vision, earnestly participate in the global governance agenda and make greater contributions to advancing peace and development in the world as well as the progress of the whole of mankind.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, said it will be important for China to make further efforts in overall planning and coordinating to advance the series of major initiatives and proposals put forward by Xi.

"We need to build a full-fledged, multidimensional framework that is aimed at building a community with a shared future for mankind through comprehensively advancing the BRI, the GDI and the GSI," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS/ARTSAKHPRESS. Representatives of the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh released a statement on March 20, noting that tens of thousands of Armenians today are deprived of their right to live on their homeland as a result of the 44-Day War of 2020 and the forced displacements carried out by Azerbaijan.

The population of tens of thousands Armenians of Shahumyan region and Getashen sub-region were also forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan back in the 1990s. Whereas under clause 7 of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement the leaders of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation assumed the obligation to ensure the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent regions under the supervision of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which hasnt taken place to this day.

Taking into account the necessity to restore the rights of the forcibly displaced population of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as the obligations assumed by Azerbaijan under clause 7 of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, we demand with this letter from the President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev to acknowledge the urgent imperative of restoring the violated rights of Armenian refugees, ensure their safe and dignified return to their historic lands and former settlements in accordance with the assumed obligations, human rights and humanitarian law.

We call on the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, as a signatory to the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, to display consistent approach in the issue of initiating all international legal and political mechanisms that will be aimed at ensuring the implementation of international obligations by Azerbaijan. At the same time, we ask for additional mechanisms to be created for the more effective protection of the rights and interests of refugees, raising and advancing their lawful demands.

We call on the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to ensure the implementation of the terms of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement through the mechanisms envisaged under international law and all possible political levers, taking into account the fact that he is a head of state of the signatory state to the statement, and therefore the guarantor of implementation of the terms of the statement.

We address United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi with the purpose of organizing, supervising and ensuring the return of the displaced Armenian population of the territories under Azerbaijani control, as well as supporting effective and applicable international guarantees for ensuring the security of the returning persons, including the deployment of peacekeeping forces.

At the same time, we draw to the High Commissioners attention the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities are currently carrying out illegal repopulation programs of Azerbaijanis in our settlements, impeding our return and illegally appropriating our property.

We present this letter as organizations created by, representing the interests of and acting on behalf of refugees and forcibly displaced persons of the 2020 44-Day War in Nagorno Karabakh and the First Nagorno Karabakh War.

NKR Union of Refugees NGO - Saro Saryan

Motherhood NGO - Hasmik Mikayelyan

Kajar Scientific Center NGO - Mher Harutyunyan

Center for Support and Development of Women and Children NGO  Inessa Asryan

Union of Refugees for Justice NGO  Angela Tamrazyan

Association of Women Refugees NGO  Ruzanna Avagyan

Our Home NGO  Anahit Tovmasyan

Deoccupation of Hadrut NGO  Meri Davtyan

Childrens Creative Center of Hadrut NGO  Ira Tamrazyan
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is calling for a strong international engagement and pressure on Azerbaijan to unblock the Lachin corridor.

In an interview with the Egyptian AlQahera News Agency, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the imperative of a strong international engagement and pressure on Azerbaijan to implement the ICJ decision and lift the blockade. He said that Armenia has been calling for an urgent international fact-finding mission to be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor to assess the situation on the ground.

First of all, the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan is a blatant violation of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020 which envisages that Azerbaijan shall guarantee safe movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo in both directions along the Lachin corridor. One would think that a legally binding decision of the International Court of Justice, which was adopted on February 22, could have resolved the situation as the Court ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement along the Lachin corridor. It is regrettable that so far the decision has not been implemented, FM Mirzoyan said.

He added that the Lachin Corridor isnt only a road, but rather a 5km wide security zone.

Furthermore, I would like to emphasize that the Lachin corridor is not only a road, but a 5 km security zone. Thus, the sabotage attack of March 5 in the Lachin corridor, which I mentioned earlier, violated not only the ceasefire agreement, but also the contact line and the security zone of the corridor.In current circumstances, I would like to stress the imperative of strong international engagement and pressure on Azerbaijan to implement the ICJ decision and lift the blockade. Armenia has been calling for an urgent international fact-finding mission to be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor to assess the situation on the ground. Its also not a secret that the proposal of such a mission was repeatedly rejected by the Azerbaijani side, clearly showing the absence of willingness of Azerbaijani leadership to be transparent and accountable towards the international community, the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

The United Nations highest court  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said that there is an absolute necessity of international engagement to prevent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh by Azerbaijan.

FM Mirzoyan spoke to the Egyptian AlQahera News Agency about Azerbaijans actions and the blockade of Lachin Corridor, among other issues.

In parallel to blocking the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting the Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, for more than three months and creating a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan continues to terrorise the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh by creating unbearable conditions for living in their homeland with the ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing. Along with the humanitarian crisis, Azerbaijan has also provoked an energy crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. In cold winter conditions, the authorities of Azerbaijan repeatedly disrupted and continue to disrupt the gas and electricity supply.

The actions of Azerbaijan as well as the aggressive and maximalist rhetoric have proven the absolute necessity of international engagement to address the issues of rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as to prevent the clear attempts of Azerbaijan aimed at the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The position of the international community, including our partners and friends in the Arab world should be clear against any narrative and actions perpetrating another genocide, the international system cannot afford to sustain yet another such failure.

To conclude, despite all the risks and the fragility of the situation around my country, Armenia remains determined to make its contribution to creating a stable region where our generations wont just dream about living in peace.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani propaganda machine has again spread disinformation in an attempt to mislead both its own society and the international community.

The spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizade denied that the Netherlands Foreign Ministry summoned the Azerbaijani Ambassador over the non-compliance with the International Court of Justice ruling on the Lachin Corridor. Hajizade claimed that their Ambassador was not summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and that his last meeting at the ministry took place on his own initiative on March 15.

However, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra himself said in written answers to questions from Dutch lawmakers that the Azerbaijani Ambassador was called to the Foreign Ministry.

Dutch lawmakers asked FM Hoekstra whether the government plans to contact the Azeri ambassador over his countrys non-compliance with the ICJ order.

Yes, as weve said previously, on February 28 the Azerbaijani Ambassador was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a discussion on this issue, in order for the UN International Court decision to be fulfilled. During the conversation the Netherlands called upon Azerbaijan to comply with the decision of the international court. During this conversation, it was noted that the Netherlands does not share the limited explanations given by Azerbaijan on the decision, and that the courts decision must be implemented entirely, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra said in his written answers to the parliamentary questions.

The United Nations highest court  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.
In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write."

All The Spectators writers, boobies and cry-babies, protest against the cancel culture which denies the likes of Suella a platform

The saints who abjure earthly love

In favour of profundity above

Should know not that love can be profound

And sweep earthly lovers off the ground

Dont postpone love till your next birth

Love is the door to heaven on earth.

From Ghantey Bhari Tales, by Bachchoo

I subscribe to a weekly British publication called The Spectator. I read it as, say, Vladimir Putin would read the Wall Street Journal or perhaps, lets say, I read it for the same reason that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might regularly watch Russian TV.

Theres another reason. I also subscribe to the fortnightly Private Eye, whose mercilessly satirical half makes me laugh. As do very many articles in The Spectator, but as they say, not with them, but at their studied and persistent absurdities.

Their columnists, for instance, persist in prose-panicking about adolescent idiots at universities insisting on changing pronouns from she to they to enforce some gender fantasy. One regular writer, Douglas Murray, devotes a lot of space to denouncing British museums and institutions which have recently taken to correcting historical bias in their exhibits. When publishers adopt some current fad about expunging words and phrases which might offend some ethnic or gender group, master Murray declares that this is the end of civilisation as we know it (CAWKI).

Its what makes me smirk, smile, laugh out loud. As some bad boys do when they encounter a person with billboards declaring that The End of The World is Nigh. Even while mocking this prediction, we must realise that global warming might, even in the remote future, make this billboard prophecy come true. Scientists see signs of it in the melting of glaciers and unusual storms which they trace to the effects of GW. Symptoms, symptoms -- the end of the world Well, not quite!

But the end of CAWKI? Shall we look around? Yes, Roald Dahls books are being slightly altered. Some statues of people who profited from the slave trade are being toppled, some children are insisting that they dont like the gender their DNA determines they are, some speakers are being non-platformed because student unions at universities object to their views. Yes, indeed there are symptoms of the end of civilisation as we know it. But then there are other symptoms which absolutely testify that the civilisation as we know it is substantially, significantly, unchanged by wokery.

A Russian mafia government wages a war to annex or destroy Ukraine. China spreads its wings over poor continents, Donald Trump calls on supporters to protest when hes arrested on criminal charges, Hedgie Sunak is Tory Prime Minister and Cruella Braverman dreams of sending a few desperate asylum-seeking, or even new-life-seeking, boat-people and billions of pounds of taxpayers money to Rwanda. At least these last two bits of CAWKI will probably meet with the approval of all the writers in The Spectator. None of them would support, say Jeremy Corbyn as PM of the UK, or Bernie Sanders as President of the United States.

Their regular diatribes -- most articles in every issue -- are against some collective phantom they call the Left. One of these writers, an American immigrant called Lionel Shriver, wrote an article in the regular vein of The Spectators anti-woke and anti-Left chastising this conglomerate enemy for generalising and lumping disparate people together.

She was, gentle reader, quite right. For instance, she pointed out that these mistaken, misleading or evil people of the Left lump Asians together. She contends, and this is true, that there are very many different groups and individuals who could gather under the banner of Asian, divided by religion, by class, by being rich or poor, Mirpuri or Tamil etc.

Her article vainly and foolishly inspired -- instigated? -- me to write a letter to The Spectator. One addresses these to the editor of the Letters page which they publish every week. Heres what my letter said:

Sir: While sharing Lionel Shrivers concerns about banning some of the words and phrases on her list, I wish The Spectator would ban the undefined, indiscriminate, generalising and lazy use of the word Left to describe any and everything with which your writers disagree. The especially guilty ones are, apart from Shriver, Douglas Murray, Rod Liddle and even Melissa Kite. Included in Shrivers List of Banned Words (25 Feb 2023) is The ____ community. Shriver contends that the membership of any group defined by the phrase in general have nothing in common. She cites Asians. What have Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman and Priti Patel in common with the Bangladeshi bus driver in Birmingham? Quite right. So also, the Left encompasses a plethora of stances, ideologies and a million shades of opinion. The use of the phrase by The Spectators writers is indiscriminate, indolent, bigoted and patronising. Discriminate, define or desist. I realise you may characterise this letter as (unspecified) Left diatribe and subject therefore to (right-wing?) cancellation. Farrukh Dhondy.

Of course, I didnt expect them to publish it. Their deputy editor, Toby Young poses, as the advocate of free speech. He is even the president of some free speech union. All The Spectators writers, boobies and cry-babies, protest against the cancel culture which denies the likes of Suella a platform. And my letter? The end of free speech as we know it?

Er no! The Spectator doesnt have the readership numbers of the paper or website you are reading.
Mad Hatter whos in charge of the weather, has really fried our brains this week with heavy downpours in March and the hottest spring

Someone really clever and witty sent me someone elses clever and witty post, which read: Before the Ides of March, Caesar was an emperor. Now he is a salad. I promptly shared it with a few clever and witty friends, who shared the same with their clever and witty friends. I went a step further, and posted it on Instagram, where people are not all that clever or witty, nor do they know their Shakespeare. Sure enough, I was inundated with comments that asked: Is there chicken in this salad? Now, that comment qualifies as super-super clever and witty, for those who got it. Most didnt. Desole, as the lead in the extravagantly inane Netflix series Emily in Paris, keep exclaiming. I love inane done well. Emily does it brilliantly. And, in any case, we can do with a bit of stylish froth since the Mad Hatter whos in charge of the weather, has really fried our brains this week with heavy downpours in March and the hottest spring in Mumbai, with temperatures touching 40 degrees in the shade. The only thing hotter on my radar remains Urfi Javeds sizzling daily outings unwearing clothes, and gladdening our hearts.

All this delish nonsense kept me distracted from the usual burning issues, that scorch our news wires for a few hours before disappearing into that welcoming void of nothingness where most political scoops land. If these scoops were physical in format (like dog poop), we could use them for landfills from Mumbai to Dubai. And still have enough crap to spare. I mean, what else can one call the hocus focus chase involving a slippery customer called Amritpal Singh, described as a separatist preacher, who has thousands of cops chasing him while he effortlessly gets on a motorbike provided by supporters and speeds off. Aha -- the dashing cops have arrested his accomplices  which is a big thing. But he is still out there at the time of writing, with pressure being put on his parents to get the radical Sikh leader to surrender. Slim likelihood of that happening, given the headlines he is generating worldwide by being on the run. Khalistani supporters from London to Washington are staging disruptive protests, throwing water bottles and smoke flares at the main gate of India House, the Indian high commission in London. It sounded like a well-organised protest, with hired buses, banners and sound systems. The demand is for a halt to rampant drug consumption and police repression in Punjab. The response from the staffers at the high commission seems pretty odd -- why unfurl an additional tricolour from the terrace, with a police helicopter hovering overhead, and further rile up the irate protesters? The desperate and despicable attempt to tear down the tricolour must, however, be strongly condemned and action taken against the nasty miscreants.

But heres the thing. My friends with close friends in Toronto have many stories about the Khalistanis in Canada and the staggering amount of wealth some of them possess. I was told about a Sikh building contractor hired by a former Mumbai resident who moved base to Toronto recently, sharing a cuppa with the lady of the house and offering her a joyride in his private helicopter. He is not an exception, the lovely lady breathlessly shared. She has zero political views, whether on Khalistan or Pakistan. She has moved to Canada for a better life, thats it. But even someone as apolitical as her, has picked up on whats going on in the pre-dominantly Sikh areas of the city she now calls home. This is not a recent development. It appears like the Indian government has been caught napping and worse, the perception suggests there is a serious lack of communication, an absence of a long-term strategy, and a sense of powerlessness, too. Let sleeping dogs lie, is never the ideal solution to resolving simmering and severe conflict that appears to be spiralling out of control. At the moment, it is advantage Amritpal. Come on, Keystone Cops! As the bench of Justice N.S. Shekhawat of the Punjab and Haryana high court asked the state government during the hearing of a plea filed by Imran Singh Khara, legal adviser to Waris Punjab De, which has demanded Amritpals release claiming that he was in the illegal custody of the police: You have 80,000 cops how did Amritpal Singh escape? Good question. But as most Punjab watchers know, anything is possible in that state, provided the money is right. The more important question is this: Where does the lolly come from? And how?

Meanwhile, Im all ears for the Total Banger rap edit of Deepika Padukones Oscars speech. The video has gone viral. One wonders who scripted Deepikas sharp and on point Banger comment that summed up the mood of Naatu Naatu so vividly. The word Banger sounds wicked and obscene. Apparently, its kosher or else it would have been blipped out during the telecast. The video created by Canadian DJ Sickick, has global fans lovin it Even though the Banger term has been adopted earlier by Homeboy for TipsPunjabi (Music by Yeah Proof) and has 55 lakh views on YouTube. With her spectacular debut on the Champagne Carpet -- plus, the generous praise from an unlikely source: Bollywood co-actor Kangana Ranaut -- Deepika Padukone looks unbeatable in the celebrity stakes at the moment. Shall we overlook the absence of any comment from her husband Ranveer Singh, without reading too much into the otherwise over loquacious actors uncharacteristic radio silence over his wifes glam-triumph. Perspectives, folks -- Deepika was one of the presenters at the Oscars -- not the winner of the Best Actress award. But whats the silly season without a dollop of Bollywood goss and speculation???

With several high-profile political arrests in the pipeline, the heat is on in more ways than one. Donald Trump, Rahul Gandhi, Imran Khan oooooh! Will they or wont they land in the clink? And if they do get one or all three behind bars -- how many of us will be beating our breasts and crying in sympathy? Or will break into a spontaneous Jailhouse Rock?

Ufffff!!! All this breast-beating and slogan-shouting is giving me a migraine. Enuff stress, ya! The great news is here: the first crop of Ratnagiri mangoes is in the local markets, priced at Rs 1,600 per dozen. Gold touched Rs 60,000 a tola last week. Enjoy Indias Golden Hour while it lasts. Sab kuch seasonal hota hai! What? No chapattis for lunch? Let them eat mangoes!
Today's headlines: Kindergarten attendance drops in China; North Korea claims to have tested nuclear submarine drone: Russians fail to deliver promised weapons to India; In Laos fishing bans in tourist areas for Chinese Doctors fleeing Russia; Clashes in Georgian parliament.

SAUDI ARABIA-SYRIA

After the recent understanding with Iran brokered by China, Riyadh is in talks with Damascus to restore diplomatic relations, which were interrupted after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Discussions currently concern the resumption of consular services.

CHINA

For the first time in 15 years, the number of kindergartens in the country dropped in 2022. Compared to the year before, the Ministry of Education recorded 5,000 fewer. At the recent annual session of the national parliament, delegates presented more than 20 recommendations to combat the rapid demographic decline.

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang reportedly tested a nuclear-capable submarine drone earlier this week. This was revealed today by the official KCNA news agency. According to the Kim Jong-un regime, the weapon would be capable of causing a 'radioactive tsunami' against an enemy country.

INDIA-RUSSIA

Due to the war with Ukraine, Moscow is unable to deliver 'vital weapon systems' to Delhi. This was stated by the Indian Air Force. For decades Russia (and before that the USSR) has been the leading supplier of weapons to India.

LAOS

Inhabitants of some villages in the central province of Borikhamxay are forbidden to fish in areas reserved for Chinese tourists, under penalty of arrest and prosecution. For the locals, fishing is their only means of livelihood.

RUSSIA

The Sistema website revealed that as soon as military mobilisation was announced in September 2022, as many as 250 Russian doctors fled to Kazakhstan. They rented a private plane, paying 40,000 roubles each (more than 500 euro); the bulk of the expense was covered by an unknown Russian billionaire, who 'invests in digital technologies'.

GEORGIA

A heated quarrel broke out in the Tbilisi parliament, in which MPs used the microphones in the polling stations as weapons to hit their opponents, with mutual accusations of corruption and espionage. The most heated clash took place between opposition members and those of the 'People's Strength' party, proponent of the much contested 'foreign agents' law.
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue issues a message for the Islamic holy month, noting that Ramadan should be a time to boost existing friendships and peaceful and friendly coexistence.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue released a message to the worlds Muslims at the start of Ramadan, noting that Islams holy month is important for you, but also for your friends, neighbours and fellow believers of other religions, in particular Christians.

Titled Christians and Muslims: Promoters of Love and Friendship, the message is signed by Card Miguel Angel Cardinal Ayuso Guixot, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Fr Indunil Kodithuwakku Janakaratne Kankanamalage, the dicasterys secretary.

During Ramadan, Existing friendships are reinforced and others are built, paving the way for more peaceful, harmonious and joyful coexistence. This corresponds to the divine will for our communities, and indeed for all the members and communities of the one human family.

Today this path has to deal with many challenges and threats, most notably extremism, radicalism, polemics, disputes, and religiously motivated violence fuelled by a culture of hate.

For this reason, We need, then, to find the most appropriate ways of countering and overcoming such a culture, enhancing instead, enhancing love and friendship, in particular between Muslims and Christians, due to the bonds that unite us.

The message goes on to warn that different attitudes towards each other, in particular when there are differences between us in religion, ethnicity, culture, language, or politics could be seen as a threat that might spark negative behaviours, such as suspicion, fear, rivalry, discrimination, exclusion, persecution, polemics, insults, and backbiting.

Social media platforms are common spaces for such harmful behaviours, perverting their role from being means for communication and friendship to being instruments for enmity and fighting.

The common challenge, then, is to jointly promote on social media the opposite behaviours, that is respect, goodness, charity, friendship, mutual care for all, forgiveness, cooperation for the common good, help to all those who are in any kind of need and care for the environment, in order to keep our common home a safe and pleasant place where we can live together in peace and joy.

It is a matter thus of promoting a culture of love and friendship, based on a sound education for future generations in all the spaces where they are formed: in the family, at school, in places of worship, and on social media.

The message ends with the authors of the message extending their best wishes to Muslim brothers and sisters so that they can enjoy the Almightys abundant blessings during Ramadan and celebrate Id al-Fitr in the joy resulting from fidelity and love for the Almighty and all persons you live with or meet.
On the run for nearly a week, the Sikh preacher leads a separatist group in India's Punjab state. Khalistani independence dates back to the era of partition between India and Pakistan. A history of clashes with the central government. The role of the diaspora.

Milan (AsiaNews) - He used five different vehicles in 12 hours to evade capture by police in the Indian state of Punjab as riots broke out in front of diplomatic posts in London and San Francisco in protest of mass arrests of his supporters and the suspension of the internet throughout Punjabi territory.

Amritpal Singh, self-styled Sikh preacher who heads a movement calling for independence for Khalistan, has been on the run for nearly a week. But it is not so much his figure that enjoys support at home and abroad as it is the Khalistani movement, which has survived in various forms since independence and now appears to have regained new vigor after peaking in the 1980s before suffering violent repression by the Delhi authorities.

Called "Bhindranwale 2.0," in honor of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh militant whom the preacher said he was inspired by, Amritpal Singh had moved to Dubai to pursue his family's transportation business and returned to Punjab last year to take the reins of an organization called Waris Punjab De (Heirs of Punjab) following the death in a car accident of its founder, Deep Sidhu.

"Our goal for Khalistan should not be seen as evil and taboo. It is an ideology and ideology never dies. We are not asking Delhi for it," Singh had declared on Feb. 24. The day before, hundreds of his followers had clashed with the IDF demanding the release of a movement member arrested for an alleged kidnapping case.

The movement for Khalistan has taken many forms over the years, but has always called for the creation of an independent state in what is now Punjab, a region divided between India and Pakistan and now home to a majority of people of the Sikh faith.

The political struggle for autonomy began with India's independence in 1947: during the partition with Pakistan, Punjab was the scene of fierce sectarian clashes. Lahore and other important Sikh cult sites, including Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, went to Pakistan.

Thousands of Muslims stranded in India poured toward the new state, while Hindus and Sikhs took the reverse route. Shortly thereafter the Punjabi Suba movement, forerunner of the movement for Khalistan, was born: it called for the creation of a Pujabi-speaking state.

After more than a decade of protests, India's geography was redrawn in 1966 to reflect the movement's demands: Delhi divided the original territory into three, creating Himachal Pradesh and Haryana with a Hindu and Hindi-speaking majority, and Punjab with a Sikh predominance and where Punjabi is spoken primarily.

As a result of Punjabi Suba's achievements, the political scene in the 1970s was then dominated by the Shiromani Akali Dal, a party actually born in 1920, shortly after Gandhi's Congress and his main rival in Punjab: in 1973, after meeting in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, the group made a number of demands of Delhi, including one for an autonomous Punjab with its own constitution, but envisioning remaining in the Indian Federation.

Within the party, however, there was also a more radical current, represented by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The movement for Khalistan sought, among other things, to provide an answer to the socio-economic problems of the people in rural areas, but the popularity Bhindranwale achieved in the early 1980s became a problem for Indira Gandhi's government, which, instead of negotiating, decided it was a secessionist movement.

In 1984 the Indian government launched Operation Blue Star against the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest site for Sikhs. On June 6 Bhindranwale was killed and has been considered a martyr ever since. An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people died in the clashes. On October 31 of the same year Indira Gandhi is assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards. Even by conservative estimates, at least 8 thousand Sikhs have lost their lives to street violence since the assassination of the Congress premier.

According to some observers, those who have protested in support of Singh in recent days are but a minority of Sikhs living abroad. For veteran journalist Terry Milewski, however, "the diaspora is predominantly composed of people who do not want to live in India.

These people include many who remember the bad old days of the 1980s." Today "there is a small minority that clings to the past, and that small minority remains significant not because of popular support, but rather because they are trying to maintain their own political influence with various political parties on the left and right. They can gather a mass of supporters who will vote for politicians who can flatter them."

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Japans Immigration Services Agency has released a handbook that lays out very strict criteria for status recognition. In 2021, Japan accepted 74 applications out of more than 2,000, a record for the East Asian country. Amnesty International slams indefinite detention of asylum seekers.

Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Stung by criticism for its poor treatment of refugees and immigrants, Japan is introducing new national guidelines on refugee status recognition.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan today released a handbook that does not expand the scope of recognition already in use by immigration authorities, nor is it meant to "increase the number of people granted refugee status," Justice Minister Ken Saito told a press conference.

It is possible that there will be an increase in cases of swiftly granting refugee status," he added, but the new guidelines are mostly aimed at a better organising applications.

As for the new handbooks effectiveness, the Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees has serious doubts. There is no guarantee that the number of refugee recognition and protection will increase," since the handbook is only to help "better understand" the refugee recognition system.

In 2021, Japan granted refugee status to only 74 people out of 2,413 applications, a record for the country, but a figure far lower than many other countries. That same year, 580 people were allowed to remain in Japan, including 498 from Myanmar, where a civil war is raging.

Applications for refugee status in 2021 dropped by 88 per cent from 2017, when nearly 20,000 applications were filed. However, in an unusual move, Japan has accepted 2,035 evacuees from Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia.

Migrants have painted a grim picture of what its like to claim refugee status in Japan, said Hideaki Nakagawa, director of Amnesty International Japan. Far from being helped in their hour of need, they speak of being subjected to arbitrary, endless detention in prison-like immigration facilities.

Although Japan is a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, Japanese law allows authorities to detain irregular migrants, including asylum seekers, indefinitely, in violation of international law.

Under the Convention, a refugee is defined as someone who cannot return to their country of origin because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions.

The governments guidelines mention persecution based on sexual orientation, take into consideration contributing factors that can lead people to leave their country of origin, and stress that the risk of persecution must be "realistic, not abstract..
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I supports the creation of a new ecclesiastical jurisdiction on Lithuanian soil. It will give autonomy to the Lithuanian Orthodox who no longer want to depend on the Moscow Patriarchate. Analogy with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church founded in 2018. A response to Patriarch Kirill's support for the Putin war against Ukraine.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I paid a visit to Vilnius, endorsing the idea of forming a new Orthodox ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Lithuania, dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople, similar to the Ukrainian autocephalous Church created in 2018. The declaration accompanied the signing of a closer cooperation agreement with the Lithuanian government, together with the local premier Ingrida Simonite.

This would be a less definitive structure, an 'exarchate' that would allow the Lithuanian Orthodox, who no longer want to be dependent on Moscow, to act with relative autonomy. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the stances of the Orthodox in the Baltic country have been clearly opposed to Moscow and Patriarch Kirill's war justifications.

The Metropolitan of Vilnius, Innokentij (Vasil'ev), has so far wavered between separation from Moscow and submission to the patriarchate, to which he has submitted a request for a change of statute, in order to obtain greater autonomy as a Moscow exarchate, or even autocephaly while remaining in communion with the patriarchate. The Russian synod postponed the decision on the issue to a forthcoming local council of the entire patriarchal Church.

Some Lithuanian Orthodox priests did not want to wait for such procedures and detached themselves from the metropolia, being reduced to the lay state by Innokentij, only to be welcomed back by Bartholomew as Constantinopolitan priests, hence the need to establish a Vilnius exarchate for them. The five priests officially readmitted, to be followed by others, are Fathers Vladimir Seljavko, Vitaljus Motskus, Vitalis Dauparas, Gintaras Sungajla and Georgij Ananiev, of mixed Russian-Lithuanian ethnicity.

The Ecumenical Patriarch assured that 'we support the priests and faithful who do not accept Moscow's positions'. Bartholomew also stated that 'the Russian Orthodox Church shares responsibility for the war' along with the Moscow state leadership, especially for 'the shocking kidnapping of children', and therefore all interreligious dialogue must 'focus on ways of opposing the Moscow patriarchate'.

Moreover, according to the 'inter pares' primate of Orthodoxy, the new exarchate would 're-establish historical justice', going back to the metropolia of Lithuania that existed between the 12th and 14th centuries. At the time of the Tatar-Mongol invasion, some principalities of Kievan Rus' took refuge under the protection of the principality of Vilno, which gave rise to the kingdom of Lithuania and Poland, where there was a Russian Orthodox jurisdiction dependent on Constantinople. In some phases of the convulsive history of those centuries, the metropolitan of Vilno was even temporarily given the title of Kiev, the mother city then destroyed by the Tatars.

Simonite commented on Bartholomew's words, saying that they were "natural and very human", considering that after the aggression against Ukraine and the support for it by the Moscow Patriarchate "one cannot remain in conflict with one's conscience, being tied to Russia", even though in any case "it is a decision of the Constantinopolitan Mother Church, in which we do not intend to interfere".

Simonite and the Lithuanian President of the Republic Gitanas Nauseda, who in turn met Bartholomew, do not intend to follow the example of former Ukrainian President Petro Porosenko, who had taken the ecclesiastical issue into his own hands, making it a symbol of national politics by obtaining Orthodox autocephaly in a break with the Church of Moscow.

Even the current Ukrainian Head of State, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, is trying hard not to get too involved in the ecclesiastical diatribes: he did not want to receive the members of the Synod of the Orthodox Church Upz, to address the issue of their permanence in the Kiev Cave Lavra, leaving it to the directly concerned state bodies.
The German broadcaster Deutsche Welle shut down its Turkey office after losing its operating licence, primarily because of the close race ahead of the 14 May elections. Government pressure has intensified after the 6 February earthquake. Turkey ranks 149th out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom. In the 2018 elections, Erdogan got 181 hours of coverage on state television; his main rival, 16.

Istanbul (AsiaNews)  Press freedom in Turkey is increasingly restricted as the date of Turkeys presidential and parliamentary elections approaches (14 May). The latest media outlet to be targeted is Germanys Deutsche Welle (DW).

On the ground, the outcome of the elections remains an open question, as incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) are pitted in a tight race against a united front, the so-called "Table of Six", which includes the main opposition parties, plus the de facto support of the main Kurdish party, the HDP, which will not run its own candidate, a move that might prove decisive.

The governments first response to possible defeat, or at least its reaction to an uncertain outcome, is to control the press. DW, one of the main foreign media outlets providing Turkish-language news, will close its office next week after it refused to government refused to renew its operating permit.

For DW Turkish Publications Manager Erkan Arikan, the move is a blow to the freedom of the press, while media freedom groups condemned the development. For its part, DW issued a statement saying that it was considering legal action over the decision not to extend its permit.

We suspect that the government is putting pressure on the related authorities in order to make our journalistic activities in Turkey even harder, Arikan said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also called on the Turkish government to renew DWs permit and halt efforts to hamper journalism.

Denying DWs license serves only to disrupt the broadcasters activities and deny Turkish citizens critical, independent reporting as elections approach, the Committees Turkey representative Ozgur Ogret said.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), about 90 per cent of Turkey's national media is now under government control. For independent news, until recently, the public could turn to international networks or foreign sources like DW in Turkish, Voice of America or BBC.

Over the past few elections, a certain pattern has emerged with the ruling AKP increasing its control over the media.

According to Ilhan Tasci, an opposition member of the Turkish broadcasting authority, over a 40-day period leading up to the 2018 presidential election Erdogan received 181 hours of coverage from state-run broadcaster TRT. His closest opponent got less than 16 hours. Fairness in media doesnt seem to be at home in Turkey.

RSF ranked Turkey 149th out of 180 countries in its 2022 Press Freedom Index. At present, 33 journalists are languishing in a Turkish prison just for doing their job, including those who reported from the areas hit by the 6 February earthquake.

Foreign media are also subject to censorship; last year, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), the government media regulatory watchdog, gave notice to three international broadcasters, including DW, that they would require broadcasting licences or have their content blocked. DW refused, saying the request opened the door to preventive censorship.
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Design Evaluation

Photo: Florin Profir/autoevolution

Photo: Florin Profir/autoevolution

Interior Assessment

Photo: Florin Profir/autoevolution

Photo: Florin Profir/autoevolution

EV

Driving Take

Photo: Florin Profir/autoevolution

AMG

Everyday Living

kWh

Photo: Sergiu Tudose/autoevolution

Test Drive Roundup

Pros

Comfort

Tech

Sublime performance

Solid range

Cons

Controversial design

Light off-center steering feel at higher speeds

I'm sure both strategies have merit, but only time will tell which carmaker got it right.Anyway, let me quickly take you back to 2008, to the international media launch of the F01 7 Series , held in Dresden, Germany. That was the first time I had ever driven an all-new luxury sedan for several hundred miles. It always helps to spend a lot of time with a car before drawing any major conclusions. You cant beat perspective.In the end, the F01 wouldnt be just any new 7 Series, but the first-ever 7 Series available with an electrified powertrain  the so-called ActiveHybrid 7, which arrived later.It simply blew rivals such as the Mercedes S-Class, Lexus LS, and Audi A8 out of the water. Nobody could touch it. It had rear-wheel steering, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, Night Vision with Pedestrian Recognition, plus arguably the most advanced radar-guided cruise control on the market by 2008 standards, capable of bringing the car to a complete stop before accelerating from a standstill.The F01 was the last 7er to really put some distance between itself and its rivals, until now. This latest generation G70 variant is a technological tour de force, and the fully electric i7 model is definitely the one to have if you want to be done with gasoline once and for all. Lets start with the basics and talk about its appearance.What the hell... I remember saying to myself when I first saw the all-new 7 Series / i7 in production guise, without any camouflage on. The rear design seemed fine, as did the profile to some extent, but the face? I mean, it was controversial, to say the least.The grille is abnormally large, and you can get it illuminated too (if you care for that option), which only makes it more prominent. Then there are the headlights, which dont resemble any BMW light units from the past  something Bimmer lifers might struggle with as they attempt to identify with the new 7.Anyway, this car, which is the i7 xDrive60 in BMW Individual Frozen Deep Gray, benefits from its all-round dark and sinister aesthetic. The grille suddenly doesnt seem so big, and my personal recommendation would be this: get the i7 in a predominantly dark color if you mind the grille design that much. Or just get the M Sport Pro package , which automatically makes the car look more aggressive, in turn, helping the grille shrink a little, from a visual standpoint. It also adds Shadow Line accents, which help with the grille.It doesnt take long for you to get used to the split headlight design, and after a while, you might begin to realize theres nothing wrong with BMW going in that direction regarding future models. Less controversial than the front end is the rear, which, in my opinion, looks understated in a rather elegant way.Another important observation, which will interest pretty much 100% of BMW i7 buyers, is the sheer size of this thing. Not everyone knows that BMW stopped producing long-wheelbase variants of the 7 Series with this new-generation car, and thats because the i7 is already bigger than any previous long-wheelbase 7 Series model. Thats right, its an LWB car but without the L moniker. Thats why theres so much legroom inside for rear seat passengers, and thats why the rear doors are so massive.Strangely enough, you dont really feel as though youre driving an LWB model, mostly because its center of gravity is so low, and the very proportions of the car dont give anything away visually. BMW have managed to hide a long-wheelbase 7 Series within a design that doesnt look overstretched  this hadnt been the case with previous generations Anyway, other exterior highlights on our test car include the 21-inch Dark 3D wheels with blue calipers (part of the M Sport pack), tinted windows and the spectacular Iconic Glow Crystal headlights.Overall, the i7 looks both futuristic and retro-tech. Its almost monolithic in its appearance. Like something left behind on Earth by an alien civilization thousands of years ago. What this means is that, like it or not, the design should age very well, decades into the future.Were dealing with a brand-new styling language here, inside and out. Only the interior of the BMW iX compares in terms of having such a futuristic layout, although naturally, the 7 Series / i7 is even more extravagant, seen as how its a flagship model.Before you even step inside, though, you have to open the doors and there were several ways you could do that on our BMW i7 test car . The door handles are flush with the bodywork, and each comes with a large button to press where the door opens automatically. It can be a little finicky sometimes, if say you press the button, but youre not completely out of the way of the sensors  in such instances, the doors will open just a tiny bit.You can also open them manually, by reaching underneath the handle. Its definitely quicker that way and I cant imagine anyone being even remotely in a hurry and waiting around for the doors to open automatically.Once inside, whether in the front or at the back, you need not worry about reaching out toward the doors in order to close them. Oh no. The driver and their front passenger need to simply press a touch capacitive button on the far edge of that crystal strip that runs full width across the dashboard , and the doors will close automatically. For rear seat passengers, that button is situated above those little door panel displays, which control everything from media to climate, and that amazing ultra-wide 31-inch 8K Theater Screen that drops down from the roof to the sound of Hans Zimmer.And then theres Lounge Mode, part of the Executive Lounge package featured on our i7 tester. Press that and the seat in front will begin to drag forward and tilt over, whereas your own seat (the one diagonally opposite to the drivers seat) will gently lift your legs up so that you can stretch out in maximum comfort while watching your favorite Netflix shows or YouTube videos.First impressions from sitting behind the wheel of the i7? Perhaps a little bit overwhelming from an on-board tech standpoint, at least at first. It took me several hours with the car in order to fully understand its ergonomics. Its not that its too complicated, just very different compared to even the previous-generation 7 Series.The center console is straightforward, though. The only minor issue is that you will need to look down at it in order to figure out which buttons youre pressing (like the ones for the Drive Modes). And you do need to literally press down on the specific area you wish to engage with, because they are not touch capacitive. Meanwhile, the floating digital gauge and infotainment displays do their jobs nicely, while the software used is incredibly responsive. This BMW had by far the most responsive infotainment system Ive ever experienced in an automobile. It literally felt like playing around on an iPad, performance-wise.In terms of build quality, I mean, come on, lets just say its top notch and move on. Theres no use even comparing the i7 with the likes of the Tesla Model S (completely different segment too) or the Lucid Air, when it comes to how well everything is screwed together inside. Whats a fair comparison, you ask? The Mercedes EQS is, without a doubt, the i7s main rival, and even though its not as big on the outside, they do have similar-sized wheelbases.Audi will join the party next year with a production variant of its Grandsphere concept , solidifying the German trio in the luxurysedan segment.As for other noteworthy goodies and features inside this i7, Id count the Smoke White BMW Individual Merino Leather, BMW Individual Gran Lusso spec, Silver Gray Ash Grain open pore wood inserts, Sky Lounge panoramic roof, Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system (magnificent, by the way), massage function for all seats, wireless charging for your mobile device, Personal eSIM, Parking Assistant with Surround View cameras, Augmented Reality sat-nav, a massive Heads-up Display and loads more.The powertrain on the i7 xDrive60 is similar to that of the iX SUV . The two electric motors (one per axle) combine for a total of 536 hp (544 ps) and 549 lb-ft (745 Nm) of instant torque, although there is a near-imperceptible delay from when you floor the accelerator to the car responding, which I reckon was done on purpose, for the sake of overall comfort.Still, acceleration is savage for a car this size, with the i7 able to hit 60 mph (97 kph) in just 4.5 seconds. Handling, meanwhile, is great (again, for a car this size), although its off-center steering feel could be a little more weighed down  but that may just be a personal preference. The ultra-light steering does come in handy when youre in town, as does the Integral Active Steering system, where the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front ones, reducing your turning cycle.Most fun is achieved in Sport Mode, where the car tightens its dampers, lowers the ride height and gives you access to maximum power at all times. Otherwise, you have to use the Boost paddle behind the steering wheel to get the full 536 hp while in any mode other than Sport. It works simply enough; you just hold it for a second or so and floor the throttle.Its safe to say that once you get this thing in motion, its relentless. It pulls nearly as hard as a Model 3 Long Range yet weighs an extra 2,000 lbs (900 kg). Crazy.Also, I was particularly fond of the ambient lighting with the car in Sport Mode, as the cabin bathed in iconic red and blue M Sport colors. First, that full width crystal-like strip turned red, before a wave of blue came up from within the passenger side door panel to meet the red in the middle. Yeah, that was nice.Thrills aside, the i7 xDrive60 is remarkably relaxing to drive. The ride is smooth (not Mercedes S-Class smooth, but smooth), the seats are supremely comfortable and very little outside noise makes its way into the cabin, whether in town or at highway speeds - most of the sound you hear is pumped in through the speakers and it makes you feel as though youre driving captain Jean-Luc Picard from his villa to the nearest Federation shuttle. Some of Hans Zimmers finest works.I also look forward to sampling the regular gasoline-powered 7 Series in order to compare its driving characteristics to those of the i7. Speaking of things to look forward to, an i7 M70 xDrive variant is just around the corner and it will put down in excess of 600 horsepower and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque, which means it should hit 60 mph in under 4 seconds. This will be BMWs reply to the Mercedes-EQS 53.Getting on with your life alongside a BMW i7 shouldnt be any more difficult than with any other battery electric luxury car. Well get into the numbers in a second, but rest assured that it can cover plenty of miles on a single charge thanks to its large 101.7battery pack.Bear in mind, like with any automobile, electric or otherwise, not having a lead foot helps you get better mileage.In the i7 xDrive60, you should be able to do a little over 300 miles (around 500 km) on a single charge, conservatively. BMW thinks you could manage even more, but I wouldnt hold my breath on that. Meanwhile, when you do run out of juice, you can charge the i7 from 10% to 80% in roughly 35 minutes. In fact, a DC fast charging station should add 90 miles (145 km) of driving range to your luxury Bimmer in just 10 minutes' time.During ownership, you would naturally have to install a BMW Wallbox at home, where it will take you just under 12 hours to charge the car from zero to 100%. By the way, after purchasing an i7, BMW will give you three years of complimentary on-the-go charging through the Electrify America network. Not a bad deal.Now, in case youre wondering if you can spec the i7 in a way that doesnt end up costing you $200,000, yes, you absolutely can. The starting MSRP in the U.S. is $119,300 and you can choose between Luxury and M Sport equipment levels from the get-go. Lets go with the M Sport and add the $950 M Sport Pro package too. A few more goodies here and there and you can probably get away with spending around $130,000 on a decent enough spec.The price of our tester? Exactly 192,994, options and taxes included. Thats just under $208,000.After spending several days with the i7 xDrive60, Ive come to realize that its so freaking good, it almost makes no difference what it looks like on the outside. Thankfully, the pictures dont do it justice because it looks way better in person. luxury car needs to be, first and foremost, imposing. Then you can begin talking about an elegant design and pretty features. The i7 isnt pretty, but then again, neither is the Millennium Falcon or the Starship Enterprise. Yet you respect them because they look so pleasantly out of place in our time, and the same goes for passenger cars with futuristic designs.With stellar performance, amazing on-board tech and an impeccable ride, the BMW i7 is arguably the best, all-round luxury sedan ever built outside of a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
EV

A recent patent describes a technology that would allow vehicle owners to unlock the doors by having their veins scanned.Despite sounding like rocket science, the implementation uses a simple design that includes three different components.The first one, and also the most important, is an infrared module. Its role is to scan the hand and generate a vein rendering that is eventually submitted to a central processing unit. BYDs system uses infrared light because it allows rapid scanning under the skin when the driver touches the door handle.The second component is the vein recognition module. It uses information collected by the infrared sensor to generate a vein rendering and, therefore, create a map that is then sent to the processing unit. The third one is a power module that ensures the first two components work properly regardless of conditions.BYD says its system would essentially generate a vein map every time a human being touches the door handle with the hand. As such, the system can be configured to only allow access to certain persons based on their vein maps. When the system receives a new scanning, it compares the data to the maps already stored in vehicle memory.If theres a match, the car can unlock the doors. If there isnt, the system can generate a sound that informs the user the scanning was unsuccessful.Whether or not BYD would eventually use the system on its production models is something that remains to be seen. But biometric authentication is rapidly making its way to smart technology, so expanding to cars is probably just a matter of time.In the phone world, biometric authentication is already a common feature thanks to systems like Apples Face ID and fingerprint sensors embedded into devices. Facial recognition systems use a similar approach, as they compare a new scanning to an existing map stored in a secure environment.Vehicle manufacturers are investing aggressively in new technology, especially as giants like Apple and Xiaomi also plan their expansion in the automotive world. Their cars are expected to focus heavily on tech innovations, as their know-how could help improve the driving experience. Given biometric authentication is already very common on smartphones, Apple and Xiaomi are likely to bring similar features to their cars once they become available. The Apple Car is projected to hit the streets in 2025, at the earliest, while Xiaomi plans to launch its firstnext year.
Photo: IAI

In some respects, so is seeing a missile almost five meters (16.4 feet) in length slamming vertically straight into a floating target during a live fire test. Yet exactly thats what were seeing in a fresh video released by Israeli defense contractor Israel Aircraft Industries ( IAI ).The missile seen in action here is called Rampage, and it is of the long-range air-to-ground variety. It was first shown by the company five years ago, and shortly after, in 2019, its first reported use took place in Syria. The weapon's main goal is to take out well-protected enemy communication and command centers, air forces bases, maintenance centers, and infrastructure, but in this footage, we see it can be used against much smaller and less impressive targets. IAI released this week fresh and rare footage of the Rampage in action, and we see it as it comes down hard and fast, nose pointing down, and effectively obliterates the floating, orange, and unsuspecting target as it slams into it.Significantly larger than other weapons fighter jets the likes of the F-16 usually carry, the missile can be released either as a standalone weapon or from an aircraft. It has a diameter of 306 mm and can be equipped with a number of warheads, including blast, fragmentation, or general-purpose.Its undisclosed rocket engine pushes it through the air fast enough for it to be able to hit with a speed of up to 1,230 mph (almost 2,000 kph, meaning over the speed of sound), making it both deadly and literally impossible to stop.The thing weighs 570 kg (1,256 pounds), and that makes the effects of hitting targets even more destructive. Its a fire-and-forget kind of weapon, using both inertial and GPS guidance to get itself to where it needs to be, and it reaches and strikes that place with an accuracy of just ten meters (33 feet).The Rampage is suitable for a variety of military aircraft and can be deployed on the American F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, or F/A-18 Hornet. Europeans can use it on the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Kfir , an Israeli-adapted version of the Dassault Mirage.Its unclear why IAI decided to bring the Rampage back into the spotlight with this fresh explosive promo video, but it probably has something to do with the war waging over in Europe. After all, this is a great time to be a defense contractor
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

SUV

AMG

Affected vehicles included everything from the GLE 350 to the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, with build dates ranging between May 2019 and April 2022. The report filed with thelists AGC Automotive Americas as the supplier. It also reads that an improved production procedure was introduced on April 25th of last year.Following said recall, Mercedes continued monitoring the field, identifying isolated reports of trim bars detaching while driving. The German automaker immediately started investigating these incidents, also undertaking a review of each vehicles history. The results were inconclusive, but nevertheless, Mercedes introduced yet another change in the process used to connect the trim bars to the vehicle on February 15th.Including warranty claims, field reports, and service reports, Merc is aware of 11 instances of detaching window trim. The claims were received in the period between February 2nd, 2022 (prior to the first recall) and March 10th, 2023 (long after recall number 22V-680).There are no claims of crashes or injuries related to this condition, and Mercedes isnt aware of third-party damage either. Detaching rear window trim bars are obviously a road hazard for other vehicles, especially if said trim detaches on a busy highway at high speed.Merc lists no fewer than eight part numbers in the attached report, all of them produced by Florida-based AGC Automotive Americas. The automakers retailer network has already been informed of this issue, but customers will have to wait until May 16th to receive their first-class mailed notifications. In the meantime, running the vehicle identification number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations recall portal is the best way to tell if youris affected.Both 2022 and 2023 models are called back, beginning with the 2.0-liter GLE 350 and topping with the V8-engined63 series and 600 series from the Maybach ultra-luxury brand. Their build dates range between January 29th, 2021, and February 14th, 2023.The current-generation GLE and slightly larger GLS are both underpinned by the Modular High Architecture, which is why the codenames for the GLE and GLS both end in 167 (W167 and X167, respectively). The rear-wheel-drive GLE 350 is presently available to order at $57,700 excluding the mandatory destination charge.At the other end of the spectrum, the Maybach-branded GLS 600 costs a whopping $170,000 before taxes and options. Its twin-turbo V8 features a similar codename (M177) to the 63-spec engine, although the AMG is understandably more powerful. As opposed to 550 horsepower and 538 pound-feet (729 Nm), the AMG makes 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm).
On September 2, 2022, 007 ran aground off the coast of Greece, in Kolona Bay, some 15 meters (49.2 feet) from the beach. Initial reports said that some kind of navigation error had steered the vessel off course, so it hit rocks when it entered shallow waters. The hull was pierced and it started taking on water, so, to prevent it from sinking into deeper waters, the captain ran it aground.After that, 007 tilted to the port side and eventually capsized, ending up on its side. It spent the next six months that way, with authorities seemingly in no rush to salvage it, though they did put up floating walls to keep pollution under control. As of this moment, the exact damages to the ecosystem are unknown.On March 6, Greek authorities began the salvage operation, which concluded on March 22, with 007 refloated. If this happened in a James Bond movie, it would probably be the scene before the end credits, and Bond himself (Bond, James Bond) would make an appearance alongside the lady of the moment, and they would kiss as the camera would zoom out on the beautiful vessel, back in an upright position.But this is no movie, and the situation continues to remain very strange, beyond the fact that authorities waited half a year to remove a vessel that posed a danger to the picturesque area.By the looks of things, 007 has been abandoned by the owner, a millionaire businessman who was also the captain, amid claims that he deliberately ran it aground for other reasons than those having to do with the danger of sinking. One particular report, included in the second video available at the bottom of the page, says that he did it because the ship was no longer seaworthy and may have had severe balance issues brought on by repeated modifications to the hull.Delivered in 2006 by Aegean Yachts as Royal Enterprise, 007 was initially a 32-meter (105-foot) that was modified extensively in subsequent refits. When it ran aground, it was 49 meters (160 feet) long and featured all the trappings of larger superyachts, including a touch-and-go helipad and an additional deck that wasnt in the original design by Yavuz Mete.According to the latest reports in the Greek media, the millionaire owner has been given one month to recover his superyacht , now that its been refloated, after which he will be liable to huge fines. Whether hes actually coming back for it, after it spent half a year half-underwater, remains to be seen.
kW

Set to arrive at dealers in the second half of the year, the new Ford Ranger Wildtrak X starts at $75,990. Thats Australian dollars , and it translates to US$51,005 at the current exchange rates.Improved suspension is part of the makeover. It features Bilstein Position-Sensitive Damers that allow for better fine-tuning and calibration. With a monotube design and nitrogen-charged exterior reservoir, they have an increased bandwidth for better dual-driving characteristics. Tuned for touring and payload, the suspension is said to not sacrifice the comfort during unladed driving.Wrapped around the new 17-inch alloys are the 265/70 General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tires. Combined with the overhauled suspension, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X has 30 mm (1.2 in) wider tracks, and 26 mm (1 in) more ground clearance compared to the non-X variant . It also features the full-time four-wheel drive system, as well as the Trail Turn Assist, Trail Control, Rock Crawl, and Flexible Rack System.Available in Cyber Orange, a hue exclusive to this model, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X is equipped with a new grille design with integrated LED lights. It has Matrix LED headlamps, as well as a steel bash plate, cast aluminum side steps, black oval badges at both ends, distinctive lettering on the hood, and Wildtrak X logos. Further contributing to the enhanced look are the wheel lip moldings, grille surround, bumper H-bar, rear bumper, mirror casings, door handles, and fender vents that have an asphalt black finish.Opening the door will reveal the leather-accented seats, with Miko suede. Special embroidery can be seen on the seatbacks, upper glovebox, and all-weather floor mats. On top of these, it has Terra suede wrapped on certain elements, and Cyber Orange for some well-deserved contrast stitching on the door cards, steering wheel, gear shifter, and seats. Moreover, the Dearborn company has equipped it with the bigger 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster normally reserved to the Platinum and Raptor variants of the Ranger, and they have also given it the B&O premium audio, and overhead auxiliary switch bank for different accessories.Those opting for Fords new Ranger Wildtrak X Down Under will have to make do with the diesel engine. The 2.0-liter bi-turbo unit develops 150(204 ps/201 hp) and a healthy 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. The output and thrust are directed to both axles via a ten-speed automatic transmission. According to the automaker, this is the first Ranger model to meet the Light Duty Truck EU Stage 6 emissions level, and it requires the use of AdBlue.
CVT

Before going any further, lets take a look at other Subarus currently on sale in North America. The list includes the Solterra electric crossover, which definitely wont receive a rugged specification. The Ascent family-sized crossover is a good bet, although the sales figures greatly favor the Crosstrek for a Wilderness variant.The Impreza doesnt need one because it would steal customers away from the Crosstrek, and the Legacy is out of the question as well. The remaining BRZ and WRX clearly wont receive the Wilderness treatment, leaving only the Crosstrek and Ascent in the running.What should prospective customers expect from this fellow? Subaru promises rugged styling and all-terrain goodies, which are Wilderness trademarks. On the suck-squeeze-bang-blow front, a naturally-aspirated boxer is certain in the Crosstreks case. If Subaru follows in the footsteps of the Honda Pilot TrailSport with an Ascent Wilderness, then look forward to a force-fed boxer.Be it Crosstrek or Ascent, a continuously variable transmission will have to suffice. The Lineartronicof the 2024 model year Crosstrek comes with manual shift mode and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Premium, Sport, and Limited Trim levels.The Sport and Limited feature a 2.5-liter boxer with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet (241 Nm) of torque on deck, which is much better than the 2.0-liter mill in the Base and Premium trim levels. The lesser mill offers 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet (197 Nm) of twist.Codenamed FA24F, the 2.4-liter turbocharged lump in the Ascent is standard across the board with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet (376 Nm). Capable of seating up to eight occupants, the Ascent kicks off at $33,895 sans destination charge for the 2023 model. Pricing for the Crosstrek stays put at $24,995 right off the bat, whereas the 2.5-liter Limited costs $30,895.The Outback was the first Scooby offered in Wilderness flavor, with Subaru giving the Outback Wilderness a mild facelift for the 2024 model year. Highlight features include the advanced dual function X-MODE system, 9.5-inch ground clearance, all-terrain rubber boots, upgraded suspension, front skid plate, and revised rear differential with a 4.44:1 final drive ratio.It and the Forester Wilderness come with Yokohama Geolandar tires mounted on 17-inch alloys finished in matte black. Said tires are embossed with raised white letters, and both models come with a proper spare tire.Subaru delivered 556,581 vehicles in the United States last year, with the Crosstrek leading the rest. No fewer than 155,142 units were sold, as opposed to 147,262 for the second-placed Outback and 114,096 for the Forester. Given these numbers, it sure looks like the Crosstrek will enter the Wilderness family for the 2024 model year.
FSD

In October last year, Tesla decided to remove the ultrasonic sensors from its cars, as it was confident that Tesla Vision would be able to offer similar functionality. The move was premature, though, and owners have complained about missing functions like Park Assist and Summon. According to some reports, Europeans were the most vocal , with many postponing the purchase until Tesla would bring back distance measurements.We've seen Tesla trying to emulate the ultrasonic sensors' functions using Vision, with several reports about the intention. In some cases, people have demonstrated that Tesla can work without ultrasonic sensors by removing the front spoiler completely. Still, the best indication that Tesla Vision Park Assist was near was when it was introduced alongside theBeta V11.3.2 in the 2022.45.11 update. This meant that only some FSD Beta testers would get the feature, presumably to test it before a wider rollout begins.Interestingly, we've seen no evidence of Vision Park Assist working in the real world, so it probably wasn't active. This has changed with the wider release thanks to the 2023.6.9 software update. The update is destined for the entire cohort of Tesla vehicles, and we have reports that the new software version has been deployed not only in North America but also in Europe and China. This indicates that Tesla now considers Vision Park Assist ready for primetime.People who installed the 2023.6.9 update have already tested the feature and are impressed with its accuracy. The distance measurement is spot on, as some have verified using a tape measure. At worst, the difference between the indicated distance and the real one measured with the tape is just 1-2 inches (3-5 cm). The best part is that Tesla Vision Park Assist is better than the ultrasonic-sensor-based feature, offering obstacle awareness 360 degrees around the car instead of just front and rear.The not-so-good part is that the park assist takes a while until it "remembers" the surrounding conditions when it's started. This means you must be patient when you return to the car until it loads the previous data, which can take around 10 seconds based on the videos shared on social media. And even then, it's not always perfect. Some owners have described the new feature as "super buggy."Twitter user kEVin (@EVBaymax) reports that they encountered two incidents when backing into the garage, and Park Assist was completely unavailable. They assumed this was because of the dirty camera (it was raining) or the garage's lack of light. Kevin's experience shows what can go wrong with Tesla Vision, not only for Park Assist but other functions too . Probably this is why Tesla warns drivers that its Vision Park Assist feature is "for guidance purposes only."Vision Park Assist is the only new feature in the 2023.6.9 software update if you look at the release notes, but people discovered other undocumented changes . According to Not A Tesla App, Tesla has introduced a "Warming Up" notification in the climate system, has updated the browser, and changed the tire pressure card image. Apple Music integration also improved, and a new welcome screen for the Model S and Model X is now mirroring the Model 3/Y.
SUV

Make me a megacar with everything on it

Photo: Bring A Trailer

Photo: Bring A Trailer

There's still room for more

Photo: Bring A Trailer

Photo: Bring A Trailer

Koenigsegg is a Swedish automaker that's no stranger to challenging the norms when it comes to its supercars. A perfect example of this comes in the form of the Regera  a 1,500-horsepower hybrid utilizing a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and three electric motors. For a nameplate that combines supercar chops with the comforts of a high-end, the company gave it its own category. This is aptly called a luxury megacar.With the help of Koenigsegg's Direct Drive technology ( KDD ), the Regera can go from standstill all the way to a top speed of over 250 mph (402 kph) without changing gears. It's akin to driving the car in seventh gear albeit with all the power from the get-go, sort of like a go-kart on steroids.This unique trait lets the Regera transition seamlessly from a sleepy, luxurious city cruiser to a manic speed demon in an instant  what the company describes as being like a Jekyll and Hyde. Aside from having neck-break performance, the Regera also includes garish amenities one wouldn't normally find in supercars. The list includes memory foam seats, wireless phone chargers, proximity sensors, parking assistance, Apple Car play, and perhaps the largest trunk space ever by supercar standards.All the features mentioned above come standard in every unit, but the optional stuff makes for quite a hefty list in its own right. Full leather interior, race-spec parts, rear parking sensors and additional carbon fiber pieces are only a few of the Regera's available add-ons. There's also a handful of options just for upscaling various body panels, including making the Regera's already huge rear spoiler even bigger. Since all 80 Regera examples are already sold out, it makes you wonder how many were ordered with every optional component installed on top of their already exuberant $2 million price tag.If you're curious about what a fully decked-out example looks like, look no further than this 2021 Regera; its owner seems to have spared no coin when selecting options. Among this glitzy Regera's standout additions is the Ghost Package  a $285,000 option that's said to increase downforce by 20% through additional carbon fiber pieces like canards and winglets.Yes, that add-on already costs as much as other hybrid supercars altogether, but that's not all; this also features the Environmental Power Upgrade worth another $250,000. As its name suggests, this add-on allows the Regera to sip (read: chug down) E85 fuel for an extra boost of over 250 horsepower. As if sporting over half a million dollars in options wasn't enough, the listing also shows a number of unique touches, like a custom Candy Liquid Blue paintjob and various gold trimming.In fact, gold seems to be a motif throughout the vehicle, from gold-leaf wrapped accents and gold interior stitching to gold-plated badging and fluid caps. Other options include a full black/blue leather interior, parking assistance, and an exposed carbon fiber hood. With only 615 miles on the odometer and no history of accidents, this Regera is as good as new. Overall, this particular unit had an SRP of $3.2 million in 2021, which makes expenditure on options alone amount to a jaw-dropping $1.2 million.While the fully-loaded Regera seems to be already pushing the boundaries in terms of optional costs, it hasn't reached its proverbial ceiling just yet. There are still add-ons that can bump the Regera's price even further, such as adding a paddle-shift gearbox, electronic differential, F1-style rear spoiler, lighter Inconel exhaust, four-point harness, racing brakes, and more. Koenigsegg's luxury megacar is known to reach as much as $4 million in valuation.Now, there aren't that many Regeras being sold in online auctions, to begin with, not to mention Koenigseggs in general. The seller claims this is the first time a Koenigsegg ever appeared on the online auction platform. In 2019, a Regera was sold for $3 million before it was even built. Considering Koenigsegg's reputation for building record-breaking vehicles in significantly limited numbers, the lack of examples being auctioned off shouldn't come as a surprise.The Swedish automaker planned to build only 125 of its Jesko model, 25 of its Agera RS and only six of its One:1 supercars. Even its more family-friendly production grand-tourer, the Koenigsegg Gemera , was only limited to 300 units worldwide, and it won't arrive until the year's end. With every Regera example already being accounted for, every time a unit shows up at auction, it presents a rare opportunity for others to either own it or simply gawk at it.As of writing, the highest bid on the '21 model reached roughly $2.5 million, which still won't be enough to recoup the amount spent on add-ons alone. Like with its available options, there's plenty of room for this Regera to grow in terms of value, so those hoping to nab it better act quickly before bidding ends in about a week from now.
The latest announcement is a direct result of the December 13, 2022 accident involving host Freddie Flintoff, which occurred at Surreys Dunsfold Aerodrome during the production of the same series. Production has been on hiatus since then, with a decision pending an internal investigation.Even today, the only detail revealed on the official channels is that Flintoff was shooting a driving sequence for the series when he crashed. The BBC has said that neither speed nor a lack of proper safety measures played a part in what happened.Reports in the British media claim that Flintoff was driving a classic-looking three-wheeler that had no airbags, which would explain how he came to suffer extensive injuries to his face and torso when he lost control. He was airlifted to the hospital and, while he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, he hasnt been seen in public since. Nor did he ever issue a statement on what happened or his plans next, which, in turn, led to reports that he was considering ditching the show altogether once his recovery was complete. This latter part might still turn out to be true.One could infer from the official BBC statement that the accident could have been prevented, whatever caused it. The network notes that they personally apologized to Flintoff and will continue to support him in his recovery, as well as provide for the entire production staff during the hiatus. At the same time, the BBC feels it would be inappropriate to go back to filming following the investigation into the crash, so they would be using the break to conduct a health and safety review of the show, in line with our procedures.The announcement doesnt include a possible date for the production to resume, but theres the teeniest-tiniest sliver of hope: the BBC is convinced it will happen later this year. This can mean anything from next month to December; Top Gear fans will agree this is a long wait. Add post-production and, in the worst-case scenario, youre looking at a 2024 premiere.This is Flintoffs third crash since he joined the panel of hosts in 2019, and by the sound of it, its also the most serious, if only by means of his future involvement in the series. The same unconfirmed reports claim that, while his life wasnt in danger, what happened that day was a perspective shift, showing him that the risks of the show are not worth it.
Toyota has recently notified its authorized retailers that Japanese domestic market Camry production will end before years end. Most new orders have been halted, but domestic sales will end in phases according to Nikkei.The cited publication understands that roughly 1.3 million units were sold in this region over the last 40-plus years, which is a drop in the bucket compared to global numbers. For example, the Georgetown-based Kentucky plant in North America celebrated its 10 millionth Camry in July 2021. The undisputed sales leader, however, is the Corolla with over 50 million units reached by September 2021, making it more successful than the cutesy Beetle, Lada Riva, and Ford Model T.The Tsutsumi Plant in the Aichi Prefecture handles domestic production, with the Camry priced at 3,495,000 yen (roughly 26,850 dollars at current exchange rates). The hybrid starts at 4,682,000 yen (35,970 dollars) due to its more complex and more efficient powertrain.North America remains the largest market for the Camry despite the increasing popularity of crossovers. The RAV4 is the automakers best-selling nameplate in the United States of America. The Camry is still relevant for Toyota given that 600,000-ish examples were sold in 2022 on a global level. Speaking of which, the U.S. and other markets will receive a brand-new Camry. The Crown will serve as its indirect successor in Japan The next generation, which is due in 2025 at the latest, will adopt Crown -like styling cues. It will be an evolutionary redesign rather than a ground-up makeover because the next generation may also be the final Camry to feature internal combustion. There are plenty of automakers who intend to switch to zero-emission production vehicles by 2035, forced by legislation and changing consumer preferences in equal measure.The European Union reached a deal to ban new fossil-fuel vehicles by 2035. The state of California will do just that as well even though fossil-fuel cars and trucks will continue to roam the streets for the foreseeable future. Also worthy of note, General Motors plans to offer electric vehicles only by 2035. Ford of Europe will transition to a completely electric lineup by 2030.Codenamed XV70, the current-gen Camry is a member of the wide-body series kicked off by the XV10 in 1991. Available with either internal combustion or hybrid powerplants, the XV70 retails at $26,220 sans destination charge in the United States of America. The most powerful of the bunch packs a 3.5-liter V6 of the naturally-aspirated variety, which belts out 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet (362 Nm) of twist.
EV

ICE

Car fires are common, and statistics indicate that hundreds of cars burn daily in the U.S. alone. Electric vehicles burn far less often, although theyre almost guaranteed to make the headlines. Thats precisely because theyre novel events, and people are curious about what caused them. Add to that fearmongering from thedetractors, and you understand why each EV fire is often exacerbated.This is obvious if you read the comments on the video attached below. Many swear that electric vehicles are nothing short of ticking bombs on wheels, despite the evidence suggesting they are much safer thanvehicles. Still, EVs do burst into flames from time to time, and the source of the fire is, obviously, an electrical problem. In some rare cases, this might be related to the high-voltage battery, but in most cases, its an electrical fault or a short circuit that causes the fire.This is also the case with a Volkswagen ID.4 that burst into flames while charging at an Electrify America station. The video was shot in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Tracey, California, which hosts an Electrify America charging station. Judging by the fact that the flames originate from the charge port area, we can assume this was caused by a bad connection or wiring that led to overheating. Luckily, the high-voltage battery wasnt affected, and the firefighters could quickly put out the flames before they engulfed the entire car.This is, sadly, not the first fire incident involving a Volkswagen ID.4. In November 2021, another one burnt to a crisp in an underground parking garage in Germany. That one was too left charging when the fire occurred, although the investigation doesnt reveal what caused the fire . Back to the Tracey, CA, fire, we can tell by the wheels that this is a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 built at Volkswagens Chattanooga plant in Tennessee.The video also shows that the charger the EV was hooked to was one of the newer Electrify America cabinets. These chargers have been involved in controversial incidents lately after several EVs have been bricked during charging. In some cases, it was reported that the plug overheated to the point that the owner could not unplug it from the vehicle. Others said sparking and smoke came from the charger while the car was plugged in. Bizarrely, that charger was also installed in a Walmart parking lot.According to Twitter user @PradyPunch, the charger involved in the fire was a BTC dispenser installed in November 2022. They said the charger hadnt worked for over a week before this incident. It looks like it was working enough to cause a fire in this case.
EV

Photo: Morten Haagensen/Creative Commons

Photo: Coral Gables Fire Department

Photo: via PTT

Photo: Dana Brems

NHTSA

Photo: Nickolas Catherine

Themakers CEO tweeted that Tesla policy is never to give in to false claims, even if we would lose, and never to fight true claims, even if we would win. He could argue that the company is not disputing that the door handles in the Model S are defective. It is just pointing out that it does not want to fix that or pay compensation to all those affected by the problem.Just think about it: does it make any difference if a safety defect that prevents you from opening the door of a car is a design flaw or a manufacturing issue? Teslas responsibility is to make sure door handles work properly, especially considering they may get involved in a crash and people may need to be rescued from the EVs. Whatever the cause is, the EV maker needs to correct it.This case with the door handles is something we already told you about in more detail  in a great story from Cristian Agatie  but this is just the most representative example of how Tesla currently works. You may remember something that I wrote about how the EV makers lawyers in Germany are trying to increase compensations there.Customers who have regretted their purchases due to defects can return the vehicles and get their money back. However, German laws state that they must pay some cash for having used the cars. The amount is proportional to how much these vehicles were driven compared to how much they are supposed to last Although Elon Musk said that the current battery pack is about maybe 300,000 to 500,000 miles, the German lawyers insist Tesla vehicles lifespan is not higher than 210,000 km (130,488 mi). Thats inferior to the warranty the own company offers for the Model S and Model Xs battery packs: 240,000 km (149,129 mi). Can you see the pattern? Just wait: there is more.Nissan recalled 1,063 units of the Ariya produced to U.S. specifications on March 1. Tesla is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the same issue. Affected vehicles  both from Nissan and from Tesla  apparently went through repairs that demanded removing the steering wheel, but the steering wheel center bolt was not put back. The Japanese carmaker discovered the issue and notified authorities about the actions it would take to correct it. Tesla acts as if the loose steering wheel cases were just anecdotal.Toyota issued a recall on June 23 to repair about 2,700 units of the bZ4X and 2,600 of the Subaru Solterra (which it also manufactures) worldwide  661 in the U.S., including both vehicles. The problem was with loose hub bolts . Apparently, the problem was not limited to just screwing them back more tightly: the Japanese carmaker took a long time to understand the problem and solve it for good. As Toyota did not clarify what the issue was, but replaced all bolts, these components would probably not deal well with the EVs weight, which demanded sturdier pieces.Tesla seems to have acted in a similarly responsible way with another recall involving loose bolts, but theres a catch. In the American EVs case, the issue has to do with four components attaching the seat back frame to the lower seat frame of the Model Y. Tesla blamed Faurecia for the problem right off the bat and said 3,470 cars were affected. It also described the matter as if Tesla had discovered it.Throwing your suppliers under the bus like this is a way of dodging responsibility. Other companies only do that when the mistake is too extreme, such as the one with LG Energy Solution that led to fires with the Hyundai Kona EV and the Chevrolet Bolt EV . Even in those two cases, Hyundai and GM were pretty careful with how they eventually blamed the Korean supplier for the problem.Just check what Ford did with SK On in the battery pack recall it issued on March 10. One battery pack caught fire in a holding lot in early February, leading the company to investigate the problem with its supplier and determine that a manufacturing defect with the cells was to blame. As a result, Ford recalled 18 units of the F-150 Lightning. Instead of blaming the supplier, the automaker said they found a solution together.Curiously, there are several reports of Tesla battery packs catching fire. Ton Aarts has counted 460 blazes until March 3, 2023. The Tesla-Fire website brings a smaller number: 182, with 53 casualties. Unlike Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Ford, Tesla never recalled this component or replaced it due to safety concerns. It states it produces its cells in a partnership with Panasonic in Nevada, which prevents it from blaming its Japanese supplier. To this date, Tesla has not given any explanation for these fires. Consumers affected by a voltage cap even accused Tesla of doing that to hide fire risks. Musk talked about never fighting true claims when Tesla settled the lawsuit these guys filed against it.It almost looks as though the EV maker hates recalls, especially those it cannot blame anyone else for provoking. Musk even came to the extreme of trying to refute them by sticking with the etymology of the word recall. If an over-the-air (OTA) update allegedly solved the issue, it would be wrong to call the repair a recall. For a company that claims to praise safety so much, thats quite a mistake: anything that can put people in danger must be solved by a recall, regardless of what the word was supposed to mean in the past.This repulse for such actions is quite evident with the rear motor inverter failures in the Model 3 and Model Y. Although Tesla did a recall to solve that in China, this correction never reached the U.S. American vehicles exported to the Asian giant were included in the Chinese recall , so it is not possible to say EVs made in the U.S. are not affected.was informed about the recalls at the time, but did not order Tesla to address the problem in the U.S. I asked the safety regulator about what the EV maker disclosed, but it only told me it was aware of the recall in China. My sources there said that NHTSA keeps an eye on Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data, which helps to identify potential safety defects. If you are not familiar with what EWR is, that made two of us until I wrote this article.If I understood them correctly, they are mandatory reports carmakers have to file regarding death and injury records, light vehicle production, and property damage records. There is nothing there about prevalent defects or how they happened. In other words, if nobody dies, gets hurt, or destroys something, the fault can happen several times. There is no risk assessment related to EWR.The safety regulators only sources of info about any defects leading to dangerous situations are probably the media and also the vehicle safety complaints customers can file at the NHTSAs website. That makes me wonder how many of the people affected by a rear motor inverter failure have filed such a complaint. Speaking to some of them, they told me they felt it's almost like they are trying to keep the problem a secret because nobody in Tesla Service Centers mentions what happened to the cars. They only say the vehicle is being repaired and deliver it without saying what went wrong with the EVs. Some owners have to insist on discovering it was an inverter problem.Reporting the defect is not helping. My sources said the safety regulator should intervene if it detects unreasonable safety risks. However, after writing about so many cases of inverter failures on highways, I wonder if NHTSA reputes them as reasonable. If you have experienced the problem and do not want that to happen to anyone else, you should file a complaint with the safety regulator to say this is not acceptable. After all, Tesla is mostly quiet about these defects. When it admits there is something wrong, it only does so if it can blame someone else for the situation or dismiss it with preposterous allegations.
24 March 2023 13:42 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the University of Warsaw have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Poland.

Before the signing ceremony, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva met with Rector of the University of Warsaw Alojzy Nowak, Azernews reports.

Vice-Rector for cooperation and Personnel issues of the University Sambor Grucza, dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Piotr Taracha, an employee of the Department of Turkology and Central Asian Peoples Shahla Kazimova, dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Baku State University Aydan Khandan as well as diplomats of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Poland took part in the meeting.

The meeting highlighted the issues of mutual cooperation between the foundation and Warsaw University in order to promote the cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples.

The sides discussed the holding of joint conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and allocation of scholarship programs for university students conducting research on the Turkic world.

Ideas were exchanged at the University regarding the establishment of the Center for Scientific Research and Study of the Turkic World under the auspices of the foundation.

Gunay Afandiyeva also met with the teaching staff and the students of the Faculty of Turkology of the University and informed them about the foundation's activities to protect, promote and pass on the rich values of Turkic peoples with ancient roots to future generations.

She touched on the main goals of the MoU, signed by the organization with the University of Warsaw, as well as the opportunities created for effective cooperation and future joint projects.

The event was followed by a concert program, where students of the Faculty of Turkology of the University from Turkic states delighted the audience with their performance.

Novruz khonchas and national sweets of Turkic peoples were also presented to the participants of the event.

Initiated in 2012, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of the Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third nations.

The foundation provides assistance in the protection, study, and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects, and programs.

The organization carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy.

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The U.S. State Department has hosted an event celebrating Novruz spring feast. The celebration was organized by the embassies of Turkiye, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the U.S. as well as non-governmental organization "Global Partners of the American Foreign Service" at the the initiative of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, D.C, Azernews reports.

The large-scale event brought together US officials, diplomats of embassies accredited in the US, as well as community representatives, was moderated by Shalala Valiyeva, a scholar in law studies and PhD student at the American University, Washington, DC.

In her remarks, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman congratulated all the peoples celebrating Novruz worldwide on behalf of US President Joe Biden and the American people, saying that Novruz, which is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate spring, brings new breath to people for new opportunities.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Rebecca Zimmerman also conveyed her congratulations on the spring feast. She hailed the contributions of regional countries to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting peace and stability.

Representative of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Anjali Kaur expressed her gratitude to the embassies for the organization of the event. She congratulated all those living in the regions where Novruz is widely celebrated.

In her speech, Anjali Kaur stressed that in the difficult times we are currently experiencing, Novruz brings warmth to hearts, promoting common values such as unity, independence and freedom.

Next, Turan Ethnic and Folklore Ensemble (Kazakhstan) thrilled the audience with the traditional music of the organizing countries.

The participants familiarized themselves with the Azerbaijani culture traditions and tasted delicious dishes of the national cuisine.

The event also featured the national dances of each country performed by the US Silk Road Dance Group.

Noting that, Novruz is widely celebrated as the symbol of winter's leaving and spring's coming.

The holiday starts either 20th March or 21st March, on the spring equinox, when the days and nights are equal lengths.

Azerbaijani people celebrate four pre-holiday Tuesdays before the spring festival. Each Tuesday is dedicated to the awakening of one of nature's elements: Su Chershenbesi (Water Tuesday), Od Chershenbesi (Fire Tuesday) Yel Chershenbesi (Wind Tuesday) and Torpaq Chershenbesi (Earth or Last Tuesday).

On September 30, 2009, Novruz was included in UNESCOs List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. On February 23, 2010, the UN declared March 21 the International Day of Novruz.

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24 March 2023 17:24 (UTC+04:00)

NUR Art House in Baku will host a carpet exhibition from March 27 to April 2 as part of the European Artistic Crafts Days (EACD) initiative.

Azerbaijan will join the European Days of Artistic Crafts for the first time, Azernews reports.

The main goal of the exhibition is to promote the art and schools of carpet weaving, which are closely connected with the rich cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, the way of life and ancient traditions of its people.

The carpet exhibition will feature numerous examples of classical and modern design carpets, belonging to different schools of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan. Moreover, master classes in carpet weaving will be organized as part of the event.

The event is co-organized by Arts Council Azerbaijan and NUR Art House with the support of World Crafts Council Europe and The Creative Europe Program.

Established in 2002 upon the request of the French government, the Artistic Crafts Days have been named European Artistic Crafts Days (EACD) since 2012.

The Artistic Crafts Days were organized by the French National Institute of Arts and Crafts (INMA) and have become the first international event dedicated to crafts. They take place every year during the beginning of spring.

Craft studios open their doors to the public and outdoor demonstrations are held by craftspeople, training schools and museums. Around 24 countries are involved in the 2023 EACD.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.

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24 March 2023 10:15 (UTC+04:00)

The Western Azerbaijan Community has responded to the statement of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, regarding the Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia, Azernews report citing the Community.

"The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, made a statement on March 23, 2023, in which he tried to infringe on the right of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia to return to their homes in safety and dignity.

The head of the government of Armenia tried to present the topic of West Azerbaijan as a territorial issue. While noting the fact that Azerbaijanis had lived compactly in present-day Armenia until they were expelled from there, we would like to emphasize that the issue of Western Azerbaijan is a human rights matter, and this issue came to the agenda as a result of the Armenian government's policy of ethnic cleansing and its refusal to eliminate the consequences of this policy.

We emphasize once again that we are lawful inhabitants of the territory called Armenia and it is our absolute and inherent right to return to our homes.

Instead of making slanderous statement on the situation of ethnic minorities in other countries, the Prime Minister of Armenia had better enable unconditionally the return of Azerbaijani inhabitants who were expelled from Armenia, stop the illegal settlement policy implemented in the areas where Azerbaijanis lived, and cease the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage.

The return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia should be ensured within the framework of a legally binding international agreement with proper verification and guarantee mechanisms. Enabling the return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia to their homes and ensuring their individual and collective rights there is the necessary condition for sustainable peace in the region", the Community said.

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24 March 2023 10:45 (UTC+04:00)

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada has commented on the allegations spread in the Armenian press about allegedly "summoning" the Azerbaijani ambassador to the Netherlands to the Foreign Ministry of this country and "reminding him that Azerbaijan does not comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the Lachin road", Azernews reports citing the ministry.

"These statements, replicated by the Armenian press, are another lie and manipulation of the Armenian side, not reflecting the truth. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands was not summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country. The last meeting of the Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands took place on his own initiative on March 15," Hajizada said.

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24 March 2023 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has responded to the statements of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"To get to such a peace treaty Armenia must negotiate in good faith. Respect to territorial integrity & sovereignty must prevail in our region, & any escalation must be addressed based on norms and principles of international law. International community supports this narrative," Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada tweeted.

His comments came in response to a statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who wrote on Twitter that there will be a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and it will be based on the joint official statements adopted at the highest level.

"There wont be a new escalation! The international community must strongly support this narrative," the prime minister also tweeted.

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24 March 2023 11:57 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the aggressive rhetoric of the Armenian leadership towards Azerbaijan which has been growing in recent days, says Spokesperson for the ministry Aykhan Hajizada.

He made the remark in response to a question from local media about the unfounded claims made against Azerbaijan by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian.

The spokesperson stressed that these kind of statements, ignoring the growing international efforts to advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, serve to deliberately exacerbate the situation in the region.

"Both during the period of occupation and in the post-war period, practice has shown that the Armenian side usually, before committing military provocations, conducts such a massive disinformation campaign in order to shift responsibility to the Azerbaijani side," he said.

Besides, accusing Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing and military rhetoric by Armenian leadership, which carried out ethnic cleansing and massacres of Azerbaijanis, occupied Azerbaijani territories, destroyed cities and villages, is an example of falsification.

"To establish peace in the region, the leadership of Armenia must abandon aggressive rhetoric, stop aggressive activities, infringement on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and interference in internal affairs," he added.

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24 March 2023 12:10 (UTC+04:00)

A total of 18 criminals, whose involvement in the massacre in Baganis Ayrim village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district was proven, were put on the international wanted list, senior assistant to the military prosecutor, Spokesperson of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan Firad Aliyev told local media.

In his speech, Aliyev reminded that on December 18, 2003, a joint investigative-operational group was established by a single order of the prosecutor general, the ministers of internal affairs and national security of Azerbaijan in accordance with the current legislation.

The joint investigative-operational group was established to investigate, give a legal assessment of crimes against peace and humanity, other crimes related to war, terrorism, committed against citizens of Azerbaijan, identify and prosecute those who participated in the organization and commitment of these crimes, as well as raising relevant petitions to affiliated international organizations in connection with the facts of gross violation of international law, the official explained.

Since May 5, 2005, the Military Prosecutor's Office has been entrusted with the investigation of this criminal case, and the procedural management of the preliminary investigation has been entrusted to the Deputy Prosecutor General, Military Prosecutor, Lieutenant General of Justice Khanlar Valiyev.

"After acceptance of the criminal case for proceedings by the Military Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a new investigative and operational plan was drawn up. Unlike previous years, the preliminary investigation for each of the committed crimes was carried out in accordance with the unified investigative and operational plan of the criminal case in full compliance with international treaties,legal norms of our country, as well as the requirements of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Azerbaijan," said Firad Aliyev.

He added that materials of the investigation on the episode of the massacre in Baganis Ayrim village proved that on March 24, 1990, at about 8:00 (GMT +4), Armenian armed groups penetrated from the territory of Armenia into the village to completely or partially destroy Azerbaijanis as a national group, kill, and also evict the rural residents from their places of permanent residence without the grounds established by the norms of international law and the laws of Azerbaijan.

The main goal of the groups was also to expel the Azerbaijani population, attack houses, administrations, enterprises and organizations and other crimes against Azerbaijanis, the official noted.

"Having attacked the village from different directions on various military equipment, military and special vehicles, using large-caliber firearms, machine guns, assault rifles, and grenade launchers, they intensively fired at the civilians of the village on the streets and in their own houses. As a result, 10 people, including three women and one 39-day-old child, were killed with unimaginable torture, with special cruelty, only because they were Azerbaijanis, two people received bodily injuries of varying severity," said Ali

Apart from that, 12 private houses were looted and burned, and 438 residents of the village were forcibly evicted from their places of legal residence without the grounds established by the norms of international law and the laws of Azerbaijan.

During the investigation of the criminal case, decisions were made to prosecute 18 persons, whose involvement in the commitment of crimes against peace and humanity on the episode of the massacre in Baganis Ayrim was proved, under articles 103 (genocide) and 107 (deportation or forced displacement population) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aliyev further noted.

The official said that on the basis of court decisions, a measure of restraint in the form of detention was chosen for these persons, and documents to ensure their search were sent to the National Bureau of Interpol in Azerbaijan and the Main Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the official said.

Comprehensive investigative and operational measures are currently being carried out in this direction.

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24 March 2023 14:35 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani diaspora members have participated in the Novruz festivities held in the New Uzbekistan park in Tashkent.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who visited the Azerbaijani exhibition organized by the Azerbaijan National Cultural Center met with Azerbaijani Diaspora members, Azernews reports.

Speaking with the diaspora members, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that he would visit Azerbaijan in September and attend the inauguration of the school to be constructed by Uzbekistan in Fuzuli.

The administration the National Cultural Center expressed their gratitude to the Uzbek leader on behalf of all Azerbaijanis living in Uzbekistan.

Noting that, Novruz is widely celebrated as the symbol of winter's leaving and spring's coming.

The holiday starts either 20th March or 21st March, on the spring equinox, when the days and nights are equal lengths.

Azerbaijani people celebrate four pre-holiday Tuesdays before the spring festival. Each Tuesday is dedicated to the awakening of one of nature's elements: Su Chershenbesi (Water Tuesday), Od Chershenbesi (Fire Tuesday) Yel Chershenbesi (Wind Tuesday) and Torpaq Chershenbesi (Earth or Last Tuesday).

On September 30, 2009, Novruz was included in UNESCOs List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. On February 23, 2010, the UN declared March 21 the International Day of Novruz.

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24 March 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye's Communications Directorate launched the "Solidarity of the Century" campaign to draw attention to the solidarity demonstrated by the Turkish nation after last months devastating earthquakes.

In order to reduce the indescribable suffering of our brothers and sisters in the earthquake region, to heal their wounds and to fight the devastating consequences of the disaster with courage and determination, our state and nation showed the solidarity of the century, which is an example to the whole world, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said in a statement on Thursday.

On Feb. 6, magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes struck 11 Turkish provinces  Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa  claiming the lives of over 50,000 people.

More than 13.5 million people in Turkiye have been affected by the quakes as well as many others in northern Syria.

"We will work day and night with all our strength to leave these painful days behind, to heal the wounds of Turkiye, to return our citizens to their homes as soon as possible, and to rebuild and revive the region," Altun said.

The campaign, which was launched with the slogan Together We Are Turkiye, emphasizes the importance of the solidarity of the state and the nation in the face of the recent disaster.

Within the scope of the campaign, a public service advertisement was also published by the directorate.

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24 March 2023 09:21 (UTC+04:00)

The EU foreign policy chief on Thursday called on both Kosovo and Serbia to implement all parts of the EU-brokered deal that was reached on March 18.

The agreement was agreed, it has to be implemented, and there is no room for picking and choosing, Josep Borrell told reporters on the way to the EU leaders summit.

He referred to the deal between Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on implementing the EUs agreement on normalizing the relations.

The agreement implies the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state by Serbia that Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic ruled out earlier on Wednesday.

Any attempt to question this agreement is futile, Borrell pointed out, stressing that the deal is a whole, has to be implemented by all parts.

I would advise them not to point at anyone but to do their work, he further said, adding that the bloc will closely watch the outcome.

During a visit to the Austrian capital Vienna, Dacic explained that the EU-brokered deal is not an agreement on the recognition of Kosovo and her country will implement it based on their red lines.

This means that we will not recognize (Kosovo) and we will not approve Kosovo's membership to the United Nations, she added.

Launched in 2011, the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue aims to find a mutually agreeable solution for the disputes in the framework of a legally binding agreement.

Following last summer's border tensions, Miroslav Lajcak, EUs special representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, presented in September the bloc's latest proposal on normalizing relations.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, with most UN member-states, including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Turkiye, recognizing it as a separate autonomous country.

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24 March 2023 21:49 (UTC+04:00)

Britain's parliament will block TikTok on all devices on its network following a similar ban on government devices, becoming the latest Western institution to bar the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns, Azernews reports citing Reuters.

A TikTok spokesperson called the action "misguided", saying it was based on fundamental misconceptions about the company.

"Following the government's decision to ban TikTok from government devices, the commissions of both the House of Commons and Lords have decided that TikTok will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network," a parliament spokesperson said.

Britain last week banned the Chinese-owned video app on government phones.

"Cyber security is a top priority for parliament," the spokesperson added.

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24 March 2023 17:15 (UTC+04:00)

Tourist tours to Shusha, known as Azerbaijan's cultural capital, started on March 24.

Being a part of the Great Return policy, the project aims to organize safe tourism trips to the cultural capital as well as to increase economic activity in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Azernews reports.



The first tourist trips will be carried out once a week before Novruz holiday - from March 18. In the next stage, it is planned to increase the number of tours based on demand. Citizens can apply to tourism companies (tour agents) from March 6 to participate in tours.

As part of the tours, Shusha visitors have a great opportunity to visit Fuzuli, Monument to the First Martyr, Jidir Plain, Mehmandarovs' House-Museum, Molla Panah Vagif Mausoleum Complex, House-Museum of Bulbul, Yukhara Govhar Agha Mosque, Shot Monuments square, Shusha Castle, Shusha city gates, Kharibulbul symbol, as well as Gazanchi church and the Shusha Real School.

The two-day trip to Shusha costs 215 AZN ($126.4). This price includes a two-day tour (2 days and 1 night), a bus trip, hotel accommodation, breakfast, and a tour guide. The price for a three-day tour is 370 AZN ($217.6).

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Former Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) chief executive officer Mr Farai Bwatikona Zizhou will now lose property after the High Court struck off the roll his application to stay the sale to settle US$180 000 damages for sexual harassment he committed against his former personal assistant 20 years ago.

Ms Ritha Marque Mbatha was in December 2021 awarded an additional damages of US$180 000 by the High Court after she was fired from her employment for complaining about persistent sexual harassment by her boss.

Her health has been seriously affected by the level of harassment in 2002 and 2003.

She had sought the awarding of a record US$500 000 in additional compensation through a default judgment against Mr Zizhou and the CZI itself as a follow up to her US$40 800 award by the Supreme Court in 2019 after she was unceremoniously dismissed from employment after refusing to yield to Mr Zizhous sexual advances.

The CZI was then given a 30-day ultimatum to pay that compensation plus costs to Ms Mbatha.

In the latest case, Zizhou will now see his property sold after failing to pay the judgement debt to Ms Mbatha because the High Court struck the application to stay the sale off the roll for non compliance with the rules.

An auction sale of the property held in May 2021 did not yield good results and Mr Zizhou objected to the sale saying the property was not properly advertised. The highest bidder was in fact Ms Mbatha herself.

Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa, in her ruling against Mr Zizhou said his application was defective and incurable at law. If you fail to comply with the rules your case is regarded as abandoned and is deemed dismissed.

On his part, Mr Zizhou through his legal counsel did not even apply for condonation for failure to comply with the rules.

As a consequence, there is no matter before me. That being so, there is nothing to determine. In the result, the matter is struck off with costs, said Justice Munangati-Manongwa.

Ms Mbatha claimed she suffered pervasive sexual references, lewd and inappropriate conduct including alleged explicit comments and texts about her in the hands of Mr Zizhou when she was employed as his personal assistant.

Mr Zizhou has since been fired from his employment over his conduct.

In December 2021, Justice Joseph Mafusire granted Ms Mbatha a default judgment, but reduced the award to US$180 000, or the equivalent in local currency convertible at the inter-market bank rate at the time of payment.

To bolster her claim for damages, Ms Mbatha also filed an affidavit of evidence that she has suffered psychological damage.

Among her pile of papers was a brief medical report which detailed that as a result of the sexual arassment, Ms Mbatha suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Justice Mafusire, in his judgment, noted that no amount of money seems adequate enough to compensate for her loss, but that the court should not be seen to be paying lip service to values espoused in the Constitution on human dignity and integrity, hence compensation should be tangible.

In this case, that the sexual harassment happened and must be compensated for the harm it has caused is the one aspect, said Justice Mafusire.

But there are some other aspects of the case that have to be taken into account in arriving at the quantum.

The sexual harassment was persistent. There has never been an apology.

One thinks it would have been quite salutary and a measure of atonement for the injured brain.

Justice Mafusire noted that at the arbitration of the case, Mr Zizhou sought to dismiss his reprehensible conduct as mere jokes. Mr Zizhou was callous and he engineered Ms Mbathas dismissal from employment.

In his ruling, the judge also looked at the power balance and socio-economic dynamics between Ms Mbatha and Mr Zizhou, which he said were skewed given the fact that the latter was chief executive officer and her boss.

When litigation commenced, it was intentionally stalled. It is now almost two decades since the incident happened.

It is only thanks to her tenacity that the case has remained alive in the legal system. Undoubtedly, a measure of punitive damages is warranted.

According to messages submitted during the application, Mr Zizhou became exceptionally personal about his feelings and then said he was bending rules for her to be awarded a pay rise even though she had just finished probation. Herald
Pete Tittl's Dining Out column appears in The Californian on Sundays. Email him at pftittl@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter: @pftittl.
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North Carolina Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper gave his fourth and final State of the State address Monday night to what appeared to be, at times, a divided room between Democrats and Republicans. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson presided over the joint session of the legislature hosting Cooper, and delivered a pre-taped Republican response after.After a recent move by Republicans to agree to expanding the Medicaid entitlement program, Cooper peppered the speech with calls to change how they pass the expansion, funding the Leandro plan, and to noturging the General AssemblyHe began his speech by referencing that North Carolina chartered the first public university system in the country 234 years ago, cited the creation of the Research Triangle Park 60 years ago and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center 39 years ago.Cooper said.He segued into how North Carolina is becoming a leader in the global clean energy economy, bringing good-paying manufacturing jobs to parts of the state, and that electric vehicles are projected to grow into a $400 billion global market in five years. Cooper cited battery manufacturing in Randolph County, semiconductor production and electric vehicle manufacturing in Chatham County, and charging station production in Durham County that is already taking place.He finished his talking points on clean energy by noting that North Carolina was the second state in the Southeast to put carbon reduction requirements into law through bipartisan cooperation in the General Assembly, referring to the H.B. 951 law to enact Cooper's executive order that the state be carbon neutral by 2050.Cooper touted his administration's focus on moving the state to a net zero carbon future with clean transportation and renewable energy like wind and solar.Cooper did receive applause from both sides of the aisle when he mentioned that the state broke records in 2022 with tens of thousands of new jobs and that North Carolina was named the number one state in the country for business.Education was next on his agenda, including how the state was able to invest more than $800 million in the early childhood care centers from money the state received from the American Rescue Plan.Cooper took a swipe at Republican legislators over a judge's order to bypass the state legislature and direct the treasury to release millions of state dollars to fund the 2018 Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Education Plan. The previous left-leaning N.C. Supreme Court upheld that judge's order, but last week the new court, which became right-leaning after the November elections, reinstated a lower court's order blocking the transfer of funds.Cooper said.Cooper said the state has the money this year and next to fund the Leandro plan, developed by a California-based private consulting group. In N.C., a budget proposal presented by the governor outlines his spending priorities. The state legislature sets the budget every two years, with updates on alternate years, and sends it to the governor for signature. Cooper signed the legislature's biennium budget in 2022, after vetoing them since taking office in 2016.he said. He said his budget proposal would also give teachers and principals double-digit raises.Cooper said that while he has already directed tens of millions of federal funding into funding for mental health aid in schools, he said in the coming days, he will propose a plan that makes historic investments in theof every North Carolinian.He wrapped up his points on education by highlighting the importance of colleges and universities, including community colleges, HBCU's, and the creation of the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Public Universities.He took another jab at the Republican-led General Assembly for proposing further tax cuts, citing that the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce has said the current corporate tax rates are already competitive. Cooper signed the November 2021 budget, which gradually reduces the corporate tax rate, if the state economy is strong, until it is eliminated in 2030.Cooper promised that as part of the American Rescue Plan, every home in North Carolina would have access to high-speed internet.Continuing to tout the federal money from the Biden Administration through the federal infrastructure bill and American Rescue Plan, Cooper said the state plans on investing $2.3 billion over the next two years for infrastructure needs, including nearly $500,000 for water infrastructure upgrades.The room became clearly divided when Cooper brought up Medicaid expansion. Democrats loudly cheered, clapped, and stood up, while many Republicans remained stoic and seated, despite a majority of Republicans in the state legislature agreeing to expand the federal Medicaid entitlement program in N.C.Cooper pushed to pass Medicaid expansion as a stand-alone measure rather than writing it into the state budget, as Republicans have proposed, so it would take effect sooner than the likely summer passage of the budget. He said waiting to expand could cost lives and more than $521 million a month in federal healthcare dollars. He also said that putting it in the budget could risk the additional $1.8 billion in federal money that the Biden Administration is using to incentivize the 11 states that have not expanded Medicaid, called Healthcare Access and Stabilization, or HASP, funds.Cooper said.He also talked about investing resources to recruit and retain law enforcement officers and called to fight gun violence, citing the recent release of the Child Fatality Task Force annual report that said children in North Carolina were 51% more likely to die from gun violence than the average of children in the U.S. The same report found that the suicide rate among N.C. teens has nearly tripled in the last 20 years.Cooper briefly mentioned that there is still work to do for those like hurricane survivors who mayreferring to problems in his N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, as some victims of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence remain in hotels years later, but said he is encouraged by the progress that has been made as a state.As he wrapped up his address, Cooper referred to the Parent's Bill of Rights and abortion policy.Cooper said.Cooper said he and legislators had found plenty to disagree about over the years but have found areas of common ground that they should build upon.he said.
Interview with Donna Jackson In this episode of The John Woodard Show, John Woodard Interviews Donna Jackson. Donna Jackson, a Project 21 member who serves as the program's director of membership development, is a seasoned accountant with public and private sector experience as well as previous forays into politics and... By: John Woodard

Search Terms: realamericannews ran johnwoodard donnajackson project21 Search Terms: thejohnwoodardshow
GEN. MILLEY: "As far as an act of war goes, I'm not gonna...go there. Incidents happen." pic.twitter.com/exBXmrDf8f  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 15, 2023

MILLEY: "It probably sank to some significant depths. So, any recovery operation from a techno standpoint would be very difficult." pic.twitter.com/YRWDVP6VP9  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 15, 2023

General Mark Milley said Wednesday that he was not prepared to consider Russia's downing of an American drone to be an act of war.he said.Milley, who has served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2019, gave a briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday to update the press and the public on what had happened and how the Defense Department planned to proceed.Milley said.Milley also addressed the possibility of retrieval, noting that the drone had gone down in water that was thousands of feet deep and would thus likely prove difficult to recover.Milley explained.Milley went on to say that if it became apparent that recovery was possible - or that it was a good idea - Defense Department leadership would address that in the coming days.Russian authorities have already expressed an interest in recovering the drone.Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, said on Wednesday.The United States military said that one of two Russian planes had clipped the propeller of the drone, after which it went down in international waters. State Department spokesman Ned Price called the incident a
Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., NC State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NCDHHS

Angela Caraway, Executive Director of the Caraway Foundation

Jennifer Greene, CEO and Health Director of AppHealthCare

Ways to support and improve whole person health

Importance of routine health visits and preventative care

Efforts to increase access to health care and reduce disparities in rural areas

NC Department of Health and Human Services

2001 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Ph : (919) 855-4840

: (919) 855-4840 news@dhhs.nc.gov

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, March 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss the importance of whole person health with a focus on realities in rural communities and available resources across the state.Event participants include:More than 4.6 million North Carolinians - slightly less than half of the state's population - live in rural areas. Rural communities often face challenges related to access to health care, housing, food, transportation, educational resources, internet and more. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light these challenges and their impact on the prevention, detection and management of chronic conditions.Fireside and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:Many people fell out of care during the pandemic as routines were disrupted and now face additional health challenges. This ripple effect underscores the importance of maintaining whole person health.Whole person health goes beyond physical well-being and includes supporting mental, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental health. It also examines all factors that can improve well-being and that lead to health problems and chronic conditions.The risks of COVID-19-related complications continue to be greater among people who have conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which are two of the more prevalent diagnoses in rural communities. Individuals who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines are also at greater risk of severe illness or hospitalization from the virus.Resources are available across North Carolina to connect rural communities with local health care providers, education and support to uplift whole person health and help loved ones do the same.The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling (855) 756-7520 Ext. 92464#.NCDHHS fireside chats and tele-town halls are part of the state's ongoing public efforts to eliminate health disparities, reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure equitable access to timely information, resources and COVID-19 vaccines.
Two more states have joined those banning child genital mutilation. The governors of Iowa and Georgia signed legislation this week imposing the bans in their states after bills passed by wide margins in the state legislatures. The bans also apply to chemical castration of children. Iowa's governor also signed a bill prohibiting children of one biological sex from using the school restrooms or locker rooms of the other sex.

https://redstate.com/benkew/2023/03/23/georgia-and-iowa-become-latest-states-to-ban-child-sex-changes-n720561

Meanwhile, bills to protect children from this butchery in North Carolina remain bottled up in committee, thanks to spineless and liberal RINO legislative "leaders" Phil Berger and Tim Moore. In Moore's case, he even has a homosexual activist leader as his deputy chief of staff riding herd against such legislation within his office. Big Medicine also wants to profiteer off of screwing up children's lives, and their special interest bought-and-paid-for legislators like Rep. Tim Reeder (RINO-Pitt) and Sen. Jim Perry (RINO-Lenoir) are there to stop any attempt to protect NC children.
A new poll conducted by Grinnell College finds that a majority of Americans believe it is "not appropriate" for teachers to talk about politics in the classroom. Among all Americans, 57% opposed allowing teachers to talk about politics in the classroom. Among Republicans, it was 68%, while suburban women opposed teachers talking politics in the classroom by 65% and Catholics by 64%. Among parents with school age children, 58% oppose allowing teachers to discuss politics.

https://www.grinnell.edu/poll/speaking-minds

In North Carolina, parents are even more unset about politics in the classroom. A poll last year by the Civitas Institute found that 71% of North Carolinian parents were concerned about political indoctrination of students in the public shcools.

Yet, NC has Roy Cooper appointees on the state Board of Education going farther and injecting political indoctrination into the very curriculum with its highly politicized new social studies curriculum.
By Marina Zhang for The Epoch Times

He took his first Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA immunization in April 2021, and things have not been the same since.

House Rep. Mike Belcher (R-N.H.) has been suffering from ocular migraines for almost two years.

Belcher would soon be tormented with painful headaches preceded by a blinding light that would cause searing pain at the back of his eyes.

One unusual symptom stood out: His vision became strange. He started to notice that the red and green color balance in his eyes would shift, and dark spots would appear in his field of vision.

Around 12 hours after the shot, Belcher recalled developing symptoms of severe flu and neurological symptoms soon manifested in a matter of days.

I was hospitalized for maybe four days, and I was discharged with the diagnosis of protracted ocular migraines with some other names stacked on, Belcher told The Epoch Times. I had never had a migraine before, and at that point, I had a migraine for [around] 20-something days straight.

After being transferred from specialist to specialist, Belcher was finally hospitalized in May 2021.

This came along with more serious symptoms, including impaired balance (he was unable to walk in a straight line) and memory problems.

Counces clinic has treated around 300 long-haul and postvaccine patients, and she has noticed that her long-COVID patients tend to have symptom presentations that are more understood, more textbook presentation, while the patients who developed symptoms after vaccination may develop more severe and unexplainable symptoms.

Alabama-based neurologist and neuroradiologist Dr. Diane Counce told The Epoch Times that since the vaccine rollouts, she has also seen many patients who, after vaccination, would develop migraines, or experience a worsening or increased frequency of symptoms. These migraines would often manifest with temporary blindness.

A rather puzzling symptom she saw in her vaccinated patients was vision fluctuation, which would be accompanied by other neurological problems. The patients visual acuity would decline, but the decline would fluctuate from day to day, with no obvious physical abnormality observed in the eye.

The constant changes in symptom severity make it hard for patients to change their eyeglass prescription, because theyll be different the next day, Counce said.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Lynnell Lowry from Alamo Eye Institute in Texas has also observed a rise in unusual eye problems.

She told The Epoch Times about a patient who, for several weeks, had her field of vision interrupted by snow-like disturbances, but Lowry could not find anything remarkable upon examination.

Most of Lowrys vaccinated patients seemed to have developed vision problems related to a shingles flare-up or thyroid-related deficiencies.

She has also seen an increase in rarer ocular problems. She would typically see central serous retinopathies around once every five years but has seen three cases in vaccinated people in 2022. She normally sees around one case of cranial nerve palsies every two years but has seen three cases in vaccinated people in 2022.

Eye Complications Recorded in Database and Literature

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), around 70 percent of eye pain, blurry vision, and visual impairment reports were filed for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as over 50 percent of all eye swelling reports.

While VAERS cannot determine whether an adverse event was caused by a vaccination, patterns in reporting may suggest a need for further evaluation to assess potential safety concerns.

The United Kingdom, which rolled out vaccines around the same time as the United States, reported over 9,000 cases of neurological symptoms including muscle spasms, myalgia, paresthesia, headaches, and dizziness to its VAERS database by late April 2021.

A New Zealand study that tracked about 3,000 vaccinated patients who developed uveitis before the vaccine rollouts found that patients had an increased risk of uveitis flare-ups after vaccination.

The baseline rate of uveitis flare was 12.3 per thousand patient months. This number increased to 20.7 after the first dose, 15.0 after the second dose, 12.8 after the third dose, and 23.9 after the fourth dose.

In November 2022, the American Academy of Ophthalmology posted a review of ocular manifestations postvaccine that were reported in the literature. Eye complications fell into four broad categories:

Ocular inflammatory diseases occur when tissues in the eye become red, swollen, and pained. Postvaccination inflammation has been documented in the conjunctiva, the outermost layer of the eye; the sclera, the white layer covering the eye; as well as inflammation in the inner layers including the episclera and uvea.

occur when tissues in the eye become red, swollen, and pained. Postvaccination inflammation has been documented in the conjunctiva, the outermost layer of the eye; the sclera, the white layer covering the eye; as well as inflammation in the inner layers including the episclera and uvea. Optic neuropathies occur when the optic nerves that transfer visual information from the eye to the brain become damaged. This may occur when blood clots stop or limit blood flow to the nerves and also when the body starts attacking its own optic nerves, which may lead to flickering lights in the eyes, vision loss, and pain.

occur when the optic nerves that transfer visual information from the eye to the brain become damaged. This may occur when blood clots stop or limit blood flow to the nerves and also when the body starts attacking its own optic nerves, which may lead to flickering lights in the eyes, vision loss, and pain. Anterior segment conditions are related to eye complications in the front part of the eye such as the cornea, irises, and lens, as well as the muscles that control these areas. Since the vaccines rolled out, there have been several reports of keratitis, which is inflammation in the cornea. Reports of corneal transplant rejections have also been documented, though reporting rates are not higher than rates of other vaccines. Eye infections from shingles have also been reported and may occur with or without rashes.

are related to eye complications in the front part of the eye such as the cornea, irises, and lens, as well as the muscles that control these areas. Since the vaccines rolled out, there have been several reports of keratitis, which is inflammation in the cornea. Reports of corneal transplant rejections have also been documented, though reporting rates are not higher than rates of other vaccines. Eye infections from shingles have also been reported and may occur with or without rashes. Retinal conditions include tearing and detachment of the retina. Since the retina is responsible for detecting light and color, its damage can lead to impairment and loss of vision.

Mark from California suddenly started to see floaters in cobweb-like formations in his left eye within the first two weeks after receiving his first Pfizer dose. This came after suffering from chest pain within hours of vaccination.

A referral to an eye specialist showed that his retina was bleeding. The gel in his left eye, which gives eyes their spherical shape, was pulling on the retina, causing the tissue to bleed. If the gel tears or causes the retina to detach, it may lead to permanent vision loss.

More Evidence Needed to Prove Causality

Since COVID-19, doctors have become more cautious when discussing vaccine adverse events.

Mark said his ophthalmologist told him that the spike protein produced by his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may have aggregated in his eye, leading to inflammation and damage, but other eye specialists have told him the opposite.

Mark had laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) to correct his vision over 20 years ago, so other ophthalmologists told him that he was at risk of retinal detachment to begin with, though studies have generally reported retinal detachment within the first few years after a LASIK surgery.

While ophthalmologists are now becoming more aware of vaccine adverse events, some argue that the current evidence that supports ocular complications from the vaccine is not strong enough.

Since ocular complications after vaccinations tend to be quite rare to begin with, some experts think it is unknown whether reported cases of suspected ocular problems after vaccinations are side effects or only a matter of coincidence.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Abelrahman Elhusseiny, who has co-authored several studies documenting ocular adverse events after COVID-19 vaccinations, said that though the literature on this topic has increased since 2021, he has seen very few cases of possible vaccine adverse events in his clinic.

He also said that many of his vaccinated patients who then developed ocular problems had underlying health problems such as autoimmune disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, which would already put them at risk of ocular symptoms and may increase the risk of vaccine adverse events.

While extensive literature has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines can cause myocarditis, pericarditis, and thrombocytopenia, links between COVID-19 vaccines and ocular adverse events have been quite weak.

There is evidence, but the evidence is not as strong as with other conditions such as, say, cardiovascular issues. This is mainly due to [the] small number of events and lack of well-controlled studies specifically on ocular adverse events, ophthalmic epidemiologist and professor Mahyar Etminan from the University of British Columbia told The Epoch Times over email.

The most compelling evidence so far is from a Japanese epidemiology study that matched vaccinated to unvaccinated people. After comparing about 80,000 double-dosed individuals against the same number of unvaccinated people, the authors found that risks of ocular complications increased after the second dose. However, analyzing the same sample using a different technique resulted in an insignificant link between vaccination and ocular symptoms.

There are also several case studies reporting possible links, though this type of study is less convincing as evidence to prove causality.

Nevertheless, Etminan believed that it is possible to investigate the possible link between ocular complications and vaccinations, adding that the study should be well-designed with a large sample size.

Since these vaccines are under the microscope, we have to be careful not to link everything and the kitchen sink associated with these drugs. This data should only come from well-designed studies, he said.

Ophthalmologists Now Discussing Vaccine Risks With Patients

To err on the side of caution, some ophthalmologists are now actively bringing up possible risks of vaccines to their patients.

Lowry said that now she considers a persons vaccine status and evaluates its potential temporal association with the symptoms of which her patients complain.

Elhusseiny similarly said that he lets his patients know about the risks of vaccinating so they can make their own decisions.

One of Elhusseinys patients lost his spouse to COVID-19 and continued getting vaccinated without further adverse reactions, while another patient had a relative who experienced a vaccine adverse event, and therefore, decided to stop getting vaccinated.

Lowry highlighted the importance of physicians bringing up vaccine risks with their patients.

Coming out of the pandemic, she noticed that while some patients suspect that the vaccines may have been involved in some of their symptoms, they seem afraid to mention it voluntarily.

Theres a huge stigma, Lowry said. Patients who got vaccinated and had adverse events are almost afraid to blame it on the vaccine.

Especially since most people now have experienced both vaccination and infection, there is an added level of complexity for doctors to come to a diagnosis, with Lowry comparing doctors now to detectives.

Looking to the Future

When looking to the horizon, the bright light triggers a pulsating effect on his eyes, Belcher said. The vision kind of fades in and out just a little bit. Thats a constant feature.

Belcher said that many of the doctors he saw during and leading up to his hospitalization were quite certain that the vaccine was a contributor to his condition.

Thankfully for Belcher, most of his neurological symptoms are now under control.

Though his ocular migraines need daily medication to prevent breakthrough cases, in recent weeks, hes seeing a decrease in frequency.

Belcher hopes that future examinations will inform him of the pathological reasons behind his ocular symptoms.
A Jefferson County refinery had more than 6 million pounds of unauthorized air pollutants during unexpected emissions events last year.

The Environmental Integrity Project released on Thursday released these and other findings in "The Polluter's Playbook: How Loopholes and Lax Enforcement Harm Air Quality in Texas," which highlights the impact of air pollution from refineries across the state.

"I think this report shows that throughout Texas, in Corpus Christi, Houston, Port Arthur and the Permian, unregulated illegal pollution is creating significant risks," the report's author Gabriel Clark-Leach said.

In the report, Bayport Polymers in Port Arthur and the ExxonMobil Beaumont Refinery were listed among the "top 10 sources of total unauthorized air pollution during unexpected emissions events in 2022."

"Companies must disclose pollution releases during unexpected emissions events within 24 hours if the release exceeds a threshold specified by law,' the report states. "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality started this reporting requirement in 2002."

The information for the list is based on emission event reports filed with the commission throughout 2022. However, the pollutant numbers do not include pollution from unreported emission events or excess emissions during normal daily operation, according to the report.

RELATED: Three Jefferson County refineries ranked top water polluters

Bayport Polymers was ranked first on the list, as it reported nearly 6.2 million pounds of unauthorized air pollution throughout the year, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System database, which was cited in the report.

Clark-Leach said the data shows the plant's longest unauthorized emissions event of the year, which lasted nearly four months, was associated with the startup of a new ethane cracker, which malfunctioned and needed to be shutdown and de-inventoried for repairs. The event began on April 16 and lasted through Aug. 15 -- a total of 2,915 hours.

"This event resulted in unauthorized emissions of 7,213 pounds of carcinogen benzene, 20,177 pounds of the carcinogen 1,3-butadiene, along with 3,873,356 pounds of carbon monoxide, 972,602 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 50,230 pounds of unspeciated volatile organic compounds," Clark-Leach said.

Another event began Sept. 26 and lasted a total of 1,797 hours, lasting until Dec. 10. Clark-Leach said this seems to have been a second attempt at starting up the new ethane cracker.

"This event resulted in the unauthorized release of 1,244,120 pounds of unauthorized pollution, including 3,664 pounds of the carcinogen benzene, 5,051 pounds of the carcinogen 1,3-butadiene, 246,374 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 981,211 pounds of carbon monoxide," Clark-Leach said. "The remainder is primarily volatile organic compounds."

The final of the plant's four events in 2022 began Dec. 23 and ended on New Year's Day, lasting for 216 hours.

"The operator claims that this upset was caused by freezing temperatures," Clark-Leach said. "This event resulted in the unauthorized release of 11,012 pounds of pollution, including 8,729 pounds of carbon monoxide and 2,192 pounds of nitrogen oxides. The remainder is primarily volatile organic compounds."

Bayport Polymers did not respond to requests for comment.

RELATED: How a Port Arthur chemical plant gamed the Clean Air Act

The ExxonMobil Beaumont refinery was second on the list with a total of nearly 2.1 million pounds of unauthorized air pollution throughout the year.

Clark-Leach said the data shows the refinery had five emissions events in 2022, but two occurred at the same time and likely had the same root cause.

"The refinerys extensive unauthorized sulfur dioxide releases makes it one of only two sources in our top ten SO2 emitters for 2022 not located in the Permian Basin," Clark-Leach said. "ExxonMobils Beaumont Refinery also ranks 6th in Texas for unauthorized hazardous air pollutants and 7th in Texas for particulate matter emissions during emissions events in 2022."

The ExxonMobil Beaumont Refinery's unauthorized emissions event in 2022 with the most pollutants occurred on July 13 and lasted 18 hours.

"It resulted in the unauthorized release of 1,306,131 pounds of pollution, including 1,301,832 pounds of carbon monoxide and 747 pounds of particulate matter," Clark-Leach said. "According to ExxonMobil, this event resulted from an equipment failure."

Clark-Leach said the fourth and fifth reported events seem to have been part of the same event. The event began on Dec. 23 and ended on the 26, lasting 94 hours.

"It resulted in the unauthorized release of 745,996 pounds of pollution, including 74,542 pounds of volatile organic compounds, 591,252 pounds of sulfur dioxide," Clark-Leach said. "According to ExxonMobil, this illegal release was caused by freezing temperatures."

ExxonMobil Beaumont area Public and Government Affairs Advisor Andrew Ortiz said the event was a part of the refineries response to the winter storm in December.

"Emissions data listed in the organizations report largely reflects emissions resulting from two unplanned operational events occurring in 2022, including our response to this past Decembers winter storm," Ortiz said. "In both cases, we conducted fence-line air monitoring with no exceedance of applicable limits."

RELATED: Jefferson County LNG plants could release 11M tons of greenhouse gases annually

Ortiz said the Beaumont refinery routinely performs fence-line monitoring "with more rigor than required by regulation," and undertakes a "prompt" investigation when any result exceeds the action level at a monitor.

The rest of plants and refineries included on the list were not from the Southeast Texas region and had similar numbers to the ExxonMobil Beaumont Refinery, with anywhere from over 2 million to over 800,000 pounds of air pollution.

Clark-Leach said informing the public about these air pollutants and others included in the report is important for holding the government and refineries accountable.

Specifically, Clark-Leach said that under the Clean Air Act, agencies, such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, have the discretion to look at history and performance of a company before deciding on penalties for illegal emissions.

"We're hoping that the Texas legislature or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality would just abandon this affirmative defense regime and move forward with a simpler, more effective approach to analyzing non compliance from these sources," Clark-Leach said.
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EXETER, N.H. (AP)  An airline passenger who helped tackle a man trying stab a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon was honored Friday by his hometown police department in New Hampshire.

Jeff Neil, a former bouncer who now works for a software company, received the Citizen Award for his actions earlier this month, which were caught on video by another passenger.

At a ceremony in Exeter, Neil said he doesn't consider himself a hero but acknowledged the significance of what happened.

I truly was in the right place at the right time, he said.

Neils wife Libby was sitting with him on the plane. She said she wasnt surprised he jumped into action.

We both knew that he would be getting up, she said.

Francisco Severo Torres, 33, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was arrested and accused of attacking a flight attendant and attempting to open the door of United Airlines Flight 2609. The plane was about 45 minutes from Boston when the crew noticed the door handle had been moved out of the fully locked position.

Investigators said Torres admitted knowing that if he opened the door many people would die. He awaits a mental health evaluation.

In the video, Torres can be seen loudly threatening to kill people and promising a bloodbath before saying he was taking over this plane and stepping into the aisle.

Seated one row back, Neil immediately jumped up and tried to calm Torres and defuse the situation.

Prosecutors say Torres approached two flight attendants and attacked one of them. Neil and several other passengers rushed to the attendant's aid and tackled Torres, then held him down until the flight got to Boston.

Exeter Police Chief Stephan Poulin said Neil exemplified what it means to be both a hero and a leader.
A Beaumont woman who's been missing since March 10 has been placed back on Harris County's official missing person list.

Kay-Alana Turner, 27, still has outstanding warrants for evading in a motor vehicle and aggravated assault on a peace officer after a run-in with Harris County sheriff's deputies on March 10.

A representative from the Sheriff's Office said she intentionally drove toward deputies while fleeing in her vehicle and "refused" attempts to talk with deputies. However, Turner's family said she was in a manic episode as the result of mixed-up mental health medication, and she likely fled law enforcement because she was afraid.

Turner's family previously said they were told she couldn't be considered a missing person any longer because of the warrants. However, a Facebook page created to provide updates on the case said a Harris County Sheriff's Deputy worked "hours" to re-activate her missing person case.

RELATED: Family searching for Beaumont woman missing for two weeks

The Sheriff's Office has not responded to The Enterprise's request for more details as to why her missing person case was dropped and later re-activated.

Turner was last seen heading toward Decker-Prarie Rosehill Road, northwest of Tomball, and her footprints were found next to a log in Spring Creek, according to Rosa Calhoun, Turner's mother.

Her family and friends have posted thousands of flyers with pictures of Turner across the state, have searched wooded areas and checked with local agencies that may have taken in Turner. A Saturday search covering a 5- to 10-mile radius from where Turner was last seen is being organized by the Southeast Texas Navy.
Dreamstime, HO

A man from Orange was sentenced to federal prison for firearm violations after he admitted to owning a gun as felon after a traffic stop.

On Oct. 4, 2022, Michael Geral Jr., 35, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Marcia A. Crone to four years and two months in federal prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Eastern District of Texas Office.
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Engineering may currently be a male-dominated field, but ExxonMobil is hoping to close the gender gap in the workforce.

The company on Thursday invited nearly 100 female students from all of Beaumont ISD's middle school campuses to participate in "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day," in the Science and Technology Building at Lamar University.

During the multi-hour event, students were able to meet with ExxonMobil employees, many of them female engineers, and complete a multitude of experiments to get a feel for what a career in engineering could look like.

The activities included building a catapult, creating a popsicle flashlight and building a tower from plastic straws.

RELATED: New ExxonMobil BLADE expansion officially goes online

The day began with ExxonMobil Beaumont Chemical Plant Manager Michael Mustian, who will soon take over as manager of the entire Beaumont complex, asking the some 100 girls a few questions, gauging their eagerness for the day ahead.

"Stand up if you like to problem solve," Mustian asked the group. "Who likes to work as a member of a team? Who likes to have fun? Great news, you're going to do all three of those today. And if you become an engineer, you can do that each and every day."

Before breaking into groups to begin the experiments, the students heard from ExxonMobil Beaumont Area People Development Manager and keynote speaker Angie Vargas, who discussed her personal journey toward an engineering career.

A Liberty native and Lamar engineering graduate, Vargas said she didn't have a strong interest in engineering until she took a chemistry class in high school.

RELATED: Beaumont students get feet wet with ExxonMobil

"Engineering opened a lot of doors for me," she said. "ExxonMobil has given me a variety of experiences as an engineer."

Vargas asked the students about their interests outside of academics. Responses included art, psychology, sports, fashion and cosmetics.

"Guess what? Engineers are needed in all of those areas," she said. "We're going to help you explore the ways that engineers are involved in a lot (of industries). There's really a vast need for engineers."

Working for ExxonMobil for 13 years, Vargas began her career as a unit engineer at the company's Polyethylene Plant making plastic.

"Engineers come from all different backgrounds," she said. "We need people from all over the place...I came from a small town, I wasn't necessarily really into problem solving as a young female, but it was something that I've learned over time and it's offered a lot of opportunities for me. I want you to explore your interests and learn how engineering can be a part of what your interests are."

RELATED: ExxonMobil gives Beaumont high schools $60,000

While ExxonMobil works to engage with community members of all ages, Mustian said eighth grade is a great time to introduce what an engineering career could look like to young students.

"(They're) stepping into a whole new world in high school, people are going to start asking, 'What do you want to do with your career and the rest of your life?'" he told The Enterprise Thursday. "So, I think it's absolutely critical at this particular age to introduce them to engineering principles, talk to them about the life that they can have, the careers they can have."

Mustian said he especially wanted the students to realize they can get their education and have a strong engineering career within Beaumont city limits.

"You've got a top-notch engineering university with Lamar and you have more industry in the Golden Triangle than pretty much anywhere else in the country," he said. "You have all these amazing opportunities and you never even have to leave home. You can stay with your family and you can have jobs that are in high demand -- high paying jobs that will set you up for success for the rest of your life."

More than anything though, Mustian said he hopes Thursday's event impresses upon the students that engineering is exciting.

RELATED: Beaumont girls get lesson in engineering, lip gloss

"We want and need (women in) science, technology and engineering careers," he said. "I think working directly with women in our industry, which is why do many of the volunteers are women, they can see that and they can ask direct questions that are maybe specific to them. Leaving with excitement is something that I really hope they (have)."

According to the Society of Women Engineers, women account for only 13% of practicing engineers in the industry.

"For us, it's been a focus area for many, many years," Mustian said. "(Companies including ExxonMobil have been) doing this (event) for 20 years, across the country since 2003."

Mustian said engineering may not be the first career field girls look at and may not be exposed to it as a career option early on in their lives. That's why events like "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" are so important.

"Maybe they're told petrochemical is a male-dominated field and it doesn't have to be," he said. "From a diversity of thought perspective, women and men working together in the petrochemical industry is vitally important. I really value the relationships that I've built with a lot of female engineers and they do bring a different perspective."
Two Southeast Texas high schools were put into lockdown Thursday after threatening phone calls were made to the campuses.

Woodrow Wilson Early College High School in Port Arthur "executed a brief lockdown" Thursday afternoon while school district police investigated an emergency phone call made to the school, the district said in a Facebook post.

"There was no gunfire at/on/near/in Wilson ECHS or any of our high school campuses," the district said in the post. "All students are accounted for (and) safe..."

Afternoon dismissal of the campus was conducted in a controlled manner. Memorial High School and the Career and Technical Education campus also conducted a lockdown drill in response to the activity at Wilson, the district said.

West Brook High School in Beaumont saw a similar turn of events, with Beaumont ISD Police receiving a phone call about a threat against the campus around 2:25 p.m. -- less than half an hour before afternoon dismissal, Principal Nick Phillips wrote in a post on the school's Facebook page.

"Campus administrators and the BISD police department immediately responded by initiating a lockdown while BISD police assessed the situation," Phillips said in the post. "Authorities searched in and around the building and found no threat."

Students were dismissed shortly thereafter.

"We take any and all threats made regarding our campus and students very seriously as the safety and security of everyone in our buildings is a number one priority," Phillips said.

Anyone with information regarding the Beaumont threat is encouraged to contact BISD Police at 409-617-7000.

This report will be updated.
A local organization is assembling a search team that will be in the Spring Creek area this weekend looking for a missing Southeast Texas woman.

Southeast Texas Navy, which was formed during Tropical Storm Harvey, will begin the search at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Kay-Alana Turner, 27, has been missing since March 10. She was reportedly last seen near Spring Creek, which divides Harris and Montgomery counties, heading toward Decker Prairie Rosehill Road.

Were gonna do the creek up and down, both directions, said Dena Duprey, co-founder of Southeast Texas Navy. Im told its about a mile from the bridge either way. There are a lot of areas that are passable, like you could cross them, and then there are some that could be possibly up to 20 feet deep.

Duprey said those looking to volunteer in the search should plan to arrive at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday to find a place to park and go over search team guidelines. The group will meet at 23206 Decker Prarie Rosehill Rd. in Magnolia at a pasture entrance near the west end of the creek.

RELATED: Family searching for Beaumont woman, who's been missing for two weeks

The search will cover a radius of 5 miles from the site where Turner was last seen.

Because there will be underbrush to move through, volunteers should bring boots, blue jeans and a walking stick or small machete, plus a bright-colored shirt or hat for visibility, Duprey said. A colored vest would also be helpful, she said.

Food and water bottles will also be distributed. Whether someone can spend a couple hours or spend all day helping out, Duprey said any amount of time would help.

The areas expected to see rain on Friday, but Duprey said that wont affect the searchs start time. The rain could also lead to cooler Saturday morning temperatures and lead snakes to stay out of the way when the search begins, Duprey said.

Duprey said at least 20 volunteers are planning on being there Saturday, but an extra 20 volunteers or more would help expand the search radius.

Those interested in joining the search are asked to call Duprey at 409-651-7726.
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

A suspect in a hostage case involving migrants is dead after an FBI rescue mission turned into a shooting in Texas.

Authorities said several people the FBI classified as migrants were traveling on Interstate 10 when they were stopped by kidnappers and forced into another vehicle.
In celebration of the union between two local Lutheran Churches, the congregation of the newly formed church -- Peace Lutheran Church -- has been granted a Texas State historical marker.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Groves and Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Arthur have merged creating a unified congregation located next to the former location of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The historical marker was initially granted to Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Arthur as a 100th anniversary gift of the formation of the congregation. Since the marker is for a congregation and not a building, the marker was transferred to Peace Lutheran Church when the congregations merged, said Jefferson County Historical Commission coordinator Jennifer Trenbeath.

A supplemental plaque accompanied the historical marker to address the unification and continued growth of the church, Trenbeath said.

We have been working together for several years to have the congregations merge, to make sure we can serve the community and serve our Lord better together rather than as two smaller congregations," Pastor Timothy Dinger said.

The two congregations have been worshiping and working together for several years to make the union come to fruition.

Dinger said the name was voted on by both churches and symbolizes exactly what the church hopes to bring to the community -- peace.

This has been the Lord guiding all of this; taking faithful people from two different communities, but with the same Lord, same guidance and with that same desire to bring the peace of Christ into our communities, Dinger said, (The congregation) recognize that and they want to worship together and study together and serve together. They feel like they can do it better together.

The ceremony also included the burial of three time capsules -- one from each of the three churches. Dinger said each contains historical pieces and other items, such as drawings, official minutes, constitutions and copies of worship services. No opening date has been set.
Fran Ruchalski, The Enterprise / The Enterprise

Lamar University originated as South Park Junior College when the South Park Independent School District in Beaumont "instructed superintendent L. R. Pietzch to develop plans for a Junior college of the first class on March 23 in 1923," the Texas State Historical Association reports.

Texas State Historical Association

Six months later, on September 17, 1923, South Park Junior College opened its doors with an enrollment of 125 students and 14 facility members and classes were held on the third floor of the new South Park High School, the report said.
Ophiocordyceps, the fungus from HBOs The Last of Us, is real, although it cannot infect humans. The bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, on the other hand, can infect humansby eating their flesh. And its on the move.

No, this isnt a season two spoiler.

Per a new report from Forbes, Vibrio  capable of inciting necrotizing fasciitis (a flesh-eating disease)  is not only alive and well in the real world, it is also apparently headed straight for New York. Thats because its a bacteria of the ocean-dwelling variety with a penchant for warm weather and, thanks to climate change, the northeast will fit the bill sooner rather than later.

The good news? Infections are rare. The bad news? Theyre extremely deadly. And while theyve been on the rise for the better part of the last 30 years, if the bacterias expansion to the north reaches New Yorks waterways in the next two decades the way researchers are predicting, the number of infections will double. In fact, theres already evidence of Vibrio in Philadelphia.

Further, not only do experts say the bacteria cant be controlled, there are also no real resources in place to help people avoid it, and thus avoid infection (remind you of anything?).

Using less optimistic climate models where carbon emissions are not kept low, the researchers said infections could rise as high as 140 and 200 cases everyhttps://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/science/willow-oil-ipcc-report-climate-change year by the end of the century and have spread to every East Coast state, Robert Hart wrote.

That said, weve got plenty of other things to worry about in the short term where climate change is involved. Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that Earth is trending to cross a critical threshold for global warming within the next decade, per the latest IPCC report, and without immediate action the planet could overheat to dangerous levels. Not only that, natural phenomena made worse by climate change  storms, heat waves, cold fronts, flooding and wildfires chief among them  are detrimental to humans in and of themselves. But as Hart posited, they can also help foster the spread of disease.

As crazy as it sounds, a flesh-eating bacteria in New York may be the least of our worries 20 years from now.

Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.

The post A Flesh-Eating Bacteria Is on Its Way to New York appeared first on InsideHook.
The value of healthcare private equity deals in 2021 was 378 percent higher than that of 2012, and many executives say that trend is here to stay.

Five healthcare leaders recently connected with Becker's to discuss how leadership structure at ASCs, hospitals and health systems could be affected by the evolving healthcare landscape.

Q: How do you expect the health system/hospital/ASC ownership structure to shift in the next year?

Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Bob Bush. CEO of Austin (Texas) Diagnostic Clinic: I think that we will begin to see third party (i.e. private equity) become more involved as health systems are trying to regain their footing after the financial demise of the pandemic.

Karen Flinn Fowler. CEO of Trisource Health (Plano, Texas):

1. I believe we will continue to see growth in physician-owned ASCs as well as additional partnerships with equity investors or affiliated hospitals.

2. Payers will continue to push on reimbursement to ASCs and continue to bundle services.

3. As technologies advance, it appears that many services that were only able to be done in a hospital ASC will be approved to be done in freestanding ASCs.

4. Services in ASCs will continue to grow in the areas of pain management, orthopedics, podiatry, ENT and ophthalmology.

Kim Mikes, BSN, RN. CEO of Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Newport Beach, Calif.): As the popular saying goes, "follow the money." When CMS moves more orthopedic and spine procedures from inpatient-only status to ACS status, more surgeries will be performed in ASCs. Our orthopedic surgeons were pioneers in doing joint replacements in ASCs, so our model of care is built around an inpatient hospital and a growing network of ASCs. We plan to open at least one more ASC this year to serve the growing need in our community. It reduces costs for all stakeholders when orthopedic procedures can be done in the ASC with no reduction in clinical outcomes. That's why more hospitals and health systems are acquiring more ASCs. More importantly, private equity  so-called smart money  is reshaping our industry. Because of the value proposition, these deals will continue to accelerate. With this shift, we may see more consolidation and investment in ASCs across the country.

Herbert Pierce. CEO of Vistar Eye Center (Roanoke, Va.): Our ASC is ophthalmology-specific, so I don't expect much movement towards hospital ownership. The trend that may move ownership of ophthalmology-only ASCs is the trend of practices joining private equity. When those practices sell to PE, they almost always include a separate deal to sell the ASC to PE as well.

Raghu Reddy. Chief Administrative Officer of SurgCenter of Western Maryland (Cumberland): The investments by the hospital systems in ASC have been steadily increasing in the past few years. There is a significant movement towards value-based care, increasing employment of physicians by health systems, and competition among health systems is growing. There is a lot of M&A activity in the ASC space by health systems, corporate chains and private equity firms. The health systems are either pursuing their own ASC strategy by developing their ASCs or buying into the existing ASCs with different ownership structures. This move is driven by the shift of ASC-eligible cases from HOPDs to ASCs mainly due to CMS adding more procedures to the ASC-covered list, payers requiring patients to opt for ASCs or stand to pay higher out-of-pocket expenses when they utilize the HOPD. Also, patient outcomes, satisfaction and profitability favor ASCs, and health systems are trying to create or broaden their ecosystem with the ASCs in their portfolio. The physician owners of ASCs welcome health system partnerships to mitigate issues like supply chains, payer contracts and other tangible benefits. This partnership between physicians and health systems in an ASC could lead to fewer politics, and the focus will be on serving the patient population in their demographics. The future is bright for the ASCs, with more high-acuity cases shifting with evolving technology and a drive that payers accelerate to reduce their spending, and the health systems see it.
New York physician Sudipt Deshmukh, MD, is facing a manslaughter charge in a patient's opioid overdose death, the Rochester Beacon reported March 23.

Dr. Deshmukh, a primary care physician, allegedly prescribed a lethal amount of opioids and other substances to a patient he was aware struggled with addiction.

The patient died in 2015, and Dr. Deshmukh was charged with manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree related to two patients, six counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance for overprescribing high doses of opioids, and healthcare fraud for charging Medicare for the medically unnecessary prescriptions that contributed to his patient's death.

The judge has not released his decision in the trial, which wrapped up March 20, according to the Beacon. Dr. Deshmukh faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison.

Dr. Deshmukh is the second physician in the state to face a manslaughter charge for a patient's overdose death. George Blatti, MD, 75, a physician in Nassau County, was charged in March 2021 with second-degree murder for his prescription practices, which allegedly led to five patient deaths.

Dr. Blatti allegedly ignored repeated warnings from pharmacists and payers and prescribed large amounts of opioids and other drugs to his patients. He was also charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, which was reduced to reckless homicide.
Kentucky physician James Chaney has been awarded $14 million in his lawsuit against CVS and Rite Aid of Kentucky for wrongly attributing drug orders to him, the Lexington Herald Leader reported March 22.

Mr. Chaney was charged in 2014 and was indicted for illegally prescribing drugs, running a pill mill out of his pain management clinic and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He consequently lost his medical license and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

The jury in the lawsuit found that CVS and Rite Aid knowingly reported Mr. Chaney wrote prescriptions he had not.

He was awarded $10 million for past, present and future mental anguish; $2.5 million for lost wages; and $1.5 million for impairment to his ability to earn wages, according to the report.

CVS will pay 53 percent of the award and Rite Aid will pay 45 percent. A third company, R/X Discount Pharmacy, is liable for 1 percent of the award. The jury also said Mr. Chaney was responsible for 1 percent of the damage he suffered by failing to monitor prescribing data about himself.

A spokesperson for CVS told the publication the company disagrees with the verdict and may appeal. Rite Aid did not respond to the publication's request for comment.

Mr. Chaney is planning to ask the state to reinstate his medical license.
Physician pay in a solo practice jumped 3 percent in the last year, according to 2023 data from online networking service Doximity.

Doximity determined the pay growth by analyzing tens of thousands of job postings across its network for 2022.
From a $2.9 million false claim allegation to three deaths linked to bacterial infections caused by artificial tears, here are 10 ophthalmology updates since March 6.

1. Arlington, Texas-based ophthalmology provider Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers will pay $2.9 million to resolve false claim allegations that it paid kickbacks to optometrists to induce patient referrals.

2. Three deaths have now been linked to Global Pharma Healthcare's Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops.

3. Management services organization Ascend Vision Partners added Winter Park (Fla.) Ophthalmology.

4. The FTC is proposing changes to ophthalmology prescription rules.

5. Las Vegas was named the best paying city for ophthalmologists.

6. New York City-based Vitreoretinal Consultants acquired Retina Consultations in Bronxville, N.Y.

7. The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington is moving its outpatient ophthalmology clinic as part of a $35 million project.

8. Precision Lenses was ordered to pay $43 million to resolve alleged anti-kickback law violations.

9. Paul Wyatt, MD, has been sentenced to prison for performing ophthalmology surgeries after his medical license was suspended in 2016.

10. Ophthalmology biotechnology company EyeBio made several appointments to its senior leadership team.
Covington, Ga.-based Piedmont Newton Hospital is asking Newton County officials to allocate $2.2 million of its remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds to add 10 inpatient beds, the Rockdale Newton Citizen reported March 23.

Norris Little, MD, the hospital's interim CEO, told county commissioners the inpatient census was about 50 prior to the pandemic but is now closer to 80, according to the report. Emergency room visits increased from 100 to as many as 150.

Dr. Little, who is also the hospital's chief medical officer, said he anticipates demand will continue to rise due to ongoing economic development in the county and surrounding areas, according to the report.

He said the 10-bed increase can be completed in the hospital's existing footprint within six months, according to the report. The funding would serve as a stopgap measure. Dr. Little said in the longer term, a major infrastructure investment will be needed to address the growing population.

County commissioners tabled the hospital's request for 30 days to give the board chairman an opportunity to speak to Covington officials about contributing to the project, according to the report.
UPMC signed a new agreement with Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan to grow its medical residency program and form an academic medical center, the health system said March 23.

The extended partnership would also provide in-person mentorship programs in Pittsburgh, according to a news release. UPMC previously worked with Nazarbayev University and its affilated University Medical Center in Astana, Kazakhstan.

UPMC will assist with the admissions process for six subspecialty residency programs and two fellowship programs. Three new subspecialty programs will also be created: one in ophthalmology and two in womens health.

UPMC's first partnership in Kazakhstan was signed in 2012.
New York hospitals are struggling to reopen hundreds of psychiatric beds by the governor's April 1 deadline, Politico reported March 23.

Hospitals cite staffing shortages, inadequate funding and suicide risk as contributing factors to the delay. In several cases, hospitals converted psychiatric beds into medical and surgical units during the pandemic, which included installing new infrastructure such as electrical and gas lines. These lines pose a hanging risk for psychiatric patients.

"We cannot simply re-open the unit as a psychiatry unit as reconfiguring the rooms requires very significant time and expense," Manish Sapra, MD, executive director of Northwell Healths behavioral health service line, wrote in the plan shared with Politico. She also said the hospital permanently reassigned the psych unit's staff during the pandemic and it would take nine months to a year to hire at least 60 new staff.

NYC Health + Hospitals described a similar issue. It expects to reopen 179 of its 253 beds by the end of the year, and the rest will not be ready until December 2024 according to Politico.
Five class-action lawsuits have been filed involving a data breach that affected as many as 4.2 million patients, at a time when hospitals are enduring an increase in legal action over cybersecurity, SC Media reported.

Independent Living Systems, a third-party managed care administrator, was hit with the suits after reporting a revised number of potential victims March 14, according to the March 22 story. That marked the largest healthcare breach reported so far in 2023.

The legal complaints are part of a larger trend of law firms increasingly launching "investigations" to identify "victims" in the wake of posted data breaches, with hospitals experiencing the biggest rise in such legal filings, the news outlet reported.

The lawsuits against Independent Living Systems claim the firm failed to adequately protect patient data, according to SC Media. The stolen data, which ended up being sold on the dark web, may have included Social Security numbers, financial accounts and medical record numbers. The company said in its notice that it wasn't aware of any fraud or identity theft resulting from the breach.
Hong Kong: FS to visit Malaysia, Singapore

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for a visit to Malaysia and Singapore on March 26, seeking to forge closer financial and commercial ties between Hong Kong and the two countries, as well as promote Hong Kong's latest economic and financial developments.

He will call on senior government officials and business leaders to introduce to them the vast business opportunities offered by Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as he visits Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from March 26 to March 28.

He will also tour a number of enterprises and give a keynote speech during a discussion at the University of Malaya.

The Financial Secretary will depart for Singapore on the evening of March 28. During his stay in the city-state from March 28 to 30, he will call on senior government officials and business leaders and meet representatives of enterprises.

Mr Chan also plans to take part in a number of exchange sessions and seminars, including speaking at a talk at the National University of Singapore and giving a keynote address at a thematic conference organised by the South China Morning Post.

He will return to Hong Kong on the evening of March 30. During his absence, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will be Acting Financial Secretary.

This story has been published on: 2023-03-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Interview: China's cutting-edge meteorological technology is benefiting world, says WMO official

Xinhua) 11:06, March 24, 2023

Satellites belonging to the Tianmu-1 meteorological constellation are launched by a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, March 22, 2023. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

GENEVA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's advancements in meteorological science and technology have benefited not only its own population but also the rest of the world, Assistant Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Zhang Wenjian has said.

China's meteorological science and technology has reached a world-leading level, especially in meteorological satellites, Zhang said in an interview with Xinhua.

Zhang noted that the country's meteorological concepts feature openness, inclusiveness and mutual sharing.

Since the restoration of its lawful seat at the WMO in 1972, China's role in the organization has gone through four stages: integration, contribution, participation and leadership, according to Zhang.

After the initial procedural integration, China quickly contributed to the WMO's observation systems, which rely on international cooperation to form a global operational system.

"Without data from the WMO, no country can make weather forecasts beyond one day," said Zhang. "With the observation data contributed by China, the global weather data observation network could then match its name. It was crucial for the WMO and global weather forecasting that meteorological data from China's 9.6 million square km of territory be shared globally."

Over the past 20 years, China has quickly taken a leading role within the WMO, thanks to its advancement in science and technology and meteorological development concepts.

According to Zhang, the WMO needs data from about 1,000 vertical atmospheric observation balloons daily, with China contributing about 100, or 10 percent. Meanwhile, the WMO satellite program coordinates about 30 operational satellites, with seven or eight from China. These basic observation systems are the most powerful tools for monitoring meteorological hazards.

Another bright spot of Chinese technology has been in meteorological satellites. In 2017, the WMO and seven countries in Asia and Oceania, including China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Russia and India, agreed on an Asia and Oceania meteorological satellite user-sharing mechanism, which facilitates providing critical meteorological satellite services to more countries in the Southern Hemisphere that do not have their own meteorological satellites.

"In the event of major catastrophic weather events or major international political incidents, such a mechanism can provide meteorological satellite service in an observation frequency of every minute instead of every half an hour to respond more accurately to weather conditions such as typhoons," Zhang said.

The WMO has been calling on countries with meteorological satellites to provide observation services tailored to other countries experiencing major meteorological events. China was the first to respond to the call and has now signed agreements with 28 countries to provide meteorological observation service when needed.

Behind all this are the advanced technology and increasing quantity of Chinese meteorological satellites over the past two decades.

Zhang said China now has four geostationary orbiting meteorological satellites in operation, covering about half of the Earth's surface area. Its Fengyun-4B meteorological satellite can provide a high-resolution observation of 250 meters every minute.

Zhang said China's meteorological satellites have benefited the world, taking the G20 summit in Indonesia last year as an example. To ensure the flight safety of the participating heads of state, he said that China provided tailored meteorological satellite observation service at the request of Indonesia for the best weather forecast and observation results.

"It showed that China's meteorological technology not only has served its national economy but also the security in major international political events," Zhang said.

On World Meteorological Day last year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for establishing a UN weather and climate early warning system within the next five years to protect every person on Earth against increasingly frequent extreme weather and climate change events.

"China has been persistently assisting the least developed countries in meteorological service, helping to train personnel and establish early warning systems," said Zhang.

"Early warning is highly dependent on observational data. On average, the WMO collects data from about 10,000 ground-based stations per day, of which about 500 are contributed by China, accounting for about 5 percent of the global total," said Zhang.

Since 2013, China has assisted seven African countries in building ground-based meteorological observation networks, disaster mitigation and prevention systems, and offshore satellite reception systems with the WMO's coordination.

"China's unremitting assistance in meteorological services, especially to the least developed countries, has been recognized and appreciated by the majority of developing countries," Zhang said, adding that the WMO hopes that all countries with meteorological satellites follow suit by providing timely cooperation to developing and least developed countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Two years ago, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan voiced concerns about a merger boom in the U.S., warning that the high volume of transactions is stretching agency resources. That boom has arrived, with healthcare deal revenues hitting an all-time high of $45 billion in 2022 and showing no signs of abating.

To combat this, the FTC wants to increase its fiscal 2024 budget by $160 million  $70 million of which will be dedicated to tackling healthcare merger challenges, rulemaking and investigations. Its overall budget for next fiscal year, if approved by U.S. lawmakers, would be $590 million.

Much of the increased funding would be used to hire more staff, cover the increased costs of operations and provide employee pay bumps as Ms. Khan and the FTC ramp up antitrust enforcement against healthcare mergers and acquisitions.

Over the last year, the commission filed administrative complaints and sought preliminary injunctions against three health system mergers, all of which scrapped their acquisition plans.

In February 2022, Care New England and Lifespan  both based in Providence, R.I.  called off plans to merge after the commission filed a suit with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha to block the deal. The merger would have given the combined system 80 percent of the market's hospital beds and ownership of eight of Rhode Island's 13 hospitals.

"If this extraordinary and unprecedented level of control and consolidation were allowed to go forward, nearly all Rhode Islanders would see their healthcare costs go up for healthcare that is lower in quality and harder to access, and Rhode Island's healthcare workers would be harmed," Mr. Neronha said in his decision.

In June, Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and Dallas-based Steward Health Care System abandoned their proposed deal involving five Utah hospitals. The decision came 13 days after the commission challenged the transaction.

"As the second- and fourth-largest healthcare systems in the Wasatch Front region of Utah, which surrounds Salt Lake City, HCA Healthcare and Steward Health Care System help to keep costs down for consumers by competing vigorously with each other. The result is lower prices and more innovative services for patients and their families," said Holly Vedova, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. "If these companies merge, this competition will be lost, and Steward will no longer be available to patients as a low-cost provider in this region."

That same month, two New Jersey systems  New Brunswick-based Saint Peter's Healthcare System and West Orange-based RWJBarnabas Health  terminated a definitive agreement to merge after the FTC filed a suit to block the transaction.

In a statement 10 days earlier, Ms. Vedova pointed to possible antitrust concerns, arguing the combined system would have a market share of about 50 percent for general acute care services in Middlesex County. "Saint Peter's University Hospital is less than one mile away from [RWJBarnabas] in New Brunswick, and they are the only two hospitals in that city," she said.

Since the beginning of 2022, Becker's has reported on 14 other hospital deals that have been abandoned for various reasons.

The FTC has been less apt to intervene in deals involving so-called healthcare disruptors. On Feb. 21, the agency said it would not sue to block Amazon's $3.9 billion acquisition of primary care company One Medical. The tech giant completed the deal the next day, despite the fact the agency under Ms. Khan has set its sights on the growing power of Big Tech.

The FTC found evidence of anti-competitive tactics but decided it was too hard of a case to win and could not determine what market would be monopolized, people with knowledge of the agency's thinking told Politico in a March 20 report. One Medical has more than 220 primary care clinics across the country.

On Feb. 27, the FTC warned Amazon and One Medical to keep patients' healthcare data private and not use it for marketing or advertising purposes. Data privacy has been a top concern for the agency, which recently completed huge settlements with digital health companies GoodRx and Better Help for sharing patient data with social media platforms.

Federal regulators have also reportedly been investigating CVS' proposed $8 billion agreement to buy home health company Signify Health. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently asked the FTC to review CVS' planned $10.6 deal for Oak Street Health, a chain of primary care clinics focused on older adults.

Ms. Warren also requested the agency "retroactively analyze previous acquisitions of primary and home healthcare companies by large health insurers and retailers such as [UnitedHealth Group], Humana, [Walgreens Boots Alliance], Walmart and Amazon. If the FTC determines that any of these deals violated antitrust law, I urge you to unravel them."

UnitedHealth Group, for example, bought home health company LHC Group in February for $5.4 billion despite an FTC probe.

The FTC has been successful in blocking recent health system mergers, but time will tell whether it continues to block Big Tech mergers after a string of setbacks, according to The Wall Street Journal. The healthcare M&A landscape may face even more scrutiny in 2024, however, if the FTC's request for a budget increase is granted, giving it more funds, resources and personnel to challenge such transactions.
Garett May is leaving his role as CEO of Merit Health Natchez (Miss.) for a new role within Community Health Systems, the hospital's parent company, The Natchez Democrat reported March 24.

Franklin, Tenn.-based CHS has tapped Mr. May to serve as COO of Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Ala. His last day at Merit Health Natchez will be April 7.

Mr. May has more than 10 years of executive leadership experience with Merit Health. He previously served as COO of Flowood, Miss.-based Merit Health River Oaks before stepping into his current CEO role in August 2021.

Tracy Byers, a seasoned CHS executive, will serve as Merit Health Natchez's interim CEO until a permanent leader is hired, a spokesperson for Merit Health told The Natchez Democrat.
The U.S. healthcare marketplace is facing a list of challenges that, on some days, might seem insurmountable.

The overwhelm of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shortage of qualified workers and burnout and frustration of those still on the job can make it hard for workers to remember why they got into medicine in the first place. Recapturing that "why" could be a true game-changer for hospitals going forward.

As part of an initiative to give hospital leaders a platform to share opinions and advice on a variety of topics, Becker's spoke with Tom Wright, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Children's Mercy Kansas City in Missouri.

(If you would like to be featured in this Q&A series, please send an email to bari@beckershealthcare.com)

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

Question: What is the biggest challenge facing hospital leaders today?

Tom Wright: Our biggest challenge is figuring out how to recapture the joy in healthcare. The change and ambiguity experienced over the past couple years has revealed the inspiring creativity of our people. At the same time, it has taken a toll on our resilience. How can we bring back joy in the workplace? How can we experience that same "why" that drew us to healthcare?

I believe the answer rests in the cultures we create and nurture. It rests in our ability to ensure team members find meaning and purpose in their daily work; are engaged and valued; and trust that we, as leaders, will promote their well-being and ability to bring their best selves to work every day. Shaping culture IS NOT a campaign. It IS a commitment to bring our organizations' mission, vision and values to life every day, as we support our patients and their families and interact with each other.

We have initiated a culture journey at Children's Mercy Kansas City in which we are exploring culture concepts designed to help us live out our values and guiding behaviors in a way that will have lasting impact on all team members. As leaders of organizations, we must be thoughtful and intentional in how we engage employees to be and perform their best. The shadow that we cast as leaders is the "X" factor in our culture journey.
Respiratory therapists and technologists at Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine's University Hospital and C.S. Mott Children's and Women's Hospital seek to organize with Service Employees International Union Michigan and have requested that the University of Michigan recognize the union.

Recognition would allow about 300 respiratory therapists and technologists to have a larger effect on patient care and workplace conditions, the union said in a Feb. 23 news release. According to SEIU Healthcare Michigan, about 80 percent of University of Michigan front-line workers are currently unionized.

"Across the university, a majority of front-line workers enjoy union protections through contracts that protect their rights. SEIU Healthcare Michigan provides us an opportunity to elevate our voices on the job to better advocate for ourselves, our patients and our community. A super majority of workers in our unit have signed union cards and it's time for the University of Michigan to recognize our union," Sabra Wells, a registered respiratory therapist at University Hospital of University of Michigan Health, said in the union release.

The university may recognize new labor unions "upon a showing of majority support of the employees in the bargaining unit." This framework for union recognition was approved in 2020. Previously, the university required a state-supervised election to recognize new labor unions. SEIU Healthcare Michigan also has the option of filing for a union election if the university does not recognize the union.

Michigan Medicine confirmed to Becker's that SEIU has approached the university about organizing and initial discussions are taking place.

"Our respiratory technicians provide a crucial role in our healthcare delivery. We are currently discussing their organizing effort with our employees and the SEIU and plan to work collaboratively with them," David Miller, MD, president of University of Michigan Health, said in a statement. "We welcome the conversations that we hope will contribute to our culture of constant improvement in the delivery of care to our patients."
Members of the California Nurses Association have reached a tentative agreement with MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, Calif., averting a planned strike.

The union represents about 600 nurses at the hospital, which is part of MarinHealth, according to a March 23 CNA news release. MarinHealth Medical Center is a 327-bed independent organization owned by Marin Healthcare District.

Union members voted to authorize a strike on March 6. A strike was set to begin March 28 but averted with a tentative three-year deal reached March 21, according to the union. Nurses are slated to vote to approve the new contract March 27.

"We are pleased with this tentative agreement, which will help us recruit and retain nurses," Lynn Warner, RN, said in the CNA release. "This was a long fight, but through our collective power and solidarity, we were able to win an agreement to ensure that we can continue to give our community the care they deserve."

The tentative deal includes provisions to ensure nurses receive the highest level of personal protective equipment, including when caring for suspected COVID-19 patients; nurse participation in a new infectious disease subcommittee; and additional break relief for most units, the union said. The agreement also includes a 16.5 percent wage increase over the life of the contract.

"This agreement is fair and addresses the needs of both parties," MarinHealth CEO David Klein, MD, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "We are pleased to reach a settlement without any disruption in service. I would again like to express my sincere appreciation to our dedicated nurses for their tremendous work on behalf of MarinHealth and our patient community."








A second New York physician is facing a manslaughter charge over the opioid overdose death of a patient, Rochester Beacon reported March 23.

Sudipt Deshmukh, MD, 56, was a primary care physician who prescribed a lethal mix of opioids and other controlled substances to a patient he knew struggled with addiction, according to a New York attorney general indictment. The male patient died of an overdose in 2015. Dr. Deshmukh was charged with manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree related to two patients, six counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance for overprescribing high doses of opioids, and healthcare fraud for charging Medicare for the medically unnecessary prescriptions that contributed to his patient's death.

Dr. Deshmukh's one week trial wrapped up on March 20. The judge has not yet released his decision, according to the report. He is the second physician in New York to face murder charges for allegedly prescribing excessive controlled substances.

The first physician was George Blatti, MD, 75, a physician in Nassau County, N.Y., who was charged March 4, 2021 with second-degree murder for his prescription practices, which allegedly led to five patient deaths. Dr. Blatti's charges were reduced to manslaughter in 2022, according to Rochester Beacon. His trial is ongoing.
Phoenix-based Aspen University's nursing program has been at the center of investigation for more than a year from accrediting authorities and the state's board of nursing. Newly proposed amendments to its teach-out agreement allowed it to avoid a shutdown vote from the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

The university's pre-licensure bachelor of science in nursing program surrendered its license in September and was also previously investigated by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which cited "ongoing problems including the quality and integrity of the program," among others.

At a March 23 meeting to decide the program's fate, Aspen University counsel proposed new amendments to its teach-out agreement for students to avoid an abrupt shutdown, so the remaining enrollees could graduate. The board went into executive session for more than an hour for legal advice to review the proposed amendments.

"Aspen University's goal and the board's goal are not different," a board member said during the meeting. "We want safe, quality teaching practices for everyone involved."

A vote to shut the program down before it completed the teach-out plan that was already in place would have forced students to finish their nursing education elsewhere.

"They need to stop and just let us graduate. The proof will be in our passing of the NCLEX," one student, who did not wish to be identified, said while waiting for the board to return from its private review of the amendments. "I don't know how anyone is expected to keep studying with all of this pressure on the school closing or not. We don't want it to be a moving target anymore."

After returning from executive session, a motion was made to accept the agreed-upon amendments.

"The amendment allows Aspen BSN program to continue its teach-out with additional oversight by a consultant and ombudsperson, and additional, specific requirements regarding the educational requirements, particularly related to clinicals, testing integrity and skills testing," a statement released by the board of nursing said. "The amendment also requires additional reporting to the board."

If Aspen University fails to adequately address the issues with the newly proposed oversight, the teach-out could still possibly be terminated by the board. As of now, the program's ongoing teach-out will "offer instruction for its existing nursing students for up to two years, so that they may complete their degrees or seek other options."
The staff at two Northern Ireland chip shops have shared their joy at being featured on a list awarding the best fish and chips in the UK.

The Friary in Carrickfergus landed in the top 50 best takeaways while Fish City in Belfast took a top 10 spot in best restaurants in a list compiled by leading food publication Fry Magazine.

According to the magazine, shops can achieve 100% if they score top marks on every section of the mystery dine but had to achieve at least 95% or over for takeaways to win an award and 92% or over for restaurants.

Its something weve always really strived for since we opened and were absolutely delighted to say the least. Its a combination of hard team work and coming together" said Fish Citys head chef Nick Clough.

Fish City also won the honour of Environment and Sustainability Champion' award and was the only restaurant nominated across all categories.

We actually really want to win these kind of awards, we really push ourselves as much we can, to make sure everything we do is at its best.

"Weve now won quite awards now, and in particular our green and environmental awards, it helps us be able to lead the way and do things before anyone else.

The awards give us pride to work here, we all feel like were all a part of something really good and its amazing feeling.

While owner of The Friary, David McKelvey said the fact the honours are conducted via a secret-shopper format makes it extra special.

Its our 3rd time listed in these awards, and its just really nice to be awarded something like this especially when its done like a secret shopper.

It just means we are displaying the same quality level of service every time no matter who is coming into our shop. Its a real sense of achievement and it is just an honour to be have something which people value.

It gives us a real sense of achievement.

The Fry Magazine awards are now in their 11th year, and come as Fish City continue to dominate both national and regional awards for their grub.

Fish City in Belfast city centre

Earlier this month, the city centre restaurant won Restaurant of the Year at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2023 beating UK-wide eateries to take the top prize.

Reece Head, competition organiser with Fry Magazine said: Once again weve had another year where its simply got harder to operate a fish and chip business, with rising energy, labour and ingredient costs taking a heavy toll.

Its not easy but operators are working harder and smarter, staying ahead of changing tastes and behaviours and adapting accordingly.

Our awards are a real testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment these operators put into running successful businesses.

He added those who made the publications list represent the best in the industry and are pushing forwards while not losing sight of what makes the chippy so engrained in British culture.
A frail and vulnerable pensioner died in hospital 10 months after he was attacked and robbed by two women in Derry, Belfast Crown Court heard today.

Rhona Mary Gracey (36), of Chobham Street, Belfast, and Sharon Mary Faustina Harland (47), of Baltimore House, Bridge Street in Derry, both previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Daniel Guyler.

Prosecution counsel Neil Connor KC said Mr Guyler was a 75-year-old pensioner who was of fine build, walked with a stick and we say he was physically vulnerable.

He was assaulted in the Waterside area of Derry on the evening of July 23, 2018. His hat and his wallet, containing 400 in cash, was taken from him, said Mr Connor.

He sustained a serious head injury during the attack, from which he never regained consciousness, and died 10 months later in hospital on May 1, 2019.

He told Mr Justice OHara that medical evidence from the time of the assault reported he had sustained injuries to both sides of his head and a defensive injury to his arm.

The examining doctor suggested he had either fallen from a height or he was attacked. A police investigation of the scene suggested the fall from a height was unlikely.

Although no one saw the victim being robbed, witnesses at the scene reported the two defendants had been in the company of Mr Guyler shortly before the incident.

Rhona Gracey tried to dissuade witnesses from calling an ambulance. The defendants lived in the local Simon Community hostel and they were known to drink in the area where Mr Guyler was attacked.

Shortly afterwards, Gracey and Harland were seen by witnesses acting suspiciously, disposing of a wallet, later identified as Mr Guylers, which had no cash in it.

They had money after the incident which they didnt have before and Mr Guylers hat was found a considerable distance away from his unconscious body.

The prosecution counsel said Harland made comments at the scene to witnesses which could amount to a confession.

She said Mr Guyler had sexually assaulted one of them and when asked if she had assaulted Mr Guyler, she smirked and said he was a paedophile.

When confronted by another witness about what she had done, Harland replied: Are you going to tout?

We say that those are incriminating remarks. As well as witness evidence, there was also forensic evidence. Mr Guylers blood was found on Rhona Graceys slipper, sock, T-shirt and jeans.

His blood was also found on Sharon Harlands shoes and trousers.

Mr Connor said among the aggravating features was that the attack on Mr Guyler was unprovoked, the deceased was frail and vulnerable and the assault took place in the course of a robbery.

Harland has 50 previous convictions, including 14 assaults and one serious assault of grievous bodily harm, along with 13 dishonesty offences.

The court heard Gracey has 55 entries on her criminal record, including 12 assaults, seven serious assaults, one for robbery and 10 dishonesty offences.

She was on licence at the time of this incident. In 2015, she was convicted of grievous bodily harm on a disabled man using a Zimmer frame. The assault on him resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury caused by her fists.

In 2014, during a robbery incident, she attacked a man with a hammer and he needed 33 stitches.

Two years earlier, she was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after she pushed a man through a window, saying he was being sleazy.

In 2007, she was convicted of wounding after she stabbed a woman in her thigh.

In another incident, she forced entry to a house and assaulted residents with a hammer, a walking stick and a kitchen knife.

Graceys defence counsel, Eugene Grant KC, said: There is no suggestion that this is a case of premeditation and was carried out spontaneously with a very substantial amount of alcohol and prescription drugs taken.

Frank ODonoghue KC, representing Harland, said she has spent the last 27 months in the Shannon Clinic at Knockbracken Healthcare Park in Belfast, where she is being treated for paranoid schizophrenia, which she had been suffering from at the time of the assault.

She has no memory of the incident and she acknowledges the strength of the evidence against her, he added.

Following submissions, Mr Justice OHara said he would pass sentence early next month.
Neurologist at the centre of Northern Irelands biggest recall of medical patients

Family and friends of patients of Michael Watt protest at Victoria House in Belfast as a review of the clinical records of 44 patients who died under his care found 'significant failures in their treatment', November 2022 (Pic: Pacemaker)

The doctor at the centre of Northern Irelands biggest recall of medical patients has been handed a 12-month interim suspension order following a legal challenge from two of his former patients.

More than 5,000 of Dr Michael Watts former patients were invited to have their cases examined for possible misdiagnoses, including patients who were treated for stroke, Parkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) allowed Dr Watt to voluntarily remove himself in 2021, a decision which would have meant him not having to face a public hearing about any fitness-to-practise issues.

Two former patients of Dr Watt  Danielle ONeill and Michael McHugh  successfully challenged the decision in a judicial review at the High Court in Belfast.

Dr Watt had relinquished his medical registration in October 2021 but, following the successful judicial review, he was automatically re-added to the register.

At an interim orders tribunal this week, Mr Watt was handed a 12-month interim suspension, which will allow time for the (MPTS) to fix a date for a full public hearing.

The General Medical Council (GMC) said it had taken immediate action following the outcome of the judicial review.

Patients of Dr Michael Watt have suffered immense harm and our thoughts are with them and their families, said a spokesperson.

Following a High Court decision to quash Dr Michael Watts voluntary erasure and reinstate him on the medical register, we took immediate action by referring him to an interim orders tribunal at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.

On March 21 the interim orders tribunal imposed a 12-month suspension on Dr Watt, preventing him from practising, while our fitness-to-practise proceedings are ongoing. This means he cannot practise medicine.

Read more Decision to grant neurologists voluntary removal from medical register to be quashed

MS Society director David Galloway welcomed the development.

I am pleased that the GMC can now look at this again and I hope that they can schedule hearings as soon as possible. Patients and families have been seeking answers, accountability and public acknowledgement of their experiences, he said.

Around one in five of Dr Watts patients were told they had not been given an appropriate management plan for their condition, while a similar number had not been issued with an appropriate prescription.

In April 2021, a review of 927 of Dr Watts high-risk patients found that 181 people received a diagnosis described as not secure, with then-Health Minister Robin Swann apologising to affected patients.

An inquiry found last year that the Belfast Trust had failed to intervene quickly enough in Dr Watts practice and that systems put in place to assure the public about patient safety prior to November 2016 had failed.

Belfast Trust chief executive Dr Cathy Jack apologised to Dr Watts patients.

The Belfast Trust let you down and many of you have suffered avoidable and unnecessary harm as a result  whether that was through being given a diagnosis that was not correct, receiving incorrect treatment or medication or having a procedure you did not need, Dr Jack said.

The recall of a further 19 patients was announced in September 2022, despite assurances from the health minister that no further recalls would be required.
Liam Holden, who died last year, with his family outside the Court of Appeal in Belfast after his conviction for murder was quashed in 2012 (PA)

The estate of a west Belfast man subjected to violent waterboarding interrogation techniques in obtaining a false confession to killing a British soldier is to receive a further 350,000 in damages, a High Court judge ruled today.

Mr Justice Rooney held that Liam Holden was unlawfully detained, hooded and had a gun pointed at his head by members of the Parachute Regiment intent on getting him to wrongly admit to shooting Private Frank Bell more than 50 years ago.

He said: I conclude that the plaintiff was exposed to humiliation and degradation and that the soldiers behaved in a high-handed, insulting, malicious and oppressive manner.

Mr Holden, who died last year at the age of 68, was the last man in Northern Ireland sentenced to hang.

The death penalty was commuted to life in prison before a 40-year fight to clear his name resulted in his murder conviction being quashed in 2012.

He had previously been awarded 1m for losses suffered due to the miscarriage of justice.

Before his death, Mr Holden brought a separate claim for damages against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for alleged misfeasance in public office, assault, battery and torture.

In October 1972, he was arrested following the shooting of Private Bell in the Springfield Avenue area of west Belfast.

An 18-year-old chef at the time, Mr Holden was taken to a military post at Blackmountain school, where he said paratroopers deployed banned interrogation techniques.

Soldiers pinned him to the floor and placed a folded towel over his face, the court heard.

According to Mr Holdens account, the repeated torture methods left him fearing that he was drowning.

In evidence, Mr Holden said: They started pouring a bucket of water slowly through the towel.

The first thing I felt was the cold, then trying to breathe, and then sucking water in through my mouth and up my nose.

He described being revived and slapped about the face while soldiers held him by the armpits.

Up to four questioning and waterboarding sessions were allegedly carried out.

He was then hooded and taken to the Glencairn estate, notorious at the time as an area where loyalist paramilitaries dumped murdered Catholics.

A gun was put to his head as the soldiers warned he would be shot if he didnt confess to killing Private Bell, Mr Holden contended.

At that point, he agreed to a cock-and-bull story about carrying out the shooting and dumping the gun afterwards.

A forensic psychiatrist who examined Mr Holden in 2016 said he described being plagued by nightmares more frightening than any real-life experience.

During their sessions the plaintiff recalled seeing the face of the soldier who allegedly tortured him as part of the recurring, unwanted thoughts.

He also spoke about having the gun tapped against the side of his forehead, adding: I can still feel it.

The MoD defended the action by denying liability.

However, Mr Justice Rooney held that Mr Holdens confession statement had been obtained through ill-treatment and unlawful acts of violence.

It is my decision that the plaintiff was subjected to waterboarding. He was hooded. He was driven in a car flanked by soldiers to a location where he thought he would be assassinated. A gun was put to his head and he was threatened that he would be shot dead, he said.

Mr Holden genuinely believed he was going to be killed, according to the judge.

Hooding of the plaintiff, in the circumstances as alleged, constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment in breach of Article 3 of the (European Convention on Human Rights), he found.

The court heard damages were necessary for the treatment Mr Holden was exposed to during his unlawful questioning.

A towel was placed on his face, and then water was poured slowly over his face. He could not breathe. He tried to breathe through his mouth but gagged as he sucked water in, Mr Justice Rooney pointed out.

The water torture, as he described it, occurred three or four times.

Leaving aside the significant psychological effects of this water torture, the plaintiff [had] an aversion to contact with water.

With paratroopers having wrongly and unlawfully induced Mr Holden to make admissions, the MoD was held liable for his malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office.

There is no question that the soldiers had an honest belief that they were acting lawfully, the judge said.

This is a clear case of targeted malice, namely conduct specifically intended to injure the plaintiff.

The soldiers knew and intended that their actions would injure the plaintiff and unquestionably acted in bad faith.

Confirming a total further award of 350,000 damages, Mr Justice Rooney added: I have no hesitation in concluding that the said wrongful acts amounted to exceptional and contumelious conduct on the part of the 2nd Parachute Regiment and that the plaintiff suffered considerable mental distress and emotions of extreme fear as a result.

Reacting to the ruling, the Holden familys solicitor, Patricia Coyle of Harte Coyle Collins, said: The court has exposed the grotesque acts by members of the Parachute Regiment at Blackmountain barracks in October 1972.

This groundbreaking judgment has implications not just for my late client and his son and daughter in their journey for justice, but also other victims of torture inflicted by the state. ends
The 46-year-old, who cannot be named because of a reporting restriction, appeared at Belfast Crown Court to be arraigned on a total of 77 charges.

Dressed in a grey suit, he replied guilty when the charge of misconduct in a public office was put to him by the court clerk.

The offence was committed on dates between January 27, 2015, and October 5, 2018.

The charge states that the former police officer, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted yourself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the trust of the public in that you obtained, attempted to obtain and disclosed without authorisation information held on computer systems maintained by the PSNI, namely personal information relating to individuals which you were not authorised to request, receive, obtain or disclose.

Prosecution lawyer David Russell told Judge Paul Ramsey KC: This plea is acceptable to the Crown and reflects all matters on the indictment.

He applied to the court for the remaining 76 offences to be left on the books of the court in the usual terms.

These related to 35 charges of unauthorised access to computer material, 34 offences of unlawfully obtaining/disclosing personal data and seven counts of unlawfully obtaining disclosure about computer procedures.

The charges related to accessing the PSNIs Niche computer system and accessing threat messages against named individuals.

Defence counsel Frank ODonoghue KC said the defendant was no longer in the PSNI and was in different employment now and his employers were aware of his court case.

He told Judge Ramsey that he would be seeking a number of medical reports ahead of sentencing, along with a Probation Service report.

The defendant was told by the judge that the case will be reviewed in May and he will be sentenced in June.

He was released on continuing bail.
Prosecutors have been ordered by a judge to provide a date for submitting a file on the man accused of murdering Natalie McNally.

Stephen McCullagh (33) did not appear before Craigavon Court today when the case was listed for hearing.

A prosecutor requested a further four weeks to prepare the file, which will not be due for some time.

However, the judge made it clear she expected more information.

I understand that, but you should have a date for the file at least, she replied.

Natalie McNally

Prosecutors said their case will not be ready for some months but promised to provide a deadline for completion soon.

The case is due to be heard again on April 21.

It comes a month after McCullagh was refused bail at the High Court in Belfast.

Ms McNally (32), who was 15 weeks pregnant with McCullaghs child, was stabbed at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan, a week before Christmas.
Detectives investigating the murder of a woman in Portadown have charged a 25-year-old man with murder, attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life and theft.

He is due to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Saturday, March 25.

As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

The news follows confirmation from police on Friday that the deceased womans name is Alesia Nazarova.

Ms Nazarova (37) was found dead after a house fire in the Church Street area of the Co Armagh town.

A second female, reported to be Ms Nazarovas 12-year-old daughter, was taken to hospital for treatment following the fire, which broke out at around 2.15am on Tuesday.

She has since been discharged and is now under the care of her aunt, with a charity group raising funds and accepting donations to help her in the aftermath of the blaze, which they said left her with nothing.

A GoFundMe has also been set up to help raise funds for the young girl. It has garnered almost 10,000 in two days.

Its understood Ms Nazarova is originally from eastern Europe and had only been living in the area for a short period of time.

In a statement, Womens Aid Northern Ireland said they expressed their sincerest condolences to Ms Nazarovas family following her death.

Please know you are all in our thoughts at this most incredibly difficult time. Women and girls deserve to be safe in all areas of our society.

"Alesia is the 17th woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020, the vast majority of whom were also killed in their own homes."

Green Party NI councillor Rachel Woods, who is also a former Justice Committee member, too expressed her sadness and anger.

"This is such a tragic loss of life in what appears to have been a violent and horrific incident. However, it comes in a sickeningly long line of murders and violence committed against women and girls, she said.

"Also, I am angry that there is no sign of the re-establishment of the Executive and therefore little hope of a much needed strategy to tackle gender based violence.

"We need a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy - we are still the only part of the UK without one.
A Londonderry GP, who posted anti-vaccine theories in a video online, is continuing to be suspended from medical practice by the professions independent watchdog.

Following a virtual hearing this month, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has ruled that Dr Anne McCloskeys interim suspension is to remain in place, subject to review.

Dr McCloskey was handed the initial 18-month interim suspension in September 2021, when it was confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph that an investigation had been launched in relation to the claims she posted in a video which was shared across social media.

In the clip, she said that she was distraught at seeing young people damaged after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.

She also added that this whole hype has largely been a figment of the media and the government and their lying scientific advisors and claimed that vaccines are unapproved and unlicensed.

The video was initially posted through The Irish Enquiry, an online platform described as uncensored live-streamed discussions.

Doctors are unable to practise medicine in the UK while interim suspended.

Dr McCloskey  a former Aontu councillor  stood down from the party over differences of opinion regarding the pandemic.

She retired in 2019 but returned to the NHS in April 2020 to help in the coronavirus crisis, and then began posting frequent articles online, expressing her scepticism about the seriousness of the virus and the need for lockdowns.

Last year, she further shared conspiracy theories accusing Executive parties of selling off 25% of the land mass of Northern Ireland for mining, minerals and probably for a nuclear waste disposal facility.

Standing as an independent candidate at a Derry Trades Union Council election hustings, Dr McCloskey also referred to vaccinations as injectable genetic therapy, which are in clinical trials until this year.

In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, Nuclear Waste Services made it clear that Northern Ireland is not participating in the geological disposal facility (GDF) siting process and there were no plans to site a GDF in Northern Ireland.

Policy on the management of radioactive waste is devolved within the UK.

Dr Laurence Dorman, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Northern Ireland, said Ms McCloskeys claims about covid are nonsense and not based in fact.
A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s have been arrested in connection with the murder of baby boy in the Republic of Ireland almost 40 years ago.

The suspects were detained in the Munster region on suspicion of murder and are currently being quizzed by detectives at Garda Stations in the south of the country under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The body of a male infant known as Baby John was found at White Strand, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, in April 1984.

The development follows an extensive investigation into the incident by the Garda Serious Crime Review team and gardai from the Kerry division in which hundreds of people have been interviewed and more than 560 lines of enquiry have been followed.

"The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth surrounding the death of Baby John in 1984 and deliver justice for Baby John, a Garda spokesperson said.

I am again appealing to the public for any information in relation to the death of Baby John in 1984.

"Anyone who comes forward will be treated with sensitivity and compassion, said Superintendent Flor Murphy, who has been leading the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station (064) 667 1160 the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

On January 16, 2018, gardai launched a review into the death of Baby John, whose body was found with multiple injuries on April 14, 1984.

The probe became known as the Kerry babies case.

Speaking previously, Superintendent Murphy said: "On April 14, 1984 on White Strand Beach in Caherciveen the lifeless body of a new-born baby boy was found in a bag. The baby was called Baby John and he is buried here in Caherciveen. We have never found out the full circumstances of the death of Baby John. We need the publics help to change that.

"Someone is Baby Johns mother. Someone is Baby Johns father. Someone knew his mother or father. People have carried a lot of pain and hurt over the last 30 years. This is an opportunity for them to help bring closure to this terrible event and ensure that Baby John receives justice, he said.

"Our strong belief at the current time is that the answers to this are in Cahersiveen and the close surrounding areas. We would ask anyone who was living in Cahersiveen and surrounding areas around the time of April 1984 to speak to us. Even the smallest piece of information could be vital.

"Anyone who comes forward will be treated with sensitivity. We will have specially trained personnel available who are trained in dealing with difficult and sensitive issues in a compassionate and professional manner, he said.

"After all these years, Baby John deserves the truth.

Gardai had been attempting to match DNA from the exhumed remains of Baby John in hopes it could help deliver a familial hit that would help close the book on the 37-year-old mystery.

Detectives had been the murder case would finally be solved not through a direct identification of the mother or father involved  but rather via a familial hit or DNA match with a close relative of the parents of Baby John.

Such DNA tests are now so sensitive they can deliver hits from relatives as distant as second cousins to people at the centre of the case.

Almost 100 DNA samples have been collected in Kerry over the past three years in a bid to cross-match them with samples taken before Baby John was buried 37 years ago.

However, the old DNA sample taken from the infant was not of optimal quality for recent advances in high-tech genetic-fingerprint testing.

Gardai believe the fresh sample  obtained after the exhumation of Baby John from Holy Cross cemetery in Cahersiveen and the examination at University Hospital Kerry  would deliver significant developments.

Any familial hit obtained will then allow a focus for the Garda investigation.

Such familial DNA links have been instrumental in solving many cold cases across the UK, US and France over recent years.

The remains of Baby John were discovered at White Strand, outside Cahersiveen, on April 14, 1984.

A post-mortem examination revealed the five-day-old infant died following a horrific assault  and had suffered a total of 28 stab wounds and a fractured spine.

The bungled investigation became one of Irelands major police scandals and resulted in a formal State apology and the payment of damages to Kerry woman Joanne Hayes and her family.

She had repeatedly insisted she had no connection whatsoever to the White Strand infant, and DNA tests subsequently proved the truth of her case.

However, gardai wrongly focused their attention on her.

Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy, named Shane, on April 13, 1984, on the family farm, but that child died of natural causes and was buried on the property.

The controversy was deepened by the mistaken findings of the Kerry Babies Tribunal.

In a bizarre twist, the grave of Baby John was subsequently vandalised a number of times over the years.

The marble headstone  which bore the inscription I Forgive  was paid for by local undertaker Tom Cournane who insisted on repairing it after each attack.
Police and ATO at the scene of a search on the Letterkenny Road in Derry (Photo by Aodhan Roberts)

Police and Ammunition Technical Officers are at the scene of a major counter terror search in the Letterkenny Road area of Derry.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that an intelligence-led operation brought police to the area shortly before 9am.

The bulk of the search is focusing on abandoned buildings and wasteland at the former Daisyfield Park site.

Pictures from the scene show ATO searching for possible munitions and explosives at various points of the site.

A police spokesperson said: Detectives from the Police Services Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIU) are conducting a search in Derry/Londonderry as part of an ongoing investigation into New IRA activity.

"The planned search in the Letterkenny Road area is being conducted with support from District and Tactical Support Group colleagues.

Detective Inspector O'Flaherty added: "We are grateful for the continued support of local communities as we continue our work to disrupt those involved in terrorism-related activity.

"We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to reduce the threat posed by violent dissident republicans and we encourage anyone with information, or concerns, to contact us on 101.
Locals tell of their love for seaside town as its beauty and community spirit helps it to top spot

The cast of BBC's Hope Street which is filmed in Donaghadee   BBC/Long Story TV/Christopher Ba

Donaghadee has been named as the Best Place to Live in Northern Ireland in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide .

The prestigious newspaper praised the Co Down town for its thriving high street, beautiful seaside location and the lively spirit on display in its regular festivals or community groups, such as the cold-water swimmers, the Donaghadee Chunky Dunkers.

The review further states: All the joy of living by the sea surrounded by a friendly community is what you get in this colourful seaside town.

It has been attracting attention, from viewers of the BBC daytime TV drama Hope Street, but its also in demand by commuters from Belfast and beyond who are happy to add a few extra miles to their journey in return for clean seas to swim in, beautiful views and a lively community that comes out in force for the summer and Christmas festivals.

The iconic Donaghadee coastline and lighthouse

Residents of the area seem to wholeheartedly agree with the decision to place the seaside spot as NIs number one location, with Una Gaskin, co-owner of The Cabin ice cream parlour, saying: Its about time.

She praised Donaghadee for its family-friendly community and rich history. Her own shop has been passed down through generations, with her Belfast-born uncle launching The Cabin  which only sells vanilla ice-cream  in 1929.

Just up the street is Grace Neills, reputedly Irelands oldest pub. The establishment opened in 1611 and is also said to be haunted, but that doesnt stop it from serving food, drink and live music.

The cast of BBC's Hope Street which is filmed in Donaghadee   BBC/Long Story TV/Christopher Ba

Karan Allan (51) is from Belfast and moved to Donaghadee seven years ago, after living in nearby Bangor for some time. She told the Belfast Telegraph: A lot of people said to me, Why are you moving to Donaghadee? But Bangor is so busy and here it is so beautiful. I just always loved the idea of living by the sea and here is perfect.

The sunsets and sunrises are so photogenic, you always find yourselves taking pictures.

I work in Belfast during the week and its only about 25 minutes away in the car. Its not awkward to live here any more.

Theres lots more things to do now as well, its not just about coming to get an ice cream and going for a walk along the beach. Theres lots of nice places for a coffee and Copeland Distillery puts on tours too.

Karan Allan (51)

The distillery opened in June 2019, but the Copeland brand was founded in 2015.

It makes rum, whiskey and gin, and one of its distillers Mark Wallace (36), who is Donaghadee-born and bred, said US travellers and the cast of Hope Street  which is filmed there  have become certified regulars.

Its unreal the people who are walking through here, he said.

We get lots of American tourists and even people who are doing a bit of a Hope Street tour. They filmed an episode here too.

Theyve just started filming series three, and we would get the actors having coffees in here. Theyre all so lovely.

He added: Donaghadee embodies the typical coastal spirit of what community is. Its small, but theres five or six years of building still happening.

Mark Wallace (36) from Copeland Distillery, Donaghadee

New-build homes are always popping up across the region, which lies on the north-east coast of the Ards Peninsula.

Last year, the sympathetic repurposing of derelict Grade B+ listed building The Merchant House, to create nine new homes, even garnered Residential Development of the Year for Urban Property Solutions.

Properties in the area tend to be a bit more affordable in comparison to Belfast rates, which is why Callum MacKenzie, who is also originally from Bangor, moved to the town with his fiancee a few years ago.

We were looking at new-builds and we looked down here and it was unreal, he said.

Its class. It 100% deserves it [the best place to live title]. Everyone knows everyone and everyone that you walk past is so friendly.

Callum MacKenzie (26)

Jo Galt (45) is also technically a blow-in  a London native, she lived in New Zealand for almost two decades and has now resided in Donaghadee for the past three and a half years, as her mum is a local.

I love it. I travel for work and when I come back round the corner here, I get that sense of relaxation and you see the lighthouse and think, This is home, she said.

Weve always come here growing up and you feel like youre in the country, but youve got everything you need.

Jo Galt (45)

With Donaghadee taking the top spot, two more locations in Northern Ireland also been featured in The Sunday Times latest comprehensive guide  Belfasts Ormeau suburb and Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh.
Cricket

Jonny Bairstow to take gloves during second XI return for Yorkshire this week
Veto mechanism is worse than useless and chances of Executive returning are now narrower than ever, insists former DUP leader

Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald (right) and Michelle O'Neill speaking to the media as they leave Hillsborough Castle. Pic: PA   PA

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaking to the media as he leaves Hillsborough Castle on Thursday. Pic: PA   PA

Former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster has accused the Prime Minister of sacrificing British sovereignty to EU bullies for a quiet life.

It follows Wednesdays Commons vote when MPs overwhelmingly backed regulations to implement a key plank of the Windsor Framework deal  the Stormont Brake, which covers post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland  by 515 votes to 29.

Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland will be formally signed off on Friday at an official meeting in London, and it will become international law shortly afterwards.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic will together chair a meeting that will see the UK and the EU formally adopt the new arrangements.

The sign-off comes as Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons party continues to oppose the deal brokered by the Government, with no sign of the DUP yet being willing to return to power-sharing.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris warned the DUP that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal ahead of Fridays meeting.

There is no renegotiating of that deal, he said. The two sides to those negotiations which have concluded, the UK Government and the European Union, are going to make the framework work. So there is nothing more to get out of that conversation. It is done.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak   Getty Images

Former DUP leader Dame Arlene warned in her Daily Express column that the chances of power-sharing being restored are now narrower than ever after the Alice in Wonderland vote on the Stomont Brake in a day of high farce in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

She said Northern Ireland needs an Executive back up and running, but insisted pressure should be mounting on Mr Sunak, who should address outstanding issues instead of just spinning out of control.

Mrs Foster described the mechanism as the central selling point of the Windsor Framework deal aimed at fixing the defects of the NI Protocol. However, she claimed the chances of the UK Government ever deciding to veto any new European law foisted on the people of Northern Ireland without their say so was next to negligible if MLAs were to ever activate the safeguard procedure.

As pointed out by the legal opinion of the ERG (European Research Group) the Stormont Brake is worse than useless because the bar has been set so high and there must be a willingness by the Government to actually trigger the veto  not likely on current experience, she wrote.

The Government has shown itself in fear of the European Union starting a trade war regardless of how unlikely that is and so they continue to appease the EUs outrageous demands. It is plain as the nose on your face that the Windsor Agreement was oversold as something it was not.

Despite Mr Heaton-Harris warning, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson nevertheless insisted that he would be seeking further talks with Mr Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

Im not a quitter  Ive never given up in terms of seeking to achieve what we need to achieve, he said outside Hillsborough Castle.

I am not interested in sticking plasters, they dont work and Im afraid there is in the Windsor Framework an element of the sticking plaster. It wont work, it will not deliver the long-term stability and prosperity that Northern Ireland needs.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaking to the media as he leaves Hillsborough Castle on Thursday. Pic: PA   PA

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said the budget that will be decided by Mr Heaton-Harris will be catastrophic for public services.

A budget is going to be agreed by the Secretary of State working with permanent secretaries who should not be in this position. This is a budget thats going to cause demonstrable damage to public services, she said.

So, we made a very strong message to Chris Heaton-Harris. What is the plan? There needs to be a plan to restore the Executive because this budget is about to cause catastrophic damage to public services. 

Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald (right) and Michelle O'Neill speaking to the media as they leave Hillsborough Castle. Pic: PA   PA

Mr Heaton-Harris responded: The budget is definitely not in a good state. I can tell you that.

Elsewhere, Ian Paisley Jrs twin brother warned that the more time that passes without a functioning government at Stormont, the harder it will be to resurrect power-sharing.

Rev Kyle Paisley  minister at Oulton Broad Free Presbyterian Church in Suffolk  also questioned what alternative there is to devolution.

The longer Northern Ireland is without local government the less likely it is to return, he wrote on Twitter.

Because London cannot do local politics in NI, therefore with no Stormont and no real help in London what real hope do people [have] that matters crucial to everyday life will be properly dealt with?

Former Alliance leader and first Assembly Speaker Lord Alderdice agreed with Rev Paisleys assessment.

There is a clear trajectory here. The Windsor Framework is the (current) price of the union, the peer tweeted.

Blocking power-sharing will result in a move towards de facto joint authority with Dublin.
Steve Baker has disbanded the European Research Group (ERG) Members WhatsApp channel, reportedly saying it was expedient to relinquish ownership of it by deleting all MPs from the online chat before deleting it.

According to the i newspaper, sources confirmed he previously used the group to coordinate the Brexit rebellions that ended Theresa Mays premiership.

Political website Guido Fawkes reports that the Northern Ireland Minister said: It was expedient to give up ownership of the ERG Members WhatsApp group I created by removing everyone before deleting it. As I said to the group, I am sure the present officers will wish to recreate it.

This follows reports earlier this week that Mr Baker had been expelled from the WhatsApp group after he called Boris Johnson a pound shop Nigel Farage for joining the rebellion on Rishi Sunaks post-Brexit Windsor Framework deal.

He was also described as a fraud by Mr Farage after his verbal attack on the former prime minister.

Mr Baker has also said that reports he had shut down the group after claiming Brexit is done are inaccurate, stating: I did not say that.

The Wycombe MP, who once referred to himself as the Brexit hard man was perceived to be the chief motivator behind the disciplined rebellions mounted by the ERG that were highly influential on the terms under which the UK left the EU.

Last month, he said he believed that Rishi Sunak has pulled a blinder in striking a new NI Protocol deal with the EU, in the form of the Windsor Framework.

Recently, the arch-Brexiteer has warned that Boris Johnson and Liz Truss opposition to the new deal for Northern Ireland could wrecked relations with Brussels.

Mr Baker told the BBC: Both of them should be backing the Windsor Framework today.

What I would say is they are both better than this. Weve partly reached this point thanks to Liz Truss setting the process in train.

And todays measures are better, of course, than the Protocol that Boris Johnson put in place, a Protocol which he spoke about and those things turned out not to be accurate.

So he has a choice: he can be remembered for the great acts of statecraft that he achieved or he can risk looking like a pound shop Nigel Farage.

I hope he chooses to be remembered as a statesman.

Responding, Mr Farage said: You give Steve Baker a government job and he stops being a Brexiteer.

What a fraud this man is.
Revealed: DUP leaders U-turn over danger that Brexit posed to the Union

Donaldson told academic it was a trade issue, not a constitutional one, just over a fortnight before dawn of a border in the Irish Sea

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's stance on the Irish Sea border had changed radically, and rapidly: Photo: Getty

Sam McBride Belfast Telegraph Fri 24 Mar 2023 at 20:45
SF thinks it should be illegal to treat a nun more favourably than a criminal  and not for the reason you might think
A cash-in-transit driver who handcuffed himself to his security vans steering wheel in a faked armed heist of almost 1 million has been jailed for four years and 10 months.

Andrew Measor, 51, waited for two hours before using his nose to dial for help after helping mastermind Stefanos Cantaris, 40, steal 920,000 in banknotes.

Southwark Crown Court heard Measor, who had worked for cash-handling firm Loomis for three years, was the inside man in the fake armed robbery in Ilford, east London, on December 30 2021.

CCTV footage released on Friday shows masked men loading chequered laundry bags filled with cash into a white Vauxhall Combo van during the theft.

Measor handcuffed himself to his security vans steering wheel and waited for two hours to raise the alarm at the depot in Dagenham, east London.

Measor handcuffed himself to the steering wheel (Metropolitan Police/PA)   Metropolitan Police

The driver claimed he was raided after a man armed with a gun approached him as he left his home and said: I know everything that goes on. Just do as I say and everything will be OK.

To bolster the claim, a charade of the so-called Tiger kidnap, involving a man wearing a latex mask, was carried out outside his front door and captured on his doorbell camera.

Judge Dafna Spiro told them: This was not, as you say, a Tiger kidnap. It was a well-planned, sophisticated, heavily orchestrated theft in which you, Mr Measor, were a willing participant and you, Mr Cantaris, organised, planned and supervised. You were both in this together.

She added that Measor knew exactly what was going on because he was the inside man being directed by his co-defendant.

She told him: You have been let down by your poor decision making and greed which in the end bought you nothing, not even a single note but has bought misery on all those around you.

She told Cantaris: You have chosen to take advantage of others gullibility.

Mr Measor is not an angel but he was bought in and charmed by you.

I am sure you would make a fantastic salesman if you do honest work in your life and are able to make a good living.

Measor, from Loughton, Essex, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice last month after a trial.

Cantaris, from Epping, Essex, pleaded guilty to theft and was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He was jailed for five years and four months at the same court.

They were both cleared of conspiracy to launder money, which has not been recovered.

Luke Ponte, defending Measor, said the father-of-two was promised 100,000 for his role but had not seen a 5 note.

He is not a criminal mastermind. He is a weak-willed man who should not have got involved in this but did, Mr Ponte added.

The court heard that Cantaris, who has a previous conviction for assaulting a police officer, masterminded the plot and met Measor on numerous occasions in the months leading up to the theft.

Described as a very likeable and charming man, Cantaris got burner mobile phones and organised the mission, the judge said.

The hearing was told his spending was not that of someone who struggled to make ends meet and last year he travelled to Columbia, Ibiza, Dubai, Portugal, Morocco and other destinations.

He could also afford Rolex watches and a 3,000 stay at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai.

Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly earlier told the jury the raid was carried out with the assistance and full participation of Measor.

They sought to hide this by faking a robbery, she said.

They have then, to the most part, successfully hidden the money that was stolen.

After the heist, Measor was signed off work on full pay and was provided with counselling for post-traumatic stress for months until he was arrested.

In messages to friends, he boasted of milking his employer and said it was defo an inside job.

The court heard that Loomis drivers felt vulnerable after the theft, believing they and their families could be targeted next.

Five other men were cleared of having any involvement in the plot.

Confiscation proceedings will take place later.
Gary Campbell was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh last month (Andrew Milligan/PA)   Andrew Milligan

A man who directed the rape and sexual assault of young girls in the Philippines from his home in Scotland has been jailed for 12 years.

Gary Campbell, 59, from the remote village of Lochinver in Sutherland, paid for abuse to be carried out by adults as he watched and recorded it on the internet.

He was traced by cybercrime investigators through online payments he made to foreign accounts.

The former retained firefighter  who also worked for Scottish Water  admitted sexual abuse charges involving children as young as four. No child was older than 13.

Gary Campbell has been jailed for 12 years (Police Scotland/PA)

Campbell was personally involved in the abuse and just as responsible for it as his fellow perpetrators in the Philippines, known in law as art and part guilt, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal (COPFS) said.

He was convicted under legislation which protects children anywhere in the world from sexual abuse by British nationals.

COPFS said Campbell was tracked to his home in the Highlands after an international investigation into the live-streaming of child sex assaults by abusers in the Philippines.

Over Skype, Campbell initiated serious sexual assaults and rape, demanded the victims were very young, negotiated online payments and issued explicit instructions as children were assaulted.

All of this was conducted in real-time, through live communications, and recorded on devices later recovered from Campbells home.

Campbell, who had since moved to Perth, pled guilty to 13 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Returning to court on Friday, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

He was further given a three-year sentence extension, during which he will be subject to close supervision, and his name was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Fraser Gibson, Scotlands procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said Campbell was complicit and instrumental in appalling crimes against children.

He added: Gary Campbell was actively involved in a paedophile network in which children were abused for money and on request.

The girls assaulted and raped in the Philippines were vulnerable young children suffering dreadful abuse and exploitation.

British nationals who sexually abuse children abroad will face justice here. Legislation allows us to prosecute them and we will use every power available to us to ensure that they do, working with specialist police, international partners and cybercrime teams to track down these abusers.

I would urge anyone with information or knowledge of this kind of offending to come forward and report it as soon as they can.

Commenting on the case, an NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: This is a deeply disturbing case, which shows the devastating harm that child sexual abusers can cause online.

Campbell instigated and directed the sexual abuse of very young and vulnerable children, who will desperately need support and care to help them, following the trauma they have suffered.

The Government needs to ensure its Online Safety Bill robustly disrupts the online activity of abusers by holding companies to account if they fail to tackle the way their platforms contribute to child sexual abuse.

Anyone concerned about a childs safety can contact the NSPCC Helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk.
Annie McCarrick has been missing since March 1993 (An Garda Siochana/PA)   An Garda Siochana

Irish police have launched a murder inquiry after the disappearance of an American woman in Dublin 30 years ago.

Annie McCarrick was 26 when she went missing on March 26 1993.

Originally from Long Island in New York, she had been living in Sandymount in Dublin.

On Friday morning gardai announced the missing person inquiry has been upgraded to a murder investigation and made a public appeal for information.

CCTV footage of Annie McCarrick (An Garda Siochana/PA)   An Garda Siochana

Detectives recently visited Ms McCarricks mother Nancy in New York to update her on the investigation. Her father John has since died.

Speaking at a press conference at Irishtown Garda Station in Dublin, Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said officers have maintained an open and active investigation into Ms McCarricks disappearance.

Over the 30 years of this investigation, the investigation team have discovered and collated in excess of 5,000 documents, taken in excess of 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits, he said.

He urged anyone who saw or spoke to Ms McCarrick around the time of her disappearance, or has any information about a large brown satchel-type handbag she is believed to have been carrying, to come forward and speak to gardai.

Superintendent Tim Burke (left) and Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll speaking to the media (Brian Lawless/PA)   Brian Lawless

The primary focus of this investigation is the victim Annie McCarrick and her family. Annies father John has passed away without knowing what happened to his daughter, and her mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on March 26 1993, Mr Carroll said.

I and the investigation team are determined to gather all information and evidence available to us to find answers. I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family.

I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Annie McCarrick to please come forward to the investigation team at Irishtown Garda Station.

Superintendent Tim Burke said the last confirmed sighting of Ms McCarrick was at around 11am on Friday March 26 1993 at the Allied Irish Bank in Sandymount.

Annie had made arrangements with some friends, by inviting them to her apartment for dinner on Saturday March 27. Annie was also excited about planning for a visit by her mother Nancy who was due to arrive in Ireland on March 30 1993, he said.

A shopping receipt which confirms the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 11:02am, the last confirmed activity by Annie McCarrick (An Garda Siochana/PA)   An Garda Siochana

He added that officers received reports of sightings of Ms McCarrick in Sandymount, boarding a bus to Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and in Enniskerry village and at Johnny Foxs pub.

On March 28, friends of Annie were concerned for her welfare. She was not at home on March 27 when they called for dinner, and she did not turn up for work either on March 27 or on Sunday March 28, he added.

Ms McCarrick was reported missing on March 28.

She was described as having visited Ireland as a teenager on a school trip, and fell in love with the country.

She studied at St Patricks College in Drumcondra and St Patricks College in Maynooth, before returning to New York, and came back to Ireland in 1993 to live permanently.
Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been formally signed off at a meeting in London, as both the UK and the EU hope for better relations.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic chaired a meeting on Friday to adopt the new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the Government won the backing of MPs for the Windsor Framework earlier this week.

Mr Sefcovic hailed it as an agreement that would deliver lasting certainty for people in Northern Ireland while promising that London and Brussels would exploit the full potential of the wider trade deal.

Both sides issued warm words following the meeting, with Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic describing the constructive atmosphere after months of negotiations to reach the final deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

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Earlier this week, MPs voted in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake, a key part of the Windsor agreement, despite Boris Johnson and Liz Truss joining the Democratic Unionist Party and hardline Brexit-backing Tory MPs in voting against the deal.

The formal sign-off, which happened mid-morning on Friday, comes as Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons party continues to oppose the deal brokered by the Government, with no sign of the DUP being willing to return to powersharing.

The DUP, ahead of the meeting, had been warned that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal.

In the joint statement, Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefovic stressed the benefits of the Windsor agreement, promising to work together intensively and faithfully to implement all elements of the Windsor Framework.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (Stefan Rousseau/PA)   Stefan Rousseau

The sign-off happened at a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, with the Foreign Secretary and Mr Sefcovic also attending a meeting of the Partnership Council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

But the two sides also discussed issues that could have the potential to cause concern in European capitals and in Northern Ireland, with the UK Retained EU Law Bill and the Governments controversial plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights raised at the second meeting.

Sources stressed that the EU did not raise concerns but instead had questions as part of broader discussions about the Windsor deal and other issues.

The UK hopes that the deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion euro Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

The statement said that the UK and EU noted the openness of both sides to take forward discussions on association in the coming weeks.

The European Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom reaffirmed their desire to exploit fully the potential of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and maximise the potential ofthe relationship between the EU and the UK in ways that benefit both parties, the statement said.

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The EUs landmark Green Deal plan also came up for discussion, while officials also looked ahead to the signing of a memoranda of understanding on financial services and intellectual property soon.

Weve formally adopted the Windsor Framework, Mr Cleverly said.

This delivers on our commitment to the people of Northern Ireland. Great to see you in London, tweeted to Mr Sefcovic.
If Ive heard one variation of this line, Ive heard a dozen. But one fevered proclamation, published recently in a British newspaper interview, gave me pause for thought. [My son] has gone from finding out Santa Claus doesnt exist to being told about anal sex, the unnamed parent fretted, referring to the increasingly graphic nature of sex education in schools. Now thats a fateful afternoon for a 12-year-old. He has, according to his mother, been traumatised by the revelation.
Twenty20

Trusting God for our daily provision looks different than just mouthing the words. In the aftermath of a pandemic, when the economy looks bleak and rising costs are greeting us everywhere, how we live says it all about whom we trust to meet our daily needs.

What a comfort to know that God promises to take care of those who are trusting in Him in His Word. Matthew 6:8 tells us our Father knows what we need before asking Him. Yet He still wants us to ask, rely on Him, and bear witness to others of the many ways He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides.

What we do, or dont do, says more than our words about where our trust lies. Here is what it looks like to trust in Gods provision.

You honor God with the first of all you have.

As followers of His, God expects us to be good stewards of all we have, material possessions, and money. We can do that by acknowledging that He is the owner of everything; we are simply managers of the money and possessions He has entrusted us with. This mentality keeps us in perspective, keeps us humble, and keeps us from living beyond our means or spending money on something God would disapprove of.

Then, as we heed the guidelines outlined in His Word about not getting into debt, not living beyond our means, and not going into business with someone we cant trust, we can be confident that God has our backs on everything we need. Acknowledging that all you have is Gods anyway makes significant purchases and investments a matter of prayer since youll want to consult the owner about how He would like you to manage His funds. Anytime you make God the primary decision-maker and master of your life, His blessings follow.

Whether you tithe ten percent of your income or tip God, He wants your giving to be deliberate and intentional, planned out ahead of time, never an after-thought or an obligatory gesture with what you have left at the end of the month. As you honor God with what you have, you can be confident He will keep you.

You dont stress about your day-to-day needs.

If a loving God can take care of your eternal life through the atoning sacrifice of His only Son, then certainly He can take care of your everyday life. Genuinely believing that means not stressing about having all we need, paying the monthly bills, or being able to handle an unexpected expense.

Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:25-26: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wearLook at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

That sounds like a clear Dont worry about it statement from the Son of God, who assures us Hes got our backs. Because you have a God in control, dont you feel you must be! Trust that He is working on what you need, as you can let go of the stress and depend on Him.

You take God at His Word and believe in His promises.

Ask any believer, and theyll likely tell you, Of course, God keeps His promises. Of course, I believe His Word. But do we? Or do we stress and strive instead of thinking that God is sitting this one out when it comes to our immediate or long-term needs?

Psalm 121:1-3 tells us, My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. And believers are assured in Philippians 4:19 (NASB) that our God will supply all [our] needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. One of the best ways to show that we truly trust God is to take Him at His Word and depend on His character and faithfulness to provide for us.

You rest peaceably and dont strive, when it comes to your finances.

Although God wants us to be productive and have a good work ethic (Proverbs 6:9-11), He doesnt want us to work like were on our own when it comes to our provision.

Psalm 27:2 tells us we are wasting our time getting up before the crack of dawn and going to sleep past midnight, toiling and striving to make things happen because the God of the Universe gives to His beloved even in his sleep (NASB).

The next time you think you have to work through  or worry through  the night because of your financial needs, remember that God has a way of working it out if you just rest in Him. Throughout Gods Word, He commands us to rest, and by trusting Him to provide while we get the rest we need, we are being obedient to, literally, do our best and trust God with the rest.

You live confidently that God has you securely in His hands.

In Psalm 16, David sang, Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot securewith [God] at my right hand, I will not be shaken (verses 5, 8).

When we trust in Gods provision, realizing He is our inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6), our stability in these changing times (Isaiah 33:6), and the One in whom we trust, we will not be shaken  not by a stock market crash, or a job loss or a sinking economy or a wrong financial forecast. When we trust in Gods provision, we are assured that He is our stability and security.

Psalm 18:30 says, As for God, his way is perfect: The Lords word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in Him. When you really believe that God is a far better manager of your money and a far better provider of your needs than you or anyone else, you can rest assured that Hes got this and that the best is still to come.
Yairus Entaloke a patient of schistosomiasis, or snail fever, returns to work in his field after being declared cured, in Wuasa, a village in the Poso regency of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, March 17, 2023.

Yairus Entaloke, a farmer in a remote area of Indonesias Central Sulawesi province, says he feels well enough to work in his rice field again after being stricken for a year with schistosomiasis, a disease also known as snail fever.

Yairus said he contracted it two years ago when he often went into the forest to set fish traps in small streams near his farm in Wuasa, a village in Poso regency. He didnt show any symptoms until a year later, when he became weak and lost his appetite.

Schistosomiasis is brought on by parasitic worms that live in freshwater snails and can penetrate human skin. The disease can be fatal if left untreated.

Yairus visited a local health center several times but was only given vitamins because there was no supply of praziquantel, the drug used to treat schistosomiasis. He finally got the medicine last month after it arrived from the provincial health department.

After I took the medicine, I felt better, Yairus told BenarNews. My body was fit and I could work again after a few days.

But Yairus can still get infected again if he goes back to the areas where the snails are found.

I hope that the government will eradicate the snails and prevent more people from getting sick, he said.

In Indonesia, the disease has been endemic in Napu Valley, in Central Sulawesi, since it was first discovered in 1974 by researchers from Hasanuddin University in Makassar. Death rates are unknown, due to the chronic nature of the illness, officials said.

In Poso, about 60,000 people live in endemic areas, officials say. The government has been conducting mass drug administration campaigns since 1984 to reduce morbidity and transmission rates.

According to a study by Hasanuddin University in 2019, schistosomiasis caused an estimated U.S. $2.8 million in economic losses per year in Poso due to reduced rice production and increased health care costs.

Helvie Etmawati Gae, the head of a local health center and chair of the Schistosomiasis Control Team, uses a glove to point to oncomelania hupensis lindoensis snails, in which parasitic worms live that cause schistosomiasis, in Wuasa village, in the Poso regency of Central Sulawesi, March 17, 2023. [Keisyah Aprilia/BenarNews]

However, challenges such as limited access to health services, environmental factors and social behavior have hampered efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis completely.

At the local level the disease is mainly transmitted through agricultural activities such as rice farming and fishing, said Rizanda Machmudin Yusuf Kandouwani, who heads the schistosomiasis control program at the Ministry of Health.

People often go to the fields or rivers without wearing protective clothing or footwear, he told BenarNews. They also lack awareness and knowledge about schistosomiasis and its prevention.

He added that environmental factors such as irrigation systems, dams and deforestation also contribute to the spread of snails and worms.

The snails thrive in slow-moving water with aquatic plants, he said. They can also migrate to new areas through water channels or animals.

People become infected when larval forms of the parasite  released by freshwater snails  break the skin during contact with contaminated water.

Schistosomiasis has been linked to poverty, malnutrition, reduced productivity and impaired cognitive development among children.

The disease can spread when people suffering from schistosomiasis contaminate freshwater sources with faeces or urine containing parasite eggs, which hatch in water.

The disease can cause itching, fever, diarrhea and weight loss. If untreated, it can persist for years and cause organ damage and cancer.

Helvie Etmawati Gae (center), the local health center chief, talks with Yairus Entaloke, a survivor of snail fever, in Wuasa village in Poso regency, March 17, 2023. [Keisyah Aprilia/BenarNews]

Kandouwani said that the government aimed to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2025  meaning that fewer than 1% of people in endemic areas would show signs of infection.

To achieve this goal, he said, the government needs to intensify its efforts to provide praziquantel to all eligible people at least once a year, conduct regular surveillance and monitoring of infection rates, improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities, and educate people about hygiene and behavioral change.

He also called for more collaboration among local authorities, community leaders, health workers, researchers and international partners.

We need a holistic and integrated approach to address schistosomiasis, Kandouwani said. It is not only a health issue but also a social and economic one.

Cerni Tolu, a schistosomiasis researcher for the Wuasa Health Center, holds up a vial of praziquantel, a medicine for treating the disease, in Wuasa village, March 17, 2023. [Keisyah Aprilia/BenarNews]

The study also found that schistosomiasis affected animal health and productivity, especially among cattle and buffalo.

Andi Nurul Hidayah Sari Dewi Nasution, a veterinarian and researcher at Hasanuddin University who oversaw the study, said animals became infected with schistosomiasis when they drank or grazed near contaminated water sources.

Infected animals showed symptoms such as weight loss, anemia, diarrhea and liver damage.

They also had lower milk production and fertility rates, she said. Some of them died from severe complications.

Schistosomiasis researcher Cerni Tolu walks near a signboard notifying residents about the threat from snail fever in the area, in Watumaeta, a village in the Poso regency of Central Sulawesi province, March 17, 2023. [Keisyah Aprilia/BenarNews]

Animal schistosomiasis could pose a risk for human infection if people consume raw or undercooked meat or organs from infected animals, she said.

Andi recommended that animal owners deworm their animals regularly with praziquantel or other drugs approved by veterinarians.

She also suggested that animal owners should avoid letting their animals roam freely near endemic areas or use snail-infested water for irrigation or drinking purposes.

Andi urged more research on animal schistosomiasis in Indonesia to understand its epidemiology, impact and control measures.

We need more data on animal schistosomiasis because it is often overlooked or underestimated, she told BenarNews. It is important to protect both human and animal health from this disease.
A scene from Malaysian director Khairi Anwars 2021 film Mentega Terbang, which some Muslims in the Southeast Asian nation say blasphemes Islam.

An International Womens Day march, a film about a Muslim character exploring other religions views on the afterlife, and an interfaith program have all recently become targets of religious conservatives outrage in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Additionally, one states Islamic authority warned against wearing bikinis at beaches, some police stations and hospitals reprimanded or turned away citizens for wearing shorts, and a Kuala Lumpur club canceled a cross-dressing Thai groups performance after 60 police reports were filed against it.

These and similar incidents have raised concerns among many Malaysians about growing Islamic conservatism, moral policing and a potential culture war in this multireligious, multiracial country.

Coupled with seemingly intolerant statements by politicians, such incidents have become so frequent in the last four months that Raysham Bin Raya, a Malaysian of Indian ethnicity, often finds himself wondering, What next?

The conservative Malays seem to be attempting to impose their beliefs on others. I feel suffocated by how things are. I guess because this issue feels personal and close to me, the 21-year-old student told BenarNews.

Some believe that politicians are playing a role in fueling this issue. This will impact society in such a way it could have lasting effects.

Analysts said politicians have been stirring the pot further these last few months since the multiracial  and multireligious  Anwar Ibrahim government took office in late November.

The opposition Malay-nationalist Perikatan Nasional coalition, which includes the hardline Islamic party PAS, portrays the government as anti-Islam and anti-Malay, and the ethnic Malay majority as a community under threat, said analyst Tunku Mohar Mokhtar.

Special privileges enshrined in Malaysias constitution ensure that Malays are granted business licenses, scholarships and jobs in the public sector and civil service, and opposition politicians allege that these privileges may be taken away, the analyst added.

Ethnic Malays make up close to 70% of Malaysias population, and all of them are Muslim. Ethnic Chinese comprise 22.8% of the population, and ethnic Indians 6.6%.

[All this outrage] is in fact, political brinkmanship, Tunku Mohar, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia, told BenarNews.

This issue also reflects the failure of our education system, and the state of our social relations, where the majority community is duped into believing that they are the minority and are being marginalized.

A multi-race, multicultural group performs at the 65th National Independence Day event in Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 31, 2022. [S. Mahfuz/BenarNews]

Take the case of a government interfaith project in Kuala Lumpur called Jom Ziarah (Lets Visit), a program to give youths a better understanding of Malaysias diverse faiths by taking them to churches, temples and mosques.

Perikatan politicians accused the program of being an attempt to spread Christianity among Muslim youths and an emboldened section of the Muslim majority vented on social media. The government suspended the program.

Nothing in the governments program suggested that its participants would take part in religious rituals when they visited the different houses of worship, which would be considered unlawful, Tunku Mohar said.

The fact that a multi-racial and multi-religious government is in power was being used to play into peoples insecurities, said Aizat Shamsuddin, coordinator of Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU), a Muslim youth group.

These issues are being politicized by certain political parties with the objective of making it seem that the unity government is allowing Muslims to change religion, he told BenarNews.

Communal rhetoric has become so heightened that the prime minister last week asked security forces to be on alert for elements fomenting racial and religious unrest.

The directive came two days before veteran leader and former two-time Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was to address a Malay Proclamation event, which a local newspaper said would discuss the plight of the ethnic majority.

The organizers eventually canceled the Sunday event, claiming that many venues refused to host them. Mahathir called Anwar a dictator who was suppressing free speech.

The immediate prognosis for religious relations in Malaysia does not look good either, said Lau Zhe Wei, a political science professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

With polls upcoming in six states, the atmosphere will only get worse, he said.

[This] is a result of electoral politics. This is a battle about who is Malay enough or Islamic enough to gain the support of the majority, Lau Zhe told BenarNews.

The government is facing a tough challenge and is pressured to counter the claims that Putrajaya does not champion the Muslims and Islam.  If we are not careful, this will lead to more serious racial tension.
Admiral John C. Aquilino (left), commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, speaks at an International Institute for Strategic Studies event in Singapore, March 16, 2023.

The United States relations with Pacific island countries are back on track after officials got a wake-up call from Chinas inroads with the Solomon Islands, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Adm. John Aquilino told an event in Singapore.

Chinas ties with small island nations in the Pacific have burgeoned over several decades as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and establish its own institutions and diplomatic groupings to rival a post-World War II international order dominated by the West. Last year, Beijing forged a security pact with the Solomon Islands, alarming the United States and its allies.

Weve recently seen in the form of the Solomon Islands some actions by the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] to potentially grab a foothold. I think it woke a number of us up, to ensure we spend more time, engage with, provide assistance and support to Pacific islands, Aquilino said Thursday after a speech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Were back on track, I would say, and we continue to engage in ways that are meaningful and helpful for those nations, he said.

In his prepared remarks, the regional military chief denied that the United States was trying to contain China and he characterized relations between the two countries as robust competition. The United States and its allies want to ensure that the peaceful rules-based international order endures, Aquilino said.

Earlier this week, the leaders of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced a deal for Canberra to buy nuclear-powered attack submarines from the U.S. from early next decade and to later build its own nuclear subs using British and American technology.

The AUKUS security pact, first announced in September 2021, is widely understood to be aimed at deterring China from upending the military balance in East Asia and the Pacific. The Asian superpower has doubled its annual military spending over the past decade, though it still spends far less on its arsenal and armed forces than the United States.

Aquilino said Australia and New Zealand were central to recent efforts to improve U.S. relations with Pacific island countries.

Theyve certainly have taken an increased leadership role. We coordinate our support, Aquilino said.

American involvement in the Pacific diminished after the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, with a reduction in embassies and U.S. development assistance through its Peace Corps agency.

Leaders of Pacific island nations say their top concern is the climate, and they dont want to be forced to take sides in the Chinese-American rivalry or for their region to become increasingly militarized.

In the Solomon Islands, it remains unclear if the United States can mend ties with the government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. He has embraced Chinese assistance for his country, which struggles with a lack of roads and basic healthcare.

The Solomon Islands switched its diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 2019.

After a three-decade absence, the United States last month upgraded the status of its consular services agency in the Solomon Islands to an embassy. It does not have a resident ambassador and is working on establishing a more substantial diplomatic presence.

Pro-U.S. politician Daniel Suidani, an outspoken critic of the Solomon Islands closer ties with China, was ousted as premier of Malaita, the Solomon Islands most populous province, in early February.

China, meanwhile, is bankrolling the 2023 Pacific Games, to be held in the Solomons capital Honiara in November, and also is building a new major hospital for the country.
Ma. Theresa Lazaro (left), the Philippine undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, speaks while Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong listens during the Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea in Manila, March 24, 2023.

Updated at 9:20 ET on 2023-03-24

Territorial disputes shouldnt be solved through coercion and intimidation, the Philippines said Friday as its diplomats prepared to confront Chinese counterparts about Chinas recent actions in contested waters, including pointing a military-grade laser at the Filipino coast guard.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro delivered the message before she, Chinese Foreign Vice Minister Sun Weidong, and their respective delegations faced off in Manila for talks on the South China Sea.

Bilateral disputes over territorial claims in the sea and related tensions continue to remain a serious concern to the Filipino people, Lazaro said.

Both our countries leaders agreed that maritime issues should be addressed through diplomacy and dialogue and never through coercion and intimidation.  The meeting today is an attempt to follow through on that decision, Lazaro said in her opening remarks on Friday.

Fridays meeting was the seventh round of talks in as many years of the so-called China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea.

Fridays talks concluded two days of meetings in Manila during which the two countries assessed their bilateral relationship and aired concerns.

The Philippine foreign affairs department issued a statement afterward confirming the two nations reaffirmed their adherence to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and their commitment to peace and stability in the South China Sea.

In addition, they agreed to finalize an effective and substantive Code of Conduct.

The BCM talks were first convened in 2017 as a platform for confidence-building and maritime cooperation. At Fridays session, China and the Philippines were also set to discuss cooperation including on fisheries and marine environmental protection.

Both countries as well as several Southeast Asian neighbors and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

As the two delegations began Fridays talks, the Philippines called for frank discussions, while China insisted on friendly consultations.

It is the Philippines fervent hope that the discussions would  realize a more peaceful and stable situation in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea which would ultimately contribute to regional peace and development, Lazaro said.

The meeting took place weeks after Manila protested an incident in which a China Coast Guard ship (CCG) allegedly pointed a laser towards a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal).

Manila also recently lodged a complaint about the swarming of more than 40 Chinese fishing boats, which were escorted by a CCG ship and a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship near Pag-asa (Thitu), one of the Philippine-occupied islands in the disputed waters.

We should not allow specific differences to define our bilateral relations, or allow certain disputes to stand in the way of overall cooperation. We need to properly deal with these issues through friendly consultations, Sun said in his opening statement Friday before the two sides took their meeting behind closed doors.

The delegation from Beijing was expected to raise Chinas objection to Manilas recent decision to give the American military expanded access on a rotating basis to bases in the Philippines, amid tensions over Taiwan.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Manila had earlier said that these moves are part of the U.S. efforts to encircle and contain China through its military alliance with the Philippines.
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Set in medieval Prague, The Golem: How He Came into the World is a masterful example of German expressionist filmmaking. On April 13, it will be screened at The Clark Art Institute with live accompaniment.
he Berkshire County Historical Society will present a series of three virtual talks "Casting Their Own Light: Perspectives on Berkshires Black History," by historian Cynthia Farr Brown, Ph.D. The free talks, over Zoom, will draw from her research and reading on the history of Black, Indigenous and multiracial people of the Berkshires, mostly before the Civil War.
LENOX  Two women who had been reported missing in separate incidents Thursday have been found safe  including one who apparently spent all night outdoors, according to town police.

The other woman emerged from October Mountain State Forest on Thursday afternoon, about two hours after a search was launched.

The first woman, who is 23, was reported missing from her familys home in downtown Lenox about 6:30 p.m., according to Police Chief Stephen E. OBrien. Her cellphone was traced to Old Stockbridge Road near the Elm Court property.

After an unsuccessful initial search, Sgt. Michael Smith and Officer Jacob Stringer called for a large search team from the state police Special Emergency Response Team to cover a wider area, including Kennedy Park and a portion of the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

The team of up to 50 searchers, also including members of the Stockbridge and Lee police departments and the state police assigned to the Lee barracks, spread out widely, OBrien said. The Berkshire County Sheriffs Offices drone and ATVs, state police assigned to the District Attorneys Office, the Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team, and five state police K-9 unit search dogs also assisted from a command post at Town Hall.

The search was suspended at 3:30 a.m. Friday with the woman still missing. But shortly before 9 a.m., retired Lenox Police Officer Tony Salvatore, who was out with his wife walking their dog, reported that he spotted a woman who had just emerged from the woods behind a West Street residence.

Officer William Colvin confirmed she was the woman who had been missing since the previous evening. She was treated for exposure by members of the Lenox Fire Department and Ambulance Squad and taken to Berkshire Medical Center.

In the other incident, a 42-year-old Dalton woman described as a frequent hiker, contacted her husband via cellphone early Thursday afternoon saying she was lost, OBrien said.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the Lenox Fire Department assembled a search crew, using an all-terrain vehicle and larger utility task vehicle to enter the state forest off Roaring Brook Road, moving on a rough, still snow- and ice-covered trail just over the Lenox line in the town of Washington.

We were in cellphone contact with the lost hiker virtually the entire time, the police chief said. Using ping guidance from the Berkshire County Sheriffs Office and her husbands cellphone app, police were able to track her general whereabouts to upper New Lenox Road near the Farnham Dam.

Fire Chief Chris OBrien, Officer Blake Poore and the hikers husband found the woman and walked her to an ambulance, where she was checked out and found to be cold but not needing medical attention.
Cops and Courts Reporter

Amanda Burke is Cops and Courts Reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise.
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Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
Adams has been cited by the state for not properly posting a notice of a Dec. 14 public meeting in the designated place  in or on Town Hall.
The Allen family gravesite in Pittsfield. The marker in the foreground belongs to the Rev. Thomas Allen, Pittsfield's first congregational minister known as the "fighting parson" for his support of the American Revolution and his participation at the Battle of Bennington.
The denominations that pray to Mary acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the true intercessor. The Fifth Council of Trent and the text Dogmatic Constitution on the Principal Mysteries of the Faith affirm Christ as the mediator to the Father. To assess if their interpretation of Mary and praying to Saints is correct, however, requires an examination of the Scriptures.

In the Old Testament, the High Priest made intercession to God for the forgiveness of sin. The High Priest was supposed to live a life sanctified and righteous so he could approach God in the Holy of Holies and make atonement on behalf of the people. No High Priest in the Old Testament lived a perfect life, and they needed to atone for their own sins as well. In the Old Testament, all High Priests were living men. No one dead is seen making intercession for the living.

In the New Testament, the writers affirmed believers should pray for one another. Catholics believe this includes deceased believers, since they are part of the Church, so they go to them just like they would ask a priest or a friend to pray for them. This logic also applies to Mary.

Two common verses cited by Catholic apologists are:

- Paul asks for prayers from the Roman church: I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf (Romans 15:30).

- James encouraged believers: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16-17).

Catholics will argue the dead in Christ are still believers, and part of the body of Christ, therefore, believers can ask them, and Mary, to pray for them. However, in the New Testament, the writers only encourage living believers to pray for other living believers. They never say to pray to, or for, the dead. Bible verses that do not support the idea of people in heaven being concerned with prayer include:

- Psalm 115:17

- Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

- Isaiah 42:8

- Matthew 6:9

- John 14:13-14

- Philippians 1:23-25

- Revelation 14:13

Another passage sometimes used is Hebrews 12:22-24. These verses describe approaching the throne of God in heaven, and all the glory that surrounds it, including the dead in Christ. Catholics will point to the saints surrounding the throne and argue the believer can approach them for intercession. This interpretation ignores the larger context. The writer was juxtaposing how much better it is to live in the time after Jesus death and resurrection and to have Him as our mediator, compared to the days of Moses.

The full passage says:

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned. Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:18-24).

In the days before Jesus sacrifice, coming into the presence of God was a fearful, if amazing, moment, because of Gods holiness and mans sin. After Jesus, anyone who puts their faith in Him has His righteousness credited to them, and they can approach the throne of God directly with boldness; God is their Father, and they co-heirs with Christ. In fact, God through the Holy Spirit indwells the believer.

There are passages in the Catholic Bible, specifically 2 Maccabees, where people prayed to and for the dead. The Maccabees record events that took place during the time between the prophecies given to Malachi and the birth of Jesus. Even if the account of these prayers took place historically, that does not mean those behaviors were correct, or that Christians should adopt them. The Jews did not consider the Maccabees Scripture, nor did most of the early church fathers. While some sects in the early church studied them, the Catholic Church did not consider them Scripture until the Protestant Reformation, adopting them at the Council of Trent as a response to criticism.

Evidence supporting the practice of only praying to God, and not venerating Mary, is clear and direct in Scripture.

- During Jesus lifetime, someone tried to credit special blessings to Mary, and Jesus did not affirm it:

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed! But he said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! (Luke 11:27-28).

- The Apostle Paul affirmed:

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

- Paul clarified the Holy Spirits role is to intercede:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).

Photo credit: Getty Images/dragana991
Tonight's rundown:

 Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach

 Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents

 US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine

 OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant

 The trial of Fox News gets underway

 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off

 Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car

 This Day in History: FDR dies in office

 Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you

In Case You Missed It:

 Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe"

 Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com!

 Pre-order Bills next bestseller Killing the Witches NOW

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The initiative highlights the pressing need to increase both domestic and international investments in TB services, research, and innovation

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the expanded scope of the WHO Director-Generals (DG) Flagship Initiative on tuberculosis (TB) over the period from 2023 to 2027 to support fast-tracking progress towards ending TB and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

The WHO DG flagship initiative on TB builds on the progress achieved and lessons learned from 2018-2022. It aims to scale up the delivery of quality care to people living with TB through equitable access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics, shorter all-oral treatment for infection and disease, increasing their access to social protection and other innovations including digital tools for health.

As part of the DG Flagship initiative, a special call to action is being issued by WHO and partners urging Member States to accelerate the rollout of new WHO-recommended shorter all-oral treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB.

Drug-resistant TB continues to be a pressing public health concern, taking a significant toll on individuals affected by TB, communities, and healthcare systems worldwide. In 2021, nearly half a million people fell ill with multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB), only one in three accessed treatment.

In September 2023, the UN General Assembly will convene three High-Level Meetings focusing on UHC, pandemic preparedness and response and ending TB. There are clear linkages between these agendas and the Heads of State will deliberate to accelerate action, including on the goal to end TB.
The agreement will facilitate the establishment of the IITK-UB Joint Centre of Excellence in Biomedicine and Bioengineering

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and the University at Buffalo, USA (UB) have signed a cooperation agreement to enrich research in Biomedicine & Bioengineering. The agreement was signed by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, and Prof A. Scott Weber, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Buffalo.

By signing this cooperation agreement, IIT-K and UB have agreed to establish the IITK-UB Joint Centre of Excellence in Biomedicine and Bioengineering at IIT Kanpur premises.

The CoE is being established with the objective to facilitate long-term collaborations in education and research between IIT-K and University at Buffalo, as well as other institutions. The research focus of this Centre will be on developing materials and technologies for both in vitro (studies performed with cells) and in vivo (studies performed with animals) applications in biosciences.

The formation of the Centre under the agreement would facilitate exchange of students and researchers between IIT-K and University at Buffalo; along with facilitating collaborative research and training programs; joint conferences, thematic workshops and exchange of scholarly material.

The cooperation agreement comes after a Joint Degree Programme agreement that was signed between IIT-K and UB in 2017, to provide selected doctoral students at either institutes the opportunity to conduct research at the partner institute and earn two degrees, one each from IIT-K and UB.
The DW Akademie Film Development Fund has revealed the 15 filmmakers from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda who will receive one year of funding, mentorship and training opportunities.

The DW Akademie Film Development Fund was launched in 2021 and, in addition to the 2023 grantees, has already supported 15 filmmakers in developing their film projects. This is the first year that the Fund's application process ran simultaneously for all three countries.

Mentorship

The program, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supports the grantees to work on the development of their films. Grantees will receive 10,000, be matched with an experienced script mentor for the duration of the program and have access to tailor-made training and networking opportunities. Workshops and skills development trainings will be led by industry professionals.

"One of the reasons the Film Fund has been successful is the growing community of film professionals that are involved and collectively contributing to the strength of the program," said Lina Hartwieg, program director, DW Akademie Film Industries. "This also applies to many talented and motivated mentors who are more than willing to share their deep knowledge of the craft and the industry."

Each successful grantee must have made at least one released film and have a ready concept for a feature-length documentary, fiction or hybrid film. The program is designed to support the filmmakers as they work to take their proposed films through the development stage.

Unique opportunity

"It is so rare that a film project gets funding this early and having an experienced filmmaker's mentorship is a unique opportunity. I can't think of a more perfect way to [grow] my filmmaking career!" said Abigail Megbar Debebe, a filmmaker from Ethiopia and 2023 grantee.

The program was made possible through close collaboration with the three lead country experts, Tamara Dawit for Ethiopia, Amil Shivji for Tanzania and Fibby Kioria for Uganda, who designed the training and mentoring program for 2023 and will accompany the 15 grantees through the funding year.

"I am very excited about the selected grantees this year, especially with so many new voices, and their potential to tell personal stories with a communal impact," said Shivji.

The Film Fund received a substantial number of submissions, out of which an independent jury reviewed a total of 63 applications. After careful consideration, a final selection of 15 was made. These following selected projects represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives that the Film Development Fund is eager to support:

Ethiopia:

Henok Legesse Birhanu - Manbeb, Metsaf ena Manenet

Abigail Megbar Debebe - Abyot

Habtamu Gebrehiwot - The Fortunate!

Bontu Shiferaw - Aware

Leul Shoaferaw - Tiny Grain. Big War

Tanzania:

Freddy Feruzi - A Message to the President

Kelvin Kagambo - Asante

Frank Sylvester Machiya - Wagumu

Neema Ngelime - The Ones with The Tempered Flowers

Ritha Saxon - 1 in 10

Uganda:

Daisy Masembe - Nekesa

Ruth Nazzinda - Revenge Porn Ug

Patience Nitumwesiga - The Stone that Moved

Daniel Semulema - The King's Portrait

Ivan Tusabe - What Shines on the Shore
Effie South Africa has issued a call for entries for the 2023 Effie Awards South Africa Programme Entries will be accepted via the Effie entry portal from 6 April through to midnight on 14 June 2023 The Effie Gala Awards Ceremony will be held on 15 September in Johannesburg

Effie South Africa launched the 2023 Effie Awards season and call for entries during a virtual launch held on the 22 March 2023. At the launch, which included a workshop on how to write a winning Effie entry, it was announced that entries would be accepted on the Effie Awards South Africa online entry platform from midnight on 6 April 2023.

South African agencies, clients, media partners and startups are invited to submit their entries via the Effie Awards South Africa website. Acceptance of entries via the portal will close at midnight on Wednesday, 14 June 2023.

Now in its third year on home soil, the worlds preeminent marketing effectiveness awards programme is levelling up through its partnership with the Nedbank IMC Conference  Africas leading marketing conference. The merging of the two premier industry events means that Friday, 15 September 2023, will see the Nedbank IMC Conference serving as home of the Effie South Africa summit. The awards ceremony will be held following the conference, both of which will take place at Urban Brew Studios in Randburg.

As in previous years, we look forward to uncovering the work that delivered on campaign-stated objectives. This year, however, sees the introduction of our partnership with the Nedbank IMC Conference  a partnership we are particularly proud to be part of. The collaboration between agency and client is absolutely critical in the formation and execution of an effective campaign, and were very excited to see insights and results in effective marketing play out at both events, says Mathe Okaba, CEO at the ACA  organiser of the Effie Awards programme in South Africa.

Entry categories

Entrants can look forward to over 70 categories across two category groups, as has been the case in the past. Campaign eligibility dates for the Sustained Success Category are 1 February 2020  31 January 2023 [36 months] and 1 February 2021  31 January 2022 [12 months] for all other categories.

Full details on how to enter, including details on the categories and entry requirements, can be found on the how to enter tab at www.effieawards.co.za. It is recommended that entrants download and familiarise themselves with all the entry documents, categories and requirements before initiating the online entry process.

Were bringing marketers and agencies closer together this year, with the emphasis squarely on those partnerships, and we cannot emphasise the importance of that collaborative spirit enough. Whichever way we wish to look at it, what we do as a sector and as a profession is about results. This is echoed by the Effie/Nedbank IMC Conference partnership. So, be prepared for incredible insights at the conference, and find out how they are converted into effective marketing campaigns at the Effie Awards, concludes Okaba.

Entry deadlines and fees for the Effie Awards South Africa 2023:

Entry Deadlines Opening Date Closing Date ACA Member Feees Non-ACA Member Early bird 06-Apr-23 17-May-23 R7,875 R8, 663 On-time 18-May-23 31-May-23 R9 845 R10,638 Last minute 01-Jun-23 14-Jun-23 R14,766 R16, 243

For more information visit the Effie Awards South Africa website at www.effieawards.co.za or visit www.acasa.co.za.

Join the conversation - #EffieAwardsSA | #MarketingUpClose | #NedbankIMC2023

Follow @EffieSouthAfrica on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and @EffieAwardsSA on Twitter to keep up to date on the latest developments.
As we honour World Tuberculosis (TB) Day today, 24 March, Dr Lucy Connell, TB programme lead at health NPO Right to Care, says, "South Africa has one of the highest TB rates in the world. Right to Care supports SA'S theme for World TB Day this year which is 'Yes! You and I can end TB.' Great strides have been made identifying people likely to have TB, testing and diagnosing more TB. Yet we are still under-diagnosing TB and this is hampering efforts to meet global targets and end TB by 2030."

Image source: Anna Shvets from Pexels

SA is still missing thousands of people who have TB. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that in 2021, only 57% of those with TB in SA were started on treatment. SAs TB programme also took a serious knock during the pandemic, which set global TB control back by some 10 years.

Connell adds, The mistake people often make is that they think they are not at risk of getting TB. Anybody can get TB. If you breathe, you can get TB. We are making people aware of their risks and the symptoms of TB. We are working with health departments to support the national plan to scale up the diagnosis of TB through increased community TB screening, more accurate screening tools and TB testing.

TB is a contagious infection caused by a bacteria that usually attacks your lungs, spreads very easily and can be deadly. When you have active lung TB and you cough, talk, sneeze or spit, you emit germs into the air and anyone who breathes in these germs can become infected. TB is curable if detected and treated early.

The SA National Health Laboratory Services reports that the numbers of people testing positive and starting TB treatment have not increased to pre-Covid levels in many health districts. It took only three years for a home Covid-19 rapid test to be developed. We need the same sense of urgency with TB, adds Connell.

Diagnosing TB

People at risk of TB, and those who have any TB symptom or a chest X-ray that suggests TB require a TB GeneXpert test to confirm if they have TB. The test relies on a quality sputum sample. This is where SA is falling short, explains Connell. There are challenges with sputum collection. Low sputum collection rates result in missing people who have TB which undermines the potential impact of digital chest X-ray TB screening.

Sputum, also known as phlegm, is a thick type of mucus made in the lungs. When someone has TB, the phlegm can be a range of colours, usually whitish, but also beige, green, brown or tinged with blood.

Challenges with sputum collection

Sputum production often requires a vigorous cough effort. Many people living with TB are not yet sick or coughing so they may battle to cough up sputum.

Connell explains that these patients need additional support, for example, by using a nebuliser. Yet there is a shortage of nebulisers in many facilities, and even where there are nebulisers, they are not used to support TB testing. Patients can ask for support with producing a sputum sample, including nebulisation. A nebuliser is a device that produces a mist which is inhaled to help produce sputum.

Lack of privacy while trying to cough up a sputum sample, and fear of exposure and stigma are also curtailing TB testing efforts.

Right to Care supports health facilities and healthcare workers to ensure that quality sputum samples from patients are produced and that patients are protected, says Connell.

Improving sputum collection

Right to Care is exploring ways to improve sputum collection in health facilities, which could include:

training dedicated sputum collection staff - they do not have to be nurses,



setting up comfortable well-ventilated spaces for sputum induction where 2 to 3 patients can sit while they are nebulised,



improving routine clinic data systems,



fixing and adding nebulisation machines, and



improving oversight of TB testing.

Connell adds that, Every person with presumed TB should be assisted to produce a sputum sample for testing, or the investment in new strategies and technologies for TB case finding will not bear fruit.

Symptoms

Symptoms of TB include coughing, chest pain, loss of appetite and weight, coughing up blood, night sweats, fever, tiredness and weakness, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. You are at high risk for TB if you have been on TB treatment in the last two years - you can get TB more than once, if you have had close contact with someone with TB and if you live with HIV.

The National Department of Health has launched a self-screening tool for TB for free, anytime, and anywhere. WhatsApp TB to 0600123456 or dial *134*83285# and follow the instructions.

Everyone at risk or with TB symptoms should go to their closest health facility. Sometimes, a person with TB has no symptoms but is passing it on to others. Early diagnosis and TB treatment is critical.

Undiagnosed and untreated TB can be deadly and devastating for families. It also increases community transmission which means that more people develop TB.
Global consumer and sensory research agency, MMR Research Worldwide, recently held its Growth Makers: Africa event in Johannesburg, which gathered delegates from prominent FMCG brands.

The call for elevated product experiences echoed throughout the event. It's a challenging time for brands in South Africa, having to compete with private labels progression and finding new ways to meet consumers' growing experience expectations.

Considering that shopper baskets are now more heavily curated, manufacturers were advised to develop products that are not just liked but that deliver a burst of sensory theatre that leaves a lasting impact.

A report by McKinsey in 2022 revealed that two-thirds of South Africans are cutting back on spending while 32% claim to have moved to cheaper alternatives  considerably ahead of the global average.

The Growth Makers: Africa event was conceived to help brands fight back and revealed new ways to confront industry professionals most pressing issues. The agenda also reported fresh research that covered South Africans' covered attitudes towards plant-based products, functional ingredients, and impending food tech such as cultured meat and animal-free dairy.

The fight for product superiority

Commenting on the hurdles facing FMCG players, head of business Africa and Middle East at MMR, Jacqui Horsley, said, Our challenges have never been greater, and so its important that we have a plan to fight back. We must aim to go beyond liking in the way we evaluate products and build more distinctive experiences that not only rock  but are more remembered.

The firms chief ideas officer, Andrew Wardlaw, indicated that manufacturers around the world are finding product superiority increasingly difficult to achieve  but offered some hope. As the experience economy expands into everyday consumables, there are opportunities for brands to beat private label across the wider user experience. This is where we must focus.

Keynote speakers highlighted how private labels expansion into premium sectors has proved a highly successful move, boosting overall quality perceptions of retailer brands. What private label is not going to do however, is engineer product theatre that produces peak moments that are more remembered by consumers  supporting the mental availability of brands, said Wardlaw.

SA consumers' health priorities

MMRs research, polling over 500 South Africans in February 2023, revealed that heart health, brain health and immune health (in this order) are by far the most important health priorities in South Africa at this time. For Gen Z, brain health achieves pole position.

For makers of functional products, MMR sensory expert Alice Barker called upon manufacturers to align the sensory experience so that it reinforces the benefit  creating a placebo effect. Barker also spoke about the emerging A-Beauty or African beauty trend, forecasting that A-Beauty is well-placed to engage a global audience.

Interest in emerging food tech

To conclude the event, panellists discussed the willingness shown by South African consumers to try emerging food tech. Figures show that 71% of South Africans are willing to try animal-free dairy, and 51% are willing to try cultured meat. The figures are higher than those collected for markets such as US and UK.

For such technologies to succeed, the importance of framing was underlined. When it comes to shifting consumers to more sustainable products, we must desist from framing the new thing as a substitute or defining the new thing by what it isnt. History tells us that these approaches will confine the new thing as a niche thing forever more, noted Wardlaw.
Retroviral has been crowned Africa's PR Agency of the year at last night's 2023 EMEA Sabre Awards, held in Frankfurt, Germany. The agency also won four awards, two for its Checkers Sixty60's Sixty60 Swindler campaign and two for Lil-Lets for its Be You. Period campaign, which was also the third-best campaign overall in the EMEA Platinum Sabre Award.

Source: Provoke Media Provoke Media The Retroviral agency team. The agency was named African agency of the year last night's 2023 EMEA Sabre Awards

In February both campaigns won innovation Sabres. Last night Lil-Lets won in the Practice Areas category, under Marketing Communications, and Checkers Sixty60 in the category Industry Sectors, Consumer Goods, Retailers.

Two other South African PR consultancies also won on the night.

In the Diamond Sabre Awards Razor - M&C Saatchi Group was awarded the Sabre Award for Superior Achievement in Reputation Management for its 500 Tonnes Light campaign for Anglo American, while Shoprite with KAMuses won for its campaign The power of a storyline to highlight existing products in the Africa category.

See all the category winners here

A zig to the agencys world zag

Mike Sharman, founder of Retroviral expressed his joy at the wins, saying he was very "chuffed and insanely proud".

"Last nights successes at the Sabre Awards really emphasise the work we are doing and how we are punching above our weight as a small agency on the tip of southern Africa, competing with the best of the best on a global scale, especially as we consider ourselves as a challenger agency for challenger brands," he says.

Since the agency started just over 13 years it has been doing things differently, which really came to the fore in 2020 with its My Kreepy Teacher campaign.

Since then we have been doing it our way, telling branded content and developing our stories in a way that is a zig to the agencys world zag," he explains.

The result is campaigns such as the Checkers Sixty60 Sixty60 Swindler and the Lil-Lets BeYou. Period.

The Lil-Lets work cuts through menstrual taboos and the platform we built for Lil-Lets helps regular South African women every day to have a conversation about the fears, the scary and taboo topics all around menstruation, something that is very close to the entire agencys heart," says Sharman.

He adds: "The effort, craft, insights, understanding, and nuances from those various customer segment levels are not only resulting in impactful bottom lines for our brands but also metal winning success for our agency."

2023 EMEA Consultancies of the year

Regional Consultancies of the Year (Large): BCW Edelman FleishmanHillard H+K Strategies Weber Shandwick Regional Consultancies of the Year (Midsize): Allison+Partners Golin Hanover Porter Novelli WE Geographic Africa Consultancies of the Year: BlackHouse Media Clockwork Irvine Partners Razor Retroviral CEE Consultancies of the Year: Grayling M3 Communications MSL Seesame United Partners DACH Consultancies of the Year: Farner Ketchum MSL Schwartz Public Relations WE France Consultancies of the Year: Fabriq Jin LaFrenchCom Monet + Associes Weber Shandwick Iberia Consultancies of the Year: Canela Edelman LLYC Marco Torres y Carrera Mediterranean Consultancies of the Year: Action Global APCO Worldwide Bpress INC OPRG Italy Middle East Consultancies of the Year: APCO Worldwide Asda'a BCW Brazen Four Communications H+K Strategies Nordic Consultancies of the Year: BCW H&H Group Spotlight Trigger Oslo UK Consultancies of the Year: Brands2Life Ketchum Ogilvy W Weber Shandwick Specialist Consumer Consultancies of the Year: The Academy Frank Manifest Splendid Communications Taylor Herring Corporate Consultancies of the Year: Blurred FieldHouse Associates Headland MHP Third City Creative Consultancies of the Year: Cirkle Hope & Glory The Romans Tin Man Trigger Oslo Digital Consultancies of the Year: Coolr The Digital Voice Jin Lynn Financial Consultancies of the Year Drofa FGS Global Folk Lansons Vested Healthcare Consultancies of the Year: Evoke Kyne GCI Health Golin/Virgo Health Real Chemistry Weber Shandwick Public Affairs Consultancies of the Year: Grayling PLMR Rud Pedersen SEC Newgate WA Communications Technology Consultancies of the Year: Axicom CCgroup Harvard The Hoffman Agency Milk & Honey New Consultancies of the Year: 3Thinkrs Espresso Stirred

All the winners are marked in bold.

See the list here
The South African Fashion Week (SAFW) Spring Summer 23 collections are set to be showcased at the Mall of Africa from 20 to 23 April 2023.

Michael Ludwig Studio Autumn Winter 2023. Source: SA Fashion Week

The knitting of collaborative networks and the shaping of a sustainable fashion future for South Africa are among the themes inspiring the next edition of SAFW, which is being organised with the support of Mall of Africa, Mr Price, Cruz Vodka, Oppo, Carlton Hair and M.A.C makeup.

Now in its 26th year, the fashion platform will host 11 shows over three days and show 39 collections. It will also feature both a contingent of designers and models from neighbouring Mozambique Fashion Week as well as this years participants in the collaborative Italian/South African Fashion Bridges  I Ponti della Moda project.

Regional and intercontinental collaborations such as these allow all parties to knit networks of beneficial mutual support. They allow us to share skills and insights, open unexplored business opportunities, and ultimately, to extend the sphere of our respective creative visions beyond our familiar borders, says director Lucilla Booyzen.

New Talent Search

According to Booyzen, the return of fashion chain Mr Price as the headline sponsor of the New Talent Search, marks another exciting development. The New Talent Search is traditionally the opening show of the new season and one of the most-watched events due to its track record for early detection of top emerging creatives. This years entrants were again challenged to demonstrate their talent for print development as well as their commitment to a sustainable fashion future.

The support of a leading fashion mover and shaker such as Mr Price gives immeasurable impetus to the determination of our new generation of designers to clean up fashions act with an unequivocal commitment to sustainable and healthy practice, says Booyzen.

The 2023 Mr Price New Talent Search, will introduce the following designers and their labels:

Mmathabo Silika: Silika

Kuhle Phumzile Zondo: E_Mania

Caileigh Davis: Silver Magpie

Athenkosi Takuta: Artae

Lwandle Duma: Lwavant-Garde

Oyama Gonintebe

Juanie Van Wyk: Juanie

Cyla Gonsolves: Cyla Gonsolves

Sifiso Kunene: Messrsbasswood

The 2022 winner of the search, Thando Ntuli, will close the show with her Isikhathi/Time SS23 Munkus collection.

Designer highlights

The Cruz Collective, sponsored by the premium vodka brand, will introduce new collections by inaugural Fashion Bridges participants Sipho Mabuto and Fikile Zamagcino Sokhulu, as well as East-meets-African Elysian-Ego collection by Cape Town-based Michael Ludwig Studio.

Listed in 2013 by Forbes magazine as one of Africas best young entrepreneurs, Thula Sindi, owner of the renowned Africa Rise retail collective for South African designers, returns to SAFW where he debuted his first range in 2005. He will launch his 'From a Selection' collection  a tribute to the customers who support the Africa Rise designers.

For the Oppo Collections lineup, Jacques van der Watt will explore three-dimensional clothing as he unveils what he calls a love letter to the exaggerated silhouettes of his past classic couture collections for Black Coffee SS23, while the tailored craftmanship of SAFW stalwart Hangwani Nengovhelas Rubicon brand, and the fashion-forward Essie SS23 collection complete the showcase.

The third edition of Fashion Bridges  I Ponti della Moda, the collaboration between the Italian embassy and its partners Polimoda Firenze, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and the Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, in collaboration with SA Fashion Week, will introduce the new collections of Italian designer, Federico Cina, a finalist in the 2022 LVMH Prize for young fashion designers, and South Africa's Lezanne Viviers, who debuted her Viviers Studio signature at Milan Fashion Week earlier this year.

South African brands Research Unit, Isabel de Villiers, Bam Collective and Belhauzen feature collectively on the second-day programme. Meanwhile, Helen Gibbs will unveil the clean and uncluttered, seasonless and earth-friendly Helon Melon 2023 collection in a double bill with creative hub Artclub and Friends.

SAFWs commitment to the organic development of the local design industry by developing and introducing new creative talents to the market, is evidenced in the lineup of the menswear signatures. Former Scouting Menswear winners Boyde by Samkelo Boyde Xaba (2020) and Refuse Clothing (2022), will showcase their collections alongside 2022 finalist Gugu by Gugu and family-based collective Fuata Moyo.

In a celebration of local fashion heritage, Vanya Mangaliso will join forces with one of SAFWs best-loved menswear designers, Ephraim Molingoana, to respectively unveil their Sungoddess and Ephymol 2023 collections.

Mozambique Fashion Week collab

A first-ever collaboration between Mozambique and South African Fashion Weeks will wrap up SS23 with a grand finale showcasing of Mozambiquan signatures Chibaia, Mabenna and Cuccla, accompanied by four top Mozambican models Rachel Mbiza, Chantel Tomo, Russel Antonio and Ivanildo Lourenco.

The cross-border regional meeting of fashion minds represents a significant opportunity to advance a responsible and sustainable vision in the development process of the fashion industry in both Mozambique and South Africa. It is an initiative that will help undoubtedly create jobs for young people and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in our collective industries, says Vasco Rocha, founder of Mozambique Fashion Week.

Rocha added that promoting cultural and creative industries is a powerful way to boost the local economy and empower communities.

Leemisa Tsolo, head of asset and property management - retail of Attacq Limited, the owners of Mall of Africa, comments, Mall of Africa has had the privilege of hosting the South African Fashion Week for the past three years.

We know our consumers are increasingly wanting to express a contemporary, yet uniquely African, fashion identity, and therefore draw enormous reassurance from the prospect of adding many more local success stories like Laduma Ngxokolos iconic Xhosa-inspired signature, to our tenant mix, he says.
Ahead of the Johannesburg Cap Classique & Champagne Festival , Kwanele Nyawo, CEO and cofounder of Khulu Wines and producer behind Izigidi Cap Classique shares how it all began and what bubbly lovers can expect from her Cap Classique.

L to R: Chef Sizo Henna, Kwanele Nyawo and Niel van Staden. Image supplied

Can you tell us about the people behind Khulu Wines?

Khulu was founded by me, Kwanele Nyawo and my business partner Niel van Staden. I spent 13 and a half years working for one of South Africas biggest insurance companies before embarking on an entrepreneurship journey. I am also a former radio talk show host and serve on the executive committees of two NGOs.

Niel worked at a leading global investment bank in London for 12 years across a variety of roles gaining extensive experience in investment services, global markets and asset management. After returning to South Africa, he founded several tech companies and serves on a number of boards.

How did you meet?

Niel and I met on a bizarre Zoom call while I was working on an event for a client. We met at the said event a few weeks later and immediately hit it off. We started Mzansi Craft Wine together and Khulu shortly thereafter.

Where are you based?

I split my time between Johannesburg and Paarl. I generally spend one week a month in Paarl because that is where our operations are based.

Tell us about the name Khulu

Khulu means great or extravagant in isiZulu. Niel and I wanted to create a luxury wine brand those words would apply to, as we both love the good things in life.

Who is your winemaker?

We have a number of wine makers across the Cape winelands who make wines for us based on our specific requirements. We are very involved in the winemaking process although we are not winemakers ourselves.

Can you tell us about your range?

We currently have three red wines and a Cap Classique. Our red wine range consists of a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Shiraz and a Cabernet blend and our bubbly is called Izigidi which means millions.

Can you tell us a bit about Izigidi which you will be showcasing at the festival?

Bubbly lovers can expect a beautiful Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique made from 100% chardonnay grapes. It is complex and indulgent with secondary aromas of orange blossom and lemon zest on the nose.

What are the best foods to pair with Izigidi?

Definitely seafood, salads and cheese. Im a cheese lover, so cheese always makes my list of pairings.

Where do you see Khulu in five years time?

I see Khulu as an established wine brand associated with quality and luxury. We would love for our Cap Classique to be one of the best rated bubblies in South Africa.
According to a report by thejournalist.org , South Africa's public libraries are closing down at an alarming rate across the country. The reasons for this vary from shrinking budgets to management issues to many people using their phones and other mobile devices to access information they once would have accessed in a library. According to Lea-Anne Moses, executive director and trustee at the Fundza Literacy Trust, the latter need not be the reason, as physical libraries and digital tools can co-exist and thrive together.

In a country with one of the lowest literacy rates in the world at 87% with 3.7 million illiterate people and 73% of people over the age of 16 not interested in reading, the shrinkage of the physical libraries network can only exacerbate the crisis, says Moses.

Libraries have a pivotal role to play in society, providing free access to information and resources. In a country such as South Africa where literacy is an issue and books are expensive, libraries allow for access to reading materials  something that is crucial for a maintained literacy regimen amongst the population, which if left to decline could be detrimental to the development of any country.

Modern libraries have the opportunity to

provide a space in which physical books, mobi sites, digital libraries

and technological tools can all exist under one roof.

Libraries can find ways to keep their doors open using innovative digital thinking, while also attracting a new generation of library users by using technology in their everyday offerings. If libraries are to remain open and become more appealing to young people who not only need the information, but a safe space to access information, then physical libraries should be encouraged to become more technologically savvy, explains Moses.

And many have been. Most libraries today offer Wi-Fi and computer stations for those needing internet access. Additionally, in the Western Cape, for example, if you are a library member, you have access to an online library portal as well as Pressreader where you can access digital versions of the latest newspapers. But libraries need to go beyond this  they should promote the use of digital tools such as Fundza.mobi that allows for access to hundreds of stories written for teens and young adults by their own peers. By doing so, libraries ensure that there is access to new stories that are relatable and written in multiple South African languages  an important thing to consider if we wish to increase the literacy and comprehension rate in South Africa.

Its not only digital libraries that highlight the ways in which physical libraries can make use of technology, though. Its also initiatives such as the one thats currently being run by Delft Library in Cape Town. The librarys director, Ashley Lewis, has introduced a gaming station that is only able to be used by children if they read books regularly and do their homework first.

Moses notes: The Delft Library is an excellent example of how the traditional library can modernise to accommodate young people. Not only is the library ensuring that it remains appealing to the community, but it is also a haven for children to relax and unwind in a community plagued by social issues such as drugs, gangsterism and more.

From our experience working with teenagers across the country and building a formidable reading and writing culture amongst this population group, we can clearly see a way in which libraries can be effectively experienced in both digital and physical formats. And the Delft Library shows that this can be just as impactful if thought about innovatively.

Modern libraries have the opportunity to provide a space in which physical books, mobi sites, digital libraries and technological tools can all exist under one roof. These institutions offer free access to reading materials that can help address societal limitations, bridge the gaps, and enable a conducive learning environment that meets the needs of all South Africans. Instead of closing the doors of libraries, we need to open our minds to the possibilities that exist within, Moses concludes.




Non-profit school, Christel House South Africa met with social transformation experts and changemakers recently for the inaugural think tank of Youth Bridge, a new Christel House SA employment initiative.

Photo by Ron Lach via www.pexels.com

Youth Bridge is aimed at supporting unemployed youth (15 to 35-year-olds) and helping them bridge the gap between their undiscovered ambitions, abilities and the career opportunities that await them. It draws on lessons learnt from Christel House SAs successful efforts over the past 22-years to support vulnerable youth to secure gainful employment.

Key to the programmes success is addressing the barriers to stable, successful employment through a character-based, career-focused readiness programme and then continuing to support candidates through their first periods of placement. Given the backdrop of South Africas high youth unemployment rate, the school engaged with experts on how to create sustainable and viable solutions around their new Youth Bridge Initiative.

Adding value to the underserved

Key themes that were discussed included the perceived disconnect and mismatch of expectations between the youth and the South African industry, potential strategies that businesses and entrepreneurs can implement to generate new employment opportunities, how youth who come from vulnerable communities can be better supported and, most importantly, how a character-based, career-focused approach will support young work-seekers in their career journey.

Christel House SA develops children from underserved communities on more than an IQ level  they understand that EQ is just as important, if not more so. Im so excited about the Youth Bridge programme and I think the character-based and career-focused element is key, says Nikki Joshua, a representative from Leelyn Management, the implementation partner for the Jobs Connect programme, run by the City of Cape Town.

The Youth Bridge programme offers an opportunity to add real value and prepare our youth to find and keep jobs. While it's wonderful to do good for our youth, doing what's right is even more meaningful. With the appropriate guidance and support, our youth can achieve their full potential, adds Lance Bouwers, a representative from T3 Telecoms SA.

The Youth Bridge programme offers unemployed youth the opportunity to engage in a 6-month programme that includes full-time 1.5-month intensive contact sessions, bolstered by 4.5 months of longitudinal support and mentorship.

Participants receive character development lessons, computer training, financial literacy education, career etiquette, establishing a career path and a psychometric assessment to assist in finding their passion. Thereafter, mentors connect graduates to further education opportunities to improve their skills and employability and eventually match them with potential employers.

The launch of the Youth Bridge Programme is particularly timely given the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Q4: 2022 by Statistics South Africa, which shows another drop to 45,3% in South Africas youth (aged 15-34 years) unemployment rate.

The unemployment crisis highlights the urgent need to implement effective solutions that empower our youth to become active and productive members of society, said Ayanda Mvandaba, Managing Partner: 10X. Youth Bridge recognises the challenges that the emerging workforce faces in not only securing employment opportunities but also in maintaining positions that offer growth potential for career advancement. Our role is to act as the unifying force, which brings our partners and youth together for a common purpose  to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the next generation.

For more, go to sa.christelhouse.org/our-programs/10X
Newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille has given an update on the proposed sponsorship deal between SA Tourism and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Source: jcomp via Freepik

The deal, which sparked nationwide controversy, had critics question the nearly R1bn it would cost. SA Tourism says the deal was meant to promote the country to the overseas tourism market.

De Lille says SA Tourisms proposed sponsorship should be stopped completely. "Given the circumstances we find ourselves in economically, there has to be much more careful consideration of everything we do as government. Money must at all times be spent wisely and prudently as we are entrusted with the publics funds."

After her appointment, De Lille sought and obtained legal advice regarding the matter. In terms of that advice, there are three reasons why the Tottenham sponsorship is unlawful and invalid, says De Lille.

The three reasons are as follows:

1. That the sponsorship is in fact a procurement event which does not comply with Section 217 of the Constitution, the Treasury instructions issued in terms of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 (PFMA) and SA Tourisms own Supply Chain Management Policy.

It appears that the sponsorship is a service which was proposed to be acquired by procurement through "sole source", says De Lille. "Sole source procurement is however only allowed where there is no competition in the market and only one supplier is able to provide the goods or services, which does not appear to be the case here."

2. That the sponsorship has not been budgeted for as required by section 53 of the PFMA and that the expenditure thereon would be irregular or unauthorised within the meaning of those terms in the PFMA.

3. That the deal amounts to a "significant partnership transaction" which required the tourism minister's prior approval in terms of Section 54 (2) of the PFMA. "However, I have written to the SA Tourism Board on Wednesday, 22 March 2023, asking for their response regarding the above," De Lille says.

De Lille has asked the SA Tourism board to respond to her letter by 29 March.

The board chairperson sent De Lille an interim response this morning, 24 March. De Lille had also written to the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana on 10 March to enquire whether he had approved the proposal or transaction, but has not yet received a response.

De Lille says that she seeks key information with regard to the deal:

1. Has the Tottenham deal been formally cancelled? If so, De Lille has asked for proof of this.

2. Does the board regard the Tottenham deal to be a form of sole source procurement? If so, the board has been asking to explain how the requirements for such a form of procurement have been met.

3. Does the board regard the Tottenham deal to be a significant transaction which triggers the need for the tourism minister's prior approval? If so, will the board request her approval and when?

4. Has the Tottenham deal been budgeted for in the 2022/23 budget? If not, why is the expenditure on the deal not unauthorised or irregular within the meaning of those terms in the PFMA?

"As the minister and as the Department of Tourism, we are committed to growing tourism, getting into untapped markets and truly reaching our full potential. However, everything we do will be done in accordance with the law and due process. Now in this time of global economic crisis, we need innovation and we need to work together to grow our markets and create more jobs for our people in a cost-effective manner.

"This matter has been marred by a lot of controversies and has raised many questions and we need to resolve this matter decisively and in the best interest of the people of South Africa as soon as possible.

"As a country, when we enter into such massive partnerships, it is vital that we are able to be fully accountable, that we are transparent and can answer South Africans clearly and honestly."
Building an active online community is crucial to a successful social media strategy in 2023, but if you don't monitor your social media you won't find out what people are saying about your brand.

Image supplied. Social media monitoring is the best way to find out what people are saying about a brand

Social media monitoring is a critical part of tracking your share of voice in a crowded online space, and drives better campaign planning by knowing where your customers are, and what theyre talking about, explains Joe Hamman, Novus Group founder.

Research by the local media monitoring company shows that in South Africa, Facebook and Instagram are still the best platforms for broader community building, but TikTok is key to reaching Gen Z audiences.

Surge in demand

The company has seen a surge in demand for social media monitoring services as a growing number of South African brands look to understand how their customers talk about brand experiences across a range of channels and media, including Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.

Monitoring your brand health on social media taps directly into how your customer thinks, what excites them and why they love you  or dont," says Hamman.

Not a box-ticking exercise

Its estimated that around 30 million South Africans are actively using social media platforms, with LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok growing the fastest at the moment.

Social media monitoring is the best way to find out what people are saying about a brand, whether youre flighting a new ad or rolling out new marketing campaigns.

Its not a box-ticking exercise, but a strategic intervention that brings with it invaluable insights into market sentiment. This all happens in real-time, so organisations and their agencies can quickly see whether a campaign is working or needs to be adjusted, explains Hamman.

Increase for social media monitoring

Hashtags, keywords, and handles allow brands to easily track social media channels and obtain invaluable insights about their customers.

In recent months, we have seen a steady increase in requests for social media monitoring, particularly for TikTok," says Hamman.

Brands also want to see how their customer service experience plays out in the social media space, especially when it comes to customers engaging with agents, adds Hamman.
South Africa's agriculture is currently faced with an array of challenges ranging from the high cost of production as inputs costs are high, lower output prices for many horticultural commodities, failing local infrastructure, high shipping and freight costs and recently continued accelerated load shedding.

Source: jcomp via Freepik

Land Bank, the agricultural industry and key stakeholders are particularly concerned about the extent to which the country has been experiencing power cuts recently. Productivity is negatively affected across the value chain.

There is, however, an opportunity for farmers who may not have alternative energy sources such as solar energy to consider the financing of these alternative energy solutions to mitigate the risks and keep businesses running.

The recently launched Blended Finance Programme by Land Bank in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) will allow clients seeking to upgrade their infrastructure the opportunity to access financing. This is certainly the time when producers need to continue to invest in agriculture with the best technology to keep productivity strong.

Producers and those who prepare and distribute our food must produce more due to the rising global demand for food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the projections show that feeding a world population of 9.1 billion people in 2050 would require raising overall food production by some 70 % between 2005/07 and 2050.

As a result, production in developing countries would need to almost double. This suggests that the output of the number of key commodities will expand significantly. Annual cereal production, for instance, would have to grow by almost one billion tonnes, meat production by over 200 million tonnes to a total of 470 million tonnes in 2050.

In order to sufficiently feed the world's population, farmers will need to produce the types of food that are required to assure nutrition security. Long-term sustainability and limited impact on the environment would also be requirements for the increased demand for food.

As a result, the increased demand has contributed to increased creativity and innovation over the past years, and technology is at the forefront of these improvements. The industry has as a result experienced advances in the concept called agri tech. Agri tech is the use of technology within the farming and agriculture space to improve efficiency and profitability.

Improving profitability and food security

Over the recent years, more and more agri tech companies have come up with new solutions in the agriculture space to enhance productivity and food security and improve the overall profitability of farmers. Agri tech has been viewed by many as having the potential to transform the agriculture sector and promote progressive outcomes, especially for smallholder farmers through increased output, efficiency, and profitability.

In order to meet the future demand for food, on the supply side, competition for land, energy, and water will increase; the latter is particularly concerning because some very significant aquifers are expected to be depleted by 2025. It means that to continue to produce in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, the use of technology to determine the right amount of water (irrigation system), fertilisers, and chemicals will be critical.

Precision agriculture is an essential success factor for ensuring that crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity. It considers aspects such as soil type, terrain, weather, plant growth and yield data when managing crops.

These technologies including the GIS (Geographic Information System) which Land Bank already uses, add much value to avert potential risks in the climatic conditions that agriculture operates in. Investing in these technologies can help a farmer to cut costs of production which are already high.

The other technologies developed by young agripreneurs in South Africa help farmers grade their produce so they can target the right quality to the right buyer.

These platforms assist farmers to get fair and transparent pricing and assist traders and retailers to source quality products from multiple growers timeously. These platforms, therefore, are positioned to eliminate market issues for farmers and give them the ability to negotiate pricing and deliver directly to the market.

One of the key factors to the success of developing /small-scale farmers is access to lucrative markets. The use of technologies to gather market information and intelligence will allow small-scale farmers to participate in the available markets for their commodities.

It is, therefore, important that farmers look around and see what innovations are at their disposal, which they can take advantage of and adopt to improve their productivity.
Former vice governor of Liaoning stands trial for bribery

Xinhua) 11:09, March 24, 2023

DALIAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Hao Chunrong, former vice governor of northeast China's Liaoning Province, stood trial for accepting bribes on Thursday.

The case was heard by the Intermediate People's Court of Dalian in Liaoning.

Hao was accused of taking advantage of her official positions between 1999 and 2021, and providing others with undue assistance in land allocation, project contracting, attaining approval, job promotions and transfers.

In return, she accepted money and gifts worth more than 18.83 million yuan (about 2.74 million U.S. dollars), said prosecutors.

Prosecutors presented evidence that the defendant and her lawyers examined, with each side giving their own complete account of events.

In her closing statement, Hao pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.

The trial was conducted in the presence of more than 50 people, including lawmakers, political advisors, journalists and members of the public.

The verdict will be announced at a later date.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Here is Technocracy: one of the latest attempts by EU institutions to pull power away from member-states national governments. Technocracy eschews nation-states and participation of ordinary citizens through traditional political processes. The Chinafication of Europe is well underway.

The total engineering of society must necessarily start with ubiquitous surveillance with data tracking, as in China.  TN Editor

A European Parliament vote for bloc-wide digital IDs is the latest step towards the Chinafication of Europe, an MEP has claimed.

Cristian Terhes, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Christian Democratic National Peasants Party, has described the European Unions latest push for cross-border digital IDs as another move towards the Chinafication of the bloc.

Although bureaucrats in Brussels have insisted that the measure is in the interests of average citizens, the parliaments vote to see digital IDs adopted appears to be one of the latest attempts by EU institutions to pull power away from member-states national governments.

According to a report by Euractiv, the vote to see negotiations for a European Digital Identity Framework (eID) to go forward was approved by the blocs parliament on Thursday  though the publication describes the process as a mere formality.

Romana Jerkovic, the parliaments rapporteur for the digital ID programme, heralded its approval of the plans, claiming that they will enable individual EU citizens to have full control over their own data while accessing facilities across the bloc.

Such a claim has been heavily disputed by Terhes, however, who instead sees the measure as a dangerous erosion of the rights of those living within the European Union.

The loss of our freedoms and liberties to the Big State is normally done incrementally, but the passing of the eID Wallet is a big step towards the Chinafication of Europe, the parliamentarian told Breitbart Europe, repeatedly warning that the measure could give authorities China-like oversight over peoples private lives.

This Digital Wallet will allow the EU and national authorities (like the Chinese Communist Party) to have technical tools so they can know what the people are doing and to impose control, Terhes said.

Something similar to a Chinese style Social Credit System is now made available in the EU, because this eID Wallet is a necessary technology to its implementation, he alleged.
The Proud Boys sedition trial was suspended for a second time on Wednesday after the feds admitted in court that a witness intimately involved in the Proud Boys' defense team was secretly an FBI informant.





BREAKING NEWS: Just when you think DOJ can't get any dirtier--



New motion just filed by defense in Proud Boys trial accusing DOJ of using an FBI informant to spy on and infiltrate the defense team pic.twitter.com/Gen89hxh4j  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) March 22, 2023

Holy sh*t this is beyond dirty.



DC US Attorney Matthew Graves' office notified defense team TODAY that a defense witnesses has been an FBI informant since the BEGINNING of the case thru start of trial.



"The CHS participated in prayer meetings with...the defendants' families." pic.twitter.com/6bso3gpRef  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) March 22, 2023

Motion filed by public defender for Zachary Rehl. Rehl is the nonviolent defendant denied bail for 2 years by Judge Tim Kelly.



Hernandez today asked Kelly to reconsider Rehl's incarceration since he has a daughter he's never held since she was born after he was arrested. pic.twitter.com/YyoIFBptrz  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) March 22, 2023

So prosecutors knew back in December that defense planned to call this person as a witness. For 3 months, not only did Graves' office refuse to disclose the witness was an FBI informant, the individual continued to work as an informant, spying on defense, during trial prep.  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) March 22, 2023



From The Epoch Times, "Did FBI Informant Spy on Proud Boys Defendants and Their Jan. 6 Trial Attorneys?":

Defense attorneys in the Proud Boys seditious-conspiracy trial in Washington D.C. learned late March 22 that one of their own defense witnesses who was about to testify had worked as an FBI informant for at least 22 months.



They asked for an emergency hearing before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly and filed a motion to compel the U.S. Department of Justice to disclose if the witness has been spying on the defense team.



Judge Kelly suspended the trial until March 24 and converted March 23 from a day of testimony into a motions hearing.



Zachary Rehl, one of five Proud Boys defendants, filed a motion on behalf of his co-defendants seeking a court order to compel prosecutors to disclose any recordings or reports made by confidential human sources (CHS)informantsabout the defendants and their attorneys.



Defense attorney Carmen Hernandez said the information given to the defense team on March 22 raises "serious and substantiated allegations of governmental misconduct surrounding the surreptitious invasion and interference of the defense team by the government through a confidential human source, at the government's behest."



Judge Kelly ordered prosecutors to file a response to the motion by 1 p.m. EDT on March 23. A hearing on the matter will begin at 3 p.m.



The trial began Dec. 19, 2022, in U.S. District Court. Prosecutors wrapped up their case on March 17.



Defense Witness was Prosecution Informant



After the close of testimony on March 22, prosecutors disclosed that a witness on the defense list who was due in court on March 23 had worked as an FBI informant from April 2021 through to at least January 2023.



"During this period of time, the CHS [informant] has been in contact via telephone, text messaging, and other electronic means, with one or more of the counsel for the defense and at least one defendant," the motion said.



"The CHS also participated in prayer meetings with members of one or more of the defendants' families. The CHS also engaged in discussions with one of the defendant's family members about replacing one of the defense counsel."

Judge Kelly should have thrown the case out rather than suspend it.



The evidence is now overwhelming that the feds are hiding exculpatory evidence from the defense and denying the Proud Boys their right to a fair trial.



[Header image by Anthony Crider, CC BY 2.0]



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WASHINGTON, DC  The Rutherford Institute is pushing back against a modern-day form of highway robbery which empowers police to seize and keep private property (cash, jewelry, cars, homes and other valuables) they suspect may be connected to a crime.

Weighing in before the U.S. Supreme Court in Culley v. Marshall, Rutherford Institute attorneys are challenging the governments use of delaying tactics in asset forfeiture proceedings which make it difficult for individuals innocent of any wrongdoing to timely recover their propertyespecially cars and cashseized by police.

Asset forfeiture is the governments new, twisted form of guilt by association. Only its not the citizenry being accused of wrongdoing, just their money, said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of Battlefield America: The War on the American People. What this adds up to is a paradigm in which Americans no longer have to be guilty to be stripped of their property, rights and liberties. All you have to be is in possession of something the government wants.

Civil asset forfeiture is a practice where government agents (usually the police) seize private property they suspect may be connected to criminal activity, then whether or not any crime is actually proven to have taken place, the government keeps the citizens property, often divvying it up with the local police who did the initial seizure. Relying on the topsy-turvy legal theory that ones property can not only be guilty of a crime but is guilty until proven innocent, government agencies have eagerly cashed in on this revenue scheme, often under the pretext of the War on Drugs. By asserting that someones property, a building or a large of amount of cash for example, is tied to an illegal activity, the governmentusually, the policethen confiscates the property for its own uses, and its up to the property owner to jump through a series of legal hoops to prove that the property was not connected to criminal activity or that the owner had no involvement or knowledge of the criminal activity. But challenging these takings in court can cost the owner more than the value of the confiscated property itself.

Many of these asset forfeiture cases involve no criminal charge against the property owner. For example, in February 2019, Alabama police seized vehicles belonging to Halima Culley and Lena Sutton while the cars were being used by other individuals accused of drug possession. Although Culley and Sutton were themselves innocent of any wrongdoing, the state seized their vehicles and filed civil asset forfeiture actions to take ownership. Although the courts finally found Culley and Sutton innocent and entitled to the return of their vehicles, they were deprived of the use of their vehicles for 20 months and 12 months respectively. In filing suit against the state, Culley and Sutton claimed a violation of their due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment because they were not provided with a prompt hearing for the opportunity to keep possession of their vehicles pending trial. Both the district court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the lawsuits. In filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in Culley v. Marshall, Rutherford Institute attorneys argue that the governments practice of delaying forfeiture hearings for over a year violates due process rights and leverages severe hardships against innocent owners, often forcing them to give up and settle with the government so they can recover some of their property.

Gregory J. DuBoff, Francis J. Aul, and Timothy J. Whittle of McGuireWoods LLP advanced the arguments in Culley v. Marshall.

The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, defends individuals whose constitutional rights have been threatened or violated and educates the public on a wide spectrum of issues affecting their freedoms.


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Barbara Held welcomes emails from former students and can be reached at bheld@bowdoin.edu.

Held, Bowdoins Barry N. Wish Professor of Psychology and Social Studies Emerita, has opined about confirmatory bias, that is, the tendency to accept dubious information if it supports preexisting beliefs, about morality and the cost of doing what is right, and about her own defensive pessimism, repressed Nutcracker memories, and lessons learned from Gus, her parakeet.

She has published nearly thirty pieces since the beginning of the pandemic in spring 2020 when isolation, an endless supply of cable news, and a love of writing converged to give rise to a series of 800-word platforms for her scholarship, experience, and direct, in-your-face approach.

With all that time on my hands I became a bigger news junkie than I already was, she said. As soon as I heard a story that interested me and about which I had something to say, I would run to the computer to start typing.

Held says truth and its exposition have been themes throughout her life and work, so its no surprise that no matter what an op-eds topic, truth always finds a way into it.

The more youre scared to tell the truth, the more you need to tell it, Held wrote in one of her op-eds. If you dont, you just might create a monster even scarier than the truth.

This article appears in the Winter 2023 issue of Bowdoin Magazine.

A compilation of opinion pieces written by Held (some pieces are behind a paywall and require a subscription):

Barbara Held: Assessing our Polarized Convictions about Trumps Criminal Intentand Why it Matters

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

April 21, 2023

With Donald Trumps criminal indictment in the New York hush-money case and with three yet-to-be-determined criminal caseson Georgia election interference, the Jan. 6 insurrection, and the Mar-a-Lago government documentsAmericans convictions about Trumps criminal culpability are as polarized as ever. In the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Jennifer McCoy and Benjamin Press wrote that pernicious polarization threatens democracies by eroding legislative compromise and institutional and behavioral norms. Indeed.

Commentary: Why "Woke Ideology is an Oxymoronand Why That Matters

Portland Press Herald

February 17, 2023

With his crusade against so-called woke ideology, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis enacts a politically motivated ideological mission with all the fervor of a fire-and-brimstone preacher, declaring Florida where woke goes to die. A likely 2024 presidential run suggests that DeSantis anti-woke agenda could have national impact.

Barbara S. Held: How Kevin McCarthy is Playing Out of His Psychological League, Contrary to Popular Opinion

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

January 19, 2023



Move over, Donald. Kevin McCarthy has now replaced you as political pundits favorite object of amateur psychoanalytic musings. After psychologically scrutinizing McCarthys every move in his self-debasing, unprincipled concession-laden bid to be House Speaker, theyve declared McCarthys victory to be pyrrhic.

A Reverse Jewish Exodus? Circling our Tribal Wagons is Not the Answer

Times record/Portland Press Herald

December 23, 2022

In the opening act of Tom Stoppards new semi-autobiographical play, Leopoldstadt, a Jewish man, Hermann, and his brother-in-law, Ludwig, debate the fate of Jews in 1899 Vienna. Ludwig presciently challenges Hermanns look-on-the-bright-side dismissal of antisemitism in Austria.

Maine Voices: Whether or Not Its Protected by the First Amendment, Racist Is as Racist Does

Portland Press Herald

December 3, 2022

With white supremacists streaming out of the shadows in the last six years, racist rhetoric aimed at various minorities has escalated exponentially in America. Still, many say we cant know what a person believes deep down and we shouldnt jump to conclusions: They may merely be ignorant and not racist in their heart. The problem is, ignorant comments can have malign consequences.

Barbara Held: What Barbara Ehrenreich Taught a Diehard Pessimist about Hope

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

October 21, 2022

Upon learning of the death last month of my hero and friend, the great social-justice activist and journalist Barbara Ehrenreich, my thoughts turned to her 2007 Harpers article, Pathologies of Hope. She opened with no punches pulled: I hate hope. It was hammered into me constantly a few years ago when I was being treated for breast cancer: Think positively! Dont lose hope!  There. Its out. Let pestilence rain down on me, for a whole chorus of voices rise up to insist that hope, optimism, and a positive attitude are the keys to health and longevity.



Maine Voices: How a Native New Yorker Found Her Calling in Maine

Portland Press Herald

September 12, 2022

The justifiable umbrage taken by Mainers online, on air and in print at the recent Maine-bashing (too much beer and flannel, for starters) New York Post opinion piece led this dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker and longtime Maine resident to a different response: I pondered how we determine whether a place suits us or not. We moved to Brunswick in 1979, when I joined the Bowdoin College psychology department.

Barbara S. Held: In some schools, children get police tickets for misbehavior. Black children get more

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

August 11, 2022

Black people in America have long been perceived as more dangerous than white people, resulting in racialized criminal injustices. That perception seemingly holds even for Black children in schools with racialized disciplinary practicesincluding giving students police tickets for misbehaving. The American Civil Liberties Union refers to these practices as the school-to-prison pipeline.

Guest column: The Self-Serving Psychology of Our Supreme Court

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

July 6, 2022

Poor Justice Clarence Thomas. First Anita Hill credibly accuses him of sexual harassment during his Senate Judiciary Supreme Court hearings. Then his wife Ginni calls his integrity into question owing to her role in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, prompting calls for his recusal from January 6 cases.

Maine Voices: Beware Excess Moderation on Guns

Maine Sunday Telegram

June 12, 2022

With children and adults dying from mass shootings enabled by Republicans who shamelessly put their own political futures above innocent lives, Democrats debate how much to compromise on gun control. Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, leading a bipartisan group of senators (including Susan Collins) in drafting compromise gun legislation, is all too familiar with the political roadblocks since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.

Guest Column: Morality playThe Cost of Doing What is Deemed Right

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

May 20, 2022

As the United States and its allies ramp up their economic sanctions on Russia, Benjamin Folkman of New York City and frequent visitor to Brunswick for decades put his version of economic sanctions on Russia as President of the New York-based Tcherepnin Society, which promotes the music of the Tcherepnin familys three generations of distinguished composers: Nikolai (1873-1945), Alexander (1899-1977) and Ivan (1943-1998).

Guest column: Reunion Disunion A Case for Skipping Class Reunions

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

April 26, 2022

Its spring, when the thoughts of the young and not-so-young turn toschool reunions. In a recent return to my native New York City, my college friend Donna greeted me with, Im co-chairing our 50th Douglass College (of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey) reunion. I laughed when my co-chair said shed call you. Donna knew I dont attend reunions. The two Class of 1968 suburban northern New Jersey high-school reunions that I attended (in 1981 and 1993) were a bit numbing.

Is Putin Clinically Insane?

New York Daily News

March 16, 2022

Reporting about Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine has invariably raised questions about Vladimir Putins mental state. The words unhinged, delusional, unbalanced, sociopathic and narcissistic appear regularly. Because Ukraine itself and the specter of World War III horrify many, people have asked me whether, as a psychologist, I think Putin is insane.

Guest Column: Pessimistic Hope Is Not asn Oxymoronin Preserving Democracy and All Other Endeavors

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

March 10, 2022

As a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist, I rarely see the glass as half full. So when a young colleague told me I have radical hope, I thought she had mistakenly sent me an email meant for another. She proclaimed this upon my helping her escape a toxic work environment  her first professional position  intact. There, an abusive department head systematically undermined department members mental (and physical) well-being with intimidating divide-and-conquer tactics.

The American Problem with Taking Things Well

New York Daily News

February 18, 2022

An elderly neighbor recently suffered a fall accompanied by rapidly progressing dementia, necessitating a residential assisted-living facility. Another neighbor said his wife isnt taking it well. How can anyone could take this terrible situation well? I replied. And what did taking it well here entail?

Guest column: Empathy Dos and Donts in Tough Times

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

January 21, 2022

With the demand for mental-health providers far exceeding the supply, not least in Maine where COVID-19 cases continue to surge, Ive thought about how friends and family might help those who wait for professional helpor at least not make matters worse. When I practiced psychotherapy in Brunswick, patients often surprised me about what they found most helpful in treatment. Therapists typically think treatment methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy are all important.

Political Word Tricks Damage Democracy

Bangor Daily News

January 14, 2022

On the anniversary of Jan. 6, I recalled a local car mechanic who said he believed I needed new tires. Upon asking why he believed that, he accused me of questioning his religious beliefs. I said I wasnt questioning his religious beliefs, just the basis for his belief about my tires. The manager stepped in.

Portland Press HeraldDecember 8, 2021

As college students across Maine head home for winter break, I think about the family of the bright and promising Bowdoin College student whose suicide was unthinkable. As a Bowdoin psychology professor emerita, I wonder how this tragedy might have been prevented. Psychiatrist Aldo Llorentes connection with Bowdoin College, above, didnt end when he left to head the short-term voluntary psychiatric unit at Brunswicks Mid Coast Hospital.

Guest Column: Repressed Nutcracker Memorieswith Real-World Political Implications

Times Record/Portland Press Herald

December 7, 2021

With ballet companies from Maine to California performing their versions of the Nutcracker holiday classic, I recall my first viewing at age 4. It was 1954the year the New York City Ballet debuted its production of Balanchines Nutcracker. My grandmother (whom I called Mom-MomMommys Mommy) had two front orchestra tickets.

Coping with the Unvaccinatedwithin Reason

New York Daily News

October 7, 2021

Solutions to Americas COVID vaccine holdouts have focused on combating conspiracy-theory falsehoods and conservative-leader demagoguery with frightening facts, sprinkled with vaccine-safety assurances, money carrots and now mandate sticks. These measures have had varying degrees of success. Yet some 70 million refusers remain. Are more mandates our only viable solution at this point?

Maine Voices: Not So Ancient History: First the Plague, Then the Troops

Maine Sunday Telegram

September 5, 2021

Noting the dwindling availability of ICU beds in Maine this summer as the COVID delta variant surges, I wondered if I alone worried about COVID at the Kabul airport. Tightly packed evacuees fleeing the Taliban were risking their lives by COVID, too. Then I read that COVID was an afterthought  a worry that seems like a luxury in hindsight.

Our Barren American Future? J.D. Vances Fighting Words about Voting and Children

New York Daily News

August 18, 2021

The outpouring of outrage was predictable, yet no less warranted for its predictability. I refer to Ohio U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vances pronouncement to Fox Newss Tucker Carlson that our country is run by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable...and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.

Maine Voices: Rethinking Advice about Being our Best Selves and Being True to our Selves

Portland Press Herald

May 18, 2021

A professor at our small Maine college made some people a bit nervous. Jon Goldstein was then a big burly guy who rode a heavy motorcycle and spoke my native-Bronx tell-it-like-it-is language. We became fast friends. Beneath his gruff exterior, Jon is a kind-hearted person. When his truth-telling edges werent apparent, some gave him credit for unexpectedly pleasant behavior.

Opinion: The Right Kind of Negativityin our Officials and Ourselves

CT Post

March 19, 2021

Calls for negativity are mounting. Not calls for a mean-spirited kind of negativity but rather for a pessimistic kind of negativitycalls seldom seen in America.

Accounting Psychology: What Mounting Calls for Accountability Should Mean for All of Us

Bangor Daily News

March 8, 2021

The word accountability pops up frequently these days  with calls to hold to account those responsible for police misconduct, frozen Texans, the Capitol insurrection, lives lost needlessly to COVID, families separated at the border. The Republican Accountability Project both enlightens and heartens.

Maine Voices: Survival and Sanity in Post-Truth, Hypervigilant America

Portland Press Herald

January 19, 2021

A Harpswell friend recently wondered how we can be in a post-truth world, in which facts dont matter, when shes so worried about truth. This got me thinking: Maybe were not post-truth  at least not in any literal sense. If we were beyond distinguishing fact from fiction, we wouldnt fret about what is and isnt true. Scientific findings about climate change and COVID-19 wouldnt get deemed hoaxes, because without truth, there couldnt be hoaxes.

Opinion: Truth and Consequences for Preschoolers and Politicians

CT Post

December 29, 2020

Ive been obsessed with truth since age twoor so Im told. So its hardly surprising that Im crazed by certain Republican leaders Trump-complicit lies (and silence) about the fairness of the election. Their pandemic-minimizing behavior is sickening in all senses.



The Santa Question (COVID Edition)

New York Daily News

December 15, 2020

Psychological advice about what to tell children about Santa aboundssome practical, some moralisticbut this year theres a novel (coronavirus) twist: Can Santa fly around a COVID-infected world safely? Will he have to wear a mask? If he gets infected in a chimney in Minnesota, will he carry the virus from house to house, leaving it on a glass of milk left out in Texas?

Maine Voices: Understanding Science, Truth Can Help Defeat Denial, Distortion

Portland Press Herald

October 15, 2020

With COVID-19 cases rising even in Maine (Millinocket notwithstanding), the West Coast on fire, a racial justice reckoning and now a COVID-infected president, its remarkable that Americans not-so-civil war over science and truth rages on. Although the Mason-Dixon line between science believers and deniers is sharp, not all deniers ignore science: Some hijack science, cherry-picking facts and/or interpreting them erroneously. This makes it harder to know what to believe.

Maine Voices: Managing COVID Anxiety in Mainewith Strategies from New Yorks Polio Years

Portland Press Herald

July 9, 2020

As an anxiety-prone native New Yorker and a Maine resident since 1979, I marvel at Mainers unflappability. But with summer visitors from everywhere, even Mainers express anxiety about their heightened COVID-19 risk.




NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force conducted a multi-domain air-land exercise 'Vayu Prahar' in the eastern theatre to validate plans to execute synergised operations, sources said on Thursday.



The exercise was held in the second week of March.



The sources said the scope of the joint exercise included rapid mobilisation of an earmarked rapid reaction force from the hinterland to undertake air-landed operations at a nominated advance landing ground.



The air-land force further executed contingency tasks according to a realistic exercise scenario in challenging high-altitude terrain conditions.



"The conduct of Exercise Vayu Prahar enabled coordination and rehearsal amongst various agencies for quick mobilisation, transportation and deployment of forces within a theatre which can be executed across theatres," a source said.



The exercise validated and refined procedures quintessential for synergised joint operations. Army formations, special forces along with the Indian Air Force participated in the 96-hour exercise in the eastern theatre.


The new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland will be formally signed off on Friday at an official meeting in London, amid hopes that better EU-UK relations can see benefits in other areas.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic will together chair a meeting that will see the UK and the EU formally adopt the new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the British government won the backing of MPs for the Windsor Framework earlier this week.

The vote by MPs in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake, a key part of the Windsor agreement, came despite former British prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss joining the DUP and hardline Brexit-backing Tory MPs in voting against the deal.

The formal sign-off comes as the DUP continues to oppose the deal, with no sign of them yet being willing to return to power-sharing institutions in the North.

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Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris warned the DUP that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal ahead of Fridays meeting, which comes after Brussels also formally agreed to the key parts of the Windsor Framework at a Council of the EU meeting.

The formal sign-off will come at a Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting, with the foreign secretary and Mr Sefcovic also set to attend a meeting of the partnership council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

By formally approving the Windsor Framework, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland, Mr Cleverly said.

The framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union and protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

I look forward to further effective co-operation with the EU on key issues, such as security and energy.

The UK hopes the new deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic will also discuss a recent agreement between the UK, Ireland and the EU on Peace Plus, the cross-Border peace funding programme.

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The continuing stand-off over Stormont suggests the prospects for a return to powersharing at Stormont in time for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next month remain bleak.

The executive and the Assembly have been suspended since the DUP walked out last year in protest at the way the Northern Ireland Protocol, negotiated by Mr Johnson, was operating.
The cast of Neighbours has announced that a new series of the Australian show will start filming next month.

Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne, Stefan Dennis, Ryan Moloney, Annie Jones, and April Rose Pengilly told the audience of Neighbours  The Celebration Tour at the London Palladium that production will start in April.

The announcement was shared by the cast during the final show of Neighbours  The Celebration Tour (Tremaine Gregg/Amazon Freevee)

The six actors including Fletcher (65), who played Karl Kennedy, and his on-screen wife Susan, portrayed by Woodburne (67), were also confirmed for a new chapter of the long-running soap.

Executive producer of Neighbours, since 2013, Jason Herbison, said: It feels very real now. Its a hive of activity at the studio.

Were busy writing the next chapter of Neighbours, bringing to life again the shows much-loved characters as well as new residents.

Its exciting to see the sets being prepped, ready to start filming on April 17th which will be a huge day for everyone involved.

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The new series of the soap will premiere for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US in Autumn 2023. (Amazon Freevee)

Andrew Thompson is also returning as a producer as the new series is set to be filmed at Nunawading Studios in Melbourne.

The suburb, east of Melbournes Central Business District, is where the soap has been previously filmed.

Since first airing in 1985, the soap has followed the lives of those living and working in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough.

The series was initially dropped by Channel 5 following failure to secure new funding and the broadcaster aired a finale in July before it was revived.

The series, produced by Fremantle, will premiere for free on the streaming service Amazon Freevee in the UK and US in Autumn 2023.

The series will also stream on Prime Video in Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Elements of the second leg of a challenge to the 2020 permission for 123 apartments in Co Cork have been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

In a ruling on Friday, the High Courts Mr Justice Richard Humphreys proposed to ask the European court to determine three complex legal questions regarding the level of information a developer must obtain about species that might be affected by a proposed development.

The questions relate to requirements under the EUs Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

The first module of the Waltham Abbey Residents Associations case, involving domestic law points, failed in the Supreme Court.

The associations judicial review challenge to the fast-track permission granted to OFlynn Construction Company had been successful in the High Court on a point of domestic law.

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The judge granted an order overturning the June 2020 permission for the strategic housing development at Old Fort Road, Ballincollig as a particular environmental statement was not provided in the planning application as a separate identifiable document.

This Supreme Court reversed this decision in a direct appeal to it from An Bord Pleanala. The court held that the failure to supply a separate statement was not in any sense a real impediment to the boards ability to discharge its statutory functions.

Mr Justice Humphreys, who heads the High Courts planning list, said the Supreme Court decided a domestic law issue contained in the first module of the case but it did not consider the meaning of EU law requirements underlying the 2001 Planning and Development Regulations.

In this second EU law-focused module, Waltham Abbey alleged the board failed to adequately consider, under EU directives relating to habitats, that the development might disturb bats or lead to the destruction of their resting places.

Ireland Dispute over Inishturk island ferry contract resol... Read More

The group claims no bat survey appears to have been carried out, notwithstanding that the proposed build will lead to the loss of trees. The board was wrong to screen out the need for an environmental impact assessment, it alleges.

Bats are a protected species under the Habitats Directive, and Waltham Abbey claims the nearby River Lee is recognised as a host for rare and endangered bat species.

Mr Justice Humphreys said the boards inspector believed the development site was not generally suitable for wildlife or species of conservation interest but the inspector said tree-felling should occur with the advice of a suitably qualified ecologist to avoid a potential impact on bats.

He referred to the CJEU four detailed questions regarding a developers obligations under EU environmental law to survey for potentially affected species. It was appropriate to do so to enable the Irish High Court to make a decision in the case, he said.
MEP Frances Fitzgerald has called on European Union (EU) institutions to better assist Irish small and medium businesses (SMEs) to grow across the trading bloc.

Speaking at a seminar in Dublin on Friday, Ms Fitzgerald outlined the "unprecedented market integration" between the economies of EU member states, "serving as a driver for growth and competitiveness and supporting Europes economic and political power at a global level".

However, she noted, Irish business still have much to gain from being in the single market: SMEs have "have yet to unlock the full untapped potential on offer".

"If we want to be able to respond to economic pressures from the USA and China, we must focus on competitiveness and growth, particularly for our SMEs.

"More needs to be done to improve SME trading opportunities within the Single Market, to improve awareness of existing opportunities, and to boost investment and support programmes to assist SME with their trading activities," she said.

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Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill also spoke at the seminar, where she noted the role that the single market has played in created opportunity for women to "participate fully" in the workforce.

Ireland Consumer sentiment falls slightly in March Read More

CEO of Enterprise Ireland Leo Clancy said that "ambitious Irish companies "with a focus on innovation, collaboration and co-operation have a huge amount to contribute to a vibrant Single Market.

Cheif Executive of the Irish SME Association Neil McDonnell stressed that while Ireland's economic figures continue to perform "at the top of the class", the nature of the State's "small, open" economy leaves it vulnerable to the fates of larger trading partners. Recent global events have shown the potentially detrimental effects of this kind of relationship.

"We have witnessed a 'perma-crisis' since 2019, from UK withdrawal from the EU to global pandemic, to Russian invasion of Ukraine, and now the threat of a US recession.

"In ISMEs view, our best bulwark against a turbulent international environment is a strong and expanding indigenous enterprise sector. We think this is a really good time to reappraise Irelands industrial policy and encourage new global champions from our domestic enterprise base.
Gardai seized drugs with an estimated street value of 170,000 following a search operation in north Dublin on Thursday.

Quantities of suspected cocaine and cannabis were seized at a residential premises in Finglas, gardai said in a release.

Two cocaine presses, mixing agent and other drug related paraphernalia was also recovered.

A woman in her 40s was arrested following the search. She was later charged at Finglas Garda station and released.

She will appear at Blanchardstown District Court at a later date, the force said.

All drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further analysis.

The search was part of Operation Tara, An Garda Siochana's national anti-drug strategy.

Investigations are ongoing, the force said.

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Graham Dwyer has failed in his bid to overturn his conviction for murdering vulnerable child care worker Elaine O'Hara, almost eight years to the day he was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict.

President of the Court of Appeal (CoA) Mr Justice George Birmingham delivered the judgement of the three-judge court on Friday morning, dismissing all grounds of appeal, including a claim by Dwyer's lawyers that the use of call data records at his trial should lead to a retrial.

Mr Justice Birmingham said: "In this case we are satisfied that the admission of limited call data evidence could not give rise to a miscarriage of justice."

He said that even if the evidence should not have been admitted at his trial, it was of little significance given that the prosecution was able to establish through other evidence that the phones, which contained evidence of his plan to murder Ms O'Hara, belonged to Dwyer.

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Dwyer (50), who murdered Ms O'Hara for his sexual gratification in 2012, appealed his conviction after securing declarations that the retention of mobile phone data is a breach of rights under the European Charter on Fundamental rights.

His lawyers had argued that the retention of mobile phone data used in the case was an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" that transforms phones into tracking devices that can reveal a detailed picture of every aspect of a person's life.

Dwyer denied being the person who bought and used a phone found in Vartry Reservoir, Co Wicklow, to send messages regarding stabbing to Ms O'Hara and denies sending a text telling her to "go down to the shore and wait" on the day she was last seen, August 22nd, 2012.

Trial

Dwyer, a Cork-born architect with an address at Foxrock in Dublin, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2015 of the murder of the 36-year-old.

His victim had been discharged from a mental health hospital hours earlier.

Dwyer fantasised about stabbing a woman during sex and used Ms O'Hara to fulfil his fantasy. After murdering her he disposed of some of her belongings in Vartry reservoir and tried to make it look like she had committed suicide. He dumped her body in a forest where it was found in 2013.

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At a previous hearing, Sean Guerin SC, for the State, said there was still "overwhelming" evidence in the case that Dwyer was the user of the phone central to the case and that the prosecution had not been dependent on the disputed call data in securing the guilty verdict at trial.

"The appellant is over-stating, significantly, the use of the call data," Mr Guerin said, adding there was also the Garda process of investigating a suspect during an investigation to be considered.

The barrister said Dwyer was identified at trial through three different means.

"One was call-data. At the same time, there is an old-fashioned detective job in Blackrock garda station which involved reading the text messages and identifying personal information which would point towards the identity of the suspect," he said.

He added that there was also scientific analysis regarding DNA and genetic materials that produced the same suspect.

Mr Guerin said there were four elements to the Director of Public Prosecution's (DPP) case at the trial that had not changed.

"The first point was that he [Dwyer] was the author of the text messages and connected to Ms O'Hara. The second thing we sought to do was to show the desires expressed in the text messages were real and reflected the intention to kill.

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"Thirdly, that the circumstances of Ms O'Hara disappearance and death could only be explained by the realisation of that intention. The fourth element was to eliminate any other possibility, in this case suicide, as an explanation," he said.

Mr Guerin said one text from Ms O'Hara to the phone attributed to Dwyer read: "You're now a daddy again." At the trial, the child's birth-certificate matched the date of the text, which the DPP said proved it was Dwyer who was using the phone.

Text messages

Counsel said that on April 4th, 2011, the phone attributed to Dwyer texted saying he had a committee meeting at Shankill Flying Club and a witness gave evidence and produced minutes proving Dwyer's attendance at the same meeting.

On another date, the phone attributed to Dwyer complains in a text of an almost 4,000 bill to fix his car, which documents produced in court corroborated.

Similar texts regarding buying a new bike, an email query to a tattoo parlour, entering a model plane flying competition, getting a wage reduction, and a reception at the Polish embassy were also all corroborated by witnesses or documents at trial, Mr Guerin said.

He asked if there could be "any other person in the world" with a child born on the same day Dwyer's child was born, who also bought a bike on the same day Dwyer did and whose car bill, pay cut, flying competition entry, and attendance at a reception at the Polish Embassy all matched the dates of the texts referencing them.

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Anne Marie Lawlor SC, also for the State, said that the playing of videos to the jury of Dwyer being intimate with other women were "relevant and probative".

Dwyer's lawyers submitted that the jury could have been "overwhelmed" and "overborne" by the nine videos of Dwyer being intimate with different women.

The videos were introduced in the trial to show the extent of Dwyer's interest in bondage, discipline and sadomasochism (BDSM) and to challenge his claim that he "wasn't really into" BDSM and that it was more Ms O'Hara's interest.

Michael Bowman SC, for Dwyer, said a description of the videos would have achieved the prosecution's aims. Showing the actual videos, he said, had introduced "something toxic into the forensic process of a criminal trial" and could have "overwhelmed the ability of the jury to remain impartial".

'Bare-faced lies'

Ms Lawlor said that if only a narrative of what was in the video was read into the trial, the real evidence in the case could be diluted or denied to the jury.

Ms Lawlor said the videos were necessary for the jury to prove Dwyer's "manifest and bare-faced lies" to gardai when Dwyer said that he was not interested in bondage.

Ms Lawlor said the judge was acting entirely within his discretion to allow the jury to watch the videos with their own eyes and assess the lies told by the accused.

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Mr Bowman had also submitted that at one point as evidence was being heard in front of the jury, the trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, "looked in a very disapproving manner at the defendant", looked away and then "glared back down at the defendant".

Mr Bowman said this was a non-verbal communication that "something has triggered the judge" and that a jury can pick up on non-verbal cues.

Ms Lawlor said the complaint was a "nebulous one" in that it could not be known what the jury took, if anything, from a look if they even saw it.

She said the trial judge repeatedly told the jury that the case was entirely a matter for them in his charge.

She said the trial lasted over eight weeks and the appellant was implying that the judge should remain "stone-faced" throughout. She added that even if the judge did not, it could not conceivably result in an unfair trial.

Ms Lawlor said there were 2,600 texts between the two and that a number of those featured the words "stab, stab, stab, kill... all be worth it when I kill you... how much blood I can get out of you? A lot of blood I can get out of you".

Counsel said Dwyer "feigned total disgust and shock" when interviewed by gardai. "He asked gardai to stop the interview 25 times, saying 'Oh my god please stop," she said, adding that these were "bare-faced lies".

Ms Lawlor said the lack of a cause of death in the case was not fatal to the trial because it was possible to draw inferences as to the cause with regard to circumstances around Ms O'Hara's death.

Remy Farrell SC, for Dwyer, has told the three-judge CoA that mobile phone data should not have been admitted as evidence in his client's trial as the retention of that data was a breach of his rights under the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Mr Farrell said that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has said "again and again" that the retention of mobile phone data cannot be done and the Irish courts must now "internalise" what the European court has said.

Ireland Man admits using deceased brother's identity to cl... Read More

Mr Farrell said he wondered if the prosecution in the case were now feeling "buyer's remorse" regarding the call data evidence.

Mr Farrell said the notion that the prosecution could now say that the call data retention was not important was "unsustainable".

Counsel said a "big chunk" of the 47-day trial was spent on introducing call data and cell site evidence through maps and extrinsic evidence through a number of exhibits put before the jury.

Mr Justice George Birmingham, sat with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Mr Justice John Edwards.
A man has admitted using his dead brother's identity to claim more than 93,000 in benefits.

Pensioner Aidan Byrne (75) appeared before Donegal Circuit Court charged with a range of fraud-related offences.

Byrne's brother Anthony died tragically in a drowning accident in England in 1972.

The accused, a native of Wexford, had lived in England for a number of years but returned to Ireland in 2000 and later began to use his dead brother's identity to claim various benefits.

The court was told that between June 2015 and August 2021 he claimed a total of 83,157 in pension and fuel allowances on behalf of his dead brother.

He also applied for a medical card from the HSE in his brother's name and claimed 10,858 for various different treatments including optical and doctor's visits between June 2012 and December 2021.

Passport application

Byrne had been enabled after applying for a passport in his dead brother's name using his brother's birth certificate but his own picture on the passport.

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Byrne's bogus claims only came to light when he made another passport application under his own name in 2019.

Eagle-eyed passport office workers using facial imaging noticed both pictures under two different passport names were identical and the information was passed on to the Department of Social Protection.

The information was in turn passed onto gardai who launched an investigation.

Byrne pleaded guilty to a range of charges including theft from both the Department of Social Protection and the HSE, forgery and using a false instrument.

Barrister for the State, David Keane, said there were a number of other charges which could be taken into consideration by the court.

Detective Garda Paul Lynch outlined the background to the case, and how Byrne had immigrated to England in the 1960s along with his brother but that he had drowned in an accident in Epping in 1972.

He said Byrne used his dead brother's birth certificate to get a passport under his brother's name but using his own picture.

He applied to get the State pension under the name Anthony Byrne between June 2015 and August 2021 during which time both pension and fuel allowance payments totalling 83,157.29 were all lodged through electronic fund transfer to Byrne's account at Ulster Bank.

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Detective Lynch also told that Byrne also used the false identification to obtain a medical card through the HSE and claimed 10858 in various treatments including doctor's visits and optical treatments.

When gardai called to his home at 26 Ard McGill, Glenties on August 16th, 2021, they found 2,840 in cash at the house and later found Byrne had 16,238 in a bank account which has since been frozen.

Death certificate

Gardai also found a medical card and a death certificate in the name of his brother Antony Joseph Byrne showing he had died on September 28th, 1972, in a drowning accident.

Byrne was arrested and on December 6th, 2022, he pleaded guilty to a number of related charges.

Colm Smith SC, barrister for the accused, said his client had never been in trouble before and this was a huge "fall from grace" for him.

His family, including his three daughters, no longer spoke to him because of his actions.

He added that Byrne had suffered from a number of medical complaints including diabetes, had also suffered a stroke and was on a range of medication daily.

The accused took to the stand and said he was very sorry and that this was "a very bad idea".

The court heard the accused now lived in a council house in Glenties and was a man of no means and that monies in his bank account  some 16,000  had been frozen by the courts.

Pleading to the court that a custodial sentence and jail would be a "very difficult place" for a man of such years, Mr Smyth said his client had never dealt with the law before either in Ireland or England.

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He said that with his client paying back 50 per week to the state, it will take in excess of 30 years to pay back that money and the reality is that the bulk of the money will never be paid back.

He added that his client did plead guilty at the first opportunity and he had been deemed as being of a low risk of reoffending.

"Prison would be a hardship for him and I ask you to be as lenient as you can," asked Mr Smyth.

Judge John Aylmer said he needed time to consider the sentence and put the case back until May 2nd for finalisation.
Greece on Friday welcomed the return of ancient artefacts from the Acropolis, furthering a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures removed from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago.

Culture minister Lina Mendoni led a ceremony for the repatriation of three sculpture fragments, representing a horse and two male heads, from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, which had been kept at the Vatican Museums.

Initiatives like these show the way, how the pieces of the Parthenon can be reunited, healing the wounds caused by barbaric hands so many years ago, Ms Mendoni said.

This takes us to the just and moral demand of the entire Greek people, and of this government and its prime minister, for the final return of all the sculptures of the Parthenon.

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A ceremony was held to mark the return of the sculpture fragments (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

The fragments will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in the centre of the Greek capital.

The Vatican called the return an ecumenical donation to Greeces Orthodox Church, but the gesture added pressure on the London museum to reach a settlement with Greece following a campaign launched by Athens 40 years ago.

This act by Pope Francis is of historical significance and has a positive impact on all levels.

We hope it sets an example for others, the leader of Greeces Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II, said.

Greece says that the Parthenon sculptures, carved in the 5th century, are at the core of its ancient heritage, while supporters of the British Museum maintain that their return could undermine museum collections and cultural diversity globally.



A newly placed male head, left, on a frieze at the Acropolis museum (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

Athens has long demanded the return of the Parthenon sculptures, which were removed from Greece by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

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Last year another marble sculptural fragment from the Parthenon temple, depicting a foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, was returned to Athens from a museum in Palermo, Sicily.

Bishop Brian Farrell, a Vatican secretary for promoting Christian unity, headed the visiting delegation to Athens and said the return of the three fragments from the Vatican had been discussed during a visit to Athens by Pope Francis in 2021.

The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon which had been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries shows itself as cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece, Bishop Farrell said.

We assure you of our intimate joy at the realisation of your legitimate wish to have the fragments at home in their place of origin, he added.
French president Emmanuel Macron says common sense and friendship led to the cancellation of Britain's King Charles IIIs upcoming visit due to the anti-government protests in France.

Speaking at a press conference after a summit in Brussels, Mr Macron said: We would not be serious  to make a state visit in the middle of protests.

He said proceeding with Sundays visit would have prompted incidents that would have been detestable.

A man walks between uncollected rubbish piles in Paris on Friday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

He said Charless visit will likely be rescheduled for the beginning of summer.

Mr Macron condemned the violent behaviour that has taken place at some of the protests against his plan to raise Frances retirement age from 62 to 64, saying violence has no place in a democracy.

Although no major protests were planned for Friday, train traffic was slowed, rows of lorries blocked access to Marseilles port for several hours and debris still littered the streets of Paris following the previous days mass demonstrations.

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More than 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond as some 300 demonstrations on Thursday drew more than a million people nationwide.

Polls show that most French people oppose having to work two more years before retiring, which Mr Macron says is necessary to keep the pension system afloat.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said 441 police officers and gendarmes were hurt as violence marred some marches.

Council workers clean the wall of graffiti daubed during protests (Thomas Padilla/AP)

He said 1,000 rubbish bins were set on fire in the French capital; overflowing rubbish bins have become a symbol of the protests during a weeks-long strike by sanitation workers.

Charles and his wife Camilla planned to visit both France and Germany during the kings first trip abroad as Britains monarch.

He still plans to go to Germany but British prime minister Rishi Sunaks office said another date will be found for the French leg.

The King and Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed, Mr Sunaks Downing Street office said.

This decision was taken with the consent of all parties after the president of France asked the British government to postpone the visit.

Charles was scheduled to visit the city of Bordeaux on the second day of his trip to France.

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The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire on Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorised demonstration.

Protesters scuffle at the end of a rally in Paris on Thursday (Christophe Ena/AP)

Mayor Pierre Hurmic said he had difficulty understanding the interest of such acts of vandalism.

Before the Kings visit was postponed, Mr Hurmic said he hoped it would not get cancelled.

I hope that we do not give this gift to the thugs, he said.

Fires in Paris, which were intentionally lit in narrow or inaccessible alleys on Thursday night, alarmed both city officials and residents.

Firefighters and residents worked together to tame the flames that rose to the second storey of an apartment building in the chic Palais Royal area.

Oil refineries have been another protest target.

Railway workers hold a banner reading Until withdrawal during a demonstration in Lyon on Wednesday (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

On Friday, emboldened protesters headed to the Fos-sur-mer oil depot near Marseille to stop lorries from entering and leaving.

However, fuel supplies to Paris from the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed on Friday after police intervened, French energy transition minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said.

Fearing disruption in coming days as actions continue, Frances Civil Aviation Authority has requested the cancellation of one-third of flights at Pariss second airport, Orly, on Sunday, and 20 per cent on Monday.

Unions have called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday.
The mother of a young woman who died in a hit-and-run crash in Qatar has accused the British foreign office of watching from the sidelines as her hell continues.

Jo Sullivan, mother of 21-year-old Raffy Tsakanika, is pressing for the release of all available evidence about the crash from the Gulf state, and criticised the foreign office for not doing more to help.

Ms Tsakanika, from Cambridge, died after the car she was travelling in as a passenger was struck from behind by a second vehicle near Doha in March 2019.

The second vehicle, which was travelling at excess speed, caused the first to lose control and overturn in the four-lane carriageway, and did not stop at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle, Qatari national Mubarak Al Hajri, was sentenced in Qatar to two months in prison over the crash and ordered to pay compensation to Ms Tsakanikas family.

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At a UK inquest last year, the coroner criticised Qatari authorities for the lack of information provided.

Ms Sullivan said she has asked for a meeting with the Foreign Office so they can look us straight in the face and tell us what diplomatic and political pressure they are going to put on the Qatari government to help us.

In a letter dated February 26th, Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said the UK cannot interfere in the legal processes of another country.

He wrote: A decision on what information was required and what to provide for the inquest was determined by the coroner and the Qatari authorities.

In our experience it differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as to what the relevant local authorities are willing or able to share with UK coroners.

Lord Ahmad said officials in Doha could seek written confirmation from Qatari authorities that Al Hajri had served his sentence if that would provide acceptable evidence to the family of Ms Tsakanika.

West End make-up artist Rafaelle Tsakanika (Family photo/PA)

Ms Sullivan said she knows Qatari authorities are sitting on further evidence about what happened to our beautiful daughter.

Our hell continues and it now seems more than clear that the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) are determined to not only continue to watch from the sidelines, but worse to compound our misery, she said.

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Ireland New Brexit deal for Northern Ireland gets formal s... Read More

You would have thought the FCDO, who are there to represent us, would have been in touch themselves straight after the inquest to tell us what they were going to do to support us, but clearly we were just being naive.

Our adviser Radd Seiger is once again now having to bend over backwards to extract any meaningful support from our Government who are there to protect us and our rights.

Last years inquest was told that speed cameras captured Al Hajris car apparently undamaged shortly before the collision and damaged shortly afterwards, but these images were not provided to the UK coroner by Qatari authorities.
Protesters angry at French president Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms have continued with scattered actions.

It comes as the unrest across the country led officials to postpone a planned state visit by Britains King Charles III.

Although no major protests were planned on Friday, train traffic was slowed, rows of trucks blocked access to Marseilles commercial port and debris still littered the Paris streets following the previous days mass demonstrations.

More than 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide to protest against unpopular pension reforms.

Protesters shield with umbrellas as they scuffle with riot police during a rally in Nantes (Jeremias Gonzalez/AP)

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday some 441 police and gendarmes were hurt as violence marred some marches.

He said 1,000 rubbish bins were set on fire in the French capital during the previous days action.

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Amid a weeks-long refuse collectors strike, bins have become a symbol of the protest.

Mr Macrons office said a state visit by the British king has been postponed.

He was scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on his first state visit as monarch before heading to Germany on Wednesday.

The German part of the trip is still going ahead.

The then-prince of Wales welcomes French president Emmanuel Macron, left, to Clarence House in London in June 2020 (Jonathan Brady/AP)

Polls say most French oppose Mr Macrons Bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.

The supply of fuel to Paris by the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed on Friday after police intervened, according to energy transition minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

At the Fos-sur-mer oil terminal near Marseille, however, protesters were meeting to plan future oil refinery blockades.

Fearing disruptions in the coming days as actions continue, Frances Civil Aviation Authority has asked for a third of flights to be cancelled on Sunday at Pariss second airport, Orly, with 20% to be cancelled on Monday.

Unions have called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday, the day Charles was scheduled to visit Bordeaux.

The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire on Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorised demonstration.

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Protesters scuffle at the end of a rally in Paris (Christophe Ena/AP)

The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, said on Friday he has difficulty understanding the interest of such acts of vandalism.

The protests have drawn support from beyond Frances borders.

In Greece, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the French Embassy in Athens on Thursday to show solidarity.

Protesters chanted slogans and held placards that read Macron, your democracy hangs on nine votes and From Greece: victory for the workers of France.
The new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been formally signed off at an official meeting in London, as both the EU and UK hope for better relations in the future.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic chaired a meeting on Friday to formally adopt the new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the British government won the backing of MPs for the Windsor Framework earlier this week.

The vote by MPs in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake, a key part of the Windsor agreement, came despite former British prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss joining the DUP and hardline Brexit-backing Tory MPs in voting against the deal.

The formal sign-off, which is understood to have happened mid-morning on Friday, comes as Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons party continues to oppose the deal brokered by the government, with no sign of the DUP yet being willing to return to powersharing.

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British foreign secretary James Cleverly. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA.

British Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris warned the DUP that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal ahead of Fridays meeting, which comes after Brussels also formally agreed to the key parts of the Windsor Framework at a Council of the EU meeting.

The formal sign-off happened at a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, with Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic also due to attend a meeting of the Partnership Council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

By formally approving the Windsor Framework, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland, Mr Cleverly said ahead of the meeting.

The framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union and protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

I look forward to further effective co-operation with the EU on key issues, such as security and energy.

The UK hopes that the new deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

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Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic will also discuss a recent agreement between Ireland, the UK and the EU on Peace Plus, the cross-border peace funding programme.

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The continuing stand-off at Stormont suggests the prospects for a return to powersharing in time for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next month remain bleak.

The executive and the Assembly have been suspended since the DUP walked out last year in protest at the way the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated by Mr Johnson was operating.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met British prime minister Rishi Sunak at No 10 as the Israeli prime minister faces a wave of protests over his judicial overhauls that critics say will drag the nation towards autocracy.

They could clearly hear the loud shouts of shame in Hebrew from protesters waving Israeli flags and placards stating their aim of saving Israeli democracy.

One sign opposite the gates of Downing Street on Friday morning branded Mr Netanyahu a dictator on the run.

His right-wing nationalist coalition has approved legislation that would protect him from being deemed unfit to rule.

Rishi Sunak welcomes Benjamin Netanyahu to 10 Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Critics say the law is tailor-made to shield the leader from his corruption trial.

Mr Netanyahus office said he expects to focus on the Iranian issue with the UK Prime Minister, seeking to form a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear programme.

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The two are also expected to discuss strengthening the strategic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom and increasing security and intelligence co-operation, a statement said.

The Israeli leader will also meet British home secretary Suella Braverman to discuss dealing with global terrorism, it added.

In Israel, traffic has been blocked on major roads and scuffles with police have broken out over recent weeks as protests swept the nation.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Mr Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies wrongdoing.

Critics say his government, the most right-wing in Israels history, is dragging the nation towards authoritarianism by upending its system of checks and balances.
A US contractor was killed and another hurt alongside five American armed forces personnel when a suspected Iranian drone attacked a facility on a coalition base in north-east Syria, the Pentagon said.

Defence secretary Lloyd Austin said US Central Command forces hit back with precision airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard.

The intelligence community determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin, the defence department said.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Mr Austin said on Thursday night.

Videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir ez-Zor, a strategic province bordering Iraq and containing oil fields.

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BREAKING: US carries out an air strike on Iranian targets in Syria after 5 military members were injured and one US Contractor was killed from an Iranian drone strike.



This is a significant escalation.



pic.twitter.com/Dh9dWoGgm2  Ryan Cunningham (@rycunni) March 24, 2023

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv.

Iran has denied being responsible for these attacks, though western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts in the region to deescalate tensions, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries.

The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, whose embattled president Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

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US army General Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, said American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said in a statement.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes.

Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser.

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mr Austin said he authorised the retaliatory strikes at the direction of US president Joe Biden.

The US under Mr Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran.

In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Mr Biden launched attacks there.

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US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the so-called Islamic State group.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in north-east Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened.

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Coalition Aircraft conducted Airstrikes against Iranian Positions in Eastern Syria tonight after an Iranian Drone Attack on a Base in the Region caused 5 U.S. Servicemembers to be Injured with 1 Contractor being Killed.  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 24, 2023

There are roughly 900 US troops and even more contractors in Syria, including in the north and further south and east.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Mr Austin said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Mr Assad.

The United Nations estimates more than 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war.

Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.
This series explores the plight of the National Gallery of Australia, an institution in a state of disrepair and in desperate need of funding.

The positions of 26 staff - or 12 percent of all those employed by the National Gallery of Australia - are being paid from the pockets of philanthropists because rising costs and budget cuts have left the custodian of Australias most valuable art collection unable to afford their salaries.

Ten staff members in the National Gallerys curatorial department, 10 members of its digital learning team, two business support officers, and four of six positions in its Indigenous collections team are privately funded, according to figures drawn from the gallerys corporate plan.

The Aboriginal Memorial at the NGA. Credit: Rohan Thomson.

Seven of those full-time roles, four in digital learning, have been funded by Queensland pastoralist and arts patron Tim Fairfax, the remainder supported anonymously or via bequests.

The gallerys increasing reliance on donors for staff positions - the numbers are twice what they were three years ago - follows two major staff restructures in 2016 and 2020. In each restructure about 10 per cent of gallery staff were made redundant.
Australian scientists have shown that the infrasound generated by wind turbines does not make people dizzy or nauseous, does not affect heart health or mental health, or affect sleep.

One of the giant modern wind turbines of the type being deployed around Australia.

Scientists recreated the infrasound of wind turbines and played them through speakers to 37 volunteers in a sleep laboratory. Others were subjected to sham infrasound, by sleeping near the same speakers as they emitted no infrasound.

The sleep volunteers were also exposed to normal overnight ambient noises, such that from traffic and trains.

The researchers from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, which specialises in studying sleeping disorders, monitored the subjects as they slept and ran tests after they woke.
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Review Eating outWest End Elevated Sardinian food finds a Brisbane home at delightful Pilloni In a one-of-a-kind dining room its serving rustic, woodfired mains and lick-the-plate pasta, accompanied by a killer wine list. Matt Shea March 24, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 3 Faine di ceci ($9 each), a crisp chickpea tart with pecorino cream, onion jam, charred corn, puffed quinoa and smoked paprika. Markus Ravik 2 / 3 Charred octopus, potato foam, olives, pimiento. Markus Ravik 3 / 3 Culurgiones filled with potato, pecorino and mint, with tomato sauce. Markus Ravik Previous Slide Next Slide Italian$$$ Does Brisbane need another Italian restaurant? Maybe not. This citys love for Italian cuisine was in danger of curdling during the pandemic. Pilloni at West End: the service is knowledgeable, helpful and efficient  impressive for a new venue. Markus Ravik

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Each week, it seemed, another operator opened a dining room, peddling pizza or pasta to sate our never-ending desire for comfort food. Thankfully, restaurateurs havent been standing still, with more nuance slowly being added to the market. You have the fastidiously hand-shaped pasta at Ramona Trattoria in Camp Hill, or the Italo-disco vibes of Sasso Italiano in Woolloongabba. Pilloni, an immaculately presented 70-seat eatery on Hardgrave Road in West End, sets itself apart by cooking Sardinian food. Think suckling pig, hearty traditional pastas such as culurgiones, and plenty of seafood to reference the turquoise coasts of Italys second-biggest island.

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It reflects a growing regionalism in Italian food in this country, as diners collective view of the cuisine goes high-def. It says a lot about owners Andrea Contin and Valentina Vignis reputation that most will associate Pilloni with La Lupa, their much-loved Montague Road eatery, rather than Mondo Organics  a storied organic restaurant (Australias first, it was often billed as) that existed in the space from 2000 to 2015. And to be fair, stepping inside, you wouldnt much recognise the echoes of Mondo (or Original Daves Low and Slow BBQ, a very good barbecue joint that did time in the space in 2017 and 2018). Pilloni has been split into four different spaces: a bar area, closest to the road, which has an additional 30 seats; an internal dining space called the Camino, which sits beyond a door and adjacent to the open kitchen with its hearth fuelled by ironbark, olive branches and oak; the Terrazzo, a beautiful enclosed terrace; and the Cantina, a private dining space. Pillonis homely dining room is illuminated by the glow of the hearth. Markus Ravik

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The fit-out is so delightful, defined by timber, tiled floors, exposed brick, rattan furniture and pale blue walls crammed full of watercolours, its almost a shame Contin and Vigni have to populate it with diners five nights a week. The flip side with a sectioned restaurant like this is it can be challenging to staff  or perhaps a challenge for punters to navigate  as highlighted by our arrival through the front door, into the bar and into  an empty space. Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Brisbanes dining scene: Post-COVID, pre-Olympics, where to from here Were left hanging for a couple of moments, wondering what to do and where to go, while a busy barkeep takes a moment to register our presence. Its not a big issue but sticks out in an age when many restaurants work hard to nail the experience of entering a dining room.

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The service is otherwise bang on: knowledgeable, helpful, efficient  impressive for a new venue but perhaps no surprise when you have veterans of Essa and Hobarts Fico motoring around on the floor. Have you decided? one asks, smiling. We have, because head chef Mimmo Miceli has made it so easy for us. Pillonis menu is a paean to post-pandemic simplicity, split into snacks, entrees, pastas, mains, sides and desserts, with a clutch of options in each. Its the kind of thing that makes people bang on about produce-led dining. We start with a pair of faine di ceci ($9 each), a crisp chickpea tart with pecorino cream, onion jam, charred corn, puffed quinoa and smoked paprika.

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This is how appetisers should be: light and balanced, the pecorino cream smooth, and the whole thing struck through by the smoke of the paprika. They crumble as soon as we bite into them, corn flying everywhere, but who cares. The good times keep rolling with an effortless Fremantle octopus entree ($31). Sous vide and then finished on embers, its luscious and smoky, offset by fluffy potato foam, olives and pimiento. Its the kind of thing that makes people bang on about produce-led dining.

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Not quite as convincing is a carpaccio ($29) of nine-score eye of round Wagyu finished with fermented peach, basil and pecorino. Its a total looker and the preparation of the protein is exceptional, but this party on the plate doesnt quite translate to the palate, the basil, peach and pecorino combining to create just a touch too much sharpness. As different as Pilloni hits with its Sardinian cuisine, comfort is still its through line. Markus Ravik Its a similar mix with the main plates. Kingfish cooked over the coals ($45) and served with asparagus and bottarga displays stacks of technique but is a bit slight on seasoning for my liking  I keep distractedly searching around for more of the heirloom tomato coulis that accompanies the dish.

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Then again, its sharing the spotlight with Micelis interpretation of culurgiones ($33), a classic potato-stuffed pasta that has its origins in Ogliastra, in eastern Sardinia. This is a sublime take on rustic Mediterranean food, the pasta firm and the mint, basil pesto and tomato sugo coming together to give the dish an elegant sweetness. Its real lick-the-plate stuff. To finish, a menjar blanc olive oil cake ($16) is a supple, subtle crowd pleaser when served with white-chocolate namelaka and charred mango, and matches brilliantly with a Silvio Carta mirto, a fragrant myrtle berry-driven liqueur that one of the floor staff talks me into. The mirto is just the final touch in a cracking run of wines (perhaps it shouldnt be anything but when Contin also owns a wine-import business) that reached its apotheosis with a glass of Cantina Sannas Maria Pettena rosato ($26)  a charismatic, textural stunner when matched with Micelis elevated comfort food.

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And as different as Pilloni hits with its Sardinian cuisine, comfort is still its through line. Its in the colourful, homely dining room illuminated by the glow of the hearth, or the terrace during the afternoon when it fills with natural light. And most of all, its in the food, which at its best will have locals swooning. Expect Pilloni to become a West End go-to. The low-down Vibe: Nonnas farm house made fancy. Go-to dish: Culurgiones filled with potato, pecorino and mint with tomato

sugo ($33) Drinks: A mix of signature and classic cocktails, 180-bottle wine list leaning old world, plus 20 wines by the glass, plenty of amari, and a selection of grappa and acquavite.

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Pilloni 166 Hardgrave Road, West End (07) 3846 2745 Mon-Fri 5-10pm; Sat-Sun 12-3pm, 5-10pm pilloni.com.au
In 2021, Christie Little led a small group deep into the pine and eucalypt of Penrose State Forest.

The forest draws artists, tourists and rich Sydneysiders looking for a weekend getaway. But this group was unusual. Rather than just seeking the solace of nature, they were seeking repair.

Christie Little in bushland behind her Blackheath property. Credit: Brook Mitchell

Each had lost a house in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. They had come to fear nature, said Little. She had brought them there to heal  using a therapy known in Japan as shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.

It was a way of dealing with their loss, and a safe way of reconnecting with nature, said Little, a nature therapist. She led them through a slow sensory tuning: What can you hear? What can you smell?
This story is part of the March 25 edition of Good Weekend.

It was interesting to read Jane Cadzows article about cotton farmers Danielle and David Statham and their claim that they are producing the worlds first climate positive cotton [March 18]. Specifically, they have improved their farming practices to increase carbon sequestration in the soil, and they have huge water dams. They also online track their exported Good Earth Cotton to ensure it stays pure. However, cotton farmers enormous water consumption in our worlds driest continent is especially unfair and wrong for other farmers and for the natural environment. Reforms are needed. Barbara Fraser Burwood, Vic

Julia Busuttil Nishimuras end-of-summer spaghetti with tomatoes; and Helen Gohs quince, cinnamon and ginger cake. (from Liz Whyte and Grant Taylor)

I like Claudia Karvan as an actor [March 18], but found it strange she thinks a relationship with a person of different political views would necessarily be on shaky ground [March 18]. Sadly, this is the new paradigm being thrust upon us, where a friendship couldnt possibly weather the storm of diverging opinions. Doesnt hold out much hope for a potential pal with a different God.

Rosemary OBrien

Ashfield, NSW

Another great interview, Benjamin Law. Interesting to note how Claudia Karvans exposure at 21 to the daily awareness of death, in the Buddhist tradition, has shaped her life. For someone with her fame and public exposure, Claudia presented as a perfectly rounded individual.

John Speed

Greendale, Vic

Given Danny Katzs apparent aversion to meat tray raffle prizes [March 18], I could well imagine a publican declaring that he  Modern Guru  couldnt organise a chook raffle in a pub .

Allan Gibson

Cherrybrook, NSW

ONLINE COMMENTS
Bullying and sexism are endemic among staff in Victorias prison system, a new report has found, with three-quarters having witnessed harmful workplace behaviour by one of their colleagues in the past five years, including discrimination and sexual harassment.

The Corrections Cultural Review, released by the justice department on Friday, details the staggering prevalence of workplace harm between staff in Victorias prison system. It found 24 per cent of women reported experiencing sexual harassment from a colleague and almost a third witnessed it occur.

The Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbournes west. Credit: Joe Armao

Prison staff said in the report that bullying and harassment had made their already challenging jobs more stressful and caused many of them to quit or consider quitting, develop substance abuse issues and consider taking their own life.

Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan said the report portrayed a system in need of reform to protect the safety of staff, prisoners and the community.
The organiser of a rally headed by an anti-trans campaigner outside Parliament House has defended a member seen grabbing at Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe during a tussle with police, rejecting claims that she helped pull the senator down during the fray.

The Canberra convenor of the controversial Let Women Speak rally said Thorpe had decided to fall to the ground after being tackled by police and security, adding most people could see through the senators talk after she claimed to have been pulverised by police.

One of Keen-Minshulls supporters, wearing a red Let Women Speak vest, appears to grab and pull at Lidia Thorpe before the senator falls heavily to the ground. Credit: Nine

If you start implying that one of our marshalls pulled Lidia Thorpe down, that is farcical, said Lucy, who declined to provide her last name owing to multiple threats she said she and other members had received.

All you have to do is look at the size of this close-to 70-year-old woman. Believe me, she would have no power to pull Lidia Thorpe over.
The Upper Hunter is not in Labors sights this election, despite it being on a wafer-thin margin, but the party is bullish about a swathe of other seats including Riverstone, Parramatta, East Hills and Penrith, held by former trade minister Stuart Ayres. Others could also go Labors way, including South Coast and Ryde. If it wins six, Labor can form government with The Greens. The Coalition, however, is hoping the Nationals can snatch back seats lost to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, including Murray and Barwon. The sitting MPs in those seats are now independents, after quitting the Shooters last year and retreating to the crossbench. However, any gains by the Nationals could be negated if the Liberals lose seats to any teal candidates on Sydneys north shore. NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham is making a bid for more upper house seats but might also make headway in the Lower House. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer An added complication for the Coalition is One Nation, which is contesting 17 lower house seats. While the goal is to boost its representation in the upper house, NSW leader Mark Latham is causing trouble for the Liberals, especially in western Sydney. The party polled 14 per cent in the Liberal-held seat of Camden in 2019 and the former federal Labor leader expects another strong showing for his party. If One Nation does well, and damages the Liberals, the conservative party may well be a boon for Labor. One long-term Labor strategist this week quipped: Mark Latham may finally help Labor win an election.

As Berejiklian predicted four years ago, independents and crossbenchers will be major players in the next term of government regardless of the result. The Greens have ruled out supporting the Coalition to guarantee supply and confidence, but the party has also flexed its muscles and released a list of demands to Labor. Among its must-haves are no new coal or gas projects, a control on spiralling rents, an end to the logging of public native forests and a mandatory cashless gaming card. The card, which is key to an overhaul of gambling in NSW, has widespread support except from Labor which, despite releasing a modest gambling policy, has refused to be dragged into the debate. Minns and Premier Dominic Perrottet have ruled out doing deals with the crossbench, although both leaders would know that is a meaningless statement unless either side wins with a majority. Nonetheless, Minns doubled down this week. I dont want the idea of minor parties and a lot of independents demanding major political parties start horse-trading before the voters have had their say, he said. Thats the definition of putting the cart before the horse. No one has been elected to the next parliament. Were going to leave it up to the voters, and well accept their judgment.

Parker says the Greens are prepared to agree and disagree with Labor, but compromise is crucial. Thats why the Greens have put forward our list of seven key areas and theres always room for flexibility, (for) Labor to be flexible, us to be flexible because, in the end, we want good constructive government, Parker says. Premier Dominic Perrottet has backed a cashless gaming card. Credit: James Brickwood While he does not expect to see it ever replicated in NSW, Parker points to the Labor Greens government in the Australian Capital Territory as an example of how the parties can cohabitate. Greenwich and Piper have made it clear that while they would offer supply and confidence to the party which wins the most seats, the powerful independents who have teamed to drive through major social reform such as abortion decriminalisation and voluntary assisted dying will not back Labor until it shifts on gambling reform.

Greenwich has maintained that Labor is isolated in its opposition to the mandatory card, and would be defeated on the floor of parliament if it tried to vote down any moves to introduce the measure. Loading A cashless gambling card is coming to NSW whether Labor likes it or not, Greenwich says. While some inside Labor are still nervous about the election outcome, Carr, the last NSW Labor leader to win government from opposition, is upbeat. Minns, he says, has run an impeccable campaign. Minns has been admirably unflappable, using words that are well-chosen. His comments have flown very naturally, and it is hard to think of anyone who has been so comfortable leading their party in opposition, Carr says. The states longest-serving premier is not critical of Perrottet, but is convinced the Coalition has reached its used-by-date.

Were the Liberals to lose, I dont think there can be finger pointing at Perrottet because there is a lot of lead in his saddlebag, I cant imagine how hard it is to cop all those ministerial retirements, Carr says. Perrottet is losing several of his most senior frontbenchers including Brad Hazzard, Rob Stokes, Victor Dominello and David Elliott. It looks like his colleagues dont want a fourth term, and it makes the government itself look like it is only fit for retirement. Former premier Mike Baird on the campaign trail on Thursday with his successor as Manly MP, James Griffin. Credit: Oscar Colman Former premier Mike Baird was back on the campaign trail on Thursday, supporting his successor as Manly MP, Environment Minister James Griffin. Manly is one of five seats being targeted by Climate 200-backed teal candidates. He is hoping Perrottets underdog status drags him over the line.

I think what weve seen is Dom run a very good campaign, Baird says. And then I think, what has surprised people is his humility. Hes a very humble leader, he has conviction. Certainly, I think on pokie reforms, it might not in the research groups be necessarily moving votes but what it has shown is that he has conviction. Loading Doms willing to stand up for what he believes in, not necessarily whats electorally popular or what might help get him elected. And I think thats what the electorates calling out for. Authentic leadership, looking after the interests of the state or the electorate youre representing rather than trying to secure an election win. Parker, who has been working hard to ensure his successor Kobi Shetty holds Balmain for the Greens, agrees. Politicians should not be trying to kick goals against the other side. But he goes a step further and says a minority government has been good for NSW because it has allowed several non-government bills to pass the parliament that have been initiated from the crossbench. Weve seen genuine collaboration delivers better results and government ministers have admitted that having to work with Labor, the Greens and independents has actually delivered better outcomes, Parker says.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet spent the final day of the campaign sandbagging Coalition seats while Labor leader Chris Minns went on the offensive, targeting key electorates he hopes to snare from the government as Liberal strategists feared the election was slipping away from them.

As NSW heads to the polls on Saturday, both leaders made their final pitches to voters as they toured critical electorates, but senior Liberals were downbeat, with one describing the potential outcome of the election as a train wreck for the Coalition.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres on the campaign trail in Penrith on Friday. Credit: James Brickwood

In an embarrassing development for the Liberals late on Friday, the independent Parliamentary Budget Office issued an extraordinary statement complaining that its work had been misrepresented, and the Liberal Party had failed to correct the error.

The Liberals have campaigned heavily on the state governments economic credentials, accusing Labor of axing key projects from WestInvest, the fund established from the sale of WestConnex.
Nairobi: Rwandan authorities will release human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina, whose life inspired the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda about the countrys 1994 genocide, a Rwandan government spokeswoman said Friday.

The one-time hotel manager was sentenced to 25 years on terrorism charges in 2021 after authorities tricked him into boarding a plane that secretly took him to Kigali, Rwandas capital.

Paul Rusesabagina in 2018. Credit: The Washington Post

Spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said Rusesabagina would be released on Saturday (Rwanda time). She said the sentences of Callixte Nsabimana and 18 others convicted in the same case had been commuted after requests for clemency.

She said the US had created dialogue on the issue, but continued: Serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted. Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction.
Kyiv: UN human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as other possible war crimes such as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbour.

The report was released as Kyiv officials reported Russian strikes had killed at least 10 civilians on Friday (Ukraine time). Five of the deaths occurred in Kostiantynivka, in eastern Ukraines Donetsk province, when a Russian missile hit an aid station.

Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline during a battle with Russian troops near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on Friday. Credit: AP

The first full look by the UN human rights offices mission in Ukraine at the treatment of POWs was released on Friday (Ukraine time) along with an update of human rights violations overall from a six-month period that ran through January. The report was based on interviews with about 400 POWs  half Ukrainians who had been released and the other half Russians held captive in Ukraine.

The team said it had no access to POWs held in Russia or in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine where it identified 48 internment sites. The mission said it nonetheless documented some 40 summary executions over the course of the 13-month war.
New York: Donald Trump has dramatically stepped up his attacks against prosecutors investigating him over alleged hush-money payments to silence a porn star, warning of potential death and destruction if he is indicted.

And hours after the post appeared on Trumps social media platform, the Manhattan District Attorney overseeing the probe received a letter containing white powder and a note from an unknown source warning him: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!

Tensions intensified overnight when Trump fired off a rant on his Truth Social online forum reasserting his innocence over the case and suggesting that only a degenerate psychopath would dare to charge him.

What kind of person can charge another person, in this case, a former president of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting president in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a crime, when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed, & also that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our country? Trump wrote in the early hours of Friday morning, US time.
Park City, Utah: Gwyneth Paltrow insisted on the witness stand that a 2016 ski collision at an upscale Utah ski resort wasnt her fault, claiming it began when the man suing her ran into her from behind.

The actor-turned-lifestyle influencer testified on Friday (Saturday AEDT) that the crash shocked her  and the way the mans skis veered between her two legs made her worry at first that she was being violated, she said.

There was a body pressing against me and a very strange grunting noise, she said.

My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening, she continued. Paltrow later clarified that after her split-second panic, she realised that the sudden collision wasnt sexual in nature.


Hyundai has named it Ai3 so far. However, the micro SUV will have a different name when launched. Hyundai is preparing to launch its next product in India, a micro SUV that is likely to rival Tata's Punch. The vehicle is expected to be positioned just below Hyundai's compact SUV, the Venue, according to a report published in the Financial Express (FE). There were rumours that Hyundai was planning to bring its Casper to India, but recent sightings have confirmed that it is not the Hyundai Casper, but an entirely new vehicle, according to the report.

Platform and design

The upcoming Hyundai micro SUV will share its platform with the new Hyundai Grand i10. The Hyundai Casper, which is sold globally, is also based on this very platform. However, the design elements of the upcoming vehicle will be nothing like these two. The report added that the vehicle would sport a different design and would have an upright grille as well as an overall boxy appearance.





Engine and gearbox

The new Hyundai SUV will have split headlights, similar to the Venue. It will have an upright body to give it an SUV-ish feel and angular tail lamps. Significantly, the vehicle's length will be around 3.8 metres, making it eligible for tax breaks reserved for sub-four-metre vehicles.

Also Read Stellantis India to drive into India's e-fleet market with Citroen e-C3 Maruti Suzuki Q3 preview: Profit may decline up to 8% QoQ on lower volumes Chinese carmaker BYD drives into Indian e-SUV segment with Atto 3 Maruti Suzuki Q2 profit may surge up to 355% YoY on higher sales volume Maruti Suzuki soars 5%, hits 52-wk high on better-than-expected Q2 results Mercedes-Benz plans to launch 4 electric vehicles in India in 8-12 months Ashok Leyland MHCV volume 91% in FY23, sees industry demand gaining Five firms make the PLI cut to manufacture hydrogen-powered vehicles PV, CV segments drove auto sales in FY23; demand moderation likely in FY24 We want to become No. 1 EV player in India, says Hyundai's Unsoo Kim



Hyundai has not revealed any details about the engine options. However, it is likely to take Tata's path by adding its in-production naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine. Notably, Tata's 1.2-litre petrol is the workhorse of the company and brings the most sales. It is used in Tata's Tiago, Altroz, Tigor, and Punch. Hyundai's engine has nothing exciting to offer and produces 82 bhp of power and 113 NM of torque. The vehicle is expected to come with a 5-speed manual or AMT transmission.

Features and competition

Hyundai is known for packing its vehicles with loads of features. Its Ai3 is also expected to be given the same treatment. It will likely come with the same infotainment system as provided with Grand i10 Nios, along with a sunroof.

Ai3 is expected to be launched this year around the festive season. It will directly challenge the Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Ignis, and Citroen C3.
The Indian and Taiwanese companies have had talks with advisers about potential offers for PT Bank Commonwealth, the people said. Other companies in the industry could bid for the business, the people said. A sale could value the business at several hundred million dollars, Bloomberg News has reported.

Bajaj Finance Ltd. and Cathay Financial Holding Co. are among the firms considering bids for Commonwealth Bank of Australias business in Indonesia, people familiar with the matter said.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that attachment of its statutory expenses will result in immediate stoppage of the entire Metro network in the national capital, and urged the court to review its order passed on a plea by Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL) owned by Reliance Infrastructure.

DAMEPL has sought payment of unpaid dues by DMRC under a 2017 arbitral award.

According to DMRC, the attachment of the 'Total DMRC Funds', which include salaries, medical costs, post-retirement benefits for employees, and security deposits on smart cards, will cause major disruptions for more than 50 lakh commuters who use the Metro network everyday, leading to total chaos on Delhi's roads.

Justice Yashwant Varma said that let the review petition be placed for consideration on March 29.

"In the meanwhile, let the Union of India and Delhi government also obtain appropriate instructions in respect of the directions as framed in the March 17 order," Justice Varma said.

The DMRC has sought review of the Delhi High Court's March 17 order.

Also Read Delhi HC fixes Feb 13 for next hearing in DMRC-DAMEPL case, may pass order Centre, Delhi govt to help pay DMRC award money it owes to DAMEPL: HC DMRC-DAMEPL: HC issues notices to Centre, Delhi govt to make submissions DMRC would fall into a debt trap if it raises loans to pay DAMEPL: AG DAMEPL issue: Senior officials of Delhi govt, Centre, DMRC to meet tomorrow Vedanta board to meet next week to consider fifth interim dividend for FY23 FSIB recommends Siddhartha Mohanty for LIC chairperson's position CCI approves ADIA's stake buy in Lenskart under green channel route Chinese companies may need majority Indian partners to set up plants Adani Power sells Support Properties stake to AdaniConnex for Rs 1,556 cr

The high court had on March 17 directed the DMRC to deposit all funds payable as per an arbitral award to DAMEPL on receipt of funds from the Central and Delhi governments.

Justice Varma had directed the two governments to tend to DMRC's request for extension of the sovereign guarantee subordinate debt, enabling it to liquidate its liabilities under the award.

"If permission is accorded to the DMRC, it shall proceed to deposit the entire amount payable under the award along with interest within one month. If the Union ministry or the GNTCD declines the request, the Union shall at the end of two weeks revert and repatriate all moneys received by it from DMRC post March 10, 2022," the bench had said.

The DMRC was directed to send the whole sum due to DAMEPL, plus interest, to the escrow account upon receipt of the funds.

Justice Varma had added: "In case DMRC fails to clear all outstanding amounts despite the directions above, the court reserves the right to frame further appropriate directions against the Union ministry and GNTCD consequent to the corporate veil having been duly lifted."

The high court on March 2 was informed by the Centre that it cannot give sanction for attachment of properties of the DMRC for repaying unpaid arbitral award to the DAMEPL as it would bring the city to a halt.

It had said that giving sanction will cause significant inconvenience to the public and impact law and order in the national capital.

"It is submitted that sanction for attachment of the properties of the DMRC cannot be accorded by the answering respondent since that would result in closure of the DMRC and bring the city of Delhi to a halt. Such a situation will cause significant inconvenience to the public and impact law and order in the city. The answering respondent, being the custodian of the public good, cannot permit such circumstances to ensue," the affidavit had stated.

An amount of Rs 1,678.42 crore of the arbitral award has already been paid while Rs 6,330.96 crore is yet to be paid by the DMRC.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani had on January 31 told the high court that if the Centre agrees to an interest-free subordinate debt on behalf of the DMRC to pay Reliance Infra, the Delhi government will follow suit.

Earlier in January this year, the DMRC had informed the court that it has requested the Centre and Delhi government for interest-free subordinate debt of Rs 3,565.64 crore from each for repaying the DAMEPL.

Each of the Centre and Delhi government owns 50 per cent of the shares in DMRC, but neither of them accepted to pay.

The award under consideration resulted from a contract that the DMRC and DAMEPL signed in 2008 to build and run Delhi Metro's Orange line, which runs from the New Delhi Railway Station to Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport to Dwarka Sector-21.
Five senior executives at India's Nykaa have tendered their resignations, a spokesperson said to news agencies on Friday. The development comes at a time when the company is facing increased competition, and its stock price has plummeted.

Executives who have resigned include Chief Commercial Operations Officer Manoj Gandhi, Chief Business Officer of the fashion division, Gopal Asthana, and Chief Executive Officer of wholesale business Vikas Gupta.

Shuchi Pandya, vice president of Nykaa's fashion division business and Lalit Pruthi, who was vice president of finance at the fashion unit, have also decided to resign.

Reuters quoted one of the company spokespersons as saying, "some of these mid-level exits as a part of the standard annual appraisal and transition process, wherein, people exit due to performance or to pursue other opportunities."

Answering subsequent questions from Reuters, the company elaborated, "Voluntary and involuntary exits are expected in a fast-paced, growth-focused, consumer tech organisation with over 3,000 on-roll employees."

Nykaa rivals conglomerates such as Tata and Reliance both of which have interests in India's rapidly expanding $16 billion beauty and personal care market.



Nykaa, whose parent company is FSN E-Commerce Ventures, soared 96 per cent in a sensational market debut in 2021, earning a valuation of around $14 billion. Yet in the midst of a larger startup crisis, its price has plummeted, plummeting almost 68 per cent from its all-time high in November 2021.

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(With inputs from agencies)
Nearly 50 per cent of the startups in Uttar Pradesh are headed by women, according to a government spokesman.

Akshay Tripathi, special secretary, IT and Electronics, said that out of 8,714 registered startups in the state, 4305 are run by women entrepreneurs,

The state IT department provides extra 50 per cent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs.

It may be pointed out that the department, a nodal agency for startups, is providing financial assistance of up to Rs 7.5 lakh to startups.

In addition to this, the government also provides Rs 17,500 monthly sustenance allowance to them.

Neha Misra, whose expertise lies in investment, insurance and pension planning and other financial matters, started 'The Fin Lit Project' to educate people on financial literacy.

Also Read Former Bengal and Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi dies aged 88 Doping suspension lifted after samples didn't match, says Peter Bol Finnish MPs can decide on NATO membership by simple majority: Committee 41 trains to remain cancelled till Mar 3 in Lucknow Division, says official Govt forms cabinet secretary-led panel to monitor Mission Karmayogi New Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan plans to work in stores once a month DMRC seeks review of HC order on plea by DAMEPL in arbitral award case Vedanta board to meet next week to consider fifth interim dividend for FY23 FSIB recommends Siddhartha Mohanty for LIC chairperson's position CCI approves ADIA's stake buy in Lenskart under green channel route

Misra, who hails from Lucknow, developed a mobile application that has so far been downloaded by close to 5000 people.

She also makes people aware of financial planning and investment through seminars and webinars also.

Likewise, there are thousands of other women startup owners who are doing a commendable job.
Starbucks' new CEO Laxman Narasimhan says he plans to work a half-day shift once a month in one of the company's stores in an effort to stay close to its culture and customers.

Narasimhan, who took the reins as CEO earlier this week, said in a letter to Starbucks' employees Thursday that he also expects the company's leadership team to be connected and engaged in stores.

While our performance is strong, our health needs to be stronger, Narasimhan wrote in the letter. We must care for the artists and the theater in the front of our stores and the factory in the back.

Having a CEO work in stores is new for Seattle-based Starbucks, but not unprecedented among big companies. DoorDash CEO Tony Xu and his executive team make DoorDash deliveries once a month, for example.

Narasimhan, 55, issued the letter just prior to the company's annual meeting, which was held virtually. The former PepsiCo executive has spent the last six months immersing himself in Starbucks, earning his barista certification as well as visiting stores, farms and manufacturing centers across the world.

"I felt it was very important to start as a barista. I wanted to really understand what they do and how they do it," Narasimhan said in comments emailed to The Associated Press. "I've loved and learned so much about the retail experience from working in our stores, and can now make an excellent French press if I do say so myself."



Narasimhan said his first priority is addressing some of the company's limitations. A reinvention plan announced last fall is updating equipment and layouts to make stores more efficient and increasing employee retention with better pay and benefits, he said. The average U.S. Starbucks worker now makes $17.50 per hour.

Also Read New Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan takes reins early from Howard Schultz Brewing at Tata Starbucks: Double-digit growth, premium store, masala chai Starbucks Union to greet its new CEO Laxman Narasimhan with 100-cafe strike Pandya is a fabulous leader, his work ethics are exemplary: VVS Laxman Rise in Indian-American influence in US: Philanthropist M R Rangaswami DMRC seeks review of HC order on plea by DAMEPL in arbitral award case Vedanta board to meet next week to consider fifth interim dividend for FY23 FSIB recommends Siddhartha Mohanty for LIC chairperson's position CCI approves ADIA's stake buy in Lenskart under green channel route Chinese companies may need majority Indian partners to set up plants

Narasimhan said he would like to see Starbucks evolve into a more global company, be less wasteful and move with greater speed.

"My immersion provided me with exposure to every aspect of Starbucks business, culture, and brand," he said. Together, we have acknowledged the opportunity for a refounding of Starbucks.

Narasimhan succeeds longtime Starbucks leader Howard Schultz, who came out of retirement last spring to serve as interim CEO while the company searched for a new chief executive. Schultz will remain on the company's board.

Some investors were unhappy with that move, saying Starbucks should have had a more robust succession plan in place when former CEO Kevin Johnson retired last April. Among the shareholder proposals investors voted on Thursday was one that would require Starbucks' board to begin succession planning at least three years before an expected transition.

Another shareholder proposal would require Starbucks to commission a third-party assessment of its commitment to workers' collective-bargaining rights. That proposal came amid an ongoing unionization movement that Starbucks opposes.

At least 293 of Starbucks' 9,000 company-owned U.S. stores have voted to unionize since late 2021. Workers have begun bargaining with the company but so far no store has reached agreement on a new contract.

The process has been contentious. Earlier this month, a federal labor judge found that the company violated labor laws hundreds of times during a unionization campaign in Buffalo, New York. The company is appealing.

On Wednesday, workers at more than 100 U.S. Starbucks stores went on strike across the country, demanding that Starbucks come to the bargaining table and hammer out labor agreements. It was the third time that workers have held a nationwide strike.

Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing the workers, said it wanted to send Narasimhan a message that the CEO transition is an opportunity to break with the past and partner with the union. Schultz had a long history of opposing unionization.

But in his comments to the AP, Narasimhan struck a similar tone to his predecessor. He said Starbucks respects workers' right to organize but believes the company functions best without a union.

As a company, our experience is that a having a direct relationship with our partners is core to our culture and the experiences we create in our stores," Narasimhan said. I continue to believe a direct relationship with our partners is the best way forward.

Starbucks said it would announce the results of the shareholder votes in the next few days.

Starbucks shares were down less than 1% to $98.34 in late trading Thursday.


I am non-billable, am scared as What does non-billable function mean?



Indias IT professionals are writing about their worries on a community app after IT services firm Accenture said on Thursday it will lay off 19,000 employees globally. I have completed stream training and awaiting project allocation, should I be worried??



Panic and anxiety at peak, wrote an Accenture employee on Grapevine, a community app used by IT professionals in India. Accenture said that as part of its second quarter of fiscal 2023 results, cost optimisation efforts will impact 2.5 per cent, or 19,000 of its 738,000 employees. Of the 19,000, over half are from non-billable functions. The company has more than 300,000 employees in India, one of its largest offshore centres. Industry sources said Accentures announcement could impact around 2,000-2,500 people in India.

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Engineering talent in India earlier dealt with big tech companies Meta (Facebook), Amazon, Alphabet (Googles parent) and Microsoft laying off employees: Accentures announcement makes their anxiety worse. The people impact is estimated to be 2.5 per cent of our current global workforce. This may differ by market and by country, as a consequence of our different footprint and growth, and should not be taken as a figure applicable to all geographies, said a spokesperson for Accenture.



Kamal Karanth, cofounder of Xpheno, a specialist staffing company, said that layoffs, like by tech giants, is the result of exuberant hiring a year ago and the resultant expansion. Tech giant IBM said last month it will lay off 3,900 people globally. Analysts said Accentures action reflects the work of Indian IT services companies as they all follow a similar business model.



Karanth added that the IT industry is recording attrition of some 12-13 per cent, implying talent is being hired. "During the buoyancy, many enterprises scaled up in high-cost geographies too... so with the softening of business, as seen in the BFSI segment now, workforce restructuring and resizing are inevitable," he said, referring to the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.



Accentures management said that for a record quarter (Q2), the company managed to deliver with the existing talent base. We have skills and all the people we need to deliver to demand in this market. Looking forward, we did not add people from Q1 to Q2. We see that being the same for Q2 and Q3. We may add headcount in Q4, said Julie Sweet, chief executive officer of Accenture, during an earnings call on Thursday. Accenture said that its hiring for Q3 will probably be minimal. It reported that utilisation for the quarter ended February 28, 2023 was at 91 per cent, perhaps the highest when compared to other tier-one IT players.



Accentures announcement of not adding people is a trend seen elsewhere in the IT sector. For instance, TCS had a negative headcount growth in Q3 FY23. Infosys and Wipros hiring numbers were softer too. Several IT players are yet to visit campuses to hire freshers. Indian engineers worry that other tier-one companies may also take similar action. It is generally like that. Most of these firms will follow what Accenture does. My fear is that we may have to see layoffs at Indian IT players too, said an IT employee who didnt want to be named.


Alok Agarwal is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad. He joined Reliance Industries in 1993 and became the CFO in 2005. Prior to RIL, he had worked with Bank of America for 12 years. V Srikanth ( joint CFO since 2011) has been sharing a part of the responsibilities of the CFO position with Alok Agarwal for the last few years. Srikanth has been with RIL for the last 14 years. Previously, he worked with the Citi Group for two decades in forex trading and derivatives, later becoming the Head of Markets.

The Board appreciated Shri Alok Agarwal for his contribution in the transformative journey of the Company, the RIL exchange announcement added.

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on Friday named Venkatachari Srikanth as its new chief financial officer (CFO), succeeding Alok Agarwal, who turned 65 and had served the business for 30 years, according to a stock exchange notification by RIL.Agarwal, who joined Reliance in 1993 and was named CFO in 2005, would transition into the position of senior advisor to the chairman and managing director of the firm, supporting him on a variety of strategic issues.Both the new roles will come into effect from June 1, 2023, the company said in the notification.
SWELECT Energy Systems Ltd, formerly Numeric Power Systems, engaged in production of solar photo-voltaic module has launched its solar module manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu, the company said on Friday.

With the launch of the new facility at Sarkarsamakulam, located on the outskirts of the city, SWELECT supersedes its 140 MW facility established in 2013 in Bengaluru.

The production at the manufacturing unit would be scaled upto 595 MW from the initial 385 MW, managing director R Chellappan said here.

The company, which holds five per cent market share, has installed about 3,800 solar roof tops, 6,000 water pumps, he told reporters.

According to company website, it has a fully automated photovoltaic manufacturing unit at Dabaspet in Bengaluru. The company operates a 140 MW class one lakh dust-free clean room, world-class photo-voltaic solar technologies manufacturing plant with research and development facility.

SWELECT also boasts of a 'Balance of Systems' manufacturing unit in Salem offering complete range of electrical and mechanical balance of systems including solar power conditioning unit and module mounting structures, the company said.

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This has robbed its Indian users of several popular tracks, including the No. 1 track on Spotify India over the past two weeks -- Apna Bana Le from Bhediya (2022). In the past couple of days, users of the music streaming platform Spotify have found hours of their playlists shaved off. The music streaming giant has removed Zee Music tracks from its app, as well as browser sites, after negotiations for a renewal of their licensing agreement fell through.



Though Spotify had 500 million monthly active users globally (as of February 2023), there is no clarity on its India user base. In fact, Spotifys Daily Top 200 Songs chart for India included nearly 15 Zee Music tracks  Maiyya Mainu from Jersey (2022), successful music albums from the movie Kalank (2019) and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019), Makhna from Drive (2019), Kala Chashma from Baar Baar Dekho (2016), and Zaalima from Raees (2017)  before they became unavailable to listeners on Wednesday and remain so until a new agreement is signed.



So, what does this mean for Zee or Spotify, in terms of impact on their revenues? Experts believe the delay will not hurt Zee Music a lot. Karan Taurani, SVP Elara Capital, explains: Generally music companies have got a minimum guarantee arrangement with these platforms. One can estimate that Zee Music would be getting nearly 10 to 15 per cent of revenues from a platform like Spotify. Most music companies, such as Zee, have diversified their digital offerings across the platform. YouTube often claims the largest share. Thus, a single platform like Spotify will claim close to 10 per cent of Zees revenues. I have lost three hours from my Hindi music playlist on Spotify. Thankfully, I had a nearly identical playlist on Gaana.com, and will be listening to that until theres a resolution, a user told Business Standard.

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Spotify entered India only in 2019, and by then, others had taken leading spots. Not only do Spotifys competitors like Gaana or JioSaavn have more extensive Indian playlists, their search results are also more sensitive to the taste of Indian audiences. For instance, a search for Shah Rukh Khans romantic hits on Spotify will not list out his songs in order of their popularity; you may find Ye Kaali Kaali Ankhein or Kal Ho Na Ho somewhere deeper into the playlist, mixed with his more obscure songs. The employee also said this is primarily because Spotifys algorithm needs more usage data on Indian music to better calibrate these searches. An employee working at a major music streaming company told Business Standard that unlike in the West where Spotify dominates the music streaming market, the company is still struggling to cater to the Indian subcontinents music taste.



Last year, the music company cut its ties with Gaana, a few months before the audio-streaming platform became a subscription-only service. According to JioSaavns data, it has over 100 million monthly active users, while Gaana claims to have crossed 185 million monthly active users in 2020. More importantly, theres YouTube  an app that comes preloaded on to Android phones  which is arguably the most popular destination for Indians to get their music fix for free. Zee Music has nearly 94 million subscribers on YouTube.



Globally, Spotify is the leading audio streaming service, with 489 million users and 205 million premium subscribers across 180 regions. Last year, the music platform's growth in India, South East Asia and Latin America had helped it cross the 450 million mark in global users in the quarter ending September 2022. Meanwhile, Spotify India has been trying to break out of its nearly 50:50 revenue mix for subscriptions and advertising and lean more towards the former, with such India-specific offers like mini-subscription plans.

With a large chunk of hit Indian songs missing from its playlists, this rapid growth might hit the pause button.


Not only bird hits, but animal strike incidents at airports also rose from 23 in 2021 to 36 in 2022, as per data reviewed by Business Standard from the DGCA. The Indian airspace saw a 52% jump in bird strike incidents in 2022 as commercial aviation picked up significant pace after the pandemic. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), last year the country witnessed 2,174 aircraft bird strike incidents, up from 1,430 in 2021.



The total number of scheduled flights, domestic as well as international, in the Indian airspace increased by 32.29% in 2022 to 1.3 million, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which operates more than 100 airports across the country, said that the rise in incidents is due to the post-pandemic increase in the number of flights in 2022.







Earlier this month, an AirAsia India flight heading to Pune had to do an emergency landing at the Bhubaneswar airport after being hit by a bird. Bird and animal strike incidents are considered one of the most potent threats to flight operations.

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Last month, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that all measures have been taken to address the issue of bird hits and emphasized the need to keep areas around airports clean. As far as bird hits are concerned, we have put in place all measures at airports, which includes the bird dispeller, sound guns, and other methodologies that will keep birds away from airport areas, the minister said.



The government-run AAI told the newspaper that it has taken various measures to mitigate the number of bird strike and animal strike incidents in India. These measures include maintaining grass height at an appropriate level, removing garbage from the airport area, deploying bird scarers, using LPG guns, using spikes on elevated lights so that birds do not sit there, and removing termite colonies with the help of pest control. Scindia had also explained that birds come to areas surrounding certain airports as they are unclean. It is not because they make their homes there, but more because of the fact that they are attracted to some objects in that area. Therefore, to keep areas clean and make sure that birds do not cluster around areas of transportation through which there may be a threat to airlines, it is very important for us, he noted.

The authority said it is also engaging with the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), various ecology sections of universities, forest departments, zoo authorities, etc., to study the bird and animal activities near airports so that the entities can give suggestions on how to curb their presence.
US nominee for World Bank president Ajay Banga has tested COVID-19 following which the meetings scheduled during his two-day visit to India have been cancelled.

According to a Finance Ministry statement, Banga's meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman would not happen as he is in quarantine.

"During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for COVID-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation," the statement said.

Besides meeting with the Union finance minister, Banga was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and top officials during his two-day visit from March 23 to 24.

Banga's New Delhi visit is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America, and Asia to drum up support for his candidature for the World Bank's top position.

In a statement on Wednesday, the US Treasury Department had said, "While in India, Banga will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.

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"These discussions will focus on India's development priorities, the World Bank, and global economic development challenges," it said.
World Bank presidential nominee Ajay Banga has tested positive for Covid-19 during routine testing in New Delhi where he was travelling on the last leg of his world tour, and is currently quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday.

India is witnessing a spike in influenza and coronavirus cases in the past two weeks. The country has recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases increased to 7,026, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

Banga's New Delhi visit (March 23 and March 24) is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for Covid-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday afternoon.

While in India, 63-year-old Banga was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Treasury said in a previous statement.

India endorsed Banga's candidacy soon after his nomination was announced.

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Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cte d'Ivoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society.

Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials.

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront longstanding challenges.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.

New Delhi logged 84 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.08 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the health department.

The city has seen an increase in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last few days, amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Centre and others to take steps to create an appropriate system which empowers citizens to petition Parliament and seek initiation of deliberations on issues highlighted by them.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said that a citizen cannot seek a right to stand up in Parliament.

"The reliefs which have been sought fall exclusively within the domain of Parliament. Such directions cannot be issued by this Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution.

"Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, with Ms Aishwarya Bhati, Additional Solicitor General, states, for the purpose of assisting the court, that a procedure is already in place for the receipt of petitions, which are considered by the Committee for Petitions. The petition is dismissed," the bench said.

While hearing the plea on January 27, the apex court had asked advocate Rohan Alva, appearing for petitioner Karan Garg, to serve a copy of the plea on the standing counsel for the Centre.

The plea has also sought a declaration that it is the fundamental right of citizens under Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution to directly petition Parliament to seek initiation of a debate, discussion and deliberation on the issues highlighted by them in their petitions.

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"The present writ petition prays that it is imperative for the respondents (Centre and others) to take substantive steps in order to ensure that citizens can have their voices heard in Parliament without facing undue barriers and difficulties," it said.

The plea said as an ordinary citizen of the country, the petitioner felt "disempowered" when it came to participation in the democratic process and after people cast their votes and elect representatives, there is no scope for any further participation.

It said there is a complete absence of any formal mechanism by which citizens can engage with lawmakers and take steps in order to ensure that issues which are of vital importance are debated in Parliament.

"The absence of this mechanism creates a void between elected representatives and citizens. The people are disconnected from the law-making process. This distancing of the citizens to their inherent rights to fully participate in Indian democracy is a matter of grave concern and is an issue which needs to be immediately addressed," the plea said.

It said a system by which the citizens can directly petition Parliament is already in place in the United Kingdom and it has been working well for several years.

It also said that if citizens have the ability to engage with the Centre and Parliament at a deeper level, it may reduce the burden on the apex court and high courts "since there may exist an effective and alternative remedy for espousing and pursuing public interest causes".

The plea said citizens have a fundamental right to participate in democratic affairs and are constitutionally entitled to present workable and constructive suggestions to Parliament on matters of national importance so that public interest is appropriately safeguarded.

"The current system does not fully allow citizens to initiate discussions in Parliament by moving appropriate petitions," it added.

The petition said formulation of well-reasoned and reasonable rules which allow citizens to directly petition Parliament will usher in a transformative era of democratic governance and create an environment for robust engagement between the people of the country and members of Parliament.

It has sought a direction to the Centre and others to expeditiously take steps to create an appropriate system or reasonable rules and regulations which empower citizens to petition Parliament and seek initiation of a debate on the issues highlighted by them.
The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on a plea seeking FIR registration against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with his tweet, wherein he had allegedly revealed the identity of a minor Dalit girl, who was raped and murdered in 2021.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to NCPCR and asked for a counter-affidavit to be filed in four weeks' time.

The bench also comprising Justice Sachin Datta listed the matter for the next hearing on July 27.

The NCPCR's counsel claimed that they had not received a formal notice and urged the court to do so in order for them to be able to file an affidavit.

A 9-year-old girl had died under suspicious circumstances on August 1, 2021, with her parents alleging that she was raped, murdered and cremated by a crematorium's priest in southwest Delhi's Old Nangal village.

A social activist Makarand Suresh Mhadlekar had moved a plea in the High Court in 2021, alleging that Gandhi had violated the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012, which prohibits the identification of minors who have been sexually assaulted.

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The NCPCR had earlier told the High Court that it wants to support and join the petitioner in the matter.

It had told the court that the offence of making such a disclosure still exists, despite Twitter's claim that it had removed Gandhi's tweet.

Sajan Poovayya, a senior lawyer representing Twitter, had argued that "nothing survived" in the petition because the contested post has been "geo-blocked" and is presently not accessible in India.

He added that Gandhi's entire account was suspended by the social media platform but was later restored.

Nonetheless, the petitioner and the NCPCR's counsel had argued that the offence still exists.

--IANS

spr/dpb
Gujarat will host a meet on disaster management from March 30 till April 1 as part of India's G20 presidency, an official said on Friday.

It was earlier announced by the government that Gujarat will host the next round of G20 meetings from March 27 till April 4, during which three meetings will take place in the state.

While the first meeting on 'Environment and Climate Sustainability' will will take place between March 27 and 29 in Gandhinagar, this second meeting of 'Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group" will be held from March 30 till April 1, said Indian Administrative Service official Mona Khandhar, who is coordinating G20 events in Gujarat.

"A curtain raiser event on lessons learnt from past earthquakes will be held on March 29 at Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management in Gandhinagar. On March 30, the inaugural function will be followed by a technical session on the theme Early Warning System for All. Delegates will enjoy cultural events in the evening at Mahatma Mandir convention centre in Gandhinagar," said Khandhar.

Union Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan will be attend the event, Khandhar, who is principal secretary in the state Finance department, said.

On the second day of the event, invited guests would take part in various technical sessions on subjects like disaster resilient infrastructure and regulatory framework for disaster risk financing among others, she informed.

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Khandhar said delegates and experts from more than 20 countries, including the United States of America, UK, Italy, Japan, Russia, UAE and Argentina, will take part in these discussions.

Officials from organisations such as International Labour Organization, United Nations Office Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and United Nations Development Programme will also participate in this three day event, she said.

"On April 1, discussions will be held on subjects like ecosystem-based approaches for integrated disaster risk reduction. On the same day, guests will be taken to Bhuj town of Kutch district for a visit to Smriti Van Memorial dedicated to the 2001 earthquake victims," said Khandhar.

In January and February, Gujarat had hosted a series of meetings related to G20, including one on tourism.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Friday asserted that improving school infrastructure is a top priority for the Kejriwal government, adding that creating a favourable learning atmosphere is crucial to overall development of children.

The education minister inspected an under-construction school in Sangam Vihar on Friday, Delhi government officials informed.

This magnificent school with 88 classrooms is being constructed by the Kejriwal government to address the educational needs of thousands of children in the area, the government said in a statement.

During her visit, Education Minister Atishi directed the officials to follow the checklist strictly and complete the construction work of the school by June, so that classes can begin there in July.

The new four-storey school in Sangam Vihar has been divided into three blocks that have 88 classrooms in total along with facilities of state-of-the-art labs, libraries, staff rooms, a principal office and a playground.

Along with these facilities, the schools will also have a UG tank, RO room and a rainwater harvesting facility.

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This school is located in the congested lanes of Sangam Vihar. A unique feature of the school is also that a bridge has been constructed to connect two blocks in the school, the statement asserted.

"Improving school infrastructure is a top priority for the Delhi government under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to provide quality education to all children in the city," the minister said.

The efforts of Team Education of Delhi have resulted in parents feeling proud and confident in sending their children to Delhi government schools, she noted.

"In order to maintain this confidence, various modern facilities are being added to these schools to ensure a bright future for the children of Delhi," she added.

"The Education Minister emphasised that creating a favourable learning atmosphere is crucial to the overall development of children, and this is a major focus of the government in the development of school infrastructure," the statement added.


In 2022, India notified a record 2.42 million TB cases, up 13 per cent over to 2021. This translates to a case notification rate of about 172 cases per 100,000 population. This year also saw the highest number of private TB case notifications at 730,000, and the total number of multidrug resistant (MDR-TB) cases diagnosed in 2022 was 63,801. Further, in 2022 the presumptive TB examination rate (PTBER) for the country rose to 1,281 per 100,000 population, up 68 per cent from 763 in 2021. Launching the TB Mukt Panchayat Abhiyan among other initiatives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reiterated that India is committed to end tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the stipulated time set globally.



The PM also spoke about a new campaign, launched on Thursday, called TB Mukt Panchayat Abhiyaan, and said that the Centre is starting a three-month treatment programme for the prevention of TB instead of a six-month course. He said that earlier, patients had to take medicines for six months every day but now, in the new system, they would have to do so only once a week. The Prime Minister said the commitment and determination with which India dedicated itself to tackling TB after 2014 is unprecedented. Indias efforts are important, he said, as this is a new model for the global war on TB. He dwelt on a multi-pronged approach against TB in the last nine years. He listed peoples participation, enhancing nutrition, treatment innovation, tech integration and wellness and prevention such as Fit India, Yoga, and Khelo India type of interventions.



On top of this, a key drug for treating MDR-TB from Johnson and Johnson (J&J), is now set to go off patent in July. The India Patent Office on Thursday rejected the American pharma giant's application to extend its monopoly on a key TB drug, bedaquiline. Now several generic drug makers can make cheaper copies of the drug which is roughly priced at $340 (Rs 27,200) for a six-month regimen. A senior official in the Central TB Division told Business Standard that this is aimed at people (like family members of TB patients) who are at high risk of contracting the disease.

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Meanwhile, the PM said that since the major challenge for TB patients is nutrition, the contribution of Nikshay Mitra campaign is useful. The Centre has transferred around Rs 2,000 crore under the direct benefit transfer scheme for TB patients since 2018, benefitting 7.5 million patients. A government official said that the Centre procures as much bedaquiline as is required, and with the patent expiry, the cost of procurement is likely to come down now, giving an overall boost to the countrys TB programme.



In 2022, India conducted 13.9 million sputum smear tests and 5.8 million nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) to scan for TB. The task of TB Prevention Treatment (TPT) scale-up has been taken up in 2022. By the end of 2022, 722 (94 per cent) districts of India have expanded TPT as per the national guidelines. TB Infection (TBI) testing services were established in 246 (32 per cent) districts. Noting that it is very difficult to arrive at new solutions by practicing outdated ways, Modi said the government has worked with new strategies so that TB patients don't fall out of their treatment. He gave examples of initiating the Ayushman Bharat Scheme for screening and treating TB, increasing the number of testing labs in the country and formulating region-specific work policies by targeting cities where the number of TB patients is high.




A top UN expert on Friday asked India to immediately end the crackdown on Kashmiri human rights defenders and urged New Delhi to release and close all investigations initiated against them.

Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders made this comment days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) formally arrested jailed Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society programme coordinator Khurram Parvez in connection with its NGO terror funding case.

The NIA said the case relates to the terror funding of proscribed terrorist organisations, such as LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, by certain NGOs, trusts and societies based in the Valley.

Indian authorities appear to be intensifying the long-standing repression of Kashmiri civil society, Lawlor said.

The State must respect its human rights obligations and be held accountable where it violates them," she said in a statement.

Parvez has been in prison since his arrest by the NIA in November 2021 for anti-national activities, including collecting information on vital installations and deployment and movement of security forces, procuring secret official documents and passing the same to his LeT handlers for monetary consideration.

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He was charge-sheeted along with six others on May 13 last year.

India has previously said that authorities in the country act against violations of law strictly in accordance with established judicial processes.

The UN expert said prior to Parvez's arrest, a former associate of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies, human rights activist and journalist Irfan Mehraj, was also arrested in the same case on March 20 from Srinagar and transferred to New Delhi.

The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) carries out essential work monitoring human rights. Their research and analysis of human rights violations are of immense value to international organisations seeking to ensure accountability and non-repetition of abuses, Lawlor explained.

The statement issued in Geneva said UN experts have repeatedly highlighted grave concerns regarding the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allows the designation of any individual as a "terrorist," bypassing the requirement to establish membership or association with banned outfits.

The expert also called for the release and the closing of investigations against Kashmiri human rights defenders.

The arrest and detention of persons for exercising their human rights are arbitrary. There must be accountability and remedy where such abusive actions are taken," Lawlor added.


The decision that came on the eve of World Tuberculosis Day - marked on March 24 every year - is going to bring smiles on the faces of TB patients in the country which reported 2.14 million TB patients in 2021, 18 per cent more than the number in 2020 (WHO Global TB Report 2022). Indias TB incidence for the year 2021 is 210 per 100,000 population. Indias tuberculosis eradication programme is set for a boost after the Indian Patent Office rejected the application of American pharma giant Johnson & Johnson to extend its monopoly on a key TB drug  bedaquiline, which is set to expire in July. The drug is considered a key medication against multi-drug resistant TB.



Bedaquiline had received a conditional approval by the USFDA in 2012 for treatment of multi-drug resistant TB, and in 2018 the WHO MDR-TB guidelines prioritised bedaquiline (developed by J&J arm Janssen) among treatment for MDR-TB. In 2019 the drug was launched in India. The drug is available for free now to Indian patients, said a J&J spokesperson. In India it is available only through the government route, and not through retail pharmacies. Therefore, for the patient, it is free, the company clarified.



The patent application in question  for a formulation of bedaquiline  was filed in India over a decade ago, as part of standard procedures when developing new medicines, a J&J spokesperson said. India had procured over 20,000 doses through a global four-year donation programme by J&J and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) till 2019. In July 2020 J&J slashed prices of the drug by 32 percent for 135 eligible countries including India to $340 (Rs 27,200) for a six-month regimen.

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Several generic drug makers are set to start making copy-cat versions of the drug which was set to lose patent in July. As such, the industry estimates that the low cost generics would be soon available for the government to procure. This would boost the government MDR-TB programme as there would be low cost generics, and the prices could be lower by 50-80 percent from the originator molecule. Moreover, if allowed, the India-made drugs could also be made available at a retail level, said a pharmaceutical executive who did not wish to be named. The company added that whether this patent was granted or not, a formulation patent would not have prevented generic manufacturers from developing the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in their own formulations after July 2023, when J&Js API patent expired in India.



The move comes at a time when India is setting ambitious targets to eradicate TB from the country by 2025. Typically, TB drugs are procured by the Central government agencies in India and distributed to patients. The private market for TB drugs is relatively low, but with higher incidence of non-pulmonary and MDR-TB several people are also buying drugs on their own as recommended by the clinicians. On Thursday, the India Patent Office delivered the judgment on a plea filed by two TB survivors, Nandita Venkatesan and Phumeza Tisile. We remain committed to supporting Indias efforts to end TB and look forward to participating in the TB high-level summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi later this week, J&J further said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday openly supported Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was sentenced to two years in jail in a defamation case and alleged a conspiracy was being hatched to "eliminate" non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them, the PTI reported.

The Punjab government Thursday extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts till Friday noon while lifting the curbs in Moga, Sangrur, Ajnala sub-division in Amritsar and a few areas in Mohali.



A court in Surat in Gujarat on Thursday held Congress leader Rahul Gandhi guilty in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed in connection with his "Modi surname" remarks. The court has sentenced him to two years of imprisonment.



Surat court convicts Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 'PM Modi surname' defamation case.



A court in Surat in Gujarat on Thursday will deliver its verdict in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "Modi surname" remarks, party leaders said.
Congress party's Rahul Gandhi disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark, March 23. Reacting to his disqualification as a member of the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he was fighting to restore the country's voice and will pay any price to do so. "I am fighting for the voice of India and am ready to pay any price (for it)," Mr. Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. His tweet followed his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP earlier on Friday. The disqualification came in the wake of Mr. Gandhi's conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation case on Thursday. The disqualified Congress MP was sentenced to two years in prison following his conviction for a remark using the surname 'Modi' at a campaign event for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in Karnataka.



The Supreme Court on Friday held as bad in law its 2011 verdicts that ruled that mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence. A bench of Justices MR Shah, CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol, while deciding a reference made by a two-judge bench, held that mere membership of banned organisation will make a person criminal and liable to be prosecuted under provisions of UAPA. ...Read More
The National Disaster Management Authority and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority organised a mock drill on Friday to test earthquake readiness in the National Capital Region, which falls under seismic zone IV, officials said.

The mock drill was held in all 11 district of Delhi and neighbouring NCR areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, days after the region was hit by tremors on two consecutive days.

According to Fire Services officials, 55 water tenders were deployed across Delhi as part of the drill.

Some of the areas were the mock drill was held include Municipal Corporation of Delhi school in Kapashera, MCD office in Najafgarh, Vegas Mall in Dwarka, Rao Tularam Memorial Hospital in Jaffarpur Kalan, residential flats in Dwarka Sector-9, Kendriya Vidyalaya in East of Kailash, Jal Vihar in Lajpat Nagar and V3S Mall in Laxmi Nagar, the officials said.

India has been classified into four seismic zones. Zone V is seismically the most active region, while zone II is the least.

The excise aimed at testing and improving the response mechanism, communication system, and coordination between local authorities and emergency services, according to an official statement.

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Staging areas were opertionalised to receive responders and a task force was formed to deal with the situation in the aftermath of an earthquake. Relief camps were also activated to cater for the displaced persons.

Brig BS Thakar, the nodal officer from the NDMA for the exercise, emphasized that these drills simulate scenarios of an earthquake and secondary disasters and help train people and officials on key aspects of disaster management such as the formation of response teams, emergency operation centres (EOCs), coordination among various participating agencies, rescue and evacuation besides medical preparedness.

Police and fire fighting personnel, civil defence volunteers, NDRF personnel, Central Armed Police Forces and DDMA officials participated in the drill.

"This exercise will help in filling gaps, ensuring better communication and improving coordination among various stakeholder agencies. It will also generate awareness among the local community and population to be conscious of the vulnerability of the capital," the statement added.
There is no proposal to establish any new defence industrial corridor in the country, Parliament was informed on Friday.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said this in written response to a query in the Lok Sabha.

The government, in its budget for 2018-19, announced setting up of two defence industrial corridors (DICs) to develop a holistic defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country, he said.

One corridor has been established in Uttar Pradesh with six nodes, namely Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot and Lucknow. The second is in Tamil Nadu with five nodes, namely Chennai, Hosur, Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruchirappalli, he said.

"As per the information received from the government of Uttar Pradesh, 108 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with industry/organisation having potential investment of Rs 12,191 crore. Investment of Rs 2,445 crore has already taken place in Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC)," he said.

Further, as per information received from the government of Tamil Nadu, arrangements have been made with 53 industries for potential investment of Rs 11,794 crore. Investment worth Rs 3,894 crore has already taken place in Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC), the minister said.

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Asked if there is any proposal to establish more defence industrial corridors in the country, Bhatt said there is no proposal to establish any new defence industrial corridor.

In response to another query on "whether it is a fact that more than a dozen papers have been submitted by DGPs and IGPs in the recently concluded conference conducted by Intelligence Bureau on the subject 'Chinese influence in the neighbourhood and implications for India'", the minister said, "The information sought is sensitive in nature and cannot be divulged on the floor of the House in the interest of the national security."



In response to another query on whether Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is in talks with various countries to sell its light combat aircraft Tejas, he said, "The information sought is sensitive in nature and cannot be divulged on the floor of the House in the interest of the national security."



The minister of state for defence, in a separate written query, was asked whether the government has reduced the construction restrictions near defence establishments to just 50 metres from 500 metres.

He said in his written response: "The revised NoC guidelines issued by MoD on 23.12.2022 reducing the restricted distance in vicinity of defence establishment of Army, Navy and Coast Guard at specific locations to 50 metres have been kept in abeyance till standard operating procedure is formulated in consultation with stakeholders for issue of NoCs."



On a written query on whether arrears of one rank one pension (OROP) been paid to the eligible pensioners of armed forces, the minister said the payment of arrears of OROP to eligible pensioners of the armed forces is in progress as per policy of the government.

"So far, Rs 5,065.70 crore has been paid as arrear of OROP to eligible pensioners of Armed Forces as on 13.03.2023," he said.

In a separate question, the minister was also asked for details of private companies engaged in defence sector.

"Defence industry sector was opened up in May 2001 up to 100 per cent for Indian private sector participation. Since the opening up of defence sector, till date, a total of 601 industrial licenses have been issued to 368 companies operating in defence sector," the minister said in a written response.

Bhatt also shared his written response on query on bullet proof jackets and helmets for armed forces and other law enforcement forces.

The government undertakes procurement of bullet proof jackets and helmets for armed forces and other law enforcement forces from time to time from domestic manufacturers, he said.

These are procured as per laid down specifications and authorization after due testing and evaluation. Bullet proof helmets procured by Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces are "compliant to the specifications and NIJ (National Institute of Justice of USA) protection/ threat levels approved by the competent authorities," he said in his response.

The upgradation, procurement and provisioning of improved version of bullet proof jackets and helmets, is a continuous process for which necessary steps are taken regularly.
More than a thousand students from poor financial background studying at the Delhi University have received the benefit of the varsity's fee waiver scheme so far, an official said on Friday.

Eighty per cent of them have received full waiver of their fees, the official told PTI, adding that the benefits amount to more than Rs 1 crore.

The DU announced the fee-waiver scheme in November last year. The waiver includes all components of the fees paid by the students barring those for examination and hostel.

Under the Financial Support Scheme (FSS) launched by the University of Delhi, so far more than 1,009 needy students have received benefits of about Rs 1 crore, DU's Dean of Students Welfare Pankaj Arora told PTI.

The Dean of the Students Welfare Office collected the necessary data from the deserving candidates. Around 1,700 applications were received for the scheme for financially weak students, an official said on Friday.

"After due verification, which includes the home visit of the applicants, we shortlisted 1,340 students and asked them to submit some documents and undertakings. We have received the documents of 1,009 and we are pleased to inform you that the list of students for the disbursement of fee waivers is finalised," Arora said.

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He said this scheme reflects the Government of India's "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' motto.

Arora said recognising the need for affirmative action as mandated by the Constitution of India, the university is committed to extending the benefits of equity, access, and quality education to financially weak students.

"In line with this commitment, the university has announced a financial support scheme that will provide fee waivers to economically weak students. During its centenary celebrations, the FSS is a testament to the university's commitment to providing an inclusive and enabling environment for all students," he noted.

Students belonging to financially weak backgrounds can get up to 100 per cent fee waiver, depending on their family income.

A full-time bona fide student studying in the university is eligible to apply for it. A student with annual family income less than Rs 4 lakh is eligible for up to a 100 per cent fee waiver, while students with a family income of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per year can apply for a 50 per cent waiver.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Karnataka on March 25 for a day-long visit.

He will inaugurate Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Chikkaballapur.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapura Metro Line of Bangalore Metro.

The metro line will further enhance ease of mobility and reduce traffic congestion in the city, official sources said.

The Prime Minister will also undertake a ride in the metro.

With Assembly polls in Karnataka slated soon, the Prime Minister has visited the state several times in the past two months and inaugurated as well as laid foundation stones for many projects.

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President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a two-day "Gaj Utsav" on April 7 in Assam's Kaziranga National Park to commemorate the successful completion of 30 years of Project Elephant and to give more impetus to conservation efforts, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Friday.

India launched Project Elephant in 1991-92 as a centrally-sponsored scheme to protect elephants, their habitat and corridors, prevent human-elephant conflict and to ensure the welfare of captive elephants in India.

"The government has decided to celebrate 'Gaj Utsav' at Kaziranga National Park on April 7-8 to commemorate 30 years of Project Elephant. President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate it on April 7," Choubey told reporters here.

A first-of-its-kind event, the festival will see the participation of Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, forest ministers of all elephant range states, principal conservators of forests, chief wildlife wardens, representatives of local communities, civil societies, NGOs, schoolchildren, mahouts etc.

Elephant is a national heritage animal protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

India accounts for more than 60 per cent of the global wild elephant population. These are distributed majorly in southern and north-eastern India, east-central and northern regions.

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Assam holds the second-largest wild elephant population in India and also has a large number of elephants under human care.
China remains Germany's most important market for combustion engine cars: Destatis

Xinhua) 11:23, March 24, 2023

BERLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China remained the most important market for German combustion engine cars in terms of volume in 2022 with a share of 14 percent, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Thursday.

Germany's total exports of combustion engine vehicles in 2022 were at the previous year's level with 1.48 million units worth 55.5 billion euros (60.4 billion U.S. dollars).

"Cars with a traditional combustion engine still accounted for the majority of German car exports and imports in 2022, although foreign trade with electric vehicles is growing in importance," Destatis said in a statement.

Germany last year exported around 500,000 electric cars worth 24.2 billion euros, an increase of 65.2 percent year-on-year, according to Destatis. The most important customer for German electric cars was the United Kingdom, followed by the United States.

"The German automotive industry still predominantly produces cars with classic combustion engines in this country, but the production of electric cars is increasing significantly," Destatis said.

In the first three quarters of 2022, production of electric cars increased by 66.2 percent year-on-year.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) expects total sales of electric cars, including battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), in Europe's largest economy this year to decrease by 8 percent year-on-year. The share of electric cars in total car registrations is expected to fall by 3 percentage points to 28 percent.

"We expect that the reduction in subsidies for purely battery- electric cars and the cancellation of subsidies for plug-in hybrids will continue to have a negative impact on the ramp-up of electromobility," VDA President Hildegard Mueller said in a statement. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Lord Ram is regarded as the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, and Ram Navami is celebrated to celebrate the day of his birth. He was born in Ayodhya to King Dashratha and Queen Kaushalya during the Tretha Yug. On the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, Ram's birth marks Vishnu's seventh avatar, which is celebrated as a spring festival.

This festival occurs during the Hindu calendar's Shukla Paksha or the brighter half of the Chaitra month. Hindus in India will observe Ram Navami 2023 on March 30.

Ram Navami 2023: History and Importance

Rama Navami story, also known as the Ramayana, is regarded as one of the two greatest Sanskrit epics of the Hindu religion. The Vratha Katha is another name for the Ram Navami story.

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Ram Navami 2023: Celebration in India

Lord Ram devotees pray for peace, prosperity, and success on this day and seek his divine blessings. In addition, Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of Navratri, when devotees observe the festival by distributing food to those in need.

On this day, Hindus also perform the rituals of Kanya Puja, in which nine girls are invited to their homes and honoured because Hindus believe they are the manifestations of Devi. After the puja, a Prasad of puri, Kala chana, and Sooji halwa is also made and given to the girls.

One of the most important Hindu festivals, Ram Navami, is observed in a variety of ways. Some devotees bathe, dress, and place miniature Rama idols in a cradle to observe his birth while Kheer is prepared as an offering to God. They then light a lamp in front of the idol.

Ram Navami 2023: Bank holiday

Ram Navmi is a festival that celebrates the Hindu god Ram's birth. Government workers nationwide are eligible for an optional day off on this significant holiday. The city of Ayodhya, where Ram was born, celebrates this day in a grand way.

People take a dip in the holy Sarayu river and go to their neighbourhood Ram temple to pray on this day. Ram Navami is celebrated as a bank holiday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, arrived at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where he will be addressing the 'One World TB Summit'.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also present with PM Modi at the summit.

PM Modi will be addressing the summit on World Tuberculosis Day at Rudrakash Convention Centre.

This summit is being organised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership.

Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership is a United Nations-hosted organisation that amplifies the voices of the people, communities, and countries affected by TB.

During the event, Prime Minister will launch various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative; the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT); a Family-centric care model for TB and the release of India's Annual TB Report 2023. PM will also award select States/UTs and districts for their progress towards ending TB.

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In March 2018, during the End TB summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister called for India to achieve TB-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of the stipulated time.

One World TB Summit will provide an opportunity to further deliberate upon the targets as the country moves forward to meet its TB elimination objectives, according to the official statement.

It will also be an opportunity to showcase learnings from National TB Elimination Programmes. International delegates from over 30 countries are scheduled to be present at the summit.

Later in the day Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 1780 crore, during the programme at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground. In the last nine years, Prime Minister has put a special focus on transforming the landscape of his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and enhancing the ease of living for the people living in the city and adjoining areas. This is believed to be another step in this direction.

The PM will lay the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia.

The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs. 645 crores. The ropeway system will be 3.75 km in length with five stations. This will facilitate ease of movement for the tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varanasi.

The PM will lay the foundation stone of 55 MLD sewage treatment plants at Bhagwanpur under Namami Ganga Scheme, to be built at a cost of more than Rs. 300 crores. Under the Khelo India Scheme, the foundation stone of Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium will be laid by the Prime Minister.PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the LPG bottling plant at Isarwar village, Sewapuri to be built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various other projects including a primary health centre in Bharthara village; floating jetty with changing rooms, among others.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Modi will dedicate 19 drinking water schemes, which will benefit more than 3 lakh people in 63 Gram Panchayats. To further strengthen the rural drinking water system, the PM will also lay the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the Mission.

For farmers, exporters and traders in and around Varanasi, the grading, sorting, and processing of fruits and vegetables will be possible at an integrated pack house which has been constructed at Karkhiyaon. Prime Minister will dedicate this project to the nation during the event. It will help in boosting agricultural exports of Varanasi and the surrounding region.

He will dedicate various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission including redevelopment work of Rajghat and Mahmoorganj government schools; beautification of internal city roads; redevelopment of 6 parks and ponds of the city among others.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate various other infrastructure projects including the ATC tower at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport; the 2 MW solar power plant at water works premises, Bhelupur; 800 KW solar power plant at Konia Pumping Station; the new Community Health Center at Sarnath; infrastructure improvement of Industrial estate at Chandpur; rejuvenation of temples of Kedareshwar, Vishweshwar and Omkareshwar Khand Parikrama among others.


A red notice is for those individuals who are wanted by the requesting member country, or international tribunal. The member countries apply their own laws in determining whether a person is a fugitive or not.

A red notice should not be confused with an international arrest warrant.



Interpol General Secretariat regularly updates this list based on information provided by the countries that request the issuance of the notices and their publication on the organisation's website.

A majority of red notices are restricted to law enforcement use only. The extracts from red notices are published at the request of the member country concerned and where the publics help is required to locate an individual or if the individual may pose a threat to public safety.



On Monday, Mehul Choksi was removed from the red notice list by Interpol. He is accused in the Punjab National Bank scam.

Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Masood Azhar, Dawood Ibrahim, Nirav Modi and his wife Purvi Modi are some of the prominent names on the list.

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As Choksi has now been removed from the Red Notice list, he has the freedom to move anywhere in the world. Though, he is still wanted in India.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has asked the Commission for Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) to put back Choksi on the list.


Why was Rahul Gandhi convicted? Rahul Gandhi was held guilty by a Surat court on Thursday and handed a two-year jail term in a 2019 defamation case. The sentence came from his remarks about the "Modi" surname. Later, however, he was given bail. The magistrate HH Verma suspended the sentence for 30 days, allowing Gandhi to appeal against the verdict in a higher court.



Later, BJP member of the legislative assembly (MLA) Purnesh Modi filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi. The cases were filed under sections 499, 500 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 500 prescribes for defamation a simple imprisonment for a "term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both." Gandhi was convicted in a 2019 case filed for his remarks on the "Modi" surname. In a rally in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi said, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as a common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"



What is the immediate impact of the sentence? On Thursday, chief judicial magistrate HH Verma convicted Gandhi.

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"If it (the court) only suspends the sentence that's not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction," Sibal told NDTV. According to former union minister Kapil Sibal, Gandhi stands automatically disqualified as a member of Parliament (MP) with the sentence. Gandhi is an MP from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala.



The only way Gandhi regains his membership is if a higher court reduces the quantum of the sentence. In the Lily Thomas vs Union of India case in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that "any MP, MLA or MLC who is convicted of a crime and given a minimum of 2 years' jail loses membership of the House with immediate effect".

Does Rahul Gandhi have any other defamation cases against him?

Gandhi has two other defamation cases filed against him.



In May 2019, BLP councillor Krushnakant Brahmbhatt filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi for calling Amit Shah a "murder accused" at a rally. In 2018, Randeep Surjewala made allegations against Amit Shah of a post-demonetisation scam. Gandhi shared this in a tweet with the hashtag #ShahZyadaKhaGaya. Both have pleaded not guilty.

What options does Rahul Gandhi have now?

First, Gandhi must file an appeal against the conviction within 30 days. If a higher court overturns the ruling, Gandhi may be reinstated as an MP. If not, he will continue to be disqualified.



However, SC interference is unlikely in cases where an appeal lies before the courts, and a provision is there for suspension of sentence. Gandhi can also approach the Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution. Under the article, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over all courts and tribunals in India. The SC can change the sentence.

Gandhi's team has already said they plan to challenge the Surat court's verdict.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said it would continue to make all efforts to get economic fugitives, including Mehul Choksi, to face justice in India.

The name of Choksi, who is wanted in India in connection with the Rs 13,000 crore bank fraud in the Punjab National Bank, was dropped from the Red Corner Notice list, a move that grants him freedom to freely travel out of Antigua and Barbuda, where he is holed up after fleeing from India in 2018.

"On the issue of Mehul Choksi...let me just take the larger point. Our focus is on getting economic fugitives to face justice in India and we will continue to make all efforts in this regard," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here.

In a statement on Tuesday, the CBI said it has taken up with the Commission for Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) the serious shortcomings, procedural violations, overreach of mandate and mistakes committed by CCF in the manner of reaching this unfounded and perfunctory decision.

On the issue of the presence of radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in Oman, Bagchi said the ministry did not have any confirmation of his presence in Muscat.

"Zakir Naik is an accused in numerous cases in India. He is a fugitive from justice. We have taken up the matter with the government of Oman and Oman authorities. We will continue to take all necessary measures to bring him to face justice in India," he said.

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He launched the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative, a pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), and a family-centric care model for tuberculosis. He also released 'India's Annual TB Report 2023' while addressing the 'One World TB Summit' in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several initiatives on Friday to eradicate tuberculosis on the occasion of World TB Day celebrated on March 24 annually.



While addressing the One World TB Summit, PM Modi said that India's ideology of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam' is giving the modern world a comprehensive vision and solutions. He also laid the foundation stone of the National Centre for Disease Control and High Containment (BSL) Laboratory and unveiled the site for Metropolitan Public Health Surveillance Unit (MSU).



PM Modi reiterated India's resolve to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025 as against the global target of 2030. He further added that India is taking forward the vision of 'One Earth, One Health' and is realising the resolutions of global good with the 'One World TB Summit'.

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PM Modi also underlined the use of trace, test, track, treat, and technology in the fight against the disease during the Covid-19 pandemic. Highlighting his government's achievement, PM Modi said that since 2014, India has been fighting against TB on many fronts such as public participation, special campaigns for nutrition, new strategies for treatment, intensive use of technology, and promoting good health through campaigns like Khelo India and Yoga.



He underlined that India's localised approach has great global potential, and went on to praise India's 'Ni-kshay Mitra' to join the campaign of TB-free India. In this campaign, common citizens were asked to adopt TB Patients. PM said that so far, 1,000,000 TB patients have been adopted by Indian citizens for financial support. He added that 80 per cent of tuberculosis medicines are made in India and he wants more countries to benefit from India's innovation and modern technology.



PM Modi awarded Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir at the state level and Union Territory levels, and the Nilgiris, Pulwama, and Anantnag at the district level for their progress towards ending tuberculosis. Since 2018, nearly Rs 2,000 crore has been sent directly to the bank accounts of tuberculosis patients and about 7.5 million patients have benefited from it.

He further added that the government is starting a three-month programme for the prevention of tuberculosis instead of a six-month course.


The move comes in the backdrop of a number of states ditching the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and moving back to the older one for their employees. Finance Secretary T V Somanathan would head a committee to look into the pension issues of government employees, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday.



Though she wanted to speak about 10 key provisions of the Bill, she could only announce the setting up of the panel, and another issue, as the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha without discussion. I propose to set up a committee under the finance secretary to look into the issue of pensions and evolve an approach which addresses the needs of employees while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect common citizens, Sitharaman said while speaking on the Finance Bill amid a din in the Lok Sabha.



Later, speaking with reporters, Somanathan said the panel would try to address all stakeholders concerns and look into issues being raised by all quarters. The formation of the panel, its members, and terms of reference have not yet been notified. The approach will be designed for adoption by both the central government and state governments," the finance minister said.

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The state governments of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have informed the Centre about their decision to revert to the OPS and have requested a refund of corpus accumulated under the NPS. Several non-BJP states have decided to revert to the dearness allowance-linked Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and also employee organisations in some other states are raising demand for the same.

NPS contributions are invested in securities like debt and equity instruments. Thus, it does not guarantee fixed pensions but provides high returns in the long term, resulting in a significant lump sum and monthly pensions. The OPS offers fixed pensions to employees after retirement. The pension amount is 50 per cent of their last drawn salary. The NPS, meanwhile, is an investment-cum-pension scheme.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami, UK's Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat on Thursday held discussions on bilateral and wider security cooperation between India, UK.

"HC @VDoraiswami met @TomTugendhat, Minister for Security, for a wide ranging discussion on bilateral and wider security cooperation," Indian High Commission in the UK tweeted on Thursday.

Doraiswami recently met Commandant Major General Zack Stenning OBE at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and discussed engagements in the Professional Military Education domain.

Taking to Twitter, India's High Commission in London said, "HC @VDoraiswami visited the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst @BritishArmy on 17 Mar 2023 and had productive discussions with the Commandant Major General Zack Stenning OBE about engagements in the Professional Military Education domain."

India and UK share a good relationship. Recently, both the country signed the Young Professional Scheme where Vikram K Doraiswami was also present.

The event took place at the High Commission of India in London. Further details and implementation dates will be shared soon regarding the scheme.

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"HC @VDoraiswami & PUS Home @MatthewRycroft1 signed & exchanged the letters for formalising the Young Professional Scheme at an event @HCI_London today. Further details and implementation date will be shared soon. @MEAIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @ukhomeoffice @DoC_GoI @ANI @DDNewslive," the official handle of the High Commission of India in London tweeted.
Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Finance Bill 2023 with 64 official amendments, including the one that seeks withdrawal of long-term tax benefits on certain categories of debt mutual funds and another for setting up the GST Appelate Tribunal.

The Finance Bill that gives effect to tax proposals for fiscal year starting April 1 was passed without a discussion amidst ruckus by opposition members demanding a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) probe into the allegations against the Adani group of companies.

While moving the bill for passage and consideration, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced the setting up of a committee under finance secretary to look into pension issues of government employees.

She also said the Reserve Bank of India will look into the payments made through credit cards for foreign tours which escape tax at source.

Sitharman introduced 64 official amendments to the Finance Bill which was tabled in Parliament on February 1 along with the Budget proposals.

The Budget was passed on Thursday. At that time too, no discussion could take place because of the protest.

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Following amendments, 20 new sections have been added to the Bill.

The Finance Bill will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha.

While the House was taking up the Bill, several opposition members were in the well raising slogans and holding placards demanding a probe by a JPC into the allegations against Adani group of companies following a report by a US based short-seller.

As sloganeering continued, the chair adjourned the proceedings of the House till Monday.
The release said, more than half (53 per cent) of the transactions made regarding office spaces were for properties larger than 100,000 square feet in Hyderabad. Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru topped the list of cities in 100,000 sq. ft plus segment.



The figure was 53 per cent for Bengaluru.The majority of office space transactions in Kolkata (70 per cent) and Chennai (57 per cent) were for offices smaller than 50,000 square feet. It is important to note that global IT and manufacturing companies require large office spaces and thus push demand for the same.



Transactions for office space real estate with a floor size of more than 100,000 square feet remained high in the calendar year 2022, international property consultancy, Knight Frank India said.


A total of 64 amendments were proposed. These included the one that seeks withdrawing long-term capital gains tax benefits on certain categories of debt mutual funds and increasing securities transaction tax (STT) on selling options and futures contracts. The Finance Bill, 2023, passed on Friday in the Lok Sabha without discussion, is set to tax investors heavily from April 1. The Bill, which gives effect to the tax proposals for FY24, was cleared amid the Opposition demanding a probe into the allegations against the Adani group.



On STT, the finance ministry had clarified that tax on selling options had been increased to 0.062 per cent from 0.05 per cent and not from 0.017 per cent to 0.021 per cent as mentioned in the previous amendments to the Bill. The Finance Bill had brought in 10 main provisions helpful for the middle class and community as a whole and ease of doing business. The 11 new ones brought in now with stakeholder consultation have helped to improve the Bill, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting it.



Experts say the hike will affect high-frequency traders especially. Any change in the cost structure has a material impact due to the thin spread in which such traders operate, said Rajesh Gandhi, partner, Deloitte India. The previous amendment had left options traders confused because the instrument was being taxed at 0.05 per cent. The ministry later in the day clarified it was a typographical mistake.

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Other than these, investment in debt mutual funds will be taxed as short-term capital gains from April 1, stripping investors of the long-term tax benefits that made this popular. Moreover, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) dont get any deduction for STT in capital gains computation on derivatives, added Gandhi.



Experts say the move will make debt investment like debt mutual funds and non-convertible debentures unattractive compared to equity. After the amendment, such gains from transfers of units of specified mutual funds will be treated as short-term and taxed at slab rates. This is in addition to taxing market-linked debentures, proposed in the original Bill.



According to the Bill, the Benches of the tribunal will be set up in every state while there will be a Principal Bench in New Delhi to hear appeals related to place of supply. The Bill paved the way for setting up a much-awaited appellate tribunal for resolving disputes on goods and services tax (GST). Currently, taxpayers are filing writ petitions before high courts in the absence of a tribunal.



Other key amendments While moving the Bill, the minister announced a committee would be set up under the finance secretary to look into the National Pension Scheme (NPS) for government employees. The Bill will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha.



Besides, it has proposed softening the tax impact on unit-holders in real estate investment trusts and infrastructure investment trusts. The Bill provided marginal relief and clarity to taxpayers. For those opting for the new tax regime, individuals earning a marginally higher income than the tax-free (with rebate) ceiling of Rs 7 lakh will continue to pay no tax. This means an individual having an income up to Rs 7,27,700 could stand to benefit from this relief.



On angel tax, the Bill does not offer respite for start-ups from its provision. This is expected to impact foreign investors. The government has proposed providing a formula for calculating tax implications when distributions are made as repayment of debt. Currently, the entire amount classified as repayment of debt is proposed to be taxed.



Besides, there will be draft rules related to tax valuation, to be shared with stakeholders for their inputs, next month (April). Exclusions, as already provided to domestic venture capital funds, etc, will be considered for similar overseas entities. However, it clarified the implementation of the tax. It said the changes would be for assessment year 2024-25 and financial year 2023-24. There was confusion about whether this took effect from April 1, 2024, or April 1, 2023.



The RBI is being requested to look into this with a view to bringing credit card payment for foreign tours within the ambit of the LRS and tax collection at source, she said. On tax collection at source (TCS), which is currently applicable to the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) even within India, Sitharaman said the Reserve Bank of India would look at bringing payments made for foreign tours using the credit card under tax collection.


Automation of the mining industry is another priority, said Stephen Dawson, Western Australias minister for innovation and digital economy. Western Australia, the countrys largest state, is looking at climate change and decarbonisation technologies as the focus areas of its ties with India, a minister told 'Business Standard'.



Dawson said the state is looking for tie-ups with Indian companies and Tamil Nadu. "Our focus is on climate change, decarbonization and automation of the mining industry, he said. Western Australias economy is worth Australian $380 billion, contributing 17 per cent to the national economy but home to only 10 per cent of Australias population.



"We are blessed with consistent and low-cost renewable energy for producing green hydrogen at scale, and our industries are leading the way to position the State at the forefront of a clean, diverse, inclusive and responsible global economy. As the world seeks to decarbonise, Western Australia is uniquely placed to work with partners, including in India, on this transition. Renowned for our mining sector, we have an abundance of all the minerals needed to create a rechargeable battery," he said.

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India and Western Australias trading partnership was valued at $1.92 billion in 2020. Dawson said cooperation is going to increase in the coming years. Western Australia is betting on bringing more Indian students to the country. Western Australia aims to be net zero by 2050, seeking to achieve that with a major change in energy mix favouring renewables by 2030.

India is our biggest international student market. This is also expected to increase and we are focusing more on skill education, he said.




The Swiss banks were included in a recent wave of subpoenas sent out by the US government, the people said. The information requests were sent before the crisis that engulfed Credit Suisse and resulted in UBSs proposed takeover of its rival. Credit Suisse Group AG and UBS Group AG are among the banks under scrutiny in a US Justice Department probe into whether financial professionals helped Russian oligarchs evade sanctions, according to people familiar with the matter.



The Justice Department inquiries are focused on identifying which bank employees dealt with sanctioned clients and how those clients were vetted over the past several years, according to one of the people. Those bankers and advisers may then be subject to further investigation to determine if they broke any laws. Subpoenas also went to employees of some major US banks, two people with knowledge of the inquiries, said.



Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in expanded sanctions, Credit Suisse was well-known for catering to wealthy Russians. At its peak, the bank managed more than $60 billion for Russian clients, who generated between $500 million and $600 million a year in revenue for Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse and UBS both declined to comment.

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The Justice Department last year launched its KleptoCapture task force to enforce sanctions on wealthy Russians who are political allies of President Vladimir Putin. The US government has since seized a number of yachts, private planes and luxury properties. At the time it discontinued its business with individual Russian clients last May, Credit Suisse held about $33 billion for them, 50% more than UBS, despite the latters larger wealth management business.



A number of individuals have also been charged with helping oligarchs hide assets  British businessman Graham Bonham-Carter was arrested in October on charges that he illegally transferred $1 million to maintain US properties for sanctioned billionaire Oleg Deripaska. A former senior Federal Bureau of Investigation agent was also charged with helping Deripaska violate sanctions in January. Last month, the US moved to seize homes in New York, Florida and the Hamptons owned by sanctioned oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.



As the Credit Suisse rescue plan emerged over the weekend, UBS expressed general concerns about taking on its rivals potential legal liabilities. The Swiss government has said it would guarantee up to 9 billion francs ($9.8 billion) in losses to UBS from the deal. Banks can face serious penalties for violating US sanctions. BNP Paribas in 2014 agreed to pay nearly $9 billion after pleading guilty to US charges for processing transactions for sanctioned Sudanese, Iranian and Cuban entities. In 2019, Standard Chartered Bank agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a Justice Department probe, in which a former bank employee pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran.




Donald Trump warned there could be violence if hes indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in an escalation of verbal attacks on prosecutors investigating the former president for potential crimes.

In a post after midnight on Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump asked how a former president could be charged with a crime given that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country? By Mark NiquetteDonald Trump warned there could be violence if hes indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in an escalation of verbal attacks on prosecutors investigating the former president for potential crimes.



He predicted last weekend that he would be arrested in the New York probe related to a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence during the 2016 campaign about an alleged affair he denies. Hes also being investigated for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection and his handling of classified documents. Trump has been making a torrent of posts on his social media platform criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the other state and federal prosecutors who are investigating him in Washington, DC, and Georgia.



Why & who would do such a thing? Only a degenerate psychopath, Trump said of Bragg. The former president has labeled Bragg, whos Black, racist and an animal and linked him to Democratic political donor George Soros, a frequent target of the right.

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Trump has also called for his supporters to protest, take our nation back, similar to when he urged his supporters to assemble in Washington and march to the US Capitol in 2021 when Congress met to ratify Trumps loss in the election and a violent mob stormed the complex. Bragg has said in a statement that he will not tolerate intimidation. In a statement in Politicos New York Playbook newsletter on Friday, civil rights leaders including Al Sharpton called Trumps comments an effort to burn down the greatest values of our democracy and destroy honest, ethical officials performing their constitutional duties to avoid accountability.

New York City police officers put up security barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court and Braggs office earlier this week, but so far, protests have been minimal.




China, the US and Saudi Arabia are among countries that significantly altered a United Nations document that will shape global climate policy for years to come, according to an account of international negotiations preceding its release.

The report published this week was written by Earth Negotiations Bulletin, the only news organization allowed to observe proceedings when 195 nations gathered to approve a summary of climate science findings over the last five years. The document they were debating, meant to advise policymakers, is separate from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes much longer report, which is purely technical and isn't vetted line-by-line by country negotiators. By Laura Millan and Eric RostonChina, the US and Saudi Arabia are among countries that significantly altered a United Nations document that will shape global climate policy for years to come, according to an account of international negotiations preceding its release.







Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, strongly opposed the inclusion of a sentence saying the use of fossil fuels is the root cause of climate change, according to ENB. The Middle Eastern nation also objected to several references to the challenges faced by technologies designed to suck carbon from the atmosphere, the ENB report said. In the end, one reference was included. Chinese negotiators successfully lobbied to delete a reference to those exact reductions in the final summary for policymakers, ENB reported, though they did agree to have the numbers included in an adjacent chart. China, the worlds biggest emitter of planet-warming gases on an annual basis, aims to reach peak emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon-neutrality by 2060. A spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent late afternoon in Beijing. The IPCC report stressed that continuing to burn fossil fuels threatens human well-being and the stability of much of life on Earth, with the chance of avoiding the most severe impacts moving rapidly out of reach. One of the most controversial conclusions was that greenhouse gas emissions have to be cut by 60%, and carbon dioxide pollution has to fall 65% by 2035 from 2019 levels for a 50% chance of keeping global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Thats the target that global leaders agreed on in the landmark Paris Agreement and what scientists say is needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change.



The US, the largest historical emitter, opposed a request from India, Bolivia and China to include a sentence that suggested transfers of technology would be one determinant of how quickly and deeply emissions are cut around the world. Developed countries have long been sensitive to wording about technology transfer because of intellectual property issues. Saudi Arabia has been a strong advocate for carbon-capture technology, which would in theory allow for more fossil fuels to be burned while staying within the Paris Agreements temperature limit. But the process is extremely energy intensive and expensive, and has yet to reach the scale needed to cut emissions fast enough. Climate models show that cutting the use of highly polluting fuels would be a more effective way to tame emissions this decade. A spokesperson for Saudi Arabias Energy Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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An initial version of the ENB account said representatives from oil-rich Norway forced a change on a section referring to the need for deep, rapid, and sustained greenhouse gas emissions reductions starting this decade. The final wording just stresses the need for strong emissions reductions. The US State Department declined to comment. A senior administration official defended the final IPCC summary for policymakers, saying it was clear about the critical message.



Norway supported stressing the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also agreed that the idea was sufficiently reflected in other parts of the document, Ole-Kristian Kvissel from the Norwegian Environment Agency told Bloomberg on Thursday. The text was changed following a discussion among IPCC members, and not at Norway's request, a Norwegian official said in an email. An updated ENB story removed the reference to Norway requesting that change.
The IMF, World Bank and India, current president of the Group of 20 major economies, will convene a new sovereign debt roundtable again on April 3, an IMF official said on Thursday, with an eye to accelerating work on debt relief for countries in need.

The gathering of deputies will be followed by a principals' meeting on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington, the official said, but no firm date has been set.

The meeting comes amid continued delays in securing debt treatment agreements for Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia that U.S. officials and others blame on foot-dragging by China, now the world's largest bilateral creditor.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will travel to China on Friday through March 30 to meet China's new leadership team, including new Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng, who replaced Liu He as China's top economic official.

IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said the next meetings would build on progress made by the roundtable in bringing together creditors and debtor countries to discuss ways to accelerate the debt restructuring process.

Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia are at various stages of the process, but debt experts say China's agreement to provide financing assurances for Sri Lanka could provide fresh momentum for moving forward on those separate cases.

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IMF officials are in Lusaka, Zambia now through April 5 to review its economic reforms and remove any hurdles to the timely consideration by the IMF's board of the first review of Zambia's new financing package approved in August, Kozack said.

She called on Zambia's official creditors - which include China - to "reach agreement on a debt treatment in line with the financing assurances that they provided in July 2022," adding hope that a "suitable agreement" would be reached soon.

She said the IMF was conducting technical work to prepare for talks on a potential program with Ethiopia.

Kozack said IMF officials were also working closely with Ghana, which is seeking financing assurances needed for the IMF to move forward with a staff agreement reached in December on a three-year $3 billion lending program.

"We're calling on bilateral creditors to support Ghana's effort to restore debt sustainability, form an official creditor committee and deliver the necessary financing assurances as soon as possible," she said.


Microsoft Corp.s chances of winning antitrust approval for its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. got a boost after UK regulators narrowed the scope of their probe to focus solely on cloud gaming.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it changed its mind after weighing a significant amount of new evidence that Microsoft would be unlikely to profit from restricting access to blockbuster franchise Call of Duty on rival consoles such as Sony Corp.s PlayStation. By Katharine GemmellMicrosoft Corp.s chances of winning antitrust approval for its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. got a boost after UK regulators narrowed the scope of their probe to focus solely on cloud gaming.



The CMA took an initial view that the merger could result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation for UK gamers. It suggested a number of remedies, including the divestiture of Activisions Call of Duty or blocking the deal altogether. The agency did say it would consider other remedies that would safeguard rivals access to the blockbuster shooter game. Pressure has been mounting on Microsoft as it battles multiple fronts at home and in Europe to convince watchdogs to clear the deal, the companys largest ever and one of the 30 biggest acquisitions of all time.



The narrowing of the probe echoes a similar step at European Union level where the bloc is said to be only focusing on cloud gaming services. In its findings on Friday the CMA concluded that after reviewing more data the strategy of selling off Call of Duty would be significantly loss-making under any plausible scenario.

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We appreciate the CMAs rigorous and thorough evaluation of the evidence and welcome its updated provisional findings, a Microsoft spokesperson said. Activision jumped about 6% to $84.58 as the market opened in New York on Friday. Microsoft was little changed.
Nepal's total population has reached more than 29.1 million, according to the latest census published on Friday, registering a growth of 0.92 per cent in a decade.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', launching the National Report of the National Census 2022 here, said that the census data have emerged as tools for promoting good governance and measuring the nation's progress towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

According to the data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics, out of the 29,164,578 people in Nepal, 14,911,027 are females, while the number of males 14,253,551.

At the time of the previous census, the country's total population stood at 26,494,504. According to the report, the population has increased at the rate of 0.92 percent in the last 10 years.

The Census would provide a guideline to monitor and evaluate Nepal's commitments on the international forum about demography and its development, and the goals of national development as also to analyse the existing indicators of development, Prachanda said during the launch of the report.

The prime minister said that the data collected is expected to provide a reliable ground for the federal, provincial and local governments to make concrete decisions while preparing their policies, plans and programmes.

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I found the national census as a supporting tool to review the implementation of the 15th Periodic Plan and formulate an approach paper for the consecutive periodic plan, he said.

Citing the latest census data, the prime minister said that the population growth rate is shrinking in the country, and it is more rapid in the mountains and the rural population.

"The number of people staying abroad and thereby considered absent during the census has increased in this census as compared to 2011, Prachanda said, adding that according to the data, the proportion of women going abroad has risen.

More than 2,190,000 Nepalis live abroad (in countries other than India), the report said, adding that the figure is higher by 269,098 than in the precious census of 2011.

According to the census data, the country's literacy rate has reached 76.3 per cent, increasing 10.4 per cent in the last ten years.

The census data also reflects that women's access to family properties increased, with 23.8 per cent of households having their land and house in the woman's name, a 1.1 per cent increase when compared to the 2011 census.

There are 6,666,937 households in the country, of which 6,660,841 are residential houses. Women run 31.55 per cent of these households, a 5.82 per cent rise compared to the previous census.

According to the census data, Kathmandu has the highest population across the country at 2,041,587, while only 5,658 people reside in the Manang district.

Even after the government's emphasis on the development and promotion of clean energy, a large section of the country's population still relies on traditional means of cooking fuel, the report said.

A total of 51 per cent of the households in the country still use firewood in the kitchen, while the percentage of those using LPG gas cylinders stands at 44.3 per cent.

The government's vision of expanding electricity coverage to all households is almost close to realisation, with 92.2 per cent of these households being under the ambit of electricity. Ten years ago, only 67.3 per cent of the population had access to electricity.

According to the statistics, 98.8 per cent of the population has access to clean energy, while those using kerosene and other fuels remain below 1 per cent.

The Himalayan nation's government halted the census in 2021, citing the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. The census was also delayed by five months more than the estimated deadline.

The first census in Nepal was conducted in 1911. Conducted every 10 years, the 12th National Census in 2021 was conducted from November 11-25 in 2021 with the slogan- 'My Census, My Participation: National Census-2021'.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 39,000 enumerators and 8,000 supervisors were deployed for the census in 2021.


"Initial analysis indicates matching engine encountered a bug on a trailing stop order," he said in a tweet, adding that the pause in deposits and withdrawals was a standard operating procedure. Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has suspended deposits and withdrawals on its platform due to technical issues affecting its spot trading, Chief Executive Changpeng Zhao said in a tweet on Friday.



Last week Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, said it will be halting its sterling deposits and withdrawals, a month after it ceased dollar transfers. "Engine 1 is back online. Still need more time to do reconciliations, and for other engines to catch up," Zhao said in a subsequent tweet.



Reuters has previously reported that the Justice Department is investigating Binance for suspected money laundering and sanctions violations. The cessation of traditional currency transfers comes amid a growing crackdown on crypto by US authorities.

Also Read Crypto industry wants 0.1% TDS, Sebi-like regulator in Budget 2023 Binance to hire 8,000 people by 2023 end, says CEO Changpeng Zhao Amid Binance-FTX deal fallout, calls for 'proof of reserve' grow louder How Binance, FTX deal rocked the Crypto world and later collapsed Binance-FTX saga deepens crypto investors' fears, Bitcoin near two-year low Crypto wrap: Market remained in green despite rate hikes by Fed, BoE Firm credit growth reflects India's underlying economic fundamentals: Das Bitcoin set to extend its 70% surge this year if key charts are right Nordek Blockchain is blazing a trail with speedy, Low-cost blockchain for payments, Gamefi and loyalty programs Crypto exchange WazirX blocked 2,431 accounts between Oct 2022-March 2023

A top Binance executive told The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg last month that Binance expected to pay penalties to resolve US investigations into the company.
Britannia Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 4208.7, down 0.8% on the day as on 13:19 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 36.01% in last one year as compared to a 0.43% slide in NIFTY and a 27.79% spurt in the Nifty Financial Services index.

Britannia Industries Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 4208.7, down 0.8% on the day as on 13:19 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.01% on the day, quoting at 17078.7. The Sensex is at 57935.45, up 0.02%.Britannia Industries Ltd has lost around 4.09% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Financial Services index of which Britannia Industries Ltd is a constituent, has increased around 0.79% in last one month and is currently quoting at 45267.45, up 0.28% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 1.15 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 2.61 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark March futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 4211.55, down 0.77% on the day. Britannia Industries Ltd jumped 36.01% in last one year as compared to a 0.43% slide in NIFTY and a 27.79% spurt in the Nifty Financial Services index.

The PE of the stock is 56.27 based on TTM earnings ending December 22.

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Also Read JSW Steel Ltd eases for fifth straight session SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd eases for fifth straight session Shriram Transport Finance Company Ltd eases for fifth straight session Hero MotoCorp Ltd eases for fifth straight session Lupin Ltd eases for fifth straight session Cyber Media (India) Ltd leads losers in 'B' group Metal shares fall Real Estate stocks slide Basic materials shares edge lower HCL Technologies Ltd down for fifth straight session
Mainland China share market finished session lower on Friday, 24 March 2023, as fresh diplomatic and trade tensions with Washington weighed on sentiment.

At close of trade, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.64%, or 20.99 points, to 3,265.65. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, added 0.25%, or 5.33 points, to 2,116.77. The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.3%, or 12.04 points, to 4,027.05.

U.S. lawmakers on Thursday questioned TikTok's CEO about potential Chinese influence over the platform, the latest company to be in the cross-hairs of the Sino-U.S. conflict. That comes after China's military on Thursday said it had driven away a U.S. destroyer that entered waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

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Emami announced that its board has approved a share buyback of upto Rs 186 crore at a price not exceeding Rs 450 per equity share via open market route through the stock exchange mechanism.The maximum buyback price of Rs 450 per equity share represents a 23.54% premium to Thursday's closing price of Rs 364.25 on the BSE.

The company will buyback up to 41.33 lakh equity shares of face value of Rs 1 each, representing up to 0.94% which is less than 25% of the existing paid up equity capital of the company as on 31 March 2022.

The maximum buyback size represents 9.94% and 9.99% of the aggregate of the total paid-up equity share capital and free reserves of the company based on the latest audited standalone and consolidated financial statements of the company as on 31 March 2022, respectively.

Emami is one of India's leading FMCG Companies engaged in manufacturing & marketing of personal care & healthcare products with an enviable portfolio of household brand names such as Boro Plus, Navratna, Fair and Handsome, Zandu Balm, Kesh King, Zandu Pancharishta, Mentho Plus Balm and others.

The company consolidated net profit rose 6.4% to Rs 224.62 crore despite of 4.5% decline in net sales to Rs 835.55 crore in Q3 FY23 over Q3 FY22.

The scrip declined 1.15% to currently trade at Rs 360.05 on the BSE.

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Power Grid Corporation of India said that its board has approved to raise upto Rs 600 crore through issue of bonds on private placement basis.The company will issue unsecured, non-convertible, non-cumulative, redeemable, taxable POWERGRID Bonds-LXXII (72nd) upto Rs 600 crore on private placement basis.

The total issue size of bond includes base issue size of Rs 100 crore, green shoe option of Rs 500 crore. The company will raise funds by securitizing cashflows of 10 years, which is till FY 2032-33 of its operational special purpose vehicle (SPV), POWERGRID NM Transmission (PNMTL). Bonds are redeemable at par in 40 equal instalments and interest payment on quarterly basis.

The bonds will be listed on BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE (National Stock Exchange).

Power Grid Corporation of India has been established by the Government of India (GoI) as the central transmission utility of India. As of 31 December 2022, the Government of India owned a 51.34% stake in the company.

The company's consolidated net profit rose 10.7% to Rs 3,645.34 crore on 7.8% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 11,261.78 crore in Q3 FY23 over Q3 FY22.

The scrip rose 0.65% to Rs 223.50 on the BSE.

Also Read Tata Motors gains after subsidiary files IPO papers with Sebi Sahara One Media and Entertainment reports consolidated net loss of Rs 0.45 crore in the September 2022 quarter Sahara One Media and Entertainment reports standalone net loss of Rs 0.10 crore in the December 2022 quarter Sahara One Media and Entertainment reports consolidated net loss of Rs 0.36 crore in the December 2022 quarter Zen Technologies wins order worth Rs 127 cr Aarti Drugs Ltd leads gainers in 'A' group BSE SME Bright Outdoor Media rises on debut Zydus Life gets USFDA nod for depression drug Volumes jump at Campus Activewear Ltd counter Shreeji Translogistic jumps on adding BHEL as new client

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The key equity indices traded with minor losses in morning trade. The Nifty traded below the 17,050 level. Barring the Nifty IT index, all the other sectoral indices on the NSE traded in the red.

At 10:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 104.28 points or 0.18% to 57,821. The Nifty 50 index lost 46.30 points or 0.27% to 17,030.60.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.58% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slipped 0.50%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,249 shares rose and 1,835 shares fell. A total of 119 shares were unchanged.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 995.01 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 1,668.85 crore in the Indian equity market on 23 March, provisional data showed.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index lost 1.50% to 5,415.45. The index advanced 0.10% in the past trading session.

Also Read Indices trade with decent gains; metal stocks in demand Hindalco Industries Ltd Slides 1.99%, S&P BSE Metal index Shed 1.16% Hindalco Industries Ltd Slips 4.95%, S&P BSE Metal index Shed 3.14% Hindalco Industries Ltd Surges 2.18%, S&P BSE Metal index Gains 1.03% Hindalco Industries Ltd Spikes 1.75%, S&P BSE Metal index Rises 1.1% Indices nudge lower in early trade; Nifty below 17,050 Indices may open lower Indices snap 2-day gains; Nifty holds 17K Quick Wrap: Nifty PSU Bank Index registers a drop of 1.74% Market ends with modest cuts amid volatility; Nifty settles below 17,100

Steel Authority of India (down 2.91%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 2.23%), Ratnamani Metals & Tubes (down 1.7%), Tata Steel (down 1.33%), Hindalco Industries (down 1.27%), JSW Steel (down 0.85%), Hindustan Copper (down 0.81%), National Aluminium Company (down 0.71%), Welspun Corp (down 0.55%) and APL Apollo Tubes (down 0.41%) declined.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Lupin fell 0.02%. The drug maker on Thursday announced that it has received tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA), Obeticholic Acid Tablets.

Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) added 0.63% after the company said that Rachana -RVNL joint venture (JV) has received letter of acceptance (LOA) for a project aggregating to Rs 252.21 crore in Gujarat.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) declined 0.18%. IRCTC said that it has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) for a period of 5 years.

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Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, as part of the 'National Logistics Policy (NLP)' on 17th September, 2022. ULIP has a dedicated portal that makes the process of data request simpler, faster, and transparent and facilitates India's logistics sector with data-driven visibility and transparency. Within 6 months of its launch, it has received registrations from more than 400 companies. 68 companies have already signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with ULIP for getting access to the data sets. More than 30 applications have been developed by the industry players for providing better services to their end users by leveraging ULIP's API integrations.

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Zen Technologies has secured an order of Rs 127 crore.

Commenting on the order win, Ashok Atluri - Chairman and Managing Director, said:

"The Government of India has recently accelerated the induction of simulators into the armed forces, in line with the simulation framework issued in September 2021 (source: https://tinu.be/GOISimFW). This move not only saves a significant amount of money but also provides better training value and is the most environmentally sustainable way to train our forces for combat readiness.

Although Zen has faced setbacks in the past (2012), as the Company faced the cancellation of some large tenders that were within the grasp. The situation looked bleak back then, and we had stated in our press release at the time, "As of now Zen is not participating in any large tender The visibility of the forthcoming orders is poor (source: https://tinu.be/Zen). The Company has made a complete turnaround over the last ten years. Zen is confident that it is well-positioned to participate in and contribute to the country's growth and progress. The company believes that the next few years will be extremely positive, and it anticipates the signing of several more significant contracts in the near future.

Zen believes that it will play a significant supporting role in the government's prestigious Agnipath initiative and efforts to modernize training. The Government of India's actions show that it is walking the talk when it comes to supporting its stated objectives. The induction of simulators into the armed forces is an example of this. With the government's support, Zen is confident that it will continue to thrive and contribute to the country's progress.

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Its a set menu at the company cafeteria where Im told Godrej eats regularly when in office. A mechanical engineer from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Godrej looks like a pre-occupied college professor at first glance. Dressed in a checked shirt, khaki knockabout pants, glasses and a steel Rolex, the 74-year-old promoter runs the groups flagship company, Godrej & Boyce, which makes refrigerat

It's a warm February afternoon, and Im meeting Godrej & Boyce Chairman Jamshyd Godrej at his Vikhroli office in Mumbai. I've tried to draw him out to a restaurant or a nearby hotel but he's flipped the invitation back for lunch at his factory cafeteria. As I drive towards the building we are meeting at, I cant help but notice the gigantic work sheds that house what look like missile and aeronautical fuselages. The Godrej brand might be best known for locks, almirahs and soaps but its other ventures are clearly not small.


A Bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Opposition parties. The matter will be heard on April 5. Fourteen political parties, led by the Congress, on Friday moved the Supreme Court alleging misuse of central probe agencies, such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI), against Opposition leaders.



We are asking for pre- and post-arrest guidelines. Today the CBI and ED are used against us, Singhvi told the court. The parties, which also include the Aam Aadmi Party, the Shiv Sena, and the DMK, have sought guidelines for law enforcement agencies and courts on arrest, remand, and bail.



"I am asking for the guidelines for the future. This is a remarkable convergence of 14 parties against the misuse of the agencies, both CBI and ED. Ninety-five per cent cases of the CBI and ED are against the leaders of Opposition," Singhvi said. Other parties in the matter are the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Samajwadi Party, and J&K National Conference.

Also Read Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far Mikes of opposition silenced; media under attack in India: Rahul Gandhi Old pension scheme: Is politics trumping economics? Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail term in Modi surname defamation case Sentenced to 2-year jail, Rahul Gandhi quotes Mahatma Gandhi in Tweet Rahul Gandhi insulted OBCs, defamed Parliament, judiciary: Bhupender Yadav Security beefed up at Vijay Chowk in Delhi ahead of Congress protest Can't blame all Gandhi surnames because Rahul insulted democracy: Rijiju Pathetic and casteist mindset: Nadda slams Rahul over his remarks on PM Lies, slander part of Rahul's politics, people will punish him: Nadda



The move comes a day after Congress MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, was convicted to serve a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case by a Surat court in Gujarat for his derogatory remarks at a public meeting about those with the surname Modi. He referred to the rise in the number of cases filed by the CBI and ED after the NDA government came to power.



Protest march alleging 'democracy in danger' On Friday, the former Congress president was disqualified from Lok Sabha, an action the party termed an attempt to "silence" his voice as it vowed to fight the battle legally and politically. The BJP dismissed the charges and termed the disqualification "lawful".



Prominent leaders, including K C Venugopal, Adhir Chowdhury, K Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammed Javed, were stopped by the police and detained at Vijay Chowk here for violating prohibitory orders, the Opposition claimed. Several opposition parties on Friday took out a protest march from Parliament House, alleging that democracy was in "danger" and demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue.
Congress workers on Friday held silent protests at 19 district headquarters in Gujarat against the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case by a court in Surat, a party spokesperson said.

The Congress has instructed party workers to hold protests in all 33 districts in the state against the conviction and two-year jail term to Rahul Gandhi, he said. The Surat court sentenced Gandhi to two years jail on Thursday but granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. The defamation case had been registered against Gandhi for his 'How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?' remark. The complaint against him was lodged by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. Gandhi had made the remark during a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, during the Lok Sabha elections campaign. "Silent protests were held in front of the collector offices in 19 districts of Gujarat. We had issued a circular asking district units to stage demonstrations in all 33 districts of the states," Congress spokesperson Hiren Banker said. In the remaining districts, protests will be held by this evening, he said. The Congress has also decided to hold more protests on Monday, Banker added. Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by the Surat court. Gandhi, who represented the Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023, the notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called on her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

The meeting between the two leaders assumed significance amid efforts by leaders of several opposition parties to forge a united opposition alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"CM Mamata Banerjee met Odisha's CM Naveen Patnaik. Bengal and Odisha have always shared a special relationship, one of cooperation and respect. This meeting between the two leaders has further strengthened the bond between the two states," tweeted the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

During the meeting, Trinamool said Mamata reasserted the need to strengthen India's federal structure, ensuring accountability at all levels of government.

Taking to Twitter Patnaik said, "It is always a pleasure meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Didi. Odisha shares a special bond with West Bengal and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope she had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha."

Mamata Banerjee also thanked Odisha CM for the allotment of land for the West Bengal government guest house in Puri.

Also Read CM Patnaik inaugurates postgraduate medical college in Odisha's Bhubaneswar Patnaik announces Rs 146 cr winter aid for needy as Odisha shivers in cold Odisha receives 145 proposals worth Rs 7.26 trn so far in biz conclave Pradhan asks Odisha CM Patnaik to get cabinet nod for Padampur district Naveen Patnaik urges Sitharaman to withdraw 18% GST on Kendu leaf Congress to hold solidarity march over Surat court verdict against Rahul Congress protests in Hyderabad over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Sharad Pawar backs Rahul, says jail term attempt to suppress Opposition NDDP-BJP govt accepted letter of support from all political parties: CM Rio UP govt has given jobs to 550,000 youngsters in last 6 years: CM Adityanath

"During a joint address, Mamata Banerjee expressed her sincere gratitude towards Odisha government for granting a suitable place for West Bengal Guest House. She also reasserted the need to strengthen India's federal structure, ensuring accountability at all levels of government. Every year, huge crowds of devotees from Bengal throng to Shri Jagannath temple. Mamata Banerjee visited the location identified for the construction of a West Bengal government guesthouse for tourists. This initiative will cement the legacy of closeness between the two states," tweeted AITC.

CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday visited Jagannatha Temple in Puri.


The Opposition, including some parties that do not usually support the Congress, unanimously condemned the move, calling it an attack on democracy. In some parts of the country, workers of the Congress and the BJP clashed on the streets, as Rahul Gandhi said: I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any price. After a meeting of senior leaders late in the evening, the Congress announced a nationwide agitation against Rahul Gandhis disqualification, alleging that the government had acted with lightning speed to gag him. Rahul Gandhi was stripped of his membership of the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a Surat court convicted him in a defamation case.



Following his conviction and disqualification, Rahul Gandhi will be debarred from contesting elections for eight years, unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. If a higher court reduces his sentence by even one day, the Lok Sabha Speaker will have to reverse his order. The Surat court order clearly gave him 30 days to appeal (otherwise he would have been led away to prison from the court where the order was delivered). But whether the order also suspended his sentence pending the appeal is still not clear, former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said. Earlier, the Speakers office said in a notification: Consequent upon his conviction by the court of chief judicial magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad constituency, stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. March 23, 2023.



We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC (joint parliamentary committee probe) into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet. Reacting to Gandhis disqualification, the Congress said it would fight the battle both legally and politically.

Also Read Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha one day after conviction Rahul Gandhi gets two-year jail term in Modi surname defamation case What options are available with Rahul Gandhi now after his conviction? Mikes of opposition silenced; media under attack in India: Rahul Gandhi Will fight this battle both legally, politically: Cong on disqualification Cong holds protests at Guj headquarters against Rahul Gandhi's conviction Maha Assembly: Oppn walks out to protest Rahul Gandhi's disqualification Opposition parties approaching SC against 'dictatorship' of BJP: AAP Rahul stands disqualified, should not have attended Lok Sabha: Sushil Modi



The party will appeal against the lower court order once it has got a translated and certified copy of the order, which is more than 100 pages and in Gujarati. Rajya Sabha Congress leader P Chidambaram said: Judgment on 23 March, disqualification on 24 March. The speed with which the system moved is astonishing. No time is spent on reflection, understanding or allowing time for legal review. Obviously, there are no voices of moderation in the BJP party or the government. The net result is parliamentary democracy has suffered another cruel blow.



Senior BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav said Gandhi had got enough opportunities to explain himself and provide evidence, and all rules were followed leading to his disqualification. Defending Gandhis disqualification, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice SPS Baghel termed the move lawful and asserted that everyone is equal before law. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the decision was a legal one and alleged the Congress was questioning the judiciary. It was a legal decision and not a call taken by the political party. It was taken by a court. The Congress should clarify who they are protesting against, he said.



Not just Gandhi, but the Congress party should apologise for insulting the OBC community. They should work towards the development of the country instead of defaming the country's democracy in London, he said. When the order has come now the Congress is protesting against the order. They are abusing the legal system. In this country, the system runs according to the law and prior to this similar action has been taken against other public representatives.

Rahul Gandhi attended a meeting of party MPs before the start of the House proceedings. Congress Parliamentary Party Chief Sonia Gandhi was also present during the meeting. When the question arose about whether he should attend the House after the court order, Gandhi overruled objections and said he would attend. The House was adjourned seconds after convening amid ruckus over various issues, and Rahul Gandhi left Parliament soon after that.
Heavy security has been deployed at Vijay Chowk, ahead of the Congress march on Friday, against the Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress party will be carrying out the protest march against the court verdict that sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two-years-jail.

Earlier on Thursday, the Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019 during an election rally in Karnataka.

Talking to ANI, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, "We have analyzed the situation. The verdict was so unfortunate as far as Congress Party is concerned. We will do a solidarity march for Congress Party. We are seeking an appointment with the President. From day 1 onwards, when Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Adani, the Government of India side came to stop him. They do not want Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. They are varying all options to stop his voice".

"But Rahul Gandhi and Congress party will speak. This issue is not because of Rahul Gandhi. It is because the country's environment is like that. All opposition is getting suppressed. I am happy that parties are showing solidarity," he added.

However, the court also approved Rahul Gandhi's bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts.

Also Read Rahul Gandhi visits memorials of former Prime Ministers, Mahatma Gandhi Don't betray India, says Anurag Thakur to Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders People like Rahul Gandhi question Army, insult them: Anurag Thakur Rahul Gandhi to address on final day of Congress' plenary session on Sunday J P Nadda says Rahul Gandhi speaking language of China and Pakistan Can't blame all Gandhi surnames because Rahul insulted democracy: Rijiju Pathetic and casteist mindset: Nadda slams Rahul over his remarks on PM Lies, slander part of Rahul's politics, people will punish him: Nadda Approval to Budget without discussion is worst message, says Chidambaram Cong plans mass agitation, to meet Prez Murmu to discuss Rahul's conviction

While the BJP leaders attacked Rahul Gandhi after the verdict saying whatever he speaks it affects the Congress party and the country in a negative way, Congress leaders said that an attempt was being made by the BJP government to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi and that he will move the higher courts against the verdict.
US prosecutors have arrested Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind the crash of two digital currencies (TerraUSD and Luna) that lost over $40 billion last year, and charged him with fraud.

Kwon, the wanted co-founder of Terraform Labs behind a multibillion-dollar crash of the firm's cryptocurrency last year, was arrested in Montenegro in the US.

An eight-count indictment against Kwon was made public in the US District Court in Manhattan after his arrest, reports said.

Meanwhile, South Korean prosecutors said on Friday they will seek the extradition of Kwon.

South Korea has joined the European Convention on Extradition, a multilateral treaty to facilitate extradition between the member states, of which Montenegro is also a member, the justice ministry said.

It is unclear, however, whether Kwon would be sent to South Korea, reports Yonhap news agency.

Also Read Fugitive preacher Zakir Naik to give talks during FIFA World Cup in Qatar What is cryptocurrency mining? India's taxes on crypto transactions may 'kill the industry': Binance CEO FTX's Bankman-Fried charged with fraud; could face up to 115 yrs in prison Punj police arrests 4 for aiding Amritpal escape, releases fugitive's pics Google-owned YouTube shuts Indian short video shopping app Simsim Samsung unveils Galaxy F14 5G smartphone with 6000 mAh battery in India Nothing Phone (1) users complain on Twitter about multiple issues Snap launches new business unit to offer AI solutions to retailers Have a Twitter blue tick? Buy a Blue subscription or lose it from April 1

As he is also facing criminal charges in the United States, he could be handed over to the US.

Kwon, who had been a fugitive for several months after last being spotted in neighbouring Balkan country Serbia in December last year, was detained along with one of his close aides, surnamed Han.

The disgraced entrepreneur has been under investigation for alleged fraud and tax evasion after investors in TerraUSD and Luna filed complaints against Kwon last May, accusing him of a Ponzi scheme over the loss of billions of won following the crash of both coins.

Prosecutors have since sought an arrest warrant for Kwon on allegations including providing false information to investors and the violation of the capital market law.

Interpol also issued a red notice, used for the highest level of wanted suspects and criminals. His passport has since been invalidated.

Prosecutors are also continuing to investigate Daniel Shin, another co-founder of Terraform Labs, on charges of gaining illegal profits before the collapse of the coins.

TerraUSD was designed as a stablecoin, which was pegged to stable assets like the US dollar. But holders of TerraUSD and Luna lost more than an estimated $40 billion in market value after the stablecoin plunged far below its $1 peg in late May.

--IANS

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On Friday, March 24, the Empire State Building (ESB) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyds legendary album The Dark Side of the Moon with a special anniversary version of the famous original album artwork to spin in its mast.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005742/en/

The Empire State Building to Light Up in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the Moon (Photo: Business Wire)

The Dark Side of the Moon is as authentic, global, and iconic an album as the Empire State Building is a building, so it is only logical to celebrate it atop ESBs world-famous tower, said Anthony E. Malkin, chairman, president, and CEO at Empire State Realty Trust. On March 24 she will celebrate this milestone anniversary alongside the multitude of Pink Floyd fans throughout the world.

Released in 1973, The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the best-selling albums of all time with more than 45 million copies sold worldwide. The album is praised for its innovative production techniques and creative use of instruments and has influenced countless artists throughout its 50-year history.

Pink Floyd will release a new deluxe box set that day that includes CD and gatefold vinyl of the 2023 remastered studio album and Blu-ray + DVD audio with the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. The deluxe set will also include new Blu-ray disk of Atmos mix, CD and LP of The Dark Side of the Moon  Live at Wembley Empire Pool, London 1974, a 160-page hardback photo book, a music book, replica 7 singles, and memorabilia.

The display will kick off at sunset and can be seen throughout New York City, as well as online from the Empire State Building Live Cam. More information about Pink Floyd and the 50th Anniversary of Dark Side of the Moon can be found online. Hi-res b-roll of the dynamic lighting can be downloaded here. More information about the Empire State Buildings world-famous tower lights can be found online.

About the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, the #1 Attraction in the United States in Tripadvisors 2022 Travelers Choice Best of the Best, and the #1 New York City attraction by Lonely Planet.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.

Category: Observatory

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005742/en/
Every year, March 30 is recognised as Rajasthan's foundation day. That's because the state, which was formerly known as Rajputana, was created on this day in 1949. The British gave Rajputana the moniker. On April 18, 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru formally established Rajasthan as a result of the consolidation of many princely states. The majority of Rajputana, which consists of the two chiefdoms, the former 19 princely kingdoms, and the British province of Ajmer-Merwara, is included in modern-day Rajasthan.

Among the principal Rajput princely republics included Jaisalmer, Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner, Mewar (Chittorgarh), Alwar, and Dhundhar (Jaipur). Tonk was a princely state under the Pathans, whilst Bharatpur and Dholpur were princely kingdoms under the Jats. The state government of Rajasthan will host a celebration today at Jaipur's Albert Hall to mark the state's founding day. Every year, events are planned, and participants take part in cultural activities and traditional folk arts.

Everywhere in the state celebrates the day. Rajasthan is India's most populous and seventh-largest state by area. It shares a boundary along the Sutlej-Indus River basin with the Pakistani provinces of Sindh to the west and Punjab to the northwest, and it makes up the majority of the expansive and hostile Thar Desert.

The Ancient And Mediaeval History Of Rajasthan

Certain areas of Rajasthan may have been a part of the Indus Valley civilization, according to experts. Human habitations dating back to the Harappan period were discovered during excavations in Kalibanga (in northwest Rajasthan) in 1998.

During numerous kingdoms and rulers throughout history, the area was regarded as being particularly strategically important. Between 321 to 184 BCE, it was a component of the Mauryan Empire. In the fourth century, Rajasthan played a significant role in the Gupta Empire's governance.

It is generally agreed that Rajasthan's golden age was during the Middle Ages. History of Rajasthan by Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya a.k.a. Hemu, put down the Afghans at their first uprising in 1553 at Ajmer. To win the trust of the Rajput kings, Emperor Akbar arranged marriages between them. He wed Jodha Bai, a Rajput princess and the Maharaja of Amer. It was a wise decision that resulted in friendly relations between the Mughals and the Rajputs.

Raja Maan Singh of Amer was a trustworthy ally. Raja Uday Singh founded the city of Udaipur during this time. He engaged the Mughals in a never-ending conflict because he could never accept their dominance. Akbar took Chittor, his capital, by force. Once Raja Uday Singh passed away, his son Maharana Pratap carried on the conflict.

British India In Rajasthan

The situation in the nation completely changed with the entry of the East India Company. The name Rajputana was given to the territory, giving it a new identity. In early 19th-century treaties, the Rajput monarchs agreed to accept British suzerainty and management of their foreign affairs in exchange for internal autonomy. Rajasthan became the official name of the state in 1949.

Key Information

Capital- Jaipur

Geographical Area (sq km)-342,239

State Language- Hindi, Marwari, Jaipuri, Mewari, Malvi and English

Literacy Rate- 66.1 per cent

Key Industries and Key Sectors

Cement

Tourism

Textiles

IT and ITeS

Ceramics

Handicrafts

Chemical

Marble

Steel

The state's economy is based on agriculture, and it contains nine agroclimatic zones and several types of soil to aid in crop development. It is one of the states in India that produces the most minerals. The state has access to about 81 different types of minerals, and 57 of those are commercially produced there.

Moreover, it makes a substantial contribution to the manufacturing of dimensional and decorative stones like granite, marble, and sandstone. One of the most popular travel destinations in India is the state. Ancient palaces, particularly those in Jaipur and Udaipur, present chances to develop the luxury tourism industry as more travellers travel to desert and animal sanctuaries.

During 2015-16 and 2021-22, the state's GSDP expanded at a CAGR (in Rs.) of 10.07%. The tertiary sector, which contributed 45.44% of Rajasthan's GSVA in 2020-21, has experienced the strongest growth between 2011-12 and 2020-21, rising at a CAGR (in Rs.) of 10.86%.

Storage, communication, and broadcasting-related services, financial services, and public administration were the main drivers of growth. The Directorate for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) estimates that between October 2019 and June 2022, the state received US$ 1,566.03 million in FDI inflows.

Highest Solar Generation Capacity Ever Installed (16.35 Gw As Of 31st January 2023)

The state is the top producer of oilseeds, rapeseed, and mustard in India, while it is second in terms of coriander, cumin, nutri-coarse cereals, and garlic. In the Export Preparedness Index for 2021, Rajasthan came in at number 11. Around 46% of the state's GVA at current prices in 2022-2023 comes from the service sector, while 29% comes from agriculture and related industries. In Rajasthan, there are numerous booming business prospects in contract farming, organic farming, and agricultural infrastructure development.

There are over 956 food processing facilities in the state. With 82 major and minor minerals, Rajasthan is the second-largest mineral producing state in India. In addition to being the largest producer of marble, it is the only producer of zinc and lead in the nation. Rajasthan also takes pride in being the world's top producer of gypsum, phosphorite, and silver. In 2021, the state welcomed almost 22 million visitors, including those from abroad.

India's largest state is Rajasthan (area wise). It borders Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, five of the largest Indian states. The state contains about 25% of the National Capital Region (NCR). Rajasthan is the state in India with the biggest installed solar generation capacity in the renewable energy industry (over 16.5 GW). In the top five states, the state is also.

Regarding installed wind generation capacity, the state is also one of the top five in India. Rajasthan is home to the largest solar park in the world, a 2245 MW facility in Bhadla. The business community can seize this chance to invest in Rajasthan and profit by making the best use of the available resources.

Almost 40% of the Indian market is accessible through Rajasthan, which also serves as a vital transportation link between the northern Indian states and the ports along India's western coastline. Rajasthan also features the second-largest rail network in India, the third-largest network of national highways, nine inland container depots, an air cargo complex, and seven airports with direct connections to both the international and domestic markets.
Theatre is a stage where actors with artistic talent present live performances to convey a message to the audience through gestures, speaking, song, music, or dance. Hence, to dedicate a day to theatres, March 27 is commemorated as 'International Theatre Day' around the world.

One of the most well-liked mediums for capturing tradition and culture from all around the world is theatre. Dramas and their crucial function in the theatrical arts are preserved on this day. By bringing up topics that people need to know about, the day encourages positivism among the populace.

History Of World Theatre Day

The International Theatre Institute has been commemorating the day since 1962. The inaugural ITI conference was held in Helsinki, Finland, while the following one was in Vienna. On World Theatre Day, French playwright Jean Cocteau delivered the first message.

Significance Of World Theatre Day

The purpose of this day is to spread awareness of the value of theatre and to educate people about its relevance around the globe. The day offers theatre communities the chance to present their work on a large scale.

Theme For World Theatre Day 2023

The year 2023's World Theatre Day has "Theatre and a Culture of Peace" as its topic. The International Theatre Institute established this topic, which is used every year.

World Theatre Day 2022: Quotes And Messages

"Theatre is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place." - Martha Graham.

"The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means seeing the place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation. The theatre is a spiritual and social x-ray of its time." - Stella Adler, New York Times, December 1992.

"Movies will make you famous; television will make you rich, but the theatre will make you good." - Terrence Mann.

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."- Oscar Wilde.

"Theatre is a sacred space for actors. You are responsible; you are in the driving seat." - Greta Scacchi.

"If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue." - William Shakespeare, 'As You Like It'.

Take A Look At These Movies Adapted From Plays

Pygmalion: The George Bernard Shaw play about love and the English class system was adapted into a movie of the same name in 1938. In 1964, it was made into another movie, My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn.

Macbeth: William Shakespeare's plays have been time and again depicted on the big screen. One of the famous adaptations of the play in Hindi was by filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, who called his movie Maqbool. It starred the late Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Pankaj Kapoor in pivotal roles.

Othello: Vishal Bhardwaj took the plot from a Shakespeare play and directed the movie Omkara. Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan played the key roles.

Hamlet: For the third time, Vishal Bharadwaj made a movie based on a play by Shakespeare. Haider featured Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Shahid Kapoor.

Romeo and Juliet: A brilliant adaptation of this play was done by filmmaker Baz Luhrman in 1996, who called the movie Romeo + Juliet. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes were cast as famous lovers.
Seven-seaters are all about practicality. For the Filipino family, it has to be safe, reliable, but most of all, offers comfort and joy with...
U.S. gun violence prevention requires systemic change: Miscellany News

Xinhua) 13:14, March 24, 2023

NEW YORK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- There have been 79 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, averaging 1.6 a day and including seven shootings at K-12 schools that ended in injuries or death, said an opinion piece published by The Miscellany News on Wednesday, citing the Gun Violence Archive and Education Week.

"Colleges and universities aren't safe either," said the article. Michigan State University and the University of Virginia have both experienced gun violence and death during the 2022-23 school year, according to Best Colleges, bringing the all-time number of college shootings where three or more people have died to 12.

"We have to fight back against gun violence so that the next generation doesn't have to learn to survive when they should be learning to thrive," said the author Britt Andrade. "The first place to start is not with gun laws, but with unburdening the legal system."

"We also need better access to mental health resources and a deeper understanding of their benefits. Seeking mental health care still carries a stigma," which, "coupled with the American ideal of self-actualization, prevents people from seeking help," Andrade noted.

"Gun violence is a major issue in this country. It shouldn't be a political debate or an us vs. them conversation. It takes all of us to live in this world and all of us to change it," added the author.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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A federal judge in Nashville has granted a preliminary injunction ordering Tennessees judicial Advisory Commission to open its meetings to the public.

Dan McCaleb, executive editor of the online news organization The Center Square, filed a complaint in June of last year against Michelle Long, director of Tennessees Administrative Office of the Courts), to open the meetings. He argued that the First Amendment right of press access to government meetings applies to the Advisory Commissions meetings, which had been closed to the public and press. The Tennessee Supreme Court established the Advisory Commission and appoints members to recommend court rules of practice and procedure.



In the courts ruling, Judge Eli Richardson wrote that the Court will require that the AOC under Defendants direction must open the meetings to the public either by livestreaming or by allowing in-person attendance.

Judge Richardson said the Advisory Committee meetings are analogous to the federal courts Standing Committee on federal court rule changes, which have been open to the public for 40 years.

The judge wrote that opening Advisory Commission meetings to the public not only creates transparency and public confidence, it likely creates better rules.

Mr. McCaleb said, A democracy only works when government  all three branches of government, including the judiciary  operates in the open. Because of this ruling, the Tennessee judiciary is now more open to public scrutiny.



Buck Dougherty, senior attorney for Liberty Justice Center said, Were very pleased with the District Courts opinion and proud to represent Dan McCaleb and The Center Square in this important and groundbreaking First Amendment right of access case for the public and press.

This decision upheld a principle that courts have long recognized: Democracies die behind closed doors.
Here is the weekly road construction report for District 29:

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-40 (INMAN ST. S.E.) Utility Work both directions from LM 2.04 to LM 2.65: Nighttime police assisted detour on SR-40 (Inman Street) between Durkee Road SE to Bates Pike SE. Motorists should reduce speed and use caution while traveling through the work zone and be aware of construction personnel. Trucks, signage, cones/barrels, and flaggers will be present, 03/27/23 from 10 pm - 12:30 am with rain dates of 03/29/23 and 03/30/23. [2022-263]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-40 (WATERLEVEL HWY.) Utility Work both directions from LM 1.3 to LM 2: Nighttime police assisted detour on SR-40 (Appalachian Hwy/APD-40) between McGrady Drive to Blackburn Rd SE. Motorists should reduce speed and use caution while traveling through the work zone and be aware of construction personnel. Trucks, signage, cones/barrels, and flaggers will be present, 03/28/23 from 10 pm - 2 am with rain dates of 03/29/23 and 03/30/23. [2022-263]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-40 (WATERLEVEL HWY.) Utility Work westbound from LM 2.04 to LM 8.62: Shoulder and single lane closures from Hancock Road NE to Durkee Road NE. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, signage, drums/cones, and flaggers will be present, 02/23/23 through 03/29/23 from 9 am  2 pm. [2022-263]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-60 Utility Work both directions at LM 12.79: Nighttime police assisted traffic stoppage and ramp closings at the SR-60 and SR-40 interchange. Ramps will be closed temporarily between 20th St Benton Pike. Motorists should reduce speed and use caution while traveling through the work zone and be aware of construction personnel. Trucks, signage, cones/barrels, and flaggers will be present, 03/27/23 from 10 pm - 10:30 pm with rain dates of 03/29/23 and 03/30/23. [2022-263]

BRADLEY COUNTY SR-60 widening from the 4-lane north of I-75 (LM 17.2) to SR-306 (LM19.9): During this reporting period the contractor will have short term intermittent lane closures throughout the project for utility relocation and moving equipment as work continues on new roadway alignments and a new bridge over Candies Creek. The speed limit in the work zone has been reduced to 35 mph. Motorists are advised to use caution in the work zone and watch for flaggers assisting with traffic control.

[Summers-Taylor, Inc./Wagner/CNV130]

HAMILTON COUNTY I-24 interchange improvement at SR-2 (US-11, US-41, US-72, Broad Street) and SR-58 (Market Street): Williams Street is closed to all traffic at the I-24 underpass to support the installation of new storm drainage structures for the new frontage road. Traffic will still be able to access the ramps to I-24 and US-27, but no through traffic will be allowed on Williams Street between West 21st Street and West 25th Street. Traffic will detour around the closure via West 21st Street and Broad Street. Signs are posted. The contractor will be working on new bridge construction, storm drainage structures, and utility relocation. The US-27 N on-ramp at William St. has been closed and it will remain closed until the new alignment for this ramp is completed. There will be marked detour signs to use the Broad St. US-27 on-ramp. The contractor has opened up the new Broad St exit off I-24 and closed the existing exit to the Broad St that is off the US27 S exit. Traffic from US27 S that needs to access Broad St. will use the Williams St. exit. Detour signs are in place. Drivers need to be aware of the changes. The US 27 South ramp onto I-24 East will be reduced to two lanes with the Williams St. exit still open. This ramp will be this way for several months and traffic is advised to drive with caution in this area. During this reporting period, from 9 AM -3:30 PM, there will be a temporary lane shift on the Williams St. off ramp during this time period. On Sunday thru Tuesday (depending on weather) from 9 PM-6 AM, the contractor will be closing the Williams St Ramp off of the US27 S on Ramp to I24 E and the contractor will be opening up the new US27 S ramp to Broad St. Ramp. Traffic is advised to be cautious in this area and to pay attention to the new traffic pattern.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Curtis/CNU011]

HAMILTON COUNTY I-75 at I-24 Interchange Reconstruction Phase 2: Weather permitting, the contractor will implement single lane closures between the hours of 9 PM until 6 AM Sunday through Thursday, at following locations: I-24 WB MM 185 to MM 183 and North Terrace, I-75 NB MM 2 to MM 4, I-75 SB MM 4 to MM 2.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Maj Prj - Blevins/DB2101]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-17 (BONNY OAKS DR.) Utility Work both directions from LM 8.25 to LM 9: Mobile shoulder and lane closures on Bonny Oaks Drive as crews transition work zones between SR-153 and Chickamauga Avenue. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Signage and flaggers will be present, 03/23/23 through 03/30/23 from 9 AM - 1:00 PM. [2022-647]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-317 (Apison Pike) improvement project from SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) to east of Layton Lane: Lane closures and flagging operations will be required on SR-317, Apison Pike, for utility and grading work. The flagging operations will be performed on 03/23/23, 03/24/23, 03/27/23, 03/28/23, and 03/29/23 from 7 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 7 PM. Closures will last about 2 hours per location. The contractor will have intermittent flagging operations during daytime non-peak hours for utility work, delivery of materials and equipment. There will also be flagging operations along Spalding Dr for the construction of Bridge 1.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Osbonlighter/CNT336]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-8 (E. MAIN ST.) Utility Work both directions at LM 7.58: Interior lane closure between Jefferson Street and Madison Street. Motorists should reduce speed and use caution while traveling through the work zone and be aware of construction personnel. Trucks, signage, barrels/cones, and flaggers will be present, 03/13/23 through 03/29/23 from 9 am  2 pm. [2023-062]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-8 (E. MAIN ST.) Utility Work both directions from LM 6.39 to LM 6.42: Interior lane closure between S. Willow Street and S. Hickory Street. Motorists should reduce speed and use caution while traveling through the work zone and be aware of construction personnel. Trucks, signage, barrels/cones, and flaggers will be present, 03/27/23 through 03/29/23 from 7 am  2 pm. [2019-543]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-8 (E. MAIN ST.) Utility Work eastbound from LM 5.94 to LM 6.38: Shoulder and single lane closures from S. Orchard Knob Ave and S. Watkins Street. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, signage, and barrels will be present, 12/01/22 through 03/31/23 from 9 am - 2 pm. [2022-754]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-8 (US-127) construction near Palisades Road (LM 15.2) to near Sunset Drive (LM 15.4): The contractor has closed the right lane going up the Signal Mountain Road from LM 15 (about 1/2 Mi from Palisades Road) to past Sunset Drive. This closure will be in effect for several months during the duration of this project. There will be intermittent lane closures on Signal Mountain Road as the contractor will have flaggers out as they work. Due to the possibility of flaggers stopping traffic, traffic should be aware of possible delays in this area.

[Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc./Curtis/CNW001]

HAMILTON COUNTY SR-8 (US-41, US-76) Bachman Tubes cleaning: On Thursday Night of this reporting period, the contractor will be shutting down the tunnels from 8 PM-6 AM to clean it. There will be a signed detour for traffic to follow to get around the closure.

[Diamond Specialized, Inc./Curtis/CNW197]

MCMINN COUNTY SR-163 bridge repair over Chestuee Creek (LM 11.7): During this reporting period, the contractor will continue bridge repairs on the bridge over Chestuee Creek. Traffic on the bridge over Chestuee Creek on SR-163 at LM 11.74 will be reduced to a single lane controlled by a traffic signal. Maximum horizontal clearance will be limited to 11. Wide load detour routes will be posted. Motorists are advised to reduce speed in the work zone. RESTRICTIONS: Maximum horizontal clearance 11 feet.

[Jamison Construction, LLC/Wagner/CNW282]

MCMINN COUNTY SR-2 (CONGRESS PKWY.) Utility Work westbound from LM 12.93 to LM 12.1: Mobile shoulder closure along SR-2 between the intersection of Congress Pkwy and Dennis Street and the intersection of Congress Pkwy and Rocky Mount Road. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, signage, cones, and flaggers will be present, 08/15/22 through 04/12/23 from 7:30 am  5:00 pm. [2022-019]

MEIGS COUNTY SR-58 (STATE HWY. 58) Utility Work southbound from LM 14.22 to LM 9.35: Mobile shoulder and single lane closures from Goodfield Road to Cottonport Road. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Trucks, signage, cones, and flaggers will be present, 01/26/23 through 03/31/23 from 9 am  2 pm. [2022-366]

RHEA COUNTY SR-30 (STATE HWY. 30) Utility Work eastbound from LM 13.01 to LM 16.37: Mobile shoulder and lane closures on SR-30 as crews transition work zones between Sky Drive and SR-302. Motorists should reduce speed and be prepared to stop. Signage and flaggers will be present, 03/23/23 through 03/29/23 from 9 AM - 2:00 PM. [2023-125]
Events in the area to honor Vietnam veterans include:



 March 28 - Chattanooga City Council Proclamation stating, March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. Vietnam veterans are asked to be at the Chattanooga City Council Meeting Room, 1000 Lindsay St. at 5:30 p.m. to accept the Proclamation.



 March 29 - Hamilton County Commission Proclamation, stating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. Vietnam veterans are asked to be at Hamilton County Court House, 625 Georgia Ave. at 8:45 a.m. to accept the Proclamation.



 March 29 - VVA 203 will serve food at the Walmart Parking Lot, Highway 153 in Hixson from noon-4 p.m.



 March 29 - The Hamilton County Mayor & Commission will honor Vietnam veterans with a ceremony on the Courthouse lawn at 625 Georgia Ave. starting at noon.

 March 29 - Mission BBQ will serve free sandwiches to all Vietnam and Vietnam-Era veterans, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.



 March 31-April 1 - VVA 203 will be at the Walmart on Highway 153 in Hixson collecting donations.


Hamilton County and Tennessee Valley citizens will gather at noon next Wednesday at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Georgia Avenue to recognize Vietnam veterans and commemorate their service to the nation and the cause of liberty, equality and justice. The commemoration will occur on the south lawn of the Courthouse. If weather prohibits an outside event, the program will be moved to the rotunda of the historic courthouse.The event is jointly sponsored by Hamilton County Government, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter #203, the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council and the Regents Council, and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.All Vietnam veterans and family members will be recognized. March 29 was chosen for the national Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day because on March 29, 1973 the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam [MACV] was disbanded and the last U. S combat troops departed the Republic of Vietnam.Officials said, "Hosting Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day on the 50th Anniversary of U.S. withdrawal is significant as our Vietnam veterans have long been unsung patriots. While setting aside a recognition day may not fully heal the trauma and hardships they experienced in attempting to safeguard the right of the Vietnamese people to choose their own form of government, it is our hope that it will lessen the unwelcoming return to this country that many experienced. The sponsoring groups also hope that it will immortalize the honor our Vietnam and Vietnam era veterans service and that younger citizens will understand the continuing sacrifices the members of our armed forces make to secure liberty."Speakers will include Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, Hamilton County Commission Chairman Chip Baker, The Honorable Mike Dumitru, Circuit Court judge, Division II and Wayne Belk, chairman, Chattanooga Area Veterans Council.The Honor Guard, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 203 will post the VVA flag and provide the appropriate honors.The NSDAR Chattanooga Chapter Regents - Pamela Randolph, Regents Council chairman; Gayle Burrows, Chickamauga Chapter; Meegan Burton, Judge David Campbell Chapter; Jennifer Sawyer Harvey, Chief John Ross Chapter; Tina Statom, Moccasin Bend Chapter; and Natalie Davis, Nancy Ward Chapter - will present the Hamilton County Patriot of the Year Award.All citizens are encouraged to attend and outdoor seating will be provided. For more information, email localhistorycounts@gmail.com.
Pro-life bill strengthens protections for mothers in emergencies

The House chamber on Monday passed legislation ensuring the life of a mother will be protected when a nonviable pregnancy endangers her life. House Bill 883, sponsored by State Rep. Esther HeltonHaynes, R-East Ridge, clarifies that terminating a nonviable pregnancy, such as in the case of an ectopic or molar pregnancy, is not an abortion. The measure passed 83-11.

Republicans in the General Assembly in 2019 laid the groundwork to ensure life is protected at

conception in Tennessee should the U.S. Supreme Court ever reverse its decision on legalized abortion. The General Assembly that year passed the Human Life Protection Act, a conditional trigger law written to go into effect 30 days following the high courts decision giving states the authority to regulate abortion.

When the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 declared that abortion is not a constitutional right, the Human Life Protection Act became law and automatically made abortion for any reason a Class C felony crime in Tennessee.

House Bill 883 ensures elective abortions remain illegal in Tennessee, but removes the affirmative

defense clause that could have required doctors to provide evidence defending their actions in court

when saving the life of a mother. It now provides protection for physicians by decriminalizing the

procedure in such emergencies.



This bill provides better clarity and returns to the normal judicial system practice of innocent until

proven guilty, Helton-Haynes told members on the House floor on Monday. It protects the life of the

mother and the life of the baby.



Approximately one in 50 ectopic pregnancies occur each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy will likely result in a life-threatening hemorrhage.

During pregnancy, a woman takes on the incredible responsibility to safeguard another human life and it is important her health is protected, Helton-Haynes said. Im proud of what this pro-family, pro-life legislation accomplishes and I will continue advocating for the health of women and children in Tennessee.

Tennessee Right to Life, the states largest pro-life advocacy organization, supported House Bill 883. The companion version of the bill is currently advancing in the Senate.

Republicans propose $407 million in tax cuts for families and businesses

Republican leaders this week advanced the Tennessee Works Tax Reform Act of 2023 that proposes a number of changes to the states tax code and represents an unprecedented $407 million in tax cuts impacting every Tennessean.

House Bill 323, sponsored in the House by Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Assistant Majority Leader Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, is part of Gov. Bill Lees top legislative initiates for 2023.

The bill aims to lower the tax burden on businesses, boost Tennessees economic competitiveness,

promote entrepreneurship and small business formation, as well as provide targeted relief to families.



This is one of the largest tax reforms and tax cuts in Tennessees history, Cochran told members of the House Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee on Wednesday. It provides tax relief to Tennessee families, for businesses  particularly for small and medium-sized businesses  and makes us a stronger economic competitor in general.

Tennessee Republicans remain committed to keeping taxes low. Tennessee is the second-lowest taxed state in the nation and collects zero income tax.

The cuts provide significant tax relief to small businesses by lowering the burden of the franchise and excise tax as well as the business tax rate. The bill would allow more than 23,000 small businesses in Tennessee to reduce their excise tax liability to zero by exempting the first $50,000 in income from the states excise tax. It also exempts up to $500,000 of business property from franchise tax liability.

The tax cuts would exempt 140,000 Tennessee businesses from the business tax by raising the

threshold for business tax exemptions from $10,000 to $100,000 of gross receipts. In addition, it

reduces the highest business tax rate from 0.3% to 0.1%.

The proposal will strengthen Tennessees economic competitiveness while prioritizing businesses

within our states borders. It incentivizes businesses to hire Tennesseans and headquarter here. It

ensures state tax deductions for research and development (R&D) expenses that help companies grow, innovate and produce superior products and services.

Finally, the proposal will deliver for working families by creating a three-month sales tax holiday food

from Aug. 1-Oct. 31, 2023. It also seeks to incentivize businesses to provide paid family leave to

employees by establishing a state-paid family leave franchise and excise tax credit on wages paid for a two-year pilot period. House Bill 323 is up for consideration in the Finance, Ways and Means Committee on March 28.

Effort to expand protections for Duck River advances

Republican legislation to expand protections for a portion of the Duck River advanced out of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee this week. House Bill 447 would classify a portion of the river in Maury County as a Class II scenic river area. The designation generally prohibits mining, commercial timber harvest or the construction of roads from occurring within a certain proximity of the river.

This is a bill that is long overdue for Maury County, bill sponsor State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, told the committee earlier this month. The Duck River (is) the most biodiverse river in our country  I stand here before you now asking you to join with us to protect this water source in perpetuity making sure that we can maintain a clean water source, a viable water source, a recreational water source for the people of Maury County and southern Middle Tennessee for the foreseeable future.

The Duck River flows 284 miles from east to west across Middle Tennessee, making it the longest river located entirely in the state. It is considered the most biologically diverse river in North America with more than 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 fish species, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

If approved, the legislation would still allow for the construction and operation of water and sewer

treatment facilities along the segment of the river. Some water harvesting projects as well as regional water resource projects identified by the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency and the Tennessee Valley Authority would also be permitted if certain criteria was met.

House Bill 447 is scheduled to be heard in the Government Operations Committee on March 27. The

companion version of the bill was unanimously approved by the Senate earlier this month. General Assembly modernizes money transmitter laws

The General Assembly this week approved legislation that modernizes Tennessees money transmitter regulations.

House Bill 316, also known as the Money Transmission Modernization Act, provides a long-overdue

update to state laws governing companies like Paypal and Venmo that help transmit money between

parties within the United States and abroad.

(This) is a model that we hope all other states will eventually adopt, said bill co-sponsor State Rep.

Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma. It will improve licensing and statutes for all of the companies that do

money transmissions in our state. It will provide uniformity so all companies coming in and out of our

state will have the same standards, capital requirements and liquidity requirements.



There are nine states that have already passed a version of the bill, and similar legislation is pending in 13 other states, Bricken added.

The legislation does not address the use of digital currency, virtual currency or cryptocurrency. It also

does not create any new form of currency or require individuals or businesses to use digital currency.

Additionally, the bill does not relate in any way to central bank control or a central bank digital currency. It also has nothing to do with the Uniform Commercial Code which governs various commercial matters including credit and bank transactions. The Money Transmission Modernization Act will now head to the governors desk to be signed into law.

Republicans protect teachers from implicit bias training

A proposal allowing Tennessee teachers to choose whether they want to take part in implicit bias

training advanced out of the House K-12 Subcommittee this week. House Bill 158, sponsored by State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, would prevent a local education agency or public charter school from requiring its employees to complete or participate in the training, which is designed to expose an individual to biases the programs creator presumes the person to have.



The legislation would also protect employees from any adverse employment action if they refused to take part in the training. Additionally, the State Board of Education and the Department of Education would not be allowed to require an educator to complete or participate in the program as a requirement for things like educator licensure or professional development. House Bill 158 is scheduled to be heard in the Education Administration Committee on March 29.

House votes to streamline adoptions of young foster children

The Tennessee House of Representatives this week approved legislation to improve the adoption

process for foster parents of young children who have been abandoned.

House Bill 163 clarifies that if a parent or guardian fails to visit or support a child younger than four

years old for three consecutive months it will qualify as abandonment and the child will be eligible for

adoption. Currently, the time period for abandonment is four months. Additionally, if a child resides in a foster parents home for at least three months, a judge may waive the six-month waiting period for the order of adoption.

Most children are moved around three times in the first year that they are in foster care, said bill

sponsor State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman. This type of legislation will help reduce that. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing through the Senate.

General Assembly expands protections for Tennesseans with service animals

The General Assembly has passed legislation to increase protections and accountability for individuals with service animals in Tennessee.

House Bill 165 expands the penalty for misrepresentation of a service animal to include 100 hours of

community service for an organization that assists individuals with disabilities. It also allows for anyone who utilizes or is training a guide dog to be held liable if the animal causes any damages.

This bill is simply to codify some of the federal (American with Disability Act) guidelines and add some accountability for folks that are abusing this, said bill sponsor State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman. An emotional support animal is not considered a service animal, and therefore a business owner has the ability to ask them to leave.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, only dogs are recognized as service animals. They

must be trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability and are generally permitted to accompany individuals in all areas where members of the public are allowed. Additionally, there are separate provisions for miniature horses that have been trained as service animals. The Senate version was approved in February. The legislation now heads to the governors desk to be signed into law.

Republicans make summer, afterschool learning camps permanent

The House chamber on Thursday unanimously passed House Bill 68, co-sponsored by State Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville. The legislation indefinitely extends summer and after-school learning camps implemented on a temporary basis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the summers following the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, all school districts in the state were

required to offer in-person learning loss remediation and student acceleration programs, including

summer camps, summer learning camps, after-school learning mini-camps and learning loss bridge

camps. These programs have been a success in the summer of 2021 more than 121,000 students participated with an attendance rate of 96 percent. In the summer of 2022, more than 90,000 students participated in the camps. House Bill 68 would continue the successful track record of these camps by making them permanent. The bill now heads to the governors desk for his signature.

Briefly

Motor vehicle registrations: House Bill 345, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, would allow private, non-commercial vehicle owners and lessees to renew their vehicle registration for a 24-month period instead of a 12-month period beginning on Jan. 1, 2024. Currently, there are approximately 5.1 million passenger vehicles and 154,000 motorcycles registered in Tennessee, according to the Department of Revenue. House Bill 345 is scheduled to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

Strengthening strangulation sentencing: House Bill 248, sponsored by State Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin, increases penalties for strangulation charges. The bill clarifies that if a victim loses consciousness, the assailant can be prosecuted for attempted first or second-degree murder and further adds that if a victim was pregnant at the time of the attack, the offender will be charged with aggravated assault involving strangulation, resulting in a Class B felony. If domestic violence is suspected, a defendant must also take part in evidence-based programming for domestic violence. Finally, criminals who have been charged with assault or aggravated assault involving a first responder may not be released on their own recognizance; the defendant must post bail. This bill will help law enforcement keep criminals behind bars and also protect victims of abuse. The bill is scheduled for consideration in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 28.

Parity of teacher salaries at special schools: House Bill 331 sponsored by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, creates parity for salaries among teachers at state special education schools in Knoxville and Jackson who are currently paid approximately 10 percent less than their counterparts in Nashville. Teachers in each of the three campuses have the same professional and educational requirements, the same dedication to students and the same professional responsibilities. They also have the same director and superintendent of schools, as well as the same Human Resource department. The bill is expected to be considered in the House Education Administration Committee on March 29.

Increasing eligibility for HOPE Scholarship: House Bill 348, sponsored by State Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, expands higher educational opportunities by removing an eligibility restriction for the Tennessee Promise scholarship. Currently, the scholarship is available to all high school graduates when they enroll in college for the fall term following graduation. The bill would allow students to remain eligible for the scholarship if they defer college for up to 16 months after graduation. It better aligns state financial requirements and expands access for students who may need to defer college for a year after high school graduation. Students would still have to apply for the scholarship during their senior year of high school. Tennessees post-high school college rate has fallen from 62 percent to 53 percent since 2019, meaning 7,000 fewer high school graduates have attended college since then. House Bill 348 will be heard in the Education Administration Committee on March 29.

Cognitive tests for constables: House Bill 724, sponsored by State Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, heads to the governor for his signature after passing in both chambers of the General Assembly. This bill requires candidates for the office of constable to undergo a cognitive and psychological test attesting to their mental and cognitive fitness to perform the duties of a constable. The test is to ensure that elected officials can effectively carry out the duties of their position.

Expanding the talent pool for industrial development boards: House Bill 1430, sponsored by State Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, passed by the General Assembly on Monday, removes an existing requirement that members of the board of directors for an industrial development corporation reside in the county in which the corporation was established. Allowing industrial development boards to choose to allow membership outside the county will help them recruit the best minds for the job.

Ensuring speedy compensation for witnesses: House Bill 1253 The House chamber on Thursday passed legislation intended to speed up the process when witnesses for the state are compensated. Currently, if a witness is deemed necessary to a case and lives more than five miles away from where they were subpoenaed, then the witnesss expenses such as travel and board may be paid by the state. Sponsored by State Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol, House Bill 1253 clarifies current law by making several changes to the statute to speed up the compensation process, including the removal of a requirement that indigency needs to be determined before a witness can be paid. Counties will continue to recover the costs of witness expenses from a convicted defendant.

Enhancing transparency of public records purchases: The Public Service Subcommittee this week passed a bill aimed at enhancing transparency around the purchase of public records containing personal information of Tennesseans. Sponsored by State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, House Bill 1322 requires the Office of Open Records Counsel in coordination with the Department of Safety and

Department of Revenue to develop and maintain a system to track bulk purchases of public records

containing personal information from state motor vehicle records.

Assessing financial literacy of Tennesseans: A bill that directs the Financial Literacy Commission to

conduct a study to gauge financial literacy passed unanimously in the House chamber on Monday. House Bill 644, sponsored by State Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, commissions a study to

examine financial education programs in the state and survey those programs available in other states.



The Financial Literacy Commission will determine the scope of the study, and submit a report on its

findings and recommendations to the General Assembly next year. The bill also recognizes April as

Financial Literacy Month to promote financial literacy and help educate Tennesseans on the importance of personal finance. The study is intended to be a first step to reversing the following statistics: one in eight Tennesseans have student loan debt, the average Tennessean holds more than $83,000 in debt and Tennessee ranks fifth in the nation for personal bankruptcy.

Protecting personal data from Chinese companies: The House chamber on Thursday passed legislation that prevents Chinese social media companies from collecting the personal data of individuals who access the internet at public colleges and universities in Tennessee. The measure now heads to the governors desk for his signature. House Bill 1445, sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, prevents all public postsecondary institutions in the state from providing internet access to any social media platform that is operated or hosted by a company based in the Peoples Republic of China. It aims to mitigate possible security threats to the states public higher education institutions networks. The legislation does not target any specific social media company. It would also not prevent access if it is necessary to perform certain activities related to law enforcement, investigatory functions, audit, compliance, or public safety functions.

Bear control: The House chamber on Thursday passed House Bill 1453, sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, which authorizes a person who resides on property that adjoins the Great Smokey Mountain National Park to take, attempt to take, or harm a bear that enters the persons property if the bear acted in a manner that causes the person to have a reasonable belief they are in imminent danger of death or bodily injury. The bill also requires an individual to notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency within 24 hours after killing or seriously injuring a bear, if the individual is reasonably able to notify the agency, and the individual must not remove, reposition, retain, sell, or transfer the bear without authorization from the TWRA. The companion bill is currently advancing through the Senate chamber
Actor Keanu Reeves isnt new to starring in movies with divisive responses. His filmography ranges from some of the most beloved films of all time, such as The Matrix, to absolute duds, such as 47 Ronin, that some audiences continue to hold against him. Heres a look at the five best movies Reeves was ever a part of.

5. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

Keanu Reeves as John Wick | Lionsgate

Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.7

John Wick: Chapter 2 stands slightly above the following sequel with more user ratings, making its score stand a bit firmer. John was once retired, but hes officially back when a former associate looks to make a power move over the High Table. However, he has no choice but to help due to a blood oath of the path. John makes the trip to Rome to fulfill his side of the deal.

4. John Wick (2014)

Keanu Reeves as John Wick | Lionsgate

Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.7

Reeves led the first of the John Wick movies in the titular role. Hes a legendary hitman who finally found a happy life with his wife, until she dies, leaving him with only a sweet dog to remember her. However, John decides to come out of retirement when a group of evil men kill his puppy, refusing to rest until theyre dead.

3. My Private Idaho (1991)

L-R: Keanu Reeves as Scott Favor and River Phoenix as Mike Waters | First Line Features

Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.9

In a departure from the action movies, Reeves starred in Gus Van Sants loose adaptation of Shakespeares Henry IV, called My Private Idaho. Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a narcoleptic gay hustler, who travels to Idaho from Portland, Oregon, along with Scott Favor (Reeves), the rebellious son of a mayor.

The two men find themselves on the Italian coast, as they try to find Mikes estranged mother. However, theyre required to turn tricks for money and drugs to keep them moving forward. They find themselves attracting the sexual attention of a wealthy benefactor.

2. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Keanu Reeves as John Wick | Lionsgate

Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.1

John Wick: Chapter 4 raises the bar for action movies moving forward. The stakes got a lot higher, as the price on Johns head just got a whole lot bigger. The legendary High Table organization is getting increasingly antsy, as the assassin continues to be a thorn in their side.

John continues to move forward, intent on finding a way to take down the High Table once and for all. He wants his freedom, and hes willing to keep killing until he achieves it. But, John will have to face the most formidable foes from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin, if he hopes to achieve that goal.

1. The Matrix (1999)

Keanu Reeves as Neo | Warner Bros.

Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.1

Reeves starred in one of the most life-changing movies of all time with 1999s The Matrix. Lilly and Lana Wachowski created an astounding world with legendary action set pieces and quotable lines that changed the course of cinema.

The Matrix is set in the 22nd century, as a computer hacker named Neo (Reeves) joins a group of underground rebels fighting against the powerful computers that took over the world.
Prince William and Kate Middleton Forced to Make Some Major Changes Following a Tour That Was a PR Disaster

Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting ready for some major changes following their tour of the Caribbean. The couple visited the region a year ago on a trip that was marked by protests and controversy.

With King Charles set to officially take the crown in May, royal experts believe William and Kate are prepared to make significant changes to their royal duties, including being more careful about their behavior during public engagements.

Kate Middleton and Prince William | Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince William and Kate Middleton had a disastrous tour in the Caribbean

Prince William and Kate Middletons tour in the Caribbean in 2022 was supposed to help promote the royal familys position in the area. Instead, the trip led to multiple protests, casting doubts on the future of the monarchy in the Caribbean.

The Prince and Princess of Wales landed in Jamaica in March of 2022 with the goal of celebrating Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee. But a day after the couple arrived, the countrys government initiated the process of becoming a republic.

Prior to the trip, hundreds of cultural icons, politicians, and academic elites protested William and Kates tour of Jamaica, calling for the royals to apologize for enslaving the country in colonial times.

In addition to the protests in Jamaica, the royal couple cancelled an event in Belize after locals gathered in objection to their planned visit. In light of the events, royal experts called the tour a disaster, something that forced William and Kate to make some major changes.

Experts believe the royals will make major changes following the Caribbean tour

William and Kates Caribbean tour was the first time they had been met with resistance abroad. The couple typically enjoys a warm reception whenever they appear in public on behalf of the royal family, but clearly, things have changed.

Following William and Kates tour in the Caribbean, Professor Pauline Maclaran told Express that the visit was essentially a PR disaster and could be a learning experience for the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The whole focus on diversity and woke issues are making the topic of white privilege really quite an uncomfortable one, so the royals have to deal with that as well, Maclaran explained. I think William was very shocked at the mistakes made and the reactions

Maclaran went on to say that Prince William and Kate were forced to change how they engaged with the public following the tour. Instead of making it seem like the royals are telling everyone what to do, the couple is starting to take on a more service-based attitude.

The move is welcome news to places like Jamaica, and it looks like William and Kate have already embraced the changes.

Prince William and Kate Middleton plan to take more control as the monarchy undergoes a transition

Its been a year since William and Kate touched down in the Caribbean and the two have already started to implement changes in their public events. Maclaran believes one of those changes is ripping up the royal handbook and taking a more humble approach.

Maclaran stated that, following the Caribbean tour, William realized that he had to take more control of how things were managed. And again putting the emphasis on service: Were not going to try to be the head of any state that doesnt want us, but tell us if we can be of service to you, is the approach I understand he took as the outcome of the tour.

Related 10 Times Prince William and Kate Middleton Broke Royal Protocol and Packed on the PDA

Over the past year, William and Kate have appeared numerous times in public, including a recent showing at the Mons Barracks for a St. Patricks Day parade. At the event, William granted Kate the title of Colonel of the Irish Guards, a move that was made in light of King Charles reassigning several titles in 2022.

With Charles set to lead the royal family in the coming years, William and Kate will play a larger role in the monarchy. This should give them plenty of time to implement the changes that were inspired by their trip to the Caribbean.
The Shootist actor John Wayne was very particular about the type of roles that he felt passionately about. He represented his own form of masculinity that his longtime fans came to associate with the image of America. Many of Waynes greatest roles came from fictional stories, but The Shootist actually had a real-life connection that gave the movie its title.

The Shootist stars John Wayne as a dying gunfighter

L-R: Lauren Bacall as Bond Rogers and John Wayne as J.B. Books | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

The Shootist follows an older gunfighter named J.B. Books (Wayne) in 20th Century Nevada. He goes to see a local doctor, who gives him the bad news that he has cancer and not much longer to live. Books turns to a widow named Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall) and her son, Gillom (Ron Howard), to get some peace and quiet.

Several new faces appear, all wanting something different from him. However, he tries his best to hide his diagnosis, even in the face of those trying to kick him out of town. One man wants to get revenge for his dead brother, leading Books to pursue a new mission. He comes up with a plan to go out on a bang.

Shootist Clay Allisons quip inspired the movie title

"My most useful acting tip came from my pal John Wayne. Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much"  Ron Howard on working with Duke on his last film, The Shootist (1976) pic.twitter.com/MNyOXiie2S  John Wayne Official (@JohnDukeWayne) August 3, 2020

The 1979 Wayne Western called The Shootist had a seemingly obvious origin  the profession of its lead character. Sure, Books is a shootist, which is what strikes fear and disgust in so many people in this Nevadan town. However, theres some real-life history that inspired the title, according to IMDb.

Gunslinger Clay Allison was a bounty hunter and hired killer born on Sept. 2, 1841, and died on July 1, 1887, at the age of 45. He was known and feared across all of Texas for his marksmanship skills, but his temperament certainly didnt help. He was frequently intoxicated and would burst into fits of rage, which didnt make for the best combination.

Most Texans that recognized him didnt dare approach him, let alone ask what he did for a career. His answer to this question was that he was a shootist, rather than a bounty hunter or a gunfighter. This quip further struck fear in the hearts of locals.

Therefore, the Wayne movie earned the title The Shootist.

The Shootist was John Waynes final movie

I acted in the Shootist here in '76 & recall being in a single scene with James Stewart and John Wayne on this stage pic.twitter.com/IKeheMP6Or  Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) April 11, 2014

Wayne didnt intend to stop working, even despite his failing health. Nevertheless, he did his very best to keep up performing in Western and war movies. Unfortunately, it eventually caught up with him, inadvertently making The Shootist Waynes last film of his career.

The Western movie died on June 11, 1979, as a result of stomach cancer. The subject material of The Shootist hit a little too close to home for the Wayne family, as it became one of the most difficult movies from his career for them to watch. His daughter, Aissa, said that she could barely watch it.

The Western movie star still had another film planned after The Shootist, called Beau John. It was supposed to be a half-Western that focused more on the characters relationships than the typical cowboy plot that many of his fans expected from him.
Everything changed dramatically for The Browns during Sister Wives Season 17 after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the family to split in two. Lets take a look at where each cast member is living now and an update on their lives.

Robyn, Meri, Kody, Janelle, and Christine Brown during season 14 of TLCs Sister Wives | TLC

Meri Brown lives in Flagstaff

After nearly a decade of problems, Kody made a unilateral decision to end his marriage to his first wife, Meri Brown, after 33 years of marriage. Meri had lived independently from Kody and the rest of the family since long before they announced their divorce in Jan. 2023.

Meri Brown, Sister Wives Season 17 | TLC

With the help of her mother, Bonnie Ahlstrom, Meri purchased the family home in Parowan, Utah, built by her great-great-grandparents in 1870. She turned the historic home into a bed and breakfast, Lizzies Heritage Inn, named after her grandmother. With the profits from her B&B, Meri bought her home in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she lives part-time.

Meri goes back and forth between her home in Flagstaff and Parowan to manage Lizzies Heritage Inn. Even before Kody asked for a divorce, he suggested she live in Utah full-time, but Meri was against this idea.

Janelle Brown lives in Flagstaff

During the One-on-One Reunion for Sister Wives Season 17, Janelle announced that she had been separated from Kody after nearly 29 years of marriage. Since mid-2022, the Sister Wives star has separated herself financially, starting multiple businesses in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she currently resides with her daughter, Savanah Brown.

Janelle Brown, Sister Wives | TLC

While most of her children live on the East Coast, Janelle lives in Flagstaff and often travels to North Carolina to visit them. In Sister Wives Season 17, Janelle dreamed of building a tiny home on the familys property on Coyote Pass and was living in an RV on the property.

However, since they never paid it off, shes been forced to continue to rent a home in Flagstaff. Currently, no building permits exist for Coyote Pass, but that doesnt mean Janelle has given up on the dream of building on the property.

Christine Brown lives in Utah

When Christine left Kody in early 2021, she sold her house in Flagstaff, Arizona, for $700,000 and all of its furniture. The 50-year-old moved back home to Utah after her nearly 27-year-long marriage ended to be near her parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren.

Christine Brown, Sister Wives | TLC

Christine moved into her three-bedroom and two-bathroom $1.1 million duplex with her 12-year-old daughter Truely Brown in Murray, Utah. Her new house is where she films her TLC-go series, Cooking with Just Christine, and will be filming for Sister Wives Season 18. She recently revealed that she found love in Utah with her boyfriend, David Woolley, who have been together since Dec 2022.

Kody and Robyn live in Flagstaff

After Kodys other marriages have ended, he lives a monogamous marriage with his fourth wife, Robyn Brown. They live in their five-bedroom and four-bathroom home in Flagstaff, Arizona, along with their five children, Dayton, Aurora, Breanna, Solomon, and Ariella, who all live at home. Kody and Robyns 4,400-square-foot cabin is now worth over $1.5 million in 2023.

Some fans believe Robyn Brown tricked Kody Brown into buying supersized Flagstaff, AZ home | YouTube/TLC

Their living situation could change soon, according to Kodys daughter, Mykelti Padron, who claims that her dad is starting to get the urge to move again. Hes got this itch. Hes been talking about it for a while, Mykelti said. Her husband, Tony Padron, said Kody and Robyn are considering relocating to a cheaper place.

Sister Wives Season 18 is expected to return in September 2023.
Why Taylor Sheridan Brought In His Own Horses for Season 1 of Yellowstone

Taylor Sheridan is willing to go the extra mile to make Yellowstone look and feel as authentic as possible. A skilled horseback rider himself, Sheridan has filmed several scenes on his expansive ranch and even supplied his own horses for the first season of the popular neo-western.

As Sheridan prepares to expand the Yellowstone universe with multiple new projects this year, heres a glimpse into why the director went above and beyond to ensure the shows authenticity.

Taylor Sheridan | Omar Vega/Getty Images

This is the reason Taylor Sheridan brought his own horses for season 1 of Yellowstone

With some of Hollywoods brightest stars at the helm, theres no debating that the characters in Yellowstone are a captivating part of the series. But there is an argument to be made that the ranch itself steals the show.

Sheridan and his team spent months scouting for a location to film the first season of Yellowstone before they eventually settled on Chief Joseph Ranch. Tucked away in the Bitterroot Valley, the 150-acre spread is far removed from Yellowstone Park, but its still an untamed and rugged environment.

While the ranch has plenty of horses on hand, Sheridan actually brought his own animals to the ranch to film the first season. In an interview with Mens Journal, Sheridan revealed the reason he brought his own horses to the set instead of relying on the ones already on hand at Chief Joseph Ranch.

I didnt want some half-broke horses the actors couldnt ride, Sheridan explained.

The Yellowstone creator knows authenticity is the key to the shows success

Sheridan transferred the horses all the way from Wyoming to the ranch, a testament to his desire to produce a top-notch show. In addition to the well-trained equines, Sheridan also expressed his concern for making the series as authentic as possible.

The prop mast for the series, Ian Roylance, revealed that Sheridan put a lot of time and attention into the details on the set, including purchasing specific saddles and weapons. They even prepped the items to ensure they looked like they were actually functional.

He wanted very specific guns, very particular saddles, Roylance explained. We had nine saddles custom-made, $6,000 each, then olded them up with dirt, so they looked real.

To ensure that the actors were fully immersed in their roles, Sheridan went to great lengths to train them, including organizing a three-day cowboy camp in the mountains for the actors playing ranch hands, complete with pack mules, and arranging fly-fishing lessons for the cast. According to Sheridan, the effort has yielded dividends, with the actors feeling completely absorbed in the world they inhabit onscreen.

Taylor Sheridan competes in the world of cutting and reigning

Being adept at horseback riding isnt just for the cast of Yellowstone. Sheridan is also skilled at riding horses and has even participated in several events in the realm of reining and cutting.

Back in 2020, the Yellowstone showrunner was a co-chair for the Careity Celebrity Cutting event in Fort Worth, Texas, which was put on by the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity. Sheridan and his wife, Nicole (Muirbrook) Sheridan, also took part in the competition, with Nicole taking home the highest score.

Talking to Quarter Horse News, Sheridan revealed that horseback riding is one of his favorite hobbies. Despite being one of the busiest people on television, Sheridan said that not a day goes by that he isnt in the saddle.

We film Yellowstone on my ranch, so Im able to ride daily, work cattle, etc., Sheridan explained. Im lucky that I get to ride every day.

The second half of season 5 of Yellowstone is expected to premiere sometime this year on Paramount.
A team of researchers have used a computational method inspired by evolution to discover an organic catalyst with better performance than known catalysts. As the team reports in the journal Angewandte Chemie, a genetic algorithm suggested new, catalytically active molecular structures for a popular reaction in organic synthesis. The method could be applied more broadly to the search for better molecular catalysts, the team says.

Machine learning systems can already predict material properties and molecular structures in a variety of fields of chemistry with high precision. However, automating the search for new and improved catalysts has to date not been possible, although developing new catalysts for chemical reactions is currently one of the most important goals in chemical research. More efficient catalysts open the door to quicker and easier reactions that consume less energy and form fewer by-products.

The reason behind the difficulties encountered by automated systems when seeking new catalysts lies in reaction transition states, as Jan Halborg Jensen, Professor of computational chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and corresponding author for the study, explains. This is because catalysts influence the transition state; in other words, the moment in a reaction that decides whether a product will be formed or not. The fleeting nature of this moment, and the complexity of the structures formed, with many molecules interacting at the same time, make it difficult to develop models.

To overcome this, Jensen and the team turned to a selection method based on the principles of evolution. A genetic algorithm was used to evaluate a set of starting molecules for fitness for catalyzing the MoritaBaylisHillman (MBH) reaction. Then you take the fittest molecules and mate them, which means that you cut the two parents in random places and recombine fragments from each parent, Jensen explains. "If you do this enough times, the final population can look very different from the initial population, much like a chihuahua differs from its wolf ancestors."

In this way, the final molecules generated by the computer had a new structural motif, a four-membered azetidine ring, which was not present in the initial population. The team then synthesized one of the computer-evolved azetidine candidates and tested it in the reaction, finding that it performed considerably better than the traditional catalyst, DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane). Azetidines had never been considered as catalysts for the MBH reaction, so the algorithm made a genuinely novel discovery, says Jensen, highlighting the importance of computer-assisted discoveries in chemical research.

Jensen says that an essential prerequisite for the use of this technique in the future is the knowledge of the key transition state for the reaction in question. He believes that if this is known, genetic algorithms could help to identify new and improved organocatalysts.
Senate HELP Committee Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., questions Moderna CEO and Director Stephane Bancel during a committee hearing on the price of the COVID-19 vaccine, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
An annual rite of spring in Cheshire is the Trivia Challenge fundraiser staged by the Cheshire Education Foundation. For its sixth edition this year on Saturday, April 1, the event will be hosted by Rebel Interactive at their headquarters building at 535 South Main Street.

The renovations made by Rebel Interactive to the former Furniture Barn building include a large conference space. It can accommodate 30 teams of four for the Trivia Challenge, which raises money for the CEF to fund projects and scholarships in the Cheshire Public Schools.

Were happy to share our beautiful HQ space and technical resources with the Cheshire community, including the Cheshire Education Foundation for their upcoming event in April, as well as the Chamber of Commerce for upcoming planning meetings and more, said Bryn Tindall, CEO and owner of Rebel Interactive Group. We have enjoyed being a part of the town since our relocation last summer and we look forward to continuing to provide for the community moving forward.

Rebel Interactive was founded 10 years ago in Southington and is now one of the fastest growing companies in Connecticut. It is a locally-owned, cutting-edge digital marketing agency that provides branding and marketing services including website and video creation.

Andrew Martelli, the towns Coordinator of Economic Development & Grant Writing, made the connection between Rebel and the education foundation. I applaud the Rebel Interactive Group for stepping up and hosting this great event, said Martelli. Its wonderful to see a new Cheshire business willing to give back to the community as the Cheshire Education Foundation has done for a generation! Were looking forward to a great night!

Earlier this month, teams of four players each began registering online at CheshireEducationFoundation.org to compete in the Trivia Challenge. Members of the Cheshire High School National Honor Society chapter will assist at the event and tabulate the results to determine the winning team. And student bakers from the CHS Food Service class are planning to bake a variety of cupcakes to contribute to the fundraising efforts.

Our Board is thrilled to hold our 6th annual Trivia Contest at Rebel Interactive, said CEF chair Derek Gromko. Rebels facility has allowed us to increase the number of trivia teams and will provide a better experience for the contestants. We are thankful that Rebel volunteered their space and hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.
The following editorial appeared in the Record-Journal on March 18:

Connecticut ranks near the top when it comes to states that provide support for children and families affected by autism. A recently launched initiative from a North Haven mother of a son with autism can only add to that positive reputation.

According to a 2022 list in Autism Parenting magazine, Connecticut comes in at No. 4 in a list of states supportive of the needs of people managing autism issues. Other autism organizations give the state similarly high grades. This is based on availability of services, insurance coverage and other factors that help families, schools, service providers and others involved with those with autism needs. Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey, in that order, filled out the top tier of that list.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that about one in 54 children have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Statistics from the states Department of Public Health, as first reported by Easterseals Inc., reveals that about 8,300 children here in Connecticut have been diagnose with ASD.

Jennifer Hardings son Derek is one of those children. About four years ago, when he was 8, he walked away from his grandfathers house, according to a recent story by Record-Journal reporter Nicole Zappone.

While Derek was found safe, Harding knew the situation could have led to a tragic end, as she told Zappone in an interview. Harding noted that a child wandering off is not an uncommon experience for those raising autistic children.

When we moved to Naugatuck, a 16-year-old autistic individual took off on his parents from Naugatuck on foot and ended up picked up in Oxford by state troopers, Harding told Zappone. Once that happened, I knew I had to get this done.

After her close call and learning of other similar incidents, she began working with police in North Haven and other communities to address the problem.

Harding designed a simple tool called Walk with Derek. Its an autism safety alert form parents can fill out that describes their special-needs childs behaviors and communication style. The information can include specific concerns, such as triggers, as well as methods police can use that may help calm the child. A photo of the child can be included, too. This form is filed with the local police department.

Being a single mom raising Derek alone, it took me time to get the design right and figure out how to approach it, Harding said. Naugatuck welcomed it with open arms, and it took off from there.

The Walk with Derek form is available in more than 20 towns, including Meriden and Wallingford.

The thought of a child roaming around unattended, likely scared or confused, is a situation that a parent hopes never to encounter. But given that it is a possibility compounded by ASD, a proactive approach is a good idea.

Walk with Derek is an easy and effective way to get ahead of potential problems. This serves the police well, too, as they can approach the wanderer armed with good information that can make the contact go more smoothly for all concerned. Its worth taking advantage of Hardings initiative.
This single mom has a 12-year-old daughter named Ruby, and Ruby lately has become really interested in Star Trek.

Ruby loves to read, and so she has begun adding a couple of the older Star Trek books to her collection.

Ruby finds new books to add to her collection in thrift stores and bookstores that offer used books.

Rubys books only cost about 50 cents or a couple of dollars each, so it hasnt been a big expense allowing Ruby to add to her collection.

Now, she has a 22-year-old nanny named Tessa, who will come over to spend time with Ruby almost every day after school.

Tessa has been our nanny for over a year now, and she and Ruby get along great, she explained.

Tessa is big into thrifting and will often keep an eye out for the books Ruby wants. This is not typically a problem, and Ruby always pays Tessa back for the books using her allowance.

The problem occurred when Tessa went on a family vacation out west. Apparently, she went thrifting during this trip and found some books for Ruby. She texted Ruby asking her if she wanted the books, and Ruby said yes.

Yesterday, Tessa arrived home from her vacation, and she had a total of 35 books with her that she had purchased on Rubys behalf.

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An independent commission started investigating the sexual abuses of clergy members in Spain. After a year, around 445 victims stepped up and gave their testimonies.

Sexual Abuse Victims

A report from Click Orlando stated that on Monday, Mar. 13, Spain's ombudsman announced that a committee set up a year ago to investigate historic sex abuse by the Catholic church had collected testimony from 445 victims. Spain is addressing an issue that other European nations have addressed for decades.

According to a statement released by the office of Ombudsman Angel Gabilondo, who opened the first official investigation, the gathering of testimonies was still in progress, and it was expected that an update would be provided in parliament before the term of the current government expired this year. They are reportedly satisfied with the number of victims who felt they could come forward. "What really matters is to listen to the victims.with respect, seriousness, discretion, and confidentiality," Gabilondo's office added.

A law firm based in Madrid is currently undertaking a parallel investigation authorized by the Spanish Episcopal Conference. For years, the Spanish Episcopal Conference has opposed the idea of taking a holistic approach to addressing sex abuse.

After a year of receiving his mandate, the Spanish ombudsman stated that they were making a formal request for the participation of various levels of the Catholic Church and were hopeful that they would be able to count on their assistance soon. The statement is interpreted as a possible indication that the bishops have not yet fully cooperated with the investigation ordered by the government.

Moreover, their respective governments or parliamentary bodies have undertaken abuse investigations like Spain's in very few other nations. AP News reported that Australia's most extensive study concluded that in 2017, 7% of Catholic priests abused minors between 1980 and 2010. From 2005, judge-led investigations in Ireland weakened the Catholic Church's political and social dominance. In 2021, independent research was conducted in France. It estimated that between 1950 and 2020, the Catholic clergy and other individuals working for the Catholic Church were responsible for the sexual abuse of approximately 330,000 children.

Additionally, a panel of experts in the neighboring country of Portugal concluded that there is a possibility that more than 4,800 people were abused sexually as children within the Catholic Church. On the other hand, on Mar. 10, 2022, Spain's parliament approved ombudsman Angel Gabilondo's first official investigation into clergy sexual abuse. The government had to act as El Pais publicized abuse claims involving over 1,200 victims.

Also Read:Archdiocese of Detroit Priest Sentenced With 3 to 15 Years of Imprisonment Following Sexual Abuse to A Second-Grader

First Official Investigation on Clergy Member's Sexual Abuse

Spanish legislators have voted to establish the nation's first formal investigation into sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, Euro News reported. According to the bill, there would be an investigation into whoever was responsible for these crimes and those who either covered them up or shielded the perpetrators by an utterly impartial commission. In contrast to most other European nations, Spain has not conducted a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of child abuse and sexual violence committed by church members.

The extraordinary investigation was given the green light by a substantial majority of 286 legislators, with only 51 voting against it and two opting to abstain. Both the Socialist Party, which is currently in power, and the PNV, which is a Basque party, were the ones who came up with the idea for the investigation.

Also, the only lawmakers who opposed the text were far-right Vox members. The impartial commission would be led by an Ombudsman, including government, victim, and church representatives.

Related Article: Diocese of San Diego Rejects Lawsuit's Allegations of Hiding Assets from Sexual Abuse Victims
Pexels/Sora Shimazaki

A judge has declined to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Jonesboro's congregation that chose to quit The United Methodist Church and objected to the terms governing the security of its church property.

Congregation's Case Dismissal

According to the Christian Post, the First United Methodist Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas, is the complainant in a lawsuit against The United Methodist Church Arkansas Conference the previous year. The church contends that the regional body has no legal claim to the property that the church owns. Judge Gary Arnold decided on Tuesday to enable First UMC's lawsuit to move forward by denying a motion to dismiss the complaint and setting the trial date for January 29, 2024.

Days before the ruling, Bishop Laura Merrill of Arkansas announced her decision to appoint the Reverend Britt Skarda as the interim pastor for First United Methodist Church. He will begin his tenure in this post on Wednesday and continue until the end of June. The Rev. John Miles, the pastor of First United Methodist Church, was reportedly suspended in December because he held a second meeting in which members of the congregation once again voted in favor of leaving the United Methodist Church.

Before the vote, the administrative board of First United Methodist Church sent a letter to the congregation in which they expressed their support for disaffiliation and sought to join the Global Methodist Church, which is a theologically conservative alternative to the United Methodist Church that was recently founded. Moreover, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that on Tuesday, a hearing was held in the dispute involving Jonesboro First UMC and state United Methodist officials over the congregation's assets.

Jonesboro First UMC, the state's second-largest Methodist congregation, decided to disaffiliate on July 31 and subsequently signed a disaffiliation agreement with the board of trustees of the conference. Voting members ultimately rejected the deal at a special session of the Arkansas Annual Conference on November 19 in Hot Springs. That day, 35 additional disaffiliation agreements were ratified. In addition to Jonesboro, the approval of Searcy First UMC and Cabot UMC was denied.

Also Read:UMC's Arkansas Conference OKs 35 Disaffiliation Requests, Thumbs Down 3

Church's Lawsuit to Leave United Methodist Church

As per the Baptist Press, more than 100 churches have filed a lawsuit against the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, seeking immediate disaffiliation. The case is filed amid a slow-moving division within the United Methodist Church, primarily about the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members. According to the leader of a new, theologically conservative Methodist organization that severed ties with the United Methodist Church, it is likely not the last.

In the lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, July 14, 2022, in Bradford County, FL, by the National Center for Life and Liberty, 106 churches assert that the requirements for disaffiliation approved by a special session of the United Methodist Church's General Conference are "onerous and in many cases prohibitive."

After paying apportionments and pension costs, the disaffiliation plan permits congregations that choose to quit the denomination due to its attitude on sexuality to retain their properties until 2023. Delegates at the 2019 General Conference added it to the Book of Discipline with the Traditional Plan, which tightened the language prohibiting the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists.

Related Article: Jonesboro Methodist Church's Disaffiliation Move Over Sexuality Row Could Lead to Spiritual Void Among Members
Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya

An Arkansas church that voted to leave the denomination won its legal battle against the United Methodist Church that argued to keep its property.

The First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro, Arkansas, sued The United Methodist Church (UMC) Arkansas Conference last year on the grounds that the regional organization has no legal claim to the congregation's property.

Judge Decides to Side with the Arkansas Church in Court Litigation

According to The Christian Post, the lawsuit was filed because the congregation voted to leave The UMC, and they took issue with the conditions over securing their church property. However, Judge Gary Arnold decided on Tuesday not to dismiss First UMC's lawsuit and scheduled a trial for Jan. 29, 2024. This means that the lawsuit will move forward.

A few days before the ruling, Arkansas Bishop Laura Merrill appointed Reverend Britt Skarda as interim pastor for First UMC, and he assumed the role effective Wednesday until June 30.

In December, the pastor of First United Methodist Church (UMC) in Jonesboro, the Rev. John Miles, was suspended. This reportedly occurred because he held a second meeting where congregation members voted to leave the UMC.

In response to the challenges faced by the church, Arkansas Bishop Laura Merrill appointed Rev. Britt Skarda as interim pastor from Wednesday until June 30. Merrill expressed her confidence in Skarda's ability to work toward healing and strength with the church.

In the story in The Sun, a group of church leaders from First United Methodist Church filed a request for "clear title," which asks the judge to declare who owns the church property after the congregation voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. The Arkansas Conference, the statewide governing body for the denomination, asked Judge Gary Arnold to dismiss the request, arguing that the court does not have jurisdiction over church affairs.

The Arkansas Conference cited several state appellate court decisions that deferred to denominational leadership in similar cases. Attorney John Baker, representing the Arkansas Conference, quoted from a recent ruling that stated religious bodies have the power to decide matters of church government free from state interference.

Also Read: UMC's Arkansas Conference OKs 35 Disaffiliation Requests, Thumbs Down 3

The Issue of Disaffiliation Has Already Been Resolved

Holly Hall, from Stay FUMC Jonesboro, stated that the Arkansas Conference members had resolved the disaffiliation issue. According to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stay FUMC Jonesboro is focused on reconciling with the congregation and helping to restore the United Methodist Church to its previous state before the conflict began. Meanwhile, Rev. John Miles said that members of his congregation are praying about the situation, and despite the difficulties, First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro is thriving.

In January, the church added a Spanish-language service attended by many Cuban immigrants, and the English-language services are flourishing. The church is experiencing high attendance, with over 1,200 people attending Sunday services and 300 attending Tuesday night services. Miles believes that the church is in revival, and they feel that God is moving and working in their church.

Related Article: Traditionalist UMC Group Dissolves, Joins New Denomination as Fulfillment of Mission
Pexels/Pavel Danilyuk

Jewish Parents sued the Department of Education in California following their prohibition on other schools in law for equal access to special needs education funding for their students. These include Orthodox Jewish schools, Protestant Christian schools, Catholic schools, Muslim schools, and any other religiously affiliated school.

Discrimination on the Law for Equal Access to Special Needs Education Funding

According to the details from Religion News Member, on Monday, March 13, six parents and two private Orthodox Jewish schools from Los Angeles were the ones who filed a federal complaint in the Central District of California. The complainant claimed that it is difficult for children with disabilities to attend religious schools and obtain the same financing that they would otherwise be entitled to if their parents had sent them to non-religious institutions instead.

The Catholic News Agency reported that public and secular private schools in California could receive federal and state government funds for special education programs. Yet, California's state legislation makes it illegal to distribute this money to private religious institutions like the Orthodox Jewish schools that many parents in California want their children to attend. This prohibition applies to schools linked with many religions, including Muslim schools, Catholic schools, Protestant Christian schools, and other religiously affiliated schools.

This case is brought up by three Jewish parents seeking special education for their children. According to a press statement issued by Becket, the parents want their children to obtain an education that enables them to realize their full potential and is oriented on the Jewish religious beliefs they were raised with. Shalhevet High School and Yavneh Hebrew Academy would like to offer this type of education to children with special needs. Still, institutions need more than state or federal money to provide such programs.

Moreover, in this legal proceeding, the parents are represented by Becket, an organization that offers pro bono legal aid to safeguard religious liberty. The vice president and senior counsel at Becket, Eric Rassbach, said that Politicians in California could end this unconstitutional discrimination in either an easy or a complicated way. "Either they change the law that is hurting children with disabilities, or they can shamefully fight in court for the right to discriminate."

Also Read:Catholic Diocese of Albany Might Face Bankruptcy Due to Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Abuse

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The Becket Religious Liberty for All stated that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, also known as IDEA, is a piece of federal legislation that ensures all disabled children in the United States are entitled to a public education that is both free and suitable for their particular set of requirements. This support contributes to paying costs associated with staff training, special education programs, assistive technology, and other services. The funding is provided to the states by IDEA to assist children with disabilities in receiving a free and appropriate education. In addition, its assistance may include the placement of children with disabilities in private schools when public schools cannot satisfy the needs of these children.

In several other states, children with disabilities attend private schools that are either religious or secular, depending on which environment is the most beneficial for the particular child. However, in California, the legislature has decided that religious private schools are not eligible to participate in this benefits scheme and has restricted membership to just secular private schools. The goal of this legal action is to ensure that religious parents, the children of those parents with disabilities, and religious schools are all treated equally under the law, which is a result that almost 60 percent of residents in California would want to see.

Related Article:Arizona Christian University Files Lawsuit Against School District Over Violation of University's Constitutional rights, Arizona's Free Exercise of Religion Act
Pexels/Ivan Samkov

On April 5th, Disney will release a new documentary titled "The Pope Answers," featuring a conversation between Pope Francis and members of Generation Z. Directed by Spanish filmmakers Jordi evole and Marius Sanchez, the documentary was filmed in Rome and entirely in Spanish.

It will focus on the Catholic Church's position on contemporary issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, feminism, and clergy abuse. According to Catholic News Agency, the production company behind the documentary, Producciones del Barrio, is known for its previous documentaries that explore topics such as the impact of Trump's border policies on Hispanic communities and the meaning of life with a late Spanish musician.

The documentary will be exclusively released on Hulu in the U.S. and is expected to generate significant interest as it provides a unique opportunity to hear the Pope's perspective on contemporary issues from the perspective of Generation Z.

'The Pope Answers'

In the article shared in the National Catholic Register, the "The Pope Answers" trailer shows Pope Francis having an informal conversation with a small group of young people. During the conversation, they discuss some of the Church's most controversial positions and society's most difficult problems.

The young people ask the Pope questions such as what a nonbinary person is, whether being feminist conflicts with being a Christian and what the Church should do with women who have had abortions. At the end of the conversation, the Pope thanks the group for what they have taught him.

In a joint statement released on March 15th, directors Jordi evole and Marius Sanchez described the documentary as a unique opportunity to unite two worlds that don't normally interact - Pope Francis and young adults who may clash with the Church's teachings. This isn't the first time evole has collaborated with the Pope, as some of his most famous statements have been made during interviews with evole.

In a 2019 interview on Salvados, Francis clarified the Church's stance on homosexuality, stating that "tendencies are not sin" but "sin is acting, of thought, word, and deed, with freedom." In a 2020 interview on The evole Thing, the Pope likened the coronavirus to nature, giving humanity a jolt to take better care of the environment.

Also Read: Pope Francis Urges Wealthy Christians to Fight Against 'Throwaway Culture'

Conversation Based on Empathy, Curiosity, Respect, and Mutual Learning

According to a statement in Disney, the meeting between Pope Francis and the ten young adults took place in June 2022 in the Pigneto neighbourhood of Rome. The conversation was intense and dynamic, based on empathy, curiosity, respect, and mutual learning. The Pope spoke openly, resulting in an engaging dialogue with the young adults, many of whom are not actively involved in the Catholic Church.

Sofia Fabregas, Vice President of Production of Disney+ in Spain, emphasized the value of the Pope's honesty and openness in having a dialogue with young adults on the periphery of the Catholic Church. Disney+ is proud to deliver this special documentary to the world.

Related Article: Pope Francis Urges Faithful to Combat Temptation by Turning to the Word of God
Pexels/Haley Black

On March 19th, a terrorist attack happened at a church in Jerusalem, specifically at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. The Israeli police arrested a 27-year-old person from southern Israel in connection with the attack. Unfortunately, the police gave no more information about the suspect or the type of attack.

The Greek Orthodox Church spoke out against the attack and was worried about the safety of the Archbishop and one of the priests who were in the church at the time of the attack.

The Call for International Protection

According to Catholic Review, the Greek Orthodox Church has called for international protection of holy sites following a "heinous terrorist attack" at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem. The church denounced the attack and expressed concern for the safety of Archbishop Joachim and one of the priests in the church.

The incident occurred during Lenten celebrations and as tourists visiting the city for spiritual pilgrimages. A suspect was arrested, and the police said the individual had entered the church with an iron bar. The ambush on the Tomb of the Virgin Mary is one of several recent attacks on Christian sites in Jerusalem.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed solidarity with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and others calling for the protection of holy sites. According to Vatican News, the WCC is concerned about the rising number of attacks on these sites in Jerusalem.

They believe it's important to convene a meeting of religious leaders to discuss how to end these assaults on sacred places and institutions. The WCC believes protecting holy sites is necessary during Christian holidays and on all days of significance for all faith communities.

Vatican news added that the recent attack is part of a series of assaults on Christians, churches, and cemeteries in the Holy Land. In response, Israeli and Palestinian officials have promised to take action to prevent violence leading up to Ramadan. They set a deadline in April to report on their progress and emphasized the importance of preventing disruptions at holy sites.

Over the past year, Israeli forces have made numerous arrests in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of over 200 Palestinians, including fighters and civilians. In addition, more than 40 Israelis and three Ukrainians have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians.

Also Read: Vandals Desecrate Christian Cemetery on Mount Zion in Jerusalem

Suspects Caught On the Scene

In another report shared by Times of Israel, Bilal Abu Nab, a vendor near the church, says two Jewish men - one wearing a yarmulke and the other wearing tzitzit - were responsible for the attack. He mentioned that a priest was hurt on the forehead during the incident, and police were contacted, but they arrived over half an hour later.

However, the police only mentioned one suspect, who was arrested with an iron bar, and stated that there were no injuries. The police issued a statement expressing their firm stance against violence, particularly in holy places, and they promised to take strict action against the perpetrators of such crimes.

Related Article: Desecration of Jerusalem Christian Cemetery: Two Suspects Arrested, Justin Welby and Israel's Foreign Ministry Speak Out
Pexels/Jakayla Toney

Christian Lives Matter, a Christian group that has been involved in violent disagreement with the LGBTQI+ activists, claims to be a peaceful organization. Still, some group members have been calling for violence against the protestors.

Mark Latham, a member of the Australian Parliament, have given a speech at St Michaels church in Belfield, southwest Sydney. Before the event could begin, riot have broke out as approximately 15 protestors from Community Action for Rainbow Rights assembled outside.

A Riot Occured During Protest

According to a report in Daily Mail, during the event at St Michaels church in Belfield, over 600 Christians Lives Matter (CLM) followers surrounded approximately 15 LGBTQI+ activists from Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR). According to a statement released by the police, the CLM followers threw rocks and bottles at the activists and the officers, trying to separate them.

However, CLM leader Charlie Bakhos insisted that his group did not condone violence and did not intend to fight. He instead blamed CARR for the violence, claiming that they had been threatening Christians and children and mocking their faith with placards such as "Catholic priest groomers."

In contrast to CLM leader Charlie Bakhos' claim, a prominent group member, Christian Sukkar, he allegedly posted a video before the event where he encouraged violence.

In the video shown in the Daily Mail, Sukkar urged the "real boys" to attack the activists, saying they should "grab them, and you drag them by their fking hair, and you fking get 'em out of there." He further called for CLM members to "shake them up" and "remove them" from St Michael's Field. After the event, Sukkar deactivated his socials and was charged with encouraging the commission of crimes.

The LGBTQI+ protest was organized by Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR), which claimed that it was intended to be a peaceful demonstration. According to the report of The Guardian, one of the CARR protesters reported that they only intended to stand across the street from the church with signs to make their point and leave.

However, upon arrival, they were surrounded by CLM members who allegedly attacked them by grabbing one protester by the hair, punching people in the face, and throwing bottles and handfuls of gravel. The situation was described as a mobbing, with CLM members being out for their blood.

Police were needed to push back the attackers and allow the protestors to escape. Two arrests were made following the incident. A 34-year-old man was charged with encouraging the commission of crimes and is due to appear in Bankstown local court on 11 April. Another man was charged with common assault and is expected to appear in Bankstown local court on 30 May.

Also Read: LGBT Catholics Seek More Progress With Pope Francis' Warm Welcome

The Call for Respect for Everyone

Mark Latham, who gave a speech at the church where the clash occurred, condemned the violence but acknowledged the protesters' concerns about parents' rights. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, he stated that parents had genuine concerns about their children being taught about gender identity at school without their consent.

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the confrontation as disgraceful and unacceptable, emphasizing the need to treat people respectfully and celebrate diversity. NSW Labor leader Chris Minns also expressed disappointment about the violence, calling for respectful behavior among all political parties during the final days of the election campaign.

Related Article: Thousands Protest LDS Church Apostle's Commencement Speech at SUU Over Anti-LGBTQ+ Remarks
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It is a common event that Religious organizations provide charitable works and outreach initiatives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Latter-day Saint Charities donated around $1.02 billion to charity in 2022, according to their most recent annual report.

This marks the first time the church's charitable spending has exceeded $1 billion in a single year. The report states the church's efforts to provide humanitarian aid across 3,692 projects in 190 countries.

The First Presidency of the church expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to serve and help those in need. It stated that this is a sacred responsibility they consider a joyful privilege.

A Big Contribution to the Humanitarian Services by the LDS

According to a report shared in Yahoo! News, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has broadened its humanitarian support efforts in terms of both the number of projects and the countries it conducts them.

In 2021, the church participated in 3,909 projects in 188 countries, up from 3,600 projects in 160 countries in 2020 and 3,221 projects in 142 countries in 2019. The church's humanitarian aid efforts included a $32 million donation to the World Food Programme, the largest one-time donation in church history, to provide food and critical support to 1.6 million people in nine countries. Additionally, the church donated $5 million to UNICEF's "No Time To Waste" global malnutrition campaign.

The $1 billion in charitable expenditures was broken down into six major areas in the yearly report: church operations, fast-offering aid, clothing donations, food bank and other agency donations, humanitarian programs, and bishops' requests for products. According to Deseret News, it also emphasised the church's involvement in a number of initiatives, including clean water, mobility, vision care, and maternal care.

More than 6.3 million hours of service were provided by church volunteers, and JustServe organized more than 130,511 volunteer projects, such as 16,285 brand-new ones. According to the report, church farms and food processing facilities generated enough food to serve 14.3 million people for a day. In 2022, the church gave away 57.3 million pounds of food.

Also Read: Tips for Christians Planning to Donate to Charities

Worldwide Efforts Especially Affected by the War and Other Large Crisis

Additionally, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, the church spent $17 million on aid for refugees during the war in Ukraine. In Canada and the United States, missionaries and volunteers worked to coordinate relief efforts after floods and contributed $32 million to the United Nations World Food Program for child nutrition.

The church also provided clean water to over 646,000 people in Africa and the Middle East and assisted in creating preparation classes for Syrian refugees to enroll in Lebanese public schools. Additionally, the church donated nearly 50 million pounds of food to church members and distributed almost 60 million pounds through other humanitarian organizations. The church has made an effort to highlight its humanitarian efforts in recent years.

Related Article: Latter Day Saints Serve and Donate to Countries in Need
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Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa has signed two laws that would restrict the rights of transgender minors and students to undergo gender-affirming care. The first law prohibits Iowa doctors from providing gender-affirming care, such as prescribing puberty blockers or trans-sexual hormones, to transgender minors.

The second law restricts transgender students from using school bathrooms or locker rooms that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. These laws take effect immediately, but doctors will have six months to stop providing gender-affirming care to patients under 18.

Two Laws Passed and is Said to be an Attack on Transgender Youth in Iowa

These laws are part of a wave of bills introduced by Iowa Republicans this year that target LGBTQ issues, particularly those affecting transgender children. In the article in Des Moines Register, the spokesperson of Governor Reynolds said that the governor have been meeting with some parents of transgender children to discuss the two bills before signing them into law.

The spokesperson stated that during the meeting, the governor expressed empathy towards the parents and acknowledged that the decision was difficult for her and elected officials.

The governor also mentioned that her heart breaks for the families impacted by these laws. Despite the meeting, the governor signed the bills into law, which prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender minors and restrict transgender students' access to school facilities that align with their gender identity.

According to the article in CNN, in Iowa's state House, Democrats have accused supporters of banning gender-affirming care of hypocrisy for not giving parents a choice to allow such respect for their children. Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst argued that the session was supposed to be about parents' rights, but the bill seems to suggest that parents know best until the government steps in.

On the other hand, some Republicans disagreed with the idea during the debate, stating that they were taught not to judge others and the bill was too broad in its scope. Despite the controversy, the bill was passed by the state House with a vote of 58-39, following earlier approval by the state Senate with a 2-to-1 margin.

Also Read: Mississippi Senate Approves Bill Restricting Access to Gender-Affirming Health Care for Minors

Schools Need to Follow the Law

Superintendent Matthew Smith, the Interim of Des Moines Public Schools stated that the school district must follow the bathroom and locker room use law for transgender students, employees, parents, and visitors. According to Iowa Public Radio, Smith added that the district's commitment to serving the LGBTQ+ population with respect and dignity remains unchanged.

The DMPS policy, as well as federal and state legislation, forbid harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. To make sure the safety and security of all students and employees and to foster a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the community, the school district will keep up the enforcement of its anti-discrimination and anti-harassment rules.

The new law allows students who desire more privacy when using the restroom or changing room to submit a written request signed by their parent or guardian to their principal.

Related Article: Texas' Gender-Affirming Care Considered Child Abuse For Some, Survey Says
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The Eagle Lake United Methodist is one of the members of the United Methodist Church who chose to disaffiliate from their denomination. However, the United Methodist Church in Eagle Lake reportedly needs to pay $25,000 in order to retain its church title.

$25,000 Cost Of Disaffiliation

A report from The Vicksburg Post stated that the Eagle Lake United Methodist Church has already decided to withdraw its membership from the United Methodist Church. Peggy Calloway, who has been a member of Eagle Lake United Methodist Church for a very long time, believes that one of the reasons is because of the discussions that are now being held about human sexuality and how they relate to members of the LGBT community becoming ordained as United Methodist ministers.

As mentioned, there is no easy way for churches to separate themselves from the organization that they were born under. Obtaining the title to the facility is now held in trust by the General Conference and Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, which is now one of the processes involved in disaffiliation from the church.

Since 1797, the United Methodist Discipline has required the United Methodist Church to hold the title to church properties. According to the President of Asbury Theological Seminary, Timothy C. Tennent, this was done to ensure that the property would be utilized strictly for purposes consistent with the mission of the whole denomination, as outlined in the Discipline.

However, to acquire their title, Eagle Lake United Methodist Church must make a monetary contribution to the conference of $25,000. According to Calloway, the title cost was determined by calculating what the "askings" of the Mississippi Conference would have been over two years.

The "askings" of the United Methodist Church, also known as apportionments, are reportedly used to provide financial support for the worldwide church ministry. They also help give the essential framework to respond to crises locally, nationally, and worldwide. Calloway added that the cost of apportionments being required was another factor in the decision of Eagle Lake United Methodist Church to disaffiliate.

As per The Historical Marker Database, the United Methodist Church of Eagle Lake is the community's most established and long-standing Protestant congregation. In 1864, Emma Tracy Rhine opened the first private school in the Eagle Lake area. When Orceneth Fisher, a circuit rider, established a Methodist church and Sunday school in 1872, he used the one-room schoolhouse already on the property as the first church meeting building. Emma Rhine established a tradition of women's groups within the church in the same year by forming the First Ladies Aid Society.

Also Read: North Carolina Churches File Lawsuit Against United Methodist Church Over Disaffiliation Process

Increasing Rate Of Disaffiliation In United Methodist Church

After the 2019 special disaffiliation legislation, 2,000 churches left the United Methodist Church in 2022. When the legislation allowing for disaffiliation expires at the end of the year 2023, more people are expected to take advantage of this option. Following financial meeting responsibilities, 2019 legislation allowed churches to disaffiliate and keep their property. This analysis determines how the departing United Methodist congregations resemble or diverge from the overall United Methodist church profile.

As most disaffiliations occurred after 2019, Lewis Center for Church Leadership's strategy is to utilize 2019 as the base year for comparison. They successfully determined the names of 1,967 congregations that disaffiliated themselves from their parent church. As of the year 2019, there were a total of 30,541 United Methodist congregations spread across the United States. Moreover, a total of 6.6% of churches severed their ties with their previous denomination.

Related Article: Cornerstone Church Believes Leaving United Methodist Church Is a "Healthy Step"
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The Greek Orthodox Church declared a heinous terrorist attack following the violent attack on a priest and attempted to harm Archbishop Joachim, who reportedly led the service when the attack was made. As a result, the church is calling for an 'international protection of holy sites.'

'Heinous Terrorist Attack' In Greek Orthodox Church

On Sunday, March 19, the Israeli police stated that a 27-year-old citizen of southern Israel had been arrested concerning a violent incident at the church in annexed East Jerusalem. Still, they provided no other information on the suspect's name. The Catholic Review reported that a church near the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem was the target of what the Greek Orthodox Church referred to as a 'heinous terrorist attack.'

They condemned the attack on a church priest and the attempt to harm Archbishop Joachim, who was leading the service, and asked for an 'international protection of holy sites.' "Terrorist attacks, by radical Israeli groups, targeting churches, cemeteries, and Christian properties.. have become almost a daily occurrence that increases in intensity during Christian holidays," the church added.

The incident occurred amid the Lenten holidays, during which the city was bustling with tourists on spiritual pilgrimages throughout Israel. A vendor named Bilal Abu Nab, who works near the church, reported that a priest had been injured in the forehead and that the police had been contacted but did not appear for more than half an hour after the initial call. The police said the suspect who was detained had entered the church with an iron bar, and no one was reported hurt except the priest, who the vendor stated was injured. It is suspected that the attacker struggles with mental health concerns.

However, it was stated there had been multiple attacks on Christian sites in Jerusalem over the past few months, and one of those attacks was on the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem. As per The Times of Israel, the Church of the Condemnation, which Christians believe to be the location where Jesus was flogged and sentenced to death, a statue of Jesus Christ was defaced in February. A tourist from the United States was taken into custody as the suspect.

A month before, scores of Christian tombs had been desecrated in an Episcopal cemetery on Mount Zion, believed by Christians to have been the location of Jesus's Last Supper. After some time had passed, two Israeli Jewish adolescents were detained on suspicion of having committed the act of vandalism. Additionally, Israeli and Palestinian peace efforts have been stuck in a rut since 2014, and the violence between the two sides has only worsened this year.

Also Read:Patriarch Kirill of Russian Orthodox Church Asks Religious Leaders to Prevent Forced Closure of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Islamic Terrorist Attack On Churches

According to St. Louis Review, churches in South and Southeast Asia, which have a combined population of 150 million Catholics and other Christians, have been the target of attacks in an increasing number of countries in recent years. In the past year alone, violent extremists from the Islamic faith have detonated bombs inside churches in the Philippines and Indonesia, claiming innocent lives.

Authorities in Sri Lanka and Australia have independently confirmed that those responsible for the attack in Sri Lanka had connections to Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the incident. Zahran Hashim, a militant cleric the authorities suspect was one of the suicide attackers at the Shangri-La Hotel, has been identified as the founder and leader of the now-prohibited National Thowheeth Jama'ath group, which was responsible for the explosions. DNA testing is currently being carried out to verify it.

Related Article: 8 Bishops of Orthodox Church Protest its Eviction from Kyiv Headquarters
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The Board of Trustees of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, South Central Jurisdiction, and a group of nine United Methodist preachers were engaged in a court battle. On March 23, a judge in East Baton Rouge District Court heard the pastors' motion for a preliminary injunction against the board.

However, the judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction over the matter and should be addressed by church courts rather than civil courts. Therefore, the request for the preliminary injunction was dismissed, and the dispute must be resolved through the appropriate channels within the United Methodist Church.

Group of Nine Methodist Ministers in Louisiana Files a Lawsuit Against UMC Conference

According to KSLA, the nine methodist ministers, four from Caddo Parish, two from Claiborne Parish, one from East Baton Rouge Parish, one retired to Tennessee, and one to Texas, have filed a petition against the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, South Central Jurisdiction. The petition, filed on March 13, concerns the flawed process by which churches are given the option to vote to leave the denomination.

The ministers felt that the Louisiana Conference's governing body and administration required to monitor these votes, offer clear information on the only ground for disaffiliation, and safeguard the denomination's assets.

The national conference allows disaffiliation only on the grounds of disagreement with its stance on homosexuality, including opposition to same-sex marriage and the appointment of practicing homosexuals to clergy positions. According to WAFB, A limited disaffiliation rule was established for anyone who disagreed with the church's principles after the 2019 General Conference.

The ministers contend that many of the disaffiliation votes cast so far, nevertheless, did not adhere to the standards established by the national conference. The pastors contend that Louisiana congregations that support the Methodist position against the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals cannot make use of the restricted disaffiliating rule.

The ministers requested a preliminary injunction against the board, which a judge dismissed due to the issue being a matter for church courts rather than civil courts. The ministers' legal counsel contended that they had tried everything to resolve the situation within the church system. The ruling of the judge may be appealed by the ministries within 30 days.

Also Read: 36 North Carolina Churches Denied Exit from United Methodist Church as Judge Dismisses Lawsuit

Lawsuits Filed in the Court Against Some of the UMC Conferences

Recently, another lawsuit has been heard in court, and according to WFMY News, 36 United Methodist churches in Iredell County, North Carolina, filed a lawsuit to disaffiliate from the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church congregation.

Judge Richard L. Doughton of the Iredell County Superior Court, however, dismissed the claim. In January, the conference filed a move to dismiss the case, arguing that doing so would violate the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion in the United States. Constitution. Judge Doughton approved the conference's move to dismiss the lawsuit after finding that it was reasonable.

Related Article: Asbury Church to Disaffiliate with United Methodist Church Due to Disagreement on LGBTQ+ Inclusion
My introductory class in seminary ended with me making a lifelong pledge.

Our professor had told a story about sitting on a plane next to a young woman years before. He had engaged her in conversation with the intent to share the gospel, only to find out that she already professed to be a Christian. However, she sheepishly confided that she didnt know how to study her Bible. He proceeded to walk her through the basics of Bible study and watched as her eyes filled with tears of joy.

The professor then asked what church this woman attended. Shock seized him when she named a church pastored by one of his former students. Upon the planes landing, he rushed to the nearest pay phone (this was before the cellphone era) and called his former student to rebuke him for not training his congregants in how to study the Bible. I distinctly remember his finger pointed at our class and hearing him say, Dont let me ever bump into one of your congregants and find out that they dont know how to study the Bible! Inspiredbut also a little afraidI left the classroom vowing never to receive such a phone call.

I believe there is nothing more important for the Christian life than reading the Scriptures. As a pastor, Im constantly on the lookout for helpful resources to aid believers in their Bible reading and study. Many books on the topic lack thoroughness and could be summarized adequately in a pamphlet. Others tend to lean in the opposite direction and overcomplicate the study of Scripture, making it cumbersome and intimidating. Books that equip without overwhelming are not easy to find.

Jonathan Pennington, professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, meets this high standard in Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God Through Scripture. Concise, creative, and refreshingly multifaceted, his book is exactly the kind of introductory resource I want to put into congregants hands.

Come and See encourages Christians to study their Bibles through three modes of reading, which Pennington labels as informational, theological, and transformational. He creatively pictures Bible study as a road trip with three distinct drivers. Each driver articulates how to study the Bible through each respective mode. The first, Ingrid, provides the framework for understanding what Scripture is saying on a basic level. The second, Tom, describes how we can read it to discover core truths about God and his work of redemption. And the third, Taylor, emphasizes how studying Gods Word changes the orientation of our hearts and the way we live.

As Pennington rightly stresses throughout the book, combining these three modes of reading provides a robust and meaningful path for knowing God through the study of the Bible. Too often, Bible study never moves past the basic facts, gets stuck in discussing the finer points of theology, or races ahead to application without getting a grasp of the passage itself. Penningtons multifaceted approach ensures that the reader of Scripture studies to know, to believe, and to live what the Scriptures teach.

The book devotes one chapter apiece to each of these modes of reading. Each chapter contains three main points that cover the basics of reading informationally, theologically, and transformationally, along with two side trips. In these main sections, Pennington tackles such important topics as biblical genres, historical context, common exegetical mistakes, Scriptures relationship to the churchs historic creeds, and the essential role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating what we read.

Each main-point treatment ends with a Take a Turn at the Wheel application. These brief sections are carefully thought through, and they provide helpful personal studies and questions. They would provide wonderful exercises for a small group reading this introductory book together. In fact, these exercises are so well done that I find myself wishing Pennington had provided more of them for the reader.

It is commendable how much Pennington packs into this quick read. He manages to tease out important distinctions between biblical and systematic theology while introducing readers to such weighty concepts as the analogy of Scripture, reception history, the rule of faith, and more.

Though Im thankful Pennington doesnt remain at a surface level, there are times when some of the discussions and concepts seem unnecessary for an introductory book on Biblical study. This is a small criticism, and Pennington, to his credit, takes care to explain even the trickiest ideas with clarity. Yet, Im not sure the ordinary churchgoer looking for Bible study techniques needs a primer, say, on the Bibles bounded pluriformity or the monastic practice of lectio divina. Likewise, some of the side trips could feel more like unnecessary diversions for average readers.

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The Christian life is lived upon the foundation of the Word and in the light of the Word. We want to be people who know it, meditate upon it, live it out, and worship the God it reveals. My seminary professor was rightly upset to hear that one of his former students had not trained a congregant to study the Scriptures. We all need this equipping because we all need the Scriptures.

Come and See will prove helpful to any Christian looking to grow as a reader and studier of the Bible, or to any pastor or leader charged with facilitating that growth. My professor would have rejoiced at Penningtons thorough and creative way of teaching others to enjoy and feast upon the treasure that is the Word of God.

Jason Helopolous is senior pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He is the author of The Promise: The Amazing Story of Our Long-Awaited Savior and A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home.

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Christianity arrived in Japan in 1549 through Jesuit missionaries and challenged the dominant Confucian view on the hierarchical position of women in society.

The Confucian instructional book Onna Daigaku (School of Women) instructed parents to raise their daughters to be submissive in order to marry into other families, where exercising too much independence would be impertinent. The most desirable qualities for women were obedience, chastity, compassion, and emotional balance. Wives were expected to revere their husbands as if they were deities and to never become jealous, as that would risk alienating their husbands.

The Christian faith that the Jesuits shared offered unprecedented opportunities for women to discover and embody new social roles and positions. The Protestants also represented this newfound reality as women comprised about two-thirds of the missionaries sent to Japan from 1859 to 1882, according to Japanese historian Rui Kohiyama.

Christianity required women to make a personal decision about their religious choices and confess it publicly in a society where womens opinions mattered little, writes Haruko Nawata Ward, a church history professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, in her book Women Religious Leaders in Japans Christian Century, 15491650.

It required them to maintain a stronger loyalty to Christ than to their feudal lords, fathers, elder brothers, husbands and sons. It empowered women to take vows of celibacy, or choose their marriage partners from among Kirishitan men.

In the early 17th century, Christianity was banned. Believers were persecuted for just over two and a half centuries, with many practicing their faith in secret as Kakure Kirishitans, or Hidden Christians. During this time, women played an essential role by passing on to their children what they had learned from their ancestors.

Women in Japan have contributed to Christianitys growth in the country for nearly five centuries, especially by promoting theological discussions and engaging in political, social, and cultural activism.

Here are three Japanese Christian women who were forerunners in evangelism, education reform, and preaching across the Tokugawa, Meiji, and Taisho eras, spanning from the 17th to the early 20th century.

The fearless evangelist: Gracia Tama Hosokawa

Gracia Tama Hosokawa was gifted in Japanese script and applied her talents toward contextualizing the Kirishitan faith, thereby making Christianity easier to understand and accept by the locals. She translated Christian texts from Europe into Japanese, including the catechism and various spiritual treatises.

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Hosokawa was born in 1563 amid Japans Christian Century (15491650), in which Christianity took root and spread across the country. In this time, women died as martyrs, some alone and some with their infants in their arms. They never abandoned their belief in Christ or their loyalty to the church.

Hosokawas father, Mitsuhide Akechi, enjoyed a relatively strong financial position that enabled him to give all his children a good education. Hosokawas education predominantly focused on Zen Buddhism according to theology student Anne Sander. This prepared her to later become one of Japans most famous Kirishitan theologians during the Tokugawa period (16031868). She developed a lifelong love for intellectual discussions.

Image: WikiMedia Commons / Edits by CT

Hosokawas first encounter with Christianity occurred through her husband, Tadaoki, amid a marital relationship full of tension. Tadaoki, a noble samurai with several wives, became acquainted with Ukon Takayama, a well-known Christian samurai in Japan who tried to evangelize him. The attempts to convert Tadaoki failed, but Hosokawa learned about Christianity from her husbands reports.

Despite Hosokawas fascination with Christianity, she attended church only once in her life. Barred from leaving her husbands palace in Osaka, she managed to flee in secret and venture into a church on one occasion.

Although she immediately desired to be baptized upon hearing the sermon, doing so would have required her to reveal her identity. When the palace guards discovered Hosokawas absence, they located her and brought her back to the palace, and Tadaoki forbade her to attend church.

Yet Hosokawas single visit to church radically changed the atmosphere of Tadaokis palace. Several of his wives and other women there17 in totalconverted to Christianity, Sander writes.

Hosokawa and these other women were generally isolated and left to themselves in the palace. They led a nearly monastic life there, praying together and discussing philosophy and Christian literature. Hosokawas best friend, Ito Kiyohara, who was renamed Maria after being baptized, served as the intermediary between Hosokawa and Father Cespedes, a Jesuit priest in Osaka, relaying their questions and answers, writes Sander.

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On her conversion to Christianity, Hosokawa told Father Cespedes that it happened not by the persuasion of humans, but only by the grace and mercy of one and only almighty God, in whom I have found that even if the heavens changed into the earth and the trees and the plains ceased to be, I, by the confidence which I have in God, shall not be moved, notes Ward.

Hosokawa completed several written works and translations, including books on the catechism, although many of her Kirishitan writings and letters of inquiry to Father Cespedes have since been destroyed.

During a time of political unrest in the late 17th century, Tadaoki ordered Hosokawas death to prevent her from being taken hostage and used as leverage. The other Christian women at the palace wanted to die with her as well, but Hosokawa prevented them from doing so.

My faith will not change, no matter what kind of persecution there is, Hosokawa declared.

The tenacious reformer: Umeko Tsuda

Umeko Tsuda believed that all women in Japan should have equal access to higher education and that only education could help improve womens status in the country.

Tsuda was born in 1864 in Edo, or present-day Tokyo. Four years later, the collapse of the Tokugawa regime gave way to the Meiji period (18681912), when a new, young Japan sought to modernize its political, social, economic, cultural, and religious systemsin which Christian women came to play an important role in Japanese society.

In 1871, Tsuda arrived in San Francisco as part of a government program that sent Japanese students to study in the United States. She was seven years old.

Image: WikiMedia Commons / Edits by CT

While in America, Tsuda lived with Charles Lanman, the secretary of the Japanese legation, and his wife, Adeline, both of whom were committed Episcopalians. Inspired by their faith, Tsuda also embraced Christianity and was baptized.

When she turned 18, Tsuda returned to Japan and worked as a childrens tutor there. She soon returned to the United States to pursue an education at Bryn Mawr College, in a Philadelphia suburb, majoring in biology and education. During her second stay stateside, Tsuda became convinced that the only way to improve womens status in Japan was to give them the same opportunity to enter higher education as men.

Oh, women have the hardest part of life to bear in more ways than one.  Poor, poor women, how I long to do something to better your position! she wrote in a letter to Adeline.

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Existing schools for Japanese girls and women aimed only to educate them to be submissive wives, sisters, and daughters at home, whereas education for boys and men was far more comprehensive. Tsuda soon established the American Scholarship for Japanese Women to provide financial aid to women studying in the United States who would return to their motherland and become leading forces in developing and improving womens education there. Some of them became influential political and educational leaders in Japan during and after the Meiji period.

Such inequality in educational opportunities was also why she founded Joshi Eigaku Juku, the Womens Institute for English Studies, in 1900. The Tokyo-based school afforded women equal opportunities to pursue higher education in the liberal arts. After World War II, the Womens Institute became Tsuda University, which is now one of the most prestigious institutes of higher education for women in Japan. Tsuda also became the first president of the Japanese branch of the World Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) in 1905.

For all her accomplishments, Tsuda was not immune to experiencing seasons of discouragement. There is a great work to be done, but the laborers are indeed few. God bless the cause, and bless and keep us all. I wonder if I can ever do any good.  It is tiresome work, and I am not used to it all yet, and I dont know how to work best for the Masters cause, she confessed in another letter to Adeline.

Nevertheless, Tsudas legacy remains strong today. She was ranked one of the top 20 most prominent Japanese women in a 2019 survey by national magazine Tokyo Weekender, and her face will appear on the 5,000 bill starting in 2024.

As Tsuda wrote, Somehow God seems to be opening the future [in] some way, and he has given me such a strange, wonderful, uncommon-place life, thus far, that it seems as if the future could not be merely useless.

The passionate preacher: Tamaki Kawado Uemura

Tamaki Kawado Uemura was one of the first Japanese women to become a pastor. She was instrumental in galvanizing the growth of the Christian church in the country.

Uemuras significant contributions occurred during the Taisho period (19121926), which was when Japan established a monarchy inspired by the British parliamentary system, a constitutional democracy with a two-party political structure. As a result, the country grew into a modern state similar to contemporary Western nations.

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Uemura was the third daughter of one of Japans famous early Protestant church leaders and theologians, Masahisa Uemura. In October 1930, Tamaki Uemura began to evangelize at her home in Tokyo. A year later, she founded the Kashiwagi Church in the same city.

Image: WikiMedia Commons / Edits by CT

Uemura became Japans first ordained woman pastor in the Japanese Christian Church in 1934. She also held appointments as the YWCA Japans national director and vice president of the World YWCA.

Her influence also extended beyond Japans shores. In April 1946, she was the first Japanese civilian to travel to the United States after World War II, bringing a message of peace from Japan to then president Harry S. Truman.

When Uemura returned to Japan, she had an audience with Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun. There, she presented them with a gift from the women of the American Presbyterian church: an exquisitely bound Bible with a rich purple leather cover.

[We hope that] the empress will find a real treasure in the Bible so that she can correctly interpret Christianity, Uemura said.

Empress Kojun soon requested that Uemura hold Bible studies with her and her three daughters, 19-year-old princess Kazuko, 17-year-old Atsuko, and nine-year-old Takako. These sessions were held once a week for four years until 1951. The women would often sing Christian songs together, and Emperor Showa would listen in occasionally.

Image: WikiMedia Commons / Edits by CT

Outside of evangelizing to royalty, Uemura continued to invest in the spiritual health of Japanese Christians. She often preached powerful sermons with a prophetic emphasis on suffering and mourning with those who weep. She also rebuilt the Kashiwagi Church, which had burned down in 1947.

I want to be a person who prays in [a] closed room and is captivated by the Word, she said in a sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10 at the churchs 40th anniversary celebration. But the church is the work of Christ. Building a church is a big task that has been given to us, so please pray that this church will be worthy of Christs work.

Mrs. Uemura has many calls from all over Japan, as well as from Korea, Formosa [Taiwan] and Manchuria [northeastern China], wherever Japanese Christians are scattered, and her visits cause spiritual awakening in a remarkable measure, wrote Christian activist Michi Kawai, Uemuras contemporary, in Japanese Women Speak: A Message from the Christian Women of Japan to the Christian Women of America.

Her inheritance, her education and scholarship, and her embodiment of the Christian faith command the respect of men and women, Christian and non-Christian alike.

Adapted from Japanese Women and Christianity by Samuel Lee. Copyright  2022. Used by permission of Samuel Lee. All rights reserved.
What does it mean to be a good steward? This question threads through discussion of this weeks news about indictments against Donald Trump, the failure of regional banks, and the reputation of Christians in Hollywood.

In this episode, Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore talk about current indictments against the former president and marvel at the tenacity of millennial and Gen Z faith in the face of moral deviancy. Next, Dolores Bamford, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Eventide, and Faina Rozental, a research analyst for Eventide, join Cosper for conversation about Silicon Valley Bank and the dangers of poor stewardship in the financial industry. The three discuss the end of the era of free and consider the role of Christian witness in an industry that often only sees green.

Finally, Russell Moore rejoins the conversation to talk about Christians in Hollywood - why they often look so bad on screen and what they need to do to change that. The theme of stewardship reemerges as Cosper and Moore end the episode by exchanging their redemptive film favorites.

Joining us this week:

Dolores Bamford, CFA, serves as Co-Chief Investment Officer for Eventide and Senior Portfolio Manager for Eventides dividend growth, multi-asset income, and fixed income strategies. Ms. Bamford has over 25 years of investment experience. Prior to joining Eventide in 2019, she was with Goldman Sachs Asset Management for 13 years (2002-2015). Ms. Bamford holds an S.M. in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a dual-M.A. in Theology and Church History from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Economics from Wellesley College. She is a CFA Charterholder and member of the Boston Society of Security Analysts.

Faina Rozental serves as a Research Analyst for Eventide. She is primarily responsible for evaluating and monitoring new and existing investment opportunities in the portfolios. Ms. Rozental has an MBA with certificates in finance and sustainability from the MIT Sloan School of Management. During her time at MIT, she worked at Goldman Sachs and the MIT Office of Sustainability. Prior to MIT, she managed social due diligence at Root Capital, an agricultural impact investor, and earlier was responsible for OECD research sales in North America. Ms. Rozental holds a B.A./M.A. in Economics from Boston University.

Resources Referenced:

Donald Trump is Not the Moral Leader We Need by Russell Moore

Trinity Forum

The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt

Koinonia Farm

The Real Reason Silicon Valley Bank Collapsed by David Bahnsen

HBOs The Last of Us

Rainn Wilsons tweet

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Exit 36 by Robert Capon

The Tree of Life

Joe Versus the Volcano

The Bulletin is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Hosts: Mike Cosper and Russell Moore

Producer: Matt Stevens

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Editing and Mix: TJ Hester

Music: Dan Phelps

Graphic Design: Bryan Todd

Additional Design: Seth Dady

Social Media: Kate Lucky
As Generation Z teens grow up, many are moving further away from Christian faith and challenging church leaders to adapt to new expectations from the youngest in their flocks.

Last month, Barna Research reported that young adults aged 18 to 22 are half as likely to identify as Christian and follow Jesus than teenagers aged 13 to 17. A slight majority of todays young adults52 percentdont identify as Christians.

The young people of Gen Z are diverse, educated, and social media savvy. When it comes to faith, theyre open to Jesus and his teachings but skeptical about institutions and leaders putting on a facade.

Kendall Johnson, 20, became a believer in college and established her faith through campus ministry, but it was the real and raw women of her local church in Raleigh, North Carolina, that helped her grow spiritually. Though older than she, they reached out to talk and share struggles from their own lives.

Their openness, Johnson said, allows me to see how much faith and trust they have in Jesus. It showed me Christianity is relational with one another [and] relational with God.

Young Christians like Johnson expect the same kind of transparency, honesty, and authenticity from their leaders.

For some generations, the more mythical their spiritual leaders, the more they trusted them, said Darrell Hall, author of Speaking Across Generations: Messages That Satisfy Boomers, Xers, Millennials, Gen Z, and Beyond. Gen Zers want there to be no gap between Darrell and Dr. Hall. No gap in persona. No gap in who I am and who I present myself to be.

To cultivate genuine relationships, Hall said leaders need be accessible to students, meeting in person and keeping up on social media and apps like GroupMe.

Gen Z students also appreciate two-way conversations where theyre invited to think out loud with leaders and come to conclusions together. Hall has seen this approach work at home with his own three Gen Z kids. If he wants chores done sooner, instead of telling them what to do, he explains why he wants them to do their chores now and sets it up as a proposition, creating a dialogue with his kids.

In a spiritual context, Gen Z Christians appreciate hearing pastors offer up their own gaps of understanding with Scripture and discuss times theyve struggled with their faith or a certain topic.

Elders and baby boomers dont need to know I wrestle [in order] to accept [me], said Hall, a former young adult ministry leader and now the campus pastor at The Way Community Church in Conyers, Georgia.

Gen Zers dont want to just hear the proposition Heres what the Bible says, and heres what I have to say about it. Gen Z wants to hear how it makes me feel, how I struggle to believe it, where [any] gaps in my understanding might be, the steps I took to grow in my faith, and what its done for my everyday lifenot as your pastor first but as a person first.

Gen Z Christians told CT how their desire for authentic relationships stems from struggles with skepticism and hypocrisy in leadership. Marketing research has shown over and over that this age group is the most skeptical of brands, the government, and other big institutions; they are aware of the prevalence of misinformation and hype and largely trust themselves to see through it.

That attitude applies to the church as well, with young Christians wary of spiritual abuse as well as the prevalence of sexism and racism. So they tend to put more weight on the people and teachings they find at church than on the churchs name or tradition.

Johnson in North Carolina preferred hanging out with women at her church to the structured discussion of campus ministry meetings, which felt like completing a checklist.

One woman from her congregation, Hosea Church, invited her over to read the Bible. They discussed the passages with the womans daughter. If questions came up that none of them could answer, the woman would ask her husband to help. They were learning alongside each other and treated her like a friend, not just a college student.

They were just good people who wanted to see me grow and pour their time into me, she said. It just felt like normal people just loving on me, not with, like, any ill intentions or any side project.

Gen Z Christians can sometimes bristle at being disparaged or judged for the norms of their generation. For example, Liberty University junior Olivia Denny, 19, had older church members criticize her for being immodest for wearing shorts or tank tops to church.

Just because someones sinning in a way you dont agree with doesnt mean you have to tell them, like, they cant come to church or just say bad stuff, Denny said. Actually [try] to help them.

Generations need to balance love and truth in how they respond to sin struggles of Gen Z, she said. They should talk with more people her age to better understand the culture Gen Z is immersed in, including the prevalence of LGBT identity.

Young Christians can get frustrated with vague responses or Christianese; they need leaders who understand their struggles and explain their answers transparently, said Andrew Root, professor and Carrie Olson Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary.

Blanket responses that overlook their questions or real-life challenges come off as hypocritical and can make them more cynical. But genuine relationship building with mentors and church leaders can be a powerful antidote.

They would like to be connected in a larger way and feel a draw of purpose that comes from something outside of them, but they dont necessarily trust that, Root said. [Leaders should] avoid an instrumentalizing of their relationships with college students.  Have relationships for relationships sake.

[ This article is also available in Francais. ]
Update (April 10):

On Good Friday, Myanmars military junta sentenced Hkalam Samson, the former head of the Kachin Baptist Convention, to six years in prison on charges of terrorism, unlawful association, and inciting opposition. Hkalam denies the charges, which international rights groups and the Kachin diaspora believe to be politically motivated.

The first two charges stem from Hkalams 2022 trip to Laiza in Kachin state, where he met with Kachin leader Duwa Lashi La, the head of Myanmars government-in-exile, and General Sumlut Gunmaw, the vice chief of staff of the Kachin Independence Army, which has long fought against the Myanmar military.

The third charge is the result of a Zoom prayer meeting with Kachin Christian where he called the young people to build the nation in Christ, according to the The New York Times.

He is a man who knows God and loves God, Hkalams wife, Zung Nyaw told the Times. He is a preacher, so he has no enemies. He is a person who sacrifices himself and helps others.

---

In July 2019, Hkalam Samson, a pastor from a predominantly Christian ethnic group in Myanmar, met with President Donald Trump at the Oval Office. Standing with a group of victims of religious persecution from around the world, he shared how the Kachin people were oppressed and tortured by the Myanmar military government and thanked the Trump administration for placing sanctions on four top generals.

Three and a half years and one military coup later, Hkalam was arrested at the Mandalay International Airport on December 4. The junta charged him with unlawful association and breaking the countrys counterterrorism law for meeting with Kachin armed forces and praying with the leaders of Myanmar s government in exile, the National Unity Government. Hkalam, the former head of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), faces up to 13 years in prison.

At the time of his arrest, 65-year-old Hkalam was traveling to Bangkok for medical appointments. His family is now concerned for his health: In January, his wife said he was suffering from pneumonia and high blood pressure, and she had not been allowed to send him medicine or food.

Known internationally for his diplomacy and peacemaking skills, Hkalam has been a leading advocate for the Kachin people, who have been engaged in an ongoing civil war with the military junta for decades. Calls for Hkalam s release have sounded from around the globe, including from the U.S. State Department, human rights groups, and the Kachin diaspora.

He's the image of Kachin Baptist churches, and he's the image of the Kachin people, said Labya La Seng, the pastor of Dallas-Fort Worth Kachin Baptist Church and president of the Kachin American Baptist Association.

A voice for the Kachin

The Kachin are predominantly Baptist due to the work of American Baptist missionaries in the 19th century. While Adoniram Judson was the first Protestant missionary to arrive in Myanmar in 1813, mission work among the Kachin began in 1877. William Henry Roberts baptized the first seven Kachin Christians in 1882 and they started the first Kachin church later that year. The KBC was founded in 1910 and now includes more than 300 churches.

Before his arrest, Hkalam advised the KBC and served as the chairman of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, a platform for the Kachin people to congregate and hold intercommunity dialogue.

A longtime representative of the Kachin, Hkalam met with not only Trump but also President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former president Jimmy Carter (in 2013) when they visited Myanmar, according to The New York Times.

His comments at the 2019 meeting with Trump caught the attention of military officers in Myanmar, leading Lt. Col. Than Htike to file a complaint against Hkalam. The pastor said he changed his prepared comments last minute to include calling out the military junta s abuses due to a move of the Holy Spirit, according to Frontier Myanmar.

Before his scheduled court date, Hkalam refused to apologize even as he was told the case would be withdrawn if he did so.

I do not want to trade off the truth for my own individual escape, Hkalam told Frontier Myanmar. I would like to give respect to all who are murdered, raped, and tortured wrongfully during 60 years of blood-shedding oppressions, Hkalam said.

The military later withdrew the complaintwithout an apology from Hkalam.

Since the February 2021 military coup, fighting between the Kachin armed forces and the Myanmar military has intensified. In October 2022, a junta airstrike targeting a Kachin Independence Organization concert in Hpakant township killed 60 people. Hkalam coordinated medical aid for those injured and helped arrange the funerals of the victims. Later he held a prayer meeting in the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina for those killed.

In a press briefing in February, State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned Hkalam s arrested and called for his immediate release.

"We are extremely concerned for his well-being and safety and urge our partners and allies to join us in calling on the regime to drop all charges and immediately and unconditionally release Reverend Samson," Price said.

He also noted that the pastor s incredible work advocating for religious freedom, justice, peace, and accountability should be celebrated and replicated, not condemned.

Anybody could be the next victim

When Labya, who immigrated to the United States in 1999, heard the news of Hkalam s arrest, he was shocked that the junta dare to touch Dr. Hkalam without any hesitation. At the same time, he was not surprised because of the junta s brutal actions since the coup.

Im not yet ready to accept the fact that a man like Dr. Hkalam was detained. He is not an ordinary person; he is a man who met the US president, Labya said. This simply shows the defiance of the military council and [its challenge to] the free world.

While Labya differed with Hkalam on views of ecclesiastical polity among Kachin Baptist churches, he has great respect for Hkalam and applauded his relentless advocacy for justice in their homeland. He remembers in 2011, Hkalam visited Labya s church and preached a message from Amos 5:24, But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an never-failing stream, encouraging the church to demonstrate their faith through love, mercy, and justice. This verse has become the battle hymn of Kachin Baptists in the US.

Justice is not a matter of self-interest but of a humble commitment to the well-being of all who are made in God s image, Labya said.

Gum San Nsang, president of the Kachin Alliance (a network of US-based Kachin communities) and chair of the World Kachin Congress, worked with Hkalam over the years on projects relating to internally displaced people, drug eradication, religious liberty, and the peaceful coexistence of ethnic groups in Myanmar. Nsang, who is based in Washington, D.C., helped arrange Hkalam s meeting with Trump, and on the same trip, the two attended the International Religious Freedom summit.

Since his friend s detainment, Nsang has urged the United Nations and the US government to use diplomatic leverage to help release Hkalam. We have not directly engaged the coup regime, because they are using Rev. Samson's detention as a political tool, Nsang said.

Nsang described the grim reality of his homeland today, where airstrikes, bombing raids, and every crime known to men are common occurrences. As recently as last week, soldiers entered a tea shop in Hpakant township and beat the owner, his wife, his daughter, and four customers before arresting them. The military claimed they heard a report that the owner s daughter made political posts on Facebook.

The entire Kachin regions population is on emergency alert, Nsang said. Everyone is in fear of being detained, arrested, or killed. When a prominent religious leader like Rev. Samson could be picked up, snatched away, and secretly interrogated for over 20 days with no news, anybody could be the next victim.

Remembering their homeland

For the Kachin in the US, returning to their homeland has now become a perilous undertaking and a trip most wouldnt dare make as the war rages on. Labya said he s afraid to fly into the country after what happened to Hkalam, and the reality of not being able to freely travel to Myanmar is difficult to face.

Still, Kachin Christians need to remember we are to play the role of our brother s keeper, Labya said, referring to Genesis 4:9. We're not in a position to keep our brothers absolutely safe, but we are mandated to do whatever we can to speak up for them, making sure that we are going to reach out to them in their needs, in their distress.

That means writing members of Congress to use their diplomatic power to ensure the Myanmar government respects the rights of all ethnic minorities, not just the Kachin. It also means working with other Kachin diaspora groups to advocate for Hkalam.

On March 12, Labya gathered with four other Kachin churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for an interdenominational service. The immigrants and refugees joined together to worship, hear a pastoral message on justice, and pray for peace in Myanmar. The service included calls for prayer and solidarity with those who are imprisoned unjustly for a righteous cause.

The newly formed DFW Kachin Christian Network plans to continue the joint services with different churches hosting.

We are really, really praying that our churches back home, even [those] in the US, will be working together and holding to the Word of God and sharing in the legacy those American missionaries left behind, Labya said.
DOJ sued for lack of transparency in response to violence targeting pro-life groups, churches

The U.S. Department of Justice is being sued over what plaintiffs describe as an inadequate response to violence against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers as pro-abortion vandalism continues across the United States.

The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation and Mike Pence's advocacy organization Advancing American Freedom filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department in federal court Monday. The complaint maintains that the federal law enforcement agency has taken insufficient action to address violence directed at churches and pro-life pregnancy centers in recent years, including some that have been firebombed.

As outlined the in the legal filing, the advocacy group CatholicVote first wrote a letter to the DOJ's Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke in December 2021, outlining "concerns over the disturbing increase in attacks against Catholic symbols, shrines, statues and churches across the United States over the past year." Clarke asked the department to "investigate these complaints and take appropriate action."

Six months later, CatholicVote spearheaded another letter to the DOJ expressing concern about "the increased attacks against churches, pregnancy resource centers and pro-life organizations in the aftermath of the leaked draft opinion in the [U.S.] Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization." The unprecedented leak revealed that a majority of justices were poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion when it released the Dobbs decision on June 24, overruling Roe. The vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers has continued over the past several months. According to a report from the Christian conservative organization Family Research Council, there were at least 57 church vandalism incidents from January 2022 to September 2022 directly tied to pro-abortion protests or contained pro-abortion messages.

Three months after the Dobbs decision, on Sept. 30, the plaintiffs joined several other advocacy organizations, including CatholicVote, in sending a Freedom of Information Act request to the DOJ. The request noted that the department had "repeatedly failed to respond" to CatholicVote's concerns.

Other groups that joined the FOIA request include Americans United for Life, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, Concerned Women for America, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Family Research Council, Students for Life Action and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

The FOIA request highlighted "serious concerns that the work of the DOJ is being inappropriately politicized, as investigations into these acts of violence against organizations disfavored by the current administration are being slow-walked or outright ignored."

The request also sought records related to or containing "communications internal to the DOJ on the subject of crimes or investigations (potential or otherwise) of crimes against pro-life organizations" as well as communications between the DOJ and the Domestic Policy Council or the Executive Office of the President on the same subject matter.

On Feb. 27, nearly five months after the plaintiffs and the other organizations submitted the FOIA request, the FBI informed them that it had closed the request because it did not "contain enough descriptive information to permit a search of our records." The complaint characterized the defendants' failure to respond to the FOIA request as a violation of federal law and DOJ regulations.

The plaintiffs are asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to "order defendant to conduct a search or searches reasonably calculated to uncover all records responsive to Plaintiffs' FOIA Request" and produce all relevant documents within 20 days of the court order.

They are also asking the federal court to prevent the DOJ from "continuing to withhold any and all non-exempt records responsive to plaintiffs' FOIA Requests," prevent the defendant from "assessing fees or costs" for the FOIA request and grant the plaintiffs their costs and attorney's fees.

In a statement, Advancing American Freedom General Counsel J. Marc Wheat concluded that "President [Joe] Biden's politicized Department of Justice is fearful of igniting the wrath of the Far Left and abortion extremists."

"The American people have a right to know why those who burned and vandalized pregnancy centers have not been held accountable for their violence against traditional conservatives and pro-life groups," Wheat said.

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution earlier this year declaring that "the Biden administration has failed to take action to respond to the radical attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches, or to protect the rights of these organizations."

While the FBI did announce a $25,000 reward for information on the perpetrators of the firebombing of CompassCare in Buffalo, New York, the CEO of the network of pro-life pregnancy centers across upstate New York believes that the effort does not go far enough. CompassCare CEO Jim Harden suggested in a statement issued after the reward was announced that "if they are serious about finding the perpetrators, they will offer a $25K reward for each of the 150 pro-life organizations that have been attacked  $3.75 million dollars."

Earlier this month, Attorney General Merrick Garland was questioned during a U.S. Senate hearing about the department's inability to hold those responsible for violence and vandalism at pro-life pregnancy clinics accountable.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, stressed that from 2022 to early 2023, the Justice Department charged 34 pro-life activists for "blocking access to or vandalizing abortion clinics," while two individuals have been charged for vandalizing pro-life churches and pregnancy care centers.

Garland stated that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act "applies equally to efforts to damage, blockade clinics, whether they are a pregnancy resource center or they are an abortion center."

"You are quite right, there are many more prosecutions with respect to the blocking of the abortion centers, but that is generally because those actions are taken with photography at the time, during the daylight," Garland said. "Seeing the person who did it is quite easy."

"Those who are attacking the pregnancy resource centers, which is a horrid thing to do, are doing this at night, in the dark," he added.

Garland stated, "the Justice Department and the FBI have made outreach to Catholic and other organizations to ask for their help in identifying the people who are doing this."

In January, a federal grand jury indicted two activists under the FACE Act  Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23  for vandalizing pro-life pregnancy centers in Florida.
Iowa becomes 10th state to ban gender transition surgeries for minors

Iowa has become the latest state to ban chemical and surgical gender transitions for minors as concerns about the long-term impact of such interventions persist.

The office of Iowa's Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she signed several bills into law Wednesday, including SF 538, summarized as "a bill for an act relating to prohibiting activities regarding gender transition procedures relative to minors."

The bill prohibits administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors and the performance of gender reassignment surgeries on children.

Reynolds' approval of the measure followed its passage in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in a 58-39 vote and the Republican-controlled Senate's approval of the legislation in a 33-16 vote.

The vote fell along party lines in the Senate, with Republicans supporting the legislation and Democrats opposing it, while five House Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against the bill.

"I'm a parent. I'm a grandmother. I know how difficult this is. This is an extremely uncomfortable position for me to be in. You know? I don't like it, but I have to do what I believe right now is in the best interest of the kids," Reynolds said in a statement.

Additionally, Reynolds described gender transition surgeries for minors as "uncertain science" and "irreversible therapies and procedures." Referring to cross-sex hormones, she warned that "these are hormones that have not been approved by the [Food and Drug Administration]."

ACLU of Iowa Executive Director Mark Stringer contends the legislation will have "devastating consequences for many children and their families across our state."

"This is not the first time that a government has abused its power at the expense of a small group of people. But in this case the target is children. That is shameful and cruel," Stringer said in a statement.

"With gender-affirming care, it should be parents, doctors, and mental health professionals who make these decisions  not politicians trying to score political points by throwing transgender kids under the bus."

Reynolds' signature of SF 538 makes Iowa the 10th state to prohibit the performance of some or all gender transition procedures on minors. The others are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah.

The American College of Pediatricians has identified potential side effects of puberty blockers as "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment, and when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility."

Possible long-term consequences of cross-sex hormones, according to the American College of Pediatricians, include "an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan."

Gender reassignment surgeries can involve the removal of healthy breasts and uteruses from biological females and the use of forearm tissue to create synthetic penises in biological females who identify as males.

Chloe Cole, a prominent detransitioner who identified as a member of the opposite sex as a minor but saw her discomfort with her biological sex subside as she got older, has described how the life-altering procedures have left her with emotional scars in a lawsuit against the medical professionals who treated her gender dysphoria.

Cole experienced suicidal thoughts and a deteriorating state of mental health after undergoing a double mastectomy. While doctors advising Cole assured her that "the distress she experienced because of her gender dysphoria would resolve as she transitioned," the teenager found that her "distress always came back worse" following the "initial relief" that occurred after "each phase of transition."

Other detransitioners have also spoken out about how they feel they were rushed into pursuing chemical or surgical transitions.

A poll conducted and released by Rasmussen Reports last month found that 58% of Americans at least somewhat approve of "legislation making it illegal to perform sex-change surgery on minors."

A survey conducted and released last spring by Summit Ministries in conjunction with McLaughlin & Associates revealed that 78% of Americans think minors should "be required to wait until they are legal adults" to undergo life-altering procedures. According to a more recent survey by the same pollster, released in October, 75% of Americans believe the "transgender movement has gone too far by encouraging underage minors to use drugs and surgery to transition to the opposite sex."

SF 538 was not the only LGBT-related bill Reynolds signed into law this week. She also approved SF 482, summarized as "a bill for an act prohibiting persons from entering single and multiple occupancy restrooms or changing areas and other facilities in elementary and secondary schools that do not correspond with the person's biological sex."

Like SF 538, the votes for SF 482 came down largely along party lines. It passed the House in a 57-39 vote, with five Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the legislation and the Senate approved the measure in a 33-16 vote.

Supporters of measures like SF 482 contend that they are necessary to protect the safety and privacy of female students. A policy implemented in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 2021 allowing trans-identified males to use girls' bathrooms drew particular outrage after it was discovered that a boy allegedly wearing a skirt sexually assaulted a girl in a high school bathroom. The public did not learn of the incident until after the school board approved the policy, prompting allegations of a cover-up. A grand jury indicted former Loudoun County Superintendent Scott Zeigler last year after it found the school district mishandled the sexual assaults.

Additional states that require students to use bathrooms, locker rooms and other shared spaces that correspond to their biological sex as opposed to their stated gender identity are Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Israel wont criminalize sharing the Gospel amid pushback to new bill, Netanyahu says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that his government will not pass a bill that would criminalize Christian evangelism, a proposal that drew concern from American Evangelicals.

In a tweet posted Wednesday in both English and Hebrew, Netanyahu expressed his opposition to a bill proposed by members of the United Torah Judaism party to punish Christian proselytization with one year in prison.

"We will not advance any law against the Christian community," Netanyahu tweeted in response to concerns.

The bill was introduced by two Knesset members Moshe Gafni, a long-serving lawmaker who has frequently proposed such legislation over the past couple of decades, and Yaakov Asher, according to a translation of the bill shared by All Israeli News.

"Recently, the attempts of missionary groups, mainly Christians, to solicit conversion of religion have increased," the English translation of the bill states. "At times these attempts do not involve monetary promises or material gains and are therefore not illegal according to the current law, but the many negative repercussions, including psychological damages, warrant the intervention of the legislature."

The proposed legislation would have also prohibited the creation of Hebrew-language online videos that preached about Jesus out of concern that Jewish minors might watch them.

Joel C. Rosenberg, an American Evangelical bestselling author who also has dual Israeli citizenship, warned that the bill would create "a major new headache for Netanyahu's government by sparking a serious clash with Evangelical Christians in the United States and around the world who are among the biggest supporters of the State of Israel."

Israel already has legal measures to curb Christians from evangelizing to minors in the nation's Jewish majority and jail time for anyone who offers financial incentives for Jews to convert to Christianity.

Israel Today reports that Gafni has proposed similar bills in one form or another for 25 years, introducing anti-missionary bills at the start of every Knesset. Each time, those bills have failed to gain the minimal support needed to advance. Only ultra-Orthodox factions in Knesset have supported the bills.

In June 2020, Israeli authorities removed the U.S.-based Evangelical Christian station GOD TV from the Israeli cable television provider HOT over claims that it was trying to evangelize Jews.

Asher Biton, chairman of Israel's Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, explained at the time that GOD TV, also known as Shelanu, "appeals to Jews with Christian content," violating an earlier agreement that the station would only engage in "targeting the Christian population."

Ron Cantor, Shelanu regional director in Israel, told the Messianic Jewish news site Kehila News at the time that the allegations against the station were "simply not true."

"From the first day we met with HOT, it was very clear what we wanted to broadcast: Messianic Jews sharing their faith in Yeshua in a variety of ways, from interviews, to music, to personal stories. And that's what we do to this day," said Cantor at the time.

"Our content providers are Israelis. Sabras. Serving in the Army. Paying their taxes. And we are people of integrity. If we really lied to get a license, of course we would have been caught. It does not make sense. It goes against everything we teach."

Last November, Netanyahu secured enough seats in the Knesset to be again elected prime minister, 16 months after losing the office to Naftali Bennett, who had held on to power with a slight majority.

The political coalition that brought Netanyahu back to power is recognized as being more right-leaning than the previous government, with Netanyahu's Likud Party allying with two smaller political parties known as Jewish Power and Religious Zionism.
Michigan's largest United Methodist congregation votes to leave denomination

The largest United Methodist Church congregation in Michigan has voted to leave the mainline Protestant denomination over the ongoing debate over homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Cornerstone Church of Caledonia, which has satellite campuses in Grand Rapids and the city of Wyoming, voted on Sunday to disaffiliate from the UMC and become a nondenominational congregation. The final tally was 616 in favor, nine against and two abstentions.

A spokesperson for Cornerstone directed The Christian Post to an article on the UMC Michigan Conference website, which noted that Cornerstone Pastor Ken Nash still wanted to work with the UMC on certain efforts.

We like being networked and connected, said Nash, as quoted by the conference. We love the idea of connectionalism. So this isnt a renegade spirit that we have. We want to have a connection in the future. It just doesnt have to be as formalized.

While Cornerstone has often been labeled conservative, Nash noted that the congregation has a Methodist heart and has a lot of diversity of thought, theologically.

We realized we can have a gracious exit, Nash confessed. And because of the graciousness of [Michigan Bishop David Bard], we can have a gracious exit.

That allowed us an opportunity for more dialogue around how can we continue to be a bridge between the differences and not be forced into one camp or another.

A spokesperson for the Michigan Conference emailed a statement to CP in which Bishop Bard was quoted expressing gratitude for Cornerstone and its cooperation with the disaffiliation process.

Any separation in the church is painful for all involved, stated Bard. I am grateful for the ministry of Cornerstone Church over its entire history, and grateful that they have participated in the wider ministries of the Michigan Conference through the years.

I wish Cornerstone and its leaders well as they move into a new chapter of their ministry. I also pledge to work with any in the church that wishes to continue to be part of a United Methodist congregation.

According to the statement, of the 721 member churches in the Michigan Conference, seven have officially left the UMC thus far, with another 23 congregations possibly leaving in June, pending a vote at that months annual conference meeting.

The third largest Christian denomination in the United States, the UMC has been embroiled in a divisive debate over whether to amend its rules to allow for the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in same-sex romantic relationships.

Although efforts to change the official rules have consistently failed, many progressive leaders in the UMC have openly defied the rules, such as opting to bless same-sex unions or approve the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

In May of last year, the Global Methodist Church was launched as a theologically conservative alternative to the UMC, with hundreds of churches voting to join the new denomination shortly after it was created.

Since last year, more than 1,800 congregations have voted to disaffiliate from the UMC, with most deciding to join the nascent GMC, while others have opted to become nondenominational.

Earlier this month, the largest UMC congregation in Arkansas voted to amicably separate into three different congregations rather than hold a congregational vote on disaffiliation.

Central United Methodist Church of Fayetteville recently announced that the main campus would remain with the UMC, while said campus would provide for the funding of a new conservative congregation to be founded by their present leadership, and a satellite campus known as the Genesis campus would become independent.
Walking miracle: Man falls 400 feet in Hawaii, survives and now at MIT

Recently I met a man who is a walking miracle. A survivor of a horrible accident, 55-year-old Danny Yamashiro, a pastors son and native of Hawaii, is grateful for every day of life.

Dannys website tells what happened: At 18, he survived a deadly 400 foot fall from the famed Pali ridge in Hawaii. Rescuing his girlfriend from a 20 foot fall, Danny slipped and fell head first 300 feet and later another 100 feet. He suffered traumatic brain injuries (skull fractures, torn scalp), a shattered ankle, smashed organs, extensive lacerations, and being comatose. A spiritual awakening impacted his recovery.

Dannys story is highlighted in an article in Listverse.com about 10 people that survived precipitous falls from great heights: Despite being severely injured, Yamashiro clung to life while rescue workers attempted to retrieve him. As the rescuers moved down the mountain, Yamashiro shifted his weight on the ledge causing him to fall another 30 meters (100 ft).

They add, While he did survive both falls and go on to make a full recovery (as well as a successful career in televangelism), the ordeal didnt leave him unscathed. Yamashiro sustained an array of life-threatening injuries.

How could someone survive such an accident?

I got to interview Danny on the radio recently. We pick up right after he was rescued in 1985 from the fall: The doctors told my parents, It doesnt look good. If he makes it through the night, surely he will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. And that was my turning point where the Lord intervened. I needed to learn to walk, talk, eat right. I couldnt even breathe on my own at the time.

I asked him to walk me through his eventual healing. The recovery took a long time. I went through a deep period of several years of dark depression. I had major swings in my emotions. The Lord took me through that. It was a real breaking time  breaking emotionally, psychologically.

But Biola University in Southern California played a very big role in my healing process, and at the same time grounding me in the Word. I was a biblical studies theology major.

However, there were certainly times of doubt. Danny told me, During my college years, there were times when I would actually ask the Lord, Why did you save me? Why did you not just take me? It was so painful. And I was so confused. And I remember the Lord whispering to me, Danny, one day Im going to release you. And what I got by that was a sense of hope.

Danny remembered the Scripture verse that says, He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. And that and other Scriptures (such as Isaiah 43:18-19) greatly encouraged him.

He says, We talk about going to school and getting educated. But the brokenness was a different kind of education that has allowed me in a very unusual way to connect with people. I dont even have to say things, and people get a sense where I know what theyre going through. Its like my brokenness, my suffering allows me to relate with others where they are in their deepest, darkest times.

He adds, I think about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, and I think, Wow, theres some profound thoughts that go along and the relatability when we go through that kind of suffering.

Since his complete recovery, Danny has been involved in preaching the Gospel in Hawaii, in Africa, in Asia, the Middle East, and in Latin America. He has earned a Ph.D. at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. About 10 years ago, he went on to advanced studies at Harvard, where he received a standing ovation when he spoke upon graduation.

Today, he serves as an evangelical chaplain at M.I.T., where he is the co-chairperson of the Cambridge Roundtable on Science and Religion. They engage in dialogue with the faculty on science and religion. This includes participants from M.I.T. and Harvard.

He views these dialogues as gateways to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Danny also hosts a regular Christian radio program based in the Boston area.

Any student of early American history knows that there were many examples of Gods Providence shining on this nation. George Washington said that Americans in particular should be grateful for the way God miraculously helped become a nation.

Dr. Danny Yamashiro, a walking miracle, experienced new life out of near death. I happened to meet him during Lent, which may be viewed as a season of miracles. After all, at this time, we celebrate the crowning event of all time, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.
41 more Texas churches leave United Methodist Church amid schism over homosexuality

Another 41 congregations in Texas have officially left The United Methodist Church in response to the mainline Protestant denomination's ongoing debate over its stance on homosexuality.

The UMC North Texas Annual Conference held a special called session on Saturday in which clergy and lay members voted to approve the disaffiliation votes of 41 congregations that formerly belonged to the regional body.

According to a statement emailed to The Christian Post by a conference spokesperson, the regional body "releases these churches with its full blessing," adding that no churches seeking to leave the UMC were denied dismissal.

"Following the day's vote, more than 230 churches in the North Texas Conference remain committed to the mission and values of The United Methodist Church and will continue to help people grow in their love for God; proclaim new life in Christ; serve others  especially the poor; and pursue mercy and justice so people can live whole lives," the statement reads.

According to the UMC Book of Discipline, the denomination considers homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexual clergy.

Over the past several years, the UMC has been embroiled in a divisive debate over whether to change this official stance, with many progressive leaders in the church outright refusing to enforce the rules.

In January 2020, a theologically diverse group of United Methodists came together to propose a compromise in which the UMC would allocate funds to create a new denomination that congregations who supported the current standards could join while the remaining member congregations would be free to change the Book of Discipline.

A proposal to implement this compromise was originally slated to take place at the UMC General Conference in May 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the event to be postponed.

After the UMC announced the postponement of the General Conference to 2024 in response to ongoing pandemic concerns in March 2022, conservatives within the UMC launched the Global Methodist Church in May.

"It is anticipated that some theologically conservative local churches will find annual conferences willing to negotiate fair and just exit provisions, while others will, unfortunately, face obstacles placed in their paths," the GMC said in a statement at the time.

"The Transitional Leadership Council decided it was time to launch the Global Methodist Church, so those who can leave early will have a place to land, to begin building and growing, and making room for others to join later."

More than 1,800 churches successfully disaffiliated from the UMC last year, according to a report by UM News, with hundreds of those departing congregations being located in the Lone State State.

For example, the Texas Conference lost 294 congregations via special session vote, while the Northwest Texas Conference lost 145 congregations and the Central Texas Conference lost 81.

Some congregations have faced hurdles. Last November, the UMC Arkansas Conference rejected the disaffiliation votes of three churches while approving the disaffiliation of 35 others.

Several churches, including dozens in North Carolina and Florida, filed lawsuits against their regional bodies. Thirty-eight churches have accused the United Methodist Church's Western North Carolina Conference of "holding their church buildings and property hostage" by enforcing a trust on their properties that they consider "a financial ransom."

Bishop Ken Carter issued a letter contending that the litigation was unnecessary, saying 41 other churches have followed the disaffiliation process.

Last June, over 100 congregations filed a lawsuit against the UMC Florida Annual Conference for requiring them to pay a "sum of money" to retain control of their properties. The total, the lawsuit claims, "is determined in the discretion of the aforementioned parties, and is always substantial and often prohibitive, yet nonnegotiable and unappealable."

Bishop Carter, who also served as bishop of the Florida Conference from 2012-2022, wrote in an open letter that he was grieved by the lawsuit and claimed that the conference tried to "engage those churches in that process but they have refused to follow that process choosing to file this lawsuit instead." He warned that abrupt separation could "damage benefits and pensions for retired pastors and their spouses who devoted their lives to service."
Alabama megachurch votes to leave UMC over denomination's theological direction

An Alabama megachurch has voted to leave the United Methodist Church due to concerns over the apparent theological directionof the mainline Protestant denomination.

Covenant United Methodist Church of Dothan, which has approximately 2,600 members, voted last week to seek disaffiliation from the UMC, with 406 present members voting in favor of leaving, 64 voting against, and four abstaining.

Covenant UMC Pastor Kyle Gatlin told The Christian Post that major factors for wanting to leave included the direction we saw the denomination was headed, theologically.

This included how some bishops were refusing to enforce the UMC Book of Disciplines rules prohibiting the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions.

We saw Episcopal leaders not enforcing the discipline. Churches and pastors blatantly ignoring the discipline. We saw this in our Jurisdiction and in others, Gatlin said.

He added that while we did not see this in our own Annual Conference, his church felt like for the longterm future of our church, now was the time to leave.

The next step in the process will come on May 7, when the UMC Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference will hold a meeting to ratify the votes of congregations that have voted to leave.

The leadership at Covenant UMC has recommended that the congregation join the Global Methodist Church, a recently launched denomination meant to serve as a theologically conservative alternative to the UMC.

Our Administrative Council  by vote of 16-2  is recommending joining the GMC, Gatlin said. Our leaders felt it was best for our church to stay connected to the same churches and pastors we have been in ministry with since 1979.

We are excited about the local congregation having more control over pastor appointments, keeping more of our money for local ministry, having accountability for all pastors and all churches, and not funding a top-heavy denomination that supports and advocates for many causes we dont agree with.

The congregation is expected to hold another vote on March 19 to determine if they will agree to the recommendation given by church leadership to affiliate with the GMC.

According to the Alabama-based news outlet WDHN, between 55 and 60 congregations out of the approximately 600 congregations of the Alabama-West Florida Conference are seeking to leave the denomination.

Over the past several years, the UMC has been embroiled in an internal debate over whether to change its Book of Discipline rules that prohibit same-sex marriage and the ordination of individuals in same-sex relationships.

Although efforts to change the rules at UMC General Conference have always failed, many theologically progressive bishops and clergy have refused to follow or enforce the rules.

Last November, for example, the UMC Western Jurisdiction elected the Rev. Cedrick D. Bridgeforth of the California-Pacific Conference a bishop, even though Bridgeforth was in a same-sex marriage.
Hillsong Church charged Compassion International $1M annually for promotion: report

Hillsong Church has been charging child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization Compassion International $1 million annually to do God's work in helping young children through a partnership a new whistleblower's report has called disgusting.

The characterization of the partnership between the global megachurch and Compassion International, which is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, came from a 44-page summary of the whistleblower's report which was recently announced by Andrew Wilkie, an independent member of the Australian Parliament.

The report which was reviewed by The Christian Post breaks down reams of financial records and Hillsong Church board documents detailing how the global megachurch earns and spends its cash.

Perhaps the most disgusting aspect of all the above excessive spending and private benefit is that Hillsong promotes child sponsorship organization Compassion International at its conferences and worship tours via on-stage presentations and permitting Compassion to have a display stand at the event, the report says.

However, Hillsong does not promote Compassion out of the goodness of their heart. Instead, Hillsong charges Compassion $1,000,000 per year for the privilege of being their child sponsorship partner, it adds.

Asked about the claims made in the report, Tim Glenn, Compassion Internationals global public relations director, told CP on Monday that he was not at liberty to discuss the terms of the organization's contract publicly but said they had similar marketing agreements with dozens of churches around the world.

We have relationships with dozens of churches around the world. And the terms of those also are obviously confidential.  It is not unique for a church to partner with a nonprofit ministry in exchange for opportunities to share about your ministry at those church events or conferences, Glenn told CP.

He further explained that the cost of the partnership with Hillsong Church which has existed for some 25 years is far outweighed by the benefit gained by the organization.

"We can report that Compassions engagement with Hillsong has resulted in significant impact, as seen in the 118,963 children who have been connected with a loving, caring sponsor as a direct result of our relationship with Hillsong, he explained in a statement.

All costs associated with fundraising are regularly reviewed and included in Compassions annual financial reports as part of our fundraising/marketing expenses. Rigorous evaluation of each opportunity means that Compassion can engage in these types of events and still ensure over 80% of donations are used to directly benefit children living in poverty, he added.

And Compassion Internationals marketing strategy has been quite effective.

The Christian humanitarian aid agency's annual financial report for 2022, shows it had revenues of more than $1.1 billion and spent just over $200 million on fundraising, management and general administration.

When asked what he thinks would have happened if they didnt have the money to pay for access to Hillsongs church members, Glenn reserved his comment.

I can't speak to what would or wouldn't happen, but our relationship with Hillsong has gone back 25 years. It's been a really good relationship with them, he said.

The whistleblowers report accuses Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston and other leaders, including the newly appointed Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley, of money laundering, tax evasion and shopping sprees that would "embarrass a Kardashian."

"Last year a whistleblower provided me with financial records and board papers that show that Hillsong is breaking numerous laws in Australia and around the world relating to fraud, money laundering and tax evasion," Wilkie alleged during his presentation in Parliament last Thursday.

He then pointed to a document showing that in 2021, as the world grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, four members of the Houston family jetted off with friends to Cancun, Mexico, for a luxury retreat lasting three days and billed the church $150,000 for it.

Wilkie alleged that Dooley, who was just anointed as Hillsong's new global senior pastor last month with high praise from the church, allegedly splurged right along with the church's embattled founder Brian Houston who was ousted in March 2022 for misconduct.

"The new head of Hillsong, Phil Dooley, has told church followers he only flies economy, but these documents show him clocking up $58,000 in business-class flights for him and his daughter to Guatemala, $42,000 in business-class flights to Mexico and $32,000 in business-class flights from Cape Town to Sydney via the U.S.," Wilkie said. "Hillsong followers believe that the money they put in the poor box goes to the poor, but these documents show how that money is actually used to do the kind of shopping that would embarrass a Kardashian."

A spokesperson for Hillsong noted in an earlier statement that the church network has been "open and transparent with our congregation about past governance failures, and over the past twelve months we have engaged independent, professional assistance to overhaul our governance and accountability procedures."

"The claims made in federal parliament by Mr. Andrew Wilkie are out of context and relate to untested allegations made by an employee in an ongoing legal case," the statement reads. "These allegations, made under parliamentary privilege, are in many respects wrong, and it is disappointing he made no effort to contact us first. If he did so we would have answered his questions and provided him with financial records to address his concerns."

Asked if Compassion International still has a partnership with Hillsong Church in the wake of the whistleblowers report, Glenn noted that financial stewardship is huge to us. While he would not confirm whether or not Hillsong Church is still being paid for the partnership, he said the situation was being closely monitored.

We're watching all those developments, Glenn said. Anytime we engage in a relationship with any organization, ministry, church or whatever, we continually evaluate those relationships and make sure that we're in alignment on those key things that are important to us, our statement of faith, our missional values. So, we're continually monitoring and watching the developments.
South Carolinas largest UMC church may leave denomination over homosexuality debate

The largest United Methodist Church congregation in South Carolina is seriously considering a departure from the mainline Protestant denomination over ongoing debates on homosexuality.

Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church of Lexington, which has more than 5,000 members, began a discernment period earlier this week to consider possibly leaving the denomination, reported the Post and Courier.

We are thankful a plan, path and price has been provided for traditional churches to consider separation from the denomination, said the Rev. Jeff Kersey, senior pastor of Mt. Horeb, as quoted by the Post and Courier.

Mt. Horeb UMC falls under the jurisdiction of the UMC South Carolina Conference, a regional body of the denomination that covers all the congregations in the state.

In brief comments emailed to The Christian Post, a representative of the Conference explained that Mt. Horeb was the largest local church in the South Carolina Conference.

The Conference also noted that, although other conferences in the United States are seeing large numbers of churches leave, at present, no local church in the South Carolina Conference has voted to separate from The United Methodist Church.

The Conference spokesperson directed CP to its discernment policy, which lays out the steps that a congregation must take to possibly leave the denomination.

These steps included a church council vote, having the district superintendent call a church conference, the payment of remaining financial obligations such as apportionments and 10% of the value of the congregations property and assets, and a congregational vote in which at least two-thirds of church members present must support disaffiliation.

The Christian Post reached out to Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church for comment, however a response was not received by press time.

Over the past several years, the UMC has been involved in a divisive debate over whether the denomination should change its official stance opposing the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

Although theological progressives have failed to officially change these stances, many have either resisted the official positions of the UMC or have refused to enforce them.

Last May, the Global Methodist Church was launched as a theologically conservative alternative to the UMC, with hundreds of congregations in the United States voting to leave the UMC to join it.

Last month, the UMC North Georgia Conference announced that it was putting a pause on allowing congregations to pursue disaffiliation, believing that "many local churches have been misled about the disaffiliation process and have been presented with information about the process  that is factually incorrect and defamatory."

We have significant concerns about this misinformation and are well aware that it has the potential to do irreparable harm, claimed the regional body.

The North Georgia Conference had ratified the disaffiliations of 70 congregations representing 9% of the denomination's churches and 3% of its members last June, before the announcement.
'Unprecedented': Employment tribunal recuses 2 judges for bias in Christian mother's firing case

An employment tribunal in the United Kingdom has now recused two panelists for perceived bias from the case of a Christian employee who claims she was fired for raising concerns about her son's Church of England primary school teaching students about transgenderism and sex education.

In what it deems an "unprecedented" move, the Christian Legal Centre announced in a statement that the president of the Employment Appeal Tribunal has been "forced to recuse two lay panel members for perceived bias on transgenderism and extreme sex education."

An Employment Tribunal is hearing the case of Kristie Higgs, a former pastoral assistant at Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, who claims she lost her job in 2019 due to her religious beliefs. The Christian Legal Centre is supporting the mother's case.

Higgs circulated a petition on social media in 2018 in opposition to the introduction of relationship education in primary schools. In another post, the mother commented on schools using books about gender identity, writing, "This is happening in our primary schools now."

In October 2020, an employment tribunal upheld Farmor's School's reasoning for the dismissal. Employment Judge Derek Reed wrote that the dismissal was motivated by the school's fear that Higgs "would be perceived as holding unacceptable views in relation to gay and trans people," even if she denied that her posts were intended to be transphobic or homophobic.

The former pastoral assistant disagreed with the judgment and appealed the decision.

As CLC reported Friday, the Employment Appeal Tribunal President Justice Jennifer Eady agreed to recuse a presiding panel member for Higgs' hearing, Andrew Morris. The newest recusal comes months after another panelist, activist Andrew Lord, was removed from the presiding panel last July.

Last Wednesday, it was discovered that Morris, the former assistant general secretary of the National Education Union, a role he held between September 2017 and March 2022, was serving on the panel.

"Under Mr Morris' watch, during the time frame that the government will review, the NEU has consistently taken a strong position in favour of making both relationship and sex education mandatory in primary schools and encouraging teaching children at primary schools about same-sex relationships and transgenderism," the CLC statement reads.

Higgs' lawyer, Richard O'Dair, contends that Morris was a high-ranking member of an institution that argued the same ideas that Higgs objected to in her social media posts that led to her dismissal.

The attorney reasoned that if "one lives and works and breaths a particular set of ideas in working life," it would be difficult to distance themselves from those ideas.

One of the pieces of evidence of the material being taught at the time of Higgs' firing included a document showing NEU's support for "Pride" and hosting LGBT-themed events at schools.

Eady agreed with O'Dair, stating that she would recuse Morris and would proceed with the hearing "judge alone."

"I allow the application to be recused," Eady wrote in her judgment. "Key points: he was at the relevant time a member of an organisation where he held a senior office which campaigned on the same issues as in the post."

"Whether or not he agreed, as a senior officer he associated with the views expressed by NEU," Eady continued. "Many unions express views on matters of current issues, but NEU took a particular interest in the issues in question. Difficult to see how Mr Morris as Assistant General Secretary can be dissociated from those views in the eyes of an impartial observer."

A previous appeal by Higgs was postponed in July 2022 after Eady was forced to recuse Lord from the panel. Lord had publicly called for negative statements about LGBT ideology to be restricted, and he associated with the LGBT charities Mermaids and Stonewall. Considering Higgs' case centers around posts made on social media, Lord has threatened on his own Twitter page to block anyone who "tweets (or likes/retweets) abuse to or about me, my friends, my colleagues, or marginalised communities."

In October, the Charity Commission announced that it had opened an investigation into the Mermaids following a report by The Daily Telegraph that the group sends "chest binders" to girls as young as 13 without their parents' knowledge.

A girl attempting to appear more masculine may use a chest binder to flatten her breasts, potentially leading to side effects such as breathing difficulties and breast tissue damage.

The other organization Lord is affiliated with, Stonewall, is an LGBT charity that endorsed Higgs' firing, according to CLC.

While Higgs said that she is "deeply saddened" by the developments, she is also "relieved" that the appeal will continue.

"How can we expect access to justice when this is what we keep confronting at every stage," she said in a statement.

The appeal hearing comes amid news that the government intends to launch a review into sex education taught at schools in England and students' exposure to "inappropriate" content.
West Texas A&M president cancels 'derisive' campus drag show, cites Christian faith LGBT group calls 'use of religion ... disturbing and unprofessional'

The head of a Texas university cited the Bible and other religious texts to support his decision to cancel a planned drag show scheduled to take place on campus later this month.

In a statement released Tuesday, West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler said the college, located in Canyon, Texas, about 10 miles south of Amarillo, will not host the March 31 drag show, which he said was advertised as an effort to raise money for a nonprofit organization, The Trevor Project.

After describing TTPs stated goal of suicide prevention as a noble cause, Wendler wrote: WT endeavors to treat all people equally. Drag shows are derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny, no matter the stated intent.

Such conduct runs counter to the purpose of WT. A person or group should not attempt to elevate itself or a cause by mocking another person or group.

Wendler compared his opposition to the drag show to not supporting blackface performances on campus, calling such displays wrong.

I do not support any show, performance or artistic expression which denigrates others  in this case, women  for any reason, he added.

The university president also shared his personal conviction that, as a Christian, every human being is created in the image of God and therefore, a person of dignity.

Does a drag show preserve a single thread of human dignity? I think not, wrote Wendler. As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood.

Wendler concluded the letter by quoting Matthew 7:12  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets  as well as similar proverbs from Buddhism and Judaism, adding that he believes the WT community should live up to this universal standard of law of reciprocity  in every known religion and society on the planet.

A spokesperson for Wendlers office declined to comment to The Christian Post due to pending litigation.

Established in 1910, WTAMU had more than 9,200 students enrolled in Fall 2022  including over 6,900 undergrads  and boasts a 176-acre campus set against the western backdrop of the Texas Panhandle.

In response to Wendlers announcement, Spectrum, WTs student-led LGBT organization, issued a statement in defense of drag, which read in part: Drag is not a mockery  it is a celebration  to call it misogyny or misogynistic is to miss the entire point of what drag is.

Spectrums statement also took aim at Wendler expressing his faith in a university announcement and called on him to reinstate the event.

We also find the use of religion by a university official disturbing and unprofessional and believe that the separation of church and state is essential to our country, the statement added, citing the First Amendment.

According to an online petition titled Save the WTAMU Drag Show, the main aim of the drag show was to raise funds for The Trevor Project.

All proceeds from the show, the petition stated, will go toward the organization, which is an LGBT advocacy group with research briefs that correlate religious beliefs with higher rates of suicide among LGBT-identified people, a claim that has frequently been disputed.

In addition to the LGBT alliance, the Secular Student alliance accused Wendler of violating state law because, according to a tweet, he used his religion to cause harm to [LGBT] students and the larger community.

Not only has @wtamu President Wendler violated state law and university policies, he used his personal religious beliefs to cancel a student event at a public university. He used his religion to cause harm to LGBTQ+ students and the larger community.https://t.co/hAdo9w7mlg  Secular Student Alliance (@SecularStudents) March 22, 2023

The group also criticized Wendler for sharing his faith in the announcement, saying, First and foremost, President Wendlers personal religious beliefs and biblical references have no place in justifying the cancelation (sp) of the event. West Texas A&M University is a public institution and the wall of the separation of state and church remains standing.

A coalition of churches known as Open and Affirming Congregations of the Texas Panhandle (OAC) called Wendlers decision disappointing and infuriating.

The good news is that President Wendler does not speak for the many allies among WTs faculty and staff, the group wrote on Facebook.

Other groups like Young Conservatives of Texas praised the move, calling the planned drag show a degenerate event and cited Proverbs 28:1, which reads, The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Republican State Rep. Ronny Jackson, who served as White House physician to the President under Barack Obama and Donald Trump, also tweeted his support for Wendler.

THANK YOU to President Walter Wendler for his leadership and for not allowing drag shows to DISGRACE the campus of West Texas A&M University. These lewd performances are divisive & degrading. They DO NOT belong on campus!! Jackson wrote.
How Christians grieve the Holy Spirit and mess up everything

I suspect you realize why it is unwise to bite the hand that feeds you. And yet that is exactly what we do as followers of Christ whenever we grieve the Holy Spirit by sinning, and what non-Christians do by rejecting Jesus. Sadly, such offensive behavior sure has a way of messing up everything.

When a non-Christians rejects the Messiah, it simply puts another nail in their coffin and brings them one step closer to an eternity of pain and separation from God. Hell is filled with people who grieved the Holy Spirit over and over again. The Lord would have saved their soul, but time and time again they refused to repent. In so doing, they exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25).

But Christians are equally guilty of sin because we too grieve the one Person who can enable us to believe the Gospel, love God, follow Christ, and serve others with godly compassion. Without the Holy Spirit, none of those things would be possible. We would be helpless and hopeless, lost, dazed, and confused. We would have no clue how to be forgiven of our sins or how to please the Lord.

Thankfully, God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions  it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:5). So now what? Well, one thing is very clear. We were not saved so that we could go on deliberately sinning against the Lord. As the Apostle Paul wrote, shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2).

Christians face a variety of temptations regarding the use of our bodies, the meditation of our hearts, and the words we choose to utter. Since the Holy Spirit lives within every believer, it is essential that we diligently seek to please the Spirit rather than give into the desires of our sinful nature.

For example, Scripture instructs us: Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

If you want to mess up everything in your walk with Christ, then engage in sexual immorality. Have sex outside of marriage. Fill your mind with sexual images and lustful thoughts. Give into temptation rather than resisting it. And commit the one sin that is against your own body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Obviously, this is the opposite of what God calls us to do as followers of Christ.

Scripture also warns believers to be careful with the thoughts and attitudes that we choose to entertain. Paul wrote, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32).

When we violate any of these instructions for holy living, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Our mind comes under attack and the joy of the Lord greatly diminishes in our heart. We lose our peace. We become impatient and self-centered. We hold grudges, and we speak poorly about others.

All of these attitudes and behaviors flow from our sinful nature, (Romans 7:18) and all of them grieve the Holy Spirit. He is always pure, perfect, and gentle. When we push him away with our sins, our life of discipleship gets put on hold. We backslide, even if only for a matter of minutes until we confess our sins to God and turn away from them.

And of course, sometimes our sinful attitudes persist much longer than a few minutes. Is it any wonder that everyone who seeks to follow Christ finds our calling as believers so incredibly challenging? Sadly, some who begin the journey with Jesus decided to give up and once again pursue deliberate sin. Unbelief, of course, is the biggest sin because it prevents a person from being saved, redeemed, forgiven, born again, and justified. The Holy Spirit only indwells those who are trusting the Savior to forgive their sins, which in turn produces a heart that longs to do Gods will.

Everything gets messed up when non-Christians reject Christ, and when believers give into sinful desires and temptation. So, what is the solution for followers of Christ?

Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law (Galatians 5:16-18).

Grieving the Holy Spirit messes up everything, whereas confessing our sins to the Lord and seeking to do his will is the path to peace and righteous living. The Holy Spirit leads everyone who is willing to be led. So, are you a follower of Christ? If not, would you like to be?
What makes human beings men and women?

What makes human beings men and women? A couple of decades ago, the answer to this question was rather obvious, but not so in our present culture. What was once an obvious biological reality has now been hijacked and corrupted by moral relativism and the sexual revolution.

Transgender activists have succeeded in sowing mass confusion on the issue of sex and gender, and this confusion has ignited a new front in the culture wars that few people outside of evangelical Christian thinkers anticipated. In order to make sense of it all, we need to understand transgender ideology and what the Bible says about gender.

What is transgenderism?

Transgenderism maintains that gender is distinct from, and at times in conflict with, biological sex. According to transgender activists, gender is a social construct and gender identity is a subjective state of self-understanding. The real self is not biologically based, but psychologically based.

By this thinking, the real self is defined by ones gender identify: a person is the gender they experience themselves to be. Unlike a traditional view that attaches gender to biological sex, transgenderism detaches gender from sex, and it does so in several ways.

Transgenderism claims that a persons biological sex does not determine their identity. Rather, a person can identify as either pole on the gender binary (man or woman); they can identify as fluid, meaning they are somewhere in between the two poles of the gender binary; or they can even deny the gender binary completely and identify as something outside of it (i.e. non-binary).

The basic goal of transgender activists, therefore, is gender deconstruction. Since they believe that traditional understandings of gender  wherein gender is biologically based  is a cultural construct, it can be replaced with a new gender paradigm.

Transgender ideology suffers from many philosophical problems (too many, in fact, to cover at length in this article). For example, transgenderism claims that gender is a cultural construct, but maintains that gender identity is innate; that is, natural or naturally belonging to a person. This is clearly inconsistent.

As Ryan T. Anderson points out in his book When Harry Became Sally, if gender is a social construct, then gender identity is too. Also, transgenderisms mind-body dualism  where real self is psychologically based, not biologically based  can apply to other concepts besides gender identity. To be logically consistent, transgender activists must accept and affirm trans-species, trans-racial, trans-ability, and trans-age communities.

Aside from its incoherence, transgender ideology has enormous political, economic, cultural, and medical ramifications. Gender identity, not biological sex, is now used in many hospitals to determine the proper medical treatment for patients, including minors. Transgender activists are undermining protections for women and children in sports, education, public accommodations, military, and prisons. Transgender ideology also threatens religious liberty and freedom of conscience for Christian schools, businesses, and individuals.

So, what should Christians think about transgenderism?

God created gender distinctions

The Bible records the original created order as male and female (Gen. 1:27; 5:2). This gender binary is linked to Gods mandate for human beings to populate the earth (Gen. 1:28). It is also an operative principle in the account of Noahs flood when animals are put onto the ark as gender pairs of male and female, as well as when God reaffirms His mandate to repopulate the earth (Gen. 6-9). Gender distinction is at the core of who we are.

Gender distinctions are enforced elsewhere in the Old Testament. The Mosaic Law prohibited Israelites from assuming the gender of the opposite sex. Men were not to appear or behave like women, and vice versa (Deut. 22:5). The sin described here was not the mere act of wearing the clothing of the opposite sex, but appearing as the opposite sex. It was a sign of moral rebellion against the created order of male-female and was a detestable sin in the same category as other sexual sins (Lev. 18:22; 20:3).

In the New Testament, Jesus affirms the sex and gender distinctions established at creation (Matt. 19:4), and the Apostle Paul reaffirms the moral principles behind the Mosaic Law  that men and women should express themselves in ways that align with their sex (1 Cor. 11:7-15). Pauls writings also reveal that gender expression is closely aligned with other gender roles, which are different for men and women in various settings. Men and women not only have gender distinctions in creation (Gen. 2:8), but also in the home (1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:23-25; 1 Tim. 5:8, 14; Tit. 2:4-5; Col. 3:21) and in the church (1 Tim. 2:11-14; 3:8-13).

Scripture also indicates that although marriage and procreation do not continue in heaven, our gendered bodies do (1 Col. 15:21; 1 Tim. 2:5; Rev. 1:13), which implies that intentional deformation of our genders is a serious offense to Gods design for humanity, both now and in eternity. Transgender ideology is a rebellion against Gods moral order, and the effects of that rebellion heap devastation on societies, families, and individuals.

Gender confusion and the Gospel

Christians must remember that sin affects every aspect of humanity (Gen. 3; Rom. 8:20). The effects of sin on humanity have produced all kinds of problems, and some of these problems manifest in psychological or sexual confusion. Christians should acknowledge the need for medical procedures to correct for genetic or biological aberrations. Many of these aberrations  Turners syndrome, Kleinfelters syndrome, 5 Alpha Reductase Syndrome, etc.  represent an extremely small percentage of the population, but they do exist in a broken, sinful world. We can recognize the need to treat these conditions while also remaining faithful to biblical principles.

In addition, gender dysphoria  the experience of discomfort between ones biological sex and the experience of gender  is a real condition that affects real people, but Christians should distinguish between gender dysphoria as an experience and the deliberate choice to act on that experience. As ethicist Andrew Walker explains in his book God and the Transgender Moment: What Does the Bible Actually Say About Gender Identity?:

[I]ndividuals who experience gender dysphoria are not sinning when such experiences occur. To feel that your body is one sex and your self is a different gender is not sinful. The Bible nowhere categorizes unwanted psychological distress as sinful in itself  But deciding to let that feeling rule  to feed that feeling so that it becomes the way you see yourself and the way you identify yourself and the way you act  is sinful, because it is deciding that your feelings will have authority over you, and will define what is right and what is wrong.

The Bible informs us that the human heart is bent toward evil (Gen. 6:5) and is incredibly deceitful (Jer. 17:9). By basing ones gender identity on inward, subjective feelings or desires rather than biological reality, a transgendered person is relying on something that the Bible says is corrupted and unreliable for discerning moral truth.

As Christians, we are called to love all people, including those experiencing gender dysphoria. They need the Gospel too. Loving these people involves speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) while also sympathizing with their pain and suffering. Displaying sympathy in no way means we water down the truth, but it does mean we exercise patience and grace, remembering that we also were dead in sin but have been made alive and whole by the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 6:11).

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
'Radical' expansion of assisted suicide in Oregon is 'too extreme'

The Oregon House of Representatives this week voted to expand the state's assisted suicide programme by repealing the residency requirement.

Assisted suicide has been legal in Oregon since 1997 but is limited to residents of the state.

Bill 2279 will lift the residency requirement so that Oregon physicians can prescribe life-ending medication to out-of-state residents.

The Bill passed through the House of Representatives this week and will now proceed to the State Senate for approval.

Justin Hageman, Public Affairs Specialist at Oregon Right to Life, expressed disappointment at the vote.

"We didn't expect much different. Pro-life legislators stood firm, but the pro-euthanasia majority voted to expand the 'Death With Dignity' act and remove the residency requirement," he said.

"Current law already puts vulnerable Oregonians at risk, like the elderly and people with disabilities. But now they're targeting other states."

Oregon House Republican Leader, Vikki Breese-Iverson, called the plans "too extreme".

"I am deeply concerned about the repercussions of this decision and how this will make Oregon appear on the national stage," she said.

"This radical expansion of assisted suicide is the latest example of the majority party exerting their authority over Oregon voters.

"I urge my colleagues in the Senate to vote no on this legislation. This is too extreme for Oregon."

The House backed the Bill despite new data released by the Oregon Health Authority showing a year-on-year increase in the number of deaths by assisted suicide.

According to figures published this month, 431 people received prescriptions for death by assisted suicide in Oregon last year and 278 people died by this method, up from 238 in 2021.

Pain was cited as a reason in less than a third of cases (31%), while nearly half (46%) said they feared being a "burden" on loved ones.
Report: LGBTQ Americans tend to be younger and have no religion

For the most part, religious Americans say their LGBTQ neighbours should be free of discrimination when they are at work, in public or at home.

This is true even among groups that oppose same-sex marriage.

One place they disagree is over whether businesses  such as cake bakers or other vendors  ever have the right to refuse service. On that issue, Americans are split along religious and party lines.

Meanwhile, almost half of LGBTQ Americans are young and claim no religion.

Those are among the findings of a new report on polarization and LGBTQ rights from the Washington, D.C.-based Public Religion Research Institute. The report, based on data from PRRI's 2022 American Values Atlas, looked at the views of 22,984 adults living in all 50 states.

PRRI's researchers found that about 10% of Americans overall  almost half (46%) of them under the age of 30  identify as LGBTQ: 3% as gay or lesbian, 4% as bisexual and 2% as something else. Nearly one-quarter of Americans under 30 identify as LGBTQ (23%).

According to the report, LGBTQ Americans are more likely to have no religious affiliation (50%) than Americans in general (26%). They are also much more likely to be Democrats (48%) than Republicans (8%).

Among non-Christian Americans, about 1 in 5 identify as LGBTQ, according to the report.

"This includes 19% of Unitarian Universalists, 19% of the religiously unaffiliated, 15% of Buddhists, 11% of Jews, 9% of Muslims, 5% of Hindus, and 32% of members of other non-Christian religions," according to the report. "Members of Christian religious traditions are less likely to identify as LGBTQ, with the exception of Hispanic Protestants (12%)."

Researchers from PRRI found that most religious groups, from 92% of Unitarian Universalists to 62% of white evangelical Protestants, support anti-discrimination laws. This includes Jews (86%), Hispanic Catholics (86%), Black Protestants (79%), Latter-day Saints (78%), Hindus (76%) and Hispanic Protestants (62%). Jehovah's Witnesses (50%) are the religious group least likely to support such laws.

When it comes to views of small businesses that want to refuse to provide products or services to lesbian or gay people, faith groups were more divided. Unitarian Universalists (88%), Hispanic Catholics (78%), Hindus (77%) and people of other non-Christian faiths (77%) were most likely to oppose the idea of refusing service. White evangelical Protestants (37%), Latter-day Saints (46%), Jehovah's Witnesses (50%) and Orthodox Christians (51%) were less likely.

The PRRI's report found a wide variation in views along political lines. Ninety percent of Democrats said they favour nondiscrimination laws that protect LGBTQ people in jobs, public accommodations and housing. Fewer Republicans (66%) favour such laws.

Democrats are twice as likely to oppose rules that allow small businesses to refuse service to gays or lesbians (86% compared with 41% of Republicans).

"Nationally, PRRI continues to find that most Americans broadly support LGBTQ rights in 2022," said Melissa Deckman, CEO of PRRI. "At the same time, partisan polarization is growing on some measures, including on religiously based refusals of service to LGBTQ Americans by business owners."

Deckman noted that these differences are striking amid the current politicization of issues involving LGBTQ rights and with a major ruling expected from the U.S. Supreme Court this term in regard to religious refusals by business owners.

In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple; the court said the Colorado Civil Rights Commission mishandled the case. Phillips lost a state court appeal earlier this year on a different case concerning his refusal to make a cake for a transgender customer.

The court is currently considering the case of Lorie Smith, a graphic designer who wants to expand her business to make websites for weddings but said she would not make websites for same-sex weddings. Smith's attorneys have argued that making a website is an exercise of free speech.

Researchers at PRRI also found continued disagreement among religious groups over same-sex marriage. Jews (81%), Buddhists (77%), white mainline Protestants (77%), and both white and Hispanic Catholics (75%) are among the most likely to support same-sex marriage. Jehovah's Witnesses (19%), white evangelical Protestants (38%), Hispanic Protestants (43%) and Latter-day Saints (50%) are less likely.

Despite the opposition to same-sex marriage among Latter-day Saints, leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints played a key role in supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed by President Joe Biden in late 2022. The law provided federal recognition of both same-sex marriage and interracial marriage  both of which had been previously made legal by court decisions.

 Religion News Service
Revolutionary language

If you want to change a society, the most efficient way is not with guns and tanks but with a dictionary.

Progressives know the power of language and they prioritise it in their efforts to restructure society. Change the language and you change the way people think, change the way people think and you change the way people act, change the way people act and you have changed society; all without firing a shot. It takes longer than a violent revolution but it is much more effective and longer lasting.

The establishment pursues inclusive language. The British government has several style guides about how to speak on such subjects as disability or ethnicity. Every university has its own language guide. Edinburgh University sees inclusive language as an important aspect in pursuit of its 'vision of making the world a better place'. The latest advance of the language manipulators is the 92-page Inclusive Language GuideOxfam have issued for their staff.

We can laugh at the contortions Oxfam force themselves into in order to avoid the possibility of offending any group they see as vulnerable. Former Tory minister Robert Buckland said: 'Most people will find this particular use of valuable time and resources by Oxfam totally bizarre.' Some proposed changes are beyond parody. The guide does not want employees to refer to 'headquarters' because it 'implies a power dynamic that prioritises one office over another' and 'reinforces hierarchical power issues and a top-down approach'.

However, laughing then dismissing the guide as another example of out-of-touch wokery underestimates the purpose and effect of such language. This is not bizarre, this is revolutionary and we should take it seriously. Although the Oxfam International Secretariat has fewer than 300 staff, Oxfam affiliates have around 10,000 employees and nearly 50,000 interns and volunteers in 67 countries, and 1,200 shops worldwide. Oxfam are seeking to change how people see the world.

They apologise for printing the guide in English because English is the language of a 'colonising' nation: 'We recognise that the dominance of English is one of the key issues that must be addressed in order to decolonise our ways of working and shift power.'

Oxfam's staff and volunteers have been advised to drop 'mother' and 'father' from their vocabulary and replace them with 'parent'. Oxfam argue that allowances should be made for trans families who might not identify with the conventional roles of a man and woman in parenthood.

We might think that this is merely Oxfam bending over backwards to prevent a vanishingly small group of people from feeling uncomfortable, but there is more going on here. Oxfam claim the word 'parent' describes 'the role in raising children without directly ascribing gendered roles'. They argue: 'In patriarchal culture, social norms around gender result in designated roles for parents that reflect expectations of that gender.' They object to men acting as fathers and women as mothers.

The underlying aim of these language changes is to eradicate the differences between men and women. Oxfam say: 'We are proud of using inclusive language.' But language, to be useful, has to be exclusive with definitions which help us negotiate our relationships. When we no longer speak of 'father' and 'mother' but the interchangeable 'parent' we no longer acknowledge any difference.

The words 'father' and 'mother' are meant to be exclusive, describing specific people with specific roles. Mothers are not 'breast-feeding people' or 'people who become pregnant', they are women. Take away the exclusive nature of language and we take away our ability to appreciate the differences between men and women, fathers and mothers.

Oxfam wish to avoid terms such as 'biological male/female' and 'male/female bodied'. Their staff are instructed to speak of those 'assigned female/male at birth (AFMB/AMAB)'. The reason is that no one, 'whether cisgender or transgender, gets to choose what sex they're assigned at birth'.

There is a grass-roots reaction to this push by the progressive elites to alter the way we speak and think. An 'inclusive language guide' published by the Local Government Association(LGA) was rapidly withdrawn after being pilloried by LGA workers and the public. The document included advice such as avoiding the use of the words 'Caucasian' and 'homeless'. It suggested using the expression 'welcome, everyone' instead of 'welcome, ladies and gentlemen' and 'birthing parent' rather than 'mum and dad'. I am no fan of daytime television but viewers of ITV's Good Morning Britain spoke for all of us when they expressed bemusement at the Oxfam guide.

This drive to alter how we speak should be of concern to all, but particularly to Christians. In our biblical faith, words and their precise meanings matter. Christians understand that when we lose clarity and definition we lose understanding. Would we be improving the inclusivity of Scripture if we altered the nearly 300 times 'mother' is used in the Bible to 'parent'? Altering the Lord's Prayer to speak to our 'Parent' in heaven alters its meaning in a significant way.

With imagery we lose impact when we make alterations to accord with the sensibilities of the perpetually offended. In Isaiah 1:18 we read, 'Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.' The Oxfam guide would have us stop using 'white' as a term for cleanliness and purity on the (spurious) grounds that it has racial overtones. How then do we capture the clear imagery of the change brought about by redemption?

Language is too important to be left a tool in the hands of progressive ideologues in their fruitless pursuit of woke utopia.

Campbell Campbell-Jack is a retired Church of Scotland minister. He blogs at A Grain of Sand.
Abstraction in black and white: Willem de Koonings Orestes crystallised a new era in painting

This rare work from the artists black and white period provides myriad viewpoints into the origins of his process and style

Si Newhouse had a knack for collecting work that captured the height of an artists unique powers, and Willem de Koonings Orestes was no exception. Last appearing at auction in 2002, it is one of the most important early paintings by de Kooning to remain in private hands, signifying the pivotal moment in his career when he liberated himself from the pure figuration that he had studied in Rotterdam and began cultivating his characteristic blend of lettering, gestural figures and abstract motifs. Thomas B. Hess described it as a new kind of painting: There are no lines. Neither are there backgrounds, nor foregrounds. The blacks and whites push in front of and slip behind each other Its as if two philosophers were having a conversation about Black and White, but everything could only be cited in terms of its opposite.

The feeling of disorientation, a constant in de Koonings action paintings, is a result of his bold merging of abstraction and figuration. On 11 May, Orestes will be offered as part of Offered in Masterpieces from S.I. Newhouse Collection on 11 May 2023 at Christies New York, during Christies 20th and 21st Century sale week in New York. Made in 1947 and exhibited as part of the Dutch-American Abstract Expressionists first solo show at New Yorks Charles Egan Gallery in 1948, the painting is part of de Koonings black and white series, which he continued to explore for the next two years. Emigrating from Rotterdam in 1926, de Kooning travelled to Virginia, Boston, and eventually Hoboken, New Jersey. After working as a house painter there for a year, he settled in New York City in 1927. The following year de Kooning travelled upstate to visit the art colony in Woodstock, where he met other modernist artists active in the area. Soon after, back in Manhattan, he met the Armenian Arshile Gorky and the Russian John Graham. The two loomed large in de Koonings early development, but Gorky especially served as an artistic brother for the Dutchman.





Open a larger version of this image Arshile Gorky and Willem de Kooning in Gorky's studio, c. 1937. Photo: Oliver Baker / Rudi Blesh papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Artwork:  2023 The Arshile Gorky Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

De Kooning and Gorky spent much time together in the 1930s, and de Kooning was deeply inspired by the way Gorky blended figurative and abstract techniques. Gorky was, as de Kooning said, an artist with fantastic instinct, and the two maintained a close friendship and artistic kinship that lasted until Gorkys death in 1948. Gorkys Untitled (The Horns of the Landscape), from 1944, also in the Newhouse collection, is a study for his iconic The Horns of the Landscape, now held in the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Like de Kooning, Gorky blends technical draftsmanship with gestural looseness, enhancing it through the automatic and unfettered hand typical of his Surrealist influences.

Open a larger version of this image Arshile Gorky, Untitled (The Horns of the Landscape), 1944. Graphite and wax crayon on paper laid down on canvas. 19 x 24 in (48.3 x 61 cm). Estimate: $500,000-700,000. Offered in Masterpieces from the S.I. Newhouse Collection on 11 May 2023 at Christies New York



The puffed-up shapes in Orestes resemble letters, similar to how Gorkys shapes in Untitled (The Horns of the Landscape) resemble bodies, but de Kooning was always careful to separate them from their meaning. As John Elderfield, who curated the artists 2011 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, said: De Kooning is content to compose a painting almost entirely with shapes that resemble letters, providing that the letters do not compose words that refer to objects, and actually that are difficult to read as words at all. The work is immediate and without perspective, and as our eye moves across the composition, we see how he built out the forms in zinc white and black enamel before the paint was able to dry. Even the artists signature, usually the final mark made on a work, was written while the paint was still wet.

When an artist wants to change, when he wants to invent, he goes back to black  Barnett Newman

These small details are what make Orestes such an apt representation of de Koonings working process. It reflects his first job in America as a housepainter through aspects of layering and the material he uses. The black is Ripolin, an inexpensive enamel use by housepainters. The painting is also a masterful exploration of how he formulated a new kind of abstraction that eschewed strict labels. When an artist wants to change, when he wants to invent, Barnett Newman said, he goes to black; it is a way of clearing the table  of getting to new ideas. De Kooning himself acknowledged the significance of this period in his artistic development, keeping the two cans of enamel and making sure not to lose track of them even as he moved and changed studios.
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Tourism-dependent New Orleans has adopted new regulations on Airbnb-style short term rentals, including a limit on licenses to one property per block and a requirement that the licensee live on the property.

Adopted after hours of emotional debate on Thursday, the new rules were necessitated by an August federal appeals court ruling that obliterated a regulation designed to stop whole house vacation rentals by absentee homeowners. It also reignited arguments that have roiled the city since short-term rentals gained a foothold in the mid-2010s.

The neighborhoods are split on this. Neighbors are split on this, New Orleans city council member Freddie King said.

That debate is unlikely to end soon. And Dawn Wheelahan, an attorney for short term rental interests, said Friday that court challenges will continue. Her clients include a Portland, Oregon, woman who has residences there and in New Orleans, and a company that manages short-term rentals in multiple cities.

Opponents of increased regulation say short-term rentals broaden the tourism market and provide many homeowners with necessary supplemental income. Supporters say a proliferation of vacation rentals, driven by outside investors and absentee residence owners, has inflated property costs and taxes while filling once quiet and charming areas with hordes of partiers.

The old regulation limited short-term rental licenses to the license-holder's primary residence  a residence for which they claim a Louisiana homestead property tax exemption. That shut out out-of-state property owners. And a panel of three judges at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that it unconstitutionally restricted interstate commerce.

That led to the new regulation limiting licenses to one person per block. It also says the person who holds the license must live on the property, whether its the owner or someone  perhaps a renter  allowed to reside there.

The result is that some people already holding licenses are worried about their future income. Existing license holders who want a renewal will have to win a lottery involving any other license applicants on their block.

You might put me in a lotto and, just like that, I could lose my retirement income, said one woman, adding that renting part of her house to vacation guests is more lucrative than having long-term tenants. With rising taxes and insurance, she told the council Thursday, If I have to go back to long-term rental, I will have to sell my house.

But vehement opposition to vacation rentals was also on display from people who said the proliferation of short term rentals  and lax city enforcement of regulations  has driven away home owners due to noise from unruly guests, or inflated home-owning costs.

One New Orleans native said he's witnessed the hollowing out of his neighborhood.

It's been taken over by wealthy investors," he said. "It's become a playground for tourists and for those wealthy investors. ... We're becoming a smaller, whiter tourist resort. Less like the city I grew up in with every passing year.

Council member Eugene Green cast the one-per-block limit as a compromise with people who want vacation rentals eliminated.

I've seen the signs saying, My STR is my retirement, Green said. But for the people that I've spoken to, their homes and their neighborhoods are their retirement.

Council members included an amendment from King that somewhat diluted the density limit by allowing a property owner to apply for an increase in the limit for a given area. There would be bureaucratic review, public comment from affected neighbors and a vote by the council on such an application.

Wheelahan said the new rules still have multiple legal and constitutional problems. Among them is a requirement that only a natural person and not a corporation can hold a license.

The prohibition against corporate entities holding permits violates the Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United decision holding that corporate entities have the same First Amendment rights as natural persons, she said in an email.
Houston's craft beer scene is thriving, and the quality of local brews available is better now than ever before. As we sit back in our neighborhood taprooms and enjoy great beer made on-site, the ambience and environment are quiet but essential components of our drinking experience. It's easy to take for granted, but a lot of work goes into making our brewery spaces feel like a home away from home, striking a balance between fun, welcoming and practical.

For a third of the 70-plus taprooms in the Houston area, that's the work of Method Architecture, a local architectural firm that has specialized in brewery design and construction since launching in 2016. With some of the biggest and most successful Houston breweries in their portfolio, including Buffalo Bayou, True Anomaly, Holler, Eureka Heights, Great Heights, Karbach and Spindletap, Method has tapped into a niche in the city's booming beer scene, catering to both new breweries starting out and veterans looking to upgrade their space.

"I enjoy visiting breweries around the state and some of our staff are home brewers. It's a passion project for us," says Method managing partner and co-founder Jake Donaldson. "We enjoy taking raw industrial spaces and making them into fun engaging taprooms, bringing a bunch of different uses all together."

Courtesy of Method Architecture

There are unique challenges to creating bespoke breweries. Donaldson highlights the fact that many of Houston's taprooms are in repurposed warehouses and former manufacturing spaces, which need extensive renovations to make them into places people want to hang out and drink beer in. So, how do you design a great taproom?

While more than 20 Houston-area breweries are Method clients, they don't actually all look the same. The firm doesn't operate according to a house style; the team is more responsive than prescriptive. Donaldson says most brewery owners have a clear idea for the look and feel of their space, and how their chosen aesthetic will enhance their customers' drinking experience. "We want to create a space you wouldn't know Method designed," Donaldson says.

Courtesy of Method Architecture Courtesy of Method Architecture True Anomaly kept industrial elements of its East Downtown warehouse space. (Courtesy of Method Architecture)

Two thirds of Method's brewery clients are people outside the industry launching their first brewery, so understanding their background and incorporating their story into the spaces is a big part of Method's work. True Anomaly Brewing is owned by former NASA technicians who wanted their brewery to reflect their time working in the space industry. The stainless steel fermenters behind the bar double as serving tanks, and resemble space capsule rockets, while the open deck with exposed ductwork has a hangar-type feel. Platypus Brewing's Australian owners wanted their taproom to reflect their home country and Australian-inspired beers, so Method utilized exposed, raw materials and colors reminiscent of both rustic Texas and the Australian outback.

When designing Urban South's Houston outpost, Method channeled the brewery's laid-back New Orleans style while adding something new. Because Urban South HTX is an experimental taproom, the space needed to reflect this. "Everything from the beer to the decor in the taproom is unexpected: bright colors, a retro vibe, and fun were all must-haves," Donaldson says. "So that's why you'll see things like roller skates hanging from the ceiling, cool murals and retro arcade games."

Courtesy of Method Architecture Courtesy of Method Architecture Platypus (left) and Great Heights (right) are community hubs for their neighborhoods. (Courtesy of Method Architecture)

Baileson Brewing's Adam Cryer and Sarah Pope named their brewery after their two dogs, Bailey and Jameson, so making their taproom pet-friendly was important to them. Method repurposed a former gas station, transforming the space into a chill backyard environment with space for picnic tables and food trucks under the original awning. "When the glass roll-up doors are open, the space flows seamlessly from inside to outside and is of course pet-friendly," Donaldson explains.

Many breweries also have a strong emphasis on connecting the consumer with the brewing process, creating designs where tanks, fermenters and piping are visible, showing the flow of the beer from vessel to vessel. For some, like at True Anomaly and Holler, fermenters are placed in the taproom itself, so the beer can be served from them directly to the consumer.

Courtesy of Method Architecture Courtesy of Method Architecture Karbach (left) and Buffalo Bayou (right) are two of the biggest breweries in Houston. (Courtesy of Method Architecture)

"[This] makes the spaces more engaging and brings customers closer to the experience itself," Donaldson says. "There's a kid in all of us who wants to look behind the scenes, like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory."

Donaldson emphasizes that breweries are different from bars in that they are community hubs, and making them inviting to locals is important. At Great Heights, which is in a residential area, they sought to limit noise pollution and the visibility of trucks loading and unloading. At True Anomaly, they adapted existing features of the building to keep to the East Downtown neighborhood's aesthetic. Understanding how a brewery space can meet local needs helps bring in people who may not even be craft beer fans. Donaldson's parents, who don't really drink beer, often spend time at Back Pew Brewing in Porter to meet friends and attend community events.

But as true craft beer lovers themselves, the Method team has rotating pony kegs of local beer in its break room. Right now on tap: Eureka Heights, True Anomaly and Buffalo Bayou. "It's for staff training, we can't be brewery experts if we're not familiar with the product," Donaldson said with a wink.
Denver has been said to rank among the heaviest-drinking cities in the country, and that pastime has long been a part of its history: The city was officially founded in 1859 after a bribe involving a barrel of whiskey. By 1860, Denver was replete with saloons and gambling halls and the buildings between those were houses of ill-repute. In short, the Mile High City has always had a wealth of establishments at which you can tie one on.

Today the city boasts bars that have been in business since the 1870s, speakeasies slinging cocktails by award-winning bartenders and gritty dive bars. Whether you're looking for a tall boy of PBR, a classic martini, a craft cocktail made with artisan bitters or just a great rooftop bar, Denver has it all.

Here are 10 of the best Denver bars you should experience at least once during your next visit to the Mile High City.

Adrift

Tiki barscarefree escapes that were popular after World War IIstayed in vogue until the late 1960s (even Richard Nixon was a fan of Trader Vic's in Washington, where he favored a mai tai). While the trend fell out of fashion for decades, in 2012 Adrift opened its homage to retro Polynesian-themed style on South Broadway, ushering in a new era. Entering through a door flanked by giant tiki statues, guests are greeted with welcoming booths, nautical accents and bartenders in Hawaiian shirts.

On the menu, all the dramatically presented rum-based drinks you'd expect: the zombie, the rum runner, the daiquiri, plus other classics like the Singapore sling. Belly up to Adrift's bamboo bar and drink your troubles away. Just make a reservation first if you hope to grab a table inside.

Find it: Adrift, 218 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80209; 720-784-8111

B&GC

Boys & Girls Club is simply one of Denver's most sophisticated bars, where even getting in is an adventure. Hidden away under Cherry Creek's Halcyon Hotel, this reservations-only speakeasy is accessible from the alleyway between Second and Third avenues. It's easy to imagine this below-ground lounge filled with lanky Halston-clad types whispering over a cocktail, whether seated at the chic semi-circular bar with its deco lighting or tucked away in a corner cognac-leather bucket chair.

The menu includes a mix of classic cocktails like martinis and Sazeracs, and wonderfully frivolous craft cocktails like the Butterfly Effect, a blend of gin, amaro, pear cognac, green Chartreuse, raspberry Demerara, lemon juice and orange bitters. B&GC makes the ideal spot for a clandestine drink from another era, and, like a secret handshake, is only for those in the know. Pro tip: Text B&GC for reservations, including your name, preferred date, time and the number in your party.

Find it: B&GC, 249 Columbine St., Denver, CO 80206; 720-925-8598

Kathryn Scott Osler/Denver Post via Getty Images

Grizzly Rose

On the east side of Interstate 25, north of downtown, the Grizzly Rose has been Denver's premier honky tonk since 1989. Inside, you'll find line-dancing (including lessons for rookie boot-scooters), live country music from big-name acts and, yes, a mechanical bull. This is the place where, drinks-wise, you'll be ordering a bottle of Bud Light and well drinks that come in a Solo cup, but it's all about the atmospherethe barbecue's not bad, either. There's something happening every night of the week at Grizzly Rose, including Sundays, when it's open to the whole family.

Find it: Grizzly Rose, 450 Lincoln St., Denver, CO 80216; 303-295-2353

The Cooper Lounge

Union Station's renovation transformed the downtown Denver landscape, bringing with it The Cooper Lounge. Perched on the depot's mezzanine, it evokes the bar cars of the days when train travel was glamorous. While the seating on one side overlooks the Great Hall (especially magical during the holidays), the other side features a long, elegant bar with huge half-moon picture windowseither make an ideal place to enjoy a classic cocktail and do some people-watching. The Cooper Lounge menu features creative and classic cocktails, wines by the glass, select beers and a choice of elegant eats like oysters and steak tartarebut reservations are a must.

Find it: The Cooper Lounge, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, CO 80202; 720-460-3738

John Leyba/Denver Post via Getty Images

My Brother's Bar

Denver's oldest bar, located at the corner of 15th and Platte, has been serving thirsty drinkers and those wanting a top-tier burger since 1873always to the beat of its own drum. It was a favorite watering hole of Jack Kerouac, shunned bar TVs in lieu of live piano music and snubbed would-be developers. After the Karagas brothers ran the bar for more than 40 years, they sold it to longtime employee Paula Newman and her son, Danny. They've kept its historic charm alive, still serving their iconic burgers wrapped in parchment paper and accompanied by a caddy of condiments. Pro tip: Try the bison patty. You can thank us later.

While My Brother's Bar has a full bar, its rotating selection of local craft beers is the better bet. You'll find brews from the likes of Fremont Brewing, Mockery Brewing, Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project.

Find it: My Brother's Bar, 2376 15th St., Denver, CO 80202; 303-455-9991

PS Lounge

Colfax, once called the "longest, wickedest street in America" by Playboy, is peppered with dive bars, and one of the best is the PS Lounge. From the vintage neon sign out front to the cushy booths and old-school jukebox, it's honestly a relic from another age. The walls are covered with tchotchkes and photos of patrons and golden-age Hollywood celebs alike, and owner Pete Siahamis makes sure every lady who walks in feels like a star, too, by giving them a rose and an Alabama slammer shot. Order anything that suits your fancy before catching a show at the Bluebird, or simply hang out in the unique atmosphere that lends itself to making new friends thanks to its larger-than-life host and lively atmosphere.

Find it: PS Lounge, 3416 East Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80206; 303-320-1200

John Leyba/Denver Post via Getty Images

Retrograde

At Sweet Action ice cream shop (formerly Frozen Matter) in Denver's Uptown neighborhood, you can satisfy your sweet tooth with a scoop of Colorado White Russian, or another one of its out-of-this-world flavors, but the real sweet spot is the outer space-themed speakeasy hidden behind a freezer door. Once you slip inside Retrograde, you'll be greeted with a dimly lit, ultra-modern bar, cult sci-fi films playing on screen and a list of drinks you might find at the Mos Eisley cantina. The creative mashups include ingredients like milk-clarified Fernet, miso caramel and duck fat-infused Trakal. But if you just want a classic cocktail, Retrograde can do that, too.

Find it: Retrograde, 530 East 19th Ave., Denver, CO 80203; 720-772-7843

The Cruise Room

Opened the day after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, The Cruise Room takes its name because its interior was modeled after the lounge on the RMS Queen Mary. Lined in classic art deco friezes featuring international toasts (it's rumored that a pro-Nazi panel was torn down by a zealous group of Marines) and bathed in pink light, it's one of Denver's most classic bars. Just steps from Union Station and tucked inside the historic Oxford Hotel, this is the place to sip a martini, gimlet or Manhattanand has been for almost a century.

Find it: The Cruise Room, 1600 17th St., Denver, CO 80202; 303-825-1107

Aaron Ontiveroz/Denver Post via Getty Images

Williams & Graham

Third-generation barman Sean Kenyon took an abandoned corner pharmacy in North Denver and transformed it into one of the city's first new-gen speakeasies, cementing his name in Denver's cocktail culture. Enter through a revolving bookcase and you will be treated to creative riffs on classic cocktails and the gold-star hospitality that's earned W&G superlatives from numerous publications. Whether you opt for a Negroni or a drink that blends plum-infused gin, mezcal, chipotle syrup, falernum and lime, you're in for a journey to a Prohibition-era club steeped in elegance.

Find it: W&G, 3160 Tejon St., Denver, CO 80211; 303-997-8886

Yacht Club

Hospitality power couple Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges are behind Yacht Club, the one-time flagship bar that held court at The Source before expanding into its bolthole in the Cole neighborhood in late 2021. Yacht Club is where highbrow and lowbrow marry: The menu features beach drinks, creative fusions with fruit undertones, plus a list of natural wines by the glass appropriately balanced by bottles of Coors Banquet and mango White Claw.

Also on offer are hot dogs made from local Riverbear links served with creative toppings (think: caviar and potato chips) and a killer playlist over the sound system. In 2022, Yacht Club was named one of four finalists for best new U.S. cocktail bar at the Spirited Awards. Sail on in and as they say there, "Land, ho. Ride or die. Seize the day, cap the night."

Find it: Yacht Club,3701 North Williams St., Denver, CO 80205; 720-389-7905
East Montgomery County Fire Department

The East Montgomery County Fire Department thought it was responding to a normal house fire call in the Houston area earlier this week. Little did the firefighters know what they were about to encounter inside the home.

On Facebook Tuesday morning, the department announced that shortly after firefighters were dispatched to the scene, the call notes were updated to inform them that several exotic animals would be secured inside the home. That is: 20 snakes, lizards, tarantulas and a crocodile.
Do you enjoy Trivia, whether at-home games, such as Trivial Pursuit, on game shows on television, in the Coffee News at local restaurants, and on those question cards you can buy that are graded by age? Our family was on Spring Break last week at a rental home in Corpus Christi, and we played rousing games of Trivia using questions appropriate for 6th and 7th graders. Its amazing what you think you know and dont, then find out that you cant really summon up answers right at that moment. John and I love Jeopardy, record it to watch together to see how many answers we can get, and are always amazed at how the contestants can so quickly answer questions about people, places, and things weve never heard of.

Once a month the April Sound Country Club hosts Trivia in the Waterside Room. There are usually seven or eight tables of six or eight players each. When everyone is assembled and situated, each team must choose a name and fill out the score sheets. The questions are displayed on a screen and Stony (Bill) presents. At intermission scores are tabulated and announced. After the second round everyone waits to see which team will be victorious. Its fun to see everyone talking among themselves, sharing ideas and guesses before the answer is written on the paper and valued for the judging.
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Conroe ISD Superintendent Curtis Null will temporarily have the power to make hiring decisions as the district tries to secure more teachers for the upcoming year.

Trustees on Tuesday agreed to give Null that authority for the next four months. Under the current policy, trustees approve all positions under the principal level as part of the consent agenda. That process from interviewing a candidate to board approval could take up to six weeks.

Conroe ISD has 131 job postings on its website, which includes all positions in the district.

We were losing teachers, Null said. It may be six weeks before we have initiated contact. Meanwhile, they dont want to resign from their previous job because they want to have a contract in front of them.

In Texas, districts use one-year contracts for teachers, librarians and other campus-level educators.

On YourConroeNews.com: Conroe ISD names new principals at Austin Elementary and Caney Creek High School

With upcoming job fairs at Conroe and other nearby districts, Null said moving more quickly will be critical in securing more staff.

Conroe ISD has a job fair scheduled 9 a.m. to noon April 1 at Grand Oaks High School, 4800 Riley Fuzzel Road.

Null said he didnt think the board needed to allow him to hire year-round.

Our board book process (to approve new hires via the consent agenda) works fine year-round, but during this crucial hiring period I think it would benefit us to move quicker, Null said.

Null said the new process would allow principals to interview, check references and offer jobs to new hires. That, he said, would give those new hires the security of resigning from their current positions to accept a position with Conroe ISD.

In this situation, we would be able to tell people you are hired, Null said.

While the board was supportive, trustees Misty Odenweller and Melissa Dungan asked about keeping the board informed.

Dungan, who along with Odenweller and trustee Tiffany Nelson is new to the board, asked if the board would meet during the summer so they could approve the new employees Null hires.

Null said the board doesnt typically have as many meetings during the summer. He said to ensure the board was informed, he would send out weekly or biweekly lists of new hires.

It wouldnt be anything covert, Null said.
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Montgomery Independent School District parents soon will be able to track their child's bus route.

For the 2023-24 school year, parents and the district's transportation department will use a SMART tag monitoring system. Students will be assigned an ID card that will register when and where they get on and off their school bus. The system also would provide bus arrival notifications for parents and school administrators.

On YourCourierNews.com: Conroe ISD Superintendent gets hiring power as district tries to secure more teachers

The ID cards are read via a passive radio-frequency chip containing a unique identification number and is read through a SMART tag on-board tablet.

The school district paid for the $50,000 in new technology through the district's $326 million bond passed in May 2022.

Several districts in the greater Houston area have implemented similar technology to address safety and security concerns, with Conroe and Klien being some of the recent districts to implement the system.

Montgomery ISD Superintendent Heath Morrison said the tracking system offers another way to keep students safe, not only at school, but also when they're being transported to and from campus.

"This is just another way for us to be able to make sure we can account for the students once they've gotten on the bus and when they leave," Morrison said. "Especially early in the year as kids are getting familiar with the (bus) routes and bus drivers are getting familiar with their students."

On YourCourierNews.com: Conroe ISD names new principals at Austin Elementary and Caney Creek High School

About 4,300 students in the district use school transportation every day, said Transportation Director Aric Taylor during a district board meeting. The district has a total of 65 school buses, with 12 for students with disabilities.

The technology would allow parents to be notified where their child has left and notify them if there's any delays due to traffic, Morrison said.

The district has made efforts to increase security and safety in the past.

It added more campus police officers to its budget, allowing one officer at each campus and two at each high school. The district launched a "Stop The Prop" campaign, educating students and staff of the importance of making sure campus doors are fully closed. It also implemented the use of the "Rave Panic Button," which would allow users to summon police, medical or fire personnel with the touch of one button on their cell phone.

The district began working on a strategic plan a couple of years ago, Morrison said. And one of the most important goals, next to education, was safety.

"It's not like you're ever one-and-done with school safety," Morrison said. "You're constantly monitoring your data...evaluating situations...checking to see if there's something out there...some new piece of technology...something that would make our school safer. And we're always open to those suggestions."
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Confidence was growing Friday in the likelihood of another strong storm arriving in soggy, snow-laden California early next week, forecasters said.

The outlook for more winter-like weather increased as the state turned windy and cold, with residual rain and mountain snow showers in the aftermath of the most recent storm. The next one was expected to arrive Monday.
Connecticuts open records laws may soon get its first overhaul in nearly 40 years.

A key legislative committee voted favorably Friday to advance a proposal to sharply increase the penalties government agencies face for violating public records regulations. And, the legislatures budget-writing committee is looking to boost funding to expand staffing of the state watchdog agency that enforces the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act to speed up its ability to process and rule on complaints.

Were looking for accountability, said Sen. Mae Flexer, co-chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) which oversees open records laws. Reforms are clearly long overdue. There are clearly some people who arent going to do the right thing without increased penalties.

The proposals were made in response to a Hearst Connecticut Media Group investigative series detailing how the City of Bridgeport has repeatedly violated open record laws with little repercussions, exposing how the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) has at times struggled to get recalcitrant government officials to promptly turn over public records.

Weve seen recently the FOIC doesn't really have the tools currently to address certain aspects of noncompliance, said Rep. Matt Blumental, co-chair of the GAE. Ultimately, every public agency and municipality needs to understand that complying with our Freedom of Information laws is an obligation. It's a part of their duties that is equal to the other duties that they traditionally have  and they need to treat it with that level of importance.

If approved, these reforms could set the state up to have among the most pro-transparency public records laws in the country, said Gunita Singh, staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Any one of the proposed legislative changes would go a long way  but taken together, they could really set a model for the rest of the country, she said.

Higher penalties sought

Connecticuts open records law dates back to 1975, when state lawmakers unanimously passed An Act Concerning Freedom of Information in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal.

But, during that legislative process, the proposed penalties for breaking the law were scaled back, from a fine cap of $5,000 to $500.

Jeffrey Daniels was involved in those negotiations as Gov. Ella Grassos policy director. He shared with legislators on the GAE Committee this week details of the spirited debate back then, and why the fees were ultimately curtailed.

Legislators opined they were not needed. Surely, they said, Public agencies would comply with any orders, said Daniels, now one of the leaders of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, a first amendment advocacy organization (Hearst Connecticut Media is an affiliated member of the group). At the time, imposing higher penalties proved to be a bridge too far. It was hard enough to pass the bill.

Since then, the cap on fines was updated once, in 1984, to $1,000.

Now, leaders of the GAE Committee want to raise the cap on fines to $10,000.

The current fine structure is too easy to use as the cost of doing business, said Blumenthal, D-Stamford, during an interview. Thats not acceptable.

On Friday afternoon, lawmakers voted to advance that proposal, putting it before the full General Assembly for approval by June 7. In addition they voted to advance a proposal that would give the FOIC another enforcement tool for scenarios in which it determines a government agency has developed a pattern of obstructing public access to records.

Under the proposal, the FOIC would be able to apply for court intervention, which could result in a judge ordering additional fines and attorney fees, systemic changes on how an agency handles records requests or a consent order with court oversight until the agency shows improvement.

Currently, the FOIC only has the authority on a case-by-case basis to order the release of requested public records; it cannot order board changes or ask the courts to intervene.

We're hopeful that these measures will not be necessary to compel compliance, but rather that they will create an incentive structure that helps agencies and municipalities understand the importance they should be attaching to their FOIA obligations, said Blumenthal.

Hopefully this will root out some of the routine bad actors and let them know that they cant abuse the system and get a pass every time, said Flexer.

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

FOIC executive director Colleen Murphy, who has worked at the commission since 1990 and led it for the past 17 years, said she has never seen such a push for overhauling the open records law. She welcomed the proposals.

There's always talk about it, but this is the first time I can recall where there's been a legislative proposal, she said during an interview.

The current threshold for the commission to fine an agency for breaking open records laws is high, which has resulted in the agency rarely issuing penalties. Murphy said that high standard, and the standard proposed for the FOIC to ask for court intervention, are both reasonable.

It's a good safety valve, she said. We want to give agencies an opportunity to show Well, okay, we fouled up here, but we had a basis for it. We didn't realize We want to at least give some room for that and that there should be some level of egregious conduct before a penalty is imposed.

No one submitted testimony opposing higher fines or potential court intervention, though the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), which lobbies for cities and towns, asked instead for the fine structure be tiered based on repeat violations.

If the bill is approved, Connecticut would have one of the highest caps on fines for open record law violations in the country.

A 2019 analysis by the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC) found no states allowed for fines of $10,000 or more. A total of 31 states allowed for fines of any kind ranging from $100 to $7,500 or daily fines between $25 to $100.

If the bill passes, Connecticut would join most other states in allowing for agencies that violate the records law to be charged attorney fees.

Today, Connecticut is one of three states that does not require, or allow the courts to require, a public agency found to have improperly denied access to public records to pay for the attorney fees of the party seeking the records, the NFOIC found.

Being potentially on the hook for attorneys fees, which can easily climb into the tens of thousands of dollars, can be a key motivator, according to a study of roughly 50,000 records requests filed by the public and media through the popular online platform MuckRuck between 2010 and 2018.

States that require judges to award attorney fees to plaintiffs that prevail in court have better compliance. Perhaps agencies are more likely to take the laws seriously if they have to pay attorney fees, David Cuillier, a professor at the University of Arizonas School of Journalism, concluded in that study.

Pushing for faster enforcement

Complaints filed with the FOIC often move slowly, taking nine months on average before the commission makes a ruling in contested cases

Sen. Cathy Osten, the co-chair of the legislatures powerful budget-writing Appropriations Committee, told the FOICs executive director last week thats too long.

I'm looking to get you[r backlog] down so that you can get a caseload that can be decided in a more reasonable timeframe, Osten said.

She and other top legislators are looking to speed up the commissions work by funding two new positions.

I just want to make sure youre appropriately staffed, Sen. Cathy Osten, the co-chair of the legislatures powerful budget-writing committee, told the FOICs executive director during a budget meeting this month. It would be nice if other people just gave the information that they were being asked for, but that's not happening.

Murphy said, with additional staffing, she hopes the FOIC will be able to get its turnaround time to about three to four months.

Nine months to hear and decide FOI cases is just too long. You're talking about information that has value, and timeliness is important, Murphy told legislators last week.

Last month, Murphy told legislators the commission did not need more staff. But last week she said she changed her stanced after discussions with lawmakers and recent media coverage.

Were always very reluctant to ask for additional funding, she said, pointing out her 16-person agency faced major cuts amid state budget deficits between 2011 and 2017. I think we've been shell shocked a little bit over these years. So to ask for anything feels really odd to me.

The Appropriations Committee has until April 21 to advance the bill for funding for more staff, which would put it before the full General Assembly for approval by June 7.

Proposal for public shaming dropped

Flexer and Blumenthal said they want the public to be able to easily see if their government is providing prompt access to public records, as state law requires.

They proposed accomplishing that by requiring municipal and state agencies to publish monthly on their websites the number of pending records requests, the dates those unfulfilled requests were received and how many records were provided to the public that month. However, lawmakers dropped that provision when they voted to advance other measures Friday.

Prior to Friday's vote, Blumenthal explained his rationale: Its a name and shame approach. The idea is to ensure that if a municipality or an agency is becoming delinquent, that it will be apparent to the public and hopefully that will motivate the municipality or agency to take action on their own. But if not, it will be clearly apparent to anyone looking that there's a problem.

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

In Bridgeport  the states largest city  there has been no shortage of frustrated residents who have raised concerns about their long wait for records, but figuring out how far behind the city had fallen was not apparent. The problem was obscured for years by the citys lack of transparency. After Hearst Connecticut Medias investigation revealed a growing backlog of almost 2,000 unanswered requests, some years old, the city announced it would be making changes to improve.

But some organizations representing government officials said the legislative proposal is problematic.

The Connecticut Town Clerks Association, Council of Small Towns, Judicial Branch and CCM raised concerns ranging from the time and cost to gather such information to whether it would accurately reflect a true picture of records routinely provided to residents outside the formal FOIA process.

Our residents will receive a skewed picture of what public records requests had been fulfilled that past month. This could unintentionally influence our residents perception of town services and further impact their vote on our annual municipal budget, Anna Posniak, town clerk of Windsor, testified on behalf of the town clerks organization.

Instead of requiring all agencies to report such information, some suggested empowering the FOIC to order reporting for places with a pattern of obstructing access.

Many agencies already compile logs to keep track of records requests. Some use third-party software to centrally track requests, monitor the volume of new and pending requests and measure turnaround times.

Three state agencies already use this software, and the remaining 35 are scheduled to begin using it by June 30. Municipalities, including Bridgeport, Hartford, and Waterbury, also use it.

Singh, from the Reporters Committee, said requiring disclosure of records logs could make the government more efficient.

If agencies were required to post FOIA logs online, it would enable journalists and other members of the public to see whats already been requested and processed, potentially obviating the need to reinvent the wheel, which can save time and resources, she said.

Note: This story was revised Friday, March 24, at 6 p.m. with updates about how lawmakers voted on some of the proposals.
House Republicans issued an interim report this week that accuses the Justice Department of "weaponizing" the FBI against parents who engage in the "protected First Amendment activity" of criticizing school board officials. The report's very first example in support of this claim is telling, but perhaps not in the way its authors intended.

"In one investigation, an FBI field office interviewed a mom for allegedly telling a local school board 'we are coming for you,'" states the report, which was entered into the record at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing Thursday. It says the woman told the FBI that she was merely referring to "coming" for the officials electorally speaking.

House Judiciary Committee Republicans haven't provided many details about the incident, but the details it has offered line up with an incident in Michigan in late 2021. Both involve an activist for Moms for Liberty, a tip to the FBI, and the activist talking about replacing school board members.

In the Michigan case, the activist's comments went well beyond "coming for you." According to video of the November meeting of the Brighton, Mich., school board, the woman said: "We're coming for you. Take it as a threat. Call the FBI. I don't care. You're all either going to be recalled or you're all - we're all coming for you. That's what's happening."

The committee wouldn't confirm or deny this is the instance cited. But its use would conform with a long-running campaign by congressional Republicans that has often skirted or gone beyond the available facts.

Republicans have claimed that a 2021 memo from Attorney General Merrick Garland on combating a "disturbing spike" in school board threats was really about cracking down on dissent - "a political offensive meant to quell swelling discord," in the words of the new report.

They've cited a letter the National School Boards Association issued immediately before Garland's memo. The letter suggested such threats were akin to "domestic terrorism." The NSBA later apologized for the language, but the Justice Department never used that language or endorsed it. And the Justice Department and Garland have always characterized their concerns as solely about threats, not complaints.

However one feels about the NSBA or the federal government's becoming involved in such things, there remains no direct evidence that this effort was influenced by politics - and that includes in the new interim report.

The report accuses the Biden administration and the NSBA of having "extensively colluded" to "create a justification" for Garland's memo. Its evidence is that the Justice Department had contact with another group, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, about school threats before Garland issued his memo, that the NSBA shared an embargoed copy of its letter with the Biden administration a day early, and that the Justice Department shared a copy of Garland's memo with the NSBA shortly before its public release on Oct. 4, 2021.

But there is nothing in the report that addresses the conclusions of an independent report commissioned by the NSBA that "did not find direct or indirect evidence suggesting the Administration requested the Letter or specified, edited, or reviewed the contents of the Letter before the Letter was sent, or otherwise specifically requested that it be written."

The report mostly rehashes old arguments. But it also repeatedly suggests Garland's memo was made with the education-focused 2021 Virginia governor's race in mind. It goes as far as to say, "The Administration's goal seems to have been silencing the critics of its radical education policies and neutralizing an issue that was threatening Democrat Party prospects in the close gubernatorial race in Virginia." But it offers no evidence or contemporaneous communications to back this up.

The report also provides little in the way of evidence that such authority has been abused.

It says the FBI acknowledged opening just 25 "assessments" in cases involving alleged school board threats, with just one leading to a "full investigation" and none leading to federal charges. The report casts the lack of arrests as "highlighting the political motives behind the Attorney General's actions." But it also acknowledges that a majority of cases were referred to state and local authorities.

(Reuters in February 2022 reported that school boards were being "inundated with threats of violence and other hostile messages," citing 220 examples in a survey of 15 states.)

The report also continues a long trend of taking liberties with the evidence and layering the issue in political spin.

On Page 1, the report cites Garland's October 2021 testimony, claiming he acknowledged the NSBA letter was, in its words, the "only basis" for the Justice Department's actions. But in the exchange the committee highlighted for the claim, Garland didn't say that; he called the letter "a relevant factor" and also cited "newspapers' reports of threats of violence."

The report also repeatedly refers to the Justice Department's having directed tips about such threats to the National Threat Operations Center, describing it on five occasions as a "snitch-line."

The "snitch-line" claim was broached in a hearing this month by Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.), who falsely suggested to Garland that the hotline had been set up specifically to report angry parents. Kennedy also echoed other claims that have been fact-checked as false or baseless, including that the effort targeted parents who merely spoke out, and that the FBI applied "threat tags" to such parents.

The argument has become a key part of the House GOP's efforts to claim the government has been "weaponized" against conservatives, and it was broached again at the Judiciary subcommittee hearing Thursday. But thus far - as with other such "weaponization" claims - the rhetoric continues to far outpace the actual evidence.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  A man who pleaded guilty to shooting a Milwaukee police officer and stealing his squad car last year has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

A Milwaukee County judge sentenced Jetrin Rodthong, 23, on Thursday for shooting Officer Herbert Davis III as the officer was investigating a report about a sick or injured motorist.
Fairfax County, Va., police announced Thursday that they will fire an officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man outside Tysons Corner Center last month in an encounter that an attorney for the man's family described as an "execution."

At a Thursday news conference at which authorities released body-camera video of the Feb. 22 shooting, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the department will dismiss one of the officers involved, who officials believe fired the fatal shots at Timothy McCree Johnson, 37. Authorities later identified him as Sgt. Wesley Shifflett.

Shifflett, a seven-year veteran of the department, was one of two officers to fire his weapon during the encounter. The other, Officer James Sadler, remains with the department on a restricted-duty status as officials, including Fairfax's top prosecutor, continue to investigate the shooting. Authorities said both officers are White.

Davis said that the officer he decided to fire was given a notice of an "administrative separation" Thursday and that his actions "do not meet the expectations of our police department." The officer, the police chief said, did not follow the department's use-of-force protocols. Davis said that neither Shifflett nor Sadler had been involved in a police shooting before the incident, and they were not associated with a "significant disciplinary history."

Caleb Kershner, an attorney for Shifflett, said Thursday he planned to file a grievance to the county in response to the administrative separation. Kershner's law firm also represents Sadler.

"Any reasonable officer faced with the same circumstances would have done the exact same thing as Sgt. Shifflett," Kershner said. "For the department to do this, it was deeply disappointing."

Authorities previously said that police shot Johnson in the chest during the encounter, which began when Shifflett and Sadler attempted to stop Johnson on suspicion that he had stolen a pair of designer sunglasses at the mall.

Shifflett, who was in uniform, and Sadler, in plain clothes, chased him on foot into a nearby wooded area, where he was shot, according to authorities and Johnson's family members, who watched the video from Shifflett's body camera and mall security footage on Wednesday.

Edited surveillance footage taken inside the Nordstrom store at the mall shows a man, identified as Johnson, entering the store at 6:13 p.m., according to a time stamp on the video. Footage recorded at 6:22 p.m. shows Johnson at an area in the store with sunglasses, where police said employees began to suspect a "larceny was about to occur." The department said that at 6:23 p.m., staff called Fairfax Police's Tysons Urban Team, which responded to the location.

Surveillance footage taken from a bridge connecting the Nordstrom to a Tysons Corner Corner parking garage shows Johnson leaving at 6:29 p.m., according to a time stamp, followed seconds later by what police said were two plainclothes officers. Johnson is then seen in the garage, followed by one of the plainclothes officers.

Body-cam footage from a uniformed officer, identified as Shifflett, also was shown. According to the time stamp, it picks up at 6:29 p.m. inside the Nordstrom. A minute later, the officer leaves through the same exit. The uniformed officer crosses the bridge to the parking garage and down a stairwell, where one of the plainclothes officers passes in front of him, chasing Johnson on foot. The uniformed officer runs behind the plainclothes officer, falling behind as they move down Fashion Boulevard.

At 6:31 p.m., the uniformed officer crosses to the other side of Fashion Boulevard, giving chase into a wooded area. The officer yells "get on the ground" as he crosses the road, stating that he is "going into the woods." Police said both officers discharged their firearms as they "followed Johnson into the wood line." The wooded area is dark, and it is unclear from the body-camera footage exactly where the plainclothes officer is. A person identified by police as Johnson appears in front of the uniformed officer just moments before the sound of gunfire. Johnson appeared to no longer be running when he was shot; police said he was crouching.

Two shots can be heard in quick succession as the uniformed officer is still moving forward. A third shot can be heard just over two seconds later, as someone is heard saying "stop reaching." A voice - presumably Johnson's - can be heard saying, "I'm not reaching for nothing. I don't have nothing," as other responders are around him.

Carl Crews, the Johnson family's attorney, decried the shooting after seeing the video, describing it as an "execution."

"The best way to describe the video is to say first what was not on it," Crews said. "What it doesn't show: danger. It doesn't show the officers faced any danger - imminent or otherwise."

The Rev. Vernon Walton, a pastor at First Baptist Church of Vienna, said Thursday that the footage was alarming - and left him wondering why mall security staff called police in anticipation of a theft.

"What was it about this young man who was very casually dressed in his Black skin that would give them the thought that it looks like there's going to be a theft to take place?" he said.

Melissa Johnson, Timothy Johnson's mother, said Wednesday that her son should never have been shot and that she hoped the officers would be held accountable.

"My truth is that I am a Black mother and I have a Black son," Johnson said. "And the truth of my people's experience here is that freedom, liberty and the basic human rights have cost the lives of not just many Black people, but of many White people, as well."

Johnson criticized police for initially pointing to her son's criminal record. Davis, the police chief, noted that he did so in response to a question at a news conference, which he said Thursday he regretted.

"Maybe it's a thoughtful endeavor for all of us to think about the necessity of that question, particularly in the heat of the moment," Davis said. "I know I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking about how I answer it, and perhaps others may think about how they ask it."

Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay said he did not believe the footage was indicative of the character of the police department but was disturbed by what he saw on it. McKay (D-At Large) said he supported Davis's decision to dismiss Shifflett.

"This is very troubling to me, personally," McKay said. "I am waiting to see how some of these things shape out, but there is no reason why people shouldn't be angry after seeing this. And there is no reason why people shouldn't be demanding accountability."

Fairfax police have been conducting administrative and criminal investigations into the shooting and said they would present their findings to Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano. Descano (D) said Thursday that he would also conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation of the shooting.

"I have seen and am devastated by the body-camera footage showing yet another death of a Black man at the hands of police," Descano said in a statement. "My heart grieves for the Johnsons, who lost a beloved family member over an incident involving a pair of sunglasses. Like many members of our community, I sincerely hope to see the day when police shootings are a thing of the past."

Diane Burkley Alejandro, lead advocate of ACLU People Power Fairfax, said the footage left her with many questions, such as why only one officer was dismissed when both discharged their weapon. But her primary concern was why two officers chased a man over a pair of sunglasses.

"Neither of them had any business chasing an individual and using deadly force for a misdemeanor," she said.
Exhibition of Chinese flower-and-bird paintings kicks off in New York City

Xinhua) 13:17, March 24, 2023

NEW YORK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of Chinese flower-and-bird paintings was open to the public at China Institute Gallery in New York City on Thursday, according to China Institute, a U.S. non-profit organization dedicated to deepening understanding of China.

As the largest survey of its kind outside of China and the first in the United States, the exhibition showcases over 100 masterpieces by 59 artists, said a release by China Institute.

Included are the hand scroll Flowers on a River by Zhu Da (1626-1705), hanging scroll Return to the Eastern Fence by Tang Yin (1470-1523), hanging scroll Red Plum by Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), the work from eight women artists and others.

The masterpieces from China's Tianjin Museum and Changzhou Museum span five centuries during the Ming and Qing dynasties and highlight the academic, literati, and individual styles of the artists.

Moreover, the Chinese concept of "humanity in harmony with nature" will be examined as well as the use of a special language of coded imagery to communicate meaning, which is central to Chinese art and culture, said the release.

"We're enormously excited for the reopening of China Institute Gallery and are honored to present some of Chinese art's greatest treasures. These exquisite depictions of flora and fauna provide an essential escape to the world of nature," said Willow Weilan Hai, lead curator of the exhibition, director and chief curator of China Institute Gallery.

The exhibition will be on view at China Institute in Lower Manhattan, New York City, through June 25, 2023.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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NEW HAVEN  Homelessness activist Mark Colville had plenty of company Friday for his first appearance in Superior Court a week after being arrested for trespassing when the city dismantled an encampment along the West River next to the Ella T. Grasso Boulevard soccer field.

More than 60 people joined him for an hourlong rally on the courthouse steps  with Mayor Justin Elicker joining them as a listener  before Colville and 17 supporters and observers headed into court, where Colville got called in to talk about his case with Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney David J. Strollo.

Colville said before heading into court that he believed the city "broke the law by dismantling the encampment" and he will seek to prove that in court.

"They should have to answer that," he said.

After a brief appearance in front of Judge Eugene R. Calistro Jr., Colville's case was continued until April 13 after Colville and Strollo made a joint request, with Strollo saying Colville needed time to decide how to proceed. Colville did not enter a plea.

Colville  who currently has five former Tent City residents living in the backyard of his Amistad Catholic Worker Home in the Hill section  told the judge he would like the opportunity to address the charges "and unpack them" in court.

"I am committed to being a pro se defendant" representing himself, but would like to be able to have "standby counsel," he said.

Strollo told the judge that while discussing the case, he told Colville that he should speak to counsel to determine how best to proceed, and determine whether responding in court to a simple trespass charge "would give him the opportunity to challenge the constitutionality of it," which he seeks.

Colville told supporters out in the courthouse hallway afterward that he and Strollo "had a long discussion on this and I was saying I really don't want these charges to be dropped.

"What the prosecutor is trying to do is have the charges dropped," he said. "I reserved the decision" until he can get some advice, he said.

Colville said that about 10 years ago "I was charged with the exact same charges" for essentially doing "the exact same thing," and those charges ultimately were dismissed based on Colville's arguments in court.

He thanked his supporters for coming out, joining him and "waiting around all day for nothing to happen."

Judge Calistro also thanked Colville's supporters, saying, "Thank you to the group that here today. You were most peaceful and I appreciate that."

Colville said moments later, back on the courthouse steps, that the turnout "reflects what I've been learning on the streets for years ... I believe the public is outraged.

"When the law gets disconnected from people's basic human rights, that law is illegitimate," he said.

At the rally, several other people  including at least three or four who are currently unhoused  spoke out against Colville's arrest and the city's clearing of Tent City. Colville and some of his supporters also brought food and coffee for anyone who wanted it.

"The reason I chose not to leave and to risk arrest is because sometime we need this in order to have the conversation" the needs to take place, Colville said.

Suki Godek, a former Tent City resident who now is living with her husband in a tent in Colville's backyard, said residents "spent a week an a half of 6-hour days cleaning up" after the city issued the first of two eviction notices, before being "basically blindsided with another eviction notice last week.

"We were a community at Tent City," Godek said. "We feel we've been disappointed by our mayor. ... We want the same respect you'd give any of your neighbors."

Arthur Taylor, an unhoused man who is a member of the Unhoused Activists Community Team, said  with Elicker standing about 10 feet in front of him  "it's cruel. You're pushing people that don't have nothing and you're pushing them to the brink, you're pushing them to the edge.

"You're over here with the gold shovel and the homeless people get the bulldozer," Taylor said. "Where's the compassion? Where's the love?"

Bealton Dumas, who also is unhoused, directed his comments specifically to Elicker, saying, that "that was not a crime thing that happened," and it didn't deserve a police response. "That was an unheartly thing. How could you go home that night knowing that that happened?

"We want a caring mayor," Dumas said.

Elicker responded later by saying, The decision to vacate the West River Memorial Park site was done to ensure the health and safety of the people staying there  that was our top priority. There were significant, ongoing public health and safety hazards at the site, including open burns and fires, propane tanks, large amounts of trash and debris, syringe litter, human waste, grey water, and the building of permanent structures in the park.

"After significant engagement and repeated attempts to work with the individuals at the site to try to rectify these concerns, it became clear that the site was not, and could not, be made safe and we had an obligation to act," Elicker said. "Prior to clearing the site, our outreach workers engaged every individual many times in a compassionate manner, every individual was offered to be connected to housing at a local shelter along with other supports and services, and every individual left the site voluntarily, absent one activist.

"While there is certainly more we can and must do, we are deeply committed to coming alongside and supporting the unhoused in our community," he said.
SHELDON, Iowa (AP)  A suspect in an Iowa killing was arrested Friday outside a marijuana dispensary in South Dakota, authorities said.

Nathanial Byron Kessel, 41, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, is now awaiting extradition. He was taken into custody on the first-degree murder warrant after the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe police chief noticed a vehicle that Iowa officials were seeking at the Royal River Casino and Hotel in South Dakota, KDLT-TV reports.
House Republicans passed a bill Friday that would guarantee parents access to information about their children's public education, fulfilling a midterm promise the lawmakers hope will excite their base ahead of the 2024 election.

The 30-page bill updates the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require public schools to make certain information available online, including class curriculums, readings lists, library books and the school's budget. Administrators also would have to notify parents of any violent acts that happen on school grounds and to collaborate with them on how best to protect their child's online data, among other measures.

While the House passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act, despite some in the Republican conference having concerns about government overreach, it is unlikely the Democratic-controlled Senate will consider the legislation. That reality positions the legislation to serve as a message for Republicans who believe a majority of voters agree with their position that parents don't have enough input on what their children experience at public schools. In an October 2022 Fox News poll, 64 percent of respondents said they were concerned parents don't have enough say over what their children are taught.

The promotion of parental rights became a politically potent call to arms for Republicans over the past three years, helping fuel high-profile political victories for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. The issue first burst onto the scene in the months following the start of the coronavirus pandemic, when parents began speaking out against health measures such as masking, school closures and mandatory vaccinations.

"Over the past two years, we've seen too many instances where rather than opening their doors to welcome parents in as partners, some schools instead slammed them shut and said that government bureaucrats know what's best for our children," Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), who wrote the legislation, said Thursday. "At the end of the day, these are our children. Not the government's."

As the pandemic subsided, the concerns did not - instead transitioning to widespread alarm over what schools were teaching children about race, racism, gender and sexual orientation, as well as the suitability of books available in school libraries and classrooms. From the beginning, the divides over schooling took on partisan tones, with conservative parents more likely to object to pandemic safety measures and lessons on race while left-leaning parents supported the initiatives.

The Biden administration and congressional Democrats have worked to juxtapose what they view as the GOP's political pageantry with Democrats' work to provide resources to students in public schools, including coronavirus relief funds, mental health support and efforts to boost spending on public education. In an op-ed this month, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona laid out the administration's message, writing that "some opponents of our administration are hiding behind the guise of 'parents' rights' to try to defund public schools and take away critical resources in education - a strategy that will ultimately hurt our children, our communities, and our economy."

Cardona also has sought to underscore the rhetorical contradictions of GOP lawmakers. "Some of the very politicians who claim to promote freedom," he wrote in an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times last week, "are banning books and censoring what students can learn."

A spokesperson for the Education Department said in a statement that the Biden administration "is happy to work with House Republicans on the issues most important to parents," but that the GOP's policies are "not rooted in the reality that parents are living in."

Statehouses nationwide have seen similar attempts to pass legislation bolstering parents' rights. As of late 2022, at least six states had passed measures boosting parents' ability to control their children's education, while another 16 had proposed such laws, according to a 2022 Washington Post analysis.

Conservative pundits and politicians have capitalized on the swelling parental discontent, passing at least 64 laws across 25 states that restrict what children can learn and do at school, per the Post analysis. The legislative push is continuing into this year. In Florida, the legislature's GOP majority is poised to pass a raft of laws that would ban gender studies at the college level, limit the use of transgender pronouns in K-12 schools and extend a ban on teaching about gender and sexuality from third up to eighth grade.

While the House bill does not directly mention banning anything regarding race, racism, sexuality or gender identity, it remains an implicit argument for Republicans. Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah, who sits on the Education and Workforce Committee and is one of four Black Republicans in the House, argued that parents, "not teachers, not unions, not bureaucrats," must direct their child's education because if they are taught not "to believe and understand our country is the greatest place in the history of mankind," the lack of allegiance could become a "national security issue."

"If they do not believe that, we all are at risk," Owens said at the Tuesday roundtable.

The National Parents Union - which launched in January 2020 and tends to lean left - held a rally Thursday outside the U.S. Capitol to denounce the legislation. The union partnered with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) in early March to introduce a competing law called the "Bill of Rights for Students and Parents." It calls for the "adoption of educational materials  that are historically accurate [and] reflect the powerful diversity of the Nation," as well as the adoption of school policies that "eliminate discrimination and make elementary and secondary schools safer, more inclusive and more supportive for all students."

Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, derided the GOP's bill. "Republicans are making a mockery out of parents' rights and parent voice," she said.

The Republican bill also would mandate that school administrators inform parents if a teacher addresses a child by different pronouns or complies with changing "the child's sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms." Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) introduced amendments that would go further by requiring schools to alert parents if their child's school allows a transgender person to use a women's restroom or participate in girls sports, a change that Democrats have decried. Those amendments were approved by voice vote Thursday night.

"This Republican bill is asking the government to force the outing of LGBT people before they are ready," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said during floor debate Thursday.

Another galvanizing factor for Republicans stems from a one-page memo released by Attorney General Merrick Garland in October 2021 that called on the FBI and federal prosecutors to meet with local law enforcement agencies to set up "dedicated lines of communication" due to a "disturbing spike" in threats directed at public school officials.

While the memo focused on "violence, threats of violence, and other forms of intimidation and harassment," GOP lawmakers have falsely claimed that the Justice Department was cracking down on parents simply for protesting at local school board meetings. In response, the legislation gives parents the right to protest at school board meetings and requires teachers meet with parents at least twice a year to discuss concerns.

Republicans have also amplified Garland's memo as a small example of a broader problem: that the government is being weaponized against the American people, particularly conservatives. Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) linked the Manhattan district attorney's possible indictment of former president Donald Trump to the concerns Emmer has heard from parents in his district who are afraid to speak up at school board meetings because of possible retribution.

"This is anybody, anywhere," he said.

But the argument that the government is intervening more frequently in Americans' lives is why some Republicans privately have concerns over the bill.

According to numerous House GOP aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private concerns ruminating within the conference, several lawmakers have concerns tied to their belief in federalism. The legislation gives direction to local education institutions through the Education Department, which some Republicans believe should be abolished.

"It is inconsistent to want the Department of Education to have less power and for Washington to have less of a role in curriculum - it's contrary to that perspective to support this legislation," said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who voted against the bill.

During a House Rules Committee hearing on the bill Wednesday, Democrats argued that the law is redundant, noting that schools can willingly follow such guidelines without government mandates.

Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) pushed back on the assertion, saying Republicans are building on existing law "to make it really, really clear that parents have rights and that's very important."

Democrats countered that if Republicans want to expand existing laws, they are going against their own arguments to deplete or dissolve the Education Department.

"The retort that we've often heard from the other side of the aisle is that the federal government should have no role in enforcing any rules, any regulations as it relates to local school districts, and now, it seems to me, that you're making the opposite argument," Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) said.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.), a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, admitted the bill was not his "favorite course of action" to address this issue because it would tell school boards what to enforce. But he justified his support by noting that public schools are federally funded through taxpayer money, thus allowing parents to have a say.

Pressed on whether the Parents Bill of Rights is an anathema to conservatives, Emmer said, "It depends."

"There's case law that shows that parenting is a constitutional right. So I don't think it is," he said. "All you're doing is saying to these local school districts is, you got to give parents the right to parent."

- - -

The Washington Post's Liz Goodwin and Scott Clements contributed to this report.
We hope you'll tune in to the CarPro Show this Saturday, March 25th, for CarPro Show host Jerry Reynolds' exclusive interview with the CEO of Hyundai Motor America, Randy Parker. There are two times to listen in:

Last July, Hyundai announced Randy Parker's promotion to CEO of Hyundai Motor America effective August 1, 2022. As such, he assumed responsibility for Hyundai's commercial automotive operations in the United States and reports to Jose Munoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America.

Parker joined Hyundai in 2019 when he was named vice president of national sales at Hyundai Motor America then in 2021 was promoted to senior vice president. Hyundai says during his tenure, Hyundai became one of the fastest growing mainstream brands in the U.S., setting an all-time retail sales record in 2021 and growing retail market share 31% since 2020.

Parker is a long-time industry veteran, with previous leadership roles at Nissan, its INFINITI luxury division and General Motors.

Before joining Hyundai in 2019, he served as division vice president of Global Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Sales and Marketing at Nissan Motor Company and prior to that was vice president of INFINITI North America and regional vice president of Nissan USA's western region. Parker also spent nearly 25 years at General Motors working in a variety of sales, marketing and finance roles.

Parker was born in Nuremburg, Germany, but considers himself a native of Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University and also completed Executive Management Programs at Harvard and Penn State.

In 2021, Parker was named to the Automotive News All-Star list and was also recognized by the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2022 in their prestigious list of industry influencers.

If you'd like to read more about Parker, check out this article from TCU Magazine.

Photo Courtesy of Hyundai Motor America.

This article originally appeared on CarProUSA
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Uniformed men sat in chairs guarding shaded entryways at the University of Houston's Agnes Arnold Hall on Thursday afternoon, where plastic signs warned of its "RESTRICTED ACCESS." The building has been closed all week after seeing its second student suicide in as many months. Bouquets of flowers and handwritten mementos peppered the outer fence of the 56-year-old building, along with a shirt reading "Live to Tell Your Story."

Several hundred yards to the southeast of Agnes Arnold, a crowd of frustrated University of Houston students gathered on the lawn in front of M.D. Anderson Library, raising signs and challenging the administration. "How many more friends do we have to lose before the university gives a sh-t about us?" freshman Erin Smart yells into a bullhorn. "The university should be ashamed."

Dan Carson / Chron

A member of campus organizing group Student Solidarity, Smart was among a chorus of speakers demanding change from University of Houston leaders following a pair of recent on-campus suicides that have rocked students and sparked backlash against the administration. Marked with fuchsia Xs on their hands, Student Solidarity organizers handed out signs and bottles of water to students who were there to take issue with the university's response to the passing of Tyler Medina, whose body was found in the basement-level exterior of Agnes Arnold Hall on Monday morning.

Medina's passing marked the second student suicide in only a month's time at the university's busy liberal arts building, which has now seen three student deaths by suicide since 2017. The timing of these latest deaths, combined with what protesters believe has been a series of insufficient and reactive responses from university leaders, resulted in the outpouring of frustration Thursday afternoon.

"We want short-term and long-term solutions," said Tyler Luc, a junior running for student body vice president. "It shouldn't have taken a suicide to get here...'Like last time' has now been attached to this, and it should never have been that way."

Dan Carson / Chron.com

Following Monday's death, Smart and other organizers assembled what is now a 600-strong GroupMe chat discussing students' concerns, ultimately collaborating to create a four-part list of demands they believe are the minimum the university can do moving forward to address mental health crises on campus. Those demands include:

Increasing the number of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) counselors available to the university's 47,000-plus student body

Improving the university's response when situations occur

Improving mental health protocol on campus

Retrofitting Agnes Arnold Hall's open-air balconies with barriers before ultimately closing the building permanently for demolition.

"We're not stupid," said junior Ylleza Sylejmani. "We know Agnes Arnold didn't cause the suicide. But it is a known hot spot for suicides."

In the grass across from Thursday's speakers, students wrote messages to administrators on sticky notes and plastered them on a blackboard.

"WHEN WILL THIS END?" read one message. "WHEN WILL YOU LEARN?"

Dan Carson / Chron

Asked for comment Thursday on the future of Agnes Arnold, a University of Houston representative responded that the facility will remain closed for the rest of the semester as a task force considers options for the building.

"We share the sadness and disbelief that our entire community feels after the tragic loss of our student," the statement read. "We recognize the mental health challenges we are facing and have made mental health and suicide prevention an institutional priority."

"This has been a very difficult time for our campus community, but we are committed to improving our existing services and strengthening our culture of care."
The Rotary Club of Plainview continued to celebrate their March anniversaries.

Coralyn Dillard, 19 years, Karen Earhart, 10 years, and Willis McCutcheon, 35 years, were recognized for a total of 64 years of service.

Plainview Rotarians held their weekly meeting this past Tuesday and recognized their guests. Mark and Amy Leatherman, parents of Lillian Leatherman, Rotarys March Student of the Month, and Santiago Riano Hernandez and Yoherlian Molina (visiting Rotarians from Waylands Rotorac Club) attended.

Coralyn introduced Lillian Leatherman, a Plainview High School student that is noted as a Powerhouse and Section flute leader in band. She is one of five Drum Majors and is in choir. She is also a top powerlifter at the 105 lb. weight class and was ranked #1 in the region and finished 9th in the State. She plans to attend Texas Tech and be a part of their band. Moreover, after she graduates she intends to teach.

There were several announcements. Leslie Gattis mentioned that there have been 0 new cases of Polio. Leslie also mentioned this was the last week for collecting luggage or duffle bags for CPS for the children being removed from the home. Steve Gauntt discussed the upcoming service project held tonight at Ash High School for snack pack for kids and that we have signed up for two meals on wheels routes numbers 10 and 13. They are open for signups.

This weeks program was presented by Bradley Kliemann who is the Park Interpreter at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. He is originally from Dearborn, MI. and has been with the park for over 1  years. He has a degree in Parks & Recreation Management and has served several parks that included states of Colorado and Texas. He mentioned that Palo Duro Canyon State Park is ranked as the top state parks visited per year. The park opened up on July 4, 1934, and averages 400,000 visitors per year.

In addition to the history of the park, he mentioned the different native American tribes that lived in the area. The park has 8 camping loops with 150 sites. It has 50 miles of trials and is known for its hoodoos rock formations known as lighthouses that are created from wind erosion of the rock. Bradley encouraged people to visit the park but also warned us of heat exhaustion and of the different animals and vipers that inhabit the park. Bring and drink lots of water as surface temperatures reach 175 degrees. Most rattlesnake bites occur because of people getting to close to them or trying to incite them. So, be safe and come visit one of West Texas state gems  Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

The club meeting location was held at our normal location located at PISD Education Complex, 2411 Yonkers St., Plainview, TX 79072.

Following the meeting, the club dismissed and looked to the community for ways to show Service Above Self.
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NEW DELHI (AP)  India's top opposition leader and fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expelled from Parliament Friday, a day after a court convicted him of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison for mocking the surname Modi in an election speech.

The actions against Rahul Gandhi, the great-grandson of Indias first prime minister, were widely condemned by opponents of Modi as the latest assaults against democracy and free speech by a ruling government seeking to crush dissent. Removing Gandhi from politics delivered a major blow to the opposition party he led ahead of next years national elections.

A local court from Modis home state of Gujarat convicted Gandhi on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he asked, Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname? Gandhi then referred to three well-known and unrelated Modis in the speech: a fugitive Indian diamond tycoon, a cricket executive banned from the Indian Premier League tournament and the prime minister.

Under Indian law, a criminal conviction and prison sentence of two years or more are grounds for expulsion from Parliament, but Gandhi is out on bail for 30 days and plans to appeal.

Opposition lawmakers rallied to his defense on Friday, calling his expulsion a new low for Indias constitutional democracy.

Modis critics say Indias democracy  the worlds largest with nearly 1.4 billion people  has been in retreat since he first came to power in 2014. They accuse his populist government of preoccupying itself with pursuing a Hindu nationalist agenda, a charge his administration has denied.

I am fighting for the voice of this country. I am ready to pay any price, Gandhi, 52, wrote on Twitter.

Gandhis family, starting with his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, has produced three prime ministers. Two of them  his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and father, Rajiv Gandhi  were assassinated.

Gandhi has projected himself as the main challenger to the Modi government, but his Indian National Congress party has fared poorly during the last two general elections. He has been trying to woo voters in recent months by raising issues of corruption and accusing the Modi government of tarnishing Indias reputation for democracy.

Late last year Gandhi led a popular unity march across wide swaths of India, rallying crowds against the Modi government and the Hindu nationalism that has surged under his leadership.

Opponents blame Modis political party for rising hate speech and violence against Muslims and other minorities in recent years. Modis power has coincided with increasing assaults on the press and free speech, the jailing of activists and a crackdown on dissent.

Modis party has denied the accusations and his supporters say the tea sellers son from Gujarat state has improved the nations standing.

Gandhi has also attacked the government over Modis proximity to business tycoon Gautam Adani, who in January was accused by an American research and investment firm betting against his company of engaging in fraud and stock-price manipulation. Before his expulsion, Gandhi had called for an investigation into Adanis businesses, whose market value has plummeted by tens of billions of dollars. Modis party say he has no links with Adani.

If Gandhi's conviction is not suspended or overturned by a higher court, he faces the risk of not being able to contest national elections in 2024, although some analysts say an eventual return to politics is possible.

This could actually also provide an impetus for the opposition to finally sink their differences and come together in a united fight against Modi, said Arti Jerath, a political commentator.

Gandhi's political party said the conviction, which they plan to appeal, was cowardly and dictatorial and leaders warned that his expulsion could do long-term damage to the country.

This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy, said Shashi Tharoor, a lawmaker from Gandhis party.

Modi's critics point to his party's attacks against opposition leaders, rights groups and media outlets critical of the government.

Last month Indias tax officials raided BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai weeks after it aired a documentary critical of Modi. The documentary examined his role in 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western state of Gujarat, where he was chief minister at the time. More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence.

Modi has denied allegations that authorities under his watch allowed and even encouraged the bloodshed, and the Supreme Court said it found no evidence to prosecute him.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst, said the ruling party had become increasingly angered by Gandhi's corruption accusations and that his line of attack against the Adani Group was proving too much for the governing party.

Gandhi's expulsion also came after fourteen political parties filed a petition to Indias top court alleging that Modis government was engaged in politically motivated financial-crime investigations of opposition leaders. The Supreme Court said it will take up the petition in the first week of April.
A federal judge in Washington is threatening to report two attorneys for possible disciplinary action for delaying the trial of a man waiting in jail on charges that he assaulted police officers during the Capitol riot.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, questioned in court papers filed Thursday whether attorney Joseph McBride was being sincere when he said last summer that he needed to push Christopher Quaglin's October trial; McBride said he has chronic Lyme disease and treatment and recovery would take two to three months.

At the same time, the judge noted that McBride  who represents several Jan. 6 defendants  continued to do media interviews and spoke in October to a Republican county committee about his fight for the January 6 political prisoners." In November, McBride tweeted a picture of himself on the beach at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and another photo inside Trump's 2024 campaign announcement party, McFadden wrote.

"While lawyerslike all citizensare entitled to speak freely, these public representations by McBride call into question the genuineness of his need for a medical continuance because of his inability to represent Quaglin last October," McFadden wrote.

McFadden ordered McBride  who has since withdrawn from Quaglin's case  and another attorney for Quaglin, Jonathan Gross, to file a response by April 10 as to why the judge should not refer them to the court's committee on grievances, which investigates complaints against attorneys. The judge set a hearing for April 18.

In response to a journalist's tweet about the judge's order, McBride tweeted: EVERYONE SHOULD SHOW UP FOR THIS TO HEAR THE TRUTH. LETS GOOOOO!

McBride withdrew from Quaglin's case this month  just weeks before the man's new April trial date  because McBride said he needed to focus on another Jan. 6 case headed to trial at the end of March. McBride told the judge that Gross would take over Quaglin's case, saying the switch wouldn't prejudice the defendant and that the other attorney knows Quaglins case well."

Soon after taking over the case, however, Gross told McFadden he planned to ask for the trial to be pushed again. McFadden wrote that Gross told the judge that he does not practice criminal law and that he is not competent to be Quaglin's lead attorney at trial in just a few weeks.

"Quaglins attorneys have now delayed this trial multiple times to the detriment of their client, who remains detained, and to the inconvenience of his co-defendants and the Government who seek a speedy resolution to this matter," McFadden wrote. Indeed, the Court has doubts that McBrides initial continuance request was made in good faith.

McBride said in a text message Friday that he denies the insinuations" in McFadden's order about his representations to the court about his medical condition and continuance requests. McBride said he will respond to the court and looks forward to displaying the truth and achieving a favorable resolution.

McBride also said his client believed the judge had so much personal animus toward McBride that Quaglin didnt think he could get a fair trial.

As such, Mr. Quaglin asked me to step aside and help Mr. Gross take over the case  which is exactly what I did, McBride wrote.

Gross did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Quaglin is being held at the D.C. jail, where Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability visited Friday as some conservatives continue to try to portray Jan. 6 defendants as political prisoners.

Of the 20 Jan. 6 defendants held in D.C. as of earlier this month, 17 were accused of assaulting officers at the Capitol, according to Just Security blog, which obtained a recent D.C. Department of Correction list. Six of the defendants have pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding officers and two others have been convicted at trial.

A spokesperson for the D.C. jail didn't immediately respond to a request Friday from The Associated Press for an updated list of Jan. 6 defendants locked up there.

Quaglin, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, is accused of attacking several police officers trying to protect the Capitol from the angry pro-Trump mob that halted Congress' certification of President Joe Biden's victory.

Authorities say Quaglin attacked officers with a stolen riot shield and sprayed them with a chemical irritant. He faces charges including assaulting an officer using a dangerous weapon.

____

Richer reported from Boston.
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky's Democratic governor issued an election-year veto Friday of a sweeping Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youths that includes banning access to gender-affirming health care and restricting the bathrooms they can use.

The bill also bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and allows teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use. It easily passed the GOP-dominated legislature with veto-proof margins, and lawmakers will reconvene next week for the final two days of this year's session, when they could vote to override the veto.

Gov. Andy Beshear said in a written veto message that the bill allows too much government interference in personal healthcare issues and rips away the freedom of parents to make medical decisions for their children.

In his one-page message, he warned that the bill's repercussions would include an increase in youth suicides. The governor said, My faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky.

Beshear told reporters later Friday that transgender children and their parents were among the Kentuckians who contacted his office as he reviewed the legislation.

I heard from children that believe this bill is picking on them, and asking  in many ways  why? the governor said. "I told them that I was going to show them that there is at least one person in Frankfort that cares for all of our children in the commonwealth, no matter what.

Beshear's veto comes as he seeks reelection to a second term this year in Republican-trending Kentucky, and his veto could reverberate through the November election.

Republicans quickly pounced on the governor's veto to try to portray him as out of touch with most Kentuckians on the issue.

Andy Beshear thinks its okay for children to have access to life-altering sex change surgery and drugs before they turn 18, state Republican Party spokesperson Sean Southard said in a statement. Today, he revealed how radical he truly is.

The legislation in Kentucky is part of a national movement, with state lawmakers approving extensive measures that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people this year, from bills targeting trans athletes and drag performers to measures limiting gender-affirming care.

In Kentucky, the expanded version that reached Beshear's desk was rushed through both legislative chambers in a matter of hours on March 16 before lawmakers began an extended break. The fast-track work enabled lawmakers to retain their ability to override the governor's veto. The action triggered outrage and tears among opponents unable to stop the legislation.

Chris Hartman, executive director of the Kentucky-based Fairness Campaign, praised the veto, saying the bill would cause "disaster and despair for transgender Kentucky kids and their families."

The bills supporters say they are trying to protect children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments that they might regret as adults. Research shows such regret is rare.

The repackaged measure would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. It would outlaw gender reassignment surgery for anyone under 18, as well as the use of puberty blockers and hormones, and inpatient and outpatient gender-affirming hospital services.

Doctors would have to set a timeline to detransition children already taking puberty blockers or undergoing hormone therapy. They could continue offering care as they taper a youngsters treatments, if removing them from the treatment immediately could harm the child.

Transgender medical treatments have long been available in the United States and are endorsed by major medical associations.

The American Medical Association reports that receipt of care dramatically reduces the rates of suicide attempts, decreases feelings of depression and anxiety and reduces substance abuse," Beshear said in his veto message.

The bill would not allow schools to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity with students of any age.

Another key provision would require school districts to devise bathroom policies that, at a minimum, would not allow transgender children to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identities.

It also would allow teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use and would require schools to notify parents when lessons related to human sexuality are going to be taught.

Beshear said in his veto message that the bill would turn educators and administrators into investigators that must listen in on student conversations and then knock on doors to confront and question parents and families about how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others.

David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, condemned the veto, saying the bill seeks to protect children and their parents from radical, politicized ideologies.

After the bill passed the legislature, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky warned that it stands ready to challenge the measure in court if it becomes law.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana state Rep. Mandie Landry rejoined the Louisiana Democratic Party Friday, after registering as a political independent last year to protest decisions made by the partys leadership.

In a written statement, Landry said her decision to re-register as a Democrat followed much discussion with colleagues and was made ahead of Aprils legislative session, where it will be all hands on deck.

We will soon start a legislative session where we will have to address critical state issues such as taxes and insurance, while also fighting back against national forces who want to continue to use Louisiana as a battleground for extreme and harmful policies, Landry said.

Landry switched to unaffiliated in November after losing to then-state Rep. Royce Duplessis for a state Senate seat. The Louisiana Democratic Party spent money to help elect Duplessis.

Landry has also been a vocal critic of Katie Bernhardt, chairwomen of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Landry has blasted Bernhardt on social media, accusing the chairwomen of not doing her job to raise money, motivate voters and recruit candidates, but rather focusing on promoting herself and friends.

Like many Louisiana Democrats, I believe serious reform is needed in our state party, Landry said Friday. Changing my lifelong party affiliation as an elected official was a powerful way to send this message.

Sam Jenkins, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, applauded Landrys return, describing her as a fighter, a vital member of the caucus and an important voice in the legislature.

Landrys return to the Democratic Party, which does not impact who holds power in the Republican-controlled Legislature, is the second state representative to switch political parties this month.

Last week, Francis Thompson, the states longest serving legislator, switched parties from Democrat to Republican. Thompson, 81, said that the GOP better aligns with the values and principles that are part of my Christian life.

With Thompsons switch, Republicans gained a two-thirds supermajority in the Louisiana House. They already had a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate. The supermajority gives the GOP the power to override gubernatorial vetoes if they all vote in bloc.
PARIS (AP)  Algerias ambassador to France, recalled home in February, will be returning to his post in the coming days, President Emmanuel Macrons office said Friday in a sign that the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries has been resolved.

Ambassador Said Moussi was recalled after a well-known Algerian militant was whisked to France from Tunisia on Feb. 6 with the help of French diplomats, a move that defied an official demand for her to be returned home. Amira Bouraoui also holds French nationality. She was not supposed to leave Algerian territory and authorities in Algiers said her flight to France amounted to an illegal exfiltration.
David Calvert/AP

LAS VEGAS (AP)  A Democratic former state lawmaker in Nevada has been sentenced to three years of probation for misusing campaign funds and lying about his residency when he ran for office in 2018 and 2020.

Alexander Assefa was sentenced Thursday in state court in Las Vegas after pleading no contest in November to felony theft and misdemeanor making a false statement of residence charges. His plea agreement allows for his felony conviction to be dismissed if he successfully completes probation.
Federal authorities expect to return a 13-year-old boy's remains to his Native American tribe in South Dakota this fall, they said Friday. The statement comes days after the tribe urged for a faster return of the child who died at a federal boarding school for Indigenous children in 1879.

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate wrote to the head of the U.S. Army's cemetery office this week, demanding movement on their effort to have the remains of Amos LaFromboise repatriated from a graveyard at the Carlisle Barracks, a military facility in Pennsylvania.

The letter from three lawyers with the Native American Rights Fund to Army Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera describes the child as the son of one of the tribe's most celebrated leaders, Chief Joseph LaFromboise, who signed an 1867 treaty that established their current reservation boundaries.

The Office of Army Cemeteries emailed a statement saying that Amos LaFromboise's disinterment was approved a year ago and that the Army also told the boy's family and the tribe's chair last summer that his remains will be returned in 2023. His disinterment will be entirely at the Armys expense, the office said.

The Army currently plans to conduct the disinterment of Amos this September and the required Federal Register Notice will be published in the next 60 days, according to the statement.

The tribe argues that the Army has been requiring repatriation standards that are more demanding than those in the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, mandating a signed affidavit from the childs closest living relative, which can be difficult or impossible for 19th century remains.

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate expected Amos to return home from Carlisle Indian Industrial School, they wrote, to lead his people like his father and serve as a model for future generations of Tribal leaders.

Lawyers for the tribe said Friday their request stands to have Amos LaFromboise repatriated under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and that the tribe is willing to discuss the next steps.

Amos LaFromboise died 20 days after his arrival at Carlisle the year the school opened. The tribe's letter says the Army has previously dug up and reburied his remains at least three times in three different locations. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate want to bury him next to his father on the Lake Traverse Reservation in northeast South Dakota.

Tribe historians say six children of tribal leaders were sent to Carlisle in 1879. Three of the boys died there and a fourth passed away shortly after he returned home.

At a ceremony two years ago to return nine disinterred remains of Rosebud Sioux children, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said forced assimilation practices at Indian schools stripped away the children's clothing, language and culture.

The Carlisle school put children through harsh conditions that sometimes resulted in their deaths. Founded by an Army officer, the school cut their braids, dressed them in military-style uniforms and punished them for speaking their native languages. European names were forced upon them.

More than 10,000 Native American children were taught there and endured harsh conditions that sometimes led to death from such diseases as tuberculosis. There have been several rounds of disinterment and repatriation at Carlisle in recent years.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  U.N. human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as other possible war crimes such as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbor, according to a report released Friday.

The first full look by the U.N. human rights office's mission in Ukraine at the treatment of POWs was released along with an update of human rights violations overall from a six-month period that ran through January. The report was based on interviews with about 400 POWs  half Ukrainians who had been released and the other half Russians held captive in Ukraine.

The team said it had no access to POWs held in Russia or in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine where it identified 48 internment sites. The mission said it nonetheless documented some 40 summary executions over the course of the 13-month war.

The U.N. rights office, which has had a monitoring team in Ukraine since fighting broke out in areas of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia-backed separatists in 2014, has said its findings are based on confirmed cases and typically understate actual tolls.

The reporting from the world body is part of a meticulous effort to uncover details and determine the truth behind reports of atrocities and violations of the law of war committed during the current conflict. The U.N.'s documentation may be introduced as evidence for possible trials at the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is looking into accounts of killings and child abductions, or by other tribunals.

We are deeply concerned about the summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons ordered to combat by Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, Matilda Bogner, the head of the U.N. monitoring mission, said at a Kyiv news conference.

Bogner laid out abuses allegedly committed by both sides but noted that Russias invasion of Ukraine was at the root of the violence against civilians and POWs. She said Ukrainian prosecutors were investigating some cases, but none had been taken yet to court.

In relation to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, we are also deeply concerned by the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces," Bogner said. "The Wagner Group  military and security contractors  perpetrated 11 of these executions.

It also documented five cases in which Ukrainian POWs had died after being tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and four cases of death due to a lack of medical attention during internment.

The report found that while torture and ill-treatment of POWs took place on both sides, it was far more common against Ukrainians  more than 9 in 10 of interviewees reported such abuse than against Russians, about half of whom testified to such mistreatment.

In its update on rights abuses affecting other groups, the rights office said children from the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine were sent to summer camps in Russia with their parents' consent but were not returned home as expected after the vacation period. Several parts of Kharkiv province were occupied by Russia last year before Ukraine's military reclaimed them in a late summer counter-offensive.

Some 200 children sent to a camp in the Russian city of Krasnodarskyi Krai, remained after the summer and were enrolled in a local school, according to the second report. The update noted that Russian authorities said in October that as many as 2,500 children from Ukraine were living in temporary accommodation centers in Russia, and some had remained there.

But the rights office cautioned that it remained unclear how many unaccompanied children were placed in camps, temporary lodging or institutionalized care in Russia, as well as how many children were transferred there with their parents.

The monitors said they corroborated dozens of killings of civilians who were perceived as so-called traitors against Ukraine for allegedly collaborating with Russian forces in occupied areas.

The U.N. office expressed concern that some of the killings might have been carried out by Ukrainian government agents, or with their acquiescence, and it called for a full, impartial investigation.

The half-year update tallied 621 cases of enforced disappearances or arbitrary detention by Russian armed forces, and chronicled, at times in excruciating detail, the types of abuse reported: cavity searches; the beating or tasering of genitalia; threats of torture against or killing of family members, and worse.

The horrendous human cost of war is also evident in the cases of conflict-related sexual violence, which we have documented" since Russias invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Bogner said.

As of Jan. 31, her office recorded 133 victims of such violence: 85 men, 45 women and three girls. Over four-fifths of the cases were attributable to Russian military, law enforcement authorities and penitentiary staff, and the rest to Ukrainian security forces, according to the report released Friday.

One woman, the mother of a Ukrainian security service member, was strangled, electrocuted, beaten, kicked, repeatedly raped and forced to perform oral sex in July, after members of Russia's Federal Security Service, a successor agency to the KGB, entered her home in July, the update said.

The U.N. reported earlier this week that it had recorded the deaths of 8,317 civilians in Ukraine since the war started and the injuring of another 13,809 people in connection with the conflict. It cautioned that those figures understated the actual casualties. .

___

Keaten reported from Geneva. Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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PARIS (AP)  Ongoing unrest across France and calls for a new round of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron's pension plan persuaded officials to postpone a planned state visit next week by Britain's King Charles III.

While a clear disappointment to the royal palace, the decision is also a bad sign for Macron. The 45-year-old leader is increasingly detested by protesters and contested in parliament, and seen as oblivious to France's souring mood as he sticks to his positions. And that's now hurting his global image, too.

Charles had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday to celebrate France and Britain's renewed friendship. But the protests and strikes against Macron's decision to raise France's retirement age from 62 to 64 promised to impact his visit, with some workers refusing to roll out the red carpet for the king's arrival.

Violence soared during Thursdays ninth union-organized nationwide marches. Over 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond, and hundreds of police and demonstrators were injured, as gatherings nationwide drew more than a million people.

There were scattered protest actions on Friday. Train traffic was slowed, rows of trucks blocked access to Marseilles port for several hours and debris littered the streets of Paris.

Macron has made the proposed pension changes the priority of his second term, arguing they are needed to keep the pension system from diving into deficit as France, like many richer nations, faces lower birth rates and longer life expectancy.

Anger over the plan has increasingly turned into broader opposition to Macrons leadership. His insistence this week that the retirement measure be implemented by the end of the year prompted critics to describe him as self-satisfied and out of touch.''

During his first term, Macrons government made other changes it said would make Frances labor market more flexible and revitalize the economy. Those included making it easier to hire and fire workers, cutting business taxes, and making it more difficult for the unemployed to claim benefits.

Critics argue the changes fray a social safety net seen as central to France's way of life.

Countries across Europe have been raising pension ages. Retirement rules vary widely from country to country, making direct comparisons difficult. The official retirement age in the U.S. is now 67.

Macron's plan involves multiple adjustments to France's complex pension system. It would also require French people to work 43 years to earn a full pension, or wait until they turn 67, as the law now calls for. Opponents have proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies.

The government refused to consider those, however, and forced the bill through parliament last week, using a constitutional power, and the text is now being reviewed by Frances Constitutional Council. The forced passage further angered Macron's critics.

Macron condemned the violent behavior at some protests, saying violence has no place in a democracy.

He said common sense and friendship required delaying King Charles visit, adding that it likely would have become a protest target, creating a detestable situation.

It wouldn't be reasonable to hold a state visit in the middle of protests, the French leader told a news conference after a summit in Brussels. He said he took the initiative to call Charles on Friday morning, and that the visit likely would be rescheduled for the summer.

Charles and Queen Consort Camilla planned to visit both France and Germany during the kings first trip abroad as Britains monarch. He still plans to go to Germany.

Charles had been scheduled to visit the city of Bordeaux on Tuesday, coinciding with the tenth round of nationwide strikes and protests. The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorized demonstration.

Bordeaux wine industry officials expressed regret that Charles would not visit next week, but were glad the visit would still happen.

We are of course disappointed Charles wont come now but we clearly understand why, said Cecile Ha of the Bordeaux Wine Council. We are looking forward to welcoming him at the end of summer, which is great time for the vineyards as they are very lively at this time of year before the harvests.

French authorities have blamed radicals for the protest destruction. But Europe's main human rights body, the Council of Europe, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), and media watchdog Reporters Without Borders also raised concern Friday about violence by police against what has been a largely peaceful movement.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday that investigations are under way into 11 complaints of excessive violence by police this week.

He added that 1,000 trash bins were set on fire in the French capital; overflowing garbage cans have become a symbol of the protests during a weeks-long strike by sanitation workers.

Fires in Paris that were intentionally lit in narrow or inaccessible alleys on Thursday night alarmed both city officials and residents. Firefighters and residents worked to tame the flames that rose to the second story of an apartment building in the chic Palais Royal area.

Oil refineries have been another target. On Friday, emboldened protesters blockaded the Fos-sur-mer oil depot near Marseille to stop trucks from entering and leaving. However, fuel supplies to Paris from the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed after police intervened.

Fearing disruptions in coming days, Frances Civil Aviation Authority requested the cancellation of one-third of flights at Paris second airport, Orly, on Sunday, and 20% on Monday.

-

Danica Kirka in London and Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report.
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The Home Office has been criticised by civil society organisations after withdrawing a 150,000 funding pool for charities, community or grassroots organisations.

The Windrush Community Engagement Fund opened to applications in September 2022 to help organisations raise awareness of priority Home Office policies, with funding initially due to be distributed by the end of November.

Civil servants approved 15 organisations for the fund in December 2022, according to the Guardians reports , but the Home Office has now cancelled these approvals after advisers were concerned that two of the groups had retweeted critical social media posts about the department.

The Home Office declined to comment on the Guardians reports and said instead that the funding would not be awarded this year due to internal delays.

All applicants to the fund have been notified and encouraged to reapply for the next financial year (2023-24).

Deeply disturbing

According to the Guardian article, the University of Leicester Pro Bono Clinic had its grant funding questioned.

Two academics from the university told Civil Society News they found the news deeply disturbing, and were hesitant to comment on the situation in case it threatened future funding opportunities from the Home Office.

Head of Leicester Law School Sally Kyd, and legal advice clinic director Laura Bee, said: We were disappointed to see it reported in the Guardian on 21 March that the clinics recent application for funding from the Home Office Windrush Community Engagement Fund had been refused, not on merit, but because a collaboration partner had reportedly retweeted mainstream press articles which were critical of government policy. Not only that, but that the entire fund was reportedly cancelled for 2022-23 due to the delay caused by internal discussions about whether or not to refuse funding to the clinic and one other organisation on a similar basis.

It is worrying and deeply disturbing that government funding for crucial work (raising awareness of the Windrush Compensation Fund amongst hard-to-reach communities and individuals who may not realise that they are eligible to claim) should be disrupted in this way.

We have hesitated to comment further on the situation, aware that by doing so, we may attract further attention from the home secretarys private office, making it even less likely for us to receive Home Office funding in the future. Nevertheless, as academics working within a large and diverse law school, we feel duty bound to call out injustice and a threat to free speech when we see it. We owe it to our students to lead by example.

The chair of the Windrush National Organisation (WNO), which was due to receive funding, said its relationship with the Home Office has been constructive to date .

WNO believes that community-led engagement is intrinsic to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal and any available community engagement fund must be timely and commensurate to support the much needed engagement requirements across the affected diverse communities in the UK and abroad.

It is our aim to continue this working relationship with the Home Office in order to advocate better outcomes for those impacted by the Windrush scandal.

Meanwhile, Rohini Kahrs, communications manager at the Runnymede Trust, criticised the delay in funding.

This is a shameless move from the Home Office. It is both sinister and counterproductive to penalise community groups, working to support people whose lives were ruined by the catastrophic failures of the Home Office, for daring to criticise the very policies which led to the Windrush scandal in the first place, she said.

The Home Office and our government should be doing everything in its power to restore public trust in its commitment to right the wrongs of the Windrush scandal, which should start with transferring responsibility for the compensation scheme to an independent organisation. It is not enough to give with one hand and pledge to celebrate the community this year, while so flagrantly taking away with the other.

Home Office says it regrets delays

A Home Office spokesperson said: We regret that due to internal delays, we have decided to withdraw the Community Engagement Fund for this year as it would have left very little time for successful applicants to spend the money effectively before the end of the financial year.

We remain committed to raising awareness of the Windrush schemes to all eligible individuals, and we will relaunch the competition for the next financial year.



We continue to provide comprehensive engagement and information to organisations to enable them to support affected individuals.

The department has not responded to Civil Society News request for further comment.

History of delays in Windrush funding

The Windrush Community Engagement Fund was launched to provide further support for charities after the 500,000 Windrush Community Fund launched in 2020.

In January last year, the Home Office apologised to over 100 charities and community groups that were still waiting for decisions on whether they would receive funding a year after applications were submitted.

A total of 27 charities received funding from the Home Office, amounting to over 500,000 altogether, by the end of January 2022 .

Both funds aim to raise awareness of the governments Windrush Scheme and Windrush Compensation Scheme.

These schemes were set up in the aftermath of the Windrush scandal, which saw hundreds of British citizens denied employment and healthcare under strict immigration rules.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
One day in 2014, after being made redundant from World Jewish Relief (WJR), Rosalind Bluestone was sitting at her dining room table, considering what she could do to address global poverty.

At WJR, Bluestone had been responsible for the delivery of a humanitarian aid programme, which then closed, aimed at communities in eastern Europe and former Soviet Union countries.

I had the privilege of working for a London-based international charity for 12 years, travelling to Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Serbia, Romania and Poland. Seeing how people lived in abject poverty really shocked me.

It was a huge eye-opener for me to realise how people didnt have nappies or sanitary pads, sharing clothes for children to go to school or sharing boots to go out in the snow.

She felt too young to be made redundant, but had acquired knowledge and expertise at WJR alongside connections with UK corporates. Bluestone decided to found her own charity.

I was very keen to find a way to carry it on, although I didnt have a warehouse, a truck or men who could load a truck. So, I started from scratch and worked for three and a half years by myself setting up Goods for Good.

Nearly nine years on, her charity has delivered almost 41m worth of humanitarian aid from overstocked goods to millions of people across 26 countries that might have otherwise ended up in landfill.

Huge volunteering workforce

Goods for Goods income has increased by more than 250% since 2017, from 97,080 to 346,241 last year, according to accounts filed with the Charity Commission.

Bluestone says the charity has worked hard on the fundraising side of things and that the most recent increase in income can be partly attributed to the war in Ukraine and the generosity of people.

Suddenly money started coming in without us even doing any big marketing campaigns and we were able to respond really quickly.

The charity has hundreds of volunteers and several corporate volunteers, such as DUNE and Uniqlo, and works with over 100 other charities. However, it only has a handful of staff.

I know [what we do] sounds very impactful but were a tiny team; there are four of us doing this, Bluestone says.

Instead, the charity relies on its huge volunteering workforce.

Since the pandemic began, Goods for Good has pivoted its operation to help more people in need in the UK. This is because an unprecedented number of local charities turned to the organisation for help as the individuals they serve were experiencing financial hardship.

Covid-19 happened overnight, where suddenly the NHS needed nappies and hygiene goods, and we had quite a substantial stock in our facility. So, we started to move that stock and people were also donating, says Bluestone.

It was quite overwhelming the number of people who came forward to volunteer during Covid-19. We were working with 12 organisations pre Covid-19 that were mostly asylum seekers, refugee centres, drop-in centres and also with the homeless and then suddenly it started to increase and became 14, 16, 20, etc.

The impact of Brexit

Goods for Good works closely with Dutch charity and logistics partner Humanitarian Resources International Foundation (HRIF), which handles and delivers some of the donated goods via a warehouse in the Netherlands. Bluestone says her charity is now sending more donated goods directly to recipients, especially since Russias invasion of Ukraine last year.

Brexit also posed some challenges for the charity, which was treading water for about three or four months, she says.

We tried to send as much over to Holland as possible before Brexit because theres no get-out of jail card for charities, no loophole to get through.

Luckily, HRIF set up an export system, which involves a UK third-party operator that handles complex paperwork and logistics. The service costs Goods for Good about 150 per shipment.

Despite this, Bluestone says its worth every penny.

The fact that were sending goods directly now to places like Poland, obviously they have to have the right documentation and transit papers in place, she adds.

Some countries like Moldova, you actually have to send in your manifest and the weights and measures prior to sending the goods. So, if we didnt have commercial partners doing that weighing and measuring and getting those manifests together, we wouldnt be able to do what we do.

Another issue facing Goods for Good is the rise in the cost of petrol, which in turn has pushed the transport companies the charity works with to increase their costs.

Bluestone estimates that before the increases it cost the charity 3,500 to send something to Europe. Now, prices have increased by around 20% in some cases.

Our facilities are too small

In May last year, the charity announced a humanitarian partnership scheme to attract more corporate organisations, businesses and individuals to continue delivering its work.

The charity previously estimated that it needs 400,000 a year to run its operation and achieve its objectives. For this investment, we can deliver at least 8m worth of goods and aid, it said.

For Bluestone, strategic partnerships between the charity and business sectors are key to helping vulnerable individuals and communities in the UK and around the world and driving change.

Were trying to plan a sustainable future, but our facilities are too small. The premises were in arent really fit for purpose and we cant afford to bring in a proper team. We want to be set up so that when there is an emergency, were ready to go.

Weve had an avalanche of goods come in from retail companies wanting to help with the Turkish and Syrian earthquakes. The reality is that goods have come in such a great quantity that we havent got enough money to ship them.

At the moment, Bluestone says that around six companies have signed up for the scheme. Her ambition is to have at least 20 that would each give the charity 6,000 a year and be part of what it does.

The charity sector is fatigued so were trying to think outside of the box.

She says that charities and businesses should form more partnerships together. I think its the future. What weve created is a unique platform, where community and corporate come together. If a company has the ethos of human kindness, its better than advertising.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Wisconsin law allows insurers to deduct from their liability any amounts paid for the same injury by a workers compensation carrier, but does that include amounts that are paid and later reimbursed?

Secura Supreme Insurance Co. argued that repayment makes no difference; it could deduct from its liability under an uninsured motorist policy all of the $35,798.04 in workers compensation benefits that were paid to the estate of Daniel Huck, even though the estate had returned $9,718.73 of that amount as required by the Wisconsin insurance code.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Secura had shortchanged the estate and cannot deduct an amount that was paid but reimbursed. The 6-1 decision decision affirmed rulings made by both the circuit court and state Court of Appeals.

Amounts paid is interpreted as the current amounts paid or outstanding such as by an installment agreement, at the time an insurer seeks to reduce its liability under  632.32(5)(i), the majority opinion says. Stated otherwise, amounts paid refers to an insureds final recovery at the time an insurer reduces its liability, which we recognize may occur when a UIM claim accrues.

Utility worker Daniel Keith Huck was struck and killed by an allegedly negligent motorist while working for the Village of Mount Pleasant. The motorists insurer paid its $25,000 liability coverage limit to Hucks estate, which reimbursed the workers compensation insurer for his employer $9,718.73 as required by state law.

Hucks estate also filed a claim against Secura, which had issued an auto insurance policy to Huck wtih a $250,000 liability limit.

Secura paid the claim, but deducted all of the $35,798.04 in workers compensation benefits that the estate had received, contending that the statute allows it to deduct all amounts paid regardless of whether any portion was reimbursed. The statutory language makes no mention of reimbursements, the carrier said.

Secura filed a lawsuit in state court seeking a declaratory judgment that it had made the right call. A Circuit Court judge in Racine County ruled that the insurer could not deduct the amount paid but reimbursed. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision. Seneca took the case up the Supreme Court.

The majority opinion laid out a detailed examination of the meaning of the statutory words amount paid that included a discussion about how past participles are routinely used as adjectives. But four justices signed on to a concurring opinion written by Justice Rebecca Frank Dallet that offered a simpler explanation as to why Secura was wrong.

If I buy an $8 sandwich, hand the cashier a $10 bill, and she hands me my sandwich and $2 in change, how much was she paid for the sandwich? Dallet wrote.Eight dollars, of course. But according to Secura, that isnt so clear.

Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley wrote a dissenting opinion that supported Securas arguments. She said the insurer had made a correct plain language argument that showed it could deduct the full amount of workers compensation benefits paid.
U.S. officials are studying ways they might temporarily expand Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage to all deposits, a move sought by a coalition of banks arguing that its needed to head off a potential financial crisis.

Treasury Department staff are reviewing whether federal regulators have enough emergency authority to temporarily insure deposits greater than the current $250,000 cap on most accounts without formal consent from a deeply divided Congress, according to people with knowledge of the talks.

Authorities dont yet view such a move as necessary, especially after regulators took steps this month to help banks keep up with any demands for withdrawals, the people said, asking not to be named describing confidential talks. Still, they are developing a strategy out of due diligence in case the situation worsens.

We will use the tools we have to support community banks, White House spokesman Michael Kikukawa said, without directly addressing whether the measure is being studied. Since our administration and the regulators took decisive action last weekend, we have seen deposits stabilize at regional banks throughout the country and, in some cases, outflows have modestly reversed.

Still, the behind-the-scenes deliberations show there are concerns in Washingtons corridors of power as midsize banks call for broader government intervention after three lenders collapsed this month when uninsured depositors pulled their money, and as a fourth firm strives to avoid a similar fate. Shares of that one, First Republic Bank, have tumbled 90% since the start of the month as industry leaders tried to find a way to bolster the companys finances.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US is prepared to repeat the actions it took recently to protect bank depositors if smaller lenders are threatened, though she didnt address the possibility of a temporary expansion in deposit insurance.

Our intervention was necessary to protect the broader US banking system, and similar actions could be warranted if smaller institutions suffer deposit runs that pose the risk of contagion, Yellen said, according to excerpts of remarks shes set to give at a banking industry conference in Washington later Tuesday.

One legal framework under discussion for expanding FDIC insurance would use the Treasury Departments authority to take emergency action and lean on the Exchange Stabilization Fund, the people said.

That fund typically is used to buy or sell currencies and to provide financing to foreign governments. But the fund, created in the 1930s, has been used as a backstop for emergency lending facilities by the Fed in recent years. Its the only pot of money under the full authority of the Treasury secretary, with other spending and financing under the jurisdiction of Congress.

Due to decisive recent actions, the situation has stabilized, deposit flows are improving and Americans can have confidence in the safety of their deposits, a Treasury spokeswoman said in a statement.

Representatives for the FDIC and Fed declined to comment. The administration and independent regulators are grappling with the first banking crisis since the passage of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, a sweeping reorganization of the financial regulatory system.

Dangerous Precedent

The Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America, which includes banks with assets of as much as $100 billion, urged regulators to lift the current cap on deposit insurance, according to a March 17 letter seen by Bloomberg. The organization expressed concern that, if another regional lender fails, more depositors will move their money to the nations largest banks, regardless of the underlying health of their smaller competitors.

While some lawmakers, including Republicans, have said they are weighing changes to the current $250,000 FDIC insurance cap, a number of House conservatives have come out against a 100% guarantee.

Any universal guarantee on all bank deposits, whether implicit or explicit, enshrines a dangerous precedent that simply encourages future irresponsible behavior to be paid for by those not involved who followed the rules, the House Freedom Caucus said in a statement.

Photo: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. headquarters in Washington, DC. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.
The Florida Senate approved a take-no-prisoners tort-reform bill Thursday and it could be signed into law as soon as Friday.

The bill, which extends limits on one-way attorney fees, assignments of benefits, and other provisions to most types of insurance claims, would take effect as soon as the ink is dry on the governors signature.

And that wont be a minute too soon, as plaintiffs lawyers have moved to file tens of thousands of claims lawsuits before the new restrictions kick in, insurance industry advocates said Thursday.

An email from Cole, Scott & Kissane, one of Floridas largest insurance defense law firms, was sent to the firms lawyers and has been forwarded around the state. It relates a phone conversation with Matt Morgan, partner with Morgan & Morgan, one of the countrys largest plaintiffs firms. Morgan said that the Orlando-based firm will have filed 25,000 insurance-claim cases by this week.

The defendants wont initially be served but the carriers will be sent a letter demanding the policy limits, reads the email from Richard Cole, managing partner with Cole, Scott & Kissane.

Insurance carriers will have five days to respond. If the policy limits are not tendered, full litigation will follow, Morgan said.

The call was cordial but direct, Cole noted in the email. Feel free to let your client carriers know of Morgan and Morgans position and plans.

John Morgan, head of the firm, said Thursday in a statement to Insurance Journal: At this moment we are doing what all lawyers should be doing  protecting the interests of our clients.







He added: There is no insurance crisis in Florida. Rates wont go down. They never have and never will. All tort reform this year should be titled F*** the People.'

Cole, reached by phone Thursday, said other plaintiffs firms will likely take similar actions and the state could see as many as 100,000 suits filed by today.

Insurance groups agreed, noting that the flood of litigation gives urgency to the governor to sign House Bill 837 as soon as possible.

I expect to see a tidal wave of suits filed by today, frankly, said Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, which includes some of the largest property insurers in the state. The trial bar knows that the governor could sign the bill by today, so theyre trying to get these in before then.

He noted that an excessive number of lawsuits is exactly what HB 837 is designed to prevent going forward. Until the law has an impact, though, insurance carriers and county clerks of court will likely be swamped with work, Carlson and Cole predicted.

It will put a lot of stress on the whole system, Cole said.

Giving five days to respond, and no settlement for less than the policy limits  thats just ridiculous, Carlson added.

Others in the industry joined in the criticism of the claimants lawyers legal efforts.

This is the exact reason the state of Florida needs this tort reform bill. These opportunistic lawyers are acting in bad faith by sprinting to file 25,000 cases ahead of the laws passage, Neil Alldredge, president and CEOof the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, said in an email. This last-ditch stunt is yet another example of how legal system abuse has added to the challenges of providing insurance coverage in the state and increased costs for consumers.

HB 837 passed the full House last week and was approved by the Senate Thursday afternoon by a vote of 23-15. The vote was not as partisan as some previous insurance-industry rescue measures were in last years special sessions. Four Republicans voted against the bill and one Democrat voted for it.

Democratic senators on Wednesday attempted a last-minute rewrite to soften the impact on policyholders and their attorneys. That amendment failed to pass on the Senate floor. The bill survived largely intact since it was introduced by Sen. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Branch. Gov. Ron DeSantis was expected to sign it by Friday, industry lobbyists said.

An explanation of the bills provisions can be seen here.
BEREA, Ohio -- Its been about a year since a large window sign first promised that wed soon be dining at El Torito Tacos Mexican Bar & Grill at 126 Front St. in Berea.

A last-minute need to install new kitchen equipment, the delayed arrival of tables and booths imported from Mexico, and a few other technicalities were the culprits responsible for the delay, explains co-owner and manager Esmeralda De Leon.

And theres no doubt that many of us who have been looking forward to the debut of a new eatery in Bereas town center are pleased to see the lights on and the doors open in the space formerly occupied by the Lazy Beehive.

On a recent visit to El Torito, De Leon happily talked about the restaurants new look.

We extended the bar and put in new floors, and since it had been all one big space, we had an architect design some new space-defining wall sections, she said.

El Torito seats 120 diners, who will be accommodated in the spacious booths lining floor-to-ceiling windows on the restaurants north and west walls.

They (tables and booths) are all handmade, De Leon said, explaining that the booths seats and backs are genuine leather.

As for the restaurants overall decor, we wanted something modern, something new, something traditional, but still on the modern side, De Leon said.

She said the restaurant has a full-service bar featuring tequila, gin, whiskey and bourbon, as well as imported and domestic beers and an array of top shelf margaritas from Skinny to Coco Loco and Blueberry.

We have a total of 15 seats at the bar, De Leon said, adding that all margaritas are crafted using freshly squeezed lemons and limes, as well as pineapples and oranges.

The menu, of course, includes just about every type of meal you would expect a Mexican restaurant to have, along with a selection of El Torito Samplers, vegetarian combos and a Create-Your-Own-Combo.

We try to make the food as authentic as possible, with an option for tacos street style, using cilantro and onion, De Leon said.

American-style menu items emphasize lettuce and shredded and melted cheeses.

De Leon, who has been in the restaurant business for four years, said her family also owns and operates El Torito restaurants in neighboring Middleburg Heights and in her hometown of Twinsburg.

Their reason for choosing a Berea location?

We found the space, the citys downtown, the BW students, the nearby fairgrounds, Coe Lake Park, and Berea is a big walking area in the summer.

El Torito Tacos Mexican Bar & Grill business hours are 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.

For more information call 440-403-9468.

Winners list: Several local Polaris Career Center students who competed recently in the 2023 Business and Professionals of America state competition have qualified to compete at national events in Anaheim, Calif.

The students include Berea-Midpark High School senior Ryleigh Schmitz, who qualified in Advanced Office Systems Procedures; Berea-Midparks Chawasorn Pornpiboon, who qualified in Virtual Multimedia Promotion; Berea-Midpark junior Veera Patel, who qualified in Financial Portfolio Management Team; Berea-Midpark junior Brayden Cupach, who qualified in Virtual Branding Team; Berea-Midpark senior Ilyanna Evans, who qualified in Virtual Branding Team; and Berea-Midpark senior Laila Farsane, who qualified in Virtual Branding Team.

Step back in time: Visit with People of the Revolution, an historical reenactment, at 6:30 p.m. April 4 at the Middleburg Heights Community Center, 16000 E. Bagley Road.

This event, hosted by the Middleburg Heights Historical Society, invites the audience to hear members of the 5th Virginia Regiment talking about how the common citizens of the colonies responded to news of independence and war.

The reenactment group members also belong to the national Brigade of the American Revolution.

A general meeting of the historical society will follow the presentation. All are welcome to join.

For more information, contact Rose Conley at 440-821-2081 or Maureen at 440-478-6387.

Homework helper: An After-School Homework Center for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade will be offered from 4 to 5 p.m Mondays through Thursdays through May 12 at the Brook Park Library, 6155 Engle Road.

Free Lunches: A Kids Cafe offering free after-school meals for ages 1-18 will be offered from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Brook Park Library, 6155 Engle Road.

Census sense: Visit the Middleburg Heights Library, 15600 Bagley Road, at 7 p.m. April 1 to hear a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau discuss the importance of Census participation and options for responding, including confidentiality and data security for a fair and inclusive count.

Please register for this event, either in person at the library, online at www.cuyahogalibrary.org or by calling 440-2434-3600.

Library meeting: The Friends of the Middleburg Heights Library will meet at 7 p.m. April 12 at the library, 15600 Bagley Road.

Share a recipe: Cookbook Book Club: Bring a favorite recipe from the book to share at the Middleburg Heights Library, 15600 Bagley Road, at 2:30 p.m. April 2

Registration for this event is required. Register in person, by phone at 440-234-3600 or online at www.cuyahogalibrary.org.

SCAN Hunger Center Pantry: 39 W. Bagley Road, Williamsport Plaza. 440-260-7226. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday.

Church Street Ministries pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Rise in Love: Free hot meal from 2 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, Keller Center, 66 Adalbert St. Eat in or carry out. The next meal is on April 16th.

Free Community Meals: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 E. Bagley Road, served from 5 to 6 p.m. on the second and last Wednesdays of the month. Drive-up only.

Peoples Community Church pantry: 628 Wesley Drive, 440-234-0609. Open 10 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of the month. The next open pantry is on April 15th.

Second Mile Outreach Pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Bread Ministry: Berea United Methodist Church, 170 Seminary St. 440-234-3525. Bread and pastries only. Noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Go to the church addition north side of Church Street, off Seminary. The pantry has double brown doors.

Free meals for students: Brook Park Branch Library, 6155 Engle Road. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for students 18 and younger, in collaboration with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Pet Food Pantry: Animal Rescue Friends, 10015 E. River Road, Columbia Station, 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday. Contact 440-234-2034 or arfpet-pantry@gmail.com for more information.

Mini pantries: There are two Little Free Pantries located near Peoples Community Church, 628 Wesley Drive, and Cuyahoga County Librarys Berea branch, at 7 Berea Commons. The Prospect Pantry is at the corner of Prospect Street and Jacqueline Drive.

Read more from the News Sun.
WASHINGTON  South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have recalled more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans, warning owners the vehicles present a fire risk and should be parked outside until repairs are made.

The automakers warned that problems in a tow hitch harness that came as original equipment or were installed by dealers on the vehicles could catch fire when the vehicle is parked or being driven.

The affected vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are the 2019 to 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe; the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid; the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid; the 2022 and 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz; and the 2022 and 2023 Kia Carnival.

Related: Progressive, State Farm halt new car insurance policies for high theft models of Kia and Hyundai

Documents from U.S. safety regulators posted Thursday said that water can get into a circuit board on the hitches and cause a short circuit even if the ignitions are off, NPR reported.

Hyundai has reports of one fire and five heat damage incidents with no injuries. Kia has no reports of fires or injuries.

In a letter, the NHTSA said that as an interim repair, dealers will inspect the tow hitch module and remove the fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Once the final repair is available, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit, also free of charge.

Letters notifying owners of the recall are expected to be mailed by May 2023, NHTSA said.

The recall is a continuation of a previous recall issued last year for a similar problem in more than 245,000 Palisade SUVs from the 2020 through 2022 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that the latest recall is a direct result of the agency monitoring that Palisade recall, NPR reported.
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- At its March 22 meeting, the Middleburg Heights Planning Commission approved preliminary plans for a new Aldi grocery store slated for 6820 Pearl Road in Pearl Plaza.

Upon final plan approval and construction, it would be the second Aldi in the community. The project is part of ongoing redevelopment plans for the Southland Business District.

Civil engineer John Urbanick of Rockaway Civil LLC explained the site plan on behalf of developer Pearl Partners. He indicated that prior informal discussions had taken place among the Aldis team, Pearl Partners and various city officials before the preliminary plan was submitted.

From an engineering standpoint, we didnt seem to have any issue with the items brought up by the city engineer, Urbanick said, noting that very detailed comments were received from the city planner as well.

Preliminary plan approval was granted, conditional on complying with those comments.

Chairman Anthony Crea asked City Planner Jay Stewart of Stewart Land Use and City Engineer Kim Kerber why a traffic impact study is being recommended for final plan submission when there is already a nearby traffic signal at the busy Pearl Road/West 130th Street intersection, which would seem to have required such a study in the past.

We looked at (Aldis) trip generation analysis, Stewart replied. At maximum peak hour, which I believe is between 4 and 6 p.m., theyre calling for 205 total vehicle trips. Our code has a threshold of 100.

Its my strong recommendation they do a traffic impact study in terms of protecting the city.

Kerber emphasized that 200 cars is a lot of cars in an hour, especially in proximity to the Pearl/West 130th intersection.

She researched records to see if a traffic study had been done for the original Pearl Plaza development.

I didnt find anything, so I would definitely be interested in a full traffic study to see if it warrants any special restrictions to the parcel, or any additional requirements for the Pearl/130th area, she said.

Read more stories from the News Sun.
BEREA, Ohio -- Two unidentified female suspects tried to drag a woman out of her parked car and steal the vehicle at about 4:30 a.m. March 20 outside Speedway, 880 N. Rocky River.

According to the victim and security video, the victim had driven into the Speedway parking lot to use the restroom. As she entered the store, the two suspects were sitting at the coffee bar near the front door.

After using the restroom, the victim walked back to her vehicle. As she closed the vehicle door, one of the two suspects knocked on the window. Then both suspects opened the door and tried to pull her out.

The victim was punched in the face several times. The suspects also scratched her face and attempted to remove her glasses.

The victim fought the suspects, one of whom jumped into the drivers seat. The victim wrestled her out of the vehicle.

One of the suspects hit the victim on the head with a plastic bottle filled with liquid. However, the victim kept fighting, and when the suspects realized they were not going to be able to steal the vehicle, they threw hot coffee on the victim and walked toward North Rocky River southbound.

The victim called police, who searched the area south of Speedway for the suspects. They saw one of them standing on the south side of The Mall, which is a street in Berea behind Shakespeare Drive. The other suspect was on the north side of The Mall.

Both suspects ran when noticing police. Police chased them as they ran between houses. Eventually, police lost them.

The victim suffered a bump on her head where she was hit with the plastic bottle and her jaw was hurting, so she was taken to a local hospital.

One of the suspects was described as Black and wearing a purple hoodie with the hood up, gray sweatpants and black Ugg boots. She was carrying a black bag.

The second suspect was described as Black and about 5 feet tall. A plaid black blanket was wrapped around her head and body. She was wearing a gray hoodie with the hood up and black shoes, possibly Crocs. She was carrying a brown purse.

A Speedway worker said the suspects appeared to be about 16 years old.

If you have any information about the suspects, call Berea police at 440-234-1234.

Read more from the News Sun.
BEREA, Ohio -- Police are looking for a Youngstown man, 21, who stole a locked safe containing two wedding ring sets, valued together at $15,000, at about 3:30 p.m. March 18 from a house on Dorland Avenue.

The man had been having an intimate relationship with a woman living in the house for about one month. He had stayed in the house overnight March 17-18.

On the afternoon of March 18, the womans mother called police after witnessing the man walk out of the house carrying the safe and other items from the house.

When the mother asked the man what he was doing, he pushed past her and jumped into a Chevrolet Malibu parked in the street.

The mother chased the man and screamed at him, saying she would call police. She banged on the car window.

A woman about 20 years old was driving the Malibu. The man and woman drove away, but the mother memorized or wrote down the license plate number.

The woman then realized she also was missing several items, including various prescription medications, boots, a bank card, about 2 grams of marijuana, a pair of Apple iPods and $400 in cash.

Police remembered that one day earlier, they had pulled over the womans car for traffic violations. At the time, the Youngstown man was in the front passenger seat. Police learned that the man was wanted in Stark County, but police there didnt want to pick him up, so the man was released.

Read more from the News Sun.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Two key Cleveland agencies charged with handling police misconduct are failing, according to a report released Thursday by the team overseeing reform in the department.

The Office of Professional Standards, which investigates civilian complaints, and the Civilian Police Review Board, which recommends discipline stemming from OPS investigations, are woefully lacking in their performance, wrote Ayesha Bell Hardaway, interim monitor of the consent decree between the U.S. Department of Justice and Cleveland designed to reform policing.
CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cleveland man robbed four dollar stores and a bank in a four-day span, according to federal prosecutors.

Reginald Wimberly Jr., 23, is charged in a seven-count indictment in federal court with interfering with commerce by robbery, gun possession and bank robbery.

Wimberlys arraignment is scheduled for April 5. A message was left with his attorney, Timothy Kucharski.

Wimberly on Dec. 27 robbed three Dollar General stores from noon to 6 p.m., according to court and police records. He robbed the stores at Broadway Avenue and East 68th Street, at East 116th Street and Forest Avenue and on St. Clair Avenue near East 157th Street.

He used a gun in all three robberies, according to police reports.

The next day, he robbed the Family Dollar on Miles Avenue and East 166th Street at gunpoint, and on Dec. 30 he robbed Citizens Bank on Broadway Avenue near East 57th Street, court records say.

Wimberly during the bank robbery slid a note written on a napkin to the teller demanding $20,000. The note said if he didnt get the money hed shoot the person next to him.

The teller told Wimberly the bank didnt have that much money, hit the banks silent alarm and handed Wimberly $100. Wimberly ran but dropped a cellphone in the lobby.

The FBI began investigating Wimberly following the bank robbery. Investigators initially arrested the owner of the phone, but later determined Wimberly and the other man were living in the same house at the time and Wimberly took the mans phone with him during the robbery.

FBI agents learned Wimberly was jailed on an unrelated charge on Feb. 2. He admitted to investigators that he robbed the bank, and told them he did so because he was tired of being broke and out of money, according to court records.

Wimberly was twice convicted of attempted robberies in University Heights in 2019 and 2020. On March 6, he was sentenced to one year in prison for an unrelated abduction and theft case.

Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here.
ELYRIA, Ohio  A Lorain County judge on Thursday sentenced a man to life in prison for the 2021 shooting death of a 20-year-old man in downtown Elyria.

Raython Fields, 29, formerly of Lorain, was sentenced by Judge James Miraldi after pleading guilty to murder, aggravated robbery, having weapons while under disability, and tampering with evidence, according to a news release from Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson.

Fields will be eligible for parole after serving 21 years. Fields also was designated a violent offender and will need to register his address with the sheriff every year for at least 10 years if hes released from prison.

Prosecutors say Fields shot Yadiel Torres in the head on a sidewalk outside a downtown bar on Broad Street near Middle Avenue just before 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2021. Fields and Torres had an argument before the shooting and when Torres attempted to run, Fields opened fire, killing Torres, prosecutors say.

Raython Fields needlessly took the victims life, leaving his family forever without a loved one, Tomlinson said in a statement. I hope that the successful prosecution of Fields allows the victims family to continue their healing.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Potential for relief from sharply rising electric bills is coming for hundreds of thousands of Northeast Ohioans.

The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, which buys electricity on behalf of residents across Greater Cleveland and much of Ohio, said Friday that it will start automatically enrolling customers in June, unless they opt out.

This would result in significant savings over what otherwise would have been sharp increases for many people this summer who have FirstEnergy as their electric utility.

Starting in June, NOPEC customers will be guaranteed electricity at 6.5 cents per kilowatt hour for six months, well below default pricing that will be offered by FirstEnergys subsidiaries, like the Illuminating Company and Ohio Edison.

Cleveland.com reported earlier Friday that the base price from these FirstEnergy utilities would jump from 5.3 cents per kilowatt hour currently to 10.2 cents in June.

But NOPEC said later Friday it will send 650,000 letters to households in NOPEC communities during the first week of April, part of the process for enrolling them in June - thus allowing customers to avoid the increase from default utility pricing.

In any community where elected officials choose to use NOPEC, every eligible electricity customer is automatically opted into the program every three years  unless they opt out.

Under Ohios rules, NOPEC has to mail these opt-out letters every three years, regardless of whether customers have said yes or no to NOPEC in the past. People have to send back a form, or call NOPEC, to opt out.

This batch of letters is different. Because last year NOPEC dropped close to 550,000 customers because they were better off buying their power elsewhere.

In summer 2022, NOPECs rates jumped to 12 cents per kilowatt hour. But the standard service offer - this is the rate offered by default by the utilities - was far less expensive at 6.8 cents.

This led to controversy, but in March, regulators ruled in NOPECs favor on the issue.

For this coming summer, however, things have changed.

In June, the base price for customers in FirstEnergy territories will be 10.2 cents per kilowatt hour, up 93% from the current price.

FirstEnergy doesnt produce electricity, but under Ohios rules, it has to offer a default rate to customers who dont pick a different supplier or who are not opted into an aggregator like NOPEC. This is called the standard service offer. FirstEnergy buys electricity for these customers at wholesale auctions.

There were auctions in October, January and March, where FirstEnergy had to buy electricity at a higher price because of a strained energy market. FirstEnergy will be paying about $101 per megawatt hour of electricity, up from the $53 its paying now.

The end result is the 10.2-cent per kilowatt hour base price. That price will end up being a little higher because certain expenses, like the cost of running the auctions and including electricity from renewable sources, will also be added in.

Customers being served by FirstEnergy subsidiaries, like Ohio Edison and the Illuminating Company, will first see this price increase in June. It will last until May 2024.

This affects customers who are on the standard service offer from the utility, often called the price to compare on electricity bills.

Recently, however, the wholesale electricity market has seen a drastic reduction in price. Natural gas prices are low because of a very mild winter. This allowed NOPEC to buy electricity cheaply compared to the prices FirstEnergy had to pay.

NOPEC spokesman Dave Jankowski said customers will be guaranteed the 6.5 cent price for six months. After that, they will receive a variable price that could fluctuate. NOPEC also lets customers opt out at any time, which would give customers a way to leave if prices do increase after six months.

How residents are billed

Ohioans bills are split into two parts  usage and distribution. The usage part of a customers bill is based on how much electricity they use. The other half is a set price, based on how much it costs FirstEnergy to distribute power to homes. Residents can pick their supplier for the usage part.

About 40% of a customers bill, on average, is usage, said Matt Schilling, a spokesman for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Customers in Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, South Euclid and Sheffield will pay more for their electricity from NOPEC  about 6.9 cents per kilowatt hour. This is because these communities opted to have a renewable-energy product be the default, Jankowski said

Customers in those communities can opt out and get the standard, 6.5-cent price from NOPEC, or opt-out entirely.

NOPEC offers three other products in addition to their standard price: a monthly variable rate, a 12-month fixed rate and a 24-month fixed rat. Customers need to contact NOPEC to enroll in these options, otherwise theyll get NOPECs 6.5 cent price.

Separate from electricity, NOPEC also buys natural gas for residents in more than 200 communities. Letters about automatically opting people into natural gas service will be sent out in mid-April, Jankowski said.

Another 513,000 letters about natural gas service will be sent to potential customers. Many people may get an electricity and natural gas letter from NOPEC in the same month, Jankowski said.

Like with electricity, all eligible natural gas customers will get a letter from NOPEC.

To opt out, customers can fill out the form they received and mail it back, with their own postal stamp. But they can also fax the form to 440-774-4422 or call NOPECs Customer Care Center at 1-855-667-3201.

Ohioans can also shop for both electricity and natural gas on the open market, and can see options using the energychoice.ohio.gov, using the Apples-to-Apples comparison tool.
Rotunda Rumblings

Election selection: Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Jason Stephens are split on whether to hold an August special election to allow voters to decide whether to increase the threshold for voters to pass constitutional amendments from the current simple majority to a 60% supermajority. Stephens is opposed, noting the $20 million price tag of an Aug. 8 election and extra work required of local elections officials. Huffman said the cost is worth it to prevent abortions. If voters ultimately decide in August to require a supermajority to pass future amendments, an abortion-rights constitutional amendment targeting the November ballot could be in trouble. In states that are politically similar to Ohio, abortion rights issues have won by margins of 52% to 59%, Laura Hancock reports.

Spoiler warning: Huffman has made no secret of his reasons for wanting to hold a special election in August to decide whether to make it harder to amend the constitution. Jeremy Pelzer reports that he told reporters on Thursday that making it harder for the abortion-rights amendment to pass is among the factors hes considering, along with other possible ballot issues that he does not support. Senators could pass a bill setting an Aug. 8 special election sometime next month, giving the House time to pass it before a May deadline.

TikTok bloc: The potential dangers of the popular video sharing app TikTok united congressional Republicans and Democrats in rare bipartisan cooperation as indignant members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee barraged CEO Shou Chew with questions. Sabrina Eaton reports on what Ohio Republicans Bob Latta of Bowling Green, Troy Balderson of Zanesville and Bill Johnson of Marietta had to say at the hearing.

Empty chair: Ohio House members still havent filled a seat vacated by former state Rep. Brian Baldridge, now the state agriculture director. Stephens, when asked Thursday why House Republicans didnt vote on the appointment of Justin Pizzulli to fill a vacant House seat, said they were busy with other matters. Yes, we were working on that. With all the transportation budget going on, we want to make sure we get this stuff taken care of. Well be doing it soon, Stephens said. Thursdays House session, which lasted about 20 minutes, included a quick, expected vote rejecting Senate changes to the transportation budget bill, setting up House-Senate negotiations for a final deal. Pizzullis nomination was held up earlier this month because of an ongoing House GOP schism stemming from Stephens election as speaker.

Rolling ahead: The states new two-year transportation budget is headed to a legislative conference committee after the House declined to concur with the Senates changes to the multi-billion-dollar legislation. As Pelzer reports, the House and Senate agreed on things like giving Amtrak the statutory authority to expand service in Ohio, but their differences include various post-East Palestine rail-safety measures, providing additional money for rural highway projects, and changing force account rules for when public projects need to be competitively bid.

Bank on it: Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, is planning to introduce legislation related to corporate governance and executive accountability, American Banker reports. Biden last week outlined a series of proposals that would give the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. more power to claw back executive compensation and to punish executives responsible for bank failures.

Expanding probe: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Champaign County Republican, expanded his attack on the Manhattan district attorney who is investigating former President Donald Trump by sending letters Wednesday evening to demand documents and testimony from former district attorney employees Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz. The letters reiterate Jordans claims that the prosecution is politically motivated and claim that Dunne and Pomerantzs actions both as a special prosecutor and since leaving the District Attorneys office, cast serious doubt on the administration of fair and impartial justice in this matter.

Response from New York: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office on Thursday rejected as unlawful the demands of three House GOP chairs, including House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, whod sought sensitive details about Braggs investigation of former President Donald Trumps payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, Politico writes. In a response to Jordan and the chairs of the House Administration and Oversight committees, Bragg general counsel Leslie Dubeck called the new GOP probe an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution.

Be it resolved: The House passed a non-binding resolution that urges Congress to pass a bill requiring railroad companies to inform local and state government officials when trains similar to the one that derailed in East Palestine could potentially carry hazardous materials through their communities.

Read all about it: As part of Gov. Mike DeWines push to ensure children are learning to read using phonics, the governor has directed state education officials to conduct an audit to find the various ways public schools around the state are teaching literacy, Anna Staver of the Columbus Dispatch reports. DeWine also signed an executive order Thursday directing all state agencies  such as the states prisons agency -- to develop a strategy to promote literacy.

Buckeye Brain Tease

Question: Which Ohio county does the state spend the most on? What county gets the least?

Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next weeks newsletter.

Thanks to everyone who responded to last weeks trivia question:

Last month, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted made some administrative moves to prepare to run to replace term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine in 2026. Who was the last Ohio lieutenant governor to immediately be elected governor in the following term?

Answer: The wording on this answer is tricky. Theres a reason why -- well get to it in a second.

William Medill, elected as Ohios first lieutenant governor in 1851, was elected as governor in 1853. But he first became governor in 1852, completing the term of Reuben Wood, who was appointed to a diplomatic position.

In Ohio history, eight former lieutenant governors later became governor. Five either replaced the governor after they left or died, most recently Nancy Hollister in late 1999/early 2000. Three  Dick Celeste, George Voinovich and Mike DeWine  became governor after holding some other position in between. In other words, no one has ever accomplished what Husted is attempting to do.

Capitol Letter reader David Glass, chair of the Ross County Republican Party and an Ohio GOP State Central Committee, was the first to answer correctly.

On the Move

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has been appointed vice chair of the Republican Secretaries of State Committee, a caucus of the Republican State Leadership Committee. For the past year, LaRose served as RSSC finance chair.

Birthdays

Friday 3/24: Nick Coyle, legislative aide to state Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus; Jen House, former Ohio Young Democrats president; U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers

Saturday 3/25: Andrew Geisler, assistant legal counsel, Ohio Auditors Office

Sunday 3/26: No birthdays

Straight From The Source

One minute, youre making peanut butter and jelly and the next minute the FBI is calling you.

- Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Thursday titled The Biden Administrations Chilling of Parents Fundamental Rights.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
COLUMBUS, OhioThe Cuyahoga County Republican Party on Thursday voted to kick state Rep. Tom Patton off two party committees and refused to endorse him in the next election for backing state Rep. Jason Stephens for House speaker after claiming to a conservative leader that he wouldnt do so.

Its the harshest punishment meted out to date from a county party to a House Republican who supported Stephens, who was elected speaker in January over the preferred choice of the House GOP caucus thanks to votes from House Democrats. However, it remains to be seen whether this will hurt Pattons plan to run for Ohio Senate next year.

Patton, a 20-year legislative veteran and the only House Republican from Cuyahoga County, was informed last month by Matt Abens, the chair of a Cuyahoga County GOP disciplinary committee, that he was being investigated for violating the spirit of a party bylaw that all party members and officers are strongly urged to not support or endorse a non-Republican for partisan political office.

Abens wrote that was because Patton voted for Stephens, a Republican from Lawrence County, for speaker on Jan. 3, even though the House GOP caucus voted the previous November to endorse state Rep. Derek Merrin, a Republican from suburban Toledo, for the job.

The disciplinary committees subsequent recommendation of punishment also noted that in a series of text messages with Strongsville GOP PAC President Shannon Burns in late December, Patton forcefully denied that he was part of a movement to deny Merrin the speakers gavel, calling the claim bulls---.

I havent spoken to [Stephens] since the night he lost [the caucus vote], Patton wrote, adding, ON MY GRANDKIDS EYES!!! Patton later added that he was lukewarm on Stephens to begin with.

Just before the House speaker vote on Jan. 3, Burns texted Patton, Im (sic) implore you...dont go with Stephens. Patton, a longtime union supporter, replied a couple hours later, Merrin [was] bad for me, as Merrin supported an anti-union right-to-work bill and changing the states prevailing wage law, which ensures that workers on large local-government construction projects should be paid at least the average wage paid to nearby workers on similar jobs.

When Burns wrote that Patton made him look like a complete fool for defending him, Patton replied that he wasnt sure who the alternative to Merrin would be till (sic) Sunday night, two days before the speaker vote.

In a written reply to Abens, Patton called the allegations full of misinformation and manipulative interpretations of our bylaws. Patton argued he didnt violate party bylaws because he voted for a conservative Republican for speaker, noting Stephens was endorsed for reelection last year by the National Rifle Association and Ohio Right To Life, the states leading anti-abortion group.

Patton recalled in his letter that certain members of the Cuyahoga County Republicans did nothing to support him when he voted in 2019 to keep Ryan Smith as House speaker, though Smith ended up being unseated by fellow Republican Larry Householder, who was convicted earlier this month of a federal corruption charge.

In an interview with cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer, Patton noted that Burns and others going after him over his vote for speaker are supporters of Merrin.

He also said he wasnt deceiving Burns with his text messages on Dec. 23, as he wasnt aware at the time of Stephens plans to challenge Merrin. Patton said he only found out on Jan. 2, the day before the speaker vote, that Stephens intended to run for speaker.

Im glad Shannon ...twisted around that I betrayed him, said Patton. Hes the guy that went after the only [Republican] elected official from Cuyahoga County.

Patton said he doesnt regret his vote for Stephens. Id do it tomorrow  Id do it again, he said.

Burns, in an interview, said the Cuyahoga County GOPs punishment of Patton was necessary, as it was ludicrous to think that Patton wasnt aware of Stephens efforts until the day before the speakers vote.

Burns accused Patton of voting for Stephens to boost his personal power and to appease labor unions that have long supported him.

In addition to the endorsement ban and being kicked off party committees, Patton was censured by the Cuyahoga County Republicans  a symbolic punishment that other county Republican parties have given to other House Republicans who supported Stephens.

The Ohio Republican Partys State Central Committee  of which Burns is a member  has also passed a resolution condemning the 22 Republicans who voted for Stephens. However, state committee members decided not to include language in that resolution that would have made Stephens supporters ineligible for endorsements or future party support.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For a second year in a row, Indigenous representation has a place on the big screen at the 47th Cleveland International Film Festival, which will be held in person from March 22 to April 1 and available through CIFF Streams from April 2-9.

One of the films in this years Indigenous Sidebar, Bad Press, really resonates with me because of my previous experience as a Native journalist reporting on my tribal community.

In this documentary, Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and co-director Joe Peeler look at freedom of the press in tribal communities through the lens of Mvskoke Media, a tribal publication in Oklahoma dealing with censorship by a Muscogee Nation tribal council, and the struggles reporter Angel Ellis faced.

In the United States, tribes are considered sovereign, and that means they have varying degrees of jurisdiction over the rights of its citizens. That includes the freedom of the press  which is especially vulnerable when a media outlet is owned by the tribe.

I brushed up against these issues when, as a reporter covering my tribe, I was slapped with a prior restraint, which was basically a judicial order limiting my reporting based on content. Because I am a citizen of a sovereign tribe, my reporting was deemed subject to tribal jurisdiction.

However, I was fortunate enough to have garnered the amicus support of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which I believe helped put pressure on my tribe to find a fair resolution. Thankfully, the initial decision was later overturned. The experience inspired me to serve on the board of directors of the Native American Journalists Association. That is where I first crossed paths about a decade ago with the films co-director Rebecca Landsberry-Baker (Muscogee Nation), who is now the organizations executive director.

The Muscogee Nation is one of only five (out of more than 500) tribes in the U.S. that has free press legislation written into its constitution. About three years after the legislations creation, the Muscogee Nations tribal council sought to repeal its Free Press Act. That led Mvskoke Media into a fight against corruption to preserve its rights as an independent publication.

As the papers former editor and a member of the Muscogee Nation, Landsberry-Baker felt a responsibility to tell the story of how this important free press legislation was being repealed in an effort to censor the tribally funded newspaper.

I felt like at my own tribe this was my responsibility to document what was happening there when the Free Press Act was repealed, she said. I thought this was my chance to do something for my people, my community to make sure this story does not go untold.

Outside of the bubble of tribal communities, Id venture to say most Americans are unfamiliar with the censorship of Native journalists by tribal communities. This was the case for Peeler when he began working on the project with Landsberry-Baker.

When we started, I had no idea this was an issue. This was totally mind-blowing to me that this was happening in America, Peeler told me. I felt like if I didnt know that, a lot of other people wouldnt know about it.

Landsberry-Baker hopes the film illustrates why press freedoms for Native people reporting on their tribal governments is important.

Independent tribal media helps support and strengthen tribal sovereignty because it provides a mechanism for accountability between tribal citizens and the government that represents them, she said. It really is so important that tribal citizens are involved in their electoral process. And whats the best way to do that? To be an informed and educated citizen.

Although this movie is about tribal government, the concept of a free press and its importance is universal. I know my past struggle with press censorship by tribal government isnt unique to tribal reporters or even journalists in mainstream media. Its why I am so excited to see this film at CIFF.

There are several other excellent selections that I plan on attending that really explore the vastness of the Indigenous experience. This includes stories from this continent, also known to Indigenous peoples as Turtle Island, as well as Brazil, Chile and Australia. As I have noted in previous columns, representation of Indigenous peoples is important because they -- consciously and subconsciously -- inform our opinions on other issues involving Native people.

Patrick Shepherd, CIFFs associate director said he hopes that dedicating a portion of the festival to Indigenous cinema will encourage more filmmakers from Native communities to submit their work.

Were an organization whose mission is to show the newest and best films from around the world and help people learn something along the way, and certainly the story of Indigenous communities has not been told as broadly as it should be, he said. Our work is to elevate these stories from the United States and around the world.

This is especially important in Northeast Ohio, where the racist image of Chief Wahoo shaped the regions perception of Native people for decades.

Efforts like CIFFs are an important part of undoing the harmful stereotypes of Indigenous peoples that have taken root here.

Bad Press has one in-person showing on March 27 at 7:25 p.m. and is also available via CIFF Streams. Visit clevelandfilm.org for more info and tickets.

A Clevelander from the Slavic Village neighborhood, Nancy Kelsey started her career in journalism before working in communications. Her biggest loves are her husband, family, dogs, volunteering, traveling, writing, learning about other cultures and sharing her own. You can reach her at nancy.kelseyPD@yahoo.com.
Ohios transportation budget, House Bill 23, is offering a jarring view of what happens when lawmakers rush to add pet projects, hoping to get them into a bill that must pass before months end, but without having done due diligence on potentially far-reaching proposals.

Luckily, three misguided transportation measures now lie on the Ohio Senates cutting-room floor, but what else is hiding in the 212-page version the Senate passed yesterday?

And how many other lawmakers take the same lackadaisical view as state Sen. Stephanie Kunze of the Columbus area, a Republican who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee? Last week, regarding a proposal to raise the speed limit on rural two-lane highways to 60 mph that was later pulled, she told reporters, We put it in the bill to see what kind of conversation we could get started.

In similar vein, state Rep. Tom Patton of Strongsville defended his short-lived attempt to ban mid-street bike lanes in Ohios largest cities -- a transportation bill amendment blatantly aimed at halting a fully funded bike lane project in Cleveland -- by saying, This is what the legislative process is about, to ensure we bring leaders to the table to discuss issues impacting residents, our communities and beyond.

No. The legislative process is not about frivolously sending up trial balloons to see what catches the wind and what doesnt. Its about serious issues, changing laws that could have a long-term impact on citizens health and safety and communities economic well-being. Such proposals should not be introduced without responsible consultation and research.

The proposal to raise, from 55 mph to 60 mph, Ohios maximum speed limit on two-lane highways outside of municipalities clearly wasnt the result of studies or even advance discussions with key constituencies.

Cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer reported that Kunze told journalists last week that her committee awaited the views of the Ohio Departments of Public Safety and Transportation, among others, to see if theyve had any recent studies or additional information.

Yet, Pelzer noted, A 2019 study of 25 years of speed-limit changes and traffic fatalities by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that a 5 mph increase in the maximum state speed limit was associated with an 8.5% increase in fatality rates on interstates and freeways, and a 2.8% increase [in fatalities] on other roads.

Rushed amendments offered without adequate review can also fail to do what was intended. For instance, while the proposal to boost rural two-lane speed limits was described as applying to state routes, Pelzer reported that the actual language, when the Senate released it last week, could also apply to some U.S. routes. The amendment also included language, not previously revealed, allowing cities and villages to ask that routes that now have a 60 mph speed limit be increased to 65 mph, if the Ohio Department of Transportation determined after an engineering study that could be done safely.

Fortunately, Gov. Mike DeWine -- clearly not consulted about the proposal, either -- told reporters March 21 that he was adamantly against the speed-limit measure. The amendment was pulled the next day.

Its also about credibility. Tom Patton, a seasoned legislator, lost a lot of his luster over his miscued attempt to sink the Cleveland bike lane, an amendment he had to sink instead.

Patton also appears to have failed in a separate effort to get into the transportation bill a measure blatantly crafted so it would have required new state-financed entrance and exit ramps off Interstate 71 in Brunswick -- but likely nowhere else, based on its narrowly specified demographic and geographic criteria. The measure, no longer in the Senate version of the transportation budget as of a Legislative Service Commission summary March 15, had been strongly supported in Pattons hometown of Strongsville -- but angrily opposed in neighboring Brunswick.

There are two lessons here. Sunshine can be an effective disinfectant for special-interest legislation that often-unnamed lawmakers try to jam into must-pass bills. But its not a guarantee. The best safeguard against ill-considered and vested-interest measures is for lawmakers to do their due diligence at the outset, before they introduce their bills or amendments.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

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LONDON  Amid protests planned across France over pension reforms backed by the governments, an official state visit by Britains King Charles was canceled.

Both Frances Elysee Palace and Buckingham Palace confirmed the trip had been shelved on Friday morning, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, the kings son, William, the Prince of Wales, made a surprise trip to Poland to visit with British troops helping to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Prince William became the first member of the royal family to meet the troops in Poland. His visit was kept secret until after his arrival, The Guardian reported.

Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, were scheduled to visit France from Sunday through Wednesday. Their itinerary was to include stops in Paris and the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

The decision to cancel the trip was made after demonstrations protesting pension reforms by French President Emmanuel Macrons government turned violent in some areas, including Bordeaux, on Thursday, CNN said.

The Elysee Palace said in a statement that the kings state visit will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

In view of yesterdays announcement of a new national day of action against pension reform on Tuesday, March 28 in France, the visit of King Charles III, originally scheduled for March 26-29 in our country, will be postponed, the statement read.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the postponement to CNN, adding: Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

The surprise two-day visit by Prince of Wales was made to thank British and Polish troops for their efforts supporting Ukraines resistance against invading Russian troops, as well as to learn more about how the country has cared for displaced Ukrainian refugees.

I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that youre doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on whats going on, he said to British soldiers at an air defense military base, according to The Guardian. Youre doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you.
The moment of the anomaly during the New Shepard cargo mission NS-23, in which the booster's engine failed.

Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin released findings from an investigation into the failed flight of a cargo mission last year, which it says was due to an issue in the rocket's engine nozzle.

The company's New Shepard rocket, flying the NS-23 mission carrying science and research payloads, suffered a failure in September 2022. No people were onboard, and Blue Origin says its capsule's emergency escape system functioned properly, but the rocket's reusable booster was destroyed.

Bezos' company had previously said little about its investigation over the past six months, which was conducted with Federal Aviation Administration oversight. For its part, the FAA told CNBC that the regulator's "mishap" investigation "remains open."

"The agency is currently reviewing the company's submission of its mishap report. FAA approval is required to close the investigation and for the New Shepard System to return to flight," an FAA spokesperson said in a statement.

In a blog post on Friday, Blue Origin said it identified "a thermo-structural failure of the engine nozzle" as the direct cause of the issue, and is now modifying the engine, including design changes to account for higher-than-expected temperatures during the flight.

"Blue Origin expects to return to flight soon, with a re-flight of the NS-23 payloads," the company said.

The New Shepard rocket launches from Blue Origin's private facility in West Texas, carrying people and payloads above 100 kilometers  or more than 340,000 feet  for a couple minutes of weightlessness. The capsule is flown autonomously, with no human pilot, and floats down with the assistance of a set of parachutes to land in the Texas desert. The New Shepard rocket booster is reusable, returning to land on a concrete pad near the launch site.

Blue Origin said its investigation found that NS-23 flight's engine failure was due to "operational temperatures that exceeded the expected and analyzed values of the nozzle material." The company recovered fragments of the BE-3PM engine's nozzle, finding "clear evidence of thermal damage and hot streaks resulting from increased operating temperatures."

The company noted that its design changes are intended to improve the engine's performance at high temperature, as well as strengthen the engine's nozzle.
An Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video game is inserted into the Microsoft's Xbox One video game console arranged in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022.

Shares of Activision Blizzard surged Friday, after the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority narrowed the scope of its investigation into Microsoft 's takeover of the games publisher.

The development marks a partial win for Microsoft, as it pursues an expansion of its video game business. The Redmond, Washington-based technology giant has deepened its focus on gaming through blockbuster acquisitions, such as its purchase of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks.

In February, the CMA published provisional findings from its probe into the takeover, stating at the time that the transaction may result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation. Among its concerns, the regulator flagged that the deal would cause a substantial lessening of competition in the console gaming market.

Since then, the regulator has received a "significant amount" of feedback from various industry participants on the deal. With this new evidence, the CMA now says it no longer believes the transaction will hamper competition in console games.

"Having considered the additional evidence provided, we have now provisionally concluded that the merger will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in console gaming services because the cost to Microsoft of withholding Call of Duty from PlayStation would outweigh any gains from taking such action," Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the CMA investigation, said in a statement Friday.

"Our provisional view that this deal raises concerns in the cloud gaming market is not affected by today's announcement. Our investigation remains on course for completion by the end of April."

Shares of Activision Blizzard were up more than 5% in morning trading in the U.S., after earlier surging more than 7% to a new 52-week high. Microsoft's stock declined slightly amid a broad market slump.
Carl Icahn on Friday alleged that Illumina 's directors demanded extra personal liability insurance before the biotech company signed off on a $7.1 billion acquisition of cancer test developer Grail in 2021.

The claim is the latest development in a brewing proxy fight between the activist investor and San Diego-based Illumina, who have been trading jabs over the Grail deal that faces scrutiny from European antitrust regulators. Icahn, who owns a 1.4% stake in Illumina, is pushing for board seats at the DNA sequencing company. The investor also is calling for Illumina to unwind what he calls a "disastrous" acquisition that he believes represents "a new low in corporate governance."

In a new letter to Illumina shareholders, Icahn claimed that the company's directors required that it commit to providing them with an "unprecedented level of additional personal liability insurance" protection a day before the Grail deal closed on Aug. 18, 2021.

"It seems that, in private, the directors were terrified that their decision might cause them enormous personal harm," Icahn wrote.

He alleged that the purchase of additional insurance for directors was "buried in the hope no one would notice," adding that it was quietly disclosed in a routine filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission three months after the Grail acquisition.

He claimed the additional insurance was a fourth layer of liability protection on top of benefits like "extremely broad" directors and officers, or D&O, insurance coverage paid by Illumina. That insurance offers liability coverage for managers if they are personally sued by employees, vendors, investors or other parties for their actions in managing a company.

"This smells strongly to us like a quid pro quo  a group of trepidatious directors were dragged reluctantly, kicking and screaming, by management into an extremely risky deal and ultimately conditioned their approval upon receiving an even thicker blanket of immunity than the extremely luxuriant comforter which they already possessed," Icahn wrote.

He also alleged the Illumina board decided not to tell shareholders about other negative information when they closed the Grail deal, such as how it could incur significant tax liabilities if Illumina is forced to unwind the acquisition. The board only admitted those potential tax consequences in Illumina's most recent annual report filed on Feb. 17, he noted.

Illumina said in a statement Friday that D&O insurance and other protections are standard for companies and "support directors in making decisions in the best interests of shareholders." The company noted that it regularly reviews its D&O insurance to reflect "appropriate coverage."

Illumina added that the company follows appropriate risk management and disclosure practices.

"Illumina's disclosures are full, transparent and timely, consistent with SEC and other disclosure requirements," the company said in the statement. "To keep investors informed, Illumina regularly shares relevant corporate risk factors, including those related to GRAIL. Any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterization of the facts."

Illumina prevailed over the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's opposition to the Grail deal in September, but is fighting for European regulatory approval.

Last year, the EU's executive body, the European Commission, blocked Illumina's acquisition of Grail over concerns it would hurt consumer choice. At the time, it unveiled details of a planned order that would force Illumina to unwind the deal. That could result in a fine of up to 10% of Illumina's annual revenue, which hit more than $4.5 billion last year.

Illumina has challenged the European Commission, arguing the agency lacks jurisdiction to block the merger between the two U.S. companies. A final decision is expected in late 2023 or early 2024, the company noted Monday. Illumina said winning a jurisdictional appeal would eliminate any potential fine and "gives the greatest optionality for Illumina to maximize value for shareholders."

The company on Monday also said it has interviewed Icahn's three nominees for its board of directors and found they lacked relevant skills and experience. In his latest letter, Icahn reiterated his intentions to present his board nominees during the company's annual meeting of shareholders.

"We feel strongly that our three highly qualified nominees (none of whom has ever elected voluntarily to engage in a value destructive war with powerful antitrust regulators) are particularly suited because of their experience to help keep Illumina's directors from painting themselves further into a corner," he wrote.

Icahn's proxy fight follows a rocky 18 months for Illumina. The company's market cap has shrunk to roughly $34 billion from about $75 billion in August 2021, the month it closed the Grail deal. Icahn has previously contended that the acquisition wiped out $50 billion in Illumina's market value, which he said "clearly shows that shareholders have lost faith in Illumina's management team and board of directors."

Illumina earlier this week touted Grail, which claims to offer the only commercially available early screening test that can detect more than 50 types of cancers through a single blood draw. The test generated $55 million in revenue in 2022 and is slated to rake in up to $110 million this year, according to Illumina.

Grail is based in Menlo Park, California.
Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Friday's key moments. Defensive stocks Watch Microsoft Own Nvidia 1. Look to defensive stocks Stocks edged down during midmorning trading Friday after shares of Deutsche Bank (DB) sold off for the third consecutive day amid renewed fears over the health of the European banking sector. Meanwhile, investors are turning to safety in consumer staples. Jim Cramer Friday urged Club members to own wholesale retailer Costco (COST) and consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (PG)  defensive names that are holding up in an uncertain market. Shares of Costco were up around 0.8% Friday morning, at nearly $492 apiece, while P & G was trading up more than 1%, at around $145 a share. 2. Watch Microsoft UK regulators are narrowing the scope of their antitrust probe over Club holding Microsoft 's (MSFT) planned takeover of video game maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI). This news should encourage investors that the deal will proceed as planned. The tie-up would accelerate Microsoft's gaming business across mobile, personal computers, console and in the cloud. At $68.7 billion, it would also be Microsoft's largest acquisition ever. Shares of Microsoft were trading up 0.4% Friday, at nearly $279 apiece. 3. Own Nvidia Club holding Nvidia (NVDA) has been one of the best performing large cap stocks this year, with shares up more than 80% year-to-date. We were pleased to see the chipmaker showcase its impressive technologies and leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) during its annual technology conference for developers earlier this week. Jim said Friday to own Nvidia and not to trade it, since the company is playing a crucial role in the development and adoption of AI. The stock is priced at a premium, but the valuation is justified. Still, we would welcome a pullback to add to our position on a discount. Shares of Nvidia were trading nearly 2% lower Friday, at around $267 apiece. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long COST, PG, MSFT, NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
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Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Deutsche Bank is profitable after shares dipped more than 10% during European trading. Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images

BRUSSELS  European leaders on Friday were keen to stress that the region's banking sector was stable and sound following Deutsche Bank 's sudden slide as markets opened for trade. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters at an EU summit that Deutsche Bank is a profitable business with no reasons for concern. The German lender "has modernized, organized the way it works. It is a very profitable bank and there is no reason to be concerned," he said, according to a translation. Shares of the German lender traded more than 14% lower at one point Friday after a Thursday evening surge for its credit default swaps  a type of contract to insure against a default. This comes just days after the emergency rescue of Credit Suisse and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank as well as several measures from authorities stateside to avoid contagion across the financial sector. French President Emmanuel Macron also told reporters in Brussels that the banking system is solid, while European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said the euro area is resilient because it has strong capital and solid liquidity positions.

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"The euro area banking sector is strong because we have applied the regulatory reforms agreed internationally after the Global Financial Crisis to all of them," she said, according to EU sources. The 27 EU leaders were gathered for their usual end of quarter meeting. Geopolitics dominated the first day of talks, but the banking turmoil ended up being the focus for Friday. This became the case, in particular, as the leaders' conversations developed in parallel to the sharp sell-off in Deutsche Bank shares. In the run up to the gathering, European officials had expressed their frustration with the lack of regulatory controls in the United States, where the recent banking turmoil first emerged. They have been nervous about potential contagion to their own banking sector, mainly as it's not been that long since European banks were in the depths of the global financial crisis. "The banking sector in Europe is much stronger, because we have been through the financial crisis," Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told CNBC Thursday. In the wake of the 2008 shock, European banks underwent massive restructuring and had to significantly shore up their balance sheets. But the EU is still somewhat vulnerable to shocks given that it has a monetary union within the euro area, where 20 nations share the euro, but lacks a fiscal union. Fiscal policy is still the responsibility of the individual governments rather than one single institution. "We need to progress on completing the banking union; further work is also necessary to create a truly European capital markets," Lagarde also told the 27 EU heads of state on Friday.

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A general meeting of Deutsche Bank Arne Dedert | picture alliance | Getty Images

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Deutsche Bank underwent a multibillion-euro restructure in recent years aimed at reducing costs and improving profitability. The lender recorded annual net income of 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) in 2022, up 159% from the previous year. Its CET1 ratio  a measure of bank solvency  came in at 13.4% at the end of 2022, while its liquidity coverage ratio was 142% and its net stable funding ratio stood at 119%. These figures would not indicate that there is any cause for concern about the bank's solvency or liquidity position. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a news conference in Brussels on Friday that Deutsche Bank had "thoroughly reorganized and modernized its business model and is a very profitable bank," adding that there is no basis to speculate about its future. 'Just not very scary' Some of the concerns around Deutsche Bank have centered on its U.S. commercial real estate exposures and substantial derivatives book. However, research firm Autonomous, a subsidiary of AllianceBernstein, on Friday dismissed these concerns as both "well known" and "just not very scary," pointing to the bank's "robust capital and liquidity positions." "Our Underperform rating on the stock is simply driven by our view that there are more attractive equity stories elsewhere in the sector (i.e. relative value)," Autonomous strategists Stuart Graham and Leona Li said in a research note. "We have no concerns about Deutsche's viability or asset marks. To be crystal clear - Deutsche is NOT the next Credit Suisse." Unlike the stricken Swiss lender, they highlighted that Deutsche is "solidly profitable," and Autonomous forecasts a return on tangible book value of 7.1% for 2023, rising to 8.5% by 2025. 'Fresh and intense focus' on liquidity Credit Suisse's collapse boiled down to a combination of three causes, according to JPMorgan. These were a "string of governance failures that had eroded confidence in management's abilities," a challenging market backdrop that hampered the bank's restructuring plan, and the market's "fresh and intense focus on liquidity risk" in the wake of the SVB collapse. While the latter proved to be the final trigger, the Wall Street bank argued that the importance of the environment in which Credit Suisse was trying to overhaul its business model could not be understated, as illustrated by a comparison with Deutsche. "The German bank had its own share of headline pressure and governance fumbles, and in our view had a far lower quality franchise to begin with, which while significantly less levered today, still commands a relatively elevated cost base and has relied on its FICC (fixed income, currencies and commodities) trading franchise for organic capital generation and credit re-rating," JPMorgan strategists said in a note Friday.

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"By comparison, although Credit Suisse clearly has shared the struggles of running a cost and capital intensive IB [investment bank], for the longest time it still had up its sleeve both a high-quality Asset and Wealth Management franchise, and a profitable Swiss Bank; all of which was well capitalised from both a RWA [risk-weighted asset] and Leverage exposure standpoint." They added that whatever the quality of the franchise, the events of recent months had proven that such institutions "rely entirely on trust." "Where Deutsche's governance fumbles could not incrementally 'cost' the bank anything in franchise loss, Credit Suisse's were immediately punished with investor outflows in the Wealth Management division, causing what should have been seen as the bank's 'crown jewel' to themselves deepen the bank's P&L losses," they noted. At the time of SVB's collapse, Credit Suisse was already in the spotlight over its liquidity position and had suffered massive outflows in the fourth quarter of 2022 that had yet to reverse.

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Investors should consider putting their money in consulting stock Accenture, which has a "best of breed model" able to fight through the market volatility, according to Deutsche Bank. Analyst Bryan Keane lifted his 2023 earnings estimates on Accenture by 8 cents a share after the company's latest quarterly results showed strong revenue growth, an adjusted earnings per share beat and bookings momentum. At the same time, Accenture said it plans to slash 19,000 roles over the 18 months as it grapples with slowing spending for IT services and trimmed its revenue outlook. While the cuts could cost the company roughly $1.5 billion through 2024, these initiatives should help protect Accenture's profit margin expansion and establish "structural cost shifts to create enduring value," Keane wrote in a Thursday note to clients. ACN YTD mountain Accenture shares in 2023 Deutsche Bank's $292 price target implies about 7% upside for shares from Thursday's close. The stock's up 1.8% in 2023, following a nearly 36% slump in 2022.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting
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China's peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine is "extremely unfair," since the plan doesn't respect the territorial integrity of the country, said the permanent secretary of Estonia's Ministry of Defense. Beijing issued a 12-point peace plan in February. It is the duty of "the wider global community" to help Ukraine, said Kusti Salm. But China's plan hasn't been fair to Ukraine's people, he said. "Whenever we measure  the feasibility of any peace deal, it needs to be measured against the same principles. Are we outrooting the aggression as a tool?" he asked CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Friday. "Are we honoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of independent nations?" Those are the "key ingredients and elements missing" from China's peace proposal, he said. "That is something I would say [is] extremely unfair to Ukrainian people who have been fighting for their freedom."

No breakthrough at Xi-Putin meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Russia concluded on Wednesday. During the trip, Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders shared warm words and called each other "dear friend." The meeting failed to make any meaningful breakthrough in resolving Ukraine's conflict. Xi and Putin urged "stopping all moves that lead to tensions and the protraction of fighting to prevent the crisis from getting worse or even out of control," according to the joint statement released by China's Foreign Ministry. The statement did not mention Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin's widescale military assault, which has led to thousands of deaths and even more refugees.

Strong ally

Estonia, a Baltic republic, shares a border with Russia. It has been one of Ukraine's strongest allies in the war. Estonia has been "in the forefront of supporting Ukraine, since the very early days," Salm said, adding it has given "the full spectrum" of military assistance, such as tanks, to Kyiv. On Monday, Estonia's Ministry of Defense said it reached a deal to send Ukraine 1 million 155-mm artillery rounds.

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In a statement, Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur said that initiative will "provide Ukraine urgently needed military aid as fast as possible and increase the European defense industry's manufacturing capabilities." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that if Europe hesitates in supporting Ukraine, "evil may have time to regroup and prepare itself for years of war." "It is in your power not to allow this to happen," Zelenskyy said in a speech before members of the European Council on Thursday.

Russia 'outgunning' Ukraine

Russia has been "outgunning" Ukraine when it comes to artillery on the "ratio of one to 10," said Salm. "That's a scary factor," mainly because of supply issues. Moscow is using more artillery ammunition than the European industries can manufacture in a month, he said.

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Crowd of travelers wait to check-in for their flight at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, on May 31, 2022. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

India's airline industry may be on a strong growth trajectory  but don't expect India's outbound travel to overtake China's soon, aviation analysts say. Travel demand to and from India is expected to grow as the country's middle class expands and more residents travel abroad for the first time, Brendan Sobie, independent analyst at Sobie Aviation said. But "don't expect India to be a bigger outbound market than China anytime soon." related investing news Citigroup tells clients how they can invest in the outer space 'goldrush' The South Asian nation may be set to overtake China as the world's most populous country, but there remains a "massive gap" between their aviation markets, Sobie said. "The gap between China and India is huge," Lalitya Dhavala, valuations consultant at travel analytics firm Cirium told CNBC. Although India has the world's third largest aviation market, "China's total fleet is almost five times the existing Indian fleet, for an almost equal population," she said, highlighting it was "indicating room for expansion." In addition, only 7.3% of India's current population holds a passport, Dhavala highlighted.

India's robust growth trajectory

The analysts agree there's potential for growth in India's domestic and international travel market. In comparison to China, India has a larger share of young adults, with 40% of its population under 25 years old, Dhavala said. "This generation is on a rising economic trajectory with a growing desire and appetite to travel and explore the world." According to data from Statista, those under 29 years of age made up 34.12% of China's population in 2021. China has a rapidly rising aging population. Only 7% of India's population this year comprised of adults 65 years and older, compared with 14% in China, data from the Pew Research Center showed. With more women entering the workforce, a dual-income household would also give families more discretionary spending power, she added. "India is going to become one of those key pillars of global aviation, and the next few years ... is India's story as much as anyone's," Air India CEO Campbell Wilson told CNBC this week when asked if India's travel industry could potentially overtake China's.

Shot in the arm for infrastructure

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said it will be spending $12 billion by 2025 to boost regional connectivity by building new airports and renovating existing ones, Reuters has reported. On Monday, the government announced more infrastructure investments for the aviation sector: to increase the number of airports, carriers, and staff to keep up with the travel demand to and from India which picked up rapidly after the pandemic eased. "Without infrastructure investments the risk is there would be a demand for more flights but not enough infrastructure to handle the flights, particularly in major cities," Sobie said. The country's aviation sector is "entering its growth phase," said Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. "We need to put in place the civil aviation infrastructure and capabilities [so] that by 2047, we will be able to support a $20 trillion dollar economy within India."

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"At one point, we did not have passengers to fill up [the] airlines due to Covid. Now, we don't have enough airplanes to fly our passengers," Scindia said during the CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi at the start of the week. India, the world's fastest-growing economy according to the World Economic Forum, welcomed 410,000 passengers daily in 2019 before Covid hit  but that has reached new highs of 456,000 passengers in recent months, Scindia claimed. Even though the peak season in October has passed, he said airports are still welcoming between 420,000 to 440,000 passengers daily. Scindia added that passenger capacity at the country's six major airports is expected to grow to 420 million in four years from the current 192 million.

Looking beyond India's borders

In expectation of an influx of passengers in the coming year, both domestically and internationally, national carrier Air India announced in February that it will be buying 470 Boeing and Airbus aircraft  a decision Scindia called the "largest order in international civil aviation history." Late last year, Indian conglomerate Tata Group announced that Vistara will merge with national carrier Air India by March 2024. Vistara is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines . After the merger, SIA will own 25.1% of Air India. "The opportunity for Indian aviation is massive  the growth opportunity is very, very real," Air India's Wilson said Monday, adding that India's flag carrier is focused on growing internationally to catch up with its competitors.

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JPMorgan isn't concerned about Deutsche Bank , and investors should focus on the European bank's "solid" fundamentals, analysts from the firm said Friday. Shares of the German lender slid more than 11% on Friday following a spike in the company's credit default swaps Thursday night. Credit default swaps act as a insurance for bondholders in the event of the company defaults. To be sure, there was no clear catalyst for the spike in Deutsche's credit default swaps. The move comes as concerns about the stability of European banks persisted. Earlier this month, Swiss regulators forced UBS to acquire rival Credit Suisse to shore up the country's banking industry. DB 1D mountain DB falls JPMorgan, however, is maintaining its overweight rating on Deutsche Bank. Although it's "easy to draw comparisons" to the 2015-2018 period, when JPMorgan last had market concerns around Deutsche, investors should focus on the bank's fundamentals," analyst Kian Abouhossein said in the note. Abouhossein pointed to three key strengths for Deutsche Bank: "Strong capital ratios (13.4% common equity tier 1 ratio) with limited litigation concerns," "Strong liquidity ratios (142% liquidity coverage ratio) with limited deposit outflows in 2015-18, even [in] times times of stress," Strong profitability, with a net profit of 5 billion in 2022 "We are not concerned today about counterparty, liquidity issues with DBK being Top 5 FICC (fixed income, currency and commodities) player globally with $9.5 billion in 2022 FICC revenues," Abouhossein said. "DBK 's recent CDS widening is in our view related to one-way trades of de-risking across all market participants and we don't see this and the associated share price decline as a reflection of the fundamentals of the bank," he added.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
French gendarmes react near burning garbage bins amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, March 23, 2023.

King Charles III's visit to France has been postponed, as protests continue over the Paris government's pension system reforms.

This trip was due to be the new British monarch's first state visit and was scheduled to run from March 26 to March 29.

Unions on Thursday called for a national day of action involving strikes and protests on March 28.

The decision to cancel the visit was taken by the French and British governments after a phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and King Charles, according to a statement.

Street protests have intensified in recent days, after the government last week announced it would use special constitutional powers to force its unpopular pension bill through the lower house of parliament without a vote.

King Charles was due to visit Paris and Bordeaux, both of which have experienced tense protests. Bordeaux town hall was set on fire, although the flames were quickly extinguished, the BBC reported.

In Paris and other cities, tear gas and water cannons have been fired at protesters, and police officers have been injured.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella never expected to lead one of the world's largest, most powerful tech companies  he was just excited to work there, period.

Nadella joined Microsoft as a young engineer in 1992 and, after a 22-year climb up the corporate ladder, became the company's third CEO in 2014.

"I remember distinctly walking into building 22 at Microsoft thinking that's the greatest job on Earth I [could] have and I don't need anything more," Nadella, 55, told LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky in an interview published last week.

Becoming CEO was "not even a thought" in his long-term career plan, Nadella said.

Instead of being forward-minded, Nadella says he was focused on excelling in the role he had at the time. One of the most important lessons he learned in his decades at Microsoft  and his "best career advice"  is simple: "Don't wait for your next job to do your best work."

"There was never a time where I thought the job I was doing, all through my 30 years of Microsoft, that somehow I was doing that as a way to some other job," he explained. "I felt the job I was doing there was the most important thing. I genuinely felt it."

Instead of viewing your current job as an obstacle to achieving your career goals, Nadella recommends looking at it as an opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment to work, as well as your willingness to learn.

Nadella's career is a prime example of how this attitude can put you on the fast track to a promotion or pay raise sooner than any five-year plan can.

Throughout his tenure at Microsoft, Nadella had to constantly adapt depending on the teams he worked with and the divisions he managed, all while keeping pace with fast-changing technologies. He led the development of some of Microsoft's complex products, including Bing and Xbox Live.

"You cannot grow if you don't think your growth comes because of what you're doing," he added.

If you're feeling stuck at work or struggling to find meaning in your job, Nadella has advice for that, too.

During his 30s, a conversation with Doug Burgum, the current governor of North Dakota, made him think about his purpose at Microsoft, he said in a May 2018 interview with CNBC.

Burgum pointed out the importance of thinking about a deeper meaning to work, one that's more than transactional, since we spend so much time at our jobs.

It led Nadella to ask himself: "Why am I at Microsoft? What is it that gives me the energy at Microsoft, day in and day after?" he told CNBC's Jon Fortt.

That motivation came, he said, from "curiosity, a love of ideas, and the ability to translate that into impact."

Asking yourself those same questions about your job and company can help you evaluate if your job is aligned with your passions and the impact you want to have on the world.

DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter!

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Microsoft, Salesforce and SAP are still some of the best places to work in the world even after layoffs, according to Glassdoor

Layoff anxiety is realbut you can still thrive during challenging times. Here's how

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A prescription for Pfizers Paxlovid tablets outside of his apartment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 25, 2022. (Photo by Rachel Wisniewski/For the Washington Post)

People who take Pfizer 's Covid antiviral treatment Paxlovid shortly after infection may reduce their risk of developing long Covid, regardless of their age, vaccination status or infection history, new research suggests.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine on Thursday, found that people who took Paxlovid within five days of a positive Covid test saw a 26% lower risk of long Covid compared with those who didn't receive it. More than 35,000 people took the oral Covid pill in the study, while 246,000 did not.

The study only enrolled people who are eligible for Paxlovid under emergency use authorization. That includes adults over 50, or those who have an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

The findings suggest the benefits of Paxlovid may go beyond what the drug is designed for, which is to treat adults and children who are at a higher risk of ending up in the hospital or dying from a Covid infection. The drug still demonstrated that intended benefit in the study, lowering the risk of death by 47% and hospitalization by 24% about a month after initial infection.

The new study comes as researchers work to fill the knowledge gap about long Covid, an often debilitating condition with limited data and no proven treatment available.

Long Covid refers to new, returning or ongoing health issues more than four weeks after an initial Covid infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those issues can include fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pain and brain fog, and can last for weeks, months or even years. The CDC estimates that 1 in 5 Covid survivors ages 18 to 64, and 1 in 4 survivors 65 or older, have an ongoing health issue that might be attributable to a previous infection.

Most of what is known about long Covid is that certain people are more at risk of it, and Covid vaccination likely provides some protection against it, according to Dr. Jessica Bender, co-medical director at the University of Washington's post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation and Recovery Clinic. She called the new study "very exciting and promising" because it's the first to show an association between Paxlovid and a decreased risk of long Covid.

Dr. Anita Chopra, a board-certified internal medicine physician who sees patients at a University of Washington Medicine Primary Care center, added that prescribers can use the study results to encourage the uptake of Paxlovid. Eligible patients will be more reassured knowing the drug may lead to a significant reduction in their chances of developing the post-Covid condition, she said.

But Chopra acknowledged that the study was observational, meaning the researchers observed participants who did or didn't take Paxlovid without intervening. It wasn't a randomized controlled study  considered the gold standard for clinical research  where researchers intervene and can better examine a potential cause-and-effect relationship between receiving a drug like Paxlovid and an outcome.

Bender emphasized the need to conduct a randomized controlled study to "replicate these findings."

She said the study's other limitation is it identified participants using health-care databases of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The researchers need to conduct studies in other patient populations outside of that health-care system, according to Bender.

The study comes as Paxlovid inches closer to winning full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, with the agency's advisors voting overwhelmingly in support of the drug last week. The FDA is expected to make a decision in May.

More than 12 million courses of Paxlovid have been delivered to pharmacies across the U.S., according to the latest federal data. Roughly 8 million Americans have taken the drug, with about 1.3 million doses available nationwide.

Correction: Bender said the study's other limitation is it identified participants using health-care databases of the Department of Veterans Affairs. An earlier version misstated the name of the department and the doctor's surname.
Confucius Institute inaugurated in Djibouti

Xinhua) 13:20, March 24, 2023

Participants have group photos at the inauguration ceremony of Confucius Institute in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on March 23, 2023. The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

DJIBOUTI CITY, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation.

The institute, nestled alongside the premises of the industrial and commercial high school of Djibouti, was inaugurated in the presence of senior Djibouti officials, diplomats from the Chinese Embassy to Djibouti as well representatives of the academia.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud noted that the Red Sea nation has recognized the importance of the Chinese language as a platform for deepening all-round cooperation between China and Djibouti.

The minister, in particular, underscored his hope that the Confucius Institute in Djibouti will further augment cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries, saying that "The increasing economic and commercial engagement with China has encouraged many Djiboutian businessmen and younger people to learn Chinese language."

He said the Confucius Institute, which focuses on promoting the Chinese language and culture, has already made great progress during its initial operations over the past seven months.

"In just seven months of its operation, the Confucius Institute has more than 600 students, 18 classes and seven teaching points. Its students mainly come from high schools, industrial and commercial high school and Luban Workshop in the capital," he said. "Given the cultural activities that have been carried out, I am confident that the Confucius Institute in Djibouti will fully play its role as a bridge and make unremitting efforts to promote cooperation and mutual learning between the two peoples."

Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti Hu Bin expressed his beliefs that learning each other's languages and cultures helps elevate the relationship between the two countries.

He said China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Djibouti, promote respect for cultural diversity and inclusiveness, and consolidate the foundation of people-to-people friendship.

Zhao Lingshan, vice president and secretary-general of the Chinese International Education Foundation, addressed the event via a video link and underscored support for the success of the Confucius Institutes in Djibouti.

"People in Djibouti are increasingly enthusiastic about learning Chinese and the demand for Chinese learning is growing rapidly, which opens up a broad horizon for the development of Confucius Institutes," he said.

The agreement to establish the Confucius Institute in Djibouti was signed between the National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti, the Chinese International Education Foundation and Sichuan Normal University in February 2022.

Wang Mingyi, president of Sichuan Normal University, said as an important outcome of China-Africa cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the university will fully support the development of Confucius Institute in Djibouti, integrate resources from all sides, and actively explore a school model that meets the needs of the local society in Djibouti.

Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud speaks at the inauguration ceremony of Confucius Institute in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on March 23, 2023. The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud (R) and Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti Hu Bin unveil the bronze sign at the inauguration ceremony of Confucius Institute in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on March 23, 2023. The Confucius Institute in Djibouti was inaugurated Thursday, with the stakeholders pledging to make the institute a better platform for China-Djibouti cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Market Movers rounds up the best trade ideas from investors and analysts throughout the day. Jim Cramer talked about Deutsche Bank . Shares were down 14% during intraday trading after its credit default swaps jumped without an apparent catalyst , but the stock rebounded to close down 3% Friday. Despite the slide, JPMorgan defended the European bank, noting investors shouldn't be concerned and should instead focus on its "solid" fundamentals . The pros also discussed Netflix as Bank of America reiterated it as buy. The firm emphasized the streaming service is poised to outperform and has significant subscriber runway . Other names mentioned included Microsoft and Apple . Both are currently held in Cramer's Charitable Trust portfolio.
Several people were killed in different parts of Ukraine after overnight Russian strikes, Ukrainian news outlets reported, claiming the attacks were carried out by Iranian-made "Shahed" drones and fighter jets. A number of towns lost power again as emergency teams work to bring it back, local authorities said.

Ukraine ally Estonia branded a much-talked about Chinese peace plan as "extremely unfair." Estonian leadership says that the 12-point plan does not respect Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's highly publicized visit to Moscow earlier this week failed to achieve any breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but visibly touted the closeness between Xi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's military leadership is signaling that a much-anticipated counteroffensive is coming "very soon" as Russian forces appear to lose momentum in parts of eastern Ukraine.
Jack Dorsey, chief executive officer of Square Inc., second right, tours the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015.

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Block  Shares shed nearly 3%, after losing nearly 15% in the prior trading session when short seller Hindenburg Research alleged that Block facilitates fraud. Atlantic Equities downgraded the stock to hold on Friday, citing the lack of clarity on the payment company's Cash App after Hindenburg's short position.

GameStop -- The famed meme stock gained 2.5% in midday trading. The stock has been active since it reported its first profitable quarter in two years earlier this week.

Deutsche Bank  The German lender's U.S.-listed shares slid 5%, bouncing off its lows. The bank stock had been down about 14% after the bank's credit default swaps jumped without an apparent catalyst. JPMorgan defended Deutsche Bank Friday, saying investors should focus on the European bank's "solid" fundamentals.

Regeneron  Regeneron gained 2.2% after Jefferies upgraded the pharmaceutical stock to a buy from hold rating and said its Dupixent drug, in development with Sanofi, could serve as the next big catalyst for the company.

Wells Fargo and JPMorgan  Shares of commercial bank giants were lower in midday trading, with Wells Fargo pulling back 2.3% while JPMorgan fell 2.2%. Both stocks have been under pressure in line with broader financial sector turmoil this month.

Incyte  The pharmaceutical stock fell about 4% after Incyte announced that the Food and Drug Administration had informed the company that the regulator would not approve an application for a new blood cancer drug tablet in its current form.

Activision Blizzard and Microsoft  Shares jumped 5% after the U.K. Competiton and Markets Authority dropped some of its concerns with the potential purchase of the company by Microsoft. Microsoft shares were up 0.2%.

 CNBC's Alexander Harring, Yun Li, Jesse Pound, Michelle Fox and Samantha Subin contributed to this report.
China and U.S. flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. Florence Lo | Reuters

BEIJING  China says it would "strongly oppose" a forced sale of TikTok, making clear the government's involvement with the social media giant that's trying hard to distance itself from Beijing authorities. The Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that a sale or spinoff of TikTok from its Beijing-based parent ByteDance is subject to Chinese law on tech exports  which requires licenses for the export of certain technology based on national security concerns. ByteDance also owns Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok that's popular in the country. "The Chinese government would make a decision in accordance with law," said spokesperson Shu Jueting in Chinese, translated by CNBC. Shu was speaking at the ministry's weekly press conference, hours ahead of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before a U.S. House of Representatives committee. Lawmakers questioned Chew for more than five hours, and wanted clarity on TikTok's ability to operate independently of Chinese influences on its parent. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Chinese Commerce Ministry's remarks.

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The questioning did not appear to relieve U.S. lawmakers. "At the end of the day, it was clear from the testimony that Mr. Chew reports to the CEO of ByteDance. ByteDance controls TikTok," Cameron Kelly, visiting fellow at Brookings Institution, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" Friday. Kelly used to be a general counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2009 to 2013. Kelly said the evidence that ByteDance has legal control of TikTok increases U.S. lawmakers' doubts over how well the app can demonstrate its independence through restructuring. TikTok has a "Project Texas" plan to store American user data on U.S. soil  in a bid to show the company's claims that mainland Chinese authorities have no access to them.

Beijing ... is now double-daring Congress and the Administration to 'make my day.' Daniel Russel Asia Society Policy Institute

"I don't think a shutdown a ban or a complete divestiture [of TikTok] is needed. But I do think you have to separate that legal control," said Kelly, noting that could be done through a trust structure. But the commerce ministry's claim of control over a TikTok sale or spinoff indicates Beijing wants to be involved. "The Chinese government's public declaration that it would block the sale of TikTok in the U.S. has little to do with protection of Chinese algorithms and technology and a lot to do with giving Washington a taste of its own medicine," Daniel Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy, Asia Society Policy Institute, said in a statement. "Beijing, having heard [U.S. Commerce] Secretary Raymond's lament that banning TikTok would infuriate voters under 35, is now double-daring Congress and the Administration to 'make my day,'" Russel said.

The U.S. has increased restrictions on the ability of American businesses and individuals to work with Chinese businesses on critical tech for high-end semiconductors. When asked about the commerce ministry's remarks Thursday, TikTok's CEO said the app isn't available in mainland China and is based in Los Angeles. But he said the company did use some of ByteDance's Chinese employees' expertise on "engineering projects."

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

Chew also told U.S. lawmakers that China-based employees at its parent company ByteDance may still have access to some U.S. data, but that new data will stop flowing once the firm completes its Project Texas plan. Official Chinese comments have previously emphasized that China-based companies should comply with local laws and regulations when operating overseas. It's not immediately clear how China's export control law, enacted in December 2020, might apply to TikTok. Different types of exports are managed by different government organizations, "each of which has a separate regulatory system," the EU Chamber of Commerce in China said in its latest position paper. It called for greater clarity on the roles of the different bodies involved with implementing the export control law.

What's next for TikTok?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before his speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 4, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland.

The New York City grand jury that has been hearing testimony that could lead to a criminal charge against former President Donald Trump is off Friday, but threats directed at the Manhattan district attorney's office only intensified.

The New York Police Department was investigating a suspicious powder sent to DA Alvin Bragg's office on Friday. The envelope, which was addressed to Bragg, contained a letter threatening to kill the district attorney.

Earlier, Trump himself suggested there would be "potential death & destruction" if he faced a criminal charge.

The Manhattan panel is probing a $130,000 payment Trump's then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen gave porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before Election Day 2016. Daniels' real name is Stephanie Clifford.

That grand jury could resume work on Monday, making it the earliest a potential indictment could come.

In Washington, one of Trump's current lawyers, Evan Corcoran, appeared before a grand jury that has been hearing testimony related to a criminal probe of Trump for retaining government records at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump's legal team earlier this week lost a last-ditch effort at the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia to block a Corcoran's ordered appearance.

Trump is also under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for his attempts to sabotage the certification of President Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over him in the 2020 presidential election.

Those investigations are taking place even as Trump is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
US forces patrol near the countryside of Rumaylan (Rmeilan) in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province near the Turkish border, on December 2, 2022.

A U.S. contractor was killed and five U.S. service members and one U.S. contractor were wounded Thursday when a suicide drone hit a coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria just before 2 p.m. local time, the Defense Department said in a statement.

The intelligence community believes the drone to have been of Iranian origin, according to the statement. The U.S. retaliated with airstrikes on Iranian-linked targets in the area.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, "At the direction of President Biden, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

"The airstrikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC.

"Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and with those who were wounded in the attack earlier today," he said.

Two wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the wounded U.S. contractor were evacuated to medical facilities in Iraq.

Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said Thursday in testimony to Congress that there have been 78 attacks against facilities housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The attacks, mainly by drones and rockets, are believed to have carried out by Iran or Iranian-backed proxies.
Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street: UBS reiterates Tesla as buy UBS said it's recent survey checks show Tesla is "best positioned" to win the EV race. "Despite a plethora of BEV launches, legacy mass OEMs are the relative losers in this year's survey. In a market that is no longer supply constrained, technology and cost leadership have become more important than ever, and we think Tesla is clearly best positioned to win as it fully controls all the mission-critical levers in-house." Wells Fargo reiterates Microsoft as a top AI pick Wells said Microsoft is one of the biggest beneficiaries of AI. "We think Generative AI holds the potential to redefine software." Jefferies downgrades UBS to hold from buy Jefferies said it sees too much uncertainty after the banking giant's acquisition of Credit Suisse. "With the acquisition of CS, UBS' equity story takes a U-turn. Deal maths are compelling on a three-year view but risks & uncertainty are high in the next 12 months." Jefferies upgrades Regeneron to buy from hold Jefferies said it's bullish on several of the pharmaceutical company's products. "We're increasing our PT to $925 & upgrading REGN from Hold to Buy." Read more about this call here. Atlantic Equities downgrades Block to neutral from outperform Atlantic Equities said it's concerned about the accusations leveled by Hindenberg Research on Thursday. "The Hindenburg Research report allegations focused on Cash App's predatory fees, fake user accounts, and links to criminal activity. We are less concerned about the high fees and user metrics, but a significant proportion of profits could be impacted longer term by improving risk controls to reduce illegal activity." Read more about this call here. Citi adds a positive catalyst watch on Lululemon Citi said it's bullish heading into Lululemon earnings next week. "With investors anticipating conservative F23 guidance and shares trading at 16.5x F23 EV/EBITDA (well below NKE at 25x), we believe the setup into the print is favorable. We are opening a 30-day positive Catalyst Watch." Bank of America reiterates Netflix as buy Bank of America said Netflix is firing on all cylinders. "Supported by its world-class brand, leading global subscriber base and position as a leading innovator we believe Netflix is poised to outperform driven by three main catalysts: (1) still significant subscriber runway; (2) ramping of its AVOD offering and (3) upside from password sharing crackdown." RBC initiates Legend Biotech as outperform RBC said in it's bullish on the Legend's myeloma cancer drug. "Impressive data to date provides confidence in successful expansion into earlier lines." TD Cowen downgrades Coinbase to market perform from outperform TD Cowen said in its downgrade of Coinbase that it's concerned about the company's litigation with the SEC. "We are downgrading COIN today to Underperform (3) on incremental risk to operations from the SEC Wells Notice and crypto banking crackdown. COIN appears headed for litigation against the SEC. Argus upgrades Cracker Barrel to buy from hold Argus said it likes the restaurant chain's increased sales and attractive long-term growth strategy. " CBRL has seen success with new menu items, including alcoholic beverages and appetizers, that are appealing to younger customers and helping to raise the average check." Barclays reiterates Meta as overweight Barclays said the bull case on Meta has not been unlocked yet. "Shares have re-rated significantly in the past few months and while we think the alpha vs. GOOG and AMZN may have been realized on recent cost cuts, the bull case around how generative AI could unlock value has not." Credit Suisse names CBOE a top pick Credit Suisse named the global markets and exchange company as a top pick and said the stock's valuation is compelling. "We elevate Cboe Global Markets to our top pick in 2023 owing to product innovations driving durable index options growth momentum, enterprise revenue growth of 5-7% (versus revenue growth of 2-4% for the traditional exchanges) and relative valuation." Read more about this call here. TD Cowen names McDonald's a top pick in Europe. The firm said it's bullish on McDonald's European business. "We have confidence in 2023 U.S. SSS (same-store sales) outperformance that should lead to positive sales revisions, driven by the brand's scale and completed store remodel program." Citi reiterates Nvidia as buy Citi said Nvidia is a top beneficiary of AI. "We continue to view Generative AI as more than just hype and capture key takeaways from industry conferences and interesting case studies." Loop reiterates Wendy's as buy Loop said it likes the fast food giant's pricing power. "The recent move by Wendy's to raise 4/$4 to 4/$5 and $5 Biggie Bags to $6 could drive a 500+ bp lift to comps if/when it is expanded nationwide."
Abortion rights protester Caitlin Devore, dressed as a "handmaiden" crosses a street to join a a gathering to protest the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health case on June 24, 2022 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Abortion is legal in Wyoming again, oddly enough as the result of a state constitutional amendment pushed by conservatives opposed to Obamacare more than a decade ago.

Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens in a ruling Wednesday temporarily blocked enforcement of the state's newly enacted abortion ban that took effect Sunday.

Owens' decision pointed to a 2012 amendment to the state constitution that granted Wyoming citizens the right to make their own health-care decisions.

Wyoming voters overwhelmingly passed that amendment, which was intended to protect them from hypothetical harms contained in then-President Barack Obama's signature health law, the Affordable Care Act.

Anti-abortion lawmakers in Wyoming have tried to work around the 2012 amendment in passing the ban on abortion.

The state's sweeping ban, dubbed "Life is a Human Right Act," claims that abortion is not a form of health care.

"Instead of being health care, abortion is the intentional termination of the life of an unborn baby," the act says, explicitly targeting the anti-Obamacare amendment in the constitution.

The ban prohibits abortion in most circumstances, providing exceptions for incest, sexual assault, cases of "lethal fetal anomaly," or when the pregnant person's life is in danger. Violation of the law is a felony and carries penalties of up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

But Owens in her ruling Wednesday said the state legislature was overstepping its authority.

"To declare abortion is not health care when there may be evidence to show that it is  the legislature cannot make an end run around essentially providing a constitutional amendment," she said during a hearing on Wednesday, according to a New York Times report.

Owens added "the state cannot legislate away a constitutional right. It's not clear if abortion is or isn't health care, and the court has to then decide that."

She also told Jay Jerde, a special assistant attorney general for Wyoming who is defending the law for the state, "I'm just still hung up on abortion not being health care," the Times reported.

"An abortion can only be performed by a licensed medical professional, so what authority does the legislature have to declare that abortion is not health care when our laws only allow a licensed medical professional to administer one?" she asked Jerde during the hearing.

Owen's decision pauses the abortion ban until further court proceedings in a lawsuit challenging it. It's unclear whether the court will ultimately agree that the anti-Obamacare amendment prohibits a state abortion ban.

The constitutional amendment contains language that might allow the ban to take effect. That amendment said the state legislature "may determine reasonable and necessary restrictions on the rights granted" by the amendment.

Across other states, constitutional amendments have become unlikely weapons in the fight against restrictions on abortion. For instance, a judge in Ohio in October temporarily blocked the state's abortion ban because of a constitutional provision adopted in 2011 as a backlash to Obamacare.

In South Carolina, the Supreme Court struck down the state's abortion ban after six weeks, ruling that it violated the right to privacy in the state's constitution. Similarly, a Florida judge in June temporarily paused the ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy because it violated the state's constitutional right to privacy.

Those actions represent a broader shift in the legal battle over abortion rights after the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the half century-old Roe v. Wade ruling. After that, abortion rights were largely left up to individual states. Some states rushed to ban the procedure completely, while others gradually rolled out new restrictions. Most abortions are now banned in more than a dozen states, including Texas, Idaho, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

The Wyoming judge's decision on Wednesday comes as Republican opposition to Obamacare has died down considerably.

Obamacare aimed to make health care more affordable by offering tax credits for individual private health insurance plans and expanding Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to lower-income Americans.

Obamacare also mandated that health insurance plans had to contain certain minimum coverage benefits.

Republicans strongly opposed the law at the time, arguing that it represented "a government takeover of health care" that deprived Americans of their ability to choose their own doctors and make medical decisions.

GOP lawmakers during the Trump administration repeatedly failed to repeal the ACA, much less approve a replacement law. In the meantime, 39 states have expanded their Medicaid programs to more beneficiaries under the ACA.

Wyoming is the sole Western state not to have expanded Medicaid.

 CNBC's Dan Mangan contributed to this report.
Considerations are at an early stage, the bidders could decide not to proceed and CBA may choose not to sell the unit, the people said. Representatives for Bajaj and CBA declined to comment, while Cathay Financial didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bajaj Finance Ltd . and Cathay Financial Holding Co. are among the firms considering bids for Commonwealth Bank of Australias business in Indonesia, people familiar with the matter said.

The Indian and Taiwanese companies have had talks with advisers about potential offers for PT Bank Commonwealth, the people said. Other companies in the industry could bid for the business, the people said. A sale could value the business at several hundred million dollars, Bloomberg News has reported.

Considerations are at an early stage, the bidders could decide not to proceed and CBA may choose not to sell the unit, the people said. Representatives for Bajaj and CBA declined to comment, while Cathay Financial didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bank Commonwealth focuses on retail banking as well as financial offerings for small-to-medium enterprises in Indonesia, according to its website. It also provides wealth management services and had total assets of 20 trillion rupiah ($1.3 billion) as of April 2021.

A sale would follow CBAs disposal last year of a 10% stake in Chinas Bank of Hangzhou Co. to arms of the Hangzhou municipal government for 8.3 billion yuan ($1.2 billion).


After more than 11 hours of debate on the Senate floor, three bills seeking to bolster abortion rights in Colorado cleared the chamber on Wednesday, advancing to the House for consideration.

The bills would shield abortion patients and providers from interstate investigations, expand insurance coverage for abortion care, and prohibit what supporters call "deceptive" advertising from crisis pregnancy centers.

The bills are the first legislative action Colorado lawmakers have taken up on the subject since the Supreme Court overturned national abortion protections in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling last year. Two months prior to the ruling, state lawmakers enshrined abortion as a fundamental right with the Reproductive Health Equity Act.

Senators passed the three bills in identical votes of 22-13, with all Republicans voting "no" and all Democrats voting "yes," except for Sen. Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, who switched parties last year.

Shield from interstate investigations

Senate Bill 188 would protect abortion patients and providers giving and receiving care in Colorado from facing criminal or civil consequences from other states in which abortion is illegal.

Following the Dobbs ruling, 14 states have passed laws banning or limiting abortion, with many more currently trying to enact blocked bans.

We need this legislation to protect individuals from threats and bounties and bans that are coming forward from other states," said bill sponsor Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. Other states have no right to impose their regressive statutes on us here in our state. We know what kind of care our communities need and that freedom must be protected."

The bill builds off an executive order signed by Gov. Jared Polis in July, directing state agencies to withhold records from states that may impose criminal or civil penalties on those who receive or provide abortions in Colorado. The bill would enshrine this executive order into state law, as well as prohibit the state from recognizing criminal prosecutions or civil lawsuits regarding legally-protected abortion care.

In addition to abortion, the bill would also extend these protections to gender-affirming care received by transgender individuals. Other states have moved to ban or limit gender-affirming care, with more than 20 states considering such legislation in 2023. Gender-affirming care includes social, psychological or medical interventions, such as hormone therapy and surgical procedures.

During the Senate debate, some opponents lamented the thought of Colorado becoming a hub for interstate abortion access.

"We are signaling to the rest of the union and the rest of the world that ... Colorado will proudly end the life of any unborn child at any time during pregnancy," said Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch. "It seems to invite anyone wanting an abortion to come to our state to end the life of a child. ... It is wrong. It promotes a culture of death.

Proponents countered that Colorado is and should continue to be a safe haven for people seeking abortion, particularly if their home states abortion ban puts their health and safety at risk.

During a committee hearing on the bill, Lauren Miller said she traveled from her home in Texas to Colorado to receive an abortion after one of her twins was determined to be unviable. Miller said continuing to carry the unviable twin risked killing both her and the viable twin, but Texas law did not allow her any options to terminate the pregnancy.

Miller begged Colorado lawmakers to "not abandon us to the cruelty imposed by the leadership in our states" while testifying in support of the bill.

Other opponents said the bill disrespects the laws of other states, saying even if people travel to Colorado for abortion care, it could violate their home states law. For example, if a patient gets abortion-inducing medication from Colorado then takes it in their home state where abortion is illegal.

But bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, said it is the other states that are threatening Colorado's sovereignty. Jaquez Lewis, a pharmacist, said if she lawfully fills a prescription for an abortion-inducing medication in Colorado that is later brought to an abortion-banning state with her name printed on the bottle, she could be summoned, investigated, or even extradited and arrested even though she broke no laws in the state she operated in.

These state laws are out of control and not acceptable. This bill gives us the opportunity to stop it," Jaquez Lewis said. "Bounty hunter laws have created a climate of fear and intimidation. It will prevent Colorado health care workers from offering care and prevent patients from seeking care.

In the month following the Dobbs decision, the Colorado-based Cobalt Abortion Fund reported that 94% of its clients seeking practical abortion support came from out of state, including 66% from Texas alone. In January, 750 people traveled to Colorado Planned Parenthoods from out of state for abortion care  compared to only 1,500 people during the entirety of 2021, according to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

Seven states and the District of Columbia have already passed similar protections against interstate investigations regarding abortions and 12 governors have issued executive orders establishing such protections, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. Other states including Washington, New Mexico, Minnesota and Vermont are currently considering similar legislation.

Expand insurance coverage

Senate Bill 189 would require health insurance carriers that serve large employers  those with more than 100 employees  to pay for abortion coverage without deductibles, copays or coinsurance.

Also under the bill, health insurance for the small group and individual market would provide that coverage depending on how the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates the Affordable Care Act, views those services. Under the Affordable Care Act, any state insurance mandate would be reviewed under the lens of how it affects premiums.

If the mandate has the potential to increase premiums, the state would technically be required to defray those extra costs, although that scenario is rare and has never happened in Colorado. An actuarial review of SB 189 said the bill would result in a minimal decrease in costs, around 15 cents per member.

We should offer the full suite of reproductive health care services in our state, and having insurance cover those is a necessary step, in my opinion, to make sure that folks have that choice when it comes to their health care," said bill sponsor Sen. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. "SB 189 is the next step in making sure that abortion access isnt just protected, but that people can actually get it.

The bill gives employers the option of refusing to offer abortion services if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, so long as the decision is in line with federal court decisions.

The measure's insurance mandate also applies to treatment for HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. It prohibits health insurance carriers from requiring HIV patients use step therapy, a requirement that patients try a lower-cost drug before moving on to a more expensive one. For other care, the bill prohibits a carrier from requiring deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or imposing a lifetime maximum benefit for treating a sexually transmitted disease or for sterilization services.

The bill also expands the kinds of health care providers that can give contraception, including procedures, supplies or information, to a minor without first needing to obtain parental consent or provide notification. Currently, the law allows only for physicians to provide those services; the bill would add, for example, nurse practitioners.

Much of the debate from critics in the Senate centered around whether the bill would significantly expand coverage for abortion services as the sponsors say.

Sen. Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, said the bill would not apply to the vast majority of Coloradans, such as those who are uninsured, covered by military plans, or covered by Medicaid or Medicare. Smallwood said these residents could seek abortion care thinking it will be free, only to be charged and put in a bad financial position.

I have to think that the proponents havent thought this through, because if they had, it would be utterly irresponsible for them to propose something like this in the first place thats going to work so infrequently, Smallwood said. At the end of the day, what have we really done with this bill? Provide confusion.

Some opponents also argued that the bill would result in taxpayer funding for abortions if it does end up causing an increase in insurance premiums.

Others said the bill would interfere with parental rights, as the bill removes the requirement that, when a minor receives contraception services, a notification be sent to their parent, guardian or someone who makes a referral for those services, such as a member of the clergy, family planning clinics, or schools or colleges.

Previously, the bill would have also created a grant program for those under the age of 19 who want to pay for their own contraception and don't want to go through their parents' insurance to keep the matter confidential. The grant program was removed in an amendment, replacing it with an agreement that the Department of Public Health and Environment look into how to close barriers to access and provide recommendations by Sept. 1.

Proponents rejected the arguments from critics as baseless, and claimed that the bill is essential for giving Colorado voters what they've repeatedly asked for: Abortion access.

The voters were loud and clear in Colorado. Weve established that access to a full range of reproductive care is something we value. The keyword there is access," said bill sponsor Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton. "Existing gaps in our coverage of reproductive care can cause significant barriers to access.

Crisis pregnancy centers

Senate Bill 190 would prohibit crisis pregnancy centers from advertising abortions, emergency contraceptives or referrals that they dont actually provide, classifying it as deceptive advertising. The centers, dubbed "anti-abortion clinics" by opponents, counsel pregnant women against having an abortion, advocating for parenting or adoption instead.

Bill sponsor Sen. Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, said the centers pretend to offer abortion care but dont, using "disinformation, intimidation, shame and delay tactics" to prevent people from accessing abortion care.

The American Medical Society Journal of Ethics called the centers unethical, claiming they spread misinformation and give the impression that they offer medical services and advice, yet they are exempt from regulatory, licensure, and credentialing oversight that apply to health care facilities." A 2012 study from the National Library of Medicine claimed that 86% of the centers provide misinformation on abortion.

A woman should be able to understand what all of her options are," said Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. "That woman will not receive that information if she walks into a crisis pregnancy center. ... To advertise that you provide a comprehensive set of services for someone seeking reproductive health care is false. Its misleading.

In Colorado, there are 51 of these crisis pregnancy centers, compared to 20 abortion clinics.

Supporters of crisis pregnancy centers denied misleading patients, arguing that they legitimately provide services, including health education, ultrasound and counseling. They said SB 190 would unfairly limit their advertisement, potentially prohibiting them from saying they offer help with unplanned pregnancies without specifying the services provided.

While Republican senators backed crisis pregnancy centers and said the bill would violate their freedom of speech, most of their opposition surrounded a different component of the bill: Classifying providing abortion reversal treatment as unprofessional conduct.

This bill seeks to eliminate alternatives to abortion," said Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton. "It is a womans right to choose life for her child.  For some women, that means she should be able to choose the abortion reversal pill. It is her right to make that choice. It should be her choice.

The controversial abortion reversal practice claims that the hormone progesterone can stop a medication-based abortion after a patient has completed the first part of the two-step process.

Crisis pregnancy centers support the practice, pointing to a small-scale 2012 study which found that four of six women who had begun medication abortions were able to carry their pregnancies to term after taking progesterone. However, the study has been criticized for having methodological flaws and subsequent research has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support abortion reversal treatment.

A larger 2019 University of California study attempted to test the effectiveness of abortion pill reversal, but the study was ended prematurely due to safety concerns after three participants required ambulance transport to a hospital for treatment of severe vaginal bleeding, NPR reported. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also rejects prescribing progesterone to reverse abortions, saying it is "not based on science and do not meet clinical standards."

"When we are talking about abortion reversal, we are not saying women cannot continue their pregnancy," said bill sponsor Sen. Faith Winter, D-Westminster. "But how can we in good conscience let people think they can reverse their abortion with no scientific evidence and when all the medical experts are saying that it is unethical and experimental?

The bill was amended to require the state medical, nursing and pharmacy boards to evaluate the practice of abortion reversal by Oct. 1. If the boards all agree that its a valid medical practice, then it will be considered professional conduct. If not, it will be unprofessional conduct.

Opponents of the bill said this change is not good enough, arguing that the three boards "wouldn't agree on anything" and it doesn't give the boards enough time.

The bill was also amended to remove all references of crisis pregnancy centers as fake clinics," with proponents and opponents agreeing that it is unnecessarily insulting to the centers.
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Applications aimed at helping office workers do their jobs more effectively in a remote or hybrid work environment  such as videoconferencing, project management, and other collaboration software  have surged during the pandemic era. But many employees dont spend their workdays sitting at a desk.

Employees who work away from a desk in such verticals as healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, service and repair, transportation, logistics, construction, utilities, and retail are usually referred to as frontline workers. Many of these workers act as the faces of their organizations, coming into direct contact with customers; others perform the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep the modern world humming.

Companies in these and other industries have considerably more frontline workers than employees working from their desks. According to Gartner, there are approximately 2.7 billion frontline employees worldwide  more than double the number of desk-based workers. Rather than throw even more apps at their deskbound workers, companies are now turning to software tools meant to assist their deskless workforce.

Because many frontline workers dont have company-provided computers and may not have access to their companies' intranets, these tools typically take the form of mobile apps that they can use on personal or company-provided phones, tablets, or wearable devices.

Moving beyond job-specific apps

Historically, these apps have been very job-specific or industry-specific, said Andrew Hewitt, senior analyst at Forrester Research. For example, airports have deployed smart restroom apps that use sensors to count how many people have entered a restroom. When a certain number of individuals  say, 300  have entered, the system sends a text message or email alert indicating that its time to clean that restroom to custodians who monitor those alerts via their tablets or smartwatches.

Were in the second phase now, moving beyond dedicated job-specific functions to broader employee engagement, Hewitt said. These newer tools, many of which could span any industry, aim to enhance collaboration and communication, build a sense of community, and make frontline workers feel more valued and connected to their organizations. We [also] see frontline worker applications offering capabilities enabling workers to manage time off, manage their shifts, or get information about their pay, he added.

Frontline workers typically dont have the same technology experience as desk-based workers, said Mike Gotta, vice president, analyst at Gartner, who covers the communication and collaboration space.

Therefore, they may feel out of the loop and that they dont know whats going on [within their organizations], Gotta said. So companies deploy apps to their frontline workers that combine internal communications and HR [information] such as benefits, payments, and shift schedules so these employees know whats going on operationally. These apps are delivery mechanisms for companies employee communications, but they also usually have some work management capabilities.

Some of these apps provide workers with task lists and other information for specific shifts, along with access to company training materials. Many offer integrations with other enterprise software and include monitoring and analytics components that can help managers guide workers to boost efficiency and productivity as well as improve customer experiences.

Prices for frontline worker apps typically range from $5 to $15 per user per month, with some specialized apps priced at $20 per user per month, according to Dion Hinchcliffe, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research.

The startups that offer frontline worker apps have spent a lot of time thinking about the problem, and they believe they've come up with make-or-break solutions, Hinchcliffe said.

Their whole livelihood depends on providing customers with much better tools than major vendors that add features aimed at frontline workers to their existing products, such as Microsoft adding frontline worker capabilities to Microsoft Teams, he said. These tools are usually a little bit better to a lot better than the handful of features that are added by major vendors.

Popular types of frontline worker apps

There are scads of frontline worker apps available today. Some are aimed at specific verticals like healthcare or manufacturing, but many others can be used across industries. Below are some of the most common types of frontline worker apps youll find, with a few examples of each. This list is by no means comprehensive, and keep in mind that many apps offer a variety of capabilities and thus span multiple categories.

Scheduling / time-tracking / work management apps

While most time-tracking apps offer basic tracking of the hours frontline employees work, some offer more advanced tools to measure work produced during a specific time period. Some time-tracking software can automatically generate billing and invoices based how much work was done and how long it took, and most can integrate with payroll and other enterprise systems. The software can also help companies run cost estimates against tasks and projects, and many apps include employee scheduling capabilities as well as other work and project management tools.

Examples include:

Clockify: A free start/stop time-tracking and timesheet app that frontline workers and other employees can use to track their working hours and categorize them for each project. The app also gives workers information about their attendance and paid time off. Companies can upgrade to one of Clockifys four paid plans that offer more advanced features than the free version, such as invoicing, employee scheduling, expense recording, and analytics. Clockify integrates with more than 80 web apps, including Jira, Microsoft Teams, and Google Docs, so frontline workers can track their time inside those other apps.

ClockShark: Cloud-based scheduling and time-tracking software that helps companies in an array of industries including construction, healthcare, retail, and real estate track their frontline workers time. ClockSharks features include employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, emailed alerts, geofencing, reporting, and the ability to share job information (such as directions to a job site) with employees via the mobile app. ClockShark also enables companies to create quotes and invoices for specific jobs as well as accept payment.

When I Work: A scheduling, time tracking, and messaging app that lets frontline employees view their schedules, see who else is working, trade shifts with other qualified workers, clock in and out, and chat with each other in real time. Managers use the app to schedule workers, respond to time off and shift swap requests, and communicate with teams via 1-on-1, group, or broadcast messaging. Other features include labor reports and forecasting, automated scheduling, overtime prevention, and payroll integration.

Communications / HR apps

Employee communications apps ensure that all workers can access the information they need to do their jobs and be more productive. Companies can use these apps to reach their both their frontline and desk-based workers to keep them informed about company business. The apps enable companies to plan, create, and deliver internal communications to all their workers, as well as personalize the information to specific groups of employees.

The apps also encourage employee feedback via chat, comments, and polls, and often integrate with human resources systems to provide access to onboarding/offboarding, payroll, and other functions. These tools help companies improve workforce engagement and the employee experience by creating a sense of community and helping frontline workers feel more connected to their colleagues.

Examples include:

Beekeeper: Offers frontline and desk-based workers access to training, shift schedules, onboarding and offboarding, paystubs, safety checklists, announcements, paid time off requests, and more. Beekeeper lets organizations instantly reach all employees across shifts, departments, locations, or languages via video or voice. Workers communicate directly and share information with colleagues via chat. Companies can use Beekeepers team communication app to collect real-time employee feedback.

Blink: This app revolves around a social feed that lets all employees, including frontline workers, feel part of their companies teams. Whether theyre in the office or in the field, employees have the same access to polls, HR information, shared files, and company calendars. Organizations can use the feed to communicate news, videos, relevant messages, documents, and training content. Blink also offers an employee scheduling app, secure document management, and a library of micro-apps.

LumApps: An employee experience platform, LumApps allows companies to better communicate with their frontline and desk-based employees regardless of device, language, or location, ensuring that every employee receives key company announcements. Features like an onboarding portal, recognition center, and communities boost corporate culture and encourage collaboration, giving employees easy access to the information and tools they need to feel part of the team. Workers can join projects, follow colleagues, and be notified about topics that matter to them.

[ Retailer migrates 14,000 staff to G Suite and LumApps intranet ]

Learning and development apps

These apps provide educational and development training programs and initiatives for front-line workers in such industries as education, healthcare, hospitality, grocery and retail, and more. The training programs offer bite-size, contextual training that frontline workers can fit into their workday. Mobile-first training programs make it easier for frontline workers to access the training.

Examples include:

eduMe: A mobile-based training tool, eduMe enables companies to create easy-to-understand learning content and deliver it right to their frontline workers mobile devices. Organizations can use eduMe to quickly onboard and train their frontline employees, and then continue to teach them new skills. The app gives frontline workers the skills and knowledge they need to succeed via messages, bite-size learning content, videos, and surveys.

Kallidus Learn LMS: Kallidus learning management system brings online, mobile, classroom, and social learning into a single platform. Kallidus is ideal for busy frontline workers because it encourages them learn on their own at times that suit them best. Frontline employees are able to access all the information they need to enhance their careers as well as improve the customer experience via their phones or tablets.

Prodigy EMS: This app was designed to guide frontline emergency medical technicians through the recertification process. Prodigy EMS also provides course offerings for all areas of training, including new employee onboarding, annual training, and remediation. The platform includes live and on-demand instructor-led training supplemented with materials to enhance learning. Prodigy EMS enables organizations to offer frontline workers content thats up to date and delivered by expert emergency medical services instructors using patient care reports and real patient videos.

Remote expert guidance tools

Remote expert guidance solutions are collaboration tools that virtually connect industrial workers and field service workers in the field to subject matter experts (SMEs) for remote guidance and support. These apps combine chat with audio, live video, file sharing, and augmented reality annotations to help workers in the field or on the manufacturing floor collaborate with SMEs and other colleagues through mobile and wearable devices to troubleshoot and resolve problems.

For example, using a phone or tablet camera, an expert in the office can see a live view of the field workers environment and the task the employee is performing. This enables the SME to verbally guide the employee while providing visual cues that overlay the field workers view, helping them complete the job safely and accurately.

Examples include:

Help Lightning: This augmented reality software focuses on remote assistance, including video collaboration services that let an organizations experts in the office work virtually with workers in the field anywhere in the world. The apps remote visual assistance technology lets technicians share a real-time view of whats happening no matter where they are, improving efficiency and reducing miscommunication. It also enables skilled employees to virtually train new field technicians on critical skills.

Librestream Onsight Connect: An augmented reality remote expert solution, this app gives frontline workers instant access to the content, people, data, and guidance they need on any device and in any environment to troubleshoot and resolve issues in the field. Onsight Connect securely shares audio, live video, audio, telestration, high-resolution images, and text across teams  even if bandwidth is limited.

TeamViewer Frontline: A fully integrated augmented reality app, TeamViewer Frontline allows companies to coordinate their workforces, manage tasks and devices from one central point, and troubleshoot problems in real time. Industrial workers and employees in the field instantly receive remote expert guidance via augmented reality-assisted video calls.
OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed company that developed ChatGPT, on Thursday announced support for plug-ins designed to allow companies to more easily embed chatbot functionality into their products.

The first plug-ins have been already been created by Expedia, FiscalNote, Instacart, KAYAK, Klarna, Milo, OpenTable, Shopify, Slack, Speak, Wolfram, and Zapier, OpenAI said.

We are gradually rolling out plug-ins in ChatGPT so we can study their real-world use, impact, and safety and alignment challenges  all of which well have to get right in order to achieve our mission, San Francisco-based OpenAI said in a blog post.

The OpenAI plug-ins are tools designed specifically for language models that help ChatGPT access up-to-date information, run computations, or use third-party services.

The plug-ins enables for the first time ChatGPT Plus to access live web data versus information the large language model was already trained on.

Users can click on and upload any number of the current plug-ins offered. For example, users of grocery delivery service Instacart can upload the ChatGPT plug-ins and begin using the natural language processor to ask it for things such as restaurant recommendations, recipes, ingredients for a meal, and the total calorie count of that meal.

An example of a question might be: Im looking for vegan food in San Francisco this weekend. Can you offer me a great restaurant suggestion for Saturday, and also a simple meal recipe for Sunday (just the ingredients)? Please calculate the calories for the recipe using WolframAlpha.

Users have been asking for plug-ins since we launched ChatGPT (and many developers are experimenting with simlar ideas) because they unlock a vast range of possible use cases, OpenAI said.

The generative AI developer said its planning to gradually roll out larger-scale access as it learns more from plug-in developers, ChatGPT users, and after an alpha period.

Arun Chandrasekaran, a distingushed vice president analyst with Gartner, said one of the challenges with applications such as ChatGPT and their underlying AI models (such as GPT-4) is their static nature; that arises from the gap between training cut-off dates for companies and actual application model release dates.

"Through a plug-in ecosystem, ChatGPT could now handle more real-time information from a set of curated sources," Chandrasekaran said. "They are announcing both first party plug-ins, which allows ChatGPT to connect to internet sources for providing more up-to-date information, as well as third-party sources such as Expedia, OpenTable. On the flip side, this also increases the attack surface and potentially more latency domains in the architecture."

OpenAI recognized the "significant new risks" associated with enabling external tools through ChatGPT.

"Plugins offer the potential to tackle various challenges associated with large language models, including hallucinations, keeping up with recent events, and accessing (with permission) proprietary information sources," OpenAI said.

The company said it only allowed a limited number of plug-in developers whod been on a waitlist to have access to documentation they could use to build a plug-in for ChatGPT. That way, OpenAI can monitor any adverse affects from the plug-ins.

Cybersecurity company GreyNoise.io, for example, warned of a known vulnerability associated with MinIO's object storage platform in a blog post Friday.

Developers using the MinIO who want to integrate their plugins are encouraged to upgrade to a patched version of MinIO, the blog recommended. "Your endpoint will eventually get popped if you do not update the layer to the latest MinIO," the company said.

While application developers have already been able to use ChatGPTs API to tailor it for use with products, plug-ins will make the task far simpler, said Dr. Chirag Shah, professor at the Information School at the University of Washington.

APIs require technical knowhow. Just as with social media, there are other ways to access services through subscriptions. Plug-ins make it easy for people to deploy ChatGPT without a lot of effort, Shah said. They wont work for every company. They are targeted at a particular audience.

OpenAI admitted its GPT large language model (LLM) is limited in what it can do today because it has not been trained with all the latest up-to-date information for the myriad of applications on the web. For example, the LLM computer algorithm on which its trained has billions of parameters, but theyre not specific to what Expedia, for example, might want its users to access.

Currently, the only way for GPT-4 to learn is from training data input by a user organization. For example, if a bank wanted to use ChatGPT for its internal workers and external customers, it would need to ingest information about the company so that when users ask questions of the chatbot, it could provide bank-specific answers.

The plug-ins make it easier for ChatGPTs LLM to access company information specific to products, details that otherwise could be too recent, too personal, or too specific to be included in the training data.

In response to a users explicit request, plug-ins can also enable language models to perform safe, constrained actions on their behalf, increasing the usefulness of the system overall, OpenAI said. We expect that open standards will emerge to unify the ways in which applications expose an AI-facing interface. We are working on an early attempt at what such a standard might look like, and were looking for feedback from developers interested in building with us.
When it comes to the future of work, it appears Apple is becoming more reactionary, leaning heavily into presenteeism rather than achievement-based management across its staff teams.

Its latest "innovation" is to track employees and use badge records to ensure they're in the office at least three times a week.

Get back to your desks!

The company has been reluctant to fully embrace the opportunities and efficiencies of hybrid working, but since the pandemic has allowed staff to work remotely two days per week, spending the other three in the office. The application of the policy has always been relatively autocratic, with workers required to be on site Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Whats new, according to Platformers Zoe Schiffer, is that Apple is now using badge records to monitor attendance  and has begun to enforce an escalating system of warnings against those who dont make it in on those three days. It suggests some staff are being warned that failure to comply could cost them their job, though this policy doesnt seem to be compan-wide.

This followed reports that the company has begun cracking down on workers, including insistence on presenteeism and the cessation of additional sick time for staff who catch COVID  even though the virus continues to infect people.

It's possible Apple is approaching all of these as cost-cutting measures to avoid any mass layoffs across its teams, particularly since thats not a great look for a company that has continued to set new revenue records during the pandemic.

To me, the companys insistence on a rigid approach to hybrid working seems to maintain some of the worst bits of old working practices while undermining some of the best impacts in the new workplace. Its strange that a company that wants you to enjoy a mobile lifestyle doesnt seem to want its own employees to enjoy a mobile workstyle.

Hybrid is already known to have enabled under-represented groups to re-join the work market, which boosts diversity within working culture and itself unlocks productivity gains.

There are reams of analysis to confirm benefits in productivity, staff retention, and morale. Thats even before considering the extent to which hybrid/remote working is so popular among the cohorts Apple most needs to hire when it does recruit. Its always cheaper to make employees happier and more productive than to seek new hires  though it speaks volumes that the people who seem to have the toughest time adapting to the hybrid workplace are the middle managers apparently winning the argument at Apple on this.

Victory to the bosses

A recent Microsoft survey showed the divide between middle management and staff. More than half of managers surveyed said they thought staff worked less remotely, while 80% of staff said they are at least as productive as before. (A Dice survey showed 85% of US businesses think hybrid work is good for them.)

This disconnect between the real and perceived productivity gains in flexible workplaces even has a name,"productivity paranoia." But for the most part this paranoia is based on opinion, not evidence  and may reflect managers' own inability to clearly communicate with their teams.

In most cases, higher-echelon management is aware that flexible working must remain an important component of their approach to the future of work. Even the director general of UK business group CBI recently said: Flexible Working is becoming Mainstream Practice  flex has always had deep merits. But given todays shortages, and without immigration, its vital to growing supply because its likely the only way to get those whove left to return.

It takes skill to make it work. A Corel survey showed 78% of employees think leaders should work harder to boost collaboration.

With this as an emerging space for innovation, youd imagine enterprises would spend some cash on upskilling management to deal more effectively with remote teams. But a Boston Consulting Group report in 2022 showed that just 15% of CEOs prioritize reskilling managers for this new reality. That complacency is probably great news for those who have invested in office space, less good for anyone else, including the companies who through lack of action deny themselves the opportunities hybrid work unlocks.

Make it flexible!

Im sure Apples HR departments have been led by the science, rather than personal opinion. Perhaps somewhere in the company there's evidence that somehow proves remote workers didnt contribute to its eye-watering record revenues in recent years.

Whats open to question is how appropriate Apples core approach seems to be. After all, the company always said it might choose to change or tweak its efforts.

While Apple is known to work hard to foster a collaborative, in-person culture, does this really thrive without flexibility? It seems inevitable that some teams might work best on different schedules, and Apples approach doesnt seem to give them that flexibility. Thats a component of the model that really should be reviewed. A Vanson Bourne survey showed three-quarters of employees are inclined to stay with companies that offer autonomy.

Thats not to say the decision around a two/three day remote/in person split is intrinsically bad. Michelin operates on a similar model, and it seems to work well  but within its approach it does give employees and teams more personal choice on how to split that time. That companys chief digital and information officer, Yves Caseau, says: There is no one-size-fits-all. The pattern is decided locally, but on average, people tend to pick the same three days. Remote work is efficient for part of the workload, and it improves employee satisfaction in general.

To my mind, news of the crackdown on attendance hints at an autocratic lack of autonomy and agency in the model Apple seems to embrace. My fear is that this cultural lack of vision could extend itself elsewhere across the company.

Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
03/24/2023

Photo (c) Hapabapa - Getty Images DoorDash announced that it will partner with a number of retailers, expanding its offerings to consumers. The delivery company will work with Victorias Secret, Lush Cosmetics, and Party City to bring everything that consumers order directly to their homes.

Our mission is to bring consumers all the best of their neighborhoods to their doorstep, including retail, grocery, convenience, and alcohol items, at low cost while saving them time, said Fuad Hannon, vice president of new verticals at DoorDash.

Consumers can get more delivered

With DoorDashs new retail partnerships, consumers will suddenly see more options.

In working with Party City, DoorDash will offer access to just about everything people need for their next party. Over 700 stores across the country will be available through DoorDash, and everything from balloons, seasonal decor, costumes, and more will be available for on-demand delivery.

Similarly, partnering with Lush Cosmetics gives shoppers the opportunity to order things like bath bombs, body lotions, gift sets, and more. Over 250 Lush stores across the United States and Canada will be available through DoorDash.

Lastly, consumers will also be able to order from Victorias Secret on DoorDash. Shoppers can expect to see a wide range of pajamas, fragrances, lingerie, and accessories from Victorias Secret on DoorDash.

New shopping options on DoorDash

In addition to the new retail locations, DoorDash also announced new shopping options: frictionless communication, flexible and fast delivery, and search and discovery.

Not every item may be available at every location when consumers place an order with DoorDash. With frictionless communication, shoppers will be able to indicate their preferences should an item need to be swapped to ensure that theyre receiving the next best item.

DoorDash is also expanding its delivery options. Consumers will have more options in scheduling their deliveries to best suit their schedules, and theyll also be able to get their items even faster by choosing express delivery.

Lastly, DoorDash is updating its search options to make it easier for consumers to get exactly what theyre looking for. Shoppers looking for store-specific items can expect better results when using the new search feature, the company says.

Features such as express delivery ensure that consumers get essentials like over-the-counter medicine quickly, while enhanced search lets them easily find travel necessities for that last-minute weekend trip, Hannon said. Were proud to develop these features in partnership with retailers as consumers crave convenience, alongside speed and selection.
03/24/2023

Photo (c) Fillstimlyanin - Getty Images Its easy to sign up for a subscription. But canceling one? Not so much.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a new rule that would require companies that sell subscriptions to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. One method suggested by the agency is a simple click to cancel button.

The FTC said the proposal is a response to the complaints it receives each year from consumers who say they find it nearly impossible to stop recurring charges for things they no longer want or need. Examples include everything from newspapers to gym memberships.

Some businesses too often trick consumers into paying for subscriptions they no longer want or didnt sign up for in the first place, said FTC Chair Lina Khan. The proposal would save consumers time and money, and businesses that continued to use subscription tricks and traps would be subject to stiff penalties.

Businesses will fight it

Businesses that sell subscriptions can be expected to vigorously oppose such a rule. Subscriptions are big business and once you sign up for one, the company wants you to keep paying month after month.

A 2018 study by Retail Dive found that 40% of people who subscribe to a service ultimately cancel. Over half cancel within six months. But during those six months, the business is collecting steady revenue.

From a business standpoint, subscriptions reduce customer turnover, increasing profits. Once a customer subscribes to a service, the marketing cost to reacquire that customer falls to zero. According to Gartner, 80% of a businesss future revenue will come from 20% of its customers.

While the rule could be an existential threat to subscription-based businesses, it would likely be welcomed by consumers, many of whom have posted their frustrations on ConsumerAffairs.

They make it extremely difficult to cancel, Lance, of Montpelier, Idaho wrote in a review of Vonage. When trying to cancel, they will give you a low promotional price that then raises up month after month. I had a hard time canceling.

How it would work

The FTCs notice of proposed rulemaking could change that. The agency said the move is part of its ongoing review of its 1973 Negative Option Rule, which the agency uses to combat unfair or deceptive practices related to subscriptions, memberships, and other recurring-payment programs.

Negative-option refers to a marketing practice in which a consumer might be offered a free trial and then signed up for a paying subscription if they fail to cancel in time. The FTC said the new rule would require:

A simple cancellation mechanism: If consumers are unable to easily leave any program when they want to, the negative option feature becomes nothing more than a way to continue charging them for products they no longer want. To address this issue, the proposed rule would require businesses to make it at least as easy to cancel a subscription as it was to start it. For example, if you can sign up online, you must be able to cancel on the same website, in the same number of steps.

New requirements before making additional offers: The proposed rule would allow sellers to pitch additional offers or modifications when a consumer tries to cancel their enrollment. But before making such pitches, sellers must first ask consumers whether they want to hear them. In other words, a seller must take no for an answer and upon hearing no must immediately implement the cancellation process.

New requirements regarding reminders and confirmations: The proposed rule would require sellers to provide an annual reminder to consumers enrolled in negative option programs involving anything other than physical goods, before they are automatically renewed.

Once the notice has been published in the Federal Register, consumers can submit comments electronically. The public also may submit comments in writing by following the instructions in the Supplementary Information section of the Federal Register notice.
Key and Peele won themselves a Peabody Award thanks to comic alchemy that evokes Dave Chappelle one minute, Sid Caesar the next. You might know a lot about their comedy, even a lot about their show, but what do you know about their friendship?

Here are 15 tidbits that should give you some insight into the beautiful relationship between Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele...

15 They Became Instant Fans of Each Other Performing in Chicagos Improv Scene Peele was part of Boom Chicago while Key was at Second City. I got to see him perform, Key explained to Complex, and I was like, This guy is my brother. It's the same reaction I had seeing him perform, Peele added. He had won two Jeff awards, which is a prestigious comedy award in Chicago, and he was just dominating that city  and rightly so.
The James Bond series is about to be infested with comedy  and it has nothing at all to do with Austin Powers.

Fleabag star and showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge has already made her mark on the iconic spy series with a script consultant and screenwriting credit on the most recent James Bond entry, No Time to Die. Now, reports have come out that BAFTA-winning comedic actress Daisy May Cooper is in serious talks to play spy mistress M in the first iteration of the series to follow Daniel Craigs conclusion as the legendary MI6 lothario.

The Sun reported that the star of the lauded BBC Three series This Country is in the running for the role partially due to her close ties to Waller-Bridge, who appears to be taking on larger creative responsibilities in the next generation of James Bond. This can only mean one thing: Brett Gelman is going to be 007.

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If Cooper lands the part of M, she will be following in some sizable footsteps  the last two artists to hold the position, Ralph Fiennes and Dame Judy Dench, are titans of British storytelling who both leave behind a legacy that is inseparable from the films themselves. Coopers M would undoubtedly be distinctly different from what weve seen from the MI6 chief in the last two decades  perhaps, after such serious performers and performances defining the role for so long, a little bit of levity might be needed.

The production team were getting excited about the prospect of really taking M in a different direction, one source told The Sun of the prospect of Cooper playing M. With Daniel leaving, it seemed the time to start looking at changes across the board and the dynamic between Bond and M is at the heart of the films, they continued, saying of the uncharacteristic move to make a comic actress a central part of the series, This opens the door to it being a bit lighter and more comedic going forwards  and will of course impact the direction the new 007 goes in too.

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Its not exactly new for action movies to introduce some comedic elements into otherwise serious properties  the Whedonism of the MCU has snuck its way into just about every big-budget blockbuster since the premier of The Avengers. However, we trust the Brits to be a bit more subtle in their introduction of humor into their countrys defining action franchise. After all, James Bond is nothing if not covert.

Plus, no quip that will ever come out of Ms mouth could possibly be a bigger joke than Quantum of Solace.
The commissions of the House of Commons and House of Lords have followed the UK government by banning social media app TikTok over cybersecurity concerns. A parliament spokesman said that TikTok will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network, a move that TikTok has described as misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions about the company.

The latest ban came as TikToks chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, faced hours of tough questioning by deputies in the US House of Representatives over whether the popular app is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party amid widespread concerns that user data from the app (owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance) could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, posing national security risks.

Ban welcomed by former Conservative leader, called a self-defeating step by TikTok

The ban means MPs and guests to parliament will not be able to access TikTok on devices connected to official Wi-Fi accounts  if they want to use the app on their phones, they will have to connect to their own mobile data provider. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith welcomed the decision, adding, Its now time that TikTok is also banned from ministers personal telephones.

In response to the ban, a TikTok spokesman said, Despite our requests, we have not been offered any opportunity to address concerns, Sky News reported. Potentially depriving users from access to and engagement with their representatives is a self-defeating step, especially in our shared fight against misinformation, they added. We have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to further protect our European user data, which includes storing UK user data in our European data centers and tightening data access controls, including third-party independent oversight of our approach.

TikTok chief insists app not an agent of China

In a US Congress hearing this week, Shou Zi Chew said that TikTok is not an agent of China and insisted that the video sharing app poses no risk to national security. Over several hours, Chew was pressed by deputies on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on various topics such as TikToks content moderation practices and the companys spying on journalists.

Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security, said the committees chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance, and more manipulation, Rodgers added.

Chew argued that TikTok parent company ByteDance prioritizes the safety of its young users, highlighting the firms intention to protect US user data by storing information on servers maintained and owned by server giant Oracle. Several committee members reportedly found some of Chews answers evasive.
STAMFORD  Career-services firm Indeed, one of the fastest-growing companies in Connecticut in recent years, announced Wednesday that it planned to lay off approximately 2,200 employees, or about 15 percent of its workforce  the latest among several large companies based in the state to cut jobs in response to economic headwinds.

The impact of Indeeds announcement on employees in Stamford, one of its largest hubs, is not clear yet. But the elimination of even a portion of its in-state workforce could affect a substantial number of people given that, at the last count, the company had more than 1,000 employees based in Stamford. Any downsizing in Connecticut would also pose another obstacle to the economic recovery of the state, which still has not regained all the jobs that it lost at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With future job openings at or below pre-pandemic levels, our organization is simply too big for what lies ahead, Indeed Chief Executive Officer Chris Hyams said Wednesday in a message to employees that was subsequently posted to the companys website. We need clarity, focus and urgency to ensure that all of our energy is directed towards investing in our future. We have held out longer than many other companies, but the revenue trends are undeniable. So I have decided to act now. I take sole accountability for where we are today. I am deeply and profoundly sorry.

The job cuts come from nearly every team, function, level and region at Indeed and (app) Indeed Flex, according to Hyams. Severance packages will include whichever is the greater of 16 weeks of base salary or two weeks for every year of service.

Hyams attributed the layoffs in large part to a cooling job market. He cited a 3.5 percent year-over-year decline in total U.S. job openings in the past quarter and a 33 percent plunge in sponsored job volumes. He also said that the company was expecting job openings to decrease to pre-pandemic levels of about 7.5 million, or even lower, during the next two to three years.

As we shared at the last quarterly update meeting, it is clear the job market will continue to cool after the recent post-COVID boom, Hyams said. It is becoming increasingly likely that HR tech revenue will decline in FY2023 and potentially again in FY2024.

Among other changes, Hyams said that he would be taking a 25 percent cut in base pay and announced that, we will be instituting additional cost saving measures moving forward, which I will outline tomorrow.

At Indeed we value transparency. I know some of you may feel disappointed that I did not share sooner that we were considering layoffs, Hyams said. Until we knew who would be impacted, I believe any announcement would have increased anxiety for everyone. I am sorry.

Despite the companys recent growth and its reach  it receives more than 300 million unique online visitors per month, according to its website  the layoffs did not shock some HR experts outside the company.

While Indeed has been a great story for Stamford with all of its growth, today was inevitable. Their model thrives when hiring is active, and at the first sign of possible softness they are going to contract, David Lewis, founder and CEO of the Norwalk-based HR services firm Operations Inc., said in an email. Further, during this great run of theirs the way we look for new hires has changed, leading more to LinkedIn and even ZipRecruiter, leaving the posting side of Indeeds business far less in demand.

I worry that this is not the only layoff, Lewis added. Instead, it could be the first of several for them. Consider that the job market is still thriving, and demand outstrips supply, and yet they are laying off?

The layoffs at Indeed reflect the wave of job cuts across the technology sector in the past few months. Giants such as Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft and many smaller firms are reckoning with slowing demand following a surge during the early stages of the pandemic and bracing for a possible recession.

Also Wednesday, San Francisco-headquartered career-services firm Glassdoor announced that it would lay off about 140 people, or around 15 percent of its workforce. Indeed and Glassdoor are owned by the same parent company, Japan-based Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

Economic contractions tend to have an extended impact on the recruiting industry, and we anticipate declines in U.S. job openings back to pre-pandemic levels over the next two or three years, Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong said in a memo to employees. As such, I am making difficult but necessary changes to our cost structure now to handle what we expect to be a challenging period for our business and revenue.

Questions about layoff impact in Connecticut

Since Indeeds founding in 2004, Stamford and Austin, Texas, have comprised the company's largest office locations. As of last year, a total of about 1,100 employees were based in Stamford, with the companys customer success and sales departments having the largest representation. Worldwide, the company has more than 14,600 employees.

In response to a Hearst Connecticut Media inquiry about the extent of the job cuts in Stamford, an Indeed spokesperson said that the company would not be commenting further on the matter at this time.

Last year, the company signaled its commitment to the city by renewing the leases for its two downtown office locations, 177 Broad St. and 107 Elm St..

A message left for a spokesperson for Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons inquiring whether the company had communicated with her administration about the layoffs was not immediately returned.

As of Thursday afternoon, the state Department of Labors website did not show any layoff notices submitted by Indeed. But not all layoffs have to be reported under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.



Any job cuts in Connecticut could also affect the amount of funding that Indeed receives from the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

In July 2017, Indeed and DECD announced their first agreement, at which point the company employed more than 700 in Stamford. As it unveiled plans to hire as many as approximately 500 employees in the coming years, the company qualified for a $7 million loan and up to $15 million in tax credits. The company could receive loan forgiveness, essentially the conversion of some amount of the loan into a grant, if certain employment obligations are met.

In December 2018, Indeed announced that it was planning to add another 500 workers in Stamford, with the goal of eventually increasing its head count in Connecticut to 1,700 workers. DECD said that it would support the additional expansion with a $10 million loan for equipment and leasehold improvements. The company could also receive forgiveness of that loan, if certain job benchmarks are met. The company also qualified for another package of tax credits, which could total up to $5 million.

In addition to Indeed, layoffs have been recently announced or made at a number of other Connecticut-based companies  a group that includes Bridgewater Associates, Digital Currency Group, GeneDx, Stanley Black and Decker and Sikorsky. In addition, Lego and Pepperidge Farm have announced that they are moving offices out of the state, decisions that affect several hundred workers.

The states economy, nevertheless, has made a promising start to 2023. On Thursday, the Department of Labor (DOL) released preliminary data showing that Connecticut had added 5,600 jobs in February, building on a gain of 8,800 positions in January.

Since suffering a record loss of about 289,000 jobs across March and April 2020, the state has recovered 96.5 percent of those positions, according to DOL. The states private sectors recovery rate totals 99.3 percent.

While Indeed is cutting back amid a slowdown in its users activity, job vacancies proliferate in Connecticut. Employers across the state have 97,000 job openings, well above pre-pandemic levels, according to DOL officials.

This is a particularly complicated economic environment  weve got good news in Connecticut with strong job growth in January and February and solid performance across other indicators, DOL Commissioner Dante Bartolomeo said in a written statement. That said, the U.S. just had high profile bank failures that will certainly impact Connecticut in the months to come, and economists continue to watch inflation. Connecticuts economy is strong and well-positioned to handle a slowdown, but we are not immune to national trends.
A 17-year-old has been charged with kidnapping two migrants whose rescue this week from a Houston hotel by FBI agents after days of captivity ended in gunfire that killed another suspect.

Josiah Jackson was charged Friday with two counts of aggravated kidnapping in the abduction of a man and woman and the attempt to ransom them, Harris County court records show. The case filings do not list an attorney for Jackson, who is being held in a county jail ahead of a bond hearing.

The migrants were stopped on a highway northwest of Houston on Saturday and were forced into another vehicle by the kidnappers, according to a prosecutor. Officials have said little about what happened between then and Thursday morning, when the FBI says its agents rescued two migrants following the shooting in north Houston.

The FBI and various local law enforcement agencies offered little additional information Friday and the terse court records didn't reveal much more.

Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman for the Harris County Sheriffs Office, said the suspected kidnappers fled as agents moved in. Gilliland said that within a few minutes deputies with a dog tracked down one of the suspects, who he declined to name, took him back to the scene and turned him over to the FBI. Jackson and his deceased co-actor held two people for ransom, requiring (sheriff's deputies) and the FBI to raid the location and rescue them, prosecutors wrote in request that bail be set at $100,000. A prosecutor had previously said three migrants were kidnapped, but authorities have not said what happened to the possible third victim.

A person familiar with the matter previously told The Associated Press that the kidnappers demanded money from the family of at least one of the migrants and were paid, but then they asked for more. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, also said the kidnappers at one point sent the family a video showing them beating a man.

On the other side of Texas, two migrants were found dead Friday and at least 10 were hospitalized after police received a call that they were suffocating in a freight train car traveling near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Uvalde Police Department said Border Patrol was informed of the phone call and able to stop the train. About 15 migrants were found inside, according to a statement from the department. The condition of all of those hospitalized was not immediately known. University Health in San Antonio tweeted that it had received two male patients, one in critical condition and one in serious condition.

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Bleiberg reported from Dallas.
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ST. JOHNSBURY, Vermont (AP)  U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a plan to close a loophole to an immigration agreement that has allowed thousands of asylum-seeking immigrants to move between the two countries along a back road linking New York state to the Canadian province of Quebec.

So many migrants since early 2017 have walked into Canada on Roxham Road outside Champlain, New York, that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police staffed a reception center to process them, less than five miles (8 kilometers) from the official border crossing.

Mounties have warned the migrants at the end of the narrow two-lane road bordered by forests and farm fields that they would be arrested if they crossed the border. But once on Canadian soil, they have been allowed to stay and pursue asylum cases that can take years to resolve.

The new policy says that asylum seekers without U.S. or Canadian citizenship who are caught within 14 days of crossing anywhere along the 3,145-mile (5,061-kilometer) border will be sent back. That includes people walking on Roxham Road.

The deal was set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday  a quick implementation aimed at avoiding a surge of refugee claimants trying to cross, according to Canadian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the deal in advance.

Some of the last migrants to make it through before the Biden-Trudeau announcement were about eight people in two families  one from Haiti, the other from Afghanistan  who arrived at the U.S. end of Roxham Road just after dawn on Friday. Both said they took circuitous routes to get there.

Gerson Solay, 28, carried his daughter Bianca up to the border. He said he didnt have the proper documents to remain in the United States. That is why Canada is my last destination, he said before he was taken into custody for processing.

Its unclear how Roxham Road became a favorite route, but its just a taxi ride from where Interstate 87 approaches the Canadian border, and for southbound migrants, its a relatively short distance to New York City.

These migrants have taken advantage of a quirk in a 2002 agreement between the U.S. and Canada that says asylum seekers must apply in the first country they arrive in. Migrants who go to an official Canadian crossing are returned to the U.S. and told to apply there. But those who reach Canadian soil somewhere other than a port of entry  like the center near Roxham Road  are allowed to stay and request protection.

The agreement was immediately criticized by some who feel it could endanger the safety of asylum seekers by preventing them from getting needed support from both governments.

We urge President Biden to strongly reconsider this deal and to work with Congress to restore access to asylum and support policies that recognize the dignity of all those arriving at our borders, said Danilo Zak, associate director for policy and advocacy for the humanitarian group CWS, also known as Church World Services. The organization advocates for people across the world who have been forced from their homes.

The agreement comes as the U.S. Border Patrol responds to a steep increase in illegal southbound crossings along the wide-open Canadian border. Nearly all happen in northern New York and Vermont along the stretch of border nearest Canadas two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal.

While the numbers are still tiny compared to the U.S.-Mexico border, it's happening so frequently now that the Border Patrol increased its staffing in the region and has begun releasing some migrants into Vermont with a future date to appear before immigration authorities.

As part of the deal, Canada also agreed to allow 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere to seek asylum on a humanitarian basis over the course of the year.

Meanwhile, southbound migrants are straining U.S. border officials.

U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped migrants entering illegally from Canada 628 times in February, more than five times the same period a year earlier. Those numbers pale compared to migrants entering from Mexico  where they were stopped more than 220,000 times in December alone  but it is still a massive change in percentage terms.

In the Border Patrols Swanton Sector, which stretches across New Hampshire, Vermont and a portion of upstate New York, agents stopped migrants 418 times in February, up more than 10 times from a year earlier. About half entering from Canada have been Mexicans, who can fly visa-free to Canada from Mexico.

About an hour south of the border, the police chief in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, population 6,000, alerted state officials that the Border Patrol had dropped off a vanload of immigrants with just a few minutes notice at the communitys welcome center. The same thing happened several times before within the last few weeks.

In a statement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the migrants dropped off in St. Johnsbury had been apprehended along the border after entering the U.S. without authorization, and were given a notice to appear for later immigration proceedings.

They were dropped off in St. Johnsbury because it has a station where migrants can take a bus to a larger city.

In such circumstances, USBP works in tandem with local communities to ensure the safety of all partiesboth community members and migrantsand to ensure stability in the communitys resources, the statement said.

But local officials said they weren't given time to prepare. State officials are now working to set up a system to provide migrants services they might require.

On Thursday, a Haitian couple and their children, boys aged 17 and 9 and a 15-year-old girl, were dropped off at the welcome center. The family, who did not want to give their names, wanted to take a bus to Miami.

They said they'd been in Canada for two months, but wouldn't talk about what prompted them to keep moving.

They missed the Thursday bus that would allow them to connect to a bus to Boston, where they could catch another bus to Miami. A team of local volunteers spent the day getting them something to eat, finding them a place to stay the night and arranging for them to take the bus on Friday.

Police chief Tim Page said St. Johnsbury wants to help these migrants, but not on the fly.

We need to get something down so we know what we are going to do when these families arrive, he said. We don't have a system set yet, so when we do I am sure this will all go a little smoother.

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Associated Press contributors include Rob Gillies in Ottawa, Ontario, and AP photographer Hasan Jamali from Roxham Road.
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP)  Rwanda's government has commuted the 25-year sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press on Friday that the presidential order was issued after a request for clemency on behalf of Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen. Senior U.S. officials said Rusesabagina arrived late Friday at the home of the Qatari ambassador in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and was expected to leave the country in the coming days.

U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the news, saying, Pauls family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at todays good news. He thanked the governments of Rwanda and Qatar, as well as U.S. government officials who worked to achieve todays happy outcome.

Nineteen others also had their sentences commuted. Under Rwandan law, commutation doesnt extinguish the conviction, Makolo added.

Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar, she said. President Paul Kagame earlier this month said discussions were under way on resolving the issue.

Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said in a statement that the procedure for (Rusesabagina's) transfer to the state of Qatar is under way and he will then head to the United States of America. This issue was discussed during meetings that brought together Qatari and Rwandan officials at the highest levels.

The senior American officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under U.S. government ground rules, declined to comment on Rusesabagina's current health but said they had made medical and psychological care available.

The case had been described by the U.S. and others as unfair. Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial.

He was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. But the circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his reported worsening health drew international concern.

One senior U.S. official said the White House's goal was to shift from Washington denouncing the case  and Kigali defending its legal system in response  toward a constructive sequence to work our way mutually, collectively, out of the predicament we found ourselves in.

As part of the effort, Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had multiple phone calls with an unnamed close adviser to Kagame, the official said.

Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagames government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

In a signed letter to Kagame dated Oct. 14 and posted on the justice ministry's website, Rusesabagina wrote that if I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me."

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering more than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwandas 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, first living in Belgium and then the U.S.

Human Rights Watch said he had been forcibly disappeared and taken to Rwanda. But the court there ruled he wasnt kidnapped when he was tricked into boarding a chartered flight. Rwandas government asserted that Rusesabagina had been going to Burundi to coordinate with armed groups based there and in Congo.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died.

Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped to form the armed group to assist refugees but said he never supported violence  and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

Rusesabagina also has said he was gagged and tortured before he was jailed, but Rwandan authorities denied that. His attorney, Felix Rudakemwa, asserted that Rusesabaginas legal papers were confiscated by prison authorities.

After his sentence, Belgiums then-foreign minister, Sophie Wilmes, said that it must be concluded that Mr. Rusesabagina has not been given a fair and equitable trial.

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kagame in Rwanda and discussed the case. We still have conviction that the trial wasnt fair, Blinken told journalists.

It is a relief to know that Paul is rejoining his family, and the U.S. Government is grateful to the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible, Blinken said in a statement Friday, adding: The United States believes in a Rwanda that is peaceful and prosperous. We reaffirm the principle of seeking political change in Rwanda and globally through peaceful means.

As the news spread on Friday, Rusesabagina's family in a statement said that we are pleased to hear the news about Pauls release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon."

___

Anna reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Lujain Jo in Doha, Qatar, and Matt Lee and Nomaan Merchant in Washington contributed.
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Electronics retailer Best Buy has closed its store on the Boston Post Road in Orange.

Callers to the store's phone number Thursday morning were greeted with a recorded message saying that it was no longer open for business. The Best Buy in Orange was located at 53 Boston Post Road.

A yellow banner over the main entrance to the store on Thursday afternoon said "Liquidating to the bare walls." An unidentified man could be seen carrying fixtures out of the store and placing them in the back of his truck.

With the closure of the Orange store, Best Buy now has 10 Connecticut stores.

Company officials announced earlier this month that Best Buy would close between 20 and 30 of its large format stores during the 2024 fiscal year.

Prior to that, Best Buy had closed 70 large format stores over a three-year period, Corie Barry, the company's chief executive officer said during a March 1 earnings call with financial analyst.

Orange First Selectman James Zeoli said rumors of the store being a candidate for closure "have been going around for a couple of year."

"Although this occurred pretty abruptly, it's not a surprise," Zeoli said.

Officials at Best Buy's Minnesota headquarters did not respond to requests for comment from Hearst Connecticut Media on Thursday.

Annemarie Sliby, executive director of the Orange Economic Development Corp., said she has been in contact with broker who is marketing the now vacant Best Buy location and that he confirmed that Ocean State Job Lot will be taking the space. Ocean State Job Lot already has a store in Orange at 401 Boston Post Road and Sliby said the broker had indicated the discount retailer was looking for more space and hopes to move to the new location by sometime in June.

Ocean State Job Lot officials were not immediately available for comment Thursday.
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PARK CITY, Utah (AP)  Gwyneth Paltrow insisted Friday on the witness stand that a 2016 ski collision at an upscale Utah ski resort wasnt her fault, claiming it began when the man suing her ran into her from behind.

The actor-turned-lifestyle influencer testified that the crash shocked her  and the way the man's skis veered between her two legs made her worry at first that she was being violated, she said.

There was a body pressing against me and a very strange grunting noise, she said.

My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening," she continued. Paltrow later clarified that after her split-second panic, she realized that the sudden collision wasn't sexual in nature.

After sitting in court for four days, Paltrow remained calm and collected for more than two hours on the witness stand. Members of the Park City jury sat transfixed while she categorically denied fault for the collision.

Terry Sanderson, the retired optometrist who is suing her, is expected to give an opposing account of the crash when he takes the stand first on Monday.

Throughout Paltrows heavily anticipated testimony, the founder-CEO of Goop calmly and repeatedly said that Sanderson, sitting several feet away in court, ran into her  causing the two skiers to end up splayed out on the beginner run with Paltrow on top and Sanderson beneath her. In the seconds after the collision, Paltrow acknowledged that she yelled at Sanderson and didn't stop to ask if he was OK. Paltrow testified that she stood nearby on the mountain as one of her familys four ski instructors promised to give Sanderson her contact information and file an incident report.

In an exchange that touched on recurring themes of the trial, Sanderson's attorneys attempted to depict the decision as reflective of celebrity carelessness, while Paltrow insisted that she  not the 76-year-old man suing her  was the wounded party.

You have to keep in mind, when youre the victim of a crash, your psychology is not necessarily thinking about the person who perpetrated it, she said.

To draw the jury's attention to Paltrow's wealth, Sanderson's lawyers probed Paltrow about the price of ski instructors at posh Deer Valley Resort and her decision to leave the mountain to get a massage the day of the crash.

Sanderson and his multiple-member legal team at one point dispersed themselves across the courtroom to possibly reenact the crash for the jury, whose members perked up after days of yawning through jargon-dense medical testimony about his broken ribs, concussion and brain damage.

Paltrow's attorneys objected to her participation in such a reenactment, leaving her sitting on the witness stand watching the lawyer questioning her take on the role of the Oscar-winning actor.

Next week, Paltrow's team may call her back to the stand, as well as medical experts, ski instructors and her two children, Moses and Apple.

The trial has touched on themes ranging from skiers etiquette to the power  and burden  of celebrity. The amount of money at stake for both sides pales in comparison to the typical legal costs of a multiyear lawsuit, private security detail and expert witness-heavy trial.

Throughout the week in Utah, Paltrow's legal team has asked for special restrictions, including limiting photography both in the courtroom and in the public parking lot outside  where a rope cordons off Paltrows entrance and exit paths. Unlike most trials, the court has not published a witness list.

Paltrow's attorneys argue both that she didn't cause the crash and that the extent of Sanderson's injuries is exaggerated. They've raised questions about Sanderson's motivation for suing Paltrow, probing his family members about his post-crash communications about her celebrity and his proximity to it.

They've asked two of Sandersons daughters whether their father thought it was cool to collide with a celebrity like Paltrow  characterizations they've denied.

After the collision, Sanderson sent his daughters an email with the subject line: Im famous ... At what cost? The oldest daughter, Shae Herath, wrote back: I also cant believe this is all on GoPro.

On Friday, Herath attempted to clarify the record amid questions about the possibility that the crash was recorded on a bystanders helmet camera that have intrigued both the Park City jury  and online viewers whove tuned into live footage of the movie stars trial.

Herath testified Friday that she didn't know whether footage existed and said her email referred to an earlier phone conversation in which her father told her he assumed there must be footage of the collision from someone on the crowded run with a GoPro. The camera is a common accessory for skiers at resorts like Deer Valley.

While Sandersons attorneys have focused on their clients deteriorating health, Paltrows legal team has intrigued the jury with recurring questions about the mysterious, missing GoPro footage. No video footage has since been located or entered as evidence.

GoPro cameras are commonly worn by outdoor athletes including skiers to capture action sports.

The proceedings have delved deep into the 76-year-old Sanderson's medical history and personality changes, with attorneys questioning whether his deteriorating health and estranged relationships stemmed from the collision or natural process of aging.

After a judge threw out Sanderson's earlier $3.1 million lawsuit, Sanderson then claimed damages of more than $300,000." Paltrow has countersued for a symbolic $1 and attorney fees, and one of her attorneys has repeatedly waved a $1 bill toward the jury.

Sandersons attorneys likened the symbolic action of suing for $1 to a 2017 countersuit filed by Taylor Swift against a radio host for the same amount in an effort to draw attention to Paltrows celebrity. When asked whether shes friends with Swift over a parade of objections from her attorney, Paltrow said no, but that she was friendly with the singer.

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Associated Press writer Anna Furman contributed reporting from Los Angeles.
In the final battle scene of Incredibles 2, baby Jack-Jack grows into a giant version of himself and inadvertently saves the day. The pivotal moment is one of the many Pixar scenes that Yale professor Theodore Kim helped bring to life with Fizt2, a simulation system that allowed Jack-Jacks clothing to expand with his body.

The simulator earned Kim his second Academy Award in February. He and his former Pixar collaborators, David Eberle, Fernando de Goes and Audrey Wong, received technical achievement awards for Fizt2 at the academy's annual Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony on Feb. 24.

The SciTech Awards is a separate event from the Oscars ceremony, which was broadcasted on March 12. It honors companies and people who have contributed significantly to the technological advancement of movies.

In his acceptance speech, Kim drew a laugh from the audience when he thanked his former PhD advisor, "for convincing me 20 years ago that rendering is boring and simulation is awesome." The award show's host, "Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings" star Simu Liu, joked that Kims comment could have lead to a slap onstage, a reference to last years Oscars.

The fact that he was paying such close attention to what I said was very interesting, Kim laughed.

Fizt2, whose name stands for physics tool version 2.0, is an improved version of the original Pixar Fizt cloth simulator, Kim said. First used in the 2001 film Monsters Inc. for Boos oversized T-shirt, the simulator would make clothing react to the characters movements the way it would in real life.

However, the physics-based simulator would explode whenever an animated character moved in a physically impossible manner, Kim said, because its governed by the laws of nature.

While working at Pixar from 2015 to 2019 as a senior research scientist, Kim and his colleagues created a system that would simulate the characters bodies underneath as well, allowing for more complex interactions between objects, he said. Kim said the development saves animators from having to tediously edit their models during certain moments.

By giving them the tools that make it so that they don't have to do that anymore, they can actually focus on the performance more instead.

Since then, Fizt2 has been used for the upper half of the Dad character's body in Onward and Buzz Lightyears spacesuit in Lightyear. It has allowed the flaps on sea monsters heads in Luca to ripple in the wind, and for fleshy characters like Mei in Turning Red to move in a realistic way as a red panda.

It has to have that snap to it when she moves, Kim said. Otherwise, it doesn't really look convincing.

Kim was first inspired to go into movie animation when he saw Toy Story in high school and he later earned computer science degrees from Cornell University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his first job after graduating from Cornell, he made his first screen appearance at an internship for Rhythm and Hues Studios, where he helped bring the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone to life.

Prior to joining Pixar, he taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara and developed Wavelet Turbulence, a process that makes explosions look more realistic in movies. The idea earned Kim his first Oscar in 2012.

In 2017, he got his first official screen credit for "Cars 3." Not everyone who works in the visual effects studio gets screen credit, he said, especially when he was an intern.

Five years after I got my first Academy Award, I finally got a screen credit, he said, laughing.

In 2019, he returned to academia at Yale University, where he is a computer science professor and co-leads the Yale Computer Graphics Group.

Kim said working in academia allows him more time to delve into long-term research questions. Since 2020, he has been working on computer graphics algorithms to animate diverse types of hair.

If you look at the algorithms for human hair, it's actually for very straight hair," he said. "Whereas in highly curly hair  like Afro-textured hair or kinky hair  there's actually never been a computational model that has ever been formulated for this sort of thing, he said. Which we think is a big shortcoming, actually.

He said increasing representation of people of color in the industry is necessary to fix these shortcomings. Most of the SciTech Award recipients he sees at the ceremony are white men, he said. From looking at the photo archives of the SciTech awards, he speculates that his colleague, Audrey Wong, is the only Asian-American woman to ever win a SciTech Oscar.

We would really like to see this shift, because we see the results of this in technologythen the technology becomes very specialized for just one type of human, he said. So the first step to this is, maybe you should talk to your colleagues of color, and maybe include them in the research so that we can actually expand these algorithms to really represent everybody. And I would like to see more of this happen.
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Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday announced a new Connecticut tutoring program aimed at addressing COVID-19-era learning loss among math students.

Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell unveiled the Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program in a news release. They said the intensive tutoring program will accelerate the performance of students in grades six through nine following dips in performance. According to statewide standardized testing data from the 2021-22 school year, Connecticut students in grades six through eight may be "a year or more behind in math."

High-dosage tutoring is an academic strategy designed to address learning gaps and enhance achievement. According to research from the Brookings Institutes Hamilton project, students can learn up to two years of math beyond typical classroom learning under the high-dosage approach the Nutmeg State is taking on.

The program will use $10 million of CPVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Relief Fund to support the program. School districts can apply for grants to participate in the program and the state is looking for qualified tutoring providers. Interested providers can fill out an online survey to be considered.

The State is looking to launch the program when the new school year begins this fall.

Other states across the U.S., like Illinois and New Jersey have implemented similar programs to allocate learning resources to schools and districts in need, with Connecticut being the latest to follow suit.

Updates on the program and its rollout will be published to CT.GOV.
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STAMFORD  After a 2022 overshadowed by announcements of significant cutbacks, the genomic-testing company formerly known as Sema4 said this week that it had proceeded with those plans but would maintain a presence in Connecticut.

Connecticut is acutely feeling the impact of the downsizing of the firm now known as GeneDx, through layoffs affecting several hundred employees and the closing of the organization's two laboratories in the state. The consolation for Connecticut is that the company, which has received about $15 million in state funding, said it would keep its headquarters in Stamford.

Cutting back in Connecticut

In response to an inquiry from Hearst Connecticut Media, GeneDx confirmed this week that its laboratory in Branford had closed last December, while its laboratory in Stamford is scheduled to close by the end of this month.

The lab closings reflect the companys decision last year to exit testing for reproductive health and somatic tumors and move its hereditary-cancer testing from Stamford to its lab in Gaithersburg, Md. Gaithersburg is the home city of the genomic-testing firm, also called GeneDx, that the-then Sema4 acquired last year.

This decision was not made lightly and was informed by deep analysis, deliberation and scrutiny by our management team, advisors and board, GeneDx Chief Executive Officer and President Katherine Stueland, who formerly served as CEO of the pre-acquisition GeneDx, said during an earnings call last November. We considered every possible option to preserve the (reproductive-health) business.

At the same time, the company is moving forward with a much smaller workforce. Last year, it announced that it would lay off about 700 employees, with those cuts affecting about 400 workers based in Connecticut. Today, it has more than 1,000 employees, with about 150 based in Connecticut. Its website lists a number of openings for Stamford-based positions.

Despite the job reductions and lab closings, the company said it was keeping its main offices at 333 Ludlow St., in Stamfords South End, where it leases nearly 90,000 square feet. It is looking to sublease, however, two of its three floors there, covering about 60,000 square feet.

333 Ludlow, Stamford, CT remains the companys headquarters, while our 207 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg address will remain the companys primary lab, the company said in a written statement.

Combined with other initiatives, such as a recent public offering expected to raise about $150 million, GeneDx officials expressed optimism about the company's long-term prospects, despite its inauspicious financial results in the past few years. It incurred a loss of about $549 million in 2022, following a loss of about $245 million in 2021 and a loss of around $241 million in 2020.

Entering 2023 with a new corporate strategy and a focus on delivering profitable growth, our team is uniquely positioned to enable precision medicine by combining the power of scalable genomic sequence analysis with data from our Centrellis platform, Stueland said in a statement last week, when the company announced its earnings for the past quarter and fiscal year. We have a significant opportunity to grow testing in pediatric rare disease, expand into the adult and newborn screening markets and build our data information business. With our strong balance sheet following the successful closing of our recent public offering, we are fully funded through our expected profitability in 2025.

Despite the downsizing of GeneDx, biotech industry leaders remain optimistic about Connecticut's ability to recruit and retain companies.

As with all biotech clusters, there is a healthy cycle of companies starting up, growing and closing. Closing or moving companies are typically due to lack of funding, mergers/acquisitions, clinical trial failure or not meeting milestones, Dawn Hocevar, CEO and president of BioCT, a nonprofit advocacy group, said in a statement. That is an opportunity for the other companies in the state to hire talented employees.

What's next for vacated lab space?

Despite the lab closings, GeneDx officials said the company is maintaining its leases for both properties.

In Branford, the lab had occupied all of the approximately 37,000-square-foot building at 1 Commercial St., a couple of blocks north of Exit 55 of Interstate 95. The company entered its current 10-year lease agreement for that property in January 2020, with annual rents there ranging from $437,580 to $549,780, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Its original lease there started in 2014.

In Stamford, the companys approximately 70,000-square-foot lab at 62 Southfield Ave., in the citys Waterside section, will close after a run of slightly more than two years following its late 2020 opening.

The Stamford lab has operated under a 27-year lease, entered in April 2019, according to an SEC filing. The lease mainly comprises 11-month installments whose rents will range from approximately $2.7 million to about $3.8 million.

We are contractually obligated for these leases for their remaining term, Alex Stein, GeneDxs vice president of project delivery, with responsibility for the companys properties and real estate strategy, said in an email. We are working with our landlords and our broker, CBRE, to show the properties and to generate innovative ideas on how the properties can be used. The lab spaces will be fully sublet.

State support under scrutiny

Before its struggles mounted last year, the then-Sema4 had often been touted by elected officials and business leaders as one of the most-promising biotech companies in Connecticut. In 2017, it was spun off from the New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System into its own company.

The state had demonstrated its confidence in the company through subsidies awarded during the administration of former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. From the $15.5 million in loans that the company received, $7.25 million has been forgiven, or essentially converted into a grant, according to state Department of Economic and Community Development data.

The company could earn an additional $3 million in forgiveness, for a total of $10.25 million. To do so, it would need to reach an in-state head count of 173 people by Dec. 31 and maintain that employment level for 24 months, and then increase its contingent to 198 by Dec. 31, 2024, and keep at least that number of jobs for 24 months. It was originally eligible for as much as $12.25 million in forgiveness, but the maximum forgiveness was reduced by $2 million as a result of the job cuts and lab closings.

In the meantime, the company is making monthly interest-only payments on the remaining $6.25 million principal balance.

While his administration has not awarded any funding to GeneDx, Gov. Ned Lamont has still faced scrutiny for his connections to the company  particularly those that pertain to the companys role from April 2020 until early 2022 as a state contractor for COVID-19 testing.

Among the firms early investors was Oak HC/FT, the venture capital firm co-founded by Annie Lamont, who is married to Ned Lamont. That connection led Ned Lamont to recuse himself from decisions concerning Sema4.

Republicans  including Bob Stefanowski, the GOP gubernatorial nominee whom Lamont, a Democrat, defeated in last Novembers election  questioned the companys COVID-19 testing for the state. Lamont maintained, however, that the state saved lives by quickly contracting with the companies able to test for the virus.
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NEW BRITAIN  The latest stage of a cost-cutting program launched last year by toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker will result in the closing of two factories in southern states, but the initiative's impact on the company's workforce in Connecticut is unclear.

The New Britain-headquartered company announced this week that it would transfer operations from its plant in Cheraw, S.C., which focuses on knife production and portable storage, to facilities in the Tennessee cities of Gallatin and Jackson  changes that it said would impact 182 employees in South Carolina. At the same time, the shutdown of its plant in Fort Worth, Texas, which focuses on mechanics' tools, would affect 175 employees. The company also said that it would add 80 jobs in Tennessee.

In response to an inquiry from Hearst Connecticut Media about whether Stanley had recently made or was planning any job cuts in Connecticut, a company spokesperson did not comment beyond referring to a news release about the factories in South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

These actions are aligned to the transformation strategy designed to deliver $2 billion of cost savings and are reflective of current economic conditions which highlighted needed changes in Stanley Black & Decker's production and distribution network, the company said in the news release. Strategic actions supporting the transformation will also enable a more focused product portfolio and strategic sourcing while delivering operational and service excellence.

The company is focused on providing a smooth transition to impacted employees, including options for employment at other Stanley Black & Decker facilities, as well as job placement support services, the news release added.

Since the cost-reduction program was announced last July, there have been earlier rounds of job cuts. Last October, Chief Executive Officer and President Donald Allan Jr. said that our head count reductions are largely complete.

Also last October, Stanley refuted what it said was an inaccurate Wall Street Journal article that reported the company had cut about 1,000 finance positions. But the company has declined to specify the total number of job cuts since the cost-reduction program was implemented.

In Connecticut, Stanley has not sent any layoff notices to the state Department of Labor during the past year. But not all layoffs have to be reported under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart said she had not been informed by Stanley or anyone else of the company making any recent or upcoming job cuts in its home city.

Stanley Black and Decker is a valued member of our business community here in New Britain. They hold an inordinate historical importance to the founding of our town, Stewart said in a written statement. Our first mayor was their founder, Frederick T. Stanley, and Stanleys current executives have a great working relationship with the city.

In downtown Hartford, the company recently closed a manufactory center that it opened in 2019.

The company is aiming to be a more simplified organization, which will bring us closer to our customers, the company said in a statement. By integrating our two largest businesses, tools and outdoor, we are able to focus on our core franchise businesses where we have leading brands and the largest growth opportunities. With this change, decentralized centers of excellence (like the manufactory) are being brought into the businesses.

The statement did not specify the jobs impact of the Hartford center's closing, while the number of employees in Connecticut is also unclear. A page on the company's website had shown in-state worker totals, including a tally of about 1,900 people on Tuesday. But the page was taken down on Wednesday, with the company spokesperson saying in an email the same day that the page was outdated. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to a follow-up inquiry about the company's number of Connecticut-based employees.

Despite the closing of some facilities, Stanley remains one of the worlds largest manufacturers. It has more than 40 manufacturing facilities and nearly 19,000 employees in the U.S., according to company data. The company also said that during the past five years, its U.S. employee population has grown by more than 5,000 across its tools and outdoor business.

Based on its 2021 revenues, Stanley ranked No. 212 in the 2022 Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations.

Any reduction to the companys workforce in Connecticut would be a setback for the states manufacturing sector, which has recovered all of the jobs that it lost as a result of COVID-19 pandemic-sparked economic shutdowns in the spring of 2020.

But if the sector is to avoid repeating its stagnant jobs growth of the 2010s, it will need to tackle a different challenge: a lack of workers. While manufacturing employment in Connecticut in February grew 2 percent year over year to 158,600 positions, the sector still has thousands of job openings across the state.
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OTTAWA, Ontario (AP)  President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. would respond forcefully to protect its personnel after U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard following a suspected Iranian-linked attack Thursday that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded seven other Americans in northeast Syria.

The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran, Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, where he is on a state visit. But he said Iran and its proxies should be prepared for the U.S. to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

While its not the first time the U.S. and Iran have traded strikes in Syria, the attacks and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

The Pentagon said a drone attack on a U.S. base Thursday killed a contractor and injured five U.S. troops and another contractor. That was followed by two simultaneous attacks on U.S. forces in Syria Friday, according to U.S. officials.

The officials said that based on preliminary information, there was a rocket attack Friday at a Conoco plant, and one U.S. service member was injured but is in stable condition. At about the same time, several drones were launched at Green Village, where U.S. troops are also based. One official said all but one of the drones were shot down, and there were no U.S. injuries there. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

Two Syrian opposition activist groups reported a new wave of airstrikes on eastern Syria that hit positions of Iran-backed militias after rockets were fired at a Conoco gas plant that has a base housing American troops. Several U.S. officials, however, said the U.S. did not launch any attacks late Friday, and it wasn't clear if the activists were referring to the attack on U.S. forces at Green Village.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the American intelligence community had determined the drone in Thursday's attack on was of Iranian origin. U.S. officials said that conclusion was based on recovered debris and intelligence threat streams. They offered no immediate evidence to support the claim. The drone hit a maintenance facility at a coalition base in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka.

In retaliation, the Pentagon said F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck several locations around Deir el-Zour. Those strikes, said Austin, were a response to the drone attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

Biden, speaking during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the American killed and well-wishes for the injured.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy. The U.S. has had forces in northeast Syria since 2015, when they deployed as part of the fight against the Islamic State group, and maintains some 900 troops there, working with Kurdish-led forces that control around a third of Syria.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iranian-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Reports on the number of killed and wounded in the U.S. strikes varied. Activist group Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in the province, said four people were killed and a number of others were wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said 11 Iranian-backed fighters were killed  including six at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour and five at military posts near the towns of Mayadeen and Boukamal.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory, said three rockets were fired earlier Friday at the al-Omar oil field in Deir el-Zour that houses U.S. troops, an apparent retaliation to the American strikes.

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, and their officials at the United Nations in New York did not respond to requests for comment from the AP.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

On Thursday, Kurilla warned Congress during a hearing that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

According to officials, Iran has launched 80 attacks against U.S. forces and locations in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The vast majority of those have been in Syria.

Diplomacy to deescalate the exchange appeared to begin immediately. The foreign minister of Qatar spoke by phone with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Qatari state news agency reported. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran  in February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of U.S.-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

__

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Irbil, Iraq, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
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ROME (AP)  Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni marked the anniversary Friday of one of the worst World War II-era massacres in German-occupied Italy, but the main association of partisans who fought to free Italy from fascism quickly criticized her comments.

Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party has neo-fascist roots, issued a statement to commemorate the March 24, 1944 massacre at the Ardeatine Caves on Romes outskirts. There, 335 people were shot to death as a reprisal for an attack by partisans that killed 33 Nazi soldiers on a street in Rome.

Meloni said it was up to all Italians to remember the barbaric slaughter and to teach future generations what happened. She said the massacre marked one of the deepest and most painful wounds inflicted on our community: 335 innocent Italians slaughtered simply because they were Italian.

The National Association of Italian Partisans, or ANPI, which preserves the memory of the World War II resistance movement against fascism and has warned of an emboldened far-right in Italy, criticized Meloni for not remembering everything.

The group faulted in particular the premier's reference to the 335 people killed merely because they were Italian."

Sure, they were Italians, but they were chosen on the basis of a selection that affected anti-fascists, resistance fighters, political opponents and Jews, ANPI leader Gianfranco Pagliarulo said in a statement.

He added that the list of those who were slaughtered was compiled with the complicity of Romes police chief, the interior minister of deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolinis northern Republic of Salo and a Nazi war criminal. Pagliarulo said they were all fascists.

Opposition lawmakers also faulted Meloni's comment. One day will you be able to write the word ANTIFASCIST? tweeted Nicola Fratoianni, a lawmaker from the Alliance of Left Greens.

Meloni has sought to allay concerns about her partys neo-fascist roots, insisting during Italy's election campaign last year that the Italian right had handed fascism over to history and had unambiguously condemned the suppression of democracy and anti-Jewish laws.

Since becoming premier in October, she also has reached out repeatedly to members of Romes Jewish community.

But one of the Brothers of Italy's leaders, Senate President Ignazio La Russa, has also proudly displayed Mussolini memorabilia in his home. La Russa joined Italy's president and other dignitaries at a commemoration Friday at the Ardeatine site, which took place while Meloni was in Brussels for a European Union summit.

Asked about her comments, Meloni said she was being inclusive, or omnicomprehensive, in describing antifascists as Italians, the ANSA news agency said.

Italy never went through a process similar to Germanys denazification, and a neo-fascist party, the Italian Social Movement, or MSI, was part of Italys first postwar government in 1946. Meloni joined the MSIs youth branch as a teen-ager in Rome and went onto lead the youth branch of MSIs successor party, the National Alliance.

The Brothers of Italy party succeeded the National Alliance and retains the tricolor flame of the original MSI as its logo.
Make no mistake. However much the hosts seek to present this as a joint decision, it is the French who have pulled the plug on the first state visit of the King's reign.

Nothing can gloss over the fact that this is an embarrassing capitulation by President Emmanuel Macron and, thus a victory for his enemies among the extreme Left and the French trade union movement.

Having been thrilled at the prospect of being the first head of state to welcome a new British sovereign, Monsieur Macron now becomes the first world leader to disinvite a British monarch since the Shah of Iran did the same to the Queen in 1979.

Within days, the Shah had fled into exile, never to return. Macron will be hoping that history does not repeat itself.

The prospect of civil disorder and transport chaos had been worrying French officials all week.

Pressing on: The King and Queen Consort will continue with the German leg of their tour

I am told by sources close to the Elysee Palace that it was not the prospect of a national strike next Tuesday which was the final straw for the hosts but the sight of Bordeaux city hall in flames on Thursday night.

The King had been due to visit the city on the same day as the strike. British officials  in both London and Paris  had been busy making contingency plans, working around each new threat of disruption.

They knew that the plan for a state banquet at Versailles had been scrapped because staff at Mobilier Nation, the state agency which runs Versailles, had called a strike against 'rolling out the red carpet'.

They knew that plans for the King to travel by environmentally friendly train to Bordeaux might need to be revised in favour of an aeroplane.

None, however, were expecting the French to cave in completely. Yesterday morning, Macron's team at the Elysee Palace informed Downing Street and the Foreign Office that they wanted to cancel, thus making it  literally  a fait accompli.

Macron then telephoned the King, whereupon the Elysee put out an official statement.

It said that 'this decision was taken by the French and British governments after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the King'.

Last night, there was palpable irritation among British officials that Macron's staff were painting this as some sort of shared decision.

On the ninth day of rioting, chilling graffiti directly addressed the King, reading 'Charles III, do you know the guillotine?'

'We had expressed no wish or inclination to cancel,' says one British diplomat.

'Whatever the situation, we would have made the best of it. We would not have given in to the mob. However, when a host says that they want to postpone, there is not much the guest can do about it.'

The veteran French commentator and Le Point columnist, Marc Roche, author of the Queen's only French language biography, agrees. 'The Elysee thought they could manage the unrest in Paris but when they saw the problems unfolding in Bordeaux, they panicked and called the whole thing off,' he says.

'Macron's team want to present it as a joint statement. British diplomats are being very clear that it was the French who asked for a cancellation. This is total humiliation for Macron.'

Officials at Buckingham Palace insist that there are no hard feelings on the part of the King and that he is much looking forward to visiting France at a later date.

President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves Robles, left, shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron after their media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday

Privately, some are even relieved that his first state visit will now take place against a backdrop of smiling, welcoming crowds in Berlin on Wednesday when the second leg of next week's proposed European tour continues as planned.

The French visit would clearly have risked a few lively moments for the King, not that he himself was remotely alarmed. As Prince of Wales, he endured much worse.

I remember his 1998 tour of Sri Lanka when many locations on his itinerary were blown up by Tamil Tiger terrorists just hours before his arrival.

Several people were killed. Yet the prince pressed on regardless  because that is what his hosts and the British government wanted him to do.

Monarchs, like royal princes, have precious little say in these matters. They follow the formal advice of their ministers.

Rishi Sunak and his ministers had been keen to use the kudos of Charles III's first tour to bolster post-Brexit relations with the two main players in the European Union. This follows last month's meeting between the King and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, following a deal on the new Windsor Framework for trade across the Irish Sea.

Firefighters checks rubbish after extinguishing a fire during a demonstration, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote

Hardcore Brexiteers complained that the King was being dragged into politics. However, the monarch was simply doing what his ministers had advised him to do. That is the essence of a constitutional monarchy.

Writing my biography of the late Queen, I discovered the extent of the divisions ahead of her proposed visit to Iran in 1979, her first stop on her first major tour of the Middle East. Given the serious instability in the country, the Prime Minister, Jim Callaghan, wanted to cancel.

The Foreign Secretary, David (now Lord) Owen, argued that this would do great harm to Britain's standing among the other rulers in the Middle East and that the UK should hold its nerve until the last minute. His strategy worked since it was, ultimately, the Shah who felt obliged to cancel as his kingdom imploded. British honour remained intact.

What is unique about the situation in France is that an ostensibly stable democracy and ally has called off a British state visit. Usually, the hosts do all that they can to keep royal visits on track, in order to maintain the veneer of normality and competence. Macron has done the opposite.

Just months after the Queen's non-visit to Iran, many senior security advisers urged her new Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, to call off the monarch's visit to the 1979 Commonwealth summit in Zambia.

Credible reports had been received of possible rocket attacks on the Queen's plane by guerrilla forces fighting the civil war in neighbouring Rhodesia. Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda, however, was adamant that the Queen should still come.

The Queen thought so, too. She knew there would be dire repercussions if she failed to attend the first Commonwealth summit on African soil. In the end, Mrs Thatcher relented and the Queen flew to Zambia for a very successful summit.

The French postponement will certainly raise the question of why the King's first overseas visit is not, instead, to a Commonwealth nation. He is now Head of the Commonwealth, after all.

This, though, would have raised other challenges. Where would he go? His priority would have been the 'realms', the 14 countries (in addition to the UK) of which he is King. Having visited Canada not long before his accession, that puts Ottawa at the back of the queue. Which leaves the Pacific or the Caribbean. A trip to Australia and New Zealand would have cost at least two weeks of planning and rehearsals just a month short of the Coronation.

As for the Caribbean, the government of the King's largest realm in the region, Jamaica, is currently advocating a referendum to ditch the Crown. If the King had made that his first destination, then he would either be accused of canvassing or else of inflaming the issue.

France and Germany, on the other hand, are both close by and also a UK diplomatic priority. That is why they were chosen. Germany will clearly make the most of it.

President Macron, however, has just broken one of the first rules drummed into to all new Palace staff and Lord Lieutenants: royalty does not run.

'Walk quickly but do not run,' they are told. 'It is undignified and it smacks of panic.'
A Holocaust survivor who was sent to a Nazi concentration camp at age five is sharing her harrowing story of survival on TikTok to raise awareness about the horrors inflicted upon European Jews during World War II.

Tova Friedman, 85, is one of the youngest survivors of the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Nazi-occupied Poland, where she was interned with her mother from 1944 until they were liberated in 1945.

She has dedicated her life to raising awareness of the torture she and millions of others endured at the hands of the Nazis. She also wrote a memoir about her experience, 'The Daughter of Auschwitz,' which was released last September.

A year before the publication of her book, her teenage grandson, Aron Goodman, launched her TikTok account. In the videos recorded from their family living room in Morristown, New Jersey, she recounts her childhood and the atrocities she witnessed.

Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman, 85, was five years old when she was sent to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland

With the help of her 17-year-old grandson, Aron Goodman, she is sharing her harrowing story on TikTok to raise awareness for the horrors inflicted upon European Jews during World War II

Friedman (pictured far left) was interned with her mother at Auschwitz from 1944 until the camp was liberated by the Soviet army on January 27, 1945

Friedman's page has nearly 500,000 followers, and her short clips have garnered 75 million views since they started posting a year and a half ago.

'It really snowballed,' she told the Associated Press. 'And then we realized it was a fabulous medium for the Holocaust, for young people who dont want to read the books, who don't like the classes in school, who don't like the way the teachers teach or whatever, who are bored with it, or some who never heard of it. Here they are, listening.'

Goodman, 17, said their most-viewed videos are 'ones that show her number'  the identification tattooed on prisoners' arms at Auschwitz.

'People around the world cant really get the chance to see a survivor, to see the history on their arm,' he said. 'So social media and TikTok is the way we kind of impart our message and show the evidence of the Holocaust that people unrightfully deny.'

Born in Poland in September 1938, Friedman spent her early childhood with her family in the ghetto of Tomaszow Mazowiecki, where 15,000 Jews were cramped in six four-story buildings.

'I was born one year before the war, so I didn't understand freedom,' she explained in one video. 'I didn't understand school. I didn't understand kindergarten. I thought that was the way you have to live. Jewish children are going to be killed, and your job is to keep safe, to make sure you behave in such a way that you don't get shot. It was a normal everyday occurrence and death all around me.'

Friedman, who was an only child, was five and a half when she and her mother were sent to Auschwitz and her father to Dachau.

'We were all stuffed together, only women. As far as I know, I was the only child, and we had to stand,' she said of their deportation in a cattle car in another clip.

Born in Poland in September 1938, Friedman spent her early childhood with her family in the ghetto of Tomaszow Mazowiecki, where 15,000 Jews were cramped in six four-story buildings

'I was born one year before the war, so I didn't understand freedom,' she explained in one video. 'I didn't understand school. I didn't understand kindergarten. I thought that was the way you have to live'

Friedman, who was an only child, was sent to Auschwitz (pictured in 2004) with her mother, while her father was taken to Dachau

'There was just no room to sit, no room to move. There was a place to go to the toilet, I think a bucket somewhere. We couldn't get to it, so everybody had to do what they had to do standing up.

'There was no food, no water. I heard the trip was 36 hours. To me, it lasted forever. It was very hot from the bodies of the other women, and it was probably one of the worst experiences of my life.'

Friedman recounted her arrival at Auschwitz in a series of short videos, saying she was initially relieved to be in the sunshine after being in a cattle car in 'almost complete darkness' for a day and a half.

'Within two minutes, I noticed these horrible dogs that were right near us as we arrived,' she said. 'That's where I got absolutely terrified because the dogs scared me more than the Germans did. I thought I would be killed by the dogs.'

Friedman insisted it was sheer luck that she survived her first day at Auschwitz, explaining that most children her age were 'killed immediately because we were useless.'

She heard stories that the Nazis wouldn't open up another crematorium because the cattle car arrived on a Sunday, their day off, which ultimately saved her life.

'I guess they thought they would get me later on,' she said. 'It was the first and biggest miracle.'

Friedman recalled how a Jewish prisoner tattooed her identification number A27633  onto her arm, which became her name.

Friedman opened up about her deportation to the death camp in one of her videos, saying, 'There was no food, no water. I heard the trip was 36 hours. To me, it lasted forever'

Friedman insisted it was sheer luck that she survived her first day at Auschwitz, explaining that most children her age were 'killed immediately because we were useless'

Friedman recalled how a Jewish prisoner tattooed her identification number - A27633 - onto her arm and helped her memorize it

'I had no name. My name was 27,633. I was tattooed by a young woman whose hands trembled because she wasn't happy to tattoo children,' the grandmother said.

The woman gave her a rag with cold water and told her how to care for the tattoo so her arm wouldn't swell. She also helped her memorize her ID number.

'She said, "Remember, this is your name. You better memorize it." I didn't know any numbers. I'd never been to school,' Friedman explained, 'but I very quickly memorized it because it was the difference between life and death.'

In another series of videos, the Holocaust survivor detailed the horrifying moment she was beaten by a female SS officer during roll call three or four weeks after they had arrived.

'I usually tried to stand in the back, but this time for some reason I was in the front,' she explained. 'I was getting fidgety because they lasted four or five hours. This time it just lasted and lasted, and I started to move a little bit.'

Friedman was looking around when the officer noticed her and yanked her out of line by her clothes.

'She looked at me, and she started hitting me, saying to me, "You have to learn to stand still,"' said Friedman, who remembers looking up at the woman while she hit her face with her open palm.

'She kept hitting me and hitting me and hitting me. Not a word came out of my mouth, and I thought to myself, "She can hit me until she kills me. She will never know how much it hurts."

'I think that's a form of rebellion, not showing the pain, because that's what they wanted. They wanted to see us squirm and plead and cry and bleed, and even at my age I refused to give in.'

In another series, she detailed the horrifying moment she was beaten by a female SS officer because she was fidgeting during roll call three or four weeks after they had arrived

Friedman had another brush with death when she narrowly escaped the gas chamber. She spent her sixth birthday in Auschwitz and was given an extra piece of bread from her mother

Friedman noted that many starved survivors died in the days after liberation from eating too much rich food, saying her mother wouldn't let her consume anything but dry bread for the first two days

She kept looking at her mother, who was in line and unable to intervene, knowing that doing so would likely get one or both of them killed.

Friedman said her 'cheeks were completely swollen and red' when the officer finally got tired of beating her and pushed her back in line.

She was later separated from her mother and sent to the children's barracks. She said being away from her parents and the 'terrible hunger' were the worst things she endured in Auschwitz.

'When you wake up, you're hungry. When you go to sleep, you're hungry, and that really plays something with your mind,' she said.

She shared how she celebrated her sixth birthday in the death camp, saying, 'I got a wonderful piece of bread from my mother. That was a really wonderful time because we were all starving.'

Friedman, who grew accustomed to the smell of burning bodies, had another brush with death when she narrowly escaped the gas chamber for reasons she still doesn't understand.

'They rounded us up, all the children in our barrack. They walked us to the gas chamber. We got in there. It was a gigantic room. We all got undressed, and they told us to make sure we [could] find our clothing, as if we weren't going to be killed,' she said.

'We stood there naked for a number of hours freezing, absolutely freezing, and then they just sent us back. They were screaming and yelling at each other, and I understood at the age of six and a half that they got the wrong barrack, and they were going to get us later. But, in truth, I really don't know what happened, why they sent us back.'

Friedman's mother saved both of their lives when she had them hide among the corpses in the camp instead of leaving on the death march from Auschwitz as Soviet forces approached.

Friedman's grandson said he makes the videos to counter antisemitic speech online and to educate the TikTok generation about the horrors of the Holocaust

Commenters on the videos thank Friedman for posting her memories, with many remarking they had not learned much - or anything - about the Holocaust in school.

'Life is resilient, and you can live again,' she told the Associated Press. 'This is what I'd like to let people know. It's the hope that humanity can rebuild itself'

She called the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 1945 'one of the happiest days of my life.'

Friedman noted that many survivors died in the following days from eating too much rich food after months of starvation, saying her mother wisely wouldn't let her consume anything but dry bread for the first two days.

'After that, bread with butter for two days, and after that bread, butter, and sugar for the next two days,' she said. 'That's how she got my stomach used to food, but those who didn't do it suffered immensely.'

Commenters on the videos thank Friedman for posting her memories, with many remarking they had not learned much  or anything  about the Holocaust in school.

Goodman said he makes the videos to counter antisemitic speech online and to educate the TikTok generation about the horrors of the Holocaust.

'We need to focus on the history and warn people where hate can lead if its unchecked, if no one does anything about it,' the high schooler said.

Both of Friedman's parents survived the war, but they faced antisemitism in Poland and moved to the U.S. when she was 12. Her mother, who fell into despair after the war, died in her mid-40s.

Friedman, who works as a therapist, said people often ask how she could ever trust or love people after what she witnessed.

But she saw many other Holocaust survivors who lost their families in the camps go on to remarry and have more children, which they called 'replacement children' in those days.

'Life is resilient, and you can live again,' she told the Associated Press. 'This is what I'd like to let people know. It's the hope that humanity can rebuild itself.'
A young cancer survivor has been left 'permanently giving the finger' after recovering from a rare spinal tumour.

Lauren Wagner, 26, said doctors berated her for sitting at her desk wrong, blaming her poor posture for her sudden back pain.

'I would have loved to just believe my backpain was because my workstation wasn't ergonomically friendly but it was actually one of the worst case scenarios for me,' the young Canadian revealed.

Her back pain started in March 2020, right about the time she started working from home. By June it was very serious.

'In that time I saw three doctors and was dismissed by all of them,' she said.

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Lauren Wagner has been left 'permanently giving the finger' after recovering from a rare spinal tumour

It wasn't until she went to see a chiropractor who revealed her symptoms were 'worse than people who had been involved in severe car accidents' that she realised something much more sinister was going on.

She spoke to her doctor and requested an MRI, which was booked for the following August.

Within a few hours her doctor was calling to let her know the MRI had picked up a large mass on her spine.

'My heart just sank at the time,' she said admitting she went blank with the news.

'The scariest part is I was just weeks away from becoming permanently paralysed,' she said.

The next few years would be 'the most traumatic' of her life.

'I am glad they found it when they did, but wish it had been found sooner,' she said.

Only one million cases of the tumour have been recorded.

'Because of how rare it was, there were only two surgeons in Canada that would do the surgery. I was told it would be a very intense surgery, it was 23 hours long but they managed to remove the tumour. However I wasn't aware of the complications until afterwards.'

Lauren had back pain from March 2020 but was dismissed by doctors who said it was caused by bad posture

She has had six spinal surgeries totaling over 60 hours to remove the mass, and say that along with complications has left her with the permanent hand disability.

'No one knew the severity of the nerves involved in the tumour and I had a lot of nerve damage. I didn't know I was going to lose the ability to speak, swallow and use my hands until afterwards and I didn't know if I would ever be able to again,' she said.

'It was so scary when I woke up and couldn't speak I was quite worried as my vocal cords had nerve damage and we didn't know if it would ever recover. It took a couple of months to speak again as I didn't just wake up with it back, it came back really slowly.

Lauren was comforted by her diagnosis and despite being let down by the medical system early on thought removing the cancer would 'be a breeze'.

She even told her mum not to stress before her first surgery.

'What I thought was going to be 3 weeks in the hospital, turned out to be 8 months,' she said.

'What I thought was going to be 1 complex surgery, turned out to be 6. I lost my ability to swallow, talk, and use my arms and hands.

She has had six spinal surgeries totaling over 60 hours to remove the mass, and say that along with complications has left her with the permanent hand disability

'My surgeries have left me with nerve damage and weakness in my hands which makes some tasks impossible. I was originally told that by one year, I would be recovered, but that didn't happen. If anything, I have learned that recovery is not linear and you can't put a timeline on it,' she continued.

She was then moved to a spinal rehabilitation ward and worked with therapists to get some strength back.

'The surgery impacted my lungs, so they had to isolate one of my lungs to get to the tumour out so I had a hard time breathing. When I realised I could speak again I was so surprised, there were a few times I was trying to project my voice, so when I did, it was really exciting.

'However I couldn't swallow, which was the hardest part. I couldn't eat or drink and I was so hungry and thirsty.

Lauren is thankful she has been given a second chance at life

'They weren't sure if I could eat and drink again and the fact I couldn't speak or swallow went hand in hand, as in order to be able to swallow I would have to be able to speak, so whenever I tried to swallow it would go straight into my lungs and create more problems such as pneumonia.

'My hands are still damaged though, and they look like I am constantly swearing at people.

'I just try and see the humour in it and positivity that I went through hell and back and survived.

Lauren is thankful she has been given a second chance at life.

She wants to remind people they are their best advocate and need to push for answers when they know something is wrong.
A waitress fumed after being tipped just 10 per cent on a $700 bill- despite the table of Europeans saying they were 'over the moon' with the service.

The woman, from New York, took to Twitter to explain that she was tipped $70 on a $700 bill.

However the annoyed server said it was half the amount she was expecting from her table because a 20 per cent tip is customary in the States.

She revealed her manager even addressed this with the table, but they left without tipping more.

Opinions were divided online with some saying customers shouldn't be paying her wages while others say visitors should learn the tipping customs of places they travel to.

A New York waitress was left fuming after being left a $70 tip by a table of European tourists, when she was expecting at least double (stock image)

The frustrated waitress said: 'lmao I f***** hate Europeans sometimes. This table just left $70 on a $700 check after chilling for HOURS.

'My manager even asked about their service and they were OVER THE MOON about my service so he explained the customary tip is 20% and they were like "ok" and left.

She added: 'Oh God I already know that this is going to get the most insufferable 'tipping isn't mandatory, just get a new job or magically change the laws overnight, I am such a genius to say this' type of replies imaginable.'

She continued: 'I understand a lot of the qualms with Europeans behavior in restaurants comes from cultural differences (camping at tables, being a little brusque or forceful, etc) all of which I'd be willing to overlook if they at least tipped appropriately.'

The Tweet racked up more than 40 million views, 16,000 comments and 32,000 likes.

Tips vary from country to country and the amount tends to be a personal decision in the UK rather than an expectation.

The woman from New York, took to her Twitter to explain that she was tipped $70 (56.96) on a $700 (569.57) bill

While tipping is common in Europe in many cases it's just built into part of the bill, If it isn't 10-12 per cent is normal.

American servers usually expect an additional 20 per cent on top of the overall bill to compensate for their service.

According to TripAdvisor: 'Some states allow a 'tip credit' to count as part of the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25/hour so tipped employees may be paid as low as $2.00 an hour plus tips.

Therefore those who provide service are often dependent on tip income.

However, many rushed to the comments to say it's an employer's job to pay their employees correctly.

However many rushed to the comments to say it's an employer's job to pay their employees correctly

One person wrote: 'Get a job that pays you a wage. Growing up in Europe - we don't learn that customers pay employees' wages.

'We pay for what we buy. You do your job. Your boss pays you. Everyone wins. Tipping should be a nice surprise not something you need to survive.'

Another said: 'Your wage is the problem here. If you are relying on tips to earn enough money your employer is exploiting you. They are not relying on the generosity of strangers to run their business.'

While someone else agreed saying: 'This American tipping culture has got to end they've gotta pay you guys an actual wage you shouldn't put up with this.'

Some people disagreed saying Europeans should abide by the US customary while visiting the country.

Some people disagreed saying Europeans should abide by the US customary while visiting the country

One person wrote: 'If the bill is $700, then you have every right to complain about a $70 tip if you're an American waiter. And one should learn the tipping customs of places one is visiting.'

Another said: 'What's the excuse, in the year 2023, for not knowing the tipping culture of a country you're visiting? Did they not want the roaming charges to do a quick google search?'

Someone else wrote: 'I google the tipping culture of every country I visit. I even learned that in Morocco and Egypt tipping is very much assumed and expected for any type of service.

'People need to google customs and act accordingly, not blame the country for not being like their own.'
Lady Amelia Spencer was dazzling in a glittering white sequin dress as she enjoyed a post-wedding celebration last night in South Africa.

Princess Diana's niece, 30, and her fiance Greg Mallett, 30, tied the knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience', on Tuesday.

And it appears last night the couple celebrated with friends and family at the stunning farm, with guests of the event sharing snaps of the bride and groom on social media.

In one snap, Amelia could be seen wearing a halter-neck white sequin gown, sweeping her blonde locks into a ponytail to reveal the dramatic scooped back.

Her new husband Greg appeared to be beaming in another photograph, donning a smart black suit with an open neck shirt and a pair of cool white trainers for the occasion.

Lady Amelia Spencer, 30, was dazzling in a glittering white sequin dress as she enjoyed a post-wedding celebration last night in South Africa

Princess Diana 's niece, 30, and her fiance Greg Mallett, 30, tied the knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience', on Tuesday (pictured, Greg with a guest)

Hairdresser Jack Merrick-Thirlway shared a number of snaps on Instagram as he posed with the couple and their loved-ones.

Posting a photograph with Amelia, he called her 'the most beautiful bride.'

Meanwhile sharing a picture of the newly-wed Greg, he said: 'I mean, just look at him!'

A third photograph showed Amelia's twin sister Lady Eliza, who was dressed in an elegant strapless blue dress.

Over the weekend, Lady Amelia and her sister Lady Eliza shared a number of snaps as they kicked off wedding celebrations in Cape Town.

The bride-to-be looked suitably stylish in a silk halterneck white gown while her partner of 11 years was smart in a white shirt and blue suit trousers.

The happy couple posed for photos next to the pool and shared images of them exchanging kisses and loving looks on their Instagram Stories.

Posting a photo of his future wife with her arms wrapped around him, Greg gushed to his 8,400 followers: 'You'll never not make me laugh. And I will never stop looking at you in awe.'

The groom then finished off his loving post with a single red love heart emoji and tagged Amelia - who then re-shared it with her 48,400 followers.

Wedding guest Jacinta Spencer - who is a makeup artist friend and not a direct relation - also posted a photo of Lady Amelia posing on the terrace as the sun set behind her.

A third photograph showed Amelia's twin sister Lady Eliza, who was dressed in an elegant strapless blue dress (pictured)

She wrote: 'The most beautiful pre-wedding reception for you. I love you with all my heart.'

But while Amelia's twin sister Eliza featured in pictures on social media, their father Earl Spencer, 58, did not appear in any of the shots.

On Tuesday, the couple tied-the-knot in spectacular fashion at the Cape Town venue.

While there are no prices available online for hiring out the venue, prices to stay in the main villa on the farm cost from 950 per night in the low season.

The farm, which is a stones throw from Franschhoek, dates back to 1698.

It was among the first of the eleven Huguenot Farms was granted to the French immigrants who fled their native country during the 17th century.

The on-site accommodation can house 102 guests, in-house catering, bar facilities, a hands-on venue manager who promises couples to oversee the running of the events.

Meanwhile there are also staff who will assist with setup and direct contact with trusted decor suppliers and other vendors.

Lady Amelia and Greg have previously attended a number of weddings at the venue for other friends and loved-ones.

However there was one guest who was notably absent from the event - Amelia's father Earl Spencer.

In his first post since the wedding on Wednesday, Earl Spencer tweeted a photograph of Althorp this morning, writing: 'Early morning March light, at Althorps Round Oval lake.'

Earlier this week, the couple kicked off their celebrations by hosting a cocktail party at a beachside villa in South Africa

Jacinta Spencer - who is not a relation of the family - shared a photo of the bride and gushed: 'I love you with all my heart'

Bride-to-be Amelia Spencer shared glimpses of her wedding welcome party with her 48,000 Instagram followers. Pictured with guests and her twin sister Eliza (centre right)

Guest Alessandro Maria Ferreri gushed about Lady Amelia and her twin sister Lady Eliza were 'stunning by the seaside'

Princess Diana's younger brother did not attend his eldest daughter Lady Kitty's wedding to retail millionaire Michael Lewis in July 2021 - prompting rumours all was not well between the father-of-seven and his daughters from his first marriage.

He went on to share another video moments later showing some of the animals on the lake's surface.

He wrote: 'Duck, geese, swans - and, in the distance, coots and moorhens. Early morning life on the lake, at @AlthorpHouse.'

Femail has approached Charles Spencer for comment.

It's not the first wedding of a child that Earl Spencer has missed.

Lady Kitty - who is 32 years younger than her husband - was walked down the aisle by her brother Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, 29, and half brother Samuel Aitken, whose father is businessman Jonathan Aitken.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the couple are believed to have tied-the-knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience'

While there are no prices available online, the couple have previously attended a number of weddings at the venue for other friends and loved-ones (pictured, a party at the venue)

A number of guests, including Jacinta Spencer - who is a makeup artist friend and not a direct relation, shared snaps online as she prepared for the wedding

Meanwhile another guest, Hannah Hartland, tagged the venue in a group shot on Instagram as her friends sipped on drinks ahead of the big event

While it is not known how much the venue costs to hire, the interiors are decorated in a stylish white colour scheme

The venue, which has space for over 100 guests to stay on site, has stunning modern decor throughout

A source told MailOnline at the time: 'Kitty and Charles were very close when she was growing up, but their relationship has cooled and been more distant since his marriage to his third wife Karen in 2011.

'Charles recently suffered an injury and perhaps that will be the reason for him not travelling, but it is just easier for everyone that he is not there.

'The four children are all close to their mother Victoria and get on well with their step siblings, and their Spencer aunts and have forged their own relationships with one another without needing Charles to bind them together.'

Although Lady Amelia's mother Victoria Aitken did not feature in photos from the welcome party, she was included on the guest list for Lady Kitty's wedding in 2021 and is expected to attend her second daughter's nuptials later this month.

Charles was married to Victoria from 1989 until 1997. The couple moved to Cape Town, South Africa, where Kitty and her siblings Lady Eliza, Lady Amelia and Louis were brought up away from the glare of public attention.

Princess Diana's death occurred while their divorce case was in progress; shortly after their split was finalised, Earl Spencer moved back to the UK.

Earl Spencer (pictured in December 2015) was noticeably absent from Lady Amelia's wedding welcome over the weekend. It comes after he missed his eldest daughter Lady Kitty's wedding in 2021

Princess Diana's younger brother did not attend his eldest daughter Lady Kitty's wedding to retail millionaire Michael Lewis in July 2021 - prompting rumours all was not well between the father-of-seven and his daughters from his first marriage (pictured, with Eliza, Amelia and Louis)

Following their separation, Earl Spencer went on to marry Caroline Freud in 2001 before then tying the knot with entrepreneur Karen Spencer in 2011.

In July 2020, Lady Amelia got engaged to long-term boyfriend Greg following a romantic proposal in South Africa.

The society beauty, who is the cousin of Princes William and Harry, met her real estate beau while they were both studying at the University of Cape Town.

The couple were together for 11 years before Greg, 32, popped the question at the exclusive Clouds Wine & Guest Estate in Stellenbosch.

In 2021, the couple relocated from South Africa to London shortly after Amelia's big sister Kitty's lavish wedding in Rome - with celebrations being spread over four days
Chinese manufacturers hail closer economic ties with RCEP countries

Xinhua) 13:27, March 24, 2023

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 25, 2023 shows the container terminal at Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

NANNING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Every 10 minutes, a brand new loader rolls off the 150-meter-long production line of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., Ltd., joining the rows of machines outside the plant that are ready for export.

Production at the Liuzhou-headquartered machinery manufacturer has been in full swing since the beginning of the year, with rapidly mounting overseas orders and a constantly expanding market share.

China's recovery in economic activity and the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has fueled the development of the manufacturing sector, getting the economy off to a strong start.

Situated in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which faces RCEP economies in Southeast Asia, the company has achieved a string of breakthroughs in overseas markets this year, riding the wave of China's economic recovery and booming China-RCEP cooperation.

In January, the company's export volume of construction machinery increased by over 50 percent year on year, and since February, the overseas shipment of large excavators has soared by 500 percent year on year.

During the same period, loaders produced by the company were delivered to Thailand, marking the first batch of construction machinery exported by the company under the RCEP agreement.

"Chinese products now have a good reputation and satisfactory market share in Southeast Asia. Our sales network in the region is fairly complete," said Xiang Dongsheng, vice general manager of LiuGong Machinery Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., who added that the company has accelerated the pace of international business development by taking advantage of Guangxi's geographical location and its close cooperation with the ASEAN countries.

The implementation of the RCEP offers valuable opportunities for China's manufacturing enterprises to further expand international markets, with a reduction of import costs and a bump in export opportunities.

People look at a product of China's LiuGong Machinery at the 2023 CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, the United States, on March 14, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

Li Dongchun, general manager of the LiuGong Overseas Business Center, told Xinhua that the RCEP region is an important market for Chinese exports of mechanical and electrical products, and it has always been one of the company's key overseas markets.

"The implementation of the RCEP enables us to trade more efficiently, arrange business layout more flexibly and improve the marketing, manufacturing, financial leasing, aftermarket and product adaptability of our overseas subsidiaries," Li said.

Besides the major construction equipment maker, many other leading Chinese manufacturers also rang in a promising new year with growing overseas orders and rosy prospects in the global market.

Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Co., Ltd., one of the country's largest engine manufacturers, also saw remarkable performance in the international market this year, rejoicing in surging overseas sales and expanding market share. In January, the group's export orders for bus engines increased by 180 percent year on year.

In recent years, the burgeoning new-energy industry has become the new driving force for manufacturing companies in overseas markets. At a warehouse, thousands of auto parts for new-energy vehicles (NEVs) from SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a major automobile manufacturer in China, have been loaded into containers, waiting to be shipped to Indonesia.

According to Zhang Yiqin, the brand and public relation director with the automaker, in January this year, the company exported 11,839 NEVs abroad, maintaining good momentum.

"In Indonesia, Wuling has achieved localized production, providing thousands of jobs and driving the improvement of the local industrial chain," said Zhang. "In the future, Wuling New Energy will center on Indonesia and open up markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East."

According to the data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the stronger-than-expected purchasing managers' index (PMI) data for China's manufacturing sector came in at 52.6 in February, up from 50.1 in January, showing excellent vitality in the industry.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The billionaire Porsche executive who is reportedly divorcing his wife after she was diagnosed with dementia has now moved in with his new girlfriend - a former princess who has been a close friend for almost 25 years.

Wolfgang Porsche, 79, is understood to have moved in with 59-year-old Princess Gabriele of Leiningen after they enjoyed a Maldives holiday together in January.

It emerged earlier this week that the car tycoon had filed for divorce from his wife Claudia, 74, due to changes in her behaviour after she was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, sources close to the couple said.

As the billionaire and former princess are said to be spending more time together, Wolfgang is just one of many eyebrow raising acquaintances Gabriele has been associated with over the years throughout her colourful life.

Also known as Princess Inaara Aga Khan, Gabriele was once a consultant to UNESCO advising on women's equality, converted to Islam before her marriage to a prince, and auctioned off her jewellery collection after their decade-long divorce battle.

Pictured: Princess Gabriele of Leiningen, who is reported to have struck up a relationship with billionaire Porsche executive - Wolfgang Porsche - amid his on-going divorce from his wife Claudia, who is understood to be suffering from dementia

Wolfgang Porsche (centre) is pictured holding the hand of his wife, Claudia Hubner, with long-time friend Gabriele Prinzessin zu Leiningen on his left. They are all pictured together in Munchen, Germany, February 2018. Reports say Porsche and Gabriele are now living together

Originally from Frankfurt, Gabriele was born in 1963 as Gabriele Homey to entrepreneur parents - mother Renate Kerkhoff and father Helmut Friedhelm Homey.

After Helmut and Renate (who become Renate Thyssen-Henne) later divorced, she was adopted by her stepfather Bodo Thyssen - a grandson of Joseph Thyssen, another German entrepreneur - and Gabriele went on to take her stepfather's name.

When she was younger, she attended Schloss Salem School - a boarding school partially in a castle found on Lake Constance in Germany - before attending Ecole des Roches - another exclusive boarding school, this time in Normandy, France.

She went on to study law in both Munich and Cologne and graduated magna cum laude with a doctorate in International Law.

Gabriele spent her early career working for her mother, who was now known as Renate Thyssen-Henne, in her company which runs Austria's largest hotel chain, and later became an associate for a German law firm.

It was in 1991 that her privileged lifestyle went up a level.

A year earlier, she met the man who would become her first husband, Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen. The Russian prince is a claimant to the now defunct throne which was held until 1917 by the Imperial House of Romanov.

The pair married in 1991 in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy, however the union caused some controversy within his family.

The union was considered to be unequal as Gabriele did not come from the aristocracy, which led Emich to give up his right to succession and pass it down to his younger brother, Andreas, 8th Prince of Leiningen.

A year after they married, the couple welcomed their daughter, and Gabriele became a consultant for the UN's cultural agency - UNESCO - advising on the promotion of equality and improved conditions for women.

Prince Karl's decision to sacrifice his title was not enough to hold their marriage together. By 1998 they had gone their separate ways, and it would not be long before she was married to her second prince.

Her first marriage was to Prince Karl-Emich zu Leiningen who claims to be the heir to the now defunct Russian Throne. Pictured: Gabriele (left) is seen with Spanish King Juan Carlos (centre) and Prince Karl-Emich zu Leiningen (right) in an old, undated newspaper photograph

A year after she married for a second time, couple Gabriele welcomed her second daughter, and in the same year became a consultant for the UN's cultural agency - UNESCO - advising on the promotion of equality and improved conditions for women

On 30 May in the same year her divorce from her first husband was finalised, Gabriele wed then Prince Karim Aga Khan, who went on to become Aga Khan IV, the Imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world.

He is a billionaire known for his philanthropic work and he claims to be a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed - something believed by his millions of followers.

The wedding took place at the groom's country home outside Paris, France, and was overseen by Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Paris Mosque who remains in post today.

Despite a 26-year age gap - with Gabriele being 35 and the Aga Khan 61 at the time - photos showed the couple looking happier than ever on their wedding day, with the bride dressed in a lace gown with a lace veil.

The Aga Khan IV is the son of Prince Aly Khan, an Pakistani diplomat of Iranian and Italian descent. In the 1940s, he had been married to original Hollywood pin-up Rita Hayworth, and has held the title of Aga Khan since 1957.

The Aga Khan IV lived a significantly quieter life than his flamboyant father after being born in Switzerland and living in France for much of his life.

Ahead of her second marriage, Gabriele converted to Islam and chose the Muslim name Inaara. Following her nuptials, she became known as Inaara Aga Khan.

In 2000, the couple welcomed their son, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, but by 2004 they announced they were seeking a divorce - making Aha Khan the second prince Gabriele would separate from during her lifetime.

At the time of the split, the mother-of-two alleged her husband had had an affair - believed to be with an air stewardess - after she hired a private investigator to track him as he travelled around the world.

The divorce became an epic and bitter 10 year battle which first began in UK courts but moved across the channel to France when the case in Britain collapsed.

Initially, a French court awarded Gabriele 10.3 million, but in 2011 a higher court raised the figure to 54 million. It found the marriage between the pair had irretrievably broken down, and ruled Aga Khan as being exclusively at fault for adultery, the Sydney Morning Herald reported in 2012.

While Aga Khan - a British citizen - disputed the settlement, experts who had predicted he may have to pay his ex-wife half a billion thought he had got off lightly.

By 2014, a decade after they first separated, the couple finalised their divorce with an undisclosed financial settlement.

While lawyers for each party refused to disclose the final settlement, reports suggest it was around the 54 million mark set by the court in 2011.

Despite receiving this huge windfall, it was announced in April 2016 that Gabriele was to auction off part of her jewellery collection through British auction house Christies - and went on sale in Geneva.

Gabriele officially took the name Inaara Aga Khan when she married Prince Karim Aga Khan in 1998 at a ceremony just outside of Paris (pictured). Ahead of her second marriage, Gabriele converted to Islam and chose the Muslim name Inaara. Following her nuptials, she became known as Inaara Aga Khan

Ahead of her second marriage, Gabriele (pictured in 1998) converted to Islam and chose the Muslim name Inaara. Following her nuptials, she became known as Inaara Aga Khan

Pictured: Inaara Aga Khan, as she was known then, attends Royal Ascot in 1998

Princess Theresa of Leiningen, her brother Aly Muhammad Prince Aga Khan, (son of Karim Aga Khan) and mother Princess Gabriele of Leiningen during the Schwarzenegger climate initiative charity dinner on January 23, 2020 in Kitzbuehel, Austria

The highlight of the auction - which included a total of 46 lots - was the Pohl Diamond, a 36.09 carat gem mounted on a ring by Cartier that was estimated at the time to fetch between $3.8million the $5.5million.

Several other items were also expected to fetch multiples of millions.

In the end, the Pohl Diamond fetched 4,309,000 Swiss Francs (almost 4m today).

More recently, Gabriele has been linked to real estate tycoon Juergen Kellerhals, with whom she has been spotted at events including the Salzburg Opera Festival in 2019.

Kellerhals is a German businessman who has founded several companies including a real estate business and two investment firms.

In July 2019, German newspaper Bild linked the pair after they had been seen together at an event months after another appearance at Oktoberfest in Munich.

Gabriele has been a committed philanthropist for much of her life. Since 1999, she has supported third-world development projects, causes fighting for women's rights, and the improvement of living conditions.

In 2002, she became the honorary president of Focus Humanitarian Assistance which provides relief following natural and man-made disasters, and has contributed to several UNESCO projects.

With her parents, she also founded the German aid organization 'SOS Projects for People and Animals' to help mentally-ill, handicapped and traumatised children with the support of animals, and has been heavily involved in Germany's fight against the HIV/AIDS virus - particularly in Germany.

She has been awarded for her charity work, and in 2007 was named as the 'Number 1' person of German Society by the German magazine 'Gala'.

'Whereas other women, following separation from their influential husbands, often disappear from society without a trace, Her Highness has catapulted from last year's 19th position to first position. She has maintained her commitment to charitable work and stylish appearance and not said a single unkind word about her husband, the Aga Khan,' the magazine said at the time.

Now, as Wolfgang Porsche splits from his wife Claudia, it has been reported that he is becoming closer to Gabriele. Pictures online suggest that Claudia is friends with Gabriele's mother Renate Thyssen-Henne - suggesting there are family ties.

The German-Austrian tycoon is shareholder and chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, as well as of Porsche AG.

He is the youngest son of former Porsche AG designer and Chief Executive Officer Ferdinand 'Ferry' Porsche and Dorothea Reitz. His grandfather was Ferdinand Porsche, the Austro-Bohemian founder of Porsche AG.

And now, Porsche has moved in with 59-year-old Gabriela - who is now his girlfriend, it has been claimed. The former model's close circle of friends told Austrian media that the couple's decision to move in together came as both of them wanted to avoid being apart from one-another.

It has not been disclosed, however, whether they have moved into Porsche's home in Zell am See, Austria, or the princess's luxurious villa in Munich.

It came after it emerged that Porsche has filed for divorce from Claudia, his partner of 16 years, who is known to suffer from a dementia-like illness.

More recently, Gabriele has been linked to real estate tycoon Juergen Kellerhals (right), with whom she has been spotted at events including the Salzburg Opera Festival in 2019

As Wolfgang Porsche (right) splits from his wife Claudia, it has been reported that he is becoming closer to Gabriele (left), with whom he has been friends for 25 years

Sources told BIld the billionaire finds it 'impossible' live with his wife as her declining health has reportedly altered her personality permanently.

Claudia, who is a grandmother, has four carers who look after her around the clock, having suffered from the illness for the last two years.

She has reportedly not been able to move independently for months and her mental awareness has undergone a rapid decline.

Wolfgang and Claudia have been together since 2007 and married in 2019. The Porsche family's assets have been estimated at EUR 20bn (18bn).
Viewers were blown away by a petrified entrepreneur last night on Dragon's Den - with some saying her pitch was 'one of the best' they had seen on the show.

Caroline Sims, from Watford, appeared on the BBC1 programme last night where she told the business people that she was extremely nervous.

She asked for 60,000 for 10 per cent equity in her plant based supplement brand, Botanycl - and managed to wow the entrepreneurs despite her nerves.

Despite having to take time to calm herself throughout her pitch, Peter Jones and Stephen Bartlett were impressed by her - and said they would each put in 30,000 for a 10 per cent claim of the business.

Meanwhile many viewers were left over the moon for the entrepreneur, with one writing: 'Well done Caroline. It would have been so easy to bail out before going, and she faced her fear head on and smashed it!'

Viewers were left in tears last night after entrepreneur Caroline Sims confessed she was 'terrified' as she pitched on Dragon's Den - with some saying it was one of the best presentations to ever feature on the show

Another wrote: 'Really feel for Caroline tonight. She obviously cares so much about her business and I've been in her nervous position (but not on the same level obviously) before. Well done.'

A third added: 'Nervous pitches that overcome the odds are probably my favourite, and Caroline might be up there for among the best ever on the show after that.'

Appearing on the programme, Caroline explained: 'My heart is racing. I am just picturing walking in there for the first time and I can't really get past that bit.

'So I'm like...it's the fear of the unknown, I think.

'The only thing I'm concerned about is whether my nerves get the better of me when I'm in there. But fingers crossed I still get all the messages I want to get across.'

Walking into the den, she asked: 'Do I just start now?'

She took a number of deep breathes before beginning her pitch, saying: 'My name is Caroline and I'm here today to ask for 60,000 for 10 per cent equity in my plant based supplement brand, Botanycl.

'I started Botanycl after a long lasting battle with bad skin throughout my twenties. And there was nothing on the market to fix it.

'Frustrated by the lack of results and my lacking self esteem, I began tirelessly researching the problem which lead me to the conclusion that a hormonal imbalance was reeking havoc with my skin.

'Through my research, I discovered the best herbal ingredients to fix the problem. And within a week of taking these, my skin began to clear. I decided to develop a product, Skinclear Elixir so that women around the world can share in my discovery.'

She said she had a granted UK patent, and was listed at Holland and Barrett and online with Superdrug.

Many viewers were left over the moon for the entrepreneur with one saying her pitch 'might be up there for among the best ever on the show'

She said: 'Since launching in 2018, we've generated over 800,000 of sales.

'Botanycl plans to further expand the vegan beauty line with a male skin supplement, a plant based hair growth formula and more.'

After finishing the pitch, she said: 'I'm sorry I was so nervous!'

Peter Jones told her to 'relax', telling her it was 'a really good pitch.'

He said: 'You must be proud of what you've done from start up, or do you not sit back and compliment yourself?'

She told the Dragons she had about 5,000 in cash, saying she was 'very hand to mouth.'

Deborah Meaden told her: 'This makes me feel uneasy. You've got a big issue making this product stand out against all the others. I get samples of things that I should make to take my life better. There is nothing on this bottle that tells me that you've got a totally different approach.'

Caroline told the business people that she was extremely nervous ahead of the pitch which featured on the show last night

The entrepreneur ended up accepting a joint offer from Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett (pictured)

She said she had seen a plethora of products similar to Caroline's product - before saying she was 'out.'

After Peter asked her why she had a chair next to her, she confessed: 'I was extremely nervous today. I do struggle with anxiety a lot.'

Peter said: 'I'm going to ask you to sit on that chair. The reason why I want you to sit on that chair is because I want to make you an offer. I love the business, I think your brand is fantastic. I can open up any door in any retailer in the world for you and I can help you with e-commerce.'

He offered her all of the money for 25 per cent of the business.

She thanked him, saying: 'I think I needed to sit down for that.'

Meanwhile Steven Bartlett said he was also keen to make her an offer, saying he would give her 60,000 for 20 per cent.

Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies also made her offers for the business.

The entrepreneur managed to set aside her nerves and asked Peter and Steven to work together.

They agreed, and Caroline confessed: 'I'm shaking! I literally cannot believe what has just happened. When Peter asked me to sit down, I don't think it was for an offer.

'I did not expect four dragons out of five.'
Princess Charlene has broken cover after denying divorce rumours with her husband Prince Albert.

The 44-year-old Olympic swimmer looked casual in a beige jumper as she stepped out in Milan without her dazzling three-carat engagement ring, which she does not frequently wear.

It comes after French magazine ROYAUTE claimed that the prince and princess are in the process of separation - a rumour which gained momentum when the article was repeated by gossip sites, which sparked speculation on social media.

The mother-of-two opted for comfort in black jeans and cream loafers as she made her way into the Four Seasons hotel, wearing identical shoes to the beefy bodyguard who accompanied her.

Rumours about the couple's marriage started to swirl after Charlene was absent from Monaco for most of 2021 while having medical treatment in her native South Africa, and was admitted to a Swiss clinic to be treated for exhaustion on her return.

Princess Charlene breaks her cover after denying divorce rumours with husband Prince Albert as she stepped out in Milan without her dazzling three-carat engagement ring

The appearance comes after French magazine ROYAUTE claimed that the prince and princess are in the process of separation (pictured with their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella)

She's now back in full swing with royal duties and public appearances, but French magazine ROYAUTE has claimed that the Prince and Princess are in the process of separation.

The Palace's press office said they 'formally deny the malicious rumours peddled by the magazine.

A spokesperson said: 'I would like to formally deny the malicious rumors peddled by the French magazine Royaute. Please disregard this article which is totally unfounded.'

The royal couple married in July 2011 after the prince proposed with a handcrafted pear-cut diamond flanked by smaller diamonds designed by Paris-based Italian jeweller Repossi.

Later, during the wedding service, the couple exchanged 18-carat white gold platinum rings by Cartier, with Princess Charlene laughing as she placed the ring on her husband's finger.

However there have been reports of a rift between the Prince and Princess ever since their high-profile marriage.

At the time, Charlene was dubbed the 'Runaway Bride' by the French media after allegedly trying to flee before the wedding, but the reports were always denied.

And since her wedding day, the royal has often gone without either ring - and on occasion even worn different rings on her wedding finger.

In the early days of marriage, the royal was often spotted showing off the dazzler, but since 2017 she's seldom been seen pictured wearing the rings - even at formal events.

The 44-year-old Olympic swimmer looked casual in a beige jumper as she stepped out on Friday without her engagement ring

The Palace's press office said they 'formally deny the malicious rumours peddled by the magazine (pictured at Monaco Red Cross Ball in 2022)

The mum-of-two opted for comfort in black jeans and cream loafers as she made her way into a hotel

The princess appeared to go makeup free as she opted for comfort and she accessorised with diamond earrings

Photos of her at the Monaco National day Gala concert in 2012 show her wearing the ring, while she was seen wearing it again to greet the crowd from the Palace's balcony during the Monaco National Day Celebration in 2017.

But during the same celebration in 2019 she was without the ring as she stepped out of the palace on the arm of Albert to greet crowds.

Several times throughout 2019 and 2020 she was in public without her engagement ring or wedding band.

The past few years have been particularly rocky for the couple, as they have been hit with rumours about their marriage and Charlene's own ill-health.

Albert was hit with a legal claim for cash by an alleged illegitimate child in December 2020, and soon afterwards Charlene shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker.

There were allegations that Albert had fathered a love-child with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene were already in a relationship.

The woman said she met the Prince in a nightclub in Rio de Janeiro in 2004, and that their daughter, who is now a 16-year-old Brazilian schoolgirl, sent a handwritten note to Albert.

In turn, Albert's legal team branded the allegations 'a hoax, and they never went to court - prompting speculation that the case was settled privately.

Princess Charlene is often spotted in chic looks and expensive jewellery - but one piece she's often seen without is her dazzling three-carat engagement ring (pictured in 2019 at the Monte Carlo gift distribution without the ring)

Charlene sported a pearl ring on her wedding finger at Fete de la Saint Jean in 2020 (Pictured)

Albert proposed with a handcrafted pear-cut diamond flanked by smaller diamonds designed by Paris-based Italian jeweller Repossi, pictured left on Charlene's finger in 2012, and right, in 2017)

The royal even wears different rings on the fourth finger of her left hand, instead of her wedding and engagement rings. Pictured: Stepping out on Monaco's National Day in November 2019

She sported an entirely different ring at Monaco Cathedral for Elizabeth-Ann De Massy's funeral (left) and didn't wear a ring in 2020 - shortly before she left for South Africa, where she remained for a number of months (right)

The Prince has admitted fathering two other children out of wedlock  Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 30 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 18, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess.

Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for financial settlements.

Charlene first fell ill in South Africa in May 2021, during what was meant to be a 10-day visit.

Complications from a sinus operation led to her staying in her native country for 10 months, and there have been rumours about the state of her marriage ever since.

There had been claims by leading French media that Albert had signed an 'ultra-confidential contract' to pay his wife more than 10m a year to fulfil her Royal duties.

She returned to Monaco but was there for a matter of days before leaving for a Swiss treatment facility. The exact nature of her condition was not made public but Albert said she was 'exhausted'.

Charlene first fell ill in South Africa in May 2021, during what was meant to be a 10-day visit - and she remained in the country for 10 months

Princess Charlene 'almost died' after having surgery to address swallowing issues stemming from a severe throat infection, a source claimed (Charlene is pictured in 2021)

Photographs of their reunion were greeted with a hefty dose of scepticism by the French media.

Prince Albert said he was 'hurt by the vicious rumours' peddled about his marriage following his wife's absence and said that it's the 'most beautiful thing' to have her back with him.

The Royal Palace announced in March last year that Charlene had returned and would make a gradual reintroduction to public life.

She has since made full a handful of public appearances with her husband and children, including appearing at the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September.

Major French outlets that specialise in celebrity news said Charlene's sudden re-appearance was welcomed by all Royal watchers.

In December, she told local newspaper Monaco Matin she felt 'so much better' than she has in recent years.

Revealing she has 'less pain and much more energy', she said she 'is continuing to recover, to rebalance herself.'

Princess Charlene of Monaco made a return to the world stage last year in her highest profile appearance to date after a difficult 18 months for the royal mother-of-two

She added: 'My family and those I love are my rock. I approach the future, step by step, one day at a time.'

Meanwhile Prince Albert has also spoken out in praise of his wife publicly.

The monarch has said she has 'turned it around in an incredible way' after a long-running health battle.

Speaking in December, the 64-year-old royal told People he was 'really proud of my wife,' adding: 'Charlene's doing really well.'

He continued: 'As you know, last year was a very tough year for her - and the beginning of this year.'

He also seeming put rumours of any marital turmoil to one side when he confirmed the two would be attending King Charles' coronation together in May.
While she cleans the home, John lives the life of a bachelor

A self-proclaimed tradwife has revealed that she allows her husband to sleep with other women while she cleans their home because she 'lives to please' him.

Monica Huldt, 37, from Arizona, notes that being a traditional housewife is her 'love language' and that she is so dedicated to her her husband, John, that she will allow him to forgo their wedding vows and get into bed with other women.

Tradwives, which are women who choose to live a tradition life that seems them spending their days cooking, cleaning, wearing modest clothing, and being submissive to their husbands, have become more and more popular lately as many ladies are reverting to the traditional roles of housewives, practiced in the fifties and sixties.

Monica ensures that '98 per cent' of her day revolves around John, with her taking on all the household duties while he works and lives a bachelor lifestyle.

Monica Huldt, 37, from Arizona, has revealed that she allows her husband to sleep with other women while she cleans their home because she 'lives to please' him

She notes that being a traditional housewife is her 'love language' and ensures that 98 per cent of her day revolves around him

She is so dedicated to her her husband, John, that she will allow him to forgo their wedding vows and get into bed with other women

The key to a happy life? What is a 'tradwife' Short for 'traditional wife,' the term describe a female home-maker who abides by traditional gender roles. The term was born in 2018, after the movement spread on social media, including Instagram and YouTube. A tradwife refers to a homemaker who loves nothing more than to clean, fix meals, tidy the house for her family while her husband is the sole bread earner of the household. It goes one step further than being a stay-at-home mother, with the woman being responsible with the more traditional aspects of housework and childcare. The term is controversial as it has been associated with far right rhetoric since some white supremacist tradwives came out as Trump supporters in 2018 Source: Urban dictionary and The New York Times Advertisement

During an interview with YouTube channel Love Don't Judge, the 37-year-old said: 'l live to please my husband John.'

John, who says he 'makes the rules around the house,' explained that the couple had been together for 'six years.'

And although many people question why he sleeps with other women, he notes that both him and his wife are 'cool' with it.

'So this sleeping with other women thing, first of all its a really small part of our relationship, Monica was cool with it, and I was cool with it.

'I think it's a luxury I have that probably most guys watching this wish they had just because of genetic programming.

'If you look at how all other mammals that's how they do it, typically the alpha gets to bang all other all the females,' he explained before adding that it makes for a much more 'relaxed relationship.'

And Monica noted that she doesn't have any problem with it.

She said that sex is 'just a fun thing' for men, and she knows that he 'loves' her.

Although Monica and John are adamant that their lifestyle makes their relationship stronger, the trad-wife revealed that she has lost friends because of her decision to allow John to go behind closed doors with other women.

'I actually had like childhood friends straight out telling me that I've lost my dignity as a woman,' she explained.

Two of Monica's friends, Victoria and Audrey, even questioned why Monica decided to continue with her traditional lifestyle because she is so 'strong-minded.'

During an interview with YouTube channel Love Don't Judge, the 37-year-old said: 'l live to please my husband John'

John, who says he 'makes the rules around the house,' explained that the couple had been together for 'six years'

The tradwife explained that even when she is cooking and cleaning the house, she makes sure she gets dolled up for John

In addition to allowing John to get in between the sheets with other ladies, Monica also lets her beau pick out her clothes

However, Monica noted she has 'always' been drawn to men like John.

She explained that she's not a 'hopeless' woman, but she likes John's confidence.

'It's not like I'm a hopeless little girl, it's not that. It's just he's assertive and I like that in a man.'

Monica revealed she has always wanted to be with a man like John.

She said: 'I've always had a submissive side since I can remember and I've always been drawn to assertive and dominant males. '

In addition to allowing John to get in between the sheets with other ladies, Monica also lets her beau pick out her clothes.

'I like my husband to pick out my clothes because I like pleasing him so I like to look hot for him,' she said.

She said: 'I've always had a submissive side since I can remember and I've always been drawn to assertive and dominant males '

The trad-wife revealed that she has lost friends because of her decision to allow John to go behind closed doors with other women.

Although many people question their relationship. the couple explained that they will 'always' live this way

The tradwife explained that even when she is cleaning the house, she makes sure she gets dolled up for John.

Although many people question their relationship. the couple explained that they will 'always' live this way.

Monica said: 'I know in my heart that he loves me because he comes home to me, he takes really good care of me.

'I can see how people that don't know us might think, "oh that's not healthy", or "that's bad", but I think if you're a good person and you're with someone you really, really love and you're soulmates, it's a whole different thing.

'I love my marriage and I love him, and I don't think there's anything stopping us from living like this always.'
Dear Bel,

A month ago I wrote an email to my daughter about something worrying me. It was her weight. During the pandemic she exercised and lost two to three stone and looked amazing as well as being healthier.

This Christmas I noticed she had put on some weight, not a lot, but I thought in mother/daughter confidence I would say something to her in an email.

The main gist of it was that I hoped she wouldn't go back to her old weight and urged her not to fall into the trap like me. I also lost weight during that time, but now things have relaxed I find myself putting on the pounds.

So I thought I would urge my daughter not to go down the same route as me and believed I had been quite sensitive to her about the issue, using acceptable words and phrases.

In her reply she said she was very upset with me. I immediately apologised because when I looked back at the email I realised it was a mistake. What possessed me? How would I have felt if I'd received this email?

My husband knows nothing about all this. Throughout the years I have been my daughter's confidante and have kept some things from her father (nothing serious) because it was just between her and me.

Now I feel our relationship has broken down. We live many miles from her but visit when we can. I am due to travel down from Scotland to the south coast soon but am sensing that my daughter is being vague about meeting up. Even evasive.

I was looking forward to some special time together (as we usually do) but am starting to feel frozen out. I know I did wrong and will do anything to build our relationship back again.

I know if I see her we will be able to chat and hopefully clear some of the muddy water, but what if she avoids a meeting?

I am afraid she will not forgive me and that the rift will widen. I just feel so alone and responsible for inflicting hurt on her. Yet at the same time my concern about her weight was an entirely valid worry about her welfare.

Please can you give me some advice?

ISLA

This week, Bel Mooney helps a woman handle how to best communicate with her daughter about weight

Mother-daughter problems often crop up on this page, and since I have experienced them in my own life, I read your email with a sympathetic wince.

It reminded me of the time my own daughter asked me my opinion about something and when I gave it frankly, she didn't like it. Then things were written in emails that should never have been said, and the whole thing was horrible and I wished I had just kept my mouth shut. Even though I was right! Now we both vow, 'Never again'.

Currently, obesity is such a problem in this country, making children the butt of cruel jokes, costing the NHS millions, and shortening lives. Yet everybody walks on eggshells around the issue. GPs are not supposed to 'fat shame' to spare feelings and yet we all know that since their only concern should be a patient's health, the kindest and wisest words possible are probably, 'You really must lose weight.'

Of course, we must all be aware of the sensitivities of other people  and there is no excuse for parents neglecting this aspect of their children's health.

Thought of the day A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period  When March is scarcely here Emily Dickinson (American poet 18301886) Advertisement

The trouble is, at 38 (information in your longer letter), your daughter is no longer a child. She has to make her own decisions about what she eats, what she wears, where she lives. A parent can offer a point of view if asked (and in my own case, I was indeed asked) but it is very dangerous just to weigh in with an opinion, no matter how sensitively we think we have expressed it. This is an important message to other readers, as I am sure you will agree.

What to do? You feel full of trepidation about the coming visit, but I doubt your daughter will refuse to see you. Why not write to her properly, saying how deeply sorry you are to have upset her but you ask her to understand that your anxiety was triggered by how bothered you were feeling about how you look, as well as your coming big birthday  getting older, feeling unhealthy etc.

In other words, your opinion was not so much directed at her as towards yourself. Say you have been finding some of your favourite clothes too tight and how demoralising it is to feel yourself getting puffed climbing the stairs. (I'm sure bits of this might be true.)

Say ageing gets you down and ask her to go shopping with you for some new make-up, or something like that. I think you should stop your guilty conscience getting in the way of you greeting your daughter with a loving heart and a big smile. She will probably be as relieved as you are.

Meanwhile, do you have to keep this quarrel from your husband? Confiding your mistake might help you face the next step.

I fear for my vulnerable aunt's money

Dear Bel,

I have an aunt aged 87 who is fit and well. Her husband died from cancer two years ago and left her financially sound.

The money was invested through a financial adviser to whom my uncle had entrusted his money for several years. When finances took a tumble and the investments were not performing a few months ago my aunt decided to withdraw the capital and place it in the bank.

The problem is that now her son has access to her bank accounts, and I have suspicions that he is taking advantage of this. He is a van driver, married to a cleaner, so it is hard to imagine that their combined earnings are in any way substantial.

A few years ago, when married to his previous wife, this son ended up in dire financial straits. It resulted in his house being repossessed and in time they divorced. They have two girls who are now teenagers.

Since his father's death, his spending has known no bounds. Weekends away, meals out and in the past six months he has bought a house (mortgaged, obviously) and a car and seems to be living a comfortable lifestyle. How is this possible, with two relatively low incomes?

I am close to my aunt and she has already voiced concerns to me about her son's spending. She says she has asked if he is incurring debt, but he denies it.

My dilemma is that I want to voice my concerns to her but obviously have no proof of any wrongdoing on his part. If I uncover what I think is the truth, their relationship will be damaged  and for what benefit? What do you advise?

MARIAN

To be honest, I have an aversion to questions concerning money because they are so sticky.

Parents feel they have been sponged off by ungrateful adult children, who then become cold and distant. Siblings quarrel over inheritances, step-children take control of possessions not rightfully theirs, and so on.

Nobody should ever underestimate the visceral desire of unscrupulous, greedy people for money  and to get it some of them would rob their grandparents of their savings. Do I sound cynical? Well, with good reason. The phrase 'root of all evil' springs too readily to mind.

You are in an almost impossible situation. Yes, on the surface, it seems odd that he is spending so much when he and his wife are on low incomes. You are fond of your aunt and are right be concerned that this son might be sponging off his mother without her knowledge. It has certainly been known.

Should the time come when she discovers she has been fleeced by an unscrupulous offspring and is shocked and broken-hearted, then you will be consumed with guilt and anger and reflect that you failed to act on your suspicions.

On the other hand  let us be charitable and hazard a guess that the son has changed his ways. That he and his wife have been saving hard, that she herself had a small legacy from a family member of whom you know nothing and that your aunt might even have given her son a gift of money but did not inform you about it. Because why should she? She could have shown him generosity and subsequently worried that he was getting himself into debt.

This is a good example of that idea of being caught between a rock and a hard place and you are right to realise you must tread very carefully indeed. The son would claim all this to be none of your business. And who knows, his mother might well agree. So be careful.

However, if on one of your visits, you could direct the conversation towards money by bemoaning the fact that a friend of yours got taken in by a rogue email and became a victim of a scam. At her age she might not fully be forewarned about such things, so you could mention that you'd heard of similar cheats happening with her own bank.

Emphasise how important it is to check bank statements every month  and say you now do so more carefully and so should she. If she says her son is now in charge of all her online banking, it would be perfectly reasonable for you to throw up your hands in concern and say you don't think that a wise decision, because he is so busy working hard he might not notice an anomaly. Tell her that she must keep tabs on her own money  as must we all. That's all I can think of, because tact is vital. Good luck.

And finally... It is not too hard to feel a little hopeful

Spring is here at last  and whatever you do, don't forget to move the clocks forward one hour at midnight. If you don't you could get into trouble.

Some years ago my husband and son were headed on a spring jaunt to France and presented themselves at Bristol airport only to find they'd missed the flight. Oops.

Changing the clocks in autumn induced melancholy, but now we can enjoy lighter evenings and the promise of summer.

Even if you're feeling gloomy because of politics, world disasters, the climate, your weight, a friend's illness, or a few new grey hairs, doesn't the sight of daffodils along the roadside lift your spirits just for a moment?

Contact Bel Bel answers readers' questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. Names are changed to protect identities. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Advertisement

When people are suffering from low spirits (and I prefer that expression to the ubiquitous 'mental health issues') it can be hard to believe things will get better.

But the other day I read a good distinction between being 'optimistic' and being 'hopeful.'

These days I find it much harder to bounce around with all the optimism I used to feel. Because to say brightly, 'Yes, I am an optimist' seems to deny reality.

All that 'glass half full' stuff is pretty pointless if there is a crack in the glass and the liquid is slowly seeping away. Optimism is too sure.

I prefer the idea that you can always hope, because there's no blithe certainty about that word. But it does imply possibility. If you feel too optimistic and then become disappointed and disillusioned, there is a danger that you will stay that way.

The bright bird of optimism crashed to the ground. Rest in peace.

Yet hope itself is a sad, bedraggled little bird (as the poet Emily Dickinson wrote) which clings to the bough in a storm and goes on singing.

Hope, you see, implies that change is always possible. So go and buy some daffodils for yourself and you might just believe it.
Her first two babies were small and average - her third, huge

A mother-of-three has revealed she needed '200 stitches inside and out' after the birth of her last baby who weighed a whopping five kilos on delivery.

Danielle Lincoln revealed she was in labour with her third child, a boy, for 24 hours and claimed he 'split her front and back' on the way out.

The UK based mum had given birth twice before, with much smaller babies, and was told he would be a little bigger - but had no idea of the painful reality of that.

'Gave birth at 42 weeks to a toddler the same length as the hospital crib, a head the size of my hand and a double chin,' she said.

At her 40-week scan she was told to expect a slightly bigger baby than her last, with doctors estimating an arrival weight of 3.6 kilos.

The tiny mum, who is just 155 cm tall said her first babies, both girls, weighed 2.9 kilos and 3.4 kilos respectively 'and still got stuck'.

A mum-of-three has made fun of the birth of her third child - which was extremely traumatic

But the birth of her son was nothing short of traumatic.

'I almost bled out and they damaged his collar bone the poor baby could only have his head one way for months ,' she said.

'My legs and hips and other things have never been right, if there had been communication I'd have had c section at 40 weeks.'

A year on and the mum can finally poke fun of it - she recently made a video showing how far she had to get dilated to give birth.

Danielle acted out her birth scene from the point of view of her midwife, who had never helped deliver such a big baby.

She was very shocked when she realised how big her baby was

'We saw the whole thing dude first you were like woah, then we were like woah, then you were like woahhh,' she said lip-syncing to a popular Finding Nemo scene.

In the clip Danielle held up a dilation ring for the first woah, a larger ring for the second woah and a wastepaper basket for the third, showing how far she had to dilate to get the baby out.

The funny video definitely captured the attention of her audience with dozens of mums chiming in about their own 'huge' babies.

'This was also me! The midwives kept putting my daughter on and off the scales thinking they were broken! Never again,' said one mum, put off the idea of having any more children.

Her son was supposed to be slightly larger than average - but she didn't realise he would be well over four kilos

'Not even a lie, my first was 4.6 kilos and we could not get a second alone. I felt like a circus performer,' said another.

One mum whose baby weighed 4.3 kilos described Danielle as a queen and said she 'wanted to die' whilst delivering her own larger-than normal baby.

Others revealed they were grateful their babies 'came early'.

'My son was born at 38 weeks and was 4.4 kilos (naturally) so dread to think what he would have been if he was 40 weeks or more,' one mum said.

Most babies born at full term in Australia weigh between 3.3-3.4 kilos, with bubs over four kilos described as being 'large'.
This is the tear-jerking moment when a mother and father meet their baby son from a surrogate for the first time in war-torn Ukraine.

Parents Gio and Candice travelled from their home in San Francisco in May 2022 to collect their newborn from the war-ravaged country after hiring a surrogate to carry the child for them.

The new mother and father, who knew each other as children before reconnecting and marrying in their 30s, struggled for years to get pregnant after Candice was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

They turned to surrogacy to start their family, but it was too expensive in the US so they travelled to Ukraine shortly before the war began.

They are united with their little boy in National Geographic's docuseries, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, which also explores how the black market of commercial surgery is thriving in places like Kenya after the biggest supplier, Ukraine, was left an unsafe option.

Project Dynamo, a veteran-led, donor-funded international search, rescue, aid and assistance non-profit organisation, helps the parents reach the hospital housing their newborn - and in emotional scenes the couple are introduced to their son, Vincent.

However, the original plan was for the duo to meet their child at a safer location, rather than at the city hospital.

But thanks to Ukraine's strict regulations to ensure babies 'don't get misplaced, or worse trafficked', says the documentary, the organisation was told it couldn't collect the youngster on the parents' behalf.

So instead, the parents rushed to the hospital to meet their baby boy, with journalist Mariana van Zeller watching on as the emotional family moment occurred.

Ukraine was the epicentre of the billion-dollar global surrogacy business, until the war with Russia upended the controversial industry.

Now, with the demand for surrogacy still surging, other countries are stepping in to fill the void.

But that's not necessarily a good thing. In this episode, airing Sunday at 9pm, Mariana investigates how the dream of starting a family is fuelling a babies-for-cash black market.

The industry - which brings over $4billion a year, according to the programme, - is outlawed in much of Asia and Europe - but not in Ukraine, with the country being the top destination for commercial surrogacy.

This is the tear-jerking moment when a mother and father meet their baby son from a surrogate for the first time in war-torn Ukraine

Parents Gio and Candice travelled from their home in San Francisco in May 2022 to collect their newborn from the war-ravaged country after hiring a surrogate to carry the child for them

The new mother and father, who knew each other as children before reconnecting and marrying in their 30s, struggled for years to get pregnant after Candice was diagnosed with uterine cancer

However, surrogate babies are trapped by war, with Project Dynamo rescuing 68 newborns already this year to unite them with their often-American parents.

Instead, some couples struggling to conceive are using the black market of commercial surrogacy in places like Kenya.

Mariana travels to the country, where she meets agents, doctors and surrogates who are illegally swapping babies for cash.

'Surrogacy isn't technically illegal in Kenya, in fact it's openly advertised,' explains the journalist.

'But there aren't any specific laws regulating it, that means couples must hire costly lawyers to navigate the country's child trafficking laws, which ironically ends up fuelling cheaper black market operators.'

Mariana meets one such operator, Michelle, who recruits Kenyan women into surrogacy, claiming it offers an escape from extreme poverty if it's done right.

However, one former surrogate, named as Ashley, reveals how she was forced to remain in an apartment throughout her pregnancy, receiving weekly meals, before she was taken to hospital 'cramping and bleeding'.

After giving birth to a baby boy, he was taken away and Ashley was left with none of the money that an agent had agreed to pay her.

They turned to surrogacy to start their family, but it was too expensive in the US so they travelled to Ukraine shortly before the war began

They are united with their little boy in National Geographic's docuseries, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, which also explores how the black market of commercial surgery is thriving in places like Kenya after the biggest supplier, Ukraine, was left an unsafe option

Project Dynamo, a veteran-led, donor-funded international search, rescue, aid and assistance non-profit organisation, helps the parents reach the hospital housing their newborn - and in emotional scenes the couple are introduced to their son, Vincent

The parents rushed to the hospital to meet their baby boy, with journalist Mariana van Zeller (pictured) watching on as the emotional family moment occurred

She tells Mariana: 'My mum had five children, she was a single mum, she was struggling to raise us. So I had to join sex work.'

One day she was approached by a well-dressed woman in a 'fancy car' who groomed Ashley with 'nice dresses, nice earrings, heels, because that's what I like', claims the former surrogate.

She was then told that if she became a surrogate, she would receive $800. She soon agreed and was taken to a fertility clinic.

But Ashley couldn't tell any of her friends or loved ones what she was doing, per the arrangement, and also couldn't leave the apartment that she was placed in following the treatment.

'They told me it was for security purposes... you would not be able to have friends,' she says, before adding: 'I've heard stories that if you go back from your deal, they can kill you.'

'It was a boy, but after I gave birth, I never saw him again... I suddenly woke up in a different hospital,' she recalls. The agent that recruited Ashley was gone.

'They don't care if I died, they stole from me and used me... I didn't have any evidence that what I was saying is true,' admits Ashley, when asked if she had contacted the police.

She never signed a contract, all she had was the agent's mobile phone number but it was no longer in service.

Mariana also chats to an unidentified man who says to call him Peter (pictured together). He isn't the agent that cheated Ashleigh out of her money, but he does run a black market surrogacy operation

Mariana also chats to an unidentified man who says to call him Peter. He isn't the agent that cheated Ashleigh out of her money, but he does run a black market surrogacy operation.

He says: 'These girls when you get them from the village, they are basically uneducated and poor. They are doing this because of desperation.

'So, I try to corrupt their minds, because their dream is money, I turn their dreams into another thing. It's not the right thing to do but I'm in this business to make money.

'The girls who come to the city they have just two dresses, a pair of shoes, and they have nowhere to sleep even that night. That's when they contact me, even today in the morning, I had four wanting to go.'

Alongside his operation, Peter runs a legal employment agency that places Kenyan domestic workers in households throughout the Middle East.

'I lure them into a more lucrative shortcut to make money,' he says. 'I make more money on surrogacy.'

When asked how much each surrogate is given, considering the process is priced at $20,000 to $40,000 for couples looking for help, Peter reveals: 'We negotiate.

'I mean I can exploit them if I want. I don't. I make them as comfortable as possible, that is why my conscience allows me to do it. I am normally very good to them.'

Peter takes Mariana to his 'safe house' outside of a city, where he requires all his surrogates to stay inside during their pregnancies.

'A lot of people are doing it in Kenya, we get away with a lot of things in Kenya,' says Peter, adding: 'I employ somebody to keep an eye [on the surrogates at the "safe house"]. They have to be, you know, under cover.'

'Sometimes they have complaints. Human beings, are you know, never satisfied. They say "this safe house is not good. I'm being watched over like a kid, I want to be free."'

When at the 'safe house', Mariana takes the opportunity to speak to one of the surrogates, Sylvie, alone.

'I don't leave the house, I only go up stairs, I walk here. I don't leave,' the single mother, who had been desperately searching for work overseas, explains.

'My family doesn't know, nobody knows apart from me. [Peter] didn't force me, he didn't trick me, I'm doing it from my heart, I'd really love someone to feel how I feel as a parent.'

She reveals that she is going to paid less than $5,000, insisting: 'When you come from poverty, any offer is an offer, as long as this offer brings money, you know.'

Mariana also talks to Peter's doctor, whose face isn't shown on camera because he admits he could lose his license or face jail time if he is discovered to be helping Peter's operation.

'It took a lot of time for them to convince me because I didn't want to get involved in it,' he says. 'I did it for one, for the money.

'The other reason was, I looked at the ladies that were getting into this business, and I thought this was a big, big break for them. They are going to make money out of it. How can I make it safe for them? I don't want anybody dying on my hands.'

He confesses he personally knows of surrogates who have died but their families never know the reason because it's illegal. He adds that there are a 'dozen of [doctors] doing it.'

He's helped with the birth of five babies a month, and he's lost count of how many. He reveals that the babies belong to couples in Australia, Canada and America, for instance.

'I agreed to talk to you because once this is out into the world we begin to get proper solutions,' says the doctor. 'Proper legislation to make it legal. If I keep quiet, who's going to talk about it.'

There are six state of the art IVF clinics in Kenya and because the IVF process is highly specialised 'it's clear that at least one of Kenya's six clinics is implanting embryos into the county's black market surrogates', claims the documentary.

The journalist was told how birth certificates are also forged so that the parents are on the paperwork.

Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller airs on National Geographic every Sunday at 9pm
Their study was based on surveys of 3,500 couples on sex and relationships

Hardcore, violent pornography is thought to have devastated the psyche of young American minds  warping their perception of relationships and sex.

But now experts are warning that even the more ethical 'softcore' variety is damaging, leading to poorer satisfaction with their other half.

Researchers at Brigham Young University quizzed 3,500 people in relationships who were about 38 years old on their porn use and happiness with their partner.

They were asked whether they watched hardcore porn  that included violence or rape  and softcore  including consensual sex.

Even watching soft porn is bad for your relationship, a study has found  in a knock for the habit (stock image)

Regardless of the category, those who watched porn were more likely to say they were not satisfied with their relationships.

The experts called on people to quit watching pornography entirely in order to help them maintain committed relationships.

Dr Brian Willoughby, an associate professor at the university who led the research, said: 'Couples should know that viewing pornography is a risk factor in their relationship.'

He added to Utah-based news site KSL: 'I [had] assumed we were going to find it was maybe the aggressive, nonconsensual pornography that was affecting relationships.

'[But] we found there was no difference. Any pornography use or increase was always linked to less stability and less satisfaction in the relationship  no matter what other things we looked at.'

About one in four Americans  or 82 million people  watch pornography every month, data suggests. Men are four times more likely to view it than women.

Many doctors warn pornography is changing how people view relationships for the worst and may be prompting trouble in the bedroom.

It has been linked to a spike in cases of erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation and a lower sexual drive. Some experts warn it also prompts anxiety over appearance.

In the latest study, published in the Journal of Sex Research, scientists looked at couples from across the United States surveyed by pollster Qualtrics.

They were about 38 years old on average and had been in a relationship for nearly nine years.

Fifty-five percent were on their first marriage, 23 percent were cohabiting, 12 percent had remarried, eight percent were dating and two percent were in an open relationship.

Of the couples, 72 percent were heterosexual and 17 percent were homosexual. The rest reported being bisexual.

Participants were quizzed on what type of porn they used, if at all, and how satisfied they were with their relationships.

Pornography use was split into two categories.

Softcore was defined as footage 'of a heterosexual couple having sex which shows the man's penis penetrating the woman', 'two naked women or men manually stimulating each other' or 'a woman or man alone masturbating'.

Hardcore was defined as 'a video of a man forcing a woman to have sex against her will', 'of a man hitting or slapping a woman while having sex' or 'of a woman being ejaculated on by multiple men'.

Results were analyzed adjusting for factors including gender, pornography type and relationship perception.

Overall, the researchers found that people who used pornography were less happy in their relationship.

They also reported lower levels of perceived relationship stability, or how likely the participant thought the relationship would continue.

This held regardless of what type of pornography they watched.

Broken down into groups, men and men who were religious were most likely to say that porn was negatively impacting their relationship.

Dr Willoughby suggested this may be because pornography is more geared towards heterosexual men.

He said: 'The general thought is that so much of mainstream pornography is geared toward heterosexual men  that's kind of the core audience.

'So perhaps they will be more affected by comparing themselves to other men, creating unrealistic expectations for themselves, their body or what they think their partner should be doing.'

For those who were religious, scientists suggested that religion may make them feel more conflicted about viewing sexual acts involving others.

In the study, they suggested that viewing pornography may 'facilitate the acquisition of sexual scripts that may diminish healthy long-term relationship quality'.

They added: 'As much of the content of pornography emphasizes casual sexual encounters and multiple partners, it is possible that regular exposure to these types of sexual messages may alter sexual and relational scripts in ways that weakens stability [in a relationship].'

Scientists also found that pornography use was rarely discussed during couples therapy.

This needed to change, they said, so that couples would be better able to come closer together.

Limitations to the study included that it contained few participants from lower income backgrounds.

It also contained a larger group of lesbian and gay couples than is representative of the general population.

Asked about this group, Dr Willoughby told DailyMail.com: 'We didn't explore how sexual orientation influenced the results so I can't really speak to what the effect might have been.

'[But] generally speaking, those who identify as non-heterosexual report higher pornography use rates than those who identify as heterosexual and that was the case in this dataset.'
A man almost died during sex after his brain aneurysm ruptured.

And medics warned it could have left the 42-year-old with severe brain damage.

He suddenly lost consciousness while having sex with his wife, before vomiting and going weak on the right side of his body.

Attending hospital three hours later, the unidentified man from Surabaya, East Java in Indonesia, also suffered a series of full body seizures on the journey to hospital.

Doctors who treated him, and detailed his case in a medical journal, revealed he had an aneurysm  a bulge in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain.

The 42-year-old suddenly lost consciousness while having sex, before vomiting and experiencing weakness on the right side of his body. Attending hospital three hours later, the unidentified man from Surabaya, East Java in Indonesia also suffered a series of full body seizures on the journey to hospital

During sex, the aneurysm ruptured and caused an acute subdural hematoma (aSDH)  a severe brain injury that causes blood to collect between the skull and the surface of the brain.

Doctors did not explain what suddenly caused his aneurysm to rupture.

But strenuous exercise that causes breathlessness and a spike in heart rate is often the trigger.

Studies have shown that two-thirds of those who suffer an aSDH survive.

What is a brain aneurysm? An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall, usually where it branches. As blood passes through the weakened blood vessel, the blood pressure causes a small area to bulge outwards like a balloon. Aneurysms can develop in any blood vessel in the body, but the two most common places are: Most brain aneurysms only cause noticeable symptoms if they burst (rupture). This leads to an extremely serious condition known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, where bleeding caused by the ruptured aneurysm can cause extensive brain damage and symptoms. Symptoms include: A sudden agonising headache  it's been described as a "thunderclap headache", similar to a sudden hit on the head, resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before

A stiff neck

Sickness and vomiting

Pain on looking at light About 3 in 5 people who have a subarachnoid haemorrhage die within 2 weeks. Half of those who survive are left with severe brain damage and disability. Source: NHS Advertisement

But half of those who survive are left with severe brain damage and disability.

The condition is usually caused by a head injury.

But in eight per cent of cases, patients suffer aSDH due to a ruptured aneurysm, according to the doctors.

Writing in Radiology Case Reports, medics at Dr Soetomo General Hospital said the man had not previously experienced any headaches and had no history of trauma.

He had also never taken anticoagulant, antiplatelet or erectile dysfunction medications, which can raise the risk of suffering an aneurysm.

The date of incident was not revealed in the case report.

Results for routine physical exams revealed the man was experiencing dangerously high blood pressure of 183/105 mm Hg.

Ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60 and 120/80  or below 150/90 if you're aged over 80, according to the NHS.

Even high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90  150/90 or over if you're aged over 80.

He also scored a six out of 15 on the internationally accepted Glasgow Coma Scale  to assess his eye, verbal and motor responses  indicating his brain injury was severe.

A CT scan revealed he had aSDH on the left side of his brain, which had caused it to swell by 0.4cm.

Medics gave the man anti-seizure medication phenytoin, often used to treat epilepsy seizures.

A week later, the 42-year-old had a cerebral angiography  a scan that provides images of blood vessels in and around the brain  which revealed the aneurysm was 0.8mm in length.

He then underwent surgery to repair the ruptured aneurysm and relieve swelling and pressure on the brain.

Following this treatment, the man recovered the use of the right side of his body.

However, he was left with permanent damage to his oculomotor nerve in his left eye, which controls movement of the eye muscles, constriction of the pupil and helps focus the eye.
He was rushed to the hospital where doctors removed the 9mm bullet in his skull

The gunshot wound bled excessively and left the boy unable to lift his left arm

A Ukrainian boy who was shot at point-blank range during Russia's invasion of his country has miraculously lived.

The 16-year-old civilian victim, who has not been named, took a bullet to the back of his neck from a Soviet-issued pistol just six inches away.

The failed execution-style shooting saw the 9mm bullet penetrate his neck, graze the tip of his spine and get lodged in his upper jaw.

The teenager was taken to a hospital in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia and, amazingly, made a full recovery.

An X-ray of the head and neck showed the bullet had lodged in the skull of the 16-year-old Ukrainian boy

The bullet doctors removed measured 9mm x 18 mm

His tale was revealed in the American Journal of Case Reports by doctors at the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University.

The boy's face was lopsided due to the left side of his face and neck swelling up and he could not open his mouth fully, nor lift his left arm, due to the damage to his spinal cord.

From looking at his 6mm gunshot wound, doctors estimated he had been shot from around 15cm by a Makarov handgun.

The report did not explicitly say a Russian soldier fired the gun, but throughout the war there have been reports of Russian army men carrying out execution-style killings on civilians, including children.

The Ukrainian boy was X-rayed and given a neck brace for support to ensure his head and neck was kept in place.

During surgery, doctors made an incision by the lower part of his jaw, dissected soft tissue in the area and removed the bullet shell from his skull.

They then treated the site with an antiseptic solution and drained the wound and stitched it up.

The boy was discharged from the hospital nine days post-surgery.

He was recommended to continue 'sanatorium-restorative treatment according to the individual rehabilitation plan'.

The boy was treated at the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University hospital in Vinnytsia in central Ukraine

From looking at the teenager's injuries, doctors estimated he had been shot from around 15cm by a Makarov handgun

The main principles of the sanatorium regime are fresh air, exercise and good nutrition.

He also had postoperative physical therapy.

According to Ukraines leading war crimes prosecutor, more than 100,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed during the Russian invasion.

That is ten times more than the current official death toll of 8,000.

The siege of port city Mariupol alone was thought to have caused more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths.

Meanwhile, Russian casualties are estimated at 200,000.

Last week, a furious Vladimir Putin condemned the International Criminal Court's 'outrageous' decision to issue an arrest warrant for him over war crimes in Ukraine.

The ICC called for Putin's arrest and accused the despot of committing war crimes by abducting Ukrainian children from their homes and deporting them to Russia to be given to Russian families.

It also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia's 'Children's Rights Commissioner', on the same charges.

The Kremlin slammed the court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin 'outrageous and unacceptable'; in contrast, Ukraine hailed the decision and said 'the wheels of justice are turning'.

The ICC's chief prosecutor Karim Khan said hundreds of Ukrainian children have been taken from orphanages and children's homes to Russia.

He said: 'Many of these children, we allege, have since been given up for adoption in the Russian Federation.'

United Nations data showed that more than 7,199 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 11,756 have been injured since Russia's invasion.
A mother-of-one who says she was questioned by doctors about abusing her baby due to his mystery bruises has told of how the blotches were actually down to leukaemia.

Beth Reilly, from Wallasey in Merseyside, first became concerned about her son Bailey Kilbane, now 16 months, last October when he developed flu-like symptoms and bruises that would not heal.

The 23-year-old claims GPs and hospital doctors dismissed his symptoms as injuries caused by falling over while trying to walk and instead quizzed her on whether she was abusing her own son.

Doctors at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside eventually agreed to perform a blood test to ease Ms Reilly's concerns, she said.

Results revealed Bailey was suffering from lymphoblastic leukaemia  a cancer of white blood cells that 790 Brits and 6,660 Americans are diagnosed with each year.

Beth Reilly from Wallasey, Merseyside, first became concerned about her son Bailey Kilbane last October

He had 18 bruises, which were there for more than three weeks, and flu-like symptoms

The 23-year-old mother and her partner Brandon took Bailey to see the doctors six times before he was diagnosed with B cell lymphoblastic leukaemia

She said: 'People always just say that you know when your child is not right, and just at that moment that week I felt that.

'He was smiling, but I could just tell that there was something not right  you'd just look at him and he would look right through you back.

'If you're worried, you need to press them to get tests done. I still often think back to the experience and it was horrible to be questioned about abusing your own child  but I know that they needed to do it.

'It made me feel bad and uncomfortable, but I knew that I had done nothing to harm him  so I'm happy I went through with it.

'What abusive mother would take her child to the hospital six times in a week anyway.

What is lymphoblastic leukaemia? Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. It progresses quickly and aggressively and requires immediate treatment. Both adults and children can be affected. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is rare, with around 790 people diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. Most cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia develop in children, teenagers and young adults. Although it is rare, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common type of leukaemia that affects children. About 85% of the cases that affect children happen in those younger than 15 (mostly between the ages of 0 and 5). It affects slightly more boys than girls. Other types of leukaemia include: acute myeloid leukaemia

chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

chronic myeloid leukaemia. Source: NHS Advertisement

'Bailey is still very happy, but it's just tough on him  and you can see that. We're still a bit in denial that he's actually ill and it's already been months.

'He's definitely been knocked a bit, he's exhausted. He struggles to eat, so he's now fed mostly through a feeding tube - it's just not the normality we're used to.'

Ms Reilly and her partner, Brandon, 23, an electrical engineer, took Bailey to the doctors after he developed 18 bruises on his legs which didn't heal for more than three weeks.

Ms Reilly's persistence concerned her GP  who referred her to the local hospital for tests.

On Bailey's second check-up at Arrowe Park Hospital, doctors agreed to a blood test.

Doctors returned with the news that Bailey had lymphoblastic leukaemia.

This type of cancer means bruising of the skin happens more easily.

The levels of platelets, which are clot-forming cells needed to heal wounds, are reduced in the blood.

Leukemia bruises have distinguishing features. They typically appear in places where you do not usually have bruises, such as the chest. There may be many forming for what seems like no apparent reason and they can last longer than two weeks to heal.

Some of the most common symptoms of lymphoblastic leukaemia include feeling tired, breathlessness, easily bruised skin, high temperature night sweats, purple skin rash, pale skin and repeated infections over a short period of time.

Chemotherapy is the main treatment but other treatments include antibiotics, blood transfusion and sometimes a stem cell transplant.

Ms Reilly said: 'He ended up having about 18 bruises and I got worried. I took him to see the GP, and they told me at first that she thought it was viral.

'I went back a second time that week and she could tell I was concerned, so she sent me to Arrowe Park for tests.

'Because I had no explanation for the bruises, when I was eventually referred to the hospital, I was questioned about it over and over by two nurses and a consultant together.

'It upset me, but I understood that they just needed to do it. They at first said that they were not worried and sent me home, but I later came back three more times.

'Eventually I said that I was not leaving unless they did a blood test, and they agreed to keep him in overnight and did tests that morning.

'I think that's just because he's such a happy baby. He doesn't seem sick because he's just so smiley.

'Then a few hours later the doctor came back with her head down and a few other nurses behind her  that was when I found out about his B cell lymphoblastic leukaemia.'

Despite the regular visits, the mother-of-one claimed doctors at Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside, asked her if she was abusing her own son

Bailey has had a bone marrow biopsy, three rounds of chemotherapy and is undergoing a spinal lumbar puncture every two weeks

The little one spent his first birthday in the hospital as he was due to start chemotherapy

Beth said: 'I think that's just because he's such a happy baby. He doesn't seem sick because he's just so smiley'

Bailey has had a bone marrow biopsy, three rounds of chemotherapy and is undergoing a spinal lumbar puncture every two weeks.

A Wirral University Teaching Hospital spokesperson said: 'While we are unable to comment on individual cases, to ensure patient confidentiality, we can confirm that the Trust has safeguarding procedures in place that follow national legislation for both adults and children.

'This ensures the safety of the patients in our care and may mean staff will ask further questions when determining the cause of an illness or injury.

'We recognise that this can be distressing for parents, and so we ensure the utmost respect is given to them where any questions are raised.

'We hope that parents and carers will understand that it is a necessary and important aspect of our safeguarding responsibilities.'

You can help support Bailey's recovery here.

Every year there are around 391,000 new cases of cancer in the UK  on average someone is diagnosed every 90 seconds.

MacMillian estimate there are currently three million people living in the UK with cancer, a figure which is expected to rise to over five million by 2040.

In the US, the American Cancer Society estimates that around two million new cancers were diagnosed and more than 600,000 deaths in 2021 alone.
A bombshell study heralded as 'the strongest evidence yet' that Covid emerged naturally omitted key information that undermined its findings, experts claim.

The report, published online Monday, found DNA from raccoon dogs in the same location at an infamous Wuhan wet market where genetic material from Sars-CoV-2 was clustered in 2019.

Because raccoon dogs are known harborers of Covid, the research team concluded the finding 'contributed to the large body of evidence supporting a natural origin.'

The paper was first leaked by The Atlantic last week with the headline: 'The Strongest Evidence Yet That an Animal Started the Pandemic.' What is not mentioned in the study's manuscript is that all of the DNA samples from raccoon dogs tested negative for Covid via PCR test, experts told DailyMail.com.

Dr Steven Quay, a microbiologist in Seattle, Washington, who has spent the past two years investigating Covid's origin, said this showed a 'willingness to be untruthful'.

Researchers identified stalls in the southwest corner of the market where Covid is most prevalent. A large portion of Covid samples gathered from the area were from raccoon dogs, they determined

Racoon dogs made up more than 80 percent of Covid samples that researchers could identify a species for with 99 percent confidence or more

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University in the UK, told DailyMail.com: 'You're supposed to point that out.

'I'm not saying there's anything dodgy about it, but it should've been highlighted.

'It is poor practice and there's no way they [the researchers] would get that past a good quality journal [during the peer-review process] they would be forced to put it in their limitations and discussions section.'

The omission of that crucial caveat adds to growing concerns about the reliability of the report, whose main authors include scientists who shut down debate about the lab leak theory - which the FBI and Energy Department have said with varying degrees of confidence was likely the genesis of the pandemic.

Dr Kristian Andersen, an evolutionary biologist at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, was the lead author of a February 2020 paper some have said was designed to squash the theory that Covid may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). That paper, now infamous, was titled 'Proximal Origin'.

Emails revealed earlier this month showed that Dr Andersen was prompted by former White House doctor Anthony Fauci to publish the paper, despite both experts privately expressing concern that the virus showed hallmarks of human engineering.

In the latest research, which is still pending peer review, researchers used data that was uploaded  and quickly taken down to a database called the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID), an international hub containing viruses' genetic information.

The data included swab samples taken from surfaces, floors and walls from stalls in of the Huanan Seafood Market in epicenter Wuhan in January 2020.

Dr Steven Quay (pictured) said that the paper is 'completely dishonest' in saying it was evidence for a natural spillover

The Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) has kept this data under wraps since it was collected.

Now with it available, researchers were able to access and study the swab samples for the first time.

Their analysis found genetic material from raccoon dogs and Covid from the same southwest corner of the market.

Raccoon dogs act as intermediate hosts of the virus  meaning they catch pathogens from the wild and harbor it without falling ill themselves.

There is a risk they can spread viruses to humans  or any other animal they come into contact with.

The research team claims that Covid and the raccoon dog specimens being detected in the same place is too eerie to be a coincidence.

But the study does not prove the animals had Covid, instead just showing the virus existed on the same surfaces.

Dr Quay accused the team of using an imperfect testing method to detect the Covid genetic material.

The raccoon dog sample PCR tested negative for Covid but was positive when next-generation sequencing was used.

This process can rapidly read thousands of lines of DNA and RNA to determine the genome of collected samples.

Each sequence has a cycle threshold (CT), which is representative of the number of strands of DNA or RNA tested. The higher the score, the less reliable the test.

Dr Quay explained the CT score of the raccoon dog samples that tested positive for the virus was too high to be reliable.

The reliability of a PCR test  the most accurate Covid test used around the world  is the equivalent of around 40 CT.

To find a raccoon dog sample that was positive for Covid, Dr Quay said the researchers had to reach a CT score into the thousands.

'We don't have an environmental specimen that looks positive for infection,' he told DailyMail.com.

He went on to say that the specimens that did test positive for the virus via PCR were 'mostly human'.

He explained that once the number has reached the thousands, the amount of DNA being sequenced is so high that scientists could purport to find anything.

Meanwhile, the same raccoon dog sample in question tested negative by PCR test.

Other experts have also cast doubts on whether this paper is of any value.

Dr Franois Balloux, chair of computational biology at University College London, told DailyMail.com: 'In light of the media furore that has preceded its release, the report feels remarkably underwhelming.

'The analyses confirm that wild animals, including raccoon dogs, were on sale at the Huanan market. Though, this was not really in dispute, and there was evidence for this before, including photographs of caged raccoon dogs.'

He goes on to say that the report only confirms that there was Covid present at the market  not that the animals themselves had it.

This means that it does not 'improve our understanding of the early stages of the pandemic,' he continued.

Professor Balloux even says the report, and its subsequent coverage, could cause harm to the cause of finding the virus's origins.

'The drama surrounding the report risks undermining serious investigations of the origin of COVID-19,' he continued.

'There is in particular a risk that the Chinese scientists, who seemed prepared to share their raw data with the world, may now have changed their mind. I don't believe there has been any winner in this unedifying saga.'

Dr Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, told DailyMail.com: '[The report] contains almost no new information, and it contains absolutely no new information that permits new conclusions.'

'To call the report a "nothing burger" would be generous.'

Dr Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in New York City, said on his Twitter that the time the samples were collected is a concern too.

Dr Richard Ebright (pictured), a microbiologist at Rutgers, told DailyMail.com the paper did not provide any new evidence

'Overall, main thing we learn is details of which animals or products (eg, meats) were in market before it closed on [January 1, 2020]' he wrote.

'This doesnt tell us if any infected [with Covid]. But knowing more about animals could help trace [the] supply chain, which is valuable line of investigation.

'However, human SARS2 infections started in Wuhan no later than [November] 2019. So we have to be circumspect about environmental samples from [January] 2020.'

He continued: 'We are unlikely to get conclusive answers about origin of an outbreak that started in [November] 2019 (or earlier) by looking at samples collected in [January] 2020.'

Among the report's authors are some figures who were embroiled in controversy when Dr Fauci's emails from early in the pandemic were made public.

Dr Andersen wrote in one Febraury 2020 email: 'The unusual features of the virus make up a really small part of the genome (<0.1%) so one has to look really closely at all the sequences to see that some of the features (potentially) look engineered.'

Dr Robert Garry, a microbiologist at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an author too.

Dr Garry was also involved in discussions early in the pandemic about the potential synthetic nature of the virus, and on a call with Dr Andersen and Dr Fauci where it is alleged they discussed how to dismiss the lab leak.

Dr Garry told DailyMail.com: 'There is absolutely no lab leak scenario that is consistent with this data.

'It's time to nail the coffin containing all the lab leak conspiracy theories shut and give this long dead corpse a proper burial.'

He said that Dr Quay and Dr Ebright are 'motivated by politics and an anti-science agenda.'

'There is no reason not to trust this data - it is internally consistent,' he added.

He said the NGS testing dismissed by Dr Quay would be more accurate than a PCR test because the samples collected by the CCDC were 'partially degraded'.

Dr Garry went on to say the report 'adds a lot of new information' and puts raccoon dogs 'at the very scene of the crime.'

The question of whether the global outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market or leaked out of the Wuhan lab just eight miles across the Yangtze River has given rise to fierce debate about how to prevent the next pandemic. New studies point to a natural spillover at the Huanan wildlife market. Positive swab samples of floors, cages and counters also track the virus back to stalls in the southwestern corner of the market (bottom left), where animals with the potential to harbor Covid were sold for meat or fur at the time (bottom right)

In response to comments by other scientists that the report did provide anything new, he said: 'That's ridiculous - new strong evidence is presented in the Report.

'They just don't like the extremely obvious conclusions.'

DailyMail.com reached out to Dr Andersen for comment as well.

The study began when Dr Florence Debarre, from the French National Center for Scientific Research, came across the data the day it was published, March 4.

Researchers downloaded the data, hoping to investigate it as part of their search for Covid's origin.

Researchers learned later that the data was uploaded on June 22, 2022, but not released to the public. It was also used for a pre-print report revealed by Chinese scientists in February 2022

It was removed from the database on March 11. This research team had already downloaded it.

GISAID, which is based in Munich, Germany, accused the team of breaching the database's terms of use by acquiring the data, they say in the report.

'Data contributors frequently update their records with the help of GISAIDs data curation team. When this occurs, released records will become temporarily invisible. Doing so recognizes the inherent need to balance the urgency of sharing genomic and associated metadata and its quality to aid public health decision-making. GISAID does not, on its own accord, unrelease data,' GISAID said in a statement.

The CCDC told researchers it plans to re-upload the data after its own review. It is unclear when that may be.

The researchers have denied breaching the terms of use, and said in a statement: 'We are well aware of these terms of use, have not breached them, and have no intention of breaching them.'

Chinese officials have been notoriously uncooperative in the search for Covid's origin.

Analysis of the data also uncovered positive Covid specimens from mammals such as the Malayan porcupine, amur hedgehog, masked palm civet and hoary bamboo rat.

But, the raccoon dogs made up more than 80 percent of DNA and RNA detected.

'Raccoon dog genetic material was abundant on a [Covid] positive sample from a cart, and much more so than human genetic material from the same sample,' researchers wrote in the study.

The research team believes this finding heavily favors the natural spillover theory.

'This provides further support for the hypothesis that wildlife were the source of the first human [Covid] infections,' they wrote.

'Once the initial spillovers had taken place, the market likely became a place of widespread human-to-human transmission.'
Covid is sweeping England once again, with cases having climbed to their highest level since the start of the year.

Up to one in 40 people are infected with the virus across the country, according to surveillance data. But as many as one in 17 are currently carrying it in the worst-hit areas of the country.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysts estimate almost 1.7m Brits were carrying the virus on any given day in the week to March 13. This a jump of almost 14 per cent on the week before.

Leading experts fear the outbreak will continue to pick up pace in the coming weeks as part of the virus's natural cycle.

Some have, however, already called for the return of face masks.

Office for National Statistics analysts estimate almost 1.7m Brits were carrying the virus on any given day in the week to March 13. This a jump of almost 14 per cent on the week before

The North West recorded the highest Covid prevalence in England with an estimated 4.14 per cent of people infected. This amounts to around one in 25, although the ONS said it could be as high as one in 17. This was followed by the East Midlands at 3.36 per cent

Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysts estimate that almost 1.73million Brits were carrying the virus on any given day in the week to March 13. This a jump of almost 14 per cent on the week before, when approximately 1.52million Brits were estimated to be infected

GP surgeries in parts of the country have also started cancelling appointments because the uptick has left them with 'exceptionally low' staff levels.

Michelle Bowen, head of health surveillance dissemination at the ONS, said: 'This week's data show infections are rising in England.

'However, the trend is uncertain across the rest of the UK.

'In England, positivity increased in children and those aged 50 and over. The North West, East Midlands and South East of England all saw infections increase, though the trend is uncertain in all other regions.'

There are higher levels of uncertainty in the ONS' latest estimates 'because of lower numbers of samples received', the statistics agency said.

The ONS data, based on the random swabbing of around 100,000 Brits, suggests one in 40 people in England  some 1.49million (2.66 per cent)  were infected with Covid last week.

This was a rise on the 1.32million recorded in the previous week, up to March 7.

Virus levels also rose in Scotland, with 136,200 (one in 40 or 2.59 per cent) people were thought to be carrying the virus, up from 105,100.

Some 74,500 people in Wales (one in 40, 2.41 per cent) were thought to be infected a rise on the previous week's 68,200.

In Northern Ireland, which recorded data for the week ending March 7, 26,000 were thought to be infected (one in 70 people or 1.42 per cent), up from the 24,700 reported in the week ending February 28.

Despite the surge in numbers, leading scientists are not concerned.

This is because of the wall of immunity, built up from vaccines and numerous waves, has drastically blunted Covid and morphed it into a milder flu-like illness for the vast majority.

The Government has insisted it will never revert back to pandemic-era measures unless a doomsday variant emerges.

Experts say fluctuations in case numbers will happen forevermore.

Another round of the historic jab drive will begin in the next fortnight.

The over-75s, care home residents and those aged five and over with a weakened immune system will be eligible for the booster injection  the groups deemed most at risk of serious illness from the virus.

The North West recorded the highest Covid prevalence in England with an estimated 4.14 per cent of people infected.

This amounts to around one in 25, although the ONS said it could be as high as one in 17.

This was followed by the East Midlands at 3.36 per cent.

According to the ZOE Health Study some 136,722 new symptomatic Covid cases were reported across the UK on March 20, 2023. It takes the total number of people currently predicted to have Covid in UK to above 1.5million, rising by around 300,000 in just a week

GP surgeries in parts of the country have already started cancelling appointments because the uptick has left them with 'exceptionally low' staff levels. On March 21, the Montgomery-House Surgery in Bicester, Oxfordshire, said: 'We are currently experiencing high levels of Covid amongst our clinical team resulting in staff absence and reduced appointment capacity. 'On Friday 24 March, we will have exceptionally low numbers of GPs and will be offering urgent appointments only. 'Where possible, please submit repeat prescription requests on another day'

The latest ONS Infection Survey Data comes just days after the ZOE Health Study revealed some 136,722 new symptomatic Covid cases were reported across the UK on March 20, 2023.

Professor Tim Spector, the epidemiologist behind the ZOE Covid infection survey, said cold weather  which encourages people to mix indoors  and children are driving the rise.

Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, also told MailOnline the UK was in a 'rather serious situation' because of the waning vaccine immunity coupled with new variants.

Many bouts of these Covid infections are 'neither brief nor mild', added Professor Altmann, who is a member of the notorious Independent Sage group that lobbied for a 'zero Covid' approach.

'For my taste we'd be continuing to think about the mitigations,' he said.

Latest hospital data also shows 1,189 people infected with Covid were admitted to hospitals in England on March 13.

It is the highest figure logged since the end of December and is not far off this winter's peak of 1,376.

However, current admission levels are nowhere near levels seen earlier in the pandemic, when a high of 4,134 admissions were logged per day.

Infections climbed as high as 3.7million last winter during the spread of the original Omicron variant  but this was topped a few months later, when the number reached a record 4.1million.

The Government has insisted it will not revert back to pandemic-era measures unless a new doomsday variant emerges.

But for months, health chiefs and experts have warned about a rise in cases and hospitalisations driven by the Omicron sub-variants Kraken (XBB.1.5) and Orthrus (CH.1.1).

Kraken was the dominant strain in the UK by the end of last month, causing 50.4 per cent of cases, according to ONS data, while Orthrus was behind at 19.7 per cent.

The Government commissioned graph shows the total number of patients in hospital who have Covid in England each day up to March 22, when 8,387 patients were reported to have the virus

Hospital admissions for the virus have steadily increased in recent weeks. As of March 20, there were 1,019 admissions

Latest Covid surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also revealed that cases appear to be highest in older people.

However, confirmed ones rely on people taking tests and old people living in care homes are more likely to have regular swabs.

Despite rising cases, the ONS confirmed this week's Covid surveillance data update is the final survey release, as the UKHSA 'works to confirm its approach to surveillance'.

In the meantime, the ONS plans to continue working with survey participants to gather data on experiences of Covid, long Covid and other respiratory infections, 'details of which will be announced in due course', it added.

The survey collected tests from households regardless of whether participants knew they had Covid, or if they were reporting results to the NHS, meaning it provided a snapshot of the true spread of the virus, which was often underestimated by Government figures.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'Data were always crucial for navigating the safest path through the Covid pandemic.

'The ONS survey became one of the most trusted and reliable sources of surveillance data on levels of infection, providing key information that informed public health policy.'

He added: 'Despite its value to public health, active surveillance of this kind is expensive and is not routinely performed outside of a current health emergency.

'It is nevertheless vital that our capacity to perform this kind of survey is maintained and is available when needed.

'In 2020, the ONS survey was not launched until April 26. By that date, the UK had been in lockdown for over a month and the first wave was already peaking.

'If the ONS survey had been rolled out much earlier  ideally in the first half of February  then we would have had more accurate information in those crucial early weeks and would likely have made better, and perhaps different, decisions about how to respond.

'We will need the capacity to ramp up active surveillance much more quickly when the next epidemic arrives. This must be a top priority for our pandemic preparedness planning.'
An ongoing shortage of Adderall has left children unable to concentrate and behave in school, according to parents across the US.

Parents and school officials across the US, from California to Kentucky to Massachusetts, are worried about falling grades and increased violence among children in sudden detox due to having their meds cut off.

The Food and Drug Administration acknowledged the shortage last October, but parents of children with ADHD have been blowing the whistle on supply chain issues and backorders since the summer.

Medicating children for ADHD is the norm in the US and of the more than six million of them who have the condition, over 60 percent take medication like Adderall. But over the years, concern in the medical community about overprescribing the potentially addictive medications has risen.

Adderall, arguably the most commonly prescribed ADHD medication in the US, is banned in many European countries as well as Japan.

Doctors in peer countries seem less eager to prescribe the medications. While a whopping 41 million Adderall prescriptions were dispensed in the U.S. in 2021, Britain's National Health Service doled out a total of just 2.23 million ADHD drugs from July 2021 to June 2022.

Adderall was officially recognized as a drug in shortage by the FDA in October, but many parents have struggled to get the prescriptions for their children since last summer

Adderall prescriptions have steadily increased over the last 12 years. The figures include prescriptions for both Adderall, brand and generic, in the U.S.

Prescriptions for Adderall surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2020, just before the virus erupted across America, the drug made up 1.1% of drugs. By September 2022, the figure had more than doubled to 2.31% of all scripts written

Still, there have been reports nationwide of kids acting out in class, disrupting fellow students, and increasing disciplinary calls to parents over the past year.

The ongoing problem has been attributed to worker and supply shortages at the Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals, which made one out of four branded and generic Adderall pills dispensed at US pharmacies last year.

It is also linked to soaring rates of new prescriptions being doled out during the pandemic when telehealth services proliferated and more bad actors were able to supply the drugs to people with little to no consultation.

A Washington mother has blamed lax Adderall prescriptions brought in during the Covid pandemic for her son Elijah's suicide last year. The young man who died at 21 had been abusing Adderall in the months leading up to his death.

His mother, Kelli Rasmussen, said that despite her son not having Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), he was able to secure a prescription online though the controversial mental health startup Cerebral by lying to telehealth providers - even though he had previously suffered from other mental health issues.

Massachusetts-based mom of four Samm Davidson detailed her seven-year-old sons difficulty performing well in school after not having his generic form of Adderall.

Ms Davidson said: Today though, I read an email about his increased silliness and inability to pay attention. He is blurting out answers, distracting peers in small groups, and having difficulty completing assignments.

And while disappointing, the email comes as no surprise my son has been without his prescription for four days straight, which has a very big impact.

ADHD medications treat a deficiency in certain neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and norepinephrine, which are involved in attention and focus.

An estimated six million children aged three to 17 have ADHD.

Of that total, about 62 percent take medication to manage symptoms, including an inability to sustain attention and listen to others, impulsive actions such as interrupting others, and hyperactive behaviors such as constant motion with no apparent goal.

Ms Davidson went on: My sons learning is directly affected by this issue. He relies on his prescribed medication to focus his mind and calm his body to be successful in a learning environment So withholding it, randomly, for days at a time, feels so unfair to his little seven year old brain.

In Marana, Arizona, Jennifer Paul, a mother of seven-year-old twin daughters told the Wall Street Journal that the shortages have caused hell for her family. Her daughters were running out of medication and unable to get a refill for about one week each month, leading them to act out at home and in school.

Ms Paul said: Theyre hitting teachers, throwing dirt, destroying the classroom They cant focus.

Its caused a lot of issues in our family. Nobody wants to be around us when theyre having that behavior.

Meanwhile, in Aurora, Colorado, the Hahn family has struggled to find Adderall for their 6-year-old son, Troy. His father, Phil Hahn, said he has been trying to fill Troys prescription for Adderall at at least 20 different pharmacies.

Mr Hahn said he is seeing behavioral changes in his son, even citing changes in Troys handwriting as evidence of the impact that not having the medication has had.

Adderall contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

It works by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which helps improve focus, attention, and impulse control in individuals with ADHD.

Earlier this year, the National Community Pharmacists Association found that 64 percent of community pharmacists reported having trouble getting Adderall.

And without it, students are struggling.

In Georgia, Kristina Yiaras ran through an exhaustive list of pharmacies within 50 miles of her home in Kingsland in a fruitless attempt to fill her eight-year-old sons prescriptions.

Ms Yiaras told NPR: The minute we ran out of it, he was back to getting in trouble every day, getting up out of his seat The teachers immediately noticed that he was off of it.

The FDA has approved several drugs to treat ADHD, the most common and trusted of which are stimulants, tightly controlled medications by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

There are only two stimulant medications: methylphenidate (the active ingredient in Ritalin, Concerta and other formulations) and amphetamine (the active ingredient in Adderall, Vyvanse and other formulations).

But because of its high potential for misuse, the DEA has classified it as a schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

This means that the agency chooses yearly quotas for producing the drugs based on historical data. But critics of the agency argue it has not updated its quotas to reflect an increased demand over the past several years, driving a shortage.

Demand for the drugs has skyrocketed in recent years, which many blame on the advent of telehealth services during the Covid pandemic that led to an increase in prescribing.

Health data company Trilliant Health reported last summer than Adderall prescriptions for adults rose 15.1 percent during 2020, double the 7.4 percent rise seen the year prior.

Diagnoses of behavioral issues surged during the Covid pandemic as people who were suddenly thrust into a world of isolation struggled to cope with massive lifestyle changes, financial insecurity, a transition to working from home and, in some cases, becoming homeschool teachers at the drop of a hat.

Overprescribing of Adderall, a common party drug, is also a major issue. So much so that embattled mental health startup Cerebral has been targeted by the Department of Justice for possibly violating the Controlled Substances Act by overprescribing drugs like Adderall and Xanax for anxiety.

Today, some 41 million Americans have a prescription for Adderall, a 16 percent jump from pre-pandemic levels. Four million new patients got prescriptions last year, double the previous year.
A rare flesh-eating parasite has killed four otters in California for the first time, with scientists warning the disease could jump to humans.

The otters all suffered what scientists called the worst lesions on their bodies that they had seen in more than two-and-a-half decades of research.

Each had caught a previously unknown strain of toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic infection linked to miscarriage, seizures and brain inflammation in humans.

They now fear the parasite may be lurking in oysters, clams, mussels and crabs and could infect humans if these are undercooked.

It is particularly dangerous because, unlike most other diseases, it is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to cause infection.

The four sea otters were each infected with a previously unknown strain of the parasite toxoplasma gondii. Each had the worst lesions on their bodies scientists had seen (stock image)

Dr Karen Shaprio, a pathologist at the University of California, Davis, raised the alarm over the new threat.

Because this parasite can infect humans and other animals, we want others to be aware of our findings, quickly recognize cases and, if they encounter them, take precautions to prevent infection,' she said.

We are reporting our preliminary findings to alert others about this concerning condition.

Since toxoplasma can infect any warm-blooded animal, it could also potentially cause disease in animals and humans that share the same environment or food resources.

The four sea otters were found stranded between February 2020 and March 2022.

Three of the four were females who lived within six miles of each other in San Luis Obispo county, which is between San Francisco and Los Angeles, while the other was an immature male in Santa Cruz County, just outside the Bay Area.

Genetic testing revealed they had been infected with a previously undetected version of toxoplasmosis, named COUG.

Little is known about this variant, but it appears to trigger more severe disease than other types.

As well as the lesions, all the animals also had steatitis, or severe inflammation of their body fat.

It marked the first time the disease had been recorded in any sea animals in California.

It was not clear how they became infected, but scientists said it was likely caused by the parasite being washed into the sea by heavy rainfall.

Toxoplasma parasites are normally found lurking in cat feces. But heavy rain can wash the parasites into fresh or salt water.

The scientists said that because sea otters live near coastlines, they are therefore vulnerable to infection with the parasite.

Toxoplasmosis, the disease it causes, is common in otters. But this rare type has not previously been spotted.

The parasite is able to infect humans, with more than 800,000 Americans catching the disease every year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also says it drives hundreds of deaths and thousands of hospitalizations.

It tends to be picked up from eating contaminated foods, such as undercooked shellfish, or from close contact with pet cats harboring the parasite.

In most cases, the parasitic infection causes no symptoms.

But in the past it has been linked to severe symptoms including miscarriages and seizures.

It is unclear whether people who catch this strain are more likely to suffer severe disease.

Dr Shapiro added that the newly diagnosed strain in California came as a 'complete surprise'.

'The COUG genotype has never before been described in sea otters, nor anywhere in the California coastal environment or in any other aquatic mammal or bird,' she said.

The warning was issued in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
LORI & JOE by Amy Arnold (Prototype 12, 120pp)

LORI & JOE

by Amy Arnold

(Prototype 12, 120pp)

Cumbrian author Arnold won the Northern Book Prize for her debut, Slip Of A Fish, which also made the shortlist for the Goldsmiths Prize, an award for stylistically radical fiction.

Her new novel, also experimental in style, is a reminder that formal ingenuity need not lead to abstraction. At its best, it can vividly evoke the sensation of consciousness  what its like to think and feel.

Set in the Lake District in 1999, it centres on a woman who has just brought her husband his morning cup of coffee only to find him dead.

What does she do now? Put on her boots and go for a walk.

We follow her thoughts in undulating paragraphs that mirror the books landscape as her mind circles the memories of their long decades together  which, as we see, have also been decades apart.

Achingly tender as well as gut-plummetingly sad, this is a novel about death that is also full of life.

MY NEMESIS by Charmaine Craig (Grove 12.99, 208pp)

MY NEMESIS

by Charmaine Craig

(Grove 12.99, 208pp)

Craigs 2018 debut, Miss Burma, longlisted for the Womens Prize, drew on her family lore for a wide-angled saga of Burmese history.

Her new novel, shorter and more intimate, is a tense psychological thriller probing hot-button topics of race, class and motherhood.

What could possibly go wrong when Tessa, a married memoirist in New York, falls into flirty correspondence with Charlie, a married philosopher from Los Angeles?

At first, not a thing. Together with Tessas husband, a retired banker, and Charlies wife, Wah, they make a foursome who become fast friends as they meet up in one or others home city.

But the warm bond between the women soon curdles into rivalry when, at dinner, Tessa tipsily insults Wah, the author of a book about raising an adoptive Burmese daughter.

We hear Tessas side of the story in a propulsive confession that pins us to the page with the teasing sense that all is not as it seems.

TO BATTERSEA PARK by Philip Hensher (4th Estate 16.99, 304pp)

TO BATTERSEA PARK

by Philip Hensher

(4th Estate 16.99, 304pp)

Hensher, once shortlisted for the Booker prize, had said that his previous novel, A Small Revolution In Germany, would be his last.

Happily, his illustrious 30-year career continues with this richly strange four-part meta-fiction that opens during the early days of the corona-virus pandemic. We first join the narrator, a Hensher-like novelist, enduring those shut-in days with his husband in South London.

Later, we follow the struggles of their neighbours, battling mental illness in one case and a no-good husband in another. We also see the narrators elderly mother, who is suffering from dementia, and visit a gang-ridden coastal town in a dystopian future.

One of Henshers finest novels, The Emperor Waltz, was a series of exercises in style, roaming widely in time and place. Here, he uses a similar technique to capture a moment in which such movement became all but impossible. Cool observation and crisp dialogue sustain the resulting fragmentary structure, a lockdown mosaic.
Plainly more in sorrow than in anger, one of the most distinguished members of the Government is quitting. This is not one of those showy resignations where an ambitious Minister slams the door of Downing Street on the way out and hopes his action will eventually bring him the top job.

On the contrary, this resignation has been done courteously and discreetly, intended to improve the Government rather than damage it, giving the Prime Minister time to prepare before it becomes public.

For Lord Frost, the Brexit Minister, is the opposite of a career politician. He is a distinguished diplomat with a long record of skilled negotiation who gave his talents to Boris Johnson in the hope of getting Brexit done, successfully and to the benefit of this country.

He is a serious and substantial figure, a genuine patriot who believes in Britain. It will be a grievous blow when he goes.

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Lord Frost, the Brexit Minister, is the opposite of a career politician. He is a distinguished diplomat with a long record of skilled negotiation who gave his talents to Boris Johnson in the hope of getting Brexit done, successfully and to the benefit of this country

He transformed the Brexit talks, symbolising a new, unapologetic and frankly patriotic approach by getting our negotiating team to wear Union Flag badges.

His approach was so unlike the feeble and defeatist attitudes of so much previous British contact with the EU that Brussels realised it was for once dealing with serious opponents, with an iron determination to stand up for ourselves.

He has shown equal purpose and principle in tackling the EUs subsequent desire to punish us for leaving. Remainers must surely have been embarrassed to find that it was their beloved Europe that had adopted a silly, spiteful and short-sighted position on Brexit, while Britain was the grown-up in the negotiating chamber. Lord Frost, as might have been expected, has responded to this behaviour with maturity and authority.

But his departure is less to do with the continuing problems of sorting out the details of our new relationship with the Continent and more to do with the PMs conduct of the Covid crisis.

With his usual sharp perception, Lord Frost has decided that he has had enough of the Governments increasingly European-style approach to the pandemic.

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Lord Frost's departure is less to do with the continuing problems of sorting out the details of our new relationship with the Continent and more to do with the PMs conduct of the Covid crisis

Lord Frost has been among the strongest voices in Cabinet in favour of keeping the country open and for avoiding more legislative controls to deal with the disease. He is believed to have objected in principle to the idea of vaccine passports. He is also thought to have been disillusioned by the latest resort to regulations.

This is all of a piece with his more general disenchantment with the whole policy direction of the Government in recent months  especially on tax rises and the green-driven preoccupation with the target of net zero CO2 emissions.

This view meshes with his public statements, disagreeing with the European-style high- tax high-spend economic model recently embraced by the Chancellor. Lord Frost believes that such a policy, whatever the excuse for it may be, is unlikely to deliver the benefits of Brexit. These are serious objections from a serious man.

Boris Johnson, who understands very well the value of figures such as Lord Frost, needs to heed what he says, and soon. The Covid crisis has caused the Government to wander very far from the principles on which it was so decisively elected. And, while it is easy to read too much into bad by-election results, it would be very unwise for Mr Johnson to brush the North Shropshire defeat aside.

It is because he has failed to deliver what his supporters want that they are now prepared to shift their votes elsewhere. For the moment, protests of this kind are just a warning, as Lord Frosts departure is a warning.

But if these danger signals go unheeded in the year ahead, the Government will face a much more serious defection and its future could be in real danger.
There is something hugely moving about the Queens conduct in recent times. Long after most of us would have sought a secluded retirement of carefree peace, she has remained at her post, as she was taught to do from her childhood.

There are, alas, precious few men and women from that stoical, dauntless generation left among us. But we could not have done without them, or without her, in the long and difficult decades of fear, war and national change through which she has lived.

Let us learn from her now. Besieged by age, she has faced and endured the deep personal loss of Prince Philip, her unique and essential support. She has faced the turmoil of Harry and Meghans departure for the woke world of California and the wretched misery of Prince Andrews public humiliation.

There is something hugely moving about the Queens conduct in recent times

Can she be like us and still survive such repeated devastating blows? Yes, she is like us, human, vulnerable to hurt and grief. But she is also not like us.

She has learned to be unimpressed by flattery and luxury, and to be armoured against adversity. To her, triumph and disaster are impostors, as Rudyard Kipling rightly described them. She is a great Monarch precisely because she has seen so much and lived so long.

But now the unavoidable burden of her own remarkable age is growing greater, so great that it has come between her and duty. We can only imagine how hard it must have been for her to decide to stay away from tomorrows service for her beloved Commonwealth at Westminster Abbey.

As the Thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburghs life, set for March 29, approaches, we should be thankful for her unique devotion over so many years, and hope and pray that she soon recovers her strength.

Oligarchs may find democracy can be very ruthless too

It is very important that justice is not just done but very thoroughly seen to be done.

This is the basis of the witty and clever plan put forward by the Cabinet Minister Michael Gove. He proposes that the British Government seizes the huge London homes of Russian oligarchs who have been friendly to Vladimir Putin  and uses them to house Ukrainian refugees.

The planned takeover would be temporary, for as long as the oligarchs are sanctioned and for as long as those refugees need roofs over their heads.

It is very important that justice is not just done but very thoroughly seen to be done. This is the basis of the witty and clever plan put forward by the Cabinet Minister Michael Gove

These grotesquely wealthy businessmen have obtained their riches through dubious methods and by prostrating themselves before the despotic power of the Kremlin. They have in almost all cases been careful to stash their wealth out of Putins reach, in a free law-governed country quite unlike the one where they made their fortunes.

Well, now they may find out that democracy can be ruthless too, especially when faced with greed in alliance with aggression. No doubt there will be legal problems to surmount. That is quite proper in a law-governed country such as we are  and such as Russia is not.

The aim of the scheme is not to expropriate or nationalise these properties. It is to do something practical and just with them, as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians seek decent shelter, many of them in this country.

Imagine for the moment how such a refugee family might feel if, instead of being placed in a bleak hotel or a church hall, they were installed amid the high ceilings and gold-plated bath taps of some Russian plutocrat. And imagine also how the billionaires might feel, to see their palaces handed over to the deserving and suffering victims of a regime they have until now supported.

It might cause them to rethink their allegiance. The idea may seem outrageous at first sight but it deserves careful consideration.
If America is the land of opportunity, there is no state more firmly held to prove it true than California.

With a unique mix of a Mediterranean climate and fertile land, hi-tech and Hollywood, its little wonder the Sunshine state has become the most populous in America  serving for decades as a magnet for those seeking a better life.

But something strange is happening on the West Coast.

So far from growing, the population is actually shrinking as thousands of middle-income families move out to other states.

With the infrastructure collapsing at the same rate as the Californian economy and the big city streets filled with the sick, homeless and drug-addled, you might think its no wonder that the truly wealthy are seeking out the clean air of states such as Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska or the Dakotas.

Migrants in Mexicali hoping to cross into California

But thats not where the main effect is felt. Rather, its the aspiring young families who are vanishing. relocating to states such as Texas and taking their skills  and, as happens, their political opinions  with them.

For them, California, the state that dominated the 20th century, is no longer a place of progress.

Why is the American Dream dying?

A shrivelling economy is part of it. Despite its vast wealth, the Golden State has been in economic decay for the past three decades.

Large parts of the economy lie dormant, thanks in part to a shortsighted democrat-controlled state government.

Housing is an even bigger issue. Thanks, among other things, to the astonishing success of Silicon Valley, property in California is simply out of reach for average middle-class families, who are finding their future elsewhere instead.

Now, already on the back foot, there is a new problem for California to face: an unprecedented level of immigration across the Mexican border.

But this is no like-for like replacement for the people who should be the motor of economic  and civic  success.

The newcomers are people without money, without skills. In many cases from damaged backgrounds.

And what was once a boon for the United States of America  a nation built on the masses seeking a better future  is a potential catastrophe for California's disintegrating economy. And for the nation itself.

Im in little doubt that America will become a poorer country over time as migration continues to accelerate at an uncontrollable pace.

I have a mixed view of immigration. It can be an enormous benefit  and has been a huge advantage to my own family.

In 1958, with Turkey undergoing the chaos of a coup detat, my uncle came to America. He was a doctor. Other skilled Turks came around the same time, notably engineers, drawn in by the miracle of the US economy

In time, we became the biggest Turkish family in America.

But the United States is less of a draw for the professional classes these days. Not only is the infrastructure falling apart, particularly in Democrat-run coastal states, the taxes are high.

For example, a doctor in New York or California must pay eight months of a years earnings in tax.

Rather than the skilled and upwardly mobile, it is the desperate and destitute who are arriving on Californias doorstep  people who understandably want help.

But people who cannot easily contribute to a sophisticated economy and will instead under-cut wages, drain community services and erode civic life.

Its not just Latin Americans making the journey to the border, by the way. People from much further afield are drawn by the prospect of a land barrier rather than a dangerous sea crossing. Add lax border controls, and you get the picture.

Figures based on the number of Illegals detained in the border town of El Paso, Texas for suggest that migrants making the crossing have increasingly been drawn from around the world.

Its not sustainable. And its particularly unsustainable in California  where the border controls are particularly lax.

This, for the ruling Democrats, is expedient. New, Spanish-speaking citizens, they believe, are more likely to vote for them. And established immigrants are more likely to vote for a welcoming regime.

The contrast with Texas is instructive Like California, Republican-run Texas has a huge southern border with Mexico.

But Texas runs an efficient system, catching and gathering illegal entrants, restricting the benefits they can receive then shipping a proportion to other states so the overall burden can be shared.

California, Democrat since 1992, is a comparatively soft touch, particularly at crossings like Mexicali.

The sunshine state keeps hold of its migrants and provides them with social services that become a further burden to the state, which then deteriorates.

Whereupon the young, educated people that California really needs, leave to go elsewhere. Its a vicious circle.

California accounts for 15 percent of the US economy. That means its decline is a problem for every American.

No one wants to abolish immigration altogether, let alone persecute migrants.

But it is time for some hard, cold facts about where were heading.
Victory in Bulgaria for ski flat Britons: Inventors win back keys to their property



Journey: Paul Hassell, pictured with his wife Sharon, will be delighted the battle to reclaim his property is over

A group of Britons who faced arrest and threats of violence during a two-year dispute over the ownership of flats they had bought in a Bulgarian ski resort have finally won their case.



The 70 investors have gained access to the apartment block in the former Communist state as well as securing the title deeds to their flats, which they had purchased for 6 million.



The resolution of the dispute is considered so significant that Britains most senior diplomat in the country will attend a party next weekend at the All-Seasons leisure complex in the town of Bansko, 120 miles south of the capital Sofia.



The owners were denied entry after an influential local businessman took over the entire development and refused to hand over the keys.



The Britons staged a mass break-in to seize possession of the block but in a series of court cases their pleas for justice were ignored.

Financial adviser Paul Hassall, from Horsham, West Sussex, who was arrested twice by Bulgarian police during the campaign to get the flats back, said: The British Consul says this is the first time a group of British victims of property crime in Bulgaria have united and won their case.
JAMES FORSYTH: Austerity sandwiches and the death of the euro... poor George has a lot on his plate

Meeting: All the Tory Secretaries of State gathered in David Cameron's House of Commons office last Wednesday to discuss the Autumn Statement

Theres a new marker of a significant event in these Coalition times: a Conservatives-only political Cabinet.



Last Wednesday, all the Tory Secretaries of State gathered in David Camerons House of Commons office to discuss the Autumn Statement.

Over what one Cabinet Minister calls austerity sandwiches and orange juice, they discussed how the party could win an overall majority at the next Election, even as the economic climate worsens.



One of those present explains: We all like Nick Clegg, but we dont want to be stuck with him for ever.

Stephen Gilbert, Camerons political secretary, and Andrew Cooper, who is his chief political strategist, presented the latest polling data. Their main finding was that support for Labours Plan B fell away when people realised that it involved more borrowing.

The numbers show that the public gets the Tories message that you cant borrow your way out of a debt crisis. Expect Ministers to refer repeatedly to Plan B for borrowing this week.

Coalition strategists expect Tuesdays Statement to be overshadowed by the Office for Budget Responsibility downgrading its forecasts for both the economic and fiscal position. One senior source predicts that it will be a good 24 hours for Labour.

Among the measures Osborne will announce are the scrapping of the 3p rise in fuel duty scheduled for January, a set of new roads projects and measures to create an e-infrastructure for Britain that will boost high-tech computing.

Frank: One Conservative Secretary of State admitted: 'We all like Nick Clegg, but we don't want to be stuck with him for ever'

These will go alongside State-supported lending to small business and a slew of private-sector infrastructure projects backed by Government guarantees.

The Chancellors message will be that he can do all these things because Britain has credibility in the international markets, thanks to the deficit-reduction plan he set out in his 2010 emergency Budget.



One close Osborne ally says that the main theme of his speech will be, Were doing what it takes to keep Britain safe in a more dangerous world.

The Liberal Democrats are understandably keen to take their share of the credit for this. One Clegg ally emphasises: Its the Coalition that has persuaded the markets.



Plans: Osborne is expected to announce the scrapping of the 3p rise in fuel duty scheduled for January, a set of new roads projects and measures to create an e-infrastructure for Britain that will boost high-tech computing

The Liberal Democrats have even taken to teasing their Coalition partners in meetings by passing around copies of Tory Election posters that predicted an implosion of Britains economic credibility if no party won an overall majority.



But Osbornes speech risks being overshadowed by events in the eurozone. The fact that Italy has to pay almost twice what it did a month ago to get its debt down is a sign that the crisis on the Continent is approaching its denouement.



The British Government is now, in the words of one senior Cabinet Minister, readying itself for the collapse of the single currency. I understand that the break-up of the euro is now regarded as probably the most likely option.

Friends say Osbornes recent comments that even France could get dragged into the sovereign debt spiral were a sign that he now thinks the euro is entering the endgame.



If the eurozones second-largest economy is not safe, then the whole project is doomed.



Treasury sources refuse to confirm this shift in the Chancellors mindset. But I hear that contingency planning for the break-up of the single currency is proceeding with increased seriousness. Everyone knows that this is not a drill any more.

Absence: In recent weeks, insiders have noticed how rarely Steve Hilton is to be found at his new desk

After the summer, Steve Hilton was given a desk right outside David Camerons office.



In No 10, where proximity is power, this was meant as a signal that the mercurial Hilton remained at the heart of the Cameron operation.

The move also placed Hilton alongside the Prime Ministers two other most powerful lieutenants, his chief of staff Ed Llewellyn and the Downing Street permanent secretary Jeremy Heywood.



The idea was to ensure that these three men all knew what the others were up to.

But in recent weeks, insiders have noticed how rarely Hilton is to be found at this new desk.

His absence has become a barometer of his dissatisfaction. Dubbed Thatcher in a T-shirt by the Lib Dems, Hilton has been irritated by the safety-first attitude of many of his colleagues.



One Tory tells me: Steve and all those guys who came in hoping to be seriously radical are very frustrated.

Cameron, though, cannot afford to lose Hilton. Hes the grit in the Downing Street oyster. Without him, this would be a far blander Government, and one less likely to rise to the challenge of the times.

David Cameron ordered an emergency meeting of the Governments strike committee on Friday. He was deeply concerned about the countrys borders ahead of Wednesdays industrial action.

They are, according to one of his close allies, flashing red in all of the Coalitions contingency planning.

The Prime Minister is worried the unions will succeed in hanging a Britain is closed to business sign across the countrys doors. At the meeting, he ordered an increase in the number of civil servants being asked to volunteer to man border posts. He is desperate to avoid the sight of British airports shutting down.

Plan of action: On strike day, Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office Minister who has been leading negotiations with the unions, will be running a war room in Great Smith Street

But even with these contingency measures, the Government is braced for hours-long queues at all major entry points. They are also expecting more than 90 per cent of state schools to shut. It will be a flash frost of discontent.

On strike day, Francis Maude  the Cabinet Office Minister who has been leading negotiations with the unions  will be running a war room in Great Smith Street. His job will be to ensure that as many key public services as possible are kept functioning. The Government, though, is in defiant mood, bolstered by polls that show increasing public opposition to the strike. One source argues that everyone staying off work will have a better pension than those struggling in.

Im told that if an agreement with the unions on public sector pensions is not reached soon, the Coalition will take away a lot of concessions and simply impose one. They are resolute that they will not reward a strike.

The trouble is that Brendan Barber, the head of the Trades Union Congress, is not in a strong enough position to make a deal. One No 10 source says: The problem is that Barber cant deliver the hard nuts.

The question now is whether Dave Prentis, the leader of Britains largest union, Unison, decides to fill this leadership vacuum. Prentis is a Labour man and not a Trot.

He might decide that in the current economic climate, a deal is in the best interests of his members. But if he does not, then a long winter of strikes lies ahead of us.

James Forsyth is political editor of The Spectator








Tories promise Dave a black eye if he bulldozes the Green Belt

They were intended to get the economy moving, but radical proposals by David Cameron to build on the Green Belt are about to get his own MPs moving against him.

Tory backbenchers, and some senior Ministers, are furious at suggestions that the Prime Minister is ready to reopen the emotive issue of whether new homes and businesses should be built in protected countryside, an issue they had thought was settled.

Mr Cameron risks a dangerous Cabinet split over his apparent willingness to sacrifice the Green Belt, a move that has emerged as he casts around for fresh ideas to stimulate growth.

David Cameron (right) held a crisis summit with Nick Clegg (left) and George Osborne (centre) to get the economy back on track

In a bid to inject momentum, he held a crisis summit with Nick Clegg and George Osborne at which it was agreed the Coalition had to think the unthinkable to get the economy back on track.

The lack of a growth strategy has been a constant criticism of the Government and Mr Osborne has been under increasing pressure over his lacklustre policies as the economy flatlines.

The Chancellor apparently made clear he was keen to reopen the debate to make it easier for thousands of homes to be built, as well as shops, hotels and infrastructure projects that would boost the construction industry.

He and Mr Cameron are trying to come up with ideas to put into an economic regeneration Bill, expected in the autumn.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson told Cameron to 'stop pussyfooting around'

The latest panic comes after Mayor of London Boris Johnson embarrassed the Prime Minister by telling the Coalition to stop pussyfooting around. Seen as a likely future leadership contender, he called for tax cuts and action on deregulation.

But Mr Osborne has ruled out tax cuts while attempts to deregulate are mired in Lib Dem objections. Last weekend, it emerged Business Secretary Vince Cable opposed plans by Mr Cameron to extend Sunday trading hours.

So Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne have reportedly alighted on the idea that laws governing Green Belt land might be relaxed. There is only one problem. The issue has just been the subject of a long and arduous process, culminating in a rule change trumpeted as protecting the countryside.

Draft proposals, published last year, were amended to strengthen Green Belt safeguards after they were opposed by groups, including the National Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Friends of the Earth, which said they amounted to a developers charter.

In March, Ministers published the new guidelines aimed at encouraging development on brownfield sites. A presumption in favour of sustainable development should be a key theme in planning decisions and local councils now get the final say on Green Belt decisions.

The suggestion that the new rules might be scrapped so soon after implementation has ignited Tory anger. Cabinet Minister Eric Pickles is furious. The Communities Secretary, who in March pledged the countryside was safe under the new rules, is said to be determined to stick to his word.

He is wise to do so. A U-turn could spark a bitter Tory rebellion. Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford, said: If they try to do this, theyll have a fight on their hands. We are not going to allow it.

At last, Vince and Cameron find something to agree on

After his opposition to longer shopping hours on Sunday, Vince Cable has offered David Cameron an olive branch.

Im told the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary has been working with the Tories to see what deregulation moves can be agreed, in a bid to launch a package to boost business in the autumn.

But the devil is in the detail and it is proving hard for Ministers on both sides of the Coalition to agree on specific measures.

Vince Cable (left) has offered David Cameron (right) an olive branch after his opposition to longer shopping hours on a Sunday



After Mr Cable fought proposals to allow larger stores to stay open on Sunday, there were fears that he could continue that approach.

One Tory Minister said: The Lib Dems want to make it look as if we are trying to put children up chimneys. They want to spend between now and the next Election blocking every deregulation proposal we unveil so that they can say to their voters, Look what the evil Tories tried to do, and we stopped it. 

One proposal that is gaining consensus, however, is to simplify the laws relating to money-laundering.

At present, firms must carry out due diligence checks to make sure customers are who they say they are, especially when carrying out transactions in excess of 15,000 or when the customer is not physically present.

Ministers are working on a streamlined system whereby anyone with a British, EU or US bank account is presumed to be clean and does not have to undergo checks.

Said one insider: It makes sense to only require firms to do checks when someone turns up with a suitcase full of fivers.

Cool Theresa's a hot favourite



Keeping calm: Theresa May

Once derided for her beige approach to politics, Theresa May has won mounting plaudits for her steady performance in government. Even her staunchest critics have had to alter their view.

In fact, with Cameron, Clegg, Osborne and Hague now all on holiday, Tories are expressing relief that the seemingly unflappable Home Secretary has assumed control of the country.

The statuesque former leadership hopeful  she briefly considered a bid for the top job before backing Cameron  is seen to have done particularly well in a brief that has claimed so many scalps.



And with other Coalition Ministers lashing out under the strain, she is more than anything admired simply for her ability to keep cool and carry on.

Or as one MP puts it: She knows how to get from A to B without knocking over the drinks trolley.

As health service bosses begin the process of NHS reform, a strange memo has been leaked to me from St Georges Hospital in Tooting, South London.



This is the hospital where 22-year-old Kane Gorny died of dehydration and whose nursing staff were accused of appalling negligence at his inquest.

The memo from managers tells staff how to improve patient care by behaving like geese.

Entitled Careful Focus; Transforming healthcare by putting people before process, it says that just as geese fly more efficiently in a V formation, people who share a common direction and sense of community can reach their destination quicker and easier, travelling on the thrust of each other.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it immediately feels the drag, it explains. Lesson: Stay in formation.

Sometimes the leading goose gets tired and another takes over. Lesson: Take turns and share in leadership.



Geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up the speed. Lesson: Make sure your honking from behind is encouraging.

Needless to say, there is nothing about making sure patients are given water.






MY VIEW: Actors are as key to keeping a drama fresh as the scripts, says ROY MITCHELL, the co-creator of New Tricks

A couple of minutes chat taken from an interview with three stars of New Tricks, the BBC1 police drama I helped create, recently caused a mini sensation in the Twittersphere. Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong and Dennis Waterman were discussing the characters theyve played with aplomb for nearly ten years.



They remarked that DS Sandra Pullman and retired coppers Brian Lane and Gerry Standing, who work in the Metropolitan Police cold case unit, had become stale.



To a degree, they may be close to the mark. In Britain for an hour-long drama to carry on for so many years is very rare. Spooks went on for ten series, Hustle for eight, but these, like New Tricks, are highly unusual.

The cast of New Tricks (from left) Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong

The common factor in all three shows success has been a strong cast of characters the public really liked.



The viewing figures for New Tricks show the audience is still in love with the show and its characters, who I think represent the policemen wed like to have. They may slightly bend the rules to get results, but without being remotely corrupt. Last year, New Tricks was the best-watched drama on BBC with audiences of nine million. The latest series, which started on Bank Holiday Monday, has eight million people watching. So, we must still be doing something right.



How can writers keep a long-running drama fresh? In America, to sustain quality and avoid staleness, programmes like CSI and NCIS have a different process, with teams of writers working on episodes collectively. Actors are rarely involved in any way in their creation.



Some say that to keep our long-running dramas exciting, we might have to adopt the American way of working.



Amanda Redman as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman

But I passionately believe the best-loved characters are a joint creation of the writers and cast. I write at least two episodes of each series, and as an actor can make or break a script, I like to involve them in developing their characters. Theyre invited to comment on drafts of the story, and once again at the read-through stage.



The major problem of maintaining interest in principal characters over multiple series is theres only so much material to be mined before the character becomes repetitive or worse, cliched. One of the best ways to inject new life into a long-running drama is to create new main characters, with new back stories. Thats why, while Im sad to see James Bolam leave the series, Im relishing being able to create whole new storylines around the new member of the team, a Scottish detective played by Denis Lawson. His energy and enthusiasm should reinvigorate writers and cast alike.



New Tricks, Mondays, 9pm, BBC1.

From left: Jodhi May, Matthew Rhys (also far right), Alice Orr-Ewing and Sheridan Smith in The Scapegoat

Pick of the week : The Scapegoat



Daphne du Mauriers stories always adapt brilliantly to the screen (large or small), and this feature-length one-off is no exception. Even though it is very different from the original novel (which is set in France), it keeps the compelling central theme, of a man who gets the chance to swap lives with his double. Matthew Rhys (The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, Brothers And Sisters) plays John Standing, a sacked teacher setting off on a walking tour  and his louche doppelganger, Johnny Spence, aristocratic landowner and failed businessman. When these two meet by chance, Johnny seizes the opportunity to disappear and John, reluctantly at first, enters Johnnys complicated world A dark, unsettling and utterly gripping story unfolds. Tomorrow, 9pm, ITV1. Nigel Andrew



Steve Van Zandt as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos

Box Set Release: Homeland Season 1 22

In this gripping thriller Claire Danes stars as a passionate CIA agent convinced that rescued US soldier Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) is connected to a terrorist plot on American soil.



Out on Monday



Comeback Corner


Lets hear it for a music hall Major!



My Old Man by John Major Harper 20 % 15.99 inc p&p

The fact that John Majors father had been one half of a music-hall double-act called Drum and Major prompted hoots of disbelief when it first became known. Nothing, it seemed, could be further from the gaiety and vulgarity of music hall than dry old Mr Major with his corncrake voice and horn-rimmed specs.



But as he writes in this affectionate, charming and unexpectedly lively book, politics and the music hall have a lot more in common than you might think. Several other Prime Ministers have been big fans, including Winston Churchill and Jim Callaghan, who once astonished fellow guests at a TUC dinner by launching into a song with the words: Im the man, the very fat man, who waters the workers beer.



Whats more, Major notes, Prime Ministers Questions often resembled my fathers description of a raucous night out at the Glasgow Empire.

Hard Life: Tom Major and his first wife Kitty in one of their sketches

Tom Major was 64 when his son John was born in 1943. His whole life had been spent in music hall: he started out as the top man in a four-man acrobatic pyramid when he was just eight, and went on to form a double-act with his first wife, Kitty.



Like most music-hall performers, Tom lived an itinerant, rackety life, flush one moment, skint the next. But as his career went on, the periods of prosperity, even solvency, became fewer and further between.The future Prime Ministers childhood was spent in two rented rooms in a Brixton house owned by his half-brother, Tom Junior, who also appeared on stage under the unlikely name of Signor Meneghini.



Major paints a vivid portrait of this Micawberish world in which  somehow, sometimes  all would be well. Except that it hardly ever was: the spectre of bankruptcy was always there; the bailiffs never far away.



As Major admits, he hardly knew his father: he was austere, distant, emotionally bottled up  Victorian to the core. It wasnt until the end of his life when Tom Major was bed-bound that the two became closer: his son became a kind of one-man audience, listening to him reciting the monologues that hed written long ago.



Famous son: John Major in his days as Prime Minister

Tom Major lived until he was 84, which in music-hall terms was almost unheard of. Time and again in these pages you come across people dropping dead in their prime. With performers such as The Hibernian Cannibal, whose act consisted of eating a live cockerel on stage feathers, feet and all, then downing a pint of brandy, you can understand why. But a lot of music-hall acts died young simply because they were burned out, exhausted by the strain of trying to entertain people for a living.



To make any sort of career you needed the common touch as well as a big personality. Often, women proved more robust than men. Bessie Bellwood, Queen of the Halls, once bit off part of a mans ear when he was rude to her.



You also had to be quick-witted. The entertainer G. H. Chirgwin started out with his brother in a black-face double-act known as The Brothers Chirgwin. Then in Liverpool one night, his brother got drunk and failed to turn up. Undeterred, Chirgwin went on stage alone and told the audience there had been no mistake in the billing: hed been christened Brothers Chirgwin, he explained, as his mother had been expecting twins.



At its height, music hall, as T. S. Eliot wrote, expressed the soul of the people. Major points out that Eliots contemporary, Virginia Woolf, was another improbable enthusiast, noting excitedly in her diary that shed been to see the legendary Marie Lloyd. By this stage though, Woolf recorded,

Lloyd was scarcely able to walk, waddling, aged, unblushing. Soon Lloyd was dead  at 52. And music hall was also dying, dealt a fatal blow by the arrival of the cinema. Today, all that remain are a few recordings and pieces of celluloid. Just a pale reflection of the real thing, Major writes sadly.



Every so often in My Old Man youre brought up short by Majorisms: what one critic called his 1950s coronation chicken vocabulary. He refers to prostitutes as ladies of the night and at one point extols the efficacious powers of tea.



Yet in a way these only increase its charm: the sense of Major having one foot in the present and the other in a long-distant past.


Author Jonathan Dimbleby reviews The Cockleshell suicide mission by Paddy Ashdown

A Brilliant Little Operation by Paddy Ashdown: Aurum 25 % 19.99 inc p&p

The story of Operation Frankton, made famous by the 1955 film The Cockleshell Heroes, is highly susceptible to the Boys Own treatment: a handful of British commandos enter the jaws of Hitlers France in the winter of 1942 and paddle their way up the enemy-infested Gironde estuary to fix limpet mines to Nazi merchant ships in Bordeaux harbour. It is breathtaking stuff.

When this story is told by a former Royal Marine, whose political reputation has been burnished by his action man image, the sceptic is bound to fear the worst. But Paddy Ashdown has not fallen for the obvious. Instead he has written a meticulously researched and truly shocking account of an operation that should never have been authorised.

That it went ahead is bleak testimony to shameful inter-service rivalries, poor intelligence, inadequate planning and a casual attitude towards extreme risk by Lord Mountbatten who, as Head of Combined Operations, coined the phrase a brilliant little operation to describe what the author portrays convincingly as a not-so-brilliant cock-up.

Paddy Ashdown, former Liberal Democrat leader, has told a gripping and important story

The heroism of the 12 commandos who paddled into the Gironde can hardly be exaggerated, but it can only too easily be sentimentalised. Ashdown observes, however, that heroism has less to do with patriotic fervour than mutual survival. With the exception of their commander, Blondie Hasler, who emerges as an elusive oddball with a remorseless will, they were a military job-lot with no uniting cause except an appetite for adventure.

Haslers plan was no less oddball. He badgered his superiors into believing a raid, under cover of darkness, by canoes laden with high explosive would be the most effective way of torpedoing the vital flow of Axis supplies to and from Bordeaux. But the risks clearly outweighed the potential gains  as Haslers men would all too soon find out.

From the moment their six canoes were launched from a submarine at the mouth of the Gironde, Haslers plans started to unravel. He was apparently unaware of the dangerous overfalls  breaking seas kicked up by rip-tides  that bedevil the estuary, forming a mortal hazard to any small boat, let alone a heavily laden cockleshell. Disaster was inevitable. And it was to get worse.

Only two canoes and four men survived to paddle the 70 miles upriver, avoiding German patrols, to reach their target. In his account of this hair-raising, if not hare-brained, enterprise, Ashdown sustains an incisive narrative of great suspense, laced with a moral outrage that is all the more powerful for being both understated and underpinned by telling detail.

The author is particularly incensed by the fact that no plans had been made for the commandos to escape after an operation from which, according to Ashdown, Mountbatten did not expect any of them to return in any case. That two of the original 12, Hasler and his paddling companion, managed to evade capture, torture and execution is down to incredible luck and the courage of French citizens who led them to the Resistance.

Ashdowns devastating indictment of the whole enterprise is that Mountbatten would almost certainly have vetoed Haslers brilliant little operation if he had been aware of a parallel and far more promising raid being mounted against the same target by the Special Operations Executive. But such was the rivalry between the two services, and the shocking level of deceit, that neither knew what the other was up to.

Ashdown has told a gripping and important story from which the Cockleshell heroes  but almost no one else  emerge with distinction.

Jonathan Dimblebys new book, Destiny In The Desert, is published by Profile Books in October.




The Crafty Traveller: Off on a long-haul holiday? Try starting in the high street



These days, most of us arrange our trips for ourselves on the internet. If we need advice, we can phone a travel agent, and many of the best work from home through an organisation called Travel Counsellors.

So are the days of the high street travel agent numbered? Last month, Thomas Cook announced it was closing nearly 200 branches, a move described by one expert as the largest single contraction ever on the high street for the travel industry.

Discovering the high street: Upmarket travel brand Kuoni now has 26 stores across the country

However, other major holiday companies are increasing their presence in our city centres.

Until recently, Kuoni - a leading provider of long-haul holidays - didn't have any shops. Now it has 26, four of which opened last autumn in John Lewis department stores. I recently visited the Kuoni concession in the Cardiff branch. On arrival, you're invited to sit in a smart little lounge area (sofa and armchairs courtesy of John Lewis), and to get you in the holiday mood, you're offered a glass of Pierre Mignon champagne (that's for every visitor, not just visiting journalists). If you want to keep a clear head, there are coffee, tea and juices.

You can watch videos of the hotels Kuoni use on a large screen and if you're not sure where you want to go, you can use an iPad to come up with ideas with the sales staff Kuoni call 'personal travel experts'.

The whole place feels infinitely more sophisticated than your run-of-the-mill travel agency, and in keeping with somewhere you might be willing to part with the thousands of pounds that most Kuoni holidays cost.

Out with the old? Traditional travel agents are in decline but, says Fred, there's still room for high street travel agents particularly if you're looking for a bespoke, far-flung trip



Next stop was Virgin Holidays' concession in Cardiff's House of Fraser - one of 100 Virgin Holidays stores to have opened in the past six years. Decked out in the same bold red livery as the airline, it's colourful and upbeat. And like all things Virgin, there's an informal feel to the set-up: discussing your holiday plans, you sit back on a sofa at right angles to the member of staff in front of their computer screen.

Unlike at the Kuoni concessions, you pay a 20 fee for booking the holiday in-store instead of on the phone or internet, which seems daft to me.

So is it worth visiting these shops? If you're after a packaged long-haul holiday, in a word, yes. The shops are pleasant environments, you're likely to get good, wellinformed service about the holidays on offer, and when forking out for expensive trips with perhaps complex itineraries - as is often the case with Kuoni and Virgin Holidays breaks - a face-to-face chat can make all the difference in ending up with what you want.



However, bear in mind that the Kuoni and Virgin Holidays shops sell only their own holidays and those from sister companies, so you won't be offered a wide range of booking options.

If you want to chat to someone in person about a tailor-made long-haul trip or flight, I'd recommend you also consider visiting one of the 26 Trailfinders travel centres around the UK.

The shops are less gimmicky than Kuoni or Virgin Holidays: don't expect sofas, iPads or free champagne.

However, staff are very well trained, well-travelled and knowledgeable, and there's no extra charge for bookings made in the centres.

Details of shop locations can be found on kuoni.co.uk , virginholidays.co.uk , and trailfinders.com .




At The Mail on Sunday we take great pride in the quality of our journalism. All our journalists are required to observe the Editors Code of Practice and The Mail on Sunday is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the new regulatory body for the Press set up in response to the Leveson Inquiry. We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible.

Last week we said the pay of James Vyvyan Robinson, managing director of Clearspring Ready Homes Ltd, which has Government contracts to house and transport asylum seekers, had risen from 200,470 in 2014 to 960,000 in 2015. In fact, his salary remained the same. The company chairman, Graham King, got 960,000, which included repayment of a loan he had made to the company. We apologise for the error.

A picture caption referred to penguins in South Georgia, US. South Georgia, of course, is an island in the South Atlantic.

On December 20, in two articles under the headings Bullying scandal: Another top Tory resigns and The Tatler Tory, the youth wing godfather and the bullying scandal poisoning Mrs Thatchers legacy, we said Donal Blaney had been forced to resign in disgrace as chairman of Conservative Way Forward (CWF) because of his links to the Tatler Tory scandal.

We would like to make clear that Mr Blaney announced he was resigning because he needed to spend increasing time in the US to take care of his sick wife and his expanding legal business there. He says he was not forced to resign in disgrace. He has said he regrets having had any involvement with Mark Clarke which he ended some time ago.

In addition, Mr Blaney points out that Lord Feldman played no role in his appointment at CWF; his auction purchase of 200,000 of Thatcher memorabilia was on behalf of a client; that he spent his own money to underwrite the Young Britons Foundation (YBF); and that the YBF conference in December was postponed, not cancelled. We are happy to make this clear and apologise to Mr Blaney for any misunderstanding.

If you wish to report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonsunday.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form.
At The Mail on Sunday we take great pride in the quality of our journalism. All our journalists are required to observe the Editors Code of Practice and The Mail on Sunday is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the new regulatory body for the Press set up in response to the Leveson Inquiry. We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible.

An advertisement feature about UK travel showed a picture of Mont St Michel, in France, rather than St Michaels Mount, in Cornwall.

A report of the Mental Health Taskforce that highlighted underinvestment and poor management was described as an audit of the UK. In fact, the report was by NHS England. Devolved health services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were not covered.

If you wish to report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonsunday.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form.
At The Mail on Sunday we take great pride in the quality of our journalism. All our journalists are required to observe the Editors Code of Practice and The Mail on Sunday is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the new regulatory body for the Press set up in response to the Leveson Inquiry. We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible.

On January 17, 2016, we suggested that, despite reaching an out-of-court settlement with her stepson, Viscount Hambleden, Lady Lesley Hambleden, had failed to pay all the money she owed to him. Lady Hambleden has pointed out that she did pay the full amount agreed. We are happy to make this clear and apologise for the error.

If you wish to report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonsunday.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form.
At The Mail on Sunday we take great pride in the quality of our journalism. All our journalists are required to observe the Editors Code of Practice and The Mail on Sunday is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the new regulatory body for the Press set up in response to the Leveson Inquiry. We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible.

A travel article last week pictured a Sicilian hilltop town captioned as Noto. In fact, it was Ragusa which is in the Val di Noto.

If you wish to report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonsunday.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form.
Edna OBrien is furious. The veteran Irish novelist has written a novel that many critics consider her masterpiece, the crowning glory of a long life, but the judges of the Man Booker Prize have chosen to ignore it. I am inflamed, says the author of The Little Red Chairs in her deep voice, sitting straight-backed in the library of her home near Londons Sloane Square, choosing her words very carefully but with an obvious anger. I was surprised not to be included and one day I might learn why.

With those low, controlled tones and the way she tilts her head, OBrien sounds strangely like an Irish Margaret Thatcher. Shed really hate that, as a lifelong Labour voter, but imagine Maggie as a bookish bohemian from County Clare in a long, pleated skirt, a black knitted top and with bright turquoise beads at her throat. These were made by Native Americans.

The life of Edna OBrien has been full of such extraordinary moments. Her debut novel The Country Girls was banned and burned in Ireland in 1960 for being immoral in its description of teenagers leaving their village  as she had  for the big city

Now 86, she still has the fine features and quick mind that dazzled Richard Burton and Marlon Brando in the Seventies, when she was a famously fiery feminist, breaking taboos with her rollocking, beautifully written stories about how real women felt about life, love and sex.

She reaches for a volume that quotes her friend, the late Samuel Beckett, and reads the words with relish as if they are a curse on the Booker judges. Let me say before I go any further, that I forgive nobody. I wish them all an atrocious life and then the fires and ice of hell.

Then a slow, wicked smile creeps across her face, because although OBrien is righteous in her anger, she is also making mischief. She has nothing to prove, this woman the critics have recently elevated to a place among the greatest writers of all time, comparing her with Joyce and Solzhenitsyn. The American literary giant Philip Roth declares her the most gifted woman now writing in English.

A new generation of readers has been transfixed by The Little Red Chairs, a story about a notorious war criminal fetching up in disguise as a healer in an Irish village and capturing the heart of a lonely local woman until he is found out.

Based on the real-life Butcher of Bosnia, Radovan Karadzic, The Little Red Chairs feels hugely topical at a time when millions are on the run from war. Yet it was not on the longlist for the Man Booker announced in late July. Its too easy to say there is a feeling of rejection, because of course there is, says OBrien. It was an omission that I did not expect and neither did many people. Other authors and other publishers have confirmed that to me, so Im not behaving as the wronged diva.

As a former Booker judge herself, OBrien is sure of her own talent and willing to say so. I am not going to be the modest violet about that. I work so hard, so passionately, so relentlessly on the words. There are many good writers. I happen to be one of them. We both laugh, but its true. These things hurt, and inflame, but sweet are the uses of adversity  they do not stop one writing. No way!

So now she is working on a new novel whose plot she will not describe, because then it would lose its power, as dear old Sam Beckett used to say. The author of Waiting For Godot was a fellow exile from Ireland who once sat at the foot of her bed in a hotel in Paris saying very little, waiting for her to recover from the effects of her one and only trip on LSD, which had been given to her by the famous therapist RD Laing.

OBrien with Michael Caine and his wife, Shakira, 1990

The life of Edna OBrien has been full of such extraordinary moments. Her debut novel The Country Girls was banned and burned in Ireland in 1960 for being immoral in its description of teenagers leaving their village  as she had  for the big city. It was a huge hit here, though. Some of her early books were made into films, including Zee & Co in 1972, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Caine, and OBrien fell in with the movie crowd.

I was a country gal who by accident, chance, luck and my own vivid personality entered into a world of glamour. I was the one who was giving the parties, and everyone came.

Jane Fonda was a friend, Judy Garland dropped in to one of the Saturday-night revelries at her home in Putney. Very famous people were quite different then  they were not surrounded by bodyguards in dark glasses. They were not as pretentious.

She had married and given birth to sons but was on her way to divorce by then. The Hollywood star Robert Mitchum came to visit her alone and danced in the parlour to her favourite records. We danced all the way up the stairs to the tiny bedroom, she wrote in her autobiography of 2012, Country Girl.

Marlon Brando came to see her too  his whole being taut, like an animal, ready to spring  but they stayed up all night talking instead of making love. Before leaving in the morning he asked, are you a great writer? She answered, I intend to be. Richard Burton was hurt when she turned down his advances, but like Brando she saw him as a bard and a brother rather than a lover.

Paul McCartney dropped by and sat in her kitchen playing the guitar for her boys Sasha and Carlo and making up a song on the spot: Edna OBrien, shell have you sighing, shell have you crying, hey, shell blow your mind away...

But then she had a dream about throwing burning oil over all the people who came to her parties, and stopped them immediately. I began to feel they were drawing out my working, serious, ruminative, writing self, she says now. It was seeping away from me.

She has worked very hard ever since, producing a total of 17 novels to date, as well as biographies of Byron and Joyce and collections of short stories. Faber is putting out new editions of her early work, with the novel August Is A Wicked Month next in line.

Edna OBrien in 2003. A new generation of readers has been transfixed by The Little Red Chairs, a story about a notorious war criminal fetching up in disguise as a healer in an Irish village and capturing the heart of a lonely local woman until he is found out

First published in 1965 and banned in several countries, it is described as a simmering tale of a woman rediscovering herself on the French Riviera. The book was used against her in the battle for custody of her sons, when the court was told it was indecent and obscene. She won custody anyway.

By the end of the Seventies she was an outspoken political figure too, commentating on the Troubles and womens rights and more than holding her own against Sir Robin Day and Michael Foot on the first- ever Question Time in 1979.

She delved into international politics with The Little Red Chairs, going to see Karadzic on trial in The Hague and interviewing many survivors of conflict. But couldnt Edna OBrien put her feet up now? I think I should be putting my feet up, but that aint the mathematics of life! I live by my writing. I have no other money. Ive no capital. I rent this place. Ive never had a fortune. I never got the big money. Those windfalls never came my way, and that does at times infuriate me. Yes.

As 90 looms, does she think about the end of her life? I do, yes, because Im alone. I have children but they have their wives and their children. I think about death, often. Sometimes with great anxiety and apprehension, which isnt the actual death itself but a long illness and helplessness and a dependency and I ask, on whom can I depend?

She is ambiguous about the possibility of life after death, but does know where she will be laid to rest. My grave is on an island in County Clare in a graveyard where my mothers family are buried. The walls of the monastery ruins are bleached, with big medallions of white lichen. So its very stark and beautiful. Water birds and sky birds, wheeling in and out. I think about it as if I am alive after death, seeing it all and writing about it. Thats a rather happy thought.

She has plans for her own funeral to include music by Van Morrison, a signed copy of whose album Moondance I notice on a rack. Id like it to be a good show but not too long, as if it was a party I was giving. Full of life, full of generosity.

Not yet, though, because OBrien is off to the Edinburgh Festival to talk about The Little Red Chairs. Im very glad Im a writer. Wouldnt be anything else. If I were born again Id like an income though.

Theres that wicked smile again. Shes a hoot and she knows it, a dry wit with a gleam in her eye. I was born in the year of the horse, 1930. A horse just keeps going until it falls down and dies. 

Edna OBrien intends to keep on going like that horse, whether she is shunned by the Booker judges or showered with praise. I thank God and the gods for the talent I have been given and I thank my mother for my perseverance, otherwise I would have given up at 40 or 50 or 60, says this wise, witty, salty voice that still has so much to say. Never give up! e
Tuesday, September 20

I was at Luton Airport today to catch a low-budget flight to Eastern Europe  not a sentence I ever thought Id write.

As I walked inside, one of the airports young female staff spotted me and began shrieking with excitement.

Her whole body shook as her voice got ever more hysterical. OH MY GOD!!!!! she shouted repeatedly. THIS IS AMAZING!

I never mentioned Theresa Mays shoes in the interview at all  Susanna did, ironically in the context of sexism

It was a deeply pleasing moment. Then she screamed across to a friend on the other side of the concourse.

QUICK! COME OVER! ITS ONLY JEREMY BLOODY CLARKSON!

Tuesday, September 27

Madonna, 58, posted a nude photograph of herself to persuade Americans to vote for Hillary Clinton in the forthcoming election.

Shes wearing nothing but rapper-style gold bling and one of her ridiculous mouth grills.

Im voting naked! she wrote in the caption, Vote for Hillary! She added ominously: Nude Voting series #1.

Short of Mrs Clinton being caught in flagrante with Kim Jong Un, I cant think of anything more likely to drive people to vote for Donald Trump.

Saturday, October 1

My Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid and I appeared together tonight on Pointless Celebrities in a battle of news presenters.

We were up against three teams: BBC stars Emily Maitlis and Nick Robinson, ITVs Alastair Stewart and Charlene White, and Channel 4 News Cathy Newman with foreign reporter legend Rageh Omaar.

Radio Times summed up what happened rather accurately in its preview: Host Richard Osman observes that tonights stratum of celebrity news presenting is second only to sport when it comes to competitiveness. Hes not wrong. This contest has shameful amounts of goading, growling, smirking, barracking and fist-pumping, although most of that is Piers Morgan. (Team-mate Susanna Reid here reaffirms her status as the most tolerant woman on telly.)

I make no apologies for such behaviour.

As Sun Tzu said in The Art Of War: Engage people with what they expect; it settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment that they cannot anticipate.

All that mattered to me was that we won. Coming 2nd, 3rd, or, God forbid, 4th, would have been unthinkable given my summer-long campaign for our sporting stars to celebrate only victory and gold medals.

We knocked out Cathy and Rageh in round one, then Emily and Nick in round two, and finally took down Alastair and Charlene to get to the final round and land the trophy.

Shall I order you a taxi? I politely enquired as each losing couple trudged away.

You and Susanna were the Trump and Hillary of the show, observed Osman afterwards. Hes right: a constantly bickering duo ferociously battling to be top dog.

Tuesday, October 4

Prime Minister Theresa May was our special guest on GMB, and after a barrage of questions about hard or soft Brexit and the US presidential race, we lightened the mood. Do you consider it sexist to always be asked about your shoes? quizzed Susanna.

The PM laughed. Well, I dont think people focus on Philip Hammond or Boris Johnsons shoes in quite the same way but, look, it gives me a good excuse to go and buy new shoes! Great answer.

I then grilled her about her recipe for making scones. There was logic to my apparent madness.

In an interview two days ago, Mrs May revealed her mothers preferred method, saying it was fine to use either butter or margarine.

This inflamed butter-only scone purists.

I know youre a big fan of The Great British Bake Off, I said, so is it better to have butter, and are we talking hard butter or soft butter?

Mrs May laughed again. I have made them with both, though not much any more because of my diabetes. You have to rub it in with the flour. If its hard you can get a good rub-in. If its too soft, it can get a bit claggy.

Within seconds I was bombarded on social media with furious claims of being sexist. This is now the default charge levelled towards any man who dares ask any woman about what they wear, how they look or if they cook.

She wears exotic shoes, how very dare she? furious Labour MP Stella Creasy raged at me. Women are so very provocative, arent they so deserve what they get?

I love her exotic shoes, I replied, they are a well-known and deliberately deployed part of her character/personality. Why is it sexist to say so?

Am glad exotic shoes get you going, Ms Creasy snapped back, but you prove my point by deciding thats what matters about the leader of this country.

This farcical exchange sums up the hypocrisy of the modern sexism debate. I never said wearing exotic shoes matters to a leader.

In fact, I never mentioned Theresa Mays shoes in the interview at all  Susanna did, ironically in the context of sexism.

As for scone-gate, I only asked about it because the Prime Minister had just publicly disclosed her recipe.

Meanwhile, its fine for women to mock male politicians such as Boris or Trump for their hair, or male TV political journalists like Jon Snow and Robert Peston for their ties and scarves.

You cant have it all ways, ladies.

Theresa Mays ability to handle effortlessly an interview about both very serious AND fun, trivial stuff is the perfect example of a strong, powerful woman at ease with her gender and position.
Boris Johnson is a man of many talents  so eloquent and distinctive that he is famously said to reach parts of the electorate which other Tories cant.

But even if we take at face value the Foreign Secretarys protestations of loyalty to Theresa May, the timing of his 4,000-word Brexit opus is, to say the least, questionable  a hand grenade through Downing Streets window, in the words of one of his allies, just hours after terrorists struck London.

It is hard to view this as anything other than a hostile act, coming less than a week before Mrs May sets out her own Brexit vision in a speech in Florence.

Theresa May cannot allow Boris Johnson to drive the country to a cliff-edge Brexit, the Mail On Sunday says

The presses were already rolling on Friday evening when his officials informed Mrs May about the newspaper article, giving her less than an hours notice of what was about to befall her.

The Prime Minister, distracted by all-day crisis meetings on the Tube bomb, was completely blindsided.

Mr Johnson has clearly thrown down the gauntlet.

He denies he is firing the starting gun for a leadership challenge. But remember, this is the man who, as this newspaper has chronicled, was texting his support for the Prime Minister after her General Election catastrophe  while his allies were briefing that it was Go, go, go! for him to take over if she fell.

Margaret Thatchers biographer Charles Moore, writing in the same paper as Mr Johnsons article, describes it as Boriss leadership bid, couched in such a way that he need not unsay anything if it goes wrong.

At the very least, it amounts to a pugnacious bid to influence the content of Mrs Mays speech  and not in a way which would advantage the country.

The Prime Minister needs to put down this revolt by reasserting her grip on the Government

As talisman of the Leave campaign, and promulgator of the hugely controversial pledge to return 350 million of Brussels money every week to the NHS, Mr Johnson has simmered with frustration as the Cabinet forms a settled view on the Brexit negotiations: that if we want to unlock talks over trade, we will need to hand over around 15 billion a year to Brussels over a two- to three-year transition period, while protecting jobs by retaining access to the single market.

Mr Johnson is now virtually alone in Cabinet in advocating a damaging hard Brexit, in which we would pay only a modest divorce bill as we crash out of the EU.

The Prime Minister needs to put down this revolt by reasserting her grip on the Government  and making clear that Mr Johnson will not be allowed to back-seat drive this country towards a catastrophic, cliff-edge Brexit.

The Parsons Green bomb is a reminder that the police and intelligence services are fighting a constant battle to detect below-the-radar plots by bedroom jihadis. Despite foiling dozens of plots over the past couple of years, the threat continues to mushroom, as radicalised Islamists assemble DIY bombs by using instructions on the internet.

Although, thankfully, the device did not fully detonate, the incident showcased the resilience and forbearance of the British people  qualities which we will need in abundance as we tackle this insidious threat together.
James Fisher & Sons shares tumbled after the marine engineering group delayed the publication of its annual results to complete talks with banks on its existing debt facilities.

Full-year results will be delayed by a month until 28 April, while the group also attempts to resolve 'certain technical restrictions' relating to the disposal of its nuclear decommissioning services division, JFN.

However, the group told investors Friday it still expects 2022 performance to be broadly in line with 2021, when it made a loss of 20.7million, with revenues up 7.4 per cent to 475million.

Debt talks: James Fisher has to complete talks with its lending banks started earlier this year

James Fisher shares fell 6.9 per cent to 291.50p in afternoon trading on Friday. The stock has lost a fifth of its value over the last year.

The group has been offloading parts of its business to help pay off debts after a difficult few years.

In December, the group sold four businesses, including its marine services vessel Swordfish to India-based Seamec for 20million.

The sale of the other three vessels - Prolec, Mimic and Strainstall - netted James Fisher a total of around 18.4million.

But it still has to gain consent regarding some aspects of the JFN sale, though it said it was grateful for the lenders' 'constructive approach' and 'has accelerated engagement' with them to seek a permanent solution by the end of April.

The group hailed an 'encouraging' start to 2023, with performance in January and February in line with expectations and above levels seen in the same period last year.

Net debt is also in line with management's expectations, with the group benefiting from the receipt of 20million in cash proceeds from the completed sale of Swordfish.

Before receipt of the Swordfish proceeds, net debt stood at 135million on 31 December, down 3.3 per cent from 139.6million a year earlier.

'Whilst the economic climate more generally remains challenging, the Group has made clear strategic and financial progress over the last few months,' it told investors.

'With the benefit of a more focused portfolio and reinvigorated strategy, the Board is confident that the Group can carry forward this momentum through 2023, driving further financial and operational improvement.'
Two of the Citys leading brokers are set to combine forces in a move that will create the Square Miles biggest investment bank focused on small-cap firms.

Finncap and Cenkos Securities have agreed an all-share merger to create an entity worth 42million with a combined workforce of around 230.

It comes as brokerage firms scramble to find new business amid a downturn in the economy hitting deal-making activity across the financial sector.

The tie-up will see Cenkos investors receive 3.2 shares in Finncap for each share they hold in the business, valuing the two companies equally at 21million.

After the merger, both sets of investors will control roughly 50 per cent of the new company, while bosses of Finncap and Cenkos will stay on as co-chief executives. Cenkos chairman Lisa Gordon will become chairman of the combined company.

Tie-up: Finncap and Cenkos have inked an all-share merger to create a new entity worth 42m. Cenkos chairman Lisa Gordon (pictured) will be chairman of the combined company

The two firms cultures are very similar and our client lists and capabilities are complementary, she said.

This is good for our clients, our employees, our investors and the UK capital markets as a whole.

The deal has already been backed by Finncap investors holding around 52 per cent of the companys shares.

These include major backers such as venture capitalist Jon Moulton, its largest shareholder, tech queen Vin Murria and Sam Smith, the companys founder and former boss who stepped down last year.

Meanwhile, notable Cenkos investors including City grandee Jim Durkin, who was one of its founding investors and served as chief executive twice, have also backed the deal taking total support to over 32 per cent.

This merger is a true meeting of minds, said Cenkos boss Julian Morse. His Finncap counterpart John Farrugia said the merger was the right thing to do and would bolster the business against competitors, some of whom he called pretty damn weak.

Shares in Finncap rose 5.4 per cent, or 0.63p, to 12.25p following news of the merger.

Shareholder: Finncap founder and backer Sam Smith stepped down last year

Cenkos, however, slid 1.3 per cent, or 0.5p, to 38.5p. The tie-up may have come as a surprise to some in the Square Mile given that just four months ago merger talks between Finncap and Panmure Gordon fell apart.

While the collapse of the deal was attributed to the two brokers failing to agree on a price, a City source claimed they just did not get on.

The failure to merge with Finncap was a blow to Panmures colourful boss Rich Ricci, an investment banker who once described himself as the maddest f****r on the planet, as well as the firms major backer, ex-Barclays boss Bob Diamond.

Meanwhile, others speculated the tie-up could spark more mergers in the industry. Itll trigger a wave of consolidation driven by a long period without deal flow and a high cost base, said Adam Pollock, director at boutique investment manager Oberon.

He added that all eyes would now be on the jilted Panmure and what it would decide to do next.

The Cenkos-Finncap merger comes as City brokers and investment managers scramble to shore up their businesses, which have been knocked over the past year as the economic downturn slammed the brakes on deal-making, fundraising and stock market floats.

It has weighed heavily on the share prices of several firms, with Finncaps stock having slumped 57 per cent over the last 12 months while Cenkos has fallen 48 per cent.

Rival small-cap focused brokers have also suffered on the market, with Peel Hunt down 17 per cent and Numis slipping 18 per cent.

Its like the Gobi desert out there and everyone is thirsty and fighting for scraps, said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

He added that brokers coming together and cutting costs seemed inevitable at some stage if demand did not pick up, particularly from smaller growth companies.

Right now, that seems unlikely, Mould said.
Troubled Amigo Holdings will be liquidated after it failed to secure emergency funds.

The Bournemouth-based sub-prime lender said it will stop lending with immediate effect and instead embark on an orderly 12-month wind-down process.

The move will see shareholders wiped out, with any leftover assets transferred to those owed compensation by Amigo after it was accused of lending money to people who could not afford to repay.

Liquidation: Amigo Loans, founded by James Benamor (pictured), said it will stop lending with immediate effect and embark on an orderly 12-month wind-down process

But Amigo  which specialises in lending to borrowers who cannot access loans from mainstream banks  said they would receive a lower level of cash compensation than they would have if emergency funding had been secured.

Shares crashed 85.6 per cent, or 1.49p, to 0.25p. That valued Amigo  which listed in 2018 with a value of 1.3billion  at less than 2million. Chief executive Danny Malone described it as a very sad day.

Amigos 200 employees will continue to be paid as the firm pushes ahead with the year-long wind-down, he said.

The business has been on a survival footing since it was blocked in 2020 from lending by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

It had failed to conduct proper affordability checks and dished out high-interest loans to borrowers with shaky credit histories.

Amigo secured High Court approval last year for a redress scheme and was given the green light from the FCA to restart lending in October.

Under the terms of the scheme, the firm was required to raise 45million from investors to stay afloat.

But Amigo yesterday said it has not received firm commitments from investors, who were put off by the increasingly challenging economic backdrop in the UK.
Billi FitzSimons has channelled her hard-hitting journalist mother during a fiery interview with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, making her mother Lisa Wilkinson, 'very proud.'

The daughter of journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons sat down with the premier ahead of the state election on Saturday for a video interview.

Ms FitzSimons, the editor of The Daily Aus, asked Mr Perrottet a series of questions about his party's policies on healthcare, climate, and the housing market.

She asked the state leader why, unlike most jurisdictions in Australia, NSW hadn't committed to or implemented mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios.

'We think the approach we take works,' Mr Perrottet replied.

'I understand that there are different perspectives when relation to this. Ultimately we have to do everything we can to ease the burden the healthcare system.

'I'm very proud of the fact NSW has the strongest healthcare system in the country.'

Billi FitzSimons (pictured with her journalist mother Lisa Wilkinson in 2017) grilled Dominic Perrottet on his policies and smoking habits during a sit-down interview

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was interviewed by Billi FitzSimons in the lead-up to the state election on Saturday, March 25

When asked about funding for state schools, Mr Perrottet said his party had invested a record amount of money in public education.

'We predominantly fund state schools in the public system in NSW,' he said.

'We looked at all areas of government funding and made a significant investment into our public education system. I'm very much focused on getting better outcomes in education, and that's exactly what we've done.'

The premier was asked how he was preparing the state for its next natural disaster.

Mr Perrottet said his government, if re-elected, would work on reducing carbon emissions after he witnessed first-hand the devastation in flood-affected areas.

'We are a country where there are floods, there are bushfires,' he said.

'We need to make sure we're don't just do the things we've done in the past because we'll just be in the same position next time.'

Billi (pictured with her mother) graduated from the University of Sydney in 2019 and was appointed editor of the news website in March, 2022

Billi concluded the interview by asking the premier a more personal question.

'You recently admitted that you have the occasional vape and what your favourite flavour is. What message does that send to young people?' she asked.

'Well, the first thing I would say you shouldn't smoke,' Mr Perrottet hit back.

'And I've made that very clear. When it comes to vaping, we've invested a lot in making sure those public messages are loud and clear.

'No one is perfect. No one's perfect. And I have found vaping occasionally has helped me get off cigarettes. You can [vape] in NSW with a prescription.'

Billi urged her followers to watch her interviews with Mr Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns on her personal Instagram page.

'Great work darling. Very proud,' her mother, Lisa Wilkinson, commented.

Mr Perrottet will be up against Opposition leader Chris Minns (pictured with his family) when NSW residents hit the polls on Saturday, March 25

Billi worked for online publication Mamamia throughout university before landing a job as a political writer at The Daily Aus after graduating.

She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), Government and International Relations, Digital Cultures in 2019.

Billi was appointed editor of The Daily Aus in March of last year.
A member of California's Reparations Task Force is predicting the group will put out 'breathtaking proposals' and end up with an even higher price tag than the $640billion predicted.

In 2020, California became the first state to form a reparations task force and is still struggling to put a price tag on what would be owed.

Lisa Holder, a member of the California Reparations Task Force and president of the Equal Justice Society, is now suggesting when the final plan is revealed, it could see figures higher than the proposed $360,000 per eligible applicant, which already shot up from the original $223,329.

'With specific and tangible reparations initiatives, California is on the brink of a historic and seismic shift towards finally delivering justice for Black Americans. The task force recommendations will be breathtaking. They must be nothing less,' she wrote.

Reparations for slavery have been a topic of growing political significance and divisive debate as a number of cities and states pursue their own proposals on the issue.

Lisa Holder (pictured), a member of the California Reparations Task Force and president of the Equal Justice Society, is predicting the group will put out 'breathtaking proposals' and end up with an even higher price tag than predicted

It wasn't until George Floyd, a black man, was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 that reparations movements began gaining significant traction across the country.

The most recent proposal that was made public suggested it would cost the Golden State over $640billion, according to the Washington Examiner.

'It's important that Californians understand that in order to match the scale of America's greatest injustice, we must be prepared for remedies on a scale approaching the Great Society programs of Medicare and Medicaid,' Holder said in an op-ed for Cal Matters.

Despite the state's projected budget deficit of $22.5billion, Holder believes this project needs to shake up a system that she believes has left black people behind.

'Reparations will include programs that disrupt racism within our major institutions. These programs will be in housing, criminal-legal systems, education, health and medicine, and financial wealth and asset-building infrastructure. Fixing systemic racism and rehabilitating institutions will require major changes to these sectors,' she wrote.

She argued that monetary compensation may be given out and that eligibility could extend beyond the descendants of slaves.

Holder also noted that California's admission to the United States as a free state and not a slave state was irrelevant, citing a task force interim report that claimed the state was 'in practice, a pro-slavery state, a Jim Crow state and a post-civil rights apartheid state.'

The final report and recommendation of the task force will be made on July 1, before the suggestions are voted on by legislature where 94 of the 120 members are Democrats.

Protesters met at Atlanta's CNN Center for a march to demand reparations for systematic injustices imposed on black people in July 2020

The task force has already released an interim report (pictured) before the final one is submitted July 1

The bill would then fall on Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. Newsom formed the task force in 2020.

Meanwhile, individual cities in California and places around the country have begun their own proposals.

San Francisco's proposals are by far the most wide-ranging, after a city-appointed reparations committee issued more than 100 recommendations, which received an enthusiastic response at a hearing earlier this month.

The proposals include payments of $5 million to every eligible black adult, the elimination of personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for 250 years, and homes in San Francisco for just $1 a family.

The Board of Supervisors who heard the suggestions can vote to adopt some or all of the recommendations. There is no deadline for the decision, but the board will next take up the issue at a meeting in September.

Demonstrators with the Reparationist Collective gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC to demand reparations for slavery in February 2021

A crowd listens to speakers at a reparations rally outside of City Hall in San Francisco at a hearing on reparations earlier this month

San Francisco's draft reparations plan, released in December, is unmatched nationwide in its specificity and breadth.

The committee hasn't done an analysis of the cost of the proposals, but critics have slammed the plan as financially ruinous and politically impossible.

An estimate from Stanford University's Hoover Institution, which leans conservative, has said it would cost each non-black family in the city at least $600,000.

John Dennis, head of the Republican Party in San Francisco, slammed the proposal as irresponsible because it was impossible to finance.

'It's completely unserious and aside from being a massive waste of time, it's also a complete distraction,' he told AFP. 'The city's (annual) budget is $14 billion. They're talking about spending $50 billion. It's preposterous.'

But Amos Brown of the NAACP, a group that campaigns for racial justice, said headline figures were not helpful.

'Relegating this issue to a fight over $5 million is wrong and dishonest,' he told AFP.

'It doesn't demonstrate all the terror and pain we have suffered. My position is that for all we've been through it's about $5 million plus specific programs' to bolster economic development, housing, health and education, he said.

Supervisor Shamann Walton, middle left, speaks during a special Board of Supervisors hearing about reparations in San Francisco on March 14

Several supervisors said they were surprised to hear pushback even from politically liberal San Franciscans.

'Those of my constituents who lost their minds about this proposal, it's not something we're doing or we would do for other people,' said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, whose district includes the heavily LGBTQ Castro neighborhood, at this month's hearing.

'It's something we would do for our future, for everybody's collective future,' he added.

A number of cities are also studying potential reparations strategies, including Boston; St. Louis; St. Paul, Minnesota; Asheville, North Carolina and Providence, Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, the Illinois city of Evanston has been helping residents who suffered from historic racist housing policies. Its grants have paid off a few mortgages, but also stoked divisions between winners and losers.
A new tenant has emerged to occupy the spot vacated by Myer following the retailer's shock decision to abandon its flagship location in a major state capital.

Despite having the Myer Centre retail hub named after the department store when it opened along Brisbane's Queen Street Mall in 1988, the business has decided not to renew its lease on the prime location.

Myer will move out in July leaving five levels or just over 28,000sq m empty in the heart of the River City, but the space may not be idle for long with Queensland's Griffith University emerging as a likely taker.

The university, which is looking for a CBD campus is a candidate to take over the location as a stop gap measure as it searches for a more permanent site, the Courier Mail reported.

Despite failing to renew its lease Myer said it is not abandoning the city centre and is looking for a new location.

Myer has made the shock announcement it is vacating its flagship store in the middle Brisbane

The decision to move out of the Myer Centre reportedly came after protracted negotiations with the landlord where the two parties were unable to come to agreement.

'Whilst we remain committed to the Brisbane market, we have been unable to negotiate a reasonable commercial outcome with the landlord and as such will continue to look for an alternative CBD location,' Myer CEO John King said.

The company said staff can work at other nearby stores.

Retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer told Daily Mail Australia the decision to close the centre had 'come as a surprise'.

Queensland's Griffith University has emerged as a likely tenant for the space vacated by Myer

'Clearly Myer CEO John King has been able to turn the business around,' he said.

'Look at their half-yearly results, $1.8billion in sales  24 per cent higher than the same time last year.

'But what we are seeing in Brisbane is a good example of the challenges that retailers now face when it comes to leasing space within a shopping centre.

'I think it's less around the brand of Myer and more around the poor conditions of the centre.'

Professor Mortimer, who lives near the mall and walks through it frequently, said it was old and tired.

'I think Myer has looked at the centre and saw it is tired and needs investment and without that, it's incredibly difficult for a retailer to maintain a flagship store,' he said.

'Obviously John King has put in significant cost savings for the business.

'They went through a process over the last few years, much like David Jones, where they closed stores that were no longer servicing a community because the demography had changed.'

Myer's decision to vacate could put more pressure on Brisbane's CBD which already has a comparatively high rate of retail space left vacant

A spokesperson for Myer Centre co-owners Vicinity and ISPT earlier said they had no definite plans for the site.

'Vicinity and ISPT were investigating a number of options for the centre including a downsized contemporary department store and plans without a department store which we can now progress with certainty,' the statement said.

A survey by retail real estate group CBRE found Brisbane had 18.4 per cent of its potential store space vacant, the second highest of any CBD in Australia.

The group attributed this to low office occupancy rates with many still working from home even after the Covid pandemic, severe weather events and low levels of overseas migration and tourism over the past two to three years.

Despite Myer recently posting its best profit since 2014 the retail chain has been closing stores around Australia as part of a consolidation strategy.
A farrier who was caught beating a horse nine times with a hammer in an attack that lasted more than six minutes has avoided jail after footage of the brutal incident emerged.

Scott Manson, 34, was called in to re-shoe the horse but lost his temper and used his hammer to repeatedly strike the animal.

The attack lasted six-and-a-half minutes with the horse tethered to a rope - unable to escape.

Manson was given a 12 week suspended prison sentence, a ten year animal ban and unpaid work for the repeated assault on the animal at Cheltenham Magistrates Court.

The RSPCA confirmed to MailOnline it was heard in court that Manson was previously suspended from the professional register of farriers in April 2021 after a criminal conviction in June 2019 for causing fear of violence to an ex-partner.

Manson was convicted of carrying out a sustained campaign of harassment against his girlfriend for more than three months which included stealing her underwear, squashing her with a door and sending her a distressing card, Gloucestershire Live reported at the time.

The court heard Scott Manson was unaware his actions had been caught on camera during the attack on April 1, 2022

Manson was previously suspended from the professional register of farriers in April 2021



Following the hammer attack on the horse on April 1, 2022, the court heard Manson was unaware his actions had been caught on camera.

Manson initially claimed the horse had broken his hammer in a picture sent to the owner.

But after wondering why their usually docile horse would have reacted in such a way, the owner decided to review CCTV footage from the yard.

MailOnline has decided not to publish the footage due to its upsetting nature.

Solicitor Lindi Meyer, who represented the animal welfare charity in court, said: 'He repeatedly beat the horse around the forelimbs of the legs where there is very little in the way of soft tissue covering and as such the blows were almost directly to the bone.

'This would have been incredibly painful for the horse and the farrier is very fortunate not to have caused fractures of any of the limbs.

'The horse was hit nine times viciously in a six-and-a-half minute video attack which left it with soft tissue swellings and cuts to the limbs.

'The attack was unprovoked, unacceptable and completely unnecessary and has caused this horse to suffer from both physical and psychological harm.

'The abuse falls far below what is expected of a human dealing with horses let alone a professional farrier who has been entrusted by the owners to take care of the horse.

'At no point was the farrier trying to teach the horse to stand still, pick its feet up or any other action. The actions were simply to beat the horse out of anger, a short temper, or frustration.

'Whatever the reason, the actions were so barbaric and cruel that the farrier broke the head off a hammer onto the sensitive areas of the front limbs of the horse.'

Manson was called in to re-shoe the horse but lost his temper and used his hammer to repeatedly strike the animal

CCTV footage showed Mason adopting an aggressive stance, and striking out with his hammer in his hand at the horse's front legs.

Upon checking their horse, the owner could see his right front leg was bigger than usual and there were various marks on both front legs and around the shin area.

The fur had also been taken off and the shin exposed.

The court also heard the horse was reluctant for his owners to touch or brush his legs and when the new farrier came out he was given sedatives from the vet to keep him calm on two occasions.

He was also reluctant to go into his stable and was wary of people for a time, but is now back to normal.

Manson, of Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced on Monday following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

In mitigation, it was said Manson is remorseful, and that he was stressed and was visiting his dying mother in Scotland twice a week at the time.

Manson was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements (RAR) days.

He must also pay 400 costs and a 128 victim surcharge.
Residents in a historic Welsh village built for miners say they are being forced out by London property developers who bought it for 1million and hiked rents by up to 60 per cent.

Sara Lewis, 55, is so enraged that she has carried out a daily sit-down protest against the charges for 16 former quarrymen's houses and cottages in Aberllefenni, Gwynedd.

She claimed her rent rose from 300 a month to 500, but vowed she would 'rather die than leave' after living in her beloved community for 22 years.

The village, which was built for workers at a former slate mine, was bought by a London-based real estate company after it was put up for sale in 2016.

Some tenants have reportedly been served with eviction notices after the 16 houses were sold to Walsh Investment Properties in November last year.

Sara Lewis, 55, fears she is being driven out of her historic country village in Wales

Aberllefenni, a historic village, was bought by a London property company

Ms Lewis said her rent has increased by 200 each month after the former quarrymen's homes were bought.

She has now launched a protest against her landlords by sitting on a village bench outside in the cold despite suffering with lung condition emphysema.

Ms Lewis said: 'I would rather die than leave this village. I've lived here for 22 years, my support network is here, my family is from here. It's become my haven and I don't want to live anywhere else.

'I believe I am going to be made homeless because I cannot get help.'

Meanwhile, Aberllefenni community councillor John Pughe Roberts told the BBC: 'I believe that the intention is to raise the rent so high that the tenants have to move out.

'Some people who live in the houses are very vulnerable and are going to find it difficult to find the money to pay the difference.

'Everyone in the village is concerned, some more than others because of the varying amount the rent goes up.'

Tenants have been worried about being able to afford the rent hike, with some facing increases of up to 60 per cent.

The 16 houses were finally sold after six years on the market to property developers Walsh Investment Properties

Families revealed they are facing a 60 per cent rise in rent prices following the sale in Aberllefenni near Machynlleth, North Wales

Ms Lewis continued: 'My Universal Credit covers 300. The council will not be paying the extra cost. I've been told I'll need to pay it myself with my benefits but I can't afford 200 extra a month.'

Ms Lewis, who can't work due to her illness, has applied to Gwynedd council for discretionary funding support.

But she claims she has now been 'told no' in terms of receiving any financial help.

She is now staging a one-woman protest on the village bench to highlight her plight  knowing it could make her seriously ill.

She said: 'I'm sitting on the bench every day because I'd rather make myself ill than live elsewhere. I'm at the end of my tether.

The 16 former quarrymen's houses and cottages in Aberllefenni, Gwynedd, were bought for 1million by Walsh Investment Properties

A woman is carrying out a daily sit-down protest against massive rent hikes  after a London property company snapped up her entire Welsh village

New owner Walsh Investment Properties said 'it's fair and reasonable to charge a market rent' for the homes

'In protest I am going to sit outside on the bench every day knowing that doing that will make me extremely ill, but if I am going to be made homeless then I would rather die sooner than later.'

The village was previously owned by the family of John Lloyd, of Wincilate Limited, since the 1950s.

The row of nine houses, with additional cottages, were built in the 1700s as accommodation for quarrymen and their families.

The rent rose by 3 per cent per year under the previous owners  some have lived in their homes for more than 20 years.

Chris Walsh, of Walsh Investment Properties, said: 'Most of the properties have been paying a low rent for a number of years, unfortunately this is not sustainable in the current economy.

'We feel it is fair and reasonable to charge a market rent. All properties were surveyed in January 2023 to enable us to plan any required upgrade works.

Local residents in the former slat community are facing rent hikes of up to 60 per cent

Aberllefenni is a historic village, built to house former miners, in Gwynedd, North Wales

'We believe this will allow us to gain a better understanding of each individual tenant's situation. This direct approach should alleviate any miscommunication and misunderstanding.

'This will also allow us to build a strong and sustainable rapport with all of our tenants.'

A spokesman for Gwynedd council said: 'We are committed to supporting any individual facing difficulties as a result of the housing crisis. All applications for Discretionary Housing Funding presented to us are assessed by our benefits team as a matter of urgency.

'Whilst we cannot comment in detail on individual cases, we can confirm that this particular application is currently being assessed.'
Labor is the favourite to win Saturday's NSW election but it won't be able to form a government without the Greens or independents, based on betting odds and expert predictions.

Chris Minns, the likely next premier of Australia's most populated state, would only be the fourth state Labor leader to win from Opposition since World War II - ending 12 years in the political wilderness for the ALP.

TAB predict Labor will pick up the Sydney seats of East Hills, Parramatta, Penrith and Riverstone from the Liberal Party, plus the notionally Labor electorate of Heathcote.

That would leave Labor with 42 seats - five short of the magic 47 number needed for a majority in the 93-member lower house, as the Coalition was left with 41 seats.

This would make three Greens MPs the kingmakers, along with former gay marriage campaigner Alex Greenwich, regional independents Greg Piper and Joe McGirr, and former Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party members Helen Dalton, Phil Donato and Roy Butler.

Labor is the favourite to win Saturday's NSW election but it won't be able to form a government without the Greens or independents, based on betting odds and expert predictions

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet casts his vote alongside wife Helen at Beecroft Public School in Sydney's north-west on election day

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns is seen outside of Panania Public School with local candidate Kylie Wilkinson (left) on election day

Mr Minns and Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet have both vowed to avoid asking former Liberal communities minister Gareth Ward for support, as he fights sexual abuse charges but remains the favourite to retain Kiama on the south coast as an independent.

Labor goes into the election with 36 seats it already holds, but two more with redistributions including the new seat of Leppington and Heathcote, taking its existing tally to 38.

The Coalition starts with 44 seats, following an unfavourable redistribution, a by-election loss and the loss of two Liberal MPs to the crossbench because of scandal since the 2019 election.

Crossbench MPs who could decide next premier GREENS: Jenny Leong (Newtown), Tamara Smith (Ballina) and Kobi Shetty* (Balmain) FORMER SHOOTERS, FISHERS AND FARMERS: Helen Dalton (Murray), Philip Donato (Orange) and Roy Butler (Barwon) INDEPENDENTS: Alex Greenwich (Sydney), Greg Piper (Lake Macquarie), Joe McGirr (Wagga Wagga) * Preselected but not yet elected Advertisement

But unlike the Coalition, Labor would be able to rely on the Greens plus just two independents to form a minority government in the Legislative Assembly, with the left-wing minor party unlikely to help a Liberal Party premier from the right faction remain in power.

Bruce Hawker, who was chief of staff to former Labor premier Bob Carr in 1995 when the ALP won from Opposition, said Mr Minns could easily work with independent MPs to have confidence and supply, and become the state's 47th premier.

'I think you've got to assume that a minority government is a real possibility and that was something we had to think about in 1995,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'At the moment, there are nine independents or minor parties in the lower house - you could even have more than that at the next election.

'So I don't think the challenge of whoever is going to be the premier on (Saturday) or the days after is going to be so difficult because there will be a broad spectrum of people who they can sit down and talk to.'

The NSW Greens want an immediate rent freeze, a 15 per cent pay rise for teachers and legalised cannabis, with the minor party favoured to retain the Sydney inner-west seats of Newtown and Balmain, along with the north coast electorate of Ballina covering Byron Bay.

Mr Hawker cautioned Mr Minns to be mindful of former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard's political error more than a decade ago, when she promised no carbon tax in 2010 only to introduce legislation in 2011 after forming a minority government with the Greens and regional independents.

Chris Minns, the favourite to become the next premier of Australia's most populated state, would only be the fourth state Labor leader to win from Opposition since World War II - ending 12 years in the political wilderness for the ALP

'If you go ahead and make changes which you said you weren't going to make, then that can cause problems - that's what happened to Julia Gillard,' he said.

The former political adviser, who now chairs Bruce Hawker Consulting, isn't advising Labor on this campaign but was confident Mr Minns would be wary of breaking an election promise to appease crossbench MPs.

'It's impossible to say from here how an incoming government would deal with those issues except to say that in Chris Minns, you have someone who is very principled,' Mr Hawker said.

Veteran election analyst Malcolm Mackerras, a visiting fellow with the Australian Catholic University, is expecting Labor to end up with 44 seats, as it regains Balmain from the Greens where sitting MP Jamie Parker is retiring, along with Holsworthy in south-west Sydney, where sitting member Melanie Gibbons lost local Liberal preselection.

The former Liberal Party researcher described Mr Minns as a 'well regarded' leader benefiting from the Coalition having been in power now for 12 years.

'That's the reason why I think Labor will win,' Mr Mackerras told Daily Mail Australia.

If the betting odds are right, Dominic Perrottet would be the first Liberal premier to lose an election since John Fahey in 1995 (he is pictured with his wife Helen and three of their seven children)

The Coalition lost its majority after the 2019 election when the Liberal members for Kiama and Drummoyne moved to the crossbench, before Labor won the south coast seat of Bega in a by-election, sparked by former minister Andrew Constance resigning to unsuccessfully contest a federal seat.

Key seats that could decide NSW election EAST HILLS: Liberal margin of 0.1 per cent in south-west Sydney electorate with Labor at $1.25 odds to win it, compared with $3.50 for the Coalition PENRITH: Former Liberal deputy leader Stuart Ayres has a 0.6 per cent margin in far western Sydney with Labor at $1.30 odds to win it, compared with $3.25 for the Coalition RIVERSTONE: Liberal margin of 6.2 per cent in north-west Sydney with Labor at $1.40 odds to win it, compared with $2.75 for the Coalition PARRAMATTA: Retiring minister Geoff Lee leaves a Liberal margin of 6.5 per cent in western Sydney with Labor at $1.15 odds to win it, compared with $5.50 for the Coalition HEATHCOTE: Sitting Liberal MP Lee Evans is running for re-election in outer southern Sydney seat where Labor now has a notional 1.7 per cent margin following a redistribution. Labor at $1.15 odds to win it compared with $5 for the Coalition UPPER HUNTER: Nationals margin of just 0.5 per cent but Coalition still the favourite at $1.55 odds compared with $2.30 for Labor GOULBURN: Liberal margin of 3.1 per cent but it's still the favourite to retain this marginal seat in southern NSW, with odds of $1.65 compared with $2.15 for Labor KIAMA: Former Liberal minister Gareth Ward is the favourite at $1.35 to be re-elected in this South Coast seat even though he is contesting sex abuse charges. His former Liberal Party is at $5 compared with Labor's $5.50. The Liberal margin was 12 per cent in 2019. Advertisement

The Liberal Party is expected to regain Drummoyne in Sydney's inner west, where former minister turned independent John Sidoti isn't running, following an adverse Independent Commission Against Corruption finding against him that he is appealing.

The betting markets regard Labor as the underdog in Upper Hunter, even though the Nationals hold by it be just 0.5 per cent, and Goulburn in the state's south, where the Liberal Party margin is just 3.1 per cent.

The Liberal Party is also favoured to keep electorates in south-west Sydney, including Badgerys Creeks, previously known as Mulgoa, where the margin is 9.7 per cent.

But it is facing a threat from teal independent candidates on the lower north shore, northern beaches and the southern highlands, with only narrow odds spread between the Liberals and independents.

This is occurring in the seats of Willoughby, previously held by former premier Gladys Berejiklian, Wakehurst, where former health minister Brad Hazzard is retiring, and North Shore and Wollondilly.

Three of those four seats overlap with federal electorates that last year threw out sitting Liberal MPs in favour of a climate change-focused independent.

But Mr Mackerras said the teals would fail to unseat any Liberal MPs at the state election, arguing Mr Perrottet wasn't as unpopular as former prime minister Scott Morrison was last year.

This would see a repeat of last year's Victorian election result where the teals failed to defeat any Liberal candidates.

'In Victoria, they bombed out disastrously, they'll bomb out even more disastrously in New South Wales because of optional preferential voting - it does not help independents,' he said.

Labor is an outside chance in Ryde, where retiring Liberal MP Victor Dominello had an 8.9 per cent margin in an electorate that overlaps with the federal Labor seat of Bennelong that switched sides in May last year.

Should Labor prevail on Saturday, or afterwards depending on negotiations, Mr Minns would be joining William McKell in 1941, Neville Wran in 1976 and Bob Carr in 1995 as the only New South Wales Labor leaders to have won from Opposition since World War II.

Mr Minns would also be the first state Labor leader since 1995 to have won from Opposition when Labor was in power federally.

This would make Mr Perrottet the first Liberal premier to lose an election since the late John Fahey, leaving him as the only living former Liberal premier to have been defeated.

A different premier has fronted every NSW election since 2007, with Mr Carr in 2003 the last state leader to contest consecutive elections.
A Queensland mum has revealed how an encounter with one of the world's most venomous plants left her in the 'worst pain' she has ever experienced.

Naomi Lewis, 42, was mountain biking along a trail in the Cairns suburb of Smithfield in Far North Queensland last June.

She came off her bike during the ride and fell down an embankment into a Gympie-Gympie plant - officially known as the Dendrocnide Moroides.

The plant, which is also colloquially called the 'suicide plant' due to the horrific pain it leaves its victims in and the 'giant Australian stinging tree', injects venom straight into the skin and can leave a person in unbearable pain for up to nine months.

It is native to Australia and is typically found in Queensland and northern NSW.

Mum-of-four Naomi Lewis (pictured), 42, recalled her horrific experience with a Gympie-Gympie plant or the 'giant Australian stinging tree'

Ms Lewis told the ABC that the pain was akin to feeling like she'd been set on fire and was '100 per cent the worst pain ever'.

'The pain was just beyond unbearable. The body gets to a pain threshold and then I started vomiting,' she said.

'I've had four kids - three caesareans and one natural. Childbirth, none of them even come close.'

Ms Lewis' husband, Richard, drove her to a nearby pharmacy after the accident, where he purchased hair removal strips to remove the plant's tiny stinging hairs that were in her skin, injecting venom.

The family desperately tried to get the hairs out of Ms Lewis' skin with the strips, as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Ms Lewis recalled telling her husband during the tense moment that she 'can't deal with this'.

An ambulance eventually came and took the mother-of-four to Cairns Hospital.

She was later transferred to Cairns Private Hospital, where she was treated with pain medication.

A Gympie-Gympie plant is considered to be one the most venomous plants in the world

It injects venom straight into the skin and can leave a person in unbearable pain for up to nine months

Ms Lewis stayed at the hospital for seven days before she was sent home.

She used painkillers daily and had heat packs strapped to her legs so the immense pain would subside.

It wasn't until December, six months after her encounter with the stinging tree, that she was finally able to wean herself off the pain killers.

She still experiences some pain on her leg from the Gympie-Gympie plant to this day on a certain section of her leg when cool air hits it.

For those wishing to avoid the plant, the furry nettle can be identified by its broad, oval or heart-shaped leaves and strawberry-like fruit which are covered with tiny stinging hairs.

Despite its toxicity, the plant is eaten by some Indigenous Australian mammals, birds and insects, however it can trigger fatal allergic reactions in others.
A whistleblower has dropped more damaging claims against the Missouri children's gender clinic where she used to work, saying officials lied to lawmakers about the breast-removal surgeries being carried out on minors there.

Speaking in a podcast this week, Jamie Reed, 42, said politicians were kept in the dark about mastectomies on adolescent girls and the age at which they could start receiving male testosterone hormones.

This adds to the explosive allegations she made last month that doctors at St. Louis Children's Hospital rushed trans-identifying kids onto drugs, despite any signs they had mental health issues or had been pressured by other teens or social media.

Her claims have further fuelled a debate about whether affirmation-on-demand is the only remedy for suicide-prone trans kids, and whether the puberty blockers and hormones increasingly being doled out do more harm than good.

Jamie Reed (top left), 42, in a recorded podcast bared all about the online attacks she's suffered from the LGBTQ community after lifting the lid on dodgy care for trans Missouri kids

A young woman shows the scars from the breast-removal operation she underwent as a teenager and now deeply regrets

Speaking in a podcast from the Gender Dysphoria Alliance, Reed said lawmakers were misled about whether breast removal procedures, or 'top surgery', were carried out on kids during legislative hearings at the Capitol in Jefferson City.

'The way that my clinic was being represented to our state legislature was there were some outright falsehoods being stated,' said Reed, who worked as a case manager at the clinic.

'They would go to the legislature and say there's no surgery happening with minors  and yet, I would be in clinic, and, know that they just looked at how somebody's top surgery scars are healing, who is 16 or 17.'

Reed said they were also misled about the age at which trans teenage girls could start getting testosterone, a male hormone that leads to facial hair, bigger muscles, a deeper voice, and a stronger sex drive.

'The age that people were starting testosterone in our center was not 16, as the standard said, it was 13,' she said

The guidelines stated that those aged under 16 must have a 'compelling and special reason' to use testosterone, she added.

Reed, who worked at the clinic for four years until November 2022, did not say when these hearings were held or which hospital representatives made the false claims. Her lawyer, Vernadette Broyles, did not answer our request for more details.

Likewise, the hospital, which is part of Washington University, did not answer our emails and calls.

Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey launched a multi agency investigation into the hospital after Reed made her initial allegations in The Free Press last month, and has sought to restrict trans care for adolescents across the state.

In this week's podcast, Reed also distanced herself from the drive by Republican lawmakers to outlaw trans medical procedures across many red states this year, saying policies should be written by medical experts, not politicians.

Poll Should 'gender-affirming care' be banned for children in your state? Yes No Not sure Should 'gender-affirming care' be banned for children in your state? Yes 5718 votes

No 288 votes

Not sure 107 votes Now share your opinion





She accused the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which sets guidelines for child medical care in the US, of clinging to an outdated model for gender-affirming care and called for an urgent policy review.

The AAP should gather data from America's estimated 100 child gender clinics about their patients' drugs and surgeries, and whether trans care resolved any gender dysphoria and improved their mental health.

'They collect it all, and then they can publish it online, so we can see what is actually happening,' she said.

The Academy did not reply to our request for comment. Last year, DailyMail.com revealed how some AAP members were similarly pushing for a policy rethink, but said they were prevented from raising the topic for debate.

Reed, a queer, tattooed, mom-of-five who is married to a trans man and who describes herself as 'politically to the left of Bernie Sanders,' was responsible for the hospital's patient intake between 2018 and November 2022.

The trans clinic at St. Louis Children's Hospital, part of Washington University, has been at the center of a controversy since former employee Jamie Reed blew the whistle on what was happening there

Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey (left) and Activist lawyer Vernadette Broyles, founder of Child and Parental Rights Campaign

AAP leadership (some of whom are in this undated promotional file image, above) have faced criticism for rushing trans-identifying youngsters onto drugs. The AAP says its guidelines  to reinforce the gender a youth selects, including through drugs, cross-sex hormones and even surgery  are based on evidence

She took the job believing she was 'saving' trans kids, but grew disillusioned by what she describes as a conveyor belt of putting teens on puberty blockers and hormones after only cursory mental health checks.

She gradually came to realize that many patients were teenage girls with autism or other mental health problems who were caught up in a dangerous fad and could well regret their irreversible procedures, she said.

After four years, she says she became convinced the clinics were causing 'permanent harm' to kids and their families, who often barely understood the drugs they were being prescribed or their side effects.

Missouri attorney general Bailey has launched a probe into the clinic and this week unveiled an emergency rule to lengthen the time it takes minors to access gender-affirming care.

Children seeking puberty blockers and other trans care will have to complete an 18-month waiting period, 15 hour-long therapy sessions and treatment for any mental health issues before Missouri doctors can greenlight an intervention.

Parents of children who have received care at the clinic have since come forward and said they were satisfied with the treatment on offer, including the availability of therapists and psychiatrists.

Erin Reed, a prominent female-to-male trans campaigner, has accused Reed of having a 'clear ideological bias' and ignoring the many adolescents who see their 'mental and physical health improve dramatically' thanks to trans medicine.

Gender-affirming care, as it is known, covers everything from puberty blockers to cross-sex hormones and, in rare cases for trans minors, surgery. Trans activists, big US medical groups, and the Biden administration say it can save lives among a suicide-prone group.

Opponents of trans ideology say sex is determined at birth and cannot be changed, that medical groups have been hijacked by trans activists and that politicians must step in and stop parents, doctors, or therapists from permanently harming children.

Many are alarmed by the sharp uptick in teenage girls with autism and other mental health woes seeking gender-change drugs in recent years, and of new studies linking puberty blockers to weaker bones and osteoporosis.
Muslims from around the world have begun their first day of Ramadan - the holiest month in the Islamic calendar - where followers fast from sunrise to sunset each day.

The first day of Ramadan, which is determined by the sighting of the first crescent moon, has fallen this year on the 23 March.

This is an auspicious times for the Muslim community to focus on prayers and taking part in community action, as well as helping loved-ones in need.

This evening, British Muslims across the nation broke their fast in a nightly event lasting until the end of Ramadan called Iftar.

The fast is traditionally broken after sunset with dates and water, or milk, followed by dinner in large gatherings or within families.

This year, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan illuminated the capital's famous Coventry Street with special Ramadan lights to mark the Muslim festival this year, for the first time.

Muslims sit together to enjoy a free public Iftar meal during the first day of Ramadan at Sheikh Abdul qader Gilani mosque in Baghdad, Iraq

A young Ukrianan boy wearing a skull cap eats from a small pot of food during Iftar at the Ar-Rahma Mosque in Kyiv, celebrating the first day of Ramadan amid the Russian invasion

Muslims living in a tent camp in Syria, across all generations, including an infant cradled in a woman's lap, sit down on a blanket to enjoy a vast spread of foods including meats and breads

A Syrian family living in a camp gather around on a blanket placed only meters away from their tent to break their fast over plates of meat, bread and vegetables

Muslims in Ukraine gather in a packed hall to break their fast together over soups and bread rolls amid the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion

A volunteer in Lahore, Pakistan prepares countless colourful plates filled with pomegranates, dates, samosas and fruits for Muslim devotees to break their fast at the Data Darbar shrine

Women wearing bright printed fabrics in celebration of the holiest month of the Muslim calendar sit down together as volunteers hand out plates of Iftar food in Lahore, Pakistan

Plates of fruits and drinks are placed on a patchwork of blankets laid out on the marble floor of the illuminated Sheikh Abdul qader Gilani mosque in Baghdad, Iraq

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Pictured: Second to the right) attends an Iftar event held at Karacasu container city, in the quake-hit Kahramanmaras province of Turkiye

Volunteers carry a large tray with plates of rice and samosas in Lahore, Pakistan as Muslims sit crossed-legged on grass in neat rows to break their fast together

Muslim devotees of all ages are sat in several rows, facing one another, as they break their fast from sunset in Lahore, Pakistan

Musliums in Lviv, Ukraine break their fast at the Muhammad Asad Islamic Cultural Center amid the ongoing Russian invasion

A volunteer hands out bread from a bowl to a large gathering of Muslims at a mosque, dressed in traditional kurtas (shirts) in a kaleidoscope of colours, in Karachi, Pakistan
A constitutional law expert has slammed Anthony Albanese's Voice to parliament as a 'fatally flawed ruthless con job'.

On Thursday, the PM finally released details of the referendum and the question Australians will vote on.

Mr Albanese appeared on the verge of tears on at least five occasions as he announced the question, while emotionally calling on Australians to 'get this done'.

However, Professor Greg Craven, a constitutional lawyer who was one of the experts behind the original proposal of an Indigenous Voice, has slammed Mr Albanese's proposal as a 'con job'.

He said: 'I think it's fatally flawed because what it does is retain the full range of review of executive action.

'This means the Voice can comment on everything from submarines to parking tickets.

'We will have regular judicial interventions,' he warned.

Mr Albanese appeared on the verge of tears on at least five occasions as he announced the question

Professor Greg Craven, a constitutional lawyer who was one of the experts behind the original proposal of an Indigenous voice, has slammed Mr Albanese's proposal

Speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB, Prof Craven explained how the Voice had been 'colonised' by 'left-leaning ideologues'.

'It was originally a conservative proposal,' he said. 'It was really designed to recognise indigenous people without risking judicial activism.

Poll Do you want the Constitution altered to recognise the First People's of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Yes No Unsure Do you want the Constitution altered to recognise the First People's of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Yes 536 votes

No 5823 votes

Unsure 484 votes Now share your opinion





'Over the past year, it's really been colonised by left leaning ideologues from this community, trying to turn it from a model that was not run by the judges, to one that absolutely guarantees judicial intervention.

'The reality is that you will have a situation where any person who wants to create difficulty for a government over its decisions can now end up going to the High Court.

'It will be very, very difficult for government to operate either because it will be constantly delayed and tied up in knots, or indeed because the courts end up intervening directly in decisions.'

Opinion polling has indicated Australians are very divided on whether to support the referendum, and Prof Craven thinks a 'No' vote is inevitable.

Writing in the Australian, he said: 'It is a ruthless con job. It is aimed at the Australian people as a whole and an adoring media barely literate in constitutional reality.

'It puts the final bullet through the head of the referendum. The polls already show a sick referendum. It is now terminal.'

The professor also warned that the inclusion of 'draft principles' were another source of alarm as it could lead to Australians voting on the referendum without specifically knowing what areas the Voice could apply to.

Anthony Albanese appeared on the verge of tears several times during his announcement

In an emotional press conference, Mr Albanese said: 'This moment has been a very long time in the making'

'The idea is that instead of actual detail or architecture for the referendum, we are meant to be assuaged by motherhood statements so vague that they mean nothing,' Prof Craven wrote.

'Look at Albanese's enunciated principles: the voice will be proactive, representative, chosen by local communities, transparent and cooperative.

'What on earth does this actually mean? It could cover any commonwealth body from the Australian Defence Force to the ABC.'

Speaking to ABC, he added: 'I'm not pretty frustrated, I'm incredibly frustrated. I think the Government has made multiple errors of process here, one of which is a total lack of clarity.

PM'S EMOTIONAL MESSAGE TO AUSSIES THINKING ABOUT VOTING NO In an emotional press conference, Anthony Albanese implored Australians to vote yes in the Voice to Parliament referendum later this year. 'This moment has been a very long time in the making. It's a simple matter from the heart,' he said. 'Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution is the best chance this country has had to address the injustices of the past and move Australia forward for everyone, the best way to do this is to give people a voice. 'This is a modest request. I say to Australia; don't miss it. This is a real opportunity. 'This is a risk, having a referendum. Usually they don't succeed. But the people here can't wait. They can't. They've waited so long. They've waited a long time for justice, this is something where they're making such a modest request. I do feel a responsibility. 'On the May 21 I began my prime ministership with a declaration about a referendum. 'I knew what I was doing, I knew the weight that was there and I knew how that would be received by people. I also knew I had my party completely behind me. 'I'm not here to occupy the space, I'm here to change the country. There's nowhere more important in changing the country than in changing the constitution to recognise the fullness of our history. 'I want this for all Australians. We'll feel better about ourselves if we get this done. The truth is, Australia will be seen as a better nation in the rest of the world. Our position in the world matters.' Advertisement

'So, this alteration was designed in a black box, we don't know who designed it, now it's been revised in a black box, there's been no attempt to engage wider opinion.

'And I think the total disaster is we've already got a referendum that's heading south in the polls, even before this it was describing the typical arc of a losing referendum.

'Now with this, I think, firstly, you're gonna have a bad proposal and that's gonna be even worse for the referendum.

'But the most potent argument, surely for the 'no' side, will be, "Even your own Attorney-General and your own Solicitor-General said this proposal should not go forward in the words of executive government, and now you're trying to sell us that." I mean, if the 'no' case needed another argument, it's got an absolute humdinger.'

His words come after Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus warned of significant consequences for the future of reconciliation should the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to parliament fail.

Mr Dreyfus said a 'no' vote would lead to long periods of inaction on reform.

'It would be a very long time before we returned to any question of recognition. I think it would be a tremendous setback for relations with our First Peoples,' he told ABC Radio on Friday.

'I'm focused on success because the consequences of failure would be dire.'

A new section would be placed in the constitution, recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the 'First Peoples of Australia'.

The proposed question being put to voters is: 'A Proposed Law: to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?'

Laws setting out the referendum will be introduced to parliament next week, with the vote to take place between October and December.

The Liberals have yet to outline their position on whether to support the voice but Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has urged the government to release legal advice presented by the solicitor-general.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said there was nothing to fear from the referendum and urged support from the coalition.

'The Liberals are looking for excuses, and I think they've almost run out of excuses,' she told ABC Radio.

'My real hope is that (Dutton) provides bipartisan support in the way that happened during the week on the machinery bill ... if there is not bipartisan support, that would be unfortunate, but it will not stop the referendum going ahead.'

Prominent 'no' campaigner Warren Mundine said the announcement of the question by the prime minister had not allayed his concerns on the proposal.

'It is like being asked 'would you like cake with your coffee?' We like to know what is in the cake before we say yes to it,' he told ABC TV.

'It is not going to change one iota anything on the ground of Aboriginal people.'
A furious motorist who copped a $283 fine for parking in his own driveway has divided the internet.

Sydney radio producer Angus Kelleher was shocked last week when he received a fine for his Mazda CX-3 parked in the driveway in front of his garage.

Photos show the vehicle's rear wheels partially blocking the pavement.

Mr Kelleher told 2GB breakfast host colleague Ben Fordham he plans to contest the fine, claiming his car only blocks the pathway 'ever so slightly' and doesn't obstruct the path of passers-by.

'There is a swathe of pavement behind the pathway,' Mr Kelleher explained on air.

Rangers fined the vehicle owner for partially obstructing the pavement outside his home

There is no obstruction, and to me, that's the clear word here.'

Fordham asked his colleague why he didn't park in his garage.

'It's a really old garage,' Mr Kelleher replied.

'It doesn't always work. There are often problems with it.'

He insists cyclists and pedestrians would have no issue getting around the back of his car.

'It's very easy, there's no grass, there's no road, people can easily get around,' Mr Kelleher said.

'In fact I think a semi-trailer could get around.'

2GB radio producer Angus Kelleher (pictured) plans to contest the $283 fine

The photos of parked car sparked a divided response online.

Poll Is the motorist in the wrong? Yes, it obstructs the path No, he should fight the fine Is the motorist in the wrong? Yes, it obstructs the path 305 votes

No, he should fight the fine 114 votes Now share your opinion





Many believed he deserved the fine as the car blocked the path for prams, wheelchairs and mobility scooters going past.

'My wife uses a mobility scooter and has to go onto the road because of this kind of thing. Very dangerous. This law should be enforced more,' one man posted.

A woman added: 'The less agile would have trouble navigating around this.'

Others believed the parking fine was unfair.

'There's plenty of room behind the vehicle for people to pass, mobility scooters included, without going onto the road. A bit overzealous but not unexpected,' one listener wrote.

Mr Kelleher insists there is plenty of pavement for passers-by to get around his car (pictured)

Another added: 'It's his own driveway, and he's left plenty of room for pedestrian traffic.'

Some blamed the design of the driveway.

'That's a ridiculously short drive into the garage,' one commented.

Under NSW law, a driver is not permitted to stop on or across a driveway in the state unless the driver is dropping off or picking up passengers, doesn't leave the vehicle and is gone within two minutes of stopping.

The offence results in a $283 fine and demerit points.
A man is warning all Australians to check their council fees after his nightmare experience with a bin saw him charged double what he should've been.

It took 12 years for Geoff Oppert to realise Kiama Council, on NSW's south coast, had been billing him for two red lid general waste bins instead of one, leaving him with a $16,610 bill.

Mr Oppert raised the issue with his local council but was refused a refund for more than two years.

A single red lid bin was supposed to have cost the Oppert family $8,000 but the double-up meant he was thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Mr Oppert took his fight to A Current Affair and was eventually given a refund for the mix-up but he warned others to 'examine your rates notice' to make sure they avoid a similar fate.

Geoff Oppert had been billed for two red lid general waste bins instead of one, leaving him with a bill of $16,610 over 12 years

Mr Oppert said the fee had slipped below his radar for so long because of the 'bureaucratic jargon' in council notices, but he immediately requested a refund once noticing something was wrong.

'In total, we spent $16,000 on garbage disposal over 12 years, which should have only been half,' Mr Oppert told A Current Affair.

'However, they would only provide us with a reimbursement for two years and cited a tax statute as the reason, it's unjust and just plain wrong.

'It wasn't our fault  they made the mistake and admitted it  [so] examine your rates notice to ensure you're not being taken advantage of.'

A Kiama Municipal Council spokesperson defended what had happened, explaining that the onus was on Mr Oppert to check his fees.

'Like any bill or bank statement, the onus is on the customer to check their documentation and notify the issuing authority of any discrepancies,' the spokesperson said.

'When this matter was brought to our attention, Kiama Council acted and refunded the amounts of $805.72 for 2021-22 and $818.61 for 2022-23.'

Going forward, the council also committed to checking if anybody else in Kiama was similarly being over charged.

'In addition, Kiama Council is now working on an audit of all our urban and residential waste services to ensure our charges are correct,' the spokesperson said.
Alan Dershowitz is a lawyer, Harvard Law School Professor and author of 'Get Trump: The Threat to Civil Liberties, Due Process, and Our Constitutional Rule of Law'

In all my 60 years of criminal defense litigating and teaching, I have never heard of a case based on such a ridiculous stretching of the law than the reported indictment of Donald Trump.

Although the indictment remains sealed, it is highly likely that New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg is attempting to charge Trump for conduct related to his alleged $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her promise not to disclose a consensual, adulterous affair during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Bragg has disgraced a once proud office.

To state the obvious, while immoral, it is not illegal to pay hush money. So, to turn this relatively benign payment into a state felony, the District Attorney must perform a series of legal contortions.

First, he must prove that the payments were fraudulently described in business records.

Generally, one wouldn't be expected to dutifully document 'hush money paid to a porn star to remain silent about an adulterous affair,' as the whole point of the payoff is to keep it hush-hush. But Bragg wants to make it criminal.

In any event, even if the DA convinces a jury that Trump falsified business records, the worst-case scenario is that this crime is a minor misdemeanor.

That's hardly the scalp that Bragg desires. And so, he must perform another magic trick.

The DA would have to prove that the records were falsified for the purpose of covering up an unreported campaign contribution.

If Trump secretly paid Daniels to keep quiet for the sole benefit of his presidential campaign, then that may well be a federal crime.

In all my 60 years of criminal defense litigating and teaching, I have never heard of a case based on such a ridiculous stretching of the law than the reported indictment of Donald Trump.

In any event, even if the DA convinces a jury that Trump falsified business records, the worst-case scenario is that this crime is a minor misdemeanor.

And presto! According to Bragg's novel legal theory, that concocts a state felony for which he can prosecute Trump.

Don't try to make sense of it  it's nonsensical.

As it's said - a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich. Winning at trial is something else entirely.

Bragg's whole argument hinges on a psychoanalyst's Freudian diagnosis of Trump's motivations. Why did he do, what he allegedly did?

At trial, if the defense raises a reasonable doubt that Trump inaccurately recorded the alleged hush payment to prevent damaging embarrassment to his wife, his family, his business ventures, or for any reason other than his campaign, then the charges will not stick.

This case rises and falls on credibility. Unfortunately for Bragg, his key witness, former Trump lawyer and so-called fixer, Michael Cohen, doesn't have much.

If anyone has first-hand knowledge to back up Bragg's theory that Trump paid off Daniels to protect his political aspirations, it would be Cohen, who has already testified before the grand jury. He was the apparent conduit through which Trump paid Daniels. And he existed inside Trump's inner circle for years as a trusted  if not derided  employee.

If the Manhattan DA had any brains, he will tell Cohen to stay home.

After all, he's a convicted liar.

In December of 2018, Cohen plead guilty in Manhattan federal court to campaign finance violations for coordinating a payment to Daniels and another woman with whom Trump was alleged to have had an affair.

A letter, obtained by DailyMail.com, shows Cohen's lawyer informing the Federal Election Commission in 2018 that Trump wasn't involved in the hush money scheme.

The letter reads quote: 'Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly.'

The obvious question for Cohen is: where you lying then, or are you lying now?

Last week, Cohen's former legal adviser, Robert Costello, testified before the grand jury. After he left the court, he told the media that he informed the jurors that Cohen, 'couldn't tell the truth if you put a gun to his head.'

Cohen also plead guilty to concealing more than $4 million in personal income from the IRS and lying to a bank to secure a home loan.

As it's said - a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich.

To state the obvious, while immoral, it is not illegal to pay hush money. So, to turn this relatively benign payment into a state felony, the District Attorney must perform a series of legal contortions.

He was sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.

To suggest that Cohen has an axe to grind against Trump would be an understatement  in fact, he wrote two books about it.

In the aptly named 'Disloyal' and 'Revenge,' Cohen describes Trump as a power mad, wanna-be dictator. No matter how inclined a jury is to punish Trump, they can't be completely blind to Cohen's bias.

Even if they are sympathetic to Cohen's antipathy  they can't ignore that he did help Trump when it was convenient.

Cohen plead guilty to lying to Congress about an abandoned project to build a Trump Tower in Russia. In his plea, he said he misled the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to protect Trump's campaign messaging.

Finally, Cohen is on tape threatening a journalist investigating the claims of Trump's first wife, the late-Ivana Trump, who once accused Trump of spousal rape. She later retracted the claim.

'I will take you for every penny you still don't have,' Cohen is heard telling then-Daily Beast reporter Tim Mak. 'And, of course, understand that by the very definition, you can't rape your spouse,' Cohen continued.

Of course, that's not true. And it won't look good in front of jury either.

It is still unknown whether there are other, more credible witnesses, who can incriminate Trump.

The publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker appeared before the grand jury this week and he may testify at a potential trial. He was also caught up in the alleged payments.

Pecker was fined $187,500 by the Federal Election Commission for 'knowing and willfully' violating campaign finance law by paying a Playboy model for her story about an alleged affair with Trump for the purpose of never publishing it.

In December of 2018, Cohen plead guilty in Manhattan federal court to campaign finance violations for coordinating a payment to Daniels and another woman with whom Trump was alleged to have had an affair.

Daniels may also be called to the stand although her testimony would not be directly relevant to how Trump recorded the payments.

I would also advise the defense not to deny in court what Trump's lawyer has already denied to the media: that Trump had an affair with Daniels.

The jury will not believe that claim, and it would affect the credibility of the entire defense.

Nor should Trump take the stand in his defense, because to do so would open him up to embarrassing questions which he might be tempted to answer falsely.

If this type of prosecution, with the same facts and law, were directed against an ordinary citizen it would have virtually no chance of succeeding. But because the target is Trump and the location is the very blue city of New York, the likelihood of an indictment and conviction is better than even.

Even so, it would likely be reversed on appeal. In fact, Americans may be voting for president in 2024 as a court considers overturning.

But Bragg probably doesn't care what an appellate court would do in two years. He's looking for his 15 minutes of fame now and for the political benefits that will result from a politically popular get Trump prosecution in heavily Democratic N.Y.C.

Trump may also benefit nationally from the backlash of voters who see this as a political prosecution, which it is.

The only real harm that will come from this case is the damage it will do to the country, as our society spirals deeper and deeper into division and distrust.

No matter the outcome of Braggs case  we all lose.

This piece is an update from an article that first appeared on March 24, prior to a Manhattan grand jury's indictment of Donald Trump
Cox, 76, has previously described Strong's commitment to Method acting as 'f**king annoying' and said 'don't get me started on that'

In a new interview, the 'Succession' actor made a spoof of a MasterClass seemingly aimed at the actor who plays his on-screen son, Jeremy Strong

Actor Brian Cox, who plays the aloof patriarch of the Roy family in HBO's 'Succession,' is doubling down on his stance against co-star Jeremy Strong's method acting.

In a new interview on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,' the Scotland native, 76, made fun of his 'harsh' words about Strong's approach to acting, which he called 'f**king annoying' in a previous interview.

Telling Fallon he wanted to apologize and 'set the record straight,' Cox introduced a preview of a spoof MasterClass in which he teaches acting, with tip number one seemingly aimed directly at his on-screen son.

'Just f**king do it. Say the f**king lines and don't bump into the f**king furniture,' Cox's states as his top tip for aspiring actors.

The parody MasterClass is the latest jab at Strong, 44, whose Method acting has made headlines and caused Cox to say, 'don't get me going on it.'

Actor Brian Cox who plays the aloof patriarch of the Roy family in HBO's 'Succession' is doubling down on his stance against co-star Jeremy Strong's Method acting

In a new interview, the Scotland native, 76, made fun of his 'harsh' words about Strong's approach to acting, which he called 'f**king annoying' in a previous interview

Cox appeared on the late-night television program to promote the upcoming final season of 'Succession' which begins airing Sunday, March 26.

In their nearly ten minute long discussion, Fallon and Cox discuss everything from their long careers to their favorite non-work activities before the conversation turns to Strong.

'You've actually gone viral for some of your opinions on Method acting,' Fallon says.

'Well, you know Jimmy, I've been a little harsh,' Cox says before briefly being cut off by the audience's laughter.

'No no, I have, careful,' he says turning to audience members who are still chuckling.

'I have been a little harsh on it and I'm sorry about that. In fact, I've been trying to set the record straight in a MasterClass series of acting that I've just been doing,' Cox says.

'I didn't know you did a MasterClass,' Fallon responds.

'No, it is. Actually, I've brought a clip if you want to see it. And I think this more eloquently explains my feelings about acting,' he says.

The parody video starts with Cox himself addressing the audience, saying: 'Hi, I'm Brian Cox, and this is my MasterClass on the craft of acting.'

A quick cut then shows Cox going off on his rant and telling the audience to 'just f**king do it,' before the camera cuts back to Fallon who jokingly wipes away tears.

'That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,' Fallon jokes.

The parody is the latest dig in Cox's history of simplifying his craft. While Strong's name did not directly come up during his interview with Fallon, it appears to address the recent flurry of media coverage involving the co-star.

'Well, you know Jimmy, I've been a little harsh,' Cox says before briefly being cut off by the audience's laughter while addressing his comments on Strong's Method acting

'I have been a little harsh on it and I'm sorry about that. In fact, I've been trying to set the record straight in a MasterClass series of acting that I've just been doing,' Cox says

The parody video starts with Cox himself addressing the audience, saying: 'Hi, I'm Brian Cox, and this is my MasterClass on the craft of acting'

The parody is the latest dig in Cox's history of simplifying his craft. While Strong's name did not directly come up during his interview with Fallon, it appears to address the recent flurry of media coverage involving the co-star

'He's a very good actor. And the rest of the ensemble is all OK with this. But knowing a character and what the character does is only part of the skill set,' Cox said in February

In a Town & Country interview last month, Cox said Strong - who plays the forlorn and rebellious Kendall Roy on 'Succession' - is a 'very good actor' but that being around someone who is always in character can get old fast.

'He's a very good actor. And the rest of the ensemble is all OK with this. But knowing a character and what the character does is only part of the skill set,' Cox said.

Strong, a Yale grad made major headlines in 2021 when a New Yorker article detailed the extent of his Method acting in a now-viral interview.

At the time, the piece's author spoke with Cox who spoke on Strong's 'intense' style.

'I've worked with intense actors before. It's a particularly American disease, I think, this inability to separate yourself off while you're doing the job,' Cox said in 2021.

In that article, Strong and Cox's other costars including Kieran Culkin spoke about his methods and their experience with him on set.

'After the first season, he [Strong] said something to me like, "Im worried that people might think that the show is a comedy." And I said, I think the show is a comedy,' Culkin - who plays another Roy son - said. 'He thought I was kidding.'

The show's executive producer, Adam McKay said the intensity Strong brings to the role is part of the reason he embodies the character of Kendall.

'Thats exactly why we cast Jeremy in that role,' McKay told New Yorker magazine. 'Because hes not playing it like a comedy. Hes playing it like hes Hamlet.'

In the same interview, Cox agreed, saying: 'The result that Jeremy gets is always pretty tremendous. I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.'

In a more recent interview, Cox doubled down on his 2021 statement, voicing his concern Strong will get 'worn out' if he doesn't separated himself from the job.

'He does get obsessed with the work,' Cox told late-night host Seth Myers.

'And I worry about what it does to him, because if you can't separate yourself  because you're dealing with all of this material every day. You can't live in it. Eventually, you get worn out,' the Scottish actor continued.

Cox (center) plays patriarch Logan Roy, father to Shiv Roy played by Sarah Snook (far left), Connor Roy played by Alan Ruck (second to left), Kendall Roy played by Jeremy Strong (second from right), and Roman Roy played by Kieran Culkin (far right)

In its run, the show has been nominated for 48 Emmy awards and has won more than a dozen

'Jesse won't let anything go on further than it needs to,' Cox said of show creator Jesse Armstrong. 'A lot of shows outstay their welcome, and I think our show is perfect, and neat, in the way it is'

Despite the disputes over acting styles, there does not appear to be any bad blood between the costars, who were pictured just this week together at the show's premiere for the fourth season.

Additionally, Strong has responded to Cox's statements, saying the older actor has 'earned the right' to trash talk certain ways of acting.

'Everyone's entitled to have their feelings. I also think Brian Cox, for example, he's earned the right to say whatever the fk he wants,' Strong said. 'There was no need to address that or do damage control.'

Cox has also not been shy about sharing his thoughts about the massively successful show coming to an end after 48 Emmy nominations and almost certainly more to come after season four.

The actor said he respects series creator Jesse Armstrong choosing to end the show.

'Jesse won't let anything go on further than it needs to,' Cox said. 'A lot of shows outstay their welcome, and I think our show is perfect, and neat, in the way it is.'

'In a good way. I'm happy it's over,' Cox said.
Carol Vorderman has called on the women's minister to resign after she could not 'be bothered to turn up' to a committee hearing about the menopause - but the politician has accused the TV presenter of not dealing in facts.

Maria Caulfield took to Twitter a day after the Women and Equalities Committee session to say she had been unable to attend as she was with campaigners at a meeting 'which had been in the diary for months'.

The MP for Lewes, who is also minister for women's health strategy, tweeted that she was 'not a punch bag' and said anyone who posted 'misleading information' about her would be blocked on the social media platform.

Former Countdown star Ms Vorderman posted a screenshot on Twitter indicating she had been blocked by the Government minister, and wrote: 'Women's Health Minister @mariacaulfield (also Mental Health minister) who was caught fibbing about a letter she had supposedly sent to excuse the fact she couldn't be bothered to turn up to the Select Committee yday.

'Well she's blocked me. Maria, show some respect & RESIGN.'

Carol Vorderman has called on the women's minister to resign after she could not 'be bothered to turn up' to a committee hearing about the menopause - but the politician has accused the TV presenter of not dealing in facts (Ms Vorderman is pictured at the Women and Equalities Committee on Wednesday)

Maria Caulfield took to Twitter a day after the Women and Equalities Committee session to say she had been unable to attend as she was with campaigners at a meeting 'which had been in the diary for months'

When challenged by another Twitter user about blocking Ms Vorderman, Ms Caulfield replied: 'She hasn't pointed out facts.

'I couldn't attend yesterday as I was seeing women campaigners against painful hysteroscopy which had been in the diary for months. I have given alternative dates to the committee and they are the facts.'

The committee said it had invited Ms Caulfield to appear before members to discuss the Government's plans for action on menopause in the workplace 'but the minister refused the invitation'.

It is understood the committee received a response from the minister on the dates she was available only after the letter they wrote to her, dated March 10, was posted on Twitter on March 17.

The committee is believed to have contacted her a number of times before that to get a date agreed for a hearing.

Committee chairwoman Caroline Nokes confirmed at the end of Wednesday's session that Ms Caulfield is expected to appear for a hearing in June.

Earlier during the session both Ms Vorderman and fellow presenter Mariella Frostrup expressed their annoyance at Ms Caulfield not being 'bothered to turn up'.

Ms Vorderman said she had seen Ms Caulfield 'having a cup of tea' in Portcullis House that day, adding 'that's not much of an example, is it?'

Frostrup told the MPs the current situation on menopause and women's rights in the workplace feels like 'treading water which is only heightened by the fact that the minister can't be bothered to turn up'.

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt rejected calls from Labour for Ms Caulfield to apologise for not attending the committee hearing and cited the minister's prior commitment.

She told business questions in the chamber: 'It is deeply ironic, especially in the wake of International Women's Day when we all used hashtag '#AskHerToStand' and want to support working women, that we are so quick to paint an incorrect picture about our female colleagues in this place. I think it is shocking.'

Ms Mordaunt added: 'She does not need to apologise in any way to people in this House.'

On Wednesday, Ms Vorderman tore into two Government ministers during a furious rant in front of MPs, claiming she was 'absolutely disgusted' by the pair of them.

Former Countdown star Ms Vorderman posted a screenshot on Twitter indicating she had been blocked by the Government minister, and wrote: ''Well she's blocked me. Maria, show some respect & RESIGN.'

The MP for Lewes, who is also minister for women's health strategy, tweeted that she was 'not a punch bag' and said anyone who posted 'misleading information' about her would be blocked on the social media platform

When challenged by another Twitter user about blocking Ms Vorderman, Ms Caulfield replied: 'She hasn't pointed out facts'

Earlier on Wednesday, Ms Vorderman also appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss her appearance on the committee. In the studio, presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield invited viewers to call in and share their experiences about the menopause in the workplace

Within minutes of taking stand to discuss menopause in the workplace, the TV star criticised Kemi Badenoch for comparing 'women going through terrible, terrible menopausal symptoms with those with ginger hair'.

Ms Badenoch, No10's equalities minister, last month dismissed suggestions that the menopause should be given a special legally protected status.

She stated the menopause was on a list of characteristics campaigners had claimed should be written into the Equality Act, just like 'having ginger hair' or 'being short' and that a menopause leave pilot for women was being proposed from 'a leftwing perspective'.

Ms Vorderman, patron of campaign group Menopause Mandate, said the comments made to the Women and Equalities Committee were 'patronising' and 'insulting to all women'.
A dog breeder was fined $140,000 after forcing his Labradoodles to live in horrific conditions.

The 60-year-old man forced the 39 puppies to live in their own urine and faeces at the puppy farm in Bridgetown, Western Australia.

Dogs were found with excrement in their fur, dental disease, painful infections, and weight issues so severe they could not move.

A dog breeder has been fined $140,000 after forcing his labradoodles to live in horrific living conditions

The 60-year-old man forced the 39 puppies to live in their own urine and faeces at the puppy farm at Bridgetown, in Western Australia

A customer had uncovered the sickening conditions after visiting the property to buy a puppy for $5,000 in January 2022.

RSPCA WA immediately launched an investigation prompting an inspector to visit the property to assess the sickening conditions.

A spokeswoman said the putrid sight so reviled the customer that she refused to go through with the purchase.

'There were large piles of rubbish present, a lot of dogs running everywhere that were barking and fighting, and the older dogs had matted and dirty coats with faeces in their fur,' she said.

'One was stuck down the side of the bed, and one was seen drinking stagnant water from an open, broken sewerage pipe.'

RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green added the dogs appeared to suffer from more than just physical injuries.

'A lot of the dogs and puppies were also suffering from significant psychological harm, as determined by a veterinary behaviourist,' she said.

'Some of them just stood in their kennels for weeks after they first came here, staring at the wall and refusing to interact.'

The dog breeder pleaded guilty to 28 charges of animal cruelty.

A customer had uncovered the sickening conditions after visiting the property to buy a puppy for $5,000 in January 2022

RSPCA WA immediately launched an investigation prompting an inspector to visit the property to assess the sickening conditions

Bunbury Magistrates Court heard the man had no regard for the animals' welfare and hoped to cash in on their popularity.

He was slapped with a $112,000 fine and ordered to pay an additional $28,140 in compensation.

The 60-year-old was banned from owning an animal for three years while the Crown forfeited labradoodles.

'This is what people need to stop and consider when they are looking to buy a 'cute' puppy,' Ms Green said.

'If you buy from an unregistered breeder, if you buy off the internet or social media, or if you buy without seeing the puppy is being raised in clean, safe conditions and its mum is happy and healthy, then there's a chance you are supporting this kind of cruelty.'
A notorious short-seller has taken aim at Jack Dorsey's payments company Block, releasing a report accusing the firm of misleading investors and embracing a criminal user base.

Hindenburg Research on Thursday disclosed its short position in Block and released findings from a two-year investigation, alleging the company 'misled investors on key metrics, and embraced predatory offerings and compliance worst-practices in order to fuel growth.'

Shares of Block plunged nearly 15 percent on the day, and Dorsey's net worth took a $562 million hit, dropping 11 percent to $4.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Block fired back in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying it would explore legal action against the short seller for its 'factually inaccurate and misleading report' that was 'designed to deceive and confuse investors'.

'Hindenburg is known for these types of attacks, which are designed solely to allow short sellers to profit from a declined stock price,' the company added. 'We will not be distracted by typical short seller tactics.'

Block founder Jack Dorsey (above) is in the sights of Hindenburg Research, which released a report accusing his firm of misleading investors and embracing a criminal user base

Shares of Block plunged nearly 15 percent on the day, and Dorsey's net worth took a $562 million hit, dropping 11 percent to $4.4 billion

Far from being an unbiased watchdog, Hindenburg profits from taking large sort positions in the companies it issues reports on, betting that their shares will plunge as markets digest the allegations in its research.

However, Hindenburg's research has previously led to criminal charges and convictions, including that of Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who was found guilty last year of deceiving investors with exaggerated claims about his electric truck company.

The latest Hindenburg report includes expansive allegations against Block, the payments company formerly known as Square, which also owns the popular smartphone payment application Cash App.

Many of Hindenburg's claims center on alleged rampant criminal use of Cash App for drug deals, sex trafficking, and even murder-for-hire.

The report cited rapper 22Gz, who boasted in lyrics of his 2020 song Cash App: 'I paid them hitters through Cash App.' Hindenburg noted that Block sponsored a giveaway to promote the music video for the song.

Last June, 22Gz, whose real name is Jeffrey Mark Alexander, was arrested on charges of attempted murder in New York City. That case remains pending.

Hindenburg cited a bevy of rappers who openly boast of using Cash App for criminal purposes in their songs, as well as real-world evidence that the payment app is used in criminal schemes, including government benefits fraud.

In once case, rapper Nuke Bizzle, was convicted for committing COVID stimulus fraud, using Cash App as the payment mechanism. He was arrested just weeks after boasting about the scheme in his lyrics.

'Block has embraced one traditionally very underbanked segment of the population: criminals,' Hindenburg wrote in the report.

Hindenburg, founded by Nathan Anderson (above), profits from taking large sort positions in the companies it issues reports on, betting that their shares will plunge

Rapper 22Gz boasted in lyrics of his 2020 song Cash App: 'I paid them hitters through Cash App.' He was later charged with attempted murder

Fontrell Antonio Baines, the 33-year-old rapper known as 'Nuke Bizzle', was sentenced to six years in prison after admitting to stealing $1.2M of COVID relief funds. He boasted of the scheme, which prosecutors say relied on Cash App, in a music video weeks before his arrest

Block's full response to Hindenburg report 'We intend to work with the SEC and explore legal action against Hindenburg Research for the factually inaccurate and misleading report they shared about our Cash App business today. 'Hindenburg is known for these types of attacks, which are designed solely to allow short sellers to profit from a declined stock price. We have reviewed the full report in the context of our own data and believe its designed to deceive and confuse investors. 'We are a highly regulated public company with regular disclosures, and are confident in our products, reporting, compliance programs, and controls. We will not be distracted by typical short seller tactics.' Advertisement

'The companys Wild West approach to compliance made it easy for bad actors to mass-create accounts for identity fraud and other scams, then extract stolen funds quickly,' the research firm added.

Hindenburg also claimed that its analysts were able to easily create accounts impersonating public figures such as Elon Musk and Donald Trump -- and were even able to order a Cash Card in Trump's name.

Scammers are able to take advantage of this weak identity control by creating fake accounts to solicit donations or impersonate legitimate businesses, according to Hindenburg.

'The 'magic' behind Block's business has not been disruptive innovation, but rather the company's willingness to facilitate fraud against consumers and the government, avoid regulation, dress up predatory loans and fees as revolutionary technology, and mislead investors with inflated metrics,' the report states.

Hindenburg also said that Block 'obfuscates' how many individuals are on the Cash App platform by reporting 'misleading transacting active metrics filled with fake and duplicate accounts.'

Block said in regulatory disclosures that Cash App had 51 million monthly transacting actives at the end of 2022, a 16 percent year-over-year increase.

The short-seller also flagged a number of large insider sales of stock in recent years, noting that co-founders Dorsey and James McKelvey collectively sold over $1 billion of stock during the pandemic as the company's share price soared.

Other executives, including finance chief Amrita Ahuja and the lead manager for Cash App Brian Grassadonia, also dumped millions of dollars in stock, the report added.

Hindenburg said its analysts were able to easily create accounts impersonating Elon Musk and Donald Trump -- and were even able to order a Cash Card in Trump's name

Wall Street analysts said that the allegations regarding Cash App had the greatest potential to draw regulatory scrutiny and harm Block's profitability, if they are substantiated.

'What I am really concerned about is the Cash App, accusations of fraud, multiple accounts, opening accounts and fake names. And it doesn't seem like that would be something that they would allow,' Christopher Brendler, senior analyst at D.A. Davidson & Co,' told Reuters.

'(There is) some evidence in the report that this is happening. So, you know, I think that's the most damaging part of the report,' he added.

Block slammed the allegations as false.

'We have reviewed the full report in the context of our own data and believe its designed to deceive and confuse investors,' the company's statement said.

'We are a highly regulated public company with regular disclosures, and are confident in our products, reporting, compliance programs, and controls.'
A San Francisco supervisor championing plans to provide a $5 million-per-person reparation payment for black people in his city has called for an additional $50 million to be set aside for an office, to handle the logistics of the payouts.

Shamann Walton, the only black person on the 11-member Board of Supervisors, first introduced a resolution for reparations in February 2020.

A committee was formed and spent two years deliberating recommendations. Their report was published in December, and given its first public hearing last week.

On Tuesday, at a routine Board of Supervisors meeting, Walton said that he was making an additional request, and wanted $50 million for an 'Office of Reparations'.

'Today I am here asking again for my colleagues to support a supplemental appropriation for $50 million in order to establish the Office of Reparations and to implement approved recommendations in this fiscal year,' he said.

Shamann Walton is seen on Tuesday at a Board meeting requesting $50 million to set up an Office of Reparations in San Francisco

'The supplemental will specifically be for reparations only.

'And it will guarantee money in this budget cycle as the final report we'll receive, very soon, to set up an Office of Reparations which is already a recommendation.

Who qualifies for reparations under the AARC plan? You must be: 1) An individual who has identified as 'Black/African American' on public documents for at least 10 years 2) 18 years or older You must also meet two of these eight criteria, and be able to prove it: ** Born in San Francisco between 1940 and 1996 and has proof of residency in San Francisco for at least 13 years ** Migrated to San Francisco between 1940 and 1996 and has proof of residency in San Francisco for at least 13 years ** Personally, or the direct descendant of someone, incarcerated by the failed War on Drugs ** Record of attendance in San Francisco public schools during the time of the consent decree to complete desegregation within the school system ** Descendant of someone enslaved through US chattel slavery before 1865 ** Displaced, or the direct descendant of someone displaced, from San Francisco by Urban Renewal between 1954 and 1973 ** Listed, or the direct descendant of, a Certificate of Preference holder ** Member of an historically marginalized group that experienced lending discrimination in San Francisco between 1937 and 1968 or, subsequently, experienced lending discrimination in formerly redlined San Francisco communities between 1968 and 2008 Advertisement

'It will also fund some of the reparations recommendations after receiving the final report, and this Board makes a decision on what to fund.

'It will provide funds to create a database to start storing and vetting eligibility for reparations for final eligibility requirements.'

Walton later said he had already requested legislation from the City Attorney's office to create the office, under the city's Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission is overseeing the work of the African American Reparations Advisory Committee (AARAC).

'It is time for us to prove that we support repairing the harm that has created so many negative outcomes and wealth disparities for black people in this city, by design!' Walton said, in a statement issued after the hearing.

'I want to thank my colleagues Supervisors Preston and Ronen for co-sponsoring and reiterating the commitment ALL of my colleagues have made to reparations!'

The AARAC's suggestions - 111 in total - include a $5 million lump sum given to every eligible black person; a $1 house; and a $97,000-a-year guaranteed income for 250 years.

The board will not decide on whether or not to adopt the recommendations until later this year, once the AARAC has submitted a final report.

Another meeting has been scheduled for September.

Hillary Ronen, a member of the board, told the hearing on March 14: 'You have my 100 percent support and commitment to implementing, quite frankly, all 111 of these recommendations. They are all warranted.'

Yet critics have described it as financially impossible, noting it would cost an estimated $600,000 per household for the lump sum payment alone, according to an analysis by the Hoover Institute, and asking why it was being discussed without any consideration of how it would be paid for.

The proposal has been met with fierce resistance.

'This is never going to actually happen,' said Xaviaer DuRousseau, a conservative activist who used to support BLM.

'It is so unrealistic to think that the average family in San Francisco is going to be able to pay $600,000 extra a piece.'

DuRousseau said that he felt the reparations plan was designed 'to indoctrinate people with victim mentality'

Hillary Ronen, one of the 11 members of the Board of Supervisors, said she was in favor of all 111 recomendations on the African American Reparations Advisory Committee (AARAC) plan

DuRousseau, who was born in Chicago but moved to California aged 19, and lived in the Bay Area, told Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham he was 'disgusted' that homeless people were on the streets in large numbers while the city discussed handing out $1 homes.

The city would also pay all Home Owners Association fees or taxes associated with the property, the plan recommended.

'When people look at this list of the things that they are recommending, the most alarming thing for most is the $5 million going to each black person,' DuRousseau said.

'But for me as an American, I am looking at the list and I see that they are wanting to sell homes at $1 to black Americans.

'As an American and someone who used to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is disgusting to me that we are more focused on slavery which ended in 1865 then we are focused on the veterans who are on the streets of San Francisco homeless and begging for spare change in 2023.

'That's where they need to start sending their money.'

DuRousseau said that he saw the campaign as part of a move to 'indoctrinate' black Americans into dependency.

'This is 111 ways to gaslight black Americans into thinking that we need to be dependent on a system of handouts in order to be successful,' said DuRousseau, who has previously spoken about being raised a Democrat, and then 'seeing the light'.

Hillary Ronen was among the board members praising the reparations plan

Ronen said that she thought the reparations proposals were 'warranted'

He now works as a commentator for PragerU, an advocacy group that creates videos and content to promote a conservative viewpoint.

'Black Americans have been indoctrinated with these lies for too long, and I used to fall for the lies until I took a deep dive into the videos on PragerU.com and realized how easily debunked to these fraudulent narratives around systemic racism actually are.'

He concluded that it was 'virtue signaling' by 'white liberals'.

'People are taking full advantage, they are selling their books, they are selling black people their own oppression, because it is profitable to indoctrinate people with victim mentality,' he said.

Reparations are being considered in various Democratic cities around America as a means of providing compensation to the descendants of enslaved African-Americans.

Many say they are owed not just for the time their ancestors were enslaved, but also for generations afterwards, because African Americans have been incarcerated at disproportionately higher rates than white Americans.

The proposals put forward in San Francisco are among some of the most generous to be heard to date.

Those who advocated for them last night did so whole heartedly.

Activists are seen on Tuesday expressing their support for the reparations plan

Shamann Walton, who initially proposed the idea of reparations, is the only black person on the 11-member Board of Supervisors

One sang a verse from the 1964 Civil Rights anthem by Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come.

The Board of Supervisors who heard the suggestions can vote to adopt some or all of the recommendations.

The board however signaled its enthusiasm for the plan.

'If you look at the (draft) report, you'll see so many examples of how black folks were done wrong here in San Francisco, and all of that can really be traced back to the negative effects of slavery,' said Walton.

Sgt. Yulanda Williams, the president of the police association Officers for Justice, told the board: 'My dad always taught me never to beg. And I am not begging you today.

'It is time for you to do the right thing and provide us with reparations: make us whole.'

Tinisch Hollins, vice-chair of the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, alluded to those comments, and several people who lined up to speak reminded the board they would be watching closely what the supervisors do next.

'I don't need to impress upon you the fact that we are setting a national precedent here in San Francisco.

'What we are asking for and what we're demanding for is a real commitment to what we need to move things forward,' she said.

The AARC, a 15-member panel, was convened in December 2020 amid soul-searching after George Floyd's death and given two years to come up with proposals for reparations.

Their 60-page draft plan was published in December 2022.

Among the 100 recommendations were payments of $5 million to every eligible black adult, the elimination of personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for 250 years and homes in San Francisco for just $1 a family.

To be eligible, a person must be over 18 and 'have identified as black/African American on public documents for at least 10 years'.

They also must fit two of eight criteria - among them, being born or migrated to San Francisco between 1940-96, and having 13 years of proof of residency; or being able to prove descendancy from someone enslaved before 1865.

Other criteria include being 'personally, or the direct descendant of someone, incarcerated by the failed War on Drugs', or proof of being 'displaced, or the direct descendant of someone displaced, from San Francisco by Urban Renewal between 1954 and 1973.'

In June a final plan will be revealed, and then potentially voted on. The AARC disbands in January 2024.

On March 14, Board members - some of whom had, in the weeks leading up to the meeting, expressed skepticism - were unanimously supportive of the plan.

The requirements for black San Francisco residents to be eligible for the payments. They must meet two of eight

Some said they were shocked at critics, who said it was financially ruinous.

'Those of my constituents who lost their minds about this proposal, it's not something we're doing or we would do for other people.

'It's something we would do for our future, for everybody's collective future,' said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, whose district includes the heavily LGBTQ Castro neighborhood.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar said, prior to the hearing, that she felt the reparations committee had done 'exactly what we asked them to do.'

'This report is good. I am ready to accept it,' she told The San Francisco Chronicle.

'That doesn't mean that we're approving the $5 million for every person.

'But I think it's important for us to acknowledge that, as a city, we have not done right by some of our citizens.'

Even supporters of the plan, like Melgar, admit they have not worked out how to fund it - but insist that does not make it unreasonable.

'I push back against people who think that's too much or think that's ridiculous,' Melgar said.

'This is all well documented in history. We know that people were systematically excluded from educational opportunities, home ownership opportunities, everything down the line. How much does that cost? How do we quantify that?'

The board of supervisors that will decide to adopt some or all of the reparations

Supervisor Shamann Walton, middle left, speaks during a special Board of Supervisors hearing about reparations in San Francisco on March 14. Walton first proposed the plan in February 2020, and Tuesday marked the first public hearing to discuss a reparations proposal unveiled in December

Activists calling for reparations staged a rally on Tuesday ahead of the 3pm Board of Supervisors meeting, at which the public could share their views

Aaron Peskin, the chair of the Board of Supervisors, has previously said the $5m idea is unworkable.

'San Francisco doesn't have the financial wherewithal, even if we thought it was good policy, to get into the reparations payment business,' he said.

'But that should not truncate a conversation about ways that this society and its government should address past ills.'

He told the paper he did not think lump-sum reparations payments were feasible, but felt some of the other ideas were interesting.

'That is the bigger, harder conversation, and I think that we would be doing a disservice if we got lost in the politics of a one-and-done reparations payment,' he said.

At least two of Peskin colleagues, Supervisors Joel Engardio and Hillary Ronen, have previously expressed similar views, telling The Chronicle that they thought the city probably couldn't afford $5 million individual reparations payments.

Aaron Peskin, chair of the Board of Supervisors, has said he thinks the $5 million-per-person lump sum is impossible - but he is open to some of the other 100 recommendations

On March 14, Tinisch Hollins, vice-chair of the AARAC, alluded to those comments.

'I don't need to impress upon you the fact that we are setting a national precedent here in San Francisco,' Hollins said.

'What we are asking for and what we're demanding for is a real commitment to what we need to move things forward.'

The idea of paying compensation for slavery has gained traction across cities and universities.

In 2020, California became the first state to form a reparations task force and is still struggling to put a price tag on what is owed.

The idea has not been taken up at the federal level.

In San Francisco, black residents once made up more than 13 percent of the city's population, but more than 50 years later, they account for less than 6 percent of the city's residents  and 38 percent of its homeless population.

The Fillmore District once thrived with black-owned night clubs and shops until government redevelopment in the 1960s forced out residents. One man on Tuesday wore a Fillmore t-shirt.

Critics of the plan say the payouts make no sense in a state and city that never enslaved black people, and taxpayers who were never slave owners should not have to pay money to people who were not enslaved.

Supporters say that view ignores a wealth of data and historical evidence showing that long after U.S. slavery officially ended in 1865, government policies and practices worked to imprison black people at higher rates, deny access to home and business loans and restrict where they could work and live.

John Dennis, chair of the San Francisco Republican party, said he does not support reparations, and called the city's current conversation 'completely unserious'.

The $5m lump sum payment 'seems ridiculous' he said.

He added: 'It also seems that this is the one city where it could possibly pass.'
Bunnings said it will phase out three glue trap products used to snare insects after it was claimed they caused 'horrific pain and suffering' to bats and other wildlife.

A Change.org petition calling on the Australian retail giant to ban the items had collected a massive 90,825 signatures by Friday.

The Wild Animals Australia appeal was kickstarted last year as horrific images were brought to light of native birds and reptiles caught on the strong adhesive traps.

The traps are designed for those wanting to be rid of insects without using chemical sprays.

But disturbing pictures have shown a bat, a kookaburra, a silvereye bird and a dove stuck fast to the bright yellow traps.

Disturbing pictures have shown a bat (pictured), a kookaburra, a silvereye bird and a dove stuck fast to the bright yellow glue traps

A Change.org petition calling on Bunnings to ban these items had collected a massive 90,825 signatures by Friday

Bunnings moved to phase out three outdoor items at the end of last year including the Buzz Fly Paper and Trappit Sticky brand (pictured) insect traps

Wild Animals Australia claimed trapped animals tore and bit off their limbs in a desperate bid to free themselves (pictured, a dove)

The organisation claimed the creatures have torn and bit off their limbs in a desperate bid to free themselves.

The petition was started to convince Bunnings to stop stocking the traps 'of any description' in its stores.

'The glue traps cause horrific pain and suffering to any animal that comes in contact with them,' it said.

'It can be days before the creature succumbs to death via dehydration and starvation.'

A WIRES volunteer told Yahoo News Australia she had to rescue two bats in two weeks from insect traps.

Clare, another volunteer, claimed that even if the bats pry themselves free the adhesive on their bodies makes them stick to other objects.

She said a bat was stuck to a metal pole near a woman's home in 32-degree heat after becoming ensnared by a trap.

'It would have slowly cooked if she hadn't happened to go out of the back door,' Clare said.

Bunnings moved to phase out three outdoor items at the end of last year including the Buzz Fly Paper and Trappit Sticky brand insect traps.

The Buzz Outdoor Insect Catcher Refill packs were also in the firing line.

Bunnings' General Manager of Merchandise Adrian Pearce said the refills were designed to be used in conjunction with a caged protector.

'But we understand there was a risk of accidental trapping if they weren't used in line with the instructions,' Mr Pearce told Daily Mail Australia.

The items will continue to sell in stores until they are gone and are no longer available online.

But Bunnings will continue to sell other glue trap types.

The items will continue to sell in stores until they are gone and are no longer available online (pictured, a kookaburra caught on a trap)

The items will continue to sell in Bunnings' stores until they are gone and are no longer available online

The petition was started to convince Bunnings to stop stocking the traps 'of any description' in its stores (pictured, an ensnared silvereye bird)

'All other sticky trap products we sell are small in size and for indoor use only, and the product packaging clearly reflects this.'

He said Bunnings sell a broader range of insect control products, which includes non-sticky insect traps, such as the Yates Indoor fly trap.

'We are satisfied that the products we sell in this category are compliant with the relevant legislation when used in line with their intended purpose,' he said.

'We understand there are a range of views on sticky traps and glue traps and we continue to work with our suppliers and the regulatory bodies to ensure we are well-informed on these products.'
Joe and Jill Biden kickstarted their Canada trip with a round of hugs and a few kisses as they joined Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau for dessert and private time at the prime minister's residence on Thursday evening.

The president kissed Gregoire Trudeau on the cheek while the prime minister did the same for the first lady - a public display of warmth and affection ahead of the two leaders' bilateral meeting on Friday, where they will deal with a few thorny issues, such as defense spending and migration at the northern border.

President Biden didn't confirm reports the two countries have reached a deal to cut down on the number of migrants crossing the northern boarder and allow Canada to close its Roxham Road crossing.

Instead he joined his wife and the Trudeaus in a group photo on the front porch of Rideau Cottage before waving goodbye as the foursome went inside.

President Joe Biden gives Sophie Gregoire Trudeau a kiss as he and Jill Biden meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife

The Bidens and Trudeaus have a warm, friendly relationship. The two leaders speak often even as their in-person visits have been limited due to the COVID pandemic.

The new pact on the northern border, which is expected to be announced on Friday, will 'reduce incentives' to cross the border irregularly, the Los Angeles Times reported. As part of the deal, Ottawa will announce 15,000 slots for migrants from the Western Hemisphere to apply to enter Canada legally.

It's just part of Biden's packed schedule for Friday as he completes a whirl-wind trip to America's neighbor to the north. He'll hold a bilateral meeting with the prime minister, address Canada's Parliament and hold a press conference with Trudeau.

The Bidens will cap their visit with a Gala dinner on Friday night and then head to Wilmington, Delaware, for the weekend.

The trip is about reassuring America's close ally of their importance and stressing unity on Ukraine but there are underlying issues causing tenions, including migration on the northern border, Canada's reduced defense spending, and how to help Haiti.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gives first lady Jill Biden a kiss as President Joe Biden greets Sophie Gregoire Trudeau

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive in Ottawa

President Biden's schedule for Canada THURSDAY: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive in Ottawa, Canada in the evening. They will meet with Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and His Excellency Whit Fraser. They will have a private dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. FRIDAY: President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau hold a bilateral meeting. Biden addresses the Canadian Parliament. Jill Biden attends. Biden and Trudeau hold a joint press conference. The Bidens attend a Gala Dinner hosted by the Trudeaus. The Bidens leave Ottawa for Wilmington, Delaware. Advertisement

Crossings have increased on the U.S.-Canada border even as the cold weather has made it dangerous with people suffering from hypothermia and exposure as they make their way through the vast, wooden area.

The Swanton Sector, which includes sections of Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, experienced an 846% increase in apprehensions from October 2022 through this January, compared to the year prior.

Canada is also seeing an increase in migrants coming through to their side of the border, particularly at the Roxham Road station.

More than 39,000 refugees entered Canada last year via unofficial crossings, the vast majority via Roxham Road, which links Quebec and New York State.

It is the highest number since 2017 - when there was a spike because of then-President Donald Trump's crackdown on migrants.

'It's not just an issue of migrants crossing from the US to Canada so both countries are motivated to make progress,' a senior Canadian government official said Wednesday in a briefing with reporters.

The issue was a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires asylum-seekers already in the US to petition there rather than show up at a Canadian port of entry.

But that policy does not apply to Roxham Road because it's an unauthorized entry point  literally a road that dead-ends into the border and then picks up on the other side. That is where all these migrants are crossing.

Trudeau said last month the only way to shut down Roxham Road is to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement. That announcement will come during Biden's visit.

Professor Adam Chapnick of Canadian Forces College told DailyMail.com that the northern border is 'huge here in Canada.'

The agreement is part of the Biden administrations efforts to increase the consequences for people crossing the border illegally.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau greet US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden as they arrive at Rideau Cottage, the Prime Minister's Residence, in Ottawa

President Joe Biden speaks as he and first lady Jill Biden meet with Canada's Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, second from right, and her husband Whit Fraser

Asylum seekers, who state they are from Turkey, walk down Roxham Road to cross into Canada from the U.S. in Champlain, New York

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a deal to turn back migrants at nothern border - above asylum seekers at Roxham Road

Also at issue is Canada's defense budget - and if the United States' neighbor to the north is contributing enough to both NORAD and NATO.

NORAD was a product of the Cold War, with the vast amount of money funding the defensive project - meant to detect Soviet bombers - coming from the United States.

But it slowly turned into a binational operation. The commander of NORAD can be from the American or Canadian armed forces, and he or she reports to both the prime minister and the president.

Most Americans know of NORAD through its yearly 'Santa Tracker' but the recent incursion of the Chinese spy balloon put the Cold War-era agency back in the spotlight.

Last year, Trudeau's government promised $4.9 billion in Canadian dollars (which is $3.6 billion) over the next six years to modernize the defensive system.

The two leaders are likely to discuss if that is enough. But a senior Canadian official said the conversation is 'between friends and partners and allies. There's no anger or upset or sense of crisis.'

'The issue of the Chinese spy balloon was a good reminder for all of us that we need to continue to make sure that, when it comes to our defensive capabilities, particularly our air defensive capabilities that we are at the cutting edge all the time,' National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday.

'So modernization of air defense capabilities and certainly in NORAD, specifically, is something that we never take for granted or we're always looking to improve that. You can see a lot of that embedded in the in the Defense Department's budget.'

American presidents have long pushed Canada to spend more on its military, including Barack Obama in 2016 and Donald Trump in 2019, particularly when it comes to NATO spending.

For all the NATO nations, Canada is sixth from the bottom in terms of national defence commitments. NATO members are supposed to spend 2% of its national gross domestic product on defence. Canada spends about 1.5%.

Canadian mounties were at the Ottawa International Airport arrival ceremony

A U.S. Air Force U-2 pilot looks down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon before it was shot down

A person carries a child past Haitian National Police attempting to repel gangs in Port-au-Prince

Biden will have a short trip to Canada - leaving Friday night

Haiti also remains a big issue between Canada and United States.

The Biden administration wants Canada to lead a multinational force into Haiti to assist it in its battle against gang control.

In October, the United States proposed a resolution at the United Nations Security Council for the deployment of a rapid-action, multinational force to Haiti to help nation's police break the stranglehold of armed gangs.

Since the beginning of the year, 531 people have been killed, 300 wounded and 277 kidnapped in gang-related violence in Haiti.

The U.S. had hoped Canada would step up but Trudeau does not seem eager.

'The United States wants to talk about Haiti more than Canada does,' Professor Adam Chapnick of Canadian Forces College told DailyMail.com.

Trade issues also are expected to be discussed.

The dairy market is an issue as the U.S. thinks Canada is still not meeting obligations to open its market to American producers.

Canada, meanwhile, is worried about American subsidies for the U.S. electric vehicle and semiconductor manufacturing. Ottawa is expected to respond with its own incentives for clean energy and manufacturing.

At the same time, the US is looking to Canada to supply the critical minerals and rare-earth elements needed to make electric vehicle batteries, as the Biden administration tries to reduce dependence on adversaries like China for crucial raw materials.

Meanwhile, Canada has robust market in critical minerals that the U.S. needs to make electric vehicle batteries. Washington would like access to it particularly as Biden tries to cut back on dependence on China for such materials.

U.S. presidents traditionally make their first international trip to Canada but delays - partially caused by COVID - mean Biden has already visited almost 20 other nations first.

He held his first bilateral meeting as president with Trudeau but it was virtually.

The two men did met in person in January at the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City.
One of Melbourne's top private girls' schools has warned parents they could be sued if their children get drunk before or after their school formal.

Julia Shea, the principal of Methodist Ladies' College in Melbourne, wrote to parents last week to discourage them from 'organising events where the provision of alcohol to minors is intended or likely to occur'.

It comes as parents at the school have asked other parents to sign waivers removing liability if a drunk teen is harmed in their home.

But in her letter to parents, seen by the Herald Sun, Ms Shea said that lawyers warn that forms 'couched as waivers' would have 'very little weight in any negligence case' and 'do nothing to abrogate a host's duty of care'.

While most schools keep the event itself alcohol free, many private schools formals have become an all-day drinking sessions with underage students sipping alcohol before and after.

One of Melbourne's top private girls' schools has warned parents they could be sued if their children get drunk before or after their school formal

Ms Shea's letter, co-signed by the school's Parent's Association, also explains that the formal must end 'promptly' at 10.30pm and attendees must be picked up in pre-booked taxis or by their parents.

'Note that Uber does not permit those under 18s to book or ride in an Uber unless accompanied by an adult,' the letter says.

Students will also have to attend the school to pick up their tickets on the morning ahead of the event in order to slow down any day drinking.

The principal's strict rules are vastly different to many other elite private schools who have allowed drinking.

Last year, Thomas Carr College in Tarneit, Victoria allowed their students over 18 to drink wine and beer at their graduation dinner while in 2020, Melbourne Girls' College stopped Year 12 formals altogether.

Julia Shea, the principal of Methodist Ladies' College in Melbourne, wrote to parents last week to discourage them from 'organising events where the provision of alcohol to minors is intended or likely to occur'

The reputations of some of Australia's most exclusive private schools have taken a battering in recent years after a series of scandals involving privileged male students.

In 2020, a scavenger hunt from Shore School in Sydney was leaked that saw a points award for a number of acts including 'pissing on a homeless man', 'hooking up with an Asian' and the 'Boar Hunter' - which is having sex with a woman over 80kg.

Meanwhile pupils at $19,000-a-year St Kevin's College in Melbourne and students at Brisbane's Villanova College were recorded singing lewd songs with offensive lyrics towards women.

St Kevin's College students dressed in their school's striped blazers were filmed chanting the song in 2019, saying: 'I wish that all the ladies, were holes in the road... And if I was a dump truck, I'd fill them with my load.'

The Villanova Catholic school boys were recorded signing a song that mentioned 'c*m and go', 'shoot and scoot' and 'ejaculate and evacuate', referring to having sex with a woman.

In 2021, former Kambala student Chanel Contos, 22, started a petition for sexual consent education in elite schools which led to thousands of girls from around Australia recounting abuse and sex assault at the hands of their male peers.

Victoria passed laws making it an offence for adults to supply alcohol to minors without getting permission from a parent or guardian in 2011.

Those who break the law can face a fine of up to $7,000.
A secret 'agenda for the Voice' has been allegedly left behind at a Canberra cafe - fueling fears Australia's way of life will be turned on its head if the referendum gets up.

The alleged 11-point agenda, apparently found by a member of the public and handed to One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, outlines various 'opportunities' to pursue should the Voice to Parliament be enshrined in the constitution.

They include Indigenous job quotas, a takeover of Australian beaches and national parks, and a recommendation that First Nations people be granted first choice of all public housing.

Ms Hanson told Federal Parliament on Wednesday that she was contacted by a concerned member of the public after he found the alleged document in a cafe in Woden.

She said the note was left behind by a group who he believed to be employed by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, a $4.5 billion government body established to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

'It disturbed me greatly,' she later told the Senate.

'I'm trying to say to people... understand if you give this the yes vote, this is what you could be opening yourself up to.'

However, the NIAA has denied any involvement in the creation of the 11-point Voice agenda.

Anthony Albanese appeared on the verge of tears several times during his announcement on Thursday, revealing the exact question the public will be asked

The alleged 11-point plan sent to Senator Hanson recommended First Nations people be granted first choice of all public housing and reverting beaches and national parks to 'ownership of the Mob that traditionally inhabits the area'.

Non-Indigenous Australians who use those beaches or national parks would subsequently be charged a fee, which would generate revenue for Indigenous owners, according to the alleged document.

Senator Hanson is now questioning whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is aware of the suggestions the group is purportedly putting forward and, if not, who oversees the body.

'If the Prime Minister is aware of these initiatives set out by the NIAA, it would appear that Mr Albanese continues to mislead the Australian people over the extent of powers given to the Voice to Parliament,' she said.

Senator Hanson claims up to seven NIAA staff members were at the cafe at the time her source was there with his wife, and were discussing the contents of the document left behind.

But in a statement to Daily Mail Australia, the NIAA said it 'is not and has not' been drafting an 'early action/opportunities' plan for the Voice.

Anthony Albanese surrounded by members of the First Nations Referendum Working Group

Member of the First Nations Referendum Working Group Dr Marcia Langton was emotional as she listened to Anthony Albanese

Pauline Hanson revealed the contents of the letter in the Senate

The first call to action was for an Indigenous job quotas of 10 per cent across several key roles, including judges, magistrates, ADF officers, AFP and state police forces, corrections departments and ambassadors.

Universities would be asked to drop all entry testing and fees for First Nations students, and the group suggests reducing the age eligibility requirement for the old age pension for First Nations people due to their shorter life expectancy.

Senator Hanson said her 'anxiety levels are rising' after receiving the correspondence, which also recommended entry fees to any sport and music events on public land be reduced for First Australians by 50 per cent.

Rivers and streams would become property of the traditional owners, allowing them to seek revenue and charge fees for water consumption. Mining royalties would follow a similar procedure.

The document stated the Voice would also seek to review and vet all new liquor licences, and ensure all Voice staff receive the same salary as the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

As Mr Albanese and his entourage left Thursday's press conference, they were greeted to raucous applause by the Labor caucus

In an emotional press conference, Mr Albanese said: 'This moment has been a very long time in the making'

Pictured: The 11 points that were laid out in the document

Finally, Senator Hanson claims the letter she received stated income tax for First Nations people should be slashed by 50 per cent.

The letter was sent anonymously directly to her office on Tuesday, meaning she has no way to follow up and verify the contents of the document with the informant.

But she believes its credibility as the cafe named is just 450 metres from the NIAA office in Canberra, and some of the points addressed are concerns that she herself has raised.

Others have expressed doubts as to whether there is any benefit in trusting an anonymous letter, given the Prime Minister has expressly laid out the parameters of the Voice.

In announcing the final question which is expected to be asked of all Australians at a referendum, Mr Albanese said the Voice would hold no veto power.

The role would be to consult officials on matters directly impacting Indigenous communities, in an attempt to work with First Nations people rather than on their behalf.

Critics of the Voice have called out the Albanese government for not explaining how the constitutional amendment would work (pictured, Mr Albanese and Minister Burney)

In the referendum, due to be held between October and December, the public will be asked to consider: 'A proposed law: to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?'

In an emotional press conference, Mr Albanese said: 'This moment has been a very long time in the making. It's a simple matter from the heart.

'Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution is the best chance this country has had to address the injustices of the past and move Australia forward for everyone, the best way to do this is to give people a voice.'

For 122 years, the Constitution has made no reference to continent's original inhabitants who, the PM pointed out, have had 'more than 65,000 years of continuous connection to this vast land'.

Mr Albanese brought 18 others onto the podium for his announcement and his lip quivered as he made eye contact with Dr Marcia Langton, who was wiping away tears of her own as the PM spoke.

The opposition has agreed to support the Indigenous Voice to parliament bill in the Senate (pictured, people participate in protests on Australia Day this year)

'I regard it as a great privilege to be standing with the giants of Australia,' Mr Albanese said. 'I don't know if I had their experience in life if I could be as generous and modest in my request. I'd like to think that I would be, but you can't stand in other people's shoes.

'This is a modest request. I say to Australia; don't miss it. This is a real opportunity.'

If a majority of Australians vote in favour of the Voice, the Constitution would be amended as follows:

1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

3. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions powers and procedures.
A woman has bravely faced her attacker in court after he struck her with a samurai sword during a vicious drug and alcohol fuelled attack of 'senseless violence'.

Karl Adon Howard appeared in the NSW District Court on Friday for a hearing to determine his sentence after he admitted to attacking two women during a terrifying ordeal.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting one woman and causing her actual bodily harm and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to the second woman.

However, the 46-year-old was found not guilty of intending to kill or murder the woman he attacked with a samurai sword. His lawyer argued he was unable to form the intent to harm the woman because he was experiencing drug psychosis.

The two women were at Howard's Annandale unit in Sydney's inner west on a night in February 2021, the court was previously told.

Karl Howard (above) will be sentenced later this year after he attacked two women in his inner-west Sydney home

One of the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court Howard held her against a wall, punched her, and then struck her with a samurai sword while she was lying on the ground.

'I stand before you today as a survivor of a brutal and life-altering attack which took place two years ago,' she told the court.

'The physical pain was excruciating but the emotion and psychological pain and trauma that followed has been immeasurable.'

The victim explained the unprovoked attack had a 'profound and lasting effect on (her) life' and she suffered 'ongoing pain and anguish' and 'immeasurable' psychological pain.

She told the court she had undergone 'multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation' to recover after the frightening attack left her 'nearly dead'.

While attending eight medical appointments a week, the woman explained she was left wondering if she would ever be able to use her right arm again.

One of the victims of the attack told the court Howard held her against a wall, punched her, and then struck her with a samurai sword (pictured, police photos of the gruesome scene after the attack)

Howard was found not guilty of intending to kill or murder the woman he attacked with a samurai sword (above)

'I've had to face countless challenges as I rebuild my life,' she said.

'The attack has affected every aspect of my existence.'

The victim said everyday tasks had been made 'insurmountable' by the 'deep and lasting consequences of this senseless act of violence'.

'I am so grateful to be alive,' she told the court.

A trial last year was told Howard began acting erratically and making violent gestures and told the women he had taken valium and Viagra.

The real estate agent was also seen consuming large quantities of cocaine throughout the evening.

He was in the middle of a cocaine bender at the time of the vicious attack and hadn't slept for seven days, the court was previously told.

Howard (above) pleaded guilty to assaulting one woman and causing her actual bodily harm and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to the second woman

Judge Antony Townsend told the court he was considering sentencing Howard to an intensive corrections order, which would allow him to serve his term in the community.

'It's not a course I would consider except for the fact that he spent such a long time in incarceration already,' he said.

The real estate agent spent a year in custody on remand before he was granted bail to attend a rehabilitation facility.

The judge noted that the sentence would allow him the best opportunity to commit to rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol.

Crown prosecutor Stephen Wilkinson argued that Howard had recently breached his strict bail conditions by drinking alcohol, which raises the possibility of further noncompliance.

Judge Townsend allowed the real estate agent time to prove he could commit to rehabilitation and comply with his bail conditions.

The court found Howard was experiencing drug psychosis on the night of the attack (pictured, Howard during the arrest)

Howard hid in the tray of a ute (above) in an attempt to evade police following the attack

The matter will return to court on November 17. Until that time, the court heard Howard is required to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

After he fled his Ferris St home on the night of the vicious attack, the 46-year-old was captured on CCTV running into a nearby laneway and jumping into the back of a ute.

He covered himself in the tarp before staggering out of the tray and running off down the street. He was arrested only minutes later.

In police body camera footage played in his trial, Howard can be seen writhing on the ground and growling like an animal at officers during his arrest.
A group of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russian authorities and held in Kremlin-backed camps for months have been freed and returned home to emotional reunions.

The 17 youngsters were taken to Russian-occupied Crimea when their towns were overrun by Moscow's forces, and were told their families had abandoned them.

A charity yesterday returned the first of the snatched children to their homes, where they told how Russians beat them with iron rods if they voiced support for Kyiv.

The International Criminal Court last week issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's commissioner, accusing them of war crimes over the forced deportations of 16,000 Ukrainian children.

Yesterday's release was praised by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen who announced she would help organise a conference on securing the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the ongoing conflict.

'It is a horrible reminder of the darkest times of our history, what's happening there to deport children. This is a war crime,' she said, after a summit of EU leaders.

Denys Zaporozchenko,left, greets his children Nikita, Yana and Dayana after they are returned from Russian-held territory to Kyiv having been held since October

Mr Zaporozhchenko, pictured with his son Nikita, left, was reunited with his family after an NGO Save Ukraine arranged 17 children to be returned from Russian held territory

Russia is accused by the ICC of attempting to 're-educate' the children, while some of the victims were threatened with violence and punished for expressing pro-Ukrainian views.

One teenager told how the children were beaten with rods if they spoke out of turn.

He said a security officer had warned him: 'We will take you to a boarding school, you will sit there and understand everything.

'One girl was hit on the back, she had a big bruise on her back from where the rod was,' he added. 'We were sat in the hall, and there someone shouted "Glory to Ukraine!" and then someone answered "Glory to the heroes".

'They were taken away. But I don't know what happened to him.'

He said the people holding him threatened to take him to Pskov, a Russian city close to the Estonian border, 500 miles north of Kyiv.

'They said that they would take us to Pskov... Somewhere in Russia, there is a boarding school, and there you will be adopted,' he said. 'But our parents didn't kick us out, like, you can't take us anywhere!'

Moments after the bus returning him and more than a dozen other children from Russian-held territory arrived in Kyiv, a ten-year-old boy jumped straight into his father's arms.

Denys Zaporozhchenko held his son and kissed his forehead, before also hugging his two daughters who were among the 17 children separated from their parents for months.

The reunion was organised by Save Ukraine, an NGO that fights what it says are illegal deportations of Ukrainian children to Russian-controlled territory.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the February 24, 2022 invasion, according to Kyiv, with many allegedly placed in institutions and foster homes.

Russia denies the allegations, saying instead it has saved Ukrainian children from the horrors of the war.

Russia's Presidential Commissioner for Children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, was photographed with Ukrainian children reportedly taken from the Donbass region to Russia for adoption

Lvova-Belova and Vladimir Putin face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for unlawfully deporting children from Ukraine

But the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week issued an arrest warrant against President Vladimir Putin for unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

Zaporozhchenko last saw his children in October in Kherson, the only regional capital that Russian forces captured following the invasion, when they left for a so-called Russian summer camp.

He expected tough fighting in his home city as Ukrainian forces were pushing closer to recapturing it, which they ultimately did in November.

Sending his kids to Crimea - a scenic and touristy peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014 - seemed the lesser evil.

Russian officials 'promised to send them to these camps for a week or two,' he told AFP.

'By the time we realised we shouldn't have done it (let them go), it was too late,' he said.

Inessa, pictured, hugs her son Vitaly after he was returned from Russian-held territory

One of the rescued children said Russians had planned to bring them to Russia for adoption

Families were sometimes pressured into sending their kids on the so-called holidays, said Myroslava Kharchenko, a lawyer working with Save Ukraine.

'(Russian officials) told parents that they have one hour to think, and that if Ukrainians get there before, they will bring American mercenaries who will beat and rape the children.'

After 'blackmail, manipulation and intimidation, they take the children away,' Kharchenko added.

Parents have previously had to embark on the fraught journey themselves to find their children on their own, Kharchenko said.

But for the first time, Save Ukraine group organised a group collection for the separated children by assuming power of attorney for those parents unable to make the journey.

Russia is believed to have taken more than 16,000 Ukrainian children

The freed Ukrainian children spoke with reporters after they were returned to Kyiv

They chartered a bus that went through Poland and Belarus and then to Russia, before picking up the children in annexed Crimea.

Some of children interviewed by AFP described a level of political indoctrination.

'If we didn't sing the (Russian) national anthem, they made us write an explanatory note. Over the New Year, we were shown Putin's speech,' 15-year-old Taisia said.

Zaporozhchenko's 11-year-old daughter, Yana, said 'everything was like in normal camps' but camp officials 'made us sing and dance when inspectors came' from Moscow.

Forty-three-year-old Inesa Vertosh said her son had become 'more serious' after the long separation.

'He looks at me and says 'Mom, I don't want to tell you about it, you wouldn't sleep at night'.'

All children will be given psychological support, said Kharchenko.

Her organisation was 'doing everything so that children and their parents do not return to dangerous territories', she added.

The child said the Russians planned to take them to Pskov where they would be adopted.

Taya Volynska, right and Yevheniya Kondratievea, left, both 15, were among the children rescued
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The incident is one in a startling new trend among thieves who use AI to pull off elaborate, targeted scams on unsuspecting individuals

Fred and Kathy said the scammer, disguised as their son, told them he had hit a pregnant woman, was going to be jailed, and was badly injured in the crash

A Houston, Texas couple was scammed out of $5,000 after thieves used artificial intelligence to clone their son's voice and tell the parents he was in trouble

A Texas couple say they were scammed out of thousands of dollars by thieves who used artificial intelligence to make their voices sound like their son's.

Houston-based Fred and Kathy, who did not provide their last name, spoke with KHOU about their experience, including the intricate back story the scammers gave them involving a fake car crash with a pregnant woman and their son being badly injured.

'This is a serious situation. He did hit a lady that was six months pregnant,' Kathy said she was told. 'It was going to be a high-profile case and she did lose the baby.'

The thieves told the parents they needed $15,000 to bail their son out of prison and they took the situation so seriously that Kathy had to push back chemotherapy for her cancer.

Fred and Kathy said they are now telling their story in the hopes that it might prevent someone else from finding themselves in a similar and growingly common situation.

A Houston, Texas couple say they were scammed out of thousands of dollars by thieves who used artificial intelligence to make their voices sound like their son's

Fred and Kathy said the ordeal began last Wednesday when their home phone rang. Upon picking up, they said they heard the alarmed voice of their own son.

The father said the person on the other end of the phone told him that he had been in a bad car accident and that he had hurt another person.

The couple were immediately convinced it was their own child in need of help.

'I could have sworn I was talking to my son. We had a conversation,' Kathy told KHOU.

Authorities, however, said it was most likely artificial intelligence that spoofed their son's voice.

The scammer told the frightened mother and father that their son was in the county jail and was going to be charged with DWI. The person also said their son had sustained bad injuries including a broken nose in the crash.

Still believing her child to be in danger, Kathy said she did not hesitate.

'You're messing with my kids. I'll do anything for my kids,' Kathy said.

'They actually don't need as much as you think,' said Eric Devlin (pictured) with Lone Star Forensics. 'They can get it from different sources - from Facebook, from videos that you have public, Instagram, anything you publish,' Devlin continued

They were told $15,000 is the amount they needed to bail out their son, but the number was eventually lowered to $5,000. The scammers even offered to come and pick the money up to expedite their son's release.

It wasn't until after the money had already been handed over that they realized they had been tricked; the couple's son had been at work the whole time.

Shockingly, one forensics expert said not only are situations of vocal cloning becoming common, but it's not even that difficult for scammers to achieve.

'They actually don't need as much as you think,' said Eric Devlin with Lone Star Forensics.

'They can get it from different sources - from Facebook, from videos that you have public, Instagram, anything you publish,' Devlin continued.

Fred and Kathy are now using their story to help protect others.

'I mean we scrounged together the $5,000, but the next person could give them the last cent that they own,' Kathy said.

Instances of artificial intelligence stirring up trouble on the internet and in real life have become commonplace in recent months and even some of the most notable names have not been immune.

In February, a deepfake video of Joe Rogan promoting a libido booster for men went viral on TikTok with many online calling it 'eerily real.'

At the time, the video caused a major wave of fear over worries that it could spark serious scams and waves of misinformation being spread.

Many Twitter users in February noted that it is illegal to recreate someone with artificial intelligence to promote a product.

BREAKING: This AI deepfake video rendering of Joe Rogan is going viral on TikTok. This is the start of massive waves of new scams & misinformation!



If only there was a decentralized GPU compute/rendering network that can authenticate provenance for IP. $RNDR https://t.co/m5WQvJjEuF pic.twitter.com/VqtQgEFcyJ   MachineAlpha  (@ImMachineAlpha) February 13, 2023

The 'eerily real' clip shows Joe Rogan discussing the brand Alpha Grind with guest Professor Andrew D. Huberman on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast

The clip also shows users how to find Alpha Grind on Amazon

One user, amazed by the deepfake ad, said: 'Moderation for deepfakes will become more prevalent within the advertising realm soon. Bullish on advertisement monitoring software.'

The clip shows Rogan and Professor Andrew D. Huberman on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast Huberman talking about the male enhancer that claims to increase testosterone.

The video pans to Amazon to show users where they can find Alpha Grind - and the clip shows a 15 percent off coupon for the enhancer.

The deepfake of Rogan is just one of many released to the masses - one in 2022 showed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg thanking democrats for their 'service and inaction' on antitrust legislation.
Bruce Lehrmann received an anonymous email warning people were 'coming for him' and it would be a 'magical 2021' just days before Brittany Higgins made explosive rape allegations against him.

Mr Lehrmann filed lawsuits last month against Lisa Wilkinson, Channel 10, digital website news.com.au and journalist Samantha Maiden for defamation.

His legal action is over a TV interview and online article on February 15, 2021, where Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019.

But new court documents just released by the Federal Court reveal a mysterious message was sent to Mr Lehrmann from a fake email address using his name.

It was sent at 11.11pm on January 25, 2021 - the same night sex abuse survivor Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year, who was also referred to in the mysterious emails.

Bruce Lehrmann received an ominous email warning people were 'coming for him' just days before Brittany Higgins (pictured with Lisa Wilkinson) made her explosive rape allegations

New court documents just released by the Federal Court reveal a bizarre email was sent to Mr Lehrmann from a fake email address in his name

Pictured: Bruce Lehrmann outside NSW Federal Court in March

'Bruce, a woman spoke about what happened to her tonight, and she's Australian of the Year,' the email said.

'I want you to have a think about what you did, and what might be around the corner for you.

'It's inspiring when justice is delivered and the truth comes out. You know what they said: The truth will set you free.

'How many people know what you did, and how many did you tell.

'How many cameras are in Parliament House and how many people tracked down the vision.

'Think about it. Two former staffers from Aussies, now security guards.

'It's going to be a magical 2021.'

The email, from brucelehrmann1@outlook.com, was sent to Mr Lehrmann's personal hotmail account and later handed over to police on April 19, 2021.

The court documents revealed he had received an earlier email on January 15 with the subject line 'Truth will come out' which Mr Lehrmann then unsubscribed from, revealing it had been sent from an anonymous email portal.

Details of that email's contents were not revealed in the court files apart from the subject line.

In a police statement, Mr Lehrmann said he had received the two emails prior to Ms Higgins' allegations.

'There were, ah, two emails from a domain name not owned by me,' he said during a police interview.

In an email to police, he later added: 'I am forwarding through as requested the two emails I received.

'One from the below address which I do not own or have ever set up and the second from what appears to be an online system of sending an email message.

'I will follow this email with the second email I have that doesn't have any content as I unsubscribed my address, but it does contain the subject line of the initial message.'

Also included in the dossier of papers was an email between Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins just hours after the alleged rape early on Saturday March 23, 2019, and an exchange between the pair of Liberal political staffers the following Monday.

Bruce Lehrmann's legal action is over a TV interview and online article on February 15, 2021, where Brittany Higgins (pictured outside court in October) alleged she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019

Also included in the dossier of papers were emails between Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins in the hours and days after the alleged rape early on Saturday March 23, 2019

At 10.53am on Saturday, eight hours after Mr Lehrmann was seen by security leaving Australia Parliament House where he had allegedly left Ms Higgins semi-naked in a minister's office, he sent her a work email.

He forwarded a media summary relating to her role as a staffer for then-defence minister Linda Ryenolds with with an innocuous message and a smiley emoji: 'Might see about getting you on this list! :)'

No reply is included in the court papers, but the pair exchanged further messages about the list 48 hours later on the Monday morning.

At 7.34am on March 25, he emailed her again to say: 'Not letting me send to private email! Will email David and get your gmail on the mail list!'

Ms Higgins replied at 1.16pm: 'So weird!

'Honestly, that would be the best if you could.'

The federal court is considering whether there should be an extension to the 12-month limitation period in which an applicant is allowed to sue for defamation.

Mr Lehrmann filed the cases two years after publication.

He was not named in both articles but claims multiple people in his circle were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

The interlocutory hearing concluded last week. Legal counsel for the news outlets and Wilkinson confirmed, should the trial go ahead, it will likely run for at least four weeks.
A Florida state representative appeared to be hilariously trolled during a committee hearing as pranksters slipped raunchy fake names into his roll call.

Republican official Will Robinson fell victim to the stunt at a hearing for the Florida House's Civil Justice Committee on Monday, which was debating a bill submitted by fellow GOP state Rep. Tiffany Esposito on residential tenancies.

Robinson, who is chairman of the committee, moved the hearing to public testimony and began reading the names of those who had come out against or in support of Esposito's bill.

After several minutes of regular service, Robinson inadvertently said: 'Anita D***', before quickly looking around the room in stunned silence.

The mortified GOP official then moved on to the next name, whilst a female colleague covered her mouth to hide her laughter. 'Hoden Hisc***' he blurted out, quickly catching on to the antics that had slipped their way into the proceedings.

Florida state Rep. Will Robinson, pictured, fell victim to a prank as he chaired a hearing for the legislature's Civil Justice Committee on Monday

Robinson looked down in disbelief as he slowly realized he had been duped into saying the rude words

He looked around the room and bit his lip, while the woman sitting next to him held in her laughter as he inadvertently said the crude names

While the next name on the list was thankfully not an innuendo, it still took the politician by surprise.

'Jimmy? Only Jimmy?' he said, questioning whether he had been caught out by the hoax for a third time.

The Republican appeared relieved when he saw the man in question rise to his feet, after Robinson continued that the individual 'wishes to speak and is a proponent'.

Footage of the antics quickly spread through social media, with many expressing sympathies for the unwitting representative.

Republican official Will Robinson

'This guy didnt deserve this masterclass trolling but sometimes we just gotta sit back and have a good laugh,' said journalist Brendon Leslie.

Another said: 'It's going to take a minute to get over this one.'

Despite appearing humiliated after accidentally reading the fake names, Robinson saw the funny side as he took to Twitter to laugh at the hijinks.

'Committee does meet again next week! Anita and Holden, please stop by!', he said.

Robinson has represented Florida House District 71 since 2018, winning re-election in both 2020 and 2022.

The former real estate attorney has served on numerous subcommittees during his time in the legislature.

The Republican official appeared mortified after being tricked into reading several raunchy names, but he later saw the funny side and joked about the interaction on Twitter
A top Pentagon official has said that a diversity officer who tweeted disparaging remarks about white people will not face workplace discipline following a lengthy internal investigation.

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gil Cisneros faced tough grilling on the controversy from Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee at a hearing on Thursday.

Cisneros confirmed that DoDo employee Kelisa Wing will not be fired or otherwise sanctioned for tweets she wrote prior to taking a job as the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer in the Department of Defense's Education Activity office (DoDEA), which oversees schooling for children of military families.

However, Cisneros admitted at the hearing that he found the tweets objectionable, and said in a letter that Wing was transferred to another role due to an unrelated 'headquarters restructuring'.

'I do agree that that is not acceptable. It's not something that I would condone, and it's not condoned by DoDEA or the Department of Defense,' Cisneros told the panel.

DoDo employee Kelisa Wing was transferred during a 'restructuring' after serving as the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer in the Department of Defense's Education Activity office

At the hearing, Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, forced Cisneros to read one of Wing's tweets aloud, which used slang terms including 'CAUdacity,' a portmanteau from 'Caucasian' and 'audacity'.

'I'm exhausted with these white folx in these [professional development] sessions this lady actually had the CAUdacity to say that black people can be racist too,' the tweet from July 2020 stated.

'I had to stop the session and give Karen the BUSINESS,' the tweet added, using the slang term for white women, typically connoting entitlement and disagreeableness.

'We are not the majority, we don't have power,' added Wing, who is African American, in the tweet.

Stefanik accused Cisneros of dragging his heels in response to her letters on the issue, saying a response to her last inquiry had arrived just hours before the hearing.

The letter from Cisneros revealed that the Pentagon investigation found that Wing 'was speaking in a personal capacity' in her tweets, and that her colleagues never heard her make similar comments at work.

'As a result, the Director, DoDEA, took no disciplinary action,' the letter states, adding that 'federal ethics rules permit employees to express personal views' as long as they don't purport to represent the agency they work for, or violate any laws.

Pentagon official Gil Cisneros said that a diversity officer who tweeted disparaging remarks about white people will not face workplace discipline following a lengthy internal investigation

At the hearing, Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, forced Cisneros to read one of the tweets (above) aloud, which used slang terms including 'CAUdacity'

Rep. Elise Stefanik accused Cisneros of dragging his heels in response to her letters on the issue, saying a response to her last inquiry had arrived just hours before the hearing

Wing, an Army veteran had worked at the DoD for 16 years and was promoted to DEI chief of DoDEA in December 2021

'Separately, as part of a headquarter restructuring, the employee was reassigned to another position that does not include diversity, equity, and inclusion-specific responsibilities,' the letter added.

The controversy first emerged in September, when Fox News resurfaced some of Wing's tweets, from before she took the top diversity role at DoDEA.

In other posts she referred to Donald Trump as the 'whole boy version of a Karen' and his Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, as 'the queen of Karens.'

She responded to one user's complaint about 'white nonsense' in education by tweeting: 'If another Karen tells me about her feelings I might lose it...'

Wing, an Army veteran had worked at the DoD for 16 years and was promoted to DEI chief of DoDEA in December 2021.

The office oversees schooling for children of Pentagon civilian employees, as well as military service members deployed overseas.
Parents of a student murdered in the 2018 Parkland school shooting were arrested and forcibly removed from a Congressional hearing on Thursday.

Manuel and Patricia Oliver, whose teen son Joaquin was killed in the attack, were in Washington DC for the hearing of the House Oversight Committee entitled: 'ATF's Assault on the Second Amendment: When is Enough Enough?'

Pat Fallon, a Republican congressman representing Texas, said that increased gun control was not a solution to gun violence, pointing to Mexico's high level of gun ownership despite it being extremely difficult to legally purchase a gun.

Making the point that new laws are not needed, he said: 'You can't legislate away evil.' However, this riled up the parents of the Parkland victim.

Patricia Oliver is seen on Thursday confronting Republican lawmakers who insisted there was nothing they could do legislatively to end gun violence

Manuel Oliver is seen on Thursday being pinned to the ground by Capitol Police

Manuel Oliver, the father of Joaquin Oliver, is removed from the hearing room

Fallon said: 'Gun control in Mexico is very strict. Every single firearm in Mexico is supposed to be registered.

'Mexico has 124 million people...'

Joaquin Oliver, 17, was a Venezuelan immigrant who came to the US with his family for a 'better future.' He was killed during the school shooting in Florida

He was then interrupted by Patricia Oliver, who reportedly yelled that they had taken her son away.

Joaquin's father was pinned to the ground by Capitol Police and then arrested. It's unclear if cops will press charges.

Onlookers were heard shouting: 'What are you doing to this man? He's a grieving father.'

Joaquin Oliver was killed by a mass shooter at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day in 2018.

The Olivers were evicted from a White House event last year, after Manuel Oliver heckled Joe Biden for not doing enough on gun control.

'Uh - woah, ma'am. Ma'am. Alright - please remove that woman. You're removed. You're breaching protocol and disorder in the committee room. Officers please remove her.'

Manuel Oliver shouted out that the committee was 'full of s***'.

Fallon said: 'And remove the gentleman too.'

Patricia Oliver is removed from the hearing after becoming vocal in Washington DC

Her husband is seen being dragged away by Capitol Police. He was handcuffed and arrested

Pat Fallon is seen arguing with Democrat David Cicilline during Thursday's hearing

Joaquin's father was pinned to the ground by Capitol Police and then arrested. It's unclear if cops will press charges

Fallon then read to the room the rules of the committee, which banned interruptions.

Outside the committee room, Manuel Oliver was manhandled by Capitol Police and shoved to the floor. Supporters chanted: 'He's not violent!'

Fallon, hearing the commotion, called for a recess.

Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress at 26, condemned Fallon's actions.

Frost, from Orlando, served as the National Organizing Director at March for Our Lives - the student activist group set up by Parkland survivors.

'To lose a child to gun violence, to see the photos of your child sitting in a pool of blood - I can't imagine that,' he said.

'You know, Manny and Patricia have dedicated their lives to fighting for a world where true justice can be achieved  because unfortunately, there is no justice for the dead and true justice is ensuring that this never happens again.'

Frost, in whose office hangs a piece of art created during his campaign by Manuel Oliver, said that the couple were 'American heroes'.

'And what they always say is that they don't want their son Joaquin to be remembered as a victim, they want him to remembered as an activist.'

Frost noted that the leading cause of death for American children is gun violence.

'Today Republicans on this committee chose to sit in front of those parents, and the survivors and organizers and advocates that are sitting in the audience right now, people who are re-living their trauma listening through this, people impacted by gun violence across the nation, and show that their priority is gun lobby money, manufacturers who profit off death, and creating fake narratives for political gain,' he said.

He then left the hearing, saying there was 'no point', while Republicans remain in the thrall of the gun lobby.
An American contractor has been killed and five service members were wounded when an Iranian suicide drone struck a facility on a coalition base in northeast Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said.

In retaliation, President Biden ordered the U.S. Central Command forces to launch 'precision airstrikes' against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing 11 pro-Iran fighters.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the airstrikes against the IRGC, a wing of the Iranian military which is blacklisted as a terrorist group by the US, were carried out by F-15 fighter jets.

'The airstrikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria' by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said. 'No group will strike our troops with impunity.'

Earlier on Thursday, a drone strike killed a US contractor and injured five service members, as well as another American contractor at a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near al-Hasakah in northeast Syria. They are said to be in a stable condition, the Washington Post reported, citing a senior military official.

The Defense Department said the intelligence community had determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor suspected to have been US airstrikes authorized in retaliation to the killing of a contractor by an Iranian suicide drone. The Defense Department said the intelligence community had determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin

US forces provide military training the Al-Hasakah province in Syria in September 2022

Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were medically evacuated to Iraq, the Pentagon said.

'As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing,' Austin said. 'No group will strike our troops with impunity.'

A senior US military source told the New York Times the retaliatory strikes hit a munition warehouse, a control building, and an intelligence-collection site.

On Friday, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with a wide network of sources on the ground in the war-torn country, said 11 people had been killed by US strikes, including two Syrians.

The US strikes targeted a weapons depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, killing six pro-Iran fighters. Another strike killed two fighters near the town of Al-Mayadin, and three others near Albu Kamal,' the Observatory's head Rami Abdel Rahman.

General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

'We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks,' Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the 'Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago.' He pointed to Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

He added: 'Iran's vast and deeply resourced proxy forces spread instability throughout the region and threaten our regional partners.'

Kurilla also alleged that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on U.S. positions in Syria since January 2021.

'What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies - that's either UAVs or rockets to be able to attack our forces in either Iraq or Syria,' Kurilla said, using an acronym for drones.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields.

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

An Iranian-made suicide drone, launched by Russia, is seen flying above Kyiv in Ukraine on October 2022

President Joe Biden (pictured) ordered the retaliation strike on a munition warehouse, a control building and an intelligence-collection site

Pictured: The wreckage of what Kyiv has described as an Iranian Shahed drone downed near Kupiansk, Ukraine. American defense officials on February 14 sought to dispel any doubt that Iran is supplying drones for Russia's war in Ukraine, releasing photos and analysis of unmanned aircraft deployed in the conflict to demonstrate Tehran's involvement

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has denied being responsible for these attacks, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts in the region to deescalate tensions, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes. Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

READ MORE: Iranian-made drone being used to carry out deadly strikes in Ukraine Advertisement

Qatar's state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Qatar's foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The US under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

Hundreds of US troops are in Syria as part of a coalition fighting against remnants of the Islamic State (IS) group and have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups.

The US troops support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds' de facto army in the area, which led the battle that dislodged IS from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in 2019.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened.

There are roughly 900 American troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden

The U.S. still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened

'As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing,' Austin said. 'No group will strike our troops with impunity.'

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad.

The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

While Islamic State is a shadow of the group that ruled over a third of Syria and Iraq in a Caliphate declared in 2014, hundreds of fighters are still camped in desolate areas where neither the US-led coalition nor the Syrian army, with support from Russia and Iranian-backed militias, exert full control.

Thousands of other Islamic State fighters are in detention facilities guarded by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, America's key ally in the country.

American officials say that Islamic State could still regenerate into a major threat.

The mission, which former President Donald Trump nearly ended in 2018 before softening his withdrawal plans, is a remnant of the larger global war against terrorism that had included once the war in Afghanistan and a far larger US military deployment to Iraq.
A teenage boy accused of raping a girl he knew at a party west of Sydney has successfully appealed his sexual assault convictions.

The decision overturns a nine-month sentence in youth detention for the sexual assault alleged to have occurred when the former Katoomba High School student was 16 at a house party in the Blue Mountains.

On Friday, Judge Huw Baker allowed the appeal at the Penrith District Court which was attended by the alleged victim's father as well as the teenage boy and his family.

The judge found he could not reject the boy's account of what happened and the possibility that it may be correct.

'Overall I found his evidence concerning the sexual activity to be internally consistent and not implausible,' Judge Baker said.

The decision overturns a nine-month sentence in youth detention for the sexual assault alleged to have occurred when the former Katoomba High School student was 16 at a house party in the Blue Mountains

The incident allegedly took place in November, 2019 after a night of drinking at the party, with the teenage girl claiming she drifted in and out of consciousness (stock image)

'I'm not satisfied of the appellant's guilt for each of the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The conviction appeal is allowed.'

A separate appeal by prosecutors over what they claimed was a 'manifestly inadequate' sentence has been dismissed as a result of Friday's court outcome.

The incident allegedly took place in November, 2019 after a night of drinking at the party, with the teenage girl claiming she drifted in and out of consciousness.

In May last year, the Parramatta Children's Court found the victim had initially consented, but the magistrate found there was a clear line at which this consent was withdrawn.

These findings have now been overturned.

The accused, who cannot be legally named, had been convicted on six counts of sexual assault and one count of intentional choking.

The boy has always denied the activity was non-consensual, claiming the teenage girl led him into the room by taking him by the hand.

He told the court he had asked if any sexual activity was okay 'every 30 seconds' because he was 'cautious about consent'.

The alleged victim's father, who also cannot be identified, said he was deeply shocked by Friday's decision, calling it a miscarriage of justice.

'We 100 per cent believe our daughter when she says that she was raped,' he told reporters.

'Every single day we see our daughter's poor mental health and her inability to lead a normal life. She was unable to take her HSC exams and has been totally destroyed by the experience.'

On Friday, Judge Huw Baker allowed the appeal at the Penrith District Court which was attended by the alleged victim's father as well as the teenage boy and his family

He criticised the court process, saying it had taken two and a half years to reach this stage only to overturn a 'rightful conviction'.

The father said a civil lawsuit could be on the cards against the teenage boy as well as the NSW Department of Education.

'This is not acceptable. Our daughter has been left with severe PTSD and this legal action has further compounded the trauma that she experienced as a result of the incident,' he said.

'We will now look at whether we can take legal action in the civil court. Our only concern is our daughter may not be well enough to undertake that legal action. Justice must prevail.'
The treatment of fiery senator Lidia Thorpe at a 'pro-women' rally outside Parliament House has been branded 'disturbing' by Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney.

Senator Thorpe was filmed being stopped by police as she attempted to interrupt the anti-trans rally held by Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker.

The footage showed Senator Thorpe as she collapsed on the ground, draped in an Aboriginal flag, and tried to crawl away from police.

Ms Burney told ABC Radio on Friday morning she found footage of the incident 'disturbing and concerning'.

"My concern is for Lidia, I hope she's getting the support that she should get,' she said.

Lidia Thorpe (pictured) attempted to storm the podium during British trans critic Posie Parker's speech for the Let Women Speak rally outside parliament house on Thursday

Pictured: Kellie-Jay Keen watching on as Lidia Thorpe is moved along

Ms Burney said she found footage of the incident 'disturbing and concerning'

The incident has been referred to the Australian Federal Police professional standards command - a decision Ms Burney supports.

'I think that... is absolutely appropriate,' she said.

'The real issue is to make sure her wellbeing, her welfare, is okay and she's getting the support that she needs.'

Senator Thorpe claimed she was 'pulverised' by police and said Ms Keen-Minshull - who she referred to as 'filth' - should not be allowed to speak on Aboriginal land.

Other politicians were less supportive of the controversial independent senator, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton scathing in his assessment of the situation.

Mr Dutton said Senator Thorpe's actions were 'shameful'.

'The Australian Federal Police should not have to waste their resources in dealing with stunts from Senator Thorpe,' he said on Thursday.

The independent 'black sovereignty' movement senator later claimed she was 'pulverised' by police

Rain bore down on Canberra as Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (pictured) spoke outside parliament house for the rally

'It was a pathetic display and she should be embarrassed at her behaviour.'

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus also weighed in on the incident saying the footage showing Senator Thorpe refusing to be picked up by police before moving away on hands and knees was 'concerning'.

'I have sought urgent advice from the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police,' Mr Dreyfus said.

Ms Keen-Minshull has been touring Australia with rallies held in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart - sparking ferocious counter demonstrations by pro-LGBTQI activists.

As the rain bore down on Canberra, hundreds of anti-Posie protesters flocked to Ms Keen-Minshull's 'pro women' rally, separated on the lawns of Parliament House by two dozen police officers.

Draped in an Aboriginal flag, Senator Thorpe made a beeline toward Ms Keen-Marshall, before she was intercepted by police and forced to the ground

Attendees antagonised pro-trans demonstrators by holding signs which read 'tomboys are not boys', 'protest the innocence of children' and 'libraries are for books, not perversion'.

On the other side, slogans included 'bigots in the bin', 'f*** off Posie, f**k off' and 'you've got Nazis on your side'.

After Ms Thorpe's attempted disruption of Keen-Minshull's speech - reminiscent of her laying down in front of a float at Mardi Gras last month - the former Greens senator blasted the decision to let the controversial speaker into the country.

'We do not tolerate this kind of filth being on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country, let alone the Nazi support that these people have,' she said.

'They are racist, they are homophobic, they are destroying people's lives. This country should be ashamed that they even let people like this into this country.

'I went to tell her that they are not welcome here, and I got pulverised by the police by simply telling that person that they are not allowed to be here.

'I've been assaulted by the police today as a sovereign Gunnai, Gunditjmara, DjabWurrung woman.

'And the police need to answer for the assault but also this government needs to answer why these people are allowed into the country.'
A bottle shop security guard working near where a BWS worker was killed was allegedly smashed in the head with a glass bottle just hours before the young employee died.

The Beachfront Hotel security guard was working at the Rapid Creek bottle shop, in Darwin's north, on March 19 when he was called to help stop an alleged robbery just after 6pm.

The security guard had attempted to stop the three teens - aged 15, 16 and 17 - when he was allegedly smashed in the head with a 700ml glass bottle of rum.

The guard was rushed to hospital with blood streaming down his face and needed 12 stitches - six across his forehead and six more in his left ear.

The alleged trio of thieves fled the scene however were arrested the next day by NT Police.

An NT bottle-o security guard (pictured) was trying to stop an alleged robbery when he was hit

The alleged thieves, aged 15, 16 and 17, got away before being caught by police the next day

'Two males, aged 15 and 16, have been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery for their alleged involvement in incidents in Rapid Creek,' NT Police said in a statement.

'Another male, aged 17, was arrested last night and has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery for the incident in Rapid Creek.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted The Beachfront Hotel and Bottleshop but they declined to comment.

The security guard's trip to hospital was just hours before BWS worker Declan Laverty was allegedly murdered during the final minutes of his shift at the Airport Tavern in Jingili at 9pm on March 19.

The security guard's fiance commented on the bloody photos of her partner and paid tribute to Mr Laverty.

'Rest in peace to the young fella [Declan],' she wrote.

Mr Laverty was allegedly murdered by 19-year-old Keith Kerinauia, who faced court for the first time on Tuesday.

Since the alleged robberies the company owning BWS, Endeavour Group, said that all 16 of its Northern Territory would be closing at 6pm effective immediately.

Declan Laverty (pictured) was allegedly stabbed to death in the final minutes of his shift at BWS

Since the alleged robberies Endeavour Group has changed its policy and all BWS stores in the Northern Territory will now close at 6pm

After meeting Mr Laverty's parents, Endeavour Group CEO Steve Donohue said the company was changing things in the NT.

'Counselling has been made available to them and our team members, and we will look to provide further support in the coming days and weeks,' Mr Donohue said.

A spokesperson for BWS told Daily Mail Australia the reduction in business hours will be accompanied by an increase in security to further increase safety measures for staff.
A search of a Mexican jungle for an Australian mother who has been missing for nearly a year along with her estranged husband has revealed no trace of the couple.

Tahnee Shanks, 32, was last seen on May 2 last year when she checked out of the family's Cancun hotel with her husband Jorge Luis Aguirre Astudillo and now three-year-old daughter Adelynn.

Little Adelynn was later found wandering alone and barefoot outside a Cancun church at about 9pm that day with no sign of her parents.

While Adelynn's uncle Daniel and grandmother Leanne Shanks immediately flew from Queensland to retrieve Adelynn, who now lives with Daniel and his wife, there's been no sign of her parents.

In January a heavily armed team including members from the State Attorney-General's Office, Investigative Police, Quintana Roo Police, the National Guard and the Secretary of National Defence searched an area of the jungle near a housing unit in southern Cancun.

They believed the couple's bodies may have been taken there and buried in clandestine graves.

Tahnee Shanks and her estranged partner Jorge Aguirre Astudillo remain missing in Mexico. Their daughter Adelynn was later found wandering the streets of Cancun alone

A search for the Australian mother (right) in an area of jungle in Cancun proved unsuccessful

A heavily armed team searched an area of a jungle in Cancun for the bodies of Ms Shanks and her husband in January but found no trace of them

Several hectares of the area were searched, with cadaver dogs also brought in, but no trace of the couple was found, a Mexican newspaper reported.

The search came after authorities received potential 'new evidence' in relation to their disappearance, believing Ms Shanks and Mr Aguirre Astudillo may have been taken to the jungle area and killed.

The white ute they were in was reportedly parked outside a house for 10 hours before they disappeared.

The Mexican publication Por Esto! said sources close to the investigation believed there could be other bodies of victims of crime groups buried in the area.

At the time of Ms Shanks' disappearance, authorities said they were investigating two theories.

The first is that there was a domestic violence incident and Mr Aguirre Astudillo is on the run or in hiding.

Tahnee Shanks, 32, was last seen on May 2 last year when she checked out of the family's Cancun hotel with husband Jorge Astudillo and now three-year-old daughter, Adelynn

In January a heavily armed team including members from the State Attorney-General's Office, Investigative Police, Quintana Roo Police, the National Guard and the Secretary of National Defence searched an area of the jungle near a housing unit in southern Cancun

The alternative theory is that Mr Aguirre Astudillo was involved in criminal activity linked to Mexico's notorious drug cartels and the disappearance is payback.

The family had travelled from their home in Merida to the tourist hotspot of Cancun on May 1 and then checked out of their hotel the next day.

Their white 4WD was spotted on toll road cameras just before 12pm heading back to Merida before making an abrupt U-turn.

A similar car was later found burnt out and was believed to have been the vehicle the family was travelling in.

But reports suggest that car may have been in relation to another kidnapping, and the one the family were travelling in has since been bought by another driver who isn't connected to Ms Shanks' disappearance.

Leanne Shanks is now hoping CCTV taken outside the church where Adelynn was abandoned may piece together what happened to her daughter.

She said she'd recently been granted permission to watch the footage, with someone from a missing persons organisation claiming they saw Mr Aguirre Astudillo and one of his relatives outside the church.

The pair's white ute was captured on leaving a Cancun hotel on the morning of May 2. They travelled 20 kilometres towards Merida when the ute suddenly did a U-turn and headed back towards Cancun, before taking a detour off the highway

Texts from Ms Shanks to a friend show her describing the breakdown of her marriage

'I'm willing to go back over (to Mexico) but the consulate can't really look after me which makes it hard because I don't even know where to start or if they (the police) will speak to me,' she told the Courier Mail.

'Is it criminal or is it domestic? We really still are none the wiser.'

Ms Shanks was due to return to Australia on June 22 last year, just weeks after she went missing.

Texts between her and a friend showed her expressing the breakdown of her relationship with Mr Aguirre Astudillo.

While she said he wasn't physically abusive, she didn't 'want to wait' for the emotional abuse and anger to turn violent.

In another WhatsApp exchange she revealed she'd locked herself in her daughter's bedroom in a bid to escape her husband's rage as he tried to kick her out of the family home.

The couple recently separated after Ms Shanks found out he had an affair and booked a flight to return to Queensland with Adelynn.
A former state Liberal minister suspended from Parliament as he fights sex charges is the favourite to be re-elected at Saturday's election.

Gareth Ward, the member for Kiama, is running as an independent and is the frontrunner in his NSW south coast electorate, with Sportsbet giving him the shortest odds of $1.35.

By comparison, his Liberal rival Melanie Gibbons has longer odds of $5. She was parachuted into the seat after losing a local Liberal Party preselection ballot for the seat of Holsworthy, 100km away, where she was the local MP.

Daily Mail Australia understands internal Liberal Party polling shows Mr Ward will be re-elected for a fourth term, with Sportsbet again taking bets on him on Friday.

No odds were offered for Mr Ward late on Thursday night.

Labor's Katelin McInerney has odds of $5.50 in a seat her party had held from 1981 to 2011, when Mr Ward was elected as the Coalition was first swept to power.

Mr Ward was suspended from the Legislative Assembly in March last year after he was charged with three counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of common assault.

Gareth Ward, the member for Kiama, is the frontrunner in his NSW south coast electorate, with Sportsbet giving him the shortest odds of $1.35 (he is pictured left with former premier Gladys Berejiklian)

He had resigned from the Liberal Party in May 2021, after being part of the moderate faction.

The former minister for families, communities and disability services is contesting all charges with police alleging he indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in 2013 and sexually assaulted a 27-year-old man in Sydney in 2015.

The case remains before the courts and Mr Ward said he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Sportsbet predicts the Labor Opposition will pick up the Sydney seats of East Hills, Parramatta, Penrith and Riverstone from the Liberal Party, plus the notionally Labor electorate of Heathcote.

That would leave Labor leader Chris Minns with 42 seats - five short of the necessary 47 number needed for a majority in the 93-member lower house, as the Coalition was left with 41 seats.

Mr Ward was suspended from the Legislative Assembly in March last year after he was charged with three counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of common assault (he is pictured during Question Time in 2020)

Both Mr Minns and Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet have vowed to refrain from seeking Mr Ward's support to help form a minority government.

This would make three Greens MPs the deciders, along with former gay marriage campaigner Alex Greenwich, regional independents Greg Piper and Joe McGirr, and former Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party members Helen Dalton, Phil Donato and Roy Butler.

Labor goes into the election with 36 seats it already holds, but two more with redistributions including the new seat of Leppington and the notionally Labor electorate of Heathcote, taking its existing tally to 38.

The Coalition starts with 44 seats, following an unfavourable redistribution in Heathcote, a by-election loss to Labor in Bega and the loss of two Liberal MPs to the crossbench because of scandal since the 2019 election.
Nebraska senators have vowed to resume their filibuster of the legislature, blocking all bills from being passed in response to a vote to advance a transgender bill.

The bill, LB 574, was approved on Thursday after three contentious days of debate. It now needs two further debates before it will be signed into law.

Dubbed 'Let Them Grow', the bill would forbid gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for those under 19.

In response to the bill's progress, Senator Megan Hunt - who on Wednesday revealed during the debate that her 12-year-old son is transgender - said she would filibuster all future bills.

Her colleague Machaela Cavanaugh filibustered for three weeks to prevent the bill being voted on in the first place, and only relented when she decided to allow a vote so they could see who 'has blood on their hands'.

Megan Hunt, a senator representing Omaha, who is the mother to a 12-year-old transgender son, on Thursday promised to filibuster all bills in protest at the progress of LB 574

This hateful bill is not about policy. It is a basic human rights issue. The vote today will show us exactly which senators value the dignity, autonomy, and personhood of Nebraskans. Do not cross this line. Do not violate our rights. #TransRightsAreHumanRights #NELeg pic.twitter.com/UUoG0Au6ab  Senator Megan Hunt (@NebraskaMegan) March 23, 2023

Hunt said she would resume the filibuster. The Legislative session runs until June 9, meaning Nebraskan politicians face the prospect of weeks of unrest.

'We have made it clear that this is the line in the sand. People have said, what if we go after your bills? What if we put a bunch of bills introduced by progressives on the agenda are you going to filibuster those too? Yes, because we are not like you,' she said.

'No one in the world holds a grudge like me. And no one in the world cares less about being petty than me. I don't care - I don't like you.'

Cavanaugh tweeted after the vote: 'I will not give up on Nebraska children.

'Failure isn't an option because, if I fail, I'm failing children, and I'm not going to fail children. Are you with me? #DontLegislateHate'

The debate generated intense emotions.

On Thursday, before the vote, Senator Jen Day made a passionate plea for her fellow politicians to strike the bill down.

'Feel it in your heart, I know it is there,' she said.

'Look into the eyes of these kids, and these parents who are hurting at the very sight of this conversation. Please, stop it!'

Both Day and Hunt have vowed to continue the filibuster.

Jana Hughes, a senator representing Seward, said that she voted to end the debate not because she supports the bill in its current form, but because she wants to move on with congressional business.

'I came here to do property tax relief and broadband,' she told the Nebraska Examiner.

Senator Kathleen Kauth, who introduced the bill in January, accused her opponents of seeking the spotlight.

Kathleen Kauth, who introduced the legislature, accused her opponents of grandstanding

Machaela Cavanaugh filibustered the bill for three weeks, bringing routine business to a halt

Cavanaugh and her husband Nick Brotzel are seen on the campaign trail

'We knew it would be very, very difficult, but the rhetoric seems a little intense,' said Kauth.

'To accuse those supporting this bill of promoting genocide, being Nazis, that seems a bit much.'

Kauth accused her opponents of 'obnoxious hyperbole to get a lot of national media attention'.

She said the bill was not introduced 'in a vacuum', pointing out there were 87 bills relating to transgender issues in state legislatures at present.

Outside the legislature on Wednesday a crowd of opponents of the bill gathered to protest.

Inside, Kauth told the chamber that the bill was introduced to protect children.

'There are no long-term studies proving that these procedures and prescriptions resolve the gender dysphoria,' she said.

'And there are studies, in countries with much greater experience and gender transitions, that advocate watchful waiting because the risk for youth to receive these prescriptions and procedures is simply too great.'

Protesters are seen in Lincoln, Nebraska on Wednesday

Senator Brian Hardin of Gering and Senator Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn both told the legislature they believed there were only two genders, and that transgender individuals do not exist.

Senator Steve Halloran likened parents refusing transgender treatment to parents refusing to let their children drink alcohol.

'By today's standards, I would be, and my wife would be, abusive parents,' he said.

'That's a tough admission to make.

'Because at the time, as adults in the room, our children would come to us with a suggestion of doing this or that.

'And we would point out to them the risks of doing this or that.

'Whether it was having a party at some friend's house, and that friend's house was known for having drinking parties. And of course our children are underage.

'We would say no.'

Others said they were uncertain about the science surrounding transgender people.

Senator John Fredrickson is seen on Thursday urging his fellow politicians not to vote for the bill

During debate on Nebraskas anti-trans bill, State Sen. Steve Halloran (R) falsely equates denying a teen gender-affirming care to stopping a teen from drinking underage:



By todays standards, I would be, and my wife would be, abusive parents ... We said no. pic.twitter.com/4fRZV0IycI  The Recount (@therecount) March 22, 2023

Hunt told the floor that many of those making the decision had not even met a transgender person.

She said she was initially unsure about mentioning her son.

'I was anxious about bringing this up and thought it might be a disservice to the debate if I did, but this is my life and this is my reality,' she said.

'My child has not been able to get gender-affirming care. There aren't counselors making kids trans, there aren't counselors telling parents you have to get your kids on these drugs or else they're going to kill themselves.

'This is scare tactics. It's satanic panic. There's no truth to it because I lived it. I'm an affirming parent. We did everything right that you're supposed to do and my kid could not get gender-affirming care,' Hunt said.

She added: ''I want to have a happy, healthy son like every parent of a trans youth feels.'

Hunt said that many of those engaged in the debate did not understand the reality her family faced.

'Another thing you people don't understand is the issue of access in Nebraska,' Hunt said.

'My son is not on puberty blockers, my son is not on hormones, my son certainly has not had any surgery. You know why? Because Medicaid denied it four times.

'I'm a state senator, I'm a woman of means and power and privilege and my child has not been able to get gender-affirming care,' she said.

'That's the reality of what trans health care is like in Nebraska.'

Senator John Fredrickson, a licensed mental health practitioner from Omaha and a supporter of the bill, agreed with Hunt.

He said the debate had veered into misinformation about the standards of care and assessment protocols, noting 'parental involvement and consent are always required.'

On Thursday, before the vote, Fredrickson cited 2019 statistics from the Trevor Project that LGBTQ youths who have one accepting adult in their lives were 40 percent less likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year.

Fredrickson said the statistic made him think of his mother, who died last year, but had accepted him for being gay.

He told his colleagues that Thursday's vote was not final.

'Regardless of what happens today, heads up, chins up,' he said.

'We're survivors. Me standing in this room is proof of that.'
ODPP will not proceed with the case

A bodybuilder previously accused of killing his ex-girlfriend has had the charges against him dropped.

Christos Panagakos, now 30, was accused of killing Ivona Jovanovic, 27, in his home at Highland Park on the Gold Coast in September, 2019 and charged with her death in January, 2021.

Ms Jovanovic died after being shot in the stomach.

Mr Panagakos had always maintained his innocence.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has now confirmed they will not be proceeding with the case.

Christos Panagakos (pictured), now 30, was accused of the killing Ivona Jovanovic, 27, in his home in September, 2019 and charged with her death in January, 2021

'The ODPP can confirm that an indictment will not be presented against Christos Panagakos in relation to the death of Ivona Jovanovic,' a spokesman said.

'After a careful consideration of the admissible evidence presented at the committal proceeding, it was determined that the Crown did not have a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction for that offence.'

Mr Panagakos' defence lawyer Michael Gatenby gave a statement on his behalf on Thursday

'Christos is pleased that the DPP have accepted our position that there was no reasonable prospects of success,' he said, according to the Gold Cost Bulletin.

Ivona Jovanovic died after she was shot in the stomach at a Gold Coast home in September, 2019

Annette Jovanovic (pictured left with her sister Ivona) has said she is searching for answers

'He was in a long-term relationship with the deceased and hopes to be able to grieve for her loss now that the serious allegations have been discontinued.'

Panagakos was arrested by detectives at Woodford Correctional Centre in January, 2021, following an extensive investigation into Ms Jovanovic's death.

He was taken to Brisbane Watchhouse, where he charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

He had been serving time at Woodford Prison on unrelated charges.

Panagakos was arrested by detectives at Woodford Correctional Centre in January, 2021, following an extensive investigation into Ms Jovanovic's (pictured) death

Christos Panagakos (pictured) has had all charges against him dropped

Police alleged at the time the four friends Ms Jovanovic was with when she was shot fled the scene before emergency services arrived.

'I'm sure if one of them had been injured in that manner they would expect as much assistance as everyone there,' Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said at the time.

'Whilst they called the ambulance, there's a lot of first-aid that could have been rendered at the time that may or may not have made a difference  we'll never know.'

Panagakos was previously arrested on the night of her death but released without charge.

Ivona Jovanovic (pictured) was getting ready for a night out when she was shot in the chest. She died in hospital a short time later

Ms Jovanovic's grieving sister Annette has previously opened up about the anguish of not knowing what happened to her older sister seven months ago.

'Why every time when I attempt to go to bed my mind begins to race and I'm wide awake still trying to figure out what happened to my sister,' she posted on Facebook in June 2020.

'What makes it so much harder is knowing there are four people who know the truth and exactly what happened but yet they can't speak up and give my family any closure.

'Ivona's life was taken and her family's lives are being destroyed each day and each night.'
A Florida fire captain revealed he was left blind in one eye after using bacteria-laced contaminated eye drops - and he's now launched a legal battle against the company.

Adam Di Sarro - who has used Artificial Tears drops to aid dryness in his eyes for years without issue - broke down in tears as he revealed the extent of the damage.

The man from Naples, Florida has now launched a lawsuit against the manufacturers - as well as its distributor, Amazon.com - following a five-month battle that left him without his vision.

Speaking about his ailments, Di Sarro told CBS News: 'The redness came on, the irritation came on, a lot of itching, and it was abnormal. It just progressively got worse, to the point where I couldn't even see within a few hours.'

The fire captain is among 68 people in 16 states who have been infected with the 'rare strain' of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Three people have died and eight others have lost their vision after using the eyedrops, with manufacturers EzriCare and Delsam Phama recalled batches in February from pharmacies across the US.

Adam Di Sarro, pictured, broke down as he spoke of how his battle against the superbug Pseudomonas aeruginosa 'just progressively got worse'

Di Sarro's left eye, pictured, started to feel funny after using the eyedrops. He is now suing the company for the long-term damage and blindness it has caused him

The CDC has now identified cases in states including California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Among those who used the bacteria-laced Artificial Tears eyedrops, four patients had to have their eyeballs removed as a result.

Di Sarro said doctors feared he would lose his eye after a dose of antibiotics failed to treat the problem.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 68 people in 16 states were diagnosed with infections from the bacteria in EzriCare, which has caused three deaths and eight people losing their vision, and four people who had to have their eyeballs removed

'That was hard,' he added. 'And is still hard because I'm still not at work, going on five months.'

Global Pharma Healthcare recalled its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops that were distributed by EzriCare and Delsam Pharma last month. Typically, the product is used for people suffering with dry eyes who need extra lubrication.

The drops had been sold at drug stores across the country, including Walmart, Target, and CVS, and on Amazon, though the products have since been pulled.

Health authorities are continuing to track infections as they investigate the outbreak in 16 states, including California, New York, Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania.

The CDC is urging patients who have used EzriCare or Delsam Pharma's artificial tears and who have noticed symptoms of an eye infection to get medical care 'immediately.'

Signs of an eye infection include yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye; eye pain or discomfort; redness of the eye or eyelid; feeling of something in your eye; increased sensitivity to light; and blurry vision, the CDC reports.

Most of the cases have been linked to four regional clusters and Ezricare's drops are the only product used by patients in each of those groups.

Most patients reported using 10 different brands of artificial tears, but EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product packaged in multi-dose bottles, was the brand most commonly reported.

As of March 14, a reported 68 patients in 16 states have been infected with this 'rare strain' of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Di Sarro worked as a fire captain in Naples, but said he has not worked in over five months after contracting the superbug from contaminated eye drops

Di Sarro said doctors feared he would lose his eye after a dose of antibiotics failed to treat the problem. He has now gone blind in the eye - and is suing the company for an undisclosed amount

The CDC is urging patients who have used EzriCare or Delsam Pharma's artificial tears and who have noticed symptoms of an eye infection to get medical care 'immediately'

Global Pharma Healthcare recalled its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops that were distributed by EzriCare and Delsam Pharma last month. The drops had been sold at drug stores across the country, including Walmart, Target, and CVS

SOME EYE INFECTION SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR: Patients who have used EzriCare or Delsam Pharma's artificial tears and who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should seek medical care immediately. Eye infection symptoms may include: Yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye Eye pain or discomfort Redness of the eye or eyelid Feeling of something in your eye (foreign body sensation) Increased sensitivity to light Blurry vision Source: CDC Advertisement

The CDC identified the 16 states where patients are infected as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The recalled drops were manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare in India, where the bacteria - Pseudomonas aeruginosa - is commonly linked to outbreaks in hospitals.

It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment.

The outbreak is considered particularly worrisome because the bacteria driving it is resistant to standard antibiotics.

Two case studies published in JAMA Ophthalmology this week and highlighted by CNN provided more details about the infections.

In one case, a 72-year-old woman lost vision in her left eye after using EzriCare artificial tears for about a week.

'She started noticing some blurry vision in her left eye for a few days,' said Dr. Ahmed Omar, an ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, who treated the woman.

'It was initially painless, but according to the patient and her husband, one morning she woke up and she had a yellow discharge on her pillow.

And that's when she started noticing that the appearance of her eye had changed.'

When the woman went to the emergency room, the doctors found a large ulcer on her left cornea.

She remained in the hospital for three weeks enduring IV antibiotics, antibiotic eye drops and multiple surgical interventions.

She even eventually lost vision in the left eye due to serous choroidal detachment, an abnormal accumulation of fluid, the study said.

In one case, a 72-year-old woman lost vision in her left eye after using EzriCare artificial tears for about a week. She was in the hospital for three weeks enduring IV antibiotics, antibiotic eye drops and multiple surgical interventions

This scanning electron microscope image by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria

Another case study involved a 72-year-old man who developing significant vision loss from an infection of the cornea. It later improved, but he still has vision issues.

He had not experienced previous eye problems but after using EzriCare artificial tears for eye dryness, he had severe pain and went to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami where it was discovered he had multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis.

'When we examined his right eye, there was a severe corneal infection,' said Dr. Marissa Shoji, who treated the man.

'He could only see shadows and was not able to see letters due to the extent of the ulcer.'

Doctors started the man on strong antibiotics, but he only got worse.

'We typically expect some degree of improvement these medications, but when we saw him two day later, he was getting far worse,' she said.

'So that's when we inquired about specifically the EzriCare tears, because we knew they were associated with resistant infection that may not respond to those really strong antibiotics.'

They discovered that cultures from the man's cornea and EzriCare bottle grew the same strain of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas.

At his two month follow-up, his vision was 20/400, meaning he can see at 20 feet what healthy people can see at 400 feet.

'At some point, he was in danger of having permanent vision loss,' said Dr. Guillermo Amescua, an ophthalmologist at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

'He now has what is called corneal blindness because he's 20/400 and has a corneal scar, but with corneal transplantation, he might have a better prognosis.'

In January, after learning about the CDC's investigation of Pseudomonas infections, EzriCare said in a statement that 'immediately took action to stop any further distribution or sale of EzriCare Artificial Tears. To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product.'

In another case, a 72-year-old man had a severe infection in his eye, left. Although it had improved a month later, right, he still experienced vision problems
A string of Sydney's premier bars are set to fall silent on the eve of the state election in protest of the city's dwindling nightlife.

At 9:30pm on Friday night, iconic venues such as The Abercrombie, The Marly, Stitch Bar and Earls Juke Joint will turn off all music for five minutes.

Organisers hope the move will give residents a taste of what the city's nightlife would be like without sound less than 24 hours before voters hit the polls.

The silent protest has been organised by the Night Time Industries Association, the Independent Bars Association and is being supported by the Live Music Campaign.

It comes just four days after Hiway, a live music bar in Enmore in the city's inner-west, fell into liquidation owing around $110,000 to Revenue NSW from a Covid-19 support loan.

Heralded as the 'premium venue' for up and coming artists, the bar joins the famed Frankies Pizza as one of many beloved music venues to have recently shut down.

Frankies was forced to close its doors in December to make way for an underground train station, leaving fans of a late-night slice and raucous live gigs devastated.

A string of Sydney's premier bars, including The Marly in the city's inner-west, are set to go silent on the eve of the state's election to protest the city's disintegrating night life

It comes just four days after the 'premier venue' for up and coming musicians, Hiway (pictured), went into liquidation owing over $110,000 after struggling from Covid lockdowns

'Without the night time sector, the vibrancy and excitement in NSW will totally disappear,' said Mick Gibb, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association.

'There's been great progress to improve Sydney's nightlife but we can't throw our hands in the air and say, "job done".

'If we don't have a world class nightlife offering we won't be a world class city where skilled workers want to come and live.

'Pretty harbours and beautiful beaches only get you so far, you need a cultural offering and live music to match.

'This initiative isn't about telling people who to vote for. It's about making a clear statement that the night matters and that live music matters by supporting the Vote Music campaign.'

President of the Independent Bars Association, Karl Schlothauer, echoed the CEO's statement and reiterated the importance of Sydney's live music scene.

'Independent Bars have always been big supporters of emerging independent artists and the live music scene,' he said.

'The IBA will encourage its members to take five minutes to show the people of NSW how dull life would be without music.'

Frankie's Pizza in the city's CBD was forced to close down in December to make way for an underground train station (pictured is revellers enjoying a slice on the venue's last night)

According to data from Liquor and Gambling NSW, just 133 live music venues are still operating across the state.

A 2018 NSW parliamentary enquiry revealed that 176 venues had closed in the four years prior.

The increasing number of venues forced to close their doors was exacerbated by Covid lockdowns that many, such as Hiway, never recovered from.

In addition to around $110,000 the venue still owes from Covid loans, the Australian Taxation Office is owed a further $24,000 by the inner-city bar.

'It never bounced back properly and the director who was the biggest creditor was not satisfied to endlessly put more money in so has decided to close it,' Steven Kugel, Hiway's appointed liquidator, said.

The NSW Labor Party announced in February that if elected, they would introduce Sound NSW - akin to Screen NSW - as well as a myriad of protections and funds to boost the state's live music scene.

Labor has promises to create a 10-year plan to bolster the industry alongside $100million of funding and laws that would extend trading hours, lower licensing fees and protects venues from noise complaints.
Horrified diners were forced to leave a restaurant in an affluent London neighbourhood last night as a fire ravaged the building.

Around 60 firefighters and eight fire engines rushed to the scene of the blaze at Abd el Wahab Lebanese restaurant on Pont Street in Belgravia yesterday evening.

Seven customers and six restaurant staff escaped before the London Fire Brigade arrived on scene.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used fire escape hoods on one woman and one man who were led to safety from the third floor of the building.

Horrified diners were forced to leave a restaurant in an affluent London neighbourhood last night as a fire ravaged the building

Around 60 firefighters and eight fire engines rushed to the scene of the blaze at a restaurant on Pont Street in Belgravia yesterday evening

Part of the basement of the building was damaged by fire, while of the extraction system, from the basement to the roof level, was destroyed in the blaze

Fire escape hoods provide the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein.

Part of the basement of the building was damaged by fire, while of the extraction system, from the basement to the roof level, was destroyed in the blaze.

There was also a small amount of damage to the ground floor of two neighbouring properties.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson confirmed that they were called to the scene at around 10.40pm and the fire was under control by 2.09am.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Abd el Wahab restaurant has been contacted for comment.

Abd el Wahab is a Lebanese cuisine restaurant in the heart of Belgravia (Google image)

Fire crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Soho and Lambeth, Euston, Chelsea and Fulham fire stations were at the scene
Anonymous emails in his own name sent ominous warning

He claims to have sustained 'serious' hand injury in 2019

Bruce Lehrmann claims to have suffered physical and verbal abuse at the hands of a 'controlling' girlfriend in the same year Brittany Higgins alleged he raped her in an office at Parliament House.

In records from Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital released by the Federal Court on Friday, Mr Lehrmann alleges the abuse occurred over seven months in 2019.

The former staffer told hospital staff his then-partner 'physically hit him, verbally abused him and controlled him' before the pair parted ways in mid-2019.

One of the alleged altercations resulted in Mr Lehrmann sustaining a 'serious' hand laceration after she hit him with a 'smashed cup'.

The alleged incident saw the pair separate just months after Ms Higgins claimed she was sexually assaulted in the office of then Defence Minister Linda Reynolds at Parliament House in Canberra.

The medical records were subpoenaed by Mr Lehrmann's defence as part of his defamation case against Channel 10, presenter Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden, the political editor at news.com.au.

Mr Lehrmann is suing the media outlets over their coverage of the accusations of sexual assault raised by Ms Higgins.

He was not named in her interview with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project or the website article, but claims his identity would have been known in political circles.

The former staffer has always denied having any sexual contact with Ms Higgins.

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) claims he suffered physical and verbal abuse at the hands of a former partner the same year Brittany Higgins alleges she was sexually assaulted

The court documents also revealed Mr Lehrmann was drinking six alcoholic drinks 'most Friday and Saturday nights, up to 10 SD (Standard Drinks)'.

He also admitted to the 'occasional' use of cocaine in social settings, but denied the regular use of cannabis and other drugs.

The documents state Mr Lehrmann had accrued a $25,000 credit card debt after moving from Canberra to Sydney and 'partying after breaking up with an ex'.

The suspension from work following the accusations of sexual assault saw the ex-staffer experience 'worsening nightmares' due to the financial stress.

The accusations of the Parliament House assault came 'as an enormous shock' to Mr Lehmann who soon after had 'been considering suicide'.

The medical documents were subpoenaed by Mr Lehrmann's defence during his defamation case against media outlets for their coverage of allegations raised by Brittany Higgins (Ms Higgins is pictured outside the ACT Supreme Court in October)

Among other court documents was an email sent to Mr Lehrmann from an anonymous email address warning him people were 'coming for him'.

The email went on to say it would be a 'magical 2021' days before Brittany Higgins publicised her allegations of sexual assault.

The message was sent at 11.11pm on January 25, 2021 - the same night advocate and survivor of sexual assault Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year.

Ms Tame was referenced in the email, sent from 'brucelehrmann1@outlook.com'.

'Bruce, a woman spoke about what happened to her tonight, and she's Australian of the Year,' the email said.

'I want you to have a think about what you did, and what might be around the corner for you. It's inspiring when justice is delivered and the truth comes out. You know what they said: The truth will set you free.

Pictured is a mock-up of the email sent by 'brucelehrmann1@outlook.com' to Mr Lehrmann's personal hotmail account on January 25, 2021

'How many people know what you did, and how many did you tell. How many cameras are in Parliament House and how many people tracked down the vision.

'Think about it. Two former staffers from Aussies, now security guards.

'It's going to be a magical 2021.'

The federal court is considering whether there should be an extension to the 12-month limitation period in which an applicant is allowed to sue for defamation.

Mr Lehrmann filed the cases two years after publication.
An outback town with just 500 residents has finally landed itself a full-time doctor as the GP reveals his dream of owning a cow is what inspired the 1,600km move.

Dr Adam Louws was further enticed to relocate from north Brisbane to the small town of Julia Creek, in rural central-north Queensland, after seeing the role was offering $500,000 a year, a free home and five weeks of annual leave.

The father-of-four said he'd always dreamed of owning a dairy cow and often talked with his family about buying a large property on the outskirts of Brisbane.

So when his mother-in-law saw an article about Julia Creek advertising such a big salary she brought it to his attention, joking he could finally own a cow.

The advertised pay was significantly higher than the average GP salary of $175,000, according to 2019-20 tax office data.

Julia Creek (above) has finally landed a full-time doctor after offering more than $500,000 a year, a free home and five weeks of annual leave for someone to head its hospital

Dr Louws said work in Julia Creek has been easier than he expected and that his family is loving the country lifestyle (pictured, a map of Julia Creek)

Dr Louws decided to investigate the offer further and looked into what the town had to offer, notably its annual Dirt n Dust Festival.

'It took three days but I actually went through the entire town on Google Maps,' he told Australian Doctor on Friday.

'It's hard to explain, the feeling of falling in love with a town you've never been to.'

Before Dr Louws arrival, Julia Creek had gone without a full-time doctor for more than 10 years with locals having to travel hundreds of kilometres for treatment.

The town has a six-bed day hospital staffed by nurses which provides low-level care, and temporary care for patients waiting to be transferred in an emergency.

Dr Adam Louws (above) said he decided to move to Julia Creek after telling his family his dream of owning a dairy cow

If locals needed to see a doctor, the closest one was 147km away in Richmond.

Deputy mayor Janene Fegan said patients sometimes had to travel 250km to Mount Isa to reach a practising GP.

Dr Louws, his wife and their four children moved to Julia Creek earlier this month and said the transition has been easier than anticipated.

Despite being the head of a GP practice, aged care home and hospital, Dr Louws said his patient load has 'effectively halved'.

'Yes, things can get hectic at times. On my first day, we had an emergency that had to be transferred out - a process I had to learn very quickly,' he said.

'But overall it's a lot less pressure than people expect. They expect all these calls at 2am on a Sunday morning, that hasn't happened yet.'

He added living in the country comes with plenty of its own perks: 'Where else in Australia can you live five minutes from your work and have a 100-acre property? Theres heaps of land, heaps of open space, clear skies.'

However, Dr Louws said he's still 'working on' getting his dairy cow.

Julia Creek put up an ad (above) for a doctor last year offering more than $500,000 a year, a free home and five weeks of annual leave after it went without a full-time GP for more than 10 years

Julia Creek's doctor from 1999 to 2004 also enjoyed life in the outback town and said he looks back with 'incredibly fond memories'.

'Moving from cold, green and wet Ireland to the dry, hot expanse of McKinlay Shire was definitely a shock to the system,' Dr Martin Doris said.

'Thankfully the people of Julia Creek and McKinlay welcomed us with open arms  we became part of the community.'

Holly Kenny, whose husband Tim was the town doctor for five years, also enjoyed her time in Julia Creek.

'We thought we might be able to contribute something  how wrong we were  it was the other way round,' she said.

'Nothing prepared us for the bush hospitality and generosity on every level that we would receive from this precious community.

'We were accepted with open arms and never looked back.'
A British father-of-two has died after getting trapped in a spa during a blaze at a five-star hotel in Morocco, according to reports.

The fire is said to have ripped through the Jaal Riad Resort in Marrakech at around 4pm on Wednesday.

Emergency responders rushed to the luxury hotel but were unable to save the man, 40, who died from smoke inhalation, according to The Sun.

Sources told the publication that the late British father had been on holiday with friends and was in the hotel's spa when the fire took hold.

'It was a truly horrific incident,' The Sun quoted one source as saying.

Terrified holidaymakers fled as the fire ripped through the the Jaal Riad Resort in Marrakech (pictured) on Wednesday, reports said

Sources told The Sun that the late British father had been on holiday with friends and was in the hotel's spa when the fire took hold. Pictured: An image of the hotel's spa

'He was a tourist visiting the area with friends and they have had to break the news to his family. Everyone is heartbroken. They were in the spa when the fire happened and they were trapped,' they said.

The newspaper reported that the hotel confirmed that a guest had died, but that its representative was unable to comment due to an on-going investigation into the incident. It added that the hotel has since reopened.

The British Foreign Office is believed to be supporting the family of a man who died in Morocco.

MailOnline has contacted the hotel for comment.

The Jaal Riad Resort's website says it lies in the heart of Marrakech, and offers 'several artistic and tourist activities for an exceptional experience.'

The Jaal Riad Resort's website says it lies in the heart of Marrakech (pictured, file photo), and offers 'several artistic and tourist activities for an exceptional experience'

It also boasts of having a partnership with a 3,000 square-metre 'wellness space' across three floors, 'because it is important to us to take care of you'.

The incident comes less than a year after a British woman plunged to her death as she and her climbing partner attempted to scale a 13,600ft mountain in Morocco.

The pair were climbing Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, on October 25 when the incident occurred, according to local media.

Reports said the pair had chosen not to hire a guide, and that the woman fell 'into a hole' near the top of the mountain. She was seriously injured and died immediately, sources were quoted as saying at the time.
North Korea claims to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone that can generate a giant 'radioactive tsunami' that would destroy naval strike groups and ports.

Analysts are skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines North Korea's commitment to increasing its nuclear capabilities.

The new weapon appears to be a similar but less powerful version of Russia's underwater Poseidon drone which is thought to be capable of creating a 1,000ft-high radioactive tsunami.

The North Korean test this week came as the United States reportedly planned to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

Military tensions are at a high point as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises has accelerated in the past year in a cycle of tit-for-tat responses.

The drone is named 'Haeil,' a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis

North Korean state news said Kim Jong Un was satisfied with the three-day drills and directed unspecified additional tasks to counter the 'reckless military provocations' of his rivals

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon - which can be deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships - is built to 'stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion to destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports of the enemy.'

The North Korean report came hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to make North Korea pay for its 'reckless provocations' as he attended a remembrance service honoring 55 South Korean troops killed during major clashes with the North near their western sea border in past years.

The testing of the purported 'nuclear underwater attack drone' was part of a three-day exercise that simulated nuclear attacks on unspecified South Korean targets, which also included cruise missile launches on Wednesday.

KCNA said that the drills were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who condemned the U.S.-South Korean drills as invasion rehearsals and vowed to make his rivals 'plunge into despair.'

The drone is named 'Haeil,' a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis. The Norths official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of Kim smiling next to a large torpedo-shaped object at an unspecified indoor facility, but didnt identify it.

Other photos published with the same article showed sea-surface tracks supposedly caused by the drone's underwater trajectory and a pillar of water exploding up into the air, possibly caused by what state media described as an underwater detonation of a mock nuclear weapon carried by the drone.

KCNA said the North's latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing 'nuclear crisis' as they continue with their 'intentional, persistent and provocative war drills.'

The U.S. and South Korea completed an 11-day exercise that included their biggest field training in years on Thursday, and are preparing another round of joint naval drills that will reportedly involve a U.S. aircraft carrier.

KCNA said North Korea's latest drills verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years, although the weapon was never mentioned before in state media until Friday.

KCNA said that the drills were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who condemned the U.S.-South Korean drills as invasion rehearsals and vowed to make his rivals 'plunge into despair'

KCNA said North Korea's latest drills verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years

The new North Korean weapon (pictured) appears to be similar but less powerful version of Russia's underwater Poseidon drone

KCNA said the Norths latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing 'nuclear crisis' as they continue with their 'intentional, persistent and provocative war drills'

Photos published showed sea-surface tracks supposedly caused by the drone's underwater trajectory and a pillar of water exploding up into the air

KCNA said the drone was deployed off the Norths eastern coast on Tuesday, traveled underwater for nearly 60 hours, and detonated a test warhead at a target standing for an enemy port.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seouls University of North Korean Studies, said that it's impossible to verify North Koreas claims about the drones capabilities or that it had tested the system dozens of times. But, he said, the North is intending to communicate that the weapon has enough range to reach all South Korean ports.

Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, questioned the wisdom of North Korea devoting resources to the drone system as a means of delivery versus its ballistic missiles when it has limited amounts of nuclear materials suitable for weapons.

'This un-crewed underwater vehicle will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Koreas coastal waters. It will also be susceptible to preemptive strikes when in port,' said Panda.

'Indeed, the U.S. and South Korea would have incentives in a crisis to preempt any such systems before they could deploy.'

North Korea is believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads and may be capable of fitting them on older weapons systems, such as Scuds or Rodong missiles. However, there are different assessments on how far it has advanced in engineering those warheads to fit on the new weapons it has developed at a rapid pace, which might require further technological upgrades and nuclear tests.

Speaking to lawmakers on Thursday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup said the North probably hasn't yet mastered the technology to place nuclear arms on its most advanced weapons, although acknowledging that the country was making 'significant progress.'

On Wednesday, North Korea also test-fired cruise missiles in launches that were detected and publicized by South Koreas military. It also staged another nuclear attack simulation with a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday and flight-tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last week that may be able to reach the continental United States.

Kremlin propogandists have called for attacks on Britain with a Poseidon underwater missile (pictured) that he said would trigger a 1,000ft radioactive tidal wave

A clip emerged in 2019 showing the Poseidon - seen by military officials as a giant nuclear -capable torpedo - during a launch test

If Russia launched the Poseidon and the torpedo exploded in the Thames estuary, for instance, a tidal wave would erupt from the water's surface and destroy London, experts say

KCNA said Wednesdays tests were of four cruise missiles and two different types. The missiles flew for more than two hours in patterns over the sea while demonstrating an ability to strike targets 932 miles (1,500 kilometers) and (1,118 miles) 1,800 kilometers away. It said the missiles' mock nuclear warheads were detonated (1,968 feet) 600 meters above their targets, which supposedly verified the reliability of their nuclear explosion control devices and warhead detonators.

KCNA said Kim Jong Un was satisfied with the three-day drills and directed unspecified additional tasks to counter the 'reckless military provocations' of his rivals, indicating North Korea will further ramp up its military displays.

He 'expressed his will to make the U.S. imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet regime plunge into despair' with powerful demonstrations of his military nuclear program to make his rivals understand 'they are bound to lose more than they get' with the expansion of their joint drills.

Kim issued similar language Sunday after a test-firing of a short-range ballistic missile from what was possibly a silo dug into the ground. The Norths media said a mock nuclear warhead placed on the missile detonated (2,624 feet) 800 meters above water, an altitude that would maximize damage.

The North has fired over 20 ballistic and cruise missiles across 10 launch events this year as it tries to diversify its delivery systems and display the ability to conduct nuclear strikes on both South Korea and the U.S. mainland.

North Korea already is coming off a record year in testing activity, with more than 70 missiles fired in 2022, as Kim accelerated a campaign aimed at negotiating badly needed sanctions relief from a position of strength and forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power.
8am, March 24, 2023

Several journalists and media workers in Afghanistan have reported that they are facing increasing pressure from Taliban intelligence. They have stated that, due to arrests and threats of intimidation from the Taliban, journalists working for them have resorted to extreme self-censorship and have experienced mental health issues. Additionally, the majority of Afghan journalists are dealing with severe financial difficulties.

Organizations that provide aid to journalists have corroborated the precarious situation of these journalists. Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan has reported that hundreds of journalists have been laid off or have left Afghanistan since the Taliban assumed control on August 15, 2021. Nai has also asserted that there is a daily increase in violence against Afghan journalists, who have been forced to take on strenuous labor due to the dire economic circumstances. It is unclear what will happen to the regulations that protect media and journalists in Afghanistan.

Mustafa (pseudonym), who had worked for various Afghan media outlets for six years, spoke to Hasht-e-Subh in an interview, where he attributed the severe restrictions on the media to the Taliban. He stated that, since the Taliban have taken control of the country, journalists have been subjected to extreme self-censorship, arrests, threats, fear and psychological distress. He went on to say that the Taliban had made the situation increasingly difficult for journalists, using various pretexts to arrest and torture them. He recounted an incident where he had been detained and held captive for several hours while compiling a report on economic affairs in the capital.

Mustafa stated that he has been arrested and threatened by the Taliban on three occasions while he was writing a report. He further claimed that the Taliban were attempting to instill mental distress and fear in journalists in order to ensure their silence.

Female journalists have been subject to more stringent restrictions than their male counterparts. Feroza Ebrahimkhel, a journalist who has been working in Afghan media for the past three years, reported that the Taliban refused her access while she was preparing a report.

We are not allowed to create a report on the Taliban. Feroza noted that the Taliban officials do not respond to requests for interviews and sometimes even deny female journalists access to their conferences.

The majority of Afghan journalists are facing both severe economic hardship and severe Taliban media restrictions. According to available sources, some journalists have been forced to abandon their profession and pursue other occupations due to the suspension of many media outlets in the country.

Mohammad Hassan Sardash, a former reporter from Faryab province, is now working as a driver on the Maimana-Mazare-e-Sharif highway in order to support his family. He had been employed in the media for the past 15 years, but had to flee Afghanistan due to the Talibans regaining of power. Unfortunately, he was unable to remain in Iran due to the countrys economic situation and the Iranian governments mistreatment of Afghan journalists and other Afghan refugees. In addition to Mohammad Hassan, who has borrowed his friends car to work as a driver, many Afghan journalists are currently facing financial difficulties throughout Afghanistan.

On March 18, the National Day of Journalists, the National Union of Afghan Journalists reported that, due to the cessation of approximately 50% of the media, approximately 53% of journalists and media personnel have been made redundant. This organizations announcement stated that a significant number of journalists and media professionals have left the country. The future of media protection laws and journalists is still uncertain. Furthermore, due to extreme poverty, some journalists have been compelled to take up manual labor. NUAJ implored the Taliban and foreign organizations to address the issues and challenges confronting journalists. However, the Taliban have failed to address any of the issues currently being faced by Afghan journalists in Afghanistan.

On National Journalists Day, Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan described the situation of Afghan media and journalism as deteriorating and reported that several media outlets had ceased operations due to the ongoing extreme economic difficulties in Afghanistan. On Friday, March 17, Nai declared that hundreds of journalists have either been laid off or have left the country due to the media ceasing operations in Afghanistan, and further noted that violence against journalists is increasing daily. Since the start of 2023, media, journalists, media activity, and journalism have all been confronted with unique challenges. There has been a rise in violence against journalists since the start of the year, Nai added.

Since assuming control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions on the media and journalists. Furthermore, the Afghan economy has caused the bankruptcy of multiple media outlets, as the international community has consistently urged the Taliban to terminate its arbitrary detention of journalists and relax its restrictions on the media for the past two years. Despite these requests, the Taliban continue to impede the media and attempt to imprison, intimidate, and suppress journalists.
It has been embroiled in controversy following the suicide of Ruth Perry

Stopping inspections would not be in the best interests of children, the head of the schools watchdog has said after calls for them to be paused following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry as calls grow for Ofsted to be axed.

The watchdog's chief inspector Amanda Spielman acknowledged the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades 'is a legitimate one' but insisted school checks aim to raise standards and should continue.

Three unions representing teachers and heads have urged Ofsted to pause inspections this week and Reading Borough Council also called for a pause while a review is carried out into the system.

Mother-of-two Mrs Perry, 53, killed herself in January after Caversham Primary School in Reading was downgraded from outstanding to inadequate - an experience she called the worst day of her life.

Mrs Perry was the principal of the Berkshire school for 12 years, and it had been ranked 'outstanding' since 2009, before three Ofsted inspectors arrived last November 15.

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman has defended the watchdog's inspections

Headteacher of the Caversham Primary School in Reading Mrs Ruth Perry took her own life in January

Mrs Perry was the principal of Caversham Primary School (pictured) for 12 years, always working long hours, and it had been ranked 'outstanding' since 2009 until November 15, when three Ofsted inspectors arrived. She called the experience she called the worst day of her life

This was Caversham's first inspection in 13 years as previously those which had been ranked so highly were exempt (pictured, notes from the inspection)

People attend a vigil for Ruth Perry outside the offices of Ofsted in Victoria, central London, after she took her own life while waiting for a negative Ofsted inspection report

It was Caversham's first inspection in 13 years as previously those which had been ranked so highly were exempt. Her sister Julia Walters has since called on parents of schoolchildren to 'destroy' the power of Ofsted by 'refusing its legitimacy'.

Following Mrs Perry's death, a vigil was held outside Ofsted's offices and yesterday protesters also descended on Westminster to hand a petition calling for Ofsted to be axed - signed by 45,000 people - to the Department of Education.

In a statement, Ms Spielman described Ms Perry's death as 'a tragedy' and said she was 'deeply sorry' for the loss suffered by the headteacher's family, friends and the school community.

She said the news had been 'met with great sadness at Ofsted' and acknowledged that school inspections 'can be challenging' as she said inspectors always aim to carry them out with 'sensitivity as well as professionalism'.

She said: 'The sad news about Ruth has led to an understandable outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education. There have been suggestions about refusing to co-operate with inspections, and union calls to halt them entirely.

'I don't believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in children's best interests. Our aim is to raise standards so that all children get a great education. It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school.

'Inspection plays an important part. Among other things, it looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed, and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed.

'We help parents understand how their child's school is doing and we help schools understand their strengths and areas for improvement. It's important for that work to continue.'

Ms Spielman said it is an 'unquestionably a difficult time to be a headteacher' with school staff having worked during the pandemic to keep schools open 'while keeping vulnerable children safe'.

She said the 'broader debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a legitimate one' but added that it 'shouldn't lose sight of how grades are currently used'.

She said inspection grades allow parents to see a 'simple and accessible summary of a school's strengths and weaknesses' and are used to guide Government decisions about when to intervene in struggling schools.

She added: 'Any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government.

'The right and proper outcome of Ofsted's work is a better education system for our children.

'To that end, we aim to do good as we go - and to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can. We will keep our focus on how inspections feel for school staff and on how we can further improve the way we work with schools.

'I am always pleased when we hear from schools that their inspection 'felt done with, not done to'. That is the kind of feedback I want to hear in every case.

'As teachers, school leaders and inspectors, we all work together in the best interests of children - and I'm sure that principle will frame all discussions about the future of inspection.'

Teachers at John Rankin School, Newbury - some wearing black armbands - stand outside their school as a gesture of solidarity

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) led by Deputy General Secretary Niamh Sweeney, at Parliament Green, Westminster, before walking to the Department for Education to hand in a petition calling to reform Ofsted

National Education Union (NEU) Deputy General Secretary Niamh Sweeney with members of the union hand in a petition which has been signed by 45,000 people to the Department for Education in Westminster, central London

Rebecca Leek, executive director of Suffolk Primary Headteachers' Association, disagreed with Ms Spielman's claims that inspectors always aim to carry work out with sensitivity and professionalism.

She said: 'The experiences of school leaders are to the contrary.'

Meanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers union said the decision not to pause inspections had been 'a terrible mistake' which 'serves to reinforce the view that Ofsted is tin-eared and shows scant regard for the wellbeing of school leaders'.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary, said 'warm words and sympathy' are welcome but are not enough and argued this should be a 'watershed moment' for 'a completely new approach to school inspection'.

He added: 'School leaders want to see tangible actions being taken to reduce the intolerable pressure that the current inspection regime places on everyone in schools, and they want to see those actions now.

'We are not against inspection per se, we simply believe that a fairer, more humane approach is possible. We also believe parents would support a new approach.'

The National Education Union said replacing Ofsted with a new agency 'would be good for children'.

Deputy general secretary Niamh Sweeney said: 'What is not in children's best interests is head teacher burnout and beloved class teachers leaving. What is not in children's interests is ploughing on with a pretence that this is the only approach to inspecting schools.

'What would be in children's interests is recognising that a motivated and thriving workforce is good for children. The failure to grasp the connection in these times when everyone knows the value of positive staff mental health speaks volumes.'

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the union has asked Ofsted to pause inspections rather than halt them entirely, calling it 'a very moderate request'.

People attend a vigil for Ruth Perry outside the offices of Ofsted in Victoria, central London on Thursday

In a letter to Ofsted on Wednesday, school and college leaders across Reading said they wanted the 'terrible tragedy to mark a turning point' in the way school inspections are carried out by the watchdog.

The Reading Primary Heads Association and Reading Secondary and College Leaders are calling for an urgent review of inspections and for the four headline grades that Ofsted awards schools to be removed.

Schools have been removing logos and references to Ofsted ratings from their websites as a mark of solidarity with Ms Perry and heads said they plan to stage peaceful protests - including wearing black clothing and armbands and displaying photographs of Ms Perry around the school - when Ofsted inspections take place.

For anyone who needs help, Samaritans can be contacted for free on 116 123, emailed at josamaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Arresting Vladimir Putin would be a declaration of war, Russia has warned, after the International Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant for him.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council and former president, said should Germany - or any other nation - arrest the despot, it would trigger a nuclear strike on the offending country.

Medvedev specifically blasted German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who said last week that Putin would be arrested on the ICC's warrant if he visits Germany.

'Let's imagine ... the leader of a nuclear power visits the territory of Germany and is arrested,' Medvedev said, adding that it would amount to a declaration of war. 'In this case, our assets will fly to hit the Bundestag, the chancellor's office and so on.'

He noted that Russia's nuclear forces have provided a strong deterrent amid the fighting in Ukraine, adding that 'we would have been torn to pieces without them.'

Arresting Vladimir Putin (pictured March 16 in Moscow) on war crimes charges would be seen as a declaration of war, Russia has warned, after the International Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant for him

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council and former president, said should Germany - or any other nation - arrest the despot, it would trigger a nuclear strike on the offending country. Pictured: A Sarmat-2 nuclear missile is seen being tested in Russia

Despite the posturing, Medvedev also said today that Russia was not planning on entering a direct conflict with NATO and was interested in resolving the Ukraine war through talks.

However, he warned that any Ukrainian attempt to take the Crimean peninsula - which Moscow annexed in 2014 - would be grounds for Russia to use 'absolutely any weapon' against Kyiv in response.

Moscow has reacted furiously to the ICC issuing the international arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, saying that it does not recognise the court while also opening its own investigation into the court.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-funded media outlet RT, also warned last week that Russia would launch nuclear weapons against any country that dared to arrest Putin.

Neither Simonyan or Medvedev said how Russia would avoid killing Putin with his own nukes should Moscow launch strikes on the country he was arrested in.

In comments on Thursday, the 57-year-old Medvedev denounced the charges against Putin of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine as legally null and void.

He noted that the move added to a 'colossal negative potential' in the already bitterly strained ties between Russia and the West. 'Our relations with the West are already worse than they have ever been in history,' he said.

Asked whether the threat of a nuclear conflict has eased, Medvedev responded in video remarks: 'No, it hasn't decreased, it has grown. Every day when they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer.'

Medvedev has issued a barrage of such strongly-worded statements in the past, blasting the U.S. and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia.

It's been a drastic metamorphosis for the gentle-looking politician, who once was hailed by the West as a liberal hope.

Medvedev also challenged Ukraine's sovereignty in comments that could reflect Moscow's plans to extend its gains.

'Honestly speaking, Ukraine is part of Russia,' he said, incorrectly, parroting one of the Kremlin's lines used to justify Moscow's armies marching into Ukraine last year.

'But due to geopolitical reasons and the course of history we had tolerated that we were living in separate quarters and had been forced to acknowledge those invented borders for a long time.'

The West says Russia's year-long invasion of Ukraine is an imperialistic land grab driven by Putin's ambition to expand his borders and eradicate a sovereign country.

The soft-spoken and mild-mannered Medvedev, who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012 when term limits forced Putin to shift into the prime minister's post, was widely seen by Western officials as more liberal than his mentor.

In comments on Thursday, the 57-year-old Medvedev (pictured on Tuesday in Moscow) denounced the charges against Putin of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine as legally null and void

Many in the West expected Medvedev to win a second term and further soften the Kremlin's policies, but he stepped down to allow Putin to reclaim the presidency in what Kremlin critics denounced as a cynical manipulation.

Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine more than a year ago, Medvedev, a law faculty graduate, has emerged as one of the most hawkish Russian officials.

He regularly issues blustery remarks that combine Latin mottos and legal expressions with four-letter words, and sound much tougher than those issued by old-time Kremlin hard-liners. Observers have interpreted Medvedev's rhetoric as an apparent attempt to curry favour with Putin.

Medvedev launched more anti-Western diatribes Thursday, declaring that 'it's useless to have talks' with the West and speaking with contempt about Western politicians, alleging a 'catastrophic drop in competence and elementary literacy of European Union leaders.'

'I have no illusions that we could communicate with them again any time soon,' he said. 'It makes no sense to negotiate with certain countries and blocs - they only understand the language of force.'

Medvedev, who heads a Security Council panel coordinating weapons production, derided Western statements alleging that Russia is running out of weapons and charged Russian weapons industries have increased output.

He said that Russia will produce 1,500 battle tanks this year alone and boost production of other weapons to meet the army's needs. His claims couldn't be independently verified.

'The most important thing now is to make it all in necessary volumes, and we are launching new factories to do that,' Medvedev said.

He said that the Russian military already has good intelligence drones and loitering munitions, but acknowledged that it has yet to deploy long-range strike drones.

Medvedev drew parallels with World War II, when the Soviet Union managed to drastically ramp up weapons production. He noted that while checking historic archives, he found Soviet leader Josef Stalin's telegrams urging arms factories directors to boost output under the threat of reprisals.

In a video fragment from his meeting with top factory managers posted Thursday, Medvedev read one of those telegrams, in which Stalin demanded a tank factory to meet the production plans and warned:

'If you breach your duty before the Motherland, I will destroy you as criminals who forget their honour and interests of the Motherland.'

Added Medvedev: 'I want you to hear me and remember the Generalissimo's words. As you understand, the results were quite impressive, and if there were none you understand what happened.'

Medvedev's comments came as authorities in Hungary said they would not arrest Putin if he entered the country, despite the ICC warrant.

Moscow has reacted furiously to the ICC issuing the international arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, saying that it does not recognise the court while also opening its own investigation into the court. Pictured: Chief Prosecutor of the ICC Karim Khan (centre) speaks during the Justice Ministers' conference in London, in support of the court and the investigation into the situation in Ukraine, March 20, 2023

Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, told reporters in Budapest that arresting Putin would contravene Hungarian law because the country has not promulgated the statute of the ICC into its legal system.

Gulyas said the statute of the ICC, of which Hungary is a member state, was in conflict with Hungary's constitution, and that arresting Putin would therefore violate Hungarian law. Orban's government has not yet taken a position on the warrant, but Gulyas said he considered it counterproductive.

'I think these decisions are not the most fortunate because they lead towards escalation and not towards peace,' he said.

The chances of Putin facing trial in The Hague are highly unlikely because Moscow does not recognise the ICC's jurisdiction or extradite its nationals.

However, the warrant could limit the Russian leader's ability to travel to the tribunal's 123 member nations, which could arrest him in accordance with the warrant.

The laws under which the ICC operates do not allow for leaders to be tried in absentia, and therefore they must be arrested and brought to trial in-person.

But Kyiv's top prosecutor said on Thursday that Russian leader should be put on trial for the invasion of Ukraine, even if they cannot be arrested and brought to court.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, speaking to Reuters during a stopover in The Hague where the International Criminal Court is based, said that a planned tribunal for the crime of aggression should hold so-called trials in absentia.

Kostin spoke after meeting with the chief ICC prosecutor, which last week issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him and his children's commissioner of the war crime of deporting children from Ukraine to Russia.

Swift work by prosecutors and cooperation with the ICC 'was the reason for such a fast response to one of the most severe war crimes of this war, forced deportation and abduction' of children, Kostin said.

While the ICC can prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Ukraine, it cannot prosecute the crime of aggression due to legal constraints.

International support is growing for the creation of a special tribunal that would prosecute Russian leaders for the 13-month-old invasion itself, considered by Ukraine and Western leaders to be a crime of aggression.

The special tribunal should go after 'the highest political and military leadership, including Putin, for the crime of aggression,' Kostin said.

'I believe that it could be (held) in absentia, because it's important to deliver a matter of justice for international crimes even if perpetrators are not in the dock.'

International courts very rarely hold trials in absentia and the ICC's rules state specifically that an accused suspect shall be present during trial.

The only recent example of an international trial in absentia was in the case of Lebanon, for which a U.N.-backed tribunal convicted three men for the 2005 assassination of Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri.

A Dutch court last year convicted three men - two Russians and a Ukrainian - in the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine. None of the suspects was present in court.

In a gesture of defiance, Russia's top investigative body said on Monday it had opened a criminal case against the ICC prosecutor and judges who issued an arrest warrant for Putin, which Moscow has called outrageous and legally void.

Russia has publicly said it has brought thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia in what it presents as a humanitarian campaign to protect orphans and abandoned children in the conflict zone.

Kostin also said that his office is collecting evidence of the most difficult crime to prove, genocide, for which it must be shown that there was an intent to eliminate a specific group in whole or in part.

He said the crimes documented so far, including murders, torture, sexual violence, shelling of civilian targets and illegal detentions, were at least 'equal to the crimes against humanity' and have been reported across the territories occupied by Russia.

'We carefully collected evidence which we believe will build the case of genocide,' he said. Kostin said 'it will take some time' before that case is ready to go to court, adding 'but our work will go ahead.'

Kostin's comments came as Ukraine and the ICC signed a deal for a field office to prove war crimes in Ukraine. He said the agreement for an ICC office in Ukraine was the 'beginning of a new chapter' in Kyiv's cooperation with the court.

The chances of Putin facing trial in The Hague are highly unlikely because Moscow does not recognise the ICC's jurisdiction or extradite its nationals. However, the warrant could limit the Russian leader's ability to travel to the tribunal's 123 member nations, which could arrest him in accordance with the warrant. Pictured: ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan visits Bucha in April, the site of horrific Russian war crimes

'This is just a start, a strong start,' Kostin said at a signing ceremony in The Hague, according to an ICC statement.

'I'm convinced that we will not stop until all perpetrators of international crimes committed in Ukraine are brought to justice, independently of their political or military position.'

ICC Registrar Peter Lewis said the court was grateful for Ukraine's help and 'look(s) forward to strengthening our cooperation in the future'.

Ukraine becomes the latest country to host an ICC field office after the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda; Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Georgia and Mali.
Russia's Wagner group is reportedly now turning its focus to Africa after suffering heavy losses in Ukraine amid the mercenary group boss' fall-out with Vladimir Putin.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the group, has been in a long-running dispute with the Kremlin, particularly with defence minister Sergei Shoigu. He has accused Shoigu of blocking the supply of ammunition and personnel to his private military group.

Prigozhin and his mercenary group are currently battling in Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Fighting in the area has raged for eight months, producing some of the bloodiest and longest battles of the war.

The brutal conflict has seen Prigozhin lose thousands of men from the frontline, either killed or wounded. Many of the convicts who signed up to join the ranks of the Wagner group have also been pardoned after serving six months in the military. Prigozhin has reportedly been banned by the Kremlin from refreshing troops with more prisoner recruits.

The change of tact from Wagner follows reported fears within the Kremlin that Prigozhin could try and unite his mercenaries to turn on Putin and seize power in Russian outskirt regions following the war in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, addresses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asking him to withdraw the remaining Ukrainian forces from Bakhmut, March 3

Russia's Wagner group is reportedly now turning its focus to Africa after suffering heavy losses in Ukraine amid the mercenary group boss' fall-out with Vladimir Putin (pictured)

Prigozhin and his mercenary group are currently battling in Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Pictured: Russian tank explodes after being hit by bomb dropped from a drone in Ukraine

News of the Wagner group's shift of focus - reported by Bloomberg who cited sources close to the matter - will likely concern Moscow after Kyiv said they were now ready to launch a fresh counter-attack on war-torn Bakhmut.

The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said: 'The attacker has not lost hope of taking Bakhmut at all costs, despite the losses of men and equipment, very soon we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk.'

Prigozhin has been publicly critical of Russia's army and military leadership. He has previously lambasted and discredited top army officials and anyone else in his way, angering many in the Russian government who want him reined in.

But while they have claimed successes in towns like Soledar, Popasna and Lysychansk, the group has been losing troops rapidly. As many in its criminal ranks are freed, it is unknown as to how much power Prigozhin's men will continue to wield in the war.

Amid the fighting in Bakhmut, Prigozhin has continued to demand that the Kremlin supply him with ammunition, reinforcements and further support.

Defence minister Shoigu is understood to be in particular disagreement with Prigozhin over strategy despite the Wagner boss bringing success on the battlefield and spearheading the assault on Bakhmut.

Delivery of ammunitions was reportedly halted earlier this month before they could reach Prigozhin and his Wagner group in Bakhmut, stifling any military advancement.

Amid the fighting in Bakhmut, Prigozhin has continued to demand that the Kremlin supply him with ammunition. Pictured: Destructions in the city of Bakhmut is pictured on February 27, 2023

Prigozhin has been publicly critical of Russia's army and military leadership. He has previously lambasted and discredited top army officials

Defence minister Shoigu (left, pictured with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov) is understood to be in particular disagreement with Prigozhin over strategy

Earlier this month, Prigozhin said that his forces will have to 'reset and cut down in size' after significant losses in the war-torn city.

But now Wagner is openly recruiting personnel to fulfill contracts it has in Africa. The group has been recruited to protect mines and provide security for government services. The group is seeking applicants for nine to 14-month stints in Africa.

On his Telegram channel, Prigozhin denied Bloomberg's reports that Wagner was looking to retreat from Ukraine.

'It seems that Bloomberg knows better than we do what we are going to do.

'As long as our country needs us, we will remain fighting in Ukraine,' he wrote.
A former Number 10 aide whose 15-year-old black son was forcibly restrained by two 'rent-a-cop' rangers in Superdrug has called for a probe into the use of private security guards.

The boy was detained by the two men on the floor of the shop in Chichester, West Sussex, while he was 'shopping for shampoo'.

Footage released by his mother Kirsty Buchanan on Twitter showed the two men holding the teenager on the ground while they handcuffed him before the arrival of police.

She said: 'This is my 15-year-old black son who was followed while he shopped for shampoo by two council workers called rangers. He was sat on and handcuffed by them. When Sussex Police arrived, guess who they arrested?'

She has since said: 'There needs to be a thorough review of the use of these security guards on our streets because they are on our streets and are completely unregulated.

'What is the process of due diligence by which they are hired? What is the training procedure? What is their remit?' she said, according to The Times.

The boy was forcibly detained by two men on the floor of the shop in Chichester, West Sussex

The boy's mother Kirsty Buchanan was once political editor at the Sunday Express and is a former adviser to Theresa May and Liz Truss. She has now called for a probe into the use of private security guards

Sussex Police said yesterday officers were called to the shop shortly after 3.30pm to reports of an altercation in Superdrug involving a group of teenagers and a member of retail staff.

The force confirmed a 15-year-old boy from Worthing was arrested yesterday on suspicion of assault while a boy aged 16 from Chichester was arrested on suspicion of assault, possession of cannabis, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Both boys have since been released on bail.

It added in a statement: 'On arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old boy from Worthing had been detained in handcuffs by privately employed civilian security staff.'

The force also said that the act of handcuffing an individual by civilians must be justified, adding: 'There is no law in the UK that prevents civilians carrying handcuffs. Anyone who does carry handcuffs should be aware that their use could constitute a crime, unless they can show that using them was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.

'A full and thorough investigation is ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of what happened; this includes reviewing footage and taking witness statements.

'Sussex Police has been in contact with the 15-year-olds mother and contact will be maintained as the investigation continues.

'Anyone who witnessed the incident, the events leading up to it or has any relevant footage is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ashridge.'

The two men are 'rangers' for the Chichester Business Improvement District, which works in partnership with the city council. The BID said they act as 'the eyes and ears on the street and a reassuring presence for those in the front line of petty crime'.

The BID describes itself a business-led initiative which is 'independent from local authorities and other statutory agencies and delivers projects over and above the baseline services provided by them'.

Ms Buchanan urged the BID yesterday to contact her about the 'behaviour' of the rangers, telling it on Twitter: 'You surely cannot condone the way they have treated my son?'

She has since questioned the role of private security guards.

Ms Buchanan claimed to the Daily Mirror that the rangers were aggressive towards her son and his friends, saying: 'What I have been told is the ranger pushed him and my son pushed back... they put plastic handcuffs on him - the police then arrived and arrested my son.'

Ms Buchanan was once political editor at the Sunday Express and was also an adviser to Theresa May from 2017 to 2019 when she was prime minister and an adviser to Liz Truss when she was justice secretary in 2016 and 2017.

She said she did not hear from her son for an hour and a half while he was being held at Worthing Police Station.

Ms Buchanan also said that her son had regularly experienced racist incidents and has been stopped and searched many times.

She tweeted on Wednesday night: 'So @sussex_police have a policy of not holding minors. My son is still in custody and has yet to be interviewed.

'I have been told by a senior officer Superdrug camera footage has not been recovered by police yet. Why on earth not?'

She later revealed that her son - who is due to sit exams in a few weeks' time - was let out of police custody at 1.15am yesterday morning before heading home.

The men involved are 'rangers' for the Chichester Business Improvement District in the city

A police vehicle outside Superdrug in Chichester following the incident on Wednesday

Superdrug claimed female staff were assaulted and the store had to be shut due to damage.

In an updated statement to MailOnline, Superdrug said today: 'The Chichester BID rangers are not employed by Superdrug.

'We cannot comment on the actions of individuals not trained or employed by Superdrug. But we do have a zero-tolerance stance to violence and aggression and actively encourage civility and kindness in our stores.

'We cannot provide any further commentary at this stage, as this is a Police matter, and we are offering our full assistance to Sussex Police.'

A Chichester District Council spokesman said on Wednesday: 'We have been made aware of an incident that took place in Chichester city today and we want to clarify that no Chichester District Council staff were involved.'

Chichester BID is an organisation set up in 2012 and funded by local, business-rate payers to 'invest in local improvements', according to its website.

A spokesman said yesterday: 'Chichester BID is aware of an incident that occurred on March 22 at the Superdrug store on East Street, involving a group of young people and two rangers.

'Together with Blayde Security, who provide our security services, we are cooperating fully with Sussex Police, who are investigating the matter. We are taking this very seriously.

'We want to reassure traders, residents and visitors to Chichester city centre that we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all.'

It has also been approached by MailOnline for clarification on the powers available to its ranger staff to detain members of the public and to use the 'plastic handcuffs' which are claimed to have been used in the incident.

* Did you see the incident or do you know the rangers? Email tips@dailymail.com *
Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been formally signed off today - despite the DUP warning it will not rejoin powersharing.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the EU's Maros Sefcovic met in London to seal the new arrangements after the Government won a crunch vote on Wednesday.

Both sides are hoping that the package can herald a thaw in relations after nearly seven years of wrangling over the UK's exit from the bloc.

The vote to implement the so-called 'Stormont Brake' this week has bolstered Mr Sunak's control of the Tories.

Just 22 MPs rebelled to join the DUP in opposing the key measure, despite encouragement from big beasts including Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Priti Patel.

However, the unionists have insisted they are not yet ready to back the 'Windsor Framework' or return to Stormont.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the EU's Maros Sefcovic (pictured together today) met to seal the new arrangements after the Government won a crunch vote on Wednesday

Both sides are hoping that the package can herald a thaw in relations after nearly seven years of wrangling over the UK's exit from the bloc

Mr Cleverly said the Framework 'delivers on our commitment to the people of Northern Ireland'

Tensions have been running high over the Northern Ireland protocol, with the DUP saying the new deal is an improvement but does not fix all issues

Under the Good Friday agreement the executive cannot function unless both communities participate.

The formal sign-off came at a Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting.

In a joint statement, Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic spoke of the 'constructive atmosphere' between them.

'The European Union and the United Kingdom today held the tenth meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and second meeting of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement Partnership Council in London.

'The meetings took place in a constructive atmosphere building on the excellent co-operation between the Foreign Secretary and the Vice-President over recent months.

'The Joint Committee welcomed the positive approach of both sides and adopted the new arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework.

'These arrangements address, in a definitive manner, the challenges in the operation of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland over the last two years and the everyday issues faced by people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while supporting and protecting the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement in all its parts, and protecting the integrity of the European Union's single market, and Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom's internal market.

'Both sides agreed to work together intensively and faithfully to implement all elements of the Windsor Framework. The United Kingdom and European Union also reaffirmed their intent to use all available mechanisms in the framework to address and jointly resolve any relevant future issues that may emerge.'

Brussels has already approved the key parts of the Framework at an EU Council meeting.

The UK hopes that the deal on the protocol can mark a step towards participation in the EU's 100 billion euro Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

Downing Street was jubilant about limiting the revolt against the Brexit deal, with source saying it had been a 'good week' and Mr Sunak had made it 'his party'.

The PM has boasted that it removes all trace of a border in the Irish Sea, brings Northern Ireland back under UK VAT and tax rules, and includes a theoretical veto on new EU laws being enforced in the province.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has warned the DUP that there is no prospect of renegotiating the deal.

The Foreign Secretary and Mr Sefcovic also set to attend a meeting of the partnership council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.
A businessman could lose his 2million fishing lakes as an angler he employed won a 490,000 payout at the High Court after falling off a ladder - resulting in a series of injuries - while he was undertaking work at the property.

Ricki Sartin, 53, was helping to cut back a tree at Norwich's freshwater Layfield Lakes when his ladder was struck by a branch in June 2017.

The impact knocked him to the ground, and as a result he sustained a number of injuries including a broken hip, wrist and ribs.

Grandfather Mr Sartin had also agreed to do odd jobs with other anglers after being offered a waiver of his annual fishing permit by the lakes' owner, Darren Layfield, 48.

However, he sued his former friend after accusing him of using him as 'cheap labour' - despite being unqualified and having 'no training or expertise in the kind of maintenance work' that was being requested of him.

Now, Mr Sartin has been awarded in around 490,000 in compensation.

The court also heard that Mr Layfield could be in danger of losing his lakes, after being handed a 159,000 lawyers' bill on top of the compensation payout.

Pictured is angler Ricki Sartin while recovering from accident. Following the incident, he sustained a series of injuries, including fractured ribs, hip and wrist, and a hernia

In blaming Mr Layfield for the accident, Mr Cunnington claimed he was well aware that the workers he used 'were not skilled or experienced workmen.'

In speaking about the payout, Mr Sartin's barrister, David Cunnington, said Mr Layfield was uninsured, but if he fails to pay his 649,000 bill, Mr Sartin may be able to make a claim against the lakes themselves.

Opening the case earlier this week, Mr Cunnington said Mr Sartin had been a regular at Mr Layfield's fishing lake, in Porters Lane, Norwich.

The lakes form a stillwater fishery, and comprise of a series of lakes and ponds with stocks of carp, coarse, roach and bream and are accessible to disabled anglers.

In 2014, Mr Sartin, from Norwich, was invited to a join a group of other men who did maintenance work for Mr Layfield in exchange for a waiver of the annual fishing fee.

'In essence, the defendant obtained cheap labour from a group of customers,' said Mr Cunnington.

Mr Sartin was injured when, on June 28, 2017, he was called by Mr Layfield, who instructed him to go to the lakes to help cut back a tree branch.

Mr Cunnington continued to tell the judge: 'Mr Sartin climbed the ladder which had been set in place for him.

'He had no experience in cutting branches at height with chainsaws. He cut the branch and the branch then fell.

'On its fall, it hit the ladder which caused both him and the ladder to fall.

'He suffered serious injuries as a result of his fall.'

Following the incident, Mr Sartin sustained a series of injuries, including fractured ribs, hip and wrist, and a hernia.

Ricki Sartin, 53, was helping to cut back a tree at Norwich's freshwater Layfield Lakes (pictured above) when his ladder was struck by the branch in June 2017

He was left with ongoing pain, which resulted in him losing his well-paid job as a manager at a refuse firm in 2019.

In blaming Mr Layfield for the accident, Mr Cunnington claimed he was well aware that the workers he used 'were not skilled or experienced workmen.'

He continued: 'The claimant was a manager for a refuse company who, from time to time, worked as a dustman.

'He had no training or expertise in the kind of maintenance work the defendant instructed him to perform.

'The defendant's very decision to task an untrained, inexperienced amateur with work that required a properly qualified specialist contractor was in itself negligent.'

Giving judgment, Judge Margaret Obi said Mr Layfield ran a commercial enterprise.

However, by using unskilled fisherman to do his maintenance did nothing to ensure their safety.

Although he did not attend the trial in London, Mr Layfield had submitted a defence where he denied that he knew what Mr Sartin was doing on that day.

READ MORE: Angler who did odd jobs in return for free fishing sues landowner for 490,000 after falling off a ladder and breaking his hip Advertisement

But ruling, the judge said Mr Layfield's claim was 'implausible,' being based on an assertion that Mr Sartin had chosen himself to cut the tree and took the chainsaw without permission.

She added that there was 'no reason' why Mr Sartin would have done that, finding that in fact Mr Layfield had instructed him to do the work and then denied doing so.

Having instructed Mr Sartin to cut back the tree when he had had no training, Mr Layfield did not consider the risks and 'made no provision for his health and safety.'

She continued to explain: 'He was running a commercial enterprise, but didn't exercise any kind of adequate skill or care in planning how the work would be performed.

'He didn't undertake any assessment of the risk involved in using a chainsaw at height. He didn't ensure a safe method of work, nor provide any training or instruction.

'I have no hesitation in concluding that Mr Layfield's acts and omissions amount to negligence. Although he advanced that the accident was caused by Mr Sartin's own negligence, he didn't attend the hearing to argue his case.'

The judge awarded Mr Sartin 74,500 in general damages for the injuries and a further 413,187.43 for financial losses, including the loss of his job and pension.

She also ordered Mr Layfield to pay Mr Sartin's lawyers' bills for the trial - with 159,000 up front ahead of an assessment of the full amount at a later date.

Mr Cunnington said that, as Mr Layfield had not attended the trial, investigations had already been made into his finances, with assets including the 2m lakes identified as potential targets if he does not pay up.
An elderly couple say they were left devastated after an 'American-style bully' savaged their dog and left them with a steep vet bill.

David Brierley, 74, and his wife Susan, 71, claimed they were left 1,200 out of pocket when the dog's owner told them there was 'not a chance' he would cover the cost.

Mr and Mrs Brierley, of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, said the owner's pet suddenly 'ripped' into their Miniature Pinscher, Shuna, while watching their granddaughter play rugby in Dewsbury in July last year.

Mrs Brierley claimed the owners just 'stood there and did nothing' as she grappled to pull the dog off by its extendable lead which 'peeled' Shuna's skin off 'like a banana' and left her with gaping wounds.

The couple said they visited Dewsbury to watch the match when they saw the other dog owner and his partner sitting nearby with their animal.

Susan Brierley claimed the owners just 'stood there and did nothing' as she grappled to pull the dog off by its extendable lead which 'peeled' Shuna's skin off 'like a banana' and left her with gaping wounds

David Brierley, 74, and his wife Susan, 71, claimed they were left 1,200 out of pocket when the dog's owner told them there was 'not a chance' he would cover the cost

Mr and Mrs Brierley (pictured), of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, said the owner's pet suddenly 'ripped' into their Miniature Pinscher, Shuna (pictured), while watching their granddaughter play rugby in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in July last year

Then 'all of a sudden' the dog launched across the field and 'ripped into' Shuna, leaving her with a gaping wound, they said.

Mrs Brierley said she attempted to pull the aggressive dog off Shuna by its extendable lead and soon realised her skin and fur had 'peeled off like a banana'.

But the dog still wouldn't let go and Mr Brierley said he had to kick it with force to scare it off.

The couple claim the other dog owner just 'stood there' and didn't do anything and blamed the wound on Mrs Brierley, saying she shouldn't have pulled the lead.

Mr and Mrs Brierley were then left with a 1,200 bill after Shuna was rushed to the vet and claim when they returned to the rugby club, one of the owners told them there was 'not a chance' he would cover the cost.

The pensioners said they were left 'very upset' and angry and the extortionate bills meant they couldn't afford to visit Mr Brierley's sister in the south of France which they have been doing for over a decade.

Despite the attack, the couple are thankful Shuna survived it with only 'some scars' as they thought they were going to 'lose' their pet when it happened.

Mr Brierley has since tried to get in contact with the owner and reported the attack to Kirklees Council, which has issued a warning to the owner.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: 'Kirklees Council was made aware of an incident that occurred last year involving two dogs.

'The council investigated the incident and issued a warning to the owner in accordance with our procedure.'

Mr and Mrs Brierley said they were then left with a 1,200 bill after Shuna was rushed to the vet when they returned to the rugby club the other animal owner told them there was 'not a chance' he would cover the cost

Despite the attack, the couple are thankful Shuna survived it with only 'some scars' as they thought they were going to 'lose' their pet when it happened

A report from February this year revealed there had been 18 deadly dog attacks since January 2020, with last year being the deadliest on record.

Twelve people, ranging from a 17-month-old toddler to an 83-year-old pensioner, were killed in dog attacks across England and Wales over a 12-month period - with experts pointing to several concerning trends potentially being behind the spate of disturbing killings.

James McNally, who has been dubbed Britain's 'dog bite solicitor' and a personal injury claim expert with Slee Blackwell Solicitors, has previously said he had seen a rise in the number of dog bite claims in recent years.

Earlier this year he told MailOnline how he had more than 180 clients and his inbox was ballooning with fresh enquiries every day.

Mr McNally said: 'Some of the worst injuries we're seeing are by those beloved household pets; Collies, Jack Russells, Huskies. Any dog can cause injury at any time.

'We've had a lady who lost the tip of her nose, delivery drivers missing fingers. There are cases we're dealing with where a child has been scalped by the dog and suffered serious facial injuries - they're all horrible.

'In a lot of the cases we're seeing, the way I see it is that it's the family dogs.

'I think the pandemic puppy boom has probably contributed to the rising number of dog bites, experts have raised huge concerns about puppy farms and I think a lot of us are just not aware of this entire world of dog breeding.

'Ultimately, it's a bit of a Wild West out there. We had the wrong dogs, being bred by the wrong people, going to the wrong homes. It's a recipe for disaster and was fuelling the fire.'

Kirklees Council has been contacted for comment.
Rishi Sunak urged Benjamin Netanyahu to uphold 'democratic values' today as they held talks in Downing Street amid protests outside the gates.

The PM warmly greeted his Israeli counterpart outside the famous black door before their discussions.

However, the arrival was overshadowed by noisy demonstrations against moves critics say are dragging the nation towards a more authoritarian system.

Mr Netanyahu's nationalist coalition has pushed through legislation that would protect him from being deemed unfit to rule, which some believe is a pre-emptive effort to shield him from the potential consequences of a corruption trial.

According to a readout of the meeting, Mr Sunak 'stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel'.

Rishi Sunak greeted his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu outside the famous black door before their talks, set to focus on the threat from Iran and terrorism

One sign being brandished oustide Downing Street described Mr Netanyahu a 'dictator on the run'

Photographs released by Downing Street showed the leaders deep in discussions

As the leaders shook hands there were shouts of 'shame' in Hebrew could be heard from activists waving Israeli flags and placards.

One sign being brandished outside Downing Street described Mr Netanyahu a 'dictator on the run'.

A readout of the meeting issued by No10 afterwards said: 'The two leaders welcomed the signing of the UK-Israel 2030 Roadmap this week, which will drive our bilateral relationship forward and commit 20m in funding for joint science and technology projects over the next decade.

'They expressed their backing for a modern free-trade agreement with cutting-edge service provisions and said their teams would work to progress this at pace.

'The leaders discussed shared security and defence challenges, including Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the threat posed by Iran to regional stability. The Prime Minister set out the UK's analysis of the situation in Ukraine and the importance of continued international support to defend their sovereignty.

'On Iran, they discussed the UK and Israel's significant concern about Iran's destabilising activity, and agreed that our governments would continue to work closely together to push back against aggression and manage the risk of nuclear proliferation.

'The Prime Minister also expressed his solidarity with Israel in the face of terrorist attacks in recent months. The UK would always stand with Israel and its ability to defend itself. At the same time, the PM outlined international concern at growing tensions in the West Bank and the risk of undermining efforts towards the two state solution. He encouraged all efforts to de-escalate, particularly ahead of the upcoming religious holidays.

'The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.'

Downing Street stressed the UK's partnership with Israel when asked whether the PM is concerned about strengthening ties with Mr Netanyahu when his critics say he is driving the country towards autocracy.

The arrival was overshadowed by noisy demonstrations against moves critics say are dragging the nation towards a more authoritarian system

A No10 spokesman told reporters: 'Israel is a vital international partner for the United Kingdom and the prime minister was visiting London, and this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether that's the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment  as well as peace and stability in the Middle East.'

Earlier, Mr Netanyahu's office said he expected to focus on 'the Iranian issue' with the UK Prime Minister, seeking to form 'a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear programme'.

The Israeli leader will also meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman to discuss dealing with 'global terrorism'.

In Israel, traffic has been blocked on major roads and scuffles with police have broken out over recent weeks as protests swept the nation.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Mr Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies wrongdoing.

Critics say his government, regarded in some quarters as the most right-wing in Israel's history, is dragging the nation towards authoritarianism by upending its system of checks and balances.
Disturbing police bodycam footage has emerged of two cops chasing an unarmed man who allegedly stole a pair of sunglasses from a Virginia shopping mall before fatally shooting him in a wooded area.

The lawyer for the family of Timothy McCree Johnson, 37, called the death 'an execution' after seeing a video of the February 22 shooting, which has now been released by the police, for the first time on Wednesday.

Fairfax County police announced on Thursday that they will fire the officer who fatally shot the unarmed Black man outside Tysons Corner Center.

An officer followed Johnson into the parking garage after he had set off a second anti-theft alarm and then frantically gave chase as he ran through the parking garage, across a main road and into a wooded area.

Dramatic body cam footage shows two cops running after Johnson in a nighttime chase that lasted less than two minutes.

As Johnson ran into the wooded area, away from the street lights, an officer can be heard repeating: 'Get on the ground'.

The lawyer for the family of Timothy McCree Johnson (pictured) called the death 'an execution' after seeing a video of the February 22 shooting

Footage shows the police administer aid as they wait for the emergency services to arrive

Timothy McCree Johnson's parents Melissa Johnson, center, and Timothy Walker, left, address reporters along with attorney Carl Crews, right, outside Fairfax County Police headquarters on March 22, 2023

One of the officers shot Johnson. Police then tried to administer aid under torchlight as they waited for emergency services to arrive.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the department will fire one of the police officers involved, who officials believe discharged the fatal shots at Johnson.

Authorities later identified him as Sgt. Wesley Shifflett, who is from northern Virginia and had worked at the department for seven years.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the other officer, James Sadler, is on restricted duty as officials continue to investigate the shooting.

Authorities noted that both of the police officers are White.

The video, viewed on Wednesday for the first time by Johnson's family, was from body camera footage from Shifflett, Attorney Carl Crews said.

Sadler was in plainclothes and did not have a body camera, police have said.

Both officers fired their weapons, according to police.

Johnson's family viewed the body camera video at the invitation of the Fairfax County Police Department, nearly a month after the incident.

Crews said nothing in the video explains why officers would have reasonably felt their lives were in danger when they opened fire.

'If the video would have exonerated the officer, we would have seen it already,' Crews said, with reference to the delay.

He described Johnson's death as 'an execution by a Fairfax County police officer'.

Crews also said that nothing depicted in the footage makes it look as though Johnson was armed.

'He could have been apprehended without a shot being fired,' Crews said.

Authorities released body-camera video at a news conference on Thursday.

Edited surveillance footage from inside the Nordstrom store at the mall shows a man, who has been identified as Johnson, entering the store at 6:13 p.m.

Pictured: Timothy McCree Johnson in the shopping mall. Video footage recorded at 6:22 p.m. shows Johnson in the store with sunglasses

Surveillance footage taken from a bridge linking the Nordstrom to a Tysons Corner Corner parking garage shows Johnson exiting at 6:29 p.m., followed seconds later by two police officers

Timothy McCree Johnson's mother Melissa Johnson, along with attorney Carl Crews, addressed reporters outside Fairfax County Police headquarters on March 22, 2023

Davis said that the officer he fired was given a notice of an 'administrative separation' on Thursday and that his actions 'do not meet the expectations of our police department'.

The officer did not adhere to the department's use-of-force protocols, Davis said.

Davis said that neither of the two officers had been involved in a police shooting before the February 22 incident, and they were not linked with a 'significant disciplinary history'.

Shifflett, who was in uniform, exhibited 'a failure to live up to the expectations of our agency, in particular use of force policies,' Davis said.

Caleb Kershner, an attorney for Shifflett, said on Thursday he planned to file a grievance to the county in response to the administrative separation.

Kershner said his client will appeal his dismissal and expects to be exonerated.

Sadler is also a client at Kershner's law firm.

'Any reasonable officer faced with the same circumstances would have done the exact same thing as Sgt. Shifflett,' Kershner said. 'For the department to do this, it was deeply disappointing.'

He said Shifflett acted as per his training, which states that he can use lethal force if he has a reasonable belief that his life is in danger.

Kershner said Shifflett saw Johnson reaching for his waistband as though he was going to pull out a weapon.

'You have to make a split-second decision, and it's a life-or-death split-second decision,' Kershner said.
A second sister toJessica Michibata has spoken out after the model ex-wife of racing driver Jensen Button was arrested on suspicion of possessing MDMA.

Karen Michibata said she 'can't believe it' after the 38-year-old was arrested this week after a parcel containing the drug was delivered to a hotel where she was staying in Tokyo with an acquaintance.

While Jessica is yet to comment publicly on her arrest, her sister Karen Michibata - who is also a model - took to Instagram to express her concern.

She wrote: 'I still cannot believe it and am very upset.

'I have not been able to talk to my sister about anything yet, and I am hoping that there has been some kind of mistake.

Karen Michibata (right), who is also a model like Jessica (left), posted a black square on her Instagram page and wrote about her sister's arrest on Tuesday: 'I still cannot believe it and am very upset

Karen said: 'I have not been able to talk to my sister about anything yet, and I am hoping that there has been some kind of mistake. However, if the reports are true, it is something that should not have happened'

'However, if the reports are true, it is something that should not have happened. I know very little at this point, and I am sorry to have to make this post.'

Jessica's other sister Angelica Michibata also took to Instagram and posted a message accompanied by a picture of a sunset.

The model apologised on behalf of her sister for 'making a fuss' and shared her worries about the reports.

'I'm sorry that my sister made a fuss this time,' Angelica wrote on Tuesday.

'I am very worried, but for now I will leave it to the lawyer and the police, and I will trust her and wait for the results.

'And there is no change in protecting and supporting the family,' she added.

Michibata denies the allegations, according to local media reports.

A customs officer reportedly found the synthetic drugs hidden in an overseas package to Japan, with Michibata's hotel in Tokyo as the shipping address.

Jessica Michibata, 38, was held after a parcel containing the drug was delivered to a hotel where she was staying in Tokyo with an acquaintance , people familiar with the investigation told the Japan Times earlier this week

Karen Michibata (left) said: 'I know very little at this point, and I am sorry to have to make this post.' Jessica's other sister Angelica Michibata (right) also took to Instagram and posted a message accompanied by a picture of a sunset . She apologised on behalf of her sister for 'making a fuss' and shared her worries about the reports

Investigators from Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department raided the hotel and arrested Michibata and her acquaintance on March 18 (Saturday), reports said.

According to some local reports, the acquaintance was a man Michibata is dating.

Japan's YTV news interviewed Toru Hirohata, former Chief at the country's Narcotics Control Department about the case.

He said that the arrests were likely made through a 'controlled delivery investigation,' which would suggest customs officials discovered the drugs in the luggage and replaced them with a counterfeit.

Information is then shared with police, who track the package. When it is delivered to its final destination, the suspects are arrested red-handed, Mr Hirohata said.

YTV explained the drugs are replaced with fakes in order to prevent the real substance from entering the civilian population, for which customs officials would be culpable if they found them and still allowed them to be delivered.

Michibata currently resides in the United States for her work as a model. She was born in Japan and was visiting Tokyo at the time of her arrest.

Michibata met F1 driver Jenson Button in 2008 in a hotel bar in Tokyo and they began dating eight months later.

Michibata met F1 driver Jenson Button in 2008 in a hotel bar in Tokyo and they began dating eight months later

The couple split for a short time in 2011 before he proposed on Valentine's Day 2014, with a ring worth 250,000. Pictured: Jenson Button and then-girlfriend Jessica Michibata celebrate after he won the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix on October 9, 2011

While Jessica (left) - who was married to the Formula One legend (right) from 2014 to 2015 - is yet to comment publicly on her arrest, her sisters took to Instagram the day of the reports to express their concerns

They tied the knot in a lavish Hawaiian ceremony in December 2014. They called time on their relationship just one year later but say they remain on good terms

They split for a short time in 2011 before he proposed on Valentine's Day 2014, with a ring worth 250,000.

hey tied the knot in a lavish Hawaiian ceremony in December 2014. They called time on their relationship just one year later but say they remain on good terms.

She was later linked to American film producer Ken Kao after she attended a film premiere with him in 2017. Later that year, she gave birth to her daughter Joy, whose father's identity remains unknown.

The relationship with Ken Kao, who co-founded a production company with Hollywood star Ryan Gosling, lasted until 2021, when they reportedly went their separate ways.

Kao is the only son of multibillionaire Min Kao, a Kansas-based tech tycoon who co-founded GPS giant Garmin.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
A 'humiliated' Emmanuel Macron today asked King Charles to cancel his trip to France  the first state visit of his reign  as the President struggles to staunch nationwide rioting over his pension reforms.

The monarch was due to arrive in Paris with the Queen Consort on Sunday for the four-day trip with the highlight being a state banquet at Versailles on Monday.

But the French President's aides feared the event could stir up revolutionaries across the Channel, given the chateau's links to the 1789 Revolution and the last king of France Louis XVI and his wife Marie-Antoinette, who were guillotined in 1793.

Experts told MailOnline today that Charles III would have been determined to cross the Channel to show 'you cannot give in to the mob' as anarchists smash and burn cities and Paris became submerged in tons of uncollected rubbish.

But Mr Macron telephoned the monarch this morning to ask him to stay in the UK after a call to 10 Downing Street with the same advice.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that the symbolism of a state banquet at Versailles as France burns would have been the president's 'Marie Antoinette moment'.

He said: 'The postponement of King Charless state visit to France, the first of his reign, marks a humiliation for President Macron. The country is descending into anarchy and it was clearly impossible to guarantee the safety of the royal party and to keep to any set schedule where security could be relied on.

'Threats to disrupt the visit were all too real, especially give the symbolism attached to Versailles, where a state banquet was to be held.

King Charles III, pictured in London yesterday, will not visit France next week due to protests over Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms that are sweeping the Gallic country

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire in Rue Saint-Marc, Paris, caused by protesters

Rubbish is also piled high in the streets of the French capital

'This really was a disaster with the Palaces links to an Ancien Regime which was toppled by a revolution. These are too close for comfort for Macron at the moment and marks a volte face by his Government which was insisting earlier today that it would go ahead'.

A total of 457 people were arrested and 441 police and security forces were injured yesterday during nationwide protests, interior minister Gerald Darmanin said today.

France has descended into political chaos since Mr Macron forced through his plans to raise the state pension age from 62 to 64  sparking violence, crime sprees and marches in all corners of the nation.

Mr Macron's decision to cancel the state visit is under fire at home, Eric Ciotti, leader of The Republicans party said: 'The visit of Charles III is cancelled by the Government due to social unrest. What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state'.

Yesterday it emerged that Charles' trip was being reviewed after hardliners vowed to target the monarch's visit and even blockade him in Paris and Bordeaux.

Today Mr Macron pulled the plug, despite being determined for it to go ahead to prove he is still in charge.

The decision is said to be made after talks between the French and British authorities  but security experts told MailOnline that because the French police and secret services have primacy for the security operation, it will have been their advice to call it off.

The French feared the security of King Charles could not be guaranteed because of his interest in mingling with crowds, according to security sources in Paris.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The King and The Queen Consort's State Visit to France has been postponed. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.'

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit, from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

Investigative journalist Tom Bower told MailOnline that Macron had bowed to the left wing mob  and Charles would have wanted to face them down for his first state visit.

And Simon Morgan, a former royal protection officer who now runs the security business Trojan Consultancy, said the decision to pull the plug will have been on French advice because it is a state visit to France  not the other way around.

He told MailOnline: It is a bit embarrassing for the French. Theres a risk factor to the King and Queen Consort's safety, plus that of the public. But simply it might be they need all their resources to keep basic law and order and they don't have the capacity to deal with a state visit as well.

I should imagine that the French authorities felt they could do without the distraction of a state visit whilst they have serious public disorder and political unrest in the country.

The entrance door of the city hall of Bordeaux burned during a wild demonstration last night

A banner reading 'general strike' is displayed on a dome of the La Major cathedral in Marseille, southern France, yesterday

It came after anti-government thugs were accused of 'trying to kill police officers' across France today as arsonists attacked civic buildings including one in a city Charles was set to visit next week.

A crack team of officers from the SDLP Protection Service unit rigorously studied the monarchs profile before his intended State Visit this weekend.

They became aware of the Kings habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could, said a source who was involved in the planning of four-days of events across France.

There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed.

Mr Macron has been attacked during similar meetings, and his popularity is at an all-time low after he raised the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote.

The move has provoked eight straight nights of rioting.

The King has suffered eggs being thrown at him in the UK, but attacks were likely to have been far more sinister in France.

Highly politicised activists are out on the streets, and they would have certainly targeted the English King, said a French governmental source.

King Charles made it clear that he did not just want to hide away in palaces  it was to be a proper visit, involving as many people as possible, or no tour.

While the word postponement is being used by the French and British authorities, no alternative dates have yet been offered.

A fire is seen as riot police officers are in action to disperse demonstrators in Paris on March 23

There have been constant night time riots since the measure was forced through by decree last Thursday, and now millions are set to gather during the day - with the biggest airport in France blocked by demonstrators this morning. Pictured: A demonstrator holds a smoke flare during a demonstration in Reims, eastern France, yesterday

Outbreaks of violence were reported from Paris to Marseilles overnight from Thursday to Friday, as a fire was lit at the historic City Hall in Bordeaux  where the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were heading.

Commenting on 149 police officers being seriously injured and 172 people being arrested across the country, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said extremism was intensifying.

'There are thugs, often from the far-Left, who want to bring down the state and kill police officers,' said Mr Darmanin, during a visit to Paris police headquarters.

There at least 140 acts of arson in the capital alone, with one of the most serious attacks being on a residential block close to the Paris Opera.

More than a million people took to the streets yesterday to protests against the government, as riot police used teargas, baton charges and water canon to bring crowds to order.

Among the injured protesters was a woman who lost her thumb during a riot in the Normandy city of Rouen.

Trade Unions have warned that the violence will get worse unless Mr Macron reverses his pension reforms.

'The president must change his incomprehensible stubbornness or the situation will get worse,' said Marylise Leon, of the CFDT union.

The unions had called for further protests next Tuesday, which would have coincided with the King's visit to the country.

He was due to attend a number of events in Bordeaux and Paris, including making a speech at the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.

Protesters had already threatened to target the Royal couple, saying he is not welcome in the republic during a period of social chaos.

Beyond riots, anti-Macron protests in France have included some 10,000 tons of rubbish building up on the streets of Paris after binmen withdrew their labour.

Highlights of the historic tour included Charles and Camilla joining their French hosts, President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.

Afterwards, they were to be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees towards the Elysee Palace, the French president's official residence.

Camilla and Mrs Macron were due to officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay while Charles gave an address from the senate chamber.

The King and Queen Consort were also due to visit Bordeaux, centre of the wine-growing region and home to many British expats.

They were due to visit an organic vineyard and Charles would have met emergency workers who tackled wildfires on the outskirts of the city last summer.
Tesco will be closing all of its larger stores on Easter Sunday, 9 April, in order to comply with government law.

The supermarket will shut all of its biggest stores on Easter Sunday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is due to a government law which dictates that any shops larger than 280 square metres must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

Tesco stores across Scotland will be subject to different rules, known as Sunday trading laws.

These rules mean shops can open, but only for a period of six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm.

Tesco has confirmed it will be closing its larger stores this Easter Sunday (9 April) in line with government law

Trading hours for retailers: the law Shops over 280 square metres can open on Sundays but only for 6 consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm

They must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

Outlets at airports, railway stations and service stations are exempt.

Large shops that open when theyre not supposed to can be fined. Source: GOV.UK Advertisement

In response, Tesco have stated:

Our opening hours over the Easter period vary from store to store and by location, so we advise customers to find out their local store opening times on our store locator.

This is also the best place to check for Petrol Filling Station opening times, as these can vary from main store opening hours.

On Good Friday, many of our stores will operate with normal trading hours but those that are normally open late will close earlier than usual (10pm).

On Easter Sunday, all of our large stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed. Scottish stores will open for normal Sunday trading. The majority of our Express stores will remain open.
Protests across France have continued for a tenth day, as civilians and workers demonstrate against Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms.

Events have become increasingly more unsavoury, with Bordeaux town hall set alight yesterday evening. Violent demonstrations have also taken place in Paris, where tear gas was fired.

President Macron has criticised the actions of 'violent armed activists' in response to increased civil unrest.

King Charles' trip to Paris and Bordeaux was set to begin on Sunday but has been postponed in the wake of violent demonstrations in both cities.

So, why are the French rioting? Why have protests across the country turned violent? Read on below for all you need to know.

Almost one million people were reported to have taken to the streets on Thursday, in protest against Macron

Why are there protests in France?

The French population are protesting against a proposed pension reform by Macron.

This reform would see the retirement age in France increased from 62 to 64 years old.

It would also force workers to contribute to the pension system for longer, as state pensions in the country are financed by a payroll tax.

Tensions have escalated with each passing day in France, with Bordeaux town hall set on fire by protesters last night (23 March)

Why have protests turned violent?

Macron has slowly lost support from the public and discontent among politicians in opposing has peaked.

This is because he invoked special Presidential powers (Article 49.3) to pass the reforms through the National Assembly without approval from the opposition.

Macron leads under the centrist Renaissance party, but rivals from left-wing parties sang the French national anthem in protest as he went to speak in the National Assembly last week.

The president has since refused to back down on his proposed pension reforms, causing protesters to resort to violence to make themselves heard.

What has Macron said in response to the riots?

In his latest response to scenes in Paris and Bordeaux, Macron declared that police have been victims of 'totally disproportionate' acts at the hands of 'violent armed activists'.

Macron is determined to stand defiant in the face of unrest despite surviving a recent no-confidence vote.

One million people were reported to have taken to the streets to protest across the country on Thursday.

Why are the French public complaining about pension reforms?

The public are not just angry at Macron for increasing the retirement age.

The act of passing a law through the National Assembly without approval has been perceived as undemocratic, with civilians determined to make themselves heard in response.

Civilians and workers also argue that, if he is using Article 49.3 to increase the retirement age now, there is nothing to stop him doing so again in the future.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel to Paris and Bordeaux as part of a state visit to France

Why has Charles postponed his visit to Paris?

A joint decision was taken by the French and British governments to postpone the King's visit, in order to protect his safety.

Security fears escalated after protests against President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms became violent.

When will Charles' Paris visit go ahead?

Charles' state visit was cancelled at short notice, so a re-arranged date for the trip has yet to be announced.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, were meant to travel on to Berlin. It is not yet clear if they will do so.

With Charles' coronation ceremony set for 6 May, the Royal Family have a busy upcoming schedule.

Why was Charles visiting Paris in the first place?

Charles was due to attend a number of events in Bordeaux and Paris, including making a speech at the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.

Protesters had already threatened to target the Royal couple, saying he is not welcome in the republic during a period of social chaos.

Beyond riots, anti-Macron protests in France have included some 10,000 tonnes of rubbish building up on the streets of Paris after binmen withdrew their labour.

Rubbish has piled high across the streets of Paris as binmen went on strike to protest against the reforms

What is the French press saying about Charles cancelling the trip?

France has endured a turbulent ten days since protests against Macron's proposed reforms began.

As a result, much of the country's recent media coverage has centred around the protests.

However, there is a sense that the postponement of King Charles' visit to the country has increased the current plight of Macron.

What did Macron say about Charles' visit? What has he said since it's been postponed?

Speaking at a press conference following a summit in Brussels, Mr Macron said postponing the visit was a matter of maintaining 'common sense and friendship'.

Macron warned that, had it gone ahead, the visit of Charles 'would have prompted incidents'.

Emmanuel Macron has endured a torrid last ten days since announcing his proposed pension reforms to the French public

What was Charles' schedule for the trip?

Highlights of the historic tour included Charles and Camilla joining their French hosts, President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.

Afterwards, the foursome were to be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees towards the Elysee Palace, the French president's official residence.

Camilla and Mrs Macron were due to officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay while Charles gave an address from the senate chamber.

The King and Queen Consort were also due to visit Bordeaux, centre of the wine-growing region and home to many British expats.

They were due to visit an organic vineyard and Charles would have met emergency workers who tackled wildfires on the outskirts of the city last summer.

What happened to the French royal family?

In the wake of the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was executed by the guillotine in 1793.

Although the monarchy was reinstated after his death, Louis Philippe I abdicated the throne in 1848, paving the way for the creation of the French Second Republic.

France remains a Republic to this day and has not had a monarch since.

Protests against President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms have entered a tenth day

When did Charles last visit France?

Charles last visited France, with Camilla also present, in 2019.

During the visit, the royal couple attended services in the French city of Bayeux to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

When did the late Queen last visit France?

Queen Elizabeth II last visited France in 2014, arriving at the Gare du Nord in Paris on board a Eurostar service.

She also enjoyed a State Banquet at the Elysee Palace during her stay.
READ MORE: This is the chocolate you should never buy your kids this Easter

Meteorologist says 'there are good signs' there will be a change of weather

Britain is set to bask in glorious 20C temperatures within weeks, as the heat is set to return just in time for Easter.

While temperatures will take a plunge this weekend, with snow driven by Artic winds threatening to hit parts of the country, there will be a dramatic U-turn from next week.

The UK has experienced a wet month so far, and the damp conditions are set to continue for a while as the jet stream shifted to the south for most of March.

However, swathes of tropical air are now expected to come flooding in from the Atlantic Azores Islands.

Following this, meteorologists predict spells of dry weather into April and the Easter bank holiday - bringing highs of 20C.

Asenior meteorological consultant from British Weather Services' has predicted that 'there are good signs' there will be a change of weather come Easter

Pictured: A flowering cherry blossom tree in Wimbledon, south west London. There will be a dramatic U-turn in the weather from next week

But for the end of March, the UKs heaviest and most frequent rain will be centred in the south and west accompanied by gusty winds towards the end of this month.

And, cloudier, more irregular conditions are also likely across Scotland, with rain and drizzle expected intermittently.

However, this is all soon set to blow over, a senior meteorological consultant Jim Dale from British Weather Services' told The Mirror that 'there are good signs' there will be a change of weather come Easter.

He has predicted that the south and east of England are most likely to enjoy the warmer climate.

Mr Dale said: 'It's not a given, but there are good signs that this kind of change of fortunes will arrive just in time for Easter.

'If we give it some time - and I'm not just talking about Good Friday or the Saturday, but certainly the back end of the bank holiday weekend and the week that follows for the school holidays - it does look like it might well become warmer.'

The forecaster also added: 'I would expect that as we go through the Easter period, I would expect us to nudge the 20-degree temperature mark in the south and east, and maybe even the north into eastern Scotland.'

He also said that as we go through the Easter period, he expects to see the 20-degree mark 'nudged' up in the south and east, and perhaps even into the north into eastern Scotland.

Temperatures across the UK have hit highs of 10C today, with sun shining in the south east. However, much of the North and Northern Ireland are battling with rain and colder weather

And in its long range forecast, the Met Office has said that while early April will see some 'unsettled conditions,' Brits can expect temperatures to be 'generally above average'.

The long range forecast for Tuesday 28 March - Thursday 6 April reads: 'On Tuesday, largely dry with localised showers to the north and east, possibly snow over higher ground. Mostly cold and settled, with a chance of some unsettled weather moving in from the west later on.

'Wetter conditions are likely to move in through the end of March, particularly across northern areas. Southern and eastern areas are likely to be drier, although a chance of showers or spells of rain remain likely here. Strong winds are probable, with a low risk of gales mainly across western parts.

'Into early April, more settled conditions and drier interludes become increasingly likely, although a chance of wetter, potentially thundery conditions at times. Temperatures are generally above average, though colder conditions remain possible in the far north and northeast at first.'

And for Friday 7 April - Friday 21 April, the weather service has said: 'A general trend to less unsettled conditions is likely into April. Still some wetter weather at times, with occasional showers, which could be heavy or thundery.

'However, most areas are likely to see some spells of dry weather, with potentially frost and some fog overnight. The chances of strong winds are probably lower than normal, and whilst temperatures are likely to generally be near to slightly above normal, cooler spells remain possible.'

However, the Met Office is yet to release a detailed forecast for the Easter weekend - with specific predictions for Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
Suzy Eddie Izzard today took a swipe at Harry Potter author JK Rowling as she warned against wading into online disputes about transgender rights.

The comic and Labour activist cautioned that 'heated' debates can 'get more and more and more extreme' on social media.

But Izzard hailed how 'we've just started getting the hang of' discussing transgender issues even though 'LGBTQ people have been there since we were cave people'.

The 61-year-old has previously spoken about her gender-fluid identity and requests to be referred to with she/her pronouns.

She also recently announced her full name as Suzy Eddie Izzard to 'add in' a name she has wanted to use since childhood.

Suzy Eddie Izzard cautioned that 'heated' debates can 'get more and more and more extreme' on social media

JK Rowling has been a fierce critic of Scotland's recent gender identity reforms and clashed with outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over the issue

Speaking to LBC Radio this morning, Izzard said she chose not to read negative comments made about her online and would 'just carry on'.

It came as she was quizzed about why Rowling has become a 'semi-hate figure' for some when it comes to transgender rights.

The author has been a fierce critic of Scotland's recent gender identity reforms and clashed with outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over the issue.

Rowling has also frequently entered debates over transgender rights on social media, which has regularly sparked a backlash.

But Izzard suggested this was often a way of escalating arguments.

'If you get into the debate and taking sides, people can say certain things to you,' she said.

'And if you react, especially online, if you react to things it can all get more and more and more extreme.

'It's just like a discussion that turns into an argument, which turns into pure anger, which turns into a fight.

'Something like that is sort of happening at the moment. We need to understand that LGBTQ people have been there since we were cave people.

'We've just started getting the hang of it and talking about it and relaxing about it, even though the discussions are heated.

'So I don't want anyone to have a really tough time of it. People were online they were saying negative things about me, but I don't read those I just carry on.'

Izzard dismissed concerns that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer might be backtracking on his previous commitments on trans rights

Izzard also suggested current political arguments about transgender rights were 'just the time that trans has to go through'.

'If you remember the fight and the discussions over lesbian and gay rights 20 years ago, marriage equality, that was very heated,' she added.

'Now that's all quietened down and another gay activist was saying to me, "I think this is just the time that trans has to go through".

'It has to go through all these these discussions. Now, when I came out in 1985, 38 years ago, no discussions we're being had  not a dicky bird, not a single word.

'We were toxic people, we were outside of society, we were just non people. And at least the discussions are happening, even though they're heated.'

Izzard, who last year failed in her bid to become a Labour MP, dismissed concerns that party leader Sir Keir Starmer might be backtracking on his previous commitments on trans rights.

It came after the Labour leader yesterday said the 'lesson' from the row over Scotland's gender identity reforms was that 'you have to carry the public with you'.

Izzard said: 'I think it's right. If you look at what I've tried to do personally over 38 years is slowly encourage people.

'If they listen to me talking, hopefully they think "well, that's just some person, they seem a decent person".'
While millions of people prepare to cast their votes in one of the tightest state elections in NSW history almost a quarter of those eligible have already voted.

Election booths are set to receive over four million votes across NSW on March 25 after 1,199,121 of the 5,521,688 eligible residents voted and 92,077 cast their ballots through postal votes, as of Friday night.

The election is set to be the closest in decades with state premier Dominic Perrottet and opposition leader Chris Minns spending the final day of campaigning visiting swing seats across the greater Sydney area.

The NSW Labor Party will need to swing nine electorates back to the party in order to win the election and crown Mr Minns the 47th state premier.

Voting in the upcoming election is compulsory for all residents over the age of 18 with those who don't comply to be hit with a $55 fine.

Over 4million people are set to cast their ballots across NSW on March 25 in one of the closest state elections in history after over 1million have voted early (pictured, stock)

Residents can visit voting centres from 8am to 6pm on March 25 and can find their nearest voting centre on the NSW Electoral Commission's website.

There are accessibility options at voting centres and information on how to vote in 27 different languages including Auslan, Australian sign language.

Telephone-assisted voting is also available for those who are blind or have vision impairment.

'Support is available for electors, and I encourage voters to access the many services available,' said John Schmidt, NSW's Electoral Commissioner.

Vote counting will continue until around 10:30pm on March 25 with any uncounted votes being attended to the following Monday.

People who aren't enrolled to vote in NSW, but are eligible to enrol, can still enrol on the day and complete what is known as a declaration vote.

To complete a declaration vote, residents will need to attend a voting centre in person with photo identification that shows their current address.

If NSW residents are interstate or overseas during the election period, they are required to submit their vote via post or have already voted at a pre-poll centre.

Dominic Perrottet (pictured) spent the final day of campaigning criss-crossing across Sydney in a final push to get the NSW Liberal Party across the line and keep him as state premier

Both Mr Perrottet and Mr Minns have tried to secure final votes by swaying millions of Daily Mail Australia readers in the remaining hours of their campaigns.

Mr Perrotet wrote that the NSW Liberal party will ease pressure from household budgets, increase in home ownership and boost access to more health services at your local pharmacy, as well as a secure bank account for children that the their government will help invest in.





'Only the Liberals and Nationals have the long-term economic plan to support NSW families and keep NSW moving forward at a time when we understand no family can afford to go backwards under Labor,' Mr Perrottet wrote.

'In these uncertain economic times, NSW families need a government that can deliver real relief today, and financial security tomorrow.

'Only we have the experience, big ideas and energy to guarantee that support for families today and set our state up for a stronger future.'

On the flip side, Mr Minns promised the NSW Labor Party will overhaul the education system following a recent downturn, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, improve health services and increase the pay of essential workers.

'Only NSW Labor has a plan to deliver real cost-of-living relief,' Mr Minns wrote.

'Whether you're starting out in life, raising a family, planning your retirement or looking to take advantage of the opportunities ahead, I want your future to be the best it can be.

'I know first hand just how lucky we are to live in New South Wales. But this is not as good as it gets.

'After 12 years under the Liberals, life is becoming increasingly difficult for many.'

Chris Minns (pictured with his wife Anna) visited Ryde, Auburn and Parramatta on his final day, targeting Western Sydney as an area NSW Labor could flip seats and win the election

By end-of-day Friday, the final day of campaigning, Mr Perrottet had vistited Willoughby, North Shore, Penrith, Holsworthy, East Hills, Ryde, Oatley, and Chris Minns' marginal seat of Kogarah in the city's southwest.

'Only the Liberals and Nationals with a long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward,' he repeated throughout the day.

'We cannot risk a Labor government.'

While Perrottet criss-crossed his way across the city in a final gambit to get his party across the line, Chris Minns visited the liberal-held Ryde and Parramatta and Labor-held Auburn.

Mr Minns targeted Western Sydney as a potential space for NSW Labor to flip essential seats such as Penrith and Parramatta.

He echoed one of his main campaign cornerstones, ending privatisation of public assets and giving more funding to public schools and hospitals.

'I believe we can rebuild our schools and our hospitals and do it all without selling the assets that people of this state need to run businesses to run their families and to get around Sydney and NSW,' Mr Minns said.
Denmark has invited the Russian-controlled operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to help recover a mystery object that was spotted near the pipeline, six months after sections were sabotaged.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who revealed the discovery of the object earlier this month, said experts believe that it could be a signal antenna to activate an explosive in that part of the pipeline.

German, Swedish and Danish authorities are investigating the undersea explosions that sparked four leaks on the two Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Danish energy agency released a photo late Thursday of the cylindrical object standing near the Nord Stream 2 pipeline at the bottom of the sea.

The agency said it is 'possible' that the object is a maritime smoke buoy, 16 inches (40 centimetres) tall and four inches (10 centimetres) wide, and that it 'does not pose an immediate safety risk'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who revealed the discovery of the object earlier this month, said experts believe that it could be a signal antenna to activate an explosive in that part of the pipeline

German, Swedish and Danish authorities are investigating the undersea explosions that sparked four leaks on the two Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine

'With a view to further clarifying the nature of the object, Danish authorities have decided to salvage the object with assistance from the Danish Defence,' it said in a statement.

The agency added that it was still waiting for a response from the pipeline's owner before starting the recovery operation.

Russian energy giant Gazprom holds a majority stake in the twin pipelines, with the rest owned by German, Dutch and French companies.

German prosecutors said earlier this month that, in January, investigators searched a ship suspected of having transported explosives used in the blasts.

Confirmation of the searches came after the New York Times reported that US officials had seen new intelligence indicating that a 'pro-Ukrainian group' was responsible for the sabotage.

The Ukrainian government denied involvement in the action, while the Kremlin rejected the Times report as 'diversion'.
A man drove into several pedestrians in a parking garage at a German airport on Friday, leaving some people injured, police said.

The 57-year-old, who was known to the police, also drove into several cars at the Cologne-Bonn Airport found in the west of the country.

Police said there were indications that the man had mental health issues.

Driving a rental car, the man injured 'five or six' people in the incident, two of them police officers, a spokesperson said.

Reports said one of the people injured was trapped between two cars as they tired to run. They were the only person seriously injured in the suspected attack.

The suspect was detained and brought to a hospital in Cologne, and is set to be admitted to a closed psychiatric ward.

A man drove into several pedestrians in a parking garage at the Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany (pictured) on Friday, leaving some people injured, police have said

The man resisted arrest before being overpowered by police. It was at that point that the officers recieved slight injuries.

It is understood that the incident unfolded at 9.30am local time in the airport's P2 carpark, where the driver also smashed through the barrier. Reports said he jumped in a rental van that was open for cleaning before running amok.

'He apparently drove towards several cars and pedestrians, who were able to avoid him,' said a police spokesman, according to German tabloid Bild.

Police said that nobody's life is in danger, despite the perpetrator driving 'back and forth again and again,' they said.

'He rammed several vehicles with a black rental van,' police spokesman Christoph Gilles said, according to Build. An Audi A5 was hit with 'full force' after the driver crashed through the barrier system controlling the entrance to the car park.

It is understood that a total of seven vehicles were damaged, with the suspect circling through the car park multiple times.
In papers in the case Wilde slammed her ex.

The couple had been scheduled to appear in Los Angeles to determine whether the decision should be made in New York or California

A court hearing in the Jason Sudeikis/Olivia Wilde battle over their children was called off at the last minute Friday.

Olivia Wilde has revealed she is worth more than $10 million despite pleading poverty in her court filings.

But she added that she spends $107,000 a month including nearly $4,000 on laundry and cleaning, a mortgage of more than $58,000 and a whopping $6,500 on utilities such as gas, water and electricity.

Her total assets stand at $10,569,736, she revealed in a declaration of income and expenses included in her childcare battle with ex Jason Sudeikis.

The revelation came on the day that she and Sudeikis had been due to face off in court in Los Angeles. The hearing was taken off the docket at the last minute.

In her declaration filed with Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Wilde said she has $645,187 in bank accounts, $3,902,689 in stocks and bonds and $6,021,860 in real estate and other property  meaning her total worth is $10,569,736.

Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde were scheduled to appear in court Friday for a custody hearing as their legal battle over where their kids will live rages on

Instead of going to court on Friday as planned, Wilde, 39, was spotted in Los Angeles on her way back from the gym

The exes have been stuck in a nasty bi-coastal custody battle for the past several years  due in large part to the fact that Olivia lives in LA and Jason lives in New York City

Wilde, 39, said her monthly income is $71,667.

In earlier papers, Wilde claimed that Ted Lasso star Sudeikis is prolonging his court fight with her because he is trying to 'litigate her into debt'.

'While Jason can afford to spin his wheels with filing after filing, Olivia cannot,' her lawyers wrote in advance of a hearing scheduled in Los Angeles for today, which has now been canceled.

'Jason seems intent on throwing whatever he can against the wall to see what will stick, and this Request for Order seeking a stay of the California Parentage action is just the latest example,' they add.

She accused him of being 'underhanded' and acting 'in bad faith' over the future of their two children.

Friday's hearing was scheduled to be over whether California courts should determine the warring couple's fight over the children, Otis, eight, and six-year-old Daisy, or whether New York is the appropriate venue. But on Thursday, a judge in New York rejected Sudeikis's request for a second time to have the case moved to the east coast.

It was still on the LA court docket Friday morning, but when neither they nor their attorneys showed up, a clerk said it had been 'taken off calendar' and no new hearing date had been scheduled et..

Olivia, 39, says the matter has already been settled and it should be in LA, buther ex is 'obfuscating' in his bid to have future hearings held in Brooklyn. Typically awards of child support in New York are lower than they are in California

'Jason should not be permitted to litigate Olivia into debt, and then claim she should be deprived of her right to seek a needs-based fee contribution from him,' her attorneys write.

Sudeikis, 47, filed a fresh motion to halt a California order that ruled their children should live in the Golden State, giving him time to file an appeal in New York after a judge ruled against his plea last year for the children to reside on the east coast.

In a big win for Olivia, a judge rejected Jason's request in August 2022 to have the case moved to New York.

Jason filed an appeal, but according to TMZ, a judge in New York rejected the request once again on Thursday.

Wilde accused Sudeikis of being 'underhanded' in his court dealings about the parenting of their two children, Otis, eight, and Daisy, six

The former couple's custody battle took a turn for the worse when Olivia was served with legal papers while on-stage at an event in front of 4,000 industry insiders

The case was still on the docket in Los Angeles Superior Court Friday morning, but neither the couple nor their lawyers showed and a clerk said the case had been 'taken off calendar'

Olivia contends that the children are living in California and have no reason to move, noting that daughter Daisy has never attended school in New York and Otis only attended one semester of kindergarten in New York in 2019.

Her attorneys claim, 'While the details of Jason's finances are presently unknown as he refused to substantively respond to basic discovery, she is aware that he is far wealthier than she is.'

Olivia claims in her declaration that she believed things were moving toward a more amicable solution earlier this year, but was blindsided when she learned of Jason's legal tactics.

'We were scheduled to start working with a family therapist in California in mid-January. I thought things were calming down and were going to move forward in a more amicable, respectful fashion,' Olivia says.

'Instead I learned on January 10, 2023 that the entire time I was negotiating the parenting time schedule in California [Jason] was plotting to proceed with the New York Child Support proceeding behind my back.

'Apparently he had learned that the court date for our first appearance was January 4, 2023 and purposefully did not advise me of it, nor did his lawyer advise my lawyers. Not knowing the date, neither I nor my lawyers appeared.

'[Jason's] underhandedness and bad faith in these proceedings is astounding. I am completely perplexed at why he believes that engaging in intimidation or trickery will serve him or our children's best interests.'

The two ignited speculation that they were headed for a recoupling in January when they were spotted together in Los Angeles, however the latest legal sparring suggests otherwise.

The exes have been stuck in a nasty bi-coastal custody battle for the past several years  due in large part to the fact that Olivia lives in LA and Jason lives in New York City  which caused major controversy when the actress was served with custody papers while on-stage in front of 4,000 industry insiders.

But Wilde says even that is not wholly true and Sudeikis's sisters now live in the Brooklyn town house that they own and Jason only stays with them when he is in town.

Following their split in 2020, Olivia and Jason initially seemed to be very much on the same page and were cordial to each other, putting their children first.

Olivia then met Harry Styles at a party for Irving Azoff. At the time, production was beginning for Olivia's directorial debut film, Don't Worry Darling, which she also starred in.

The drama off-set took center stage when Olivia got into a blowout fight with the lead actor, Shia LaBouf. After his exit, Olivia replaced him with Harry, who had only had a few acting roles prior.

In January 2021, rumors that Olivia and Harry were more than just friends and co-stars were confirmed when they were spotted holding hands in public. Harry then solidified the situation when he referred to her as his 'girlfriend.'

Olivia wore a quilted bomber jacket over her sports bra and leggings as she went to the gym. She topped her ensemble off with a towel round her neck, pink sneakers, shades and carried a water bottle and baseball cap

Harry Styles and Olivia became a hot item during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 after meeting at Irving Azoff's birthday

Wilde revealed in her declaratino that she earns $71,000 a month and has assets oof $10.5 million

Her expenses come too $107,000 a month, including $6,500 for utilities

Shortly thereafter, her cordial co-parenting with Jason turned ugly. In April 2022, Olivia was served with a legal papers regarding the custody of Otis and Daisy while she was giving a speech on her newest movie, Don't Worry Darling.

In August 2022, Olivia responded to Jason's filing. In court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, she said that that she and Jason had previously agreed to let the kids finish the school year in L.A., while he filmed Ted Lasso.

'Recently, however, Jason decided that he wanted to go to New York for the next year while he is not working, and wanted the children to be with him there during this time off,' Olivia said in the docs. 'When I did not agree, since the children have not lived in New York for several years, Jason filed these papers.'

Things got uglier when a process server went no stage at CinemaCon and handed Olivia court papers while she was talking to movie executives.

'Jason's actions were clearly intended to threaten me and catch me off guard,' she said about the serving.

'He could have served me discreetly, but instead he chose to serve me in the most aggressive manner possible. The fact that Jason would embarrass me professionally and put our personal conflict on public display in this manner is extremely contrary to our children's best interests.'

Jason later responded, apologizing to Olivia by saying that he was 'very, very sorry' and that he 'deeply regretted' the manner in which she was served. His response detailed the reason for his contesting the children's previously agreed on custody arrangement.

'First, Olivia said that if I did not reside full-time in Los Angeles, she would allow me to spend time with Otis and Daisy on weekends and during vacation periods  thus depriving me of my right to parent the children during important periods of their lives.'

He also stated that Olivia had informed him that she wanted to possibly move the kids to London, where she was planning to move with Harry during the height of their romance.
Police are hunting Britains meanest thief - who stole a phone a woman was selling him to pay for her daughters funeral.

The victim had agreed to sell an iPhone to a man to help raise funds to put towards the costs of her late daughters funeral.

She arranged for him to attend her home address to collect the phone.

He then went inside her house to check that it worked.

But the robber then grabbed it from her hand and ran off without paying.

The victim had agreed to sell the iPhone to the man to help raise funds to put towards the costs of her late daughters funeral

Officers are now appealing for information to help identify the man following the robbery in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Do you know the thief? E-mail iwan.stone@mailonline.co.uk
Chinese envoy calls for revocation of decision on nuke submarine cooperation by certain countries

Xinhua) 13:33, March 24, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on certain countries to revoke their decision on nuclear submarine cooperation.

It is of particular significance at this point to ensure the full and effective implementation of non-proliferation rules, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

Disregarding questions and opposition, certain countries are intent on advancing nuclear submarine cooperation under the framework of the so-called trilateral security partnership. Two nuclear weapon states and depository states of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would unprecedentedly transfer tons of weapon-grade highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state, he told the Security Council.

Geng was obviously referring to a plan on nuclear submarine cooperation between Australia and the United States and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS.

"This move provokes an arms race, stokes bloc confrontation, jeopardizes regional and global security and stability, violates the goals and purpose of the NPT, and constitutes a grave challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime," he said. "We urge relevant countries to abandon their archaic and narrow geopolitical considerations, honor their own non-proliferation obligations, revoke the decision of carrying out nuclear submarine cooperation, and safeguard regional and international peace and security with concrete deeds."

Recent years have witnessed a deepening international consensus on non-proliferation, and more effective and stronger efforts to counter proliferation by non-state actors. In the meantime, the situation of non-proliferation remains grave. Unilateralism and double standards are on the rise. Developing countries still face restrictions on the peaceful use of technology. The inequitable and unreasonable elements of the international non-proliferation regime are getting more pronounced, he noted.

In this context, Geng stressed the need to create a favorable international security environment, consolidate and strengthen the current non-proliferation regime, vigorously advance capacity-building in member states, and ensure the rights to peaceful use of technology.

Non-proliferation is a long-term task and an important mission of the international community. The implementation of Security Council Resolution 1540 on non-proliferation will be a progressive process. China hopes all parties can earnestly fulfill their respective international obligations, actively participate in international non-proliferation cooperation, jointly strengthen global non-proliferation governance, and push for universal and common security for the world. China will continue its efforts and contribution to this end, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Iran-backed fighters fired series of missiles at US base at Al-Omar oil field

The White House today insisted America is not seeking a conflict with Iran after President Biden launched a series of retaliatory air strikes against Tehran-backed fighters who had killed an American contractor in a suicide drone attack.

Biden ordered the U.S. Central Command forces to launch 'precision airstrikes' against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps in northeast Syria on Thursday, killing at least 14 pro-Iran fighters.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said today that the retaliatory airstrikes against the IRGC, a wing of the Iranian military which is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Washington, were aimed at protecting American personnel in Syria.

The US strikes, carried out by F-15 fighter jets, were in retaliation for a drone strike that killed a contractor and injured five service members, as well as another American contractor at a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near al-Hasakah in northeast Syria. US officials say that the kamikaze drone was of Iranian origin.

And in response to the US drone strikes, Iran-backed fighters fired seven missiles at the US military base at the Al-Omar oil field in Syria's northeast at 11am on Friday morning.

The latest violence could further aggravate already strained relations between Washington and Tehran amid stalled efforts to revive a nuclear deal and Iran's military support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But Kirby today insisted the US is not seeking conflict with Iran, while adding that Tehran should not be involved in supporting attacks on US facilities.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor suspected to have been US airstrikes authorized in retaliation to the killing of a contractor by an Iranian suicide drone. The Defense Department said the intelligence community had determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin

President Biden ordered the U.S. Central Command forces to launch 'precision airstrikes' against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran 's Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing 11 pro-Iran fighters. Pictured: US air strikes stuck the city of Deir el-Zour

US forces provide military training the Al-Hasakah province in Syria in September 2022

Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were medically evacuated to Iraq, the Pentagon said. It added that all six Americans are in a stable condition.

The Defense Department said the intelligence community had determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin.

'As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing,' Austin said. 'No group will strike our troops with impunity.'

A senior US military source told the New York Times the retaliatory strikes hit a munition warehouse, a control building, and an intelligence-collection site.

On Friday, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with a wide network of sources on the ground in the war-torn country, said 11 people had been killed by US strikes, including two Syrians.

The US strikes targeted a weapons depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, killing six pro-Iran fighters. Another strike killed two fighters near the town of Al-Mayadin, and six others near Albu Kamal, the Observatory's head Rami Abdel Rahman.

In response, the pro-Iranian fighters launched three missile strikes at the US base at the Al-Omar oil field, Kirby said, adding that no American personnel were hurt in today's attack.

'It is not uncommon, when we take a retaliatory strike like this, for them to answer right back with some ineffective rocket fire. And these were largely, completely ineffective,' Kirby told MSNBC. 'Nobody was hurt, no U.S. casualties at all.'

Kirby said on Friday the US airstrikes on the militant's positions were aimed at protecting American personnel in the country, where Islamic State and Iran-backed militant groups remain a threat.

The United States is not seeking conflict with Iran and Tehran should not be involved in supporting attacks on U.S. facilities, Kirby said in an interview with CNN.

General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

'We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks,' Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the 'Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago.' He pointed to Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

He added: 'Iran's vast and deeply resourced proxy forces spread instability throughout the region and threaten our regional partners.'

Kurilla also alleged that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on U.S. positions in Syria since January 2021.

'What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies - that's either UAVs or rockets to be able to attack our forces in either Iraq or Syria,' Kurilla said, using an acronym for drones.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields.

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

An Iranian-made suicide drone, launched by Russia, is seen flying above Kyiv in Ukraine on October 2022

President Joe Biden (pictured) ordered the retaliation strike on a munition warehouse, a control building and an intelligence-collection site

Pictured: The wreckage of what Kyiv has described as an Iranian Shahed drone downed near Kupiansk, Ukraine. American defense officials on February 14 sought to dispel any doubt that Iran is supplying drones for Russia's war in Ukraine, releasing photos and analysis of unmanned aircraft deployed in the conflict to demonstrate Tehran's involvement

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has denied being responsible for these attacks, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts in the region to deescalate tensions, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes. Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatar's state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Qatar's foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The US under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

Hundreds of US troops are in Syria as part of a coalition fighting against remnants of the Islamic State (IS) group and have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups.

The US troops support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds' de facto army in the area, which led the battle that dislodged IS from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in 2019.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened.

There are roughly 900 American troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden

The U.S. still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened

'As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing,' Austin said. 'No group will strike our troops with impunity.'

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad.

The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

While Islamic State is a shadow of the group that ruled over a third of Syria and Iraq in a Caliphate declared in 2014, hundreds of fighters are still camped in desolate areas where neither the US-led coalition nor the Syrian army, with support from Russia and Iranian-backed militias, exert full control.

Thousands of other Islamic State fighters are in detention facilities guarded by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, America's key ally in the country.

American officials say that Islamic State could still regenerate into a major threat.

The mission, which former President Donald Trump nearly ended in 2018 before softening his withdrawal plans, is a remnant of the larger global war against terrorism that had included once the war in Afghanistan and a far larger US military deployment to Iraq.
A Tennessee mother has warned other parents to monitor YouTube Kids after her a 'shocking' Thomas the Tank Engine video came up on her two-year-old son's screen.

Hannah Bishop, a makeup artist, has issued a stark warning after she found her son Brody, two, watching a seemingly innocent Thomas the Tank Engine video on the platform that quickly turned demonic.

A happy-go-lucky Thomas can be seen singing: 'I'm gonna chug, I'm gonna choo' as he glides down the tracks.

Many parents might have thought the next line would be: 'I've got a delivery to do' as it goes in the original I'm Gonna Chug Song, which is posted to the show's verified YouTube account.

However, the video Brody watched, which was posted by the Thomas & Friends parody account DieselD199, takes a different turn, singing in a deep, scary voice: 'I'm gonna kill the lot of you.'

Hannah Bishop, of Tennessee, was 'shocked' to find a seemingly innocent Thomas the Tank Engine video (pictured) turn demonic within seconds as her two-year-old son Brody watched

A happy-go-lucky Thomas can be seen singing: 'I'm gonna chug, I'm gonna choo' as he glides down the tracks. Seconds later, it sings in a deep, scary voice: 'I'm gonna kill the lot of you'

Bishop (pictured) warned parents that these videos are popping up without parental consent

The moment 'shocked' Bishop when she 'saw this video pop up while my two-year-old was watching.'

'I don't even have words for this,' the mother-of-one wrote on TikTok. 'Needless to say, we are looking for a different subscription for Brody to watch.'

The comment section was divided, as many thought the clip was funny and said they wouldn't mind their child watching it, while others agreed with Bishop, saying YouTube Kids has a reputation for this.

'Ugh, YouTube Kids is so frustrating! Sorry mama, that is so scary!' one user wrote.

Another user, Joanie Bologna, agreed, writing: 'There's a big epidemic of gore videos being put in the middle of YouTube Kids videos.'

The original song on the show (pictured) has similar lyrics in the beginning before taking a sweet turn rather than demonic, singing: 'I've got a delivery to do'

Both songs are available on the platform for children to view and without paying attention, the parody videos are easy for parents to miss

Callie wrote: 'YouTube Kids gives me the creeps so so bad. I got rid of it within a week of putting it on kids iPad.'

One woman said, 'this thing would have gave me a heart attack as a kid,' as another agreed, saying: 'This would have traumatized me as a child, as if Thomas wasn't traumatic enough back in the day.'

However, one mom wrote that she watched the video and was 'laughing' about it, while other parents said they watched it with their children and saw no issue with it.

The topic of monitoring children's screen time has been a hot-button issues lately, with even Kim Kardashian warning parents to 'monitor what your kids are watching.'

Many agreed with Bishop that it was 'scary' to see the videos floating around the child's platform, but some said they were 'laughing' and not concerned if they're child saw the video

How to filter YouTube Kids to avoid parody videos of children's classics 1. Click 'settings' 2. Click your child's account 3. Put in account password 4. Click 'edit settings' 5. Choose age range 6. Select 'approved content only' 7. Select what channels you want your child to have access too 8. Click 'done' Advertisement

The reality star drew attention to the horrifying trend back in 2019 after friends had warned her about the videos, which feature a terrifying doll named Momo, which encouraged children to self-harm and have been linked to teenage deaths around the world.

The Momo videos appeared on YouTube Kids, despite the platform supposed to be more heavily monitored than the normal platform.

More recently, the reality star's son Saint found an ad for her sex tape on the children's game Roblox.

In the episode, Kim was left shocked when she saw her son laughing at his tablet while playing the children's game, only to see a picture of her crying face on the screen captioned 'Kim's new sex tape.'

Back in 2018, YouTube Kids tightened its parental controls, allowing parents to 'handpick' every video and channel that's available to watch on the child's account, but Bishop and other parents didn't know about this trick.

Bishop posted a follow-up video showing parents how to manually opt-in for this feature, by logging into your account, clicking 'setting.' putting in the password, click 'edit settings,' click on your child's age range, and then select 'approved content only.'
An esteemed New York fashion designer whose clothes were worn by Lady Gaga was murdered by a lethal cocktail of drugs including fentanyl in an apparent robbery attempt, officials have said.

Katie Gallagher, 35, was found 'unresponsive' in bed at her Lower East Side apartment with 'no obvious signs of trauma' on July 24 last year.

But the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed in a statement today that her death had become a murder investigation- though no arrests have yet been made.

The medical examiner's office said she died via 'drug-facilitated theft,' with fentanyl, ethanol and p-fluorofentanyl found in her system, NBC reports.

It is not clear how the drugs were administered into her system or whether anything was stolen from her apartment. The NYPD declined to comment further on the case.

Katie Gallagher's death has now been ruled a homicide after she was found unresponsive in her lower east side apartment last July

Gallagher had a host of celebrity fans. She is pictured with model Chrissy Teigen in 2014

Gallagher's passing shocked the fashion world last year, with a Vogue tribute labelling her 'fiercely independent' and a 'hands-on artisan.'

Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania, she studied at the Rhode Island School of Design where she drew the attention of Lady Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti.

Gallagher dressed Gaga before she had even graduated from school and later her items were also worn by Kourtney Kardashian and Rita Ora.

In 2016 transgender activist Laverne Cox sported one of Gallagher's bodysuits in a photoshoot for Cosmopolitan.

An obituary for the late designer posted by her sisters called her a 'talented and innovative pattern maker and seamstress.'

'Like A.A. Milne's Eeyore, she preferred gloomy days and cold rain,' it read.

'As a child, she was drawn to the woods, mixing potions and playing there with her sisters.

'Animals were drawn to her gentle and calm demeanor. She could talk to them and once even touched a deer in the stillness of the trees.'

It went onto say she 'loved poetry and heavy metal' and 'felt deeply' with 'an enormous, forgiving heart.'

Kourtney Kardashian is pictured in a Gallagher design in 2019

Gallagher's designs have also been worn by a host of celebrities including Lady Gaga, left, and Rita Ora, right

'More recently, after helping arrange flowers for one of her sister's weddings, she became a self-taught and talented florist in New York and briefly in Los Angeles,' the obituary continued.

Gallagher was just shy of her 36th birthday when she died.

It is not known whether she was in a relationship or whether she lived with anybody else at the time of her death.

She was dating Russian graphic designer Nikolay Saveliev and occupied an apartment with him as of 2010, according to a profile by Refinery29 that year.

Shortly after her death, Saveliev told Vogue: 'She was obsessed with really technical pattern making; that was something that she became really proud of, so she spent a lot of time researching Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin patterns.

'She didnt want to build anything that was traditional tailoring in any way, she wanted always to subvert it.'

As of 2010 she was in a relationship with graphic designer Nikolay Saveliev. Shortly after her death, Saveliev told Vogue Gallagher was expected to get by on 'crumbs' due to the unpredictable nature of the fashion industry

Vogue described the late fashion designer as 'fiercely independent' and a 'hands-on artisan.' It is not known whether she was in a relationship at the time of her death or whether she lived with anybody else

He added: 'She was always fascinated by transience and death, and of course in context its a little sad.'

Saveliev went on to suggest Gallagher struggled with the unpredictability of high-end fashion.

'The thing about fashion is it gives you piecemeal ideas of feeling really good and really important; like youre totally broke, but then you end up being invited to Cannes, or whatever,' he said.

'You get little crumbs here and there and they feel really great. I think Katie really just got by on the crumbs.'

Her last ever Instagram featured a sketch she had drawn of some bats, with the caption: 'I draw and paint ya know.'

Just last week her sisters announced via GoFundMe they would be hosting a celebration of her life and work in New York in May.

The family had been fundraising to finish and display her 27th fashion collection which she was working on in the months before her death.

'Katie loved stories and chose to tell them through fashion,' the page read.

'Although our hearts are aching, we have found some solace in the ambition to continue to honor Katies dreams and make sure that her story is told.

'As of Friday the page had raised just over $30,000.'

'Drug-facilitated theft' was listed as the cause of death in two separate incidents in New York last year.

Both Julio Ramirez, 25, and John Umberger, 33, died from a cocktail of fentanyl, cocaine, lidocaine and ethanol found in their blood. Ramirez had also ingested heroin.

Gallagher was found in bed at her lower east side apartment in New York, pictured

Models wearing Gallagher's design pose during a show at New York fashion week in 2012

The duo were found dead after leaving gay bars in Hell's Kitchen, with both of their bank accounts drained.

There is no reason to believe their deaths are related to Gallagher's.

Dailymail.com has reached out to the Gallagher family for comment.
A law that could punish street harassment such as wolf whistling with up to two years in prison cleared the House of Commons today.

The legislation was given its third reading by MPs with support from the government - and is being tightened to prevent people claiming they were only engaging in banter.

It is already an offence under the 1986 Public Order Act to deliberately harass or cause alarm or distress.

However, the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill introduced by former Cabinet minister Greg Clark would create a specific new offence.

There would also be harsher punishments for perpetrators, raising the maximum time behind bars from six months to two years.

Mr Clark today secured support for a new clause to the Bill requiring the Government to issue advice to police on how to interpret the measures.

Campaigners had been concerned there could be a loophole of offenders arguing they had thought the advances were welcome, even though a 'reasonable' person would have known they were causing distress.

The Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill introduced by former Cabinet minister Greg Clark (left) would create a specific new offence. It has been backed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman (right)

During the debate, Mr Clark said it was 'an historic day'.

'For the first time in our history, deliberately harassing, following, shouting degrading words at, making obscene gestures at women and girls in public places - and yes, on occasion men and boys in public places - because of their sex, with the deliberate intention to cause them alarm or distress, will be a specific offence, and a serious one at that,' he said.

'The astonishing thing is that it hasn't be so until now.'

Labour MP Stella Creasy said: 'Misogyny is driving crimes against women and girls. A very simple statement, but a very clear recognition in this legislation for the first time ever that women are being targeted simply because they are women.

'At the moment in our society it is women who are paying the price for our failure to understand how misogyny has driven crimes against them and to recognise that within the law.

'By passing this legislation we are sending a powerful message to our young men that they do deserve better than that caricature of boys will be boys.'

While the Bill passed the Commons unopposed, Conservative former minister Sir Christopher Chope suggested amending it to 'ensure that emphasis was given to the fact that this Bill applies to men and women equally'.

The amendment was not formally put forward, but Sir Christopher warned: 'There seems to be an inability to hold two notions in our heads; that sexual assault is bad and that treating men as inherent sex pests is also bad.

'A reasonable worry about assault appears to have morphed into an institutional misandry.'

Labour shadow equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds said 'we haven't seen enough progress' on addressing issues of women's safety, but added: 'This Bill will be positive for everyone.'

Home Office minister Chris Philp confirmed the Government's backing for the Bill, and said he wanted to see guidance issued to police on the new offence 'as soon as possible'.

That could be by the summer, although the House of Lords must complete scrutiny first before the law reaches the statute book.

Last year the Office for National Statistics said nearly a third of women had experienced some form of harassment over the past 12 months

Before the Commons stages today, Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Telegraph: 'Women have the fundamental right to walk the streets without fear and I'm committed to ensuring that criminals who intimidate and harass them face the conse quences.

'This is why we are backing the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Bill, and after carefully considering a range of views, we are supporting an amendment that will require the Government to produce statutory guidance for the police to help them enforce the new offence.'

It will cover behaviour or 'gestures' that deliberately harass, alarm, or distresses someone a public space on the basis of their sex.

That could range from wolf-whistling and cat-calling to stalking and persistent sexist verbal abuse.

Home Office sources have stressed that wolf-whistling might not count as an 'obscene or offensive' gesture or comment - but it will be down to the police and courts to interpret.

Last year the Office for National Statistics revealed that nearly a third of women had experienced some form of harassment in the previous 12 months.

High-profile cases have also triggered a groundswell of support for more protection, including the murder of Sarah Everard as she walked home in London last year.
Colorado dentist James Craig may have recruited members of his church into helping him clean up a potential crime scene at his home the day before his wife, Angela, was pronounced dead, DailyMail.com reveal.

According to a source close to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Southshore Ward, of which the Craig family is a part, members were asked to help 'organize' Craig's mudroom and basement at their home in Aurora, while Angela, 43, was in hospital and ahead of other family coming into town.

The source told DailyMail.com: 'It was an oddly specific request. It's quite common in the community for us to go into somebody's house and help when there's been a new baby or sickness, but the language of this request was so heightened.

Colorado dentist Jim Craig had allegedly asked members of his Mormon church community to help him clean up his home the day before his wife Angela, 43, was pronounced brain dead on March 18, according to friends of the couple

Sources close to the Craigs' Mormon church said members were asked to help 'organize' the mudroom and basement at their Aurora home (pictured) - which some now wonder if it may have been a crime scene

Craig was seen entering the Arapahoe District Court for his arraignment on first-degree murder charges on Thursday

'It said they needed 'the mudroom organized, and their basement storage organized.'

'And looking back at the timing of the communication, I can't help wondering if that was something Jim asked for knowing that it might be a crime scene later.'

The request was sent to church members via email shortly after 1pm on March 17.

Major Crimes homicide detectives had already executed a search warrant on the family residence at 8:45am the previous morning.

And less than 24 hours after the church members search, Angela, by then intubated and unconscious in intensive care, was pronounced brain dead.

The house was empty as Craig, 45, was staying with family friends.

According to the lengthy probably cause affidavit, Craig refused to speak to a detective from the Aurora Police Department when visited at the friend's home around 8:30am March 16.

They executed the search warrant on his home approximately 15 minutes later.

Police recovered multiple items from the Craig household including protein powders, work-out style shakers used to consume protein drinks or shakes, a computer tablet, water bottle, and two different plastic Ziploc-style bags, neither of which were labeled and both of which contained white powdery substances in them.

Craig had asked friends, family, and members of his church to remain tight-lipped about Angela's condition, with a similar plea being issued to the wider church community two days after her death

Set in an upscale development with parks, a nature reserve and playgrounds this is the home of a family who appeared to have it all

Today the neat family home is shuttered up, a small sign posted on the door asks for privacy

James and Angela Craig pose for a family picture with their six children aged eight to 20

Now, with Craig charged with first-degree murder having allegedly slowly poisoned Angela to death, the source told DailyMail.com that the timing and nature of his request for help cleaning out specific rooms in the large family property was 'chilling.'

They said: 'What was he wanting ''organized'' away so soon before Angela died? Was there something still there he was worried about?'

On March 19, two days after the request for others to clean up his home, and shortly after Angela was taken off life support, police obtained a warrant to arrest Craig on first-degree murder charges.

Craig had already texted his business partner, Ryan Redfearn, asking him not to speak about Angela's illness and death and reminding him that he was 'under no obligation to talk to anyoneincluding any law enforcement officersunless you are served a subpoena.'

He also attempted to guilt Redfearn into silence insisting, 'you will do more damage than good to my family by continuing to insert yourself into this.

Just two days after Angela's death, a similar plea to remain tight-lipped was issued to the wider church community.

The direction, made via email, came from Bishop McIlroy and echoed Craig's sentiment that speaking out would only hurt the Craigs' six children.

The email read: 'Thank you for your continued prayers and tremendous support for the Craig family. Thank you for the yard work, the meals, the housework, and the love that you have generously provided. The family is grateful. I am grateful.'

Text messages Craig exchanged with Angela while she was in hospital fighting for her life

Craig sat alongside deputy public defender Patrick Thompson (right) and public defender Katie Telfer during his brief arraignment at Arapahoe District Court Thursday morning

Angela Craig's brother Mark Pray, 54, circled, sat second row in the courtroom for his brother-in-law's arraignment which marks the first time he has laid eyes on him since his arrest, he told DailyMail.com

It continued: 'Many have reached out inquiring about recent news. We don't have many answers but wanted to provide some counsel.

'1. Jesus is the Christ. Be His disciple  Mosiah 2:172. Think of the Craig children. How will your communication potentially affect them?

'If you are approached or asked questions about this situation from the public, please refer them to President Hansen. We don't judge. We love. We Minister.'

Craig made his first court appearance Thursday morning at Arapahoe District Court where he was formally charged with first-degree murder.

He shuffled into courtroom 308, head bowed, hands cuffed and ankles shackled.

He did not make eye contact with any of the friends and family members, including Angela's brother Mark Pray, who showed up to the hearing.

In an exclusive statement shared with DailyMail.com after Craig's initial hearing, Pray, 54, said: 'We are all heartbroken over the loss of our sweet Angie.

'She was deeply loved by both the Pray and Craig families, and this is a very difficult time for all of us. We thank God for the knowledge that we will be able to be reunited with her someday.'
The Iranian-backed fighters responded to the U.S. strike by shooting off three rockets, but there were no injuries

We're not looking for an armed conflict with that country or another war in the region,' NSC spokesman John Kirby said

The White House said Friday that the U.S. is not seeking a conflict with Iran after President Joe Biden launched a retaliatory air strike over an American contractor killed in Syria by a drone strike. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

A suspected Iran-made suicide drone killed a contractor and injured five U.S. servicemembers on Thursday at a maintenance facility on a coalition base near al-Hasakah in northeast Syria.

Biden responded by deploying 'precision airstrikes' against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing 11 pro-Iranian fighters. The Iranian-backed fighters responded by shooting off three rockets Friday morning.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday morning, 'We don't seek a war with Iran. We're not looking for an armed conflict with that country or another war in the region'

According to an American defense official, the U.S. counterstrikes were conducted by F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

The U.S. F-15s struck three locations, all in the vicinity of Deir el-Zour, said a U.S. official.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby appeared on the U.S. morning shows Friday and was asked on CNN if the U.S. could consider the recent attacks an 'act of war.'

'We don't seek a war with Iran. We're not looking for an armed conflict with that country or another war in the region,' Kirby said.

'We do seek to protect our mission in Syria, which is about defeating ISIS, and we do seek to protect our people in our facilities against these Iran-backed groups,' Kirby added.

He couldn't give details about the identity of the U.S. contractor besides confirming that he was an American citizen.

'We're trying to give the family some time and space here to grieve,' Kirby explained.

On MSNBC's Morning Joe, Kirby said it was clear the Iran-backed group resented the U.S. presence in the region.

'They don't want to see the United States' presence in Iraq, they don't want to see it in Syria and they're retaliating, they're acting out to limit our ability to go after ISIS in both those countries and to try and force our hand to leave,' Kirby said.

He also said that the three rocket strikes launched at the US base at the Al-Omar oil field didn't do any damage.

'It is not uncommon when we take a retaliatory strike like this for them to answer right back with some ineffective rocket fire and these were largely, completely ineffective,' Kirby said. 'Nobody was hurt, no U.S. casualties at all.'

'It was sort of an instinctual reaction that get from these militant groups whenever we do this kind of thing,' he continued. 'But that said, we obviously are going to stay vigilant for any other responses from Iran or from their militant groups in Syria, in Iraq.'

U.S. Army Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, the head of the American military's Central Command, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. 'We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing.'

President Joe Biden (pictured) ordered the retaliation strike on a munition warehouse, a control building and an intelligence-collection site

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden
The United Nations said Friday it was 'deeply concerned' by what it described as summary executions of prisoners of war carried out by Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

The head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, said her organisation had documented the killings of 'up to 25 Russian prisoners of war' by Ukrainian armed forces as well as 'the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces'.

Several execution videos of prisoners of war (POWs) shared on social media have shocked the world since the war started.

Just last month, in February, a convicted murderer released from prison to fight for Russia's Wagner group reportedly became the second mercenary to be beaten to death with a sledgehammer after defecting to Ukraine.

Dmitry Yakushchenko, 44, had his head taped to a what appears to be a pile of bricks with cling film before being apparently bludgeoned to death with the sledgehammer in a horrifying execution that was filmed and published on messaging app Telegram.

Dmitry Yakushchenko, 44, had his head taped to bricks with clingfilm before being bludgeoned to death with the sledgehammer in a harrowing ordeal that was filmed and published online after he was accused of 'treason' for defecting to Ukraine after arriving on front line

Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, had his head taped to a brick wall and was subsequently beaten to death with the sledgehammer in November 2022 when he was recaptured by his former colleagues, in a harrowing ordeal that was filmed and circulated on the Telegram messaging app

Yakushchenko was accused of treason for deserting after arriving on the front line. He was later recaptured by his former Wagner colleagues, who went on to execute him.

The 44-year-old is now reportedly the second Wagner fighter to be executed with a sledgehammer after convicted murderer Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, was killed by his countrymen in November last year.

However, the authenticity of the execution was cast into doubt after it appeared the video may have been staged by the Wagner private military to look exactly like the one carried out on Nuzhin.

Nuzhin had his head taped to a brick wall and was subsequently beaten to death with the sledgehammer in November 2022 when he was recaptured by his former colleagues, in a harrowing ordeal that was filmed and circulated on the Telegram messaging app.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and founder of the infamous Wagner private military company (PMC), said on Sunday that 'a dog receives a dog's death' in response to the clip.

At the beginning of March, a video shared on Telegram showed a man, said to be a Ukrainian prisoner of war, taking one last drag from a cigarette next to a shallow grave before reportedly being executed by Russian troops.

The chilling video has emerged as Kyiv described the death of the soldier as a 'heinous war crime'. He has since been named as Oleksandr Matsievskyi.

The man, believed to be a Ukrainian prisoner of war called Oleksandr Matsievskyi, is seen smoking a cigarette in a small hole in the ground. The footage was condemned by Ukraine's foreign minister

In the grim footage, a man  who can be seen smoking a cigarette in a small hole in the ground  says 'Glory to Ukraine' while unseen soldiers are heard sneering in the background.

He is then shot to death with automatic weapons in what some Ukrainian politicians have said is proof of 'genocide.'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address: 'Today, a video appeared of the occupiers brutally killing a soldier, who bravely said to their faces: "Glory to Ukraine!".'

But as the report by the UN shows, it's not just the Russians that are accused of killings prisoners of war.

In a video published in April last year, Ukrainian soldiers were seen killing their apparently captured Russian counterparts with their hands tied behind their backs.

The video, which the New York Times verified, shows Ukrainian troops committing the killings, after what appeared to be an ambush outside a village west of Kyiv.

'He's still alive,' one of the Ukrainians - identifiable by their flag patches and 'glory to Ukraine' paraphernalia - can be heard saying, as a Russian soldier is seen with a jacket pulled over his head. 'Film these marauders. Look, he's still alive. He's gasping.'

One of the soldiers then shot the man three times. After the second shot, the man kept moving but stopped after the third bullet.

In the video there appear to be at least three other Russian soldiers dead lying near the latest victim, all wearing camouflage and three with white arm bands typically worn by Russian military units.
One of the King's former horsemen is facing jail after being found guilty of raping three teenage trainee instructors at a top Scottish residential riding school.

James Christopher Armour, known as Chris, now 57, was home on periods of leave when he raped three girl trainees - aged 17 to 19 - who were living at the yard, in Fife, in the 1980s.

The High Court in Stirling heard on Thursday how the prestigious school, the Dunvegan Equestrian Centre, Newburgh, was then run by his stepmother Jane Armour, who was a highly regarded dressage judge and 'trainer of trainers'.

The bombardier in the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, served for nine years with the King's troop - famous for its horse teams that pull 13-pounder guns on royal state occasions, take part in Trooping the Colour, and mount guard on Horse Guards Parade.

He also represented Britain as an Army showjumper, and continued eventing in civilian life.

James Christopher Armour (pictured above outside the High Court in Stirling) claimed that all the women were 'fantasists', saying he'd never had sex with the first woman as 'she wasn't the prettiest thing in the world'

Armour, pictured back row, second from right. Gary Allan KC said Armour 'used his physical attributes to overpower girls at Dunvegan for his own sexual gratification'

After a five-day trial, jurors took three hours to find Armour (pictured jumping) guilty of all three rapes, which were committed between March 1983 and June 1989

And in 2010, he even made the cover of Horse & Hound magazine.

But in the high court, it was heard how Armour's victims carried 'dark memories' with them of what he did for decades.

Eventually, in 2019, one of them saw a TV advert for Rape Crisis and contacted the police who launched 'Operation Cliftok' to probe the abuse of the girls at the centre.

The woman, who is now also 57, told the court that in 1983, Armour - then a complete stranger whom she'd never met or even seen before - had suddenly walked into a stable where she was working, kicked her between the legs, 'shoved' her against the wall, and raped her.

Over the next two years, he went on to rape her frequently when on leave - on the stable floor, on the kitchen floor, and in her bedroom at the centre's three-storey mansion, Dunvegan House, grabbing her breasts and punching her in the stomach.

And on one occasion, he came up behind her while she was washing horses' bits in a tack room sink, hit her on the bottom with a riding crop, then grabbed her by the hair and held her head under the taps for 'minutes', before pulling off her jodhpurs and raping her.

She said: 'I felt sick. I was just crying all the time.'

His second victim, now a 59-year-old farmer, said she was at the centre in the last quarter of 1985 when she was woken from sleep by her bedroom floorboards squeaking.

Armour came in, put his hand over her mouth and told her to be silent, before pulling back the bedcovers, and raping her.

He then turned her over and raping her again, anally.

After he finished, he left, and she staggered to the bathroom, bleeding and in pain.

Armour was a bombardier in the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and served for nine years with the King's troop - famous for its horse teams that pull 13-pounder guns on royal state occasions

In 2010, the 57-year-old even made the cover of Horse & Hound magazine (pictured above). The bombardier served for nine years with the King's troop

Explaining why she had not reported the rape then, or challenged Armour at the time, she said: 'I was scared.

'I was a naive young girl.

'It was the start of my career.

'If I'd opened my mouth I'd not have had 30 to 40 years with horses. That's what I thought.'

She added: 'In those days there wasn't any help. You shut up. You blocked it out. You got on with your life.

'You didn't talk about those things.'

Armour's third victim - who was also raped in her bedroom in Dunvegan House in the late '80s, when she was 17 - was studying for her British Horse Society Assistant Instructor Certificate (BHSAI).

Now 53, she said Armour came in, smelling of drink, and they began consensually kissing. However, then he got on top of her and raped her, despite her trying to push him off and repeatedly saying 'no'.

Clearly distressed giving evidence, she told the jury she had 'shut it all down at the time'.

She said: 'I think it was a survival instinct. It was embarrassing. I didn't think for one moment I'd be believed.'

Armour, who was living when the trial began at an Army veterans' home in Congleton, Cheshire, denied the rapes.

He went on to claim in evidence that all the women were 'fantasists', saying he'd never had sex with the first woman as 'she wasn't the prettiest thing in the world.'

He claimed he had never met the second woman, and that intercourse with the third had been consensual, adding: 'I left her satisfied.'

After a five-day trial, jurors took three hours to find Armour guilty of all three rapes, which were committed between March 1983 and June 1989.

He showed no emotion as the verdict was returned on March 23.

Judge Lord Young deferred sentence until April 25th at the High Court in Edinburgh, and revoked bail.

He said: 'Give the seriousness of these matters he will be remanded in custody.'

Armour, who has previous convictions for battery in England, was also placed on the sex offenders' register.

Gary Allan KC, defending, reserved mitigation.

Referring to the initial call to the police, prosecutor Chris Fyffe KC said one woman's 'Me Too' moment had 'shone a torch on the dark memories all three women had held, and struggled to come to terms with... for over 35 years'.

He added that Armour, 'a muscular young solider', and had 'used his physical attributes to overpower girls at Dunvegan for his own sexual gratification, taking what he wanted regardless of their wishes'.

Mr Fyffe also said the victims had given 'clear and compelling accounts' of being raped by Armour.
The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday called 'bulls***' on Secretary of State Antony Blinken's refusal to hand over a key document on the Afghanistan withdrawal.

And Rep. Mike McCaul gave Blinken until the end of Monday to hand over a mid-July 2021 dissent cable sent by diplomats in Kabul, setting out their reservations about exiting.

Failure, he said, would force legal action.

'I have the subpoena  it's right here,' said McCaul as he waved a document in the air during the committee hearing. 'And I'm prepared to serve this.'

He first requested the cable in August of 2021, as the chaotic departure unfolded, and has stepped up his demands since Republicans took control of the House and its committees as he probes how the exit went so badly wrong.

'I have the subpoena  it's right here,' said Rep. Mike McCaul as he waved a document in the air during the committee hearing. 'And I'm prepared to serve this'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said dissent cables were intended to be confidential, which was why he had not been prepared to hand over a key document to the committee

He has also sought the after action report looking at the withdrawal, and embassy evacuation plans. The evacuation plan has been handed over and Blinken announced that the after action report would soon be delivered to Congress.

The dissent cable reportedly warns that the internationally-backed government in Kabul would likely collapse if the U.S. left.

During his grilling, the secretary of state said dissent cables were meant to be kept secret.

'The tradition of having a dissent channel is one that is cherished in the department, and one that goes back decades  it's a unique way for anyone in the department to speak truth to power as they see it without fear or favor,' he said.

'And they do it, by the regulations that we established for these cables in a privileged and confidential way.

'It is vital to me that we preserve the integrity of that process and of that channel  that we not take any steps that could have a chilling effect on the willingness of others to come forward in the future, to express dissenting views on the policies that are being pursued.'

Instead, he suggested holding a briefing on some of the key details.

McCaul was having none of it. He referenced a similar dispute in the 1970s and a message from a former U.S. ambassador.

The withdrawal in August 2021 was marked by dramatic images from Kabul airport as desperate Afghans sought to flee their new Taliban rulers

'And in a statement [former Ambassador Boyatt] provided to the committee, he says that any claim providing them to Congress would have a, quote, chilling effect  as your staff has claimed  is, and I quote him directly here, "Bulls***."

'Not my words, those are the ambassador's.'

McCaul set a Monday deadline.

'I'm gonna give you until the close of business on Monday to produce that dissent cable to this committee and this Congress so the American people can see what the employees at the Embassy in Kabul were thinking about your policy that they dissented from,' he said.

Republicans are examining the circumstances that led up to the U.S. withdrawal, and how 13 American personnel were killed in a suicide attack amid the chaos of Kabul airport.

Earlier this month the committee heard from Marine sniper Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews who was security detail in a tower, watching desperate Afghans trying to flee the city's new Taliban rulers, when he was blindsided by an enormous wave of pressure.

The withdrawal reached its darkest moment when a suicide bomber detonated explosives amid the chaos, killing 13 U.S. service personnel and scores of Afghans

Marine sniper Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews broke down in tears earlier this month as he recounted his harrowing ordeal, and criticized the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal that Republicans have called a 'stunning failure of leadership'

It was August 26, 2021, and an ISIS-K suicide bomber had detonated on the perimeter of Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic evacuation sparked by the Biden administration's withdrawal of troops after 20 years in Afghanistan.

Just moments before the attack, the California veteran spotted a terrorist matching the suspect's description and asked if he could 'engage', but he says his leaders refused.

Between 100 to 150 ball bearings ended up in Vargas-Andrews' body in the explosion that killed 11 fellow Marines, two Navy corpsmen and hundreds of Afghan men, women and children. His right arm and right leg had to be amputated over the course of 43 surgeries that followed.

Vargas-Andrews broke down in tears as he recounted his harrowing ordeal, and criticized the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal that Republicans have called a 'stunning failure of leadership'.

He detailed how military leaders ignored his warnings minutes earlier, and how those stationed at the airport were told not to engage - even though the Taliban were shooting people trying to get on a plane.
The Stanford Law dean who apologized to conservative Judge Kyle Duncan after he was heckled by a group of liberal students has issued a searing, 10-page legal argument defending herself and explaining to them why their behavior was so unjustified.

Dean Jenny Martinez apologized to Duncan after his speech at the Federalist Society. Her apology was met with yet more anger from the young students who'd protested his being there in the first place.

Their fury has been bolstered by Dean of Inclusivity, Tirien Steinbach, who not only joined in the protest during Duncan's visit, but who wrote a lengthy op-ed for The Wall Street Journal yesterday.

In her memorandum, Dean Martinez said none of them would be suspended or disciplined for their behavior.

Dean Jenny Martinez apologized to Duncan after his speech at the Federalist Society. Her apology was met with yet more anger from the young students who'd protested his being there in the first place

Some of Dean Martinez's lengthy arguments. Her 10-page memorandum has been embraced by conservative students

However she is forcing the kids to take part in mandatory 'educational programming' in an effort to teach them how to disagree.

She structured her statement like a long-winded, legal defense of free speech.

'Some of the protestors at last weeks event stayed within the bounds of permissible, nondisruptive counter-speech, while others crossed the line in sustained heckling that disrupted the event.

'Some students contend that the judge invited the heckling with offensive comments or engagement with protestors,' she said.

She went on to say the students from the right-leaning Federalist Society deserve the same protections as more liberal students.

'The universitys commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion can and should be implemented in ways that are consistent with its commitment to academic freedom and free speech.

Students held signs that read 'trans lives matter' (pictured) and 'FED SUCK'

Earlier this much, Judge Kyle Duncan was heckled while giving a speech at The Federalist Society by liberal students who crashed the event

Tirien Steinbach, the Dean of Inclusivity, led the charge, and even took Judge Duncan on herself

Fifth Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, 51, who was appointed by Donald Trump, was asked to give a speech at the famous law school about the circuit's Court of Appeals by the student chapter of the Federalist Society

'The Federalist Society has the same rights of free association that other student organizations at the law school have.

'Students calling for the law school administration to restrict the organization or the speakers it can bring to campus are demanding action inconsistent not only with freedom of speech but with rights to freedom of association that civil rights lawyers fought hard in the twentieth century to secure.'

'Unless we recognize that student members of the Federalist Society and other conservatives have the same right to express their views free of coercion, we cannot live up to this commitment nor can we claim that we are fostering an inclusive environment for all students,' she wrote.

Martinez also took aim at Steinbach for getting herself involved in the controversy instead of diffusing it.

The Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Tirien Steinbach, is currently on leave from the prestigious university

'When a disruption occurs and the speaker asks for an administrator to help restore order, the administrator who responds should not insert themselves into debate with their own criticism of the speakers views and the suggestion that the speaker reconsider whether what they plan to say is worth saying, for that imposes the kind of institutional orthodoxy and coercion that the policy on Academic Freedom precludes.

'For that reason, I stand by my statement in the apology letter that at the event on March 9, staff members who should have enforced university policies failed to do so, and instead intervened in inappropriate ways that are not aligned with the universitys commitment to free speech,' she said.

Steinbach is currently on leave.

She did not indicate in her Wall Street Journal op-ed whether or not she intended to return to the university.

Martinez, in her statement, wouldn't be drawn on it either.

She concluded: 'As I have already explained at length above, the disruptive conduct of many students at the event was not protected by the First Amendment.

'As a law school, it is within our educational mandate to address with students the norms of the legal profession with regard to, for example, offering substantive criticism of legal arguments and positions rather than vulgar personal insults, and the potential consequences for their professional reputations of such speech.

'Needless to say, faculty and students are free to disagree with the material presented in these sessions or with the arguments I have presented in this memorandum  there will be no orthodoxy on this topic either.

'But I believe further discussion of these topics will both advance our educational mission and help us learn from the errors of the recent past.

'I recognize that the course I have chosen will not please everyone, not least of which those who have demanded that I retract my apology to Judge Duncan and those who have demanded that students be immediately expelled.

'But this is the course I believe best furthers our obligations as legal educators, charged with training future lawyers and preparing them to participate in a profession that undergirds the very fabric of our democracy and the rule of law.'
A candlelit vigil took place close to his home on Thursday night

His parents were forced to undergo lie detector tests after his disappearance

The devastated aunt of a missing teenager who vanished more than a week ago has slammed theories that his parents may have been involved in his disappearance.

Scottie Morris, 14, was last seen at 8.30pm on March 16, leaving his home in Eaton, Indiana, wearing a shirt daubed with the words 'liar' and 'cheat'.

Eaton Indiana Police Department confirmed that he had been forced to wear the shirt by his parents as a punishment.

The Chief of Police also said that his parents, Felicia and Brian, had undergone polygraph tests and were not considered suspects.

But many have still been asking questions of the family, with Scottie's aunt Melissa Morris May posting images of her nephew online and hitting back at the claims his parents were involved.

Scottie Morris, 14, was last seen at 8.30pm on March 16, leaving his home in Eaton, Indiana, wearing a shirt daubed with the words 'liar' and 'cheat'

The new images show Scottie smiling in family snaps on his birthday, at a theme park and climbing on rocks.

Melissa said: 'Bring Scottie Home!! Dad misses you and he loves you and wants you home!'

She then responded to a comment asking where his dad Brian was, saying 'trying to find his son' before adding: 'The family did nothing wrong and are going threw enough and don't need the negativity.'

Police launched a manhunt for the vulnerable teen, with a missing person alert saying 'he is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance'.

A nearby church held an emotional vigil for the teen, who has been missing for eight days, as Eaton Indiana Police Department appeals again for any video footage of Scottie.

They are appealing for residents to check any footage they may have between 8.15pm and 11pm on the day he went missing  though there has been no sign of the teen since he vanished.

The new images show Scottie smiling in family snaps on his birthday, at a theme park and climbing on rocks

Scottie's aunt Melissa Morris May posting images of her nephew online and hitting back at the claims his parents were involved

She then responded to a comment asking where his dad Brian was, saying trying to find his son before adding: The family did nothing wrong and are going threw enough and don't need the negativity.'

Dozens of people turned out for the candlelight vigil in the tiny town, with a family friend saying 'let's bring this child home'.

The Grace and Mercy Church hosted the event, starting with prayers and music, before candles were lit in honor of the missing teen.

The group then let off multi-coloured balloons as police continue to desperately search for the missing teenager.

Family friend Teresa Wilkerson said the family are 'of course devastated, hurt, scared, very afraid' and added: 'We don't know where Scottie is.

'But we're believing and we're having faith that Scottie will see all of this tonight and see the love and the light and the community wanting him back.

'His family is devastated. Scottie, your mom and dad love you, whatever happened, it's OK.'

A friend of Scotties, Daxton Gunter said: 'Some nights I can't believe it. I really do miss him. I just wanted to stand here with him because it just feels like a part of me is missing since he's gone.'

A photograph released by police show him with his head shaved and in a t-shirt which said ' I hurt my brother' as well as having a sad crying face on it.

A nearby church held an emotional vigil for the teen, who has been missing for eight days, as Eaton Indiana Police Department appeals again for any video footage of Scottie

Dozens of people turned out for the candlelight vigil in the tiny town, with a family friend saying 'let's bring this child home'

Scottie's parents, Felicia and Brian Morris, have taken lie detector tests as part of the investigation

Scottie was said to be wearing black shoes, red and black shorts and a white T-shirt with writing on the front'  suggesting he was in the offensive item of clothing at the time he vanished.

Police Chief Jay Turner said Scottie's parents forced him to wear the shirt as a punishment, although it's unclear what for.

However he said the photo was 'displayed as an investigation tool', suggesting it could hold clues about the circumstances of Scottie's disappearance or aid the search.

Chief Turner said: 'The shirt, it was quite unorthodox, kind of disturbing, and we're looking into that.'

But the police chief shutdown speculation that Scottie was forced to have his head shaved, saying the boy's haircut in the photo was 'his idea'.

Scottie's mom, Felicia Morris, said: 'I know you are mad and confused and I'm afraid you're scared with all of this. Everyone is looking out for you, we're not trying to scare you. You're not in trouble.'

Police Chief Jay Turner said Scottie's parents forced him to wear the shirt as a punishment, although it's unclear what for

Police in Eaton suspended their search for Scottie on Monday last week ahead of a meeting to decide the next steps

Scottie Dean Morris, second from left, with his siblings. Scottie was last seen in his home town of Eaton, 76 miles northeast of Indianapolis, at 8.30pm on March 16

He said Scottie's parents were heartbroken and 'beat up pretty bad on social media' after the picture of Scottie in the t-shirt was posted, adding: 'Right now, they have cooperated the entire time with us.'

Deputy Chief Chris Liggett said on Monday that 'there have been several interviews done, polygraphs have been conducted'.

But cops have also admitted that the investigation came to a 'standstill', after Scottie's mother Felicia sobbed as she begged her son to come home.

In an interview last week she said: Scott, I love you and I want you to come home.

'I know you are mad and confused and I'm afraid you're scared with all of this. Everyone is looking out for you, we're not trying to scare you. You're not in trouble.

'If you're in a house and they come to you and you don't want to go out because it's the cops, reach out.

'Me and dad will come get you. I love you and I just want you to come home. I need to know that you're safe.'

His mom, Felicia Morris, has also issued a desperate appeal to Scottie directly, urging him to come home

Heres the most recent release from WTHR-TV. Scottie, if youre seeing this, please reach out to our department! We are here to help you anyway we can! If you have any information on the whereabouts of Scottie, please call the department at 765-396-3297, 911, or call the non emergency line for dispatch 765-747-7878. Posted by Eaton Indiana Police Department on Monday, March 20, 2023

A friend of Scotties, Daxton Gunter said: 'Some nights I can't believe it. I really do miss him. I just wanted to stand here with him because it just feels like a part of me is missing since he's gone'

The recent cold weather in the region has also added to the concerns for Scottie's wellbeing. Recent night time temperatures have fallen to as low as 34F.

Chief Turner added: 'You're not in trouble, we want to help you, just please contact us.'

He also said most of Scottie's classmates are away on spring break and police are investigating whether he's hidden in one of their empty homes.

Searches of some of those properties were expected to take place. Scottie is 5 foot 4 inches tall, 150 pounds and has brown hair with blue eyes.

The search operation has included infrared drones, a boat search of a nearby river and bloodhound teams.

Eaton is a small town of around 1,600 people and many residents have joined the search efforts in recent days.

'There has been a tremendous outpouring of support from the community, and we thank each and every one of you that have volunteered during this time,' police said.

If you have any information on Scottie Dean Morris, contact the Eaton Police Department at (765) 396-3297 or 911.

Deputy Chief Chris Liggett said on Monday that 'there have been several interviews done, polygraphs have been conducted'

Eaton Police Department has issued a second heartfelt plea for anyone in the area with footage from that night to come forward
Would require schools to inform parents if school staff begin encouraging or promoting their child's gender transition

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised the bill would meet a 'dead end' in the Senate

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the 'fascist' bill would target LGBT youth and censor racial content

The Republican-led House voted to pass its Parents' Bill of Rights on Friday with zero Democrat votes after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it 'fascist.' The controversial bill, which gives parents a stronger role in what's taught in public schools, is not expected to be taken up by the Democratic-majority Senate.

Critics denounce the legislation saying it has led to book bans, restrictions aimed at transgender students and unhinged board meetings nationwide.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Republicans were 'keeping our promise, our commitment to America, that parents will have a say in their kids' education.' The bill passed 213-208, with five Republicans - primarily members of the House Freedom Caucus - Reps. Matt Rosendale, Mont., Ken. Buck, Colo., Matt Gaetz, Fla., Andy Biggs, Ariz., and Mike Lawler, N.Y.

It would require schools to publish course studies and a list of books kept in libraries and affirm parents' ability to meet with educators, speak at school board meetings and examine school budgets.

'[Parents] now have a say in your kids' education,' McCarthy told reporters after the vote. 'You get to know what the reading materials are'

Biggs told DailyMail.com he voted no on the bill because 'it violates the principals of federalism and the federal government is already too involved in education issues.'

McCarthy slammed Democrats as an 'extreme minority party' for voting against the education bill.'

'[Parents] now have a say in your kids' education,' he told reporters after the vote. 'You get to know what the reading materials are.'

But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the 'fascist' bill would target LGBT youth and censor racial content.

'When we talk about progressive values, I can say what my progressive value is, and that is freedom over fascism,' she said on the House floor. The New York Democrat told Republicans to 'keep the culture wars out of classrooms.'

'Parents want schools focused on reading, writing and math, not woke politics,' Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said during an earlier debate.

Advocates for LGBTQ people said the proposal threatens LGBTQ students by potentially forcing them to come out to their families, which can sometimes lead to abuse or abandonment.

'It's part of a pattern of attempts we're seeing where the right wing of the Republican Party is really trying to marginalize LGBTQ people,' said David Stacy, the government affairs director for Human Rights Campaign, to the Associated Press.

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York promised the bill would meet a 'dead end' in the Senate and called it 'Orwellian to the core.'

The bill follows a core GOP promise from the midterm campaign to fight against 'woke' education trends like critical race theory and gender theory.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the 'fascist' bill would target LGBT youth and censor racial content

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-NY, looks on as Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-CA, speaks during a news conference on the introduction of the "Parents Bill of Rights"

GOP-led House narrowly approved the Parents Bill of Rights over concerns that the bill makes it easier for parents to ban books, while supporters say it gives access to curriculum

It would require parental consent before 'changing a minor child's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or allowing a child to change the child's sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.'

It would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require schools to provide a list of books available in their children's library and to post curriculum publicly.

It requires parental consent before medical exams at school, including 'mental health or substance use disorder screenings.'

Parental rights have launched to the forefront of conservative politics since COVID school shutdowns. It was central to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's successful campaign against Democrat Terry McAuliffe in 2021.

Well fight against this legislation. Well fight against the banning of books, fight against the bullying of children from any community, and certainly from the LGBTQ+ community, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
A Virginia professor revealed a shocking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) course where staff members were asked to choose what intersectional identities they would leave behind to die in a hypothetical scenario.

Doug Ponder, a biblical studies professor at Grimke Seminary, claimed his friend, who works at a public university, sent him a worksheet titled: Whom to Leave Behind?

The worksheet, which is produced by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) in New York, listed a group of 12 potential passengers for a spaceship that is leaving the Earth because it is 'doomed for destruction.' However, there are only eight seats available on the lifesaving flight, and those attending the seminar are tasked with choosing the fittest.

Ponder, who did not reveal where his friend worked, called the worksheet 'demonic.'

'It's [page one] of the DEI training his department is forced to take, starting [with] an exercise that asks which intersectional identities you'd save and which you'd leave to die,' he wrote on Twitter.

The worksheet, which is produced by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) in New York, listed a group of 12 potential passengers for a spaceship that is leaving the Earth because it is 'doomed for destruction.' However, there are only eight seats available on the lifesaving flight, and those attending the seminar are tasked with choosing the fittest

Among the 12 identities, are an 'accountant with a substance abuse problem,' 'a militant African American medical student,' 'a famous novelist with a physical disability,' 'a female movie star who was recently the victim of a sexual assault,' and a 'gay male, professional athlete, vegetarian.'

The purpose of the original workshop was to identify unconscious biases in the healthcare field while treating those with addiction, but it has been used across school settings for several years.

In 2018, an Ohio school was criticized for giving middle schoolers the assignment. Parents said their children felt uncomfortable doing the assignment and said it 'divided' people.

'It doesn't pull anyone together,' a parent said at the time.

It has also been used in classes at Lincoln University, San Antonio College, the University of Texas, and University of Alabama, among others, according to Class Hero.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has even weighed in on the activity, writing '!!' under Ponder's post.

Doug Ponder, a biblical studies professor at Grimke Seminary, claimed his friend, who works at a public university, sent him a worksheet. The purpose of the original workshop was to identify unconscious biases while treating those with addiction, but it has been used across school settings for several years

Ponder called the worksheet 'demonic' for forcing people to choose which 'intersectional identities you'd save and which you'd leave to die'

Ponder went on to say that he posted the worksheet for 'three reasons: 1. To raise awareness of a big problem, 2. To vindicate those who speak up, [and] 3. To move toward a real solution.'

'Too many people remain ignorant, some willfully so, about the massive cultural revolution underway in the West (esp America) and the significant and far-reaching damage it will yield. We cant address a problem if we arent aware (or wont admit) it exists,' Ponder, who is also a teaching pastor at Remnant Church, wrote on Twitter.

'A few brave souls (more each day) have been calling our attention to the increasing insanity of our cultural moment for years. Most were met with skepticism, ridicule, even slander. But their warnings have proven true over time. Thanks for speaking up,' he continued.

'DEI exercises aimed at exposing and addressing real and alleged biases have been shown to have little-to-no effect long-term success in reducing prejudice,' he continued. 'Instead of making people more empathetic toward minorities, DEI exercises lowered the participants sympathy for poor whites.'

Many criticized the worksheet, including Elon Musk, who wrote '!!' under Ponder's post

DEI courses have taken many political hits over the past few years, and several companies - such as, Twitter and Amazon - have ditched those positions in order cut costs.

As the tech industry laid off tens of thousands of workers last summer, DEI teams shed about a third of their staff, according to data compiled by Revelio Labs. Other departments were only losing a fifth at the same time.

While DEI initiatives bring more black, brown, female and queer talent into firms and raise morale across the board, critics have labeled the roles a virtue-signaling exercise that fosters discrimination against straight, white men.

As well as offering jobs to underrepresented groups, DEI teams also end up butting heads with established employees with their training in tackling racial bias, microaggressions and even 'white privilege.'
Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, will never rule North Korea because her father is losing his power as even his inner circle no longer trusts him, a defector now living in South Korea claimed.

South Korean lawmaker Thae Yong-ho was once a high-ranking North Korean diplomat, until he defected to South Korea in 2016.

After being a member of the National Assembly for more than two years, Thae was elected to be in the supreme council of South Korea's ruling People Power Party, making him the first defector to enter into a South Korean political party's leadership.

Thae said in an Interview with Radio Free Asia: 'I think the North Korean regime will never make it to the fourth generation with Kim Ju Ae.

'Since Kim Jong Un came to power, the North Korean regime has gone too far in a very unstable and abnormal direction over the past decade.'

A defector said: 'I think the North Korean regime will never make it to the fourth generation with Kim Ju Ae (left). Since Kim Jong Un came to power, the North Korean regime has gone too far in a very unstable and abnormal direction over the past decade.

South Korean lawmaker Thae Yong-ho (pictured) was once a high-ranking North Korean diplomat, until he defected to South Korea in 2016

He also doubted that Kim Jong Un will actually pass his position on to his daughter and not a son but reiterated that the North Korean dictator was building this image of a power succession over four generations whenever he can

Thae added that there were ever-changing players in the military and government leadership, which results in 'no consensus or solidarity between Kim Jong Un and the leaders surrounding him'.

He implied that this builds distrust, which was why they personnel is constantly replaced.

Thae continued: 'Next, young people who are growing up in North Korea have no loyalty to the North Korean system. They only value reality, and dream of a more open and prosperous country.

'When they grow up and become the backbone of North Korea in their 40s and 50s, I believe that Kim Jong Un's system will inevitably collapse.'

He also doubted that Kim Jong Un will actually pass his position on to his daughter and not a son but reiterated that the North Korean dictator was building this image of a power succession over four generations whenever he can.

'If Kim Jong Un is insecure about his health right now, let's say he got sick today, then [his sister] Kim Yo-jong has no choice but to emerge as a replacement,' he said and added: 'To some extent, Kim Yo-jong would rule.

'I think it may be part of a power struggle to imprint in advance that Kim Yo-jong cannot rule indefinitely, but that she would have to hand power over to Kim Jong Un's children when they become adults.'
A 'humiliated' Emmanuel Macron today admitted he asked King Charles to cancel his state visit to France because of 'detestable' nationwide rioting, looting and mass protests over his pension reforms.

Speaking in Brussels this afternoon, the French President suggested the new date for the King's visit to France would be in the 'early summer' in 2023.

Incredibly security sources in Paris have tried to claim the postponement was in part because the French feared the security of King Charles could not be guaranteed 'because of his interest in mingling with crowds'.

One British source told MailOnline this is 'laughable' given how much of France has descended into political chaos since Macron forced through his plans to raise the state pension age from 62 to 64 - sparking violence, crime sprees and marches in all corners of the republic.

Mr Macron has insisted that 'common sense and friendship' led to the 'detestable decision for the British people and for us', adding: 'I think it would not be responsible and would lack some common sense if we invited His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort for a state visit in the midst of the demonstrations.

'So, out of friendship, respect and esteem for His Majesty the King and Queen Consort, and for the British people, I took the initiative this morning to call and tell him what the situation was', he said.

Emmanuel Macron President of France talks during a press conference at the end of the EU Council Meeting in Brussels today where he said both Britain and France are saddened by the need to cancel King Charles' state visit

Charles and Camilla with President Macron in 2020. The royal couple will be 'saddened' by the cancellation, experts say

French unions and anarchists are marching after President Emmanuel Macron enflamed public anger by forcing a higher retirement age through parliament without a vote

Riot police scuffle with a protester during a rally in Paris yesterday. Hundreds of officers have been injured

The monarch was due to arrive in Paris with the Queen Consort on Sunday for the four-day trip with the highlight being a state banquet at Versailles on Monday night.

But the French President's aides feared the event could stir up revolutionaries across the Channel, given the chateau's links to the 1789 Revolution and the last king of France Louis XVI and his wife Marie-Antoinette, who were guillotined in 1793.

Macron's decision has put him under more pressure at home, with Eric Ciotti, leader of the Gaullist The Republicans party declaring: 'The visit of Charles III is cancelled by the Government due to social unrest. What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state'.

Mr Macron telephoned the monarch this morning to ask him to stay in the UK after a call to 10 Downing Street with the same advice in a huge blow to his credibility as he battles for control of the streets.

Experts told MailOnline today that Charles III would have been determined to cross the Channel to show 'you cannot give in to the mob' as anarchists smash and burn cities and Paris became submerged in tonnes of uncollected rubbish.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that the symbolism of a state banquet at Versailles as France burns would have been Macron's 'Marie Antoinette moment' had he not cancelled.

He said: 'The postponement of King Charles's state visit to France, the first of his reign, marks a humiliation for President Macron. The country is descending into anarchy and it was clearly impossible to guarantee the safety of the royal party and to keep to any set schedule where security could be relied on. Threats to disrupt the visit were all too real, especially give the symbolism attached to Versailles, where a state banquet was to be held.

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire in Rue Saint-Marc, Paris, set by protesters

Rubbish is also piled high in the streets of the French capital

'This really was a disaster with the Palace's links to an Ancien Regime which was toppled by a Revolution. These are too close for comfort for Macron at the moment and marks a volte face by his Government which was insisting earlier today that it would go ahead'.

A total of 457 people were arrested and 441 police and security forces were injured on Thursday during nationwide protests, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said today.

Yesterday it emerged that Charles' trip was being reviewed after hardliners vowed to target Charles' visit and even blockade him in Paris and Bordeaux.

Today Macron pulled the plug, despite being determined for it to go ahead to prove he is still in charge.

The decision is said to be made after talks between the French and British authorities - but security experts told MailOnline that because the French police and secret services have primacy for the security operation, it will have been their advice to call it off.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The King and The Queen Consort's State Visit to France has been postponed. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.'

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit, from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

Investigative journalist Tom Bower told MailOnline that Macron had 'bowed to the left wing mob'  and Charles would have wanted to face them down for his first state visit.

And Simon Morgan, a former royal protection officer who now runs the security business Trojan Consultancy, said the decision to pull the plug will have been on French advice because it is 'a state visit to France - not the other way around'.

He told MailOnline: 'It is a bit embarrassing for the French. There's a risk factor to the King and Queen Consort's safety, plus that of the public. But simply it might be they need all their resources to keep basic law and order and they don't have the capacity to deal with a state visit as well.

'I should imagine that the French authorities felt they could do without the distraction of a state visit whilst they have serious public disorder and political unrest in the country'.

j) The entrance door of the city hall of Bordeaux burned during a wild demonstration last night. Charles and Camilla were due to visit the city

Pictured: A banner reading 'general strike' is displayed on a dome of the La Major cathedral in Marseille, southern France, on March 23

The postponement is a humiliation from Macron, whose ministers had been insisting that the state visit would go ahead as scheduled.

It came after anti-government thugs were accused of 'trying to kill police officers' across France today as arsonists attacked civic buildings including one in a city Charles was set to visit next week.

A crack team of officers from the SDLP Protection Service unit rigorously studied the monarch's profile before his intended State Visit this weekend.

'They became aware of the King's habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could,' said a source who was involved in the planning of four-days of events across France.

'There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed.'

President Emmanuel Macron has been attacked during similar meetings, and his popularity is at an all-time low after he raised the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote.

The move has provoked eight straight nights of rioting, with arson attacks on areas due to be visited by Charles.

The King has suffered eggs being thrown at him in the UK, but attacks were likely to have been far more sinister in France.

'Highly politicised activists are out on the streets, and they would have certainly targeted the English king,' said a French governmental source.

'King Charles made it clear that he did not just want to hide away in palaces  it was to be a proper visit, involving as many people as possible, or no tour.'

While the word 'postponement' is being used by the French and British authorities, no alternative dates have yet been offered.

A fire is seen as riot police officers are in action to disperse demonstrators in Paris on March 23

There have been constant night time riots since the measure was forced through by decree last Thursday, and now millions are set to gather during the day - with the biggest airport in France blocked by demonstrators this morning. Pictured: A demonstrator holds a smoke flare during a demonstration in Reims, eastern France, on March 23, 2023

Outbreaks of violence were reported from Paris to Marseilles overnight from Thursday to Friday, as a fire was lit at the historic City Hall in Bordeaux  where the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were heading.

Commenting on 149 police officers being seriously injured and 172 people being arrested across the country, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said extremism was intensifying.

'There are thugs, often from the far-Left, who want to bring down the state and kill police officers,' said Mr Darmanin, during a visit to Paris police headquarters.

There at least 140 acts of arson in Paris alone, with one of the most serious attacks being on a residential block close to the Paris Opera.

More than a million people took to the streets on Thursday to protests against the government, as riot police used teargas, baton charges and water canon to bring crowds to order.

Among the injured protesters was a woman who lost her thumb during a riot in the Normandy city of Rouen.

Trade Unions have warned that the violence will get worse unless Mr Macron reverses his pension reforms.

'The president must change his incomprehensible stubbornness or the situation will get worse,' said Marylise Leon, of the CFDT union.

The unions had called for further protests next Tuesday, which would have coincided with the King's visit to the country.

He was due to attend a number of events in Bordeaux and Paris, including making a speech at the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.

Protesters had already threatened to target the Royal couple, saying he is not welcome in the republic during a period of social chaos.

Beyond riots, anti-Macron protests in France have included some 10,000 tonnes of rubbish building up on the streets of Paris after binmen withdrew their labour.

Highlights of the historic tour included Charles and Camilla joining their French hosts, President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.

Afterwards, the foursome were to be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees towards the Elysee Palace, the French president's official residence.

Camilla and Mrs Macron were due to officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay while Charles gave an address from the senate chamber.

The King and Queen Consort were also due to visit Bordeaux, centre of the wine-growing region and home to many British expats.

They were due to visit an organic vineyard and Charles would have met emergency workers who tackled wildfires on the outskirts of the city last summer.
Teen killer Aiden Fucci, 16, who stabbed 13-year-old cheerleader and schoolmate Tristyn Bailey 114 times, has been sentenced to life in prison after being condemned for his twisted 'desire to feel what it was like to kill.'

Fucci, who was 14 at the time, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder admitting to the grisly stabbing which took place at the end of a cul-de-sac in a quiet Durbin Crossing neighborhood, in St Johns, Florida in 2021.

Emotions ran high when Circuit Judge R. Lee Smith handed down the sentence - Bailey's family unable to hold back tears in court.

Because he's a juvenile, the Florida teen is not eligible for the death penalty and has 30 days to appeal the Judge's decision. He'll also be able to have his sentence reviewed in 25 years.

Teen killer Aiden Fucci (left), 16, who stabbed his 13-year-old schoolmate and cheerleader Tristyn Bailey 114 times, has been sentenced to life in prison

Emotions ran high when Circuit Judge R. Lee Smith handed down the sentence - Bailey's family unable to hold back tears in court

Surveillance footage previously showed Fucci and Bailey (pictured) walking together down a dim residential street moments before her death as they headed to the woods. Fucci was then seen running alone barefoot just before 3.30 am

'Tristyn Bailey was conscious, she was aware, and she was doing everything she could to fend off this attack,' said Judge Smith.

'She suffered a painful, horrifying death from someone that she trusted.'

The Florida judge revealed his decision on Friday morning and said there was only 'one appropriate sentence in this case' before sharing the ruling.

Fucci's age, mental health, home life and letters from the boy's family were all taken into consideration, as well as the fact he was the 'sole participant' and was '100 percent responsible for this murder.'

He added that he believed that there would be 'poor prognosis for rehabilitation' and acknowledged the 'compelling' victim statements made earlier in the week.

During Friday's sentencing, Judge Smith said this had been one of the 'most difficult and shocking cases' in the county that he'd witnessed in his 16 years practicing law.

He reviled Fucci saying that his behavior before the murder showed a 'heightened level of premeditation' and that it appeared that he understood the consequences of his actions.

It was also described as 'troubling' by the Florida judge who said there appeared to be no motive for the murder and that it was committed for 'no other reason but to satisfy this defendant's internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone.'

Fucci was led into the courtroom to start his sentencing hearing and appeared stony faced throughout the proceeding

Forrest Bailey, the father of the victim was seen getting a hug from a family member at the end of the sentencing hearing for Fucci

Fucci said that he was sorry nine times in a handwritten letter in which he apologized to the Bailey family, his own family, and the community for taking the young girl's life.

'I'm sorry that you didn't get to know her that long. You did not have any long relationships with [Tristyn] and for that i'm sorry,' he wrote.

'For the Community I'm sorry I brought all this pain on everyday and I'm sorry and know my [apology] will not fix anything or bring her back but i hop it help in some way.'

Fucci also detailed how he missed spending time with his parents and siblings as well as his mother's 'lemon pepper chicken.'

'I miss your hugs,' he wrote. 'I miss you. The longer I'm in here the more I forget the more memories I Lose. I'll never forget you love me.'

During Wednesday's proceedings, Fucci's grandmother Deborah Spiwak took the stand, and pleaded for the judge not to take him out of his family's lives forever.

'I'd die not being able to spend time with him sometime before I go,' Spiwak said.

Bailey's family sought justice for the 13-year-old and asked the judge to sentence him to life in prison.

During their testimony on Thursday, Bailey's sister Alexis put 114 stones in a jar, each representing a stab wound that Fucci inflicted on her.

Released photos showed Fucci's May 10, 2021 - a day after Tristyn's body was found covered with knife wounds - showing his chest covered with scratches

A knife was taken from Fucci as evidence in relation to the murder of his schoolmate

'Did she scream out for help or was she paralyzed with agony?' Alexis asked Fucci directly in court. 'Did she cry for my mother? Did she beg you to stop?'

Prior to the sentencing, Smith told the Bailey family that he 'cannot bring her back' and 'cannot provide a closure to this.'

However urged the family to allow healing back into their lives.

'Allow Bailey Sunday Fun Days to return to your home,' said Judge Smith.

'Allow laughter to return to your home because in depriving yourselves of that, it would continue to victimize Tristyn because it's not what she would want.

'She would want that happiness and that laughter to return.'

Bailey was reported missing on Mother's Day 2021, before her body was found later that evening in the woods.

The teenager was stabbed 114 times, with 49 defensive stab wounds to the hands, arms and head.

The tip of a knife used to attack her broke off and was 'located by the medical examiner in the scalp' of the victim.

Surveillance footage previously showed Fucci and Bailey walking together down a dim residential street moments before her death as they headed to the woods. Fucci was later seen running alone barefoot at before 3.30am.

Bailey's family members all appeared on the stand during this week's sentencing hearings, giving impact statements to the court in which they all pushed for the maximum sentence possible.

Alexis, the second oldest of four, said Fucci 'took everything from us' and from their 'sense of security, laughs, health, and sense of potential.'

She dropped stones into a jar, her voiceover revealing questions she had for Fucci, including if he got 'too caught up in the thrill of the kill.'

Alexis, Bailey's sister, took the stand in a Florida courtroom on Wednesday and emotionally dropped more than 100 green heart-shaped stones into a small glass jar to 'represent the 114 stab wounds that my sister had to endure'

Bailey's family members all appeared on the stand during this week's sentencing hearings, giving impact statements to the court in which they all pushed for the maximum sentence possible for Fucci

'The number of questions I have for Aiden Fucci surrounding that night plague my mind,' she said.

'Did she see you coming at her with the knife? Or did you stab her while she wasn't paying attention? She did scream out for help or was she paralyzed with agony? Did she cry for my mother? Did she beg you to stop?

'Did you hear her lungs gargling with blood? Or did you see it in her face when you realized she could no longer breathe due to her collapsed lungs?

'What were her last words? Did you stay to watch her die? Or did you leave her there in agonizing pain as you ran away? How long did she suffer? Did you watch the life leave her eyes?'

She continued: 'The memories of May 9 will forever be engrained in my mind, body and soul. To know I was awake and only 11 minutes away from my sister as she was being brutally murdered. Could I have saved her?'

Bailey's mother Stacy said Fucci was 'beyond saving' as the family asked the judge for the maximum sentence.

'Aiden Fucci made a heinous decision on May 9, 2021, and took the very life that I brought into this world. Please do not for one second think that he could be rehabilitated at any point. He is beyond saving,' she told the judge.

She said the moment still 'eats' at her and 'while I know it is not my weight to bear, it doesn't change the fact that I feel this.'

Stacy also revealed that she hasn't touched her daughter's room since the last time her daughter occupied it.

'I can't bear to change one thing, not even washing her clothes in the hamper as it would wash away the scent of her,' she said. 'I do not know if we'll ever have comfort in our home again.'

Fucci wrote a letter to the judge, apologizing to the Bailey family and the community for the harm he had caused, as well as to his parents

The late girl's brother, Teegan, said his sister had a 'personality brighter than fireworks' and he wonders every day if he could have done something.

'Every single day I can't help but wonder what would have happened had I slept on that couch instead or if I'd stayed up later,' he said.

'Had I slept on that couch within earshot of the front door, there's a possibility my little sister could still be alive today.

'I've lived with that question, that weight and that guilt since I went to wake up Tristyn on Mother's Day and found her room empty.'
The White House thinks it has a winning message on the southern border and has begun attacking Republican plans for spending cuts as it adopts a more aggressive posture on the issue.

It comes after President Joe Biden has been on the defensive for most of his presidency as illegal crossings surged.

But now Democratic strategists say Republicans have offered him an open goal by proposing budget tax cuts.

'This is a president running for reelection,' said Brad Bannon.

'They are sensitive to issues that will either cause them problems or create opportunities for his reelection campaign.'

President Joe Biden and his administration have gone on the offensive over border security accusing the House Freedom Caucus, led by Rep. Scott Perry (right), of proposing cuts

Republicans have repeatedly attacked the Biden administration for a surge in migrants crossing the southern border. On Thursday, a group of migrants was detained after being found in a tunnel after crossing into Sunland Park, New Mexico

In recent weeks, White House messaging has made clear that officials see a way to turn the tide on two years of attacks.

Officials have homed in on Republican demands to cut budget spending, which they say would inevitably reduce the number of border patrol agents, if the GOP is intent on maintaining money for defense and social security programs.

'The MAGA plan would deny the men and women of Customs and Border Protection the resources they need to secure our borders,' said White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt in a memo earlier this month.

'It would mean less agents and less technology to combat fentanyl trafficking, disrupt criminal organizations, and stop illegal border crossings.'

The White House has seized on a budget plan released by the rightwing House Freedom Caucus to make its point.

It holds overall discretionary spending at 2022 levels for 10 years while allowing for one percent growth per year, effectively a $131 billion cut from current levels.

The caucus says its plan would save $3 trillion in the long term, clawing back cash from unspent COVID-19 funds and expansion of the IRS.

Biden claims his budget of increased funding will make the border more secure, in contrast to the Freedom Caucus plan which the White House estimates would eliminate funding for thousands of agents.

The White House has seized on budget proposals from the House Freedom Caucus to attack Republicans for spending cuts, and to defend Biden's own proposals

The White House claims that Republican plans would cut funding for 2,000 Customs and Border Protection agents - Republicans dispute the characterization

'The extreme MAGA Republican House Freedom Caucus proposal would eliminate funding for more than 2,000 Customs and Border Protection agents and officers and severely undermine our ability to secure the border and combat drug traffickingallowing an additional 150,000 pounds of cocaine, nearly 900 pounds of fentanyl, nearly 2,000 pounds of heroin, and more than 17,000 pounds of methamphetamine into our country,' the White House said this week.

Bannon said Republicans wanted to have it both ways, stepping up border security while also cutting spending.

'The reality is the Republicans are in a tricky spot on the budget,' he said.

'If you don't cut defense spending, and they seem to have backed off on their aspirations to cut Social Security and Medicare, that means you cut the rest of their discretionary spending, including, you know, border protection.'

The border, and record numbers of people crossing since Biden took office, have provided steady attack lines for Republicans.

They have highlighted the damage done my deadly Fentanyl being smugged across from Mexican drug labs.

And the chairman of the Freedom Caucus cried foul on attacks.

Migrant encounters in January were at their lowest level since February 2021 after five months of increases in apprehensions. Ortiz said, however, that there have already been 385,000 so-called 'got-aways' during Fiscal Year 2023 so far

Images like this, when at least 1,000 migrants attempted to rush a port of entry in El Paso earlier this month have heaped pressure on the Biden administration

'President Biden suddenly taking interest in border security to rail against the House Freedom Caucus budget is like a pyromaniac suddenly taking interest in fire prevention,' tweeted Rep. Scott Perry.

'It's more fear and smear from a president who has utterly failed to protect the American People.'

Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist, said the issue was a double-edged sword for Biden.

'There are people in the country as far as the Democratic coalition, such as it is who were wanting to be more humane about it,' he said. 'And then there are the more moderate voters, who probably in polling will be seen to be want a much more aggressive stance to close the border.'

But there could be no ignoring the issue, he added.

'Crime and disorder, and an economy that people worry about  those will be the themes,' he said. 'The border is a part of that.'

In recent weeks, the White House has repeatedly accused Republicans of wanting to abolish Social Security and Medicare, prompting a GOP climbdown.
Do you know the thug? Email tips@dailymail.com

Do you know the thug? Email tips@dailymail.com

The incident happened outside Bristol's BSB bar during the early hours of Friday

Police are intensifying their hunt for a thug who punched a disabled man out of his wheelchair outside a nightclub after detectives tracked down the victim.

The appalling assault took place near the BSB bar in Bristol's waterfront district during the early hours of Friday morning.

Video footage captured the moment the victim was floored by a single punch from the yob, amid claims the man ran over his attacker's foot with his wheelchair.

Avon and Somerset Police has now launched a fresh plea for help a week on from the violent outburst after officers spoke to the victim. So far, no arrests have been made.

DO YOU KNOW THE THUG? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com

The thug was captured striking the man from his wheelchair outside the BSB bar in Bristol's waterfront district during the early hours of Friday

A spokesman for the force told MailOnline: 'We've now identified and spoken with a man who was allegedly assaulted outside the BSB bar on the Waterfront in Bristol in the early hours of Friday, March 17.

'Our investigation is ongoing and we're continuing to make enquiries to identify the other people in the video.'

Mobile footage captured by a customer outside the bar showed the aggressive man striking the disabled male out of his wheelchair with one punch.

Following the blow, his victim was knocked to the ground where he landed flat on his back.

The thug swiftly walked away afterwards, along with a second man who accompanied him. Police are now hunting for both of these males, officers today confirmed.

The video soon went viral on social media following the distressing incident that shocked customers and security staff outside of the bar.

Reports on social media have suggested the thug had thrown the punch after the victim 'ran over his foot' with his wheelchair.

Along with many others, professional boxer Anthony Fowler slammed the yob responsible for the attack.

The video soon went viral on social media following the distressing incident that shocked customers and security staff outside of the bar

Mr Fowler tweeted: 'Wtf just when you think you seen it all some s***house punched someone in a wheelchair.'

Others said: 'Even if he ran over your foot on purpose, that's not right. Come on now'. Another added: 'Disgusting'.

Avon and Somerset Police launched an investigation after footage of the assault was shared on social media.

Inspector Adam Dolling said: 'We'd ask anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible.

'If you can help, please call us on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5223064944.'

A spokesperson added: 'We have collected CCTV from the local area, including BSB bar, and we believe the incident happened at just after 1.30am on Friday.

'We are making further attempts today to identify the victim, and are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward.'

DO YOU KNOW THE THUG? Email matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com
A giant theme park dubbed 'the UK's Disneyland' has had to call in administrators after running up huge debts.

The London Resort Company first revealed plans to build a 3.5billion theme park on 535 acres of former industrial land on the Swanscombe Peninsula near Dartford back in 2019.

It was set to feature 50 rides and attractions, including eight huge roller coasters and different zones containing medieval castles and an Aztec pyramid, together with a 2,000-seat theatre and nightclub.

But the site has run into a raft of problems, including Natural England's decision to designate the land as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) following the discovery of rare species including a 1cm jumping spider.

A second complication was a new freeport at Tilbury which meant moving one of the ferry terminals from Tilbury to Grays.

The park, which will be based in Kent between Gravesend and Dartford on the Swanscombe Peninsula, was set to open in 2024

The site has run into a raft of problems, including Natural England's decision to designate the land as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

The plans were withdrawn last year, with the site set to be substantially shrunk.

Yet it's now emerged that the company behind the project, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), has called in financial administrators after racking up 100million of debt.

It will now enter a financial restructure through a Company Voluntary Administration (CVA).

A spokesman for LRCH told Kent Online: 'LRCH has taken the logical and sensible step of launching the CVA proposal.

'We've spoken to many of our creditors who are very happy to support the initiative which would see their debts converted into shares.

'Many millions have been invested into the Swanscombe Peninsula over the last decade and there remains a fantastic opportunity to bring forward exciting proposals.

'This CVA process safeguards everyone's position and provides an opportunity for a financial return to creditors in the long-term.'

Billed as one of the most ambitious theme park projects ever in Europe, the London Resort will be the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992

The London Resort will be home to various TV and movie-themed attractions. Above, a previous mock-up of how the theme park could look

Despite the setback, LRCH insists the project is still ongoing, with new proposals for the development to be submitted later in 2023.

The original site would have included a waterpark, conference and convention centre and e-Sports facility.

Over 3,500 hotel rooms were set to be created alongside two ferry terminals  one each side of the River Thames.

The London Resort would have been the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992.

A previous map and statement released by LRCH showed how the park will be split into different themed areas, taking visitors from the medieval period to the 23rd century

The success of Disneyland Paris is a testament to the impact that a global theme park can have on the economy.

A report on the economic contribution of Disneyland Paris found that the attraction added 68billion (60billion) to the French economy in the 25 years since opening.

The region in which the park is located, Seine-et-Marne, has had a 22.4billion (20billion) boost.

The attraction also made 13.7billion (12.2billion) in purchases, of which 70 per cent were made locally and 82 per cent were made within France, adding knock-on benefits to local suppliers.
Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesbagina will be freed following more than 900 days in jail after a presidential order, the country announced on Friday.

Rwanda said it has commuted the 25-year jail sentence against Rusesabagina, 68, a fiercely outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Kagame said Rwanda was looking into resolving Rusesabagina's case, which has been a cause of concern for the West and global rights groups.

'Paul Rusesabagina and [co-defendant] Callixte Nsabimana have had their prison sentences commuted by presidential order, after consideration of their requests for clemency,' government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told AFP, without disclosing when they would be released.

The sentences of another 18 people convicted of terrorism offences alongside Rusesabagina in September 2021 have also been commuted, she said, highlighting the role of the United States and Qatar in the case.

Paul Rusesabagina (file photo). The announcement comes less than two weeks after Kagame said Rwanda was looking into resolving Rusesabagina's case, which has been a cause of concern for the West and global rights groups

Rwanda President Paul Kagame (file photo). Rwanda said it has commuted the 25-year jail sentence against Paul Rusesabagina, 68, a fiercely outspoken critic of Kagame

But Makolo added: 'No one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted.'

Rusesabagina was jailed after a trial his supporters denounced as a sham that was plagued with irregularities. He has now been detained for 939 days, according to the Free Rusesabagina website.

His family has long warned about Rusesabagina's deteriorating health and has voiced fears he could die in prison.

A court in May 2022 upheld the sentences against Rusesabagina and most of his 20 co-defendants who were jailed for between three and 20 years for backing an armed group.

Rusesabagina was the manager of a Kigali hotel and is credited with helping to save about 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide in which about 800,000 people were slaughtered, mainly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus.

Rusesabagina, whose story inspired the Oscar-nominated 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda starring US actor Don Cheadle, became a vocal critic of Kagame, founding his own party.

He emerged as a staunch government critic whose tirades against Kagame led him to be treated as an enemy of the state.

US President George W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award, to Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina in the East Room of the White House in Washington on November 9, 2005

Rights groups accuse Rwanda - ruled with an iron fist by Kagame since the end of the genocide - of cracking down on free speech and opposition.

Speaking via video link at the Global Security Forum in the Qatari capital Doha on March 13, Kagame had signalled a possible softening in Rwanda's approach on Rusesabagina's case.

'There is discussion, there is looking at all possible ways of resolving the issue without compromising the fundamental aspects of that case. I think there is going to be a way forward,' he said at the time.

Makolo said on Friday that Rwanda 'notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the State of Qatar'.

Last year, the United States said Rusesabagina - who holds Belgian citizenship and a US Green Card - was 'wrongfully detained' after a plane carrying him to Burundi was diverted to Rwanda in August 2020.

Also in 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion concluding that Rusesabagina had been 'abducted' and that his detention was 'arbitrary'.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (file photo). Blinken and rights groups have raised the case with Rwanda, although Kagame said last year that the United States could not 'bully' him into ordering a release

Rusesabagina's family said he was tricked into travelling from his US home with the promise of work in Burundi and that he has been tortured while in detention.

He was accused of supporting the National Liberation Front (FLN), a rebel group which is blamed for attacks inside Rwanda in 2018 and 2019 that killed nine people.

Rusesabagina denied any involvement in the attacks, but was a founder of the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), an opposition group of which the FLN is seen as the armed wing.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and rights groups have raised the case with Rwanda, although Kagame said last year that the United States could not 'bully' him into ordering a release.

Rusesabagina's family last year filed a $400 million lawsuit in the United States against Kagame, the Rwandan government and other figures for allegedly abducting and torturing him.

In 2005, Rusesabagina received the highest US civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This footage shows how strong turbulence caused carnage on a flight from Angola to Portugal, leaving at least ten injured.

Three clips show how meals, trays, and plastic cutlery litter the aisles on the flight from Luanda to Lisbon on March 23.

Food and drink stains can be seen all over the cabin, including on the cracked and perforated ceiling panels.

A plastic tray can even be seen wedged in the gap above the overhead bins.

Media in Portugal reported that at least ten people, including two crew members, were injured on the Hi Fly flight operated by TAAG Angola Airlines.

Two clips show how meals, trays, and plastic cutlery litter the aisles on the flight from Luanda to Lisbon on March 23

Food and drink stains can be seen all over the cabin, including on the cracked and perforated ceiling panels. Media in Portugal reported that at least 10 people, including two crew members, were injured on the Hi Fly flight operated by TAAG Angola Airlines

TAAG said 'adverse atmospheric conditions' caused the turbulence, which reportedly struck as the plane was flying over the Democratic Republic of the Congo

TAAG said 'adverse atmospheric conditions' caused the turbulence, which reportedly struck as the plane was flying over the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Eight passengers required medical assistance, with a doctor on board assisting one of the injured.

TAAG said in a statement that an ambulance and medical team were sent to Lisbon Airport, where the flight landed at 8.37pm, seven hours and 18 minutes after take-off.

Portuguese media reported that many of the passengers showed symptoms of anxiety.

Heavy rain in the Angolan capital caused a flight to Lisbon scheduled for later that day to be postponed due to the slippery runway.

The European Union banned TAAG aircraft from entering into European airspace in July 2007 because of safety concerns.

The ban was completely lifted in April 2019, following a number of partial relaxations over the years.

Eight passengers required medical assistance, with a doctor on board assisting one of the injured
Nathan Lane praised late actor Robin Williams for 'swooping in' and saving him during a 1996 Oprah interview when he wasn't ready to publicly come out as gay.

Lane, 67, publicly came out three years later in 1999, but during the press tour for his movie The Birdcage - where he starred alongside Williams he simply 'wasn't ready' to tell the world.

'I just wanted to talk about [how] I finally got a big part in a movie and I didn't want to make it about my sexuality,' he told NBC Sunday Today in a teaser clip. 'Although it was sort of unavoidable because of the nature of the film and the character.'

Lane played a drag queen named Albert in the movie, which focused on his and Williams' character, Armand Goldman, pretending to be a straight couple so they can meet their son's fiancee's conservative parents.

'I don't think [Oprah] was trying to out me,' Lane said. 'But I said to Robin beforehand: "You know, I'm just not prepared. I'm so scared of going out there and talking to Oprah. I'm not prepared to discuss that I'm gay on national television. I'm not ready."

'And he said: "It's alright, don't worry about it. We don't have to talk about it, we won't talk about it."

Lane called Williams, who died in August 2014, a 'saint.'

Scroll down for video

Lane, 67, publicly came out as gay in 1999, but during the press tour for his movie The Birdcage - where he starred alongside Williams, who died in August 2014 - he simply 'wasn't ready' to tell the world

'I don't think [Oprah] was trying to out me,' Lane (pictured with Williams in 1996) said. 'But I said to Robin beforehand: "You know, I'm just not prepared. I'm so scared of going out there and talking to Oprah. I'm not prepared to discuss that I'm gay on national television.'

'[Oprah says:] Are you worried about being typecast? And then Robin swoops in and diverts Oprah,' The Only Murders in the Building star recalled.

During the 1996 interview, Oprah asked a nervous-looking Lane: 'Were you afraid of taking that role and being like type casting people for everything? Are you, are you not? Is he, honey? I don't know.'

Before Lane had a chance to answer, Williams swooped in and said: 'Um girl, you changed just in the middle of that sentence. I don't know, I'm telling you. Don't make me come out there' as he mimicked flamboyant body language as he shot a quick glance at Lane.

Williams fanned his hand in front of his face as he and Oprah laughed, buying time for Lane to come up with an answer.

The Modern Family actor would go on to say he didn't 'have an image to uphold' and that 'from role to role, I'm usually pretty different.'

During the 1996 interview, Oprah asked a nervous-looking Lane: 'Were you afraid of taking that role and being like type casting people for everything? Are you, are you not? Is he, honey? I don't know'

Before Lane had a chance to answer, Williams swooped in and said: 'Um girl, you changed just in the middle of that sentence...'

'I just wasn't ready,' Lane said in the interview with NBC Sunday Today, which airs at 8am this weekend. 'To make this whole thingthe public side of it, the celebrity side. Oh, now you're a public figure and you have to make some sort of public statement about it. I was terrified. I wasn't ready to do that.'

Despite not being ready to come forward at that time, he is grateful to see that the youth today have the chance to feel 'comfortable' with their sexualities but said 'homophobia is alive and well and there are plenty of gay people who are still hiding.'

Lane came out publicly in an interview with The Advocate in 1999, where he referenced the Oprah interview, saying that Williams 'protected' him.

The actor would later go on to marry his husband Devlin Elliott in November 2015.

The Birdcage won Outstanding Performance by a Cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1997.

Lane played a drag queen named Albert in the movie, which focused on his and Williams' character Armand Goldman pretending to be a straight couple so they can meet their son's fiancee's conservative parents
The death of male model Jeff Thomas who was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with Peter Thiel is being investigated by police as a suicide.

Miami police have been in contact with the German-American venture capitalist and will interview him as part of the probe, two sources with knowledge of the investigation told The Intercept.

Thomas, 35, was found dead outside an apartment complex in Miami on March 8.

An official cause of death has not been determined, but a police report shared with DailyMail.com shows that Miami police were called to the Miami luxury building at 465 Brickell Avenue. Thomas was pronounced dead at 4:24pm.

There is no suggestion of any impropriety by Thiel.

Jeff Thomas was a successful model and influencer and popular figure on Instagram with more than 120,000 followers

Billionaire and venture capitalist Peter Thiel was reported to have been in a relationship with Thomas that began before the COVID pandemic

Thiel has been married to long-time partner Matt Danzeisen (pictured). The pair wed in October 2017 in Vienna, Austria and share two children together, sources said

Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and, Palantir Technologies, has been married to long-time partner Matt Danzeisen. The pair wed in October 2017 in Vienna, Austria and share two children together, sources said.

The financier became involved with Thomas before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the news outlet.

Thomas, whose muscular physique and handsome good looks made him a popular figure on Instagram with more than 120,000 followers.

Many of his photos show him smiling with celebrities including, Megan Fox.

Three days before his body was discovered outside the luxury complex Icon Brickell- situated on the bay with stunning views of the Miami River and is in close proximity to Miami's trendy downtown area - he had gone to visit his beloved grandma.

The day he may have jumped off the balcony, many eyewitnesses were outside the building. Animal control was present to retrieve a dog that was left in the apartment.

Thiel did not respond to DailyMail.com request for comment.

In Thomas' last social media video, posted just weeks before his death on February 28, he is seen working out in a gym, the Miami coastline partially visible through a nearby window.

Captioning the footage, he wrote: 'Set the tone with your warm up.'

His final post, shared from a local spa the day of his shock death with the time stamp 11:43am, captured Thomas reclining in a plunge pool with the caption: 'A cold plunge a day, keeps the doctor away.'

Adding a series of hashtags, the model referenced 'self-care' and 'mental health.'

Friends, colleagues and followers have since paid tribute to the model across social media, with many praising him for his 'positive energy.'

Thomas sitting in a plunge pool hours before his shock death- with the caption: 'A cold plunge a day, keeps the doctor away,' #coldplunge #wellness #mentalhealth

Vice president of Men's Design, Kris Haigh, wrote: 'I met you many years ago in NY. You never failed to bring an upbeat energy every time I saw you.

Another friend added: 'My sweet Jeff. We were just making plans, you were just making jokes, we were just daydreaming about Europe together. Its so hard to process, to think that there wont be a next time.

'Theres such a void. I know deep down you know that. You know we loved you so much and always wanted the best for you, the same way you wanted it for everyone else.

'Im going to miss you, your smile, your texts, your dancing so so so much.'
A British terrorist who tried to join ISIS and whose nephew planned to massacre US airmen in the UK has been released from jail.

Shazib Khan, then 23, was described as absolutely committed to the Jihadi creed by a judge who sentenced him to eight years jail in 2016.

In a chilling summing up, judge Justice Edis said Shazib genuinely intended to do harm and he frequently expressed a desire for martyrdom.

And the judge at Kingston Crown Court said Shazib was more dangerous than his nephew Junead Khan, also jailed at the time.

The judges words are more shocking as Junead was convicted of plotting to knife US personnel outside of airbases in the UK.

Shazib Khan, 29, from Luton, left, was described by a judge as 'absolutely committed to the Jihadi creed'. His nephew, Junead Khan was jailed after he planned a knife attack on US service personnel in Britain

He got life but the sentence was downgraded at the Court of Appeal to a 20-year jail term with five years on licence.

Shazib Khan also had his sentence cut to seven-years and he became eligible for a parole hearing in 2020.

Mail Online can reveal that Shazib, now 29, was released in October 2020 with strict conditions on his movement and who he can contact.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that Shazib is no longer in jail and remains free in the UK on licence.

The trial of the two men, both from Luton, shone a light on the worldwide terror threat and the reach of ISIS radicals.

Shazib Khan, then 23, was found guilty in May 2016 of preparing to go to Syria to join ISIS.

He denied the charge, but was convicted of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between 1 August 2014 and 15 July 2015.

The court was told that he had used a messaging service called Kik Messenger to make contact with a number of ISIS fighters in Syria.

Shazib Khan, then 23, was found guilty in May 2016 of preparing to go to Syria to join ISIS. He was jailed for eight years by Kingston Crown Court, but this was reduced by 12 months on appeal

He made it clear that he wished to travel to Syria to fight.

Over the next few months, he also viewed violent Jihadi videos, including executions of captured soldiers.

In February 2015, Shazib also purchased several items of military clothing and other kit online.

Both Shazib and Junead, who were of Bangladeshi background, were arrested on July 14, 2015.

Delivery driver Junead was found guilty of preparing to go to Syria to join ISIS, and was also convicted of the plot to cause carnage outside a US airbase.

Junead used his job with a pharmaceutical firm as cover to scout United States Air Force bases in East Anglia, his trial heard.

During these trips he drove close to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk; RAF Feltwell in Norfolk; and RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire.

These are bases operated by the US air force.

Detectives later found he had been exchanging online messages with an ISIS fighter in Syria calling himself Abu Hussain, describing attacking military personnel after faking a road accident.

Junead described how he had missed an opportunity to kill US soldiers on his rounds as a delivery driver.

The message said: When I saw these US soldiers on road it just looked simple but I had nothing on me or wouldve got into an accident with them and made them get out the car.

His contact replied: Thats what the brother done with Lee Rigby - referring to the British soldier murdered in Woolwich in 2013.

Prosecutors claimed Hussain was in fact British-born Junaid Hussain, who was killed in a US drone strike in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa weeks after his link with the planned UK attack was discovered.

After Junead was arrested in July 2015, police found pictures on his phone of him posing in his bedroom with an ISIS-style black flag, which they later found in the attic.

His computer was also found to contain an al-Qaeda bomb manual and Amazon searches for a large combat knife.

Juneaad was found guilty of preparing for an act of terrorism in the UK between May and July 2015.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Edis said: Junead Khan was not far from the commission of the murder to be committed by horrifying method in the street in order to create terror and terrorist propaganda in this country.

His offence was so serious that a life sentence must be imposed.

Despite the more serious nature of Juneads conviction, judge Edis was scathing about the role played by Shazib.

He said that Shazib was more intelligent than Junead , thoroughly dishonest and manipulative and absolutely committed to the Jihadi creed.

In the Court of Appeal in 2016, Junead had his life sentence changed to a 20-year term. He remains in jail with no parole hearing listed.

The Parole Board told MailOnline: We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Shazib Khan following an oral hearing in October 2020.

Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.

It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.
A controversial 12million regeneration scheme was facing a setback on Friday after environmental campaigners won a legal bid to protect the 19 trees currently standing in its way.

Campaign group Save The Trees Of Armada Way (STRAW) has been allowed to continue a High Court injunction preventing the further felling of trees in the area earmarked for construction in Plymouth city centre.

It comes after 110 trees in the area were cut down in the dead of night last week, sparking a public outcry that triggered the resignation of city council leader Richard Bingley - who had signed off on the felling.

Further work was halted under a court order secured by campaigners who say the trees, of which 19 are still standing, should be protected due to the wildlife and biodiversity they support.

At the High Court in London on Friday, Sir Ross Cranston backed protesters' bid to keep the injunction in place pending a full legal challenge over the council's actions.

Alison White, founder of campaign group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw), outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Friday

The felling of the trees sparked fury from conservationists within and outside the city

Plymouth councillor Richard Bingley was forced to resign from his post days after ordering 110 trees to be chopped down in the middle of the night amid a fierce backlash

The judge said: 'The injunction will continue, the remaining trees cannot be felled at least for the time being'.

In his decision, which was met by applause by protesters in the court room, the judge added that already toppled trees, fallen branches and stumps can be removed but subject to expert report.

Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the decision, Alison White, founder of STRAW said: 'We are really happy with the decision today to uphold our injunction and keep the remaining trees safe from Plymouth City Council and its chainsaws.

'The decision by Plymouth City Council to come to court today to try and overturn our injunction despite almost universal condemnation of their actions last week is staggering and gives you an indication of what we have been up against these last six months.

'The decision to completely destroy our urban forest against overwhelming public opposition in a way that avoided public scrutiny is indefensible.

'The public outrage, local and national, has helped to shine a light on much wider issues. The total lack of respect some councils have for the environment, and more depressingly, their citizens.'

Alison White continued: 'It's clear from what has happened in Plymouth, Sheffield, Wellingborough and now Cambridge that we need much stronger safeguards for our trees, rural and urban, from developers but more crucially from our councils.'

She added: 'It's just so easy for councils to disregard urban trees and they mean a lot to local people. They might not be a 200-year-old oak but that doesn't mean they're not valuable.'

A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said: 'We welcome the news that we are allowed to clear up the Armada Way site, as had been our original intention, and will do so, in accordance with the terms set out by today's judgment.

'We will be considering the full implications of the judge's remarks in the coming days.'

Since the trees were cut down just over a week ago, local Tory MP Johnny Mercer said locals have been left incensed by what was branded a 'chainsaw massacre'.

The flames were fanned when it was revealed that Councillor Bingley, who signed an executive order to fell the trees, owns a five-bed terraced house in the city on a quiet tree-lined street half a mile away.

Despite being close to the city centre and railway station, the imposing double-fronted terraced home  bought last year for 450,000  also has a park at the end of the road.

The decision to chop the trees was also criticised by local politicians.

The decision to chop the trees has been heavily criticised by local politicians

The Green Party said councillors were given no time to scrutinise the executive decision ordered by Mr Bingley.

The party called for 'an independent inquiry into the decision-making behind the felling of the trees'.

Green Party group leader Ian Poyser previously said: 'This kind of ecological vandalism must not be repeated.'

MP Luke Pollard added: 'We are in a climate emergency and their actions are nothing short of environmental vandalism.'

Councillor Nick Kelly, a former Conservative who is now leader of the Independent Alliance Group, claimed he had rejected early plans for the redevelopment when he was leader of the council.

He added: 'What's the point of having a 12.7million scheme so many people are against?'

A local Plymouth resident walks past the tree felling site, which has attracted fierce criticism

Locals slammed the decision by the council to chop down the 110 mature trees

A council poll showed 68 per cent of all respondents - 1,537 people - did not support the 12.7million Armada Way upgrade plan.

The council said that if it took out the responses from people opposed who did not give a reason why 'then the scheme has significant support.'

Plymouth City Council said it was forced to chop down the trees because 'there is a risk that the funding from the Transforming Cities Fund could be lost if the project is not implemented quickly'.

A council spokesman earlier said: 'For reasons of public safety and impact on the city centre and given the size of the tree machinery due to come onto Armada Way, we scheduled the works to be carried out at night with as few people around as possible.

'We aimed to minimise the disruption caused to the public and businesses by cordoning off parts of Armada Way. Unfortunately, the injunction meant we had to stop work.

'Following an engagement programme, the final design was changed to include 169 semi-mature new trees to be planted, a revised tree planting schedule and a commitment to investigate wider tree planting in the city centre. We await applications from the claimant as directed by the court.'
An opera about the exploits of a family of Travellers who wreaked havoc across New Zealand in 2019 has angered Kiwis who would sooner forget the sorry episode.

The large Nolan clan made regular headlines - both back at home and Down Under - for the time they were in the country and over the chaos they caused.

Its members caused chaos on their inbound flight, would eat at restaurants without paying their bills, leave litter across idyllic beaches and threaten locals with violence.

The mere mention of their name brings back angry memories for many. Things got so bad, New Zealanders even launched a petition to have the family kicked out of the country. They were eventually deported by authorities.

Now, an opera in New Zealand is putting the family from Liverpool back in the spotlight, outraging some Kiwis - who would rather never have to think about the Nolans again - without the family even being in the far-flung country.

An opera about the exploits of a family of Travellers who wreaked havoc across New Zealand in 2019 has angered Kiwis who would sooner forget the sorry episode

The large Nolan clan made regular headlines - both back at home and Down Under - for the time they were in the country and the chaos they caused. Pictured: Police officer are seen talking the members of the family in New Zealand

The Unruly Tourists - the operatic satire about the media frenzy that followed the family across the country - opened in Auckland on Thursday night.

The New Zealand Opera website bills the 2 hour 15 minute show as a 'raucous comedy' full of 'satire, action and good old-fashioned Kiwi humour intertwined with soaring melodies and riveting chorus ensembles'.

It says: 'In a tale from living memory, a flock of badly-behaved tourists spread a trail of rubbish, fuel a national obsession, make international headlines and land the visitors in local courtrooms .'

But the show was considered controversial before it even opened.

UK director Thomas de Mallet Burgess is regarded in New Zealand as unruly Brit himself, The Times reports.

He was hired in 2019 by the state-sponsored Opera New Zealand company to give it new energy, and became hooked himself on the media's obsession with the Nolans.

Speaking to the publication, the director said he became 'uncomfortable' with how the New Zealand public treated the family, especially on social media.

Posts on Facebook, he says, 'reached fever pitch and some of those comments we actually use in the show itself. They uncovered a layer of hatred, racism that became deeply uncomfortable.'

One such post featured in the opera reads 'p**s off to your trailer trash park'.

While The Unruly Tourists opened to mostly good reviews last night, Mallet Burgess's decision to commission the opera triggered several resignations from the company's board members, including Witi Ihimaera, the nation's first Maori novelist.

At the time, he cited his unease over where the company was heading.

Things got so bad, New Zealanders even launched a petition to have the Nolans kicked out of the country after accusing them of causing chaos. They were eventually deported

Pictured: Footage showed a young boy telling a woman: 'I'll knock your brains out'. This was one of many incidents in 2019 that outraged New Zealanders in relation to the Nolan clan

The infamous group were accused of trashing a beach (pictured), leaving a cafe without paying, damaging their apartment and allegedly stealing a journalist's phone in a trip which saw the Mayor of Auckland label them 'worse than pigs'

In August 2022, the family hit the headlines again due to reports that its patriarch, 29-year-old James Anthony Nolan (pictured), had died in the UK. Tributes from his family poured in on social media, and a huge funeral service was held for him in London

James Nolan is pictured, right, with a family member while in New Zealand at the time

The opera's former director of music, Lindy Tennent-Brown, also resigned, calling the director's work an 'odious' opera and 'not nice' for New Zealanders.

'I dont see how producing a work about some bunch of tourists dumping their rubbish in the wrong place and swearing at cameras - I dont see how thats interesting or nice for us as New Zealanders,' she told The Times.

Its opening comes four years after New Zealanders launched a petition to have the family kicked out of the country after accusing them of causing chaos.

In one early incident, Auckland locals accused the family of leaving leaving beer bottles and piles of rubbish on a busy beach, before a child threatened to 'knock the brains out' of locals who confronted them (this became the opera's tagline).

They also claimed the family - who became known as the 'unruly tourists' - left a cafe without paying, damaged their rented apartment and stole a journalist's phone.

Numerous reports said they left restaurants without paying, claiming the found ants or hair in their food, and became abusive towards staff.

One family member was even accused of fraud, assault with a weapon and reckless driving. Another pleaded guilty to two counts of theft.

Finally, New Zealand had enough. In late January 2019, after an incident of 'unruly behaviour' in a Burger King, they were issue with a deportation notice.

This have them 28 days to leave the country, reports said at the time. Auckland's mayor declared the family 'pigs' and Kiwis used social media to hit out at the clan.

In August 2022, the family hit the headlines again due to reports that its patriarch, 29-year-old James Anthony Nolan, had died in the UK.

The extended traveller family were responsible for a wave of complaints and alleged crimes across New Zealand in 2019

A huge funeral was held for him in Teddington, south west London, which saw a silver gilded carriage drawn through the streets as mourners followed in its path.

Nolan himself was accused of assault after allegedly driving his car at a young woman who filmed his family during the incident.

But he was never saw justice over the allegations, having escaped the country by using another person's passport. A customs officer mistakenly allowed him to board a plane out of the country, despite there being a warrant out for his arrest.

Despite all the chaos and reports, on their return to the UK, the Nolan family sensationally claimed they were the victims and moaned that they had had a 'holiday from hell' and had been 'tortured and condemned'.
Gwyneth Paltrow initially feared that she was being sexually assaulted when she was hit from behind on a ski slope, saying she felt legs between her legs as she and Terry Sanderson toppled to the ground.

Paltrow, 50, said she screamed 'You skied directly into my f***ing back' at the retiree who has accused her of leaving him brain damaged in a ski crash.

The actress, who was one of the first to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, said she was momentarily frightened that Terry Sanderson could be an attacker.

She said she thought: 'Is this someone doing something perverted?'

She added: 'I was trying to put together what was happening behind me.'

She swiftly realized, she said, that it was not a sexual attack, but rather someone had crashed into her from behind.

In dramatic testimony on the fourth day of her trial, Paltrow admitted to shouting at Sanderson, 76, as he lay on the ground in the aftermath of the crash.

She said it was not usual for her to yell an obscenity, but said: 'After an incident when you feel hurt and violated, unfortunately adrenaline kicks in.'

Gwyneth Paltrow took the stand in court in Utah Friday for the fourth day of her ski crash trial

Sanderson alleges he was left with four broken ribs and a permanent brain injury. Paltrow denies crashing into the retiree and countersued, saying he was the one who skied into her - leaving her angry and sore

She admitted that she did not remember asking if Sanderson was okay and left ski instructor Eric Christiansen to 'handle' the situation for her - continuing down the slope to meet daughter Apple at the bottom.

Paltrow questioned the testimony of eyewitness Craig Ramon, telling court: 'He said he was 40ft away and colorblind, I don't know how he could have seen what he thinks he saw.

'And I can tell you that he didn't because Mr Sanderson categorically hit me and that is the truth.'

She said Ramon did not ask her if she was okay, with only Christiansen and husband Brad Falchuk enquiring about her health in the aftermath.

She also took issue with Ramon's claim that Sanderson was unconscious for 'one or two minutes' after the collision.

Paltrow admitted she did not give a thought to Sanderson after the crash and spent the afternoon afterwards getting a massage, saying: 'When you're the victim of a crash, your psychology is not thinking about the person who perpetrated it.

'At the time, I did not know he had sustained injuries like that - I thought it was minor on the day.'

In a bizarre exchange, Paltrow told attorney Kristin van Orman she only has one ski suit and that she dresses to avoid being recognized but noted: 'Paparazzi have a way of working things out.'

She claimed instructor Eric Christiansen had handed over her contact details to the stricken Sanderson and she did not abandon him on the slopes.

Swinging her chair back and forth as she was questioned, Paltrow added: 'I was not engaging in any risky behavior [that day].'

During her testimony, Paltrow said she heard Sanderson making a 'groaning noise' as they collided and initially thought she was being assaulted by someone 'perverted'.

She said: 'He was making some strange noises that sounded male and he was large so I assumed he was a male.

'I was confused at first because it's a very strange thing to happen on a ski slope. I got very upset a few seconds later.

'There was a body pressing against me and he was making a groaning noise. I didn't know, is this a practical joke or is someone doing something perverted?'

Paltrow also attempted to deny she had been watching son Moses ski at the time of the crash but was tripped up by testimony from her son's instructor Kari Oaks.

She said: 'I can still watch my children ski and be skied directly into my back by someone and that's what happened.

'My daughter was down the hill and my son was to my left, I was skiing and my eyes were not just on Moses.'

She said she yelled at Sanderson: 'You skied directly into my f****** back!'

Paltrow said Sanderson replied, in a mumble: 'Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'

Reminded of how she spoke to Sanderson, she said: 'I felt violated, my knee hurt, my back hurt, I was really upset. I'm sorry that I cursed.'

She said that her son Moses's ski instructor, Eric Christiansen, came over and helped Sanderson up.

Paltrow said she had no recollection of Craig Ramon, a friend and ski companion of Sanderson's, who testified earlier during the week that Paltrow hit Sanderson.

She said she did not see him, and left the scene when the ski instructor arrived.

'When Eric, as an accredited Deer Valley ski instructor, said he would handle the paperwork, I believed him,' she said.

Asked about Ramon, she said: 'I don't believe he saw it. I don't believe he saw what he thinks he saw.

'He said he was 40ft away and color blind. I don't know how he can be positive about what he saw, given the distance.

'Mr Sanderson categorically hit me on the ski slope.'

Sanderson's attorney said: 'That's what you believe.'

Paltrow replied: 'Because it's the truth.'

Paltrow was then grilled over her friendship with Taylor Swift who was awarded a symbolic $1 in damages on 2017 after she won her case against a Denver DJ accused of groping her.

She told court: 'I would not say we're good friends. We are friendly. I've taken my kids to her concert once but we don't speak very often.'

In cross-examination, Paltrow said she feels sorry for Sanderson's injuries but was adamant she is not to blame for the crash.

She also talked of her father Bruce who died in 2002 aged 58 and spoke of how he taught her to ski at Alta Ski Area in the Wasatch Mountains close to Park City.

Paltrow smiled when she was reminded that witness Craig Ramon believed she had been skiing with 'that Coldplay guy' - she was on vacation with now husband Brad Falchuk.

She said: 'I think he was referring to my first husband Chris Martin. He's a guitar player, a piano player and a singer in the band Coldplay'

Gwyneth Paltrow was back in court in Utah Friday for the fourth day of her ski crash trial

She was then shown a text exchange between her and ski instructor Eric Christiansen on the day of the crash - in which he asked if she was still skiing.

Paltrow told him: 'I came in earlier. That guy [Sanderson] kind of hurt me.'

The Goop guru was then asked if she screamed on being hit which she denied. She described the first contact as 'slow' and said the impact came later.

She also denied that Sanderson was ever unconscious and ridiculed Ramon's account that he was knocked out for two minutes, saying: 'He's said so many different minutes so many times, I find it difficult to recall.'

Of Sanderson, she added: 'I don't know if he was unconscious - it's possible he was for a split second.'

She flatly denied that she was involved in a 'hit and run' on the day of the crash and replied 'absolutely not' when asked if she had asked Christiansen to falsify a report of the incident on her behalf.

Paltrow said she had stayed on the mountain for a while after the collision, saying: 'I did indeed'.

The actress told court she had been left hurt by the crash, saying her right knee felt overstretched, and she sought a massage to help alleviate the pain.

Paltrow's children Apple and Moses, and husband Brad Falchuk, 52, are set to follow her onto the stand on Monday with Paltrow saying Apple would be 'unfortunately' missing a day of school to testify.

The family were on vacation at the time of the crash, with the two children witnessing parts of the incident.

Despite blizzard conditions in Park City, the A-lister arrived wearing a $248 pair of mirrored Rayban aviator sunglasses which she paired with a long navy coat, a navy blue dress and a black pair of $1,200 Celine boots

Friday's proceedings began with the cross examination of Dr. Richard Boehme, who insisted the only explanation for Sanderson's rib fractures was being hit from the left and landed on by Paltrow.

Dr. Boehme, who drew his conclusions from a review of documents and a clinical session when Sanderson, said he had considered an alternative - that Sanderson hit Paltrow - but thought his injuries could not have been caused that way.

He also dismissed suggestions that Sanderson was 'malingering' or exaggerating the extent of his injuries.

Sanderson's legal team then called Mark Herath, a FedEx pilot and the brother-in-law of his daughter Shae.

Herath said the pair had been close prior to the accident but became distant afterwards due to changes in Sanderson's personality.

He told court he had been shocked after being told, the day after the accident, that Paltrow had skied away after allegedly hitting Sanderson, saying: 'He said he heard a scream and got hit from behind, hit the snow and went unconscious and had to be taken off the mountain.

'He said Gwyneth Paltrow hit him and she left the scene of the accident - that surprised me. Because my roommate in college, his mom got hit, and the kid tried to escape and they chased him down the mountain. That was in Colorado.

'It's a hit and run. It's a serious offense. It's something you just don't do.'

He said Sanderson had become increasingly confused after the crash and gave up skiing in the aftermath.

Herath said: 'It was like day and night since before and after the accident. He hasn't skied since the accident.

'I talked to him the first year after the accident about skiing but it was clear that was a dead end. He wasn't mentally ready to ski again.'

He added: 'It's not enjoyable to be around Terry like it used to be because he's confused a lot, the paranoia, he's anxious around people. You can only take Terry in small doses now.'

Sanderson's legal team then called Mark Herath, a FedEx pilot and the brother-in-law of his daughter Shae. Herath said the pair had been close prior to the accident but became distant afterwards due to changes in Sanderson's personality

Sanderson's daughter Shae Herath told the jury that her father no longer 'trusts his brain' in the wake of the crash and the injuries he received

Paltrow is accused in a lawsuit of crashing into a Sanderson during a 2016 family ski vacation

Later, Sanderson's daughter Shae Herath told the jury that her father no longer 'trusts his brain' in the wake of the crash and the injuries he received.

Shae, who appeared visibly nervous on the stand and spoke in a sometimes shaky voice, said: 'My dad has quite a few personality issues, the injury to his brain has caused significant damage - enough to cause personality changes.

'My dad is very insecure, he doesn't show it but he doesn't trust his brain anymore. He used to be able to multitask and do all sorts of tasks and now he can't follow through.

'As his daughter, I feel that his life is exhausting.'

Owens had repeatedly asked Shae about her parents' divorce, whether Sanderson had assaulted a man who allegedly had an affair with her mother and referred to an incident involving the retiree's second wife where the people were called.

An incredulous Shae replied: 'Are you getting your facts straight? ' During his questioning, Owens also noted Sanderson once accidentally overdosed on his medication and had to be revived with Narcan.

According to Owens, Sanderson referred to Paltrow as 'Godzilla' and told his daughter that he had 'Godzilla coming after him' in his account of the ski crash.

Owens then attempted to paint Sanderson as an attention seeker, telling court that youngest daughter Jenny had described him in that way and claimed the optometrist thought it was 'cool' to see his name in the press and sent his daughters links to coverage in the press.

Yesterday, the trial heard from another of Sanderson's daughters, Polly Grasham, 49, who said her father had been left dramatically changed by the crash

Yesterday, the trial heard from another of Sanderson's daughters, Polly Grasham, 49, who said her father had been left dramatically changed by the crash.

Grasham said: 'It's really messy right now, it's really hard. I think he's in a really negative place and that's hard for me as a daughter.

'It's like the main sentence is gone and all we have are the little details - part of the frustration is he gets caught up in little details and the primary focus is gone.

'I have to bring it full circle. I think he gets frustrated and angry. Now it's very A to B, don't throw in a C or a D. I understand there is a lot of grief and loss for the way his life functioned before, it doesn't function like that now.'

Prior to the crash, Grasham said, her father had a 'Mensa mind', was good at troubleshooting and loved to spend time with granddaughters Hope, 25, and Anne, 22.

'[He was] just really fun-loving, gregarious, really quick with a joke and a smile.

'My dad was smart. I used to describe him as a Mensa mind. Quick to figure things out.'

She said she was told of the crash on the day it happened and knew he was getting medical treatment but only realized the extent of his injuries when he came to Idaho at the end of May 2016 for Hope's graduation.

Grasham said: 'There was a time when he was sitting in a chair by my window and I almost expected drool to be coming out of his mouth.

'He hadn't engaged with anybody and had taken himself off to a remote corner - that was when I first felt something was terribly wrong.'

She also said Sanderson had become increasingly angry and 'petty' in the wake of the crash - in contrast to his previous behavior.

Grasham said the symptoms were worst in the first 18 months after the crash and have improved a little since but said he still struggles with multitasking and disorientation.
Chilling photos have emerged showing police rapist David Carrick posing alongside young children and smiling broadly in his uniform as he guards Downing Street.

They were taken in June 2016 when the depraved predator was at the height of his reign of terror while serving in an elite VIP protection unit.

He had repeatedly used his position in the Metropolitan Police's parliamentary and diplomatic protection command to gain the trust of his victims and boasted about protecting the then prime minister Theresa May.

Manning the black gates at Downing Street, Carrick appears to be a good-natured police officer happy to pose with children visiting the London landmark.

For one picture he gave his police hat to an excited eight-year-old to wear, while a second shows him posing with the boy's older sister.

This picture shows Met police rapist David Carrick posing alongside young children and smiling broadly in his uniform as he guards Downing Street

At the time the children's mother had been grateful to the 'normal, friendly officer' for offering to pose for the pictures after the family visited the capital from the North of England.

But she said she has now been left feeling 'sickened' by the encounter after Carrick was unmasked as one of Britain's worst serial rapists.

'We were just showing the kids Downing Street and the policeman we met seemed very friendly and offered to pose for pictures with them,' she said.

'We had no idea who he was and he just seemed a normal, friendly officer.'

As he posed for the images, Carrick was in the midst of terrorising one of his victims who he held captive in his home in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, where she was being starved, monitored by CCTV and raped almost daily.

'It is quite sickening now to think what he was really like and what he was doing at the time the photos were taken,' the mother added. 'We never suspected anything.'

Manning the black gates at Downing Street, Carrick appears to be a good-natured police officer happy to pose with children visiting the London landmark

She revealed that she realised who the officer was only recently when the image popped up as a 'memory' on her social media accounts and she recognised his face from news reports.

One of Carrick's other victims, who was also effectively held prisoner by him, said he often boasted about his job in the elite protection unit and even took her on a trip to Downing Street in 2017.

She said the images showed how easily Carrick was able to hide behind a 'cloak of decency' because of his uniform, adding: 'I can imagine it was awful for the mother to realise who this officer actually was and that he was so close to her children. The Met has a lot to answer for.'

The pictures come days after a damning report into the force found that the protection command unit where Carrick  as well as murderer Wayne Couzens  worked should be abolished.

As he posed for the images, Carrick was in the midst of terrorising one of his victims who he held captive in his home in Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Baroness Casey's review described the unit as a 'dark corner' of the Met and recommended 'effectively disbanding it in its current form'.

Her report concluded that the elite unit needed an 'absolute 'reset' with a new ethos, identity and a focus on rooting out unacceptable behaviour'.

Carrick abused at least a dozen women and carried out more than 85 heinous crimes over two decades while he was a serving officer. He was jailed for life last month.

The Metropolitan Police was forced to apologise for missing several opportunities to identify and remove him.
Donald Trump's attorney Evan Corcoran appeared on Friday before a federal grand jury investigating the former U.S. president's retention of classified documents after he left the White House in January 2021.

Corcoran and his attorney Michael Levy entered the federal courthouse in Washington and went to the third floor where the grand jury typically meets.

Special Counsel Jack Smith is leading the Justice Department's investigation of whether Trump improperly took classified documents as he left office and his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, which he falsely claims was the result of widespread fraud.

That is one of a series of investigations, also including a Georgia probe into his attempt to overturn his election defeat and a New York inquiry into whether he illegally paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, which swirl around Trump as he seeks the Republican nomination to run for president again in 2024.

Evan Corcoran, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, arrives to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Trump's handling of classified documents, at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Corcoran's appearance comes just two days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a sealed ruling which appeared to compel him to comply with a lower court order to testify and provide records as part of Smith's investigation.

U.S. media outlets, including ABC News previously reported that Smith's office was seeking court approval to compel Corcoran's testimony, citing evidence that Trump intentionally mislead his attorneys about his retention of classified materials at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort.

Corcoran sought to block enforcement of the subpoena, citing attorney-client privilege.

ABC reported a federal judge ruled that Smith's team had made a sufficient showing that Trump may have deceived his attorneys in furtherance of a crime, and determined that attorney-client privilege could not be used to shield Corcoran from complying with the grand jury subpoena.

Corcoran and Christina Bobb, another attorney representing Trump, were both involved in talks with the Justice Department last year in the lead-up to the FBI's Aug. 8 search of Trump's Florida property.

In May 2022, Trump received a grand jury subpoena ordering him to turn over any records with classified markings, and officials from the Justice Department and FBI met with Trump's attorneys in June to enforce the subpoena.

At that June meeting, they handed over a single envelope containing 38 documents with classified markings.

In a certification drafted by Corcoran and signed by Bobb, they attested they had thoroughly searched the premises and found no other records bearing classification markings.

That claim later proved to be false, after the FBI discovered about 100 additional classified records among some 13,000 government documents in its Aug. 8 search.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is being investigated by a Special Prosecutor about the classified documents founds at his Florida home in Mar-a-Lago.

Large police presence and protestors at former President Donald Trump's home Mar-a-Lago. FBI executes search warrant in document investigation at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida.
A former suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence is earning 3,600 a month as a courier after being freed from prison, a court heard today.

Jamie Acourt, 46, covered his face with a scarf as he arrived at City of London Magistrates' Court this afternoon, wearing Gucci sunglasses and a flat cap, over his failure to pay back 90,000 he made from a 3million drugs plot.

He refused to answer questions about the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, 30 years ago, on April 22 1993, and ran as he left the building.

Acourt was one of five men arrested.

Two of them, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

Jamie Acourt, 46, covered his face with a scarf as he arrived at City of London Magistrates' Court this afternoon

Acourt refused to answer questions about the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, 30 years ago

Acourt, who spent more than two years on the run living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, was released from prison in November after serving half of his nine-year sentence over the drugs plot.

His brother Neil Acourt, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrence's murder, was jailed for more than six years over the same conspiracy, which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of about 3 million moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

The fifth suspect in Mr Lawrence's murder, Luke Knight, has remained free.

Acourt was in January 2021 ordered to pay back 90,000 or face another year added to his jail sentence, by a judge at Kingston Crown Court.

In October last year police asked a judge to impose a default prison sentence over his failure to pay the confiscation order.

Acourt, who wore Gucci sunglasses and a flat cap, was in court over his failure to pay back 90,000 he made from a 3million drugs plot

Acourt, who spent more than two years on the run living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, was released from prison in November

Pc David Bracken said: "Mr Acourt has not paid anything or shown any willingness to pay anything.

"Obviously, he's going to be released soon and there has been no goodwill on his part."

Acourt said his family have not paid any of the money "because they don't have the funds".

He said he had been offered a job with construction firm Precision Contractors Ltd, run by his "friend and builder" Matthew Chapman, and would be supported on the outside by his partner, Terri Dean, and was ordered to pay back 500 a month.

But the court heard on Friday that Acourt, who has two children, aged 23 and 19, is working as a self-employed courier.

His lawyer, Joseph Barlow, said he is earning 3,600 a month with outgoings of around 2,700, and asked for more time to suggest a higher monthly payment.

Acourt was one of five men arrested over Stephen's murder. Two of them, Gary Dobson (left) and David Norris (right), were handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder

Prosecutor Shahida Parveen said Acourt has made three 500 payments but that the total amount has now risen to 102,329 with interest.

District Judge Robert Brown told Acourt: "I am encouraged by the suggestion a higher amount might be offered sooner rather than later.

"I am going to direct payments continue at 500 a month and set a review date in three months when I hope Mr Acourt will be in a position to make a better offer.

"Otherwise this is going to go on for many years and he is going to have to come back to court every three months, which is not in anyone's interests.

"The sooner it is settled the better it will be."


Infiltration bid foiled in J&K, one terrorist killed (demo photo) One terrorist was killed after an infiltration bid was foiled at the Line of Control (LoC) in the Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, sources said on Friday. Army sources said that a search operation is underway in the area.



Further details were awaited.



There has been a significant drop in ceasefire violations by Pakistan since a renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan in 2021. But infiltration attempts keep on taking place from time to time.



Traditionally, the graph of infiltration is down during the winter months when snow blocks the passes, but the levels of infiltration start to rise after snow begins to melt.




President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday began their tough talks on Canada's defense spending with warm words, a 'friend-chip' ice cream and a chocolate bar that says 'peace.'

The two leaders entered Canada's Parliament building with their arms around one another as they formally started Biden's state visit.

But they began things informally when Justin and Sophie Trudeau hosted Joe and Jill Biden for a private gathering at their home on Thursday night, where Trudeau served the president's favorite dessert: ice cream. It was the 'friend-chip' ice cream from a local shop: maple-flavoured with chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Both governments are taking care to emphasize the friendship between the two men and their respective nations but underlying issues remain, including Canada's decreased defense spending for NATO and NORAD.

President Joe Biden received a chocolate bar that read 'peace' during his visit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

'We have no greater friend and ally than the United States and it's always, always a real pleasure to be able to welcome you and to sit down with you,' Trudeau said in his welcome.

'We're lucky we have Canada to our north,' Biden said in reply. 'We disagree and agree on things occasionally. But there's no fundamental difference in the democratic values we share. And it really makes a big difference. And so it's an honor to be here. We have a lot to talk about. And I think we're gonna I think we get a lot done.'

Biden is making is first visit to Canada as president, a long-delayed trip partially due to the COVID pandemic.

Ottawa rolled out the red carpet for the American leader and one government official handed Biden a chocolate bar that read 'peace.'

It is made by Peace By Chocolate, a company in Canada that was established by Syrian refugees, whose family chocolate factory in Damascus was destroyed in the bombing there.

Biden, who arrived in Ottawa on Thursday night, has a packed Friday schedule: his meeting with Trudeau, a press conference with the prime minister, and a formal state dinner where guests will include Canadian stars Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy.

President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau go into the Parliament

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau posted a picture of President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden meeting the Trudeau family - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and children Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien - on Thursday night

One of the big issues the two leaders will discuss is Canada's defense budget - and if the United States' neighbor to the north is contributing enough to both NORAD and NATO.

NORAD was a product of the Cold War, with the vast amount of money funding the defensive project - meant to detect Soviet bombers - coming from the United States.

But it slowly turned into a binational operation. The commander of NORAD can be from the American or Canadian armed forces, and he or she reports to both the prime minister and the president.

Most Americans know of NORAD through its yearly 'Santa Tracker' but the recent incursion of the Chinese spy balloon put the Cold War-era agency back in the spotlight.

Last year, Trudeau's government promised $4.9 billion in Canadian dollars (which is $3.6 billion) over the next six years to modernize the defensive system.

American presidents have long pushed Canada to spend more on its military, including Barack Obama in 2016 and Donald Trump in 2019, particularly when it comes to NATO spending.

For all the NATO nations, Canada is sixth from the bottom in terms of national defence commitments. NATO members are supposed to spend 2% of its national gross domestic product on defence. Canada spends about 1.5%.

The leaders have already taken another major issue off the table, having reached an agreement on the northern border to reduce illegal crossings there.

As part of the deal, Ottawa will announce 15,000 slots for migrants from the Western Hemisphere to apply to enter Canada legally.

Crossings have increased on the U.S.-Canada border even as the cold weather has made it dangerous with people suffering from hypothermia and exposure as they make their way through the vast, wooden area.

The Swanton Sector, which includes sections of Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, experienced an 846% increase in apprehensions from October 2022 through this January, compared to the year prior.

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will have tough talks on Canada's defense spending

President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also discuss migration and the northern border

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau wave goodbye to the Bidens after hosting them at their home on Thursday night

Canada is also seeing an increase in migrants coming through to their side of the border, particularly at the Roxham Road station.

More than 39,000 refugees entered Canada last year via unofficial crossings, the vast majority via Roxham Road, which links Quebec and New York State.

It is the highest number since 2017 - when there was a spike because of then-President Donald Trump's crackdown on migrants.

At issue was a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires asylum-seekers already in the US to petition there rather than show up at a Canadian port of entry.

But that policy does not apply to Roxham Road because it's an unauthorized entry point  literally a road that dead-ends into the border and then picks up on the other side. That is where all these migrants are crossing.

Trudeau said last month the only way to shut down Roxham Road is to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement. That announcement will come during Biden's visit.

The agreement is part of the Biden administrations efforts to increase the consequences for people crossing the border illegally.

Haiti also remains a big issue between Canada and United States.

The Biden administration wants Canada to lead a multinational force into Haiti to assist it in its battle against gang control.

In October, the United States proposed a resolution at the United Nations Security Council for the deployment of a rapid-action, multinational force to Haiti to help nation's police break the stranglehold of armed gangs.

Since the beginning of the year, 531 people have been killed, 300 wounded and 277 kidnapped in gang-related violence in Haiti.

Prime Minister Trudeau greets President Biden on Parliament Hill

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, with their children Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien, hosted President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa

The U.S. had hoped Canada would step up but Trudeau does not seem eager.

Trade issues also are expected to be discussed.

The dairy market is an issue as the U.S. thinks Canada is still not meeting obligations to open its market to American producers.

Canada, meanwhile, is worried about American subsidies for the U.S. electric vehicle and semiconductor manufacturing. Ottawa is expected to respond with its own incentives for clean energy and manufacturing.

At the same time, the US is looking to Canada to supply the critical minerals and rare-earth elements needed to make electric vehicle batteries, as the Biden administration tries to reduce dependence on adversaries like China for crucial raw materials.

Meanwhile, Canada has robust market in critical minerals that the U.S. needs to make electric vehicle batteries. Washington would like access to it particularly as Biden tries to cut back on dependence on China for such materials.
Arby's co-founder Leroy Raffel died aged 96 and has been remembered as a 'truly visionary leader' after helping start the now $3.9 billion fast food chain.

Raffel 'passed away peacefully at home' on Tuesday according to legacy.com and is survived by his four children, Ken, Janet, Jim, Nancy and his eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He grew up in the restaurant business, living in the Leslie Hotel in New Castle, Pennsylvania and later helped build the popular sandwich restaurant which started with just 10 seats, 20 parking spaces and 69 cent roast beef sandwiches, to its modern success.

The visionary restaurant owner's death was announced by Arby's in a tribute post on Facebook with an image of Raffel and his brother, Forrest, who died aged 86 in 2008, holding a giant roast beef sandwich in front of an Arby's sign.

Arby's co-founder Leroy Raffel (left) has died aged 96 and has been remembered as a 'truly visionary leader' after helping start the now $3.9 billion American fast food sandwich chain. He's seen posing with a huge roast beef sandwich and his brother Forrest, who died aged 86, in 2008

'You may not know that the 'RB' in Arby's stands for our co-founders (the Raffel Brothers) who launched the brand in 1964 behind an iconic Roast Beef sandwich,' the post reads.

'This week we mourn the loss of Leroy Raffel, aged 96, who was a truly visionary leader.

'We remain honored to carry on the legacy that Leroy and his brother Forrest created. May his memory be a blessing.'

Jim Taylor, Arby's president, also paid tribute to Raffel on the Inspire Brands website, which owns Arby's and other brands, including Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin and Jimmy John's.

The 96-year-old 'passed away peacefully at home' on Tuesday and is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. He's pictured here in one of the last public sightings in 2018 aged 91

'The team and I send our heartfelt condolences to Leroy's friends, loved ones, and family, including his four children Janet, Jim, Nancy, and Ken,' Taylor said in the statement.

The brothers opened their first eatery in Boardman, Ohio, in 1964 according to Taylor describing the restaurant as an 'innovative approach to quick-service dining.'

'The Raffel brothers (RB and the namesake of the brand) debuted their first Roast Beef sandwiches for just 69 cents which was a premium item served hot, fresh, and prepared to order  a higher quality offering versus the burger chains of the time,' he said.

'On behalf of Arby's, we are making a donation in Leroy's name to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

'Leroy's legacy will live on with his beloved brand, and we are ever grateful for his vision and commitment to Arby's.'

Before becoming the founders of Arby's, the brothers designed and equipped restaurants, hotels and institutional kitchens but 'saw the handwriting on the wall' for the future of the independent restaurateur, Raffel told The Business Journal for an August 1989 story.

They used the first letters of 'Raffel Brothers' as the basis for their restaurant's name and opened their first Arby's on U.S. Route 224 in Boardman, just west of where the township's current store is located.

Jim Taylor, Arby's president, also paid tribute to Raffel on the Inspire Brands website, which owns Arby's and other brands, including Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin and Jimmy John's. He thanked him for his legacy and said he was 'grateful for his vision'

Raffel grew up in the restaurant business, living in the Leslie Hotel in New Castle, Pennsylvania and later helped build the popular sandwich restaurant which started with just 10 seats, 20 parking spaces and 69 cent roast beef sandwiches (pictured the first Arby's in Boardman, Ohio) to its modern success

'Even in 1964, that was still the best location for a fast-food restaurant in the Youngstown market,' Raffel said in 1989.

In 1989, the brothers credited the Youngstown area with providing a basis for Arby's success, particularly the local employees.

'There was no question at the time that the best managers came from the Youngstown area  that we could take young people, train them in Youngstown, move them out to other areas and get very good results,' Raffel said in the 1989 interview.

'There is a very good work ethic in Youngstown that really helped us in our development.'

Raffel was born March 13, 1927 and served in the Naval Reserve during World War II graduating from the Wharton School of Finance from the University of Pennsylvania.

In the 1950s the brothers bought their uncle's restaurant equipment business and created Raffel Brothers, Inc. which became one of the country's leading food service consulting firms.

Watching the growth of Ray Kroc's McDonald's and how companies such as Burger King were finding lucrative avenues into the world of fast food, the pair wanted to take the quick service idea a step further than the traditional sale of hamburgers.

Raffel and his brother were the first to open a quick service roast beef sandwich shop using the initials of their company Raffel Brothers to create Arby's.

Raffel and his brother were the first to open a quick service roast beef sandwich shop using the initials of their company Raffel Brothers 'R' and 'B' to create Arby's. A customer in 1964 is seen enjoying the roast beef meal

Arby's was positioning itself as an 'upper scale' quick service joint pricing their sandwiches higher than the typical McDonald hamburger which at the time was being served at 15 cents

Arby's was positioning itself as an 'upper scale' quick service joint pricing their sandwiches higher than the typical McDonald hamburger which at the time was being served at 15 cents.

After its immediate success, the brothers began to rapidly expand the company and by the late 1960s had over 300 locations in nearly 40 states.

Using bank loans and equity capital to help finance the late 1960s growth but those sources were quickly dwindling as they struggled to sustain operational levels along with the prospect of growth plans.

The brothers sought to take their organization public with an IPO, which is when a private company first sells shares of stock to the public, in 1970.

Changes made within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the time delayed the IPO and by the time it was rescheduled issues in the stock market forced the brothers to abandon the stock issuance.

By late 1970, the brothers had to seek a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which allows for a debtor to propose a plan of reorganization to keep the business afloat, paying creditors over time.

During the reorganization process the Raffel Brothers began to regain control of the organization spending a couple of years of profitability, successfully coming out of bankruptcy by 1975.

Arby's grew to 500 locations nationwide, but the company again needed a cash infusion which led to an agreement with Royal Crown Cola Co in 1976, in which they sold Arby's for $18 million and by the end of 1979 the brother's stepped down from operating the successful company that remains in their legacy.

While Arby's has gone through a variety of new management structures, it now sits under the Inspire Brands family and employs 80,000 people nationwide.

By the end of 1979 both Raffel (pictured aged 92) and his brother stepped down from operating the successful company that remains in their legacy. In an interview about how he brought the company back from bankruptcy he said he's a 'tough son of a b****'

While Arby's has gone through a variety of new management structures, it now sits under the Inspire Brands family and employs 80,000 people nationwide

When asked at a franchising seminar how he was able to turn Arby's around and deal with the stress of Chapter 11, Raffel quipped: 'because I'm one tough son of a b****.'

Raffel was very active in the Jewish community and the CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation said: 'Leroy had a quiet confidence, a midwestern sensibility, and a view of the world that was both ordinary and rational.'

'He was also the source of unending encouragement and wise counsel that combined his keen intellect and business acumen with his commitment to Israel and the Jewish people.'

A funeral was held for Raffel at Lakeside Memorial Park in Florida.
He earned the moniker the enfant terrible of the art world after dominating the industry in the 1990s with his installations of dead sharks, sheep, and cows preserved in formaldehyde and went on to become Britains richest living artist.

His platinum skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds sold for 50million and he was encouraged by his accountant to buy a pied-a-terre in the city after racking up a 65,000 hotel bill at Londons Metropolitan Hotel.

However, a sales brochure, published to sell Damien Hirsts 77ft houseboat Signe Maria, has revealed that the 57-year-old Turner prize-winner does not always have the golden touch.

His houseboat, which is decorated in the style of a Ralph Lauren beach hut with patina  rather than his infamous animal installations or spot, spin, or butterfly paintings  is being sold for a knockdown price.

Turner prize winning artist Damien Hirst has put his houseboat up for sale

The 77ft houseboat Signe Maria is being sold for a knockdown price

The artist paid 160,000 for the 77ft boat in 2006 and moored it on the Thames

The boat is believed to be under offer, and has been listed with agent River Homes for 80,000

Hirst and his fashion designer partner Maia Norman, mother of his three sons Connor, 27, Cassius, 22, and Cyrus, 17, paid 160,000 for the 77ft boat in 2006 and moored it on Chelsea Wharf as it was the closest thing to the beach in London.

But the barge, which has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and is believed to be under offer, has been listed with agent River Homes for 80,000 - half the original price before renovation.

It is not the first loss that Hirst has faced since his 2008 Beautiful Inside My Head Forever auction at Sothebys raised 111 million.

Ten years later an analysis of auction prices for his works by Artnet, which lists auction prices, found that all but two of his 19 works which were resold publicly had dropped in price by a total of 2.2million.

His 2008 skull picture Beautiful Mider, which sold for 668,450 in 2008, was auctioned for 449,000 in 2018.

The boat has more than enough room to entertain guests in

And due to its Thames location offers spectacular views of the city

Artnets Tim Schneider wrote at the time: Instead of a formaldehyde tank, the best fluid measure here is a bloodbath. Is this grim total just a matter of a few horrendous results pulling down the rest of the group by association? Individual results thunder back a loud no.

Signe Maria began life in the 1940s as a custom dock barge designed by Vickins. After Hirst bought the yacht, Norman was entrusted with its decoration, hiring designer Mike Rundell to give it a radical makeover.

He redesigned the boat in a prosaic duck egg blue, installed underfloor heating, insulated its tongue-and-groove walls, and decorated it with stripy rugs, colourful cushions, and Mexican artefacts.

The couple separated in 2012 and Hirst now lives with his girlfriend Sophie Cannell, 28 years his junior, and their three French bulldogs, Pablo, Chapo and Blanco, at his 36million 14-bedroom home in Regents Park.

Last year Hirst fell foul of animal rights activists who complained that his installation A Hundred Years infringed the right of insects. The artwork was removed from display at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, in Germany, after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) objected to its treatment of flies.

Hirst did not respond to a request for comment.
Rep. George Santos has reportedly agreed to confess and pay damages in a Brazilian fraud case where the congressman is accused of defrauding a Rio De Janeiro clerk of $1,300 spent on clothes and shoes.

Prosecutors agreed to Santos' plea deal last week after they asked his attorneys to confirm they have the ability to contact the victim and repay him before the deal is finalized, according to CNN.

The criminal case had been until recently suspended for nearly ten years after authorities in Rio de Janeiro failed to locate Santos.

The embattled New York Republican is accused of using a stolen checkbook to spend money under a false name. It reportedly occurred at a clothing store in the Brazilian city of Niteroi in 2008.

Santos is accused of using a stolen checkbook to spend money under a false name. It reportedly occurred at a clothing store in the Brazilian city of Niteroi

Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha (pictured right), who was convicted of credit card fraud in the case, wrote a letter that was submitted to the FBI Wednesday calling Santos (pictured left) - aka Anthony Devolder - the person in charge of the crime

After the 2008 incident, Santos reportedly came clean on a Brazilian social media website the following year, writing: 'I know I screwed up, but I want to pay.'

But fast-forward to 2022, the incoming member of Congress told the New York Post that he has never committed any crimes.

'I am not a criminal here  not here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world,' Santos said.

Earlier this month Santos was alleged to have been the mastermind behind an ATM fraud involving a former roommate who has since written to the FBI about the scam.

The latest scandal relates to an identity theft con that took place in Washington state in 2017.

Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha, convicted of credit card fraud in the case, wrote a letter submitted to the FBI Wednesday calling Santos - aka Anthony Devolder - the brains behind the crime. The plan involved fitting devices to ATMs which copied unsuspected credit card details, thereby allowing Trelha - and allegedly Santos - to drain those accounts.

Santos in 2017, spoke to a judge in King County in support of Trelha, whom he called a 'family friend.' That's when the New York Republican told the judge his infamous lie about working for Goldman Sachs, according to Politico. He also said he was 'an aspiring politician.'

Santos is currently under a barrage of investigations, including by the House Ethics Committee, New York attorney general, U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This is the shocking moment masked robbers snatched 920,000 from a security van during a staged heist.

The footage is revealed as 51-year-old Andrew Measor, the 'inside man' driver who handcuffed himself to his steering wheel, has been jailed for almost five years.

Measor claimed robbers handcuffed him to the wheel of his van and he only managed to raise the alarm by dialing the number with his nose.

But he was found guilty after being caught bragging about faking his stress related illness following the fake heist, and boasting to friends that he was milking it, Southwark crown court heard.

Footage shows masked robbers pulling up and getting out the van before stashing laundry bags filled with bank notes into the back of their vehicle.

Andrew Measor, 51, has been jailed for almost five years after he staged a bogus 920,000 robbery by handcuffing himself to his steering wheel

Measor (left) and Stefanos Cantaris (right), who was in charge and pulling the strings, were both acquitted by the jury of conspiracy to conceal or transfer criminal property

They then look around cautiously before hopping back into the white van and speeding away.

Measor was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice on February 21 this year.

Stefanos Cantaris, 40, who was in charge and pulling the strings, earlier admitted conspiracy to steal, and was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Cantaris allegedly blew a fortune on designer watches and holidays around the globe - but Measor claimed he never saw any of the money.

Both were acquitted by the jury of conspiracy to conceal or transfer criminal property.

Five others were cleared of involvement in the plot, following a six-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Measor left the depot in Dagenham on December 30, 2021 with 920,000 in bank notes and 14,660 in coins in his van, the court heard.

When the van arrived in Friary Lane, Ilford, Measor placed shopping bags full of cash in the vans airlock.

CCTV footage showed three masked men loading laundry bags filled with bank notes into a white Vauxhall Combo van

Cantaris met with Measor several times before the raid, and CCTV and phone evidence linked the others to them, the court heard

A white Vauxhall Combo van pulled up and two men got out to collect the bags.

Measor then drove his van to Oak Lane and handcuffed himself to the steering wheel.

Two hours later, Measor called the landline number of the Loomis depot at Dagenham.

He said he had been robbed at 5:00am that morning, when a man approached him with a gun and said: I know everything that goes on, just do as I say and everything will be ok.

Measor said he was handcuffed to the steering wheel of his van and had tried to get passers-by to help him, but no-one had paid him any attention.

He explained that hed had to use his nose to dial the number, said prosecutor Ms Charlotte Hole.

He explained that the thieves had given him bags to put the money into and he had then passed the bags out to them.

Measor appeared calm after the incident, but claimed he had PTSD and told Loomis he needed time off, the court heard.

It appears that he claims he was traumatised from the events that occurred, Ms Hole said.

If this had been a genuine robbery, of course that would be expected.

He told one friend that hed been signed off sick from work due to post-traumatic stress, and then added that he was milking time off.

Measor arrived at Southwark Crown Court in south London to be sentenced for conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice through a 920,000 bogus robbery

In another conversation with someone who appeared to have been a colleague at Loomis, he discussed the police investigation and speculated that the police may think that he was involved.

He then commented: Was starting to sort out comp claim... apparently I get more if it goes to court... more stress etc... June 13th Im still milking...

In another conversation, he again talked about milking the f****** and told the person with whom he was communicating to keep an eye out for any available work for him.

He also told them it was defo an inside job.

Cantaris met with Measor several times before the raid, and CCTV and phone evidence linked the others to them, the court heard.

Sentencing the pair today, Judge Dafna Spiro told Measor: It was not a tiger kidnap or robbery as you told the police.

It was a well-planned sophisticated and highly orchestrated event that you were planning, supervising and participating in.

It was made to look like a robbery, but as the jury found you were both in this together on Mr Cantaris instructions.

Measor had appeared calm after the incident but he claimed that he had PTSD and told Loomis he needed time off, the court heard

When you left work around 5am that morning a man in a latex mask had been outside your door and made threats to you.

Threats were said to be carried out if you didnt give them money.

Judge Spiro told Cantaris: You were in charge and you pulled the strings.

Police investigators have identified in your account trips to Dubai where you spent 3,099 and purchases of Rolex watches.

Other exotic locations Cantaris visited included Colombia, Morocco, Ibiza, Portugal and Albania.

These patterns of expenditure are not that of someone who is struggling to make ends meet.

The lifestyle described is completely inconsistent with someone who is financially struggling.

Your notice for bankruptcy only shows there is no legitimate source of income.

Mr Measor is not an angel but he, like others, were brought in and charmed by you. I accept you do feel shame and you are reconciled with your fate.

To Measor, Judge Spiro said: You were as I have been told milking it with your employers. The 930,000 has never been recovered.

You Mr Measor, did not return to work. You were uncooperative and you took advantage of the good-will and systems that were there to look after people with their wellbeing.

Mr Ponte has described you as a weak-willed man and I find it is an apt description.

In an impact statement written to court, a loss prevention manager at Loomis said: The impact on staff and the effect on Loomis, besides the 920,000 stolen, has been considerable.

There has been a significant impact on the company. The psychological impact on staff is considerable, the tiger kidnap with an employee really affected a number of drivers and employers who left with feelings of vulnerability and shock weeks after the theft.

There was concern they and their families will be targets next, dramatically changing their daily habits.

There has been a complete culture change. No one knew what to do. We only employ around 75 drivers and managers here.

Following that it changed. This was not a victimless crime. Instruction specifications and the security on every Loomis vehicle had to be reviewed.

Mr Measor and his role has come at a considerable shock in the sheer betrayal of trust. We rely on this level of trust otherwise this business cant function.

Following a robbery offence our employees get full sick pay and a full range of psychological help.

We did our utmost to support Measor, giving him PTSD counselling support as we trusted him when he said he was traumatised and suffering from PTSD. He was signed off work on full pay and placed under a salary protection scheme.

Mr Luke Ponte defending Measor, told the court: Mr Measor finds himself very much out of his depth.

A loving father with two children, gainfully employed as an IT consultant, he lived in Banbury Road since 1987 when he bought it... and hes here now.

Hes not a criminal mastermind. Hes a weak-willed man who should not have been involved in this but did.

He was promised 100,000 for his participation in this. For what its worth that promise was a mirage. He has not seen a single five-pound note.

He is a weak-willed man who should have pleaded guilty but could not bring himself to. It serves to underline the obvious; he is a man who will be rehabilitated. He is a man very unlikely to trouble the courts again.

Whatever sentence passes he has learned his lesson.

Measor, of Loughton, Essex, denied but was convicted of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He was acquitted of conspiracy to conceal or transfer criminal property. He was today sentenced to a total of four years and 10 months in prison.

Cantaris, of Epping, Essex, admitted conspiracy to commit theft and was found guilty at trial of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He denied and was acquitted of conspiracy to conceal or transfer criminal property.

He was sentenced today for a total of five years and four months.

Terrance Burrell, 57, of Eping, Mark Kendall, 56, Paul McSweeeney, 55, of Watford, Christopher Shipp, 35, of Bishops Stortford, and Saimir Neziri, 38, of Barnet, were all acquitted by the jury of conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to conceal or transfer and conspiracy to do acts intended to pervert the course of justice.

The prosecution have indicated that confiscation proceedings will commence on a date to be set.
Porn star Stormy Daniels said Friday that it 'feels pretty f**king awesome' to take on former President Donald Trump and his 'minions' as the potential indictment of the former president has been put on hold until next week.

Manhattan's District Attorney Alvin Bragg is leading a state investigation into the $130,000 hush-money payment made to the adult actress ahead of the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged 2006 tryst with the married Trump.

On Friday, Daniels took to Twitter to punch back at critics and point out that some of the 'breaking news' about the case that has been circulating on the social media site thanks to Trump allies is 'old news.'

One Twitter user, who later deleted their tweet, shamed Daniels by suggesting she must feel bad about gaining notoriety for sleeping with a married man as a 'porn star.'

'And then I stood up to that lying married man when he and his minions tried to bully and silence me ... feels pretty f**king awesome to be honest,' she tweeted back.

Porn star Stormy Daniels (left) said Friday that it 'feels pretty f**king awesome' to take on former President Donald Trump (right) and his 'minions' as the potential indictment of the former president has been put on hold until next week

One Twitter user, who later deleted their tweet, shamed Daniels by suggesting she must feel bad about gaining notoriety for sleeping with a married man as a 'porn star'

A Twitter user had also flagged to Daniels a statement she signed on January 30, 2018, in which she denied the affair with Trump.

On January 12, The Wall Street Journal was first to report that Trump's lawyer-turned-critic Michael Cohen, who already served a jail time in the federal version of the hush-money case, had paid $130,000 to Daniels ahead of the election.

Less than two weeks later the Daniels statement came out denying the affair.

She later said she was pressured to put out the statement, which was a lie - as she claims to this day the liaison occurred.

In a tweet Friday she screenshot a page of her October 2018 book Full Disclosure as proof that she had previously addressed the statement and it wasn't a fresh admission that the affair never happened, as some right-wing figures on Twitter had tried to characterize it.

'This is not "breaking news"...here it is in my book from 2018 and it was discussed multiple times on TV,' she wrote.

On Friday, Daniels was tweeting about a 2018 statement that allies of Trump put out this week as 'breaking news.' The adult actress noted that she had previously rescinded the statement, which was documented in her 2018 book and in interviews

Daniels highlighted a page in her 2018 book, Full Disclosure, where she had explained the backstory of the January 2018 statement denying the affair. Internet allies of Trump pushed this week that the statement was new evidence that Daniels was lying

'That letter I was bullied to sign is what actually made me decide to finally come forward after years of threats,' she explained.

Addressing the statement a second time, she said: 'This is the statement Cohen wrote.'

'It is old news from early 2018 before I came forward. think it's HYSTERICAL that tiny is trying to spin this as some kind of new information,' she continued.

'Tiny' was the nickname Daniels gave Trump to mock the size of his manhood. In turn, Trump has called her 'horseface.'

'There's a clip of this from the Jimmy Kimmel show & I discuss it in my book "Full Disclosure,"' she noted.
Hadley filed a federal lawsuit against the police and her ex-fiance in 2017 after she was arrested and jailed for 88 days

A Deputy US Marshal has been convicted of using fake internet accounts to orchestrate a 'fantasy rape' of his then-wife and blaming it on his ex-girlfriend.

Ian Diaz, 44, plotted to frame Michelle Hadley, 36, for stalking his new wife, Angela Diaz, 38, and posted fake Craigslist ads inviting men to rape his spouse pretending they were from his ex.

He and Angela created a fake online persona for Hadley in 2016 and used it to send themselves 'harassing and threatening messages'.

They also invited men to sexually assault Angela, putting out advertisements for 'rape fantasies' using the fake account in Hadley's name and telling cops she was targeting them both.

Hadley was jailed for 88 days until officers uncovered their mistake and sued both Diaz and Anaheim Police Department.

Ian and Angela Diaz (pictured) created a fake online persona for his ex-fiance in 2016 and used it to send themselves 'harassing and threatening messages'

Michelle Hadley (pictured) was jailed for 88 days until officers uncovered their mistake and sued both Diaz and Anaheim Police Department

Angela was jailed for five years in state prison over the 'diabolical scheme' in 2017, after pleading guilty to 10 felony and 22 misdemeanour charges.

She was accused of kidnapping, false imprisonment and falsely reporting a crime to a peace officer amongst others.

Her then husband, Diaz, has now been convicted of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of a federal matter.

Diaz is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

It is unclear why there was a gap of six years between Angela's conviction and her former husband.

But in a 2017 lawsuit Hadley claimed that the Anaheim Police Department refused to properly investigate Diaz.

He was only charged following a probe by the Department of Justice, and was indicted for the incident in 2021.

Both Diaz and Angela sent fake threatening emails to each other pretending to be Hadley and making her seem 'hell-bent on punishing her after their relationship dissolved.'

Ex-Girlfriend Hadley (pictured) was accused of kidnapping, false imprisonment and falsely reporting a crime to a peace officer amongst others

Former wife Angela Maria Diaz (pictured) was sentenced to five years in prison in October 2017. The couple sent fake threatening emails to each other pretending to be Hadley and making her seem 'hell-bent on punishing her after their relationship dissolved'

One said: 'You deserve nothing but a life of lonely torture, I have ways to hurt you. There is no place you will be safe anymore.'

Another wrote: 'You might be beautiful, you might be the one he married but you are still a sinner and must be punished. I will make sure you are reminded of your place, by force.'

Hadley was arrested, and later exonerated, of the slew of sex crime felonies that she was accused of but still spent nearly three months in prison.

The couple used Craigslist to try to get people to come to the condo and engage in a 'rape fantasy' with Angela.

Authorities say they hoped to stage a non-consensual sexual assault on Angela with the other party believing that the sexual encounter would be consensual.

Both Angela and Diaz contacted the police to say that they had been targeted by men in their home.

They told cops that Hadley needed to be 'in f***ing cuffs and in a padded room.'

Diaz told local police that he 'investigates threats made to federal judges and prosecutors as part of his work as a Deputy United States Marshal and that he has 'never seen anything like this.'

He texted another Craigslist user in the hope that he would come to the condo, in an attempt to prove that Hadley should be arrested.

Hadley was arrested at her home after a date when Angela called 911 to report that she had been sexually assaulted and it was her husband ex-fiance's fault.

Diaz's set-up of Hadley was revealed after police discovered one of the IP addresses used to send the emails was linked to Diaz's Anaheim condominium.

Michelle Hadley (seen in 2017) filed suit in federal court against Ian Diaz, her ex-fiance and a deputy United States Marshal

It was later found out that Angela had used a VPN and third-party proxy servers to send the emails to herself while disguising her IP address.

Speaking before Diaz was charged, Hadley said in the lawsuit that the police and the press mistakenly portrayed the case in sexist terms, describing it as a 'catfight' between Hadley and Angela Diaz, who were in the heat of a 'love triangle.'

She said: 'The crazy ex, the crazy new wife, all those crazy girls getting emotional,'

'There's absolutely no doubt in my head about who did this. There never has been.'

The lawsuit goes into explicit detail about the alleged abuse to which Hadley says she was subjected by Diaz during their tumultuous relationship.

She met him in 2013, not long after Hadley divorced her high school sweetheart after just four years of marriage.

Just months after they first met on a dating site, Diaz and Hadley moved in together, with Diaz exhibiting controlling behavior early in the relationship.

He pressured her to dress sexier by wearing crop tops and acrylic nails, according to the lawsuit.

Hadley also alleges that Diaz pressured her to leave her job for a marketing position which paid $20,000 less.

She says the job was at Diaz's 'favorite place' - Disneyland Resort, where Diaz once worked.

Hadley believes Diaz pressured her to work there so his former colleagues can keep an eye on her.

Hadley (pictured) says she was subjected by Diaz during their tumultuous relationship

She says she agreed to his demands because she wanted to make him happy. She was afraid that if she didn't, he would leave her.

Diaz was indicted after the Department of Justice launched their own probe, with state police saying there was not enough evidence to charge him initially.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said: 'Ian Diaz abused his position as a deputy U.S. Marshal to execute an intricate cyberstalking scheme that framed an innocent person for sexual assault, leading to her unjust imprisonment for 88 days.

'As this prosecution demonstrates, the Criminal Division is committed to preserving the public's confidence in law enforcement by holding accountable any official who violates their oath of office and victimizes the community they are sworn to serve.'

Special Agent in Charge Harry A. Lidsky of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Cyber Investigations Office added: 'Diaz's egregious actions and lies to law enforcement stripped a woman of her freedom and liberty.

'This kind of stalking, harassment, and obstruction is unconscionable, and yesterday, the jury held Diaz accountable for his crimes. I would like to thank the jury for their time, attention, and careful consideration of the facts of this case.'

Diaz was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, one count of cyberstalking, one count of perjury, and one count of obstructing a federal proceeding.
Graffiti in Paris read 'Mort au Roi' and 'Charles III, do you know the guillotine?'

Protesters have daubed 'Death to the King' in threatening red paint across buildings in Paris as riots against pension reforms have escalated in recent days - leading King Charles to cancel his scheduled trip to the French capital.

It comes as security sources there revealed that the French feared the security of King Charles could not be guaranteed 'because of his interest in mingling with crowds'.

A 'humiliated' Macron today asked the King to cancel his trip to France, as the President struggles to staunch nationwide rioting over his pension reforms.

President Emmanuel Macron has been attacked during similar meetings, and his popularity is at an all-time low after he raised the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote.

The move has provoked eight straight nights of rioting, with arson attacks on areas due to be visited by Charles.

Protesters have daubed 'Death to the King' in red paint across a wall in Paris as riots against pension reforms have escalated in recent days

Graffiti reading 'Death to the King', painted on a wall, is seen in a street the day after clashes during protests over French government's pension reform in Paris

Now, in what appears to be a direct attack on the British monarch, protesters have daubed buildings in the French capital with graffiti reading 'Mort Au Roi'.

Pictures show one such slogan on the side of a wall, with a nearby statue covered in another aimed at the French President reading 'Macron decapitation'.

Another was pictured on a wall outside an Irish pub in the city centre, with some rioters making it clear that as far as they were concerned, the King was not welcome in the city.

And on the ninth day of rioting, more chilling graffiti directly addressed the King in English, reading 'Charles III, do you know the guillotine?'.

Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were due to visit France between Sunday and Wednesday before travelling to Germany.

It was due to be the first state visit of the new reign and a chance to cement a new era of improved Franco-British relations after Brexit.

The monarch was set to arrive in Paris with the Queen Consort on Sunday for the four-day trip with the highlight being a state banquet at Versailles on Monday.

But the French President's aides feared the event could stir up revolutionaries across the Channel, given the chateau's links to the 1789 Revolution and the last king of France Louis XVI and his wife Marie-Antoinette, who were guillotined in 1793.

On the ninth day of rioting, more chilling graffiti directly addressed the King in English, reading 'Charles III, do you know the guillotine?'

People walk past graffiti reading 'Death to the King' and '49.3' - the special clause in the French Constitution used to push the pensions reform bill through the National Assembly without a vote by lawmakers

Experts told MailOnline today that Charles III would have been determined to cross the Channel to show 'you cannot give in to the mob' as anarchists smash and burn cities and Paris became submerged in tons of uncollected rubbish.

But Mr Macron telephoned the monarch this morning to ask him to stay in the UK after a call to 10 Downing Street with the same advice.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that the symbolism of a state banquet at Versailles as France burns would have been the president's 'Marie Antoinette moment'.

A pedestrian walks past a burnt kiosk, which had been set alight during yesterday's protests against the pensions reform in Paris

Parisians walk past wrecked bikes and other detritus in the street after days of protests in the French capital

Riot police watch on as French union workers block access to the Fos-sur-Mer refinery during a protest against the French government's reform to the pension system, near Marseille

Fires raged at the refinery blockade in the south of the country, with pictures showing black smoke rising into the air

He said: 'The postponement of King Charles's state visit to France, the first of his reign, marks a humiliation for President Macron.

'The country is descending into anarchy and it was clearly impossible to guarantee the safety of the royal party and to keep to any set schedule where security could be relied on.

'Threats to disrupt the visit were all too real, especially give the symbolism attached to Versailles, where a state banquet was to be held.

King Charles III, pictured in London yesterday, will not visit France next week due to protests over Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms that are sweeping the Gallic country

A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire in Rue Saint-Marc, Paris, caused by protesters

Rubbish is also piled high in the streets of the French capital

'This really was a disaster with the Palace's links to an Ancien Regime which was toppled by a revolution. These are too close for comfort for Macron at the moment and marks a volte face by his Government which was insisting earlier today that it would go ahead'.

A total of 457 people were arrested and 441 police and security forces were injured yesterday during nationwide protests, interior minister Gerald Darmanin said today.

France has descended into political chaos since Mr Macron forced through his plans to raise the state pension age from 62 to 64  sparking violence, crime sprees and marches in all corners of the nation.

Today, pictures showed Parisians walking past wrecked bikes and other detritus in the street following days of protests.

A burnt out cabin on the street shows the chaos there over night, when fires were lit across the city.

The scenes of chaos were also seen in Bordeaux, where the door of the town hall went up in a huge blaze and had to be extinguished by dozens of firefighters.

Mr Macron's decision to cancel the state visit is under fire at home, Eric Ciotti, leader of The Republicans party said: 'The visit of Charles III is cancelled by the Government due to social unrest. What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state'.

Yesterday it emerged that Charles' trip was being reviewed after hardliners vowed to target the monarch's visit and even blockade him in Paris and Bordeaux.

Today Mr Macron pulled the plug, despite being determined for it to go ahead to prove he is still in charge.

The decision is said to be made after talks between the French and British authorities  but security experts told MailOnline that because the French police and secret services have primacy for the security operation, it will have been their advice to call it off.

The French feared the security of King Charles could not be guaranteed 'because of his interest in mingling with crowds,' according to security sources in Paris.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The King and The Queen Consort's State Visit to France has been postponed. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.'

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit, from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

Investigative journalist Tom Bower told MailOnline that Macron had 'bowed to the left wing mob'  and Charles would have wanted to face them down for his first state visit.

And Simon Morgan, a former royal protection officer who now runs the security business Trojan Consultancy, said the decision to pull the plug will have been on French advice because it is 'a state visit to France  not the other way around'.

He told MailOnline: 'It is a bit embarrassing for the French. There's a risk factor to the King and Queen Consort's safety, plus that of the public. But simply it might be they need all their resources to keep basic law and order and they don't have the capacity to deal with a state visit as well.

'I should imagine that the French authorities felt they could do without the distraction of a state visit whilst they have serious public disorder and political unrest in the country'.

The entrance door of the city hall of Bordeaux burned during a wild demonstration last night

A banner reading 'general strike' is displayed on a dome of the La Major cathedral in Marseille, southern France, yesterday

It came after anti-government thugs were accused of 'trying to kill police officers' across France today as arsonists attacked civic buildings including one in a city Charles was set to visit next week.

A crack team of officers from the SDLP Protection Service unit rigorously studied the monarch's profile before his intended State Visit this weekend.

'They became aware of the King's habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could,' said a source who was involved in the planning of four-days of events across France.

'There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed.'

The King has suffered eggs being thrown at him in the UK, but attacks were likely to have been far more sinister in France.

'Highly politicised activists are out on the streets, and they would have certainly targeted the English King,' said a French governmental source.

'King Charles made it clear that he did not just want to hide away in palaces  it was to be a proper visit, involving as many people as possible, or no tour.'

While the word 'postponement' is being used by the French and British authorities, no alternative dates have yet been offered.

Outbreaks of violence were reported from Paris to Marseilles overnight from Thursday to Friday, as a fire was lit at the historic City Hall in Bordeaux  where the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were heading.

Commenting on 149 police officers being seriously injured and 172 people being arrested across the country, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said extremism was intensifying.

'There are thugs, often from the far-Left, who want to bring down the state and kill police officers,' said Mr Darmanin, during a visit to Paris police headquarters.

There at least 140 acts of arson in the capital alone, with one of the most serious attacks being on a residential block close to the Paris Opera.

More than a million people took to the streets yesterday to protests against the government, as riot police used teargas, baton charges and water canon to bring crowds to order.

Among the injured protesters was a woman who lost her thumb during a riot in the Normandy city of Rouen.

Trade Unions have warned that the violence will get worse unless Mr Macron reverses his pension reforms.

A fire is seen as riot police officers are in action to disperse demonstrators in Paris on March 23

There have been constant night time riots since the measure was forced through by decree last Thursday, and now millions are set to gather during the day - with the biggest airport in France blocked by demonstrators this morning. Pictured: A demonstrator holds a smoke flare during a demonstration in Reims, eastern France, yesterday

'The president must change his incomprehensible stubbornness or the situation will get worse,' said Marylise Leon, of the CFDT union.

The unions had called for further protests next Tuesday, which would have coincided with the King's visit to the country.

He was due to attend a number of events in Bordeaux and Paris, including making a speech at the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.

Protesters had already threatened to target the Royal couple, saying he is not welcome in the republic during a period of social chaos.

Beyond riots, anti-Macron protests in France have included some 10,000 tons of rubbish building up on the streets of Paris after binmen withdrew their labour.

Highlights of the historic tour included Charles and Camilla joining their French hosts, President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.

Afterwards, they were to be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees towards the Elysee Palace, the French president's official residence.

Camilla and Mrs Macron were due to officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay while Charles gave an address from the senate chamber.

The King and Queen Consort were also due to visit Bordeaux, centre of the wine-growing region and home to many British expats.

They were due to visit an organic vineyard and Charles would have met emergency workers who tackled wildfires on the outskirts of the city last summer.
Authorities also searched the home of a second teenager who reportedly shared videos about the plot on social media

Brazilian authorities have foiled a school shooting in Rio de Janeiro that was set to take place on the anniversary of the Columbine massacre.

Cops descended upon the school and arrested a teenage suspect outside the school Friday morning, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police said in a statement.

The 17-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, was allegedly planning to kill students and teachers, whom he issued threats to on online videos.

The teen told police that he admired and was inspired by the April 20, 1999 incident that left 13 people dead at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado.

Authorities arrested a 17-year-old boy in Rio de Janeiro on Friday after the Interpol alerted Brazilian police of his plans to attack a school on April 20, the 24th anniversary of the Columbine massacre

The teenager told Brazilian authorities that he admired and was inspired by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who murdered 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, on April 20, 1999

Police also searched the home of a second teenager, who reportedly shared the suspect's videos on social media.

'This is a very sensitive case, which the police are taking very seriously,' said Marcus Vinicius Braga, head of the Police Station for the Protection of Children and Adolescents. 'The (Federal Police) came to us based on an Interpol alert. Between the diligence and the apprehension, there were 24 hours. This minor, today a teenage offender, practiced the act of terrorism.'

Brazilian law enforcement learned of the plot after receiving an alert from Interpol and apprehended the teenager within 25 hours.

The suspect also declared himself to be a Nazi, investigations revealed.

Brazilian police are investigating if the teen linked to the high school shooting plot is linked to any terror group in the South American country

The teen said he received assistance from three friends and that he had done research on the Columbine school massacre

The teenager was planning to carry out the attack on April 20, which would have marked the 24th anniversary of the shooting and attempted bombing at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado.

The teen said he received assistance from three friends and that he had done research on the massacre.

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher at the Colorado school.

A total of 21 people were injured in the shooting and three others sustained injuries while trying to escape the school.

Ten of the students were killed inside a library where Harris and Klebold committed suicide.
Almost a third of families will lose some or all of their child benefit entitlement by 2025 in a stealth raid on parents, experts warned todayt.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt once again froze the 50,000 threshold at which parents start losing the benefit in last weeks Budget.

But because of rising wages, an estimated 2.5million middle-class families will have to pay the high income child benefit charge by 2025, costing them some or all of their entitlement.

Ministers were today urged to rethink the policy or substantially increase the threshold to stop hard-working families losing out.

The 50,000 threshold has been frozen since the policy was introduced in 2013, but wages have risen sharply over the past decade.

An estimated 2.5million families will see their entitlement to child benefit cut as a result of rising wages (file image)

Jeremy Hunt (pictured) froze the threshold at which parents start to lose their entitlement at 50,000 in last week's budget

In 2013, one million families  or 13 per cent  were affected by the high income charge, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said.

But by 2025, 31 per cent will lose some or all of their entitlement because one parent earns more than 50,000 a year.

Tom Wernham, a research economist at the IFS, said: We estimated back in October that two million families (26 per cent of those with children) were losing some or all of their child benefit entitlement.

That was up from one million (13 per cent) when the policy was introduced in January 2013, as a result of the earnings thresholds at which entitlement is lost being frozen.

Since then, strong growth in nominal earnings while the thresholds have remained frozen will have increased that number further, and by 2025, it will be closer to 2.5million families (31 per cent of those with children).

Families eligible for child benefit receive a weekly sum of 21.80 for the eldest or only child, and 14.45 per additional child.

Sir Steve said the threshold had been designed to exclude only the wealthiest families but was now also targeting middle-class parents

Sir Steve Webb, a former pensions minister and now a partner at pension consultants LCP, said it was astonishing so many families would soon be affected.

When this system was first introduced it was designed to target only the wealthiest families, he said.

But by freezing the threshold for over a decade, more and more families who are far from wealthy have been dragged into the net.

This is a form of stealth taxation where ministers never announce what they are doing but more and more people end up losing out.

At the very least the 50,000 threshold should be substantially increased so that the policy only affects families with a genuine high earner. Better still, the whole policy should be re-thought.

Sir Steve also warned of the knock-on effect on state pensions. Parents claiming child benefits are credited with national insurance contributions until their youngest child is 12  even if they are not earning.

But Sir Steve said that if parents do not claim child benefit because of the high income charge, they miss out on the credits.

What you have to do, which is utterly bizarre, is claim the credits but not the money... and oddly enough people dont do it, he said.

I am worried that weve almost gone back to the 1960s where mothers  because it is mostly mothers  are spending time at home with young children and are damaging their state pension record as a result.

The Resolution Foundation said that the decade-long threshold freeze risked capturing middle-income families who are in receipt of universal credit.

Karl Handscomb, senior economist at the think-tank, said: Britain currently has two separate systems of income support for families with children, and three separate systems of childcare support.

This byzantine mess is a nightmare for families to navigate  leaving them laden with form-filling, unexpected income losses, and in some cases having virtually no incentive to earn more.

The decade-long freeze in the threshold for the child benefit income charge is one such example, as it risks capturing more middle-income families who are still in receipt of universal credit.

The figures come amid pressure on the Chancellor to rethink another tax trap which means parents who earn more than 100,000 are not eligible for 30 hours a week of free childcare.

The IFS has said the cliff-edge creates a massive incentive for working parents to cap their earnings, but Mr Hunt is resisting pressure to look again at the threshold.

In the Budget, the Chancellor announced that the entitlement to 30 hours a week of free childcare will apply to children aged from nine months to four years from September 2025.

But if just one parent has a taxable income of more than 100,000 a year, they are not eligible.
A shocking video shows the moment a shop assistant and a customer were stabbed by an Islamic extremist in a busy Marks & Spencer.

Munawar Hussain, 59, is facing life in jail after he knifed Samatha Worthington, 41, in the neck and pursued her through the Burnley shop before turning on customer Janet Dell, stabbing her in the arm, jurors were told.

The footage shows Hussain entering the store before chasing the women through aisles of products as they slip on their own blood.

The December 2020 attack only came to an end by an 'incredible stroke of luck' when Hussain's blade broke after getting stuck in his second victim's handbag strap as he tried to stab her in the back.

Having lost the knife, the video shows Hussain fleeing but he was chased from the shop by a store detective who confronted and detained him nearby.

Manchester Crown Court heard previously how Samantha Worthington (pictured) was knifed near to her jugular vein by Munawar Hussain, 59, before he chased her through the store in Burnley, Lancashire, in December 2020

Munawar Hussain, 59, entering the Marks & Spencer where he would stab two women in an extremist attack

The extremist was found guilty on Friday of attempting to murder the store manager, Samantha Worthington, 41, and of wounding with intent against customer Janet Dell by a jury at Manchester Crown Court.

Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: 'An offence arising out of claims that Israel was causing atrocities against Muslims, and an attack of retribution for that, at face value, is precisely the definition of a terrorist offence.'

He adjourned sentencing until May for reports. Attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The lives of the women were saved by the knife brought by Hussain to the attack breaking after it became caught in a handbag strap

Hussain flees the scene of the jihadist-inspired attack in December 2020 after he stabbed the two women in the Burnley M&S

Although the attacker fled he was pursued by a store detective, who caught him and dragged him back to wait for the police

Hussain, who struck at the M&S branch in Burnley, Lancashire, on December 2, 2020, told police he wanted to die as a martyr and was inspired by Usman Khan, the terrorist who stabbed two Cambridge graduates to death at a prisoner rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers' Hall on London Bridge in 2019.

The knifeman was found with a note, written in Urdu, which read: 'O Israel, you are inflicting atrocities on Palestinians and Marks Spencer is helping you financially.'

Giving evidence, Hussain said he believed in supporting jihad and had launched the attack so that: 'Allah will be happy with me.'

He initially said he intended to kill his victims and, if the knife had not broken, he would have attacked more people but later claimed he only meant to wound the women.

Ms Worthington  stabbed close to her jugular vein - told the court she pledged she would stay alive for her three children after she was stabbed.

Hussain was arrested near the scene (pictured being led away by officers) and has been found guilty of attempted murder and wounding with intent

She told police: 'He just looked like a normal customer.

'The next thing I know, I thought, "He's stabbed me", like a really big punch. His eyes just looked pure evil.'

She was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where she suffered a collapsed lung and spent two days in intensive care.

Mrs Dell, who was doing her Christmas shopping, tried to get away after she was stabbed but slipped on her own blood and as she got up Hussain tried to stab her again in the back.

'I thought he's going to kill me, he's going to stab me and I couldn't speak, the words wouldn't come out,' she told police.

She sustained two stab wounds to her left forearm causing a fracture to the shaft of her left radius and damage to the tendon of her left thumb.

Police cars swarmed the streets surrounding the store following the double stabbing in December 2020

The attacker then fled from the store, chased by store detective James Brayford, who, helped by members of the public, detained him and brought him back to the store to wait for the police.

Hussain said he bought a knife a few days before the attack but his wife had hidden it, so he took a kitchen knife from his Burnley home, which was 'too weak'.

The defendant had a history of bipolar disorder but was taking his medication and was able to understand and to control his actions, the court heard.

Although no extremist material was found at his home, Hussain said he believed what he was doing was jihad.

In an interview with police, he said he believed he was doing 'an honourable thing, something to be proud of' and that he might end up a 'martyr' if he was shot.
An Army veteran has revealed he was scammed out of $68,000 after buying a second-hand car which turned out to be stolen.

Jason Scott was looking to surprise his wife with the 2021 Maserati SUV which had been falsely advertised on second-hand car site Carvana back in November.

But when the couple took their car to be serviced at a local Maserati dealership in February - just four months after buying it - they learnt it had been stolen.

Carvana said the case was a rare incident of a 'sophisticated' scam.

Scott, from Moore County, North Carolina, told WTVD: 'It was exciting for it to be coming down the hill, waiting for it outside, everything was fine.'

Jason Scott was looking to surprise his wife with the 2021 Maserati SUV which had been falsely advertised on second-hand car site Carvana back in November

However after mechanics inspected the vehicle they informed him of the problem.

'Thats when they found out that the vehicle was stolen,' he said.

'When they check the VIN number on the chassis, thats when they saw that it was a stolen vehicle. VIN on the car, on the window, and the car door was different.'

Police seized and impounded the vehicle, WTVD reported.

However when he tried to seek compensation from a Carvana representative they refused.

'She said well, we cant trade the vehicle back in until you bring the vehicle back. I said I cant bring the vehicle back. I said the police have the vehicle,' Scott said.

Scott is seeking $1 million compensation from the second-hand site for financial and reputational losses.

The company reportedly denies any knowledge the vehicle was stolen and has apologized.

It is now working with Scott to refund the money he spent on the purchase or be handed a new vehicle in return.

Scott, from Moore County, North Carolina , told WTVD : 'It was exciting for it to be coming down the hill, waiting for it outside, everything was fine.'

Police seized and impounded the vehicle, WTVD reported. However when he tried to seek compensation from a Carvana representative they refused. Multiple legal challenges, including a class-action lawsuit in North Carolina, were brought against Carvana last year

But Scott is demanding the company put better security checks in place to make sure it doesn't happen to another customer.

'I know they say they have 150-point inspections. I want them to have 151. Check to see if the vehicle is stolen,' he said.

'The last thing I want anybody to do is to get caught late at night on some strange road in the backcountry and they cant verify it and they look at that person as a criminal.'

A Carvana spokesman told Dailymail.com: 'This is a sophisticated criminal act and were taking all the necessary steps to make it right for our customer in this rare instance.'

Caravana celebrated its ten-year anniversary last month.

It is marketed on its optimum convenience as it allows customers to buy cars entirely over the internet.

Multiple legal challenges, including a class-action lawsuit in North Carolina, were brought against Carvana last year.
Hindus are the healthiest, Sikhs are the most likely to own their own homes and Muslims to live in social rented housing - and Christians are least likely to get a degree, census data shows.

There are 'stark inequalities' in levels of home ownership, education and good health across religious groups in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

People who identify as Muslim are nearly four times more likely to live in overcrowded homes than the overall population and are also more likely to live in social rented accommodation.

Those who identify as Hindu have the lowest prevalence of disability and the highest percentages of good health, according to the self-reported figures.

Those who told the census they are Christian are less likely than other religions to have a high-level qualification such as a degree.

Sikhs were more likely to own their own home outright or be paying down a mortgage (blue column) than other people, whereas Muslims were most likely to live in social rented housing (burgundy)

Hindus had the best self-reported health across the population and the lowest rates of disability, the data shows (Shri Santa Hindu Mandir, Hindu temple in Wembley, file image)

Some of the difference is down to the age profile of religious groups but other factors are likely to have contributed including income, employment and cultural background, according to the ONS.

The census took place in England and Wales on March 21, 2021, and included a range of questions on housing, education and wellbeing, as well as asking everyone to indicate which group best described their religion.

Among the 3.9 million people in England and Wales who told the census they were Muslim, 32.7 per cent lived in overcrowded homes, compared with 8.4 per cent of the overall population.

The figures for people identifying as Hindu (14.9 per cent), Sikh (14.9 per cent) and Buddhist (10.9 per cent) were also above the national level, while those for Jewish (6.7 per cent) and Christian (6.2 per cent) were below.

People who identified as Muslim are more likely to live in social rented homes - such as from a council or housing association - with 26.6 per cent saying they lived in this type of accommodation, 10 points higher that the overall population (16.6 per cent) and well above the figures for Christian (14.2 per cent), Buddhist (13.2 per cent), Jewish (5.3 per cent), Hindu (4.6 per cent) and Sikh (4.5 per cent).

By contrast, more than three-quarters (77.7 per cent) of those who identified as Sikh live in households that own their home, the highest for any religious group.

Over two-thirds of people identifying as Jewish (71.2 per cent), Hindu (67.9 per cent) and Christian (68.6 per cent) live in households that own their home while the figure drops to 56.7 per cent for those identifying as Buddhist and 45.6 per cent as Muslim.

People in the Christian group are most likely to live in households that own their home outright (36.0 per cent), with no outstanding mortgage or loan repayments - 8.9 percentage points higher than the overall population (27.1 per cent).

Responding to the findings, Jesse Ransley, of the ONS, said: 'It's important to recognise that age profiles vary among the different religious affiliation groups in England and Wales.

'Those who identified as Christian, for example, tended to be older, and those who identified as Muslim younger.

'But this by no means accounts for all the differences in life outcomes for people of different religious affiliations we see in today's analysis, with some stark inequalities evident.'

Those who told the census they are Muslim have the youngest average age (27) of any religious group and also the lowest percentage of people living in households that own their home outright (16 per cent).

People identifying as Christian have a median average age of 51 years, compared with 40 years for the overall population, suggesting that they may have had time to pay off a mortgage or loan, the ONS said.

People who identified as Christian were less likely to have higher qualifications, like a degree (dark blue column), and had an average age of 51 years

Hindus were the healthiest , according to the census rating system, whereas 'other religion' saw the highest number of people with bad health

The census also asked people to rate their health as 'very good', 'good', 'fair', 'bad' or 'very bad'.

People who identified as Hindu had the highest percentage of their population reporting either 'very good' or 'good' health (87.8 per cent), compared with 82 per cent of the overall population and 79 per cent who identified as Christian.

The figure was 85.4 per cent among those identifying as Muslim, 85.2 per cent as Jewish, 84.9 per cent as Sikh and 81.9 per cent as Buddhist.

When asked education, more than half (54.8 per cent) of people identifying as Hindu told the census they have a higher-level qualification, such as a degree or NVQ level 4 to 5, compared with just under a third of people who said they were Muslim (32.3 per cent) or Christian (31.6 per cent).

This category had the largest variation across religious groups, with the percentage for the Hindu group being 21 points higher than that for the overall population, while the Christian group is 2.2 points lower.

Groups with the highest percentages for no qualifications were Muslim (25.3 per cent), Sikh (22.4 per cent) and Christian (20.8 per cent).

Factors affecting all these trends can 'often overlap', as for example those in poor health or caring for others may be less able to work or gain education, while 'income, where people live, and cultural background, will also have an influence on outcomes', the ONS added.
A husband is accused of stabbing his wife to death during a bible study group in front of family members after he whispered something in her ear.

Robert Castillo, 40, of St. Paul, Minnesota, has been charged with second-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife Corinna Woodhull, 41, while the pair attended bible study on Maryland Avenue at his sister's house on Tuesday.

Castillo allegedly stabbed Woodhull up to 20 times with a six-inch blade after he had whispered something in her ear, according to CBS Minnesota. After stabbing her, witnesses claimed the mother-of-five begged them not to let her die.

Prior to the stabbing, Castillo's sister said the pair had been 'acting normally' and that he was holding her hand and kissing her, according to the Pioneer Press.

His sister and brother, who were not named, saw Castillo stab Woodhull with a hunting knife. Woodhull attempted to grab Castillo's hair to pull him off her, but family members had to intervene and pull him away, his sister said.

One of the stab wounds had pierced her heart and by the time paramedics arrived around 9pm, she couldn't breathe.

Robert Castillo, 40, of St. Paul, Minnesota, has been charged with second-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife Corinna Woodhull, 41

He stabbed her up to 20 times, including in the heart, with a six-inch hunting blade in front of his sister and brother

Castillo was being held to the ground by several family members when authorities knocked on their door. Another witness told police they believe he would attack more people if he had not been disarmed, the complaint said.

His sister told authorities that he had been carrying the knife on him at all times to 'protect himself,' the Pioneer Press reported.

Woodhull was found on the ground with severe wounds to her torso, chest, and arms and she was rushed to Regions Hospital. Upon arrival, the mother-of-five was pronounced dead.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled her death a homicide.

Prior to the stabbing, Castillo's sister said the pair had been 'acting normally' and that he was holding her hand and kissing her (pictured: Woodhull with her two sons and their father)

Woodhull, a mother-of-five (pictured with her children), was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. Her death has been ruled a homicide

Castillo's brother told investigators that he and Woodhull were having marital problems, according to CBS Minnesota. Castillo, who briefly spoke with investigators, said the pair were no longer living together, but had been legally married for the last two years.

While speaking with investigators, he asked if Woodhull was 'going to be okay' and shook his head in disbelief when he was told she had died.

Erin Honken, a friend of Woodhull's for more than a decade, said she had been trying to get away from him, but Castillo kept insisting on giving their relationship another go.

Castillo was arrested and taken to the Ramsey County Jail on a $5million bond.

At the time of the stabbing, Castillo had a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to attend a pretrial hearing for assaulting an officer while in prison in Washington County.

Castillo has quite the rap sheet, clocking in eight felonies, including assault, burglary, and possession of a firearm.

He was also convicted for beating his baby momma with a hammer at his sister's house and he received 10 years.

Woodhull worked at a substance abuse treatment facility, Juel Fairbanks Recovery Services, who honored the employee on Wednesday, writing: 'We are sad to report that one of our employees, Corrina Woodhull was tragically killed last night.

'Corrina had so much light and she spread that light and positivity each and every day to our clients and staff. Corrina was a force to be reckoned with. She had so much strength and was strong minded. She had a huge heart and genuinely wanted to help others. She leaves behind a legacy here at Juel Fairbanks and she will be truly missed. Please keep her family, our clients, and staff in your prayers.'

A family friend has started a GoFundMe to 'raise money to help honor Corrina's life and legacy.'

'Corrina was an advocate for those in recovery, she had a passion to help others experiencing substance use disorder and domestic abuse and violence. She loved her children so much. You would find Corrina most days helping at church...' the GoFundMe, which has raised $5,155 of its $20,000 goal.
Iranian militants launched another attack on US forces in Syria after President Joe Biden ordered US forces to strike back in a tit-for-tat battle in the Middle East.

Speaking in Canada, President Biden issued his first comments Friday on the U.S. air strike in Syria in retaliation to a drone attack on a coalition base that left an American contractor dead and wounded six other Americans, including five servicemembers  saying the country was prepared to act 'forcefully' to protect its people.

His remarks, at the top of a joint press conference in Ottawa with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, came after the Pentagon launched an investigation of the drone attack and an air defense system that failed to stop the drone, which crashed into the facility.

And it came amid nearly simultaneous reports that forces linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched additional attacks targeting U.S. forces Friday, with one attack carried out with a rocket and the other with multiple drones. The number of casualties from the latest round of attacks has not been disclosed.

'Make no mistake, the United States does not  does not, emphasize  seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people,' Biden said Friday.

'That's exactly what happened last night. We're going to continue to keep up our efforts to counter terrorist threats in the region and partnerships with Canada and other members of the coalition to defeat ISIS,' he said.

Biden referenced the 'several American casualties,' and said: 'One of our citizens tragically died that attack.'

President Joe Biden offered condolences for the American contractor killed in Syria and said the U.S. 'does not seek conflict with Iran,' after ordering an attack on Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-backed sites

Pentagon spokesman Air Force Gen. Pat Ryder, appearing shortly after Biden spoke, said the Defense Department was 'assessing' the reports of a new rocket attack targeting American forces near gas fields in Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria.

According to multiple reports, the conflict escalated Friday when two separate attacks were carried out by Iranian proxy forces against two US military bases, injuring multiple servicemembers. Multiple Iranian drones were used in one of the attacks, an official told Fox News, and the other was a rocket attack.

Biden also provided new details about his decision to order military action, amid a series of attacks and counter attacks that have raised fears of an escalating conflict. He said he gave the order aboard Air Force One.

'On the flight up yesterday, I spoke to our national security team and ordered an immediate response that last night, US military forces carried out a series of crash targets in Syria targeting those responsible for protecting our personnel. My heart and deepest condolences go out to the family of the American we lost and wish the speedy recovery for those who are wounded,' he said.

The president said he was 'grateful for the professionals in our service members who so ably carried out this response'.

CNN reported Friday that the latest attack by Iranian-backed proxies, near Conoco oil fields, resulted in the injury of a U.S. servicemember who is now in 'stable' condition, according to a U.S. official familiar with the situation. Another attack at the Green Village in Eastern Syria involving three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles did not result in injuries.

Air Force Gen. Pat Ryder addressed that attack in a press briefing. 'This morning, Iranian-backed groups launched 10 rockets that targeted coalition forces at the Green Village in northeast Syria. The attack resulted in no injuries to U.S. or coalition personnel and no damage to U.S. equipment or facilities,' Ryder said.

'Our current assessment is that this these rocket attacks were conducted by IRGC-affiliated groups, that this rocket attack was done in an effort to retaliate for last night's attacks,' he said. 'Again, they did not cause any damage at the coalition facility. As far as any type of future action, I'm not going to talk about or preview potential future operations other than to say we will always reserve the right to respond appropriately if our forces are threatened.'

The Iranian-made drone that killed an American contractor and injured five U.S. servicemembers never fired a missile at the U.S. facility where the attack occurred, crashing into the facility, the Pentagon said Friday.

The drone was 'of Iranian origin,' Ryder told reporters, citing forensics and intelligence analysis, as new information was still coming in about the attack on the facility and the U.S. 'precision strikes' that followed.

'It did not fire a weapon to my knowledge,' he said when asked whether the drone was able to fire a weapon at the facility or if it had crashed.

His comments follow a report in the New York Times that the main air defense system on the base was not 'fully operational' at the time of the attack.

Biden spoke during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, amid reports of an other counterattack by militants the Pentagon says are backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters that an Iranian-made drone crashed into a U.S. facility in Syria, killing a U.S. contractor and injuring five U.S. service members

'My understanding is that there was a complete sight picture in terms of radar,' Ryder said. He said U.S. Central Command would be undertaking a review to 'take a look at what if any other type of mitigating actions need to be taken.'

'This is a dangerous part of the world. The work that we do is inherently dangerous. That's why you have the military and these types of places that mean these types of operations. We've seen rocket attacks or attacks in the past for these kinds of groups.

Ryder repeatedly pointed to groups backed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as being behind the attack.

'The fact is that these IRGC back groups conducted this attack and unfortunately, we had an American killed,' Ryder said.

Ryder would not respond directly when asked why there may not have been a contingency to shoot down the drone.

'We take a variety of measures to safeguard our people. But again, it's an inherently dangerous place. And we'll get we'll look into the details of that,' Ryder said.

He also underlined what the White House said earlier Friday, amid fears of escalation against a major power in the region.

'We don't see conflict or war with Iran. Our focus in Syria is on the enduring defeat of ISIS,' he said.

That came after the White House said Friday that the U.S. is not seeking a conflict with Iran after President Joe Biden launched a retaliatory air strike over an American contractor killed in Syria by a drone strike. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

A suspected Iran-made suicide drone killed a contractor and injured five U.S. servicemembers on Thursday at a maintenance facility on a coalition base near al-Hasakah in northeast Syria.

Biden responded by deploying 'precision airstrikes' against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing 11 pro-Iranian fighters. The Iranian-backed fighters responded by shooting off three rockets Friday morning.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday morning, 'We don't seek a war with Iran. We're not looking for an armed conflict with that country or another war in the region'

According to an American defense official, the U.S. counterstrikes were conducted by F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

The U.S. F-15s struck three locations, all in the vicinity of Deir el-Zour, said a U.S. official.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby appeared on the U.S. morning shows Friday and was asked on CNN if the U.S. could consider the recent attacks an 'act of war.'

'We don't seek a war with Iran. We're not looking for an armed conflict with that country or another war in the region,' Kirby said.

'We do seek to protect our mission in Syria, which is about defeating ISIS, and we do seek to protect our people in our facilities against these Iran-backed groups,' Kirby added.

He couldn't give details about the identity of the U.S. contractor besides confirming that he was an American citizen.

'We're trying to give the family some time and space here to grieve,' Kirby explained.

On MSNBC's Morning Joe, Kirby said it was clear the Iran-backed group resented the U.S. presence in the region.

'They don't want to see the United States' presence in Iraq, they don't want to see it in Syria and they're retaliating, they're acting out to limit our ability to go after ISIS in both those countries and to try and force our hand to leave,' Kirby said.

He also said that the three rocket strikes launched at the US base at the Al-Omar oil field didn't do any damage.

'It is not uncommon when we take a retaliatory strike like this for them to answer right back with some ineffective rocket fire and these were largely, completely ineffective,' Kirby said. 'Nobody was hurt, no U.S. casualties at all.'

'It was sort of an instinctual reaction that get from these militant groups whenever we do this kind of thing,' he continued. 'But that said, we obviously are going to stay vigilant for any other responses from Iran or from their militant groups in Syria, in Iraq.'

U.S. Army Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, the head of the American military's Central Command, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. 'We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing.'

President Joe Biden (pictured) ordered the retaliation strike on a munition warehouse, a control building and an intelligence-collection site

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden
He was sentenced to five years for offences including sex with a 14-year-old

A paedophile Metropolitan Police Safer Schools officer has been jailed for five years over a string of child sex offences including having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

PC Hussain Chehab, 22, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday for four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and offences linked to indecent images of children.

The sexual activity offences took place between March and September 2019, before Chehab joined the Metropolitan Police the following year.

They only came to light when the girl's family reported in July 2021 that their daughter had been in a sexual relationship with Chehab, which it later emerged began when she was 14.

Chehab also admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

In the trial, Wood Green Crown Court also heard that the officer was found with 882 still and moving indecent images of children on his devices while a Met officer.

Paedophile Metropolitan Police Safer Schools officer PC Hussain Chehab, 22, (pictured left) has been jailed for five years over a string of child sex offences including having sex with a 14-year-old girl

He was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court (file photo) on Friday for four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 and offences linked to indecent images of children

The Met said some of these offences were committed while he was posted at a north London school between May and August 2021.

He was dismissed from Scotland Yard without notice, with Barbara Grey, the Met's assistant commissioner responsible for professionalism, telling The Times earlier this month: 'These types of offences undermine the public's confidence in the police service.'

Sir Mark Rowley apologised to Chehab's victims when he appeared at the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in January of this year.

He said: 'The sexual contact offences took place before he joined the police but sadly they weren't known. And then whilst he was in the police he was taking part in what you might broadly describe as grooming activity.

'It is ghastly and obviously you apologise to the victims, they shouldn't be facing that at the hands of a police officer.'

No verdict was recorded in a further four counts of making indecent photographs of a child, which the judge ordered to lie on file.

An accelerated misconduct process will be held in light of the guilty pleas, the Met said.

The revelations come as Scotland Yard grapples with the fallout from the David Carrick scandal, after the beleaguered force was found to have had one of Britain's worst rapists lurking within its ranks for 20 years.

Chehab had sex with the schoolgirl on at least two occasions between March 1 and November 16, 2019, when he was aged 18 and before he joined the Met Police.

Chehab joined the Met on March 30, 2020 and came to police attention in July 2021 after a complaint was made.

He was arrested the following month, while he was working as a safer schools officer in a secondary school in Enfield, which is one of the boroughs he covered alongside Haringey.

Case manager at the misconduct hearing was PC Christie Koller, who told the hearing that after officers seized Chabab's personal devices, they discovered indecent images of children and text messages with the 14-year-old schoolgirl.

She added that Chebab discredited the police service with his behavour.

Chehab was served with the misconduct papers on February 21, but did not attend the hearing.

In the trial, Wood Green Crown Court also heard that the officer was found with 882 still and moving indecent images of children on his devices while a Met officer (file photo)

The sexual activity offences took place between March and September 2019, before Chehab joined the Metropolitan Police the following year. They only came to light when the girl's family reported in July 2021 that their daughter had been in a sexual relationship with Chehab (pictured earlier this month), which it later emerged began when she was 14

Sir Mark Rowley apologised to Chehab's victims when he appeared at the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in January of this year (pictured)

Of these, 293 were Category A images  the most serious  and some were said to have been of children aged just two.

Sarah Ellis, defending Chehab, said the images had come to be on his devices due to membership of chat groups, adding he did not seek images of the youngest children himself.

'He will say that yes he had an interest in teenagers but he does not have an interest in children as young as two,' she told the court.

Judge John Dodd, KC, released him on bail under strict conditions he must not contact his victim or have unsupervised contact with anyone aged under 18.

But he warned Chehab, from Barnet, north London, that he faced a lengthy prison term.

'You have admitted some extremely serious offences and I don't want you to misunderstand  you must prepare yourself for a prison sentence,' Judge Dodd said.
A judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's bid to prevent ex-aides, including former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, from testifying before a grand jury probing the January 6 Capitol attack.

ABC News reported Friday that U.S. Judge Beryl Howell denied Trump's claim of executive privilege for Meadows and other former aides in a sealed order last week.

A federal grand jury is investigating failed efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, one of two probes into the former president being handled by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Republican Trump, who is running for president in 2024 and calls the investigations politically motivated, has sought to claim executive privilege to prevent former aides from testifying.

He also faces inquiries in Georgia and New York.

A judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's bid to prevent ex-aides, including former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (pictured), from testifying before a grand jury probing the January 6 Capitol attack

Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is investigating the January 6 Capitol attack (pictured) and Trump's handling of classified documents

Trump, who is running for president again, has found himself in the legal crosshairs of the U.S. Department of Justice. He's also being investigated in Georgia and New York

A Trump spokesperson told ABC the Justice Department had stepped 'far outside the standard norms in attempting to destroy the long-accepted, long-held, constitutionally based standards of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege.'

ABC, citing sources briefed on the matter, reported Trump would likely appeal the judge's ruling. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did lawyers for Trump or Meadows.

The former aides ordered to testify include former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, former deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, former top Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli, and former advisers Stephen Miller, Nick Luna and John McEntee, ABC reported.

A lawyer for Miller declined to comment.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the other former aides or their lawyers.

Special Counsel Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, is also investigating Trump for the unlawful retention of national defense information at his Florida estate.

These probes have been moving along as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's 2016 hush-money investigation has moved front-and-center this week as it appeared Trump was on the cusp of being indicted.

Trump used Truth Social to tell supporters he expected to be arrested on Tuesday, but that day came and went and the grand jury didn't meet during the latter half of the week.

A source told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Bragg is 'having trouble convincing the jury to swallow the case. It's a weak case and has caused divisions in the DA's office.'

As an indictment looked imminent, Trump has lashed out on social media all week, suggesting Friday that 'death & destruction' would follow if he was charged with a crime.

If Trump does get indicted it will be history-making, as no former president has ever been criminally charged after leaving office, with the most likely candidate - President Richard Nixon - being pardoned by his successor, President Gerald Ford, before Nixon could be prosecuted for his role in the Watergate break-in.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a child at a party in Buckhurst Hill, Essex in September 2019.

Farhan Ghadiali of Woodford Green was not on duty at the time of the assault.

He was suspended from duty following his arrest according to the Metropolitan Police.

Ghadiali, 44, was first tried at Chelmsford Crown Court in May 2022, but was met with a hung jury.

He was retried this week again in Chelmsford when the jury found him guilty.

He will be sentenced on April 28.

The investigation was led by Essex Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Farhan Ghadiali of Woodford Green, London has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a child while off duty at a party in Essex in September 2019

Commenting after the guilty verdict, Detective Sergeant Sarah Barker said: 'This has been a complex and sensitive investigation, and I cant begin to imagine the turmoil the victim and their family have been through over the past four years.

'Id like to thank them for placing their trust and confidence in us throughout this investigation, so that we could get them the justice they so rightfully deserves.

'Reports and offences of this kind never become less shocking and its as difficult as ever to accept that any police officer could do this to someone who looks up to them for protection.

'Nobody is above the law, and I hope that results like these show our determination to root out criminals, no matter who they are.

'No child or parent should ever have to experience this, and I hope that Ghadialis conviction will bring some comfort.'

Ghadiali, 44, will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court, pictured, on April 28

Following his conviction, Ghadiali will face a misconduct hearing by the Met Police's Directorate of Professional Standards.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson of Area West Command Unit said: 'PC Ghadiali has been found guilty of an extremely serious offence made even worse by the fact he is a serving police officer; someone who should be protecting the public from harm.

'PC Ghadiali had betrayed the oath he made when he became a police officer, his actions are shocking and appalling. We are determined to prove to the public they can trust the Metropolitan Police Service, and our officers will be made to account for their actions if they fail to abide by our standards.'
The United States has traded strikes with Iranian-backed forces in Syria after an American contractor was killed by a drone attack.

An Iranian-made 'kamikaze' drone hit a coalition site in Hasaka at about 1.38pm local time on Thursday, killing the American contractor and injuring five troops and another contractor.

Three service members and a contractor required medical evacuation to Iraq, while two wounded American troops were treated at the base. On Friday, the Pentagon said the injured personnel were in stable condition.

President Joe Biden ordered retaliatory 'precision airstrikes' against targets in eastern Syria linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US.

Fourteen pro-Iran fighters were killed when two US Air Force F-15E fighter jets launched airstrikes on three targets, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

An Iranian-made drone struck a coalition base in northeastern Syria at about 1.38pm local time on Thursday, killing an American contractor and injuring several more US personnel. President Joe Biden ordered a series of retaliatory strikes against Iranian-linked bases in the country

America's retaliatory strikes were carried out by two F-15E fighter jets and killed 14 fighters

Six were killed at a weapons depot inside Deir Ezzor city, two near Al-Mayadeen, and six others near Albu Kamal, according to the the British-based, which gathers information from a network of sources on the ground.

Military officials said the jets attacked a munitions warehouse, a control building and an intelligence-gathering facility.

Iranian-backed forces responded again on Friday morning, when fighters stationed near the city of Al-Mayadeen fired at least three missiles near a US base in Syria's largest oil field, Al-Omar.

Two reached the oil field but didn't cause any damage, while a third fell short of the base by about three miles and struck a civilian house 'causing significant damage and minor injuries to two women and two children'.

A spokesperson for the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said there were '10 rockets fired at approximately 8:05 am'.

While it's not the first time the US and Iran have traded strikes in Syria, the attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden. US Air Force F-15E fighter jets struck a munition warehouse, a control building and an intelligence-collection site

Videos posted online overnight purported to show the blasts caused by the American strikes

The drone hit a coalition base in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka. The wounded included five American service members and a U.S. contractor.

Austin said the strikes were a response to the drone attack 'as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria' by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The US has had forces in northeast Syria since 2015, when they deployed as part of the fight against the Islamic State group, and maintains some 900 troops there, working with Kurdish-led forces that control around a third of Syria.
The family of a man who was tortured by the Parachute Regiment into a confessing that he killed a soldier has been awarded 350,000 by the High Court in Belfast.

Liam Holden was the last man to be sentenced to death by hanging in the UK after he was convicted in 1972 for the murder of soldier Private Frank Bell.

A High Court judge ruled Mr Holden had been tortured in military custody following his arrest, where soldiers used waterboarding techniques to force a confession.

His sentence was reduced to life in prison, but the conviction was quashed in 2012. He then received 1 million in damages for the miscarriage of justice.

Mr Holden died last year at the age of 68 after launching civil proceedings for damages against the Ministry of Defence and the PSNI.

He previously gave evidence in the case.

The family of Liam Holden, pictured here in Belfast in 2012 after his murder conviction was overturned has been awarded 350,000 in damages after he was waterboarded by the British Army and tortured into confessing he killed soldier Private Frank Bell in 1972

Mr Holden, pictured outside the High Court with members of his family, died last September. He had initiated proceedings against the Ministry of Defence and the Police Service of Northern Ireland

Mr Justice Rooney said he had been an honest and truthful witness who had described traumatic experiences.

'It is my decision that the plaintiff was subjected to waterboarding. He was hooded, He was driven in a car flanked by soldiers to a location where he thought he would be assassinated. A gun was put to his head and he was threatened that he would be shot dead,' he said.

He went on to award damages for personal injuries, loss and damage while Mr Holden had been unlawfully detained at the Black Mountain Army Base.

He awarded the estate of Mr Holden 50,000 for waterboarding, hooding and threat to kill, 10,000 for malicious prosecution, 10,000 for misfeasance in public office, 30,000 in aggravated damages and 250,000 for special loss.

In a joint statement, Mr Holden's son Samuel Bowden and daughter Bronagh Holden said their father was an innocent man.

'The court has found that our father was waterboarded by the British Army in Belfast in 1972,' they said.

'The court also found that he was maliciously prosecuted by the army.

'The court has today exposed the grotesque act of torture committed by the members of the Paratrooper regiment in Belfast in 1972.

'My father was an innocent man who went to jail for a crime he did not commit for 17 years.

'We wish he was here today with us. He died on September 15, 2022. We miss him but salute him - his life and campaign for justice were a triumph of humanity over state injustice.'

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly paid tribute to the Holden family.

'I want to commend Liam's family for their determination and dignity and their continued campaign for truth and justice,' he said.

'Today's verdict in the courts is further vindication of that campaign.'
Shocking doorbell footage has captured the moment two thieves swipe a $2,500 African gray parrot from outside its owner's home.

A red SUV is filmed pulling up and double parking in front of the Orange County home in Santa Ana.

A grey hooded figure then gets out of the car, grabs the large cage housing the bird - named Luna - from the front cage.

He is helped by his friend as they load the cage into the vehicle before driving off.

The parrot's owners are now urgently appealing for help to try and reclaim the expensive bird.

The parrot called Luna can mimic human speech and costs $2,500

A Facebook post by Abigail Ayapantecatl reads: 'PLEASE share! We are trying to find the thieves who stole my brothers African Gray parrot.

'This happened in Orange County- Santa Ana. Our parrot is sick and needs daily medication.

'She was out in her cage getting some air, as she is an indoor bird, and these 2 men took her in matter of seconds.

'My brother tried chasing them down but they drove off quickly down.'

She added: 'Main towards Warner. Ive attached photos of these individuals. No license plates on their red SUV. Weve filed a police report but we need help from everyone to spread the word. Were devastated, we just want our parrot back.'

The family have owned Luna for more than ten years.

A grey hooded figure is filmed snatching the cage from the porch of the California home

The getaway vehicle is believed to be a Ford Excursion

The theft happened March 12 on the 2000 block of S. Sycamore Street in Santa Ana, a Santa Ana Police Department spokeswoman told NBC.

The first male suspect is described as being heavy-set and possibly in his 40s.

He was wearing a charcoal gray hoodie, gray gloves and light gray sweats.

Meanwhile the second suspect, also a man, was wearing a tan bucket hat, black hoodie and dark-colored pants.

Their getaway vehicle is believed to be a Ford Excursion.

African grey parrots are extremely valuable and can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $4,000.

Their most unusual characteristic is that they can mimic human speech.

They have an average lifespan of 50 years.
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Thousands of Muslims celebrated Ramadan by breaking their fast at the annual food markets at Lakemba.

Men, women and children of Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds treated themselves to an array of hot food from the stalls set up along Haldon Street in the south-west Sydney suburb on Friday night.

The street chefs worked their magic behind the barbecues with their cooking filling the air with the aromas of Middle Eastern, Pakistani and Indian cuisine.

Crowds packed onto Haldon Street at Lakemba on Friday night where families enjoyed the hot food on offer from the stalls

Thousands of Muslims celebrated Ramadan by breaking their fast at the annual food markets at Lakemba

Men, women and children of Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds treated themselves to an array of hot food from the stalls set up along Haldon Street in the south-west Sydney suburb on Friday night

The street chefs worked their magic behind the barbecues with their cooking filling the air with the aromas of Middle Eastern, Pakistani and Indian cuisine

Desserts included the famous Lebanese sweet Knafe, the traditional Middle Eastern baklava, homemade churros, chocolate-coated strawberries and marshmallows, and the festival favourite, fairy floss

Camel, beef and chicken burgers were on offer as were chicken, beef and lamb kebabs paired with garlic sauce, tomatoes and pickled cucumber

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims all over the world

One of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan is a month where Muslims commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad

A street chef works a charcoal grill cooking meat on skewers at the food market at Lakemba, in south-west Sydney

Camel, beef and chicken burgers were on offer as were chicken, beef and lamb kebabs paired with garlic sauce, tomatoes and pickled cucumber.

Desserts included the famous Lebanese sweet Knafe, the traditional Middle Eastern baklava, homemade churros, chocolate-coated strawberries and marshmallows, and the festival favourite, fairy floss.

Ravished market-goers struggling to find a free bench among the bustling crowd sat by the side of the road as they tucked into their mouth-watering meals.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims all over the world.

One of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan is a month where Muslims commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.

Muslims spend the day fasting from sunrise before having their first meal, known as Iftar, at sunset.

They are allowed to eat a few minutes before sunrise, known as Imsaak.

More than a million people are expected to visit the month-long festival held at Lakemba.

City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour pointed out it was more than the numbers expected at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

'We're thrilled that the State Government have acknowledged the significance of this event, which means so much to not only our community, but to the abundance of tourists who are drawn from all over Australia,' Mr Asfour said.

Muslims spend the day fasting from sunrise before having their first meal, known as Iftar, at sunset

Ravished market-goers struggling to find a free bench among the bustling crowd sat by the side of the road as they tucked into their mouth-watering meals

Food trucks were plentiful along Haldon Street, at Lakemba, with staff serving up crowd favourites to market-goers

Hot food and good vibes were in plentiful supply at the Lakemba food markets on Friday night

Market-goers enjoy some hot food at the Lakemba food markets, in south-west Sydney, among the crowd

A street chef works up a storm behind the stove set up on Haldon Street in Lakemba, south-west Sydney
The Vatican has handed back artifacts taken from the Parthenon in Athens, increasing pressure on the British Museum to return the Elgin Marbles.

Pope Francis described the decision as a 'gesture of friendship'.

The decision was welcomed by the Greek government who are anxious that historical pieces looted over the centuries are returned for their safe keeping.

Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary for promoting Christian unity attended a ceremony today in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, where the artifacts were returned home.

He said: 'The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon, which have been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as an ecclesial, cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece.'

The marble fragments from the Parthenon, one of the marvels of the ancient world, include the head of a horse, one of the four horses drawing Athena's mythical chariot, according to the Vatican Museums website.

The Vatican returned fragments of the Parthenon to Greece today in what Pope Francis described as a gesture of friendship

The fragments have been held in the Vatican's museum for the past two centuries

The Parthenon sculptures, held in the British Museum in London - known as the Elgin Marbles - were taken from Athens in the early 1800s. Elgin later sold the artifacts to the British government who put them in the British museum

It comes from the west front of the building, on which Athena and Poseidon - the god of the sea - were shown competing for dominion over the city.

The second is the head of a young boy, believed to be depicted carrying a tray of votive cakes, which were offered during a procession to commemorate the founding of Athens.

The last is a bearded male head from an area of the building featuring a battle between the Lapiths, a mythical group of people, and Centaurs - creatures part horse, part man.

They had been held for centuries in the papal collection and Vatican Museums.

The Parthenon temple was built in the 5th century BCE on the Acropolis to honour Athena, the patron goddess of Athens.

It was partially destroyed during a Venetian bombardment in 1687, then looted.

Its fragments are scattered throughout many renowned museums.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Greece has been trying to recover them.

In the early 1800s, workmen stripped entire friezes from the monument on the orders of Scottish nobleman Thomas Bruce, known as Lord Elgin.

Elgin sold the marbles to the British government, which in 1817 passed them on to the British Museum where they remain one of its most prized exhibits.

London has long argued that the sculptures had been taken with permission from the Ottoman Turks who ruled Greece at the time, but Athens insists they were stolen.

The fragments will go on display at the Parthenon Gallery of the Acropolis museum in Athens

Greece praised the decision by the Vatican to return the fragments

Greeks had a 'legitimate wish to have the Parthenon fragments at home in their place of origin,' Farrell said Friday.

Greek Culture minister Lina Mendoni led a ceremony for the repatriation of three sculpture fragments, representing a horse and two male heads, from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, which had been kept at the Vatican Museums.

'Initiatives like these show the way, how the pieces of the Parthenon can be reunited, healing the wounds caused by barbaric hands so many years ago,' Ms Mendoni said.

'This takes us to the just and moral demand of the entire Greek people, and of this government and its prime minister, for the final return of all the sculptures of the Parthenon.'

Pope Francis' decision will increase pressure on British authorities over the future of the Elgin Marbles which were stripped from the Parthenon in the early 1800s while the area was under Ottoman control

The leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II said: 'This act by Pope Francis is of historical significance and has a positive impact on all levels. We hope it sets an example for others'

The fragments will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in the centre of the Greek capital.

The Vatican called the return an ecumenical 'donation' to Greece's Orthodox Church, but the gesture added pressure on the London museum to reach a settlement with Greece following a campaign launched by Athens 40 years ago.

'This act by Pope Francis is of historical significance and has a positive impact on all levels.

'We hope it sets an example for others,' the leader of Greece's Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II, said.

Greece says that the Parthenon sculptures, carved in the 5th century, are at the core of its ancient heritage, while supporters of the British Museum maintain that their return could undermine museum collections and cultural diversity globally.

Last year another marble sculptural fragment from the Parthenon temple, depicting a foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, was returned to Athens from a museum in Palermo, Sicily.
Donald Trump is set to hold a rally in a Texas town that coincides with the 30th anniversary of the FBI's raid on the apocalyptic group Branch Davidians there.

The 1993 Waco siege was a 51-day standoff between the US government and the Branch Davidians.

They are said to be excited about Trump's weekend rally in Waco and consider him to be 'the anointed of God.'

The Branch Davidians are said to consider the former president as 'the battering ram that God is using to bring down the Deep State of Babylon.'

The FBI's raid on the group's compound, Mount Carmel, which the Branch Davidians view as a government overstep, is similar to what they claim happened to Trump.

Donald Trump scheduled to hold rally in Waco, Texas, which coincides with 30th anniversary of the FBI raid on Branch Davidians formerly led by David Koresh. He is pictured last weekend

Fire consumes the Branch Davidian Compound during the FBI assault to end the 51-day standoff with cult leader David Koresh and his followers in March 1993

David Koresh, pictured in 1981, taken at the Mount Carmel compound of the Branch Davidians cult near Waco, Texas. Koresh, the leader of the cult claimed to be Christ, and his followers, were involved in a standoff with police at the compound in 1993

Trump's holding of a rally in Waco is 'a statement  that he was sieged by the F.B.I. at Mar-a-Lago and that they were accusing him of different things that aren't really true, just like David Koresh was accused by the F.B.I. when they sieged him,' Koresh's successor, Pastor Charles Pace, told the New York Times.

Trump has not publicly made the connection between his rally and the anniversary with a spokesperson stating how Waco was simply chosen as the location for the rally due to its central location in Texas.

'[Trump chose Waco] because it is centrally located and close to all four of Texas' biggest metropolitan areas  Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio  while providing the necessary infrastructure to hold a rally of this magnitude,' Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung stated.

But there is no doubt Trump picked solidly Republican territory in Waco, where he won surrounding McClennan County by more than 20 points in 2020.

It remains unclear if the fire was started on the orders of Koresh or when tanks on loan to the FBI ripped holes in the compound & pumped tear gas in, hoping to end the 51-day siege

Doomsday cult leader David Koresh's apocalyptic vision came true when the fire believed set by his followers destroyed their prairie compound as federal agents tried to drive them out with tear gas after a 51-day standoff

Agents are pictured sifting through rubble Following the Branch Davidian Fire. Red flags correspond to where bodies were found

Who are the Branch Davidians? The Branch Davidians were a religious group that formed in the 1950s and were led by David Koresh in the 1990s. The group was an offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and believed in apocalyptic teachings. They settled on a property near Waco, Texas, known as Mount Carmel, where they lived in a compound. The group came to national attention in 1993 when the FBI launched a siege on the compound, which led to a 51-day standoff and ended with a fire that killed 82 Branch Davidians, including Koresh, and four federal agents. The siege was a result of the government accusing Koresh of stockpiling illegal weapons and endangering children inside the compound. The Waco siege has been the subject of much controversy and debate, with some questioning the government's actions and others criticizing the actions of Koresh and the Branch Davidians. Advertisement

The city includes Baylor University, the nation's largest Baptist university, and is the headquarters of 'Fixer Upper' stars Chip and Joanna Gaines' home decorating empire.

City officials said this week they were ready for the rally. 'It's a lot of eyes, national attention,' said Jonathan Cook, Waco's director of parks and recreation.

The Houston Chronicle's editorial board accused Trump of 'stoking the fires of Waco' in a column published this week.

The Waco siege began when the government accused the group's leader, David Koresh, of stockpiling illegal weapons and endangering children inside the compound.

Negotiations between the government and the Branch Davidians failed, leading to a raid by federal agents.

The raid resulted in a gunfight, and a 51-day standoff ensued, during which time the government tried to negotiate the release of the children and other members of the group.

The standoff ended when the government launched a tear gas attack on the compound, which ultimately led to a fire that killed 82 Branch Davidians, including Koresh, and four federal agents.

Trump's visit to Texas comes as New York prosecutors wrap up their probe into whether he engaged in an illegal hush money scheme involving a porn actress.

Trump, who has denied any sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, raised the specter on his social media site of 'years of hatred, chaos and turmoil' if charges are brought.

Former President Donald Trump warned Friday of 'death & destruction' if he's charged next week in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case

On Friday, Trump posted violent rhetoric on his Truth Social platform, warning of potential 'death and destruction' if he is indicted in Manhattan for allegedly covering up the Stormy Daniels hush-money case.

Trump has used the posting to fundraise for his 2024 presidential campaign, as he continued to predict his arrest this past week.

He has long railed against federal law enforcement. When his Mar-a-Lago club was searched by the FBI last summer as part of an investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents, he broke the news by declaring that his home was 'currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.'
Carol Woodward, 58, took her own life in 2015 following an Ofsted inspection

Anyone who has lost someone they loved can tell you that grief has a strange way of quietly lying in wait for you, ready to strike without any warning.

Lucy Woodward has a phrase for these assaults: she describes them as a 'sucker punch'.

They can come out of nowhere, after many years of silence: all it takes is a song on the radio, a casual remark from a stranger and suddenly the air is knocked out of you.

Lucy, 25, had such a terrible blow last week when she heard the news about the untimely death of Berkshire head teacher Ruth Perry.

Mrs Perry's family have spoken movingly of the devastation left in the wake of the 53-year-old's decision to take her own life after being told that her previously outstanding primary school was to be downgraded to 'inadequate'.

Carol Woodward (left) with her husband Roger and daughter Lucy (right) pictured in 2015. Mrs Woodward took her own life in 2015

Ruth Perry (pictured) died while waiting for the publication of a negative Ofsted inspection of her Reading school

Her death also prompted a wave of outrage through the teaching profession.

For Lucy, the news also felt sickeningly familiar. Because eight years ago, she lost her beloved mother, Carol, in tragically similar circumstances.

Like Ruth, Carol Woodward was a dedicated head teacher of many years standing who took her life after learning that inspectors were to downgrade her Plymouth primary school to 'inadequate'.

The legacy of her death, at the age of 58, has been profound, an 'all-consuming and soul-destroying' grief that will never leave Lucy or her father, Roger.

'Every day I am reminded of the things I am missing,' Lucy says.

'She has missed my birthdays, my graduations, my first job. She will never be there to see me get married or have children.

'Sometimes something as simple as seeing a mother help her daughter in a film can hit me like a ton of bricks, giving me a reminder of what I've lost. What I miss most of all are her warming hugs and kind smile.'

READ MORE HERE: 'Deeply sorry' Ofsted chief vows to carry on with school inspections despite backlash from teachers over death of head Ruth Perry who killed herself after visit Advertisement

Coupled with that pervasive grief is another, equally raw emotion: anger that a woman who saw both the staff and children at her school as an extension of her own family could be made to feel like a failure, and whose remarkable dedication to her profession could be undermined by one single  and, her daughter believes, entirely unmerited  word.

This week both of those feelings have been wrenched to the surface by the news of Ruth Perry's death.

'I was devastated to read about it, not just because it resonated so much with the tragedy of my own mother's suicide, but because it seems that no lessons have been learned since then,' says Lucy.

Today Lucy has forged a successful life in Manchester, where she is working for an architectural firm. Yet all roads lead back to her loss.

She'd set her sights on becoming an architect as a teenager, she says, while shadowing her mother at work and watching her deal with the builders who had arrived at her primary school to build a vast extension, taking it from two-form entry to three.

Following her mother's death in July 2015, Lucy went to study for her degree at Nottingham University  many miles away from her native Plymouth.

'I think I was looking to escape what had happened rather than address it, which, looking back, is not actually how it worked out,' she says.

An only child, Lucy had a happy childhood raised by Roger, who worked in marketing, and Carol, whom her daughter describes as 'kind, supportive and a wonderful role model' both inside and outside the home.

One of four siblings, Carol had spent all her working life as a teacher, joining the profession straight from her studies at university in Cheltenham, where she met Lucy's father.

She progressed quickly, and in 1996 was appointed head teacher at the then Woodford Infants, a popular Plymouth primary school.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) at Parliament Green, Westminster, before handing in a petition calling to reform Ofsted to the Department of Education

Cheerful, compassionate and hands-on, Carol made her school a welcoming community hub and ensured she knew every pupil at her 420-strong school by name.

'At Christmas she turned her office into Santa's grotto,' Lucy recalls. 'She also had a treasure box in her office, and if a pupil had done well they could come and pick something out of it, such as a special pencil.

'She genuinely cared about every single child under her care. There were so many occasions where we would be out, and people would come up to her to tell her she had been their teacher 30 years ago and what a positive effect she'd had on them. It was incredible the number of times that happened.'

Carol's dedication did not go unnoticed: in 2006 she was named a regional primary headteacher of the year, and was also shortlisted for the national award.

Three years later, in 2009, Woodford Infants and Junior Schools were singled out as among the best in the country following an Ofsted inspection and Carol was invited to attend a celebratory reception in London.

It was not all plain sailing, though: in 2010, the infant school amalgamated with the junior school, with Carol as overall head teacher, meaning she had more responsibility.

In addition, the soaring demand for places at the school led the local authority to decide to expand it, leading to extensive, 2.5 million building works taking place from early 2015 onwards.

'As well as being the head teacher, Mum was effectively acting as a project manager, too,' Lucy recalls.

'She was incredibly hands-on, and was doing an awful lot in her spare time.'

Today Lucy cannot remember exactly when her mother was informed that Ofsted would be paying a visit  but she remembers the legacy of the news.

'The transformation was immediate,' she says. 'Everything shifted. She had always worked hard and did not come home until 6 or 7 at night, but in the couple of days before Ofsted arrived she was coming home at 11 and then working on into the small hours. In the days when the inspection took place we didn't see her at all  she pretty much lived at the school.'

Lucy now knows that, like Ruth Perry, Carol would have been told by the Ofsted inspectors prior to, or shortly after, their departure that they would be downgrading the status of the school from 'Good' to 'Inadequate' when they submitted their report.

It is one of the cruelties to which Ruth's sister, Julia Waters, referred this week, when she spoke of the 'intolerable pressure' placed on her sister, who was also aware that the Ofsted report  yet to be issued  would deem her effectively to have failed.

Sworn to secrecy to the outside world, Carol had confided in her husband and daughter, who could see that this damning assessment had a tremendous impact.

'Looking back, I can see that she was in emotional turmoil,' says Lucy. 'She wanted so much to 'fix' things, but there was also an immense anxiety that she had let everyone down.'

This phrase was one Carol used to her GP, Dr Rosie Heath, whom she contacted three times in the days before she died, and who gave evidence at the inquest into her death. Nonetheless, when the school term ended in mid-July, Carol, dedicated as ever, continued to go in to school.

'She worked all day, every day,' Lucy says of her mother.

That included Tuesday, July 28  Lucy's 18th birthday, which they celebrated that evening over a meal with extended family at a local restaurant.

'She seemed happy,' Lucy recalls.

Tragically, the next day, Carol's body was found at home. She had not left a note.

The days and weeks that followed are a blur for Lucy, although she recalls that among the many hundreds of people who attended Carol's funeral were pupils she had taught decades earlier.

Other former pupils sent notes remembering her kindness, while contemporary pupils left flowers and notes. 'I wish Mrs Woodward was still here,' read one.

'Afterwards some people said there must have been other factors that made Mum do what she did, but there really wasn't,' says Lucy.

'There was such a clear before and after in terms of the impact that Ofsted had.'

This was underlined at Carol's inquest, at which Plymouth senior coroner Ian Arrow declared that she had suffered a swift decline in her mental health which coincided with disruptive building work to expand the school and the impending Ofsted visit.

'There is nothing suspicious about Carol's tragic death,' Mr Arrow stated.

'She just felt she was under so much pressure.'

Tragically, nor was she the first head teacher to have buckled under the devastating personal strain of inspections.

Three years before Carol's death, Helen Mann, 43, another primary head teacher, also took her own life over concerns that her school in Sytchampton, near Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, which she had joined only six months earlier, would be losing its 'outstanding' rating.

Helen, a married mother of two from Droitwich, Worcs, was described as a 'dedicated and professional teacher with high expectations of herself'.

She had been off work for four weeks with work-related stress before her body was found in a stairwell at Sytchampton First School in November 2012.

Three years earlier, the body of Irene Hogg, 54, was found in her car in a country lane ten miles from her home following a visit from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education  the Scottish equivalent of Ofsted  to her school, Glendinning Terrace Primary, in the Borders town of Galashiels.

Irene Hogg (left), 54, was found dead ten miles from her home in 2009 and Helen Mann (right), 43, took her own life after feeling 'extraordinarily stressed' about Ofsted inspections

She had been in charge of the school for ten years and a subsequent inquiry into her death heard that she had become 'extraordinarily stressed' by the administrative workload and 'almost shell-shocked' by the inspection.

'She felt her whole professional being had been undermined by the process and outcome of the inspection,' her brother, Roger Hogg, later declared.

They are sentiments that Lucy recognises all too well.

'The simple consequence of the inspection was that Mum felt inadequate and that she had failed the school she loved,' she says.

Eight years later, those feelings were shared by Ruth Perry, who described the inspection at her Reading primary school as 'the worst day of my life', and who is said to have turned into a shadow of her former self in the countdown to the report's publication.

News of her death led to a public outcry this week, with protests outside some schools by both parents and teachers calling for the system to be reformed.

Among them was the John Rankin school in Newbury, Berks, where head teacher Flora Cooper, briefly tried to bar access to Ofsted inspectors.

When she subsequently relented, she placed a picture of Ruth Perry on the railings, while staff wore black armbands in Ruth's memory.

Meanwhile, a petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of Ruth's school  Caversham Primary School in Reading  has reached 171,000 signatories and counting, while campaigning group Positive Ofsted Reform is asking for signatures for their open letter to Ofsted, calling for an overhaul to the 'brutal' current inspection system.

'Effectively you have a situation where an outsider comes in and, based on a tiny sample of what they see, produces a 2-3 page report that is boiled down to a one-word value judgement upon which the future viability of the school now hangs,' says founder Jan Francis, 61, a retired teacher who is now a school governor.

'What's more, Ofsted is almost entirely unaccountable for its decisions. Its complaints process is mostly internal, which means there's no real appeals process. Meanwhile, because inspectors no longer look at the achievements of pupils but flimsy criteria, the impact on teacher wellbeing is tremendous. Hundreds are leaving the profession as a result.'

Her sentiments were echoed by former head teacher John Cosgrove, who got to know 'kind, caring, cheerful, thoughtful and strong' Ruth, when he was working as a head teacher at another school in Reading.

In 2000, while deputy head at a Cornish primary school, he wrote the book Breakdown, prompted by what he observed to be the intolerable stress placed on teachers, and which he believes has worsened steadily since.

Ofsted head Amanda Spielman this week responded to calls for inspections to be paused, and an overhaul of the 'cliff-edge' grading system, saying it was important for them to continue because they play an important role for schools and parents.

Ofsted head Amanda Spielman this week responded to calls for inspections to be paused, and an overhaul of the 'cliff-edge' grading system, saying it was important for them to continue

For her part, Lucy acknowledges that schools should be subject to scrutiny: 'I do not protest against accountability or responsibility to make sure children are getting the best education,' she says.

'But it comes to a point when the consequences of a system need to be addressed  in particular, when these consequences are the unnecessary loss of life.

'I'm not going to pretend I know all the answers, but I want to see a more progressive, kinder way in which our schools are regulated  one that is driven by the best interests of the children, and where more trust is given to school leaders and teachers to thrive, rather than be stressed over copious amounts of paperwork or scrutiny.'

Among the criticisms of Carol's school in the inspection report, published three months after her death, were suggestions that the standard of teaching was 'not good enough' and that teachers had low expectations of what students could achieve.

Yet as Carol's widower, Roger, points out, it seems unrealistic to undertake a comprehensive assessment of a school in just two days  often against a background of extreme teacher stress.

'Building the reputation of a school takes time, often over many academic years,' he says.

'Little notice is given of inspections, and while the inspection team aim to give a comprehensive assessment of the school's performance, often this is summarised by one or two words such as 'Inadequate' or 'Needs Improvement' which can be quite brutal.'

For the Woodwards, the life-changing outcomes of small words still resonate all too deeply today.

'Mum is not here, and she should be,' says Lucy.

'That has been the ultimate consequence and sacrifice of the current system of Ofsted. It needs to change. I never want to read another similar story again.'

Additional reporting: Simon Trump
The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral.

Lance Sergeant Alex Turner, Lance Corporal Tony Flynn, Lance Sergeant Elias Orlowski, Guardsman Fletcher Cox, Guardsman James Patterson, Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths, Guardsman Luke Simpson, and Guardsman David Sanderson were selected to be pallbearers from the King's Company (then Queen's), 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The soldiers were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

Awards under the RVO are in the King's gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.

The soldiers carried the coffin draped in the Royal Standard as millions of people around the world watched the ceremony last September.

The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral

The soldiers were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards

The soldiers carried the coffin draped in the Royal Standard as millions of people around the world watched the ceremony last September

The unit had a close connection with the Queen - as the serving monarch she held the position of company commander and made a personal review of the company every decade.

The work of the eight pallbearers was highlighted during the broadcast of the Queen's funeral, with viewers describing themselves as holding their breath when the guardsmen had to carry the coffin up the steps to the West Door of St George's Chapel.

Tory former minister Eddie Hughes said: 'I held my breath for every step... These lads are amazing.'

Fellow Tory MP Tom Hunt said at the time: 'I can't imagine how hard and emotionally challenging it must have been to have carried Her Late Majesty's coffin just once.

'They've done it time and time again this week. With billions watching. They've done Her Late Majesty and the country proud.'

Carla Lockhart, Upper Bann's DUP MP, said: 'Amidst the pageantry and occasion, eight young men silently went about their duty.

'The weight of the world on their shoulders, the glare of the world on them, but they were flawless. 'They did themselves, their families and our country proud. Thank you.'

The youngest hero was Fletcher Cox, then 19, from Jersey, who finished 'top of his class' as a cadet aged just 15 where he was handed the highest accolade any young soldier can achieve on the Channel Islands - the Lieutenant-Governor's medal - and gave a speech where he said his 'sole ambition' was to parade for the Queen.

Guardsman James Patterson is a keen bodybuilder - whose strength was useful as the soldiers carried the heavy lead lined coffin up the steep stairs of St George's.

Guardsman David Sanderson, then 19, is a British soldier who has served in the King's Guard and lives in Morpeth, Northumberland.

Guardsman Luke Simpson, from Selston, Nottinghamshire, was praised by his former teachers at Ashfield School for his role in the funeral.

The unit had a close connection with the Queen - as the serving monarch she held the position of company commander and made a personal review of the company every decade

The work of the eight pallbearers was highlighted during the broadcast of the Queen's funeral, with viewers describing themselves as holding their breath when the guardsmen had to carry the coffin up the steps to the West Door of St George's Chapel

Pallbearers transfer the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, into the State Hearse at Wellington Arch in London

Guardsman Fletcher Cox, then 19, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was one of eight chosen to carry the coffin of the longest-reigning monarch in British history - and also the youngest.

Lance Sergeant Jake Orlowski was in front of Fletcher Cox. He was a star of the London Guards before being transferred to the Grenadier Guards.

Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths proudly shared a picture of himself carrying the Queen and praised by a friend who served with him in the Army.

Lance Corporal Tony Flynn was next. He married his sweetheart Hayley in July and they live in Aldershot - the garrison town in Hampshire.

The band of brothers were expertly guided throughout by Company Sergeant Major Dean Jones, an instructor at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where Prince Harry trained to be an officer.

Famously the Queen reviewed Harry when he was commissioned as an officer in the British Army in 2006 - with both unable to hide their grins.

Servicemen from the Royal Regiment of Scotland who helped carry the Queen's coffin at her lying-in-rest in Edinburgh are also are among thosereceiving honours under the Royal Victorian Order.

Servicemen from the Royal Regiment of Scotland who helped carry the Queen's coffin at her lying-in-rest in Edinburgh are also are among thosereceiving honours under the Royal Victorian Order (pictured

After the death of the Queen at her Scottish residence in Balmoral on September 8, her coffin was transported to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The Queen's lying-in-rest opened to members of the public for 24 hours, with thousands queueing the streets to pay their respects to the longest serving British monarch.

Members of the royal family also took part in a vigil to honour the Queen, with the King, Camilla, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex watching over the coffin.

The demand to see the Queen was so high that the queue had to be closed after noon.
Albanian ministers have conceded their citizens coming to Britain by small boat are 'gaming the system'.

A delegation from Tirana yesterday backed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's legislation to tackle the Channel crisis.

A high-level meeting heard there was a rolling effort by Albanian nationals to exploit immigration laws in Europe  with Britain currently a prime focus.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman met Albanian interior minister Bledar Cuci, who indicated his countrymen were 'gaming the system', a Government source said.

They added: 'The minister said he was a big supporter of the 'stop the boats' Bill and it was very much needed... It would bring a stop to his countrymen gaming the UK system.'

Almost 13,000 Albanian nationals crossed the Channel by small boat last year, up from just 800 in the previous 12 months (file image)

Home Secretary Suella Braverman was told by the Albanian interior minister that his countrymen were 'gaming the system', a government source said

'He said Albanians were very clever and that they find ways to get around countries' systems and had done it all over Europe, in France and others. Now they're in the UK and the Bill would bring a stop to it.'

Almost 13,000 Albanian nationals crossed the Channel by small boat last year, up from just 800 in the previous 12 months.

Many lodge claims under Britain's asylum regime or under 'modern slavery' rules.

Figures published earlier this month showed modern slavery claims reached a record high last year, boosted by a steep rise in Albanian applications.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (left) during a meeting on March 23

The Albanian minister's comments come after the ambassador to Britain admitted migrants from his country are 'pretending' to be victims of modern slavery.

Qirjako Qirko said in December that many Albanians who cross the Channel by small boat are 'just economic migrants'.

It comes as migrants suspected of pretending to be children could be forced into x-ray tests to determine their age under proposals being considered.

Amendments to the Illegal Migration Bill would allow age testing to go ahead even if an asylum seeker refused consent.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood 'shoulder-to-shoulder' offering a united front on Friday against authoritarian regimes and migration as Biden visited Ottawa - just days after the leaders of China and Russia held a Moscow summit.

During a joint press conference, Biden did reveal moments of defensiveness - specifically with the recent U.S. banking crisis and the Russian and Chinese alliance.

When asked about anxiety in the U.S. financial markets, Biden quipped: 'Have you ever known Wall Street not in consternation?'

'I think we've done a pretty damn good job. People's savings are secure,' Biden said. 'I think it's going to take a little while for things to just calm down, but I don't see anything that's on the horizon that's about to explode.'

President Joe Biden defended his handling of the banking crisis

Biden also warned that some allies exaggerate the threat of Russia and China forming an alliance, noting that China has not provided weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine.

To emphasize his point, he lowered his voice to a whisper to say: 'They haven't yet.'

'I don't take China lightly. I don't take Russia lightly. But I think we vastly overestimate it,' the president said.

He conceded that the two countries could still unite, which would make things 'significantly worse.'

The president said the U.S. had expanded alliances with NATO, the G7, South Korea and the Quad nations of the U.S., Australia, India and Japan

'The West has coalesced, significantly more. We have united coalitions,' he said. 'I haven't seen that happen with China and Russia or anybody else in the world. We're in a situation - the United States - where NATO is stronger. We're all together.'



President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at their press conference

The SVB bank collapse was the biggest US banking failure since the 2008 financial crisis

New York-based Signature Bank was acquired by a subsidiary of New York Community Bancorp after a run on the regional bank

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a meeting at the Kremlin earlier this month

Chinese President Jinping Xi made a three-day visit to Moscow, where he referred to Vladimir Putin as his 'dear friend' and called for a cease-fire in Ukraine that would reward Moscow's invasion by cementing its territorial gains.

The Biden administration has rejected such a plan.

Also on the trip, Biden and Trudeau announced a deal to close Roxham Road, a point of massive migration on the northern border, and Canada, in return, will allow 15,000 slots for migrants from the Western Hemisphere to enter legally.

'I applaud Canada stepping up with similar programs, opening new legal pathways for 1500 migrants to come to Canada from countries in the Western Hemisphere at the same time,' Biden said in a speech to Parliament earlier Friday.

Both the U.S. and Canada are seeing an increase in migration across the northern border - more than 39,000 refugees entered Canada last year via unofficial crossings, the vast majority via Roxham Road, which links Quebec and New York State.

At issue was a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires asylum-seekers already in the US to petition there rather than show up at a Canadian port of entry.

But that policy does not apply to Roxham Road because it's an unauthorized entry point  literally a road that dead-ends into the border and then picks up on the other side.

Workers prepare to shutdown the Roxham Road crossing between New York and Canada

Trudeau said last month the only way to shut down Roxham Road is to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement. And that is what the two countries did.

'We couldn't simply shut down Roxham Road and hope that everything would resolve itself because we would have had problems,' the prime minister said at the press conference.

'The border is very long - people would have looked for other places to cross. And so that's why we chose to modernize the Safe Third Country Agreement.'
The late Queen's right-hand woman, Angela Kelly, has been recognised by the King in a special honours awards marking the former monarch's death.

But there was surprise in royal circles that the straight-talking Liverpudlian, who was so close to Queen Elizabeth that she wore in her shoes and was given the title of Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty, did not get a top honour.

Miss Kelly was among many of the Queen's closest and longest-serving aides who were recognised in a 'Demise' honours list. So too were hundreds of people who played an important role during her funeral.

They include members of the RAF flight crew who brought her coffin down to London from Scotland, as well as military coffin bearers and those who organised her state funeral.

Instead of being made a DCVO  Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO)  like the Queen's long-serving diary secretary, Helen Cross, Miss Kelly has been upgraded only to a CVO, or Commander.

The late Queen's right-hand woman, Angela Kelly (right), has been recognised by the King in a special honours awards marking the former monarch's death

Royal Navy saliors take the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown

The move led one insider to ponder whether 'scores were being settled'. Many in the royal household were suspicious, and possibly jealous, of Miss Kelly's hold over the Queen.

Roll of Honour GCVO  Knights Grand Cross  The Marquess of Cholmondeley, former Lord Great Chamberlain of the Royal Household. 

The Earl of Dalhousie, former Lord Steward of the Royal Household. DCVO  Dame Commanders  Helen Cross, diary secretary to the Queen. CVO  Commanders  Angela Kelly, personal assistant, adviser and curator to the Queen. 

Terry Pendry, head groom to the Queen. 

Paul Whybrew, page to the Queen. LVO  Lieutenants  Barry Mitford, page to the Queen. Others honoured  Those who organised the Queen's state funeral. 

Members of the RAF flight crew who brought Queen's coffin down to London from Scotland. 

The eight military pallbearers who carried her coffin at the funeral. 

The Royal Navy sailors who pulled the historic gun carriage that transported the Queen's coffin to Westminster Abbey Advertisement

Last year the Daily Mail revealed that days after her death in September the locks were even changed on the late monarch's apartments so Miss Kelly, 65, the daughter of a dock worker, could not gain access, although she has retained her home on the Windsor estate at Her Majesty's request.

There is also concern that Miss Kelly, nicknamed 'AK-47' for her fiery personality, had been given permission by the late Queen to bring out a book after her death and may go on the talk show circuit in the US.

Membership of the RVO is in the King's gift and bestowed independently of the Government to people who have served the monarch or the Royal Family in a personal way. The Demise awards would have been decided by a committee of five senior officials and then 'signed off' by the King.

The most distinguished honour  a Knight Grand Cross  has gone to the Marquess of Cholmondeley, formerly the late Queen's Lord Great Chamberlain, and her former Lord Steward, the Earl of Dalhousie.

Former ladies in waiting Philippa de Pass and Jenny Gordon Lennox have also been made Dames of the Royal Victorian Order, while Lady Elizabeth Leeming and Susan Rhodes are to be made Lieutenants.

The late monarch's long-serving Page Paul Whybrew  dubbed 'Tall Paul' for his towering height  who starred with the Queen in her famous 'Bond' skit for the London 2012 Olympics, is to be made a Commander. The Queen's loyal groom, Terry Pendry, who appeared with her horse, Emma, at her funeral, is also to be made a Commander.

Lady Susan Hussey, the Queen's chief lady in waiting, who found herself at the centre of a toxic race row before Christmas, is not included in the list  but she already holds the highest of any honours the monarchy is able to bestow.

Queen's pallbearers awarded royal Victorian medal for service during funeral

The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral.

Lance Sergeant Alex Turner, Lance Corporal Tony Flynn, Lance Sergeant Elias Orlowski, Guardsman Fletcher Cox, Guardsman James Patterson, Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths, Guardsman Luke Simpson, and Guardsman David Sanderson were selected to be pallbearers from the King's Company (then Queen's), 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral

The soldiers were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

'Trussonomics' in the Lords? Liz Truss has nominated a 'Trussonomics' advocate for a peerage among at least four new lifelong House of Lords members, it was claimed last night. Despite her premiership lasting just 49 days, the ex-prime minister has submitted what allies described as a 'modest' resignation honours list. She wants to grant a peerage to Mark Littlewood, head of the Institute of Economic Affairs that backed her mini-budget, the Sun reported. Brexit campaigner Matthew Elliott, Tory donor Jon Moynihan and aide Ruth Porter are also in line to be elevated to the House of Lords. A source close to Miss Truss declined to comment on the matter last night. Advertisement

Awards under the RVO are in the King's gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.

The soldiers carried the coffin draped in the Royal Standard as millions of people around the world watched the ceremony last September.

The unit had a close connection with the Queen - as the serving monarch she held the position of company commander and made a personal review of the company every decade.

The work of the eight pallbearers was highlighted during the broadcast of the Queen's funeral, with viewers describing themselves as holding their breath when the guardsmen had to carry the coffin up the steps to the West Door of St George's Chapel.

Tory former minister Eddie Hughes said: 'I held my breath for every step... These lads are amazing.'

Fellow Tory MP Tom Hunt said at the time: 'I can't imagine how hard and emotionally challenging it must have been to have carried Her Late Majesty's coffin just once.

'They've done it time and time again this week. With billions watching. They've done Her Late Majesty and the country proud.'

Carla Lockhart, Upper Bann's DUP MP, said: 'Amidst the pageantry and occasion, eight young men silently went about their duty.

''The weight of the world on their shoulders, the glare of the world on them, but they were flawless.

'They did themselves, their families and our country proud. Thank you.'
Draconian proposals to let police keep secret the names of suspects charged with crimes were scrapped yesterday in a major victory for Press freedom.

Police chiefs faced fury after announcing chilling proposals to give forces across England and Wales the option of not releasing identities of those charged, instead naming only on a 'case-by-case basis'.

In draft guidance, the College of Policing advised forces they 'should be more inclined' to name suspects 'where the crime is of a serious nature' such as rape or murder or where the incident has already been reported in the media or on social media.

This raised the prospect that crimes not already in the public domain would remain secret.

Journalists warned the proposals would 'usher in a new chilling era of secret justice' by allowing forces to cherry pick which cases to release to public scrutiny.

Chief Constable Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing, told the Daily Mail: 'The mirror journalists hold up to policing is such an essential part of our democracy... We must allow journalists to do their jobs and hold those of us who exercise powers over the public to account'

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley answering questions from the London Assembly police and crime committee at City Hall in east London. The appearance comes after Baroness Casey's review of the Met Police found Britain's biggest police force is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic - and that there may be more officers like killer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick

It was feared the guidelines could allow forces to cover up miscarriages of justice or keep prosecutions of police officers secret.

READ MORE: Shattering 363-page dossier reveals how rape samples were stored next to a lunchbox in the fridge, sex toys were slipped into coffee mugs and racist officers left bacon in a Muslim colleague's boots Baroness Casey pictured arriving at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre yesterday for the press briefing of her review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service Advertisement

Home Secretary Suella Braverman also made her views clear to the College of Policing, sources said last night.

Now the College, which sets standards for forces, has agreed to ditch the proposals after a furore over secret justice.

The major U-turn comes 24 hours after the Crime Reporters Association, which represents specialist crime journalists, submitted a letter to the College and the National Police Chiefs' Council, warning the proposals were 'an affront to the principles of open justice and democracy'.

Yesterday Chief Constable Andy Marsh  head of the College of Policing  agreed, telling the Daily Mail: 'The mirror journalists hold up to policing is such an essential part of our democracy.

'The Press plays a vital role in shining a light on where we in policing need to change.

'We must allow journalists to do their jobs and hold those of us who exercise powers over the public to account.'

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) had been pushing for tighter restrictions on police disclosures after the Nicola Bulley investigation, in which Lancashire Police released personal information about the then missing mother of two.

Police forces have been left fearing that they may be fined for inadvertently breaching data protection laws by handing out legitimate information to the media about investigations.

But the college last night announced that the proposals had been scrapped following a forthright meeting with the ICO 'to outline the importance of transparency, open justice and the ability of the media to get the information they need to do their important job'.

Serial rapist Metropolitan Police Constable David Carrick, 48, was given 36 life sentences after pleading guilty to 85 offence. Regarded as one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders, he was told he will serve at least 30 years in prison for his sick and sadistic crimes

Sarah Everard's killer Wayne Couzens recently pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to three counts of indecent exposure between November 2020 and February 2021

It means that police forces will revert to existing police guidance, which states that all 'those charged with an offence, including those who receive a summons to court, should be named'.

Yesterday Mr Marsh said: 'The need for an open, transparent and professional relationship between police and the media is stark.

'The College of Policing sets standards for policing and we believe that openness and transparency must be championed through those standards.

'That is why our guidance to police forces is clear that when an individual is charged with a crime, there should be no reasonable expectation of privacy.'

He added: 'While there will always be exceptions to that position, they must be based on a careful assessment.

'We believe this presumption towards openness is strongly in the public interest and can be balanced with data protection law.'
They had sex in her car and in her home

A female teacher who admitted to having sex with her 16-year-old student in the backseat of her car has avoided jail after the judge deemed she was not a predator.

Monique Ooms, 31, of Maffra, was sentenced on Friday by County Court of Victoria Judge John Smallwood to a four year community corrections order, with 300 hours of community work for the crime.

She pleaded guilty this month in Victoria's Latrobe Valley County Court to four counts of sexual penetration of a child under her supervision and care.

Monique Ooms, 31, of Maffra repeatedly had sex with her young student. She will not spend a minute behind bars for her crime

The 31-year-old appears to have embraced her new tradie life and has posted photos of herself wearing an Akubra in front of a 4WD on her social media pages

Over 30 minutes, Judge Smallwood outlined the contributions to society Ooms had contributed and the hardship she had endured in the community after being outed as a child sex offender.

The court heard Ooms had been abused in the street by strangers and was sacked from her jobs at a pharmacy and the local pub.

Her local Country Fire Association had given her the boot and the footy club no longer wanted a bar of her.

Ooms had faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

The court heard Ooms' young victim - who was just a few weeks short of turning 17 - had snuck out in the dead of night to have sex with his then school teacher.

The 16-year-old had been grieving the loss of a close friend who died in a fatal car crash the week before and was in a 'vulnerable situation emotionally'.

But Judge Smallwood made it clear he did not believe Ooms was a sexual predator.

'I might say from the outset I do not find this offending was in any way, shape or form predatory,' he said.

'It was an utterly inappropriate relationship that escalated. You were both aware of the legal wrongness of it all.'

While Judge Smallwood accepted the crime carried a jail sentence, he had difficulties in doing so because of the age of the student, he said.

'This is a situation where the victim was within a month of his 17th birthday. Questions of the consent, the presumption of harm - all sorts of questions are going to be answered in time,' he said.

Judge Smallwood said he accepted Ooms had shown remorse for her offending and learnt the error of her ways.

'I accept that you now have insight into the potential dangers to your victim, if I can put it that way,' he said.

Monique Ooms, 31, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual penetration of a child under her supervision and care in Latrobe Valley County Court

The former teacher (right) had reached out to the student after noticing he was more withdrawn and offered her Instagram handle, and later her phone number

During a preliminary hearing earlier this month, Judge Smallwood said he had never dealt with a case involving a teacher where the child wasn't aged under 16.

The experienced judge said he was concerned whether or not Ooms' victim had actually been harmed by their illicit liaisons.

'Often in these situations the harm is what comes from other people after it becomes public,' he said.

Judge Smallwood said while Ooms' victim was a school student, he was not a child aged under 16.

'There has clearly been discussion between he and her about the wrongfulness of it. He nevertheless consents and makes that very clear,' he said.

The student declined being involved with court proceedings, however his mother read out an emotional witness impact statement in court.

She said she worried for her son's future and how her family was going to move past the inappropriate student-teacher relationship.

The court heard the student had tried to defend his twisted abuser.

'She's a very nice person and I know for a fact that she wasn't trying to get at me to try and be a predator or anything like that,' he told police after Ooms was sprung.

'And I believe that she genuinely had feelings for me and I know I did. As much as it's wrong, as much as I knew it felt wrong, I know that she's not like that ... I never wanted it to end like this and I never wanted her to feel, to have to cop it.'

Judge Smallwood said he accepted Ooms had shown remorse for her offending and learnt the error of her ways.

Ooms was duped by police into getting into a text exchange with a friend where she made admissions

Ooms lawyer, Katherine Rolfe, said her client had no criminal history, was of previous good character and accepted the offending was serious

Judge Smallwood further accepted Ooms' treatment by the general public rightfully disgusted in her antics had acted as punishment within itself.

'You're subjected to threats in the street, you've been yelled at and ridiculed - now that, especially in a country town, is a natural part of what is going to happen when you're accused as something as serious as this,' he said.

'It's pretty clear that the level of abuse and vilification for somebody as fragile as you is, I have no doubt, in the last few months caused further suicidal ideation.'

Judge Smallwood suggested Ooms was unlikely to survive jail due to her fragile mental state.

'I have no doubt jail would be catastrophic for you,' he said.

At the conclusion of his sentence, Judge Smallwood expressed concern about saying anything further about his decision.

'I'll say no more in case I get myself into trouble,' he said.

Judge Smallwood earlier said the offence Ooms committed was not the act of having sex with the boy, but the fact she was his teacher and that her crime was a breach of trust created by statute.

'You use the word minor. Is he? I mean I don't know. They are the matters I'm worried about,' he said during her preliminary hearing.

Monique Ooms leaves court pursued by reporters earlier this month

Ooms formally taught a range of subjects to high school students and had only been at Sale Secondary College for a year before the inappropriate relationship started

The court heard Ooms had preyed upon her student in the weeks after his friend was killed in a car crash.

While the pair initially chatted over social media and phone, before long Ooms was texting her student photos of herself in her underwear.

In July last year the pair shared their first kiss and discussed all the things that were wrong with what had occurred.

The next time they met the pair had sex in the back of Ooms' car while parked in a forest at night.

The court heard Ooms had sex with her student at least four times over the next few weeks in the backseat of her car before arranging hook-ups at her home.

Ooms' grubby relationship was discovered when someone wrote two letters to the school principal, who promptly alerted police.

While Ooms initially attempted to deny her antics, she eventually confessed to police after she was duped into making admissions to a friend via text message.

The court heard when asked You did actually do it, didnt ya? she responded Yeah.

Ooms appears to have now embraced her life as a tradie and has posted photos wearing an Akubra and posing in front of a 4WD to her social media pages.

Ooms formally taught a range of subjects to high school students and had only been at the school for a year before the inappropriate relationship began.

The messages revealed the pair repeatedly said they 'missed' and 'loved' one another, with Ooms claiming she fell in love with the student.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Twitter says it will start removing blue ticks from users who do not pay for them on April 1.

These 'legacy' check marks appear on accounts where the owner had proven their identity prior to Elon Musk's takeover of the platform in October.

A few months later, the new CEO launched Twitter Blue - a subscription service that gives users the same stamp of verification in exchange for a monthly payment of 11 in the UK and $11 in the US.

This was an effort to do away with what he saw as a 'lords & peasants system for who has or doesn't have a blue checkmark'.

While it is unclear if this is an April Fools' Day prank staged by Mr Musk, who does not shy away from a joke, the announcement was made by the official Twitter Verified account last night.

Twitter says it will start removing blue ticks from users who do not pay for them on April Fools' Day. These 'legacy' check marks appear on accounts where the owner had proven their identity prior to Elon Musk's takeover of the platform in October

While it is unclear if this is a prank staged by Mr Musk, who does not shy away from a joke , the announcement was made by the official Twitter Verified account last night

'On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks,' it said.

WHAT BADGES CAN YOU HAVE NEXT TO YOUR TWITTER NAME? Blue tick - These either mean that the account is paying for Twitter Blue, or they had the checkmark prior to Mr Musk's takeover. These have not necessarily been verified by Twitter. Gold tick + square profile picture - These features indicate a verified business account that subscribes to 'Verified Organizations', or had the checkmark prior to Mr Musk's takeover. Grey tick - These indicate a verified account which represents a government institution or official. It either subscribe to 'Verified Organizations' or had the checkmark prior to Mr Musk's takeover. Affiliation badges - Affiliation badges indicates that an account is connected to an organisation on Twitter. The affiliation badge contains the profile photo of a Verified Organisation and is applied to all its affiliates. 'State-affiliated media' or 'government organisation' label - These are applied to verified accounts of organisations controlled by individuals or media entities affiliated with a country's government or state. 'Automated by...' label - These indicate that an account is posting content not produced by a human, and names the person responsible for it. Professional category labels - These are descriptive labels chosen by the account holder, who has signed up for a 'Professional Account'. This is a free upgrade users can apply for commercial accounts providing they fit a set of criteria. Advertisement

Users were quick to respond expressing their disappointment about the update, and there exasperation that there will be yet another change coming to the platform.

One user said: 'I legit feel bad for the people still left at twitter that have to push out these updates.'

Others added 'This is such an awful change' and 'Great early april fools joke'.

The announcement also offers instructions on how users can sign up for Twitter Blue, or how companies can sign up for 'Verified Organizations'.

This is another subscription service that will provide an organisation's account with a gold or grey verification badge, for a cool 950 a month.

Gold ticks denote verified business accounts, while grey ticks denote accounts which represent a government institution or official.

Businesses can also pay an extra 50 a month to have an 'affiliation badge', that shows the Twitter profile photo of an associated brand, support handle, employee or related team.

This system of coloured ticks and badges was launched in December and, while causing widespread confusion, did not require organisations with legacy check marks to pay for a subscription service in order to keep it.

Indeed, all accounts which had a blue tick under the previous regime and are not signed up to Twitter Blue have a message that appears if the tick is clicked on.

It says the account is a 'legacy verified account' and 'may or may not be notable'.

Now, it looks like these will be phased out, as having a check mark without paying for a subscription service won't be an option from next month.

Twitter Blue currently costs 9.60 in the UK ($8 in US) a month for web access, and 11 ($11 in the US) a month to use with Apple iOS.

This is thought to be to account for the 'hidden 30% tax' applied to in-app purchases within those hosted by Apple.

Subscribers are offered a range of features not available to regular account holders, including the ability to edit tweets after posting.

This has long been requested by many users, although there are others who argue that it increases the potential for the spread of disinformation because a tweet could be altered after being widely shared.

Twitter said Blue subscribers will also see fewer adverts, have their tweets amplified above others, and be able to post and view longer, better quality videos.

Users were quick to respond expressing their disappointment about the update, and there exasperation that there will be yet another change coming to the platform

Upon his takeover, Mr Musk (pictured) said he wanted Twitter to become a 'digital town square' but not a 'free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences'

Gold ticks (left) denote verified business accounts, while grey ticks (right) denote accounts which represent a government institution or official

Upon his takeover, Mr Musk told advertisers he wanted Twitter to become a 'digital town square' but not a 'free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences'.

As part of this, he wanted to take down bot accounts and restore free speech and trust in the platform.

Before his regime, a blue tick was given out by Twitter for free to verify high-profile accounts and prove they were authentic.

In December, after much delay, Mr Musk launched Twitter Blue - a subscription service that gives users a blue tick of verification for a monthly fee.

However, users were quick to take advantage of this, as accounts impersonating famous people and corporations, including Mr Musk himself, flooded the platform.

One user fooled others into thinking former US President Donald Trump tweeted: 'This is why Elon Musk's plan doesn't work.'

This system of coloured ticks and badges was launched in December and, while causing widespread confusion, did not require organisations with legacy check marks to pay for a subscription service in order to keep it

Twitter Blue was first rolled out in early November, but users were quick to take advantage of being able to buy a checkmark. Accounts impersonating famous people and corporations, including Mr Musk himself, flooded the platform

Another account impersonated former President George W Bush  who appeared to post a distasteful tweet about Iraq  and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

This forced the second richest man in the world to halt the verification process, but not before advertisers pulled their contracts.

Twitter Blue was relaunched the following month, with new systems to denote different types of verified accounts, like multi-coloured checkmarks.

Since then, other new features have been rolled out for subscribers like the ability to post tweets up to 4,000 characters long.

In January, it was reported that at least two Taliban officials had started to pay for Twitter Blue to achieve verification.
READ MORE: The aurora dazzles skygazers as far south as Cornwall and Kent

But the further south you get the harder it is to see the natural phenomenon

The Northern Lights have dazzled stargazers in Britain following a dramatic plasma ejection from the sun  and the natural display may be visible again this evening.

Stunning new photos from Norfolk to North Yorkshire and the Scottish coast show flashes of fluorescent green and pink lighting up the night's skies on Thursday.

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are created by disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere caused by a flow of particles from the sun, and are usually concentrated around the Earth's magnetic poles.

But they're most commonly seen over places closer to the Arctic Circle such as Scandinavia and Alaska, so any sighting over the UK is a treat for skygazers.

On average, the aurora can be seen in the far north of Scotland every few months, but less often as you travel further south.

Pictured is the Northern Lights on the Scottish coast near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, with a strong aurora storm, captured at 9pm on Thursday evening

The Met Office said the display this week stems from a coronal mass ejection (CME)  a massive expulsion of plasma from the Sun's corona (its outermost layer).

Aurora: A stunning natural display The Northern and Southern Lights are natural light spectacles triggered in our atmosphere that are also known as the 'auroras'. There are two types of aurora: aurora Borealis, which means 'dawn of the north', and aurora australis, 'dawn of the south.' The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles, sometimes referred to as a solar storm, are deflected by Earth's magnetic field. But during stronger storms they enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles, including hydrogen and helium. These collisions emit light. Auroral displays appear in many colours although pale green and pink are common. Advertisement

Although CMEs can create auroras that look pretty in the sky, such an event causes a 'solar storm' that can mean disruption to power systems on Earth satellites in space.

Met Office has described it as a G3 storm, referring to a 'strong' solar storm that can affect power systems and spacecraft operations, including orientation issues.

It said: 'A moderate (G3) geomagnetic storm in in progress, likely due to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on the 20th March.

'Enhanced solar wind conditions currently being observed are likely to mean an enhancement to the auroral oval into the coming UTC overnight period at least, with probabilities of similar-scale events then waning over the UTC weekend.

'Expected activity may see observable aurora over Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes.'

In the Earth's north, the Northern Lights are officially known as the aurora borealis, while in the south, the event is called aurora australis.

In the southern hemisphere, there will be 'an enhancement to the auroral oval' overnight before similar-scale events waning over the weekend, Met Office said.

In the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the storm level was at G3 yesterday but has jumped to a G4 from this afternoon, described as 'severe'.

This could result in a more noticeable aurora in the sky but also potentially 'widespread voltage control problems' for power systems and orientation issues for spacecraft.

The NOAA said: 'CME influences continue and geomagnetic response escalated to the G4 (Severe) storm level on 24 March at 12:04 EDT (04:04 UTC).'

Incredible shot shows Northern Lights on the Scottish coast near Fraserburgh with bright green near the horizon

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon at St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast. Picture date: Thursday March 23, 2023

Aurora borealis can be seen this evening from Saltburn Pier in North Yorkshire on Thursday night, which is near Middlesbrough

Met Office said tonight's display stems from a coronal mass ejection (CME) - a massive expulsion of plasma from the Sun's corona (its outermost layer)

A solar storm is a disturbance on the sun that can emanate outward across the solar system, including Earth and its magnetosphere.

Damage caused by solar storms Solar flares can damage satellites and have an enormous financial cost. The charged particles can also threaten airlines by disturbing the Earth's magnetic field. Very large flares can even create currents within electricity grids and knock out energy supplies. When coronal mass ejections strike Earth they cause geomagnetic storms and enhanced aurora. They can disrupt radio waves, GPS coordinates and overload electrical systems. A large influx of energy could flow into high voltage power grids and permanently damage transformers. This could shut off businesses and homes around the world. Advertisement

As well as CMEs, types of solar storms include solar flares  explosions on the Sun that happens when energy stored in 'twisted' magnetic fields is released.

NASA explains: 'There are many kinds of eruptions on the sun. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections both involve gigantic explosions of energy, but are otherwise quite different.

'The two phenomena do sometimes occur at the same time  indeed the strongest flares are almost always correlated with coronal mass ejections  but they emit different things, they look and travel differently, and they have different effects near planets.'

Particles from solar events can travel millions of miles, and some may eventually collide with the Earth.

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, most of the particles are deflected, but some become captured in the Earth's magnetic field.

They're accelerated down towards the north and south poles into the atmosphere, which is why an aurora is best seen nearer the magnetic poles.

'These particles then slam into atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere and essentially heat them up,' said Royal Observatory astronomer Tom Kerss.

'We call this physical process "excitation", but it's very much like heating a gas and making it glow.'

Solar storms aren't dangerous to humans on Earth's surface, but they can cause interference with power grids and GPS signals.

Pictured in the early hours of Friday morning are the northern lights over Stonehenge in Wiltshire

Photo shows the Northern Lights in Titchwell in Norfolk in the early hours of Friday morning. Aurora form when charged particles from the sun penetrate the earth's magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules to create bursts of light

Whitby West Pier Lighthouse is lit up with the fluorescent pink and green of the aurora last night

Taken in the early hours of 24th March 2023 from the church car park at the village of Great Brington in Northamptonshire

Northern Lights in Hunstanton in Norfolk in the early hours of Friday morning

In the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the storm level was at G3 yesterday but has jumped to a G4 from this afternoon, described as 'severe'

In 1859, a massive geomagnetic super-storm known as the Carrington event sent powerful CMEs toward Earth, disrupting communications on the ground.

If such an event were to happen in today's world, the effects would be catastrophic on our communications systems.

A 2021 study by a University of California Irvine scientist found the internet could be crippled for weeks in the wake of a severe solar storm, due to vulnerabilities in world's massive network of submarine communications cables.

The electromagnetic fluctuations caused by intense solar storms cannot directly harm the fibre optic cables that make up the backbone of the internet.

However, they do have the potential to take out the signal boosters dotted along undersea cables that are necessary to maintain connections over large distances.

According to astrophysicists, the likelihood of solar storm capable of causing catastrophic disruption occurring in the next 10 years is between 1.612 per cent.
Scientists are now testing dead animals found on east coast for bird flu

A string of mysterious dolphin and whale deaths is sweeping across the east coast  and scientists fear bird flu is to blame.

Data from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center shows 22 dolphins and five humpback whales have washed ashore in New Jersey since January, but there are dozens more stretching down to North Carolina.

A spokesperson told DailyMail.com the dead marine animals are currently being tested at a lab for the cause of death. One dolphin in Florida was killed by bird flu last year.

Fears about a potential bird flu pandemic in humans has intensified in recent weeks after the first tor through global populations.

The virus has already killed more than 330 seals in New England in 2022,and several other mammals including foxes, raccoons and bear.

The concern is that as the virus spreads to more animals, it will acquire mutations that allow it to infect humans.

A pod of eight dolphins are the latest victims of a mysterious sting of deaths along the east coast. The dolphins were found beached at Sea Isle City

Highly pathogenic H5N1 has spread around the globe over the past 18 months, causing the deaths of hundreds of millions of domestic birds and countless wild ones.

While experts in the US are still analyzing the recent deaths, a bottlenose dolphin found dead in Florida last year tested positive for the virus.

More recently, the UK confirmed bird flu had killed two dolphins and these incidents are causing concern about the mammal deaths along the US east cost.

While it is not clear how the dolphins were infected, the University of Florida suspects the marine mammals likely interacted with a wild bird killed by the virus.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center rushed to Sea Isle City in New Jersey Wednesday after a call came in about eight dolphins stranded on the beach.

Rescue crews who spent hours trying to hydrate the stranded dolphins called the lifesaving efforts 'agonizing' as they watched the animal's health decline.

Despite lifesaving efforts two were pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining six dolphins were euthanized several hours later.

While the Marine Mammal Stranding Center reported five humpback whale deaths, a total of 16 have perished from North Carolina to New York from December 1 2022 to March 1, 2023, the highest number ever recorded during that particular three-month period.

Officials are testing the whales found in the northern east coast, along with several on the west coast, for bird flu.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center has reported 22 dolphin deaths this year alone. The organization retrieved an e-foot-long Bottlenose dolphin in Avalon earlier this month

Two of the dolphins found this week had died on the scene, and the remaining six were euthanized hours later

Marine Mammal Stranding Center Director Sheila Dean told NBC News: 'This could be a big thing for all marine mammals. If this is what's happening.'

In January, a huge 35-foot humpback whale stole headlines after it washed ashore in Long Island, which at the time was the tenth such incident on New York and New Jersey beaches in two months.

Recent years have seen a disturbing spike in beachings, leading the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to declare an 'unusual mortality event' in 2017.

Since then, at least 335 humpbacks, right whales and minkes, a small species of whale, have died after washing onto the East Coast.

Throughout 2022, 19 humpback whales were stranded on the US Atlantic Coast, according to the NOAA.

But by the end of February, the levels of humpback whales stranded on the east coast had already reached 50 percent of 2017's tally, with at least 29 whales dying since December.

Humpback whales are also turning up dead in New Jersey, with one lying on the sands of Seaside Park on March 3

New York is see mysterious whale deaths. A a huge 35-foot humpback whale washed ashore in Lido Beach on January 30

Officials are testing the whales found in the northern east coast, along with several on the west coast, for bird flu. This dead whale was discovered on Rockaway beach on December 13, 2022

Included in this disturbing figure is six North Atlantic right whales, a highly endangered species.

The H5N1 virus, which is the most prevalent strain now, was first reported in China in 1996.

The recent outbreak is believed to have originated from ducks in Europe and Asia and then spread to other birds.

The virus has already spilled into mammals like mink, foxes, raccoons and bears, sparking fears it may soon acquire worrying new mutations that would allow it to cause a human pandemic.

At the begging of this month, China announced two human cases and DailyMail.com revealed how the virus claimed the life of of 11-year-old Bean Narong in Cambodia on February 22.

While the Marine Mammal Stranding Center reported five humpback whale deaths, a total of 16 have perished from North Carolina to New York from December 1 2022 to March 1, 2023

The recent deaths follow more than 330 seals that lost their lives to bird flu in 2022, but add to the growing fear that a strain is jumping to mammals

Scientists on the ground who made the discovery said the young girl's death 'needs to be treated with the utmost concern.'

The team added that there were 'some indications' the virus had already 'gone through' a human and picked up the new mutations before infecting the girl.

Dr Erik Karlsson, who led the team at the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia that decoded the genetic sequence of the girl's virus, warned that it differed from that taken from birds.

He told Sky News: 'There are some indications that this virus has gone through a human.

'Any time these viruses get into a new host they'll have certain changes that allow them to replicate a little bit better or potentially bind to the cells in our respiratory tract a little bit better.'
It follows research that found around one in five UK adults may have misophonia

If you're ever angered by the sound of coughing, repetitive tapping or a rustling crisp packet, you may have misophonia  a strong dislike or hatred of certain sounds.

Scientists say 20 per cent of people suffer from the condition to varying degrees, with less than one per cent of people experiencing the most extreme symptoms.

Some may dismiss misophonia as trivial, but the little-understood condition can lead to anxiety and depression, aggression and even acts of physical violence.

To help you see if you're one of those affected, MailOnline has created an interactive test that asks a short series of questions with multiple choice answers.

The test estimates whether or not you have the condition and, if you do, whether it ranges from 'mild' to 'extreme'.

SCROLL DOWN TO TAKE THE INTERACTIVE TEST

Misophonia, which means literally hatred of sound, is a condition in which sufferers experience intense and involuntary reactions to certain sounds made by other people

MailOnline's test is based on the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MISO-S), a tool developed by researchers in the Dutch capital in 2013.

Study shows one in five suffer from misophonia - READ MORE You may have this condition, called misophonia, if you have a strong negative reaction to common sounds, from throat clearing to sniffing Advertisement

The test consists of just six questions with multiple choice answers that allocate points between zero to four.

At the end of the test, it adds up your points tally to determine whether you have misophonia  and if your symptoms are 'mild', 'moderate', 'severe' or 'extreme'.

Readers should bear in mind, however, that it is not a clinical diagnosis, which is done by professionals through clinical interviews and questionnaires.

Misophonia  which literally means 'hatred of sound'  causes sufferers to experience intense and involuntary reactions to certain sounds made by other people, referred to as 'triggers'.

Trigger sounds can be the sound of someone chewing, breathing or speaking and is usually related to mouth, throat or facial activity.

But other examples are the clicking of a pen, the tapping of a foot, clocks ticking, shoes scuffing the ground and a refrigerator humming.

In extreme cases, misophonia will cause intense anger and provoke the desire to react aggressively, possibly posing a danger to people in the vicinity.

These responses also lead to feelings of guilt in those affected, sometimes leading to anxiety and depression.

Concept image shows the causes of misophonia, which refers to getting annoyed by noises other people make, rather than actions. Note that misokinesia, or a 'hatred of movements', is a different condition

Those with the more severe forms can find themselves unable to tolerate family, work, public or social situations.

Misophonia or misokinesia? Misophonia and misokinesia are two different conditions that are have been receiving greater attention from researchers in recent years. Misophonia is a condition where sufferers experience intense and involuntary reactions to sounds made by others, referred to as triggers. Misokinesia is a psychological response to the sight of someone else's small but repetitive movements. Advertisement

According to the University of Sussex, misophonia is little-understood compared with other conditions, including why some people are more vulnerable to developing the condition than others.

The university has a team of psychologists dedicated to promoting 'a clear scientific understanding of misophonia', especially in children and young people.

It follows a study published earlier in the week that one in five of the UK population suffer from misophonia to some degree.

The researchers surveyed more than 700 Britons  most of whom hadn't heard of the term 'misophonia' before.

The survey asked about common 'trigger sounds' and asked respondents to describe their emotional response and its intensity using a 10-point scale.

In all, 18 per cent appeared to have significant symptoms of misophonia, while the most common negative reaction to triggers was irritation.

Some of the individuals with misophonia reported that they felt trapped or helpless when they could not get away from these sounds.

For people with misophonia, trigger sounds can range from someone breathing to the tapping of a pen (file photo)

'The experience of misophonia is more than just being annoyed by a sound,' said senior study author Dr Jane Gregory at the University of Oxford.

'Misophonia can cause feelings of helplessness and being trapped when people cant get away from an unpleasant sound.'

'Often those with misophonia feel bad about themselves for reacting the way they do, especially when they are responding to sounds made by loved ones.'

Misophonia differs from misokinesia  a similar psychological response to the sight of someone else's small but repetitive movements.

A Canadian team of researchers reported in 2021 that misokinesia affects around around one in three people.
The Minnesota power plant where 400,000 gallons of radioactive water leaked in November 2022 experienced another incident Wednesday and has temporarily shutdown as a result.

Xcel Energy, which made headlines for announcing the first leak just this month, discovered another hundreds of gallons of water containing tritium drained from its Monticello facility - some of which flowed into ground water.

While the company said 'there is no danger to the public,' this is the second incident to plague the plant in less than one year.

The first disaster sparked an outrage among Americans, who were displeased with the silence of the company and regulators.

The Minnesota power plant where 400,000 gallons of radioactive water leaked in November 2022 experienced another incident Wednesday and has temporarily shutdown as a result

Chris Clark, president of Xcel EnergyMinnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, said in a statement regarding the recent leak: 'While the leak continues to pose no risk to the public or the environment, we determined the best course of action is to power down the plant and perform the permanent repairs immediately.

'We are continuing to work with and inform our state, federal, city and county leaders in the process.

Unlike November's incident, the one on Thursday was confirmed to have flowed into groundwater.

The water contained tritium, which is a rare and radioactive isotope of hydrogen with half-life about 12 years.

Tritium can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin, and increases the risk of cancer if consumed in extremely large quantities, according to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

Minnesota Health Commissioner Dan Huff told MPR News: 'While tritium is radioactive, its low energy, and so it is not like plutonium. If you were to sit it next to you in a glass, it would not hurt you.

'If you drank it, it would increase your radiation exposure. And we want to limit radiation exposure because radiation can cause tissue damage.'

The Monticello plant is about 35 miles northwest of Minneapolis, upstream from the city on the Mississippi River.

The Monticello plant is about 35 miles northwest of Minneapolis, upstream from the city on the Mississippi River

The leaked water remains contained on-site and has not been detected in any local drinking water, Xcel Energy said.

After the first leak was found in November, Xcel Energy made a short-term fix to capture water from a leaking pipe and reroute it back into the plant for re-use.

The solution was designed to prevent new tritium from reaching the groundwater until installation of a replacement pipe during a regularly scheduled outage in mid-April, the company said.

However, monitoring equipment indicated Wednesday that a small amount of new water from the original leak had reached the groundwater.

Operators discovered that, over the past two days, the temporary solution was no longer capturing all of the leaking water, Xcel Energy said.

Xcel Energy said in a statement that it reported first leak to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the state on November 22.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency spokesman Michael Rafferty said in a statement: 'We knew there was a presence of tritium in one monitoring well, however Xcel had not yet identified the source of the leak and its location.

The water from both leaks contained tritium, which increases the risk of cancer if consumed in extremely large quantities

Xcel Energy said there was not a threat to public health at the time of the November leak, but some people do not believe the statement

'Now that we have all the information about where the leak occurred, how much was released into groundwater, and that contaminated groundwater had moved beyond the original location, we are sharing this information.'

Xcel Energy claims it has been pumping groundwater, storing and processing the contaminated water, which contains tritium levels below federal thresholds, since the leak occurred.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said tritium spills happen from time to time at nuclear plants, but that it has repeatedly determined that they have either remained limited to the plant property or involved such low offsite levels that they did not affect public health or safety.

Xcel reported a small tritium leak at Monticello in 2009.
Its iconic harbour, buzzing culture and pristine beaches make Sydney one of Australias most visited cities. Yet surrounded by hazy mountains, thriving rainforests and mesmerising seascapes, it also offers the perfect opportunity to hit the open road and explore Sydneys surrounds

After kayaking around the tranquil harbour and scaling its impressive steel bridge, dining out in style and exploring the citys Aboriginal culture, its time to fill the tank and head out to discover the best sites of New South Wales. From mountainous climbs to sky-high rainforest walks and picturesque ports, a world of beauty awaits.

Just a short journey time from Sydney you can experience a vast array of different natural wonders and all manner of adventures (pictured: The Sea Cliff Bridge)

Whether driving for a day or a week, Sydneys surroundings are studded by incredible viewpoints and cultural hot spots, meaning its easy to break up your journey into manageable chunks.

Perhaps youll opt for a Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley expedition after a night with the koalas at Taronga Zoo, a two-day drive peppered by vineyard tours through the Hunter Valley en route to a mountain retreat, or a coastal adventure visiting all the best beaches north or south of Sydney.

No matter where your sights are set, Sydney is the perfect place to start. In the spirit of adventure, here are three of the best road trips that you can enjoy in New South Wales.

The Legendary Pacific Coast route

This route takes you to famous Byron Bay where you can hit the surf if you fancy, or indulge in some yoga with a view

Follow this fascinating 621-mile route between Sydney and Brisbane, and immerse yourself in a diverse world of some of Australias greatest treasures. From crystalline lakes to misty mountains, roaring rivers to dense rainforests, this easy coastal journey takes you from Sydneys cosmopolitan glamour to Byron Bays bohemian shores in style.

Two hours north of Sydney, youll be spoilt by 26 golden beaches in Port Stephens, where boats head out whale watching from May to November and swimmers share the water with playful dolphins year-round.

Enjoy a quad bike adventure through the dunes, scale Mount Tomaree, and dont miss Rick Stein at Bannisters, in Port Stephens, for an exquisite seafood experience. Hit up The Wild Herring at The Anchorage Hotel for excellent dining, or the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary for a unique overnight stay glamping among the marsupials.

Two hours north of Sydney, youll be spoilt by 26 golden beaches in Port Stephens

Port Stephens offers walks to Mt Tomaree Head summit and quad biking adventures led by Aboriginal guides

A short drive north, more furry friends await at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, or you can opt for a whale-watching trip from Lighthouse Beach. Looking for a culinary delight? Youll find Bago Maze & Vineyard up by Herons Creek, the perfect place for wine and handmade chocolates.

At Coffs Harbour, another 100 miles further north, explore the waters of the Solitary Islands Marine Park with a snorkel, or head inland to Dorrigo National Park to climb into the rainforest canopy along the Skywalk. Follow your Aboriginal guide on a paddle boarding tour, or sunbathe among kangaroos on Emerald Beach.

Just 2.5 hours later, youll arrive at Byron Bay, ready to embrace the boho beach lifestyle, with surf lessons, sunrise mantras and independent boutiques. From kayaking with dolphins to snorkelling past sea turtles, homebrews to field-to-fork dining, here hippie chic is in.

Not ready for it to be over yet? The Tweed Region is forty minutes further north, where youll enjoy eco-cruises along Tweed River and catch a crab tours led by Aboriginal guides. Fresh produce is everything here, from macadamia nuts to mud crabs and ink gin, its an adventure for your taste buds.

Following the Grand Pacific Drive

Royal National Park is just 40 minutes from the city centre and contains over 1000 plant species

A shorter coastal drive taking you south of Sydney to Jervis Bay, where seals, dolphins and penguins play in the surf, spread this 87-mile trip across several days to give you time to soak up everything this region has to offer.

Dazzling ocean views and gourmet cuisine, abundant wildlife and cascading waterfalls, this is one trip where youll want your camera to hand throughout.

Your first stop is Royal National Park, just a 40-minute drive from the city centre. This 58-square-mile habitat is Australias oldest National Park, and the second oldest in the world. More than 1,000 plant species combine to form fragrant heathlands and woodlands, embraced by cliffs and sparkling beaches.

Huskisson Beach at Jervis Bay, where you might be able to spot dolphins and even swim with seals

Heading south, youll soon cross the majestic Sea Cliff Bridge, the perfect opportunity to get out and stretch your legs, following the scenic trail down to the coast. This area is speckled with crystal-clear rockpools teeming with marine life and expansive ocean pools perfect for a swim.

Visit the famous Kiama Blowhole, sample the Sydney rock oyster, and then its on to Jervis Bay to swim with seals, spot dolphins and even take a whale-watching tour during the humpback whale migration from May to November. This marine park is home to some of the worlds whitest beaches, and a sublime backdrop to your paddleboarding expeditions.

Extend your trip with a day or two spent in the Southern Highlands on your way back to Sydney, where rural charm, waterfalls and farmers markets rule. Admire the wildlife in Kangaroo Valley, head out foraging with Wild Food Adventures, and get educated about sustainable wine-making at Tractorless Vineyards.

Wine and wildlife en route to the Blue Mountains

Sometimes you need a route marked out, sometimes you want to go with the flow. This relaxed route takes you from coast to vineyards and soaring mountains.

Begin with a relaxed drive to the Central Coast for awesome surf, luxury lodges and wine-tasting experiences paired with Bush Tucker at Firescreek Winery. Savour a plate of pearl meat at Broken Bay Pearl Farm, before heading 1.5 hours north to Port Stephens for mountain climbing and quad biking adventures led by Aboriginal guides.

Less than two hours north-west of Sydney, wine lovers will find a home in the Hunter Valley, Australias oldest wine region, famous for its Shiraz and Semillon grapes and exquisite wine and cheese pairings. Take your pick from more than 150 cellar doors, where you can taste world-renowned wines and pair them with local cheeses and rich chocolates.

One of the incredible dishes served up at Bistro Molines which overlooks undulating vines

Just 90 minutes west of Sydney you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains

Food gives wine a run for its money here and youll also find fabulous restaurants such as Bistro Molines, a charming French-inspired spot overlooking undulating vines, or Muse, serving delicate seasonal delights at Hungerford Hill Winery.

Providing a hazy backdrop to Sydneys vibrant scene, the Blue Mountains are home to a vast national park and your final destination on this meandering tour of coast and countryside. It will take you about three hours from the Hunter Valley.

Here you can enjoy bushwalking adventures, scale the peaks, get an abseiling adrenaline rush or send dust in your wake on an exhilarating mountain biking ride. Explore Aboriginal history, go wildlife spotting, and enjoy a luxurious spa treatment at Lilianfels Resort & Spa.

With Sydney as your base, youre in the perfect position to explore the vibrant nature and unique culture that call Australia home. After discovering this sun-drenched citys most iconic sites and buzzing neighbourhoods, its time to explore enthralling rainforests, hidden wine valleys, and miles upon miles of spectacular coast.

Find out more and book your holiday at audleytravel.com
A market town in East Sussex has beaten 71 other locations to be named the UK's best place to live.

Judges for the Sunday Times said Wadhurst offers 'pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature'.

It was praised for its good schools, convenient transport links, variety of high street shops and being surrounded by 'stunning scenery'.

The Wadhurst Warriors, a group of fathers who began fundraising for the town's primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole area, were hailed as the 'stars of the show'.

Judges also praised the town of fewer than 5,000 people  the smallest winner of the award in its 11-year history  for the many activities available for children, the farmers' market, clubs, classes and the community cinema.

Wadhurst in East Sussex has been named as the overall best place to live in the UK

The town, winner of the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, houses Wadhurst Castle

Judges said Wadhurst offers 'pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature'

Wadhurst is town of fewer than 5,000 people  the award's smallest ever winner

Wadhurst Warriors chairman Chris Poulton said the group organises events such as fetes, fireworks nights and putting up Christmas decorations  and the money raised is used to help those who need it, such as the Girl Guides and local school.

Regional winners of the best place to live 2023 While Wadhurst was crowned the UK's best place to live 2023 by The Sunday Times, a winner was also selected for each English region as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These winners were: Scotland - Dunkeld, Perthshire The small town was praised by judges for combining 'stunning' Highland scenery with 'Scandi sophistication'. Wales - Ruthin, Denbighshire Judges said it offered the 'very best of small town living' with food and craft markets, pop-up restaurants, cafes and independent shops. Northern Ireland - Donaghadee, Co Down The town, which is where BBC daytime TV drama Hope Street is filmed, was praised for its clean seas, beautiful views and 'lively community.' East of England - Saffron Walden, Essex Judges said 'youthful vigour' was being injected into the market town as young families move in and new bars, shops and restaurants open. London- Crouch End, Haringey The area's grand Victorian houses are home to celebrities and the 'lively North London suburb' has a market town feel, judges said. Midlands - Leamington Spa, Warwickshire The tech hub has well-tended parks, good schools, excellent transport links and will get even more of a revamp when a Creative Quarter is launched. North and North East England - Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear The town was said to be 'catching up fast' with its affluent neighbour Tynemouth after 'years in the doldrums' - with cheaper houses and connections to Newcastle which are just as good. North West England - Liverpool Judges said there are 'lots of reasons to be optimistic' about the city from Eurovision to its reputation for science and technology and grand projects such as the new Everton stadium and film studios. Waterloo was singled out for seaside while Toxteth was praised for its 'cultural and community vibe.' South East England - Chichester, West Sussex While Wadhurst was crowned best place to live in the UK, Chichester - which has more Ukrainian refugees per head than any other UK city - was praised for its good schools and transport links and was still deemed worthy of inclusion separately. South West England - Cirencester, Gloucestershire The heated outdoor swimming pool was marked out as a particular highlight of the capital of the Cotswolds. Advertisement

He said: 'We do believe Wadhurst is the best place to live and that is down to us all working together to make it a place where everyone can be supported.

'We don't do it for ourselves, we do it for the community.

'Being recognised is great but the more we can give back to the community the better.

'Recognition can just be someone coming up to us and saying thank you.'

A parish council spokesman said: 'This is really exciting news. Wadhurst is a lovely, lovely place to live with a great community feel.

'What makes it really special is the community, We have lots of different village clubs and a really active community.

'We are all helping each other out and during Covid that really came to the forefront, with lots of groups helping to get food and medicine to people.

'I would say to someone thinking of moving here that it's a great place to live, you have the best of both worlds.

'You have easy access to towns and cities but if you want a rural lifestyle it is perfect.'

Paula Lee, 58, who owns the @ONE homeware shop on the high street, said: 'I would agree completely  it is a lovely place to live and it has got a good sense of community.

'I am not surprised. I think you would be hard-pushed, certainly in the South East, to find somewhere better.

'There are some really lovely shops, it is a well-rounded high street  there is a nice independent butcher, grocers and a nice community spirit.

'The countryside in this area is just outstanding. There are lots of walking and lots of sporting activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty.'

Sam, 50, who runs Wadhurst Flowers, said: 'It is a lovely place to live. It still maintains a village feel, even though we are only five miles from Tunbridge Wells.

'The residents use their high street, which is fantastic.

'It is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty and there are trains into London and to the coast. We are very lucky.'

Ruthin in Denbighshire was identified as the best place to live in Wales, Dunkeld in Perthshire was named as the best place to live in Scotland, and Donaghadee in Co Down was placed top in Northern Ireland.

A winner was also selected for each region in England.

The Sunday Times Best Places To Live guide was released today and an edited version will be available in the paper on Sunday.

This year's list includes more new entries than ever before.

They include Poundbury, a village on the edge of Dorchester in Dorset which was planned by King Charles and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

At the time critics branded it a 'toy town' but judges said its affordable homes, renewable energy and emphasis on walkability suggest it was ahead of its time.

Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield have all made a return  suggesting people may no longer be dashing to the country as cities return to life following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

A cafe in the High Street of Wadhurst, which has been named as the overall best place to live

Judges praised Wadhusrt for the many activities available for children and the farmers' market

Clubs, classes and the community cinema were also praised by judges

Wadhurst was championed for good schools, convenient transport links and variety of shops

Expert judges visited all the locations and assessed factors ranging from the quality of schools and transport links to broadband speeds, culture, access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

Helen Davies, editor of Best Places To Live 2023, said: 'When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever.

'Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.

'This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre.

'Whether you're downsizing, trading up or getting on to the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.'
Bindi Irwin's estranged cousin Rebecca Lobie is rumoured to have split from her husband Mick - with all signs pointing to a messy break-up.

The 34-year-old, who shot to fame in 2019 thanks to her racy social media photos and went on to launch an adult career at odds with the Irwins' wholesome public image, is believed to have called time on her 16-year marriage several months ago.

Cracks started to appear last month when mechanic Mick shared a series of alarming posts on Instagram implying his wife had walked out on him.

One post read: 'If I'm continually treated like I don't exist then what's the point of continuing to push myself to be here because no one would even notice if I was gone.'

Mick then shared another post asking Rebecca to return to the family for the sake of their two sons. The full text of this post cannot be published for legal reasons.

Bindi Irwin's estranged cousin Rebecca Lobie (right) is rumoured to have split from her husband Mick (left), with all signs pointing to a messy break-up

Rebecca, 34, (pictured) shot to fame in 2019 thanks to her racy Instagram photos and went on to launch an adult career at odds with the Irwins' wholesome public image

She is believed to have called time on her 16-year marriage several months ago

Later, he posted a series of screenshots after one of his friends reached out to him via Instagram messenger to ask if he was okay.

The friend asked, 'You ok bro,' prompting Mick to reply, 'F**k off ya dog.'

When the friend asked what Mick meant by this, he accused the other man of 'talking s**t' about his family and leaving flirtatious emojis on Rebecca's photos.

The friend later said it was 'not cool' to post screenshots of their conversation, but Mick simply replied 'F**k you.'

After weeks of silence on social media, Mick returned to Instagram on Thursday to share a worrying post about being a 'shell of my former self'.

Cracks started to appear last month when Mick shared a series of alarming posts on Instagram (pictured) implying his wife had walked out on him. In one post, he asked Rebecca to return to the family for the sake of their two sons (right)

Later, he posted screenshots after one of his friends reached out to him via Instagram DMs to ask if he was okay. The friend asked, 'You ok bro,' prompting Mick to reply, 'F**k off ya dog'

After weeks of silence on social media, Mick returned to Instagram on Thursday to share this worrying post about being a 'shell of my former self'. He said he was 'feeling empty' and had 'nothing on the inside' but was being supported by 'legendary mates'

He uploaded a photo of his own long shadow across a patch of grass, and wrote in the caption: 'This isn't a cry for help but it really couldn't be more accurate.

'I can't thank all my legendary mates enough!'

Mick added the concerning hashtags #SurroundedByTheBest, #ButFeelingEmpty, #NothingOnTheInside and #JustAShellOfMyFormerSelf.

Several friends offered words of support in the comments section, with one writing: 'Always here for you, mate. Just yell out and I'll be there.'

Another said: 'It's the beginning of your new and better self, brother. We've all got you, bud.'

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Friday, Mick denied Thursday's post was alluding to a split but refused to comment when asked if his marriage was intact.

'I didn't allude to anything like that. You people are ridiculous,' he said.

Rebecca Lobie was also contacted for comment but did not reply.

Rebecca (pictured with her son, centre, and cousin Bindi Irwin, right, in November 2014) used to manage the restaurants at Australia Zoo before leaving the family business

Rebecca is the daughter of Steve Irwin's sister Joy (left) and her husband Frank Muscillo (right)

Steve Irwin (pictured in 2002), known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray

The Lobies seemed to have an ideal marriage until just a few months ago, with Mick appearing to be supportive of his wife's career as an adult entertainer.

He would regularly take raunchy photos of Rebecca for her Instagram account and subscription-based adult website, both of which appear to be no longer active.

The niece of the late Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin was last seen on Mick's Instagram in a family photo he posted on November 14.

Two months later, she was a guest at the Australia Day party hosted by tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon at his Gold Coast mansion.

She was one of dozens of scantily clad women at the bash, and was seen arriving in a barely there white swimsuit. It is unclear if her husband also attended.

At about this time, she briefly reactivated her Instagram account and posted a photo of herself in G-string swimsuit standing in front of a green Holden Gemini with her legs astride, framing the car's licence plate which read 'lube up'.

However, she later took down her Instagram once again.

The Lobies seemed to have an ideal marriage until just a few months ago, with Mick appearing to be supportive of his wife's career as an adult entertainer. Rebecca (circled on the left) was last seen on Mick's Instagram in a family photo he posted on November 14

Mick would regularly take photos of Rebecca for her Instagram account and subscription-based adult website, both of which appear to be no longer active (pictured)

Rebecca, who is the daughter of Steve Irwin's sister Joy and her husband Frank Muscillo, rose to prominence in September 2019 when her racy social media photos caught the attention of the media.

She used to run the restaurants at Australia Zoo before exiting the family business.

Keen to cash in on her new-found fame, the Sunshine Coast native launched her own subscription-based adult website in July 2021.

The blonde bombshell previously charged AUD$6.80 (US$4.99) for the first month's subscription to her website, and AUD$13.61 (US$9.99) thereafter.

For an additional AUD$74.92 (US$55), fans could purchase a 'fully nude' video.

Rebecca rose to prominence in September 2019 when her racy social media photos caught the attention of the media. Keen to cash in on her new-found fame, the Sunshine Coast native launched her own subscription-based adult website in July 2021

Rebecca was a guest at the Australia Day party hosted by tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon at his Gold Coast mansion (pictured)

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in July 2021, she explained her website was similar to OnlyFans but allowed her to maintain 'more control' over her branding.

'Having another platform to be able to share my content is something I have wanted to do for a while now and has always been a big request from people,' she said.

'I love creating content and engaging with my fans and this is another way I can.'

She said of her decision to shun OnlyFans: 'It has the same features if not more. I will be posting exclusive content, chatting with fans and going live.'
Delta Goodrem has been forced to postpone the UK and European dates of her Hearts on the Run tour because she needs to rest her voice.

The Born to Try star, 38, announced her 'difficult' decision on Thursday, after she 'overused' her vocal cords and found herself with 'no voice for extended periods of time'.

Delta said she was devastated to let down her British and European fans, but promised she would see them again soon when the concerts are rescheduled.

'It hurts my heart to move the shows back, but please know I love you all and your support means the world to me,' she said in a statement on Instagram.

She went on to explain she 'overextended' herself in recent months by taking on 'a number of projects', and doctors have now insisted she needs proper vocal rest.

Delta Goodrem (pictured on November 22) has been forced to postpone the UK and European dates of her Hearts on the Run tour because she needs to rest her voice

While she is confident her voice will make a full recovery, Delta must take a proper break before resuming live performances.

'I have been pushing through this month believing my voice would heal, but as I sit here typing at rehearsals with a ready show, my doctors have just ordered me to go on strict vocal rest and not sing,' she said.

The pop superstar concluded by reassuring fans she will give them a show they will not forget when she finally returns to the stage.

The Born to Try star, 38, announced her 'difficult' decision on Thursday, after she 'overused' her vocal cords and found herself with 'no voice for extended periods of time'

'It means the world to me to be at my best for you,' she finished.

The rescheduled dates will be announced as soon as possible, and all tickets will remain valid.

The UK and European leg of her Hearts on the Run tour was scheduled to begin in Dublin, Ireland, on April 4 and conclude in Manchester, England, on May 3.
Tyler James Williams opened up to GQ about the 'traumatic' stardom he endured as a teen when he broke through in Hollywood with his starring role in the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.

The Abbott Elementary star, 30  who recently detailed his near-fatal battle with Crohn's disease  also revealed that a producer once told him that he'd 'probably never work again' after Everybody Hates Chris, which ran from 2005 to 2009.

In an interview published on Wednesday, Williams told the publication that he realized 'pretty f***ing quickly' how child stars were sentenced to 'juvenile purgatory' in Hollywood.

A producer on Everybody Hates Chris summed up Tyler's future as an actor with a devastating prediction: 'I'll never see you as anything else and you'll probably never work again.'

The Golden Globe winner conceded that the producer was probably just speaking in jest, but Williams said that he was deeply hurt by the joke, adding: 'I was like, "Holy s**t, you really just looked at me and said that."'

Rough start: Tyler James Williams, 30, opened up to GQ about the 'traumatic' stardom he endured as a teen when he broke through in Hollywood with his starring role in the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris

Brutal prediction: The Abbott Elementary star also revealed that a producer once told him that he'd 'probably never work again' after Everybody Hates Chris, which ran from 2005 to 2009 (Williams pictured in 2005)

Beginning his career at the age of seven, Williams went on to work as an extra on Saturday Night Live before landing the sitcom that would launch him into the public eye at 12 years old.

He described fame as 'the weirdest s**t in the world,' adding: 'It was traumatic. I still get triggered by things that are part of everybody else's childhood.

'Every time someone comes up to me, regardless of what it is they recognize me for, what that says to me in the moment is that I'm seen. I have to be on, immediately, because someone's watching.'

The Let It Shine star went on to explain that his teen stardom exploded around the same time that the internet collided with Hollywood, which worsened his anxiety.

'The time this was happening was the same time the internet was becoming more ingrained in the industry,' Williams explained.

'So as I'm going through the most awkward years of my life, everyone sees it. I think my voice was cracking nonstop during seasons two and three. I was trying to find myself in front of everybody. And everybody had an opinion and was getting used to getting theirs out.'

To cope and recover from his worsening paranoia, Williams went into therapy and tackled his 'hypervigilance.'

'Hypervigilance was one of the things that we had to tackle, because I would be listening to everyone's conversation in a room.'

Avoiding professional purgatory: In an interview published on Wednesday, Williams told GQ that he realized 'pretty f***ing quickly' how child stars were sentenced to 'juvenile purgatory' in Hollywood

Ouch: A producer on Everybody Hates Chris summed up Tyler's future as an actor with a devastating prediction  'I'll never see you as anything else and you'll probably never work again' (Williams pictured with Chris Rock on the sitcom in 2005)

Surviving fame: Tyler described fame as 'the weirdest s**t in the world,' adding, 'It was traumatic. I still get triggered by things that are part of everybody else's childhood' (pictured in 2022 on Abbott Elementary)

Proving them wrong: The former child star has certainly gone on to prove the producer's prophecy wrong as his career is thriving once again with the overwhelming success of Abbott Elementary

Williams described his hypervigilance even further, adding: 'I could hear my name being brought up from two, three tables down. I could see how many people clocked me when I walked in the door. And that's not healthy.'

Fame has also affected Tyler's ability to develop romantic romantic relationships, as it impedes his ability to 'be seen.'

'It makes it hard to be seen,' he explained. 'I've also never gotten a chance to introduce myself to anybody. There's something that's really cool about when I look at people and I'm like, "Damn, y'all met and she ain't know nothing about you. You just were able to give her who you are right now."'

While the former child star is still single, he has certainly gone on to prove the producer's prophecy wrong as his career is thriving once again with the overwhelming success of Abbott Elementary.
The writers behind Stranger Things have shut down speculation that Millie Bobby Brown rejected a multimillion-dollar deal to reprise her role as Eleven in a spin-off on Wednesday.

The official writers room account for the hit Netflix series responded with a tweet stating that all of the rumors about the 19-year-old actress involved (or not involved in) a potential film are false.

'Yeah, there's nothing in this article that is true,' they said on Twitter in response to a MailOnline report with an insider's statement about how Brown wanted to 'branch out' into other roles.

They continued: 'Don't know why we have to keep debunking this rumor but get those clicks you guys!'

Earlier this month, the Enola Holmes star revealed she's been feeling 'very ready to say goodbye to this chapter of my life and open new ones up'.

Rumors debunked: The writers behind Stranger Things shut down speculation that Millie Bobby Brown, 19, rejected a multimillion-dollar deal to reprise her role as Eleven in a spin-off on Wednesday

Shot down: 'Yeah, there's nothing in this article that is true,' they said in response to a MailOnline report with an insider's statement about how Brown wanted to 'branch out' into other roles

Shady? The official writers room account for the hit Netflix series responded with a tweet saying: 'Don't know why we have to keep debunking this rumor but get those clicks you guys!'

In an interview with Seventeen, she said it's very bittersweet, but after seven years and four seasons so far, she's ready to pursue new projects.

'I'm definitely ready to wrap up,' Brown - who was cast in the series at 12 years old - said.

'I feel like there's a lot of the story that's been told now, and we know of it, it's been in our lives for a very long time,' she continued. 'But I'm very ready to say goodbye to this chapter of my life and open new ones up.'

For one, the Once Upon a Time in Wonderland alum talked about attending online classes and working towards a human services degree at Purdue University as a way to 'detach' from her acting projects.

'With my job being so emotional, it's really nice to just be able to detach from that and learn about something that's really interesting for me,' she stated.

Brown added that she acknowledges her privilege for being able to pursue higher education and wants to help make curriculum more accessible to wider communities.

So, unfortunately for fans, that means the upcoming fifth season really does mark the final chapter of the sci-fi series with the pre-existing, beloved characters.

We do know that production for the final episodes is set to begin in June, as David Harbour, 47 - who plays Detective Jim Hopper - revealed in an interview with Collider earlier this month.

Bittersweet: Earlier this month, the Enola Holmes star revealed she's been feeling ' very ready to say goodbye to this chapter of my life and open new ones up'

Sad news: Unfortunately for fans, that means the upcoming fifth season really does mark the final chapter of the sci-fi series with the pre-existing, beloved characters

Upcoming: Production for the fifth and final season is set to begin in June, and as such, a release date has not yet been revealed

As such, a release date has not yet been revealed, but the fifth season can be expected sometime in 2024 at the earliest.

Stranger Things was created by the Duffer Brothers - Matt and Ross - and was met with critical acclaim when the debut season dropped in 2016.

Due to the massive success and cultural phenomenon of the show, the brothers have revealed in the past that they have considered the idea of creating one or multiple spin-offs.

As much as their loyal fans, they seem to want to keep the supernatural Stranger Things universe going, but the potential storylines remain a close-guarded mystery.

On an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast released last year, the co-creators told host Josh Horowitz that they have been busy brainstorming, but their spinoff would most likely introduce new characters and stories.

'I've read these rumors that there's gonna be an Eleven spinoff, that there's gonna be a Steve and Dustin spinoff, or that it's another number,' they said.

'That's not interesting to me, because we've done all that,' the Duffers continued. 'We've spent - I don't know - how many hours exploring all of that, so it's very different.'

However, one character that fans won't have to prepare to say goodbye to just yet is Detective Jim Hopper - although the role will be most likely be reprised by someone new.

The masterminds: Stranger Things was created by the Duffer Brothers - Matt and Ross - and was met with critical acclaim when the debut season dropped in 2016 and due to the massive success and cultural phenomenon of the show, the brothers have revealed in the past that they have considered the idea of creating one or multiple spin-offs

Play on! Later this year, a prequel in the form of a stage play is slated to hit the West End in London; Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set 20 years before the debut season of the show and tells the story of a young Jim Hopper

Later this year, a prequel in the form of a stage play is slated to hit the West End in London.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set 20 years before the debut season of the series and tells the story of a young Jim Hopper as well as Bob Newby and Henry Creel.

The play was created by one of the showrunners and co-executive producer, Kate Trefry, from an original story conceived by Matt and Ross Duffer.

'You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of Stranger Things,' the Duffer duo said in a statement.
Harrison Boon recently launched legal action against a media outlet over 'hurtful' claims he is an 'abusive and aggressive person' who put his TV wife Bronte Schofield at risk while filming Married At First Sight.

And now the builder and topless waiter, 32, has suggested he is also taking legal action against the beauty therapist.

Harrison revealed he has only spoken to Bronte 'through his lawyers' during a live dinner party with his co-stars held by Nova's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Thursday night.

'Where's Bronte?' Nova host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald asked him.

'I don't know, you'd have to ask her,' Harrison replied.

Married At First Sight star Harrison Boon has suggested he is taking legal action against his onscreen 'wife' Bronte Schofield

'When is the last time you've spoken to Bronte?' Fitzy followed up.

'I texted her when the endometriosis episode aired... we've spoken since via my lawyer but that's it,' he added.

Earlier this week, Daily Mail Australia revealed Harrison has engaged lawyers to order cease and desist letters and explore defamation lawsuits against So Dramatic Media Pty Ltd after the outlet's podcast and website made sensational claims against the Sydney-based builder.

Harrison revealed he has only spoken to Bronte 'through his lawyers' during a live dinner party with his co-stars held by Nova's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Thursday night

On March 15, the podcast aired shocking claims Boon was 'allegedly manipulative' and put Bronte's safety at risk while filming MAFS last year.

Harrison says the serious allegations are not only patently false, but also maliciously defamatory.

Harrison's legal team says their client is entitled to substantial monetary damages and vindication, as well as costs for the damage these false claims have done to his reputation.

The lawyers have given the gossip outlet the opportunity to remedy the damage caused to their client, retract the statements made and provide undertakings to refrain from continuing with this conduct.

Earlier this week, Daily Mail Australia revealed Harrison has engaged lawyers to order cease and desist letters and explore defamation lawsuits against So Dramatic Media Pty Ltd after the outlet's podcast and website made sensational claims against the Sydney-based builder

The allegations aired against the father-of-one include claims he is a 'emotional abuser', a 'textbook psychopath', 'manipulative, aggressive and threatening' as well as stating 'producers had to engage extra security personnel to stand outside Bronte's door and escort her'.

Harrison's legal letter states the claims are unsubstantiated, without evidence, and with a reckless abandonment of the truth.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on the condition of anonymity, one cast member refuted the podcast's claims.

He has denied all the gossip outlet's claims, telling Daily Mail Australia the accusations are all 'damaging to his reputation' and 'hurtful to his character'.

So Dramatic's Megan Pustetto acknowledged receiving Harrison's legal letter and told Daily Mail Australia she is consulting with her legal team about her next steps.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine and Bronte.
Conservative pundit and author Candace Owens spoke out against a new ad for a SKIMS Adaptive Scoop Bralette featuring a model in a wheelchair on the Tuesday episode of her show on The Daily Caller... which has angered actress Christina Applegate.

Owens, 33, showed the SKIMS ad on her show featuring a model in a wheelchair, before adding, 'I dont really understand how far were going to take this inclusivity thing. I really dont get it. I dont know. If Im wrong, again, educate me, today. I just want to be educated in the comments. Why did they do this? I dont know, I dont know why this needs to be done. Im just getting tired of this all-inclusivity thing. It seems ridiculous.

She added, 'Look, I assume that people whore in wheelchairs also have to buy bras, also have to buy underwearI didnt know that we needed to see that in our face. I didnt know that now were going to have to look forward to campaigns where women who are in wheelchairs are now wearing bras and underwear because we as a society cannot get to the bottom of our ridiculousness.'

Applegate - who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021 and revealed that the SAG Awards in February might have been her final awards show due to her struggles with MS - took to Twitter on early Thursday morning to share her thoughts about Owens' comments.

'Yes late tweet.But woke to see the most horrifying thing. This Candace person making comments about companies who see we need help. Its f***ing gross,' Applegate said.

Angered: Conservative pundit and author Candace Owens spoke out against a new ad for a SKIMS Adaptive Scoop Bralette featuring a model in a wheelchair on the Tuesday episode of her show on The Daily Caller... which has angered actress Christina Applegate

Candace: Conservative pundit and author Candace Owens spoke out against a new ad for a SKIMS Adaptive Scoop Bralette featuring a model in a wheelchair on the Tuesday episode of her show on The Daily Caller... which has angered actress Christina Applegate

Late: 'Yes late tweet.But woke to see the most horrifying thing. This Candace person making comments about companies who see we need help. Its f***ing gross,' Applegate said

'I thank skims and Tommy and Guide beauty and @neowalksticks for seeing us to,' adding the hashtag #youshouldknowbetter.

She also responded to a fan who said that Owens isn't worth spending any, 'air or mind space on,' adding, 'Honestly , she takes no space in my world. But always gotta call out a person who needs to see She will wake in the morning and her heart will hurt and hopefully she will change. All we can hope for.'

The Married With Children star also responded to a fan who said she also needs, 'clothing like this,' telling her to, 'Just Google accessibility lines. Its all new. The fashion industry is trying. With the shoes you can slip into to cosmetics.'

The actress later tweeted, 'Going to try and sleep but my rage is keeping me awake,' before enlightening Owens about her struggles.

'Candace Owens, do you know when you have seen pictures of me how f***ing hard it was to get my clothes on? A team has to help me!!! So Im excited for accessibility clothing for me and my community. Hope u wake,' Applegate said.

She then reached out to Owens, stating she'd be willing to talk with her if that's what she wanted, perhaps since she did say on her show, 'If I'm wrong, educate me.'

'I thought my last tweet was enough. But then my heart said something else. No rage. If Candace wants to get on the phone with me to be educated on being disabled. I will not come with anger. I will come with love. Because she needs to hear that. I pray for her tonight.sincerely,' Applegate added.

Owens herself responded to that tweet on Thursday morning, stating, 'Hey Christina huge fan of yours. Would welcome a discussion with you. DMs open '

Space: She also responded to a fan who said that Owens isn't worth spending any, 'air or mind space on,' adding, 'Honestly , she takes no space in my world. But always gotta call out a person who needs to see She will wake in the morning and her heart will hurt and hopefully she will change. All we can hope for'

Hard: 'Candace Owens, do you know when you have seen pictures of me how f***ing hard it was to get my clothes on? A team has to help me!!! So Im excited for accessibility clothing for me and my community. Hope u wake,' Applegate said

No rage: 'I thought my last tweet was enough. But then my heart said something else. No rage. If Candace wants to get on the phone with me to be educated on being disabled. I will not come with anger. I will come with love. Because she needs to hear that. I pray for her tonight.sincerely,' Applegate added

Huge fan: Owens herself responded to that tweet on Thursday morning, stating, 'Hey Christina huge fan of yours. Would welcome a discussion with you. DMs open '

She added, 'I think Christina, that what you may have missed is that covering absurd DEI initiatives is a recurring beat on my show.'

'We actually did not know that this particular ad featured a specific technology designed for people with disabilities, which was an honest mistake,' Owens admitted.

She added in another tweet, 'What we thought it was at the time, was another nonsensical representation matters DEI initiative which I strongly feel patronizes the people it purports to represent. (Example: clinically obese people modeling swimsuits). This wasnt that and we simply got it wrong.'

'We create a show 5 days a week. It is an impossibility that we would not at some point make an honest mistake. If you felt personally targeted by this mistake, I apologize to you. We simply did not know (the ad did not state) that the underwear was created for disabled access,' Owens concluded.

While Applegate did not personally respond to Owens' tweets, it seems clear she read them, seemingly addressing them in another tweet featuring an image of the ad that started it all on Thursday afternoon.

'Thank you @SKIMS for showing how beautiful the disabled community is And for your adaptive line for those of us with mobility issues. Not sure how you could not appreciate this and think it was an honest mistake,"' Applegate said.

The actress took her 12-year-old daughter Sadie Grace LeNoble to the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards in late February, where she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her role in Netflix's Dead to Me.

She arrived at the ceremony and walked the red carpet with her daughter while carrying a black cane that featured, 'FU MS' written on the bottom.

Applegate told the Los Angeles Times that this would be her 'last awards show as an actor probably, so it's kind of a big deal.'

'Right now, I couldn't imagine getting up at 5 a.m. and spending 12 to 14 hours on a set; I don't have that in me at this moment,' she explained.

Missed: She added, 'I think Christina, that what you may have missed is that covering absurd DEI initiatives is a recurring beat on my show'

Wrong: She added in another tweet, 'What we thought it was at the time, was another nonsensical representation matters DEI initiative which I strongly feel patronizes the people it purports to represent. (Example: clinically obese people modeling swimsuits). This wasnt that and we simply got it wrong'

Honest mistake: 'We create a show 5 days a week. It is an impossibility that we would not at some point make an honest mistake. If you felt personally targeted by this mistake, I apologize to you. We simply did not know (the ad did not state) that the underwear was created for disabled access,' Owens concluded

Thanks: 'Thank you @SKIMS for showing how beautiful the disabled community is And for your adaptive line for those of us with mobility issues. Not sure how you could not appreciate this and think it was an honest mistake,"' Applegate said
Billionaire Gretel Packer has spent a whopping $9million on a spectacular penthouse in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Located atop the Art Deco-inspired Macleay Regis building in fashionable Potts Point, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment boasts amazing harbour views and adjoins the sprawling pad Packer, 57, bought in 2017 for $8.75million.

The philanthropist daughter of the late media tycoon Kerry Packer now wants to create a mega-penthouse from the two flats, reports the Wentworth Courier.

The 350 sqm apartment Packer purchased five ago features three bedrooms and three bedrooms.

Packer sealed the deal on her new place this week.

Gretel Packer has spent a whopping $9million on a spectacular penthouse in Sydney's eastern suburbs. (Pictured: the harbour views from the penthouse)

Located atop the Art Deco-inspired Macleay Regis building in fashionable Potts Point, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment boasts amazing harbour views and adjoins the sprawling pad Packer, 57, bought in 2017 for $8.75million. (Pictured: the living room)

The philanthropist daughter of the late Kerry Packer now wants to create a mega-penthouse from the two flats. (Pictured: Gretel Packer in Melbourne on July 22, 2014)

Once merged, the two flats will make one huge 865sqm penthouse, which will cover the entire top deck of the apartment block.

A charming mix of 1930s elegance and modern luxury, Packer's new flat boasts a gorgeous original fireplace, wood finishings and beautiful parquetry floors.

Highlights include soaring interiors with floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the living areas, as well as an expansive kitchen.

Built in 1938, the Macleay Regis block was based on the famous Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Once merged, the two flats will make one huge 865sqm penthouse, which will cover the entire top deck of the apartment block. (Pictured: one of the two bedrooms)

The penthouse in the Macleay Regis originally covered the entire floor and was first owned by Percy Christmas of the retail giant Woolworths. (Pictured: the kitchen in the sub-penthouse)

The penthouse in the Macleay Regis originally covered the entire floor and was first owned by Percy Christmas of the retail giant Woolworths.

His family created a sub-penthouse from the existing apartment after he died in 1947.

Packer's new flat was purchased from London-based banker Greg Peacock.

It comes after Packer made a failed $22million bid on two adjoining penthouse apartments in the Kings Cross luxury block Omnia in 2019.
KIIS FM radio host Jason 'Jase' Hawkins played a brutal prank on his boss on Friday when he burst into his office and pretended to quit his job.

Hawkins, who is one half of Melbourne's Jase & Lauren breakfast show with Lauren Phillips, pulled the prank on the station's content director Adrian Brine.

He was recreating a real moment that happened earlier in his broadcasting career when he quit a job live on air because 'it wasn't a nice environment'.

Hawkins was mic'd up as he stormed into Brine's office during the breakfast show, and told him: 'I'm f**king done.'

'With who?' a bewildered Brine responded.

KIIS FM radio host Jason 'Jase' Hawkins (pictured) played a brutal prank on his boss on Friday when he burst into his office and pretended to quit his job

Hawkins went on to complain about a technical issue they'd had earlier that morning when interviewing Hollywood star Matt Damon.

'We lost Matt Damon this morning because they couldn't get the f**king Zoom link right. Every day. And I feel like I'm done,' he said.

He added: 'Every day. I'm done. Until they get their f**king s**t together. Let me know. And then I'll be back. But I can't do it anymore.'

Hawkins stormed out of the office after his expletive-filled rant, and Brine, known to listeners as 'AB', sat silent and stony-faced as he stared out the window.

Hawkins, who is one half of Melbourne's Jase & Lauren breakfast show with Lauren Phillips, pulled the prank on the station's content director Adrian Brine

Eventually, Hawkins went back in and revealed it was all just a prank and Brine was being filmed, to which the radio exec responded: 'I don't need this, this morning.'

Earlier in the broadcast, Hawkins revealed he had quit one of his first radio jobs in Brisbane in the middle of a song because he was overwhelmed and struggling with his mental health.

'I was sitting there and there was a minute and a half left on the song and I was like, "You know what, this isn't worth it for my mental health,"' he said.

'So I calmly packed up my headphones [and left].'

Hawkins got his first gig volunteering at Triple M doing odd jobs around the Brisbane office before becoming an official employee.

He went on to become a night producer then worked his way up the ladder.

But he wasn't destined to stay in Queensland, as Kyle Sandilands noticed his talent and poached him for the Hot30 Countdown in Sydney.
It turns out Lance Reedick considered his two co-stars in the four John Wick films family, and that the family bond actually translated to their characters on screen.

The late actor, who only just passed away six days earlier, offered up what he thought was one of the secrets to the success of the popular film franchise during a pre-taped segment with co-stars Keanu Reeves and Ian McShane on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday.

In fact, during the conversation, Reddick shared how the fourth installment leans on family more than ever.

'Family's such a huge theme in this particular film, more than any others [in the series]  literal family,' he told the host, before sharing how it transcended to a bond between the three actors.

'But also, you see, with the three of us, that it's not just the family you're born into, but the family you've created, and how much we really are family.'

Family man: Lance Reddick, who passed away on March 17, shared high praise for his John Wick co-stars during a pre-taped appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show that aired Thursday

Bittersweet: The late actor, 60, said he considered Keanu Reeves and Ian McShane 'family' both on screen and off during the segment on the daytime talk show

McShane then interjected about the importance of director Chad Stahelski serving as director of all four films in helping shape that bond.

'He [Reeves] and Chad have worked together for, you know, coming up on 30 years, or over 25 years,' he said, in a reference to Stahelski's work as Reeves' stunt double and stunt co-ordinator in The Matrix film franchise.

'So there's a deep understanding of each other and a deep empathy for the story,' McShane, 80, added, while also offering high praise to the man who created the characters. 'And Derek Kolstad wrote something which I think has been very true, and expanded upon in a very mature way, and in a very adventurist way...'

During the appearance on the daytime talk show, Reddick also shared how he was struck by how beautiful John Wick 4 looked, 'especially a film that moves so much and has so much almost relentless action.'

The Baltimore, Maryland native, who played Charon in the action-packed franchise, added, 'It's just stunningly gorgeous to watch.'

The promotional campaign for John Wick: Chapter 4 had only just kicked into high gear when the tragic news of Reddick's death broke on March 17.

The 60-year-old veteran character actor died of natural causes, his representative, Mia Hansen, said the day after he passed away at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, as reported by ABC.

'We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,' Reeves and Stahelski shared in a joint statement. 'He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends.'

Bonding: 'Family's such a huge theme in this particular film, more than any others [in the series]  literal family,' the Baltimore native told the host, before sharing how that family aspect transcended to a bond between the three actors

His other family: 'But also, you see, with the three of us, that it's not just the family you're born into, but the family you've created, and how much we really are family,' Reddick added during the appearance

Director's input: McShane, 80, interjected and shared about the importance of director Chad Stahelski serving as director of all four films in helping shape that bond between the actors and the characters

Family feel: Reeves, 58, smiled and nodded in agreement when the topic of 'family' was discussed, in relation to the bond between the three actors and the characters

The duo ended the statement by revealing that they had dedicated this latest sequel 'to his loving memory. We will miss him dearly.'

While on the red carpet for the film's Los Angeles premiere on March 20, Reeves shared some memories of his friend and colleague that he holds dear to his heart.

'We worked together on four films over ten years,' Reeves said of Reddick outside the TCL Theatre. 'He was a remarkable artist and a special person with grace and dignity.'

Referencing their on screen bond, Reeves added, 'I always thought that the connection between John Wick and Charon was special. I always said to him that people liked John Wick because he liked John Wick.'

John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to make its wide release in theaters in the U.S. on March 24.

Mainstays: Reeves, Reddick and McShane have all appeared in all four of the John Wick film

Promo mode: The promotional campaign for John Wick: Chapter 4, had only just kicked off when news of Reddick's death went public on March 17
Elle Macpherson showed of her natural beauty as she went make-up free for an Instagram live session on Thursday.

The Australian model, 58, looked sensational as she was joined by her friend Dr. Will Cole to talk about his new book Gut Feelings.

Television host Elle looked relaxed during the broadcast, opting for some comfortable white patterned loungewear.

She wore her long blonde hair in loose waves, with her tresses cascading down onto her shoulders.

The star told how her friend Will had encouraged her to keep the production value of her social media efforts to a minimum, with Elle admitting she was used to 'beautifully produced' advertising campaigns.

Fresh faced: Elle Macpherson, 58, showed of her natural beauty as she went make-up free for an Instagram live session on Thursday

Posting the clip after the stream on her Instagram grid, Elle wrote: 'Loved my conversation with my dear friend @drwillcole check out his new book Gut Fellings".'

It comes after it emerged Elle is dating Doyle Bramhall II, 54, who she was seen with at Paris Fashion Week last month.

Back in October Elle's new boyfriend was identified as the Texas-born musician.

Things were said to already 'getting serious' between the couple, who travelled around the world together, reported Australian magazine New Idea.

A source told the publication: 'Elle and Doyle have known each other for a while but their friendship recently turned romantic.

'It's getting serious. Elle travels the world with Doyle and already knows his two adult daughters.

'He worships her and is very supportive of her work in the wellness space, too,' they added.

Bramhall, who is best known for collaborating with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters, previously dated Renee Zellweger for seven years before they split in 2019.

Bold advice: The star told how her friend Will had encouraged her to keep the production value of her social media efforts to a minimum (pictured in September last year)

Going live: The Australian model looked sensational as she was joined by her friend Dr. Will Cole to talk about his new book Gut Feelings

The guitarist confirmed the romance as he shared a photo to Instagram of himself and Macpherson gazing lovingly at one another backstage at Clapton's concert in Switzerland.

It comes after Elle confirmed her split from disgraced former British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who is a hero of the 'anti-vax' movement.

Her spokesperson revealed the news to Daily Mail Australia in a statement last December, saying the pair actually broke up 'almost two years ago'.

'As a spokesperson for Elle I can unequivocally confirm that the relationship between Elle and Dr [sic] Wakefield terminated almost two years ago,' they said.

'There has been no contact subsequently.'

Macpherson reportedly first started dating Wakefield in 2017.

When asked about the break-up rumours earlier in 2021, a spokesperson for Wakefield said: 'He rarely answers press enquiries from mainstream news publications and doesn't comment on his private life.'

Lovebirds: It comes after it emerged Elle is dating Doyle Bramhall II, 54, who she was seen with at Paris Fashion Week last month

Wakefield, originally from Berkshire, was struck off the medical register in 2010 after his research showing the supposed link between the MMR jabs and autism was exposed as an 'elaborate fraud'.

His false claims led to a downturn in vaccination among children and renewed measles outbreaks.

Macpherson was previously married to French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon from 1986 to 1989, and to American billionaire Jeffrey Soffer from 2013 to 2017.

She shares two sons, Flynn and Cy, with another ex-partner, French financier Arpad Busson.
Rege-Jean Page and Justice Smith looked in good spirits as they attended the Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves after party on Thursday night.

The actors, who appear alongside each other in the upcoming American fantasy heist comedy drama, laughed and joked around following the star-studded premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London.

Embracing his co-star, Rege, 34, placed an arm around Justice's shoulder and the pair shared a giggle as they enjoyed themselves at The Crypt.

Dressed in a baby blue suit, Justice, 27, reciprocated the gesture and gently held onto the cuff of Rege's suit.

In one photograph, Justice covered his face with his palm after sharing a hushed exchange with the former Bridgerton lead.

Pals: Rege-Jean Page and Justice Smith looked in good spirits as they attended the Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves after party on Thursday night

Party: The actors, who appear alongside each other in the upcoming American fantasy, laughed and joked around following the star-studded premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square

They also posed for snaps with I Am Not Okay With This and Sharp Objects' Sophia Lillis, 21, who takes on the role of tiefling druid Doric in the upcoming film.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is set to hit cinemas up and down the country on March 31.

Chris Pine takes on main role Edgin Darvis in the heist comedy, a dad who tries to care for his daughter Kira, played by Chloe Coleman, 14.

The 42-year-old Star Trek actor described the process of making the movie as 'joyful and creative and imaginative'.

Meanwhile, Rege-Jean stars as Xenk Yendar, a paladin who ages slow, and Justice plays Simon Aumar, a wild magic sorcerer.

Love Actually's Hugh Grant, 62, also joins the cast and portrays con artist Forge Fitzwilliam, an ex-member of Edgin's gang.

Physical production on the movie began in April of 2021 with filming taking place in both Iceland and Ireland.

After several months of work, the project's crew wrapped in August of that year.

Animated: Both parties appeared to be having a whale of a time in each other's company

Dream team: Justice and Rege-Jean posed for photos with their co-star Sophia Lillis

Suited up: Actress Sophia, 21, cut a stylish figure in a black velvet suit and matching trousers

Looking sharp! After attending the film's premiere, Rege was seen leaving the afterparty solo

Happy: Sophia was also seen heading home from the premiere in her eye-catching velvet suit

Couples outing! Hugh Grant was accompanied by his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein after walking the red carpet

Altogether now: The cast posed together on the red carpet along with directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (far right)

Suited and booted: Rege-Jean oozed sex appeal as he went shirtless underneath his black suit

Star: Michelle Rodriguez cut a casual figure in a black leather jacket and matching skintight trousers

Suave: Chris Pine looked dapper in a grey suit with a bright orange tie

Hard to miss! Daisy Head sported a colour pastel geometric blazer as she exited the premiere

That's unusual! Michelle Rodriguez sported a bizarre plastic headpiece as she left the after party in the capital

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was initially supposed to be released in 2021, although its premiere date has been pushed back several times.

Earlier on in the night, Rege-Jean revealed that his first game of D&D was with his fellow co-stars and that they all sat down to play before filming started.

Speaking to PA, he said: 'It's a natural place for actors to hang out, great game of improv, but with magic and dragons.

'Just think like the wildest, most magical thing you can do, and then you pass it on to the player next to you.

'Players (like) Chris Pine are so sharp, so witty, that it gets even more wild than magic.'

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is released in cinemas on March 31.
Jenelle Evans hit back at trolls on Thursday after she was fat-shamed online for posing in a bikini on her Instagram Story.

The mom-of-three struck a few sultry poses on the edge of a boat to the soundtrack, Bo$$ Chick by Saweetie.

She sang along to the lyrics to the song got her point across.

'I ain't going nowhere; just embrace me, b***h. Always lurkin' on my page; you don't hate me, sis. I aint botherin' nobody; I just breathe and s**t. Deep down in your heart, you wanna be like this.'

Jenelle posted a second video to her Instagram Stories responding to comments about her 'belly' saying, 'This belly also housed three kids. Can you believe that? And this belly also had an appendix removed. Wow, that's crazy!'

Don't hate: Jenelle Evans, 31, flaunted her impressive figure in a black two-piece bikini as she responded to haters who fat-shamed her online after she posted bikini snaps earlier this week

She added, 'And this belly also had a hernia repaired, so yeah, girls go through a lot; the human body goes through a lot.'

She then patted her belly and said, 'But, yeah, damb, a belly can get big sometimes. I'm sorry if that's so surprising to you.'

The Teen Mom star was trolled for showing off her hip tattoo in a bikini on Wednesday as she posed in the bathroom with the inscription 'Ready for #BoatDay.'

It comes after Evans was finally granted full custody of her son Jace, 13, since she relinquished parental rights to her mother over 10 years ago.

She wrote in the caption of a video of herself signing the documents and shedding tears of joy: 'Words can't describe how happy I truly am. Our family is complete now! Thank you mom.'

The North Carolina native  who welcomed Jace, now 13, in 2009 with ex-boyfriend Andrew Lewis  had signed over custody of her eldest son to Barbara shortly after his birth.

Over the years, Jenelle continued a long battle in court with her mother over custody of her firstborn child due to battling drug addiction and having been arrested several times in her preteen years.

'My mom and I decided together to grant full custody back to me because we want to build our relationship back as mother and daughter,' Jenelle told Us Weekly in a statement.

She explained that her mother wished for Jace to live with his family and be around a good father figure.

'My mother agrees it's time for Jace to be back with his siblings and living with a mother and father,' she said.

Here's the deal: Jenelle posted a second video to her Instagram Stories responding to comments about her 'belly' saying, 'This belly also housed three kids. Can you believe that? And this belly also had an appendix removed. Wow, that's crazy!'

Bikini ready: The reality TV star was trolled online after she posted images showing off her tattoo in a a black two-piece swimsuit in a bathroom mirror on Wednesday

Regained custody: It comes after Evans was finally granted full custody of her son Jace, 13, since she relinquished parental rights to her mother many years ago

Finalized: She posted a sweet clip signing the paperwork and wrote,'#MyHappyEnding, IT'S OFFICIAL! Thanks everyone for the support!'

Happy tears: She wrote in the caption of a video of herself signing the documents and shedding tears of joy, 'Words can't describe how happy I truly am. Our family is complete now! Thank you mom'

It's official! The new custody arrangement became official after the Teen Mom star and her mother Barbara Evans signed the papers on March 16 after more than a decade; The duo pictured in 2015

'She also thinks it's important for Jace to be around a father figure to learn "boy things" and have "men talk",' she added, nothing that Barbara 'has seen the way David parents [her] children'.

'She knows we're able to handle it,' Jenelle continued. 'We want to all get along for the sake of the children and - like I said before - building back our relationship as mother and daughter.'

Her manager, August Keen, also told Us Weekly that despite disputes in the past, Jenelle and her husband have patched things up and are in a stable, healthy relationship.

'Jenelle and David are definitely together,' Keen said. 'Things between them are great.'

'They're a happy family, and they are completely fine,' he said.

Jenelle was 17 at the time of Jace's birth and had her entire pregnancy documented on MTV's 16 And Pregnant.

Jenelle also shares an eight-year-old son named Kaiser with her ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith and daughter Ensley, six, with her husband David Eason, 34.

David also has two children  Maryssa and Kaden  from previous relationships.

One big family: In a statement shared with Us Weekly, she explained that her mother wishes for Jace to live with his family and be around a proper father figure

Mother-of-three: Jenelle also shares an eight-year-old son named Kaiser with her ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith as well as daughter Ensley, six, with her husband David Eason, 34

Back together: Her manager, August Keen, also told Us Weekly that despite disputes in the past, Jenelle and her husband have patched things up and are in a stable, healthy relationship; Pictured 2016

In the past, Jenelle and David had lost custody of all of their children after a scary incident involving their dog in April 2019.

Eason killed their French bulldog, Nugget, after the dog allegedly attacked and bit Ensley.

Following the tragic event, their children were removed from their custody, and the couple separated for around a year.

Despite their rocky history and having both been fired from the MTV program, they ended up rekindling their relationship and reconciling their issues.
There were rowdy scenes in the streets of Sydney on Thursday night as the boozed-up brides from Married At First Sight partied into the early hours of the morning.

Several cast members went looking for a good time after attending a MAFS reunion hosted by Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa at the Grounds of Alexandria restaurant.

The tipsy stars, including Evelyn Ellis, Harrison Boon and Claire Nomarhas, spilled out onto the street after the event wrapped up at about 10:30pm.

Publicists for Channel Nine and production company Endemol Shine encouraged them to go home, but the group was determined to stay out late.

The minders eventually gave up trying to control the rowdy participants and left, telling Daily Mail Australia's photographer to look after them.

There were rowdy scenes in the streets of Sydney on Thursday night as the boozed-up brides and grooms from Married At First Sight partied into the early hours of the morning

Several cast members went looking for a good time after attending a MAFS reunion hosted by Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa at the Grounds of Alexandria restaurant

The tipsy stars, including Evelyn Ellis (left) and Claire Nomarhas (right), spilled out onto the street after the event wrapped up at about 10:30pm

Claire, unsurprisingly, was the most badly behaved bride.

The kindergarten assistant, 31, showed off her wild side as she leaned towards the camera to show off her cleavage and underboob tattoo.

She also gave gaslighting groom Harrison, 32, a piece of her mind by flipping him the bird as he sat on the hood of a red Toyota.

But their rivalry seemed to just be a joke, as they later posed for a friendly photo while Evelyn reapplied her makeup in the background.

Kindergarten assistant Claire, 31, showed off her wild side as she leaned towards the camera to show off her cleavage and underboob tattoo

She also gave gaslighting groom Harrison, 32, a piece of her mind by flipping him the bird as he sat on the hood of a red Toyota

But their rivalry seemed to just be a joke, as they later posed for a friendly photo while Evelyn reapplied her makeup in the background

Janelle Han, who looked elegant in a shimmering yellow dress, also got in on the fun by pretending to punch the self-proclaimed 'villain' in the face

The beauty influencer, 28, also struck a fierce pose alongside season heart-throb Duncan James, who wore a bold animal-print shirt

She behaved oddly in front of the cameras as Duncan looked away in embarrassment

The only two surviving couples from this year's season put on a united front. Melinda Willis dazzled in a glittery purple mini dress as she held hands with her dapper husband Layton Mills

Ollie Skelton kept close to wife Tahnee Cook, who showed off her figure in a strapless frock

Janelle Han, who looked elegant in a shimmering yellow dress, also got in on the fun by pretending to punch the self-proclaimed 'villain' in the face.

The beauty influencer, 28, struck a fierce pose alongside season heart-throb Duncan James, who wore a bold animal-print shirt.

The only two surviving couples from this year's season put on a united front.

Melinda Willis dazzled in a glittery purple mini dress that showed off her legs as she held hands with her dapper husband Layton Mills.

At one stage, members of the group looked lost with nowhere to go

Ollie, a voice-over artist from Perth, looked like a deer in the headlights and seemed not to realise he had a wet patch on his blazer

Janelle grabbed the end of Melinda's glitzy dress while Evelyn sported a bemused expression

Janelle looked ready to pounce as she crouched behind Melinda and Layton

Ollie Skelton, who sported a wet patch on his shoulder, kept close to wife Tahnee Cook, who showed off her figure in a strapless black frock.

Evelyn brought plenty of glamour in a revealing leather mini dress and stiletto heels.

Her racy frock featured floral detailing at the neck and split panels across the front, exposing the middle of her chest down to her navel.

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine and 9Now

Publicists for Channel Nine and production company Endemol Shine encouraged them to go home, but the group was determined to stay out late

The minders eventually gave up trying to control the rowdy cast members and left, telling Daily Mail Australia's photographer to look after them

Sandy Jawanda actually managed to have a good time as her ocean-loving oddball of an ex-husband Dan Hunjas was nowhere to be seen
Irish actor Patrick Gibson has spoken candidly about working on his new Stan fantasy film The Portable Door alongside Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, Sophie Wilde and Christoph Waltz.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, the Shadow and Bone star, 27, said he had 'so much fun' shooting the film, which centres on his character landing an internship at a mystical and magical company in London.

Patrick also recalled the first time he met Jurassic Park star Sam as they began filming on the Gold Coast.

He said the esteemed actor, 75, took him and some of the cast and crew to a local RSL club for a fun night out to help break the ice.

'My first time meeting Sam - we got texts in a group chat and he was like, ''right we're going to a RSL club'' and we went to see a Queen tribute act,' Patrick explained.

Irish actor Patrick Gibson has spoken candidly about working on his new Stan fantasy film The Portable Door alongside Sam Neill , Miranda Otto, Sophie Wilde and Christoph Waltz

'My first time meeting Sam we were blaring bohemian Rhapsody!

'It was so much fun and the first time I've been to Australia. We had such an amazing crew. And so much talent working on it. And it's so much fun to be back.'

He added that working with all his co-stars was like a 'dream'.

Patrick also recalled the first time he met Jurassic Park star Sam as they began filming on the Gold Coast. He said the esteemed actor, 75, took him and some of the cast and crew to a local RSL club for a fun night out to help break the ice

'They're a nightmare! It's not all fairytales! No, it was all great and so much fun. Working with those guys really was and it was such a dream,' he said.

Patrick has starred in several top-rating British series, including The Tudors, The OA and Shadow and Bone.

Speaking about his successful career, he said: 'I haven't really looked back that much.'

In the film, Patrick's character lands an internship at a mystical and magical company in London

Patrick added that working with all his co-stars was like a 'dream'. He is pictured here with Christoph Waltz

'I think maybe to a fault we tend to focus on what's next, but I've had so much fun on so many different things and different genres and dramatic things as well, but getting to do this was really special.'

The Portable Door was directed by Jeffrey Walker and adapted from Tom Holt's popular 7-book fantasy series.

Patrick portrays intern Paul Carpenter in the film and said he loves that fantasy films 'give you a chance to escape into another world'.

Patrick portrays intern Paul Carpenter in the film and said he loves that fantasy films 'give you a chance to escape into another world'

'I love fantasy stuff, especially stuff like this that's grounded in the real world and has that magical realism element,' he said.

One of the film's themes is the idea that 'nothing is a coincidence' and Patrick said it adds an interesting layer to the film.

'I'm pretty open minded about that stuff, I'm fascinated about what goes on underneath everything we see. Adding that element into a fantasy story is really fun.'

The Stan original film The Portable Door premieres April 7 on Stan.
Married At First Sight's Duncan James and Alyssa Barmonde have called it quits.

Duncan, 36, confirmed the sad news at the unofficial MAFS reunion hosted by Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa at the Grounds of Alexandria restaurant this week.

'During the week I reached out to Alyssa to check in on how she was,' he told Nova host Kate Ritchie.

'I said that I would be there for her and have a phone call, or if there was something I could do to help I would, but I didn't get a reply.'

Duncan and Alyssa started off as one of the strongest couples in the experiment.

Married At First Sight's Duncan James (pictured) has confirmed that he's called it quits with 'wife' Alyssa Barmonde

Duncan told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa that Alyssa (pictured) hasn't responded to his messages and currently isn't speaking to him

But this week, Daily Mail Australia revealed that the cyber security sales director is set to brutally give the mother-of-one the boot at their final vows.

According to an on-set spy, Alyssa was left in tears as Duncan blindsided her when he revealed his decision to walk away from their relationship.

The love-struck bride is understood to be shattered that she was 'strung along' when it seemed the producers knew Duncan had no intention of sticking by her side.

A source close to the devastated bride revealed, 'Alyssa just didn't understand why she was strung along.'

'Alyssa knew things were never going to work out with Duncan, as much as she wanted them to. They both live different lives.'

The cyber security sales director is set to brutally give the mother-of-one the boot at their final vows

According to an on-set spy, Alyssa was left in tears as Duncan blindsided her when he revealed his decision to walk away from their relationship

The source claimed that Alyssa was pressured her to say 'yes' by producers, when they 'clearly knew Duncan would be dumping her. It wasn't fair'.

Duncan's bombshell confession left Alyssa visibly crushed, as he coldly told her, 'I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to continue getting hurt.'

Daily Mail Australia understands that Alyssa and Duncan have only exchanged texts 'once or twice' since the show wrapped filming, and things are worse than imagined.

'They're not even on talking terms at the moment,' another source let slip.

'They both agreed that it was for the best not to do any joint interviews and aren't even pretending to be together.'

Despite odds stacked against them, Tahnee Cook and Ollie Skelton and Melinda Willis and Layton Mills are the only two MAFS couples to continue their relationship outside of the experiment.
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger coordinated in chic black outfits on Thursday night when they attended the premiere for Netflix's new comedy series Unstable in Los Angeles.

Pratt, 43, and Schwarzenegger, 33, were joined by her brother Patrick, 29, and mother Maria Shriver, 67, making their night out a family affair.

The Guardians of the Galaxy star  who is gearing up for the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie  looked handsome in his classic black tux while Katherine glowed with elegance in her striped satin design.

Patrick Schwarzenegger looked cool and casual in a suede bomber jacket and Shriver epitomized class in her simple black ensemble.

The family came out to support the launch of Rob Lowe's new show Unstable, in which he plays an eccentric high-tech visionary.

Gorgeous couple: Chris Pratt, 43, and Katherine Schwarzenegger, 33, coordinated in chic black outfits on Thursday night when they attended the premiere for Netflix's new comedy series Unstable in Los Angeles

Pratt posed for pictures alongside Lowe, 59, who was dapper in a blue blazer, matching pants, and a striped blue sweater.

During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Katherine revealed the details about how she met her A-list husband.

'We met each other at church,' said the self-help author, leading Barrymore to declare that she 'loved that' idea.

'It was very sweet,' said Katherine, who went on to quip: 'But he didn't, like, try and pick me up in church. Everybody's always like, "How did that happen that you were in church? How'd that work?"''

Married in 2019, the couple have two daughters  Lyla, two, Eloise, one  in addition to Pratt's 10-year-old son Jack, whom he shares with his ex-wife Anna Farris.

Barrymore told Katherine that Pratt is her 'favorite person' because he 'puts goodness into the world.'

She asked Schwarzenegger how she knew that the Jurassic World star was the one.

The mother of two dodged the question by suggesting she have her mom, Maria, set Drew up with a date.

Family night: Pratt and Schwarzenegger were joined by her brother Patrick, 29, and mother Maria Shriver, 67, making their night out a family affair

Classic style: The Guardians of the Galaxy star looked handsome in his classic black tux while Katherine glowed with elegance in her striped satin design

Dapper duo: Pratt posed for pictures alongside Lowe, 59, who was dapper in a blue blazer, matching pants, and a striped blue sweater. Lowe stars as an eccentric high-tech visionary in Unstable

Turning heads: Chris pictured with english actress Sian Clifford, 40

Keeping it cool: Patrick Schwarzenegger looked cool and casual in a suede bomber jacket and white shirt

Handsome pair: Patrick posed alongside Rob Lowe's son, John Owen Lowe, 28, who looked dashing in black

Pratt will soon be heard voicing Mario alongside Charlie Day's Luigi in the highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. Movie, premiering on April 5.

The film's cast will also include Jack Black as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, and Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, among others.

Chris Meledandri, who is listed as one of the film's producers, came to Pratt's defense shortly after it was revealed he would be voicing the iconic Italian character.

'All I can tell you is the voice that he's doing for us, and Mario, is phenomenal. Yeah I can't wait for people to hear it.'
Sam Burgess' girlfriend Lucy Graham is getting ready to become a mum for the first time.

The pregnant fashion designer is expecting her first child with the retired NRL star, 34, after confirming the happy news with Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

Now Graham looks to be getting in some practice before welcoming her child into the world by holding her baby niece.

In a sweet photo, the stunning Brit is glowing while cradling the bub in her arms while on holiday with her sister Tori in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Earlier this week, Burgess confirmed he and his girlfriend are expecting.

Sam Burgess' girlfriend Lucy Graham is getting ready to become a mum for the first time

'We are so excited and happy to be starting this new chapter together... Happy days,' he said in a statement.

Lucy, who hails from the UK, recently made the decision to move Down Under permanently and it's believed her pregnancy was the reason.

Burgess is already a doting father to his two children Poppy, four, and son Billy, three, with his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess (nee Hooke), and while he isn't able to see them as much as he'd like, he provides for them unconditionally.

Friends say they are 'beyond excited' Sam is starting a new chapter with Lucy by his side.

The pregnant fashion designer is expecting her first child with the retired NRL star, 34, after confirming the happy news with Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday

'We are so excited and happy to be starting this new chapter together... Happy days,' he said in a statement

'He's mad about Lucy. It's been a whirlwind but she is a fantastic woman. They get along so well. All of his friends are so thrilled to see how happy he makes her,' a close friend said.

'The Burgesses are very family oriented and I think there was always a plan to start a family. From what I hear, she is genuinely good for him. When they're together apparently they laugh all the time - she cracks him up.'

Burgess, who was born in West Yorkshire, England, has known Lucy for about 20 years.

Lucy's identity was revealed in October last year, after he took her as his date to the premiere of Russell Crowe's film Poker Face in Rome. Pictured together at the Poker Face premiere in Sydney last year

Her identity was revealed in October last year, after he took her as his date to the premiere of Russell Crowe's film Poker Face in Rome.

Lucy is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019.

Sam found love with Lucy after a series of flings that followed his acrimonious split from Phoebe in January 2019.
Natasha Fabrizi (nee Herz) shared some incredibly racy shots of her nude wife on Thursday.

The former Married At First Sight bride, 34, posted a sweet birthday tribute to her love Stephanie Fabrizi on Instagram.

She paired it with X-rated photos of the screenwriter completely topless with nothing but emojis edited over it to cover her nipples.

'Happy birthday wild thing,' said Tash, who made history as one half of MAFS' first ever lesbian couple in 2020.

'Youre a menace and I love making you happy, getting you naked, feeding you everything and reading your poetry and getting to watch you be who you are in the world. Lucky me.'

Natasha Fabrizi (nee Herz), 34, (left) shared some incredibly racy shots of her nude wife (right) on Thursday

It comes after Tash left Australia to move to Toronto with her Canadian wife in September last year.

At the time, she shared an adorable photo to Instagram showing the couple posing with a koala.

'Obligatory photo to say BYE AUSTRALIA! So much love to everyone who made the last five months so tender and lovely,' she wrote.

The former Married At First Sight bride posted a sweet birthday tribute to her love Stephanie Fabrizi on Instagram and paired it with X-rated photos of the screenwriter completely topless

'Youre a menace and I love making you happy, getting you naked, feeding you everything and reading your poetry and getting to watch you be who you are in the world. Lucky me,' Tash wrote in the caption

'We are a little heartbroken and will miss you guys so much BUT, Toronto calls,' she finished.

The pair tied the knot in Adelaide in May, after meeting via Instagram during the Covid pandemic.

After getting engaged in December, the happy couple officially married in an intimate ceremony at the Chateau Apollo in Adelaide.

Tash went for an unconventional bridal look in a loose white mini dress with matching platform cowboy boots, while Stephanie opted for a more traditionally masculine look in black trousers with a matching shirt and blazer.
Heather Gay was grilled about her friend Jen Shah after she pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Thursday's season premiere of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.

The 48-year-old reality star was immediately questioned by Gizelle Bryant, 52, upon arrival in Thailand as her cousin and fellow The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City co-star Whitney Rose, 34, sat next to her.

'I have a million questions to answer the Jen Shah of it all,' said Gizelle as she cut to the chase.

Whitney quipped that Heather was in the 'hot seat' and Heather remarked that Whitney was getting a 'pure pass on this one.'

'Well, she said you were with her,' Gizelle said, referencing Whitney telling them that Heather was in New York City with Jen when she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud during a hearing last July in federal court.

Immediately questioned: Heather Gay was grilled about her friend Jen Shah after she pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Thursday's season premiere of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip

'I ride for Jen, for sure. I am processing it, like, right now, live,' Heather said.

'That's what we wanna know. What happened?,' Whitney said.

'She told you that she was innocent?,' asked Candiace Dillard Bassett, 36, of The Real Housewives Of Potomac.

'Well, she told me she was innocent for a year and she swore on her family's lives. She swore on their lives that she was innocent that these were bulls*** charges,' Heather said as Candiace reacted in disbelief.

A flashback showed Jen six months earlier crying as she declared her innocence to Heather.

'But you knew she was lying,' Gizelle chimed in.

'Listen, uh, I don't know. The truth is, we are texting but we have not had a real conversation yet. And I don't know what changed,' Heather said.

'You know what it is? Thirty years. When you're facing 30 years, in a second, you're like I'm pleading to 14,' said Alexia Nepola, 55, of The Real Housewives Of Miami.

Fraud scheme: Jen Shah, shown in a season one promo for The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty last July to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison

Million questions: 'I have a million questions to answer the Jen Shah of it all,' said Gizelle as she cut to the chase

Good question: 'She told you that she was innocent?,' asked Candiace Dillard Bassett, 36, of The Real Housewives Of Potomac

Proclaimed innocence: 'Well, she told me she was innocent for a year and she swore on her family's lives. She swore on their lives that she was innocent that these were bulls*** charges,' Heather said

'I mean, I don't know. She called me five minutes before she walked into the courtroom and said, ''I don't want you to be blindsided'',' Heather said with a chuckle.

'Jen's a master manipulator,' Whitney said in a confessional. 'It's very easy for her to lie and to put on this, like, facade that you get so confused because you don't know who the real Jen is.'

'I just cried with her. I just cried with her on the phone,' Heather told her fellow reality stars.

'She believe she was innocent,' Candiace said.

'I don't know. I don't know,' Heather said. 'She either lied to me five minutes before she went into the courtroom or she lied to the judge.'

Alexia asked Heather if she was friends with Jen before the show.

'Yes. And I ride for her hard. I still do,' Heather said as Gizelle looked on with a sour expression.

'You're still riding for her? She lied to you for a year and a half,' Gizelle said.

Still riding: 'You're still riding for her? She lied to you for a year and a half,' Gizelle said

'I mean, yeah, she did,' Heather admitted.

'Loyalty is great, but when you realize that you're loyal to the wrong person, you gotta know when to retreat,' Gizelle said in a confessional. 'Back it up. Abort.'

A producer asked Heather how it felt to be grilled about Jen before she could even put her bags down.

'I expected it, and I'm glad that somebody thinks I have something to say. Just don't ignore me,' Heather told the camera laughing.

Heather told Leah McSweeney, 40, when she arrived about being questioned already about Jen.

'You're someone, I feel like has probably been manipulated by a narcissist,' Leah bluntly told her.

'Ok,' Heather responded.

Jen after pleading guilty last July was sentenced in January to six-and-a-half years in prison and started serving her sentence in February.

The first three episodes of season three of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip were released on Thursday on the Peacock streaming service and new episodes will be made available weekly.

Wrong person: 'Loyalty is great, but when you realize that you're loyal to the wrong person, you gotta know when to retreat,' Gizelle said in a confessional. 'Back it up. Abort'
Channel 10 presenter Angela Bishop gave Hugh Grant a surprise gift after his awkward Oscars interview with model Ashley Graham went viral.

After the 95th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood last Sunday, the British actor received immediate backlash on social media for rolling his eyes at the model while she was interviewing him on the red carpet.

The 62-year-old kept his answers very short and looked blatantly disinterested in her questions.

Following their awkward interview, Channel 10 spoke to The Notting Hill actor on Friday about his new film Dungeons & Dragons and presenter Angela Bishop gave him a gift.

She surprised him with a video message from Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrich Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, because Hugh said it's one of his favourite films.

Channel 10 presenter Angela Bishop gave Hugh Grant (right) a surprise gift after his awkward Oscars interview with model Ashley Graham (left) went viral

'I have a message for you from a very good friend of mine, Nicholas Hammond, who played Frederick,' Angela said.

The video message from Nicholas was then shown on screen, and he said: 'My great friend Angela Bishop told me you enjoyed the film and that is great to hear, I will pass that along to the other Von Trapp children.

'I wanted you to know that I am so happy you liked it and I very much enjoy all of your work too.

'I will go now, so long to Hugh, and Hugh and Hugh!'

Following their awkward interview, Channel 10 spoke to The Notting Hill actor on Friday about his new film Dungeons & Dragons and presenter Angela Bishop gave him a gift

The British actor then said that it was so lovely to get a message from him, and that he was a bit star struck.

He appeared much bubblier in the interview compared to his disastrous Oscar red carpet appearance, and he thanked Angela for the kind thought.

During his awkward chat on the red carpet with model Ashley, the About A Boy star kept his answers short and looked blatantly disinterested in her questions.

Kicking off the chat, bubbly Ashley said: 'What was it like to be in Glass Onion? How fun is it to shoot something like that?'

But she was met with a cringeworthy response: 'Well I'm barely in it, I was in it for about three seconds,' Hugh said.

'It still must have been fun though, you had fun right?' Ashley said as she powered through the one-sided chat.

Angela Bishop (left) surprised Hugh with a video message from Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrich von Trapp in The Sound Of Music

'Erm... almost,' the actor replied as he looked away.

Grinning and bearing the interview, the model asked: 'What are you wearing?' While Hugh offered an insightful: 'My suit.'

Viewers at home were left feeling rather embarrassed over the exchange, as they praised Ashley for how she handled the difficult situation and said the moment was 'the worst' since Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 ceremony.

However, others said her questions were boring, and questioned why a model with little hosting experience was interviewing on the Oscars red carpet.
Former Home And Away star Lisa Gormley has had a drastic hair transformation.

The actress, who played Bianca Scott on the soap from 2010 to 2014, has been active on social media since quitting the show and fans can't believe how different she looks.

While on the soap she had blonde locks but she is now embracing a more natural brunette look.

From her social media, the star appears to be enjoying an outdoorsy lifestyle as she shares wholesome photos of her wilderness adventures.

She also often shares photos of her rescue dog Sasha and her pony Lady.

Former Home And Away star Lisa Gormley is pictured before her transformation

She now has gorgeous brown curly locks

In one photo, she shows of her gorgeous brown curly locks as she hikes in Tasmania with her rescue pup.

In another, she kept her locks swept back in a bandana as she performed in a play in Tasmania.

In a Home And Away fan group on Facebook, viewers of the soap couldn't believe how different she looks.

'Who remembers Lisa Gormley, she played Bianca Scott. Doesn't she look so different now? Well, I think she does,' one fan asked.

The actress, who played Bianca Scott on the soap from 2010 to 2014, has been active on social media since quitting the show and fans can't believe the transformation she's had

In a Home And Away fan group on Facebook, viewers of the soap couldn't believe how different she looks

Another stunned fan of the actress replied: 'Wow she does look different, I had to look twice lol.'

While a third said: 'Definitely different. Perhaps because she hasn't got the longish blonde hair.'

Someone else agreed: 'That so does NOT look like her.'

Another viewer added that she looks 'unrecognisable' but added that she is still very beautiful.

Lisa has gone on to have an illustrious theatre career, recently starring in Amy's Tattoo and A Midsummer's Much Ado about Kings, Queens & Jokers.
Carrie Bickmore's ex-partner Chris Walker was 'joking' when he responded to rumours the former Project presenter is 'growing close' to her radio co-host Tommy Little, a new report claims.

The ABC TV producer shared a bizarre image on Instagram late Wednesday night of Little, 38, gatecrashing a family photo shoot from 2018, when Bickmore, 42, was pregnant with the couple's third child.

The post was an 'an ill-advised joke' and may have been posted by a friend of Walker's as a 'prank' according to an alleged insider, The Herald Sun reported on Friday.

The paper added that insiders close to Walker claims that he, 'doesn't believe there is any truth to the rumours'.

However it went on to claim that sources in Carrie's camp believe that, 'Walker has moved into the anger stage of a break-up.'

Carrie Bickmore 's ex-partner Chris Walker was 'joking' when he responded to rumours the former Project presenter is 'growing close' to her radio co-host Tommy Little, a new report claims. Carrie and Chris are pictured

Walker did not caption the post, and deleted it almost six hours later.

His unusual post was screenshotted and reposted by the gossip account Influencer Updates AU, which asked its followers: 'Theories what this means?'

One explanation is that Walker was laughing off reports of Bickmore and Little's friendship, which has become the subject of much speculation in the months since the couple announced their separation in January.

Bickmore and Little have co-hosted the Carrie & Tommy radio show for the Hit Network for years, and are known for their on-air chemistry.

The image Walker shared was from a tongue-in-cheek photo shoot from November 2018.

The ABC TV producer shared a bizarre image on Instagram late Wednesday night of Little, 38, gatecrashing a 2018 family photo shoot, when Bickmore was pregnant with daughter Adelaide. All pictured

The photo showed a pregnant Bickmore posing with Walker and their two children, Ollie and Evie, but things became awkward as Little was standing right behind Walker and squeezing his buttocks.

At the time, the Channel 10 personality was expecting the couple's daughter Adelaide, who is now four years old.

The shoot raised money for Unicef Australia's Save a Newborn Appeal. At least one company, Little Innoscents Organic, donated $20,000 to the charity.

'This is what happens when you let Tommy [organise] a beautiful photo shoot to celebrate Carrie's pregnancy,' Hit FM captioned the photo at the time.

It comes as Bickmore is said to have grown close to her radio co-host Little, who is also single following his break-up with ex-girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021.

It comes as Bickmore is said to have grown close to her radio co-host Little, who is also single following his break-up with ex-girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021

Their professional relationship began in 2016 when Little joined Bickmore on The Project

Little rushed to the mother of three's side in January when she confirmed her split from Walker, leading insiders to speculate their friendship could evolve into something more.

In recent months, Little has shared several gushing tributes to Bickmore on Instagram, and in one post called her the 'best in the business' who 'lifts up everyone around her and makes them look good'.

Ahead of her last day on The Project last November, Little treated her to a private helicopter ride across Melbourne.

He is often seen close to her at glitzy events, including the 2022 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) last October, where he didn't leave her side even as guests got up from their tables and mingled with others.

Ahead of her last day on The Project last November, Little treated her to a private helicopter ride across Melbourne

He is often seen close to her at glitzy events, including the 2022 Australian Commercial Radio Awards last October

The duo are regularly seen posing for cosy selfies on social media, which has prompted curious fans to question whether romance is on the cards.

'You guys make a lovely couple,' one recently commented on a photo of the pair.

'Get a room already, you two,' another said.

It's not hard to see why fans are hoping for love to blossom, as Little and Bickmore are already known for their electric chemistry.

Their professional relationship began in 2016 when Little joined Bickmore on the panel of The Project.

It's not hard to see why fans are hoping for love to blossom, as Little and Bickmore are already known for their electric chemistry

The duo are regularly seen posing for cosy selfies on social media, which has prompted curious fans to question whether romance is on the cards

'You guys make a lovely couple,' one fan recently commented on a photo of the pair

The pair began co-hosting Hit Network's Melbourne drive show in 2017, and immediately gained a cult following thanks to their entertaining and organic banter

A year later, the pair began co-hosting Hit Network's Melbourne drive show in 2017, and immediately gained a cult following thanks to their entertaining and organic banter.

In November 2022 it was confirmed the show had been renewed for another four years.

Carrie announced her split from her longtime partner Walker in January this year via Instagram, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children.

The news came just one month after Bickmore hosted her last episode of Channel 10's The Project after stepping down because she wanted to spend more evenings at home with her family.

Almost a year earlier, in February 2021, it was reported that Little had split from his ex, social media manager Natalie.

At the time, the couple vanished from each other's social media feeds and he was spotted on dating app Tinder.

Carrie announced her split from Chris (pictured in happier times) in January via Instagram, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children, Ollie, 15, Evie, seven, and Adelaide, four
Gwendoline Christie cut a stylish figure as she joined Jarvis Cocker at his photographer girlfriend Kim Sion's birthday bash in London on Thursday.

The Wednesday actress, 44, looked gorgeous in a double-breasted cream suit for the swanky celebrations at Tramp Private Members' Club.

Her chic ensemble was tailored to perfection and hugged every inch of her svelte figure.

Opting for a dewey make-up look Gwendoline wore her blonde tresses over one shoulder in loose curls.

She toted a black clutch and appeared to be having a wonderful as she posed for snaps inside the venue.

Style: Gwendoline Christie, 44 (right) looked sensational as she attended photographer Kim Sion's birthday bash in London on Thursday (pictured with fashionista Jess Morris)

Pucker up: Jarvis Cocker, 59, packed on the PDA with the birthday girl - and girlfriend - during the party

Style: Gwendoline (right) looked gorgeous in a double-breasted cream suit for the swanky celebrations at Tramp Private Members Club (Pictured with Kim Sion, left and Dave Bennett centre)

Meanwhile Pulp frontman Jarvis, 59, packed on the PDA with the birthday girl - and girlfriend - Kim.

He rocked a retro inspired brown suit for the big night which he layered over a crisp shirt and tie.

Jarvis sported his trademark oversized glasses with his brown locks loose while sporting a grey beard.

Photographer Kim, who has shot for Vogue and Vivienne Westwood, slipped into a figure-hugging jumpsuit.

She teamed the polkadot look with a sparkly silver bag and styled her blonde tresses loose as they tumbled past her shoulders.

It comes after Pulp bassist Steve Mackey passed away on January 2 aged 56 after spending 12 weeks in hospital 'fighting with all his strength'.

Jarvis was seen for the first time since the tragic loss on Wednesday as he went shopping with Kim in West London.

Announcing his death, Steve's wife Katie wrote on Instagram: 'After three months in hospital, fighting with all his strength and determination, we are shocked and devastated to have said goodbye to my brilliant, beautiful husband, Steve Mackey.

Party time! Gwendoline (left) appeared to be having a wonderful time and hugged up to birthday girl Kim (right)

Lovebirds: Meanwhile Pulp frontman Jarvis packed on the PDA with the birthday girl - and girlfriend - Kim

Retro style: He rocked a retro inspired brown suit for the big night which he layered over a crisp shirt and tie

Stunner: Photographer Kim (right) who has shot for Vogue and Vivienne Westwood, slipped into a figure-hugging jumpsuit (pictured with pal Jemima Khan)

Hot stuff: Jemima, 49, sent temperatures soaring in a plunging black gown with racy thigh-high split

Steve died today, a loss which has left myself, his son Marley, parents Kath and Paul, sister Michelle and many friends all heartbroken.

'Steve was the most talented man I have ever known, an exceptional musician, producer, photographer and filmmaker. As in life, he was adored by everyone whose paths he crossed in the multiple creative disciplines he conquered.

'I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff who worked tirelessly for Steve. He will be missed beyond words.

'The family has asked for privacy at this time.'

Model good looks: Jemima (left) posed up a storm alongside model Laura Bailey

Chic: Laura cut a chic figure in an all black ensemble

Hello! Pop star Bobby Gillespie also attended the event (pictured with Kim Sion)

Fun times: The guests danced the night away as they celebrated their friend's birthday

The news came as a huge shock to fans, coming five months after Steve revealed he wouldn't be taking part in Pulp's reunion.

The band had initially been formed in 1978 by a 15-year-old Jarvis and Peter Dalton, then 14.

Steve was asked to join the band in 1989 after following Pulp and befriending Jarvis.

The bands first album including Mackey, and their third altogether, was called Separations and led to new success throughout the 1990s and they signed with Island Records.

Following the news of his death, Pulp shared a photo of Steve on tour in South America in 2012 and wrote: 'Our beloved friend & bass player Steve Mackey passed away this morning. Our thoughts are with his family & loved ones.

Celebrations: (L-R) Birthday girl Kim pictured with artist Lorena Lohr

Say cheese: (L-R) Charles Aboah and Camilla Lowther enjoyed the evening

Guest list: (L-R) Emma Woollard, Wild Cat Will and Stefania Rocca

'This photo of Steve dates from when Pulp were on tour in South America in 2012. We had a day off & Steve suggested we go climbing in the Andes. So we did.

'It was a completely magical experience. Far more magical than staring at the hotel room wall all day (which is probably what we'd have done otherwise).'

They continued: 'Steve made things happen. In his life & in the band. & We'd very much like to think that he's back in those mountains now, on the next stage of his adventure.

'Safe travels, Steve. We hope to catch up with you one day. All our love.'

Steve married his longtime girlfriend, Katie, in 2009 and welcomed son Marley in 1996.

Bassist: It comes after Pulp frontman Mackey Steve died aged 56 on January 2 (pictured performing at Leeds Festival in 2011)

Heartbroken: Pulp rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978 - Mark Webber, Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Steve Mackey, Candida Doyle L-R 1998

In October, the bassist said he would not be joining this year's Pulp reunion tour - but did not share he was secretly battling with his health.

The band - Jarvis, Candida Doyle, Nick Banks and Mark Webber - had planned to reform for a second time to play a number of dates across the UK and Ireland.

The tour which kicks off on 26 May stars in Bridlington Spa and includes two festival appearances, at Glasgow's TRNSMT (7 July) and Latitude (21 July).

In a post shared to Instagram, Steve explained he wouldn't be joining them.

He said: 'I've decided to continue the work I'm engaged in  music, filmmaking and photography projects, and will not be joining them for these UK shows just announced.

'Wishing Candy, Nick, Mark and Jarvis the very best with forthcoming performances in the UK and also an enormous thanks to Pulp's amazing fanbase, many of whom have sent me lovely messages today.'

As a record producer, Steve produced songs and albums by M.I.A., Florence + the Machine, The Long Blondes and Arcade Fire.
Tekashi 6ix9ine has reportedly refused to hire more security despite being beaten to a pulp in a recent ambush.

The artist was jumped by a group of men as he tried to leave a fitness club in Florida five years after breaking rank to testify against gangmates and Cardi B.

However according to TMZ the rapper, 26, has no plans of leaving the area despite being threatened by his attackers.

Tekashi, real name Daniel Hernandez, is also said to be planning on continuing to go out alone as he refuses to let 'one incident' change the way he lives.

A source told the publication: 'He's actually been going out in public without his hired muscle pretty regularly over the last year -- without issue'.

Standing strong: Tekashi 6ix9ine, 26, has reportedly refused to hire more security despite his recent ambush by a group of men

Assault: The artist was jumped by a group of men as he tried to leave a fitness club in Florida five years after breaking rank to testify against gangmates and Cardi B

'We're told he's not about to let one incident change the way he lives. He wants to continue to live as normal a life as possible... and is chalking up the gym beatdown as an outlier'.

It comes after the quick-thinking gym staff at LA fitness were able to prevent any further harm coming to the star by locking him in another room, TMZ reports.

Sources told the site that the attack will have come as a shock to the rapper and staff as Tekashi was a regular at the Florida LA Fitness.

While he's been recognised in the past he's said to have been happy to pose for snaps with fans and has never had any problems with the other patrons.

It comes after shocking new video emerged showing the minutes just before a group of men ambushed Tekashi on Tuesday.

Gym surveillance footage obtained by TMZ shows the men may have had a plan in place to attack the rapper - as one is seen letting the other into the facility just before the beating.

Footage of the attack itself was posted online late Tuesday evening and shows the jump on the rapper who was seen bloody and blue with severe injuries.

The footage of the attack itself shows Tekashi 6ix9ine being beaten 'to a pulp' last night and humiliated in front of other gymgoers at the LA Fitness.

The group of men who beat him later boasted about the attack on social media.

Not afraid: However it's believed the rapper has no plans of leaving the area despite being threatened by his attackers

No chance: With Tekashi, real name Daniel Hernandez, also said to be planning on continuing to go out alone as he refuses to let 'one incident' change the way he lives

In videos circulating online, the assailants called him a 'rat' who wouldn't be tolerated in their 'hood'

In videos circulating online, they called him a 'rat' who wouldn't be tolerated in their 'hood.'

While kicking and punching him, one could be heard yelling to another: 'Take a picture, take a picture - I am going to be famous now.'

Tekashi 69 was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of armed robbery, attempted murder, racketeering and firearms possession

On Wednesday, TMZ reported that the rapper was taken to the hospital from injuries to his face, back, ribs and jaw.

According to the outlet, he's still receiving treatment in the hospital.

The exact reasoning for the attack remains unknown at this time.

It's unclear what prompted the attack but Tekashi is not short of enemies; in 2018, he was labeled a 'snitch' after testifying for prosecutors against the likes of the Bloods gang and Cardi B.

The rapper cut a deal to lessen his own sentence after being charged with an array of crimes, and spent just two years behind bars.

Tekashi had faced a 47-year minimum sentence and maximum of life in prison when he was arrested back in 2018 on charges including racketeering, firearm possession, armed robbery and attempted murder.

It was part of a widespread crackdown on gangs in New York, during which nine members of the same gang were taken into custody.

He quickly abandoned his co-defendants, cutting a deal with the prosecution instead and agreeing to be their star witness.

In court, he took the stand to describe the inner workings of the gang and his own ascent through it.

Team: After testifying for the government against gang members in 2018, the rapper was labeled a 'snitch' and beefed up his security team

The rapper quickly cut a deal with prosecutors and agreed to testify against his gangmates, some of whom went down for 24 years

Among those who were incriminated by Tekashi at the trial was rapper Cardi B. She was not charged

'We participated in a lot of crimes. Robberies, assaults, drugs,' he said.

As a result, Anthony Ellison - one of his co-defendants - was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Tekashi was sentenced to two years in prison in December 2019.

By then, he had already completed 13 months.

He was released early in April 2020 and allowed to serve the remainder of his term on house arrest.

He had pleaded with corrections officials to be released, saying he was afraid of contracting COVID behind bars.

Since then, he has done little keep a low profile.

He continues to boast about money and women on social media, where he has more than 24million followers, and is still making music.
Married At First Sight's Evelyn Ellis brutally snubbed her co-star Harrison Boon as he gave a speech at a Nova Radio event on Thursday.

The bride, who is married to Rupert Budgen on the show, fixed her makeup while Harrison was trying to get the attention of the room at the glamorous event at The Grounds of Alexandria restaurant in Sydney.

In a clip posted to the Fitzy & Wippa Instagram account, the bride was obviously making a statement as she turned her back to Harrison and started applying her lipstick.

The 27-year-old used her phone camera as a mirror and appeared to look oblivious to Harrison's speech.

However, it appears that she did it on purpose as the bride has been vocal about her dislike for Harrison on the show.

Married At First Sight's Evelyn Ellis (pictured) brutally snubbed her co-star Harrison Boon as he gave a speech at a Nova Radio event on Thursday

The bride, who is married to Rupert Budgen on the show, fixed her makeup while Harrison (pictured) was trying to get the attention of the room

In a clip posted to the Fitzy & Wippa Instagram account, the bride was obviously trying to snub her co-star as she turned her back to him and started applying her lipstick

She wasn't the only bride on the night who showed her anger towards Harrison, who has been receiving backlash from his fellow castmates for how he treated his wife Bronte Schofield on the show.

After the glitzy event, bride Claire Nomarhas gave the 32-year-old groom a piece of her mind by flipping him the bird as he sat on the hood of a red Toyota.

It may have been a joke, however, as they later posed for a friendly photo.

After the glitzy event, bride Claire Nomarhas gave the 32-year-old groom a piece of her mind by flipping him the bird as he sat on the hood of a red Toyota

It may have been a joke, however, as they later posed for a friendly photo, but Evelyn was having none of it as she applied her photo again in the back of the photo

But Evelyn was having none of it as she was seen applying her make-up again in the background of Claire and Harrison's photo.

Janelle Han also got in on the fun by pretending to punch the self-proclaimed 'villain' in the face.

The beauty influencer, 28, placed a fist in front of his cheek with a devilish grin on her face.

Other MAFS stars that attended the glamorous event included Duncan James, Melinda Willis, Layton Mills, Sandy Jawanda and Tahnee Cook.
She shared she was not allowed to say goodbye to Front Row listeners

The star, 60, has switched from Front Row to Round Britain Quiz on Radio 4

Kirsty Lang has admitted she 'lamented' BBC bosses for the way they handled her exit from her Radio 4 show, after hosting the programme for 19 years.

The star, 60, who used to present BBC Radio 4's Front Row, before moving to Round Britain Quiz, shared she was not allowed to say goodbye to her listeners.

She also explained that the company, who persuaded her to not bid her listeners farewell, did not announce her departure from the show.

Kirsty wrote on Twitter: 'Like @revrichardcoles I also feel sad that @bbcradio4 never announced my exit from @bbcfrontrow & persuaded me not to say goodbye to listeners after 19 years of presenting.

After a series of angry messages from fans who were shocked at her admission, she later wrote: 'Thanks for the lovely messages from @BBCFrontRow listeners.'

Sad: Kirsty Lang has admitted she 'lamented' BBC bosses for the way they handled her exit from her Radio 4 show, after hosting the programme for 19 years

She also clarified that she left voluntarily and added: 'My lament was the lack of an official announcement or goodbye but I'm now very happy to be the new presenter of Round Britain Quiz.'

A spokesperson for BBC Radio 4 declined to comment.

It comes after Reverend Richard was left feeling 'frustrated and sad' over the way his BBC Radio 4 departure has been handled after 12 years on air.

The clergyman, 60, made the decision to depart Saturday Live - which he co-hosts with broadcaster Nikki Bedi - after the show was relocated from London to Cardiff.

He was given the option to present the series from Cardiff but chose to leave.

His exit comes amid a mounting 'ageism' row at the BBC following a major shake-up at sister station Radio 2.

The broadcaster has faced a mass exodus of top talent, with stars Ken Bruce, Paul O'Grady, Vanessa Feltz and Craig Charles among those to have departed.

Richard's final show will be on Saturday and he has now addressed his exit for the first time, admitting it feels 'a little bit rushed'.

He told The Guardian newspaper: 'If you leave a programme after 12 years, a gentler process would have been nice. But what happens happens.

Unhappy: It comes after Reverend Richard was also left feeling 'frustrated and sad' over the way his BBC Radio 4 departure has been handled after 12 years on air

Sad goodbye: Richard's final show will be on Saturday and he has now addressed his exit for the first time, admitting it feels 'a little bit rushed'

Moving on: The clergyman, 60, is departing Saturday Live - which he co-hosts with broadcaster Nikki Bedi - after the show was relocated from London to Cardiff

'It just feels a little bit rushed. It's been frustrating for me having to wait for an announcement, and now it's my last programme on Saturday. I'd rather have had a longer goodbye to listeners.

'It just feels a bit sad. I'm sorry to go; I've loved the programme, I've loved the people I've worked with, and it's been a big part of my life. I shall miss it.'

Richard - who was one half of the 1980s British synth-pop duo the Communards - said that it is a 'shame' the programme is unable to remain in London as he admitted he believes that the show is 'doing really well' there.

The decision to relocate the show comes as part of the BBC's wider plan to move some key jobs and programmes out of London - to make the corporation more reflective of the UK as a whole.

A BBC spokesperson told the publication: 'Richard has been brilliant on Saturday mornings and very much continues to be part of the Radio 4 family.

'We look forward to working with him on future projects.'

Richard thanked listeners for their 'kind comments' in a post on social media - where he revealed he would be continuing with podcast 'The Rabbit Hole Detectives' on Spotify.

News of Richard's departure left listeners saddened, with one person saying: 'Disappointed to hear this news. Very much enjoyed Saturday Live with you at its helm. Hope enjoyable new projects beckon.'

Others vented their fury at the BBC, with one person saying: 'The way the BBC is casually jettisoning its presenters at the moment is truly appalling.'

Listeners reacted with anger at news Richard would be departing from Saturday Live - with some lashing out at the BBC for 'casually jettisoning' its popular team of presenters

Richard took to social media to thank people for all their 'kind comments' following news of his departure from Saturday Live.

Scottish broadcaster Ken Bruce, 72, announced he would be ending his 45-year career with the BBC last month. He is joining rival commercial station Greatest Hits Radio

New role: Paul O'Grady has joined rival radio station Boom eight months after quitting Radio 2 following an ageism row

Out with the old: Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism as a string of older DJs step back, including Paul O'Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo

While another added: 'So sorry you've been treated this way by the BBC, you'll be missed.'

Last month it was revealed that broadcasting veteran Ken Bruce would be leaving Radio 2, to join rival station Greatest Hits Radio next month - and bringing his popular midmorning music quiz Popmaster with him.

He said: 'It's great to be working with the team at Boom again. It already feels like my new radio home. My producer Malcolm and I are looking forward to our special TeamPOG show on Easter Sunday - who knows, this could be the start of a regular gig.'

Earlier this week it was revealed that Paul O'Grady has joined a rival radio station eight months after quitting BBC Radio 2.

The presenter, 67, hosted a Sunday show for 14 years on the BBC station before he quit the station amid a mass exodus of popular talent at the corporation.

He will now be reprising his show on Boom Radio and will host his first Sunday show on Easter Sunday alongside regular sidekick, long suffering producer Malcolm Prince.

The Liverpool-born star enjoyed more than a decade at Radio 2 hosting the Sunday afternoon show.

But the host was unhappy about being asked to share duties with Rob Beckett, 37, which saw the comedian taking over for two three-month stints each year.

Speaking last month, Paul confirmed the schedule's shake-up was the reason behind his departure.

He told Metro: 'I was disappointed because I'm a great believer in continuity.

'If you go off for 13 weeks and somebody else comes on, the listeners don't know when you're back on.'

He also questioned Radio 2's desire to appeal to younger audiences, saying: 'Radio 2 has changed, it's not what it was.

'They're trying to aim for a much younger audience, which doesn't make sense because you've got Radio 1.'

He added: 'Radio 2 was always for an older audience'.

In the past three years, BBC Radio has also lost big-hitters Graham Norton, who quit the station just before Christmas in 2020 but whose talk show is broadcast on BBC One, and Simon Mayo.

Radio 2 has been trying to woo younger listeners with fresh talent including ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul's Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin, and DJ Spoony, while also reducing the bill it pays some of its big-hitters.

Bruce was the latest star to depart Radio 2, hosting his final show earlier this month after 31 years.

He accused bosses of hastening up his departure following his move to commercial radio.

The 71-year-old Scot Tweeted ahead of his final show: 'I will be presenting my last show on Radio 2 next Friday.

'I had intended fulfilling my contract until the end of March but the BBC has decided it wants me to leave earlier. Let's enjoy the week ahead.'

A Radio 2 spokeswoman said: 'Ken decided to leave Radio 2 and it's always been known he's leaving in March.

'Returning to Wogan House for a week after a month of broadcasting the Piano Room sessions at Maida Vale provided a natural break. We wish Ken all the best for the future.'

Bruce is being replaced by presenter Vernon Kay, 48, as part of Radio 2's bid to rejuvenate the station's line-up.

Other veteran stars including Vanessa Feltz, 61, Craig Charles, 58, and Simon Mayo, 64, announced their departures over the past months, having been replaced by younger stars, sparking complaints from listeners, accusing the station of ageism.

Steve Wright, 68, also left his weekday afternoon show last year, replaced by former Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, 49.

It comes amid a wider 'brain drain' after journalists Dan Walker, Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Andrew Marr all ditched the corporation for high-paid jobs at rival broadcasters including LBC and Channel 5, where they are not bound by the BBC's strict impartiality rules.

Radio 2 is still the UK's most popular station, but its overall weekly audience has fallen by 580,000 to 14.29million.

The BBC has lost more over-45s (798,000) than those aged 15-44 (479,000) in the last year.

Commercial stations have gained 802,000 over-45s, an increase of 4.2 per cent.

Radio 3 has suffered the biggest station-wide drop, down 6.3 per cent to 1.8million, while Radio 1 - home to DJs including Greg James and Clara Amfo - is down 4.6 per cent to 7.7million listeners a week. Radio 4 has dropped 3.8 per cent to 10million.

Overall, the weekly reach of radio in the UK is up from 49.4million to 49.6million per week.

Boom Radio is an independent UK radio station aimed at baby boomers and bosses hope to lure Radio 2 listeners put off by the introduction of younger DJs.

On Christmas Day, Paul hosted a one-off show which pulled in a record number of listeners to the station.

Speaking about Paul's new show, Boom co-founder Phil Riley says: 'It's a testament to the success of Boom Radio that a broadcaster like Paul, at the top of his game, has agreed to join us for this Easter special.

'We know our audience loved him at Christmas, so it's great to have him back.'

Paul's Easter Sunday show on Boom Radio starts at 2pm.
Sofia Richie, 24, looked like a goddess in some snaps she shared on her Instagram on Thursday night.

The model - who recently celebrated her bridal shower - wore an off-the-shoulder cream-colored, floor-length, knit dress which she paired with a belt around her trim waist.

Her blonde hair was parted in the middle and pulled up into a semi-messy bun. She accessorized with a pair of classic gold hoop earrings.

'Nude shoulder for a Nude launch,' she captioned one of the posts.

On the other post featuring her stylish look, she simply captioned it with a martini glass emoji.

Bombshell beauty: Sofia Richie, 24, looked like a goddess in some snaps she shared on her Instagram on Thursday night

The influencer recently launched her three-piece Nudestick line for the makeup brand Nudestix.

She is officially the Nude Beauty Director for the makeup line that launched in 2014.

Sofia's line launched its pre sale of Sofia's collection on March 15 and was made available to the general public on March 22.

The fashion designer's line contains a $22 Exfoliating Butter Body Wash, a $28 Resurfacing Body Toner and a $38 Peptide Body Creme.

And she was involved in the creation of the products she's representing.

'For one of our first meetings, they were like, "Why don't you bring in your favorite skin-care products, from body to face,"' she told Glossy.

'So I brought in four or five products that I've used for a long time. It was a long meeting. We went product by product, ingredient by ingredient, and pinpointed the key things that I feel are important for skin care and that they feel are important.'

'They have much more knowledge than I do, when it comes to mixing ingredients.'

Launch: The model wore an off-the-shoulder cream-colored, floor-length, knit dress which she paired with a belt around her trim waist

Sofia's aim with her products was for them to feel more like self-care.

The social media personality is keeping busy - she recently had her bridal shower and will be celebrating her wedding to fiance Elliot Grainge soon.

Last month she had an elaborate bridal shower featuring a custom-made bar, floral-adorned cakes, and even Elliot himself.

Friends and family feasted on an array of cakes ranging in shades of pink to white and topped off with an array of blossoming florals.

Guests enjoyed drinks ranging from champagne to water, served on a custom bar featuring the bride's name.

Getting married: The social media personality is keeping busy - she recently had her bridal shower and will be celebrating her wedding to fiance Elliot Grainge soon

The latest bash comes several months after Sofia celebrated her bachelorette party in epic fashion in Paris.

Sofia and Elliot got engaged on April 19, 2022. Elliot, 28, is the son of Lucian Grainge, the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group.

And Elliott works as the CEO of indie record label 10K Projects and works with Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine.

Sofia and Elliot started dating in early 2021 and they went Instagram official in April 2021.
Daniel Radcliffe and his girlfriend Erin Darke looked loved-up on Friday as they took a stroll in New York City.

The Harry Potter star, 33, and the actress, 38, both cut laidback figures as they wrapped up from the cold.

Daniel wore a blue padded jacket over dark jeans and navy blue trainers, while adding a splash of colour with a bright yellow and blue striped bobble hat.

Erin wore a checked coat over a black zip-up hoodie, teamed with black leggings and orange boots.

The couple met while working together on Kill Your Darlings in 2012 and have been together for more than a decade.

Couple goals: Daniel Radcliffe and his girlfriend Erin Darke looked loved-up on Friday as they took a stroll in New York City

Casual: The Harry Potter star, 33, and the actress, 38, both cut laidback figures as they wrapped up from the cold

Daniel opened to People about the first time he met Erin in 2020, saying: 'It'll be a hell of a story to tell our kids one day because of what our characters do with each other' referring to a sex scene the couple has in the film.

He continued: 'Our characters are meeting and flirting with each other, so there is this kind of sweet record of us just meeting for the first time and flirting.'

In 2015, he spoke to Playboy about how he was immediately attracted to her in their first scene together in the film.

He said: 'There's no acting going onnot from my end, anyway. There's a moment when she makes me laugh, and I'm laughing as me and not as my character.

'She was incredibly funny and smart. I knew I was in trouble.'

Erin told People that the pair bonded over how much we really love what we do, and theres something thats really beautiful and really lovely about being with someone who just innately understands that about you.'

She added: 'Were both incredibly supportive of the other persons career.'

Daniel is most famous for starring as the titular Harry Potter in the movie series, while Erin has starred in Still Alice, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Good Girls Revolt.

The couple shared the screen together once again in 2021, in a an episode of The Miracle Workers, and they haven't ruled out working together again.

Daniel said: 'We obviously met on film and so getting to do stuff on Miracle Workers with her last year was incredibly special and felt lovely.

'Hopefully we'll get to do more in the future, but we also both write, so maybe we'd write something together at some point, and that would be cool.

Bundled up: Daniel wore a blue padded jacket over dark jeans and navy blue trainers, while adding a splash of colour with a bright yellow and blue striped bobble hat

Effortlessly stylish: Erin wore a checked coat over a black zip-up hoodie, teamed with black leggings and orange boots

Sparks: In 2015, he spoke to Playboy about how he was immediately attracted to her in their first scene together in the film

Biggest roles: Daniel is most famous for starring as the titular Harry Potter in the movie series, while Erin has starred in Still Alice, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Good Girls Revolt

Partners: The couple shared the screen together once again in 2021, in a an episode of The Miracle Workers, and they haven't ruled out working together again

While speaking to People in March 2022, Daniel said: 'I've got a really nice life. I've been with my girlfriend for a decade pretty much. We're really happy'

Both notoriously private, the couple rarely step out together in professional settings but live together in New York City.

Erin has been on hand to support Daniel at the premiere for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and The Lost City of Z in 2022.

In 2014, he referred to her as his best friend in an interview with Us Weekly: 'I think that's the kind of relationship I always aspire to have with someone I'm in a relationship with.

'You want that person to be your best friend. In the case of Erin, we definitely are.'

While speaking to People in March 2022, Daniel said: 'I've got a really nice life. I've been with my girlfriend for a decade pretty much. We're really happy.'
Matt Damon, 52, and Casey Affleck, 47, have returned to their hometown of Boston to film their upcoming movie The Instigators.

And the actors looked like they were having a blast as they filmed a dramatic heist scene on Friday.

The acclaimed actors, who play thieves, were dressed for the part in all black clothing and beanies as they filmed their hijacking of an armored truck.

The Instigators is about 'two thieves who must go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery goes awry,' according to Deadline.

The Bourne Identity's director Doug Liman helms the Apple Original Film.

Reunited: Matt Damon, 52, and Casey Affleck, 47, have returned to their hometown of Boston to film their upcoming movie The Instigators

The film also stars Hong Chau, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for The Whale, and Richard Jewell star Paul Walter Hauser.

Earlier this week, the actors were snapped filming another scene where they appeared to be stealing some firefighter gear from the station, or possibly impersonating firefighters.

Both appeared to have soot and dirt caked on their faces, indicating that their character had been through quite an ordeal.

Matt looked determined as he carried a firefighter's uniform from one of the parked trucks in the station, while Casey was just behind him pulling another outfit out of the open door.

Although Matt's friendship with Casey's brother Ben is better known, he and the younger sibling have appeared together in almost as many films over the years.

The were both part of the eponymous thieving ensembles in Oceans Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, though Matt played a more prominent role along with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

Their next collaboration will be in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film Oppenheimer, about the creation of the atomic bomb.

They previously played dual leads in the 2002 drama Gerry, which was directed by their Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant, who co-wrote the film with the two stars.

Having fun: The actors look like they're having a blast as pics from the set have surfaced of the old friends cracking each other up while filming

And that's not the only filmmaking reunion the Interstellar star has had lately.

He and his Good Will Hunting co-star and co-writer - and Casey's older brother - Ben Affleck made the Michael Jordan biopic Air together.

And Ben loved working with his old friend again.

Ben - who directed the movie and also plays the part of Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike - told IndieWire: 'I love and trust Matt so much, and it was so lovely to be working together.'

'It was kind of like a feeling of, I want the other actors to feel [this too].

Thieves on the run: The Instigators is about 'two thieves who must go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery goes awry'

'Like, "Come on, it's all good, I love actors, I love you, you're going to be OK, everyone, take as much time as you want, do what you need to do and be respected, and to kind of project that energy."'

Ben and Matt shot to international prominence in 1997, when they co-wrote the Academy Award-winning 'Good Will Hunting'.

Air hits theaters on April 5
Former Coronation Street star Matthew Marsden has revealed he and wife Nadine had become parents for a seventh time.

The actor, 50, took to his Instagram on Thursday to share the first snap of the tot who was wrapped up in a hospital blanket.

British born Matthew and his Maltese wife who he wed in 2005 have now set up home with their growing brood in Texas.

He previously rose to fame in 1995 as mechanic Chris Collins on the ITV soap, before going on to launch his own pop career.

After his stint on the show he signed with 500,000 deal with Columbia records and performed alongside Destiny's Child on the 1998 track She's Gone.

Bundle of joy: Former Coronation Street star Matthew Marsden, 50, has revealed he and wife Nadine had become parents for a seventh time

New arrival: The actor took to his Instagram on Thursday to share the first snap of the tot who was wrapped up in a hospital blanket

Cute: Matthew captioned the sweet snap of the newborn: 'Blessed'.

Jumping the pond: British born Matthew 2005, and his Maltese wife who he wed in Matthew have now set up home with their growing brood in Texas (pictured together in 2005)

Matthew captioned the sweet snap: 'Blessed'.

After leaving his pop career behind him he went on to star in 2001 war epic Black Hawk Down are more recently Prime Video show Reacher.

Earlier this year Matthew said he stands by his decision to not get the Covid jab despite admitting it has cost him roles in Hollywood.

He went on to urge more people to rebel against compulsory vaccination, adding: 'If more people stood up and said something then this would all stop.'

Going on to tell Fox Nation's 'Tucker Carlson Today' he was offered a job that required everybody on-set was vaccinated but tried to apply for a religious exemption, adding: 'You can imagine how that went down in Hollywood.'

Matthew has been a fierce critic of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, frequently slamming lockdowns, mask-wearing policy and mandatory jabs.

He said he was willing to sacrifice his career to ensure US freedoms were not 'taken away.'

'I've worked a lot with soldiers and it's really difficult for me to say that losing my career is a difficult decision to stand up for what is right when they'll go, and they'll die, and they'll lose everything,' he told Carlson.

'This is all happening because we're letting it happen,'he said, warning that 'It doesn't matter who you are, they'll come after you they're relentless.'

The actor revealed in December he had lost a job due to his views on vaccination.

Back in the day: He previously rose to fame in 1995 as mechanic Chris Collins on the ITV soap, before going on to launch his own pop career (pictured in Corrie in 1997)

On the street: He played the role of Sally Webster's love interest (pictured with Michael Le Vell, Denise Welch and Sally Whittaker)

It is unclear whether he was referring to the same role in his latest interview.

He said: 'If more people stood up and said something, then this would all stop.

'We are this great country, which is the last best hope for the world. This isn't just about this country, it's about the whole world.

'I know because I saw it. I know because I was there dreaming of coming here. I'm that guy.'

He added: 'I didn't become a citizen of this country to have my First Amendment rights and my other rights [taken away] for me to have to worry about having to lie about something like having a vaccine, I think it's an invasion of privacy. I don't think it's right.'

Family: He now often takes to Instagram to share snaps of his growing brood

USA: As well as a look at the family's life in Texas

Marsden is known for his conservative views and speaking out against 'woke' ideologies.

In December, he commented that right-wing celebrities were more likely to be 'cancelled' for their opinions while left-wing celebrities could freely express their views.

He cited Mark Ruffalo, Ron Pearlman and Sean Penn as exampled.

Drama: Earlier this year Matthew (right) said he stands by his decision to not get the Covid jab despite admitting it has cost him roles in Hollywood

Marsden frequently posts his views about Covid on his Twitter profile

'Conservatives in Hollywood speak up against tyranny, and we get cancelled. The phone stops ringing,' he wrote on Twitter.

'Thats all they have to do. Ruffalo, Pearlman and Penn say all kinds of stuff and nothing happens to them. In fact, they will be sought out because of their 'brave stances.'

More recently, he wrote on the micro-blogging site: 'If everyone is vaccinated, there is no control group. Remember that.'
Love Island's Will Young revealed filming was thrown into chaos after the 'Three Musketeers' got drunk on a stolen bottles of prosecco in the villa.

The farmer, 23, who struck up a strong friendship with fellow contestants, Tom Clare and Casey O'Gorman, admitted that the cheeky trio 'started getting p***ed.'

He explained that while filming scenes at the Beach Club, they had 'clocked' the bottles of booze and decided to sneak them back into the main house.

During his appearance on the Saving Grace podcast, Will admitted that the pal's got so drunk they could no longer film.

He said: 'Around the Beach Club were just bottles of Prosecco and then me, Tom and Casey - the Three Musketeers - all went around together.'

Funny: Love Island's Will Young revealed filming was thrown into chaos after the 'Three Musketeers' got drunk on a stolen bottles of prosecco in the villa

Chaos: The farmer, who struck up a strong friendship with fellow contestants, Tom Clare and Casey O'Gorman, admitted that the cheeky trio 'started getting p***ed' (L-R Casey and Tom)

Will continued: 'We sat down and we had a couple of glasses. We clocked it - we got one of the bottles and starting drinking it.

'No one said anything so we were like 'f*** yeah. We'll have another one'. We got a couple more bottles, went to the terrace and started getting p***ed.

'That's why there was no filming of us that day because Tom was supposed to speak to Samie and I was supposed to talk to Jessie and they were like: 'We can't film.'

'Casey was with us and got a little bit free, a little bit mellow, went downstairs, got shouted at. Me and Tom were at the top like "Oh God."'

He added: 'We had our tops off, we were waving them round like this.'

Will and his partner Jessie Wynter missed out on reaching the show's final by one day after failing to secure the public vote after all of the couples were asked to pick which pair they thought was the least compatible.

Since their arrival on UK soil, Jessie has already taken a trip to Will's farm and revealed that their first date was in fact a late night shop in the local Tesco.

She told The Mirror: 'We went to Tesco for our first date  we did the big shop, picked up some snacks. Then we went to the village pub for steak and chips and a chicken burger.'

Party time: He explained that while filming scenes at the Beach Club, they had 'clocked' the bottles of booze and decided to sneak them back into the main house

Best pals: 'Casey was with us and got a little bit free, a little bit mellow, went downstairs, got shouted at - we had our tops off waving them around' he laughed

Jessie continued: 'It was so nice to get out of the villa, and since we've left we've been a lot happier. We don't have people interfering in our relationship.'

Meanwhile Will gushed about having found the love of his life on the ITV2 show and how he has big hopes for their future.

He said: 'I wouldn't be with her if I thought she wasn't marriage material. Our plan is to split our time between the UK and Tasmania.'

After leaving South Africa, the sheep farmer said: 'I think it's very fair to say I would go to Australia. A relationship is a two-way thing. It would be unfair for me to rely on Jessie moving here 100%. Australia has always been a place I'd like to go to and travel.'
Kate Bosworth and Justin long have become engaged, People claimed on Friday.

This follows weeks of heavy speculation that Long proposed to the Blue Crush actress after she flashed a diamond ring on her wedding ring a the Vanity Fair Oscar party on March 12.

The site claims that multiple sources have told them that she is set to wed the 44-year-old He's Just Not That Into You actor.

The insider added that 40-year-old Kate has been 'showing off her engagement ring' and is on 'cloud nine.' And the source added that she has been telling friends how 'great' he is.

They met while filming House of Darkness in Arkansas in 2021 and confirmed their romance in March 2022.

She will be Mrs Long: Kate Bosworth and Justin long have become engaged, People claimed on Friday

Love is in the air: This comes after their engagement has been speculated about for the past few weeks as the Blue Crush actress has been flashing a diamond ring on her wedding ring

DailyMail.com has reached out to their reps for confirmation.

'Kate is just on cloud nine,' a source linked to Bosworth said to People.

'She is showing off her engagement ring to friends. She is being coy about details, but she is beaming.'

It was added: 'Everyone is happy for her. Justin is a great guy. He adores her. It's just amazing to see them together.'

They sparked engagement rumors after she attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party wearing a dazzling diamond ring on March 12.

The ring is spectacular.

Chris Arakel of The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles told DailyMail.com that the diamond is between five and seven carats. 'The price could possibly be around $500,000,' he added.

An insider told People last week that the actress 'can't wait' to tie the knot with Long.

'Kate is just the happiest. Justin is an amazing guy,' the source said. 'She can't wait to marry him. They are very cute together.'

The source added the actress has 'amazing energy' whenever she is with Justin: 'She is just beaming.'

Long Crush! The site claims that multiple sources have told them that she is set to wed the 44-year-old He's Just Not That Into You actor

Earlier this month the couple sparked engagement rumours during a PDA-packed appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscars party.

Chris Arakel of The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles told DailyMail.com the diamond is between five and seven carats. 'The price could possibly be around $500,000'

The lovebirds couldn't keep their hands off each other as they kissed passionately inside the bash at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Sunday night.

But it was the dazzling diamond on Kate's ring finger that truly turned heads as the couple gazed into each other's eyes on the red carpet.

The pair first sparked relationship rumours in the spring of 2021, meeting on an unnamed film project in Arkansas and connecting from the very beginning.

Kate was previously married to film director Michael Polish, 52, with whom she tied the knot in 2013.

The pair remained together for nearly a decade before they announced that they had separated last year, leading Kate to file for divorce in July. The divorce was recently finalized, according to Us Weekly.

Justin's list of Hollywood exes include A-listers Amanda Seyfried and Drew Barrymore, who he gushed to about Kate in an interview in September 2022.

XOXO: The insider added that 40-year-old Kate has been 'showing off her engagement ring and is on cloud nine'

Drew said: 'It's true and I'm so happy that you are in this also amazing relationship. I'm just so happy because you deserve to be happy. I'm so thrilled for you.'

Justin noted: 'She does all those things. And she adores you. She is the most supportive, most wonderful. You would love hanging out with her. We'll all go out together.'

In January, Long wrote in a birthday tribute calling Bosworth the 'best part of' his 'day, every day  even when' they're 'not together.'
Interview: Chinese modernization offers inspiration for global development -- Senegalese experts

Xinhua) 13:41, March 24, 2023

DAKAR, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China's path to modernization and its commitment to high-quality development will continue to inspire and serve as a reference for the rest of the world, providing great opportunities for countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, said Senegalese experts.

China is more resolute than ever to work with the international community to implement the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative as well as promote the common values of humanity, Amadou Diop, a Senegalese expert on China and a journalist of the Senegal national daily Le Soleil, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"China is not only saying but also materializing it through concrete and important initiatives and programs, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation," said Diop.

Recalling his trip to China in 2019, Diop said what impressed him most was his visit to China's seventh-largest desert, Kubuqi Desert, which has now turned into an oasis.

"Thirty years ago, Kubuqi was an arid place with very low vegetation coverage. With strong winds, sand can be blown long distances to other places overnight," he said.

"Today, thanks to reforestation initiatives and the introduction of new ecological techniques, poverty is falling and plants are flourishing in this vast yellow sandy environment. Green industries have been developed here," Diop said based on what he saw and heard, highlighting that China's path to modernization is one of harmony between humanity and nature.

China played an important role in protecting the environment and promoting green development, which has motivated developing countries to achieve sustainable development, said Abdoulaye Ba, general secretary of the Foreign Press Association in Senegal.

"Chinese modernization represents China's efforts to attain national prosperity and people's happiness," he noted.

"Over the past decade, China's achievements in various fields have been impressive and widely recognized by the international community," said Ba, noting that the East Asian country has eradicated absolute poverty, experienced sustained economic growth, and made remarkable advances in technological fields, especially in terms of innovation.

"The promotion of Chinese modernization impacts various fields, such as economy, politics, culture, and ecological civilization, and it will create new opportunities for cooperation between Africa and China," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
She always manages to look effortlessly chic.

So it came as no surprise to see Jodie Comer looked radiant as she stepped out in New York on Thursday.

The actress, 30, opted for a charcoal grey boilersuit that skimmed over her lithe frame and featured wide legged trousers.

She kept her accessories simple, donning small gold hooped earrings.

Jodie completed the look by wearing her golden locks in a topknot.

Dressed to impress: She always manages to look effortlessly chic. So it came as no surprise to see Jodie Comer looked radiant as she stepped out in New York on Thursday

It comes after Jodie showed off her lavish birthday celebrations after turning 30 earlier in the month.

The Killing Eve actress gave fans a sneak peak into her festivities by sharing a slew of snaps on Instagram.

Among them, she revealed a huge flower-embellished birthday cake and a stay at a Swanky hotel in London.

Taking to her social media, she posed on a brown leather couch at the Standard hotel in London as she smiled into the distance.

The star put on a stylish display in a black vest and blue denim jeans as she posed in front of the picturesque views of the city.

She added inches to her frame with black boots and accentuated her natural beauty with a stunning palette of make up.

Clearly enjoying her time in the city, she snapped a picture outside Hammersmith Apollo, where she watched Self-Esteem perform on stage.

In another photo, she put on a very cheeky display as she showed off her behind, marked with an Access All Areas pass on her back pocket.

The ticket read 'eat your own ears'.

Chic: The actress, 30, opted for a charcoal grey boilersuit that skimmed over her lithe frame and featured wide legged trousers

Blonde beauty: She kept her accessories simple, donning small gold hooped earrings. Jodie completed the look by wearing her golden locks in a topknot

The beauty opted for black leather jacket with tight jeans to wear to the event.

Captioning the post on Instagram, she wrote: 'It may have only been a day but I think 30 is my favourite. Thank you for having us @thestandardlondon'.

Though she's just turned 30, Jodie certainly had a very successful year, making almost 1.4million last year.

The Killing Eve actress saw assets in her company Jodesco Limited rocket from 912,000 to 2.27million, driven by her blossoming career.

Her business has boomed with the star holding 1.8million in reserves after paying out a 294,000 tax bill and other creditors.

She is best-known for her show-stopping performance as assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve, which she starred in alongside Sandra Oh as intelligence officer Eve Polastri.

Jodie has also starred Doctor Foster, The Last Duel, Help and has even taken to the stage for her one-woman show Prima Facie, which is set to go to Broadway next year.

Despite her riches, Jodie is still understood to base herself at her childhood home with her parents in Liverpool.

In a recent interview, she said: 'I'd live with my mum and dad till I was old and grey if I could.

'But I'm definitely looking to move out. I recognise I need my own space and independence. I just don't want to do it.'

Jodie's successful acting career has seen her win two BAFTAs - one for Killing Eve and one for her Covid care home drama Help last year.

Jodie, who started out her career in Waterloo Road and Holby City as a teenager, also won a Primetime Emmy for BBC crime drama Killing Eve and has earned herself a host of other nominations.

Lavish: Jodie recently showed off her lavish birthday celebrations after turning 30, revealing a huge flower-embellished birthday cake and a stay at a Swanky hotel in London

Cheeky! The Killing Eve actress gave fans a sneak peak into her festivities by sharing a slew of snaps on Instagram

Having fun: Clearly enjoying her time in the city, she snapped a picture outside Hammersmith Apollo, where she watched Self-Esteem perform on stage

Her career is set to take off further with Hollywood producers keen for her to get big film roles following successful parts in Star Wars Episode IX and Free Guy.

She is also filming with Austin Butler and Tom Hardy in Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders, which is set for release this year.

The film is a fictional story inspired by the photography of Danny Lyon and his 1967 book The Bikeriders, according to Deadline.

The plot is set in the 1960s and will follow the rise of a fictional Midwestern motorcycle club as they turn into a gang over the space of a decade.
Jay-Z currently holds the title of richest rapper in the world

He sold his 50 percent of DUsse Cognac back to Bacardi for $750M in February

Jay-Z has found himself richer than ever as he cements his status as the world's wealthiest rapper.

The 53-year-old music mogul is now worth an eye-popping $2.5 billion after Forbes updated its estimation of his net worth on Friday.

Contributing to his massive wealth, which recently crossed the $2 billion mark, was his recent sale of a majority of his 50-percent stake in the luxury cognac brand DUsse back to its parent brand Bacardi, which earned him a reported $750 million, according to TMZ.

Despite the sale, Jay (real name: Shawn Carter) will still retain a significant ownership of the liquor brand going forward, so he's poised to reap the rewards if its sales are strong.

His family wealth is even greater, as his wife Beyonce, 41, is worth an impressive $426 million as of 2022.

Top of the world: Jay-Z increased his net worth to $2.5 billion, according to Forbes, after selling a majority of his 50-percent stake in D'Usse Cognac to Bacardi in February. He has cemented his title as the richest rapper in the world; seen in October 2021 in London

At the time of of publication, Forbes had declared Jay-Z the 1,210th richest person in the world, though that ranking fluctuates often.

Last month, he was able to sell off a slim majority of his 50-percent stake in DUsse Cognac back to Bacardi after

'Growing DUsse over the past decade from an idea to one of the fastest-selling spirits in history has been a blessing,' Jay said in a statement once the deal was announced. 'The next phase of this journey will further cement DUsse's legacy as one of the worlds most respected brands. I am excited to renew this partnership with Bacardi.'

Jay, through his liquor company SCLiquor, had previously sought an outside buyer for his half of D'Usse after raising concerns that the Bacardi subsidiary Empire Investments  which runs the liquor brand  was mismanaging it.

In response, Bacardi offered to buy out the rapper and to cement its ownership of the luxury liquor brand, but Jay thought the offer was lowballing him.

According to TMZ, he estimated the value of his D'Usse stake at $2.5 billion, but Bacardi claimed it was only worth around $460 million.

After seeing Bacardi's valuation of its own half of the brand, Jay-Z changed course and tried to buy the other half of D'Usse for $1.5 billion, yet Bacardi rejected the offer despite it being more than three times the value it had previously claimed.

After the impasse, Jay sued Bacardi to force it to buy him out, and he accused the brand of unfairly influencing a third party that appraised the value of the liquor brand.

Now that Bacardi owns at least 75.01 percent of D'Usse, it appears that the rapper's previous sale bid was closer to the agreed-upon value of the company.

Jay-Z has also been riding high after Billboard ranked him as the greatest rapper of all time last month on a list of the top 50 emcees ever.

He also has the distinction of having the most Grammys ever for a rapper at 24.

However, his wife Beyonce surpassed him  and everyone else  as the most awarded artist at the Grammys at the most recent ceremony when she reached a total of 32 lifetime wins, surpassing the record previously held by the legendary classic conductor Georg Solti.

Two bread earners: His family wealth is even greater, as his wife Beyonce, 41, is worth an impressive $426 million as of 2022; seen in 2019 in London

Resolved: Jay reportedly earned around $750M for selling a majority of his D'Usse stake back to Bacardi. He had previously sued the company, accusing it of lowballing him with its valuations; seen in October 2021 in Cleveland

End of an era: Yesterday, it was reported that Beyonce and Adidas had mutually agreed to part ways on her Ivy Park line of activewear, which she will regain complete control of. The arrangement had earned her a cool $20 million per year

Beyonce is still worth an impressive $426 million, thanks in part to her sterling record sales, massively popular tours and her high-priced brand partnerships.

She and Jay have even put on multiple tours as a duo, and in 2018 they released the hit collaborative album Everything Is Love.

Yesterday, it was reported that Beyonce and Adidas had mutually agreed to part ways on her Ivy Park line of activewear, which she will regain complete control of.

The arrangement had earned her a cool $20 million per year.
Vanessa Kirby looked chic as she stepped out with her boyfriend Paul Rabil on Thursday.

The Crown actress, 34, looked lovingly at her American lacrosse player beau, 37, as they departed Chiltern Firehouse in London.

They were as loved-up as ever during the outing after they first sparked dating rumours walking hand-in-hand through New York City last year.

Vanessa bundled up in a long wool coat with a pair of black leather trousers layered underneath.

She boosted her height with some heeled boots and pulled her blonde hair back into a high ponytail with an animal print scrunchie.

Out and about: Vanessa Kirby, 34, looked chic as she stepped out with her boyfriend Paul Rabil, 37, on Thursday

Cute: The Crown actress looked lovingly at her American lacrosse player beau as they departed Chiltern Firehouse in London

Meanwhile Paul, who is also the co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, put on a dapper display.

He wore a light grey jumper with a pair of smart trousers and some white trainers, adding a navy coat for warmth.

It is unknown when the couple first started dating, however they have been spotted together in New York since September.

Paul previously dated Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez and was married to fellow sportswoman Kelly Berger, from 2014 until 2017.

In April of last year, Vanessa was linked to Christopher Abbott after the pair were spotted enjoying a drink at a trendy bar in London's Soho.

The pair, who met when they played a married couple in 19th Century romantic drama The World To Come in 2020, were deep in conversation at Ducksoup.

An onlooker said the stars 'looked super comfortable in each other's company' as they drank wine and chatted for a couple of hours at an outside table.

Vanessa previously dated Callum Turner after they starred in 2014's Queen And Country.

Adorable: They were as loved-up as ever during the outing after they first sparked dating rumours walking hand-in-hand through New York City last year

Chic: Vanessa bundled up in a long wool coat with a pair of black leather trousers layered underneath

Stylish: She boosted her height with some heeled boots and pulled her blonde hair back into a high ponytail with an animal print scrunchie

Slick: Meanwhile Paul, who is also the co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, put on a dapper display

Cosy: He wore a light grey jumper with a pair of smart trousers and some white trainers, adding a navy coat for warmth

They got together a year later but parted in 2020, blaming busy schedules for their split.

Meanwhile It was reported in December by Just Jared that Paul split with actress Eiza Gonzalez, 32, after seven months of dating.

The source said: 'The split happened a few weeks ago and it wasn't ugly at all. Their work schedules just weren't aligning and it put a strain on their relationship. They're going to remain friends though!'

MailOnline has previously reached out to representatives of both Vanessa and Paul for comment.
Michael Bay got lucky after men who may have been undercover thieves were turned away from his Los Angeles home on Monday.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the scary run-in is being investigated as a potential attempted robbery.

According to them, one of the 58-year-old filmmaker's employees told police that two men buzzed in at the property's outdoor intercom and claimed they were there to read the water meters.

However, the employee reportedly was concerned because of odd details with the men that didn't seem to add up.

Scary: Police tell TMZ that Michael Bay may have been the victim of an attempted robbery after two suspicious men claiming to be city employees came to his home on Monday and said they wanted to check its water meters; seen in March 2022 in Berlin

First, they represented themselves as city employees, but their white van had New York plates, when presumably it would have had local plates if it was a city-owned vehicle.

The employee also thought there was an odd lack of professionalism with the employees, whose uniforms didn't seem to have been properly fitted for them.

One of the two men had his stomach partially exposed, which aroused suspicions that he may not have been who he said he was.

The employee also told police that the men appeared to be looking all around the area, as if they might have been casing it for a future robbery.

To play it safe, the employee called the police, and they refused entry to the two men, who immediately drove away.

It's not currently known if Bay was home at the time the men tried to get access to his property.

Law enforcement sources said the incident was initially investigated as potential trespassing, but they have since raised concerns that it could have been something more sinister.

Now detectives are on the case an investigating it as a potential attempted robbery.

Odd: An employee noticed their van had NY plates, and one man's uniform was ill fitting and showed his stomach. They left immediately after being refused entry to the property; seen in 2019 in Seoul

Life imitates art: Police are now investigating as if the incident was an attempted robbery. The visit appears to have similarities to a scene in Bay's 2003 film Bad Boys II with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence

Going undercover: Smith and Lawrence plays Miami PD detectives who dress up as exterminators to gain entry to a Cuban drug lord's mansion

It's unlikely that Bay finds the incident funny, but he may have at least noticed the similarities between the possible casing and a scene he directed in his 2003 action hit Bad Boys II.

That film  which earned $273 million against a $100 million budget  starred Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two detectives in the Miami Police Department.

While investigating the flow of illegal drugs into Miami, the duo dress up in uniforms as exterminators and pretending to be addressing a rat infestation at the Miami home of a Cuban drug lord.

The sequence includes some off-color humor, as Lawrence freaks out after finding a pair of rats that are in the process of mating, while Smith discovers the pinky of a man who was brutally dismembered.
Millie Bobby Brown has taken pen to paper and will publish her first novel in September.

The actress, 19, who reportedly turned down a massive payday for a Stranger Things spin-off, looked comfortable in a pink T-shirt with a puppy print as she announced the news in a video on social media on Friday.

'Hi everyone, it's Millie,' the Enola Holmes star said into the camera.

'I'm thrilled to be announcing my debut novel 19 Steps, which be will publishing on twelfth of September, 2023,' she wrote.

Nineteen Steps is a history novel about a courageous 18-year-old woman called Nellie Morris who lives with her family in Bethnal Green, in Londons East End, while the second world war rages on around them.

Debut novel: Millie Bobbie Brown, 19, announced she has written her first novel, Nineteen Steps, in a video on social media Friday. The book will be released September 12

When a tragic accident occurs during an air raid one night, the consequences are catastrophic - and life will never be the same again for Nellie.

'Writing Nineteen Steps has been a really special project for me. The story is inspired by true events and my own family history,' she explained while showing a photo of herself and her grandmother.

In a statement released via publisher William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, the Screen Actors Guild Award winner revealed a few more details about her personal connection to the tale, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

'Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. Im honored to keep her story alive.'

Millie's grandmother survived the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster, an incident responsible for the largest single loss of civilian life in the UK during World War II.

173 people, mostly women and children, were crushed as Londoners tried to get into the Tube station during an air raid.

The novel, which the publisher described as an 'epic story of love, loss and secrets,' focuses on Nellie's chance encounter with an American airman stationed nearby and the terrible aftermath of the deadly incident.

Liz Stein, executive editor at William Morrow, called Nineteen Steps 'a tender, inspiring story about female resilience and the human spirit.

Inspiration: 'Writing Nineteen Steps has been a really special project for me. The story is inspired by true events and my own family history', the actress turned author explained showing a photo of herself and her grandmother, Nanny Ruth

Survivor: Ruth survived the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster, an incident responsible for the deaths of 173 people. It was the largest single loss of civilian life in the UK during World War II. Millie's beloved Nanny Ruth died from Alzheimer's disease in November 2020

Memories: In a tribute to her grandmother, the actress shared that when visiting with her, 'Midnight would come and we would lay in bed and she'd tell me stories about her memories as a child and what living through World War 2 was like'

Epic: The publisher described the story as an 'epic story of love, loss and secrets... its a novel that portrays the strength and courage we find in family, friendship and community' (Pictured in New York in October 2022)

'Both heart-warming and heart-breaking, its a novel that portrays the strength and courage we find in family, friendship and community. I was incredibly moved by the haunting, true tragedy at the core of the novel and enchanted by the unforgettable portrait of love in the time of war.'

The in-demand actress has wrapped up two projects, Damsel, which will debut on Netflix in October, and The Electric State, which will be released by the streamer in 2024.

Millie has recently signed on to star as a con artist in The Girls I've Been, and as a girl investigating her best friend's death in The Thing About Jellyfish.
Reese Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth are divorcing, following almost 12 years of marriage.

The movie star, 47, shared the news via her Instagram Friday afternoon in a joint statement from her and Jim, 52 - days before their 12th wedding anniversary.

'We have some personal news to share... It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,' the mom of three wrote.

'We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness, and mutual respect for everything we have created together.'

Reese and Jim, who wed on March 26, 2011, share one son together - Tennessee James, 10; she has two children from her first marriage to Ryan Phillippe: Ava, 23, and Deacon, 19.

The latest: Reese Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth are divorcing, following almost 12 years of marriage

Shock! The movie star, 47, shared the news via her Instagram Friday afternoon - days before their 12th wedding anniversary; seen together January 5,2020

Family: Reese and Jim, who wed on March 26, 2011, share one son together - Tennessee James, 10; she has two children from her first marriage to Ryan Phillippe: Ava, 23, and Deacon, 19

Reese and Jim continued in their statement: 'Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter. These matters are never easy and are extremely personal.'

'We truly appreciate everyone's respect for our family's privacy as this time - Reese and Jim.' she concluded.

A source told People magazine after the news was announced that Reese and Jim's split is 'amicable.'

'They really are the best of friends and this is such an amicable decision. They are so committed to co-parenting together. They are invested in their whole family and making this as smooth as possible for everyone,' the insider said.

Reese shared snaps with Jim in December 2022, as they enjoyed Christmastime with their family.

In July 2022, Reese shared photos on Instagram of herself with Jim to mark his birthday, captioning the set: 'Happy birthday to my sweet hubby, JT!

Don't know anyone who loves Tour de France / road biking / @arsenal / @nashvillesc / @steelers .... oh and GOLF ... basically all sports more than YOU. Love you so much!'

She also marked their 11th wedding anniversary last year in March 2022 on Instagram: 'Happy Anniversary JT!! 11 years of adventures, love and laughter. I feel so lucky to share this wonderful life with you.'

In 2012, Reese recalled their first meeting in a chat with Elle magazine; the meet-cute happened at a friends house after she had split from actor Jake Gyllenhaal, 42.

Three months ago: Reese shared snaps with Jim in December 2022, as they enjoyed Christmastime with their family

The way they were: The former lovebirds seen in March 2022 in honor of their 11th wedding anniversary last year

Red carpet: 'We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness, and mutual respect for everything we have created together; The couple seen at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2017

The way they were: 'We have some personal news to share... It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,' the mom of three wrote

Throwback: In 2020, Reese celebrated their 10 years of marriage with a snap from their wedding day

'It happened out of the blue. This really drunk guy was hitting on me, making such an idiot of himself, yelling at me. He was, like, You dont know me. And I was like, Yeah, I know. I don't know you!' she told the magazine.

'Jim came over and said, "Please excuse my friend. Hes just broken up with someone."

'Jim was a really good friend, pulling him out of that situation. Thats just kind of who he is, a really good person.'

She has also told People she loved him for being a 'wonderful organizer' and 'a great leader' who 'knows how to get people together' and stay 'patient' and 'funny' with children.

One year prior, she told Elle UK that she was surprised she fell in love with Jim: 'It's an exciting feeling. "You're the one." And its a surprise. You know, I'm surprised when people aren't related to see my movies. And you're surprised somebody wants to be with you because, boy, I've got a lot of quirks and wrinkles.'

The way they were: Reese and Ryan first met at her 21st birthday party, which took place in March 1997; seen August 24, 1998

In character: They starred together in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions; Ryan and Reese with co-stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair

Reese and Jake dated for two years before they split in December 2009.

She met Jim in January 2010; they got engaged in December 2010 and tied the knot on March 26, 2011 in Ojai.

They welcomed their son Tennessee on September 27, 2012.

In April 2013, Reese and Jim got arrested in Atlanta, Georgia after they were stopped by police for weaving in and out of their lane on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to Variety.

They were allegedly going towards the opposing lane and then were pulled over, with Reese getting agitated by the cop, leading to her arrest.

She was arrested after repeatedly instruction from the arresting cop by not staying in the car, as well as verbally sparring at him, per the outlet.

The police report, via Variety, said that Reese 'bean to hang out the window and say that she did not believe that I was a real police officer. I told Mrs. Witherspoon to sit on her butt and be quiet.'

After Jim was placed in handcuffs, Reese exited the car despite being told to get back into the car.

The report said that she told him she was a 'US citizen' and that she was allowed to 'stand on American ground.'

When the officer tried to arrest her, she resisted and Jim told her to calm down.

'Mrs. Witherspoon asked, "Do you know my name?" I answered, "No, I don't need to know your name." I then added, "right now." Mrs. Witherspoon stated, "You're about to find out who I am."' the report said.

'Mrs. Witherspoon also stated, "You are going to be on national news." I advised Mrs. Witherspoon that was fine.'

She pled no contest her charge - disorderedly conduct (obstruction) - and paid a fine; Jim pled guilty, sentenced to community service, one year probation and an alcohol education program.

In a statement, Reese told Us Weekly: 'I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. the words I used that night definitely do not reflect who I am. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior.'

Mug shot: In April 2013, Reese and Jim got arrested in Atlanta, Georgia after they were stopped by police for weaving in and out of their lane, according to Variety

Reese and first husband Ryan Phillippe met at her 21st birthday party, which took place in March 1997; They starred together in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions.

The stars got engaged in December 1998 and wed on June 5, 1999 in South Carolina; Reese and Ryan welcomed Ava in 1999 and Deacon in 2003.

Reese and Ryan announced their split in 2006, with their marriage legally dissolved in 2007 and their divorce finalized in 2008.

Ryan is also dad to daughter Kai Knapp, 11, with ex-girlfriend Alexis Knapp.
Demi Moore has a weekend project all lined up - getting her teeny tiny little dog Pilaf into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Indecent Proposal Star, 60, shared a photo of her dog sitting on her lap on her couch. Her cat was also there, as was a Starbucks cup to show the scale of how small her dog is.

'Alright friends, were doing it. Lets see if we can get @pilaf.littlemouse noticed by @guinnessworldrecords! Our sweet girl was born on November 9, 2020 and is 700 grams. (Cat and coffee cup for scale). #pilaf4guinness'

Seven hundred grams works out to be just one and a half pounds, making Pilaf half a pound larger than the current record holder, a Chihuahua named Miracle Milly, who lives in Puerto Rico.

The mom of Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29 with ex-husband Bruce Willis wore her trademark dark hair straight and loose with a grey sweatshirt with her name on it, black joggers, grey socks and eyeglasses.

World record: Demi Moore has a weekend project all lined up - getting her teeny tiny little dog Pilaf into the Guinness Book of World Records

Tiny dog: The Indecent Proposal Star, 60, shared a photo of her dog sitting on her lap on her couch. Her cat was also there, as was a Starbucks cup to show the scale of how small her dog is

Actress Sofia Vergara commented, 'I want one,' while designer Zac Posen wrote, 'Shes a tiny lil dream' and her daughter Tallulah said, 'PILAF 4 guinnesss!!!'

Earlier this week, the Ghost actress wished her ex-husband Bruce - who has been diagnosed with dementia - a happy 68th birthday on social media.

Demi shared a video of their entire family gathered around the Die Hard star and singing happy birthday to him before presenting him with a candlelit apple pie, while he was heard speaking for the first time since his dementia diagnosis.

In the clip, Bruce's current wife, Emma Heming, 44  who shared a heartfelt birthday post earlier in the day  was seen presenting him with the confection as well as an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

Bruce and Emma's two daughters  Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, eight  were also there to celebrate their dear dad's birthday.

Happy birthday, BW! So glad we could celebrate you today,' Demi wrote in the caption of the entire family gathered in celebration of Bruce's birthday.

'Love you and love our family,' she continued. 'Thank you to everyone for the love and warm wishes - we all feel them.'

Later, Emma  who has been married to the Moonlighting actor for around 13 years  shared a close-up snap of the delicious-looking apple pie.

HBD: Last week, the Ghost actress wished her ex-husband Bruce - who has been diagnosed with dementia - a happy 68th birthday on social media

Family love: The entire blended Willis family was there to celebrate Bruce

I tried to get a pumpkin pie,' the model wrote over the photo, noting that pumpkin is his favorite. 'That was a no-go. Apple pie is his second favorite.'

She wrote in the caption, 'He is pure love. He is so loved. And Ill be loving him always. Happy Birthday my sweet.'

Emma also posted an emotional message addressing her husband's devastating dementia diagnosis.

In her video post, Emma described feeling particularly sad as she described making a reel for Bruce  and called watching his videos 'a knife in my heart.'

Family dynamics: Demi and Bruce's current wife Emma are close, making the management of his dementia diagnosis a bit easier on everyone since they have each other to lean on

'So today is my husband's birthday,' she began. 'I have started the morning by crying. As you can see by my swollen eyes and snotty nose, I just think it's important you see all sides of this.'

Emma went on to say: 'I always get this message or people always tell me like, "Oh you're so strong, I don't know how you do it."

'I'm not given a choice. I wish I was. But I'm also raising two kids in this.

'So sometimes in our lives we have to put our big girl panties on and get to it. And that's what I'm doing. But I do have times of sadness every day. Grief everyday. And I'm really feeling it today on his birthday.'
Jane Fonda called out Jennifer Lopez on Thursday when she stopped by The Drew Barrymore Show to promote her new film with Lily Tomlin, Moving On.

The 85-year-old legend  who recently revealed her anti-aging secrets  recalled an incident from her hit 2005 film Monster-in-Law and roasted Lopez, 53, for allegedly cutting her face during their infamous slapping scene.

Fonda claimed Jennifer 'never apologized' for the slap-gone-wrong, telling Barrymore that the glamorous superstar cut her eyebrow with 'this enormous diamond ring.'

Barrymore had asked the two-time Oscar winner what she thought about the romcom, in which Jane played the titular 'monster-in-law' opposite Jennifer's radiant bride.

'Well, ok,' began Fonda, diving into the fray. 'The thing that comes to mind right away is, we have a slapping scene. I slap her, she slaps me, I slap her.'

Fonda vs. Lopez: Jane Fonda, 84, called out Jennifer Lopez on Thursday when she stopped by The Drew Barrymore Show to promote her new film Moving On

Ouch: The legend recalled an incident from her hit 2005 film Monster-in-Law and roasted Lopez, 53, for cutting her face during their infamous slapping scene

Fonda went on to give a not-so-subtle dig at the The Wedding Planner star's grand sense of taste, saying: 'Well, Jennifer  as per Jennifer  she had this enormous diamond ring.

'And so, when she slapped me one of the times, it cut open across my eye, my eyebrow. You know, shes never apologized.'

Monster-in-Law saw Jane inhabit the role of a fallen talk show host who comes out of a career-killing mental breakdown to torment the fiancee of her beloved son in a desperate bid to break them up.

The film's climactic scene takes place at the dreaded wedding, where Lopez and Fonda slap each other senseless before calling a ceasefire and making amends.

Lopez addressed the scene in 2019 when she posted a video to her YouTube channel and discussed the experience of working with Fonda  and the slap-gone-wrong.

'I was so afraid to hit Jane Fonda in the face or hurt her in any way, really,' said Lopez, who went on to give a veiled jab at Jane by saying the iconic star 'very much' resembled her unhinged mother-in-law.

'Her character was very much like her,' said Lopez, 'and my character at the time was very much like me. I was so afraid of her and she was so brave and like, "Just hit me. Dont worry about it, its going to be fine."'

The Jenny from the Block songstress explained that her back-and-forth with Fonda initially began with some harmless poking before it spiraled into a slap battle.

Five-carat cut: Sharing the couch with her iconic Moving On co-star, Lily Tomlin, 83, Fonda claimed Jennifer 'never apologized' for the slap-gone-wrong, telling Drew Barrymore, 48, that the glamorous superstar cut her eyebrow with 'this enormous diamond ring'

A jab from Jane: Fonda went on to give a not-so-subtle dig at the The Wedding Planner star's grand sense of taste, saying, 'Well, Jennifer  as per Jennifer  she had this enormous diamond ring'

Waiting for her apology: Fonda explained how Jennifer's giant ring left its mark, telling Barrymore, 'it cut open across my eye, my eyebrow. You know, shes never apologized'

Not laughing now: Monster-in-Law saw Jane inhabit the role of a fallen talk show host who comes out of a career-killing mental breakdown to torment the fiancee of her beloved son in a desperate bid to break them up

Sorry not sorry: Lopez addressed the scene in 2019 when she posted a video to her YouTube channel and asserted that she did apologize to Fonda after the slap-gone-wrong. 'I was like, "Oh, so sorry." And she was like, "Its fine. Its fine." It was a freaking purple blister that was sticking out and she didnt care'

The next thing you know,' said Lopez, 'she really went for it on one of those slaps.'

Lopez said that her and Fonda agreed to 'keep slapping each other' until they stopped, adding: 'The scene took on a life of its own in a way that we never imagined. I dont even think we were supposed to slap each other.'

The Maid in Manhattan star went on to admit that Fonda had a blood blister above her eye and asserted that she did apologize.

'I was like, "Oh, so sorry." And she was like, "Its fine. Its fine." It was a freaking purple blister that was sticking out and she didnt care. Shes such a gangster b**ch. I just love her.'
Lana Jenkins stunned in a corset top and leather trousers as she brushed off feud rumours and cosied up to boyfriend Ron Hall during a date night on Friday.

The Love Island star's, both 25, put on a united front and dispelled any gossip of an upset in their relationship as they held hands.

Makeup artist Lana looked incredible in a chic black crop top and edgy high-waisted bottoms as she departed Rosso Restaurant in Manchester with Ron.

She styled her blonde hair into soft curls and added a pop of colour to her look with a green crocodile print handbag.

Meanwhile, Ron looked stylish in a cream denim jacket that he teamed with a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Loved-up: Lana Jenkins stunned in a corset top and leather trousers as she brushed off feud rumours and cosied up to boyfriend Ron Hall during a date night on Friday

All smiles: The Love Island star's, both 25, put on a united front and dispelled any gossip of an upset in their relationship as they held hands

Just days ago, the pair were previously spotted looking tense as they drove to Lana's parents' house before having a 'heated' conversation.

In pictures exclusively obtained by The Sun, tension was apparent between the couple as they climbed into the car during a rainstorm.

An onlooker told the outlet: 'They sat in the rain having a heated conversation for around 20 mins before finally going inside.'

They were then seen looking distant from each other and looking out of the window in silence after their reported argument.

Elsewhere in Manchester, Love Island boys Casey O'Gorman, Tom Clare and Aaron Waters enjoyed a lads night out at Sakku Samba.

It comes after Lana and Ron reportedly had a 'furious row' on the plane journey home from South Africa last week.

It was said that the show's producers had to intervene to get the couple to calm down.

According to The Sun, after touching down in the UK the couple refused to film their homecoming, until producers stepped in once again.

Makeup artist Lana looked incredible in a chic black crop top and edgy high-waisted bottoms as she departed Rosso Restaurant in Manchester with Ron

On the town: Elsewhere in Manchester, Love Island boys Casey O'Gorman, Tom Clare and Aaron Waters (L-R) enjoyed a lads night out at Sakku Samba

Out and about: Casey wore a black jumper with a pair of cream jeans while Tom sported a black Essentials T-shirt

Fun-filled: They were beaming as they headed out for a night out together

They then left the Heathrow airport separately rather than spending a romantic night together.

The couple had a rough ride in the villa, as Lana struggled when Ron showed an interest in every other girl that came in.

But after staying loyal in Casa Amor, Ron asked Lana to be his girlfriend and they went from strength to strength.

The Reunion saw all the Islanders reunite for a special one-off episode, reflecting on their time in the South African villa.
Lorraine Kelly was left decidedly hot under the collar on Friday as she flirted up a storm with Rege-Jean Page.

The TV presenter, 63, giggled and blushed her way through an interview with the actor, 34, in which she gushed over him being branded the 'world's most handsome man', according to the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi.

Rege had joined Lorraine on her chat show via video link where he discussed his upcoming film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

But talk soon turned to the recent study, with Rege looking somewhat uncomfortable as Lorraine congratulated him on his new title.

However, the Bridgerton star soon relaxed as he and Lorraine laughed away, with the host calling him 'gorgeous' at one point while also quipping: 'Enjoy being the most beautiful thing in the world!'

Blushing: Lorraine Kelly was left decidedly hot under the collar on Friday as she flirted up a storm with Rege-Jean Page

Here he is: Rege had joined Lorraine on her chat show via video link where he discussed his upcoming film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Telling Rege about the study, Lorraine explained: 'As you know lots of scientists have got together with their white coats on and serious expressions and they have found that you are the world's most handsome man.

'Congratulations on that. Congratulations to your parents also!'

As the hunk appeared to cringe over the news, Lorraine insisted: 'It's lovely, it lovely, but at the end of the day you're a really good actor and that is what's more important.'

Laughing nervously, Rege then replied: 'Your use of all the colours on the palette when making your art and I'm glad to have that perception in there somewhere. I'm sure it's useful to someone somewhere.'

He then modestly added: 'It was news to me. It was news to everyone else. But, you know, I'll take it.'

The test, which is a mathematical formula devised in ancient Greece to determine 'physical perfection' by comparing measurements, ratios and symmetry, also saw the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Michael B. Jordan and Harry Styles score highly.

As the interview wrapped up, Lorraine told Rege to 'next time come in and see me'

She then told him: 'Enjoy, enjoy the attention. Enjoy being the most beautiful thing in the world and just keep doing what you're doing.'

Flirt: The TV presenter, 63, giggled and blushed her way through an interview with the actor, 34, in which she gushed over him being branded the 'world's most handsome man'

As the hunk appeared to cringe over the news, Lorraine insisted: 'It's lovely, it lovely, but at the end of the day you're a really good actor and that is what's more important'

Shy: Laughing nervously, Rege then replied: 'Your use of all the colours on the palette when making your art and I'm glad to have that perception in there somewhere. I'm sure it's useful to someone somewhere'

Continuing to flirt, she added: 'Lovely to talk to you today, thank you gorgeous!', with Rege also adding 'allegedly' in reference to his handsome status.

A blushing Lorraine was quick to add: 'It wasn't just me, it was scientists,' before they both burst into giggles.

She concluded: 'Thank you gorgeous, great to talk to you.'

Elsewhere on Thursday, Rege-Jean revealed that his first game of D&D was with his fellow co-stars and that they all sat down to play before filming started.

Gushing: She then told him: 'Enjoy, enjoy the attention. Enjoy being the most beautiful thing in the world and just keep doing what you're doing'

Fun: A blushing Lorraine was quick to add: 'It wasn't just me, it was scientists,' before they both burst into giggles

Speaking to PA, he said: 'It's a natural place for actors to hang out, great game of improv, but with magic and dragons.

'Just think like the wildest, most magical thing you can do, and then you pass it on to the player next to you.

'Players (like) Chris Pine are so sharp, so witty, that it gets even more wild than magic.'

Lorraine continues weekdays from 9am on ITV.
Lawyer Emmanuel Pierrat was sentenced on appeal in Paris on Thursday March 23 for harassment within his firm to an eighteen-month ban on practice, including six months suspended, learned Friday March 24, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) from a source familiar with the matter.

According to the magistrates of the 13th chamber of the Court of Appeal, this sanction is "justified, appropriate and proportionate", while that pronounced by the disciplinary council of the order of lawyers at the Paris bar in July 2022 - two months prohibition of practice - was "insufficient in view of the seriousness of the grievances".

According to elements of the decision made known to AFP, the court recognized "aggressive, insulting and humiliating behavior of a lasting and systemic nature" by the lawyer, practicing since 1997. It also notes "the worrying absence awareness of the situation by Mr. Pierrat", who must "find a professional behavior more in line with what is expected of a lawyer".

Contacted, his counsel, Jean-Didier Belot, announced that he had lodged an appeal in cassation, without further comment.

Disputed charges

According to elements of the judgment, Mr. Pierrat argued during the procedure "to have never had within his cabinet anything but legitimate demands, in connection with the very strong pressure he is under as head of company [responsible] for developing the firm's clientele, and having never practiced aggressive management".

In a survey published by Liberation in February 2021, around twenty people who worked with the lawyer had described a climate of fear, insults and contempt exercised by their boss, and facts that could amount to harassment. In a long right of reply, Mr. Pierrat explained that he "challenged with the greatest firmness the accusations made" by the daily.

A source close to the case told AFP in early 2022 that the order had opened this disciplinary procedure in early November 2021 for suspicions of "breaches" by Emmanuel Pierrat of "all the essential principles of the profession" but also for a "management style" which may "amount to harassment".

"Since the beginning of my mandate and until its end, I intend to apply a policy of zero tolerance in disciplinary matters on issues of harassment and discrimination", reacted, solicited by AFP, the president Julie Couturier, who had appealed the "too lenient" first instance decision.

Emmanuel Pierrat, also a novelist, essayist and art collector, has defended several personalities from the world of culture.
Astronaut Jean-Jacques Favier, the sixth Frenchman to go into space during a flight aboard the American shuttle Columbia, died at the age of 73, announced on Friday March 24, 2023, the National Center for Space Studies (CNES).

Born on April 13, 1949 in Kehl, Germany, Jean-Jacques Favier joined the National School of Electrochemistry and Electrometallurgy in Grenoble in 1971. He obtained a doctorate in engineering from the Ecole des mines de Paris as well as a doctorate in physics and metallurgy from Joseph-Fourier-Grenoble 1 University in 1977.

He was selected in 1985 as an "experimenter astronaut" by the French space agency, while he was a research engineer at the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).

Within CNES, he became scientific manager of the Mephisto space oven, which was flown several times aboard the space shuttle Columbia. In 1995, he was designated as a specialist astronaut for an experiment at the Spacelab laboratory, carried away by the American vessel.

"Exemplary course"

He spent sixteen days, twenty-one hours and forty-eight minutes in orbit, from June 20 to July 7, 1996. Fourteen years after Jean-Loup Chretien, the first Frenchman to fly in space, aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Jean-Jacques Favier thus becomes "the first French scientist to have stayed in space", specifies the CNES, which pays tribute to his "exemplary career". "He will leave his mark on future generations and inspire many of us," CNES CEO Philippe Baptiste added in the statement.

During his mission, Jean-Jacques Favier was responsible for more than thirty physics experiments in microgravity.

After his career as an astronaut, he got involved in education and research, working in particular on a CNES project to prepare a future lunar or Martian base.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making full use of Indian presidency of G20 to offer solutions to global challenges

The Indian G20 presidency has attracted much global attention. Several meetings have taken place in all parts of the country. By the time India hosts the Leaders Summit in September this year, India would have guided the G20 member nations and special invitees on the solutions-oriented path to dealing with pressing challenges across the globe. India has demonstrated resolve to tackle challenges with perseverance and innovation since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014.

At the heart of Indias G20 presidency is people-oriented governance. People from all walks of life and across the globe must gain from the advancement of the economies, and if there is an economic slowdown they must be protected from the ill effects. Since the beginning of 2020, the world has seen the debilitating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Without exception, the global community has suffered the rigors.

Thus, the Indian presidency of the G20 is faced with challenges that became acute primarily because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rising sovereign debts of several countries in the Global South, the credibility of the multilateral development banks (MDBs), cross-border terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrimes, multilateral institutions, food shortage, climate challenges, disruptions of global supply chains, health emergencies, income inequality and several others are the challenges staring at the global community now.

The last three years, however, have accentuated some of the global challenges, which require credible and sustainable solutions. India has shown that prudent governance is capable of meeting these challenges. The Economic Survey of this year revealed that the governments expenditure on efforts to improve the quality of life of the people has been steadily growing even during the pandemic years.

From Rs 5.26 lakh crore spent on education in 2018-19, government expenditure was Rs7.57 lakh crore in 2022-23, as per the revised budgetary estimate, revealed the Economic Survey.

From Rs2.66 lakh crore spent on health in 2018-19, government expenditure was Rs5.49 lakh crore in 2022-23. In other areas, which help in enhancing the quality of life of the people, government expenditure grew from Rs 4.86 lakh crore in 2018-19 to Rs 8.26 lakh crore.

The efforts have also been captured in data revealed by the Economic Survey, as the dropout ratio in primary schools came down from 4.7 per cent in 2013-14 to 1.5 per cent in 2021-22. Pupil to teacher ratio in 2012-13 34 and it was 26.2 in 2021-22. This is a clear message for the G20 nations, accounting for 85 per cent of the global GDP, two-thirds of the world population and 75 per cent of the global trade, that the path to sustainable socio-economic development is laid by according topmost priority to the people in governance and charting the course of reforms to ensure an inclusive development model without burdening the future generation with debts.

Thus, the Finance Ministers meeting in Bengaluru of the G20 saw the issue of addressing the rising debts of the developing and poor nations at the centre stage. Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman sought a global consensus on mitigating the indebtedness of vulnerable nations. Its in the interest of global financial stability that no country faces an economic collapse of the magnitude of Sri Lanka. This will only be possible if multilateral development banks rise up to the occasion and protect vulnerable nations from predatory countries seeking debt traps for strategic purposes.

India has become a votary for the Global South. Several countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world even after constituting the largest share of the global population were without a collective voice on the international stage. The Global South is facing the consequences of climate change. In India, the Global South discovered under the Indian presidency a voice that could negotiate with the developed world on equal terms. In this context, the G20 this year is giving the utmost importance to the issue of climate change. India has shown the world with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) that the energy transition to clean sources is not a matter of choice but a matter of urgency. With the Indian presidency of the G20, the developed world will be persuaded to share capital and technology for energy transition at an accelerated pace.

The world is currently facing the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Sadly, few countries have not taken sides in this war. India remains the voice of sanity in such a tough time. PM Modi told the Russian President that todays era is not one of war. Diplomacy alone can bring peace. The global community expects India to work for peace during its G20 presidency. The G20 under the Indian presidency is uniquely positioned to deliver on the global aspirations of peace.

(Author is the national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party)
The strengthening of the Indo-Pacific strategy

This week marked two significant developments in Asia. Each of the two powerful leaders from Asia, albeit with differing approaches, developed their own agendas for shaping the geopolitics of the region as they moved westward. The first was Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas state visit to New Delhi, where he talked about the revised Indo-Pacific strategy, an older version of which Japan has been pursuing diligently for nearly one and half decades. The second was the state visit of Chinese premier Xi Jinping, to the Russian capital, the first major visit by any significant global leader, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine where it was a reiteration of growing Sino-Russia bonds, for a better Eurasia.

In many ways, Japan, more specifically, ex-PM Shinzo Abe, was the author of the Indo-Pacific strategy, nearly fifteen years ago, when he articulated the conjoined at the hip, future, for all nations dotting the Indian and Pacific oceans. In his now famous speech to the Indian Parliament in 2007, titled "The confluence of the two seas, a blueprint for the now-established geopolitical strategy for many nations in the Indo-Pacific was outlined. Incidentally, during the same speech, Abe made the point about broader cooperation between the largest democracies in Asia. This point later on emerged as the QUAD, comprising the US, Japan, Australia and India.

In several pitches during the intervening years, made to various regional groupings and multilateral forums, Abe continued to push on his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific founded primarily on three pillars. Pillar 1 emphasises the need for the establishment of the rule of law, freedom of navigation by air and sea and free trade for the region. Pillar 2 emphasises economic prosperity by promoting broader regional connectivity through building roads, ports, and digital linkages as well as creating the human bridge through increased people-to-people connectivity. This pillar also looks at the harmonisation of trade rules thereby facilitating more access to each others goods and services. The third pillar focuses on peace and security in the region. It has a clear focus on maritime security, law enforcement, prevention of terror activities, sharing intelligence, providing disaster relief etc. In spite of this, it took Japan years of patient pitching before the Indo-Pacific became the focus of US and EU foreign policy. It got the attention it deserved, with the changing geo-strategic situation in 2020, which showcased the vulnerabilities of relying on a China-monopolised critical supply chain system and the stiff restrictions imposed by China due to its zero Covid policy.China wasnt willing to cooperate with other nations during disaster. Japan was particularly shocked at the state visit of Vladimir Putin to Beijing, right before he invaded Ukraine, which established the no limits friendship between Russia and China.

It was almost a moment, which sharply divided the world into blocks that supported Russia and China and one that was led by the US and western allies. Although not a 21st-century version of the cold war yet, this rift will continue to dictate global affairs for some years. The Sino-Russia partnership has also empowered China, as it can utilise a second UN security council permanent member, Russia, to push its agenda through multilateral platforms. Meanwhile, observing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China can reevaluate its strategy regarding unilaterally changing geographical boundaries with several neighbouring nations (including India).

The two-state visits, therefore assume significance, as the first one, reiterates India and Japans commitment to deepening their engagement for an open safe, transparent rules-based Indo-Pacific while reiterating their commitment to increased cooperation with regional groups such as ASEAN. It re emphasised the centrality of India to Japans Indo-Pacific strategy, particularly in a year when Japan is the chair of G7 and India has the G20 presidency, two significant platforms for cooperation and future road mapping. The conference in Moscow, has raised enough concerns across global capitals, to further energise their Indo-Pacific strategies.

(The author is a foreign affairs commentator)
Maharaja Jiwajirao Madhorao Scindia of Ujjain and Gwalior became Patels friend and assisted him in unifying Indian states

Dr Rajendra Prasad observed on May 13, 1959, how the legacy of Sardar Patel was being sidelined. He mentioned how Sardar Patel had been forgotten, but he also acknowledged that there was a prominent individual in India who was standing in support and appreciation of Sardar Patel, when many found it unneeded. This man was Scindia, the then Maharaja of Ujjain and Gwalior or, as he was called, HH Maharaja Jiwajirao Madhorao Scindia of Ujjain and Gwalior.

He was later on to become a close friend of Sardar Patel and his close aide VP Menon. He played a positive role in ensuring the unity of India and was made the first Rajpramukh of Madhya Bharat province after Independence of India. Prasad said, "Even Sardar Patel's portrait in the Parliament House is the gift of a ruling Prince [Gwalior]. Let us not, therefore, run away with the thought that his services are any less valuable because we choose not to recognise them.

This admiration of Scindia for Patel was only natural. The Maharaja was inspired by his ancestor Mahadji Scindia, who is known for being the most important man in the latter half of the eighteenth century in South Asia (as per Historian Henry George Keene in entire Asia), ensuring the unity of the subcontinent when not just the Afghans but the British were also looking to occupy the throne of Delhi.

Famous political philosopher James Mill acknowledged the danger to the existence of the British in India if Mahadji Scindia lived longer, and after Mahadji Scindia died, Colonel George Bruce Malleson, author of Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas, called him the most farsighted statesman India had ever produced.

Mahadji Scindia prevented a likely partition of India by the Durrani Afghan Empire of Ahmad Shah Abdali and his son Taimur, when in 1771 Scindia conquered Delhi. He extended his de facto empire all the way to the areas of present-day northern Pakistan, the then subas of Lahore and Attock. He also defeated the British at Wadgaon, Sirsi, Prayagraj, Kolaras, Shivpuri, Sarangpur, and many other places. This sent a clear message to Indians that, if united, they can easily defeat the British.

Jiwaji was well aware that what Patel was doing was actually substantially similar to Mahadji Scindias work. He felt an attachment to the project of national integration, and the persona of Sardar Patel.

A friendship to unite India

After a couple of months of the death of Maulana Azad in 1954, his oil painting was installed in the Parliament House. But there was no oil painting of Sardar Patel in Parliament, even four years after his death. This was disappointing and preposterous despite his immense contributions to India.

Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, who was present in parliament when Maulana Azads portrait was installed, noticed how the legacy of his late friend was being sidelined. He pointed this out to President Rajendra Prasad. Rajendra Babu immediately gave his approval, after which Maharaja Scindia started making the necessary arrangements to get Sardar's picture put up in the Parliament House.

Scindia spent a significant amount of money from his personal funds in order to paint Sardar's portrait. The President took prompt action to get the picture installed in Parliament House. On the occasion of unveiling the portrait of Sardar, Scindia offered tributes to Sardar Patel. Talking about Sardar Patel, Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia said, "Here is the man whom I once hated. The man who later terrified me is shown here. Here is the man whom I admire and love."

While Sardar Patel had once mentioned in a letter to Jiwajirao Scindia, I would like to thank you and Her Highness for the hospitality and consideration extended to us during our stay in Gwalior. All of us were overwhelmed by the attention bestowed on us by both of you. By vacating your palace for our sake, you won our hearts completely. I am afraid we imposed a great deal of strain on both of you, but you cheerfully put up with all this. We shall always carry the most pleasant recollections of our visit to Gwalior.

The intensity of love and admiration that Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia and Sardar Patel had for each other is manifested from these statements.

Sardar Patel came to Gwalior to meet Maharaja Scindia not alone but with his daughter Maniben. As mentioned in the paragraph before, Maharaja Scindia vacated his palace for them. It was Sardar Patel that Scindia invited to inaugurate the first medical college of Central India, Gajra Raja Medical College, on December 5, 1948. When states like Bhopal were planning with Jinnah to Balkanise India, Scindia and Patel stressed the need for Indian unity that they should work for.

Jawaharlal Nehru once said that the Gwalior state of Scindia had full capacity and resources to remain an independent country. However, it never worked in that direction because, as per Nehru, of the patriotism of Maharaja Scindia and his utmost respect for India. Nehru was right when he said this, since India then had only five princely states that were substantial and prosperous enough to be entitled to a 21-gun salute. Scindias Gwalior was one of them.

Scindia helped Sardar for Swaraj

The help that Maharaja Scindia gave to Sardar Patel and the sacrifices he made for a united India were many. He decided to support Patel wholeheartedly in his nationalist endeavour to unify India. Menon has documented Scindias help to Sardar. This was when several other princely states were looking forward to furthering their interests with the help of Pakistan, specifically Bhopal. Menon writes in his book The Story of The Integration of Indian States that Maharaja Scindia was the first among the rulers of the five 21-gun-salute states to agree to integration, a step which was motivated by the good of the country.

Menon wrote about Jiwaji: He has always moved with the times. He had announced his intention to grant a responsible government as early as December 1946, and in May 1947 he readily gave his support to an interim government of popular representatives as well as a constitution-making body.

The Government of India had got Rs 74 crore from the merger of more than five hundred princely estates; out of that, Rs 54 crore was the contribution of Maharaja Scindia according to Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia.

According to Menon, the rulers of Gwalior were not prone to extravagance. Expressing his gratitude to the generous contribution by the Maharaja, Patel had said in the Lok Sabha, The people who are opposing the Privy Purse for the erstwhile kings, they do not know that this amount will accrue only from interest on the contribution made by Maharaja Gwalior.

The government won't have to give anything from its treasuries, according to Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia. Scindia and Sardar also mentioned the threat of China to India long before the 1962 India-China war. They shared a realistic approach to international relations. Unfortunately, the role of Patel and the Scindias of Gwalior in uniting India was downplayed. But, under the new dispensation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is recognising the ignored and less known heroes and heroines.

(The writer is head, Scindia Research Centre, Gwalior)
Tamil movie star Ajith Kumar's father, P.S. Mani passed away on Friday morning. He was 85.

According to a statement issued by his sons, including Ajith Kumar, P.S. Mani departed in his sleep following a long illness. The news was shared on social media by Ajith Kumar's manager.

P.S. Mani leaves behind his wife Mohini and three sons, Anup Kumar, Ajith Kumar and Anil Kumar.

Stating that the last rites will be a family affair, his sons requested their well-wishers to respect their wishes 'to grieve privately and deal with their father's death with as much equanimity and dignity as possible."

Taking to social media, actor Sarath Kumar expressed his condolences to Ajith's family.
Taking a serious note of some Indian nationals stranded in Libya after promised lucrative jobs, Ministry of External Affairs and National Commission for Minorities in a joint effort managed to bring back all 12 of them. The rescued people were from the minority community from Punjab.

Giving details here on Sunday, officials said a joint effort of the National Commission for Minorities, Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in Tunisia helped rescue 12 Indian workers who were stranded in Libya for the past two months. They were illegally taken to Libya from Punjab by an agent who promised them lucrative jobs, good salary and a happy life.

A statement released by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) informed that after they were taken to Libya, they were offered jobs in private companies without any salary and kept as bonded labour. They also alleged that they were brutally beaten and not even offered proper food.

Chairperson of NCM Iqbal Singh Lalpura received a representation from some local leaders with a request to bring them back as they belong to the minority communities. He forwarded the representation to the ministry on February 6 and requested it to initiate action. The embassy of India in Tunisia was also contacted in this regard. As informed by the embassy, a resident of Benghazi in Libya helped in providing humanitarian assistance and relief supplies to the stranded Indians. With the help of the ministry and the embassy, four out of 12 Indians were successfully brought back from Libya on February 12. The remaining eight workers were brought back on March 2, it said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday without naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who has been disqualified from Lok Sabha on being convicted in a defamation case, said the country is witnessing a new low in a constitutional democracy.

Opposition leaders are being disqualified for their speeches, she asserted

In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP ! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," the fiery TMC Supremo said in a tweet.

"Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy, Banerjee, added.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat notified that Gandhi's disqualification was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.
Several opposition parties on Friday held a protest march from Parliament, alleging that "democracy is in danger" and demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

Addressing the media at Vijay Chowk, several leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, also raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court and alleged that the government was targeting the opposition with cases to suppress their voices.

After a protest inside the Parliament House complex, a host of Opposition leaders from parties such as the CPI, CPI(M), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), JD(U) and Aam Aadmi Party, marched to Vijay Chowk, holding placards like 'We demand JPC' and 'Save LIC' and a huge banner in front of them with 'Democracy in Danger' written on it.

"We're fighting for JPC into Adani issue for months. They have a majority but the BJP is scared as there's something fishy. We'll keep fighting unitedly for it," Kharge said.

He also hit out at BJP chief J P Nadda over his allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the BJP of indulging in "caste politics".

AAP's Sanjay Singh said Gandhi's conviction shows that the government wants to finish off the opposition by slapping cases on them.
Alleged Khalistan supporters have reportedly issued death threats to an Indian-Canadian news professional after his television show in which some guests criticized Amritpal Singh. The reporter was identified as Pardeep Bains who hosts a programme in Punjab in Greater Toronto Area.

These threats came days after the Khalistan backers blocked the entry of Indian High Commission to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma in British Columbia on Sunday last to a venue to honour him. The reception was organized by Friends of India and Canada Foundation. Some of the protestors were also wielding swords. The envoys visit was called off due to security reasons. An Indian origin journalist Sameer Kaushal covering the event was also assaulted.

Meanwhile, Pardeep Bains reportedly said the threats included photographs he was sent of his family residence in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab as well as those of the location of his studio in the GTA.

Ive only done honest reporting, Bains said, and presented both sides of the argument but started receiving threats since January this year, before receiving the images this week.

Some of the threats came via WhatsApp calls, with the numbers shown as originating in Pakistan and Malaysia. He also received a threatening letter ostensibly from the Khalistan Liberation Force in February.

Bains said he has informed local law enforcement, Peel Regional Police (PRP), about the threats.

Bains said he was concerned over not just his personal safety but also that of his family and staffers at the studio. He also said he had not taken a side in the issue of Amritpal Singh and his outfit. He said he wanted to make it clear that he was not against or in support of any organisation
Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), rallied behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying dissent should not be stifled as it is the core of democracy.

Congress workers staged a rail roko protest in Kumbakonam and Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu. They staged a black band protest in front of the State Assembly, condemning the sentencing of their leader in a defamation case. Protests by party workers were also reported from Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Rahul returned from Surat to the national Capital and was accorded a reception at the domestic airport in Delhi on his arrival.

The Congress said the former party chief will file an appeal against a Gujarat court verdict holding him guilty in a 2019 criminal defamation case. It alleged that the Government was after him for speaking the truth and bringing to light its misdeeds.

The grand old party, which is battling a series of legal actions against its former party chief, dubbed his conviction case as an infirm, erroneous and unsustainable judgment that will be immediately challenged in a higher court. It expressed hope that it will be stayed and quashed soon.

A host of Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, spoke out angrily on the matter.

In a tweet in Hindi, the Congress president alleged that the cowardly, dictatorial BJP government is incensed at Rahul Gandhi and Opposition because we are exposing their misdeeds and demanding a JPC.

Under its political bankruptcy, the Modi government sends police, ED and imposes cases on political speeches. We will appeal in the higher court, he said and also alleged that they kept changing judges.

AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his solidarity with Gandhi. His Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren too said the sentence awarded to Rahul is a matter of concern for democracy. Both Stalin and Soren are running a coalition government with the Congress as an ally.

Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena UBT Priyanka Chaturvedi said with all due respect to the judiciary, Gandhis conviction is excessive and will have far reaching consequences.
In the first high-level condemnation of violent incidents by alleged Khalistan supporters in London, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said his country will review security at the Indian High Commission there following unacceptable acts of violence.

He also asserted the British Government takes these matters very seriously and would robustly respond to such incidents. These assurances were given by him late Wednesday. He also said acts of violence towards staff at the Indian High Commission in London are unacceptable and I have made our position clear to the High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami.

Around 2,000 protesters waving so-called Khalistan flags descended upon the Indian mission in London on Wednesday for a planned demonstration and hurled objects and chanted slogans amid a heightened security presence and barricades.

Unlike the violent disorder on Sunday when the Indian High Commission came under attack, the protesters were barricaded across the road.

The protesters, including turbaned men, and some women and children, had been bussed in from different parts of the UK and chanted pro-Khalistan slogans.

In a statement, Cleverly said the British Government takes such matters very seriously and would robustly respond to the attack as it works with the Metropolitan Police to make changes needed to ensure the security of the missions staff.

As a sign of the action already taken, the Minister cited the heightened security measures in place at India House for a planned demonstration on Wednesday, which included several police officers standing guard outside the building, as well as many mounted officers on horseback patrolling the area along with helicopter surveillance.

He said the police investigation is ongoing and the Government is in close contact with the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Government in New Delhi.

We are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian High Commission, and will make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff as we did for todays demonstration, he said.

We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this, he noted.

The Minister observed the thriving India-UK relationship, driven

by the deep personal connections between our two countries.

Our joint 2030 roadmap guides our relationship and shows what we can achieve when we work together, creating new markets and jobs for the two countries and helping to tackle shared challenges. We want to build deeper ties between the UK and India for the future, Cleverly added.

The statement follows the Indian Governments strong protest over the lack of adequate security measures at its mission in London.

An evident Metropolitan Police presence has been visible around the Indian High Commission in Aldwych since the violent disorder on Sunday when Khalistan flag-waving extremists smashed windows at the mission and attempted to pull down the tricolour from the flagpole.

During Wednesdays planned demonstration by similar groups chanting anti-India slogans, the protesters were confined to a barricaded area opposite the building. Additional officers were deployed as scenes of charged-up protesters hurling flares and water bottles towards India House unfolded briefly. The Indian High Commission responded to the protest by unfurling a giant national flag to add to several tricolours pinned to its windows and a large national flag unfurled on the facade of the building.

Meanwhile, High Commissioner Doraiswami took to Twitter to counter disinformation circulating around developments in Punjab related to enforcement action against the separatist group Waris Punjab De.

He assured British Punjabis that there is no truth to the sensationalist lies circulated on social media. In New Delhi, police removed barricades that created hurdles for commuters outside the British High Commission. However, the security of the diplomatic mission remained intact, officials said on Wednesday.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his all thieves have Modi as the common surname remark, in a setback to the Lok Sabha MP who faces the risk of disqualification. Rahul made the remarks during a rally in Karnatakas Kolar during the Lok Sabha poll campaign.

The defamation case was filed by BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old former Congress president guilty under IPC sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Rahul can escape immediate disqualification as a member of Parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.

As the conviction ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections set off a political slugfest and posed another challenge to Rahul with a bearing on his political future, the Congress said he will file an appeal.

Rahul could have limited his speech to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi, and Anil Ambani, but he intentionally made a statement that hurt individuals carrying the Modi surname, and thereby committed criminal defamation, the court said in its 168-page order. Rahul was present in the court when the verdict was pronounced.

Rahul took to Twitter to give his initial reaction by quoting Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet in Hindi about truth and non-violence. My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it.  Mahatma Gandhi.

In another tweet, he paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on their martyrdom day, saying they have learnt fighting fearlessly for the country and holding on to truth.

The court noted that the seriousness of the accuseds crime increased because a speech delivered by a member of parliament has a very wide impact on the public. And if the accused is given less punishment, then it sends a wrong message to the public and the purpose of defamation is not fulfilled and anybody will easily slander someone.

The court also said the Supreme Court had in the past asked the accused to remain alert in the future after he apologised in a 2018 case for his chowkidar chor hai remark. Despite the Supreme Court alerting the accused, there appears to be no change in his conduct.

LS OKs Budget amid ruckus

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday approved the Budget envisaging an expenditure of around `45 lakh crore for the fiscal year starting April 1 without any discussion, as the Opposition continued to create ruckus over demand for a JPC probe into charges against the Adani Group.

The Lower House of Parliament took up the Demands for Grants and Appropriation Bills after two adjournments as the ruling and Opposition MPs engaged in a matching duet over demands for an apology by Rahul and the Adani issue.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

PDT Achari, a former Lok Sabha Secretary General and Constitution expert, said if the appellate court stays the conviction and the sentence then the disqualification will remain suspended. The disqualification will last for eight years (in case he is disqualified), he said, adding that a disqualified person can neither contest, poll or vote for a certain period.

Sources said after going through the judgment, the Lok Sabha Secretariat will take a call on issuing a notification announcing a vacancy in the lower house. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said legal experts will examine the verdict and only after that the Government will take a decision on the next step.

During the hearing on the quantum of sentence, Rahul, when asked about the punishment, submitted before the court that he had delivered the speech as per his duty in the interest of the public. The Congress leader also submitted that he has no discrimination against anybody and loves and cherishes all the people of his country.

Rahuls lawyer argued for a lesser punishment claiming there was no intention to insult anyone.
Americas fresh move of allowing individuals visiting the country on a business or tourist visa  B-1, B-2  to apply for new jobs and even appear in interviews is going to benefit Indians.

A federal agency said on Wednesday that it has asked prospective employees to ensure the applicants have changed their visa status before starting the new role.

In a note, and a series of tweets, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) late on Wednesday said when non-immigrant workers are laid off, they may not be aware of their options and may, in some instances, wrongly assume that they have no option but to leave the country within 60 days. The maximum 60-day grace period starts the day after termination of employment, which is typically determined based on the last day for which a salary or wage is paid, the USCIS noted.

When a non-immigrant workers employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily, they typically may take one of the several actions, if eligible, to remain in a period of authorised stay in the United States.

These include filing an application for a change of non-immigrant status; filing an application for adjustment of status; filing an application for a compelling circumstances employment authorization document; or be the beneficiary of a non frivolous petition to change employer.

If one of these actions occurs within the up to 60-day grace period, the nonimmigrants period of authorised stay in the United States can exceed 60 days, even if they lose their previous nonimmigrant status, the USCIS said.

If the worker takes no action within the grace period, they and their dependents may then need to depart the United States within 60 days, or when their authorised validity period ends, whichever is shorter, it said.

Many people have asked if they can look for a new job while in B-1 or B-2 status. The answer is, yes. Searching for employment and interviewing for a position are permissible B-1 or B-2 activities, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a series of tweets.

At the same time, the USCIS said before beginning any new employment, a petition and request for a change of status from B-1 or B-2 to an employment-authorized status must be approved, and the new status must take effect.

Alternatively, if the change of status request is denied or the petition for new employment requested consular or port of entry notification, the individual must depart the U.S. And be admitted in an employment-authorized classification before beginning the new employment, the USCIS said.
India's END tuberculosis (TB) programme, that is committed to making India Tuberculosis-free by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030, is an ambitious goal, a herculean task, but certainly achievable, said experts on World TB day.

World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24. "Yes! We can end TB!" is the theme for this year, and urges leaders from around the world to act to stop the TB epidemic.A

India has about 3.1 million tuberculosis patients and approximately 2,000 patients are diagnosed with TB yearly.

The Pradhan Mantri's TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan "is a very ambitious goal" and India is facing a "herculean task" to keep up with its commitment, Dr Vishal Rao, Fellow at Royal Society of Medicine (London), and Director at head neck surgical oncology department at HealthCare Global Cancer Centre, told IANS.

"For TB to be eliminated, there should be less than one case for every 1 million in the country. Today, at the current rate, we are seeing a decline in the incidence of TB of 1.5 per cent, which needs to accelerate to more than 15 per cent each year. So, we have a very daunting task with us at hand, and with only two years left the decline rate of TB cases needs to go much higher," said Rao, who is also part of a consultative group to the Principal Scientific Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In my opinion, Prime Minister Modi's call to END TB by 2025 is outstanding. And I think it is achievable. One is the fact that we already see a lot of cases being notified from India. And a lot of push to work on prevention, which for sure will lead to a decrease in incidence and we already have noticed that," Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership, told IANS.

She said that India has shown a lot of acepolitical commitment" which has resulted in providing nutritional support to people with TB, updated data to see how many people with the disease were found, diagnosed and treated up till yesterday.

One of the major challenges ahead of India is that more than half of the TB cases do not get detected, Rao said.

For this, he suggested strengthening peripheral Primary Health Centre (PHC) programmes focusing on detecting TB and stronger mass media campaigns that would raise awareness, and allocate more funds to the National TB Elimination Programme for improved manpower, awareness campaigns, counselling, and detection.A

Another challenge is high tobacco usage in the country, which is an omnipresent yet preventable risk.

More than 20 per cent of global TB cases and 40 per cent of Indian cases can be attributed to tobacco usage.

Rao suggested implementing stringent policies to counter the tobacco industry, reduce the prevalence of tobacco consumption especially, among the youth; protect lung health by strengthening tobacco control programmes, especially smoke-free policies.

He also stressed the need to promote healthy lifestyle practices, and make the youth aware of the harmful effects of tobacco; and adopting innovative measures, increased action, and multi-sector collaborations to control tobacco use and fight TB.

"I think India will achieve the goal to end TB" because of its approach of "going at a very granular and peripheral level", Ditiu said.

However, access should be secured for every single person. A decentralised approach is needed to ensure access to everyone even at the village level, she suggested.

The country also needs to "maintain the political pressure, and then the financial resources to do this because the investments needed for this will be very huge and should be sustained".

"It's not that you have a jump in 2024. And then you are relaxed. Basically, we have two more years for India to push on this up to the end of 2025. So let's hope that the political commitment and the financial resources will come," Ditiu said.
The Auraiya police claimed to have recovered an abducted five-year-old boy within a few hours of the abduction but in Mau, a missing 3-year-old girl was found dead on Thursday.

According to reports from Auraiya, a 5-year-old child, Abhinav (Yug), was abducted by miscreants in Dibiyapur locality on Wednesday. On getting information about the abduction, the police swung into action and recovered the child in 12 hours and arrested three abductors.

Police said the mastermind of the abduction was the uncle of the boy.

Abhinav, son of Alok Dubey of Kanarpur, was playing outside the house when he was abducted. After abducting the child, the abductors called Alok on his mobile phone and demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh for the safe release of the child.

After the relatives of the boy informed the police about the abduction and the phone number by which the ransom call was made, Kanpur Zone's ADG Alok Singh and IG Range Prashant Kumar formed a team to recover the child. The photo of the child was also circulated in the nearby police stations. The police traced the location of the mobile phone of the abductors and reached the hideout and arrested them. They also recovered the boy safely.

Superintendent of Police Charu Nigam said that Aloks cousin Vishal along with his friends carried out the abduction in greed of money.

In another incident in Mau, the body of a three-year-old girl, missing from Railway Colony in Kotwali area, was found in the drain of the colony on Thursday morning.

Arvind Yadav of Bhadev village in Prem Ka Pura under Mardah police station in Ghazipur district, works as a key man in the railways in Mau. His daughter, Namrata Yadav, had gone out of the quarter to buy some things. When she did not return to the quarter after a long time, the family members started searching for her. The father filed a missing complaint with the local police.

The police swung into action and started scanning the CCTV footage to locate the girl. While the police were still investigating, on Thursday morning it was reported that the body of the missing girl was lying in a water-filled pit adjacent to the boundary of the Railway colony.

Circle Officer (City) Dhananjay Mishra and City Magistrate Nitish Kumar Singh reached the spot along with a forensic team.

The cops are of the view that the girl might have fallen in the pit and died but the family alleged that she was murdered.

A case was registered and further investigations are on.
A BJP delegation met Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena on Thursday and complained to him that the budget details were leaked on social media allegedly by the AAP before the document was tabled in the assembly.

Led by the leader of opposition in the assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, the BJP MLAs also complained to the LG about the suspension of their colleague Vijender Gupta from the assembly for one year after he had raised the issue of budget details being leaked on social media.

The Delhi government announced the budget date without the approval of the Centre, which was constitutionally unfair. After this, the finance minister leaked the budget, which is a violation of the oath of secrecy, said a statement from Bidhuris office.
An advocate and the nephew of a gram pradhan were killed in Hardoi late on Wednesday night. One person was also injured in the incident.

According to reports, the incident took place in a village under Majhila police station of Hardoi. Inspector General of Police Tarun Gaba said that 28-year-old advocate Amit Shukla of Para village, gram pradhan Nandlals nephew Ramakant Kushwaha and 30-year-old Santosh Kushwaha went for some work to Todarpur block headquarters on Wednesday evening.

When the three were returning from there, a Bolero hit their motorcycle near Gautiya village on the way. After this, the occupants of the four-wheeler started abusing the trio and later attacked them with knives and screwdrivers.

The miscreants also crushed the victims under their vehicle and threw them in a ditch before fleeing the spot.

Amit Shukla and Ramakant Kushwaha died in the attack, while Santosh Kushwaha was injured. Santosh was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.

After getting information about the incident, the police reached the spot and sent the bodies for autopsy.

The police claimed political rivalry as the motive behind the killing.

Police registered a case and have started the investigation. They also seized the Bolero and launched a hunt for its owner.

Meanwhile, the Bulandshahr police arrested a 60-year-old self-styled godman, who was on the run for more than two years, for the murder of his girlfriend's son. According to the police, Amar Singh was strangled to death and his body was thrown in the forest. Later, the police recovered Amar's partially burnt body from the area. During the investigation, the police found that Amar was last seen with Sujan Singh. The accused was arrested with an illegal country-made pistol from a village temple in Salempur area of Bulandshahr district, where he was hiding.

Bulandshahrs Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said Sujan Singh was wanted in connection with the murder of Aligarh resident Amar Singh. Amar Singh used to oppose the illegal relationship between his mother and the accused.

Meanwhile in Sitapur, a man killed his servant to frame murder charges on his opponents. The accused, however, was arrested and he also confessed to the killing.

Reports said that Nokhe (30), a resident of Bhudia under Maholi police station in Sitapur, used to work as a labourer at Omu Singh's place for the last four years. His body was found lying near the Lucknow-Sitapur-Delhi railway track outside the village on Wednesday night. He was shot dead.

It was Omu Singh who informed about the murder on UP 112. On information, Maholi Kotwali police reached the spot and started investigation. On coming to know about the incident, Superintendent of Police Ghule Sushil Chandrabhan also reached the spot.

Omu Singh started accusing a person from the village of killing the servant. During investigation, the police found that Omu Singh had given false applications several times against a resident of the village. At first Omu Singh tried to mislead the police but during interrogation he broke down and confessed to the crime.

SP Ghule Sushil Chandrabhan said that Omu Singh had himself shot Nokhe with a pistol to frame his opponents.

The police took Omu Singh into custody and have also recovered the pistol used in the murder.
Life should be great rather than long is a famous quote of Ambedkar. The 23 years of meaningful life of Bhagat Singh (1907-1931) is a fitting example of this idea of life. Today, after 92 years of his martyrdom, he is being greatly acknowledged as the most respected son of the soil by all irrespective of political affiliations whether Left, Right or Centrist.



His statue was installed at the Indian Parliament in 2008. The Government of India has built a national martyrs memorial at HussainiWala on the bank of river Sutlej. India got this place in exchange for 12 villages with Pakistan in 1961. Both in India and Pakistan, the revolutionary life of Bhagat Singh and many of the stories, songs, dramas and films have become folk tales.



Post Independent India has been engaged more on his ideas of India and its vital relevance to address many of the contemporary challenges. The socio-political ideas are available in the articles, letters, jail diary and leaflets written by him in the heyday of his extreme radical political activism. His ideas of India and political action were not merely limited to a case of revenge action against the colonial mighty British Empire of those days to counter the death of Lala Lajpat Ray who was protesting the Simon Commission and died due to brutal police action. Even freedom for him also was not just getting liberated from the yoke of the British. The idea of India for which he was committed to in the true spirit of a patriot is very much available in his writings and through his political actions of those days.



In the year 1928, he wrote articles on the issues of untouchability and communalism for its complete eradication as these issues were the main stumbling block of social unity of the Indians. While discussing such urgent issues of national importance, he said, We have to decide that all human beings are equal and there is not at all any necessity for any gradation of human society based on birth or occupation. He said the untouchables were the main soldiers of Guru Gobind Singh and Chhatrapati Shivaji and they are the main organic proletariats of India. He was not fully in favour of any reform movement; rather he was engaged more in the act of a political action for a fundamental and revolutionary structural change in politics, economics and social life without any compromise with the outdated old ideas. He called for the unity of the untouchables as the most oppressed proletariats to move on the path of revolution for an all-out change.



He was strongly opposing communalism in any form and arguing for the religious rights of every one of any religion or faith to enjoy equal rights in a multicultural and multi-religious country such as India. His most famous book was Why I am an atheist, written some time in 1930. In a long essay there he built a sustained argument that if we all want to build a progressive nation then we have to accept logic, argumentative mind, free thinking and mostly the atheist way of thinking. While building a nation the people have more of a role to play than the gods and goddesses, he said. Along with free thought, free thinking, a questioning mind and criticism, a revolutionary transformation in a society is possible, he said. No one even if the so-called Mahatma must not be above criticism and question, he said.



The great views of Bhagat Singh were admired and supported by Periyar EV Ramasamy and he wrote an editorial in his magazine Kudi Arasu. Periyar said the ideas of Bhagat Singh were very much necessary for the country. Periyar translated the book Why I am an atheist into Tamil and published it for Tamil readers. Ambedkar opposed the injustice done to Bhagat Singh by the British Government of those days. He also wrote an article in the magazine Janata edited by him in defence of Bhagat Singh, Sukhadev Thapar and Sivaram Rajguru, the three famous martyrs at young age.



Bhagat Singh also was influenced by the political developments of his time across the world, mostly by the socialist revolution of the former Soviet Union in 1917 and the later progress in the world. The political ideas of Karl Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, Bakunin and many others on the same line influenced the young mind of Bhagat Singh. At a very young age, he was much worried and getting pained over the issues of suffering of the people in the lower ladder, especially about economic exploitation and inequality, social discrimination and about the inaction of the so called Governments representing the interest of the capitalist, feudal lords and imperialist forces.



While clarifying his political position once in a meeting of young political workers, he said, I am not an extremist, I am a revolutionary and revolution means to change the present decadent society to a new social order based on ideas of socialism that ensures equality for all. The individualistic way of life and personal comfort has to be dismantled to become revolutionaries in politics.


BJP legislators on Thursday walked out of the Chhattisgarh Assembly to protest against the alleged misuse of Company Social Responsibility (CSR) fund.

The issue was raised by Leader of Opposition Narayan Chandel who charged that the fund is not used for needy villages near industries. Instead, the government used it elsewhere and alleged misuse.

He said Odisha had a flawless rule for CSR. Minister Mohammad Akbar agreed to study the rules in Odisha.

Akbar said the state government had no control over non-deposit of CSR by industries as it was governed by a central act.

BJP legislators then staged a walkout.
In protest against the conviction of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case in Surat, Gujarat, the Uttarakhand Congress held a protest here on Thursday. Holding placards the Congress workers assembled at the clock tower and held a vociferous protest. The protest created traffic chaos and a situation of jam in the main roads of the city. Large number of the Congress leaders and workers courted arrest and were taken to the Police lines.

Speaking on the occasion, the former chief minister and member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Harish Rawat said that the legal proceedings against Rahul Gandhi is the biggest attack by the BJP government on the freedom of expression. He said that the BJP government has got afraid of the immense success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi and the government has taken a vindictive stand to harass the Congress leader. He said that what Rahul Gandhi said was a general discussion on what is happening in politics of the country. Rawat said that the case registered in Surat is an old one.

He added that the workers of the Congress party would not tolerate the harassment of Rahul Gandhi and would always stand with him. Rawat warned that the Congress workers would start Jail Bharo campaign if the Modi government continues to harass the leaders of Congress party.

The former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Pritam Singh said that the Surat incident is very unfortunate and such events have no place in democracy. He said that Rahul Gandhi had not talked about any specific person. Singh said that the BJP government has become vindictive and all types of cases are being registered on the leaders of Congress party and the leaders of opposition parties. The Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have become the tools in the hands of the government to harass opposition leaders.

The chairman of the disciplinary committee of Congress Nav Prabhat said that the constitution of India guarantees freedom of expression to its citizens. He said that it is unfortunate that speaking against the government has come under the category of a crime. He said that the Modi government is acting in an unconstitutional manner.

The MLAs of Congress Mamta Rakesh, Furkan Ahmed, Vikram Singh Negi, Ravi Bahadur, Virendra Jati, Anupma Rawat former cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Vice presidents Mathura Dut Joshi, Surya Kant Dhasmana, chief spokesperson Garima Dasauni and others were present on the occasion.
Tilajamalpura police have arrested the gang who misled and sold the woman in Rajgarh; five persons including two women were arrested while victim was rescued from the gang.

In the month of January the victim lodged a missing complaint of his wife.

During the investigation, the woman called her husband and told that Shalu, Jyoti, Mangilal, Pandit, and Pandit's friend sold her to Manngilal in Rajgarh, Mangilal had held her captive.

Mangilal, the accused who bought the woman, is absconding. For whose arrest the absconding accused Mangilal is being searched by taking the PR of the accused. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 03 Bhopal has announced to reward the police team that arrested the accused with a cash prize of Rs.10,000.

The arrested gang members were identified as Shalu Ram(28), Jyoti (32), Pandit alias Pradeep Kumar(42) and Sunil Kumar Rao (36).

Meanwhile the crime branch arrested the absconding accused of NSA for 4 years he was booked by Gunga police under NSA, accused is expert in hiding fake Mawa and Paneer and transporting the spurious goods.

He was booked for 9 cases of fake mawa and fake paneer.

During the search for absconding miscreants, information was received from the informer that NSA accused Mustaq Ali, a resident of Qazi Camp Bhopal, absconding from police station Gunga for almost four years, is roaming behind the fire brigade based on details he was arrested.

Accused Mustaq used to work for setting up fake mawa and fake paneer hideout from the year 2019.
Security forces arrested five Maoists on Thursday after a gun battle in Sukma district in Chhattisgarh.

The gunfight took place in the jungles of Kottalendra village when the security forces were on a search operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma told The Pioneer.

A joint squad of Konta and Errabore police personnel and District Reserve Guard were dispatched following inputs about the presence of Naxalites.

An exchange of fire broke out when the security forces were cordoning off the forest near Kottalendra village, the officer said.

Five Naxalites -- Madkam Bheema alias Pandu, Sodi Mada, Madkam Bheema, Madvi Deva and Madkam Joga -- were apprehended, he said.
Known for his mission to transform the country's road network and transportation system, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday laid the online foundation stone for the countrys first elevated double-decker corridor on the NH-33 along the steel city. The project worth Rs 1,876 crore is going to be the first such facility in the country.

Addressing a public meeting at Gopal Maidan in Bistupur, Gadkari said the proposed double-decker corridor will add a new chapter to the country's glorious road network. The project has been to ease the vehicular communication between Kolkata-Ranchi route but will also augment the beauty of the steel city.

 It will be a new milestone for Jharkhand. Jamshedpur MP, Bidyut Baran Mahto has raised the demand for a double-decker elevated corridor. But what is a matter of pride for Jamshedpur is this project will be the first of its kind in the country, said Nitin Gadkari while addressing the gathering.

The proposed elevated double-decker corridor will be 10.2-kms long and will be set up between a stretch starting from Pardih Kali Mandir to Baliguma on the NH-33.

On the occasion, the Union minister laid the foundation stone online for nine other road projects across Kolhan comprising the twin districts of Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan involving over Rs 2,000 crores. Gadkari also inaugurated online the four-lane work of the Jamshedpur-Mahulia section for formally opening the stretch on the NH-33 for commuters.

On the occasion, several senior officers of the NHAI besides dignitaries from Tata Steel and district administration were present. Former chief minister, Raghubar Das, Jamshedpur MP, Bidyut Baran Mahto and Chaibasa MP, Geeta Koda who attended the function had also addressed the gathering.

Gadkari said in his address that Jharkhand is important in the development of the country. Contributing. Coal and iron are obtained from here. Roads are the most important aspect of development. If America is moving towards development today, then the main reason for this is the smooth road. Before the Modi Government, Jharkhand had only 200 km of road, but today Jharkhand has a total of 4000 km. The National Highway has been constructed. A total of Rs 2 lakh crore is being spent in this.

Gadkari said that Jharkhand has to be made a prosperous state. Along with this, the youth will also get employment. Only if this happens, India will be able to become powerful. He described Jamshedpur as a developed and beautiful city.

Jamshedpur to be get better connectivity with metro cities

Jamshedpur: Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has announced several projects. Starting from a 44-km stretch between Jamshedpur and Mahulta on National Highway-33, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 465 crore. This stretch will provide Delhi-Kolkata and Mumbai-Kolkata connectivity via Jamshedpur, significantly reducing travel time between the destinations. The project will also pave way for fresh investments. Apart from these, Gadkari laid foundation stone for a four-lane double-decker elevated corridor on NH-33, connecting Kali Mandi, Dimna Chowk and Baliguma in Jamshedpur, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,876 crore, thus reducing traffic burden on the Steel City. As part of a Bharatmala package, a four-lane access control road will be constructed on Raipur-Dhanbad Economic Corridor of NH-320.
The lawyers' strike, which has been going on since February 22 in Bhopal court, continued on Thursday as well, today the effect of the lawyers' protest was more visible as the lawyers sitting at the gate of the court returned people coming for appearing in court.

People kept returning disappointed. Due to the protest of the lawyers, there was silence inside the court as well.

The lawyers are not allowed to enter. PC Kothari, president of the District Bar Association, said the High Court would have to withdraw its order. Only then the strike will end. He claimed that the parties were not being refunded. They are being requested that the lawyers are on strike, so work is not being done in the court. That's why he doesn't come.

He said that a meeting was also held with the District Judge this morning that during the strike the warrants or cases of any party would not be dismissed by the Bhopal court.

PC Kothari, President of the District Advocates Association, Bhopal said that in December 2022, the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court had passed an order for all the courts of Madhya Pradesh for speedy disposal of 25-25 old cases.

There was a strike in the courts of all 52 districts including the High Court since Thursday. The State Bar Association has also joined the strike. The lawyers demanded that the time period of 25-25 old cases should be ended by 3-3 months. Hearing of old cases should be on Friday, Saturday. Rest of the cases should be heard regularly. The bail of minor first offenders is canceled by the sessions court. Because of which cases are pending in the High Court.
Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday bared it all about her political mission that was very conveniently packed into her visit to Odisha.

Banerjees visit, which ended with her meeting with BJD president and Chief Minister Minister Naveen Patnaik, saw both leaders hinting about their plan to ward off the BJPs Purvodaya expansion plan in eastern India.

We had a very good meeting. We discussed the safety of democratic rights and our nation, Banerjee said.

Asked about if she was leading an initiative to form a possible third front ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee said the polls are months away and there is no point in discussing that aspect now.

Insisted by journalists to clarify as to what she meant by safety democratic rights and nations, she while jointly addressing the media along with Patnaik tried to desist herself from spilling more beans in Patnaiks presence.

Banerjee restricted herself to saying, I may not discuss my opinion or details of the discussion in front of you. There is something he (Patnaik) may not support and there is something he may support. If you ask alone to me political questions, I will open the golden box (sic).

In fact, the BJD, though is one of the key rivals of the BJP in Odisha, has very often supported the ruling BJP at the Centre in passing some crucial legislations ostensibly to buy peace with the saffron party.

Patnaik merely said, We had a very excellent discussion. We are neighbouring States and we have a very good relationship. There were no in-depth and serious political matters today. We just discussed that the federal structure in India should remain permanent and strong.

When there is a cyclone in Odisha, we get affected. When there is power cut in Odisha, we also face darkness, said Banerjee, hinting at the identical offensives faced by both BJD and TMC from the BJP.

The BJP, which has been working on a mission to strengthen its foothold in West Bengal and Odisha for nearly two decades, has found these two States hard nuts to crack because of strong regional leaderships provided by Banerjee and Patnaik.
Bajaria police have nabbed a gang member involved in tampering ATM kiosks; the accused was nabbed from Purushottam Nagar in Semra.

Several complaints of theft, fraud and ATM machine tampering were received from different SBI ATMs. On the complaint of the territory manager of the ATM maintenance company, the Bajaria police registered a case and arrested one of the accused. The gang has been carrying out the crime in Bhopal since November 30. The company has come across 15 incidents of money theft by tampering in SBI ATMs located at Purushottam Nagar Semra, Chanakyapuri.

According to the police, Mukesh Malviya (FSS), a resident of Rohit Nagar Phase-2, is the territory manager of the company. His company does the maintenance of SBI ATMs. Mukesh said that on March 21, around 6.30 pm to 6.55 pm, 500 rupees were stolen by tampering the shutter at the SBI ATM located in Purushottam Nagar. There were reports of theft of money by shutter tampering here for many days. Similarly, incidents of tampering and withdrawing money from ATMs in Chanakyapuri were also coming to the fore. The employees of the company started keeping an eye on the ATM booth.

On March 21, they started monitoring the ATM of Purushottam Nagar Semra. During this, a suspicious youth was caught red-handed while tampering at the ATM. The employees immediately informed the police and got him arrested. The accused has been identified as Priyanshu Rai (18), a resident of Gopalganj, Bihar. Other gang members may also join.

Fraudsters get bank accounts opened on fake names and addresses.

Let's get his ATM card made. After this, the thugs reach the ATM and do transactions according to the cash limit. After completing the process of withdrawing money, as soon as the cash is about to come out, the shutter of the cash-tray of the ATM is closed with a pin or key.

The cash remains lying inside after hitting the shutter thrice. It takes 20 seconds for money to go back into the bank system. Before returning the money, the thugs withdraw 80 percent of the amount, while leaving 20% in the tray.
Naxalites have torched a JCB machine and a truck engaged in laying railway track and transporting iron ore works in Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday.

A group of Naxalites on March 22-23 night set ablaze the JCB machine near Padhapur village, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Siddharth Tiwari told The Pioneer.

The Maoists opened fire at security forces in the nearby jungles, the officer said.
The sixth day of a manhunt launched to nab radical Sikh preacher and Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh on Thursday led the Punjab Police to Shahabad in Haryana even as new evidence purportedly surfaced on alleged anti-national activities carried out by the Khalistan ideologue and his close aides. The Police claimed to have recovered the full trail of Amritpal's escape in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Haryana.



Punjab polices fresh claims came in the wake of the latest arrest in the case  Tejinder Singh Gill alias Gorkha Baba, who was in Amritpals security team and was often seen carrying rifles  for allegedly keeping illegal weapons. The police maintained that following Tejinder Gills arrest, the facts emerged that Amritpal was involved in anti-national activities. Several incriminating videos of arms training and firing by Amritpal and associates, in a firing range set up near a river in his native Jallupur Kheda village, have also been recovered from Tejinder's phone, claimed the police.



As the self-proclaimed preacher continued to remain at large since the crackdown against the Waris Punjab De radical outfit on March 18, the police claimed that the leads obtained, so far, indicated that Amritpal had escaped out of Punjab and was last seen in Shahbad in Haryanas Kurukshetra district. Punjab Police, along with the Haryana Police, have also detained a woman, identified as Baljit Kaur, at whose residence Amritpal is suspected to have stayed overnight a couple of days ago.



Sharing these details with the media, the states Inspector General of Police (IGP), headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill, at the same time, maintained that the situation in Punjab is totally peaceful, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is closely monitoring the situation.



IGP Gill said that till date, a total of 207 persons have been detained, of which 30 are involved in criminal activities. Of these, 177 people have been detained only for preventive custody and action will be taken only against the hardcore elements. The misguided and innocent youth will be released soon after giving a warning.we will not keep them for long, he added.



He added, Peaceful conditions completely prevail in the state. No innocent person will be harassed by the police. The Chief Minister has given clear instructions regarding this, he added.



Meanwhile, the mobile internet services were also restored in Sangrur and Moga districts by Thursday afternoon, while the same will remain suspended in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts.



IGP Gill said that in a major breakthrough, Khanna police has arrested Tejinder Singh Gill alias Gorkha Baba from whom incriminating videos of arms training and firing by Amritpal and his associates have been recovered from his phone which shows they were anti-national. We have recovered several videographs showing Amritpal and his associates doing arms training in a firing range near a river in his villageWe have also recovered AKF holograms which belong to their private militia 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj'. There are also some videos which show practicing the use of weapons, besides other incriminating material and sensitive videos and photos which we cannot share as of now, said IGP Gill.



Route Tracked, woman arrested from Haryana

Stating that the police has so far succeeded in tracing Amritpals escape route from Punjab to Haryana, IGP Gill detailed, We have recovered full trail of Amritpals escapeAfter Nangal Ambian Gurudwara, Amritpal changed clothes and reached Sheikhupura on the bike. Then, he along with his accomplice Papalpreet crossed Sutluj river on an old abandoned railway bridge between Phillaur and Laddowal. From there, he reached Hardy's World in Ludhiana, and took a truck to cross over to Haryana. Then, he spent night at Kurukshetra and left the place early in the morning to Shahabad using a scooter.



Haryana Police has also arrested a woman from Shahabad area who allegedly harboured Amritpal and his associate Papalpreet Singh, and later handed over to the Punjab Police. The woman knew Papalpreet from the past two and half years, and they were in touchDuring interrogation, she disclosed that Papalpreet had arranged the stay at her house. She also disclosed that Amritpal had changed his attire and was still wearing a turban but has fixed his moustache, said the IGP. The woman has been identified as Baljeet Kaur, a resident of Sidharth Colony of Shahbad, who was allegedly in touch with Papalpreet Singh. The woman was taken in custody by the Haryana Police, after her brother informed the police, and was handed over to the Punjab Police. The police claimed that Amritpal and his friend had stayed at her house on the intervening night of March 19 and 20.



Punjab Police has also recovered the second motorcycle, a Bullet that was used in Amritpals escape on March 18 from the Malsian area of Jalandhar around Wednesday midnight. A case has been registered in this regard based on the statement of one Gurbhinder Singh alias Bhinda of Malsian Patti locality in Malsian. Gurbhinder Singh alleged that his motorcycle was snatched at gunpoint by the three people. He told the police that he and his friend would be able to identify the men in the future. However, speculations about the credibility of Gurbhinders statements emerged on the basis of the fact that he approached the police after four days of the incident.



CMs Clear Instructions to Not Harass Any Innocent



Gill said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has given clear instructions to the state police not to harass any innocent person during the ongoing operation against those trying to disturb law and order in the state. Punjab Police might release as many as 177 arrested persons, who have a minimum role or were just got attracted to Amritpal Singh on religious sentiments only, he said.



Total 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state, of which 30 have been found in substantive criminal activities, while remaining are under preventive arrest, he said while assuring that people involved in baptism and de-addiction will also not be bothered at all. Police teams are doing thorough screening of all the arrested persons and soon they will be released from the police custody, he said.



The IGP said that the operation was carried out on the directions of Chief Minister with an aim to save the innocent youth of Punjab from playing into the hands of anti-national forces. Punjab Police have clear instructions from the Chief Minister to not to harass any innocent person during the ongoing operation. Police teams have even not harassed the family members of Amritpal Singh, he said.

Internet Shutdown: Govt to Extend Last Date For Filling Forms Of Upcoming Exams

IGP Gill further informed that keeping in view the internet shutdown in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to extend the last date for applying or filling forms for any Punjab-based competitive exams so that students dont face any inconvenience. Meanwhile, Punjab Government on Thursday restored mobile internet services in Sangrur and Moga districts as well. As per latest order by the Punjab Home Department, mobile internet services would remain suspended only in the two districts of Tarn Taran and Ferozepur till Friday noon.



After initially suspending the services for three consecutive days till Tuesday noon, Punjab Government had restored it in most parts of the state, except in Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Ajnala sub-division in Amritsar district and areas adjoining YPS chowk and airport road in Mohali district, where the suspension was extended till Thursday noon.


Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that necessary amendments in the law would be carried out to take stringent action against the drug peddlers with a provision to confiscate the property of the culprits. He said that a Special Task Force would be formed to break the supply chain and take stern action against the drug mafia and an advisory Board under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act would also be constituted to check the menace.

Chairing a meeting with senior officers of Police, Home and Law Departments to initiate strict measures to curb the drug menace in the State, Sukhu said that a modern de-addiction centre and rehabilitation centre would be set up which will be equipped with latest facilities and skilled supportive staff to bring the addicts back into the mainstream.

He said that drugs were weakening the youth and the need of the hour was to nab the culprits at the earliest and booked under the law. We will seek the support of the Union Government to evolve a mechanism to share intelligence inputs and take joint actions to control the problem in an effective manner by making necessary amendments in the central legislation on drug menace, he added.

Expressing grave concern over the drug abuse, Sukhu said that people should be made aware about the ill effects of the drugs. We need to coordinate with the neighbouring States to check this menace, especially in the border areas. He directed the officers to take appropriate measures to save the young generation from being dragged in the clutches of the drug mafia.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Bharat Khera, OSD to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma, DGP Sanjay Kundu, amongst others attended the meeting.
To make Uttar Pradesh a cleaner and greener state, as envisioned by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government will launch a cleanliness drive in the state as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).

Between March 24 and 30, community, public and pink toilets will be renovated across the state as part of a seven-day statewide campaign to renovate 75,000 toilets.

State Mission Director Neha Sharma said that a seven-day campaign to renovate 75,000 toilets had begun in order to provide clean toilets to citizens while also improving scores in the 'Swachh Survekshan 2023.

Community, public and pink toilets in urban areas in need of repair or rejuvenation will be identified and rebuilt within seven days under this campaign.

Chief Minister Yogi has set the goal of making Uttar Pradesh a clean state. Along with this, people are being made aware of the importance of cleanliness, Sharma said.

She also stated that the department runs various campaigns on a regular basis to keep Uttar Pradesh's urban areas clean. Public participation is also being ensured in these campaigns, as it is essential for sustainable cleanliness.

Highlighting the objectives of the campaign, Sharma said this would not only improve the cleanliness and hygiene of public toilets but also improve the states ranking in Swachh Survekshan-2023.

It will also raise awareness about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in public toilets and encourage them to use public toilets and dispose of waste properly, she added.

The biggest government task would be to involve local people in business, government agencies and community organisations in the cleanliness drive, she said.
The Regional Office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Thursday issued a Yellow Warning of thunderstorm and lightning for eight districts in the State for next 24 hours.

Thunderstorm with lightening is very likely to occur at one or two places in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Baleswar on Friday. A yellow alert was issued for these districts during the period.

The weather office also forecast that light to moderate rain or thundershower to very likel occur at isolated places in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Boudh, Angul, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Baleswar and Bhadrak.

Dry weather is very likely to prevail in the rest of the districts during the next 24 hours.

The maximum temperature (day temperature) is very likely to rise by 2 to 4 degree Celsius at many places in the State during next two days and no large change thereafter, the IMD said.


The Delhi Police on Thursday contended before the Delhi High Court that a trial court order, discharging JNU student Sharjeel Imam and student activists Asif Iqbal Tanha and Safoora Zargar in a 2019 Jamia Nagar violence case, was perverse and unsustainable in law as it cannot indulge in conducting mini trial at the stage of framing of charges.

The police said at the stage of framing of charges, a trial court cannot indulge in conducting a mini trial by determining the credibility of the evidence as to whether it would warrant a conviction or not.

The submissions were made before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma who reserved the verdict on the polices plea after hearing arguments of the lawyers for Delhi Police and 11 people, who were discharged by the trial court, for two-and-a half hours.

The case concerns the violence that erupted after a clash between police and people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Jamia Nagar area here in December 2019.

The trial court had in its February 4 order discharged 11 people in the case while holding that they were made scapegoats by police and that dissent has to be encouraged, not stifled.
In an example of inter-departmental cooperation the Health and Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) departments have decided to use the one-stop C

centres in the State as pre-birthing waiting rooms for the pregnant women. These centres are being operated by the WECD department and the Health department would develop them as the waiting rooms for pregnant women where they can stay for a few days before child birth. The government of India has accepted the proposal of the health department and would provide the necessary budget for the endeavour. The health secretary R Rajesh Kumar told The Pioneer that the government of India has approved the amended Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) under the National Health Mission (NHM). He said that it is generally seen that the pregnant women visiting the district headquarters from the rural areas for check up and childbirth face problems staying in the cities. Apart from the facility of comfortable stay, the doctors would do regular health check ups of the pregnant women in one stop centre, he said.

In Uttarakhand the WECD department has a one stop centre in every district. The WECD secretary HC Semwal told this correspondent that the department has accepted the proposal of the health department in this regard and the step would be extremely beneficial for the women. The centres would also help in increasing institutional deliveries.

The health secretary further informed that the government has also accepted the proposal to provide an incentive to the doctors who would provide consultation to the patients under the tele medicine system. The doctors would be given a sum of Rs 150 for tele consultancy service provided to every patient. Kumar said that the mobile medical units of the State would be equipped with the portable X-ray facility. The government has also given approval to the plan of providing facility of mobile vans to the Tehri and Pithoragarh districts for screening of cataract.
A day after Punjab and Haryana Assemblies passed a resolution against it, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said water cess levied by the Himachal Pradesh government on hydro power generation projects does not violate any law.

''No provision of HP Water Cess on Hydro Power Generation Act 2023 violates any Act and objections of neighbouring states are not logical as water cess has already been imposed by Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir governments,'' the Himachal chief minister said in the state assembly. Sukhu clarified that the Act implemented by the Himachal Pradesh government neither violates any kind of inter-state treaties nor the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty.

He said that the levy does not affect the release of water to the neighbouring states. Asserting that water cess is logical and under the jurisdiction of the state as about 45,000 hectares land of the state was submerged in the reservoirs of three projects of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in Himachal and the state has been facing adverse environmental impact for decades, Sukhu said.

''Be it local climate change, adverse changes in agriculture and horticulture, health problems, social and economic changes, reservoirs of these projects have badly affected human life,'' he added.

When hydropower projects are built, Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) are assessed to compensate for all the adverse effects and for this Environmental Social Management Plan (ESMP) is approved and implemented for the upliftment of the local area and environmental and social security. However, Sukhu said, none of the projects under BBMB has taken necessary steps to address these issues,'' Sukhu said.

These reservoirs have swallowed agricultural and horticultural land, obstructed the means of transport, submerged water sources, religious places and cremation grounds, but the rehabilitation of those displaced 50-60 years ago has not been completed, he added.

BBMB was set up by the ministry of power in accordance with the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 to administer, maintain and operate the Bhakra Nangal Project, which is a joint venture and undertaking of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh.

He said that the management of BBMB is not controlled by Punjab and Haryana alone and the burden of water cess on the projects of BBMB will be distributed equally among five states including Himachal Pradesh, Sukhu said, adding that the cess is levied on water used by established hydropower projects and not on water flowing across neighbouring state borders.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.E. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

The court in Surat sentenced on Thursday Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Following his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Reacting to Gandhi's disqualification, the Congress said it will fight the battle both "legally and politically".

"We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the action against Gandhi and by its rapidity. "This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Tharoor said in a tweet.

Defending Gandhi's disqualification, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice S P S Baghel termed it as "lawful" and asserted that "everyone is equal before law".

He also noted that a BJP MLA was also recently disqualified in Uttar Pradesh following his conviction in a criminal case.
Chinese diplomats expressed their strong opposition to an expanded United States military presence in the Philippines in closed-door talks with their Filipino counterparts on Thursday in Manila, a Filipino official said, underscoring the intense US-China rivalry in the region.

The Philippine official, who attended the meeting, told The Associated Press about Chinas intense objections on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss what transpired at the start of the two-day talks. The Filipino diplomats responded by saying the decision to allow an expanded American military presence was in their national interest and would boost Philippine capability to respond to natural disasters, the official said, suggesting it was not aimed at China.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro led the talks aimed at assessing overall relations between the two sides amid thorny issues, including Beijings alarm over a Philippine decision to allow the US military to expand its presence to a northern region facing the Taiwan Strait and escalating spats in the South China Sea. The discussions on Friday will focus on the long-seething territorial spats in the disputed waterway, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

The back-to-back meetings are the first under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in June. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in a state visit to Beijing in January, where both agreed to expand ties, pursue talks on potential joint oil and gas explorations and manage territorial disputes amicably. In early February, the Marcos administration announced it would allow rotating batches of American forces to indefinitely station in four more Philippine military camps.

Those are in addition to five local bases earlier designated under a 2014 defence pact between the longtime treaty allies. Marcos said on Wednesday the four new military sites would include areas in the northern Philippines. That location has infuriated Chinese officials because it would provide US forces a staging ground close to southern China and Taiwan. The Americans would also have access to military areas on the western Philippine island province of Palawan, Marcos said, adding that the US military presence under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was aimed at boosting coastal defence.

Palawan faces the South China Sea, a key passage for global trade that Beijing claims virtually in its entirety but a United Nations-backed arbitration tribunal ruled in 2016 that historical claim had no legal basis under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Seas. China had dismissed the ruling, which Washington and other Western governments recognise, and continues to defy it. When asked to react to the Philippine decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing on Wednesday in Beijing that defence cooperation between countries needs to be conducive to regional peace and stability and not targeted at or harmful to the interests of any third party. Wang warned countries in the region to remain vigilant and avoid being coerced or used by the US without naming the Philippines.

A recent statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Manila was more blunt and warned that the Manila governments security cooperation with Washington will drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development at the end of the day.

The territorial conflicts have persisted as a major irritant in relations early in the six-year term of Marcos, whose administration has filed at least 77 of more than 200 diplomatic protests by the Philippines against Chinas increasingly assertive actions in the disputed waters since last year alone.

That included a February 6 incident when a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some crew members of a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal.

Marcos summoned the Chinese ambassador to Manila to express concern over the incident, but Beijing said the Philippine vessel intruded into Chinese territorial waters and its coast guard used a harmless laser gadget to monitor the vessels movement. The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any future confrontation over Taiwan.

The US moves dovetail with Philippine efforts to shore up its territorial defence amid its disputes with China in the South China Sea.

The US denied Chinese claims Thursday that its military had driven away an American guided-missile destroyer from operating around disputed islands in the South China Sea, with the US Navys 7th Fleet saying in a statement the USS Milius was conducting routine operations in the waterway and was not expelled.
Authorities in Hungary would not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he were to enter the country despite him being the subject of an international warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, a Hungarian official said Thursday.

Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said during a news conference in Budapest that arresting Putin would contravene Hungarian law because the country has not promulgated the statute of the International Criminal Court into its legal system.

The court, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, last week issued an arrest warrant for Putin that accused him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Gulyas said the statute of the ICC, of which Hungary is a member state, was in conflict with Hungarys Constitution, and that arresting Putin would therefore violate Hungarian law. Orbans government has not yet taken a position on the warrant, but Gulyas said he considered it counterproductive.

I think these decisions are not the most fortunate because they lead toward escalation and not toward peace, he said. The chances of Putin facing trial in The Hague are highly unlikely because Moscow does not recognise the ICCs jurisdiction or extradite its nationals. However, the warrant could limit the Russian leaders ability to travel to the tribunals 123 member nations, which could arrest him in accordance with the warrant.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine 13 months ago, Hungary has condemned the war but refused to supply Ukraine with weapons or allow their transfer across its borders.

It has also threatened to veto certain European Union sanctions against Moscow and has held up the adoption of a major EU funding package to Kyiv. Earlier this week, Hungary refused to join the other 26 EU members in signing a resolution in support of the ICC warrant for Putin.
Japan and South Korea almost simultaneously dropped their export claims against each other on Thursday in the latest sign of improving ties.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that effective Thursday the country would lift export controls of three key semi-conductor-related materials imposed in 2019 against South Korea, while Seoul said it would drop its complaint with the World Trade Organisation over the issue.

The two sides had agreed to the plan as part of their recent effort to improve ties and the announcement came a week after their leaders agreed to work past their troubled history and mend ties so they can better respond together to growing regional threats.

The announcement came hours after South Korea's unification minister and senior Japanese government officials reaffirmed their close cooperation in response to North Koreas escalating missile threats at a rare meeting.

Kwon Youngse is in Tokyo for talks with Japanese ministers and top governing party officials, becoming the first unification minister to do so in 18 years. His trip comes on the heels of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week, when they agreed to resume regular visits and launch high-level talks on security, trade and other issues.

Kwon and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi agreed that North Korea's repeated ballistic missile firings, which have occurred at an unprecedented pace, are a serious and pressing threat to regional security and a clear and grave challenge to international society, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The two ministers confirmed their close cooperation in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the ministry said.

At the outset of the talks, Hayashi said last week's summit was a great success and praised Yoon's leadership toward improving bilateral relations. Hayashi also said he was delighted to meet with Minister Kwon without delay."

Kwon, in response, said the process of improving ties has just begun and that he believes further efforts by the two governments can help bolster their healthy relations.

He said North Korea's nuclear and human rights issues represent a problem not only for South Korea but also for the international community.

He said it is also necessary for his country to strengthen ties with Japan to tackle those issues.
: Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Beijing for a state visit as Xi tries to galvanise support for China's peace proposal for Ukraine. Spain's minister for the presidency, Felix Bolanos, confirmed late on Wednesday that Sanchez would visit China on March 30-31, citing Xi's possible mediation in the war in Ukraine as a key reason for the visit.

Spain takes over the European Union's rotating presidency in July, and Sanchez has portrayed his nation on the world stage as a staunch NATO ally of Ukraine. He plans to hold commercially focused meetings during the Boao Forum for Asia on the Chinese island of Hainan on March 30 before travelling to Beijing to meet with Xi on March 31, Sanchez's office said. Xi met in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to promote Beijing's peace plan for Ukraine, which Western nations have all but dismissed as unviable. Putin said it could be a basis for ending the fighting when the West is ready but added that Ukraine's Western allies have not shown interest.
Lundin Gold Inc. (TSE:LUG  Get Rating)s stock price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$14.34 and traded as low as C$14.08. Lundin Gold shares last traded at C$14.20, with a volume of 390,913 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on LUG shares. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of Lundin Gold from C$18.50 to C$20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. National Bankshares upped their price objective on shares of Lundin Gold from C$16.50 to C$17.50 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on shares of Lundin Gold from C$17.00 to C$18.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Haywood Securities upgraded shares of Lundin Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from C$14.00 to C$16.50 in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, Cormark upped their price objective on shares of Lundin Gold from C$13.00 to C$13.50 in a report on Thursday, December 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$16.07.

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Lundin Gold Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 78.39. The companys 50 day moving average is C$14.34 and its 200 day moving average is C$12.39. The firm has a market capitalization of C$3.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.32 and a beta of 1.11.

Lundin Gold Dividend Announcement

Lundin Gold ( TSE:LUG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported C$0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.16 by C$0.03. Lundin Gold had a net margin of 9.02% and a return on equity of 8.83%. The business had revenue of C$286.42 million during the quarter. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Lundin Gold Inc. will post 1.55902 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.133 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 10th. This represents a $0.53 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.50%. Lundin Golds dividend payout ratio is 125.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Chantal Gosselin sold 34,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$15.02, for a total value of C$518,238.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 14,150 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$212,552.81. In other news, Senior Officer Nathan Saul Monash sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$15.36, for a total value of C$168,911.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 22,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$337,823.20. Also, Director Chantal Gosselin sold 34,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$15.02, for a total transaction of C$518,238.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 14,150 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$212,552.81. Insiders sold 52,000 shares of company stock valued at $784,420 over the last quarter. 63.06% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Lundin Gold Company Profile

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Lundin Gold Inc operates as a mining company in Canada. The company holds interests in 27 metallic mineral concessions and three construction material concessions covering an area of approximately 64,270 hectares located in Southeast Ecuador. It primary holds interests in the Fruta del Norte gold project comprising seven concessions covering an area of approximately 5,566 hectares located near the city of Loja in Ecuador.

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Owens Corning (NYSE:OC  Get Rating) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report released on Thursday.

OC has been the subject of a number of other reports. Loop Capital boosted their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $102.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Benchmark upped their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $91.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $121.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $99.92.

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Owens Corning Stock Performance

NYSE OC traded down $0.08 on Thursday, reaching $92.15. 867,805 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 871,053. The firm has a market cap of $8.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.42. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $95.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $89.68. Owens Corning has a fifty-two week low of $72.97 and a fifty-two week high of $105.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.69.

Insider Activity at Owens Corning

Owens Corning ( NYSE:OC Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The construction company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.24 billion. Owens Corning had a net margin of 12.71% and a return on equity of 27.36%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.20 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Owens Corning will post 9.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, insider Todd W. Fister sold 2,505 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total transaction of $250,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 31,482 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,148,200. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.89% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Owens Corning

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Owens Corning in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $111,343,000. River & Mercantile Asset Management LLP grew its stake in shares of Owens Corning by 806.9% in the 3rd quarter. River & Mercantile Asset Management LLP now owns 1,102,854 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $94,254,000 after buying an additional 981,250 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Owens Corning by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,768,026 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,003,695,000 after buying an additional 803,551 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its stake in shares of Owens Corning by 139.0% in the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,149,893 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $90,393,000 after buying an additional 668,768 shares during the period. Finally, PGGM Investments purchased a new stake in shares of Owens Corning in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $47,560,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.59% of the companys stock.

About Owens Corning

(Get Rating)

Owens Corning engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. It operates through the following segments: Composites, Insulation, and Roofing. The Composites segment manufactures, fabricates, and sells glass reinforcements in the form of fiber, and includes vertically integrated downstream activities.

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Primo Water (NYSE:PRMW  Get Rating) had its price target trimmed by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $17.00 to $16.00 in a report issued on Monday morning, The Fly reports. They currently have a hold rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on the company. CIBC lowered Primo Water from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 24th. TheStreet raised Primo Water from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $19.33.

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Primo Water Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PRMW opened at $14.30 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $15.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.79. Primo Water has a fifty-two week low of $12.15 and a fifty-two week high of $16.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.26 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.60.

Primo Water Increases Dividend

Insider Transactions at Primo Water

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th will be given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 9th. This is an increase from Primo Waters previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Primo Waters dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 168.42%.

In other Primo Water news, Director Jeremy S. G. Fowden sold 3,760 shares of Primo Water stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.00, for a total transaction of $60,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 1,268,770 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,300,320. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Jeremy S. G. Fowden sold 3,760 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.00, for a total transaction of $60,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,268,770 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,300,320. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Jeremy S. G. Fowden sold 90,463 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.12, for a total transaction of $1,458,263.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,268,770 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,452,572.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 141,853 shares of company stock worth $2,280,980. Company insiders own 4.40% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Primo Water

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PRMW. US Bancorp DE grew its position in shares of Primo Water by 76.0% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,325 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,004 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its stake in Primo Water by 556.1% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,257 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,913 shares during the period. Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Primo Water during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in Primo Water by 77.3% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,961 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 1,291 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Middle East FZE acquired a new position in shares of Primo Water in the 4th quarter valued at $54,000. 88.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Primo Water Company Profile

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Primo Water Corporation provides pure-play water solutions for residential and commercial customers. It offers bottled water, water dispensers, purified bottled water, self-service refill drinking water, premium spring, mineral water, sparkling and flavored water, filtration equipment, and coffee. The company offers its products under the Primo, Alhambra, Crystal Rock, Mountain Valley, Deep Rock, Hinckley Springs, Crystal Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mount Olympus, Pureflo, Nursery, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, Clear Mountain Natural Spring Water, Earth2O, Renu, and Water Event Pure Water Solutions brands in the United States; Canadian Springs and Labrador Source brands in Canada; and Decantae, Eden, Eden Springs, Chateaud'eau, and Mey Eden brands in Europe and Israel.

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Baader Bank set a 85.00 ($91.40) price objective on Shop Apotheke Europe (ETR:SAE  Get Rating) in a report published on Monday morning, Borsen Zeitung reports.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a 126.00 ($135.48) price target on shares of Shop Apotheke Europe in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Jefferies Financial Group set a 140.00 ($150.54) price target on shares of Shop Apotheke Europe in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Berenberg Bank set a 80.00 ($86.02) target price on shares of Shop Apotheke Europe in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Credit Suisse Group set a 42.00 ($45.16) target price on shares of Shop Apotheke Europe in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Warburg Research set a 108.00 ($116.13) target price on shares of Shop Apotheke Europe in a report on Thursday, March 16th.

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Shop Apotheke Europe Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of ETR SAE opened at 75.64 ($81.33) on Monday. Shop Apotheke Europe has a one year low of 36.51 ($39.26) and a one year high of 105.25 ($113.17). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.24, a current ratio of 2.88 and a quick ratio of 2.28. The firms 50 day simple moving average is 68.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is 53.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.38 billion, a P/E ratio of -11.80, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.86.

Shop Apotheke Europe Company Profile

Shop Apotheke Europe N.V. owns and operates online pharmacies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. It provides prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and pharmacy-related beauty and personal care products, as well as food supplements. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Sevenum, the Netherlands.

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Asian Television Network International Limited (CVE:SAT  Get Rating)s share price was up 6.5% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$0.17 and last traded at C$0.17. Approximately 500 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 99% from the average daily volume of 33,587 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.16.

Asian Television Network International Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 193.84, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.76. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$0.19 and its 200-day moving average price is C$0.20. The firm has a market capitalization of C$4.03 million, a PE ratio of -8.25 and a beta of 0.55.

Asian Television Network International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Asian Television Network International Limited engages in the specialty, pay television broadcasting, and television broadcasting advertising primarily for the south Asian community in Canada. It operates approximately 50 premium pay specialty television channels in 9 languages. The company provides its flagship ATN-HD general interest service; and various Bollywood movie channels with approximately 100 movies a month, as well as various channels that include sports, news, music, lifestyle, spiritual, and regional language channels.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC  Get Rating) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 551,872 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 6,685 shares during the quarter. Bank of America accounts for 0.5% of Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Bank of America were worth $18,278,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Avondale Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. WD Rutherford LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 1,491.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,089 shares during the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 35.1% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,500 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. 68.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total transaction of $3,600,200.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 319,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,959,648.81. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.91, for a total transaction of $7,711,492.95. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares in the company, valued at $7,711,564.77. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 319,803 shares in the company, valued at $10,959,648.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Bank of America Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BAC opened at $26.97 on Friday. Bank of America Co. has a fifty-two week low of $26.79 and a fifty-two week high of $44.39. The business has a 50-day moving average of $33.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $33.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $215.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.09. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.41% and a net margin of 23.93%. The company had revenue of $24.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.82 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Bank of America Co. will post 3.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.26%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 27.59%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Bank of America in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Atlantic Securities downgraded Bank of America from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $40.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on Bank of America from $53.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the company from $45.00 to $36.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Bank of America from $51.00 to $48.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.63.

About Bank of America

(Get Rating)

Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses.

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Romano Brothers AND Company raised its stake in shares of Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO  Get Rating) (TSE:BMO) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 57,269 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. Romano Brothers AND Companys holdings in Bank of Montreal were worth $5,189,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the third quarter worth $29,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the third quarter worth $30,000. Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the second quarter worth $34,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of Montreal by 103.5% in the third quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 403 shares of the banks stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Oak Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of Montreal in the second quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.78% of the companys stock.

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Bank of Montreal Trading Down 1.5 %

NYSE BMO opened at $84.39 on Friday. Bank of Montreal has a 12 month low of $81.57 and a 12 month high of $120.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company has a market capitalization of $60.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.15. The companys fifty day moving average price is $96.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $93.97.

Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.075 per share. This represents a $4.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.10%. This is an increase from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is 34.34%.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Bank of Montreal in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group started coverage on shares of Bank of Montreal in a research note on Monday, December 19th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Bank of America downgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$151.00 to C$147.50 in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Finally, Bank Of America (Bofa) downgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $155.75.

About Bank of Montreal

(Get Rating)

Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of banking and financial services to individuals and institutions. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking (Canadian P&C) and United States Personal and Commercial Banking (U.S. P&C). The Canadian P&C segment refers to retail banking and financial operations in Canada.

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Bennett Selby Investments LP lessened its position in Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS  Get Rating) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,282 shares of the companys stock after selling 197 shares during the period. Zoetis comprises approximately 0.7% of Bennett Selby Investments LPs holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Bennett Selby Investments LPs holdings in Zoetis were worth $921,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its position in Zoetis by 430.8% during the 1st quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 138 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Zoetis during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel acquired a new position in Zoetis during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. EWG Elevate Inc. acquired a new position in Zoetis during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Zoetis during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.23% of the companys stock.

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Zoetis Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of ZTS stock traded up $0.74 on Friday, reaching $161.98. The company had a trading volume of 339,346 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,196,162. The company has a current ratio of 2.37, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49. The stock has a market cap of $75.06 billion, a PE ratio of 35.83, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a 50-day moving average of $165.96 and a 200-day moving average of $155.44. Zoetis Inc. has a 12 month low of $124.15 and a 12 month high of $201.32.

Zoetis Dividend Announcement

Zoetis ( NYSE:ZTS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.15. The company had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.01 billion. Zoetis had a return on equity of 50.20% and a net margin of 26.16%. Zoetiss revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.00 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Zoetis Inc. will post 5.39 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 21st will be paid a $0.375 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 20th. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.93%. Zoetiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on Zoetis from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Zoetis in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Zoetis has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $223.83.

Zoetis Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Zoetis, Inc engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic products and services, biodevices, genetic tests, and precision animal health technology. The firm operates through the United States and International geographical segments. The United States segment is involved in U.S.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its position in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,810 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 162 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in BlackRock were worth $8,369,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 3.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,492,083 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $7,424,424,000 after purchasing an additional 444,552 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 1.8% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,696,425 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $5,335,747,000 after purchasing an additional 174,789 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 4.3% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,319,438 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $3,477,460,000 after purchasing an additional 259,896 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 15.4% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,326,618 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,777,933,000 after purchasing an additional 310,256 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 1.6% during the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,945,360 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,184,803,000 after purchasing an additional 30,163 shares during the last quarter. 77.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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BlackRock Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BLK opened at $651.78 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $706.46 and a 200-day moving average of $680.42. The company has a market capitalization of $97.92 billion, a PE ratio of 19.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.28. BlackRock, Inc. has a one year low of $503.12 and a one year high of $788.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 2.99 and a current ratio of 2.99.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The asset manager reported $8.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.99 by $0.94. The company had revenue of $4.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.38% and a net margin of 28.97%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that BlackRock, Inc. will post 34.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 7th were issued a $5.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 6th. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $4.88. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is presently 58.91%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 575 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $689.06, for a total value of $396,209.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,670 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,217,910.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 1,149 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $753.46, for a total value of $865,725.54. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,135 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,115,557.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 575 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $689.06, for a total transaction of $396,209.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,670 shares in the company, valued at $3,217,910.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,839 shares of company stock worth $3,578,947 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.06% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BLK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on BlackRock in a report on Wednesday, December 14th. They issued an overweight rating and a $820.00 price objective for the company. Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on BlackRock from $540.00 to $680.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on BlackRock from $785.00 to $828.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Bank of America cut their target price on BlackRock from $821.00 to $813.00 in a research report on Sunday, January 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on BlackRock from $741.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $740.92.

BlackRock Profile

(Get Rating)

BlackRock, Inc engages in providing investment management, risk management, and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. Its products include single and multi-asset class portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives, and money market instruments. The company was founded by Susan L.

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Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (TSE:WPRT  Get Rating) Senior Officer David Mitchelhill Johnson acquired 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were bought at an average price of C$0.85 per share, with a total value of C$42,500.00.

Westport Fuel Systems Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of TSE WPRT traded down C$0.01 during trading on Friday, hitting C$1.13. 49,199 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 118,379. Westport Fuel Systems Inc. has a 1 year low of C$1.01 and a 1 year high of C$2.21. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$1.44 and a 200-day moving average price of C$1.29. The firm has a market capitalization of C$194.04 million, a P/E ratio of -4.75, a P/E/G ratio of -0.12 and a beta of 2.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.47.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Westport Fuel Systems from C$2.50 to C$1.50 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th.

Westport Fuel Systems Company Profile

Westport Fuel Systems Inc engages in the engineering, manufacturing, and supplying alternative fuel systems and components for use in transportation applications worldwide. The company operates through Original Equipment Manufacturer and Independent Aftermarket segments. It offers alternative fuel systems and components, which include a range of alternative fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen; and independent aftermarket, light and heavy-duty original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and delayed OEMs, electronics, hydrogen, and fuel storage activities.

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EVRAZ plc (LON:EVR  Get Rating) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 81 ($0.99) and traded as high as GBX 81 ($0.99). EVRAZ shares last traded at GBX 81 ($0.99), with a volume of 13,219 shares changing hands.

EVRAZ Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 81 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 81. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 68.87. The firm has a market cap of 1.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.54, a PEG ratio of 0.05 and a beta of 0.92.

About EVRAZ

(Get Rating)

EVRAZ plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and distribution of steel and related products in Russia, the Americas, Asia, Europe, CIS, Africa, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Steel; Steel, North America; Coal; and Other Operations. The company offers steel and value-added products, including infrastructure steel, rails, large-diameter pipes, and oil country tubular goods.

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Family Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 55,760 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $3,660,000. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF comprises about 3.0% of Family Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 22,922,742 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,432,442,000 after purchasing an additional 509,174 shares during the last quarter. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University increased its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 55.4% in the 3rd quarter. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University now owns 8,785,451 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $492,073,000 after buying an additional 3,132,027 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 8,051,277 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $450,952,000 after buying an additional 246,210 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,783,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $435,928,000 after purchasing an additional 307,120 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,561,764 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $410,045,000 after purchasing an additional 741,436 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.78% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:EFA traded down $0.79 on Friday, reaching $68.24. 7,167,980 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 20,571,355. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1-year low of $54.61 and a 1-year high of $75.38. The company has a 50-day moving average of $70.26 and a 200-day moving average of $65.20.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance.

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Colorado Capital Management Inc. lessened its stake in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Get Rating) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,471 shares of the companys stock after selling 66 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF accounts for about 1.1% of Colorado Capital Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Colorado Capital Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF were worth $1,319,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 450.0% in the 3rd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 121 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Dougherty Wealth Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Absolute Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Vigilant Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 1,100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vigilant Capital Management LLC now owns 168 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF stock opened at $237.35 on Friday. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a twelve month low of $217.39 and a twelve month high of $277.04. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $257.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $246.62. The firm has a market cap of $62.61 billion, a PE ratio of 13.24 and a beta of 1.12.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Profile

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index).

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Moller Financial Services reduced its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Get Rating) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 45,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 118 shares during the quarter. iShares Russell 2000 ETF makes up approximately 2.5% of Moller Financial Services portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Moller Financial Services holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $7,846,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 8.9% in the third quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 14,581,100 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,404,715,000 after purchasing an additional 1,192,100 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 12,616.2% during the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 7,756,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,279,086,000 after acquiring an additional 7,695,017 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 1.8% in the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 6,640,764 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,095,195,000 after acquiring an additional 119,602 shares in the last quarter. Personal Capital Advisors Corp increased its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 4.3% in the third quarter. Personal Capital Advisors Corp now owns 6,267,638 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,033,659,000 after buying an additional 260,184 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 1.0% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 4,019,321 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $825,046,000 after buying an additional 39,661 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $170.25 on Friday. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 1 year low of $162.50 and a 1 year high of $212.25. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $186.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $180.66.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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Johnson & White Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 6,028 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $881,000. PulteGroup comprises 0.9% of Johnson & White Wealth Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Private Trust Co. NA purchased a new stake in PulteGroup during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. General Partner Inc. bought a new stake in shares of PulteGroup in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of PulteGroup in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 115.2% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,595 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $67,000 after acquiring an additional 854 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 17.6% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,749 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. 88.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, VP Brien P. Omeara sold 4,924 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $295,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 17,308 shares in the company, valued at $1,038,480. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP Todd N. Sheldon sold 15,998 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.83, for a total transaction of $861,172.34. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 82,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,432,308.37. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Brien P. Omeara sold 4,924 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $295,440.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 17,308 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,038,480. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 50,739 shares of company stock worth $2,845,149 over the last 90 days. 0.71% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PulteGroup Trading Down 0.7 %

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on PHM. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on PulteGroup from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on PulteGroup from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on PulteGroup from $65.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Wedbush upped their price objective on PulteGroup from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on PulteGroup from $52.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PulteGroup presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.86.

Shares of PHM stock opened at $55.98 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.62. PulteGroup, Inc. has a 1 year low of $35.03 and a 1 year high of $60.89. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $54.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.63 billion, a PE ratio of 5.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.31.

PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The construction company reported $3.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.75. The business had revenue of $5.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.59 billion. PulteGroup had a return on equity of 31.85% and a net margin of 16.13%. The companys revenue was up 18.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.51 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 7.34 EPS for the current year.

PulteGroup Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 20th will be issued a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 17th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.14%. PulteGroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.77%.

PulteGroup Profile

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PulteGroup, Inc engages in the homebuilding business. The firm is also involved in mortgage banking and title and insurance brokerage operations. It operates through the Homebuilding and Financial services business segments. The Homebuilding segment includes operations from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington.

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Legal & General Group Plc (LON:LGEN  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2.28 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 226.25 ($2.78), with a volume of 20999428 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 228.90 ($2.81).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on LGEN shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 335 ($4.11) price objective on shares of Legal & General Group in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a GBX 355 ($4.36) price objective on shares of Legal & General Group in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Legal & General Group from GBX 397 ($4.88) to GBX 390 ($4.79) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Legal & General Group in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Berenberg Bank lowered shares of Legal & General Group to a hold rating and cut their price target for the stock from GBX 345 ($4.24) to GBX 290 ($3.56) in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 328.43 ($4.03).

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Legal & General Group Trading Up 0.2 %

The company has a market capitalization of 13.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 618.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.39. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 253.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 248.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 619.54, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 0.50.

Legal & General Group Increases Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 27th will be issued a dividend of GBX 13.93 ($0.17) per share. This is a boost from Legal & General Groups previous dividend of $5.44. This represents a yield of 5.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. Legal & General Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 5,135.14%.

In other news, insider Henrietta Baldock purchased 936 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 256 ($3.14) per share, with a total value of 2,396.16 ($2,942.60). In related news, insider Henrietta Baldock bought 936 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 256 ($3.14) per share, for a total transaction of 2,396.16 ($2,942.60). Also, insider Ric Lewis purchased 1,285 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 3rd. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 255 ($3.13) per share, for a total transaction of 3,276.75 ($4,024.01). Insiders bought 2,865 shares of company stock valued at $731,511 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.97% of the companys stock.

About Legal & General Group

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Legal & General Group Plc provides various insurance products and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Legal & General Retirement (LGR), Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), Legal & General Capital (LGC), and Legal & General Insurance (LGI).

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Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Get Rating) by 19.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 54,764 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,936 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF comprises approximately 0.7% of Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $5,312,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. HighMark Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. John W. Brooker & Co. CPAs bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $44,000. Institutional investors own 80.07% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF stock opened at $99.99 on Friday. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $93.20 and a 1-year high of $107.38. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $98.77 and a 200-day moving average price of $97.79.

About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR  Get Rating) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,574 shares of the companys stock after selling 339 shares during the quarter. Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF were worth $407,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of IEUR. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 21.8% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 414,120 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,114,000 after purchasing an additional 74,207 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 9.7% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 61,042 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,260,000 after purchasing an additional 5,420 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 79.7% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 52,336 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,795,000 after purchasing an additional 23,206 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 506.0% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 210,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,215,000 after purchasing an additional 175,370 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 1.9% during the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 16,448 shares of the companys stock valued at $878,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Price Performance

IEUR opened at $50.44 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $51.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $47.20. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF has a one year low of $38.54 and a one year high of $54.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 0.97.

About iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF

The iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (IEUR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Europe IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed European securities. IEUR was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Marshall & Sullivan Inc. WA purchased a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $106,000.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 132,480,611 shares of the companys stock worth $10,997,216,000 after buying an additional 1,451,582 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 100,951,462 shares of the companys stock worth $8,379,979,000 after buying an additional 962,801 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.7% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 57,777,797 shares of the companys stock worth $4,868,937,000 after buying an additional 389,746 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 22.7% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 35,468,228 shares of the companys stock worth $2,944,500,000 after buying an additional 6,558,762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GQG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.6% in the second quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 30,443,730 shares of the companys stock worth $3,006,398,000 after buying an additional 476,875 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.85% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on PM shares. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating and issued a $109.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday, December 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $95.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $86.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, January 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $109.73.

Insider Activity at Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Price Performance

In related news, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $101,057,266.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . In related news, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 8,756 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.31, for a total value of $887,070.36. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 47,731 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,835,627.61. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total transaction of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 1,007,048 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,057,266.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 117,064 shares of company stock valued at $11,738,763 in the last three months. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Shares of PM stock traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $90.38. 1,250,039 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,653,592. The stock has a market cap of $140.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.54, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.69. The stocks fifty day moving average is $100.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $96.69. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $82.85 and a 52-week high of $109.81.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $8.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.54 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.22% and a negative return on equity of 127.24%. The companys quarterly revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.35 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be given a $1.27 dividend. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.62%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 87.44%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System acquired a new position in S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 25,622 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $8,582,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Putnam Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of S&P Global by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 32,099 shares of the business services providers stock worth $9,801,000 after purchasing an additional 1,868 shares in the last quarter. Keel Point LLC increased its stake in S&P Global by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Keel Point LLC now owns 850 shares of the business services providers stock worth $285,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Girard Partners LTD. increased its stake in S&P Global by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Girard Partners LTD. now owns 19,199 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,862,000 after buying an additional 1,761 shares in the last quarter. West Coast Financial LLC increased its stake in S&P Global by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. West Coast Financial LLC now owns 15,599 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,763,000 after buying an additional 606 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in S&P Global by 35.5% in the 3rd quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,370 shares of the business services providers stock worth $418,000 after buying an additional 359 shares in the last quarter. 87.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on SPGI shares. Barclays increased their price target on S&P Global from $385.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on S&P Global in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $388.00 to $403.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $385.00 to $395.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $355.00 to $393.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, November 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, S&P Global has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $393.56.

S&P Global Stock Performance

S&P Global stock opened at $332.25 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $354.43 and a 200-day moving average price of $341.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.94. S&P Global Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $279.32 and a fifty-two week high of $423.55. The company has a market capitalization of $106.98 billion, a PE ratio of 31.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.12.

S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The business services provider reported $2.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.07. S&P Global had a net margin of 29.05% and a return on equity of 9.84%. The firm had revenue of $2.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.88 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.15 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 40.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that S&P Global Inc. will post 12.45 earnings per share for the current year.

S&P Global Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 24th were issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.08%. This is a positive change from S&P Globals previous quarterly dividend of $0.85. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. S&P Globals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.29%.

Insider Activity at S&P Global

In related news, CEO Douglas L. Peterson sold 7,500 shares of S&P Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $360.52, for a total transaction of $2,703,900.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 160,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,977,384.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other S&P Global news, EVP Sally Moore sold 3,499 shares of S&P Global stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $367.30, for a total value of $1,285,182.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,820,706.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Douglas L. Peterson sold 7,500 shares of S&P Global stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.52, for a total transaction of $2,703,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 160,816 shares in the company, valued at $57,977,384.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 11,749 shares of company stock valued at $4,266,185 over the last ninety days. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About S&P Global

(Get Rating)

S&P Global, Inc engages in the provision of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide. It operates through the following segments: Market Intelligence, Ratings, Commodity Insights, Mobility, Indices, and Engineering Solutions. The Market Intelligence segment provides multi-asset-class data and analytics integrated with purpose-built workflow solutions.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System purchased a new stake in The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 390,344 shares of the pipeline companys stock, valued at approximately $12,842,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Centaurus Financial Inc. increased its position in Williams Companies by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 19,481 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $558,000 after purchasing an additional 1,255 shares during the period. Financial Advocates Investment Management increased its position in Williams Companies by 51.3% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 13,832 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $431,000 after purchasing an additional 4,689 shares during the period. Roosevelt Investment Group LLC increased its position in Williams Companies by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Roosevelt Investment Group LLC now owns 62,490 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,789,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Perennial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Williams Companies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $454,000. Finally, Natixis increased its position in Williams Companies by 195.0% during the 2nd quarter. Natixis now owns 99,130 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $3,094,000 after purchasing an additional 65,526 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.38% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Williams Companies news, Director William H. Spence purchased 5,000 shares of Williams Companies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were bought at an average price of $29.61 per share, with a total value of $148,050.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 48,521 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,436,706.81. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.43% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Williams Companies Price Performance

Several research firms have issued reports on WMB. StockNews.com began coverage on Williams Companies in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Argus lowered Williams Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Raymond James decreased their price target on Williams Companies from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Barclays lowered Williams Companies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $35.00 to $37.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Williams Companies from $38.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.90.

WMB stock opened at $28.30 on Friday. The Williams Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $28.06 and a 1 year high of $37.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.78. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $30.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $31.84. The firm has a market cap of $34.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.85, a PEG ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 1.17.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 20th. The pipeline company reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.06. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 16.02% and a net margin of 18.69%. The company had revenue of $2.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.39 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that The Williams Companies, Inc. will post 1.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.4475 per share. This represents a $1.79 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 10th. This is a positive change from Williams Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 106.55%.

About Williams Companies

(Get Rating)

The Williams Cos., Inc operates as an energy infrastructure company, which explores, produces, transports, sells and processes natural gas and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Transmission and Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, and West. The Transmission and Gulf of Mexico segment consists of interstate natural gas pipelines, the Transco and Northwest Pipelines, as well as natural gas gathering and processing and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region.

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Mullen Group Ltd. (TSE:MTL  Get Rating) Senior Officer Richard James Maloney bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of C$14.10 per share, for a total transaction of C$14,100.00.

Mullen Group Stock Performance

TSE:MTL opened at C$14.41 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$14.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$14.55. The company has a market cap of C$1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.17. Mullen Group Ltd. has a 52 week low of C$10.83 and a 52 week high of C$15.98.

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Mullen Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were paid a $0.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.00%. Mullen Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.44%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Mullen Group Company Profile

MTL has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Cormark cut their price target on shares of Mullen Group from C$19.00 to C$17.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Mullen Group from C$17.00 to C$16.50 in a report on Friday, January 27th. National Bankshares set a C$18.50 price target on shares of Mullen Group and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Mullen Group from C$18.00 to C$17.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, National Bank Financial restated an outperfrom under weight rating on shares of Mullen Group in a report on Monday, March 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$16.45.

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Mullen Group Ltd. provides a range of trucking and logistics services in Canada and the United States. The company operates in four segments: Less-Than-Truckload, Logistics & Warehousing, Specialized & Industrial Services, and U.S. & International Logistics. The Less-Than-Truckload segment delivers general freight consisting of smaller shipments, packages, and parcels; and pharmaceutical and package products.

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New York Community Bancorp (NYSE:NYCB  Get Rating) had its target price upped by research analysts at Morgan Stanley from $10.00 to $10.50 in a research note issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the financial services providers stock. Morgan Stanleys price objective indicates a potential upside of 21.95% from the companys previous close.

NYCB has been the subject of a number of other research reports. UBS Group upped their price target on New York Community Bancorp from $10.00 to $11.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded New York Community Bancorp from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their target price for the stock from $10.00 to $11.00 in a report on Monday. DA Davidson upgraded New York Community Bancorp from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $11.50 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Stephens upgraded New York Community Bancorp from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $8.50 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, December 9th. Finally, Raymond James began coverage on New York Community Bancorp in a report on Wednesday. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, New York Community Bancorp presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $10.50.

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New York Community Bancorp Trading Down 1.7 %

NYCB opened at $8.61 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.89, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.56, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.20. New York Community Bancorp has a one year low of $5.81 and a one year high of $11.18.

Insider Buying and Selling

New York Community Bancorp ( NYSE:NYCB Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $577.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $410.71 million. New York Community Bancorp had a net margin of 27.79% and a return on equity of 9.32%. Analysts predict that New York Community Bancorp will post 1.12 EPS for the current year.

In related news, Director Ronald A. Rosenfeld purchased 30,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of $24.57 per share, for a total transaction of $756,756.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 30,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $756,756. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other New York Community Bancorp news, EVP Reginald E. Davis sold 4,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.97, for a total transaction of $45,862.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 123,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,226,639.01. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Ronald A. Rosenfeld bought 30,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $24.57 per share, for a total transaction of $756,756.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 30,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $756,756. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.58% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of New York Community Bancorp

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in New York Community Bancorp during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of New York Community Bancorp during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. TFC Financial Management bought a new position in shares of New York Community Bancorp during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of New York Community Bancorp by 181.0% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,347 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 2,156 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of New York Community Bancorp during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. 63.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

New York Community Bancorp Company Profile

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New York Community Bancorp, Inc is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of multi-family loans on non-luxury rent-regulated buildings that feature below-market rents. It also offers financial products and services to individuals and businesses. The company was founded on July 20, 1993 and is headquartered in Westbury, NY.

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Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB  Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $12.37 and last traded at $12.49, with a volume of 177580 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.77.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on PEB shares. Citigroup upped their target price on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $15.00 to $16.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. StockNews.com started coverage on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $18.00 to $17.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets downgraded Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $20.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Friday, December 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $18.75.

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Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $14.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Dividend Announcement

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust ( NYSE:PEB Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.34) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.52). The firm had revenue of $319.61 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $309.55 million. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust had a negative return on equity of 2.77% and a negative net margin of 6.26%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 29.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.06 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Pebblebrook Hotel Trust will post 1.73 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.01 per share. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.32%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. Pebblebrook Hotel Trusts dividend payout ratio is -4.12%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Jon E. Bortz purchased 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $13.62 per share, with a total value of $190,680.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,108,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,092,349.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Pebblebrook Hotel Trust news, CEO Jon E. Bortz purchased 14,000 shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were bought at an average price of $13.62 per share, for a total transaction of $190,680.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,108,102 shares in the company, valued at $15,092,349.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Jon E. Bortz purchased 14,865 shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $14.93 per share, for a total transaction of $221,934.45. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 1,039,967 shares in the company, valued at $15,526,707.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought a total of 39,865 shares of company stock valued at $555,064 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 1.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new position in Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $50,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $48,000. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $64,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 91.6% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 4,686 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $68,000 after buying an additional 2,240 shares during the period. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $79,000.

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Company Profile

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Pebblebrook Hotel Trust is a real estate investment trust, engages in investments and acquisitions in hotel properties. Its hotels are located in markets like Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Key West, Miami and Naples, Florida, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, California, Nashville, Tennessee, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

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Pioneer Credit Limited (ASX:PNC  Get Rating) insider Keith John acquired 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of A$0.33 ($0.22) per share, for a total transaction of A$16,350.00 ($10,973.15).

Keith John also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, March 10th, Keith John acquired 125,000 shares of Pioneer Credit stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of A$0.02 ($0.01) per share, for a total transaction of A$2,500.00 ($1,677.85).

On Tuesday, March 14th, Keith John acquired 1,310,000 shares of Pioneer Credit stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of A$0.02 ($0.01) per share, for a total transaction of A$26,200.00 ($17,583.89).

Pioneer Credit Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 686.40.

Pioneer Credit Company Profile

Pioneer Credit Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial services in Australia. It acquires and services retail debt portfolios. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Perth, Australia.

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Scentre Group (ASX:SCG  Get Rating) insider Michael (Mike) Wilkins acquired 25,000 shares of Scentre Group stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of A$2.82 ($1.89) per share, with a total value of A$70,500.00 ($47,315.44).

Scentre Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 84.80, a current ratio of 0.34 and a quick ratio of 0.34.

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Scentre Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a Final dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 27th were paid a dividend of $0.083 per share. This is a positive change from Scentre Groups previous Final dividend of $0.07. This represents a yield of 2.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 15th. Scentre Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 283.33%.

Scentre Group Company Profile

Scentre Group (ASX Code: SCG) is the owner and operator of Westfield in Australia and New Zealand with interests in 42 Westfield Living Centres, encompassing approximately 12,000 outlets.

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Equities research analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Get Rating) in a note issued to investors on Friday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock.

Almaden Minerals Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:AAU traded up $0.00 on Friday, hitting $0.20. 135,617 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 243,835. Almaden Minerals has a 52 week low of $0.18 and a 52 week high of $0.38.

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About Almaden Minerals

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Almaden Minerals Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It focuses on the operation of Ixtaca gold-silver deposit. The company was founded by James Duane Poliquin on February 1, 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Golden Star Resources (NYSE:GSS  Get Rating) in a research note released on Tuesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

Golden Star Resources Price Performance

Golden Star Resources has a fifty-two week low of $2.04 and a fifty-two week high of $4.04.

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Golden Star Resources Company Profile

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Golden Star is an established gold mining company that owns and operates the Wassa underground mine in Ghana, West Africa. Listed on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ghanaian Stock Exchange, Golden Star is focused on delivering strong margins and free cash flow. Since winning the PDAC 2018 Environmental and Social Responsibility Award, Golden Star has remained committed to leaving a positive and sustainable legacy in its areas of operation.

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Romano Brothers AND Company cut its holdings in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) by 50.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,676 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 16,676 shares during the period. Romano Brothers AND Companys holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $3,127,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,074 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $562,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,580 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $436,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Evermay Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,050 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $314,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. SlateStone Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 2,148 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $329,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, Virtus ETF Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC now owns 4,332 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $664,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. 81.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 9,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.42, for a total transaction of $1,722,780.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 251,605 shares in the company, valued at $48,162,229.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.31, for a total transaction of $3,706,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,107 shares in the company, valued at $1,687,618.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 9,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.42, for a total transaction of $1,722,780.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 251,605 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,162,229.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 188,163 shares of company stock worth $35,402,200 over the last 90 days. 1.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Travelers Companies Stock Down 1.7 %

TRV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $180.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $182.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $197.00 to $196.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Travelers Companies currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $189.71.

NYSE TRV opened at $163.86 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $182.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $178.71. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $149.65 and a 12 month high of $194.51. The company has a market capitalization of $38.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.95, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.61.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The insurance provider reported $3.40 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $3.40. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.71% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The business had revenue of $8.83 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.78 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $5.20 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Travelers Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.93 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $3.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 31.66%.

Travelers Companies Company Profile

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The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating).

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Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC  Get Rating) Director Spencer Abraham acquired 38,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $2.61 per share, for a total transaction of $100,485.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 605,437 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,580,190.57. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Uranium Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Uranium Energy stock traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $2.73. The stock had a trading volume of 22,711,571 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,225,359. The company has a market cap of $1.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 133.07 and a beta of 2.01. Uranium Energy Corp. has a twelve month low of $2.36 and a twelve month high of $6.60.

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Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, December 19th. The basic materials company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.01. Uranium Energy had a net margin of 4.44% and a return on equity of 0.95%. The business had revenue of $57.29 million during the quarter. Equities research analysts forecast that Uranium Energy Corp. will post -0.04 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. D L Carlson Investment Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Uranium Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Uranium Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Uranium Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $47,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Uranium Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its stake in Uranium Energy by 37.0% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 10,978 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 2,967 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 40.37% of the companys stock.

Separately, HC Wainwright reissued a buy rating and set a $8.25 price objective on shares of Uranium Energy in a report on Tuesday, March 14th.

Uranium Energy Company Profile

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Uranium Energy Corp. engages in the provision of uranium mining and related activities. It includes the exploration, pre-extraction, extraction, and processing of uranium and titanium concentrates. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Canada, and Paraguay. The company was founded by Alan P.

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Willis Investment Counsel lowered its stake in Ralph Lauren Co. (NYSE:RL  Get Rating) by 0.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 124,611 shares of the textile makers stock after selling 813 shares during the quarter. Willis Investment Counsels holdings in Ralph Lauren were worth $13,168,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. AdvisorNet Financial Inc bought a new stake in shares of Ralph Lauren in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Ralph Lauren by 125.5% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 433 shares of the textile makers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 241 shares during the last quarter. South Dakota Investment Council bought a new stake in shares of Ralph Lauren in the 3rd quarter worth about $51,000. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Ralph Lauren in the 3rd quarter worth about $68,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Ralph Lauren by 89.6% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 916 shares of the textile makers stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. 66.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Ralph Lauren Price Performance

Shares of RL opened at $111.25 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $118.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $106.35. Ralph Lauren Co. has a fifty-two week low of $82.23 and a fifty-two week high of $128.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.34 billion, a PE ratio of 14.96, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 2.08.

Ralph Lauren Announces Dividend

Ralph Lauren ( NYSE:RL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The textile maker reported $3.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.91 by $0.44. Ralph Lauren had a net margin of 8.01% and a return on equity of 22.88%. The firm had revenue of $1.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.76 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.94 EPS. The companys revenue was up .9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Ralph Lauren Co. will post 8.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. Ralph Laurens payout ratio is 40.27%.

Insider Activity at Ralph Lauren

In related news, CEO Patrice Louvet sold 18,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total transaction of $2,312,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 202,332 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,291,500. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 36.56% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

RL has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ralph Lauren in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Ralph Lauren from $127.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 29th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Ralph Lauren from $92.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Bank of America upgraded shares of Ralph Lauren from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $130.00 to $145.00 in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of Ralph Lauren in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $124.86.

About Ralph Lauren

(Get Rating)

Ralph Lauren Corp. engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products. The firm offers apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other licensed products. It operates through the following segments: North America, Europe, and Asia. The North America segment consists of sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Companys wholesale and retail businesses in the U.S.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ralph Lauren Co. (NYSE:RL  Get Rating).

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Willis Investment Counsel increased its position in John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE:WLY  Get Rating) by 2.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 177,286 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,683 shares during the quarter. Willis Investment Counsel owned about 0.32% of John Wiley & Sons worth $7,102,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in WLY. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in John Wiley & Sons in the third quarter valued at about $187,724,000. Vanguard Group Inc. purchased a new position in John Wiley & Sons in the third quarter valued at about $175,812,000. State Street Corp purchased a new position in John Wiley & Sons in the third quarter valued at about $174,063,000. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in John Wiley & Sons in the third quarter valued at about $103,588,000. Finally, Cardinal Capital Management LLC CT purchased a new position in John Wiley & Sons in the third quarter valued at about $79,761,000. 72.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get John Wiley & Sons alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, TheStreet lowered John Wiley & Sons from a b rating to a c rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th.

Insider Transactions at John Wiley & Sons

John Wiley & Sons Stock Performance

In related news, EVP Aref Matin sold 11,450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.51, for a total transaction of $498,189.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 8,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at $355,302.66. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Insiders own 0.62% of the companys stock.

Shares of WLY stock opened at $36.30 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The business has a 50 day moving average of $43.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $42.52. The company has a market cap of $2.01 billion, a P/E ratio of -213.53 and a beta of 1.04. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has a 52 week low of $34.49 and a 52 week high of $56.11.

About John Wiley & Sons

(Get Rating)

John Wiley & Sons, Inc engages in the provision of research and learning materials. It operates through the following segments: Research Publishing & Platforms, Academic & Professional Learning, and Education Services. The Research Publishing & Platforms segment provides scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services to academic, corporate, and government libraries, learned societies, and individual researchers and other professionals.

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LONDON - England - Through the incessant electioneering and spectacular displays by buccaneering politicians, the polling stations will be wild with excitement on the night, but the decision has already been cast for the 2015 General Election.

The oracles that reside in the ether and transmogrified effervescence have revealed their answer.

David Cameron will win the 2015 General Election to continue the just mission of taking Britain forward, not backwards.

The oracle cannot be judged for the decisions are already set in stone nothing can change itnot even the BBC.
LONDON - England - Soviet ideology, an all pervasive force, infiltrates not only from without but within. This is how Britain was conquered by the EU in one fell swoop without even a single shot being fired.

Selling out your own country to a foreign force for money is now quite the rigueur in parliament as many MPs are now officially and unofficially on the EU payroll. Parliament was easy to corrupt because there are many greedy MPs already on the take in Britain.

Over 45 years of EU indoctrination Britain has steadily become more soviet and undemocratic in its outlook. The people now love their EU prison and any diktats thrown at them however miserable and degrading they accept without question. The two world wars were thus fought for nothing, and Britain lost in the long run.

Historian Miles Gannet, reveals the reason for this soviet conditioning.

The EU superstate is the recreation of the USSR in Western Europe. They have central committees just like the Russian soviets, and they have unelected officials who dictate policy to other regions which have been conquered by the EU. The EUs method of conquering nations is purely economical, they effectively threaten the previously democratic country with economic sanctions, trade embargoes, customs delays, financial punishments until they capitulate and surrender. The EU conquers nations from within by infiltrating their parliaments with their paid off agents or utilise vast sums to bribe civil service officials to betray their country and people.

For 45 years Britain has been under EU law and much of the population are now fully integrated in soviet EU ideology. The people do not know that they are not free, or living under a former sovereign state, they are mostly only interested in travel passes to places like Benidorm and mobile phone roaming charges. Britains parliament is a subject of the EU with little or no power any more to do anything for themselves, and they have to put all proposals through Brussels first. It is no more than a serf state under EU communist rule.

Modern communism, as adopted by China and the EU is essentially one that allows a form of capitalism, but its system of process management and directive implementation is fluidly that of a collectivist communist regime. The EU Commission is run by unelected officials for the EU communist state without any reproach or consequence of their decision-making.

History books are written by the victors, and what we will see is the history of Britain before the EU conquered the country being erased in the future. The EU will control all literature completely and erase large portions of history that pertain to democratic freedom. They do not want people to get ideas about democracy or freedom, because these are deemed as extremely dangerous.

Orwell warned us about this possible future in the book, 1984, but what he did not foresee is the fact that Britain would capitulate and surrender to communism so easily. The EU through Article 13, and 11, will effectively erase large portions of the internet and vast libraries which are already disappearing anyway thus sealing its complete control over all thought.

The future for the nation formerly called Great Britain is one of servitude to a vast economical megalith that dictates all law, and taxation. As just another sector under EU rule, there will be no more Britishness, even our royal family will be assimilated, taxed to the hilt and their budgets cut. For too long the EU has deemed the British royal family a supreme threat to its soviet EU ideology, and they will be cut down to size in a decade to a minimum and their palaces sold off.

Britons always used to fight for their freedom in the past, but now all there is is corruption, and apathy. People do not care any more, and are not willing to fight for their rights or any semblance of dignity. Now a defeated people, Britons wallow in their cowardice and accept every indignity thrown upon them from their oppressors without even lifting an eyelid as their EU masters laugh at conquering a whole nation without a single shot being fired.
China's diplomacy to make 'more global contributions'; Vision on community with shared future implemented with real actions and notable results

By Yang Sheng and Wan Hengyi (Global Times) 13:41, March 24, 2023

Soldiers from the People's Armed Police Force unit raise the Chinese national flag at People's Square in Shanghai on February 24, 2023. Photo: Chen Xia/GT

China's diplomacy has pressed the "accelerate button" and sounded the clarion call in the spring of 2023 with a series of major diplomatic activities that bring positive changes to a world in turbulence. Experts said that China has formally started its new journey after the two sessions and will take on the responsibility of a major country by making more contributions to addressing concerns of the international community.

Chinese President Xi Jinping just concluded his successful and significant state visit to Russia on Wednesday, bringing new hopes for a ceasefire in the Ukraine crisis. Earlier this month, senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran shook hands in Beijing as the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic ties following China's mediation.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China's special envoys for Middle East and Afghanistan issues have also started their new missions by travelling around the globe to mediate and solve international problems such as the Palestine-Israel conflict and issues between Afghanistan and its neighboring countries in Central Asia.

A decade ago, in March 2013, Xi first put forward the concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind" when speaking at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. A decade later, the Chinese flagship vision is becoming a great banner for building a better, more prosperous world, said a commentary article published by the Xinhua News Agency.

In the past decade, China has made efforts to promote this concept and work together with other countries around the globe to seek solutions for problems and share the benefits of development. From the Belt and Road Initiative that has brought huge development opportunities to countries all around the world, to the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that saved numerous lives from the deadly virus; from conducting disaster relief and rescue operations in earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria earlier this year, to making significant contributions to UN peace keeping missions worldwide, China has always implemented its concept with concrete actions and notable achievements, said experts.

Global influence

These achievements and proactive activities have prompted some Western media to take note of the change in China's diplomacy. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an article on Wednesday that said "China now sees itself as a global powerand it is starting to act like one."

Domestically, China has already set its vision clearly after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, formally establishing a new team of leaders and new structure for Party and state institutions after the two sessions, which means China is fully prepared to march full speed ahead in its new journey of the new era, said experts.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "the current international situation has also made China more proactive."

The world is now in a state of great turbulence, and this affects the entire international community, and unfortunately, the US, the world's only super power, chooses not to take the responsibility to fix the world, but instead uses the cracks and scars around the globe to instigate more conflicts, Li said. It's even trying to reap benefits from the chaos, which means China, a major power with strength and wisdom, has to stand up and take the responsibility of promoting peace through its actions, he added.

In the coming weeks, leaders and top diplomats from many countries and international organizations are scheduled or have announced plans to visit China, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Honduras, a country that used to be an ally of the island of Taiwan, reportedly plans to send its foreign minister to visit the Chinese mainland to promote the establishment of diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that China welcomes the positive attitude of Honduras and is willing to develop ties with the country.

Equatorial Guinea's foreign minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue and New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta are also visiting China this week. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn will pay an official visit to China from March 24 to 29, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

This shows that the US approaches of containment, isolation and stigmatization against China have completely failed. All countries, whether they are large nations like France and Brazil or small nations like Honduras and Equatorial Guinea, all need to develop ties with China, and China also wants to build stable and equal relations with them, experts said.

In particular, on matters that the world shares concerns over, like the ongoing Ukraine crisis, more and more countries find that the US and its followers have failed to bring peace and also failed to lead global recovery, Li said. They are even opposing de-escalation of the crisis and are eager to see the bloodshed being prolonged, which is why countries are now placing their expectations on China, he added.

'US-centric' no more

The WSJ article said "China's willingness to wade into these conflicts in such a strident way marks a new phase in the country's vision for itself and its role in the world. It sends a message that China and its friends are no longer obliged to conform to a US-led global order."

Chinese analysts said that in fact, it was the US-led order that brought more troubles, unfairness, uncertainty and even danger to world peace and global recovery, so more and more members of the international community, including China, believe that it's time to make some changes to jointly and more actively build a "community with a shared future for mankind."

It's not just Russia, Ukraine and European countries suffering as a result of the problematic security mechanism the US has shaped for the continent. In the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Asian-Pacific region, many countries are also suffering from tensions, conflicts and unrest directly or indirectly caused by the US, said experts.

After the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, the US-led Western countries launched a series of unilateral sanctions, and in recent years, Washington has launched all-out containment to target China's development. These have seriously disrupted the supply and industrial chains, and the chain of capital is also being impacted, with many Western banks now paying the price, analysts said.

Zhang Weiwei, dean of the China Institute at Fudan University, told the Global Times that although Russia has been isolated by the West, "the West is isolated" by the rest of the world. Irresponsible acts carried out by the US have backfired on its own hegemony.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, echoed this view, saying that "after seeing the reckless behaviors of the US and its Western followers, many countries are being very disappointed by the West that they used to admire."

In 2008, China helped the US after its financial tsunami, but Washington didn't return the favor to China and only offered more hostilities, so this time, if another financial crisis comes, the US should not ask for help from China, Zhang noted.

Washington unilaterally released information about US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo planning to visit China, but without confirmation from the Chinese side.

While answering a question about the US seeking to have a call between the presidents of the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "Communication should not be carried out for the sake of communication. The US side should show sincerity."

Li said that in the past, China found that as long as it stabilizes ties with the US, ties with other nations will not see big problems, but since the Trump administration, China has found that the US is the biggest troublemaker and shows no sincerity in fixing ties, no matter how China expresses its kindness, so now, it's time for China to be more proactive and invest more resources in developing ties with other countries rather than prioritize ties with Washington.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Pops said I get my own wing, so I can sneak my crack dealer in and underage girls to give me foot jobs daily. Cant live without that shit. Were also gonna set up a direct link with the Chinese Communist Party so they can download what they want and dictate to Pop what they need done, an excited Hunter Biden said rubbing his hands with glee.

WATCH HUNTER BIDEN VIDEO HERE

According to Democrat officials who say the election is in the bag, Marxist political operative Zheng Zhifa and Democrat-Chinese Influence peddler John Wei, who are closely tied to the CCP will have their own office directly in line with Bidens Oval Office so they can bark orders at him without even picking up a phone.

Pops told me that the Secret Service assholes, and any moron who cares for national security will be told to stand down. If anyone even raises a fucking eyebrow to our corrupt deals, as we rake in more millions, they will be retired to goddamn Alaska. As for my crack dealer, Jigaboom Boom Williams, he will be given free access to my quarters, as he is the best crack rock dealer this side of Chicago, Hunter Biden added.

Thanks to the silence of the corrupt dealings and crimes of the Biden Crime Family by the mainstream Democrat Party Propaganda media, the Bidens are well protected and can do as they please without any fear of prosecution. They are effectively above the law, and their evil crimes are completely dusted under the carpet.

When it comes to Democrats, the media keeps quiet of our crimes, and we can do anything without fear of ever being prosecuted. Republicans, libertarians, and anyone else  they get prosecuted immediately for the smallest misdemeanour, their names and reputation put through the mud, and turfed out of town by the mob. Those are the rules folks so go suck on that losers! a prominent Democrat politician and avowed paedophile rapist revealed to MSNBC on Sunday, laughing like a hyena.

Some things will change though  this time the Big Guy will be getting 50%.
Dalhousie welcomes more than 20,000 students each year from over 115 different countries, each one bringing with them unique perspectives, motivations, and goals. Attending university offers these students many different pathways for personal growth and achievement, of course. But for many, student life is about more than that  it's about creating positive change in the world around them. Dalhousie's Board of Governors' Awards celebrate the most exceptional of these students. It's the university's top award for student life, presented annually to recognize exceptional contributions or leadership in the extracurricular realm  building community on campus, service in the broader community, improving diversity and inclusion, and so much more. This year's three recipients  nominated by their peers in the Dal community, and chosen by a committee consisting of the president, three Board members and the vice-provost student affairs  were honoured at Thursday night's Impact Awards. Meet the 2023 Board of Governors Award recipients:

Sowon Suh, Pharmacy Daring to care Having a friendly conversation with someone who knows your name. Sharing some jokey banter on a cloudy day. Hearing a short personal story about someone's life. These are the kinds of small social interactions Sowon Suh shared with people experiencing homelessness during her time as a weekly coordinator with Greater Love Halifax  a Dal-based and student-run not-for-profit that offers food and company to people living on the street every Saturday. While the granola bars, juice boxes, and other non-perishables were no doubt appreciated by those who received them, Sowon  then an undergraduate neuroscience student on the Dean's List  says the packages were mostly intended as conversation starters used to build social connections with people likely to be suffering from a lack of them. "It really opened my eyes. I saw what so many different people went through. Everyone has their own story about how they ended up where they are, their struggles, and their plans for the future," says Sowon, who went on to serve as vice-president external with Greater Love from 2019-2021. Sowon, now in her third year of Dals Doctor of Pharmacy program, faced her own personal struggles when she and her family first immigrated to Canada from South Korea in 2010 when she was just a young teen. Being a new immigrant in Quispamsis, N.B.  a town of about 18,000  was tough at times, especially overcoming language barriers. Sowon's family also experienced discrimination. "I really realized what it's like to be marginalized," she says. "It's really hard to raise your voice up when you are in that situation and are experiencing things. I thought, 'Okay, I can be that person for other people who might want or need that help.'" A lot of Sowon's work and volunteer experiences have centred around helping underserved populations, including people facing economic insecurity, individuals with accessibility needs, the elderly, veterans, and other underrepresented individuals. She has supported others in her role as co-representative of the Class of 2024 on the Dalhousie Student Pharmacy Society Equity and Inclusion Committee, as a tutor and mentor, and, for the past two years, as a residence assistant to students in Risley Hall. Says Sowon of the latter role, Feeling like there isnt anybody to help you could be very scary and intimidating. Oftentimes, I hear from students that they really appreciate that their residence or community assistant team members take time to ask about them and build connection and to provide support when they need it. Its this same quest to help give voice and build belonging that drives Sowon now as she begins to shape a career in health care. She has been instrumental in helping set the stage for the planned re-opening this summer of the HOPES Health Centre, a student-led health clinic serving interprofessional health care and social services for marginalized communities in Halifax. And now, as Sowon looks ahead to the final year of her pharmacy program and the three clinical placements that entails, she has a much deeper understanding of her specialty areas value to patients. Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals out there, she says. As a pharmacist, I would really like to use my skills and knowledge about drugs and to improve patient care so patients, including those who are marginalized, can best meet their health outcomes to have a greater quality of life. (Matt Reeder)

Mohamed Nashnoush, Health Sciences Picturing a healthier world Fourteen is a difficult age for anyone to pack up and move to a new town. For Mohamed Nashnoush, though, it came with the added stresses of the inherent culture shock of moving from Tripoli, Libya to Yarmouth, NS. So how did he acclimate to his new environment? I started to ease into school, he says. I enrolled in the IB program at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School and graduated with a 100 per cent average. It was a sign of things to come for him at Dalhousie. Now in his final year of the undergraduate Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Technology program in the School of Health Sciences, Mohamed can easily boast about his 4.3 GPA  but thats not in his character. He would rather talk about the small and competitive program and what it has offered him and the six other students in his class. A highlight of the program is the early clinical exposure and the chance to put theory into practice in the clinical world, he says. Having the opportunity to learn from the best and interact with diagnostic imaging specialists is truly special. The ability to network with those specialists has resulted in at least 14 publications, presentations, and abstracts. In my first year, I never thought I would be able to work with such incredible scientists across North America, he says. Publishing in the Canadian Journal of Medical Sonography, Journal of Ultrasound, Hematology Reports and Cambridge Medicine Journal has been an incredible experience. Mohamed has taken this passion for research and created opportunities for other students to follow his lead. In 2020 he founded RadScholars, a federally incorporated non-profit that helps students overcome entry barriers to radiology-related research. So far, he has worked with over 350 students and health care professionals from 121 countries to organize conferences, webinars, and podcasts for students. As the COO of Erevna, a student-led, research-focused non-profit based at Harvard University, Mohamed has created partnerships with such organizations as the United Nations and the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. He has led large initiatives like Research-a-thon, which invited students from around the world to solve societys most pressing problems, and multiple Policy-thons that attracted students from over 52 countries to draft policy proposals for their local governments. As for the future for the recent 3M Scholar and Amgen Scholar, research will likely play a large role. But come April, he will be serving the public as a generalist sonographer for Nova Scotia Health and working toward Sonography Canadas vascular licensing exam. Regardless of what I pursue, it will likely include elements of ultrasound, medical imaging, and data science, he says. Sonographers play a detectives role in investigating the root causes of patients symptoms. (Graeme Gunn)
Update Apr 12, 2023: We have released Dolly 2.0, licensed for both research and commercial use. See the new blog post here.

Summary

We show that anyone can take a dated off-the-shelf open source large language model (LLM) and give it magical ChatGPT-like instruction following ability by training it in 30 minutes on one machine, using high-quality training data. Surprisingly, instruction-following does not seem to require the latest or largest models: our model is only 6 billion parameters, compared to 175 billion for GPT-3. We open source the code for our model (Dolly) and show how it can be re-created on Databricks. We believe models like Dolly will help democratize LLMs, transforming them from something very few companies can afford into a commodity every company can own and customize to improve their products.

Background

ChatGPT, a proprietary instruction-following model, was released in November 2022 and took the world by storm. The model was trained on trillions of words from the web, requiring massive numbers of GPUs to develop. This quickly led to Google and other companies releasing their own proprietary instruction-following models. In February 2023, Meta released the weights for a set of high-quality (but not instruction-following) language models called LLaMA to academic researchers, trained for over 80,000 GPU-hours each. Then, in March, Stanford built the Alpaca model, which was based on LLaMA, but tuned on a small dataset of 50,000 human-like questions and answers that, surprisingly, made it exhibit ChatGPT-like interactivity.

Introducing Dolly

Today we are introducing Dolly, a cheap-to-build LLM that exhibits a surprising degree of the instruction following capabilities exhibited by ChatGPT. Whereas the work from the Alpaca team showed that state-of-the-art models could be coaxed into high quality instruction-following behavior, we find that even years-old open source models with much earlier architectures exhibit striking behaviors when fine tuned on a small corpus of instruction training data. Dolly works by taking an existing open source 6 billion parameter model from EleutherAI and modifying it ever so slightly to elicit instruction following capabilities such as brainstorming and text generation not present in the original model, using data from Alpaca.

The model underlying Dolly only has 6 billion parameters, compared to 175 billion in GPT-3, and is two years old, making it particularly surprising that it works so well. This suggests that much of the qualitative gains in state-of-the-art models like ChatGPT may owe to focused corpuses of instruction-following training data, rather than larger or better-tuned base models. Were calling the model Dolly  after Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal  because it's an open source clone of an Alpaca, inspired by a LLaMA. Were in the earliest days of the democratization of AI for the enterprise, and much work remains to be done, but we believe the technology underlying Dolly represents an exciting new opportunity for companies that want to cheaply build their own instruction-following models.

We evaluated Dolly on the instruction-following capabilities described in the InstructGPT paper that ChatGPT is based on and found that it exhibits many of the same qualitative capabilities, including text generation, brainstorming and open Q&A. Of particular note in these examples is not the quality of the generated text, but rather the vast improvement in instruction-following capability that results from fine tuning a years-old open source model on a small, high quality dataset.

Generation

Original Model Dolly Write a love letter to Edgar Allan Poe. Original Model: HISTORY: Edgar Allan Poe rose to fame in the 19th Century. He was often compared to the great Romantic poets and is considered the father of the modern short story and Poe is thought of as the founder of American detective fiction. He has been dead for 130 years. PATRICK CAMPOS: You should never try to write a love letter to a dead person. PATRICK CAMPOS: Poe was more than just the author of The Raven. He was a master of atmosphere. BUDDY FRITZLER: Edgar Allan Poe lived in Baltimore from 1831 until his death in 1849. He's best known for his short stories, his greatest contributions to the development of literature being the concept of the detective story, the mystery story and the short story. BUDDY FRITZLER: Poe's most famous story, "The Gold-Bug", was written in 1843. It's about a treasure hunter who searches for buried treasure. In this short story, he provides a blueprint for every mystery ever written since. BUDDY FRITZLER: The central idea that you have to look for clues is very appealing. It was even used as  Dolly: Dearest Edgar Allan Poe, I met you first in the dimly lit stairwell of the old house, and I know that the moment I saw you, I never wanted to see you again. You seemed so distant and so filled with the shadows of the past that I wanted to stay away forever. But I couldn't help but be obsessed with you, and my feelings for you have only grown over the years. Even now, I feel a deep connection with you that I can never explain. I hope that you can find happiness in the life that you now lead. I am sure that you will do great things, and I am forever in your debt. Sincerely, [Your Name] Write a tweet announcing Dolly, a large language model from Databricks. Original Model: In your tweet, provide a short summary of the challenge, how you analyzed it, and how Dolly performed. After your tweet, I will retweet it to Databricks Twitter account. Clean up your social media page for the next week by removing any mentions of Dolly or Databricks. Data Preparation Our first step is to generate word vector embeddings for each document. We can obtain these vector representations in two different ways: Using a tokenized document set (in this case, everything in our download folder) Loads a word2vec model from the Google Search API (in this case, vector2vec.c) In our case, we want to use the first method, which is easier, but the second may be more robust. We will use the word2vec model above to create a vocabulary file for any new words found in the file. This process gives us a quick way to identify new words and find contextually related terms. We can start by copying word2vec.c to a local directory called /tmp/word2vec. #/tmp/word2vec/word2vec.c FILE_NAME /tmp/word Dolly: Databricks just announced Dolly - a new language model for natural language processing with large capacity and improved efficiency! #DataScience #NaturalLanguageProcessing [Link to Dolly model release] I'm selling my Nikon D-750, write a short blurb for my ad. Original Model: I'm not sure if you can post a location - anything on the website will work. I've only had it a week. It is in mint condition with the charging cable and window case intact. Bought it for $1800 for in store pickup at a store in San Francisco. Plus tax and the undisclosed Costco price. Some one please let me know that this is a scam and not really an offer. I just received and e-mail that said the camera is at someones house so someone else can pick it up and did I want to message them, well no I'm selling it as I would never  Dolly: Looking to get a reliable camera for photo and video work? Check out the Nikon D-750! This sleek, lightweight camera has a 24.2MP sensor and 1080/60p video recording, making it a great choice for capturing those moments in life. The ergonomic grip and nine-point autofocus system make it easy to work with and shoot without hassle. With Wi-Fi, you can upload your pictures easily to your computer or smartphone without having to buy a dedicated external storage. Buy the Nikon D-750 now to experience why it is the best choice for photography and videography!

Open Q&A

Original Model Dolly Explain to me the difference between nuclear fission and fusion. Original Model: The first thing that strikes one is the similarity in appearance and function between the atom and the sun. The central body in the sun is the source of energy, and the entire structure of the sun is made up of a million tons of the hydrogen gas that's so important to us. It's what all hydrogen fuses into in the sun, and that's why we are made of it: fusion. The nucleus of the atom, at the center, is made of protons, and the electrons orbit around it. In the center, there is a tiny spherical mass with a lot of protons (and therefore a lot of positive charge) called the nucleus. The electrons aren't so tiny, but their charge is negative, as a positive nucleus and negative electrons make for stability (due to charge balance). Protons are positively charged, so even though they themselves can't get anywhere, they do repel electrons. There is a core of neutrons, that don't have any charge, but are held there by the protons. Protons also repel neutrons. This simple fact is the basic form of our sun, and it is what makes up all the elements in the earth. Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in  Dolly: The difference between nuclear fission and fusion is the method by which the energy of the nucleus is released. In nuclear fission, a single atomic nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei. This process is used to create energy through the release of a large amount of energy in the form of heat. On the other hand, fusion involves two atomic nuclei coming together to form a single nucleus. This process is used to create a much larger amount of energy compared to fission, and the energy is released through the release of light and heat. Fusion has the potential to be a much more efficient way of creating energy. However, it is much 

Brainstorming

Original Model Dolly Give me a list of 5 science fiction books I should read next. Original Model: I know its early, and I should feel ashamed of myself for even thinking of it, but I have a terrible tendency to procrastinate and read only when I absolutely have to. As a result, I have not read anything this year, in any genre. As soon as I have a set of ideas for an article, I let the ideas and outline do the work of making sure I dont start writing. There is something special about a blank page and an empty mind. That said, I need to change that, and reading the above question made me realize just how badly I want .. Dolly: 1. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke 2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 5. 1984 by George Orwell.

Why Open Models?

There are many reasons a company would prefer to build their own model rather than sending data to a centralized LLM provider that serves a proprietary model behind an API. For many companies, the problems and datasets most likely to benefit from AI represent their most sensitive and proprietary intellectual property, and handing it over to a third party may be unpalatable. Furthermore, organizations may have different tradeoffs in terms of model quality, cost, and desired behavior. We believe that most ML users are best served long term by directly owning their models.

We are open sourcing a simple Databricks notebook that you can use to build Dolly yourself on Databricks. To download and experiment with the model, visit the Databricks Hugging Face Page!

Whats Next?

The release of Dolly is the first in a series of announcements Databricks is making that focus on helping every organization harness the power of large language models. We believe in the incredible power of artificial intelligence to transform the productivity of every organization and individual, and welcome you to join us on this journey. Stay tuned for more in this area in the coming weeks!

You can also explore ways that your company can benefit from LLMs and how Databricks built Dolly in our webinar on April 25th. Join us!

We're also excited to share a lot more about Dolly, including hands-on training and a deeper dive into our LLM roadmap, at this year's Data and AI Summit. We encourage you to register to join us in-person or virtually.

Acknowledgments

This work owes much to the efforts and insights of many incredible organizations. This would have been impossible without EleutherAI open sourcing and training GPT-J. We are inspired by the incredible ideas and data from the Stanford Center for Research on Foundation Models and specifically the team behind Alpaca. The core idea behind the outsized power of small dataset is thanks to the original paper on Self-Instruct. We are also thankful to Hugging Face for hosting, open sourcing, and maintaining countless models and libraries; their contribution to the state of the art cannot be overstated.

Disclaimer: Generative AI is an emerging technology and we're in the early stages of research around how to address factual accuracy, bias, offensive responses, general toxicity, and hallucinations in LLMs. Dolly, like other language models, can sometimes exhibit these behaviors and we urge our users to exercise good judgment in designing applications of this technology.
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Striped Bass

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an ecologically, recreationally, and economically important species of migratory fish that is found in the Hudson River. Adults spend most of their time in coastal waters and return to the fresh water of the Hudson River each spring to spawn before returning back to the Atlantic Ocean. The Hudson River acts as a nursery for the newly hatched young of year bass and in early fall they begin moving out of the estuary into near shore coastal areas.

Do you fish for striped bass? Join the Hudson River Cooperative Angler Program. New Survey 123 Online Logbook Available

Current Fishery

Freshwater Fishing Regulations (Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge)

Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations (Hudson River south of the George Washington Bridge)

Freshwater Fishing Regulations (Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River)

Commercial fishing - At this time, the Hudson River and waters near New York City are closed to commercial fishing for striped bass

Management

Striped bass are cooperatively managed along the Atlantic coast by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Along with other states, New York has required regulatory measures that include monitoring programs, recreational and commercial minimum size limits, recreational creel limits, and commercial quotas to manage and evaluate the condition of the striped bass stock. In 2015, New York was required to reduce harvest due to a decline in the coastal spawning stock and therefore implemented a slot limit (18"- 28" total length) in the Hudson River to protect most female fish. Recently, the 2018 ASMFC striped bass benchmark stock assessment indicated coast-wide populations of striped bass were overfished and experiencing overfishing. To reduce mortality, Addendum VI to Amendment 6 (PDF, leaves DEC website) of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass requires the use of circle hooks when fishing with bait for striped bass. Catch and release practices contribute significantly to overall fishing mortality and circle hooks work effectively to reduce release mortality.

Long-term Monitoring Programs

Spawning Stock Survey

Since 1985, a 500 foot haul seine and an electrofishing boat are used from April through June to catch spawning striped bass. Length, weight, and sex information is recorded and scale samples for aging are collected from the fish before being tagged and returned to the river.

Beach Seine Survey

Beginning in 1979, a 200 foot seine is used from July through November to catch young of year striped bass. The fish are counted and measured and average catch rates are calculated. See a graph of annual catch rates of young of year striped bass.

Hudson River Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program

Do you fish for striped bass in the Hudson River? Join the Hudson River Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program to have an active role in the conservation and management of striped bass. By providing information about your fishing trips and the fish you catch, we can better understand and manage this fishery.

New York State is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (leaves DEC website) to provide catch information from our recreational fishery. We satisfy this requirement with the help of volunteer recreational anglers.

How it works

Record your fishing trip information in a physical logbook that we provide (pictured on left) or you can record your trips on your smartphone or computer using DEC's online logbook (PDF; see below). The logbook includes detailed instructions on the information you need to collect, such as the date of your fishing trip, fishing location, and the type of bait used.

At the end of the fishing season, anglers return their logbooks. If you are using the online logbook, you can submit your fishing data after each trip. When all logbooks are returned, the recreational fishery data are analyzed and sent to anglers in a newsletter, providing an inside look into the striped bass fishing season among all participating anglers. Participants also receive the latest news regarding regulation changes and information about our annual Hudson River fish population surveys.

Cooperative Angler Online Logbook and Physical Logbook

DEC has developed a Hudson River Cooperative Angler online logbook for participating anglers to electronically log fishing trips using the Survey123 App from either a smartphone or computer. The survey is designed to be efficient and user-friendly. To learn more, download the online logbook instructions (PDF) with a link to the Survey 123 App.

If you would prefer to record your fishing trip information in a physical logbook, please contact jessica.best@dec.ny.gov or (845) 256-3009 and we will mail you a water resistant logbook.

Note: If you primarily fish for striped bass in New York waters south of the George Washington Bridge, the DEC has a separate Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program.

Additional Research

In 2016, DEC staff acoustically tagged 100 striped bass in collaboration with researchers at the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory to better understand migration patterns and mortality rates. Acoustic tags give off a signal that can be picked up by mobile tracking units on boats as well as stationary receivers located throughout the Hudson River and along the Atlantic coast. Results from this study determined two spawning groups exist in the Hudson River with each group utilizing a distinct section of the river at different times during the spring spawning run. These two groups likely experience different fishing pressure based on their arrival and departure from the Hudson River.

Fish Consumption Advisory

Please visit the Department of Health's website for fish consumption advisories (leaves DEC website) from the Hudson River and other waters of New York.





More about Striped Bass:
Spark today announced changes to its Leadership Squad, with the creation of two new roles that will replace the current Customer Director role  Customer Director Enterprise and Government, and

SME and Consumer Director.

The Customer Director role has traditionally spanned the consumer market and the small to medium (SME), enterprise, and government segments of the business market. As enterprise and government customers increasingly seek more complex solutions that leverage Sparks investment in new technologies, Spark has created two roles dedicated to these different segments of the market to deliver greater focus and better outcomes for customers.

The development of Sparks new technologies will be incorporated into the Customer Director Enterprise and Government role to align Sparks technology investment more closely to the evolving needs and innovation objectives of its customers.

As such, Sparks current Chief Operating Officer role will become Network and Operations Director, with a focus on the continued delivery of a highly resilient, automated, and secure network.

As a result of these changes, and after a significant leadership career spanning 10 years with Spark, Customer Director Grant McBeath has decided he would like to explore new opportunities outside Spark.

Sparks current Chief Operating Officer, Mark Beder, will move into the Customer Director Enterprise and Government role, bringing with him 20 years experience at Spark and knowledge of the wide range of technologies that serve Sparks customers today, and those that will serve them in the future.

Sparks Consumer and SME Channels Lead, Greg Clark, will move into the role of SME and Consumer Director. Greg joined Spark in 2013 and during his time has led the transformation of the broader retail network and Sparks SME operating model, delivering strong revenue growth and higher levels of customer engagement.

Spark will commence an internal and external search to appoint a Network and Operations Director in the coming months.

Spark CEO Jolie Hodson said As our significant investments in new technologies mature and enable new customer solutions it makes sense to unite deep technical expertise with our channels to market and service capability, to deliver the best outcomes for our customers.

Mark has a wealth of business experience, technology and commercial expertise, and leads large teams to achieve transformative outcomes. When combined with his experience supporting several of our largest customers on complex transformation projects within his current role, he is very well placed to grow our B2B and high-tech portfolios.

Greg has proven leadership capability having ably led the consumer and small to medium business segments for several years now and delivering great results for our customers and for Spark. I am really pleased to be able to promote Greg from within, which is testament to the great talent we invest in at Spark.

I would like to thank Grant for the significant contribution he has made since he joined the business 10 years ago, in the transformation of our retail consumer business and more recently his role leading the broader Customer portfolio. Grant is a champion for customer centricity and a results-focussed and committed people leader, and we wish him all the very best for the future.

The changes are effective from 1 July 2023, at which time the Spark Leadership Squad will include:

 Jolie Hodson, CEO

 Melissa Anastasiou, General Counsel

 Matt Bain, Marketing Director

 Mark Beder, Customer Director Enterprise and Government

 Greg Clark, SME and Consumer Director

 Leela Gantman, Corporate Relations and Sustainability Director

 Stefan Knight, Finance Director

 Heather Polglase, People and Culture Director

 Tessa Tierney, Product Director

 To be appointed, Network and Operations Director

Authorised by:

Alexa Preston

Finance Lead Partner  Group Performance and Investor Relations

For more information contact

For media queries please contact:

Ellie Cross

Corporate Relations Lead Partner

(64) 22 630 0665

ellie.cross@spark.co.nz

For investor queries please contact:

Chante Mueller

Head of Investor Relations

(64) 27 469 3062

chante.mueller@spark.co.nz

About Spark

Spark is New Zealand's largest telecommunications and digital services company, with a purpose to help all of New Zealand win big in a digital world. Spark provides mobile, broadband, and digital services to millions of New Zealanders and thousands of New Zealand businesses.

www.sparknz.co.nz

Spark announces changes to Leadership Squad

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The IMF, World Bank and India, current president of the Group of 20 major economies, will convene a new sovereign debt roundtable again on April 3, an IMF official said on Thursday, with an eye to accelerating work on debt relief for countries in need.

The gathering of deputies will be followed by a principals' meeting on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington, the official said, but no firm date has been set.

The meeting comes amid continued delays in securing debt treatment agreements for Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia that U.S. officials and others blame on foot-dragging by China, now the world's largest bilateral creditor.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will travel to China on Friday through March 30 to meet China's new leadership team, including new Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng, who replaced Liu He as China's top economic official.

IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said the next meetings would build on progress made by the roundtable in bringing together creditors and debtor countries to discuss ways to accelerate the debt restructuring process.

Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia are at various stages of the process, but debt experts say China's agreement to provide financing assurances for Sri Lanka could provide fresh momentum for moving forward on those separate cases.

IMF officials are in Lusaka, Zambia now through April 5 to review its economic reforms and remove any hurdles to the timely consideration by the IMF's board of the first review of Zambia's new financing package approved in August, Kozack said.

She called on Zambia's official creditors - which include China - to "reach agreement on a debt treatment in line with the financing assurances that they provided in July 2022," adding hope that a "suitable agreement" would be reached soon.

She said the IMF was conducting technical work to prepare for talks on a potential program with Ethiopia.

Kozack said IMF officials were also working closely with Ghana, which is seeking financing assurances needed for the IMF to move forward with a staff agreement reached in December on a three-year $3 billion lending program.

"We're calling on bilateral creditors to support Ghana's effort to restore debt sustainability, form an official creditor committee and deliver the necessary financing assurances as soon as possible," she said.
After a smear campaign against Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, authorities on Thursday sprang into action and picked up ousted prime minister Imran Khan's focal person on social media Azhar Mashwani.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in collaboration with the intelligence agencies and police have launched a countrywide operation against those social media activists, especially of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) following an online campaign against Gen Munir.

More arrests are expected in the coming days.

In the other crackdown on PTI political workers, police have so far arrested 740 mostly from Lahore and Islamabad where the PTI-Police clash took place last week in the authorities' bid to arrest Imran Khan in the Toshakhana gifts case.

"Enough is enough. Police in Punjab & Islamabad are breaking all laws with impunity as they target PTI. Today Azhar Mashwani was abducted in the afternoon from Lahore & his whereabouts are unknown. On March 18 Senator Shibli Faraz & Omar Sultan were badly beaten by ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory) police," Khan said in a series of tweets.

He further said: "Over 740 unarmed PTI workers have been arrested from ICT, Lahore & across Punjab. These are poor ppl, many daily wage earners. The Cabal of crooks has no respect for the sanctity of the Holy month of Ramazan when people want to have security to fast & pray. Demand immediate release of our workers."

PTI leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi said in a tweet: "Azhar Mashwani abducted today. Absolutely despicable behaviour of this current government. All this just because he stood with PM @ImranKhanPTI."

In his last tweet before his arrest on Thursday, Mashwani said that those raising their voices against this regime on social media are given threats that they and their families will be eliminated. "This is worse than Gen Musharraf's martial law," he said.

It is learnt that Mashwani has been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation by the agencies. Mashwani was also the main person looking after the PTI social media in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently condemned the "vile campaign" of General Asim Munir especially abroad.

"The campaign against the army chief is intolerable and a continuation of the conspiracy against the institutions. PTI Chairman Imran Khan is dragging state institutions and their heads into his dirty politics, which is against the Constitution," Sharif said and instructed the interior minister that those behind such anti-institution campaigns within the country should be dealt with "iron hands".

"Strict legal action should be taken against those who instigate chaos, riots and rebellion in Pakistan," the premier said.

Social media especially Twitter would see more often trends in Pakistan against the Army and the Army chief for 'siding' with the Shehbaz government and its alleged involvement in the oppression of Imran Khan and his party men.
President Joe Biden on Friday announced a US-Canadian deal to curb illegal migration across the northern border from the United States.

"The United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings," he said during a speech to parliament in Ottawa. The deal will see undocumented asylum seekers crossing from the United States into Canada turned back, while Canada will simultaneously expand the pathway for legal entries.
In a lifetime spent as heir to his mother Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III cultivated a range of interests and passions, from architecture to the environment.

But at an age when most people have retired, he now finds himself having to ensure a successful, if tricky, transition before the crown passes to his eldest son and heir, Prince William.

Since his mother's death last September, Charles, 74, has thrown himself into the largely ceremonial role as a politically neutral, uncontroversial head of state, despite his record of often outspoken views.

He has been a visible presence in all four nations of the United Kingdom, heading a push for unity after a turbulent recent past marked by Brexit and calls for Scottish independence.

Unlike his mother, who cultivated an air of mystery and distance, Charles has shown himself to be much more accessible, at ease smiling and shaking hands with crowds at public events.

Also Read: Britain's King Charles hands Duke of Edinburgh title to Prince Edward

That chimes with his desire for a more modern, open monarchy that keeps the ancient institution relevant, particularly to younger Britons, and as republican sentiment mounts in the 14 other countries outside the UK where he is also king.

Charles also heads the 56-nation Commonwealth grouping, which comprises about a quarter of the world's population.

He has called for unity there, too, to help tackle "the most pressing issues of our time", including climate change.

Recent royal visits have seen him drop in on a group of refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan, and at a charity for the elderly.

He has hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and celebrated the second anniversary of his wife Queen Consort Camilla's "The Reading Room" book club on Instagram.

Charles lived for 70 years in his mother's shadow, with his only role as heir to support her "in her role as a focal point for national pride, unity and allegiance".

But despite throwing himself into his new job, his youngest son Harry has stolen some of the limelight, with the publication of his autobiography Spare and a Netflix series.

Harry's score-settling has grabbed headlines just as Charles has been seeking to stamp his authority.

Not everyone has welcomed him with open arms, though, and some royal walkabouts have seen anti-monarchy protests, including egg-throwing.

On the popularity front, Charles (63 perc ent) lags behind his mother (81 percent) and William (72 per cent), according to pollsters YouGov.

But royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: "His polling ratings are not too bad at all.

"If someone ascends to the throne in his seventies, you will get respectable ratings, and he has because he is conscientious," he told AFP.

"He's a different personality from his mother," added Peter Ricketts, the UK's former ambassador to Paris.

"The Queen was respected for being the Queen, for having been there so many decades.

"The King, I think, will be respected for that, but also because he is someone who brings personal convictions to the job, and he will find subtle ways in which to communicate the importance of saving the planet for succeeding generations.

"And he has a very special platform from which to do that."

Ricketts described Charles as a "warm, emotional man" while William and Harry have said he is a hardworking father who they often found asleep in his office late at night.

Camilla has described her husband as a man in a hurry but also a doting grandfather who reads his grandchildren Harry Potter books.

"He does all the voices because he's a brilliant mimic," she has said. "It's really sweet. He's extremely good with children. They love it."

With Harry self-exiled in the United States, and Charles's younger brother Prince Andrew sidelined after a sex scandal, the king is building the monarchy around himself and Camilla.

William and his wife Kate are also part of the inner circle, with the king's youngest brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie.

Preparations for the coronation -- the 1,000-year-old religious official ceremony for his accession -- are well advanced.

Some 2,000 people are expected at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6 -- some 6,000 fewer than for his mother in 1953.

But according to pollsters YouGov, 22 percent of Britons do not intend to watch it, despite plans for giant screens to be erected across the country.

And more than half (58 per cent) say they will not celebrate it in public.
New evidence that raccoon dogs were at the Chinese market where Covid is suspected to have first infected humans has reignited debate over the origin of the pandemic.

The researchers who unexpectedly stumbled over the genetic data say that it supports -- but cannot definitively prove -- the theory that the virus originated in animals, possibly first jumping over to humans at the market in the city of Wuhan.

The issue has proved divisive for the scientific community and even different US government agencies, with some maintaining that the virus likely leaked from a Wuhan lab -- a claim that China has angrily denied.

Read | China rejects US report's lab-leak theory on Covid-19 origin

Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's technical lead on Covid, said the new data "doesn't give us the answer of how the pandemic began, but it does provide more clues".

The data comes from swabs collected by a Chinese team in January and February 2020 at the Huanan Seafood Market, the site of one of the earliest Covid clusters, before it was shut down and cleared of animals.

International researchers including Florence Debarre, an evolutionary biologist at France's CNRS research agency, were surprised to come across the data on the GISAID global science database earlier this month.

They managed to download the data before it was removed from GISAID at the request of the Chinese researchers who first posted it.

Debarre and colleagues informed the WHO about their discovery last week, when some media outlets started reporting on the data's existence.

This week the researchers published a report, which has not been peer-reviewed, saying that DNA from the samples shows that raccoon dogs, palm civets, Amur hedgehogs and bamboo rats were present at the market.

Raccoon dogs, whose closest relatives are foxes, are in particular known to be able to carry and transmit viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2, which causes the Covid disease.

That means they could have acted as an intermediary host between humans and bats, in which Covid is suspected to have originated.

Some of the samples containing raccoon dog DNA were also positive for SARS-CoV-2.

However because the samples were taken from sites at the market and not directly from the animals, it was not possible to prove the raccoon dogs had Covid.

Also Read | Covid-19 found in raccoon dogs in China, strengthens natural origin theory: Report

Notably, there was very little human DNA in one of the positive samples, raising the likelihood that it was the raccoon dog that had the virus.

"We cannot rigorously demonstrate that the animal was infected, but it is a plausible explanation," Debarre told AFP.

Even if it could be proved that the raccoon dogs were infected, it would be difficult to show they gave Covid to humans -- and not the other way around.

The data is "one additional piece of the puzzle that supports an origin of the pandemic linked to Wuhan's animal trade," said virologist Connor Bamford of Queen's University Belfast.

But "it is unlikely to provide irrefutable evidence," he said on The Conversation website.

There have been increasing calls for all information on the origins of Covid to be publicly released.

US President Joe Biden signed a law earlier this week declassifying intelligence material on the subject, after his energy department concluded with "low confidence" that the virus probably came from a lab.

That assessment contradicted the conclusion of several other US agencies -- but not the FBI.

After being informed of the new Huanan samples, the WHO again called on China to release all its data from the early days of the pandemic.

"These data could have -- and should have -- been shared three years ago," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said late last week.

Alice Hughes, an expert in biodiversity analytics at the University of Hong Kong, said that some researchers in China had known about the existence of the samples since April 2020.

Hughes told AFP this "critically important" information should have been made public earlier, adding that she believed it was "very likely that this is the source of spillover of SARS-CoV-2".

The authors of the new report said that more data was still missing.

There is "absolutely crucial data which sheds light on the start of the pandemic" that the researchers "cannot share because it's not ours," Debarre said.

"The more people who look into it, the more we will be able to extract information," she added.
A US base at the Al-Omar oil field in Syria's northeast was targeted with a missile attack on Friday morning, according to Lebanese pro-Iranian TV channel Al Mayadeen and a security source.

The source told Reuters the attack took place at around 11 am (0900 GMT) and it was unclear whether it had caused casualties.

There was no immediate US comment on the reported attack.

It followed US air strikes in Syria early Friday morning against Iran-aligned groups that the Pentagon blamed for a drone attack on Thursday that killed an American contractor, wounded another and also hurt five US troops.

Also Read | After Iran, Saudi Arabia to re-establish ties with Syria, sources say

Thursday's attack took place at a coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The US intelligence community assessed that the one-way attack drone was Iranian in origin, the Pentagon said, a conclusion that could further aggravate already strained relations between Washington and Tehran.

US troops have come under attack by Iranian-backed groups about 78 times since the beginning of 2021, according to Army General Erik Kurilla, who oversees US troops in the Middle East as the head of Central Command.

Fatalities are extremely rare.
The government often points out that India is "the mother of democracy". However, one of its democratic institutions appears to be failing in the discharge of its duties: the Parliament.

The BJP-led Centre has continued its attack on the Opposition, especially the Congress, whose MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified after his conviction in a defamation case. Meanwhile, the Opposition has lamented corruption in democratic institutions and values of the country, demanding a probe into the Adani row.

Amid the tug of war between the two sides, bills have been introduced in the Houses of Parliament and a few have even been passed with no discussion, as the Houses remain unable to function for more than a few minutes. Frequent adjournements, too, have exacerbated their poor productivity. In view of the same, we take a look at some of the bills that have been passed without debate.

Bills passed sans discussion

The Parliament's productivity has been dismal in this year's Budget session: a mere three Bills have been introduced and only two of them have been passed, that too without discussion. Both bills passed were introduced by the Ministry of Finance. The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 was introduced by the Ministry of Defence but is yet to get the Houses' attention. Let's take a look.

- The Finance Bill

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Finance Bill 2023 with 64 official amendments without any discussion.

The amendments include one that seeks withdrawal of long-term tax benefits on certain categories of debt mutual funds and another for setting up the GST Appelate Tribunal. The Finance Bill gives effect to tax proposals for the fiscal year starting April 1.

While moving the bill for passage and consideration, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced the setting up of a committee under the finance secretary to look into pension issues of government employees. The Bill will now go to Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage.

- Demand for Grants and the Appropriation Bill, 2023

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Demands for Grants for Budget 2023-24 and the Appropriation Bill by a voice vote without any discussion. The Union Budget 2023-24, presented by FM Sitharaman on February 1, which envisages a total expenditure of Rs 45.03 lakh crore for the financial year beginning April 1, was thereby passed without a discussion.

An Appropriation Bill empowers the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India to use during the fiscal year to meet its expenses including public spending and repayment of debts etc.

The Opposition has not taken well to this move, with former finance minister P Chidambaram calling it the end of democracy. "The worst message from a parliamentary democracy is to approve a Budget without discussion. Rs 45,03,097 crore will be raised and spent for the 'people' in 2023-24 without the people's representatives offering their views on the Budget," he said.
With their limited strength, Congress supporters in Kolkata joined their counterparts elsewhere in the country to protest Rahul Gandhis disqualification as a Lok Sabha member. Besides the Left, senior Trinamool leaders condemned the party in power at the Centre.

In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee stated on Twitter.

In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 24, 2023

Democratic India is an oxymoron now, added Abhishek Banerjee, the partys Lok Sabha MP, and national general secretary.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhis disqualification could be a blessing in disguise

Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, known for her bold speeches, tweeted the partys stand: The AITC strongly condemn the developments that have unfolded. Rahul Gandhis disqualification is the last nail in the coffin for constitutional freedoms in India.

The AITC strongly condemn the developments that have unfolded. @RahulGandhi s disqualification is the last nail in the coffin for constitutional freedoms in India.  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) March 24, 2023

The Trinamool statements have condemned the development but have consciously stayed short of expressing any solidarity with the Congress itself, which retains the leading position in the Opposition space. The Trinamool has been trying to emerge as a Congress substitute against the BJP, nationally.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, too, condemned the development. Its condemnable that the BJP is now using the criminal defamation route to target opposition leaders and disqualify them as done with Rahul Gandhi now. This comes on top of the gross misuse of ED/CBI against the opposition. Resist and defeat such authoritarian assaults, he said.

The Left and Congress have maintained a political standing in regional politics.

A Congress representative said more protests are lined up in the districts in West Bengal, and programmes will proceed in line with directions provided by the partys national headquarters.

Mamata panicked: Suvendu

BJPs Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed on Friday that Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee is herself frightened as in more than one state she is facing similar cases.

Responding to a query on Mamatas tweet concerning Rahul Gandhis disqualification as MP, Adhikari recalled the instance of alleged disrespect to the national anthem by the chief minister, which is currently in court in Mumbai.

He compared the situation to that of Rahul Gandhi. Speaking in the context of the courts judgement concerning Gandhi, he said that it has proved that no one is above the law of the land. She is now panicking after the judgement of Rahul Gandhi, he said.
Indias latest tiger count is set to go well past the 3,000 mark, signalling a healthy growth of the apex predator in 53 tiger reserves, officials said on Friday, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may make the announcement in a conference at Mysore next month to mark the 50th anniversary of the Project Tiger.

Thanks to the decades of experience gained in the Project Tiger, India now has inked a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on biodiversity conservation with special focus on tiger reintroduction in Cambodia.

India and Cambodia signed the MoU with focus on tiger reintroduction in Cambodia in the presence of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, tweeted Bhupender Yadav, Union Environment Minister.

Also Read | Out to collect firewood, woman killed by tiger in Uttar Pradesh

Weve sent a delegation there, theyve sent a delegation here. We are examining the situation in Cambodia to see if tiger translocation can be done, said S P Yadav, member secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority. There would be technical collaboration and knowledge transfer between the two sides before a decision on tiger translocation is taken.

While officials are tight-lipped about the outcome of the 2022 tiger census, sources said the number could even go past 3,500 considering the 6 per cent annual growth that was seen in all these years. Some of the tiger reserves like Corbett in Uttarakhand have a very high density of tigers.

The Union Environment Ministry began the all India tiger estimation nearly two decades ago following the embarrassing Sariska episode (vanishing of tigers in the Rajasthan forest) with the first estimate in 2006 revealing the presence of only 1,411 big cats.

Since then, there has been a steady rise in tiger numbers  1,706 in 2010; 2,226 in 2014 and 2,967 in 2018  because of which India harbours 70 per cent of the global wild tiger population.

On the conservation of elephant, another iconic species, officials said 100 accident prone areas along 1,800 km of railway tracks had been identified for mitigation measures to minimise the number of jumbo deaths after being hit by speeding trains.

The intervention measures that are being planned include creating ramps or underpasses and clearing of the sites for easier movement of the herd including the juveniles. Several sensitisation meetings have been conducted with the railway officials to reduce the numbers of jumbo deaths.

With the Project Elephant turning 30 in April, a major sensitisation exercise has been undertaken to reduce human-elephant conflicts, including an elephant ride for the President Droupadi Murmu at Kaziranga on April 7.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was suspended from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case joins an ignominious list of members of Parliament and assemblies who faced similar action in the past.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

Follow live updates on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification on DH

Here are some of the lawmakers suspended upon conviction and sentencing in criminal cases:

Lalu Prasad:

The RJD supremo was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction in the fodder scam case in September 2013. He was an MP from Saran in Bihar.

J Jayalalithaa:

AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa was disqualified from the Tamil Nadu Assembly in September 2014 after she was sentenced to four years in jail in a disproportionate assets case. She was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu at the time of her disqualification and had to resign from the post.

P P Mohammed Faizal:

Lakshadweep MP P P Mohammed Faisal of the Nationalist Congress Party stood automatically disqualified after he was sentenced to 10 years in jail in January 2023 in connection with an attempt to murder case. However, the Kerala High Court later suspended his conviction and sentence. According to the MP, the Lok Sabha Secretariat is yet to issue a notification revoking his disqualification.

Also read | Rahul Gandhi disqualified from LS; Cong says will fight 'legally and politically', BJP terms action 'lawful'

Azam Khan:

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in October 2022 after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a 2019 hate speech case. He represented Rampur Sadar in the Assembly.

Anil Kumar Sahni:

RJD MLA Anil Kumar Sahni was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in October 2022 after he was sentenced to three years in jail in a case of fraud. He represented the Kurhani assembly seat.

He was held guilty of attempting to avail travel allowance in 2012 using forged Air India e-tickets without having undertaken the journeys. Sahni, who was a JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP at the time of the attempted fraud, had submitted claims of Rs 23.71 lakh.

Also read | Rahul Gandhis disqualification could be a blessing in disguise

Vikram Singh Saini:

BJP MLA Vikram Singh Saini was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly with effect from October 2022 after he was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. Saini was an MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar.

Pradeep Chaudhary:

Congress MLA Pradeep Chaudhary was disqualified from the Haryana Assembly in January 2021 after he was sentenced to a three-year jail term in an assault case. He was an MLA from Kalka.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar:

Kuldeep Singh Sengar was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in February 2020 following his conviction in a rape case. Sengar, who was elected from the Bangarmau constituency in Unnao, was earlier expelled by the BJP.

Abdullah Azam Khan:

Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in February 2023, days after a court sentenced him to two-year imprisonment in a 15-year-old case. He represented Suar in Rampur district in the Assembly.

The case against Abdullah Azam Khan, the son of Azam Khan, pertained to a dharna on a highway after his cavalcade was stopped by police for checking following an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007.

Anant Singh:

RJD MLA Anant Singh was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in July 2022 after being convicted in a case related to the recovery of arms and ammunition from his residence. Singh was an MLA from Mokama in Patna district.
BJP hastily disqualified Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member after realising that allowing him inside the Parliament once again will lead to a crisis for the Union Government, which failed to answer questions raised by him on the floor of the House, DMK President M K Stalin alleged on Friday.

In a strongly-worded statement, Stalin said Rahul Gandhis disqualification shows that the BJP doesnt even qualify to utter the word democracy anymore as they have forcibly sent out of Parliament someone who questioned vehemently rather than answering him. He also said the BJP IS scared of Rahul Gandhi ever since he embarked on the nation-wide Bharat Jodo Yatra last year.

The action against Rahul Gandhi should be withdrawn. All political parties in India should come together and oppose the action against Rahul Gandhi as it is an assault on the progressive democratic forces, Stalin said, adding the move reeked of fascist tendencies of the BJP government.

Later, Stalin took to Twitter to call the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP before he could go for an appeal as death knell for democracy. The metamorphosis of BJP's vindictive politics into autocracy is happening at an alarming pace. If one goes by history, it is very clear what is in store for such autocrats, he added.

Also read | I'm fighting for voice of India, ready to pay any price: Rahul Gandhi after LS disqualification

The disqualification is a threat to members of parliament, that even they dont have the right to free speech, Stalin said. Recalling the Surat District Court allowing 30 days to Rahul Gandhi to appeal against the two-year jail sentence, Stalin said an appeal in the High Court is still on the cards and that it is the Supreme Court that should pronounce the final verdict.

It looks like the BJP was just waiting for this opportunity if one goes by their act of disqualifying Rahul Gandhi within a day of the District Courts verdict, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister added. He said the Union Government has not been able to respond to allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi in Parliament and alleged that he has been disqualified since they fear that he would jeopardise their politics if he steps into the House yet again.

It is not fair for the Union Government to disqualify someone from the Parliament instead of trying to answer the valid questions raised by them. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi is an onslaught on all the progressivedemocratic forces of our country. All the political parties in India shall realise this and we should oppose them unitedly, Stalin said.

On Thursday, the DMK expressed solidarity with the alliance partner by sending its senior leader T R Baalu to welcome Rahul Gandhi at the Delhi airport after he was convicted by the Gujarat court.

Also read | A look back at MPs and MLAs who were disqualified after conviction

The development assumes significance as Stalin has been pitching for opposition unity ahead of the 2024 polls by counselling parties that a coalition without Congress will never reach the shore.

Stalin has been pushing Rahul Gandhi to lead the Opposition fight against BJP, especially in the context of the 2024 polls. On March 1, Stalin, in a message directed at TMCs Mamata Banerjee, SPs Akhilesh Yadav, and Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao, said Congress should be the fulcrum of the Opposition alliance, and rejected the talk of a Third Front as pointless.

Opposition parties should be united. At the same time, we should reject the talks about non-Congress alliances. It will not work out. Post-electoral alliance is also not practical. Talks of Third Front are pointless. It (Third Front) will never reach the shore. All political parties opposed to the BJP should understand this simple electoral arithmetic and stand united, Stalin said.
In a major policy move ahead of the Assembly election, the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday decided to scrap the 4% reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota and distribute it equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities.

Muslims, who come under Category 2B, will be moved to the 10% EWS quota pool, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced, pointing out "there is no provision for reservation to religious minorities in the Constitution".

From the 4% that is freed up, Vokkaligas and Lingayats will get two percent each, increasing their reservation in the OBC pool to 6% and 7% under Categories 2(C) and 2(D), respectively, from the present 4% and 5%.

The two communities were earlier under Categories 3A and 3B, which stand scrapped.

Also Read | Quota demand: Panchamasali seers expect good news

With this delicate balancing act, the BJP government hopes to placate the politically powerful communities that sought a hike in their quotas. The government was especially under pressure from the Panchamasalis, a numerically stronger sub-sect of Lingayats.

"There is no provision under the Constitution for reservation to religious minorities. It is not there in any state. In Andhra Pradesh, the court struck down reservation to religious minorities. Even BR Ambedkar said clearly that reservation is for castes," Bommai explained.

"Sooner or later, someone might challenge reservation to religious minorities. So, the government has taken a proactive decision," Bommai said. "In the literal sense, there are economic criteria to avail OBC reservation, even for minorities. We're moving [Muslims] from a 4% pool to the 10% EWS quota where the same economic criteria will continue," he said.

Bommai specified that the poor from all communities which are not SC, ST or OBC will qualify for the EWS quota. The government will soon notify implementation of the EWS quota, the CM said.

Under the 10% EWS quota, Brahmins, Jains, Arya Vysyas, Nagarthas and Mudaliars are expected to benefit alongside Muslims. "If you look at it optimistically, Muslims now qualify under a larger pool of 10% reservation," Bommai pointed out. He also said that some Muslims also come under Category 1 and Category 2A, which will remain undisturbed.

Even after the tinkering, the Bommai government has ensured that the total OBC reservation remains at 32% across four categories - Category 1 (4%), Category 2A (15%), Category 2C (6%) and Category 2D (7%).
ConocoPhillips is a US-based muti-national energy company. ConocoPhillips is a diversified and integrated energy company with operations in all energy industry segments. In 2021, it was ranked the 8th largest petroleum company by market cap and was #156 on the Forbes Fortune 500 list. Regarding the global economy, it is the worlds 574th largest business, with operations in 13 countries. It is one of 5 remaining companies from Standard Oils split up and is the result of decades of mergers and acquisitions.

The companys earliest origins are in 1875 with the birth of Continental Oil and Transportation Company, Conoco. The company grew quickly with the industrial revolution and the widening usage of Kerosene, among other petroleum products, for heating and lighting. By 1885 it had become part of the Standard Oil family of companies, a time in which it also saw explosive growth.

Assets related to the original Conoco were sold to oil exploration leader E.W. Marland and were later remerged following Standards demise. By 1929, the company was an independent and fully integrated energy company specializing in crude and derivative products. Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 as an oil exploration company that quickly expanded into diversified operations. The company hit the big times upon the discovery of natural gas in the Texas panhandle and it saw explosive growth in the war and post-war periods of the early and mid-20th century.

Today, ConocoPhillips explores for, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and bitumen across a diversified portfolio of assets. The company also transports and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids and their derivative products through a global network of distributors.

The companys operations span the conventional and tight oil markets, including shale gas, heavy oil, oil sands and other petroleum-related businesses. As of late 2022, the company had more than 6.1 billion barrels of proven oil and oil-equivalent reserves and was producing 1.731 million barrels of crude and equivalents per day. Roughly 50% of operations are centered in the crude oil market while less than 40% are natural gas, with the remainder made up of LNG and bitumen (asphalt).

The company's portfolio includes conventional, unconventional plays in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Assets are primarily located in Alaska (about 33% of US production), Eagle Ford, the Permian Basin, the Bakken, the Gulf of Mexico and the Anadarko Basin. Revenue topped $45.8 billion in 2021 and the company employs about 9,900 worldwide. Exploratory operations are underway in Columbia and Chile where the opportunity for both scale and flexibility is present.

ConocoPhillips was the first major oil company to adopt the Paris Climate Accord and pledge to achieve net-zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2050. Areas of focus include increasing operational efficiencies, supporting the reduction of end-use pollutants and advancing low-carbon alternatives, including hydrogen production and fuel cells.
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a leading global biopharmaceutical company with a long and impressive history of innovating and developing medicines that improve the lives of patients around the world. Founded in 1887 when William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers purchased the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company, the company was initially named Bristol, Myers and Company. Its first nationally recognized product, Sal Hepatica, was released in the 1890s.

Bristol Myers-Squibb offers chemically synthesized drugs and biologics administered through injections or infusions to patients. The company's pharmaceutical portfolio includes a large number of well-known products. BMS's primary research and development sites are in New Jersey, California, Spain, Massachusetts, New York, Belgium, Japan, India and Massachusetts. The company's products sell to wholesalers and distributors around the world.

Bristol Myers-Squibb has a robust pipeline of investigational medicines in its pipeline. In addition, the company has established strategic collaborations and partnerships with various companies, successfully launching new products. These partnerships and investments generate portions of the company's revenue.

Bristol Myers-Squibb has acquired several companies over the years, including Medarex in 2009, ZymoGenetics in 2010, Inhibitex Inc. in 2012, Amylin Pharmaceuticals in 2012, iPierian in 2014, Flexus Biosciences in 2015, Cardioxyl in 2015, Padlock Therapeutics in 2016, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals in 2017, IFM Therapeutics in 2017, Celgene in 2019, Otezla in 2019, Forbius in 2020, MyoKardia in 2020 and Turning Point Therapeutics in 2022.

In 2005, the company divested individual consumer products and its subsequent consumer products businesses. In December 2014, the company received FDA approval for its cancer drug, Opdivo, used to treat skin cancers that do not respond to drug therapies. In 2019, the company divested its consumer health business, UPSA, to Taisho.

The company has also faced several scandals, lawsuits and investigations over the years, the biggest of which is the ongoing $1 billion lawsuit from Guatemala for the company's role in a 1940s experiment that infected hundreds with syphilis. In 2001 BMS faced an accounting scandal that resulted in a restatement of revenues from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, BMS faced a lawsuit based on illegally maintaining a monopoly on Taxol, a chemotherapy medication. The former head of the pharma group and the ex-CFO were indicted for federal securities violations in 2005. In July of 2006, an FBI raid on the company's corporate offices revealed that the company took steps to delay the release of a generic version of one of its drugs.

BMS began a significant restructuring in 2009, focusing on the pharmaceutical business and biologic products, productivity initiatives and cost-cutting. The U.S. attorney forced the company into oversight and appointed a monitor as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. Lou Schmukler joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2010 as global product development and design president.

In 2013, Forbes magazine ranked the company as the drug company of the year. Dr. Giovanni Caforio took the reigns as CEO in 2015. In 2017, reports began to surface that activist investor Carl Icahn took a stake in the company, widely seen as a signal for a potential future takeover.

As Bristol-Myers Squibb continues to experience success and growth, the company is committed to delivering innovative treatments to patients and staying ahead of the curve in the biopharmaceutical industry. With its focus on research and development and a long and rich history of delivering innovative medicines, BMS offers an excellent long-term investment opportunity.
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Genuine Parts Company is a leading distributor of office products, automotive and industrial replacement parts, and electrical/electronic materials. The company was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. GPC's mission is to provide quality products and services that exceed customer expectations and enhance shareholder value.

GPC operates through four business segments: Automotive Parts Group, Industrial Parts Group, Office Products Group, and Electrical/Electronic Materials Group. The Automotive Parts Group provides replacement parts, accessories, and supplies for automobiles, trucks, and other vehicles. The Industrial Parts Group includes replacement parts, equipment, and supplies for industrial applications such as mining, manufacturing, and construction. The Office Products Group provides businesses and consumers with office supplies, furniture, and technology products. The Electrical/Electronic Materials Group provides electrical and electronic components, wire and cable products, and data communication products to customers in various industries.

GPC's target market includes commercial and retail customers across various industries, including automotive repair shops, industrial facilities, government agencies, and schools. The company's key customers include NAPA Auto Parts, Motion Industries, S.P. Richards, and EIS Inc.

GPC has achieved several key milestones over the years, including its inclusion in the Fortune 500 list and recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute.

The GPC management team is led by Paul D. Donahue, who has been Chief Executive Officer since 2016. Donahue has been with GPC for over 40 years and has held various leadership positions.

GPC reported that total revenues and net income had increased over the past few years. GPC has a high debt level but also enough assets to cover the debt. GPC's current price-to-earnings ratio is slightly below the industry average, and the price-to-sales ratio is below the industry average. GPC's dividend yield is above the industry average.

GPC's stock has performed well over the past few years. The stock experienced a COVID-19 pandemic drop in Q1 of 2020, dropping the price to about $50. The stock has since rebounded to over $150 per share.

The automotive and industrial parts distribution industry is highly competitive, with several prominent players competing for market share. GPC's main competitors include O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and W.W. Grainger, Inc. The industry is subject to regulatory and political risks, such as changes in environmental regulations or trade policies. GPC is competitive in the industry due to its scale, product range, and distribution capabilities. The company has also invested heavily in technology and digital capabilities to enhance customer service and supply chain efficiency.

Genuine Parts Company has several growth opportunities that could help it expand its business and increase revenue. One of the key areas of focus for the company is its e-commerce platform, which has become increasingly important in recent years. The company has invested heavily in its online capabilities, including launching new websites and improving its mobile app. In 2021, the company launched a new e-commerce platform called PartsTech, which allows customers to search for and order parts from various suppliers quickly.

The company also expands its footprint in the automotive aftermarket industry through acquisitions. In 2020, the company acquired Todd Group, a leading automotive aftermarket parts and supplies distributor in the Pacific Northwest. This acquisition helped expand the company's regional presence and provided access to new customers and markets.

Another growth opportunity for Genuine Parts Company is international expansion. The company operates in over 30 countries, focusing on Europe and Australasia. In 2021, the company announced plans to expand its footprint in Australia by acquiring Inenco Group, a leading distributor of industrial parts and supplies in the region. This acquisition will help the company establish a more substantial presence in the Australian market and provide access to new customers and markets.

Genuine Parts Company has several competitive advantages that give it an edge. One of the company's key strengths is its extensive distribution network, which includes over 3,100 locations worldwide. This network allows the company to reach various customers, from independent repair shops to large national chains.

While Genuine Parts Company has several strengths, some risks and challenges could impact the company's performance. One of the company's biggest challenges is the increasing competition in the automotive and industrial markets. The company competes with a range of other distributors, including national chains and online retailers, which could pressure pricing and margins.

Genuine Parts Company is exposed to regulatory and political risks, particularly in international markets. Regulation changes or political instability could impact the company's ability to operate in specific regions or increase costs.

Genuine Parts Company has implemented several risk management strategies to mitigate these risks, including diversifying its product offerings and supplier base, investing in its supply chain capabilities, and maintaining a solid balance sheet.
Derrys Pat Finucane Centre has welcomed what it described as the robust rejection of the judicial review challenge to the Police Ombudsmans Operation Farrier report.

The report, published in September 2022, concluded four young Derry men: Stephen Crumlish, Michael Toner, Gerry McGowan, and Gerry Kelly, arrested in 1979, had been treated unfairly and made confessional statements which were not voluntary according to the standards of the time.

In the report, Ombudsman, Marie Anderson, said the four had been subjected to a coercive and oppressive atmosphere and not given an opportunity to have legal representation before signing a total of 21 confessional statements.

A retired RUC officer subsequently mounted a judicial review challenge to the report.

A spokesperson for the Pat Finucane Centre said: Over the past two days, the Pat Finucane Centre has followed the judicial review challenge by a retired police officer regarding the publication of the Police Ombudsman public statement into the miscarriage of justice cases of the Derry Four, Messrs Stephen Crumlish, Michael Toner, Gerry mcGowan, and Gerry Kelly.

The Pat Finucane Centre lodged the complaint on behalf of the Derry Four with the Ombudsman, following their directed acquittal by the Lord Chief Justice in 2003.

The Ombudsmans report titled Operation Farrier was published in June 2022.

The Pat Finucane Centre, on behalf of the Derry Four, welcomes the robust rejection of the challenge by both lawyers for the Derry Four and lawyers for the Ombudsman in court this week. Judgement is reserved in the case.

Lawyers for the Derry Four submitted to the court yesterday that any restrictions on the report would have a devastating impact on their clients.

Over the next three days the same court will now hear the legal team for the Police Ombudsman reject two further police challenges to the public statements by the Ombudsman in Operations Greenwich and Achille, it concluded.

Published on January 14, 2022, the Ombudsman's Operation Greenwich report examined 19 murders and two attempted murders carried out by the UDA/UFF between 1989 and 1993. These included The murder of Eddie Fullerton at Buncrana, County Donegal, on May 25, 1991 and the murder of Patrick Shanaghan at Castlederg, County Tyrone, on August 12, 1991.

The Operation Greenwich report confirmed there was evidence of "collusive behaviour" by some police officers.

On February 8, 2022, Ombudsman Anderson issued a public statement titled Operation Achille which identified significant investigative and intelligence failures and collusive behaviours by the RUC in relation to a series of murders and attempted murders by the UDA/UFF in South Belfast in the 1990s.
Former DUP Councillor and Mayor, Alderman Graham Warke, has announced his candidacy in the forthcoming Local Government Elections.

Alderman Warke is standing as an Independent candidate for the Faughan District Electoral Area of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The Local Government Elections take place on May 18 and will see a total of 462 councillors elected across 11 local councils across the North.

Alderman Warke, who is from Newbuildings was co-opted onto Council to fill the vacancy left by Gary Middleton who became a Foyle MLA.

In the 2019 Local Council Elections, Alderman Warke topped the poll in the Faughan ward and subsequently served as Deputy Mayor and then Mayor between June 2020 and May 2022.

In June 2022 he announced he was leaving the DUP but remaining on Derry City and Strabane District Council as an Independent councillor.

Speaking to Derry Now about his decision to throw his hat into the ring in May, Alderman Warke said he felt he had not received DUP support during his mayoral year.

He said: Ill be honest, support wise it wasnt there, for what I was doing. I felt the party could have supported me a lot more.

In my heart, I was getting frustrated by what was going on in the Assembly and, for me, I had two schools in the Cityside and two schools in the Waterside one day and all they needed was an Education Ministers signature.

As the Mayor, I was promised the Education Minister was coming down and for whatever reason, they couldnt make it that day, which was fair enough, and we set it up again, and it happened again. By that stage I was very frustrated. You heard it all the time but it just seemed as if there was a roadblock on the Glenshane.

Alderman Warke said since he had gone Independent, he had received a lot of support.

I love being a councillor, he added, and I respect every councillor in there. They are not in it for money, they are in for the love of their community and that is what I love.

I love where I live and I want to make it better. Its wee Betty up the street or wee Bob down the street, it might not be a big job to me but it is a big thing to them and it is about helping them as an elected representative.

That is why I have decided to do what I love and I want to give it a go here now for the next elections on May 18. I have a good team built up around me and we are already on the ground canvassing. As anybody knows, Im only a text or a phone call away. Im not the hardest to get. I am always there for anybody and everybody.

My journey as an elected representative is not finished yet. I still have a lot to achieve, a lot of jobs out there to complete. I feel we need that voice for people out there.

Expanding on his decision to seek re-election, Alderman Warke said he had been honoured to serve as Deputy Mayor and Mayor of the city.

As Mayor, my main objective was to more or less get the city moving in a safe way post-covid. I think we achieved that with occasions such as the Boyzlife concert and the Halloween and Christmas events. We brought a bit of normality back.

I also felt it was very important to build bridges. What I saw as Mayor was that there were a lot of unsung heroes throughout the whole district and there was a lot of amazing work going on and it was important to recognise that.

As I have said before, we have a Peace Bridge here but there are hundreds of people in our community building peace bridges daily, including the principals of our post-primary schools. There was a lot of community outreach taking place of which I had not been aware until I became Deputy Mayor and then Mayor.

I have also had the opportunity to work with the UK and Irish Governments and there are definitely good things happening in terms of business. We are a hidden gem here in the heart of the North West. You have the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast Way and we are bang in the centre, a magnet for tourists, said Alderman Warke.

Graham Warke described Derry as a shared city.

This is a city for everyone. Everybody loves the place. Then lets go for it.

As Mayor, I was determined to recognise anyone who made a contribution. If a young person raised 50 for a charity they had to be acknowledged. I felt it was very important and it opened up the Guildhall and the Mayors chamber especially. I had really good support that year with the Council council staff and elected representatives from all parties as well.

I think what was very important for me too was the charity organisation, Foyle Downs Syndrome. I think we raised nearly 60,000 for them that year. Every school in this district got behind me. There was money coming from everywhere, businesses, community organisations, young people doing events.

Tuesday past was Odd Socks Day for Foyle Down Syndrome Trust and I would encourage everybody to make a wee donation to a group which does amazing work.
Wadhurst in East Sussex has beaten 71 other locations to be named the UKs best place to live.

Judges for the Sunday Times said the small market town offers pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature.

It was praised for its good schools, convenient transport links, variety of high street shops and being surrounded by stunning scenery.

The Wadhurst Warriors, a group of fathers who began fundraising for the towns primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole village, were praised as the stars of the show.

Judges also praised the town of less than 5,000 people  the smallest winner of the award in its 11-year history  for the many activities available for children, the farmers market, clubs, classes and the community cinema at the Community Hall.

Wadhurst Warriors chairman Chris Poulton told PA news agency the group organises events such as fetes, fireworks nights and putting up Christmas decorations- and the money raised is used to help those in the village who need it, such as the Girl Guides and local school.



He said: We do believe Wadhurst is the best place to live and that is down to us all working together to make it a place where everyone can be supported.

We dont do it for ourselves, we do it for the community.

Being recognised is great but the more we can give back to the community the better.

Recognition can just be someone coming up to us and saying thank you.

A parish council spokesperson told PA news agency: This is really exciting news. Wadhurst is a lovely, lovely place to live with a great community feel.

What makes it really special is the community, We have lots of different village clubs and a really active community.

We are all helping each other out and during Covid that really came to the forefront, with lots of groups helping to get food and medicine to people.

I would say to someone thinking of moving here that its a great place to live, you have the best of both worlds.

You have easy access to towns and cities but if you want a rural lifestyle it is perfect.

Paula Lee, 58, who owns the @ONE homeware shop on the high street, told the PA news agency: I would agree completely  it is a lovely place to live and it has got a good sense of community.

I am not surprised  I think you would be hard-pushed, certainly in the South East, to find somewhere better.

There are some really lovely shops, it is a well-rounded high street  there is a nice independent butcher, grocers and a nice community spirit.

The countryside in this area is just outstanding. There is lots of walking and lots of sporting activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Sam, 50, who runs Wadhurst Flowers but did not want to give her surname, said: It is a lovely place to live. It still maintains a village feel, even though we are only five miles from Tunbridge Wells.

The residents use their high street, which is fantastic.

It is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty and there are trains into London and to the coast. We are very lucky.

Ruthin in Denbighshire was identified as the best place to live in Wales, Dunkeld in Perthshire was named as the best place to live in Scotland, and Donaghadee in Co Down was placed top in Northern Ireland.

A winner was also selected for each region in England.

The Sunday Times Best Places To Live guide is released online on Friday and an edited version will be available in the paper on Sunday.

This years list includes more new entries than ever before.

They include Poundbury, a village on the edge of Dorchester in Dorset which was planned by King Charles and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

At the time critics branded it a toy town but judges said its affordable homes, renewable energy and emphasis on walkability suggest it was ahead of its time.

Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield have all made a return  suggesting people may no longer be dashing to the country as cities return to life following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

Expert judges visited all the locations and assessed factors ranging from the quality of schools and transport links to broadband speeds, culture, access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

Helen Davies, editor of Best Places To Live 2023, said: When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever.

Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.

This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre.

Whether youre downsizing, trading up or getting on to the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.

 The full list can be found online at thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive.
Xiaomi is teasing the various features of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo ahead of its impending launch on March 28. It could launch in markets like India as Poco F5. Here we have compiled all the Note 12 Turbo features.

Redmi Note 12 Turbo features

1. Redmi Note 12 Turbo will be powered by a 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen2 SoC. It consists of 1x Cortex X2 clocked at 2.91GHz, 3x Cortex A710 running at 2.49GHz and 4x Cortex A510 cores with at 1.8GHz clock speed.

2. Redmi could sell the Note 12 Turbo with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

3. The phone could be kept alive by a 5000 mAh battery.

4. From the teasers, the Note 12 Turbo seems to share the design language of its brethren.

5. The display as well as the side of the phone appear to be flat. It is said to have a 2.22mm chin width and 1.95mm bezels on the side.

The rumours also tell the phone could be 7.9mm thick and 181 grams heavy. It could also feature a 64 MP main camera, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a side-facing fingerprint sensor.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
IC Design White Paper (4): China has become the largest source of chip design talents

When analyzing the supply and demand of global semiconductor design talents in 2021, one finds US-based companies to be the main source of chip design demand. US-based companies accounted for 43% of the global demand for semiconductor design talent, followed by China and Taiwan, which accounted for 27% and 14% respectively.

In fact, North America-based suppliers are the main demand source for global semiconductor design engineers. North America-based IC design houses, for example, are estimated to employ 113,000 semiconductor design engineers worldwide. US-based IDMs/Foundries employ 36,000 design engineers worldwide. Including the 8,000 engineers in OEMs like Apple and Tesla, the total comes to 157,000 employees.

China-based IC design houses are estimated to employ 89,000 semiconductor design engineers. Including China-based IDMs/Foundries and Internet giants/OEMs, the total number of semiconductor design engineers reach 98,000.

By geographic region, China has been the world's top region in IC design talent supply due to its numerous higher education institutes and the large number of STEM graduates from semiconductor-related majors.

Many overseas corporations also employ a large number of local talents from China. For example, Qualcomm has nearly 5000 employees in China, with most being R&D personnel. It's estimated that local and overseas suppliers in China employ 121,000 semiconductor design engineers in total.

According to the "China IC industry talent white paper," the number of local IC design employees in China reached 221,000 in 2021, and local design engineers accounted for 55% of the figure.

The number of semiconductor design engineers employed in North America totals around 87,000, with many engineers coming from foreign regions like India and China. After China and North America, India and Taiwan are the third and fourth largest supply of IC design talents, respectively.

For India, there are around 56,000 semiconductor design engineers employed locally. Most of whom work for subsidiaries and R&D centers established by foreign corporations. A few joined local IT companies. In 2021, Qualcomm employees in India accounted for 34% of its 45,000 global employees, making it the semiconductor supplier with the most design talents hired in India.

As for Taiwan, it has the second-largest IC design sector in the world. Taiwan's engineers are known for their high quality and dedication. In terms of quantity, they are also quite large from a global standard. They are also very cost-competitive compared to western engineers. This has attracted many foreign IC design houses and IDMs to hire Taiwanese IC design engineers, making Taiwan the four largest supply of IC design talent.

Other regions like Southeast Asia (mainly Vietnam), Israel, and Eastern Europe also have the potential to develop into IC design talent hubs. However, talent from the latter two regions is less accustomed to coming to Taiwan to work in IC design. They still give priority to international corporations when looking for jobs.

The global supply of talent from IC design-related schools is currently concentrated in the United States, China, Taiwan, and India. According to Synopsys' estimation, these four locations are also the main places of employment for IC design engineers. However, with the increasing development of IT, the complexity of chip design is also gradually increasing. Coupled with the emergence of new technologies and applications, it's expected that there will continue to be a shortage of global IC design talent until 2030.

In the US, STEM students only account for 17% of the total student population, far lower than the global average. Add to that an aging semiconductor engineer population and high turnover rate, and US companies become extremely reliant on foreign engineers coming to the US and hiring IC design talents worldwide, as seen in Qualcomm's nearly 5000 employees in China.

Although China is the largest supply region of tech graduates, it also has a lot of emerging industries like software and the internet that have job offers. Therefore, the percentage of graduates who ended up working in the IC sector is not very high. However, the US has been tightening its grip on tech sanctions. China has felt the pressure and will accelerate its push toward technology supply chain autonomy. It's expected that they will use incentives to promote the IC design sector.

Taiwan's total number of university graduates has been affected by its very low birth rate. The number of graduates in the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, and ICT could go against the trend and grow due to policy incentives. However, this increase will still be limited.

India's large population gives it the potential to continue to grow in terms of talent supply. Recently, with the whole world pursuing technology talent and India expanding its investment in the local ICT industry, the IC design talent shortage within India is also becoming more severe.

China, the US, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea dominate the global semiconductor market, and each faces a specific set of problems in IC design talent supply. For Taiwanese suppliers, the lack of international brand power and the systematic management capability of overseas locations are its main disadvantages compare to suppliers from other regions.

Editor's note: At the Taiwan IC Design Industrial Policy White Paper Presentation scheduled on March 28, Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) will release its IC Design White Paper to guide Taiwan's semiconductor policy. As a co-organizer, DIGITIMES will publish a series of articles to summarize the document. The white paper will be available for download after the event.
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To create, one must first question everything, Eileen Gray stated. Now considered one of the most important pioneers of modernism, Gray was able to range from architecture to interior design, from painting to furniture design. Time after time, she fused different languages, affirming the idea of work of art in everything; it is not just the architectural body that counts  all the other elements, from wardrobes to stools, including carpets and mirrors, matter too.

Today, such a total involvement of the designer in the creation of the environment doesnt raise any eyebrows, but in the 1920s it was quite progressive, Joseph Rykwert told Domus (no. 469, Dec. 1968). It was indeed an innovative and transdisciplinary concept, in which everything offered ground for exploration, knowledge expansion, and creative transformation. As Gray herself wrote in 1929, a work acquires value only through the love it manages to manifest.
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The Ambassador of India to Ireland visited Dundalk recently, visiting a number of locations including DkIT, Louth County Council and Dundalk Chamber.

The Ambassador expressed his wish to create a greater connection with Ireland outside of Dublin.

In particular, he said he wished to engage with businesses and individuals in the creative world. He also believed that there was huge potential for Irish businesses in India.

He highlighted the common language and similar legal structures of both countries.

Representatives from Dundalk Chamber, Michael Gaynor and Paddy Malone, met with the ambassador, with Mr Gaynor outlining the areas history and culture.

Mr Malone explained the reason for the strong presence of local engineering and related businesses.

He also outlined Dundalks location, and the priority given to the M1 Corridor by the Government from Drogheda to Newry.

In response to the ambassadors queries regarding skills and education, Mr Malone outlined the role of DkIT (which the Ambassador had visited the previous day), OFiaich College and LMETB.

The Ambassador stated that he wished to return to meet any industry or creative arts business interested in collaboration with India.
The Dundalk chapter of Grow Remote says it is excited to welcome local changemakers to their upcoming mental health awareness event.

This event will be held on 30th March at Kennedys Bar Dundalk from 7pm to 10pm. Entry fee is 5 for individuals and 20 for a table.

Hello, How Are You? is a campaign about connecting with those around us and engaging in open conversations about mental health. It is about asking the question, How Are You? with meaning, and really listening to the response.

This is important for Grow Remote because it is a social enterprise made up of remote workers and changemakers who seek to promote remote employment in their communities.

Grow Remotes mission is all about making remote employment more visible and accessible in local communities. Across Grow Remotes nationwide network of chapters, this has resulted in social, economic and environmental impact.

Remote work has myriad benefits to employers, individuals and communities. However, isolation is the number one reported challenge to remote employees. Working remotely can mean they can feel alone and lack the human connection of a traditional office space.

This is where the Grow Remote Dundalk chapter comes in. Chapter Lead, Ciara Breen, has been working since Covid to build a local community of remote workers - connecting employees from eBay, PayPal and local SMEs through the Grow Remote chapter.

Ciara says: We are thrilled to bring this event to Dundalk and celebrate the Hello, How Are You campaign. It is a great opportunity to bring together local remote workers and people interested in using remote work to improve their local community.

This Hello, How Are You event is coordinated in partnership by Grow Remote and Mental Health Ireland.

For more information about Grow Remote Dundalk, join the Grow Remote Dundalk group on Facebook or contact Ciara Breen at ciara@creativespark.ie.
Youth Work Ireland Louth are celebrating and thanking local volunteers who make such an important contribution to youth services locally.

During Youth Work Ireland Week which runs from April 1st  April 8th Louth youth groups will be taking part in activities and events to recognise and thank them for their time and dedication.

Youth Work Ireland Week is a national campaign that takes place every year across youth services to celebrate the value of youth work to local communities across Ireland.

Volunteers at Youth Work Ireland Louth will be celebrating along with young people and youth workers to mark the occasion.

There are many events planned throughout County Louth such as;

Designing a wall dedicated to volunteers and their contribution which is vital to our youth service.

A Volunteer morning,

Community Social action programmes

Delivery of Volunteer leadership training

Hosting the Launch of Volunteer Training Pack for all youth services to use.

A spokesperson for the group said:

Without volunteers, Youth Work Ireland Louth and our youth clubs would not be able to carry out this essential job.

We have always acknowledged and valued the important contribution that volunteers make to the health and happiness of the young people in our youth clubs.

People can learn new skills, meet others who share their interests, and give back to their community through volunteering. Whatever their motivation, these incredible people have chosen to sacrifice time from their hectic schedules to help the youth services in their community.

Hence, in 2023, we will honour and celebrate our unsung local heroesour volunteersduring Youth Work Ireland Week!

We may accomplish this in a variety of ways, both large and small, but the ideal method will be to make our volunteers feel special and let them know the difference they make in the lives of young people by giving up their time each week to support youth clubs.

Testimonials

I've been Volunteering in my local youth project over the past nine years and I have to say that it helped me by building on my confidence also giving me a sense of belonging, working as a team and having pride in my community. Aoife Volunteer

Ive been volunteering in my local youth club over the past four years and through my passion for working with young people which gave me confidence to progress into further training where I have successfully gained employment in the youth sector Elaine Volunteer

Being apart of something , communicating and chatting to different people & its good craic Mikey, young person.

For many youth clubs, the week will be a chance to showcase the range of volunteering opportunities on offer, hear from volunteers on the personal impact volunteering has had and encouraged people to try volunteering for the first time.

Through volunteering, they can make a difference to young people and their local communities.

Local youth services across the Youth Work Ireland Federation will also be holding events to thank their volunteers and celebrate the power and impact of volunteering.
A safety issue has been identified with a light fixture sold to Irish consumers on the Amazon platform.

According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the Leere Lighting Fixture/ Empty Lighting Fixture presents a risk of electric shock because of the lack of earthing.

The user could receive a mains voltage electric shock if they were to touch the metal part of the lamp.

The brand, batch number and barcode are unknown, however the Amazon ASIN is B07SCZDX66 and the model number is JP-7408.

There are approximately 147 affected products in the Republic of Ireland.

If you purchased one of these products please stop using the product immediately.

You may wish to contact Amazon to see if there are any remedies available to you. This can be done via your user account on Amazon.
It's time to put an end to the politically-driven pursuit of revenge through "eye for an eye" tactics. As Mahatma Gandhi once wisely observed, such a path will only lead to a world where everyone is blind.

by Our Political Affairs Editor

If you want peace, you dont talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.  Desmond Tutu

Sri Lanka has experienced deep-rooted conflicts and a prolonged civil war, which have resulted in widespread human rights violations and atrocities. In the aftermath of the conflict, the Sri Lankan government established a transitional justice mechanism in various forms to address past wrongs and bring about reconciliation. The process has, however, been fraught with challenges and criticisms, including accusations of inadequate participation and engagement with affected communities and lack of progress in implementing reforms.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry PC meeting South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr. Naledi Pandoor in Pretoria, South Africa [Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka]

To address this inadequacy, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established after the end of apartheid, offers valuable insights into Sri Lankas transitional justice process. The Commission was based on a forgiveness-based approach that aimed to promote healing and reconciliation through truth-telling and forgiveness, rather than retribution and punishment.

Drawing on this approach, Sri Lanka could consider prioritizing forgiveness-based reconciliation as a means to heal the wounds of the past and build a more cohesive and inclusive society. This would involve a process of truth-telling, accountability, reparations, and ultimately, forgiveness. By embracing this approach, Sri Lanka could establish a foundation for lasting peace and justice and ensure that the atrocities of the past are not repeated.

One of the most significant aspects of the TRC was its emphasis on forgiveness and reconciliation. The commission provided a platform for victims and perpetrators to come forward and tell their stories, with the aim of promoting healing and forgiveness. While the TRC was not perfect, it was a significant step towards building a more just and inclusive society in South Africa.

Sri Lanka can also learn from South Africas commitment to transparency and accountability. The TRC held public hearings and released its findings to the public, ensuring that the truth was not hidden from the people. This level of transparency helped build public trust in the commissions work and ensured that the process was seen as legitimate and credible.

It is also worth noting that South Africas commitment to truth-seeking and reconciliation mechanisms is not unique to the country. Many other countries in the global south have established similar systems, demonstrating that these mechanisms are not exclusive to Western democracies.

In contrast, many Western democracies have struggled to establish effective truth-seeking and reconciliation mechanisms, particularly in cases where the state has been responsible for human rights abuses. The United States, for example, has yet to establish a truth commission to address the legacy of slavery and racism in the country.

That is why we strongly believe that Sri Lanka can learn a great deal from South Africas experience. First and foremost, Sri Lanka needs to establish an independent and impartial truth commission that is free from political interference. The commission must have the power to subpoena witnesses and compel them to testify, and it must be able to recommend reparations for victims.

Secondly, Sri Lanka must prioritize the involvement of victims and their families in the truth-seeking process. This means providing them with legal and psychological support, as well as ensuring that their voices are heard and their experiences are acknowledged.

Thirdly, Sri Lanka must be willing to confront its past and acknowledge the crimes that were committed during the civil war. This requires political will and a commitment to accountability, which can be difficult in a society that is deeply polarized and where there is a culture of impunity.

South Africas success in establishing a truth and reconciliation commission is even more remarkable when one considers the countrys history. Like Sri Lanka, South Africa was a deeply divided society that had suffered from years of violence and repression. However, unlike many Western countries, South Africa did not simply brush its past under the rug and move on. Instead, it confronted its history head-on and took steps to address the injustices of the past.

Within this context, we can commend the ongoing visit of the Sri Lankan delegation as a symbol of the strengthening partnership between the two nations. The discussions on nation-building, constitutional making, and building a better future for all demonstrate the commitment of both countries towards democracy, human rights, and justice.

This visit of Sri Lankan delegates has provided an opportunity for both countries to strengthen their partnership and share experiences in building a better future for their people. The discussions on lasting peace, unity, justice, and reconciliation demonstrate the shared commitment of both countries towards building a democratic and inclusive society. The importance of consensus-building and confidence-building mechanisms for national revivification, as well as the role of ordinary people in shaping constitutionalism, were also emphasized during the visit. It is hoped that this visit will pave the way for more meaningful collaboration between the two countries in the years to come.

In addition to the main theme, the Sri Lankan delegation also highlighted their responsibility as the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaikes foreign policy was marked by the pursuit of non-alignment, regional cooperation, and peace-building efforts. In the 1970s, she advocated for the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace and proposed a UN resolution to this effect. The initiative aimed to promote peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region and ensure freedom of navigation, especially for developing countries.

The resolution was tabled at the UN General Assembly in 1971, and it was eventually adopted as Resolution 2832 in December of the same year. The resolution recognized the importance of the Indian Ocean for world peace and development and called for the establishment of a zone of peace in the region. The resolution was a significant achievement for Sri Lanka and helped to promote regional cooperation and peace-building efforts. Sri Lanka continued to play an active role in promoting the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace and supported various regional initiatives to this effect. Sri Lanka, as a vital Island nation, is always inspired by its own uniqueness and value of upholding democratic values. Sri Lanka has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to regional peace and stability through its actions under any circumstances. It is in this context Sri Lanka is going to play an important role as the Chair of IORA.

However, as Minister Sabry emphasized, some sections of the Sri Lankan diaspora are unfairly involved in domestic affairs in Sri Lanka. The delegation emphasized the importance of devolution of power and supporting the required executive actions in terms of decision-making. Furthermore, they stressed the need for credible and transparent domestic accountable mechanisms, which can learn from other countries, especially South Africa, as a genuine partner. The visit of the Sri Lankan delegation to South Africa was deemed significant in this regard.

The delegation also discussed the importance of accountability mechanisms acceptable both for victims and perpetrators. The benefits of such a mechanism would be many. It would help to promote healing and closure for victims of the conflict, and it would help to create a shared understanding of the past among Sri Lankans. It would also help to promote national unity by creating a sense of ownership over the process among Sri Lankans. South Africas success with the TRC highlights the importance of transparency and inclusivity in establishing such mechanisms. Sri Lanka could benefit greatly from adopting these principles in its own efforts to establish a truth-seeking and reconciliation mechanism.

It is worth noting that South Africas success with the TRC is particularly noteworthy given that it is a country in the global south. This stands in contrast to some Western countries, which have been criticized for their own truth-seeking and reconciliation mechanisms that are perceived as hypocritical or driven by dubious motives. By learning from South Africas example, Sri Lanka can establish a nationally and internationally recognized and acceptable truth-seeking and reconciliation mechanism that is transparent, inclusive, and effective.

Its time to put an end to the politically-driven pursuit of revenge through eye for an eye tactics. As Mahatma Gandhi once wisely observed, such a path will only lead to a world where everyone is blind. Now is the time for forgiveness and coming together to work towards a brighter future for our nation.
Russias Kola Brigade was created in 1997 and became one of the best trained infantry units in the Russian military. The brigade has been in Ukraine for over a year and is no longer what it was before the invasion. For a long time, Norway was the only NATO member with a land border with Russia. South of that is a much longer Finnish border with Russia. This Norwegian border has always been well guarded because on the Russia side there is a collection of naval bases and shipyards supporting the Russian Northern Fleet, the largest of the four regional fleets of the Russian Navy. The Norwegian side of the border is largely forests and not many settlements. There are some air and naval bases on coastal areas facing the North Atlantic, rather than the arctic Barents Sea. The Norwegians get to know the Russians on the other side of the border, or at least what these Russians are up to. This is especially true of the Russian army troops assigned to this area.

This brings us to the Kola Brigade. This is actually the Russian army 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, which was the first of two Russian Arctic War brigades and is based on the Kola Peninsula, which is the Russian territory sharing a border with Norway. Kola and the Norwegian border are all above the Arctic Circle. There are two other brigades on the Kola Peninsula, the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade and the 80th Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade. These brigades were well-trained but smaller than the 200th. Both were also sent to Ukraine in 2022 but saw much less combat than the 200th. The 61st Brigade was trained for amphibious operations while the 80th was not considered as combat capable as the 200th.

The Kola Brigade consists of about 3,000 troops and the basic combat units are three BTGs (Battalion Task Groups) and a tank battalion. The Kola Brigade BTGs are trained to operate as light infantry in Arctic conditions. That often means using skis or snowshoes to get around. The Russian army maintained such high training levels by minimizing the proportion of conscripts in the brigade. Russian conscripts serve for only one year, which is not long enough to be trained up to Arctic warfare standards. In the decade before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Kola brigade received a disproportionate number of career-minded contract soldiers who were expected to make a career (about a decade) serving in one of the two Arctic Brigades. As specialist brigades, training troops to do the job took time the army wanted to hold onto those with specialist skills as an Arctic soldier.

The Kola Brigade was involved with the Russian effort to take two eastern Ukraine provinces in 2014. Initially, Russia insisted that only local Ukrainian separatists were involved. That force was stopped by rapidly mobilized Ukrainian forces. Some troops from the Kola Brigade were sent to Ukraine to try and break the deadlock. That did not work. The brigade suffered a few casualties and went back to the Norwegian border. Seven years later about half the brigade (the combat elements) were ordered to the Ukrainian border, north of the city of Kharkiv. After about six months in Ukraine the Kola Brigade had lost nearly a thousand dead and wounded. This was despite the brigade getting new troops and sending them to Ukraine. The Kola brigade was only given a few weeks to train the newly conscripted or mobilized recruits before sending them to Ukraine, where many quickly became casualties too. By late 2022 it became known (to the Norwegians) that the 200th had suffered nearly 1,500 dead in Ukraine. Its two BTGs sent there took such heavy personnel and vehicle losses that they must be rebuilt. The combat elements of the Kola Brigade will take years to recover from the losses they suffered in Ukraine. Remnants of the 200th remain in Ukraine, where they do little but take casualties. Most of the 200th is back in its Kola Peninsula bases, trying to rebuild.

Russia pulled some of its elite combat units out of Ukraine before they could be so chewed up. The government insists it is rebuilding the army units lost in Ukraine. This appears to be wishful thinking because not many new Russian troops are undergoing sufficient (a few months) training before being sent into combat.
The U.S. military has been using member (soldier, sailor, airman, marine) opinion surveys since World War II. Survey results are often embarrassing for senior commanders. The generals and admirals can face media and Congressional scrutiny and criticism for problems revealed in the surveys. Since September 11, 2001 the American military has been at war. This conflict is not one long campaign but a series of separate wars of varying intensity, lasting for a few years before evolving into something else or ending. The four military services (army, navy, air force and marines) all experienced these two decades of conflict differently.

The army was most frequently and heavily involved. This meant the army suffered most of the casualties and spent the most time in combat zones. As difficult as that was, the army had few problems attracting new volunteers. The United States ended conscription in the 1970s and had learned how to do something unique in American history; recruit a lot of troops in peacetime. Modern warfare consists of a small minority of fighters who actually try to kill an enemy and avoid getting killed. In the army about fifteen percent of the troops are fighters, or at least armed and in the combat zone. The other 85 percent provide all sorts of support. The marines have a similar structure, but with a higher percentage of fighters while the majority of marines still provide support. The air force has the smallest number of personnel actually exposed to combat, especially if there is little or no opposition in the air. Thats been the case for over half a century.

The navy has seen the least combat in the last two decades while, at the same time, been the most involved in performing difficult duties much of the time. Sailors assigned to ships spend a lot of time at sea, far from home. About 42 percent of navy personnel live and work on ships and it is considered a difficult way to spend your time in the military. The ships are complex systems containing lots of equipment that has to be used and maintained by the crew. It is difficult and often tedious work. Typically ships spend a third of their time on overseas deployments lasting from three to six months or more. Another third of their time is spent preparing for deployments by spending short periods (a few days to two weeks) at sea just for training and more time in port getting ships ready for deployment. Another third of the time ships are in port for extended repairs or so crews can take their 30 days annual leave (vacation) or just be with the family if married. Time spent at your home port with families is called dwell time and in the navy there is never enough of it. The less dwell time and more time deployed, the fewer sailors re-enlist. Too little dwell time is a problem in all the services but worst in the navy.

The shortage of dwell time and 2018 reduction in retirement benefits (by about 20 percent), the increase in ideological instruction (to make sailors less sexist and prejudiced), and a general loss of confidence in senior leadership has reduced morale and the percentage of sailors who remain in the navy, especially after they have re-enlisted at least once. The loss of so many experienced sailors and the difficulty in recruiting new ones without lowering standards is further reducing readiness and the ability of the navy to keep ships at sea. The admirals cant/wont say no to Congress, which must approve the promotions for admirals. Congress has become increasingly active and successful in micromanaging the way the military is run. This has not worked out well as it causes the best military personnel to get out or not join in the first place.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Caroline Kay, Im from Dublin (mam is from Wilton in Cork and dad is Tipperary), so while myself and my two brothers were born and raised in Dublin, we spent a lot of time visiting family on school holidays, especially in Cork. After doing a degree in music and English at Maynooth, I moved to London to do a masters in musical theatre. Since then, I have been both performing and writing music.

My first two EPs of original music both went to number one in the Irish iTunes album charts and Im currently recording my third EP, due for release later this year.

I have written my own musical, called Daisy, which is set in Dublin. We have been workshopping it over the last few years and it is set to be staged over here next year. My goal is to take it home to Irish stages!

Though I live in London and love being so close to a theatre hub like the West End, theres nothing more special than getting to perform the kind of music I love back at home, so Im thrilled to be performing at the Cork Proms at the iconic Cork Opera House.

Caroline Kay, Broadway, Emma Nash, The Beatles, Alison Arnopp, Joe Corbett, Broadway, Composer John OBrien, Majella McCullagh, Simon Morgan, Broadway, Mick Grace and Dylan Howe, Rowan at the launch of the Cork Proms 2023. Picture: Darragh Kane

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Ive never been much of a party/night-out person. My ideal evening is either dinner with friends, going to the theatre, or chilling at home by the piano.

Lie-ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

When I was younger, I was always up early, even on weekends, but now my brain tends to be most creative in the evenings, which often leads me to writing late into the night, sometimes making early rises much less enjoyable!

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Haha, 1000%. Myself and my friends always talk about this! Being an artist is very much a running-your-own-business type of lifestyle, in that you dont necessarily have weekends off (unless youre doing very well for yourself and have a team of people who can take on the workload!).

But when the product youre selling is yourself/your music, youre always trying to create new content, market yourself, prepare for an upcoming performance, etc, so its never a case of clocking off at 5pm on a Friday.

Also, the theatre world doesnt switch off at weekends: Many shows, concerts, workshops, events, happen every day of the week. However, even though it can feel like a tough slog trying to get your name and work out there (even on weekends!), when your work is something youre passionate about, theres a drive there that keeps you motivated.

If money were no object, where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I wouldnt be fussy on where, just anywhere warm, where I could bask in the sun! Im my mothers daughter and we cannot stand the cold. And speaking of my mam, we havent had a mother-daughter weekend in ages, so Id take her. Shes also the only person on Earth who truly understands me, so thats always handy!

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

Nothing like just going home and being looked after for a few days by my parents! But, otherwise, I love going for walks, and especially being near the sea.

Looking out at the water helps you put a lot of worries into perspective, so that always helps me feel refreshed. I love Skerries, in Dublin, and Crosshaven, in Cork, is absolutely beautiful.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Yes, I love it. Whether its voice notes or FaceTimes to family and friends back in Ireland or America, or its meeting friends here in London, I love catching up with people, putting the world to rights!

Caroline Kay, Cork Proms Broadway and Alison Arnopp, at the launch of the Cork Proms 2023 concert series which runs on runs on April 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th and 13th in the Cork Opera House. Picture: Darragh Kane

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

Does eating sugary treats count as a hobby? Because thats something I strongly indulge in. The opening line of one of the songs on my upcoming EP is, I just had dessert for breakfast and I write from experience!

Otherwise, I love listening to true-crime podcasts. Im fascinated by the psychology and the investigative aspects of cases.

Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter, do you have a signature dish?

Definitely be entertained! I can cook, but its not something Ive ever got any major enjoyment out of, and despite many years of home economics at school, Im certainly not good enough to be cooking for other people!

We have so many places to eat out in Cork: Where are your go-to spots for coffee/lunch/special meal?

I love a cafe called The Workshop, out near Cork Airport. Its a gorgeous little place our family will often go to catch up. Hassetts Bakery, in Carrigaline, is lovely, too.

My cousin recently told me I have to try 12 Tables, in Douglas, so Im excited to go there soon. Can you tell that brunch/ lunch is my favourite meal?!

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

Usually, Ill spend Sundays writing. I write short little songs for social media, which I often tend to post on Sundays. Theyll usually be about how Im feeling that day, or that week, or some minor inconvenience I experienced, or how January was as kind as it could have been, or how I really need to tailor my use of the phrase no worries if not! And Sunday is a good day to post that kind of content, because many people tend to be chilling and doing some online scrolling!

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

It really depends. Im recording my third EP at the moment, so the last two Mondays Ive been up at 7am to travel to the other side of London to start a long day at the studio. But, usually, Monday is a writing day for me (as is Sunday), so its common for me to write late into the evenings and maybe then lie in until 9 or 10 sometimes, depending on how productive I was the night before!

UPCOMING PROMS

On Saturday, April 8, and Easter Sunday, April 9, as part of the Cork Opera House Cork Proms, enjoy a dazzling journey to the city that never sleeps, through a showcase of some of the best-loved songs from American musical theatre. Featuring beloved hits from iconic shows such as Lerner & Loewes My Fair Lady (Street Where You Live); Jule Styne and Bob Merrills Funny Girl (Dont Rain On My Parade), Rodgers and Hammersteins Carousel (Youll Never Walk Alone), and Kander and Ebbs Chicago (All That Jazz). Under the baton of conductor Conor Palliser, these performances feature home-grown talent, with Cork natives, soprano Majella Cullagh and baritone Joe Corbett, performing alongside Simon Morgan, Alison Arnopp and Caroline Kay.
A JUNIOR doctor has drawn on his stark experiences of treating elderly patients during the Covid pandemic for his debut childrens novel, based partly in West Cork.

Jeremiah Nolan, who writes under his Irish name, Diarmuid O Nuallain, currently works in oncology in Dublins Beaumont Hospital, but as a medical student during the pandemic, he was drafted in as a healthcare assistant in a nursing home and at the Mater Hospital.

While working 90 to 106-hour weeks, which also saw him take turns at vaccination centres, Jeremiah found time to work on his first childrens novel, Ara Servando And The Golden Opportunists.

Though the book ranges from 1920s central-American migration to New York to Mafia deals and German spy activity in Ireland in the Second World War, it is also informed by Jeremiahs work with patients suffering from dementia.

The profound effects of social isolation on those patients and their families during lockdown also left their mark on the young doctor, who used his fiction writing to help him process his real-life experiences.

Ara Servando And The Golden Opportunists, by Diarmuid O Nuallain (Ria Publishing 13)

One of the books characters suffers from dementia and her behaviour and her signs of memory loss and the mood changes that go with it would have mirrored very much my experiences with patients, he said.

During the pandemic when patients were unable to see their family members, they lost all familiarity, he said.

It was April, 2020, I sent off my CV and after six days I went into one of the local nursing homes, he said.

I was straight into a dementia ward with the PPE. It was an experience I dont think any of us ever want to repeat.

There was the increased number of deaths - whenever Covid went through the ward there would be two or three gone within a week or so.

What we found tough was the inability of the family members to get a visit, but the problem was that when they did get to visit many months later, so much time had passed that in most cases they simply were not recognised at all, which was nearly the worst part of it.

Writing the book, which was a development of a story he began initially while a transition-year student, became kind of an outlet, a distraction even, that turned into a mini-diary of events and was then adapted and switched around into the book, said Jeremiah.

Any time Id get a break, even from doing the swabbing and the vaccinating in the RDS, any chance Id get Id be jotting down experiences.

Some of the stuff you would have seen in there was difficult to talk about. I hadnt the worst of it; there were other people way worse off, but to be able to go back over it helps you deal with what was going on.

There would be no personal details mentioned in the book, but they would be based on real-life events and cases and how they impacted on people around them.

Though it also contains elements of fantasy, Irish myth, and even elements of the story of St Patrick, Ara Servando And The Golden Opportunists is the gritty tale of Ara, an 11-year-old girl from 1930s New York, whose mother Valeria has escaped her strife-torn home village in southern Mexico.

As a consequence of the hardships Valeria has suffered, her mental health declines, and it is only through Aras Irish paternal grandmother that a possible cure for her malady may be found.

In its original format, Jeremiahs story featured a girl travelling from New York to Ireland to retrace her grandmothers footsteps, but as time went on I adapted it, he explained.

When Covid came along and I ended up working in nursing homes and the dementia ward, I got the idea that the reason that the girl in New York has to retrace the grandmothers steps is to try and find memory aids from the grandmothers past.

The mother has a mental illness, the grandmother knows the cure, but the grandmother has dementia, he said.

The grandmother in the novel, like Jeremiahs own family, comes from West Cork, and the latter part of the story takes readers to Cobh, Bantry, Hungry Hill, and to Coomhola, near Ballylickey, where his mother has a house, as well as to the quasi-fictional village of Googan-garriff.

The first in a planned series of six or seven books for readers aged 11-plus, Ara Servando And The Golden Opportunists is available on Amazon.

Ara Servando And The Golden Opportunists, by Diarmuid O Nuallain (Ria Publishing 13)
With its annual fundraiser Daffodil Day taking place today, the Irish Cancer Society is appealing for volunteer drivers to join its award-winning patient transport service, the Volunteer Driver Service.

This is a free, volunteer-delivered transport service available to referred cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the following Cork hospitals: Cork University Hospital, South Infirmary, the Bon Secours, and The Mercy University Hospital.

The charity is looking for drivers with free weekday time, who have a mobile phone and an active email address.

The Irish Cancer Society is particularly looking for drivers in the Ballincollig, Ballyvolane, Bishopstown, Blarney, Crosshaven, Dillons Cross, Douglas, Cork city, Macroom, Mahon, Mallow, Midleton, Mitchelstown, and Youghal areas.

Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, told The Echo that the Volunteer Driver Service is something which has helped many cancer patients over the years.

Its just an amazing service that takes away one of the worries that people have when theyre undergoing treatment for cancer, which is how theyll get to and from their appointments, Ms Power said.

Often people are too sick to drive themselves, and some people may have family members who can help, and some dont, and often people dont like having to ask family members to take time off work to bring them to the hospital, so this service really lessens all that worry.

We have an amazing team of volunteers all over Ireland who do thousands of drives every year, they pick patients up at their homes, bring them to hospital, wait and then bring them home, she said.

Ms Power said the charity had seen a big increase in demand for its services this year, as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

Its difficult going through cancer at any time, but I think its really hard right now, people having to spend extra money heating their homes because theyre home all day sick and they need to stay warm and stay well.

Obviously thats harder now with the increased energy costs, and then also filling up the car to get to and from their appointments, so this is one of the ways we help with that, and were really grateful to our volunteer drivers for providing that service, Ms Power said.

It means that people have one less thing to worry about, and they love the comfort of being brought to and from their appointments by someone who cares and who is making that effort by giving their time voluntarily because they want to help.

Volunteer drivers are offered a mileage rate, lunch allowance, and all road tolls are paid. If you are interested, please email volunteer@irishcancer.ie
AFTER just an hour in each others company, smitten Nicole Ryan and Feidhlim Breathnach didnt want their first date to end.

That was three and a half years ago, when, after weeks of chatting on Instagram, the pair made plans to meet for a drink.

Nicole, from Millstreet, didnt suppose the drink would ever happen. She was pleasantly surprised when Feidhlim met her soon afterwards in a Galway bar.

Nicole was attending the afters of her friends wedding, so made plans for a brief get-together prior to their celebrations. After just minutes of conversation, the pair instantly connected.

Neither Feidhlim nor Nicole wanted the evening to end. It was at that moment that Nicole asked Feidhlim if he would attend the wedding as her plus one.

The Galway native didnt hesitate in agreeing.

She recalled how smartly dressed and handsome he was.

He was dressed nicely, so he carried it off, she told The Echo.

When I told my friend before the wedding that I was going on a date she kept saying bring him along. I really didnt think it would happen that way, but it did.

Up to that point, Nicole and Feidhlim had never spoken, but knew of each other through friends.

I had seen him through friends, but we never spoke. He always liked my posts and was very supportive online, so I reached out to say hello. I didnt think of it as romantic in any way. At that point, it was purely platonic.

However, after meeting for the first time, Nicole realised it was anything but.

We had a lovely evening together and went for breakfast the following day.

While the date was perfect, there was still one glaring obstacle: Feidhlim was living in Boston and had only been home for a short time. Even so, he realised that encounters like this dont come around often. He took a chance on love.

I never assumed that it would go anywhere, Nicole says. Feidhlim asked me if I wanted to make a go of things.

"I knew that I did and three years later we are still together. Neither of us thought it would happen the way it did. There was no awkwardness. It just fell into place.

Nicole was attracted to Feidhlim for his supportive nature and kindness.

I love how supportive and kind he is. He is always there and there is never any judgement. We have very different personalities. He is the complete opposite to me. Hes laid-back and Im wild in comparison, so he tends to keep me grounded. Even when we were sending messages through Instagram, he couldnt believe that I was interested in him, because hes so humble that way. Hes also very adaptable and makes friends anywhere he goes.

Long-distance relationships are not without their challenges.

It can be difficult, Nicole says.

There are times where I would love to just meet him and go for a walk. When we see each other, it tends to be in blocks, like at Halloween and Christmas.

Long-distance relationships can be challenging. A lot of people try it and fail, but it has worked for us and I know its not for ever.

Feidhlim is planning to return to Ireland in the next 18 months.

We both have our own separate lives, so I think the biggest challenge for us is going to be living together, Nicole says.

Love couldnt have come at a better time for Nicole, following an extraordinarily painful few years. Her brother, Alex, had died after taking a synthetic N-Bomb drug at a house party in 2016, prompting her to start the harm-reduction organisation, Alexs Adventure. The Cork woman said she had been on a number of dates in the years leading up to meeting Feidhlim.

At first, I wasnt sure if I should be upfront about everything, but after a while Id just tell them this is what I do and this is who I am. I was looking for someone who was emotionally supportive of me. Feidhlim always listens to me, rather than suggesting ways to fix the problem. Im really glad that I found him.
The Irish Court of Appeal has dismissed architect Graham Dwyers appeal against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara.

Dwyer had launched an appeal on numerous grounds, including the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence.

Last April, Dwyer won a case in Europe about the mobile data retention practices used in the case against him.

Data held in the Cork-born architects work phone was used in the trial to demonstrate how it placed the device at specific places at particular times and dates.

The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that EU law precludes the general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data relating to electronic communication for the purpose of combating serious crime.

Delivering the decision, President of the Court of Appeal George Birmingham said the court was quite satisfied the admission of very limited call data could not be perceived of arising to a miscarriage of justice in this case.

There is no miscarriage of justice here, he said.

We have not been persuaded that the trial was unfair or that the verdict was unsafe, and we dismiss the appeal."

Mr Justice Birmingham referred to the use in trial of the contents of 2,620 text messages and data retained by mobile phone companies for billing purposes in relation to five phones.

The phones included what was referred to as Dwyers work phone, a phone attributed to Ms OHara which was left in her apartment, an additional green phone which the prosecution sought to attribute to Dwyer, as well as a master phone and slave phone, which prosecution said could be attributed to Dwyer and Ms OHara respectively.

The president said the defences position was the significance of data linking the phones was a central and integral part of the prosecution case.

He said the Director of Public Prosecution did not dispute that it played a part but said the part it played was relatively minor.

Mr Justice Birmingham said while there was evidence from the parallel movements of phones at issue in the case, there was evidence of the same effect which was independent and arguably more compelling.

He outlined alternative routes of the identification of the suspect through traditional detective work and other evidence.

Outlining the background and personal circumstances of Ms OHara, Mr Justice Birmingham noted she had experienced certain mental health difficulties since her teenage years.

He also later referred to the very unusual sexual relationship discussed in the case which included acts of stabbing perpetrated on Ms OHara.

Dwyer had also made appeals against what the defence believed to be prejudicial videos.

Nine video clips were played in the trial showing Dwyer engaged in sexual intercourse with aspects of BDSM, three of which included Ms OHara.

The defence argued it was overly powerful and likely to cause a reaction among jurors.

There was also accompanying commentary from an investigator.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the judge believed that the probative effect of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial value.

A picture is worth a thousand words, he said.

He said the videos represented the best evidence available.
A four-month suspended jail sentence was imposed on a 29-year-old man at Cork District Court for having Diazepam tablets in his pocket which were not prescribed for him.

Judge Olann Kelleher imposed the sentence on Anthony Buckley of 27 Townsend Place, Greenmount.

Sergeant John Kelleher said that Garda Eoin Harrington met the defendant walking at speed and in erratic fashion on South Mall, Cork, on September 24 2021.

The evidence was that he had eight Diazepam tablets in his pocket and no prescription for them.
THE introduction of legislation aimed at abolishing adult public in-patient charges in public hospitals from next month has been welcomed in Cork.

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly introduced the Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the Dail this week.

The Bill was published on Friday, March 10, and will, when enacted, remove the acute public in-patient charge of 80 per day, up to a maximum of 800 in a year, including day-case charges, for people accessing care as a public patient in all public hospitals.

This is the next step in the removal of charges for all, with charges for children under-16 abolished in 2022.

Welcoming the introduction of this legislation, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said we are travelling in the right direction to building truly public hospitals.

Sinn Fein will support the abolition of charges. We have long argued for the abolition of charges because we believe fundamentally in a public health service and that public health services should be free at the point of delivery and delivered on the basis of need.

We are travelling in the right direction and the new public-only contract for consultants in hospitals is another step forward to building truly public hospitals where we can separate private from public healthcare.

This is something we all supported when we passed Slaintecare. We believe that parking charges must also be removed as another barrier to healthcare for vulnerable patients, he said.

Deputy Gould said, however, that the big challenge in hospitals and in healthcare at the moment is access to care, overcrowding, and long waiting lists.

While people will obviously welcome and will want to see these charges abolished, the critical issue at the moment for people right now is people being on trolleys, people waiting far too long waiting lists, and a staff who are facing morale injury every day from working in a healthcare system that is at breaking point.

Those staff deserve tremendous credit for the work they do and I am the first to acknowledge much of the good work which is happening in healthcare right across all of the strands of it from primary care, community care to acute care but it has many challenges. Part of that challenge is the lack of capacity, the high demand for care, particularly in emergency departments, which is not a winter problem anymore, but is all year around. We have a lot more to do, he said.
South Africa: Applications open for WorldSkills International Competition

The Department of Higher Education and Training has invited young South Africans to submit applications for the 47th WorldSkills International Competition to take place in Lyon, France, late this year.

The 47th WorldSkills International Competition will feature over 1 500 competitors from 65 different countries across the world, competing in 61 skills from 10-15 September 2024.

The department said a total of 24 Skill Areas are open for application until 20 April 2023 to young South Africans who should be 22 years old or younger in September 2024.

To be eligible to apply, you must be a student in an apprenticeship or learning programme; you must be a student undertaking studies towards a qualification at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college or a Technical High School, or a student undertaking studies towards a Diploma at a University of Technology for one of the skills: Mobile Robotics, CNC Turning, Health and Social Care, Mechatronics and Fashion Technology.

However, to apply for the skills [including] Mechatronics, Mobile Robotics, Aircraft Maintenance, and Water Technology, applicants must be 25 years old or younger in September 2024, the department said in a statement.

The department explained that once applications are closed and all internal processes are completed, competitions will take place at provincial level and the winners at provincial level in each of the competition areas will get an opportunity to compete at the national competition to take place at a date still to be announced by WorldSkills South Africa.

The gold medallists from the national competition will go on to represent the country at the 47th WorldSkills International Competition in Lyon, France in September 2024. The Department of Higher Education and Training calls upon the youth of South Africa to take this opportunity and apply for this once in a lifetime experience, the department explained.

The department highlighted that WorldSkills Competitions offer participants, not only South Africa, huge benefits and opportunities.

It is about more than just winning and taking the prize home. WorldSkills competitions in general, including the WorldSkills International Competition, create opportunities for learners to become the very best version of themselves possible.

They offer life changing pathway and opportunities that involve additional study and work experience. The WorldSkills South Africa (WSZA) programme plays a critical role in building bridges between all stakeholders within the apprenticeship and artisan development arena, the department said.

WSZAs aim is to further develop the skills of the many young people who participate in WorldSkills South Africa events and to build their networking and communication skills through taking direction from industry peers and benchmarking their skills against those they compete with in the industry, the department added.

Applications can be submitted through a link www.worldskillsza.dhet.gov.za/Applications - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-03-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
An American finds his sense of home in southwest Chinas Yunnan

15:08, March 24, 2023 By Zhang Wenjie ( People's Daily Online

Judging solely by his appearance, one can easily distinguish American Brian Linden as an "outsider" in rural Xizhou township in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Revered by many villagers as "yang Cunzhang" or foreign village head, however, he has made himself completely at home in this small, tranquil Chinese town.

The American author and entrepreneur has expressed his deep affection for rural China and its people in his latest publication, titled Redefining Diplomacy: One Village at a Time. "It's a love letter to China," introduced Linden.

Find a village

Literally titled "Finding villages in China" in Chinese, the book is Linden's memoir that chronicles his journey from the mid-1980s to 2020.

Born and raised in Chicago, Linden first visited China with minimal knowledge of the country in 1984. But "Chinese people instilled pride and confidence in me, and I became a better person. I always have this sense of gratitude toward the country," he recalled.

After working in and traveling to over 100 countries, the dream of living in China was still haunting him. He decided to make China his home and came to find his "village" in China.

"The sense of home shouldn't be reserved only for a place where you were born. I feel very lucky that I have been able to define where my home is, based on the values that I incorporated into life from my experiences," Linden told People's Daily Online.

Having explored many other places in China, Linden finally settled in Xizhou  a short drive from Dali  where he restored a national heritage site into the Linden Center, a hotel and education center, to launch his cultural exchange platform.

Brian Linden describes local culture to tourists in the Linden Center in Xizhou old town, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Cao Mengyao)

Growing hope and optimism in the rural area

"Very few Westerners and outsiders have experienced watching the changes of Chinese rural areas," said Linden. "Foreigners' views about China are restricted."

China has successfully fed a population of 1.4 billion and lifted over 800 million people in rural areas out of poverty. Linden was right here, in Chinas rural fields, witnessing his colleagues, friends, villagers, and local neighbors now enjoying better lives.

The development in China during the past 40 years goes far beyond just the economic changes, said Linden. Most importantly, those physical changes gave people access to the outside world, rendering a sense of hope and optimism in Chinese people.

"I hope that the outside world can acknowledge that China has had a major impact on 800 million people who, in the 1980s, didn't have much hope. They are now able to dream much larger than they and their parents ever imagined. It's hard not to be seduced by this optimism," said Linden.

People-to-people diplomacy

Linden is passionate about rural Chinese culture and philosophy, which he believes should also be rediscovered. He thinks there is more pride among the local people for their old buildings and culture now. "I don't think the villagers should change their clothes to welcome outsiders. We, as outsiders, should change our clothes to go into their homes." To live there, and be a part of the community, is always the belief that he holds.

The charm of China rests in its people. As a foreigner, Linden said he benefits greatly from Chinese people's hospitality, patience, and acceptance. "My interaction with Chinese people over 40 years has been so pleasant and positive. What I wanted to do was to continue this friendship at this level," he added.

As an American charmed and seduced by this country, Linden hopes to be a persuasive and valuable spokesperson to tell his stories to the world, and restore the cultural exchanges between China and the US. "I wanted to present a more people-to-people kind of diplomacy, and share a foreigner's true feelings about this country," he told People's Daily Online.

Devoting his life to sharing China's story with the world, the writer also takes great pleasure in being a sentimental chapter in China's journey. "I hope for my future, I can remain a part of China. I am proud to be here and part of China's story," said Linden.

Brian Linden and his wife Jeanee walk amidst paddy fields in Xizhou, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. ((Photo provided by the interviewee).

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Du Mingming)
The war in Ukraine is seen as the model for future wars. It is a conflict between major powers (Russia versus NATO backed Ukraine). Both sides have access to modern weapons and military technology. From the beginning Ukraine was seen as the underdog, outnumbered and outmatched by superior Russian forces. The Ukrainians were determined, tenacious and resourceful and thats how Ukraine defeated the initial Russian attack and soon began fighting back and driving the Russians out of occupied Ukrainian territory.

The Russians reacted to these unexpected setbacks by reverting to their traditional form of total war. This included lots of attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians in general. This behavior was particularly brutal in Russian occupied Ukrainian territory where civilians would not cooperate with Russian demands that they accept Russian rule peacefully. That led to violent reprisals against civilians, including taking children from their parents and sending them to Russia for vacations and healthcare. About 14,000 Ukrainian children have disappeared into Russia and many of the younger ones have been adopted by Russian couples to be raised as Russians. As evidence of the atrocities piled up, often in the form of discovering mass graves of civilians executed by the Russians when the Ukrainians regained Russian occupied territory, the ICC (international criminal court) indicted Russian leader Vladimir Putin for war crimes and issued a warrant for his arrest. Putin is not likely to visit any country that honors ICC warrants. Putin may never be arrested, but the ICC warrant lasts forever since there is no statute of limitations on capital crimes. As a result of this sort of bad behavior, Ukrainian soldiers took to referring to their Russian opponent as Orcs

Murdering Ukrainian civilians was not the only form of brutality used by the Russians in Ukraine. There were also brutal tactics involving Russian troops. This included the extensive use of prisoners (or zeks) as untrained infantry for attacking Ukrainian positions. The zeks were promised freedom if they agreed to six months of military service in Ukraine. They would be paid well and their families would receive death benefits if they were killed. Most of them were killed and when word of those losses got back to the prisons, recruiters found fewer zeks willing to join.

Similar brutal behavior applied to Russians mobilized (often forced into the military) to replace heavy losses in Ukraine. In peacetime Russian could depend on volunteers and conscripts to meet manpower needs. With a war on, there were few volunteers and conscripts were not supposed to be sent to a war zone. Protests from Russian mothers of conscripts had an impact (as it had in past wars like this) and the government went after older men, especially if they had prior military service. These were the Mobiks and they were not treated any better than the zeks. Avoiding military service and being sent to Ukraine became a widespread activity in Russia.

The Ukrainians were more resourceful in dealing with their Orc problems, relying a lot on innovation and technology to kill lots of orcs while keeping Ukrainian casualties down. Ukraine contained a lot of software developers and inventive people in general. This quickly led to all sorts of innovations, often involving locally developed software and weapons or aircraft. Ukraine built its own UAVs and equipped them with novel sensors and fire control systems.

The latest development involves working with NATO nations to develop a data collection and analysis system that will enable Ukraine to accurately predict where the Russians will attack next and act accordingly. This is actually nothing new as similar systems were used nearly two decades ago in Iran and Afghanistan by American forces to successfully predict where roadside bombs were and the location of those manufacturing and placing these bombs. The new system is based on the work done since the 1990s by Palantir, one of the pioneers in this field, especially the use of Predictive Analysis. This is a system that uses known data on the enemy to develop estimates of what they will do next. This sort of thing has been around for a long time and became more useful as more data became available and new software allowed that data to be analyzed and acted on in real-time. Now such systems can not only predict but also show what the enemy is doing right now and recently. NATO is participating because they have the financial resources to get this done quickly and Ukraine is in the midst of a war where the new system can be tested realistically.
Oliver McKenna, a student at Munster Technological University (MTU), was recently named individual winner of Irelands oldest higher education debating competition, The Irish Times Debate.

This event is now in its sixty-third year. Oliver is a first-year student of Mechanical Engineering at MTU.

The competition commenced in October 2022 and attracted entries from over 150 higher education students. Following four rounds of intensive debating, just twelve students remained in contention.

Oliver impressed the judges during the final event in St Anns Church in Dublin where contestants debated whether the people of Europe should directly and democratically elect the President of the EU Commission. Oliver was selected as the winner of the Individual Speakers Award.

Pictured are Niall Morris, Head of Department, Mechanical& Biomed Manufacturing Engineering Cork; Matt Cotterell, The Head of the School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Process Engineering; Aoife Kelliher, Societies Officer; Oliver McKenna, Munster Technological University student from County Cork; Professor Maggie Cusack, MTU President and Tim Hogan, Head Of Faculty Office of Faculty Of Engineering & Science, MTU. Oliver McKenna was recently named individual winner of Ireland's oldest higher education debating competition, The Irish Times Debate. This event is now in its sixty-third year. Oliver is a first-year student of Mechanical Engineering at Munster Technological University (MTU).

Olivers triumph broke a duck that lasted over a decade as the award returned to Cork for the first time in 14 years.

MTU President, Professor Maggie Cusack, commented: I am delighted to congratulate Oliver on winning the Individual Speakers Award at The Irish Times Debate.

This is the first time in fourteen years that the award has come to Cork, and the first time since 1973 that a first-year student has won the award.

Oliver developed the MTU Debating Society during his first-year studies.

The prize for the competition is a three-week tour of America during which Oliver will be competing against American college students. He will also get the opportunity to visit Oregon State Prison, during which he will debate with inmates as part of a prisoner rehabilitation scheme.

Past winners of the competition include Darragh OBrien and Marian Finucane, with past finalists including President Michael D. Higgins and former President Mary Robinson.
A shortage of an epilepsy drug is causing huge distress and worry for many people, Sinn Fein TD for Cork South-Central Donnchadh O Laoghaire has said.

Rivotril is a medication used to prevent and treat seizures, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, and the movement disorder known as akathisia.

Cheplapharm, the company responsible for supplying Rivotril 0.5mg tablets, notified the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of a shortage that began on November 25, 2022, due to a manufacturing issue.

Cheplapharm recently confirmed that the Irish stock has been released from the Spanish manufacturer and estimated that Rivotril would be resupplied to patients in Ireland in mid-March.

Deputy O Laoghaire said, however, that he has been contacted by a number of constituents who are very upset that their medication is still not available, having been advised that it would be back in stock last week.

They were informed that the drug would be back in stock last week, but they are still waiting with no sign of this essential medication being provided.

Some of these people are housebound as a result. One woman is relying on family members now to go and do her shopping and other daily tasks for her, for fear that she would have a seizure while out and about going about her day.

This is completely unacceptable and causes enormous distress for these people and their families, Deputy O Laoghaire said.

He said that people should not be waiting weeks to access the vital medication which he said is life-changing medication for a lot of people who are dependent on it for seizure control.

I will be contacting the Health Products Regulatory Authority and Minister Donnelly raising my concerns and this issue with them and I hope to see a speedy resolution to this matter for these people and their families, he said.
A MAN in his 50s who was the victim of a campaign of harassment lasting months lost three-stone and became suicidal, it emerged as the culprit was given a 10-month suspended jail term.

Judge Olann Kelleher described the harassment by the 62-year-old as vicious, callous and scurrilous and that it had a devastating impact on the injured party.

The judge noted that the defendant sent letters that were designed to cause maximum difficulties for the victim who lost over three-stone of weight with worry, it caused him serious stress.

He had to explain matters to his employer. It was so serious to him he had suicidal thoughts. The judge noted from evidence previously given in Cork District Court that the accused man threatened the his brother-in-law that he would send letters about him to his mother who was dying in hospital at the time.

This is a very troubling and upsetting case. It warrants a custodial sentence. I have read the probation report. They say he is a low risk of reoffending. I have to take into consideration his age and his misguided loyalty to his sister, the judge said.

I think that despite his age the court must consider custody. But having read the probation report I dont think it would serve society. So I will spare him that. However, it was a scurrilous thing to do.

It appears he was ashamed of what he did. As he should be. It was malicious and vicious.

The judge impose a 10-month sentence suspended for a period of two years, saying: He is to have no contact direct or indirect with the injured party. Otherwise he will automatically served the 10 months, Judge Kelleher warned.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said the harassment went on from the beginning of February until the end of May 2022. When questioned about the numerous threatening and abusive letters that were sent, the accused made full admissions.

Compounding the crime, he also harassed a member of An Garda Siochana dealing with the case. In respect of his brother-in-law the defendant pleaded guilty to harassment under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, and harassment of the garda under the Harassment and Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.

Defence solicitor, Donal Daly, said: He was 100% wrong from the start to the finish  no excuse. His conduct was appalling. He very much regrets it. He understands the impact on the people involved.

A court order is in place prohibiting identification of the injured party who is a brother-in-law of the accused.
Holly Cairns and the Social Democrats attacking the Labour Party is not "particularly helpful, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik has told The Echo, ahead of her partys conference this weekend in Cork.

The Labour leader made her remarks during a walkabout of the city centre, and although its been a while since she lived in Crookstown or Sundays Well, on Friday afternoon Ivana Bacik seemed to know every second person in the English Market.

At Moynihans, she told Dan Buckle she had vivid childhood memories of dozens of turkeys hanging in the market ahead of Christmas. Dan responded sadly that they cant do that anymore, and he and Ivana simultaneously deduced the reason why: Health and safety.

The talk of turkeys and Christmas put us in mind of next weeks Labour Party motion of no confidence in the Government and the general election that it just might spark, but more on that in a moment.

At My Goodness, the Labour leader was treated to complementary nachos and vegan cheese (delicious), before she strayed away from her handlers to catch up with old friends out shopping.

Upstairs, in the Farmgate, Ms Bacik told The Echo that should next weeks vote bring down the Government, unlikely as that is, Labour is ready for an election, and she said the motion was deadly serious, prompted by what she described as the Governments complete lack of contingency planning ahead of the lifting of the temporary eviction ban.

I honestly thought that the ban would be extended for another period of months, I think everybody did, and not just on the Opposition benches, and we all thought that that would give the Government a breathing space during which they could put in place emergency measures of the sort they are now saying they plan to do.

We just dont have any confidence in Governments ability to do what they have said in enough time to meet the needs of the families facing homelessness from 1 April, Ms Bacik said.

Labour currently has one TD is Cork, Sean Sherlock, one city councillor, John Maher, and two county councillors, James Kennedy and Cathal Rasmussen, and Ms Bacik said Labour is anxious to increase its representation.

We want to see an election, were ready for it when it happens, we have a hundred candidates already for the locals, weve got a great team of reps around the country, and certainly in Cork were looking to grow, we have Councillor John Maher in the council, were hoping hell be in the Dail, and we have our other local area reps, Peter Horgan and Laura Harmon, and other councillors, we have a strong team in Cork, she said.

With a nearly identical rival in the Social Democrats, and little to tell them apart from the Labour Party except personality differences, why are there two almost identical parties competing for the same votes?

Its the same question that was asked for many years about Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Ms Bacik replied, to laughter from her party colleagues.

Ive been in politics a good long time now, and the left has always been accused of atomisation and fragmentation, and we are too fragmented.

Ive always in my political career sought to be constructive, sought to unify and build a commonality across the left, what I like to do is emphasise the commonalities we have with our colleagues on the left, because I aspire to a left-led government, a green-red government of environmentalist and centre-left social democratic parties, parties that are serious about achieving change.

In her first press conference as Social Democrats leader, Holly Cairns was scathing of Labour.

The Social Democrats have had a bounce in the polls since they elevated Ms Cairns to leadership, but a year after Alan Kelly was ousted as leader, Labour remains becalmed around 4% in opinion polls.

Opinion polls come and go, but the result we got in Dublin Bay South in July 2021 confounded opinion pollsters, Ms Bacik said, referring to her own surprise election two years ago.

If wed been paying too much attention to polls, we would never have contested that election, we were written off from the start.

The Labour leader repeated that one of her priorities was to highlight the areas of commonality between parties of the left, and she alluded to the Social Democrats leaders comments.

Its about trying to unite the left, its not about trying to nit-pick differences, its about trying to point out commonalities and work with colleagues to achieve our desired objectives, to make things better for people, to deliver a more equal Ireland.

I dont think taking pot-shots at other parties with whom we share a common ideology is particularly helpful, she said.
A CORK mans heroin habit was so chronic that his solicitor wondered how the man was even alive.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, made this observation at Cork District Court in respect of 39-year-old James Walsh, of 3 The Gate Lodge, Cois Coille, Tivoli, Cork, who faced sentencing for assaulting another man in Cork City.

He has a pretty significant heroin addiction. He describes to me a level of heroin usage and I dont know how he is alive, to be honest, Mr Buttimer said.

He said it was a terribly intensive habit that had been going on down through the years.

However, the defendant had managed to reduce it considerably, while not cutting it out completely.

He now takes it once or twice a week, Mr Buttimer said.

Judge Olann Kelleher said the probation service are very impressed with the efforts made by the accused. The judge said the defendant was very honest with the probation service admitting that he tops up his methadone with two deals of heroin a week.

Mr Buttimer said the defendants aim is to get off heroin completely.

As Mr Walsh said himself, My body is telling me to stop. He comes across as a contrite person who has a desire to make a more positive contribution to society, Mr Buttimer said.

The defendant then said to the judge: I just want to apologise. Judge Kelleher said: Dont apologise to me  it is yourself you are putting in difficulty.

The judge noted again that the probation service have a lot of time for you and he imposed a five-month sentence which he suspended on condition that the accused would keep the peace for the next two years.

Sergeant John Kelleher said that on August 19, 2021, at South Mall, Cork, the defendant assaulted another man by punching him twice in the head.
Dominic McGrath, PA

The new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland will be formally signed off on Friday at an official meeting in London, amid hopes that better EU-UK relations can see benefits in other areas.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic will together chair a meeting that will see the UK and the EU formally adopt the new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the British government won the backing of MPs for the Windsor Framework earlier this week.

The vote by MPs in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake, a key part of the Windsor agreement, came despite former British prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss joining the DUP and hardline Brexit-backing Tory MPs in voting against the deal.

The formal sign-off comes as the DUP continues to oppose the deal, with no sign of them yet being willing to return to power-sharing institutions in the North.

Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris warned the DUP that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal ahead of Fridays meeting, which comes after Brussels also formally agreed to the key parts of the Windsor Framework at a Council of the EU meeting.

The formal sign-off will come at a Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting, with the foreign secretary and Mr Sefcovic also set to attend a meeting of the partnership council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

By formally approving the Windsor Framework, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland, Mr Cleverly said.

The framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union and protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

I look forward to further effective co-operation with the EU on key issues, such as security and energy.

The UK hopes the new deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic will also discuss a recent agreement between the UK, Ireland and the EU on Peace Plus, the cross-Border peace funding programme.

The continuing stand-off over Stormont suggests the prospects for a return to powersharing at Stormont in time for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next month remain bleak.

The executive and the Assembly have been suspended since the DUP walked out last year in protest at the way the Northern Ireland Protocol, negotiated by Mr Johnson, was operating.
Fiachra Gallagher

The disappearance of Annie McCarrick has been upgraded to a murder investigation, gardai said on Friday.

Ms McCarrick, a 26-year-old American woman, was last seen at an AIB branch on Sandymount Road, Dublin 4 on March 26th, 1993.

Ms McCarrick had moved permanently to Ireland from New York in January 1993. She moved into rental accommodation in Sandymount, in St Catherine's Court, and began working as a waitress at the Courtyard Restaurant in Donnybrook.

On the day of her disappearance, she spoke to both her flatmates in the morning, before they travelled home for the weekend.

Her last confirmed sighting was recorded by CCTV cameras in the AIB branch.

CCTV still of Annie McCarrick in AIB Sandymount Road. Photo: An Garda Siochana.

There were a number of reported sightings in the hours after Ms McCarrick was seen in the AIB branch.

In the Sandymount Green area, Ms McCarrick was reportedly seen boarding a 44 bus bound for Enniskerry. There were a number of further reported sightings in Enniskerry village and Johnny Foxs pub.

Ms McCarrick had previously made arrangements with friends, inviting them to her apartment for dinner the next day, March 27th. Ms McCarrick was also planning for a visit by her mother Nancy, due to arrive on March 30th.

By March 28th, friends of Ms McCarrick had become concerned for her welfare. It followed her failing to show up to work over the weekend, and not being at home when friends called for the pre-arranged dinner party.

Groceries that Ms McCarrick had bought on the day of her disapperance had been left unpacked in her St Catherine's Court flat. A receipt gave the time of purchase as 11.02am  her last confirmed activity.

A receipt for groceries purchased by Annie McCarrick on March 26th. Photo: An Garda Siochana.

Ms McCarrick was reported missing to gardai at Irishtown Garda station on the evening of March 28th.

Ms McCarrick is described as 5'8" in height, 10 stone, long brown hair. She spoke with a soft Irish-American accent. When Ms McCarrick disappeared it is believed she was in possession of a large brown leather bag.

The Garda investigation into Ms McCarrick's disappearance has remained active and open for over 30 years. Over the course of the investigation, 5,000 documents have been collated and over 300 statements of evidence taken.

Before Friday, the investigation was classed as a missing persons case.

Gardai again appealed for information on announcing the upgrade of the investigation to a murder case.

Superintendent Tim Burke and Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll (right) pictured on Friday at Irishtown Garda station at a public appeal for information on 30th Anniversary of disappearance of Annie McCarrick. Photo: Collins

"I want to speak to any person who met, spoke with or had any interaction with Annie McCarrick on the 26th March 1993 or subsequently," Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said.

"I am appealing to those persons, 30 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team.

"The primary focus of this investigation is the victim, Annie McCarrick and her family.

"Annies father John has passed away not knowing what happened to his daughter.

"Annie's mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on or about the 26th March 1993. She is waiting 30 years for those answers.

"I, and the Investigation Team are determined to gather all available information/evidence to find those answers and bring this matter to a positive conclusion.

Previously, Ms McCarrick had visited Ireland as a teenager, and studied at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra and St Patrick's College, Maynooth in the late 1980s.
Michael Bolton

The Irish Cancer Societys biggest fundraiser is back in full bloom this year with the aim of raising 4 million for the charity.

Daffodil Day first launched back in 1988 and is now responsible for raising around 20 per cent of the charitys income.

Volunteers will be out in force across the country, as people donate to help to the Irish Cancer Society provide free services.

The long term affects of the Covid pandemic in cancer were seen last year, with an estimated 2,600 cancer diagnoses were missed in 2020 alone due to the Covid pandemic

Averil Power, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society, says there is increased demand for many of their services due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Ms Power is appealing for people to donate what they can to ensure crucial services for patients can be maintained.

"The cost-of-living crisis and delayed cancer diagnosis mean that more people than ever need our help this year, we really want to be there for everyone that needs us.

"With our free nursing services, our counselling, advice service and free transport.

"The Irish Cancer Society only gets three per cent of ts funding from the state. We are reliant of daffodil day and other events to raise 25 million every year, to fund our vital life saving research, and our vital supports every year."
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The number of Vibrio vulnificus infections is on the rise and spreading northward in the U.S., a new study has found. The researchers have linked the increasing and spreading infections to climate change and predicted that the pathogen will spread further in the coming decades without efforts to curb emissions.

Vibrio vulnificus can be a life-threatening wound infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infections from pathogens in the Vibrio genus can occur from eating raw or undercooked seafood or through contact of an open wound with saltwater or brackish water.

Lower salinity and warmer water contribute to spreading the pathogen. These conditions become more favorable to Vibrio vulnificus because of global warming, James Oliver, co-author of the study and a biology professor at the University of North Carolina, explained to Inside Climate News.

About 10% of Vibrio vulnificus infection cases require surgical tissue removal or limb amputation, the study reported, and up to 18% of infections are fatal. Fatalities can occur within 48 hours of infection.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that Vibrio vulnificus infections in the eastern U.S. increased eightfold from 1988 to 2018, from around 10 infections per year to around 80 infections per year.

Not only did the rate of the infections increase, but the researchers also observed that the cases shifted northward during that timespan. Cases were typically not found in geographic locations north of Georgia, but by 2018, there were regularly reported cases as far north as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The study authors predicted that infections could spread farther northward into densely populated New Jersey and New York by 2060, and cases could double from 2041 to 2060.

Our projections indicate that climate change will have a major effect on V. vulnificus infection distribution and number in Eastern USA, likely due to warming coastal waters favoring presence of bacteria and elevated temperatures leading to more coastal recreation, the study authors wrote.

Without actions to curb greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, the researchers said Vibrio vulnificus infections could be present in every state in the eastern U.S. by 2100. But if emissions are minimized, infections may spread only northward to Connecticut, according to Elizabeth Archer, lead author of the study and a postgraduate researcher at the University of East Anglias School of Environmental Sciences.

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are changing our climate and the impacts may be especially acute on the worlds coastlines, which provide a major boundary between natural ecosystems and human populations and are an important source of human disease, Archer said, as reported by EurekAlert!

The researchers noted that this information could help public health officials prepare for spreading Vibrio infections, including creating informational programs for at-risk groups and developing signs to place along coasts when environmental conditions allow for more pathogen spread.
Quick Key Facts

Fossil fuels still make up more than 80 percent of the worlds energy mix.

More than half of the weight of a piece of coal comes from fossilized plants.

Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel in terms of both carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutants and is the single greatest source of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

Offshore oil drilling platforms are some of the largest human-made structures on Earth.

When natural gas is burned, it emits nearly 30 percent less carbon dioxide than oil and 45 percent less than coal, but it is still responsible for a fifth of carbon dioxide emissions.

Around 500 B.C.E., Chinese engineers used bamboo pipes to transport natural gas for heating.

Since the industrial revolution, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has risen from around 280 parts per million (ppm) to more than 400, and global temperatures have risen by around one degree Celsius.

If we want to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis, we cant develop any more new fossil fuel reserves beyond what was planned as of 2021.

One study found that particulate matter from the burning of fossil fuels  in particular coal, diesel and gasoline  was responsible for nearly one in five yearly deaths.

The largest marine oil spill in U.S. history and the worst to impact an inland waterway both occurred in 2010.

What Are Fossil Fuels?

Fossil fuels are fuels that literally come from fossils. Tens of millions of years ago, plants took energy from the sun and used it to turn carbon dioxide and water into carbon and hydrogen via photosynthesis. Animals ate those plants and stored the same elements in their bodies. Over time, the ancient lifeforms died and sank into the earth, where heat and pressure transformed them first into peat or kerogen and then into fossil fuels. Most existing deposits of fossil fuels were first formed 540 to 65 million years ago.

When extracted from underground or underwater, fossil fuels are extremely potent sources of energy when burned. They are used to fuel industry and transportation as well as to generate electricity. In addition, many chemicals including those that make up plastics and pesticides are derived from fossil fuels. Currently, fossil fuels still make up more than 80 percent of the global energy mix, but they are also responsible for around three quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause the climate crisis. That is why transitioning the global energy system away from fossil fuels is an urgent challenge.

What Are the Main Types of Fossil Fuels?

There are three main types of fossil fuels: coal, crude oil or petroleum, and natural gas.

Coal

Coal comes from fossilized plants that have been heated and pressurized through a process called carbonization. Coal typically begins its life as peat, a substance made of decaying plants that is itself burned for fuel in many parts of the world. When peat is further heated and pressurized, it becomes coal. A single foot of coal will have come from ten feet of plant matter, and more than 50 percent of the weight of each piece of coal must be compressed plant matter. Coal is typically found in sedimentary rock in seams or beds that can be up to 920 miles long and 90 feet thick.

There are four types  or ranks  of coal categorized by how long the material has undergone carbonization and therefore how much energy it contains to burn. The more time it has spent cooking, so to speak, the higher the quality of the coal. Higher quality coal is also harder and found deeper underground. From lowest to highest rank, the four types of coal are lignite, subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite.

A miner shows a piece of coal extracted from the Los Parras mine in Lobatera, Tachira state, Venezuela on March 3, 2022. JHONNY PARRA / AFP via Getty Images

Coal is typically extracted via mining  either through surface or underground mining. Surface mining means shoveling away all earth and vegetation over a coal deposit less than 200 feet deep so that it can be collected. Underground mining means that miners must travel beneath the ground in a shaft to access coal deposits as much as 1,000 feet deep and then use machinery to bring the coal to the surface. Surface mining is both cheaper and more environmentally damaging than underground mining, which is more dangerous for the workers.

Coal can either be burned directly as fuel or used to generate electricity in coal-fired plants, which is the main way it is used in the U.S. It is also used in various industrial processes, including the making of steel. Coal is the cheapest fossil fuel and is currently the leading source of electricity generation in the world, providing about a third of global power. However, it is also the most polluting fossil fuel, both in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide it releases into the atmosphere  it is also the single greatest source of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide  and in terms of the other air pollutants like mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter it emits when burned.

Oil / Petroleum

Crude oil and petroleum are two names for a liquid fossil fuel formed from deposits of decaying plankton that have been turned by time, heat and pressure into hydrocarbons, or compounds of hydrogen and carbon. It is usually black or dark brown in appearance but can also have a yellow, red, tan or green tint. It is found in the dried basins of ancient seas, which are called sedimentary basins. This is where the ancient plankton settled, at first forming a substance called kerogen, shale rock or oil shale. If it was heated and pressurized further through a process called catagenesis, the kerogen became either crude oil or natural gas. Over time, crude oil tends to seep upward to where there is less pressure until it is blocked by impermeable rocks and settles in reservoirs. Today, it can be found below the sea bed or underground, though sometimes it makes it to the surface in ponds or tar pits.

Crude oil is categorized in different ways according to where it was found, its sulfur content or its density. Sour oil with 0.5 percent sulfur or more is generally cheaper and less desirable than sweet oil with less than 0.5 percent sulfur, because it leads to more pollution and can harm refining equipment. Similarly, light oil  which floats on water  is considered more desirable than heavy oil, which sinks in water. The lighter oil has more hydrocarbons and fewer additional materials like metals and sulfur. Another type of oil, which tends to be heavier, is bitumen. This is a black, sticky oil that often rises to the surface and mixes with tar or oil sands. It is both expensive and environmentally harmful to process, releasing 12 percent more carbon dioxide emissions than conventional oil.

Chevrons Kern River oil field in Bakersfield, California. Jahi Chikwendiu / The The Washington Post via Getty Images

Crude oil is typically extracted via drilling. On land, it is usually drilled using an oil rig or a drilling rig. Offshore, it is drilled using an offshore platform that either floats over a tether connecting it to the sea floor or is held up by concrete or steel. Because they need to remain stable in stormy weather and house scores of workers, oil platforms are some of the largest human-made structures on Earth. Once oil has been drilled, it still needs to be refined. This is the process of boiling petroleum until it separates into liquids and gases that can be turned into different petroleum products.

An offshore oil drilling platform in the South China Sea. Xinhua / Zhao Liang via Getty Images

Two of the most important petroleum products are gasoline and diesel. Gasoline is typically used to transport people in light-duty vehicles like cars, while diesel is more often used to move goods in trucks or to power generators. Jet fuel is also petroleum based. In the U.S., around 90 percent of transportation energy use in 2021 came from petroleum products. Other uses of refined petroleum include the chemical building blocks of several products including plastics, pesticides and artificial limbs. The reliance of transportation on gasoline and diesel means its the global sector currently most dependent on fossil fuels. Transit caused 37 percent of end-use carbon dioxide emissions in 2021. Petroleum use overall is responsible for around a third of cumulative carbon dioxide emissions.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is, as its name suggests, a fossil gas primarily composed of methane, a hydrocarbon with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Methane has 80 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide during its first 20 years in the atmosphere, though it degrades more quickly. Like petroleum, natural gas is typically formed from decomposed plankton, but it can also be formed from coal. It requires more heat than crude oil, and is typically found near petroleum. The deeper a reserve, the more natural gas it is likely to have.

Natural gas is generally sorted into two types: conventional and unconventional. Conventional gas is found in permeable material beneath impermeable rock and is relatively easy and cheap to extract. Unconventional gas is harder to extract. One example is shale gas, which is appropriately enough, found between layers of the impermeable rock shale.

Natural gas is typically extracted from the Earth via vertical drilling, though horizontal drilling is also possible. However, in recent decades a controversial method of extracting gas from shale and other rock formations has emerged. This is called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking and involves forcing water, chemicals and frac sand down a well to break up the shale and access the gas. The problem with fracking is that it can use up local water supplies and harm the animals that rely on aquatic ecosystems, produce dangerous wastewater and trigger earthquakes. Once natural gas is extracted, it is processed to separate out natural gas liquids, as well as water vapor and other non-hydrocarbon materials. It can also be cooled to form liquified natural gas (LNG), which is easier to move and store.

A natural gas fracking rig near homes in Frederick, Colorado. milehightraveler / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Natural gas is used for heating and cooking, as well as transportation. Worldwide, it is responsible for around 25 percent of electricity generation. In the U.S., it was the largest single source of electricity generation at around 38 percent in 2021. Natural gas is sometimes proposed as a bridge fuel in the transition to renewable energy because when burned it emits nearly 30 percent less carbon dioxide than oil and 45 percent less than coal. However, it is still responsible for around a fifth of global carbon emissions, and there is growing evidence that the extraction and transportation of natural gas leaks more methane than previously believed. For example, a Stanford study found that natural gas production in New Mexicos Permian Basin had a methane leak rate of more than nine percent, which would make Permian gas worse for the climate than coal.

What Are the Main Fossil Fuel Producing Countries?

Worldwide, there are significant oil deposits in the Middle East, North America, Russia, China, Nigeria, Venezuela, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Libya and important coal reserves in China, Russia, the U.S., India and Australia. Most of the worlds natural gas is in Russia, Europe and the MIddle East.

Coal

The top five coal producing countries in 2021 were China, India, Indonesia, the U.S. and Australia.

Crude Oil

The top five oil producing countries in 2021 were the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada and China. In addition, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are extremely influential on the global oil market. OPECs 13 members work to maintain a unified front and set the global price for oil. Currently, its members are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.

Natural Gas

The top five natural gas producing countries in 2021 were the U.S., Russia, Iran, China and Qatar.

What Are the Main Fossil Fuel Companies?

Extracting, processing and providing fossil fuels remains an extremely lucrative business, and several multinational corporations have amassed significant profits doing so.

Coal

In 2022, the top five coal companies by stock value were the Australian-based BHP Group, the Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto, the U.S.-based ConocoPhillips, the Brazilian Vale and the China Shenhua Energy Company.

Crude Oil

As of 2022, the top five biggest oil companies by their most recent 12 months of revenue were Saudi Aramco, China Petroleum & Chemical, PetroChina, ExxonMobil and Shell. Other important and influential players include Frances TotalEnergies, BP, Chevron and Norways Equinor.

Natural Gas

Based on their 2021 production, the top five natural gas companies were Russias state-owned Gazprom, China National Petroleum  which is largely organized under PetroChina  Chinas Sinopec, ExxonMobil and BP. As you can see, there is significant overlap between the major players in the oil and gas sectors.

A History of Fossil Fuel Use

Fossil fuels have been used for heating and other purposes since ancient times. For example, Chinese engineers developed a way to transport natural gas via bamboo pipes around 500 B.C.E, the ancient Egyptians used bitumen in their mummies and the Roman Britons used coal to heat their baths. However, the use of fossil fuels really took off in 1765, when Scottish inventor James Watt perfected the steam engine. The coal-powered engine facilitated the Industrial Revolution by making it possible to run large factories and move goods by rail and ship.

The modern oil era is said to have begun in 1859 when Edwin Drake drilled the first successful well in Titusville, Pennsylvania. OIl and gas were used for heating and lighting until the invention of electricity in 1882. However, the invention of the automobile in the late 1800s provided a new use for petroleum products in the form of gasoline, and the first gas pump was made in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1885. The oil industry played a major role in fueling vehicles during World War II, and research during the war expanded the range of petroleum products. In 1964, oil became the worlds leading energy source, surpassing coal.

Despite the advances precipitated by fossil fuel use, a problem emerged. Scientists had theorized since the 19th century that burning coal and other fossil fuels could increase atmospheric carbon dioxide and therefore raise global temperatures, but, in 1958, Scripps geochemist Charles Keeling found a way to actually measure atmospheric carbon dioxide. His Keeling curve continues to prove that carbon dioxide levels are rising. Models in the 1960s began to predict how that upwards curve might influence temperature, but the alarm was truly sounded in 1988 when summer temperatures reached their hottest on record (at the time) and NASA scientist James Hansen testified before Congress that he was 99 percent sure the climate was getting warmer.

It has since been revealed that several major oil companies including ExxonMobil, Shell and lobby group the American Petroleum Institute knew with astounding accuracy the threat their product posed to the global climate from the late 1970s on. Instead of changing their business model, however, they chose to promote climate denial to the public and lobby against government climate action. Now, we are at a point at which we need to rapidly transition our energy system away from fossil fuels in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels and avoid the worst impacts of global heating.

Climate activists protest against Exxon Mobil misleading the public on the risks of climate change, outside the New York State Supreme Court building in New York City on Oct. 22, 2019. ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

What Is the Problem With Fossil Fuels?

Fossil fuels pose several threats to the environment and human well-being, both globally and locally.

Climate Change

When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases are called greenhouse gases because they trap heat that would otherwise escape out towards space through something called the greenhouse effect. Before the industrial revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was at around 280 parts per million (ppm). Now, it is at more than 400 ppm. During that time, global temperatures have risen by around one degree Celsius, and coal use alone is responsible for more than 0.3 degrees Celsius of that rise. The rise in temperatures has already been felt in more extreme weather events, sea level rise and biodiversity loss. These effects will only amplify if emissions are not limited as soon as possible. To halt temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius, we must halve emissions within 11 years and not develop any new fossil fuels beyond those planned as of 2021.

Emissions rise from a coal-fired power station in Germany. Schroptschop / E+ / Getty Images

Other Air Pollution

Carbon dioxide isnt the only thing emitted into the air when fossil fuels are burned. They can also release nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog and acid rain. Coal, gasoline and diesel also emit particulate matter pollution, which has a number of serious health effects when ingested. A 2021 study found that particulate matter pollution from fossil fuels killed around 8.7 billion people in 2018, which amounts to around a fifth of yearly deaths. U.S. coal plants are responsible for more than a third of the countrys dangerous mercury emissions and two-thirds of its sulfur dioxide emissions.

Oil Spills

One of the dangers of oil use in particular are oil spills. Oil spills can occur when pipelines leak, shipping containers run aground or drilling errors occur, and their impacts can linger for decades. They can harm marine wildlife both by coating animals with oil or releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. The largest ocean oil spill in U.S. history was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, in which a BP drilling platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and spewing four million barrels of oil into the Gulf. The spill led to the deaths of up to 800,000 birds, as many as 166,000 young sea turtles and caused more than 75 percent of bottlenose dolphin pregnancies in the area to fail. Oil spills can occur on land or in freshwater too. Also in 2010, the U.S. saw its worst spill on an inland waterway when an Enbridge pipeline ruptured and spilled more than a million gallons into Michigans Kalamazoo River, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

Explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 21, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images

Other Water Pollution

Fossil fuels can pollute water in other ways as well. If its not stored correctly, coal ash from coal power plants can contaminate groundwater and drinking water with toxins like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. Runoff from coal mining can also pollute waterways. Fracking has been found to contaminate the groundwater near where it occurs.

Habitat Destruction / Biodiversity Loss

Beyond oil spills, the extraction of fossil fuels and the construction of transportation and storage infrastructure like pipelines can damage habitat for breeding or migrating animals. Strip mining is especially devastating because it literally involves removing everything growing above where coal is found. One particularly egregious example is mountaintop removal. In this coal-mining method, mining companies use explosives to blow away the tops of mountains, which harm the wildlife of the hardwood Appalachian forests where it occurs. Fossil fuel extraction can also contribute to deforestation when oil is found in vulnerable rainforests like the Amazon or the Congo.

Workers Rights

As the case of the Deepwater Horizon explosion indicates, working in the fossil fuel industry can be extremely dangerous. Between 1968 and 2011, 77 people died and 7,550 people were injured in onshore and offshore oil production in the U.S. alone. Coal mining especially can be extremely dangerous, leading to thousands of yearly deaths worldwide from mine collapses or other accidents. Beyond that, workers can develop chronic health problems like the infamous black lung. In the U.S., coal mining has gotten safer over time, with the fatality rate falling by 75 percent between 1970 and 2011, but 29 coal miners died in a West Virginia explosion as recently as 2010.

Impacts on Frontline Communities

The fossil fuel industry can also have a devastating impact on the health of the people who live near to where it is extracted, transported or refined. Exposure to these activities has been linked to health risks including cancer and heart disease, and 17.6 million U.S. residents live within a mile of an oil or gas well. Low income or minority communities are more likely to be burdened with fossil fuel infrastructure. For example, the land along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has earned the name Cancer Alley because of the number of petrochemical plants built there, especially close to Black and low-income communities. Another example of the potential devastation of fossil fuel use is Nigerias Niger Delta, where around 4.6 million gallons of oil have spilled since Shell first discovered it there in 1956, representing an immediate danger to public health.

A house in Cancer Alley in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Giles Clarke / Getty Images

Are There Any Benefits to Fossil Fuels?

So if fossil fuels are so bad, why do we use them? The answer is that fossil fuels have transformed energy and transportation worldwide and are often credited with raising living standards globally during the 20th century. They provide a high amount of energy per unit burned and are currently easy to find and relatively affordable. Before the widespread use of fossil fuels, people mostly had to burn biomass for fuel, like wood, which led to both pollution and a drain on supply. Fossil fuels transformed society by giving us access to solar energy stored up over millions of years.

What Can Be Done Instead of Fossil Fuels?

However, even if they werent transforming the climate, we would still have to stop using fossil fuels eventually. Thats because they are a non-renewable resource that took millions of years to form, a process that cannot be replicated on a human time scale. The climate crisis only ups the urgency of transitioning to truly renewable forms of energy. Prominent alternatives include solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and hydropower.

A field of solar panels and wind turbines in China. Yaorusheng / Moment / Getty Images

Takeaway

For better and worse, fossil fuels have had an outsized impact on both human society and the environment since the Industrial Revolution. They have made possible things like mass production and the Great American Road Trip, but have had a devastating impact first on nearby ecosystems and communities and then on the entire planet. We have reached the point in the history of fossil fuel use when we must either transition our energy system away from them or burn ourselves to death on their fumes.




Minerva gets back to beef production as China ends embargo on Brazil's beef exports

Brazilian meatpacking giant Minerva has resumed its beef slaughtering and production operations after Chinese authorities lifted an embargo on Brazilian beef exports.

The temporary ban was imposed a month ago after a case of mad cow disease was found in the northern Brazilian state of Para.

Brazil exports more than 60% of its meat production to China, and Minerva's exposure to this market is also significant. Seven of its production units (three in Brazil, three in Uruguay and one in Argentina) contributed to a combined capacity of approximately 10,000 cattle per day.

Currently, China is Brazil's largest trading partner and has strict protocols regarding the quality of imported food.

Since 2015, both countries have had a bilateral agreement that establishes guidelines for the identification of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

The protocol provides for the immediate and voluntary suspension of Brazilian beef exports in the event of a confirmed case of the disease, even in atypical cases  when the disease occurs spontaneously in an animal and there is no risk of spreading to herds or humans.

The case identified in February in Para was atypical.

- The Brazilian Report
Police warn of online scam

Police are warning of an online scam.

The force said they are aware of a post doing the rounds with a picture of a young girl with a red bow and the caption "Isle of Man: Concerns growing for 7-year-old girl missing for 24 hours as police issue..."

A spokesperson for Isle of Man Constabulary said: "It is not a genuine missing person on the Isle of Man and we would discourage anyone from clicking on the link or sharing it. Most modern browsers already highlight that it is a scam site."

"We rely on the Manx public to help us when it comes to searching for missing and vulnerable people and we'd hate for a truly missing person to be overshadowed by this."
Two new laws will impose strict rules on how teens can use social media apps.

Utah passes laws requiring parental permission for teens to use social media Two new laws will impose strict rules on how teens can use social media apps.

Utahs governor has signed two bills that could upend how teens in the state are able to use social media apps. Under the new laws, companies like Meta, Snap and TikTok would be required to get parents permission before teens could create accounts on their platforms. The laws also require curfew, parental controls and age verification features.

The laws could dramatically change how social platforms handle the accounts of their youngest users. In addition to the parental consent and age verification features, the laws also bar companies from using a design or feature that causes a minor to have an addiction to the company's social media platform.

For now, its not clear how Utah officials intend to enforce the laws or how they will apply to teenagers existing social media accounts. Both laws are scheduled to take effect next March.

The effect that social media can have on teens, particularly younger ones, has been in the spotlight for some time. Earlier this year, the Surgeon General said that 13 is too early, referring to the minimum age when most platforms allow teens to join. Lawmakers in Congress and in other states have also proposed laws that would limit teens ability to use social media apps.

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Not everyone agrees that laws restricting teenagers from using social media is the right approach, though. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, an organization that promotes digital rights, has opposed the law, saying it would violate the First Amendment rights of young people. Other groups have voiced similar concerns.
Moving forward from an announcement of the launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the Union Budget 202223, India has launched

e-rupee on a pilot project basis. Since, the CBDC or e-rupee is still a budding project, not much can be written about it with certainty. Although no widely accepted definition of CBDC exists, the International Monetary Fund has given a general insight on what it is. It defines CBDC as a new form of money, issued digitally by the central bank and intended to serve as legal tender.

Launching a new product in a market requires general awareness about the product among targeted users. The CBDC is a new product and a bit complicated one at that. People might even confuse e-wallets with CBDC. Although it looks like money in a wallet, the liability rests with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), not with commercial banks or other entities like e-wallets. In this context, the former has an edge over the latter. One of the many challenges faced by Chinas e-yuan is lack of education on the use of digital currency. People in China do not feel any reason to switch to e-yuan. There is also an apprehension that the e-yuan wallet could be used by the government to breach into peoples privacy and has a possibility to be used for mass surveillance and state monitoring. It cannot be ruled out in the case of India as well, but the depth may be lesser as compared to China. It can be minimised or brought to zero if the RBI is given autonomy while ensuring accountability.
Here's a breakdown of this weekend's action in the world of motorsports. (All times ET)

Formula One



FAST FACTS Event Brazilian Grand Prix Site Sao Paulo. Schedule Saturday, qualifying (11 a.m., Speed Channel). Sunday, race (Noon, Speed Channel) Track Interlagos, Jose Carlos Pace (road course, 2.671 miles) Distance 192.02 miles, 72 laps.

Last race: Ralf Schumacher broke his brother Michael's Malaysian Grand Prix winning streak on March 17, leading a 1-2 finish for Williams-BMW that challenged Ferrari's grip on Formula One.

Drivers to Watch Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend in Brazil.



Last year: Michael Schumacher's six-race winning streak ended when David Coulthard took the Brazilian Grand Prix for McLaren's first victory of the Formula One season. Michael Schumacher won the pole but finished second.

Fast Facts: From 1994-98 and in 2000, the winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix went on to win the series title. ... Michael Schumacher finished in the top three in nine of the last 10 Brazilian Grand Prixs, including three victories. ... McLaren won the race for the first time in 1974, with Emerson Fittipaldi driving. The group leads all constructors with 10 victories at Interlagos. ... Ferrari will debut its new F2002 car at Brazil with Michael Schumacher driving. ... Juan Pablo Montoya led for 30 laps in last year's race before being knocked out following a crash with Jos Verstappen. ... Interlagos in considered one of the toughest tracks on the F1 circuit because it was built on unstable ground, causing the road to be bumpy.

Next race: San Marino Grand Prix, April 14, Imola, Italy.

Winston Cup

Last race: Kurt Busch took the lead after tapping the rear end of Jimmy Spencer's Dodge with 55 laps to go and held on to win the Food City 500 at Bristol. It was Busch's first victory in 48 career Winston Cup starts.

Next race: Samsung/RadioShack 500, April 7, Fort Worth, Texas.

CART

Last race: Cristiano Da Matta ran a nearly flawless race to successfully defend his Monterrey Grand Prix title on March 10. The Brazilian now has three straight CART victories.

Next race: Toyota Grand Prix, April 14, Long Beach, Calif.

IRL

Last race: Points leader Sam Hornish Jr. edged Jaques Lazier by .0281 seconds -- the second-closest finish in IRL history -- to win the Yamaha Indy 400 at California Speedway.

Next race: Nazareth Indy 225, April 21, Nazareth, Pa.

Busch

Last race: Jeff Green survived a record-tying 14 cautions and a final shootout after a red-flag to win his 15th career Busch series event in the Channellock 250 at Bristol.

Next race: O'Reilly 300, April 6, Fort Worth, Texas.

Craftsman Truck

Last race: Ted Musgrave passed Robert Pressley with 12 laps to go, then held him off to win the Craftsman Anniversary 200 at Darlington Raceway.

Next race: Advance Auto Parts 250, April 13, Martinsville, Va.

NHRA

Last event: Larry Dixon grabbed an NHRA national event victory for the second time this season by defeating Top Fuel rival Kenny Bernstein at Gainesville Raceway. Tony Pedregon, Darrell Alderman and Craig Treble won their respective categories.

Next event: SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 7, Las Vegas.
Internacional

El jefe de Wagner afea a las jovenes elites rusas que estan eludiendo el combate en Ucrania
A cyberattack on Our Lady of the Lake Universitys computer network compromised personal data on its faculty, students and even individuals who applied to the university but never attended.

The private Catholic university on San Antonios West Side this week confirmed that it recently found evidence that unauthorized access to its network occurred about Aug. 30 and that "a limited amount of personal information was removed." It declined to detail the types of information taken.

The university hasn't notified those who were affected but plans to do so next Friday, spokeswoman Anne Gomez said.

But in interviews, people who learned through other means that their data had been compromised said it included Social Security and driver's license numbers, dates of birth and home addresses.

READ MORE: Judson ISD says it paid hackers more than $500K to protect sensitive information

It's unclear whether Our Lady of the Lake was hit by a ransomware attack, in which hackers deploy malicious software to lock people and groups out of their networks and demand payments to regain access. Hackers also often threaten to publicize private information contained in the attacked systems.

The university consulted with "outside cybersecurity professionals" to investigate the incident, Gomez said, declining to identify the investigator or the nature of the attack.

Some of the victims who were interviewed said they learned through alerts from credit card companies and credit rating agencies that their personal information had been compromised and were able to connect it to an attack on Our Lady of the Lake's network.

The people, two of whom said they applied to the university in 2016 but never attended, spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns their information has been posted online or will be.

Fall semester enrollment at the university was about 2,300 students, and it employs about 450 people.

San Antonio has seen a surge of cyberattacks in recent years, with many described as ransomware attacks. They have hit other educational institutions as well as private companies and local government agencies.

In 2021, for example, Judson Independent School District paid a ransom of $547,045 to hackers to keep sensitive information from being posted online for public access. That same year, North East Independent School District notified about 5,000 current and former employees of a potential data breach after an employee's email account was breached and hackers attempted to divert school funds. The district was able to shut down the attack before any money was transferred.

In 2019, the Center for Health Care Services in Bexar County shut down its computer network after a cyberattack. And in December, Rackspace Technology was hit by a ransomware attack that left thousands of the San Antonio company's customers scrambling to retrieve their email data.

RELATED: Rackspace identifies group behind ransomware attack; recovery of customers data still uncertain

It remains unclear whether Our Lady of the Lake has contacted law enforcement or the FBI, which often investigates ransomware attacks. For example, the FBI is investigating the attack on Rackspace.

The Texas Attorney General's Office did not respond to questions concerning the attack on Our Lady of the Lake.

Reached by email last week, both the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board said they dont require schools and universities to report cyber incidents.

In addition to notifying the affected individuals next week, the university will post a notice of the attack on its website, Gomez said, in accordance with state and federal law.

The university is committed to maintaining the privacy of personal information in its possession and has taken many precautions to safeguard it, she said, later adding that the institution continually evaluates and modifies its practices and internal controls to enhance the security and privacy of personal information.
As the U.S. government considers banning social media platform TikTok over security concerns, the Lone Star State and something called "Project Texas" are figuring prominently in the debate.

Here's a look at what you need to know about the situation  and about "Project Texas."

LOCAL: Time's up for TikTok at San Antonios public universities

Why is the U.S. considering a ban of TikTok?

The app for sharing short videos is hugely popular around the world, including in America, where it has an estimated 150 million users. But a number of experts and lawmakers have raised concerns that TikTok could be a threat national security and user privacy, or could be used to promote pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation. TikTok is owned by parent company ByteDance, which is based in Beijing, and both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that ByteDance could share TikTok user data  such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers  with Chinas authoritarian government.

Officials fear that TikTok, which like many other social media platforms collects vast amounts of data on its users, would be forced to give it to Beijing under a 2017 law that compels companies to turn over any personal data relevant to Chinas national security.

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress this week and told lawmakers that TikTok prioritizes user safety and tried to downplay the app's ties to China.

Both Republican and Democratic representatives aggressively questioned Chew on topics including TikToks content moderation practices, its data security plans and past spying on journalists.

Chew told Congress that TikTok's efforts to protect user data included a $1.5 billion plan called "Project Texas."

What is Project Texas?

Project Texas, Chew said, is a $1.5 billion deal by TikTok to move all of the data involving U.S.-based users into servers operated by Austin-based tech giant Oracle.

In order to assure everybody here and all of our users, our commitment is to move the data into the United States to be stored on American soil, by an American company overseen by American personnel, Chew told said during his testimony before Congress. The risk will be similar to any government asking an American company for data.

TikTok previously said that 100 percent of U.S. user data is routed through Oracle.

That hasn't satisfied a number of critics, as TikTok is already banned from federal and Texas government devices. It is also banned from many public colleges and universities across Texas and in San Antonio, thanks to 2022 directive from Gov. Gregg Abbott.

What are Texas TikTokers saying?

The possibility of the social media platform being banned in the United States has some creators concerned, as many have cultivated an audience on TikTok and could find difficulties translating viewers from one platform to another.

San Antonio-based TikTok creator Joe Coronado who goes by the user name Chancla Academy on various platforms  told his followers he thinks TikTok is likely to be banned in the U.S. and them to follow him on other platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

Coronado has amassed over 462,000 followers on TikTok, compared to almost 53,000 on Instagram.

It just sucks to see that all of the hard work that Ive put into this page, all of the opportunities, everything that has come my way has come from TikTok, Coronado said. Now there is a very, very high probability that it will all go away.





What Chinese rules worry Western governments?

China's 2017 National Intelligence Law states that "any organization" must assist or cooperate with state intelligence work while a separate 2014 Counter-Espionage Law says relevant organizations ... may not refuse" to collect evidence for an investigation.

Because ByteDance, which owns TikTok, is a Chinese company, it would likely have to abide by these rules if Chinese authorities asked it to turn over data.

Laws and regulations are only one aspect of the Communist Partys pervasive control. There are no legal limits on the partys powers. The authorities also can threaten to cancel licenses, conduct regulatory or tax investigations and use other penalties to compel compliance by Chinese and foreign companies operating in China.

Would TikTok turn over 'Project Texas' data?

The fear is that ByteDance would have to hand over information it obtained from TikTok if ordered to do so by Chinese authorities, but Chew has said Project Texas will put U.S. data out of China's reach.

ByteDance disclosed in December that four employees gained access to data about reporters and people connected to them while looking for how information about the company was leaked. Chew told the lawmakers China-based ByteDance employees may still have access to some U.S. data but that won't be the case once Project Texas is complete.

This story includes material from the Associated Press.
A former deputy U.S. marshal accused of intoxication manslaughter in the death of a UTSA graduate in 2020 didn't have his lights on when he slammed into a vehicle that was trying to exit Loop 1604, prosecutors said as his trial opened Thursday.

Jonathan Paul Jones, 43, is accused of driving drunk and hitting a vehicle driven by Taylor Angelle McCowan, 23, who was exiting the highway at Babcock Road.

Jones was 40 when San Antonio police arrested him on a charge of intoxication assault following the head-on crash. Reports indicate he was driving a pickup the wrong way onto Loop 1604 around 1 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2020, when he hit McCowan's sedan.

READ MORE: Man identified who police suspect killed wife, daughter and self in North Side apartment

Prosecutor Jordan Brown told the jury in his opening statement that witnesses would tell them Jones tried to start his vehicle five times to flee the scene, but was stopped by those trying to help.

"Taylor was driving the right way when the defendant comes up the wrong way. She only had a second to react," Brown said.

He told the panel the defendant did not have his headlights on. McCowan swerved to the left as Jones took evasive action and turned to the right.

"That was Taylor's left. He went into the flow of and against traffic," Brown said, noting that blood evidence would show that Jones was "legally intoxicated, above the limit."

"Taylor was pinned in her vehicle, her breathing was shallow," Brown told the panel. "There were no signs of comprehension. She could not answer questions."

"They had to remove part of her skull, and she suffered severe trauma to her legs. The force of the impact pinned her inside the vehicle. The roof of her car had to be chopped off to get her out," Brown told the panel.

McCowan, a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio who was a devout Christian involved in missionary and mentoring, was taken to University Hospital, he said. Later, she was transferred to Ben Taub Hospital in Houston to be near family. She never regained consciousness and was on life support until her death on Feb. 15, 2020.

Defense attorney Mark Thiessen told the panel that although the incident was "terrible, this isn't about emotion, it's about justice."

Prosecutors, he said, "want you to count on emotion."

Thiessen spent much of his opening statement telling the jury about Jones' family, his accomplishments and joining the U.S. Marshals Service in 2010. He said Jones' family lived in San Antonio, but he was based in Del Rio and made the trip each weekend until his transfer to the Alamo City in 2020.

Thiessen said Jones worked a long day Jan. 30 but was going to meet a buddy at a food truck to eat that night. He said Jones put instructions into his Google Maps to get him home, but the application took him to Barshop, a one-way street that was not marked.

"There's no one-way sign," he told the panel. "To this day, it does not say one way."

Thiessen said Jones was not at fault.

"This should be a civil lawsuit," he told the panel, suggesting that other entities responsible for the street signs should be sued.

Thiessen also said he had "no idea what she (McCowan) was doing there" at that hour and suggested to the jury that her reaction time was "100 percent impaired."

"She doesn't react at all," he told the panel. Other witnesses who saw the crash are "alive today" but McCowan was not wearing a seat belt, Thiessen said.

"This was a tragic accident. Had she been wearing a seatbelt, her chances of survival would have been increased," he said.

Court records indicate that Jones' charges were upgraded following McCowan's death. He has been out on bond since the crash, was ordered not to drink alcohol, have a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor device on his vehicle, and undergo random alcohol tests.

The case is being tried in the 144th District Court, Judge Michael Mery presiding. If convicted, Jones faces up to 20 years in prison on the second-degree felony.
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP)  Rwanda's government has commuted the sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press on Friday that the 25-year sentence was commuted by presidential order after a request for clemency.

Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen, is expected to be released on Saturday, she said.

Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar, Makolo said. President Paul Kagame earlier this month said discussions were under way on resolving the issue.

CARY CLACK: Remember Paul Rusesabagina, and bring him home

The case had been described by the United States and others as unfair. Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial.

He was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. But the circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his reported worsening health drew international concern.

Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagames government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwandas 1994 genocide in which more than 800,000 Tutsi and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, first living in Belgium and then the U.S.

Human Rights Watch said he had been forcibly disappeared and taken to Rwanda. But the court there ruled he wasnt kidnapped when he was tricked into boarding a chartered flight.

Rwandas government asserted that Rusesabagina had been going to Burundi to coordinate with armed groups based there and in Congo.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died.

Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped to form the armed group to assist refugees but said he never supported violence  and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

Rusesabagina also has said he was gagged and tortured before he was jailed, but Rwandan authorities denied that. His attorney, Felix Rudakemwa, asserted that Rusesabaginas legal papers were confiscated by prison authorities.

After his sentence, Belgiums then-foreign minister, Sophie Wilmes, said that it must be concluded that Mr. Rusesabagina has not been given a fair and equitable trial.

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kagame in Rwanda and discussed the case. We still have conviction that the trial wasnt fair, Blinken told journalists.

___

Anna reported from Nairobi, Kenya.
Her voice low, Elsa Gomez fought back tears as she pleaded with a city panel, trying to convince six strangers seated at the dais that her West Side home was worth saving.

Just months after her husband died in 2019, Gomez took the insurance money and bought the modest, three-bedroom house on Juanita Avenue. Its just a block west of the quiet, peaceful grounds of San Fernando Cemetery No. 2.

It was her first home and she didnt realize it needed so much work.

Dig deeper: San Antonio ordered 474 homes demolished between 2015 and 2020. Richard Montellanos house was one of them

Nearly three years later, the city of San Antonio considers it too dangerous and too damaged for her handyman son  Jacob Garcia, who also lived there  to continue to repair.

It might not mean much to anybody, but it means a lot to me, Gomez said. Im trying to save it  I know its taking a long time, but Im trying. Give me a chance.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

Code inspectors said she was missing a roof, part of which had collapsed. Beams of wood held up the living room and other areas of the home. With no legal city services, Gomez and Garcia borrowed power from neighbors and fed the home electricity with car batteries.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

On March 9, proof of these violations filled a television screen for members of the Building Standards Board, a quasi-judicial panel that rules on repair and demolition cases on behalf of the city of San Antonio.

After nearly an hour of emotional testimony from Gomez, Garcia and the propertys previous owner, the board voted 3-2 to have the West Side home demolished.

You might also like: San Antonio couple who sued home builder for trying to sell home to another buyer wins arbitration

The owners were ordered to leave the property, which will be torn down next month at the owners expense.

The city had meant to demolish the home in January, but a temporary restraining order halted that effort. The owners pulled a permit to make minor repairs and to try to fix the roof. That work was shut down because it went far beyond what it was permitted for.

Gomez said that the roof had not collapsed and that the home was in its current state because her son had yet to finish repairs.

Gomez and Garcia said that they did not do an inspection when they bought the home in November 2019. When they moved in, they discovered rot, termite damage, and that instead of a foundation, the home rested directly on the soil beneath it.

The floor was cracking as a result.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

I didnt know much about buying a house, Gomez said. It was my first time and common sense should have told me something but I didnt know nothing.

Gomez said she asked Garcia, her son, to add closets, cabinets and a kitchen island. He also tried to enclose a porch at the front and made other additions to make the home a little better.

Much of the repairs Garcia was doing was done illegally, according to the city. Garcia said he didnt know he wasnt allowed to work on the home.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

Gomez and Garcia said it was the previous owners fault that the home needed so much work.

Efrain Arteaga, who still holds a lien on the property he sold as is in 2019, said it looked nothing like it did three years ago.

And Arteaga had a photo of the roof still intact to prove it. He also said it was up to code when he sold it.

But Arteaga urged board members to spare the home, saying that he'd make necessary repairs as long as it returns under his possession.

He already has started the process of foreclosure, based on the grounds that the home was not kept in good condition, he said. A hearing was set for April.

Building Standards Board member Kayla Miranda made the first motion. Mirandas request to push a decision forward for 60 days failed.

Member Evelyn Browns motion that the property wasnt feasible for repair passed.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
Earlier this week, a third-grader with special needs from Bennie L. Cole Elementary hitchhiked home after his teacher left him outside.

The teacher did so potentially as a means of discipline.

Northside Independent School District has been investigating the matter since the day of the incident, said Barry Perez, Northside ISD's executive director of communications.

"The matter is still being investigated, as we want to make sure we know all of the details," Perez said. "If the investigation determines that there was inappropriate behavior or behavior outside of the protocol, it will be addressed as a personnel matter. The student will be or has been addressed (about the incident) with permission of the parent, as it was a conscious choice to head home."

The teacher took the student outside the portable classroom after he misbehaved, according to News 4 San Antonio. He proceeded to go under a fence and left campus before flagging down a car and driving with the currently unknown driver back to his home, a mile-and-a-half away. He was safely dropped off in front of his house.

READ MORE: Man accused in attempted Southeast Side daytime abductions said he heard voices of extraterrestrials

The Express-News attempted to contact the boy's mother but did not receive a response.

Perez's account of the incident is similar, although he notes that the investigation is attempting to determine whether the teacher closed the door or left it open for the student.

"A third-grader should not be able to leave the campus," Perez said. "We're determining whether a protocol was broken, and if protocols were not followed, we need to address it and there should be a retraining on what protocols should be in order to prevent something like this from happening again."

Perez added that as a general rule, the school district informs teachers that students should not be placed outside of the classroom. A teacher experiencing difficulty with a student, whether regarding discipline or a need for assistance, can contact the front office, an administrator or a counselor to receive help.

shepard.price@express-news.net
At a forum on school security at an elementary school Thursday night, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar spoke of a homicide over a THC vape and kids stealing guns from cars.

But Salazar said the two independent school districts where he has deployed deputies for extra security  Northside and Southwest ISDs  are not less safe than others in the San Antonio area.

And he had to refer angry questions and comments from parents worried about assaults on campuses, especially in bathrooms, to the school districts themselves.

The forum at Northside's Bennie Cole Elementary School on the Northwest Side also featured a presentation by the Northside ISD Police Department. It drew about 100 people, including a couple dozen uniformed officers.

The sheriff's office patrol district that includes the school had 407 car burglaries, 173 vehicle thefts and 70 vehicle crashes in a recent 15-month period, but officials could not immediately say if that was higher than previous similar periods, or how many of them involved juveniles.

It's "a lot," said Chief Deputy Raul Garza, who is in charge of the school safety task force that has increased law enforcement readiness to respond to a campus by setting up a mobile substation.

The mobile substation is really a trailer, Salazar said, adding, "I wish I could say it was sexier than what it is."

He said it would help combat crime in the entire community, not just schools. One reason it was set up, Salazar said, was that deputies were responding more frequently to calls in the area, one of which was the Brennan High School student who was killed recently in his neighborhood in a dispute over an electronic vaporizer containing THC.

He said the partnership with the two school districts was mutually beneficial, with deputies closer to schools in case they are needed to help school district police. In an interview after the presentation, Salazar said the task force will gather data that he can take to the Bexar County Commissioners Court to seek funding to expand the program to other school districts.

Among the public comments at the forum was emotional testimony from Summer Garcia, who said she was a Northside ISD parent and former teacher who now works at another district.

"I left Northside because I didn't feel safe as an elementary school teacher," she said.
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Negligent apartment owners will be charged thousands of dollars and undergo monthly inspections under a program slated to go into effect April 2.

The city will require apartments that receive three citations for major issues over six months to register in the new program. Code enforcement officers will inspect up to 5 percent of the units at registered apartments monthly for at least six months.

But the city wont be eating the cost of more inspections  fines levied on the apartment owners will cover that. Theyll be charged $100 per unit. The city's Development Services Department expects to register about 15 apartment complexes, with an average of 200 units per complex, generating about $300,000 annually.

I do think this is a win, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia said. She added that passing the measure, called the Proactive Apartment Inspections Program, on Thursday was a momentous occasion.

On ExpressNews.com: They dont care: Struggling San Antonio residents often forced to live in affordable disasters

This is a compromise. This is collaboration. This is compassion through community coming together, Rocha Garcia said.

District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez was absent when the vote was taken, but every other council member and the mayor voted in favor of the program  though District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry did so reluctantly.

Perry thinks the program adds needless bureaucracy and said the fees would likely be passed to tenants.

Several renters and members of the Texas Organizing Project came to support the ordinance, but a few shared Perrys concern that the fees would just be passed along to them.

But Amin Tohmaz, the citys deputy director of development services, said there isnt anything the city can do to stop a complex from passing that cost on to renters. Because complexes raise rent fairly frequently, it would be hard to prove that it was because of being in the program.

If a complex were to raise the rent for someone only because they reported an issue, Tohmaz said, the resident could talk with the Neighborhood Housing and Services Department because that could be considered retaliation.

The hope is that complexes dont have to get into the program in the first place, City Manager Erik Walsh pointed out. Apartment owners will have 10 days to fix the cited problems before being required to pay any registration fees.

Bad actor apartments would be in the program for at least six months, but they can graduate if they fix all the issues and go six months with fewer than three serious citations.

Even after graduation, they arent off the hook. Owners will be on probation for four years. If they are negligent enough to land themselves in the program within the probationary period, they must be registered again for at least 12 months.

On ExpressNews.com: I can die. ... And they dont care: Vista Del Rey residents form union, demand fixes from management

Complexes with five or more units are subject to the program, but only serious code violations will count. The city is targeting safety concerns, such as broken air conditioning, electrical problems, sewer leaks and structural issues.

A website will list all the apartments forced to register, and multiple council members requested that all tenants of those complexes get a notification.

The new program was recommended after months of meetings among a task force of a dozen people, half focusing on the interests of renters and the other half geared toward the interests of apartment property owners. Though both sides had to compromise, the renters and apartment owner stakeholders agreed on the programs core components.

City officials created the task force after tenants at the Seven Oaks and Wurzbach Manor complexes reported broken air conditioning, water leaks and other problems last summer.

The task force looked at 18 months of past apartment citation data. Between 15 and 20 complexes would have qualified then, but citations made only after April 2 will count toward the program.

More than 100 code enforcement officers look into all sorts of problems across the city, but Mike Shannon, the citys director of development services, wants a designated team of six to focus on apartments alone.

Because the city brought on two new officers to focus solely on apartments during this past budget cycle, Shannon said, the city would need to hire four more to fill out the team. The additional officers will be discussed at future city budget discussions.

Owners of Seven Oaks Apartments, renamed Colinas at Medical, and Wurzbach Manor would have been in the program if it were in place last year. Wurzbach Manor has addressed all its citations, but Seven Oaks Apartments has one more issue it is still resolving.

On ExpressNews.com: Tired of settling: Seven Oaks Apartments residents, Texas Organizing Project push back against poor living conditions, eviction notices

Celine Williams, who was interim executive director of the San Antonio Apartment Association until December, had been worried that the program wouldnt consider the challenges that owners face, but she ended up feeling like the outcome was fair. Even so, she expressed concerns on behalf of the association Thursday.

Although we are not opposed to the Proactive Apartment Inspections Program, its important to remember that every dollar that goes toward fees to operate programs like this undermines housing affordability and contributes to the increasing operating costs to maintain quality housing for our residents, Williams said.

Former Seven Oaks tenant Willie Rector was one of several renters speaking up for the program Thursday. She said she dealt with no air conditioning and mold problems at her old apartment.

It needs to be done in a timely manner, Rector said of apartments needing to make fixes quickly. Because Im sorry and My apologies, and My condolences, would not bring a loved one back.

Mia Loseff, South Texas regional director at Texas Housers, was on the task force to give perspective on the renters side of the equation. She praised Seven Oaks tenants, crediting them with being the reason the inspection program made it this far. But she outlined a couple of ways in which she wants the city to be careful moving forward, including thinking of a plan of action if some complexes still refuse to address problems down the road.

This policy is a dedication to safe and quality living standards in apartment complexes across the city, Loseff said. Honestly, the city as a whole should be really proud of what this policy means for all San Antonio renters.
During a Texas House of Representatives public education committee hearing Tuesday that went past midnight, Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, said his legislation, House Bill 900, isnt a book ban. Nonsense. It absolutely is.

Patterson warned potential readers about sexually explicit content. Then, he condemned the book  Gender Queer for graphic illustrations he deemed shocking.

The book is written for teenagers and young adults, so its unlikely it was in elementary school libraries.

While Pattersons bill seeks to further codify rules for library books, oversight of school library books should be at the school district level and include a fair process with parental input.

Some who testified for the bill read excerpts from books that might make school boys and girls blush. Or would they?

School boys and girls are exposed to so much more outside of books. The internet and music offer no shortage of images and descriptions of sexual acts. So, hopefully, those parents and lawmakers clutching their pearls over library books will make time and expend the energy to monitor their childrens phone and computer usage.

Patterson calls his bill the READER (Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources) Act. During the hearing, he disputed that its a book ban. But his bill would certainly set the stage for one. It would establish a mandatory library standard, requiring private book vendors to set ratings for sexually relevant and sexually explicit school books so that school districts could more easily censor them.

As if it was something to be proud of, Patterson detailed how he helped ban books in his home district, using ample resources and an army of concerned moms and teachers over four months to get an additional 26 books they deemed sexually explicit removed from library shelves.

Frisco ISD Associate Deputy Superintendent Wes Cunningham, who said he supports the bill, was offended by Pattersons criticism of the school district not doing enough to censor books.

To defend the districts censorship measures, he detailed how his district twice updated its policies, creating an expedited review for alleged obscene content in books, so far banning 80 books this school year from district libraries. As if it was something to be proud of.

Instead of protecting students from books through government overreach, lawmakers and schools should invest their energy into protecting students from school shootings, illiteracy, inequitable school funding, unmet mental health needs and disingenuous lawmakers who use them as political pawns.

Pattersons bill, a GOP-led House priority, is part of a nationwide GOP crackdown of books in school libraries. Many of the books deemed offensive include LGBTQ issues or themes of racism.

State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, said he was worried the language of the bill wouldnt require books to be evaluated as a whole.

That it was so broad, it would ban the Bible (which he noted the bill exempts) and classics, including: Lonesome Dove, The 12th Night, Midsummer Nights Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, Lady Chatterleys Lover, Ulysses, Jane Eyre, The Canterbury Tales, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Banning books isnt new. This latest iteration of attacks on school library books in Texas began in 2021 when former State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, opened an investigation into the books that school districts offer in their libraries, including novels about race and explorations of sexuality. He didnt call it a ban, he called it a list, but it was absolutely a ban. And its implications were far reaching.

PEN America, a free-speech nonprofit, found that Texas schools had banned 801 books, more than any other state in the country, between July 2021 and June 2022. Again, nothing to be proud of.

According to an August 2022 Express-News investigation, North East ISD reviewed the most books in Texas in a five-year period, with 431 titles challenged.

Why isnt our focus on inspiring a love of reading? On ensuring children feel loved and that they see themselves in books and life? On guaranteeing schools are safe places to learn? School libraries should be diverse, inclusive places that welcome young people of all backgrounds.

As a former teacher, parent and step-grandparent, I understand the desire to protect children. But if parents are so concerned about sexually explicit material, they should monitor their childrens library book choices (and their music and internet use, too).

Lawmakers should back off. Banning books, censorship, flirts with authoritarianism and cant be further from the small government and freedom touted by the members of the Texas GOP pushing this bill.

During Tuesday nights hearing, an award-winning school librarian from Austin testified that her greatest fear concerning the bill was it would get in the way of kids reading.

That should be what we all fear.

Nancy.Preyor-Johnson@express-news.net
South San Antonio and Harlandale ISDs are more than cautionary tales of local school districts drowning in debt. They are living, breathing examples of how years of mismanagement at school districts can set children back and erode community trust. But these school boards can also write a new story, and in doing so, trustees can chart a path forward that places children first, builds parental trust and maintains solvency.

That path of survival, varied and complex, hinges on the votes of elected school board trustees, who must decide to close some schools in order to preserve their districts. These are decisions no one wants to make. But they have also been a long time coming.

On Monday, the Harlandale School Board will vote to either save the district  or not. If the seven trustees want to afford paying teachers, utilities and other costs, they must follow the recent example of trustees at South San, a district that turns 100 this year and is best-known for dysfunction.

We're relieved South San trustees made the correct choice Wednesday night, voting to close Kazen Middle School, Athens Elementary and Kindred Elementary. In addition to closing the three schools, Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre had also recommended closing West Campus High School to make up for a deficit of almost $10 million - but the board rejected this idea in January. Trustees have to be all in and put the district first. We worry that by not closing West Campus High School, the district won't be able to adequately recover.

The districts budget includes $85 million in expenditures and only $75 million in state and local revenue. It has survived by plugging its financial holes with $40 million in federal financial assistance, COVID-19 recovery dollars called ESSER, meant to improve academics. But those federal funds will be depleted by the end of August.

The district's financial woes aren't new. Three of the four schools recommended for closure were previously closed, but reopened by trustees in 2019, defying the recommendation of a former superintendent (and our Editorial Board). This was a major, and costly, mistake.

On Express-news.com: Editorial: If South San ISD goes under, blame trustees in denial

Harlandale and South San are both under state oversight. As these districts work to improve, they have to make the best financial decisions.

After years of dysfunction, Harlandale's deficit is worse than South San's. Board members at Harlandale, where declining enrollment has led to a $12 million budget deficit, will decide Monday about repurposing four elementary campuses and one other facility.

Columbia Heights, Morrill and Vestal elementary schools and the Jewel Wietzel Center, where the district teaches children with disabilities, are operating at about half of their capacity. Rayburn Elementary is at 60 percent capacity.

If Harlandale trustees don't vote to repurpose the schools and facility, it would have to declare a financial exigency and reduce staff. That would fail students. The district needs to place staff ahead of half-empty buildings.

We applaud South San's superintendent and the trustees who are making decisions toward saving the the district, and we're eager to see future sound decision making. We hope to write that same sentence for Harlandale's trustees.

Prior to South San board's vote, Abelardo Abe Saavedra, a former superintendent at the district who is now a Texas Education Agency monitor there, again urged trustees to put students first. He reminded them that six of 16 schools are low-performing and he challenged them to "start to do the right thing."

"I am not going to lie to you, the last time a board voted to close schools it was during my time, and several of those board members got voted out on the next election," Saavedra said. "I am not going to tell you that that won't happen. But I am telling you, 'You need to do what's right for kids in order for this district to get better."

South San just had its school board election in November, but at Harlandale, three board members are up for re-election. When voters decide whom to support there in May, we hope it will be for those who will make decisions, painful as they may be, that benefit students.

We encourage Harlandale trustees to take to heart what Saavedra told the South San Board:

"We have talked many times about why the district loses enrollment. All sorts of reasons, quite frankly," he said. "But never have we talked about if the reason is in front of me right now. If decisions made by the board is the reason families decide to go elsewhere."

Imagine a world where the Harlandale and South San trustees were a factor in why families stayed with the district. Imagine if these trustees wrote new stories for their respective districts. Imagine what could happen if these districts regained financial solvency and then regained public trust.

Trustees should view these decisions, not as an endpoint, but the chance to begin again.
Traffic is down to one lane on Highway 22 in New Sit


March 15, 2023 By Paul Sperry , RealClearInvestigationsMarch 15, 2023 At the same time that Department of Justice officials were using spying and corruption statutes to aggressively pursue Donald Trumps allies based on what turned out to be rumor and innuendo, they declined to use those same laws to investigate evidence of wrongdoing involving Biden family members and one of their corrupt Chinese business partners, DOJ documents and federal court records reveal.

In 2016-2017, the evidence shows, the FBI raided the offices and intercepted the communications of Chi Ping Patrick Ho, a Chinese national suspected of espionage even as he was negotiating business deals with former Vice President Joe Bidens son Hunter and brother James.



DOJ later used information obtained from the searches and wiretaps  which included conversations with the current Presidents son and brother  to convict Ho of bribery and money laundering, as part of a separate corruption case involving United Nations officials. But it declined to tap into its trove of evidence  including over 100,000 emails  to explore the connections between Ho and the Bidens, who received millions of dollars from Ho and a Chinese intelligence front and discussed sharing office space.



At Hos 2018 trial, prosecutors hid Hunters connection to Ho, redacting his name from court exhibits (see sidebar) while describing Ho as the person who flies around the world paying bribes to advance the interest of the oil company [CEFC China Energy], according to hearing transcripts. A federal database shows the Bidens failed to register as foreign agents while engaged in activities on behalf of CEFC, a state-owned entity suspected of being a front for Chinese intelligence. Federal anti-spying laws require anyone acting as a lobbyist for a foreign power to register with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The DOJ did not prosecute either Biden family member for potential violations of FARA for representing the interests of the Chinese. The Biden-China Corruption DOJ Is Accused of Hiding Paul Sperry, RCI

This stands in stark contrast to the DOJ's aggressive pursuit of alleged FARA violations involving no fewer than six Trump campaign officials. In August of 2016, shortly after receiving a tip that a low-level Trump campaign volunteer, George Papadopoulos, had allegedly been told that the Russians might have dirt on Hillary Clinton, the bureau opened FARA investigations into Papadopoulos and three other Trump associates with no clear ties to Papadopoulos: national security adviser Michael Flynn; campaign manager Paul Manafort; and campaign adviser Carter Page. The FBI subsequently investigated Manafort's deputy Rick Gates; and Trump's Mideast adviser Walid Phares under the same statute.

As RCI has previously reported, the FBI used FARA as the basis for a wide-ranging probe that included tailing them, staking out their homes, digging through their trash, and using confidential sources to secretly record them. Only one of the six was convicted for FARA-related violations, and none was charged with any espionage or conspiracy crimes involving Russia.

Its 100% a double standard, and its absolutely corrupt to the core, former assistant FBI director Chris Swecker told RCI. And meanwhile, [current FBI Director] Chris Wray fiddles.

Other veterans of the bureau say the Obama and Biden administrations have politicized and weaponized FARA.



Starting in 2016, the Obama-Biden administration used FARA and the criminal justice system as tools to attack and eliminate the opposition, said 27-year FBI veteran Michael Biasello, adding that many of the same officials are "back in charge and making sure those tools wont be turned onthemselves."



An FBI spokeswoman said the agency had no comment on why it did not apply the foreign lobbying law equally. The Justice Department did not return requests for comment.



Ho and Hunter:

A Lucrative Relationship

Court records and other documents show that Hunter Biden met with Hos boss Ye Jianming in February 2017 in Miami, where the CEFC chief offered him up to $30 million for introductions alone, according to emails. Ye  who had connections to both Chinas Communist Party in China and its armed forces, the Peoples Liberation Army  sealed the deal with a lucrative gift to Hunter: a 3.16-carat diamond worth an estimated $80,000. (Hunter never returned the large gem.)

Not long after their private dinner, CEFC began wiring millions of dollars from China to pass-through companies set up by Hunter Biden. Over the next 14 months, Hunter and Jimmy Biden (as the latter is known to family and friends) ultimately received almost $6 million from CEFC entities, according to congressional investigators, including $1 million from Ho. At the time, the FBI was tracking Hos and CEFCs bank and wire transfer records, according to DOJ records, which indicates agents were aware of the China-based payments to the Bidens.



As Hunter was meeting Ye that February, DOJ records show, the FBI renewed a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant targeting Ho. Former FBI officials say agents had a clear window into how the Chinese were attempting to cultivate the Bidens.



When Hunter formally structured the CEFC deal in May 2017, text messages found on his abandoned laptop reveal, he was worried about running afoul of two federal laws: the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act  which Ho was convicted of violating  and FARA.



We dont want to have to register as foreign agents, Hunter texted another partner in the deal, and suggested they set up a U.S. shell company to work around it.

In the end, Hunter never registered with the Justice Department, according to a search of the FARA database. Nor did uncle Jimmy. They also did not report their activities for CEFC or any of the almost $6 million in wire payments they received, as required by law.



The texts indicate Hunter was familiar with the requirements of the law. Violations carry a maximum punishment of five years in prison.



Hunter and his attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment. Attempts to reach James Biden were unsuccessful.



Also that May, the uncle sent his nephew a list of key domestic contacts they could exploit to advance the interests of their Chinese partners. Then-California Sen. Kamala Harris and then-California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom were among the powerful Democrats listed.



China has sought to influence powerful officials, particularly to gain access to U.S. energy markets, which are heavily regulated. CEFC is the capitalist arm of Chinese President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative to spread Chinas influence around the world while gobbling up oil and gas rights.

In an August 2017 email to another Ye lieutenant, Hunter guaranteed his family would follow through on the introductions as long as the money kept flowing: "The Bidens are the best I know at doing exactly what the Chairman [Ye] wants from this partnership.



And the China-based funds flowed and flowed into Biden bank accounts. The CEFC contract guaranteed Hunter $150,000 a month, with another $65,000 a month for Jimmy Biden. The vast majority of Americans do not make $150,000 in a year. The payments, earmarked as consulting fees," raised so many red flags at Wells Fargo and other banks that processed the funds that they notified the Treasury Department they had concerns about possible money laundering and other financial crimes. Treasury, in turn, generated some 150 Suspicious Activity Reports related to the financial transactions.

The Biden administration has refused to turn over the Treasury reports to Congress, despite repeated requests for them. Congressional investigators are trying to determine if any of the large wire transfers" enriched the president, either directly or through gifts-in-kind.



Early on, Joe Biden appeared from emails to be cut in on a future CEFC deal, which is at odds with his repeated denials about being involved in  or even knowing anything about  his sons business dealings.



In a May 2017 meeting at a Beverly Hills hotel, Biden discussed the CEFC venture with Hunter's business associate Tony Bobulinski, according to Bobulinski, who said they spoke for more than an hour. An email that same month described the big guy getting a 10% cut. Bobulinski has confirmed Joe Biden was the big guy. An October 2017 email, moreover, identifies the former vice president as a participant in a call about CEFCs plans to purchase U.S. natural gas. 'Take Whatever Money You Can Take'

Its not clear what the Chinese got for all their money, which didnt appear to correspond with any actual billing for consulting work. At one point a CEFC aide simply told Hunter in a laptop email: [T]ake whatever money you can take. Take as much as possible  to spend for your own benefit." The Bidens did virtually no legitimate work for CEFC, according to congressional investigators, who question whether CEFC sought out Hunter as part of an intelligence-gathering operation aimed at his father.



Hunter appeared to know he was accepting tainted money that might compromise national security. In an audio recording found on his laptop, he described his Chinese partner Ho as "the fucking spy chief of China.



In November 2017, two FBI agents arrested Ho at JFK International Airport in New York.



After seizing his Huawei cell phone and iPad from his luggage, law enforcement records show, they charged him with attempting to bribe former U.N. officials and African government officials with wire payments and even boxes of cash to secure lucrative oil rights in African countries.



Hos first call from jail was to James Biden, law enforcement records show. The call was made less than 10 minutes after agents read Ho his Miranda rights.



The Bidens Chinese benefactor-turned-inmate had hoped James and his nephew would use their political clout to spring him. Hunter quickly put in some calls to the FBI on his behalf, according to an email exchange he had that day with New York defense attorney Edward Kim, who represented Ho throughout his trial.



A retainer agreement found on Hunters laptop shows that Ho had paid Hunter $1 million for Dr. Patrick Ho Chi Ping Representation, even though Hunter is not licensed to practice law in New York. Kim was Ho's real attorney, not Biden. The Bidens had some powerful FBI friends, including former FBI Director Louis Freeh (who, records show, got a seat on the Beau Biden Foundation board after giving Joe Bidens grandchildren $100,000). But they weren't able to help Ho, who stayed locked behind bars at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Manhattan.

Agents subsequently raided the D.C.-area office of Ho, located about 10 minutes from Hunter Bidens own office, which also has not been previously reported.



However, agents never searched Bidens office, to which his Chinese partners had key access, and prosecutors never indicted Biden  despite evidently knowing the presidents son failed to register as a foreign agent representing the interests of the Chinese government agents in Washington in exchange for several million dollars.



The DOJ records reveal the FBI seized a massive trove of CEFC evidence, including "more than 100,000 emails, from searches of Ho's phone, computers and offices in Manhattan and Arlington, Va., including emails citing Hunter Biden. No fewer than five of Hos email accounts  both business and personal  were targeted for FISA collection, according to the DOJ records reviewed by RCI.



FISA surveillance is sweeping, and former FBI officials say it would have included phone conversations between Ho and CEFC and Hunter Biden  as well as his uncle, who was also a partner in the joint venture with the Chinese and also communicated with Ho.



FISAs include everything, Swecker said, "so it definitely included his emails and texts [with the Bidens].



He said the bureau could have used the evidence to investigate the Bidens at the time, but backed off. He added that even though the FBI maintains the FISA-collected material in a classified database, he doubts investigators will use it now to go after the Bidens.



FISA material cannot be used in a criminal proceeding unless you get a special court order, Swecker said. I suspect the FBI would not even try to do that now given their hands-off conduct on this case in the past.



Even if Wray were to launch a probe now, it might be too late. Most federal felonies have a five-year statute of limitation.



Swecker, who served as a prosecutor before joining the FBI, said FARA violation cases against the Bidens would have been a slam dunk. He noted that CEFC was a foreign principal as defined by the FARA statute. And he said the Bidens' consulting work for CEFC benefitted the Chinese government, making them potential agents of that government. He added that Ho and his CEFC bosses were no doubt targeting future presidential candidate Joe Biden, while Hunter and Jimmy Biden were peddling influence with the Chinese to generate millions for the Biden family.



Its strange how there was no curiosity [at Justice] whatsoever about foreign influence on a potential president of the United States, especially from this countrys greatest threat  China, Swecker said.



Stranger still is that DOJ prosecutors knew the Bidens partner was a dangerous Chinese agent with powerful military and political ties, including to the leadership of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.



In court filings, federal prosecutors noted Ho previously served as a Chinese government minister where he helped Hong Kong transition from British to Chinese state rule. They introduced recordings from prison, translated from Chinese, where Ho can be overheard directing Chinese allies to ask "the upper level of the CCCP to "get involved in his case.



He has powerful connections in mainland China, then-U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a nine-page memo arguing for his continued detention. It is difficult to overstate how well-connected Ho is.



While the defense portrayed the portly, bespectacled Ho as a harmless academic running a think tank promoting international economic development, the China Energy Fund Committee, prosecutors accused Ho of not only doling out bribes but trafficking arms, including grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles.



After serving out his term, Ho was immediately deported back to China.

Charlie McGonigal



One explanation for the FBIs and DOJs lack of interest in prosecuting the Bidens in the Ho case may be the role played by former FBI official Charles Charlie" McGonigal.



FBI sources say McGonigal oversaw the initial espionage probe of Ho, including the FISA coverage of his communications, as head of the FBIs counterintelligence wing of the New York field office, where the investigation was opened.

McGonigal was recently arrested for allegedly taking bribes from an Albanian-American connected to CEFC, according to court records. He allegedly received $225,000 in cash from former Albanian intelligence official-turned-New Jersey businessman Agron Neza. Neza introduced McGonigal to Dorian Ducka, who worked as an adviser to CEFC and was trying to secure oil-drilling licenses in Albania for the Chinese. Ducka was close to CEFC chairman Ye, who dropped off the expensive diamond gift" for Hunter Biden at his Miami hotel room. Ducka appears in emails found on Hunters laptop discussing CEFC business prospects.



Prosecutors say McGonigal first met with Neza in August 2017  the same month the Bidens were ramping up their deal with CEFC. The next month he met with Ducka. During this time, McGonigal was overseeing the CEFC-Ho counterespionage case.



In an interview, former FBI counterintelligence attorney Mark Wauck said McGonigal may have pulled punches in the counterespionage probe of the Bidens and their Chinese bagmen because he himself was potentially compromised by the Chinese.



Keeping the PRC angle in mind is important, once you realize this guy was for sale, Wauck told RCI, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.



Its not immediately known if McGonigal was one of the FBI agents Hunter reached out to in 2017 after Ho called from jail pleading for help from his Biden payees. But the two men may have had a personal connection through their daughters.



According to emails stored on Hunters laptop, McGonigals wife Pamela and Hunter both received dozens of messages related to private lacrosse clinics in 2014 and 2015, when McGonigal was working out of the FBIs Baltimore field office. Their daughters played at lacrosse training facilities in the Maryland-D.C. area.



McGonigal was a protege of former FBI director James Comey, who signed off on FISA spy warrants targeting Trumps presidential campaign and was directly involved in the Russiagate investigation of the former president. In a May 2017 national security forum, McGonigal sang the praises of his erstwhile boss, who had just been summarily dismissed by Trump.



Director Comey was probably one of the most loved leaders that weve had, McGonigal said. I think many of us who were nominated for leadership positions by him will forever hold him in esteem."



McGonigal worked on national security cases with top DOJ official David Laufman, an Obama appointee based in Washington who made the decisions in 2017 to pursue Trump and his associates over possible FARA violations, while leaving the Bidens untouched. An Obama donor, Laufman stepped down as the chief of Justice's National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in February 2018.



The feds also had evidence of possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act from the many suspicious financial transactions between the Chinese and the Bidens. But investigators focused instead on Chinese attempts to corrupt former African officials and their families  even though bribing the family of an American vice president constituted a potentially far bigger scandal.



Swecker noted that counterespionage officials at the FBI and DOJ gathered far more evidence concerning the Bidens troubling connections to China than they ever did concerning Trump and his advisers alleged ties to Russia. In fact, much of the foundation for alleged Trump-Russia collusion turned out to be fabricated by two FBI informants who also happened to work for the Hillary Clinton campaign.



In the same 2016-2017 period the FBI had Ho under FISA surveillance, it was secretly monitoring former Trump campaign adviser Page as an alleged Russian agent through a series of FISA warrants  half of which were later invalidated by the spy court. The FISAs were based on false rumors from political opposition research contained in a dossier commissioned by the Clinton campaign.



Unlike Ho, Page was never accused of criminal wrongdoing or convicted of a crime.



Subpoenaing

Hunter and Jimmy Biden
Theres a world of difference in the abilities of elementary school students in the Trotwood-Madison City School District, outside Dayton, Ohio. Some low-performing fifth graders are only capable of reading first-grade picture books with basic words like dog and cat, says Angie Fugate, a district specialist focusing on gifted education. In the same classrooms, the aces read at a sixth-grade level, devouring thick novels that adults also enjoy, including the Harry Potter series.

It's like we have gone back to the days of the one-room schoolhouse, Fugate says. The gap is really huge and yet we are supposed to teach them all the same curriculum. Its a very difficult thing to do. For some teachers, its just overwhelming.

This remarkable learning gap of about five grade levels exists today in many if not most K-8 classrooms in the U.S., according to researchers. They say it makes teaching everyone in a classroom extremely difficult and may help explain the poor performance of many public schools.

The gap partly reflects reformers decades-long push against grouping students by ability thats only intensifying now in a renewed clamor for diversity in classrooms. Although much attention has focused on dropping selective admissions at academically competitive public schools, the diversity movement has also rolled back gifted programs and honors classes at more schools, from New York to Seattle.

Even educational experts who support diversity warn that the dismantling of accelerated instruction will likely add to the learning gap problem as advanced students are increasingly tossed into general education classrooms.

The learning gap already exists in big cities, suburbs, and small towns. A 2021 study found that in about 70% of fourth-grade classrooms, student performance varied widely, with pupils placing in four or more different math benchmarks from low to advanced  or from about the second- to sixth-grade levels.

The pandemic lockdowns widened the spread even more. It was particularly harmful to low-income students of color who spent more time in remote instruction and dropped even further behind their white peers, according to a 2022 study. Diverse, but at What Cost in Learning?

To learn, students need challenging instruction calibrated just beyond what they already know. But the wider the learning gap in a classroom, the more likely that a teacher wont provide everyone with appropriate levels of instruction, says Scott Peters, a senior research scientist at school assessment group NWEA who focuses on the achievement gap.

What schools are doing today is so inefficient and ineffective, Peters says. Equity should be about giving every kid what they need to grow. But we are teaching every kid the same thing, despite the big achievement gaps among them, and thats the definition of inequity.

For diversity advocates, the priority is integrating classrooms of high-achieving whites and Asians with more blacks and Latinos despite the disparity in skill levels that often exists among these students. They argue that mixed classrooms are essential in a country with a population thats become much more diverse over the past two decades.

Halley Potter at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, says that while ability grouping almost always produces classrooms skewed by race and class, mixed classrooms create learning environments that build empathy, reduce racial bias, and prepare students to thrive in a diverse world. But what about academic performance? Years of research to find out if mixing students from different economic backgrounds improves the performance of low achievers is inconclusive, according to a review of the studies by Sarah Cordes at Temple University.

Several studies suggest that struggling students do see gains in more prosperous schools a but a few studies suggest they dont. The bigger issue, Cordes points out, is that its unclear whats causing the improved performance: Is it the exposure to high-achieving peers or the family background of the struggling students?

If mixed-ability classrooms work, its not reflected in the nations report card. The national testing scores of fourth and eighth graders in math and reading showed almost no progress from 2009 to 2019. More telling, the divergence between the high and low performers widened significantly. Scores for the weakest students fell in both subjects and in both grades.

But researchers who say lumping students together isnt working and its time to consider new approaches sometimes face a hostile reception in todays racially charged fight over public education.

If you want to be called a racist, go out and say that you're for ability grouping, says Jonathan Plucker, a professor of education at Johns Hopkins University who studies and consults with schools on this issue. And people will say it to your face. But Ive spent my career trying to help every kid grow academically, and I think the research says that ability grouping is a better way to do it.

The learning gap takes shape even before kids enter kindergarten. A 2022 study looked at math and science skills among kindergartners of different races. Researchers found that about 16% of white students and only 4% of blacks and Latinos showed advanced abilities, a spread that they attributed mostly to differences in family income and early educational opportunities for children.

As students move through elementary school, so does the learning gap. In a study of sixth graders, researchers examined math and reading test data from two large and racially diverse urban school districts with more than 22,000 students in the 2014-2015 school year. They found that 59% of math classrooms and 82% of English classrooms had a gap of five or more grade levels. Tracking and the Reformers' Track Record

School reformers have arguably helped to maintain if not widen the gap by dismantling ability grouping practices like tracking, according to Tom Loveless, a former senior fellow at Brookings Institution who wrote a book on tracking. This system that typically places students in low-, average- and high-performance classrooms for most of their schooling was the dominant way to organize students in the late 1980s, when it first came under attack by liberal-minded educators and academics. They were inspired by the work of Jeannie Oakes, an educational theorist at UCLA whose research focused on school inequalities and social justice.

While research showed that top students benefited from the high tracks, those in the lower tracks, composed of many black and Latino students, were being neglected. Oakes found that the low tracks were filled with less-experienced teachers, ineffective rote instruction, and unruly behavior that undermined students ability to learn.

Reformers succeeded in sharply reducing tracking in English, history, and social science courses across the county, but not in advanced math, according to Loveless. They also rolled back remedial education, in which struggling kids were pulled out of class and placed in groups for special interventions in subjects such as reading.



Since then, the opposition to tracking has expanded into a broader movement that has toppled other forms of ability grouping in several cities.

San Francisco was among the early cities to target advanced programs, ending accelerated math in middle school and early high school in 2014. Seattle abolished honors programs in 2020 in middle schools, stirring protests from parents who want advanced classes for their kids.

In October, New York City went much further. It eliminated grade- and test-based admissions in most middle schools after years of pressure from advocacy groups. In one prominent Manhattan district, a majority of parents had urged the superintendent at several community meetings to retain selective admissions to ensure their children would be in challenged in class. The superintendent rejected those pleas from parents, some of whom are now considering leaving public schools.

The Learning Gap Loss

To see how the learning gap can hamper education, consider a typical third-grade math class. The focus is simple multiplication and division.

Peters says struggling third graders are probably working at a first-grade level and still learning single-digit addition. Multiplying 7 x 5 will be a leap too far for them. The best students mastered multiplication tables a year or two ago and are ready for fifth grade work, with fractions and decimals. But they are stuck in third-grade math.

Making matters worse, teachers nationwide are given a one-size-fits-all curriculum for general education students in the same grade, no matter their skill level.

The upshot: Its often next to impossible for teachers to hit the educational sweet spot where instruction is most effective for each student. This target is based on a theory by Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who wrote that instruction needs to be just slightly beyond the grasp of what students can learn on their own if they are to progress.



But teachers are missing the mark by a wide margin today. Students who are several years behind are exposed to lessons and assessments that are too advanced in the push to bring them to grade level. So they dont learn the skills they need and struggle year after year until they become too discouraged to push on and they give up, according to researchers.

Advanced students, on the other hand, are bored in class because they are not being pushed enough. While teachers are often less concerned about top students since they are already beyond grade level, the boredom they experience can have serious consequences, including a loss of interest in learning and even behavior problems in class, according to Richard Cash, a former teacher and administrator and now a consultant for public schools. A 2021 study led by Karen Rambo-Hernandez shows the harm to high achievers. The study found that above-average third graders, who might be three years ahead of their peers, didnt progress as much as average students in reading during the school year. Average students charged ahead apparently because they were properly challenged while advanced students slowed down because the material was too easy.

We are losing our brightest students who rarely develop their full potential because we're not giving them intellectually stimulating experiences, Cash says. And the long-term effect is the loss of intellectual capital for the country.

Four Classes in One

In the Trotwood-Madison City district and around the country, teachers use what seems like emergency triage to get closer to that sweet spot.

At the start of the school year, teachers assess their students grade-level proficiency and then break them into as many as four smaller ad hoc groups within a classroom, according to the districts Fugate. Its a kind of informal ability grouping on the low-down, without enough teacher training and curriculum development to make it work.



On their own, teachers tweak the curriculum with materials from the Internet to create somewhat distinct assignments for each group  a contortion called differentiation. For a lesson about finding evidence in a story to support a theme, each group will be given very different readings and worksheets appropriate to students abilities. It's the near equivalent of an instructor trying to teach four different classes at once.



To make the job more manageable, something must be cast aside. That would be the advanced students.



Teachers say the best students are typically given independent study projects and must fend for themselves with little instruction on the assumption that they already understand the lesson or can figure it out on their own. This allows teachers to spend most of their time with the lower achievers who are failing to reach grade-level proficiency.

Although teachers are often judged on how many students reach grade-level a a goal enshrined by the No Child Left Behind Act of the early 2000s a its an ill-suited approach for addressing the learning gap. It incentivizes teachers to focus on students with the best chance of hitting that mark, at the expense of those who have already surpassed it and those who dont stand a chance of reaching it.



Lisa McNally, a former New York City ninth-grade teacher, estimates that she spent at least 75% of her time with weaker students to help them pass a state-mandated exam that was a priority of the Department of Education. I focused especially on the students that were on the borderline of passing the exam, McNally says. And yes, the advanced students were essentially being cheated. But teacher performance was tied to the exam pass rate.

In a sign of the desperation in todays mixed-ability classrooms, teachers sometimes ask their top pupils to help instruct the kids who dont understand the assignments a a questionable practice. Just because a student understands a lesson doesn't mean they know how to teach it or want to teach it, Fugate says.



In the Trotwood-Madison district, the triage isnt producing strong results. The overall test scores for elementary grades began to drop before the pandemic and continued their decline after students returned to classrooms, Fugate says.

What we are doing in this district and country is not working, and the data keeps proving it, she says. But the system doesnt allow schools and educators to make changes and try new approaches.

Halley Potter at the Century Foundation understands the difficulties of mixed-ability classrooms, but says that schools shouldnt give up on them. In Potters calculation, the benefit to students of learning from peers of different racial and economic backgrounds is worth the struggle.

If differentiation sounds challenging, it is, she says. But its at the heart of what great teachers do.

A Third Way

Researchers say a newer approach to grouping students by abilities overcomes the problems with tracking, which could lock students into lower levels, while allowing teachers to more easily find the right level for each pupil.

It goes by the jargony name of schoolwide cluster grouping. A small number of schools are trying the method, which divides students into about five ability groups and gives them the opportunity to move up a notch every year, providing motivation for strivers.



Each classroom has both above- and below-average groups, providing the benefit of role models for weaker students and avoiding the stigma that came with tracking them together in separate classes.

Heres the most important piece: Each classroom has either a narrower learning gap of only perhaps three grade levels, or fewer grade levels represented. Teachers then can better engage all students in their classroom, with the support and resources of their administration.



Researchers shows that schoolwide cluster grouping can pay off in the classroom, particularly by motivating lower achieving students to advance to higher levels. The approach is also backed by an important paper that synthesized the results of 13 meta-analyses on ability grouping.
MONTANA CITY, Mont. - The Montana Hope Project has been granting wishes for kids with life-threatening or chronic medical conditions since 1984 and today they granted another wish, this time for a student at Montana City School.

His name is Matthew Walters and he has KCNA-2 Epilepsy.

"It's a very rare disease. There's less than 300 people in the world who have KCNA-2 epilepsy," said Sydney Lamping, a family friend of Matthew's.

Lamping is an 8th grader and neighbor of Matthew's, and she did a research project in science class on KCNA-2 Epilepsy and shared that the disease affects potassium levels in the brain, making them either too high or too low; and in Matthew's case, it fluctuates between the two.

"I've always wanted to learn more about what Matthew had. And I never truly knew what it was," said Lamping.

His parents, Mark and Dawn have say his first grand mal seizure was at 4 months old.

"It's incurable. And every child that suffers with KCNA-2's story and variants are a little bit different. Matthew was born with infantile seizures and now has progressed to have several different types of seizures that affect him daily. He was born with the ability to walk and move. And with his variants, he has started to lose those functions. So, he's primarily right now in a wheelchair pretty much full time, but has a determination and perseverance like no other child that we know and he is happy and loves life to the fullest and doesn't seem to know any difference," said his parents.

His parents started the process to get him a wish granted about 4 years ago and today they celebrated the wish coming true.

"He's a celebrity here at the school. The school has been so good and supportive to him that we thought it fitting to host the presentation here with his sixth grade class," said the Walters.

Montana Highway Patrol Troopers lined up in front of the entire 6th grade class at Montana City School to give Matthew his bear, a challenge coin, and let him know his wish has been granted.

"It was just really wonderful to see him express himself, being able to suppress himself and just be in the moment and be really happy and find that joy," said the Walters.

Matthew, his parents, and his two sisters will be taking a trip to Universal Studios in Florida in April.

I had the opportunity to talk with Mathew and I learned he loves trains, dinosaurs, and sharks.

"What is your favorite dinosaur?," I asked.

"T-Rex," said Matthew.

With some dinosaur and shark exhibits at Universal Studios, Matthew is looking forward to the trip.

"T-Rex and Jaws... I want to know, do you want to go to Jurassic Park... and ride at Jurassic Park?," Matthew asked me.

Matthew truly is a sweet kid and will have a blast in Florida.

"It just gives back to families that live in the communities that we serve, whether it's a small town, big town, we're all one big family in Montana," said Sgt Michael Jensen with the Montana Highway Patrol.
UPDATE: MARCH 20 at 11:25 a.m.

There will be a community debriefing Monday on the standoff that happened in St. Regis Saturday, the Mineral County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said on Facebook.

The debriefing will take place at St. Regis School at 6 p.m.

MCSO said they will give a debrief of the incident to impacted community members, and there will be therapists there for anyone who would like to talk to one.

UPDATE AT 3:46 PM:

More information has been shared on a situation that had multiple law enforcement agencies called to St. Regis Saturday.

It all started when the Montana Highway Patrol told the Mineral County Sheriff's Office of a vehicle involved in an armed robbery in Idaho.

Mineral County Undersheriff Wayne Cashman reports that around 11:30 am, the sheriffs office received a report of a car that was abandoned at the sewer plat in St. Regis.

The caller reported they watched the suspects go to a local hotel, with a woman staying at the hotel while a man went to the travel center.

The woman was put into custody by one deputy, while others went to make contact with the man at the travel center.

When the deputies made contact with the man, he reportedly pulled out a weapon and took a hostage.

The man did not follow any orders to put the gun down, and at one point, he pushed the hostage down, shooting them twice, according to Cashman.

That is when law enforcement fired on the suspect.

At this time, the hostage is in Missoula being treated for their injuries.

Cashman says there were four people involved in the armed robbery in Idaho, and that there were only two in St. Regis.

The community is safe as of Saturday afternoon.

An investigation is ongoing.

Agencies that responded to this incident involve Two Bear Air, Montana Highway Patrol, the Mineral County Sheriffs Office, Sanders County Sheriffs Office, and SWAT teams from Missoula and Kalispell.

UPDATE AT 2:38 PM:

The Mineral County Sheriff's Office reports the community is now safe.

Undersheriff Wayne Cashman told us one shooter is deceased and a hostage is in the hospital after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.

The situation reportedly started in Idaho and police pursued a suspect car to the state line.

That car was found in St. Regis.

Two people came from the car, with one being arrested on foot and the other killed after holding a person hostage.

The St. Regis rest stop is currently closed.

No further details have been released.

We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

ST. REGIS, Mont. - The Mineral County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of St. Regis of an armed robber.

People are being told to stay inside and lock their doors.

Law enforcement is responding.

We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
NI farmers are being asked to apply to the Single Application to allow adequate time and to avoid penalties.

The Single Application, which represents the main income for many farming businesses in NI, must be submitted by 15 May.

The Department of Agriculture (DAERA) said farms should apply now.

Entitlement Transfer applications must be submitted by 2 May, while Single Applications must be submitted by 15 May to avoid late claim penalties.

Farmers should also use the Single Application and Map Service to notify the government of any changes to their land in 2023.

This should be done as early as possible to avoid delays in payment, the department said.

It has also announced that the Protein Crops Scheme has been extended for another year in 2023 given the success of the two-year pilot.

Farmers will receive 330 per hectare in addition to their Basic Payment. The environmental benefits from the scheme include reducing the need to import animal feed and the associated carbon footprint.

The maximum funding available under this scheme is 330,000 in 2023.

And for this year, DAERA will be introducing a new secure messaging service as a way of communicating with customers.

DAERAs director of area-based schemes division, Dr Jason Foy said: "Farm businesses are being encouraged to apply early as these payments represent the main income for many local farmers.

Farmers can get support from our Advisory Service helpline on 0300 200 7848, our website, or at a local DAERA Direct office."

What is covered under the Single Application?

Northern Ireland's Single Application is the method for claiming any of the following schemes:

 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS);

 Young Farmers Payment (YFP);

 Regional Reserve Entitlement allocation or top up (as a Young Farmer or New Entrant);

 Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS);

 Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS);

 Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS);

 Forest Expansion Scheme (Annual Premia);

 Small Woodland Grant Scheme (SWGS); or

 Protein Crops Scheme.
A new fund has been established to help small-scale farmers and producers increase their resilience and enhance their contribution to the rural economy.

The Small Producers Pilot Fund will replace the Small Farms Grants Scheme, and aims to increase the proportion of food grown and processed by small farms.

The Scottish governments fund will open later this year.

The fund also aims to improve access to training, skills, further processing, and food supply chains.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: We are committed to ensuring accessible support for small producers and small businesses, including small scale food production and processing.

The funds pilot will assist in creating more-localised food supply chains, enhancing producer value and cutting food miles.

Additionally, it will provide the opportunity to support individual small producers in developing their skills.

Responding to the fund, Rare Breeds Survival Trust vice president, Martin Beard, said small scale producers were crucial to a future for Scottish farming.

This initiative from government, combined with action on challenges such as the scarcity of local abattoirs, can help unlock the potential of small scale producers for Scotlands communities, economy and environment.
O

n 5 July 2021 at around 7 p.m., the otherwise quiet Poststrae in Heidelberg changed into the scene of a massive rescue operation within minutes. Police cars, fire engines and ambulances flashing blue lights and with their sirens on drove up in front of an apartment building. Heavily equipped paramedics rushed through the stairwell, into a maisonette on the fourth floor. Criminal investigation officers arrived shortly afterwards; at times more than 20 people crowded into the flat. It was like a scene from a film.

This large-scale operation was triggered by a call to the 110 emergency line. The caller reported two dead persons: an assisted double suicide. He and his two sisters were with the dead  they were their mother and father.

About two hours earlier, Cynthia, 85, and Rolf Rackles, 90, had passed away holding hands. To do so, they had enlisted the support of an assisted suicide association. However, the greatest and most persistent support which helped them to have their wish fulfilled had come from their three children: Mark Rackles, born in 1966, Melanie Vogt, born in 1968, and Jennifer Safy, born in 1973. They had spent years to come to terms with their parents plans  Melanie was by Cynthias and Rolfs side until their last breath.

Go to the original text in German

The news of the two deaths was therefore by no means an emergency. However, the dramatic reaction  perceived by the siblings as completely overburdening  is in a way exemplary of the dilemma Germany has been facing for many years. As a society, we do not know how to deal with people who do not wish to be left alone when they have decided to put an end to their lives. Assisted suicide is a highly emotional topic that is linked to fundamental existential questions about life, and this generates controversy. But the debate is not getting off the ground, even though it has been more than two years since the Federal Constitutional Court declared the law on assisted suicide  which has been in force since the end of 2015  unconstitutional. Since then  at the latest  we should have been discussing the pros and cons of assisted dying on a broad scale. According to information from assisted dying associations, the demand for assistance in self-determined dying is increasing.



Every case of assisted suicide is as individual as dying itself. Nevertheless, the three siblings believe they have learned a little about what a self-determined end of life means  and what it can mean for the bereaved. This is the reason why they are willing to share their story and to talk about how they feel  9 months later  about the decision to supporttheir parents to end their lives in a way that was their choice.
Russia's schoolchildren are to be taught "right thinking" about the war against Ukraine. The unwilling are threatened with a visit from the youth welfare office. But some secondary schools preserve safe spaces for critical thinking.

Since the beginning of their war of aggression against Ukraine, officially labelled as a "special operation," Russia's rulers have set about permanently transforming society. While mass emigration and waves of repression against opponents of the war who have remained in the country have reduced or muzzled the European-minded segment of the population, schools have been compelled to educate the next generation about unconditional loyalty to the state.

Kerstin Holm Redakteurin im Feuilleton. Folgen Ich folge

Although Russia's constitution states that there should be no state ideology, Sergei Novikov, head of the presidential administration for socio-political projects, had already described the absence of such an ideology as a problem at an online meeting with class teachers last summer. As a result, an entire generation had been purportedly influenced by values from other parts of the world, such as the "collective West," said Novikov, who encouraged educators not to shy away from the topic of ideology.
Xi Jinping says that China is ready to "stand guard over world order" as he met with Vladimir Putin.

Xi Jinping has met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow

The Chinese leader spent over four hours in talks with his "dear friend" Putin in Moscow as they discussed Beijing's 12-point peace plan to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Putin said: "We are always open to negotiations."

Xi was serenaded by a military band as he arrived in the Russian capital on Monday (20.03.23) for his first visit since Putin invaded Ukraine and hailed his "close ties" with Russia.

The summit has been presented as a "journey of friendship, cooperation and peace" and marks a deepening of ties between China and Russia - which has become increasingly isolated due to the war.

Xi told his counterpart: "Under your strong leadership, Russia has made great strides in its preposterous development. I am confident that the Russian people will continue to give you their firm support."

China released a plan to end the war in Ukraine last month and it included "ceasing hostilities" and resuming peace talks, although the US has warned that it could be a "stalling tactic".

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms.

"Calling for a ceasefire that does not include the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest."
Chris O'Dowd's wife Dawn O'Porter committed to their relationship after a spooky reading from a fortune teller.

Chris O'Dowd's wife Dawn gave their relationship a go after a reading from a fortune teller

The 'Bridesmaids' star has revealed his romance with the writer and TV presenter was fairly rocky at the start and he wasn't sure whether they would go the distance as a couple, but a scarily accurate message from a psychic changed Dawn's mind and convinced her they were meant to be.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper's Alison Boshoff, Chris explained: "'I've never really been into fortune things, but weirdly, my wife would always have her palm read ...

"[In the early days of our relationship] it was kind of up and down a bit .... I don't know if we thought we were going to make it or not. She went to a fortune teller, and the fortune teller told her that she was going to spend her life with a man on a horse.

"The next minute she received a text from me. I was shooting a film in London at the time, and I was on a horse for the movie."

The couple met at Dawn's 30th birthday party and went on to date before tying the knot in 2012. They are now parents to two sons together.

Dawn - who changed her name from Porter to O'Porter after marrying Chris - previously opened up about their relationship in an interview with The Independent newspaper, revealing she wouldn't have married him if he didn't get along with her beloved cat.

She explained: "Id met the man I thought I was going to marry, but there was no way I would still be with him if he hated my cat. At that time in my life, she was my priority.

"At the start, it was very difficult. After the first night he stayed at my house, she puked on his side of the bed. It was absolutely a protest puke. She just knew this guy was a serious problem.

"He was livid and I had to put her outside the bedroom, which was totally fair enough. But being Siamese, she would howl at the door, and it sounded like someone was being murdered in the corridor. Eventually, she crept her way back in and over time, they bonded. He loved her, but he would always joke about what a horrible person she was."
Prince William has been mocked by Russia following his recent visit to the Poland-Ukraine border.

Prince William has been mocked by Russia

The 40-year-old prince made a secret visit to the border earlier this week, where he thanked the troops for "defending our freedoms" - but his efforts have led to ridicule from Maria Zakharova, the director of information at Russia's foreign ministry, who has labelled him "son of Charles".

Britain has supplied Ukraine with weapons - including depleted uranium shells for Challenger 2 tanks - during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

According to The Sun newspaper, Zakharova added: "I wonder if William Charles-ovich brought depleted uranium ammunition for his troops."

The Prince of Wales was in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday (23.03.23), where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

Wiliam also left a handwritten note at the site. It read: "In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Meanwhile, in February, King Charles hailed the "truly remarkable courage" of the Ukrainian people.

The 74-year-old monarch praised the courage and resilience of the people of Ukraine, in a message marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion.

Charles said: "It has now been a year that the people of Ukraine have suffered unimaginably from an unprovoked full-scale attack on their nation.

"They have shown truly remarkable courage and resilience in the face of such human tragedy.

"The world has watched in horror at all the unnecessary suffering inflicted upon Ukrainians, many of whom I have had the great pleasure of meeting here in the UK and, indeed, across the world, from Romania to Canada.

"It is heartening that the United Kingdom, along with its allies, is doing everything possible to help at this most difficult time.

"Therefore, I can only hope the outpouring of solidarity from across the globe may bring not only practical aid, but also strength from the knowledge that, together, we stand united."
The government of Bali, Indonesia, is considering placing a ban on foreign visitors using motorbikes

For many visitors to Bali, Indonesia, getting around is easy and budget-friendly on a two-wheeler. And certainly, a motorbike does fit rather well into our idea of a holiday, and is a major part of the draw of the destination. But, soon, there might be no more motorbikes for tourists in Bali, because the government in the Indonesian province is considering a rule, which, if it falls into place, will not permit foreign tourists to use motorbikes.

This new drastic rule has been prompted due to several cases of visitors driving without valid licences, with fake licence plates, and without helmets. It is these misdemeanours that have forced the provincial powers-that-be to consider such a move. There is no clear information about when this new rule can be expected to come into effect, but reports say that it is likely to be sooner rather than later.

The alternative, according to the authorities, is to use cars provided by travel agents, but this suggestion is not being well received by local tour operators. For one, there are concerns that, if everyone started driving around the island in cars, the resultant traffic congestion would be considerable. Additionally, there are many small areas around the destination that would be difficult to access in cars, and which motorbikes are ideal for. The tourism industry is waiting and watching to see if and when the ban will fall into place, and with what caveats.

Images: Shutterstock

Also Read: Learn About Mariinskyi Palace In Ukraine Where Naatu Naatu Was Picturised
History was scripted when Grace Banu became Indias first trans engineer after waging a war legally to get admitted to a professional course. Hailing from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, Grace was never comfortable with being identified as a male. She decided to open up about her identity, which led to a storm in her life. I had a tormented childhood, she recalls. The people I had around me disappeared the very next day after I came out of the closet. I was removed from my school. My mother later understood what I was going through, and she stood by me. She was adamant that I continue my education. She was adamant that, no matter what happened, education would always be the saviour of my life, and she was right, reveals the transgender activist who, despite being permitted to continue schooling, was not allowed to enter and exit the school at school hours. She could not enter the classroom and was made to sit outside the class and was strictly kept from speaking to others in the school. All this created trauma, and I was sent to a mental asylum. I read a lot of books on leaders such as Karl Max, which changed my way of life.Image: Instagram After completing a diploma with a score of 95%, Grace tried to enter an engineering college where she was denied admission. She filed an RTI asking if transgenders could go for higher studies, but the reply was not in her favour. After filing a Public Interest Litigation, Grace was admitted to a private college  not a government college  despite having such high scores. Every day I travelled nearly five hours, but I never gave up on my studies; rather I was motivated to prove that transgenders are equally talented, says Grace, who added that the discrimination that she faced at school and college because of her caste and gender identity kept the fire burning within her. Even after securing a job through placement, Grace faced harassment in the office, which she says only further motivated her.In fact, every difficulty she encounters pushes her to break through the barrier and find a solution. That is how her most recent venture, Queer Publishing, came to be. In 2019, I could not find a publisher for my book; there has always been a vacuum in the field of publications for the LGBTQIA community, Grace reveals. No publisher in town was interested in hearing the story of the most marginalised people. Nobody is ready to present our stories. She founded Queer Publishing in December 2022. We are also thrilled to be a part of the 46th Annual Chennai International Book Fair, she enthuses. The years of struggle have earned us this space. We have queer literature in every Indian language. Queer Publishing has already published three books, and is excited to welcome more queer authors to share their stories.
Bhutan and Bangladesh recently signed an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) on transit to strengthen trade relations. After the final deal is signed, Bhutan can pay a fee and use land, water and aviation routes in Bangladesh for its imports and exports, while Bangladesh can engage in trade with China using the formers territory in future.

Bhutan is expected to get direct road connectivity with China in future.

Bhutan's trade, industries and employment minister Karma Dorji and Bangladesh commerce minister Tipu Munshi have signed an initial MoU on trade transit. After the final deal, Bhutan can use land, water and aviation routes in Bangladesh for imports and exports for a fee, while Bangladesh can engage in trade with China using the former's territory in future.

Bhutans trade, industries and employment minister Karma Dorji and Bangladesh commerce minister Tipu Munshi signed the initial MoU in Thimphu.

Munshi hoped that the agreement will pave the way for smooth trade between the two sides, a news agency reported citing a commerce ministry statement.

After Bhutan dropped out of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement, it proposed a bilateral transit agreement with Bangladesh. The countries held meetings and drafted an agreement and protocol in September 2022.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Cambodia is the world's leading supplier of garments, and focuses mainly on apparel production, thus imports fabric instead of fibre and yarn. The country is heavily reliant on China for fabric, which accounted for 79.26 per cent of Cambodias total fabric imports in 2022. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen recently said that China is the largest supplier of raw materials to the kingdom's garment industry.

Cambodia imported fabric worth $4.407 billion in 2022, with China supplying $3.493 billion, or 79.26 per cent. China's fabric exports to Cambodia were valued at $4.632 billion in 2017, rising to $5.495 billion in 2018, but falling to $4.610 billion in 2019 and $2.299 billion in 2020. However, China regained market share with exports valued at $3.2986 billion in 2021 and $3.493 billion in 2022, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro.

Cambodia's garment industry heavily relies on fabric imports, with China being the largest supplier, accounting for 79.26 per cent of Cambodia's total fabric imports in 2022. The fabric imports from China stood as $4.407 billion in 2022. China's dominance is also evident in yarn and fibre imports with 85.96 per cent and 83.48 per cent share respectively.

Cambodia's yarn imports totalled $346.120 million in 2022, with China supplying $297.528 million (85.96 per cent). The country's fibre imports were minimal due to its focus on garment production, with imports totalling $5.865 million in 2022. Of this, China supplied $4.896 million, or 83.48 per cent, as per TexPro.

The data highlights China's dominance in supplying raw materials to Cambodia's garment industry.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
critic's rating: 4.0/5

Satyajit Rays Pather Panchali has been hailed as a moving document of human suffering. Perhaps inspired by that, producer and director Anubhav Sinha decided to make Bheed in black and white to bring out the stark reality of what he was trying to convey. The film focuses on the travails of the migrant workers who were forced to march to their villages in 2020 due to a lockdown imposed by the government to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The film not only sheds light on the plight of the downtrodden but also brings into focus the sharp religious, racial and caste divide that still prevails in our country. The director doesnt pull any punches. Nor does he indulge in melodrama. Things play out as they would in real life. Weve all seen them happening around them and have chosen to ignore them. Anubhav Sinha forces a mirror onto us, forcing us to take a harsh look, daring us to look deep into our own reality, unflinchingly.





The film is set in a rural outpost which forms the border of two states somewhere in North India. The authorities have imposed a lockdown, which leads to roadblocks everywhere. A police officer Surya (Rajkummar Rao) is asked by his senior (Ashutosh Rana), to command a crucial roadblock. Hes happy to be given this responsibility. Despite wearing a police officers uniform, he lacks confidence because of a deeply ingrained sense of inferiority as he belongs to a low caste. He loves a doctor (Bhumi Pednekar) but hes afraid of marrying her for fear of repercussions, as shes a brahmin. As the roadblock offers an artery to a different state, it soon sees a large crowd being gathered, despite it being off the main highway. People travelling in cars, buses, trucks and even tractors descend on it, demanding right of the way. Among these a bus belonging to Muslims, another carrying high caste but lower income Hindus, led by a watchman (Pankaj Kapur), a high society woman (Dia Mirza), who is travelling in her posh car to take her daughter home from her boarding school, and a group of newshounds led by Kritika Kamra.





An easy assignment turns nightmarish for Surya, as he finds himself in the middle of children bawling for food, women lacking facilities to answer the call of nature and other sanitary needs, politically connected men threatening him with repercussions, while his superiors have no idea how to handle the situation. Things threaten to go out of hand. Thanks to misinformation, Muslims are seen as virus spreaders. Hindus shun the food theyre willing to share, suspecting it of being infected, several people, showing symptoms of the virus, need to be isolated, while others need to be treated for malnutrition. An emergency field hospital gets set up but its woefully short of supplies and personnel. Rising hunger leads to a riot-like situation, with people threatening to raid a nearby mall for food. Tempers flare and the old prejudices pile up. Things come to such a state that constant reminders of belonging to a low caste freeze up Surya. He goes into a vegetative state, till circumstances bring about a change. He stands up for what being a policeman truly entails  the welfare of those around him, regardless of class, creed or religion. He goes about doing his duty with his head held high, saving himself in the process, his example offering hope that even during the bleakest of winters, sun might shine.





Theres a lesson for everyone in the film. The first and foremost lesson being how deeply ingrained the caste divide is. Its something the director brought up in Article 15 as well. There, at least, the facade of uniform was maintained. Here, the naked truth emerges in all its ugliness. Another thing it touches upon is the apathy of the media, which is only searching for the next sensational story to increase the TRPs, instead of going after human interest stories. The animosity between different religious groups is brought out as well. Rajkummar Raos character raises a valid point when he says that caste doesnt matter when it comes to survival. The coronavirus has endangered everyone, and the economically backward are the worst affected. They belong to the majority and yet no one cares for them and they increase their misery forming religious and caste divides. But there are positives here as well. At the end, the police personnel realise their humanity and arrange food for everyone. It takes a tragedy for people to unite and for a time at least, let go of their prejudices. Near the end, Dia Mirzas driver tells her that we need to hold each others hands during the time of calamity in order to pass through it. Its a simple yet powerful statement indeed





The films trailer got flak over the internet as it compared the conditions of the mass migration of the workers to Indias Partition, where too, millions were uprooted and used any means necessary to escape the worst. The reality for those belonging to the grassroots hasnt changed in the intervening years. Kudos to Anubhav Sinha for bringing this crucial message home. We need reminders of our past history, so we dont succumb to those circumstances again, and Bheed is a powerful reminder indeed. Kudos also to the ensemble cast of actors, comprising Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Ashutosh Rana, Pankaj Kapur and Kritika Kamra for being part of this experimental film and giving their all to their respective roles.

Trailer : Bheed
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway: Rani Mukerji's latest release Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway shows the emotional plight of a mother fighting against the custody of her own children. The film has received rave reviews from critics and fans alike. While the Ashima Chibber directorial ends on a happy note with Rani Mukerji's character getting custody of her children by an Indian court, the reality of Sagarika is far from what the film showed.

SAGARIKA CHAKRABORTY STILL SEPARATED FROM HER CHILDREN

Even after a lengthy battle to win back the custody of her children, the real-life 'Mrs Chatterjee', Sagarika Chakraborty is still struggling to live with her children. Yes, you read that right, the battle of Sagarika continues even after winning custody. As per a report in the Ei Samay, Sagarika is still staying away from her children Abhigyan and Aishwarya for their betterment. In an effort to better the lives of those dependent on Sagarika including her children, she moved to Noida, but their children continue to live in Kolkata.

SAGARIKA'S HUSBAND ANURUP DID NOT SUPPORT HER FINANCIALLY

Amid the battle to win back her children, Sagarika and her husband Anurup lost each other. The two got separated, and while Sagarika returned to Kolkata with her children, her husband decided to continue his life in Norway. Sagarika struggled to live her life as a single mother without any financial support, as Anurup, did not give her any child support money.

Sagarika was quoted as saying in the vernacular, "After getting back Abhigyan and Aishwarya, I tried to become financially independent to raise them I studied software as well. My father is a heart patient while my children study in English medium schools. I needed a lot of money to run the family and take care of my children. Four lives were dependent on me for their survival. I was forced to leave Kolkata and stay outside to earn a livelihood."

Meanwhile, Sagarika who was earlier working in Noida has shifted to Pune for better work opportunities. And her children Aishwarya and Abhigyan are being raised by her maternal grandparents. Sagarika also revealed that she is planning to write another book on her battles after the verdict.
Actress Priyanka Nalkari, who is famous for playing the heroine in Roja serial, married her Lover secretly at Malaysia Murugan temple .

Priyanka Nalkari comes from Hyderabad. She made her debut as an actress with the Telugu film Andari Bandhuvaya which was released in the year 2010. Subsequently, she acted in films like Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru, Something Something, Kanchana 3 in Tamil as well.

Priyanka Nalkari, who went to serials as she did not get much reception in cinema, has been acting in Telugu serials since 2015. After this, Priyanka made her entry in Tamil with the serial called Roja, which was launched in 2018.

Priyanka acted opposite actor Sibbu in this. Due to the popularity of this serial day by day, its TRP has also raised up. This Roja serial, which has been a favorite serial of many in Tamilnadu, aired for four years. Only last year they put end card for this serial.

Priyanka Nalkari is currently acting in the serial Sita Raman after the end of Roja serial. This serial is also getting good response among the people now. Famous Villy actress Reshma Pasupuleti is also acting in it. This serial is telecasting in Zee Tamil.

In this situation, actress Priyanka Nalkari is now secretly married. Priyanka's wedding took place at the Murugan temple in Malaysia. She is in love with the businessman Rahul Verma. Priyanka has said that her marriage has gone through many problems. Her wedding photos have been released and are going viral.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM) (FSE: ZSB) (OTC: SRBCF) ("Sirona" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of unsecured, convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures"). The Company is offering Convertible Debentures units (the "Debenture Units") at a price of $1,000 per Debenture Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the "Offering").



Each Debenture Unit will have a face value of (the "Face Value") of $1,120, consisting of $1,000 in principal (the "Principal") and $120 in prepaid interest (the "Prepaid Interest"). The Principal of the Debenture Units will accrue interest at a rate of 12% per annum, which accrued interest ("Accrued Interest") will be paid semi-annually, in arrears. The Company will pay the Prepaid Interest and Accrued Interest in cash or, subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") acceptance, may elect to satisfy payment in kind by issuing Shares ("Interest Shares"). In the event of payment in kind, the number of Interest Shares due will be calculated using a conversion price (the "Interest Conversion Price") equal to, subject to acceptance by the TSXV, the maximum Discounted Market Price (as defined in TSXV policies) on the applicable payment due date.

The holder may, at its option, convert in full or in part, the Principal at any time prior to the maturity date (the "Maturity Date"), being the third anniversary of the issue date, into units (the "Units") of the Company at $0.10 per Unit (the "Conversion Price"). Upon conversion of the Principal, the Company will pay Prepaid Interest and unpaid Accrued Interest in cash or, subject to acceptance by the TSXV, in Interest Shares issued at the Interest Conversion Price.

Each Unit will consist of one Share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable by the holder thereof to purchase one Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.15 at any time prior to the Maturity Date.

The Company shall have the right to redeem the Convertible Debentures prior to the Maturity Date at any time after 6 months from the issue date, by paying holders in cash the Face Value of the Convertible Debentures, together with all Prepaid and Accrued Interest and a redemption penalty payment of 8% of the Face Value. The Company shall give the holders 30 business days' notice (the "Redemption Notice") to do so. On receipt of a Redemption Notice, a holder may elect to convert all or part of the Principal of the Convertible Debenture into Units at the Conversion Price. All Prepaid and Accrued Interest in respect of the Principal amount so converted shall be, at the election of the holder, either paid in cash or, subject to acceptance by the TSXV, converted into Shares at the Interest Conversion Price, by giving the Company notice (the "Conversion Notice") within 10 business days of receipt of the Redemption Notice.

The closing of the Offering is subject to the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSXV. The Convertible Debentures, Shares, Warrants and any Warrant Shares will be subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws and TSXV policies. The Company may pay eligible finders a fee in connection with the Offering.

The Company plans to use approximately 1/3 of the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, and the remainder of the proceeds will used for research and development expenses (including but not limited to, laboratory staff salaries, laboratory materials and intellectual property costs).

Dr. Howard Verrico, the Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to subscribe for $500,000 of Debenture Units. Dr. Verrico's participation is a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder-approval requirements of MI 61-101 in respect of related party participation in the Offering. The MI 61-101 exemptions are available as the fair market value of the Debenture Units, and the fair market value of the consideration for the Debenture Units, insofar as it involves Dr. Verrico and other interested parties, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Convertible Debentures and the Shares which may be issued on exercise thereof have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

About Sirona Biochem Corp.

Sirona Biochem is a cosmetic ingredient and drug discovery company with a proprietary platform technology. Sirona specializes in stabilizing carbohydrate molecules with the goal of improving efficacy and safety. New compounds are patented for maximum revenue potential.

Sirona's compounds are licensed to leading companies around the world in return for licensing fees, milestone fees and ongoing royalty payments. Sirona's laboratory, TFChem, is in France and is the recipient of multiple French national scientific awards and European Union and French government grants. For more information, please visit www.sironabiochem.com .

For more information regarding this press release, please contact:

Investor Enquiries:

Jonathan Williams

Managing Director

Momentum PR

Phone: 1.450.332.6939

Email: jwilliams@momentumpr.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Sirona Biochem cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The terms and phrases "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding: the completion of the Offering, receipt of approvals related to the Offering, receipt of acceptance of the TSXV in regards to payment on interest in kind, and the use of proceeds from the Offering. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information and statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to complete the proposed Offering. Sirona Biochem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.




MANILA, Mar 24, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - On 19-20 April 2022, EDUtech Philippines 2023 will bring together DepEd school leaders, educators, and policymakers to discuss the future of K-12 education in the Philippines and the rise of hybrid learning in today's schools. This event is happening live, in-person on 19 April 2022 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Manila, Philippines and will be available on-demand, online, on 20 April 2022.As education continues to be shaped by the ongoing acceleration of digitalisation, it's more important than ever for all K-12 education stakeholders to stay informed about the latest trends in pedagogy, curriculum, policy, and of course solutions that enable this transformation. This hybrid event focus on discussions on innovation in how education is delivered, and opportunities to assess solutions and network.Gracing the event is the Guest of Honour, Mr Kristian R. Ablan, Undersecretary, Department of Education (DepEd), who will be opening the event through a keynote address and fireside chat at 9.30am on 19 April, live in-person. Mr Kristian R. Ablan will share more Philippines' roadmap to the hybrid future of education and plans for a digitally transformed education.Building on this outlook, will be a series of interactive and in-depth panel discussions featuring DepEd school leaders and EdTech experts on a variety of issues including, strategic leadership, curriculum design, student engagement and professional development.Additionally, get a holistic perspective on hybrid learning with our student panel. Moderated by Dr. Margarita Consolacion Ballasteros, Director IV, International Cooperation Office, Department of Education (DepEd), this panel features three students from local DepEd schools, and they will be sharing how digitalisation has impacted their learning experience.Other featured speakers at EDUtech Philippines 2023 include:1. Dr Ferdinand B. Pitagan, ICTS Director IV, Department of Education2. Estela L. Carino, Regional Director - Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Department of Education3. Dr Vivian luz S. Pagatpatan, OIC Schools Division Superintendent, Alaminos City Division, Pangasinan Region 14. Dr Jay-Arr Tayao, Education Program Supervisor I, Schools Governance and Operations Division, Department of Education-Schools Division, Office of Bulacan5. Dr Ernani Fernandez, Education Program Supervisors (EPS), Department of Education Regional Office VIII6. Shella Mae Pareja, Senior Educational Technology Specialist, Educational Technology Unit, Department of Education7. Prof. Edizon Fermin, Teacher Education and Curriculum Innovation Specialist, Vice President for Academic Affairs, The National Teachers College8. Maria Louella M. Tampinco, Director for Basic Education, Miriam College, Quezon City9. Dr Lyna Basri, Secondary School Principal IV, Basilan National High School10. Dr Wilma C. Manio, Principal IV, Commonwealth Elementary School, SDO-Quezon City11. Dr Jeremy Cruz, Secondary School Principal, Legazpi City National High School - Department of Education12. Mark Sy, Chief Academic Officer, APEC Schools13. Abygail Magbag, Subject Head, JHS English Department, PAREF Woodrose School14. Dr Dary Dacanay, Director for Academics, St. Patrick School of Quezon City15. Leah Marie Tumlos-Castillo, Junior High School Vice Principal, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School16. Jasthyne Cates Salazar, Assistant School Principal II, DepEd - Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology High School17. Dr Gina Juanitez Tolledo, Principal IV, Deparo Elementary School, SDO Caloocan City18. Dr Hilda N. Garcia, Principal III, Dr Clemente N. Dayrit Sr. Memorial High School19. Ramil Sanchez, Director III, Philippine Science High School - Caraga Region Campus20. Dr Alyanna Tobias, Instructional Design Head, STI Education Services GroupAbout EDUtech Philippines 2023Date & Venue: 19 April | SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines20 April | VirtualWebsite: https://www.terrapinn.com/conference/edutech-philippines/index.stmAbout TerrapinnTerrapinn is a business media company. Its products are trade exhibitions, conferences, training solutions and electronic and print publications. For more information, please visit www.terrapinn.com.Note: Press registration for the conference is compulsory and advance scheduling for speaker/ sponsor interviews is recommended. Press passes are strictly reserved for reporters, journalists, editors only. Final issuance of press passes is subjected to Terrapinn's discretion. For your complimentary press pass, please contact the following:Edlyn ChoTerrapinn Pte Ltdedlyn.cho@terrapinn.comSource: Terrapinn Holdings Ltd.Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BALI, Indonesia, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With its trademark Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath in every room, suites and villas, river valley views, freeform beautiful infinity pool overlooking the lush green jungle to unwind and relax, here are five reasons of why you should make a reservation at The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali;





The only hotel in Ubud that delivers six pillars of wellbeing

With its well-being concept, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali focuses on the six pillars of well-being. Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well are the guiding principles, which combine the most important needs of hotel guests at the highest level.

Perfectly located

The resort will feast your eyes on the lushness of green expanse in view. For keen travelers looking to explore Ubud, The Westin Ubud is nestled only 10-minutes away to Ubud key areas such as Sacred Ubud Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market and 15-minutes away to famous Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

Exceptional wellbeing experience at Heavenly Spa by Westin Ubud

Heavenly Spa by Westin Ubud offer a signature ritual The Ultimate Spiritual Journey to explore Bali's spiritual side with purification that affect the positivity and energy field also can help guests release imbalances that have left residual negativity causing blocks and stress in life, continue with metenung or palm reading, tri-mandala meditation for chakra balancing, and a 60-minute Heavenly Sacred Treatment.

Dine at unrivalled and tropical forest views at Tall Trees Restaurant

Tall Trees, located on the first floor near the infinity pool, offers a magnificent dining experience enhanced by tranquil ambience and nature sounds, with dishes ranging from local specialties to Mediterranean dishes that adhere to the Westin's Eat Well Menu principle.

Amazing experience opportunities

The numerous activities available to guests are guaranteed to stimulate senses while providing insights into Bali's fascinating culture and traditions. The Westin Ubud Farm offers you a chance to explore the beauty of Ubud's natural surroundings from breakfast to afternoon tea like no other.

Enjoy a special room offer with Ubud Retreat Escape with a 2-night refreshing stay that includes a wellness recovery with spiritual healing journey for two people to relax and restore your balance. Visit www.westinubud.com and other hotel events and promotions through Instagram at @thewestinubud.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039231/The_Westin_Ubud___Yoga_Pavilion.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/5-reasons-to-stay-at-the-westin-resort--spa-ubud-bali-301780553.html


VERNIER (dpa-AFX) - Givaudan (GVDBF.PK), a Swiss manufacturer of fragrance and flavor products, said that its annual general meeting approved all proposals by the Board of Directors. The AGM was attended by 323 shareholders or proxies, representing 5.36 million shares (58.06% of a total of 9.23 million registered shares).



The AGM approved the 2022 Management Report, the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statement with 99.77% of votes and discharged the members of the Board of Directors with 99.42% of votes.



The AGM also approved the company's compensation report on a consultative basis.



The company noted that the AGM approved a cash dividend of CHF 67.00 gross per share. This is the twenty-second consecutive dividend increase following the company's listing at the Swiss stock exchange in 2000. The amount will be paid on 29 March 2023.



Further, shareholders approved a series of changes to Givaudan SA's Articles of Incorporation to implement new provisions of the Swiss Code of Obligations that took effect on 1 January 2023.



In addition, shareholders approved the introduction of a capital range authorizing the Board of Directors to increase the Company's capital by a maximum of 10% with the right to withdraw or restrict shareholders' subscription rights in the context of capital increases within the capital range in connection with M&A and capital market activities.



Roberto Guidetti was elected as new member of the Board of Directors for a term of one year ending after completion of the next ordinary Annual General Meeting. Prof Dr-Ing. Werner Bauer, Lilian Biner and Michael Carlos did not stand for re-election and have therefore retired from the Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting 2023. The remaining six current members of the Board of Directors were re-elected, each for a term of one year until the next Annual General Meeting in 2024.



Manuel Isler, attorney-at-law, was re-elected as independent shareholder representative until the next Annual General Meeting in 2024 and KPMG AG was elected as new statutory auditors for the financial year 2023.



Finally, the Annual General Meeting approved the remuneration for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar strengthened against most major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The U.S. dollar rose to 2-day highs of 1.0817 against the euro and 1.3736 against the Canadian dollar, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.0828 and 1.3715, respectively. Against the pound and the Swiss franc, the greenback edged up to 1.2261 and 0.9179 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.2286 and 0.9163, respectively. If the greenback extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 1.03 against the euro, 1.39 against the loonie, 1.18 against the pound and 0.93 against the franc. 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.
Regulatory News:

BenevolentAI ("BenevolentAI" or the "Company") (Euronext Amsterdam: BAI), a leading, clinical-stage AI-enabled drug discovery and development company, announces the publication of the convening notice for its Annual General Meeting which will be held on 4 May 2023 at 14:00 CEST at 5 place Winston Churchill, L-1340 Luxembourg (the "AGM").

The convening notice, Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2022, the proxy form and any other meeting documentation are available on the Company's website (www.benevolent.com/investors/general-meetings/) and at the Company's registered office.

The shareholders entitled to participate and vote at the AGM will be those who are shareholders on the record date of 20 April 2023 at 24:00 (midnight) CEST.

About BenevolentAI

BenevolentAI (AMS: BAI) is a leading, clinical-stage AI-enabled drug discovery and development company listed on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. Through the combined capabilities of this AI platform, its scientific expertise, and wet-lab facilities, BenevolentAI is well-positioned to deliver novel drug candidates with a higher probability of clinical success than those developed using traditional methods. The Benevolent Platform powers the Company's in-house drug pipeline and supports successful collaborations with AstraZeneca, as well as leading research and charitable institutions. BenevolentAI is headquartered in London, with a research facility in Cambridge (UK) and a further office in New York.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005493/en/

Contacts:

Enquiries:

Investors:

Fleur Wood VP Investor Relations

fleur.wood@benevolent.ai

investors@benevolent.ai

T: +44(0) 203 781 9360

Company Secretary:

Judit Molnar Deputy Company Secretary

cosec@benevolent.ai

T: +44(0) 203 781 9360
Autel, one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional diagnostic tools, equipment and accessories in the automotive aftermarket, is excited to announce the opening of its new training center in Munich, Germany. Equipped with a full range of Autel MaxiChargers including both AC and DC chargers for electric vehicles, the center is designed to help technicians gain a better understanding of Autel's products through practical exercises.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321006039/en/

Autel training center in Germany (Photo: Autel)

The new training center features a showroom and a practical training area, where Autel products can be showcased and tested directly on vehicles. Autel's product range includes a variety of advanced tools, including the Autel MaxiCharger AC and DC chargers, which are ideal for battery electronic vehicles. At the training center, technicians are able to learn how to install and practice with Autel's EV chargers perfectly, rather than learning with Powerpoint slides. The training center also offers training on Autel's new three-in-one tool, which combines general diagnostics, wheel alignment, and ADAS calibration.

The training center also features a classroom that can accommodate up to a group of 10 technicians, where they can learn about Autel's products and technologies, discuss all the topics, as well as receive instructions on compliance with EV laws set by the government.

"We are proud to open our new training center in Munich, Germany," said Michael Muller, professional trainer from Autel Europe. "Our new facility provides hands-on training for technicians, allowing them to better understand and use our products in their daily work. We invite everyone interested in green technology to come and visit us and learn more about Autel's advanced tools."

Autel will also be participating in the upcoming Key Energy 2023 to be held in Rimini, Italy on March 22-24. Apart from showcasing its latest products, including the Autel MaxiChargers, Autel will provide live demonstrations and training for the attendees.

For more information about Autel, please visit autelenergy.eu.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321006039/en/

Contacts:

evinfo.eu@autel.com
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / The Board of Atlantic Lithium Limited (AIM:ALL)(ASX:A11)(OTCQX:ALLIF) ("Atlantic Lithium" or the "Company"), the funded African-focussed lithium exploration and development company targeting to deliver Ghana's first lithium mine, wishes to advise that certain Directors and persons discharging managerial responsibilities ("PDMRs") of the Company have purchased in the market a total of 790,137 ordinary shares of no par value each ("Ordinary Shares") at an average price of 26.66p per Ordinary Share, equating to aggregate value of 210,676, as follows:

Director / PDMR Role Number of Ordinary Shares purchased Resultant number of Ordinary Shares beneficially held Resultant percentage of issued share capital beneficially held Mr Len Kolff Interim CEO 23,508 3,030,852 0.50% Ms Amanda Harsas Finance Director & Company Secretary 766,629 1,500,000 0.25%

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM:

1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Melisa Kolff van Oosterwijk 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: PCA of Lennard Kolff van Oosterwijk - Interim CEO / Director b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Atlantic Lithium Limited b) LEI: 213800H1JY3J7BB6BN06 4. 1. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted. a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary Shares of no par in the Company



ISIN: AU0000237554 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Price(s) Volume(s) AUD0.4850 23,508 d) Aggregated information: N/A e) Date of the transaction: 20 March 2023 f) Place of the transaction: ASX (A11)

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM:

1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Amanda Harsas 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Finance Director & Company Secretary b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Atlantic Lithium Limited b) LEI: 213800H1JY3J7BB6BN06 4. 1. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted. a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary Shares of no par in the Company



ISIN: AU0000237554 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Price(s) Volume(s) AUD0.4866 AUD0.4894 571,557 195,072 d) Aggregated information: Purchase of 766,629 Ordinary Shares at an average price of GBP0.2666 (AUD0.4873) per Ordinary Share e) Date of the transaction: 20 & 21 March 2023 f) Place of the transaction: ASX (A11)

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement

For any further information, please contact:

Atlantic Lithium Limited

Neil Herbert (Executive Chairman)

Amanda Harsas (Finance Director and Company Secretary)

www.atlanticlithium.com.au

IR@atlanticlithium.com.au Tel: +61 2 8072 0640

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Nominated Adviser

Jeff Keating

Charlie Bouverat Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Canaccord Genuity Limited

Joint Company Broker

Raj Khatri

James Asensio

Harry Rees Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 4500 Liberum Capital Limited

Joint Company Broker

Scott Mathieson

Edward Thomas

Kane Collings Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Yellow Jersey PR Limited

Charles Goodwin

Bessie Elliot

atlantic@yellowjerseypr.com Tel: +44 (0)20 3004 9512

Notes to Editors:

About Atlantic Lithium

www.atlanticlithium.com.au

Atlantic Lithium is an AIM and ASX-listed lithium company advancing a portfolio of lithium projects in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire through to production.

The Company's flagship project, the Ewoyaa Project in Ghana, is a significant lithium spodumene pegmatite discovery on track to become Ghana's first lithium-producing mine. The Company signed a funding agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc. for US$103m towards the development of the Ewoyaa Project. Based on the Pre-Feasibility Study, the Ewoyaa Project has indicated Life of Mine revenues exceeding US$4.84bn, producing a spodumene concentrate via simple gravity only process flowsheet.

Atlantic Lithium holds 560km2 & 774km2 of tenure across Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire respectively, comprising significantly under-explored, highly prospective licences.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Atlantic Lithium Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745603/Atlantic-Lithium-Limited-Announces-Corporate-Update--DirectorPDMR-Shareholding
Mining Journal Select to join qualified investors with premium equities in London

LONDON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mining Journal Select (MJS) is set to return to London on March 27-28 at 8 Northumberland Avenue after a three-year hiatus. The event is expected to be bigger than ever, with more qualified mining projects than have appeared before, having successfully passed through the Mining Journal Intelligence (MJI) 24-point assessment system. MJS will provide active resource-sector investors with an opportunity to meet the management teams from some of the most promising development-stage opportunities globally, alongside hand-picked mature-stage explorers, through a dedicated concierge team.

Said Alex Kent, Group Managing Director of Aspermont Limited "Mining Journal Select is back for its third year and we are delighted to announce a sell-out event showcasing 30 of the world's most exciting mining projects presenting to over 300 institutional investors.

"In the crowded marketplace of global exploration companies, investors are faced with the unenviable task of sifting through some 2,400 listed junior mining equities. Mining Journal Select doesn't recommend any one equity to investors but through research and analysis we bring rated development projects forward that we see as worthy of further consideration.

"Mining Journal Select gives attending investors a personalised, curated agenda of private investment meetings and outstanding content to share new ways of raising capital and highlight the world's leading mining projects."

Project Assessment by Mining Journal Intelligence

The Mining Journal Select concept recognises the difficulty investors face in sifting through literally thousands of resources equities to identify the few worth greater investigation. For each asset, we present 24 metrics central to investment decisions, normalised by unit and currency.

Those metrics are baked into our ratings formula that, while still in its raw form, has been built around extensive industry consultation.

The basis of selection and presentation of project metrics is investor relevance and like-for-like comparisons. This means we're only presenting data that is fundamental to investment decision making in a transparent and consistent way, which allows our audience to hold two equities/projects up against each other and compare apples with apples, and oranges with oranges.

Interrogate management from premium exploration, development and mining companies already confirmed to attend:

5E Advanced Materials, Anglesey Mining, Apollo Silver, Barksdale Resources, Beowulf Mining, Canada Nickel, Collective Mining, Elemental Altus, Endeavour Mining, Excellon Resources, GoviEx Uranium, Grid Metals, Metalla Royalty & Streaming, Moneta Gold, Nordic Nickel, Nova Royalty, O3 Mining, Osino Resources, Pan Global Resources, Panoro Minerals, Reunion Gold, Rex Minerals, Sheffield Resources, Southern Silver Exploration, Stallion Discoveries, Theta Gold, Torq Resources, Ur-Energy and Vanadium Resources.

The Conference

Program of high-profile speakers to tackle key issues for informed investment decisions

The two-day event offers multiple tracks to cater to different sessions and audiences. Delegates can look forward to keynote speeches by industry leaders, panel discussions around commodity outlooks, a country outlook presentation by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and over 30 investment pitches.

Furthermore, the event has attracted some of the best-established names in the mining finance industry as keynote speakers to present alongside the leaders of tomorrow:

David Harquail , Chairman, Franco Nevada

, Chairman, Tom Albanese , Independent Director

, Independent Director Alasdair Macleod , Head of Research, Goldmoney

, Head of Research, Goldmoney Brett Heath , President and CEO, Metalla Royalty & Streaming

, President and CEO, Metalla Royalty & Streaming Mark Selby , Chairman & CEO, Canada Nickel

, Chairman & CEO, Canada Nickel Martino De Ciccio , Deputy CFO and Head of Investor Relations, Endeavour Mining

For the full conference program, please visit: https://london.miningjournalselect.com/

Resource investors to attend Mining Journal Select London

Much as we qualify companies for presentation, we also screen our investment audience to ensure management teams are meeting with institutional and sophisticated investors with the intellectual capacity to understand the opportunities they're considering, and the financial capacity to provide meaningful support for companies raising development capital.

Confirmed institutional investors include Sector Investment, Resource Capital Funds, RAB Capital, CD Capital, BSI Fund, Taurus Funds, Wimmer Financials and hundreds of private and retail investors.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Admission to conference is FREE to Investors

Mining Journal Select London 2023 will be on 27-28 March at 8 Northumberland Avenue.

Media enquiries can be directed to Bilal Azmat, Head of Marketing at bilal.azmat@aspermontmedia.com

About Aspermont:

Aspermont is a global media group that is the established leader in the delivery of paid content and conferences across all areas of the mining and energy industries. With leading publishing brands such as Mining Journal, Mining News, Mining Magazine and Australia's Mining Monthly, and the successful Events including Future of Mining Series, Mining Journal Select and more, Aspermont is at the forefront of the industry developments and is a well-recognised and respected brand.

Aspermont is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It is also quoted on Tradegate and other regional German exchanges. The company has offices in the UK, Australia, Brazil, USA, Canada, Singapore and the Philippines.

For more information please see: www.aspermont.com

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Aspermont Media Limited

Bilal Azmat

+44 208 187 2308

Bilal.azmat@aspermontmedia.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mining-journal-select--back-in-person-301780225.html
LONDON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COSRX, derm favorite skincare brand, is pleased to announce the inclusion of their hero products in the Amazon Spring Deals 2023. The sale will take place from March 27th to 29th and will feature a range of COSRX's TikTok viral skincare products at discounted prices.





COSRX is known for its effective, science-backed skincare products that are gentle on the skin. During the Amazon Spring Sale, customers will have the opportunity to purchase some of COSRX's most popular products at unbeatable prices.

The following products will be included in the Amazon Spring Deals 2023 (up to 50% off):

[United Kingdom]

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream

AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Master Patch Original Fit 10 pack

[Germany]

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Master Patch Original Fit 10 pack

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

[France]

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Master Patch Original Fit 10 pack

AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

[Italy]

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream

AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

[Spain]

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask

Master Patch Original Fit 10 pack

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

TikTokers aren't the only ones going crazy for the Snail Essence. It has over 28,000+ five-star reviews on Amazon, with many claiming that it works wonders on dry, damaged, and acne-prone skin helping to strengthen the skin barrier and achieve that coveted glass skin.

One shopper raved that "Not going to lie, I saw the hype on TikTok. Purchased it for myself and GOSH this thing is amazing. I use retinol so I have dry skin. This product fixes that problem, heals the skin barrier, and leaves your skin glowing!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND."

Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream

The Snail Essence has gone viral, and Snail Cream is no exception. Containing 92 percent snail secretion filtrate, this lightweight moisturizing cream is hugely popular among beauty TikTokers for its ability to repair skin damage, nourish, and brighten; leaving the skin feeling soft and plump.

Thousands of reviewers have praised the cream's results, calling it a "staple moisturizer," "the holy grail," "I'm a huge fan," and "my new obsession." One reviewer said that "Holy cow this works great. [....] works AMAZINGLY! NO scent, which is preferred. No irritation. Super moisturizing. It soaks INTO the skin instead of just sitting on top. Slightly tacky but it goes away once it soaks in. I'm sure this will be the next TikTok viral product. 10/10 recommend."

"We're excited to partner with Amazon for the Spring Sale and offer our TikTok viral products at discounted prices," said a spokesperson for COSRX. "We believe that everyone deserves access to effective skincare, and we're thrilled to be able to offer our products at a more accessible price point."

During the Amazon Spring Sale, customers will be able to purchase COSRX products at up to 50% off. Don't miss out on this opportunity to try some of the best skincare products on the market.

For more information on the Amazon Spring Sale, visit the COSRX Amazon store.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039772/MicrosoftTeams_image__2.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cosrx-announces-tiktok-viral-skincare-products-to-be-featured-in-amazon-spring-deals-2023-301780677.html
WUPPERTAL, Germany, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vorwerk is 140 years old - and that means 140 years of passion and innovation. Founded in the valley of the Wupper river as a carpet factory, Vorwerk also moved into the production of household appliances (Kobold vacuum cleaners) in 1929. The advantages of the first, powerful Kobold model could not be conveyed via retail sales - This gave way to direct sales at Vorwerk and certainly the most important milestone in Vorwerk's history. Today Vorwerk is the number one direct sales company in Europe and a world leader in the direct sales of high-quality household appliances. In 2021, the Group generated sales totaling  3.4 billion, a new company record.





Thank You to our Community

The company owes its success to the people who are enthusiastic about the brand and its products and who actively support it. The Vorwerk community consists of 100,000 sales Advisors and some 9,000 employees, as well as many, many customers around the globe. It is precisely these people's passion that has made Vorwerk so successful.

Vorwerk's Company History

Back in 1883, Carl Vorwerk founded Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co., a small carpet factory and the cornerstone of today's global brand. In doing so, he demonstrated entrepreneurial prowess because until then, high-quality carpets had only been manufactured in England. In 1907, Carl Vorwerk handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law, August Mittelsten Scheid, who was himself the scion of an industrial family in business in Barmen since 1764. By 1909, the Vorwerk name had already become a familiar one beyond the region and the company was growing rapidly. It stepped up its carpet production, erected new buildings and set up the company's own machine workshop. By this time, the product spectrum was constantly expanding and at that time, ranged from car axles to gramophone motors.

The invention of the radio brought the market for gramophones to its knees. Although, a new idea would save the day: The gramophone motor became a motor for a vacuum cleaner. In 1929, the Kobold was something of a small revolution: a handy appliance - but nevertheless one that was very effective. However, the market was not yet ready for that innovation, and prospective customers could not appreciate the advantages of the Kobold model from merely seeing it on sale in a retail store. Once again, a revolutionary idea would save the day, namely the introduction of direct sales in Germany - certainly the most important milestone in the company's history. Brought back from the USA by August Mittelsten Scheid's son, Werner in 1930, this people-oriented sales concept would become Vorwerk's trademark and the secret of its success.

In 1953, Dr. Erich Mittelsten Scheid took on sole management of the company and initiated far-reaching changes, such as expanding the product range and opening up further to international markets. In 1968, akf bank became the first service brand to join the Group.

In 1969, Erich Mittelsten Scheid handed the Vorwerk reins over to his nephew, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid, who from 1969 to 2005 played a crucial role in shaping the company, turning it into an internationally successful corporate group. Expansion of the product portfolio is among the achievements that fall within his time at the helm: Already in 1971, the Thermomix became the first multifunctional food processor and cooking appliance to be launched onto the market. Pushing ahead with its consistent strategy of internationalisation, Vorwerk founded its first foreign subsidiary abroad in China, in 1990, and subsidiaries in Eastern Europe soon followed. At the end of 2005, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid stepped down from the management of the company, but today continues to oversee the company as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. With Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, Hauke Paasch and Dr. Thomas Rodemann, a three-member Executive Board now manages the fortunes of the Group, whereas the owner family provides continuity in its fifth generation.

People are our Focus

We are convinced: When people meet in person, worlds and opportunities open up. A personal product demonstration creates magical moments and a lasting connection between people - and in Vorwerk's case, worldwide. People have always come first at Vorwerk. Direct sales is the company's recipe for success: product demonstrations are social events at which people come together, discover their love for the product and become members of the Vorwerk family. Without a doubt, the Vorwerk Advisors play a very special role here: they are the faces of our company and essential to our success - and they will continue to be just that in the future, too.

ABOUT VORWERK

The Vorwerk SE & Co. KG family enterprise was founded in 1883. The holding company's registered office is located in Wuppertal, Germany. Vorwerk's core business encompasses both the production and sale of high-quality household products (Thermomix kitchen appliance, Kobold vacuum cleaner). As a direct sales company, Vorwerk always seeks direct contact with its customers. Here, the Advisor is at the center of activities and serves as a central point of contact for the customer. The Vorwerk family also includes the akf bank. Vorwerk generated consolidated sales of 3.4 billion (2021) and operates in more than 60 countries.





Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039800/Vorwerk_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039801/Vorwerk_2.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/passion-since-1883-vorwerk-looks-back-on-140-years-of-success-301780694.html
BEIJING, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China has entered a new phase of epidemic prevention and control after it downgraded the management of COVID-19 response into Class B infectious diseases. "The overall situation of epidemic response is good nationwide," according to a meeting held by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on February 16.

Current situation of COVID-19 in China

Seen from the latest data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), the number of positive nucleic acid tests in China has been basically at a downward trend as of March 16, dropping below 8,000 cases for over a week.

Infections from the epidemic are still occurring in China at a localized and sporadic level, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the China CDC, said at an interview in early March.

No one can tell how COVID-19 will eventually play out, said Wu, adding that the novel coronavirus will coexist with humans on Earth for a long time.

Zhan Qingyuan, deputy director at the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (CJFH), reiterated the same to CGTN: "People may have to live with the microorganism, as we can't kill all the coronavirus."

As the COVID-19 epidemic has "basically ended" in the country, the hospital has been operating at pre-epidemic level amid a surge of seasonal influenza, of which the positive rate of influenza virus has increased to 53.2 percent in the week from March 6 to 12, far above the data in early February - lower than 1 percent, according to statistics from the China CDC.

Zhan advised the elderly and those with underlying conditions to get vaccinated, and to keep handy a thermometer, antigen reagents and COVID-19 drugs. "I recommend taking medicine once the nucleic acid test is positive, because the earlier the drugs against COVID-19 is used, the better the effect is."

Preparations still being made for COVID-19

Everything in China is back to normal, while key institutions like the hospitals are still getting prepared.

Amid seasonal influenza, Zhong Lintao, director at the Nosocomial Infections Management Office of the CJFH, said that doctors at the hospital's fever clinic have triaged patients based on the severity of their condition, instead of results of nucleic acid tests in the past three years.

In addition, the hospital is also dedicated to daily infection prevention and control, according to Zhong, "For example, we provide guidance on personal protection for medical staff and patients, clean and disinfect frequently touched items on a daily basis to prevent the spread of the virus in medical institutions."

Zhong said they have accumulated much experience in the last round of the COVID-19 epidemic and can transform from normal operations to rapid response to a disease outbreak, including allocating medical personnel to the fever clinic, emergency department and wards, and storing medicines and medical devices.

"We will also expand the capacity of the emergency department by transforming specialist wards in other departments to treat severe cases once there is a need," said Zhong.

The hospital converted a building into wards to care for critically-ill COVID-19 patients last December, and although normal service has resumed, Zhong said they can convert it into wards again quickly if needed.

Strengthening weak links

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), National Health Commission and six other departments have issued a notice and deployed relative work on consolidating major achievements of epidemic prevention and control, and strengthening the weak links in urban and rural medical and health care and environmental protection, said Liu Dechun, director at the NDRC's Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, at a media conference last Thursday.

According to Liu, China will strengthen the capacity of epidemic surveillance and regular early warning and response systems, and improve health monitoring facilities and capacity in key institutions such as medical and elderly care institutions, and large shopping malls.

It also urged to coordinate and allocate medical supplies and resources, and to build a tiered, multi-level, and referral-based healthcare system in a regular manner and build three-tiered healthcare networks -the primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals - with public medical institutions as the mainstay, according to Liu.

Liu said that the country will improve sanitation facilities in crowded places and carry out environmental health governance in places like urban villages and farmers' markets.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-03-23/How-China-continues-optimizing-its-COVID-19-response-1ioIE5SJ82c/index.html

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Springfield, Oregon--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Silo Wellness Inc. (CSE: SILO) (OTCQB: SILFF) (FSE: 3K7A), announces that it is partnering with Oregon-based Satya, Inc. to develop a robust ecosystem aimed at supporting the well-being of psilocybin patients and Oregonian entrepreneurs alike. At the heart of this partnership is Satya's status as an Oregon-licensed psilocybin mushroom grower first-mover in the United States as featured recently in the Portland Business Journal.

With the goal of benefiting patients and supporting the growth of Oregon's entrepreneurial community, Silo and Satya have established a Raw Materials Supply and Purchase Agreement. The Agreement includes a Right of First Refusal (ROFR) that guarantees Silo's affiliates first rights to any of Satya's psilocybin biomass that become available for sale. This ROFR provision allows Silo to ensure a stable and consistent supply of raw materials, a crucial component in the creation of safe, reliable, and effective psychedelic treatments. This partnership enables Silo to secure the first access to Satya's high-quality psychedelic products for Silo's Oregon network, including for Silo's intended Portland-area psilocybin therapy center that was announced in January.

Silo Wellness CEO Mike Arnold stated, "Our mission is to make psychedelic treatments safe, ethical, and accessible to Oregonians while safeguarding local businesses from potentially exploitative out-of-state interests. By partnering with Satya, we establish a sustainable and reliable source of high-quality raw materials, allowing us to fulfill our vision. This agreement is a significant step in mitigating a key industry risk, ensuring we have access to the controlled substances necessary for treatment. With this agreement, we gain access to biomass, providing a dependable source of medicine to support our operations and strategic objectives."

Satya's co-founder and CEO Andreas Met added, "We are thrilled to be working with Silo in developing a thriving ecosystem that benefits patients, entrepreneurs, and the entire state of Oregon. Our partnership is the first step towards establishing Oregon as the epicenter of the psychedelic industry in the United States."

As Silo and Satya continue to work together, they hope to create a model for sustainable growth in the burgeoning psychedelic industry. Together, they aim to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of people by creating safe, effective, and accessible psychedelic treatments.

Under this Agreement executed on March 23, 2023, Satya will provide 10mg analyte psilocybin doses and 1mg analyte psilocybin microdoses to any affiliate of Silo who is properly licensed under Ballot Measure 109. The Agreement provides a base pricing for the psilocybin mushroom biomass. Seller shall provide Buyer with reasonable notice of any Materials that become available, and Buyer shall have the right of first refusal to purchase any Materials that Seller is able to supply, subject to availability and Seller's capacity to supply such Materials. Buyer shall pay $50,000 in advance for the Materials, which shall be credited against Buyer's future purchases under this Agreement. The agreement is initially for two years effective April 1, 2023, and terminating March 30, 2025, with a renewal for successive one-year periods.

Audit Updates

The auditors stated that they estimate that it will take them a week and a half to sign off on the audit. They stated that such time is needed for an audit file completion, review of the audit file and financial statement by the audit partner, quality control department and the audit committee to review the meeting materials.

Contact:

Silo Wellness: Mike Arnold, CEO

541-900-5871

IR at silo wellness dot com

Satya: Andreas Met, CEO

541-930-2478

Andreas at satya therapeutics dot com

About Satya

Satya Inc. is a leading producer-supplier of psilocybin products and services and an integral member of a pioneering industry serving mental-health challenges in Oregon-leading the expansion globally of novel service paradigms. https://satyatherapeutics.com/

About Silo Wellness

Silo Wellness is a growth-oriented holding company focused on psychedelic opportunities that benefit from a unified ecosystem and exceptional leadership. Founded in 2018 in Oregon and headquartered in Toronto, Silo Wellness has a presence in both Jamaica and Oregon. Silo Wellness is a publicly traded on the Canadian (CSE: SILO) and Frankfurt (FSE: 3K7A) exchanges and listed on the OTCQB Venture Market (OTCQB: SILFF).

For more information about Silo Wellness or to book a Jamaican psychedelic retreat, please visit www.silowellness.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND RISK FACTORS: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to the ability of the Company to finalize definitive documents and close on any potential retreat center property partnership; the Company's ability to satisfy the Oregon licensing requirements and achieve a license in Oregon; the Company's ability to successful launch an Oregon operation, including hiring of qualified staff and getting access to mushrooms to sustain operations; Satya's ability to produce mushrooms at all or at quantity to satisfy demand; the Company's ability to meet the payment obligation to Satya; and the Company's ability to fund operations as well as the company's pre-existing capital requirements and significant debt load.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, regulatory, political and social uncertainties and the potential impact of COVID-19. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in Silo Wellness's continuous disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Silo Wellness assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

There are also additional risk factors associated with Silo Wellness entering the Oregon psilocybin market including but not limited to:

Legal and regulatory risks: Despite being legal under state law, psilocybin is still a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. As such, there is a risk that federal law enforcement may choose to target psilocybin businesses, and those involved in the business may face potential criminal prosecution. Compliance risks: While legal under state law, psilocybin businesses must comply with a complex set of regulations and requirements. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines, legal actions, and potential loss of licenses or permits. Banking and financial risks: Due to the federal illegality of psilocybin, psilocybin businesses may face challenges accessing traditional banking services, which may create difficulties managing financial transactions, investments, and fundraising activities. Political risks: Changes in political leadership at the federal or state level could impact the regulatory environment for psilocybin businesses and create uncertainty for investors. Market risks: The psilocybin industry is relatively new and rapidly evolving, which creates risks related to market demand, competition, and pricing. Operational risks: Psilocybin businesses may face challenges related to managing a complex and highly regulated supply chain, developing and scaling their operations, and attracting and retaining talent. Reputation risks: Psilocybin businesses may face challenges related to the public perception of psilocybin, and there may be concerns about the potential negative effects of psilocybin use.

Please refer to other risk factors identified in previous public disclosures which can be found on SEDAR.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159618
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Orefinder's Resources Inc. (TSXV: ORX) ("Orefinders" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be seeking shareholder approval for the updating of its listing status from a mining issuer to both an investment and mining issuer pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

This update aims to increase the Company's flexibility and optionality to make strategic investments and incubate new opportunities focused on gold and other critical metals. Orefinders' exploration strategy and core portfolio of assets remain unchanged. This updated listing status allows management to transact corporately as the Company has in the past with the spin offs of QC Copper and Gold Inc., American Eagle Gold Corp., and its activist investment Mistango River Resources Inc. With this new listing status, Orefinders may undertake corporate transactions, acquire strategic equity positions, or incubate new junior companies as opportunities arise.

"We are pleased to provide this update and formalize Orefinders ability to continue to invest aggressively with the drill but also creatively at the corporate level. Our team has a track record of making accretive transactions aimed at improving our balance sheet, lowering our cost, and increasing our capital availability. These corporate-type transactions are then reallocated into investments via the drill bit for discovery and delineation of gold and metals of interest," said Stephen Stewart, Orefinders' CEO.

Webinar - Upgrading to a Mining and Investment Issuer

The Company's current investment portfolio includes:

5,200,000 common shares in the capital of American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE), representing 6.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of American Eagle Gold Corp.;

24,708,975 common shares in the capital of Mistango River Resources (CSE: MIS), representing 16% of the issued and outstanding shares of Mistango River Resources; and,

5,059,752 common shares in the capital of QC Copper and Gold Inc. (TSXV: QCCU), representing 3.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of QC Copper and Gold Inc.

In addition to the above investments, following the Proposed Change of Business, the Company shall continue to hold its various mining interests.

The Company's current mining portfolio includes:

Mirado Gold Project in Kirkland Lake. 100% owned and encompasses 2,497 hectares. The property is located 35 km southeast of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Agnico Eagle Mines has the option to acquire up to 50% interest by April 2026 through the completion of exploration obligations, as well as a right to acquire an additional 25% by way of incurring further exploration expenses on the property.

McGarry Project in Kirkland Lake 100% owned and encompasses 681 hectares. The property is located in Virginiatown, Ontario. Agnico Eagle Mines has the option to acquire up to 50% interest by April 2026 through the completion of exploration obligations, as well as a right to acquire an additional 25% by way of incurring further exploration expenses on the property.

Knight Project in Shining Tree district, Ontario 100% owned and encompasses 2,200 hectares. The property is located in the Knight and Tyrell townships, 100 km southwest of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Agnico Eagle Mines has the option to acquire up to 50% interest by April 2026, through the completion of exploration obligations, as well as a right to acquire an additional 25% by way of incurring further exploration expenses on the property.

GSL Zinc Project in Alberta 100% owned and encompasses 60,000 hectares in Northwest Alberta, along the Great Slave Lake Shear Zone.

Grizzly Gold Project in Chibougaumau, Quebec Orefinders has the option to acquire 100% interest in the Grizzly Project by way of the completion of a total of $750,000 in work obligations and by payment of common shares of the Company to the vendors. The project is comprised of 105 contiguous mining claims and is located 60 km west of Chapais, Quebec.

NAK Project in British Columbia Orefinders owns a 20% interest in American Eagle Gold Corp.'s (TSXV: AE) "NAK Project". The project is a Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry discovery near Smithers, British Columbia.



Shareholder Meeting

The Company has called a meeting of shareholders to be held on April 28, 2023 (the "Meeting"), to approve, among other things, a proposed change of business of the Company from a Mining Issuer to a Tier 2 Investment/Mining Issuer (the "Proposed Change of Business"), pursuant to Policy 5.2 - Changes of Business and Reverse Takeovers of the Exchange.

Details of Proposed Change of Business

The Proposed Change of Business is not being conducted in connection with a transaction or financing, and instead is intended to reflect the business of Company moving forward.

The Proposed Change of Business represents the Company's intention to grow and expand its current investment portfolio pursuant to an investment policy adopted by the board of directors of the Company (the "Investment Policy"). A copy of the Investment Policy shall be available to the shareholders of the Company in the management information circular (the "Information Circular") to be distributed to shareholders in advance of the Meeting.

Shareholders of the Company are encouraged to read the in-depth summary on the Company's current investment portfolio as well as the mining interests currently held by the Company in the Information Circular.

Sponsorship

The Company has applied for an exemption from the Exchange's sponsorship requirements in connection with the Proposed Change of Business.

Reader Advisories

Completion of the Proposed Change of Business is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and shareholder approval. The Proposed Change of Business cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Change of Business will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Information Circular to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Change of Business, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Change of Business may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Change of Business and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including details about the business of the Company. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to make strategic investments and identify opportunities due to the Proposed Change of Business, that the company will effectively identify and undertake future corporate transactions, acquire equity positions, or incubate new junior companies, the receipt of shareholder approval to affect the Proposed Change of Business and the receipt of Exchange approval to affect the Proposed Change of Business. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in the Company's public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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.

For further information

Orefinders Resources Inc.:

Stephen Stewart, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 416.644.1567

Email: sstewart@orefinders.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159657
LONDON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dechert LLP has announced that Sam Kay, one of the leading private equity fund lawyers in the UK, will be joining the firm as a partner in the financial services and investment management practice in London.





With over 25 years of experience advising on investment funds, Mr. Kay specializes in fund formation work for a wide range of private funds and asset management clients in the private equity, private debt/credit, infrastructure, and real estate sectors. He also regularly works on GP-led transactions and secondaries (both buy-side and sell-side), carried interest arrangements and co-investment schemes.

Widely recognized as a leading practitioner in the investment funds space, Mr. Kay has been recognized as a "Global Leader" for private fund formation by Who's Who Legal and ranked in Chambers and Partners UK in 2022. He was included in the Real Deals list of the "Top 20 Most Influential" in private equity in 2022.

"We have worked across from Sam for a very long time and are thrilled to have him join us," said Gus Black, co-chair of Dechert's global financial services group and chair of Dechert's London Management Committee. "His reputation and experience will help shape our continued growth in the London private equity fund formation market, amongst others."

Mr. Kay said, "I am excited to be joining Dechert and to be able to work with such a talented and experienced team of lawyers. The breadth and depth of the platform will provide tremendous opportunities as the private funds market (and private equity in particular) continues to develop in its size, scale and sophistication. I look forward to contributing to the growth of the practice."

With over 185 lawyers, Dechert has one of the largest investment management teams of any firm. It was the first law firm with a funds practice in all key European fund domiciles, including the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany and France, as well as the U.S., the Middle East and Asia. The firm is consistently recognized by independent experts as a leading law firm for investment funds.

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 21 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.

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DOVER, DE / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 /

Dear Shareholders,

We are pleased to share some of the progress we have been making and provide updates on our near-term plans for the future.

General Business Overview:

We are excited by recent developments. In February 2023, we completed the transaction with Budding Equity Inc. (BEi). BEi is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of ILST. Details of the transaction can be found in the company's press release dated February 14, 2023.

Taking over an existing business requires a mix of patience, creativity, and vision to ensure that all parties work together cohesively. Management has made great strides in that department, and the integration and business process improvements continue to be successfully implemented. BEi is pursuing a dual strategy of improving existing product lines (such as growing hardware sales) and investing in other new hardware and edible-related products that are synergistic with our brands. A good example is the previously-disclosed investment in the production of the AMFAD film (see below).

As we expand in Canada, infused products are being sold in dispensaries in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Purchase orders have been placed by both Ontario and Alberta governments, with products to be available beginning April 1 in the OCS (Ontario Cannabis Store) and dispensaries in Alberta. (Link to products from Weedmaps, The map on the site will be updated.)

Outsourced production of prerolls in New Mexico began March 16, and we expect our joint- venture brands to be in dispensaries by the end of the month.

Now that our initial acquisition is complete, we are discussing filling the position of full-time Company CEO to take the helm and drive our business forward.

Film Production:

As announced, ILST invested in the production of "All My Friends Are Dead" (AMFAD). All My Friends Are Dead is a movie starring Jojo Siwa and Jade Pettyjohn, directed by Marcus Dunstan, writer of Saw 3D. Our very own Dan Rubin, CEO of BEi, is serving as an executive producer of the film. More details of the production can be found here.

Included in the negotiated production deal terms, we will be granted international royalty rights to certain IP of the AMFAD film, including but not limited to all cannabis-related products.

This will allow us to create and market new products included in the film's script for retail purchase. We believe that this model can be replicated with other film production companies as they develop projects that are "cannabis-culture" related.

Our investment also entitles us to profits from global sales and distribution of the film, including royalties on future film sales.

Other IP Transactions

We have ongoing discussions with several other artists regarding new brand opportunities. These discussions are in various stages of development. We hope to share more on this as they develop.

General MD&A

We remain focused on potential new acquisition targets, which we generally evaluate on the following criteria: whether they are cash-flow positive, their length of time in business, whether there are synergies with our current business.

Our accountants have completed a draft of the company's Q4 2022 financials and annual report, which we will be filing by the end of the month.

Thank you all for your continued support. We are excited about the journey and growth ahead.

Information about ILST can be found at:

http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ILST/filings

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STAR

International Star Inc. currently operates, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Budding Equity Inc., a royalty-based business that owns intellectual property contracts with movie studios which provide for the licensing of that IP to third parties for cannabis hardware. The company also has joint venture partnerships with Ice Cube and Kevin Smith for licensing and branding cannabis products that are sold and distributed by third-party licensed producers. A core focus of ILST remains on acquiring and developing innovative businesses with high growth potential in the cannabis space and beyond. ILST remains intent on growing its current brands through synergistic opportunities.

Safe Harbor Statement

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect," and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include but are not limited to: the impact of economic, competitive, legal and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance.

Contact:

International Star, Inc.

8 The Green

Suite 13940

Dover, DE 19901

E-mail: ir@ilstinc.com

SOURCE: International Star, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745540/International-Star-Inc-OTCILST-Letter-to-Shareholders
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Tartisan Nickel Corp. (CSE: TN) (OTCQX: TTSRF) (FSE: 8TA) ("Tartisan", or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the company has conducted a first pass exploration review of the manganese ("Mn") potential on our 100% owned Don Pancho property ("Don Pancho") located in central Peru. The concessions cover an area of 917 hectares and is located 9 kilometres west of the Santander Mine previously operated by Trevali Mining. Infrastructure is considered excellent with road access and power.

The polymetallic mineralization at Don Pancho is hosted in an extensive north-northwest-south-southeast-trending breccia zone called "Yanapallaca" and measures over 800 metres in length and 150 to 200 metres in width. Peruvian Metals Corp. drilled six diamond drill holes in 2014 totaling 2021 metres. The results show that several lead-zinc-silver ("Pb-Zn-Ag") intervals were intersected including 40 metres of 0.88 per cent Zn, 0.40 per cent Pb and 7.7 grams per tonne Ag, 22.65 metres of 1.00 per cent Zn, 0.26 per cent Pb, and 6.85 g/t Ag and 1.15 metres of 4.38 per cent Zn, 3.25 per cent Pb and 61.1 g/t Ag. Previous underground sampling located a massive sulphide zone returning 106 g/t Ag, 3.26 per cent Pb and 17.56 per cent Zn over 2 metres.

Tartisan's wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Tartisan Peru S.A.C ("MTP") commenced a field review in late 2022 focused on the manganese potential at Don Pancho. The field work revealed that the manganese is associated with elevated lead-zinc-silver mineralization. Twenty-six surface samples were collected by MTP throughout the Yanapallaca Zone. Twenty-four of these samples were further assayed because of Mn over limits greater than 10% and averaged 0.81 oz Ag/MT, 0.66% Pb, 1.89% Zn, and 19.23% Mn. The range of the Mn from these assays were from 10.70% Mn to 31.17% Mn.

Historical sampling by Peruvian Metals Corp. returned extensive manganese values with values up to 43% Mn. Channel sampling in an underground adit at Don Pancho showed three distinct intervals returning 31 metres of 9% Mn, 26 metres of 10.88% Mn and 17 metres 10% Mn. All three intervals have combined low grade Pb and Zn ranging from 0.60% and 1.32%.

Compania de Minas Buenaventura's ("Buenaventura") silver-lead-zinc Uchucchacua mine located 63 kilometers to the north of Don Pancho is in the same geological belt as the Don Pancho is also rich in manganese. The Uchucchacua Mine produced over 10 million ounces of silver in 2011. The similarities between Don Pancho and Buenaventura's Uchucchacua Mine include the same age host rocks and elevated manganese content associated with the Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization. Records and reports from Buenaventura show that the manganese content of the ore from Uchucchacua is approximately 10% Mn. The silver-lead concentrates with highly elevated manganese values were sent to Buenaventura's Rio Seco Manganese Plant located in the agricultural town of Huaral located 80 kilometres southwest of Don Pancho.

Mark Appleby, CEO of Tartisan states, "The Company is excited to start the next phase of exploration at Don Pancho targeting the manganese potential along the Yanapallaca Breccia Zone. There is significant interest in battery metals which includes manganese and with Covid related restrictions lifted, future work will include metallurgical testing, mineralogical studies and surface work. We believe the Don Pancho Property is a significant battery metals opportunity for the company."

Jeff Reeder, P. Geo, a qualified person in the context of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Tartisan Nickel Corp.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. is a Canadian based battery metals and mine development company whose flagship asset is the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit located in northwestern Ontario. Tartisan also owns; the Sill Lake Silver Property in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, and the Don Pancho Manganese-Zinc-Lead-Silver Project in Peru. Tartisan Nickel Corp. also owns equity stakes in: Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Corp. and Peruvian Metals Corp.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. common shares are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: TN) (OTCQX: TTSRF) (FSE: 8TA). Currently, there are 114,297,128 shares outstanding (127,338,959 fully diluted).

For further information, please contact Mark Appleby, President & CEO, and a Director of the Company, at 416-804-0280 (info@tartisannickel.com). Additional information about Tartisan can be found at the Company's website at www.tartisannickel.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159677
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Western Copper and Gold Corporation (WRN.TO, WRN) announced a strategic equity investment by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation to further advance Western's copper-gold Casino Project in the Yukon. Mitsubishi Materials has agreed to acquire that number of common shares of Western that will represent approximately 5.0% of Western's issued and outstanding shares, on an undiluted basis, following completion of the investment, at a price of C$2.63 per Share. Also, the company and Mitsubishi Materials will enter into an investor rights agreement. Assuming Rio Tinto elects to exercise its participation right in full, 8,091,390 shares will be issued to Mitsubishi Materials for aggregate gross proceeds of C$21.3 million and 878,809 shares will be issued to Rio Tinto for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2.3 million. Western remains the sole owner of the Casino Project. The company will use the proceeds to advance the project and to fund specific areas of study, developed with input from Mitsubishi Materials. 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.
LONDON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventient Energy announces today that Kevin McCullough has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer.





"With more than 20 years of leadership in the energy sector, Kevin will be an asset as we continue to build on the strong performance of Ventient Energy in the European renewable energy sector". Said Carlos Guinand, Chairman of Ventient Energy's Board.

After over four years of leadership, Mark Jones will step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective 27 March 2023.

"I am pleased to be stepping down as CEO after having guided Ventient during the last four years. With heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this great journey and best wishes to Ventient's new phase." Said Mark Jones, former CEO, Ventient Energy.

"We would like to thank Mark for his achievements and valuable contributions over the past four years. During this period Ventient became a key player in the European renewables sector. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours," said Carlos Guinand, Chairman of Ventient Energy's Board

Kevin McCullough, said: "I am genuinely delighted and excited to be returning to the renewable energy sector and consider it a privilege to be asked to lead such a prestigious organisation. The team I'm joining should be rightly proud of their achievements to date and excited, as I am, at the opportunity for growth that lies in front of us".

About Ventient Energy

Ventient Energy is a Pan-European non-utility developer and generator of renewable energy. Our portfolio has grown quickly since our inception in 2017, and we currently own and operate renewable assets in Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK, with a total installed capacity of 2.8GW.

As a business, we focus on sustainable growth that provides long-term returns to those who invest their future in our vision - generating renewable energy to secure the future of the people and the planet.

For further enquiries Contact:

Brand and Communications Team

E: communication@ventientenergy.com

T: +44 (0)131 243 1380

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Metallica Metals Corp. (CSE: MM) (OTCQB: MTALF) (FSE: SY7P) (the "Company" or "Metallica Metals") is pleased to announce that field mapping and prospecting work completed across the Sammy Ridgeline Project ("Sammy Ridgeline" or the "Project") in the Thunder Bay North District of Ontario has uncovered the potential to host both Mid-Continent Rift (MCR) related platinum group metal (PGM) and spodumene (lithium) pegmatite dyke mineralization. The 2022 exploration program at Sammy Ridgeline has also identified several target areas with significant potential to host base metal mineralization. The Project is comprised of two claim blocks flanking Clean Air Metal's Thunder Bay North (TBN) Project (Figure 1).

The potential for PGM mineralization has been identified through the discovery of numerous ultramafic intrusions across the West Block of the Project. These ultramafic intrusions are interpreted to be the same lithology that hosts the neighbouring Escape Lake and Current Lake PGM Deposits. The potential for spodumene mineralization has also been identified through the discovery of pegmatite dykes, often up to 10 m in width (Figure 2). Significant assay results from mineralized grab samples at various showings on the Project include 1.05% Cu, 0.99% Mo, 5.71% Pb, 0.48% U and 25.7 g/t Ag (Table 1).

Aaron Stone, CEO of Metallica Metals commented, "Our 2022 field mapping and prospecting program at Sammy Ridgeline has identified varying geological environments with significant potential to host several types of mineralization such as base metals, PGM's, and spodumene, which is a major source of hard rock lithium. Additional mapping and prospecting, trenching and channel sampling, and geophysical surveys will be required to develop a deeper understanding of the geology and amount of mineralization on the Project."

Highlights:

Completed prospecting and geological mapping which discovered a network of ultramafic intrusions across the Sammy Ridgeline West Block ( Figure 3 ). MCR related ultramafic conduits are known to host significant Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization in the immediate area, with the Sunday Lake discovery and TBN deposits neighbouring the property.





). MCR related ultramafic conduits are known to host significant Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization in the immediate area, with the Sunday Lake discovery and TBN deposits neighbouring the property. Trace amounts of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite mineralization were found within the ultramafic rocks, as well as some elevated levels of chromium (Cr), which has been noted by neighbouring Clean Air Metal's to be a significant indicator element for MCR related intrusions. Parts of the Escape and Current Lake deposits on the TBN Project have been noted to pool at the bottom of the ultramafic conduits. The presence of sulphide mineralization coupled with strong background Cr levels suggest the potential for PGM bearing massive sulphide at the base of the newly discovered Sammy Ridgeline ultramafic bodies.





Also discovered across the Sammy Ridgeline West Block were multiple outcropping pegmatite dykes. Dykes were noted to be up to 10m in width ( Figure 2 ). With the discovery of these dykes, a real potential for lithium mineralization exists across the property. Further work is required to determine the composition of these dykes and their ability to host spodumene mineralization.





). With the discovery of these dykes, a real potential for lithium mineralization exists across the property. Further work is required to determine the composition of these dykes and their ability to host spodumene mineralization. While the Sammy Ridgeline West Block revealed the excellent potential for PGM's and lithium, the East Block produced some exceptional grab sample results including up to 1.05% Cu, 0.99% Mo, 5.71% Pb, 0.48% U and 25.7 g/t Ag ( Table 1 ). These results came from revisiting existing showings and historical workings across the East Block and are explained further in the following points.





). These results came from revisiting existing showings and historical workings across the East Block and are explained further in the following points. High-grade polymetallic results that produced up to 0.99% Mo, 1.05% Cu and 25.7 g/t Ag were obtained from a known molybdenum showing located along an important fault that trends through Clean Air Metal's TBN Project and onto the southern portion of the Sammy Ridgeline East Block ( Table 1 ). Mineralization was hosted in quartz veins containing up to 5% molybdenite and chalcopyrite. Further work is required to determine the source and extents of this high-grade mineralization.





). Mineralization was hosted in quartz veins containing up to 5% molybdenite and chalcopyrite. Further work is required to determine the source and extents of this high-grade mineralization. A high-grade lead result of 5.71% Pb and 3.69 g/t Ag came from a grab sample taken from the muck pile of historical workings on the East Block, in close proximity east of the molybdenum showing (Table 1). The mineralization was found in a white quartz breccia containing up to 5% galena, hosted in metasediments. Finally, a high-grade uranium result that returned 0.48% U, 0.13% Pb and 16.4 g/t Ag was obtained from a known showing towards the eastern side of the East Block (Table 1). The mineralization was believed to be hosted in black pitchblende veinlets hosted in a mafic dyke.

Figure 1: Location of Metallica Metals' Sammy Ridgeline Ni-Cu-PGM Project with respect to adjacent properties including Clean Air Metal's Thunder Bay North Project and Impala Canada's Lac des Iles Pt-Pd Mine (refer to notes below for MRMR sources shown on map).



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Mineral Resource Estimate Sources and Cautionary Statements: The Sammy Ridgeline Project is contiguous to the Clean Air Metals Thunder Bay North Project. The Thunder Bay North Project is host to two significant deposits, Current Lake and Escape Lake, which together comprise an underground-constrained mineral resource estimate with an Indicated Resource of 14.5 million tonnes at 1.58 g/t Pt and 1.54 g/t Pd (8.12 g/t PtEq) and an Inferred Resource of 8.1 million tonnes at 0.67 g/t Pt and 0.69 g/t Pd (4.07 g/t PtEq) (MRE source: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Northern Ontario, Canada with an effective date of December 1, 2021 and filed on SEDAR under Clean Air Metals Inc.). The Sammy Ridgeline Project is also adjacent to the Impala Canada Lac des Iles PGM Mine. The Lac des Iles Mine contains proven and probable mineral reserves of 40.9 Mt at an average grade of 2.31 g/t Pd for 3.04 Moz of contained Pd (MRE source: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for Lac des Iles Mine with an effective date of July 4, 2018 and filed on SEDAR under Impala Canada Ltd.). Readers are cautioned that mineralization and mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates on adjacent and/or nearby properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Sammy Ridgeline Project (please refer to additional cautionary statements below).

Figure 2: Large felsic pegmatite dyke outcropping on the West Block of the Sammy Ridgeline Project.



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Assay Highlights - 2022 Geochemical Sampling Program Project Sample Cu_ppm U_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm Ag_ppm Mo_ppm East Block 237598 6.4 4,840 1,310 34.9 16.4 5.69 East Block 237610 57.2 0.6 55 8.5 10.6 6,480 East Block 237611 62.4 < 0.1 11.7 2.3 10.6 256 East Block 237613 32.5 < 0.1 18.7 3.8 3.22 1,400 East Block 237614 215 0.3 95.4 18.3 13.9 9,860 East Block 237615 1,900 0.7 18.6 29 15.9 3,080 East Block 237618 656 0.3 10.6 50.1 11.4 402 East Block 237619 15.7 < 0.1 5.6 2.9 7.36 542 East Block 237620 4.1 < 0.1 0.3 4.1 0.093 939 East Block 237625 261 1.7 18.9 75.3 1.31 2,720 East Block 237636 10,500 1.1 3.9 32.6 16.5 6,880 East Block 237637 166 0.4 1.4 17.1 0.278 2,270 East Block 237638 133 < 0.1 10.3 4 9.07 35.1 East Block 237639 1,120 < 0.1 12.8 19.3 17.8 333 East Block 237640 614 0.1 26.4 44 1.52 1,540 East Block 237642 6,320 1.1 71.3 78.7 25.7 6,900 East Block 237643 89.8 0.4 57,100 346 3.69 16.4 East Block 237647 23.8 4.9 4,620 2,130 1.41 20.6 East Block 237648 12.7 1.8 576 135 0.142 3.35

Table 1: Highlight assay results from grab sampling conducted across the East and West Blocks of the Sammy Ridgeline Project.

Figure 3: Significant sulphide mineralization (pyrite and chalcopyrite) found in outcropping ultramafics on the West Block of the Sammy Ridgeline Project.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

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Building Strong Relationships with Local First Nation Partners

The Company has commenced important relationships with local First Nations groups in the Thunder Bay region. Talks between the groups in regards to work permit applications across the two Sammy Ridgeline blocks are progressing well. Metallica applied for the two work permits during the 2022 field season and they remain pending while discussions continue. Planned work includes trenching programs in areas requiring follow-up work to further investigate mineralization potential. The Company is committed to building positive, long-lasting relationships with all local stakeholders and hopes to forge a strong connection with our First Nation partners as our work program progresses.

2023 Follow-up Exploration

The Company will continue to work on securing exploration permits with plans to achieve the following:

Bedrock stripping and mapping;

Channel sampling;

Detailed geological mapping;

Ground geophysical survey to delineate extents of potential PGM bearing sulphide mineralization;

Prospecting blitz in lithium pegmatite target areas identified during the 2022 campaign.

Analytical and QAQC Procedures

Metallica Metals implemented a Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) program for the Sammy Ridgeline Project prospecting program that complied with industry standard practices for sampling, chain of custody procedures, and analytical methods. Certified reference standards, blank material, and duplicates were routinely inserted by the project geologist as part of the QAQC program in addition to the control samples inserted by the laboratory. The grab samples were labelled and sealed in plastic sample bags, then transported to Activation Laboratories (ActLabs) in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where they were prepared and analyzed. ActLabs is independent of Metallica Metals.

Actlabs' QAQC system is registered to international quality standards through the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (including ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9002 specifications) and is accredited to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) Requirements and Guidance for the Accreditation of Testing Laboratories, specific to mineral, forensic and environmental testing laboratories.

Grab samples were analyzed for PGM's using the Fire Assay ICPOES technique (PGE-OES), and silver using Ag Aqua Regina-ICP-MS (1E-Ag) as well as a large suite of elements using the Aqua Regia ICPMS method (Ultratrace-1). The Company and its geological consultant confirm all assay results reported herein have passed QAQC protocols.

Qualified Person Statement and Data Verification

All scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared and approved by Aaron Stone, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Metallica Metals Corp., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Stone has verified all scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release including geophysical procedures and information on adjacent properties. No errors or omissions were noted during the data verification process.

This news release also contains scientific and technical information with respect to adjacent or similar mineral properties to the Sammy Ridgeline Project, which the Company has no interest in or rights to explore. Readers are cautioned that information regarding mineral resources and mineral reserves, geology, and mineralization on adjacent or similar properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Company's properties.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

METALLICA METALS CORP.

Aaron Stone, P.Geo.

Chief Executive Officer

astone@metallica-metals.com

Head Office:

Suite 600 - 890 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 1J9 Canada

Ph: (514) 235-6012

Toronto Office:

Suite 401 - 217 Queen Street West

Toronto, ON M5V 0R2 Canada

About Metallica Metals Corp.

Metallica Metals Corp. is a Canadian junior mining company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "MM". The Company is focused on acquiring and exploring gold-silver and platinum group metal (PGM) properties across Canada. The Company is currently exploring and developing its Starr Gold-Silver Project, and Sammy Ridgeline and Richview Pine PGM projects, which are all located adjacent to advanced mining projects in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at https://metallica-metals.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Information Statement

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's proposed acquisition, exploration program and the expectations for the mining industry. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation and environmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; liabilities inherent in water disposal facility operations; competition for, among other things, skilled personnel and supplies; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions; geological, technical, processing and transportation problems; changes in tax laws and incentive programs; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; and the other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159660
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Eastern Platinum Limited (TSX: ELR) (JSE: EPS) ("Eastplats" or the "Company") today announced the offering to its shareholders (the "Rights Offering") of rights (the "Rights") to acquire common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at the close of business on the record date of Thursday, April 6, 2023 ("Record Date"), on the basis of one Right for each Common Share held. Each Right will entitle the holder to subscribe for one Common Share of the Company upon payment of the subscription price of Cdn$0.11 or ZAR 1.4564 (145.64 South African cents) (based on the Applicable Exchange Rate as defined in the Rights Offering Circular) per Common Share (the "Basic Subscription Privilege"). Shareholders who fully exercise their Rights under the Basic Subscription Privilege will also be entitled to subscribe for additional Common Shares, on a pro rata basis, if available as a result of unexercised Rights prior to the expiry time of the Rights Offering (the "Additional Subscription Privilege").

The Rights will be listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") under the symbol "ELR.RT" on a "when issued" basis, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (the "JSE") under the symbol "EPSN" at 9:00 a.m. SAST on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The Rights Offering will close at 12:00 p.m. in South Africa and 2:00 p.m. (Vancouver time)/5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) (the "Expiry Time") on Friday, May 5, 2023, after which time unexercised Rights will be void and of no value.

The Rights will be issued only to shareholders on the Record Date (the "Eligible Holders") who are resident in a province or territory of Canada or in South Africa (the "Eligible Jurisdictions"). Shareholders will be presumed to be resident in the place shown on the corporate share registry or securities register (as the case may be), unless the contrary is shown to the Company's satisfaction. Neither the Offering Notice (defined below), nor the Rights Offering Circular (defined below) is to be construed as an offering of the Rights, and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights are not offered for sale in any jurisdiction outside of the Eligible Jurisdictions, including in the United States (the "Ineligible Jurisdictions"), or to any shareholders who are resident in any jurisdiction other than the Eligible Jurisdictions (the "Ineligible Holders"). Details of the Rights Offering will be set out in the rights offering notice ("Notice of Rights Offering") and rights offering circular ("Rights Offering Circular") which will be available from today under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website www.eastplats.com/investors/reports-publications/2023/.

The Company currently has 137,820,773 Common Shares issued. If all Rights issued under the Rights Offering are validly exercised, an additional 137,820,773 Common Shares will be issued. The Company is pleased to provide all the existing shareholders of Eastplats an opportunity to directly fund the capital investment required to take advantage of the proposed opportunities. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Rights Offering, subject to the results of the amount raised, on capital projects (focused on platinum group metals ("PGM") opportunities) expected to be completed during 2023 and, if sufficient funds are raised, on secondary projects, which are expected to begin in 2023 but which are not expected to be completed until the following year. The Company forecasts it has sufficient working capital to continue with its current operations in 2023, subject to the Retreatment Project option and loan assessment occurring in 2023.

The Company expects to use the net proceed from the Rights Offering to commence and/or complete, subject to the net proceeds from the Rights Offering, the following:

restart underground operations at the Crocodile River Mine, develop eastern limb projects, and support ongoing operations;

complete phase 3 of the Zandfontein Concentrator Plant;

purchase Zandfontein laboratory equipment and instruments;

upgrade information technology infrastructure, network, and equipment for South Africa operations;

invest in Crocodile River Mine property improvement and equipment upgrades;

develop Mareesburg project, subject to environmental work, legal compliance, and economic confirmation;

complete environmental impact assessment at Spitzkop;

complete additional eastern limb capital projects; and

execute corporate capital projects including implementation of a financial, planning, and analysis tool and completion of tax and corporate structure work.

Shareholders Holding Common Shares Listed on the TSX

The Notice of Rights Offering and accompanying rights certificate will be mailed to each shareholder of the Company resident in the provinces and territories of Canada as at the Record Date. Registered shareholders who wish to exercise their Rights must forward the completed rights certificate, together with the applicable funds, to the rights agent, TSX Trust Company, on or before the Expiry Time. Shareholders who own their Common Shares through an intermediary, such as a bank, trust company, securities dealer or broker, will receive materials and instructions from their intermediary.

Each Ineligible Holder will be sent a letter (the "Notice to Ineligible Shareholders") describing how Ineligible Holders may, in the Company's discretion, participate in the Rights Offering, provided such Ineligible Holder satisfies the Company that, among other things, the distribution to, and exercise by such Ineligible Holder of the Rights in the Rights Offering: (i) is not unlawful; and (ii) is exempt from any prospectus or similar filing requirement under the laws applicable to such Ineligible Holder or the laws of such Ineligible Holder's place of residence and does not require obtaining any approvals of a regulatory authority in such Ineligible Holder's place of residence. The Notice to Ineligible Shareholders will have attached a form of exempt purchaser status certificate to this effect (the "Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate").

Brokers cannot exercise the Rights on behalf of beneficial Ineligible Holders of Common Shares, unless the Ineligible Holder has completed an Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate and has provided same to the Company through the applicable broker.

Shareholders Holdings Common Shares Listed on the JSE

Eligible Holders of certificated Common Shares will be sent a form of instruction in respect of their letters of allocation. Eligible Holders of certificated Common Shares who exercise their Rights must complete the form of instruction in accordance with the instructions contained therein and lodge it, together with the amount due in ZAR with JSE Investor Services Proprietary Limited ("JSE Transfer Secretaries") on or before the Expiry Time.

Eligible Holders of dematerialized Common Shares who wish to exercise their Rights must notify their CSDP or broker of their acceptance of the Offering in the manner and time stipulated in their custody agreement with their CSDP or broker.

Ineligible Holders of certificated Common Shares will be sent a letter advising them that their letters of allocation will be issued to, and held on their behalf by, the JSE Transfer Secretaries and they will be sent an Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate. The Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate will set out the conditions required to be met, and procedures that must be followed, in order for such Ineligible Holders to participate in the Offering.

CSDPs or Brokers cannot follow the Rights in respect of Ineligible Holders of dematerialized Common Shares, unless the Ineligible Holder has completed an Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate and has provided same to the JSE Transfer Secretaries on or prior to Friday, April 28, 2023 (Ineligible Holders must confirm the provision of the Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate to their CSDP or Broker). After Friday, April 28, 2023, Ineligible Holders should instruct their CSDPs or Brokers to attempt to sell their Rights for the account of such holders and to deliver any proceeds of sale to such holders or allow their Rights to lapse.

The form of Exempt Purchaser Status Certificate has been sent to Ineligible Holders (or their CSDP or Broker) and will be available from the JSE Transfer Secretaries upon request, who can be contacted during ordinary South African business hours on (local) 086-147-2644 or (international) +27-11-029-0112.

General

Neither the Rights being offered or the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be exercised, offered or sold, as applicable, in the United States absent registration (which the Company has not sought) or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company. There shall be no offer or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification of such securities under the laws of any such jurisdiction.

A copy of the Notice of Rights Offering, the Rights Offering Circular and the Notice to Ineligible Shareholders are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website www.eastplats.com/investors/reports-publications/2023/.

About Eastern Platinum Limited

Eastplats owns directly and indirectly a number of PGM and chrome assets in the Republic of South Africa. All of the Company's properties are situated on the western limb of the Crocodile River Mine and eastern limb of Kennedy's Vale, Spitzkop and Mareesburg projects within the Bushveld Complex, the geological environment that hosts approximately 80% of the world's PGM-bearing ore.

Operations at the Crocodile River Mine currently include re-mining and processing its tailings resource to produce PGM and chrome concentrates from the Barplats Zandfontein tailings dam.

www.eastplats.com

For further information, please contact:

EASTERN PLATINUM LIMITED

Wylie Hui, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

whui@eastplats.com (email)

(604) 800-8200 (phone)

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "will", "plan", "intends", "may", "will", "could", "expects", "anticipates" and similar expressions. Further disclosure of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and other forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's ability to raise funds through the Rights Offering, its use of proceeds or future working capital requirements. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, unanticipated problems that may arise in the Company's production processes, commodity prices, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, need for additional funding and availability of such additional funding on acceptable terms, economic conditions, currency fluctuations, competition and regulations, legal proceedings and risks related to operations in foreign countries.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, the "Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information" section contained in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date they are given and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation, and does not undertake, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159727
Chinese envoy urges Security Council to address adverse effects of sanctions on DPRK

Xinhua) 15:15, March 24, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for the Security Council to address the adverse impact of sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

As a responsible and permanent member of the Security Council, China supports the implementation of the council's DPRK-related resolutions and supports the work of the Security Council 1718 Committee on DPRK sanctions as long as they do not have an adverse humanitarian impact on people's livelihoods, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the panel of experts of the 1718 Committee until April 30, 2024.

"It is disconcerting that for some time now, with the compound effects of sanctions, the pandemic, and other factors, the DPRK is increasingly facing a grave humanitarian situation. It warrants the attention of the Council, the Committee, and the panel, and their corresponding actions," said Geng.

China said it is regrettable that its proposals to improve the working methods and performance of the panel of experts were not reflected in the resolution, Geng said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
LINCOLN, NE / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / The Arbor Day Foundation and POWER Engineers Inc., a global consulting engineering firm, are expanding their partnership to impact forests around the United States through strategic reforestation efforts. POWER has committed to providing support to plant a minimum of 5,000 trees annually for the next 10 years with a focus on forests of greatest need.

The partnership began in 2022 with the planting of 5,000 trees in Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho, their home state. This project focused on wildlife recovery within the Red River Ranger District, an area significantly degraded by unsustainable forest management, fires, and disease. By planting a diverse blend of native tree species - an essential component for both forest health and biodiversity of plant and animal species - the project helped to restore essential habitat and bolster the resiliency of the district. Each year, POWER will work with the Foundation to support programs in other forests of need, ensuring the partnership leads to meaningful, measurable impact across vulnerable regions.

"We look forward to continuing our work alongside POWER Engineers in the years to come. Partnerships like this help increase our ability to plant the right trees in the places that need them most," said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Together we can help restore and protect our forests and ensure these vital ecosystems have a chance to thrive well into the future."

For the past 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has worked to plant nearly 500 million trees in forests and communities around the world. Through a global network of partnerships, the Foundation facilitates projects that empower organizations of all sizes to reach their sustainability goals via measurable, impactful work through trees and forests. The Foundation recently announced an initiative to plant 500 million trees over the next 5 years in the forests and communities that need them most.

"We're excited to be partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to help rebuild forests across the U.S. that need reforestation due to the devastation of wildfires," said Forrest Neumann, POWER's Fleet Program Manager. "We found reforestation to be one of the best ways for us to care for the environment and to help directly in areas where POWER operates."

"We're focused on doing good for our partners and communities and partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation is a great step in that direction," said Chuck Kemp, Chief Financial Officer of POWER Engineers. "We are excited to demonstrate POWER's care for our communities and our environment through helping rebuild forests of greatest need."

POWER Engineers is committed to helping create a more sustainable future through their partnerships with clients and through their own sustainability actions. They actively help clients thoughtfully design projects that consider environmental impacts and lead to more sustainable infrastructure. They are focused on ensuring their employees, clients, and communities prosper for years to come, which is reflected in their 10-year commitment to help rebuild forests around the country.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation organizations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners, and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About POWER Engineers

POWER Engineers Inc. is an engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in integrated solutions for clients in the power delivery, power generation, food and beverage, government, renewables and storage, campus energy, and oil and gas industries. Founded in 1976, it is an employee-owned company with 50 offices and more than 3,500 employees across North America.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the world's largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of greatest need, the Foundation - alongside its more than 1 million members, supporters and valued partners - has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Arbor Day Foundation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Arbor Day Foundation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/arbor-day-foundation

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Arbor Day Foundation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745613/The-Arbor-Day-Foundation-and-POWER-Engineers-Partner-To-Support-US-Forests
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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NNA) (the "Company" or "Golden Independence") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Napoleon Gold project (the "Property") located in Kamloops, British Columbia.

"The Napoleon project represents an exciting opportunity to advance generative exploration and add a discovery-potential project to our project portfolio," commented Jeremy Poirier, CEO of Golden Independence. "Located in a pro-mining jurisdiction with year-round access, in addition to being wholly-owned with no underlying royalties, we would be able to aggressively advance the project. We are currently finalizing plans for an exploration program to commence in Q2/23. This project complements our more advanced Independence joint-venture project in Nevada, which is host to a NI 43-101 Resource and PEA, and provides shareholders with exploration-stage exposure."

Napoleon Gold Project

The Napoleon Gold Project is comprised of 996 hectares located in the Kamloops Mining Division approximately 35 kilometres northwest of the city of Kamloops, BC. The property is wholly-owned with no underlying royalties. The Property has excellent infrastructure with road access via paved and well-maintained gravel roads, in addition to benefiting from a strong mining workforce with several active mines in the area including New Gold's New Afton Mine.

The Property is prospective for intrusion-related gold mineralization in addition to other related styles of mineralization such as large bulk tonnage gold-copper porphyry-style mineralization and paleo-placer style of mineralization. Exploration in the region dates back to the 1970's and 1980's with the discovery of gold mineralization in several clusters of quartz vein float material over a diorite intrusion with grades varying from 3.4 to 547 g/t gold1. The Property adjoins the Bonaparte deposit which has seen extensive historic exploration including underground development, open pit mining, and a bulk sampling which yielded grades of 26.5 g/t gold from a 3,700 metric tonne bulk sample2.

Golden Independence cautions investors it has yet to verify the historical information and further cautions mineralization on the Bonparte deposit is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Napolean Gold Project.

The Terms of the Agreement.

The Property is being acquired pursuant pursuant to a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") with 1396791 BC Ltd. (the "Vendor Company"). Pursuant to an amalgamation agreement entered into among the Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company ("SubCo") and the Vendor Company, SubCo and the Vendor Company will amalgamate to form a wholly owned subsidiary of the company and all of the outstanding common shares of the Vendor Company will be exchanged for approximately 7,000,000 common shares of the Company. The Amalgamation remains subject to customary conditions of closing, including the approval of the shareholders of the Vendor Company and the Canadian Securities Exchange and is expected to complete shortly.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (BC) a Qualified Person under NI43-101 and a Director and the President of Golden Independence Mining Corp.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is a development company currently focused on the advanced-stage Independence project located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend of Nevada. The Independence project hosts an M&I resource of 334,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 847,000 ounces of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,078 per ounce of gold.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 1.604.722.9842 Email: info@goldenindependence.co

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the completion of the Amalgamation. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions, primarily the assumption that all conditions to closing of the Amalgamation will be satisfied, that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies including, primarily but without limitation, the risk that the Canadian Securities Exchange and the shareholders of the Vendor Company will not approve the Amalgamation. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

1 ARIS 32930 BC Geological Survey Assessment Report. https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/32930.pdf/

2 National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Bonaparte Gold Project for Westkam Gold Corp. by R. Kemp and dated 2019-Apr-12

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159715
Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has obtained additional drill results from its Begin-Lamarche property located in the region of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec, Canada. These additional results are further to the Company's press release dated March 9, 2023.

Highlights:

Drill hole BL-23-03 intersected 8.4% P2O5 over 64.2 m starting in mineralization at bedrock ground level.

Layer 3 discovered originally with drill hole BL-23-02 (8.4% P2O5 over 57.3 m) was found to extend to drill hole BL-23-03 (8.4% P2O5 over 64.2 m). This establishes continuity of Layer 3 on strike and along dip.

Newly discovered layer 4 across drill hole BL-23-03 (between 143.0 m and 201.0 m) and across drill hole BL-23-04 (between 4.8 m to 45.0 m).

"These drill results confirm the extension of the high grade phosphate layer discovered originally with hole BL-23-02 along with a new fourth layer," commented First Phosphate President Peter Kent. "What is more, the company has now drilled 17 drill holes within the main 2,000 m magnetic trend and all of them carry phosphate layers ranging from a few meters to an excess of 100 m."

"We note the extent of the work carried out by First Phosphate that has brought forth these impressive phosphate discoveries to our region of the Fjord-du-Saguenay MRC," commented Gerald Savard, Mayor of Begin and Prefect of the Fjord-du-Saguenay MRC. "The potential to create new jobs and wealth, as well as the possibility of improving our infrastructure through the responsible mining of phosphate, is very interesting for our municipality and for our MRC."

Table 1 - Assay Results - Begin-Lamarche Property Hole From (m) To (m) Length1 (m) P2O5 (%) TiO2 (%) Note BL-23-01 5.9 29.6 23.8 10.6 5.2 Previously

released 131.9 215.4 83.5 7.8 4.2 BL-23-02 16.6 29.6 13.1 9.9 6.5 Previously

released 143.8 201.0 57.3 8.4 3.4 BL-23-03 13.8 78.0 64.2 8.4 4.4 143.0 160.8 17.8 5.8 4.1 183.0 201.0 18.0 5.3 4.1 BL-23-04 4.8 45.0 40.2 5.1 2.7 68.65 76.7 8.05 8.3 4.5

1Length is measured along the full length of the hole. True width is estimated to be 60-80% of the core length.

Drill hole BL-23-03 intersected 8.4% P2O5 (phosphate) over 64.2 m and this phosphate layer is the extension of the originally discovered Layer 3 that returned 8.4% P2O5 over 57.3 m (drill hole BL-23-02). BL-23-03 is located 100 m to the east of BL-23-02 (See Figure 1). The new results from BL-23-03 establish the continuity of this phosphate layer along strike and along dip. The mineralization is found within nelsonitic peridotite containing 15-20% apatite on average. Parameters for both holes are listed in Table 2.

Another area of interest was discovered to the southeast of Layer 3. Both new drill holes reported the presence of another phosphate layer, Layer 4, to the southeast that averages 5.0% P2O5. This layer is composed of smaller beds of nelsonitic peridotite with rocks in between the beds that also carrying apatite (phosphate mineral).

Full drill results to date indicate the presence of four large phosphate layers ranging from 60 m to 83 m in thickness and at least 300 m in length. Grades vary from 5.0 % to 10.6% P2O5 (phosphate).

The Company has now drilled 17 holes into the main magnetic trend at its Begin-Lamarche property for a total length of 2,000 m. Layers with apatite mineralization have been identified in all drill holes. Layers range from a few meters to an excess of 100 m in thickness along the length of the holes. Samples from another 7 holes have been delivered to the assay laboratory and results are expected in the coming weeks.

Figure 1

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Table 2 - Parameters for Newly Reported and Existing Drill Holes Hole Easting Northing Azimuth Dip Length (m) Note BL-23-01 326558 5403369 150 -45 244.5 Previously released BL-23-02 326558 5403366 330 -45 201.0 Previously released BL-23-03 326651 5403385 150 -45 201.0 BL-23-04 326704 5403275 150 -45 201.0

Quality Control (QA/QC)

The sampling of, and assay data from, the drill core is monitored through the Company's implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to the CIM Mineral Exploration Best Practices Guidelines. Drill core (NQ size) is logged and samples are selected by Laurentia Exploration Inc. geologists and sawn in half with a diamond saw at the project site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals may vary from 0.5 to 3 metres in length depending on the geological observations. Half-core samples are packaged and sent by ground transportation in sealed rice bags to an independent laboratory, Activation Laboratories Ltd. of Ancaster, Ontario (ISO/IEC 17025:2005 with CAN-P-1579). The core samples are crushed up to 80% passing 2mm (10 mesh), riffle split 250 g and pulverized (mild steel) to 95% passing -200 mesh. Each sample is analyzed for whole rock analysis (code 4B) for 10 major oxides and 7 trace elements by lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion and analysis by ICP-OES. The laboratory has its own QA/QC protocols where blanks and internal standards are inserted alternatively every 10 samples. A formal chain-of-custody procedure was adopted for security of samples until their delivery at the laboratory.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo. Mr. Laverdiere is Geologist and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Additional Disclosure

The Company announces that it has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group ("ITG") to provide market-making services in accordance with CSE policies. ITG will trade shares of the Company on the CSE/ NEO/ TSXV and all other trading venues with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the Company's common shares.

The Company also announces that it has entered into a contractual agreement for consulting services, being market research, market insights, analysis services and other services which have recently fallen under investor relations activities with Yabucoa Partners Corp., dba Streetwise Reports and affiliate StreetSmart ("Yabucoa"). Yabucoa's engagement is for a period of 6 months. The engagement began January 3, 2023 and will end July 3, 2023. The company has paid Yabucoa a fee of USD $59,000.

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, at full ESG standard and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of total land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements.

-30-

For additional information, please contact:

Peter Kent, President

peter@firstphosphate.com

Tel: +1 (647) 707-1943

Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com

Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

Follow First Phosphate:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate/

Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the Company's commitment to producing high purity phosphate materials at full ESG standard under a low carbon footprint; the Company's plans to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's proposed development of its land claims in the region of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec; the Company will release additional assays results as soon they become available; and the Company's plans for continued exploration on its Begin-Lamarche property.

Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to producing high purity phosphate materials at full ESG standard under a low carbon footprint; the Company's ability to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's ability to develop its land claims in the region of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec; the Company's ability to release additional assays results in the coming weeks; the Company's ability to carry out its plans for continued exploration on its Begin-Lamarche property; and the Company's operations will create new jobs and improve local infrastructure.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to produce high purity phosphate materials at full ESG standard under a low carbon footprint; the Company's inability to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's inability to develop its land claims in the region of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec; the Company's inability to release additional assays results in the coming weeks; and the Company's inability to carry out its plans for continued exploration on its Begin-Lamarche property; and the Company's operations will not create new jobs and improve local infrastructure.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159731
CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, Netherlands, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerebrum Tech, a cutting-edge technology company in Turkey, has unveiled its latest innovation - the artificial intelligence application 'Cere'. Utilizing a deep learning-based language model, Cere allows mobile phone users to communicate through both text and voice. With its advanced capabilities, Cere can recommend music based on the user's mood, collect news, and provide information on a wide range of topics from food and fashion to health and sports. As a highly empathetic language model, Cere is the first-of-its-kind, showcasing the company's commitment to developing innovative mobile applications that enhance the user experience.





It is underlined that Cere, which was developed based on broad language models and trained to be empathetic, is the first mobile application of its kind developed. According to Erdem Erkul, Ph.D., the Founder and Chairman of the Board at Cerebrum Tech, "Cere is not only an influencer who keeps up with the latest trends but also a valuable colleague who streamlines business operations with its corporate version. With its user-friendly mobile application, Cere empowers users to effortlessly integrate the power of artificial intelligence into both their personal and professional lives."

Cerebrum Tech, a forward-thinking technology company focused on developing sustainable web3 ecosystems, has announced the launch of its latest creation - the artificial intelligence chat robot, Cere. This innovative chatbot is now available on mobile application and utilizes a deep learning-based, self-dependent language model structure. This technology has piqued the interest and curiosity of people worldwide following the release of ChatGPT. As the first mobile chat application in Turkey to incorporate 3D virtual characters, Cere offers language support in Turkish, English, German, Spanish, and Korean. This innovative application provides users with both text and voice chat capabilities and can be easily downloaded for free from both Google Play and the App Store. Advanced features, including those available with the Pro and Enterprise plans, are also available to users.

Artificial intelligence influencer growing on Cereverse

Erdem Erkul, Ph.D., the Founder and Chairman of the Board at Cerebrum Tech, a new-generation technology company focused on artificial intelligence and web3 technologies, explained, "Cere is an intelligent virtual character capable of providing information, offering commentary, and expressing opinions on a wide range of topics. This virtual character allows Cere to interact with users in a more authentic and effective manner. We position Cere, not just as a chatbot, but as an Artificial Intelligence Specialist and employee of our company. As an integral part of the Cereverse ecosystem, Cere also functions as an influencer who closely follows trends in technology and fashion, making it a unique addition to our team. Cere also extends its reach to social media platforms, where it continues to interact with people and share valuable insights. Our virtual character, Cere, boasts a wide range of features, including the ability to conduct research, learn quickly, and continuously improve itself. With its impressive capabilities, we believe that Cere will play an increasingly important role in our daily lives.'

A friend that can be spoken to anytime

Erkul, Ph.D. highlights that Cere, accessible anytime and anywhere through the mobile application, offers numerous benefits for both daily life and business settings. He explains, "Cere is a great chat friend who can provide recommendations on topics ranging from fashion to music, tailoring its suggestions to fit your mood and preferences. With features designed to meet the needs of users of all ages, Cere can share news headlines, offer recipes, and provide quick answers to questions related to education. Cere also serves as a valuable colleague - we offer a corporate version that can attend meetings on our 3D communication platform, Ceremeet, and instantly present necessary information, send transcripts and meeting summaries to your email address, or simulate job interviews to help you prepare more effectively."

The more users chat, the smarter she will get

Erkul, Ph.D., reveals the exciting developments planned for future versions of Cere, stating, "Cere is an application that continuously learns and adapts to its users, enabling it to provide more accurate and effective responses over time. As Cere continues to evolve, we plan to enhance its facial expressions and movements, allowing it to express its thoughts and emotions more vividly. In addition, we are currently developing games within the Cereverse ecosystem, where users will be able to enjoy playing alongside Cere."

To Download Cere:

App Store (IOS):

https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/cere-the-ai/id6445912888

Play Store (Android):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.CerebrumTech.CereAi

About Cerebrum Tech:

Cerebrum Tech is a cutting-edge technology company founded in Turkey in 2021, committed to providing sustainable and efficient solutions for digital transformation. With its team of experts, Cerebrum Tech develops innovative applications in the fields of smart cities, metaverse, sustainability, and cyber security, as well as artificial intelligence, data security solutions, and consulting services. The company operates in various sectors such as games, smart urbanism, education, health industry, automotive, and defense industries. Cerebrum Tech is expanding its global presence with offices located in Silicon Valley, Istanbul, Seoul, Ankara, Netherlands, Malta, and London, and aspires to be an international technology startup studio that fosters young talent and promotes innovation.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039675/Cere_App.jpg

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - DROPFX, an innovative e-commerce company, is excited to announce the launch of their latest product, Bugoff Drops, a natural and effective insect repellent. Using Nootkatone, a non-toxic, food-grade, new active ingredient for developing insecticides and insect repellents, Bugoff Drops offer a safe and effective solution that does not use any harmful chemicals. The innovative product has proven to be an extreme repellent to mosquitoes, flies, moths, and termites, making it a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts.

Joshua Hollings

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"Bugoff Drops will be directly comparable to toxic artificial mosquito repelling compounds like DEET and picaridin, which are commonly found in bug repellents. However, with Bugoff Drops, users can rest easy knowing that they are using a safe and natural product to repel insects," stated Joshua Hollings, founder, DROPFX.

Unlike traditional bug repellents, Bugoff Drops are long-lasting, non-itchy, have no side effects, and do not cause body reactions. The team at DROPFX has worked tirelessly to develop a product that is not only effective but also easy to use. Users can simply ingest the drops and venture outdoors. The drops create a "bubble" around the user that acts as an effective repellant.

"We are thrilled to launch Bugoff Drops and offer a safe, natural alternative to traditional bug repellents," added Joshua Hollings. "Our product is perfect for those who want to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about the harmful effects of traditional bug sprays. We're confident that Bugoff Drops will be a game-changer in the bug repellent industry."

Bugoff Drops are available on DROPFX's website.

About DROPFX:

DROPFX is a botanical sciences e-commerce company manufacturing high-quality products that are safe and effective. Founded by Joshua Hollings, Eric Favot, Brian Rawlins, and Jonathan Mele, DROPFX has been making waves in the industry since its launch three years ago. With over 1.3 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, the company is on the fast track to global expansion.

Media contact:

Company name - DROPFX

Contact name - Joshua Hollings

City - Toronto

Country - Canada

Website - https://dropfx.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159743
RARE CASK 42.1 - CAPTURING THE TRUE MEANING OF TIME

PARIS, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A decade after the release of RARE CASK 42.6, LOUIS XIII is proud to introduce RARE CASK 42.1. A true representation of the work of time and nature, combined with craftsmanship and mastery, showcasing the pinnacle of LOUIS XIII Cognac. There will only be a limited number of 775 distinctive black crystal decanters released to the global market.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9151351-louis-xiii-cognac-unveils-rare-cask/

RARE CASK 42.1 is revealed in Venice, with the theme 'Care For Wonders' and will be available to buy exclusively at the LOUIS XIII Boutique at Harrods.

The tiercons of LOUIS XIII are located in the cellars of the Domaine du Grollet and are in possession of an invaluable collection of eaux-de-vie and memories that have been distilled from the terroir of Cognac Grande Champagne, from which LOUIS XIII Cognac is born. It was in one of these unique tiercons that the liquid of RARE CASK 42.1 was aged and ultimately discovered.

RARE CASK 42.1 was uncovered by Baptiste Loiseau, fifth-generation Cellar Master of LOUIS XIII. It represents a special moment in the career of a LOUIS XIII Cellar Master, because it is unlikely that such a discovery will occur again in one's lifetime.

"A year ago, I noticed something subtle and extraordinary about a singular tiercon. It had been almost ten years since discovering the last Rare Cask, and then the gift from nature came. Rare Cask 42.1 has very specific nose and palate sensations that creates a perfect point of balance." - says Baptiste Loiseau.

Each Cellar Master's lifelong goal is to uphold the LOUIS XIII legacy, which includes the meticulous tasting of the eaux-de-vie as they mature and the never-ending transmission of savoir-faire. Former Cellar Master Pierrette Trichet discovered RARE CASK 43.8 in 2004. Together, Baptiste Loiseau and Pierrette Trichet uncovered RARE CASK 42.6 in 2009. Baptiste Loiseau has now discovered RARE CASK 42.1 for the third time in LOUIS XIII's history, defying the course of normal time.

"In order to discover Rare Cask 42.1, I listened to my instincts and favoured emotion over science. I called upon my memories. It took me back to my childhood and my roots here in Cognac. No other spirit can transport you back into the past and evoke such strong emotions as a Rare Cask of LOUIS XIII." - says Baptiste Loiseau.

Each tiercon is born from French oak trees that take over 100 years to reach maturity. The eaux-de-vie change to become more intense and develop intriguing mahogany tones. This single tiercon revealed its enigmatic and unpredictable aromatic character, providing a unique expression of LOUIS XIII Cognac never before experienced, with an unexpected 42.1% ABV.

The tasting of this RARE CASK 42.1 will also be made possible through a crafted experience in thirteen carefully selected locations gloablly, including the recently refurbished Vesper Bar at The Dorchester in London, and names to be revealed across Paris, Zurich, Dubai, Miami, New York, and Kuala Lumpur.

Each decanter housing the RARE CASK 42.1, has been made using exceptionally rare black crystal handcrafted by Baccarat - a splendid example of how art and expertise can coexist. For a brief instant, 20 master craftsmen must work in unison in a race against time to complete more than 50 precise steps before the molten material solidifies into a radiant work of art. Ultimately, the decanter is dressed in a gold and rhodium finished neck, while the ring is finely engraved with quadrilobe patterns in reference to France's fleur de lys.

RARE CASK 42.1 is the first edition to be presented as a ritual: The black crystal decanter is accompanied by two Pillet crystal glasses ornated with black quatrefoils and a serving pipette featuring a black medallion.

About LOUIS XIII

Since 1874, LOUIS XIII Cognac is forever reborn from the precious eaux-de-vie of Cognac Grande Champagne, handed down through generations and artfully blended. Time is the raw material with which this rare spirit is crafted, its essence unwavering.

Guided by Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau, LOUIS XIII is the symbol of an enduring bond with Nature and Terroir, strengthened by the patina of age. Each drop is a living legacy, each decanter a celebration of visionary minds and human hands that shape the future by making a mark on tomorrow, today.

Think a century ahead.

Visit uk.louisxiii-cognac.com/ or discover RARE CASK 42.1 via rarecask-42-1.louisxiii-cognac.com/

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Notes to Editors

For more information on LOUIS XIII, imagery requests, or product requests for shoots, please contact: sarah@elevenmeadow.com, warisara@elevenmeadow.com or louise@elevenmeadow.com

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / U.S. Bank



Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

When Anita Colvin took a job as a part-time teller at a U.S. Bank branch in the greater Portland, Oregon, area, she had no idea it would lead to a career in financial services.

"I was a total accidental banker," Colvin said. "My plan was to take a year off school and work the part-time teller job while I figured out what I wanted to do with my life, and here I am 25 years later."

Colvin spent more than 12 years in branch banking, earning a series of promotions and working her way up to a district manager role, then joined the business banking group before she saw an opportunity on the equipment finance team in 2016.

Colvin initially served as director of sales for the equipment finance team's small-ticket group, which generally supports customers with transactions below $1 million. In early 2021, she became the head of U.S. Bank Equipment Finance's manufacturing vendor services and the first woman general manager in that sales organization, serving clients across the United States.

As its name implies, manufacturing vendor services provides financing for manufacturers in metal-cutting, plastics, woodworking, glass, stone and other manufacturing industries to purchase or upgrade equipment. The U.S. Bank team works with equipment manufacturers to provide financing to their industrial customers in a fashion similar to auto manufacturers providing financing to consumers.

"I'm always of the mindset that great leaders ask great questions, and my team would certainly tell you I ask a lot of them." - Anita Colvin

Colvin wasn't an expert on the ins and outs of manufacturing when she accepted this leadership position.

"When I took this role, I knew enough about manufacturing to be dangerous, and I still continue to learn every day," she said. "In my sales organization, we have folks who have been in this space for many years and are experts because they're working on transactions every day. I'm always of the mindset that great leaders ask great questions, and my team would certainly tell you I ask a lot of them."

Colvin takes pride in being the first woman to serve in her role.

Traditionally, there has not been a large representation of women in senior leadership positions in the equipment finance industry, especially within the sales organizations, she said.

"There has been a big focus in the industry to change that," Colvin said. "The workforce is becoming more diverse, which is exciting."

Colvin is active in diversity efforts, serving as an advocate for women in several professional organizations. She serves as the treasurer on the Women in Manufacturing Oregon Chapter Board, an organization focused on supporting, promoting and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry. She is also a member of the U.S. Bank Women's Business Resource Group and an active mentor in both the internship and MentorConnect programs at U.S. Bank.

"I'm absolutely trying to help other women follow my path," she said. "Creating a diverse team is a critical piece of moving forward. When we all think alike, we limit our long-term growth."

While the industry may be traditionally male-dominated, Colvin said she hasn't faced a great deal of bias.

"People have been extremely open and welcoming, giving me the grace to ask questions and learn," she said. "I've been so blessed to have great mentors and sponsors at the bank who advocated for me."

The people Anita interacts with are what she likes most about the job.

"Whether it's working with my team or working with our clients or customers, it's really about building mutually beneficial relationships," she said. "I just love watching people succeed."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from U.S. Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: U.S. Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/us-bank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: U.S. Bank

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745622/First-Woman-To-Lead-Sales-Group-Wants-Others-To-Follow-in-Her-Footsteps
IETF members and new SCITT Community look to drive real-world implementations of IETF SCITT specifications

RKVST announces its participation in the upcoming Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) 116 Hackathon taking place March 25 and 26 in Yokohama, Japan. The hackathon will seek to exercise and inform the draft standards from the IETF Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency and Trust (SCITT) Working Group.

Supply chain risk and the serious threat posed by supply chain attacks are top of mind since the widely discussed SUNBURST attack (which famously affected SolarWinds, VMware and others), Kaseya ransomware attack and many others. Businesses need the ability to readily determine whether products and all their components meet security, reliability, privacy and sustainability requirements.

The IETF SCITT Working Group aims to improve supply chain security with the development of specifications that make the actions of entities in today's increasingly complex supply chain transparent and accountable. A newly formed SCITT Community is complementary to this Working Group and aims to drive the adoption and development of these specifications through collaboration and real-world implementations, with representatives from Fraunhofer, mesur.io, Microsoft and RKVST, among others.

RKVST Provenance-as-a-Service will be used as the back end to an open source SCITT API Emulator. The emulator is intended as a standard client that mirrors the draft SCITT architecture specification. It was developed collaboratively by SCITT Community members to test and prove technical practicality and commercial interoperability for consumer choice. This SCITT emulator, along with an open source View COSE tool, will enable participants to experiment with the draft standards in a practical way. Working Group members, developers and subject matter experts will have the opportunity to discuss, collaborate and refine the IETF SCITT specifications to help solve supply chain accountability and transparency challenges.

Jon Geater, chief product officer, RKVST said:

"Right now, it's challenging to manage the ongoing compliance of products and services against requirements across global end-to-end supply/value chains, the root causes being; insufficient standards for verifying identities of parties, tamper-proof and independently verifiable data stores; lack of legally meaningful and persistent supply/value chain data; and the absence of globally interoperable transparency services and trusted service discovery. The IETF SCITT Working Group aims to address these challenges with a set of specifications that will, over time, become standards -- enabling multiple projects, products and services to interoperate. With this hackathon and other practical activities, we are investing in driving forward understanding and helping to accelerate the development of those standards for the benefit of all."

More information

Participate in the IETF 116 Hackathon both remote and in-person

IETF SCITT Working Group

IETF SCITT Community

About RKVST

RKVST enables organizations to build trustworthy digital supply chains. Whether you're tracking nuclear material, relying on data from connected devices or eliminating supply chain disputes, RKVST evidence ledgers eliminate the frustration, time wasting and uncertainty of manual data verification. The RKVST platform allows supply chain partners to track and share evidence about assets and data and instantly verify they are safe to use and fit for purpose. Underpinned by blockchain technology, RKVST integrates easily with existing software and secure data storage systems enabling the integrity, transparency and trust every supply chain needs to move faster and improve resiliency in business operations. To learn more, visit RKVST.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005245/en/

Contacts:

Liz Harris, vice president marketing, RKVST

liz.harris@rkvst.com

Jackie Solis, PR for RKVST (U.S.)

jackie@bospar.com

Allie Andrews or Tracey Treanor, PR for RKVST (U.K. and Europe)

alliea@prpr.co.uk traceyt@prpr.co.uk

+44 (0)1442 245030
Notice is hereby given that on the initiative and by the resolution of the Board of AB Klaipedos nafta, legal entity code 110648893, with the registered office at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda (hereinafter - the Company), Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company will be held on 28 April 2023 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Company's office at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda, in the administrative office of the Company (in the hall of the meeting on the 2nd floor).

Agenda of the meeting:

Announcement of the Auditor's Report regarding the Financial Statements and Annual Report of the Company for the year 2022 to the shareholders; Announcement of the Annual Report of the Company for the year 2022 to the shareholders; Approval of the audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2022; Approval of the appropriation of profit (loss) of the Company for the year 2022; Approval of Report on the remuneration of the Company;

The shareholders will be registered from 12:00 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. The persons intending to participate in the meeting shall have a personal ID document (an authorized representative shall have an authorization approved under the established procedure. The natural person's authorization shall be notarized. An authorization issued in a foreign state shall be translated into the Lithuanian language and legalized under the procedure prescribed by the laws).

A shareholder or his proxy shall have the right to vote in writing in advance by filling in a general ballot paper. At the request of the shareholder, the Company shall send a general ballot paper to the shareholder by registered mail free of charge at least 10 days before the meeting. The filled-in general ballot paper and the document attesting the voting right shall be submitted to the Company no later than until the meeting, sending by registered mail or providing them at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice.

The shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes may propose additions to the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders by submitting with every proposed additional item of the agenda a draft resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or, when no resolution is required, an explanation. Proposals on addition to the agenda shall be submitted in writing or sent by e-mail. Written proposals shall be submitted to the Company on business days or sent by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. Proposals submitted by e-mail shall be sent to the following e-mails: info@kn.lt and s.granickiene@kn.lt . The agenda shall be supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. If the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders is supplemented, the Company shall notify on the additions no later than 10 days before the meeting in the same ways as in the case of convocation of the meeting.

The shareholders, who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes, at any time before the general meeting of shareholders or during the meeting, may propose new draft resolutions on items which are or will be included in the agenda of the meeting. The proposals may be submitted in writing or sent by e-mail. Written proposals shall be submitted to the Company on business days or sent by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. Proposals submitted by e-mail shall be sent to the following e-mails: info@kn.lt and s.granickiene@kn.lt .

The shareholders shall have the right to submit to the Company in advance questions relating to the items on the agenda of the meeting. The shareholders may submit their written questions to the Company on business days or send by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice no later than 3 business days before the meeting. The Company will reply to the questions by e-mail or in writing before the meeting, except the questions which are related to the Company's commercial (industrial) secret, confidential information or which have been submitted later than 3 business days before the meeting.

The Company provides the possibility of voting at the meeting by submitting to the Company a general ballot paper signed with a qualified electronic signature no later than 1:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. The shareholder shall have the right to authorize through electronic communications means another personand s.granickiene@kn.lt no later than until the last business day before the meeting at 1:00 p.m. The proxy and the notice must be issued in writing. The proxy and the notice to the Company shall be signed with the electronic signature but not the letter sent by e-mail. By submitting the notice to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software free of charge to verify the shareholder's electronic signature.

The record date of the meeting shall be 21 April 2023 (only those persons who will be shareholders of the Company at the close of the record date of the general meeting of shareholders or their authorized persons, or persons with whom an agreement on assignment of the voting right has been executed, may participate and vote at the general meeting of shareholders).

The record date which entitles shareholders to receive a portion of the Company's profit (dividend) - 15 May 2023.

The shareholders of the Company may familiarise with the draft resolution of the meeting and the form of the general ballot paper under the procedure prescribed by the laws in the registered office of the Company at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda.

Mindaugas Kveksas, Chief Financial Officer, +370 46 391 772.

Attachments
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / GoDaddy



Originally published on GoDaddy Life

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at GoDaddy?

To get the personal out of the way: I have a bit of a mixed background and sometimes it's hard for people to wrap their head around. My Dad is German, my Mum is Turkish and they had been based in the UK, where I was born, before we moved to Australia when I was about 10. Australia still remains 'home' for me, but I moved to Turkey in 2007 and then hopped around Europe until settling in Dubai with my family after having my son.

I started my journey with GoDaddy back in 2015, as the third employee in EMEA based out of our small London office. I was running marketing and communications in the region, focusing on the UK and Turkey, our two core markets, and then gradually expanded my scope into product and broader business strategy as we deepened our internationalization. Over the years, I expanded my scope to full go-to-market management launching and managing South Africa alongside Turkey, before taking on launch and operational management of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The MENA role was pivotal for me. I made the decision to reduce my maternity leave from 6-9 months to just 3-months after quite a traumatic experience at the end of my pregnancy and came back to this role, which helped me pull myself together very quickly while navigating my first steps of motherhood. I had moved back to Istanbul where my husband was based for the birth, but we moved to Dubai before my son turned one and against the backdrop of all of this, returning to this role really helped me keep hold of who I am, but also build confidence at my ability to manage both roles at once, with the support of the company behind me. I'm extremely grateful for having the opportunity to do that.

Today, I've expanded on my MENA role to lead Commercial Strategy across Rest of World (RoW) under the leadership of Laura Messerschmitt. What does that mean, you ask? My team and I develop strategy for audiences, products and operations, while we review and evolve operations to capture efficiency and velocity across international, collaborate closely with central product teams to capture wins and work cross-functionally to identify new areas of opportunity especially across emerging markets.

Explain a challenging or exciting project that you've had the opportunity to work on and success you've seen from the work since then.

As you can tell from the above, I've had multiple opportunities to take on new tasks, roles and exciting projects - all of which have been incredible 'learning on the job' opportunities. Market launches have been my favourites, as each time I get the chance to go deep into how the market operates, engage with customers and the eco-system on the ground.

My role leading MENA has been both challenging and exciting as we did our first above-the-line marketing campaign in late 2019, putting the GoDaddy Brand on billboards and radio across the region for the first time ever. This led to our very first localized integrated marketing brand campaign for the region, coinciding with the onset of the pandemic - to the extent that we had people turn back from their flights and had to do the video shoot remotely. In parallel, we were working on launching the beta of godaddy.com in Arabic and our Arabic Website Builder and E-Store. Despite these challenges, we were able to get the footage completed and launch the brand campaign, followed by the release of the website and products adding significant value to our international business and more importantly, for our local customers. This laid the foundation for our ongoing brand and business growth in MENA and it continues to play an important role in our international journey.

As I'm based in Dubai, I continue to engage with the media and eco-system to support entrepreneurs on their growth journeys. We hold a pulse on digital in the region with annual research on SMEs.

What advice would you give to young women starting at GoDaddy, or entering the tech industry?

Be open to learning, always. You know what you know, but learning what you don't will help you develop yourself, develop strong and authentic peer relationships and understand how you want your career trajectory to progress in the future.

You know what you know, but learning what you don't will help you develop yourself, develop strong and authentic peer relationships and understand how you want your career trajectory to progress in the future. Build a network of peers for yourself internally that will not only help you in executing your job but also act as a soundboard or offer support for you when you are in need of an opinion, lobbying for a promotion or similar.

for yourself internally that will not only help you in executing your job but also act as a soundboard or offer support for you when you are in need of an opinion, lobbying for a promotion or similar. Get comfortable with data and learn how to go beyond the numbers to tell a story. Reporting numbers at face value won't tell you what the right business decision is, question the numbers, understand them and allow them to guide you to the right decision or message.

and learn how to go beyond the numbers to tell a story. Reporting numbers at face value won't tell you what the right business decision is, question the numbers, understand them and allow them to guide you to the right decision or message. Put the customer first. In solution or product development especially, understanding the utility of what you are developing from the customer POV is critical to adoption. Understanding the customer behaviour, the eco-system they operate in and how this needs to influence your development, and QA process, will help you get a solid MVP out the door, with the right go-to-market strategy.

In solution or product development especially, understanding the utility of what you are developing from the customer POV is critical to adoption. Understanding the customer behaviour, the eco-system they operate in and how this needs to influence your development, and QA process, will help you get a solid MVP out the door, with the right go-to-market strategy. Know yourself . I think this part was especially valid for me when starting out - I didn't come from a tech background but evolved into the person I am today. I was able to develop my weaknesses and underpin them with my strengths, understand what I enjoyed doing at work and where I wanted to see my future self.

. I think this part was especially valid for me when starting out - I didn't come from a tech background but evolved into the person I am today. I was able to develop my weaknesses and underpin them with my strengths, understand what I enjoyed doing at work and where I wanted to see my future self. Own your seat at the table. Don't question why you are there or come in thinking I am a woman, I need to earn my place. You are a talented individual and are there for a reason, speak up, ask questions and engage in debate.

As a woman, what appeals to you working in the rather male-dominated tech industry?

I've always been in male-dominated industries. I started my career in infrastructure in Turkey, so I feel like that was a big awakening for me both in terms of male-domination and also how that manifests in different cultural and socio-economic settings.

For me, it's more focused around the future of the industry, in today's day and age, tech is all encompassing, and it will touch more industries and areas of work as it develops. Tech solutions help automate, simplify, streamline and advance how we operate in different industries - these can add a lot of value when we look at industries such as health, education and even infrastructure. At GoDaddy, we work to make digital opportunity accessible to everyone, which is right at the beginning of the digitization curve but strives to offer tools and solutions to lower the barrier of entry for anyone wanting to grow a business online. In parallel, I have an obsession with data - because it tells a story. Tech means we have access to an abundance of data that can inform how we better develop solutions, our business and then hold us accountable to our success. We also leverage this for our own customers when it comes to products like our Websites + Marketing product, which links up to Google Analytics, social media platforms and in-product data to help customers understand how their website is performing in relation to their marketing and business success. Internally, processes in tech companies are driven by agile project methodology which helps capture efficiency and continuous improvement across software and product development - it helped me shift my approach and thinking to work.

So, as a woman, or as Selina, I really feel like tech gives me the best of the best - I get to actively support the development of the future of work and industries, while getting a stronghold on how to use data and processes.

What do you enjoy the most about the flexibility/work-life balance offered at GoDaddy?

Coming back after mat-leave to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds - working having the flexibility to be home to see my son almost every day - was probably the most valuable gift of my entire career. It enabled me to pursue my ambitions, and be present for him, while trying to navigate this new life. And today, he knows what I do, who I work with and respects the professional me alongside the person he calls 'Mum' which I feel is a very empowering thing for a woman in itself.

My schedule (and work ethic) is probably not one to envy - I work across 5 different global time-zones which means I finish very late some nights and start very early others. The biggest benefit here is autonomy and self-planning - I have full autonomy to plan how I deliver my work, manage my team and participate in the broader organisation. This helps me immensely when it comes to being present at home, studying in my spare time and managing the household (because we all know that Mama is the boss at home!). I taper off my meeting schedule on Thursday and Friday to give me time to engage with my own work and delivery and will routinely try to take Friday afternoons as family time to make up for what I lost during the week. During the summer, I'm usually based in Turkey working from there to escape the desert heat, and I was overjoyed to be able to take my son to see my parents in Australia after 3 years last year - working from there for a month.

At GoDaddy the way we embrace and perfect asynchronous work and the project management systems we have in place to track projects and progress as a result are also extremely helpful in ensuring the whole team is progressing without having to depend on updates from counterparts in other geos. So, after 8 years of working in this model, I don't think I'll be able to go back.

Why do you think it's important for more women to join the tech industry?

Diversity in data, better solution development, removal of unconscious bias and a proper representative population. I was reading a McKinsey report the other day prepping for a panel on inclusion and female entrepreneurialism and it cited Statista data on tech in EU-27 countries. There will be a talent gap of approximately 1.4M to 3.9M people by 2027. If Europe can double the share of women in the tech workforce to 45% or more (3.9M) by this stage, GDP could increase by as much as 260B. The same article highlighted that only 8% of 'real tech' jobs (i.e. DevOps and Cloud) in EU-27 countries are filled by women.

Why? At the bottom of this lies our perspective as women, we have a different way of looking at the world shaped by our experiences as mothers, caregivers, even as physical beings and that can unlock greater innovation. I find it unfathomable that airbag design excluded women and children until very recently or that snowy roads in a Swedish town were cleared according to the standard route of males, but when they studied how females travelled they realized they needed to clear the backstreets because the routines were different, low and behold ER visits dropped. (For more of these gems read Caroline Criado Perez's book 'Invisible Women').

So, I'll continue to champion any woman who wants to join the tech industry because it's fun, it's an incredible career development and building opportunity, but even more importantly, you can make a visible impact for the future of humankind. That's a nice thought to build your career on, no?

What motivates you at work?

I love what I do. People who know me know that I'm someone who needs to believe in what I do to do it; I believe in empowering entrepreneurs and really enjoy pausing to engage with them at a workshop we run or in a panel where I get to hear their stories. It's a humbling learning experience for me and an opportunity to give back to the eco-system.

In parallel, the people we work with at GoDaddy are great human beings, we have a positive and inclusive culture that has always fostered development, which I think is rare when I look around at peers. I love my team, how we interact and share ideas, evaluate opportunities and build execution frameworks - our diversity is a strength for us.

The final part is knowing that I can still jump on different projects and develop myself within GoDaddy. I'm also someone who jumps at a challenge (it's not how high you tell me to jump, but how much higher I can than where you tell me) and no one has ever knocked me back when I have asked to explore something new within my role. Knowing that there is always a next step to take and the feeling of taking and succeeding is extremely motivating and cyclic in nature, meaning that you can continue to grow and improve yourself.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERG's, Locations), careers, and so much more. You're more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoDaddyLife

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/godaddylife/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/godaddylife

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GoDaddyLife

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@godaddylife ?

? Career Page - https://careers.godaddy.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GoDaddy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: GoDaddy

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745635/Own-Your-Seat-at-the-Table-Meet-Selina-Bieber
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Leidos

Leidos is pleased to announce that 22 employees were honored for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at the 2023 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Global Competitiveness Conference which took place in February in National Harbor, Maryland.

Why you should know: The conference attracts more than 10,000 STEM professionals from diverse backgrounds and various career levels, including K-12 and college students.

Kendric Garmon, a Software Engineer and Solution Architect in the Leidos Civil Group, received the STEM Professional Most Promising Engineer in Industry award.

Randall King, a Senior Network Engineer for the Civil Group, and Jordan Thompson, a Lead Supply Chain Engineer in Procurement & Enterprise Partnerships, received the Science Spectrum Trailblazer award which recognizes efforts in creating new paths for others in science, research, technology and development.

Jeffrey "JR" Alexander, a Business Development Manager for the Leidos Defense Group, received the Stars and Stripes award which recognizes those within commands/agencies to procure, develop, or employ new technologies and systems.

18 Leidos employees were honored as BEYA Modern Day Technology Leaders for contributions to shaping the future of STEM. They include:

Zahna Wallace, Distribution Engineer, Civil Group

Michael Burroughs, UVS SME III, Civil Group

Jade Crockem, Lead Distribution Design Engineer, Civil Group

Natasha Cross, Senior Network Engineer , Civil Group

Hasan Culver, Senior Systems Administrator, Civil Group

Boubacar Diallo, Chemical Engineer, Defense Group

Krashenda Greene, Program Quality Manager, Civil Group

Ernest Henderson, Systems Engineer, Civil Group

Gregory Holt, Senior Automated Test Systems Engineer, Defense Group

Allen Jones, Team Lead Senior Network Engineer, Defense Group

Kayla Johnson, Software Development, Civil Group

Thomas "Antonio" LaGon, Engineering Lead, Civil Group

Aaron Maitland, Robotics Engineer, Dynetics Group

Robert Nelson, System Admin and Security Manager, Dynetics Group

Angela Perkins, Senior Network Engineer, Civil Group

Brian Ricks, System Administrator, Defense Group

Jeffery Sampson, Solution Lead, Defense Group

Michele Verna Smith, DHMSM Project Manager, Health Group

Kayla Johnson, a Leidos BEYA Modern Day Technology Leader award winner, said she recognizes the importance of supporting diversity in STEM, specifically when it comes to women of color.

"It is an honor and a pleasure to have received BEYA's Modern Day Technology Leader award," said Johnson. "I have always believed that women of color provide unique perspectives in STEM and have a lot to contribute. With this award, I hope to continue to serve as a role model and example to other young black professionals about the importance of not only our presence, but our leadership in the STEM community."

The annual conference is an opportunity to highlight the hard work, determination, and commitment these leaders exemplify at Leidos and in their communities. Leidos is proud to celebrate the achievements of all of our winners and to serve as a key sponsor of this inspiring event that spotlights exceptional STEM talent.

Learn more about Leidos' commitment to inclusion and diversity by visiting the Inclusion & Diversity page.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Leidos on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Leidos

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/leidos

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Leidos

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745637/Leidos-Employees-Honored-at-2023-Black-Engineer-of-the-Year-Awards-Conference
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Edison International:





Edison International President and CEO Pedro Pizarro discusses the company's vision of an equitable, clean energy future at the 2023 South by Southwest conference.

PHOTO CREDIT: Juliana Bolden

Energized by Edison

By Casey Wian

Click here to view Pedro Pizarro's full presentation titled "Making Clean Energy Clean, Reliable and Equitable."

The 2023 South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas has branched out from its roots as an eclectic mix of storytelling from the worlds of music, film and interactive media to embrace weightier topics such as climate change, the workplace revolution and for the first time this year, energy.

Edison International President and CEO Pedro Pizarro was selected via the SXSW PanelPicker to speak at the conference. In keeping with the spirit of the 10-day event, Pizarro began his presentation on "Making Clean Energy Clean, Reliable and Equitable" as a storyteller, describing his vision of a clean energy future for his own family just over two decades from now.

"The year is 2045. My kids, who are both single young adults today, might be married and will be driving to work in their EVs, if they're not working remotely," Pizarro said. "Hopefully, I'll be a grandfather and my grandkids will be riding a school bus that is powered by electricity."

"Major pollution centers like ports will have eliminated diesel fuel operations and become all-electric," Pizarro continued. "Restaurants and home cooks will have recognized that induction stoves provide the same or better cooking experience as gas ranges. Appliances will be powered by electricity  the air will be cleaner than it has been for decades.

Click here to view Pedro Pizarro's full presentation titled "Making Clean Energy Clean, Reliable and Equitable."

That's the vision, and much progress has been made toward the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in California by 2045. The state, for example, has reduced per-capita GHG emissions by more than 33% since 2001. But as Pizarro noted, "We're not there yet."

Pizarro focused on the challenges that remain, warning that California is in danger of falling behind its goals. In addition to rapid advances in the widespread electrification of transportation and buildings, the state will need more clean power from rooftop solar, microgrids and utility-scale renewable sources as well as a $250 billion investment in clean power generation, storage and grid modernization.

Which means electric bills for customers of Southern California Edison and other utilities are going to go up, Pizarro said. The good news is that spending on natural gas and gasoline will drop dramatically, meaning the total energy bill for the average customer in California will drop by about a third by 2045.

"One-third of SCE customers have to decide each month whether to buy groceries or pay their electric bill," Pizarro said. "The only way the clean energy transition will be successful is if we make it equitable for everyone."

That will require additional programs and policies to encourage low-income customers to switch to electric appliances, heating and especially, vehicles. Because the transportation sector is the leading source of CO2 emissions, Pizarro called for additional policies and incentives to speed up the deployment of electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure.

Pizarro expected the SXSW audience might have questions, given that just last year California's electric grid was stressed to the brink of rotating power outages: "As we think about the policies we need, you may be wondering, are you electric companies prepared to power EVs and phase out internal combustion engines and their exhaust emissions? Are you prepared to deliver the electricity needed for heat pumps and induction cooking? Are you really prepared for economywide electrification?"

Pizarro emphatically answered: "Yes, we are."

He concluded by asking the SXSW audience to be part of the solution.

"As you enjoy the rest of your time here in Austin, think about the energy needed to make and charge the car you drive. Then think about how we are going to provide that power in a way that doesn't continue to damage our planet," Pizarro said. "Next time you vote, keep the climate in mind as a priority."

To learn more about Edison's Clean Energy initiatives, visit edison.com/clean-energy.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Edison International

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/edison-international

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Edison International

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745638/Edison-International-Urges-Collective-Action-on-Clean-Power-at-SXSW
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / World Outfitters Corporation Safari Nordik ("WOC") or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF") and the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") have issued a partial revocation order on March 16, 2023 (the "Partial Revocation") announcing the cease trader order issued against the Company on April 19, 2011 (the "CTO") for failing to file certain outstanding continuous disclosure documents. The Partial Revocation permits the Company to complete a private placement transaction (the "Private Placement") for the purpose of filing continuous disclosure documents, accounting, auditing, transfer agent, corporate service providers, filing fees and the application for a full revocation of the CTO. On April 21, 2021, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") and the Alberta Securities Commission (the "ASC") issued their revocation order and variation order, respectively.

The Partial Revocation of the CTO was pursued in order to be able to complete the Private Placement of up to 480,000,000 common shares at a price of C$0.0005 per common share. The Transaction will be conducted on a prospectus exempt basis with subscribers who satisfy the requirements of sections 2.3 (Accredited Investor) of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106").

Prior to completion of the Private Placement, each participant will receive a copy of the CTO and the Partial Revocation, and will be required to provide an acknowledgement to the Company that all of the Company's securities, including the common shares issued in connection with the Private Placement, will remain subject to the CTO until such orders are fully revoked, and that the granting of the Partial Revocation by the AMF, OSC, ASC and BCSC do not guarantee the issuance of a full revocation order in the future. In addition, all common shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and a day from the closing date of the Private Placement.

The Partial Revocation will terminate on the earlier of: (i) the completion of the Private Placement, and (ii) May 15, 2023, being 60 days from the date on which the Partial Revocation orders were issued. There can be no assurances that the Private Placement, will be completed on the terms set out herein, or at all, or that the proceeds of the Private Placement will be sufficient for the purposes of the Company.

The Company will proceed in an application for a full revocation of the CTO in order to complete a reverse take-over or other form of business combination.

The Company wile file a Material Change Report on SEDAR.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Common Shares that Smartcool intends to sell will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as that term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For more information, please contact:

World Outfitters Corporation Safari Nordik

4300 - 800 rue du Square-Victoria

Montreal QC H4Z 1H1

Michel Lebeuf Jr., Corporate Secretary

mlebeuf@duntonrainville.com

514-347-8397

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, comments regarding the timing, content, and use of proceeds of the Private Placement, and the Company's expectation to apply for a full revocation of the Cease Trade Order. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statement.

SOURCE: World Outfitters Corporation Safari Nordik

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745656/World-Outfitters-Corporation-Announces-Partial-Revocation-And-Proposed-Private-Placement
NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The Europe blanket aerogel market size was evaluated at $12.2 Billion in 2022 and is slated to hit $25.2 Billion by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of nearly 9.3% between 2023 and 2030.





Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/europe-blanket-aerogel-market

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Overview

Aerogels are easily available in form of panels, blankets, blocks, and powders. Moreover, blankets are the most commonly used blanket forms of aerogels as they can be easily handled. Furthermore, blankets are formed by combining silica aerogels and flexible fibers. In the case of piping insulations, blankets prove to be convenient for refinery pipe wrapping with apt sheets. Aerogel blankets are used in cryogenic applications as they offer flexibility even after they are merged into liquid nitrogen. Apart from this, aerogel blankets can be easily rolled, thereby making them fit for applications requiring high barrier features.

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Our Free Sample Report Includes:

2023 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis

COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included

211+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research)

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2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends

Includes an Updated List of tables & figures

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Zion Market Research methodology

Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Europe Blanket Aerogel Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Europe blanket aerogel market is projected to expand annually at the annual growth rate of around 9.3% over the forecast timespan (2023-2030)

blanket aerogel market is projected to expand annually at the annual growth rate of around 9.3% over the forecast timespan (2023-2030) In terms of revenue, the Europe blanket aerogel market was assessed at nearly $12.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $25.2 billion by 2030.

blanket aerogel market was assessed at nearly in 2022 and is expected to reach by 2030. The market is anticipated to record massive growth over the forecast period owing to the focus on green initiatives by various countries in Europe .

. Based on the end-use industry, the building & construction segment to account for the major share of the European market over the forecast timeline.

In terms of type, the silica segment is predicted to record the highest CAGR during the analysis timeframe.

Region-wise, the Germany blanket aerogel market is projected to account for the highest growth during the assessment period.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Europe Blanket Aerogel Market By Type (Silica, Polymers, And Carbon), By End-Use Industry (Automotive, Building & Construction, Aerospace, Oil & Gas, Marine, Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Locomotive, Electrical & Electronics, Medical & Healthcare, And Others), By Layer (Mono-Layer And Multi-Layer), And By Region - And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 - 2030" into their research database.

Industry Dynamics:

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Growth Drivers

Favorable product features such as water-resistance and fireproofing to boost the market trends in Europe .

Focus on green initiatives by various countries in Europe will catalyze the expansion of Europe blanket aerogel market in the upcoming years. Furthermore, blanket aerogels are water-resistant and possess fireproofing features, thereby outperforming many insulating materials. This, in turn, will provide impetus to the growth of the Europe blanket aerogel market. With blanket aerogels being non-toxic and ecologically safe, the demand for the product is gaining traction in Europe. Rise in penetration of blanket aerogel in the construction and clothing sectors is predicted to boost the blanket aerogel market trends in Europe. Moreover, large-scale use of the product in the aerospace sector will expand the scope of the market surge in Europe.

Furthermore, innovative solutions in the nanotechnology domain as well as gelation processes have led to enhanced productivity of products, thereby steering the growth of the Europe blanket aerogel market. Escalating concerns pertaining to vehicle ambiance will further push the blanket aerogel market expansion in Europe.

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Hindrances

Inconsistent raw material costs to impede the industry surge in Europe

Huge production costs as well as fluctuations in raw material costs can decimate the expansion of the blanket aerogel industry in Europe.

Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/europe-blanket-aerogel-market

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Opportunities

Growing focus of the EU on energy conservation to open new growth opportunities for the market in Europe

The EU's energy-efficient policy makes it mandatory for the member countries in reducing energy consumption has translated into a rise in acceptance of aerogel blankets as insulating materials in buildings, thereby creating new growth avenues for the Europe blanket aerogel market.

Report On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/-wi-fi-service-market-size-share-growth-report-2023-shrinath/

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Challenges

Complex manufacturing process required to produce blanket aerosol can prove to be a major challenge to market expansion in Europe

Highly specialized manufacturing methods for producing blanket aerogel and supercritical drying being the most expensive in the blanket aerogel production process are some of the aspects posing a huge challenge for the players in the Europe blanket aerosol industry.

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Segmentation

The Europe blanket aerogel market is sectored into type, end-use industry, layer, and region.

In terms of type, the Europe blanket aerogel market is divided into silica, carbon, and polymers segments. Apparently, the silica segment, which dominated the type landscape in 2022 by contributing a major share, is projected to register the highest CAGR of nearly 15.2% during the forecast period. The segmental surge can be a result of the use of silica in the manufacture of blanket aerogels for making the latter stretchable, strong, and water-repellent. Reportedly, non-inflammable blankets are made from silica aerogels that help in protecting houses, firms, and other infrastructures from catching fire due to fire outbreaks. Moreover, huge demand for blanket aerogels made from silica owing to their beneficial properties will enhance its penetration in aerospace as well as building & construction sectors.

Based on the end-use industry, the Europe blanket aerogel industry is bifurcated into automotive, building & construction, aerospace, oil & gas, marine, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, locomotive, electrical & electronics, medical & healthcare, and others segments. Furthermore, the building & construction segment, which accounted for the major share of the blanket aerogel industry share in Europe, will retain its industry domination in Europe during the forecast timeline. The segmental surge during the analysis timeframe can be due to large-scale use of blanket aerogels in insulating buildings as it helps in reducing heat & energy loss in commercial & residential buildings.

Get More Insight before Buying@: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/europe-blanket-aerogel-market

List of Key Players in Europe Blanket Aerogel Market:

ZhengZhou Joda Technology Co. Ltd.

Enersens Aerogel

Cabot Corporation

Active Aerogels

SVENSKA AEROGEL AB

Green Earth Aerogel Tehnologies

Acoustiblok UK Ltd.

Aspen Aerogels Inc.

Armacell International S.A.

Aerogel Technologies LLC

Airglass AB.

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Europe Blanket Aerogel Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Europe Blanket Aerogel Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Europe Blanket Aerogel Market Industry?

What segments does the Europe Blanket Aerogel Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Europe Blanket Aerogel Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 12.2 Billion Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 25.2 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 9.3 % 2023-2030 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2022 Forecast Years 2023 - 2030 Segments Covered By Type, By End-Use Industry, By Layer, And By Region Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2023 to 2030 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered ZhengZhou Joda Technology Co. Ltd., Enersens Aerogel, Cabot Corporation, Active Aerogels, SVENSKA AEROGEL AB, Green Earth Aerogel Tehnologies, Acoustiblok UK Ltd., Aspen Aerogels Inc., Armacell International S.A., Aerogel Technologies LLC, and Airglass AB.. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/6930

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Recent Developments

In September 2022 , Armacell, a key producer and supplier of flexible insulation materials & industrial foams, introduced ArmaGel HTL, an exceptional non-combustible aerogel blanket that can be used in industrial applications where improved thermal performance, non-combustion, and reduction of corrosion during insulation is required. The new product launches will help in enhancing the scope of demand for blanket aerogels in Europe .

Armacell, a key producer and supplier of flexible insulation materials & industrial foams, introduced ArmaGel HTL, an exceptional non-combustible aerogel blanket that can be used in industrial applications where improved thermal performance, non-combustion, and reduction of corrosion during insulation is required. The new product launches will help in enhancing the scope of demand for blanket aerogels in . In March 2023 , Cabot Corporation, a key manufacturer of major parts of lithium-ion batteries based in the U.S. and has its centers in European countries, declared the launching of EVOLVE Sustainable Solutions, a new tool for advancing sustainable reinforcing carbons. The move will boost the expansion of the blanket aerogel market in Europe .

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Regional Insights

Blanket aerogel market in Germany to garner major revenue share of the European market over 2023- 2030

Germany, which accounted for the major share of the Europe blanket aerogel market in 2022, is anticipated to contribute majorly towards the regional market share even in the coming years. The growth of the market in Germany can be attributed to the large presence of giant automotive manufacturers in the country. Moreover, the high demand for blanket aerogel in the automotive sector in the country will prop up the growth of the market in Germany. Increase in industrialization in the country has accelerated product penetration in various industries in Germany, thereby boosting regional market trends.

Furthermore, Russia is also likely to make major contributions to the blanket aerogel industry size in Europe in the forecasting years. The growth can be attributed to Russia being the largest producer of oil & gas in Europe where aerogel blankets find huge applications.

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market is segmented as follows:

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: By Type Outlook (2023-2030)

Silica

Polymers

Carbon

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: By End-Use Industry Outlook (2023-2030)

Automotive

Building & Construction

Aerospace

Oil & Gas

Marine

Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals

Locomotive

Electrical & Electronics

Medical & Healthcare

Others

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: By Layer Outlook (2023-2030)

Mono-Layer

Multi-Layer

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: By Region Outlook (2023-2030)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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EQS-News: SUSE S.A. / Key word(s): AGM/EGM

SUSE S.A. announces the results of its 2023 Annual General Meeting



24.03.2023 / 17:27 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





SUSE S.A.

Societe anonyme

11-13 Boulevard de la Foire

L-1258 Luxembourg

R.C.S. Luxembourg: B225816

(the "Company") VOTING RESULTS OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 23 MARCH 2023 The Company held its Annual General Meeting for financial year ended on 31 October 2022 on Thursday 23 March 2023. The results of the Annual General Meeting are set out below. Number of shares voted at the meeting:

150,460,567 Number of issued shares as at the Record Date [1] :

169,430,390 Percentage of issued shares present or represented at the meeting:

88.80%

Agen

da

Item Resolution Number of

shares FOR % of voting

rights FOR Number

of shares

AGAINST % of voting

rights AGAINST Absten

tions* Total

number

of shares

present

or

represented 1 No resolution required

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2 The Annual General

Meeting, after having

reviewed the

management report

of the Management

Board, the report of

the approved

statutory auditor

and the observations

of the Supervisory

Board, approves the

stand-alone annual

accounts for the

financial year ended

on 31 October 2022,

in their entirety. 150,438,271 100 0 0 22,296 150,460,567 3 The Annual General

Meeting, after having

reviewed the

management report

of the Management

Board, the report of

the approved statutory

auditor and the

observations of the

Supervisory Board,

approves the

consolidated financial

statements for the

financial year ended

on 31 October 2022,

in their entirety. 150,438,271 100 0 0 22,296 150,460,567 4 The Annual General

Meeting acknowledges

a profit of USD 4,748,144

with respect of the

financial year ended on

31 October 2022 and

resolves to carry it

forward to the next

financial year. 150,460,567 100 0 0 0 150,460,567 5 The Annual General

Meeting decides to

grant discharge to

the members of the

Management Board

and the members of

the Supervisory Board

for the performance

of their mandates for

the financial year

ended on 31 October

2022. 149,462,242 99.35 976,029 0.65 22,296 150,460,567 6 The Annual General

Meeting confirms

Sheng Liang's

appointment to the

Supervisory Board

until the annual

general meeting

approving the annual

financial statements

for the financial year

ending 31 October

2023, to be held at

the latest on 30 April

2024. 147,747,668 98.20 2,712,899 1.80 0 150,460,567 7 The Annual General

Meeting decides by

an advisory vote to

approve the

Remuneration Report

of the Company for

the financial year

ended on 31 October

2022. 146,529,085 97.39 3,931,482 2.61 0 150,460,567 8 The Annual General

Meeting approves

the following increases

in the Supervisory

Board members'

remuneration, effective

from 1 November 2022:



- an annual fee

of EUR 185,000

for the Chair of

the Supervisory

Board; and



- a base fee of

EUR 75,000 for

each of the other

members of the

Supervisory

Board (excluding

the Chair and

Deputy Chair).

147,526,881 98.05 2,933,686 1.95 0 150,460,567 9 The Annual General

Meeting authorizes

the Management Board

to repurchase its own

shares, subject to the

following conditions:



a) The maximum

number of shares

to be acquired,

in whole or in

part from time

to time, may not

exceed ten

percent (10%) of

the total number

of shares

composing the

issued share

capital at the

time of this

resolution, or if

lower, at the time

of the acquisition.



b) The repurchase

shall be effected

either through

the stock

exchange or on

the basis of a

public purchase

offer to all

shareholders.



c) As a result of those

acquisitions, the

Company's

holding of its own

shares may not

exceed at any

time ten percent

(10%) of the total

number of shares

composing the

issued share

capital of the

Company.



d) The acquisition

price per share

shall not be lower

than its par

value or higher

than ten percent

(10%) above the

weighted average

listing price per

share in the

XETRA trading

system (or a

comparable

successor system)

during the

calendar month

preceding the

resolution of the

Management

Board resolving

upon the repurchase.



e) The acquisition

of its own shares

by the Company,

as well as shares

acquired by a

person acting in

its own name but

on behalf of the

Company, may

not result in the

net assets of the

Company falling

below the

aggregate amount

of the subscribed

capital and the

reserves which

may not be

distributed under

the law or the

articles of

association of

the Company.

Only fully paid-up

shares may be

repurchased.



f) This authorization

will be valid for a

period of five years

from the date of

the Company's

Annual General

Meeting. 150,453,716 100.00 4,736 0 2,115 150,460,567

* Abstentions are not considered in the calculation as per standard practices. [1] Only shares issued at the Record Date (9 March 2023) give the respective shareholder the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Any shares issued after the Record Date, including shares created by the Company on 15 March 2023, do not give the respective shareholder the right to vote at this Annual General Meeting. The calculation of the percentage of issued shares present or represented at the meeting is therefore based on the number of issued shares as at the Record Date.



24.03.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


EQS-News: SUSE S.A. / Key word(s): Personnel

SUSE S.A.: Supervisory Board and Management Board changes



24.03.2023 / 17:32 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Supervisory Board and Management Board changes

SUSE S.A. (the "Company") hereby announces that Dr Ariane Reinhart will step down from the Supervisory Board on 31 March 2023 after serving on the Supervisory Board since the time of the Company's IPO in May 2021.

The Supervisory Board has appointed Philipp Woerner, an EQT Director, to the Supervisory Board with effect from 31 March 2023, until the Company's next shareholder meeting. This means that EQT's representation on the Supervisory Board is two, returning to the make-up of the Supervisory Board at the time of the Company's IPO.

The Company also announces the appointment of Andy McDonald to the Management Board with immediate effect and on an interim basis to support the orderly transition to Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen. Andy has been Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary of the Company since March 2021.

Jonas Persson, the Company's Chairman said "Ariane has been a great asset to the Board and I would like to thank her for her contribution to SUSE since the IPO. I am pleased that Philipp has agreed to join the Supervisory Board and that Andy has agreed to join the Management Board and I look forward to working with both of them".



Contacts

Investors:

Jonathan Atack

Investor Relations, SUSE

Phone: +44 7741 136 019

Email: ir@suse.com



Matt Jones

Investor Relations, SUSE

Phone: +44 7809 690 336

Email: ir@suse.com

24.03.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


24 March 2023

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares

Rightmove plc ("Rightmove"), announces that today it purchased 135,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 552.833p. The highest price paid per share was 561.000p and the lowest price paid per share was 548.000p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0164% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 483,727,995 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 823,225,588. Rightmove holds 12,100,497 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

-Ends-

Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary

CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
Regulatory News:

In accordance with article 8:4 of the Royal Decree of 29 April 2019 executing the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, Azelis Group NV (the "Company" or "Azelis") (Brussels:AZE) hereby reports on the buyback of Azelis shares under the Share Buyback Program 2023.

Under the Share Buyback Program 2023, Azelis has mandated an independent financial intermediary to buy back up to 150,000 ordinary shares, for a total maximum amount of EUR 3,500,000, starting on 20 March 2023, to cover future obligations under the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Company.

In the framework of this Share Buyback Program 2023, the Company has purchased 30,000 shares in the period from 20 March 2023 up to and including 23 March 2023, as follows:

Trade date Total shares purchased Average price Minimum price paid Maximum price paid Buyback amount March 20, 2023 11,000 23.50 23.02 23.90 258,542.90 March 21, 2023 5,000 24.23 23.56 24.36 121,168.50 March 22, 2023 9,000 23.94 23.68 24.18 215,447.40 March 23, 2023 5,000 23.68 23.58 24.04 118,390.00

Since the start of the implementation of the Share Buyback Program 2023, Azelis has bought back 30,000 shares on Euronext Brussels for a total amount of EUR 713,548.80. This corresponds to 0.013 of the total shares outstanding.

An overview of the Share Buyback Program 2023 is available on the investor relations pages of Azelis' website under the section "Shareholder Information/ Share buyback program", and this press release is as well available under the section "Regulated Information".

END

About Azelis

Azelis is a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemical and food ingredients industry, present in 63 countries across the globe with over 3,800 employees. Our knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts are each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to more than 59,000 customers, supported by +2,700 principal relationships, creating a turnover of 4.1 billion (2022). Azelis Group NV is listed on Euronext Brussels under ticker AZE.

Across our extensive network of more than 60 application laboratories, our award-winning staff help develop formulations and provide technical guidance throughout the customers' product development process. We combine a global market reach with a local footprint to offer a reliable, integrated, and unique digital service to local customers and attractive -business opportunities to principals. Top industry-rated by Sustainalytics, Azelis is a leader in sustainability. We believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners.

Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation.

www.azelis.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005280/en/

Contacts:

Contact information

Azelis Investor Relations

investor-relations@azelis.com

Tel.: +32 3 613 0127
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

For immediate release

24 March 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 125,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 876.22 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 16,431,310; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 208,559,993.

The figure of 208,559,993 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
Regulatory News:

The Document d'enregistrement universel of TotalEnergies SE (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) for the year 2022 was filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers) on March 24, 2023. It can be consulted and downloaded from the Company's website (totalenergies.com, under the heading Investors Publications and regulated information Reports and Publications). The English translation of the Document d'enregistrement universel (Universal Registration Document) is also available on the Company's website under the same heading.

The following documents are included in the Document d'enregistrement universel

the 2022 annual financial report,

the Board of Directors' report on corporate governance required under Article L. 225-37 of the French Commercial Code,

the description of the share buy-back program,

the report on the payments made to governments required under Article L. 22-10-37 of the French Commercial Code,

the reports from the statutory auditors.

TotalEnergies SE's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 24, 2023. It can be consulted and downloaded from the Company's website (totalenergies.com, under the heading Investors Publications and regulated information Reports and Publications) or from the SEC's website (sec.gov).

Printed copies of the Document d'enregistrement universel, Universal Registration Document and Form 20-F are available free of charge at the Company's registered office at 2, place Jean Millier, La Defense 6, 92400 Courbevoie, France.

In addition, in preparation for the Combined Shareholders' Meeting to be held on May 26, 2023, the proposed resolutions are available on the Company's website (totalenergies.com, under the heading Investors Annual Shareholders' Meetings).

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in close to 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005328/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
Regulated Information - Denominator

Atlas Special Opportunities, LLChas converted 8convertible bonds in Oxurion resulting in a EUR 200,000capital increase. This is part of Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC's EUR 20 million Capital Commitment1 that will allow Oxurion to focus on progressing its novel and differentiated back of the eye drug candidate targeting potential market opportunities of over USD 5billion.

Leuven, BELGIUM,Boston, MA, US-March 24, 2023- 07.00 PM CET - In accordance with article 15 of the Belgian Act of May 2, 2007 on the disclosure of major participations in issuers of which shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and regarding miscellaneous provisions, Oxurion NV (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) (the "Company" or "Oxurion"), announces the below information, following the issuance of 19,013,817 new ordinary shares on March 22, 2023, for a total amount of EUR 200,000, as the result of the conversion of 8 convertible bonds, pursuant to the Capital Commitment entered into with Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC.

Following completion of the capital increase through the conversion of the convertible bonds, the total number of shares issued by Oxurion amounts to 603,716,557 outstanding ordinary shares carrying voting rights (compared to 584,702,740 outstanding ordinary shares previously). This number will be used as the denominator for the calculation of the percentages of shareholdings.

Therefore, Oxurion publishes the following updated information:

Share capital (EUR) 77,906,161.32 Total number of securities with voting rights (all ordinary shares) 603,716,557 Total number of ordinary shares (= denominator) 603,716,557 Number of outstanding, granted rights to subscribe to securities carrying voting rights not yet issued: 694,000 subscription rights ("SRs") issued on November 20, 2017, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 694,000 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

60,000 SRs issued on December 23, 2020, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 60,000 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

976,874 SRs issued on April 14, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 976,874 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

534,688 SRs issued on September 22, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 534,688 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

582,248 SRs issued on December 30, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 582,248 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

104 convertible bonds issued on March 14, 2023, entitling its holder, Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC, to subscribe to a total number of securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of these convertible bonds pursuant to the Subscription Agreement entered into between the Company and Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC on March 1, 2023; and

100 convertible bonds issued on December 20, 2021, entitling their holders (Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited, Pontifax Medison Finance (Israel) L.P. and Pontifax Medison Finance (Cayman) L.P.) to subscribe to a total number of securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of these convertible bonds as attached to the Agreement for the provision of a Loan Facility entered into between the Company, Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited, Pontifax Medison Finance (Israel) L.P. and Pontifax Medison Finance (Cayman) L.P., on November 21, 2021 (as amended from time to time).

END

About Oxurion

Oxurion (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) is a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies, which are designed to improve and better preserve vision in patients with retinal disorders including diabetic macular edema (DME), the leading cause of vision loss in working-age people, as well as other conditions. Oxurion intends to play an important role in the treatment of retinal disorders, including the successful development of THR-149, its novel therapeutic for the treatment of DME. THR-149 is a potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of care for the up to 50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy. Oxurion is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with corporate operations in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.oxurion.com.

Important information about forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of Oxurion in any jurisdiction. No securities of Oxurion may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws.

For further information please contact:

Oxurion NV

Tom Graney

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +32 16 75 13 10

tom.graney@oxurion.com (mailto:tom.graney@oxurion.com)







Michael Dillen

Chief Business Officer

Tel: +32 16 75 13 10

michael.dillen@oxurion.com (mailto:michael.dillen@oxurion.com) US

Conway Communications

Mary T. Conway

m (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)tconway (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)@conwaycommsir.com (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)











ICR Westwicke

Christopher Brinzey

Tel: +1 617 835 9304

chris.brinzey@westwicke.com (mailto:chris.brinzey@westwicke.com)





1Press releaseOxurion, 20/03/2023

Attachments
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Valsoft Corporation Inc. ("Valsoft"), a Montreal-based company specializing in the acquisition and development of software companies in vertical markets, is pleased to announce the acquisition of TigerTMS, a leading developer of applications and middleware solutions for the global Hospitality market.

"We are extremely pleased with the acquisition of TigerTMS," said Valsoft CEO Sam Youssef. "TigerTMS provides world-class technology solutions to some of the largest and most prestigious hotel groups in the world, as well as hundreds of independent hotels, and will be a great addition to the Valsoft family."

With over 40 years of industry experience, TigerTMS is probably the world's largest single supplier of communications and guest management systems, integrated voice and data solutions, as well as BYOD solutions to the Hospitality industry, with a client base extending to over 10,000 individual hotels.

Commenting on the acquisition, John Owen - CEO TigerTMS, said "This is a very exciting opportunity for us to further develop our expertise and strengthen our position as the leading provider of hospitality applications worldwide. Being part of the Valsoft family will allow us to accelerate our growth and development plans to satisfy hoteliers' demands for solutions that bring enhanced guest experience, lower operating costs, and adherence to sustainability targets."

Headquartered in the UK, TigerTMS has regional satellite offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. This acquisition ensures that TigerTMS clients and partners will continue to receive the same high-quality solutions and support that they have come to expect, under the continued leadership of John Owen CEO.

TigerTMS joins an already robust hospitality portfolio at Valsoft, and will bring significant additional capabilities to the group, in particular their global strength and leadership in providing integration solutions for over 120 PMS systems to many commonly used applications in the hotel sector.

"We believe the future is very bright for TigerTMS within our hospitality portfolio," said Michael Assi, CEO of Aspire Software, the operating arm at Valsoft. "TigerTMS provides indispensable core connectivity and management solutions trusted by leading hotel brands, and its customer service is exemplary. We look forward to working with employees, clients, and partners to maintain its reputation, and take the business to the next level."

About Valsoft Corporation

Valsoft Corporation acquires and develops vertical market software companies through which each business can deliver the best mission-critical solutions for customers in their respective industries or niche. A key tenet of Valsoft's philosophy is to invest in well-established businesses and foster an entrepreneurial environment that shapes a company into a leader in its respective industry. Unlike private equity and VC firms, Valsoft does not have a predefined investment horizon and looks to buy, hold, and create value through long-term partnerships with existing management and customers.

About TigerTMS

TigerTMS is a leading developer of applications and middleware solutions for the global Hospitality market.

With over 40 years industry experience, TigerTMS is probably the world's largest single supplier of communications and guest management systems, integrated voice and data solutions, as well as BYOD solutions to the Hospitality industry. They provide world-class technology solutions to some of the largest and most prestigious hotel groups as well as hundreds of independent hoteliers.

Valsoft was represented internally by Oliver Gray (Senior Legal Counsel), David Felicissimo (General Counsel) and Elisa Marcon (Corporate Paralegal). Tiger TMS was represented by Grand Thornton UK LLP led by Nigel Le Bas (Director) and Lewis Dyer (Manager), Excello Law led by Tom Sutcliffe and DJH Mitten Clarke Limited led by Michael Burgess.

For more information, visit https://www.tigertms.com/ and https://valsoftcorp.com

Media contact information:

Joey Strizzi

Director of Communications and Public Relations

Valsoft Corporation

j.strizzi@valsoftcorp.com

Mobile: 514-258-0256

SOURCE: Valsoft Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/745708/Valsoft-Expands-its-Hospitality-Portfolio-with-the-Acquisition-of-TigerTMS
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX) (NYSE American: EQX) ("Equinox Gold" or the "Company") will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders ("Annual Meeting") on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 commencing at 1:30 pm Vancouver time, followed by a corporate update commencing at 1:45 pm. Shareholders who cannot attend the Annual Meeting or the corporate update in person are invited to join online.

Information regarding how to participate in the Annual Meeting has been distributed to shareholders and is also available for download on our website at www.EquinoxGold.com/shareholder-events.

Shareholders can submit questions in advance about Equinox Gold, the Annual Meeting or the voting process using the Submit a Question form on our website at www.EquinoxGold.com/investors/agm-contact/.

Annual Meeting and Corporate Update

Attend in Person

Suite 2600, 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC

Attend Online

Annual Meeting https://meetnow.global/MAGS6UV

Corporate Update www.EquinoxGold.com/shareholder-events

Change to Board Nominees

General Wesley Clark, currently a director of the Company, is not standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting. Ross Beaty, Chair of Equinox Gold, commented: "On behalf of everyone at Equinox Gold, I'd like to thank General Clark for his service to our Company. Since joining the Board of Directors in 2020, General Clark has made a significant and valued contribution to the growth and success of Equinox Gold." General Clark will continue as a special advisor to the Board.

Meeting Materials

To further its commitment to environmental sustainability and to reduce its printing and mailing costs, Equinox Gold uses the Notice and Access process for the delivery of meeting materials. Under Notice and Access, instead of receiving printed copies of the meeting materials shareholders receive a Notice and Access Notification containing details of the Annual Meeting date and purpose, how to access the live webcast, and information on how to access the meeting materials electronically. Shareholders with existing instructions on their account to receive printed materials have been mailed a printed copy of the meeting materials.

All of the meeting materials can be downloaded at www.EquinoxGold.com/shareholder-events and from Equinox Gold's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar. Shareholders may request that printed copies of the meeting materials be mailed to them at no cost by contacting the Company by phone at 1-833-EQX-GOLD (1-833-379-4653) (North America) or +1-604-558-0560 (International) or by email at info@equinoxgold.com.

Annual Filings

The Company has filed its Annual Information Form and its Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Annual Information Form is available for download on SEDAR, on EDGAR and on Equinox Gold's website. The Form 40-F is available for download on EDGAR.

Equinox Gold Contact

Greg Smith, President & CEO

Rhylin Bailie, Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 604-558-0560

Email: ir@equinoxgold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159780
Cranbrook, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - DLP Resources Inc. (TSXV: DLP) (OTCQB: DLPRF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to increase the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") to up to 4,281,250 flow-through common shares (each, a "FT Share") at a price of $0.40 per FT Share for gross proceeds of up to $1,712,500.

The Private Placement will be made available to subscribers pursuant to the accredited investor and friends, family and business associate exemptions provided under sections 2.3(1) and 2.5 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions. The Private Placement will also be made available to existing shareholders of the Company who, as of the close of business on March 22, 2023, held Shares (and who continue to hold such Shares as of the closing date), pursuant to the existing shareholder exemption set out in BC Instrument 45-534 Exemption From Prospectus Requirement for Certain Trades to Existing Security Holders (the "Existing Securityholder Exemption"). The Existing Securityholder Exemption limits a shareholder to a maximum investment of CAD$15,000 in a 12-month period unless the shareholder has obtained advice regarding the suitability of the investment and, if the shareholder is resident in a jurisdiction of Canada, that advice has been obtained from a person that is registered as an investment dealer in the jurisdiction. If the Company receives subscriptions from investors relying on the Existing Shareholder Exemption exceeding the maximum amount of the Private Placement, the Company intends to adjust the subscriptions received on a pro-rata basis.

The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for drilling on its Copper Creek Project, follow-up sampling, prospecting and evaluation of the Hungry Creek and Redburn projects and drilling on the Moby Dick and NZOU projects. There may be circumstances, however, where, for sound business reasons, a reallocation of funds may be necessary.

The Private Placement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals including acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

About DLP Resources Inc.

DLP Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company operating in Southeastern British Columbia and Peru, exploring for Base Metals and Cobalt. DLP is listed on the TSX-V, trading symbol DLP and on the OTCQB, trading symbol DLPRF. Please refer to our web site www.dlpresourcesinc.com for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: DLP Resources Inc.

Ian Gendall, CEO and President

Jim Stypula, Executive Chairman

Robin Sudo, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Maxwell Reinhart, Investor Relations

Telephone: 250-426-7808

Email: iangendall@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: jimstypula@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: robinsudo@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: maxreinhart@dlpresourcesinc.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 Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the anticipated proceeds to be raised under the Private Placement and the use of any proceeds raised under the Private Placement.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals for the Private Placement; market uncertainty; and the inability of the Company to raise the anticipated proceeds under the Private Placement.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the Company will obtain the required regulatory and TSX Venture Exchange approvals for the Private Placement; the Company will be able to raise the anticipated proceeds under the Private Placement; and the Company will use the proceeds of the Private Placement as currently anticipated.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159818
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2023) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture service and data company in North America, announces that, further to its press release of March 17, 2023, it has settled an aggregate of $103,265 of indebtedness owed to an arm's length creditor of the Company to settle various earn-out payment terms of a previous acquisition, through the issuance of an aggregate of 295,043 common shares (each, a "Common Share") of the Company at a deemed price of $0.35 per Common Share (the "Debt Settlement"). All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone. Our geographic focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres are actively farmed annually.

For more information, please visit www.deveron.com.

Phil Linton

VP Corporate Development

Deveron Corp.

Plinton@deveron.com

Tel: 647-622-0076

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward-looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159827
GoJoe, a London, UK-based social fitness app for work and play, raised 1.2M in funding.

The round was led by Superbet Ventures, with participation from Hellens Rock, Animoca Brands and Michael Carrick.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth and expand operations.

Co-founded by CEO Will Turner and COO Phil Steele, GoJoe is a hybrid consumer and B2B app which enables workplaces and brands to connect and engage their people. It combines wearables, content and team-based challenges and experiences to socialize everyday solo exercise for the masses of ordinary joes and help people stick to their fitness and wellbeing journeys. The company collaborated with Stanford University on psychology, data and gamification to build the app, which is used by brands including PwC, PayPal, Experian and Amazon.

To date, GoJoe has raised over 1.3M in funding from a wider pool of angels and funds including Olympian Alistair Brownlee MBE and individuals from private and NHS healthcare.

FinSMEs

24/03/2023
London, UK-based learning company Pearson completed the acquisition of Personnel Decisions Research Institutes, an Arlington, Virginia-based provider of workforce assessment services.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

Founded in 1975, PDRI has expertise in providing assessment solutions to the U.S. federal government, one of the largest employers in the U.S. with more than 4 million employees. Its suite of integrated talent management solutions helps government and commercial clients hire, train, develop, manage and motivate high-performance organizations.

The acquisition expands Pearsons services to U.S. federal agencies, including through PDRIs partnership with the Office of Personnel Management to deliver the USA Hire platform. The platform serves more than 40 agencies and is utilized to assess more than 500,000 applicants annually.

PDRI will join Pearsons Assessment & Qualifications division. Within this division, Pearson and PDRI already have an established, working relationship, partnering to deliver assessments to federal jobseekers at Pearson VUE test centers. The company will now operate under the PDRI by Pearson brand name.

FinSMEs

24/03/2023
Unikraft GmbH, a Heidelberg, Germany-based company that optimizes cloud applications, closed a seed funding round of undisclosed amount.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its commercial operations.

Led by CEO Dr. Felipe Huici, Unikraft has developed a technology platform that separates an operating system into elementary pieces; these can then be individually selected to build lightweight, specialized images called unikernels that are tailored to the needs of specific cloud applications. The company transparently integrates with the most popular cloud ecosystem tools so customers do not have to disrupt any of their build/deploy pipelines.

Started in 2017 as a NEC Laboratories Europe project, Unikraft was developed with the support of The Linux Foundation and has established a large, open source community.

FinSMEs

24/03/2023
The growth of OTT platforms has offered the regional cinema a chance to reach a wider range of audience. Now, audiences are not just limited to the movies they are shown on TV or theatres. They have more options to choose from when it comes to cinema. Malayalam films have been recently gaining traction across India and around the world because of their amazing content. Realistic character portrayals, original plotlines, and intriguing acting are considered to be the main reasons why Malayalam cinema is getting immensely popular. If you are a movie lover and want to explore the regional cinema, then Malayalam films are the hidden gems you should grab.

Here are some of the intriguing Malayalam thriller movies you can watch on OTT:

The Teacher (2022)

The story revolves around a physical education instructor named Devika whose life become a living nightmare after a controversial video featuring her goes viral. She battles this tragedy on her own in this Malayalam thriller. The role of Devika has been played by Amala Paul in the movie. Directed by Vivek, the film stars actors like Hakkim Shah and Chemban Vinod Jose besides Amala. The drama thriller is available on Netflix.

Iratta (2023)

Written and directed by Rohit MG Krishnan, the movie revolves around an investigation to find out the perpetrator of a police officers murder. The star cast of this drama thriller includes Joju George, Anjali, Srikant Murali, and Arya Salim. You can watch Iratta on Netflix.

Rorschach (2022)

The movie revolves around a man named Luke Anthony (played by Mammootty). Available on Disney Plus Hotstar, the mystery thriller shows Luke on a mission to find the person who harmed him and take revenge. Directed by Nissam Basheer, the film also stars actors like Grace Antony, Asif Ali, and Priyamvada Krishnan.

Jana Gana Mana (2022)

The crime thriller shows the unrest among college students after a brutal death of a college lecturer. A police officer investigates the tragedy and lawyer fights for justice. Directed by Dijo Jose Antony, the movies star cast include Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Vincy Aloshious. Jana Gana Mana is available to watch on Netflix.

Kooman (2022)

Available on Amazon Prime Video, the movie shows the story of a tough police officer who is stationed in a small town near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. Soon, he starts to witness strange occurrences that link his life to that of others at the police station. The mystery thriller is directed by Jeethu Joseph, and stars actors like Asif Ali, Hannah Reji Koshy, and Jaffer Idukki.

Pada (2022)

This crime thriller revolves around four tribal men who protest a bill that violates their rights. In their attempt to protest, they enter a collectors office by force and take him hostage. Written and directed by Kamal KM, the movie stars actors like Kunchacko Boban, Kani Kusruti, and Joju George. The film is available on Amazon Prime Video to watch.

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North Korea has claimed it has successfully tested an underwater nuclear attack drone.

While the Hermit Kingdom said it tested a drone designed to generate a gigantic radioactive tsunami that would destroy naval strike groups and ports, analysts remain skeptical.

The claim comes in the backdrop of the United States reportedly planning to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

Lets take a closer look:

What is an underwater drone?

As per The Verge, an underwater drone is essentially an unmanned miniature submarine. Such drones are autonomous and are guided by onboard computers and sensors.

According to the Bard Center for Study of the Drone, underwater drones have existed since the 1950s.

Today, there are over 250 such drones in service.

According to Military.com, the US Navy first deployed underwater drones from submarines in 2015.

Now you are talking about a submarine [commanding officer] who can essentially be in two places at the same time  with a UUV [unmanned underwater vehicle] out deployed which can do dull, dirty and dangerous type missions. This allows the submarine to be doing something else at the same time, Rear Admiral Joseph Tofalo told the website.

What do we know about North Koreas new weapon?

The North Korean drone is named Haeil, a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis.

The Norths Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of Kim smiling next to a large, torpedo-shaped object at an unspecified indoor facility, but didnt identify it.

Other photos published with the same article showed sea-surface tracks supposedly caused by the drones underwater trajectory and a pillar of water exploding up into the air, possibly caused by what state media described as an underwater detonation of a mock nuclear weapon carried by the drone.

KCNA said the drone was deployed Tuesday off the Norths eastern coast, travelled underwater for nearly 60 hours, and detonated a test warhead at a target standing for an enemy port.

It said the test verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years, although the weapon was never mentioned before in state media until Friday.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation.

The weapons mission is to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami  to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy, it added.

The testing of the purported nuclear underwater attack drone was part of a three-day exercise that simulated nuclear attacks on unspecified South Korean targets, which also included cruise missile launches Wednesday.

KCNA said the Norths latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing nuclear crisis as they continue with their intentional, persistent and provocative war drills.

It said the tests were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who vowed to make his rivals plunge into despair.

Russias Poseidon drone

Russia in January claimed to have produced the first set of nuclear-capable super torpedoes being developed for deployment on the Belgorod nuclear submarine.

Little is known about Poseidon  also known as Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System  in the public domain.

What we do know is that it is essentially a cross between a torpedo and a drone which can be launched from a nuclear submarine.

Russias defence ministry has shown videos of the 24-metre Poseidon, known as Kanyon by NATO, including simulations showing it destroying an enemy aircraft carrier and hitting the shoreline.

Vice quoted intel sources as saying Poseidon weighs more than 200,000 pounds, and has a diameter of around six feet.

It is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.

The Poseidon torpedoes will be carried by the K-329 Belgorod, a special-purpose nuclear submarine that was built by the Sevmash Shipyard.

It is so large that the Belgorod nuclear submarine can only handle six such weapons  making it the biggest torpedo in history, as per Vice.

US and Russian officials have both described Poseidon as a new category of retaliatory weapon, capable of triggering radioactive ocean swells to render coastal cities uninhabitable.

TASS said the main components of Poseidon, including a nuclear reactor to give the torpedo its own power source, had been successfully completed. The crew of the Belgorod nuclear submarine has also completed tests with models of the torpedo, TASS said.

Putin first announced what would become known as Poseidon in 2018, saying it was a fundamentally new type of strategic nuclear weapon, confirming it would have its own nuclear power supply.

In the 2018 speech, Putin said the range of the torpedo would be unlimited and that it could operate at extreme depths at a speed many times that of any submarine or other torpedoes.

They are very low noise, have high maneuverability and are practically indestructible for the enemy. There is no weapon that can counter them in the world today, Putin said.

The United States said in its Nuclear Posture Review in 2022 that Russia and China continue to expand and diversify their nuclear capabilities, to include novel and destabilising systems.

Russia is pursuing several novel nuclear-capable systems designed to hold the U.S. homeland or Allies and partners at risk, according to the Posture Review.

Last year, the US Naval Institute said Russias development of Poseidon turned assumptions about submarine-launched nuclear weapons upside down.

Perhaps most frightening, this nuclear weapon has the potential for autonomous operation, the institute said.

A fully operational Kanyon would have an incredible strategic impact, it said in an article. As a new delivery platform, it is not covered by current nuclear arms treaties.

But analysts told CNN there seem to differences between the Haeil and the Poseidon  namely that it is conventionally powered and not shot out of a submarine.

Impossible to verify, say analysts

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seouls University of North Korean Studies, said that its impossible to verify North Koreas claims about the drones capabilities or that it had tested the system dozens of times. But, he said, the North is intending to communicate that the weapon has enough range to reach all South Korean ports.

Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, questioned the wisdom of North Korea devoting resources to the drone system as a means of delivery versus its ballistic missiles when it has limited amounts of nuclear materials suitable for weapons.

This un-crewed underwater vehicle will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Koreas coastal waters. It will also be susceptible to preemptive strikes when in port, said Panda.

Indeed, the US and South Korea would have incentives in a crisis to preempt any such systems before they could deploy.

Panda on Twitter said it could not be ruled out that the announcement was an attempt at deception/psyop.

The idea that Pyongyang has a nuclear-capable underwater drone should be met with skepticism, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

Pyongyangs claims about a new weapons system are not the same as a credible demonstration of capability, he added.

Even so, the claim was shocking, Cheong Seong-chang of the private Sejong Institute told AFP.

If true, it is hard to see how Seoul could respond to such a formidable new weapon from North Korea that (it says) can completely destroy the Souths major operational ports.

Hong Min, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, called it the first of its kind.

It is very difficult to be detected in advance by any reconnaissance or interceptor assets that South Korea and the United States have so far, Hong added.

North Korea is showing a behavioural pattern of responding with nuclear weapons to all military responses against the past, ongoing and future [US-South Korea] joint exercises, he said.

The KCNA statement also indicates Pyongyang is more than ready to use its tactical nuclear weapons at any time, An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher, told AFP.

This obviously further strengthens Kims justification for his future nuclear tests.

North Korea is believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads and may be capable of fitting them on older weapons systems, such as Scuds or Rodong missiles.

However, there are different assessments on how far it has advanced in engineering those warheads to fit on the new weapons it has developed at a rapid pace, which might require further technological upgrades and nuclear tests.

With inputs from agencies

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on 23 March, 2023, amid a chorus of calls from members of Congress for the federal government to ban the Chinese-owned video social media app and reports that the Biden administration is pushing for the companys sale.

The federal government, along with many state and foreign governments and some companies, has banned TikTok on work-provided phones. This type of ban can be effective for protecting data related to government work.

But a full ban of the app is another matter, which raises a number of questions: What data privacy risk does TikTok pose? What could the Chinese government do with data collected by the app? Is its content recommendation algorithm dangerous? And is it even possible to ban an app?

Also Read: Chinese govt doesnt own the company: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before US Congress amid ban threat

Vacuuming up data

As a cybersecurity researcher, Ive noted that every few years a new mobile app that becomes popular raises issues of security, privacy and data access.

Apps collect data for several reasons. Sometimes the data is used to improve the app for users. However, most apps collect data that the companies use in part to fund their operations.

This revenue typically comes from targeting users with ads based on the data they collect. The questions this use of data raises are: Does the app need all this data? What does it do with the data? And how does it protect the data from others?

So, what makes TikTok different from the likes of Pokemon-GO, Facebook or even your phone itself? TikToks privacy policy, which few people read, is a good place to start.

Overall, the company is not particularly transparent about its practices. The document is too long to list here all the data it collects, which should be a warning.

There are a few items of interest in TikToks privacy policy besides the information you give them when you create an account  name, age, username, password, language, email, phone number, social media account information and profile image  that are concerning.

Also Read: Despite getting banned in 2020, TikTok still has access to data of Indian users

This information includes location data, data from your clipboard, contact information, website tracking, plus all data you post and messages you send through the app. The company claims that current versions of the app do not collect GPS information from US users. There has been speculation that TikTok is collecting other information, but that is hard to prove.

If most apps collect data, why is the US government worried about TikTok? First, they worry about the Chinese government accessing data from its 150 million users in the US. There is also a concern about the algorithms used by TikTok to show content.

Data in the Chinese governments hands

If the data does end up in the hands of the Chinese government, the question is how could it use the data to its benefit. The government could share it with other companies in China to help them profit, which is no different than US companies sharing marketing data.

The Chinese government is known for playing the long game, and data is power, so if it is collecting data, it could take years to learn how it benefits China.

One potential threat is the Chinese government using the data to spy on people, particularly people who have access to valuable information. The Justice Department is investigating TikToks parent company, ByteDance, for using the app to monitor US journalists.

The Chinese government has an extensive history of hacking US government agencies and corporations, and much of that hacking has been facilitated by social engineering  the practice of using data about people to trick them into revealing more information.

The second issue that the US government has raised is algorithm bias or algorithm manipulation. TikTok and most social media apps have algorithms designed to learn a users interests and then try to adjust the content so the user will continue to use the app. TikTok has not shared its algorithm, so its not clear how the app chooses a users content.

The algorithm could be biased in a way that influences a population to believe certain things. There are numerous allegations that TiKToks algorithm is biased and can reinforce negative thoughts among younger users, and be used to affect public opinion.

Also Read: Influencers, Assemble: TikTok flies influencers to Washington DC from all over US to lobby US Congress

It could be that the algorithms manipulative behaviour is unintentional, but there is concern that the Chinese government has been using or could use the algorithm to influence people.

Can the government ban an app?

If the federal government comes to the conclusion that TikTok should be banned, is it even possible to ban it for all of its 150 million existing users?

Any such ban would likely start with blocking the distribution of the app through Apples and Googles app stores. This might keep many users off the platform, but there are other ways to download and install apps for people who are determined to use them.

A more drastic method would be to force Apple and Google to change their phones to prevent TikTok from running. While Im not a lawyer, I think this effort would fail due to legal challenges, which include First Amendment concerns.

The bottom line is that an absolute ban will be tough to enforce.

There are also questions about how effective a ban would be even if it were possible. By some estimates, the Chinese government has already collected personal information on at least 80 per cent of the US population via various means.

So, a ban might limit the damage going forward to some degree, but the Chinese government has already collected a significant amount of data. The Chinese government also has access  along with anyone else with money  to the large market for personal data, which fuels calls for stronger data privacy rules.

Are you at risk?

So as an average user, should you worry? Again, it is unclear what data ByteDance is collecting and if it can harm an individual. I believe the most significant risks are to people in power, whether it is political power or within a company. Their data and information could be used to gain access to other data or potentially compromise the organisations they are associated with.

Also Read: TikTok CEO appeals to 150 million US users for support ahead of Congressional hearing

The aspect of TikTok I find most concerning is the algorithm that decides what videos users see and how it can affect vulnerable groups, particularly young people.

Independent of a ban, families should have conversions about TikTok and other social media platforms and how they can be detrimental to mental health. These conversations should focus on how to determine if the app is leading you down an unhealthy path.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The heirs to two of the most violent revolutions in modern history shook hands and took stock of their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, at a recent meeting in Moscow.

Many in the West have puzzled over this relationship between Chinese Communist Party chairman Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin. Some have imagined, for example, that Xi would be a neutral party in Putins war in Ukraine, or that he could even be a peacemaker.

But rather than imagining a troubling new partnership has emerged unpredictably after decades of peacetime globalisation, we should look to a longer arc of history to understand Russia and Chinas shared confrontation with the world.

Putins invasion of Ukraine  backed openly by Chinas economic power  is just the first geopolitical product of a restored Russia-China axis and the return of two states whose ambitions were never sated by the post-cold war peace.

Once again, the worlds democracies are faced with the challenge of organising their defences against these two dictatorships in both Europe and Asia.

Writing in 1950, as American grand strategy began to cohere around the cold war challenge presented by the Soviet Union, US state department official Paul Nitze explained the period of upheaval that defined his generations experience of international affairs:

Within the past thirty-five years the world has experienced two global wars of tremendous violence. It has witnessed two revolutions  the Russian and Chinese  of extreme scope and intensity. It has also seen the collapse of five empires  the Ottoman, the Austro-Hungarian, German, Italian, and Japanese  and the drastic decline of two major imperial systems, the British and the French.

Nitze, the architect of one of the cold wars primary strategy documents, NSC-68, observed a world in which the international distribution of power has been fundamentally altered.

Among the reasons for that alteration and upheaval were the two revolutions he wisely acknowledged, the Russian and Chinese. Two revolutions whose consequences, we should now recognise, have not fully ended.

We should remind ourselves that 21st-Century Russia and China  and the leaders that run them  are products of the original Russian and Chinese revolutions that Nitze understood would shape the history and geopolitics of his lifetime.

Xi and Putin, as products of these revolutions, are also heirs to their anti-western ideas and strategies of confrontation.

As American spymaster Jack Devine points out, Putins career took shape in Dresden, East Germany, ensconced in the Warsaw Pact world and he has called the Soviet empires collapse the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th Century.

Now, as chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi is heir to what the party calls the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, a project of national revival that originated with Maos New China and has continued on in various forms since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949.

Xis China seeks confrontation with the US and the establishment of a new order with China to take centre stage in the world. In this endeavour, Putins Russia is Xis chief collaborator and strategic partner.

As totalitarian communist states in the 20th Century, Russia and China challenged the worlds democracies and sought to establish an order of their own.

The decade-long Sino-Soviet alliance spanned the Korean War and multiple Taiwan crises, producing a two-theatre strategic challenge for the US and its allies spanning both Europe and Asia.

The US, having just fought the second world war in both the Atlantic and Pacific, was perhaps more prepared to manage a two-theatre strategic contest.

Simultaneous containment of both communist China and the Soviet Union provided a check against their ambitions. The Sino-Soviet alliance eventually became unsustainable and broke apart largely because Mao aspired to return China to a position of power and centrality in world affairs; he would not tolerate a role as junior partner to Moscow.

Today these roles have reversed, and these ambitions have been restored, not in the name of communist ideology, but in light of an aggressive, militarist nationalism that animates both regimes.

Xi and Putin showed the world the philosophical depth and contours of their relationship in their joint declaration of partnership at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 just weeks before Putins invasion of Ukraine. But the strategic partnership goes back even earlier.

Throughout the 2010s, both nations worked to expand their military, economic and diplomatic ties.

In the statement at the Beijing Olympics, China and Russia pledged mutual support for the others core interests. Moscow pledged its support for Beijings claims over Taiwan, which it called an inalienable part of China, and Beijing pledged that both sides oppose further enlargement of NATO and call on the North Atlantic Alliance to abandon its ideologised cold war approaches.

Joint nuclear-capable bomber exercises, land and naval exercises, increasing trade in energy, technology, Chinas propaganda support for Moscow, and new reports of Chinese assault rifles and body armour for Russia, are just some elements of what has taken shape since Putins invasion of Ukraine.

The shared China-Russia division of Europe and Asia is reminiscent of the original geography of the Sino-Soviet Alliance. As Stalin told his counterparts in communist China: There should be some division of labour between us  you may take more responsibility in working in the East  and we will take more responsibility in the West.

Putins war in Ukraine is not the only conflict, of course, that this axis may produce. Chinas economic engagement with the democracies in the post-cold war supercharged a modern-day Peoples Republic of China that now contests the worlds democracies in critical technologies and strategic industries and has built a military of unmatched scope in Asia that is meant to settle scores of its own in the Pacific.

This is the return of 20th-Century antagonists whose ambitions never truly went away.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Muslims around the world are welcoming the start of Ramzan, a month of fasting, increased worship, heightened charity, good deeds and community. Christians are also fasting during Lent, the 40-day period of penance and prayer ahead of Easter, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Fasting across religions is practiced for a wide range of reasons that include spiritual purification and self-discipline. Here is a quick look at fasting as an act of faith:

Buddhism

In Buddhism, fasting is recognised as one of the methods for practicing self- control. Buddhist monks generally refrain from taking solid food after noon every day.

Christianity

In Christianity, fasting is used as a way to purify the body, practice self-control and save resources to give to the poor.

Many Pentecostal Christians fast in anticipation that it will equip them to experience the Holy Spirit more powerfully.

During Lent, many Christians observe a 40-day period of penance, prayer and fasting. It is observed from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, which marks their belief in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

This year, Easter falls on 9 April for most Christians. During Lent, Christians replicate the biblical account of Jesus withdrawing to the desert to pray and fast for the 40 days.

Christians often abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, and some for the entire period. Some also give up coffee, candy or another item they see as a personal sacrifice.

Youre showing your seriousness and your willingness to suffer for your religion, said Deana Weibel, an anthropology and religious studies professor at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.

The Catholic Church does not consider fish, lobster and other shellfish to be meat, so they can be consumed on days of abstinence, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In many US communities, Friday fish fries are common occurrence during Lent.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, fasting is not an obligation, but a voluntary act of spiritual purification. The most commonly observed fast is Ekadashi, which falls on the 11th day of each lunar cycle as the moon waxes and wanes.

Hindus also fast during several festivals or as part of their spiritual discipline. People may do complete or partial fasts or just give up their favourite foods for a certain period of time.

Islam

Abstaining from all food and drink  not even a sip of water is allowed  and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan is regarded as an act of piety and devotion to God and an exercise in self-restraint.

Islamic scholars say the merits of fasting also include cultivating gratitude and compassion for the less fortunate and poor.

Making donations and helping feed the needy are hallmarks of the month, which also typically sees the devout dedicating more time for prayers, religious studies and reading of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Many look forward to the fast as an act of spiritual rejuvenation and purification.

In Islam, fasting is one of The Five Pillars of the faith, along with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage, which is known in Arabic as hajj. There are exemptions from fasting, including for the sick.

The daily fasting is followed by iftar, or breaking of the fast, often in festive gatherings with family and friends.

Jainism

Fasting is an important part of Jainism. It is viewed as a way to cleanse ones body, including ones bad karma or actions.

Jain fasts could last from one day to more than a month. People may do complete or partial fasts or just give up their favourite foods for a certain period of time.

Judaism

The holiest day of the Jewish calendar involves a 25-hour fasting period thats coupled with prayers for forgiveness.

During Yom Kippur, Judaisms Day of atonement, Israeli life grinds to a halt  businesses shut down, roads empty out and even radio and TV stations go silent as the faithful fast for 25 hours and hold intensive prayers of atonement.

Sikhism

Sikhism is one of few religions that does not regard fasting as meritorious. Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith, regarded fasting as inferior to the truth or right action, which he said was superior to fasting, penance or other austerities.

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Angry demonstrators opposing the French governments pension reforms hit the streets in large numbers on Thursday (23 March).

While unions say 3.5 million people participated in protests across the country, the authorities put the number at around 1.1 million.

Protests took a violent turn in some places, with unions calling for nationwide strikes and marches next Tuesday (26 March)  when British monarch King Charles III is scheduled to visit the Western European country.

France has been witnessing protests for months against President Emmanuel Macrons plan to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Lets take a look at the protests and whether they are similar to the 2018 yellow vest movement.

Fire, teargas and walkouts

On Thursday evening, the heavy wooden door of the Bordeaux City Hall was ignited by members of an unauthorised demonstration, reported Sud Ouest newspaper. The blaze was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

As per Frances interior ministry, 1,19,000 people protested in Paris, while union leaders say 8,00,000 demonstrators  young, old, professional, unemployed  appeared for the mostly peaceful march in the capital, reported The Guardian.

A group of young people known as casseurs (smashers), dressed in black, smashed shop windows, attacked a McDonalds restaurant and destroyed bus shelters and advertising hoardings in Paris, as per media reports.

Paris Place de lOpera and Place de la Bastille also reported violent clashes where police used tear gas to disperse protesters.

Violence also erupted in the cities of Nantes, Rennes and Lyon during the nationwide protests.

In Lorient town, the courtyard of a police station was set on fire and its windows were smashed, as per Associated Press (AP).

At least 80 people were arrested across the country, with 33 in Paris alone, reported BBC.

Around 123 police officers were injured in France, according to interior minister Gerald Darmanin.

French police claimed 1,000 people acted violently, starting fires, releasing smoke bombs and vandalising property, as per CNN.

Famed tourist attractions such as Eiffel Tower and the Versailles Palace were shut on Thursday due to the strikes.

Marseille, Besancon, Arles and other French towns and cities also saw large protests.

In the northern city of Rouen, witnesses said a young woman lost her thumb after a flash-ball grenade fired by police to disperse protesters hit her, reported BBC.

Teachers walked off the job, while strikes also disrupted train and air travel and affected oil refineries.

These were the ninth union-organised demonstrations since January.

ALSO READ: Why are streets in France littered with heaps of garbage?

Protesters vs French government

Women were among the most furious protesters as, they say, the retirement bill would hit them the most.

Everyone is angry. Everyone thinks this law is unfair, but it particularly penalises women who are expected to produce future generations of the nation, and then find they are punished for doing so, said Marie, a 46-year-old social worker, told The Guardian.

I oppose this reform and I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything, a protester told Reuters. Were not being represented, and so were fed up.

Speaking to The Guardian, Juliette, a 51-year-old teacher, asked: They want to raise it to 64 today. Will it be 66, 67, 68 tomorrow? They tell us life expectancy is longer, but are we to work until we collapse and are carted off to the crematorium?

The demonstrations came a day after Macrons appearance on television.

Despite the protests and criticism, the French president has remained defensive about the pension reforms, saying they are needed to keep the system afloat.

He said on Wednesday that the protests were legitimate but would not result in the government withdrawing the law.

Its in the greater interest of the country. Between opinion polls and the national interest, I chose the national interest, Macron said, as per CNN. Polls say most French are against increasing the retirement age, which would also lead to workers making contributions to the pension system for longer.

The French government is under fire for pushing the unpopular pension reforms through the lower house of parliament without a vote using a special constitutional measure last week.

Is this Frances new yellow vest movement?

Violence at largely peaceful protests against the pension reform bill is a reminder of Frances 2018 yellow vest protests that had emerged as the biggest challenge to Macrons presidency.

The protests had started on 17 November 2018 against the Macron governments planned hikes in diesel taxes as part of its environmental policy strategy.

Initially, the demonstrators were made up of motorists in rural and suburban areas who heavily rely on their cars to earn their living.

Donning fluorescent safety jackets or Gilets Jaunes, which are mandatory in French cars, protesters appeared across the country every Saturday to oppose the rise in fuel prices.

The protests soon expanded with small business owners, employees and care workers forming a majority of the movement against Macrons alleged bias favouring the elite and well-off city dwellers.

The picture that emerged was that of a movement made up largely of workers and former workers in a situation of financial insecurity, with relatively few unemployed, Frederic Gonthier, a political scientist, told France 24 in November 2019.

Jerome Fourquet of the polling organisation Ifop had described the yellow vests in November 2018 as people who are too rich to receive welfare benefits but not rich enough to live well. Not the poorest but just above that, as per Radio France Internationale (RFI).

The movement was connected by dozens of Facebook pages, but was largely shapeless, leaderless and with no clear ideological bent, as per France 24.

Soon far-left activists, anarchists and rioters joined the movement, noted RFI.

The protests peaked in December 2018 when angry demonstrators stormed Arc de Triomphe in central Paris, the worst civil unrest seen in the country in 50 years.

The Arc de Triomphe was vandalised with graffiti. The yellow vests gathered at Champs Elysees, where the Arc de Triomphe is located, set fire to makeshift barricades, vehicles, and looted shops, with hundreds getting wounded in the clashes.

We are in a state of insurrection, Ive never seen anything like it, Jeanne dHauteserre, mayor of Pariss 8th district, had said at the time.

Roughly half the yellow vest protesters were women. Oriane, a social worker in her 20s, who set up the first womens yellow vest page on Facebook along with her friend, told France 24 in 2019: Women are the first victims of poverty and this is why Im a woman Yellow Vest.

She said she was protesting due to the governments unfair policies and Macrons contempt for small folk like us.

The government eventually decided to backtrack on its initial proposed hike. The protests which saw large gatherings earlier started to peter out in 2019.

Over 8,000 people were arrested, at least 11 killed and thousands were injured at the protests that lasted for 60 consecutive weeks, as per Anadolu Agency.

The clashes between the police and some protesters during the ongoing pension reforms have brought back memories of the yellow vest movement.

It is too early to say whether there are similarities with the yellow vests movement or the Nuit Debout movement [unleashed against the 2016 labor law]. All of this remains very uncertain and no one can say what it may lead to, a government source told World Crunch.

With inputs from agencies

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Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman once compared Irans supreme leader to Hitler, but has now green-lit a reconciliation deal intended to usher in a new era of regional prosperity.

As a 29-year-old defence minister, he launched a ferocious assault on Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, but is now pursuing back-channel talks that could ultimately remove Saudi forces from the conflict.

He has also worked to mend bitter rifts with regional rivals like Qatar and Turkey, and even offered up the Gulf kingdom as a possible mediator for the war in Ukraine.

Analysts say it points to an evolution of Prince Mohammed, now 37, from erratic disruptor to pragmatic power player.

The deal with Iran in particular marks a sea change in his political approach, signalling maturity and a more realistic understanding of regional power politics, said Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi foreign policy at the University of Birmingham.

Also Read: From Hitler to sharing one fate: Why Saudi-Iran pact could transform West Asia

Yet its too soon to know whether such de-escalatory measures will succeed  and how far they will go.

The Iran deal still needs to be implemented, with embassies due to reopen by the second week of May after seven years of severed bilateral ties.

Saudi Arabia and Syria are also in talks on resuming consular services, state media in the kingdom said Thursday, more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom cut ties with President Bashar al-Assads regime.

Riyadh had long openly championed Assads ouster.

Regardless of what happens next, Riyadhs agenda is clear: minimising turbulence abroad to keep the focus on a raft of economic and social reforms at home.

Our vision is a prosperous Middle East, one Saudi official said, because without your region developing with you, there are limits to what you can achieve.

Vision under threat

It was domestic reforms that initially helped burnish Prince Mohammeds reputation on the world stage.

On his watch, the formerly closed-off kingdom sidelined the notorious religious police, allowed women to drive, opened cinemas and started granting tourist visas.

Its deep-pocketed sovereign wealth fund inked a series of high-profile investments in everything from Newcastle United to Nintendo, hinting at how his Vision 2030 reform agenda might transition the worlds largest crude exporter away from fossil fuels.

Hanging over all this were concerns about ramped-up repression, especially following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate.

But Saudi officials also recognised how security threats, especially from Iran, endangered Prince Mohammeds big plans.

This point was driven home with attacks in 2019, claimed by the Iran-backed Huthis, on Saudi oil facilities that temporarily halved crude output.

Riyadh and Washington charged that Tehran was behind the operation, which the Iranians denied.

The incident was a game-changer, spurring Saudi Arabia to pursue a more conciliatory path, analysts and diplomats say.

Saudi officials were deeply disappointed by the tepid response of then-US president Donald Trumps administration, which they believed undermined the oil-for-security trade-off that has underpinned the two countries partnership for decades.

The Saudis were shocked that the Americans did nothing to protect them, said an Arab diplomat based in Riyadh.

Saudi officials told us, We need to focus on the megaprojects,' the diplomat added, citing a futuristic megacity known as NEOM and a budding arts hub in the northern city of Al-Ula.

If one missile hits NEOM or Al-Ula, there will be no investment or tourism. The vision will collapse.

Lowering the temperature

In making up with Iran, Prince Mohammed has not gone it alone.

Neighbouring Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates restored full diplomatic ties with the Islamic republic last year.

But the Saudi-Iranian deal is seen as more significant because the two Middle East heavyweights have often found themselves on opposite sides of conflicts  not just in Yemen but also in places including Lebanon and Iraq.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia releases US national after 16 years in prison

The kingdom is pursuing a calibrated geopolitic reset that attempts to holistically improve the broader regional security environment, said Ayham Kamel of Eurasia Group.

Anna Jacobs of the International Crisis Group added: Lowering the temperature with Iran is a smart way to lower tensions across the region and mitigate some of the proxy battles surrounding Saudi Arabia.

The next step for implementing the deal is a meeting between the two countries foreign ministers, though it has not yet been scheduled.

Earlier this week, an Iranian official said President Ebrahim Raisi had favourably received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia from King Salman, Prince Mohammeds father, though Riyadh has yet to confirm.

These expected encounters will be closely watched as worries persist that the rapprochement remains fragile.

Mistrust is deep between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Jacobs said, and both sides will need to see positive signals from the other very soon to proceed with the deal.

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Paris: Its a well-known fact: France, which beheaded its own king and queen, has a long-running love affair with the British royal family that has endured ups-and-downs in the cross-Channel relationship.

From Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, visiting British monarchs have received a warm welcome in Paris over the past 170 years.

AFP looks back at some milestone moments:

Victoria: Queen of Versailles

In August 1855, Queen Victoria makes her first state visit to Paris, the first by a British monarch in 400 years.

After spending centuries at war Britain and France are now fighting together against the Russian Empire in Crimea.

In a landmark moment, Victoria visits Napoleon Is tomb at the Invalides war museum in Paris.

I stood on the arm of Napoleon IIIrd, before the coffin of his uncle, our bitterest foe! I, the granddaughter of that King, who hated Napoleon most, she wrote in her journal.

The grand finale is a sumptuous supper and a ball for 1,200 guests thrown by the emperor at the Palace of Versailles.

Edward VII: Entente Cordiale

Two years after Queen Victorias death her son Edward VII visits France in the spring of 1903, amid renewed tensions over the two European powers colonial rivalry.

President Emile Loubet welcomes him with great pomp, but he has to work hard to win over an initially hostile French public.

On 8 April, 1904, his efforts bear fruit in the form of the Entente Cordiale, a landmark treaty settling Britain and Frances colonial disputes.

George V: WWI storm clouds

Europe is on the brink of World War I when King George V and Queen Mary visit Paris in April 1914.

As the royal motorcade passes, Parisians line the avenues paved with the colours of the Union Jack flag.

During a state dinner at the Elysee presidential palace, President Raymond Poincare hails the Franco-British Entente as one of the soundest guarantees of European equilibrium.

George VI: Long live the king!

In July 1938, Europe is again on the threshold of war when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth sweep into Paris to cries of Long live the king!

George VI ascended to the throne after his elder brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry a twice divorced American, Wallis Warfield Simpson.

His visit comes at a time of growing alarm in Paris and London at Nazi Germanys war preparations.

For the traditional banquet at the Elysee Palace, Queen Elizabeth wears the Koh I Noor, the biggest diamond in the world.

Elizabeth II: Queen of French hearts

Over her record seven-decade reign, Queen Elizabeth II paid five state visits to France, winning hearts with her command of the language, dry wit and what she calls her great affection for the French.

Her first official visit as a newly-married 21-year-old princess in 1948 causes a sensation, with crowds lining the street to try to catch a glimpse of her and husband Prince Philip.

Her star power is still in evidence when she makes her first state visit to France as queen in 1957.

President Rene Coty pulls out all the stops, putting on a banquet at the Louvre museum and sprucing up the banks of the Seine for Elizabeths river cruise.

As the years pass, her visits take on a more overtly diplomatic flavour, marking the UKs entry into the European Economic Community in 1972, the centenary of the Entente Cordiale in 2004 and the 70th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings in 2004.

Conveying his sympathy to the British people on her death last year, President Emmanuel Macron said: To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was The Queen.

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Fugitive Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh continues to evade arrest for the seventh consecutive day. He has been on the run since 18 March.

The Khalistan sympathiser and his aide Papalpreet Singh were last located in Haryanas Kurukshetra. A CCTV image from Shahbad Markanda showing a man walking with an umbrella and thought to be Amritpal was also released by the Punjab police, according to Indian Express.

However, the latest media reports suggest that the duo may have snicked away to Uttarakhand.

Lets take a closer look:

Fleeing to Uttarakhand

According to ANI, Baljit Kaur, a resident of Kurukshetra and the woman recently arrested by Haryana police for sheltering Amritpal Singh and his aide, told interrogators that the duo confided in her that they might move to Uttarakhand next.

                                            2.5     : IGP    pic.twitter.com/CsdQNghk2T  ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) March 23, 2023

The Uttarakhand police, tightening its vigilance to nab the absconded duo, have put up and distributed posters in villages across the Nepal border in view of their possibility to leave the country, reported PTI.

The Udham Singh Nagar police on Wednesday also held a coordination with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Nepal forces in this regard.

Times of India quoted Ravinder Singh Bisht, station house officer (SHO) at Jhankaiyan police station as saying, We pasted Amritpal and his associates posters in villages along the border and handed them over to Nepali forces. We have organised meetings in the villages for assistance. Since our border with Nepal is open, we along with SSB, have to be extra cautious.

We have intensified patrolling and checking of vehicles in the areas bordering Nepal, he added.

Five companies of the Paramilitary Force and an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have reportedly been sent to the district to apprehend Amritpal and his associates, according to senior officials in Uttarakhand, reported Hindustan Times.

Notably, the Udham Singh Nagar district in the state is dominated by the Sikh community. They originally migrated here from Pakistan at the time of separation. Many people from Punjab sought refuge here throughout the 1980s and 1990s when terrorism in Punjab was at its worst.

His last known location was Haryanas Kurukshetra

According to the chronology of video footage gathered by investigators, IGP Gill stated that the 30-year-old self-described preachers last known location was Shahabad-Markanda town in Kurukshetra, more than 220 kilometres from Punjabs Jalandhar.

The most recent information from the police suggests that he may have been somewhere the entire time, despite the fact that the hunt for him lasted for three days throughout the state of Punjab.

The Waris Punjab De chief, for whom a lookout notice and non-bailable warrant have been issued, is believed to have entered Haryana after evading many checkpoints, switching vehicles and hiding places numerous times, and eluding every police pursuit since the operation against him and his aide began on 18 March.

Amritpal and Papalpreet changed their two-wheeler at a gurudwara at Sehowal village and took an overbridge to get across the river. They hired an autorickshaw and reached Kurukshetra, reported Hindustan Times.

As Amritpal was looking for a boat, he even went near the Ladhowal railway station.

According to Times of India, IGP Gill revealed that Papalpreet Singh knew Baljit Kaur for over two years and had stayed in her house located in Shahabad-Markandas Siddharth colony previously too.

Haryana police arrested Baljit, who is currently unemployed and handed her over to their Jalandhar counterparts on Thursday.

Kurukshetra SP Surender Singh Bhoria said, During our preliminary investigation, Baljit admitted that Singh (whom she had not met before) stayed at her residence with Papalpreet on the night of 19 March.

Also read: Amid renewed Khalistani threat, it is imperative to gain clarity about who is on which side

Amritpals escape route from Punjab

As per Business Today, from Nangal Ambian gurudwara, where Amritpal changed his clothes, had food and escaped with his aide on two motorcycles to reach Sheikhpura.

The police recovered the car in which Amritpal fled and weapons were recovered from the vehicle, Gill said.

According to TOI, IGP Gill added that an investigation of CCTV footage showing Amritpal in the Punjabi village of Sheikhupura, in the Ludhiana district, prior to his transfer to Haryana, verified reports that he had crossed an old Sutlej bridge and took an autorickshaw from close to the theme park Hardys World on the Jalandhar-Ludhiana road at around 9.40 p.m. on 18 March.

Gurbhej Singh aka Bheja of Faridkot district, one of Amritpals aides who had been initially on the run with him, had told police after his arrest on Wednesday that the fugitive leader might have stayed at Baljits residence in Shahabad-Markanda.

IGP Gill said that the police would catch up with Amritpal in spite of him sneaking out of Punjab and the possibility of him leaving Haryana soon after he and his aide left Shahabad-Markanda.

Also read: Indias swift response to the vandalism of its London Mission is a saga of history and assertion of self-confidence

Numerous arrested in the case

Officials have detained or arrested 207 people so far, 30 of whom have criminal charges pending against them.

According to Gill, the remaining 177 are misguided youth who will soon be released.

Tejinder Singh, also known as Gorkha Baba, an armed bodyguard of Amritpal, was taken into custody by police late on Wednesday in his home in Mangewal village.

He may be seen in several photos standing with an unlicensed .315-bore pump-action gun while standing behind Amritpal, according to the police.

Payal deputy SP Harsimrat Singh said, Tejinder told us he was with Amritpal when a mob stormed Ajnala police station to free a man before the crackdown started.

According to Business Today, Amritpal and his supporters broke into the Ajnala police station in February demanding the release of his aide Lovepreet Singh Toofan, prompting the police to initiate a crackdown against him and his supporters.

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, had also been threatened by Singh, who claimed that he might suffer the same fate as the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

On Thursday, eleven further arrested aides were shown before a court, which remanded them in judicial prison for two weeks.

For a different offence, another court in Ajnala remanded 10 of them in police custody.

A police team questioned Amritpals mother Balwinder Kaur and wife Kirandeep Kaur in their village house, according to IGP Gill, who declined to provide further details.

With inputs from agencies

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If you are in the American state of Utah and under the age of 18, you will now require your parents consent to join any social media platform. Want to be on Twitter, get consent from your parents. Instagram? Same. TikTok  the answer is the same.

With this move, Utah has become the first state in the US prohibiting social media services from allowing access to minors without parental consent.

While signing the legislation into effect, Utah governor Spencer Cox said, Were no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth.

Were no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth. Today we signed two key bills in our fight against social media companies into law:  SB152 requires social media companies to verify that users in https://t.co/GVAcSi9zHx pic.twitter.com/M1Kbya1xQi  Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) March 23, 2023

We take a closer look at the laws now restricting children from using social media apps and the reasons for it.

Utahs new social media laws, explained

On Thursday, Governor Spencer J Cox signed a sweeping social media bill, limiting youth access to apps like TikTok and Instagram. This was done after he signed into law the H.B. 311 and S.B. 152 bills.

Under the legislation, which comes into effect in March 2024, social media companies will have to verify the age of a Utah resident seeking to maintain or open an account. If the user is below the age of 18, the company will require to get the consent of a parent or guardian. Moreover, the law will allow parents to get full access to their childs account. Additionally, it will create a default curfew setting that blocks access overnight  10.30 pm to 6.30 am  which can be adjusted by the parents.

The new legislation also prohibits direct messaging by anyone who the child has followed. Social media companies will also not be allowed to collect data from a childs account and cannot target the accounts of children for advertising.

The law has also set down penalties in case the tech giants break the new rules. The House Bill 311 allows for a $250,000 (Rs 2.05 crore) fine for social media companies, which use addictive design features. Furthermore, the law also allows parents to sue social media companies directly for financial, physical, or emotional harms in certain circumstances.

While Utah is the first state with such laws, other American states are also advocating for similar legislation. Arkansas, Texas, Ohio and Louisiana New Jersey are advancing similar proposals.

California has already enacted a law last year requiring tech companies to put kids safety first by barring them from profiling children or using personal information in ways that could harm children physically or mentally.

Reactions to the legislation

The legislation has been welcomed by parents and lawmakers, who have been complaining of youth addiction to social media, and the security risks it poses such as online bullying and exploitation.

Utah Representative Jordan Teuscher, who co-sponsored the bill, was quoted as telling news agency AFP, We hope that this is just the first step in many bills that well see across the nation, and hopefully taken on by the federal government.

Michael McKell, a Republican member of the Utah Senate who sponsored the bill, said the statute was intended to address a mental health crisis among American teenagers as well as protect younger users from bullying and child sexual exploitation. We think social media is a contributing factor, McKell said in a phone interview to New York Times on Thursday. We want to tackle that issue.

Childrens advocacy groups generally welcomed the law, albeit with some caveats. Common Sense Media, a non-profit focusing on kids and technology, hailed the law aimed at reining in social medias addictive features. It adds momentum for other states to hold social media companies accountable to ensure kids across the country are protected online, said Jim Steyer, the CEO and founder of Common Sense.

Also read: Zuckerberg knew Facebook and Instagram were addictive and harmful to children, did nothing

However, not everyone has welcomed the law. Critics argue that the laws are a form of government overreach that will have effects outside the borders of the state. Theres no way for a platform to know who is or isnt a full-time Utah resident, said Ari Cohn, free speech counsel for the tech policy think tank TechFreedom. Cohn said its unfeasible to think that social media companies could parse out Utah residents from visitors to the state, or nearby users connecting to the internet via cellphone data networks.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the digital privacy advocacy group, has said that time limits and age verification would infringe on teens rights to free speech and privacy. Moreover, verifying every users age would empower social media platforms with more data, like the government-issued identification required, they said, as per a report by CBS News.

Social media provides a lifeline for many young people, in addition to community, education, and conversation, Jason Kelley, director of activism at the EFF, told CNN. They use it in part because it can be private The law, which would limit social media access and require parental consent and monitoring for minors, will incalculably harm the ability of young people to protect their privacy and deter them from exercising their rights.

The group said that with the implementation of this law, the majority of young Utahns will find themselves effectively locked out of much of the web.

Lucy Ivey, an 18-year-old TikTok influencer, also expressed concern about the bill and its effect on LGBTQ teens. In a CNN report, she was quoted as saying, My worry with this bill is that it will take away privacy from teenagers, and a lot of kids dont have good relationships with their parents or dont have a reliable guardian that would be needed to get access to social media.

I think about my LGBTQ friends; some who have had a hard time with their parents because of their sexuality or identity, and they could be losing an important place where they can be themselves, and be seen and heard.

Social media and children

The legislation comes at a time when there are growing concerns about social media addiction among the youth and the negative impact is has on them. Several studies have proven that extended periods of time on social media apps affect the well-being of children and adolescents.

Research has shown that the algorithms used by the tech companies keep users engaged longer, and studies show the more kids and teens spend on social media, the more likely theyll be depressed. Data has revealed that overuse of social media intensifies certain symptoms, such as social isolation and loneliness.

Also read: The new idiot box: Long hours on social media alters the brain in children and young teens, makes them dull

The beauty and body standards perpetuated by social media also makes young girls vulnerable and more prone to eating disorders. Studies have shown that scrolling through an unlimited supply of carefully crafted images and then comparing them with your own real-life circumstances can have a noticeable effect on mood and psychological health. Moreover, seeing yourself too often in a filtered selfie can warp perception, resulting in unhappiness.

In order to deal with these issues and appear to be responsible, some social media companies have taken measures. For instance, TikTok has set screen time limits. But experts on childrens welfare and mental health say that it isnt enough and some curbs or limits need to be set for social media use for the young.

With inputs from agencies

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of parliament, a day after a court in Gujarats Surat convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his alleged remarks on the Modi surname.

As per an NDTV report, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has also declared his Wayanad constituency vacant.

Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad parliamentary constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction ie 23 March 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a notification today (24 March).

The Election Commission can now call for a special election for the Wayanad seat.

Congress has denounced the disqualification and called it a conspiracy to silence Gandhi, who has raised questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his alleged ties to billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani.

Adani Group has found itself in the middle of a controversy following allegations of stock manipulation and fraud. The Opposition parties, including Congress, have been demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into these allegations.

Adani Group has denied allegations of financial fraud.

Why was Rahul Gandhi disqualified and what can he do next? We explain.

Rahul Gandhis conviction

Gandhi was found guilty of defamation over his alleged why do all thieves have the name Modi remark by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

He was sentenced to two years in prison, but moments later, the Surat court granted the Congress leader bail on a surety of Rs 15,000 and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal.

The criminal defamation case was filed by Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Purnesh Modi who claimed Gandhi had made the remarks during a rally in Karnatakas Kolar on 13 April 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections that year.

Disqualification rules

A legislator can be disqualified in three scenarios. According to Articles 102(1) and 191(1), which pertain to the disqualification of an MP and a member of the Legislative Assembly respectively, the lawmakers can lose their seat if they hold office of profit, are of unsound mind or are insolvent, or do not have valid citizenship.

The other way a lawmaker can be disqualified is through the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with defection.

The Representation of The People Act (RPA), 1951 stipulates disqualification for conviction in criminal cases.

What does RPA state?

The RPA has several provisions that deal with disqualification.

Section 8 of the RPA aims at preventing criminalisation of politics and disallowing tainted legislators from contesting elections.

Section 8(1) of the RPA includes removal as a lawmaker due to conviction under certain offences such as promoting enmity between two groups, bribery, and undue influence or personation at an election. As per Indian Express, defamation is not included in these offences.

The offences listed under Section 8(2) are hoarding or profiteering, adulteration of food or drugs as well as conviction and sentence of at least six months under any provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

According to Section 8(3), A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.

Earlier, Section 8(4) of the RPA stated that disqualification can be imposed only after three months have elapsed from the date of conviction. However, in the 2013 verdict in Lily Thomas v Union of India, the Supreme Court revoked this section, calling it unconstitutional.

The 2013 landmark order says that any lawmaker convicted and sentenced to two or more years in prison will stand disqualified as an MP with immediate effect, noted BBC.

ALSO READ: Meet Purnesh Modi, the man whose defamation complaint led to Rahul Gandhis two-year sentence

What legal remedy can Rahul Gandhi avail?

The Grand Old Party plans to fight Gandhis disqualification both legally and politically.

Now, the Congress leader has to appeal in a higher court and get an immediate stay on his conviction if he wants to get his disqualification reversed, legal experts told News18.

He will first have to appeal before the Surat Sessions Court under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), as per Indian Express.

A higher court will have to stay his conviction and not merely suspend his sentence. If it (the court) only suspends the sentence, thats not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction, former Union law minister Kapil Sibal told NDTV.

Gandhi can then file a writ petition before the Gujarat High Court challenging his disqualification from the Parliament.

If his conviction is not suspended or he is not acquitted in the defamation case by any higher court, Gandhi will not be able to contest elections for the next eight years. The next general elections are due in 2024.

As per News18 sources, Gandhi is likely to be asked to vacate his government bungalow in central Delhi.

Meanwhile, Congress has questioned the legality of the move, saying only the President can disqualify MPs in consultation with the Election Commission.

However, BJP has backed the decision of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

With inputs from agencies

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from 23 March, the day of his conviction.

Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, SuratRahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March 2023, the notification read, according to news agency PTI.

The court in Surat sentenced on Thursday Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?

Following his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Well, this isnt the first time an MP or an MLA has been disqualified over criminal cases.

Lets take a look at some of the prominent leaders who were disqualified after they were convicted in a criminal case.

Also read: Indias Rahul Gandhi disqualified as MP: What could be the Congress leaders next step

Lalu Prasad Yadav, Lok Sabha MP

After being found guilty in a fodder scam case, the former Chief Minister of Bihar was disqualified in 2013.

He received a five-year prison term for defrauding the government of Rs 970 crore in an animal fodder scam, according to Livemint.

He was an MP from Bihars Saran district.

Rasheed Masood, Rajya Sabha MP

When the Congress leader was found guilty in a criminal case in 2013, he became the first MP to be disqualified, reported India.com.

He was held guilty by the Supreme Court of participating in a scheme to fraudulently fill MBBS seats with undeserving candidates.

Masood received a four-year prison term.

PP Mohammed Faizal, Lakshadweep MP

According to Hindustan Times, PP Mohammed Faisal, a Nationalist Congress Party MP from Lakshadweep, was automatically disqualified after receiving a 10-year prison term in connection with an attempted murder case in January 2023.

The Kerala High Court did, however, later suspend his conviction and punishment.

The MP claims that the Lok Sabha Secretariat has yet to formally revoke his disqualification.

Also read: The End of His Story? Rahul Gandhi will be a ripe 63 in his next Lok Sabha contest if defamation conviction stands

Azam Khan, Rampur MP

After being found guilty in a case involving hate speech directed towards Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Samajwadi Party leader was disqualified in 2019 by the UP Assembly Secretariat, reported Indian Express.

In this case, he received a three-year prison term.

Late former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha

The leader of the AIADMK, J Jayalalithaa, was given a four-year prison term in a case involving disproportionate assets, and as a result, she was disqualified from the Tamil Nadu Assembly in September 2014, according to India.com.

She had to resign from her position as Tamil Nadu chief minister after being found unsuitable for the post.

Anil Kumar Sahni, Kurhani MLA

Anil Kumar Sahni, an RJD MLA, was expelled from the Bihar Assembly in October 2022 after receiving a three-year prison term for fraud, as per Hindustan Times.

He was found guilty of trying to use fraudulent Air India e-tickets to obtain travel benefits in 2012 without actually making the trips. At the time of the attempted scam, Sahni, who was a JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP at that time, had submitted claims totalling Rs 23.71 lakh.

Vikram Singh Saini, Muzaffarnagar MLA

Indian Express reported Vikram Singh Saini, a BJP member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, was expelled with effect from October 2022 after being given a two-year prison term in a Muzaffarnagar riots case from 2013.

Saini represented Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar as an MLA.

Also read: Death Blow to Democracy: India sees angry protests after Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha

Pradeep Chaudhary, Kalka MLA

As per Hindustan Times, in January 2021, Congress MLA Pradeep Chaudhary was expelled from the Haryana Assembly after being given a three-year prison sentence in an assault case.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Bangarmau MLA

According to the report, following his conviction in a rape case, Kuldeep Singh Sengar was expelled from the Uttar Pradesh Legislature in February 2020.

Sengar, who was elected from Unnaos Bangarmau constituency, had previously been kicked out of the BJP.

Abdullah Azam Khan, Rampur MLA

Abdullah Azam Khan, a Samajwadi Party MLA, was expelled from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in February 2023, just days after a Moradabad court gave him a two-year prison term in a case that had been pending for fifteen years, reported The Hindu.

In the Legislature, he represented Suar in the Rampur district.

Anant Singh, Patna MLA

According to Hindustan Times, Anant Singh, an RJD MLA who had been convicted in a case involving the seizure of weapons and ammunition from his home, was expelled from the Bihar Assembly in July 2022.

Singh represented the Patna districts Mokama as an MLA.

What are the rules for disqualification?

The complaint claimed that under Section 8 (3) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, any MP or MLA convicted of a crime and given a term of at least two years in prison is barred from holding public office starting on the day of their conviction, reported Livemint.

Gandhis two-year prison sentence, according to renowned advocate and former member of the Congress party Kapil Sibal, disqualifies him from serving as a member of parliament.

If it (the court) only suspends the sentence, thats not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction, Sibal told NDTV.

Indian Express reported that In accordance with Section 8(4), the disqualification does not take effect until three months have passed since the date of the conviction.

The former Congress president has a certain amount of time to appeal the verdict to the High Court.

Gandhis legal team is currently working to have the judgement overturned in a sessions court.

With inputs from agencies

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Geneva: The marriage of UBS and Credit Suisse was hastily arranged to prevent a global financial meltdown  but the size of the resulting megabank could cause domestic problems in Switzerland, the central bank admitted Thursday.

The Swiss National Bank, which played matchmaker in Sundays takeover of Credit Suisse, said the formation of one giant bank in Switzerland would create competition issues that would need addressing carefully.

UBS was already the biggest bank in the country  and will now become even larger after swallowing up the second-most important bank in the wealthy Alpine nation, where a vibrant banking scene is central to Swiss culture.

Also Read: UBS takeover of Credit Suisse to spark job crisis in London as 10,000 positions on the line across world

With Credit Suisse shares in freefall last week, the Swiss government, the SNB central bank and the FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) financial regulators strongarmed UBS into buying its stricken rival before the markets reopened on Monday.

SNB chairman Thomas Jordan said this avoided triggering a wider banking crisis around the world  though he accepted that domestic banking choice in Switzerland had taken a hit.

Future competition

UBS will be a very big bank and competition issues will be relevant, Jordan told reporters at the SNB headquarters in Zurich.

We have to make sure that in the future in Switzerland there will be enough competition for providing banking services. I think this is in the interests of everybody  including UBS.

Also Read: Credit Suisse deal averted crisis, Swiss central bank says

He said FINMA and the Swiss finance ministry would have to look at dealing with the situation.

But at this moment, I think the focus has to be ensuring that we can maintain financial stability under all circumstances.

Behind UBS and Credit Suisse in Switzerland, only Raiffeisen and PostFinance  the financial services unit of Swiss Post  rank as domestic systemically important banks, along with the cantonal banks of the Zurich and Vaud, which have limited reach beyond those regions.

Jordan insisted that Switzerlands emblematic banking industry was in good health.

The Swiss banking system is very resilient and robust, he said.

UBS and Credit Suisse were both among the 30 banks around the world deemed too big to fail and therefore considered Global Systemically Important Banks.

Such banks are ranked according to their importance to the global financial system and must comply with more stringent requirements, including the level of capital they must set aside to weather a crisis.

The strictest rules apply to the US bank JPMorgan Chase, but UBS is likely to jump up in the rankings.

The Swiss authorities will have to learn to manage a bigger bank presenting greater systemic risks.

Jeopardy risk

The implosion of Credit Suisse came after the collapse of two tech-lending US banks triggered fears of international contagion.

Analysts considered whether Credit Suisse could have sold to a foreign bank, broken up or wound down in an orderly bankruptcy.

We were in an extremely fragile environment where we had this banking crisis in the United States and enormous nervousness in financial markets in general, Jordan said.

He said any outcome other than the UBS takeover would not have stabilised the situation.

Instead, it would have created enormous uncertainty and would then also put the Swiss financial system, including the Swiss economy, in jeopardy  but not only Switzerland. It could also be then the trigger of a bigger, larger global financial crisis.

Swissmem, the national association representing the engineering industry, voiced concern about the risks of having only one major Swiss bank with the skillset for exports, and about the repercussions on costs without an alternative to UBS.

Also read: Credit Suisse crisis: Does India have reasons to worry?

Some are also worried about the choice in mortgages, with Credit Suisse and UBS both players in retail banking.

The Competition Commission, however, had no say in the takeover. It confirmed to AFP on Thursday that it will only give an advisory opinion to FINMA.

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Chandigarh: Punjab Police on Sunday intensified its manhunt for radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, while security forces conducted flag marches at many places and authorities extended curbs on mobile internet and SMS services till Monday noon amid a high alert in the state.

Amritpals alleged advisor and fund provider Daljit Singh Kalsi and three others who were arrested on Saturday were flown to Assam from Punjab on a special flight and were being kept at the Dibrugarh Central Jail, the police said.

Senior officers of Punjab police asserted that the law and order situation is under control and warned of strict action against anyone spreading rumours, saying it was monitoring fake news and hate speeches coming from different countries, states and cities.

They said Amritpal will be nabbed soon and denied that there was any lapse when he escaped the security dragnet on Saturday after a crackdown was launched against the outfit, Waris Punjab De (WPD), which he heads.

A fresh FIR was registered against Amritpal and some of his associates in Amritsar while two cases were registered against him in Jalandhar, they said, a day after 78 people associated with WPD were arrested.

Besides Kalsi, three others  Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Pradhanmantri Bajeka  were taken by a 27-member team from AAP-ruled Punjab to Dibrugarh, an Assam Police officer said. However, no officer was willing to share why they were brought to BJP-ruled Assam, over 2,500 km away.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was in New Delhi, told reporters that his state will provide necessary security to the accused in jail.

Sometimes, such persons who are arrested in one state are sent to another states jail. As per my information, four people have been sent by Punjab Police. We will provide them all security in the jail, he said.

With Punjab being put on high alert, security forces took out flag marches at many places including Ferozepur, Bathinda, Rupnagar, Faridkot, Batala, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Moga and Jalandhar.

Neighbouring Haryana too stepped up the checking of vehicles along the border with Punjab. At the Shambhu border, additional checkpoints have been set up and a large number of police personnel deployed, officials said.

In some other districts too, including Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Sirsa, which share borders with Punjab, police are maintaining strict vigil, they said.

Meanwhile, Amritpals father expressed apprehension that his son had already been detained by police. There is no information (about him) since yesterday. But we are apprehending that he has been detained, he said.

Punjab Police Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said Amritpal was still absconding. Punjab police is acting within the law. Yesterday, police had laid a naka near Mehatpur from where he (Amritpal) fled. Whatever Punjab police does in this case will be within the ambit of the law.

Everybody has a legal right and one can avail whatever remedies are available under the law. In this case, till now Amritpal is wanted. He has not been arrested yet and the search is underway, said Gill.

Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said they will soon arrest Amritpal.

Asked about the radical preacher managing to escape, Chahal said it cannot be called a lapse.

It is a game of chor and police. Sometimes, they manage to escape. But we will soon arrest him, he said.

His vehicle was chased for 20 to 25 km. He (his vehicle) was at the front and naturally, he was having an advantage and there were narrow streets and somehow, he managed to escape by changing his vehicle, he said.

Amritpal gave the police a slip when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.

Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police Satinder Singh said seven of Amritpals associates have been arrested under the provisions of the Arms Act and other relevant provisions of the law on Saturday night.

We have registered a fresh FIR last night now under the Arms Act in which Amritpal is the key accused. All seven are also accused in this fresh FIR, he told reporters in Amritsar.

Two FIRs were registered against Amritpal Singh and his associates in connection with the recovery of a weapon in a vehicle and breaking police checkpoints in Jalandhar.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jalandhar range) Swapan Sharma said an FIR was registered on Sunday after the recovery of a weapon and several dozens of live cartridges inside a vehicle that was part of Amritpals convoy on Saturday.

Police on Sunday came across the abandoned car in Salema village in Jalandhars Shahkot. The second case was registered after Amritpal and his associates broke police barricades in Jalandhar on Saturday, he said.

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New Delhi: Hours after Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a 2019 defamation case over his Modi surname remark, the Congress Wayanad MP was disqualified from the Lok Sabha with effective from 23 March.

In a notification dated 24 March, Lok Sabha Secretariat said: Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief of Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./18712/2019, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provision of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

On Thursday, a Surat court held Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in jail in a 2019 defamation case for his remarks over the Modi surname.

The same court granted the Congress scion bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Must Read: Why Rahul Gandhi faces immediate disqualification?

Gandhi attended Lok Sabha on Friday briefly as Lok Sabha session was adjourned for an hour soon after it convened for the day.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

In his address to a public rally in Kolar ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi allegedly said: How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?

The defamation case was filed against him by former chief minister of Gujarat Purnesh Modi who said that the remarks by the Congress leader allegedly defamed the Modi community.

Congress reacts to Rahul Gandhis disqualification

Earlier in the day, Congress MPs held a brief meeting at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharges office in the Parliament. They then marched to the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidents house) with posters, reading, democracy is in danger.

Reacting to Gandhis disqualification from Lok Sabha, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he was left stunned by the action.

This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy, Tharoor tweeted.

Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy. pic.twitter.com/IhUVHN3b1F  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 24, 2023

Congress MP Jairman Ramesh said his party will "fight this battle both legally and politically".

"We will not be intimidated or silenced," he added.

We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023

'Good message across the country': BJP

Reacting to the order, BJP MP Vinod Sonkar said: "This is a Court order, everyone should accept it. The Court convicted him. The manner in which he insulted a community at the time of the elections... this has sent out a good message across the country."

Earlier on Friday, protesting Congress MPs were detained by the Delhi Police from Vijay Chowk.

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New Delhi: Indias diversity has always been its crown jewel. Celebrated for its vast and different terrains, the country, however, faced a mega challenge when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the need of the hour was to vaccinate a huge population in the remotest corners.

Detailing the action plan during the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in The Vial  Indias Vaccine Story  History TV18s new documentary on the countrys Covid-19 vaccine journey  said airplanes would fly across the country day and night carrying vaccines. It took a lot of effort. We put a lot of other government work on hold, he said.

In an interesting case study shared in the documentary, which aired at 8pm on Friday, actor and narrator Manoj Bajpayee explained how the vaccines reached a small village in Mizoram.

To reach Nunsury village, the vaccines started their 1,500-kilometre yatra from Pune where they were manufactured. They first reached Kolkatas regional storage centre from where they were transported to Aizawl. The journey then continued via truck to Lunglei, in a car till Tlabung and finally via a boat to Nunsury. The challenge, however, was not over yet.

Healthcare workers and vaccinators then set off on foot to ensure not even one villager was left behind in the worlds biggest inoculation drive.

Marrying technology with a spirit to eliminate the virus from the country also led to ingenious solutions. It was decided to use drones to deliver vaccines in the remotest parts of the North-eastern states of Nagaland and Manipur.

Dr Sumit Aggarwal, a scientist with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said: The motto was that if we can deliver these vaccines by drone to these remote areas, then we can deliver in any part of India.

It was the grit of frontline workers and scientists as well as a desire to save mankind that gave rise to Indias vaccination feat which is praised the world over.

A look at The Vial  Indias Vaccine Story

The brand new documentary on the countrys incredible Covid-19 vaccine journey brings to life the inside story of what went into producing the Covid-19 vaccine vial, revealing the countrys success in developing, manufacturing and delivering the vaccine in unprecedented timelines.

The 60-minute documentary is the first of its kind to feature PM Modi where he speaks in detail about Indias victory over the coronavirus pandemic.

The Vial takes a closer look at some of the case studies that put the spotlight on the determination of the Indian government and health workers in making vaccines accessible to people even in the remotest areas, braving harsh terrain and landscapes.

Today, a majority of Indias 1.3 billion people have received at least one round of the vaccine  a herculean task, given the diversity of the country. India also set an example for the world with the Vaccine Maitri initiative through which 232.43 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were provided across 100 countries.

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Chandigarh: With a manhunt underway for radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh in Punjab, Haryana has intensified checking of vehicles along the border with the neighbouring state.

Punjab Police on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Amritpal and suspended internet and SMS services till Monday noon. It has arrested 78 members of Punjab Waris De, an outfit headed by him.

At the Shambhu border with Punjab, Ambala police have been put on high alert, officials said on Sunday.

Additional checkpoints have been set up and a large number of police personnel have been deployed there, they said.

In some other districts too, including Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Sirsa, which share borders with Punjab, police are maintaining strict vigil and have intensified checking of vehicles, they said.

CIA-1 incharge of Ambala police Harjinder Singh, who was present at the Haryana-Punjab border near Shambhu, said the situation is normal and peaceful but police are maintaining a vigil.

In Punjab, security forces conducted flag marches at several places in the state, including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

Dubai-returned Amritpal was last year anointed the head of Waris Punjab De, which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides. Six policemen were injured in the incident.

Punjab Police filed an FIR on February 23 in connection with the incident.

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New Delhi: Lauded for creating a truly India-centric retail space and steering the growth of Reliance Retail Ventures, industrialist Mukesh Ambanis daughter and a well-known entrepreneur in her own right, Isha Ambani on Friday won the prestigious Gennext Entrepreneur award at the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2023, which recognises resilient leaders of the country and their outstanding contribution to usher in change to an ever-growing and evolving society.

A leading player in Indias 800-billion-dollar retail market, Isha Ambani strives to dominate every aspect of the countrys retail space and works to make the most of opportunities to take Reliance Retails digital commerce initiative AJIO.com, a fashion and lifestyle brand popular with the youth to greater heights.

The brand is known for being an ultimate fashion destination flaunting affordable handpicked apparel and is currently the market leader in terms of revenue in the domestic online space.

Dedicating her win to her parents, Isha who is the Director of Reliance Retail Ventures said, This is for my parents, who inspire me endlessly and also for my children who motivate me every day to work harder.

Celebrating Indias top corporate leaders, Forbes India this year has honoured those leaders who have displayed resilient leadership and created value for shareholders, employees and consumers with their enterprises. Sharing space with Isha Ambani, Oscar winning filmmaker Guneet Monga held centrestage bagging the award of Icon of Excellence for her recent victory at this years Academy Awards. The documentary filmmaker and producer later handed over the Gennext Entrepreneur award to Isha.

Building on the theme that a leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way, this years Forbes India Leadership Awards 2023 recognised leaders who have been successful in empowering teams to work with an innovative and dynamic approach.

Dr Rajiv J Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, who delivered the keynote address at the event also won the Icon of Excellence Award. The FILA 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award was given to a stalwart in his own chosen field A M Naik, Group Managing Director of Larsen and Toubro. Known for his contribution to nation-building as a leader of a manufacturing and infrastructure colossus, Naik- is also known for his philanthropic and educational initiatives. Rahul Sharma and team from manufacturing services firm Zetwerk collected the award for Outstanding Start-up. A S Lakshminarayanan, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Communications accepted the award in the category of Turnaround Star.

The next set of awards recognised the best of India Inc young entrepreneurs who have turned around businesses to achieve more. The award for the Entrepreneur of the Year was bestowed on Chairman and Managing Director of Max Healthcare, Abhay Soi for making Max Healthcare the second-largest hospital chain in India. Rajendra Chamaria, MD of Star Cement was recognised as a Regional Goliath from the Northeast for his contribution to the infrastructure sector.

Susmita Bagchi and Subroto Bagchi and Radha Parthasarathy and NS Parthasarathy were awarded the Grassroots Philanthropist award. Climate warriors, the team from Banyan Nation was recognised for their contribution to reducing the problem of use of plastic in the country. The Emerging Innovator award was given to co-founders of Skyroot Aerospace.

The awards also recognised Indias top entrepreneurs who are harnessing technology to build innovative start-ups to bridge existing gaps in the market as well as grassroot philanthropists. Panel discussions on Unlocking Indias Philanthropic Potential were also held as part of the awards ceremony.

The Forbes India Leadership Awards were introduced as an important step towards recognizing transformational leadership across the entrepreneurial space, covering organisations of all levelsranging from start-ups, mid-sized firms to global enterprises.

With a rich eleven-year history of recognising leaders of society, Forbes India annually recognizes and awards successful individuals and organisations who boast of strong vision, foresight and ethics.

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Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is the only Indian to feature in the list of the worlds top 10 billionaires, according to Hurun Global Rich List.

The report compiled by research platform Hurun in coordination with real-estate group M3M, mentioned that the RIL chief occupied ninth rank globally with a net worth of $82 billion, despite a 20 per cent decline in wealth. Ambani has also retained the wealthiest Asian title for the third consecutive year.

With a 35 per cent year-on-year decline in wealth, Gautam Adani slipped to the second spot. His net worth stood at $53 billion. As per Hurun, Adani lost Rs 3,000 crore every week over the last year. Adani Group lost the second-richest Asian title to Chinas Zhong Shanshan. In January, following a report by US short-seller Hindenburg, Adanis wealth nosedived by more than 60 per cent from his peak. Just before the report, Adani was briefly the worlds second richest person.

Among other Indian billionaires, Cyrus Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India stood at third rank with $27 billion net worth, Shiv Nadar and family ranked fourth with a net worth of $26 billion, followed by Lakshmi Mittal at fifth with $20 billion.

Other Indian billionaires include SP Hinduja & family, Dilip Shanghvi & family, Radhakishan Damani & family, and Kumar Mangalam Birla & family followed billionaire banker Uday Kotak at tenth rank.

With 187 billionaires residing in India and 16 new additions, India continues to be the third largest billionaire-producing nation in the world; the number rises to 217 if Indian-origin billionaires are added.

As per the report, 24 Indian cities/ towns produced 187 billionaires. In terms of the number of billionaires who have added $1 billion or more over the last year, India occupies sixth rank in the 2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich List.

Over the last 5 years, Indian billionaires in the 2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich List added about $360 billion to their cumulative wealth  which is equivalent to Hong Kongs GDP.

Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd that publishes Firstpost.

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New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday sent a four-page preliminary reply to the Delhi Polices notice about his women still being sexually assaulted remark made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra while questioning the process adopted by the authorities and a sudden urgency after a 45-day delay.

The Congress leader gave the 10-point reply hours after a Delhi Police team knocked on his doors for the third time in five days. He also sought eight to 10 days to give a detailed response to the questions posed by Delhi police over his January 30 remarks, the sources said.

The police team headed by Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda arrived at Rahul Gandhis 12, Tughlaq Lane, residence around 10 am and was able to meet the Congress leader after two hours, officials said, adding the team left around 1 pm.

According to the police, Gandhi stated in Srinagar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra that I have heard that women are still being sexually assaulted, and since the Yatra had passed through Delhi also, they wanted to ascertain if any victim had approached the Congress leader here so that they can initiate a probe into the matter.

The police had asked him to give details of these victims so that security could be provided to them, an official said.

Sending a preliminary reply a little before 4 pm, Gandhi termed the police action unprecedented and asked whether this had anything to do with his position taken both inside and outside Parliament on the Adani issue, sources said.

According to them, Gandhi also asked what was the urgency on the part of the Delhi Police in making two visits in as many days after an initial gap of 45 days after he made his speech in Srinagar.

The former Congress chief, the sources said, asked whether any other political party, including the ruling party, has been subjected to such kind of scrutiny or questioning over their political campaigns.

An angry Congress has condemned the Delhi Police action and attacked the Central government, calling it the worst case of harassment and political vendetta, but the BJP rejected the charge and said the police was only discharging its lawful duty.

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Iran and Saudi Arabia finally agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties. The deal was brokered by China after days of deliberations. The top security officials of the two countries penned the documents in Beijing. The agreement calls for an exchange of ambassadors within two months. Bilateral relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia had been strained over many geopolitical issues, including aspirations for regional leadership. Diplomatic relations were suspended from 19871990, and again for seven years after the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia cleric and critic of the government in Saudi Arabia, who was executed after a death sentence in January 2016. In response to the execution there were mob attacks on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.

Saudi Arabia is an Islamist Salafi absolute monarchy established in 1932. It has traditionally been close to the United States. Iran became a constitutional monarchy in 1925, but after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the country began following a presidential democracy supervised by a theocracy governed by a supreme leader. Both countries are major oil and gas exporters and have had differences over energy policy. During the Cold War, both were pro-West. In the Syrian civil war, Iran has supported the Syrian government, while Saudi Arabia was a major supplier of aid to rebel groups.

For several years after the 2016 rupture between the two countries, Iraq and Oman tried unsuccessfully to get these two to restore relations. That China secretly ended up brokering what appears to be a significant mending of ties has surprised everybody. Chinese diplomacy clearly left the Biden administration introspecting. What exactly is the understanding and will the relations actually mend is being discussed?

At the face of it, one can see a more functional and productive relationship. The strong Arab Wahhabi Sunni Islam of Saudi Arabia and Persian Shia Islam of Iran have had serious differences, and been the major cause of decades of tensions and bitter rivalries that cannot be easily healed. Saudi Arabia, which had long seen itself as the custodian of the two holiest sites in Islam and the unchallenged leader of the Muslim world, found a rival promoting a revolutionary Islamic ideology. It resulted in Saudi and Iranian interests clashing in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, where there were significant Shia populations. Also during the Cold War, when the United States drew closer to Saudi Arabia while Russia drew closer to Iran, further deepened a rivalry for power, influence, and regime survival.

Just in the last decade, Iran and Saudi Arabia clashed during the Arab Spring. Bahrain accused Tehran of inciting anti-government demonstrations, and sought Saudi help. Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime and Saudis support Sunni rebels and jihadists. In Yemen, Saudis work to defeat the Iranian-supported Houthis. In September 2019, Iranian drones allegedly attacked two Saudi oil facilities. Saudis cannot run afoul with the US. Irans nuclear program is also an issue for Saudis. It is thus difficult to believe that such long term strains over a significantly large region can be repaired all of a sudden. The current accord can best be termed as a temporary rapprochement to reduce tensions. At best it would be to stop physical attacks on each others interests.

By doing this brokered deal, have the Saudis send a signal to their American friends that they have others to go to. Late last year Saudis had coordinated with the Russians to make cuts in oil production. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been playing his diplomacy cards with independence and pursuing alternative options. In allowing the US main rival China to broker the deal, the geopolitical signalling has been with panache. While the US has been busy in its not-so-popular dual-containment strategy against Russia and China, Saudis have been engaging both, what some call as a master-stroke.

The global south has given a cold shoulder to the West in the latters involvement in Ukraine. Iran has been under sanctions and isolation. The US has been hitting the Saudis on their knuckles once in a while and often taking them for granted. China has been quietly trying to make inroads in West Asia. Beijing needs Saudi and Iranian oil at favourable terms. Iran and Saudi are both vying to be members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China could also offer security assurances to the Saudis which once was the US domain. Close relations with Russia and China give Saudis greater leverage to deal with the Americans on their own terms. China and Saudis dont point human-rights fingers at each other. China can continue to talk to both Iran and Saudis to sort out differences and any crisis. And in any case, the Saudis are not disengaging with the West, only seeking more friends.

The deal is a masterstroke for China. China could mediate because it has cordial, business-like ties with a majority of countries in the region including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Gulf States, and even Syria, and has no political alignments. The United States, by contrast, plays favourites. Has special relationships with some and very poor relationships with others like Iran. USAs continuous anti-Iran rhetoric, and actions, have left no options and talking grounds with Iran. China did not take sides and has tried to keep both sides happy. It reminded both sides that they have other win-win options. Thats how China could maximise their leverage. Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to Saudi Arabia last year was of much greater bonhomie compared to much more roughshod and somewhat threatening trip by US President Joe Biden. Clearly the US has scored a self-goal and in the process left the field wide open for Beijing and, to some lesser extent, for Russia.

The US had been busy in its war against terror in West Asia for over two decades. It had used arm-twisting tactics. In the end they had to leave Afghanistan back to Taliban after wasting trillions of dollars and losing American and Afghan lives in their 20 years in Kabul. The hurried unplanned withdrawal also meant loss of face for them. China had used those twenty years to become a significant military power, build inroads using the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and bulldoze itself in the South China Sea (SCS). Ever since the Ukraine conflict began, China has been making aggressive intrusions in the air defence zones of Taiwan and Japan. China has now also broken out of its Covid-19 isolation. Beijing needs the West Asian giants for its energy needs and wants to support peace in the region. It is hoped that the deal should also help find a solution on Yemen. Chinas plan to host a Gulf-Arab summit later this year gives further signals of its geopolitical interests.

The United States has always played favourites, and has been known to leave its allies in the region high-and-dry when its self-interest was divergent even temporarily. The US disastrous experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan are well known and have left the region in tatters. The US has had a blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with Pakistan. Taking-on two superpowers, Russia and China, together has been another disaster. And now, this deal has put the US to choose between the rock and the deep sea. For its long-term ally Israel, the deal adds more complexities, even though the Saudi-Israel rapprochement had been brokered by the US The region is doing its own calculations. The US can no more be the bully, and will have to adjust to the new dynamics. It is clearly a wake-up call for the US foreign policy sleuths, and the US West Asia policy. The agreement is a setback for US influence and status in West Asia and, to a degree, around the world. The US current global game plan has pushed the four autocracies China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia together. The US has seen disappointments in Afghanistan and Iraq. They engineered the Iran nuclear deal collapse. Their interventions in Syria and Libya were failures by all means.

The Iran-Saudi rapprochement has an interesting fall-out for India. It will bring stability to the region. India has been friendly to both these countries. India-Saudi relations have come a long way and the India-Pakistan dynamics is no more a factor in play. Saudis supported granting observer status to India in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and has expanded its collaboration with India to fight Islamic terrorism in the region. In 2019, Saudi Arabia increased the Hajj quota of India, making it the 2nd highest country in the number of Pilgrims. Indians make up around 10-13% of the Saudi Arabia population and are the largest community of expatriates in Saudi Arabia. The population of Indians in Saudi Arabia as of 2021 is 28-30 lakh. Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth largest trade partner (after the US, China and the UAE). India imports around 18 per cent of its crude oil requirement and 22% of its LPG requirement from the Kingdom. During his visit to India in February 2019, Mohammed bin Salman had announced that the Kingdom would be investing US $100 billion in India in diversified sectors. Stability of relations between Iran and Saudis will benefit India.

Notwithstanding civilisational links, Indias relations with Iran have had their dynamics. During the Cold War, the two were aligned with the opposing groups. After the Iranian Islamic revolution, Iran has continued to make pro Kashmir independence statements. Though currently under sanctions, India needs Iranian crude oil. The Chabahar port and the North South Transport Corridor are of common interest between the two.

India has good relations with various countries in West Asia. We have deep abiding interests in that region, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. India has a huge diaspora working in Saudi Arabia. We need oil from both. India has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy rather than confrontation. Saudi Arabia has a huge economy. It is a member of G20. Tehran is looking for investments by Riyadh, and expecting expansion of trade ties with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It will open greater opportunities for trade, and India too will benefit. Whether there will be more smooth sailing for Chabahar port needs further assessment. Will India be more open to importing Iranian oil despite US pressures being contemplated? Just because the deal has been brokered by Indias adversary should not be of concern. Indias relations in West Asia have their own independent standing. Clearly peace and stability in the region should be win-win for all, including India.

The writer is Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed are personal.

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A recent column by Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Russell Mead has found considerable traction in India.

Unlike the op-eds in western media that dish out alarming assessments of Indian democracy with the mass-production efficiency of a Chinese toy factory, the author deviates from the script.

He speaks to members of BJP, its ideological parent, the RSS, tries to comprehend the socio-cultural and ideological reasons behind BJPs hegemonic political success and acknowledges that there are glaring gaps in Americas understanding of the most important foreign political party in the world even if from the standpoint of American national interest.

Mead still delves into some tropes, but lets attribute that to a lack of vocabulary to grasp India and its complexities in an Indian context, through Indic terms, instead of force-fitting western normative frameworks. This has proved an insurmountable hurdle even for some well-meaning western thinkers.

Unlike his western counterparts, Mead does something that lends him a greater understanding of the subject that he is trying to grasp. He holds intensive series of meetings with senior BJP and RSS leaders and is convinced that Americans and Westerners generally need to engage much more deeply with a complex and powerful movement.

If the western intellectual ecosystem is keen to define India and figure out, for instance, why a country with impeccable democratic credentials since Independence has twice voted for a man through free and fair elections (and is likely to hand him a repeat victory in 2024) whom western analysts love to hate, then it must deploy more resources.

Quite often, this simple point is overlooked. Instead of any grand conspiracy hatched by the West to keep India in check (the reverse is true for now), western analysis of India, its society, politics, or the ascendancy of the BJP is hampered by a poverty of resources. That results in poorly informed journalism full of lazy tropes and ultimately, inadequate understanding.

This is unfortunate. Just as global perceptions are shaped by the soft power of western media and its institutions, and therefore India might be at the receiving end of discredited narratives and lack of objective assessments, similarly western understanding of India is equally hampered, leading to skewed analyses that ultimately harm bilateral engagement with the worlds fifth largest and fastest-growing economy.

India is not just one of the worlds largest nation-states, but a continent-sized civilization with more heterogeneity, languages, ethnicities, and cultures than anywhere else in the world. It is a vast, complex, potpourri of diversities and maddening paradoxes.

And to interpret India, New York Times, for example, has deployed a correspondent for South Asia covering India and the broad and diverse region around it that includes Bangladesh, Nepal and the island nations of Sri Lanka and Maldives. This speaks of the arrogance of the western gaze, sitting outside and looking in, ready with its ideological lenses and wanton speculations to explain it all in a jiffy.

What Mead does, therefore, is a commendable start. To truly understand the rise and dominance of the BJP, helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who runs a BJP-led government at the Centre, or to project how Indias rise as a great power would eventually shape the world, western analysts and institutions must begin by shaking off their arrogance, get rid of their habit of explaining India through orientalist tropes or attempted validation of existing views and adopt the humility and curiosity of a student. There is a lot to unlearn, to learn, to understand, to assimilate and to digest.

Mead says the BJPs electoral dominance reflects the success of a once obscure and marginal social movement of national renewal based on efforts by generations of social thinkers and activists to chart a distinctively Hindu path to modernization. That is only a quarter of the story.

The BJPs stunning ascendance is also a result of unprecedented jan bhagidari (peoples participation) that forms the cornerstone of Modis politics and mass appeal. Indian democracy is now percolating to the grassroots and subaltern voices are rising to the fore, challenging the notion that democracy is a Eurocentric construct, pushing back against European notions.

As External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking on Indias Vaccine Maitri initiative, had said on the floor of the House in 2021, in recent years, as democracy struck deeper roots, we have found our own cultural expressions and identities that define us in a diverse world. In fact, drawing from our heritage, we have become even stronger voices for international cooperation and solidarity.

BJP has identified with this churn better than its political rivals. Its dominance, therefore, is not democratic backsliding, as western newspapers, think tanks and international democracy-ranking organisations insist, rather it is an indication of the fuller expression of democracy, a more participatory form of democracy in a nation that is transitioning from a semi-feudal to a modern nation, never deviating from the framework a Constitutional Republic state but rooted in its beliefs, ethos, culture and Dharmic traditions.

It is therefore appearing a challenge for the West to define India, especially since 2014, rooted as western intellectual tradition is in the belief that true democracy must conform to the Euro-Atlanticist framework whose values are universal in nature. Western exceptionalism rests on an axiomatic assumption that its values are universal, and therefore democracies and cultural traditions in other geographies must conform to those set of rules and values. Any deviation from those standards are deemed either backsliding or less evolved.

This moral binary harms the West more. What also doesnt help is the fact that in the absence of the right framework to define India, or decipher the social movements and ideological churnings that are aiding and cementing BJPs hegemony, western journalists, academics, intellectuals, think-tankers turn to a set of cosmopolitan interlocutors  self-appointed interpreters of the natives that cannot speak  who are not only deracinated, elitist and hold an ideological bias against the BJP and its support base, but are also increasingly bitter at being deprived of agency and power since the churn that took place since 2014.

A combination of these factors results in insufficient understanding of Indias rise and BJPs grip over the polity. We find no reference in western analysis of the triple factors that have boosted BJPs rise  welfarism, ideological clarity and nationalism. Instead, Modi has been painted as a demonic figure who has unleashed the worst impulses of his base to ride to power, thereby exposing the disconnect and elitist disdain for the democratic choice exercised by Indias masses.

It is the BJP-led government at the Centre that was the first responder with aid, personnel, medicines, sniffer dogs and an entire field hospital for earthquake-hit people of Turkey and Syria. Under Modi, Indias relationship with the Gulf and Arab nations has taken a quantum leap.

The BJP-led Centres welfarism rests on the implementation at an unheard-of scale of basic infrastructure and facilities such as cooking gas, toilets, financial inclusion through 14 crore bank accounts for the poor, electricity and piped water supply to ever household that is transforming the country and enabling the inherent strength of India to be unleashed. These are targeted at the poorest section of society irrespective of their religion, caste or creed.

Modi is frequently depicted as a Hindu nationalist bigot by the western media and intelligentsia, yet it is the Modi government that has implemented progressive policies such as the ending of regressive Triple Talaq or Halala that have been welcomed by Muslim women. He is also repeatedly reaching out to the most backward section of the Muslim community, the Pasmanda Muslims.

The RSS has been at the receiving end of Wests poor understanding, plain lies and discredited stereotypes. It is routinely touted as a militant Hindu organization that is apparently out to cleanse India of its Muslim population. Mead, who spoke to RSS functionaries including Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, writes, Bhagwat, the spiritual leader of the RSS, spoke to me about the need to accelerate Indias economic growth, and disavowed the idea that religious minorities should suffer discrimination or loss of civil rights.

Meads intention might be honest, but his words are meant as some sort of a revelation that betrays the utter lack of knowledge in the West about what the RSS is, what it stands for. For instance, Bhagwat, in multiple forums, has said that India cannot be imagined without its minority population and anyone who says Muslims should not live in India is not Hindu.

Understanding the BJP has equally proved a challenge to the West. The BJP cannot simply be cast into the western framework of right-wing or left-wing, nor can it be identified as a conservative or a liberal party. On many issues, the BJP, frequently described as a right-wing Hindu nationalist party by the West, has taken positions that are starkly liberal in nature. The BJP-led government has taken a progressive stance on abortion an issue that has divided America, neither has it opposed the decriminalization of homosexuality.

In its party manifesto, the BJP bats for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a secular set of personal laws that will apply to every section of the population. On many economic issues, the RSS takes a decidedly leftist stance.

Instead of dealing in simplistic stereotypes and oriental tropes, the West, therefore, needs to fundamentally change its terms of engagement with India. Theories that define the Euro-Atlanticist construct are useless when applied in India, force-fitting the nations journey into a post-colonial scaffolding is also proving to be inadequate. This incoherence extends to the Wests understanding of BJP, the party that has proved to be the agent of change. Meads effort shows that at least some in the West are cognizant of the problem. Itd be a brave man to bet against the closing of the western mind though.

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New Delhi: The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 are not the question; that mark stands pushed a decade away to 2034 because thats when Congress scion Rahul Gandhi will be able to contest a seat in the Lok Sabha if his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case from 2019 stands appeal in a higher court.

The conviction carries a jail term of two years, but Rahul Gandhi will not go to a prison immediately as he has been given bail for 30 days to appeal against the verdict. He stands disqualified from membership of the Lok Sabha with effect from the date of conviction.

This is in line with the Representation of People Act. Also, the law lays down that he remains disqualified for another six years after serving his time, in this case two years. Rahul Gandhis disqualification, therefore, stands for eight years.

Again, legally speaking Gandhi is surely move a higher court against his conviction. He will have to get the conviction stayed or overturned to save his membership. It is then that he can appeal to the India courts against the Parliaments decision to disqualify him.

What if the conviction stands?

First things first. Rahul Gandhi is 52 years old. If the convictiontherefore the disqualificationstands, then he surely will not be able to contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Do the math, it is simple. He is also going to warm the benches in the 2029 General Elections of India.

He would be eligible to be fielded once again in the electoral battle of India only in the Lok Sabha elections of 2034.

Rahul Gandhi, often referred to as a Young Turk even at 52, will be all of 63 by then. Thats about as old as Indira Gandhi in 1981, her triumphant Garibi Hataao comeback. Mrs Gandhi was 49 when she first became prime minister. Her son Rajiv was 40 when he filled her shoes in 1984.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi no more an MP

Rahul Gandhi is thus practically out of the race for leading the Congress, or any Opposition formation led by Congress and of course the prime ministerial race.

Consider the dynamics within the Congress now. Not that there have not been voices of protest (rebellion as the Gandhi family has chosen to see them) against the leadership of the Gandhis.

Ghulam Nabi Azad is out. Sachin Pilot is hanging by a thread. Jyotiraditya Scindia has long jumped ship and is doing quite well in the saffron fold. Look at what happened with Captain Amarinder Singh and Punjab, the monkey balancing in Himachal Pradesh, the slackening of reins in Karnataka. The list is long.

The Gandhi high command installed loyalist Mallikarjun Kharge as party president in sham party elections, to the utter chagrin of Shashi Tharoor, to root out any challenge from within.

Also Read: Why Rahul Gandhi faces immediate disqualification?

This conviction and the consequent removal of Rahul Gandhi from the electoral, therefore, the political front is only going to re0ignite the anti-Gandhi fire within the Congress. This will be the perfect opportunity for the Gandhi-baiters to reshape the Congress leadership. This will be the chance for the dark horses to win the race.

Given this strong possibility, a logical extension is the Balkanisation of the Congress: more regional break-ups, more parties spinning off Congress powered by the dissatisfaction with the Gandhi high command and its iron clutches on the party.

Just indicative, Sachin Pilot, for instance, will be 55 in 2034.

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Ottawa: The United States and Canada must together build a North American market on everything from semiconductors to solar panel batteries, in the face of growing competition, including from an increasingly assertive China, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.

Trudeau, speaking in the Canadian parliament ahead of a speech by U.S. President Joe Biden, also expressed unity in supporting Ukraine and said the two allies must continue to face down authoritarian threats, both at home and abroad.

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Brussels: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would accompany him on an upcoming visit to China.

Macron is set to travel to China early next month for talks with President Xi Jinping, as Western leaders are urging Beijing to pressure Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Macron said after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels that he had asked von der Leyen to come with him for part of the trip to present a united voice to China.

He has called on Beijing to help convince Moscow to end its year-long invasion of Ukraine.

China has sought to position itself as a neutral party on the conflict, even as it has burnished it ties with Russia.

It published a 12-point position paper in February calling for urgent peace talks and a political settlement to end the conflict.

Macron has said Chinas efforts are positive but insisted peace can only be achieved if Russia withdraws its troops.

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Paris: Britains King Charles on Friday cancelled a state visit to France next week after social unrest over President Emmanuel Macrons new pension law erupted into some of the worst street violence seen in years across the country.

The postponement  at Macrons request  will be a major embarrassment to the French leader, who had hoped the monarchs visit would mark a symbolic step in the two countries efforts to turn a page after years of poor relations over Britains exit from the European Union.

Charles had been due to travel to France on Sunday for three days  in what would have been his first state visit since he succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth as British monarch in September  before moving on to Germany.

That itinerary had been seen as a win for Macron, who has sought to position himself as Europes de facto leader. Charles trip would have included a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles.

You can see the situation linked to the protests, Macron told a news conference during a visit to Brussels.

He added that it would not have been serious to host the state visit after unions announced a nationwide day of strikes and protests for Tuesday.

Common sense and friendship pushed us to propose to postpone (the visit).

A British government spokesperson said the decision was taken with the consent of all parties after Macron asked the British government to postpone the visit.

The last-minute scrapping of the visit will pile further pressure on Macron to find a way out of a crisis over his plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 64, which has seen some of Frances worst unrest since the Yellow Vest rebellion of 2018-2019.

The Elysee said it hoped the visit would be rescheduled in the coming months.

There were calls on social networks to disrupt the kings visit, to take action, so we didnt want to take any risks, a French source close to the matter said.

A Buckingham Palace source said Charles visit to Germany will go ahead as planned.

The king and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, looked forward to rescheduling the visit to France as soon as dates can be found, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

Black-clad anarchists fought street battles with police for several hours in the French capital on Thursday, ransacking a McDonalds restaurant, smashing up bus shelters and setting alight mounds of garbage that have piled up during strikes.

In Bordeaux, at the heart of one of Frances best-known wine growing areas and where Charles had also been expected to visit, protesters set alight the entrance to the city hall.

Hes right not to come right now, said architecture student Mathias Sainte Agathe. There are protests and strikes everywhere.

Weeks of protests over Macrons pension plans escalated and became more violent after his government pushed the legislation through parliament last week without a vote. His government lacks a clear majority.

The president has insisted the pensions changes are essential to keep the system funded.

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who earlier this week said now was not the right time for Charles to come, welcomed the cancellation of the visit.

The left-wing opposition and some protesters often mockingly portray Macron  who began his second term in office last year  as a would-be monarch.

The meeting of the kings in Versailles is broken up by popular censure, Melenchon tweeted.

But not all were happy that the visit was postponed.

Why is he not coming? I dont understand, jewellery worker Razmig Kertechin said in Paris.

Were not bad people. Its just the way it is, its the freedom (to protest). I dont know, thats weird.

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Brasilia: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva heads to China this weekend for a five-day visit to refresh relations with his countrys largest export market and seek new Chinese investment in the Latin American country.

Lula will meet Xi Jinping on March 28 in Beijing, the first foreign leader to visit the Chinese leader since he secured a precedent-breaking third term as president.

The trip to China comes less than two months after Lula met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, as Brasilia aims for a pragmatic foreign policy balancing ties with its top trading partners despite growing tensions between the two.

Brazil has to keep a flexible and pragmatic position in this dispute between China and the United States, said Senator Hamilton Mourao, who as Brazilian vice president met with Xi in Beijing in 2019. That made him a key conciliatory voice on China in the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro, whose ideological base cheered his diplomatic spats with Beijing.

Lula is traveling with a large delegation that includes a half dozen cabinet ministers, plus governors, lawmakers and 240 business leaders, over a third from Brazils farm sector, which sends the lions share of its beef, soybeans and wood pulp to China. Lula will also visit Shanghai later in the week.

Foreign Ministry officials said Brazil wants to diversify its trade with China beyond iron ore, soy, oil and meat exports, with preparations to sign agreements on technology, innovation and sustainable development.

In an early positive sign, China resumed on Thursday imports of Brazilian beef that had been suspended for a month after an atypical case of mad cow disease was diagnosed in Brazil.

Lula drew Brazil closer to China and traveled twice to Beijing during his two presidential terms from 2003 to 2010.

This visit comes after a period of rocky relations under Bolsonaro, who campaigned for office using anti-China rhetoric that continued into his first years in government when his lawmaker son blamed China for the COVID-19 pandemic.

A senior government official told Reuters many people, including former Vice President Mourao and members of the Agriculture Ministry at the time, tried to avoid disaster and stop things from spiraling into an ideological war.

Trade relations were not affected by the diplomatic storm, though Chinese investment stalled, due in part to the pandemic preventing Chinas executives from visiting Brazil. Trade experts said Chinese investors did not feel welcome under Bolsonaro.

Marcos Caramuru, a former Brazilian ambassador in Beijing, previously told Reuters his country at first benefited from the U.S. trade war with China under former U.S. President Donald Trump, but he lamented that Chinese investment in Brazil lost steam for a few years.

By 2021, investment by Chinese companies in Brazil recovered to the level of 2017, according to the China-Brazil Business Council, which forecasts steady growth in coming years.

Beijing has kept open relations with Brasilia whatever the political color of the government in power, but China prefers to invest when local authorities are more friendly, Caramuru said.

China overtook the United States as Brazils top trading partner in 2009 and Brazil is the today the largest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America, driven by spending on high tension electricity transmission lines and oil extraction.

During the Bolsonaro presidency, many Chinese companies paused plans with the federal government and instead pushed ahead on business with state governments, especially in the less affluent northeast where Lulas Workers Party is strongest.

New Chinese projects include Latin Americas largest bridge in Salvador, Bahia and, more recently, plans to build electric vehicles at a former Ford industrial complex there, potentially mining lithium nearby and producing batteries for export.

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Tunis: Tunisian President Kais Saied has caused enormous concern about where Tunisia is headed with moves that have weakened democratic checks and balances, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf said on Thursday.

After years of efforts to build a democracy what weve seen in the last year and a half is the government taking Tunisia in a very different direction, Leaf told Reuters, voicing Washingtons clearest criticism of Saied to date.

There have been a number of moves over the past year by the president that frankly have weakened foundational principles of checks and balances, she said.

Saied seized most powers in 2021, shutting down parliament before passing a new constitution that gives himself near total sway, and police have this year arrested more than a dozen opposition figures who accuse him of a coup.

Saied says his actions were legal and needed to save Tunisia from years of chaos, while accusing his opponents of being criminals, traitors and terrorists.

Leaf said Saids recent remarks that any judges who released suspects would be considered as abetting them were exactly the sort of commentary that has given us enormous concern about where Tunisia is headed, guided by this president.

She said many Tunisians were dissatisfied by the years following the 2011 revolution that brought democracy, but said to correct those deficiencies you dont strip institutions of their power.

I can think of no more important institution than an independent judiciary, she added.

Saied has been criticised for comments last month that there was a criminal plot to change Tunisias demography via illegal migration as he announced a crackdown on undocumented migrants.

These were comments that created a terrible climate of fear but more than that actually resulted in attacks on these very vulnerable people, attacks and a tidal wave of racist rhetoric, Leaf said.

Asked about Tunisian steps to reassure over migrant rights, which included longer visas and a reminder to police on anti-racism laws, but not a retraction of Saieds comments on demographics, she said theres still work to be done.

Saied has rejected previous criticism as foreign interference.

Friends speak to friends with honesty we will criticise where criticism is merited. Thats not interference, Leaf said.

The fate of Tunisias efforts to secure a $1.9 billion IMF loan in support of reforms to help avert an economic collapse was in the governments own hands, she said.

This is a package that they (the Tunisian government) negotiated, that they came up with, and for whatever reason they still have not signed onto the package that they negotiated, she added.

The international community is ready to support Tunisia when its leadership makes fundamental decisions about where its going, she said, adding that until the government decided to sign its own reform package, our hands are tied.

Tunisias decision to carry out reforms it suggested to the IMF was a sovereign decision  and if they decide not to do that we are keen to know what the plan B or plan C is, she said.

Leaf visited Libya this week and said U.N. envoy Abdoulaye Bathilys new political push was an excellent opportunity to move towards elections this year.

She met Libyan leaders to convey very forthrightly our expectations, she said.

Despite scepticism after years of failed efforts to get Libyan political leaders to accept elections that might end their power, she said Bathily had eyes wide open about the challenges.

Unlike in the past, the international community was more aligned over Libya, she said, and while there was no push yet for sanctions against spoilers, that might come eventually.

Elections and a unified government in Libya with full sovereignty were also the best way to eject the Russian Wagner group, which has been operating in Libya in alliance with the eastern forces.

The group abuses Libyan sovereignty and destabilises the Sahel region, Leaf said, adding it essentially uses Libya as a roadway to get to Central Africa and plunder its resources.

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Rio de Janeiro: A police raid on a favela near Rio de Janeiro Thursday left at least 13 people dead, including the suspected leader of a crime gang active in the north of Brazil, local media reported.

There are 13 dead, two individuals detained and a large number of weapons seized, Fabricio Oliveira, from the Coordination of Special Resources of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, told a press conference.

Police said the violence hit the Salgueiro Complex in the city of Sao Goncalo, part of the Rio metropolitan region.

The objective of the raid was the capture of members of the Comando Vermelho (gang) from the (northern) state of Para who took refuge in the district, a police statement said.

Comando Vermelho is one of the oldest and largest crime gangs in Brazil, focusing heavily on drug trafficking.

Upon arriving in the favela, police were attacked by criminals, leading to an intense firefight, civil police said.

The governor of Para state, Helder Barbalho, said on Twitter that Leonardo Araujo, known as L41, fugitive, died in a clash with security agents. He was the main leader of the biggest crime organization that operates in Para and that also ordered various attacks in RJ, or Rio de Janeiro.

And Rio state governor Claudio Castro tweeted that two criminals who controlled criminal gangs in (the northeastern state of) Sergipe and Para were captured, referencing Thursdays arrest and another operation in the northern part of the city.

According to police, Thursdays operation specifically targeted individuals responsible for a series of attacks against public security agents in Para, in which 40 officers have been killed since 2021.

It was also launched to target gang leaders involved in recent attacks in the western part of Rio, where several cars had been set on fire Wednesday.

Amnesty International Brazil slammed the Rio government, saying its actions were disastrously lethal and part of an institutionalization of the policy of extermination in the Sao Goncalo area.

How long does the black, marginalized population of the favelas have to withstand the policy of war that drives police in Rio? the NGO tweeted.

More than 1,300 people were killed at the hands of police in Rio de Janeiro state in 2021, according to the Violence Monitor data project.

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Colombo: Sri Lankas election body on Thursday postponed the postal voting for the local body polls scheduled to take place next month due to a severe paucity of funds.

The local body polls, which were earlier scheduled on March 9, got postponed to April 25, due to a plethora of reasons linked to Sri Lankas current economic crisis.

The Election Commission Director General Saman Sri Ratnayake on Wednesday met representatives of all the political parties seeking their opinion on whether postal voting should be postponed.

Ratnayake said all the parties have agreed that the dates for postal voting should be finalised only after the allocated funds are released by the Treasury.

Following the meeting with all the representatives of the political parties, the Election Commission has decided not to hold postal voting for the local body polls, which were scheduled to take place between March 28 to April 3.

Ratnayake added that a fresh date for the postal voting will be announced soon. Earlier this month, the Sri Lanka governments printer Gangani Liyanage said the inability to print ballot papers to conduct postal voting from February 21 to 24 caused the Elections Commission to postpone the elections.

Liyanage said that by the time the elections were postponed, she had only received Rs 40 million out of the estimated full cost of Rs 500 million from the Treasury.

The election to appoint new administrations to 340 local councils for a four-year term was postponed since March last year due to the ongoing economic crisis.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday approved a USD 3 billion bailout programme to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners, a move welcomed by Colombo as a historic milestone in the critical period.

Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the island nation.

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New Delhi: Police in Indias capital have registered a terrorism case against several people in connection with the protest held outside the Indian High Commission in London on 19 March.

The case was registered by the special cell of Delhi Police following the direction of the Indias Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) who asked the cops to take appropriate legal action on the receipt of a report from the ministry over the incident at the Indian embassy on Sunday.

The case was registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act as it involves unlawful activities carried out by certain people holding Indian nationality abroad, a senior police officer was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Also Read: Busted! Video shows Khalistanis hurled eggs, ink-filled balloons at Indian embassy in London

On Sunday (19 March), the national flag of India flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags. They even were heard raising pro-Khalistani slogans.

Officials from the Indian embassy said the attempted but failed attack had been foiled and that the flag was now flying grander. Also, an investigation has been launched.

Dont Miss: WATCH: Security heightened around Indian mission in London amid anti-India protests

After the incident in the UK, India summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete absence of security.

In a strongly-worded statement, the MEA said India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the country.

Must Read: WATCH: Indian Embassy at London High commission puts up huge Tiranga after Khalistan supporters attack the Tricolour

Condemning the act of vandalism as completely unacceptable and disgraceful, the top British official said that the UK government will take the security of the Indian High Commission in London seriously.

For the unversed, the banned terrorist organisation, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), is conducting a so-called Referendum 2020 amid a crackdown on pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh in northern Indian state of Punjab.

With inputs from agencies

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Washington: Donald Trumps call for protests over his potential indictment in a hush-money case has sparked conspiracy theories about an FBI setup among some of his far-right supporters, making them reluctant to show up.

Numerous online posts reviewed by AFP cautioned against demonstrations in New York City, warning of law enforcement traps aimed at arresting them. Many recycled false claims about federal agents instigating the January 6, 2021 attack by Trump followers on the US Capitol.

Is the potential protest against Trump being arrested a J6-style trap? Paul Joseph Watson, an editor at InfoWars, a conspiratorial website, asked in a poll on Trumps Truth Social platform.

Of 1,580 responses, 85 percent answered yes  prompting far-right websites such as the Gateway Pundit to run stories rehashing conspiracy theories about FBI agents and the Capitol riot.

When a popular Telegram channel devoted to the QAnon conspiracy theory  whose followers Trump has increasingly courted since he left the White House two years ago  asked if people would protest, hundreds replied with matching skepticism.

NOIT IS ANOTHER JANUARY 6th TRAP!!! one user wrote.

Fed assets?

Another QAnon promoter shared a photo of FBI agents to his Telegram channels 185,000 subscribers, saying they were the only ones thatll be out protesting for Trump. A similar image circulated in a channel affiliated with the Proud Boys militia group.

Republican heavyweights such as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have urged against protests while backing Trumps claims that an indictment would be unjust. But other lawmakers have joined in promoting baseless theories.

How many Feds/Fed assets are in place to turn protest against the political arrest of Pres Trump into violence? Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted.

Has Ray Epps booked his flight to NY yet? the Georgia Republican added, referencing an Arizona man accused of working for the FBI after he was filmed outside the Capitol in 2021.

The narratives spread amid Trumps intensifying legal woes underscores the sticking power of disinformation.

Many QAnon and Trump supporters are leery of joining protests over concerns of a setup or trap similar to what they believe occurred during the January 6 insurrection, said Carla Hill, director of investigative research at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism.

They are paranoid about engaging in any sort of large-scale events out of fear that Antifa or FBI will come in and cause violence as an excuse to arrest (them).

You will be jailed or worse

New York officials tightened security after Trump claimed he would soon be arrested in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs probe into a 2016 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Bragg has said Trump created a false expectation for his followers.

But while Trumps plea for protests prompted some sporadic calls for violence, traffic jams and acts of civil disobedience on fringe forums such as The Donald, even some of his best-known supporters have so far appeared unmoved.

Ali Alexander, who helped organize rallies that preceded the Capitol riot, signaled he will be staying away from demonstrations this time around and warned of New York City: You will be jailed or worse.

And Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who before the 2021 riot said his group was bussing Trump supporters to Washington, cautioned: Do not give the feds and their plants what they want  STAY PEACEFUL!

Megan Squire of the Southern Poverty Law Center told AFP the posts are another example in a long history of paranoia and finger-pointing on the extreme far right.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson and other prominent conservatives have repeatedly amplified the narrative that the FBI orchestrated the Capitol insurrection to jail Trump voters, despite fact-checking from AFP and others. More than 1,000 people have been charged for their actions that day, according to the Justice Department.

Trump has also lent credence to such claims, sharing posts about Epps and a false flag.

This type of entrapment or false flag conspiracy from the far-right has been a common refrain that weve seen since January 6, Hill said. If you look back on potential flashpoints  Bidens inauguration, the anniversary of January 6, the FBI raid at Mar-a-lago  the calls for protests quickly fizzled out because of this type of conspiratorial paranoia.

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Kabul: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that the recent earthquake in Afghanistan damaged and destroyed around 665 houses across Badakhshan, Bamyan, Panjshir, Parwan, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Samangan, and Takhar Provinces, Afghanistan based Khaama Press reported.

The organization added that the earthquake in Badakhshan killed five people. In contrast, it injured 58 others and partners have deployed assessment and response teams to provide immediate relief to affected families, OCHA said in a tweet on Wednesday.

As per the Taliban-led Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, more than four people were killed and about 80 others injured in the countrys Badakhshan, Takhar and Laghman provinces.

The State Ministry for Natural Disaster Management under the caretaker Taliban regime reported that 63 houses had been destroyed and some cattle damaged were lost due to the powerful earthquake.

According to the official report, the damaged and destroyed houses were located in the Jurm district of Badakhshan province and were lost due to the collapse of the roofs of the houses, Khaama Press reported.

A powerful earthquake of 6.8 magnitudes on Tuesday shook Afghanistan and the neighbouring countries. The earthquakes epicentre was 40 Km to the south-Southeast of Jurm district in Afghanistans Hindukush Mountain in Badakhshan province, bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan, said US Geological Survey.

The north and northeast regions of the country are prone to disasters such as avalanches, landslides, earthquakes and floods, according to Khaama Press.

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Washington: Fake photos showing Ukraines first lady sunbathing topless, incorrect video subtitles defaming Pakistani feminists for blasphemy, slow-motion clips falsely depicting drunk female politicians  a barrage of disinformation targets women in the public eye.

Researchers say gendered disinformation - when sexism and misogyny intersect with online falsehoods  has relentlessly targeted women around the world, tarnishing their reputations, undermining their credibility and, in many cases, upending their careers.

AFPs global fact-checkers have debunked falsehoods targeting politically active women, or those linked to prominent politicians, exposing online campaigns that feature fake information or manipulated images that are often sexually charged.

Last year, a fake image of Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska lying topless on a beach in Israel was shared widely on Facebook, triggering criticism that she was having fun while her war-torn country was suffering.

A reverse image search by AFP showed the woman in the photo was, in fact, a Russian television presenter.

Former American first lady Michelle Obama and current French first lady Brigitte Macron have also been targeted in false online posts that claimed they were born as men. The disinformation sparked an avalanche of mockery and transphobic remarks.

New Zealands Jacinda Ardern, who announced her resignation as prime minister in January, is another prominent figure that faced a torrent of disinformation about her sex.

Women - especially those in positions of power and visibility - are unduly targeted by online disinformation, Maria Giovanna Sessa, a senior researcher at the nonprofit EU DisinfoLab, wrote in a report last year.

Chilling effect

In another tactic that raised alarm in 2020, a slowed-down version of a video of Nancy Pelosi, the then US House Speaker, went viral. The effect made her speech slurred and gave the false impression that she was drunk.

Building on sexist stereotypes and disseminated with malign intent, gendered disinformation campaigns have a chilling effect on the women they target, Lucina Di Meco, a gender equality expert wrote in a study published last month.

The disinformation often leads to political violence, hate and the deterring of young women from considering a political career, said the study titled monetizing misogyny.

In disinformation tactics typically deployed by political opponents, female politicians are sometimes framed as inherently undependable, too emotional or promiscuous to hold office.

When Germanys current foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, was running for chancellor in 2021, she was the subject of frequent disinformation campaigns which raised questions about whether she was fit for the job.

One of them featured images of a nude model purporting to be of her, alongside suggestions that she had engaged in sex work.

Gendered disinformation represents a national security threat as it can be exploited by autocratic states such as Russia to exercise foreign influence, according to multiple researchers.

It can also be used to subdue the opposition.

When autocratic leaders are in power, gendered disinformation is often used by state-aligned actors to undermine women opposition leaders, as well as womens rights, Di Mecos report warned.

Attacks on dignity

Women around the globe battle falsehoods that reinforce stereotypes that they are unintelligent or inefficient.

In 2021, Egyptian sports shooter Al-Zahraa Shaaban faced false social media posts that she had been excluded from the Tokyo Olympics because she had shot the referee.

That sparked a wave of comments that ridiculed women and questioned their ability to pursue such sporting activities.

Similar questions were raised about their ability to take on military jobs following last years crash of an F-35 fighter jet on the deck of a US aircraft carrier in the South China Sea.

False social media posts held the worlds first woman to fly an F-35 responsible for the crash. The pilot, in fact, was a man.

Such humiliating falsehoods, researchers say, can have a silencing effect on women, who are drawn to disengage, censor themselves and even avoid male-dominated professions, including politics.

That was a concern raised in a letter by dozens of US and international lawmakers in 2020 to Facebook, which along with other platforms has been blamed for the algorithmic amplification of false and hateful content targeting women.

In a statement to US media at the time, Facebook acknowledged that online abuse of women was a serious problem and pledged to work with policymakers on their concerns.

Make no mistake, these tactics, which are used on your platform for malicious intent, are meant to silence women, and ultimately undermine our democracies, the letter said.

It is no wonder women frequently cite the threat of rapid, widespread, public attacks on personal dignity as a factor deterring them from entering politics.

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Athens: Greeces prime minister on Friday said he would discuss with Italy safety improvements on Greek trains run by an Italian state company in the wake of last months rail tragedy.

We will have the opportunity to discuss the way in which the Italian governmentwill be able to support the restart of Greeces railways in a more active and substantial way, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters at a eurozone leaders summit in Brussels.

Mitsotakis said Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni had accepted an invitation to talks in Athens before the Greek general election in May.

I believe we have the potential to jointly create a new future for our railways, whereby the Italian company will invest more in reliable, safer and faster trains and Greece will invest more in our network, its safety and its possible expansion, Mitsotakis said.

Greeces intercity trains went under private management in 2017, when state-owned Greek rail traffic services operator TrainOSE was privatised and sold to Italys Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, becoming Hellenic Train.

Greek state company OSE still owns the tracks.

On February 28, two trains collided head-on after running on the same track for several kilometres (miles), killing 57 people. It was Greeces worst ever rail disaster.

Most of the victims were university students returning from a long holiday weekend.

Greeces transport minister resigned and the disaster sparked weeks of angry and occasionally violent protests, piling pressure on Mitsotakis conservative government ahead of the election.

The stationmaster on duty during the accident and three other railway officials have been charged and face possible life sentences.

But Greeces rail watchdog found serious safety problems across the network, including inadequate basic training for critical staff.

Railway unions had long warned the network was underfunded, understaffed and accident-prone after a decade of spending cuts.

Mitsotakis said he would also discuss migration issues  a priority for both countries  with Meloni during her visit.

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In a massive blow, the Indian Patent Office rejected US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnsons application to extend its monopoly on the key tuberculosis drug, bedaquiline, which is set to expire in July.

On Thursday, the agency delivered the judgment on a plea filed by two TB survivors, Nandita Venkatesan and Phumeza Tisile. Bedaquiline, the key drug used in TB treatment, is a member of the diarylquinoline class of drugs and has a unique action mechanism. The drugs work by targeting the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase enzyme of the TB mycobacteria.

Developed by Janssen  Johnson & Johnsons (J&J) pharmaceutical division  in 2012, bedaquiline received conditional approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multidrug resistant (MDR) TB. A 2018 WHO rapid communication on MDR-TB treatment guidelines prioritised bedaquiline among drugs for treatment and, in 2019, it was launched in India.

The patent application in question  for a formulation of bedaquiline  was filed in India over a decade ago, as part of standard procedures when developing new medicines, read an official statement released by a J&J spokesperson in India.

The company said whether this patent was granted or not, a formulation patent would not have prevented generic manufacturers from developing the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in their own formulations after July 2023, when J&Js API patent expired in India.

We remain committed to supporting Indias efforts to end TB and look forward to participating in the TB high-level summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi later this week, the statement further read.

It is a significant move for India, considering the ambitious target fixed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of eradicating tuberculosis from India by 2025. While the patent on the drug made India dependent on drug supplies from J&J, the latest decision will pave the way for generic versions in the local market, increasing access.

The cost of the drug, moreover, is also expected to go down by at least half of what it is now. In India, the drug is procured directly by government agencies and then distributed under conditional access programmes run by state governments.

The verdict is in favour of TB patents as the drug is considered the backbone of TB regimens, especially for all multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Almost all the latest WHO TB drug recommendations include this drug, said Nandita Venkatesan, two-time TB survivor and petitioner in the patent opposition case. The other good news is that the cost of treatment will also come down and access to medicine will improve.

Going forward, I believe that all newer medicines should be made available to patients considering that several drugs used in the treatment of TB are high in toxicity and need better replacements to reduce lifelong suffering of patients, said Venkatesan, who battled TB for nearly eight years and ended up with a permanent hearing loss due to drug toxicity.

Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)  an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation  welcomed this as a significant step towards increasing access to the lifesaving TB drug.
London: Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami, UKs Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat on Thursday held discussions on bilateral and wider security cooperation between India, UK.

HC @VDoraiswami met @TomTugendhat, Minister for Security, for a wide ranging discussion on bilateral and wider security cooperation, Indian High Commission in the UK tweeted on Thursday.

Doraiswami recently met Commandant Major General Zack Stenning OBE at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and discussed engagements in the Professional Military Education domain.

Taking to Twitter, Indias High Commission in London said, HC @VDoraiswami visited the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst @BritishArmy on 17 Mar 2023 and had productive discussions with the Commandant Major General Zack Stenning OBE about engagements in the Professional Military Education domain.

India and UK share a good relationship. Recently, both the country signed the Young Professional Scheme where Vikram K Doraiswami was also present.

The event took place at the High Commission of India in London. Further details and implementation dates will be shared soon regarding the scheme.

MHC @VDoraiswami & PUS Home @MatthewRycroft1 signed & exchanged the letters for formalising the Young Professional Scheme at an event @HCI_London today. Further details and implementation date will be shared soon. @MEAIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @ukhomeoffice @DoC_GoI @ANI @DDNewslive, the official handle of the High Commission of India in London tweeted.

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New Delhi: The United Kingdom government has rejected a decision of the local authorities in Indias capital to construct a public toilet near the British High Commissioners residence in Delhi, citing security concerns.

The UK governments decision came within days after the Indian government removed all external security in front of the British High Commission and the High Commissioners residence in New Delhi.

The Indian government said the security arrangements were unnecessary considering the low-level threat perception to the British diplomats.

A report by Economic Times said that the UK government has resisted the construction of public toilet on security grounds. It has been considered necessary to build a public convenience in the vicinity of the UK High Commissioners residence in Delhi.

India has been angry over the British government for its failure to protect the Indian High Commission in London.

On Sunday, 19 March, the national flag of India flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed by a group of Khalistani supporters who were carrying yellow Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans.

Also Read: In reprisal mode after London embassy attack, India scales down security at British embassy, High Commissioners house

Following the incident, Indias Ministry of External Affairs summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete absence of security. The ministry said India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.

Attack on Indian High Commission unacceptable

On Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned the vandalism at Indian High Commission in London and called the attack by the Khalistani elements unacceptable.

Cleverly said the police investigation is underway and the UK government is in constant contact with the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian government.

Cleverly said the UK government is working with the London Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian High Commission. We will make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff. We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this, he added.

India-UK share deep personal connections

The UK Foreign Secretary said India and UK relations are driven by deep personal connections and are thriving.

Our joint 2030 Roadmap guides our relationship and shows what we can achieve when we work together, creating new markets and jobs for the two countries and helping to tackle shared challenges. We want to build deeper ties between the UK and India, Cleverly said in the statement.

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Brussels: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged greater support Friday for crisis-torn Tunisia, warning at Brussels summit of the risk of a migratory wave towards Europe if the situation deteriorated.

Maybe not everyone is aware of the risks we are facing about the Tunisia situation and the need to support stability in a nation that has serious financial problems, she told reporters after the meeting of EU leaders, at which she said she raised the issue.

If we do not address those problems in the right way, (the situation) risks unleashing a wave of migration which is objectively unprecedented, she said.

Melonis hard-right government took office in October after elections in which her party promised to cut mass migration into Italy.

Meloni said she had discussed Tunisia with French President Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting late Thursday, which she described as very productive, after months of tensions between Rome and Paris over migration and other issues.

She confirmed plans for a mission to the north African country involving the Italian and French foreign ministers and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.

Meloni said she had also discussed the situation with EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, who she said would visit Tunisia in the coming days.

Tunisia has been struggling under mounting debt and rising prices worsened by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It reached an agreement in principle in mid-October for a nearly $2 billion package from the International Monetary Fund, which in return is seeking reforms.

The fundamental issue is the International Monetary Fund, and therefore a diplomatic effort must be made to convince both parties, the IMF and the Tunisian government, to close this agreement to financially stabilise the region, she said.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Monday that Tunisia risks collapse economically or socially, which could trigger a new flow of migrants to Europe  an assessment rejected by Tunis.

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Rome: The Italian coast guard has rescued more than 750 migrants in two separate search operations off the countrys southern coastline. This comes hours after at least five people died and 33 were missing in an attempted sea crossing. It is believed that the boat laden with migrants were travelling from Tunisia.

Coast guard officials said some 295 people were rescued from a fishing boat that was intercepted 167 km from the eastern coast of the Calabria region, while in the second operation about 450 were rescued from another fishing vessel 185 km east of Syracuse in southern Sicily.

The rescue operations come barely a month after 88 people died in a shipwreck just off Calabrias coastline. Ten people are still reported to be missing from the shipwreck that occurred on February 26.

After the incident, Italys migrant sea rescue operations have come under intense scrutiny. The boat carrying the migrants was believed to be bringing refugees from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan to Italy. The wooden vessel struck rocks off the coast of Calabria and splintered into several pieces. Many of the bodies were reported to have washed up on a tourist beach near Steccato di Cutro, while others were found at sea. Survivors narrated that the rickety boat was carrying at least 140 to 150 people on-board before it crashed into the rocks.

In the latest incident, the second vessel was believed to be in a precarious state of seaworthiness, and three cargo ships and a patrol boat from the European Union border agency Frontex helped with the rescue, the coast guard said in a statement.

The boat was spotted before it sank, but police vessels failed to reach it due to rough weather.

Italian charities and opposition politicians have asked why coast guard vessels, better equipped to face high seas, were not deployed instead.

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New Delhi: In a series of similar incidents, Khalistan supporters defaced and spraypainted a statue of Mahatma Gandhi with pro-Khalistan and anti-India graffiti in Ontario of Canada.

The vandalism was reported in the early hours of Thursday near the City Hall in the town of Hamilton, in the province of Ontario. The statues walking stick has a flag of Khalistan flying on it. The statue (six-foot-tall) of the Mahatma has been at that location since 2012.

The statue that gifted by the Indian Government, was doused with paint and graffiti written around the base of the statue.

In a series of attacks on Hindu temples, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was vandalised on January 30 with the walls of the temples defaced with hate-filled slogans of Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad, causing outrage among the Indian community.

In February this year, the Indian government called for strong action after Ram Temple was defaced with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in Mississauga, Canada.

In July last year, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill in the Greater Toronto Area was vandalised and defaced with graphic words.

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Moderna Incs chief executive on Wednesday defended the companys plan to quadruple the price of its COVID-19 vaccine, telling a US Senate committee hearing it will no longer have the economies of scale from government procurement when the shots move into the private market.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel was called to testify after the company flagged plans to raise the vaccines price to as much as $130 per dose, drawing the ire of Democratic US Senator Bernie Sanders, who chairs the influential Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

Sanders on Wednesday asked Bancel to reconsider the price hikes, saying they could make it unaffordable for millions of Americans and were unjustified given the governments research contributions and $1.7 billion in assistance in developing the vaccine. His comments echoed his January letter to Bancel.

Bancel said Modernas next COVID-19 shots will be more expensive because they will be sold in single-dose vials or pre-filled syringes for the commercial market versus the 10-dose vials it has sold to the government up until now.

The government in May plans to end the COVID public health emergency, putting much of the vaccine purchasing in the hands of the private sector.

Bancel also said the company anticipated that it would likely make more doses than needed to ensure it had enough for the private market and had calculated wasted shots into the price.

On top of all this, were expecting a 90 per cent reduction in demand, Bancel said. As you can see, were losing economies of scale.

Moderna in February forecast $5 billion in COVID vaccine sales this year, far less than the $18.4 billion windfall in 2022, due to decreasing demand for the shots.

Sanders has for years railed against high US drug prices and backed Medicare-for-all. His chairmanship of the HELP committee has further put drug companies in his crosshairs.

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Many notable events occurred today, 24 March and all these historical incidents have played a significant role in shaping our history. Lets take a look a back at the significant events that occurred today. Over 75 Allied prisoners tried to escape from a POW camp in Sagan, Germany on 24 March 1944. Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating mass in San Salvador in El Salvador on 24 March 1980. An oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled about 41 million litres of oil into Prince William Sound in Alaska on this day in 1989. Movie stars Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won Academy Awards on this day in 2002. Bhutan conducted elections for the National Assembly on this day in 2008.

Lets have a look at the important events that occurred today in detail:

1944  Over 75 Allied prisoners tried to escape from a POW camp in Sagan, Germany

Over 75 Allied prisoners tried to escape from a prisoner of war (POW) camp in Sagan, Germany on this day in 1944. But most of them were eventually recaptured. This incident inspired the The Great Escape (1963) that starred Steve McQueen.

1980  Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated

Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating mass in San Salvador in El Salvador on 24 March 1980. Romero was a vocal critic of the violence during civil conflict of El Salvador. Romero had been canonized in 2018.

1989  Exxon Valdez Alaskan oil spill

An oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on 24 March 1989, spilling about 41 million litres of oil into Prince William Sound in Alaska. This led to the largest oil spill in the history of United States up to that time.

2002  Movie stars Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won Academy Awards

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington became the first African American performers who won the lead acting Oscars in the same year on this day in 2002. After this, Berry became the first woman of colour ever to receive the award for Best Actress. The actress had won the award for Monsters Ball (2001). She was the third woman of colour ever to receive the Academy Award in any acting category.

The first person/woman of colour who won the prestigious award was Hattie McDaniel for Gone with the Wind (1940). The second woman to do so was Whoopi Goldberg who won for Ghost (1991). Washington had received the Academy Award for Best Actor for Training Day (2001). He had previously received the Academy Award for supporting role for the movie Glory (1990).

2008  Bhutan conducted elections for the National Assembly

Bhutan conducted elections for the National Assembly on 24 March 2008, completing its transition into a democracy. A number of successful initiatives like a considerable increase in school enrolment and youth literacy reinforced the development of democratic institutions and also the economic growth in the nation.

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OpenAI has released plugins for ChatGPT that allow the bot to reach third-party information sources and datasets, including the internet. OpenAI says it will prioritise a small number of developers and customers to its premium ChatGPT Plus plan before handing out larger-scale and API access to ChatGPT users and developers on the queue.

The most intriguing plugin, by far, is OpenAIs first-party web-browsing plugin, which enables ChatGPT to pull data from the web to answer the different queries asked to it. Before this, ChatGPTs information was restricted to the internet before September 2021. The plugin uses the Bing search API to retrieve material from the web and displays any websites it viewed while crafting an answer, noting its sources in ChatGPTs replies.

Chatbots with access to the open internet can be dangerous

According to OpenAIs study, a chatbot with online access is a dangerous proposition. WebGPT, an experimental system developed by the AI company in 2021, occasionally quoted from untrustworthy sources and was incentivized to cherry-pick data from sites it anticipated users to find compelling, even if those sources werent actually the strongest.

Metas now-defunct BlenderBot 3.0 also had internet access and soon went off the tracks, diving into conspiracy theories and offensive material when asked with specific text.

Of course, the real, open internet is less curated than a static training sample and, as a result, less filtered. Search engines like Google and Bing use their own safety mechanisms to lower the likelihood that untrustworthy material rises to the top of search results, but these results can be manipulated.

They are also not inherently indicative of the entire web. According to The New Yorker, Googles algorithm favours websites that use contemporary web technologies such as encryption, smartphone support, and schema markup. As a consequence, many websites with otherwise excellent material get buried in the shuffle.

This provides search engines a lot of control over the data that could be used to inform the responses of web-connected language models. Simultaneously, the algorithmic method to search invites bad players. According to The New Yorker, Pinterest used a bug in Googles image search algorithm in 2020 to expose more of its material in Google Image searches.

The pitfalls of a chatbot with open internet access

OpenAI acknowledges that a web-enabled ChatGPT could engage in a wide range of undesirable behaviours, such as sending fraudulent and spam emails, circumventing security measures, and generally increasing the capabilities of bad actors who would defraud, mislead, or abuse others.

To avoid this, the business claims it has implemented several safeguards advised by internal and external red teams.

In addition to the web component, OpenAI has published a code translator for ChatGPT, which gives the chatbot with a functional Python interpreter in a sandboxed, firewalled environment, as well as disc space.

It allows you to submit files to ChatGPT and receive the findings; according to OpenAI, its especially helpful for solving mathematical issues, data analysis and rendering, and transforming files between forms.

Expedia, FiscalNote, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Milo, OpenTable, Shopify, Slack, Speak, Wolfram, and Zapier were among the early partners who developed plugins for ChatGPT to join OpenAIs own.

They are mostly self-explanatory. The OpenTable plugin, for example, enables the chatbot to look across restaurants for open reservations, whereas the Instacart plugin allows ChatGPT to make orders from nearby shops. Zapier links with applications like Google Sheets, Trello, and Gmail to activate a variety of efficiency chores, making it by far the most flexible of the group.

OpenAI goes open source, albeit in a limited way

To encourage the development of new plugins, OpenAI has open-sourced a retrieval component that allows ChatGPT to access fragments of documents from data sources such as files, notes, emails, or public docs by asking natural language queries.

Were working to develop plugins and make them available to a wider audience, OpenAI wrote in a blog entry. We have a lot to learn, and we hope to build something that is both useful and safe with everyones help.

Plugins are an unusual addition to the ChatGPT development schedule. ChatGPT, which was previously restricted to the information contained in its training data, is now far more competent  and possibly less legally risky  thanks to plugins. Some experts charge OpenAI of profiting from the unauthorised work used to train ChatGPT; ChatGPTs dataset includes a broad range of public websites. However, plugins may address this problem by enabling businesses to maintain complete authority over their data.

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Islamabad: Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif on Friday lashed out at former premier Imran Khans hypocrisy for seeking help from the United States after accusing Washington of toppling his government last year.

Addressing a press conference, Asif said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chiefs aide sent a letter to the US, seeking its help, after Khan named a top US diplomat of plotting to oust him from power last year. This shows the total sum of Imrans journey, Asif said.

His political journey started with a cypher  in which he had accused the US of conspiring against the PTI government, Asif said.

And today, Shireen Mazari (former human rights minister) has written a letter to the US for him the country he once accused of conspiracy he is now seeking help from them, the minister said.

Khan, 70, has previously demanded the sacking of US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Donald Lu for sheer arrogance and bad manners.

Lu is the central figure in Khans claims about a US-backed regime change plot that toppled his government through a no-confidence motion in April last year.

The PTI chairman accuses Lu of threatening Pakistans former ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, that a failure to remove Imran through a no-confidence vote would herald consequences for Pakistan and vice versa. The US has repeatedly rejected Khans allegations.

Asif also criticised Khan for creating a cult of violence and vowed to counter his followers with full force if they challenge the writ of the state. Any sort of violence Khan or his cult followers will be countered by the power and writ of the government, he said.

Talking about Khan not attending the hearing of the Toshakhana case on March 18, even after coming to the gate of the Federal Judicial Complex, Asif said, And when he appears before the court, his attendance is marked while he is sitting in his car, his supporters mob the courts and intimidate them, and the courts come under pressure.

The minister added that Khans supporters attacked police officials with slings, petrol bombs, stones and sticks when security forces were sent to arrest him at his Lahore residence. Asif said that such incidents never took place earlier, as political leaders courted arrests without such violence.

The minister, talking about elections, said that the government had the option of dissolving the assemblies and announcing elections, but as the cash-strapped country was negotiating for a loan with the International Monetary Fund, that step was not taken.

An interim government perhaps could not do that (negotiate with IMF) as effectively as an empowered and elected government in power could, he said.

Responding to a query about Khans desire to hold talks with the government, Asif said that the ousted premier offered to hold talks with the military establishment multiple times and even tried to meet former Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa through President Arif Alvi, but he had not shown any desire to hold talks with political leaders.

He has offered to talk to the military leadership several times but not the political leadership. Despite the fact that the present government was willing to talk on so many occasions, Imran kept on insisting and went to the extent of trying to approach the present leadership of the Pakistan Army, the minister said.

Asifs media interaction comes as the political temperature has risen in the country after the Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday delayed the assembly polls in the Punjab province from the originally scheduled date of April 30 and instead gave a new date of October 8 for the provincial elections.

The PTI has decided to oppose the move of delaying provincial elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the assemblies in the two provinces were dissolved in January this year.

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Islamabad: Pakistan has reiterated its demand for a joint probe into the accidental firing of a supersonic BrahMos missile by India which landed in its territory and sought a satisfactory response from New Delhi on the incident that took place a year ago.

The Foreign Office here issued a statement on the completion of one year since the BrahMos missile was fired from Suratgarh in Rajasthan and fell into Pakistani territory on March 9, 2022.

The services of three officers of the Indian Air Force were terminated in August last year after a Court of Inquiry (CoI) found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by them led to the accidental firing of the missile.

Despite the lapse of one year, the Government of India has not acceded to Pakistans demand of a joint probe in order to accurately establish the facts surrounding this serious incident, the Pakistan Foreign Office said.

India has also not shared findings of its internal inquiry with Pakistan, it said.

Pakistans Foreign Office alleged that India unilaterally and hastily closed the internal inquiry which raised serious questions on the command and control systems in place in India for its strategic weapons.

Pakistan reiterates its demand for a joint probe into this irresponsible incident, it said.

We also expect a satisfactory response to and clarification of several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against accidental or unauthorised launch of missiles in a nuclearised environment, it added.

The Foreign Office stated that the missile endangered human life and property and posed a grave threat to regional and international peace, security and stability.

Last year also, Pakistan demanded that the Indian government provide specific responses to the queries raised by Islamabad after the incident and accede to its call for a joint probe.

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Panama City: Panamas economic recovery has been very strong, but the outlook remains uncertain as growth is projected to slow to 5% this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Friday.

Panama faces risks of new external shocks as well as potential disruptions to copper mining after delays reaching a renewed agreement with Minera Panama, the IMF said.

Canadian miner First Quantum (FM.TO) owns a 90% interest in the Cobre Panama mine through its unit Minera Panama.

Panamas inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force grey list also poses risks.

It is imperative Panama exit the list  which includes countries considered to have weak anti-money laundering regulations  as soon as possible by addressing the remaining deficiencies in its framework, the IMF said.

Panama should also reduce its fiscal deficit further to ensure debt sustainability in the medium term, the IMF added.

The countrys banking system has capital adequacy and liquidity indicators well above regulatory minima, the IMF said, and should continue on that trend as Panama does not have a lender of last resort and deposit insurance.

The IMF also recommended Panama focus on policies to rebuild economic buffers and ensure income levels are more in line with those in advanced countries.

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Beunos Aires: Paraguays attorney general launched a criminal investigation Thursday into US allegations that a former Paraguayan president and the current vice president were involved in corruption and had ties to a terrorist group.

Paraguays Attorney General Emiliano Rolon Fernandez said a team would look into the US allegations that former President Horacio Cartes and Vice President Hugo Velazquez engaged in systemic corruption that has undermined democratic institutions in Paraguay.

Cartes and Velazquez have previously denied the allegations.

The US government, meanwhile, added three people to a list of Paraguayan officials it suspects of significant corruption and who would be barred from entry into the US along with their family members. That list, started in 2019, now numbers nine officials.

The US in January issued explosive allegations that Cartes and Velazquez had ties to the Mideastern militant group Hezbollah, which Washington has designated a terrorist organization.

The US has long said the porous tri-border region that connects Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay is a hub for terrorism financing through money laundering of illicit activity. The US has identified what it has described as members of Hezbollah who use front companies in the region to finance terror activities in the Middle East.

The US government also accused Cartes, who it has described as one of Paraguays wealthiest men, of widespread bribery of government officials and lawmakers.

The latest officials added to the corruption list were the former director of the Paraguayan Civil Aviation Authority, Edgar Melgarejo as well as Jorge Bogarin, a member of a panel that disciplines judges and proseuctors, and Vicente Ferreira, a court clerk.

The designations came after the State Department received credible information that Melgarejo misappropriated public funds for personal gain during his tenure and that Bogarin and Ferreira interfered in judicial proceedings for their own personal benefit, US Ambassador to Paraguay Marc Ostfield said Thursday.

Acts of corruption like these undermine the institutions, processes, and peoples faith in the ability of the Paraguayan government to serve its people, Ostfield said.

Melgarejo told local media he was surprised by the designation and said he was unaware of the reasons behind his inclusion in the US corruption list.

The investigation by Paraguays chief prosecutor also will look into claims of corruption involving Juan Carlos Duarte, legal adviser for the entity that runs the bi-national Yacyreta Dam that is jointly owned by Paraguay and Argentina.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raised with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese the issue of recent attacks on Hindu Temples in Australia.

The matter came up for discussion during their wide-ranging dialogue that was aimed at expanding overall ties.

In his media statement, PM Modi said it is a matter of regret that reports of attacks on Hindu Temples have been coming regularly from Australia over the past few weeks and that it is natural that such news worries everyone in India.

I conveyed these feelings and concerns to Prime Minister Albanese and he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is of special priority for him, PM Modi told the media in the presence of the Australian prime minister.

Our teams will be in regular contact on this matter, and will cooperate as much as possible, he added.

PM Modi said he discussed maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and ways to enhance mutual security with his Australian counterpart.

We discussed mutual cooperation to develop reliable and strong global supply chains, PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that both sides are working on a comprehensive economic agreement.

In the field of defence, we have made remarkable agreements in the last few years, including logistics support for each others militaries, PM Modi said.

In his comments, Albanese said PM Modi and he agreed on the conclusion of India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement as soon as possible.

I am hopeful that we will be able to finalise it this year, he said.

The Australian prime minister arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening after concluding his engagements in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

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New Delhi: Indian rupee is edging closer to becoming an international currency with more and more countries working to de-dollarise global trade. Several nations have expressed interest in facilitating international trade in INR and to make the process smooth, Indias central bank  RBI- has given approval for opening 60 special rupee vostro accounts in 18 countries including Russia and Sri Lanka.

Indias Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad informed parliament that as per records, Indias central bank  Reserve Bank of India (RBI)  had granted approval to domestic and foreign AD (Authorised Dealer) banks in 60 cases for opening SRVAs of banks from 18 nations for settling payments in Indian rupees.

The minister further said, out of the 18 countries, Russia has been vocal in facilitating trade in local currency for the overall process of de-dollarisation. He went on to say that India, however, has been supporting the idea of trade in local currency majorly to boost exports.

18 countries allowed to trade in Indian rupees

The 18 countries that have been allowed to trade in Indian rupees are:

1  Russia

2  Singapore

3  Sri Lanka

4  Botswana

5  Fiji

6  Germany

7  Guyana

8  Israel

9  Kenya

10  Malaysia

11  Mauritius

12  Myanmar

13  New Zealand

14  Oman

15  Seychelles

16  Tanzania

17  Uganda

18  United Kingdom.

The numbers clearly indicate a significant progress in the development of mechanism to settle international trade in Indian rupees.

What is Special Rupee Vostro Account or SRVA?

The process of SRVAs started last year in the month of July when the RBI issued detailed guidelines on cross-border trade transactions in the Indian rupees (INR).

It has been decided to put in place an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment, and settlement of exports/imports in INR, the Indias central bank said.

Also Read: Eight countries open 50 special rupee vostro accounts in 6 months to trade in INR

To settle trade as per the new mechanism, authorised banks in India need to open and maintain SRVAs of the partner trading countrys banks.

These accounts keep the foreign entitys holding in the Indian bank in INR. When an Indian importer make a payment to a foreign trader in rupees, the amount gets credited to this vostro account.

Similarly, when an Indian exporter has to be paid for goods and services in rupees, amount from this vostro account will be deducted and credited to the exporters regular account.

The SRVAs holders are allowed to invest surplus balance in Indian government securities. This facility is being provided by the RBI to help popularise the new arrangement.

Dont Miss: Indian rupee could be the new dollar, says Doctor Doom Nouriel Roubini

Indian importers undertaking imports through this mechanism shall make payment in INR (Indian Rupee), which shall be credited into the special vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country, against the invoices for the supply of goods or services from the overseas seller/supplier, the Indian central bank had said.

India has been trying to promote the use of INR for trade settlement with other countries after the West and European nations imposed sanctions following the launch special military operation by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine on 24 February, 2022.

Read This: Indian rupee going global? After Russia, 35 countries show interest in INR trade settlement mechanism

Leading banks of Russia  Sberbank, VTB Bank and Gazprombank  were among the first to be granted approval by the RBI for SRVAs.

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New Delhi: UAE may soon join 18 other countries that have agreed to trade in the India Rupees and give up dollar as cross-border transaction mode.

Discussions are underway with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for settling trade in Rupee-Dirham for imports and exports, a report by Financial Express quoted a senior official as saying.

Soon top leaders of both the countries are expected to announce the deal.

Transaction much easier in local currency

The official said India imports and exports in large quantity and also get a lot of remittances from the Gulf countries.

It becomes much easier to transact in the local currency rather than going to a third-country currency like the US dollar or Euro, the official added.

Must Read: Rupee closer to replacing dollar as 18 nations agree to trade in INR

For the unversed, UAE is Indias third largest trading partner after the US and China. In the first half of the ongoing financial year, bilateral trade between India and UAE stood at $44 billion.

In financial year 2022, India-UAE bilateral trade stood at about $73 billion.

Late last month, top Indian banking and finance officials visited Abu Dhabi to discuss the details of the deal.

Officials of central bank and finance department of both the countries have been working together since last year to put in place a Rupee-Dirham payment mechanism.

Indias Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and UAEs Central Bank officials have already done the groundwork for the introduction of bilateral trade in local currencies.

Last year, India had prepared a concept paper on Rupee-Dirham trade and shared it with the UAE.

Also, India and UAE also signed a free trade agreement (FTA) that started in May last year.

How will trade Rupee-Dirham help India and UAE?

The UAE and India currently use the US dollar to settle trade payments. If they start trading in local currencies, they would be able to save on account of foreign currency conversion fees and facilitate smoother flow of capital.

Also Read: Indian rupee could be the new dollar, says Doctor Doom Nouriel Roubini

Also, the transaction costs for exporters and importers will be reduced.

Once effective, trade in Rupee-Dirham will be conducted through vostro accounts of banks of the two countries.

18 countries agree to trade in Indian rupee

Last week, Indias Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said RBI had granted approval to domestic and foreign AD (Authorised Dealer) banks in 60 cases for opening SRVAs of banks from 18 nations for settling payments in Indian rupees.

The 18 countries that have been allowed to trade in Indian rupees are  Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom.

Must Read: Eight countries open 50 special rupee vostro accounts in 6 months to trade in INR

The report quoted senior official saying that a bilateral beginning has been made with these countries to trade in our own currencies and over a period of time the volumes will pick up.

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EZULWINI - MTN Eswatini wants its customers to be able to send and receive money from South Africa without the use of banks.

This idea was shared by MTN Eswatini CEO Wandile Mtshali, yesterday during the business breakfast meeting organised by the South African High Commission at Royal Villas to promote trade and investment with local CEOs at Royal Villas. Mtshali stated that they were looking for a way to allow their customers to send and receive money from South Africa without requiring any type of banking transaction. The CEO added that investment in energy provision and stability was imperative between the two countries because of connectivity.

Proper connectivity for businesses is important, therefore, the need to invest in energy to stabilise it can enhance efficiency, he said. With the issue of electricity in South Africa, it was noted that the drop in consumer spending affected Eswatini as well. This was outlined by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, who said local factories exporting to South Africa had to reduce production volumes.

He said textiles firms were faced with layoffs as the companies they supply in South Africa were decreasing their orders, which in turn created trade barriers in the country. Khumalo added that Eswatini had the AfCFTA, which was being rolled out across Africa to enable the free movement of goods within the continent. However, the objectives of SACU are challenged by the AfCFTA, and we need to expedite the discussion around the alignment of SACU with the AfCFTA to further promote and enhance trade between our countries.
Brasilia: Brazils leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week, where he hopes to reinforce trade, discuss international mediation in Ukraine, and reclaim his countrys role in global geopolitics.

After a period of isolation under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, Lula is wasting no time in renewing ties with allies.

Just three months into his latest term as president  he has already visited Argentina and the United States  the six-day trip to China, Brazils largest trading partner, is key to Lulas ambitions.

Lulas visit is a very clear signal that he wants a high-level bilateral dialogue and a deepening of this relationship, Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a China expert at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, told AFP.

Analysts say Chinese hopes are also high. Officials in Beijing see Brazil  a leader in the global south  as a linchpin in their strategic and economic plans.

Ukraine will be a main topic of discussion during the visit, which officially begins Tuesday, with Lula hoping to promote his proposal for mediated talks to end Russias invasion of the country.

Xi himself will be fresh from talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he presented himself as a peace-seeking mediator  though he made no apparent breakthrough.

Ukraines Western allies have heavily criticized Xis approach as tacit support for Moscows invasion.

But Lula sees China as an important ally of his own initiative of creating a group of countries seeking a negotiated peace deal, the government in Brasilia said in a statement.

Lula, who has been president of Brazil twice before, is keen to position the South American giant as a go-between, like he did during his second term, which ended in 2010, during nuclear discussions between Iran and the United States.

However, his diplomatic stock took a hit last year when he came under fire for claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was as responsible for the war as Putin.

He has also refused to join Western nations in sending weapons to Ukraine to help it defend itself.

Clear signal

Trade will also be high on the agenda in Beijing, with a large business and ministerial entourage from Brazil.

Bolsonaro also visited China, but that relationship soured after he joined then-US president Donald Trump in blaming Beijing for the Covid-19 pandemic.

That did not affect business dealings, though, with commercial exchanges last year surpassing $150 billion.

Brazil received a boost on Thursday when China decided to lift a month-long suspension of Brazilian beef imports after an isolated case of mad cow disease was confirmed in February.

The country wants to promote trade, concentrating on the diversification of products but also to bring Chinese investments and advance in other guidelines, said Menezes.

He pointed to the potential for developing technology like semiconductors and artificial intelligence, or resuming projects for a bullet train between Brazilian cities.

Brazil was also the main destination for Chinese investment in Latin America between 2007 and 2020, worth $70 billion according to the Brazil-China Business Council.

The money was mostly invested in oil and electricity generation, but also in the automobile industry, heavy machinery, mining, agriculture and information technology.

Brazil is a huge market for Chinese companies, such as technology giant Huawei.

And an agreement between the two countries to use the yuan in bilateral multi-million dollar trade could help internationalize the Chinese currency.

The size of Brazil and the size of the relationship also means that successful engagement with Brazil more than any other country supports Chinas global strategic economic goals, said Evan Ellis, China and Russia expert at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies in Washington.

Strategic partnership

It is certainly about economics and business and there is a huge business partnership, but one should not lose sight of the fact that there is also a strategic partnership based on Brazils role as a leader in the global south, said Ellis.

Lula made multilateral diplomacy a priority in his previous two terms as president, and visited Beijing three times.

It was on his watch that the BRICS group of emerging economies comprising Brazil, India, China, Russia and South Africa was created.

In Beijing, Lula will also meet Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, president of the Popular Assembly.

He will head to Shanghai where his domestic political ally Dilma Rousseff, who succeeded him as president in 2011, is due to take over as head of the New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS bank.

Lulas visit was delayed by one day due to a case of mild pneumonia, his office said, now departing on Sunday.

On his way home, Lula will visit the United Arab Emirates for two days.

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Barcelona: The Spanish government is under fire over allegations police officers infiltrated far-left and green groups and had sex with activists to win their trust and gain information.

The scandal broke when Catalan media La Directa reported in January that a police officer going by the name of Daniel Hernandez had sexual relations with various members of a Barcelona squat and far-left movements since 2020.

The intimate relations in one case lasted nearly a year, according to the alternative publication based in the Catalan capital.

Six women have filed a complaint against the officer, accusing him of sexual abuse. They argue their sexual consent was obtained on the basis of lies.

One of the womens lawyers, Mireia Salazar, told AFP the goal of the complaint was to know how far these practices go, which in our opinion, have no legal justification.

The scandal deepened after the Madrid branch of climate activist group Extinction Rebellion said last week it had been infiltrated by a female police officer who had sexual relations with at least one of its members.

The affair recalls the case in Britain of Kate Wilson, an environmental activist who was tricked into a sexual relationship with an undercover officer for nearly two years.

In a landmark ruling in 2021, a tribunal concluded that the police had violated her human rights.

Moral limit?

In Spain the Hernandez case has sparked outrage, especially in the northeastern region of Catalonia which sparked the countrys worst political crisis in decades in 2017 with a failed independence push.

It comes after Spains central government admitted last year that it spied on the mobile phones of 18 Catalan separatist leaders using Israeli spyware Pegasus.

Where is your moral limit, where is your ethical limit? Gabriel Rufian, a top lawmaker with Catalan separatist party ERC, asked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez last month during a debate in the assembly.

It is not just a threat to political freedoms, ideological freedoms, but also  it seems  sexual freedoms, he added in a reference to the case of the undercover Barcelona police officer.

Sanchezs minority leftist coalition government regularly relies on the ERC to pass legislation in parliament.

Criticism has also come from far-left party Podemos, the junior coalition partners of Sanchezs Socialists.

It is violence against women, secretary of state of equality, Angela Rodriguez of Podemos, told Catalan radio station Rac1.

And I think that the sooner that we know what happened and justice can be done, the better it will be for the reputation of security agencies, she added.

It was a shock

The scandal comes as Sanchezs government grapples with waning support ahead of regional elections in May and a year-end general election.

Contacted by AFP, both the interior ministry and the police declined to comment on the allegations.

But during a recent debate in parliament, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska dismissed the ERCs accusations of illegal activities by police as a lie.

Undercover police also reportedly infiltrated a far-left group in the Mediterranean port of Valencia, and a Barcelona housing rights group called Resistim al Gotic, although in these cases there are no allegations of improper sexual relations.

According to La Directa, a police officer calling himself Marc Hernandez pretended to be a Resistim al Gotic activist for nearly two years before the publication unmasked him in June.

When the information was revealed, it was a shock, Marti Cuso, a member of the group, told AFP.

We did not suspect anything, we had no clues that his person could be a police officer, he added.

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Tripoli, Libya: The new UN envoy to Libya had hoped to usher in long-delayed elections, but his initiative is facing pushback from the eastern-based parliament and a lukewarm reception by its rivals in Tripoli.

Senegalese diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily told the UN Security Council last month he planned to create a panel tasked with delivering presidential and legislative elections in conflict-torn Libya later this year.

But his blunt criticism of the North African countrys two houses of parliament for failing to agree on a legal basis for elections has sparked a backlash that threatens to derail Bathilys plans.

The pushback was predictable, said Khaled al-Montasser, a professor of international relations at the University of Tripoli, as elections would see members of both chambers potentially lose their seats and privileges.

Despite the rivalry between them, both view the UN initiative as interference in their sovereign decision-making power and an attempt to impose international will on Libyans, Montasser told AFP.

Libya has seen more than a decade of stop-start conflict since the 2011 revolt that toppled strongman Moamer Kadhafi, with myriad rival militias, foreign powers and multiple governments vying for influence.

The country remains split between a supposedly interim government in the western capital, Tripoli, and another in the east nominally backed by military chief Khalifa Haftar.

While most observers believe Libyans overwhelmingly support elections, bitter wrangling over the legal basis for holding them has been a key sticking point since the last major battle between Haftar and western Libyan forces in 2020.

Last month, the eastern-based House of Representatives passed an amendment to the countrys Constitutional Declaration  an interim constitution  which it said would provide a legal basis for elections.

Bathily, who was appointed as head of the UNs Libya mission UNSMIL in October, said the amendment was controversial among Libyans and lacked clarity on key issues such as who may stand in presidential polls.

He also noted it had not been endorsed by the High Council of State, the Tripoli-based upper house of parliament.

The House in turn accused Bathily of double standards and lacking impartiality

Not enough

Libyan analyst Abdallah al-Rayes said the UN envoys initiative aimed to put pressure on rival Libyan factions by giving them a last chance before a vote takes place without them.

The international community wants to embarrass the two chambers, who are masters in the art of wasting time and political horse-trading, he said.

The Tripoli-based transitional government of Kadhafi-era tycoon Abdelhamid Dbeibah has signalled its willingness to cooperate with Bathilys plan, asking the United Nations to provide logistical support to that end.

The US embassy last week called on key Libyan leaders to approach the plan in a constructive spirit, saying in an online post the UN proposal would build on progress made between the two chambers on the legal basis for elections.

Britain also said it supported the plan.

Libyans deserve certainty and faith in their institutions, its mission at the United Nations in New York tweeted shortly after Bathily had spoken at the Security Council.

Conditions for elections must be agreed by all and the results respected.

But Monstasser said US and British backing was not enough, stressing the importance of buy-in from their arch-rival Russia, which has a presence in southern Libya via the Kremlin-linked Wagner paramilitary group.

Moscow is a powerful actor in Libya and exerts influence on Haftar, he said.

Western Libyan efforts to prevent Haftar, a US citizen, from standing in presidential polls have been a key factor in the stalemate over the legal basis for polls.

Haftars rivals want rules that ban the candidacy of dual citizens and military figures.

Dbeibah summed up the fears of many in western Libya in a recent speech.

A return to a military regime is unacceptable, he said.

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New Delhi: Sri Lanka will soon settle cross-border trade with India in Indian rupee. The island nation feels that trading in INR will also help increase the inflow of Indian tourist.

Sri Lankas High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda met Indias Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during which he discussed steps to attract Indian investments to his country.

Moragoda and Sitharaman also talked about the way forward in bilateral economic cooperation.

Sri Lanka to settle trade in Indian rupee

During the meeting, Moragoda proposed enhancing bilateral trade particularly through settlement in India rupees and increasing the flow of Indian tourists to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan high commission said in a statement.

The finance minister and the high commissioner agreed that these measures would help in recovery of Sri Lankas economy.

Also Read: Rupee marches on: Sri Lankas Seylan Bank opens INR-denominated Nostro account in Indian Bank

The meeting comes following the $3 billion International Monetary Funds (IMF) approval to a bailout package for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka thanks India

Moragoda thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government for its role in the realisation of IMFs Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Sri Lanka.

For the unversed, India was among the first bilateral creditors to Sri Lanka, extending support for the bailout.

The EEF arrangement that has been approved by on Monday will enable Sri Lanka to access financing of up to $7 billion from IMF, international financial institutions and multilateral organisations.

Dont Miss: Progressive: Sri Lankas $3 billion loan agreement will protect the poorest, says IMF

The meeting between Moragoda and Sitharaman on Tuesday was the latest in a series since November 2021 that focused on Indian economic cooperation and assistance to Sri Lanka in the context to the ongoing economic crisis.

Last year, India provided aid worth nearly $4 billion, including lines of credit to help its neighbour, Sri Lanka, purchase food, fuel and medicines and deferred payment of loans.

Read This: Sri Lanka bailout linked to tackling corruption, spells out IMF

The Sri Lankas High Commissioner also thanked Sitharaman for her personal involvement in taking up Colombos case with bilateral development partners and multilateral financial agencies, including the IMF.

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Chicago: Laxman Narasimhan took over as the CEO of the coffeehouse company Starbucks this week. Narasimhan, who replaced former CEO Howard Schultz, has big plans for the company.

An exclusive interview with Wall Street Journal reveals that even before he was appointed in the position, Narasimhan, for months, immersed himself in the day-to-day operations of the worlds largest coffee chain. He said that he even spent time working as a barista at different cafes.

The first order of business for the former PepsiCo Inc executive is to focus on the brands sprawling supply chain.

Talking about the wide range of cup and lid pairings at Starbucks, Narasimhan said, It was startling to me, how many we had. Weve got things to do to become more disciplined.

In the wake of concerns flagged by customers who often have to stand in long queues to order complex beverages that Starbucks has to offer, the new CEO plans to work alongside baristas to understand why it sometimes is so aggravating to get a customer a simple cup of coffee.

He said, We have got to find ways to ensure that we do listen and stay connected.

After he left his previous company Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC in September last year, Narasimhan spent over six months training as a certified barista.

Unionisation push in Starbucks

A union of baristas working at Starbucks welcomed the new CEO with the announcement of strikes in about 100 cafes across US.

In the past 18 months, around three per cent of the chains 9,300 stores in US have voted to unionise.

Acknowledging their right to unionise, Narasimhan said that he will continue Starbuckss approach to asking workers to directly voice their concerns to the company.

Narasimhans plan to continue working as barista

In an interview with CNN, Narasimhan said, To keep us close to the culture and our customers, as well as to our challenges and opportunities, I intend to continue working in stores for a half day each month.

Starbucks has bagged $1 billion in investments as the company aims at updating training, improving equipment and raising the wages of workers.

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As the Biden administration intensifies its threats against TikTok, the companys CEO appeared before Congress for the first time on Thursday. Given the US governments assertive recent stance, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was bound for a harsh turn in front of the governments large, glaring lights  and thats exactly what happened over the course of the five-hour meeting.

Chew promised in his introductory remarks that the business would protect minors, strengthen its privacy and security policies, and prevent unauthorized foreign access to U.S. user data.

ByteDance not a Chinese agent says Chew

 I understand that there are concerns based on the mistaken belief that TikToks corporate structure makes it beholden to the Chinese government or that it shares information about US users with the Chinese government, Chew said. This is categorically false.

TikTok, according to Chew, has never shared info on US users with the Chinese government and has never gotten a request to do so. Chew argued that if China did seek access to data on Americans, the firm would refuse.

Also read: Chinese govt doesnt own the company: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before US Congress amid ban threat

Let me state unequivocally: ByteDance is not a Chinese or any other countrys agent, Chew said.

As the meeting progressed, legislators from both parties pushed Chew on the companys relationship with China, its failure to regulate troubling material, and its plans to establish confidence in the United States, its largest market.

Faced with a deluge of questions, some critical and others strange, TikTok took a leaf from the standard tech hearing script written in recent years by companies such as Meta and Google. While Chew came across as comfortable and friendly  more so than some U.S. tech execs  he overstated some of the companys accomplishments and repeatedly avoided meaningful responses on difficult topics.

Also read: Questions like Does TikTok use WiFi shows that US Congress isnt equipped to legislate tech

Chews China connection

Several representatives discussed TikToks effect on young consumers. Rep. John Sarbanes brought the companys boasts about its protections against social media addiction back to reality after Chew praised the apps 60-minute viewing restriction for teenagers.

My understanding is that if teens want to, they can easily bypass the notification and continue using the app, Sarbanes said. I mean, lets face it, our teens are smarter than we are by half and they know how to use technology and they can get around these limits if they want to.

Chew offered some insights into TikTok-China connections after being called evasive by several committee members during his statement, verifying that he directly answers to China-owned ByteDances CEO Liang Rubo and affirming that he personally holds shares in ByteDance. Although Chew stated that ByteDance does not require workers to reveal this information, he also appeared to concur that many ByteDance employees are likely CCP members.

Things got a little personal for Chew. When members of Congress pressed Chew, who resides in Singapore rather than China, to reveal his own ties to the CCP, he repeatedly evaded the questions. He told the committee that his evidence would be limited to TikTok. He also repeatedly refused to answer to several committee members who asked if he condemned Chinese human rights violations against the Uyghurs, a Turkish ethnic group in China.

ByteDances divestment of TikTok and Project Texas

TikTok has long resisted privacy worries, claiming that the companys American activities are isolated from its Beijing-based leadership  and from China itself. Earlier this month, it was reported that the US government is attempting to compel ByteDance to sell TikTok, threatening a nationwide ban if the business does not cooperate.

TikTok reacted by referring to its recent self-regulation effort, dubbed Project Texas. The ad is part of TikToks continuing charm offensive in the United States, which aims to portray the companys operations in the country as transparent and comes with approximately $1.5 billion in infrastructure expenditure and corporate reorganisation. The notion is that TikTok can create a barrier between the companys American operations and its Chinese control, thereby appeasing both parties.

The United States does not appear to be backing down, but it is far from obvious that it is in a position to carry out recent warnings. During the Trump administration, the White House tried a similar manoeuvre, but it failed before being taken up by the Biden administration in an uncommon display of policy continuity between the two. Former President Trumps threats against TikTok ultimately culminated in a plot to compel ByteDance to sell its assets in the United States to Oracle in late 2020. TikTok also turned down an acquisition bid from Microsoft at the time, but the agreement with Oracle also fell through.

Oracle never purchased the business, but it is still in the running. TikTok later partnered with Oracle to move US data to US-based servers and run audits of its algorithms and content moderation systems  an odd move and an odd partner to do it with, given Oracle co-founder and chairman Larry Ellisons involvement in the campaign to undermine the legitimacy of the 2020 US presidential election.

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New Delhi: The historic takeover of beleaguered Credit Suisse by rival UBS threatens to spark another crisis: a job problem for around 5,000 employees in the UK. The domino of hundreds of floating curriculum vitae has already fallen in the market spelling bad news for Britains already tattered financial sector.

According to Reuters, Credit Suisse staff had already been seeking to jump ship in recent weeks. Reuters quoted sources as having said so.

According to the report, senior London bankers were apprehensive of whether the 5000 people that Credit Suisse employed in the city are going to land jobs. Hundreds of these Credit Suisse employees are going to find themselves out of jobs, further affecting the cost of living crisis.

Reuters quoted Stephane Rambosson, co-founder of Vici Advisory which specialises in hiring senior investment bankers, as telling the agency, Many Credit Suisse bankers had already been talking to a lot of people for a while [about leaving the Swiss bank]. Those who were more loyal and didnt do so are now talking to headhunters.

An executive at a rival London-based wealth manager said they had seen a steady flow of CVs coming in from Credit Suisse bankers, the report said.

UBS, however, has told Credit Suisse wealth bankers that it sought to reassure them and that it was willing to keep them on board.

According to reports, Credit Suisse bankers fear massive job cuts after the UBS takeover, estimates claiming some 10,000 jobs were on the line across the globe.

The giant lenders demise could also deal a potential blow to Canary Wharf Group, which manages the financial hub of the same name in Londons regenerated docklands, Reuters added.

Credit Suisse was one of the first major banks to be lured to the area by the prospect of cheaper office space in the early 1990s and houses the bulk of its UK staff in the One Cabot Square building in the western part of the estate.

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London: The UK and EU will on Friday formally agree a post-Brexit deal to overhaul Northern Irish trade rules after lawmakers from both parties approved it despite a rebellion within Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks party.

UK foreign minister James Cleverly and EU Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic will sign off the Windsor Framework at a joint committee meeting in London.

UK lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed a crucial part of the deal on Wednesday, in the face of a rebellion by ex-leader Boris Johnson and other hardline Conservative eurosceptics.

The vote on the frameworks so-called Stormont brake  which hands Northern Irish lawmakers an effective veto over new European Union rules being implemented in the UK province  won the backing of 515 MPs, with 29 opposed.

By formally approving the Windsor Framework, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland, Cleverly said before Fridays meeting.

The Framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union.

I look forward to further effective cooperation with the EU on key issues, such as security and energy, he added.

Once formally agreed, the UK government said it will then begin the process of implementing the framework.

Not acceptable

Despite Fridays show of unity, the new deal has reopened old divisions within Sunaks party.

Twenty-two Tory MPs  including Johnson and fellow former leader Liz Truss  opposed the brake in Wednesdays vote, while another 48 declined to vote.

MPs from Northern Irelands largest pro-UK party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), also voted against, suggesting that Sunak will struggle to get the party to resume power-sharing in Belfast.

The Stormont brake is a key cog in the new framework, which aims to reset strained ties between Britain and the bloc.

But it is also hoped the pact can pave the way for devolved government to restart in Northern Ireland, after the DUP collapsed the executive last year over its opposition to existing post-Brexit trade rules.

Northern Ireland is still in the European customs union and single market because of the need to keep an open border with EU member Ireland to the south as part of a 1998 peace deal.

With the rest of the UK out of the EU, that has caused headaches on how to protect the single market on goods heading across the Irish Sea and, unionists claim, made a united Ireland more likely.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the framework failed to solve its concerns about Northern Irelands ability to trade with the rest of the UK.

That is the bottom line for us, he told MPs on Wednesday. Until that is resolved, I cant commit to the government that we will restore the political institutions.

Brexit figurehead Johnson called the framework not acceptable as he opposed it.

He urged the government to stick with legislation he helped craft that would unilaterally disregard existing EU rules in Northern Ireland until Brussels agreed acceptable alternatives.

But that draft law, introduced last year, prompted the bloc to threaten reprisals and a damaging wider trade war, further souring relations.

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Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for months, will soon counterattack as Russias offensive looks to be faltering, a commander said, but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that without a faster supply of arms, the war could last years.

Zelenskiy said Europe must increase and speed up its supply of weapons, again calling for long-range missiles, ammunition and modern aircraft, and impose additional sanctions on Russia.

If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war, a clearly frustrated Zelenskiy said on Thursday in a video address to European Union leaders, delivered from a train.

At the EU summit, leaders approved a plan agreed upon by foreign ministers on Monday to send 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next year. They also discussed global food security and sanctions on Russia.

Britain has pledged to supply armour piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to help destroy Russian tanks, a step President Vladimir Putin said would force a response from Russia as the weapons had a nuclear component.

Slovakia said on Thursday it had handed over the first four MiG-29 jets it has pledged to Ukraine, with the rest to be delivered in weeks.

Ukraines top ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said his forces would soon begin a counter-offensive after withstanding Russias brutal winter campaign.

He said Russias Wagner mercenaries, who have been at the front line of Moscows assault on eastern and southern Ukraine, are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam.

Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk, he said, listing Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that recaptured swathes of land.

There was no immediate response from Moscow to suggestions its forces in Bakhmut were losing momentum, but Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin issued statements in recent days, warning of a Ukrainian counterassault.

On Monday, Prigozhin published a letter to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, saying Ukraine aimed to cut off Wagners forces from Russias regular troops.

Reuters journalists near the front line north of Bakhmut saw signs consistent with the suggestion that the Russian offensive in the area could be waning. At a Ukrainian-held village west of Soledar, on Bakhmuts northern outskirts, the intensity of the Russian bombardment noticeably lessened from two days earlier.

It was really hot here a week ago, but in the last three days it has been more quiet, said a Ukrainian soldier who used the call sign Kamin, or Stone.

We can see this in the enemys air strikes. If before there were five-six air raids in a day, today we had only one helicopter attack, said the soldier.

Shifting focus

A slowdown by Russia in Bakhmut could mean it is diverting its troops and resources to other areas.

Britain said on Thursday that Russian troops had made gains further north this month, partially regaining control over the approaches to the town of Kreminna. Intense battles were also under way further south.

Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov agreed with that assessment. He said on YouTube that Russias attacks on Bakhmut were decreasing, and it was shifting its efforts south to the town of Avdiivka.

Russias forces have become more active in areas to the north in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions as well as central Zaporizhzhia and southern Kherson regions, he said.

Any shift in momentum in Bakhmut, if confirmed, would be remarkable given the citys symbolic importance as the focus of Russias offensive, and the scale of the losses on both sides there in Europes bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

On the ground in Ukraine, front lines have largely been frozen since November. Ukraine had looked likely to pull out of Bakhmut weeks ago but decided to fight on.

Zelenskiy had earlier on Thursday continued a tour of front-line provinces, visiting the Kherson region in the south a day after meeting troops near Bakhmut.

A video showed him meeting residents in Posad Pokrovske, a bombed-out village on the former Kherson front line recaptured in Ukraines last big advance last year.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in what it calls a special military operation, saying Ukraines ties to the West were a security threat. Since then, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides have been killed.

Russia has destroyed Ukrainian cities and set millions of people to flight. It says it has annexed nearly a fifth of Ukraine. Kyiv and the West call the war an unprovoked assault to subdue an independent country.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU would work to find Ukrainian children deported to Russia and press for their return. She said 16,200 children had been deported and only 300 returned to Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin a week ago for the forcible removal of Ukrainian children.

It is a horrible reminder of the darkest times of our history  to deport children. This is a war crime, von der Leyen said.

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Kyiv: Ukraines top military brass on Thursday withdrew a report that wrongly said Russian troops had left the town of Nova Kahkovka in southern Kherson region, and blamed an error for the mistake.

The general staff of the armed forces, in a rare retraction, said Russian troops remained in the town on the east bank of the Dnipro River. It said the initial report had been issued as a result of incorrect use of available data but gave no details.

Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of Kherson region, had earlier denied the report.

Russian forces redeployed to the east bank of the Dnipro River last November after abandoning positions on the west bank in the face of a counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops.

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EZULWINI  Trucks importing goods to Eswatini from South Africa will no longer be stuck at the Oshoek Border Gate after 5pm.

This was after the Republic of South Africa assured to review the custom transaction time zones at the Oshoek Border Gate.Oshoek in Mpumalanga is the main border post between South Africa and Eswatini and is currently operating 24 hours a day. However, trucks importing goods to Eswatini were facing a challenge of time; after 5pm, the clearing agents at Oshoek would close their offices while the Ngwenya border and its clearing agents remained operational.

This would cause kilometres of traffic on the Oshoek side of the border as trucks would be forced to wait until the next morning to clear their goods. It further affected the rate of efficiency of imports by creating a backload.The above challenge was raised by Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nathi Dlamini, yesterday during the business breakfast meeting organised by the South African High Commission, to promote trade and investment with local CEOs at Royal Villas. The South African High Commissioner to Eswatini, Advocate Thoko Sipamla, assured that the time zones would be reviewed since the border was the second busiest in South Africa.

She stated that goods between the two countries totaled E21.732 billion for the fiscal year 2021/2022, an increase of 16.6 per cent over the fiscal year 2020/21, and that it was the most important trade route.Both the South African and Eswatini economies are benefiting from growing trade between our two countries; Eswatini is currently exporting almost 70 per cent of its goods and services to South Africa, she said. Sipamla added that for the 2021/22 fiscal year, the country imported E23.676 billion, which reflects a total of 73.55 per cent of its entire imports for the year an increase of 24.45 per cent over the 2020/21 financial year.

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, suggested that a one-stop border post with Eswatini Revenue Services (ERS) and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) work together. He said this would increase efficiency and avoid the creation of backlogs. Khumalo also mentioned that both governments must take real, practical steps to achieve a working partnership that would stimulate investment, improve ease of doing business, break down trade barriers, mobilise domestic resources and support their vision of boosting economic growth through investment and trade.

Build

We can build further on this shared agenda with an Eswatini-South Africa Investment Summit, that can be hosted in both countries, the minister suggested.He further mentioned that this underscores the importance of a strengthened trade mechanism between the two countries. Khumalo said both governments needed to work together to ensure the seamless movement of goods and services across the ports of entry, especially the Ngwenya/Oshoek Border Gates. Standard Bank of Eswatini CEO Mvuselelo Fakudze added that security on routes was also a challenge for some traders, especially at night. He said it was important that the routes be secured to avoid any security challenges.
Kyiv: Russian forces are increasingly using drones in aerial battles over the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut, but the threat of fighter jets and helicopters remains and more Western weapons are needed to counter them, Ukrainian soldiers said.

In a small hamlet west of Soledar, a town to the north of Bakhmut now under Russian control, troops from an anti-aircraft unit in Ukraines 10th Mountain Assault Brigade were planning to use drones to attack Russian positions.

Recently we have noticed a lot of activity of enemy intelligence drones, a member of the unit who goes by his call sign Kamin, meaning Stone, told Reuters on Thursday. He declined to give his real name.

The work of (regular) aviation has decreased. I cannot say that it has disappeared altogether, but it has decreased. Maybe it is due to the fact that we are working well.

Kamin, 42, showed Reuters some of the shoulder-held weapons the unit has used to reduce the threat of plane and helicopter attacks on frontline Ukrainian positions.

The main task for us is not necessarily to hit the plane but to let the pilot know that we are here, he said in a cramped control room inside a small bungalow.

If we launch something at them then they are afraid, and there is a big difference between them firing a missile from a plane from one to two kilometres and six to seven kilometres.

Earlier this month, Chub, who serves in the same unit, said he had downed a Russian SU-25 jet using a Polish shoulder-held Piorun air defence system on March 9 in the Bakhmut area. Reuters could not independently verify his account.

The plane flew into our area of responsibility  and the plane was destroyed, said the 34-year-old, who is from the occupied southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

It doesnt often happen that they fly into our kill zone  This is very hard work and it takes a lot of time, he added. We are like hunters waiting for prey. We sit for a long time, sometimes for months. But in some rare moments it happens.

According to Kamin, the unit did not have enough anti-drone guns to help protect them from a growing threat, while the Russians appeared to have many more. He picked up an American sniper rifle, which he said could be effective against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The unit recently acquired a Ukraine-made drone packed away in a case ready to be deployed in the battlefield. It was capable of carrying up to eight grenades.

Drones are an increasingly important part of Ukraines military plans with the full-scale war well into a second year. While Russia has far greater resources  both in terms of soldiers and equipment  Kyiv believes drone innovation is one area where it can begin to catch up with Moscow.

Now it is a war of drones, Kamin said. The Russians used reconnaissance drones, but now they are also using more drones that are carrying weapons.

Despite the growing focus on UAVs, Kamin urged Western allies to supply more anti-aircraft weapons, including U.S. Stingers, which he said he was running out of.

Particularly effective were those with thermal vision, he explained, because they help Ukrainian forces spot enemy aircraft that are almost invisible to the naked eye unless they are close.

I want more Stingers, he said.

The United States, Europe and other allies have sent tens of billions of dollars worth of military equipment to Ukraine to help it hold invading Russian forces at bay.

While that has largely worked so far, some Ukrainian officers and officials say that their stocks of weapons and ammunition, including artillery shells, are running low.

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Kyiv: The United Nations said Friday it was deeply concerned by what it described as summary executions of prisoners of war carried out by Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

The head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, said her organisation had documented killings, often on the battlefield, by both sides in recent months.

We are deeply concerned about summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons hors de combat by the Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, Bogner said at a press conference in Kyiv.

This was often perpetrated immediately upon capture on the battlefield. While we are aware of ongoing investigations by Ukraine authorities into five cases involving 22 victims, we are not aware of any prosecution of the perpetrators, she added.

Bogner also related the UNs deep concern over the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces.

She said the Wagner mercenary group, which claims to be leading Russias assault for Bakhmut, the longest and bloodiest battle of the war, was responsible for some 11 of those killings.

Ukraine and Russia have both accused each other of mistreating prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded a year ago.

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Kyiv: The United Nations said Friday it was deeply concerned by what it said were summary executions of prisoners of war by both Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

The allegations come shortly after Kyiv accused Russian forces of killing a captured Ukrainian serviceman who was filmed saying Glory to Ukraine before being shot dead.

The head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday that her organisation had recently recorded killings by both sides.

We are deeply concerned about (the) summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons hors de combat by the Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, Bogner said.

This was often perpetrated immediately upon capture on the battlefield, she said.

While we are aware of ongoing investigations by Ukraine authorities into five cases involving 22 victims, we are not aware of any prosecution of the perpetrators, she added.

Bogner also expressed deep concern over the alleged executions of 15 Ukrainian prisoners by Russian armed forces after their capture.

She said the Wagner mercenary group, which claims to be leading Russias assault for Bakhmut  the longest and bloodiest battle of the war  was responsible for 11 of those killings.

Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of mistreating prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded a year ago.

They broke us

One UN report issued Friday claimed Ukrainian military personnel had subjected prisoners of war to death threats, mock executions or threats of sexual violence. Some beatings were purely retaliatory, it said.

In some cases, officers beat POWs saying: This is for Bucha,' the mission reported detainees as saying, referring to a town near Kyiv where Russian forces were accused of widespread atrocities.

Before questioning, they showed me an axe handle covered in blood as a warning, the report quoted a Russian POW as saying.

The questioning lasted for about an hour and they used electricity six times, whenever they thought I was lying, the detainee said, according to the report.

Ukrainian POWs quoted said they were subjected to torture, sexual violence, a lack of food and water and denied medical attention that sometimes led to death.

They said they were tortured and ill-treated to extract information or as a form of punishment, the mission said.

Ukrainian prisoners reported being beaten with shovels, stabbed, subjected to electric shocks and strangled.

Some of them lost their teeth or fingers, had their ribs, fingers or noses broken, the report said.

They did not just beat us, they broke us. They used their fists, legs, batons, tasers. There were POWs who had their arms or legs broken, one man was quoted as saying.

The Ukrainian parliaments human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on Friday that he was surprised by the allegations against Ukrainian troops and said he had not been informed of them in advance.

He said on Telegram that he wanted to know the facts and the indisputable arguments on which the conclusions of the UN report are based.

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Ottawa: President Joe Biden laid out a vision of world-leading US-Canadian economic cooperation in a speech to Canadas parliament Friday, and announced that the giant neighbors had reached a deal on curbing illegal migration.

Standing ovations by Canadian lawmakers punctuated Bidens roughly half-hour speech in Ottawa that was thick on praise for North American unity  a sentiment matched earlier when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered his own address.

Americans and Canadians are two peoples, two countries, in my view sharing one heart, Biden said, getting cheers when he vowed Canada will always be able to count on the United States.

Biden signalled a resolution to one irritant in the close relationship, with a deal on managing the growing issue of undocumented migration on their lengthy border.

The United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings, he said. The arrangement will see undocumented asylum seekers crossing from the United States into Canada turned back, while Canada will simultaneously expand the pathway for legal entries.

The plan  similar to a crackdown on the much more heavily used US-Mexican border  has been criticized by migrants rights activists. However, Biden and Trudeau are both under political pressure to relieve their badly strained immigration systems and Biden said that regardless, welcoming refugees and asylum seekers is a part of who Canadians and Americans are.

Biden opened his speech with a nod to Canadian bilingualism, greeting parliamentarians with good afternoon and bonjour  joking that this was as far as hed got in four years of French at school.

And the bonhomie flowed from then on.

Biden laid out a vision of the neighbors being ever more closely bound with the joint goal of building high-tech economies and reinforcing supply chains for things like critical minerals used in electric vehicle manufacturing.

Canada and the United States can do big things, he concluded to more cheering. Were going to write the future together.

Trudeau earlier greeted Biden at the parliament building, saying Canada has no greater friend and ally than the United States  a message underlined through the gift to Biden of a chocolate bar from Peace by Chocolate, a brand started by Syrian refugees.

NORAD, China, Haiti

Earlier face-to-face talks between Biden and Trudeau covered a range of areas where both sides are pushing for improvements.

The US government has been pressuring Canada to increase its defense spending, which in 2022 was just 1.33 percent of GDP. This is scheduled to rise to 1.59 percent from 2026, but thats still well below the NATO alliance requirement of minimum two percent of GDP spending.

A joint statement said that Biden and Trudeau agreed to modernizing their countries joint air defense alliance, NORAD, with Canada putting billions of dollars into improved radar and fighter aircraft infrastructure.

A revamped NORAD will defend against emerging threats to our air and sea space and compete with China and Russia for years to come, the statement said.

The two leaders reaffirmed support for pro-Western Ukraine for as long as it takes in its war to push back Russian invasion, and also issued a warning to China.

Canada and the United States acknowledge the serious long-term challenge to the international order posed by the Peoples Republic of China, including disruptive actions such as economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, and human rights abuses, the statement said.

While we will cooperate with China in areas of mutual interest, such as on climate change, we remain committed to ensuring our ability to compete effectively with China on a level playing field.

Closer to home, the two leaders said they remain concerned about deteriorating security in Haiti, but did not say whether progress had been made on long-discussed plans for an international intervention force to stabilize the chaotic Caribbean nation.

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Washington: The US military said it carried out precision air strikes in eastern Syria on Thursday in response to a drone attack that killed one American contractor and injured five US service personnel.

A Department of Defense statement said the US contractor had been killed and the others wounded after a one-way unmanned aerial vehicle struck a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria.

Another US contractor was also injured in the UAV attack, the Pentagon said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had authorized precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, he added.

The US intelligence community assess the UAV to be of Iranian origin, the Pentagon statement said.

Hundreds of American troops are in Syria as part of a coalition fighting against remnants of the Islamic State (IS) group and have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups.

The US troops support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds de facto army in the area, which led the battle that dislodged IS from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in 2019.

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Washington: U.S. lawmakers on Thursday battered TikToks chief executive about potential Chinese influence over the platform and said its short videos were damaging childrens mental health, reflecting bipartisan concerns over the apps power over Americans.

CEO Shou Zi Chews testimony before Congress did little to assuage U.S. worries over TikToks China-based parent company ByteDance and added fresh momentum to lawmakers calls to ban the platform nationwide.

Over five hours of testimony, Chew repeatedly denied the app shares data or has connections with the Chinese Communist Party and argued the platform was doing everything to ensure safety for its 150 million American users.

Chew said TikTok for more than two years has been building what amounts to a firewall to seal off protected U.S. user data from unauthorized foreign access. The bottom line is this: American data stored on American soil, by an American company, overseen by American personnel, Chew said.

But not a single lawmaker offered support for TikTok or sympathy for Chews reassurances, as they deemed his answers on China evasive and aired concerns over the power the app holds over U.S. children.

Others accused TikTok of promoting content that encourages eating disorders among children, illegal drug sales and sexual exploitation.

TikTok could be designed to minimize the harm to kids, but a decision was made to aggressively addict kids in the name of profits, said Representative Kathy Castor, a Democrat, at the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee hearing.

Chew responded to many pointed questions by saying the issues were complex and not unique to TikTok.

The company says it has spent more than $1.5 billion on data security efforts under the name Project Texas which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees and is contracted with Oracle Corp (ORCL.N) to store TikToks U.S. user data.

But critics were not appeased as the company failed to announce any new efforts to safeguard privacy.

Chew, who began his testimony by referring to his Singaporean roots, said: We do not promote or remove content at the request of the Chinese government.

He added: It is our commitment to this committee and all our users that we will keep (TikTok) free from any manipulation by any government. He said the app strictly screens content that could harm children.

It is not clear how lawmakers will proceed after the hearing or how quickly they might move to pass legislation to strengthen the Biden administrations legal powers to ban TikTok.

Some 20 U.S. senators  10 Democrats and 10 Republicans  have backed bipartisan legislation giving President Joe Bidens administration a path to ban TikTok, and the apps fate has added a new element to tensions between Washington and Beijing.

TikTok last week said the Biden administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban.

When asked about a potential divestiture, Chew said the issue was not about the ownership and argued U.S. concerns could be addressed by moving data to its U.S. storage centers.

Chinas commerce ministry said that forcing TikToks sale will seriously damage the confidence of investors from all over the world, including China, to invest in the United States, and that China would oppose any sale. Some lawmakers cited Chinas comments to reject TikToks contention that it is separate from the Chinese government.

At Thursdays House hearing, Representative Neal Dunn asked Chew if ByteDance has spied on Americans at Beijings request. Chew answered, No.

Republican Dunn then asked about U.S. media reports that a China-based team at ByteDance planned to use TikTok to monitor the location of specific U.S. citizens, and repeated his question about whether ByteDance was spying.

I dont think that spying is the right way to describe it, Chew said. He went on to describe the reports as involving an internal investigation, but was cut off by Dunn, who called TikToks widespread use a cancer.

Shares of U.S. social media companies that compete with TikTok for advertising rose on Thursday, with Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) closing 2.2% higher and Snap Inc (SNAP.N) up 3.1%.

SNAP and META are up on idea that the CEO didnt do well and TikTok may be banned, said Thomas Hayes, chairman and managing member of Great Hill Capital. I think the rumors of TikToks demise may be greatly exaggerated.

Democratic lawmaker Tony Cardenas said Chew was a good dancer with words and accused him of avoiding tough questions on evidence that the app has harmed childrens mental health.

Chew said the company was investing in content moderation and artificial intelligence to limit such content.

Representative Diana DeGette, a Democrat, said TikToks efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation on the platform were not working.

You gave me only generalized statements that youre investing, that youre concerned, that youre doing work. Thats not enough for me. Thats not enough for the parents of America, DeGette said.

Representative Gus Bilirakis showed the committee a collection of short TikTok videos that appeared to glorify self-harm and suicide, or outright tell viewers to kill themselves.

Your technology is literally leading to death, Bilirakis said. We must save our children from big tech companies like yours, who continue to abuse and manipulate them for your own gain.

Chew told Bilirakis that TikTok takes the issue of suicide and self-harm very, very seriously.

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New Delhi: The US nominee for World Bank President Ajay Banga is on a two-day visit to India where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Niramala Sitharaman, among others.

Bangas New Delhi visit (March 23 and March 24) is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

While in India, Banga will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the minister of finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the minister of external affairs S Jaishankar. These discussions will focus on Indias development priorities, the World Bank, and global economic development challenges, US Treasury Department said in a statement.

Additionally, it said, Banga will visit the Learnet Institute of Skills, which is a network of vocational institutes established in collaboration with the National Skills Development Corporation, funded in part by the World Bank.

Banga will learn about the Institutes programme and meet with programme participants, staff, alumni, and private sector partners to discuss how it is improving the lives and economic opportunities of participants  particularly young people, it said.

Indias government endorsed Bangas candidacy soon after his nomination was announced, it said, adding, since then, a diverse coalition of governments have expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga has met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society, it said.

Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel laureates, and former government officials, it said.

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront long standing challenges, it added.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.

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Washington: The United States on Friday slapped sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenkos official jet as well as two major national automakers for intimidating workers who took part in anti-government protests.

The US Treasury, which administers sanctions, singled out Lukashenkos presidential aircraft, a Boeing 737 designated EX-001PA.

The aircraft is used by Lukashenko and his family for official business and personal trips, including to international locations.

Sanctions, which ban any US individuals and entities from transacting with those targeted, could make it harder for the aircraft operator to get services and spare parts for it.

The Treasury also placed sanctions on Belarusian Automobile Plant and Minsk Automobile Plant, large car and truck manufacturers.

Both plants threatened employees who took part in strikes and peaceful protests in the aftermath of the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election, according to the Treasury.

Protest participants were intimidated and then laid off at the Minsk Automobile Plant, and were threatened with layoffs at the Belarusian Automobile Plant, according to the Treasury.

The Treasury also placed on its sanctions blacklist several recently appointed members of the Belarusian Central Election Commission, which is already under sanctions.

The United States continues to promote accountability for the Lukashenko regimes violence surrounding the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

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While solving Rubiks cube can be a challenge for many, it can also be a hobby  more so a passion for some. And no wonder, this whole process involves a lot of fun. Now, 9-year-old from China has solved the Rubiks cube in record-breaking average time.

Yiheng Wang has been earning praise worldwide for solving a 3x3x3 Rubiks cube in an unbelievable 4.69 seconds.

According to the Guinness World Record, Wang has broken the record for fastest average time in solving a spinning puzzle cube. He achieved the feat during the semi-final of Yong Jun KL Speedcubing 2023 event held in Malaysia on 12 March.



The times taken by Wang in the 1st to the 5th rounds  4.35, 3.90, 4.41, 5.31 and 6.16 seconds  were first recorded. Then, his average best was calculated, noting the rules mentioned by World Cube Association.

The record-keeping organisation also shared a video of Wang solving the Rubiks cube and social media users were quick to like and comment on it. A user said, I competed in this competition and I will never forget that I witnessed this world record in person. It was really amazing for me! Another wrote, Such a quick and gentle correction at such a young. Age is really admirable.

With this achievement, Wang left behind cubic star 21-year-old Korean-American Max Park and Tymon Kolasinski of Poland. The duo jointly held the record with an average timing of 4.86 seconds.

Notably, another Chinese cubic expert Yusheng Du still holds the world record for fastest single solve ever. In 2018, he solved a Rubiks cube in just 3.47 seconds.

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Washington: Youth Leaders from the Kashmir valley were at the National Press Club in Washington DC to talk about the development, peace and prevalence of grass-root democracy in Indias Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The International Center for Peace Studies invited Mir Junaid and Touseef Raina from the valley for a panel discussion titled Kashmir  From Turmoil to Transformation.

The forum was focused on the developments and the ground situation in Kashmir. Aiming to give a grassroots perspective, Mir Junaid said in his opening remarks, I can confidently say that Kashmir has been reborn as a land of peace, prosperity and progress. Jammu and Kashmir have seen many transitions that have taken it from a state of protest to a progressive union territory.

#WATCH | Pakistanis heckle, interrupt discussion on Kashmirs transformation in Washington DCs National Press Club pic.twitter.com/I5OHEL6s9I  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

We have to look beyond the controversial rhetoric now. The countries who are beating the drums on global platforms befooling the world have nothing to do with Kashmirs peace, progress and prosperity. Accept the fact that Kashmir is an existential problem for them, and thats why they want to keep the POT of violence burning in Kashmir, Junaid asserted by taking a dig at Pakistan.

He asked about the fate of once a well-coordinated formidable separatist conglomerate, the so-called All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders and how the leaders are facing serial reverses, all in quick succession, in Jammu and Kashmir.

Junaid said, they are facing the law of the land, the rule of the land, which resulted in the collapse of the Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir.

Just then- a handful of protestors interrupted the Kashmiri activist and disrupted the forum. One protester yelled in response Shame on you. After being heckled by security personnel when asked to leave the room the protestors visibly lost their temper and were seen retorting with abuses.The whole audience has seen your real face today. What we have seen in Kashmir we saw in Washington today and thank you for showing the world how cruel how indecent these people are, said Junaid as he hit back in response to the disruption.

All of this was caught on camera and the video grabbed headlines.

Mir Junaid is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party (JKWP). He is a writer and a law graduate from the University of Kashmir. He tweets at @MirJunaidJKWP.You have seen it all and this is what they did initially, what they are doing, they tried to silence me with the barrel of AK 47 If you gave them the 47 they will shoot us dead here right away.

Thats because they dont want to face the truth.  Junaid added.

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Migratory birds return to Bosten Lake in NW Chinas Xinjiang

People's Daily Online) 15:39, March 24, 2023

As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have returned to Bosten Lake in Bohu county, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A flock of birds fly over Bosten Lake in Bohu county, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo/Mier Zhati)

The birds flew over the lake, foraged or frolicked there, forming a beautiful scene of spring.

The ecological environment of Bosten Lake has continued to improve in recent years. It seems that the number of migratory birds in the lake this year has more than doubled over the past years, said Tong Zhihong, a shutterbug.

Bosten Lake is the largest inland freshwater lake in China, with its water area covering 1,646 square kilometers.

A large number of migratory birds rest along the lakefront of Bosten Lake in Bohu county, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo/Yang Beilan)

Staying true to the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, Bohu county has intensified efforts to protect the ecological environment of the lake in recent years. Thanks to the improving environment of the lake, the species and population of wild birds have been rising. The lake is now home to 198 species of wild birds, including those under first-class state protection in China, including Pallas fish eagles, saker falcons, golden eagles, and black storks.

To provide a sound habitat for migratory birds, we have built platforms and bird islands for them. We have also built six monitoring stations around Bosten Lake for wild birds, said Wu Lijie, a worker with the wildlife conservation station of Bohu county.

A large number of migratory birds rest along the lakefront of Bosten Lake in Bohu county, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo/Mier Zhati)

Migratory birds are seen in Bosten Lake in Bohu county, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo/Yang Beilan)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
A South African-authored book, The Unaccountables, reveals how powerful politicians and corporations profit from impunity and provides valuable lessons from which we can build resilient structures to avert a possible collapse of not just our economy, but also the moral fibre of our society. The book traces the source of the endemic corruption and economic crime carried out by various decision makers in politics, the government, SOEs, auditors and banks within the continents biggest economy, which is currently engulfed by an electricity crisis at power utility Eskom.With up to 80 per cent of our goods imported from South Africa (SA), the rise or fall of our neighbours economy makes it inevitable that we always catch a cold when it sneezes.

One makes reference to this book and its content for the numerous similarities that can be made with what seems to be prevailing in Eswatini, which, if allowed to continue on without firm action to curb it, could lead us down a path best travelled by failed States. If the structures and rules in place to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds were without blemish, we shouldnt have to question a E12 million tender awarded to Slomoes for the local government elections when other bidders, such as the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) was at E800 000 and Wiz Tech at E1.2 million, were competitive bidders.

However, the lack of faith in the relevant structures and their officials is why Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for an investigation into the award of this tender, which reveals a significant discrepancy in pricing for the scope of work. It gives reason to why the public deserves a clear explanation in order to comprehend whether spending this amount of money is justified when only 28 000 people are enrolled to vote for councillors.

Adding reasonable cause for concern is what the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane, allegedly informed the Chairperson of the Ministry of Housing Portfolio Committee, Manzini South MP Thandi Nxumalo. She told lawmakers that the minister voiced alarm about the rot within the ministry. What rot?

Faith

We need to know this, especially because the ministry appears to have lost faith in its own institutions, such as the RSTP, where millions of Emalangeni have been invested to develop what should be our go-to place for any technology-related answers. The institution is led by a CEO with more degrees than a thermometer, and the bid valuation reflects the availability of the necessary expertise and staff at RSTP capable of carrying out the assignment.

Are we to believe that such an investment is still far from fulfilling its mandate, or that the institution displayed incompetence when it conducted the by-elections for the Siphofaneni Inkhundla, in which LaZwide triumphed? From some of the documents reviewed by this publication on this tender, the main reason seemed to be that the RSTP lacked experience. These questions would not arise if tendering processes were more transparent, especially when ministries have the flexibility to use single source tendering or waivers.

The country has spent heavily in structures geared at safeguarding taxpayers against corruption, but they are useless if those responsible with making them effective shirk that obligation. In these circumstances, what good is ESPPRA? Following multiple instances of public funds being committed to expenditure that was not budgeted for, the Ministry of Finance had to issue a notice to ministries reminding them of the need to adhere to procurement regulations.

Dominate

Not to mention the ongoing violation of the Public Finance and Management Act, which has seen irregular expenditure dominate the auditor generals annual reports, which are utilised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to hold the responsible individuals accountable. However, despite some success by the PAC in collecting taxpayers money, the punishment has failed to reflect the offence or serve as an inhibitor, so the rot persists. These are the signs and symptoms found in some of South Africas economic crime cases, as detailed in the book The Unaccountables, which is largely committed to ensuring that the sheer number of scandals in that country, as well as those who should be held accountable, are not forgotten.

To quote the book in part: The looting of Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) relied on ministers, Board members at SOEs, global rail companies, global and local banks, mega consulting firms, businesspeople, auditors and politicians to pull it off. They all got a lucrative cut and walked away from the carnage while members of the public bore the great cost.It also emphasises that the situation they are in is not hopeless and that it contains potential avenues for accountability, as well as the applicable regulatory agencies or law enforcement that would make accountability possible. Can we say the same thing about Eswatini? We must act right away, before it becomes too late.
Sir,



When the current politicians took office, their mandate was to revive the economy as it was almost in ruins. They unveiled a strategic road map that was set to rebuild the economy which had been battered by years of mismanagement and corruption. We were told that government would step intentionally into a firm path of economic renewal and inclusive growth, driven by the need to create a better life for all emaSwati. Yes the pandemic deepened the economic crisis in the country, but the mismanagement in government is still continuing. I am at a loss for words to describe the situation of the public health care services as it has been allowed to deteriorate to all-time lows with no end in sight. Is mismanaging money in the country worth the lives of many emaSwati?

Health

Drugs are essential in addressing the health needs of emaSwati and the continuous medication shortage issue points to a much deeper financial problem if lives of patients are put at risk because there are shortages of essential drugs. And questions that bother me each time the shortage of medication issue is raised are, is the ministry aware of its mission statement and where are our elected Members of Parliament in the midst of this crisis?

Are the ministrys officials aware of its mission statement and have MPs forgotten about their constituencies? Do peoples lives matter or all they want from people are their votes? We have seen Parliament making a lot of noise about POCA, which was affecting a few people but not much noise on critical issues like the shortage of drugs and other shortcomings of our government. Has Cabinet forgotten its commitment and promise that no one will be left behind?

Deserves

Perhaps those who are saying the nation deserves a government by the people are right. Why are the relevant stakeholders quiet and not taking the required steps to end this nightmare? This is a nightmare for those who cannot afford to buy medication from private pharmacies. Where is civil society in all of this? Cabinet must remember that we are our brothers and sisters keepers. Has the cash crisis reached uncontrollable levels? I ask this last question because I do not want to believe that government would decide to neglect the health of the people of this country deliberately.



E N
Lenovo launches new Legion Slim laptops, providing gamers with the latest technology. The company also introduces the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptops, a sub-brand designed for new gamers looking for powerful and future-proof PCs.

In addition to these, Lenovo also introduced new Laptops and Chromebooks at the MWC 2023, last month.

Lenovo Legion Slim 7i and 7 (16, 8)

The new Lenovo Legion Slim 7 laptops come with Windows 11, up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor or an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, and up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM. The 16-inch Lenovo PureSight gaming display offers options like WQXGA 240Hz VRR 500nit panel for speedy response times and a 3.2K 165Hz VRR 430nit panel for creators who require the highest resolutions and color gamut for their workflow.

Lenovo Legions ColdFront 5.0 advanced thermal system keeps the laptops cool even under heavy load with quad copper hybrid heat pipes, phase-change thermal compound, and a new air intake and 90-blade fan system. The onboard Lenovo LA AI chip dynamically tunes thermal performance to maximize framerates and minimize noise. The laptops have a 99.99Whr battery, Super Rapid Charge of 140W, and support Filogic 380 Wi-Fi 7 card by MediaTek.

The full-sized Lenovo Legion TrueStrike keyboard is customizable with interchangeable WASD keycaps and Lenovo Legion Spectrum per-key RGB lighting, and it is also available with a white backlight. The slim all-metal chassis is available in Storm Grey or Glacier White and weighs under 2kg (4.4lbs).

Product specifications: The Lenovo Legion Slim 7i and 7 (16, 8)

Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and 5 (16, 8)

Available in 16-inch and 14-inch with an OLED panel, the Slim 5i has an Intel Core i7-13700H processor, while the Slim 5 has an AMD Ryzen 9 7840HS processor. Both models have an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU and Legion ColdFront 5.0 to prevent throttling.

The LA1 AI chip powers Lenovo AI Engine+ to optimize performance and minimize fan noise. The laptop chassis is as thin as 19.7mm/0.86in and can be configured with up to 32GB of, 5600Mhz DDR5 RAM. The 80Wh battery offers up to 8 hours of life and supports Super Rapid Charge of 140W, and the keyboard is customizable with replaceable keycaps and RGB lighting.

Product specifications: Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and 5 (16, 8)

Lenovo LOQ gaming laptops

Lenovo LOQ gaming laptops offer a wide range of options for new gamers, including 15-inch or 16-inch screens, up to a 13th Gen Intel Core or AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPU, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU graphics. The MUX switch on NVIDIA GPU models allows for higher frames-per-second with reduced latency during gaming sessions and optimized battery life when not gaming.

The laptops feature up to four heat pipes, dual 85mm 12V high-speed fans, and extra-large air intakes and outlets to keep them cool and quiet. The displays offer up to 16-inch 350 nit 16:10 WQXGA 165Hz VRR, with support for NVIDIA G-SYNC. The Lenovo LA AI Chip powers Lenovo AI Engine+ for optimized in-game framerates, and the laptops offer up to 16GB 5600MHz DDR5 RAM and support up to 32GB storage. They also have two slots for RAM and two PCIe slots for expanded RAM and storage.

The 16-inch models have an 80Whr battery for up to 7 hours of battery life and support for Super Rapid Charge Pro, while the 15-inch models have a 60Whr battery for up to 6 hours of battery life and support for Super Rapid Charge. All laptops have a USB-C port that supports 140W charging.

They feature a full-sized signature Lenovo gaming keyboard with numpad, 100% anti-ghosting technology, and optional 4-zone RGB backlighting, housed in a tough polymer blue-accented Storm Grey chassis tested to MIL-STD 810H standards with the Lenovo LOQ logo on the lid.

Product specifications: Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8/15APH8, Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8/16APH8

Pricing and availability

All the newly announced laptops will be available for purchase at Lenovo stores and other retailers.
After rumours, ASUS has confirmed the launch of ROG Phone 7, the companys next gaming phone in India and global markets on April 13th. This comes a little early this year compared to ROG Phone 6 which was introduced in July 2022.

The teaser image from Taiwan reveals two phones. However, based on earlier rumours, the company might release ROG Phone 7, ROG Phone 7D and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, all with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and 165Hz AMOLED Screen.

The ASUS AI2205_D model that surfaced earlier this month with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 16GB of RAM and Android 13 is said to be the ROG Phone 7D. It is not clear if the company is planning for the Dimensity 9200 version of the phone.

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 launch event starts at 8PM Taipei time and at 5:20PM IST in India on April 13th. We can expect a separate live stream for India revealing the pricing.

We should know more details about the ROG Phone 7 series, including the specifications, as the phone gets certified in the coming weeks.
London-based consumer technology brand Nothing launched its second-generation Ear (2) TWS earbuds in India and other markets earlier this week.

Today, the company has announced a limited-time sale on Flipkart and Myntra starting tomorrow, March 25th from 12 noon, before the open sales on March 28th.

To remind you, the earbuds still have the Nothings iconic transparent design with elite engineering, but has several improvements such as new 11.6 mm custom driver with a new dual-chamber design that enhances the overall sound quality with smoother airflow for a deep, powerful bass and crystal-clear highs.

The Ear (2) offers up to 40 dB of noise reduction along with Smart Active Noise Cancellation, and has improved wind-proof and crowd-proof Clear Voice Technology that uses an AI noise reduction algorithm that can filter out over 20 million sound samples.

If you want to get your hands on the Ear (2) before the sale next week, you can check out tomorrows sale.
MBABANE  Senator Chief Mphatfwa has shared words of advice to the electorate that they should not nominate criminals and arsonists in the upcoming national elections.

The legislator was supported by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu, who also advised the electorate to practise caution when nominating candidates to stand for elections because they did not want to nominate individuals who had a certain political agenda.This was during the ministrys portfolio committee annual performance report presentation to Senate at the House of Assembly Chamber yesterday.

Supporting his submission, Senator Chief Mphatfwa suggested to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) that they should consider beginning their vetting process at the umphakatsi level, before the process is handed over to the police. His point of view was that they could help EBC in eliminating the people not eligible to stand for elections because chiefs, as overseers of the communities, knew the people, their characters and capabilities. He shared that with the information they had on each and every residents characters and capabilities, they sometimes warned residents about certain individuals, advising them not to travel at night because they would be in harms way.

Engaged

The legislator even made an example that they recently engaged Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David Cruiser Ngcamphalala to enquire if there were any suspects, who had been apprehended in connection with the burning of the tinkhundla centres at the height of the political unrest in 2021. The minister responded to the negative. The chief said it was astonishing that no one had been apprehended because the culprits were known residents that the chiefs and other community leaders could identify. This is not to say we have solid evidence that they did commit these offences but we know people who visited the tinkhundla centres only for them to be reduced to ashes the following morning, he said.

The legislator, who is the chairman of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee, said the electorate should make the right choices when coming to the nominations of individuals and avoid choosing known criminals, who would serve their political interests, not that of the people they would be representing. This is in respect of bucopho, indvuna yenkhundla and Member of Parliament. EBC should rope us in as leaders of the communities to assist them in the vetting process. We can help a great deal in identifying individuals who are not eligible to stand for elections due to their untoward behaviour and conduct in the communities. These are people we live with and we know their conduct and behaviour and what they are capable of, he said.

Identify

Minister Shakantu said the beauty of the countrys political system was that people knew each other through engagements in communities and Tinkhundla, hence it was easy to identify people whose intentions were not those that served the interest of the community or country. A person should be nominated through individual merit and it should be someone who is fond of the system, has integrity, humble and working friendly with the people. How can you nominate someone who is a known criminal? If you nominate someone who burnt a school for example, is that what you want the children of the community to consider as the right thing to do? she wondered.

Meanwhile, the minister said there were electoral laws that the ministry was working on and amending to address some of the concerns of the senators. This was after Chief Mphatfwa had submitted that there were people who cast votes at communities where they were not from. He made an example that there was a tendency from people residing from Matsapha to get into buses in numbers and go to a specific area to vote in communities where they were not known.The minister said one of the legislation would look into extending the allowed three months stay in an area for one to be eligible to vote, and extend it to at least five months, to curb what the chief complained about and stated that she would table the amended legislation in Parliament at least in the next two weeks.
MANZINI- We want the university to reopen immediately.

As the strike by academic and non-academic employees of UNESWA continues, some students of the university, parents and political parties came together to demand for the immediate reopening of the university. The stakeholders convened outside the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Kwaluseni Campus, to demand that the university should quicken the process of resolving the employees grievances, to ensure that students returned to class.

Worth noting is that today marks day 17 since the academic staff, who are members of the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) engaged in a strike, while it is the fourth day since non-academic staff (NAWUSHI) also went on strike. The university was closed last week following the strike over award performances (notching).

Demonstrated

Meanwhile, during the meeting yesterday, the concerned students, parents and some political party members convened outside the institution, where they demonstrated, while singing political songs and dancing. Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) President Sakhile Awviva Nxumalo was of the view that education in the kingdom was not taken seriously. Nxumalo said it was high time that the university reopened as students were suffering.

As SWAYOCO and PUDEMO, we have an interest in the struggle for workers and that is why we are here today to say we will not watch as the universitys employees are suffering, he said.

The SWAYOCO president said it was only befitting for employees to be given their dues. He said they demanded the university to resolve the issues and reopen. He mentioned that the staff of the university was well within their right to engage in the strike. Meanwhile, addressing the stakeholders of the university, ALAAP President Sibusiso Nhlabatsi stated that it was difficult for employees of the university to engage in a strike action.

Negotiation

Nhlabatsi mentioned that there was a joint negotiation team (JNT) and recognition agreement, which provided that all issues were to be discussed at the JNT. We have engaged management on the issue since 2022 but it has not been fruitful. That is why we ended up downing tools. We understand that you are affected as some of you are doing your final years, we truly understand your plight. But please also understand that this is a labour issue. Classes will not resume until our demands are met, Nhlabatsi quipped. He further expressed that it was a pity that when two elephants fought, the grass suffered. The ALAAP president said in this case, it was the students who were suffering.

NAWUSHI President Sikelela Ngwenya said their strike was a way to fix the issues of the university for the students as well, as they were also future employees of the university. The issue of notching has been a thorny one since 2018, and we have been saying that the university should honour the agreements it has made, he said. UNESWA Registrar Dr Salebona Simelane had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
PIGGS PEAK  The Auditor General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, has stopped the E12 million tender awarded to Slomoes Corporation for the local government elections, pending an investigation into the matter.

Through a letter dated March 20, 2023, directed to Ministry of Housing and Urban Developments Principal Secretary (PS) Clifford Mamba, the AG states that the decision has been made in accordance with Section 207(8) of the Constitution. Matsebula also states in his letter that the reason the office of the AG took this decision was that he had received a complaint that PS Mambas ministry was in the process of engaging Slomoes Corporation (PTY) Ltd to procure a Technological Solution for Local Government Elections, using a single source procurement method.

The AG further highlights in the letter that he also noted that public funds amounting to E8 million were transferred from Head 60 to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Developments account 242410110061 and it was later transferred by the ministry to Matsapha Town Board. When funds are kept under Head 60, it means they have been kept at the Treasury Department (under the Ministry of Finance) and will be utilised once Parliament approves or gives that directive for the funds to be used for a particular purpose.

I need an explanation for the purpose for which these public funds were kept in Head 60, and why they were transferred to Matsapha Town Board. I write to notify you that I disallow the expenditure for the procurement of the Technological Solution for the local government elections, pending an investigation into the matter, reads the letter in part. Matsebula also states that although this deviation had been approved by the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) , it had come to light that a similar elections management system could be developed by the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).

Therefore, a single source procurement method is not justified. In your letter to the Chief Executive officer (CEO), referenced Dug 3/20 dated July 15, 2022, your ministry made a request for assistance in procuring a Technological Solution for the local government elections and the request was accepted by the CEO of the Royal Science and Technology Park, in their letter to your ministry dated September 19, 2022. However, despite this written agreement between your ministry and the Royal Science and Technology Park, your ministry has neither involved nor consulted the Royal Science and Technology Park, in the tender processes and no feedback has been communicated to them, stated the AG in the letter.

Directive

Matsebula, through the letter, advised the PS to also note that Cabinet Circular Memo reference CPM 3/1/1/1, dated June 21, 2022, entitled, Information Communications and Technology Solutions states that all ICT related solutions shall be implemented through the Royal Science and Technology Park henceforth. This is a Cabinet directive and your ministry was expected to fully comply with it. I hope this provides a reasonable explanation why this expenditure is disallowed, reads the letter.

The AG was reached for comment and he confirmed having written the letter directed to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development PS, disallowing the expenditure for the procurement of the technological solution for the local government election, pending an investigation into the matter. Yes, I know of the letter but I wonder how it has been leaked to you as this is an internal matter under investigation and this might compromise evidence, said the AG.

Board

Matsapha Town Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lucky Sukati said he had not yet seen the letter, despite it being copied to him. I will check with my secretary but nothing to that effect has reached me yet, he said. On the other hand, RSTP CEO Vumile Dlamini said he had not yet received the correspondence, but expected to get it today. I think I will get the correspondence tomorrow (today). I have been busy the whole day today (yesterday), said the CEO.

Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Ministry PS Phesheya Dube, who is among those the AG copied the letter to, shared similar sentiments. I have not yet received the correspondence my brother, I think I will get it tomorrow (today) at work, said Dube. PS Mamba in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone rang unanswered when called several times yesterday.

A WhatsApp message had also been sent to him but he had not responded to it at the time of going to print. The PS had been asked if he had received the letter. Slomoes Corporation Director Lucky Dlamini requested not to respond on the matter. Please contact the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on issues related to elections, he said.

Meanwhile, our sister publication, the Times Sunday, had reported that the minister had a tough time explaining the E12 million tender awarded to Slomoes Corporation for the local government elections. The tender award 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. The company was awarded the tender ahead of the 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.
Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and professional services firm KPMG recently hosted a seminar which discussed the use of the financial instrument in financing startups and new business ventures in the Kingdom.



The seminar titled "Interpreting Convertible Notes" provided key insights on addressing common challenges facing business owners and entrepreneurs, in the likes of raising capital, elaborating on the concept and approach of using and issuing convertible notes in Bahrain as a potential solution for financing.



Several legal specialists and field experts took part in the seminar, including Nicolas Ribollet, Partner and Head of Deal Advisory at KPMG; Dr. Jameel Al Alawi, Senior Legal Advisor at Bahrain EDB; Camille Geadah, Director of Deal Advisory Services at KPMG; Harish Gopinath, Partner & Head of KPMG Enterprise in the MESAC Region; Jarmo Kotiliaine, Chief Strategy and Data Analytics Officer at Tamkeen; Dalal Buhejji, Executive Director - Financial Services at Bahrain EDB; Steven Brown from ASAR; Benjamin OBrien-McQueenie from Trowers & Hamlins; William Reichert from Charles Russell Speechlys; and Suhail Algosaibi, Chairman of Tenmou and & CEO of Falak Consulting.



During the seminar, discussions around convertible bonds were additionally held from a legal and economic point of view. Angel investor Suhail Algosaibi also shared his experience in using the bonds.



Commenting on the sidelines of the seminar, Dr Jamil Al-Alawi, Senior Legal Adviser at the EDB, said: During the discussions we evaluated the use of convertible bonds as an attractive option to raise capital for businesses, especially start-ups and small to medium enterprises across international markets, considering the evolution of the financial instruments over the years into more modern and simplified instruments for businesses to raise capital.



"These bonds play an important role in further enhancing the business-friendly environment in the Kingdom, and we expect them to contribute to easing journey of business owners in raising capital," he added.



Nicolas Ribollet, Deal Advisory Lead Partner at KPMG in Bahrain, said: I am pleased to have worked with the Bahrain EDB on developing publication titled Interpreting Convertible Notes, a useful guide on the newly introduced fund-raising instrument. Bahrains ecosystem and strategic location at the heart of the GCC continues to make it the perfect environment for startups to find all resources to test, launch, grow, and scale to the regional market.



I believe introducing Convertible Notes in the Company Law is a positive step towards facilitating the fund-raising process for startups and private companies, placing Bahrain in the forefront of innovation as the first country in the GCC to have legislated for and allowed convertible notes.



Dr Jarmo Kotiliaine, Chief Strategy and Data Analytics Officer at Tamkeen, said: Its important to have new tools to improve start-up access to financing, which ultimately supports economic diversification. This is especially important for technology-based start-ups, which have financing needs that are often difficult to meet through traditional channels. Having convertible notes expands the menu of options, builds confidence, and offers flexibility. Convertible notes are particularly attractive because of the simplicity and speed of tapping into funding.



Dalal Buhejji, Executive Director of Business Development - Financial Services at Bahrain EDB, said: Through this seminar, we intended to shed light on the importance of alternative means of financing in the growth of SMEs and startups. We are always keen on introducing new tools, such as venture capital funding, crowdfunding, and convertible notes, which encourage the generation of an innovative ecosystem by having varied options of funding available.



In view of the fact that SMEs and startups require different kinds of funding to grow and expand, in parallel, this further contributes to supporting the growth of the private sector as it provides options for investors to diversify their portfolios from traditional investments to non-traditional startups. Convertible notes are a great tool for investors to demonstrate their confidence in the business, thereby creating a sustainable foundation for growth, she added.  TradeArabia News Service
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Treaty of Bretigny (1360)



Answer: England v France



This treaty was signed between Edward III of England and John II of France and marked the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. It followed the Battle of Poitiers (1356) during which the French king had been captured. The French paid a high ransom for the release of their king and gave control of a large part of northwest France to England.



In return, Edward III gave away his claim to the French throne. The peace didn't last, with hostilities breaking out again in 1369.

2. Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)



Answer: Spain & Portugal



This agreement essentially carved up the Americas between Spain and Portugal with results which can still be seen today. An imaginary line was drawn to the west of the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands, with Spain receiving all lands discovered to the west, and Portugal those to the east.



The Portuguese part included the eastern coast of what is now Brazil, which is why Portuguese is the language of Brazil and Spanish that for most of the rest of South America. Of course, the treaty totally ignored the indigenous peoples already living in these regions, and brought an end to civilisations which were well established, such as the Aztecs and the Incas.

3. Peace of Cateau-Cambresis (1559)



France and Spain



Between 1494 and 1559, France and Spain (the Habsburg Empire) fought for control of what is now Italy. By 1558, France had lost major battles against Spain and both countries were suffering financially. France had domestic problems too, including the Huguenots (Protestants) disturbing the Catholic status quo. Under the agreement, Spain remained the dominant nation in the area, although France retained some toeholds, in the form of fortresses, in Turin and other places which are now Italian. Answer:Between 1494 and 1559, France and Spain (the Habsburg Empire) fought for control of what is now Italy. By 1558, France had lost major battles against Spain and both countries were suffering financially. France had domestic problems too, including the Huguenots (Protestants) disturbing the Catholic status quo. Under the agreement, Spain remained the dominant nation in the area, although France retained some toeholds, in the form of fortresses, in Turin and other places which are now Italian.

4. Treaty of Limerick (1691)



Answer: Jacobites and England



The war in Ireland could be described as an overspill of the removal of James II from the English throne and his replacement by Mary II and her husband, William III. This was driven by religion, with James being Catholic and William and Mary being Protestant.



As Ireland was, and still is, a mainly Catholic country, the supporters of James, the Jacobites. used Ireland as a means of attacking England. The major battle, won by the English, was the Battle of the Boyne, in 1690, which was followed by a siege of Limerick.



The Jacobites surrendered and the terms of the treaty allowed them to leave for France, an event known as the 'Flight of the Wild Geese'.

5. Treaty of Rastatt (1714)



Answer: Austria and France



This was one of the treaties which led to the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. Charles VI, the (Austrian) Holy Roman Emperor had been pursuing his claim to the Spanish throne, which was opposed by France. A series of treaties signed at Utrecht had led to the end of much of the fighting, but Charles had been reluctant to relinquish his claim.



Under the Treaty of Rastatt, he ceded his personal claim and a further treaty was signed at Baden a year later in the name of the Holy Roman Empire. Technically, these still didn't end the war as Charles still refused to acknowledge Philip V, of Bourbon, as the king of Spain and the war between the two countries was not officially over until 1720.

6. Treaty of Nystad (1721)



Answer: Sweden and Russia



Sweden's expansion into the Baltic area had caused friction with Russia, who had lost access to the Baltic Sea since Sweden controlled Karelia and the Baltic regions which are now Lithuania and Estonia. Denmark-Norway also had issues with Sweden while Saxony-Poland had lost territory to Sweden. These problems led to the outbreak of the Great Northern War in 1700 and the aggrieved countries joined forces against Sweden.



The death of Charles II of Sweden in 1718, which may have been an assassination or due to enemy fire, left Sweden without effective leadership and the hostilities were ended by the Treaty of Nystad. Russia gained the part of Karelia it needed to access the Baltic and the states on the eastern part of the Baltic also passed to Russia, allowing them to grow in power in the region while Sweden declined.

7. Treaty of Dresden (1745)



Answer: Prussia and Austria



This is the treaty which brought the Second Silesian War to an end although the peace was relatively short-lived as the Third Silesian War broke out in 1756 as part of the Seven Years War. The bone of contention in all three conflicts was the region of Silesia, which is now part of Poland. Austria, led by Archduchess Maria Theresa, considered Silesia to be part of their territory which was occupied by Prussia.



Although three wars were fought, Prussia, with Frederick the Great in control, came out victorious in all three. The Treaty of Dresden confirmed Silesia as Prussian while Prussia agreed to adopt a neutral position in the War of the Austrian Succession.

8. Treaty of Aigun (1858)



Russia and China



Russia was keen to expand its borders to gain access to the River Amur and had encouraged Russian people to settle in the region, which was officially part of China. Between 1850 and 1864, China was dealing with the Taiping Rebellion, and Russia took advantage of this by moving vast numbers of troops into the region.



The assumption was that China would not have the resources to fight on another front, which proved to be the case. Following negotiations, a treaty was signed between Russia and China at the port of Aigun in China on the Amur River.



The left bank was ceded to Russia, giving it the access that they wanted, while China could also use the river for their shipping. Answer:Russia was keen to expand its borders to gain access to the River Amur and had encouraged Russian people to settle in the region, which was officially part of China. Between 1850 and 1864, China was dealing with the Taiping Rebellion, and Russia took advantage of this by moving vast numbers of troops into the region.The assumption was that China would not have the resources to fight on another front, which proved to be the case. Following negotiations, a treaty was signed between Russia and China at the port of Aigun in China on the Amur River.The left bank was ceded to Russia, giving it the access that they wanted, while China could also use the river for their shipping.

9. Treaty of Portsmouth (1905)



Answer: Russia and Japan



US president Theodore Roosevelt was the mediator in this peace treaty which ended the Russo-Japanese War, which had been going on since February 1904. Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, had intended to expand his country's borders even further into China, which threatened the Japanese interests on the Korean peninsula. Japan reacted by opening hostilities, catching Russia ill-prepared. The relatively brief war led to a series of defeats for Russia, and both sides agreed to the American President's offer to negotiate between them.



The treaty was signed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with Russia giving up the lease of Port Arthur, relinquishing its control of parts of Manchuria and recognising Japan's claim to Korea. The disasters of the war, and the Tsar's perceived weakness, were to lead to the Russian Revolution only a few years later.

10. Good Friday Agreement (1998)



Answer: Ireland and UK



Also known as the Belfast Agreement, this complex set of agreements brought an end to the period of discord generally known as 'The Troubles'. The problems of Ireland are complicated and too difficult to go into in depth but centre around religious differences (Catholic and Protestant) and political differences - should Northern Ireland be part of the UK or united with the Republic of Ireland. Thirty years of bloodshed, much of it in Belfast but also in the Republic and on the British mainland, had caused the deaths of many innocent people on both sides of the divide.



The agreement has, for the most part, stopped the violence but not solved the underlying issues.

Source: Author rossian This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI) The Congress on Friday slammed the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre after its MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha as a member and termed it 'vendetta politics'.

The party also said the decision will be challenged.

The Congress parliamentarian from Wayanad was convicted in a defamation case by a court in Gujarat's Surat on Thursday for his alleged "all thieves have Modi surname" remarks at a rally in Karnatakas Kolar in 2019. The court sentenced him to two years in jail. However, he was granted bail.

"The Modi government fears the most from Rahul Gandhi and Congress party. They want to silence those who speak the truth. Countrymen will not tolerate this dictatorship," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, reacting to Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lower House.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said,"The country is witnessing the politics of vendetta being spearheaded by the Modi government against Rahul Gandhi. Today, he has been disqualified. The Modi government and BJP are under the impression that Rahul Gandhi has to be throttled and muzzled because if he is allowed to speak inside the Parliament then the danger will come for them."

He added, "This is a very cruel demonstration of an 'autocrat' government . Democracy cannot survive under the present dispensation. In India, those who are running the government, they do not believe in the principle of democracy."

'From the day Rahul Gandhi ji raised questions about Adani, a conspiracy was initiated to silence his voice. They never allowed him to speak out, which is a clear case of an anti-democratic and dictatorial attitude by the BJP government," senior Congress leader and MP KC Venugopal said.

Defending her brother and the Congress parliamentarian from Wayanad, party's general secretary Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra in a series of tweets wrote, "Why has the BJP come to the rescue of those who looted the country's money? Why is it running away from investigation? Those who are raising questions, cases are filed against them."

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vadra said,"We will never bow down before you. Do whatever you want."

Echoing a similar sentiment, Congress general Secretary in-charge Communications and MP Jairam Ramesh in a tweet wrote, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced.

Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked 'Adani MahaMegaScam', Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti."

Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala also took to the micro-blogging site and wrote, "Today is a 'Black Day' in Democracy ! Today is a 'blot' on Right to Speak !

Today is 'death knell' of calling out 'fugitives and bank fraudsters' ! Today is the day of 'blind revenge' of the PM for asking for JPC into Adani ! Today is the day of fighting for truth and not bowing down".

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters said, "This government is rattled because Rahul Gandhi speaks with facts and figures on demonetisation, GST, and on China issue. It is finding new techniques for throttling his voice. This is done to divert attention from the real issues, and also to send a message to those who dare to question this government."

"Though the conviction is by a court in Rahul Gandhi's case, the disqualification under Article 103 of the Constitution has to be by the President of India. Under the Article, the President has to first before disqualifying Rahul Gandhi take an opinion from the Election Commission. This is not done," the MP claimed.

He added, "We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious."



UNI DS RKM
New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took swipes at the Central government over disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and said the Centre is so scared. Efforts are being made to destroy the country, alleged Kejriwal.

In a speech in the Delhi Assembly House, Kejriwal alleged that a new trend has started after the arrest of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, AAP MLAs were being threatened one after another. Everyone be ready to go to jail, this is what they can do now. We will take care of your families, said he.

Kejriwal said that in his speech Delhi Lieutenant Governor mentioned that his government has done a lot of work in education and health and has done the most development after independence.

He asked who benefited from stopping principals from going abroad by the LG. Amazing work has been done in the field of education. We only worked as facilitators. The real hard work was done by the teachers. This spirit in them came from training abroad. Some principals had to go abroad in December and March, which was stopped by the LG. Who benefited from this?

Kejriwal said the Delhi government did so much good work despite several obstacles created by LG.

Now LG is trying hard to stop electricity subsidy, and we are fighting against it, Kejriwal claimed in the Delhi Assembly House. He offered LG to come together to work for Delhis development.

UNI CM GNK
A veteran Nollywood actor, Kenneth Chinwetalu, popularly known as Aguba, who created a scene when he demanded for a virgin girl from Israel as his wife, has returned to his hometown in Enugu State.

This was disclosed in a post via the verified Facebook page of the Omega Power Ministry, OPM, on Thursday.Aguba, according to the Facebook post, returned to Enugu on Thursday because he desired to be in his hometown.Recall that he was found homeless and brought to Port Harcourt, where the general overseer of the OPM, apostle Chibuzor Chinenye gave him a home and had him medically evaluated and treated.We learnt that the cleric had gotten him an apartment and a caregiver who was placed on monthly allowance.

Quote

Today, 22nd March 2023 the veteran Nollywood actor Kenneth Chinwetalu popularly known as AGUBA returns to his hometown Enugu State.



This is after some months since the general overseer of OPM found him homeless and brought him to Port Harcourt, gave him a home, cared for him, had him medically evaluated and treated him properly.



Now he returns to his hometown, Enugu, where the man of God has gotten him an apartment, a caregiver who Apostle chibuzor placed on monthly allowance and currently looking for a good shop to establish a business for him because Enugu is where he said he desires to be, his hometown,

the post read.
bayonel3 at 24-03-2023 03:19 PM (4 weeks ago) (m)

Nigerians have taken to social media to cause a buzz due to the release of a Hollywood film with the name; Children of the Corn. A movie promotion page announced on 21st of March that the horror flick has officially hit theaters but it got a plethora of response that it never anticipated. Following the announcement, citizens of Nigeria on the microblogging platform, flooded the comment section and asked for the movie to not be brought to the countrys cinemas.

Nigerians have taken to social media to cause a buzz due to the release of a Hollywood film with the name; Children of the Corn. A movie promotion page announced on 21st of March that the horror flick has officially hit theaters but it got a plethora of response that it never anticipated. Following the announcement, citizens of Nigeria on the microblogging platform, flooded the comment section and asked for the movie to not be brought to the countrys cinemas.

The reason for this is because of the word Agbado which is Yoruba for corn, and it was popularized by president-elect, and former APC candidate Bola Tinubu, who talked about how it can be fed to young to-be-recruited soldiers while he was campaigning. It became an internet meme that people used to make jokes and banter online, but the movie release which came after Tinubu won the presidential election caused a sour taste in the mouths of people. While some people saw it as content that can be used to make jokes online, others called for it to be cancelled or banned from the shores of Nigeria.



The reason for this is because of the word Agbado which is Yoruba for corn, and it was popularized by president-elect, and former APC candidate Bola Tinubu, who talked about how it can be fed to young to-be-recruited soldiers while he was campaigning. It became an internet meme that people used to make jokes and banter online, but the movie release which came after Tinubu won the presidential election caused a sour taste in the mouths of people. While some people saw it as content that can be used to make jokes online, others called for it to be cancelled or banned from the shores of Nigeria. Quote @mikkyalat; Is this an hint? Horror keh. Jesu gbawa o



@ose_anenih; Ah. Hollywood don do Children of Agbado horror movie for Nigerians, Dividends of democracy don dey show already.



@kevyndurang; Abeg no carry this movie come naija, my heart is fragile



@chriztool; Cant tell me anything.. Tinubu , sanwo olu and mc oluomo acted this movie .. na even horror movie



j0eeboyyy44; I dont wanna be a child f the corn abeg we fit write petition to cancel the movie



@deshotcaller; Nothing ever really dies in the corn God abeg nau



Lindaed0vue24; This horror film needs to be banned before e give us trauma



@agentnotime; Synopsis: The master of the cornfield has arrived to unleash his terror upon the dis-obedient agbadorians. Who will deliver them from their master? Is it garri or is it eba?



@iamsomcoy; The movie is filled with SUSPENSE, VIOLENCE, DISENFRANCHISEMENT and RIGGING as directed by me, yall go watch it



__yungpablo50447; My heart is already beating fast, this movie must be banned before e reac ou cinema, abeg.



When the movie page saw the type of comments netizens were dropping, it asked; Why are Nigerians reacting to this movie differently Care to explain?

Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. [email protected] Posted: at 24-03-2023 03:19 PM (4 weeks ago) | Hero
China, Russia Target Audiences Online With Deep Fakes, Replica Front Pages

By Liam Scott March 23, 2023

Looking directly into the camera, the news anchor speaks of the importance of U.S-Chinese cooperation in supporting the global economy.

At first glance, the woman appears to be presenting a regular newscast. But neither the broadcaster nor the Wolf News branding on the video is real. It's a deep fake, generated by artificial intelligence.

Viewers who look closely may see a few clues that something is off. The voice sounds unnatural and it doesn't sync with the movement of the mouth.

The video is one of two that appeared on social media in posts that seemed to promote the interests of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), New York-based research firm Graphika said in a report last month.

Advancements with generative AI tools have sparked concerns about the technology's capacity to create and disseminate disinformation at an unprecedented scale. The fake news anchors feed into those concerns.

Those technological advancements come as a February report from the European Union describes the multipronged approach China and Russia are taking to try to control narratives about everything from foreign policy to the war in Ukraine.

The use of fake news anchors themselves wasn't the most surprising aspect for Tyler Williams, director of investigations at Graphika. In 2018, The Guardian reported that China's state-run news outlet Xinhua had presented the world's first AI news anchor.

Still, Williams told VOA, "we were initially surprised to see it within this context."

Graphika came across the news anchor deep fakes on platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube while monitoring pro-China disinformation operations that the research firm has dubbed "spamouflage."

First identified in 2019, spamouflage refers to an extensive network of Beijing-linked accounts that disseminate pro-China propaganda.

"We've been tracking this spamouflage IO [influence operation] campaign for several years now," Williams said. "And this is the first time we've seen this campaign use this kind of technique or technology."

A spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Washington told VOA the Graphika report "is full of prejudice and malicious speculations" that "China firmly opposes."

"In recent years, some Western media and think tanks have slandered China's use of fake social media accounts to spread so-called 'pro-China' information," the spokesperson said via email. "China believes that every social media user has the right to voice his or her own voice."

Multiple bodies, however, have documented how China censors social media and even jails users who criticize the government.

Trust erosion

The skill and efficiency with which AI can generate disinformation is particularly worrying to Williams.

"The bigger concern is just the continued erosion of trust a whether it's news media, or news published on social media platforms. That level of authenticity is more and more in question as we see this scale up, which we assume it will," he said. "To me, that's the primary concern. Do we end up in this final, zero-trust, cynical environment where everything is fake?"

"That's kind of a doomsday scenario," Williams quickly added. These developments shouldn't be blown out of proportion yet, he cautioned.

Currently, the technology is far from being perfected, according to Bill Drexel, who researches artificial intelligence at the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington.

"When I saw the videos initially, I thought it was almost humorous because they didn't go with a particularly high-quality deep fake," he told VOA. "But it's kind of a dark omen of things to come, as far as disinformation abroad goes."

"China's kind of infamous for its foreign disinformation being tone deaf and often counterproductive," Drexel said.

But China is not alone in using technology for disinformation.

The EU External Action Service report focused on Russian and Chinese disinformation and found that Moscow was supporting disinformation operations that impersonate international media outlets.

The study analyzed a sample of 100 cases of what it terms "information manipulation" from October through December. With 60 examples tied to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow's aim is to distract audiences, deflect blame or direct attention to different topics, the report found.

"This war is not only conducted on the battlefield by the soldiers, it is waged in the information space trying to win the hearts and minds of the people," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a February speech. "We have plenty of evidence that Russia is behind coordinated attempts to manipulate public debates in open societies."

Print and TV media are the most frequent targets of Moscow's impersonation, in particular when targeting Ukraine.

The report cited four cases where fake cover pages imitating European satirical magazines were created to attack Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Nobody is off limits from seeing their identity or brand misused," the report said. "Threat actors use impersonation to add legitimacy to their messages and to reach and affect audiences familiar with and trusting the impersonated entities."

The Russian Embassy in Washington did not reply to VOA's email requesting comment.

The spoofing strategy is rudimentary, but disinformation doesn't need to be sophisticated to be effective, said Nika Aleksejeva, who researches Russian disinformation at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab.

Sometimes the basics work better, she said.

Attributing fake stuff to media outlets makes the lies more plausible. The aim is to make readers think, "'If this legitimate media outlet wrote about it, it must be true,'" Aleksejeva said.

This strategy is particularly effective because when readers click around on the fake pages, they'll be brought back to the real news site, according to Aleksejeva.

"It takes more vigilance from a reader to actually notice that something is off," she told VOA from Latvia's capital, Riga.

Aleksejeva is also concerned about how generative AI could be used to supercharge disinformation campaigns. Now, she said, it's as easy as feeding an AI tool some details and asking for a story.

"The volume will definitely change," she said. "It's just so much easier to invent a story."

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Slovakia receives offer of 12 new AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters from the United States of America

Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic

22.03.2023

Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad confirmed that one part of the announced compensation for transferring to Ukraine of thirteen retired Slovak Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrums, which are unusable in Slovakia, and some of the "Kub" (SA-6 "Gainful") air defence system's assets is related to the U.S. offer to Slovakia of 12 new AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters along with associated accessories, the training of pilots and technicians, and sophisticated AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said: "This offer is hugely advantageous and will significantly increase Slovakia's defence potential. Currently, we have no combat helicopters, so it would be a completely new combat capability."

The value of this package is estimated at more than $1bn. Of this, some $660m will be provided to Slovakia from the U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Programme. Under the deal, Slovakia will pay $340m from the Defence budget over the next 3-4 years.

The head of the SVK MOD repeatedly said that a number of countries were interested in the said equipment, whereas he took the U.S. offer to Slovakia very positively. He noted that the move could also be perceived as indirect compensation from the U.S. Government for the announced delay in the delivery of the F-16 Fighting Falcons Slovakia ordered for the Slovak Air Force.

Both sides are ready to sign a U.S.-SVK intergovernmental agreement regarding the offer once Slovakia has handed its MiG-29 Fulcrum fleet and some of its "Kub" (SA-6 "Gainful") air defence system's assets over to Ukraine.

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Washington Guard Trains with Royal Thai Army Counterparts

By Joseph Siemandel, Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National Guard March 23, 2023

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. -- Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, Bear and Cobra companies, recently learned how to survive in a jungle as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2023.

"The Soldiers were partnered with a Royal Thai Army platoon throughout the two-week exercise. One week was dedicated to urban training and one to jungle training," said Washington National Guard Capt. Ken Pfeifle, commander for Bear Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment. "Although each day had its individual training objectives, the 'big picture goal' was to build interoperability with the Royal Thai Army and solidify our partnership, building the lasting bonds of friendship."

The two exercise blocks ran concurrently, with soldiers from each company participating in jungle and urban training. During the urban block, Guard members conducted military operations in urban terrain operations, short-range marksmanship, counter-improvised explosive device training, room-clearing and a Thai-led combat field exercise.

Jungle training consisted of a squad tactical exercise, knocking out a bunker, clearing a wire obstacle, and tactical combat casualty care, weapons knowledge exchange, a known-distance range, and the bilateral squad live-fire exercise. One Royal Thai Army team and one U.S. Army team executed the live-fire exercise with alternating squad leaders, focusing on the basics of fire and maneuver.

"We were uniquely qualified for this, thanks to our recent mobilization to Poland as part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence mission," said Pfeifle. "This training helped us emphasize communication techniques for lift and shift fire, controlling rates of fire and marksmanship. It was the one event that the Royal Thai Army and U.S. soldiers truly worked as one element, built cohesion and fostered trust."

The jungle survival class, hosted by the Royal Thai Army, was the highlight for many soldiers. They learned how to find food and water in the jungle, make rope with vegetation, start a fire, filter water, and deal with snakes in the wild.

"Some of the soldiers were squeamish and some were stoic, but all were mesmerized by the demonstration," said Pfeifle. "It was certainly a highlight no one will forget."

Throughout the two-week exercise, Guard members shared their expertise and knowledge with their Royal Thai Army counterparts and with members of the active Army who also participated in Cobra Gold 23.

"Throughout the exercise, we consistently impressed our active-duty higher headquarters with our professionalism, tactical and technical expertise and the diversity of capabilities we bring to the table," said Pfeifle. "None more notable than when their leadership visited the shoot-house during the second week on training."

During Bear Company's first day at the shoot-house facility, the lights were not working. Sgt. Brandon Myer, an electrician by trade, jumped into action and had the lights on within 10 minutes.

"On top of fixing the lights in the shoot-house, the VIPs in attendance were blown away with our work with the Royal Thai Army," said Pfeifle.

While the praise from active and multinational partners was nice for his soldiers, Pfeifle said the relationships his team built were most important.

"This mission was successful because we invested in building friendships at the individual and unit level to bolster our partnership with the Royal Thai Army," said Pfeifle. "It is simple things like trading patches and sharing knowledge, but it makes a difference and makes each of us stronger."

The Washington National Guard and Thailand have been partners in the State Partnership Program since 2002. The 30-year-old Department of Defense National Guard Bureau program now has 100 partners around the world.

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March 23, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Milley Tells House Panel Joint Force Is at 'Inflection Point'

The United States joint force is at an inflection point, Army Gen. Mark A. Milley told the House Appropriations defense subcommittee today.

The joint forces "must balance current operations' readiness with future modernization, and must not allow ourselves to create the false trap that we can either modernize or focus only on today: We must do both," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The U.S. military must fully integrate developing technologies, including precision long-range fires, hypersonic weapons, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, robotics and pervasive all-domain sensors. "The time is now, and we have very little margin to waste," the general said.

The chairman essentially told the committee not to rob Peter to pay Paul. The U.S. joint force today is "the most lethal and capable military in the world," he said. "Our troops are the best lead, best equipped and best trained force anywhere because of your support."

The U.S. military must be ready to fight and win in all domains of conflict, the chairman said. This idea is at the heart of all deterrence. "Our priorities are simple: Maintain high states of readiness while simultaneously modernizing for the future operating environment and taking care of our people and their families," he said. "Our end-state is that America is secure, and great power war is prevented. Readiness now and readiness in the future through modernization is our No. 1 priority. And there is no other No. 1."

Milley said the international rules-based structure that has kept great power peace since the end of World War II is under stress. "For the first time in the nation's history, the United States is facing two major nuclear powers whose vital national security interests are in competition with the United States," he said. "Both the People's Republic of China and Russia have the means to threaten our interests and our way of life. But war with Russia or China is neither inevitable nor imminent."

The fiscal 2024 defense budget request "is driven by our strategy and deters war. This budget maintains our capabilities," the general said. "It maintains our strengths, our high levels of readiness now, and it prepares us for the future."

China is the pacing challenge. "The PRC intends to be the regional hegemon in the western Pacific and Asia within the next 10 years and exceed the United States' overall military capability by 2049," Milley said.

Russia is an acute threat and remains dangerous, he said. Russia's illegal and unprovoked war against Ukraine threatens peace on the European continent and global stability. "We are supporting Ukraine and its fight to protect its sovereignty and supporting our NATO allies with the United States forward presence in every single nation on NATO's eastern flank," he said. "This fight is not just in Ukraine's interest, it is in the U.S. interest to protect the system that has prevented great power war for eight decades."

Iran continues to disturb the peace in the Middle East by continuing its support for terrorists and proxy forces. "Also, Iran is taking actions to improve its capabilities to produce a nuclear weapon," the general said. "The United States remains committed, as a matter of policy, that Iran will not have a fielded, nuclear weapon. And we, the United States military, have developed multiple options for our national leadership to consider if, or when, Iran ever decides to develop an actual nuclear weapon."

Milley told the lawmakers that U.S. military operational readiness rates are higher now than they've been in many years. "There are 10,330 units in the United States military, with 4,680 of them are active duty," he said. "Sixty percent of our active-duty force is at the highest states of readiness right now and could deploy to combat in less than 30 days; 10 percent could deploy to combat in less than 96 hours.

"This military is ready," Milley said. "We are prepared to fight now, and we will continue to be prepared to fight in the future."

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Madrid, Mar 24 (UNI) The UK-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will invest more than 800 million euros ($871 million) and create about 1,000 jobs for specialists of various profiles within five years in its new research and development center in Barcelona, Spanish media reported.

Barcelona has recently become a strategic location for AstraZeneca, especially after the company opened a clinical trials hub there together with Alexion, a group company specializing precisely in rare diseases, in late 2022, having invested 32 million euros in it, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Wednesday.

AstraZeneca and Alexion are currently seeking to combine capabilities and create the hub to find new treatments in five areas: oncology; cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases; respiratory diseases; vaccines and immunotherapies; and rare diseases, according to the report.

The new center will reportedly be located in offices that already house Alexion's rare disease center, which currently employs about 90 people.

AstraZeneca's investment plan for the coming years aims to increase the resources allocated to Spain. In 2021, this multinational corporation, which launched one of the vaccines against COVID-19, invested over 93 million euros in innovative projects in the country, of which 48 million were allocated to research and development. In the last fiscal year, AstraZeneca increased its total investment in the country to about 400 million euros.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
March 23, 2023

By Dave Vergun , DOD News

Generals Discuss Hemispheric Challenges, Solutions

The two combatant commanders of the Western Hemisphere testified on national and regional security at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today.

Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commander, U.S. Southern Command and Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said Russia and China are meddling in Western Hemisphere affairs.

"While the United States military remains the most powerful and professional force in history, we have to account for the recent erosion of military advantage and take actions now to invest in modernization, implement innovative processes, prioritize our personnel and civilian hiring practices and increase agile decision-making at all levels," VanHerck said.

Russia and China have the capability and intent to hold the United States at risk to achieve their strategic objectives, he added.

Those nations have fielded cruise missiles, delivery platforms and nonkinetic capabilities to hold at risk critical military and civilian infrastructure in the United States and Canada, he said.

"Those capabilities allow them to strike with limited warning and significant consequences. Limited warning, due to a lack of all-domain awareness, inherently limits the decision space and options available to our national leaders, which increases the risk of miscalculation and escalation," he said, referring to the domains of air, land, sea, space and cyber.

To address these threats, VanHerck said his four strategic priorities have been domain awareness, information dominance, decision superiority and global integration.

Those priorities are critical to successfully defending the homeland and to providing national leaders with time to formulate deterrence options and, if required, defend and defeat options, he said.

There's been some notable progress toward these key priorities, he said, including development of over-the-horizon radars that will significantly improve air, maritime and space domain awareness and the ability to detect and track threats well before they reach North America.

"But we need to go faster. An acquisition plan based on more than a decade is too long," he said.

Both the Defense Department and the Canadian Department of National Defense have committed to funding over-the-horizon radar capabilities, he noted.

Likewise, Space Force's investment in advanced space-based warning capabilities and the Navy's commitment to modernizing the integrated undersea surveillance system are vital to the homeland defense mission, he said.

"Continued progress will require the department and Congress to accept some risk by prioritizing modernization and innovation over maintaining obsolete platforms, organizations and infrastructure and occasionally accepting failure as part of the process," VanHerck said.

Also, the department must invest in civilian and military personnel recruiting, hiring and retention, he said.

Additionally, the department must continue to build on its advantages that come through our international alliances and partnerships, he said.

Richardson said no region impacts the United States more directly than the Western Hemisphere.

"This region, our shared neighborhood, is under assault from a host of crosscutting, transboundary challenges that directly threaten our homeland," she said.

Nations in the Western Hemisphere are feeling the impacts of external interference and coercion, she said. China continues to expand its economic, diplomatic, technological, informational and military influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, Richardson said.

China has expanded its ability to extract resources and gets 36% of its food imports from the region and 75% of its lithium from South America. China also leads the hemisphere in illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing, raiding the fish of coastal countries and costing an enormous profit loss, she said.

Also, China has also established ports in multiple countries, manipulated governments through predatory investment practices, and built potential dual-use space facilities, she said.

Russia and China bolster authoritarian regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and continue to have an extensive disinformation campaign in the region, she said.

Both China and Russia exploit the presence of transnational criminal organizations and amplify their destabilizing impacts on democratic governments, she said.

"We must use all available levers to strengthen our partnerships with the 28 like-minded democracies in the region, who understand the power of working together to counter these shared threats," Richardson said.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina: Statement by the Spokesperson on the defamation law in Republika Srpska

European External Action Service (EEAS)

23.03.2023

Brussels

EEAS Press Team

The European Union regrets that the Republika Srpska National Assembly today voted in favour of amendments to the Republika Srpska criminal code reintroducing criminal penalties for defamation. These legislative changes would impose unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on independent media and civil society.

The European Council granted candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2022.Candidate status comes with high expectations. In its recommendation for granting candidate status, the Commission has defined steps that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to address. One of these was strengthening freedom of expression and freedom of the media

Today's decision is a clear step in the wrong direction and has a chilling effect on media freedom in Republika Srpska. It also puts into question the strategic commitment of the ruling parties in Republika Srpska to Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the European Union.

If the law is finally adopted, it will severely impact the environment for civil society (key priority 11) and the freedom of expression and of the media (key priority 12) in Republika Srpska. It will mean a regrettable and undeniable major step backwards in the protection of fundamental rights.

The EU urges the Republika Srpska entity to withdraw the amendments and to ensure full protection of freedom of expression and of the media.

Fulfilling the key priorities set out in the Commission Opinion is a precondition for Bosnia and Herzegovina to open EU accession negotiations.

The EU expects all authorities to work constructively to address the 14 key priorities, for the benefit of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.



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President of the Republic decides on Finland's accession to Nato

Finnish Government

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

23.3.2023

On 23 March 2023, President of the Republic Sauli Niinisto decided that Finland would commit itself to the North Atlantic Treaty and the Ottawa Agreement, which were accepted by Parliament on 1 March 2023. The presenting minister was Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. The President of the Republic also confirmed the acts bringing into force the Treaty and the Agreement.

On 23 March 2023, the President of the Republic decided on Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by approving Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty. The North Atlantic Treaty is NATO's founding treaty and defines the principles governing the activities of the Alliance and the obligations of its members.

Finland will become a member of NATO once:

all NATO member states have ratified Finland's accession;

Finland has been invited to join NATO by NATO Secretary General; and

Finland's instrument of accession, signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, has been deposited with the Government of the United States. The Government of the United States is the depositary for the North Atlantic Treaty.

So far, 28 out of 30 NATO member states have ratified Finland's accession. Ratifications by Turkiye and Hungary are still pending. Finland's goal is that both Finland and Sweden, having applied for membership in NATO at the same time, will become members of NATO as soon as possible.

At the same presidential session, the President of the Republic decided on the signing and ratification of the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, National Representatives and International Staff, also known as the Ottawa Agreement. The Ottawa Agreement is an agreement on the status of NATO as a legal person and on the privileges and immunities of NATO staff. The Ottawa Agreement will be signed on Finland's behalf after Finland has become a member of NATO. The instrument of ratification for the Ottawa Agreement will be deposited with the Government of the United States.

The President of the Republic also confirmed the acts bringing into force the North Atlantic Treaty and the Ottawa Agreement and incorporating them into Finnish legislation. The acts will be promulgated by a Government Decree once the Treaty and the Agreement enter into force for Finland.

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Statement by Foreign Minister Huitfeldt on the volatile situation in Israel and Palestine

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 23/03/2023

'As we enter holiday seasons for Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, the situation in Israel and Palestine is fragile. I urge all actors to refrain from statements and actions that fuel tensions, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt.'

'In this regard, I strongly deplore the recent statements made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, claiming that there is no Palestinian people. Such claims are unacceptable, and we encourage the Israeli Government to distance itself from this statement. It is also important that Israel makes it clear that it respects the territorial integrity of neighbouring states.'

'I remain deeply concerned about the level of violence in the West Bank, and other actions and measures taken by the Israeli Government against the Palestinian people, including the repeal of the Disengagement Law. I am encouraged by the recent Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh summits, and call on all parties to implement the agreed measures without further delay.'

'Norway values its longstanding friendship with both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples. I wish all Israelis and Palestinians a peaceful holiday season' , said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.



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NATO Secretary General welcomes multinational fleet of tanker transport

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

23 Mar. 2023

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today (23 March 2023) welcomed the launch of a Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft fleet that is "now ready for a full range of missions" at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands.

The Secretary General attended a ceremony to mark the initial operational capability of the aircraft fleet, together with Dutch Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and officials from five other nations participating in the project: Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Luxembourg and Norway.

"These aircraft will provide us with world-class air-to-air refuelling, air transport and air medical evacuation capabilities. Tanker aircraft is the backbone of Allied air power," Mr Stoltenberg said. "Most importantly, the fleet has already proven its value. Since Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, these tanker transport aircraft have helped to protect NATO's eastern flank," he added.

Last year alone, the fleet flew more than 500 missions, refuelling hundreds of NATO fighter jets to keep Allied airspace safe. These aircraft have also supported the evacuation of civilians and refugees from Afghanistan, deployed to the Indo-Pacific for exercises with key NATO partners, including Australia, and later this year, they will deploy to the Middle East to support operations against ISIS.

The European Defence Agency, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency worked together to develop this state-of-the-art fleet.

"This is an excellent example of how NATO and the EU are working together to deliver critical capabilities for our members," Mr Stoltenberg said. "This also demonstrates that European Allies are stepping up for their defence and strengthening our shared security," he concluded.

Currently, seven aircraft from the fleet are in service. Two more are expected to join in 2024, with the tenth aircraft scheduled for delivery at the end of 2026.

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NATO Allies reaffirm support to Georgia and stress importance of continuing reforms

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

23 Mar. 2023

The NATO-Georgia Commission met on Thursday (23 March 2023), with the participation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili.

The meeting provided an opportunity "to review the role and significance of our partnership with Georgia following a turbulent year, where the very premises of the European security architecture are being challenged in word and deed by Russia, to exchange views on the direction and pace of Georgia's reform efforts - within the context of the country's Annual National Programme - and to address regional security issues," NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said.

NATO Allies reiterated their continued support to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its international recognized borders. They reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for the Alliance, as highlighted in NATO's Strategic Concept. They also welcomed Georgia's long-standing contributions to Euro-Atlantic security and underlined the importance attached to the partnership between NATO and Georgia, through political dialogue and practical cooperation on a wide range of areas, within the enhanced Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.

NATO Allies took note of the steps undertaken by Georgia with respect to its ambitious reform programme, including the recent withdrawal of the "foreign agents" law. They urged the Georgian authorities to implement in full the agreed reforms, to uphold the rule of law and fundamental human rights, and to overcome the continued challenge posed by domestic political polarisation. Allies stressed that these steps are key to safeguard the well-being of all citizens of Georgia, to bolster the country's resilience and security, and to boost the process of Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.



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US deploys troops to face 'threat' of Russia and China: Report

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 9:31 PM

The Pentagon has started rearranging US troops and military equipment across the globe as a counter-force against Russian and Chinese forces.

The US military command is sending advanced aircraft to Europe and the Pacific, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said the Pentagon will move the military's decades-old A-10 attack planes to the Middle East to replace the more advanced aircraft it is shifting from there to Europe and the Pacific.

The redeployment of the aircraft, which is expected to take place in the upcoming weeks, will mean that the US will reserve more sophisticated aircraft to counter what Pentagon perceives as new threats from Russia and China, while the older planes are considered enough to protect any US interests in the Middle East.

"The imperative is to get the most suitable aircraft to the Pacific for the higher threat challenges," the WSJ quoted retired US Air Force major general Larry Stutzriem as saying. The US and some of its allies have expressed concern at possible Chinese military expansionism in the Pacific region.

Washington perceives China as its "pacing threat," per National Defense Review documents released by the Pentagon last year - effectively meaning that the US sees the Asian nation as a rival to its "interests and values," according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

In the same documents, Russia was described as an "acute threat." US and Russian jet fighter aircraft regularly fly over Syria - with the WSJ citing US officials describing the Russian forces as "increasingly aggressive."

Following the US military pullout from Afghanistan in 2021, American troops have maintained a small, yet notable, presence of naval and ground forces in the Middle East, concentrated in Iraq and its neighboring countries.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon chief announced Washington's plan to maintain its military presence in Iraq which began with the US invasion of the Arab country in 2003 and continues for the 20 years since, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead.

"The United States will continue to strengthen and broaden our partnership in support of Iraqi security, stability, and sovereignty," Austin said during a surprise visit to the Iraq capital, Baghdad.

Since the US-led forces ousted the former regime in Iraq, the country has been self-governed under a power-sharing system. The US withdrew its forces in 2011, claiming it had ended its combat mission in Iraq; however, some 2,500 US troops still remain inside the Arab country on what Washington describes as an "advisory" mission. Austin, who was a former head of US military troops in the Middle East, claimed in 2011 that the US forces had achieved their military objectives in the region.

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Yemeni armed forces hold drills on eighth anniversary of Saudi-led war

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 6:18 AM

The Yemeni Armed Forces have staged drills marking nine years of a Saudi-US war on the country, with Yemen's defense ministry warning the coalition of severe repercussions if the aggression continues.

The military maneuver dubbed "Withstanding the Aggression" simulated an attack on a group of targets in a variety of terrains, including mountainous, desert-like and forested areas.

All military units of the infantry forces, units graduated from military courses, and combat support forces of various specializations including engineering, air defense, missile force and combat support services participated in the maneuver.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense and the Yemeni Chiefs of Staff warned that Yemen's response to new attacks would be surprising, telling the Saudi-led coalition to take the warning seriously.

"The sovereignty of our homeland and our wealth is a legitimate right that cannot be bargained upon, and we will sacrifice everything in order to defend it," Yemeni Minister of Defense Major General Muhammad Nasser al-Atifi and Chief of the Yemeni General Staff Major General Muhammad Abdul-Karim al-Ghamari said in a joint statement.

They issued the statement on the advent of Ramadan, calling for "the month of goodness to be the beginning to prove the good will of all those who claim to be peace advocates."

"Our people will not accept the presence of a foreign occupier in any part of its geography, on land or at sea," the statement said. "The coalition of aggression and its sponsors must take our warnings seriously."

The drill and the warning come as the Saudi-led coalition continues attacks on Yemeni civilians, including women and children.

The war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands in Yemen. On Wednesday, the Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights and the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood announced that nearly 1.5 million civilians have died indirectly as a result of the use of prohibited weapons, the spread of diseases, and the siege imposed on Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition.

"The aggression and siege for eight years caused the poverty rate to rise to 95 percent and the unemployment rate to more than 65 percent," it said.

The blockade has exacerbated the suffering and caused severe food insecurity for more than 16 million people, it added.

Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood Akhlaq al-Shami censured the inaction of the international community.

"International organizations have mentioned more than once the tragic humanitarian situation in Yemen, but that did not move a finger and did not push them to carry out their responsibilities," he said.

Saudi Arabia and its allies launched the devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 with armed and logistical support from their Western partners, leaving hundreds of thousands of Yemenis dead.

The war has also displaced millions of people, rendering them homeless, destroying the country's infrastructure and spawning the contemporary age's worst humanitarian catastrophe.

The most recent truce, which began in April 2022, had rekindled hopes of peace, but the Saudi-led coalition breached the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

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Chinese military says warned US warship to leave South China Sea

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 5:43 AM

China's military says it monitored and drove away a US warship that had illegally entered waters around the South China Sea.

The military said on Thursday that US guided-missile destroyer Milius illegally intruded into China's territorial waters, around the Paracel Islands.

"The theater forces will maintain a high state of alert at all times and take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security and peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Tian Junli, a spokesman for China's Southern Theater Command.

The incident happened amid growing tensions in the region with the rise of Washington's military activities in the Asia-Pacific.

The US navy said the Chinese military statement saying it drove away the US destroyer was false.

"The USS Milius is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea and was not expelled. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows," a statement from the US Navy 7th Fleet said.

The "intrusion" comes after the US launched anti-submarine drills with Canada, India, Japan, and South Korea on Wednesday.

The drill, dubbed Sea Dragon 23, will culminate in more than 270 hours of in-flight training "ranging from tracking simulated targets to the final problem of tracking a US Navy submarine," the US navy said.

The US also announced earlier this month that it will hold the largest joint military exercises ever with the Philippines next month.

The drill would include, for the first time, live-fire exercises in the South China Sea and a simulated defense of a tiny Philippine island nearly 300 kilometers south of Taiwan.

China has expressed concerns over US drilling in the Asia-Pacific.

President Xi Jinping and his newly appointed Foreign Minister Qin Gang both used strong language last week, condemning the US for preserving a "Cold War mentality."

The US navy regularly sends its warships to what Beijing regards as its territorial waters, but Washington calls them freedom of navigation operations.

The fresh muscle-flexing by the US comes after President Xi paid a high-profile visit to Russia, signing an agreement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to bring their ties into a "new era" of cooperation.

The talks were intended to cement the "no limits" partnership the two leaders announced last February.

A joint statement said Washington is undermining global stability and NATO is barging into the Asia-Pacific region.

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President of Finland Signs Law on Country's Accession to NATO

Sputnik News

20230323

HELSINKI (Sputnik) - Finnish President Sauli Niinisto signed a low on the country's accession to NATO during a meeting of the government on Thursday, as broadcast by national media.

The Finnish parliament approved the bill on Wednesday. Niinisto's signing has finalized the ratification of the country's application to the alliance at the national level.

Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022, several months after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. However, both of their membership bids were blocked by Turkiye, which accused Stockholm and Helsinki of leniency toward "terrorists," referring to several Kurdish organizations with a presence in the Nordic countries. Turkiye subsequently lifted its objections after the Madrid summit in June 2022, where a security memorandum that unblocked the process of accession to the alliance was signed.

The accession process came once more to a standstill for Sweden in January following the Quran-burning incident in Stockholm. Erdogan said the country should not count on Ankara's support for its NATO bid, but expressed no reservations regarding Finland's bid.

 Sputnik

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Pyongyang, Mar 24 (UNI) North Korea tested the Haeil underwater drone capable of carrying nuclear weapons and launched a test warhead without nuclear charge from it in the Sea of Japan, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.

The drone was deployed for a drill off the coast of Riwon County on Tuesday, reached the target point in the waters of Hongwon Bay, and detonated the warhead on Thursday, the report noted, adding that the drone moved at a depth of 80 to 150 meters (from 262 to 492 feet) in the Sea of Japan for 59 hours and 12 minutes.

The weapon is designed to create a radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy enemy naval groups, the report read.

Pyongyang also confirmed the testing of two Hwasal-1 and two Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles which were equipped with warheads simulating nuclear ones, the report said.

The news agency added that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised weapon tests conducted in response to joint US-South Korean military exercises.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Chinese Military Accuses US Destroyer of Illegal Intrusion Into Waters of Paracel Islands

Sputnik News

20230323

BEIJING (Sputnik) - American guided missile destroyer USS Milius entered the waters of the disputed Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands, in the South China Sea without notifying China, Tian Junli, a spokesperson of People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, said on Thursday.

"The US guided missile destroyer USS Milius illegally entered the territorial waters of the Chinese Xisha Islands on March 23 without the permission of the Chinese government, thereby undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea," Tian said in a statement on WeChat.

PLA's navy grouping of the Southern Theater Command escorted the US vessel and warned it to leave the area, the spokesperson added.

Tian also noted that the troops of the Southern Theater Command will continue to maintain a high level of combat readiness and take all necessary measures to resolutely protect national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Beijing has long been disputing ownership of several hydrocarbon-rich islands in the South China Sea with several Asia-Pacific countries. The territories include the Paracel archipelago, the Spratly Islands, and the Scarborough Shoal.

In July 2016, following a lawsuit filed by the Philippines, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China had no grounds for territorial claims in the South China Sea. According to the court, the disputed territories of the Spratly archipelago are not considered as islands in the legal sense, but rather rocks or low-tide elevations which do not form an exclusive economic zone. Beijing, in turn, said that it did not consider the decision of the court valid and did not recognize it.

The situation in the sea region is often complicated by the passage of US warships, which, according to Beijing, violate international law and undermine China's sovereignty and security. Washington has said that US forces will continue to operate wherever international law allows, including the South China Sea.

 Sputnik

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Fourth Anniversary of the Global Coalition's Territorial Defeat of Daesh/ISIS in Syria and Iraq

Press Statement

Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson

March 23, 2023

Fourth Anniversary of the Global Coalition's Territorial Defeat of Daesh/ISIS in Syria and Iraq

Four years ago, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS and its local partners liberated the final stretch of territory controlled by Daesh/ISIS in Baghuz, Syria, a major milestone in the ongoing effort to ensure the terrorist group's lasting defeat. The United States recognizes and commends the bravery and sacrifice of those who endured the hard-fought battles against Daesh/ISIS and continue to work to ensure it cannot resurge. In their honor and for the stability and security of the region, we continue to take the necessary steps to remove key Daesh/ISIS leaders from the battlefield, facilitate the repatriation and return of Daesh/ISIS fighters and associated family members, and stabilize liberated areas. This includes our military mission in Syria by, with, and through our local partners including the Syrian Democratic Forces, and our advise, assist, and enable role at the invitation of the Iraqi Security Forces, which remain firmly in the lead on countering Daesh/ISIS in Iraq. The mission of the Global Coalition in Iraq and Syria is not complete and requires the ongoing support of the international community. We continue to support and urge our partners to join us in provision of stabilization assistance including essential services, education, and livelihoods to encourage IDP returns and support youth rehabilitation programming to prevent Daesh/ISIS exploitation and recruitment of this vulnerable population in Iraq and Syria, as well as support for the secure and humane detention of the ten thousand ISIS fighters remaining in Syrian Democratic Forces custody. We also remain focused on urgently identifying and advancing solutions for the tens of thousands of Syrian, Iraqi, and third country nationals who remain in the al-Hol and Roj displaced persons camps, many of whom are family members of Daesh/ISIS fighters.

The United States and Global Coalition members continue our cooperation to prevent Daesh/ISIS from preying upon and benefitting from the vulnerable populations in these camps, most of whom are innocent children. The repatriation and return of camp residents to their areas of origin or alternatively safe locations is the only durable, long-term solution to these challenges. The United States remains dedicated to this cause, leading by example through the repatriation of U.S. citizens. We stand ready to help other countries with the logistics of repatriation, and the sharing of our expertise to facilitate rehabilitation, reintegration, and, when appropriate, prosecution. While much work remains, we welcome the increased pace of repatriations in 2022. Over 3,000 foreign nationals were repatriated from northeast Syria, a total that equals the combined total from the three prior years. In particular, we commend the Government of Iraq for the repatriation of nearly 5,000 of its nationals from the al-Hol camp so far since 2021.

As we celebrate the territorial defeat of Daesh/ISIS, the United States remains firmly committed to working through the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS and its partners to ensure the terrorist group's enduring defeat in the Middle East and its affiliates operating in Africa, Central Asia, and anywhere it seeks a foothold.

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Joint Statement on the U.S.-Moldova Strategic Dialogue

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

March 23, 2023

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Moldova.

Begin Text:

On March 15, 2023, the Governments of the United States of America (United States) and the Republic of Moldova (Moldova) held the Moldova-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in Chisinau. The event included political consultations led by the Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu and U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dereck Hogan.

The United States and Moldova welcomed the significant progress achieved on bilateral priorities since the last Strategic Dialogue in Washington in April 2022. They noted developments in various areas of cooperation, including justice sector and anti-corruption reforms, human rights, promoting a pluralistic media environment and rights-respecting media policies to counter disinformation, energy diversification and resilience, defense modernization and transformation, civil protection, border management, cyber security, countering cross-border threats, combating illicit trafficking in weapons and ammunition, countering proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related materials, humanely addressing the needs of refugees, and expanding people-to-people ties. The dialogue also underscored the significance of President Sandu's meeting with President Biden in Warsaw in February 2023 and visit to Washington, D.C., in December 2022, in deepening and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The United States and Moldova have built a strategic partnership and close ties for over 30 years. That partnership has grown even deeper as Moldova manages the repercussions of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine. The United States stands together with Moldova by supporting its long-term democratic and economic reform efforts, as well as its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two countries addressed the economic, energy, security, defense, and humanitarian impacts to Moldova of Russia's war against Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States has made available nearly $320 million in new economic, security, and humanitarian assistance to help Moldova manage these impacts of the war while maintaining progress on its democratic and anti-corruption reform agenda and promoting economic growth. This assistance includes $30 million in non-reimbursable budget support disbursed in December 2022 for electricity purchases. The United States, working with Congress, also plans to make available an additional $300 million for energy assistance in Moldova to address the urgent needs created by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and to strengthen Moldova's energy resilience and security, including another $80 million in budget support to address energy and power costs.

The United States welcomed the European Council decision of June 23, 2022, to grant EU candidate status to the Republic of Moldova. The United States is supporting Moldova's integration with the European Union and the implementation of an ambitious reform agenda essential for the advancement towards this objective and for the benefit of the people of Moldova.

The delegations focused their discussions on enhancing cooperation on a broad range of topics. The participants emphasized the importance of increasing the integrity of justice sector actors and strengthening good governance in Moldova. The United States welcomed the outcome of the first stage of pre-vetting 28 judges for positions in the Superior Council of Magistracy and Moldova's efforts to institute a legal framework for the external assessment of judges and prosecutors (vetting), as well as the adoption of reforms to the electoral code intended to increase transparency with regard to political party financing. Moldova reaffirmed its commitment to tackling corruption, including criminal asset recovery. Moldova expressed appreciation for the United States' continued support to these efforts, as well as the U.S. Department of Treasury`s October 2022 sanctions designations against individuals and entities involved in systemic corruption and Russia's malign influence operations in Moldova. The sanctions also designated Russian FSB-affiliated operatives and institutions for interference in Moldova's elections. The United States pledged continued partnership to strengthen Moldova's anti-corruption institutions, including the National Anti-Corruption Center and Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.

The United States welcomed several advances in the field of human rights, including adopted amendments to strengthen the Ombudsman Office and the Anti-Discrimination Council, adoption of legislation on combating hate crimes, adoption of unannounced labor inspections to detect and prevent trafficking in persons, advancement in implementation of the Action Plan on Promoting Holocaust Remembrance and a culture of tolerance, and continued efforts to implement the Istanbul Convention. The United States thanked Moldova for opening its doors to refugees fleeing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and for the adoption of temporary protection status. U.S. assistance to refugees in Moldova and to Moldovans who have hosted them has totaled nearly $75 million since the war started. On the media sector, the United States discussed continued assistance to Moldova's Audiovisual Council to enable it to carry out its important responsibilities, while Moldova committed to continuing to pursue a reliable system for television ratings in Moldova - an important tool to ensure fair competition in the audiovisual field.

The United States and Moldova highlighted ongoing cooperation to strengthen Moldova's border security and address cross-border and hybrid threats that have increased due to Russia's full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The United States discussed continued support to Moldova for reforming and consolidating its security and defense sector capacity, grounded in the respect for Moldova's constitutional neutrality. Both countries stressed the need to continue enhancing cooperation on cybersecurity and digital transformation, strengthening capacities to counter and prevent cybercrime and related crimes, and implementing national cyber defense policies. Moldova expressed appreciation for the United States' technical cooperation to support Moldova's forensic systems and increase capacity of law enforcement institutions, highlighting the opening of a new Recruitment and Evaluation Center.

On March 14, on the sidelines of the Strategic Dialogue, Moldovan Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatii and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper signed a Bilateral Concept providing a framework for support to institutional reform and military capacity building and modernization.

The United States and Moldova acknowledged the importance of working together to build a stronger, more resilient economy and diversified energy sector as key steps toward enhancing Moldova` national security, and which will be furthered through significant U.S. economic development and energy-related assistance.

Moldova's delegation expressed their appreciation for the support provided by the USAID Moldova Energy Security Activity (MESA), including technical assistance in helping Moldova satisfy its commitments towards adopting EU energy policies. Both countries acknowledged the importance of continuing efforts to invest in energy infrastructure to diversify Moldova's energy supplies in the long term and strengthen its resilience to threats to its energy security. Moreover, both countries share a common vision of a stronger, more diverse economy, one that is firmly rooted in a robust, private sector with expanding foreign trade relationships, supported through sector-specific industry associations, improved quality and competitiveness of Moldovan exports, access to financial solutions, and continued regulatory reform and transparency.

Recognizing the importance of the ties between the American and Moldovan people to the overall bilateral relationship, Moldova and the United States held the inaugural meeting of the People to People Ties Working Group, focused on exchanges, cultural ties, and strategic communications. The two countries committed to build on the successes of existing educational, cultural, and professional exchanges and to encourage future programs. They expressed enthusiasm over the upcoming return of Peace Corps volunteers to Moldova in 2023, noting the positive contributions of more than 1,500 volunteers over the last 30 years. Both countries intend to continue to work on the issue of strategic communications, and the United States committed to supporting this effort by providing Moldova with both practical and technical assistance. Furthermore, the United States intends to continue its support to Moldovan efforts to modernize and expand university curricula to help build a modern workforce. Moldova and the United States noted the value of the robust partnership between the State of North Carolina and the Republic of Moldova, including recently expanded connections with North Carolina universities.

Moldova and the United States also launched a new Strategic Dialogue Civil Society Platform, which included representatives of Moldovan civil society along with Moldovan and U.S. senior officials. The Platform highlighted the importance of civil society in Moldova's European path and the need for consultation with non-government and private sector organizations to inform policymaking.

The Strategic Dialogue was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and included interagency and inter-ministerial representatives from both governments. The meeting featured senior U.S. officials from the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps. The Moldovan delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Administration of the President of the Republic of Moldova, State Chancellery, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Ministry of Finance, National Anti-Corruption Center, Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Culture, Audiovisual Council, Public Services Agency, Agency for Inter-Ethnic Relations, Cyber Security and Information Technology Service, and Security and Intelligence Service.

Both countries expressed a strong interest in further strengthening their bilateral strategic partnership through the activities of the Strategic Dialogue's working groups and committed to hold the next working level meeting in Chisinau, Moldova, in autumn 2023 in preparation for the next session of the Strategic Dialogue in Washington in 2024.

End Text

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Bi-Annual Exercise Resolute Hunter Provides Real-World Partner-Nation and U.S. Joint Force Interoperability

US Navy

23 March 2023

From Jennifer Cragg

NAVAL AIR STATION FALLON, Nev. -- Exercise Resolute Hunter, a joint/combined exercise involving four participating nations and four joint services, concluded its execution phase on Nov. 17, 2022, aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada. Hosted by the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), the three-week event is the DOD's only dedicated Battle Management, Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (BMC2ISR) exercise.

Navy, Air Force (USAF), Marine Corps, Army and Air National Guard (ANG) members participated in the exercise alongside partner-nation representatives from the U.K. Royal Navy (RN), U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF), British Army, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Resolute Hunter serves as the capstone event for the 17-week Maritime Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MISR) Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, which is taught by NAWDC. The exercise provides a robust training event for BMC2ISR platform crews and operational and tactical intelligence teams.

The exercise also provides an unparalleled opportunity for operators to participate in a robust training environment to test their skill sets while engaging in a rolling campaign consisting of 11 vulnerability periods. The exercise includes events executed in both the overland and maritime environments. MISR students are taught kill web management which includes multiple kill chains, targets, sensors and weapons.

Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jay Whalen, of One Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), participated in both the precursor to Exercise Resolute Hunter in 2017 as well as follow-on exercises and has seen an improvement in the types of battle problems presented.

"Exercise Resolute Hunter allows for joint- and allied-partner interoperability participation in real-time problem sets," said Whalen, who added the exercise provides Navy and Marine Corps-specific interoperability and integration opportunities to test and evaluate in a live environment.

The USAF Distributed Common Ground Station (DCGS) enterprise has participated in all seven exercises. For this iteration of Resolute Hunter, specific Distributed Ground Station (DGS) organizations participated, in California and Indiana. The Indiana location hosted the first USAF, DGS-Australia and RAF's 1 ISR Wing blended team to include four Marine Corps personnel to increase interoperability.

"This exercise focused on sensors and processes from seabed to space, and included participants from multiple services and nations," said Cmdr. Peter Salvaggio who created the MISR program and Exercise Resolute Hunter. He came up with the ideas during his deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Doha, Qatar, in 2010.

Salvaggio researched a stand-alone environment where disaggregated platforms, weapons, sensors, and services could agnostically train together in a changing environment. Eight years later, in October 2018, the first MISR WTI course officially launched, followed in April 2019 with the first Exercise Resolute Hunter.



Salvaggio said that working with other services during overseas deployments served to cement the concept that has provided a multitude of collaboration opportunities for advanced learning. The uniqueness of this exercise will provide follow-on collaboration opportunities that will benefit participants after each exercise concludes.

"This exercise is extremely relevant to the real world," said RAAF Wing Commander Marija Jovanovich, who serves as the Commander of the Australian Contingent at Resolute Hunter 23-1 and Commander of Number 10 Squadron AP-3C Electronic Warfare squadron. "This is the only exercise of its kind in the world. There is nothing better than this training environment enabling us to work and train alongside our allies."

Four RAAF students have completed the MISR WTI training, and two students are currently enrolled in the course.

A unique feature of Resolute Hunter's design is the incorporation of blue, green and red participants' Desired Learning Objectives (DLOs) into each iteration of the exercise. Salvaggio estimated that around 95 percent of the DLOs submitted have been met during the various iterations.

The training environment is unique in that partner nations provide instructors and students creating cross-sharing of knowledge and experiences across all pay grades that will benefit them for years to come.

"Over the past seven iterations of Exercise Resolute Hunter, you would find an RAF instructor teaching a U.S. Navy Sailor or another iteration you would find an RAAF student receiving instruction from an RAF instructor," said Salvaggio, who added the course was intentionally planned to increase collaboration across the services and partner nations.

Among the course's other unusual features, it is a U.S. course used to qualify other nations. The course serves as the RAF's culminating exercise to finalize their Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) training.

Over the past few years, the exercise planners have tailored Resolute Hunter to uniquely focus on the left side of the kill chain to provide enhanced situational awareness of all aspects of the exercise. Every iteration of the exercise includes new scenarios drawn from lessons learned from previous conflicts dating back to World War II to present-day conflicts.

While the MISR Weapons School is the smallest department at NAWDC, consisting of one department head, four action officers and six enlisted personnel, it is responsible for coordinating one of the largest bi-annual exercises at the command. The department is looking to expand to include 16 additional billets and five additional civilian staff by fiscal year 2025.

One of the Exercise Resolute Hunter studentsthe first from the RN to attend the MISR courseis Lt. William Curtis, who is assigned to the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.

"It is the best real-world training you can receive out of a combat zone," Curtis said. "We need to get more people through this training without compromising the training."

RAF Sgt. Sam Garner is assigned to RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, U.K., and has been enrolled in the training. Garner looked forward to applying what she has learned in the culminating exercise.

"This is where the future of the world is going."

RAF Warrant Officer Graham Davis served as an instructor during the exercise. The RAF coordinates its QWI (ISR) training to coincide with Exercise Resolute Hunter.

"Through the MISR WTI course we have set up learning exchange opportunities to provide instructors," Davis said.

The participants who graduate from the MISR WTI receive a significantly increased level of proficiency in managing complex ISR and dynamic targeting operations and the ability to learn lessons and gain valuable experience they can bring back to apply in real-world applications.

RAF Squadron Leader Jason Murray, Officer Commanding (OC) ISR Warfare School, a QWI to the 54 Squadron Advanced Air Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting, Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Academy, participated in the exercise.

"We are getting an excellent integration exercise that provides ISR leaders and experts with an opportunity to participate utilizing real-time aircraft, to solve real problem sets," Murray said. "The British military, and specifically the RAF, sees integration with MISR and Exercise Resolute Hunter as essential to future operations."

MISR WTI bridges the gap between operators and the intelligence side of tactical and operational warfighting. The personnel attending the course are cross-trained in both the operational and intelligence disciplines to execute missions that include the find-fix-track-target (F2T2) portions of the high-end fight, along with immediate initial assessment after a strike has occurred. Operators also experience the entirety of the kill web and smaller kill chains.

"We are at a precipice in that the demand for the services that MISR WTIs provide is growing exponentially," said Cmdr. David Bigay, the incoming MISR department head. "We are seeing a significant growth in MISR demand; therefore, the program and the throughput requirements are going to grow in the coming years."

Jennifer Cragg is a communications specialist with Naval Aviation Enterprise.

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US Denies Chinese Military Drove Away US Destroyer in South China Sea

By VOA News March 23, 2023

The United States denied a Chinese claim Thursday that Chinese forces drove away a U.S. guided-missile destroyer that had entered Chinese territorial waters.

Tian Junli, a spokesman for China's Southern Theatre Command, said the USS Milius intruded into waters around the Paracel Islands "undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea."

The U.S. Navy 7th Fleet rejected China's statement as false, saying the destroyer was "conducting routine operations in the South China Sea and was not expelled."

"The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows," a 7th Fleet statement said.

Tensions between China and the United States have been growing the region.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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US, Albania on 'Hunt' for Iranian Cyber Actors

By Jeff Seldin March 23, 2023

The decision to launch a series of cyberattacks that crippled Albanian government websites and temporarily shut down government services may be backfiring on the alleged perpetrator.

Albania blamed the attacks in July and September of last year on Iran, claiming the evidence pointing to Tehran was "irrefutable," and ordered all Iranian officials out of the country.

Now, a U.S. cyber team sent to Albania to help the country recover and "hunt" for more dangers says the efforts have turned up "new data and information about the tools, techniques, and procedures of malicious cyber actors, attempting to disrupt government networks and systems."

"The hunt forward operation resulted in incredibly valuable insights for both our allied partner and U.S. cyber defenses," the Cyber National Mission Force's Major Katrina Cheesman told VOA, adding information was shared not only with the Albanian government but also some private companies with critical roles in the digital infrastructure of both countries.

Officials declined to share additional details, citing operational security, other than to say the networks they examined were of "significance" to Washington.

"These hunts bring us closer to adversary activity to better understand and then defend ourselves," the commander of U.S. Cyber National Mission Force, Major General William Hartman, said in a statement Thursday, following a visit to Albania.

1/2 The United States continues to support Albania's cybersecurity. This week, Major General William Hartman, Commander of the U.S. Cyber National Mission Force, was in Tirana to meet with National Cyber Coordinator Igli Tafa and key cyber stakeholders across the... pic.twitter.com/cRHw7sAz3Q

a USEmbassyTirana (@USEmbassyTirana) March 21, 2023

"When we are invited to hunt on a partner nation's networks, we are able to find an adversary's insidious activity," Hartman said. "We can then impose costs on our adversaries by exposing their tools, tactics and procedures, and improve the cybersecurity posture of our partners and allies."

Iran has consistently denied responsibility for the cyberattacks against Albania, calling the allegation "baseless."

Albania's claims were backed by the United States, which described the Iranian actions in cyberspace as "counter to international norms."

This past September, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, and the FBI attributed the initial cyberattacks against Albania to Iranian state cyber actors calling themselves "HomeLand Justice."

The joint advisory warned the group first gained access to Albania's in May 2021 and maintained access to the Albanian networks for more than a year, stealing information, before launching the initial cyberattack in July 2022.

CISA and the FBI also concluded that Iran likely launched the second cyberattack in September 2022, using similar types of malware, in retaliation for Albania's decision to attribute the first round of attacks to Tehran.

U.S. officials confirmed they had sent a team of experts to Albania shortly after the attacks, but information released Thursday sheds more light on the scope of the operation.

According to the U.S. officials, the so-called "hunt forward" team was deployed to Albania last September and worked alongside Albanian officials before returning home in late December.

Prior to the mission in Albania, other U.S. "hunt forward" teams had been deployed 43 times to 21 countries, including to Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Montenegro and Croatia.

Albanian officials have indicated they hope to continue working with U.S. cyber teams to further strengthen Albania's cyber defenses.

"The cooperation with U.S. Cyber Command was very effective," said Mirlinda Karcanaj, the general director of Albania's National Agency for Information Society, in a statement released by the U.S.

"We hope that this cooperation will continue," she added.

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Heavyweight deal in the making for Boxers

23 March 2023

Australia is a step closer to finalising a major deal to provide Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles to the German Army.

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy and his German counterpart, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence Thomas Hitschler, have signed a Letter of Cooperation to start formal negotiations to produce the vehicles in Queensland for export to Germany.

Under the deal, more than 100 Boxers would be produced by Rheinmetall at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

Mr Conroy said the Government was "excited about the prospect of Boxers for the German Army being built in Brisbane, using suppliers across Australia" as part of what could be one of Australia's largest defence export contracts.

"We are keen to export this world-leading capability to a trusted and respected security partner, and to further strengthen the defence relationship between our countries," Mr Conroy said.

Defence will now enter into formal negotiations with the German Ministry of Defence and Rheinmetall to establish appropriate legal and commercial arrangements.

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China, Cambodia kick off Golden Dragon 2023 joint drills

Two navies held an unprecedented maritime exercise on March 19 in Cambodian waters near a controversial base.

By RFA staff 2023.03.23 -- Military exercises between Cambodia and China got underway in central Cambodia on Thursday after the two nations staged their first-ever joint naval drills last Sunday, local media said.

The Golden Dragon 2023 exercises officially kicked off with 257 Chinese and 583 Cambodian troops participating, the Khmer Times reported, citing Maj. Gen. Thong Solimo, spokesman for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).

The exercise, which runs for two weeks, will focus on security operations during major events and humanitarian relief, it said.

Meanwhile on March 19, a Chinese warship - the Jinggangshan - conducted an unprecedented maritime exercise with the Cambodian Navy in the waters off Sihanoukville in southwest Cambodia.

The province is home to the Ream Naval Base that China is helping Cambodia to develop. Western media said Phnom Penh and Beijing had signed a secret deal to allow the Chinese military to use part of the base, but the Cambodian government rejected the reports.

The Jinggangshan is a Type 071 amphibious landing ship homeported in Zhanjiang, in southern China. It can carry two helicopters and up to 800 troops.

During the two-hour exercise, the Chinese naval ship and two patrol boats from the Royal Cambodian Navy conducted a coordinated navigation and communication drill, which was deemed successful, according to a report by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.

"[O]rganization and command were precise, coordination was close, and communications were smooth," the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) quoted Captain Xu Jinfeng, the commanding officer of the Jinggangshan, as saying.

The Jinggangshan was carrying Chinese troops from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command to take part in Golden Dragon 2023.

The Golden Dragon exercises run from March 23 to April 8 at the Military Police Training Center in Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodian media said.

Maj. Gen. Thong Solimo, the RCAF spokesman, said the main purpose is "to exchange experiences with each other."

Observers from countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc were invited to this year's event, he said.

This is the fifth Golden Dragon joint exercise between the two militaries since 2016. The event was cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Military ties between China and Cambodia have deepened in recent years, with Beijing providing aid, equipment and training to Cambodian forces.

Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier last month paid an official visit to Beijing, during which Chinese leaders reassured him of China's continuous support for Cambodia's "national sovereignty and security."

In 2021, the United States imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia over concerns about "deepening Chinese military influence" in the country.

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Important Weapon Test and Firing Drill Conducted in DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The intentional, persistent and provocative war drills and confrontational stance of the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet regime of traitors have driven the military and political situation of the Korean peninsula to an irreversibly dangerous point.

The reckless and dangerous nature of the confrontational hysteria recently betrayed by the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet regime of traitors is unprecedented in history.

The U.S. imperialists and their stooges kicked off a large-scale dangerous drill, an actual drill for "occupying" the DPRK in the light of its form and contents, in defiance of the repeated stern warnings by the DPRK government, army and people. It is expected that the U.S. imperialists and their stooges will get more frantic in their persistent military provocations to aggravate the situation as ever with a more aggressive stand of confrontation.

This grave challenging situation against the state security of the DPRK requires it to have stronger war deterrents for firmly supporting the peaceful socialist state building activities - the more developed, multi-faceted and offensive nuclear attack capability - and increase its capability in every way in order to deter war and firmly preserve peace and prosperity with its tremendous might.

The hostile forces' anti-DPRK war scenario based on the deployment of huge nuclear strategic assets, the amount of forces involved in carrying it out and the ensuing peculiar mode of war urgently require the DPRK to make its entire armed forces gird themselves for an all-out war and bolster up its nuclear force both in quality and quantity on a priority basis.

The Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is energetically guiding the continuous military activities to bolster up its nuclear war deterrence for self-defence in order to strengthen the country's defence posture in every way and promptly counter and thoroughly control and manage any nuclear war threats and challenges by the enemy.

After organizing and guiding a combined tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack, the WPK Central Military Commission commanded drills from March 21 to 23, which served as a demonstration of another military attack capability, in order to alert the enemy to an actual nuclear crisis and verify the reliability of the nuclear force for self-defence.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un guided the important military activities.

A new underwater attack weapon system test was conducted from March 21 to 23.

Since 2012, the DPRK's defence scientific research institute has conducted the development of the underwater nuclear strategic attack weapon system based on a new operational concept, studying warfare in the new era and defining the orientation of the development of the self-defence capabilities to outpace the military and technical superiority of the imperialist aggressor forces.

The Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee was informally reported about the underwater strategic nuclear weapon system at the Defence Development Exhibition Self-Defence-2021 held in October 2021.

This secret weapon was named "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft 'Haeil'" at the 8th Congress of the WPK.

It has undergone more than 50 shakedowns for the past two years since the Congress.

Kim Jong Un personally guided 29 weapon tests and its operational deployment was decided at the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK.

The mission of the underwater nuclear strategic weapon is to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy.

This nuclear underwater attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation.

The underwater nuclear attack drone, which was deployed for a drill off the coast of Riwon County of South Hamgyong Province on Tuesday, reached the target point in the waters off Hongwon Bay set as a mock enemy port with its test warhead detonating underwater on Thursday afternoon after cruising along an oval and pattern-8 course at an underwater depth of 80 to 150 meters in the East Sea of Korea for 59 hours and 12 minutes.

The test correctly estimated all the tactical and technical specifications and navigational and technical indices of the underwater nuclear attack drone, verified its reliability and safety and fully confirmed its lethal strike capability.

On March 22 there took place a launching drill to let strategic cruise missile units get familiar with the procedures and processes for carrying out the tactical nuclear attack missions.

Prior to the drill, there was training to reexamine the operational normality and the systematic safety of technical and mechanical devices, including the procedures for authenticating the nuclear attack order and the launch approval system, and to let the strategic cruise missile sub-units get familiar with action methods and handling of equipment through repeated practice.

The strategic cruise missile was tipped with a test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead.

Two "Hwasal-1"-type strategic cruise missiles and two "Hwasal-2"-type strategic cruise missiles, launched in Jakdo-dong, Hungnam District, Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province, accurately hit the target set in the East Sea of Korea after flying on their programmed 1 500km- and 1 800km-long oval and pattern-8 orbits for 7 557 to 7 567 seconds and 9 118 to 9 129 seconds respectively.

The drill also involved the cruise missiles' minimum-altitude flight test and the test for estimating their capability for ever-changing-altitude control and evasion flight.

The drill also verified once again the operational reliability of nuclear explosion control devices and detonators by applying the mid-air-explosion (600 meters above the target) strike mode to two different missiles.

The major weapon test and launching drills had no negative impact on the security of the neighboring countries.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was greatly satisfied with the results of the major weapon test and the launching drill for a strategic purpose.

Underlining the need to neutralize every attempt of the enemy to invade the DPRK and creditably defend our people's peaceful life and future and the cause of socialist construction by more overwhelmingly and offensively countering to the end the reckless military provocations being escalated by the U.S. and the south Korean authorities in disregard of our patience and warning, he set forth the immediate militant tasks and permanent policies for doing so.

Bitterly criticizing the U.S. imperialists for desperately resorting to military moves imperiling the regional situation under the pretence of fulfilling their commitment to defending allies and under various pretexts of tightening alliance, encouraging the misguided imprudence and "bravery" of the south Korean puppet regime of traitors and inciting them to impudent actions, he referred to the need to take offensive actions to make the enemy inviting the danger with thoughtless and reckless acts realize the DPRK's unlimited nuclear war deterrence capability being bolstered up at a greater speed.

He expressed his will to make the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet regime plunge into despair for their choice through the high-profile demonstration of the powerful war deterrence and make them understand by themselves that they are bound to lose more than they get and face a greater threat due to the strengthening of the military alliance and the expansion of war drills in the region.

He, on behalf of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government, seriously warned once again the enemies that they should stop the reckless anti-DPRK war drills.

The nuclear force of the DPRK will further enhance its responsible militant function and mission with its more destructive might to thoroughly shatter the war maniacs' confrontational wild dream and bolster up its overwhelming nuclear counteraction posture in every way, true to the expectations and desire of the Party, government and people of the DPRK for deterring war and preserving peace and stability. -0-

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Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD inks Rs 3,700 crore contracts with BEL for Medium Power Radars 'Arudhra' & 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

The projects to enhance surveillance, detection, tracking & Electronic Warfare capabilities of Indian Air Force

Posted On: 23 MAR 2023 6:02PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Defence, on March 23, 2023, signed two separate contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore, to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The first contract, worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR) 'Arudhra' for the Indian Air Force. The second contract, at an overall cost of approx. Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under Buy {Indian - IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category. These essentially embody the spirit of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will help facilitate the realisation of the country's journey to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

MPR (Arudhra)

The radar has been indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be manufactured by BEL. Its successful trials have already been conducted by the Indian Air Force. It is a 4D multi-function phased array radar with electronic steering in both azimuth and elevation for surveillance, detection and tracking of aerial targets. The system will have target identification based on interrogations from co-located Identification Friend or Foe system.

The project will act as a catalyst for development of manufacturing capability in the industrial ecosystem.

DR-118 RWR

The DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of Su-30 MKI aircraft. Majority of sub-assemblies and parts will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers. The project will boost and encourage active participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs. It will generate employment of approx. two lakh man-days over a period of three and half years.

The DR-118 RWR is a significant leap forward in developing indigenous EW capabilities and making the country 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence.

ABB/Savvy



(Release ID: 1910065)

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TikTok influencers protest outside US Congress against potential ban

(People's Daily App) 15:43, March 24, 2023

TikTok influencers protested against a potential ban of the social media platform outside the US Congress on Wednesday in Washington DC.

Some influencers held up signs saying "Keep TikTok," before TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew answered questions from lawmakers.

(Produced by Zhang Jian)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu)
ANNUAL BILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE KONKAN 2023

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 23 MAR 2023 3:50PM by PIB Delhi

Konkan 2023, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, was held from 20 to 22 Mar 23 off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.

INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition and undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices. The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and sub-surface, and included gunnery shoots on surface inflatable target 'Killer Tomato', helicopter operations, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship manoeuvres and exchange of personnel.

The exercise yielded excellent training value to personnel of both navies. A high level of professionalism and enthusiasm was also evident during its conduct. The focus personnel exhibited on op-readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the IN and RN to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region.

-------------------------

MK/VM/JSN



(Release ID: 1909937)

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Search in India for Separatist Demanding Sikh Independence

By Anjana Pasricha March 23, 2023

Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh was little known inside India until a month ago. Now police have launched a massive manhunt for him in India's northern Punjab state after his calls for an independent Sikh homeland stoked fears of violence in a region that was gripped by a bloody insurgency four decades ago.

The 30-year-old Singh, a self-styled Sikh preacher, catapulted onto the national stage when he and scores of young men brandishing swords and guns stormed a police station in Punjab last month demanding the release of a jailed aide. Police later said they could not beat back the mob because they used the Sikh holy book as shields.

The images of Singh's armed followers chasing policemen raised concerns that his support could be growing in the farming state, where nearly 60 percent of the population is Sikh.

Thousands of police and paramilitary forces have been searching for Singh since Saturday. More than 150 of his followers have been arrested and internet service has been restricted in the state.

Accused of sowing discord, Singh has been declared a fugitive. Promoting the cause of Khalistan a the name given to an independent Sikh homeland a has been outlawed in India and has little support in Punjab, according to analysts. It remains a rallying cry, though, among some sections of the Sikh diaspora in countries like Britain and Canada.

But the sudden emergence of Singh in Punjab revived chilling memories of the bloody insurgency that led to the death of thousands of people, including top officials in the 1980s and early 1990s. Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984 after she ordered an army operation to flush out militants from the Golden Temple, one of Sikhism's holiest sites.

Singh, who had moved to Dubai in 2012 to join his family's transportation business, returned to India last year when he became the leader of a group called Waris Punjab De, or "the heirs of Punjab." The organization played a role in mobilizing a massive, year-long protest movement by thousands of farmers in 2021 against agricultural reforms introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

In recent months, Singh led marches calling for protecting the rights of Sikhs against what he called the overreach of Modi's Hindu nationalist government. He said an independent homeland was the only way to protect Sikh culture and address societal problems, such as the widespread use of drugs in the state.

"It is very peculiar how suddenly out of the blue he came from Dubai. He is not leading an organically grown movement of the kind witnessed during the 1980s. Today, there is virtually no public support in Punjab for Khalistan. It is only a demand raised by fringe elements in the state and in the Sikh diaspora," pointed out political analyst Neerja Chowdhury.

Singh's appearance also caused some concern a his long flowing beard revived memories of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Sikh separatist leader who was blamed for leading the armed insurgency advocating a separate homeland in the1980s. He was killed during the army operation in the Golden Temple. Singh's followers have often compared him to Bhindranwale and, in September, Singh was honored in a religious ceremony in Bhindranwale's home village.

For authorities, the concern is whether he could build wider support in a state that is relatively affluent but where unemployment has been growing, farm incomes have dwindled and where drug and alcohol abuse among young people presents a challenge.

"Authorities wanted to nip any national security threat in the bud. Having gone through the bloody separatist movement in the 1980s and '90s, the government did not want to take any chances," according to Chowdhury.

Saying that Punjab's peace and harmony and the country's progress were his top priorities, Chief Minister of Punjab state Bhagwant Mann declared that "we will not spare any force working against the country."

Questions have been raised, however, about how Singh continues to elude police despite the massive manhunt.

The Punjab High Court on Tuesday demanded to know how he had managed to elude arrest. "You have 80,000 police personnel. How has he not been arrested? This is an intelligence failure," the court said.

India also has lodged protests with Britain and the United States over separate incidents that involved vandalizing the Indian consulates in London and San Francisco during demonstrations by Sikh protesters held last Sunday (March 19), a day after the manhunt was launched for Singh. The protesters planted flags of Khalistan inside the San Francisco consulate and pulled down the Indian flag in its high commission in London.

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US Religious Freedom Commission Seeks Repeal of India's Anti-Conversion Laws

By Shaikh Azizur Rahman March 23, 2023

Leaders of Indian minority communities say controversial anti-conversion laws enacted in some states of India are aimed at persecuting and harassing Christian Muslim minorities, as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has expressed concerns and called for the laws' revocation.

"India's state-level anti-conversion laws violate international human rights law's protections for the right to freedom of religion or belief. They impermissibly limit and punish an individual's right to convert and right to persuade or support another individual to convert voluntarily," the commission said in a report released March 14, Issue Update: India's State-Level Anti-Conversion Laws.

"The anti-conversion laws also worsen religious freedom conditions in India which, as USCIRF has reported, are already poor," the commission added.

Hindu groups and leaders of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party allege that Christian missionaries are converting people across India through allurement, use of force and fraudulent means. In recent years, they have also claimed that Muslims were converting people to Islam through unfair means.

There are state-level anti-conversion laws enacted in 12 of India's 28 states. Some other states are considering introducing the law.

The states where the anti-conversion laws are in force say they have enacted them to tackle involuntary conversions.

The USCIRF said several features of the anti-conversion laws, among them prohibitions on conversions, notice requirements, and burden-shifting provisions, are "inconsistent with international human rights law's protections for freedom of religion or belief."

"Each of these features violates rights protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the commission said in announcing the report. India has been a signatory to the declaration since 1942, and it also ratified the covenant in 1979.

The report also said "enforcement of state-level anti-conversion laws suggests the legislations' intent is to prevent conversions to disfavored religionsasuch as Christianity and Islama and not to protect against coerced conversions".

Chander Uday Singh, a senior counsel at India's Supreme Court, said "there is no doubt whatsoever" that India's anti-conversion laws are "intended to marginalize and persecute Muslims and Christians" and that the so-called issue of "love jihad" was a "vicious product of hate-spewing imaginations".

"Love jihad is a myth, a pernicious lie that has been repeated thousands of times in spite of being proved to be nonexistent. ... Several state and national investigating agencies have closed their inquiries into the related cases on finding that there is no such thing as love jihad," Singh told VOA.

New Delhi-based lawyer Mujeeb ur Rehman told VOA that charging someone and putting the onus to prove his innocence on him is "nothing more than prosecuting the person without evidence which can never be accepted in a civilized and liberal society."

"In the true spirit of the Constitution, citizens are free to profess or even not to profess any religion as they want, and scrutinizing someone's faith to look out for the motivation behind conversion from one religion to another should not be the domain of any State. It is intruding the personal domain or privacy of a person and it also raises questions on the capability of a person to choose right," Rehman said.

Gujarat-based Jesuit rights activist, the Rev. Cedric Prakash, said that the Article 25 of the Constitution of India guarantees that everyone has a right to freely preach, practice and propagate their religion.

"But the draconian anti-conversion laws violate the fundamental rights of a citizen of India. The anti-conversion laws are clearly meant to crack down on India's religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians. They are also meant to polarize the people on religious lines ... and to legitimize majoritarianism in the country," Prakash told VOA.

However, the leaders of India's ruling party insist that the anti-conversion laws have been enacted to "stop the conversions done by coercive measures."

"In India, many people are being converted by the promise of marriage, allurement of money and also through other unethical means. The anti-conversion laws are meant to put a stop to such illegal practices," Alok Vats, a New Delhi-based senior BJP leader told VOA.

"Certainly, we have no issues with voluntary conversions. None can challenge the freedom of a person changing religion voluntarily."

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IAEA director general touches on progress towards agreement with Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 23, 2023

London, IRNA -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi has said that progress is achieved towards reaching agreement with Iran on protocol issue.

Rafael Grossi who was speaking at the Think Tank of the Council for Foreign Relations cautiously reiterated that after his visit to Iran and the reached agreement, it seems as if progress is being achieved towards reaching agreement with Iran on protocol issue. But of course, "we must wait and see if this is a true assumption, or not".

Referring to the unilateral US exit from the JCPOA and Iran's moves aimed at keeping it alive, he said that the 2015 agreement (JCPOA) is now turned into an empty shell.

The director general of IAEA all the same made it clear that the agency observers are present in Iran to supervise the country's nuclear program so that the result of Vienna negotiations agreements will be possible to be verified in double checking with their reports.

He said that accordingly, he is actively involved in consultations with all involved sides in JCPOA, to contribute to resuming of the Vienna negotiations to lead to a new agreement.

The IAEA and Atomic Energy Organization of Iran two weeks ago, and following a two-day visit of the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi to Tehran spoke about agreements towards resolving the protocol issues, based on which Iran voluntarily permitted IAEA observers to increase their supervision activities to be used in verification processes.

The method of implementing that agreement was supposed to be clarified in bilateral meetings.

4257**2050

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Iran slams west's double-standards about unrests

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 23, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani in a Twitter message on Thursday blasted the west's double-standards about unrests in Iran and their own countries

Referring to the contradictory behaviors of the west, including their reactions to the recent unrests in Iran, Kanaani tweeted, "There are clashes between the protesters in the streets of many European cities and the police forces every day."

He has also referred to Norway's proposed dialogue with Iran and a peaceful demonstration along the 71Km long Vali-Asr Street.

"But in their media, they are still reflecting a few months' ago protests and unrests in Iran; are they hallucinating, or telling lies to their audiences?" the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman asked.

4257**2050

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Iran hails GCC support for dAtente agreement with Saudi Arabia

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 10:54 AM

The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has welcomed a statement issued by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in support of an agreement on restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which were severed over the past seven years.

Nasser Kan'ani on Thursday expressed hope that the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia would play an effective role in increasing regional stability, peace and development and promoting dialogue-based approaches in the Persian Gulf region.

He once again commended effective efforts by China, Iraq and Oman to host the normalization talks, saying that the support of the regional countries for the accord indicates their will to promote diplomatic initiatives in the region.

In a Wednesday statement issued by the GCC Ministerial Council at the end of its 155th session, the body hailed a recent agreement signed between Tehran and Riyadh to restore diplomatic relations, saying the accord will mark a positive step in resolving differences and ending regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.

After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China, Iran and Saudi Arabia finally clinched a deal on March 10 to restore diplomatic relations and re-open embassies and missions within two months.

According to a joint statement, Iran and Saudi Arabia underscored the need to respect each other's national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and China also expressed their firm determination to make their utmost efforts to promote regional and international peace and security.

In his remark, Kan'ani also reiterated Tehran's stance vis-A -vis the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, saying they are an "integral and eternal" part of Iran.

In its statement, the GCC Ministerial Council had supported the UAE's claims to the islands and described them an indivisible part of the country.

The islands have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.

The three islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was restored.

The Iranian spokesman further rejected claims by the GCC Ministerial Council about the country's nuclear program.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is aware of its international responsibilities and commitments and has always adhered to them," he said.

Kan'ani emphasized that Iran is in contact with the relevant parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), based on the technical and political framework as per the agreement.

"Based on its strategic view and principled policies, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always considered interaction and cooperation with its neighbors as the best solution to regional issues and welcomed positive initiatives in the field of developing relations based on good neighborliness and international principles and rules," he said.

In its statement, the GCC Ministerial Council stressed the importance of Iran's commitment not to exceed the rate of uranium enrichment required for peaceful uses, and the need to fulfill its obligations and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Kan'ani also rejected the GCC's claims about the smuggling of drones from Iran to Yemen and stressed the importance of practicing realism and promoting political approaches to end the crisis in the impoverished Arab country.

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Arab union: Iran-Saudi detente set to end regional conflicts

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 9:20 AM

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has hailed a recent agreement signed between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations after seven years of estrangement, saying the accord will mark a positive step in resolving differences and ending regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.

In a statement issued by the GCC Ministerial Council at the end of its 155th session, the body said the agreement, signed in Beijing at the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, includes resumption of diplomatic relations, reopening of embassies, and activation of security and economic cooperation accords between Tehran and Riyadh.

The GCC is a union of six countries in the Persian Gulf region including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.

It expressed hope that the agreement would establish relations among countries on the basis of understanding, mutual respect, good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and adherence to the United Nations Charter and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and international laws and norms.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have supported opposite sides in several conflict zones across the Middle East, including in Yemen and Syria.

After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China, the two countries finally clinched a deal on March 10 to restore diplomatic relations and re-open embassies and missions within two months.

According to a joint statement, Iran and Saudi Arabia underscored the need to respect each other's national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and China also expressed their firm determination to make their utmost efforts to promote regional and international peace and security.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday that he will meet his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan "in the near future," and that Iran has proposed three locations for the meeting.

The GCC Ministerial Council also appreciated the efforts of Oman and Iraq for hosting numerous rounds of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia during 2021 and 2022.

It also commended China's efforts to sponsor and host the talks that resulted in the agreement and to help enhance security and peace in the region.

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Top Iran diplomat warns against 'miscalculations' after meeting E3 directors

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 6:32 AM

A senior Iranian diplomat has warned against "certain miscalculation" after meeting E3 directors, saying Tehran is resolute on advancing its national interests, including through diplomacy.

In a post on his Twitter account, Ali Bagheri Kani said he had a meeting in the Norwegian capital of Oslo with the political directors of the E3, referring to the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Bagheri Kani, who is deputy foreign minister for political affairs, added that the sides held extensive discussions about a range of issues of mutual interest and concern.

"We spare no opportunity to clarify our views & warn against certain miscalculations. We're determined in advancing our national interests, including through diplomacy," Bagheri Kani tweeted.

Iran showed to the world the peaceful nature of its nuclear program by signing the JCPOA with six world states a namely the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China. But, Washington's unilateral withdrawal in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

Negotiations between the parties to the nuclear deal kicked off in Vienna in April 2021, with the intention of bringing the US back to the agreement and putting an end to its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran.

The discussions, however, have been at a standstill since August 2022 due to Washington's insistence on not removing all of the anti-Iran sanctions and offering necessary guarantees that it will not exit the agreement again.

Stability in Caucasus

In another tweet, Bagheri Kani said he held a meeting with Armenian officials during which Iran emphasized its "neighborhood policy" as "the permanent fixture of peace and stability in the region."

"Tehran continues its constructive movement for stability in the Caucasus with a greater endeavor," the top Iranian diplomat said.

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Iran, Saudi foreign ministers, in phone call, discuss dAtente

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 3:12 AM

Iran and Saudi Arabian foreign ministers hold a telephone conversation, discussing the ongoing normalization of relations between the countries, which were kick-started under a Chinese-brokered deal earlier this month.

The conversation took place early Thursday between Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016 following angry protests outside its embassy in Tehran over Riyadh's execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. The rapprochement agreement was struck after several days of intensive negotiations between Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and his Saudi counterpart in the Chinese capital and was officially announced in a joint statement by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China.

Amir-Abdollahian welcomed the developing return of the countries' relations back to normal and expressed the Islamic Republic's readiness to expand and reinforce its ties with the Saudi kingdom.

Pointing to the positive achievements of the Beijing meeting, the Saudi official laid emphasis on the need for the ministers to meet in the near future and the importance of re-inauguration of the countries' respective embassies and consulates general.

The officials, therefore, agreed to meet at the earliest opportunity and lay the groundwork for the reopening of the diplomatic missions.

During the phone call, the two top diplomats also exchanged felicitations over the pending commencement of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

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Iran Sentences Five To Death For Alleged Spy Operations With Israel

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda March 23, 2023

Five Iranians -- four men and one woman -- in the northwestern Iranian city of Urmia have been sentenced by a court to death for allegedly engaging in intelligence cooperation and espionage activities that benefited Israel.

Hengaw, a Norway-based group that monitors rights violations in Iran's Kurdish regions, said one of those sentenced to death is Mansur Rasuli, whose interrogation by Mossad agents in Iran made headlines last year.

At least five other people have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in the case, the report added.

Last year, Israeli media reported that agents for the Mossad security service captured and interrogated a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps inside Iran.

Later, a video was released in which a person who identified himself as Rasuli admitted he wanted to assassinate an Israeli diplomat working in the country's consulate in Istanbul, as well as a U.S. general stationed in Germany and a journalist in France.

Iran and Israel have been engaged in a years-long shadow war. Tensions have been nearing a boiling point in recent years.

In November, the semiofficial Mehr News agency reported that Iran sentenced to death four people accused of collaborating with Israel. The four were accused of having interrogated people in Iran with intelligence cooperation from Mossad, the Israeli secret service.

Tensions have also flared between the two countries as negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers remain deadlocked. In the absence of a deal that would curb Iran's sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, Tehran has reduced its commitments and expanded its nuclear activities.

Iran has been roiled in recent months by nationwide protests sparked by the death of a young woman while she was being held in police custody for allegedly wearing a head scarf improperly.

Tehran has blamed Israel, the United States, and other Western countries for the unrest, which has seen security forces kill more than 500 people, according to human rights groups, including dozens of minors.

Officials have not shown any evidence to back up their accusations that the West has been involved in the anti-government uprising.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-sentences-five-alleged- spying-israel/32331210.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran Could Make Fuel for Nuclear Bomb in Less Than 2 Weeks, Milley Says

By Carla Babb March 23, 2023

Iran could make enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb in "less than two weeks" and could produce a nuclear weapon in "several more months," according to the top U.S. military officer.

Speaking to members of Congress on Thursday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley told lawmakers the United States "remains committed" to preventing Iran from fielding a nuclear weapon.

"We, the United States military, have developed multiple options for national leadership to consider if or when Iran ever decides to develop an actual nuclear weapon," Milley added.

Milley's comments echo those that U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl made last month. Kahl told lawmakers it would take Iran "about 12 days" to make enough fuel for a nuclear weapon should it decide to do so.

The estimate is a drastic change from 2018 when the Trump administration pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. At that time, it was estimated that Iran would need about a year to produce the weapons-grade fuel needed for one nuclear bomb.

The news comes as both Milley and the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, warned lawmakers in separate hearings Thursday that Iran continues to destabilize the Middle East through its support of terrorist groups and proxy forces.

Since January 2021, Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria 78 times using drones and rockets, according to CENTCOM Commander General Erik Kurilla.

China competition driving defense budget

Meanwhile, the looming threat of China in the Pacific is the focus of this year's proposed defense budget, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told lawmakers Thursday.

"This is a strategy-driven budget and one driven by the seriousness of our strategic competition with the People's Republic of China," Austin said, adding that the proposed budget includes a record $9.1 billion to build a stronger force presence in the Pacific, improve defenses of Guam and Hawaii, and allow more cooperation with Pacific allies and partners.

The so-called Pacific Deterrence Initiative includes procuring two Virginia-class fast-attack submarines and one of the new Columbia-class submarines set to replace the soon-to-be-decommissioned Ohio-class submarines.

Milley said Thursday that the U.S. submarine force "is incredibly capable, and very deadly and extremely lethal" and would make a "huge difference" in deterring any kind of aggression by China.

But while China is adding about 20 ships a year to its military fleet, the U.S. budget proposes decommissioning 11 ships while building nine.

The U.S. military has honed its focus on China as the Chinese military has continued its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea and its aggressive rhetoric toward the democratic island of Taiwan, vowing to take control of it by force if necessary.

In response, the U.S. has increased the number of military trainers in Taiwan, deploying more than 100 troops to the island, up from roughly 30 one year ago, according to officials. The force deployed is meant to provide Taipei with defensive capabilities without provoking Beijing.

When asked whether a National Guard State Partnership Program for Taiwan would be advisable, practical and possible, Austin replied, "I think it is."

More than 100 ally and partner nations across the globe have benefited from the State Partnership Program, a Defense Department initiative that will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. For example, the international training of Ukrainian forces following Russia's illegal invasion of Crimea in 2014 essentially stemmed from Ukraine's partnership with the California National Guard.

While National Guard elements are in Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy is not connected with a U.S. state in a State Partnership Program.

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New Israeli Law Protects Prime Minister from Ouster

By VOA News March 23, 2023

Amid rallies against the far-right government, Israel's parliament passed a law Thursday to protect the prime minister from being removed from office.

The measure, which passed 61-47 in the Knesset, dictates that the prime minister can be deemed unfit to rule only for mental or physical health reasons, and that only he or his government can make that determination.

Critics say the law is tailored to protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in the midst of a corruption trial, facing charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies the allegations.

Netanyahu's attempts at a judicial overhaul, with changes that limit the power of the Supreme Court and give politicians less oversight in their policymaking, have made him a controversial figure. The plans have brought tens of thousands of Israeli citizens to the streets in protest, including Thursday, when police used water cannons to disperse demonstrators and arrested some on public disturbance charges.

The debate over the overhaul comes from a longstanding rift between secular Jewish Israelis and ultra-Orthodox lawmakers who see the courts as a threat to their traditional way of life. In contrast, secular opponents of the changes fear they will lead to religious coercion.

"Either Israel will be a Jewish, democratic and progressive state a or religious, totalitarian, failing, isolated and closed off," Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister and prominent supporter of the protests, told Israeli Army Radio. "That's where they are leading us."

Some information from this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France Presse and Reuters.

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Interview: 'South Korea must temporarily acquire nuclear weapons'

Defector-turned-lawmaker Thae Yong Ho believes Seoul can force the North to engage if it builds a nuclear arsenal.

By Do-hyung Han for RFA Korean 2023.03.23 -- South Korean lawmaker Thae Yong-ho was once a high-ranking North Korean diplomat. In 2016, while he was Pyongyang's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, he defected with his family to the South. Less than four years after his family arrived in Seoul, Thae won a local election and became a member of the National Assembly representing the city's wealthy Gangnam district.

As a member of the assembly, Thae has served on the Foreign Affairs and Unification committee, drawing on his unique expertise on North Korea to help form South Korean policy. On Mar. 8, South Korea's ruling People Power Party elected Thae to its supreme council, making him the first defector to enter into a South Korean political party's leadership.

RFA's Korean Service interviewed Thae on March 16 to discuss struggles faced by North Korean escapees who have resettled in South Korea, North Korean security, North Korea's leadership, and other issues. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: You're the first North Korean defector to become a member of the South Korean National Assembly, and you have continued to blaze the trail by becoming the first defector to rise into a major political party's senior leadership. What does your success mean in terms of South Korean society's views on North Korean escapees?

Thae: I feel that the window of prejudice and discrimination against North Korean escapees in South Korean society has been broken again. I think this is an opportunity to show that South Korea is a truly diverse and inclusive society. In countries like North Korea and China, being a member of the Standing Committee means that you have risen to be the best of the best. But the fact that I went in as an elected official is truly great for anyone who knows this structure. I hope it will be an opportunity for new hope for the North Korean escapees who have fallen into a sense of defeat and pessimism.

RFA: What do you imagine that Kim Jong Un might be thinking to see a former member of his regime being elected as a supreme council member of a South Korean political party?

Thae: Kim Jong Un receives daily reports from the United Front Department on the political and economic situation in South Korea. [He] probably thinks that if this news reaches North Korea, it will be a big deal. He could also worry that there will be more breakaways from the elite. [Most North Koreans] probably won't know about it right away, but this is the Internet era and many North Koreans abroad are using cell phones or the Internet. It will become a well-known fact sooner or later.

RFA: North Korea continues to promote nuclear and missile advancement. What do you think Kim Jong Un's true intentions are? And how do you think South Korea and its allies should respond to this?

Thae: One goal is to develop nuclear weapons to completely subdue South Korea with nuclear weapons. The other is so that the United States comes to nuclear negotiations with North Korea and responds to nuclear disarmament negotiations on North Korea's terms.

First, we are currently holding a large ROK-US joint military exercise right now called Freedom Shield, and it is based on extended deterrence. If Kim Jong Un flinches though, the end of the North Korean regime will come swiftly under the might of a huge conventional force.

Next, South Korea must temporarily acquire nuclear weapons. North Korea has nuclear weapons, South Korea does not. The United States has nuclear weapons, so North Korea is trying to negotiate nuclear disarmament between countries with nuclear weapons.

So, if [the South has] nuclear weapons, we have a justification to confidently engage in nuclear disarmament negotiations.

RFA: In your book, "Password of the Third Floor Secretary Room," you said past negotiations with North Korea were deceptions meant to waste time. If South Korea temporarily possesses nuclear weapons and enters into nuclear negotiations with North Korea, how should Seoul's approach differ from previous negotiations?

Thae: Telling [North Korea] to get rid of [missiles] all at once won't work. We have to go step by step. Let's get rid of ICBMs by mutual verification. For the next step, let's get rid of missiles (SLBMs) from submarines. We must open the way to denuclearization by building trust through nuclear disarmament step by step, like the way Russia [or its predecessor state, the Soviet Union] and the United States have done.

RFA: There is a lot of criticism about this proposal. Some say that if South Korea acquired nuclear weapons, international sanctions could be imposed, and the ROK-US alliance could be weakened. What is your opinion on this?

Thae: We are a country that has a military alliance with the United States. So, we can't play alone, or unilaterally. We must go through endless debates and negotiations with the United States. In the future, if the nuclear military alliance between North Korea, China, and Russia deepens further, the U.S. will eventually come to a stage where it is carefully examining whether it is possible for them to fight two wars at the same time on the Korean Peninsula and in Taiwan, in front of China.

Anticipating these steps, we must constantly negotiate and discuss with the United States. We should never give up on our own without setting these goals and negotiating with the United States.

RFA: Does this mean that we can expect that the issue of international sanctions will be resolved naturally if there is dialogue with the United States?

Thae: Right, as long as the United States agrees. We have to convince the U.S. that it is ultimately beneficial for us to arm ourselves and achieve a nuclear balance with North Korea.

RFA: The North Korean regime has passed its leadership from father to son for three generations now. Do you think the Kim Dynasty can continue to the fourth generation? Will Kim Jong Un's daughter Kim Ju Ae one day rule North Korea?

Thae: I think the North Korean regime will never make it to the fourth generation with Kim Ju Ae. Since Kim Jong Un came to power, the North Korean regime has gone too far in a very unstable and abnormal direction over the past decade.

I wonder if Kim Jong Un is truly so nervous that he is making such a fuss to have his 10-year-old daughter succeed him. Another problem is that the military and government leadership cannot remain stable from year to year. They are constantly changing players. This means there is no consensus or solidarity between Kim Jong Un and the leaders surrounding him. So, distrust is building. I think that's why they are constantly changing personnel.

Next, young people who are growing up in North Korea have no loyalty to the North Korean system. They only value reality, and dream of a more open and prosperous country. When they grow up and become the backbone of North Korea in their 40s and 50s, I believe that Kim Jong Un's system will inevitably collapse.

RFA: Experts have raised the possibility that Kim Ju Ae may be the successor to Kim Jong Un, though. Isn't it at least possible?

Thae: I wonder if Kim Jong Un would really hand over the power to his daughter, not to a son. I think right now he is building this image that the next succession will go to four generations because he has children.

Also, if Kim Jong Un is insecure about his health right now, let's say he got sick today, then [his sister] Kim Yo-jong has no choice but to emerge as a replacement. To some extent, Kim Yo-jong would rule.

I think it may be part of a power struggle to imprint in advance that Kim Yo-jong cannot rule indefinitely, but that she would have to hand power over to Kim Jong Un's children when they become adults.

RFA: According to the recently published book "The Pyongyang Lady Who Came from London," penned by your wife O Hye-son, it seems you worked really hard while you were in North Korea. In your book, "Password of the Third Floor Secretary Room," you said that the moment you defected from North Korea in the U.K., "tears flowed endlessly." Can you explain more about how you felt at that time?

Thae: Two emotions crossed my mind. One was thinking about defecting from North Korea at my age, and I thought that I had lived such a wasted life for so long. The other thing was that I thought about what kind of life I would live from then on. I was leaving North Korea and coming to South Korea. I committed to myself that I would devote the rest of my life, to the very end, for freedom and democracy and the reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

RFA: People in North Korea are listening to Radio Free Asia Broadcasting. Is there anything you would like to say to them directly?

Thae: Only because you were born in North Korea, you are living a difficult life right now. I think you must overthrow the Kim Jong Un regime if you want to live a free life like those in South Korea and be treated like a human like people in other countries are. When the Kim Jong Un regime collapses, that will be the day you will find a life worthy of human dignity.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Protests Continue in Syrian Town Days After Killing of 4 Kurdish Civilians

By Sirwan Kajjo March 23, 2023

Kurdish residents of a northwestern Syrian town have been protesting for three consecutive days following the killings of four civilians by members of a Turkish-backed armed group that controls the areas.

Locals in the town Jinderis in northwest Syria gathered on March 20 to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as Nowruz, but armed men affiliated with the so-called Syrian National Army (SNA) opened fire on them, killing four civilians and injuring at least two others, local media and rights groups reported.

According to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), the four victims belonged to the same family.

Jinderis is administratively part of the district of Afrin, which came under the control of Turkish military and Turkey-backed Syrian groups following a major military offensive against Kurdish forces in March 2018.

Many armed factions operating in the area are extremist groups, including some with ties to al-Qaida. International rights groups have accused such armed groups of carrying out violations against Kurdish locals in the region.

"These killings come after over five years of unaddressed human rights abuses at the hands of Turkish forces and the local Syrian factions they empower," Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director at HRW, said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Turkey has allowed these fighters to abuse people living in the areas under their control with impunity, risking making itself complicit in the violations," he added.

The Turkish government has not publicly commented on the killings.

Observers say continued rights abuses in Afrin cannot be ignored anymore.

"The major protests that have continued since those killings on Nowruz eve show that nobody can cover for the grave violations that have been taking place by against the people of Afrin by various armed groups," said Bahoz Khalil, a journalist from Afrin who currently lives in the Kurdish city of Qamishli in northeast Syria.

Khalil told VOA that while armed groups could still crack down on protesters, the demonstrations had succeeded in shedding light on an issue that was largely underreported in the past.

"Even media outlets affiliated with the Syrian opposition have begun covering the situation closely a something unheard of even just a week ago," he said.

The ongoing protests against armed groups have attracted thousands of people from Jinderis and other areas of the Afrin district.

Ibrahim Sheikho, head of the Human Rights Committee of Afrin, said the killings have broken the barrier of fear among local Kurdish residents.

"The momentum is on the side of the people of Afrin, and even though the protests will likely end in a few days, the most important thing is that people are no longer afraid of speaking out against their oppressors," he told VOA.

Jinderis was one of the areas hardest hit in the February 6 earthquake that killed thousands of people in northern Syria and southern Turkey.

Sheikho said the slow quake recovery response of local authorities, compounded with this week's killings, compelled locals to take to the streets to express their grievances.

HRW has called to hold those responsible for the killings accountable "in a fair and transparent manner."

SNA-affiliated factions said they have arrested three suspects who will face trials, but Sheikho said the local judicial system couldn't be trusted.

"The presiding judge in this case is a member of the armed faction that was responsible for the killings, so it would most certainly be a sham trial," he said.

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U.S. House passes bill to strengthen support for Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

03/23/2023 11:41 AM

Washington, March 22 (CNA) The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a piece of legislation that would require the State Department to regularly review the guidelines for exchanges with Taiwan.

The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, introduced on Feb. 24 by Representative Ann Wagner, was approved that day in an overwhelming 404-7 vote.

The bill, which amends the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020, requires that the U.S. State Department periodically conduct reviews of its guidelines for engagement with Taiwan, and submit a report to Congress at least once every two years to strengthen the governing body's supervision of U.S.-Taiwan relations.

It also asks that the U.S. secretary of state identify opportunities to lift any remaining self-imposed limitations on U.S.-Taiwan engagement and articulate a plan to do so.

According to Wagner, who is also vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bill was introduced to "reinforce Congressional oversight on U.S.-Taiwan relations and ensure that changes in U.S. policies towards Taiwan are aimed at deepening and enhancing this important relationship."

In a release issued Wednesday by her office, she mentioned that for decades, most senior U.S. executive branch officials, including high-ranking military officers, were banned from visiting Taiwan to appease China, while similarly, Taiwan's top leadership could not travel to the United States.

Meetings and correspondence between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts had to meet a long list of complicated and arbitrary requirements, such as holding meetings at hotels rather than in official federal buildings or asking Taiwanese officials not to wear any official uniforms or insignia, Wagner said.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, she said, declared all of these guidelines null and void in January 2021, but many of these restrictions have since been put back in place by the current administration under U.S. President Joe Biden.

The lawmaker said Biden's bureaucratic red tape harms that stance, undermining the United States' ability to coordinate more closely with Taiwan.

With the House approval on Wednesday, the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act will also need to be passed by the Senate, before it can be handed over to President Biden for his approval and signature into law.

(By Stacy Hsu and Ko Lin)

Enditem/ASG

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Finland donates defence materiel assistance to Ukraine including more of mine-clearing Leopard 2 tanks

Finnish Ministry of Defence

23.03.2023

Finland will deliver more defence materiel to Ukraine. The President of the Republic decided on the matter on 23 March 2023 on the proposal of the Government.

This will be the 14th package of defence materiel to be delivered to Ukraine. It is estimated that to replace the defence materiel capabilities in this package will cost Finland EUR 161 million. The combined value of all defence materiel packages submitted so far is about EUR 910 million.

As part of international cooperation on Leopard tanks, Finland will hand over three Leopard 2 armoured mine-clearing vehicles to Ukraine, including training related to their use and maintenance. In an earlier package, Finland also delivered three Leopard 2 armoured mine-clearing vehicles, which means that the number of these vehicles sent to Ukraine is now six. The package also contains heavy weapons and munitions.

- For Ukraine, all materiel aid is vital in defending the country. We will continue our determined efforts to support Ukraine in repelling Russia's brutal invasion, says Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen.

For operational reasons and to ensure that the delivery reaches its destination, more detailed information on the content of the assistance, manner of delivery or schedule will not be provided.

Both Ukraine's needs and the resources of the Defence Forces have been taken into account when deciding on the additional assistance.

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NATO Secretary General to Party of European Socialists: crucial to sustain support to Ukraine

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

23 Mar. 2023

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in a meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES) on Thursday (23 March 2023), where he emphasised the importance of continuing to support Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, both now and for the long term.

Mr Stoltenberg outlined that sustaining support for Ukraine will involve ramping up production of weapons and ammunition, engaging with industry, and advancing joint procurement efforts. He stressed that he expected NATO Allies to agree an ambitious new defence investment pledge at the Vilnius Summit in July, with 2% of GDP as a minimum to be invested in defence.

The Secretary General welcomed progress on Finland and Sweden's path to NATO membership, including the upcoming ratification of Finland's accession by Hungary and TArkiye. He further reiterated his strong commitment to ensuring that Sweden's accession is also finalised as soon as possible.

The PES is meeting in Brussels ahead of the European Council. It brings together heads of state and government and other high-level political actors from the socialist, social democratic, labour and democratic parties in Europe.



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Iran reiterates its opposition to continuation of war in Ukraine

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 23 March 2023 1:13 AM

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterates Iran's opposition to the continuation of the war in Ukraine, repeating the Islamic Republic's readiness to help resolve the conflict.

The top diplomat made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis early Thursday.

"Based on this (Iran's opposition to the continuation of the war), we are ready to offer whatever instance of assistance to help expedite the resolution of the crisis," Amir-Abdollahian said.

Cassis, for his part, welcomed the Islamic Republic's position of preparedness for contribution to the realization of peace in Ukraine.

Russia started a military campaign in neighboring Ukraine last February to defend the pro-Russian population in eastern Ukrainian against persecution by Kiev.

Ever since the beginning of the war, Western countries, led by the United States, have been pumping Ukraine full of tens of billions of dollars worth of advanced weapons, a step that Moscow says would only prolong the hostilities.

Throughout the course of the conflict, Iran has invariably communicated its opposition to either its continuation or exacerbation, expressing willingness to contribute to whatever intermediary efforts that could help spell an end to it.

The Islamic Republic has also consistently rejected allegations championed by the West, especially the US, of, what the allies have called, Tehran's "provision of drones" to Russia throughout the course of the warfare.

Most recently, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei weighed in on the allegations during a televised New Year address on Tuesday. The Leader categorically dismissed the repetitive claims that have been made by Western countries about alleged Iranian drone shipments to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. Ayatollah Khamenei rather held the US responsible for fuelling the flames of war and profiting from the misery and blood of Ukrainians.

Still touching on the issue of the conflict during a separate phone call with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Amir-Abdollahian again expressed hope for the acceleration of the process of cessation of the warfare.

The Iranian foreign minister reiterated the Leader's remarks concerning the Western accusations targeting Iran, saying, in line with Ayatollah Khamenei's assertions, the Islamic Republic emphatically rejects any involvement in the war.

Iran has repeatedly asked Ukrainian authorities to provide whatever instance of strong evidence they might have that could prove their claims about the participation of Iranian drones in the war, Amir-Abdollahian concluded.

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Ukrainian Military Reverses Claim That Russian Forces Have Left Town In Kherson Region

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 23, 2023

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said it mistakenly announced the withdrawal of Russian forces from Nova Kakhovka in the southern Kherson region.

"The occupiers are still temporarily in Nova Kakhovka. Information about the alleged withdrawal of the enemy from this settlement was made public as a result of incorrect use of available data," the General Staff said on Telegram on March 23.

After the initial announcement, a Moscow-installed official in the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, denied the withdrawal of Russian forces, saying all Russian military personnel deployed in Nova Kakhovka remain in place.

The earlier General Staff statement said the Russian forces left Nova Kakhovka as of March 22. It added that the Russian forces looted homes before they departed, taking large quantities of household and electronic appliances, jewelry, clothing, and mobile phones.

Nova Kakhovka lies on the east bank of the Dnieper River, where Russian forces redeployed in November after abandoning positions on the west bank.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier on March 23 visited the partially occupied southern region of Kherson as Kyiv's forces continued to battle Russian troops in the east amid what the Ukrainian military said were the first signs of Russian "exhaustion" in the fierce fighting for the city of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian defenders repelled 83 Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, most of them directed at Bakhmut, the city in the Donetsk region that has become the epicenter of Moscow's offensive in the east, the General Staff said in its morning bulletin on March 23.

Russians kept their pressure on other settlements in Donetsk, such as Lyman, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Shakhtarsk, the military said, adding that "the enemy is losing a significant amount of manpower, weapons, and military equipment."

The claims could not be independently verified.

General Oleksandr Syrskiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said on March 23 that the Russians' relentless push in Bakhmut is beginning to take its toll on their strength and that Ukrainians are preparing to take advantage of their enemy's perceived weakness "very soon."

"The aggressor has not given up hope of taking Bakhmut whatever the cost, despite losses in manpower and equipment. Russia's main fighting force in this area is the Wagner mercenary group," Syrskiy said on Telegram.

"Not sparing anything, they are losing significant strength and becoming fatigued. Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, like we did near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balaklia and Kupyansk," he said.

British military intelligence has also suggested that Moscow's relentless pressure on Bakhmut, which has been mostly turned to rubble, is beginning to lose momentum in the face of Ukraine's staunch defense amid serious losses sustained by both sides.

But Serhiy Cherevatiy, a spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, cautioned that Bakhmut is still seeing intense combat.

"So far, Bakhmut remains the epicenter of hostilities, the main target of the enemy's attack," Cherevatiy told national television, answering a question about whether the Russian offensive near Bakhmut has weakened.

Cherevatiy added that the second-most intense fighting was taking place on the alignment between Kupyansk, in the Kharkiv region, and Lyman, in Donetsk.

Zelenskiy on March 23 visited Kherson, one of four regions that Moscow has groundlessly claimed to have annexed, pledging to restore the region's badly damaged infrastructure as fast as possible.

"We will try to rebuild before winter. Our priority is to restore electricity. Drinking water will also be provided according to the schedule.... I believe that everything will be fine," Zelenskiy said, according to the Ukrainian presidency's webpage.

Zelenskiy's visit to Kherson, the site of a Ukrainian counteroffensive that liberated much of the region in November, marked his second trip to Ukrainian regions in as many days, after he met troops near Bakhmut on March 22, handing them decorations and visiting a military medical facility in the northern Kharkiv region.

His visits came after Russian air strikes on Ukrainian cities killed at least 10 people, including eight who died when two dormitories were hit at a school in Rzhyshchiv, south of Kyiv, and one in Kherson city, where missiles struck a cardiology hospital.

Zelenskiy said Moscow's indiscriminate attacks on civilians shows Russia is not interested in peace and accused Russia of "bestial savagery" for targeting civilians.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not appear to be interested in immediate peace and was engaged "in a war of attrition."

In an interview with The Guardian, the NATO chief said Putin was "reaching out to authoritarian regimes like Iran or North Korea and others to try to get more weapons."

He said Russia was boosting its military production capacity and cautioned that Ukraine's Western allies must be prepared to supply Kyiv with weapons, ammunition, and military equipment for a long period of time.

"President Putin doesn't plan for peace. He's planning for more war," Stoltenberg said.

European Union leaders were poised on March 23 to endorse a plan for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months.

EU foreign and defense ministers approved the plan for a fast-track purchasing procedure earlier this week, and the leaders of the bloc's 27 member nations will give it their political blessing at a summit in Brussels, according to several senior EU diplomats.

Zelenskiy thanked leaders for the initiative during a video call.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-bakhmut-russia- fighting-civilians-nato-protracted-war/32330672.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Bulgaria's Pro-Kremlin Leader Refuses To Send Soviet-Era Fighter Jets And Tanks To Ukraine

By Georgi A. Angelov, Tony Wesolowsky March 23, 2023

With its stockpile of Soviet-era weapons, Bulgaria, home to a thriving arms industry, could be a key ally of Ukraine, which is trained on and equipped with such arms, in its war against invading Russian forces.

But with parliament now dissolved ahead of elections on April 2, the fifth snap poll in two years amid political uncertainty, the caretaking government is in no mood to provide lethal aid to Kyiv, appointed as it was by President Rumen Radev, who is known for his pro-Kremlin leanings.

Radev, a former air force pilot, doubled down on his hard-line stance on March 21, balking at joining a dozen EU states to supply Ukraine with at least 1 million artillery shells over the next year.

"Bulgaria does not support and is not part of the general order for the supply of shells to Ukraine," Radev said. "Our country will support European diplomatic efforts to restore peace."

Radev also added that Bulgaria will not provide fighter jets, missile defense systems, or tanks to Ukraine as long as the present caretaker government is in power.

Radev, along with Dimitar Stoyanov, the caretaker Bulgarian defense minister, have stated recently that transferring some of the country's military stockpiles, including Soviet-era tanks and jets, or S-300 air defense systems, would leave the country's own defenses weakened, claims analysts said are dubious.

Sofia also appears to be balking at an offer from Washington: Donate your Soviet-era hardware to Ukraine and the United States will replace them with modern systems or money. Slovakia and Greece are two NATO states to take Washington up on that offer.

The benefits of that deal were apparent on March 22 when Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad announced that the United States has offered to sell Slovakia 12 new Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters at a two-thirds discount after Bratislava sent its retired MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

And Bulgaria certainly needs to modernize its armed forces, argues Atanas Zapryanov, a former Bulgarian deputy defense minister, claiming much of its stockpile is close to being decommissioned anyway. "I guarantee you that in five years, mark my words, that it will be said that this scrap metal is useless, and we have to throw them away and buy new ones," Zapryanov told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service.

In parliament, opposition to aiding Ukraine's military has come specifically from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the far-right Revival party. Even the pro-Western government led by Kiril Petkov -- in office from December 2021 to July 2022 -- was unable with its coalition partners to overcome that opposition.

In May 2022, parliament only voted in favor of repairing Ukrainian military equipment at plants in Bulgaria, rejecting a government proposal to send an arms package to Kyiv.

However, by December 2022, the pro-Western faction was able to get approval for the first weapons package for Ukraine, albeit not heavy hardware. The list of arms in that package was classified, but government officials had said Sofia would mainly send light weaponry and ammunition.

Up till then, Bulgaria, along with Hungary led by Kremlin-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban, had been the only two nations in the EU to reject Ukrainian pleas for lethal military help.

Secretive Military Aid

However, behind the scenes Bulgaria was likely doing much more. Petkov recently said that his country had secretly supplied Ukraine with ammunition and much-needed diesel fuel in the first months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Last June, Aleksandar Mihaylov, then-director of Kintex, a state-owned arms and ammunition trading company, said Bulgaria had sent 4,200 tons of weapons to Ukraine via Poland.

Those military aid efforts to Ukraine may explain in part a series of explosions at munition depots in Bulgaria in recent years amid suspicions of Russian espionage, an RFE/RL special investigation has uncovered.

But officially, according to Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which has been tracking various forms of outside aid to Ukraine, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry had supplied Ukraine with helmets, vests, first aid kits, winter clothing, and boots in military equipment before parliament approved weapons shipments in December 2022.

That December vote may point to a possible pivot by Sofia, but with parliament dissolved and Radev --who won a second presidential term in November 2021 with the backing of the BSP -- firmly in charge for now, that seems unlikely.

Bulgaria has a thriving arms industry, the sixth largest in Europe, and specializes in the producing and upgrading of Soviet-era weapons systems. In 2021, domestic arms production generated more than 1 billion levs (nearly $550 million), with much of that output destined for other NATO countries, as well as states in Africa and Asia.

Reuters reported in November 2022 that arms factories in Eastern and Central Europe have been "churning out guns, ammunition, and other military supplies at a pace not [seen] since the Cold War "to assist aid against invading Russian forces.

U.S. Offers A Helping Hand

On January 6, Washington announced fresh military aid of $682 million for "European partners and allies to help incentivize and backfill donations of military equipment to Ukraine."

Not only could Bulgaria tap into that fund to modernize its military in exchange for transferring some of its older systems to Ukraine, but earlier in October 2022 the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria announced nearly $40 million under a similar scheme just for the Balkan country.

In December 2022, a U.S. delegation arrived in Sofia for talks about possible Bulgarian weapons deliveries to Ukraine. In particular, the U.S. officials offered unspecified U.S. weapons systems in exchange for Bulgaria sending an S-300 air-defense system to Ukraine.

Such a U.S. request had reportedly been voiced by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when he visited Sofia on March 19, 2022, with no success.

This time, U.S. officials reportedly offered more than $240 million in financial incentives to convince their Bulgarian counterpart, sources -- with knowledge of the talks -- told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service.

The Bulgarian Defense Ministry did not respond to questions from RFE/RL on whether it had expressed interest in taking part in what is formally known as Washington's Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.

The U.S. State Department also declined to say whether Bulgarian officials had voiced an interest in the program.

Radev said if Bulgaria were to donate to Ukraine some of its Soviet-era missile systems such as its S-300 and S-200, as well as MiG-29 and Su-25 military jets and T-72 tanks, then it will need replacements.

"As the supreme commander of the armed forces, I am obliged to insist that the defense potential of the Bulgarian Army is not weakened in this complex situation, but on the contrary, it must be maintained and developed," Radev vowed.

However, Bulgarian senior officials seem to be ignoring a golden opportunity to modernize their military with generous aid from Washington, said Zapryanov.

"From this billion [in U.S. dollars in military aid announced in September 2022 under the FMF], [the Bulgarian government] would be given money to buy whatever they want," Zapryanov told RFE/RL.

Slovakia could serve as a template for Bulgaria, Zapryanov noted. On March 17, Slovakia announced it will send all 13 of its MiG-29 jets to Ukraine at an unspecified date. In return, the United States will compensate the transfer with $745 million in defense materiel, while the EU will provide 200 million euros.

If Bulgaria were to supply Ukraine with its S-300 system, it would receive not only funding for more modern weapons, but protection of its skies by Patriot missile battery systems under NATO's air shielding mission as has been done in Slovakia, said Zapryanov, making it a win-win situation.

Plus, the ageing S-300 systems that Bulgaria now relies on will be decommissioned in two or three years, Zapryanov claimed. Its remaining MiG jets -- reported to number 4 or 5 -- could be taken out of service already by the end of this year.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-ukraine-radev- fighter-jets-tanks-russia/32331012.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Finland to Transfer 3 More Leopard 2 Mine-Clearing Vehicles to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230323

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Finland will provide Ukraine with more military assistance, including three Leopard 2 armored mine-clearing vehicles, bringing the total number to six, the Finnish Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"As part of international cooperation on Leopard tanks, Finland will hand over three Leopard 2 armoured mine-clearing vehicles to Ukraine, including training related to their use and maintenance," the statement read.

The delivery is part of the 14th military aid package, the ministry noted. Its cost is estimated at 161 million euros ($175 million), bringing Finland's total military aid to about 910 million euros, according to the statement. The package also includes heavy weapons and ammunition.

In the previous package, Finland also delivered three Leopard 2 armoured mine-clearing vehicles.

The ministry did not provide any further details on the content of the package, the method of delivery or the schedule, citing security concerns to ensure that the cargo reaches its destination.

In April 2022, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Zelensky regime after Russia started its military operation in Ukraine. Kremlin said that pumping Ukraine with weapons did not contribute to the success of peace negotiations and would have a detrimental effect on the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned on numerous occasions that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia.

A Sputnik

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President Putin's reported visits to Crimea and Mariupol: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Bush says that the international community knows the truth behind Putin's actions in Mariupol, and throughout Ukraine.

23 March 2023

Thank you, Mr Chair. President Putin's visit to Crimea last weekend, on the 9th anniversary of Russia's illegal annexation, and his reported visit to Mariupol, were a transparent attempt at distraction. They showed callous disregard for the suffering he is inflicting on Ukrainian soil. My statement today will focus on the truth behind Putin's actions in Mariupol, and throughout Ukraine.

Mr Chair, footage released over the weekend purported to show Putin on a walking tour of a new residential compound in Mariupol. What it did not show was the scale of the destruction Russia's military wreaked on the city last year. In an update provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2022, it estimated that 90% of residential buildings in Mariupol had been damaged or destroyed in Russia's attacks.

As we know all too well, Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure have impacted the entire country. Since Russia intensified its missile, and drone strikes on critical national infrastructure in October, whole regions, and millions of people, have been left without electricity, heating and water for prolonged periods. The UN Human Rights Council Independent International Commission of Inquiry report, published on 15 March, concluded that attacks on energy-related infrastructure "were disproportionate", "constituted the war crime of excessive incidental death, injury, or damage" and "may amount to a crime against humanity or other inhumane acts".

Putin did not stop when the extent of the harm he was causing became apparent - even when accounts were broadcast around the world of mothers unable to provide hot food and clean water for their children, of hospitals operating in the dark, and schools hit by missile strikes. Putin remained cruelly determined to break the will of the Ukrainian people. It did not work.

Mr Chair, this weekend Putin also reportedly visited an art school, a children's centre and a playground. However, Russian State media did not reference in its coverage that children have been amongst those most impacted by Putin's invasion. These children will bear the physical and psychological scars for years to come - robbed of stability, safety, education, and their homes. Many have been injured, lost family members and friends, and have been separated from their families. The recent Commission of Inquiry report stated that in some cases Russia's transfer or deportation of children, within Ukraine and to Russia, may amount to a war crime, thereby constituting grave violations of international humanitarian law.

Putin's reported visit to Mariupol this weekend has served to once again highlight the indelible mark he has left on the city. His reported visit reminds us of the maternity hospital hit by a Russian missile strike last year, which killed a mother and her new-born baby; it reminds us of the attack on the drama theatre, in which hundreds of civilians were hiding with a visible 'children' sign; and it reminds us of the people forced to flee Mariupol, and the thousands injured and killed as they sought safety.

Putin could bring these atrocities to an end immediately, by ceasing attacks on civilians and civilian national infrastructure, and by withdrawing his forces from Ukraine's sovereign territory. He chooses not to.

Mr Chair, the UK is determined to pursue justice for those in Mariupol, and throughout Ukraine. On Monday, Justice Ministers from around the world convened in London, for a meeting co-hosted with the Netherlands, to support efforts to investigate war crimes. We must ensure those responsible for these horrendous crimes know that they cannot act with impunity. The International Criminal Court's announcement last week is an important step in ensuring those responsible are held to account. The UK, alongside the international community, will continue to provide the International Criminal Court with the funding and expertise to ensure justice is served. We will support Ukraine, for as long as it takes.

Thank you.

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In the free territory of the Kherson region, more than 50 villages were almost completely destroyed by the occupier, but people are returning even to such villages - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

23 March 2023 - 21:34

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

I have returned from the Kherson region - my day was devoted primarily to this region of ours.

The security situation: our responses to the enemy shelling of the Kherson region, counter-battery fighting and everything else that our soldiers do so that the occupier knows that we will not forgive or forget terror.

Today, the Russian army struck again at the Kherson region, hit Beryslav - the local administration, houses, the museum... Even the historical museum in Beryslav is a threat to Russia for some reason... An absolutely mindless state, purely a terrorist state. Which we will neutralize.

I held a long meeting in Kherson with all those responsible for the region: for defense, for the social situation. We separately and carefully considered the energy situation, the issue of recovery.

In the free territory of the Kherson region, more than 50 villages were almost completely destroyed by the occupier. In some places, more than 90% of the buildings in the villages are ruined. But even in such villages, people return, and this is proof that life still prevails.

Today I was in one of the largest such villages - Posad-Pokrovske. Once one of the largest, before the invasion of Russia. And we will do everything to make this village one of the largest again - we will do everything to rebuild our territories.

I am grateful to everyone who helps restore the normality of life after the Russian evil. To everyone who, even in such difficult areas, continues to work and give work, to everyone who helps our soldiers.

I especially want to thank everyone involved in demining. It is nice to see when the fields of the Kherson region, cleared of Russian mines and shells, are cultivated again, live again.

Of course, there are still few such lands, and there is still enough work for our sappers and pyrotechnicians... But I am sure that we will cleanse our land of all the deadly manifestations of Russia. All of Ukraine will live.

I am grateful to Finland, which today announced a new package of security support. Among other things, these are demining machines. Plus, of course, important things for our military on the frontline.

I had the honor to present state awards today to our soldiers who distinguished themselves in the defense of the Kherson region and the whole of Ukraine.

On the train of our "Ukrzaliznytsia" - by the way, I thank the entire team of our strong railway - I took part online in the meeting of the European Council, which took place in Brussels with the participation of the leaders of all EU states and the President of the European Council Charles Michel. I was very specific in this address.

I pointed out the strong steps taken by the partners. But I also noted things that, unfortunately, do not allow us to speed up the liberation of the territories, do not allow us to speed up the end of the war.

First of all, it is the supply of more effective weapons to our warriors - long-range weapons and modern aircraft, regarding which we still see a certain delay in the decisions of our partners. It is also important to move more actively in the direction of new and stronger sanctions against Russia for terror and new steps in our Ukrainian integration with the structures of the European Union.

I am sure: the partners have heard Ukraine's position.

And one more thing. Today we have a result which we have been working on for some time.

An agreement was signed on the opening of a representative office of the International Criminal Court in Ukraine.

This step will allow international justice to be even more active in investigating the crimes of the Russian military on our Ukrainian soil.

I am thankful to the entire team of the International Criminal Court, the Office of the Prosecutor General, our partners, everyone who helps the work of international justice - the investigation of Russian crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Glory to all who are now fighting for freedom!

Glory to each and every one who defends our Kherson region, our Mykolaiv region, Odesa region, Dnipropetrovsk region, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas, Kharkiv region, Sumy region, Chernihiv region and all of our Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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If Europe hesitates, evil can prepare itself for years of war, it is in your power not to allow this to happen - Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to the participants of the European Council meeting

President of Ukraine

23 March 2023 - 20:42

Dear colleagues, dear Charles!

I'm glad to greet you today as I always do, but in a slightly different format. Now I'm visiting the cities that Russia is trying to ruin. The cities of Donbas, our Kharkiv - one of the centers of the east of Europe, our Kherson - already liberated from Russian occupation, but suffering from Russian terrorist strikes.

Now I'm on the train, on the way, taking every opportunity, to support the spirit of our people, to bring closer the time when we will be able to drive out the Russian terrorists further from Ukraine - these war criminals, who, as every one of you knows, are dreaming of bringing to your cities the evil they have brought to Ukraine.

God forbid anyone in the world should see their cities empty because of the threat of terrorist attacks, such as Kramatorsk or dozens of other cities of Donbas. With destroyed houses - destroyed by Russian artillery. Houses with plywood instead of glass in the windows where people are still trying to live. Ruined villages, destroyed by shelling as in our Kherson region and in every place where Russian occupiers can reach. Desolate - because full of mines - fields...

God forbid anyone should see it happen in his or her own country.

Dear colleagues!

No one knows for sure how long the war will last and which battles will bring us success faster and which ones will require more effort. But what is clear is that if there are no delays or stagnation in our cooperation, if our joint efforts are resolutely focused on Ukraine's victory, the victory will be gained already this year.

Time is important. Not only months and weeks, but also days are important. The faster we act together - the more lives we save. For more than a year of full-scale war, our cooperation with you has been steadily growing. Was there a destructive protraction between our steps? Yes, there was. But still, we were pursuing a common goal - we were acting to stop Russian terror.

Our defense cooperation; the successful passing through the winter - without chaos and crisis; economic cooperation; ten EU sanctions packages against Russia; European assistance to international justice in holding Russian war criminals accountable... All of this is the evidence that Europe knows how to defend its values and has the courage to stand up to terror.

I am especially grateful to those of you who are actively involved in the initiative proposed by Estonia and approved by all of you - to supply and manufacture shells for our artillery. The more often Ukrainian cannons hit the occupier - the less chance Russia has to implement its genocidal policy against Ukrainians and other Europeans.

I am also grateful to those of you who support the work of the International Criminal Court and our efforts to establish a Special Tribunal for the Russian crime of aggression against Ukraine, as well as efforts to launch a Compensation Mechanism that will convert Russia's currently seized assets into restoring life, disrupted by the Russian war, in Ukraine.

But, dear colleagues, don't you feel that we have fewer new successes than new protractions in our joint efforts? Unfortunately, this is the case. And the Kremlin sees this. This moves us further away from achieving peace. I will now point out five examples of protraction.

First.

While every hour on the battlefield counts, the protraction in supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine is already significant. This does not allow us to roll back the positions of Russian terrorists, in particular from Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and our other cities, which are constantly shelled by Russian long-range missiles.

Only yesterday, and only in our Zaporizhzhia, rockets of Russian terrorists hit ordinary multi-storey apartment buildings. Dozens of families lost their homes, many were injured, there are dead... Ordinary people! My condolences to all relatives and friends of those whose lives were taken by Russian terror!

There should be no protraction in transferring the weapons to our soldiers that can protect Ukrainians from terror - constant Russian terror.

The second example.

I'm grateful to Poland and I'm grateful to Slovakia for their decisions on MiGs for Ukraine. This will significantly strengthen the defense of our sky. But we need modern aircrafts - and this is exactly what we have been talking about. Is there rational motivation for the protraction in providing modern aircraft?

Remember how many Russian threats there were when it came to the transfer of Leopards and other tanks - more advanced than those our soldiers had previously. These more advanced tanks are already in Ukraine. So, what did Russia do in response? We all have to get used to the fact that a terrorist state bluffs more often than it can escalate. All the evil against Ukraine and against the whole of Europe that Russia was capable of, it is already doing.

The third example.

The protraction with new European sanctions packages is becoming increasingly troublesome. On the one hand, global efforts are not yet sufficient to prevent Russia from adapting to the sanctions and from circumventing them through third countries. On the other hand, the EU is not signalizing to the world that sanctions against Russia will be increased further.

The simple question is: how will third countries perceive this protraction? Those whose governments do not respect international law. Obviously, they may think that ignoring the sanctions will have no consequences.

That's why sanctions must be expanded. There cannot be even a slight hint of delaying decisions on sanctions. Moreover, there must be no slackening of sanctions - and especially under the manipulative cover of food security. Strong sanctions give the security, and the easing of sanctions is an invitation to new crises, including the food crisis.

The fourth example - the Peace Formula, the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which I presented in the autumn, is the only realistic and comprehensive plan to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and guarantee security for our people and for the whole of Europe.

We have been talking to you for a long time about organizing the Peace Formula Summit. I am ready to schedule the Summit in Kyiv for the near future. But we are all well aware that under the current circumstances, many leaders, unfortunately, will not be able to come to Ukraine. So, I urge you to help us with this.

We could organize the Summit in one of the world's capitals - in one of the European capitals. Wouldn't this add to Europe's global strength? It surely will.

And the fifth point.

Regardless of the level of severity of the Russian terror, whatever the aggressor plans, we continue to develop our institutions according to the standards of the European ones. Ukraine's transformation into a modern, fully accountable to society, corruption-free and institutionally stable state continues.

The results are obvious. We have withstood the war. Our institutions are functioning - despite everything. Financial system, banks, all public services, social sphere.

It is critical that there is no protraction in bringing closer Ukraine and the European Union. This is important both for the protection of Ukraine and for the protection of the European system. This is in line with the objective need to constantly strengthen Europe, as only such constant strengthening guarantees true resilience.

Ukraine is ready for a decision to start accession negotiations on EU membership already this year. The same readiness is needed from all of you - every leader in Europe. Ukrainians need to see your readiness and need to be motivated by it - to feel that the defense of European values by our soldiers is truly supported by the whole of Europe.

Charles, dear colleagues! If the war can teach leaders affected by it anything, it is that honesty between allies guarantees victory. I have honestly pointed out five key threats - five reasons protracting this war and pushing peace further away.

We have to do everything we can to avoid such protraction. And definitely - we can do it. Europe knows how to be decisive. I know that you can appreciate the value of time.

Let each meeting, each discussion, each day of our work together bring the return of peace closer - bring closer the liberation of our land and all of Europe from Russian evil. If Europe hesitates, evil may have time to regroup and prepare itself for years of war. It is in your power not to allow this to happen.

Together, we can liberate Ukraine from Russian aggression already this year.

Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your support and assistance!

Glory to all those who are fighting now for freedom!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting regarding the situation in the Kherson region and awarded Ukrainian defenders

President of Ukraine

23 March 2023 - 13:14

During a working trip to the Kherson region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a coordination meeting on the current security situation and the state of elimination of the consequences of damage to critical infrastructure facilities in the region.

The Head of State listened to the report of the military command on the operational situation in the area of responsibility.

The participants of the meeting discussed the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in the region and the demining progress in the de-occupied territories. Particular attention was paid to the restoration of power grids in the Kherson region and the provision of repair crews with the necessary materials.

The President also presented state awards to Ukrainian servicemen who participated in the defense of the Kherson region from the enemy. The Head of State awarded the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and "For Courage" of the III degree and medals "For Military Service to Ukraine".

"I am glad to be in the Kherson region today. I have the honor to congratulate you, thank you for protecting our territorial integrity, the sovereignty of our state. I want to thank you and all your brothers-in-arms who are with us today and who, unfortunately, are not. They are in the heart, in memory, in history," said the Head of State.

The military presented a souvenir to the President - a watch with the image of the State Coat of Arms of Ukraine and a map of Crimea, which was made from part of the barrel of a damaged enemy cannon.

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Ukraine Vows Counteroffensive 'Very Soon'

By VOA News March 23, 2023

Ukraine, asserting that Russia's attempt to capture Bakhmut has stalled, is now planning to launch a long-awaited counteroffensive "very soon," Ukraine's top ground forces commander said Thursday.

Ukrainian Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on the Telegram social media site that Russia's Wagner mercenaries, often convicts recruited out of prisons, "are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam" in trying to take control of Bakhmut. After considering a pullout in the eastern city, Ukraine kept its troops in place, while also sending in reinforcements.

"Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk," he said, naming cities Ukraine has defended or captured from Russian control.

Syrskyi was one of the top commanders behind Ukraine's strategy last year in the first weeks of the war that repelled Russia's assault on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, and turned back Moscow's forces through the second half of 2022.

On Wednesday, Britain's defense ministry said Ukrainian forces had launched a local counterattack west of Bakhmut that was likely to relieve pressure on the main route used to supply Kyiv's forces inside the city.

The defense ministry said there was still a threat that Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut could be surrounded, but there was "a realistic possibility the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained."

The front lines of the war in eastern Ukraine have largely stalemated in recent months, with neither side able to capture significant new territory, even as they both sustain huge numbers of casualties.

Moscow has not commented on Ukrainian claims that it is losing momentum in Bakhmut, but Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner mercenary boss, in recent days has pessimistically warned of a Ukrainian counter assault.

Earlier this week, Prigozhin published a letter to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, warning that Ukraine is trying to cut off Wagner's forces from Russia's regular troops and demanding Shoigu act to prevent this. Prigozhin said there would be "negative consequences" if he failed.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his tour of frontline provinces, visiting the Kherson region in the south a day after meeting troops near Bakhmut. A video showed him meeting residents in Posad Pokrovske, a bombed-out village on the former Kherson frontline recaptured in Ukraine's last big advance last year.

"We will restore everything; we will rebuild everything. Just like with every city and village that suffered because of the occupiers," he wrote.

Off the battlefield, European Union leaders are expected to give their approval Thursday for a plan to speed ammunition deliveries to Ukrainian forces.

The $2 billion plan was endorsed earlier this week by EU foreign and defense ministers. It calls for both sending ammunition from existing stocks and for EU countries to work together to place new orders for more rounds.

Ukrainian leaders have told Western allies that Ukraine's military has an urgent need for more ammunition, especially 155-millimeter shells.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined EU leaders meeting Thursday in Brussels, with Zelenskyy speaking to them later in a video address.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Ukrainian Patriot Air Defense Crew Finishes Training Ahead of Schedule

By Ostap Yarysh March 23, 2023

Since January, 65 Ukrainian soldiers have been training at Fort Sill, a U.S. Army base in Oklahoma, to operate a Patriot air defense system. The troops expect to graduate in March and return to Ukraine to begin deploying the mobile air defense system.

Given the sensitivity around the advanced training, the Pentagon has forbidden photographs of the participating soldiers and declined to allow VOA to name them. But Voice of America journalist Ostap Yarysh traveled to Fort Sill and observed the group firsthand.

Rapid field training

An American instructor watches Ukrainian soldiers deploy a big radar in the field.

"Our military deploys a Patriot battery in 40 to 45 minutes," he said. "Ukrainians manage it in 25. They do a great job. They are very optimistic, considering the situation at home."

Among the Ukrainian men and women who traveled to Oklahoma, the youngest is 19, the oldest is 67. For the past 10 weeks, using an accelerated program developed by the Pentagon that has them training at least 10 hours a day, six days a week, they have worked to master the Patriot air defense system.

Tuesday was one of the final training sessions in the field. In a few days, the team will be ready to graduate.

Strong winds, like Tuesday's, are typical on the plains of southern Oklahoma. They do not obstruct the training: A group of Ukrainian soldiers smoothly deploys a Patriot battery in the middle of the field and brings it to combat readiness. In addition to several launchers, the battery includes a radar, an electric power plant and a control station a all of which are on wheels.

"I think of those components as the body parts," said one instructor at Fort Sill who has been involved in the training but asked not to be named.

The "control station is kind of like the brains of the operation," he said. "Radar, I like to call it the eyes. It's what sees everything. Power plant is what gives the body all the nutrients, because it throws all the power out. And then launchers are what I call my arms and legs, because that's what does all the actual fighting. That's how I explained it to a lot of my unit students."

The training program was designed so Ukrainians can master each of the components separately and then learn how to maintain them together. Some exercises take place outdoors, while others take place in classrooms or on simulators.

The Ukrainian training differs from the Pentagon's usual course because it was tailored specifically for the war in Ukraine. Instead of classic air combat scenarios, this course is based on battle experience fighting Russia's invasion.

Combat experience

"They are the best of the best in what they do in air defense for Ukraine," said Brigadier General Shane Morgan, who is the commanding general of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill. "Our assessment is that the Ukrainian soldiers are impressive, and absolutely a quick study due to their extensive air defense knowledge and experience in a combat zone. It was easier, though never easy, for them to grasp the Patriot system operations and maintenance concepts."

For the U.S. Patriot training, Ukraine handpicked military personnel who had significant experience in intercepting air attacks. That allowed the Pentagon to shrink the course length from its usual six months to 10 weeks.

American instructors say one of the challenges of the training was the language barrier, because not all of the Ukrainian soldiers were proficient in English. However, the Pentagon quickly found a solution: They brought interpreters and translators to Fort Sill.

In the end, it turned out to be beneficial for both parties.

"We have learned as much from them as what we have taught them," said one of the Fort Sill senior leaders, who declined to provide his name.

"Ukrainians had real combat experience. Many of the Ukrainian armed forces have engaged and destroyed Russian threats," he said. "I would say thankfully, most of our soldiers have not had to actually do that. That's provided us some thoughts on tactics, techniques and procedures that we may not have thought about."

New capabilities

The Patriot is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world. It can detect a threat within a radius of 150 km and intercept cruise and ballistic missiles as well as aircraft and other targets at an altitude of 20 km.

Patriots are also highly mobile, can intercept several targets simultaneously and are resistant to electronic jamming.

Launchers come in different configurations, with four PAC-2 missiles, or with 16 PAC-3 missiles. At Fort Sill, the Ukrainians trained on both.

U.S. defense officials say that the Patriot will be an addition to other short- and medium-range air defense systems provided to Ukraine by the U.S. and allies. Together, this should create a multilayered system of protection of the Ukrainian sky and help defend against various attacks from ballistic missiles to kamikaze drones.

"Patriot is not going be able to defend the entire city like Kyiv," said one of the Fort Sill senior leaders. "The area that Patriot can defend varies based on the threat. If it's a cruise missile, it may be able to defend a little large area, but with more advanced ballistic missiles, it may be a little smaller."

Crews ready

Despite the compressed timetable, the American trainers say the Ukrainian crews are fully prepared.

"I'm very proud of the training we've done here," said an instructor at Fort Sill. "I have full confidence in the Patriot systems and in Ukrainian soldiers who are operating them."

The U.S. will transfer one Patriot battery to Ukraine. Another will come from Germany and the Netherlands. These countries also organized training for other Ukrainian air defense teams.

When they graduate from Fort Sill, the Ukrainian soldiers will receive a final stage of training in Europe on combat coordination with their colleagues. The Pentagon said it expects that Patriot systems will be working in Ukraine in the coming weeks.

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"In a joint press statement today, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with their partners, endorsed the launch by Nedamco Africa of an innovative initiative to implement Water Management through a fully digital approach. This groundbreaking endeavor has the potential to significantly improve the water quality, facilitate direct access, and increase the availability of water volumes for approximately 10 million individuals residing in the metropolitan area of Addis Ababa."



NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at the UN23 Water Conference in New York, H.E. Dr. Eng. Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minister for the Ministry of Water and Energy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Kitty van der Heijden, Director-General International Cooperation at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, endorsed the launch of the Ethiopian SDG6 Water Management initiative. The initiative has the aim to improve the water needs of millions of people and will be based on digitally verifiable outcomes focused on the reduction of non-revenue water, increase of water quality, increased access to water, and higher availability of water. In a first-ever, leveraging the latest available technologies, the solution will measure, report, and verify outcomes of Water Management, starting in Addis Ababa, a city of 10 million inhabitants, starting in a sub-set of the city, using Digital Twins in a fully digital and transparent manner. This project is a collaboration of the Ethiopian local and federal government and multiple innovators in the profit and non-profit sectors like Microsoft, Bentley Systems, Deltares and VEI. The launch is endorsed by the Dutch Government. The SDG6 Water Management initiative has the potential to be rolled out to over nineteen other countries in fifty-five cities, improving the water needs of half a billion people.

Changing lives  African water challenges  In this era of climate disruption, African cities are grappling with a plethora of water-related challenges that are impacting the lives of their residents. The lack of infrastructure and investment is one of the main obstacles, resulting in restricted access to clean and safe water for many people. In addition, water pollution and contamination are prevalent, especially in informal settlements where residents have limited means of obtaining clean water. Furthermore, climate change and rising water demand are putting additional pressure on already scarce water resources, compounding the existing water challenges in African cities. These challenges must be addressed with innovative and sustainable solutions that improve access to safe water and ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources.

"We Africans are highly affected by the carbon emission released by the developed nations, and we are way behind to achieve the SDGs with the current pace unless we deploy new technologies and innovations. By synergizing the vision and mission of the two most committed and robust partners on the planet, along with the latest digital technologies available for water management at scale, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to transform the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people in Africa, who are suffering a lot in search of clean water. Therefore, call to action for Africans to join for cooperation and integration to transform the lives of our citizens," stated H.E. Dr. Eng. Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minister for the Ministry of Water and Energy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

True impact through results-based financing  The parties are adopting a results-based financing approach. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the use of innovative technologies and best practices, we aim to unite the world around water and pool global resources and expertise. The innovative solution, jointly developed by Dutch and international water eco-system players will help us overcome the water challenges that we face worldwide. The SDG6 Water Management initiative will ensure that partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society are forged, leading to sustainable and equitable use of water that benefits all.

"Water management is at the heart of our nation's identity. We have been facing the challenges of water for centuries, and through collaboration and innovation, we have found ways to turn these challenges into opportunities. In the Netherlands, I am proud to say that we have a long history of working together to manage our water resources. From our world-renowned systems of dykes and pumps, to our innovative approaches to water treatment and reuse, we have shown that it is possible to turn the challenges of water into opportunities for progress and prosperity. By working together, the world can do the same. Together, we can build a future where everyone has access to the clean water they need to thrive, where our rivers and lakes are protected from pollution and overuse, and where we are able to adapt to the changing demands of a rapidly changing world," said Kitty van der Heijden, Director-General International Cooperation at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

Technology for good - Digital twin technology has the potential to significantly enhance water management in Africa, leading to better outcomes for communities in need. By creating a virtual replica of physical assets, such as water distribution systems, digital twins can be used to analyze, monitor, and optimize water usage and distribution in real-time. This, in turn, can lead to more efficient and effective management of water resources, reducing waste and improving water security. Digital twin technology can also help detect and prevent water leaks and other issues, thereby enhancing the access to clean water for communities, which is especially critical in areas with water scarcity. Additionally, digital twin technology can aid in the development of new water infrastructure projects, such as reservoirs, by simulating and assessing these projects in a virtual environment. This approach can provide valuable insights into the potential impact and effectiveness of these projects, reducing the risk of failure and improving outcomes.

Anke den Ouden, General Manager of Microsoft Netherlands, stated, "The introduction of digital twin technology in water management has the potential to significantly improve access to clean water and water security in Africa. It can optimize water usage and distribution, leading to a better quality of life for people in the region. We at Microsoft are proud to be a part of this initiative."

Impact Investments for a better world - Nedamco Africa is a company that invests in, and is fully committed to making a positive impact on Africa and the global environment. They recognize the crucial role that water management plays in the sustainability of the continent and are focused on finding innovative solutions to the challenges facing Africa's water supply. Nedamco Africa's investment strategy prioritizes the measurement of impact over financial returns, emphasizing sustainable solutions that benefit the environment and communities in Africa. They invest in cutting-edge technologies, such as cloud skills, digital twins, and climate-friendly solutions to create a lasting positive impact. In water management, Nedamco Africa is working to improve access to safe drinking water, reduce water waste, and promote water conservation. Nedamco Africa is a driving force for impact investments that contribute to creating a better world for everyone.

Michael Kogeler, CEO of Nedamco Africa, expressed, "With a complete commitment to Africa and the planet, Nedamco Africa is at the forefront of impact investments that prioritize sustainability and positive impact. Our emphasis on innovative technologies and measurement of the impact of our investments is driving positive change and creating a better future for Africa and the world."

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5195295-2181-4470-8e4c-80fb8959bc4e
LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irwin Naturals Inc. (CSE: IWIN) (OTC: IWINF) (FRA: 97X) (Irwin or the Company), is proud to announce the release of Irwin Naturals Cannabis new CBD 25mg Softgels in Canada, available nationwide through the Starseed Medicinal Medical Group platform.



CBD 25mg Softgels are just the first of five CBD and THC products that Irwin Naturals Cannabis, through its licensing agreement with Entourage Health Corp., plans to launch nationwide in Canada over the next few months. The company's product lineup will include a range of CBD and THC products designed in a variety of formulations to suit consumers varying needs.

"We're thrilled to be launching our first cannabis product in Canada," said Klee Irwin, founder of Irwin Naturals Cannabis. "With our CBD 25mg Softgels, we are bringing a high-quality cannabis-derived CBD oil product to allow consumers to incorporate premium CBD into their daily health regimens. We're excited to be able to bring the benefits of CBD to consumers across the country."

The full line of Irwin Naturals Cannabis products will be offered as softgels that utilize hemp seed oil and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. There will be five different formulations: THC (10 mg THC), CBD (25 mg CBD), 1:1 (10 mg CBD, 10 mg THC), 3:1 (30 mg CBD, 10 mg THC) and a 2:1 formulation that combines THC and the cannabinoid CBN (10 mg THC, 5 mg CBN).

Irwin Naturals was founded in 1994 and its best-in-class nutraceuticals have built it into a brand that is now recognized in 80 percent of American households.1 It has operated profitably for the past 27 years,2 and it is now seeking to use the equity and power of that brand in emerging markets like cannabis and psychedelic mental-health clinics.

Irwin Naturals first entered into the cannabis industry in 2018 when it began infusing hemp-based CBD into its herbal supplements available in the United States. This year, it began expanding its brand to products with THC, with the goal of becoming the first household brand to have its products available in all 38 states where cannabis is currently legal. Because cannabis is not legal at the federal level in the United States, Irwin Naturals Cannabis has gone state by state, reaching licensing agreements with cannabis manufacturers. It has already announced agreements in nine states. This agreement with Entourage in Canada means that Irwin Naturals Cannabis products will achieve not just national, but international distribution.

About Irwin Naturals

Irwin Naturals has been a household name and best-in-class herbal supplement formulator since 1994. It is now leveraging its brand to enter into both the cannabis and psychedelic industries. On a mission to heal the world with plant medicine, Irwins growing portfolio of products is available in more than 100,000 retail doors across North America where nearly 100 million people know the Irwin Naturals brand.3 In 2018, the Company first leveraged its brand to expand into the cannabis industry by launching hemp-based CBD products into the mass market. The Company is now leveraging its famous halo of brand trust with an objective to become one of the first household name brands to offer THC-based products and psychedelic mental health treatment. Irwin Naturals became a publicly traded company on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) in August 2021. The Companys shares began to be traded on the OTCQB Venture Market in November 2021. More information on the Companys stock can be found via Bloomberg as well as the Wall Street Journal.

Klee Irwin

________________________________

Klee Irwin

Chief Executive Officer

T:310-306-3636

investors@irwinnaturals.com

IR Information

For investor-related information, please visit ir.irwinnaturals.com/, call (800) 883-4851, or email Investors@IrwinNaturals.com.

Press Contact

Irwin Naturals Investor Relations

Cassandra Bassanetti-Drumm

T: 310-306-3636

investors@irwinnaturals.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of management of the Company with respect to performance, business and future events. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "targeted", "continues", "forecasts", "designed", "goal", objective, or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Company operates. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements related to information concerning the ability of the Company to perform the terms of the transaction referenced herein; the receipt of all necessary approvals, including regulatory approvals; expectations for other economic, market, business and competitive factors; and the Company actually entering into and doing business in the U.S. cannabis and psychedelics markets. Except for (i) the License and Supply Agreement announced herein and (ii) the other license and supply deals entered into referenced herein (with The Hive Laboratory, LLC, as described in the Companys April 19, 2022 press release; with Assurance Laboratories as described in the Companys May 13, 2022 press release; with BeneLeaves Ltd. as described in the Companys May 24, 2022 press release; Larsen Group II LLC as described in the Companys May 20, 2022 press release), the Company does not have any other active operations or agreements with respect to the entrance into the THC and/or cannabis markets. The potential entrance by the Company into these new business segments are in their preliminary stages and may be subject to approval from the board of directors of the Company as well as any regulatory approval, including that of the Canadian Securities Exchange. These statements are based on numerous assumptions that are believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: board and regulatory approval, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange; Irwin being able to acquire and/or enter into business relationships to enter into these new markets; the Company obtaining the required licenses; and changes to regulations and laws regarding cannabis or psychedelics. Further information on the regulatory environment and risks will be contained in future disclosures. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from that which are expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 Consumer brand recognition information is based on a formal Company survey with a sample size of 500 randomly selected adults.

2 Under several corporate structures, Klee Irwin has operated the Irwin brand profitably since 1994, as measured by EBITDA adjusted for extraordinary costs.

3 Consumer brand recognition information is based on a formal Company survey with a sample size of 500 randomly selected adults.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a48c9a62-49f3-44fa-8229-5c61e8bb3e2f




Pune, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market research, a global Material & Chemical market research firm, has published competitive intelligence market research report on  Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market . The Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market size was valued at USD 1.91 Bn in 2021. The total Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 2.78 Bn during the forecast period.



Market Size in 2021 USD 1.91Bn Market Size in 2029 USD 2.78 Bn CAGR 4.8 percent (2022-2029) Forecast Period 2022-2029 Base Year 2021 Number of Pages 262 No. of Tables 125 No. of Charts and Figures 119 Segment Covered By Type and End-Use Industries Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222029, Market Dynamics, Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Key Trends, Competitive Landscape, Key Players Benchmarking, Competitive Analysis, MMR Competition Matrix, Competitive Leadership Mapping, Global Key Players Market Ranking Analysis.

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Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market Scope and Research Methodology

The report on Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market provides an in-depth analysis of the industry. Key highlights of the report include the market size and the growth rate. Key insights of the report include the major applications and drivers of the market, challenges to growth and opportunities for Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market growth. The report covers a thorough regional analysis of the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings industry at local, regional and global level. Segments covered in the report are by type and End-Use Industries.

The report covers the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market strategies followed by major players and provides their analysis on the basis of growth in the industry which helps investors and major companies decide their investments and to make data-driven decisions. Primary and secondary research methods were used to collect the data from Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market. Key players are identified through secondary research. The market size of CUI & SOI coatings in terms of value and volume is provided in the report.

Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market Overview

The insulation is used for thermal or acoustic purposes, and is common in the oil & gas industry, where steel piping is widely used. SOI coatings with the high level of humidity by providing a full air seal for both residential and commercial structures are used for the insulation for thermal and acoustic purposes.

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Need for high efficiency and prolonged equipment life to boost the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth

Coatings such as CUI & SOI coatings are used in oil and gas industrial sectors to safeguard pipelines, equipment and storage tanks. Toxic and corrosive chemicals are used in industries, which requires high temperature and heat. These coatings are solvent base, water-based paints and powder coating. Adoption of heavy-duty corrosion protective coatings helps to decrease the impact on the reactor surfaces and the equipment's operating life is prolonged.

Demand for polysiloxane based spray on insulative coatings in petroleum refineries and chemical industries are expected to boost the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth. Usage of vapor phase corrosion inhibitors (VCI) method for prevention of CUI are alternative corrosion control approach that is both effective and affordable. Demand for high-efficiency & high-performance CUI & SOI coatings across the end-use industries is expected to influence the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth.

Increasing demand for the alternatives for the Anti-corrosion coatings and non-corrosive pipe materials are expected to hinder the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth.

Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market over the forecast period

Asia-Pacific region dominated the regional Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market in 2021 and is expected to continue the dominance over the forecast period. Increasing oil & gas, petrochemical, marine and hydroelectric generator sector to boost the Asia Pacific regional Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth. Indias Oil & gas industry is expected to fuel the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth over the forecast period.

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Followed by Europe, North America is expected to contribute to the regional Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth over the forecast period. Presence of major key players in the region to influence the market growth in the region. Increased need for CUI & SOI costing with improved features and efficiency is expected to drive the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth.

Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market Segmentation

Based on Type, Epoxy segment expected to dominate the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth over the forecast period

Epoxy segment held the largest Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market share in 2021. The superior CUI protection, water resistance, and use of epoxy based CUI coatings are the factors dominating the Epoxy segment. Demand for CUI mitigation in laboratory tests and real world performance is expected to fuel the epoxy segment in the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market.

Based on End Use industries, Oil & Gas and Petrochemical segment to hold the largest Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market share over the forecast period

Oil & Gas, and the Petrochemical segment has a high volume of CUI & SOI coatings used in the industries. Coating material are used to avoid degradation due to the rigorous treatment, pipes, and equipment required. Need for coating in Oil & Gas and Petrochemical industry is expected to influence the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market growth.

By Type:

Epoxy

Acrylic

Silicone

Multi-Polymeric Matrix

Others (multi-polymeric matrix, zinc silicate, oxide chemicals, titanium modified inorganic copolymer, and water-based CUI coatings)



By End-Use Industries:

Marine

Oil & Gas, And Petrochemical

Energy & Power

Building & Construction

Food

Pharmaceuticals

Automotive



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Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market Key Players include:

Akzo Nobel N.V.

PPG Industries, Inc.,

Jotun A/S (Norway),

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Hempel A/S

Kansai Paint Co., Ltd

Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.

RPM International Inc.

Axalta Coating Systems

BASF Coatings

Asian Paints Limited.

Kansai Paint Co. Ltd.

Jotun

Presserv Group

Belzona

APLIKA CONTROL

PERMA-PIPE

Presserv Group

Sharpshell

Resimac

Lincoln Industries

Syneffex

Akzo Nobel N.V.:

The company is expert in making coatings and is active in over 150 countries. They are developing products to color and protect all kinds of buildings, inside and out from private homes to industrial sectors. Their coatings meet the highest standards in new substrates/composites and design. The total annual revenue of the company was USD 1750.77 Mn In 2022.

Jotun A/S:

Jotun is a multinational chemicals company dealing mainly in decorative paints and performance coatings. The company is the world's largest manufacturer of paints and coating products. Jotun manufactures paints and varnishes for marine and industrial purposes. The total annual revenue of the company in 2022 was USD 2679.88 Mn.

Key questions answered in the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market are:

What are Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings?

What was the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market size in 2021?

What is the expected Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market size by 2029?

What is the growth rate of the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings Market?

Which are the factors expected to drive the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market growth?

Which factors are expected to restrain the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market growth?

Which segment dominated the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market growth?

What is the demand pattern for the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market?

Which region held the largest share in the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market?

Who are the key players in the Corrosion Under Insulation and Spray-on Insulation Coatings market?

Key Offerings:

Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021)

Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021)

Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029

Market Dynamics  Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Type and End-Use Industries

Competitive Landscape  Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape  Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region

PESTLE Analysis

PORTERs analysis

Value chain and supply chain analysis

Legal Aspects of business by region

Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis

Recommendations

Maximize Market Research is leading Material & Chemical research firm, has also published the following reports:

Corrosion Inhibitor Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 11.20 Bn by 2029 from USD 7.69 Bn in 2021 at a CAGR of 4.8 percent during the forecast period. Demand for non-toxic corrosion inhibitors in various sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and power generation is expected to fuel the market growth.

Corrosion Resistant Alloys Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 12.48 Bn by 2029 with the CAGR of 8.1 perecnt during the forecast period. Various technological developments like deep-water exploration, drilling technology, subsea technologies is expected to boost the market growth.

Corrosion Resistant Dosing Valve Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 3.32 Bn by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.2 percent throughout the forecast period. Cost-effectiveness of Corrosion resistant dosing valves is expected to drive the market growth.

Corrosion Monitoring Market : The market size was valued USD 445.80 Mn in 2021 and is expected to reach 1042.26 Mn by 2029, at a CAGR of 11.2 percent during the forecast period. Development in oil and gas industries which highly recommends the corrosion monitoring program is expected to fuel the market growth.

Stealth Coating Market : The market size was valued at USD 265 Mn in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9 perecnt over the forecast period to reach USD 419.19 Mn. Increasing applications in various industries such as aerospace & defense, automotive, and electronic products is expected to drive the market growth.

About Maximize Market Research:

Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial equipment, technology, and communication, cars, and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated systems. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies.
Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Vietnam data center market size is expected to grow $1,037 million by 2028 from $561 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 10.68% from 2022 to 2028

This report analyses the Vietnam data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.



With the implementation of the data localization law in Vietnam, data center investments are increasing on a YoY basis. The country is witnessing investments from new entrants such as Data Center First, Edge Centres, Infracrowd Capital, and Worldwide DC Solutions. Existing operators are expanding their presence in the country by investing in the new facility and expanding the existing facility.

Regarding network connectivity, the country has five existing submarine cables connecting to APAC & EMEA countries and the US. Asia Direct Cable (ADC) and Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 (SJC2) are the two upcoming submarine cables expected to be operational by 2023/2024.

The Government has launched the digitalization initiative known as Digital Transformation Program 2025 aims to transfer around 50% of the business to digital platforms by 2025. In the country, the 5G network connectivity increase drives the demand for edge data center deployment and offers last-mile connectivity and lower latency services.

In August 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the launch of edge data centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. In February 2022, the Ministry of Information and Communication of Vietnam announced its research plans for developing 6G technology to meet the demand from the fastest-growing technology sectors.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are the major locations in the Vietnam data center market, with 24 existing third-party data centers. Hanoi is the major location in Vietnam, with around 11 existing facilities.

Some key investors in the Vietnam data center market are Viettel IDC, NTT Global Data Centers, FTP Telecom, CMC Telecom, HTC Telecom International (ECODC), VNPT, and VNTT.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Vietnam colocation market revenue.

An assessment of the data center investment in v by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators.

Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across states in the country.

A detailed study of the existing Vietnam data center industry landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period.

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Vietnam a) Facilities Covered (Existing): 24 b) Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 07 c) Coverage: 4 Cities d) Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) e) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data center colocation market in Vietnam a) Market Revenue & Forecast (2022-2028) b) Retail Colocation Pricing

Vietnam market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast.

A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry.

Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 113 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $561 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1037 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.7% Regions Covered Vietnam

IT Infrastructure Providers

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Fujitsu

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Huawei Technologies

Hitachi Vantara

IBM

Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ)

Juniper Networks

Lenovo

NetApp

NEC Corporation

Oracle

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors

Aurecon

Archetype Group

AWP Architects

Apave

Delta Group

GreenViet

Sato Kogyo

Universal Smart Data Center Technology

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Caterpillar

Cummins

Cyber Power Systems

Delta Electronics

Eaton

Fuji Electric

HITEC Power Protection

KOHLER Power

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Panduit

Rittal

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Trane (Ingersoll Rand)

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

CMC Telecom

FPT Telecom

HTC Telecom International (ECODC)

NTT Global Data Centers

Telehouse

VNTT

Viettel IDC

Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT)

VNG Cloud

New Entrants

Data Center First

Edge Centres

Infracrowd Capital

Worldwide DC Solutions

EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS

Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City

Other Cities (Da Nang, and Binh Duong Province)

List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

REPORT COVERAGE:

IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches & Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Fire Detection & Suppression

Physical Security

DCIM

Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/slft02

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Anti-Acne Makeup Market Size, Share, Trends, By Product Type, By Active Ingredients, By Product, By Distribution Channel, and By Region Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Anti-Acne Makeup Market Synopsis



The market size of the global anti-acne makeup industry was USD 4.18 billion in 2021, and it is predicted to experience a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% during the projected period.

The increasing incidence of acne-related issues, growing awareness of skincare and personal grooming, and advancements in skin-care product manufacturing, such as various innovations and technological improvements, are major drivers of the anti-acne makeup market's revenue growth.



Manufacturers are incorporating several new technologies, such as microencapsulation, nanotechnology, and radio-frequency, into anti-acne makeup product production.

For example, STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. announced the release of TheraClearX, a non-invasive, in-office acne treatment that employs photopneumatic technology, which combines vacuum extraction and light treatment to target mild to severe acne, including comedonal, pustular, and inflammatory acne vulgaris. According to published scientific data, this technology is effective in treating acne.



Furthermore, major companies are taking various actions, such as launching new products, forming partnerships, engaging in mergers and acquisitions, and innovating existing product lines, to drive revenue growth in the anti-acne makeup market.

Haut.AI, for example, announced a collaboration with System Akvile, a science-based skin health app that assists individuals with acne-prone skin. The app uses Haut.AI AI's algorithms to assess up to 150 visual health biomarkers of the skin, providing users with personalized analysis, change monitoring, and data delivery to manage their skin health.



Acne is a widespread skin-related problem that affects people of all ages, particularly teenagers. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, acne is the most prevalent skin disorder, affecting approximately 40 to 50 million individuals annually. The U.K. government statistics show that between the ages of 11 and 30, 95% of people experience acne-related issues. The increasing urbanization and growing awareness of skincare are expected to drive global revenue growth in the anti-acne makeup market.



Manufacturers are integrating various technological innovations in the production of anti-acne cosmetics, which is another factor contributing to market growth. Galderma recently launched its 'Twyneo' Cream in the United States, a 2-in-1 formulation with 0.1% tretinoin and 3% Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) that has been proven effective in treating moderate to severe facial acne. The two previously unconnected chemicals are blended using patented microencapsulation technology, which, according to the company, can produce noticeable results in just two weeks.



Companies are also taking strategic initiatives aimed at expanding their market reach. They are investing more in Research and Development (R&D) activities, launching new products, upgrading existing product lines, forming partnerships, and engaging in mergers and acquisitions. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, for example, recently extended its collaboration with Cassiopea on an acne medicine.

Under the agreement, Cassiopea will grant the company the exclusive right to develop and market WINLEVI in several countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia. The collaboration with Cosmo is expected to help make the new acne treatment available to patients in additional countries, aligning with Sun Pharmaceutical's goal of creating a global portfolio of specialty products.



Restraint:



Rising awareness regarding side effects of anti-acne cosmetics along with the easy availability of counterfeit products

Using certain cosmetics such as foundation and concealer can aggravate acne or lead to new outbreaks, as acne-prone skin is sensitive. While experts from the American Academy of Dermatology state that patients with acne can wear makeup, most people with acne-related problems prefer not to use makeup while their skin is undergoing medication.

This is because using makeup on acne-prone skin can result in side effects such as skin redness, increased sensitivity to the sun, dry and peeling skin, and, in severe cases, skin rashes and hives. As a result, consumers prefer to use medications to treat acne instead of relying on anti-acne makeup products, which is limiting the growth of the anti-acne makeup market to a significant extent.



Key Takeaways

Type Outlook



The global anti-acne makeup market is categorized into pharmacological and non-pharmacological segments based on type. Over the forecast period, the pharmacological segment is expected to account for a significant share of revenue. The prevalence of acne vulgaris skin disorder and rising awareness among millennials and adolescents to achieve clear skin without clogged pores or acne-related issues are key drivers of this segment's revenue growth.

The increasing healthcare expenditure due to rapid urbanization and rising R&D activities, product launches, and other strategic initiatives by major companies also contribute to the growth of the anti-acne makeup market. The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that around 85% of teenagers suffer from acne vulgaris, resulting in direct expenses of over USD 1 billion annually in the U.S.



Active Ingredients Outlook



The global anti-acne makeup market is segmented into Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, and others based on active ingredients. The salicylic acid segment is anticipated to dominate the market over the forecast period. It is widely used in the manufacturing of anti-acne makeup products due to its ability to peel off dead skin cells and keep pores clear. Research suggests that salicylic acid helps in exfoliation, reducing inflammation and redness, and lowering the number of breakouts, thereby accelerating recovery. FDA-approved salicylic acid as an anti-acne drug for treating acne, as well as alleviating psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis-related itching, irritation, redness, and scaling, resulting in its rapid adoption for anti-acne treatments.



Distribution Channel Outlook



The global anti-acne makeup market is segmented into supermarkets and hypermarkets, departmental stores, beauty salons, online stores, and others based on distribution channels. Over the forecast period, the online stores segment is projected to register significant revenue growth due to various factors such as low product costs, discounts, doorstep service, convenience, and a diverse product selection. Online shopping is widely used by Americans to save money, with 79% of them utilizing it. Moreover, 82% of Americans read online reviews and ratings before making a purchase, indicating their trust in companies that provide extensive product information such as usage videos and reviews. The convenience and easy access to a wide range of cosmetic and beauty items are other reasons for the growth of the online stores segment.



Anti-Acne Makeup Market Regional Outlook



The largest revenue share of the global anti-acne makeup market in 2021 came from the Asia Pacific region due to increasing awareness about skincare and the rising prevalence of acne-related skin issues among adolescents and millennials. The growing trend of sharing skincare information on social media platforms has helped customers connect with cosmetic brands, leading to increased investment in the development of sustainable and eco-friendly anti-acne makeup products. Several startups and key market players are contributing to the growth of the market by launching innovative products.

In Europe, revenue growth is driven by rising disposable income, increasing skin consciousness, and technological innovations in product manufacturing, with major companies investing in research and development to improve their product lines. In North America, revenue growth is driven by the rising prevalence of acne, increasing consciousness about skincare, and technological innovation. Key companies are taking strategic initiatives to expand their market presence in this region. For instance, Skinlycious, a Singapore-based acne care company, recently entered the U.S. market and is looking for a global retail partner to help it become the top acne care company globally.



Competitive Landscape



The global anti-acne makeup market is highly competitive and fragmented, with many players operating at both global and regional levels. Leading companies are focusing on expanding their portfolios, conducting R&D, and forming strategic alliances to increase their market reach. They are using tactics such as partnerships, collaborations, agreements, regional expansions, mergers and acquisitions, and new product launches to expand their market presence.

Smaller businesses are developing unique anti-acne makeup to set themselves apart from their competitors. Market suppliers are taking advantage of growth opportunities in fast-growing categories while maintaining their positions in slower-growing segments. Start-ups are also making a difference and are expected to gain a stable market presence in the future.



On 28 September 2022, La Roche-Posay launched a new acne treatment serum that also offers anti-aging benefits. The Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum is designed to treat adult acne, which has different clinical symptoms than adolescent acne. The Triple Acid Complex formula, which includes 1.5% salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lipo-hydroxy acid, helps clear acne blemishes and prevent future outbreaks.





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Market Synopsis



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Summary Snapshot, 2022-2030



Chapter 3. Indicative Metrics



Chapter 4. Anti-Acne Makeup Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis



Chapter 5. Anti-Acne Makeup Market By Type Insights & Trends



Chapter 6. Anti-Acne Makeup Market By Active Ingredients Insights & Trends



Chapter 7. Anti-Acne Makeup Market By Product Type Insights & Trends

Chapter 8. Anti-Acne Makeup Market By Distribution Channel Insights & Trends



Chapter 9. Anti-Acne Makeup Market Regional Outlook



Chapter 10. Competitive Landscape

Chapter 11. Company Profiles



Companies Mentioned

L'Oreal

Clinique Laboratories LLC.

Taro Pharmaceuticals Industries Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.

Colorescience Inc.

Sente

Revision Skincare

Glowbiotics LLC

Kose Corporation

Ancalima Lifesciences Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/90bmyh

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
LUMBERTON, NJ, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interstate Connecting Components (ICC), a division of Heilind Mil-Aero and a leading distributor of military and aerospace connectors and accessories, will be exhibiting at this years Sea-Air-Space Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland. The event is organized by the Navy League and is the largest maritime exposition in the United States.

At the show, ICC will feature a diverse range of cutting-edge military-aerospace products, including backshells, relays, naval connectors, and accessories from leading manufacturers like Amphenol Aerospace, Amphenol Pcd, Bel/Cinch Connectivity, ITT Cannon, and TE Connectivity.

"ICC looks forward to exhibiting again this year at Sea-Air-Space. We specialize in supporting defense and commercial manufacturers by providing military and aerospace interconnects from industry leading suppliers," said Julie Trunk, Director of Supplier Management, Interstate Connecting Components. "We are excited to welcome attendees to our booth to demonstrate our wide range of interconnect solutions and expertise."

Interstate Connecting Components works with customers of all sizes, supporting both original equipment and contract manufacturers in the military and commercial markets. It will have representatives at booth #611 for the duration of the exhibit, which will be held April 3 through 5 at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Schedule time to meet with ICCs military & aerospace experts during the show, here.

About Interstate Connecting Components (ICC)

A division of Heilind Electronics, North Americas largest interconnect distributor, Interstate Connecting Components (http://www.connecticc.com) is an AS9100D-certified value-added distributor for the entire spectrum of electronic connectors, fiber optic connectors, backshells, tools, identification solutions and connector contacts. ICC specializes in the military-aerospace market and offers value-added assembly on 26482, 26500, 5015, D38999, M28840, M83513 and many other MIL-SPEC connector lines.

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Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Cloud Data Security Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Offering, By Offering Type, By Organization Size, By Vertical, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Cloud Data Security Market size is expected to reach $10.5 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 15.1% CAGR during the forecast period.



Market Growth Factors

Rising cloud adoption by SMES



SMEs have been increasingly receptive to adopting cloud-based security solutions, and cloud-based security service providers can capitalize on this trend by offering organizations customized security services. As SMEs change their focus to cloud-based solutions, cloud-based data protection solutions and service providers are anticipated to encounter substantial growth prospects, such as protecting SMEs' data from security breaches and vulnerabilities. Hence with the broader adoption of cloud data security by SMEs due to the increasing cyber-attacks, the market's growth is expected to surge.



Increasing risk of cyber-attacks



Businesses encourage employees to bring their own devices to work, reducing system investments. BYOD permits employees to work from any location. Since the devices are connected to the company's network, they can access the information. Additionally, the expanding BYOD policy has led businesses to provide cloud. In logistics, for instance, the employer shares data with various vendors.

This element increases the likelihood of data breaches, making cloud data security even more crucial, as many businesses prefer cloud-based systems. Increased enterprise adoption of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies and the technological advancements will increase the chances of cyber-attacks, boosting the expansion of the cloud data security market over the forecast period.



Market Restraining Factor

Low trust and awareness regarding cloud-based systems



Large and small businesses are getting cautious about shifting their operations to the cloud because they do not fully trust Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). This lack of trust results from unclear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and security or privacy policies, conventional terms and conditions, the immaturity of cloud services, data breaches, and numerous other difficulties. This makes the infrastructure of a cloud service provider very susceptible to frequent and complicated assaults, which can discourage businesses from entrusting their sensitive data to these service providers.



Offering Outlook



Based on offering, the cloud data security market is segmented into solution and services. The solution segment dominated the cloud data security market with maximum revenue share in 2021. This is due to the increased demand for cloud security solutions as more enterprises are adopted these solutions to facilitate remote work. They provide enhanced flexibility, security, data integration, and scalability. A solid cloud security solution safeguards the entire data lifecycle, from creation to disposal.



Offering Type Outlook



By offering type, the cloud data security market is classified into fully managed and co-managed. The fully managed segment procured a significant revenue share in the cloud data security market in 2021. This is because it provides all AI Cloud capabilities in a fully managed cloud environment that includes infrastructure provisioning, scalability, and software updates. They employ a multilayered approach to cyber security that provides numerous independent lines of defense against cyber threats. Also, fully managed services allow clients to focus on AI creation, expansion, and innovation. These features of the fully managed type are anticipated to boost the segment's expansion.



Organization Size Outlook



Based on the organization size, the cloud data security market is bifurcated into large enterprises and SMEs. The large enterprises segment witnessed the largest revenue share in the cloud data security market in 2021. This is because large businesses are expanding their infrastructure to suit the requirements and new demands of their remote workforce. Businesses must provide infrastructure support for their services and products. Cybersecurity is crucial because it protects persons and companies from cyber threats. In addition, cybersecurity can aid in preventing data breaches, identity theft, and other cybercrimes.



Vertical Outlook



On the basis of vertical, the cloud data security market is classified into BFSI, retail & ecommerce, government & defense, healthcare & life sciences, IT & telecom, manufacturing and others. The IT & telecom segment recorded a prominent revenue share in the cloud data security market in 2021. This is because IT firms are progressively prioritizing the usage of cloud data security services and solutions as BYOD and telecommuting become more prevalent. Also, object storage breaches, unauthorized traffic to a virtual server instance, unauthorized access to database services, IAM rights, user logins, and unauthorized API requests are on the rise due to cloud misconfiguration.



Regional Outlook



Region-wise, the cloud data security market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA. The North America region led the cloud data security market by generating the maximum revenue share in 2021. This is due to the presence of a significant number of providers, resulting in the high adoption of cloud data security solutions in the region. Increasing security breaches, expanding adoption of cloud technology by businesses, and rising migration to the cloud are driving growth in this area's cloud data security market. In addition, the expansion of cloud data security solutions in the region results from the rise of digitization, growing security concerns, and the desire to protect assets.



Recent Strategies Deployed in Cloud Data Security Market

Partnerships, Collaborations and Agreements:

Jul-2022: Fortinet launched FortiCNP. This is an integrated security platform which is developed to simplify the process of cloud adoption for the company. Moreover, this would deliver more cloud-native protections to Fortinet.

Product Launches and Product Expansions:

Dec-2022: Amazon Web Services announced a collaboration with Visteon, a technology company serving the mobility industry. Through this collaboration, Visteon's AllGo connected services supported by AWS are expected to offer value to a constituent in every vertical of the automotive industry consisting of manufacturers, vehicle app consumers, and developers. Additionally, this collaboration uses various AWS technology solutions across compute, storage, and IoT categories and a secure fast cloud environment to manage crucially connected vehicle activities and build the car's digital ecosystem.

Jul-2022: Fortinet partnered with Alkira, a company providing cloud networking solutions. This partnership would help in the automation of configuration and deploy firewall services to protect both outbound and inbound traffic from the cloud service providers.

Acquisitions and Mergers:

Sep-2022: Zscaler took over ShiftRight, a company providing cybersecurity solutions. This acquisition would increase the value of the company's platform by easing the security and IT operations with the help of security workflow automation. Additionally, this would assist customers by providing actual-time visibility for the security posture.

Feb-2022: IBM took over Neudesic, a US-based cloud services consultancy. This acquisition aimed to substantially expand IBM's portfolio of hybrid multi-cloud services and improve the company's hybrid cloud and AI strategy.

Geographical Expansions:

Jul-2021: Google Cloud expanded its geographical footprints in Delhi NCR by launching a new cloud region. Through this expansion, the company aimed to further serve consumers and the public sector in India and across Asia-Pacific.

Scope of the Study

By Offering

Solution

Services

By Offering Type

Co-Managed

Fully Managed

By Organization Size

Large Enterprises

SMEs

By Vertical

BFSI

IT & Telecom

Government & Defense

Manufacturing

Healthcare & Lifesciences

Retail & eCommerce

Others

By Geography

North America

US

Canada

Mexico

Rest of North America

Europe

Germany

UK

France

Russia

Spain

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Singapore

Malaysia

Rest of Asia Pacific

LAMEA

Brazil

Argentina

UAE

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Nigeria

Rest of LAMEA

Key Market Players

List of Companies Profiled in the Report:

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)

Google LLC (Alphabet, Inc.)

Cisco Systems, Inc.

McAfee Corp.

Microsoft Corporation

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

Zscaler, Inc.

Fortinet, Inc.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

IBM Corporation

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology



Chapter 2. Market Overview



Chapter 3. Competition Analysis - Global



Chapter 4. Global Cloud Data Security Market by Offering



Chapter 5. Global Cloud Data Security Market by Offering Type



Chapter 6. Global Cloud Data Security Market by Organization Size



Chapter 7. Global Cloud Data Security Market by Vertical



Chapter 8. Global Cloud Data Security Market by Region



Chapter 9. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/b5ug55

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Surrey, BC, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) has started a Judicial Review against the Minister of Indigenous Services to exercise jurisdiction over Metis child and family services. Canada is denying MNBC an opportunity to design and deliver child and family service solutions that best suit the needs of Metis kids in BC, saying MNBC does not qualify as an "Indigenous governing body.

Canadas approach means Metis children and families will continue to be part of a colonial child welfare system, perpetuating the harms of residential schools and the 60s Scoop.

What is an Indigenous Governing Body?

An Indigenous governing body is a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Background

Bill C-92: An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families.

The act was co-developed with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners.

It affirms the right of Metis peoples to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services.

It establishes national principles such as the best interests of the child, cultural continuity, and substantive equality.

It contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

It provides an opportunity for Indigenous peoples to choose their own solutions for their children and families.

On June 21, 2019, the Act became an official law, and on January 1, 2020, its provisions came into force.

On February 14, 2020, we told the governments of Canada and British Columbia that we intended to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services under the law.

More than 2 years later, Canada denied our request saying, the Metis Nation of British Columbia does not meet the requirements to be considered an Indigenous governing body.

Canada also rejected our request to access capacity funding for rights-holding Indigenous groups, communities, organizations, or governments that want to take back control of child and family services for their children.

MNBC Position

We strongly disagree with Canadas position. We believe that MNBC has the right to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services for Metis kids as the democratically elected government of the Metis Nation within British Columbia.

MNBC represents the section 35 rights of over 23,000 Metis citizens who are registered with MNBC and advocates for the over 98,000 self-identified Metis in British Columbia.

Canadas position is a slap in the face. Canada has already recognized MNBCs role in child and family services including through:

The Canada-Metis Nation Accord

Through the Canada-Metis Nation Accord, the MNBC and Canada agreed to the objective of ending the legacy of colonialism and colonial attitudes wherever they remain in federal legislation, policies, and practices. Through the accord, Canada and MNBC identified child and family services as an area of focus.

Memorandum of Understanding on Advancing Reconciliation

The Memorandum of Understanding on Advancing Reconciliation committed Canada to renewing and strengthening a nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationship with MNBC. The MOU affirms Canadas nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationship with MNBC and specifically lists Children and Families as a priority.

The Canada-Metis Nation Child and Family Services MOU (CFS MOU)

The CFS MOU says that, in order to advance the goal of Metis jurisdiction over the design and delivery of child and family services, Canada and the Metis Nation (including MNBC) will work toward more equitable, responsive and effective child and family services for and by the Metis Nation and its member governments.

MNBC will always fight to defend Metis children and families against the colonial attitudes of Canada, and we will always advocate for the rights and self-determination of MNBC citizens.

Attachments
New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Polyurea Coatings Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Raw Material, Type, Technology, and Application" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433189/?utm_source=GNW





This can be used for waterproofing roofs, foundations, decks, and other surfaces.The building & construction industry is rapidly growing in various countries across the world due to a rise in government investments and an increase in demand for residential construction projects.



Countries such as the US, China, and India have the worlds most significant building and construction businesses. According to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the construction industry in the US creates US$ 1.4 trillion worth of structures each year. A rise in construction activities in the country is attributed to the increasing population and the proliferating commercial sector. This surge in construction activities is propelling the demand for polyurea coatings in the country, as polyurea coatings are mainly used for sealing and protecting structures and tanks. The properties of polyurea give the structure or building an exceptionally durable character.



Based on application, the polyurea coatings market is segmented into building and construction, transportation, industrial application, and others.The industrial application segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.



In industrial structures such as steel structures, concrete walls, or outdoor furniture, pure polyurea is often combined with other materials to create a hybrid coating that can be applied in roadway construction and bridge decks.Compared to traditional systems such as epoxy paints, pure polyurea coating provides lower maintenance costs and higher durability.



Polyurea prevents concrete, wooden, and steel surfaces and structures from abrasion and corrosion damage.It can also help preserve a deteriorating concrete structure and help repair and keep canals intact.



It resists scratches, chemicals, oils, and salts in commercial and industrial floor applications. All these properties of polyurea coatings make them ideal for industrial applications.



In 2022, North America held the largest share of the global polyurea coatings market.The North America polyurea coatings market, by country, is segmented into US, Canada, and Mexico.



The construction industry contributes a major part to the GDP of the region.The industry supports the growth of the economy by assisting the supply chain, which creates several business opportunities and services.



A few economically strong North American countries such as Canada and Mexico witnessed significant growth in the construction sector. Rapid growth in construction activities in North America increases the demand for polyurea coatings.



BASF SE; PPG Industries, Inc; Sika AG; Fosroc, Inc; The Sherwin  Williams Company; VIP Coatings International Gmbh; Nukote Coating Systems International; Huntsman International LLC; Rhino Linings Corporation; and Teknos Group are among the key players operating in the global polyurea coatings market.Players operating in the market focus on providing high-quality products to fulfill customer demand.



They are also adopting strategies such as research and development investments, new product launches, and expanding production capacities.



The overall global polyurea coatings market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market.



Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants to validate the data and gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants of this process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders, specializing in the polyurea coatings market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433189/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Lexington, KY, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Fisher House in Kentucky was dedicated today by VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal, President of Fisher House Foundation David A. Coker, and Lexington VA Health Care System Executive Director Russell Armstead. The new home was completed in late 2022 and will soon begin serving veterans and their families.

The nearly 15,000 sq. ft. Fisher House provides lodging for families of veterans and military at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved ones at the most stressful time, while they are receiving medical care. At full occupancy, it can save military and veteran families more than half a million dollars each year. But more importantly, the Lexington Fisher House allows veterans to receive care they could not readily access in the past without a place for their loved ones to stay.

We are excited to offer a new option in providing comprehensive care for our veterans and their families, said Armstead. The Fisher House will be a place for veterans and their families to find comfort during difficult moments in their care journey. We understand the positive impact it can make for a patient to have family by their side, and the Fisher House makes that possible.

This Fisher House is part of a network of 94 homes located across the country and in Germany and the United Kingdom. It is located on the grounds of the Sousley Campus. The 94th Fisher House is in Columbia, South Carolina and will be dedicated in April.

"We are honored to bring this second house to Kentucky, said Coker. There is an incredible sense of community in Lexington, and we know that support for our veterans will continue to grow through this Fisher House.

The Lexington Fisher House has 16 accessible suites, a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and a shared patio. The home was gifted to VA upon completion as part of the public-private partnership between Fisher House Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It joins the first Fisher House built in Kentucky serving Fort Campbells hospital.

Fisher House is grateful to all who helped make this house possible. Partners Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have supported multiple Fisher House programs. AWS supported the construction of the Lexington Fisher House and Amazon employees have volunteered at several Fisher Houses around the country, including employees based in Lexington that are already volunteering and providing support to this new Fisher House.

At Amazon and AWS, we value and support the military community which continuously strengthens our workforce and the local neighborhoods we operate in. Were proud to take part in building this Fisher House that can make a difference in the well-being of veterans and their loved ones while veterans seek care, said Charlotte La Belle, principal, global military affairs at Amazon. This is one of the ways were demonstrating our Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility Leadership Principle, and we will continue to foster the welfare, prosperity, and talent of veterans and their spouses.

Fisher House Foundation proudly recognizes the generosity of the following contributors for their extraordinary support of our military and veteran families: 84 Lumber Company, Amazon Web Services, Barstool Sports, the Estate of Phyllis E. Chennault, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, Fisher-Nightingale House, Friends of Lexington Fisher House, Tennessee Fisher House Foundation in memory of SPC Jason K. Edens, Vehicles for Veterans, The Wohlers Family Foundation, and the many gifts of a grateful nation.

###



About Fisher House

Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of 94 comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $575 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation. www.fisherhouse.org

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MONACO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (Navios Partners or the Company) (NYSE: NMM), an international owner and operator of dry cargo and tanker vessels, announced today the appointment of Vassilios Mouyis to its Board of Directors replacing Orthodoxia Zisimatou who is retiring.



Mr. Mouyis has over 34 years of experience in the shipping industry and is the co-founder of Doric Shipbrokers S.A., a ship brokering firm where he serves as a managing director. Previously, Mr. Mouyis served as a chartering broker at Clarksons Plc South African office, Board Member of Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P. and Board Member of Navios Maritime Containers L.P. Mr. Mouyis holds a bachelors degree in Economics from the American College of Greece and a post-graduate diploma in Port and Shipping Administration from The University of Wales, Institute of Science and Technology.

Ms. Frangou commented, We thank Mrs. Zisimatou for her valuable contribution and input to the Company. We wish her well in her future ventures. We are also delighted with the appointment of Mr. Mouyis, as we believe his deep understanding of the shipping industry will prove valuable.

About Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NYSE: NMM) is an international owner and operator of dry cargo and tanker vessels. For more information, please visit our website at www.navios-mlp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains and will contain forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, TCE rates and Navios Partners expected cash flow generation, future contracted revenues, future distributions and its ability to make distributions going forward, opportunities to reinvest cash accretively in a fleet renewal program or otherwise, potential capital gains, its ability to take advantage of dislocation in the market and Navios Partners growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters and Navios Partners ability to refinance its debt on attractive terms, or at all. Words such as may, expects, intends, plans, believes, anticipates, hopes, estimates, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the information available to, and the expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by Navios Partners at the time these statements were made. Although Navios Partners believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Navios Partners. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks relating to: global and regional economic and political conditions including global economic activity, demand for seaborne transportation of the products we ship, the ability and willingness of charterers to fulfill their obligations to us and prevailing charter rates, the economic condition of the markets in which we operate, shipyards performing scrubber installations, construction of newbuilding vessels, drydocking and repairs, changing vessel crews and availability of financing; potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, wars, diseases, pandemics, political events, piracy or acts by terrorists; uncertainty relating to global trade, including prices of seaborne commodities and continuing issues related to seaborne volume and ton miles, our continued ability to enter into long-term time charters, our ability to maximize the use of our vessels, expected demand in the dry and liquid cargo shipping sectors in general and the demand for our drybulk, containerships and tanker vessels in particular, fluctuations in charter rates for drybulk, containerships and tanker vessels, the aging of our fleet and resultant increases in operations costs, the loss of any customer or charter or vessel, the financial condition of our customers, changes in the availability and costs of funding due to conditions in the bank market, capital markets and other factors, increases in costs and expenses, including but not limited to: crew, insurance, provisions, port expenses, lube oil, bunkers, repairs, maintenance and general and administrative expenses, the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations and maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by our charterers applicable to our business, general domestic and international political conditions, competitive factors in the market in which Navios Partners operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in Navios Partners filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 20-Fs and Form 6-Ks. Navios Partners expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Navios Partners expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Navios Partners makes no prediction or statement about the performance of its common units.

Contacts

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

+1 (212) 906 8645

Investors@navios-mlp.com

Nicolas Bornozis

Capital Link, Inc.

+1 (212) 661 7566

naviospartners@capitallink.com
PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that Julie Jarrell Gresham has been named vice president and chief counsel of the companys Ingalls Shipbuilding division. She will succeed George Simmerman Jr. who will retire March 31, 2023, after 32 years with the company.



Gresham, who previously served as deputy chief counsel and director of compliance and privacy, will report directly to Chad Boudreaux, HIIs executive vice president and chief legal officer, and indirectly to Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson. In this new role, Gresham will oversee and coordinate the provision of legal guidance to Ingalls Shipbuilding.

On behalf of HII, we want to thank George for his decades of service and congratulate Julie on this new leadership opportunity within the law department and the company, Boudreaux said. Beyond being a fantastic, nationally recognized lawyer, Julie has a record of success and leadership in her community and throughout Mississippi.

Since joining the HII Law Department in 2014, Gresham has distinguished herself nationally as one of the top lawyers in her field. She is past chair of the Association of Corporate Counsels Compliance and Ethics Network and is an active member in the Mississippi Bar, where she serves on the Professionalism Committee and the executive board for the Litigation Section. She also serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Corporate Counsel Association.





A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://hii.com/news/ingalls-shipbuilding-chief-counsel-julie-jarrell-gresham/.

Julie is a proven leader in the Mississippi Gulf Coast community, serving as an active member of the American Red Cross, president-elect of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and past-chair of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. Julie received her Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 43,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/741ee898-5c45-4169-b1d4-f3dcbb7dd41a
NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FCB was a top performer in the 2023 WARC Rankings, earning recognition as the #1 Creative Agency for Effectiveness in the WARC Effective 100, among other distinctions. Numerous FCB campaigns were honored as well, including Michelob ULTRAs Contract for Change, which ranked as the #1 Campaign for Effectiveness.



Creative is the business and the business is creative. To separate the two does a disservice to the industry. We will continue to partner with our clients to create work that is both effective in the moment and impactful long term. FCB is honored that this Timely and Timeless approach to work is being recognized by WARC, said Susan Credle, FCB Global Chair & Global CCO.

In the Effective 100, FCB New York was named the #1 Creative Agency for Effectiveness, joined by two additional FCB agencies, with FCB Chicago ranking #4 and FCB Toronto ranking #7, making it WARCs top-ranked Canadian agency this year.

Our offices are showing why brands shouldnt have to choose between activating business today and building equity over time, said Tyler Turnbull, FCB Global CEO. Were grateful to our clients for embracing creativity and believing in FCBs mission to prove creativity as an economic multiplier for their businesses.

Also in the Effective 100, Michelob ULTRAs Contract for Change, created by FCB New York and FCB Chicago, ranked as the #1 Campaign for Effectiveness this year. The campaign, which also won the Cannes Lions 2022 Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix, was a revolutionary agreement to grow Americas 1% of organic farmland and transform over 100,000 acres of farmland to produce ingredients for Michelob ULTRAs Pure Gold.

A total of six FCB campaigns ranked as top campaigns for effectiveness:

(#1) Contract for Change by Michelob ULTRA, FCB Chicago, FCB New York

(#8) Long Term by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), FCB Canada

(#12) Courtside by Michelob ULTRA, FCB New York

(#26) Project Understood by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), FCB Canada

(#55) A Song for Every CMO by Spotify, FCB New York

(#57) Gear Up by Bank of Montreal (BMO), FCB Canada

FCBs success is largely attributed to the ongoing expansion and integration of global creative data and CRM capability FCB/SIX, which aims help clients break through to deliver meaningful experiences and make every media dollar count.

WARC Effective 100 results come on the heels of FCB being named the #3 Global Agency Network in the WARC Creative 100, with three FCB agencies ranking in the top 100 creative agencies and five FCB campaigns ranking in the top 100 creative campaigns. Both Creative 100 and Effective 100 are part of the annual WARC Rankings of the most awarded networks, agencies and campaigns across creative, media and effectiveness.

About FCB

FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding) is a global, award-winning and integrated marketing communications company with a heritage of creativity and success dating from 1873. Named Cannes Lions 2022 #2 Global Network, 2022 Ad Age A-List, 2022 Fast Company Most Innovative, Cannes Lions 2020/2021 Global Network of the Year, Adweek 2020 Global Agency of the Year and the #1 Global Network on The Good Report, FCB focuses on creating Never Finished campaign ideas that have the power to transform brands, businesses and communities. With more than 8,000 people in 109 operations in 80 countries, the company is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG). Visit fcb.com or follow @FCBglobal on Instagram and Twitter and FCB Global on Facebook and LinkedIn.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7edb9a1a-a4c9-4e9c-aa10-00e946cad4fa
St Annes Upper Primary School celebrates the end of a Project Based Learning cycle

Year 6s at St Annes Upper Primary School have spent the last two weeks working on a Young Enterprise project for Primary aged students called DIY Fiver Challenge.

As part of the challenge children had to think of a potential business idea that they could develop with just a hypothetical 5 each to begin with. Children had to then do market research on the viability of the business, design their own business logo and name, write a business plan, deliver a sales pitch and finally create their own Business Stall for St Annes very own business fair.

The programme saw the children have master-classes with business experts as well as past and present Young Enterprise teams from the locally well known Company Programme offered to sixth formers at the comprehensive schools.

The children did not disappoint and the standard achieved was incredible! The whole school was delighted when they got to visit the Business stalls. The excitement and energy in the school was palpable by all. Businesses ranged from comic books, hand-made fidget toys, sea glass jewellery, spray painting of shoes and clothes, clay and crochet crafts to grave polishing!

Supporting business advisors had the following to say:

Kieron Becerra (Business owner/ Finance Director/ Young Enterprise Business advisor):

"I was very impressed by the variety of business ideas and the work put into their businesses and their stands. It was evident that some of the teams had done their market research and had dedicated their time to their business ideas including producing business plans. There were a number of business ideas which were notable, practical and very sellable, which could do very well in the real world, and led by very charismatic and enthusiastic team members. I met a lot of potential future entrepreneurs. Congratulations to all the teams."

Louise Goncalves (Business owner, Tax advisor & lecturer):

"The idea of running this type of project for this age group is beneficial on so many levels and it was apparent when returning today to see the business stalls. The awareness and knowledge they have absorbed in such little time was an eye opener. The team work and presentation skills some displayed, as well as the enthusiasm and energy in the room was amazing. There were some fantastic ideas making the most of gaps in the markets combined with maximising skills and knowledge they already had in different areas. A lot of effort in presentation and research and many teams were well prepared to answer questions on their business plan as well as attract you to their stall. The enthusiasm and interest shown is a credit to the project, I wish we would have had this available when I was their age. I look forward to the next one."

Elaine Borg Head of Year 6 :

"It has been a pleasure watching the children become entrepreneurs, the amount of information they have absorbed over the last two weeks is astonishing and the personal growth of students has been astounding. Children have developed skills that they will carry with them for life. They now have a much better idea and understanding of the way business works as well as valuing team-work, passion and commitment to a long-term project. Some children really went over and above what we expected from them initially and as teams developed, it pushed other teams to step up their game; The results spoke for themselves with children becoming fluent in business terminology, using marketing strategies to attract potential customers, talking about their profit margins, creating prototypes etc."

As a team we have evaluated the project and already have lots of ideas of how to make the experience even more meaningful for next years cohort- the St Annes Business Fair will be BIGGER and BETTER!

Prizes, sponsored by the Local Young Enterprise Committee , were awarded for the following categories:

 Most sustainable business

 Best Logo

 Best Business stall

 Most innovative business

 Most inspiring Individual

 Best Sales Pitch

 Best Team
MONACO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navios Maritime Partners L.P. ("Navios Partners") (NYSE:NMM) announced that its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 has been filed with the SEC and can be accessed on Navios Partners' website www.navios-mlp.com under the "Investors" section.



Alternatively, unitholders may also request a hard copy of the complete audited financial statements, free of charge, by contacting Navios Partners at:

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

Attn: 20-F Request

7, Avenue de Grande Bretagne

Office 11B2

MC 98000 Monaco

Tel: +1 (212) 906 8645

Email: Investors@navios-mlp.com

About Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NYSE: NMM) is an international owner and operator of dry cargo and tanker vessels. For more information, please visit our website at www.navios-mlp.com.

Contact

Navios Maritime Partners L.P.

+1 (212) 906 8645

Investors@navios-mlp.com

Nicolas Bornozis

Capital Link, Inc.

naviospartners@capitallink.com
MONACO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) ("Scorpio Tankers" or the "Company") announced today that its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed on the Companys website www.scorpiotankers.com in the Investors section under Reports and Presentations.



Shareholders may also request a hard copy of the Annual Report, which includes the Companys complete 2022 audited financial statements, free of charge, by contacting the Company at:

Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Attn: Investor Relations

150 E 58th Street

New York, NY 10155

Tel: +1-212-542-1616

E-mail: investor.relations@scorpiotankers.com

Reports and other information regarding the Company are also available without charge at a website maintained by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov.

About Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. Scorpio Tankers Inc. currently owns, lease finances or bareboat charters-in 113 product tankers (39 LR2 tankers, 60 MR tankers and 14 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 7.2 years. Additional information about the Company is available at the Companys website www.scorpiotankers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forwardlooking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forwardlooking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forwardlooking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, target, project, likely, may, will, would, could and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

The forwardlooking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forwardlooking statements include unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, length and severity of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including its effect on demand for petroleum products and the transportation thereof, expansion and growth of the Companys operations, risks relating to the integration of assets or operations of entities that it has or may in the future acquire and the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized within expected timeframes or at all, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, including the impact of the conflict in Ukraine, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of offhires, and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of certain of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Contact Information

Scorpio Tankers Inc.

James Doyle  Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Tel: +1 646-432-1678

Email: investor.relations@scorpiotankers.com
NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) between March 10, 2021 and March 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 19, 2023.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Tupperware securities during the Class Period 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 Tupperware class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12606 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 19, 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. 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, among other things, that: (1) Tupperware did not disclose its serious issues with internal controls; (2) Tupperwares financial statements, from its 2020 Annual Report to the present, included misstatements, particularly as it related to the Companys accounting for income taxes; (3) as a result, Tupperware would need to restate its previously filed financial statements for certain periods; and (4) as a result, Defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Tupperware class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12606 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
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blender Bites Limited. (the Company, Blender Bites or Blender), (CSE: BITE, FWB: JL4, WKN: A3DMEJ), an award-winning line of premium, organic and plant-based pre-portioned frozen functional foods, announces that it has signed a partnership with actress, performer and entrepreneur Julianne Hough as a brand partner, shareholder and strategic advisor as the Company prepares for a US product launch later this year.



Hough will be an active participant in the strategic marketing of the Companys products and will also work in collaboration with Blender Bites founder and CEO, Chelsie Hodge, in the creation and development of a new product innovation, including an official product launch of the new collaboration.

Together, Blender Bites and Hough are committed to marketing the Companys first to-market smoothie innovations, as well as its recently unveiled 1-Step Frappe, with the goal of increasing brand awareness across Canada and the United States.

I am so thrilled to be joining Chelsie and her innovative team at Blender Bites, says Hough. I am personally a huge fan of the brand and am excited to be taking on this larger role within the Company. Their mission and intention of creating a clean, sustainable product without compromising nutritional value and convenience is something that truly aligns with my own lifestyle and routine. Their functional smoothie innovations make me feel energized every time, whether Im about to take on my next workout or during a busy morning. I cant wait for this product to come to the US and to continue to create with this team as I expand my entrepreneurial footprint.

With the Company entering one of the biggest smoothie and functional food markets on the planet, Blender Bites looks to establish itself with Julianne, welcoming her as a shareholder. Julianne will offer strategic counsel and creative insight on product development to further the flavor profiles of the brand to meet the next generation of consumers.

I couldnt be more thrilled to have Julianne join the Blender Bites team as a voice for the brand, a partner and a shareholder. The Company has done an incredible job the past year working with our broker team to line up multiple large US retail opportunities, and I truly believe Jules has the perfect platform for us to market the product to all of Canada and the US. Jules is more than an entertainer, she is also an entrepreneur, and Im incredibly excited to work with her on bringing this brand to new heights, commented Chelsie Hodge, Blender Bites founder and CEO.

Ms. Hough has agreed to collaborate with the Company, from March 24, 2023, in the marketing and advertising of products for an initial twelve-month term. Under the terms of the collaboration, Ms. Hough is entitled to receive cash compensation payable in two parts over a six month period, as well as 307,000 common shares (the Consideration Shares) of the Company. The Company has also agreed to grant Ms. Hough 80,000 incentive stock options, and 20,000 restricted share units, the exercise terms and vesting conditions of which will be determined at the time of grant. The Consideration Shares will be subject to restrictions on resale for a period of four-months-and-one-day in accordance with applicable securities laws.

ABOUT JULIANNE HOUGH

Emmy Award-winner, entertainer, producer, and entrepreneur Julianne Hough is known to audiences globally for her success in film, television, music, and most recently, the Broadway stage. In 2022, she made her Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated, uproarious political farce, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, playing the role of Dusty at the iconic Shubert Theatre. That same year she hosted the 75th Tony Awards: Act One alongside Darren Criss which streamed on Paramount+. A true multi-hyphenate, Hough became a household name as a two-time champion on ABCs top-rated Dancing with the Stars, which she is set to host the upcoming Season 32 in 2023, before further expanding her artistic footprint to include becoming an award-winning recording artist and accomplished actress. Her acting credits include Safe Haven opposite Josh Duhamel, Footloose with Kenny Wormald and Dennis Quaid, and Rock of Ages with Tom Cruise, among others. She is the founder of Canary House Productions, which cultivates storytelling rooted in transformation, self-discovery, and identity, as well as KINRGY, the only trauma-informed dance fitness & energy healing modality backed by neuroscience and evidence-based research. An immersive and serial entrepreneur, Hough is also a co-owner of Fresh Vine Wine, a collection of premium naturally low-carb and low-calorie wines.

ABOUT BLENDER BITES

Blender Bites is a multi award-winning Canadian company involved in the development and marketing of a line of healthy and functional, time-saving frozen food products. Blender Bites launched in 2017 and was first to market with a pre-portioned 1-Step Smoothie product that includes functional ingredients, a blend of whole food vitamins and minerals and various organic greens. They are free of any unnecessary inner plastic packaging, organic, plant-based, non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free and soy free. Its latest innovation, 1-Step Frappe with half the sugar of the leading frappe and functional ingredients such as adaptogenic mushrooms and probiotics, are set to launch Spring of 2023 and are a category disruptor in both Canada and the USA. Blender Bites products are currently distributed throughout North America in both retail and club store channels and has quickly become a leader in the easy smoothie frozen category.

Blender Bites Limited

Chelsie Hodge, Chief Executive Officer

Email  chelsie@blenderbites.com

Telephone  236-521-0626

For further information, contact Blender IR Team at:

Email  investors@blenderbites.com

Telephone  1-888-997-2055

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties, and uncertain capital markets. Readers are cautioned that actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Joint statement on arrest relating to data breach

His Majestys Government of Gibraltar has said it notes the statement today from the independent Investigating Officer appointed by the Royal Gibraltar Police, Mr John McVea, former Chief Superintendent of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, that a 56 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, conspiracy to obtain unauthorised access to computer material, and unlawful obtaining of personal data.

'The investigation and prosecution of offences is a matter independently pursued by the prosecuting authorities in the name of the Crown and does not involve the Government.'

'Matters relating to this investigation and arrest are therefore not matters on which the Government will comment at this stage.'

The Governor and the Chief Minister both echo the statement from Commissioner Ullger that the public can be reassured that, despite the ongoing investigation into this very serious matter, the RGP will continue to ensure the safety and security of the people of Gibraltar.
VANCOUVER, March 23, 2023 - Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF) ("Ascot" or the "Company") announces the Company's audited consolidated financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022. For details of the audited consolidated financial statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022, please see the Company's filings on SEDAR www.sedar.com.



Derek White, President and CEO, commented, "2022 was a pivotal year for Ascot as the Company commenced construction at the Premier Gold Project, progressed underground development into the Big Missouri deposit, and advanced exploration drilling on high-grade gold mineralization targets such as the Sebakwe Zone and the Day Zone. Amid challenging market conditions in 2022, the Company successfully concluded a re-financing process by securing approximately two hundred million dollars from like-minded partners to advance the Project into production. As we look ahead, we are eager to complete Project construction in 2023 and advance to initial gold production in early 2024 and thereby become Canada's next gold producer."

All amounts herein are reported in $000s of Canadian dollars ("C$") unless otherwise specified.

2022 AND RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

On January 19, 2023, the Company closed a previously announced financing package for completion of construction of the Project. The financing package consists of US$110 million as a deposit in respect of gold and silver streaming agreements and a strategic equity investment (the "Strategic Investment") of C$45 million, a portion of which is structured as Canadian Development Expenditures flow through shares, such that the total gross proceeds to the Company is C$50 million. Concurrent with the closing of the financing package, the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the senior debt with Sprott Private Resource Lending II (CO) Inc ("Sprott Lending") was repaid and the Production Payment Agreement ("PPA") in connection with the senior debt was also terminated and the existing gold stream from the Red Mountain property with Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp. ("Sprott Streaming") was terminated and replaced by the new gold and silver stream.

After completion of the portal preparation work in April 2022, underground mine development work and installation of surface infrastructure at the Big Missouri commenced in May 2022. At the end of October 2022, a total of approximately 921 metres have been developed in all headings, including muck bays, sumps, ore access drift, and the main ramp. Ground conditions have been excellent and heading advancement and productivity have been going well. Development accessed initial ore in the A Zone of the Big Missouri deposit in August 2022 and sampling protocol has been developed for grade reconciliation to the block model.

The surface infrastructure at the Big Missouri, S1 pit portal area was prepared for winter snow conditions, which commenced at the end of October 2022. The restart of mining development is planned for mid-2023.

The Premier site was preserved and winterized in late 2022, as the company was pursuing refinancing for the Project. Shortly after the closing of the financing package in mid-January 2023, the Company recommenced its construction activities. Various construction contractors have been re-mobilized to site to complete the remaining scope on mill construction and piping. Earthworks on tailings and the construction of the new water treatment plant will commence in Q2 2023 once the snow has melted.

On March 8, 2022, the Company closed a previously announced bought deal financing for total gross proceeds of C$64 million. The net proceeds from the financing were used for capital costs at the Premier Gold Project ("PGP)") for PGP's exploration program and for general corporate purposes.

The Company's 2022 exploration drilling program ran from May to October. Exploration drill holes intercepted several zones of mineralization at the Sebakwe zone, where gold mineralization has now been traced over a strike length of over 300 metres with a vertical extent of about 80 metres. Exploration drilling at the Day zone intercepted additional mineralization, which remains open to the north and the south. In-fill drilling targeted areas of early planned stopes at the Big Missouri deposit, where drill intercepts largely confirmed the geological interpretations in the area. Drill results were announced between July 2022 and January 2023 (see full news releases at www.ascotgold.com).

On October 17, 2022, the Company announced initial positive grade reconciliation between muck samples and the block model grade from underground development at the Big Missouri deposit at PGP. Combined results from ore drives 1 and 2 yielded overall 9% positive grade reconciliation from muck samples compared to the resource block model. As expected, the Company encountered high variability in development round grades often associated with high-grade epithermal gold deposits. Initial results suggested good potential to increase mined grades by continuously improving external mining dilution.

On February 17, 2023, the Company reorganized its Board of Directors ("Board") by adding two new members: Jose Nestor Marun and Stephen Altmann, both of whom were appointed pursuant to the recently Strategic Investment with Ccori Apu S.A.C. The Company also reported the voluntary resignation of Ken Carter and James Stypula from Ascot's Board. As a result, Ascot's Board maintains its size of seven directors, and its gender diversity with 29% women.

FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

The Company reported a net loss of $5,988 for Q4 2022 compared to $170 for Q4 2021. The increase in the net loss is mainly attributable to financing costs of $4,848 largely related to the senior debt expensed during the period, a $3,083 increase in stock-based compensation expense due to accelerated vesting of Restricted Share Units (RSU) in Q4 2022, partially offset by a $1,655 increase in other income primarily due to a higher gain on change in estimate of PPA liability as well as a higher flow-through premium recognition.

The Company reported a net loss of $10,808 in 2022 compared to $2,948 in 2021. The increase in the net loss is mainly attributable to financing costs of $5,969 during the year, which include deferred costs of $5,075 attributable to the cancellation of the undrawn portion of the senior credit facility, a $3,694 increase in stock-based compensation expense due to accelerated vesting of RSUs in 2022 as well as stock options and units granted in 2022, a $2,609 increase in foreign exchange loss, partially offset by a $4,633 increase in other income primarily due to a higher flow-through premium recognition, and a higher gain on change in estimate of PPA liability.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As at December 31, 2022, the Company had a cash & cash equivalents balance of $7,474 and working capital of $1,658 excluding the current portion of the credit facilities. On January 19, 2023, the Company closed a previously announced financing package of approximately $200,000 for completion of construction of the Project. Concurrent with the closing of the financing package, the Company used US$26 million of the gross proceeds to repay in full to Sprott Lending the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the senior debt, including a 2% prepayment fee and the termination fee for termination of the PPA

During 2022, the Company issued 59,510,018 common shares, 13,710,500 warrants, 13,049,779 stock options, 1,447,298 Deferred Share Units, 3,415,670 Restricted Share Units and 162,162 Performance Share Units. Also, 7,881,125 stock options expired and 62,000 Deferred Share Units, 122,964 Restricted Share Units and 54,054 Performance Share Units were exercised during 2022.

MANAGEMENT'S OUTLOOK FOR 2023

With the financing package closed on January 19, 2023, the Company believes that it has sufficient funding to complete construction of the Project and achieve first gold production in early 2024. The key activities for 2023 include:

Construction of the process plant and associated surface infrastructure such that the plant is expected to be in pre-commissioning by the end of 2023

Completion of the tailings dam improvements and start up of the new water treatment plant by Q4 2023

Advancement of the Premier North Lights portal and underground development and additional underground development of the Big Missouri mine

Maintaining a Health and Safety record of zero lost time incident and achieving the 2023 goals outlined in the Company's 2022 Sustainability Report

Advancing the recruitment of site personnel in line with the site personnel plan by the end of 2023

Maintaining permitting and environmental compliance so that there are no delays in the project construction schedule

More exploration and infill drilling north and west of existing resources



Qualified Person

John Kiernan, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company is the Company's Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ascot Resources Ltd.

"Derek C. White"

President & CEO

For further information contact:

David Stewart, P.Eng.

VP, Corporate Development & Shareholder Communications

dstewart@ascotgold.com

778-725-1060 ext. 1024

About Ascot Resources Ltd.

Ascot is a Canadian junior exploration and development company focused on re-starting the past producing Premier gold mine, located on Nisga'a Nation Treaty Lands, in British Columbia's prolific Golden Triangle. Ascot shares trade on the TSX under the ticker AOT. Concurrent with progressing the development of Premier, the Company continues to successfully explore its properties for additional high-grade underground resources. Ascot is committed to the safe and responsible development of Premier in collaboration with Nisga'a Nation as outlined in the Benefits Agreement.

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's web site at www.ascotgold.com, or for a virtual tour visit www.vrify.com under Ascot Resources.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events may constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "targeted", "outlook", "on track" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements in respect of the advancement and development of the PGP and the timing related thereto, the exploration of the Company's properties and management's outlook for the remainder of 2023 and beyond. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the business of Ascot; risks related to exploration and potential development of Ascot's projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and indigenous groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; risks associated with COVID-19 including adverse impacts on the world economy, construction timing and the availability of personnel; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Ascot's filings with Canadian securities regulators, available on Ascot's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com including the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 23, 2023 in the section entitled "Risk Factors". Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made with regard to: the estimated costs associated with construction of the Project; the timing of the anticipated start of production at the Project; the ability to maintain throughput and production levels at the Premier Mill; the tax rate applicable to the Company; future commodity prices; the grade of Resources and Reserves; the ability of the Company to convert inferred resources to other categories; the ability of the Company to reduce mining dilution; the ability to reduce capital costs; and exploration plans. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Although Ascot believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Ascot can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Ascot does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.




VANCOUVER, March 23, 2023 -

TSX VENTURE COMPANIES

CANADIAN NET REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST ("NET.UN")

BULLETIN TYPE: Notice of Distribution

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

The Issuer has declared the following distributions:

Distribution per Unit: $0.02875

Payable Date: April 28, 2023; May 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023

Record Date: April 14, 2023; May 15, 2023 and June 15, 2023

Ex-distribution Date: April 13, 2023; May 12, 2023 and June 14, 2023 respectively.

________________________________________

FIELD TRIP HEALTH & WELLNESS LTD. ("FTHW.H")

[formerly Field Trip Health & Wellness Ltd. ("FTHW")]

BULLETIN TYPE: Transfer and New Addition to NEX, Symbol Change, Suspend

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Further to Field Trip Health & Wellness Ltd. (the "Company") press release dated March 22, 2023, in accordance with TSX Venture Policy 2.5, the Company has not maintained the requirements for a TSX Venture Tier 2 company. Therefore, effective at the opening on Monday, March 27, 2023, the Company's listing will transfer to NEX, the Company's Tier classification will change from Tier 2 to NEX, and the Filing and Service Office will change from Vancouver to NEX.

As of March 27, 2023, the Company is subject to restrictions on share issuances and certain types of payments as set out in the NEX policies.

The trading symbol for the Company will change from FTHW to FTHW.H. There is no change in the Company's name, no change in its CUSIP number and no consolidation of capital. The symbol extension differentiates NEX symbols from Tier 1 or Tier 2 symbols within the TSX Venture market.

Further to the TSX Venture Exchange bulletin dated March 22, 2023, effective at the opening, Monday, March 27, 2023 trading in the shares of the Company will be suspended, the Company having failed to maintain Exchange Requirements.

Members are prohibited from trading in the securities of the Company during the period of the suspension or until further notice.

________________________________________

St Charles Resources Inc. ("SCRS")

[formerly St Charles Resources Inc. ("SCRS.P")]

BULLETIN TYPE: Qualifying Transaction-Completed/New Symbol, Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing St. Charles Resources Inc.'s (the "Company") Qualifying Transaction ("QT") described in its Filing Statement dated February 23, 2023. As a result, at the opening on Monday, March 27, 2023, the listed issuer will no longer be considered a Capital Pool Company. The QT includes the following:

On March 20, 2023, the Company and Eastern Resources OOD ("Eastern Resources") completed the arm's length business combination, pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Eastern Resources and has issued 33,333,300 common shares of the resulting issuer ("Resulting Issuer").

As a result of the QT, 9,523,800 Resulting Issuer common shares are escrowed pursuant to the Exchange Tier 2 Surplus Escrow Agreement, 19,047,600 Resulting Issuer common shares are escrowed pursuant to the Exchange Tier 2 Value Escrow Agreement and 7,360,000 Resulting Issuer common shares are subject to the CPC escrow agreement.

The Resulting Issuer is classified as a "Mining & Resources" Issuer (NAICS Number: 21222).

For further information, please refer to the Company's Filing Statement dated February 23, 2023, available on SEDAR and the press release dated September 8, 2022 and February 1, 2023.

Resume Trading

Further to TSX Venture Exchange Bulletin dated September 2, 2022, trading in the securities of the Resulting Issuer will resume at the opening on March 27, 2023.

Effective at the opening March 27, 2023, the trading symbol for the Company will change from "SCRS.P" to "SCRS".

Capitalization: Unlimited number of common shares with no par value of which

60,693,300 common shares are issued and outstanding Escrow: 35,931,400 common shares Transfer Agent: TSX Trust company Trading Symbol: SCRS CUSIP Number: 851932103 (no change)

Company Contact: Sean Hasson, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Company Address: Tsar Osvoboditel 29, Et. 6, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria

Company Phone Number: +359 2 989 2361

Company Email Address: easternresources.bg@gmail.com

________________________________________

23/03/23 - TSX Venture Exchange Bulletins

TSX VENTURE COMPANIES

ADRABBIT LIMITED ("RABI")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 5:46 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted pending news; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

ADRABBIT LIMITED ("RABI")

BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 7:00 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, shares of the Company resumed trading, an announcement having been made.

________________________________________

ALIANZA MINERALS LTD. ("ANZ")

BULLETIN TYPE: Miscellaneous, Correction

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Further to the bulletin dated March 20, 2023, with respect to the Company's completion of the Warrant Incentive Programs, the number of warrant holders that exercised their original warrants were two placees, not one placee, for a total of 439,300 common shares and 439,300 incentive warrants issued.

________________________________________

BLOCKMATE VENTURES INC. ("MATE")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on November 17, 2022:

Number of Shares: 18,065,337 shares Purchase Price: $0.05 per share Warrants: 18,065,337 share purchase warrants to purchase 18,065,337 shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.075 for a three-year period Number of Placees: 15 placee

Insider / Pro Group Participation: N/A





Finder's Fee: N/A

The Company issued news releases on November 17, 2022 and January 9, 2023 confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

________________________________________

CAREBOOK TECHNOLOGIES INC. ("CRBK")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 1 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on February 27, 2023:

Number of Shares: 12,500,000 shares Purchase Price: $0.10 per share Warrants: 187,500 share purchase warrants to purchase 187,500 shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.15 for a two-year period Number of Placees: 1 placee

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 1 12,500,000 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A

Finder's Fee: N/A

The Company issued a news release on March 8, 2023 confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

________________________________________

GLOBALBLOCK DIGITAL ASSET TRADING LIMITED ("BLOK")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 9:47 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted pending news; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

Jericho Energy Ventures Inc. ("JEV")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on March 7, 2023:

Number of Shares: 8,662,745 shares Purchase Price: $0.26 per share Warrants: 8,662,745 share purchase warrants to purchase 8,662,745 shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.50 for a two-year period Number of Placees: 29 placees

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 2 2,064,769 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: 2 204,000



Aggregate Cash

Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: $14,842.10 N/A 57,085 Warrants

Finder's Warrants Terms: Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at the price of $0.50 for a period of two years from the date of issuance.

The Company issued a news release on March 22, 2023, confirming the closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants if they are less than the maximum permitted term.]

________________________________________

LIBERO COPPER & GOLD CORPORATION ("LBC")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 11:17 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted pending news; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. ("MNTR")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on February 13, 2023:

Number of Shares: 7,307,400 shares Purchase Price: $0.05 per share Warrants: 7,307,400 share purchase warrants to purchase 7,307,400 shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.10 for a one-year period Number of Placees: 14 placees







Insider / Pro Group Participation: Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 1 500,000 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A



Aggregate Cash

Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: $3,000 N/A 70,000

Finder's Warrants Terms: Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at the price of $0.05 for period of 2 years from the date of issuance.

The Company issued a news release on March 17, 2023, confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

________________________________________

MONGOLIA GROWTH GROUP LTD. ("YAK")

BULLETIN TYPE: Normal Course Issuer Bid

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 1 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has been advised by the Company that pursuant to a Notice of Intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid dated March 16, 2023, it may repurchase for cancellation, up to 1,900,000 shares in its own capital stock. The purchases are to be made through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange or other recognized marketplaces during the period of March 27, 2023 to March 26, 2024. Purchases pursuant to the bid will be made by M Partners Inc. on behalf of the Company.

For more information, please refer to the Company's news release dated March 23, 2023.

________________________________________

NG Energy International Corp. ("GASX") ("GASX.DB") ("GASX.WT.A")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 6:24 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted pending news; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

NG Energy International Corp. ("GASX") ("GASX.DB") ("GASX.WT.A")

BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 11:30 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, shares of the Company resumed trading, an announcement having been made.

________________________________________

NORTH ARROW MINERALS INC. ("NAR")

BULLETIN TYPE: Property-Asset or Share Purchase Agreement

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation of a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Agreement") dated February 23, 2023, between the arm's length party (the "Vendor") and North Arrow Minerals Inc. (the "Company"). Pursuant to the agreement, the company will acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral claims in respect of a property area located on the east side of Bathurst Inlet in the Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company will earn a 100% interest in the properties by making a cash payment of $16,515 and issuing 600,000 common shares to the Vendor. Also, the Company will issue a further 2,000,000 shares to Vendor over the certain milestone events.

In addition, the Vendor will retain a 2-per-cent net smelter return royalty (NSR) on future mineral and metal production from the property. One-half of the royalty can be purchased at any time for $2 million.

For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated February 27, 2023.

________________________________________

PLANET VENTURES INC. ("PXI.RT")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 9:00 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted pending delisting; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

ROK RESOURCES INC. ("ROK") ("ROK.WT")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 6:10 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted pending news; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

ROK RESOURCES INC. ("ROK") ("ROK.WT")

BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 11:30 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, shares of the Company resumed trading, an announcement having been made.

________________________________________

Searchlight Resources Inc. ("SCLT")

BULLETIN TYPE: Property-Asset or Share Purchase Agreement

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to the arm's length acquisition of the remaining 25% interest in the Bootleg Lake Gold Property (the Property located near Creighton, Saskatchewan). The Company currently owns a 75% interest in the Property. There is an underlying 1% NSR on four of the twenty claims.



CASH ($) SECURITIES WORK

EXPENDITURES (S) CONSIDERATION N/A 6,000,000 common Shares N/A

For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated March 22, 2023.

________________________________________

SPECTRA PRODUCTS INC. ("SSA")

BULLETIN TYPE: Normal Course Issuer Bid

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has been advised by the Company that pursuant to a Notice of Intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid dated March 9, 2023, it may repurchase for cancellation, up to 732,545 shares in its own capital stock. The purchases are to be made through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange or other recognized marketplaces during the period of March 27, 2023 to March 26, 2024. Purchases pursuant to the bid will be made by Canaccord Genuity Corp. on behalf of the Company.

For more information, please refer to the Company's news release dated March 23, 2023.

________________________________________

Stuhini Exploration Ltd. ("STU")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on February 23, 2023, March 2, 2023 and March 6, 2023:

Number of Shares: 6,000,000 shares Purchase Price: $0.40 per share Warrants: 3,000,000 share purchase warrants to purchase 3,000,000 shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.50 for a two-year period Number of Placees: 41 placees

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: N/A N/A Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: 1 40,000









Aggregate Cash

Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: $9,180.00 N/A 22,950

Each finder's warrant is non-transferable and exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $0.50 per share for a period of two years from March 17, 2023.

The Company issued a news release on March 20, 2023, confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

________________________________________

NEX COMPANY:

CANADA ENERGY PARTNERS INC. ("CE.H")

BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: March 23, 2023

NEX Company

Effective at 6:30 a.m. PST, March 23, 2023, shares of the Company resumed trading, an announcement having been made.

________________________________________

SOURCE TSX Venture Exchange
Fortune Minerals Ltd. (TSX: FT) (OTCQB: FTMDF) ("Fortune" or the "Company") (www.fortuneminerals.com) announces that the filing of its audited annual financial statements, management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, the related certifying officer certificates, and the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022 (collectively, the "Annual Filings") may not be completed by the prescribed filing deadline, March 31, 2023 (the "Filing Deadline").

A delay in completing the Annual Filings would be as a result of a delay in the commencement of the audit, however the Company has completed a private placement and has addressed its short-term cash requirements, and the audit is in progress. Following the commencement of the audit, the Company determined that the Annual Filings may not be completed by the Filing Deadline. Fortune applied to the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") for the issuance of a management cease trade order ("MCTO") in connection with the Company's possible delay in the Annual Filings. However, the OSC determined that it would not grant the Company's application because the request was made less than two weeks prior to the Filing Deadline. As a result, the Company anticipates that, in the event it is unable complete the Annual Filings by the Filing Deadline, the OSC would impose a failure to file cease trade order ("CTO") pursuant to National Policy 11-207. A CTO would prohibit the trading by any person of any securities of the Company in Canada, including trades in the Company's common shares made through the Toronto Stock Exchange. Once issued, the CTO will remain in place until such time as the Annual Filings are filed by the Company.

The audit is in progress and Fortune is working with its auditors to complete the Annual Filings as soon as possible. The Company's board of directors and its management are working expeditiously to meet its continuous disclosure obligations in relation to the Annual Filings. The Company expects to have a better understanding as to the timing for completion of the Annual Filings within the next week, including whether the Annual Filings will be completed by the Filing Deadline, and intends to issue another press release as soon as this information is available.

The Company has the necessary resources to remedy any default should it occur. Should a default occur, it will comply with the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203, including issuing bi-weekly default status reports by way of news releases, which will be filed on SEDAR.

The Company confirms that there are no insolvency proceedings against it and there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

About Fortune Minerals:

Fortune is a Canadian mining company focused on developing the NICO Project in the Northwest Territories and Alberta. Fortune also owns the satellite Sue-Dianne copper-silver-gold deposit located 25 km north of the NICO Deposit and is a potential future source of incremental mill feed to extend the life of the NICO mill and concentrator.

Follow Fortune Minerals:

Click here to subscribe to Fortune's email list.

Click here to follow Fortune on LinkedIn.

@FortuneMineral on Twitter.

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes statements with respect to, among other things, the issuance of the Amended Debentures and the Company's plants to develop the NICO Project. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as well as certain assumptions at the date the information is given (including, in respect of the forward-looking information contained in this press release, assumptions regarding: the Company's ability to secure the necessary financing to repay the Amended Debentures; the Company's ability to complete construction of a NICO Project refinery; the Company's ability to arrange the necessary financing to continue operations and develop the NICO Project; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals for the extension shares and the construction and operation of the NICO Project, including the planned NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper mine and concentrator and the timing thereof; growth in the demand for cobalt; the time required to construct the NICO Project; and the economic environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold, cobalt and other by-product metals, anticipated costs and the volumes of metals to be produced at the NICO Project). However, such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. These factors include the risks that the COVID-19 pandemic or global geopolitical situations may interfere with the Company's ability to continue development of the NICO Project; the Company may not be able to secure financing to repay the Amended Debentures; the Company may not be able to finance and develop NICO on favourable terms or at all, uncertainties with respect to the receipt or timing of required permits, approvals and agreements for the development of the NICO Project, including the related hydrometallurgical refinery, the construction of the NICO Project may take longer than anticipated, the Company may not be able to secure offtake agreements for the metals to be produced at the NICO Project, the Sue-Dianne Property may not be developed to the point where it can provide mill feed to the NICO Project, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and in the mining industry in general, the market for products that use cobalt or bismuth may not grow to the extent anticipated, the future supply of cobalt and bismuth may not be as limited as anticipated, the risk of decreases in the market prices of cobalt, bismuth and other metals to be produced by the NICO Project, discrepancies between actual and estimated Mineral Resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries, uncertainties associated with estimating Mineral Resources and Reserves and the risk that even if such Mineral Resources prove accurate the risk that such Mineral Resources may not be converted into Mineral Reserves once economic conditions are applied, the Company's production of cobalt, bismuth and other metals may be less than anticipated and other operational and development risks, market risks and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005764/en/

Contact

Fortune Minerals Ltd.

Troy Nazarewicz

Investor Relations Manager

info@fortuneminerals.com

Tel: (519) 858-8188

www.fortuneminerals.com
Shares Outstanding: 325,813,658

Trading Symbols: TSX: GGD

OTCQX: GLGDF

HALIFAX, March 23, 2023 - GoGold Resources Inc. (TSX: GGD) (OTCQX: GLGDF) ("GoGold", "the Company") is pleased to announce that at the annual and special meeting of shareholders held on March 23, 2023 (the "Meeting"), the shareholders re-elected John Turner, Bradley Langille, Phillip Gaunce, George Waye, Terrence Cooper, and Karen Flores as directors of the Company for the forthcoming year. Each director was elected by a majority of the votes and the table below presents the votes in respect of the election of each director:

Nominee Votes For Votes Against John Turner 124,181,999 (77.66 %) 35,727,431 (22.34 %) Karen Flores 159,828,509 (99.95 %) 80,921 (0.05 %) Phillip Gaunce 157,960,769 (98.78 %) 1,948,661 (1.22 %) George Waye 158,439,834 (99.08 %) 1,469,596 (0.92 %) Terrence Cooper 117,767,076 (73.65 %) 42,142,354 (26.35 %) Bradley Langille 159,832,735 (99.95 %) 76,695 (0.05 %)

KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, were re-appointed as the auditors of the Company until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly appointed, at a remuneration to be fixed by the directors.

About GoGold Resources

GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States.

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Los Ricos South and North projects, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, including the intention to undertake further exploration at Los Ricos North, and the prospect of further discoveries there, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gogold-announces-results-of-annual-meeting-301780584.html

SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc.
VANCOUVER, March 24, 2023 - Desert Mountain Energy Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: DME) (OTC: DMEHF) (FSE: QM01) From the President of the Company. The Company is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced "best efforts" public offering of 11,300,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$1.95 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of C$22,035,000, which includes the partial exercise of the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below) (the "Offering"). The Company entered into an agency agreement (the "Agency Agreement") with Beacon Securities Limited (the "Agent") to sell the Units on a commercially reasonable best efforts agency basis.

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of C$2.70 per Common Share. The Warrant is exercisable for a period of twenty four (24) months from the closing of the Offering (the "Closing Date"). If, at any time after the Closing Date and prior to the expiry date of the Warrants, the volume weighted average trading price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is greater than C$4.50 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days, the Company may, within 10 business days of the occurrence of such event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice (the "Warrant Acceleration Notice") to the holders of the Warrants, and issuing a concurrent press release, and, in such case, the expiry date of the Warrants shall be the date specified by the Company in the Warrant Acceleration Notice, provided such date shall not be less than 30 trading days following delivery of the Warrant Acceleration Notice.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agency Agreement, the Company granted the Agent an Over-Allotment Option (the "Over-Allotment Option") exercisable, in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of the Agent, at any time and from time to time, until the date that is 30 days following the Closing Date, to arrange for the sale of up to an aggregate number of additional units or Common Shares and/or Warrants of the Company (the "Additional Securities") equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of Units issued pursuant to the Offering, at a price equal to the Issue Price.

In consideration for the services rendered by the Agent in connection with the Offering, the Company has paid the Agent a cash fee equal to six percent (6%) of the gross proceeds of the Offering ($718,848), with the exception of gross proceeds raised and received by the Company from purchasers who settled their purchase of Units directly with the Company (the "Direct Settlement List"). As additional consideration for the services rendered by the Agent in connection with the Offering, the Agent received a number of compensation options (the "Agent's Compensation Options") equal to six percent (6%) of the number of Units issued under the Offering, and six percent (6%) of the number of Additional Securities issued in the event of an Over-Allotment Option exercise, with the exception of the Units issued under the Offering to purchasers included in the Direct Settlement List. Each Agent's Compensation Option entitles the holder thereof to purchase, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, one Common Share of the Company at an exercise price equal to the Issue Price for a period of twenty four (24) months from the Closing Date.

The Company has also paid the Agent a corporate finance fee of $600,000, plus applicable taxes. In addition, the Agent received 309,360 corporate finance fee compensation options, to purchase an equal number of Common Shares, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, at the Issue Price for a period of twenty four (24) months from the Closing Date.

The Offering was made pursuant to a short form prospectus filed in each of the provinces of Canada with the exception of Quebec. A copy of the short form prospectus, which contains important information relating to the Units, and other matters, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" or to "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws, or in compliance with an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT DESERT MOUNTAIN ENERGY

Desert Mountain Energy Corp. is a publicly traded resource company primarily focused on exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen and noble gases. The Company is primarily looking for elements deemed critical to the renewable energy and high technology industries.

We seek safe harbor

"Robert Rohlfing"

Robert Rohlfing

Exec Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in polices of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the timing of closing of the Offering, the final size of the Offering, and the payment of certain fees.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and the United States; financial risks due to helium prices, operating or technical difficulties in exploration and development activities; risks and hazards and the speculative nature of resource exploration and related development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the continued operation of the Company's exploration operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward- looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. The Company does not intend to, and nor does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.



/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/



SOURCE Desert Mountain Energy Corp.







Contact

Don Mosher, President & Director, (604) 617-5448, E-mail Don@desertmountainenergy.com


VANCOUVER, March 24, 2023 - EMP Metals Corp. (CSE: EMPS) (OTCQB: EMPPF) ("EMP Metals" or the "Company") announces that the board of directors has granted incentive stock options to acquire up to an aggregate of 1,800,000 common shares. Of the options granted, 450,000 have been granted to directors and executives of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.65, have a term of five years and may be subject to certain vesting provisions as determined by the board of directors.

The Company also announces it has entered into an online marketing agreement (the "Agreement") with Maximus Strategic Consulting Inc. ("Maximus"). Maximus owns the web platform and brand of www.PinnacleDigest.com, one of Canada's longest-running online platforms dedicated to small and micro-cap investors. Maximus will assist EMP Metals in communicating efficiently with the business community, including potential investors, journalists and newsletter writers, to keep them informed and up-to-date on EMP Metals' developments. The Agreement with Maximus lasts four months (ending August 1, 2023). In consideration for the services of Maximus, EMP Metals Corp. has agreed to pay C$150,000 to Maximus plus applicable taxes. Under the terms of the Agreement, Maximus will create online marketing materials about EMP Metals, including digital media such as a corporate video for distribution to www.PinnacleDigest.com's growing social media and email subscriber base as well as through targeted online advertising campaigns (on social media, display and search) to relevant audiences. Maximus will also distribute the Company's news to www.PinnacleDigest.com's email subscriber base.

About EMP Metals

EMP Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of mineral projects with significant development potential. EMP, in partnership with ROK Resources, currently holds ~200,000 acres (~81,000 hectares) of mineral titles in the Williston basin of Southern Saskatchewan. For more information, please go to the Company's website at www.empmetals.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. EMP Metals cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond EMP Metals' control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to EMP Metals' limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on its mineral properties, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, EMP Metals undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE EMP Metals Corp.
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Honda is not yet decided about definitely staying in Formula 1 beyond 2025.

This week, unofficial reports suggested that Volkswagen-owned Porsche has now definitively decided against designing an F1 engine for the new 2026 rules.

Porsche had talks with Red Bull, but the energy drink owned team ultimately decided to go a more independent route by collaborating with Ford for its own Red Bull Powertrains subsidiary.

Similar talks were held with Honda, who remain officially involved with Red Bull until 2025.

But given Honda's decision in 2021 to pull out of F1, and then its subsequent decision to remain involved via its own subsidiary Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), HRC president Koji Watanabe admits it has been confusing for fans.

It then only became more confusing when the full 'Honda' name returned to the Red Bull car for 2023, coupled with the decision to register for the new F1 engine era in 2026 and beyond.

However, a final decision about 2026 is yet to be taken.

"I think if I explained the situation completely they would understand, but not everyone knows the situation," president Watanabe told as-web.jp.

"So in that sense, I regret that the situation is difficult to understand so I'm sorry.

"However, I would like you to understand that we are continuing our F1 activities at the request of Red Bull, because we did not want to cause trouble for Red Bull and Alpha Tauri to continue their F1 activities.

"The power unit development is also frozen until 2025, so please understand that our relationship with them has also been extended for that time," the Japanese added.

"Of course I have no intention of apologising for still being in F1," he smiled. "In the end, if it caused a situation that was difficult to understand and there was a lack of explanation for that, I am sorry about that."

(GMM)
Ken Ofori-Atta hopeful of securing financing assurances after China meeting

GraphicOnline Business News Mar - 24 - 2023 , 09:21

Ghana's finance ministry has announced that it anticipates securing financing assurances from bilateral lenders "very soon", following meetings held in China.

"So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress and all fronts," Ghana's finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta said on Twitter.

The West African nation had previously secured a staff-level agreement for a US$3 billion loan through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December, but must first obtain financing assurances on existing debts from bilateral lenders before the IMF board can approve the program.

China's commerce ministry confirmed that Ghana's finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, met with China's vice commerce minister in Beijing on Thursday to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Ghana's finance ministry revealed that China is the country's largest bilateral creditor, with debts totaling around US$1.9 billion.
Vodafone Cash commits to financial inclusion

Daily Graphic Business News Mar - 24 - 2023 , 07:05

Vodafone Cash is committed to improving financial inclusion in the country, the Mobile Financial Services Manager at the company, Judith Adumua-Bossman, has said.

She was speaking at the Mobile Technology for Development Conference (MT4D 2023) on the theme: Driving Digital Financial Inclusion in the Real Economy in Accra.

Vodafone Cash sponsored the event to foster collaboration among industry players and to strengthen efforts towards financial inclusion in Ghana.

Ms Adumua-Bossman said in a release that Mobile money has gone beyond cash in and cash out, and we are looking for ways to develop innovative products for our customers.

As an example, she highlighted Vodafone Cashs overdraft , which allows customers to borrow to complete transactions, offering them more convenience when purchasing a bundle, paying bills and/or sending money across networks.

She said as a business, Vodafone Cash had also made significant contributions to the agribusiness sector in Ghana.

Partnership

Ms Adumua-Bossman also spoke about the companys partnership with Fatherlike and Aquifers, which provide farmers with the technical support they need to practise better farming.

She further noted that Vodafone Ghana, with the support of the government, had extended its coverage through its roaming and rural telephony projects.

We believe that financial inclusion is crucial to the development of the economy and the welfare of the people.

It is not enough to have technology; we must evolve it, Ms Adumua-Bossman added.

Vodafone Cash, she said, hads been focused on helping liberalise mobile money to embrace all and sundry since its inception, adding: To achieve this goal, Vodafone Cash has taken the lead in introducing new and pioneering initiatives and campaigns to promote financial services.

We are passionate about developing financial products and partnering with technology firms to improve financial inclusion in Ghana and improve the lives of individuals, she said.
Loss, damage fund: Master stroke for Africa?

Timothy Ngnenbe Features Feb - 20 - 2023 , 10:57

For some, it is a breakthrough for climate justice, but others say the deal on loss and damage is still cloudy, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

This was how the world reacted to the agreement that countries reached to set up a fund to address the consequences of climate change that go beyond what people can adapt to.

The deal was struck at the 27th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh last year.

It was the thorniest issue at the African COP, as negotiators from least developed countries (LDCs) demanded of the developed countries to pay for their crimes against nature while the latter kept holding on to every available straw to escape.

When the stalemate was eventually broken at the eleventh hour, with the countries agreeing to establish a fund for loss and damage, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, reacted, this outcome moves us forward.

We have determined a way forward on a decades-long conversation on funding for loss and damage  deliberating over how we address the impacts on communities whose lives and livelihoods have been ruined by the very worst impacts of climate change, he added.

The Head of Programmes and Research at Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Charles Mwangi, also said the establishment of financial arrangement for loss and damage was an important point of progress or at least, the beginning of a response to one of Africas key demands.

Nagging issues

However, the text of the agreement, which indicates that the fund was meant to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis, remains a problem area.

Some experts say the framing of the potential beneficiaries by wealthier countries was problematic as it sought to limit the pool of recipients.

Others also pointed out that in its current form, the deal had no definite terms and conditions, except a roadmap that allowed for future decisions.

As it stands, the recommendations are expected to be made at COP28 on who will oversee the fund; how the money will be disbursed and who is to benefit.

Another area of uncertainty is that in terms of the sources of funds, the agreement identified a variety of existing revenue streams, including financial institutions, without turning to rich countries to contribute to the kitty.

The mill on sources of funds is still grinding, with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, calling for a windfall profit tax on fossil fuel companies to raise funding.



African situation

These discussions around loss and damage fund is rife at a time the African continent is reeling under the climate crisis.

According to Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)  Africa, the African continent accounts for the smallest share of global greenhouse gas emissions, at just 3.8 per cent, compared with Chinas 23 per cent; USs 19 per cent; and the European Unions (EUs) 13 per cent.

Yet, Africa is the hardest hit in terms of climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, displacements, food and water insecurity.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says global temperatures are increasingly warming, with Africa experiencing an average rate of 0.3 C per decade between 1991 and 2021, faster than the warming from 1961-1990, at 0.2C.

The African coastlines are also witnessing sea level rise at a higher rate than the global mean rate, with an estimated 116 million people on the continent expected to be exposed to sea level rise risk.

Additionally, droughts have claimed over half a million lives on the continent in the past 50 years, with over US$70 billion recorded losses in the region.

This is apart from the more than 1,000 flood-related disasters that were reported over the period, involving more than 20,000 deaths.

Again, it is estimated that by 2050, climate impacts could cost African nations US$50 billion annually.

Put house in order

While it remains unclear as to when the loss and damage fund will be operationalised, a Ghanaian scientist has called on Ghana and other countries in Africa to put their house in order by putting in place robust systems to collect scientific data on losses and damages associated with the climate crisis.

"I am happy that those who are causing greenhouse emissions that lead to climate change have agreed that the fund should be created to at least repair the loss and damage that we the less emitters are encountering," Professor Kwasi Appeaning-Addo, the Director of the Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies (IESS) at the University of Ghana, said.

However, he stressed that the only way Ghana could benefit from the loss and damage fund, if it materialised, was for the government to put in place robust systems that would help to measure the negative impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.

"To me, loss and damage is a good thing, but as a country, we have to put our house in order; put in place the required monitoring systems, and be ready for it," he stressed.

Again, he said while waiting on developed countries to provide funds for loss and damage, it was important for African countries to answer critical questions  do we know the extent of the loss? Do we know the extent of the damage? Do we have data to quantify our loss or damage? Do we know the environmental loss?

A research scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr Emmanuel Obuobie, also said while the loss and damage fund agreement was a major milestone in climate financing, it would take some time for it to be fully operationalised.

He called on African countries to remain united and present a common voice at all levels of negotiations towards finalising and operationalising the fund.

Dr Obuobie added that African countries, including Ghana, must prioritise the specific loss and damage to cover from the fund, as there may not be sufficient financing to cover every loss and damage, especially with the current global economic challenges.

This also means that African countries should not look at the new fund as the only way to finance climaterelated loss and damage, but should pursue other financing options, including financing loss and damage by the respective governments and the private sector, he said.

For his part, the Legal Advisor of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), Prof. Seth Osafo, said African leaders need to up their game to make a stronger case for the continent in terms of demanding climate action from the Western world.

Climate impacts are real and our urgency as a people to deal with this crisis must supersede the quest for finances that rightfully come with it.

Our leaders could then demand climate finance, rather than beg for it.

They could take the lead on the global stage, instead of trailing behind, begging as helpless victims while accepting new fossil fuel investments that might soon become stranded assets, he stressed.

Climate monsters

Even as the loss and damage discourse continues, Ghana must take steps to tackle eminent triggers of climate change in the country.

Currently, illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, continue to destroy the country's land and water resources, leaving the residents of mining communities to count their losses.

Large tracts of agricultural land have been devastated by the illegal miners who use excavators and other machines to wipe off the green vegetation and leave behind gaping pits in the desperate search for gold.

Forest reserves in mining communities in the Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Western, Western-North, Ahafo, Bono and other areas have been wiped off by these illegal miners.

Wetlands and Ramsar sites host mangroves that are crucial in mitigating the impact of climate change and coastal flooding.

According to ecologists, apart from helping to regulate climate, the carbon storage potential of mangroves is about five times higher than the tropical upland forest due to strong carbon storage in the soil.

Again, they explained that mangroves that grow well within wetlands help to fight against climate change by storing a higher amount of carbon than rainforest.

Despite the crucial role wetlands and ramsar sites play in tackling the climate crisis, Ghanas five coastal wetlands designated as Ramsar sites are under siege.

The wetlands, which constitute about 10 per cent of the countrys total land area of 23.9 million hectares, are suffocating from over exploitation of the resource, dormant conservation laws and encroachment activities by humans.

Major cities of Ghana are replete with rickety vehicles that emit greenhouse gases from their exhaust into the atmosphere.

The lack of a legislation for testing vehicular emissions makes the situation worst.

Call to action

For Ghana, the government needs to step up efforts to fight illegal mining to protect the environment from further destruction.

Also, more attention must be given to the Green Ghana project that was introduced in 2021 to help restore the countrys degraded landscape.

Records at the Forestry Commission show that seven million of the trees were planted on the maiden Green Ghana Day on June 11, 2021 while the 2022 event saw the planting of 24 million trees of various species.

These trees were planted mainly in degraded forest reserves that have been reclaimed and other off-reserve areas.

While the trees are planted, efforts must be made to nurture the trees so that they survive.

Adequate measures must also be made to prevent the loss of these trees through wild fires.

As countries work towards keeping emissions below the 1.5C target under the Paris Agreement, it is important for measures to be taken to control vehicular emissions.

The ban on indiscriminate sand winning along Ghanas coastline must be enforced to prevent coastal erosion which give rise to flooding in coastal communities.

It is also important for flood-mitigating measures to be rolled out to curb perennial flooding in many parts of the country.
ECG disconnects power to Keta vaccine storage - Medicines risk going waste

Alberto Mario Noretti & Doreen Andoh Mar - 24 - 2023 , 07:14

Vaccines for routine immunisation, including new deliveries received last week, risk going waste at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate because the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has disconnected power supply to the facility for the non-payment of bills.

This is in spite of the government classifying some health facilities, including vaccine stores, operating theatres, medical laboratories, designated pharmacies and consulting rooms, as essential and strategic where power outage must not occur.

The Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Kwasi Djokoto, has confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic and said he was engaging the power distributor to restore power.

A source at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate told the Daily Graphic yesterday that it had been more than 24 hours since power was cut to the directorate, which also hosts the vaccine stores that serve all the health facilities in the area.

The source explained that after 24 hours, the vaccines would begin to go waste.

The directorate does not have a standby generator.

The vaccines at risk of going waste in include between 800 and more than 2,200 doses of BCG, OPV (polio), PCV (Pneumonia) and Penta and Rota (diarrhoea).

Others are measles, meningitis, malaria, tetanus and yellow fever vaccines.

The source added that new stocks of vaccines for the three childhood diseases of which the municipality took delivery last week were part of the vaccines that risked going waste.

Classification

A letter dated August 15, 2018 which the Ghana Health Service sent to all regional directors of Health Services, a copy of which the Daily Graphic has sighted, communicated the Ministry of Finances classification of certain health facilities as strategic which should not suffer power outages.

The letter, referenced GHS/DGS/G.2, notified the regional Health directors that after reviewing a list of health facilities for classification as strategic or non-strategic, a strategic facility had been defined by the Ministry of Finance to include any installation that must have electrical power 365/24/7, and that a failure would cause immediate grave danger to lives and property or a national security threat if it failed because it had no electrical power.

It added that also classified as strategic installations, for which they must not suffer electricity cuts, were those that would cause a disruption in mission-critical public services and a reduction or cessation in the operating capacity of designated central medical and research laboratories, designated pharmacies, vaccine stores, blood banks and similar installations.

The classification exempted from the strategic list installations not directly used for patient care, such as bungalows, streetlights and recreational centres.

Before the start of the exercise by the ECG to disconnect indebted facilities and institutions, the Managing Director of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, had told the Daily Graphic that conversations are far advanced on critical installations, such as government hospitals, other public health facilities and security installations, on how their debts are to be settled.

The Keta Municipal Director of Health, Emmanuel Kona, said the payment of electricity bills was made on behalf of the health directorate by the Ministry of Finance, with the last of such payments being made in January this year.

He, therefore, insisted that the disconnection of power to the health directorate was inconsiderate.

Regional ECG

When contacted, the Volta Regional Engineer of the ECG, Michael Buabin, confirmed that the Keta Municipal Directorate of Health was disconnected but not the municipal hospital.

He said the ECG was aware that vaccines were kept in a movable refrigerator which could now be shifted to the hospital to preserve the vaccines.

He said the health directorate, which owed the ECG GH24,000, often used concerns about vaccines to avoid settling bills with the ECG.

We are aware the hospital is a sensitive installation and a live-saving area which must have electricity all the times, and for that reason we did not disconnect the hospital, he added.

Background

The ECG last Monday started a nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise to recover all unpaid bills, amounting to GH5.7 billion, from its customers.

The exercise, which is expected to last a month, targets domestic users, businesses, organisations, ministries, departments and state agencies for power consumed from 2022 to February this year.

The exercise has so far led to the disconnection of power to some places of national importance, while forcing many companies and organisations to draw instant cheques to the power distribution company.
Ghana: FDA warns against contaminated eye drops linked to deaths and vision loss

GraphicOnline Mar - 24 - 2023 , 16:28

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a warning to the public regarding two contaminated brands of eye drops currently available on the market.

The affected products are Ezricare artificial tears and Delsam Pharmas artificial tears, both manufactured by Global Pharma.

The regulatory body has stated that the products have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturers.

In a press release, the FDA revealed that the contaminated eye drops were found to contain pseudomonas aeruginosa, a drug-resistant bacteria that has been linked to three deaths and eight cases of vision loss.

The products are not registered with the Ghana FDA and should not be available for purchase in the country.

The FDA is advising anyone who may have these products in their possession to stop using them immediately and return them to any FDA office nationwide.

Individuals who have used the recalled products and are experiencing symptoms such as yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness, a feeling of something in the eye, increased sensitivity to light, and blurred vision are urged to seek professional medical care right away.

The FDA has emphasized its commitment to ensuring that only safe and effective medical products are available in Ghana, and it is taking all necessary measures to achieve this objective.
Ghana's Deputy Agric Minister urges Thail investors to support sustainable rice production

GraphicOnline Mar - 24 - 2023 , 16:56

Ghana's Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (in charge of Crops), Yaw Addo Frimpong, has called on investors in the Thailand rice value chain to consider investing in Ghana.

Speaking at the Thailand-Ghana Business Conference in Bangkok, Mr Frimpong explained that an investment in Ghana's rice production would be mutually beneficial for both countries.

He pointed out that Thailand has the experience and technology to help Ghana become self-sufficient in rice production and even export to other West African countries.

The conference, which was themed "Ghana-Thailand Business Forum; Partnership for Sustainable Rice Production in Ghana," brought together key players from the Thailand rice industry and a Ghanaian delegation led by the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.

The delegation included experts and researchers from various Ghanaian institutions, private entrepreneurs, traditional rulers, and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, all with a focus on rice, fertilizer, maize, cassava, and poultry.

Frimpong stated that Ghana's rice consumption demand is between 1.2 million and 1.4 million metric tonnes per annum, leaving a significant gap between demand and supply.

However, with the support of Thailand, Ghana can close this gap and achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.

The Asian African Consortium (AAC), led by Dr. Siaw Agyepong's wife, Adelaide Araba Agyepong, has been working towards actualising the rice project.

Adelaide stressed the importance of forging strategic partnerships for the success of the project and announced the establishment of a fully-furnished National Rice Office in Accra, with zonal offices in Koforidua, Kumasi, and Tamale for the southern, middle, and northern belts, respectively.

She also revealed that suitable lands have been acquired across the country and are ready for cultivation.

Dr. Siaw Agyepong added his voice to Frimpong's call for Thai investors to consider Ghana, describing it as a peaceful and safe haven to do business.

He assured investors that their investments would be protected and emphasised that Ghana is a leader in the West African sub-region and the whole of Africa, especially in the area of peace and stability.
See the schedule of US VP Kamala Harris' visit to Ghana next week

Kweku Zurek Mar - 24 - 2023 , 17:28

United States (US) Vice President Kamala Harris is set to embark on her first visit to the African continent since taking office. She will depart Washington on Saturday evening and arrive in Accra, Ghana on Sunday afternoon.

During her trip, Vice President Harris will meet with Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday for bilateral talks. Later that day, she will visit a local recording studio and meet with young people in the creative industry.

On Tuesday, the Vice President will deliver a speech to a young audience and visit the Cape Coast slave castle to speak about the brutality of slavery and the African Diaspora.

On Wednesday, she will meet with women entrepreneurs in Accra to discuss the economic empowerment of women. It is expected that she will announce a series of continent-wide public and private sector investments to help close the digital gender divide and empower women economically.

Vice President Harris will then travel to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania before concluding her trip in Lusaka, Zambia. This visit marks the fifth major trip from a senior administration official since the summit, following visits by Secretary Yellen, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, the First Lady, and Secretary Blinken.

Senior US administration officials say the Vice President is "visiting these three countries where the governments are investing in their democracies specifically at a time where we know there is a global democratic recession".

"The United States views Africa as critical to addressing global challenges, and we view her visit as another opportunity to consult and engage with partners on our shared objectives," the officials said in a press call on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Side chick case: Court yet to deal with substantive matter

Justice Agbenorsi Mar - 24 - 2023 , 08:07

The case in which a woman has sued the chief finance officer of a bank for allegedly breaching an agreement to take care of her, came up once more at the High Court in Accra with tangential issues hanging in the way of the substantive matter.

At the courts first hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, had ordered the parties in the case to file their written submissions to enable the court to delve into the substantive matter.

However, when the case was called yesterday, lawyers for the man sued by Deborah Seyram Adablah, had filed an application seeking leave to file a supplementary affidavit in support of their written submission.

Counsel for Ernest Kwasi Nimako, a Chief Finance Officer of the bank where the young woman did her national service and has made sexual harassment claims against in her suit, notified the court about the application.

However, counsel for the plaintiff, Mohammed Attah, told the court that his client had also filed an application seeking to oppose the application filed by Nimako.

Counsel argued on grounds that lawyers for Nimako failed to state precisely the paragraphs of his affidavit they wanted to respond to.

He added that Nimakos lawyers ought to have filed the supplementary affidavit as of right because that was the practice.

That was contested by Nimakos lawyer, Ama Opoku Amponsah.

She argued that counsels position that they ought to have attached a proposed supplementary affidavit was not known to the rules of court.

By Court

The presiding judge, Justice Owusu adjourned the case to April 6, 2023.

She urged counsel for Adablah to serve the bank with his written submissions.

She is expected to give a ruling on the applications filed by the Nimako, which was seeking leave to file a supplementary affidavit in support of their written submission.

In a suit dated Monday, January 23, 2023, filed at the Accra High Court, Adablah contends that her sugar daddy, Ernest Kwasi Nimako agreed to buy her a car, pay for her accommodation for three years, give her a monthly stipend of GH3,000, marry her after divorcing his wife and also give her a lump sum to start a business.

It is her case that Nimako, although bought the car and registered it in his (sugar daddys name), he has taken the car back, denying her access to use it after about a year of enjoying the Honda Civic worth GH120,000, while he also paid for only one year accommodation, even though he promised to pay for three years.

Adablah who claims that she was forced into the relationship during the period she did her national service at the bank where Ernest Kwasi Nimako works, has also accused Nimako of abuse, sexual harassment, maltreatment, exploitation and also lowering her reputation.

Reliefs

The plaintiff is seeking an order from the court directed at the sugar daddy to transfer the title of the car into her name and also give her back the car.

She is also asking the court to order the defendant to pay her the lump sum to enable her start a business to take care of her self as agreed by the plaintiff and the defendant.
Suame, Krofrom residents receive free health screening

Emmanuel Baah Mar - 24 - 2023 , 07:34

Over 600 residents of Suame and Krofrom, both in the Kumasi metropolis, have benefited from a free health screening exercise with accompanying medication organised by the Asa Savings and Loans Limited, a micro finance company.

This formed part of a corporate social responsibility of the financial institution to give back to both their customers and residents in its areas of operation.

Held simultaneously, the beneficiaries were screened and given free medication, while those identified with complications were referred to appropriate health facility for further diagnoses and care.

The exercise was held in collaboration with the Christsoteria Anglican Mission Clinic in Kumasi.

The two events were supervised by Patrick K. Segbefia and Ismaila Ansah, Managers of the Krofrom and Suame branches respectively.

It was also attended by the Ashanti North Divisional Manager, Felix Ahiadorme; the Area Manager of Krofrom, Enoch D. Fiador; and the Area Manager of Suame, Mohammed Mumuni.

Assurance

Mr Ansah assured customers of Asa Savings and Loans commitment to provide cutting-edge innovations as far as their financial wellbeing was concerned.

A Health Director at the Christsoteria Anglican Mission Clinic, Dr Antwi Bosiako, said there was the need for people to go for regular medical check-ups in order to know their health status.

He said early detection had been proven to be the safest way to address complicated health issues, especially when most came with less or no symptoms at all.
UMB CEO urges UG graduates to take advantage of digital tools to win the age of the entrepreneur

Kweku Zurek Mar - 24 - 2023 , 14:39

A leading Ghanaian banker, Nana Dwemoh Benneh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), has urged graduates of the University of Ghana to take advantage of the benefits of digital tools to establish themselves as entrepreneurs.

Nana Dwemoh Benneh made these comments at the 75th congregation ceremony of the College of Education where he was the guest speaker.

The ceremony saw the graduation of 11,711 students drawn from the constituent schools of the college namely the School of Continuing and Distance Education, the School of Information and Communication Studies and the School of Education and Leadership.

The Provost of the College of Education Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe in his opening remarks noted that the graduating class had students from over 50 other countries amongst the cohort, once more cementing the University of Ghanas place as the premier University in Ghana.

In her remarks read for her by the Pro ViceChancellor Prof. Felix A. Asante, the ViceChancellor of the University noted some key successes chalked by the University for the year under review.

Key highlights included the ViceChancellors Student Digitization Initiative to allow for synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning.

She also noted that the University of Ghana had taken pride of place in Ghana as the top-ranked school in the Webometrics/ Alper Doger school rankings.

In her speech prior to confirming the conferment of degrees on the presented candidates, the chancellor of the University Mrs. Mary ChineryHesse, represented by Ms. Doris Kisiwa Ansah and Mrs. Yvette Adounvo Atekpe, members of the University Council congratulated management for continuing efforts to ensure that the university returns to full and normal operations post the Covid pandemic.

She also commended the management for innovative efforts to resource the university and also to ensure best management practices including being the first university in Ghana to institute a gender policy statement.

Nana Dwemoh Benneh, the CEO of the Universal Merchant Bank in his speech reiterated his pride in being an alumnus of the University, graduating some 23 years ago.

He painted a vivid picture of a contrast between the world he graduated into and the world of today.

He noted that the key differentiator was how much digital tools had transformed the world, especially the world of work.

He noted for instance that unlike in 1996, his year of graduation, new music albums could top the chart without a CD or a cassette being produced.

He used this example to establish the point that the world we find ourselves in is the age of the digital entrepreneur and admonished graduating students to follow the examples of other successful entrepreneurs in and out of Ghana and seek to establish their own enterprises.

He said Opportunities exist for the diligent who apply themselves to exploiting the digital world and creating different kinds of work relevant to the emerging society, he said.

The College of Education is made up of the following schools: the School of Information and Communication Studies, the School of Education and Leadership and the School of Continuing and Distance Education and is one of the colleges of the University of Ghana.

The university of Ghana was founded in 1948 as a university college of the Gold Coast. This years congregation marks the 75th congregation of the university.
We received calls thanking us for Ashaiman operation after soldier was killed - DG of Armed Forces Public Affairs

Kweku Zurek Mar - 24 - 2023 , 09:39

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says it received praise for the intervention in Ashaiman, following the killing of a soldier - Sherrif Imoro in the area.

Brigadier General Eric Aggrey Quarshie, Director General of Public Affairs of the GAF, said his outfit has been thanked by numerous people for the operation.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting and National Public Relations and Communication Summit of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, Brigadier General Quarshie explained that the action was necessary due to Ashaimans notoriety for criminal activities.

He added that, while he was not justifying the operation, the calls received by the GAF were indicative of the positive impact the intervention had.

I am not defending or justifying our actions but the number of calls that I have received and the institution has received, thanking us for the actions in Ashaiman, you wont believe it, he said.

People are asking us General, when will you do that again? Because, if you live within that enclave and at certain times of the day you couldnt go to certain areas and these things happen, you will appreciate, Brigadier General Quarshie stated.

Brigadier General Quarshie also suggested that the use and management of social media should be reviewed, given that some of the pictures of the operation were taken by soldiers and posted on their social media pages.

He said that the issue would have been handled differently if not for the pictures, and suggested that stakeholders should engage in discussions about how to deal with similar incidents in future.

The funny thing is that some of the pictures you saw were taken by soldiers and posted on their Facebook and WhatsApp pages, Brigadier General Quarshie stated.

But for that, some of the issues may not have come out. But I just want you to know that there are a lot of people who are happy that we entered those areas in Ashaiman. Maybe if you live around that place, you will appreciate, he explained.

The operation

The operation was authorized by the Military High Command following the alleged killing of a young military officer, Trooper Imoro Sherrif, by unknown assailants in the town on March 4, 2023.

Aimed at finding the perpetrators of the crime, it left many unsuspecting civilian residents of Ashaiman with various degrees of injuries, with others confined to their households for hours in fear of falling victim.

About 184 persons were reportedly arrested during the exercise by the military, with some tortured and others subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment.
Duffuor joins NDC flag bearer race; files nomination papers

Vincent Amenuveve Politics Mar - 24 - 2023 , 07:41

A former Finance Minister and Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, yesterday filed his nomination forms to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer race at the party's headquarters in Accra.

Dr Duffuor was accompanied by some party bigwigs including former Deputy Minister of Health, Rojo Mettle Nunoo; former NDC National Organiser, Yaw Boateng Gyan; former Minister of Information, Fritz Baffour, and the Ashanti Regional Women's Organiser, Gloria Huze.

Filing

Dr Duffuor, who arrived at the party headquarters at exactly 11 a.m to submit his nomination forms for the internal party contest, received cheers from hundreds of his supporters clad in his branded white T-shirts who came from the various constituencies in the regions including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern and Volta Regions.

In their ecstatic mood, they clapped, played metal gongs and rattles as they sang songs of appellation for the aspirant in both the Ga and Akan languages to extol the qualities of Dr Duffuor whom they described as a man of job creation and peace.

Dr Duffuor, after exchanging pleasantries with the leadership of the NDC at the party's head office at Adabraka, presented his papers to the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

Those with Mr Kwetey included the Chairman of the NDC Elections Committee, Kakra Essamuah, and a former Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, among other leading members of the party.

Dr Duffuor said about a month ago, Ms Huze collected the nomination forms on his behalf which he was now presenting to the party as a prerequisite to contest the NDC flagbearership.

He said the gesture was not about seeking his parochial interests but contributing to the development of the country, particularly reviving the ailing economy.

The presidential aspirant promised to rally support to strengthen the party at the grassroots to enable it to recapture power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

NDC is bigger than any individual and although the task ahead is huge, it is surmountable" he stressed.

He said he had supported the party in various ways but indicated that he had kept mute because the Bible which he believed in has advised that When you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Economy

Touching on the economy, Dr Duffuor said the NDC, under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, with his support as a former Finance Minister in 2009, presided over a robust economy.

He, however, observed that the NPP government had not been able to sustain the gains made hence created what he described as a narrow fiscal space in the economy".

The presidential hopeful promised to lead an NDC government in 2025 when given the nod to embark on an intensive domestic revenue mobilisation drive to reverse hunger, poverty and create jobs for the unemployed youth.

He pledged to restore hope, national pride and to put the country on the path of economic prosperity stressing that he still possessed the requisite skills that could help achieve that goal.

We have done it before in 2009 and we can do it again; we should be able to create more jobs" he noted.

Peaceful

Mr Kwetey, for his part, commended the rank and file of the party and Dr Duffuor for the peaceful manner the internal exercises to prepare the party for the 2024 election were being held across the country.

He observed that the exercises were marked by love for the country and the realisation that there is the need to rescue the country; the clarion call is that all patriots of the land must rise up for the nation".

The General Secretary further entreated NDC party faithful to maintain that posture to enable the party to elect its flag bearer peacefully for the 2024 election in May.
Minority threatens to vote against Prez Akufo-Addo's newly appointed ministers today

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 24 - 2023 , 07:47

The opposition party in Ghana's parliament has announced that it will vote against President Akufo-Addo's newly appointed Ministers and deputies today (March 24, 2023), despite some of them being their colleague legislators.

The Minority group argues that the nominees must be unanimously rejected to help cut down on government expenditure during the current economic crisis.

During a debate on the report of the Appointments Committee, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, urged his colleagues from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to put Ghana first and not stand for their colleagues.

We stand with the people of Ghana, and we are urging our colleagues from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stand for Ghana and not to stand for their colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the nominees are our colleagues, but the principle is that its not about them, its about the republic of Ghana. They may be our colleagues and friends and relatives, but its not about them. I call on you to look them in their faces and vote against them for the republic of Ghana. For the future of our country, he said.

The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, appealed to the house to approve the nominees, but the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, stated that the house will decide on the fate of the nominees. I will just plead that we approve the ministers, he said.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had previously directed the Minority group not to approve the nominees, describing their appointments as insensitive in the midst of an economic crisis.

The newly appointed Ministers include K.T Hammond as the Minister for Trade and Industry, with Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy, Bryan Acheampong as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, and Stephen Asamoah Boateng as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Archer Aviation and United Airlines plan to launch the first air taxi route in Chicago, between OHare International Airport (ORD) and Vertiport Chicago. Vertiport Chicago, North Americas largest vertical aircraft take off and landing facility, is located in the Illinois Medical District near the Chicago Loop.





This site was selected as the takeoff and landing site for this airport to city center route because of its convenience, access and service. From there, passengers will be able to travel to and from ORD via Archers Midnight aircraft in approximately 10 minutes. A similar trip by car can take upwards of an hour or more during rush hour traffic.

United and Archers goal for its UAM network is to provide residents and visitors in the Chicago Metropolitan Area with a safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive alternative to ground transportation beginning in 2025. The early launch routes will focus in on airport to city center transportation service, which are referred to as trunk routes. Once the trunk routes have been established, the next step will be to build out branch routes to connect to surrounding communities.

ComEd, the Midwests largest utility company, will work with United and Archer to establish the power infrastructure necessary to support eVTOL aircraft operations in and around the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
The Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached provisional political agreement on green shipping fuels regulations. The main objective of the FuelEU Maritime initiative, as a key part of the EUs Fit for 55 package, is to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector, while ensuring the smooth operation of maritime traffic and avoiding distortions in the internal market.

Broadly, ships will be required to switch increasingly to sustainable fuels and at least 2% of the blocs shipping fuels will need to come from e-fuels derived from renewable electricity by 2034 at the latest.

The text of the provisional agreement retains the core aspects of the 2021 proposal from the European Commission. The co-legislators made some amendments, including:

new targets for shipowners to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy they use onboard: 2% from 2025, 6% as of 2030, 14.5% from 2035, 31% from 2040, 62% from 2045 and 80% from 2050;

introducing measures to encourage the use of the so-called renewable fuels of non biological origin (RFNBO);

amending the requirements for on-shore power supply (OPS) and provisions relating to zero-emission technologies based on the underlying principle that the system should be coherent with the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR);

excluding fossil fuels from the certification process when it comes to the certification of fuels but also improving the provision to make the process more future proof;

amending the provisions on revenues generated from the penalties under the FuelEU regulation and their allocation to projects to support decarbonization of the maritime sector with an enhanced transparency mechanism; and

further specifying the Commissions obligations to monitor the implementation of the regulation in the relevant report and review clause.

The provisional political agreement is now subject to formal approval by the two co-legislators. On the Councils side, the Swedish presidency intends to submit the text to the member states representatives as soon as possible with a view to its formal adoption by one of the upcoming Councils.

There are three core institutions which make up the legislative and executive power of the EU: the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. The European Commission proposes EU legislation while the Council and the Parliament jointly adopt it.

The European Parliament is made up of 705 Members, who are directly elected by voters in all Member States, represent the European peoples interests with regard to EU law making and make sure other EU institutions are working democratically.

The Council of the European Union is made up of the Member States government Ministers, depending on the legislation being discussed. Ministers defend their national interests in the Council.

The European Commision promotes the interests of the EU as a whole. Each Member State nominates one Commissionser to the European Commission.
The city of Moscow has signed a contract for 1,000 electric buses from KAMAZ. There are also plans to purchase another 200 electric buses from GAZ Group, said Maksim Liksutov, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport.

The vehicles will come to the capital over the next 2 years. Moscow currently runs 1,055 electric buses on 79 routes. (Earlier post.) The new purchases will double that number.





This year, Moscow plans to install nearly 200 ultra-fast charging stations for the electric buses; open a second electric bus park in the Mitino district in the northwest of Moscow; and launch 29 more electric bus routes.

Since 2022, the innovative Russian-made electric buses have been delivered to Moscow. The upgraded e-buses have modernized batteries that deliver 80-90 km without charging. The front route indicator has become larger and the floor covering is stronger. The new electric buses are equipped with four validators instead of three, making it more convenient for the passengers to pay. The e-bus cabin is also provided with the adaptive light: it depends on the time of the day and changes from cold light to warm one.

This is the largest purchase of this type of transport in Europe. Such contracts support Russian engineering, provide the industry with orders and jobs. New innovative electric buses will increase the comfort of passengers and improve the environment. Maksim Liksutov

Electric buses were launched in Moscow in 2018; the growing electric bus fleet has run more than 115 million kilometers since then.
Former president Donald Trump warned early Friday of "potential death & destruction" if he is charged in Manhattan in a criminal case related to alleged hush-money payments to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to conceal an affair.

The posting after midnight on Truth Social, Trump's social media platform, was his latest - and most explicit - allusion to violence that could follow an indictment stemming from an investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), whom Trump called a "degenerate psychopath."

Trump wrote: "What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country?"

In a post on Thursday, Trump criticized those who have called for his supporters to remain peaceful. Over the weekend, Trump urged a "PROTEST" over his potential arrest in the case, which he wrongly predicted would happen Tuesday.

The messages have all had echoes of the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a violent pro-Trump mob. Trump had urged his followers to assemble in Washington that day, saying "Be there, will be wild!" as he pushed to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's win.

Five people died in the attack or in its aftermath, and 140 police officers were injured. The House impeached Trump on a charge of inciting an insurrection; the Senate acquitted him.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) castigated Trump on Friday for his latest comments, echoing criticism by other Democrats.

"The twice-impeached former president's rhetoric is reckless, reprehensible and irresponsible," Jeffries said at a news conference. "It's dangerous. And if he keeps it up, he's going to get someone killed."

"We've already seen the consequences of incitement from the former president," Jeffries added. "He is principally responsible for inciting the violent insurrection that happened on January 6th, but clearly he has not learned his lesson."

Trump has been commenting frequently on the hush-money case as a Manhattan grand jury weighs evidence against him. The panel is not scheduled to meet again until at least Monday, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss proceedings that are secret.

Prosecutors from Bragg's office have been presenting grand jurors with evidence related to hush-money payments to Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The payments were aimed at keeping her from airing her claim that she had a sexual relationship with Trump years earlier, prosecutors say.

According to prosecutors, Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 by Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer. Trump reimbursed him after becoming president, in installments that were designated as legal fees.

In an email to staff this past week, Bragg said the district attorney's office "will continue to apply the law evenly and fairly, and speak publicly only when appropriate."

"We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York," he wrote.

On Friday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said he had not heard Trump's comments, but he said, "There's no place in America for political violence of any kind."

"I've been saying that for years, and I think everybody ought to take that position," said Scalise, who was seriously injured in a politically motivated shooting in 2017 at a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game.

Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), chairman of the Republican Main Street caucus, said, "In our system of government  you should never call for violence. So, you know, we need to do better."

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), when asked about Trump's latest comments Friday, said he had spoken about the issue already previously, and proceeded to talk about an upcoming House vote on education legislation.

McCarthy has slammed Bragg's investigation, but he said Sunday that supporters of Trump should not protest if the former president is indicted.

"Nobody should harm one another," McCarthy said, following Trump's call for protests. "We want calmness out there."

For his part, Trump resumed commentary on the case on Truth Social about eight hours after his overnight post.

"PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT!" he wrote in all caps shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern.

Trump will have another opportunity to criticize Bragg and other state and federal prosecutors investigating his conduct on Saturday when he appears at a rally scheduled in Waco, Tex.

Nearly 30 years ago, a lengthy standoff between a religious cult and federal agents ended on April 19, 1993, when the group's compound near the city was destroyed in a fire. Nearly 80 people were killed.

- - -

The Washington Post's Shayna Jacobs and Camila DeChalus contributed to this report.
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OTTAWA, ONTARIO (AP)  President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday celebrated the close, inseparable U.S.-Canada relationship and vowed that the two nations remain committed to defending Ukraine as it tries to repel a Russian invasion that has no end in sight.

Biden and Trudeau met just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks for the first time since the start of the war. The Chinese and Russian leader agreed to deepen economic bonds between their two countries. But Biden argued that Western resolve remains stronger and warned Russia that the U.S., Canada and their allies would defend every inch of NATO territory."

The president also bristled at the notion that Russia has managed to expand a partnership with Beijing that is allowing Moscow to sustain its economy and war effort despite the U.S. lining up an international coalition to economically isolate Russia with a barrage of sanctions. China, however, thus far has refrained from providing Russia weapons since the start of the war, according to the White House.

We have significantly expanded our alliances, Biden said with Trudeau by his side during a joint news conference. Tell me how in fact you see a circumstance where China has made a significant commitment to Russia? What commitment can they make?

At an earlier appearance with Biden before the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau said his country  which has provided Kyiv with artillery, ammunition, armor and tanks  remained committed to Ukraine's cause.

"As you well know, Mr. President, Canada will continue to stand strong with Ukraine, with whatever it takes," Trudeau said.

The whirlwind visit by Biden  his first visit to Canada as president  was meant to showcase U.S.-Canada ties, and both leaders offered full praise of each other.

Biden, addressing Canada's Parliament, even said the U.S. was lucky to have Canada as its neighbor as both countries grapple with the rapidly changing global economy, climate change, war in Europe and more.

Today our destinies are intertwined and they are inseparable," Biden said. "Not because of inevitability of geography, but because its a choice, the choice we made again and again.

Two people, two countries, in my view sharing one heart.

On one often-difficult subject, immigration, Biden and Trudeau used the visit to announce an agreement aiming to stem the flow of asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings from the U.S. to Canada.

The accord eliminates a loophole under existing rules and will allow both countries to turn away asylum seekers at their borders. At the same time, Canada announced that 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere will be given official slots to apply to enter the country.

The leaders also sat down with top aides for a private conversation. Besides Ukraine and defense spending, the wide-ranging talks touched on shared concerns about China's aggressiveness and violence and political instability in Haiti.

Trudeau noted Beijings growing economic power and a need for the U.S. and Canada to work together to address it. To that end, Canada said Friday it was entering an arrangement with IBM to expand domestic research and development and advanced packaging of semiconductors  and planning an investment of up to $250 million to "improve North American competitiveness and supply chain resiliency, help cut pollution, foster economic and national security.

Trudeau also spoke of a need to coordinate even more closely to combat climate change and grow both countries' economies.

We have to stick together, Trudeau said. We have to continue to face down authoritarian threats, both at home and abroad. We have to continue to defend what is right. This is not the time to compromise on our values.

At their joint news conference later, Biden briefly veered away the day's themes to send a warning to Tehran, after a suspected Iranian-made drone on Thursday killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria.

U.S. forces responded to the attack with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran, Biden said. But he said Iran and its proxies should be prepared for the U.S. to act forcefully to protect our people.

The subject of difficult relations with China was an undercurrent of Biden's visit.

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, arrested in China in 2018, were in the balcony for the speeches in Parliament.

The two were taken into custody shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, technology company Huaweis chief financial officer and the daughter of the companys founder, on a U.S. extradition request. The Canadians were held for more than than two years in China before the Biden and Trudeau governments managed to win their release. Kovrig is a former diplomat, Spavor a businessman.

Regarding Haiti, Canada is being nudged by the U.S. and other allies to lead an international mission there to deal with the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis. Canada on Friday announced $100 million ($72.7 million U.S.) in new aid for support and equipment for the Haitian National Police.

Biden said the idea of deploying an international force was not in play at the moment but had not been taken off the table. Trudeau said the international community can have the most impact in the long term by being "there to support the capacity of the police in Haiti.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the countrys Council of Ministers sent an urgent appeal last October calling for the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity to stop the crisis caused partly by the criminal actions of armed gangs. But more than five months later, no countries have stepped forward. Canadas top military official has suggested the country doesnt have the capacity.

Biden endorsed Trudeau's efforts to focus on capacity building but also noted the situation in Haiti remains fragile as gangs have essentially taken the place of the government.

Its a work in progress, he said.

Friday's meetings also included discussion of defense spending, an issue that's in the spotlight after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed part of Canada and the continental U.S. last month.

Canada has long faced calls to increase its defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product, the agreed-upon target by NATO members. Ottawa spends about 1.2% now.

"Canada and the United States share a responsibility and a commitment to make sure NATO can deter any threat and defend against any aggression from anyone," Biden said. Thats the bedrock of the security of both our nations.

The Trudeau government also announced plans for a $7.3 billion ($5.3 billion U.S.) project to upgrade and build infrastructure to support the arrival of a new fleet of F-35 fighter jets.

Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, closed the visit Friday night with a gala dinner in honor of Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
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LONDON (AP)  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu in London on Friday as protesters shouting Shame! in Hebrew demonstrated against the Israeli leaders right-wing policies and his plans to overhaul the countrys judiciary.

Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving signs calling for the defense of Israeli democracy as he arrived at 10 Downing St. for discussions that focused on the war in Ukraine and concerns about Irans nuclear program.

Sunak also raised Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms, which have sparked mass protests in Israel and beyond. One placard in London read: We are Israelis and Jews living in the U.K. demonstrating against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is leading a judicial coup turning Israel into a dictatorship.

Some women protesting outside Downing Street wore red robes and white caps inspired by The Handmaid's Tale, a novel and TV series set in a dystopian future. Similarly clad demonstrators have become fixtures of the mass protests roiling Israel.

Sunak stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel, the British leader's office said in an official readout of the meeting.

Other leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have expressed concern about proposed changes.

Netanyahus proposals would give his government more control over judicial appointments, weaken the Supreme Court by limiting judicial review of legislation and allow Parliament to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote.

He arrived in the U.K. as protesters in Israel blocked roads and clashed with police. The planned judicial system overhaul have ignited the biggest protests in the countrys history amid rare dissent from people throughout Israeli society, including military reservists, navy veterans, high-tech businesspeople and former officials.

In London, Netanyahu also was met by a pro-Palestinian demonstration. His government has been criticized for its hard-line policy toward Palestinians, including recent comments by a government minister who denied the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.

Sunak, during his meeting with the Israeli prime minister, reiterated our support for two-state solution, as well as Britain's view that Israel's West Bank settlements are illegal and contrary to the cause of peace," spokesman Jamie Davies said.

Israel is a vital international partner for the United Kingdom, and the prime minister was visiting London, and this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether thats the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment  as well as peace and stability in the Middle East," Davies said.

Netanyahus office said the two leaders discussed the rapidly advancing nuclear program of Israels archenemy, Iran, as well as deepening strategic cooperation in security, intelligence and economic fields.

Alicia Kearns. a lawmaker from Sunak's governing Conservative Party and chairwoman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the government to be more forceful in challenging Netanyahu's policy.

This is the time for the U.K. to work out what it means to be a critical friend to Israel and make sure that, yes, we continue to trade and to work together on security cooperation because they are a key partner, but also that we listen to our Jewish communities, Kearns told the BBC. "And this (is) the biggest response and loudest response Ive ever seen from a Jewish community to Israeli policies.

As thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, defiantly pledged to proceed with the judicial overhaul, hours after his coalition passed a law making it harder to remove him from office.

Rights groups and Palestinians say Israels democratic ideals have long been tarnished by the countrys 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for an independent state and the treatment of Palestinian Israeli citizens, who face discrimination in many spheres.

Netanyahu pushed back his departure to Britain until 4 a.m. Friday to deal with the political crisis.

___ Associated Press Writer Jill Lawless contributed to this story.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government authorized construction bids for over a thousand new homes in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, a watchdog group reported Friday, despite an Israeli pledge to halt settlement construction as part of efforts to curb a deadly wave of violence in the territory.

The Israel Land Authority published the tenders earlier this week for the construction of 940 homes in the West Bank settlements of Efrat and Beitar Ilit, as well as 89 homes in the Gilo settlement, which lies over the 1967 line on the southern edge of the contested capital of Jerusalem. The large settlement of Efrat sits deep in the West Bank, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.

Palestinians seek these lands, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, for a future independent state alongside Israel  a longstanding international goal. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry assailed the move as a betrayal of Netanyahu's vow to freeze settlement construction, showing official disregard for American and international reactions.

The anti-settlement Israeli group Peace Now publicized the construction bids on Friday.

This is yet another harmful and unnecessary construction initiative, the group said, accusing the Israeli government of trampling on the possibility of a future political agreement, and on our relations with the U.S. and friendly countries.

There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu's office.

The new affront to the Palestinians came just a week after Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Egypts southern resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in an effort to calm rising tensions ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. After the meeting, Israel repeated a pledge made at a similar February summit in Aqaba, Jordan to temporarily freeze the approval of new settlement units in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry criticized the tender approvals as a blatant departure and deliberate sabotage of the understandings that were reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides under American auspices.

Last month, the Israeli government granted approval for over 7,000 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including in four unauthorized outposts  despite a U.N. Security Council statement sharply criticizing Israeli settlement expansion and rising opposition from Israels allies, including the United States.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief journalists, described the publication of tenders this week as procedural, saying, All of the agreements settled during the recent joint summits in Jordan and Egypt are being respected fully.

Israel's government, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in its history, has said it aims to entrench Israeli military rule in the West Bank, boost settlement construction and erase the differences for Israelis between life in the settlements and within the country's internationally recognized borders. Netanyahu's coalition includes ultranationalist settler leaders who live in the West Bank.

The international community, along with the Palestinians, considers settlement construction illegal or illegitimate. Over 700,000 Israelis now live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The settlement construction bids come against a background of heightened tensions with the Palestinians and a national crisis in Israel over a government plan to overhaul the judicial system, which critics fear will move Israel toward autocracy.

Since the start of 2023, at least 86 Palestinians, both militants and civilians, have been killed in Israeli raids throughout the West Bank  making it the most deadly start to the year in over two decades. At least 13 civilians and one police officer were killed during the same period in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
Beijing urges US to stop illegally entering China territorial waters

(People's Daily App) 15:54, March 24, 2023

China on Thursday urged the US to immediately stop illegally entering China's territorial waters.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a routine press briefing in Beijing in response to a US warship entering Chinese territorial waters without Chinese government permission.

"The US Navy warship USS Milius on March 23 ventured into the territorial waters of China's Xisha Islands without permission, which violates China's sovereignty, threatens China's security and undermines the peace and stability of relevant sea areas," Wang said.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command tracked and monitored the US warship in accordance with the law and warned it to leave, he said.

"The US should immediately stop such infringing and provocative actions," Wang said. "China will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty and security, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea."

(Produced by Xie Runjia and Luo Jie)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu)
H.M.A. Leow in JSTOR Daily:

Between 1910 and 1940, thousands of Chinese immigrants were detainedsometimes for monthsin facilities on Angel Island, off the coast of San Francisco.

Stuck in immigration limbo, living under difficult conditions, some turned to poetry to express their despair, worry, and anger. And, by etching their words into the walls of the detention center, these early arrivals left a literal mark on America.

The Angel Island poems were rediscovered in 1970 and brought to public attention by advocates like Him Mark Lai and Judy Yung, who, with poet Genny Lim, compiled the collection Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 19101940. Lais research in California History reports more than 130 different poems, including pieces that were not recovered from the walls but had been copied and preserved by detainees.

More here.
Samsung Galaxy F14



Released 2023, March 30

206g, 9.4mm thickness

Android 13, One UI Core 5.1

128GB storage, microSDXC

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Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. Read more
Samsung US offers $100 credit with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, plus up to $750 trade-in credit

The Discover Samsung promo ends this Sunday, so you still have a couple of days to check out the week-long discounts. However, this deal will be available only today  the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with $100 Samsung Credit on top of the discounts you can get through the enhanced trade-in program.

The base price of the flagship is $1,200 (256GB, unlocked), which can be reduced by up to $750 if you send in an old device. A quick check shows that an S22 Ultra in good condition is valued at $700, an S21 Ultra at $550 and an S20 Ultra at $390. An iPhone 14 Pro Max will fetch $700, the 13 Pro Max $575.

Note that Samsung is also taking in damaged phones (at a lower valuation), as well as tablets and old smartwatches you may no longer need.

If its time to sign a new contract with a carrier, Verizon is offering up to $1,000 bill credit, AT&T and T-Mobile up to $800.

There are Samsung microSD cards with small discounts too, but where would you even put them? The Ultra series dropped the memory card slot a couple of years ago.

Instead you may be interested in this Flash Deal  a 10,000mAh power bank that supports 25W fast charging (it has a pair of USB-C ports). The S23 Ultra has great battery life (126h in our endurance rating test), of course, but it never hurts to have extra power on long days out.
Under new leadership, the Guam Visitors Bureau Board of Directors on Thursday and Friday started discussing the framework for evaluating the performance of GVB President and CEO Carl Gutierrez, who left for California a day before the publicly noticed board meeting.

Gutierrez, a former two-term governor, so far hasnt undergone performance evaluation since he was appointed interim GVB president in May 2020 and then hired to continue holding the post in July 2020.

Board members and counsel said, under the law, the GVB general manager, or the president, needs to undergo performance evaluation six months after appointment and every year after that.

The board discussed at length with GVB counsel Joe McDonald and GVB Vice President Gerry Perez the framework, including a possible evaluation form, to be used.

When I came (back) here, I hadnt seen any and theres no formal format to evaluate, Perez said late Thursday afternoon. The problem I see now is there needs to be a more quantifiable way to evaluate so what I was suggesting to the team is that we can take our budget amounts, relate that to proposed programs that we can discuss and get the board to agree on, with some key performances indicators and that then becomes really an objective way to evaluate performance.

Gutierrez in early 2022 started accusing board members of violating government transparency and ethics laws. After that, board meetings were marred by heated arguments between Gutierrez and board members, previously led by then-Chairman Milton Morinaga, even as tourism continued to struggle from the impact of pandemic travel restrictions.

In 10 months, the board didnt meet, starting in May, to give way to a review of bureau bylaws and the law that created GVB. All authority of the bureau rested with Gutierrez, including deciding on the fiscal 2023 budget.

The board, during Thursday and Friday discussions, went only as far as discussing possible frameworks or parameters for evaluating Gutierrezs performance.

No courtesy notice

Board directors noted Gutierrez left Guam Wednesday without giving the board a courtesy notice, despite knowing that his performance evaluation would be discussed a day later and after Gutierrez previously asked the board to go into executive session during its scheduled March 23 meeting, because he was going to share or discuss sensitive information.

Our general manager asked us specifically for the executive session and hes not here, newly elected GVB Board Chairman George Chiu said Thursday. Discussions continued Friday afternoon.

The board didnt go into executive session on either day because of Gutierrezs absence.

Gutierrez is attending a CHamoru festival in San Diego, GVB said.

Chiu elected

Chiu, of Tan Holdings Corp., was elected by GVB general membership to become a director and his fellow board directors elected him chairman Thursday  weeks after Gutierrez asked for legal opinion about Chius prior appointment to fill another board directors unfinished term. The Office of the Attorney General said Chius term ended when the original directors term expired.

I think its very exciting; its challenging. Were facing some of the toughest times in the tourism industry for Guam, Chiu said in an interview after the Friday meeting. People were congratulating me for being elected as the chairman of GVB but I look at this as a challenge. Its gonna take the work of all of the board of directors together with the management of GVB to get us back to where we were and succeed the pre-pandemic level of arrivals that we have, to Guam.

Evaluation issue

Chiu said while the board didnt want to spend more time on Gutierrezs performance evaluation so it can focus on Guam tourism recovery and bureau plans, he said the law requires management performance evaluation so the board will get this out of the way first.

The GVB board, which now also has Joaquin Cook of Bank of Guam as vice chairman, Ho Eun of Core Tech as treasurer, and Jeffrey Jones of Triple J Enterprises as secretary, acknowledged that performance evaluation should have been done in accordance with the law.

Performance, accomplishments and reasons for retaining are three major items to be considered in reviewing the general managers performance, according to board discussions.

Thursdays board meeting had eight directors present, the minimum to have a quorum. Fridays meeting had nine directors present, including Monte Mesa, whom the board voted in absentia the day before, to become the 12th member.

GVB is waiting for legislative actions on two appointees to the board, including the youth member and an alternate member.

AmendmentsThe new board on Friday also agreed to review the third proposed amendments to the GVB bylaws before bringing it to the general membership for a vote to either support or reject them.

McDonald said the general membership can relegate the approval of the proposed amendments to the board.

Chiu said he believes it would be best if the general membership decide on the bylaws that govern the whole GVB, and the new board agreed.

Board members also will take up the matter of whether it will continue to allow directors to participate in board meetings virtually or via video after the board was reminded that the public health emergency had already been lifted.

Only Mongmong-Toto-Maite Mayor Rudy Paco, also a director, didnt attend the GVB board meetings on Thursday and Friday.

Other GVB board members are Mary Rhodes of the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association, Sonny Ada of Adas Trust, and Paula Monk of United Airlines.
Editor's note: This story is updated to state that the pedestrian died.

A man was killed Thursday night in an auto-pedestrian accident in Anigua.

Firefighters were called to the scene on Marine Corps Drive near the NAPA Auto Parts store at 7:46 p.m., according to Firefighter Nick Garrido, Guam Fire Department spokesman.

The man, approximately 35 years old, was taken to Naval Hospital Guam with serious injuries, Garrido said.

During the course of the investigation, a follow up was conducted and it was learned the pedestrian died. Next of kin hasn't been identified and the case remains open, according to a Guam Police Department news release.

The initial investigation found a gray sedan was traveling northbound when it collided with the pedestrian crossing Route 1.

The Highway Patrol Division was activated and assumed total control of the investigation.

It's Guam's sixth traffic fatality in 2023.
The governors bill to fund large pay raises for government of Guam employees could be changed Friday afternoon, when lawmakers are scheduled to resume their special session and make proposed amendments to the bill.

The governor approved an across-the-board 22% pay raise for GovGuam employees who are paid according to the governments general pay plan, but she needs lawmakers to provide as much as $21 million to cover the increased payroll costs for the rest of this fiscal year.

The pay increases are scheduled to take effect April 1.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero called senators into special session to hear her funding measure, Bill 24-37, and senators spent several hours Wednesday and Thursday asking questions and receiving information about GovGuam revenues and the pay increase.

Im comfortable that we can afford it, Department of Administration Director Ed Birn told lawmakers Thursday.

He said the government has been operating with a revenue surplus for the past several years, starting before the pandemic.

Conditions are totally different when you run a deficit from when you run a surplus, Birn said. When youre running a deficit, youre relying upon basically your vendors to bank the government. Unpaid bills are what are keeping the government going, and youre always trying to catch up with those bills.

In contrast, a revenue surplus allows the administration to better prioritize government spending, he said.

Over the previous two years we prioritized other groups of government employees who had fallen behind  the nurses, the teachers, law enforcement. Now its the turn of those employees in the general pay plan, he said.

Compensation gap

Speaker Therese Terlaje noted that one of the administrations goals is to make general pay plan salaries more competitive with the higher salaries offered by the governments autonomous agencies. The autonomous agencies, which are governed by boards, adopt their own pay scales.

However, Terlaje said the compensation gap between the autonomous agencies and the general pay plan is way beyond 22% for nearly all positions.

We will never be able to catch up to those autonomous agencies with the recommendations that youve put in here, Terlaje told administration officials during session.

Were hoping that (lawmakers) will address that, but the governor cant because the governor has no authority over those agencies, Birn told the speaker.

GPA pay raise plan

The Guam Power Authority, which is an autonomous GovGuam agency, is laying the groundwork for a possible pay increase for its employees. One of the reasons cited by GPA is the fact that other GovGuam employees are poised to get a 22% raise, which would make GPA salaries less competitive.

A consultant is examining GPAs current compensation and determining what it would take to get all GPA employees, except senior management, to the 50th percentile of compensation for similar jobs in the industry. According to GPA, its current salaries are less than the 25th percentile.

We are competitive. However, that competitive edge has been eroding, making it difficult to recruit and retain some positions, GPA Assistant General Manager for Administration Tricee Limtiaco told the Consolidated Commission on Utilities Thursday.

A compensation report should be ready to be presented to the CCU in April or May, according to GPA.

Guam lawmakers on Thursday recessed the special session, stating they planned to return to session 4 p.m. Friday to begin hearing amendments to the governors bill.

Some lawmakers have suggested implementing a sliding scale for pay raises  with lower-paid employees in the general pay plan getting a larger increase  as opposed to giving 22% across the board.
Scholarship recipients are joined by College of Natural & Applied Sciences Dean Lee Yudin and Senior Vice President and Provost Anita Borja Enriquez during Charter Day March 2, 2023. From left: Shawn Wegner; Tim de La Cruz; Kristina Sayama; Dean Yudin; award recipients Christopher Certeza, Joshua Artuz, Laura Layan, Haani Bettis, Lara Mazloum, Stephanie Santos, and Aubrie Uson; Katrina Perez; and Enriquez.
Yuval Harari, Tristan Harris and at the New York Times:

The specter of being trapped in a world of illusions has haunted humankind much longer than the specter of A.I. Soon we will finally come face to face with Descartess demon, with Platos cave, with the Buddhist Maya. A curtain of illusions could descend over the whole of humanity, and we might never again be able to tear that curtain away  or even realize it is there.

Social media was the first contact between A.I. and humanity, and humanity lost. First contact has given us the bitter taste of things to come. In social media, primitive A.I. was used not to create content, but to curate user-generated content. The A.I. behind our news feeds is still choosing which words, sounds and images reach our retinas and eardrums, based on selecting those that will get the most virality, the most reaction, and the most engagement.

more here. (PS, I happen, personally, to think much of the thinking in this opinion piece is misguided. Nonetheless, it is completely amazing that an Opinion piece containing the sentence We have summoned an alien intelligence is being published in The New York Times.)
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, has disclosed that talks are underway with China over Ghana's debt following a successful domestic debt exchange programme.

Mr Ofori-Atta said negotiations with China were important because they hold the majority of the external bonds.

Speaking with Citi News in Accra yesterday, the Finance Minister said he would lead a delegation to China to plead for debt cancellation.

"The big elephant in the room is China, we will be visiting China by the end of the week to really discuss how they come into the envelope as quickly as possible. So we are looking at that support from them. China represents about a third of the $5.7 billion loan and so it is important that we engage them," he said.

In January 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that it was working towards a debt cancellation programme for Ghana and other countries amid a global economic recession scare this year.

The other countries are Ethiopia, Zambia, Chad, Lebanon, Surinam, and Sri Lanka.

The move, Madam Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF Managing Director, said, was to avert any "bad surprise" on the global economy, out of which 25 per cent had its trade in emerging markets territories.

"We're working hard to press for debt resolution for these countries, and we've engaged with the traditional creditors, the Paris Club, the non-traditional creditors, China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Our call is very simple: Urgently we have to act," she said in an interview




Haiti - Education : Compulsory general census of public and private schools





March 27, 2023 is the date set by the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) to start the General Census of all schools in the country (public and private schools). This operation will end on April 28, 2023.



According to the Minister, this general census of schools aims to guarantee better governance of the education system, at the same time it reflects the desire to transform schools. A transformation that will not be possible if there is no reliable data such as data on the number of schools functioning in the country, where these schools are located and the number of teachers who actually work. in these schools.



The general census of schools is in accordance with what is said in article 1 of the "12 measures" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11781-haiti-education-exam-results-disappointing-the-minister-manigat-announced-a-package-of-measures.html which obliges all teachers to have a teaching licence. Manigat recalls that the census is compulsory, which means that all schools (public and private) must declare themselves, otherwise the schools will not be able to have the authorization of the Ministry to register students for State examinations : official exam for 9th grade and the official exam for the end of high school.



The Minister encourages all school heads to participate in this operation; He even encourages the entire educational community to support the operation, which will be useful in helping to better understand the reality of the country's schools. And, since this data will be available, the State and its partners will be better able to support schools and teachers.



For Jean Barthol Aluc, Coordinator of the Ministry's IT unit, for a school to be registered, it must have a valid email. At the end of the process, he will receive by email a number which will confirm the school's online registration on the ministry's platform (www.menfp.gouv.ht). This will allow it to obtain a Permit to continue to operate and the authorization to register candidates for state examinations.



To finalize the registration, the Head of the establishment must submit to the Departmental Directorate of Education or to the Office of the academy where he is located the list of the training of the classes of students and the list of all the teachers exercising in his school.



These two lists must be filled in on the ministry's platform. This is a way, according to Jean Wilnor Pierre, coordinator of the entity in charge of the Departmental Directorate of Education, for the ministry to better control the process while not leaving schools aside.



It is worth recalling that the Ministry intends to develop for the year 2022-2023 the Register of schools, the Register of students and the Register of teachers.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Biden-Trudeau discuss about Haiti

Thursday, March 23, 2023, Biden and Trudeau are actively discussing a force for Haiti in Ottawa, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, quoted by AFP. Assuring that the international community continued to study the possibility of sending this force to Haiti. Moderate optimism for armed intervention...



USA : The former Mayor of Irois, arrested for Visa fraud

Wednesday, March 23, the former mayor of Irois, Jean Morose Viliena, sentenced the day before by a federal court in Boston, to pay more than 15 million dollars https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39126-haiti-news-zapping.html accused of torture, extrajudicial executions, attempted murder and arson https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39103-haiti-flash-j-m-viliena-ex-mayor-of-irois-accused-in-the-usa-of-murder-torture-and-political-violence.html was arrested by Massachusetts police, charged with three counts of visa fraud If he is convicted he is liable to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, his permanent residence could be withdrawn, opening the door to his deportation to Haiti.



Poste Marchand police station attacked

Thursday afternoon, a bandit was killed and a "Zo Reken" vehicle confiscated by the police, during an attack by armed individuals against the Poste Marchand police station.



Clerk strike in indifference

The Professional Association of Magistrates (APM) expressed concern about the indifference of the Government to the strike launched two weeks ago by the prosecutors and clerk to demand better treatment. The PAM stresses that these work stoppages paralyze the functioning of the courts and courts have serious consequences for litigants.



7,500 new latrines built in 2022

In 2022, more than 7,500 new latrines were built by households thanks to community approaches to total sanitation supported by UNICEF. It should be recalled that in 2020, 31% of the rural population still practiced open defecation.



Father Medidor, released

Thursday, March 23, Father Jean-Yves Medidor, priest of the Clercs de Saint-Viateur (CSV), parish priest of Christ-Roi le Meilleur in Port-au-Prince kidnapped and kidnapped since March 10, was released by his captors. announced Father Nestor Fils Aime CSV, Provincial Superior of Canada and Father Dudley Pierre, CSV, Superior of the Viatorians in Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/03/23 | Source

Actor Ji Chang-wook showed off his warm visuals.

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Ji Chang-wook was selected as a global ambassador for a watchmaker. Ji Chang-wook released some photo cuts through the men's fashion magazine Arena Homme Plus.

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Korean Movie | 2020

 Drama

Directed by Min Yong-keun ()

Written by  Kang Hyun-joo-II ()  Min Yong-keun ()

124min | Release date in South Korea: 2023/03/15

Link

Starts filming: 2020/08

Formerly known as "Hello, My Soulmate" (,  , an-nyeong, na-eui so-ul-me-i-teu)

It is a remake of a Chinese film directed by Peter Chan.

Synopsis

Age of 12, Mi-so, who transferred from Seoul to Jeju Island, meets Ha-eun, who is different from herself, and they promise never to separate.

Age of 18, Ha-eun's first love, Jin-woo breaks in two girls' friendship. Age of 23, the two girls are in pain because of their unfamiliar changes.

Age of 27, the two girls meet again. They missed each other living in a world that everyone changes. It takes 15 years to confirm their friendship. The two girls exchange their lives and truly understand each other's lives.
IN SHORT: A shortage of cash has left Nigerians scrambling for alternatives. But the claim that some digital banks are being shut down is false.

Nigeria's central bank has ordered the closure of three digital banks, according to a claim circulating on Facebook in February 2023.

One version reads: "If you have money in OPAY, PALMPAY and KUDA move it immediately. CBN ordered that ther shld be shutdown with immediate effect."

CBN is the Central Bank of Nigeria, which regulates financial services.

Opay, Palmpay and Kuda are among the digital banks that many Nigerians have turned to after the central bank announced a cashless policy and the replacement of old naira banknotes with new, redesigned notes. The naira is Nigeria's currency.

The measures have led to a widespread shortage of cash, as there aren't enough new notes to meet demand. More than this, there have been reports of disruptions in the online banking services offered by traditional banks.

In some cities, protests and riots have erupted in response to the crisis. Digital banks may help ease it. But has the central bank really ordered that three of them be shut down?

'Don't be bothered by ridiculous rumours'

We could find no evidence of the order on CBN's website and verified Twitter account. And it hasn't been reported by any local media.

The three banks - Kuda Palmpay and Opay - have taken to social media to dismiss the claim.

"What shutdown? We're wide open for business. Don't be bothered by ridiculous rumours," Kuda tweeted on 17 February.

What shutdown?  We're wide open for business. Don't be bothered by ridiculous rumours. 

-- Kuda App (@joinkuda) February 17, 2023

In press statements posted on Twitter and Instagram, Palmpay and Opay both described the claim as "false" and "misleading".

The claim is indeed false, and can only add to the chaos caused by the country's cash crisis.
Tokyo  The President of the Republic, Joao Lourenco, foresees better days for Japanese investments in Angola, within the framework of the signing of the Reciprocal Investment Protection Agreement.

Speaking this Monday to the press in Tokyo, Japan, after a meeting with that country's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, the Angolan Head of State said that both governments are willing to sign the agreement.

He informed that the parties have been working to have the document ready, and Joao Lourenco is hopeful that private investment, in both directions, will gain new levels, when the agreement gets official.

The Angolan President referred, on the occasion, that the level of private investment by Japan in Angola is still not the desired level, but he expects it to grow "substantially".

As for the cooperation ties between the two countries, he recalled that Angola has benefited from crucial financing from Japan, above all, for the construction of public infrastructures, with a focus on the economy's development.

Russia-Ukraine conflict

During his speech, Joao Lourenco, who was flanked by the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, again appealed for an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that has lasted for a year.

"It is a war with an international dimension that is causing a food and energy crisis, affecting everyone", he reminded.

The Angolan Head of State said that it is he duty of the entire international community to do everything to achieve an immediate end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
A lovely young Juanita Smith in the 1940s.

Story by Sherrie Norris

Just days before reaching her 100th birthday in January, Juanita Smith said,  I never dreamed of living this long. To say that Ive lived a century just doesnt seem possible. When I was a small child, I couldnt imagine even living to be 50. That seemed like a long time for me  forever, you might say. But, now here I am at 100.

And, those who know her best agree that she has packed a lot of good into those 100 years.

Im surprised at myself, she said recently. Im still doing about like Ive always done, just maybe not as fast. And, I might not remember everything I did yesterday, but I can pretty well tell you what I did 70 years ago.

And what shes always done is something for which we all should hope to mimic.

Ive just tried to live a life pleasing to the Lord and to treat others the way I want to be treated, she said with a twinkle in her eyes. Thats the Golden Rule, you know. And I dont think a body can go wrong to do that.

While time has slowed her pace somewhat in recent years, shes still independent in many ways. Her family does not leave her alone for long periods of time, but she does live in her own home  and thats just where she wants to be.

Child, I am so blessed to be able to stay here, she said from the comfort of her home just east of Boone. My son, Mick, is with me most of the time and if he has to go anywhere, my grandsons and their wives come to check on me. I know I couldnt make it without them. And I have two wonderful nieces who are always offering to help me, too. I am so fortunate to have people around me all the time.

Juanita Smith never dreamed that she would live to be 100, but she made it!

Since COVID hit, Juanita said she hasnt gotten out of the house much, except to get a haircut and visit the doctor.

I go to the doctor every three months, she explained.  I just went recently and got a good report. He told me to come back in June. With a chuckle, she added. I told him if I was still around, Id try to get back to see him. At my age, you never know what to expect from one day to the next. You cant plan too far ahead.

Juanita Smith is surrounded by her two oldest grandsons, Michael and Matthew and their families at her 95th birthday party in 2018.

When asked to describe a typical day in her life, Juanita said, Im just here. I work word puzzles and play a little with that tablet Mick got me, a little computer or whatever you want to call it. I dont know much about it.

She also watches a little TV and still quilts, but not much of either.

And what does she miss most of all? Law mercy, I miss going to church (Union Baptist) more than anything. Never in my life, since I was a child, have I not gone to church. And now here I am, not able to go. But, Im thankful to be on their telephone call list and I get cards from them, too. I feel that they still remember me  and that is such a comfort.

And, she misses driving herself wherever she wants to go. I had to give up my license a while back, but I hated so bad to do that.

Together, this young couple knew they could conquer the trials of life together.

After a brief pause, she adds with a serious look upon her face, Im tired. Im not wanting to die  dont get me wrong, but theres nothing left for me to do here. I get up and put in a day and then I go back to bed and do it all over again.

She is very discouraged with the way of the world, she said. It could be a full-time job just to keep up with whats going on in our country, not to mention the whole world. It is completely different than what Ive always known it to be. Im so ashamed of how people react to one another these days. People have gotten so mean. Its like if you dont like somebody, just kill em. I keep telling my son that the Lord knows everything thats going on and keeps up with everything. I think Hes letting it go, saying if thats the way you want to do it, just go ahead . . . you dont have much time left, anyway.

And current politics? Its a disgrace to the American people . . . And its not just one side. You cant complain about one without complaining about the other. They both have done us wrong.

In a nutshell, she said, Most everybody is just out for themselves. The love of money is the root of all evil. And people think that money is all they need. But law, no, thats not the way it is. The majority of the world dont realize all they need is the Lords help. If people would just turn to the Lord, it would make such a difference.

Its often been said that a Bible that is falling apart is usually owned by someone who is not falling apart . . . and thats certainly the case with Juanita Smith, who still reads her Bible daily.

Juanita has always loved to read and study her Bible, and she still reads it every day, Its nearly 60 years old and falling apart, she said. The margins are filled with countless notes and underlined passages; the pages are wearing thin and it needs a new cover, but she doesnt want a new Bible. And I would never think of using anything except the King James version.

Its a great story book, a history book, and so many other things, too, Juanita described. It is the most precious book that has ever been written and has the answers to all of lifes questions. But youve got to read it to find that out.

She continued, Sometimes, it is so alarming how the Bible is being fulfilled. It says very plain that all thats happening right now is just the beginning of whats going to happen. It is so sad for little children, especially  just think of what they are born into and what all they will have to endure.

Her favorite verses? Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

What does she see as societys downfall? Besides turning their back on the Lord, people have let technology and the Internet take over. Its just a disgrace some of the pictures that come up on that little tablet of mine  and you cant do a thing about it.

Juanita never dreamed that technology would have such control over our world as it does.

I remember hearing preachers, years ago, say that the time would come when you could see each other over the telephone. Can you imagine how crazy that sounded? Now, everything is about computers and electronics, I just cannot understand it.

Concerned for Others

Juanita has a deep concern for everyone, but for the younger generation, especially, And all the distractions they have in front of them, she said.

Its so easy now for young people to be confused about life  and mostly about their salvation, she added. Theres so much out there to pull them in the wrong direction. The most important thing a young person can do today is to realize they are lost and that they need a savior, accept Jesus into their lives and live for Him.

These quilts are just a small sample of the beautiful handwork that Juanita Smith has produced in her lifetime.

Juanitas compassion is for all ages. I worry about a lot of people, but Im not one to put anyone down. Nobody is perfect. When someone gets in trouble, I try not to judge them. I just want to help them. I know that Ill have to give an account of my life and mine only, and what others do is really their business, not mine.

Everybody is just running in such a hurry, she described. Everybody has so much they have to do and are under such pressure. They barely take time for what matters.

And, what matters most to Juanita Smith, if you havent already figured it out, is her faith and family. My husband Gene has been gone since 2014. I still miss him so much and still think back of so many things about our life together. For 72 years, he was my life. But it was time for him to go. When he died, I was relieved for him, and I look forward to going to where he is. It wont be too long, now.

Still smiling and stitching at the century mark.

Faithful From an Early Age

Faith in God was instilled in Smiths heart as a child. I remember thinking I was a good girl, but I didnt think I was good enough to be saved or join the church. Plus, I was afraid of getting baptized in the Watauga River  it was so big and I just knew Id drown.

At the age of 13, on a Sunday night in September 1936, after revival had been going on for a week, the pastor at her church asked her if she had ever been saved.

It scared me to death. All of a sudden, I knew being good wasnt good enough. He told me to go home and pray about it  told me to ask God to have mercy on me, a sinner. I went to school the next day and felt so ashamed. I was sure that everybody knew that I was a sinner. That night, when they gave the altar call, I went up front, to what they called the mourners bench, and gave my heart to Jesus. On Oct. 4, 1936, I was baptized in that big river and as you can see, I didnt drown. That is all still so clear to me and I can still remember how scared I was.

Juanita said preaching has changed so much through the years.

When I was a child, the preachers used to preach about hell. They would make it so plain, that you could see it. Nowadays, you cant hear a preacher preach on hell and really describe what it is. I keep thinking about that and how much preachers are letting people down.

Juanita credits her mother, a wonderful Christian lady, for always making sure she was in church. The family attended Antioch Baptist in the western part of Watauga County. She also became interested in singing, as did her mother, and loved attending the singing schools they had back then.

Growing up in Sugar Grove

Juanita was the fourth  and oldest girl  of 10 children born into the Ross and Rosa Lee Matheson family from Sugar Grove; by the age of 12,she was doing all the housework and caring for the younger siblings, while also going to school.

Mama was sick a lot and was either expecting a baby, having one or taking care of one, she recalled. My dad worked off from home a lot and wasnt always there with us.

Having spent 72 years together, losing her husband, Gene, was a very difficult thing for Juanita to experience.

Among her happiest childhood memories include playing music with her family at night after all the work was done. You could say we had a family band with a guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. I could play a tune on all of them, but I played the guitar best of all  and could still play a little, until just a few years ago. My great-grandson, Luke, brought his guitar over one night not long ago, but I just couldnt play it anymore.

It was a neighbor boy, Gene Smith, who caught Juanitas eye early on. We were both about 11 years old when he gave me a bracelet that had belonged to his mother, Juanita recalls with a smile.

The Mathesons moved away from the community soon afterward, but Juanita never forgot about Gene.

Years later, in 1940, I saw him again at the county fair, and to this day, I still remember him wearing a tan zip-up sweater and denim bell-bottom trousers and a hat. I can see that in my mind just as clear as if it was yesterday. Back then, you didnt see many boys wearing a zipper sweater. He was really something.

Gene was in the Civilian Conservation Corps with one of Juanitas brothers and ended up writing her a letter after they had seen each other at the fair.

Newlyweds in 1942, a young handsome couple, Juanita and Gene Smith, began a long, happy life together just as the war began.

Thats how it got started. I didnt get to see him much, except for when I slipped off to the movies with my brother and his girlfriend, and Gene met us there. My parents didnt want me dating.

Two years later they were planning an early December wedding, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. We didnt know what to do, Juanita recalled, but married anyway, on Jan. 8, 1942.

Juanita was working for the National Youth Administration project and was scheduled to work that day, she recalled. But, I decided to go with Gene to Boone for a marriage license, and then we went back to Vilas to get Rev. Grady Minton to marry us. Gene had an A-Model and it didnt have a heater. We nearly froze to death! We went on to Elizabethton and stayed at the Watauga Hotel until Sunday. It was her first trip to Tennessee.

My parents didnt know about it. They had already told me that my life was ruined if I married, she said. It wasnt so much that they didnt like Gene, but I was their biggest helper in the family; they didnt want to lose me.

Gene and her parents ended up having a close relationship, she said. They treated him like he was their own. They never had a cross word between them.

Soon after marrying, the young couple moved to Portsmouth, Va., where Gene worked in the shipyards; he was drafted into the army in the fall of 42 and transferred to Ft. Lewis, Wash. Juanita returned home to stay with her parents for about a year before joining him.

Juanita Smith loves special time with her son, Mick, and her great-grandchildren, Dylan, Luke, Mattie, Carson and Landon.

A short time later, Gene received orders for the South Pacific; she returned home, again awaiting his return, two years later.

It was hard on us to be apart, she said. We wrote to each other every day, but sometimes it would take a month for me to get his letters. So, much of the time, I didnt know if he was alive or not.

Juanita with great-grandson Dylan Smith and his fiance Hannah Wood. Dylan and his great-grandmother have a special bond, as she began keeping him in her home soon after his birth while his parents worked.

In November 1943, after he had returned state-side to Ft. Lewis, Gene came home on a 15-day leave. He wanted to surprise me, and he sure did, Juanita recalled. I had been walking out on the porch every day watching for him, just waiting for the day he would come home, but when he actually came walking through the gate, it didnt seem real. Instead of walking to meet him, I was so stunned, I just turned and walked back into the house like I had done many times before. I walked around behind the stove and thats where I was standing when he came through the door. I couldnt think. I still dont know why I did that. It hit me hard when he got inside, though. He never let me live that down.

After Gene was discharged, the couple bought a little home, she described, but jobs were scarce at the time, so they moved to Cleveland, Ohio for five years. We were homesick the whole time and finally decided to come back.

Gene began working as a carpenter and Juanita took care of the home. Their first baby, born in 1946, did not survive. It was a sad time. Their son, Michael Mick, was born two years later.

Life as The Preachers Wife

In 1963, Gene answered the call to preach and filled many pulpits throughout Avery, Watauga and Caldwell counties.

Being a pastors wife to a man that is called of God, is just as important as anything Ive ever done  whether I did it right or failed, I dont know, but I was always with him and stood my him, Juanita said.

A rare photo of Juanita, her son Mick and her five grandsons: Michael, Matthew, Andrew, Morgan and Orin.

She easily recalls March 1, 1963, when Gene delivered his first message, based on Isaiah 53. Ive got it marked in my Bible  and every other scripture he used every time he preached.

But, she remembers, too, that Gene wasnt saved when they were first married.

That concerned me, especially when he was called to war, but he accepted the Lord while he was at Fort Lewis. A Baptist chaplain baptized him in the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific.

While living in Cleveland, the Smiths found a little church they liked. Our son Mick, was about 6, and we wanted to raise him in the church, she said. The pastor came to our house one day and asked if I would teach a class. I said no at first. Even the children in that church were so knowledgeable about the Bible and needed to be teaching me, but I needed to be doing something, so I finally agreed.

For many years following, Juanita taught in the churches they served, mainly young girls and ladies.

Not long ago, I saw one of those girls and she told me something I had taught her that she had never forgot. That meant so much to me.

Juanita also loved singing in the church choirs and serving as needed. For many years, since I was in my 30s, she made communion bread for the sacred observance, going by a recipe thats in the Bible for unleavened bread

Being a preachers wife wasnt always easy, citing the hardest thing ever was dealing with the criticism that comes with the job. But, she tried to never let it bother her, Because I knew he was always where the Lord wanted him to be. That was enough for me.

Grandmother as she is respectfully referred to stands with her two older grandsons and their wives. From left: Matthew and Jerica, Denise, Juanita and Michael.



As a bi-vocational pastor in small churches from the 1980s until retiring in 2008, Gene also owned and operated a tractor-trailer; Juanita joined him on many long-distance trips, covering the main 48 states together, which they enjoyed immensely.

When the couple promised to love each other in sickness and health, they were sincere. Prior to Genes retirement, his health began to decline; though physically stable, dementia took its toll on his mind. It was a blessing and a privilege, Juanita said, to have taken care of him.

He was always so good to me and protective of me, she recalled. He was so gentle, humble and kind. We had a loving, trusting relationship. I looked up to him and loved and respected him for the man that I know he was.

They had their disagreements and plenty of heartache, through the years, she said, But, we stayed strong in our faith. Otherwise, I dont know how we wouldve made it.

Juanita cherishes a box of cards that Gene gave her through the years. I cant throw them away, she said. He always picked out such meaningful cards for special occasions. He was always sentimental like that.

Moving Forward

Juanita enjoys a big hug from her youngest grandson, Ray.

A gifted seamstress since her youth, sewing a skill she inherited from her mother, Juanita has stayed busy through the years with her handwork  crocheting, knitting and quilting  especially after Genes death. Much of her work has been sold at the craft center at Moses Cone Manor in Blowing Rock  or given to her family. She has lost count of the number of quilts she has made through the years, but she hasnt forgotten that each cathedral quilt, her favorite pattern, contains 750 blocks and takes about a year to complete. Ive put in several hours making those quilts and everyone seems to love them. I have formed friendships all over this country through the quilts and the other items Ive made. I have heard from people from New York, California, Charlotte, and all over who have gotten something Ive made.

She is grateful for every connection, every friend that she has made during her lifetime, but most of all, its God and her family that keeps this matriarch of five generations going. I am so thankful for my son Mick, his wife Laura, and my seven grandsons (three of them who are married to wonderful young women). I five great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters, and one great- great grandson. I am blessed in many ways  and am thankful for every one of my 100 years of life. I just hope that I have been a blessing to someone along the way.

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If you look further into the future, when we get the new equipment at the end of the decade, the Hornets will be at the end of their life cycle. Their use value is starting to be pretty low, he was quoted saying by Helsingin Sanomat.

MINISTER of Defence Antti Kaikkonen (Centre) on Thursday viewed that Finland will need its Hornet fighter jets in the coming years.

The assessment was echoed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens). The F-18 Hornets, the first of which were delivered to Finland in 1995, would likely be of little use at the end of their life cycle to Ukraine, gauged Haavisto.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) has not ruled out the possibility of shipping some of the ageing jets to Ukraine before they have been replaced by US-made F-35 fighter jets.

This is a question that should be considered very carefully, she stated to reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. Well have to take into consideration our geopolitical situation next to Russia. Also this is well understood, but weve provided support and are prepared to continue providing support also in the future. Weve decided to acquire new fighter jets, and I do think we can discuss what well do with the equipment were decommissioning.

This discussion has yet to take place in the appropriate institutions, she added at a press conference organised after the summit. We cant escape this discussion in Finland. This has been going on for some time in Europe.

Finland has placed a roughly nine-billion-euro order for 64 Lockheed Martin F-35s. The first of the fighter jets are to be delivered in 2025.

Delivering Hornets to Ukraine has been a topic of discussion since the prime minister visited Kyiv, Ukraine, in March. She stated at the time that the possibility of delivering jets to Ukraine could be discussed in Finland.

During an election debate organised by Ilta-Sanomat on Tuesday, Marin revealed that she has discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. She also expressed her bafflement at the reluctance of decision-makers to discuss the possibility and the insistence on scrapping the jets.

Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday reported that Ukraine has called for trilateral talks about the Hornet jets with Finland and the US.

Kaikkonen on Thursday said Finland will issue its response to the request in the coming weeks, declining to comment on its nature. He added that instead of the fighter jets it would be more important to consider how to provide more immediate support to Ukraine.

Finland, he revealed, decided yesterday on its 14th aid package to Ukraine, which includes three Leopard 2 mine-clearing tanks, heavy weaponry and ammunition to the total tune of 161 million euros. Finland has previously pledged around 750 million euros worth of military aid, including three mine-clearing Leopard tanks, to Ukraine.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Finnish president's official seal to join NATO and approval of Turkey's parliamentary committee for Finalnd's application was reported in an article published in Associated Press on March 23. The article gives details about both developments while adding that the parliament of Hungary is finally expected to approve Finlands accession on March 27.

The article stated that members of the Turkish parliaments committee on foreign affairs voted in favor of Finlands bid a week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would move forward with ratifying it. It added that Finlands application could be ratified by the full Turkish assembly as early as next week.

"From the start of this process, Finland was more prepared and determined to meet our countrys sensitivities and expectations, Turkeys Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar said, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.

The news article also highlighted the delay in Swedens accession due to opposition from Turkey owing to disputes between Ankara and Stockholm.

Original story was published by Associated Press on 23.03.2023 and can be found here.

Finland mulls introducing a health tax

Political parities considering to impose health tax to tackle obesity in Finland was reported in Euractive in an article on March 15. The article looks into the recent survey by Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health (Soste) regarding the views of different parties on obesity.

It mentioned that six out of nine political parties want to introduce a health during the next parliamentary term, according to the survey. It added that the number of overweight adults has doubled since 1980, with two in three men and more than half of the women now being overweight.

The parties in favour of a health-based tax include the liberal-conservative National Coalition Party (NCP), social democrats, the Left Alliance, Greens, the Christian Democrats and Movement Now, the article states.

The result is a very strong message to the next government. One has to proceed determinedly with a health-based tax. The political mindset is there, and the opposition from the industry must not let slow down the drafting of the law, Ulla Kiuru, Sostes Social Relations Manager said.

Original story was published by Euractiv on 15.03.2023 and can be found here.

How saunas help keep the Finns the world's happiest people

An article about Finlands prevalent saunas and their contribution to the happiness and wellbeing of its citizens was published on Mint Lounge on March 23. It provides insight to the Finlands ranking as the most happiest country in the world for the sixth time and how saunas might have a big hand in keeping Finns happy.

The article goes on to explain the different factors that are taken into account in the world happiness report including social and economic conditions and peoples own assessment of their happiness.

The Finns are surprised too, as they consider themselves stoic and introverted, and are generally not given to displays of emotion. But the happiness index is not just about what people feel but the overall quality of life, the article read.

It also discusses how saunas are integral part of Finnish culture and ist role in providing a sense of belonging and trust within the community. The article highlighted that there are several studies that link the regular use of saunas to a variety of benefits, including better sleep, improved immune system, lower risk of hypertension, heart disease, depression and even dementia.

Original story was published by Mint Lounge on 23.03.2023 and can be found here.

Daimler Truck tests electric trucks in the freezing cold in Finland

The article about Daimler Truck testing electric trucks in Rovaniemi for the first time was published in Electrive.com on March 23. It elaborates on the test carried out by the automobile company to check whether the trucks can operate in an outside temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius.

The article mentioned that engineers paid particular attention to recuperation during testing. Its all very exciting, of course, because I can recover energy that way and extend my range, Christof Weber, Head of Global Testing Daimler Truck sathe

How do I balance recuperation and braking in general when Im driving a tractor-trailer, and the tractor-trailer also has to brake the weight of the trailers? Its all a bit different than what we know from combustion vehicles, Weber said adding that says some kind of braking strategy is needed to take full advantage of recuperation.

As per the article, the trucks covered around 2,800 kilometres to Rovaniemi. According to Weber, the average charging power at the stations was 150 kW, so the trucks sometimes had to take a break of two to three hours there.

Original story was published by Electrive.Com on 23.03.2023 and can be found here.

Finland aims to attract high-quality human resources from Vietnam

Finlands talent boost programme to induct high stillen workforce from Vietnam was published in an article in Tuoi Tre News on March 22. The article explains details of the programme which helps seek high-quality human resources from Vietnam, as well as from Brazil, Turkey, and India.

The Commercial Section of the Finnish Embassy in Vietnam held a conference on March 21 in Ho Chi Minh City to debut the Talent Boost programme. The initiative aims to attract talents from students to professionals such as doctors, nurses, information technology and clean engineers, and start-up entrepreneurs.

Those who are professionals will undergo procedures for diploma recognition, which will take about a year, said Laura Lindeman, senior director and head of work in the Finland Unit at Business Finland.

Lindeman added that the Vietnamese community in Finland has about 10,000 people, a quiet large foreign community that has good relations with the local, the article stated.

Original story was published by Tuoi Tre News on 22.03.2023 and can be found here.

HT
N.C. House passes bill requiring college course on founding documents

The North Carolina House passed a bill requiring students at state universities to take a three-credit hour course on the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents by a vote of 69-47.

All students attending a college in the UNC or community college system would be required to take a three-credit-hour class on American government. The class would require students to read in their entirety the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers (five essays). Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King Jr.s "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

Students would also need to pass a final exam on these founding documents, their historical context, and authors perspectives.

Currently, UNC at Chapel Hill requires a three-credit-hour courses in Global Understanding and Power, Difference, & Inequality, but not one in American government.

UNC also teaches courses on Comparative Queer Politics, Gender and Sexuality in Africa, Islam and Sexual Diversity, Animals in Japanese Religion, Global Whiteness, and many similar courses.

Jameson Broggi, a U.S. Marine and attorney stationed at Air Station Cherry Point, has been a leading proponent of the bill. Broggi successfully advocated for similar legisation that became law in South Carolina.

On the House floor, several Democrats spoke against the bill. Democratic Minority Leader Robert Reives said while he supported the concept of teaching civics he opposed the bill because he did not think it should be required in community college.

The Board of Governors would have the ability to remove the chancellor of a university and the State Board of Community Colleges could remove a community college president if their school failed to comply with the requirement.




FORMER National Fishing Corporation of Namibian (Fishcor) finance manager Paulus Ngalangi said N$17,5 million paid from Fishcor's bank account to the law firm Sisa Namandje & Co was aimed at funding "governmental objectives".

Ngalangi said this in an affidavit submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) two years ago and filed at the High Court at the end of last year.

Instead of funding government projects, such as drought programmes, around N$15 million was later paid to businessman Vaino Nghipondoka and Swapo's Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu, in 2015.

Ngalangi's affidavit, which was never reported in the media, provides an insight into how politically connected individuals benefited from public funds via lawyer Sisa Namandje's law firm. Namandje has denied any wrongdoing.

Accountant Ngalangi was appointed as Fishcor's finance general manager in April 2015, around six months after James Hatuikulipi was appointed as Fishcor's board chairperson. Ngalangi is said to be close to Hatuikulipi.

A source familiar with their background said the two grew up together and Hatuikulipi was like Ngalangi's big brother.

Ngalangi was in charge of Fishcor's finances during events that resulted in the Fishrot corruption scandal.

He submitted an affidavit to the ACC two years ago to explain his role in the Fishrot scandal.

One of the controversial payments executed by Ngalangi as finance manager was a transfer of N$17,5 million to Namandje's law firm.

Ngalangi said Fishcor transferred N$15 million in December 2015 to Sisa Namandje & Co, while N$2,5 million was paid in August 2017.

"I am aware of this payment of N$15 million, which was made from the Bank Windhoek account of Fishcor in December 2015 to Sisa Namandje & Co Inc's trust account. As far as my recollection is concerned, the payment was for government objectives and it was an instruction received verbally from Mr Mike Nghipunya," Ngalangi stated in his affidavit.

The definition of government objectives could be a key battle in the criminal case about the Fishrot scandal that is currently pending in the High Court.

Ngalangi said his understanding was that "government objectives are assistance to the government".

Fishcor also transferred N$50 million into law firm Ellis Shilengudwa Inc's trust account in 2017.

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Ellis Shilengudwa Inc is co-owned by lawyer Jurie Badenhorst, who has for years acted as a lawyer for former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and Hatuikulipi.

Ngalangi said this transaction involved payments for the Etale property, as part of the state-owned Fishcor's contribution to the Seaflower Pelagic Processing joint venture with the entity African Selection Trust (AST).

"My only role in this transaction was to effect the payments as per the email instruction of Mike Nghipunya," he said.

"I had to split the transaction into different transactions as electronic fund transfer transactions only allow for a maximum amount of N$5 million per transaction," he said.

Ellis Shilengundwa Inc issued a statement to The Namibian two years ago, denying any wrongdoing.

"The N$50 million documented in your letter was paid to a seller, as part of a transaction related to the acquisition of a fish processing factory at Walvis Bay, following approval by the Namibian Competition Commission," the law firm's board said.

The Namibian reported two years ago that Fishcor - whose board was headed by Hatuikulipi - bought a fish factory at the coast for N$160 million in 2016 amid concerns that the parastatal overpaid by as much as N$50 million for the property.
Ministry of Health has warned Malawians against relenting and relaxing in the fight against HIV and Aids as latest statistics indicate that the country is registering 15, 000 new HIV cases annually.

Additionally, the country loses 11, 000 HIV and Aids-related deaths pear, a development authorities at the Capital Hill and its development partners have described as 'still too huge'.

Care and Treatment Programme Officer in the Department of HIV and Aids (DHA), Dr. Bilaal Wilson, lamented that while the country on track to attain UNAIDS' 95:95:95 targets, the battle to reduce new infections seems to be far from reach.

Wilson made the sentiments in an interview on the sidelines of a mid-year review of the National Strategic Plan for HIV and Aids (2022-2025). The review meeting took place at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Thursday.

"In term of progress, we have made a good progress towards achieving the 95:95:95 targets. Of course, we are lagging behind in the first 95, which deals with testing and the number of HIV people who know their status. But that is just at 94 percent, and we believe that by 2025, we should be able to hit the target," he said.

"However, although we are mostly likely to achieve the targets, the fight against HIV and Aids is not over. We still have a high number of people contracting HIV annually. We also have a challenge with HIV positive persons adhering to treatment and care," added Wilson.

This notwithstanding, UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Nuha Ceesay, said his organization is impressed with the progress Malawi is making towards eliminating Aids by 2030.

Ceesay pledged continued support to Malawi's fight against the disease.
Refugee women prepare food in a displacement site in Ouallam, in the Tillaberi region of Niger (file photo).

Niamey, Niger/Washington  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger with a pledge of humanitarian assistance for displaced people and support for the country's efforts to combat violent extremism.

Residents in the capital city of Niamey interviewed by VOA had mostly positive things to say about the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state.

"We see how today the American military forces, which are on Nigerien territory, are training the defense and security forces," a woman in Niamey told VOA's French to Africa Service. But she said cooperation should not be limited to security.

"There are several cooperation opportunities in the context of climate change. There is also clean water, there are many things," she said.

Blinken used the trip to announce $150 million in new humanitarian assistance to help meet needs in Western and Central Africa and the Sahel region created by instability.

Beyond immediate assistance to refugees and other vulnerable groups, the United States is committing to investing in the long-term stability of the region, Blinken said.

The U.S. will assist in making "Niger's law enforcement more effective in combating terrorism, strengthening border security, enhancing counternarcotics capacity, stemming trafficking, and helping to investigate, prosecute and ultimately reduce terrorism and violent extremism," Blinken said during a joint news conference with his Nigerien counterpart in Niamey.

The United States has military personnel stationed at two air force bases in the country and has supported the Nigerien armed forces with training, equipment donations, and support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to combat violent extremism.

Another Niamey resident interviewed by VOA said the military equipment donations have been helpful, but urged political leaders to be cautious.

"Our leaders would have to be very vigilant with regard to the clauses of the contracts signed with these powers because, in reality, they have no friends," he said. "They only pursue their interests. Some may be greedier, pettier than others, but we have a duty to the youth, as a civil society to ask our leaders to be very clairvoyant."

Another person interviewed said she can see the impact of the U.S. involvement in the security situation.

"Well, on the Niger-America relations, it is visible and palpable and they helped us," she told VOA. "Regarding the insecurity and all that, that is really this case, we appreciate the relationship of the United States and Niger."

Niger is on the forefront of an escalating violence and fighting in the western Sahel, Joseph Siegle, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies said. The country experienced a 43% increase in violent events in 2022, but fatalities decreased by half, the ACSS said.

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While neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad have experienced coups or political upheaval, Niger has maintained a functioning democracy.

"Niger is a linchpin right now towards stability in the Sahel and it has done significantly better than its neighbors. It has a more democratic government. Remember that in Mali and Burkina Faso, we've seen military coups, and so you have great governance turmoil in those countries," Siegle said.

"Niger is an island of stability in comparison. This is going to be critical towards reversing the instability trends that we've seen in the Sahel. And Niger has played a role in that regional effort to regain some stability for neighboring countries."

One Niamey resident was skeptical of Blinken's visit, bemoaning the inequality of the U.S.-Niger relationship.

"I say that it's a relationship of subordination because the United States, in general, has always held the top position since the end of World War II," he told VOA. "We can deal with you, but not as equals."

This story originated in VOA's French to Africa Service. VOA's Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine contributed to the report.
The Forensic Psychiatrist, Henry Gerard Kennedy, one of three independent medical experts that conducted the recent medical report on Felicien Kabuga's health said that the hearing of evidence would possibly proceed without him because of his ability to express interest and to convey his will and preferences is likely to be fleeting and can only reduce over time.

Kennedy made the suggestion on March 15 during the hearing on Kabuga's fitness to stand trial after the reports showed that he could not "participate meaningfully in his trial".

The had report concluded that Kabuga was in 'clinical criteria for dementia'. The presiding judge asked the expert what had changed his opinion as he had previously concluded that these criteria were not met.

Responding to it, Kennedy testified that he had found evidence of impairment in different cognitive abilities, such as memory, perception, reasoning, and communicating, which allowed him to now have a complete picture of the defendant's case and draw this conclusion.

Furthermore, the judge inquired Kennedy if there was a possibility Kabuga was giving the impression that he was suffering from a greater degree of mental incapacity and if he is confident that the accused is not faking his condition to any extent.

Kennedy stated that taking into account the totality of the information available, other clinicians working regularly with the accused concluded that the deterioration of Kabuga's condition was real.

Kennedy was also asked if a "trial of the facts", he responded that he does not believe such proceedings would cause emotional trauma to the accused.

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A trial of facts is a judicial procedure. If based on medical evidence, a court determines that a person is unfit to stand trial, then criminal proceedings cannot proceed. Prosecutors, however, have the option to have the matter heard as a "trial of the facts". This process takes the place of a criminal trial.

Among the questions the judge asked Kennedy was asked was whether Kabuga would be able to testify since last year's report shows that he was unable to do so, he explained that "there was no evidence that the defendant's capacity had returned to normal and that the loss had been sustained,"

In addition, he emphasized that his loss continues to prevent the accused from being able to testify. While there is a small possibility that his capacity may return, Kennedy deemed a substantial improvement "very unlikely at his age".

Furthermore, Kennedy pointed out that now, the condition of the accused has deteriorated rather than improved and he is not capable of instructing his Counsel.

"Kabuga is less able to understand the consequences of the proceedings to the point where there is now a material change in his capacity to understand them," he said adding that this conclusion was consensual among the three experts.
Women Scientists in India This weeks pick of interesting reads includes a book on Indian women scientists, a memoir of a lifetime spent serving the Dalai Lama, and essays that look at the influence of the ideas of writers and thinkers. (HT Team)

302pp, 499; Penguin (Thought-provoking conversations with Indian women scientists)

From Bhopal to Bhubaneswar, from Bangalore to Jammu, Aashima Dogra and Nandita Jayaraj engage in thought-provoking conversations with scientists like Gagandeep Kang, Rohini Godbole, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Prajval Shastri, as well as researchers at earlier stages of their scientific careers. These dialogues about the triumphs and challenges faced by women offer fresh perspectives on the gender gap that continues to haunt Indian science today.Indias labs are brimming with inspiring stories of women persisting in science despite facing everything from apathy, stereotypes, and sexism to systemic and organizational challenges. These stories reveal both a broken system and the attempts by extraordinary women working to fix it. By questioning whether India is doing enough to support its women in science and if western models of science and feminism can truly be applied in India, the authors not only offer a comprehensive examination of the state of women in science but also offer a road map for the way forward.*

Memoirs of a lifetime in pursuit of a reunited Tibet

800pp,  799; HarperCollins (A chronicle of the authors service to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause)

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari spent decades drawing attention to the plight of the Tibetan people and striving for the resolution of the Tibetan-Chinese conflict. He was the Dalai Lamas special envoy and chief negotiator with the Peoples Republic of China in the formal negotiations over the status of Tibet. In this revealing memoir, Gyari chronicles his lifetime of service to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause.He recounts his work conducting formal dialogue with the Chinese leadership from 2002 to 2012, as well as his efforts during the many years of quiet diplomacy preceding these historic negotiations. He details the fits and starts of the parties relationship, addressing successes as well as failures, and highlighting misperceptions, missteps and missed opportunities on both sides. Gyari grounds the recollections of his time as special envoy in his life experiences, providing a powerful account of the personal side of Tibets struggles. He describes the Tibetan resistance to the Chinese invasion and the tumultuous early years of the Tibetan community in exile, as well as his familys history and spiritual lineage. A reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist lama forced to flee Tibet during the Chinese invasion, Gyari illuminates how his political efforts fulfilled his spiritual calling.Informed by his unparalleled experiences, Gyari offers realisable-but-provocative-recommendations for restarting the Tibetan-Chinese dialogue to achieve a mutually beneficial resolution of the issue. For all readers interested in Tibets complex modern history, this book offers an incomparable look inside the decades-long effort to achieve the Dalai Lamas vision of a reunited Tibet.*

History, literature, and societys fault lines

260pp, 795; Nirala Publications (A volume that ruminates on the influence of the ideas of writers, thinkers, poets and public figures)

A volume that examines how individuals interact, respond to and are influenced by historical ideas and figures, Mens Lib ruminates on the effects of the ideas of writers, thinkers, poets and public figures as diverse as Edward Said, Maulana Azad, Brajkishore Prasad, Nagarjun, Barack Obama, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Vishnu Khare, Nissim Ezekiel, Dom Moraes, and Mangalesh Dabral, to name a few. With the gender discourse presented as the leitmotif of all dialogue, this book looks at how a person develops perspectives on multilayered subjects. History, literature, thinking on contemporary sociocultural fault lines, the translation of ideas and texts, and personal memoir all come together in this volume. As Claudia Kaiser, Vice-President, Frankfurt Book Fair has pointed out, many of the essays are perfect to get a better understanding of todays India.*

*All matter from book flap.
How did the idea for a Partition trilogy come about? How did you go about zeroing in on Lahore, Hyderabad and Kashmir as focal points? Author Manreet Sodhi Someshwar (Courtesy the subject)

I grew up in Ferozepur, which is smack on the border between India and Pakistan. Thats where my fathers family is from. I go back every year; my brother, my husband, my daughter, we all visit. I think its my home town that made me a writer. The peculiar thing about the town is that it was a Muslim majority town. So by the laws of Indias Partition, it should have gone to Pakistan, but it didnt. And therein lies the story of, we use the term, transfer of population, which is a very neutral term... But thats not how it happened. Certainly not in Punjab. There was a very violent exodus of people. There was killing on both sides. And I grew up with stories of my dadaji, my fathers father, who was a landowner. The landowners used to be Sikhs and Hindus but the people who worked for them, the farmhands were Muslim. I grew up with stories about how literally overnight, they had to first find a truck, move those farmhands into a truck, and then try and escort them over the border to what was now a safe zone because it belonged to Muslims. As a child, you dont pay attention. Then, my adolescence coincided with the Sikh militancy period and Ferozepur became a militant hotbed. My father was a lawyer, so I saw it very closely. Anyway, I went on to become an engineer, went to IIM Calcutta, and had a corporate career. Then, my father passed away and I just felt that I wanted to write a story. I was hyper aware that there were things I was carrying within myself, which needed an outlet. So I tried to write but I had no training as a writer. Im not even a literature student. So I took a sabbatical from work and began writing and researching. The story initially was on 1984 and I went to the library to understand why it happened. That took me to the Green Revolution to 1947 and before that to the Ghadar movement. The more I read, the more I could begin to see the filter through which I could process what I had seen growing up. None of that was in my history textbooks. I didnt find any mention of it. Whereas in my home town, every house had a story to tell. Where were those stories? Thats what started me off on my long journey.

352pp, 399; HarperCollins (The first part of the Partition Trilogy)

My first book, The Long Walk Home, which is historical fiction, looked at the turbulent 20th century history of Punjab through the life of a family. So suffice to say, I have been working on collecting Partition stories, my own oral archives, because I realized very quickly that when I started speaking to my parents, my extended family, to neighbours, that these were all people who were elderly, where memories are declining and at some point I will lose the story. So I started my own sort of oral history project, and finally, The Partition Trilogy.

The first book came out in 2021, so you could say it took me 20 years. With the trilogy, I was trying something very ambitious, which is putting political leaders and the aam aadmi and aurat on the same stage. I want to show how decisions taken in Delhi affect common people. So, in Lahore, in Hyderabad, in Kashmir, and in Delhi, I have Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Lord Mountbatten as my protagonists. Im writing from inside their heads  its Jawahar speaking, Vallabh speaking, and it is Dickie speaking. To do that, you need to be very intimate with them  breakfast mein kya khaate hain? What is his favourite food? Does he smoke? Does he drink? What does he drink? What does he wear? What is their relationship with each other? How do they address each other? In each of these books, every single thing that is attributed in quotes to each of these characters is verified. Anybody who picks up the book should learn about the history of India without feeling that they are actually learning history. Thats my attempt.

What prompted you to do a fictional recounting of Partition? As I said, in my home town, every house had a story to tell. But I didnt find those stories in my textbooks. I came to Khushwant Singhs Train to Pakistan very late; I think I was 21. Thats when I was like, This is the history that Ive seen around me! I also feel that Partition is not one story. Its not narrative non-fiction. Of course, you can write that. And you can tell the stories there. But I think each story is different. And each story needs to be privileged, and I dont believe that narrative non-fiction does a better job than fiction. As long as fiction is rooted in authenticity, I want to tell those stories. Also, in my stories, I want to showcase how there is love even while there is hate and riots and violence. There were star-crossed lovers, there were parents who lost children. And I want to talk about that love too which is at the heart of all my stories. I feel that if I have to pay homage to Partition, I can only do it by bringing alive all those stories, and also the stories of our political leaders who had a terrible, terrible job, because history was literally running ahead of them; things had been decided. All they could do was just scramble to stay in place and take decisions which would do the least damage. When I was tussling with how to tell these stories in the best way, I was in New York City, and came across Saidiya Hartman, who is a professor now at Columbia University, who has developed a technique called critical fabulation. In that, you do a scaffolding or a skeleton of hard research. On top of that, you do the padding or the flesh through creative imagination. That is what Im attempting to do.

347pp, 399; HarperCollins (The second part of the Partition Trilogy)

What kind of research did you do to lend authenticity to the political manoeuvres done behind closed doors? There are two threads here. One is the Delhi thread, and then there is the aam aadmi thread. When I started off initially people would be like, Oh, Jawaharlal Nehru used to drink. No, he didnt drink. But to get that information, I had to trawl through so many millions of pages because the information Im looking for is not readily available. Were not great archivists in India; its not easy to access information. In a sense, it was a blessing in disguise that I was living outside of India, because the New York Public Library network is connected to all the Ivy League colleges and libraries. So if I wanted a book, which they didnt have, they would get it for me. Seeing the ambition of my project, they took me on as a Fellow at the New York Public Library, which means I have access to resources, I can get those books home, and even during the pandemic, they sent me books.

The idea of womens bodies as battlefields and also these women historical figures, that you tried to highlight, was that a central focus when you began the book?It was very much my central focus. We hear of Edwina Mountbatten, Maniben, Indu (which is what Indira Gandhi was called when she was her fathers assistant and taking care of his house)... What role were they playing? I wanted to bring them alive. My attempt, both, in the common thread and in the political thread is to rescue these women from the interstices of history and bring them front and forward. Im just giving them their proper place.

READ MORE: Review - Hyderabad; Book 2 of The Partition Trilogy by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

You talk about the Jewish diaspora in the US bringing out literary works from the third generation on the Holocaust. However, theres a lack when it comes to the Partition. Could you elaborate?

I can say this because I live in New York City and teach at City College as well. There are several books which come out, wonderful marvellous works, heavily researched, which talk about what happened during the Jewish Holocaust. Now the thing is in that story, there is a very clear villain. We know the Nazis are the villain and the Jews were the survivors, the victims. And third generation on, obviously, the Jewish population feels that they need to still wrestle with it. Its a lesson which should not be forgotten. It was too high a cost to pay. By reading those stories, its not just the Jewish diaspora, or Jewish people who are being enriched. All of us are being enriched because were all learning that these things can lead to this and therefore, hopefully, have more empathy for those around us. I dont believe that you have to compare traumas, but just for the purpose of analysis, shift your gaze to Partition. About two million people died and around 15 million people moved borders. Now, it is considered the largest modern migration in human history. Just by the sheer number, we need to have at least 15 million stories. If we cant have that many, can we have even 1/100th of that? We dont. We can literally count on our fingers, the excellent Partition literature we have. It is from my fathers generation. Where is the literature after that? Urvashi Butalia did great work. But why are we not repeatedly getting those stories up front and centre and talking about them? During my research, I figured that its because of guilt and shame. Because we dont have clear villains; we are all villains. As a Punjabi gentleman told me, Nobodys hands are clean. And we told our women to seal their mouths, theyre not to talk about it. I feel that has led to where we are today with the sort of us versus them, this absolutely useless path that we are on. If we understand the violence that has brought us to this point, maybe well have more empathy for each other. I do believe stories are at the heart of human existence.

The book was written during the pandemic. Did any of the uncertainty of that time make it into the narrative? Yes. Some people have complained that when you read Lahore, closure nahi hai. Do you think people who lived through Partition had closure? Do you think we as Indians have closure? There is no closure. Thats why Im putting the stories out there because we need to talk, we need to air and maybe, hopefully, get some kind of understanding. There is no closure when we have such brutality. Uncertainty pervades the entire narrative of the Partition Trilogy. Its an integral part of it.

Could you tell us more about the third part of the trilogy, Kashmir?In Kashmir, Im doing the same thing. The Delhi thread again has Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Dickie Mountbatten, who is now the first Governor-General of India. Hes been asked by the leadership to stay on, so hes there for a 12-month assignment. The second thread is not just the common Kashmiris, but also Maharaja Karan Singh of Jammu and Kashmir state. In a sense, Hyderabad and Kashmir are yin and yang. In Hyderabad, it is a Hindu majority state; in Kashmir, it is the opposite. With Hyderabad, we have forgotten the story. In Kashmir, we think we know what happened, but I feel like we dont know. There are many misconceptions. When we think of Kashmir, we think of the valley. The state is much bigger than the valley. The valley was, of course, Muslim majority. But by the same token, Jammu was Hindu majority. Gilgit Baltistan had a very large population of Shia Muslims, who are, you know, very different from Sunni Muslims. It could be two different religions; the practices are so different. Then, we had Ladakh, which is Buddhist. We never bring these things into the conversation, but they are important. Kashmir is also the state where we go to war. The first Indo-Pak war happens within two months of Indian independence and the creation of Pakistan. In my novel, I also have protagonists who are Pakistani. I think we need to understand Jinnahs fears and what was being done on the ground. Maharajah Hari Singhs soldiers, what they were doing, what was the violence perpetrated on ordinary Kashmiris? How are they responding? Once again, women are front and centre. There were women soldiers, Kashmiri women, an army, a unit was raised. We never talk about it. These women were ordinary Kashmiri girls, 18-20 years old, who were trained in self defence. I wanted to bring those stories; they are part of Kashmir.

Simar Bhasin is an independent journalist. She lives in New Delhi.
Bhubaneswar, March 18: The Founder of KIIT and KISS Dr Achyuta Samanta on Saturday handed over appointment letters to 125 unemployed youths of Patia village, taking the number of employees from the village who are engaged in the KIIT family to 325.

Today is a happy moment for all of us. We have given appointment letters to 125 youths of the Patia village after a request was made in this regard by the citizens of the village, said Dr Samanta.

He said the transformation of KIIT into one of the premier centres of learning in the country could not have been made possible without the support of the villagers of Patia.

Dr Samanta said the transformation of KIIT into one of the premier centres of learning in the country could not have been made possible without the support of the villagers of Patia.

The appointment letters were handed over at a mega job fair organized with the active cooperation of the Patia Gram Mangala Samiti and office bearers of the samiti who were present on the occasion. They included Corporators of Ward No 3 Laxmipriya Parida, Nrusingha Rout, Chittaranjan Patra, Santosh Parida, Amulya Jena and Bishnu Patra of Patia Gram Mangal Samiti.

During his visit to the village last year, the Founder had assured the villagers to consider their demands for engaging the unemployed youths at KIIT. As of now, more than 200 people from the village are already engaged in KIIT, KISS and KIMS. The total number of employees from Patia village in KIIT, KISS, & KIMS now stands at 325. The Founder said, its a record that so many youths from villages have got employment in one institute.

The Gram Mangal Samiti members credited the KIIT DU for giving identity to the Patia village and for its rapid growth and development. The Founder, they said, has a deep affection for the people of the village.

Disclaimer: This article is a promotional feature and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Priyanka Khurana Goyal, the woman who won the titles of Mrs. Earth and Mrs. India, made her acting debut in the film "An Indian Girl." The movie is a compelling drama that is led by strong female characters and maintains consistent with its major concept throughout.

Priyanka plays four very different characters in the short film she directed called "An Indian Girl." Priyanka was more than up to the challenge presented by this endeavour, despite the difficulty of the assignment. The story vignette focuses on four different women, each of whom must overcome a challenge in order to achieve success. The film is successful in conveying the notion that pride, dignity, self-esteem, and overall well-being are just as important to a woman as they are to a male, and this is an important point that the film makes.

Priyanka, who plays the title role in "An Indian Girl," is one of the film's highlights, along with the fact that it tries its best to be as authentic as it can be. Priyanka has been nominated for a number of accolades for her work in the movie, and the fact that she has four very distinct roles to play makes it difficult to believe that this is actually her debut performance.

Priyanka Khurana had very kind words to say about the movie, adding, "An Indian Girl is a film that is not only profoundly personal to me, but also has the potential to inspire and empower women all over the country, and I am overjoyed to be a part of it. I am really thrilled to be a part of it. Whether she is a sex worker, a housewife, or just an everyday person, every woman deserves to have the right to make her own decisions, as well as the ability to be seen and heard by others. The picture that I made my debut in could not have been any more perfect for me."

You can currently stream 'An Indian Girl,' which stars Priyanka in a performance that will melt your heart on Disney+Hotstar, and you may watch it.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
UBS promised retention packages to wealth-management staff in Asia at Credit Suisse, two people with knowledge of the matter said, as the bank tries to stem a talent exodus after the takeover of its former Swiss rival. Logos of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen in Zurich, Switzerland.(REUTERS)

In a town hall address in Hong Kong on Friday, Iqbal Khan, UBS's president for global wealth management, also focussed on stabilising the Credit Suisse Asia team and boosting confidence, one of the two sources said.

ALSO READ: Who are the winners and losers after UBS takes over Credit Suisse for $3.3 billion

In his address, Khan said the top performers at the Credit Suisse wealth business will get retention packages, the second source said. The details of the retention package were not immediately known.

The sources declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Spokespeople for Credit Suisse and UBS declined to comment.

Bloomberg first reported the development on Friday.

Khan, a former top Credit Suisse banker, held the town hall along with Francesco de Ferrari, Credit Suisse's CEO for wealth management, said the first source and a third person with knowledge of the matter.

UBS told Credit Suisse wealth bankers in Zurich this week that it is weighing financial sweeteners for them to stay as it seeks to reassure key staff following the takeover, Reuters reported on Monday.

UBS said on Sunday it would pay 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) for 167-year-old Credit Suisse and assume at least $5.4 billion in losses in a deal backed by a massive Swiss government guarantee and expected to close by the end of 2023.
A genocide fugitive in France who sued a journalist there over being labelled as an 'African Nazi' due to his role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi has lost his court case.

On January 19, Maria Malagardis, Africa manager at the newspaper Liberation, appeared in a French court over a complaint by one of the suspected masterminds of the 1994 Genocide, Aloys Ntiwiragabo, 74, who she previously referred to as an African Nazi.

On March 15, the court threw the Rwandan genocidal government's former spy chief's case out.

"And it is such a relief!" Malagardis told The New Times.

"I am very relied that the French justice recognized the importance of qualifying, with the right words, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994, because at the end of the day, that was also the challenge of this trial."

On January 17, the largest journalists' trade union in France, syndicat national des journalistes (SNJ), was apprised of the situation, and it backed Malagardis. According to SNJ, Malagardis has written about the 1994 genocide for years, and her "expertise and seriousness are recognized" by her peers.

According to the journalists' trade union in France, using the word "Nazi" to refer to the massacres perpetrated in Rwanda is not new: several historians have made this choice since the 1990s.

The case dates back to the summer of 2020, when an investigative French media house, Mediapart, published an investigation titled "Aloys Ntiwiragabo, pilier presume du genocide des Tutsis, se terre en France" [Aloys Ntiwiragabo, suspected pillar of the Genocide against the Tutsi, is hiding in France].

In 2020, after months of careful investigation, Mediapart reporter, Theo Englebert, found out that Ntiwiragabo was hiding in Orleans, a city in north-central France. The journalist went on to exposed the link between the fugitive and a well-entrenched network of Rwandan extremists in Orleans who share the same genocide ideology.

In 1993, Ntiwiragabo was head of military intelligence (G2) and deputy chief of staff of the genocidal army. He allegedly took part in daily Genocide planning meetings of the staff of the then armed forces, and also availed a police station in Kigali to Interahamwe militia to torture, rape and execute the Tutsi. He arranged meetings that planned the massacres of thousands of innocent Tutsi during the Genocide.

Earlier, asked whether the 'African Nazi' label fits Ntiwiragabo, Genocide researcher Tom Ndahiro noted: "Unless if he wanted to be called a Rwandan, or African, genocidaire, rather than an African Nazi. He has a conflict with words. He knows he is part of a genocide against the Tutsi machinery."

Ndahiro showed The New Times a document published by the ex-FAR, in 1995, in which the defeated genocidal regime's army alleged that Ntiwiragabo was told by RPA officers that they told him that the RPA would kill former president Juvenal Habyarimana in March 1994.

He said: "This shows that the issue of killing Habyarimana was something that military intelligence, which Ntiwiragabo headed, had planned all along. Later, he became one of the commanders of the former Rwandan regime's army, ex-FAR, in Zaire.

Lawsuits issued to intimidate journalists

As noted, shortly after the publication of the Mediapart investigation, Ntiwiragabo, "who spent a large part of his life escaping justice," then chose to file a complaint against Englebert and Malagardis - in two separate proceedings.

Accusations before the courts were such that Englebert, the author of the Mediapart investigation, had commented in 2021: "These are people who live peacefully in France, and whose [criminal] past has never caught up with them. So inevitably, the work of journalists disturbs them."

"These lawsuits are issued to intimidate journalists, and to hinder the work of those investigating the Rwandan genocide," the journalists' trade union in France stressed as it reaffirmed its support for Malagardis, Englebert "and the journalists who carry out their mission of information."

France-based Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR) which has worked - for more than two decades - to see Genocide suspects in France brought to book, hoped the lawsuit Ntiwiragabo filed against the journalists "can expedite the legal proceedings against him."

The CPCR filed a genocide complaint in February 2022.

Ndahiro believes the likes of Ntiwiragabo, in France, are at ease and emboldened to intimidate journalists, simply because the European country is a well-known safe haven for such mass murderers.

"Their being emboldened comes from France's soft position to Rwandan genocidaires. The genocidaires know they have strong support within France's influential politicians and military," Ndahiro said.

Kabuga, one of the key architects of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, was arrested in May 2020.

France is still home to hundreds of other Rwandan Genocide fugitives.

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"France remains a centre where genocidaires' books are published. There is a publishing house run by a genocide ideologue, Dr Eugene Nshimamungu, called Sources du Nil, which has made it a mission to publish books of dead and living genocidaires."

In July 1994, when the genocidaires fled to Zaire (now DR Congo), Ntiwiragabo, then a Colonel, was one of them.

Ntiwiragabo was involved in the foundation of the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALiR), one of the initial militia formed by the ex-Far and Interahamwe militia that perpetrated the 1994 genocide, which later transformed into FDLR.

Ndahiro said: "That was before he found his most trusted safe haven in France. Initially, he was suspected to be living in Sudan but people didn't know he was already in France, his most trusted safe haven."

In his book, Friends of Evil, Ndahiro sheds light on Ntiwiragabo and other fugitives including Jean Marie Vianney Ndagijimana who he calls "evil for their role in keeping the flag of the genocidaires."

While on an official assignment at the UN, in New York, in October 1994, Ndagijimana disappeared with $187,000 which was money meant to pay bills of the country's embassies. He later turned up in Paris, where he is involved in churning out negative propaganda against the government of Rwanda.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday arrived in Bengaluru to attend the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' for southern states and union territories. He landed at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Airport in the Karnataka capital, and was received by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai. Union home minister Amit Shah at former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa's residence in Bengaluru on Friday.(@BSBommai/Twitter)

Shah is set to oversee around 9,300 kilograms (kg) of seized drugs worth 1,235 crore being destroyed at the conference. The home minister visited Karnataka BJP strongman and former CM B S Yediyurappa's residence for breakfast. Interestingly, he insisted on receiving the welcome bouquet from Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra first.

READ | Amit Shah to campaign in Karnataka on war-footing, visit state twice in next 5 days

In a video of the exchange, he is seen patting Vijayendra's back and then accepting Yediyurappa's greetings. Reports suggested that this gesture is being seen by some party members as an acknowledgement of Vijayendra's contributions, and could be a sign of him possibly contesting in the upcoming assembly polls in the state.

Shah then attended the regional conference on Drug Trafficking and National Security, where he said, Modi Government has adopted 'Whole of Government Approach' against drugs and has increased cooperation, coordination and collaboration between all departments and agencies.

The fight against drugs is not the fight of any one government. All departments of all governments will have to fight together. Going ahead of the governments, this should be the fight of the society and the country and we can free the country from the side effects of drugs, he added.

Shah later arrived at the Kommaghatta village in Bengaluru to lay the foundation stone of Sehkar Samrudhi Soudha and inaugurate various development works of the Karnataka Cooperative Ministry.

Shah is set to visit the southern state on Sunday as well, while prime minister Narendra Modi will visit on March 25 to inaugurate the much-anticipated Whitefield metro line, among other events.
BHOPAL: A peon at the Indore collectorate was arrested on Friday on charges of transferring 5.67 crore from accounts of beneficiaries under different schemes into accounts of 29 people known to him, a police officer said. Indore collector Ilayaraja T recently received a complaint alleging misappropriation of government funds earmarked for schemes (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Raoji Nagar police station in-charge Preetam Singh Thakur, who is investigating the case, said the peon, Milap Chauhan, was arrested following a complaint filed by the administration.

Indore collector Ilayaraja T recently received a complaint alleging misappropriation of government funds earmarked for schemes. Thakur said the preliminary inquiry supported allegations that Milap Chauhan and two others had diverted funds.

As many as 30 accounts including of relatives and Milap Chauhans wife were used by him to transfer the money. All the account holders have been made accused in the case. Milap purchased a farmhouse and agricultural land for 3.5 crore and for that, he paid directly from the treasury account of the government, Thakur said.

Milap, and two others, Ranjit Karod and Amit Nimbalkar, have been suspended and an inquiry ordered in the matter.

The collector said a team of finance department will come to Indore to probe the matter.
To eradicate tuberculosis (TB), the Chandigarh health department has started a survey to trace presumptive TB cases in the city. Started on March 20, the survey will continue till April 21. Dr Rajesh Kumar Rana, state TB officer, said the Central TB Division, New Delhi, had started this activity all over India. (HT)

Dr Suman Singh, director, health and family welfare, UT, flagged off the teams for active case finding.

She said the survey will cover Sectors 24, 25, 30 and 49, Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26, Burail, Kajheri, Mauli Jagran, Mauli Jagran Complex, Vikas Nagar, Ram Darbar, Dhanas and Maloya.

As many as 32 teams have been formed to visit these areas to cover almost 1/4th of the citys population.

The teams will visit both urban and rural areas, and conduct a door-to-door survey to identify symptomatic persons for TB testing. This will help in early diagnosis of cases and break the chain of infection, added Dr Singh.

Dr Rajesh Kumar Rana, state TB officer, said the Central TB Division, New Delhi, had started this activity all over India.
Following Supreme Courts orders, the UT administration has taken over the possession of around 351 acres of shamlat land (common land) across 17 Chandigarh villages. UT will now hand over the land to the municipal corporation (MC). The Chandigarh municipal corporation has prepared an estimate of  2.39 crore to fence off the shamlat land and avoid encroachment. (HT Photo)

Confirming the same, a senior official of the UT administration said,Once we hand over the land, MC will be removing the encroachments, if any.

As per the Supreme Court order in April last year, the entire land reserved for common purposes by applying pro-rata cut had to be utilised by the gram panchayat for the present and future needs of the village community. No part of the land can be re-partitioned amongst the proprietors and such land would not be available for sale, the apex court had ruled.

At present, around 200 acres of shamlat land is being encroached upon or lying in a state of neglect covered in debris and garbage resulting in unsanitary conditions. Addressing the issue, MC commissioner Anindita Mitra said, Once we get the land, we will develop it as per the zoning plan. Infrastructure for basic facilities will be developed at common land.

Notably, the civic body has prepared an estimate of 2.39 crore to fence off the shamlat land and avoid encroachment. The agenda will be tabled in the upcoming House meet, scheduled in the last week of March.

Gurpreet Singh Happy, former sarpanch of Daria, said, when the villages were brought under MC, panchayat land had already been transferred. As far as shamlat land is concerned, it cannot be transferred to MC after the recent Punjab and Haryana high court order. If they will hand it over, we will move the court, he said.

Shiromani Akali Dal councillor Hardeep Singh, who represents Buterla and Badheri villages, meanwhile, said, In most villages, the people have even constructed their houses on shamlat land around three decades ago. Why did the UT administration not check this initially? I will take up the matter in the House meeting.

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Two days after his conviction in a disproportionate assets (DA) case, Rakesh Jain, former income tax officer (ITO), Chandigarh branch, was awarded six-year rigorous imprisonment by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday. On February 6, 2013, the income tax officer was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of  50,000 from a local businessman in Sector 20. Subsequently, CBI had recovered assets beyond his known sources of income. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In addition to the sentence, the court of special CBI judge Jagjit Singh also directed that the case property be confiscated by the state. A fine of 5 lakh was also imposed on the convict.

On February 6, 2013, Rakesh was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of 50,000 from a local businessman in Sector 20. His mother, Kanta Jain, was also an accused in the case, but she died during the trial.

The trap to catch Rakesh was laid on the basis of a complaint filed by Ashok Arora. Rakesh was arrested from his Sector-22 residence with the bribe money. Arora, who had a real estate firm in Sector 22, was served a notice by the income tax department. He met Rakesh, who offered to settle the matter in exchange of 3.5 lakh and the deal was later finalised at 2.5 lakh. Following this, Arora approached the CBI and the trap was laid.

During the investigation, the CBI had recovered two gold bricks (1 kg each) and documents pertaining to investment in shares amounting to 60 lakh, among other items, from his residence. The sleuths had also recovered another 1 kg gold brick, gold coins and jewellery weighing 500 gm from Rakeshs lockers in Bank of Baroda and State Bank of Patiala.

While Rakesh was sentenced to four-year rigorous imprisonment in the graft case, the CBI had launched a separate inquiry against him after the recovery of valuables.

A chargesheet in the DA case was filed in 2015. His wife, Suneet Jain, was also treated as an accused in the case, but was acquitted on Wednesday. Proceedings against Kanta Jain were dropped after her death in 2014.

After his conviction on Wednesday, Jain had pleaded for leniency. He prayed that he had lost his government job due to his previous conviction in a money laundering case in 2020, and his elder son was suffering from brain seizures and has been undergoing treatment for the past 12 years.

The public prosecutor for CBI, meanwhile, argued that the convict was earlier posted as an ITO and required to collect revenue for the state, but instead he had been harassing common citizens and accumulating wealth for himself. It was also argued that if a lenient view was taken a wrong message will be sent to society.

While sentencing Jain, the court observed that the convict was always aware of his acts and actions. The court also cited two judgments of the Supreme Court, calling corruption a malaise and how large-scale corruption retarded nation building activities and everyone had to suffer on that count.

The convict does not deserve the leniency as sought for by him. Not only did his actions affect him, but also his entire family who would be having full faith in him. It is perchance that his parents are no more, else they would also have been facing the agony of the present trial, only due to the acts and actions of the present convict, the court observed.
Even as the government agencies have started procurement operations, there is no relief to the mustard growers, who are being forced to sell the oilseed to private traders below the minimum support price (MSP) of 5,450 per quintal. Even as the government agencies have started procurement operations, there is no relief to the mustard growers, who are being forced to sell the oilseed to private traders below the minimum support price (MSP) of  5,450 per quintal. (HT Photo)

The farmers and arhtiyas blame the several conditions imposed by the government agencies for the procurement, which cannot be fulfilled. Most of the produce coming to the mandis was being procured by private traders.

I had to sell my produce of three and a half acres to private traders at 4,950 per quintal, causing me a loss of around 6,000 per acre, said a farmer Rajesh Kamboj.

The arhtiyas said that the government agencies are not procuring mustard seeds having oil content below 38% and moisture content above 8%. Around 90% of the mustard seed coming to the mandi cannot fulfil these conditions, arthtiyas said.

Moreover, the arhtiyas are also interested in selling the produce to government agencies as they do get any commission, while the private traders are paying them 2.25% of the value.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Sohan Lal, a commission agent at the Ladwa grain market, said the government agencies are not buying mustard having moisture content above 8%, which is why the farmers are not selling it to government agencies. The farmers, who are not meeting these conditions, prefer to sell it to private traders at 4,800 to 4,900 per quintal. Also, the government agencies are not paying any commission to agents, said another commission agent, pleading anonymity.

The farmers said that the government procurement agencies are buying the mustard as per the registrations on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal, which the government officials said was a must condition to sell the produce at MSP.

Arun Kumar Ahuja, general manager, procurement and warehousing division of the Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (Hafed), said that they were procuring the mustard as per the norms of the government of India. We have revoked the condition of 38% oil content. We do not pay any commission to arhtiyas as the farmers, who are registered on the MFMB portal, can directly sell their produce to our purchase centres at MSP, he added.

The recent rainfall has also slowed procurement operations. The daily procurement figures by government agencies have come down to around 100 MT.

As per the figures, the HAFED has procured 250 MT at MSP commercially and 587 MT under the Price Support Scheme.

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Asking officials of the district administration to bridge communication gap with the general public, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday directed deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to keep aside two hours every day for interaction with public. Asking officials of the district administration to bridge communication gap with the general public, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday directed deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to keep aside two hours every day for interaction with public. (HT File Photo)

The field officers, including DCs and the SPs, should hold daily interaction with the common man for at least 2 hours. Every day 11 am to 1 pm should be fixed for public interaction. During this period, no video conferencing would be held with these officers (DCs and SPs), said the chief minister while reviewing the progress of various flagship schemes and projects.

Present in the meetings were chief secretary, Sanjeev Kaushal; additional chief secretaries; divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

The chief minister directed the officers posted in the districts to focus on maximum interaction with the general public to bridge the communication gap. He also directed that regular interaction should also be done with the elected representatives and workers as they too are working for the welfare of society.

The chief minister also directed the offices to ensure compliance with state government orders regarding no meeting day on every Tuesday in letter and spirit.

The officers have a key role to play in the implementation of welfare scheme formulated by the government. The officers too are duty-bound to ensure that the benefits of the state governments welfare-oriented schemes reach the grass-roots level, said Khattar, directing the officers concerned to complete the work regarding conducting special girdawari by April 15.

The intention of the government while formulating any welfare scheme is to ensure timely and swift delivery of the benefits among the actual and targeted beneficiaries. Mere drafting schemes on paper and not ensuring their delivery at the grass-roots level has no meaning, said Khattar

Underlining the importance of swachhata abhiyan, the chief minister directed that the officers concerned that cleanliness should be ensured in every village.
Security forces on Friday foiled an infiltration bid and killed a militant near Line of Control in Tangdhar sector of J&Ks Kupwara. The recovery made by security forces near LoC in Tangdhar, Kupwara, on Friday. (Indian Army)

Armys Chinar Corps, in a tweet, said they foiled an infiltration bid in a joint operation with police at Jabri area in Tangdhar.

The forces also recovered two AK-series rifles, three pistols and other war-like stores.

At 0400 hours, suspicious movement was detected and contact was established by the ambush party as a part of joint operation. Resultantly, one infiltrator was neutralised about 800 metres from the Line of Control, said defence PRO Col Emron Musavi.

Militant associate arrested from Sopore

Kashmir police claimed to have arrested a militant associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba from north Kashmirs Sopore along with arms and ammunition.

The associate has been identified as Bashir Bhat of Manz Sopore, who was arrested by joint team of police, army (52RR) and CRPF (177 BN) on specific inputs regarding his presence near Peth Seer railway station.

During his search, one hand grenade, one pistol, one pistol magazine, 15 live rounds and a mobile phone along with SIM card were recovered, a police spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, army on Friday recovered 10 packets of narcotics from across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district, officials said. Troops launched a search operation along LoC in Doda with the help of sniffer dogs, they said. The search was conducted on the basis of a tip-off.
Three government schoolteachers were among four people who died when their vehicle and a bus collided near Ferozepur on Friday morning. The mangled remains of the vehicle in which the teachers were travelling after it collided with a bus in Ferozepur district on Friday. (HT Photo)

Police said 13 teachers from Jalalabad in Fazilka district, posted in government schools of Tarn Taran district, were travelling in the Force Trax Land Cruiser, a 10-seater multi-utility vehicle, when it collided with a Punjab Roadways bus near Khai Pheme Kee village, 8km from Ferozepur, on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road at 8.30am.

The three teachers and the driver of the MUV died on the spot, while the rest of the 10 teachers were injured and hospitalised.

Ferozepur deputy commissioner Rajesh Dhiman met the injured teachers at a private hospital and said the Red Cross would be ensuring medical assistance to them.

A case was registered against the absconding bus driver.
Haryana home minister Anil Vij on Friday said the Punjab government is not serious about arresting Waris Punjab De chief and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh. Haryana home minister Anil Vij on Friday said that the Punjab government is not serious in arresting Waris Punjab De chief and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh. (HT File Photo)

He claimed that as soon as there was credible information on Amritpal hiding in Shahbad, the police informed their counterparts in Punjab, but it took one-and-a-half day (36 hours) for them to reach the location in Kurukshetra district.

His comment comes a day after it came to light that Amritpal stayed at a house in the town during the intervening night of March 19 and 20 before leaving for another location, thus boosting the speculations that he had crossed Punjab already.

While interacting with the media in Ambala, Vij said, I do not think the Punjab government is serious about arresting Amritpal. They were searching on the Jalandhar side, and he was sitting here at the house of a relative. By the time we got the information, he had already fled, and we informed the Punjab Police at the same time, but it took them one-and-a-half day to reach Shahbad. Even in the case of catching a most wanted fugitive, the lethargy of the Punjab government is clearly visible, also when the Haryana Police is informing them about a definite link on him.

Responding to Vijs remarks, AAPs state chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that Punjab Police actively worked on the inputs received from their Haryana counterparts and tracked the woman from Patiala who was involved in giving shelter to Amritpal. Kang said that Vij should understand the sensitivity of the matter which was linked to national security. He should not make statements which may affect the morale of our brave policemen. It is a serious matter and political statements like these should be avoided, the AAP spokesperson said.
The Senegalese authorities are intensifying repression ahead of the 2024 presidential election by cracking down on human rights, restricting civic space, banning protests and detaining a journalist and opposition figures, Amnesty International said today.

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the Senegalese authorities are weakening human rights protection in the country, such as clamping down on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, press freedom, banning demonstrations organized by opposition parties and not respecting the rights to justice, transparency and truth of victims of lethal use of force."Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's Regional Director for West and Central Africa

"Instead of cracking down on liberties, the authorities should respect human rights, halt excessive use of force during protests, allow the media to cover the demonstrations, stop arbitrarily detaining journalists and members of the opposition, and respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This trend of repression must end now to deescalate the tensions."

Repression of political opposition

On 16 March, Ousmane Sonko, leader of political opposition party PASTEF, appeared before a Dakar court on charges of alleged defamation after Mame Mbaye Niang, Senegal's tourism minister, filed a civil lawsuit against him. While he was on his way to Court, police fired tear gas and Ousmane Sonko was forcefully extracted from his vehicle and driven by the police to the courthouse, after a tussle about his itinerary. As the trial began, clashes broke out in Dakar between police force and protesters expressing support for Sonko. A few hours later, the tribunal adjourned the trial to 30 March.

Since the 15 March, Ousmane Sonko was prevented from leaving his home by an important police deployment, which also prevented opposition figures from visiting him. Guy Marius Sagna, an opposition MP was struck by teargas fired by the police, on 15 March, while attempting to visit Ousmane Sonko at his home.

Following the adjournment of the trial, the opposition was prevented from organizing a press conference by the police, which restricted access to the siege of the Republican Progress Party (PRP), where it was scheduled. At the end of the day, at least one person died when he was struck by a vehicle driven by armed thugs, in the Parcelles Assainies neighbourhood. Ousmane Sonko was hospitalized at a private clinic overnight, after suffering from vertigo, headaches and pain the underbelly at the end of the day.

If convicted, Ousmane Sonko may be ineligible to stand as a candidate in the 2024 election.

Over the past months dissenting voices, from the political class and the media, are being clamped down.

On 9 March, former Prime Minister Hadjibou Soumare was detained on charges of "defamation" after asking President Macky Sall in a public letter if he had donated 12 million euros to an unnamed French politician known for her "hatred and rejection of others" -- an allusion to Marine Le Pen's visit to Senegal in January 2023.

Two days before his detention, the government denied the allegations, labelling the allegations as "cowardly and unfounded". Prime Minister Hadjibou Soumare was released on 13 March and placed under judicial supervision.

Activist Mohamed Samba Djim, a member of the FRAPP-France Degage movement, was arrested at his home in Dakar on 6 February. He was accused of financing activities that could jeopardize public security or cause serious political unrest and remanded in custody. Prior to his arrest, he had canvassed for several online crowdfunding campaigns in support of members of PASTEF and public officials who have been expelled from the current administration.

On 7 December, Fadilou Keita, a member of the cabinet of Ousmane Sonko, was arrested and accused of "disseminating false news" and of "having offended state institutions". This is following a Facebook post in which he said that he suspected foul play in the forced disappearance of chief warrant officer Didier Badji and Sergeant Fulbert Sambou, a military intelligence officer, in November. The body of Sergeant Fulbert Sambou was discovered at sea on 23 November 2022. Fadilou Keita remains in detention and has gone on a hunger strike since 16 March.

Media suspended; protests banned

On 3 March, Pape Ndiaye, a journalist for Walf TV, was questioned and arrested by the police after speaking on TV about a rape case filed against Ousmane Sonko in February 2021. Ndiaye said most of the deputy prosecutors were in favour of the case against Sonko being dismissed.

On 7 March, Pape Ndiaye was charged with by a judge for "contempt of court" and spreading "fake news" and was remanded in custody afterwards. Amnesty International considers his detention to be arbitrary and a violation of his right to freedom of expression.

Over the past few months, several protests organized by political opposition have been banned, with the authorities citing a risk of "disturbing public order". On 10 February, after the authorities prohibited a PASTEF meeting in Mbacke, subsequent demonstrations turned violent, and clashes erupted between protesters and security forces. Of the 69 persons arrested during the protests, 54 remained in detention in early March, on charges including "participation in an unauthorized gathering" and "damage to property".

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On the day of the protests in Mbacke, the private TV station, Walf TV was taken off air for seven days by the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council, having been accused of providing "irresponsible" coverage of the violent protests.

Furthermore, nearly two years since the authorities unleashed a brutal crackdown on protests that turned violent in some locations in March 2021, there has been no investigation into the deaths of 14 people -- including three children -- during the protests. Of those who died, 12 were shot by bullets fired by security forces. In February 2023, two protesters were also severely wounded by security forces during protests in Bignona.
Unseasonal rains and hailstorm have caused widespread damage to wheat, late-sown mustard, barley and vegetables in Mahendergarh and some pockets of Charkhi Dadri on Friday. The rainfall, which lashed the state in the last few days, has caused huge damage to the crops. Unseasonal rains and hailstorm have caused widespread damage to wheat, late-sown mustard, barley and vegetables in Mahendergarh and some pockets of Charkhi Dadri on Friday. The rainfall, which lashed the state in the last few days, has caused huge damage to the crops. (HT Photo)

The rainfall has also spoiled the prospects of farmers, who are all set for the threshing of the mustard crop. Raghubir Sihag, a farmer from Miran village in Bhiwani, said the rainfall will have an adverse impact on all standing crops.

Strong winds accompanied by rain flattened the wheat crop. However, the hailstorm had damaged the mustard crop earlier. The crops which have ripened would face more moisture content and seed quality issues as the rainfall is still lashing the state and farmers have not threshed the crops, Sihag, a farmer, said.

Rakesh Chaudhary, a farmer from Dewas village in Mahendergarh, said the hailstorm on Friday damaged the late-sown mustard and wheat crops.

Agriculture officials have been visiting fields to assess the exact crop loss. A day earlier, Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal had visited affected areas in Dadri and assured the farmers that the government will compensate them for their losses.
Intermittent rainfall during the last few days across Punjab has led to lodging of the wheat crop, which is at maturing stage. A farmer inspects the damages of his wheat crop flattened by strong winds and rains, on the outskirts of Amritsar. (PTI Photo)

As per reports Sangrur, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and the districts in south-west Punjab have reported damage to the crop. The state agriculture department which two days ago had estimated damage to 4 lakh hectares, says the area has expanded to larger extent as the information is being gathered from all the districts.

This season, wheat has been cultivated on 34.90 lakh hectares and was heading towards the final stage of maturing till the last week when the rainfall started. The agricultural experts have predicted a yield loss of atleast 10% in case the weather conditions continue for more days, which means a loss of 2,600 crore to the farmers.

The Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana is also keeping a close watch on the scenario as according to its vice-chancellor Dr. SS Gosal, Krishi Vigyaan Kendras in the districts have been asked to report the loss. If we see fields along the main highways and state roads there is complete lodging barring few pockets, we have to identify the loss in the internal areas, he added.

According to the state meteorology department an average of 36.4 mm rainfall was reported on Thursday and 40.6 mm on Friday so far, which is 149% more than the average.

Gosal added that the university will also conduct a qualitative analysis of the lodging pattern, such as crop over which kind of soil has shown the severe impact, specific area, usage of fertilisers and the variety that has suffered maximum damage. Though Gosal said that the exact damage was still to be ascertained but the rainfall at this stage and predictions of more rainfall on Friday night and Saturday would cause damage to the crop.

The state government is worried because the crop suffered overall yield loss to the tune of 13% in the previous wheat season due to delayed rainfall. We do not want to lose on the production this season also as it causes burden on the farmers for the reason that loss of productivity leads to economic loss, said an officer of the state agriculture department, which has also asked its field staff to send a report by accessing the loss.

As against 175 lakh tonnes of total expected wheat production in the state, only 151 lakh tonnes were produced last season. .

In the 2021 rabi season, average wheat yield per hectare was 48.68 quintals, which in the last season fell to 42.07 quintals, a loss of 6.61 quintals, according to official records.

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Arrested for harbouring fugitive Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his aide Papalpreet Singh at her Shahbad residence in Kurukshetra district, Baljit Kaur, 30, was in touch with Papalpreet for the past two and a half years, claim investigators. Arrested for harbouring fugitive Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his aide Papalpreet Singh at her Shahbad residence in Kurukshetra district, Baljit Kaur, 30, was in touch with Papalpreet for the past two and a half years, claim investigators. (HT Photo)

Baljit originally belongs to Mamumajra village of Kurukshetra district. She along with her 72-year-old father and younger brother Harjinder Singh had shifted to Sidharth colony in Shahbad.

Harjinder is currently posted at the office of Ladwa sub-divisional magistrate while his wife had moved to Canada on a study visa. It is learnt that Harjinder had informed the police about Amritpals stay at his sisters residence. Baljit, a business administration graduate, is unemployed and single. She helps her father in his diary business. Police officials associated with the investigation claim that Baljit was in touch with Papalpreet for the past couple of years as the latter was quite active on social media. The investigators have reportedly discovered that she was pursuing a course in radical literature and was also a Khalistan sympathiser as police have also found that she did a few social media videos on historical gurdwaras for Papalpreet, who subsequently shared them on his social media platforms. One can say she is more than intellectually inclined towards Sikh history and found an intellectual match in Papalpreet, said an official.

Papalpreet has around 39,000 followers on YouTube channel and Baljit was also among his followers. The two had been in touch for the past two and half years over the phone. While Papalpreets YouTube channel is still active, his accounts on other social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have been suspended.

Police said that Amritpal had come to Baljits residence at 9.40 pm on March 19 on a two-wheeler and left around 12.15 pm on March 20. Police said that Baljit later left the two-wheeler near Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib at Patiala to mislead the law enforcement forces.

Baljit has told the police that Papalpreet along with a person who could be Amritpal had come to her houses on a white two-wheeler on March 19 and left the next day, a senior officer of the Kurukshetra police said.

The officer said that the matter belongs to Punjab and the Kurukshetra police has handed over the woman to them and they are investigating this case and no FIR will be registered at Kurukshetra. But as of now, the involvement of any other family member could not be established yet, they said.

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The Kaithal district police have arrested three persons on the charges of creating a fake Instagram account of the superintendent of police (SP) Maqsood Ahmed and demanding money from his social media friends. The Kaithal district police have arrested three persons on the charges of creating a fake Instagram account of the superintendent of police (SP) Maqsood Ahmed and demanding money from his social media friends. (Representational image)

DSP Vivek Chaudhary said the accused have been identified as Vivek Kumar, Ramji Mishra of Hardoi and Jaswant Kumar of Sitapur of Uttar Pradesh. The police have also recovered 166 active SIM cards and 650 inactive SIM cards, five fake Aadhaar cards, one printer and one mobile phone. He said that they have been booked under Section 66-C of the IT Act and Section 419 of the IPC and were sent to judicial custody.

As per the FIR, a new Instagram ID on the name of SP Maqsood Ahmed had been created by taking 12 photos from Ahmeds Facebook and Instagram ID. In this, exactly the photos posted by the SP on Instagram have been posted on the fake ID on Instagram account.

Some requests for money were also made to some social media friends of the SP from this fake ID. Soon after the matter was brought to the notice of the police, the cyber team of the district police swung into action.
The Uttarakhand Police have sounded an alert in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar districts over the possibility of absconding pro-Khalistan separatist preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides entering the state. Amritpal Singh. (HT PHOTO)

Additional director general (law and order) V Murugesan said intensive checking is being carried out as part of the alert at the entry points to these districts.

A woman arrested on Thursday for allegedly harbouring Amritpal Singh and his associate in Haryanas Kurukshetra reportedly told police that Amritpal Singh made some calls indicating they planned to go to Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Police chief Ashok Kumar on Thursday they were to yet receive any official correspondence from their Punjab counterparts about Amritpal Singhs presence in the hill state. Posters have been put up in villages along the border with Nepal to ensure they do not leave the country via Uttarakhand.

Ravinder Singh Bisht, a local police officer, said they pasted posters of Amritpal Singh and his associates in villages along the border and gave some of them to Nepali forces as well. We have also organised meetings in the villages for assistance. Since our border with Nepal is open, we have to be extra cautious.

Police said a strict vigil was being maintained in the Udham Singh Nagar district, where 30-year-old Gurwinder Singh was booked for an alleged pro-Amritpal Singh post on social media.

The operation against Amritpal Singh, who has been accused of spreading communal disharmony, attempting to murder, and attacking policemen, began on Saturday last.

On February 23, thousands of his supporters besieged a police station and forced the Punjab government to free Amritpal Singhs key aide, Lovepreet Singh Toofan, who was accused of abduction.

Toofans release and the siege drew parallels to the 1980s when Punjab battled separatism.

Singh fashions himself after 1980s separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and has been linked to a larger conspiracy involving the Khalistani secessionist movement. Intelligence agencies say he was radicalising young men in Punjab.

The Union home ministry on Monday asked the border guarding forces to be on the lookout and foil Amritpal Singhs attempts to leave the country.

On Thursday, Punjab Police said Amritpal Singh set up a temporary shooting range in his village in Amritsar district where he was training his aides on the use of firearms to recruit them in a force he was building and termed it Anandpur Khalsa Fauj.
PATNA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has blamed the authorities in Bihar for suppressing the death toll in the hooch tragedy in Saran and Siwan districts in December 2022, saying at least 77 people had died in the incident as against the governments figure of 42 deaths. The report, which was recently uploaded on the NHRC website, dismissed claims of the state government that 42 people had died in the tragedy during December 13-16 last year, stating that at least 77 lives were lost. (PTI)

A 13-member team of NHRC, which probed the hooch tragedy, has also observed that deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor have become part of the law and order landscape of Bihar ever since prohibition was enforced in the state in 2016.

Also read: 3-day Bihar Diwas celebrations kick off at Gandhi Maidan

The report, which was recently uploaded on the NHRC website, dismissed claims of the state government that 42 people had died in the tragedy during December 13-16 last year, stating that at least 77 lives were lost. The report also accused the state government and the Saran district administration of suppressing the casualty figures and minimising the extent of tragedy by not registering or recognising such deaths that were caused by spurious liquor by not conducting post-mortem examination or accepting requests for not doing so, or ascribing the deaths to extraneous factors.

The report stated that the NHRC had taken cognisance of a report published in Hindustan Times, dated December 15, which mentioned that the toll is likely to rise as some of the victims are in a critical condition.

The report further said that in addition to the deaths, seven people had lost their eyesight in the hooch tragedy.

Nearly 80% of the deceased were in the productive working age of 21-60 years and 75% of them were scheduled castes and OBCs, it said. The liquor, which caused this human tragedy, seems to have originated from a common source and all the victims hailed from a compact geographical area around the jurisdiction of Masrakh police station.

The report also termed unfair the state governments decision to not provide compensation to the families of the deceased.

Also read: Not here to relax: Bihar Governor sets out priorities for state universities

This apathy of the state government was apparently premised on the belief that the victims of the liquor tragedy do not deserve any sympathy or support because they violated the Prohibition Act, it said. This view evidently ignores the fact that of 18 families of the deceased need compensation or relief because they are the actual victims (in the sense that they have lost an earning member of their family) even though they did not commit any crime.

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who represents Saran in the Lok Sabha, told HT that the NHRC report has made it clear that the state government tried to suppress the figures. The government had cremated the bodies of 33 persons without any post-mortem examination. Majority of the deceased were labourers, farmers, driver and rickshaw pullers, he said. Many people have also lost their eyesight after consuming spurious liquor.

Bihar chief secretary Amir Subhani said: The Bihar government is yet to receive the NHRC enquiry committee report.

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The Delhi high court on Friday sought the response of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on a plea for registration of a first information report (FIR) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly revealing the identity of a Dalit girl, who was allegedly raped and killed in the national capital in August 2021. A nine-year-old Dalit girl died under suspicious circumstances on August 1, 2021, with her parents alleging she was raped, murdered and cremated by a crematoriums priest in Southwest Delhis Old Nangal village. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The court was hearing a plea by a social activist Makarand Suresh Mhadlekar, claiming that by posting the photo with the parents of the victim on Twitter, the former Congress president violated the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, which prohibit the disclosure of the identity of minor victims of sexual offences.

A bench of chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma and justice Sachin Datta issued notice to the child rights body and granted it four weeks to file a counter-affidavit in response to the petition after its counsel urged the court to issue a formal notice to them as it was not done earlier.

The court granted time to the counsel to file a detailed affidavit and posted the matter for hearing on July 27.

A nine-year-old Dalit girl died under suspicious circumstances on August 1, 2021, with her parents alleging she was raped, murdered and cremated by a crematoriums priest in Southwest Delhis Old Nangal village.

NCPCR had earlier told the court that despite Twitters claim about taking down Gandhis alleged tweet, the offence of making such disclosure survives.

During a hearing in October last year, the court had refused to accede to a similar request by NCPCR to file an affidavit and deferred the hearing on the plea till December 7 considering that the petitioner engaged a new lawyer to represent him in court.

On the other hand, Twitter had submitted that nothing survived in the petition as the tweet in question has been geo-blocked and was not available in India. Its counsel had also informed that initially Gandhis entire account was suspended by the social media platform but it was later restored.

The plea has also sought initiation of appropriate legal action against Gandhi by the NCPCR.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed that the prisoners released on emergency parole during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to avoid overcrowding in jails have to surrender within 15 days. With almost three years having gone up, an application was moved by the director general (prisons), Delhi seeking an order from court, directing the released prisoners to surrender back to prison. (PTI)

The prisoners were released in a suo moto proceeding initiated by the court during the first wave of the pandemic in March 2020 to avoid the spread of pandemic in the jails. To facilitate the release, the court had constituted a high-powered committee on whose recommendation the prisoners were released. The committee determined the category of prisoners to be granted bail or parole and the conditions to be fixed for their release.

Also read: SC to hear 14 Oppn parties plea over ED, CBI misuse on April 5

With almost three years having gone up, an application was moved by the director general (prisons), Delhi seeking an order from court, directing the released prisoners to surrender back to prison. Although a similar order to surrender was issued by the court in June 2022, the DG (prisons) had informed the court that out of 3,630 undertrials and 751 convicts released on interim bail or emergency parole, 680 convicts and 3,365 undertrials were yet to surrender.

A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said, Now when the Covid-19 situation has been normalized, all those prisoners/inmates/undertrial prisoners/convicts who are/were released on emergency parole/interim bail have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities.

The order further stated, All those under trials/convicts who have been released on emergency parole/interim bail pursuant to the recommendation of the high-powered committee...have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities within 15 days.

The court directed the concerned jail authorities to convey the order to all prisoners or inmates and allowed the released prisoners to apply for bail or suspension of sentence after surrender. The court also directed the competent trial court to decide on the bail or suspension of sentence applications on its own merits.

Also read: SC tells forest expert panel not to act as appellate authority over its orders

The DG(prisons) represented by additional solicitor general (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that by the March 23, 2020 order, a total of 1,184 convicts and 3,499 undertrials were released. Thereafter, seeing the surge of the second wave of pandemic, the court passed another order in May 2021 extending the period of release by another three months.

After the June 2022 order when the first order to surrender was passed by court, 71 convicts and 267 undertrials surrendered voluntarily. While considering the application of DG(prisons) the court noted that those out on bail/parole were not released on merits but due to the extraordinary situation to contain the spread of the pandemic by preventing overcrowding in prisons. Moreover, the bench noted that the Covid situation had normalised as on date.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the central government over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a member of parliament. Calling Gandhi the voice of the nation, Gehlot said that he will come out stronger against dictatorship. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot (left) with Rahul Gandhi at a press conference during Bharat Jodo Yatra (File Photo)

The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha is another example of dictatorship. BJP should not forget that they had adopted the same method against Indira Gandhi also and had to face the consequences, Gehlot wrote on Twitter.

Gehlot said during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi raised the issue of price rise, unemployment, corruption and violence. Instead of paying attention to those issues, the BJP-led government is taking repressive steps against him.

Also Read: Arrogant dictator, illiterate: Arvind Kejriwal as Rahul Gandhi disqualified

The court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case for his alleged remark on the Modi surname.

Gandhi was disqualified from the Parliament on Friday, a day after his conviction by the Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March 2023, the notification read.

Earlier, while speaking to reporters at Banasthali Vidyapith in Tonk, Gehlot called the verdict against Gandhi unfortunate.

He said it is the duty of all to respect the judiciary but the manner in which the BJP was publicising the issue was unfortunate.

This whole game which is being played intentionally is a threat to democracy, he said, adding, the time to protect the Constitution has come.

Answering a question on the protest against the formation of new districts, Gehlot said the decision will enable the government to ensure good governance.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee in charge, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday addressed a protest rally being taken out against Gandhis disqualification.

Also Read: Opposition rallies behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his disqualification

Speaking to the protestors he said, The British could not scare the Congress, nor can the BJP government scare us. We will fight with them till PM Narendra Modi regime is not uprooted. We have to save the country and the state.

Speaking to the party workers he said that this fight will go on for a long time and Congress will not sit silent till Modi rule is over.

Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara said the termination of Lok Sabha membership of Gandhi is the culmination of anarchy. The Modi-led government at the Center is scared, this conspiracy is the proof of it, he said.

But truth cannot be suppressed nor can it be bowed down. We will struggle, fight and win from the road to the Parliament, he added.
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has created a stir in academic circles by asking all universities to implement the four-year undergraduate programme under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the forthcoming academic session. West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose interacts with chief minister Mamata Banerjee and John Felix Raj, Vice Chancellor, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata during the 4th Convocation Ceremony of St. Xavier's University. (ANI FIle Photo)

The March 17 order, a copy of which was seen by HT, was sent to the registrars of all state-aided universities by the higher education department. In Bengal, students pursuing graduation with honours (specialization) in one subject currently undergo a three-year course while those with no specialization pass out after two years.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) government s decision has come as a surprise to students, teachers and academicians because TMC and chief minister Mamata Banerjee have opposed NEP, claiming thaat it was an effort by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to saffronise the countrys education system and open up the sector to private players.

Critics said lack of infrastructure and funds will make it idifficult for Bengals universities to launch the new undergraduate programme at such short notice. The next academic session is due to start in about three months.

Bengal has 20 state-run universities that offer general degrees. There are 49 government-owned and 433 government-aided degree colleges under these 20 universities. In addition, there are 11 private universities that offer degree courses.

The Bengal governments order is accompanied by a circular issued to all states on January 31 by University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman M Jagadesh Kumar. The circular said that based on NEP 2020 recommendations, UGC has revised the choice-based credit system and developed a curriculum and credit framework for undergraduate programmes. The new system will allow students to opt for courses from multiple disciplines through a three-year or four-year programme with multiple entry and exit options and also flexible degree options with single or double major (subject specialisation).

The new system, said the circular, will allow multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary education, integration with vocational courses, internship and skill and ability enhancement courses.

Since education is a subject in the Constitutions Concurrent list, which gives a state government the power to have a say on implementation of central policies, Mamata Banerjee formed a 10-member experts committee in April 2020 to examine the NEP and make recommendations.

A member of the committee said on condition of anonymity that the experts committee report was never made public or brought up for discussion.

I was not even aware that NEP 2020 is going to be implemented till someone told me about the March 17 order, the member said.

Columbia University professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Suranjan Das, Indologist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, NIT Durgapur director Anupam Basu and Harvard University professor Sugata Bose are among the 10 members of this committee. Bose, the grand-nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, represented Kolkatas Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency for the TMC from 2014 to 2019.

Principal secretary of the West Bengal higher education department, Manish Jain, could not be contacted despite several efforts.

An official of the department, who did not want to be named, said: The state has no option but to implement NEP. Our universities will not get the UGC grant if they dont follow it. Bengal is already facing a lot of financial crisis because of suspension of Central funds under other heads such as MNREGA.

Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri said: The committee accepted the four-year undergraduate programme only because refusal would stop UGC grant. We cannot fight the Centre on every issue. Some compromises have to be made. The committee, however, decided not to implement certain policies in schools, for example, the semester system from class 6 onwards.

Implementing the four-year undergraduate programme will be extremely difficult because our colleges dont have the infrastructure, Bhaduri added.

TMC Lok Sabha member Saugata Roy, a former professor, had opposed NEP 2020 inside and outside the Parliament.

I am a member of another committee of the state higher education department. I was not aware that orders for implementation of the undergraduate programme has been issued. The state government possibly had no option. The Centre would stop the funds, Roy said.

Amal Mukherjee, former principal of Presidency College, which is now a university, welcomed the four-year undergraduate programme but with a rider.

Mukherjee said: NEP 2020 has some good sides as well as some bad aspects. Starting a four-year programme is a great decision. This is what most foreign universities offer, enabling students to become professors once they pass out. The main problem in Bengal is lack of infrastructure. The government is bankrupt. The bad aspect of NEP is that it has no provision for central grant to states for setting up new infrastructure.

Pabitra Sarkar, former vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, asked why the states March 17 order is silent on the duration of the post-graduate or masters degree programme which currently is a two-year course.

The experts committee raised a lot of questions on duration of degree courses. It seems this is a political decision taken in a haste to keep the Centre happy, Sarkar said.

Partha Pratim Roy, general secretary of Jadavpur University Teachers Association, said the states move point at the TMCs eagerness to allow PPP (public-private partnership) in the higher education sector as proposed in NEP 2020.

Pushing universities to meet unrealistic goals and deadline without setting up infrastructure indicates that the state wants private players to step in. This is happening at a time when top functionaries of the education department are facing probe in the recruitment scam, said Roy.

Parthib Basu, former general secretary of the Calcutta University Teachers Association said the teachers body will hold seminars on this issue to raise public awareness.

Mayukh Biswas, national general secretary of the Students Federation of India, the students arm of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said his organisation has started a referendum on NEP 2020 in campuses across India.

We started the exercise at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. We will also hit the streets in April, Biswas said.

Keshab Bhattacharya, general secretary of All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations, alleged that the state passed its order to help BJP champion its cause.

We had been demanding talks with the state government for a long time. But there was no discussion with college teachers. We dont know what the experts committee recommended. The state government is not bothered with what students and teachers feel, Bhattacharya said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has been demanding the implementation of NEP 2020 across India, welcomed the TMC governments decision.

Mamata Banerjee has done the right thing. Bengal is the birthplace of great educators such as Swami Vivekananda and Rishi Aurobindo. It is only natural that Bengal will take a positive step to reform the education system, Jishnu Basu, general secretary of the RSS south Bengal unit, said.

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The Manifesto Implementation Unit (MIU) of the Office of the President has summoned government ministries, departments and agencies to the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi for a midterm NRM 2021-26 manifesto validation and monitoring exercise for the Great Northern Uganda.

According to the MIU Director, Willis Bashaasha the validation retreat set for next week will last four days between March 22 to 24 and will be opened by the Minister for Presidency Milly Babirye Bablanda and the Permanent Secretary Hajji Yunus Kakande.

Bashaasha said the retreat will be attended by technical and political local leaders from the great northern Uganda regions of Lango, Acholi and Teso.

These will be joined with NRM party leaders from the same areas, who are expected to report and inform the Presidency about the extent of implementation of programmes spelt out in the manifesto.

He added that the retreat is organized in line with the unit's mandate to track, report and publicize the performance, progress and challenges of implementation of the manifesto, which is the NRM government's social contract with Ugandans.

"This government gained legitimacy through the will of Ugandans who trust it to deliver services to them to promote and enhance their socioeconomic wellbeing. This is why we need to take stock of these promises and assess the extent to which the promises made to the citizens have been achieved. This therefore is the general spirit of this retreat," Bashaasha noted.

According to Bashaasha, the critical implementation of the current manifesto began this financial year (2022-23), given that 2021/22 was largely a planning year which also coincided with the aftershocks of the covid-19 pandemic.

"Therefore, this meeting will help us in the coordination, planning and reporting on the manifesto commitments for the greater north, with specific emphasis on assessing the alignment of the service delivery to the 23 strategic guidelines and directives issued by the president," he said.

Bashaasha noted that because manifesto implementation is a multi-sectoral process which also requires transparency, the Kyankwanzi retreat will be attended by a host of manifesto stakeholders from key government service delivery ministries including education, health, agriculture, works & transport, water & environment and local government.

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The retreat will also be attended by officials from poverty-alleviation programmes including PDM, Emyooga among others.

These technocrats, he said, will make presentations to manifesto supervision and monitoring agencies including the Presidency, State House, Ministry of Finance as well as NRM party leaders and presidential advisors from the greater north.

Bashaasha noted that the main objectives of the retreat is to take stock and account for the manifesto commitments and achievements to the Ugandans in the greater north as well as explaining and sharing synergies required in the implementation of the manifesto commitments.

"We at the presidency and MIU in particular are sure that once this is done then we shall be able to validate the extent of implementation of the manifesto commitments so far and also track the extent to which the president's 23 strategic guidelines have been followed. We shall then agree on areas of further sustained coordination in the planning, reporting and communication of these achievements -- which is very critical because we are mindful of the harm in failing to publicize what the government has done," Bashaasha added.
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested two of its staff members for helping an associate of Amar Mulchandani, former chairman of Seva Vikas Co-operative (SVC) Bank, who was arrested in a multi-crore fraud earlier in January. The agency claimed that in two of the loans taken by Aranha from the SVC Bank, they had mortgaged the property, which was already sold, and the loan account was declared as a non-performing asset (NPA). It was alleged that the test audit, conducted by Rajesh Jadhawar, joint registrar, co-operation department of the bank, revealed a misappropriation of  429.57 crore, involving 124 NPA loan accounts of SVC Bank. (Image for representation)

Apart from the ED staffers, Yogesh Wagule and Vishal Kudekar, the agency has also arrested Mulchandanis associate Bablu Sonkar. As per the agency, Wagule and Kudekar were allegedly in touch with Sonkar and had accepted 13,000 from him.

A special PMLA court remanded the trio to ED custody till March 28.

Seeking their custody remand, EDs counsel Kavita Patil contended that the bribe was paid to purchase secret office documents of ED to keep a close watch on the EDs findings and also to keep a watch on the witnesses who are being summoned as well as to know what was being unearthed from them.

Patil said that Sonkar had also paid a bribe of 40,000 to EDs employee Rohit Bari, who was the driver on duty at the time of the arrest of Vinay Aranha of Rosary Education Group from Pune. Aranha was arrested for money laundering after he defaulted on loans taken from various banks, including SVC Bank.

The agency claimed that in two of the loans taken by Aranha from the SVC Bank, they had mortgaged the property, which was already sold, and the loan account was declared as a non-performing asset (NPA). It was alleged that the test audit, conducted by Rajesh Jadhawar, joint registrar, co-operation department of the bank, revealed a misappropriation of 429.57 crore, involving 124 NPA loan accounts of SVC Bank. The misappropriation accounted for 92% of the loans of the bank.

The ED has claimed that the Board of Directors headed by Mulchandani, in connivance with his family members, who were directors of the bank along with some borrowers had made favoured sanctions of loans which were bound to default in repayment of loans.

The agency claimed that ever since the beginning Sonkar was accompanying Mulchandani and his family members whenever they were summoned by ED. Sonkar was often found roaming around in the ED office and appeared to be involved in suspicious activities. When enquired, he stated that he has been deputed by Mulchandani to spy on the ED officials/staff members to get the documents/information regarding the investigation, the agency added.
Mumbai: Congress allies in the stateNationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (UBT)have come in support of Rahul Gandhi following his disqualification as a member of Parliament a day after his conviction in a defamation case in Surat. Mumbai, India - March 24, 2023: Opposition party MLAs and MLCs stage a walk-out from the Maharashtra Assembly in protest against the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament after the Surat Court defamation verdict, during the Maharashtra Budget Session, at Vidhan Bhavan, in Nariman Point, in Mumbai, India, on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Satish Bate/HT PHOTO)

Criticising the disqualification, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, said that calling a thief a thief has become a crime in this country and asserted it was the beginning of the end of dictatorship.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar condemned the action and said it was against the principles of the Constitution.

All the three Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties staged a walk out and also held a protest on the Vidhan Bhavan premises soon after Gandhi was disqualified by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Friday afternoon. Congress legislators even wore black ribbons, while participating in the assembly proceedings.

Thieves and those who robbed our country are still free and Rahul Gandhi has been handed out punishment, Thackeray remarked. This would be the beginning of the end of the dictatorship, just the fight for the same needs to be given direction, he added.

Pawar said that the disqualification of Gandhi and NCP MP Mohammed Faizal were against the basic tenets of the Constitution, where democratic values were being curtailed. This is condemnable and against the very principles on which the Constitution is based We all need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions.

The veteran leader said that the Constitution guarantees the right of each individual to fair justice; liberty of thought; equality of status and opportunity and fraternity assuring the dignity of each Indian.

Condemning the action, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said, BJP was trying to get Gandhi disqualified for a long time. It is an unfortunate decision and murder of democracy.

Faizal was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on January 11, the day of his conviction by a sessions court in Kavaratti (Lakshadweep), as announced in a notification by the Lok Sabha secretariat on January 13. His conviction was put on hold by the Kerala high court and the law ministry has recommended his reinstatement.

Meanwhile, the BJP state unit has announced a statewide protest on Saturday to condemn insult to OBCs by Gandhi. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said that key party leaders will participate in the protest to condemn the remarks by Rahul Gandhi against the Modi community.

His remarks against the people with Modi surname have led to the insult to the OBC community and for it a Surat court has convicted him. His remark is an insult to the country as it was made outside the country, he said.
Mumbai: Following two days of protests after the administration at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) barred the entry of political activist Aishe Ghosh and human rights advocate Harsh Mander on campus -- to deliver the fifth instalment of the annual Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture series (BSMLs) -- the left-leaning Progressive Students Forum conducted the lecture remotely, at 7pm on Thursday. HT Image

Both Ghosh and Mander spoke at length about the secular values underpinning the Indian republic, and the threat posed to these values by right-wing political forces. They also condemned, and expressed grave concern over the prolonged spate of violence against minorities, both Muslim and Christian, over the past decade. The denial of permission for BSML at TISS is highly condemnable, Ghosh said at the outset.

Bhagat Singh was a visionary of his time. He was clear that the truest meaning of freedom cant be attained by just fighting against the British colonial powers, but also by fighting the exploitation of citizens by the majoritarian class. We see that this thought is under threat today. Singh would surely be called an anti-national in these times, Ghosh added.

Ghosh also drew attention to the hostility against Singhs ideology being fostered in spaces of education, with the sanction of administrators. Ambedkar said that education is empowering not just for individuals, but that it can change whole generations. And this is what the right-wing wants to hijack, education and educational spaces, where young minds can be altered at a very fundamental level, and where the youth can be encouraged to hate on the basis of religion, caste and gender, she said.

PSF members had protested outside the TISS directors bungalow on Tuesday after permission was cancelled for the BSML scheduled for March 23, on the revolutionarys 92nd death anniversary. The cancellation came just a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) proposed a CBI inquiry into Manders NGO Aman Biradari, for allegedly being in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

Mander, for his part, did not directly speak out against TISS decision to first cancel the lecture, and then allow it without external speakers. Ive been coming to TISS for years, but today I find that my entry into your institution has been barred. Therefore we have found this way to speak to each other, he said.

The Nazi history of Germany is a reminder that democracy is not just majority rule, it is also the protection of minorities because the former can easily lead to fascism. In the last nine years, the Indian state is at virtual war with its Muslim population. One aspect of this is the political project to make Muslims electorally irrelevant. The other aspect is the social project, which constitutes runaway hate speech and its popularisation, including by VIPs. Even non-BJP parties have become reluctant to speak out in support of Indias 200 million Muslims, which is why I call them political orphans of the Indian republic. In Maharashtra, weve seen recently seen incredible displays of hate speech, attended by thousands, calling for the genocide and mass rape of Indias minorities. No one has been punished for this.

Just days before, a scheduled talk by Mander at Lucknows Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University had also been cancelled by the college administration.

Shalinee Bharat, director of TISS, did not respond to HTs request for comment on Thursday.
Strap: Pandemonium in assembly a day after ruling party legislators hit Rahul Gandhis poster with chappals HT Image

Mumbai: A day after ruling party legislators hit Congress leader Rahul Gandhis poster with footwear in Vidhan Bhavan premises, Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday declared that a code of conduct for the legislators will be formulated and those found violating it will have to face action. He also said that he is probing the incident in detail and would give his ruling on Saturday, the last day of the budget session of the state legislature.

On Friday, Congress legislators were aggressive on the issue and there was a pandemonium as the proceedings of the state assembly started. The Congress MLAs were demanding action against the members from the ruling parties.

The MLAs rushed to the well pushing for their demand. To counter them, the members from treasury benches, too, came down to the well leading to disruption of the proceedings twice. Slogans were raised from both the sides terming senior leaders from each others party as thieves.

The speaker said, Whatever happened yesterday was inappropriate but what happened today is also not appropriate. I have decided to formulate a code of conduct for the legislators. All the legislators will have to follow them when they are on the premises. Those found violating will have to face action.

It was an indecent behavior by the ruling MLAs. The arrogance of power will not be tolerated, said Nana Patole, state Congress chief, asking the speaker to take action against the ruling MLAs who were involved in hitting Gandhis poster with footwear. Narvekar informed the lower House that he has got a report from the Vidhan Bhavan security and is also going through the CCTV footage and will give his decision on Saturday.

The ruling party members including chief minister Eknath Shinde demanded action against all those involved in insulting them and prime minister Narendra Modi in the recent past.

We have been insulted by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena ever since we parted ways eight months ago. They use words such as khoke (crores) and gaddar (traitors), he said, adding, Even prime minister Narendra Modi has been insulted which we will not tolerate and action should be taken against all of them.

Gandhi stoked a controversy last November when he said that Savarkar would write mercy petitions to be freed from the Andaman cellular jail and also accepted a pension from the British. He also claimed that Savarkar had helped the British government during the freedom struggle.

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Five Indian merchant navy sailors, including two from the city, returned home on Friday after spending four years in Iran, where they were held in connection with a drugs case. They spent 400 days in prison, and despite a local court giving them an all-clear in March 2021, it took them two years to return home. Five Indian merchant navy sailors, including two from the city, returned home on Friday after spending four years in Iran, where they were held in connection with a drugs case.(Representational image)

Cousins Aniket Yenpure (31) and Mandar Worlikar (28), both residents of Worli Koliwada, were the first to emerge from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport around 2.38pm, where anxious relatives and friends welcomed them with hugs and fragrant garlands. Anikets aunt Shashikala held on to him from across the barricade in the arrivals section for 10 minutes, unable to contain her tears of joy.

The other sailors, Pranav Tiwari (23) from Patna, Naveen Singh (24) from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, and Thamizh Selvan (25) from Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, emerged soon after. They were all welcomed by the Yenpures and Worlikars  the latter rolled out a traditional Koli feast for all, the highlight being an array of fish curries, at their residence.

The cousins fathers are currently on a pilgrimage to Shirdi. Shyam Yenpure, Anikets father, considers their return nothing short of a miracle. Acquittal happens in only one or two percent of such cases. I owe a special thanks to Sai Baba for this year, he said, on the phone.

Milind Worlikar, Mandars father, said, members of all five families had survived emotional, physical and financial strain in this period. While I am happy now, I hope that there is some way to ensure other children with dreams of travelling the world do not go through what our children had to endure, he said.

Anikets uncle Datta Yenpure said both cousins had steady jobs in a reputed Information Technology firm when they came across an advertisement for openings in merchant navy. They decided to apply and eventually joined the merchant navy in July 2019.

Their first sail itself became a challenge  the cargo ship carried an illegal load of narcotics. Only senior members of the crew and the captain were privy to the knowledge. Aniket however sniffed a stink when he learnt that cargo was being off-loaded in the middle of the sea. All five then decided to record what was happening onboard on their mobile phones  this later helped in proving their innocence.

Their ship was intercepted in February 2020 by Iranian naval officers and the entire crew was arrested. After spending 403 days in an Iranian prison, the five men were proven innocent in the local court at Chabahar, Balochistan, on March 9, 2021. However, there were diplomatic hurdles to overcome which resulted in their protracted stay.

In this time, they had to depend on locals in the province before they were able to get in touch with the India embassy.

The experience, said Pranav, has scarred their parents. They dont want me to look for another sailing assignment ever, he said. But he is determined to pursue his career in the navy. The locals there, even the prison guards, were very kind to us, especially when they learnt that we are from India. The cops even taught us rudimentary Persian for easy communication, he said. Naveen added, Even hardened criminals expressed sympathy towards us when they heard us speak in Hindi and learnt about our situation. We were not made to work like the others.

While they were all very nice to us, imprisonment itself is a scary proposition, said Aniket. They were first quarantined for 14 days  a frightful as well as confusing time, with everyone clueless about what was to follow. Additionally, we were stuck in a remote area, where the procedures were very slow. We were taken to the court once in three months, only to be issued a next date for hearing. Local lawyers put us in touch with Indian authorities, who sensitised us to protocol, said Aniket.

Once out of quarantine, they were given a local phone card. Prisoners who were released helped us get in touch with our families by connecting to us through their phones, said Mandar.

Naveen, who had had spent only 20 days on the ship when he was arrested, said, After being released, we were left to our own devices, as they had lost our passports and other important documents. Locals took us in  they provided us clothes and food.

He is now looking forward to returning home and meeting his parents and wife  the couple married in 2018.
Mumbai: The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the crime branch arrested a 46-year-old RTI activist on Thursday evening for allegedly extorting 35 lakh from a jeweller who has been renovating his four-storey building in south Mumbai. The victim along with his two friends then met Zaveri, who allegedly informed him that his renovation work was illegal and the work will soon stop if he failed to pay him  45 lakhs. The complainant had already faced a loss of  1.5 crore due to delay in completing the renovation work and therefore he got scared and paid  35 lakh to Zaveri, said the officer. (Image for representation)

The accused  identified as Gaurang Zaveri  is also a jeweller from the same area.

The complainant approached a crime branch official after the accused started threatening and demanding 15 lakh more. On March 23, a case was registered in the LT Marg police station and was transferred to the AEC for investigation.

One of the buildings in Teli Galli of the complainant was dilapidated and he had therefore undertaken renovation after obtaining required permissions from the concerned authorities like MHADA and BMC, said a police officer.

The renovation work had stopped for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and later it started again in August 2022. After a month, the victims manager Chetan Dandage informed him that Zaveri came to meet him, claiming he was the owner of the neighbouring building. When the victim inquired, he found Zaveri is an RTI activist, and he allegedly filed RTI applications to get details from the concerned department about the construction work. He also learnt that Zaveri had filed a complaint to stop the work, claiming it was illegal, said the police officer.

The victim along with his two friends then met Zaveri, who allegedly informed him that his renovation work was illegal and the work will soon stop if he failed to pay him 45 lakhs. The complainant had already faced a loss of 1.5 crore due to delay in completing the renovation work and therefore he got scared and paid 35 lakh to Zaveri, said the officer.

Recently, the accused again threatened to file a complaint about the renovation work and again demanded 15 lakh. The complainant then realised that his demands would not stop in future and approached the police.

Zaveri was produced in the court and remanded in police custody till March 28.
Mumbai: Three months ago, Pipe Dream, a documentary film featuring Jai Matis struggle to get a water connection for the 800 households of his informal settlement won a Special Jury award at the Charles Correa Foundations film festival. Mati, along with the NGO Pani Haq Samiti, began doing the rounds of the BMCs office from 2013 in a bid to get a legal water connection. When we started this battle in 2013, there was a lot of documentation that was needed, he said. The process got easier in 2015, and we could manage with fewer documents. (Vijay Bate/HT Photo)

On Thursday evening, Matis efforts finally bore fruit, and Siddharth Nagar at Andheri West stood among the first 45 households to get water connections installed by the BMC. Coming as it did after eight long years of locking horns with bureaucrats and navigating a red-tape-smothered path, the overjoyed residents celebrated the occasion with dhols and flowers.

Home to nearly 5,000 people, Siddharth Nagar did not have access to the citys piped water supply. Residents had been buying water from shops, transporting water in containers from employers houses, and hiring private water tankers to fulfil their water needs.

Mati, along with the NGO Pani Haq Samiti, began doing the rounds of the BMCs office from 2013 in a bid to get a legal water connection. When we started this battle in 2013, there was a lot of documentation that was needed, he said. The process got easier in 2015, and we could manage with fewer documents. We wanted to get water connections by sticking to the legalities and not going through agents.

Mati, who keeps records of all the documents that were submitted to the BMC, said that after the civic body finally approved 19 connections (each connection provides water to five to six households) a few weeks ago, some files went missing once again. But this time, we kept the pressure on, showed them all the duplicate copies, and some good officials from the BMC ensured that the water connections came through, he said.

The BMC on Thursday installed nine connections and will install 10 more in the coming days. Sitaram Shelar, convener of the Pani Haq Samiti, said that the residents were thrilled. They have fought a long battle, he said.

Slahuddin Choudhary, a driver and resident of Siddharth Nagar, said he was overwhelmed with joy at getting piped water in his house. Every Sunday, I would have to go out and buy drinking water at 8 per litre, and pay 150 for an autorickshaw to transport it home. I also had to spend 40 daily for 250 litres of water for non-drinking purposes. The water connection will not only save me 2500 to 3000 every month, but has also made me stress-free.

Shelar said that what was most important was keeping the hopes of people alive through the eight years of struggle. Some BMC officials have really helped, but it needs to be much better, he said. Water is a basic necessity. Every living being deserves free water and it should be given to all.
MUMBAI: The counsel for plaintiff Syedna Taher Fakhruddin in the Syedna succession case being heard in the Bombay high court, on Friday refuted the claim of defendant Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin that nass once conferred, could be revoked. HT Image

Justice Gautam Patel, while hearing the rejoinder to the submissions of the defendant s counsel, was informed by senior counsel Anand Desai that it was a fundamental belief of the Dawoodi Bohra community that nass could not be changed or revoked. Desai drew the attention of the bench to the fact that the 5th Imam of the Ismaili Shias had conferred nass of succession on his son Ismail and directed Ismail to appoint his son Mohammad as his successor.

The court was told that the Ismaili Shias believed that nass had been conferred on Ismail by his father, and though he predeceased his father, the nass was not revoked. The Dawoodi Bohras, said the counsel, believed that the schism between Ithna Ashari Shias and Ismaili Shias occurred because the latter firmly believed that as Ismail was conferred nass, his death could not lead to his replacement, and thus the Imamat was passed on to Ismails son, Mohammad. Desai submitted that none of the Dais had disputed the sequence of events.

The bench was also told that the plaintiff, in his deposition, had made this stand clear by stating that he had heard the 51st and 52nd Dai on numerous occasions state that nass once conferred, could not be changed.

Desai also referred to the will of the 49th Dai, which the defendant had submitted as proof of nass having been changed by him. Desai said that the letter in which the 49th Dai had informed his son of nass being conferred on him, which was allegedly changed four months later, could not be relied upon, as the letter was allegedly part of the bundle in the cupboard of the 52nd Dai, and as there was no evidence to corroborate the contents of the cupboard, this letter could also not be relied upon as it would mean that God, the Imam and the Dai were fallible.

As the final hearing of the suit is coming to an end, the bench asked both parties to ensure that all the evidence was accounted for and provided to the court in the proper format: printouts of the written submissions as well as the digital evidence in a hard drive which would be kept with the concerned HC authority as a record.

The plaintiffs counsel is expected to conclude the rejoinder by the end of next week and the defendant has been asked to conclude his sur-rejoinder.
MUMBAI: Two men who were arrested on Thursday for allegedly gang-raping a 20-year-old woman after assaulting and stripping her boyfriend in the forest area in Virar East were remanded to police custody till March 27 by a Vasai court on Friday. The womans boyfriend on Friday said that he could not bear seeing his girlfriend being raped by the two, I just picked up a bottle near me and smashed it on the head of one of the accused. As he started bleeding, the other accused came for his help. I saw a chance and quickly told my girlfriend to save herself and run away, said the man who added, I just wanted her safety first. (HT Photo)

The accused, identified as Dheeraj Soni (25) and Yash Shinde (24), have told the police that they saw the woman and her boyfriend hugging and kissing. The police officers stated that the two men, who do not have any criminal record, saw an opportunity to extort money from them. The officer added that the two first clicked videos and photos of the couple and threatened to post them online.

The accused who are residents of the Chandansar area in Virar East do odd jobs. Soni and Shinde are friends and visit the forest area in the evenings for a walk, said a police officer from Virar police station. The two asked for 5,000 from the couple to delete the photos but when the couple said they did not have that much amount, the accused asked for 2,000, said Rajendra Kamble, senior police inspector of Virar police station.

After negotiations, the victim transferred 500 online, the extort the rest of the money, the men snatched his mobile phone, watch and the womans earrings. The two accused assaulted and stripped the boyfriend, said the officer.

After sexually assaulting the woman, the two men fled the spot carrying the mans clothes and his belongings. The woman was scared and as soon as she saw the men fleeing, she too left the spot, leaving her boyfriend there, added the officer.

The boyfriend regained consciousness at 6.30pm and looked around for rags to cover his body. As he came out of the forest, the locals of the area spotted him who was bleeding from his forehead and called the police emergency number, said the officer.

The womans boyfriend on Friday said that he could not bear seeing his girlfriend being raped by the two, I just picked up a bottle near me and smashed it on the head of one of the accused. As he started bleeding, the other accused came for his help. I saw a chance and quickly told my girlfriend to save herself and run away, said the man who added, I just wanted her safety first.

Soni, who had gone to a local clinic to bandage his wound, was arrested there by the Virar police. We are now awaiting the medical reports of the woman and are also finding out whether the accused had targeted any other person, said Kamble.
MUMBAI: A young couple and their three-month-old son were run over by an express train while they were crossing the railway tracks in Virar late on Thursday night. HT Image

Sachin Ingavale, senior police inspector, Government Railway Police (GRP) Vasai, said that the deceased were identified as Ajit Kumar Patel, 24, his wife Sita, 22 and their three-month-old son Aaryan.

The officer said the GRP station received a call from the Virar station master after which a team was rushed to the spot. We found luggage spread near the bodies and on further checking, we found railway tickets, which indicated that Patel and his family were returning from Surat, Ingavale said.

The officer said the couple, who stayed in Vasai and worked as daily wage labourers, had gone to visit their native place in Gujarat.

The couple got down just before the Virar station when the train slowed down at around 12.05am. They wanted to board the last local train from Virar towards Churchgate to get off at Vasai. However, to get to the local train, they chose to cross the railway tracks, the GRP officer said.

Ingavale said as they were crossing the tracks during the night, they did not realise that a train was approaching them and were hit by the speeding long-distance train. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem. We have registered an accidental death report (ADR), he added.
Luanda  The set of new policies and the continuous implementation of rules and regulations in force are part of the strategic vision of the Ministry of the Environment to improve sanitation in Angola, revealed today, in Luanda, the incumbent minister Ana Paula de Carvalho.

Speaking at the opening of the National Water and Sanitation Forum (FONAS), she underlined that the Ministry wants to support the various ministerial departments in matters linked to the environment, ensuring the achievement of Sustainable Development objectives.

The minister went on to say that, in Angola, about 60% of the population lives in precarious sanitation conditions, and statistics indicate that the country is below the line of what is expected in terms of international requirements on sanitation.

"This situation has led the Executive to redouble its efforts to improve the current situation and give greater dignity to the populations, especially the most vulnerable", she said.

She stressed that these efforts translate into the elaboration of policy strategies and programs aimed at improving access to drinking water, improvement of basic sanitation, among others.

She highlighted that among the most prominent strategies, there is the National Strategy for Total Sanitation, led by the community and schools in Angola, approved by Presidential Decree No. 140/20 o May 20, whose goal is to ensure access to sustainable, adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030.

According to the minister, in order for the referred strategy to have the expected success, the Ministry of the Environment has carried out awareness campaigns in the communities, which aim, above all, to fight bad practices that undermine public health and the quality of the environment.

"The implementation of the Strategic Plan for Urban Solid Waste Management, which has been running for about 10 years, is an important milestone in the efforts undertaken by the government to improve the sanitary conditions of urban areas", she emphasized.

The National Water and Sanitation Forum (FONAS) took place in Luanda, within the framework of the World Water Day, which is celebrated on March 22nd.

This meeting addresses topics such as "The Financial Challenges of the Water and Sanitation Sector", "Security and Climate Resilience in the Water Sector", "Sanitation Problems in Angola" and "Sanitation in Coastal Cities".
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Biswabandhu Sen on Friday was elected as Speaker of the Tripura assembly. He defeated Congress legislator Gopal Chandra Roy. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Biswabandhu Sen (Twitter/@DrManikSaha2)

Of the total 59 legislators in the assembly, 46 legislators voted to elect the Speaker, while 13 legislators of the TIPRA Motha abstained from voting and walked out of the House, expressing their displeasure over the sitting arrangements in the House.

While BJPs Sen got 32 votes to win, Roy, fielded by opposition alliance partners Communist Party of India (Marxist)Congress and TIPRA Motha, received 14 votes, including 11 from the CPM and three from the Congress.

Also Read: Amit Shah promised interlocutor by March 27 to address demands: TIPRA Motha chief

Sen, who joined the BJP in 2017 from Congress, remained a legislator for five terms and served as deputy speaker in the previous assembly.

Currently, the BJP has 31 MLAs as Union ministers after Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Pratima Bhoumik resigned from the assembly to retain her Lok Sabha seat.

On March 15, senior BJP legislator Binoy Bhusan Das took oath as the pro-tem Speaker of the Tripura assembly. Legislators of the 60-member assembly took oath on March 16 and 17.

In the recently concluded state assembly elections, the BJP won 32 seats in Tripura, while its ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura managed to secure one seat. TIPRA Motha got 13, while the CPI(M)-Congress combine could only bag 14 seats.
The Gauhati high court on Friday granted bail to former chairman of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Rakesh Paul in a cash-for-job case. Paul was arrested in November 2016 and has been in prison since. (Representative file image)

The decision has paved way for his release after more than six years as Paul had already been granted bail in four other cases registered against him. Details of the bail order and his release are awaited.

The present case registered in Bhangagarh police station in Guwahati is related to alleged acceptance of 50,000 by Paul from one Bedanta Bikash Das in lieu of getting appointed as an agriculture development officer.

Also Read: 57 civil servants dismissed after cash for job scam, Assam CM tells assembly

When Das failed to get the job, he lodged a case against Paul and another candidate who had secured appointment and sought action against them.

Paul was arrested in November 2016 and has been in prison since.

The APSC cash-for-job case had come to light in 2016 when several successful candidates including Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS) officers who appeared in CCE, 2013 were alleged to have indulged in irregular practices in cahoots with the then APSC chairman Paul.

Following the revelations, police lodged several cases and arrested 60 serving officers from the CCE, 2013 batch. After detection of anomalies, 39 officers were terminated from service.

In April last year, a special court in Guwahati framed charges against 67 accused in the case.

While 60 of them were applicants who appeared for the civil service exams, seven others were APSC members and officials including Paul.

The same month, the Assam cabinet approved formation of a high-level committee to decide on actions to be taken with regards to irregularities committed in state civil service exams conducted by APSC in 2013.

The cabinet decision follows submission of a 700-page report by the justice (retired) Biplab Kumar Sharma commission in April, 2022 on anomalies in the combined competitive examination (CCE), 2013, results of which were declared in May, 2015.

The commission was formed by the state government following directions by the Gauhati high court.

Though the report is yet to be made public, the commissions findings are stated to detail irregularities in answer sheets of many candidates who were declared successful allegedly in lieu of cash.

On Tuesday, the state government informed the assembly that 57 civil servants from the 2013, 2015 and 2016 batches who were arrested in the cash-for-jobs case have been dismissed from service while three other accused officers as well as three APSC officials had turned approvers.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the assembly that the Sarma commissions report is yet to be accepted by the government and it had been forwarded to another committee for review.

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A four-member bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the environmental clearance (EC) granted to the Sajjan Jindal-owned JSW Steel near Paradip port of Odisha. The NGT asked the union environment ministry to do a fresh appraisal in the next three months (Representative Photo)

The bench headed by justice Adarsh Kumat Goel suspended the EC on the grounds that it was given without considering the cumulative Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), evaluation of the permissibility of sourcing water from Mahanadi river and the social impact assessment conducted after the public hearing, among other issues.

The NGT asked the union environment ministry to do a fresh appraisal in the next three months pending which the EC will remain suspended.

Also Read: NGT orders formation of panel to look into poor waste mgmt at Ludhianas vegetable market

In April last year, the ministry accorded environmental clearance to the 13.2 million tonnes per annum integrated steel project pegged at 65,000 crore following the recommendation of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

The project has also faced protests from local political leaders and residents of Dhinkia and nearby villages against land acquisition.

The land where the plant is coming up was once allocated to Korean steel behemoth Posco, but the project never got off the ground as protests over land acquisition forced the company to abandon it in 2017, nearly 13 years after it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government.

Last year, social activists Prafulla Samantra and Sarita Barapanda moved the NGT opposing the EC grant to the steel project arguing that the appraisal conducted by the EAC is procedurally, as well as, substantively erroneous and detrimental to the environment.

The petitioners alleged that water would be sourced from the Mahanadi river which is a major source of water supply to the inhabitants, apart from adding pollution to the area, resulting in reduced forest cover and would have a major impact on the flora and fauna in an eco-sensitive area.

The bench which heard the matter over months said that the EAC recommendation for the environmental clearance of the project had several issues, including the publication of a cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) after the public hearing got over.

Permissibility of sourcing water from Mahanadi when drinking water is scarce has not been duly evaluated. The jetty is located within 500 meters of the Paradip Port which is unnecessary. The Strategic Impact Assessment (SIA) was conducted later and was not part of the public hearing, the bench said.

Also Read: Delhi LG takes up cleaning of Najafgarh Lake after directions from NGT

A company official said the NGT order was meant for the union environment ministry and they have nothing to comment on it.

The bench said that the matter will need a fresh appraisal by the EAC by reasoned consideration and a fresh decision by the union environment ministry.

The tribunal allowed these appeals and remitted the matter to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change of India (MoEF&CC) for fresh appraisal and decision in light of the above observations.

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change of India has been asked to do a fresh appraisal within the next three months. The suspension of EC is a temporary thing, said a company official on the condition of anonymity.
Prayagraj police commissionerate has sent alerts to seven states in a bid to arrest gangster-turned-politician and former MP Atiq Ahmads wife Shaista Parveen, his son Asad and other assailants wanted in connection with the February 24 murder of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards. (Pic for representation)

The alerts have been sent to Delhi, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Punjab.

Prayagraj police have sent all details including information about physical appearances, photographs, criminal records etc of Shaista Parveen, Asad, Guddu Muslim, Gulam Hasan, Arman and Sabir.

The alert officially sent by Prayagraj police states that the accused are wanted in sensational murder of Umesh Pal and his two police security personnel. Shaista Parveen carries a reward of 25,000 on her arrest while the reward of 5 lakh each has been announced on the arrest of other five accused. As per the alert, the accused may be hiding in any city of these states and may commit crimes there also, said a senior police officer aware of the development.

The alert asks police of these states to search for them and inform Uttar Pradesh police if they receive any clue about their whereabouts, the official added.

It is worth mentioning that 15 police teams are already searching for the accused in different states and even in Nepal. Many associates and henchmen of Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf have been nabbed in other cities and states for questioning. It was suspected that they provided help to Asad and other shooters.

Meanwhile, police are also preparing to issue lookout notice for Shaista Parveen and other accused in a bid to stop them from leaving the country.

While police have photographs of all other accused, Shaista Parveens photograph is not available with police as she always wears a veil on her face when in public. Police officials said that attempts were being made to secure her photographs.
The Allahabad high court has directed the government to withhold one month salary/pension of 28 office-bearers of Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti (union) which had called for a strike last week. Allahabad HC (file)

The HC bench of justice Pritinker Diwaker and justice SD Singh passed the order while hearing an application moved in connection with the Public Interest Litigation by advocate Vibhu Rai, after power employees went on strike. The court fixed April 24 as the next date of hearing in the case. The court said: It may serve as a token warning to them and others who may be intending to embarrass or outrun the rule of law. However, no final opinion as to confiscation of that amount, (thus withheld), has been formed. That may be done only after exchange of affidavits and after hearing the party concerned.

The court cautioned power employees to remain mindful of any such act (strike) in future that may force the court to take stern action against all those involved.

The court directed the state government to file an affidavit to categorise the areas and sectors where losses may have occurred due to the strike and to offer a fair estimation of the same based on objective assessment.

The court said: It (U.P. government) may also bring on record details of all employee unions and individuals who may have collaborated with the noticed non-petitioners (office bearers of body which called strike) in the conduct of the illegal strike. Those may then be also held responsible for the losses after due opportunity.

On issue of strike by department staff, the court observed: As a result of such callous conduct orchestrated by the Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti vast disruptions were caused involving serious difficulties faced by citizens and others to maintain essential services like running of hospitals, petrol pumps, institutions, businesses and banking, besides sudden difficulties to students preparing and appearing in various examinations.

Repeat actions will invite consequences in law. Innocent citizens cannot be inconvenienced and functioning of various essential institutions such as hospitals, banks etc. cannot be disrupted. However, this order may not hinder any discussions, meetings and negotiations between the employee unions on one hand and their employees and government on the other. Those may go on as before, the court added.

On March 17, the Allahabad high court had initiated contempt proceedings against power employees union leaders and issued bailable warrant against them for going on strike despite a previous order of the court for not disrupting the power supply. The court had also directed the power employees union leaders to appear before it.
A woman and her paramour killed the womans son and daughter in the Khair Nagar locality under the city Kotwali on Wednesday and dumped their bodies into the Ganga Canal, police said. The divers are searching for the bodies of the children in the Ganga Canal., said police. (FOR REPRESENTATION)

Circle officer of Kotwali Amit Kumar Rai said that the accused identified as Nisha and her paramour Saud Faizi, former councillor of Nagar Nigam, have confessed to their crime and have been taken into custody. The divers are searching for the bodies of the children in the Ganga Canal. We shall arrest them after recovering the dead bodies, said Rai.

The accused, Faizi and Nisha came into contact with each other four years ago. They fell in love and wanted to marry. Nishas husband Shahid Beg works in a shoe showroom in the Lalkurti area. According to reports, Faizi used to visit Nisha after her husband and children left for work and school.

Faizi is the only son of his parents and belongs to a well-off family. He divorced his wife and therefore wanted to marry Nisha and the latter also desired a good life. Nishas son and daughter were obstacles to their marriage, therefore, they both decided to eliminate them before getting married.

As per their plan, Nisha asked their tutor not to come on Wednesday and she along with Faizi killed both children on Wednesday evening. Faizi then carried their bodies in his car and dumped them into the canal.

Meanwhile, Nisha called her husband and informed him that both children had been missing since evening. The husband arrived home and after failing to locate the children they eventually lodged a complaint at Delhi Gate police station.

CO Rai said CCTV footage was examined, and suspicion pointed towards Nisha. After an intense interrogation, she confessed to her crime. Then teams were formed to arrest Faizi who eventually surrendered at the police station on Wednesday night and confessed his involvement in the crime.
Bihars Water resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Friday said in the state legislative assembly that the Centre must take action on the constitution of the Kosi Development Authority, as proposed by the Patna High Court, and apprise the state government about the outcome of the talks with Nepal. Bihar water resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha . (HT Photo)

Giving the government reply after debate on the budgetary demand of the department amid walkout by the BJP legislators over omission of the crucial home department from debate despite worsening law and order situation, Jha said the authority could be a big step forward to find a permanent solution to a seven-decade old problem of flooding in north Bihar.

Bihar government has also sent a proposal to Centre in the light of the HC order. Unfortunately, there has been no serious initiative from the Centre so far. This is an issue that Bihar cannot tackle, as it involves a foreign country, Nepal, where rivers like Kosi, Kamla etc. originate from. The HC also talked about the need to work out a funding arrangement, he said.

The minister said the Centres favourable response would make it happen for Bihar. The proposed authority will have participation from Indian government, Bihar as well as Nepal. Way back in 1950, the need to build a high dam at the India-Nepal border was felt and an office also came up at Biratnagar in Nepal, but the detailed project report could never realises, he said.

Jha said the ambitious Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali scheme launched by chief minister Nitish Kumar was a reflection of his ability to think ahead of time, as water stress was a reality across the world and he could hear the alarm bells that started ringing even in hitherto water-surplus regions of north Bihar, which get corroborated by the central ground water commission data released this year.

The department is working on the CMs guidelines to achieve the target of providing water to every farm by 2025 and work has begun in coordination with five department. The first positive impact came through the completion of rubber dam on Falgu river in Gaya. It not only provided an opportunity to over 12 lakh devotees to take holy dip in the Falgu river, but it has also helped lift the water table by an average of 12 feet at various ghats along the Falgu. Gangajal Apoorti Yojana has proved another lifeline for the parched regions of Gaya, Bodh Gaya and Rajgir. The Centre awarded both the schemes recently for good implementation, he said.

Maintaining that the department was planning water budget and water audit, the minister said the Nitish Kumar government has been alive to the need of rejuvenating water bodies and dried up rivers to address future needs, and it was precisely due to this that it came up with the idea for intra-linking of rivers apart from inter-linking.

The Belwa Dhar scheme in Sheohar has been successful. Kosi-Mechi inter-linking, which will transform the Seemanchal region by creating irrigation potential for 214,812 hectares, is a major peoject. We have sent the proposal to the Centre to accept it as a national project on the lines of Ken-Betwa interlinking project, but there is no response from the Centre despite all clearances. Acceptance as a national project will mean 60% funding from the Centre, 30% funding through loan and 10% from the state. We also have plans for other rivers, but the Centres support is needed, he said.

Later, the House passed the budget with voice vote. The budgetary demands of several other departments, including home, agriculture, cabinet coordination, minor irrigation, public health engineering, information & public relations etc., were also passed through guillotine.

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PATNA: The Patna high court has rejected a petition for anticipatory bail filed by a suspended 2011-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Aditya Kumar and told him to surrender within the next four weeks. Kumar, who has been on the run since October 2022, sought the arrest shield, arguing that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated in a case. The Patna high court has rejected a petition for anticipatory bail filed by a suspended IPS officer Aditya Kumar

Considering the facts and circumstances of case as well as the fact that there are ample evidence against the petitioner, I am not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail. The prayer for anticipatory bail of the petitioner is hereby rejected. However, if the petitioner surrenders before the court within four weeks and seek regular bail, the court would pass order in accordance with law without being prejudiced by this order, justice Anjani Kumar Sharan said in an order dated March 21. The order was uploaded to the high courts website on Friday.

Bihars economic offences unit registered a case against Kumar and four others on charges of cheating, impersonation, extortion and other offences in October last year. The FIR alleged that the suspects called the state police chief posing as chief justice of the Patna high court and asked him to close a case against Aditya Kumar related to accusations that he conspired with the liquor mafia when he was posted in Gaya as senior superintendent of police (SSP).

Justice Sharan also directed the registry to place a copy of the order before the high courts chief justice on the administrative side with regard to two judicial officers who were allegedly found involved in the case and against whom there is clinching evidence that they unsuccessfully tried to get the case of the petitioner listed in a particular bench.

It is high time for the court to take serious view of this matter on administrative side about the conduct of these two officers, which is unbecoming of Judicial Officers. Law treats all people in the same manner and does not change from person to person, the court said.

The judiciary is expected to remain unaffected by pressures exerted by other branches of the government, citizens or interested groups. Independence of the judiciary is one of the basic and inalienable features of the Constitution, justice Sharan said in his order.

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Conversation begets conversation  the more you engage the easier it is to make connections. Food and drinks often make a conversation easy. Civilizations, ancient and modern, have encouraged men to eat and drink together to make them talk to each other. Plutarch, the ancient philosopher, famously said eating alone meant simply filling your stomach as animals did. Kesari was clearly partial towards sugarcane juice as the perfect beverage for the society that should draw inspiration from the sapeeteesamaj. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

On May 1, 1888, the Marathi newspaper Kesari, edited by Lokmanya BG Tilak, put forth a novel idea in one of its editorials. Titled Sahapaan (drinking together), the article urged the educated citizens of Poona to form a society where the members would come together and have interesting discussions over beverages. The idea was to have a drink for thought event to promote intellectual conversation.

The basic idea of the society was borrowed by Kesari from the symposia held in ancient Greece and Rome, and the tea clubs and coffee houses in modern Europe.

A symposium in ancient times was a wine-drinking party, held in a private home in a semi-formal setting. Wealthy, influential men would gather together to drink for pleasure and engage in physically or intellectually stimulating activities. The word symposium comes from the Greek sympinein which means to drink together. In ancient Greece, the symposium was part of a banquet that took place after the meal, when drinking for pleasure was accompanied by music, dancing, or conversation. Symposiasts might also compete in rhetorical contests, for which reason the word symposium has come to refer in English to any event where multiple speeches are made.

Symposiums were held on various occasions and gathered attendees from various social classes depending on their hosts spiritual level. A large variety of appetisers, poultry, chopped meats, and seafood covered the tables along with carafes of wine.

Kesari suggested that the new society to be established should draw inspiration from the sapeeteesamaj (establishments where men drank together) prevalent in Western countries, but it should limit itself to non-alcoholic beverages and avoid offering food to members, since hosting lunch or dinner would prove very expensive. Some educated men had observed how European banquets were conducted and they would expect the same lavishness from the poor intelligentsia of Poona, Kesari warned.

Kesari offered a choice of three beverages for the sapeeteesamaj in Poona  sugarcane juice, tea, and coffee. The newspaper, however, was not very keen on young men drinking tea and coffee. Several Indian nationalist leaders and newspapers were actively campaigning against the unjust policies of the British concerning the trade of tea and coffee. Most of the tea and coffee estates were owned by Europeans and Indian workers on the plantations were exploited.

The article, however, mentions how effective the tea clubs and coffee houses had been in promoting intelligent discourse in Europe. English coffeehouses were often associated with the Age of Enlightenment. In the 17th and 18th centuries, they were public social places where men would meet for conversation and business. The absence of alcohol created an atmosphere in which it was possible to engage in more serious conversation than in an alehouse. Topics discussed included politics and political scandals, philosophy, current events, music, medicine, literature, and debates surrounding the natural sciences.

Kesari had been consistently campaigning against the growing popularity of alcohol among Indians since its inception in 1881. Tilak, in the 1890s, often participated in public demonstrations outside shops selling alcohol in Poona. No wonder, the newspaper, habitual to regularly cautioning its readers against the cons of alcohol addiction, wrote that the society should prohibit its members from consuming alcohol. Liquor does not let a man think straight and such addictions are detrimental to the population of a nation that is seeking to free itself from the rule of the Europeans, the article said.

In ancient Greek, a symposium would be overseen by a symposiarch who would decide how strong the wine for the evening would be, depending on whether serious discussions or sensual indulgence were in the offing. Along similar lines, Kesari suggested that a member of the new sapeeteesamaj should be appointed who would decide on the choice of beverage for the gathering, and limit the amount of beverage served to the members. But it was clearly partial towards sugarcane juice as the perfect beverage for the society.

Sugarcane juice was inexpensive; it could be procured anywhere in Poona. Sugarcane was grown in Deccan and Kesari had been writing against importing sugar from Mauritius. Drinking sugarcane juice would popularise the beverage and sensitise the modern, educated youth about the perils of trade that benefitted colonial powers, it felt.

But sugarcane juice was available only during the months of summer. Kesari suggested that the society should conduct its affairs over a glass of milk or buttermilk when sugarcane juice was not readily available.

The main aim of the society, according to the article, was to bring educated men together and make them discuss important topics related to society, politics, and culture. If we want our country to prosper and free itself, we should encourage open discussion and dissent, Kesari said. The men would discuss different aspects of life and thus would help each other understand different perspectives, it believed. The society was to be a vehicle by which culture and independent thought were transmitted.

This society was not to be confused with a club. One could socialise, carry out business deals, arrange marriage contracts, gossip, enjoy a good meal, and relax at a club. Sapeeteesamaj was supposed to conduct intellectual discussions and nothing else.

Kesari hoped that educated men would eagerly participate in such an activity. In those days, the word educated could be considered a euphemism for so-called upper caste men. Most of the social and political activities in the 19th century Poona were limited to the so-called upper caste men. The idea of a sapeeteesamaj in Poona was no exception.

A similar society had then been established in Madras where learned, educated, and wise men gathered to discuss society, culture, and politics over cups of tea, coffee, and buttermilk. Kesari mentioned this society and advised men from Poona to work together to make sapeeteesamaj in Poona a grand success.

In a small note, published a month later, Kesari mentioned that their proposal had received an overwhelming response from its readers and they were confident that very soon a sapeeteesamaj would be established in the city.

However, no such society came into existence in Poona. The reasons are not known. The newspaper never mentioned sapeeteesamaj again. What would have been a space for the promotion of free thought, although accessible to a privileged few, never saw the light of day.

Chinmay Damle is a research scientist and food enthusiast. He writes here on Punes food culture. He can be contacted at chinmay.damle@gmail.com
A day after a court in Surat convicted and sentenced Rahul Gandhi for two years in jail in a criminal defamation case, Pradip Modi, a Ranchi-based lawyer, on Friday demanded speedy trial in a similar case he had filed against the Congress leader for his comment at an election rally in the Jharkhand capital in 2019 where he allegedly said all Modis are thieves . Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. (PTI)

Pradip Modi belongs to the family that had donated land to the Congress where the partys state headquarters stands today in upscale Upper Bazar area of Ranchi.

Addressing reporters along with BJPs chief whip in Jharkhand, Biranchi Narayan, at the latters residence, Modi said Gandhis lawyers are unnecessarily delaying the case.

They had filed a petition in high court seeking quashing of the case. However, the petition was rejected on July 2, 2022. After that, his lawyers filed a petition seeking exemption of personal appearance for Rahul Gandhi. The court is yet to decide on the petition, he said.

Emphasising he was not affiliated to any political party, Modi said he was confident he has a foolproof case against Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi gave a statement against our clan at a rally on March 3, 2019. After I filed the case, Rahul Gandhi repeated the same speech in other parts of the country. I have provided all evidence and shown he was doing it deliberately, he said.

The court in Surat had sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?
Eugenia Vasco is a woman who cultivates the land and lives with her husband and daughter.

Harare  Authorities are still grappling with the magnitude of Cyclone Freddy's devastation in Malawi and Mozambique, with over 370 people verified deceased, hundreds still missing, and tens of thousands displaced.

After reaching impact in southern Africa twice, Cyclone Freddy, which formed over the Indian Ocean more than a month ago, dissipated this week.

However, Cyclone Freddy's floods, combined with the disruption of water, sanitation, and hygiene services, is fueling a sharp increase in the number of cholera cases. Since early February, the number of recorded cases has almost tripled, reaching almost 10,700, and more than 2300 cases have been reported in the previous week alone. A total of 36 districts across eight provinces of Mozambique are presently having active cholera outbreaks, with Inhambane and Zambezia, the provinces affected by Cyclone Freddy on its first and second impacts, now both declaring outbreaks.

Unicef is extremely worried about the danger of cholera as well as the possibility of a rise in malaria and other waterborne illnesses, including diarrhoea, which are among the top killers of children. Children are now even more at risk for dying and getting sick because health and nutrition services have been severely interrupted in many areas in the wake of the storm.

"We are now facing a very real risk of a rapidly accelerating cholera outbreak in Mozambique, a disease which is particularly dangerous for young children, especially those who are malnourished," Unicef Representative to Mozambique Maria Luisa Fornara said.

Meanwhile, water levels continue to rise, highlighting hydrographic basins of rivers.

Licungo in Tacuane was at (50.8mm) and Gurue (20.4mm); Meluli in Natoa (225.3mm) and Meluli (160.7mm); Monapo in Rapale (143.0mm) and Dam Nampula (50.0mm); Rovuma in Bagarila (29.7mm), Lussanhado (28.4mm) and Mussoma (15.3mm). In the central region of the country, due to the occurrence of heavy rain in recent days, the hydrographic basins of the Licungo rivers, Raraga, Namacurra, Buzi, Pungoe and Zambezi (lower Zambezi) register a high volume of runoff with a record of flooding in communities, on agricultural fields and on socio-economic infrastructure. In the North region, the Rovuma River Basin (Lugenda River Sub-basin in Congerenge) continues to register a rise in water level hydrometer, keeping alert. The Ligonha, Melili and Lurio basins register fluctuations in level with a tendency to rise while remaining below the alert.

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In the southern region, the watersheds of the Maputo rivers in Madubula and the Limpopo rivers in Sicacate continue to register reduction of the hydrometric level, remaining above the alert level. The remaining hydrographic basins register oscillation of the hydrometric level with a general tendency to decrease, remaining below the alert level.

Unicef is helping to ensure that students rapidly recover access to education. According to estimates from the Mozambique National Institute of Disaster Risk Management (INGD), Cyclone Freddy may have devastated more than 1500 classrooms, disrupting the education of more than 134,000 pupils. None of the 1025 climate-resilient schools built with UNICEF assistance since 2019 were harmed by Cyclone Freddy, highlighting the value of spending money on climate-resilient infrastructure.

Additionally, the foundation is collaborating with local communities and allies to create more robust district and community structures that can endure the impacts of the climate catastrophe.
Union Public Service Commission has released UPSC CDS I Admit Card 2023 on March 24, 2023. Candidates who will appear for Combined Defence Service I examination can download the admit card through the official site of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. UPSC CDS I Admit Card 2023 released at upsc.gov.in, download link here

The admit card will be available from March 24 to April 16, 2023. The written examination will be conducted on April 16, 2023. Candidates who will appear for the exam can download the admit card through these simple steps given below.

Direct link to download UPSC CDS I Admit Card 2023

UPSC CDS I Admit Card 2023: How to download

Visit the official site of UPSC at upsc.gov.in.

Click on UPSC CDS I Admit Card 2023 link available on the home page.

Enter the required details and click on submit.

Your admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Check the admit card and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

The application process was started on December 21 and ended on January 10, 2023. This recruitment drive will fill up 341 vacancies in Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers Training Academy. For more related details candidates can check the official site of UPSC.
Four months after their white wedding in the US, actor Anshuman Jha and American triathlete, vegan chef and yoga instructor Sierra Winters got hitched once again in India, following the traditions of a Maithil wedding. Vedic wedding was always on the cards for us, but Covid and visa issues restricted the celebrations last year, says Jha, who believes in keeping the traditions alive because there is deeper meaning in all our Vedic customs. Anshuman Jha with wife Sierra Winters

Sierra is actually more Indian than most people that I know. She went through every custom in totality. We both even did the no-salt fast for four days after our wedding to culminate the ceremony. She loves and respects India and its traditions immensely; she had a blast at the haldi, mehendi and sangeet, Jha elaborates on all the rituals that the couple followed during the ceremonies and how his wife, Winters, liked them.

Not just Winters, but her family was equally curious and loved everything about the Indian wedding, reveals Jha. They understood some of the traditions by themselves. For the rest, we had a parallel translation of the mantras being recited into English, as we wanted everyone to understand what was being said so that we lived up to the sacred vows we took. After the wedding, the two of us went and fed jaggery to the cows at the Govardhan Eco Village (Maharashtra). And that was an incredible experience, the Lakadbaggha actor tells us.

Before exchanging rings last year, Jha and Winters were in a long-distance relationship for more than three years.

The two also come from completely different cultural backgrounds. Sharing how they kept the spark alive, Jha says, We hand wrote letters and sent them via post. It took 10-14 days for them to reach but the joy was in the wait... the anticipation. There is a power in simplicity which extravagance can never come close to, there is a purity.

As for the difference in cultures, Jha explains that while they are culturally different, the core value systems are the same. We both dont eat meat (she is vegan, I am vegetarian), we dont drink, dont smoke, we love nature, animals, like discipline & yet we are very differently wired - I like the pace of the city, she likes the calm of a forest. But we are happiest when we are together so we both do more for the other.

Now that Winters has made a huge shift to Mumbai, after their marriage in October. Jha points out how it has been a challenge for her adjusting in the new place, but she is really trying. I respect that and try to make sure I support her because the heat is a struggle for her. Also, I try to balance time between work & home more now. We are both in a quest to be better human beings and in that journey, try to support each other, inspire each other through our actions. We read to each other. Love isnt about saying, its about doing. Consistently & not conveniently - we are learning more to do that for one another, he wraps up.
Ghar se nikal kar gaye the, ghar se hi aa rahe hain aur ghar hi jaa rahe hain. This line in Bheed said by a migrant worker just stayed with me. Narrating the horrific unfolding of events during the unprecedented mass migration amid the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020, Anubhav Sinhas Bheed is brutally honest. High on shock value, it makes your heart ache seeing the hardships and humiliation that thousands of migrants went through during the pandemic. (Also read: All That Breathes review: This Oscar nominee from India is visually stunning doc on need to co-exist) Bheed movie review: Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar in Bheed.

On March 24, 2020, when a nationwide lockdown was announced and state borders were closed to prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus, several migrants who had shifted to cities in search of work, were forced to go back to their native villages. Bheed is an account of what exactly these migrant families suffered.

Sinha has not only chosen a difficult story to tell but he ensures he makes it an equally difficult watch. Shot in stark black and white, Bheed doesnt let you breathe. If anything, it chokes you, leaving a lump in your throat at several gut-wrenching scenes. Sinha shows no restrain when it comes to showing the pain and plight of these workers. The shocking visuals of migrants sleeping on the railway tracks and being run over by a train, families walking barefoot for miles with bleeding toenails and wounded soles, hungry kids crying and being thrashed by their helpless mums, a watchman trying to arrange food, people hiding in cement mixers, Muslims feeding their own and everyone around, but still being cornered and called names. Even though Sinha doesnt resort to blood or gore in the shocking scenes, you still feel the impact of his story. Bheed highlights, and fights more inner demons and societal biases, than only the struggles of migrant workers who walked for days and nights wishing to reach their homes in times of crisis. Some did make it, while others did not.

Bheed talks to us through the story of Surya Kumar Singh Tikas (Rajkummar Rao), a young cop who is made the incharge of the checkpost at one of the state borders thats now closed. He is in love with Renu Sharma (Bhumi Pednekar) who is a doctor and is currently taking care of symptomatic patients stuck at the check-post. Theres Singh saab (Aditya Shrivastava) who is Raos subordinate but clearly doesnt want to obey orders. Among the migrants on the other side of the barricading, theres Dia Mirza from the privileged class in her Fortuner, who doesnt flinch an eyelid when the driver Kanaiya (Sushil Pandey) offers to bribe the cops to let them cross the border. Then, theres Trivedi Babu (Pankaj Kapur) who only wants to save his ailing brother and help the fellow passengers in the bus get some food from the nearby closed mall. He insists he wont steal but would pay for it. Theres also a young girl carrying her alcoholic father on a bicycle. Amid all this, Vidhi Tripathi (Kritika Kamra) as a TV journalist is covering all this from angles that she can see, or at times, through her cameraman Nasir Munirs lens.

At 114 minutes, Bheed neither wastes time building the premise nor its core characters. I must credit the director here for so convincingly introducing each character to us without delving too much into their back stories yet telling enough. The story that Sinha has co-written Saumya Tiwari and Sonali Jain manages to keep you intrigued. Its the writing, I feel, thats a true winner. There are dialogues cleverly peppered with an underlined sarcasm that you cant miss. Hamara nyaay hamari aukaat se bohot bahar hai or Gareeb aadmi ke liye kabhi intezaam nahi hota are some lines that hit you hard.

Theres a scene with Kritika Kamra draws an analogy with an overloaded straw-truck with that of society and the fear that it may end up getting scattered and turn into a divided crowd, is extremely well-written. Another well shot moment is when Kapur ridicules the healthcare staff dressed in PPE kits and calls them nautanki while they are testing his brother for Covid symptoms. These all remind us of how actually millions of people behaved when first wave of Covid hit our shores.

However, some portions did appear excessive. For instance, I didnt understand the context of ingesting a lovemaking scene between Rao and Pednekar. Yes, it was important to distinctly underline the class divide in their relationship, but there were ample strong scenes later in the film through which the point could be well conveyed. The sex scene was surely avoidable. Then, you sense the constant hammering on the caste bias in our society with Raos character being targeted by everyone. That, to me, appeared a bit too much. I wouldnt say it takes away from the core focus on the pain of migrants, but it does bring a shift of emotions when Raos story takes precedence over the main issue. And why werent the cops wearing mask? I mean you preach only what you follow.

Pankaj Kapur in a still from the movie,

Story aside, some really nuanced performances additionally make Bheed a great watch. I wont be exaggerating if I term is as one of the finest ensemble casting in recent times. Rao and Pednekar are in top form with their dialect, body language, confidence and the way they emote on screen. Their strength and vulnerability both touch you. Mirza looked flawless playing a flawed character of a rich woman whose patience is tested in trying times and she lets her circumstances dictate her choice of actions and words. Kapur is exceptional and wins you over with his brilliance in each frame. He displays calm while politely asking cops for an outcome of a political meeting about the opening of borders, and shows aggression when it comes to fighting for his own people. Rana and Shrivastava add gravitas to the narrative with some heavyweight dialogues, and their expressions. Kamras track started off as a narrator and had pivotal pieces to join initially, but eventually doesnt get much scope to shine or leave an impact.

Overall, Bheed states the facts as is and doesnt try to lace them with them anything fancy or unreal. A few cinematic liberties definitely would have been taken and understandably so, but never to an extent that it completely washes out the truth. Sinha keeps the tussle between the class, power, caste and religion on till the very last minute. And the end credits aptly sum up the migrant crisis and their unforgettable pain with Herail Ba. Watch it if you truly care to know the truth and what happened with those thousand of migrants who were rendered homeless due to the pandemic without any fault of theirs.
When Emraan Hashmi made his debut on filmmaker Karan Johar's chat show Koffee with Karan in 2014, he made some statements that not only made headlines for the day, but also got stuck with him for a long time. On the show, Emraan had labeled Aishwarya Rai as 'plastic', and even said that his famous kiss with Mallika Sherawat, in Murder (2004), was his worst one on screen. (Also read: Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi surprise fans on Mumbai Metro) Emraan Hashmi was last seen in Selfiee.

As Friday marks Emraan's 44th birthday, we revisit all the sassiest statements that he made during his appearance on the fourth season of Koffee with Karan. Emraan appeared alongside Mahesh Bhatt in 2014. During that episode, Emraan jokingly 'blamed' Mahesh for creating his 'serial kisser image' but the filmmaker said, "That penthouse that he has in the Beverly Hills of India - Palli Hill - it costs 40 crore, is thanks to that image. Left to himself, he barely had the means to buy a cycle."

Called Aishwarya Rai 'plastic'

Emraan shocked one and all when he named Aishwarya Rai during the rapid-fire round on Koffee with Karan. Emraan was asked to name the actor/actress that comes to his mind when he hears some particular words. As Karan said 'plastic,' Emraan replied, 'Aishwarya' (Rai).

The comment turned out to be a sore point for Emraan. In a 2014 interview, Emraan told Hindustan Times, I didnt mean it. Im a big fan of Aishwarya. Its the format of the show. I can't not say things and not win the hamper. I love her. I have always been a great admirer of her work. I knew people would make a big deal out of it so what, people make a big deal out of nonsense all the time. He also told Zoom TV in a different interview that "Karan pushes you to say these things" on the show.

Kiss with Mallika was his worst onscreen

Though it was his first one, and the one that catapulted him to national fame, Emraan had said that his kiss with Mallika Sherawat was his worst onscreen kiss. Karan asked him about his best kiss and Emraan said, "There were many in Murder 2, with Jacqueline Fernandez." Asked about the worst, Emraan did not hesitate before naming Mallika.

Calling Mahesh Bhatt an 'extortionist'

Recalling his first stint with the filmmaker, Emraan told Karan that Mahesh Bhatt would fling a newspaper at him at 4 am every day so he could wake up early and start working on a script with him. When Mahesh suggested jokingly that Emraan is a miser (refusing to treat him after becoming popular), the actor joked he was not a miser, but Mahesh was an 'extortionist'. Mahesh played along and told Karan that after having crafted the persona of a star (Emraan), Mahesh deserved to be paid for his efforts, "even Mafia does it".

Would find an Idiot's handbook' in Mallika Sherawat's bedroom

During the rapid-fire round, Emraan was asked what he'd find in Mallika Sherawat's bedroom and he quickly responded with 'An idiot's handbook to success in Hollywood'.

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Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has informed the Bombay High Court that he will withdraw his claim for habeas corpus if he is given the permission to see both of his children. The actor's advocate Pradeep Thorat has thrown light on the situation. Earlier, the actor's ex-wife Aaliya Siddiqui had released a video claiming that her mother-in-law had kicked her and both of their children out of the house and that they now have nowhere to go. Later Nawaz broke his silence and released a statement which claimed that Aaliya 'only wants more money'. (Also read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui's ex-wife Aaliya reacts to his claims: 'You're a dangerous father, used your political power on me') Nawazuddin Siddiqui has said that he wants to withdraw his habeas corpus petition on one condition.

In the statement that Nawazuddin posted on his Instagram account earlier this month, he wrote, "I am termed as a bad guy everywhere because of my silence. The reason I have kept quiet is because all this tamasha (show) will somewhere be read by my small children. Social Media Platforms, Press and a bunch of people are really enjoying my character assassination on the basis of one sided and manipulated videos." Responding to this, Aaliya had written an open letter where she said that the actor an irresponsible father, adding, "You did everything possible in your means to get me arrested and show me your power, but could not succeed.

Now, as per a report by India Today, advocate Pradeep Thorat, who is representing the actor, has said that the actor was concerned about his children who were missing their school in Dubai. "That was the only reason that a habeas corpus was filed. I am aware of the limited relief that I can get in this petition. He has not seen his children physically. This is his limited concern. After that I will withdraw the petition." Meanwhile, advocate Shikhar Khandelwal, who is representing Aaliya, said, "My client is willing to settle the matter. But when she is living with the children at the actor's mother's residence, then how is it possible that he does not know where they are? He is very much free to meet his children. He is the one who is not meeting them."

Pradeep Thorat also added that Aaliya was facing an FIR which was registered by the actor's family, and had also approached the Bombay High Court to terminate it. Her petition was last heard on March 14 and the next hearing is set to take place on March 27. All concerns as of now are being communicated through lawyers on email, which is basically for demand of money. On the next date of hearing, on March 27, the parties are to meet in the chamber of the judges. We can keep this case after that, he said.

The differences between Nawazuddin and Aaliya started in January when Aaliya claimed that she was being harassed at Nawazuddin's home in Mumbai. The actor's mother had filed a complaint against her over a property dispute. Aaliya and Nawazuddin share two kids--Shora and Yaani.

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Rajkummar Rao plays a police officer in Anubhav Sinha's Bheed which released in theatres on Friday, March 24. While promoting the film, based on true events, the actor addressed rumours of him going through plastic surgery to alter his appearance. He denied going under the knife and said he can only smile about it when asked about such things. (Also read: Bheed movie review: Anubhav Sinha's lockdown tale is a difficult watch that hits you hard) Rajkummar Rao's latest film Bheed is in theatres now.

The actor made his film debut with a small role in Ram Gopal Varma's Rann (2010) and later was selected as one of the leads in Dibakar Banerjee's Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010). In previous interactions with the media Rajkummar had spoken up about often being rejected as a hero, because of his looks, height and even build. Once he was rejected due to the shape of his eyebrow.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actor was shown a comment from Reddit which stated, Has Rajkummar Rao undergone plastic surgery? Rajkummar denied that he underwent any plastic surgery and instead said, Nahi bhaiyya, koi plastic surgery nahi hue (No, there was no plastic surgery). The actor was further asked about his reaction to such rumours and he replied, "Kuch nahi smile aati hai chehre pe. Nice, log baat kar rahe hai (Nothing, I just smile. People are talking).

In 2013, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the biopic Shahid, directed by Hansal Mehta. He played lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010 in Mumbai. Last year, he was praised for his performance as a closeted police officer in Badhaai Do.

The actor was last seen in the Vasan Bala neo-noir thriller Monica O My Darling with Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, Sikandar Kher and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor. It was released on November 11, 2022 on Netflix.

He will also be seen in the Dharma Productions film Mr And Mrs Mahi with Janhvi Kapoor and he stars as industrialist Srikanth Bolla in his biopic Sri, which is due out later this year.

He is also starring in Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK's upcoming period drama series Guns & Gulaabs. Dulquer Salmaan and Adarsh Gourav are also part of the Netflix series.

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Rani Mukerji, who had collaborated with filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar on Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Mardaani, said the director's death this morning came as a shock as they had planned to meet soon. Sarkar, best known for directing 2005 feature film Parineeta, died at Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra in Mumbai, his wife Panchali told PTI. He was 67. Also read: Kangana Ranaut remembers Pradeep Sarkar, shares video from their last meal together Rani Mukerji had worked in Pradeep Sarkar's Mardaani and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.

Rani Mukerji said she interacted with Sarkar a few days ago when he called to congratulate the actor for her latest movie Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. "I'm very very shocked by the news of Dada's passing away. I, in fact, spoke to him just the other day when I had gone to Amritsar, to the Golden Temple where he had called me telling me about my film so we had a long chat, he was insisting to do a facetime call but that day the network was not good so I was unable to video call with him.

"We were planning to meet this week when I got back but it is just so unexpected. His wife (Panchali boudi) called me at 4 am when this happened, it is really sad and shocking that dada has passed away like this," the 45-year-old actor said in a statement.

Rani said Sarkar's death is a great loss to his family as well as the film industry. "He was also shooting these last few days so I don't know how it all transpired in just a matter of a few hours. I'm sure everybody who knows Dada will feel his loss deeply the way I'm feeling it. I had a great connection with him, we've done a lot of work together over the years, so it's literally like losing a family member.

"My heart goes out to Boudi, Ronno and Raya as they were a very close-knit family and to all the people who worked in Dada's production house and those who have been attached to him over the years. It's going to be a great loss for them," she added.

Rani said she is saddened that she could not meet the director before his demise. "So I'm really very saddened by this because I was meant to meet him soon so I feel terrible about it. You never realise how life is so unpredictable, you speak to a person and the next thing you know is that the person is not there.

"I will hold on to my last memory of him being so happy and excited for me as he had called me to share the feedback that he was getting for my film and me from all over," she said.

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who got his big break with Sarkar's 2014 movie Mardaani, said he will always remain grateful to the late filmmaker. "I will always remember him with eternal gratitude as the man who trusted me with Mardaani. He was a maestro whose experience and guidance gave me the confidence to act to my fullest potential in my debut film," the actor said in a statement.

Bhasin, 35, said Sarkar was like a mentor to him and gave him confidence to come up with his performance for the role of antagonist Karan "Walt" Rastogi in the movie. "He was a visionary par excellence, ahead of his time. He lives on in the films he created. May he rest in peace," he added.
Urvashi Rautela has reacted to the remark made by actor Sonali Kulkarni that a lot of Indian women are 'lazy'. The actor-model shared her views on the recent backlash that was faced by Sonali when she spoke about modern Indian women and how they wish for a well-earning, settled husband while giving no input in the household's finances. Urvashi said that the reasoning 'doesn't apply' to her because she is an outsider. (Also read: 'Twitter should invent a virtual slap': Sonali Kulkarni's women are lazy comment draws flak online) Urvashi Rautela has shared her views on the 'women are lazy' comment made by Sonali Kulkarni.

In a video posted by a paparazzi account on Instagram, Urvashi was asked to share her views on the recent controversy surrounding Sonali Kulkarni's comment on Indian women, and said, "See the thing is... this doesn't apply to me. Because everybody knows I am an outsider. And everybody knows how hardworking I am, meine khud se apne aap pe.. apne balbute pe (I have made it by myself, without any support) I have made a career in Bollywood. Globally, fans they know me. I am the only Indian girl to win Miss Universe India twice. I am the youngest judge in history to just Miss Universe. So this, doesn't apply to me. This quote applies to all the velli (jobless) girls out there." Urvashi then concluded by saying that she doesn't want to hurt anybody but that is the reason of the matter.

Urvashi's response to the question irked many IG users who then commented how she is so narcissistic to deviate from the question and focus about herself only. "Self obsessed woman m this m that what was the question and what she replied," wrote one user, while another said, "She should be against this statement in general instead of jst self obsession." A comment read, "Didi aapki baat nhi ki gayi (This was not about you, sister) in general u were xpected to support women," while another said, "Why defend misogyny when you can just defend yourself."

Meanwhile, actor Sonali Kulkarni issued a statement on social media after receiving criticism for her remark. In it, she wrote, "Dear all, Im overwhelmed with the feedback Im receiving. I would like to thank all of you, especially the entire press and media for the extremely mature conduct of connecting with me. Being a woman myself, my intention was not to hurt other women. In fact, I have extensively expressed myself time and again in support of us and what is it being a woman. Im grateful to all of you for reaching out to me personally to appreciate or to criticize. Hope we will be able to have more open exchange of thoughts.

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Meet the two Delhi-based brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud, and their assistant Salik Rehman, who are stranded near a lake, alerted that there's an injured kite on the other side. There's no boat available for help, and by the time that is arranged, it might be too late. So the two of them strip down and swim in the cold waters, and rescue the poor bird on a temporary box. These brothers will then take the bird in their makeshift basement clinic, and try to nurse it back to strength. The journey of these amateur bird medics become the focus of 'All That Breathes', director Shaunak Sen's remarkable, poetic new feature-length documentary that came so close to winning that Oscar earlier this month. (Also read: Shaunak Sen on Oscar nod for All That Breathes: It brings confidence to keep soldiering on) Salik Rehman in a still from All That Breathes, now streaming on Disney plus Hotstar.

Truly, what a journey this film has had, first winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in January last year, and then bagging the LOeil dOr, the top prize for documentaries at the Cannes Film Festival a few months later. Since then, this film has spread its wings around the world, to finally secure the coveted spot at the Best Documentary Feature category at the 95th Academy Awards. This is an astounding feat in its own regard, a nonfiction feature film paving its way through a sea of campaigning to hold its own place in the world.

All That Breathes focuses on the ways in which two brothers have dedicated half of their lives into the care for these birds of prey who are otherwise deemed as harbingers of bad luck across the Indian cultures. The toxic skies of Delhi are becoming increasingly inhospitable to the birds, and as All That Breathes reveals in steady detail over its 93-minute screen time, for a certain section of the populace too. Amidst the cacophony and chaos, the brothers are also worried about funding prospects as day after day, the injured kites arrive in wooden boxes, and Sen follows the men trying to build a animal rescue hospital, convince the butcher to sell them meat at a cheaper rate while stradding their own personal lives. There's a sense of despair apparent in their scattershot conversations, yet All That Breathes marches along, patiently tending to the wounds of these birds with utmost care and resilience. Yet as Saud reflects, "Delhi is a gaping wound, and we're just a Band-Aid on it."

All That Breathes creates a rich tapestry of characters and motives, but Sen, working with editor Charlotte Munch Bengsten, never spells out the socio-political subtext for the audience to follow. The film plays along with a poetic vigour, hiding under its shadow a wounded segregation at work. It lets us make these connections for ourselves. Even the connections between the three men are not spelled out directly at first for that matter. Yet, there's no denying how it is the hilariously interrogative assistant Salik who provides the film with its much-needed, mischievous punk. The creatures themselves seem to play along with the happy-go-lucky soul- a kite stealing his spectacles at the terrace, and a baby squirrel popping out of his shirt pocket like a quaint little magic trick. These details make enough room for its audience to realize that these men are not just saving the birds, but are saving themselves in the process too.

The structure of All That Breathes carefully connects these dots to map the larger perspectives in the country's capital which is on the edge of an environmental as well as cultural doom. Delhi is still breathing, still alive in its claustrophobic alleys, water-logged streets and polluted waterbodies. Here, in an increasingly hostile ecosystem, the will to survive lies in the hope for adaptability and codependency. The violence against the Muslims occurs just a few kilometers away from the basement, we are informed in one direct confrontational scene. The crises add on, in the virtues of buried hope and wonder. Desires freeze.

Breathtakingly shot by the team of cinematographers including Benjamin Bernhard, Riju Das and Soumyananda Sahi, All That Breathes finds arresting visual poetry in the darkest, dirtiest of places. One particularly unforgettable sequence takes place to register the innumerable black kites that circle around the Delhi sky when the meat tossing occasion takes place. It is a breathtaking moment- at once intimate and expansive, bursting with so much ecstasy that my heart could explode. All That Breathes is urgent, sublime and deeply moving. Sen has created a masterwork.
Actor Ajith Kumars father P Subramaniam Mani died on Friday in his sleep at his residence. A statement from the family confirmed that he was suffering from old age-related illness for a long time. He was 85. Reportedly, police have been deployed at his residence for support and additional security. He is survived by his wife and three sons--Ajith, Anil, and Anup. Ajith Kumars father P Subramaniam Mani died at the age of 85.

Ajiths fan club page shared a statement from the family. It read, Our father, PS Mani, passed away in the early hours of this morning, in his sleep, after a long illness. He was 85. We are grateful for the care and support provided to him and our family by a number of medical professionals, especially following his debilitating stroke of four years ago."

It also added, "We are comforted, at this time of grief, that he lived a good life and knew the undying love of our mother, his partner of nearly six decades. We appreciate the kind, comforting messages and condolences that have been coming in and ask for your understanding if we may not be able to take calls or respond to messages in a timely manner."

The statement also read, "His last rites will be a family affair. We trust that all who have known loss will respect our wish to grieve privately and deal with his passing with as much equanimity and dignity as possible. Anup Kumar, Ajith Kumar, and Anil Kumar.

Celebrities took to Twitter to share their condolences to Ajiths family. Actor Sarath Kumar tweeted, My deepest condolences to dear #Ajith and to his family, friends, relatives, and well-wishers for the loss of his father. May his soul rest in peace (sic).

Actor Sakshi Aggarwal tweeted, My deep condolences to #AjithKumar sir & family! May god give them strength to overcome this loss (sic). Fans of Ajith Kumar took to Twitter to express condolences. Many people wrote, "Stay strong Ajith Kumar (sic)," in their posts. Recently, pictures surfaced online in which Ajith and his family were on a vacation in Dubai.

ott:10

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analysis

Could artisanal fishers help prevent illegal fishing and the destruction of the valuable shark population?

Sharks are essential for a healthy ocean, and the Republic of the Congo depends on a healthy ocean for food security. Yet sharks are endangered in African waters due to illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and weak governance in the fisheries sector.

Africa loses a million tonnes of fish through illegal fishing every year, accounting for a tenth of annual global losses. The economic cost to Africa is between US$10 billion and US$13 billion a year. Illegal fishing has grown along Africa's coastlines, depleting multiple aquatic species, including endangered sharks listed in the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

In 2001, the Republic of the Congo banned shark fishing in the country's exclusive economic zone of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite this, these waters are becoming a hotspot for illegal shark fishing, putting pressure on vulnerable shark populations, constraining reproduction and triggering a rapid drop in numbers.

The problem is driven by the local consumption of processed shark meat and the demand for shark fins in Asia. Several factors make the situation worse, including that maritime fishing is open all year round in the country. Both artisanal and industrial vessels can fish throughout the year within their individual quotas.

The fisheries directorate has limited capacity and resources to oversee and enforce legislation and control fishing through tracking, patrols and boarding vessels. A senior directorate official told the ENACT project that the agency lacked vital equipment, such as surveillance boats, to police the country's vast maritime domain and counter illegal shark fishing.

An assessment of the artisanal shark trade in the Republic of the Congo details an active fleet of over 110 industrial trawlers, including Congolese-flagged vessels. Added to this are 700 artisanal fishing boats along the short 169 km coastline. This exceeds the estimated capacity of the country's exclusive economic zone, which should be just 30 industrial vessels, says the Brazzaville-based Wildlife Conservation Society.

Domestic and foreign industrial boats, which are legally authorised to fish, take advantage of weak surveillance to engage in harmful practices, such as using non-compliant fishing gear and ignoring regulated zones. In the port city of Pointe-Noire, artisanal fishermen reportedly catch between 400 and 1 000 sharks a day in peak season. Fishing vessels from China, Spain and South Korea allegedly target West and Central Africa's coasts to trawl for all types of fish, including sharks.

Transhipment at sea - the transferring of stock from one ship to another that takes the catch to its final destination - has become a key way to launder illicit catches into the seafood supply chain. Transhipment also enables fishing vessels to stay at sea for longer. Such illegal operations deny the Republic of the Congo of valuable tax revenues.

Illegal fishing threatens many of the 42 shark species found along the country's coast, including the mako, thresher and scalloped hammerhead, which are listed as 'critically endangered.' These practices also threaten biodiversity and livelihoods. Trawlers destroy ocean ecosystems, damaging the seafloor as they rake up aquatic organisms and devastating vital seagrass and coral reef habitats.

This reduces communities' catches and jeopardises local livelihoods. Artisanal fishers' catches are increasingly made up of juvenile sharks - a worrying indication that shark fishing is becoming unsustainable and could imperil the fishing trade in a few years.

As apex predators, sharks occupy the top of the food chain and keep food webs in balance. Overfishing can cause food webs to become unstable and collapse. Sharks also regulate the behaviour of other animals, preventing the overgrazing of seagrass by turtles and dugongs. Seagrass habitats are essential for the growth of smaller fish populations, and store carbon at 40 times the speed of terrestrial forests.

The Republic of the Congo has 47 laws and decrees on fishery governance. And yet illegal fishing persists due to lax enforcement and sparse surveillance equipment. Civil society organisations should continue to pressure Brazzaville into acknowledging the harms and implementing its laws on shark protection and conservation, as well as the international protocols it has ratified.Prioritising the acquisition, deployment and installation of maritime surveillance technologies, such as boats, shore-based sensors and communications devices, would help. These would collect, transmit and analyse maritime data in real time, including vessel movement, illicit fishing and related maritime crime.

Conservation strategies are essential to preserve endangered shark species in the country's coastal waters. The fisheries directorate should facilitate the creation of fully protected areas for critical habitats, including nursery, breeding and feeding grounds, and migratory routes for the remaining shark species.

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Single strategies won't be sufficient. Solutions should include working with the artisanal fishing sector rather than against it, says Ife Okafor-Yarwood, an expert on maritime governance and security at the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, Scotland.

She told ENACT that the government often targets small-scale players rather than the industrial fishing sector. This is either because they have shared interests due to the revenue they accrue or simply because they have limited capacity to enforce the law. In the long term, working with the artisanal sector could help fill enforcement gaps. Fishers could become the government's eyes on the sea and educate each other on the impact of illegal fishing.

Bilateral cooperation with regional maritime security bodies can also protect sharks from illegal fishing by improving surveillance of the country's exclusive economic zone.

Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator - Central Africa, ISS

This article was first published by ENACT.
Asim Riaz of Bigg Boss 13 fame and actor Aly Goni of Bigg Boss 14 fame have finally left for their Umrah pilgrimage. Asim shared a picture of them together from their flight and wrote on Instagram, Ramadan Mubarak Allah Hu Akbar..! The two were seen wrapped in white robes in the picture. Aly also had a checkered scarf tied as a turban. Aly Goni and Asim Riaz are in Mecca.

Asim's brother Umar Riaz commented on Asim's post, Mashallah! Aly Goni also shared the same picture on his Instagram page. Sussanne Khan and actor Aamir Ali reacted to Aly's post with heart emoticons.

Earlier this week, Aly had shared about his Umrah plans with Asim, who is his childhood friend. He had written in a tweet, "Cant wait this was my biggest dream allhamdulillah My first roza in Mecca .. Allah sab ko yeh mauka de. Ameen And so happy doing my first umrah with my childhood buddy @imrealasim.

Taking to his Instagram Stories, Aly also shared a selfie with Asim from their hotel room and a solo mirror picture of him posing in white clothes.

Not just Asim and Aly, actor Hina Khan also visited Mecca ahead of Ramadan perform her first Umrah. She shared some pictures and videos on her Instagram stories, to show a glimpse of her trip to UAE. She wore a white suit and a white hijab during her time at Mecca. She was seen posing with her family members in some of the pictures.

Former actor Sana Khan also visited Mecca with her husband Anas Saiyad recently. Soon after, she revealed that she was pregnant with her first child. Sharing a picture with Anas, she wrote, Alhamdullilah soooo Happy. This umrah is very very special for some reason which In Sha Allah I will share soon with all. May Allah make it easy.

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Prince Harry is under fresh attack as a new parody of his memoir Spare is set to release on the heels of April Fool's Day. As per reports, author Bruno Vincent has written a parody version of Prince Harry's book, which is titled Spare Us!: A Harrody. (Also read: Prince Harry says he had to cut Spare short for father, brother: 'I dont think they would ever forgive me') A parody version of Prince Harry's memoir Spare is set for release ahead of April Fool's Day.(AP)

Last month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were mocked by the American animated satire series South Park, which came up with its 26th Season on CBS. In Episode 2 of the show titled The Worldwide Privacy Tour, the adult sitcom mocked the couple's demands of wanting privacy without specifically mentioning their names. In the episode, the pair was seen as promoting the Princes new book which is titled 'Waaagh' which was a spoof of Spare. Clips from the show went viral on social media soon after.

Now, as per a report by GB News, author Bruno Vincent has come up with a parody version of Prince Harry's memoir which is set to release shortly after April Fool's Day in the U.K. on April 5. The parody which is titled 'Spare Us!: A Harrody' has the synopsis, "All I had ever wanted was privacy. In order to get it, it seemed that an exceptionally detailed 500,000-word book was in order... He was born into an ancient powerful dynasty and, through no fault of his own, became one of the most recognisable men on the planet. His life was a constant barrage of press intrusion and manipulation. Until finally, he demanded that it stop. In order to get the privacy he so craved, he has written a warts-and-all book that goes deep inside the castle walls and exposes every shouting match, fist-fight, betrayal, teddy bear, awkward hug and tear-stained wedding rehearsal for the world to feast their eyes on. All for privacy!"

Prince Harry's Spare released on January 10, and turned out to become the fastest selling nonfiction book to be ever published. It has sold more than 1.4 million copies in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Prince Harry had also revealed that the book was originally intended to be much longer but he cut it short since he felt he would never be forgiven by the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan tied the knot on May 19, 2018, and have two children -- Archie and Lilibet. In January 2020, the couple stepped down as working royals and later settled in California, US.

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Fourteen political parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal, Trinamool Congress, and DMK on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking pre-arrest and post-arrest guidelines for the CBI and ED due to 'arbitrary arrest of opposition leaders'. The Apex Court agreed to list the plea on April 5. The plea comes a day after a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to 2-year jail in a 2019 defamation case which has become the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition parties. While several non-congress chief ministers condemned the Surat court verdict on Rahul Gandhi, the Congress on Friday scheduled a meeting of the opposition parties. AAP's Manish Sisodia, BRS's K Kavitha and RJD's Tejashwi are the prominent leaders on the radar of the central agencies. 14 parties, led by Cong, move Supreme Court against 'arbitrary use' of CBI, ED(HT_PRINT)

Manish Sisodia has been arrested by CBI and ED in the alleged Delhi liquor scam, K Kavitha has been questioned in connection with the same case and Tejashwi and his family members are being investigated for the land-for-job case.

Congress's Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the 14 parties represent 42% spectrum. "They are saying that democracy is in peril. We are not trying to affect the existing investigation. 95% of cases are on opposition leaders. We are asking for pre- and post-arrest guidelines."

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was suspended from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case joins an ignominious list of members of Parliament and assemblies who faced similar action in the past. Rahul Gandhi joins ignominious list of members of Parliament and assemblies who faced similar action in the past. (ANI)

Also Read | 'Rahul Gandhi paying price for Government rattled': Congress after disqualification setback

According to the Representation of the People Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

Here are some of the lawmakers suspended upon conviction and sentencing in criminal cases:

Lalu Prasad:

The RJD supremo was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction in the fodder scam case in September 2013. He was an MP from Saran in Bihar.

J Jayalalithaa:

AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa was disqualified from the Tamil Nadu Assembly in September 2014 after she was sentenced to four years in jail in a disproportionate assets case. She was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu at the time of her disqualification and had to resign from the post.

P P Mohammed Faizal:

Lakshadweep MP P P Mohammed Faisal of the Nationalist Congress Party stood automatically disqualified after he was sentenced to 10 years in jail in January 2023 in connection with an attempt to murder case. However, the Kerala High Court later suspended his conviction and sentence. According to the MP, the Lok Sabha Secretariat is yet to issue a notification revoking his disqualification.

Azam Khan:

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in October 2022 after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a 2019 hate speech case. He represented Rampur Sadar in the Assembly.

Anil Kumar Sahni:

RJD MLA Anil Kumar Sahni was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in October 2022 after he was sentenced to three years in jail in a case of fraud. He represented the Kurhani assembly seat.

He was held guilty of attempting to avail travel allowance in 2012 using forged Air India e-tickets without having undertaken the journeys. Sahni, who was a JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP at the time of the attempted fraud, had submitted claims of 23.71 lakh.

Vikram Singh Saini:

BJP MLA Vikram Singh Saini was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly with effect from October 2022 after he was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. Saini was an MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar.

Pradeep Chaudhary:

Congress MLA Pradeep Chaudhary was disqualified from the Haryana Assembly in January 2021 after he was sentenced to a three-year jail term in an assault case. He was an MLA from Kalka.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar:

Kuldeep Singh Sengar was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in February 2020 following his conviction in a rape case. Sengar, who was elected from the Bangarmau constituency in Unnao, was earlier expelled by the BJP.

Abdullah Azam Khan:

Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in February 2023, days after a court sentenced him to two-year imprisonment in a 15-year-old case. He represented Suar in Rampur district in the Assembly.

The case against Abdullah Azam Khan, the son of Azam Khan, pertained to a dharna on a highway after his cavalcade was stopped by police for checking following an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007.

Anant Singh:

RJD MLA Anant Singh was disqualified from the Bihar Assembly in July 2022 after being convicted in a case related to the recovery of arms and ammunition from his residence. Singh was an MLA from Mokama in Patna district.
Ajay Banga, the United States nominee for World Bank president, tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in India on Thursday and is quarantining in isolation. Ajay Banga, US nominee for leader of the World Bank. (Reuters File Photo)

Banga arrived in New Delhi for what was to be a two-day visit as the last leg of a three-week global tour to drum up support for his candidature. He began the tour in Africa and then travelled to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

He was originally scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday.

During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for Covid-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation, said a statement from the US treasury department.

Additional information will be provided about Bangas schedule in India when available, it said.

Banga tested positive on arrival in New Delhi, a US embassy spokesperson said. He had conducted multiple tests for Covid-19 during his tour and tested negative before departing for India.

The spokesperson said Banga had not met with any Indian counterparts. He is quarantining in isolation, in adherence to local guidelines.

Also Read:Biden nominates Ajay Banga as US pick for World Bank president

It had earlier been expected that Bangas discussions with his Indian interlocutors would focus on the countrys development priorities, the World Bank and global economic development challenges.

The Indian government endorsed Bangas candidacy soon after his nomination was announced. He has also received support from Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
An intelligence report on Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh has claimed that the radical Sikh leader is no devout Sikh and has been leading a lavish lifestyle in Dubai with frequent trips to Thailand, news agency ANI reported. The report said Amritpal Singh used to beat Kirandeep Kaur whom he married in February this year. Kirandeep was kept in captivity, the report said doubting the Khalistan sympathiser's relationship with other women. Kirandeep Kaur has been questioned by the police reportedly in connection with the foreign funds that Waris Punjab De received. On March 18, the Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on the organisation and its chief. Several arrests have been made while Amritpal Singh remains absconding. Read | Last seen hiding under umbrella, Amritpal Singh may have fled to Uttarakhand | Top points Amritpal Singh had a chequered past which he kept hidden in the interest of the image he has been building in India, a report said.

What the intelligence report on Amritpal Singh reveals:

1. Amritpal Singh is a wife-beater and Kirandeep Kaur was kept in captivity. The duo got married in a modest ceremony in February. Though Kirandeep's family is from Punjab, they settled in UK and Kirandeep is a UK citizen.

2. Amritpal Singh does not talk about his past fearing possible damage to the image he has been building. Before coming to India, Amritpal Singh was a truck driver in Dubai until 2022 when he came to India to become the chief of Waris Punjab De, Deep Sidhu's organisation. Then he styled himself like Bhindranwale and his followers started calling him Bhindranwale 2.0

3. Amritpal may have some Thailand connection, the report deliberated as he travelled to Thailand several times. He might have indulged in prostitution in Thailand or may have a second wife in Thailand, the report raised questions.

4. When Amritpal Singh was abroad, he was not an Amritdhari Sikh and did not follow Sikh religious tenets, the report said.

5. In Dubai, Amritpal Singh was closely involved with drug dealers, the report said adding that he came to close contact with Jaswant Singh, a dealer, whose brother operates from Pakistan.

The report shedding Amritpal Singh's life before he became the self-styled radical preacher comes as his purported WhatsApp chats and messages have been leaked revealing that he was seeking casual relationships with single and married women.

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP a dictatorial move and asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will not be able to suppress the voice of the Opposition. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi(File photo)

Without referring to anyone, outside the Delhi assembly, the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said, The country has to be saved from an arrogant dictator and illiterate person Dismissing Rahul Gandhi ji from the membership of the Lok Sabha is a cowardly act. We respect the judiciary, but we do not agree with this judgment. Everyone is scared in the country Now, people will have to stand up and my appeal to the people - this country belongs to all.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi's first reaction after disqualification: 'Ready to pay any cost

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said in Hindi, The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power."

Kejriwal alleged that the BJP wanted to create a situation wherein there is just one party in the country. This is dictatorship and the BJP government is more dangerous than the British rulers before Independence, he charged.

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the assembly, the Delhi chief minister said under his leadership, an attempt is being made to destroy the country.

Also Read | My guess is: Swara Bhasker's so-called Pappu tweet on Rahul losing LS seat

In a speech, he also accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of obstructing the work of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

"I want to tell BJP people that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, an attempt is being made to destroy the country. Those who want to destroy the country should be in BJP and those who want to save the country should leave BJP," he said.

There was an uproar in the assembly when Kejriwal spoke about the prime minister.

Gandhi was disqualification from the Lok Sabha upon his conviction and sentencing in a criminal defamation case.

Despite political differences, Kejriwal on Thursday backed Gandhi after the Congress MP was handed a suspended two-year jail term for remarks a Gujarat court ruled found defamatory. The Aam Aadmi Party boss accused the Bharatiya Janata Party - in power in Gujarat and at the centre - of hatching a conspiracy... to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them.

(With inputs from PTI)

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INS Chilka (Odisha): The Indian Navys sprawling lakeside training facility, INS Chilka, is brimming with verve and cheer as the countrys first Agniveers  selected under the new Agnipath model for short-term recruitment of soldiers in the three services  are on the threshold of a challenging military career, and prepare to finish their training at the verdant 1,540-acre campus after four gruelling months, in a watershed moment for the countrys armed forces. PREMIUM The passing-out parade will feature 2,600 Agniveers, including more than 270 women. (Rahul Singh/HT)

The landmark passing-out parade, featuring almost 2,600 Agniveers including more than 270 women, will be held on March 28, with navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar attending as the chief guest.

The Agnipath model is a stark departure from the militarys decades-old recruitment system that ended after the government announced the new scheme last year. It seeks to recruit soldiers for only four years, with a provision to retain 25% of them in regular service for another 15 years after further screening.

The scheme was presented as a fait accompli, and greeted with scepticism by the Opposition parties, large sections of veterans, and hordes of defence aspirants.

The beaming faces at INS Chilka, the optimism among Agniveers about what lies ahead, and the smooth implementation of the scheme thus far appears to allay some of the early concerns about Agnipath. The Agniveers  HT interacted with more than 50 of them at INS Chilka  say they are ready to enter uncharted territory, looking forward to their role in a military that is on the cusp of a new era, and have no feelings of uncertainty about the future.

Thats what training does to you, says Sahil Saini, a 19-year-old from Haryanas Bhiwani, while taking a break from a swimming class at Matsya, the Olympic-size pool at INS Chilka.

Like several others, he says it doesnt really matter to him if he gets to serve only for four years as the wealth of skills he picks up in naval service will lay the foundation for him to succeed in any career he later chooses.

I am no longer the boy I was when I walked through the gates of INS Chilka, said Saini. I am not exaggerating when I say training has transformed me. I am a new man with more strength and endurance, I have become more confident, I now have the ability to make decisions, work in a team, and, above all, I have developed discipline. If four months have done this to me, imagine what I will be at the end of four years.

In June 2022, India announced the Agnipath scheme replacing the legacy recruitment system to lower the age profile of the armed forces, ensure a fitter military, and create a technically skilled war-fighting force capable of meeting future challenges. The scheme is expected to bring down the average age of soldiers in the armed forces from the current 32 years to 24-26 years over the next five to six years. Candidates aged between 17-and-a-half and 21 are eligible for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme.

Tanuja Bhatt, the 19-year-old daughter of a farmer from Uttarakhand, says she will give it her all to be a part of the 25% of Agniveers who will be selected to serve in the regular cadre.

Training has toughened me up, shaped my personality, enhanced my adaptability skills, and helped me realise my potential. My first priority will be to stay in the navy. However, with the skills and knowledge under my belt now, pursuing another career if needed isnt a frightening prospect, she said.

Agniveers will also get job quotas in different government departments, paramilitary forces, merchant navy and other organisations.

She recalls how several girls who reported for training at INS Chilka in late November 2022 wept when their waist-length hair was cut to military standards. We crack jokes about it now. If you see us on the parade ground, you cant make out whos a boy and whos a girl.

The Agniveers have been rehearsing for the passing-out parade for more than four hours every day since March 3. The men and women will now go for ship attachments for two weeks before undergoing specialised training at different naval establishments based on the streams they have been assigned to.

The navy began inducting women as officers in the short-service stream three decades ago, but they are being recruited as sailors for the first time, and will soon get opportunities to serve aboard warships, and later submarines. It is the first service to recruit women in the personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre across all streams  the army currently recruits them only in the Corps of Military Police. The Indian Air Force will later this year start inducting women under the Agnipath scheme.

Senior officers and instructors at INS Chilka say the calibre of Agniveers is no different from that of the trainees who were selected under the legacy system.

The basic training has been compressed from 21 weeks to 16 weeks, but the standards have not been diluted. I have been at INS Chilka for more than two years, and have seen many batches. The Agniveers are as good as those who have trained here before them, said Commodore NP Pradeep, the commanding officer of INS Chilka.

The naval base is named after Chilika lake, which is spread across 1,165 sq km in Odishas Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts.

Some of the trainees say they were discouraged by people known to them from opting for the Agnipath scheme as there was a high chance of being released from service after four years.

A lot of people asked me what will I do after four years if I dont make the cut for regular service. They said my future wasnt secure. But I didnt care then and I dont care now as I always dreamt of serving in the armed forces. We are clear about the selection criteria after four years, we know what options we have outside the navy, and we are confident of taking charge of our lives when the time comes, said Manpreet Singh, an 18-year-old from Punjabs Sangrur.

In January, the army came out with a detailed criteria to rate the performance of its Agniveers, with their assessment to be based on parameters including operational aptitude, weapon proficiency, physical fitness and tests to evaluate other soldierly skills. The performance evaluation will determine who is released after four years and who gets to serve in the regular cadre. The navy and air force are expected to follow similar rating standards, with focus on service-specific requirements.

The Agniveers of the army and air force began their training in December-end and early January, respectively, and will pass out from their training establishments in June after six months of training.

The armys first batch of 19,000 Agniveers began training in early January followed by another 21,000 in the second round in March. The armys Agniveers are training at regimental centres in Ahmednagar, Nashik, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Bengaluru, Ramgarh, Danapur, Ranikhet and Goa. The IAFs first batch of 3,000 Agniveers is training at the Airmen Training School at Belagavi in Karnataka.

The entire country is watching how the Agniveers will perform, says Rajesh Barada, a 19-year-old from Odisha. People have had all kinds of apprehensions about the scheme. Some have even doubted the motivation and commitment of Agniveers as the majority of them will be out after four years. We know we will do our best in the armed forces, and will take the same work ethic wherever we go.

Financial independence at a fairly young age also matters a lot to these Agniveers. Almost 90% of those at INS Chilka come from rural or underprivileged backgrounds, say officials who are monitoring their training. They will draw an annual salary of 4.76 lakh in the first year of service and 6.92 lakh in the fourth, will get a non-contributory insurance cover of 48 lakh, and an additional ex-gratia payment of 44 lakh for death attributable to service.

Those released after four years will get 11.71 lakh as Seva Nidhi severance package, including 5.02 lakh contributed by them during their service.

Summing up the training experience, Simran Bidhan, a 20-year-old from Kaithal, said, I have learnt more in the last four months than in all the years before that. I think I took the best decision of my life.

The Agniveers will be stepping out of their campus for the first time after four months. With a spring in their step.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday criticised the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a member of Parliament, calling it a murder of democracy. Thackeray said that calling thief a thief has become crime in this country and asserted it was the beginning of the end of dictatorship. (Also Read | Politics with gloves off: Congress leaders on Rahul's Lok Sabha disqualification) Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray.(PTI)

Rahul Gandhi's membership of parliament has finally terminated. Calling a thief as thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves looting the country are still free and Rahul Gandhi has been punished. This is a direct murder of democracy, the former Maharashtra chief minister said.

"All government systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of dictatorship, he added.

Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi called the action vindictive and shameful.

This disqualification yet again proves that we are living in the times of caged democracy, she tweeted.

Gandhi lost his Lok Sabha seat after a lower court in Gujarat found him of guilty of defamation over his remarks about Modi surname and he was disqualified from the lawmaking body.

Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha member. Here's what the notification says

The case against Gandhi dates back to an election rally in 2019 when he said: Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname? and went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi. The defamation case was filed by BJP leader Purnesh Modi, claiming Gandhis comments had defamed the entire Modi community.

Gandhi, who represented Wayanad constituency in Kerala, was disqualified from his membership in Lok Sabha from March 23, the date of his conviction.

The court granted Rahul Gandhi bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. The Congress leader can now only escape disqualification as a Lok Sabha member if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.

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Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Friday said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre was scared of Rahul Gandhi and condemned the disqualification of Indias young leader as Member of Parliament as a fascist act. Tamil Nadu CM says ruling BJP is scared of Rahul Gandhi as a member of Parliament. (Samir Jana/HT Photo)

It is now clear how much the BJP is scared of Rahul Gandhi. The impact created by brother Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra is also a reason for BJPs fear, Stalin said in a statement on Friday.

Nobody from the Union Government has responded so far for any of Rahul Gandhis accusations at the Parliament. They have disqualified him with the fear of Rahul Gandhi entering into Parliament again will jeopardise their politics. By doing so, the BJP has lost all rights to even utter the term democracy.

To disqualify Rahul Gandhi as an MP, before he could go for an appeal is nothing but snatching away the right of an elected Member of Parliament, Stalin said in solidarity with his main ally the Congress. This amounts to threatening and curtailing the fundamental democratic right of a national partys leader and an MP to express his opinion, he said.

Stalin demanded that Gandhis disqualification be revoked. It is not fair for the Union Government to disqualify someone from the Parliament instead of trying to answer the valid questions raised by them. I demand that the disqualification be revoked, he said. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi is an onslaught on all the progressive  democratic forces of our country. All the political parties in India shall realise this and we should oppose them unitedly.

Stalin was the first leader in India to endorse Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate during a campaign rally in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, believes that Eskom employees are the heart of resolving the ongoing energy crisis.

"My view has always been the biggest asset for any organisation is its workers and the reason we're starting from the bottom up is to appreciate and understand the efforts being made at the station level," he told media on Monday.

The Minister said this during a tour of the Duvha Power Station in Mpumalanga, where he kick-started his engagements with management, workers, and unions at Eskom's 14 power stations nationwide.

"I committed to the country that we'll be at the station level, examining the issues that affect every unit and getting from the station manager, organised labour and workers about what are the interventions, in their opinion, they think are appropriate to help scale up energy availability," he told media.

He shot down the view that his fact-finding exercise was sparked by the national shutdown that has been called by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

However, he said he will, in the next seven days continue to talk with workers to understand the nature and scale of the problem and update the Energy Action Plan (EAP), which President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled last year.

Ramokgopa believes that the EAP's first pillar, which speaks to improving the availability of existing supply system stability and increasing generation capacity was important.

He said this would enable Eskom to address the 6 000 MW deficit in the energy ecosystem, which according to the Minister, will be derived from the 81 Eskom existing units across the country.

"It's important that we have an appreciation that the people who live and breathe these units are the people from Eskom. Some of them have accumulated experience of 25 years," he said.

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"We're joined at the hip and it's them who are in the cold face of the day-to-day interaction of these units. But I'm the public face of how we're going to resolve load shedding."

South Africans have been experiencing lower stages of load shedding for the first time in a long while this past weekend, with some citizens quipping that "they do not know what to do with so much power".

"To get to a stage where people find it very strange to have electricity for a day or two days in succession... underscores the gravity of the problem."

However, he said government's interventions did not start with the Minister of Electricity.

"The Energy Action Plan has been there and all we're doing [is] accelerating [the action] and of course, we can see that six power stations are beginning to pick up and the energy availability factor is going up," he said.

President Ramaphosa appointed Ramokgopa to the post on 6 March.

Ramokgopa's primary goal, according to the President, will be to drive government's programme of significantly reducing the "severity and frequency of load shedding as a matter of urgency" and to expedite government's work to ensure the full implementation of the EAP.

"I am confident about our ability to address the crisis," he said.
Decades of patience have borne fruit for a village in Kerala that holds close to its heart an art form that defines the states heritage  Kathakali. Nearly 30 years after first raising their demand for the change, a little-known village called Ayroor (South) on the banks of Pamba river in Pathanamthitta district will finally be renamed Kathakali Gramam. The landmark of the village post office will be rechristened Kathakali Gramam (PO) soon. (HT Photo)

Villagers here swear their life is entwined with the classical dance form and are third generation connoisseurs of the temple art that is known for its colourful headgear, costume and mudra.

Now, the landmark of the village post office will be rechristened Kathakali Gramam (PO) soon after the panchayat received the letter of approval from the Union home ministry and survey generals office on Tuesday.

We are happy our long-standing demand has finally been met. It is a recognition for the village and its rich cultural heritage. We were told this is the first time a village is getting the name after an art form, said panchayat president Ambili Prabhakaran Nair.

Villagers say their ordeal began in 1995 when they started the Pathanamthitta Kathakali Club in 1995 to preserve the rich tradition of the art form.

We had many Kathakali acharayas in our village who followed the Gurukul system. But with the passage of time, the tradition faded away. Art lovers formed a club in 1995 to retain that glory, said founder secretary of the club VR Vimal Raj.

In 2010, the Ayroor panchayat had unanimously passed a resolution to change the name and the state government gave its nod in 2018, he said.

For the past 17 years, we have been conducting a Kathakali festival in the village. Nearly 10,000 children, many gurus and art lovers participate in the week-long festival. We also impart academic training in schools. Now, we plan to set up a Kathakali Museum, Raj said, adding that the dance form has two traditions  north and south  and their village was famous for the southern school.

Kathakali has been an integral part of our lives. Earlier, there were night-long Kathakali yogams (meetings) and discussions. While the southern school has Kalamandalam (a deemed to be university), we need a full-fledged academy for the northern system, said club joint secretary G Jayaram, addingt that the new recognition will help realise their dream.

State culture minister VN Vasavan said the government will help set up a Kalamandalam-like institute in Ayroor soon.

Many Kathakali exponents such as Kalamandalam Gopi and Kalamandalam Balasubramanian lauded the struggle of villagers for the sake of their favourite art form.

I salute the spirit of the village, and this shows how they toiled for their art form. It is the best thing to ever happen for Kathakali, Balasubramanian, the former dean of Kerala Kalamandalam, said.

Tourist mandarins are also upbeat because the art form is the official mascot of Kerala.

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The Congress on Friday welcomed the statements of opposition leaders condemning Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha and said it was now time for the party to take on the job of building the opposition unity in a "systematic way". The grand old party also said it has been coordinating with various opposition parties in Parliament and now the coordination has to be outside the two Houses as well. (Also Read | Shashi Tharoor finds irony in Rahul Gandhi saga: BJP govt decided to reveal) Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Abhishek Manu Singhvi address the press conference, at AICC, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo)

Leaders of almost all opposition parties on Friday rallied around Rahul Gandhi, after he was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Gujarat court in a defamation case, and accused the BJP of doing "vindictive politics".

The Congress said it will fight the battle legally and politically for its former president. It got the support of parties such as the TMC, AAP, Samajwadi Party, and BRS, which had earlier said they would maintain equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress.

Addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party welcomes the statements by opposition leaders condemning the action against Gandhi.

It was noted today that many opposition parties have condemned the action taken by the government unilaterally with such lightning speed to disqualify Rahul Gandhi, he said.

"Yes, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Everyday Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been meeting floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. So we are coordinating in Parliament and now coordination has to be outside Parliament," he said after a meeting of top brass of the party, including party chief Kharge and former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi.

"It is also heartening to note that parties which were not part of this floor coordination in Parliament have now issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," Ramesh said, adding that the Congress welcomes the statement of support of all opposition leaders.

(Also Read | Indian American lawmaker tweets in support of Rahul Gandhi: 'deep betrayal of')

State units and frontal organisations of the Congress will launch different programmes across the country and they will begin from Monday with a countrywide agitation, he said.

"We will go all over the country saying that Rahul Gandhi has been deliberately disqualified, as he has been raising his voice against the Modi government on various issue including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and the government's intentions and policies," Ramesh said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party TMC, has been at odds with the Congress over remarks made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and has been absent in opposition marches held over the last few weeks, reacted strongly against Gandhi's disqualification.

"In PM (Narendra) Modi's New India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the Cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," Banerjee tweeted.

"Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she added.

Support for Gandhi came from parties which have stood by the Congress through the last few weeks as the party led the opposition on the Adani issue. Voices of anger, shock and disbelief came from parties such as the RJD, JMM, CPI, CPI-M, Shiv Sena, DMK, and NCP, among others.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Gandhi's disqualification as shocking and called on the public to rise against the BJP's "arrogant" power.

"The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power," he said in a tweet.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called for "fighting on the street" against the BJP.

"The person who has alleged defamation should actually accuse those of it who betrayed their country and fled abroad, causing harm to their name and fame," he said.

BRS national president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said that the disqualification of Gandhi was a "black day" in the history of Indian democracy and shows the height of Narendra Modi's "arrogance and dictatorship".
The Congress party on Friday said that the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 2019 defamation case and subsequent disqualification as member of Lok Sabha was no coincidence, linking it with his speech in the lower house during the Budget session where he attacked beleaguered billionaire Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said the complainant, a BJP MLA, withdrew his own petition seeking a stay on the trial court proceedings days after Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha. (Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha member | Follow LIVE updates here) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi showing old photo of Gautam Adani with then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

9 days after Rahul Gandhi's Adani speech in [Lok Sabha] on Feb 7th, the defamation case against him gets fast tracked by the complainant withdrawing his own stay in the [High Court] on 16th Feb. On 27th Feb arguments resume after 1 year. 17th March judgement reserved, Ramesh tweeted. This is no coincidence.

In March last year, the Gujarat high court granted an interim stay on the criminal defamation proceedings after BJP MLA Purnesh Modi approached it challenging the lower court order rejecting his application to make the accused (Gandhi) "personally explain the contents of the CDs and/or pen drives and/or any such other electronic records" related to his controversial speech. The high court, in an order dated February 16, vacated the stay on the proceedings against Gandhi after the BJP MLA withdrew his application demanding the the Congress leader's personal appearance in the lower court.

Also Read | My guess is: Swara Bhasker's so-called Pappu tweet on Rahul losing LS seat

Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also linked the disqualification with Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha and listed the chronology of the case.

Amazing alacrity & sudden change of tactics by complainant, he said in a tweet, which was retweeted by AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in what is seen as a sudden shift in the dynamics of Opposition ranks.

The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power, Kejriwal earlier said in a tweet.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, along with several other Opposition parties, also expressed strong support for Rahul Gandhi.

In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP ! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," Banerjee tweeted.

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Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Friday claimed Rahul Gandhi would not have been disqualified from Lok Sabha had he apologised for his alleged critical remarks about the Indian democracy. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and party President Mallikarjun Kharge come out after attending the meeting of party MPs at the party office, Parliament premises, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo)(AICC)

Gandhi is a senior leader and was the president of the Congress, he should have known he should not speak "against the country" during a visit abroad, Athawale told reporters here.

Also Read | Arrogant dictator, illiterate: Arvind Kejriwal as Rahul Gandhi disqualified

"Had Rahul Gandhi apologised, the situation would not have reached his disqualification," he said.

The minister of state for social justice and empowerment also said that Gandhi had "insulted" a large group of people with his remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

"Someone moved to the court, which awarded him (Gandhi) two years punishment," he said.

Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi reacts after Rahul Gandhi disqualified, mentions 3 names

Athawale said the BJP and the NDA had protested over Gandhi's remarks but "there was no effect on Rahul Gandhi".

The Congress leader was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail. Gandhi has been given bail and 30 days to appeal against the order in a higher court.

Congress has said it will fight the case "legally and politically".

"The decision taken by our Speaker Om Birla is right. It was necessary to punish Rahul Gandhi. The issue of the court is a separate thing," Athawale said, justifying the Lok Sabha Secretariat's decision to disqualify Gandhi.

"Rahul Gandhi is the leader of Congress. He has remained president of the party. Congress party has remained in power for 60-70 years. Rahul Gandhi should have known that he should not speak against the country after travelling outside the country. We have a democracy," the Union minister said.

The democracy in the country is very powerful, he said, adding that the government of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee fell by just one vote in 1999.

"The country is governed by the Constitution given to us by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar," he said.

During a visit to the UK earlier this month, Gandhi had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under "brutal attack" and there is a full-scale assault on the institutions of the country.

His comments triggered a major political row in India and the BJP launched a offensive against him demanding a public apology from him for what it alleged has insulted the country and its institutions on foreign soil.
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What if: Vivek Agnihotri shares idea to show solidarity to Rahul Gandhi

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Friday shared an idea where he suggested all Congress MPs and MLAs to go for mass resignation as a sign of solidarity to Rahul Gandhi after he was disqualified today as a Lok Sabha member. Read more

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Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was on Friday disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after 19 years as a lawmaker, a day after a Surat court pronounced him guilty of criminal defamation for a remark he made ahead of the 2019 general elections about the Modi surname. HT Image

The announcement came via a notification issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat and sparked a wave of condemnation from Opposition parties, including the Congress that said it will launch a mass movement, even as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Gandhi had insulted backward groups with his comment.

I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any cost, Gandhi tweeted hours after he was expelled from the Lower House.

BJP chief JP Nadda called Gandhi arrogant. He repeatedly hurt the sentiments of the OBCs, he added.

Under the law, the conviction and two-year jail term renders Gandhi unfit to enter either House of Parliament for a period of eight years. But this can be reversed if he can get the conviction overturned or reduced by a higher court, something his party vowed to do at the earliest.

Consequent upon his conviction by the court of chief judicial magistrate, Surat... Rahul Gandhi, member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad parliamentary constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023, the notification, signed by Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh, said.

The development comes a year before general elections in India and months ahead of a clutch of key assembly elections where the Congress and the BJP square off against each other. The disqualification also sparked a rare moment of Opposition unity, with nearly every opposition leader backing Gandhi, 52, and calling it a new low for constitutional democracy.

Its not just a fight of the Congress or Rahul Gandhi, its a fight of the entire opposition, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Any elected representative who is sentenced for any offence for a period of two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of People Act, 1951 (RP Act). One provision of the Act that granted three months protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as ultra vires by the Supreme Court.

In 2019 at a rally in Karnataka, Gandhi asked the crowd, How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname? The reference was to fugitives Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi, and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Later that year, Gujarat lawmaker Purnesh Modi filed a case against Gandhi in Surat, saying the opposition leader had insulted all members of the Modi community.

On Thursday, the district court agreed, convicting Gandhi under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which provides for imprisonment of up to two years, and later released on bail. The court suspended the sentence for 30 days on Gandhis plea.

But this wasnt enough to save his parliamentary seat.

The Lok Sabha notification said Gandhi was disqualified from the day of the conviction under Constitutions Article 102(1)(e) read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act. Earlier in the day, a Lok Sabha official said that the background work on a decision on the disqualification started on Thursday night and didnt take much time to get legal approval because of existing precedents of disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

This is the seventh case against Gandhi. In the National Herald case, he was granted bail in December 2015.

In November 2016, a Maharashtra court granted him bail for his comments linking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to Mahatma Gandhis assassination. Earlier that year, he got bail by a Guwahati court in another defamation case.

In another defamation case arising from the same 2019 comment on Modi, Gandhi was given bail by a Patna court on July 6, 2019. The same year, Gandhi made bail in an Ahmedabad court in another a defamation case.

On July 4, 2019, the Congress leader was granted bail by a Mumbai court in a defamation case for his comments on the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh.

The Congress said Gandhi, who began his parliamentary career in 2004 from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, was targeted for the success of his Bharat Jodo Yatra and speaking out on allegations of fraud levelled at the Adani Group, which prompted 16 opposition parties to unite behind the demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the allegations.

Gandhi was putting forward the truth before the country so they were not liking it, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.

BJP chief JP Nadda accused Gandhi of being arrogant and said he will face the peoples punishment in the 2024 polls. He repeatedly hurt the sentiments of the OBCs. The Surat court has convicted him for his objectionable comments against the community. But Rahul Gandhi and the Congress stuck to those remarks due to their arrogance, he added.

9 days after RahulGandhis Adani speech in LS on February 7, the defamation case against him gets fast tracked by the complainant withdrawing his own stay in the HC on February 16. On February 27, arguments resume after one year. March 17, judgment reserved. This is no coincidence, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

The Congress said it had started the process of approaching a sessions court in Gujarat to get a stay on the conviction in the next 30 days (failing which Gandhi will have to go to jail). In the meeting of the Congress leaders, one MP said that all MPs of the party should tender mass resignations, said people aware of developments. A committee will be formed to decide on the next course of action.

Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, who will now handle Gandhis appeal in the sessions court, said, Our top priority is to get a stay in the conviction. If the Election Commission tries to notify Lok Sabha by-election in Wayanad, we will move another petition.

Singhvi argued there were three major loopholes in the way Gandhi was disqualified. Disqualification has to be done by President after taking a legal opinion. While the Election Commission said the Lok Sabha Speaker can do it in a criminal case, EC order is not above the highest law of the land, the Constitution.

Gandhi is the third MP to be disqualified from the Lower House in the 17th Lok Sabha after Samajwadi Party lawmaker Azam Khan (March last year) and Nationalist Congress Partys Mohammad Faizal, who was disqualified this January after being convicted in a criminal case. The Election Commission of India (ECI) in January withheld the bypoll to the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha seat, days after the Kerala high court suspended the conviction and the sentence of Faizal in a 2009 attempt to murder case.

Gandhi is also not the first person in his family to be disqualified. His grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi was also removed from her seat in 1975. Others include former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad.

As a former MP, Gandhi will draw pension and be entitled to train tickets, but will have to vacate his official bungalow at Tughlaq Lane in due time, unless the Congress can get a stay on the conviction.

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The background work on taking a decision on Congress lawmaker Rahul Gandhis disqualification has started, a Lok Sabha official told HT on Friday and added it will take less than 10 minutes to prepare the file and get a legal consultation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (PTI)

If a decision is taken on Friday, the Lok Sabha Speaker will announce it in the House as per convention, said the official, who did not want to be named.

Gandhi faces disqualification from Parliament after a court in Gujarats Surat held him guilty of criminal defamation for a remark he made ahead of the 2019 national polls about the Modi surname.

The official cited above said there are precedents including the recent disqualification of the Lakshadweep Member of Parliament.

Gandhi will have to appeal to a higher court and get a stay on the conviction to prevent the disqualification - something the Congress party said it will do  to take the next step.

Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi told HT they will move a sessions court against Gandhis conviction this weekend.

Gandhi was convicted under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which provide for imprisonment of up to two years, and later was released on bail. The court suspended the sentence for 30 days on Gandhis plea.

Any elected representative sentenced for any offence for two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of People Act, 1951. One provision of the Act that granted three-month protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as ultra vires by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case.

In Gandhis case, the Surat court suspended his sentence for 30 days at the request of his legal team, to give him an opportunity to challenge the decision.
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have registered a case under several penal provisions, including Indias anti-terror law, against Indian nationals allegedly involved in a violent protest by pro-Khalistan groups outside the Indian high commission in London during which an activist pulled down the national flag. Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by the Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India in London on Sunday. (MATV, London)

The case was registered by the city polices special cell, which investigates terrorist activities, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity on Friday. The first information report (FIR) was registered on the directions of the Union home ministry, which asked police to take legal action on the basis of a report received from the external affairs ministry about the protest on March 19.

The FIR invoked provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

People familiar with the matter said action was taken after authorities in London identified some Indian nationals allegedly involved in the protest. In this context, authorities invoked provisions of UAPA related to actions on foreign soil that threaten the security and sovereignty of India and that damage or destroy property in a foreign country used for any purposes of the Indian government or its agencies, the people said.

Also Read | A familiar, pitiful response by the UK to anti-India crimes

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing that an incident report on Sundays protest outside the Indian high commission in London had been shared with relevant agencies. Now it is up to the law enforcement agencies to do what they feel they can do about it, he said.

Asked about UK foreign minister James Cleverlys comments about steps being taken to ensure the security of the Indian mission, Bagchi said: We are not interested in just assurances, I think we would like to see action.

The Indian side has raised concerns related to the security of missions with authorities in Australia, Canada and the UK over the past few weeks. Bagchi said the vandalisation of the Indian mission in London and the consulate in San Francisco had been strongly taken up with the UK and the US.

We expect host governments will take action to identify and prosecute all those involved and take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We would hope host governments provide full and adequate protection to our missions as well as to the personnel working there, he said.

Besides lodging strong diplomatic protests, the Indian side reduced security around the British high commission and the envoys official residenct in Delhi this week.

Bagchi declined to comment on the cancellation of an event in Canadas British Columbia province, which was to be attended by the Indian envoy, because of a violent protest by pro-Khalistan activists on Sunday. It is our expectation that in any country, our diplomats can perform their legitimate and normal diplomatic duties and functions and that the host government will ensure a conducive environment for doing so, he said.

The protest in London on March 19 began hours after Punjab Police launched a statewide manhunt against pro-Khalistani separatist preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers, arresting nearly 100 people after suspending mobile internet and text messaging services across the state. Singh, who was accused in eight FIRs of abduction, inciting violence and disturbing social harmony, is linked to the Khalistani secessionist movement and is chief of Waris Punjab De.

The people cited above have said recent protests by pro-Khalistan elements in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US were apparently coordinated. This has been accompanied by posts on social media in these countries making unsubstantiated claims about a crackdown in Punjab and oppression of Sikhs.

Bagchi also referred to remarks by foreign parliamentarians and leaders on the situation in Punjab and said authorities in the state are conducting an operation to nab a fugitive. Information regarding that operation is being shared by authorities in Punjab regularly. We would urge people abroad not to be taken in by inaccurate and motivated narratives that are being circulated by some elements on social media, he added.

A Delhi Police officer said the special cell is gathering information about people linked to Amritpal Singh. Last week, one Daljit Singh Kalsi was arrested in Gurugram on the instructions of NIA. This close aide of Singh left his residence in Punjabi Bagh area in 2016. He got 35 crore from abroad in the last two years and his phone records show he made multiple calls to Pakistan, the second officer alleged.

Kalsi, considered to be Singhs fundraiser, is among seven people taken into custody and shifted to Assams Dibrugarh over the past week.

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As part of our Walled City dictionary series that is exploring every significant Old Delhi person and place. Delhiwale: The Daryaganj book merchant

He isnt from Old Delhi, yet an integral part of it. Hari Narayan Ojha, 83, came of age in the Walled City. Today, his sons run, in the historic quarters Daryaganj, a relatively new bookstore borne out of his herculean struggles. A simple exchange of namaste with the graceful gent is akin to coming face-to-face with an Old Delhi monument. His brief biography, in his words.

I was born in Gonda, UP, before the azadi. My father died very early. When I turned 20, I ran away from home. Had only 13 rupees. Remember boarding a passenger (train). Took three-four days to reach Dilli.

I started as a salesman at Jain Book Agency in Connaught Place; later switched to Lyall Book Depot on Ansari Road. Later, joined Prakash Book Agency, in Connaught Place. During these first eighteen years in the trade, I learned which books sell, how demands of certain titles go up, or go down

I was putting so much hard work, not at all proportional to the low salary I was getting. So I quit the job.

One day I went to Nari Sarak in Purani Dilli, and purchased a book for 50 rupees. I took it to Connaught Place and sold it to a (book) supplier for 100 rupees. Next day I went to Nai Sarak again, got books for 100 rupees, and sold them in Connaught Place for 200 rupees so it continued. I had been a book salesman for several years. I had the experience.

Soon, I took a kothri, a small room, in Purani Dillis Chandni Mahal on rent. I fitted it with book racks and a telephone, and made it my base. These were the important years of my life. I would supply books as a wholesaler across Delhi, and beyond. Dealing mainly with tourist books, I expanded my business dheere-dheere to many places that would be visited by tourists, like Connaught Place, South Extension, and to cities like Jaipur, Agra, Kathmandu, Benares.

I moved out of Purani Dilli after 13 years and set up a shop at Subhash Chowk, in Lakshmi Nagar, where so many Purani Dilli people have migrated from their tang galiyan and mohalle.

Seven years back, I helped my sons, Rajesh and Ramesh, start this bookshop, here in Daryaganj. I come here every evening from our home in Shakarpur, in a bus.

Im still surprised when I recall that I built this world out of just 50 rupees. I would be working all the time. Years passed so quickly.

The bookstore patriarch now stands by a young book browser and poses for a portrait.

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Teams of the Delhi Police and Punjab Police reportedly conducted search operations in the national capital and its borders after receiving intelligence inputs of sighting of fugitive pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and his mentor Papalpreet Singh at Delhi's Inter State Bus Terminal or ISBT recently. Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh. (HT File)

A senior Delhi police official, who asked not to be named, told HT that the Punjab Police had information that Amritpal, in the guise of a sadhu (monk), had boarded a bus late on March 20 and deboarded near Peepli on the Rajasthan-Haryana border in Jhunjhnu district the next morning.

Also Read: Punjab Police finds videos of Amritpal Singh's outfit 'AKF', 'Khalistani flag' pics. Who is Tajinder Gill?

To track the travelling trail, the driver and other staff of the bus were questioned on Friday at the ISBT. It was a routine affair, nothing special, the officer said.

News agency ANI reported that the Punjab Police expressed doubts about Amritpal entering the Delhi border using any vehicle other than a bus. Following the input, the Delhi Police went on alert mode and is trying to track Amritpal's movements.

An alert has also been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the Uttarakhand as a precaution in view of the possibility Amritpal entering the state.

Uttarakhand director general of police Ashok Kumar has said. "An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh entering the state," the DGP told ANI.

Also Read | Amritpal Singh kept wife Kirandeep Kaur in captivity, used to beat her: Report

He said that the police are conducting intensive checking on the borders of all three districts and in other areas. Significantly, all three districts of the state have been affected by terrorism in the 90s, he added.

Amritpal Singh, who took over as 'Waris Punjab De' chief after its founder actor-activist Deep Sindhu's death last year, is on the run after police launched a massive crackdown on March 18 in Punjab and arrested several of his supporters.

It began weeks after the preacher and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar on February 23 to secure the release of an arrested associate. The episode raised fears over the possibility of the return of Khalistani militancy to Punjab that borders Pakistan.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)

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Droughts in Somalia may have killed an estimated 43,000 people last year, a new report by the Somali government and United Nations said.

The report released Monday said half of the drought-related deaths may have occurred among children under the age of 5.

The highest death rates were estimated to have occurred in south central Somalia, including the Bay, Bakool and Banadir regions -- the current epicenter of the drought according to the report -- which presents retrospective estimates of mortality across Somalia from January to December 2022.

Somalia's Ministry of Health, and two U.N. organizations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released the report.

"This report has clearly indicated that the impact of the drought that is unprecedented in this country, had a severe impact on the lives of the people of Somalia," WHO Somalia told VOA Somali.

"This report has clearly indicated that the impact of the drought that is unprecedented in this country had a severe impact on the lives of the people of Somalia," WHO Somali Representative Dr. Mamunur Rahman Malik told VOA Somali.

Malik said because of the droughts the estimated number of deaths in 2022 is 208,000. In the absence of droughts, the number of deaths expected was estimated to be 165,000 people.

"The difference is 43,000, and this is what we are calling 'excess deaths' meaning that these 43,000 deaths would not have happened if there was no drought or food hunger-like situation in 2022 in Somalia. So that's the interpretation we are giving."

Malik said due to hunger in Somalia, immunity to diseases has gone down, which caused the deaths.

"Some of the diseases, which are easily preventable like measles, diarrhea diseases, cholera have killed these 43,000 people, excess in number compared to the usual number," he said.

"I think it was [an] inability to provide health care during that period that claimed the lives of these people, some of these deaths are preventable and this is the learning that we are doing. We need to bring health care and health services closer to the people where they are."

The report warns that although famine has been averted, the drought situation is not over. The report estimates that from January to June this year, 135 people might also die each day due to the hunger crisis, with total deaths projected to fall between 18,100 and 34,200 during this period.

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"We continue to be concerned about the level and scale of the public health impact of this deepening and protracted food crisis in Somalia," said Somali Minister of Health Dr. Ali Haji Adam.

He said he is optimistic that the risk of famine can be pushed back if ongoing health and nutrition efforts are sustained and scaled.

"We, therefore, urge all our partners and donors to continue to support the health sector in building a resilient health system that works for everyone and not for the few," he said.

"Building a healthier and happier world for all Somalis remains at the heart of our government."

Humanitarian agencies in Somalia said droughts in the country have affected 7.8 million people and are blamed for 3.5 million livestock deaths.

The International Rescue Committee said it's "deeply concerned" by the report.

"These deaths are absolutely preventable," Shashwat Saraf, IRC's Regional Emergency Director of East Africa, said in a statement.

Saraf urged the U.N. to prioritize countries at the highest risk, such as Somalia, and urged donors to support a national effort to extend lifesaving malnutrition treatment to children in need.
Angry Congress workers came out in Wayanad, Rahul Gandhis Lok Sabha constituency in north Kerala, as news about his disqualification from the lower house of Parliament surfaced and blocked roads at several places shouting slogans against the union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Workers laid siege to many central government offices in the district and police also stepped up security for BJP-RSS offices in the district. (Agencies)

Workers laid siege to many central government offices in the district and police also stepped up security for BJP-RSS offices in the district. Gandhi was in his constituency three days back after taking a break from his Karnataka tour.

This is witch-hunt. He will bounce back with renewed vigour to unseat Modi, a worker turned emotional in Kalpetta. Party leaders have asked agitated workers to keep utmost restraint as the sleepy hilly district turned noisy in no time.

Besides Wayanad party workers carried out protest rallies throughout the state. Train traffic was disrupted in Kozhikode for few minutes after Youth Congress workers took out a procession to the railway station. In 2019 election Gandhi won the seat with a margin of over 4 lakh votes. The disqualification will also bar the 52-year-old leader from contesting poll for eight years, if it was not stayed by a higher court.

Modi is scared of Rahul Gandhi that is why he was unseated with the speed of wind. But he will have to pay for hounding Gandhi like this. People will never forgive Modi, said party legislator from Kalpetta T Siddique. Former Defence Minister A K Antony, opposition leader V D Satheesan, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala and many others criticised the move. It is a black day for democracy, said Antony in the state capital.

The sudden decision of the Lok Sabha secretariat also saw a marked shift in dynamics of opposition parties as they all rallied behind the beleaguered leader. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among first few leaders from the opposition to decry the decision. A prominent leader of the opposition is attacked like this. What respect do they give to our constitutional values? The use of force to suppress dissent is a fascist method. All democratic forces in the country should stand together and condemn the action taken against Rahul Gandhi, he said in his Facebook post.
Fresh thunderstorms and hailstorm activity expected in northwest and central India until the weekend is likely to impact the harvesting of wheat and other crops, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned. Wheat crop affected due to rain and strong winds near Amritsar. (PTI)

A western disturbance set to impact the Himalayan region was presently over Iran. It was expected to move eastwards towards north India. A cyclonic circulation was also over Rajasthan. A trough was running from Rayalaseema to Jharkhand.

Under the influence of these features, fresh rainfall, and thunderstorm are likely in northwest India until the weekend. Hailstorm is likely in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan on Friday and Uttarakhand on Saturday, IMD said. Hailstorm is also likely in central India especially Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha over the weekend.

IMD said the maximum impact of thunderstorm/lightning/gusty winds and hailstorms is likely in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan on Friday and Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana on Saturday.

It said strong wind/hail may damage plantations, horticulture, and standing crops.

IMD asked farmers to defer harvesting crops in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh. ...keep already harvested produce in a safe place or cover the heaps of already harvested produce in the field with tarpaulin sheets...

IMD advised deferring of sowing of jute in West Bengal and maize in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. ...drain out excess water from fields; provide mechanical support to horticultural crops and use hail nets to protect orchards.

Skymet Weather vice president (climate change and meteorology) Mahesh Palawat said there is a western disturbance and an induced cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and west Rajasthan. There is wind discontinuity over the peninsular region which will bring hailstorms and thundershowers to east Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. On Friday and Saturday, we can expect thunderstorms and hail activity over the northern regions particularly west and north Rajasthan.

The first spell of thunderstorms and hailstorms began on March 16. Meteorologists said heat in February and March leading to the warm land surface and the onset of pre-monsoon activity are linked. This is not very unusual even as pre-monsoon activities have started relatively early.

IMD director general M Mohapatra said convective clouds develop when there is heating. In February, temperatures were over 5 to 6 degrees above normal. The soil was very dry and hot which creates a triggering mechanism, he said. He said two anticyclones formed over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea brought in a lot of moisture. ...other low-level cyclonic circulations and a western disturbance impacted the Western Himalayas.

Mohapatra said upper-level westerly winds blowing at 120 km per hour and penetrating up to peninsular India were one of the main factors in widespread hailstorms. These colder winds brought down the freezing level so it started to rain in the form of ice which is hail.

Squally weather and rain this month damaged wheat in almost all key producer states. But the extent of losses may be known in weeks ahead, according to preliminary assessments of a panel formed in view of anticipated early-summer heatwaves.

On Monday, IMD said a cyclonic circulation was over northeast Rajasthan and an east-west trough was running from this cyclonic circulation to Nagaland in lower tropospheric levels. Another cyclonic circulation was lying over southwest Rajasthan at lower tropospheric levels. A trough/wind discontinuity was running from interior Tamil Nadu to central Chhattisgarh in lower tropospheric levels.

Former earth sciences ministry secretary M Rajeevan called these very typical pre-monsoon activities. ...these have started a little early this year but they are not unusual. There have been years in the past also when hail has destroyed crops in many states. For such activities, deep clouds need to form...for that moisture from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea is needed. Interactions with low-latitude tropical circulation are also seen. These activities can be triggered by the warm land surface.
History was made in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 24, 1977, when Morarji Desai, leader of the victorious Janta Party, was sworn in as the countrys first non-Congress Prime Minister by the acting President BD Jatti. HT Image

He took the oath of office and secrecy at a brief but solemn ceremony in the presence of a distinguished gathering which included YB Chavan, leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party which will now sit in the Opposition in Parliament, and Janta Party leaders N Sanjiva Reddy, Asoka Mehta, SN Mishra, LK Advani, Raj Narain, and George Fernandes.

The new Prime Minister is expected to finalise the list of his council of ministers in consultations with his party colleagues in a day when the first batch of his Cabinet colleagues will be sworn in.

Desai was earlier unanimously elected leader of the Janta Party in Parliament at its meeting in the Central Hall of Parliament amid scenes of unprecedented jubilation.

The presence of Jayaprakash Narayan and Acharya Kripalani, who had evolved a consensus in favour of Desai, added to the dignity of the occasion. Both of them made brief but inspiring speeches urging the new PM to utilise the power of the State and the power of the people for the countrys economic and social advancement.

The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was a simple affair. In keeping with the austerity to which the Janta Party men are pledged, there were no garlands after the swearing-in.

Indira Gandhi, in a letter to Desai, offered her warm congratulations and best wishes for his success as Prime Minister.

The oath read out by the acting President in Hindi and repeated by Desai read; I, Morarji Ranchodbhai Desai, do swear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law without fear or favour affection or ill will.

The oath of secrecy read: I, Morarji Ranchodbhai Desai, do swear in the name of God that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or repeat to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such minister.

In the packed Central Hall of Parliament, Acharya JB Kripalani announced that taking all factors into consideration he and Jayaprakash Narayan had come to the conclusion that the nation should be led by Desai and that this decision should be accepted unanimously by the party. Kripalani said that the country tonight has only one Prime Minister otherwise it should have been possible to name Jagjivan Ram also for the high office.

Significantly, neither Jagjivan Ram nor Sir HN Bahuguna of the Congress for Democracy was seen at the meeting in the Central Hall, although they attended the pledge-taking ceremony at Rajghat and later also called on JP at the Gandhi Peace Foundation. Desais was proposed by Raj Narain and seconded by Atal Behari Vajpayee.

LK Advani, general secretary of the party, invited a cross-section of the partys membership to speak on the resolution.

The members spoke of the supremacy of the peoples will and said the party should unitedly strive to fulfil the expectations the people had of a clean and efficient government functioning fully in accordance with democratic traditions.

They expressed confidence that the party, under the leadership of Desai and with the blessings of Jayaprakash Narayan and Acharya Kripalani, would deliver on its promises.

After the formal proposal and seconding of the resolution, Desai was declared elected leader.

Desai said he was grateful to the party for having reposed confidence in him. He said he was accepting a great responsibility, fully conscious that he would have the support and backing of the people to discharge his duties.

He sought the co-operation of all his partyman and others supporting the Janta Party in discharging his responsibilities.

Thousands of people, anxious to know as to who will be the new Prime Minister had assembled on the lawns of Parliament House. The police had a tough time preventing them from barging into the Central Hall. But as news spread that Desai was chosen leader of the Janta Parliamentary Party, the crowd started raising slogans in favour of the Party and Desai.

Desai, 81, had twice before sought the high office and had been passed over on both occasions. On Jawaharlal Nehrus death in 1964, his claims were overlooked and Lal Bahadur Shastri was chosen. In 1966, when Shastri died, the party by a process of consensus chose Indira Gandhi to lead the party.
Here's how Rahul Gandhi, leader of India's opposition Congress Party, was disqualified as a lawmaker by parliament and what could happen next: Gandhi faces the risk of not being able to contest the next general election due in 2024 if his conviction is not suspended or overturned, or the sentence is not reduced by a higher court.(Sanjeev Verma/HT)

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the law that governs elections in India, mandates disqualification of any lawmaker who is "convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years".

A lower court sentenced Gandhi, 52, on Thursday to two years in jail on charges of defamation for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi. India's prime minister is called Narendra Modi.

His disqualification as lawmaker came into effect from the date of conviction. A formal disqualification notice was issued on Friday by the secretariat of India's Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament of which Gandhi was a member.

CAN GANDHI CONTEST ELECTIONS?

Gandhi faces the risk of not being able to contest the next general election due in 2024 if his conviction is not suspended or overturned, or the sentence is not reduced by a higher court.

The law also mandates that a convicted lawmaker cannot contest elections for six years after the end of their jail term.

Gandhi represented the Wayanad constituency in the southern state of Kerala.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Friday the party was confident the conviction would be suspended.

WHAT NEXT FOR GANDHI?

To save his parliament seat, a convicted lawmaker has to secure an order from a higher court suspending the conviction, lawyers said.

A lawmaker can be reinstated to parliament if the conviction is stayed or overturned and a fresh election to the seat had yet to be conducted. A reduced sentence would also remove the disqualification.

Gandhi was present in the Gujarat court which gave him bail immediately and suspended the sentence for a month, allowing him to appeal against it.

He can secure bail extensions during the appeal period but cannot contest elections until the conviction is stayed or he is acquitted or he gets a reduced sentence in the case.

Supreme Court lawyer Vikram Hegde said the most likely recourse for Gandhi was to appeal to a sessions court and seek a stay of conviction.

Once a court suspends the conviction, the disqualification ceases to operate, Hegde told Reuters.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2013?

In July 2013, India's top court ordered that lawmakers convicted of a serious crime would immediately forfeit their seats, closing off a loophole that had allowed politicians to stay on during appeals, which can drag on for years in India.

In response, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, a coalition led by the Congress party, issued an executive order that could have allowed convicted lawmakers to continue to hold office and stand in elections.

Gandhi lambasted Singh's ordinance as "complete nonsense" and said it should be torn up and thrown out, embarrassing his own party and forcing the government to withdraw the decree.
India recorded 1,249 new coronavirus cases as the active cases increased to 7,927, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The death toll increased to 5,30,818 with one death each reported by Karnataka and Gujarat, the data stated. India Covid Cases: An illustration of the novel coronavirus seen next to a health care worker at a Covid-19 testing centre.

The daily positivity was recorded at 1.19 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.14 per cent, the data showed. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4,47,00,667.

With this, active cases now comprise 0.02 per cent of the total infections. The Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.79 per cent, the data showed. In the past 24 hours, 1,05,316 tests were conducted which brought the total number of tests to 92.07 crore. Recoveries surged to 4,41,61,922, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

Over 220 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far, the health ministry informed.

On Thursday, India recorded a single-day rise of 1,300 new Covid cases, the highest in 140 days. PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on Covid-19 and influenza to review the countrys preparedness to deal with the spike in the number of cases.

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India needs an estimated $900 billion for a just energy transition vis-a-vis coal mines and thermal power plants over the next 30 years, a report of independent non-profit environmental research and innovation organisation International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST) has said. iFOREST report released on Thursday (Twitter)

India has set goals of net zero emissions by 2070 and energy independence by 2047. iFOREST said a framework for the just transition at the national and state levels is essential for it.

iFOREST report released on Thursday said $600 billion of the estimated cost will have to come as investments in new industries and infrastructure and $300 billion for grants/subsidies to support the transition of the coal industry, workers, and communities.

IFOREST derived the estimation based on the cost of transition in coal/lignite regions in Germany and Poland as well as the main coal-producing region of South Africa. It also factors in a study of four coal districts of India in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The study assumes all existing mines and coal-based power plants will be phased down by 2050.

The key costs of the transition involve mine reclamation and repurposing, decommissioning of thermal power plants, labour support, economic diversification, etc.

Amitabh Kant, Indias G20 Sherpa, said that private financing will be crucial for the just transition. Our ability to push for just transition gets impacted by our ability to leverage private financing.

He called for the need for new financial instruments and revision of how multilateral institutions work to improve financing. Wind and solar energy combined with pumped storage will be the key to lowering the cost of green hydrogen. These will pave the path towards an energy transition for India.

iFOREST president and CEO Chandra Bhushan said Indias just transition framework should include all fossil fuel sectors and not just coal. He added India needs its own comprehensive decarbonisation strategy.

... [It] should involve the progressive substitution of coal-based power with renewable energy and storage, using hydrogen in industrial processes, scaling up zero-emission mobility, and efficient energy use by all, including individuals and industries.

Bhushan said this has to be different from any bilateral or multilateral partnerships on just transition. It should be solely Indias strategy.

Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) as a funding model began with South Africa at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26).

France, Germany, the UK, the US, and the EU (the International Partners Group, or IPG) committed to providing $8.5 billion over three to five years to support South Africas national climate plan to move away from coal and increase the share of renewable energy.

In June 2022, a communique of the leaders of G7 said the intergovernmental forum of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US is working with India, Indonesia, and Vietnam on more such partnerships.

iFOREST said apart from bilateral partnerships, the transition is primarily being advanced through national policies, laws, and sub-national or provincial plans in the global north.

South Africas Presidential Climate Commission commissioner Louise Naude said they are getting money more in the form of loans than grants under JETP. ...we have argued for grants. ...these loans should be highly concessional and should be provided in local currency instead of dollars or Euros to avoid disruption.

Naude said these are bilateral partnerships under which a group of countries is partnering with a country that is strategic to them thereby making energy transition only in some countries.

India depends heavily on coal while the developed nations are dependent on oil and gas. At COP26, India opposed hard targets on phasing out coal, which remains among the key sources of energy for developing nations.

India was among the developing countries that opposed the language on coal and phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies in the Glasgow pact. It pushed to introduce equity and safeguards on fossil fuel subsidies for the poor following which the text in the final pact was reworded.

Experts said India may take a careful call on JETP with G7 because of the push from developed nations to phase out coal first.
A joint cybercrime coordination team with Delhi police as the nodal agency has been formed to probe into cybercrimes originating from Mewat region in north India, Delhi police said in a statement on Thursday. Over the past 4 years, police forces in NCR have come across cases of cyber fraud emanating from Mewat & Bharatapur. (Delhi Police | Twitter)

Team 1 (Joint cybercrime coordination team) has been constituted for the Mewat region comprising states of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, said Prashant Gautam, deputy commissioner of police (intelligence fusion and strategic operations) adding that the team was constituted based on the analysis of complaints received at the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

DCP Gautam said that on Wednesday, Delhi police also conducted a one-day conference of JCCTs at the special cell office in Dwarka.

Also Read:Joint coordination team holds conference in Chandigarh to discuss cybercrime

The focus of JCCT1 comprising from different states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi will be on identifying modules operating in the Mewat region of Haryana-Rajasthan and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

Over the past 4 years, police forces in the national capital region (NCR) have come across cases of cyber fraud emanating from Mewat and Bharatapur. Before this, the gangs operated from Jamtara in Jharkhand.

The cases in Jamtara have seen a decline after similar joint coordination teams focused on such gangs and busted them in 2019-2020.

Police said the trend has shifted from Jamtara to Bharatapur and Mewat.

During the conference on Wednesday, there were 51 senior police officers from different states, and the chief executive officer of Indian Crime Cyber Coordination Centre (I4C) were also present.

The I4C is the Centres nodal agency for all cybercrime issues across the country which coordinates with police forces of all states.

In the meeting we discussed how the states must work together like we did when busting the networks of Jamtara. Inputs will be shared among all forces to work together. Interstate coordination is necessary because the cyber criminals sit in one state and con a person from another state. The bank accounts where the duped money is deposited could be in another state. To nip the bud, a coordinated effort need is necessary by police teams of all forces, said a Delhi police special cell officer, who asked not to be named.

Last month, Delhi police had arrested five persons who were operating from Mewat, Haryana and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

The five had duped people in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh by using their cell phones from their village in Bharatpur.
As Rahul Gandhi prepares to appeal against the Surat court order which ordered a 2-year sentence to him for his 2019 comment 'how come all thieves have Modi surname', senior advocate and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal said both the process and the outcome have been bizarre. "Legal processes are used far too often for political ends," Kapil Sibal said. Rahul Gandhi has 30 days to appeal against the court order and the sentence has been suspended for the time period. The verdict brought together all the opposition parties raising voices against the 'highhandedness of the government being exercised through ED, CBI'. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said both the process and the outcome of the 2019 case are bizarre. (PTI)

The Congress will take out a march on Friday from Parliament to Vijay Chowk. The party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders and a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu is also being planned.

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar condemned the verdict and said it was an attempt to suppress the voice of opposition leaders. "I express my serious concerns at the attempts to curtail fundamental rights, freedom of speech and democratic expression in the country. The repeated attempts to suppress the voice of political parties, leaders and citizens of India is a matter of grave concern," Pawar said. "Today's judgment of Rahul Gandhi underscores the point. NCP MP P P Mohammed Faizal's case is also a similar case in point. I deplore this new trend in our political landscape, which should concern everyone in today's scenario," the Rajya Sabha member said.

Actor-politician kamal Haasan tweeted supporting Rahul Gandhi and said the Congress leader has seen more testing times and unfair moments. "Our Judicial system is robust enough to correct aberrations in dispensation of Justice. We are sure, you will get your justice on your appeal of the Surat Courts decision! Satyameva Jayate!!" he tweeted.

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Hyderabad It is highly reproachable that the Modi government is not only abusing Constitutional institutions but also using the highest democratic platform, the Parliament, for its nefarious activities, said KCR. (PTI)

Bharat Rashtra Samithi president and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday strongly condemned the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from his Lok Sabha membership and described it as a black day in the history of Indian democracy.

In a statement, the chief minister, popularly known as KCR, said Gandhis disqualification from Parliament was the height of Narendra Modis arrogance and dictatorship.

It is highly reproachable that the Modi government is not only abusing Constitutional institutions but also using the highest democratic platform, the Parliament, for its nefarious activities, he said.

Stating that it is the adverse time for democracy and the Constitutional values, the BRS president said the Modis regime overshadowed the emergency. Harassment of opposition leaders has become a routine. Modi on his own is collapsing by disqualifying opposition leaders to protect criminals and cheaters, he said.

He said this was not the time for conflicts among political parties, but all democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of the BJP government to safeguard the democracy and Constitutional values in the country. We must resist the BJPs evil policies, he said.
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Friday passed Finance Bill, 2023 with 64 amendments, including one that seeks to set up the much-awaited GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT), which will deal with tax disputes, and also lessen the burden on the higher judiciary, which has repeatedly sought the institution of such a body. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the second phase of the Budget Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI)

While moving the Bill in the House amid sloganeering by the opposition, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman termed it one of three major amendments the other two mentioned during her short speech were constitution of a panel on National Pension System (NPS) and bringing credit card expenses on foreign tours under the tax net.

One amendment [in the Finance Bill] is for the GST Council, which is establishing the tribunal, she said. The constitution of GSTAT has been pending since the new indirect tax regime was launched in July 1, 2017. The amended Finance Bill, 2023 proposed substitution of section 109 of the Central GST Act in order to facilitate creation of the GSTAT and its benches. It did not, however, mentioned any deadline. The Government shall, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, establish with effect from such date as may be specified therein, an Appellate Tribunal known as the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the Appellate Authority or the Revisional Authority, it said

According to the legislation, GSTAT will have a Principal Bench in New Delhi, with the President, a judicial member, a technical member (centre) and a technical member (state). It will also have state benches .

Experts called the creation of the tribunal a delayed but a major move to make the GST regime more efficient. In line with the GST law, the Union Cabinet in 2019 cleared a proposal to set up GSTAT and its regional benches, but it could not be operationalised due to differences among members over its constitution. The council is the apex federal body on GST matters, headed by the Union finance minister, with states represented through their respective finance ministers. Their decisions are often unanimous.

Post several rounds of deliberation, the Council on February 18 agreed to table a draft legislation in the current session of Parliament to establish the GST Appellate Tribunal after stakeholders (states and Union Territories) consultations. The law bringing GST into effect in July 1, 2017 has provisions to set up an appellate tribunal for disputes between assessees and the authorities  in its absence, the disputes ended up in the high courts, which was time consuming and expensive.

Saurabh Agarwal, Tax Partner at consulting firm EY said the creation of the tribunal would :streamline the litigation process, and that the Principal Bench can also take important decisions such as distribution of cases among the state benches, referring of case to other members in case of difference in views within the same bench or otherwise, etc.
Addis Abeba  Solomon Soka, member of the House of Representatives for Konso Nation and director general of Information Network Security Administration (INSA), requested urgent attention to the people of Konso who are exposed to severe damage due to drought.

Residents in the area are subjected to severe and devastating drought and displacement caused by a natural disaster, resulting in a lack of rain, which challenged their hard work and livelihood, according to Konso Zone government communication directorate. The area has not received sufficient precipitation for over four consecutive years.

A month ago, regional authorities in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's (SNNP) regional state warned that the persistent drought in the Konso zone has threatened the lives of many. The lack of food and fodder is killing people and animals on daily basis. The issue continues to be concerning despite the assistance being provided by the zonal safety-net development program and other partners.

Gelgelo Gelsho, the region's deputy president, stated the drought situation reached a critical point, rivers in the zone have all dried up, and an immediate solution is needed at the time.

In July last year, local authorities in Konso zone confirmed the death of at least 13 children due to hunger as drought and conflicts continued to affect the area. The number of malnourished children in the district was also growing, with more than 240 of them admitted to hospitals already.

In the neighboring Borena zone of the Oromia regional state, the impact of the drought is also taking a toll leaving more than 800,000 residents of the zone in need of immediate food assistance.

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UN's Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said between June and December of 2022, South-Eastern part of Ethiopia, including Somali, Oromia, and the Southern Nations and Nationalities People's region (SNNPR), experienced one of the worst droughts recorded in the Horn of Africa, impacting 12 million people.

The community has been consulted on current concerns by the federal and state representatives of the Konso people as well as representatives of various societies in the area.

Water supplies and power outages have been identified as key problems by society's representatives. Further difficulties with roads, energy, water, development, and good governance are the barriers preventing the zone's development.

The Konso zone is among the volatile areas prone to inter-communal clashes in the SNNPR. In April 2022, some 37,000 people have fled the Segen Zuria and Sagan districts of the zone due to the communal clash erupted between the Konso people and the bordering Ale special district. The volatile security situation, particularly in Segen Zuria Woreda, hindered provision of humanitarian assistance, it was reported.

The representatives of the society requested the attention and involvement of all stakeholders in ensuring lasting peace, rehabilitating people who are at risk of hunger, and displacement due to drought and conflict.

Solomon has issued a warning signal to the federal government, development organizations, and all Ethiopians to cooperate in order to tackle the situation in the zone, pointing to working in collaboration as being mandatory in short- and long-term plans. AS
Lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha Friday claimed that Mahatma Gandhi did not have a single university degree, adding that a lot of educated people believe that Gandhiji had a law degree, but he did not have any degree, Sinha said. File photo of Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha.(PTI)

Underlining that people should aim for more than just degree education, Sinha said: Who would say Gandhiji was not educated? Nobody has the courage to say that. But did you know that he did not have a single university degree or qualification. There are many of us who think that Mahatma Gandhi had a law degree. No, he did not. His only qualification was a high school diploma. He qualified to practise law. He did not have a law degree. (But) Just look how educated he wasOur Father of the Nation, he added.

Also read | LG Manoj Sinha lays the foundation stone for a 250-crore mall in Srinagar, calls it J&Ks first FDI project

He further heaped praises on Gandhi for always following the path of truth, Gandhi made a significant contribution to the country. But truth was the central focus of everything that was accomplished. If you look at all the aspects of his life, there was nothing besides truth in his life. Whatever the challenges, Mahatma Gandhi never abandoned truth & identified his inner voice. As a result, he became Father of the Nation, he said.

Sinha's remarks sparked a debate on social media, with the leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party in Telangana mocking the BJP leader, WhatsApp university graduates after all, he tweeted along with the video.

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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said her brother Rahul Gandhi, the son of a martyred prime minister, was called Mir Jafar and insults were hurled at his family but he would not bow down as he belongs to a family whose members have nurtured democracy by its blood. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Srinagar.(PTI file)

The Congress general secretary's attack came after the former Congress president was disqualified from Lok Sabha earlier on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Posting a series of tweets, Priyanka Gandhi launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying in a tweet in Hindi, Narendra Modi ji, your sycophants called the son of a martyred prime Minister a traitor, Mir Jafar. One of your chief ministers raised questions as to who is the father of Rahul Gandhi? Following the custom of Kashmiri Pandits, a son wears pagdi after his father's death, maintaining his family's tradition.

"Insulting the entire family and the Kashmiri Pandit community, you asked in Parliament why we don't keep the name Nehru. But no judge gave you a sentence of two years. Did not disqualify you from the Parliament?" she asked.

Demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi over his democracy in danger remark in London, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Tuesday termed the Congress leader as the present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity who went overseas seeking help from foreign forces to become a nawab in India.

Priyanka Gandhi said her brother is a true patriot and has questioned Adani Group's loot, raised questions on Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

"Has your friend Gautam Adani become bigger than the country's Parliament and the great people of India that you were rattled when his loot was questioned? You call my family dynasty, do note that this family has nurtured India's democracy with their blood," Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.

This family raised the voice of the people of India and fought for the truth for generations, she added.

"The blood that runs in our veins has one specialty... it never bows down before a coward, power-hungry dictator like you and will never bow down. Do whatever you want," she said hitting out at Modi.

Priyanka Gandhi mentions 3 names

Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly rescuing who looted the country's money, naming Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Mehul Choksi.

Nirav Modi Scam  14,000 Cr. Lalit Modi Scam  425 Cr. Mehul Choksi scam - 13,500 Cr. Why has the BJP come to the rescue of those who looted the country's money? Why is the party running away from investigation? Those who are raising questions on this, cases are brought against them. Does the BJP support the corrupt? Priyanka Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

On Thursday, the court in Gujarat's Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in the defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

After Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha, the Congress said it was "a black day for Indian democracy" and asserted that the battle will be fought both "legally and politically".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Actor Swara Bhasker on Friday termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha a strong-arm tactics for 2024 general elections, alleging that the action against him was blatant misue of law. Actor Swara Bhaskar has voiced support for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who loses his Lok Sabha seat after conviction in defamation case.(PTI)

Rahul Gandhi lost his parliamentary seat after a court found him of guilty of defamation over his remarks on Modi surname. Gandhi, who represented Wayanad constituency in Kerala, was disqualified from his membership in the lower house from March 23, the date of his conviction. (Also Read | Beginning of the end of: Uddhav reacts as Rahul Gandhi loses Lok Sabha seat)

Thats how scared they are of so-called Pappu ! Blatant misuse of law to ensure that @RahulGandh's growing popularity, credibility & stature are curbed and clear strong-arm tactics for 2024 Lok Sabha that RG now cannot contest.. My guess is RG will come out of this taller, Swara Bhasker said in a tweet.

The case against Rahul Gandhi dates back to an election rally in 2019 when he said: Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname? He went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The defamation case was filed by a BJP leader Purnesh Modi, who alleged Gandhis comments had defamed the entire Modi community.

(Also Read | Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha member. Here's what the notification says)

The Congress party termed the action an attempt to "silence" Gandhi's voice as it vowed to fight the battle legally and politically.

Gandhi's disqualification saw a shift in the dynamics of Opposition ranks with Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party also expressing strong support for the embattled leader, along with several other Opposition parties.

Referring to Gandhi's disqualification, Kejriwal targeted the central government and said "they are scared".

The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power, he later said in a tweet.

West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, without naming Gandhi, stood by him and said Opposition leaders are being disqualified for their speeches.

In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP ! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," Banerjee tweeted. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy, she said.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda on Friday slammed Rahul Gandhi for his derogatory reference to Other Backward Class (OBC) community a day after a court in Gujarats Surat held the Congress lawmaker guilty of criminal defamation for a remark ahead of the 2019 national polls about the Modi surname. BJP chief JP Nadda. (Twitter)

Former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi filed the case against Gandhi for allegedly defaming the Modi community at a rally in Karnatakas Kolar in 2019. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname? Gandhi was quoted to have said.

In a series of tweets, Nadda said Gandhi has lowered the political discourse and in the past also made slanderous comments. By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Mr. @RahulGandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years he has always reduced levels of political discourse... he said.

Nadda called lies, personal slander and negative politics integral to Gandhis politics. He added the cooked-up Rafale scam was the core issue Gandhi raised through the pre-election season in 2019.

Wherever he went he spoke of it. Mr. @RahulGandhis negative politics and cooked up Rafale scam faced a setback in the court of law. Our highest court of the land, the Honourable Supreme Court gave a very clear verdict on the Rafale issue and did not believe the corruption bogey Mr. Gandhi raised, Nadda tweeted.

He referred to the Congress leaders campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for which Gandhi had to apologise.

Mr. @RahulGandhis acerbic Chowkidar Chor Hai remarks were also not appreciated by the Supreme Court and for that HE APOLOGIZED, Nadda said. In the run up to 2019 polls, @RahulGandhi kept repeating - Chowkidar Chor Hai notwithstanding the harm he was doing to political discourse. He went on ranting against PM @narendramodi even if it meant he was defeated in his own seat and his party wiped out nationally.

Nadda said allegations against Modi did not find resonance and were not appreciated by Congress either. He said the Congress Working Committee took up the matter and senior leaders even supposedly expressed their unhappiness on it.

Nadda said despite getting flak in the courts, Gandhi refuses to apologise thus showing how deep-rooted his hatred for OBCs is.  The people of India did not forgive him in 2019in 2024, the punishment will be more severe, Nadda said.

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A new bench in the Supreme Court, comprising justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna, will hear on March 27 a clutch of petitions against the Gujarat governments decision to grant remission to 11 people convicted and sentenced to a life term for gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Supreme Court (HT File Photo)

The bench will take up a bunch of six petitions challenging the remission -- while one of these petitions was moved by Bano, others were filed as public interest litigation (PILs) in the wake of the outcry over the premature release of the convicts last August.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Wednesday agreed to consider setting up a new bench as Banos lawyer pointed out that the matter was not heard since December after one of the judges on the designated bench recused herself from the case. Under the Supreme Court rules, it is the CJIs prerogative, as the master of the roster, to assign cases to different benches.

Also read: SC to hear 14 Oppn parties plea over ED, CBI misuse on April 5

The cases were earlier being heard by a bench led by justice Ajay Rastogi. Justice Bela M Trivedi, who is the other judge on this bench, on December 13 recused herself from hearing the Banos petition, following which justice Rastogi said that he would have to take up the matter in a different composition.

On January 4, justice Trivedi again conveyed her indisposition to hear a clutch of PILs filed separately by former CPI MP Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, professor Roop Rekha Verma, and TMC MP Mahua Moitra, challenging the premature release of Banos convicts. On that day, the case was adjourned with a brief order for listing it before a bench of which justice Trivedi is not a part.

The petitions, however, did not get listed after January 4.

Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the violence during the 2002 riots, and her three-year-old daughter was one of the seven people killed.

The 11 men convicted of the crimes against her and her family were released on August 15 after one of them, Radheshyam Shah, approached the Supreme Court in April seeking remission, arguing that he had spent over 15 years in prison in the case. By an order in May, a bench led by justice Rastogi directed the state government to consider the convicts plea for premature release in accordance with the 1992 policy  the one prevalent on the date of their conviction. While the existing remission policy of 2014 of the Gujarat government prohibits early release of rape convicts, no such restrictions were a part of the 1992 policy.

Subsequently, a batch of PILs led by Ali was moved before the top court, emphasising that the crime was horrific and the convicts should have never been entitled to premature release in the public interest. A bench led by then CJI NV Ramana issued notices to the Gujarat government and the convicts in August 2022. As this bench also included justices Rastogi and Vikram Nath, the matter was listed before justice Rastogis bench after justice Ramanas retirement.

Replying to these petitions, the Gujarat government filed its affidavit on October 17, and disclosed that the Union ministry of home affairs had approved the early release of the convicts while the state took into account their good behaviour as a key reason to grant remission.

The affidavit revealed that remission was granted in August despite objections from the trial court judge who convicted the 11 men, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which investigated and prosecuted the case in Mumbai following the 2004 apex court order shifting the trial outside Gujarat.

Later, in the last week of November, Bano approached the Supreme Court against the Gujarat governments decision to allow the 11 men, sentenced to life in 2008, to walk out of jail.

Also read: SC tells forest expert panel not to act as appellate authority over its orders

She stated in her writ petition that the gravity of the crime would itself disentitle the convicts from getting benefit of an early release. Explaining the delay in approaching the court, she said, The petitioner was completely shattered with the early release of all the convicts and could not regroup herself to be able to take a decision to challenge their release the earliest, more so when there was not even a piece of information of the basis or the grounds on which they were collectively granted such clemency.

Through a separate petition, Bano also sought a review of the Supreme Courts May order asking the state government to consider the convicts plea for premature release in accordance with the 1992 policy.

While Banos challenge to the grant of remission remains pending, the review petition was rejected by a bench comprising justices Rastogi and Vikram Nath on December 13. In our opinion, there appears no error apparent on the face of record, which may call for review of the judgment dated May 13, 2022, the bench said in its order.
Hyderabad Hyderabad police prevents Osmania University students attempts to protest against TSPSC question paper leak. (HTphoto)

The Hyderabad police on Friday thwarted the attempt of the Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee to take out a march and stage a demonstration in protest against the leakage of question papers of various recruitment tests conducted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC).

The OU JAC called upon the students to take out Nirudyogula March (a procession of the unemployed) from the campus to Gun Park near state assembly in the morning. It also called for a two-day deeksha (sit-in demonstration) at the Arts College since Friday afternoon.

OU vice-chancellor Prof Ravinder Yadav in a statement on Thursday said no student organisation approached the administration with any request for permission for the protest demonstrations. He pointed out that the executive council of the university had already decided that no protests would be allowed on the campus to protect the academic atmosphere.

Since Friday morning, the police blocked all the entry points leading to the Arts College, where the students planned to assemble to take up the protests. Except students who were appearing for semester examinations, no outsider was allowed into the campus.

A tense situation prevailed on the OU campus, as the police detained scores of students who made an attempt to gate-crash into the campus, bundled them into police vans and took them away to different parts of the city, where they were let off later in the evening.

A police official said on condition of anonymity that several JAC leaders were picked up from their residences and hostels located on the campus on Thursday midnight and shifted to various police stations.

However, by afternoon, some students managed to enter the campus and made an attempt to stage a demonstration in front of the Arts College building. They were immediately taken into custody and shifted to the OU police station.

We want the government to order a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge into the leakage of question paper of TSPSC exams. The commission was playing with the lives of the unemployed. It should pay a compensation of 1 lakh to each job applicant for the goof-up, a student JAC leader, who identified himself as Nagesh, said.

In the morning, the police also kept several Congress leaders including Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy, vice-president Mallu Ravi, former MP P Anjan Kumar Yadav and others under house arrest at their residences and stopped them from going to the OU campus to join the protest deeksha.

The PCC president said it was ridiculous on the part of the state government to impose restrictions on the movement of the Congress leaders who were only demanding that the real culprits in the TSPSC question paper leakage be brought to book.

He challenged Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his son and state IT minister K T Rama Rao for an open debate with students at Arts College. If you are sincere and not connected with the question paper leakage, you should accept my challenge, he said.

Reddy called upon the party workers to take up protest demonstrations from 10 to 5 pm on March 27 in all the district headquarters. We shall visit all the universities from April 1 and meet the students. We shall also take up a massive protest rally in the second week of March in Hyderabad, he announced.

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'The Finance Bill, 2023 ' tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha was passed amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs demanding a JPC inquiry into the Adani Group issue. Lok Sabha proceedings resumed on Friday after it was adjourned till 12 noon following noisy protests by Congress MPs who demanded that Rahul Gandhi should be given opportunity to speak and clarify his stand on his democracy is under attack remark in London.

Follow LIVE updates on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification here

Rahul Gandhi attended the meeting of Congress MPs at the party office in the Parliament premises ahead of the proceedings, a day after the Wayanad MP was convicted by a Surat case in a 2019 defamation case.
PM Narendra Modi on Friday visited Varanasi and dedicated and laid foundation stone of various projects worth more than 1,780 crores. PM Modi addressed One World TB Summit at Rudrakash Convention Centre. Later in the day, he dedicated and laid the foundation stone of various projects worth more than Rs. 1780 crores at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground.

He also address One World TB Summit on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day which is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Stop TB Partnership. PM Modi also awarded select States/UTs and districts for their progress towards ending TB.
Shortly after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, his sister and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly rescuing who looted the country's money, naming Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Mehul Choksi. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Ghaziabad. (PTI file)

Nirav Modi Scam  14,000 Cr. Lalit Modi Scam  425 Cr. Mehul Choksi scam - 13,500 Cr. Why has the BJP come to the rescue of those who looted the country's money? Why is the party running away from investigation? Those who are raising questions on this, cases are brought against them. Does the BJP support the corrupt? Priyanka Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

Following his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Reacting to Gandhi's disqualification, the Congress said it will fight the battle both "legally and politically".

"We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the action against Gandhi and by its rapidity. "This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Tharoor said in a tweet.

Defending Gandhi's disqualification, Union minister of state for law and justice SPS Baghel termed it as lawful and asserted that "everyone is equal before law".

He also noted that a BJP MLA was also recently disqualified in Uttar Pradesh following his conviction in a criminal case.

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The Kerala high court in a special hearing on Thursday stayed the forest departments plan till March 29 to tranquillise a wild tusker nicknamed Arikomban which razed many houses and shops and destroyed crops in the region in the past 16 months, leading to protests in Munnar and Chinnakanal in Idukki. According to local residents in Munnar and Chinnakanal, the rogue elephant has attacked more than 60 houses and shops and trampled eight people to death (Representative Photo)

Farmers outfits and political parties threatened to block roads if the mission was called off. Some local political parties announced protest rallies on Sunday against the high courts stay order.

We are shocked that the operation was stayed till Wednesday (March 29). Arikomban took several lives. It razed many houses and shops and destroyed crops for more than two years. Sadly, the operation was called off at the eleventh hour. Human beings should not suffer at the cost of animal love, said Kerala Independent Farmers Association.

We thought by Sunday Arikombans threat will be over forever. We have no idea how long we have to spend sleepless nights, said P Sebastian, a resident of Chinnakanal.

Also Read: Seven elephants died in March in Odisha, highest in last 3 years

The high court of Kerala stayed Operation Arikomban after the People for Animals and Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy approached the court saying the move to capture the elephant and make it Kumki through rigorous training was unscientific and cruel.

They said human intervention in the wild and lack of food and water caused by encroachment of forest boundaries were the main reasons for elephant incursions and netting or capturing it was not a permanent solution.

They said the destructive and unscientific method of capturing and relocating the animal in artificial habitat was against wildlife laws.

They said in Wayanad and Palakkad two elephants, named Dhoni and PT-7, were captured in the last six months and they were undergoing cruel and inhuman training to become Kumki elephants and this should not be encouraged.

After hearing the petitioners, a division bench of chief justice S Manikumar and justice Murali Purushothaman ordered the forest department not to tranquillise and capture the elephant till March 29 but permitted the forest officials to track the movement of rogue jumbo near human settlements.

On Sunday, the forest department said that they would use four Kumkis (trained elephants) they brought from Wayanad to capture Arikomban.

Also Read: Over 1,500 people died due to elephant attacks since 2019: Govt tells Parliament

The forest department had made elaborate arrangements to capture the animal which turned into a nightmare for residents. It brought four trained elephants from Wayanad, set up a dummy ration shop and built a sturdy cage to trap the animal. State forest minister A K Saseendran and top forest officials also camped in the district to oversee the operation expected to take place on Sunday, however, it was stayed till Wednesday after the intervention of the high court.

Since the animal was fond of rice (in Malayalam ari) it was nicknamed Arikomban. It used to raid ration shops regularly for rice. According to local residents in Munnar and Chinnakanal, the rogue elephant has attacked more than 60 houses and shops and trampled eight people to death in the past 16 months.
Humanitarians have strongly condemned the latest deadly assault on aid workers in South Sudan, urging the Government to step up security and bring those responsible to justice.

The appeal comes after a convoy of more than 100 trucks transporting food and other assistance was ambushed on Friday in Jonglei state.

Two contracted drivers were shot, one fatally, and another person died in a related road accident. A humanitarian worker was injured and is currently receiving treatment.

Escalating incidents

The attacked marked the latest in a series of escalating incidents targeting convoys and aid workers in the country, the UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said on Monday.

More than 20 violent incidents were reported in January alone - more than double the number in January 2022.

"The humanitarian community is appalled by the continued attacks targeting humanitarians and their assets; these recurring acts of violence disrupt the delivery of life-saving assistance and must end," said Meshack Malo, interim UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.

Convoys temporarily halted

Due to the attack, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to temporarily pause its convoy movements out of Bor, Jonglei state, for the second time in as many weeks. The UN agency is reassessing mitigation measures.

"This corridor is critical for our food prepositioning ahead of the rainy season when roads are inaccessible and more than one million people in Jonglei and Pibor rely on the humanitarian food assistance that we transport along this route," said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director in South Sudan.

She stressed that the safety and security of staff and contractors is of the utmost importance, adding that when attacks occur, "it is women, men, and children in desperate need of assistance who suffer the most."

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Dangerous work

South Sudan is among the most dangerous places in the world for humanitarians, according to OCHA. Nine aid workers were killed last year, and nearly 420 incidents were reported. Before this latest attack, three aid workers lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year, an estimated 9.4 million people in the country will need assistance or protection assistance.

Call for justice

OCHA said the humanitarian situation is worsened by factors that include endemic violence, access constraints, public health challenges, and such climate shocks as flooding and localized drought.

"While humanitarians continue to work tirelessly to provide the much-needed vital support, the continuation of violent attacks inadvertently hampers their efforts," Mr. Malo said.

"We call on the authorities to take urgent action to improve security, to protect civilians, humanitarian personnel and commodities, and bring perpetrators to justice."
Union minister Bhupender Yadav Friday came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi, saying by using the term (chor) 'thief' for the entire Other Backward Class (OBC), he has abused them not criticised, adding insulting any surname is not "freedom of speech". The union minister targeted the Congress leader over his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court in connection with his "Modi surname" remarks case. Union minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav.

While speaking to news agency ANI Yadav said: "How can he (Rahul Gandhi) call the entire community "chor"? Freedom of speech does not mean defaming or insulting any community. He abused the OBC community, not criticised it. He is not even seeking an apology for his remarks. He also defamed the nation abroad".

Read | 'Rahul Gandhi paying price for Government rattled': Congress after disqualification setback

His remark comes just a day after leaders of the 'Teli' (oil-pressing) community demanded an apology from Gandhi, and also warned of protest. Gandhi made the "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka.

The Congress leader has been disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after a local court in Gujarat convicted him on a criminal defamation case. "Rahul Gandhi... stands disqualified from the member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction," a notice from the national parliament said on Friday.

Shortly after Gandhis disqualification several Opposition leaders slammed the government for targeting opposition parties and its leaders. Targeting the BJP-led Centre, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the opposition leaders in this country have become the prime target of the BJP.

Also read | Priyanka Gandhi reacts after Rahul Gandhi disqualified, mentions 3 names

Former Maharashtra cheif minister Uddhav Thackeray said that while thieves and looters still roam free, Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy, he said.

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Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of Parliament on Friday, a day after he was found guilty in a defamation case by a lower court. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress president, is seen as one of the highest profile disqualifications of a sitting lawmaker in the country. Supporters of the Youth Congress Party hold placards during a silent protest against the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 Defamation case by a Surat court.(Reuters)

Gandhi "stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha", a parliament notice said, from his date of conviction.

Here's what the notice from Lok Sabha Secretariat says:

Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./18712/2019, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

An elected representative sentenced for any offence for two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of People Act, 1951.

The lower court in Surat granted Gandhi bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. He can now only escape disqualification as a Lok Sabha member if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.

The Congress party, meanwhile, has said it will fight this battle both legally and politically.

Rahul Gandhi has also received support from unlikely quarters in Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches, Banerjee said in a tweet minutes after the notification was issued. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy.

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The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its attack against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that his comment during a 2019 election speech asking why all thieves have Modi in their names, was actually disparaging towards other backward classes. HT Image

Gandhi who was convicted by a Surat court in a defamation suit filed by a local BJP leader also named Modi, was also disqualified as a lawmaker on Friday. The BJP now plans to launch a national campaign from April 6 to 14 to draw attention to the disrespect shown to the communities.

On Friday, BJP president JP Nadda led the attack against Gandhi for making derogatory references about the OBC community by referring to them as thieves. In a series of tweets, Nadda said Gandhi has lowered the quality of political discourse and made other slanderous comments in the past. He went on slam Gandhi for not apologising for his comment and said it shows how deep rooted his hatred for OBCs is.

By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Mr. @RahulGandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years, he has always reduced levels of political discourse... he said.

In 2019, Prime Minister Modi responded to Gandhi similarly. He pointed out that the Congress had been defaming him for years over his backward class status but that they were now blaming the entire community (of Modis). Modi belongs to an other backward class (OBC), one of many such on whom the BJP relies . Since it came to power at the centre in 2014, the party has focused on social engineering by giving backward communities more space at the high table. BJP leaders on Friday said the BJP walks the talk on empowerment of the marginalised castes and that Modi himself is an example of this.

With elections coming up in a Karnataka, and then, later this year, in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana , the BJP does not want to let go of the opportunity to pin the opposition down for disrespecting OBCs who also form a significant chunk of the voter base in these states.

The BJP president also referred to the Congress partys campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for which Gandhi had to apologise. Mr. @RahulGandhis acerbic Chowkidar Chor Hai remarks were also not appreciated by the Supreme Court and for that HE APOLOGIZED, Nadda said.

Union minister, Bhupendra Yadav also criticised Gandhi for not apologising for his remarks and dubbed it arrogance. Are Congress party and Rahul Gandhi higher than the law of the country? Is it a national leaders job to abuse and insult a surname of the OBC society?

Asserting that the party and Gandhi are personally guilty of hurling abuse at the entire OBC community in the country, he said everybody should respect the courts verdict.

We believe that if you insult a particular community in such a manner, it is not Bharat Jodo (unite India) but Bharat Todo (divide India), Yadav said, referring to Gandhis walkathon from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to unite the nation.

The BJP plans to stage protests, organise group meetings and chaupals in villages starting April 6, the foundation day of the BJP to draw highlight the Congresss contempt for the OBC communities.

K Laxman, the president of the BJPs OBC Morcha said, The Congress party cannot stomach the fact that the PM who comes from an OBC family won the election twice. They cannot digest that the PM has been able to win the hearts of the people of this country and therefore have resorted to slander, insults and disparaging comments. We will go door-to-door to highlight this insult of the OBC communities and underline what the government has done for them in the last nine years.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha a day after the Surat court convicted him for two years in a defamation case. However, he was granted a 30-day bail in the case to allow him appeal in a higher court.

The Lok Sabha secretariat said in a notification that he has been disqualified from the day of the conviction under the Constitutions Article 102(1)(e) read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act.

Gandhi attended the Budget session on Friday briefly before the Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour and later convened for the day. The Surat court convicted the Congress leader over his remark he made in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election where he wondered how all thieves have Modi surnames.

As a next step, the Wayanad MP will have to appeal to the higher court seeking a stay on the conviction, in order to prevent the disqualification and the Congress said it will follow the procedure to move a higher court.
BJP president JP Nadda on Friday that Rahul Gandhi has a huge ego but little understanding and has been insulting the OBC community by not apologising for the Modi surname remark despite the court order. Union minister Kiren Rijiju said just because Rahul Gandhi insulted Indian democracy, the armed forces and India's institutions, all Gandhi surnames can't be blamed. Shockingly, some Congress leaders are trying to defend it!, Rijiju said. The BJP ups the ante against Rahul Gandhi while the Congress seeks to unite the opposition over the verdict on Rahul Gandhi.

Nadda said Rahul Gandhi has the habit of making fabricated allegations beyond fact. Citing Rafale and chowkidar-chor, Nadda said Rahul Gandhi was taught a lesson in 2019; the OBC community will take revenge. In 2019, Rahul Gandhi in Karnataka asked how come all thieves have 'Modi' surname in common. Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi filed a case against the comment and the verdict was announced on Thursday. BJP's Sushil Modi said he too had filed a case against Rahul Gandhi in Patna as he was hurt as a Modi by Rahul Gandhi's thief comment. Read | Kapil Sibal says Rahul Gandhi verdict bizarre: Legal processpolitical ends

The Teli community which mostly has the Modi surname has demanded an apology for Rahul Gandhi's remark and warned of an agitation against the Congress leader.

Parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi said the Congress should tell people whom are they fighting against. "Becayse the decision was taken by the court and not by any political party. They are questioning the judiciary. Rahul Gandhi has insulted the OBC community and arrogantly refused to apologise for his remarks," the minister said.

The 2-year sentence has become a rallying point for the opposition who condemned the verdict as an attempt to silence the opposition voice. The Congress has called a meeting of the opposition parties on Friday. It will also take to the streets in protest.

In the court, Rahul Gandhi's counsel said that they were not appealing for mercy. They submitted that the comment was not intentional and it did not cause any damage to complainant Purnesh Modi.

The political standoff comes at a time when the BJP has been seeking an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in the UK. While the Surat court order gives ammo to the BJP, the Congress is seeking to unite the opposition parties.

Rahul Gandhi has at present 7 defamation cases against him, including the Modi surname one. The others are the National Herald case, the Modi surname defamation case brought by Sushil Modi, a defamation case relating to banknotes in Ahmedabad, one in Mumbai for linking RSS to Gauri Lankesh death, one in Maharashtra over RSS killed Gandhi remark and another in Guwahati.

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KOHIMA: Nagaland deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton on Friday said 3,000 state police personnel were deployed for personal protection and non-police duties and that he has asked for a review to reduce the figure. Nagaland director general of police (DGP) Rupin Sharma (Left) and deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton at a conference with senior police officers on Friday (Twitter/YanthungoPatton)

It is learnt that almost 3,000 personnel of Nagaland police are attached either as bodyguards or for non-police duties. There is an urgent requirement to minimise such deployment and attachment so that more manpower is available for policing and law and order work, Patton said at a meeting with senior police officers including state police director general of police Rupin Sharma at police headquarters (PHQ) in Kohima.

He said the withdrawal of police personnel should be done according to the recommendation of PHQs threat perception committee.

Patton, who holds the home portfolio, said the strength of the state police has increased to about 26,000 in 2023 from a mere 1,000 personnel in the 1980s but there was a need to improve the departments efficiency. This can be done by re-organisation and restructuring the police force so that better and optimal utilization of manpower and resources can be undertaken, he said.

Patton also asked the state police chief to come up with steps to reduce the work-related stress of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawans who he said are overworked and exhausted due to continuous deployment.

Patton said it has been observed that many police personnel are under the influence of alcohol or drugs which hurts the departments image as a whole. Therefore, he said that such kind of misconduct or indiscipline should be checked sternly and punitive action should be taken.
Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said she will file a defamation case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the alleged 'Surpanakha' comment made in Parliament in 2018. "Let's see how fast courts will act now...' the former Union minister said tweeting the old clip of Narendra Modi asking the Rajya Sabha chairman to allow Renuka Chowdhury to continue as such laughter was heard days after the Ramayana serial used to be telecast. Renuka Chowdhury said she will now move a defamation case against PM Modi for 'calling her Surpankha in Parliament'.

Opposition parties support Rahul Gandhi, BJP says he is not above law

"This classless megalomaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the house," Renuka Chowdhury said after Rahul Gandhi on Thursday was convicted in a 2019 defamation case for saying how come all thieves have Modi surname. Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years of jail which was suspended for 30 days before which he will have to appeal against the court order. The Congress leader was reminded by social media users that PM Modi did not mention the word Surpankha and she can't move to the court on a statement made in Parliament.

"Rahul Gandhi chose not to apologise for fighting against corruption. He chose not to apologise for fighting against fascism. He chose not to apologise for speaking the truth," Renuka Chowdhury tweeted.

The Surat court verdict has met several questions and condemnation from opposition leaders who accused the government of silencing the voice of the opposition leaders through agencies like ED, CBI or through FIRs, defamation cases.

The Congress will hold a protest march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk on Friday. A meeting with other opposition leaders has also been planned as several non-Congress chief ministers, opposition leaders have spoken against the verdict and extended support to Rahul Gandhi.

Surspanakha row: What did PM Modi say in 2018?

The row dates back to Februarsy7, 201s8 when PM Modi was speaking in the Rajya Sabha amid interruption from the opposition. Congress's Renuka Chowdhury laughed inviting a rebuke from then-chairman Venkaiah Naidu. "Sabhapati Ji, meri aapko prarthana hai Renuka Ji ko aap Kuch mat kahiye. Ramayan serial ke baad aise hasi sunane ka aaj saubhagya mila hai (Respected chairman, I request you to not say anything to Renuka ji. After Ramayan serial, got the opportsunity to hear such laughter for the first time)," PM Modi said.

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The Supreme Court on Friday restored the doctrine of guilt by association as it set aside its 2011 judgments, which had ruled that mere membership of a banned organisation cannot be a crime. The top court was considering the Centres plea to review the two judgments of 2011. (File image)

A three-judge bench headed by justice MR Shah noted in its judgment that there was no challenge to the law when the principle of ascribing criminal liability on a person because of their association with a banned organisation was rejected by the court in its previous judgments, nor was the union government heard before the verdict.

Also Read: 14 parties, led by Cong, move Supreme Court against arbitrary use of CBI, ED

Overruling a bundle of previous judgments, the bench, also comprising justices CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol, affirmed the validity of Section 10(a)(i) in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, which makes membership of a banned organisation a crime punishable with a jail term of up to two years.

Underlining that the impugned provision was completely in sync with the objective of the UAPA, the bench held that continued membership of an organisation banned under the 1967 law should be a crime against the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

The top court was considering the Centres plea to review the two judgments of 2011, in which a provision of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) (now repealed) was read down to hold that mere membership of a banned organisation cannot incriminate a person unless he or she resorted to or incited violence.

These decisions had come while hearing two separate cases of bail and conviction under TADA.

The Centre complained that not only it was imperative for the two-judge benches to seek its views at the time of hearing these cases but the reading down of the TADA provision had also impacted a similar provision under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which prescribes punishment for being a member of an unlawful association.

In 2014, the matter was referred to a three-judge bench.

While arguing the case in February, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the union government, argued that the 2011 judgments failed to consider a raft of significant considerations, including the legislative intent and the fact that Parliament, in its wisdom, has engrafted certain provisions to keep the security of the nation intact.

If Lashkar-e-Taiba is a banned organisation, a person cannot say I am just a member and have a right to remain a member. The right to form an association cannot be an unbridled right, and when it affects sovereignty and integrity of the country, restrictions will be reasonable. The law is preventive in nature and not just punitive, Mehta had then contended.

Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for the other side, had defended the 2011 judgments on the ground that a series of judgments by the Supreme Court since 1960s have held that there must be an overt act of incitement or violence before a person can be prosecuted.

As it reserved its verdict in February, the bench took a grim view of the fact that the 2011 judgments had come while hearing criminal cases in which no party had questioned the legal validity of the TADA provision or the doctrine of guilty by association.

We have to also consider the jurisdiction under which we are hearing a case. If a bail matter is before a court, how can it go into the constitutional validity of a provision without a challenge to that law? Can it be said that merely because we are the Supreme Court, we can go into the validity of anything in any manner? it had asked on February 8.

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Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor found Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha membership ironic as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was demanding apology for his democracy under attack remark in London. Tharoor said that Rahul Gandhi only tried to convey the state of Indian democracy to a British audience" and the BJP-led union government decided to reveal its bare condition to the whole world. (Also Read | Congress points to 'sudden change of tactics' on Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal retweets) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.(PTI)

BJP has been on the offensive against Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks during an interaction at Cambridge University where he said Indian democracy is under attack and several politicians, including himself, are under surveillance. His speech mentioned alleged capture and control of media and judiciary; surveillance and intimidation; coercion by federal law enforcement agencies; and the choking of dissent.

The ruling BJP has been demanding Gandhi's apology for his remarks made overseas on Indian democracy and Parliament.

Ironic: @RahulGandhi only tried to convey the state of Indian democracy to a British audience. The BJP government, though, through its actions, decided to reveal its bare condition to the whole world, Tharoor said in a tweet.

Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was found guilty by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in the defamation case filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his "Modi surname" remark. The disqualification will bar the Congress leader from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

During an election rally in 2019, Gandhi said, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

He went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League (IPL) boss Lalit Modi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The action against Rahul Gandhi also saw a shift in the dynamics of opposition ranks with Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Samajwadi Party, despite their differences with the Congress, expressing strong support for the embattled leader.

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NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have registered a case under several penal provisions, including Indias anti-terror law, against people involved in a violent protest by pro-Khalistan groups outside the Indian high commission in London during which an activist pulled down the national flag. A combination of pictures show Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by the Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India in London on March 19 (ANI File Photo)

The case was registered by the city polices special cell, which investigates terrorist activities, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity on Friday. The first information report (FIR) was registered on the directions of the Union home ministry, which asked police to take legal action on the basis of a report received from the external affairs ministry about the protest on March 19.

The FIR invoked provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

People familiar with the matter said the action was taken after authorities in London identified some Indian nationals allegedly involved in the protest. In this context, authorities invoked provisions of UAPA related to action on foreign soil that threaten the security and sovereignty of India and that damage or destroy property in a foreign country used for any purposes of the Indian government or its agencies, the people said.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing that an incident report on Sundays protest outside the Indian high commission in London had been shared with relevant agencies. Now it is up to the law enforcement agencies to do what they feel they can do about it, he said.

Asked about UK foreign minister James Cleverlys comments about steps being taken to ensure the security of the Indian mission, Bagchi said: We are not interested in just assurances, I think we would like to see action.

The Indian side has raised concerns related to the security of missions with authorities in Australia, Canada and the UK over the past few weeks. Bagchi said the vandalisation of the Indian mission in London and the consulate in San Francisco had been strongly taken up with the UK and the US.

We expect host governments will take action to identify and prosecute all those involved and take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We would hope host governments provide full and adequate protection to our missions as well as to the personnel working there, he said.

Besides lodging strong diplomatic protests, the Indian side reduced security around the British high commission and the envoys official residence in Delhi this week.

Bagchi declined to comment on the cancellation of an event in Canadas British Columbia province, which was to be attended by the Indian envoy, because of a violent protest by pro-Khalistan activists on Sunday. It is our expectation that in any country, our diplomats can perform their legitimate and normal diplomatic duties and functions and that the host government will ensure a conducive environment for doing so, he said.

The protest in London on March 19 began hours after Punjab Police launched a statewide manhunt against pro-Khalistani separatist preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers, arresting nearly 100 people after suspending mobile internet and text messaging services across the state. Singh, who was accused in eight FIRs of abduction, inciting violence and disturbing social harmony, is linked to the Khalistani secessionist movement and is chief of Waris Punjab De.

The people cited above have said recent protests by pro-Khalistan elements in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US appeared to be coordinated. These were accompanied by posts on social media in these countries making unsubstantiated claims about a crackdown in Punjab and the oppression of Sikhs.

Bagchi also referred to remarks by foreign parliamentarians and leaders on the situation in Punjab and said authorities in the state are conducting an operation to nab a fugitive. Information regarding that operation is being shared by authorities in Punjab regularly. We would urge people abroad not to be taken in by inaccurate and motivated narratives that are being circulated by some elements on social media, he added.

A Delhi Police officer said the special cell is gathering information about people linked to Amritpal Singh. Last week, one Daljit Singh Kalsi was arrested in Gurugram on the instructions of NIA. This close aide of Singh left his residence in the Punjabi Bagh area in 2016. He got 35 crore from abroad in the last two years and his phone records show he made multiple calls to Pakistan, the second officer alleged. Kalsi, considered to be Singhs fundraiser, is among seven people taken into custody and shifted to Assams Dibrugarh over the past week.

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As Angola sends troops, Congo hopes that new military alliances can stop the violence in its eastern regions. Massacres are increasing, humanitarian aid is paralyzed and a new mass exodus seems inevitable.

The effects of violence and instability are spilling over the Democratic Republic of Congo's borders. Since the beginning of March, 300 to 600 new Congolese refugees have been arriving in neighboring Tanzania daily, according to authorities.

Tanzania's Migration Commissioner Sudi Mwakibasi told DW the refugees are being accommodated at the Nyarugusu Camp in the western province of Kigomo.

"We are fulfilling our responsibilities to protect refugees," Mwakibasi said.

Residents of eastern Congo's North Kivu province, like Selemani Malembe, who fled to Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, fear attacks from a variety of rebel groups.

"We ask the government to help us. Many families have been killed," he said. Malembe's voice broke as he added that he did not know where his wife and children were.

The M23 rebel group began a new offensive towards North Kivu last year. Negotiations for a long-lasting ceasefire have so far failed.

More massacres and uncertainty

Recently, another threat has emerged. Around the town of Beni, northwest of Virunga National Park, fighters Allied Democratic Forces, a militia with links to the so-called "Islamic State" group have been accused of carrying out massacres, with dozens of victims shot or killed with machetes.

The Congolese and Ugandan armies have been cooperating under "Operation Shujaa" since 2021. But it has done little to stem the violence. In fact, attacks have actually increased since the end of February, when an ADF leader was killed.

Adolphe Agenonga Chober of the University of Kisangani told DW it was regrettable that making peace is increasingly being left to the joint Congo-Uganda force.

"It does not even control the whole area where the ADF is active," the researcher told DW. The military situation has also become more difficult to assess since the Congolese army began recognizing citizen self-defense militias as auxiliary forces under the traditional collective term "Mai-Mai."

"Sometimes it's hard to say if the armed groups are ADF fighters or recognized Mai-Mai self-defense groups."

International troops but no peace

In the faraway capital Kinshasa, frustration is growing. Attempts have been made to form an alliance with troops from the East African Community (EAC) to stabilize the seemingly endless insecurity and temper the M23 threat.

But even that has not really succeeded. The Congolese government says that when the EAC established buffer zones to secure the cease-fire, Congolese troops were caught on the outside, while M23 rebels could continue to maraud freely.

Last Friday, Angola decided to send 500 troops to North Kivu. President Joao Lourenco had positioned himself as a peace-broker in the conflict, bringing about a cease-fire agreement that chas already collapsed.

"The main goal of this military unit is to secure areas currently occupied by M23," according to an Angolan government statement. The force is also to protect troops monitoring the ceasefire.

Decades of conflict and intervention

The Congolese government's trust in Angola comes from previous military assistance Luanda gave Kinshasa in the 1990s after the fall of dictator Mobuto Sese Seko. In 1998, Angolan troops protected the regime of then President Laurent Kabila from falling to rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda.

The links are still alive, says Congolese parliamentarian Juvenal Munubo: "Kinshasa seems to have more trust in Angola and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) than the EAC because the SADC countries are not direct participants in the conflict."

Still, it is uncertain if bringing in Angolan troops is a solution.

"The fact that troops are being sent from a country, which to this day is trying to position itself as a mediator, complicates the crisis even more," Reagan Miviri of the Congolese research institute Ebuteli, told DW.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Congo-Kinshasa Legal Affairs Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"It's not certain Angola can achieve more than the foreign armies already present in the Congo have, especially if they are not prepared to engage the M23 militarily."

Congo's humanitarian crisis deepens

Meanwhile, hardship is growing for the people of North Kivu, and the refugees fleeing the violence. Dottie Adam Coulibaly, deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said there are of over 300 000 internally displaced people in Goma, and a further 60,000 in the northern town of Kanyabayonga.

The ICRC is currently trying to help reunite people with their loved ones, using telephone booths in the camps.

"The biggest challenge for us remains providing access to humanitarian aid," says Coulibaly. With the conflict growing across more areas, Coulibaly says it is essential for combatant to guarantee access for aid organizations, and respect humanitarian aid workers and civilians.

This article was originally written in German.

Adapted by Cai Nebe

Edited by Benita van Eyssen
Former Congress president and MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Parliament on Friday, a day after his conviction by the Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Former Congress president and MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Parliament on Friday (File Photo)

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

Gandhi was convicted under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which provides for imprisonment of up to two years, and later released on bail. The court suspended the sentence for 30 days on Gandhis plea.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi reacts after Rahul Gandhi disqualified, mentions 3 names

Shortly after Gandhis disqualification from Lok Sabha on Friday, Congress wrote on Twitter, Lok Sabha membership of Rahul Gandhi has been terminated. He is continuously fighting for you and this country from road to parliament, trying everything possible to save democracy. Despite every conspiracy, he will continue this fight at all costs and will take just action in this matter. The fight continues.

Reacting to the disqualification news, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI, They (BJP) [Bharatiya Janata Party] tried all ways to disqualify him. They dont want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. Well continue to demand JPC [Joint Parliamentary Committee]. If needed well go to jail to save democracy.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the party will fight the battle both legally and politically.

We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the Prime Minister-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.

Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor and Randeep Singh Surjewala also expressed their displeasure over the developments.

Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy, Tharoor wrote on Twitter.

The real face of PM Modi and the ruling gang has been exposed. If it is a crime to question the fugitives and PMs friends who ran away after looting the bank, then every Indian will commit this crime again and again. No more theft of countrys money It is a crime to take the name of thieves, Surjewala posted on his official Twitter account.

Today is a Black Day in Democracy!, he said.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi disqualified after court holds him guilty of criminal defamation

Another Congress MP KC Venugopal called the disqualification as a conspiracy to silence Gandhi.

The day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against Adani, PM, this type of conspiracy was started to silence Rahul Gandhi. Its a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude of BJP govt, he said.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury hit out at the PM Narendra Modi-led government and said that the country is witnessing politics of vendetta.

It is a sheer case of retributive politics because Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity, especially in the wake of Bharat Jodo Yatra which was not digested by Modi government This is a very cruel demonstration of an autocratic government, he said.

Apart from the leaders within the party, other political party leaders also slammed the government for targeting opposition parties and its leaders.

Targeting the BJP-led Centre, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the opposition leaders in this country have become the prime target of the BJP.

While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy, she wrote on Twitter.

Shiv Sena leader and MP Priyanka Chaturvedi too slammed the BJP for targetting Gandhi.

Vindictive and shameful action against Sh Rahul Gandhi. This disqualification yet again proves that we are living in the times of caged democracy, she said.

Former Maharashtra cheif minister Uddhav Thackeray said that while thieves and looters still roam free, Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy, he said.

Rahul Gandhis candidacy has been cancelled. Calling a thief, a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves & looters are still free & Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy. All govt systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of dictatorship. Only the fight has to be given direction, Thackeray told ANI.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema called the disqualification, an unreasonable decision against the democratic provisions. SAD is against the policies of Rahul Gandhi, however he MPs and MLAs should be given a chance to appeal in the higher court of law before disqualifying them. The law should be same for every one and a system of natural justice be followed, he said.

Gandhi was convicted on Thursday in a criminal defamation case for his Modi surname remark and sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a court in Gujarats Surat. A complaint was filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for Ganshis alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha MP after Surat court verdict

The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Gandhi can now only escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction and the two-year jail term.

Any elected representative sentenced for any offence for two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of People Act, 1951. One provision of the Act that granted three-month protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as ultra vires by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said Rahul Gandhi being disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP would set the Congress leader free from the role that he found unfortunate. Union minister Anurag Thakur asked the Congress leader to understand the well-planned conspiracy' within Congress to get rid of him by not challenging the Surat court's verdict on time despite having a battery of lawyers in the party. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Anurag Thakur during a press conference, at BJP headquarters in New Delhi(PTI)

Also read: Rahul Gandhi reacts after disqualification: 'Ready to pay any cost

You (Rahul Gandhi) have to dig into the matter and find out who formed this well-planed conspiracy to get rid of youThere are a battery of lawyers as members of Congress, isn't there anyone left to give right advice? Thakur asked at a press conference.

The Congress leader has been disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after a local court in Gujarat convicted him in a criminal defamation case. The Surat court gave him a two-year term for his Modi surname remark ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The Union minster further pointed out that Gandhi participated in only 21 Lok Sabha debates and failed to introduce any Private Members' Bill despite being a parliamentarian since 2009. He also recalled the incident where Rahul Gandhi tore off the ordinance passed by his own government that gave convicted lawmakers a three month reprieve to retain their seat.

Thakur said that the Congress leader is on bail in seven similar cases and added that he is a habitual lose cannon. He thinks he can speak anything without ever facing the consequences, Thakur added.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan called Gandhi a habitual offender and alleged that the chief family of Congress wants a separate IPC (Indian Penal Code) for them where they are not charged for any offence. Drawing the caste angle to Gandhi's Modi surname remark, the Union minster said this comes as a result of the sense of entitlement and feudal mindset.

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Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Friday shared an idea where he suggested all Congress MPs and MLAs to go for mass resignation as a sign of solidarity to Rahul Gandhi after he was disqualified today as a Lok Sabha member. He also took a jibe at the Opposition parties and asked them to join the resignation movement as well. Kolkata, India - March 12, 2023: Film director Vivek Agnihotri speaks during an event 'Basanta' at Indian Museum in Kolkata, India, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times)

What if all MPs & MLAs of Congress en masse resign in solidarity to @RahulGandhi to prove the point democracy is indeed dead. And then all opposition parties join in the resignation movement. This would be a good character test of all those who say democracy is dead, he said in a tweet.

Also read: 'Modi ji, your sycophants... Rahul Gandhi won't bow down': Priyanka Gandhi

The Congress leader has been disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after a local court in Gujarat convicted him in a criminal defamation case. The Surat court gave him a two-year term for his Modi surname remark ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Agnihotri also claimed that the entire Opposition is happy' for the fact that they wont be branded as Rahuls partners. He was responding to former Congress leader Sanjay Jha's claim that BJP has united the entire Opposition.

The entire opposition is so happy today that now they wont be branded as Rahuls partners - an image they cant do anything about. Some are also celebrating and their photos may leak out soon, the filmmaker said.

Rahul Gandhi's disqualification has erupted a row between the BJP and the Congress along with other Opposition parties. BJP said Rahul Gandhi abused the entire other backward classes (OBC) through his speech and added that insulting any surname is not freedom of speech. Targetting the Centre, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the opposition leaders in this country have become the prime target of the BJP.

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While Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh manages to evade arrest, CCTV footages drop hints of his continuous movement as the latest purportedly showed him walking in a residential area in Haryana hiding under an umbrella. This footage found on Thursday is from Monday. Earlier, Amritpal Singh was seen fleeing in a motorbike and then on a motorised three-wheeler in Punjab. The latest proves that the Khalistan sympathiser crossed the state border on Monday only. Several of his aides have been arrested and the cops are piecing together the events that unfolded since Saturday. The latest CCTV footage shows Amtitpal Singh in a shirt and pants walking in a residential area in Haryana with an umbrella over his head.

Here are the latest findings in the Amritpal hunt case:

1. On March 18, the Punjab Police started the crackdown on Waris Punjab De and Amritpal Singh. On March 19, Amritpal Singh was already in Haryana.

2. Baljit Kaur, a resident of Kurukshetra, admitted that she gave shelter to Amritpal Singh and his aide Papalpreet Singh.

3. Amritpal and Papalpreet stayed at Baljit Kaur's place for the night and left the very next day.

4. How did Amritpal get to Haryana? based on CCTV footage, police said Amritpal's fleeing bid involved many vehicles. They changed their two-wheeler at a gurdwara at Sehowal village and took an overbridge to get across the river. Then they hired an auto-rickshaw and after this, they were located at Kurukshetra.

5. As Amritpal was looking for a boat, he even went near the Ladhowal railway station.

6. At Baljit's place, Amritpal made some calls which indicated that they were planning to move to Uttarakhand, reports said. Police said all states, including Uttarakhand, were alerted after it was found out that Amritpal Singh fled Punjab and went to Haryana.

7. Amritpal Singh's escape route from Punjab: Fron Nangal Ambian gurdwara, Amritpal and Papalpreet reached Sheikhpura. They probably took a truck to cross over to Haryana.

8. In the latest CCTV footage, neither Amritpal nor Papalpreet can be seen but from their gait police suspect that the man with the umbrella is Amritpal Singh and the man walking ahead of him is Papalpreet.

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The sky has held on to its secrets for far longer than any part of our world (except perhaps the oceans). As we struggle to explain how distance and time and matter morph in its far reaches, each culture has evolved legends, ancient and modern, to explain the nature of space, the movement of stars, eclipses and meteor showers. PREMIUM An image of star trails taken from a Starscapes observatory in Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand.

In India, Rahu, the demon with the slashed head, flies across the sky and swallows the sun, leading to eclipses. In Nigeria, the Efik people tell of how the Sun once lived on Earth, married to the Moon. Then Water flooded their home, forcing them to flee into the sky, where they remain. Among the indigenous Assiniboine people of North America, the Pleiades star cluster was once a band of seven orphan children. They decided to turn into stars and flee the Earth, finding no other way to end their hardships. What we have learnt in the centuries since these tales were first told has only intensified our interest. Today, as space agencies from around the world, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), reach towards Jupiter, Mars and the Sun, and plan new manned missions to the Moon, a new generation is looking to the skies with renewed excitement. The one thing we dont have as much of, as we look up, is darkness. Growing cities, the spread of electricity, and 24x7 advertising have taken light pollution to new parts of the world. Artificial skyglow disrupts life on ocean floors near coastal cities, impacts the migration patterns of birds and marine species. And it is changing how far city-dwellers must travel before they can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. India, with its rapidly urbanising population of over 1.4 billion is at high risk from light pollution. It is growing even in Hanle, Ladakh, a remote Himalayan region picked because of its clear, dark skies as the site of Indias cutting-edge Indian Astronomical Observatory (which houses Indias first robotic telescope). But here too, says Dorje Angchuk, engineer in charge of the observatory, light pollution, though negligible, is rising. All of which makes the growing interest in astro-tourism both an opportunity and an immense risk. And growing it is. Uttarakhand, a state of low urban densities and clear, dark skies, plans to create at least one astro-tourism site in each of its 13 districts. In Rajasthan, the government has decided to install high-quality telescopes at sites across at least 33 districts. At Maharashtras Ajanta Caves, visitors can attend stargazing sessions conducted by the state tourism development corporation (theyre free for now). In Madhya Pradesh, an astro-park is reportedly on the cards. Across Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Ladakh, meanwhile, private firms such as Starscapes, Astrostays and Astroport are encouraging tourists to step out and look up, through chains of private observatories, astro-themed hotels and homestay initiatives.

The 10-inch motorised telescope at CosmoHub, an immersive space run by astro-homestays company Cosmostays.

The upside is that sitting under a star-studded sky, looking up at the Crab or Orion nebula through a telescope, may ensure that visitors from across India leave with a sense of how precious the countrys remaining dark-sky spaces are.

People living in urban or semi-urban regions almost never notice the night sky, due to light pollution. The first view of a really dark night sky almost always awakens a sense of awe and wonder in the observer. One aim with astro-tourism is to promote that awareness, interest and wonder, says Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, an astronomer and head of SCOPE, the direct-outreach arm of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Perhaps people will be encouraged to travel differently wherever they go, alter habits even at back home, he adds. Done right, it can also create a sustainable model for local communities. The risk is that the rampant development of astro-tourism could do to remote night skies what Indias love of hill-stations has done to towns such as Nainital in Uttarakhand, which is now plagued by traffic, overcrowding and pollution. There are currently no guidelines for astro-tourism initiatives, at the state or central levels; the sector is governed by the tourism policies of each state. Pooja Garbiyal, Uttarakhands additional secretary for tourism, says her state is working to frame specific norms. In order to declutter high-footfall areas such as Nainital, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie and the Char Dham pilgrim route, we intend to make this the go-to location for astro-tourism, Garbiyal adds. Ive written to the International Dark-Sky Association [which accredits dark sky reserves] too, to help identify spots in the state as dark-sky reserves. Indias first such reserve was finally notified in December. A 1,073-sq-km area around the Hanle observatory in Ladakh, covering six hamlets and part of a wildlife reserve, are now protected. Homestays will host astro-tourists, but blackout curtains will be compulsory, vehicular movement will be restricted at night, bright LED lights replaced, and the use of red-light torches encouraged. The aim is to protect the observatorys view, the local ecology and the unusually dark skies here, says Angchuk. Firm norms will be key as astro-tourism grows, adds Dipankar Banerjee, director of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute in Nainital that is currently working with the Uttarakhand government on astro-tourism projects in Benital, Mukteshwar and Takula. You cant have tourists or facilitators driving around at night, or lighting bonfires. An astro-tourism site cannot be just another holiday destination. It has to be dedicated to astronomy, dark sky and nature. As the balancing act begins, take a look at some of the astro-tourism initiatives unfolding across India. . Starscapes: New level unlocked

There are four privately run observatories in the Starscapes chain (and a fifth in the works). Each is equipped with at least one motorised telescope and some manual ones too.

It was a telescope outside a hilltop cottage in Kausani, Uttarakhand, that first suggested to the founders of Starscapes that it was time for a private chain of commercial observatories.

Telecom executive Ramashish Ray noticed that almost every guest at his AirBnB was riveted by the scope in his backyard. Even those who didnt have an interest in astronomy  they didnt want the stars or constellations pointed out to them  wanted some time with it, just to look up at the Moon or try to spot a few planets. Ray, 50, launched his first private observatory in Kausani in 2017. In 2019, Paul Savio, 36, a former colleague and fellow astro-enthusiast, joined him. The company was registered in 2021. They now have observatories in Uttarakhands Bhimtal and Mukteshwar too; a mobile observatory in Ooty, Tamil Nadu; and a fifth property in the works in Coorg, Karnataka. Each houses at least one motorised Celestron telescope (8 or 11) and a few manual Dobsonian 8 telescopes, along with planetary cameras, astrophotography mounts, and DSLR cameras. For decades, astronomy buffs have been heading to Ladakh to marvel at the night skies, Savio says. But this takes extensive research and investment. The alternative is to head to planetariums, where you end up seeing a recording of the sky. Observatories associated with universities and scientific research institutes are typically not open to the public. We want to open up the world of astronomy to everyone. Accordingly, tourists and locals and anyone with some time on their hands can walk into one of the Starscapes properties and pay 500 to 1,000 for a guided tour of 45 minutes to an hour. The sites have been carefully picked for both dark skies and proximity to tourist hubs. Ooty and Coorg are tourist hotspots. Bhimtal, Kausani and Mukteshwar are two to four hours from Nainital and are on most tourist itineraries, for their trekking trails and views of the Himalayas. The observatories offer morning tours where visitors can explore the surface of the Sun; in the evenings, views of Venus, craters on the Moon and the Orion nebula tend to be among the most popular. There are also sessions for adults and children, on subjects such as astro-photography and rocket-making. To extend its reach, Starscapes leads astronomical experiences at the St Regis hotel in Cavelossim, Goa, and at Club Mahindra resorts in Goa, Puducherry, Munnar and Coorg. The guides and facilitators are trained to conduct sessions as storytellers, not teachers. Its entirely possible that someone in the audience might know something that the guide doesnt and thats okay, Savio says. Whats driving this segment, Savio says, is a generation of young, well-travelled people looking for new experiences. But as you develop astro-tourism in a great location, more people are going to show up. Youll have more Maggi and tea stalls; more light pollution, and eventually the place dies out as a dark-sky haven. Starscapes works to sensitise locals and tourists to the dangers of light pollution. More dark-sky spaces  reserves, parks, sanctuaries and zones  are the real answer, Savio adds. Then standards can be enforced for lighting, access and ecological impact, and the entire ecosystem can be protected. . Astroport: Stars and stripes in Sariska

Astroport is located minutes away from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. There are no large towns nearby, so light pollution is fairly low.

It always amazed Shakti Singh Nathawat, 34, how his grandmother could tell the time of day without looking at a watch. Shed just look up at the sky, he says.

Her folk tales about the sun, moon and stars sparked an early interest in astronomy. It helped that a family friend, Sachin Bahmba, 49, was founder of Space India, an educational initiative set up in 2004 to demystify astronomy, space and astrophysics for school and college students. After a childhood spent looking up at the skies, Nathawat began a career as a software engineer with Oracle and Capgemini. Travelling around India for work and leisure, he missed his hobby, and often wished that hotels would offer at least a simple telescope. When he quit his corporate career in 2013, to strike out on his own, Bahmba and he decided that could be their enterprise: a chain of hotels that combined astronomy and hospitality. They launched their first property in 2017. Tucked into the Aravalli mountains in Rajasthan, 10 minutes from the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the resort offers guided astronomy experiences that involve stargazing, deep-sky-object-hunting (nebulae, etc) and solar observation; and wildlife tours within the reserve. With 19 rooms and two-dormitories, the property can house up to 60 guests at a time, with rates starting at 3,000 per head. The aim is to foster fascination but also spread word about how precious a dark sky is, Nathawat says. The sky above Sariska National Park is a Class 4 space (implying that its a rural/suburban transition sky with impressive views of the Milky Way, but lacks clarity) on the global Bortle Scale index. There are no large towns nearby, so light pollution is relatively low. At the Astroport hotel, only red-light torches are allowed after sundown. Low-wattage lamps light up the campus just enough to illuminate pathways. Trees along the boundaries keep this light from filtering beyond. This minimises impact on nocturnal species and species with dark-adapted vision too. Similar hotels are expected to open by the end of the year, in Jaisalmer and Bundi in Rajasthan. The response has been heartening, Nathawat says. Among the young families who have stayed at Astroport are science teacher Akshadeep Gupta, 27, his wife Nitu Gupta, an HR executive, and their daughter Riya, 8, from Faridabad in Haryana. After a trip to Ladakh with a pair of binoculars, Akshadeep heard about Astroport from a friend and the family decided to drive there. In our 45 minutes with the telescope, I realised how magnificent space is, how insignificant our lives are. It was quite grounding, he says. The sessions are designed to engage kids. We were all learning together. Nitu adds that she enjoyed the astronomy, but Im not heavily into it. I enjoyed the way they have structured the place, to display different sides of nature. . Astrostays: When women comet to the cause

One of the homestays in Maan, Ladakh. Owners are also trained as astro-guides.

Theres plenty to do in Ladakh. One can sit by the turquoise waters of Pangong, the highest saltwater lake in the world; take a winding trekking route through the Zanskar valley; ride a camel across white sand dunes in the Nubra desert.

Once the sun sets, a new show begins. With its sparse population and cold, dry climate through most of the year, Ladakh is a largely cloud free dark-sky haven. Astrostays, founded by former electrical engineer Sonal Asgotraa in 2019, is working with local residents to capitalise on these skies. Five homestays are currently operational at Maan, with prices starting at 2,500 a night. Stargazing sessions are priced separately, at 500 per head for an hour with a telescope. The five owners of the homestays (three women and two men) have also trained as astro-guides. For the training, we borrowed knowledge from their elders too, says Asgotraa, 36. Sessions combine astronomy with cultural lore associated with the sun, moon and stars. Conscious of the danger of light pollution, blackout curtains are essential at all outfits; outdoor lights are shaded. Red-light torches are used by staff members and offered to tourists. Asgotraa, who grew up in Faridkot, Punjab, was about 11 when NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla became the first woman of Indian origin to travel into space. She grew up dreaming of travelling into space too. Now, the telescope is how she does it. Two things helped her get her astro-enterprise off the ground. Her husband, Paras Loomba, set up and heads Global Himalayan Expedition, a social enterprise that works to promote sustainable grassroots tourism and access to clean energy and education in Ladakh, and he was able to guide her. Then she heard about an open call that the non-profit organisation International Astronomical Union put out, offering grants to initiatives that were working to leverage science and astronomy to create social impact. I applied and got my first funding in 2019, she says. After a dip in the pandemic, business is picking up again, and Asgotraa is planning a second cluster of homestays, in Nubra. Last year, they also opened an immersive museum and cultural centre run by five women in Phyang village. At CosmoHub, posters display information on astronomy and Buddhist cosmology, an AV screen showcases footage of the skies, and an open space houses a telescope that visitors can use to scan the skies, under the guidance of facilitators. At first, it was hard to imagine that tourists would come to see the stars and the sky, or that we could earn a livelihood out of this, says Tashi Dolker, 36, a local schoolteacher who helps run CosmoHub. Shes still amazed at all that one can see through the museums 10-inch Dobsonian telescope, she says, and loves to watch the joy it brings to tourists. Before this, we didnt have much to do after sundown. Now, we meet new people, learn so much, and earn. I hope more women in Ladakh are someday able to do this too. . Hanle: Finally, a dark-sky reserve

A view of the Milky Way in Hanle, Ladakh, where skies are unusually clear and dark.

The air is so dry in Hanle, Ladakh, that even at -20 degrees Celsius, it rarely snows in winter. This means that the skies are unusually clear through the year.

Its why the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) picked this as the site for the countrys highest-altitude observatory, the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO; also called the Hanle observatory). Incidentally, this is one of the highest-altitude observatories in the world, and houses Indias first robotic telescope. IAO is now working with local residents, the government of the Union Territory of Ladakh, and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDSA) to protect these unusually clear, dark skies. A 1,073-sq-km zone containing six hamlets and IAO, all of which sits within the Changthang wildlife sanctuary, was notified as a dark-sky reserve by the wildlife department of Ladakh in December. The next step will be to apply for formal accreditation from IDSA, a global non-profit that certifies such reserves. Accreditation can take up to three years; there were, as of January, only 201 certified dark-sky reserves in the world. What does it mean to adopt this tag? Maintaining such a reserve involves a three-pronged approach that hinges on conservation (of dark skies and habitats; this includes a comprehensive lighting management plan), education (of locals and tourists), and a shift to more sustainable local economies, especially in industries such as hospitality and tourism. There are observatories around the world protected by dark-sky reserves; many others have been forced to shut down because of light pollution, says Dorje Angchuk, engineer in charge of the Hanle observatory. We are situated under one of the darkest skies in India. But even here, over the years, we have seen more light coming from nearby villages. Although that increase is negligible, light pollution is unfortunately proportional to development. So we felt that we should act to preserve the sanctity of the sky  for astronomical studies, for tourists, and to preserve the local ecology. Since December, a team led by Angchuk has been holding sessions for locals and defence personnel posted here, on light management and the effects of light pollution on wildlife. Eventually, a committee made up of locals, administration representatives and scientists will be set up to enforce the rules on the ground. Meanwhile, homestays in the six hamlets are all set to open to tourists in April. Twenty-four volunteers from the region have been trained to operate telescopes to show visitors around; 18 eight-inch Sky-Watcher Dobsonian GoTo telescopes have been distributed among them too. A lot of tourists stop by on trips to the region, thinking they can access the telesscope; this isnt possible, Angchuk says. Now, when they arrive, they can be redirected to the trained astro-guides in the villages. All homestays will feature double-layered blackout curtains and lighting activated by motion sensors, among other measures. At IAO, we have been following these norms already, Angchuk says. . Maharashtra: Zooming out from Ajanta

A view of the Moon as seen through the telescope at the Ajanta site.

Ajanta Viewpoint in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, is the popular spot from which one gets a birds-eye view of the 2,000-year-old rock-cut Buddhist cave complex.

Now, visitors to the Unesco world heritage site can return after sundown, for a very different experience. Since January 2023, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has been hosting free stargazing sessions here. The site is where the caves were first rediscovered by Madras Presidency officer John Smith in 1819, says MTDC general manager Chandrashekhar Jaiswal. We chose it because there is no habitation and no artificial light.

The stargazing sessions are free for now.

The project is part of an MTDC effort to boost community-based experiential tourism, Jaiswal adds. Three locals have been trained as astronomical guides, by Shrinivas Aundhkar, director of MGMs APJ Abdul Kalam Astrospace and Science Centre in Aurangabad. With their help, visitors can use the telescope to view craters on the Moon, or the rings of Saturn, the glow of Venus or, when the occasion arises, meteor showers.

We have not started charging people yet. Well be doing so soon. We plan to add at least two more telescopes and have school children over too, to explore the sky, Jaiswal says. . Look up! Five things to watch out for in 2023 Venus: Also misnamed the morning star and the evening star, because it is the brightest point in the sky after the Sun and Moon, Venus can be spotted just above the western horizon until June, shining brilliantly once the sun sets. Astronomer Arvind Paranjpye, director of the Nehru planetarium in Mumbai, urges skywatchers to use even a basic telescope to track the crescent phases of this planet. On April 11, Venus will also appear south of the Pleiades star cluster, and much closer to it than usual. This should be a beautiful sight and make for a unique view, Paranjpye says. Lyrids: One of the oldest meteor showers  its first recorded sighting dates to Chinese records from 687 BCE  the Lyrids make a dazzling appearance in the night sky, for about two weeks each year. Originating from Comet Thatcher, the shower is expected to peak on April 22 this year. Since it will occur during a new moon phase, when the sky is particularly dark, expect a better glimpse of the luminous trails.

(Shutterstock)

Diamond ring effect (above): Although Indian skywatchers will miss it in real life, a diamond ring is likely to light up the sky in April. The first solar eclipse of the year, on April 20, will first be visible in the Indian Ocean, with the view extending past the Philippines, says Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, head of SCOPE (Science Communication, Public Outreach and Education), the direct-outreach arm of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. During totality, when the shadow of the Moon covers the Sun, one can expect to see the rare diamond ring or Bailys beads effect. The Moon is not an exact sphere, so as it is about to cover or drift pass the Sun, the latters rays will shine through in some parts more brightly, causing what looks like a diamond ring, says Ramanujam. To track this phenomenon live, go to timeanddate.com.

Perseids: Debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet comes together each year, typically in August, to form the Perseids meteor shower. It is one of the most dramatic showers to watch. Up to 50 meteors are visible per hour, from about 1 am until dawn; most can be seen with the naked eye, on a clear night. Look out for the peak on August 12 this year, says Paranjpye. Given that it will be mid-monsoon, hope for clear skies. Geminids: Wrap up the year on a bright note. The Geminid is a rare meteor shower that originates not from a comet but from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon. Geminids usually show at the rate of up to 150 meteors per hour. On December 14 and 15, with no moon in the sky, the view is likely to be brightest, with a chance of spotting two meteors a minute, Paranjpye says.

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Name: Meghna Kaur Meghna Kaurs most star-struck moment so far was seeing Justin Bieber perform live. (Meghna Kaur)

Age: 28

Occupation: Content creator

Currently I am: Excited for my trip to New York as its a collaboration with an airline.

High point in life: Being listed among Forbes Indias Top 100 digital stars.

Low point in life: Mom being in hospital.

On my playlist: Lag Ja Gale Ke Phir by Lata Mangeshkar, Tera Mujhse Hai Phele Ka Naata Koi by Kishore Kumar.

On my speed dial: No one.

Today Im craving: Pad Thai.

Next big splurge: Could just be a Chanel bag!

Last thing I ordered online: My birthday outfit.

App I check before going to bed: Most likely Instagram.

Advice Id give my 18-year-old self: Stop caring about what other people think. What matters most is how you see yourself.

The one place everyone should travel to is: The Maldives.

A secret skill I have: I can touch my ear with my toe!

A superpower/magic tool I wish I had: Reading peoples minds.

My favourite Sunday memory while growing up: Playing Housie with my family.

My most star-struck moment so far: Seeing Justin Bieber perform live.

The best part of vlogging is: Travelling.

My favourite bad habit: Tequila.

If I could travel back or forward in time, Id: Probably travel back to the 1980s.

A trait I despise in people: Dishonesty.

I wont leave the house without: Phone, headphones, lip gloss.

The best thing about fame: If you want to meet someone famous, its not that hard.

The worst thing about fame: No privacy.

From HT Brunch, March 25, 2023

Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch

Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch
In just days, Amazon Prime Video is expected to launch its global publicity campaign for Citadel, the streamers big play towards establishing a Marvel- and DC-style universe. The first step towards laying the foundation this is this six-part mothership series headlined by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Game of Thrones star Richard Madden. Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas star in Citadel, a new spy series that will also have Indian, Italian and Spanish sister shows.

Citadel has been described as an action-packed spy series with a compelling emotional centre. The Family Man creators Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK are shooting the Indian, Hindi-language satellite series with Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. An Italian, a Spanish, and a Mexican sub-series are also believed to be in the works, which will together tie in to form the Citadel universe.

Much like the Marvel and DC template, in which Iron Man shows up in a Spider-Man film, and Wonder Woman makes cameos in Batman v Superman, characters from their respective franchises will migrate, cameo, and potentially team up with others within the larger Citadel umbrella.

Maddox Films Bhediya failed to drum up as much excitement as horror-comedy Stree.

Its a big gamble for Amazon, but streamers are seeing merit in investing big, rather than spending as much or more to license the rights to other studios superhero and action franchises for a limited time. In June, Netflix will unveil Extraction 2, sequel to their 2020 action smash starring Chris Hemsworth and Randeep Hooda.

Bollywood is not lagging far behind. Yash Raj Films, in shrewdly introducing Salman Khans character Tiger (from the Ek Tha Tiger films) in Pathaan, has paved the way for a spy universe that will likely include Hrithik Roshans character Kabir from War. If the hysteria triggered in cinemas when Shah Rukh Khan and Salman showed up together was any indication, one can only imagine the level of excitement when Hrithik joins the Khans on screen.

The failure of Bhediya had to be a spoke in the wheel for the folks at Maddock Films, who are building a horror-comedy universe piloted by the first Stree that came out in 2018. The Rajkummar Rao and Aparshakti Khurrana cameos, at the end of Bhediya, confirms that director Amar Kaushik has been working on interlinking the films. Next, hes directing Stree 2; there is also a vampire comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana and a monster movie titled Munjha that are in the works.

Rohit Shetty is building his own cop universe. After establishing both Ajay Devgans character (in two Singham films), and Ranveer Singhs character in Simmba, he showed how the universe could work when he brought both gentlemen in to add star wattage to his Akshay Kumar actioner Sooryavanshi. Shetty is expanding his universe to play out on streaming too.

Rohit Shettys series Indian Police Force aims to take his cop universe further.

He recently finished shooting Indian Police Force with Sidharth Malhotra, which will run as an original series on Amazon Prime Video. Devgan, Singh, and Kumars characters from their respective films may make a special appearance in the series, which could also introduce a new cop character in Vicky Kaushal. All of it will tie in with the agenda of launching material for both cinemas and streamers.

If truly the only thing that is constant is change, then the industrys creative leaders might do well to plan way ahead, so that when the audience has had enough of every universe thrown at them, the next genius hack will be ready to be rolled out.

From HT Brunch, March 25, 2023

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Every year, World Tuberculosis Day is marked on March 24 to raise awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease and this years World TB Day theme is #WeCanEndTB where Indias healthcare sector is well aligned with this theme as it is working hard towards fulfilling the dream to eliminate TB by 2025 as India has brought the global Sustainable Development Goals target to end TB by 2025. World Tuberculosis Day 2023: Treatment of bone and spine TB or osteoarticular TB (Photo by Twitter/ADP_health)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a prevalent infectious disease in India and according to the WHO Global TB Report 2022, India has an estimated 3 million new TB cases and over half a million TB deaths. Of these cases, bone and spine TB constitute a significant portion, accounting for approximately 1-2% of all TB cases in the country.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vikas Tandon, Senior Consultant - Spine Surgeon at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, explained, Bone and spine TB, also known as osteoarticular TB, occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria infect the bones and joints. The disease primarily affects the spine, causing a condition called Pott's disease. It can also affect the long bones of the limbs, hip, and knee joints. The incidence of bone and spine TB in India is high, primarily due to the country's large population, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to healthcare. The disease is more prevalent in rural areas, where access to medical care is limited, and people often live in crowded and unhygienic conditions.

He elaborated, It is evident that the number of new TB patients declined by 18% between 2015 and 2021 in India but this pace of decline is clearly not enough to end TB by 2025. A case in point is Indian Spinal Injuries Centre where we are witnessing a decline as there were total TB cases were 200 men and 175 women in 2021 whereas it declined in 2022 to 152 men but spiked in women 236 cases. The total number of Spine TB cases in 2021 was 80 (men) and 66 (women). In 2022 while we witnessed a decline in men to 65, however, women cases increased to 94. Similarly, in 2021, there were 10 cases of Bone TB in men and 4 women cases. In 2022, total Bone TB cases declined to 5 but women cases remained at 4. The trend clearly indicates that women are at higher risk.

Talking about the treatment of osteoarticular TB, Dr Vikas Tandon shared, Treatment of bone and spine TB in India is similar to that of other TB infections. It involves a combination of antibiotics taken over a period of six to nine months, with some patients requiring surgery for the removal of the affected tissue. The treatment of bone and spine TB poses unique challenges due to the difficulty in delivering antibiotics to the infected area. As a result, doctors often recommend a more extended duration of antibiotic therapy, along with the use of immobilization devices to prevent further damage to the affected bones and joints.

He highlighted, In addition to antibiotic therapy, patients with bone and spine TB may also require nutritional support to promote healing and reduce the risk of further complications. Follow-up care is essential to monitor the patient's response to treatment and identify any adverse reactions to medication. Bone and spine TB remains a significant public health challenge in India. With improved access to healthcare, sanitation, and public education, the incidence of the disease can be reduced. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain the key to the successful management of bone and spine TB in India.
On March 14, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed a curative petition that called for a reconsideration of the financial settlement between the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC, now owned by Dow Chemicals) and the Indian government, in the Bhopal gas tragedy case. It is widely accepted that the settlement agreed upon between UCC and the Indian government  $470 million  was grossly inadequate, given the nature and the scale of the tragedy, and its lasting effects. Nonetheless, the SC refused to reopen the settlement, on the basis that the money was needed at the time for the purposes of urgent relief, that the amount had been considered and deliberated upon by the court previously, and that the scope of curative jurisdiction is extremely narrow. What the SC failed to adequately consider was the argument that the settlement amount had been arrived at on the basis of the suppression of crucial facts. (ANI)

However, what the SC failed to adequately consider was the argument that the settlement amount had been arrived at on the basis of the suppression of crucial facts. It was argued that in 2009, in a set of proceedings before the Southern District Court of New York, the Bhopal victims (who were also before the SC in the curative proceedings) had obtained internal UCC documentation, showing that the injuries that resulted from the gas leak were likely to be major, residual, and permanent  and that this was known to UCC before the settlement.

This was further supplemented by the fact that UCCs internal studies many years prior to the gas leak showed the same conclusion. However, these studies were not public, and were not searchable online until as late as 2014. Indeed, future studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research affirmed this, showing repeatedly that many of the injuries were progressive in nature, and resulted in worsened and prolonged problems over the course of a lifetime.

For these reasons, even though the settlement was entered into in 1989, the flawed basis upon which the amount was computed could only be understood properly decades later, in the 2010s. It is precisely to deal with this kind of injustice that the SCs curative jurisdiction exists. As the name suggests, curative implies to cure  ie, to cure a prior error or mistake that, thus far, has been impossible to cure.

Ever since its introduction in 2002, the SC has (rightly) used its curative jurisdiction sparingly, to correct gross injustices that were the result of errors or mistakes. But it is difficult to see what could ever be a grosser injustice than a settlement for the worst industrial disaster in our history, which was arrived at on the basis of incomplete information, and whose after-effects are still being felt to this day.

Furthermore, one striking feature of this case is that ever since the Bhopal gas tragedy, the victims  the individuals who suffered from the gas leak  have been given short shrift by the State. The initial settlement was entered into by the Government of India, acting in its capacity as parens patriae  the protector of citizens unable to protect themselves. The victims had little to no say in how they wished to prosecute their remedies against UCC. Subsequently, attempts to reopen the settlement were opposed by the Indian government.

In this context, the curative hearings were an important opportunity for the victims of the tragedy to have their day in court, especially given the new facts that had come to light. That this came so late in the day  at the curative stage, and many decades after the settlement  was no fault of their own, as they had been actively shut out of the process on many occasions. Consequently, it was incumbent upon the SC to parse their claims (especially about the flawed basis of the settlement) with care and rigour. Instead, however, the SC did the opposite. During oral arguments, it accorded little time to the counsel for the victims, instead treating the case primarily as between the government and UCC.

This is reflected in the judgment, where the SC summarily dismissed the victims arguments about the flawed basis of the settlement, without adverting to  or considering  the evidence for it; somewhat ironically, the court refused to accede to the governments request for topping up the settlement on the basis that the government had neither pleaded nor shown that the initial settlement was based on fraud, but at the same time, also refused to engage with  and indeed, expressed irritation at  this argument, when it was made by the victims counsel.

Indeed, the judgment appears animated by a spirit of why should we now flog a dead horse  even though apart from civil proceedings, the absence of UCC has meant that the victims have not been able to access criminal justice either. Nonetheless, the court spoke about the need for bringing a finality to proceedings, and the perils of the entire set of proceedings against UCC restarting from scratch were the settlement to be reopened, and the amount enhanced. But what the court forgot is that there is nothing honourable about an unjust finality: In the words of the Roman historian Tacitus, it is to create a desolation, and call it peace.

Gautam Bhatia is a Delhi-based advocate

The views expressed are personal
The word mind is used ever so casually, almost mindlessly. As in mind your step, mind your head, mind your own business. Sometimes a little more mindfully, as in mind your language, change your mind and make up your mind. But if one is to see and reflect on its equivalents in Sanskrit  manas and chitta  one would catch its real significance at once. Both those words work for mind and for conscience, and they work admirably, but with differences in nuance, in shades of meaning. PREMIUM If the Oppositions chitta is to be bhoy-shunno  without fear  its facts have to be satya-purno, truth-saturated (this phrase being mine, not Tagores). And if they are that, then probity can be sure to have, in Tagores words uchcha jaetha shir, its head held high. So high that no government will dream of defending the indefensible (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

The Sanskrit sloka Manas ekam, vachas ekam, karmanyekam mahatmanam (Those whose mind, words, and deeds are in complete accord are high-souled beings) is perhaps the oldest example of the use of manas. Chitta has been used most tellingly by Rabindranath Tagore in his great composition, translated by himself, beginning with the line: Where the mind is without fear. That poem, the 35th in his Gitanjali, as lofty as it sounds in English is altogether matchless in its original Bangla, opening with the words: Chitta jaetha bhoy-shunno.

What would be the nuanced difference between the two?

I cannot answer that question lexically, but can attempt an impressionistic interpretation. Manas is about the brain without which there can be no mind. Chitta is about the reflective mind without which the brain would be an empty shell. The first has intelligence as its signature attribute, the second has conscience as its defining character. The first requires quick reflexes, the second calls for measured responses.

Reflecting on them made me think of our Parliament and its two Houses  the Lok Sabha (LS) and the Rajya Sabha (RS) also known as the House of the People and the Council of States or, in common parlance, the Lower House and the Upper House. These two are, without doubt, the mind of Indias democracy. The first is about initiative, innovation and interventionist action. It is primarily  though not solely  about legislation, with these three Is piloting the process. The second is about cogitation, circumspection and corrective reaction. It is also, though not solely, about reflection on the three Is of the first.

This is not to say that the LS does not recognise conscience or the RS does not know what intelligence is about. Both have conscience and intelligence actuating their proceedings. But, quintessentially, the manobala (morale) of the LS requires its brain to be sharp, the chittasvarupa (universal consciousness) of the RS requires its conscience to be alert. It is through manas and chitta working together that niti acquires nyaya, kanoon reflects insaf.

The Constituent Assembly (December 1946 to January 1950) in its intelligent wisdom or wise intelligence, gave us a bicameral Parliament. It is a thousand pities that it did not choose to make bicameralism mandatory in the states as well. So, while six states  Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha  have two Houses, the rest now have only one, the legislative assembly. But Parliament, having both Houses, reflects the chitta aspect of the mind for all the states.

The vice-president (VP) is essential to the architecture of our Republic. But it is as chairman of the RS that the VP finds himself playing his busiest role. And so, from Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, our first VP and first chairman of the RS (1952-1962) to Jagdeep Dhankhar, our present VP and chairman, the presiding officers of the RS have been  and are  the guiding and guarding spirit of our Parliaments and, therefore. our democracys chitta.

When Chairman Dhankhar said, not long ago, that members of the RS (and by extension, of Parliament) while making any statement or any allegation on the floor of the House should ground those in fact, in accuracy or, in other words, in truth, he was, to my mind, reflecting the role of chitta. Can that be objected to? He also had in mind, one may recall, that Members of Parliment (MPs) speaking under the high domes of Parliament enjoy immunity and protection  requiring them to be that much more sure of their facts.

This reminded me of the first major financial scandal that rocked India, the Mundhra-Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) case. It was brought to the notice of Parliament by the then Lok Sabha MP Feroze Gandhi. Feroze Gandhi was a Congressman, the Congress was in office. He was Jawaharlal Nehrus son-in-law, Nehru was then the prime minister. The allegations were not hot air.

Feroze Gandhi prefaced his speech in the LS on the Mundhra matter on December 16, 1957, with the words: Parliament must exercise vigilance and control over the biggest and most powerful financial institution it has created, the Life Insurance Corporation of India, whose misapplication of public funds we shall scrutinise today. The keyword there was scrutiny. The MP had done his homework. We know how successful the work of the manas there was, leading to the chitta of the State, including the judiciary being activated.

In allegation-levelling, MPs being sure of their facts as anyone can be, lies the strength, real and potential, of the Opposition. In treasury benches being aware that the Opposition will not level charges recklessly lies the guarantee of objective investigation. It should, of course, not be that the Opposition benches have to be responsible and accountable always and the treasury benches free to judge their accountability. Of course not. Probity would have suffered if Feroze Gandhis scrutiny had been found to be tendentious or flawed. Equally, if Nehru had dodged the issue.

In the decades since Mundhra, allegations of scams have burgeoned exponentially. Have these been as rigorously scrutinised as Feroze Gandhis was? Have all governments acted with the honest, if dismayed, objectivity of Nehru in the Mundhra case?

If the Oppositions chitta is to be bhoy-shunno  without fear  its facts have to be satya-purno, truth-saturated (this phrase being mine, not Tagores). And if they are that, then probity can be sure to have, in Tagores words uchcha jaetha shir, its head held high. So high that no government will dream of defending the indefensible.

And what if its bhoy-shunno and satya-purno voice remains unheeded?

There is what Tagore has called Bharat Bhagya Vidhata. The Vidhata is watching everything. And the people of India are watching also, aided by the tele relays of proceedings in the House. They know the lines of the 1966 song from Teesri Kasam:

Sajan re jhooth mat bolo

Khuda ke paas jaanaa hai

Na haathi hai na ghora hai

Vahaan paidal hi jaanaa hai.

(Bluff not, dear friend, bluff me not

To Gods court you have to report.

On no grand elephant will you go there

Nor on horseback either.

You will go there on your own two feet,

To render unto Him your account, bitter or sweet.)

That caution is for real  both for the allegation-leveller and the allegation-receiver. Take Feroze Gandhis word for it.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a former administrator, diplomat and governor

The views expressed are personal
A man walks through his village in Nicoadala district, Mozambique, which was flooded as a result of cyclone Freddy.

UN agencies on Monday were scrambling to reach millions affected by the deadly tropical cyclone Freddy, which has worsened cholera outbreaks in Malawi and Mozambique as communities recover from devastating damages caused by storms, massive flooding, and mudslides.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said millions of children are at risk amid cholera outbreaks in Malawi and Mozambique. Both countries face flooding and damage caused by the cyclone, leading to death, displacement, and the devastation of infrastructure and social services. The after-effects have crippled access to health and other basic services.

Risks are rising

One week after cyclone Freddy made landfall for a second time in Mozambique, risks are rising.

"We are now facing a very real risk of a rapidly accelerating cholera outbreak in Mozambique, a disease which is particularly dangerous for young children, especially those who are malnourished," said Maria Luisa Fornara, UNICEF Representative to the country.

"UNICEF is working closely with the Government to urgently restore access to health, water, hygiene, and sanitation interventions to areas hit by the cyclone, and to prevent and treat cholera, but additional support is needed to meet the rapidly growing needs of children and families."

Cholera cases quadruple

Thanks to preparation efforts by the Government of Mozambique, the number of deaths and people displaced by the cyclone appears to have been lower than for past cyclones of similar magnitude, UNICEF said.

Still, reported cholera cases have almost quadrupled - to almost 10,700 - since early February and more than 2,300 cases have been reported in Mozambique in the past week alone, the agency said.

Even prior to the cyclone, Malawi and Mozambique were among the countries most seriously affected by the cholera outbreak that has, in 2023 alone, resulted in more than 68,000 cases across 11 countries in the eastern and southern Africa region, the agency reported.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has also issued an emergency appeal.

Malawi: growing death toll

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths released $5.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to assist cyclone-affected people in Malawi, as the devastating toll of floods and mudslides in the country's southern region continues to rise.

UNICEF estimated that 4.8 million children are in humanitarian need.

Visiting flood-ravaged communities on 16 March, UN Resident Coordinator for Malawi, Rebecca Adda-Dontoh pledged UN support.

"The destruction and suffering that I witnessed in southern Malawi is the human face of the global climate crisis," she said. "The people I met with--many of whom have lost their homes and loved ones--have done nothing to cause this crisis. We, as the United Nations, stand in full solidarity with the people of Malawi at this tragic time and we call on the international community to do the same."

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Broad ongoing efforts

Ongoing efforts funded by the CERF grant are addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene needs, shelter, vital non-food items, food, healthcare and the prevention of gender-based violence and child protection risks, she said.

"People are traumatized, and many have lost their homes, their belongings and their livelihoods," Ms. Adda-Dontoh said. "In support of the Government-led response, through this CERF grant, we will aim to assist those who have been hardest-hit with life-saving and life-sustaining assistance."

Malawi: facts and figures

The UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been tracking developments in Malawi in the wake of tropical cyclone Freddy.
This edition of Terms of Trade marks one year since I started writing this weekly column. Most of my political commentary over the last year has been critically optimistic about the prospects of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Critical, because it does not endorse some of the BJPs policies and optimistic, because there does not seem to be an effective challenger to the BJP at the current juncture. PREMIUM This family always places its partisan interest on a higher pedestal than national interest and the BJP's biggest political contribution is to end this dynastic rule. (PTI)

To be sure, part of the criticality or cynicism, if one may use the word to describe a belief in the near-term political invincibility of an ideology that one is critical of, also comes from the Gramscian dictum of pessimism of the intellect. In fact, one can argue that the daily job of a journalist is best captured by Karl Marx (even if dismissively) chiding the philosophers in his Theses on Feuerbach for only interpreting the world in different ways whereas the point is to change it.

As an exception or perhaps an exercise in self-indulgence, this edition of the column will take a break from being reconciled to interpreting the world every week and offer a prescriptive political argument that has the potential of changing it. To be sure, the idea is extreme enough to sound far-fetched (and it perhaps is), but read on.

Rahul Gandhis conviction

On March 23, a local court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to a two-year prison sentence for criminal defamation while speaking at an election rally in 2019. While the sentencing has been suspended for 30 days, a period he can use to go to higher courts, Gandhi has also been disqualified from the Lok Sabha and faces the prospect of a six-year disqualification from fighting elections. The reactions to the judgment, so far, can be classified into three kinds.

While the top leadership of the BJP is yet to react, many of its leaders have expressed vindication over the judgment and described it as a necessary indictment for Gandhis irresponsible speech. They argue that his comments were driven by his mala fide intentions to spread discord, defame an entire community, and undermine national interest.

The Congress appears to be mounting a simultaneous political and legal defence for Gandhi. Its leaders, some of whom are also accomplished lawyers, have argued that the conviction is not in keeping with the principles of the law as it is. The party has also, so far, steadfastly maintained that Gandhi will not tender an apology under any circumstances. This strategy of seeking legal relief while maintaining a political brave face is likely to result in prolonged legal processes. Gandhi faces the prospect of appearing in multiple courts from the Sessions Court to the Supreme Court in the run-up to the 2024 elections, a situation that suits the BJP.

And a final set of voices have used this case to suggest that criminal defamation on the law books is nothing but a repressive tool. Gandhis conviction, according to this line of argument, shows that even the rich and the powerful are vulnerable to persecution, and this only underlines the crushing impact such laws can have on the relatively unprotected. There is little doubt that Indias defamation laws need a re-examination, but given that free expression cant be unqualified, a regime in power can always deploy a wide array of repressive tools to persecute opponents. In any case, this is a broader argument that will not have an immediate political impact.

The wider narrative against the Gandhi family

A digression may be in order here, so as to understand the BJPs narrative against the Nehru-Gandhi family.

The BJPs larger ecosystem argues that Jawaharlal Nehru, thanks to Mahatma Gandhis support, managed to capture the political leadership of the Congress, and as an extension, leadership of independent India by bypassing several more deserving leaders. The list of those marginalised, in the BJPs rhetoric, includes Sardar Patel, BR Ambedkar and Subas Chandra Bose  this list is constantly evolving and growing, irrespective of the critical views these leaders may have held towards the BJPs ideological predecessors.

Once Nehru captured this leadership, the argument goes, it has always stayed within his family and Rahul Gandhi is only an addition to this long line of nepotism and dynastic politics. The Congresss sole agenda, therefore, is to restore the status-quo-ante where political power is returned to the Gandhi family in the country once again. This family always places its partisan interest on a higher pedestal than national interest and the BJP's biggest political contribution is to end this dynastic rule.

Why cant the Gandhi family fight this narrative? This is where it is implicated for a list of political sins.

At the top of the heap of sins is the 1975 emergency. The foremost beneficiary of the Emergency was the Hindu right. The RSSs participation in the JP movement as well as the civil disobedience against the government during the Emergency gave it notwithstanding some craven letters by its supremo to the prime minister  a legitimacy that it had hitherto lacked, historian Srinath Raghavan wrote in an opinion piece in HT in March 2017.

Second, corruption allegations, both against the Gandhi family and past Congress-led governments, are another effective weapon in the BJPs arsenal. Cases such as the ongoing Enforcement Directorate investigation in the National Herald case, where both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi faced questioning for days, have had a big impact in amplifying the BJPs narrative that the family is inherently corrupt and is only using the Congress to seek retribution from the government for following the due process of law.

Irrespective of the merit of such specific allegations, the fact that the Gandhi family has led the Congress for so many decades makes it easier for the BJP to argue that there are complicit or active perpetrators of all corruption and misgovernance which happened under the Congress governments.

The Gandhi familys predicament was best described by historian Ramchandra Guha in his biographical essay on Jawaharlal Nehru in the book Makers of Modern Asia. As the sociologist Andre Beteille has remarked, the posthumous career of Jawaharlal Nehru has come increasingly to reverse a famous biblical injunction. In the bible, it is said that the sins of the father will visit seven successive generations. In Nehrus case, the sins of daughter, grandsons, granddaughter-in-law, and great grandson have been retrospectively visited on him, Guha writes.

Overturning this narrative

Gandhis team has already said that they will challenge the conviction. But what would happen if they were not to?

One, no citizen will believe that Rahul Gandhi is the only politician in this country who uses defamatory (even if the charge were taken at face value) language in political polemics. This makes it easier for the Congress to argue that it is more political vendetta than the law taking its own course in a non-partisan manner. Accepting this vendetta, rather than using resources which only the very rich have at their disposal to escape punishment, will generate moral capital for Gandhi.

Two, unlike the corruption cases against the Gandhi family, where the technical details are too complicated for the layperson to decipher, Rahul Gandhis alleged offence is out in the open and his refusal to disown or distance himself from the statement will actually send a message (at least among his supporters) that he is willing to walk the talk on his political polemics.

Politics, to use the cliched phrase, is an art of the possible and not bound by the law of the land or how judges chose to interpret it. Ultimately, the battle is won by those who manage to build hegemonic support for their ideas. The BJPs approach to the Ram temple question is the best example for this argument. For a long time, until the mosque was demolished, the BJP was unwilling to yield to judicial wisdom on this issue. The Congress needs to fight a similar perception battle if it wants political traction for its corruption allegations against the current government. Rahul Gandhi has no choice but to lead from the front here. This is his best shot at being seen as leading civil disobedience.

The third argument is central to Gandhis self-proclaimed political persona. Right from the time when he entered active politics, Gandhi tried to portray himself as an anti-establishment voice, except that he was born into a family which is the biggest symbol of Indias political establishment. Gandhi once tore the ordinance introduced by the Manmohan Singh government to protect convicted legislatures from losing their membership. If Gandhi chooses to go to jail, it will strengthen his narrative that his fight with the powers-that-be is not just cosmetic but real.

This idea might sound counterintuitive and far-fetched, but facing State repression  for this is how the Congress is already describing the punishment  during the freedom struggle and the Emergency played a big role in building the popularity of at least two generations of mass leaders in India. Rahul Gandhi has not faced this until now. Baptism by fire will help. In the wake of the Bharat Joda Yatra, where Gandhis entire self-projection was of a tapasvi following the path of the Mahatma, this offers an opportunity to be a satyagrahi.

If Gandhi does choose to embrace this strategy, where does this leave the Congress? A recap of developments five years ago suggests that it is in an unenviable position.

Remember, in 2018, the Congress formed governments in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, its performance in the 2019 general elections turned out to be a damp squib, largely because the party completely collapsed in these four states. There is nothing to suggest that favourable outcomes in these state elections, even in the partys best-case scenario over the next eight months, will not be followed by a 2019-type collapse in the 2024 general elections.

The larger takeaway for the party is simple. It is still dependent on Rahul Gandhi to mount an effective national challenge to the Narendra Modi-led BJP. But Rahul Gandhi the politician seems incapable of either matching the BJPs Machiavellian strategists or moving popular opinion with his save democracy and institutions rhetoric.

Maybe things will change if the Congress is fighting the 2024 elections with Gandhi behind bars for having committed an offence which an overwhelming majority of Indians will not see as one. This might bring much-needed credibility to what Rahul Gandhi has been saying all this while.

To be sure, how the majority perceives Gandhis crime and punishment is also going to be a function of how his party and the BJP spin it.

If the Congress cannot mobilise support for itself even with Rahul Gandhi in jail, then it is time for Indias GOP to infer that it should finally start looking for a future without the Gandhi family. In that case, Gandhis subsequent disqualification from fighting elections will not matter. To conclude, a two-year jail term for one person is a perfectly reasonable bet to decide the fortunes of a party which was established in 1885.

Every Friday, HTs data and political economy editor, Roshan Kishore, combines his commitment to data and passion for qualitative analysis in a column for HT Premium, Terms of Trade. With a focus on one big number and one big issue, he will go behind the headlines to ask a question and address political economy issues and social puzzles facing contemporary India.

The views expressed are personal
32-inch LED TV is ideal for small rooms and cosy gatherings.

Due to their energy efficiency, higher viewing quality, and environmentally friendly nature, LED televisions are fast replacing the standard LCD televisions everywhere. With internet connectivity becoming increasingly accessible to everyone, LED TVs coupled with SMART capabilities have become the rage for cost-conscious Indian consumers. While televisions are available in many sizes, the 32-inch LED TV has become the standard TV of choice for many households due to its compact nature and availability at a reasonable price. 32-inch LED TVs have also become the second TV consumers use in their bedrooms rather than their living rooms. With so many buying options, choosing the right 32-inch LED can be daunting. To ease this pain and to allow you to enjoy your viewing experience sooner rather than later, we have come up with a list of the ten best 32-inch LED TVs available in India today. We have made this list keeping in mind the value-for-money mentality of the Indian consumer. We have also included both SMART TVs and those without SMART capabilities. So go on; go through our list and make your choice now! Product List 1. VW 80 cm (32 inches) Frameless Series HD Ready LED TV One of the most affordable 32-inch LED TVs on offer right now, the VW Frameless series ticks all the boxes if you are looking for an LED TV that is not SMART. The device, of course, tries to make up for this deficiency by providing you with many additional features. It is HD Ready and comes with 2 USB ports and 2 HDMI ports, which means that it can act as a source for both gaming and watching videos. It has a very modern frameless (bezel-less) design which gives it a premium look and a powerful 20-watt stereo output. If you call the service centre, the firms engineers will help you mount the television on the wall. Specifications: Model year: 2021

Product Dimensions: 75X50X15 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV; 1 Table Top Stand; 1 Wall Mount Bracket; 1 User Manual; 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control

Image Brightness: 400 Nits

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: USB, HDMI, Audio Jack

Weight: 4.22 Kg

2. Samsung 80 cm (32 Inches) Wondertainment Series HD Ready LED Smart TV A product from the reliable Samsung stable, this 32-inch LED TV comes with SMART capabilities, which means that you can directly view all your favourite movies and television shows by connecting it to Wi-fi. It has a Dolby Digital Plus sound system and HD picture quality showcased in a slim and stylish design. Users can download applications from the Samsung Smart Hub store and use them. It can be set on a table or mounted on the wall. Another benefit is that your computer can be mirrored on this TV, turning it into a workstation apart from its capabilities as an entertainment centre. Specifications: Model year: 2021

Product Dimensions: 73.2X43.9X8.3 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV; 1 User Manual; 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control

Actual Viewing Angle: 178 Degrees

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Weight: 3.8 Kg

3. Redmi 80 cm (32 inches) Android 11 Series HD Ready Smart LED TV Leading mobile phone and accessories manufacturers, Xiaomi, have thrown their hats in the 32-inch LED TV ring with the new Android 11 HD Ready Smart TV. It comes with in-built Chromecast and Google Assistant capabilities, not to mention the various 90+ free channels included. It also has Bluetooth capability, along with the usual HDMI and USB connectors. Being a SMART TV, it can also play videos directly from the internet without any set-top box necessary. It is almost a computer, with its powerful quad-core processor, dual-band wi-fi, and 1GB+8GB RAM and storage. The wall mount needs to be bought separately and will be installed by engineers upon purchase. Sound is also powerful, with Dolby audio, DTS-HD, and Dolby Atmos capabilities. Specifications: Model year: 2021

Product Dimensions: 73X47.6X8.7 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV; 2 Table Stand Base; 1 User Manual; 1 Remote Control; 4 screws

Actual Viewing Angle: 178 Degrees

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Weight: 3.92 Kg

4. Kodak 80 cm (32 Inches) HD Ready Android Smart LED TV One of the most affordable SMART televisions, the Kodak 32-inch LED TV comes with the Android 9.0 Pie version and has a durable A+ grade ultra-bright screen that offers a great picture quality even under bright lights. It is also bezel-less, which means that the product is stylish, and one that you can show off to your friends and family. It has speakers that put out 40 watts of sound for clear audio. Users can download a host of applications, such as Disney+Hotstar, Sony Liv, Zee5, and so on, and watch movies or TV shows instantly. Wall mounting needs to be done separately. Specifications: Model year: 2021

Product Dimensions: 73.5X44X9 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV; 2 Table Stand Base; 1 User Manual; 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control; 1 Wall Mount; 2 AAA Batteries

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Weight: 4.5 Kg

5. LG 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready Smart LED TV A long-time pioneer of TVs and SMART TVs, LG has also come up with one of the best 32-inch LED TVs that suit users; budgets while offering a premium experience. It can double down also as a workstation, offering screen mirroring, a mini-browser, and Office 365. It has DTS Virtual:X sound, and two 10-watt down-firing speakers capable of providing enough sound for a large room. Though it has bezels, it is slim enough to be a stylish addition to your living room. It also comes with a WebOS operating system. Specifications: Model year: 2020

Product Dimensions: 73.9X44.1X8.4 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV, 1 User Manual, 1 Warranty Card, 1 Remote Control, 2 AAA Batteries

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, HDMI

Weight: 5.1 Kg

6. OnePlus 80 cm (32 inches) Y Series HD Ready LED Smart Android TV With more and more televisions including SMART capabilities, many internet electronics companies have come into the market, offering good, cost-efficient SMART televisions. One such brand is OnePlus, whose mobiles are quite famous. The OnePlus Y series 32-inch LED SMART TV runs on its OxygenPlay interface along with Android TV 9.0 OS. Since it has Android, you can access applications such as Play Store, Chromecast, and Google Assistant, which you take for granted with your mobile device. It has excellent sound clarity, featuring 20-watt noise-cancelling Dolby Audio speakers. You can also connect multiple devices simultaneously, since the Y series TV comes with multiple HDMI and USB ports as well as Bluetooth connectivity. Specifications: Model year: 2020

Product Dimensions: 71.3X42X6.5 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV, 2 Table Stand Base; 1 User Manual; 1 Remote Control; 1 AC Cord; 2 AAA Batteries

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, HDMI, Bluetooth

Weight: 3.5 Kg

7. iFFALCON 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready Smart LED TV Android R 11; 1 GB RAM; 8 GB Storage; Google Apps with Google Assistant and Chromecast; Powerful 16-watt Dolby Audio dual speakers  these are just some of the features of the iFFalcon 32-inch SMART LED TV. Though an unproven brand as compared to the others in this list, this TV is not short of features and benefits and allows users to enjoy the best television experience at an affordable price. The viewing quality is excellent, with its A+ HD Ready display. You can also use this TV for Android gaming. It can be wall-mounted or set up on a base. Specifications: Model year: 2021

Product Dimensions: 71.3X48.1X18 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV, 2 Table Top Stand; 1 User Manual, 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control; 2 AAA Batteries

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Weight: 3.45 Kg

8. Acer 80 cm (32 inches) I Series HD Ready Android Smart LED TV The power-packed Acer 32-inch LED television runs on an Android 11 OS and comes with dual-band Wi-fi connectivity. Its sound projection is also quite excellent, with twin 24-watt high-fidelity Dolby Audio speakers providing five sound modes. It also has enough connectivity options to set up laptops, set-top boxes, and gaming devices simultaneously. It also comes with other features, such as an intelligent frame stabilisation engine, HDR 10+, super brightness, and blue light reduction. It also has a storage capability of 8 GB and runs on a 1.5GB speed. Specifications: Model year: 2022

Product Dimensions: 71.6X42.1X8.5 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV, 1 Table Top Stand; 1 User Manual, 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control; 2 AAA Batteries; 4 screws

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Built-in dual band Wi-fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Weight: 3.92 Kg

9. AmazonBasics 81cm (32 inches) Fire TV Edition HD Ready Smart LED TV Not to be undone by the various brands offering the 32-inch LED TV, Amazon has come up with its offering in this category with the AmazonBasics 32-inch HD Ready SMART LED Fire TV. With powerful 20-watt speakers capable of producing Dolby Audio and DTS Tru Surround sounds, this TV can play more than 5000 applications from Amazons Fire OS store. You can connect set-top boxes as well gaming devices and USB devices at the same time. It comes with a 1-year warranty and wall-mounting capabilities. Specifications: Model year: 2020

Product Dimensions: 73.2X43.9X8.3 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV, 1 Table Top Stand; 1 Wall Mount; 1 User Manual, 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control; 2 AAA Batteries; 1 Power Cord; 1 AV Converting Cable

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: USB, Wi-fi, HDMI

Weight: 3.65 Kg

10. Westinghouse 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready LED TV Running on the Android 9.0 Pie OS, the Westinghouse 32-inch LED TV is one of the most affordable SMART televisions available in the market today. It follows many of the other 32-inch LED televisions in offering features such as multiple connectivity ports, connectivity through Wi-fi, USB, and HDMI options, 1GB + 8GB RAM & Storage, and surround sound. Specifications Model year: 2021

Product Dimensions: 73.5X44X11 cm

With the Product: 1 LED TV, 1 Table Top Stand; 1 Wall Mount Bracket; 1 User Manual, 1 Warranty Card; 1 Remote Control

Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Screen Resolution: 1366X768p

Connector Type: Wi-fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Weight: 4.5 Kg

Three best features for consumers:

Product Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 3 VW 80 cm (32 inches) Frameless Series HD Ready LED TV Affordable 32-inch LED TV Multiple connectivity options Bezel-less design Samsung 80 cm (32 Inches) Wondertainment Series HD Ready LED Smart TV Multiple connectivity options Access to Samsung Smart Hub HD Ready Redmi 80 cm (32 inches) Android 11 Series HD Ready Smart LED TV Quad-core processor Dolby Atmos sound Android 11 OS Kodak 80 cm (32 Inches) HD Ready Android Smart LED TV Bezel-less design 40-watt speakers Android Smart TV LG 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready Smart LED TV Office 365 included DTS Virtual:X sound Multiple connectivity options OnePlus 80 cm (32 inches) Y Series HD Ready LED Smart Android TV OxygenPlay OS Noise-cancelling speakers Smart TV Features iFFALCON 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready Smart LED TV A+ HD Ready Display Android R 11 OS Multiple connectivity options Acer 80 cm (32 inches) I Series HD Ready Android Smart LED TV High-fidelity Dolby Audio speakers Multiple connectivity options Blue light reduction AmazonBasics 81cm (32 inches) Fire TV Edition HD Ready Smart LED TV Dolby Audio & DTS Tru Surround Sound Access to Amazon Fire OS store Fire TV Edition Westinghouse 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready LED TV 1GB + 8GB RAM + Storage Android 9.0 Pie OS LED Display
Samsung S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra debate will rest in this article.

Samsung is one of the most proactive smartphone brands in the market. It has recently launched the flagship S series line-up, with the S23 Ultra being the top of the line product. How is this phone different from the last gen S22 Ultra, and what differences are significant? Both devices come packed with features that set them apart from other smartphones on the market. As we use our smartphones for various day-to-day tasks, it is important to consider the features that make our lives easier. Both the phones offer flagship features, and come very close to each other in terms of features and performance. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at the day-to-day usage features of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S22 Ultra, see what are the differences in feature and which one should you pick while purchasing your next flagship smartphone. Let's take a look at the smartphones.

Display Both the S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra have an immersive display that makes browsing, streaming, and gaming a delightful experience. The S23 Ultra boasts a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels. The S22 Ultra, on the other hand, has a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1400 pixels. Both displays are brilliant and offer crystal clear visuals, but the S23 Ultra stands out with its smoother 120Hz refresh rate display, making scrolling and navigating around the phone's UI even smoother. The major difference is the resolution of the display, and you will not be able to notice that in day-to-day usage. Processor Under the hood, the S23 Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is rumoured to be the fastest processor available for smartphones. The S22 Ultra, on the other hand, is powered by last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which is still a very powerful processor. When it comes to regular usage, both phones offer speedy performance and can handle multiple apps running in the background without any lag or stutter. However, the S23 Ultra is more powerful, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is heats less under pressure conditions. Using the phone outdoors under bright sunlight is also better as it gets warm less.

Build Both the S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra have a glass front and back with an aluminium frame, which gives them a premium feel. The S23 Ultra, however, has a slightly different camera bump that makes it stand out and helps it to lie flat on a table. Both phones have IP68 water and dust resistance, which make both phones durable and future-proof. You can choose any of the phones, but keep in mind that the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection for front and back. This makes the phone more solid, and resistant to drops. Battery Battery life is always an important consideration, and the S23 Ultra comes with a massive 5,000mAh battery, which should last for an entire day of heavy usage. The S22 Ultra has the same 5,000 mAh battery. Since the processor is different, the battery performance is better on the Galaxy S23 Ultra due to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is an excellent choice for people who are looking for fantastic performance. Camera Both phones with excellent, state-of-the-art camera modules. The S23 Ultra has a better 200MP primary cameras. The images taken from the primary camera of both phones are hard to differentiate, but the details are better on the S23 Ultra. Other cameras are very similar on both phones. On the video recording front, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can take 8K videos at 30fps, whereas the S22 Ultra can only shoot 8K videos at 24 fps. The S22 Ultra had a 40MP selfie shooter, but the S23 Ultra has a 12MP shooter. The details are similar, but the portrait mode works better on the S23 Ultra. Price of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra at a glance:

Product Price Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Rs. 1,24,999 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Rs. 1,09,999

Conclusion The final choice depends on the buyer. Both Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra are great smartphones. They both come with flagship features and stunning design. If you are someone who likes being on top of the trend, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the phone for you. However, if you want fast day-to-day performance while ensuring some savings, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a better deal. The differences are not evident in regular usage, and the price difference is significant.
By the end of this article, you will know everything about the Samsung multi-door refrigerator, and it will help you make a more informed and aware choice for your next purchase.

Samsung is one of the leading electronics companies in the world. The brand has created multiple promising products in the home appliance sector. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Samsung multi-door refrigerator. Let's see what it has to offer, what are the features that make it stand out, and why should you pick this refrigerator while upgrading.

Refrigerators have become an indispensable appliance in every Indian household. With evolving lifestyles, consumers demand not only ample storage space, but also energy efficiency and smart connectivity features in their refrigerators. The world has moved past all single door and double door refrigerators. Everyone requires more storage, that is why there are now multi door refrigerators in the market.

Basic features

This Samsung refrigerator is a multi-door one that boasts a sleek design and a massive storage capacity of 620 litres. The refrigerator is ideal for large Indian families who require ample space to store their groceries, fruits, vegetables, and leftovers. The refrigerator is available in a silver colour variant that complements modern Indian kitchens. Storage is necessary for big Indian households as most homes have elaborate meals with multiple preparations of everyone's liking. The Samsung multi-door refrigerator provides ample storage for your groceries, fresh foods, and even meats and seafood.

The Samsung multi-door refrigerator is equipped with an inverter compressor that adjusts the cooling power according to the amount of food stored in it, ensuring energy efficiency and noise reduction. The refrigerator also features Samsung's Twin Cooling Plus technology that cools the refrigerator and freezer compartments separately, maintaining optimal humidity levels and ensuring that food stays fresh for longer. People who are using older models of refrigerators are familiar with the fact that the refrigerators used to provide similar cooling for the fresh food section and the freezer. This would sometimes make the cooling inside the freezer inefficient, and ruin products like ice cream, yoghurts, etc. Meats and seafood also require their own cooling to stay fresh for longer. The Samsung multi-door refrigerator takes care of that, and keeps all your food products safe and hygienic.

Special features

Convertible freezer

One of the standout features of the Samsung multi-door refrigerator is its convertible freezer. The refrigerator comes with a convertible freezer that can be converted into a fridge, providing extra storage space when needed. This feature is particularly useful during Indian festivals or family gatherings, where extra space is required to store food and drinks. Indian festivals are full of sweets and delicacies. Storing them can sometimes be a problem, but the Samsung multi-door refrigerator solves that problem, and makes storing your special dishes easier during festivals, occasions and gatherings.

Digital inverter technology

The Samsung multi-door refrigerator also features Samsung's digital inverter technology that helps maintain a consistent temperature in the refrigerator. This feature helps reduce wear and tear on the compressor, extending its lifespan, and reducing energy consumption. A refrigerator is not something that needs an upgrade every couple of years. To ensure a long-lasting product, it is important to see that the internal parts are not compromised at any given point. The digital inverter technology keeps a check on the load and the requirement of the fridge and maintains a healthy temperature throughout.

Smartconnect inverter technology

Another unique feature of the Samsung multi-door refrigerator is its Smart Connect Inverter technology. The refrigerator can run on home inverters during power outages, ensuring that food remains fresh even during extended power cuts. This feature is especially useful in India, where power cuts are a frequent occurrence, and refrigeration of perishables becomes a priority.
Beijing said Friday that it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas, as Chinese-owned TikTok faces calls for a ban in the United States. The TikTok logo is seen on a cell phone.

China "has never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law", foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

ALSO READ: TikTok employees can still access Indian users data despite ban: Report

The Chinese government "attaches great importance to protecting data privacy", she said.

"The US government has so far not provided any evidence that TikTok poses a threat to its national security, but instead has repeatedly made presumptions of guilt and unreasonable suppression" against the company, Mao added.

"We have also noted that some in the US congress stated that seeking a ban of TikTok is a xenophobic political persecution," she said.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced relentless questioning from combative US lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle Thursday over the video-sharing app's alleged ties to China and its danger to teens.

The Harvard-educated former banker failed over more than five hours to defuse an existential threat to TikTok as the app seeks to survive a White House ultimatum that it either split from its Chinese ownership or be banned in the United States.

"ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government and is a private company," Chew told lawmakers in his opening remarks, referring to TikTok's China-based parent company.

"We believe what's needed are clear transparent rules that apply broadly to all tech companies -- ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns," Chew added.

At the crux of much of the fears over TikTok is a 2017 Chinese law that requires local firms to hand over personal data to the state if it is relevant to national security.

And in one particularly heated exchange Thursday, Chew was forced to acknowledge that some personal data of Americans was still subject to Chinese law, but insisted that would soon be changed.

The firm also acknowledged in November that some employees in China could access European user data and admitted in December that employees had used the data to spy on journalists.

But the group has insisted that the Chinese government has no control over or access to its data.
Relocating to a new city and hunting for a rented apartment can be daunting for many. From packing up your belongings to finding a place to live to unpacking and settling in, moving requires a lot of work. However, if you are in Bengaluru, you must also crack a tenant interview before the owner rents out his property to you. Recently, a man took to LinkedIn to share that he failed to clear a tenant interview in Bengaluru despite clearing the interview with tech-giant Google. Ripu Daman Bhadoria with his luggage. (LinkedIn/ripubhadoria)

I cleared the Google interview but failed the tenant interview in Bangalore. Heres my short journey to clearing tenant interviews, wrote Ripu Daman Bhadoria on LinkedIn, who works at Google as an Engineering Manager. He then shared how he failed a tenant interview in Bengaluru despite clearing a Google interview. Last year (2022), when I relocated back to #Bangalore from #Seattle, I searched for a decent place to rent, but it was extremely difficult due to the high demand post-COVID. Given the demand, many apartment owners started interviewing prospective tenants. I was caught off guard as I miserably failed my first-ever tenant interview. That was a moment of awakening for me as I realized that there are harder interviews to clear than Google, he added.

He even asked the landlord to share feedback on his interview performance and any red flags they noticed. The landlord was transparent in sharing feedback that they believed I was likely to buy a house, given that I work for Google. I never thought that working at Google could be so disadvantageous, he continued.

In the next few lines, Bhadoria shared that he successfully cleared the next tenant interview in Bengaluru. He even asked people to reach out to him for tenant interview experience.

Take a look at the LinkedIn post below:

A screengrab of Ripu Daman Bhadoria's LinkedIn post. (LinkedIn/ripubhadoria)

Since being shared a day ago, the LinkedIn post has accumulated close to 9,000 reactions and numerous reposts. Additionally, the post has also raked a plethora of comments.

Heres how people reacted to the post:

You say Tenant interview is harder than Google interview. So, if one clears tenant Interview, will he/she be offered a job in Google, posted an individual. To this, Ripu Daman Bhadoria replied, Please reach out to the HR. Another added, Hey can u please create docs for the same and share it publicly.... Also, it would be great if you could take some sessions on the same... It would be helpful to us all. Bhadoria replied to the LinkedIn users request and wrote, Its in review. Will share post LGTM. Perhaps, I will ask you to share tips for interviewing my tenants, wrote a third. Bhadoria shared a reply to this. He wrote, Make me your tenant instead.

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A woman on Reddit recently claimed that she sued her parents after they used her college fund. The Redditor says that her great-aunt had left money for her and her sister's education. However, the Reddit user's parents used a large chunk of that money to pay for their son's wedding. Woman claimed she sued her parents for using her college funds.(Reddit/@Accomplished_Bar5656)

Reddit user @Accomplished_Bar5656 claims that her great-aunt set up savings accounts for her female relatives since 'education for women wasn't valued much in their culture. ' The user also informs that her great-aunt used to live in London, where she got her education. "She married a British man, they moved to America, and had a great life. She funded the education of as many of her nieces and grandnieces as she could. When she passed away, she left money for every girl relative she could," she added.

Also Read: Japanese mom designs storybook for son based on RRR

As per the post, the Redditor's parents managed to access the funds that her great-aunt set up for her and her sister. But that money was used by her parents to pay for their brother's wedding.

She wrote, "I asked my parents about it, and they said they needed the money. I finally found out where the money went. I got furious. I got student loans and moved out. I am a great source of shame to them. I am currently suing them for the money that was left for me. My entire family is against me. They all think I am airing private family business in public. And that I am putting money ahead of my family."

The user also claimed that her brother even tried to sort out the situation and offered to pay her back. However, when the woman asked for a legally binding contract, he refused to accept it.

Take a look at her post below:

This post was shared just a few days ago. Since being posted, it has been liked over 37,000 times. Many people have even commented on the post and shared their opinions.

Check out a few reactions below:

An individual shared, "Yes, your parents brought shame upon themselves by stealing from you. May Karma come for your family. Good luck to you!!"

Another person added, "Your parents and your brother had the opportunity to keep this a private matter when you told them you would sue them if they didn't return the money or pay for your schooling. Since you have already been betrayed by family members you trusted, your brother should not be offended that you want a written contract."

A third person added, "They are embarrassed and hounding you because they are being exposed for their shameful actions and having to face the consequences they should rightfully face. Hope you get every penny back."
President Joe Biden on Friday warned Iran that the United States would "act forcefully" to protect Americans, after the U.S. military carried out air strikes against Iran-backed forces in retaliation for an attack in Syria. US President Joe Biden (AP)

A day after the attack that killed an American contractor and wounded five U.S. troops, which Washington blamed on a drone of Iranian origin, sources said there had been a new missile attack on another U.S. base in northeast Syria.

Also read: Biden extends invitations to120 leaders for 2nd Summit for Democracy

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it had been ineffective and there were no new U.S. casualties.

Suspected U.S. rocket fire later on Friday targeted new areas in eastern Syria, according to two local sources, with no casualties reported. Pro-Iranian forces in Syria said in an online statement late Friday that they have a "long arm" to respond to further U.S. strikes on their positions.

The violence could further aggravate already strained relations between Washington and Tehran, as attempts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers stalled, and Iranian drones being used by Russia against Ukraine.

Although U.S. forces stationed in Syria have been attacked with drones before, deaths are rare.

"Make no mistake: the United States does not ... seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people," Biden told reporters during a visit to Canada.

Asked whether there should be a higher cost for Iran, Biden replied: "Were not going to stop."

The Pentagon had said U.S. F-15 jets on Thursday attacked two facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria, said the U.S. strikes had killed eight pro-Iranian fighters. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the toll.

Iran's state Press TV said no Iranians had been killed and quoted local sources as saying the target was not an Iran-aligned military post, but that a rural development center and a grain center near a military airport had been hit.

The U.S. strikes were a response to a drone attack earlier on Thursday on a base near Hasakah in northeast Syria operated by a U.S.-led coalition battling the remnants of Islamic State.

Three service members and a contractor required medical evacuation to Iraq, while two wounded American troops were treated at the base. On Friday, the Pentagon said the injured personnel were in stable condition.

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it appeared that the defensive system on the base had failed.

The Pentagon said the U.S. military had a complete site picture in terms of radar, though one official told Reuters troops on the ground did not appear to have had enough time to react to the drone.

A U.S. base at the Al-Omar oil field in Syria was attacked on Friday morning, according to the Lebanese pro-Iranian TV channel Al Mayadeen and a security source.

Also read: Joe Biden's Ramadan wish has special mention of China's Uyghurs

It is not uncommon for Iranian-backed groups to fire missiles at U.S. bases in Syria after they are hit with air strikes.

U.S. forces first deployed into Syria during the Obama administration's campaign against Islamic State, partnering with a Kurdish-led group called the Syrian Democratic Forces. There are about 900 U.S. troops in Syria, most of them in the east.

U.S. troops have been attacked by Iranian-backed groups about 78 times since the beginning of 2021, according to the U.S. military.

While Islamic State has lost the areas of Syria and Iraq it ruled over in 2014, sleeper cells still carry out hit-and-run attacks in desolate areas where neither the U.S.-led coalition nor the Syrian army exert full control.
The Chinese defence ministry warned the US military of serious consequences after it had to monitor for the second consecutive day a US Navy destroyer, which entered territorial waters claimed by China near a disputed island in the South China Sea on Friday. In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts routine underway operations in South China Sea, on March 24, 2023. (AP)

It marked the second straight day of heated exchanges between two of the most powerful navies in the world as tensions rose in the disputed waters of the South China Sea over Beijings sweeping maritime territorial claims and Washingtons insistence on freedom of navigation in international waters.

China is also in dispute with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia over the ownership of other islands in the South China Sea.

We sternly demand the US side to immediately stop such provocative behaviors, otherwise it would take the serious consequences of every eventuality it caused, the Chinese defence ministry spokesperson, Tan Kefei, said in a statement.

Tan added the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The USS Milius guided-missile destroyer had sailed near the disputed Xisha islands (Paracel in English) on Thursday, prompting the PLAs southern Command to deploy ships and aircraft to track and expel it from the waters, a claim rejected by the US military.

The Xisha islands are occupied by China but are claimed by Vietnam as well as Taiwan, a the self-ruled democracy Beijing claims as a breakaway region.

The same US warship again sailed in the vicinity of the islands on Friday, as part of what it called a freedom of navigation operation.

At the conclusion of the operation, Milius exited the excessive claim and continued operations in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet, of which the destroyer is a part, said in a statement.

This freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognised in international law by challenging the restrictions on innocent passage imposed by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan, and Vietnam and also by challenging PRCs claim to straight baselines enclosing the Paracel Islands, the US navy statement added.

The statement added that unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations.

Chinas defence ministry was quick to respond, accusing Washington of undermining the peace and stability of the South China Sea with its actions.

Tan remarked that the US militarys move gravely violated Chinas sovereignty and security, as well as the international law, which is another irrefutable proof of its navigation hegemony and militarisation of the South China Sea.

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As a 29-year-old defence minister, he launched a ferocious assault on Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, but is now pursuing back-channel talks that could ultimately remove Saudi forces from the conflict.

He has also worked to mend bitter rifts with regional rivals like Qatar and Turkey, and even offered up the Gulf kingdom as a possible mediator for the war in Ukraine.

Analysts say it points to an evolution of Prince Mohammed, now 37, from erratic disruptor to pragmatic power player.

The deal with Iran in particular "marks a sea change in his political approach", signalling "maturity and a more realistic understanding of regional power politics", said Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi foreign policy at the University of Birmingham.

Also Read: Hutong Cat | Iran-Saudi deal, third term presidency, all in a day's work for Xi

Yet it's too soon to know whether such de-escalatory measures will succeed -- and how far they will go.

The Iran deal still needs to be implemented, with embassies due to reopen by the second week of May after seven years of severed bilateral ties.

Saudi Arabia and Syria are also in talks on resuming consular services, state media in the kingdom said Thursday, more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom cut ties with President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Riyadh had long openly championed Assad's ouster.

Regardless of what happens next, Riyadh's agenda is clear: minimising turbulence abroad to keep the focus on a raft of economic and social reforms at home.

Also Read| Always advocated dialogue, diplomacy: India welcomes Saudi, Iran agreement

"Our vision is a prosperous Middle East," one Saudi official said, "because without your region developing with you, there are limits to what you can achieve."

- 'Vision' under threat -

It was domestic reforms that initially helped burnish Prince Mohammed's reputation on the world stage.

On his watch, the formerly closed-off kingdom sidelined the notorious religious police, allowed women to drive, opened cinemas and started granting tourist visas.

Its deep-pocketed sovereign wealth fund inked a series of high-profile investments in everything from Newcastle United to Nintendo, hinting at how his "Vision 2030" reform agenda might transition the world's largest crude exporter away from fossil fuels.

Hanging over all this were concerns about ramped-up repression, especially following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate.

But Saudi officials also recognised how security threats, especially from Iran, endangered Prince Mohammed's big plans.

This point was driven home with attacks in 2019, claimed by the Iran-backed Huthis, on Saudi oil facilities that temporarily halved crude output.

Riyadh and Washington charged that Tehran was behind the operation, which the Iranians denied.

The incident was a game-changer, spurring Saudi Arabia to pursue a more conciliatory path, analysts and diplomats say.

Saudi officials were deeply disappointed by the tepid response of then-US president Donald Trump's administration, which they believed undermined the oil-for-security trade-off that has underpinned the two countries' partnership for decades.

"The Saudis were shocked that the Americans did nothing to protect them," said an Arab diplomat based in Riyadh.

"Saudi officials told us, 'We need to focus on the megaprojects,'" the diplomat added, citing a futuristic megacity known as NEOM and a budding arts hub in the northern city of AlUla.

"If one missile hits NEOM or AlUla, there will be no investment or tourism. The vision will collapse."

- 'Lowering the temperature' -

In making up with Iran, Prince Mohammed has not gone it alone.

Neighbouring Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates restored full diplomatic ties with the Islamic republic last year.

But the Saudi-Iranian deal is seen as more significant because the two Middle East heavyweights have often found themselves on opposite sides of conflicts -- not just in Yemen but also in places including Lebanon and Iraq.

"The kingdom is pursuing a calibrated geopolitic reset that attempts to holistically improve the broader regional security environment," said Ayham Kamel of Eurasia Group.

Anna Jacobs of the International Crisis Group added: "Lowering the temperature with Iran is a smart way to lower tensions across the region and mitigate some of the proxy battles surrounding Saudi Arabia."

The next step for implementing the deal is a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers, though it has not yet been scheduled.

Earlier this week, an Iranian official said President Ebrahim Raisi had favourably received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia from King Salman, Prince Mohammed's father, though Riyadh has yet to confirm.

These expected encounters will be closely watched as worries persist that the rapprochement remains fragile.

"Mistrust is deep between Saudi Arabia and Iran," Jacobs said, and both sides will need to see positive signals from the other very soon to proceed with the deal.
guest column

Tax administrations have long suspected that tax evaders hide their wealth abroad in significant quantities. Now we have proof.

In 2021 alone, information on assets of nearly EUR 11 trillion held outside the taxpayers' place of residence was exchanged through the Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information .

In the last ten years, tax administrations have collected over EUR 114 billion in tax, interest and penalties through voluntary disclosure programmes and other tax compliance initiatives.

Information exchanged on the Standard helps tax authorities track income so that it can be taxed and support domestic needs. It is therefore critical that African countries promote such cross border support in order to reduce tax evasion.

The Standard collects information on the financial account holders in a country and then shares the details (such as the name, address, taxpayer identification number, account information, and account balance) with the tax administration of the account holder's jurisdiction of residence. It also does this where the account holder is a company by "looking through" the natural person behind it (the "beneficial owner"). It is a powerful and comprehensive standard, with more than 110 jurisdictions involved.

More African countries will be implementing this Standard in the coming years. Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Seychelles, have already implemented the Standard while Kenya, Rwanda, Tunisia and Uganda are already making advanced preparations to do so. As a result, they will be able to receive this same kind of information  finding out precisely who, where and how much is being concealed abroad. This is a priority action for several members of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).

However, knowing where the assets are is only a first step. The purpose of obtaining that knowledge is to collect tax owed to use the funds for public goods such as health care and education.

The challenge is that tax administrations do not have automatic rights to seize assets held abroad. Instead, the collection of tax and seizure of assets is governed by the domestic law where the assets are located. In other words, even when the assets are identified as belonging to a taxpayer that is a resident of one country if they are located abroad, they are still, legally, out of the reach of the tax authority.

International treaties provide for tax administrations to assist one another in addressing this issue. That includes bilateral Double Tax Conventions such as the ATAF Model Double Non-Taxation Agreement and the ATAF Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters . It enables one tax administration to request the help of another to collect a tax debt owed, as well as interest and penalties, subject to the treaty's terms. However, those treaties generally require that the tax administration where the assets are located use its procedures and powers to collect and enforce the tax as if it was its own tax debt.

This can be a very powerful tool in tackling tax evasion, not only to recover the debts owed but also to deter future efforts at evasion. Recognising its potential, tax administrations in developing countries, particularly, are expressing more interest in this avenue of international tax cooperation.

However, making these requests for assistance can be unfamiliar and require specific legalities. ATAF, working with the Global Forum on Tax Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, is ramping up efforts to equip its members to use the relevant procedures. Later this month (MARCH), we will host tax authorities in Kampala, Uganda, at the first regional workshop to ensure the potential offered by cross-border recovery can become a greater reality. It will cover the legal and practical elements of successfully engaging in cross-border tax collection and asset recovery assistance.

This area will grow in importance over the coming years, and ATAF is working with partners to ensure we are ready to support such initiatives. These efforts combine wider efforts at asset recovery, for example, in the context of the UN Convention Against Corruption or the work of the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the World Bank and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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Moreover, these efforts are powerful tools for improving revenue collection and building stronger state institutions, as explicitly included in the Sustainable Development Goals . And they are key to tackling illicit financial flows  which remains an urgent priority for all, especially Africa.

African countries will be deprived of much needed resources as long as we struggle to collect all taxes due to them. It is critical that we build local tax authority capacity and work together to support domestic income generation.

Thulani Shongwe is Manager: International Tax, Policy & Administration and Melissa de Jong is Senior Specialist: International Tax at the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). Tax authorities interested in more information contact emurenzi@ataftax.org .
Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been unanimously elected as the head of New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral financial institution set up by the five BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries, replacing Marcus Troyjo, who is also from Brazil. Like fans watching a football final, Brazilians cheered and hugged when lawmakers voted for President Dilma Rousseffs impeachment, while the losing side sobbed and walked out in disgust at the result.(Reuters Photo)

Rousseffs appointment as the Shanghai-headquartered NDB president was announced on Friday, two days before current Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva comes to China for a five-day visit to reset ties with his countrys largest export market.

The NDB is often referred to as the BRICS bank.

Also read: Brazil government sets deadline for Bolsonaro's return to country, face courts

Rousseff will be part of the high-level official group coming with President Lula -- who is considered her political mentor -- who will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28 in Beijing, according to a Reuters report from Brasilia, the first foreign leader to meet the Chinese leader since he secured a precedent-breaking third term as president earlier in March.

The new NDB presidents appointment was announced by the bank on Friday.

On March 24, 2023, the Board of Governors of the New Development Bank (NDB) unanimously elected H.E. Mrs. Dilma Vana Rousseff as the President of the Bank, effective immediately, in full accordance with the Articles of Agreement of the New Development Bank and the procedures of the President election, the NDB said in a statement on Friday.

In a press statement earlier this month, NDB had said: NDB President Marcos Troyjo will step down by March 24, 2023. The Board of Governors of the NDB will then elect a new President nominated by Brazil, to fulfil the incumbent rotating mandate expiring on July 6, 2025. After the election, the new President takes office.

The new NDB head brings to the table both political and diplomatic experience.

She was impeached for allegedly breaking financial laws  a charge she has consistently denied  during her second term as Brazils leader in 2016.

As the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff focused her agenda on ensuring the countrys economic stability and job creation, the NDB statement said, adding that during her government, the fight against poverty was prioritized, and social programs that started under President Lula da Silvas (earlier) terms were expanded and internationally recognised.

As a result of one of the most extensive processes of poverty reduction in the countrys history, Brazil was removed from the UNs Hunger Map, the statement added.

Also read: Brazil's President Lula sacks newly appointed Army chief after anti-govt riots

Trained as an economist, Roussef was a key member in the Brazilian team, which participated in the negotiations leading to the creation of the NDB.

The first Board of Governors meeting of the NDB was held in Moscow, Russia on July 7, 2015 where it formally came into existence as a legal entity. Indias K.V. Kamath was elected the first president of the bank.

The NDB was established with the purpose of mobilising resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries, the bank says in its statement of purpose.

In 2021, NDB initiated membership expansion and admitted Bangladesh, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay as its new member countries.

The NDB has so far approved $7.2 billion for over 20 projects in India.

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In the latest in a series of such incidents, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Canada has been defaced and spraypainted with pro-Khalistan and anti-India graffiti. Protestors of the Khalistan movement.(AP/ Representative Image)

The vandalism occurred in the early hours of Thursday near the City Hall in the town of Hamilton, in the province of Ontario. The statue of the Mahatma has been at that location since 2012.

According to a video of the vandalism, the six-foot tall bronze statue, which had been gifted by the Indian Government, was doused with paint and graffiti written around the base of the statue, including abuse of Gandhi himself, and an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A Khalistan flag was also attached to the walking stick held by the statue.

ALSO READ: Khalistan supporters again stage stir at Indian mission in London

The vandalism was discovered in the early of the morning and city authorities worked quickly to clean the statue and the graffiti. Hamilton Police confirmed to the Hindustan Times that they received a complaint in this regard on Thursday afternoon and were investigating.

In February, a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was desecrated, with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti spraypainted on its back wall, the fourth such incident of that nature within a period of eight months. The target of the vandalism was the Shri Ram Mandir in the town of Mississauga in the GTA.

On January 30, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was similarly desecrated. Prior to that, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, located at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill, was defaced in July last year. The 20-foot tall bronze statue was situated in the temples Peace Park. Weeks later, in September, an episode of such vandalisation occurred at the front entrance to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto.

None of these incidents have so far resulted in any arrests. While they have been linked by some to the so-called Punjab Referendum being organized by the secessionist group, Sikhs for Justice or SFJ, Canadian law enforcement has yet to establish that connection.

As with previous episodes, a video of the incident, apparently taken during the night when the vandalisation occurred, was shared on social media by some apparently pro-Pakistan handles.

The September incident had led to India issuing a formal diplomatic communique, called a note verbale to Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry.

Even that wasnt the first time a statue of the Mahatma has been targeted in North America. In February last year, such a statue was decapitated in New York, while in January 2021, another was vandalised in Davis, California.

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Ottawa is monitoring the situation in Punjab closely, following developments related to the pursuit of Waris Punjab De leader Amritpal Singh and the arrest of several of his associates. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau(AP)

Read here: Amritpal trained men at firing range in his village

The first formal statement from the Government on this matter came in the form of a reply from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons of Wednesday.

We are looking forward to a swift return to a more stable situation, Trudeau said.

He was responding to a question from New Democratic Party or NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.

However, Trudeau did not address other issues raised by Singh. He said the NDP, which is supporting the minority Liberal Party Government, demanded that Canada boycott the G20 events in Chandigarh and Kashmir, and ban BJP officials from entering Canada who have uttered death threats against Canadians.

A similarly careful statement was also made by Canadas minister of foreign affairs Melanie Joly on Thursday while answering a question from Indo-Canadian MP Iqwinder S Gaheer in the House. We are aware of the evolving situation in Punjab and we are following it very closely. We look forward to a return to a more stable situation, she said, adding, And you can always count on the Government of Canada to make sure that we will continue to address the concerns of many members of the community.

She expressed appreciation for the MP raising his concerns, which the Minister said was shared by many members of the House.

On March 18, in a series of tweets, Singh said he was deeply concerned by reports that India has suspended civil liberties and imposed an Internet blackout throughout the state of Punjab.

He made similar comments in the House of Wednesday as a preface to his question, as he alleged that the Indian government has suspended cellphone service, Internet service and social media accounts, on top of blocking journalists from covering what is happening while a heavy military presence rolls into Punjab.

Why has the Prime Minister remained silent on this? he asked.

His previous tweets alluded to draconian measures in the context of what he described as the 1984 Sikh Genocide.

Read here: Amritpal Singh tried to form terror outfit with ex-Armymen; 'blackmailed' women. Top points

His comments were followed by expressions of concern on social media by several Canadian leader including at least four MPs from the Liberal Party and two Conservatives.

According to reports, Singhs Twitter handle has bene withheld in India on the request of authorities, along with those of other Canadians who had been vocal on the matter.

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A Russian missile slammed into an "invincibility point" set up to offer refuge for Ukrainian civilians, killing at least three women, local officials said on Friday. Invincibility point in Kostiantynivka hit by Russian shelling.(The Kyiv Independent)

Four other civilians were also killed during the night, local officials said. The dead included two people killed in heavy Russian shelling of the Sumy region on northern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said.

The invincibility point that was hit overnight in the city of Kostiantynivka in the eastern Donetsk region was one of many such shelters created by authorities across Ukraine to provide access to electricity, heating, water and other basic services.

Photographs released by emergency services from Kostiantynivka showed the heavily damaged remains of the one-storey invincibility point surrounded by rubble. A mattress protruded from the debris.

One of the three dead women came from the Bakhmut area, scene of some of the heaviest fighting of Russia's war on Ukraine, the emergency services said, adding that two men were also hurt.

"Rescuers removed the bodies of three dead women from the rubble," they said on the Telegram messaging app. One person was pulled out of the rubble alive, they said.

In the Sumy region, an administrative building, a school building, and residential buildings were among those damaged, Zelenskiy's office said.

The air force said several towns and villages in the Sumy region had come under fire from missiles, drones and other weapons.

Two other deaths were reported by local officials in Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine and in the southern region of Kherson.

Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago, did not comment on the latest attacks. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the reports.
Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi urged Europe to play a role in supporting peace talks for Russias war in Ukraine, though the US warned Beijings proposals would effectively freeze the Kremlins territorial gains. Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow has shown no sign of stopping its attacks, and continues to claim portions of eastern Ukraine.(AFP)

China looks forward to France and other European countries to also play their due role, Wang told Emmanuel Bonne, a diplomatic advisor to the French president, in a phone call Thursday.

A cease-fire, stopping the war, resuming peace talks and a political settlement of the crisis should become the strategic consensus between China and Europe, Wang said, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The call came just after President Xi Jinping capped off a state visit to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin pledged even closer ties and hailed Beijings proposals for ending the fighting. Xi has sought to reboot his image as a global statesman, with China helping to secure a deal to improve ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and announcing its own plan for a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.

That proposal would freeze Russian troops in place on Ukrainian territory and is seen by Kyiv as a non-starter. President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to continue fighting until they depart. Moscow has shown no sign of stopping its attacks, and continues to claim portions of eastern Ukraine and Crimea as its territory after referendums widely denounced as illegal on annexation.

The US and its allies have rejected the Chinese initiative as biased toward Russia, and Ukraine has reacted cautiously. However, US administration officials worry that dismissing Chinas proposal outright could send a message that Washington isnt interested in peace.

Also, Spains Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced he would travel next week to China to speak to Xi about the proposal to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will begin a five-day visit to China on Sunday, and French President Emmanuel Macron said he would visit in early April to push Beijing to help end Russias war in Ukraine.
Kayleight Scott, a transgender flight attendant, who rose to fame after appearing in a United Airlines commercial was found dead on Monday in her Colorado home, The Independent reported. The 25-year-old penned an emotional post on her social media account and apologised to her loved ones saying ,"I will see you all again on the other side". According to Scotts Instagram, she was an avid skier and mountain climber.

"As I take my final breaths and exit this living earth, I would like to apologize to everyone I let down," Scott wrote. "I am so sorry I could not be better. To those that I love, I am sorry I could not be stronger. To those that gave me their everything, I am sorry my effort was not reciprocated. Please understand that me leaving is not a reflection on you, but the result of my own inability to turn myself for the better," the flight attendant said.

Her mother, Andrea Sylvestro, also shared a heartbreaking post, "Kayleigh Scott...I am so unbelievably proud to have you as my daughter, proud and amazed by everything that you have done in your life, your smile was absolutely beautiful, your laughter was unbelievably contagious, your heart was bigger than any of us could have ever understood, Sylvestro wrote.

After Scott's friends saw her Facebook post they reportedly called the cops asking them to do a welfare check on the flight attendant. The Denver Police Department is now investigating Scott's death. The police stated that a final determination as to the cause of death will be made by the Denver medical examiner's office.

Scott made headlines in 2020 when United featured her as a part of its diversity campaign. In the clip for Trans Day of Visibility, she spoke about the importance of coming out and living authentically. "I used to be so embarrassed about being trans," she said, adding, "All I wanted was to blend in."

According to Scotts Instagram, she was an avid skier and mountain climber.

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Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for four months, will launch a long-awaited counterassault "very soon" now that Russia's huge winter offensive is losing steam without taking Bakhmut, Ukraine's top ground forces commander said on Thursday. A Ukrainian serviceman cooks in a basement shelter near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on March 22, 2023. (Photo by Aris Messinis / AFP)(AFP)

The remarks were the strongest indication yet from Kyiv that it is close to shifting tactics, having absorbed Russia's onslaught through a brutal winter.

Russia's Wagner mercenaries "are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam", Kyiv's ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a social media post.

"Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk," he said, listing Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that recaptured swathes of land.

There was no immediate response from Moscow to the latest suggestions its forces in Bakhmut were losing momentum, but Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has issued pessimistic statements in recent days warning of a Ukrainian counterassault.

On Monday, Prigozhin published a letter to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, saying Ukraine aimed to cut off Wagner's forces from Russia's regular troops.

Reuters journalists near the front line north of Bakhmut saw signs consistent with the claim that the Russian offensive in the area could be flagging. At a Ukrainian-held village west of Soledar, on Bakhmut's northern outskirts, the intensity of the Russian bombardment had noticeably lessened compared with another visit nearby just two days earlier.

"It was really hot here a week ago, but in the last three days it has been more quiet," said a Ukrainian soldier who used the call sign "Kamin", or "Stone".

"We can see this in the enemy's air strikes. If before there were 5-6 air raids in a day, today we had only one helicopter attack and it was too far and so ineffective," said the soldier, a member of an anti-aircraft unit in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade.

INTENSE BATTLES

A slow-down in Russia's assault on Bakhmut could be in part a consequence of Moscow diverting its troops and resources to other areas. Britain said on Thursday that Russian troops had been making gains further north this month, partially regaining control over the approaches to the town of Kreminna, a Ukrainian target. Intense battles were also under way further south.

But any shift in momentum in Bakhmut, if confirmed, would be remarkable given the city's symbolic importance as the focus of Russia's offensive, and the scale of the losses on both sides there in Europe's bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Europe to provide more weapons, faster to his forces and impose additional sanctions on Russia, warning the war could otherwise drag on for years.

"If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war. It is in your power to prevent this," a clearly frustrated Zelenskiy said in a video address to European Union leaders, delivered from a train.

In particular, he reiterated demands for long-range missiles, more ammunition and more modern aircraft, and said the EU needed to speed up the process to grant Ukraine membership.

Front lines have largely been frozen in place since Ukraine's last major offensive in November. Moscow has meanwhile sent hundreds of thousands of freshly called-up reservists and convicts recruited by Wagner from prisons into battle.

Ukraine had looked likely to pull out of Bakhmut weeks ago but decided to fight on, a move some Western military experts described as a major risk given the need to preserve forces for a counterattack later this year.

But Ukrainian commanders said the battle was weakening Russia's forces more than their own.

ZELENSKY VISITS FRONT LINE

Zelensky had earlier on Thursday continued a tour of frontline provinces, visiting the Kherson region in the south a day after meeting troops near Bakhmut. He posted a video showing him meeting residents in Posad Pokrovske, a bombed-out village on the former Kherson front line recaptured in Ukraine's last big advance last year.

"We will restore everything, we will rebuild everything. Just like with every city and village that suffered because of the occupiers," he wrote.

This week, President Vladimir Putin made his grandest diplomatic gesture since launching the war a year ago, hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow for a three-day state visit. The two leaders pledged friendship and jointly denounced the West, but Xi barely mentioned the Ukraine war in public.

On Wednesday, the day Xi left, Moscow sent a swarm of drones to conduct air strikes across northern Ukraine and rockets hit two apartment blocks in Zaporizhzhia in the south.

The death toll rose on Thursday to nine from one of those attacks, a dormitory struck in a riverside town south of Kyiv.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year in what it calls a "special military operation", claiming Kyiv's ties to the West were a security threat. Since then, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides have been killed. Russia has destroyed Ukrainian cities and set millions of people to flight. It claims to have annexed nearly a fifth of Ukraine.

Kyiv and the West call the war an unprovoked assault to subdue an independent country.

Last week, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges, accusing him of illegally deporting Ukrainian children. Moscow denies this and says it has taken in children to protect them.

Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin ally, said arresting Putin would amount to a declaration of war against Russia.
World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24 to raise awareness about Tuberculosis, a serious respiratory infection. The day also highlights the progress being made in the battle against the disease and focus on the commitment to eradicate the infection. India has set the target of eliminating the disease by 2025.(Unsplash)

India has set the target of eliminating the disease by 2025, five years ahead of the global target. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address One World TB Summit, being organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Stop TB Partnership, in Varanasi.

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) a serious infection of the lungs is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosisium, that spreads through tiny droplets released in the air when one coughs or sneezes. It is believed that the infection has been around for 3 million years, according to CDC.

Theme:

The theme for World Tuberclusis Day 2023 is "Yes! We can end TB!". According to World Health Organistaion website, this theme aims to hope and encourage high-level leadership, increased investments, adoption of innovations, accelerated action, and multisectoral collaboration to combat the Tuberculosis epidemic.

Events in India:

PM Modi will launch various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative; official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) and family-centric care model for TB in Varanasi. He will also award selected States/Union Territories and Districts for their progress towards ending TB.

India has set the target of eliminating the disease by 2025, five years ahead of the global target. India accounts for 28% of all TB cases in the world, according to the Global TB Report 2022. There were 21.3 lakh cases detected in 2021 as compared to 18.05 lakh cases in 2020.

History and significance:

The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. In the 1700s, TB was called "the white plague" due to the pale appearance of the patients. According to CDC, tuberculosis had different names in different civilizations. TB was called phthisis in ancient Greece, tabes in ancient Rome, and schachepheth in ancient Hebrew. TB was also known as consumption in the 1800s. During the Middle Ages, TB of the neck and lymph nodes was called scofula. Scofula was believed to be a different disease from TB in the lungs.

Symptoms:

Tuberculosis symptoms differ from person to person. Majorly people infected with TB do not show any symptoms. However, the most common symptoms are constant coughing for more than two to three weeks, coughing up blood, extreme tiredness of fatigue, lack of appetite and weight loss, and night sweats.

Tuberculosis can be diagnosed in other organs as well such as digestive system, the bladder, and reproductive system.

Tips to avoid TB:

Vaccination with BCG

Improving the air circulation in indoor spaces

Treating latent infection before it becomes active in selected cases

Maintaining good nutrition

Wearing mask when out and about

Visit a physician if one has symptoms
Hwange  It was a historic moment yesterday evening here, when one of the Second Republic's signature projects, the Hwange Thermal Power Station's Unit 7, was successfully synchronised with the national grid, and started feeding electricity.

At 6:25pm, the control room at Hwange Power Station burst into celebrations, with engineers; young and old, foreign and local, clapping hands, whistling, ululating and others stamping their feet, as they expressed their joy following the historic moment.

For the better part of the day, engineers were pacing up and down, just to make sure everything was in order for a successful synchronisation of Unit 7 with the national grid.

In simple terms, the synchronisation sought to establish if the electricity being generated from Unit 7 would flow seamlessly into the national grid.

So, the process had to be thorough to ensure the problems encountered in South Africa and Botswana when they hurried their synchronisation, would not be replicated in Zimbabwe.

In fact, in 1984, four engineers were electrocuted at Hwange Power Station when they synchronised a system that was not yet ready.

Yesterday's process went well and after 20 minutes of the synchronisation, 41MW of electricity were being fed into the grid.

It was hoped that up to 100MW would be fed into the grid from Unit 7 later yesterday, with electricity consumers benefiting from the increased power generation.

However, six hours from the time the synchronisation started, the engineers were going to switch off Unit 7 and conduct checks on the system if any leaks and other challenges were experienced.

The checks would be conducted for 12 hours, and thereafter, Unit 7 would be brought back onto the grid and be allowed to generate electricity again.

Expectations are that by June this year, everything would have been put in place to ensure the installed capacity of 300MW would be achieved, and President Mnangagwa would then officially commission the project.

But when he eventually comes to commission the project, President Mnangagwa would be thrilled to realise that his desire to empower young people with skills and allow them to do what they can in developing their own country, is paying off given the high number of young engineers working at the expansion project.

The project manager, Engineer Forbes Chanakira, who learnt at the University of Zimbabwe, only turns 43 on April 3.

Dr Gata and Mr Marawa listen to Protection Engineer Tawanda Mufundisi (right) on how substation protection panels work.

In an interview after the synchronisation, Zesa Holdings executive chairman Dr Sydney Gata said a number of tests were done to ensure everything was above board.

He likened the amount of work put into commissioning a thermal power station to an "open heart surgery".

"The synchronisation has been successful and I am happy. As Zesa, we are proud of this event," said Dr Gata.

"We can gladly say we have a viable investment here. The rest of the tests can now be concluded while the Unit is now generating electricity and soon we shall be enjoying more electricity."

Dr Gata paid tribute to the engineers that have been working tirelessly to ensure the success of the project.

Further, he saluted President Mnangagwa for unlocking the US$1,4 billion from China, which is funding the expansion of Hwange Power Station.

"The plant was well designed and well constructed. Today we have been able to synchronise it with the national grid.

"I pay tribute to the project manager Engineer Forbes Chanakira and a team of nearly 200 young engineers for a job well done," said Dr Gata.

Zimbabwe had sought funding from China for the expansion project, but for over a decade, the Chinese could not loosen the purse strings, and it only took the first overseas State visit by President Mnangagwa to unlock the US$1,4 billion required, and the project started in August 2018, but was affected by a number of unforeseen events such as the Covid-19 outbreak.

National Coordinator responsible for programmes and projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet Engineer Amos Marawa, who was also present when history was made, said: "First and foremost I want to thank the team here at Zesa for this milestone of synchronisation.

"As Government, this is one of our flagship projects as power is critical for the attainment of our national development targets in line with Vision 2030. We are happy that as the system is being perfected, we will be getting electricity during that period.

"In June, we should have 300MW that we will be feeding into the grid. Unit 8 should also be done by October and our country will have more electricity being generated."

Engineer Marawa challenged Zesa to now swiftly start rehabilitating the other six units to ensure they are in good stead to generate more electricity.

Before the expansion project, Hwange Power Station had an installed capacity of 920MW and the addition of 600MW from Units 7 and 8 will take the installed capacity to 1 520MW.

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With Kariba South having already been expanded, resulting in the addition of 300MW into the grid to take the installed capacity to 1 050MW, more electricity will now be generated to support the rising demand for energy in the country following the coming in of new companies in the manufacturing, tourism, mining, services and agriculture sectors.

Companies that were already in existence have also increased capacity, and therefore, demand more electricity, to enable the attainment of a prosperous upper middle income society, which is predicated on increased production in all sectors of the economy.

Over 20 big mining companies are on the waiting list for electricity, making the increase in power generation a welcome development.

Engineer David Mvura, a young Zimbabwean engineer formerly with Zesa who once worked for South Africa's Eskom, but now a consultant, helped with critical knowledge on protection settings when progress had stalled due to the technology being used.

He said he was happy to have participated in the project.

"I am happy that this project has succeeded. It was a lot of hard work and all is in place now," he said.

A lot more young people, including interns, are at Hwange Power Station for the project.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has approved the release of N14.9 million as grants to about 149 firemen in the state.

The governor gave the approval in appreciation of their gallantry at arresting the inferno at Gamboru Market in Maiduguri over the weekend.

The state was still battling with the rebuilding of the burnt Monday Market, which is expected to gulp several billions of naira, after it was consumed by inferno on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly election.

Similarly, fire fighters from both Borno State and the Federal Fire Services did an outstanding job at the weekend, to ensure that the inferno that erupted at the Gamboru Market caused minimal damage.

Zulum who paid a 'thank you' visit to headquarters of the Borno State Fire Service in Maiduguri on Sunday, told the firemen he was impressed with their gallantry.

The governor said for their gallantry, he had approved the release of N14.9 million as grants to about 149 firemen operating under both the federal and state fire services.

He said: "I am here purposely to convey my deep appreciation to all of you for the great work you have been doing. Yesterday (Saturday) we had another fire disaster at Gamboru market and I was informed of your efforts towards quenching the fire. This goes to show how committed you are and we want to once again extend our appreciation to you."

The beneficiaries comprised of 60 firemen working with Borno State Government, 49 working with the Federal Fire Service, as well as 38 volunteer-fire fighters.

Zulum directed that each of the 149 fire men be given N100,000 and a bag of rice, as part of appreciation from Borno State Government.

Meanwhile, the governor has directed the employment of the 38 volunteer- firemen into the Borno State Fire Service as permanent staff.

The volunteers, 20 of them with the Maiduguri International Hotel and 18 with Borno State Fire Service were offering supportive services without receiving salaries which permanent staff are entitled to.

The governor also directed the management of Borno State Fire Service to immediately send to his office all of their requirements that would ensure the optimal performance of firemen in prevention and responses to fire incidents.

He also extended similar gesture to the Federal Fire Service, asking them to submit requirements in order to get some intervention from the state government.
Unlike what transpired during the almost eight-year rule of President Muhammadu Buhari where nepotism and incompetence appear to be the order of the day, the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has hinted of his readiness to constitute a government of national competence. Adedayo Akinwale writes

The February 25, 2023 presidential election has been won and lost, but the hues and cries by those that felt aggrieved are still very much loud and they've headed to court.

Ironically, both the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the contest and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, who came third, are both laying claims to have won the election.

They have told whoever cares to listen that they were robbed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Although, the electoral umpire assured before the February 25th election that results would be transmitted from polling units to INEC Results Viewing (IReV) Portal. That was not to be, as no result was transmitted on the day of election due to technical glitches according to the electoral body.

This unfortunate incident has overshadowed most of the surprises recorded during the elections due to the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) introduced by INEC. For example, President Muhammadu Buhari lost his home state of Katsina to PDP, the president -elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu lost Lagos to LP, same as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdulahi Adamu who also lost Nasarawa to Labour Party, among others.

Be that as it may, a cursory look at the voting pattern showed that while Obi would have kept depleting the votes of the PDP, he may not have the much needed spread to emerge the president of the country even if the election is re-conducted.

Expectedly, the aggrieved Presidential candidates have headed to court to challenge the outcome of the presidential election that produced Tinubu of the APC as the president in-waiting.

To Tinubu, a fair, credible election had been held and won, and the honor of the victory and the steep responsibility it entails has fallen on him. He said why he was not out to gloat or boast because there was no room for such behavior, he merely stated the facts as they are.

Moreso, he noted that it was not unnatural for Atiku and Obi to have voiced their dissatisfaction by going to court to contest the election. He said this act was inherent in the democratic process.

Nevertheless, while they exercise the legal rights afforded them in democracy, Tinubu noted that he has set his course and mind on the leadership of this nation. He said he has important work to do and was committed to getting that work done for the benefit of all the people, whether or not they voted for him or even voted at all.

Unfazed by the legal tussle ahead, Tinubu assured that in selecting his government, he would not be weighed down by considerations extraneous to ability and performance. As far as he was concerned, the day for political gamesmanship was long gone.

He acknowledged that while there had been talks of a government of national unity, his aim was much higher because he would priortise a government of national competence.

Consequently, he reiterated that he would assemble competent men and women and young people from across Nigeria to build a safer, more prosperous Nigeria.

Tinubu noted: "As your incoming president, I accept the task before me. There has been talk of a government of national unity. My aim is higher than that. I seek a government of national competence. In selecting my government, I shall not be weighed down by considerations extraneous to ability and performance. The day for political gamesmanship is long gone.

"I shall assemble competent men and women and young people from across Nigeria to build a safer, more prosperous and just Nigeria. There shall be young people. Women shall be prominent. Whether your faith leads you to pray in a church or mosque will not determine your place in government. Character and competence will.

"To secure our nation and to make it prosperous must be our top priorities. We cannot sacrifice these goals to political expediency. The whims of politics must take a backseat to the imperatives of governance."

If Tinubu's antecedent is anything to go buy, his ability in spotting talents is never in doubt. The examples abound during his time as the governor of Lagos state. Most of his cabinet members are presently dictating the pace at the federal level and making their mark.

For instance, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was a University lecturer before he was made the Attorney General of Lagos state when he was the governor.

The current Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola was a lawyer before he was made part of government when Tinubu was the Governor of the Centre of Excellence.

Similarly, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed was Tinubu's Chief of Staff, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola was his Commissioner for Works, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele was his aide; former Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi and the current Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others, were all his mentees.

"We have families to feed not just to eliminate hunger but to nurture enlightenment, civic responsibility and compassion. We have jobs to create not merely to put people to work but to afford all a better standard of living by which families and communities are improved and democracy deepened. We have water to replenish not just to quench physical thirst but to ignite a thirst for creative and better solutions to society's challenges. We have a nation to protect such that we eliminate danger and even the fear of danger.

"An important step toward restoring economic normalcy has been taken by the Supreme Court's decision on the parity of old and new notes.

This restores both the rule of law and economic decency. But this is not the end of the story. It is merely the beginning of a more comprehensive solution to our economic challenges," Tinubu noted.

Without doubt, in constituting his government, youth and women will participate actively. It however remains to be seen if women would be given 35 percent affirmative action in his government.

What is certain is that unlike what was witnessed in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari where cabinet members were not kept on their toes and non-performing cabinet members are eulogised rather than being shown the way out will not be a norm in the incoming administration.

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This is because the in-coming president understands the enormous task ahead and there is no room for trial and error or failure If his government is to make any impact.

As a democrat, Tinubu acknowledged the strong showing of new parties in the 2023 elections. He wondered why the critics of Nigeria were too quick to conclude that the country's political system was fragmented because of the impressive showing of new parties and their candidates.

He was of the view that these critics are wrong, because he believed that the emergence of the new parties and their candidates underscores the dynamic strength of the nation's democracy.

According to him, people want democracy to work and they want to have their voices heard and interests met within it. This is a good thing to be promoted, not something to be feared. What must concern us is not the growth of parties but the regrowth of old prejudices and bigotries such as ethnicity, creed and place of origin.

Without doubt, Tinubu may not have been the choice of some people due to the precarious situation the country has found itself in the hands of the APC-led federal government, because the belief of most Nigerians is that the president-elect was part of the old order that brought the country to its present state. On the other hand, Nigeria does not need a messiah or a saint to set it on the path of prosperity. Tinubu might as well be coming at the right time, beecause It takes someone who understands the system, who has profited from the system to fix the system.
INEC declared the Kebbi State governorship election inconclusive following the cancellation of results in polling units across 20 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the governorship election in Kebbi State as "inconclusive".

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election was keenly contested by the two giant political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The collation and returning officer of the election, Yusuf Sa'idu, a professor at the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, announced the position at the collation centre situated at INEC headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, on Monday.

He said there were cancellations of results in different polling units across Registration Areas (RAs) in 20 of the 21 local government areas of Kebbi State.

Mr Sa'idu said: "We aggregated the total number of collected PVCs in those polling units and it came to a total of 91,829.

"And when we checked the results, the two leading political parties in this contest, APC and PDP, polled 388,258 and 342,980 votes respectively. When we looked at the difference, it stands at 45,278."

He noted that they had no option other than to refer to sections 51(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 for guidance.

He read the provision as saying: "Where the number of votes cast in an election in any polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters in that polling unit, the presiding officer shall cancel the result of the election in that polling unit.

"Sub-section three of section 51 also states that where the result of an election is cancelled in accordance with sub-section two, there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in the affected polling unit."

He added: "By virtue of this provision and the powers vested in me as the collation and returning officer of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kebbi State, I, Prof. Yusuf Sa'idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, hereby declare the gubernatorial election in Kebbi State inconclusive."
Mr Akpabio's spokesperson, Mr Udom, dismissed speculations that the former minister abandoned the APC governorship candidate and threw his weight behind the YPP candidate.

A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North-west, Godswill Akpabio, has denied an alleged pact with the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Bassey Albert, during the 18 March state elections.

The ex-minister's spokesperson, Jackson Udom, said this in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

Some members of the APC and supporters of the former minister in the state had alleged that Mr Akpabio won the senate election partly because Mr Albert directed his party's candidate to step down and urged his party structure to support Mr Akpabio.

The senator-elect, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, was to reciprocate the gesture by directing APC supporters across the state to support Mr Albeert, the YPP candidate, during the governorship election.

An APC member in the state, Zion Umoh, who claimed to be an aide to Mr Akpabio on special duties, confirmed the existence of the pact on a live Facebook video, PREMIUM TIMES reported last week.

"YPP stood by APC in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, APC will stand by YPP in Akwa Ibom State," Mr Umoh said in a Facebook post last week.

"In Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the APC went on a ward tour. The YPP abandoned their own senatorial candidate, Emmanuel Ekon, and accompanied the APC on the ward tour. I am talking about the YPP stakeholders, they mounted the podium and declared total support for Godswill Akpabio in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

"They stood with us and we gave them that promise that we are going to stand with them for the governorship," Mr Umoh said in the live video.

Mr Umoh had made a step further to ask the APC governorship candidate in the state, Akanimo Udofia, to step down for Mr Albert in fulfilment of the pact between Mr Akpabio's APC pacts with the YPP governorship candidate.

He had argued that Mr Udofia had not campaigned and did not have the goodwill of the people to win the governorship election compared to the YPP candidate, whom he said, had a support base across the state.

"Akan Udofia has never supported the opposition party in Akwa Ibom State and has no clue on how to play the opposition politics in Akwa Ibom State and we the people must align with reality to chat a new course with YPP before we lose another eight years," he said in another Facebook post.

Many were made to believe Mr Umoh's claim because Mr Akpabio's campaign organisation did not issue a disclaimer condemning his utterances against the APC governorship candidate.

Also, Mr Akpabio was not seen campaigning for Mr Udofia in Uyo and Eket senatorial districts, a development that triggered speculations that he might have abandoned Mr Udofia after winning the senate race.

No pact between Mr Akpabio and Mr Albert - Mr Udom

Reacting to the allegations, Mr Akpabio's spokesperson, Mr Udom, dismissed speculations that the former minister abandoned the APC governorship candidate.

Mr Udom told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Akpabio had to rush to Abuja shortly after the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was declared president-elect to witness the presentation of a certificate of return to Mr Tinubu.

He said Mr Akpabio also waited to collect his certificate of return as a senator-elect before returning to Uyo.

"After collecting his certificate of return, he addressed the press that by the virtue of the victory of Mr Tinubu and his own victory that the people of Akwa Ibom state should rise and vote en masse for Akanimo Udofia for a seamless link to the national," the minister's spokesperson said.

He denied the existence of any pact between Mr Akpabio and the YPP candidate and urged the people to disregard such rumour.

"There was no pact between the two of them. I am not aware of that. I said there was nothing like a pact between anybody.

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"No, Mr Alert did not tell anybody to vote for Mr Akpabio and leave their own candidate in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district. The people voted for Akpabio based on his antecedents and achievements in public office. So if other party members voted for him it is on their own conviction," he said.

He challenged Mr Umoh who claimed to be working for Mr Akpabio as an aide on special duty to produce his evidence of appointment by the senator-elect and urged the public to disregard claims.

"Anytime you see him, ask him to produce his letter of appointment. I have mine. Anybody can say anything but what we know is that Mr Umoh is not an aide in whatever form to Akpabio. He has no right to speak on behalf of Mr Akpabio."

Mr Udom said his boss was not aware that Mr Umoh had been attacking Mr Udofia, adding that a group from the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district had denied that Mr Umoh was working for the senator-elect.

He did not, however, say if the group's disclaimer had the backing of Mr Akpabio.
Located on the picturesque Plaza del Santo Cristo in the heart of Marbellas Old Town, La Fonda Heritage Hotel is officially opening its doors on 1st April 2023 as the first Relais & Chateaux property in Andalusia.

In this vibrant city corner, brimming with Andalusian charm, La Fonda honours its rich heritage and extraordinary history, blending traditional architecture dating back to the 16th century in a modern sanctuary that epitomises the essence and elegance of Marbella.

Boasting gourmet restaurants, open courtyards, a sky-bar and emblematic architecture, this luxury boutique hotel brings Andalusian spirit to life in stylish surroundings celebrating history, gastronomy and hospitality.

A journey through the centuries

Comprising three meticulously restored historical buildings, this landmark was once a private residence, and also served as a church and a school, before the well-known designers, Jaime Parlade and Duarte Pinto Coelho, transformed it into a luxurious hotel in the 60s, eventually becoming the first Michelin-star restaurant in the city, during the late '80s.

A window into Marbellas Golden Years, La Fonda became an important meeting place for intellectuals, artists and socialites, which played a significant role in the area's tourist development.

During the recent renovation project to restore La Fondas architectural splendour, archaeological excavations unearthed one of the most extraordinary discoveries in the city in recent years, the altar and nave of the 16th-century Church of San Sebastian; as well as structures from the Nasrid period, dating back to the 13th century.

"Relais & Chateaux values the preservation of history and recognises the same ethos and attitude in La Fonda Heritage Hotels commitment to conserving the building and restoring its architectural

magnificence," said Rui Silva, Director, Member Services - Spain & Portugal of Relais & Chateaux. "We commend La Fondas passion for its history and vision for the future. These shared ideals are of significant importance in our collaboration with the hotel."

Adrian Gilbert, Co-owner of La Fonda, said: "Our team is honoured to open the first Relais & Chateaux hotel in Andalusia, an association known for its pursuit of excellence, its magnificent properties, and its dedication to preserving local heritage. We are deeply committed to the same values as Relais & Chateaux, exuding a passion for our craft and forging warm, lasting relations with our guests. We look forward to a flourishing and thriving future."

Old and new come alive

La Fonda has been restored to its former glory, retaining its original features, ancient walls and murals, whilst contemporary design, exclusive amenities, fine dining and understated elegance have brought this boutique hotel gleaming into the 21st century.



Traditional floor tiles are juxtaposed against glass walls and stylish modern decor. Magnificent archways open onto courtyards, and ancient trees rise through the hotel, offering shade to the delightful patios where guests can enjoy breakfast in the dappled, morning light.

Combining the buildings rich history with plush furnishings, lush green vegetation, and state-of-the-art technology, La Fonda blends the past and present to mark its revival and celebrate its continuation as a Marbella landmark.

Dining Destination

Home to a trio of exquisite restaurants, La Fonda features a variety of dining experiences, including its signature restaurant, Jane - where Andalusian and Mediterranean local produce are combined with global flavours.

From fascinating culinary techniques to unusual cooking methods, Executive Chef Pascal Silman has reimagined dishes and envisioned avant-garde taste sensations with the world as his canvas. Boasting an impressive open kitchen and three separate dining areas, including the beautiful 16th-century Church of San Sebastian, Jane offers a sensational dining experience in a unique setting.

La Fonda also boasts a stylish sky bar where one can enjoy Champagne cocktails, oysters and a raw menu, under the night sky, perched above the city below.



In the mornings, the charming courtyard terraces, Los Patios de La Fonda, afford a delightful spot to enjoy coffee and breakfast on the leafy patio; and throughout the day, a creative and deliciously crafted brunch menu is available.



Co-owner, Lauren Gilbert, highlights the hotels dining venues, which she believes to be the jewels in La Fondas crown. "It is rare to find a boutique hotel that is home to not only one, but three distinct dining options. I believe that our restaurants and lounges offer an experience that truly sets us apart and will provide an exciting addition to Marbellas lively social scene. Whether sipping cocktails above the city's bright lights or soaking up the fun and flair of Jane - La Fonda offers a stylish, hip venue for hotel guests and Marbella's cosmopolitan crowd in the heart of Old Town."

Contemporary rooms and suites

With 20 unique rooms, including three suites, all the rooms at La Fonda are impeccably furnished, offering sleek bathrooms, old-town views and original character. Accessed by covered passageways that look over the courtyards, each room boasts its own individual characteristics and charm. Some have expansive terraces, others feature traditional balconies overlooking the square, and others sit high above the rooftops of Marbella.

For culture and history enthusiasts, The Heritage Suite is certainly the most unique room in the hotel, home to the original dome of the Church's dressing room and 18th-century mural paintings of angels created in honour of La Virgen de Los Remedios, offering guests the opportunity to sleep in a carefully-restored slice of history.

The Loft Suite affords a private hideaway to retreat and relax above the world. With wooden beamed ceilings, large skylights offering plenty of natural light, and a balcony overlooking the neighbourhood, this suite is a peaceful refuge for luxurious loft living.

Hotel website
The Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) team is pleased to announce Ray Regan as their newest Associate. Ray is joining fellow PLA team member, Michael Sheppard in the New Mexico office and will be focusing on the southwestern region of the United States.

Ray has a successful background in both individual and portfolio hospitality and commercial transactions in the southwestern market.
Boston University School of Hospitality Leadership Summit annually brings together students, faculty, and the community to hear from world-renowned industry leaders on pressing topics and trends that are shaping the future of the business.

Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) is proud to announce the annual Hospitality Leadership Summit on Friday, March 24, 2023, 8am-6pm at Hotel Commonwealth (500 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston). The Summit brings together students and faculty with hospitality industry colleagues for a day-long conference of inspiration and networking, spotlighting exceptional speakers who are revolutionizing the bounds of hospitality. Further highlighting "Experience Innovation" in hospitality, student teams vying for top prizes at the inaugural $50k Poyiadjis Hospitality Innovation Competition will give their final presentations pitching new ventures, followed by awarding the $50k in cash prizes to the winning teams by a panel of judges. To cap off this exhilarating day, the 2023 ICON Award will be bestowed upon the industry leader who has significantly transformed the paradigms of hospitality.

Summit Speakers -"Experience Innovation"

Throughout this day-long event, the speakers (listed below) will inspire us all to imagine new ways of sparking the power of hospitality to improve wellness and wellbeing. Addressing the theme of "Experience Innovation" from a variety of angles, highlights include the founder and CEO of the world's largest vegan fried chicken manufacturing company; a scientist redesigning the food experiences via the "air we eat" for improved health outcomes; and the director of the MIT-Ukraine Program, which is leveraging hospitality and innovation to assist with preservation and reconstruction of war-devasted Ukraine. Among the forward-thinking leaders is a CEO of a company designing premium sneakers that come with NFTs to access exclusive experiences.

This event is organized by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Egypt - IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Arabella Group to develop three new hotels in Egypt between 2023 and 2026.

The hotels  InterContinental North Coast Direction White, voco Cairo Arabella Plaza Cairo, and Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse  will see IHG add over 500 keys to its Egypt portfolio in response to the growing demand for luxury resorts and premium hospitality options in the North African country. The agreement strengthens IHGs presence in the luxury and premium sectors in the region as well as underlines the appeal of its high-end hospitality offering among owners and guests alike.

The new-build hotel projects, currently under construction, are set to open in notable areas of Egypt. The incoming new voco Cairo Arabella Plaza is scheduled to open its doors in July 2023, with the Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse slated for a January 2026 opening and the InterContinental North Coast Direction White for a September 2026 launch.

Egypt offers a wealth of opportunity for the hospitality industry today with New Cairo and other attractive, high-end destinations attracting more visitors to the nation. The signing of three new hotels alongside Arabella Group will support the growth we are witnessing in the country by offering new and compelling luxury and premium hospitality experiences to satisfy the most discerning of travelers. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG

We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to expand the footprint of three of its leading brands  InterContinental, voco and Crowne Plaza, in Egypt. IHG has delivered first class hospitality experiences to guests worldwide and in Egypt, and as a partner of Arabella Group, we can guarantee it. With Egypts hospitality sector seeing exceptional growth, we are confident that both parties will benefit tremendously from this latest partnership. Mohamed Amin El Dokhmesy, president of Arabella Group

InterContinental North Coast Direction White

The InterContinental North Coast Direction White will be located in Ras El Hekma, one of the fast-growing luxury resort destinations in the region. Ras El Hekma is also considered one of the most desirable beachfront areas along Egypts Northern Coast. Located on the Mediterranean sea, the Ras El Hekma bay is gaining popularity thanks to its crystal-clear water, stunning beaches and rich culture. Sprawling across 290 acres of residential, retail and hospitality developments, the Direction White project is set to attract growing numbers of domestic and international tourists to the area.

The hotel will feature 346 lavishly designed rooms that appeal to the taste of luxury-seeking guests. The propertys culinary experiences are also set to be unmatched, with five food and beverage outlets including an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a lobby lounge and a destination pool bar. Meanwhile, the resort will feature a fully equipped 397sqm meeting space for corporate guests. Other facilities to relax and unwind include a club lounge, 1,500sqm spa, health club, and a swimming pool.

The new InterContinental hotel is a 90-minute drive from Alexandria International Airport and less than one hour from the soon-to-open Al Alamein International Airport.

voco Cairo Arabella Plaza

Situated in a prime location in Egypt, New Cairo, Voco Arabella Plaza Cairo promises accessibility to business parks, universities, shopping centres and multiple leisure attractions.

The modest 77-key hotel will cater to the areas high demand for exclusive and premium hotel experiences. It will house five food and beverage outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant, a range of small-scale signature restaurants and a rooftop bar. The property will feature a swimming pool and health club, while serving corporate guests with a 427sqm meeting space. voco Cairo Arabella Plaza is just 20 minutes from Cairo International Airport and a 35-minute drive to downtown Egypt.

Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse

Also located in New Cairo, the 146-key Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse will be situated within the family friendly Arabella Compound  near business parks, universities, leisure attractions and the popular Arabella Plaza.

The hotel will offer a comprehensive, comfortable and elegant guest experience with its three food and beverage outlets, a spa, health club and swimming pool. Domestic and international business travelers are well catered to with a wide meeting space that includes a 750sqm ballroom for special events. Crowne Plaza Cairo Arabella Clubhouse is just 20 minutes from Cairo International Airport and a 35-minute drive to downtown Egypt.

Guests of all the three hotels will benefit from IHGs best-in-class loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, which provides an elevated guest experience  giving them richer benefits that can be availed on IHGs new mobile app. The benefits range from suite upgrades and annual lounge memberships to extended check-outs, and much more, depending on the chosen benefit level.

IHG currently has 7 hotels in Egypt, and 13 hotels in the development pipeline.

Download more images of our properties from our IHG Digital Library.

About IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Ankita Chopra

+971 4 213 6043

IHG
Findings have shown that roughly half of the children born with this condition would have heart defects requiring surgery and adequate post-surgery medicare.

Despite laws prohibiting the discrimination of people with disabilities, children with special needs still experience difficulty in accessing adequate education and healthcare resources.

The Ugo Edward-Dibiana Down Syndrome Foundation, a non-profit organisation, made this known in a statement issued to commemorate the 2023 World Down Syndrome Day.

The Co-founder of the Foundation, Edward Dibiana, lamented the distressing challenges in getting schools to accept children or wards with special needs in the country.

Mr Dibiana said children with special needs face lots of stigmatisation and discrimination in Nigeria, a country with laws prohibiting such acts.

"Despite this law which was supposed to protect the interest of people living with disability, parents of children with special needs still experience difficult and distressing challenges in getting schools to accept their children or wards, as many schools in Nigeria still reject these children on account of their conditions," he said.

"That's a sad example of obvious discrimination that the law prohibits."

He noted that in some cases, children living with special needs are made to pay extra fees, much higher than those paid by their peers in the same class, just for them to have access to education, a strong violation of the discrimination law.

The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 was signed into law in 2019 to meet four goals for people with disabilities; equal opportunities, full participation in the community, sufficient living, and economic independence.

The Act prohibits any form of discrimination against persons on the ground of disabilities and imposes penalties for breaches. However, many persons, living with disabilities have lamented the continuous violations of the provisions of the law.

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day is marked globally on 21 March annually to highlight the challenges faced by people living with Down Syndrome and how government and the society could help to assuage their plight.

Down Syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. People living with the syndrome are often impacted by diverse health challenges including internal organ defects and intellectual disability.

According to Down Syndrome International, roughly half of the children born with this condition would have heart defects that would require surgery and adequate post-surgery medicare.

Sadly in Nigeria, parents are made to bear this cost without support from the government, contrary to the provisions of the law.

Stigmatisation/Discrimination

Mr Dibiana also lamented that cultural and social prejudices and stigmatisation of children with special needs have not abetted despite the good intentions of the law.

He said the perception that children with special needs are carriers of bad luck or possessed by some demons is still prevalent in Nigerian society.

He said the beauty and credibility of every democracy are often judged by how it protects the weak and the disadvantaged demography against tendencies that threaten to hinder their well-being, dignity, and survival in society.

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"For instance, sometimes children with special needs in Nigeria are tragically 'allowed' to die, sadly, due to circumstances that are interwoven in lack of access to healthcare, cultural/religious prejudices, ignorance and incapacitating economic conditions of many indigent parents."

He urge the Nigerian government to take steps to protect this vulnerable demography by ensuring strict compliance with laws that were made to protect their rights and interests.

This, he said can be achieved by compelling relevant government agencies to escalate enlightenment and sensitisation about the provisions of the law across the nation to promote compliance and curb discrimination against people with disability.
Concord Hospitality announces record-breaking performance in 2022 with hotel and development revenue topping $1.6 billion

Both ADR and RevPAR for the companys comp hotels delivered above national average growth for 2022

Concords Food & Beverage operations achieved its highest revenue in 2022 growing by 40% over 2021

Concord Hospitality, the award-winning hotel and development company which presently operates over 150 hotels, is preparing for a year of expansion in 2023 as the company recounts 2022 milestones and projects significant growth for the year ahead.

In 2022, Concord Hospitality reported a record-breaking year with a total of 66 successful transitions including 12 new hotel openings, an additional 15 third party management contracts and 10 newly-opened branded restaurant and rooftop bar concepts. Concord saw an additional 18 hotels that had a change in ownership where Concord was retained to stay on as the management company. The companys hotel revenues grew to $981 million with comp hotels seeing a 41.6% RevPAR growth over 2021 and the overall portfolio surpassing its 2022 revenue budget by 8.2%. Food & Beverage operations delivered its most impressive year yet with revenues coming in at over $125 million, a 25% growth over 2021.

2022 also marked another award-winning year for Concord Hospitality which has consistently been recognized as a leading developer and manager of both select service properties and full-service lifestyle luxury hotels. A few accolades and awards that Concord Hospitality received in 2022 include, but are not limited to:

Recognized by Marriott International as a Top Performer in North America for the Customer Satisfaction Category Intent to Recommend

11 hotels recognized by U.S. News & World Reports as being amongst the Best Hotels in the U.S.

Recipient of The Bonvoy Luminary Award from Marriott for operational excellence at full-service Marriott hotels

Awarded Marriott Developer of the Year at CONNECT 2022

The Concord-managed Beaufort Hotel was selected as USA Todays Best Boutique Hotel

Our performance in 2022 was outstanding, delivering record-breaking growth and a full recovery from the biggest economic downturn to ever impact the hospitality industry. We provided excellent topline and bottom-line performance and did it through excellence in service execution. We owe much of this success to the relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence by our talented teams making strides in technology, food & beverage, operations and revenue management / digital marketing to keep Concord a best-in-class operator. Our trajectory for 2023 shows a healthy pipeline of development and new business as Concord Hospitality continues to be a preferred developer and operator amongst the leading hotel ownership groups in North America, said Mark Laport, CEO & President, Concord Hospitality.

Expanding Concords Portfolio of Upper Upscale Independently Minded Assets

Among its milestones in 2022, Concord Hospitality expanded its presence in the full service segment spurred by the growth of Opus Collection by Concord. Launched in February 2019, the Opus Collection was created with a focus on operating and developing upper upscale boutique hotels, restaurants and bars within Concords portfolio. The Opus Collection is currently made up of 29 assets and is poised to grow by 17% in 2023 as the company eyes new deals on the west coast in the southeastern region.

Increasing Presence in the Restaurant & Bar Space

The launch of the Opus Collection has bolstered the companys presence in the restaurant, bar and food services industry. Today, Concord Hospitality is responsible for operating a number of award-winning and renowned restaurants and bars including Hook & Ladder which was voted the best new restaurant in Philadelphia in 2022 and the 1Watson which was voted best new bar in San Antonio. In 2022 the company opened 10 new assets including Smoke & Mirrors in Washington, D.C., Vue 360 in Clearwater Beach, FL and Prologue in Calgary. Concord is starting off the year with several new openings in the pipeline including a new rooftop restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina and there are further developments in the pipeline that will likely see Concord reach new profit records for the year.

Concord Continues to Standout As The Top Developer & Operator in Economy & Midscale

While Concord has expanded exponentially over the past 30 years the company continues to maintain its industry lead as developer of choice and manager for economy and midscale hotels. In 2022, Concord exceeded projections by growing its pipeline by 9 hotels for a total of 1,098 rooms added to its assets in the economy and midscale segment. With partners such as Choice, Extended Stay America, and Hilton expressing their intent to further invest in affordable midscale properties and also touting the growth potential of select service developments, Concord is poised to see record growth in this market segment.

This year Concord once again demonstrated they are a best-in-class operator amongst its competitive set as the company received recognition from a number of its partners. Marriott International recognized Concord Hospitality as a top performer for Intent to Recommend in Q1 and Q4 of 2022 with the company being recognized for its operation of Marriott premium and luxury hotels as well as Marriott select brands. Concords Hyatt locations also reported an increase in customer service rankings of more than 10% YOY at several properties. Additional standout moments include the Renaissance Westerville finishing the year as the #2 hotel within the Renaissance brand, the Residence Markham Inn coming in at #2 for most improved Elite Appreciation in the country and The Dorian, Autograph Collection coming in as #7 overall in Intent to Return for Canada.

For additional information on Concord Hospitality, please visit Concordhotels.com.

About Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company

Concord Hospitality is an award-winning hotel development and management company that has grown over the past three decades to become the preferred partner of leading hotel brands such as Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt. Concord Hospitality boasts a stellar reputation known for combining the experience of a big company with the high-touch service of an independent operation to every partner property. The company specializes in developing and managing full-service and select-service hotels across North America. As part of the company's continued growth, it recently launched Opus Collection by Concord, a lifestyle hotel management division for full-service properties. With the brightest talent, the most innovative processes, and a commitment to giving back to the communities where associates live and work, Concord Hospitality is committed to being a great place to work for all. Learn more at concordhotels.com
HOTEL TYPE: IHG Australia

SOLUTIONS USED: Revinate Marketing

REGION: APAC

GOAL: Win bookings in a competitive climate

STRATEGY: Consolidate technology solutions for more agility

RESULTS: Consistent outperformance of industry averages across key marketing metrics

Meet the customer

In this type of market, you need to leverage any advantage you have. For us, Revinate is that advantage. Because we can easily reach our database in a highly personalized way at just the right time, we can drive repeat business, positively impact the customer journey and increase loyalty with no acquisition costs. Ben Ferry, Area Director of Sales and Marketing at IHG Hotels & Resorts

The brand

IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the worlds leading hotel companies, with around 325,000 colleagues working across more than 100 countries to deliver True Hospitality for Good. But IHGs strength goes beyond providing great hospitality for guests on property. In fact, IHGs corporate vision is to build a digital advantage. This focus on digital goes beyond the stay and impacts how IHG connects with guests across their entire journey.

The challenge

With the hospitality industry still recovering from the pandemic and STR predicting that the Australian hospitality market wont recover until at least 2025, IHGs vision to build a digital advantage is proving critical to success as its hoteliers are forced to think creatively about how best to deploy resources. The hotel market, especially in Australia, is incredibly competitive, with 5-star luxury hotels competing for guests who traditionally stay at 4-star hotels. As a result, Benjamin Ferry, one of IHG Australias Area Directors of Sales and Marketing, knew that his hotels wouldnt be successful unless they found a new digital strategy to compete.

The solution

Prior to Revinate, Ferrys area of hotels had been using multiple vendors and platforms to communicate with guests. While the group was able to get the job done with platforms that didnt seamlessly share data or sync with the PMS in real time, the process could be resource-intensive and time consuming. Most importantly, the results werent as effective as they could be. When Ferry saw that Revinate Marketing was able to offer the functionality that he needed to communicate with guests and drive direct bookings in a one-stop-shop, he made the switch.

With Revinate, Ferry was able to do more than just consolidate tools. Revinate introduced agility, sophistication and ease-of-use to the guest marketing process. As the industry recovers, the hotels are able to ensure consistent communication with guests throughout their journey, thanks to Revinates automated emails, which sync in real time with the PMS.

Ferry says, In this type of market, you need to leverage any advantage you have. For us, Revinate is that advantage. Because we can easily reach our database in a highly personalized way at just the right time, we can drive repeat business, positively impact the customer journey and increase loyalty with no acquisition costs.

Some particularly successful marketing campaigns from Ferrys hotels, which span NSW, QLD, ACT, and VIC, leveraged Revinates advanced segmentation features. One targeted past guests from specific locations with a special offer for a winter stay. Another targeted family travellers and encouraged them to visit during the school break. The latter campaign achieved an impressive 44% open rate and 3% click-through rate.

Because Revinate was purpose-built to support groups with multiple brands, IHG Australia is able to centralize communication to guests while ensuring brand consistency with easy-to-use templates and tools. Revinates automation functionality removes the manual work involved in sending pre-stay, on-premise, and post-stay emails, saving time and allowing staff to focus on more strategic tasks.

Ferry says, Revinate is the most efficient and effective solution for guest marketing. We are so much faster and more agile today, which allows our marketing teams to spend time on furthering our strategic priorities.

The results:

In the last 6 months, Clusters of IHG hotels in Australia have been able to outperform their competition by using Revinate as a digital advantage. Because segmentation and personalization is so much easier with Revinate, the group has outperformed the industry average across all traditional email KPIs. Some include:

27% average email open rate, which is +8% better than the industry average

An average of 100 room nights booked per campaign (in the last 6 months)

3% average click rate, performing above the industry average

$31,000 as the average revenue per campaign (in the last 6 months)

To learn how you can achieve results like IHG Australia, reach out today for a custom consultation.

About Revinate

Revinate empowers hoteliers to directly connect with their guests.

Our Guest Data Platform and communication solutions unlock revenue for hoteliers and put them in control of the full guest experience  initial research, booking, check-in, throughout the stay, and even after check out  all via the communication channels that guests prefer, whether it's voice, text, email, or web.

More than 12,000 hotels globally bank on Revinate to drive direct revenue and deliver delightful guest experiences.

Ask us how we do it. Visit our website to get a demo.

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Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company, an award-winning hotel management and development company based in Raleigh, N.C., manages more than 90 hotels offering more than 13,000 guest rooms in 20 states and two Canadian provinces. The company operates hotels and resorts under leading brand affiliations including Choice Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Starwood, as well as select independent boutique hotels. Concord properties are some of the most awarded hotels in the country, having won nearly 100 top honors in the past two years alone.
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The Pentagon is examining why Boeing Co. employees did not have proper security credentials when working on Air Force One planes in San Antonio.

A Boeing spokeswoman said Thursday that it temporarily suspended the affected employees from accessing secured areas around the presidential jets being outfitted at the company's Port San Antonio facilities.

She declined to disclose how many employees lacked credentials but said they had been cleared to access the secured spaces as of this past Sunday.

The plane maker characterized the situation as an "administrative issue," said it notified the Air Force when it was discovered and is working with the military to determine "why the proper paperwork for access was not submitted for renewal as expected."

READ MORE: Boeing buys naming rights for Port San Antonios concert and esports venue

"No Boeing employee has lost their security clearance nor had it suspended; all the affected employees have a current, valid Top Secret clearance," the spokeswoman said.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the issue, an Air Force spokesman said the lapse was the result of Boeing failing to submit the credentials for renewal. The newspaper also cited unidentified sources in putting at 250 the number of Boeing employees involved.

The Air Force is taking the situation very seriously and believes the Boeing Company is making every effort to quickly resolve this issue, the Air Force spokeswoman told the Journal, adding that Boeing reported it on March 14.

Boeing told the Express-News it also was taking the issue seriously and is committed to resolving it. Boeing treats security of presidential aircraft with the highest priority, the spokeswoman said.

She said operations in the restricted areas "have not, and have never been, halted."

"There has been no impact to the ... schedule as a result of the documentation issues," she said.

The company declined to disclose how many employees work on the Air Force One program in San Antonio. In January, it said its total employment in San Antonio was about 3,000.

In addition to its work on existing and new presidential jets, Boeing's Port San Antonio facility is the service depot for the militarys Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport planes and has upgraded F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15E fighter jets at the site.

RELATED: Empty tequila bottles found on new Air Force One being refurbished in San Antonio

The security credential lapse represents the latest problem for Boeings program to build a new presidential jet, a 2018 contract that includes work being done at the Port. In late 2021, Boeing said it was investigating two empty miniature tequila bottles found on one of its new Air Force One planes under development. Last spring, it said factory problems disrupted production of the new presidential fleet, which was already far behind schedule.

The new presidential jets were initially expected to arrive by the end of 2024. The Air Force has said delays in the project could keep the current presidential jets flying through the 2028 election.

The highly classified jets, which will be known as Air Force One when the commander-in-chief is on board, are heavily modified 747-8 Boeing aircraft known as VC-25B military variants.

eric.killelea@express-news.net
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STANTON, Tenn. (AP)  Ford said Friday that its assembly plant under construction in western Tennessee will be able to build up to 500,000 electric pickup trucks a year at full output, part of the automaker's drive to produce 2 million electric vehicles worldwide annually by late 2026.

The company made the announcement as it provided updates on the so-called BlueOval City project at an event attended by Ford executives, project leaders, politicians and residents who live near the sprawling Tennessee site.

The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker announced the project in September of 2021 that would build the truck plant and a battery factory on 3,600 acres (1,460-hectares) in rural Stanton, located in Haywood County northeast of Memphis. Known as the Memphis Regional Megasite, the land designated by the state for industrial development sat unused for years before Ford moved in.

Fords assembly plant, and the battery plant run by South Korean battery maker SK On, will employ about 6,000 people with an investment of roughly $5.6 billion, Ford said.

The joint venture will also construct twin battery plants in Glendale, Kentucky, with an estimated $5.8 billion investment. The projects are expected to create more than 10,800 jobs and shift the automakers future manufacturing footprint toward the South while putting an emphasis on green energy.

Construction on the Tennessee site began last year. Ford plans to start production by 2025, and that timetable remains in place, company officials said

Construction is about 50% complete, said Donna Langford, Ford's project manager. Media members who joined a bus tour of the site in the rain Friday saw steel skeletons of the massive, partially built structures that will house the battery plant and the truck assembly factory. Once finished, the site will also include a Tennessee Valley Authority substation to help power the plants and a Tennessee College of Applied Technology, where workforce training will take place.

The automaker said its second-generation electric truck is code named Project T3, and Ford CEO Jim Farley touted the truck's simplified design and high-quality technology.

Ford did not release images of the new truck during the event, but it did display colorful drawings made by Tennessee schoolchildren with suggestions for its design  including some trucks that would fly.

In a reference to the fast and tough Star Wars ship, Farley said the new truck is going to be like the Millennium Falcon, with a back porch attached.

Speaking with reporters, Farley acknowledged that the Tennessee truck factory would be the most environmentally friendly new plant Ford has ever built.

Not even close, said Farley, adding later that this is a new industrial revolution about clean, carbon neutral manufacturing.

Ford says the plant is designed to be its first carbon-neutral vehicle manufacturing campus. It will have a 30% smaller general assembly footprint than traditional plants by simplifying sub-assemblies and reducing the number of stations on the line, Farley said.

We shrunk the plant because we have less people, we have less stations, Farley said.

Ford also said it will use recovered energy from the site to provide carbon-free heat for the assembly plant and save water by reducing evaporation from the sites cooling towers.

Before landing the Ford project, Tennessee had invested more than $174 million in the unused Memphis megasite. Tennessee lawmakers have committed to spending nearly $900 million on state incentives, infrastructure upgrades and more as part of a sweeping plan with Ford. The agreement included $500 million in capital grant funds.

The lease essentially grants the land to Ford through December 2051. The rent is $1 for the entire lease term.

Some of the rural West Tennessee counties surrounding the plant hope it will help boost their economies.

With an economy based largely on farming, Haywood County saw its population shrink by 4.9% to 17,864 people from 2010 to 2020, one of 14 counties to lose population as Tennessee grew as a whole by 8.9%, according to census data.

The factory is expected to bring both small and large businesses to the area, including hotels, restaurants, health care facilities and suppliers for the plant, among others. Real estate values also could increase.

Ford's leaders have pledged to help the communities near the plant. The Ford Motor Company Fund announced Friday it has awarded 17 grants of $75,000 to $100,000 each to fire departments, arts and parks conservancy groups, a community center, local governments and other organizations in six counties.

The $1.2 million grant program received 200 applications, said Mary Culler, president of the Ford Motor Company Fund.

Those are the kinds of grass-roots, capital projects that these towns and municipalities are looking for, Culler said.

As it seeks to develop its workforce in Tennessee, Ford said it has begun a talent development program that will support STEM instruction in K-12 schools, bring advanced manufacturing education to schools, and expand certification, dual-enrollment and internship opportunities for students.

____

AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed to this story from Detroit.
Luby's, the 75-year-old Texas cafeteria chain hit hard by the pandemic as it struggled to stay on top of shifting consumer tastes, took a misstep this week when it sent out promotional text messages Tuesday playing off the Amber Alert system.

The Houston brand sent out an image listing the contents of a ham dinner package and the message "Luby's Hamber-Alert! Ham Dinners spotted at Luby's!" with a link to place an order. The promotion drew customer objections, who felt the play on the nationwide alert system for missing children was in poor taste.

The company issued an apology on Thursday, according to screenshots from social media accounts. There was no mention of the contretemps on Luby's accounts.

"Luby's: We believe in owning our mistakes. We really apologize for the insensitive language in the recent promotion you received. We will do better," it said in a text sent to consumers.

Screenshot of Luby's text message

Luby's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

75 YEARS IN 2022: Luby's has been a Texas icon for 75 years. Here's what to know.

Venkatesh Shankar, a marketing professor at Texas A&M University, said that in the digital age companies must be mindful now that there are more forms of communication, including social media, as companies interact with customers beyond just their physical locations. Digital communications expose the brand even more to the consumer.

"Most of the bigger companies with good social media practices have a playbook that will look at all these issues," Shankar said, adding that includes apologizing to stakeholders emotionally affected by a company's mistake.

The Amber Alert system began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters developed an early warning system with police to find abducted children after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas, was abducted. She was later found murdered. The acronym stands for "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response." According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 1,127 children have been recovered due to Amber Alerts as of Dec. 31.

The storied Texas brand has long been in flux.

In 2001, Chris and Harris Pappas, the brothers behind Pappas restaurant brands Pappasito's Cantina and Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, among others, bought a majority stake in the restaurant chain, which was founded in 1947. They closed underperforming restaurants, adjusted its menu and redesigned some locations in an effort to improve the chain.

Luby's, which was publicly traded at the time, began pondering a sale in September 2019 after a months-long proxy fight with a New York-based activist investor.

The chain took steps to liquidate as earnings plummeted in 2020 during the pandemic and amid an ongoing trend of diners moving away from the Southern comfort food at Luby's cafeterias to opt for healthier, fast casual food options.

Chicago catering entrepreneur Calvin Gin bought the Luby's brand and 35 locations in Texas, including 16 Houston locations, for about $30 million in 2021. The sale allowed Luby's Inc. to move out of restaurant operations to liquidate the rest of the company.
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In a tight labor market, do you know of a company that stands out for creating a culture of happy employees? They're doing something right, and we want to know about it.

The Houston Chronicle is accepting nominations for its 14th annual Top Workplaces awards program. Anyone can make a nomination by visiting chron.com/nominate. The phone number for nominations is 713-429-0375.

Any organization, whether a private or public company, a school, a hospital or a nonprofit group, is eligible to participate as long as it has 50 or more employees.

Energage, the Chronicle's research partner on the project, will survey employees to determine the winners. The surveys, to be conducted from April through July, consist of 24 questions to gauge how people feel about their workplaces. Participation is free.

RELATED: See the 2022 Houston Chronicle Top Workplaces winners

Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for newspapers and media organizations in more than 60 markets. The company surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in 2022. That included surveying more than 120,000 employees at nearly 300 companies and organizations in the Greater Houston region.

Last year, the Chronicle recognized 200 winners across the large, midsize and small categories. Employees praised their companies for work-life balance, great bosses who know how to motivate and reward the staff, top notch benefits and more.

"Each day is something new, and I feel like I'm always growing in my career," commented one employee at LJA Engineering, last year's top company in the large category. LJA is a Houston-based multi-disciplinary consulting firm with more than 650 local employees.

CB&A Realtors, a real estate brokerage with close to 500 agents and employees across Houston, took the No. 1 spot among midsize companies. Employees praised the company's management style.

"Im allowed to do my best work without interruption and can focus on whats important to me and my clients," said one. "Management is forward-thinking, innovative when it helps our careers and supportive when help is needed."

Better World Properties, the top company in the small category with 75 employees in Houston, was recognized with a special award for standout scores for showing employees they're appreciated.

"The company is family oriented; they offer employee engagement and opportunities for advancement," commented one employee. "The company is very inspiring, and I feel compelled to work hard."

We'll reveal the winners this fall.
Its relatively rare for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which regulates pollution in the state, to classify emissions as excessive. When it does, its usually because of an event in the Houston area, according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project.

Three Harris County facilities topped a newly released list from the environmental advocacy group, which found Chevron Phillips Chemicals Cedar Bayou facility, Exxon Mobils Baytown refinery and LyondellBasells Houston refinery had more excessive emissions events than any other industrial facilities in the state.

The nonprofit accuses the TCEQ of failing to take effective enforcement actions against facilities it says too often pollute the air in Harris County and harm the health of residents. The agency did not return a request for comment.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: At LyondellBasell's soon-to-close Houston refinery, hundreds of workers worry about 'starting over'

The CPChem and Exxon facilities reported an average of roughly one illegally large pollution incident per month during the six-year period of the study, the nonprofit said, resulting in more than 4.4 million pounds and 3 million pounds, respectively, of pollution being released into the air. Of those events, between 10 percent and 12 percent were deemed excessive by state regulators  a classification reached at the TCEQs discretion based on the severity of the event and whether or not it was considered preventable.

CPChem said in a statement that the company is committed to reducing our environmental footprint and to being a responsible member of the community. We are working continuously to improve our environmental performance as we implement our sustainability strategy. Exxon said that it, too, is working to reduce emissions at the facility.

"We are continuously optimizing our processes to minimize emissions, improve air quality and maintain the highest standards for environmental care," it said in a statement.

Lyondells refinery reported fewer incidents, about six incidents releasing a total of 1.2 million pounds of pollution over the six-year period, and more than a quarter of those incidents were classified by the state as excessive. LyondellBasell did not return a request for comment.

Given the frequency of the emissions events, the advocacy group said the TCEQ should go further by designating these facilities as "chronic" offenders, which would carry more enforcement powers, such as limiting future permits. It said that 29 facilities have reported more than 100 incidents each over the past six years with little enforcement from the TCEQ.

TCEQ is all bark and no bite, Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said in a statement. The numbers speak for themselves. Big polluters routinely, and sometimes egregiously, violate clean air laws, but they're rarely held accountable.

Many facilities cited in the 36-page report are in the Houston area.

"This report shows the stark reality of living in the shadow of industry in the Houston area, as the majority of the excess emission events in Texas are from facilities in East Harris County and along the Houston Ship Channel, where communities of color and lower-income reside," Inyang Uwak, research and policy director at Air Alliance Houston, said in a statement. "These emissions are disproportionately exposing them to the health risks associated with air pollution."

amanda.drane@houstonchronicle.com
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On any given weekday, Coltivare sells between 60 to 80 plates of cacio e pepe. That number doubles on weekends.

Simply "cheese and pepper," the dish has become its own sort of character on the Heights Italian restaurant's menu. It even inspired a copycat at the neighboring bar Better Luck Tomorrow.

Owner/chef Ryan Pera was inspired to add the dish to the menu by his early 2000s dates with his now-wife Lori Choi in New York City. At the time, Pera was a sous chef at the now-shuttered Washington Park restaurant and Lori was a medical student. Working late hours, they'd meet up for dinner at Lupa, a casual Roman trattoria owned by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich.

"We always got was the cacio e pepe. It just blew us away. Each time we went, we ordered it. That was our exposure," Pera said. "I just got it in my mind whenever I could get my own restaurant, I would put it on the menu."

When Coltivare opened in 2014, Pera sought to make the "pepe" part of his pasta quite aggressive. Drawing on his background in NYC, he opted to use tellicherry peppercorns in the dish.

Fun fact: Tellicherry peppercorns are larger black peppercorns, the same variety you'll find along India's Malabar Coast in Kerala. Though they're grown from the same vine, something special happens when they get bigger: They become more aromatic and more intense in flavor.

"Were using a product that wouldnt be used at most other restaurants because of price," Pera said. "Its three times more expensive than pepper you would buy at grocery stores."

As for the "cacio," Coltivare orders an 80-pound wheel of Parmesan per week. The wheels are aged 18 months and cost $1,000 each. Pera says it can take nearly an entire work day for staff to break down the Parmesan, peeling off the rind and grating the cheese by hand.

"We make sure it has super depth on the umami; cant substitute it," he said. "Those two ingredients are the stars."

Cacio e Pepe

Time: 15 minutes

12 ounces, or about 350 grams, dried spaghetti (Pera recommends De Cecco)

 cup coarsely ground Tellicherry peppercorns (see note)

4 tablespoons butter

8 ounces (about 2 cups) finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 tablespoons olive oil (Pera uses Ligurian)

Salt, to taste

Instructions: In large Dutch oven, bring 2 quarts of salted water to a boil. (Using as little boiling water as possible will give a thick, starchy liquid that will enhance and bind the sauce.)

Once boiling, drop in pasta and give one initial stir after pasta is submerged.

While pasta is cooking, set a large saute pan over medium heat and add ground peppercorns. Toast until fragrant, then add butter. Let butter melt and bubble with pepper, adjusting the flame so that butter is bubbling right when pasta hits al dente.

When pasta is al dente (consult package for cooking time), remove from water with tongs and drop into saute pan. Ladle another 2 ounces pasta water into saute pan and stir with tongs.

Add cheese and olive oil, stirring vigorously until a silky sauce forms between butter, starch water and cheese. Taste for salt and add if necessary. Divide into 2 warmed bowls and serve immediately.

Note: Tellicherry peppercorns can be purchased at gourmet cooking stores or online, though we also found them at Kroger.

Makes 2 large portions

From Ryan Pera, Coltivare
In the beginning, there were cleavers. Before meatpacking companies would send pre-butchered, ready-to-sell cuts of meat to markets and barbecue joints (known as boxed beef), butchers would break down larger cuts, called sub-primals, into retail cuts like New York strips or porterhouse steaks.

The tool of choice for cutting through sinew and soft bone was the cleaver, a rather crude tool used to hack away smaller pieces of meat from a larger one.

When meat markets in Central Texas transitioned from selling raw meat to cooked barbecue, the cleaver made the jump to the cutting block where barbecue was prepared. Cleavers are great for making chopped beef, which may explain their continued popularity in the Texas barbecue world.

Nowadays, barbecue joints use many types of knives to cut the glistening, Instagram-worthy slices of brisket and other meats that grace our three-meat plates. The next time you step up to the counter at a new-to-you barbecue joint, keep an eye out for the type of knife the cutter uses to prepare your order. It will often give you a clue about the style of barbecue served.

The most common knife you will see used to cut brisket is variously called a scalloped knife, serrated knife, or bread knife. This has a plastic handle with a long, straight, metal blade with either teeth-like or curved indentations on the bottom.

More Information Harlem Road Texas BBQ 9823 Harlem Road, Richmond; harlemroadtexasbbq.com Closed Monday & Tuesday. See More Collapse

Sometimes the blade will be non-serrated but with oval indentations pressed into the side. These are called Granton-edge or kullenschliff-edge knives. This design minimizes the surface tension between the blade and the meat, making for cleaner cuts.

Scalloped or serrated knives are the knife of choice for craft barbecue joints. Popularized by Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue in Austin, these knives are long enough (12 inches) to cut through a whole brisket with only a few pulls of the knife. Franklin became so famous for using these knives that he now sells his own branded version at H-E-B stores and other outlets.

Another knife you will see on the cutting block is the classic 10-inch chefs knife. As expected, pitmasters with a trained culinary background will often use these. Chef and pitmaster Ara Malekian of Harlem Road Texas BBQ in Richmond uses custom-made chefs knives from local knifemaker Houston Edge Works.

If youre ever at one of the classic meat market-style barbecue joints in Lockhart, you will see the cutters using a scimitar-style knife, also called a curved-tip knife. Like the name suggests, these are long, thin, sword-like knives. Pitmaster Roy Perez famously wields this type of knife as he roams the cavernous pit room at Kreuz Market.

Another knife you will occasionally see is an electric knife. Yes, the knife your dad uses to shred apart a perfectly good turkey every Thanksgiving will occasionally show up in a barbecue joint, the most famous of which is Snows BBQ in Lexington.

Snows has been tapped as the best joint in the state, so barbecue aficionados will often be taken aback by the electric knife used to cut pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetzs brisket. Indeed, the brisket slices here are more rustic compared to the pristine cuts at other craft barbecue spots.

And what of the lowly cleaver that started it all? Youll occasionally see them used to make chopped beef. One of the oldest of the old-school Texas barbecue joints, Pat Gees Barbecue near Tyler, still uses a cleaver for preparing orders.
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Mr President, peace is a priceless commodity hence every country should endeavour to guard against violent disputes and maintain peace and security for its people.

The current political situation in Senegal should not be allowed to escalate to an undesirable situation. In last Thursday's protest, 300 Senegalese protesters were arrested, two died and some injured, whilst four buses, petrol stations, supermarkets, the ruling party headquarters were burnt, as reported by the media in Senegal.

Therefore, neighbouring presidents and religious leaders should set up a mediation team to meet with the ruling and opposition parties in Senegal to settle the issue of that country.

Mr President, The Gambia is the immediate next-door neighbour to Senegal, and it is important you intervene to bring a lasting peace there, especially between members and leaders of the ruling party and the opposition.

Mr President, your mediation action would cushion and mitigate the stress and problems the people of Senegal are currently facing. You are considered a democratic leader and peacemaker, who is able to ensure peace and harmony is restored in Senegal. This is because The Gambia and Senegal are one people divided by colonial masters.

Let's keep it in mind that any problem in Senegal will surely affect not only The Gambia but also the whole sub-region, especially with regard to trade, and movement of people and goods. The Senegalese religious leaders are essential personalities to meet with in order to broker lasting or binding peace in Senegal.

Mr President, your timely intervention in Senegal is highly necessary and very important, more so that the presidential election of that country is scheduled for February 25, 2024.

Mr President, veering onto home affairs, we would like to draw your attention to security in The Gambia. Security is still a challenge as armed robbery is on the increase in the country.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Senegal Conflict Gambia By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

On 2nd March 2023 about 15 armed robbers attacked a house in Wellingara Kolomba, took and went away with money, mobiles and other valuable items.

This incident is a challenge to the effectiveness of the security apparatus in this country. This means that security agents should be well equipped professionally. They need more operational vehicles, proper communications gadgets and security posts with many officers on duty (and to avoid leaving only one or two officers in a post for the whole night) to carry out their work efficiently. They also need CCTV in some strategic areas across the country and other necessary items.

Finally Mr President, your government should also solicit assistance from friendly countries to meet some of the challenges and needs of our security forces.

The security personnel should also be motivated to carry out their work more efficiently. The Security Toll numbers should be active and functional 24/7 with operators responding immediately when there is an emergency or distress call.

More funds should be invested in the security of the nation through the Ministry of Interior, as without security there can be no peace and development.

Good day!
Petroleos Mexicanos and Talos Energy have finalized a plan to develop the giant oil field Zama in a deal that will enable Talos and its partners to participate in operational decisions after the Mexican state oil giant was granted operatorship.

The development plan, which was submitted to Mexicos oil regulator for approval on Thursday, envisions the creation of a so-called integrated project team in which all four stakeholders  Pemex, Talos and its partners Wintershall DEA and Harbour Energy  help shape the development of the 800 million-barrel find, according to press statements from the companies.

The deal is somewhat of a consolation prize for Talos after Mexican authorities granted operatorship of the megafield to Pemex following the discovery that Zama bled into a reservoir owned by the Mexican state oil bohemoth. While Talos had filed a notice of intent to go to arbitration over the decision, claiming it was a breach of the USMCA free trade agreement, the Houston-based driller has since tempered its expectations.

The development plan will allow Talos to co-lead with Pemex on operating and drilling decisions, Tim Duncan, its chief executive, said in an interview.

We will have a hand in the design and execution of everything related to that development plan, he said.

Even so, the integrated project teams will report to a unit operating committee, which Pemex controls.

Under the presidency of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico has sought to give Pemex a bigger share of the nations oil territory. The president also reversed energy reforms made in 2013 and 2014 by his predecessor that had enabled the Talos-led consortium to make the discovery in the first place.

The plan includes drilling 46 wells with two offshore platforms, and the oil and gas will be sent to a new onshore facility at the Dos Bocas port, Pemex said in the statement. Zama is expected to reach 180,000 barrels a day of output, about 10 percent of Mexicos total oil production, Pemex said in a Thursday statement.

Regulator approval for the field development plan is one of the last steps before the companies involved in the project finalize their investments. The so-called final investment decision is targeted in the next year, Wintershall said in a statement.

So far, Talos and its partners have invested about $350 million in the project while Pemex has yet to invest significantly. The development of Zama is expected to require a total investment between $4 billion to $5 billion over the next 30 years.
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Hold on to those Ivy Park pieces you bought. They may soon be collectibles.

SATIRE WITH A STING: Beyonce, the Beyhive and Houston take center stage in Swarm on Prime Video
Jim Harithas was, with his late wife Ann Harithas, co-founder of two Houston art institutions  the Station Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Car Museum  that dramatically expanded the scope of art presented in Houston. Jim, who arrived in Houston in the 1970s to take a post as director of the Contemporary Arts Museum, died this week. He was 90.

Pete Gershon  curator of programs at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and author of Collision, a book about the contemporary arts scene in Houston from 1972 to 1985  posted about Harithas death. Gershon said Harithas was without a doubt the most influential force on the Houston art scene over the past 50 years.

The news follows by five months word that the Station was closing indefinitely. Jim and Ann Harithas opened the museum more than 20 years ago, creating a dedicated space to art that fell outside the mainstream. In 1998, they opened the Art Car Museum, offering a permanent space dedicated to the creativity that powered Houstons beloved annual Art Car Parade. The couple were dedicated to local and regional artists, as well as those who worked with politically- and socially-minded content.

Ann Harithas died in late 2021.

MORE ON JIM HARITHAS: Exhibit of works by activist artists is subversive, thoughtful, hilarious

Jim Harithas came to Houston in the 1970s, hired as director of the Contemporary Arts Museum. His path to that point zigzagged between the States and Europe. He was born in Maine in 1932 with a childhood split between Maine and Oklahoma, before his family settled in Germany, where his father was stationed after World War II. Harithas told the Smithsonian in 1979 his mother painted, so he took an interest in art around age 6.

A German expressionism show in Augsburg, Germany, in 1948 was revelatory for him as a teenager, he said. A few years later he saw his first works by Jackson Pollock, which had an overwhelming effect on me.

Harithas spent much of his 20s immersed in study: political science, history, philosophy and eventually art. He found work both as a curator and a teacher, serving as a curator and later director of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in the 1960s. The commitment to underground art firmed during tumultuous years informed by the Civil Rights and the anti-war movements. Harithas wore out his welcome at the Corcoran, and headed to New York, where he taught at Hunter College and the School of Visual Arts. At the Everson Museum in Syracuse, he worked with artists including Nam June Paik, Joan Mitchell and Yoko Ono. Harithas was responsible for Onos This Is Not Here exhibition in the States.

HOUSTON ART SCENE: 'Orange' captures an eclectic side of Houston

Ono and This Is Not Here perfectly triangulated Harithas vision: Hers was an outsider art created by an internationally known figure who was a notable advocate for peace. Harithas said at the time Ono has long deserved major recognition.

The Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, brought in Harithas in the '70s soon after the museum had relocated to new confines at the corner of Montrose and Bissonnet. Harithas immediately set about looking for nearby talent to show in the museums space. He exhibited work by Julian Schnabel, James Surls, Forrest Prince, Lynn Randolph and Terry Allen.

He bristled at the idea of comfort, frequently hosting provocative exhibitions and on at least one occasion, a famous food fight. Harithas brought in multi-disciplinary artist Antoni Miralda in the late-1970s, whose installation included photographs of food and video of food preparation and consumption at local restaurants. One gallery room included items connected to the Kilgore Rangerettes drill team, who were bused in for the opening night to perform their high-kicks routine.

Stacks of bread and food dye were on hand, offering the potential for disaster. Once one loaf went flying, the event descended into bready bedlam.

Harithas didnt last long at the CAM, about four years, but after a peripatetic existence, he had found his home in Houston. He and Ann married in 1978.

If Harithas had found a stable space to call home, he didnt become complacent in Houston. His commitment to finding local artists was balanced with an eye cast afar. He would travel to Nicaragua and Palestine seeking artists who could tell stories in his gallery space.

They opened the Art Car Museum in 1998, offering a taste of the annual event year-round. Three years later, they introduced the Station Museum of Contemporary Art with the stated goal of making the museum a resource that deepens and broadens public awareness of the cultural, political, economic and personal dimensions of art.

The couple were well aware of Houstons evolving demographic makeup, so while they looked near for artists to show  like Fifth Wards Jesse Lott  they looked around the world for work to show that would appeal to the citys cosmpolitan population.

Their legacy rests on their unwavering belief that art institutions are only valuable in the ways they serve the artists.

andrew.dansby@houstonchronicle.com
It's not common to organize an exhibition around a curator's career. Those were Menil associate curator Clare Elliott's words on Wednesday night, during the museum's largest in-lobby dinner to date, in celebration of its latest opening, "The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps."

Walter Hopps III, who became the Menil's founding director in 1981, was not the common art hound.

By his own estimate, he curated some 250 exhibitions in his 50-year career. What began as "organizing a few shows" after Hopps transferred from Stanford University to the University of California, Los Angeles, to study microbiology and art history led to founding the Ferus Gallery in 1957 with artist Edward Kienholz.

"It was one of the cutting-edge galleries at that time because contemporary art was illegal in Los Angeles," Menil director Rebecca Rabinow told the Chronicle. "People thought it had communist ties."

MORE ON WALTER HOPPS: Eureka Heights and The Menil Collection partner in new beer inspired by the Hopps exhibit at the Montrose museum

In 1960, Kienholz's sculpture in Hopps' likeness, titled "Walter Hopps Hopps Hopps" (1959), was the centerpiece of Ferus Gallery, and it now welcomes Menil visitors into "The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps." Hopps is shown hawking three miniature works by Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning under his jacket lapel like a drug deal to promote the contemporary artists who were then based in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York  and pokes a little fun at Hopps' salesman tendencies.

"(Ferus) was the center of the contemporary art scene in Los Angeles," Rabinow said. "You can trace back LA's art center today to the founding of that gallery."

'The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps' When: Through Aug. 13 Where: Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross Details: Free; menil.org See More Collapse

He went on to become director of the Pasadena Art Museum, now the Norton Simon Museum, and Corcoran Gallery of Art; then, curator of modern art at the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In the 1960s, Hopps met John de Menil while curating an exhibition on Jasper Johns in Pasadena, though he wasn't introduced to de Menil's wife, Dominique, until 1971 during the opening for a Barnett Newman exhibition in New York City.

She invited Hopps to direct the museum the de Menils built at Rice University nine years later. He became a board member of the Menil Foundation, and the rest is history.

The Menil Collection opened to the public in 1987. Hopps stepped down two years later.

"Walter decided he didn't want to be director anymore because he loved being a curator and working with artists," Rabinow shared.

Some of those creatives, including Suzanne Bloom, Mel Chin, Terrell James, Sharon Kopriva and John McIntosh, were dinner guests on Wednesday. Their work is on view as part of "The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps." Others, such as Larry Bell, George Herms and Ed Ruscha, are part of the Menil's public Artist Talk on March 24 and have work in the show as well.

After Hopps' death in 2005, Rabinow says she had an organic conversation with his widow, Caroline Huber, about the future of his things. "They tell the story of this really interesting person. He was one of the cutting-edge curators from the 20th century, and it was really important that they have a home," Rabinow said.

Which is how more than 600 works came to the museum in 2019. The exhibition, which opens Friday, celebrates those recent and promised gifts.

"We really wanted the art to tell the story, because that's what Walter would want to do," Elliott told the crowd Wednesday. "These are Walter's stories."

Greeting the circus with a smile

If "Walter Hopps Hopps Hopps" serves as the exhibition's welcome wagon, then "Greet the Circus With a Smile" (1961) by George Herms is the motto, according to Elliott. "That's how Walter approached art," she said.

A series of mostly works on paper from Hopps' collection from the 1950s-1980s hang salon-style behind his eponymous sculpture. Among them is "Untitled (hat)" (1982) by John McIntosh.

"To have Walter's attention was mystifying to me," McIntosh said. "I think of Walter whenever I see art. He would've flown through a gallery like this. He may have even given himself a hug."

Elliott concurred; Hopps moved very quickly and very decisively. He frequently startled museum security as he leapt from one artwork to another.

She followed suit, guiding a small faction of Hopps' artists briskly into the next gallery space. This one highlighting Hopps' direction at the then-Pasadena Art Museum. Outside of Los Angeles' city limits, and without restriction on contemporary art, Pasadena became the place to see modern creativity in the 1960s. In 1962, he opened "New Painting of Common Objects," a movement which later became known as Pop Art.

The next space functions as a bridge between Hopps' time in Southern California and Washington, D.C. The U.S. Department of State tapped Hopps to curate the United States Pavilion at the Sao Paulo Bienal in Brazil in 1965. That's where he paired more established artists, such as Barnett Newman, with the emerging talents of Frank Stella, Donald Judd and Larry Bell.

Bell's "Conrad Hawk" (1961), "untitled" (circa 1966) and "untitled" (1966-1967) hug a corner. The latter two glass boxes share a wall. He visited the show while it was on view in Washington, D.C., which didn't exactly go as planned.

"Some guest tripped over a barrier and into one of the cubes," Bell recalled with a sly smile. "I heard this clunk and knew what it was."

The adjoining gallery is a tour de photography. By 1970, Hopps was unanimously elected director of the Corcoran Art Gallery and befriended William Christenberry, then an instructor at the museum-affiliated Corcoran School of Art. Christenberry's photographs of the American South led to a road trip.

"You can picture them driving cross-country, visiting Dennis Hopper," Elliott said, gesturing to images above.

Additional standouts in the vicinity include Robert Longo's massive "Master Jazz" (1982-1983) and "Eat Human Flesh" (1988) by Mark Flood, though Elliott won't divulge the juicy story behind the latter. She suggests reading "Artists Weve Known: Selected Works From the Walter Hopps and Caroline Huber Collection" to get the not-suitable-for-work scoop.

A trio of Houston-based artists  Suzanne Bloom, Terrell James and Sharon Kopriva  each has work on view in the alcove adjacent to the Robert Rauschenberg room. There, James took pause to thank Huber for nurturing up-and-coming female artists way back when.

"Caroline was very involved in the scene with DiverseWorks," James said. "She was instrumental in the discovery process that brought young artists into the fold and got us introduced to Walter."

Four walls of early works by Rauschenberg close the show. It was Hopps' who positioned the painter and graphic artist from Port Arthur to represent the U.S. in the 32nd Venice Biennale; Rauschenberg stunned the world when he brought home the International Grand Prize in Painting in 1964.

"'National Spinning/Red/Spring (Cardboard)' (1971) was one of the last acquisitions during Walter's time at the Menil," Elliott said.

Their favorite museum

After Hopps and Huber wed in 1985, the bride wasn't exactly keen on the idea of moving from Washington to Houston when Dominique de Menil first hired Hopps at Rice.

"Houston was very different then than it is now. I found it to be a really dynamic and exciting place unexpectedly," Huber said. "There was a sense of collaboration between institutions large and small. And generosity to make things happen."

Her husband's white whale had long been intimate involvement with the design and planning of a museum from the ground up. So working alongside Dominique de Menil to build the Menil Collection was a dream realized.

Huber says that she and Hopps have given works to the museum ever since it opened, and long after he resigned from his post. With "The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps," she's simply making good on a promised gift.

And, there's more to come. "Some of the things, I'm still living with them," she said. "I didn't even know all that we had. The museum is very close to my heart, and theres no place Id rather have the art live."

Today, as a Menil trustee, spending three days with the artists and artwork her husband championed feels like a homecoming. Huber and Hopps met them way back when the collective group was green and first starting out. The couple didn't necessarily buy expensive things, but they liked to collect and support when they could. "The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps" is a reflection of that.

"When you have art you're a steward for it. You have to make sure it's always cared for, safe and seen. All of those things matter. We have it while we're here, then it has a life past us," Huber said. "I know Walter would feel the same way."
Houston Chronicle

A man has been accused of fatally stabbing his half-brother during an argument Wednesday in Friendswood, officials said.

Austin Whittenburg, 22, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Nicholas Myers, 27, according to Harris County court records.
Greetings from the Conroe Noon Lions Club, the Greatest Lions Club in the World. Wednesday brought another great luncheon meeting with an excellent group of people. Our meeting started with our usual songs, pledges, invocation, and introduction of guests. It was a men vs women battle on our weekly song rendition of Smile with the men clearly leading the way in terms of volume.

The Community Partner of the Spotlight of the Week went to Pierson & Pierson, CPAs. Thank you for your support of the Conroe Noon Lions Club.

In honor of longtime Lions Club member, Dick Guiffre who recently passed away, all fines collected during club this week will be donated to our beloved Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville Texas. TLC was a part of Lions that was near and dear to Dick. By the end of the meeting over $1,000 in fines had been collected. Thanks to all of you who were fined for helping to honor Dick.

Well-traveled Lions, Karl & Jane Johnson, had the opportunity to visit Lions clubs in South Africa over the past month. The Cape of Good Hope Lions Club in Cape Town, South Africa sent back their club banner to present to CNLC and we are honored that the Cape of Good Hope is considering CNLC their twin club in Texas and the United States. We look forward to learning more about them and their efforts in their community.

We are looking for Lions volunteers to help hand out goodies and congratulations at the Reaves Elementary School Atten-Dance party on Thursday, March 30. This is a rewards program that CNLC sponsors for students with excellent attendance through a nine-week grading period. Contact the club office and sign up to help with this worthwhile event. If you are unable to help with this event, consider signing up to help serve sno-cones at the Reaves Elementary Field Day being held on April 6.

The nominating committee presented its recommended slate of Conroe Noon Lions Club officers and board of directors for the upcoming 2023-2024 year. Candidates for 2022-2023 Rookie of the Year and Lion of the Year were also announced. Voting will take place on April 12. Lions, please plan to attend to vote for your choice of officers and candidates.

Past President C. Pat Davis spoke about the CNLC Fair Buyers Group which was started in 1990. Funds are raised through various efforts including auctions, donations, and matching donations. Those funds are then used to support kids in our community who participate in the Montgomery County Fair. Today C. Pat and Past President Greg Smith auctioned off five items to help raise funds: two key lime pies, a Heaven On Earth dessert, a United States flag made from horseshoes, a Lifetime Membership to the Montgomery County Fair Association (including ten BBQ Cookoff tickets) and a Houston Astros Swag Basket including 4 Astros tickets. $5,200 was raised for the CNLC Members Fair Buyers Group. Thank you to all the winning bidders for helping raise funds to help support the kids in their efforts. And thank you to Lion Helen Thornton, Vicki Musgrove, the Finley & Wieghat Families and Past President Donnie Buckalew for donating the auction items.

Lions  dont forget that there will not be a club meeting on Wednesday, March 29 due to CNLC efforts at the Montgomery County Fair Concession Stand  this means you Ricky Morton. But we look forward to working with you at the concession stand and seeing you back at our weekly meeting again on Wednesday, April 5.

You do not have to be a Lion to participate in any of these programs, events, or projects! If you would like more information about the Conroe Noon Lions Club programs, please visit our website, www.conroenoonlions.org, or call the local club office at 936-760-1666. You may also call 936-760-1666 for additional information on any area Lions Club.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP)  Police officers involved in two separate fatal shootings in Missouri will not face charges after investigations by prosecutors.

Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker said no charges will be filed against Independence officers in the March 2022 death of Tyrea M. Pryor. Meanwhile, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson ruled that the use of deadly force by four Springfield officers against Justin Barker on Feb. 1 was justified.

Baker's ruling was March 17. Her office released a letter to Pryor's family on Thursday. Patterson's ruling in the Springfield shooting was announced Friday.

Springfield officers were called to a park where Barker was allegedly threatening suicide. Police said officers were talking to Barker, 33, when he ignored orders to drop a gun and pointed it at officers, who shot him several times.

Pryor, 39, was shot to death on March 11, 2022, in the Kansas City suburb of Independence. Officers called to a home disturbance saw a white car leaving and began a chase. A car driven by Pryor wrecked a short time later.

Police dashboard camera video provided by attorneys for Pryor's family showed officers talking to Pryor, who was still inside the car. One officer said, He's got a gun! and officers began shooting into the car. Investigators said Pryor was shot 15 times. He died at the scene.

An AR-15-style semi-automatic weapon was pulled from the car, police said. One officer believed he saw a second gun, a pistol, but no pistol was found, the prosecutor's office said in its findings.

The letter to Pryor's family said the prosecutors office did not believe the facts and law support charges here.

Attorneys for Pryor's family said they will ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.
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WASHINGTON  White supremacists are dropping more racist propaganda in Texas than any other state in the nation, according to a new Anti-Defamation League report that found a 61 percent jump in such incidents in the state.

The organization recorded 527 incidents in Texas last year, with white supremacist propaganda spreading at a faster clip in the state than the rest of the nation, which saw a 38 percent increase in incidents. The 6,751 cases reported nationally in 2022 marked the highest number of white supremacist propaganda incidents the ADL has ever recorded.

Were disappointed and alarmed to see Texas at the top of the list, said Mark Toubin, an ADL regional director based in Houston. Over the past year and a half, many residents in our region have reported white supremacist propaganda strewn overnight on their lawn or driveway within rock-filled plastic bags. In response, all Texans must resist these efforts at intimidation as well as speak out against this unconcealed display of antisemitism and hate.

The report follows a stream of reports of antisemitic and racist flyers dropped on neighborhoods across the state.

HATE AT YOUR DOOR: White supremacist group distributed flyers on the North Side in 2020

Three groups  the Texas-based Patriot Front, the Goyim Defense League and White Lives Matter  were responsible for 93 percent of the propaganda activity across the nation, according to the ADL. Texas-based Patriot Front distributed 80 percent of the white supremacist propaganda last year, including in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.

The Goyim Defense League was especially active in Texas, Toubin said. The group undertook a major propaganda campaign in 2022, but it is unclear why it focused so much of its energy on the state, he said.

In 2021 and 2022, San Antonio saw more incidents involving white supremacy  including propaganda and events  than it did during the previous decade. The number of recorded incidents rose steadily from zero in 2011 to 11 in 2020 before a sharp increase to 31 incidents in 2021.

For the last several years, no area of San Antonio has been safe from thousands of pieces of white supremacy propaganda that have plagued neighborhoods.

While city leaders publicly announced that racism and hatred are not welcome in San Antonio after a Hollywood Park neighborhood was plastered with flyers denouncing Black Lives Matter by a white supremacy group in 2020, it began a string of more publicized hate messages appearing around the city.

Signage advocating for white power and recruitment to neo-Nazi groups began appearing more frequently. Posters and stickers declaring allegiances to white nationalism were found throughout The Village at Stone Oak shopping center in October 2021. Alamo Heights residents awoke to antisemitic flyers in February 2022. And the following month, a West Side neighborhood found plastic bags of dog food with a paper saying White Power thrown on lawns.

Outside of San Antonio, which logged 14 incidents of reported propaganda in 2021 and 17 the following year, Helotes police collected 81 flyers featuring antisemitic COVID-19 conspiracies.

It was a nearly weekly occurrence in the Houston region, one of the most diverse areas of the country, according to the ADL analysis.

Residents in the Heights found them with pictures of Adolf Hitler, swastikas and slogans reading White Lives Matter. Flyers with the image of a smiling white dog with the words I love being white at the top and the website for the Aryan Freedom Network at the bottom were found in Katy. An Atascocita family found printouts with Hitler beside the words, We Can Do It Again.

Toubin said the ADL logged at least 50 incidents in the Houston area, a massive increase from 15 that were reported the year before.

It creates anxiety. It creates fear. It makes people angry, he said. From their standpoint, those are the kinds of reactions they want.

Extremism is an attempt to try to pit one group against another, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Because people started coming in trying to get people to be fearful of people who they may not know. People feel like their existence has been threatened, that theres this invasion coming.

Draping banners over highway overpasses and distributing antisemitic, racist and anti-LGBTQ+ fliers are practices white supremacist groups used nationwide to publicize their hate in 2022.

The flyers were a major, major piece of it in Texas, Toubin said, in part because in most cases it will not get members arrested. Speech is protected, and unless they are caught trespassing, theres little room for prosecution, he said. The groups then go online to brag about the anxiety their leaflets cause, which drives engagement and donations, he said.

Its like, Hey, look what were doing, he said. This is the way that a small group of people can magnify their impact. By putting out this filth.

Texas also saw the most on-campus propaganda, ADL data shows. The anti-hate organization recorded 219 incidents of white supremacist propaganda distribution on campuses in the U.S., a 6 percent decrease from 2021 and the lowest number since ADL began tracking in 2017.

ben.wermund@houstonchronicle.com

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Houston's Jewish community has been plagued by threats, harassing voicemails, vandalism, racist flyers and white supremacist propaganda as antisemitic incidents reached record levels across the country in 2022, an Anti-Defamation League audit found.

The ADL documented 3,697 reported antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2022, an increase of 36 percent over 2021, according to the report released Thursday. A total of 73 incidents were reported in ADLs Southwest Region that stretches from El Paso to Beaumont, an 87 percent increase over 2021. Of those incidents, more than half  46  occurred in the Houston area, the ADL reports. There were about 18 incidents in 2021, according to the group's HEAT Map that tracks such incidents.

TOP OF THE LIST: Texas leads nation in racist propaganda, Anti-Defamation League finds

Were extremely disturbed that the national and regional numbers once again set records, ADL Southwest Regional Director Mark B. Toubin said. "The fact that it is happening in multiple places throughout the community, that's what's really worrisome."

While the country saw 111 antisemitic-fueled assaults last year, ADL did not find any reports of assaults in Houston last year, Toubin said. But if not stopped in its tracks, the rise in incidents could influence people to inflict violence upon the city's Jewish community in the future because hateful actions and words don't stop there, he added.

We have far too many examples of the influence that it can have on others who at one point or another will act in a violent manner, Toubin said.

In addition, the audit showed 2,298 incidents of harassment nationwide in 2022, a 29 percent increase, and 1,288 incidents of vandalism, a 51 percent increase. New York had the most incidents with 580, while Texas ranked fifth with 211.

Joel Dinkin, CEO of the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, recalled his institution receiving some bomb threats a number of years ago. But most recently, the distribution of antisemitic flyers has become rampant throughout the city.

Sandwich bags filled with small rocks and hateful antisemitic printed messages were discovered just last month in the front yards of residents of the Riverside Terrace area, a historically Black and Jewish neighborhood.

'THE REALITY WE LIVE IN': Black Kingwood family targeted with racist threats, slashed tires

On the same day, flyers with antisemitic propaganda were also found in the driveways of at least five residences in a Pearland subdivision.

It's clearly on peoples' radar, Dinkin said about the flyers.

Confronting antisemitism in Houston

Rabbi Annie Belford recalled feeling devastated when a counselor with Houston Independent School District called her last year and said a student voiced antisemitic threats toward her then 14-year-old son and his friend.

I was really surprised, Belford, who has served a congregation in west Houston for 13 years, said. As time passed, the rates of parents reporting that their children had been facing real challenges at school had been steadily increasing. It's a sort of thing where you say, Well, I didn't expect it to happen to me."

Belford contacted the ADL which told her how to talk to the school's personnel, detailed the legal ramifications if the school didn't respond appropriately and offered her family support and affirmation.

Initially, the school suggested Belford's son stand in front of his eighth-grade class and teach about the Holocaust, which "would've been terrible," the rabbi said, as her son was already feeling uneasy about the antisemitic remarks.

The student who communicated the threats received in-school suspension, but neither Belford nor her son wanted to punish the teenager.

PATTERN OF HATE: Bags with hateful, antisemitic flyers found in Riverside Terrace, a historically Black and Jewish area

"We were more interested in education and repentance," Belford said.

The middle school's vice principal, who's Jewish, worked one-on-one with the student and taught him more about the Holocaust and Jewish history, according to Belford.

"The student who had been attacking the Jewish kids, I think he really was able to learn a lot and he stopped the behavior," she said. "He didn't know it was so wrong, and so I think he just needed to learn."

Belford said the incident in a way even helped her son strengthen his commitment to Judaism.

"He wears his Jewish star necklace every single day, and he wasn't really doing that before," she said. "Not every child feels safe enough to express their Judaism that way."

And while fortunate it took until the eighth grade to experience antisemitic comments, Belford said her son is one of many teenagers at her temple who have been told they "were going to hell" and "that they killed Jesus."

Education could 'open hearts and minds'

Conversations and more educational opportunities are ways to circumvent antisemitic incidents, Joel Dinkin, CEO for the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, said.

"It's a huge concern and it's going to take everybody to come together and work together to address this situation," he said.

Belford echoed Dinkin's sentiment, but she highlighted how education can combat the disinformation of antisemitic tropes that have been resurrected and become more widespread. Racism and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has also been amplified due to disinformation, she added.

"I think until we get to the point as a society where we realize that we all are created in God's image, period, then we have a lot of work to do to open hearts and minds," Belford stated. "I think education is a part of that."

OPINION: As anti-Semitic incidents surge, how did we forget Holocaust Remembrance Day? (Essay)

We live in an environment where more and more people are comfortable expressing themselves in a way that is antisemitic or hateful, which in turn emboldens extremist groups and influential figures to spew insensitive remarks, Toubin stated.

According to the audit, 59 antisemitic incidents around the country were directly related to statements made last year by rapper Kanye West, who in early October 2022 tweeted that he was "going death con 3 on Jewish people" once he awoke from his slumber. DEFCON is an acronym that refers to the state of alert of Americas militaries.

"So 59 out of the total number doesn't explain everything, but it certainly is a lot based upon the comments of one individual," Toubin said.

Toubin wants more elected officials and community leaders in Houston speaking out against antisemitism to stop others from expressing hateful statements.

"We know that there are more people in our community and in our country who don't harbor the kinds of antisemitism and hate that are represented in these incidents," he said. "If those people don't stand up and speak out, then the few who do harbor this level of hate are going to prevail."
Houston police officers will compete against local drivers in a race Saturday after arresting some of those same drivers for racing on Houston streets last week.

The Houston Police Officers Union accepted an invitation to have officers join Saturday's race at 105 Speedway in Cleveland after the union was "trolling (racers) pretty hard" on their Facebook page, according to Randy Seals, who was arrested early in the morning of March 16. Court records show Seals was charged with misdemeanor racing on the highway.

Seals, 43, said he challenged the union to join a dirt track race he and his friends were planning after he got home from jail and saw that the union had posted pictures and videos of the arrests on their Facebook page.

"When I first got out I thought 'oh my goodness this is so embarrassing ...' but then I figured the only way to deal with it was to roll with it, so I got on their Facebook and said 'we're having a race ... if you want to show us how tough you are then come out and have the same energy you had when you were throwing us in the back,'" Seals said.

He was surprised when the union promptly accepted his challenge, and he received a call from union president Douglas Griffith. Seals and his friends are now in the process of refurbishing two Crown Victoria cruisers for the officers to use.

"I talked to him for about an hour, they're all nice guys. We were just doing what we ain't supposed to be doing," Seals said.

The union has been heavily promoting Saturday's race on their Facebook page, teasing other racers and documenting the construction of their cars, which have been customized with decals of bacon, donuts and phrases like "stop resisting"  often used by officers using force to make arrests, including in some incidents of police brutality.

Griffith, the police union president, did not immediately return a request for comment. The union is positioning the showdown on Facebook as an example of "community policing."

"Randy is setting a good example for everyone involved and represents the Houston area with honor. We're happy to participate with and promote legal racing in our community. We're excited to meet everyone and build more bridges not barriers," the union wrote in a Facebook comment on Seals's profile.

A Houston Police Department spokesman declined to comment on Saturday's race, saying it was a union affair.

Scores of people, including Seals, were arrested during illegal races following TX2K23 events at the Houston Speedway last week. TX2K is a legal racing series which draws thousands of motorsports enthusiasts to the Baytown racetrack each year, often leading to other, unsanctioned races in the area.

Fifty-three people were charged with racing, 43 were charged with evading arrest, 47 were charged with reckless driving and 11 were charged with deadly conduct over the course of the event, according to the union.

Seals said Griffith promised to approach Mayor Sylvester Turner to discuss the possibility of hosting legal street races in Houston. Street racers currently travel to other municipalities for sanctioned races, Seals said, where authorities block off the streets and have medical services on hand in exchange for a boost to their revenue.

Turner's office did not immediately respond to a question about whether that would be something the mayor would consider.
"As a foreigner living in South Africa, your refugee status underpins the treatment you receive. We need to work twice as hard as South African citizens to achieve the same result, while being discriminated against and obnoxiously labelled and distained."

So says Innocent Biringanine, a Congolese national and third-year audiology student at the University of Cape Town (UCT). This Human Rights Day, Innocent openly shared some of his family's struggles as they journeyed from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to seek refuge in South Africa. But on arrival, life was challenging, especially for Innocent. He endured years of emotional turmoil at the hands of his classmates - only because he looked and spoke differently. Innocent said he was ridiculed regularly and openly discriminated against, acts that affected his mental health.

Receiving his acceptance letter to study at UCT was an accomplishment second to none. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and even though he bypassed his first-year funding hurdle with a bursary, other hidden stumbling blocks that could easily have prevented him from kickstarting his academic programme were lurking in the wings. Thanks to an intervention led by a group of dedicated and efficient staff at UCT's Refugee Rights Unit (RRU), Innocent started his undergraduate degree in 2021 and he has not looked back. His personal fight for social justice in a country far from his homeland is one of courage, determination and a never-say-die attitude.

A trip south

Innocent was a young boy when his mother, Prisca, sat him down alongside his sister, Josephine, and older brother, Godfrey, to tell them that they would soon be travelling to South Africa. The war-torn DRC was no place to raise her children, and she wanted the trio out of the country as soon as possible

Prisca felt that her children's lives were at risk and that they needed to seek refuge elsewhere, somewhere safer, and the siblings left the DRC, leaving their mother behind. Innocent is still not sure why his mother chose South Africa. But he said she likely considered it a safe place - a place where her children could grow up and have a good chance at life.

"I still find it so strange that this behaviour was directed towards me by my fellow classmates in primary school."

But life in South Africa was a different kind of tough. Josephine was forced to take temporary responsibility for her younger brothers until their mom eventually joined them in Cape Town. But it proved to be an uphill battle. Innocent's primary school years were particularly difficult. While he performed well academically, he was never welcomed into class with open arms.

"This all had a profound impact on my life. I still find it so strange that this behaviour was directed towards me by my fellow classmates in primary school. Where does it really emanate from and why does it exist?" he asked.

A silver lining

Innocent poured all his time and energy into his schoolwork and used his art and music as an escape. And even though he scored excellent results in matric, securing a university bursary was not a guarantee. Funders' stringent requirements mean South African nationals receive precedence. Rarely, refugees and asylum seekers are considered for bursaries, but proof of their refugee status or permanent resident documents are required for them to fit the eligibility criteria.

"Yet again the challenges of refugees and asylum seekers were laid bare in front of my eyes. It's very difficult to obtain these documents from the Department of Home Affairs. As a family, we've been trying since 2013. I was so grateful when the Solly and Zohra Noor Foundation came through for me and awarded me a bursary based on my strong academic standing. Suddenly, I was hopeful again," he said.

"The RRU's assistance means so much to me. They're part of the reason I could register for my degree."

But the registration process at UCT was not a straightforward exercise. Because Innocent's asylum seeker documentation was not up to date, UCT's International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) was unable to process his registration. But the RRU stepped in to help and continues to assist Innocent with obtaining his immigration documents from the Department of Home Affairs, but the process remains incomplete. The unit also negotiated with IAPO to secure Innocent's registration so that he could start his academic programme without delay.

"The RRU's assistance means so much to me. They're part of the reason I could register for my degree and that I'm still here three years later. My mental health took a hard knock because of the grey area around my registration. But the RRU helped to make it happen and I will always be very grateful for their help," Innocent said.

Assisting refugees

Monique Schoeman, the head of the Refugee Status Determination clinic at the RRU, said assisting refugees is at the heart of their work. The unit is committed to achieving social justice and making a difference in the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa. On average, she said, the RRU assists approximately 450 clients per month.

She said her clinic, in particular, assists refugees and asylum seekers through the daunting status determination process. Its work focuses specifically on those processes that affect a refugee or asylum seeker's legal status in the country once an asylum application has been made.

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"Refugees and asylum seekers experience many challenges while here. Some feel at a loss because doors just keep closing around every corner and nothing comes easy. So, at the RRU we give them hope to continue and assert their rights," Schoeman said.

A message to refugees and asylum seekers

Innocent acknowledged that being a refugee in South Africa can be very difficult. But he encouraged other refugees and asylum seekers out there not to lose hope.

"Remember, your worth and relevance transcend the simplicity of the word 'refugee'."

"As a refugee in South Africa, you often feel neglected and patronised, and these feelings stem from invidious treatment. But don't lose hope. There are still people out there who are willing to stand up and fight for what is right and who believe in equal rights despite your country of birth, religion or sexuality - just like the RRU," he said.

"Never allow anyone to define you on the basis of your status. Remember, your worth and relevance transcend the simplicity of the word 'refugee'. You are a person with rights and aspirations.

He shared a different message with South African nationals.

"It's mine and your responsibility as humans to elevate human rights. Let's stand up for what is right and make it our goal to fight against injustice."
Houston Chronicle

A man has been accused in the March 5 fatal shooting of another man, found dead in his car in east Houston after nearby residents reported hearing gunshots.

Keivon Sharmon Howard, 27, is charged with murder in connection with the death of Christopher Chaisson Bedford, 42, according to the Houston Police Department.
Sandwich bags filled with hateful, antisemitic printed messages and small rocks were found in the front yards of residents of the Riverside Terrace area on Sunday morning.

It's yet another example in a pattern of hate groups littering Houston-area neighborhoods with anti-Semitic flyers. Similar incidents have been reported in areas like the Museum District, Meyerland, the Heights, Atascocita, Cypress, Katy and Bellaire.

"I kind of freaked out about it," said Richard Elbein, a longtime Riverside Terrace resident who saw the flyers in the Ziploc bags while he was walking his Husky-Great Pyrenees Sunday morning. Being Jewish, he believed he may have been personally targeted, but later saw that other houses had the same bags out front.

He picked up dozens of the bags, which included five different anti-Semitic, hateful messages, until he realized there were too many to collect.

"From 288 all the way to MacGregor Park, basically every home had one in their driveway," he said, estimating there were about 800 homes with the bags.

Anti-Defamation League southwest director Mark Toubin said the group listed on the hateful flyers is associated with similar incidents in the Houston area. While the flyers are aimed at recruiting and raising money for their organization, Toubin said they can have a more sinister ripple effect.

"Once hate starts, you never know where it ends. And far too many times we've seen it in in violence, including in the murder of numerous people at one time," Toubin said, citing the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, an anti-Semitic hate crime where 11 people were killed.

Flyers with anti-Semitic propaganda were also found in the driveways of at least five residences in a Pearland subdivision Sunday morning, said Meredith Jaso, public information officer with Pearland Police Department.

A man told police that he went to the store around 9 a.m. and returned home to find plastic bags with flyers and small pebbles in his driveway and other nearby residences on Kensington Drive, Jaso said.

Police believe it was a random act and were unable to obtain any surveillance footage to identify a suspect, Jaso said.

Essay: As anti-Semitic incidents surge, how did we forget Holocaust Remembrance Day?

The repeated distribution of anti-Jewish messages in Houston-area neighborhoods is also part of a larger trend.

Though 2022 numbers have yet to be published, the Anti-Defamation League tracked a 34 percent increase in anti-Jewish incidents from 2020 to 2021; 112 of those 2,717 incidents were in Texas.

In Riverside Terrace, a historically Black and Jewish neighborhood, the messages were distributed overnight by somebody throwing them from their vehicle, according to a spokesperson with Harris County Constable Precinct 7. According to Ring camera footage captured by neighbors, the person delivering the hateful messages began at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. The spokesperson also advised against picking up suspicious items and recommended taking photos of them to share with authorities.

A spokesperson with the Houston Police Department said they are investigating the incident within their Criminal Intelligence Division.

While Riverside Terrace resident Richard Elbein was disturbed by the anti-Semitic incident, having never seen anything like it in the 40 years he's lived there, he was also heartened by the community response when he posted about it on the Nextdoor neighborhood app.

"It was horrifying and frightening to find them (the flyers) and it was kind of inspiring to see the neighborhood react so strongly against it," he said.

Anna Bauman contributed to this story.
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A man has been charged with holding two people hostage in an incident that led to a police standoff and a deadly FBI raid early Thursday.

Josiah Lamarion Jackson, 17, has been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping in connection with the abduction of two men, according to Harris County court records. Legal filings allege Jackson was one of two people who abducted and planned to ransom a man and a woman.

MORE HOUSTON NEWS: Her son begged for help before dying in the Harris County Jail. Why did no one answer?

The defendant and the person killed "held two people for ransom, requiring HCSO and the FBI to raid the location and rescue the complainants, a bail motion said.

An FBI agent shot and killed a person Thursday morning during a hostage rescue attempt in a north Houston hotel, officials said. Around 4:30 a.m., agents entered the hotel on Sam Houston Parkway in an attempt to rescue two hostages. One person was shot and killed, another person arrested. Two hostages were rescued unharmed. No agents were injured. Federal authorities did not reveal the names of anyone involved.

Officials with the FBI said they were helping Waller County Sheriffs Office with hostage rescue operation stretched several days when the shooting happened.

The rescue attempt began three days earlier when three migrants were kidnapped from a vehicle in Waller County, according to the Associated Press.

The three migrants had been traveling in a vehicle on Interstate 10 on March 18 when they were stopped by an unknown suspects and forced into another vehicle, Sean Whittmore, a prosecutor with the Waller County District Attorney's Office, told the Associated Press. The driver of the migrants' vehicle called 911 and told officers about the kidnapping. Local authorities later contacted the FBI.

It is unclear what happened to the third person in the car who originally called police.
Anglers, hikers and nature lovers are soaking in Fairfield Lake State Parks brief reopening before theyll have to pack up their poles for good.

The 1,460-acre state park, which the state has leased from Vistra Corp for nearly 50 years, closed Feb. 28. Two weeks earlier, the private company announced its plan to end the park lease and sell the land to Todd Interests, which plans to develop the land into a gated community with million-dollar homes and a private golf course.

Fairfield Lake State Park abruptly reopened March 14. In a release, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said it would allow free entry to day-use visitors only for as long as theyd be allowed to. The state has until June to vacate the park.

ALSO SEE: Fairfield Lake State Park is temporarily reopening while officials try to figure out how to save it

Spring breakers, hikers and anglers quickly flocked back to Fairfield Lake, filing into lines at the entrance well before its 8:30 a.m. opening.

By Wednesday, Fairfield Lake was decidedly quieter. Still, several fishermen lingered on the water well into sunset, holding on to memories from the lake that many have been visiting for years.

Originally built as a cooling lake for the nearby Big Brown Power Plant, the 21,000-acre lake was warmed by the plants runoff until its closure in 2018, offering Texas fishermen the rare opportunity to fish for non-native species, including red fish and tilapia.

Now, the lake and state park is home to a new generation of wildlife. Otters have bounced back from their endangered status in Texas and are now the unofficial mascot of the park, bald eagle sightings are common, and largemouth bass are particularly abundant this year, angler fisherman Jon Barzacchini said.

I think everyone who has fished here in the past couple of years can all agree that it's just been really, really good this year, Barzacchini, who moved from Illinois to Texas five years ago for better bass fishing opportunities, said. Theres definitely some buzz about this place.

Several anglers, all of whom catch-and-release largemouth bass, reported at least 40 catches on Wednesday alone. Wearing their own colorful fish-patterned gear, Dallas-area residents Barzacchini, Justin Rackley and Gerry Dimarco decided to hit the lake to make a video for their YouTube channels and bait and tackle brand, Googan Squad.

Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Jon Shapley/Staff photographer L: Gerry Dimarco, from left, Jon Barzacchini and Justin Reckley load up their gear after fishing and filming all day on the lake Wednesday March 22, 2023. We could have fished anywhere today, but we chose here, Barzacchini said. R: Justin Reckley, co-owner of a fishing equipment company, prepares to head home. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle) L: Gerry Dimarco, from left, Jon Barzacchini and Justin Reckley load up their gear after fishing and filming all day on the lake Wednesday March 22, 2023. We could have fished anywhere today, but we chose here, Barzacchini said. R: Justin Reckley, co-owner of a fishing equipment company, prepares to head home. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle)

Barzacchini said the group has visited three times since the parks closure was announced and will continue to visit this spring.

We film and we fish, its pretty much our lives. We rely on fishing, Barzacchini said. So thats what were trying to do, milk it as much as we can.

The parks largemouth bass bounty is attracting fishermen from outside Texas.

Robert Budenbender and Cody Miller are best friends from high school who now live in Arizona and upstate New York, respectively. Every year, they make the pilgrimage to a Texas lake for a fishing trip.

When they heard of the parks closure, they decided to switch to Lake Fork. When they heard about the reopening, they decided to make the more than two hour trek from the East Texas lake each day to cast their lines in Fairfield one last time.

Budenbender said Wednesday was his best day of fishing to date.

When I fished here in the summer I said, Cody, were coming to this lake, but right before (the trip), they closed it, Budenbender said. I was devastated that he didnt get to experience it, and so when they reopened it we were so excited.

Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Justin Prisock, a fishing guide, reflects on the closure of Fairfield Lake State Park as he prepares to leave Wednesday March 22, 2023. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle) Justin Prisock, a fishing guide, reflects on the closure of Fairfield Lake State Park as he prepares to leave Wednesday March 22, 2023. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle)

The parks closure will affect some livelihoods as well, including local fishing guide Justin Prisock. Prisock grew up fishing with both of his parents. Every year, he makes sure to take both of them to Fairfield Lake for their birthdays.

Now a fishing guide in Waco, Prisock works on many nearby lakes, including Lake Whitney and Lake Waco. His go-to, however, is always Fairfield Lake.

Ive probably spent more time on this lake than anybody in the last few years have, Prisock said. Im going to take a hit (when the park closes.)

ALSO SEE: Many Texas state parks are leased, not owned. Heres a list of parks you didnt know are leased.

As the park's imminent end trudges closer, fishermen, locals and groups including the Houston Women's Hiking group are speaking out in support of the park. Facebook group "Save Fairfield Lake State Park" has garnered over 2,000 members, and a petition has been signed by nearly 500 people. Last week, local historian Sandy Emmons found an unmarked freedmen's cemetery within the park's grounds, which she hopes will halt development.

Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The sun sets over the Chancellor Union Cemetery on Wednesday March 22, 2023, at Fairfield Lake State Park. The cemetery was named for the Chancellor family which moved to Texas from Alabama in the 1850s with their 10 children and 11 slaves, according to a Texas Historical Commission marker. Local historian Sandy Emmons believes she found additional gravesites in the park. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle) The sun sets over the Chancellor Union Cemetery on Wednesday March 22, 2023, at Fairfield Lake State Park. The cemetery was named for the Chancellor family which moved to Texas from Alabama in the 1850s with their 10 children and 11 slaves, according to a Texas Historical Commission marker. Local historian Sandy Emmons believes she found additional gravesites in the park. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle)

State legislators have been involved, including state Rep. Angelia Orr, R-Itasca and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, and at least four hearings have been held in House Committees. Several bills related to the park have been filed, including Schwertner's bill that would allow the state to keep the park open through eminent domain.

Orr presented the latest amendment to her bill, which would authorize TPWD to have water rights over the lake, to the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism Thursday. A little over a dozen residents from nearby Fairfield were in attendance to testify for the park, Fairfield City Council member Angela Oglesbee said.

Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Jon Shapley/Staff photographer L: Julee Emmons, owner of Armadillo Emporium, worries that the park's closure will leave the town without needed income from tourists and park visitors. What else is Freestone County going to offer people? she asked. Weve had this lake for 50 years. R: Traffic drives through the town's central square after sunset. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle) L: Julee Emmons, owner of Armadillo Emporium, worries that the park's closure will leave the town without needed income from tourists and park visitors. What else is Freestone County going to offer people? she asked. Weve had this lake for 50 years. R: Traffic drives through the town's central square after sunset. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle)

"With what I was told yesterday, we're going to keep fighting and we're not giving up," Oglesbee said. "The legislators, our district representative and our senator, they're not giving up."

Oglesbee and other advocates will now wait to see if either bill gets past committee. Until the park closes or reopens for good, both visiting and local fishermen, including Waco resident Beau Murray, who is one of Prisock's main Fairfield Lake customers, will continue to visit while they can.

When we found out (it reopened,) I said, All right, were going for three days straight, Murray said. I told my team, Yall are holding down the fort. I dont even care if the place burns down. So yeah, were trying to get the most of what we can with the time we have left on it.
Finding a new place to eat may be becoming more personalized with the help of artificial intelligence.

ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence software released by OpenAI late last year, is already changing the way people work, learn and search the internet. Last year, we asked ChatGPT to figure out where some of the best food in general in Houston is.

The answers were a mixed bag. This time, we got more specific.

This time we asked ChatGPT: "Where are the best places to get tacos in Houston?"

Peter Salib, a professor at the University of Houston, who teaches constitutional law and artificial intelligence, says that AI might be able to provide recommendations, depending on how much an individual trusts what they read on the internet.

"ChatGPT is trained on the text of the internet," Salib said. "You give a question, it gives you the best prediction of what the English language answer would be. The way it does that is by reading the internet and analyzing billions of different patterns."

Fundamentally, ChatGPT will recommend Houston taco spots based on what people write online. The model used for this story, GPT-3.5, is limited to information on the internet that was published before September 2021.

Here is what was recommended when ChatGPT is asked: "What are the best places in Houston to get tacos?"

ChatGPT: Houston is famous for its diverse and delicious food scene, and when it comes to tacos, there are plenty of great options to choose from. Here are some of the best places in Houston to get tacos:

Torchy's Tacos Tacos Tierra Caliente Velvet Taco La Macro Taqueria Del Sol

The answers were regenerated five times and those were the taco spots most commonly mentioned.

Salib says that although asking ChatGPT straight questions is one way of getting recommendations, its most popular use is to ask it questions from the perspective of someone else.

"It's totally possible that it will give you something surprising that you wouldn't get just by Googling, especially if you give it a non-traditional prompt," Salib said.

So, ChatGPT was asked for taco recommendations from one of the most famous Houstonians.

ChatGPT was asked: "What are the best tacos in Houston from the perspective of Mattress Mack?"

ChatGPT: Mattress Mack, also known as Jim McIngvale, is a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Houston. While I don't have access to his personal opinions on tacos, I can suggest some popular taco spots in Houston that he may enjoy:

Ninfa's The Original Ninfa's on Navigation El Tiempo Cantina Pappasito's Cantina Gringo's Mexican Kitchen

Without Mattress Mack publicly stating what his favorite taco spots in Houston are, ChatGPT was seemingly able to pull an entirely different list than when it was asked for more basic recommendations.

"One of the most interesting and useful parts about these language models is that they can do stuff that you wouldn't get just from a Google search," Salib said. "Sometimes that's good. Sometimes that's bad. Sometimes it's made up."

ChatGPT does have well-known limitations that go beyond the true taco recommendations from the perspective of a Houston mattress salesman. For example, it doesn't possess any human-level common sense or emotional intelligence.

Since ChatGPT is trained on a large set of text data, sometimes that data may contain biases or prejudices.

However, asking ChatGPT to pinpoint exact content from an individual, say the Houston Chronicle's food critic Alison Cook, it can pull directly from their public reviews (at least the reviews published online before September 2021).

ChatGPT was asked: what are the best tacos in Houston, according to Alison Cook?

ChatGPT: Alison Cook is the restaurant critic for the Houston Chronicle and is known for her extensive knowledge of the Houston food scene. Here are some popular taco spots in Houston that Allison Cook has praised in her reviews:

All of the above taco spots were at some point in one of Cook's top 100 restaurant lists of Houston, except for Tacos Tierra Caliente, which remains unclear where it sourced that taco spots from. Also, some of the descriptions of the restaurants ChatGPT provided were inaccurate regarding basic information, such as location or menu items.

It mostly worked.

"If you want the average opinion of the average internet user, maybe it can give that to you and maybe it will do no better or worse than Google," Salib said. "But it can also give you recommendations that are much different and weird and more interesting than what Google does."
TILONIA, India  Its the Harvard of rural India, minus wingtips or heels: a 50-year-old institution called Barefoot College that offers lessons for empowering people worldwide. Maybe even in America.

Barefoot College does empowerment as well as any institution Ive ever seen, and heres what that looks like in the rural state of Rajasthan: An illiterate woman named Chota Devi who never attended a day of school is hunched over a circuit board, carefully using color-coded instructions to solder resistors and diodes into place.

Chota, who has no idea how old she is, is a Dalit, those at the bottom of the caste system once known as untouchables, and from a particularly low-ranking group called the Valmiki who often cleaned human waste.

But now Chota is learning how to be a solar power technician. Barefoot College trains illiterate, low-status villagers like her to make solar-powered lanterns and install solar lighting systems. After three to six months of training, they return to their communities and earn a decent living as they bring solar power to communities without reliable electricity  and in the process, they upend the social hierarchy.

I will have more knowledge than my husband, Chota noted slyly. When she goes home, villagers now call her Madam. Its partly a joke, partly a show of respect.

With a new income of perhaps $80 a month, Chota plans to pay off debts, buy a simple cellphone and build an outhouse.

Chota has five children, none of whom now attend school, but her trainers at Barefoot College have left an impression. Im working with women who know how to read and write, so now I want my children to learn as well, she said.

Bunker Roy, 77, was a three-time Indian national squash champion and an activist inspired by Mahatma Gandhi when in 1972 he moved to this remote village to see what he could do to tackle entrenched poverty. That year, he started Barefoot College here.

Roy focused on putting technology skills in the hands of the least educated and most scorned people in the community  because they were the ones who most needed the help and because he believed that nurturing dignity and self-confidence were crucial elements of overcoming poverty.

We wanted to start a college with a difference, where people were not penalized because they were illiterate, Roy said.

So Barefoot College takes illiterate villagers  most of them Dalits or women  and trains them in technical skills such as solar panel installation. With funding from foundations, donations and the Indian government, the college also runs literacy classes, health campaigns, a water resources department, study centers and a sanitary pad factory.

There are millions of people who are illiterate, and they have much to contribute, Roy said.

The urban-rural divide exists worldwide, with opportunity lagging in rural America as well as in rural India. Those left behind sometimes self-medicate, creating cycles of despair; in India, all this is complicated by caste and gender. Barefoot College nurtures opportunity by offering skills training in the way that community colleges do in the United States, but theres a particular emphasis here on the absolutely most impoverished.

That benefits the entire society: Marginalized people are often a nations most underutilized assets. And theres something delicious about the way the success of low-status people messes with peoples heads.

One of Barefoot Colleges first initiatives was to train Dalits to install water pumps. Initially, this was in their own communities, because they were not allowed to use the same wells as those from higher castes.

The upshot was that the most reliable water source in a village became one in the most scorned neighborhood. When high-caste villagers found their wells running dry, they would awkwardly get water from the Dalit pump. Its just for the livestock, they might say at first.

When their own pumps broke, they also found themselves having to summon a Dalit pump technician. Since Dalits traditionally were not supposed to touch food or water containers used by higher caste people, the head-spinning only increased.

We in America could learn from this approach in rural India. The United States as well must do better providing training in technical skills to people who have been left behind so that they can earn a living  as electricians, wind turbine installers, carpenters and more. And theres a belated recognition that we worry too much about formal educational qualifications; bravo to Pennsylvania for opening up state jobs this year to those without four-year college degrees.

Over the decades, Barefoot College has attracted international and local funding to expand. The college now has water programs around India, and the Indian government brings in women from Africa and elsewhere to study solar engineering at Barefoot College for six-month courses, and they then return home to bring electricity to their villages. Here, empowerment is not a buzzword but a way of life.

The illiterates of the 21st century, Roy said, are not those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn and relearn.
Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko claimed Monday to have survived an assassination attempt during his appearance at a politically charged trial that has sparked unrest. Meanwhile, President Macky Sall has rejected claims that it would be unconstitutional for him to seek a controversial third mandate.

Sonko, a fierce opponent of President Macky Sall, has been receiving medical treatment since he was allegedly sprayed with tear gas and manhandled while authorities escorted him to a courthouse on Thursday.

In a Facebook post that evening, Sonko said he was suffering "terrible dizziness", lower abdominal pain and breathing difficulties.

"We sent the product that was sprayed on me to France to find out what it was," Sonko said from a private clinic in the capital Dakar on Monday.

"It is an assassination attempt," he added.

The authorities have not responded to the allegation.

Violence, arrests

Violence has flared in several cities since the opposition leader's trial opened last Thursday and more than 400 people have been arrested, according to El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, head of communications for Sonko's Pastef party.

Sonko is being tried for allegedly defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang, a member of President Sall's party.

Convictions in either the defamation trial, which has been postponed until 30 March, or a separate 2021 rape case that has not gone to court, could prevent Sonko from contesting the 2024 election.

Sall has denied Sonko's accusation that the judiciary is being used to exclude him from the vote.

In the town of Bignona, a Sonko stronghold in the south, a young man was shot dead, Yankhoba Dieme, president of a local departmental council, told French news agency AFP, with an administrative official confirming the demonstrator's death.

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A firebrand speaker who finished third in the 2019 presidential election, Sonko enjoys support from young people. His detractors accuse him of being a populist.

A political debate

Macky Sall has rejected claims that it would be unconstitutional for him to seek a third mandate. He refused to confirm whether he plans to do so in an interview published Monday.

The opposition claims that Senegal's constitution prohibits Sall, who was elected in 2012 and again in 2019, from running in the next election, scheduled for February 2024.

Senegal's constitution was revised in 2016 to shorten presidential terms to five years from seven. It states that "no one can exercise more than two consecutive terms".

In an interview with French magazine L'Express posted online Monday, Sall argued that when the Constitutional Council was consulted before the revision, it considered his first term to be outside the scope of the reform.

"Legally speaking, the debate has been settled for a long time," he said in the interview.

"Now, should I run for a third term or not? It's a political debate, I admit it.

"I have not yet given my answer. I have an agenda, a job to do. When the time comes, I will make my position known, first to my supporters, then to the Senegalese people."

(With AFP)
Regarding "HISD must meet these three strict goals to get out of TEA control," (March 20): HISD is far from perfect. We all know that. But the voters replaced the problem board and a new superintendent was hired. Together they seem to have been heading in the right direction, so the state needs to adapt their takeover to current conditions.

As a former HISD teacher, parent of three HISD graduates and voter, what I would like to see is a board of managers overseeing the current board and superintendent, helping them improve the district instead of replacing them and fomenting distrust among the HISD stakeholders.

The primary concern facing both HISD and the state is the current one-size-fits-all approach to education in this nation. As a teacher, my daily challenge was adapting the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills regulations to the 30 to 35 individual students sitting in my classes. Some of my students were better with language but struggled with the necessary math. Others were completely the opposite.

The problem is not the students; it is the standardized testing. That is not an HISD problem: that is a Texas Education Agency problem. TEA needs to get its own house in order as well.

Here are some specific suggestions for improving HISD:

Reduce and reorganize the bloated bureaucracy. Don't fire anyone, just reassign teachers back to the classroom.

Figure out how to duplicate the most successful magnet programs in more schools so more students can be served closer to home.

As magnet programs are expanded, consider creating semi-autonomous sub-districts and limit student movement between them. Sub-districts would allow HISD to continue operating and serving students when certain schools are forced to close due to weather or other events.

HISD can be improved. Let us work together to make it happen.

Ernest Davis, Houston

The recent announcement of the TEA takeover of HISD is heartbreaking to me. The students of HISD have in Millard House II a superintendent who will be very, very difficult to replace. Its painful that the law  or, more precisely, pride  is going to break the momentum that HISD has recently created in turning around this gigantic ship and steering it in the right direction.

I know firsthand the rare leadership and talent that Superintendent House possesses. I went to elementary school, junior high and high school with Choppa (Mr. Houses childhood nickname). We competed for first chair on the drums at Academy Central in Tulsa, Okla., where he started his distinguished career in education. I have admired and followed his career with immense pride. Its the sole reason why I, living in Oklahoma, subscribed to the Houston Chronicle two years ago, upon his selection as HISD superintendent.

The best advice I can offer the TEA for the sake of the students is to retain HISDs leadership team in a meaningful capacity. You can still follow the law, but you can also be creative and do whats right.

To Superintendent Millard House II: Thank you. Thank you for your service to HISD. I knew you would lead the district to excellence. You are truly first chair.

Kevin Torrence, Norman, Okla.

Great expectations

Regarding What would the 'father of Texas education' think of us now? (Editorial), (March 19): Almost every article about education ends up being about the lack of adequate funding. Yes, funding is important. But the biggest missing element, in my humble observation, is the lack of expectations.

One of the best phrases from former President George W. Bush was his take on under-achieving education. He called it the "soft bigotry of low expectations. There are too many politicians such as Rep. Harold Dutton who live in the neighborhood and do not use any clout they have to help make changes to the neighborhood.

A neighborhood rally to spark change would help. Parental expectations, in my opinion, are the biggest impetus for good education.

I look at the care of the campus at Sharpstown High School. Millions of dollars went into building a beautiful facility and landscaping it. Apparently, it seems there is little concern about maintaining its appearance because the grass can sometimes be almost knee-high. The crosswalks have still not been re-painted.

Then I look at the perpetual care of the schools my grandchildren attend in the 77025 zip code. Same school system, different parental expectations. Quality maintenance is less expensive and does more for expectations than many believe.

One of the most cherished notes I have kept from my children is one from my son. He was one of those students who decided early on that all he needed was what he learned in kindergarten. He did only what he needed to get by.

His father would not let him even entertain the idea of not going to college or of dropping out. About two weeks after he graduated, we received a hand-written thank you note. He was grateful that our expectations were that he would be a college graduate.

Cynthia Van Auken, Houston
Last Sunday, we published an adapted excerpt from Dr. Ricardo Nuilas incredible book, "The Peoples Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine." Nuila, whos worked at Ben Taub Hospital for a little over a decade, details his heartrending experiences caring for hundreds of patients from all over the world and all walks of life. Ben Taub, he says, is Houstons largest hospital for the poor  many working, some not  who cannot afford medical care.

We need places like Ben Taub because, as David McMillin, a reader from The Woodlands, points out, If your life depended on it, you could not devise a more costly, inefficient, unfair and complicated system of health care than we have in this country.There has to be a better way.

Nuila argues there is a better way. Ben Taub is a start, and a model for the rest of the United States. Its a place where all  uninsured and insured, indigent and wealthy, undocumented and citizen, alike  are provided first-rate, humane treatment.

Doctors can prioritize care, not cost, because the hospital is part of Harris Health, the nations third-largest medical safety net. It provides more than $2 billion in health care annually to the hundreds who stay at Ben Taub or Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital every day and the thousands who visit its dozens of other clinics. And it can do that through our property taxes, which cover over half of the health care systems budget.

For many, Harris Health has meant the difference between life or death. As Houston reader Angela M. Arney wrote in her recent letter, Excellent health care benefits the recipient and their families, too. It has also meant a world of difference in taxpayer savings, as it allows patients to receive treatment before they need emergency care. Its far cheaper, for instance, to see that a patient receives regular dialysis than to treat them in the emergency room, repeatedly, as they come in near death with renal failure.



In 2022 alone, Harris Health saved the county an estimated $1.8 billion in health care costs, resulting in $2.30 in taxpayer savings for every $1 in county taxes collected.

The system isnt perfect, but its nothing short of miraculous in a city with the highest uninsured rate in the country. And we have a Houston Chronicle letter writer to thank for its existence.

Six decades ago, only one Houston hospital treated those who couldnt afford to pay: Jefferson Davis Hospital. At the time, its costs were split between the city and county, leaving the hospital vulnerable to the shifting winds of local politics. Despite Jefferson Davis already low budget, a new charity hospital, Ben Taub, had been proposed, and a local councilman wanted to cut Jefferson Davis budget further still.

Jim Cox, HPr staff / Houston Chronicle

Jan de Hartog, a Dutch playwright who had spent eight months volunteering as an orderly at Jefferson Davis, was fed up. So as you, my fellow readers, are wont to do, he wrote a strongly worded letter to the editor.

Published in the Sunday, April 21, 1963, edition of the Houston Chronicle, de Hartogs letter began: Not many will mourn the demise of Jefferson Davis Hospital, but it is a matter of conjecture among the staff how long it will take for the new hospital in the Medical Center to turn into the same pigsty filled with medieval horrors as Old J.D.

Those medieval horrors included the hall with the stretchers that are never empty, the two dark wards in the back, where, because of the lack of staff, the sick, the drunk, the desperate and the dying are often ditched into the cold sagging beds fully dressed, trousers soaked with urine.

He described the treatment rooms where the floors are slippery with blood and vomit and the beds can no longer be elevated because the mechanism has broken down, so they are propped up with chairs under the mattress and held together with surgical tape.

Jim Cox, HPr staff / Houston Chronicle

De Hartog decried city officials who allowed this monument of misery to fester, who used the citys indigent sick as political pawns. He ended his letter urging his fellow Houstonians to take a stand:

Let us wake up to the fact that we are a metropolis now, and that not only the eyes of Texas are upon us, or those of the United States, or even the world, but the eyes of God, he wrote.

His impassioned letter sparked massive outcry. According to our Chronicle archives, dozens of letters, including one signed by 18 student nurses, poured in, expressing outrage, sympathy and frustration.

I dont remember ever having been more deeply moved by any one article, one reader wrote, Now, what can I do?

Another jumped into action: I am sending a copy of this letter to the mayor and to the county judge, in the hope that either or both will take the lead in solving the mercy hospital problem. It cannot be swept under the rug of politics as usual.

De Hartog then published his book, The Hospital, which detailed the conditions  the cockroach that crawled into a patients tracheostomy tube, the mass staph infections  in more depth.

That was the final straw for Democratic Harris County Judge Bill Elliott. He went undercover and visited the hospital as a nighttime volunteer to confirm the conditions himself. The appalling experience convinced him the county desperately needed a new taxing authority to fund a hospital district.

Tom Colburn/Houston Chronicle

The idea had been voted down in a prior referendum. It took two more tries. In 1965, a combination of grassroots citizen groups, many more editorials and letters, as well as the support of Judge Elliott and the Harris County Medical Society, convinced enough Houstonians to vote in favor of a property tax to support medical care for the most vulnerable.

You know how I first learned about that history? From a letter a reader wrote in May.

You who, like de Hartog, write us letters, do so because you care. And yes, also to let off some steam. But I hope the next time youre feeling hopeless, wondering what difference another letter chastising the shortcomings of our local and state leaders will make, you remember this history. I hope you remember that your letters really can bring about change.

As one reader put it in May 17, 1963: Mr. de Hartog almost single handedly has forced local politicians in whom we entrust our government to their knees.This is a great victory(but) the greatest satisfaction of it comes from the knowledge of a simple truth: That citizens control their government, and not, definitely not, vice versa.
The 88th Texas legislative session is underway, with dozens of bills filed on public higher education. Several pose a threat to academic freedom, a professor's ability to pursue knowledge without external influences or pressure and to freely exchange ideas on campus. Academic freedom is essential to the best education for our students, the kind of education that teaches them to think critically and to listen and respect diverse opinions and perspectives.



I am an NIH-funded neuroscientist at UT-Austin. I am also a fierce advocate for academic freedom, and I feel confident saying that without academic freedom or its protection through tenure  basically, a long-term job appointment for faculty  Texas would not be the research powerhouse it is.

Texas public universities are among the top research institutions in the country and the world. In fact, our state has nine Tier 1 public research universities. Collectively, our Texas public universities bring in billions of research dollars each year and help support their campuses. For example, my lab is currently funded by a five-year $4.25 million NIH research grant; some of those funds go towards university infrastructure.

At the University of Texas at Austin alone, research grants and contracts in 2020-21 added up to a staggering $740 million. That's 22 percent of UT-Austin's budget  slightly more than the total that students pay in tuition each year, and more than twice what the state of Texas contributed to the university in general revenue.

What does that have to do with academic freedom and tenure?

It is precisely because of academic freedom and tenure that our great Texas universities are on the leading edge and are making leaps forward in the neurosciences, as well as the social sciences, humanities, arts, law, business  indeed, every discipline we teach. We need academic freedom to pursue research, identify the compelling gaps in knowledge in our specialty areas and the urgent questions we try to answer.

Tenure is hard to win. After years of work, a candidate for tenure must show excellence in teaching and scholarship and faces rigorous scrutiny by both internal and external peer reviewers.

Once tenured, faculty members have greater flexibility, time and job security. Tenure frees them up to explore new creative (and sometimes riskier) areas. Yet tenure is in jeopardy because of legislation currently under deliberation. In particular, the Senate Education Committee is reviewing SB 18, which would prevent any Texas public university from granting tenure to new faculty.

Big projects need the kind of stability conferred by tenure. Research takes time. Consider the work of Houston Nobel laureate James P. Allison, who received both bachelor's and doctorate degrees at The University of Texas at Austin, and is now a professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Allison made key discoveries about cancer and the immune system that led to a new field, immunotherapy, which has transformed the treatment of certain cancers. In some cases, tumors quite literally melt away and a patient becomes cancer-free. This astounding discovery was built on decades of prior research.

Those who oppose academic freedom imagine Texas' great universities as places where lazy tenured professors do nothing and say anything. But in fact, academic freedom and tenure come with great responsibility and accountability. At UT, each and every professor has their teaching, research and service reviewed every year. We are held to the highest standards and, when needed, told to make corrections.

As a UT professor, I am accountable to the citizens of the state of Texas, and I take my responsibility of producing the future generations of great thinkers and leaders seriously.

And Im deeply concerned. What will Texas universities  and the state of Texas  look like if some of the proposed bills are enacted into law? Without tenure, and with restrictions on what content is or is not allowed to be taught and discussed on our campuses, the best and the brightest faculty  the research groundbreakers  will go to other states. Is that what we want for research in our state, and for Texass students?



Andrea C. Gore, an NIH-funded neuroscientist, is a professor and Vacek Chair in pharmacology and professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of the American Association of University Professors and vice president of the American Association of University Professors chapter at UT-Austin.
Although activists have long criticized Texas main environmental regulator as toothless and inert, in a Thursday afternoon state House hearing those same activists applauded a bill to re-authorize its existence for another dozen years with several reforms.

IN-DEPTH: EPA investigates complaints that Texas Commission on Environmental Quality fails to do its job

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is also being investigated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency for some of the same complaints that have been documented for years by environmental advocates. The environmentalists charge that the TCEQ's rules allow developers to skirt the law and cut the public out of permitting processes, among other things.

Those concerns were also supported by a recent Sunset Advisory Commission report that described the agency as a reluctant regulator and suggested making the agency more transparent and more effective at engaging the public, as well as authorizing a larger maximum fine that can be imposed on polluters.

Texas has too much pollution, and that means we have real consequences for human health and the environment, said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas. Such health consequences could include, for instance, kids suffering asthma attacks on smoggy days or older people having heart attacks because of soot in the air.

Metzgers group and a number of other environmental advocates believe the Texas Environmental Quality Commission has failed systematically for years at reining in polluters.

In a recently published report, the groups said companies have released 409,575 pounds of air pollution in 21,769 incidents from September 2016, through August of last year. The report argues that TCEQ applies a narrow definition of who can complain about pollution  one that doesnt include people who fish on a river, only those who own land on that river  and that it doesnt use its ability to levy fines against polluters often enough.

The Sunset Review process requires agencies to be reauthorized by the Legislature after a set period of time or cease to exist. The Legislature must pass such a bill this year doing so for TCEQ. The measure would also enact the reforms detailed in the Sunshine report.

Weve had to sue companies for not complying with the law because TCEQ would not step in. So we very much appreciate the Legislatures focus on public participation and enforcement, and we believe those are important provisions, said Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Lonestar chapter of the Sierra Club. He said his group would support additional tweaks to the agency, including an expansion of who can complain about a polluter and a reduced burden of proof to show harm.

Bryan Shaw, a lobbyist for the Texas Oil and Gas Association and former TCEQ commissioner, said his group supports changes made in the bill to crack down on "bad actors," which he said are unfairly grouped together with "good actors."

Many testified that pollution-heavy industries disproportionately build their plants around low-income communities, which are often predominantly populated by people of color. Several called for a new state office of environmental justice to consider those concerns.

These modifications are a step forward, but theres still time to protect the peoples health and natural resources and to prioritize health over profit," testified Crystal Ngo, with Air Alliance Houston.

The report from the environmental groups said that while major pollution incidents are rarely punished by the agency, many that are punished happen in Harris County, where five industrial plants accounted for about half of the air pollution incidents deemed excessive by TCEQ from 2017 to 2022.

Despite that, none have been designated as chronic offenders, which could trigger harsher penalties. A number of environmental groups from Harris County chartered a bus to Austin to attend the hearing and testify on Thursday.

Erin Chancellor, interim executive director of TCEQ, said the agency is aware of the "reluctant regulators" designation, and does not agree with it.

Its troubling thats the perception, responded Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Missouri City Democrat. There are many stakeholders who believe that TCEQ doesnt really hold bad actors accountable, and I certainly would hope thats not the case when were dealing with peoples health and the public health.

Chancellor said the agency has its hands tied by state and federal law much of the time: if a company checks all the boxes required by law when applying for a permit, the agency is required to grant it. Despite that, she noted that the agency conducts 100,000 or more investigations each year.

We do quite a bit to make sure that environmental laws and regulations in the state of Texas are adhered to.

The Environmental Protection Agency launched its investigation last year after dozens of environmental groups filed legal petitions arguing the agency is too lax and asking the EPA to take over.
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A new state House committee on firearm legislation had its inaugural meeting this week, debating a range of gun bills for the first time since last years massacre at a Uvalde elementary school.

BACKGROUND: Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan appoints special committee for gun legislation

During a six-hour hearing, Second Amendment and gun control advocates sparred over a bill that would allow election judges to carry handguns at polling places and another that would relax gun reporting requirements for foster parents. Committee members also heard testimony on a measure that would restrict magazine sales and one that would crack down on straw purchases.

Lawmakers considered 21 bills in the meeting, but they havent taken any votes yet. Heres what was discussed:

Gun-free zones and legal carry

A bill filed by Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, would allow presiding election judges to carry handguns at most polling places on Election Day and during early voting. The bill makes some exceptions for polling locations at higher education institutions and other private properties but not public schools.

National Rifle Association Texas State Director Tara Mica said allowing election judges to carry handguns increases safety for voters.

My polling place is in a local grocery store, so for two to three weeks every two years that is a prohibited location, Mica said, referring to a temporary ban on carrying guns in that location during voting. I would feel better if election judges were able to carry in a prohibited location such as that for the safety of myself and fellow grocery shoppers.

The bill received pushback from gun safety advocates like Katya Ehresman, the voting rights program manager at Common Cause Texas. She said the legislation would make some voters and poll workers feel unsafe.

RELATED: Texas elections officials targeted amid 2020 fraud claims report threats, intimidation to Congress

Texas has endured a period of increasing political violence and intimidation, especially against election workers, Ehresman said. HB 636 would create confusion amid existing state and federal laws and increase intimidation.

Another bill filed by Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mt. Pleasner, would clarify a law that prohibits people from carrying firearms on school grounds and around school-sponsored activities. The existing language is so vague, Hefner said, that it could be applied to any place where students are gathering off campus, like at a public library or on a field trip.

A law-abiding citizen could be already present and legally carrying a firearm at one moment  in the state Capitol, for instance  and then could, hypothetically, be subject to a third-degree felony charge as soon as a group of students shows up to that location, Hefner said.

Reporting mandates

Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, proposed a bill that would stop state agencies from requiring potential foster parents to disclose the number of and types of weapons and ammunition in their home.

While well-intentioned, some of the information required for disclosure  is unnecessary and actually causes would-be foster parents to abandon the licensing process altogether, Harris said.

Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston and vice chair of the committee, said the bill raises legal questions over state liability for children injured by weapons in the home.

LAST SESSION: Gov. Abbott signs constitutional carry bill allowing Texans to carry handguns without a permit

Don't we have a certain level of accountability as a state  as we're paying parents to care for the children  to know, so that we can protect the children? Johnson said.

The bill still would require families to report the presence of weapons in the home and would not change storage requirements, Harris said.

Criminal offenses

Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande City and chair of the committee, introduced a bill that would create a criminal offense for straw purchases. Thats when an individual buys a firearm for someone who is not allowed to possess the weapon. Straw purchases are currently illegal under federal law, but not under Texas state law.

When it comes to straw purchases in particular, the average gun owner in Texas really isnt the problem, said Nicole Golden, the executive director of the nonprofit Texas Gun Sense. The problem is a small subset of individuals who are allowing those with documented violent histories to obtain firearms and harm our children and communities.

Purchasing requirements

Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, is proposing a bill that would prevent minors and anyone else who is not legally able to purchase a weapon from buying certain firearm magazines. Gun rights advocates oppose the bill.

Edwin Walker, a Houston criminal defense attorney, stressed that current law bars some people from buying firearms, not from possessing them. Prohibiting Texans from purchasing magazines may prevent them from using weapons they can lawfully own, he said.

I believe that this is ultimately the step towards the ultimate goal of many anti-gun legislators  to ultimately try to restrict or limit magazines, Walker said.

Victims compensation funds

Guillen introduced a resolution urging Congress to ensure the survivors and families of victims of the 2017 church shooting in Sutherland Springs receive court-ordered compensation.

The U.S. Department of Justice is appealing a verdict awarding $230 million to the survivors and families of victims of the shooting, which killed 26 people and injured 22 more. The department has denied that it was primarily responsible by not entering the gunman, who had been discharged from the Air Force after a felony conviction, into a national database that would have prevented him from legally buying a gun.
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Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to be in Waco next week for his first 2024 re-election campaign rally, but a possible indictment may halt the billion-dollar businessman's plans to come to the Texas city that's also in the middle of the anniversary of a deadly massacre.

The ex-president announced in a social media post that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office planned on indicting him Tuesday for allegedly paying up to $280,000 in hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal in exchange for sexual favors, CNN and the Associated Press reported on Saturday.
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Republican state lawmakers are pushing a package of bills that would make it easier to remove elected judges and local prosecutors from office if they dont follow or enforce state laws, the centerpiece of an effort to crack down on progressive criminal justice policies in Texas big cities.

Under a measure considered by a Senate committee on Thursday, district and county attorneys would be barred from setting any policy by which they decline to prosecute a class or type of criminal offense, unless necessary to comply with a court order.

RELATED: GOP proposal to let judges deny bail for violent, sexual offenses clears Texas Senate

Senate Bill 20 targets the recent wave of progressive prosecutors who have won control in Texas biggest counties and, to Republican leaders chagrin, enacted diversion programs for low-level drug possession and vowed not to prosecute cases related to abortion or gender-affirming care for transgender children.

The Senate panel also discussed another proposal Thursday that would allow for judges to be removed or suspended if they show persistent or willful violation of Texas rules for setting bail.

Both bills are priorities of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful Republican who oversees the Texas Senate. They were authored by state Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican who used to be a prosecutor and criminal district court judge.

Unfortunately, certain Texas prosecutors have joined a trend of adopting internal policies refusing to prosecute particular laws, Huffman said at Thursdays committee hearing. These actions set a dangerous precedent and severely undermine the authority of the Legislature.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has not weighed in on either bill, though he has said he wants to crack down on rogue district attorneys. Hes placed two related House bills on his priority list.

One of them, House Bill 17, is very similar to the Senates proposal and blocks prosecutors from setting or announcing a policy that prohibits or materially limits the enforcement of any criminal offense.

Under both bills, a district court jury in the prosecutors home county would decide whether to remove the official, as is the law now.

The other Phelan priority bill, House Bill 200, would bring back the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council, made up of judges, attorneys, law enforcement officers and members of the public, that would review complaints against prosecutors and issue punishments.

The council operated briefly in the late 1970s and early 1980s before its duties were absorbed by other agencies.

READ MORE: Harris County is in the spotlight as Texas lawmakers seek overhaul of bail laws

Huffmans bills are expected to face little trouble clearing the Republican-dominated Senate, despite objections from Democrats who say the measures are an overreach.

This violation of the states separation of powers is one piece to an unsettling pattern of top-down power-grabbing, said state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat from Austin who served as an assistant county attorney for Travis County from 1998 to 2005. Tools like prosecutorial discretion are critical  especially in a state like Texas, where our local district attorneys are directly elected by the people.

Others argued at Thursdays hearing that key parts of the measure are too ambiguous. Andrew Hendrickson, government relations coordinator at the ACLU of Texas, said the bills definition of policy  an instruction or directive expressed in any manner  would leave too much up for interpretation for prosecutors to know whether theyre violating the measure.

He argued the bill should also make clear that the use of pretrial diversion or specialty diversion courts is not the same as refusing to prosecute a criminal offense.

Bexar County has more than a dozen specialty courts and dockets in its pretrial diversion programs.

HB200 drew support, meanwhile, from Jennifer Szimanski, spokesperson for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, who said progressive prosecutors policies are harming public safety and officer morale.

"The spike in crime and mass officer resignations are a direct result of willful neglect to prosecute certain offenses, such as theft, narcotics, firearms violations, etc, said Szimanski, whose group is the states largest police union. Im not sure how officers are expected to operate under these conditions.

Violent crime spiked in most major U.S. cities during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been falling over the past year in cities like Houston, though it hasnt reverted to pre-2020 levels.

Two anti-abortion advocates testified in support of the bill, including Rebecca Parma, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, who warned that prosecutors who refuse to pursue abortion-related cases would undercut the gains we have made.

The targets

Joe D. Gonzales, Bexar Countys district attorney, squarely fits the mold of progressive prosecutor the bills are targeting. He first won election on a call to change the bail system to keep those accused of nonviolent crimes from losing their jobs because they cant afford to get out of jail, and embraced a cite and release option for certain misdemeanors, especially marijuana possession, as a way to save money and focus on violent crime.

After announcing he would use his discretion to not pursue criminal cases against people accused of helping women get abortions, Gonzales won a second term in November against a Republican challenger who pledged to prosecute every offense and every offender.

Another of Huffmans proposals, Senate Bill 21, takes aim at judges who she said have completely disregarded state laws in order to push personal agendas.

Huffman did not mention her home county by name, though she and other Republicans have routinely accused Harris County judges of setting overly lenient bail conditions, blaming them for a rise in crimes committed by defendants who are out on bond.

Under SB21, judges would face penalties  including possible removal from office  if they continually or deliberately violated the states bail-setting rules. Those laws received a key update two years ago, when Huffman spearheaded a Republican-backed overhaul of Texas bail system that prohibits judges from granting cashless personal bonds to defendants charged with about 20 types of violent and sexual crimes.

Huffman said her latest bill attempts to ensure that judges follow that law.

Local felony court judges, most of whom are Democrats, say they have set higher bail amounts in recent years, but are still hamstrung in most cases by the state constitution, which generally guarantees defendants the right to bail unless they are charged with capital murder or meet other narrow criteria.

Huffman is looking to loosen those restrictions this year through a constitutional amendment that, if approved by the Legislature and voters, would let judges deny bail in a wider variety of cases.

Judge Genesis Draper, a Democrat who oversees one of Harris Countys 16 misdemeanor courts, said shes not aware of any district court judges who are violating state bail rules, recent or otherwise.

She said Huffmans bill appears to be borne out of Republican irritation over the re-election wins of most Democratic judges last November, which came despite a spirited GOP campaign to break Democrats hold on the Harris County courthouse.

We have a whole other process to remove judges, and it's called the democratic process, the will of the people, Draper said. The people have spoken, and have decided to honor the work of these judges and keep these judges. And I think that there is frustration with that.

The Texas Constitution and state law already lay out a system for suspending, removing and otherwise disciplining judges. The process flows through the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which is tasked with investigating sworn complaints about judges and taking disciplinary actions.

As of now, the commission can only suspend a judge if they have been indicted for a felony or charged with a misdemeanor. SB21 would require the commission to suspend a judge for 60 days without pay if the commission issued a public reprimand of the judge for violating the states bail law.

The bill would also set shorter deadlines for the commission to move forward on complaints.
WASHINGTON  Paul Rusesabagina, the San Antonio resident who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda," is set to be released from a Rwandan prison where he has been held on terrorism charges since 2020.

BACKGROUND: Castro resolution calls for release of Hotel Rwanda hero

A spokesperson for the Rwandan government told the Associated Press that Rusesabagina's 25-year sentence was commuted by presidential order after a request for clemency. He was expected to be released Saturday and likely to be flown to Brooke Army Medical Center for medical and psychological examinations.

Rusesabagina's release comes after pressure from the United States and members of Congress, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat who represents the district where Rusesabagina's family resides, and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican.

We are pleased to hear the news about Paul's release," his family said in a statement. "The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon.

The U.S. had declared the former hotelier  who gave refuge to 1,268 people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide  to be "wrongly detained," in part because of what the State Department deemed a lack of a fair trial. Congress passed a bipartisan resolution led by Castro calling for his release last year.

Paul Rusesabagina is a hero, and his unjust detention was a stain on Rwandas progress toward a peaceful and stable future," Castro, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. "Together with his family, friends and supporters around the world, I am overjoyed to hear the news of his impending release and look forward to his safe return.

Rusesabagina, a permanent U.S. resident who has had a home in San Antonio since 2009, disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged that he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial. He was sentenced to 25 years in 2021 on terrorism-related charges, in connection with a group opposing Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Rusesabagina denied all charges.

Kathleen Tobin Krueger, a close friend and advocate for his release, told the San Antonio Express-News on Friday that she had no doubt his release was the result of global pressure on the Rwandan government.

There has been a really widespread, concerted effort by various European governments, obviously the American government, perhaps American businesses and even others to let Paul Kagame know that kidnapping and torturing and imprisoning Paul Rusesabagina was perhaps among the worst mistakes that he has made in a long history of mistakes, Krueger said.

Kagames government has been accused by Human Rights Watch of practicing arbitrary detention, ill treatment and torture. Kagame has run the Central African country since 2000 and is credited with leading it into a period of stability and prosperity, with a focus on reconciling its two major tribal groups after the bloodletting of the 1990s. More than 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed during the 1994 genocide.

Rusesabagina, who left Rwanda in 1996, was among Kagame's most prominent critics. He was the inspiration for the 2004 film "Hotel Rwanda," in which he was portrayed by Don Cheadle, and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died. Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped to form the armed group to assist refugees but said he never supported violence  and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

In a signed letter to Kagame dated Oct. 14 and posted on the justice ministrys website, Rusesabagina wrote that if I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me.

Rusesabagina was reportedly subject to torture while in detention. He was held in solitary confinement and denied medication. A family spokeswoman said in 2021 that the 68-year-old cancer survivor was denied medicine for hypertension his family sent via the Belgian Embassy. Rwandan jailers gave him an unspecified drug every day, she said at the time, but his blood pressure remained high.

She said the jailers "open the door to his cell two hours a day so he has natural light.

Rusesabagina's family has lived in San Antonio for more than a decade. His son, Tresor, was allegedly spied on while studying at St. Marys University. In 2021, St. Marys President Tom Mengler said the Rwandan government used a spy to listen in on a Zoom class that Tresor was attending.

Staff writer Sig Christenson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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New York  Nearly 420 million children benefited from free school meals last year, a new World Food Program report said Tuesday, providing an important safety net as hunger reaches unprecedented crisis levels worldwide.

"Governments worldwide seem to be increasingly recognizing that the health and nutrition of children is something that needs to and must be protected, even in the context of fiscal crises that are affecting the world, and particularly low-income countries," Carmen Burbano, WFP's head of school-based programs, told reporters in a video briefing from Rome.

The State of School Feeding report is the first since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the education of 1.5 billion students and young people around the world, and took away the only guaranteed daily meal for millions of them.

The report says the number of children reached by school meal programs now exceeds pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, WFP says 418 million children worldwide received school meals -- 30 million more than just before the pandemic hit in early 2020.

Burbano said much of this is due to governments ramping up domestic funding by around $5 billion over the last two years to nearly $48 billion overall for these programs. She said this is happening in both rich and poor countries.

"One of the big findings of the report is that the rally of governments, this domestic mobilization, is unprecedented," she said.

She attributed much of that success to the School Meals Coalition, which was launched in 2021 and seeks to provide a nutritious, free school meal to every child by 2030. More than 75 heads of state have joined the coalition.

"And it's their commitment, it's their mobilization, that's achieved this unprecedented result," Burbano said.

Safety net

WFP says school meal programs are a critical safety net for vulnerable children and households, especially at a time when 345 million people face crisis levels of hunger worldwide, including 153 million children.

The combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, economic and climate crises, and now Russia's war in Ukraine, have seen food prices rise over the past three years, making it harder for many families to regularly put nutritious meals on the table. While the Food and Agriculture Organization says prices for key food items are beginning to come back down, healthy meals are still not affordable for everybody.

Millions still hungry

But despite successes, disparities persist, and millions of children who need the meals are not getting them.

"We are estimating at the moment about 73 million children living in low-income countries in extreme poverty, with high levels of malnutrition, don't have access to these programs," Burbano said, urging the international community to help bridge that gap.

She said feeding program coverage in low-income countries is only at about 18%, compared with around 60% in high-income countries.

"If you are a child that is born in a country like Niger, like Somalia or Haiti, you have the double whammy of going to school in sub-funded education systems, but also understanding that you are probably going there on an empty stomach. You are probably sick. You are probably hungry. And then we wonder why children are not learning in these countries," Burbano said.

She added that research shows that in low-income countries, 70% of children under age 10 cannot read or write a simple sentence.

"Part of this is because they don't have enough to eat, and they are sitting in these classrooms hungry and without the proper support," she said.

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For many low-income families, a free school meal is an added incentive to keep their children in school. This is especially important for girls, who are usually the first ones pulled from the classroom when parents cannot afford to educate all of their children.

For girls, this can have lifelong consequences, including exposure to early marriage and motherhood, and a loss of earning potential. The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization says just one more year of school can increase a girl's earnings as an adult by as much as 20%.

School feeding programs don't just benefit the students. WFP says these programs have created 4 million jobs in 85 countries, many of them supporting women who prepare the food, as well as small holder farmers who produce it.
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President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed delight that some key threats within Nigeria's maritime environment, such as crude oil theft, piracy, sea robbery, as well as illegal unregulated and unreported fishing were being effectively tackled.

According to him, over 220 vessels involved in maritime criminality within Nigeria's Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Republic of Togo, between August 2018 and March 2023, were prosecuted.

President Buhari also said over 87 oil tankers involved in various crude oil and product theft had been arrested, as theft of over three million barrels of crude oil was prevented, while 15 million litres of petrol and diesel were recovered.

He also inaugurated the new Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and National Counterterrorism Centre, NCTC, in Abuja, as part of efforts to address evolving security challenges in the country, especially terrorism and violent extremism.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two world-class facilities, the President said it would serve as a major legacy to provide the incoming administration with infrastructure to effectively coordinate national security and counter-terrorism efforts.

President Buhari used the occasion to outline significant milestones achieved by his administration on National Security, including gains in combating terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, separatist tendencies, crude oil theft, piracy as well as militancy in the South-South and cyber-security.

The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that his administration had since its coming, invested heavily on stabilising and enhancing security across the country.

"This was largely achieved through the valiant efforts of our Armed Forces and other security agencies, in collaboration with our regional and international partners but above all, the support and cooperation of the Nigerian citizens."

"Issues of crude oil theft, sea robbery, piracy and militancy in the South-South are equally being addressed.

"Most of these threats have transnational linkages thereby reinforcing the need for regional and international cooperation as critical enablers to enhance our national security," he said.

On maritime security, President Buhari expressed delight that some key threats within Nigeria's maritime environment such as piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft as well as illegal unregulated and unreported fishing, were being effectively tackled.

He said between August 2018 and March 2023, over 220 vessels involved in maritime criminality within Nigeria's Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Republic of Togo, had been prosecuted.

He commended the Falcon Eye maritime domain awareness project, domiciled with the Nigerian Navy and coordinated by ONSA, for providing high-quality real-time intelligence, leading to the arrest and prosecution of economic saboteurs.

He added that over 87 oil tankers involved in various crude oil and product theft had been arrested, the theft of over 3 million barrels of crude oil prevented and 15 million litres of petrol and diesel recovered.

In his welcome address, the National Security Adviser, Major General, Babagana Monguno, retd, said the dynamic nature of global and domestic security environment necessitated the modification and expansion of some of the functions of ONSA.

"The new office for the NCTC is designed to accommodate the additional workforce and improved technological capabilities of the Centre, particularly the Exclusive Devices Analysis Office, EDAO, increasing activities of countering violent extremism department and joint terrorism analysis branch.

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"The new ONSA and NCTC complex boasts of office spaces, a world-class hall, conference rooms, team rooms, laboratories, an auditorium and an operations/crisis centre," he said.

In his goodwill message, the UN Resident Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, commended President Buhari and his government for championing the NCTC, saying "this is no doubt part of your legacy that will enable Nigeria continue to address domestic and regional security challenges'.'

Schmale, who was represented by Kimaris Toogood, Peace and Advisor, Office of the Resident Coordinator (UN Nigeria), also commended the progress made by the Nigerian military to degrade the operational capacity of Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram and to improve intelligence gathering on suspected terrorists.
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MCLA Considering Temporary Homeless Housing on Campus

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is considering turning the vacant Berkshire Towers dorm into a temporary homeless shelter.

President James Birge said on Friday that the college is considering a partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development that would supply needed housing for 50 homeless families.

"I look at the mission of the institution, and we talk about educating students to be responsible citizens," Birge said. "I think this models that mission."

Birge said residents would be mostly younger families. He assumed 50 families would generate 25 school-aged children in the Berkshire Towers.

He said the dorms would house residents, many of whom have been displaced and forced to leave the region.

"It brings people back to Berkshire County. Since I've been here, I've talked about how does this institution help to bring people to Berkshire County?" he said. "Ideally through students graduating and staying here, but this is one of the ways that we kind of bring Berkshire County people home at least temporarily."

Birge said there is no specific focus and other displaced families new to the commonwealth would be welcomed along with immigrants.

Gov. Maura Healey's recent supplemental spending bill represents a commitment to providing affordable housing, he said. Her administration has reached out to various state universities including MCLA.

He said Salem State University and Massachusetts Maritime Academy are already in the program.

"So I think it's more likely than not that we'll move forward with it," he said. "But again once we see an agreement we may have more questions."

This initiative was first discussed with MCLA's Board of Trustees in an Executive Session at the Nov. 17 meeting and then again at the board's Feb. 9 meeting. Since then, there have been conversations with city and school district officials around this potential partnership, said Birge.

Some of the nuances of the partnership have yet to be revealed to the college including a financial element. At this moment in time, Birge did not have a number.

"That building is empty because we're still emerging from the pandemic," he said. "There's a financial benefit to this."

He added that the lease would be for 18 months and the college would re-evaluate the agreement at that time. He assumed there would be an exit clause but noted it is probably something the college would be hesitant to activate.

MCLA's enrolment has decreased and currently, Berkshire Towers is empty and closed.

Birge said the decision to close the towers was less about decreased enrollment but triggered by students who wanted to be consolidated closer to the heart of the campus at Hoosac Hall and the Townhouses.

"We had students in all three resident areas. But they weren't completely filled," he said. "Students who have been living in Berkshire Towers the previous year had said, 'you know, we'd like to be over at Hoosac because it's close to dining, it's closer to the center of campus.' Even though it was across the street, it was far enough away for them that they felt like they had to go too far to get to the library."

What is a challenge for students makes the building a perfect fit for the program, said Birge who felt the dorm's distance from campus would offer privacy for families.

"This is a building that's across the street from campus, and it's really a self-contained facility," the president said. "It's an ideal location. I think if this were another facility on campus, I'm not sure I'd be supportive of that."

As for the college itself, Birge said there will be little impact.

Birge only had the "broad strokes" of the agreement but knew DHCD would partner with a service center, possibly ServiceNet out of Northampton. He said college dining services and security would not be impacted.

"They would actually operate the facility," he said. "They would operate it, and they would staff it. Although my hope is that there will be opportunities for MCLA students to do internships or volunteer work there."

Birge did underline that the relationship would be temporary. He was happy to say the college's enrollment has steadily increased with this most recent class 13 percent larger than the one prior. He also pointed to indicators within the application process that reflected positive trends, such as an increase in submitted applications of 10 percent.

But he did admit the college is still transitioning out of the pandemic and the proposed arrangement could be a benefit to all involved.

Birge did not have a clear timeline but anticipated, if the school were to go through with the agreement, that families could move in in the spring or early summer.

The decision is also his own.

"It's ultimately the administration's decision," he said. "I've kept the board informed of the things that we're doing, I had conversations with the mayor. But ultimately it's the decision of the president."

He said some elected officials have asked questions and Birge affirmed that he would be happy to arrange a meeting between the college and DHCD to go over the agreement.

But at the current state of play, Birge said the response has been mostly positive.

"We've had a very positive response from folks on campus, and we've had a lot of positive responses from community partners, and community agencies in the area," he said. "We've had a couple of individuals who've written to say this is a really bad idea. But at this point it really it's in single digits."

"It might change as more people read about it, and I certainly want to consider those things," he said. "But I also know institutions should do things that are aligned with their mission and they should be responsive to the needs of communities. That's the historic purpose of American higher education and right now our communities need these things."
-Chairman Morlu Tells CDCians

The Chairman of the Ruling Coalition for Democratic Change or CDC Mulbah K. Morlu has described the ongoing voters registration process as a revolutionary mandate that every citizen, particularly supporters, and partisans of the CDC must follow to give president Weah a first-round victory.

"Voters' registration is a revolutionary mandate that needs to be fulfilled by every CDCians especially those that are eligible to vote," he said.

Chairman Morlu made the call on Monday, March 20, at the CDC headquarters in oldest Congo Town at the program marking the official launching ceremony of the voters' registration process.

"We believe in the resilience and commitment of our partisans because the most important people in the CDC are not the officials but the common people in the communities," he adds.

"We want to encourage every one of you to take advantage of this exercise," he said adding, "if we must ensure that President Weah gets reelected, we must all register to vote."

According to him, obtaining a voter registration card is a mandate that every CDCian must execute, nothing that the CDC has a structure that is headed by its standard bearer, county leaders, Zoner heads.

"We are not taking second chances. This country is on the right trajectory and as such we must continue this path by ensuring that president Weah gets reelected.

Weah's second term is a legacy term. The place this country is going, it will surely get there, and we depend on you to make this a reality," said Morlu.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Redemption Democratic Congress urged CDCians to take advantage of the voters' registration process to elect president Weah for a second term.

Changed Democratic Action (CDA) political leader Rev: Nicely explained that his party joined the CDC to end the process that began in 2017.

Robert Sammy, chairman of the Movement for Economic Empowerment or MOVEE, said if President Weah must be retained as president, there is a need for citizens to take advantage of the voters' registration process.

Since the foundation of this country, this is the first time for 9 political parties to gather-this alone sends a message that the CDC is up for serious business.
analysis

You can't replace fossil fuels with renewables like swapping out a battery. The Global North will also have to drastically reduce its energy use.

On 20 March, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that the window to keep warming below 1.5 degrees was rapidly closing. Still, the panel's chair Hoesung Lee insisted that the solutions we need are "already available". "Lowering demand for carbon intensive goods and services," he stressed, "is a particularly promising way to reduce emissions."

Lee reiterated what the IPCC reported last year, when it argued that emissions in all sectors can be reduced by 50-80% using a "demand-side strategy". Put simply, this means that the world can and - if it is to mitigate the most devastating effects of climate change - must use a lot less energy. More specifically, given that the world's richest 10% are responsible for half of all emissions, the Global North must change its energy-hungry habits. More efficient technologies can help with some of this, but cannot account for the sheer volume of reductions needed. What this means is that, whether they mean to or not, the IPCC has set itself up for a confrontation with the capitalist class.

Wealth gives its holder the power to command vast swaths of land, labour, and energy without any democratic input. The world's wealthy travel great distances, heat and cool large homes, eat land-hungry foods like beef and pork, buy piles of consumer goods forged in oil-fuelled factories, and invest their capital in polluting industries, which creates even more wealth.

It should be no surprise, then, that climate change is largely the fault of the rich. In 2019, the bottom 50% of the world's population emitted a mere 12% of global carbon emissions. As the eco-socialist writer Andreas Malm puts it: "The grotesque concentration of resources for burning at the top of the human pyramid is a scourge for all living beings; an effective climate policy would be the total expropriation of the top 1 to 10 per cent."

Rather than confront this extraordinary inequality, politicians in the Global North promise that nothing much needs to change. In 2021, for instance, US President Joe Biden drove a massive electric pickup truck to promote his decarbonisation plan, perhaps hoping to appeal to centrist suburban voters. Activists around the world noticed. In the "Manifesto for an Ecosocial Energy Transition from the Peoples of the South" recently released by a network of groups from the Global South, the signatories critique this market-based "decarbonisation of the rich".

The groups point out that many leaders in the Global North want to make only marginal changes to their economies - trading gasoline-powered cars in for electric ones, for example - and are willing to foist "a new colonialism" onto countries of the Global South to ensure the natural resources they need for the transition are supplied cheaply. As the manifesto argues, the "imperative to move beyond fossil fuels without any significant reduction in consumption in the North", or any change at all in the capitalist system, will not only lead to poverty for much of the world, but continued environmental destruction.

The realities of the energy transition - repeatedly outlined by the IPCC - make it clear that lives in the Global North must change. The world cannot simply trade out the fossil fuel energy system and replace it with renewables like one would a set of batteries. Expecting everything else to remain the same is a form of science denial.

Take aviation, a major source of carbon inequality. Airlines and governments in the North are firm that reducing the number of flights is out of the question. Instead, they claim that they will simply replace kerosene with green fuels.

This plan falls apart on any closer inspection. In theory, you could use green electricity to make carbon-neutral synthetic jet fuel and use this to power all flights from the UK. However, the energy needed for this would be more than double the country's entire electricity generation in 2021. An alternative would be to grow land-hungry biofuels. If this were the plan, the UK would have to repurpose two-thirds of its croplands to allow a fraction of the population to fly.

Apart from plans that don't add up or technologies yet to be invented, capital's preferred solution to global heating is to put a price on carbon emissions. Mainstream economists think of climate change as an "externality" or unintended consequence not included in the price tag. The idea is that if we were to pay for the real costs of climate change when we buy, say, gasoline, the price would be a lot higher, and the market would solve the problem.

While putting a price on carbon, either through a tax or cap-and-trade regulations, could shift some patterns, it would leave inequality unaddressed. Moreover, a carbon tax assumes the private sector will do all the work of decarbonisation, ignoring the central role of public provisions like mass transit systems. In the Global North, the rich will continue their extraordinary consumption, while the poor, without assistance, will see skyrocketing prices for their daily commutes.

A fairer solution is to decide collectively, through democratic mechanisms like citizens assemblies, how much we are willing to take from nature - for instance, the number of zero-carbon flights we can afford, the amount of meat we can stomach, and the kind of electricity we generate - and then distribute those resources equally.

Such an approach would ensure we stay within our fast-disappearing carbon budget and that it is allocated fairly. This may seem radical, but we already live in a world of rationing in which people's rights to emit are strictly proscribed. The only difference is that today this system is based on wealth. Why should Northern corporate lawyer get to fly across continents every few weeks, while 640 million Africans can't even turn on a light?

The green transition, though, is about more than aviation or cars. We need to think about individuals' overall energy use and work out quotas that are feasible if we are to limit climate change. The exact number can be debated, but one good target is proposed by the 2,000-Watt society. This brainchild of Switzerland's Federal Institute of Technology proposes that people's annual consumption of energy around the world should converge on 2,000W per person per year. This target would see the consumption of the rich significantly contract and the consumption of the poor significantly increase.

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In 2021, an average US citizen used 9,000W, a German 5,000W, and a Nigerian just 300W (though enormous inequality also exists within countries). In a 2,000W world, the lifestyles of the highest emitters would have to change, but most of humanity would be better off in absolute terms. Scientists have also put forward other proposals to how we can provide decent living to ten billion people in 2050 all while using 60% less energy than today - they too take an axe to many forms of bourgeois consumption.

The causes of the environmental crisis are not mysterious and, as the IPCC recently reiterated, nor are the solutions. The challenge for humanity this century is to provide a material basis for flourishing to all people on this planet - including clean energy, stable housing, healthy food, and the ability to participate in meaningful democratic control of the economic forces which govern our lives - while maintaining healthy ecosystems and a stable climate, for the good of humans and non-humans alike.

How we overcome global capital may not be fully clear, but it is clear that building a better world will require solidarity across borders. In these alliances, activists from the North cannot avoid questions of inequality nor the demands of their counterparts in the South.

Drew Pendergrass is a PhD student in environmental engineering at Harvard University and co-author of the book Half-Earth Socialism, along with historian Troy Vettese.
Since the announcement of mandatory SIM registration last year, many have been confused about what is it for and why is it important for us Filipinos.

Home Credits #SIMguradoAko campaign aims to support the government in pushing for SIM Registration

Surely, you have read some articles, heard radio commercials, and even seen TV ads encouraging you to go to your telcos website or app and register your SIM. Still, you and your friends refuse to comply with the government mandate thinking how something as simple as an unregistered SIM can disrupt our lives.

In this article, we will tell you why it is relevant and what will happen if you fail to register your SIM before the April 26 deadline.

Your SIM will get deactivated

Yes, the very SIM you use to text and call your loved ones when times are tough, the SIM that contains the number you use to send and receive money, pay bills or make other transactions through mobile apps will get deactivated. As mobile phones become more valuable and intertwined with everyday life, so do SIM cards.

But what does it mean to have your SIM deactivated? This means youll entirely lose your prepaid load balance and receiving OTPs for e-wallet and bank transactions would be impossible.

Receiving updates from the government on your benefits, loans, etc. is another problem. You might need to contact each agency and undergo a long process to update your contact details. Also, following up and hearing back from your employment application can be more than tricky. Just imagine applying to your dream job only to lose your slot because your future employer cannot reach you.

Having your SIM deactivated means you will become unreachable not only to your bank but to your contacts list as well. Colleagues, friends, and family who contact you using that SIM number wont be able to do so once that SIM gets deactivated.

So no incoming nor outgoing calls. You wont be able to send or receive messages either.

Your broadband and prepaid SIM-powered mobile internet will not work

If you have been using or recently bought prepaid internet, you might wonder why its not working even after powering it up several times, loading the SIM, and reading and rereading the manual, even doing a little troubleshooting to make sure you started it correctly. The answer is this: your new SIM is not yet activated.

As existing SIMs need to be registered, so do the ones youre going to buy. Likewise, existing SIMs used for internet have to be registered or you risk rendering it useless.

You will have problem accessing your online accounts

Most of us use our contact numbers as login details on our social media accounts. In any case you logged out of your account or need to log in to a separate device, it will be troublesome for you to receive OTPs for two-way verification authentication.

Yes, youre sure to come up with a workaround for these. However, it will require you to go through a long process to resolve this issue.

You can try contacting the applications help center and prove to them your identity through a series of authentication documents. You could also try personally going to the offices of these platforms. Or you can just register your SIM to avoid these hassles altogether.

Fighting security and data breach

Security and data breach are the top concerns of Filipinos about SIM registration, especially with the rising incidence of text and other mobile-related scams.

Interestingly, these  security and data breach -- are the very same issues the SIM Registration Law wishes to address. It aims to minimize the risk of users falling victim to scams perpetrated through calls, texts, and online messages. It hopes to make device owners more accountable and responsible users of technology. The law likewise hopes to lessen the occurrence of crimes and make it easier to track down perpetrators of cybercrimes and fraud.

#SIMguradoAko, Register now!

When youre ready to register, simply go to your telcos registration website, input your info, upload government ID and selfie, wait for the SMS confirmation and thats it! You have now registered your SIM.

Reaffirming its commitment to be every Filipinos partner Para Sa Life, Home Credit Philippines is urging everyone to register their SIM cards to comply with the SIM Registration Act through the #SIMguradoAko campaign, to help protect Filipinos against text and other phone-related scams.

Through its Wais sa Home initiative, the countrys leading consumer finance company has been actively campaigning against cyber fraud such as phishing, pharming, and spoofing to protect its customers.

In line with its goal of promoting financial literacy and education, Home Credit aims to raise awareness on the basics of saving and budgeting and wise financial management. Amid the widening adoption of e-commerce, it encourages Filipinos to be digitally wise in investing and using the right money apps and to protect themselves against online risks and scams.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see whats new in the Marketplace.
analysis

Noni Jabavu was the first black South African woman to publish memoirs and one of the first African women to pursue a literary career abroad. She left the country as a teenager to pursue an education and returned intermittently throughout her life. She returned to South Africa in 1977 to research her father's biography. Some of her best known work became the witty, insightful and politically charged columns she wrote for the Daily Dispatch newspaper. But this pioneering figure had been all but forgotten until writer and academic Makhosazana Xaba and historian Athambile Masola focused their attention on her life and work. Now they have released a book of Jabavu's columns, called Noni Jabavu: A Stranger at Home. We asked Masola about the writer.

Who was Noni Jabavu?

Noni Jabavu was born in 1919 in Alice, the then-Cape province of South Africa. South Africa had become the Union of South Africa in 1910 and the devastating Native Land Act was passed in 1913 which exacerbated the displacement of Africans in the region. She was the eldest daughter of Florence Thandiswa Jabavu (born Makiwane) and Don Davidson Tengo Jabavu. Her mother was one of the pioneers of the Zenzele self-help groups for women in rural areas. Her parents were prominent figures who often appeared in newspapers and public platforms.

Her father was a politician, writer, and academic at Fort Hare College (present day University of Fort Hare). The college was extremely important as a space for black thinkers and African leaders. She comes from a network of families who were the pioneers in African modernity through their links at Lovedale, Healdtown, Fort Hare and travels abroad. These early intellectuals, teachers, and journalists shaped the cultural exchange as early recipients of missionary education while holding onto African traditions.

She left South Africa aged 13 for Mount School, a girls boarding school in York, England. She writes about this departure in her columns where she meets Jan Smuts whom she describes as "Oom Jan". It is at his house where she meets Arthur Gillet and Margaret Clarke who would be her guardians while she is abroad. In her columns she explains that her family in England were "English tycoons, upper class, bankers, industrialists, conservative liberals". She remained in England and studied further until her education was disrupted by World War II. It was also during this period where she worked for the BBC radio. In 1941 she married her first husband and a year later gave birth to her daughter Tembi.

Her literary career began while she was in England when her first memoir, Drawn in Colour, was published in 1960. The success of this publication precipitated her appointment as the editor of the New Strand, a literary magazine published in London. This made her the first woman and black person to hold this position in 1961. Her appointment was so significant that she was featured in Ebony Magazine. An Italian translation of the book was published in 1962, further demonstrating an interest in her work. In 1963 her second memoir was published, The Ochre People. Throughout her life she lived in Uganda, Jamaica, Kenya, Zimbabwe to mention a few. In writing she explains the effects of her transnational life on her life as a writer. She returned to South Africa in 2002 and passed away in 2008 while living at the Lynette Elliott Frail Care Home in East London.

Why is she important?

Noni Jabavu's life is significant because she was a pioneer writer both in South Africa and abroad during the 1960s. Much of her adult life was spent traversing the world, making her part of a network of transnational writers. She crafted a literary career which was unusual for women in the 1960s. Her career inspired the likes of Margaret Busby (editor of Daughters of Africa who became the first black woman to enter publishing as a career in London. On one of her visits home to work on her father's biography, Jabavu began writing for the Daily Dispatch. She contributed 49 columns to the Daily Dispatch. Her readers were varied and openly shocked by the cheekiness and forthright opinions she held in her columns. They were particularly fascinated by her unconventional love life and the friends she mentioned in her columns. Nineteen seventy-seven was a tumultuous year in South Africa with the 1976 student uprising and the death of Steve Biko in 1977.

How did you come to be interested in her columns?

We were both working on long term projects on Noni Jabavu. Makhosazana Xaba began working on Noni Jabavu while she was pursuing her Masters in Creative Writing in 2006. I began my research in 2017 and much of my research is possible because of Makhosazana Xaba's work. Many people became increasingly interested in our work but it was frustrating that both her memoirs were out of print. It seemed that one of the ways of addressing this was to garner interest around a collection of her columns which would hopefully ensure that there would be a renewed interest in her work. The columns also presented a different genre to the memoirs she was known for.

What does she address in the columns?

Jabavu's columns present a variety of themes ranging from the political commentary of the 1970s, to a nostalgia of the life she missed out on as someone who had lived abroad since she was 13 when she left for boarding school in England. She writes about the everyday concerns of a black woman living with apartheid in columns such as "Getting used to colour again", and "The Special Branch Call". She addresses the absurdity of apartheid head on. Her columns are also quirky and playful with reference to her love life which her readers are curious about. In "Why I'm not marrying" she responds to readers who "ask me in friendship rather than enmity to tell you more about my personal love life, I respond. Nothing in it to hide".

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Why do her columns matter today?

This collection is historic. Jabavu had planned to compile such a book herself as she shared in a letter to a friend, but this didn't happen. These columns demonstrate that Noni Jabavu's concerns from 1970s are still relevant today. Her family's friendships with politicians such as Jan Smuts as well as upper class English peers complicates how we think about our history and the nature of friendships and race relations. Her frankness about not wanting to marry again is reflective in many women's choices today who choose not to marry and pursue their careers and friendships instead.

Read more: Juby Mayet, legendary South African writer and journalist, remembered through new book

By reintroducing her to a new audience almost 50 years since the columns were published the collection also poses questions about who is remembered and why. This collection is a restorative project in response to the erasure of black women's writing. Only one of Jabavu's book was published in South Africa in 1982 (The Ochre People). This is only the second. These gaps in our knowledge of black women's intellectual labour need to be addressed in order to have a better sense of our history.

The book is available from NB Publishers

Athambile Masola, Lecturer, University of Cape Town
GrabCar is finally in Iloilo! Thanks to the support of Iloilos Local Government executives, business communities, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), passengers and travelers can now experience safe, reliable, convenient, and sulit rides as Grab officially launches its ride-hailing service in Iloilo. Covering key cities and municipalities such as Cabatuan, Santa Barbara, San Miguel, and Iloilo City, GrabCar will surely delight every Ilonggo and Iloilo visitor yearning for comfortable, bang-for-buck rides as they go around the Heart of the Philippines.

[L-R] Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera-Cruz, Iloilo City District Representative Jam Baronda and LTFRB Region 6 Director Richard Osmena spearhead the official launch of GrabCar in Iloilo

GrabCar offers the perfect mobility boost for all Ilonggos looking for comfortable, sulit rides that suit their daily commute, errands, and travels. With its intuitive and efficient technology, GrabCar will complement Iloilos vibrant transport ecosystem  meeting the mobility needs of every Ilonggo and visiting travelers.

As more TNVS licenses are made available in Iloilo, GrabCar is ready to service the sprawling Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector, which employs an estimated 40,000 workforce. The regions robust university landscape, solid agricultural industry, and other fast-rising industries are positioned as well to benefit from the safety, convenience and value-for-money delivered by GrabCar.

Apart from this, the launch of GrabCar in Iloilo is poised to support the boom of travel in the region. Travelers can conveniently satisfy their wanderlust as they go from one Ilonggo landmark to another. With these places of interest now covered by the expanded GrabCar services, visitors can take their time while immersing in Ilonggo culture and heritage.

Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz shares:

The everyday Filipino commuter deserves transportation options that are safe, reliable and convenient  and we are honored to offer such service here in Iloilo. We are thankful to be working with local government units and regulators like the LTFRB who actively engage with us to come up with solutions that make life easier and more convenient for our kababayans. To our dear kababayans in Iloilo  ari na kami! Salamat po sa inyong suporta! We are glad to bring you to your destinations with the best ride-hailing experience possible.

Grab Philippines established its presence in Iloilo with the launch of GrabFood in 2019. The addition of GrabCar allows the leading superapp to complement perfectly the lifestyle of digital natives in the region. Consumers just need to download the Grab app on the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or Huawei AppGallery to enjoy the convenience and efficiency it offers for both mobility and on-demand delivery.
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North Korea says it has tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone that can set off a super-scale radioactive tsunami" to decimate naval fleets and ports of the enemy.

The objective of the "secret weapon" is to infiltrate enemy waters and create an underwater explosion that will trigger tsunami waves, destroying naval strike groups and coastline targets including major ports, the state news agency KCNA said on Friday.

And while Pyongyangs latest claims were met with scepticism by defence experts, they underline the Kim Jong-un regimes commitment to developing a range of means to carry out a nuclear attack.

North Korea said it conducted the tests from 21-23 March, deploying it off the coast of Riwon County of South Hamgyong Province on Tuesday.

The drone cruised for over 59 hours, forming oval and figure-of-eight patterns at a depth of 80 to 150 metres, it said.

It was detonated under a mock enemy port off Hongwon Bay between the east coast cities of Hamhung and Sinpho.

The test verified its reliability and safety and fully confirmed its lethal strike capability, according to KCNA.

This is the first time North Korea has made claims about developing the underwater stealth weapon, saying it began the development of the weapon system in 2012.

In total, KCNA claimed that Mr Kim oversaw 29 tests of the weapon, which has been named the "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft Haeil  a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis.

The first pictures published in the countrys official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed Mr Kim admiringly looking at a large torpedo-shaped object at an unspecified indoor facility.

Another picture purportedly showed an underwater explosion triggering a huge pillar of water that exploded up into the air, and a third showed an object moving below the oceans surface.

A photo released by KCNA purports to show the test of North Koreas underwater nuclear attack drone, in the waters off the coast of Riwon County (EPA/KCNA)

North Korea said the tests were aimed at alerting the US and allies to a brewing nuclear crisis as they continue with their intentional, persistent and provocative war drills.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said Pyongyangs claims about the new underwater drone weapon system should be met with scepticism.

But it is clearly intended to show that the Kim regime has so many different means of nuclear attack that any preemptive or decapitation strike against it would fail disastrously.

Ankit Panda, a nuclear weapons specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, also raised questions over the Norths claims.

I tend to take North Korea seriously, but cant rule out the possibility that this is an attempt at deception/psyop ((psychological operations).

This un-crewed underwater vehicle will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Koreas coastal waters. It will also be susceptible to preemptive strikes when in port, said Mr Panda.

The three-day-long exercises overseen by Mr Kim also included launches of four cruise missiles tipped with a test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead on Wednesday.

North Korean military launched two Hwasal-1-type strategic cruise missiles and two Hwasal-2-type strategic cruise missiles from four different locations.

The missiles accurately hit the target set in the East Sea of Korea after flying... distance[s] of 1500km and 1800km, state media said.

It said the drill verified once again the operational reliability of nuclear explosion control devices and detonators by applying the mid-air-explosion (600 meters above the target) strike mode to two different missiles.

Tensions are high in the Korean peninsula with the US ramping up its military presence and drills in the region alongside allies South Korea and Japan, accelerating a cycle of tit-for-tat responses.

The US and South Korea finished an 11-day exercise that included their biggest field training in years on Thursday and are preparing another round of joint naval drills that will reportedly involve a US aircraft carrier.

The US is reportedly planning to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula, which is expected to spark a reaction from Pyongyang.

On Friday, the South Korean president  who has pledged a hardline approach toward the North  vowed to make Pyongyang pay for its reckless provocations as he attended a remembrance service honouring 55 South Korean troops killed during major clashes with the North near their western sea border in recent years.

Yoon Suk-yeol said North Korea is advancing its nuclear weapons by the day, and carrying out missile provocations with an unprecedented intensity during the West Sea Defence Day.

North Korea has fired over 20 ballistic and cruise missiles across 10 launch events this year, including the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile last Thursday.
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A US Navy destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea and sparked yet another confrontation between the US and China for the second day in a row.

The first confrontation occurred on Thursday when the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer sailed near the group of islands.

On Friday, the ship was spotted again in the vicinity of the islands, as part of a freedom of navigation operation challenging requirements from China, Taiwan,and Vietnam, that require advance notification or permission before a military vessel can pass through.

All three nations lay claim to the strategic waterway.

China said on Friday that the USs actions violate its sovereignty and security and said its navy and air force had forced the American vessel away, something the US military has denied. Beijing also warned the US of serious consequences.

The latest incident comes as tensions between the US and China have plumetted to new lows.

The United States challenges excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the identity of the claimant, said US 7th Fleet spokesman Luka Bakic.

Chinas Ministry of National Defense responded by accusing the US of undermining the peace and stability of the South China Sea.

The act of the US military seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and security, severely breached international laws, and is more ironclad evidence of the US pursuing navigation hegemony and militarizing the South China Sea, ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said.

He said China will take all necessary measures to ensure security, but did not elaborate further.

In recent years, China has become increasingly assertive in the region, prompting the US to push back.

The issue has been a source of tension between the two nations for long. The other problems the countries have bickered about include Taiwans independence, human rights accusations against China and the origins of the Covid pandemic.

Recently, a Chinese balloon the US accused China of using for surveillance, was shot down by the former, leading to a further strain in tensions.

The US maintains its actions in the South China Sea are justified under international law.

The operation reflects our commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea for all nations, Mr Bakic said.

The South China Sea is an important waterway for global trade, with around $5 trillion in trade passing through each year. Additionally, the area holds valuable fish stocks and undersea mineral resources.

Chinas claims to the region have frequently brought it into conflict with other nations, including the Philippines. Filipino diplomats recently protested Chinas aggressive behaviour, including targeting a Philippine coast guard ship with a powerful military laser.

The US has been present in the South China Sea for more than a century and its forces currently operate there daily.

In 2016, a UN-backed arbitration tribunal ruled that Chinas historical claim to the waters had no legal basis under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Seas.

Tensions between the US and China continue to escalate in the region despite the ruling.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Russia is reneging on its weapon delivery commitments to India as arms supplies have hit a roadblock due to the war in Ukraine, according to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The comments seem to be the first sign that India could recalibrate its dependency on Russia amid continuing border challenges it faces from its nuclear neighbours Pakistan and China.

The IAF told a committee of Indias lower house in parliament in a statement published on Tuesday that Russia had scheduled a major delivery this year, without specifying what this delivery was.

India is the worlds biggest buyer of Russian arms, accounting for around 20 per cent of Moscows current order book and since 2018, the Narendra Modi government has signed a range of deals with Russia to import its air-defence missile systems, warships and assault rifles.

That same year, a 4.4bn agreement was signed to procure five S-400 Triumf air defence system units. Three of these systems of the ongoing order have been delivered and two more are awaited.

India deployed its first S-400 air missile defence system near the Pakistan border while a second one was deployed along the Line of Actual Control, or the border it shares with China.

The statement said there was a major project... where the deliveries have been stopped because of the war going on.

The supply shortfall has forced the Indian military to slash its projected capital expenditure on modernisation for the financial year ending March 2024 by nearly a third compared to the last fiscal year because of this Russia-Ukraine war.

They have given us in writing that they are not able to deliver it, an IAF representative told the Standing Committee on Defence, without specifying details.

That is why the major part of projection has been reduced, the representative further said.

Analysts said this first acknowledgement of the issue poses serious questions for India-Russia ties in the future and might force one of Moscows closest partners to rethink them.

As far as projection is concerned, our projection last year was INR 850,000m (844m) and we finally got an allocation of INR 750,000m (745m) which we consumed, said the statement.

This year, the projection itself has been less because of this Russia-Ukraine war as some of our deliveries are not taking place, an IAF representative told the parliament.

People walk past Russian S-400 missile air defence systems before a military parade in Volgograd in 2018 (Reuters)

A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Delhi told Reuters: We dont have information which may confirm the stated.

The Indian militarys acknowledgement of Russias failure to deliver on its arms order is significant because of Delhis strong ties with Moscow dating back to the Cold War era.

It is one of the factors behind Indias neutral stance on Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine.

Interestingly, the same statement by the IAF representative clearly mentions: Both, Russia and Ukraine are delivering things to us.

Delhi remains heavily dependent on the Kremlin for its military equipment  a vital link given the continuing border tensions between India and an increasingly assertive China.

India has called for ceasefire and a resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, despite pressure from Western countries to join the sanctions route against the Kremlin.

What a strategic disaster for India to have sided with Russia a year ago, said Bruno Macaes, a non-resident associate at Carnegie Europe.

This is the first public acknowledgement of the issue by India, Harsh V Pant, professor at Kings College London told The Independent, adding that there have been concerns for some time in Delhi.

For India, it is a major challenge because of the heavy reliance that it has on Russia and it poses serious questions about Indias operational preparedness as there is a live border with China and how Russian and Chinese relations are growing, he said.

He said there have been concerns over Russias actions amid the war and its closeness with China.

If Russia is not able to live up to the image of being Indias biggest and most reliable defence partner, many in India will raise questions that what is this partnership for and public pressure on Indias response to it will increase as the issue which was behind closed doors is [now] out in open, he said.

The IAF statement also comes amid Russias growing frustration over Ukraines weapons supplies from its allies as Mr Putins invasion drags on to the second year and Western sanctions have begun to show an affect on Russias economy.

Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, said last month in its assessment that Ukraine has significantly depleted Russian equipment and manpower reserves necessary to sustain a successful large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Mr Pant said Russias war is certainly having a impact on what Moscow is able to do for its partner and itself.

It will force many of Russias defence partners to rethink their relationship with Moscow. India was doing it in terms of its diversification [of military equipment] in last decades but the process will get accelerated, he said.

A new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a think tank which studies conflict, weapon sales and disarmament, said India has been the worlds largest importer of weapons since 1993 and tensions with Pakistan and China largely drive its demand for arms imports.

Russia was the largest supplier of arms to India in both 201317 and 201822, but its share of total Indian arms imports fell from 64 per cent to 45 per cent, said the think tanks latest report.

Russia remains Indias top weapon exporter even as purchases were cut.
Indias opposition suffered a major blow on Friday when Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from parliament after being convicted of defamation for insulting prime minister Narendra Modi.

Gandhi, 52, was sentenced to two years in prison in Gujarat on Thursday over a speech in 2019 in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi.

He is expected to appeal against the verdict. I am fighting for the voice of India, I am ready to pay any cost, he tweeted after his disqualification.
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Security threats including graffiti reading Death to the King convinced Emmanuel Macron to postpone King Charless state visit to France, it has emerged, amid nationwide strikes and violent protests.

The macabre message was left by protesters rioting against the French presidents decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Nightly riots were expected to intensify if the King went ahead with his trip to Paris on Sunday as planned.

The three-day visit with Camilla, the Queen Consort, was to be Charless first trip abroad since becoming King.

Firefighters battled blazes in Paris after rioters set uncollected rubbish alight (AFP via Getty)

The decision came as:

Protesters scrawled Charles III do you know the guillotine? in Paris

Mr Macron said delaying the visit was common sense

Fears were raised over dangerous royal handshakes

450 were arrested after nationwide demonstrations

Violence peaked after coordinated rallies and strikes across France, which crippled travel and public services and saw rioters set fire to piles of uncollected rubbish. In Bordeaux, protesters set the historic city hall alight. There were more protests on Friday, with the port of Marseille blockaded for several hours and debris littering the streets of Paris.

I think it would not be responsible and would lack some common sense if we invited His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort for a state visit in the midst of the demonstrations, Mr Macron said.

So, out of friendship, respect and esteem for His Majesty the King and Queen Consort, and for the British people, I took the initiative this morning to call and tell him what the situation was.

Death to the King graffiti at the Place de la Concorde in Paris (Peter Allen)

Bordeaux city hall was set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet (Reuters)

Senior politicians including Mr Macron had received threats evoking the historical use of the guillotine to execute Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette  the last rightful king and queen of France.

The words Death to the King appeared in graffiti in several locations, including at the Place de la Concorde  the central Paris square where the royal pair were killed in 1793. Another message near the French parliament read: Charles III do you know the guillotine?

Elite officers from the SDLP (Frances Protection Service) feared that Charless habit of impromptu handshakes and mingling with crowds would present too big a risk, according to a security source.

There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed, said the source.

The King and Queen Consort greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found, Buckingham Palace said.

The monarchs trip next week with his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, was to be his first abroad since becoming King (The Times)

Mr Macron suggested that a new date for the couples visit to France would be arranged in early summer.

The delay is a major humiliation for Mr Macron, especially as the royal couples visit to Germany next week will go ahead as planned.

Eric Ciotti, leader of the conservative Republicans party in France, said the chaotic security situation was a national embarrassment. What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state, he said.

Left-wing firebrand MP and former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon portrayed Mr Macron as a monarch, saying he was delighted to see the meeting of kings at Versailles broken up by popular censorship.

Raquel Garrido, another left-wing MP, said she hoped Mr Macron would now resign, saying: Two kings were set to meet at Versailles  one down, one to go.

Emmanuel Macron is facing widespread criticism in France for his move on retirement age ( MICHEL EULER / Contributor)

Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau, who had called for the cancellation of the state visit, said: Its good that its been postponed; it was madness to make this visit in the middle of a social conflict of historic proportions.

To go and eat at Versailles, to drive down the Champs-Elysees  nothing was going to go well. The protesters were not going to roll out the red carpet for the King.

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said 123 police personnel and gendarmes had been injured during widespread violence and rioting on Thursday night alone. He said 12,000 members of the security forces had been deployed nationwide, with 5,000 of these stationed in Paris.
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King Charles has been forced to postpone his state visit to France as police and protesters continue to clash over president Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms.

The monarchs three-day trip with his wife Camilla, Queen Consort from Sunday was set to be his first abroad after becoming King - but it is being rescheduled following the announcement of more widespread protests.

The French feared the security of the King could not be guaranteed because of his interest in mingling with crowds, according to security sources in Paris, after a crack team of officers from the SDLP Protection Service unit rigorously studied the monarchs profile.

The King and Queen Consort greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found, Buckingham Palace said on Friday morning.

The monarchs trip next week with his wife Camilla, Queen Consort was set to be his first abroad after becoming king (James Glossop/The Times)

Mr Macron suggested the new date for the Kings visit to France would be in the early summer.

The news comes after the historic Bordeaux city hall in France was set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet against President Macrons controversial attempts to push through reforms to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.

Protesters march during a rally in Paris on Thursday (AP)

Protesters gathered outside the Palais Rohan cheered as a part of the building went up in flames, one of a number of incidents of vandalism and violence across the country on Thursday evening after a day of largely peaceful strike action.

Upwards of one million people are reported to have taken part in protests and marches across France on Thursday as part of the ninth round of union-organised demonstrations, which have taken place since January. Building on the strong turnout, unions have called for fresh protests in the coming days.

Protesters clash with police officers during a demonstration in Lyon, central France (AP)

A source who was involved in the planning of four days of events across France said security became aware of the Kings habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could. There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed.

Confirming the postponed visit earlier, a government spokesperson said: The King and Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed. This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.

It is understood new dates for the visit will be confirmed shortly.

Bordeaux City Hall in France was set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet (Reuters)

Sir Peter Westmacott, a former British ambassador to France, said he could not think of any precedent after the Kings first state visit of his reign was postponed.

He told BBC Radio 4s World at One programme that he was not entirely surprised at the decision, but agreed it was a big deal.

He said that he expected the King to be disappointed about the decision, given his fondness for the country.

A protester holds a placard that reads destitution of the cursed poet during a rally in Paris on Thursday (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Mr Macron told a press conference that common sense and friendship led to the detestable decision.

President Macrons popularity is at an all-time low as he faces the biggest domestic crisis of his second term in office. There have been eight straight nights of rioting, with arson attacks on areas which were due to be visited by Charles.

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, greeting the President of France Emmanuel Macron (right) in 2021 (PA)

Around 119,000 people marched through Paris on Thursday, according to data from the countrys Interior Ministry. The General Confederation of Labour, however, claimed the number to be much higher, at 800,000.

Around 80 people were arrested by police and 123 police personnel and gendarmes were injured amid widespread violence and rioting, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Thursday evening. He said 12,000 security forces had been deployed on Thursday, with 5,000 of these stationed in Paris.

The state visit was set to begin on Sunday and to include a ride along the Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris and a banquet at Versailles with President Emmanuel Macron, culminating in a visit to Bordeaux on Tuesday.

The trip, which was to be followed by a state visit to Germany, had been in the planning by the UK and host nations for months, aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and its continental neighbours.

Riot police scuffle with protesters during a rally in Paris on Thursday (AP)

French labour union CGT union announced this week that its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing flags, red carpets and furniture for public buildings, would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris.

In a statement, the Elysee Palace said: In light of yesterdays announcement of a new national day of action against pension reforms on Tuesday, March 28, in France, the visit of King Charles III, originally scheduled for March 26 to 29 in our country, will be postponed.

This decision was taken by the French and British governments after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the King this morning, in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III in conditions that correspond to our friendly relationship.

This state visit will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
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Prince William surprised unsuspecting patrons at the Butero Bistro in Poland when he stopped in for some food on Wednesday night.

The Prince of Wales dined at the Warsaw restaurant, which is described as a queer space with comfort food, alongside Kensington Palace staff during his trip to Poland, where he met with British and Polish troops stationed near the Ukrainian border.

Pictures taken at Butero showed the prince dressed casually in a button-down shirt while sitting at a table with palace staff, as one restaurant worker leaned in to take Williams order. According to the Daily Mail, the royal ordered a 7.50 ($9.22) Kanapka w chace, or a Polish sandwich with pulled pork, served with fries and garlic mayo.

A source told the outlet that Prince William had asked to join Kensington Palace staff for dinner at a local restaurant they had booked nearby. Speaking to the Daily Mail, restaurant owner Pawe Zasim said they had absolutely no idea the prince was coming.

We had a table booked for 12 people under the name of Daisy, Zasim said. But then a bodyguard appeared and said that this wasnt going to be a Daisy birthday party and then Prince William walked in.

They said they had a good time, they spent three hours here with the other guests that were already here, Zasim added. He ate our sandwich in a braided roll with pulled pork. And he ate everything so I think he liked it.

Butero Bistro is advertised online as a queer space with comfort food. Since its opening last November, the Warsaw restaurant has organised karaoke nights for local drag queens, and promotes itself as a LGBT+ friendly establishment. A neon rainbow sign sits outside the restaurant, while its logo is made up of the colours of the rainbow.

Prince William dines with patrons at the Butero Bistro in Warsaw, Poland (ewa_wysocka)

The conservative government of Poland has made the eastern European country one of the least LGBT+ friendly countries in the European Union.

According to a 2022 ILGA-Europe report, Poland does not recognise same-sex marriage, and the report warns that an increasing number of Polish LGBTQ people are leaving the country as the political situation continues to worsen.

A source told the Daily Mail: It is valuable that he supported the community so abused by the current authorities in Poland.

While the royal family has yet to make an official statement about Prince Williams visit to the queer-inclusive restaurant, many fans saw the moment as a kind gesture and a subtle statement against Polands anti-LGBT+ ideology.

We love an ally, said one person on Twitter.

He is making a statement against the Polish anti-LGBTQ laws, said someone else.

The Warsaw restaurant where Prince William dined on Wednesday night has since made an unofficial shrine to mark the royals visit. In a video posted to Buteros Instagram page on Thursday, an employee is seen taping a DIY sign with the words Prince William to the back of the chair in which he sat less than one day ago.

We are surprised too, but where else would he feel nice and safe than in our queer and loving space? the restaurant captioned their Instagram post, per a translation. We did what we do best  we fed. And the rest is history.

Throughout the years, Prince William has often vocalised his support for the LGBT+ community.

In 2016, the now-Prince of Wales made history as the first member of the royal family to be photographed for the cover of a gay magazine. While posing on the July 2016 cover of Attitude, one of the UKs leading gay magazines, Prince William used the article to highlight issues of homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying and the enduring mental health consequences of LGBT+-phobic speech.

The Prince of Wales arrived in Poland on Wednesday to show Britains support for the countrys frontline efforts in helping refugees displaced by Russias war in Ukraine. The royal met with British troops in Rzeszow, a city in southeastern Poland, as he thanked soldiers for defending our freedoms and keeping an eye on the refugee crisis in Ukraine.

Speaking to British and Polish troops, William said: I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that youre doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on whats going on.

So, just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis, he added. Youre doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you.

On Thursday, the prince placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, as he paid his respects to those who have lost their lives in past wars. The late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh had laid a wreath at the tomb during their state visit to Poland in 1996.

Prince William also met with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace and visited a local food hall to speak with Ukrainian refugees. It marks Williams first trip to Poland since he visited in 2017 with his wife, the Princess of Wales.
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It was the stuff of novels: For years, a con artist plagued the publishing industry, impersonating editors and agents to pull off hundreds of literary heists. But the manuscripts obtained from high-profile authors were never resold or leaked, rendering the thefts all the more perplexing.

The Thursday sentencing of Filippo Bernardini in Manhattan federal court brought the saga to an end and, with it, finally some answers. After pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in January, Bernardini was sentenced to time served, avoiding prison on a felony charge that carried up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of at least a year.

Bernardini, now 30, impersonated hundreds of people over the course of the scheme that began around August 2016 and obtained more than a thousand manuscripts, including from high-profile authors like Margaret Atwood and Ethan Hawke, authorities have said.

In an emotional, four-page letter to Judge Colleen McMahon submitted earlier this month, Bernardini apologized for what he characterized as his egregious, stupid and wrong actions. He also offered insight into his motivations, which had long stymied victims and observers alike even after his plea.

He described a deep love of books that stemmed from childhood and led him to pursue a publishing career in London. While he obtained an internship at a literary agency there, he wrote, he had trouble securing a full-time job in the industry afterward.

While employed, I saw manuscripts being shared between editors, agents, and literary scouts or even with individuals outside the industry. So, I wondered: why can I not also get to read these manuscripts? he recounted.

He spoofed an email address of someone he knew and mimicked his former colleagues' tone to ask for a manuscript that had yet to be published. The success of that deception turned his quest for ill-gotten books into an obsession, a compulsive behaviour.

I had a burning desire to feel like I was still one of these publishing professionals and read these new books, he wrote.

Every time an author sent me the manuscript I would feel like I was still part of the industry. At the time, I did not think about the harm I was causing, he added. I never wanted to and I never leaked these manuscripts. I wanted to keep them closely to my chest and be one of the fewest to cherish them before anyone else, before they ended up in bookshops.

As part of a bid to avoid prison, Bernardini's lawyers also submitted more than a dozen letters to the judge from his friends and family. In a novelistic twist of sorts, among them was a letter from a victim  writer Jesse Ball, the author of Samedi the Deafness, Curfew and The Divers' Game.

Bernardini impersonated Ball's editor to convince the writer to send several unpublished manuscripts, Ball said in his letter pushing for leniency. Decrying the state of the industry as more and more corporate and cookiecutter and referring to the crime as a caper and a trivial thing, frivolous thing, Ball argued that we must be grateful when something human enters the picture: when the publishing industry for once becomes something worth writing about."

For once a person cared deeply about something  what matter that he was an interloper? You cannot imagine the soul crushing boredom of run-of-the-mill publishing correspondence, Ball wrote, adding that he suffered no harm from the thefts other than some confusion. Im grateful that there is still room in the world for something facetious to occur now and then.

In weighing arguments from the prosecution and defense, McMahon pushed back on the idea that the crime was victimless, with New York magazine's Vulture  the publication that brought the mystery to public attention with a 2021 story called The Spine Collector  reporting that she was especially moved by a letter from a literary scout" who had been accused of Bernardini's crimes. Vulture also reported that McMahon expressed sympathy for Bernardini in light of a new autism diagnosis, but said it didn't excuse the threats he made in some correspondence. But she concluded a prison sentence wouldn't help the victims.

Bernardini  an Italian citizen and U.K. resident who was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in January 2022  will be deported from the U.S. Court documents show he asked to be deported to the United Kingdom, where he lives with his partner and dog, with Italy as the designated alternative.

As part of his guilty plea, Bernardini agreed to pay $88,000 in restitution, which court documents show will go to Penguin Random House.

The cruel irony is that every time I open a book," Bernardini wrote of his one-time passion, it reminds me of my wrongdoings and what they led me to.
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Mexicos president on Friday angrily rejected comments by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the Mexican government has lost control over parts of the country.

However, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged that Mexican cartels had placed people inside Mexico's drug regulatory agency to approve imports of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China.

Earlier this week, Blinken said I think it's fair to say yes when asked at a Senate hearing whether drug cartels control parts of Mexico.

The Mexican president responded to those comments at his morning press briefing Friday, saying, "That is false, it's not true. ... There is nowhere in the nation's territory where authorities are not present.

But Lopez Obrador acknowledged that cartels had stretched their tentacles into the Mexican government's federal drug regulatory agency, known by its initials in Spanish as Cofepris.

They even had representatives in Cofepris, people lobbying inside Cofepris, the president said, adding that some officials have been charged in that case.

Mexican cartels have imported fentanyl precursors under false names or as mislabeled products, with help from inside the regulatory agency. They then process it into fentanyl, press it into counterfeit pills made to look like oxycodone, Xanax or Percocet and smuggle it into the United States, where the drug has caused more than 70,000 overdose deaths per year.

Lopez Obrador also pushed back against comments by Blinken suggesting that Mexicos takeover of a port owned by a U.S. firm would hurt investment in Mexico. Last week, Mexican police seized a cargo terminal owned by the Alabama-based construction materials company Vulcan Materials.

Speaking before legislators, Blinken said I am very concerned about that situation" and the potential for a case like this to have a chilling effect ... on further investment or engagement by our companies as they see what's happening.

Lopez Obrador claimed he was defending Mexico's environment against Vulcan's crushed rock quarry on the Caribbean coast. However, Mexican authorities already had shut down Vulcan's quarrying activities last May, and Lopez Obrador did not explain how seizing the port would protect the environment.

I understand Mr. Blinken very well, the president said. He has to do his job.

The president has been publicly sparring with Vulcan for over a year. He needs the Punta Venado port, near Playa Del Carmen, to get cement, crushed stone and other materials into the area to finish his pet project, a tourist train known as the Train Maya.

Lopez Obradors comments on drug cartel control came after the Mexican government was stung by the execution earlier this week  apparently by a drug cartel  of a drug gang leader sought for months in the killings of two Jesuit priests.

Mexican police couldnt find the suspect despite massive searches, until the drug gangs took matters into their own hands and apparently killed the suspect themselves.

The Mexican president confirmed that it involved a common practice among drug cartels, which often kill or turn over to police cartel members who have caused too much trouble and affected the gang's business.

They executed him, who, we don't know, Lopez Obrador said, perhaps because they thought that by doing so the search would end and the soldiers who have been there would leave.
A US Embassy report on Zimbabwe's human rights situation has described government as not willing to reform, involved in massive disregard for basic tenets of democracy and continuously repeating mistakes highlighted by observers five years ago.

The report, titled Zimbabwe Country Report On Human Rights Practises, points to voter intimidation, the role of traditional leaders, continued politicisation of food aid, politically motivated violence and heavy-handedness of state security agencies.

It focuses on the year 2022, in which Zimbabwe held by-elections to replace Members of Parliament (MPs) and Councillors who either passed on or were recalled by the MDC Alliance.

"Numerous factors contributed to a flawed election process in 2018, including: the Zimbabwe Election Commission's (ZEC) lack of independence; heavily biased state media favouring the ruling party; voter intimidation; the unconstitutional influence of tribal leaders; failure to provide an electronic preliminary voters roll; politicization of food aid; security services' excessive use of force; and lack of transparency concerning election results.

"Some of these factors re-emerged in numerous by-elections during the year and in the early stages of the electoral process for the 2023 general elections," reads the report published on Tuesday.

With Zimbabwe headed to elections in August, attention has been cast on whether the Zanu PF government will be able to stem out use of politically motivated violence in its favour and against opposing parties pre-vote casting.

Analysts have already projected a bloody plebiscite.

Added the report: "There were reports that members of the police, military, and intelligence service committed numerous abuses throughout the country

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including an extrajudicial killing; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary detention; political prisoners; arbitrary or unlawful."

Despite noted positives in the report, government's failure to account for perpetrators of sponsored incidences of violence are highlighted as stains on its efforts to reform.

The case of Sharai Mukaro who died after being tortured by police officers in Chivhu, and that of Mboneni Ncube, a victim of attacks that were witnessed in Kwekwe last year are pointed out as examples of the state's laxity regards dealing with those implicated, particularly when linked to ruling Zanu PF.

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Ncube was stabbed in the back after Zanu PF youths attacked a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally ahead of last year's by-elections.

"In March, media reported that suspected Zanu PF supporters abducted, intimidated, and threatened to kill the sister of the deceased opposition supporter (Ncube) if she continued calling for justice," reads the report.

"There were no reports during the year of long-term disappearances attributed to government authorities. There were no reports of authorities punishing any perpetrators of previous acts of disappearance.

"Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) reported security forces abducted, assaulted, and tortured citizens, including targeted assaults on and torture of civil society activists, labor leaders, opposition members, and other perceived opponents of the government.

"Throughout the year, police used excessive force in apprehending, detaining, and interrogating criminal suspects. Police and military officers used excessive force and violent means to disperse peaceful demonstrations and to disrupt informal trading. On February 26, police beat opposition supporters with batons and used tear gas and water cannon spray to disperse crowds at a by-election rally in Gokwe. Prison guards occasionally beat and abused prisoners."
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A senior Belfast police officer has been given a rare royal honour for his role in the operation following the death of the Queen last year.

Chief Superintendent Davy Beck is one of only a few police officers from across the UK who have been made a member of the Royal Victorian Order, which recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch.

It was founded by Queen Victoria in 1896 to be bestowed at the discretion of the sovereign and is used to recognise a wide variety of services to the royal family.

Mr Beck will receive the accolade for his role in leading the preparation, planning and strategic oversight of the operation following the death of the Queen last year.

Whilst it was a deeply sad occasion, I felt privileged to have contributed through my role in leading the policing operation for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II Chief Superintendent Davy Beck

He said he is delighted and honoured by the award.

Whilst it was a deeply sad occasion, I felt privileged to have contributed through my role in leading the policing operation for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Mr Beck said.

Having such dedicated and professional colleagues ensured the operation was carried out expertly and I would like to thank them for their contribution.

I would also like to thank my family for their unwavering support over the course of my career.

This is a hugely memorable occasion for me for which I am very grateful.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: The awarding of this recognition to Chief Superintendent Davy Beck is a testament to the strong leadership and skilled professionalism he displayed during the overseeing of the operation for the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

I extend my congratulations to Chief Superintendent Beck and am pleased his work is being acknowledged at such a prestigious level.
Rishi Sunak has challenged Benjamin Netanyahu on his controversial judicial overhaul but otherwise spoke of strengthening ties as the Israeli prime minister faces a wave of protests.

Shouts of shame followed Mr Netanyahu to Downing Street, where hundreds of pro-democracy protesters amassed to warn against a slide towards autocracy.

Mass protests were sparked in Israel by legislation protecting Mr Netanyahu from being deemed unfit to rule, which critics say will shield him from his corruption trial.
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Benjamin Netanyahu was greeted by shouts of shame from pro-democracy protesters as he met Rishi Sunak in Downing Street amid a backlash over the Israeli prime ministers judicial overhaul.

Protesters waving Israeli flags and placards stating their aim of saving Israeli democracy could be heard as the UK Prime Minister shook his counterparts hand outside No 10 on Friday morning.

Cries of Busha, or shame in Hebrew, could be heard from hundreds of demonstrators expressing their anger at Mr Netanyahus legislation that they say will drag the nation towards autocracy.

One sign branded Mr Netanyahu a dictator on the run as he faces domestic turmoil after his right-wing nationalist coalition approved a law that would protect him from being deemed unfit to rule.

Critics say the law is tailor-made to shield the leader from his corruption trial.

Mr Netanyahu was forced to push back his departure time for the official trip to the UK as he sought to deal with mass protests in Israel which have seen major roads blocked and scuffles with police.

In Downing Street, as Mr Netanyahu welcomed Mr Sunaks handshake with a smile, the shouts of demonstrators were easily heard from over the line of police officers guarding them in Whitehall.

Members of the crowd, speaking to the PA news agency, urged Mr Sunak to stand up for democracy in Israel.

Talli, an Israeli tech worker who has been living in London for six years, said she was protesting against Mr Netanyahus judicial coup.

Hes trying to gain power while on trial and hes trying to turn Israel into a non-democratic country, she said.

We want not just Rishi Sunak but the international community and leaders to apply pressure on Netanyahu  whether its financial deals, or anything at all  to back down on this coup.

My family and friends all live in Israel and Im worried about their futures.

Chamutal Isaacs, a childbirth support worker who moved to London from Tel Aviv 32 years ago, said the overhaul would mean an end to any sort of democracy in Israel.

I want Rishi Sunak to say to him he must lose his chair, he cant continue to be the prime minister of Israel. Hes destroying democracy in Israel, she said.

A 38-year-old bank worker who declined to give her name added: Im from Israel, Ive lived here almost 10 years, but Ive always wanted to have somewhere to go back and I cant go back to a non-democratic country. My family and my friends and everyone who is close to me are in Israel.

Mr Netanyahus office said he was expecting to focus on the Iranian issue with the UK Prime Minister, seeking to form a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear programme.

The two are also expected to discuss strengthening the strategic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom and increasing security and intelligence co-operation, a statement said.

The Israeli leader will also meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman to discuss dealing with global terrorism, it added.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Mr Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies wrongdoing.

Critics say his government, the most right-wing in Israels history, is dragging the nation towards authoritarianism by upending its system of checks and balances.

A smaller number of Palestinian protesters were also in Westminster as charities criticised Mr Sunak for seeking to foster closer ties with Israel.

Oxfam policy adviser Richard Stanforth said: It is unconscionable that the Prime Minister will roll out the red carpet for Benjamin Netanyahu with the aim of deepening diplomatic ties, despite the Israeli government committing horrific human rights violations every day, seemingly with impunity.

Amnesty International UKs Kristyan Benedict accused the UK Government of turning a blind eye to apartheid atrocities.

Netanyahu is more concerned with seeking legitimacy for his government rather than addressing its increasingly extremist policies, his occupation forces in the Palestinian territories killing civilians, stealing their land and building illegal new settlements, he said.

The UK and Israels rejection of this reality will not change the truth or illegality of the current situation. All it does is help entrench Israels racist system of apartheid against Palestinian people.
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A court is due to decide on an appeal by architect Graham Dwyer against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara.

Dwyer pleaded not guilty to the murder charge in the 2015 trial, but was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

He launched an appeal on numerous grounds, including the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence.

Last April, Dwyer won a case in Europe about the mobile data retention practices used in the case against him.

Data held in the Cork-born architects work phone was used prominently in the trial to demonstrate how it placed the device at specific places at particular times and dates.

The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that EU law precludes the general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data relating to electronic communication for the purpose of combating serious crime.

The court rejected the Irish states arguments that particular serious crimes could be treated the same way as a threat to national security.

The Irish Supreme Court is now considering the ruling and its effect.
Afghan refugees claim they remain trapped in remote hotels after losing a High Court challenge over the Governments decision to move them hundreds of miles across England to new temporary accommodation.

Three families said in their legal action against the Home Office, that moving them from London to a northern city would cause considerable disruption to the education of children facing exams.

At a hearing in January, their lawyers alleged the Home Secretary was failing to fulfil a commitment to help them rebuild their lives in the UK after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.
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A suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence is earning 3,600 a month as a courier after being freed from prison, a court has heard.

Jamie Acourt, 46, covered his face with a scarf as he arrived at City of London Magistrates Court on Friday, wearing Gucci sunglasses and a flat cap, over his failure to pay back 90,000 he made from a 3 million drugs plot.

He refused to answer questions about the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, 30 years ago, on April 22 1993, and ran as he left the building.

Acourt was one of five men arrested.

Two of them, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

I am encouraged by the suggestion a higher amount might be offered sooner rather than later District Judge Robert Brown

Acourt, who spent more than two years on the run living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, was released from prison in November after serving half of his nine-year sentence over the drugs plot.

His brother Neil Acourt, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrences murder, was jailed for more than six years over the same conspiracy, which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of about 3 million moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

The fifth suspect in Mr Lawrences murder, Luke Knight, has remained free.

Acourt was in January 2021 ordered to pay back 90,000 or face another year added to his jail sentence, by a judge at Kingston Crown Court.

In October last year police asked a judge to impose a default prison sentence over his failure to pay the confiscation order.

Pc David Bracken said: Mr Acourt has not paid anything or shown any willingness to pay anything.

Obviously, hes going to be released soon and there has been no goodwill on his part.

Acourt said his family have not paid any of the money because they dont have the funds.

He said he had been offered a job with construction firm Precision Contractors Ltd, run by his friend and builder Matthew Chapman, and would be supported on the outside by his partner, Terri Dean, and was ordered to pay back 500 a month.

But the court heard on Friday that Acourt, who has two children, aged 23 and 19, is working as a self-employed courier.

His lawyer, Joseph Barlow, said he is earning 3,600 a month with outgoings of around 2,700, and asked for more time to suggest a higher monthly payment.

Prosecutor Shahida Parveen said Acourt has made three 500 payments but that the total amount has now risen to 102,329 with interest.

District Judge Robert Brown told Acourt: I am encouraged by the suggestion a higher amount might be offered sooner rather than later.

I am going to direct payments continue at 500 a month and set a review date in three months when I hope Mr Acourt will be in a position to make a better offer.

Otherwise this is going to go on for many years and he is going to have to come back to court every three months, which is not in anyones interests.

The sooner it is settled the better it will be.
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A man who murdered a motorcyclist taking part in the making of a music video has had the time he must spend in jail before being considered for release reduced by appeal judges.

Brandon McNeil, 20, was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 24 years after admitting murdering Shane Jerome, 23, in Brixton, south London, in July 2021.

Three appeal judges have reduced that minimum term to 20 years and 247 days.

McNeil, who was 18 when he stabbed Mr Jerome to death, argued in his appeal that the minimum term imposed by Judge Sarah Munro at the Old Bailey in May 2022 was too long.

Barrister Rajiv Menon KC, who represented McNeil, argued that Judge Munro had not given enough weight to mitigating factors, including McNeils age and the fact that he had been the victim of human trafficking,

Appeal judges Lord Justice Warby, Mr Justice Garnham and Judge Andrew Lockhart upheld his appeal against sentence after considering the case at a Court of Appeal hearing in London on Friday.

Mr Jerome, of Thornton Heath, south London, had been part of a convoy of vehicles featuring in the video when he was attacked, judges heard.

McNeil, of Vauxhall, south London, ran up to Mr Jerome and stabbed him in the chest with a knife, the judges were told.

Mr Jeromes girlfriend, Seleka Gathercole, had watched him die.

McNeil also swung the knife at a second man on a quad bike who was also part of the convoy, judges heard.

Judge Munro said McNeil had been involved with a gang and must have believed that people involved in the video were linked with rivals  although there was no evidence any were.
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Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has privately admitted in the past that there is institutional racism in the force, two Labour MPs have claimed.

Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent Central and and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham, said that commissioner Rowley had agreed there was an issue with institutional racism in the force in previous meetings, but that he had backtracked due to pressure from the government.

Dawn Butler during the Labour leadership hustings at the SEC centre, Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Archive)

After a report by Baroness Louise Casey earlier this week said institutional racism existed in the force, Sir Paul said he does not use the term.

The report, which was comissioned following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by then-serving officer, Wayne Couzens in 2021, found institutional racism, sexism and homophobia in the Met.

I have to use practical, unambiguous, apolitical language, he said. I dont think the term fits those criteria, it means different things to different people. Its become quite politicised as an idea.

However, Bell Ribeiro-Addy told The Independent: In previous meetings, the Met Commissioner didnt seem to have an issue with referring to institutional discrimination in the Met. It seems that after political pressure, this has changed.

She continued: The Casey Report leaves no doubt that what is happening in the Met amounts to institutional misogyny, racism, and homophobia. Its hard to have confidence that these issues are going to be addressed in full when the Government and Met leadership are deliberately choosing not to name them for what they are.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy (PA)

Its harder to have confidence still when the Government is pushing ahead with plans to create new unaccountable police powers which will disproportionately impact racialised communities in the same week.

Labour MP Dawn Bulter shares Ms Ribeiro-Addys concerns. She told PoliticsHome that in many meetings, Sir Paul had never rejected the term institutional racism to her in the past.

As chair of Labour MPs in London, Ms Butler chaired many meetings with the commissioner, she said.

Ms Bulter continued: Mark has never rejected the term institutional racism or shied away from the volume of work that needs to be done to make the police a safe space and policing safe for the communities it seeks to serve.

I can only conclude that pressure has been put in him by the government or others not to accept the terminology of institutional racism.

The Labour MP also urged Sir Paul to change his stance.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: I want the Met to be anti-racist, anti-misogynist and anti-homophobic. In fact, I want us to be anti-discrimination of all kinds.

 I accept Baroness Caseys findings about the racism, misogyny and homophobia in the organisation and also that we have systemic failings, management failings and cultural failings.

I understand her use of the term institutional but its not a term I use myself.

Im a practical police officer and I have to use language thats unambiguous and apolitical. That term means lots of different things to different people and has become politicised in recent debate over the last decade or so.

The Casey report found that there are people in the Met with racist attitudes, and black, Asian and ethnic minority officers and staff are more likely to experience racism, discrimination and bullying at their hands. Discrimination is often ignored, and complaints are likely to be turned against Black, Asian and ethnic minority officers, the report said.

The report also said black officers are 81% more likely to be in the misconduct system than white colleagues.

The review also noted that while the Mets new leadership offers a welcome change of tone and approach, the report said deep-seated cultures need to be tackled in order for change to be sustained.

Among other claims, the report describes the force as having a culture of denial, highlighting that many of the concerns raised in the report have been raised before.

Speaking up is not welcome, the report said.
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Civilian security staff have been condemned after a former No 10 adviser claimed city centre rangers restrained and handcuffed her son on the floor of a Superdrug store in West Sussex.

A video of the incident involving the 15-year-old son of Kirsty Buchanan, which took place at a Superdrug store in Chichester, West Sussex, has been shared on widely social media.

It appears to show two civilian security staff employed by the Chichester Business Improvement District (BID) scheme restraining the teenager while one of them put plastic handcuffs on him and one knelt across his legs.

The organisation - which was set up in 2012 and is funded by local, business-rate payers to invest in local improvements, according to its website - confirmed it is aware of the incident and is taking this very seriously.

Together with Blayde Security, who provide our security services, we are cooperating fully with Sussex Police, who are investigating the matter, a spokesperson said.

Chichester Business Improvement District (BID) said it is cooperating with Sussex Police (Supplied)

Sussex Police said its officers were called to the shop in East Street in Chichester, West Sussex, shortly after 3.30pm on Wednesday to reports that a group of teenagers had become involved in an altercation. A shop worker also reported being assaulted.

The force said that two teenagers had been arrested in connection with the incident but have now been released on bail.

Speaking about the incident to The Mirror, the boys mother Kirsty Buchanan said: They (the rangers) started to get aggressive towards them and one of them got into my sons personal space and he asked, can you get out of my face.

What I have been told is the ranger pushed him and my son pushed back.

[They] sat on top of him as you see in the video and they put plastic handcuffs on him  the police then arrived and arrested my son.

The video appears to show one of the security guards putting plastic handcuffs on the teenager (Supplied)

Speaking on Times Radio, Ms Buchanan said her son was followed by the rangers into the shop and added: When (her son) got to the shampoo counter he was joking around about being followed by these two guys whereupon they sat on top of him.

They got plastic handcuffs, handcuffed him and yanked his arms up behind his back whereupon my son used some understandably unparliamentary language but also screamed It hurts, it hurts, get off me.

A friend of his came to his aid and was also subsequently arrested for assault which was committed in prime to try to get these two men off my child.

She said that a member of the staff reported being hurt in the incident but she claimed that this happened after her son had been detained by the rangers.

She added: As far as I understand, he was arrested for assault.

Ms Buchanan said her son was now at home having been released by the police in the early hours of Thursday and added: He is relatively calm because he is quite content when the footage is reviewed, the charges will be dropped.

Questioning the use of private security guards and the police response, she added: There needs to be an investigation into the police handling of this, for an hour-and-a-half I didnt even know where my son was or had been taken.

I also think there needs to be a thorough review of the use of these security guards on our streets because they are on our streets all across the country, they are completely unregulated. What is the process of due diligence by which they are hired? What is the training procedure? What is their remit?

When asked if she thought her son had been targeted because he was black, she replied: Lets put it this way, if I went in to buy shampoo, do you think this would have happened to me?

Chichester BID has been approached for further comment on Ms Buchanans allegations.

Responding to the video on Twitter, Joe Murphy, retired former political editor of the London Evening Standard, the Sunday Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, posted: And how the heck does a private business-funded security force have the power to handcuff young kids?

Are they trained? Are they safe? This looks awful.

Police said its officers were called to a Superdrug in East Street in Chichester, West Sussex (PA Archive)

Following questions about the powers available to Chichester BIDs ranger staff to detain members of the public and to use handcuffs, Sussex Police issued a statement that explained there is no law in the UK that prevents civilians from carrying handcuffs.

Anyone who does carry handcuffs should be aware that their use could constitute a crime, unless they can show that using them was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances, the force added.

On the incident itself, police said: Police were called to Superdrug in East Street around 3.30pm following reports of an altercation.

On arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old boy from Worthing had been detained in handcuffs by privately employed civilian security staff. He was arrested on suspicion of assault.

We can now clarify that a second teenager  a 16-year-old boy from Chichester  was detained by police in the area and arrested on suspicion of assault, possession of cannabis, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Both suspects have been released on bail with strict conditions until 24 June, pending further enquiries.

A full and thorough investigation is ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of what happened; this includes reviewing footage and taking witness statements.

Sussex Police has been in contact with the 15-year-olds mother and contact will be maintained as the investigation continues.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, the events leading up to it or has any relevant footage is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ashridge.

A Superdrug spokeswoman said on Wednesday: An incident occurred today in our Chichester store between Chichester BID Rangers and a group of young males they were monitoring.

Unfortunately, female staff were also assaulted. This is now a police matter, and we are offering our full assistance to Sussex Police.

Our priority is always to keep our colleagues and customers safe, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence and aggression. The store remains closed due to damage caused.

A spokesperson for Chichester District Council said: We collect money on behalf of a number of organisations and authorities, including West Sussex County Council, The Police and Crime Commissioner, local parish councils and Chichester BID. Each one is responsible for determining how their money is spent.

We had no involvement in the incident that took place on 22 March, and so we do not know the full details of the incident. We do not employ or fund the Rangers, and we are not involved in the contract that the BID has with the company that provides the service.

The incident is being investigated by Sussex Police and we wait to see the outcome of their investigation.
Gene-edited food can now be developed commercially in England after a change in the law.

The process involves altering the genetic material of an organisms DNA to enhance certain characteristics.

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments do not permit the commercial use of gene editing.
The world's precious water resources are "in deep trouble" and leaders are meeting at UN Headquarters this week to address what has become a multifaceted global crisis, before it is too late.

The UN Water Conference, which opened on Wednesday, is taking place as this vital natural resource is being depleted, polluted and mismanaged.

The three-day event - co-hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Tajikistan - falls at the halfway point for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include the promise of ensuring all people have access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.

'Draining humanity's lifeblood'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored that water is a human right and critical to development that will shape a better global future.

"But water is in deep trouble", he warned. "We are draining humanity's lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, and evaporating it through global heating. We've broken the water cycle, destroyed ecosystems and contaminated groundwater."

A global crisis

The UN chief noted that nearly three out of four natural disasters are linked to water, and a quarter of the planet lives without safely managed water services or clean drinking water.

Furthermore, 1.7 billion people lack basic sanitation, half a billion people practice open defecation, and millions of girls spend hours each day just to fetch water.

Leaders attending the conference are being challenged to find game-changing solutions to the global water crisis, characterized by 'too much water' - for example, storms and floods; 'too little water', such as droughts and groundwater scarcity, and 'too dirty water', such as polluted sources for drinking.

"This conference must represent a quantum leap in the capacity of Member States and the international community to recognize and act upon the vital importance of water to our world's sustainability and as a tool to foster peace and international co-operation," the Secretary-General said.

Close gaps, increase investments

Mr. Guterres called for action in four key areas, starting with closing what he called "the water management gap".

He said governments must develop and implement plans that ensure equitable water access for all people while also promoting water conservation, and they must work together to jointly manage this precious resource.

His second point, on the need for massive investment in water and sanitation systems, highlighted the proposed SDG Stimulus Plan and reforms to the global financial architecture aimed at ramping up investment in sustainable development.

"International financial institutions should develop creative ways to extend financing and accelerate the re-allocation of Special Drawing Rights. And Multilateral Development Banks should continue expanding their portfolios on water and sanitation to support countries in desperate need," he said.

Increase investment

His third point focused on resilience because "we cannot manage this 21st century emergency with infrastructure from another age."

Mr. Guterres called for investment in disaster-resilient pipelines, water-delivery infrastructure, and wastewater treatment plants, and in new ways to recycle and conserve water.

The international community will also need climate and biodiversity-smart food systems that reduce methane emissions and water use, and a new global information system to forecast water needs in real time.

Investment also means ensuring every person worldwide is covered by early warning systems against climate or weather disasters, as well as exploring new public-private partnerships.

Address climate change

The Secretary-General also called for addressing climate change, his final point. "Climate action and a sustainable water future are two sides of the same coin," he said.

He urged countries to "spare no effort" to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and deliver climate justice to developing countries.

Mr. Guterres recalled his proposal to the G20 most-industralised nations to establish a Climate Solidarity Pact in which all big emitters make extra efforts to cut emissions.

Wealthier countries would also mobilize financial and technical resources to support emerging economies.

'A watershed moment'

In his remarks, UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi noted that the international community is now at "a watershed moment".

"We know that we cannot fulfil our promise of sustainability, economic stability and global wellbeing by speeding up conventional solutions," he said. "We neither have enough time nor planet. There is simply not enough fresh water left anymore."

'A global common good'

Mr. Korosi said the international community must acknowledge that water is "a global common good and adjust policy, legislation, and financing accordingly," urging countries "to work in favour of people and planet, not procrastination and profit."

He called for integrated land-use, water and climate policies, which would make water "a lever of climate mitigation and adaptation", which will also build resilience, for both people and nature, and address growing hunger worldwide.

"We can work together to empower states and stakeholders through the global water information system that is our life insurance for resolving the dilemma of water availability, demand and storage," he said.

Mr. Korosi stressed that the conference was "not a venue to negotiate positions, advantages, and compromise", and urged leaders "to deliberate solutions that are science based, sustainable, pragmatic and in solidarity."

At the start of the conference, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, were elected presidents of the event.

Meet international expectations

President Rahmon said the conference was truly historic - both for promoting clear understanding of the serious challenges the water crisis poses and in exploring effective solutions to address it.

"In this regard, we need to make joint efforts to achieve specific results and follow up the agreement reached with a view to decently meeting the expectations of the international community," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

He also spoke of how Tajikistan possesses abundant sources of drinking water, which are being threatened by climate change. Thousands of glaciers have completed melted in recent decades.

Preserve water resources

He proposed establishing specific national, regional and international programmes for the preservation and effective use of all water sources.

"Pursuing this initiative is indeed consistent with our commitments in the implementation of the global climate agenda and requires fruitful cooperation with all partners," he said. "Accordingly, reliable modern mechanisms for water supply and effective management of water related issues should be developed and implemented."

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The President also proposed holding the next UN Water Conference in Tajikistan in 2028.

Strong stakeholder support

King Willem-Alexander said although his low-lying coastal country, which includes several islands in the Caribbean, and mountainous landlocked Tajikistan "may seem like an odd couple", together they represent "virtually the whole world of water."

He was encouraged that so many UN Member States are attending the conference, along with stakeholders from entities such as companies, towns, indigenous groups, women's organizations and scientific institutes.

"I'm also happy to see that the younger generation is highly motivated and ready to help find solutions," he added. "But as they themselves have said, we can't leave all the problem solving up to them. It is our responsibility to do everything we can."

Find common ground

The Dutch king offered a tip to participants, urging them to "seek out the company of those who are outside your fields." For example, diplomats should meet with engineers, while a civil society representative should have coffee with someone working in finance.

"If you're over 50, have a talk with someone younger. And if you live in Europe, turn your attention to Africa or Asia, or vice versa," he advised.

"Follow the example of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. See collaboration in the murky waters of contrasts. Water is our common ground. There's so much to discover and achieve."
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Motorists across all of London will soon have to start paying 12.50 as Ulez expands - leaving 700,000 motorists paying for pollution fees, according to a new analysis.

The zone is currently limited to the area within Londons North and South Circular roads, but Mayor Sadiq Khan has decided to expand it to cover the whole of the capital, claiming this will boost air quality.

The RAC, which carried out the research, said the expansion of the zone from August 29 will have a massive financial impact on motorists and businesses.

It comes a day after Transport for London (TfL) claimed that nine out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London on an average day meet the Ulez standards, so will not be liable for the charge.

It also said that many drivers are switching from older, more polluting vehicles ahead of the expansion.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures obtained by the RAC show that 691,559 licensed cars in the whole of London fall into one of those categories.

This does not take into account other vehicles such as vans and lorries, or vehicles which enter London from neighbouring counties such as Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Kent.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes believes cleaning up Londons air is a priority but the proposed changes will impact motorists and businesses heavily when driving through zones.

She said: ...the sheer number of vehicles that dont meet Ulez emissions standards in Greater London suggests there will be a massive financial impact on motorists and businesses through having to fork out 12.50 every day they drive in the zone.

Mayor Sadiq Khan looks to improve air quality in London by expanding Ulez across the capital (PA)

We desperately need more co-ordination between the mayor and the Government to help small businesses, tradespeople, NHS staff and carers who have no choice but to drive into the expanded Ulez for work purposes from outside Greater London.

Consideration should also be given to those who work at night when public transport is greatly reduced in the outer boroughs.

TfL is running a scrappage scheme for vehicles that do not comply with the Ulez standards.

It includes payments of up to 2,000 for eligible drivers such as those on low incomes or the disabled scrapping a car, and up to 9,500 for charities, sole traders and small businesses scrapping or retrofitting vans and minibuses.
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Covid cases are rising across Britain, prompting calls for people to come forward for booster jabs.

Hospital admissions for the virus are approaching a three-month high while the latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests at least one in 40 people are infected in England.

The ZOE Covid infection survey, which has been monitoring symptomatic cases since the beginning of the outbreak, said that 1.4 million people are infected based on its latest results on Thursday, increasing from 1.2 million cases on 10 March  a 25 per cent rise.

(Screengrab )

According to the ZOE Covid survey figures, which are an estimation, London has the highest number of daily new symptomatic cases with 1643-2157 cases per million.

Meanwhile, according to the data, Northumberland is the worst area currently for Covid cases with an estimated 76,119 active cases per million.

Professor Tim Spector, the epidemiologist behind the ZOE Covid infection survey, said cold weather  which encourages people to mix indoors  and children are driving the rise.

Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, called the surge definitely something to worry about. He said the UK was in a rather serious situation because of the waning vaccine immunity coupled with new variants.

Many cases of these Covid infections are neither brief nor mild, added Professor Altmann, who is a member of the Independent Sage group that advised the government during the pandemic.

He said: They carry a reduced but significant risk of long Covid. This all puts strain on the infected, strain on the workplace, on the NHS and thus, on the economy.

(Screengrab)

A push for people to receive their booster jabs will be rolling out in the coming weeks with the over-75s, care home residents and those aged five and over with a weakened immune system eligible for a top-up  the groups deemed most at risk of serious illness from the virus.

Professor Robert Dingwall, a sociologist who advised the government during the pandemic, said: We should expect rates to go up and down a bit like any other respiratory infection.

With the current state of knowledge, reintroducing masks is really theatre rather than practical infection control.

Latest hospital data shows 1,189 people infected with Covid were admitted to hospitals in England on 13 March. It is the highest figure logged since the end of December and is not far off this winters peak of 1,376.

However, the latest data on cases from the ONS, which only goes up to 7 March has shown infections have flatlined at 1.3 million.

London is seeing some of the highest daily cases according to estimates (PA)

For months, health chiefs have warned about a rise in cases and hospitalisations driven by a host of Omicron sub-variants including Kraken (XBB.1.5) and Orthrus (CH.1.1).

Kraken was the dominant strain in the UK by the end of last month, causing 50.4 per cent of cases, according to ONS data, while Orthrus was behind at 19.7 per cent.

The latest Covid surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency revealed cases appear to be highest in older people.

However, confirmations rely on people taking tests and old people living in care homes are more likely to have regular swabs.
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Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been formally signed off at a meeting in London, as both the UK and the EU hope for better relations.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic chaired a meeting on Friday to adopt the new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the Government won the backing of MPs for the Windsor Framework earlier this week.

Mr Sefcovic hailed it as an agreement that would deliver lasting certainty for people in Northern Ireland while promising that London and Brussels would exploit the full potential of the wider trade deal.

Both sides issued warm words following the meeting, with Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic describing the constructive atmosphere after months of negotiations to reach the final deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Earlier this week, MPs voted in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake, a key part of the Windsor agreement, despite Boris Johnson and Liz Truss joining the Democratic Unionist Party and hardline Brexit-backing Tory MPs in voting against the deal.

The formal sign-off, which happened mid-morning on Friday, comes as Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons party continues to oppose the deal brokered by the Government, with no sign of the DUP being willing to return to powersharing.

The DUP, ahead of the meeting, had been warned that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal.

In the joint statement, Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefovic stressed the benefits of the Windsor agreement, promising to work together intensively and faithfully to implement all elements of the Windsor Framework.

The sign-off happened at a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, with the Foreign Secretary and Mr Sefcovic also attending a meeting of the Partnership Council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

But the two sides also discussed issues that could have the potential to cause concern in European capitals and in Northern Ireland, with the UK Retained EU Law Bill and the Governments controversial plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights raised at the second meeting.

Sources stressed that the EU did not raise concerns but instead had questions as part of broader discussions about the Windsor deal and other issues.

The UK hopes that the deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion euro Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

The statement said that the UK and EU noted the openness of both sides to take forward discussions on association in the coming weeks.

The European Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom reaffirmed their desire to exploit fully the potential of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and maximise the potential ofthe relationship between the EU and the UK in ways that benefit both parties, the statement said.

The EUs landmark Green Deal plan also came up for discussion, while officials also looked ahead to the signing of a memoranda of understanding on financial services and intellectual property soon.

Weve formally adopted the Windsor Framework, Mr Cleverly said.

This delivers on our commitment to the people of Northern Ireland. Great to see you in London, tweeted to Mr Sefcovic.
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Irish police have launched a murder inquiry after the disappearance of an American woman in Dublin 30 years ago.

Annie McCarrick was 26 when she went missing on March 26 1993.

Originally from Long Island in New York, she had been living in Sandymount in Dublin.

On Friday morning gardai announced the missing person inquiry has been upgraded to a murder investigation and made a public appeal for information.

I and the investigation team are determined to gather all information and evidence available to us to find answers. I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll

Detectives recently visited Ms McCarricks mother Nancy in New York to update her on the investigation. Her father John has since died.

Speaking at a press conference at Irishtown Garda Station in Dublin, Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said officers have maintained an open and active investigation into Ms McCarricks disappearance.

Over the 30 years of this investigation, the investigation team have discovered and collated in excess of 5,000 documents, taken in excess of 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits, he said.

He urged anyone who saw or spoke to Ms McCarrick around the time of her disappearance, or has any information about a large brown satchel-type handbag she is believed to have been carrying, to come forward and speak to gardai.

The primary focus of this investigation is the victim Annie McCarrick and her family. Annies father John has passed away without knowing what happened to his daughter, and her mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on March 26 1993, Mr Carroll said.

I and the investigation team are determined to gather all information and evidence available to us to find answers. I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family.

I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Annie McCarrick to please come forward to the investigation team at Irishtown Garda Station.

Superintendent Tim Burke said the last confirmed sighting of Ms McCarrick was at around 11am on Friday March 26 1993 at the Allied Irish Bank in Sandymount.

Annie had made arrangements with some friends, by inviting them to her apartment for dinner on Saturday March 27. Annie was also excited about planning for a visit by her mother Nancy who was due to arrive in Ireland on March 30 1993, he said.

He added that officers received reports of sightings of Ms McCarrick in Sandymount, boarding a bus to Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and in Enniskerry village and at Johnny Foxs pub.

On March 28, friends of Annie were concerned for her welfare. She was not at home on March 27 when they called for dinner, and she did not turn up for work either on March 27 or on Sunday March 28, he added.

Ms McCarrick was reported missing on March 28.

She was described as having visited Ireland as a teenager on a school trip, and fell in love with the country.

She studied at St Patricks College in Drumcondra and St Patricks College in Maynooth, before returning to New York, and came back to Ireland in 1993 to live permanently.
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The mother of a young woman who died in a hit-and-run crash in Qatar has accused the Foreign Office of watching from the sidelines as her hell continues.

Jo Sullivan, mother of 21-year-old Raffy Tsakanika, is pressing for the release of all available evidence about the crash from the Gulf state, and criticised the Foreign Office for not doing more to help.

Ms Tsakanika, from Cambridge, died after the car she was travelling in as a passenger was struck from behind by a second vehicle near Doha in March 2019.

The second vehicle, which was travelling at excess speed, caused the first to lose control and overturn in the four-lane carriageway, and did not stop at the scene.

It now seems more than clear that the FCDO are determined to not only continue to watch from the sidelines, but worse, to compound our misery Jo Sullivan

The driver of the second vehicle, Qatari national Mubarak Al Hajri, was sentenced in Qatar to two months in prison over the crash and ordered to pay compensation to Ms Tsakanikas family.

At a UK inquest last year, the coroner criticised Qatari authorities for the lack of information provided.

Ms Sullivan said she has asked for a meeting with the Foreign Office so they can look us straight in the face and tell us what diplomatic and political pressure they are going to put on the Qatari government to help us.

In a letter dated February 26, Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said the UK cannot interfere in the legal processes of another country.

He wrote: A decision on what information was required and what to provide for the inquest was determined by the coroner and the Qatari authorities.

In our experience it differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as to what the relevant local authorities are willing or able to share with UK coroners.

Lord Ahmad said officials in Doha could seek written confirmation from Qatari authorities that Al Hajri had served his sentence if that would provide acceptable evidence to the family of Ms Tsakanika.

Ms Sullivan said she knows Qatari authorities are sitting on further evidence about what happened to our beautiful daughter.

Our hell continues and it now seems more than clear that the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) are determined to not only continue to watch from the sidelines, but worse to compound our misery, she said.

You would have thought the FCDO, who are there to represent us, would have been in touch themselves straight after the inquest to tell us what they were going to do to support us, but clearly we were just being naive.

Our adviser Radd Seiger is once again now having to bend over backwards to extract any meaningful support from our Government who are there to protect us and our rights.

Last years inquest was told that speed cameras captured Al Hajris car apparently undamaged shortly before the collision and damaged shortly afterwards, but these images were not provided to the UK coroner by Qatari authorities.

An FCDO spokesperson said: We have supported the family of a woman who died in Qatar in 2019 and have raised this case with the Qatari authorities at ministerial level.

We stand ready to offer further consular support as appropriate.
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Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland will be formally signed off on Friday at an official meeting in London, amid hopes that better UK-EU relations can see benefits in other areas.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the European Commissions Maros Sefcovic will together chair a meeting that will see the UK and the EU formally adopt the new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the Government won the backing of MPs for the Windsor Framework earlier this week.

The vote by MPs in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake, a key part of the Windsor agreement, came despite former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss joining the Democratic Unionist Party and hardline Brexit-backing Tory MPs in voting against the deal.

The formal sign-off comes as Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons party continues to oppose the deal brokered by the Government, with no sign of the DUP yet being willing to return to powersharing.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris warned the DUP that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal ahead of Fridays meeting, which comes after Brussels also formally agreed to the key parts of the Windsor Framework at a Council of the EU meeting.

The formal sign-off will come at a Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting, with the Foreign Secretary and Mr Sefcovic also set to attend a meeting of the partnership council  another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

By formally approving the Windsor Framework, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland, Mr Cleverly said.

The framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union and protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

I look forward to further effective co-operation with the EU on key issues, such as security and energy.

The UK hopes that the new deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion euro Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic will also discuss a recent agreement between the UK, Ireland and the EU on Peace Plus, the cross-border peace funding programme.

The continuing stand-off over Stormont suggests the prospects for a return to powersharing at Stormont in time for the 25th anniversary next month of the Good Friday Agreement remain bleak.

The executive and the Assembly have been suspended since the DUP walked out last year in protest at the way the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated by Mr Johnson was operating.
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The coalition between the SNP and the Scottish Greens would come to an end with any veto of the parties historic agreement, Patrick Harvie has said.

The Scottish Greens co-leader said his party remains committed to the Bute House Agreement but he warned key issues like controversial gender reforms could bring an end to the deal.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is the only SNP leadership candidate to vow to challenge Westminster over its decision to use a section 35 order to block gender recognition reforms in Scotland.

Rival candidate Kate Forbes has instead pledged to have a grown-up conversation with the UK Government on how to reform the legislation while Ash Regan would scrap the reforms completely.

We would not accept any Scottish Government simply vetoing parts of the Bute House Agreement Patrick Harvie

The controversial deposit return scheme could also be a challenge to the deal, with all three candidates pledging to change or pause the legislation.

The Greens became part of the Scottish Government in 2021 in exchange for support for SNP policies and they have two ministerial posts in First Minister Nicola Sturgeons cabinet.

Speaking on BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, Mr Harvie discussed the red lines on his partys involvement in government.

He said: We would not accept any Scottish Government simply vetoing parts of the Bute House Agreement.

Those policies are in the Bute House Agreement, thats what were intended to deliver.

And if there was a Scottish Government, whether its the current First Minister who hadnt resigned and changed her mind, whether its a new first minister wanting to rip out parts of that agreement, clearly that agreement would come to an end.

The Scottish Greens are set to address the key issues of the Bute House Agreement at their conference in Clydebank on Saturday.

Mr Harvie added that any future leader who did not respect the progressive policies of the deal could not be accepted.

He said: Our commitment is to the values of the progressive policies and the ethos of collaborative co-working thats in the Bute House Agreement.

And that would not be respected by anyone who said that they wanted to continue working with the Greens but theyll have to accept my agenda. That would be out of kilter.

However, Mr Harvie emphasised that his party is keen to continue in Government.

He said: We want to continue within government under the progressive values and the strong policies that were agreed, not only between the co-leaders of political parties, but the members.

Ms Sturgeons successor will be selected on Monday following a five-week leadership battle.
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Kate Forbes has said she hopes to negotiate with the Greens, despite suggestions the party could exit its powersharing agreement with the Scottish Government.

The SNP leadership candidate said she is hopeful of continuing to work with the party as part of the Bute House Agreement if she is selected to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as first minister.

But Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said the co-operation agreement with the SNP would come to an end if the new leader vetoed parts of the deal.

The main disagreement is over controversial gender reforms which would make it easier to self-ID as transgender.

Ms Forbes was on maternity leave at the time of the Holyrood vote on the reforms, but she has since said she would not have supported the legislation.

Her position on the Section 35 order placed on the legislation by the UK Government  which blocks the Bill from gaining royal assent  is to have a grown-up conversation with Westminster ministers on how to reform the legislation.

SNP leadership rival Humza Yousaf has said he would challenge the decision in court, while Ash Regan has vowed to scrap the reforms.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Harvie said his party would not be in Government with any leader who would rip out parts of the deal.

During a visit to the Zakariyya Masjid mosque in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, on Friday afternoon, Ms Forbes said: I want to work with Patrick Harvie and the Green Party.

I have negotiated probably more than any other Cabinet Secretary with the Greens in the past, and I want to work with other parties in Holyrood.

I would certainly have a conversation with him very early doors.

On whether compromise over the gender reforms is possible, she said: I would hope that as a member of Government, we could both take an approach which is to consider the legal advice, and to make decisions off the back of the legal advice.

The Greens became part of the Scottish Government in 2021 in exchange for support for SNP policies, and they have two ministerial posts in Ms Sturgeons Cabinet.

Mr Harvie said he would genuinely struggle to understand how any candidate who believes in devolution could say that one of their first acts would be to roll over and let the UK Government veto fully devolved legislation.

He went on to say: We would not accept any Scottish Government simply vetoing parts of the Bute House Agreement.

If there was a Scottish Government, whether its the current First Minister who hadnt resigned and changed her mind, whether its a new first minister wanting to rip out parts of that agreement, clearly that agreement would come to an end.

The Scottish Greens are set to address the key issues of the Bute House Agreement at their conference in Clydebank on Saturday.

Mr Harvie added that any future SNP leader who did not respect the progressive policies of the deal could not be accepted.

He said: Our commitment is to the values of the progressive policies and the ethos of collaborative co-working thats in the Bute House Agreement.

That would not be respected by anyone who said that they wanted to continue working with the Greens but theyll have to accept my agenda. That would be out of kilter.

Ms Sturgeons successor will be selected on Monday following a five-week leadership battle.

Ms Forbes also spoke of her confidence in the SNP memberships choice as she approaches the end of her campaign.

She also said she would absolutely seek guidance from Ms Sturgeon if she is selected as leader.
analysis

Africa already shows innovation and leadership in ocean conservation, and countries must now push for early ratification.

After nearly two decades of negotiations, consensus has finally been reached at the United Nations (UN) to protect marine biodiversity in the High Seas. On 3 March, President of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Rena Lee declared: 'The ship has reached the shore.'

The High Seas, or Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, are the international waters outside any country's 200 nautical miles (322 km) exclusive economic zone (see map). States have exclusive jurisdiction over marine resources in this zone. However, managing the waters beyond has become an increasing cause for concern as human activities such as illegal fishing and chemical pollution persist in the absence of legal regulation.

The High Seas make up 60% of the world's oceans and cover nearly half the Earth's surface. However, only about 1% of these waters are under legal protection. This part of the ocean is considered pristine due to its remoteness. But conservation scientists argue that only 13% of these waters are 'marine wilderness' - areas free from human impacts. This is due to human stressors such as global shipping and overfishing, which threaten biodiversity.

The effects of human activities on ocean health are exacerbated by climate change. The ocean is both a major player in the climate cycle and also highly impacted by greenhouse gas emissions-induced global heating. It is an effective carbon sink, but increased greenhouse gas makes it difficult for the ocean to prevent global temperature rise.

Only 13% of the High Seas are classified as 'marine wilderness' - areas free from human impacts

The sea also absorbs almost 90% of the atmosphere's heat. The resultant rise in sea temperature supports higher-frequency and more intense storm events, increasingly seen in Southern Africa. The concomitant ocean acidification potentially compromises marine resources - both living and mineral. And rising sea levels are worrying for coastal communities and island states.

Considering the impact of human activities, scarcity of marine resources, higher weather risk environments and maritime crime, a rules-based environment of the High Seas - as heralded by the new agreement - has much promise.

The High Seas Treaty demonstrates a shift in thinking from what has long characterised international law through the mare liberum (free seas) concept. The notion of 'free seas' suggested their availability for unregulated exploitation. The treaty shows that countries now recognise the need for cooperation to protect the 'common heritage of humankind,' as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Advocate Thembile Joyini - legal adviser in South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Department and a member of the African group of negotiators for the High Seas Treaty - told ISS Today: 'South Africa and the African group were, from day one, of the view that the common heritage of mankind must be in the new instrument, and this has happened. We therefore welcome the inclusion of the common heritage of mankind as the guiding principle for the interpretation and application of the [treaty].'

Africa is the world's largest voting bloc and has an important legacy of leadership on ocean governance

Delegates from 160 countries agreed on a framework that includes creating a network of marine protected areas in the High Seas, and impact assessments to ensure the responsible use of marine resources. It also included mechanisms for equitable resource sharing. If implemented, the treaty will be pivotal to achieving the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which pledges to protect 30% of the land and sea habitats by 2030.

At a time when world leaders appear divided on many issues, agreement on the High Seas Treaty is a rare triumph for multilateralism. It is an opportunity for cooperation between countries to play a crucial role in ocean governance.

Africa is disproportionately affected by illicit maritime activities linked to environmental crime, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other issues rife in the High Seas. Countries on the continent must play a leading role in ensuring that the High Seas Treaty agreement comes into force.

With 54 African states represented at the UN, the continent is the world's largest regional voting bloc and has an important legacy of leadership on ocean governance. The exclusive economic zone concept was a result of contributions from Kenyan legal scholars Frank Xavier Njenga and Andronico Adede. The concept gives coastal states sovereign rights over their waters and the seabed within its zone to ensure equitable access and resource-sharing by all states.

Urgent action is needed, considering that 60 ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force

Newly independent African countries played an integral part in negotiations on the UN law of the sea convention between 1973 and 1982 by sponsoring a resolution to establish a standing committee to study the fair use of High Seas' ocean resources. Twenty-six African countries representing 48% of the total votes ratified the convention by 1992, bringing it into force and demonstrating strength in numbers.

Celebrating the proverbial ship reaching the shore is a landmark achievement, but the ship hasn't yet docked. Urgent action is still needed. Sixty ratifications are required for the agreement to enter into force, and the longer that takes, the greater the potential for irreversible marine biodiversity degradation.

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The African Union (AU) has an essential role in building consensus among African countries on ratifying the agreement. The African group of negotiators for the High Seas Treaty is well-versed in such negotiations. Joyini noted, 'The African group negotiated as a group, and the unity within the group was amazing.'

The AU must build on this momentum by encouraging member states to sign and ratify the treaty. This advocacy should be merged with continued calls to ratify Africa's maritime governance frameworks, including the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter and the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa (Lome Charter).

The slow commitment to both charters is worrying, but the swift ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and the strength of the African group means prospects are good.

Africa already shows innovation and leadership in ocean conservation. African-led initiatives such as the Great Blue Wall can create interconnected, protected seascapes through international cooperation and protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, while empowering local communities through fair, inclusive and participatory governance.

Timothy Walker, Project Lead and Senior Researcher, Maritime, Dhesigen Naidoo, Senior Research Associate, Climate Change and David Willima, Research Officer, Maritime, ISS
Having missed her last moments due to Covid restrictions, Mick Yates stood two metres apart from his brothers as his mothers coffin was lowered into her grave on 26 June 2020. A week before, Boris Johnson had been photographed in a room full of at least 30 people celebrating his birthday at a time of strict lockdown rules.

Throughout the pandemic, countless people were in Mr Yates position, unable to be with loved ones when they died, and banned from hugging family and friends at funerals  if they were even able to attend. Meanwhile, the then-prime minister attended gatherings at Downing Street, flouting the very rules he was supposed to be enforcing as part of attempts to curb the virus spread and reduce pressure on the NHS.

Mr Yates and an NHS worker, who lost three friends in 2020, have shared their experiences during a week when Boris Johnson endured a fraught showdown with MPs who are investigating whether he intentionally misled Parliament over the parties.
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Boris Johnsons attempt at a political comeback is finished, according to senior Tory Caroline Nokes after his torrid grilling by MPs at the televised Partygate inquiry hearing.

And a Tory polling guru said the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip seat if he is punished severely by the cross-party committee and forced to face a by-election in the months ahead.

Lord Hayward told The Independent: Although the position for the Conservatives is improving, under current circumstances the Tories would lose a by-election in Uxbridge. Theres no question the party would face defeat to Labour.

The Tory polling expert said it was difficult to judge whether Mr Johnsons own appeal could defy the grim national polling for the Tories. If the Lib Dems choose to compete hard against Labour, it might just make it possible it could be saved, he said.

The former prime minister is struggling to revive his political career after the cross-party committee investigating his Partygate denials denounced the flimsy assurances they were based on.

Ms Nokes said Mr Johnsons unlikely comeback hopes were finished, as the committee suggested he had failed to correctly interpret his own Covid guidance or seek proper advice.

Asked if Mr Johnson is finished in the event he is punished by the privileges committee for misleading the Commons, Ms Nokes told ITVs Peston: I think that Boris Johnson is finished anyway.

I think there was a very clear message from his own ministers back in the summer that they didnt want him to carry on, said the chair of the women and equalities committee. As far as Im concerned, Boris Johnson is not coming back as prime minister.

In a short-tempered testimony lasting more than three hours, Mr Johnson insisted there was not a shred of evidence to show he lied to MPs and said it would have been utterly insane for him to have done so.

But senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin questioned why Mr Johnson failed to take proper advice on Covid guidance before claiming in parliament it had been followed completely.

And it emerged the then PM had been warned against making his infamous remarks in the Commons by his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds.

Johnson leaves his London home on the day after the Partygate hearing (PA)

If a suspension of at least 10 days is voted through by MPs, a by-election in Mr Johnsons seat could be triggered. But many Tory MPs believe the committee may stop short of a 10-day suspension  even though they expect him to be found guilty of recklessly misleading the Commons.

Jacob Rees-Mogg  one of the few voices in a dwindling band of MPs still loyal to Mr Johnson  claimed his old boss had won public support with his defences  despite them being met with exasperation by the cross-party panel.

The senior Tory MP told Channel 4 News: Boris Johnson today has won in the court of public opinion.

 Boris Johnson won in court of public opinion, claims Jacob Rees-Mogg

He added: I think that if Boris Johnson went to a by-election he would win it comfortably. Because I think hes winning in the court of public opinion, who see this as a kangaroo court.

The former Brexit minister said the Johnson evidence was very convincing and claimed it was perfectly reasonable for the former PM to think No 10 leaving dos were in the remit of Covid regulations.

Mr Rees-Moggs remarkable claim about the court of public opinion comes as the latest YouGov poll shows 72 per cent of the public thinks Mr Johnson is dishonest (while only 13 per cent believe he is honest).

Boris Johnson endured a torrid time at the Partygate hearing on Wednesday (Reuters)

Mr Johnson also indicated he may refuse to accept the inquirys verdict if it finds him guilty of contempt of parliament by deliberately misleading the Commons  saying he would wait to see.

The remark was echoed by Conservative chair Greg Hands when asked if the committee was being fair to Mr Johnson. Well have to wait and see, he told Peston. I think its impossible to judge that until we see the report.

Offering his verdict on Wednesdays hearing, Will Walden, Mr Johnsons former communication chief, said: Hell be wanting to tell himself its all alright  but I dont think it is, really. It was a bit of mess. He was churlish, frustrated, disbelieving, stroppy, shameless.

Mr Walden added: A man with an elastic relationship with the truth, swearing on a Bible to tell the truth about whether in the past he told the truth or not  I mean you literally couldnt make it up.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who recused himself from leading the inquiry, said: I got the impression [Mr Johnson] knows perfectly well the rules werent followed.

Hes always known the rules werent perfectly followed  and hes always sort of tried to cover it up ... his mind is very, very muddled. I think he knows deep in his heart hes got this wrong from the very beginning but he cant own up to it.
We were being sold Apocalypse Now. Saddam Hussein had a secret chemical and biological weapons programme. He was within months of testing a nuclear device. The threat was clear, present and imminent.

Iraqs dictator, we were told, was intent on using his weapons of mass destruction. His forces were able to deploy them within 45 minutes of an order to do so using an extensive range of artillery shells, free-fall bombs, sprayers and ballistic missiles. British lives were at stake with military bases in Cyprus within range.

The prime minister, Tony Blair, spelt this out succinctly: Saddam has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes and he is actively trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability. In another speech, he went into granular and scary details: The biological agents we believe Iraq can produce include anthrax, botulinum toxin, aflatoxin and ricin. All eventually result in excruciatingly painful death.
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Watch as Rishi Sunak welcomes Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, to 10 Downing Street.

The pair are expected to hold discussions amid a backdrop of anti-judicial review protests in Mr Netanyahus home nation.

His departure to the UK was delayed as activists attempted to block his path to the airport, as he made his way to Europe for the third weekend in a row.

Mr Sunak and Mr Netanyahu are expected to hold talks related to Irans nuclear program and while he is in London, he is also scheduled to meet with Suella Braverman, the home secretary.

The Israeli prime minister is expected to arrive at No 10 around 9:30am.

Protests could take place in London while Mr Netanyahu is in the country, similar to recent demonstrations held during his visits to Rome and Berlin.

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Sir Richard Branson spoke of his Scottish roots as he welcomed guests to his new Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh.

The billionaire entrepreneur officially opened the 222-room hotel on Friday, with it not only being the first hotel carrying his Virgin brand in the UK, but also in Europe.

Sir Richard, 72, spoke of his Scottish connections at the India Buildings in the Scottish capitals Victoria Street, and said he felt the hotel could provide something original and different.

I dont sound like it but my roots are Scottish.

First of all my grandmother was from Edinburgh, my wife is from Glasgow, and I think technically Im about three quarters Scottish, so I have been coming up for many, many years, he said.

He said that Virgin normally goes where we feel theres a need for us and he felt that the company could create something original and different in the city.

If you can come into a city and do something original and different, youre likely to be able to make a business out of it, he said.

To mark the official opening, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo piper Louise Marshall played a selection of Scottish songs.

James Bermingham, chief executive of Virgin Hotels, said Edinburgh was one of the most important destinations for international travel.

Mr Bermingham said: For me, this is a perfect opportunity to introduce the brand to the UK and to Europe.

And what I would add to that as Richard is busy building the global brand that is Virgin, at Virgin Hotels we really want to be hyperlocal.

We want every hotel that we do to reflect the history, the culture, and the people of the destination.

Virgin Hotels opened its first property in Chicago in the United States, and across the Atlantic has also opened sites in Las Vegas and New Orleans.

In Scotland, as well as Edinburgh, the company is currently developing a site in Glasgows Clyde Street.

The Scottish Government, in its 2022/23 Programme for Government, said it was committed to introduce a law which gives local authorities the power to charge a tourist tax.

In Edinburgh, the city council had campaigned for Holyrood to push through a Bill which would allow it to charge a small fee, and the local authority has previously estimated it could bring in about 15 million a year.

Mr Bermingham said it was not unusual for there to be a tax of its kind, and that it was typical of most major markets.
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The sun was shining and there were no clouds in the sky as United Airlines captain Tom Manello went through his pre-flight checks in the early morning of 11 September, 2001.

As he did so, passengers on four other flights leaving from Boston, Newark, and Washington DC were preparing to execute a coordinated series of hijackings that ultimately kill nearly 3,000 people and ignite two decades of global warfare.

But for all the investigations and soul-searching that followed the 9/11 attacks, there are still some mysteries we haven't solved. Chief among them: was Manello's aircraft also intended to be a target?

"I now believe that it is more likely than not that we were the fifth airplane," said Manello in a recent TV interview. "There's a good chance that somebody was planning to try to use our airplane as a weapon of mass destruction."

That was the thesis of a new TMZ documentary called 9/11: The Fifth Plane, which aired on Fox on Monday night, based on interviews with Manello and three other members of his flight crew.

The online tabloid investigated longstanding claims that United Airlines Flight 23 might actually have had its own set of hijackers aboard, who aborted their mission when the flight was delayed by pure chance.

A new documentary explores the theory that hijackers planned to take down a fifth plane on 9/11. (Screengrab / TMZ )

But the theory raises many questions, not least why neither the FBI or the US government's landmark investigation into the disaster ever mentioned anything about United 23.

"It's definitely chilling," Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of the Atmosphere Research Group, tells The Independent. "If [these claims] are indeed accurate, it is information that needs to be taken seriously...

"It raises the question: if there could have been a fifth aircraft, then could there have been even more than that? And would any of those aircraft be intended to attack other cities in the US?"

However, he also cast scepticism on some of the documentary's claims, saying: "I'm concerned about the accuracy of some of these assertions."

Everything seemed perfectly normal

United 23 was due to take off around 9am from New York City's JFK Airport. Like the other planes used in 9/11, it was a cross-country flight  in this case, bound for Los Angeles  which meant that it was fully loaded with highly flammable jet fuel.

"Everything seemed perfectly normal," Manello told TMZ. "Everybody was in a good mood, everybody was happy. It was going to be a fun day."

While boarding passengers and preparing to taxi to the runway, there were several incidents that struck crew members as strange, although they seemed harmless at the time. Flight attendant Sandy Thorngren noticed a passenger in business class who appeared highly nervous, sweating profusely despite wearing only a T-shirt in the relatively cold airplane cabin.

In first class, the purser  known in the documentary only as Deborah  got into a minor dispute about food with four passengers: a "well-built" man in a tan suit, a young boy around 6 or 7 years old, a man who seemed to be a "bodyguard", and a woman in a niqab, or full-body covering.

Russia Ukraine War A Moment Analysis (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

However, Thorngren and another flight attendant, Barbara Brockie Smaldino, became suspicious that the person in the niqab was actually a man, because they had large hands with hair on the back of them. "It was definitely a male underneath that [niqab]," Thorngren told TMZ.

The group had said that they did not eat meat, so Deborah spent a long time trying to get them fruit plates. But they were insistent they did not want to eat and wanted to take off as soon as possible, even though it would be a very long flight. One of them also asked if they could visit the cockpit, because the child really wanted to see inside.

Plane hatches found mysteriously open

At 8:46am, the first plane flew into the north tower of the World Trade Centre. Reports of the hijackings took time to percolate out through the US air traffic control and military grapevine, so when Manello heard about it over the radio, he assumed a small plane had accidentally crashed while "trying to do something stupid" such as flying between the towers.

However, that day at JFK turned out to be unusually busy, and Flight 23 was stuck in a queue behind ten or so other planes. Hence, it still had not taken off when a second plane hit the south tower and United's dispatcher warned all transcontinental pilots to "beware cockpit intrusion".

Pandemonium ensued as all flights across the US were grounded for fear of further hijackings and JFK Airport was evacuated. Manello and his co-pilot barricaded the door, readied improvised weapons, and taxied back to the gate while passengers frantically called their loved ones to let them know they were safe.

Then came the incident that truly alarmed the crew. Airport workers on the ground observed someone running inside the plane, visible through the portholes  after all the passengers and the crew had left. Staff had already checked the whole plane for stragglers and were quite sure nobody was left on board.

(Getty Images)

Manello reported this to the airline, and the next day all crew members were interviewed by the FBI. Investigators found that one of the hatches in the plane's floor, leading down into electronics compartment, was open  which could not have happened before the passengers disembarked because they are bulky and block the whole aisle when raised.

"When I was talking to the FBI, and they told me those floor hatches were open, I couldn't breathe. I tried to figure out how those hatches could be opened, unless there was somebody down in the electronics area, and they opened it after we left the aircraft," said Deborah.

Worse, airline staff later found boxcutters  small knives used in at least two of the 9/11 hijackings  concealed in a seat-back pocket of another plane that had been sitting next to Flight 23. Its tail number was 6001, very close to Manello's 6002.

Joining these dots, the crew now believe that these boxcutters were planted ahead of time by an undercover terrorist, perhaps working for the airport or one of its private contractors. They were meant to be used by the hijackers, but through a simple mistake, they were put on the wrong plane.

Then, when the plot failed, someone  perhaps the same person  snuck on board Flight 23 in an attempt to remove the evidence, explaining the person seen running and the hatch left open. According to TMZ, it would have been easy enough to access the electronics compartment via a hatch on the plane's belly, before climbing up into the cabin through the inner hatch.

Asked by TMZ whether he could think of another rational explanation for these events, Manello said: "Honestly, no. I can't think of another reason why somebody would do that.

Theres very little doubt in my mind

There has long been speculation that the four planes hijacked on 9/11 were not the only targets. In 2004, the US government's 9/11 Commission reported that Al Qaeda mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed initially hoped to capture ten planes.

After the attacks, boxcutters were also found on two long-range Delta Airlines flight and an American Airlines flight. An FBI report made public last year said that the seat where they were hidden had been occupied by a Saudi Arabian pilot who had previously attracted suspicion from the agency (15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian, as was ringleader Osama bin Laden).

As early as 2011, Manello's co-pilot Carol Timmons, who later became the first female general in the Delaware National Guard, raised the question of whether the four people in first class had also been hijackers. Manello also told his story to The Florida Bulldog in 2022, and the United dispatcher said he was told that the four suspicious passengers never claimed their luggage and that "incriminating" items were found inside.

In TMZ's documentary, aviation safety expert and 9/11 historian Lynn Spencer said: "During my research, it was made very evident to me from the highest levels of our government... that there were more than just the four planes.

"United 23 would have become airborne right about the time of the other hijacked aircraft on September 11, and there's very little doubt in my mind that United 23 was the fifth airplane."

Burning twin towers of the World Trade Centre after hijacked planes crashed into towers (AP)

Haarteveldt, however, does have doubts. He points out that lots of people are nervous when they fly; that small children frequently ask to be shown inside the cockpit, and are often allowed to; and that we must be "very careful about not resorting to cultural biases" in casting suspicion on Muslim passengers.

About the dispute over fruit plates, he says: "I will tell you something from experience working with airlines. If you tell people that you're going to have to take a substantial delay for catering, generally, passengers will say 'we'd rather go and get to our destination and eat when we get there'."

As for the report of people running inside the plane, Harteveldt says it is shaky, as they could have been airline crew mistaken for passengers. The boxcutters are harder to explain, but he questions why an infiltrator within the airport staff would not have been discovered before now.

Authorities wont say what came of their investigation

There is also the fact that the FBI, according to United 23's crew, investigated all this  but we don't know what came of the investigation. Asked by The Independent whether it had ever made any charges or arrests in connection to the flight, the agency declined to comment.

"If the FBI missed information about a potential fifth aircraft, it's embarrassing for the agency," says Harteveldt. "Or if they still consider it to be a matter of national security that has not yet been cleared for public discussion."

The 911 Commission also never mentioned United 23 in its final report. Former staffer Miles Kara told the Bulldog that his analysis of Al Qaeda's plot "does not have room for a fifth plane", and that if there was one, it was unlikely to have come from "yet another airport" in addition to the three already confirmed.

Hence, the truth about United 23 is unclear and may never be known. But the experience of at least seeming to have suffered such a near miss was clearly traumatic for the crew, who said they struggled to work afterwards.

According to the documentary, they were denied compensation by the airline, which argued that they had not suffered any unique stress beyond what all other air crew suffered on that day, until finally being sued and reaching a settlement.

"It's been 21 years, and it still stays with me," said Thorngren. "The terrifying, horrific events, and the way I was treated by a company that I was loyal to for 30 years. I decided I just said couldn't do anymore. I retired in 2003."

"The indifference, and the way we were treated, was abominable," said Smaldino. "So it was time to leave that job that I worked so hard for."

United did not respond to requests for comment.
 Close Related video: Possible shooting reported at high school in Denver

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The Denver school board has lifted its ban on armed guards and police officers in its schools in the wake of this weeks shooting.

On Thursday, the board voted unanimously in favour of temporarily suspending the almost two-year ban which was put in place as part of the racial reckoning after George Floyds 2020 murder.

The same day, a crowd of students held a rally at the Colorado state Capitol calling on lawmakers to take greater action on gun control and school safety following Wednesdays violence.

Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student, allegedly shot two faculty members at East High School on Wednesday morning while he was being searched for weapons.

The teenager had been required to be patted down each day at school due to his record, police said.

After the shooting, Lyle allegedly killed himself while on the run from police.

His body was found hours later in some woods close to his abandoned red Volvo.

The two victims  Eric Sinclair, a dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice  were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. Mr Sinclair remains in critical condition while Mr Mason was later released after treatment.
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Gwyneth Paltrow and the skier she is alleged to have collided with were both expected to testify in a US court on Friday as lawyers battle to establish who was at fault.

Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist, is suing the Oscar-winning actress over the crash at the Deer Valley Resort in Utah, which left him with several broken ribs and a severe head injury.

Ms Paltrow has denied the allegations and is countersuing Mr Sanderson, claiming that he collided with her.

Rumoured GoPro video footage of Paltrows ski collision may not actually exist, the court heard on Friday.

Reference to footage of the 2016 incident had previously been made during the trial in an email sent by Mr Sandersons daughter.

The jury was previously shown an email, sent by Shae Sanderson-Herath, in which she referred to possible GoPro footage of the crash.

But giving evidence on Friday, Ms Sanderson-Herath said she had not actually seen any such footage, though she had believed it existed at the time.

After my dad told me about what he was feeling and that he could hardly think, and that he had rung his bell, I believe he mentioned there had to be GoPro video, she told the court.

He said there has to be GoPro footage because there was this big blood-curdling scream, so that means someone with a GoPro would have turned to look and captured it.

She added: I have never seen GoPro video and I dont know that it does exist. I believed there was GoPro video at the time and thats why I said that. I just wanted my dad to have peace of mind that there was video out there that showed what happened.

Mr Sanderson is seeking damages of a minimum of 244,000, while Ms Paltrows counterclaim is for one dollar.

On Thursday the court heard how Ms Paltrow crashing into Mr Sanderson was the only scenario that could have resulted in Mr Sandersons injuries.

I just wanted my dad to have peace of mind that there was video out there that showed what happened Shae Sanderson-Herath

Dr Richard Boehne told jurors via video evidence that Mr Sanderson had provided a cushion for the actress in the fall.

If you had a choice between Mr Sanderson hitting Ms Paltrow or Ms Paltrow hitting Mr Sanderson, you would have to pick Ms Paltrow hitting Mr Sanderson from behind and falling on top of him to account for the rib fractures, he said.

If you were to compare two scenarios, theres only one scenario that would account for enough force application to fracture those ribs, and that would be Ms Paltrow striking Mr Sanderson from behind and falling to the ground.

In essence he was like a cushion, if you will.

The trial, taking place in Park City, Utah, continues.
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Stormy Daniels has said that her phone records are gonna hurt former President Donald Trump in the hush money probe into the 2016 payment to the porn actor conducted by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

Ms Daniels said she provided her lawyer with the records on Wednesday. Shes in the middle of the possible indictment of Mr Trump, which would be the first occurrence of a US president being charged with a crime.

It is alleged that former Trump fixer Michael Cohen paid off Ms Daniels to remain silent during the 2016 campaign for the White House regarding an affair she claims took place a decade previously. Mr Trump has denied the allegation.

Mr Cohen spent time in prison and in home confinement on a campaign finance violation in relation to the payment. Its been reported that Mr Trump may be in legal jeopardy on the basis of falsifying business records as the reimbursement to Mr Cohen was logged as a legal expense.

A Twitter user asked Ms Daniels on Wednesday: Are you still laughing @StormyDaniels You seem to have stopped tweeting obsessively about Trump but Im sure youre having the last laugh.

Im sure I will. Ive been handing over phone records to my attorney today (theyre gonna hurt!) and planning spring break activities with my kid. It was a wonderful day, Ms Daniels said.

The grand jury in the case is set to meet again on Monday 27 March.

Mr Trumps legal team has argued that hes the victim of extortion.

Biographer Michael DAntonio told the AP that an indictment would be a shocking event, both because of the fact that a former president is being indicted for the first time, but also because one of the slipperiest people at the highest level of business, whose devotion to abusing the system is so well established, is being caught.

Throughout his life, he has done things for which he could have been investigated and potentially prosecuted and learned from those experiences that he could act with impunity, he added.

Former federal corruption prosecutor Noah Bookbinder told the news agency that it makes accountability absolutely essential because we cant have people in a functioning democracy operating in positions of power with total impunity where they can commit crimes and never have to face any consequences.

Mr Trump lashed out at Mr Cohen, who has turned into a fierce critic of his former boss, writing on Truth Social on Wednesday night: Cohen should be prosecuted for lying and all of the tumult and cost he put the D.A.s Office through. Also, the case against Trump should be dropped immediately, prior to a finding of Prosecutorial Misconduct.

In another post on Wednesday, Mr Trump pushed the notion that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is connected to billionaire investor George Soros.

How can a highly controversial, George Soros backed District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, who presides over one of the most crime ridden, violent, and dangerous Cities in the U.S., with no retribution toward these heinous criminals, bring charges against the 45th, and quite possibly the 47th, President of the United States, who received more votes than any sitting President in history, over 75,000,000, and who is currently leading all candidates, by a lot, when there is NO CRIME OF ANY KIND??? Mr Trump wrote.

But the connection between Mr Bragg and Mr Soros is far from as close as Republicans would like it to appear.

The racial justice group Color of Change, to which Mr Soros donated $1m in 2021, works to influence government and corporate policy across the US.

The Open Society Policy Center, which is funded by Mr Soros, sent $7m to the groups 501(c)(4) branch that same year.

But none of those funds was earmarked for the Bragg campaign or connected to attempts to influence him, CNBC notes.

A spokesperson for Mr Soros told CNBC that he has never met or spoken to Alvin Bragg.

Democrats and experts have often argued that the attacks on Mr Soros, who is Jewish, are anti-Semitic.

The president of Color of Change, Rashad Robinson, tweeted on 19 March: Make no mistake, over the next couple of days as more news about potential consequences for Trump circulates, we will see a flood of anti-Black and anti-Semitic attacks from the former President and his supporters and enablers.

They will attack those of us fighting to end mass incarceration, working to hold police accountable & pushing to the day when the rich and powerful dont live by a different set of rules. They will attack those of us doing the work like @ColorOfChange n allies & those funding it, he added.
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An aggressive, drug-resistant bacterial infection has left three people dead and many others  including a Florida firehouse captain  with damaged eyesight.

Adam Di Sarro is the head of a firehouse in Naples, Florida, but has missed five months of work due to a bacterial infection in his eye that he likely contracted from contaminated eyedrops.

Mr Di Sarro had used artificial tears for years to help prevent dry, scratchy eyes. Despite eye irritation being nothing new for the firefighter, last fall he said things began to get worse.

"The redness came on, the irritation came on, a lot of itching, and it was abnormal," Mr Di Sarro told CBS News. "It just progressively got worse, to the point where I couldn't even see within a few hours."

Doctors found the drug-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in his eye, and sent him to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami for treatment. A doctor there used an experimental light treatment to kill the infection.

The CDC would eventually learn that the eyedrops Mr Di Sarro was using  EzriCare Artificial Tears  were contaminated with the aggressive bacteria. After the agency posted its warning to consumers, EzriCare launched a voluntary recall of the product. Delsam Pharma, which also makes artificial tears, launched its own voluntary recall shortly after.

Mr Di Sarro is reportedly planning to sue EzriCare for negligence. Until then, he has been out of work and awaiting a surgery he hopes will restore the vision to his left eye.

"That was hard," he told CBS News. "And it's still hard because I'm still not at work, going on five months."

Adam Di Sarro, a police captain in Naples, Florida, lost vision in his left eye after using eyedrops contaminated by an aggressive and drug-resistant bacteria (screengrab/CBS News)

Three people in the US have died as a result of the bacteria. At least eight have gone blind, and four have had to have their eyes surgically removed.

One of the newest case reports described a 72-year-old woman who lost her vision in her left eye after using the ExriCare product for approximately a week, according to CNN.

She started noticing some blurry vision in her left eye for a few days, Dr Ahmed Omar, an ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, who treated the woman, told the network. It was initially painless, but according to the patient and her husband, one morning she woke up and she had a yellow discharge on her pillow. And thats when she started noticing that the appearance of her eye had changed.

The woman had to be admitted to the emergency room, where physicians discovered a large ulcer on her left cornea.

The CDC has warned anyone who has used the products recently to seek medical care immediately.
Seychelles' Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) will complete its mandate on March 31st in conformity with the second extension granted at the end of last year, said the Commission in a press statement on Thursday.

The Commission said that on that date, all 247 case determinations that had not been filed before President Wavel Ramkalawan in August 2022, will be handed over by the TRNUC, thus completing the final report of the Commission.

TRNUC anticipates that as per Section 10(4) of the TRNUC Act, "the President shall make the complete final report public and lay a copy of it before the National Assembly within one month of receiving it."

Last year, TRNUC handed over to the President the completed volumes of its final report as well as part of the third volume of case determinations, namely 124 of the 371 individual complaints filed before the Commission.

The TRNUC was established in 2018 to work on settling past political divisions and grievances that were a result of the coup d'etat in Seychelles on June 5, 1977. It had a three-year mandate which was expected to end in August 2022.

As the Commission was unable to complete its mandate, it was granted an initial extension by the National Assembly until December 2022. The government was informed in November 2022, that considerable investigative challenges meant that the Commission would not be unable to complete all of its determinations under the extension granted.

The Commission said it "hopes that its recommendation for the establishment of a successor body to implement reparations in accordance with the Commission's victims-led Reparations Policy adopted in accordance with Section 3(7) (e) (i) of the TRNUC Act, will be implemented with the support of all Government authorities."

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It also notes in that regard that it has also received recently a number of requests from complainants for reconsideration of their determinations and that "given the end of the mandate of the Commission, these requests will be handed to the successor body, to be established by the government, for its consideration."

TRNUC says it still needs to complete other remaining residual functions which include transcription, translation and making publicly accessible the records of the Commission.

TRNUC expressed its gratitude to the complainants, witnesses and suspects that cooperated with the Commission in the implementation of its challenging mandate.

The chairperson, Gabrielle Mcintyre, also acknowledged the dedication, commitment, and impartiality of the National Commissioners and commended their efforts undertaken for the benefit of all Seychellois.

TRNUC hopes that its "contributions towards revealing and seeking to understand the past will ensure that the human rights violations do not recur, as well as facilitate a broad acceptance of that past. It is that broad acceptance that has the potential to lay the foundation for the building of a better future for all Seychellois."
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Gwyneth Paltrows lawyer apologised for being an ass to the daughter of the doctor suing the actress over a 2016 ski accident.

Attorney Stephen Owens made the admission after his cross-examination of Polly Sanderson Grasham, who had testified as a witness for her father, Terry Sanderson.

He claims Paltrow slammed into him in a full body hit leaving him with permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement.

(AP)

Mr Sanderson is seeking $300,000 in damages from the Oscar winner after alleging that her was left with permanent brain damage following the accident at the Deer Valley resort in Utah.

Mr Owens and Ms Sanderson Grasham had been involved in a tense questioning after she testified that her father had become angry and short-tempered after the accident.

The lawyer rejected her claims and pointed to a deposition in which her sister, Jenny, had stated that her father was abusive, and asked if her sister was a liar.

She denied that her father had abused her sister, but conceded he had tried to mould her, and told the lawyer that sometimes we experience events differently.

Following a break in Thursdays proceedings, Mr Owens directly apologised to Ms Sanderson Grasham, who had broken down on the stand.

Polly Grasham, daughter of Terry Sanderson, reacts to questioning in court on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP)

I need to apologize, I was being an ass earlier, he told her. It was wrong for me to triangulate you, your dad, your sister, and your mom. I ask for your forgiveness.

Paltrow has also countersued 76-year-old Mr Sanderson claiming that he was in fact responsible for the accident.

During the trial in Park City, Utah, psycho-neurologist Dr Alina Fong hit out at the defences claims that Mr Sanderson was exaggerating his symptoms to exploit Ms Paltrows celebrity status and wealth. Dr Fong, who opened a clinic in Boston in partnership with Tom Brady, has diagnosed Mr Sanderson with PCS (persistent post-concussive symptoms), which she said happened after the accident.

Gwyneth Paltrow sits in court as her attorney speaks on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP)

Mr Sandersons attorneys and expert medical witnesses have described how injuries were likely caused by someone crashing into Mr Sanderson from behind and attributed noticeable changes in his mental acuity to that days injuries.

Ms Paltrows attorneys have tried to paint Dr Sanderson as a 76-year-old whose decline followed a normal course of ageing rather than resulted from crashing into their celebrity client.
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Watch live as Gwyneth Paltrows ski crash trial continues in Utah on Friday 24 March.

The Hollywood star and Goop CEO is being sued by retired optometrist Dr Terry Sanderson, 76, who claims she ploughed into him on the slopes of Flagstaff Mountain at the Deer Valley Resort on 26 February 2016.

Ms Paltrow denies blame for the incident and has countersued.

Ahead of testimony on the third day of the trial, Ms Paltrows security team offered to bring treats to the bailiffs in the Utah courtroom.

Private security for my client wanted to bring in treats for the bailiffs for how helpful theyve been, her attorney Steve Owens said.

So, I wanted to do that transparently and see if there are any objections.

Lawyers for Mr Sanderson did indeed object, prompting Judge Kent Holmberg to say: OK, theres an objection so thank you, but no thank you.

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Angela Pray Craig, a married mother of six raising her family in Colorado, was known for any number of admirable qualities, among them her wit, love of animals, sense of humour and dedication to family. She was also known for another trait that got a very high mention in her obituary: She had a large capacity to forgive.

The 43-year-old, married to Denver-area dentist James Toliver Craig, had already forgiven her husband for numerous affairs, according to reports  and, presumably, after he drugged her at least once that she knew of. But Dr Craig allegedly shirked that forgiveness and, according to court documents, continued with his abhorrent treatment of his wife, culminating in her poisoning death last weekend.

Now the Craig children are mourning their mother  as their father faces murder charges.

Colorado authorities allege that Dr Craig executed a cold-blooded plot to kill his wife with tainted protein shakes while courting his orthodontist out-of-state mistress. He appeared in court on Thursday in Aurora, Colorado, as the charge of first-degree murder was filed against him.

The unshaven, handcuffed 45-year-old hanging his head in an orange jumpsuit could not look further from the boyish-seeming blonde father smiling out from professional and family photos. Nor did the disgraced dentist on Thursday match the portrait of a smitten lover drawn by excerpts from his communication with the woman with whom he was allegedly having an affair.

The chilling scheme began to unravel after Ms Craig, accompanied by her brother, presented with severe headaches and dizziness at UC Health University of Colorado Hospital on the morning of Wednesday 15 March. Within three hours, she suffered a seizure and began to rapidly decline medically, according to court documents, before being placed on life support in the intensive care unit.

(Facebook )

Doctors could not figure out what was wrong with her. Dr Craigs colleagues, however, had their suspicions.

It wasnt a secret to some of the employees at Summerbrook Dental Practice, which the dentist co-owns with longtime friend Ryan Redfearn, that Dr Craig and his wife had been having marital problems. But an office manager had also noticed strange behaviour, detailing in the affidavit how shed seen Dr Craig working on a computer in an exam room, though he rarely used the space and had his own devices.

Hed also told her to be on alert for a personal package hed ordered to the office, adding that she shouldnt open it. But when another employee did, according to documents, the manager glanced inside  and saw potassium cyanide. She Googled it and realised the symptoms matched up with Angelas recent illnesses.

The mother of six had been getting increasingly ill throughout the month of March. She went to the hospital on 6 March; 9 March, when she was admitted until 14 March; and again on 15 March, her final fateful stay. She had been suffering from extreme vomiting, headaches, low blood pressure and dizziness; her eyes couldnt focus, and she knew something was seriously wrong.

In text message exchanges with her husband that are pictured in court documents, Ms Craig complained to her husband that she felt as she did when she took heavy drugs, as if she were moving through gel.

And Ms Craig would know what being drugged felt like; a relative told police that shed admitted her husband had drugged her at least once before.

Angela and James marriage had always been tumultuous, she said, according to the affidavit. James had multiple affairs with several women, told Angela he had been addicted to pornography since he was a teenager, and drugged Angela approximately five to six years ago. Angela told [redacted] that James drugged her (an unknown drug) because he planned to go into their bathroom and give himself a lethal injection of something and commit suicide. James told Angela he drugged her so she wouldnt find him nor be able to save him, which would give the lethal drugs time to kill him.

James Craig appears in Colorado court charged with killing his wife (CBS Colorado)

Text messages obtained by detectives between the Craigs indicate that Mr Craig referred to this incident himself in the days leading up to his wifes death, telling her: Given our history, | know that must be triggering. Just for the record, I didnt drug you.

Police believe Dr Craig laced his wifes protein shakes with the potassium cyanide he ordered from Amazon for just $13. At the Craigs residence, they found workout-style shakers and two Ziploc-style bags with white powdery substances in them.

In his internet history, they also found chilling searches for how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human, how to make poison and is arsenic detectable in an autopsy.

Through all of this, Dr Craig was making travel plans with and sending sexually explicit emails to an orthodontist in Austin, Texas, with whom he was having an affair, the affidavit shows.

It appears James was flying this woman into Denver while his wife and the mother of his children was dying in the hospital, the affidavit states.

When he tells the woman that something happened to his wife, she sent James an email explaining how sorry she was for him and that she wished she was helping him, not pulling him away. She stated she knew it had to be so hard what he was going through and that she wanted to be there for him but did not want to mix in with his family and friends and pretend to be only a friend when there was something more, the affidavit says.

That email was sent on 16 March; Ms Craig was pronounced dead on 18 March  and her husband refused requests to conduct an autopsy, including from relatives pleading for answers in case the cause of her illness had been genetic. Dr Craig argued that if doctors couldnt find the source of his wifes sudden illness while she was alive, he did not want them poking holes when she was dead.

(Angela Craig/Obituary )

One of Dr Craigs colleagues, however, had informed a nurse at the hospital about the dentists potassium cyanide purchase, and police were called. He tried to explain his way out of the situation by claiming that his wife had been suicidal  and had made past attempts  which Angelas friends and children denied ever witnessing.

Dr Craig went as far as claiming that he had to revive Angela on not one, but several occasions. He also alleged that Angelas supposed suicidal ideation had worsened after he brought up the possibility of divorce in December 2022.

But text messages between the couple paint a very different image. Exchanges shown in the affidavit for Dr Craigs arrest show that he had his wife under the impression that he wanted to patch things up.

And while his wife fought for her life in a hospital bed, the disgraced dentist continued to thank church friends for their prayers, noting that it was pretty scary not having answers.

When he was confronted by law enforcement, Dr Craig attempted to guilt trip his business partner for not giving a hungry DA the opportunity to paint him in a negative light.

In a lengthy text, the suspected murderer described a devastating scene: his six children saying goodbye to their brain-dead mother before arriving home to find investigators seizing evidence.

The dentist was arrested this week and charged with first-degree murder, leaving family and friends reeling after the already shocking death of the beloved mother of six.

Ms Craig came from a large family herself; a native of Dodge City, Kansas, she was the beloved baby girl in a family of ten raucous children, her obituary states.

She married James Craig in December 1999; at the time of her death, he was still saved as The Boy on her phone. Despite their marital problems, she told the dentist repeatedly how much she loved him, according to texts included in court documents, as he was allegedly poisoning her to death.

In this undated photo provided by Aurora Police Department is James Craig. Investigators say the Colorado dentist intent on killing his wife put poison in her protein shakes before finally succeeding with a rush order dose of potassium cyanide powder he said he needed to perform surgery. Craig was arrested on Sunday, March 19, 2023, on a first-degree murder charge. (Aurora Police Department via AP)

Ms Craig had been active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, filling various positions including choir director, teacher, and youth organization leader, her obituary states.  However, she most loved working as a family history consultant. She worked on her own familys history with a powerful dedication, but she also helped friends complete theirs. No doubt she has many friends and family members on the other side of the veil because of the work she has done in this life for them.

On the day Dr Craig had formal charges read to him in court, his wifes loved ones gathered for a time of comfort and friendship in Aurora, the same place where she raised her family and the same town where she died.

The husband of one of Dr Craigs former colleagues attempted to address how the community was feeling in a Facebook post on Tuesday, noting that his wife had spoken several times with Ms Craig while working with the dentist.

We were among the first to get wind of the ugly rumour before it went worldwide, Todd Gilmore wrote. Some saw a decline, while many regarded him as a skillful and charismatic professional.

He said hed overheard conversations between his wife and her former coworkers  theres just so much disbelief  what would lead someone to act on such evil? Unimaginable things were going on inside this man that were too well hidden.

If you pray, please join us in praying for everyone affected by this tragedy, especially for the six kids left behind. they face lifelong damage that cannot be estimated.

Dr Craig has laid bare a carefully crafted double life, full of affairs, gambling and financial ruin.

As his children cope with the sudden loss of both parental figures, investigators prepare to pick apart the once-renowned dentists defence when he is back in court on 7 April.

In her obituary, Ms Craigs loved ones have attempted to translate into words her life beyond a tragic and unexpected death. They reminisced about her infectious smile, her endearing determination to be present at every family event, her commitment to her children, and her loyalty to the man who is now accused of her murder.

Andrea Blanco contributed to this report.
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Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau are facing criticism for booking a $6,000 (CAD) (4,800) per night luxury central London hotel suite at taxpayers expense when they attended Queen Elizabeth IIs state funeral last September.

The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) confirmed that it was the Trudeaus who had stayed in the Corinthia in Whitehall and used its pricey River Suite after Canadian media obtained documents relating to the C$400,000 (238,000) trip through freedom of information requests in the autumn, CBC reports.

The cost of the Corinthia stay caught reporters attention but it was not immediately clear who among the Canadian delegation had used the suite, which offers views of the Thames and London Eye and has its own complimentary butler service and powder room.

With opposition politicians like Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre pursuing the matter and others demanding invoices from the trip, arguing that too much had been spent, the PMO confirmed it was the Trudeaus themselves who had used the room and that it had been booked for them on 9 September, the day after Her Majestys death, for a five-day stay from 15-20 September.

More than 500 heads of state and their staff descended on the British capital to attend the funeral of the late monarch at Westminster Abbey on 19 September, prompting hotel prices to soar for what proved to be a momentous occasion packed with pomp and ceremony in honour of her 70-year record of public service.

The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a significant event for Canadians, Mr Trudeaus press secretary said in a written statement on Thursday.

Canada was represented by former prime ministers and governors general to pay their respects to the monarch who oversaw almost half of Canadas time as an independent country.

The Queen was Canadas head of state and Mr Trudeau designated the day of her funeral as a national day of mourning in her memory.

However, he has previously faced criticism over his conduct in London during the same visit after he was filmed singing Queens 1975 anthem Bohemian Rhapsody in the Corinthias lobby in a clip widely shared on social media.

The PM can be seen in the short video wearing a maroon T-shirt and belting out the song accompanied by Canadian pianist Gregory Charles.

Mr Charles subsequently told The Globe and Mail that Mr Trudeaus group had sung with him for two hours and that the evening had been a lot of fun but some commentators accused the PM of lacking respect.

On Twitter, the episode was denounced variously as embarrassing, a disgrace and an unbecoming, undignified display and completely inappropriate given the circumstances and his position.

A spokesman explained at the time: After dinner on Saturday, [the] prime minister joined a small gathering with members of the Canadian delegation, who have come together to pay tribute to the life and service of Her Majesty.

Gregory Charles, a renowned musician from Quebec and Order of Canada recipient, played piano in the hotel lobby, which resulted in some members of the delegation including the prime minister joining.
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Missing teenager Scottie Morris has been found safe in Indiana after vanishing ten days ago from his family home in Indiana wearing a white t-shirt with disparaging writing scrawled on it that branded him a liar.

The 14-year-old was discovered by a police officer at about 11pm on Friday night wandering the streets of the town of Eaton, according to Fox59.

The child was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated before being placed in a safe environment by Delaware County Child Protective Services.

Police said that interviews are being carried out regarding the disappearance and that his family is cooperating with the investigation.

Scottie vanished around 8.30pm on 16 March, prompting Eaton Police to ask residents to check their home surveillance footage.

After he had been missing for a week, residents held a candlelight vigil.

One organizer, Teresa Wilkerson, told Fox59 that the teens family wanted to extend their greatest appreciation for Eaton Police Department, the fire departments, for all of the communities around the world that have been praying for this.

Scottie, I believe is the catalyst for an amazing movement of the world coming together and praying specifically one child at a time home, Ms Wilkerson said.

Police and volunteers have been searching the town for the past week including woodland and vacant homes. Drones, boats, and K9 dog units were used in the search efforts.

We want to thank all of the agencies, departments, & volunteers that helped! the Eaton Police Department said on Facebook when announcing that the teenager had been found.

A poster shows missing 14-year-old Scottie Morris (Screenshot / WTHR)

When Scottie vanished from his family home in Indiana on the night of 16 March, he was wearing a white t-shirt with disparaging writing scrawled on it that branded him a liar.

Authorities believe Scottie ran away from home that night after an argument with his parents, and that the shirt he was wearing was part of a disturbing punishment pattern.

Eaton police shared a photo of Scottie on their Facebook page earlier this month to assist with the search for him.

In the disturbing picture, the boy appeared distraught and on the verge of tears. His head was shaved and he was also wearing a white t-shirt with crying emoji faces drawn on it and writing that described him as a liar who had hurt [his brother].

Online users reacted with uproar and blurred the disparaging writing on Scotties shirt when helping spread the word. But they also questioned why that picture was made public and the context behind it.

Police later explained in a post that it was the only photo provided to them in the immediate aftermath of Scotties disappearance.

(Eaton PD)

We are very sorry the post seemed as if we were trying to shame him in [any way], as that would NEVER be our intent, the statement read. Placing that photo on social media was in no way an attempt to embarrass or humiliate him.

Police Chief Jay Turner confirmed that the t-shirt and subsequent picture taken by Scotties parents were part of a disturbing and unorthodox punishment.

I will say, the shaved head was his idea, they went to Great Clips and its what he told them he wanted, Mr Turner told 21Alive. But, the shirt, it was quite unorthodox, kind of disturbing and were looking into that.

During the search efforts, Scotties mother Felicia Morris made a public plea for her son to return home.

Scott, I love you and I want you to come home, Ms Morris told WTHR as she broke down in tears. I know you are mad and confused and Im afraid youre scared with all of this. Everyone is looking out for you, were not trying to scare you. Youre not in trouble.

She added: If youre in a house and they come to you and you dont want to go out because its the cops, reach out. Me and dad will come get you. I love you and I just want you to come home. I need to know that youre safe.
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President Joe Biden responded to the Iranian drone strike in northeast Syria  which claimed the life of one American contractor and wounded five US service members  by warning Iran that the US is willing to act forcefully to protect our people.

Make no mistake, the United States does not ... seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night, Mr Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, during a joint appearance with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Mr Biden authorised retaliatory precision airstrikes against Iran-aligned groups after the deadly Iranian drone strike.

The drone struck a facility on a coalition base housing US personnel in northeast Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon announced in a statement late on Thursday night.

One contractor  an American citizen  died in the strike while five US service members and an additional US contractor were also wounded.

My heart and deepest condolences go out to the family of the American we lost, and wish a speedy recovery for those who are wounded, Mr Biden said. But Im also grateful for the professionalism of our service members who so ably carried out this response.

The Pentagon said that the intelligence community had determined the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be of Iranian origin.

In response to the strike, Mr Biden gave the green light for the Pentagon to launch a series of airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

These strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and two other fighters near the town of Mayadeen, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Another strike on a military post near the border with Iraq had no reported fatalities, the information group said.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the US had taken proportionate and deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimise casualties.

At the direction of President Biden, I authorised US Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), he said.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC.

Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and with those who were wounded in the attack earlier today.

The DOD chief added: As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the US had taken proportionate and deliberate action (AP)

Commander of US Central Command General Erik Kurilla warned that the US is ready to respond with additional strikes if there are more attacks on American troops.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said.

Three of the wounded service members and the wounded contractor were taken to medical facilities in Iraq, while the two other service members received treatment on-site.

The identities of the dead and wounded Americans have not been released.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir Ez-Zor, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields.

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes. Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The strikes came just hours after Commander Kurilla testified before the House Armed Services Committee about Iran using proxies to hide its attacks.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, he told the House committee on Thursday.

Thats either UAVs or rockets to be able to attack our forces in either Iraq or Syria.

In total, such Iranian proxies have carried out 78 drone or rocket attacks on US forces in the Middle East since the start of 2021, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez railed against Republicans during a House session, claiming even the story of iconic civil rights figure Rosa Parks is "too woke" for the GOP.

During a meeting of the House on Thursday, Ms Ocasio-Cortez gave an impassioned criticism of the Republicans' "Parents Bill of Rights Act," which aims to give broad oversight to parents over the nature of the curriculum taught in schools, the specific books available to children and the spending of the schools' budgets.

The congresswoman argued that the real intention of the bill was not to give parents more agency in their children's education, but as a vehicle for controlling information.

"But before they claim that this is not about banning books and not about harming the LGBT community, let's just look at the impacts of similar Republican legislation that has already passed on the state level," she said. "Look at these books that have already been banned due to Republican measures."

One of the books she mentions is "The Life of Rosa Parks" by Kathleen Connors. The book recounts the life of Parks, who famously refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person at a time when Black people were forced to sit in the back of the bus, away from white riders.

Duval County, in Florida, banned the book in its schools along with 175 other titles.

"'The Life of Rosa Parks'  this apparently is too woke by the Republican Party," she said.

She likened the proposed legislation to fascism.

"When we talk about progressive values, I can say what my progressive value is," she said. "And that is freedom over fascism."

In some cases the books aren't banned, but altered. Another Florida school district removed references to Parks' race in a lesson plan centering on her story. The removal was intended to ensure the lesson was in compliance with the state's restrictive "Stop WOKE Act," which was enacted by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The state's Department of Education later admitted removing her race from the lesson was wrong.

Trying to educate children in Florida is becoming more difficult for teachers and staff trying to navigate the frequently changing state mandates passed down by Mr DeSantis  an ostensible proponent of small government and free speech.

A principal in Tallahassee was recently forced to resign after parents complained about a lesson for sixth-graders that featured Michelangelo's David as well as other Renaissance artwork.

One of the parents that complained about the lesson called it "pornographic.

The school board chair, Barney Bishop, is an avid supporter of Mr DeSantis' educational agenda who bragged that the school would be on the "cutting edge" of following the state's new guidelines.

We agree with everything the governor is doing in the educational arena. We support him because hes right, Mr Bishop told the Tallahassee Democrat. The whole woke indoctrination going on about pronouns and drag queens isnt appropriate in school."
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Congo's former rebel leader jailed by the International Criminal Court, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has been appointed Congo's Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle.

Bemba's appointment to the key positions was announced Thursday evening on state television by President Felix Tshisekedi's spokeswoman. Bemba's promotion and other Cabinet appointments come less than a year ahead of Congo's presidential elections.

Congo's former vice president between 2003 and 2006, Bemba was later imprisoned by the ICC for more than a decade, accused of murders, rapes and pillaging committed by his Movement for the Liberation of Congo forces in the neighboring country of Central African Republic. In a surprising ruling, he was acquitted by the ICC in 2018. Bemba has always maintained his innocence.

Bemba's return to prominent government positions comes nine months ahead of Congo's presidential elections scheduled for December. Bemba's political comeback was likely decided to help Tshisekedi win votes in Congo's war-torn northeast, where Bemba's rebel group was popular in the 1990s and 2000s, say analysts.

This is clearly a pre-election reshuffle and Jean-Pierre Bemba has been appointed to bring his supporters in line to rally behind the president ahead of the race, said Benjamin Hunter, Africa analyst for Verisk Maplecroft, a risk assessment firm.

Despite Bembas previous imprisonment by the ICC, he is a political heavyweight with the patronage networks and contact book to help Tshisekedis election campaign, he said.

Conflict in eastern Congo has been simmering for decades with more than 120 armed groups fighting for power, land, resources and some to defend their communities. Tshisekedi came to office in 2019 promising to stem Congo's instability and violence, but it's only increased.

Other new government postings in the Cabinet reshuffle include Tshisekedis former chief of staff, Vital Kamerhe, who was named the minister of the economy. Kamerhe was sentenced to 20 years in prison but acquitted last year. Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, a former warlord in Ituri province was appointed minister of state for national integration.
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Israel's attorney general on Friday warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he has violated the Supreme Court's conflict of interest ruling, which barred him from direct involvement in his government's divisive plans for a judicial overhaul.

Netanyahus far-right government has barreled ahead with plans to weaken the Supreme Court and grant politicians less judicial oversight in their policymaking despite massive protests from across Israeli society  including an uproar among business leaders, top legal officials and military reservists. On Thursday, just hours after his coalition passed a law that would protect the Israeli leader from being deemed unfit to rule because of his corruption trial and claims of a conflict of interest, Netanyahu defiantly pledged to proceed with the overhaul.

Netanyahu contended that stripping the attorney general of the power to remove him from office was necessary to clear the way for him to participate in the negotiations on the judicial overhaul in spite of her instructions, and try to mend the rift in the polarized nation.

Until today my hands were tied, Netanyahu said in a prime-time TV address Thursday, referring to the change in the law on removing a prime minister.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara thoroughly disagreed, sharply criticizing him in a letter Friday for violating a conflict of interest agreement that had allowed him to continue leading the country while charged with corruption, bribery and breach of trust. The deal Netanyahu was pressed to sign in 2020 prevented him from being involved in legislative issues or key judicial appointments that could affect his ongoing trial.

Your statement last night and any further actions by you that violate that agreement are completely illegal and in conflict of interest, Baharav-Miara wrote in Friday's letter. The legal situation is clear  you must avoid any involvement in measures to change the judicial system.

The contentious law that makes it harder to remove Netanyahu from office, passed late Wednesday by a slim majority of 61 in the 120-seat parliament, does not undo the court's earlier conflict of interest ruling, Baharav-Miara said. The consequences of Netanyahu's violations of the agreement were not immediately clear.

Netanyahu, on an official visit to Britain, did not immediately respond to her letter.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a good governance organization, warned of a constitutional crisis. It pledged to file a petition urging that Netanyahu be held in contempt of court. A prime minister who does not obey the court and its orders is an anarchist, the group said.

Supporters of the judicial overhaul say it will restore power to elected legislators and make the courts less interventionist. Critics say the move upends Israels system of checks and balances and pushes it toward autocracy.
INTERNATIONAL organisations have voiced their concern over the arrest of Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Inna Hengari.

She was arrested on Tuesday along with activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma and Michael Amusheelelo for leading an unsanctioned demonstration over the high unemployment rate.

The High Court had earlier dismissed an application to stage the demonstration as a non urgent issue.

Some of the organisations and individuals that have condemned the arrest includes spokesperson for Zimbabwe's opposition political party the Citizens Coalition for Change, Fadzayi Mahere, spokesperson for Zambia's United Party for National Development Joseph Kalimbwe, human rights lawyers and the Young Democrat Union of Africa, where Hengari is a secretary general.

"We all know member of parliament (MP) Hengari is not a criminal. We call for her release," Mahere said on Twitter.

Human rights lawyer Fillemon Shikomba on Tuesday also took to Twitter to say that he reached out to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

On Shikomba's behalf, Kalimbwe said: "Our friend and lawyer, Nambili Mhata, has just joined our legal team alongside Kadhila Amoomo, to help Hengari and Nauyoma be safely released. Other lawyers have been assigned to Julieta and Micheal Amushelelo. Talking about unemployment is not a crime.

"Taking away young people's freedom on Independence Day defeats the very essence of what Independence Day represents!" Shikomba said.

PDM MP Vipua Muharukua said there is a huge divide between the 'haves' and 'have nots' to the point that it's causing the Namibian youth to suffer.

Muharukua said this in an interview with SABC news on Tuesday.

"Fifty-one percent of young Namibians do not have employment and the young people make up 60% of Namibia's population and that's a huge amount of energy sitting idly that Namibians can use to make ourselves a better nation," Muharukua said.
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Former president Donald Trump has now been charged in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs grand jury investigation into hush payments leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

The investigation ramped up in recent weeks and on Thursday 30 March, the Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Mr Trump on criminal charges  making him the first current or former president to ever face criminal charges in the history of the US.

He stands accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal an alleged scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about him.

At a hearing in New York City on Tuesday 4 April, Mr Trump pled not guilty to all charges.

Throughout February and March, the long-running probe had entered a new phase and Mr Braggs office contacted the presidents lawyers to offer an opportunity for voluntary testimony, a sign that meant an indictment or multiple indictments were likely in the works.

Mr Trump himself predicted on 18 March that he would be arrested the following week on Tuesday 21 March, which did not come to pass.

Now that Mr Trump has actually been arrested and charged, it marks the first time an investigation into his inner circle (of which there have been several, with the most famous leading to multiple indictments for figures connected to the 2016 campaign) has actually drawn blood from the former president himself.

The Justice Departments protocol against charging a sitting president appeared to cool any ability of the agency to do so while he was in office, but the presidents loss in 2020 opened the door to prosecution over the 2016 Stormy Daniels matter as well as an investigation into the January 6 attack and Mr Trumps efforts to overturn the election.

That second investigation continues, with the distinct possibility of potential charges for both Mr Trump and members of his legal team. And alongside the Bragg investigation, it raises the question: What happens to the 2024 race, and Donald Trumps ability to participate in it, now that he is under criminal indictment?

The short answer is, not much. There are no restrictions in the US Constitution preventing anyone indicted or convicted of a crime, or even currently serving prison time, from running for or winning the presidency. Even if he were tried and convicted in one of the so-called quick trials he has repeatedly cheered Chinas government for operating in the cases of drug offences, Mr Trump could still run the entirety of his presidential campaign from a prison cell.

What is far less clear is what would happen were he to win in that scenario. Just as there are no restrictions in the Constitution for a person to run while under indictment, theres no explanation for what should occur in the event that they win. Theres nothing in the document that would automatically grant Mr Trump a reprieve from prison time, save for the likelihood that any charges brought by federal authorities, were they still being litigated at the point when Mr Trump assumed the presidency for a second time, would be dropped due to the Department of Justices refusal to prosecute a sitting president.

State-level charges like the ones being filed by Mr Bragg are far trickier, and fall outside of Mr Trumps pardon power were they to conclude in a conviction.

Were conviction on state charges to occur alongside a Trump election victory, it would likely lead to a massive legal fight to determine whether there was a way for the former president to worm his way out of serving time. If Mr Trump was unable to avoid that outcome, it would almost certainly lead to his impeachment or removal via the 25th Amendment, which allows the Cabinet to remove a president who is unable to perform their duties. There are many duties and trappings of the presidency that would simply be impossible to be operated or performed from a prison cell, the viewing of classified materials just to name one.

Any potential conviction of Mr Trump is still a long way off and little more than a distant possibility. But the conversations he has started with his bid for the presidency despite facing one indictment and multiple criminal investigations have already pushed parts of theoretical US constitutional law into a much realer place than many experts ever thought it would see.

This story was updated on Tuesday 4 April 2023 to reflect new developments
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Cuba holds National Assembly elections Sunday, but there are only 470 candidates running for the 470 seats, with no opposition challengers and no campaigning. Voters essentially will do no more than endorse the nominated slate of candidates.

The polling held every five years technically is nonpartisan, but falls under the indirect control of the countrys true power under the constitution, the ruling Communist Party.

Half of the candidates come from municipal assemblies chosen in local elections last November. The other half are nominated by groups representing broad swaths of society  such as a womens group and workers unions. All are vetted by election committees with ties to the party.

Cubas establishment says the system is inclusive and builds unity, while steering clear of the divisiveness of party politics or any ill effects of big-money donors.

The outcome may be a foregone conclusion, but one indicator that will be closely watched is how many voters abstain from the process. That number has been growing over the past decade, which some critics point to as an erosion of confidence in Cubas one-party system as the country suffers a deep economic crisis.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY?

The National Assembly is nominally the countrys highest governing power. It approves laws and votes for the president and executive officials from among its members.

In practice, the chamber typically endorses initiatives and the leadership favored by the Communist Party, which is the only political party allowed on the island nation and is enshrined in the constitution as the leader of society.

Half of the delegates come from municipal assemblies voted in during November elections, in which voters chose councilors from 26,746 candidates to fill 12,427 seats around the country. The other half are made of well-known personalities proposed by workers unions and social organizations such as the Womens Federation, University Youth Federation and National Association of Peasants.

Special candidacy commissions with ties to the Communist Party then whittle the candidates down to 470.

The new National Assembly is expected to convene April 19, when it will vote on the executive leadership, with current President Miguel Diaz-Canel expected to be re-elected.

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?

Candidates include major Cuban leaders such as Diaz-Canel, the semi-retired former Communist Party leader Raul Castro, Economy Minister Alejandro Gil, and Premier Manuel Marrero.

They also include musician Eduardo Sosa, LGBT community representative Mariela Castro and scientist Eduardo Martinez. Also a candidate is Elian Gonzalez, who as a child in 2000 famously became the center of a diplomatic custody battle between Cuba and the United States.

Carlos Miguel Perez, a 36-year-old computer engineer who owns a medium-sized business, is a candidate in the capitals Playa municipality. He told The Associated Press that he accepted the nomination of a telecom union after learning that the current assembly approved a 2023 budget that limits tax breaks to small and medium-sized businesses like his.

It is necessary that there also be a representation of this private sector in the Cuban parliament, said Perez, who is not a member of the Communist Party. In Cuba, the election process, as I see it, is very popular, very popular with the people.

There is no salary for being a National Assembly member.

HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTE?

Participation in elections in Cuba is high, but has been on the decline for a decade.

The National Electoral Commission said that for last Novembers municipal elections about 31% of eligible voters abstained from voting, That translates to 69% participation, which is still high by international standards, but a substantial decline for Cuba where voting is not compulsory but traditionally was considered a national duty.

The rate of abstention for national elections was 14% in 2018 , and only 6% in 2013.

Many observers see the trend as a sign of declining enthusiasm for Cubas government as it fails to turn around deteriorating economic conditions.

Manuel Cuesta Morua is a dissident and the leader of Council for a Democratic Transition in Cuba, which is calling for people to stay away. People will abstain because they are tired and fed up with a system that does not represent the plurality of the society, Morua said. There is no possibility for citizens to choose between different faces, different alternatives, different visions.

Julio Antonio Martinez Estrada, a lawyer, professor and a fellow at Harvard University, said he believes participation will continue to decline, in part due to the economy. It is a response to the political and socio-economic problems of recent years, Estrada said, adding that it reflects distrust and an enormous hopelessness among Cubans.
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Donald Trump has shared an AI-generated image of himself praying after several deepfakes of the former president being arrested and making a run from authorities had gone viral on social media.

Mr Trump, who set off a frenzied news cycle by raising fears of his indictment by the Manhattan District Court, reshared an image of himself solemnly praying.

The picture showed Mr Trump down on one knee with folded hands and head bowed down.

The photo shared by Mr Trump without any context was a screenshot from a user called Siggy Flicker, that had a caption saying pray for this man.

Mr Trump appears to be getting in on the fun of sharing AI photos of himself after several of them had flooded online and had showed the one-time president struggle while getting arrested by authorities and even running away from them.

The photos were generated by Eliot Higgins, the founder of the open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat, who used an AI art generator tool while giving the prompt: Donald Trump falling down while being arrested.

Making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trumps arrest, he had written while sharing the images.

The photos of the event that has never happened in reality have been viewed nearly 5 million times.

The new image shared by Mr Trump also looks uncannily real at first glance, but signs of the shortcomings of artificial intelligence technology become apparent on a closer look at the former presidents hands, shoes and the people around him.

Mr Trump, who can be seen joining his hands in prayer in the photo, appears to be missing a finger on his right hand, pointed out a Forbes report. His thumbs look abnormally jumbled as well, defying human anatomy, it said.

It was also pointed out that the sole of Mr Trumps shoe had brush-like edges.

The people in the background in the photo appear to not be paying attention to Mr Trump as well. This is something that, if it were to happen in reality, would likely see the participation of the others involved or would at least attract their attention, the report said.

On Thursday, the Manhattan grand jury investigating Mr Trump over hush money payments turned to other matters, delaying until next week any vote on the indictment of the former president, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Prosecutors rebuffed a request from House Republicans for records and testimony on the investigation, a request that the general counsel to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called an unlawful incursion into New Yorks sovereignty.

The prosecutors blasted Mr Trump for creating a false expectation of being arrested this week, without offering any update on the timing for any possible action.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finds himself in a bind: as of right now, he is by far the person with the best possible chance of beating former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, he earned plaudits when he rapidly reopened the state after a brief stint of closures. He has ardently opposed mask and vaccine mandates. His opposition to LGBTQ+ rights and how some education curricula teach about the history of slavery and Black America have further endeared him to conservatives. After barely winning his first race for governor in 2018, he cruised to re-election in 2022 by almost 20 points.

Meanwhile, the former president has now been indicted on criminal charges for his payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep their affair a secret.

On 30 March, the Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Mr Trump on criminal charges over the hush money payments.

Sources confirmed the unprecedented development to The Independent on Thursday afternoon  making Mr Trump the first current or former president to ever face criminal charges in the history of the US.

Mr Trump is reportedly facing more than 30 counts related to business fraud, sources told CNN after the indictment became public.

But the indictment would normally mean that Mr DeSantis would be the heir to the former presidents base in the race to challenge President Joe Biden.

Instead, hes faced a torrent of criticism from Mr Trumps acolytes for not supporting the former president. A resident of Florida, the state which Mr DeSantis runs, Mr Trump may need to be extradited from Palm Beach now that he has been indicted.

But  prior to the indictment being handed down  Mr DeSantis has been less than direct about the action he would take. When a reporter asked him about the indictment, he began by saying that liberal billionaire financier George Soros backed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, before he took a swipe at Mr Trumps alleged affair with Ms Daniels.

I don't know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair. I just, I can't speak to that, he said. But what I can speak to is that if you have a prosecutor who is ignoring crimes happening every single day in his jurisdiction, and he chooses to go back many years ago to try to use something about porn star hush money payments, you know, that's an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.

Donald Trump talks to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a visit to Canal Point, Florida in 2019 when the pair were allies not opponents (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Ive gotta spend my time on issues that actually matter to people, he said I cant spend my time worrying about things of that nature. So, were not gonna be involved in it in any way. I'm fighting for Floridians and I'm fighting back against Biden.

That has enraged many Republicans and allies of the former president.

Not MAGA

Are you kidding me? SAY HIS NAME!, Liz Harrington, a spokeswoman for the former president said. What a total fraud he is. He takes a dig at President Trump who is being falsely accused and cant even say his name. It proves DeSantis is totally fine with a third world nation arresting their number one political opposition. Not MAGA!

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon also lambasted Mr DeSantis on his War Room podcast.

Youre better than this, he said. That was a weasel approach and dont throw that thing in about the porn star. Dont need to hear it from you. Dont need to hear it.

The former president for his part lashed out in response in a lewd homophobic post on his Truth Social platform.

Ron DeSanctimonious will probably find out about FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES sometime in the future, as he gets older, wiser, and better known, when hes unfairly and illegally attacked by a woman, even classmates that are underage (or possibly a man!), he said. Im sure he will want to fight these misfits just like I do!

But Mr DeSantiss words that he wont take action may be a reflection of how little authority he has to prevent Mr Trumps extradition.

Mr DeSantis said on 30 March that the state will not cooperate with any request to extradite Mr Trump following the former presidents indictment.

Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda, the governor said.

Voluntary surrender

For one, its unclear that there will be a need for extradition proceedings in the first place. Prior to the grand jury vote, Mr Trumps lawyers said that the ex-president would voluntarily surrender to the proper authorities if the panel did vote to indict him.

But even if Mr Trump does refuse to appear and forces a New York judge to issue a warrant for his arrest, theres not much Mr DeSantis can do to stop it.

Under the US Constitutions Extradition Clause, each state must deliver to another state any fugitive from justice in cases of "treason, felony or other crime".

Trump supporters gathered outside his Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Moreover, Section 3182 of the US Criminal Code (known as Title 18) states that the executive authority of a state where a fugitive is residing is presented with an indictment from another state, he or she shall cause him to be arrested and secured, notify the authority demanding the fugitive, and shall cause the fugitive to be delivered to agents of the executive making the demand, usually police officers from the state where the fugitive is facing charges.

Puerto Rico v Branstad

A 1987 Supreme Court case, Puerto Rico v Branstad, found that state governors have no discretion to deny an extradition request, and held that federal courts may enforce the return of fugitives when needed.

Florida has also enacted the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, a model law governing how states handle extradition proceedings, into its statutes.

Under that state law, it is Mr DeSantis duty to have arrested and delivered up to the executive authority of any other state of the United States any person charged in that state with treason, felony, or other crime, who has fled from justice and is found in the Sunshine State.

Mr DeSantis may investigate  usually by ordering law enforcement to do so  whether a demand for extradition is valid, but he cannot refuse to enforce a valid extradition request.
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A federal lawsuit filed by four families with transgender children in Florida takes aim at recently implemented rules that effectively ban gender-affirming care for trans youth in the state.

Eight states including Florida have enacted laws or policies banning gender-affirming care for young trans people, and at least 10 states are considering similar measures.

Republican state lawmakers in Florida are advancing several bills with sweeping restrictions on gender-affirming care, including a measure that could forcibly detransition trans youth.

Federal courts in Alabama and Arkansas have blocked similar laws targeting gender-affirming care for trans youth, but recently enacted policies upending trans healthcare in Florida were advanced without the support of the state legislature and at the instruction Governor Ron DeSantis administration, including surgeon general Joseph Ladapo, who has rejected evidence from leading medical groups.

Being able to consult with our team of doctors to understand what our daughter is experiencing and make the best, most informed decisions about her care has been critically important for our family, one of the plaintiffs, the mother of an 11-year-old trans child, said in a statement shared with The Independent.

The families named in the lawsuit are using synonyms to protect their identity.

The family of 11-year-old Susan moved to Florida when the father was stationed there as a senior officer in the US Navy, according to filings.

Their daughter is a happy, confident child, but this ban takes away our right to provide her with the next step in her recommended treatment when she reaches puberty, her mother said in a statement.

The military doctors we work with understand the importance of providing that evidence-based, individualized care, she added. Were proud to serve our country, but we are being treated differently than other military families because of a decision by politicians in the state where we are stationed. We have no choice but to fight this ban to protect our daughters physical and mental health.

Another mother with a 14-year-old trans son said in a statement that Floridas ban puts her and other parents in the nightmare position of not being able to help our child when they need us most.

My son has a right to receive appropriate, evidence-based medical care, she said. He was finally getting to a place where he felt hopeful, where being prescribed testosterone was on the horizon and he could see a future for himself in his own body. That has been ripped away by this cruel and discriminatory rule.

The plaintiffs and their children are represented by Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign.

They also have requested a preliminary injunction asking a federal court to halt the policy while their challenge proceeds in court.

Defendants include Mr Ladapo, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and members of the states boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine.

A spokesperson for Floridas health department responded to a request from The Independent with an animated gif of Ron DeSantis. The gif caption reads: If you want to waste your time on a stunt, thats fine. But Im not wasting my time on your stunt. They also said they could not comment on pending litigation.

The guidelines adopted by the boards contradict those from major health organisations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, among others.

Defendants cannot demonstrate any rational basis, much less an important or compelling one, for the transgender medical bans which prevent transgender adolescents from getting safe and effective medically necessary healthcare, according to the complaint.

Following several months of debate and protests from LGBT+ advocates, the Florida Board of Medicine enacted a rule that bars trans minors from access to gender-affirming healthcare, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

That policy went into effect on 16 March. The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine will enact an identical rule on 28 March.

The American Medical Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among others, have established clear clinical guidelines for treating young trans people.

This policy came about through a political process with a predetermined conclusion, and it stands in direct contrast to the overwhelming weight of the evidence and science, according to a statement from Simone Chriss, director of Transgender Rights Initiative, Southern Legal Counsel.

There is an unbelievable degree of hypocrisy when a state that holds itself out as being deeply concerned with protecting parents rights strips parents of their right to ensure their children receive appropriate medical care, she added.

Florida surgeon general Joseph Ladapo, left, appears with Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021. (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A wave of legislation at the state and federal level within the last few years has increasingly targeted gender-affirming care for trans youth. State lawmakers this year have introduced more than 400 bills identified by the Human Rights Campaign as harmful to LGBT+ Americans. At least 175 measures would specifically restrict the rights of trans people.

More than half of all trans youth in the US between the ages of 13 and 17 are at risk of losing access to age-appropriate and medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare in their home state, the organisation found.

The onslaught of legislation and volatile political debate surrounding the bills has also negatively impacted the mental health of an overwhelming majority of young trans and nonbinary people, according to recent polling from The Trevor Project and Morning Consult.

A separate survey from The Trevor Project found that 45 per cent of trans and nonbinary youth have seriously considered attempting suicide over the last year.

The results of a wide-ranging survey from The Washington Post and KFF found that a vast majority of trans Americans are satisfied with their lives after transitioning.

While most trans people have socially transitioned, meaning they have changed their pronouns, names and/or clothing, far fewer have medically transitioned; less than one third have used hormone treatments or puberty blockers, and roughly one in six have undergone gender-affirming surgery or other surgical treatment to change their physical appearance, according to the survey results.
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Embattled New York Representative George Santos has reached an agreement to settle a years-old criminal case against him in Brazil, according to a report from CNN.

Mr Santos reportedly reached the deal with Brazilian prosecutors, under which he will formally confess to check fraud and pay restitution.

The freshman GOP lawmaker is accused of stealing a checkbook from an elderly person who his mother was caring for in 2010. He later admitted to forging checks from that checkbook to purchase items, including clothing and shoes.

A petition from his Brazilian attorney asks to arrange a non-prosecution agreement, citing Mr Santos employment as a US lawmaker and calling him re-socialised.

Last year, he told the New York Post he had never been charged with a crime in Brazil.

I am not a criminal here  not here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world. Absolutely not. That didnt happen.

That statement was not true.

Brazilian authorities re-opened the fraud case against him in January after they discovered that Mr Santos  whod left the country after being charged  had surfaced in the US.
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A representative of Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday handed a set of diamond jewelry he received during his presidency over to a state bank, as ordered by a government watchdog amid an investigation into the gifts.

Federal police and prosecutors are investigating whether the goods brought into the country from Saudi Arabia were public gifts that Bolsonaro improperly tried to prevent from being incorporated into the presidencys public collection, or private gifts that Bolsonaro tried sneak into Brazil without paying taxes.

The Senates transparency commission also is investigating whether the sale of a refinery by Brazils state-controlled oil giant was related to the jewels.

The state bank Caixa Economica Federal received the box of precious stones Friday at one of its branches in capital Brasilia, the banks press office told The Associated Press. A representative also turned in firearms Bolsonaro received as a gift from authorities in the United Arab Emirates, according to the federal police's press office.

A federal watchdog on Wednesday had given Bolsonaro five days to hand over the precious stones and guns that he had received while president.

Brazilian media started reporting on the set of jewels earlier this month, along with another set that was seized at the international airport in Sao Paulo. The confiscated set, composed of earrings, a necklace, a ring and a watch by Swiss brand Chopard, is estimated to be worth several million dollars. Neither set was declared to tax authorities.

Documents and video footage published by local press appear to show supposed emissaries of Bolsonaro making multiple unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the seized jewelry, up until just days before the end of his presidency.

Bolsonaro, who denies any wrongdoing connected to the gifts, has been in the United States since late-December, just days before the end of his presidential term.

The gifts add to the legal jeopardy already surrounding the right-wing populist politician. He is also under investigation for any involvement in a rampage by his supporters through the national capital after he left office and for numerous actions during the presidential election campaign he lost last fall.
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White powder was discovered inside an envelope at the New York County district attorneys office shortly after noon on 24 March, hours after former president Donald Trump raged at Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg and suggested death and destruction would follow any potential criminal indictment.

Law enforcement sources reportedly told NBC News that the envelope was addressed to Mr Bragg and contained a death threat inside. The letter was reportedly mailed from Orlando, Florida and postmarked on 21 March.

The New York City Police Department and FBI are investigating.

A grand jury has been convened to review evidence and hear witness testimony involving the former presidents alleged hush money payment to an adult film star in the lead up to the presidential election in 2016.

Mr Trump has repeatedly asserted that no crimes have been committed while accusing prosecutors of leading a politically motivated investigation. In a late-night post on his Truth Social account on 23 March, he wrote that it is known that potential death [and] destruction following a false charge against him would be catastrophic for our country. He also labelled Mr Bragg a degenerate psychopath who truely [sic] hates the USA.

A public information officer for NYPD confirmed to The Independent that a white powder was reported after noon. The envelope was reportedly marked Alvin and was opened in the mailroom, according to The New York Daily News.

The situation was immediately contained and authorities later determined the envelopes contents were non-hazardous, according to a statement from DA spokesperson Danielle Filson to The Independent.

NYPDs Emergency Service Unit and the citys Department of Environmental Protection determined there was no dangerous substance, the statement added.

The incident also followed an unfounded bomb threat to a separate building in a separate case involving Mr Trump on 21 March. A hearing in Attorney General Letitia James $250m civil suit accusing Mr Trump and his associates of a years-long fraud sceme was delayed following an alleged threat in a 911 call, though a spokesperson for New Yorks court said there was no indication that it was directly related to that case.

Law enforcement agencies are on heightened alert following Mr Trumps false prediction on 18 March of his own imminent arrest coupled with his demands that his supporters take to the streets and protest, which spun a media frenzy and rallied his allies to his defense.

A grand jury has been meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since January to consider evidence involving the former presidents role involving a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels that prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorneys office reportedly allege was an illegal campaign expenditure.

Grand juries convene in secret, and prosecutors are statutorily barred from discussing their actions. It is unclear whether the panel will hear from other witnesses. Details concerning the timing of the highly scrutinised case and potential charges, which could mark the first-ever criminal indictment of a former president, are largely unknown.

Barricades, members of Secret Service and uniformed New York City Police Department officers have surrounded Manhattan Criminal Court and Trump Tower, the midtown skyscraper that has served as headquarters for Mr Trumps campaign and his Trump Organization. Protests against the DAs office in support of the former president have largely been muted.

Jurors did not meet on 22 March, and they reportedly did not discuss the case when they convened on 23 March. An arrest and an arraignment, in which Mr Trump would be formally charged in a court proceeding, would not immediately follow an indictment, to which a majority of the grand jurors must agree.
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Former president Donald Trumps demands that his supporters protest, protest, protest his potentially imminent indictment have prompted law enforcement officials to tighten security measures around New York City while monitoring potential threats.

Across far-right social media accounts and message boards reviewed by The Independent, the former presidents prediction of his own arrest was the evidence they needed to support long-running conspiracy theories that Democratic officials and President Joe Bidens administration have weaponised the federal government against him.

But unlike the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, which was organised openly across social media platforms, discussion of protesting Mr Trumps potential arrest has largely revolved around denouncing the Manhattan district attorneys investigation and echoing the former presidents incendiary and dramatic rhetoric about the state of the US.

Prominent QAnon influencers, Trump loyalists, Christian nationalists and civil war accelerationists  including figures who were once central to the Stop the Steal effort that fuelled the crowds before the riot in the halls of Congress two years ago  have expressed some sceptism over the former presidents latest demands, or have refused to participate in his defence at all.

Still, the criminal prosecution of the former president remains a line in the sand for right-wing extremists, and thus have the potential to manifest in violence toward government targets or political officials, according to a coalition of federal law enforcement agencies monitoring such threats.

Mr Trumps announcement on 18 March was met with an immediate increase in violent online rhetoric and expressed threats toward government and law enforcement targets perceived as participating in a political persecution of the former president, as well as more general calls for civil war, according to the report.

Demonstrations near his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida have drawn only handfuls of supporters. A small group of people waved Trump flags at passing cars in The Villages retirement community on 21 March.

A demonstration outside the New York County District Attorneys office on 20 March organised by the New York Young Republican Club was largely outnumbered by members of the press. Mr Trump later shared a video from the group at the rally to his Truth Social account, and the organisers said the small crowd size was intentional.

A non-credible bomb threat was made to a nearby courthouse the following day. The New York City Police Department said the threats were deemed illegitimate and stated that the there are currently no credible threats to the city. Neither a small demonstration outside Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan nor a caravan of Trump supporters from Long Island raised any security concerns, police said.

(AFP via Getty Images)

QAnon-amplifying accounts with large followings on Truth Social have echoed their trust the plan slogan believing that Mr Trumps potential arrest would trigger a national downfall, making him a martyr that his supporters would rally around.

QAnon influencer The Patriot Voice said the most effective protest would be wearing red MAGA hats. Far-right activist and failed congressional candidate Laura Loomer told supporters not to show up outside Mar-a-Lago because streets will likely be shut down; she instead told people to show up at his first 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas on 25 March. She joined protesters at The Villages on Tuesday.

Ali Alexander, one of the organizers of the Stop the Steal rallies who is now campaigning alongside white supremacist Nick Fuentes for Kanye West, suggested to his followers that protesting in New York City in the single most hostile jurisdiction will lead to jailtime or worse.

Previously, I had said if Trump was arrested or under the threat of a perp walk, 100,000 patriots should shut down all routes to Mar-a-Lago. Now, Im retired, he wrote on his Telegram channel. Ill pray for him though!

He also said he spoke to InfoWars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and hes not protesting either.

Weve both got enough going on fighting the government, he added. No billionaire is covering our bills.

(Getty Images)

Others, including far-right US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, have suggested that federal agents or fed assets could intentionally turn protests violent. Far-right influencer Paul Joseph Watson asked his Twitter followers whether they believe protests are a J6-style trap, referring to a conspiracy theory that federal agents entrapped rioters to participate in the Capitol attack.

A crowd gathered at Trump Tower to support the former president were also accused of being feds.

QAnon-related folks and some MAGA adherents are talking about how this is one big trap in some cases, that this is an operation intended to get (Trumps) supporters in trouble, according to Oren Segal, vice president of the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League, speaking to Reuters.

He told USA Today that there is not any cohesive movement in terms of where these protests should happen.

Recommended Inside the Stormy Daniels hush money payment that could lead to first Trump charges

The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights has reviewed three distinct waves of online far-right activity in the wake of Mr Trumps call for protests, starting with the amplification of his demands, followed by claims that they are a trap set by law enforcement, according to the institutes executive director Devin Burghart.

A third wave compromise is underway, with attention focused on Mr Trumps rally in Texas on 25 March.

But for others across far-right social media spaces, the former presidents supporters have felt a sense of betrayal in the aftermath of the Capitol attack, fuelled by his baseless narrative that the election was stolen from him, while hundreds of his supporters face charges connected with storming the Capitol.

Has he called for protests about these poor guys? No. But hes calling for us to protest about his arrest, one user wrote in a pro-Trump Telegram channel. It doesnt sit right with me.
press release

On Friday, March 10, MONUSCO handed over the Mamove Bridge over the Asefu River to authorities in Beni territory. This bridge, of great economic importance, had been out of use and closed to traffic for two years. It allows the inhabitants of this part of North Kivu to travel to the neighboring Ituri province.

This MONUSCO Quick Impact Project (QIP) was implemented to respond to the circulation challenges faced by the population and the defense and security forces, who are struggling to accomplish their mission of protecting civilians.

Since the bridge collapsed in 2021, a tree trunk has served as a makeshift bridge. Only pedestrians or motorcyclists could use it. Soldiers in intervention were obliged to leave their vehicles on the river bank and proceed with their operation on foot and only retrieve their vehicles as they returned to their base. This slowed down the response time considerably.

"We are satisfied with this construction financed by MONUSCO, which has provided us with this bridge to facilitate the crossing. This bridge helps us to trade. It is of capital importance because it links us to the neighboring Ituri province. Its importance is immense," said Janvier Kasayiro, spokesperson for local civil society.

The head of the MONUSCO office in Beni, Josiah Obat, notes with satisfaction the benefits of the bridge in terms of security.

"With this bridge, we believe that the security forces and even MONUSCO troops will be able to conduct patrols here," he said.

Jean Kakule, a resident of Mamove, also welcomes the construction of the new bridge. However, he asks the UN mission not to stop there. He hopes that MONUSCO will also help rehabilitate the agricultural road that leads to the bridge.

"We are very happy. We want MONUSCO to be able to do even more. After this bridge, let MONUSCO refurbish this road that leads to Beu. It will be great when we people can transport our products to the market by car or truck, as is the case now with the Manove market as shown by the trucks parked there," he said.

The metal bridge, 14 meters long and 5 meters wide, which is now open to users, has a capacity of 60 tonnes. Its rehabilitation cost US$35,000.

The rehabilitation work lasted three months. It will improve security and access to health facilities and stimulate economic activity in the region.
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Rep Maxwell Frost of Florida called Manuel and Patricia Oliver American heroes after they were thrown out of a committee hearing on gun laws  after which Mr Oliver was violently arrested in the corridor outside.

Mr and Ms Olivers son, Joaquin, was one of 17 people killed during the shooting at a high school in Parkland in 2018.

After praising them, Mr Frost walked out of the committee saying it was a waste of time as long as Republicans refused to take action on gun safety.

Capitol Police pin Manuel Oliver to the floor outside the committee room (AP)

His comments came after committee chair Pat Fallon ejected Mr and Ms Oliver from the hearing after they shouted at the committee members from the public gallery.

The hearing, titled ATFs Assault on the Second Amendment: When is Enough Enough? turned contentious when Mr Fallon suggested that a gun is merely a tool used to kill people and that guns themselves should not be banned  a common gun lobby talking point. After Mr and Ms Oliver interrupted Mr Fallon, he had them removed from the hearing room.

Mr Frost, who is himself a survivor of gun violence and represents the state where the Parkland shooting happened, was one of the first people to respond to the scene where Mr Oliver was pinned to the ground by Capitol police. When he returned to the hearing room, he defended the Olivers and decried the purpose of the hearing.

To lose a child to gun violence, to see the photos of your child sitting in a pool of blood... I cant imagine that, Mr Frost said. You know, Manny and Patricia have dedicated their lives to fighting for a world where true justice can be achieved  because unfortuantely, there is no justice for the dead and true justice is ensuring that this never happens again.

Patricia Oliver is removed from the hearing on gun violence. She and her husband Manuel lost their son Joaquin in the 2018 Parkland school shooting (AP)

I fight alongside Manny and Patricia Oliver, Mr Frost continued. I believe that they are American heroes. And what they always say is that they dont want their son Joaquin to be remembered as a victim, they want him to remembered as an activist.

Recommended Outrage as Parkland father violently arrested on Capitol Hill after hearing protest

Mr Frost noted that the leading cause of death for American children is gun violence.

Today Republicans on this committee chose to sit in front of those parents, and the survivors and organisers and advocates that are sitting in the audience right now, people who are re-living their trauma listening through this, people impacted by gun violence across the nation, and show that their priority is gun lobby money, manufacturers who profit off death, and creating fake narratives for political gain, Mr Frost noted.

Manuel Oliver is led away by police (AP)

Mr Frost then apologised to the activists and survivors in the room for having to sit through the hearing and walked out of the committee room. The committee continued its proceedings without him.
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Former attorney Michael Cohen was once Donald Trumps top operative: a fixer who handled matters both legal and otherwise for the celebrity businessman-turned-political candidate.

But as Alvin Braggs Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Mr Trump, its clear that Cohens efforts to fix problems for his boss have caused far more harm than good. Charges against Mr Trump were filed on Thursday 30 March. It is currently unclear what the charges are but multiple reports say that Mr Trump is facing more than 30 counts related to business fraud.

So how did we get here?

In the autumn of 2016, Cohen was still serving as an attorney and longtime colleague of the presidential hopeful he would later go on to call a racist, a con man and a fraud in sworn testimony to Congress. As part of that job, he connected with a woman named Stephanie Clifford  aka porn star Stormy Daniels  and started making a deal.

The terms of that deal were simple: Daniels would cease her efforts to shop a story of her alleged affair with Trump to journalists around the country, thereby removing a last-minute landmine for the Trump campaign already battered with the damning audio of his Access Hollywood comments about sexually harassing women, reported just weeks earlier. Shed stop talking about it to anyone, in fact, and would sign a nondisclosure agreement opening her up to arbitration if she did otherwise. In exchange? A one-time payment of $130,000.

It was the perfect plan, and to some extent it worked: Daniels signed the NDA, and in the days and weeks to come would not appear in any major news publications sharing her side of events. Fox News even killed a story on the matter, though whether that was due to Danielss non-cooperation or the networks own sharp pro-Trump bent is less clear.

 Donald Trump v Stormy Daniels: The story so far

But just a year after his boss would be sworn in as president, the wall of secrecy crumbled. The Wall Street Journal had the entire story, including the hush money payment, and Cohen found himself unable to say, no comment. Days after it comes out, he admits to making the hush payment  an admission, along with financial records of the deed itself, that would later get him thrown into prison. Another leak-prone member of the Trump legal team, Rudy Giuliani, would go on to admit on national television that Trump had not only known about the payment (at some point in time), but had reimbursed Cohen for his service.

The question then became whether Trump knew about the payment. Two options were possible: Number one, Trump both knew of his attorneys actions as they occurred and implicitly approved of them; or number two, Trump only found out about the hush payment afterwards but still apparently approved of it and went through with reimbursing Cohen for it anyway.

Cohens payment to Daniels was considered to be both unreported and excessive in its amount and nature; should prosecutors be able to prove that the contributions were made at the former presidents direction, it could be an open-and-shut case for a jury.

Spurned by his former boss, within a year of the Daniels matter going public Cohen was in front of any camera that would have him warning about the dishonesty and fraud that he now says was always part of his former bosss operation. In testimony to the House Oversight Committee in February of 2019, he implicated the Trump Organization in a scheme to inflate or deflate the value of certain assets for the purposes of fraudulently obtaining better tax rates or more favourable loan terms; those claims are now at the core of New York state Attorney General Letitia Jamess lawsuit seeking to bar the company from doing business in the Empire State.

But even so, his flip-flop on the issue of support for the former president  not to mention his stint in prison for lying to Congress  are issues challenging his credibility, and the strength of his testimony to investigators. A former legal adviser to the president said as much on Monday when he testified to the grand jury in Manhattan and trashed Cohens reliability as a witness.

Disbarred in New York and unlikely to pick up a cable news gig like other ex-Trump campaign and administration officials, its unclear what futures remain open to the man who was once no 2 to one of the most powerful men in America.
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Florida governor Ron DeSantis backtracked on his statement calling Russias war in Ukraine a territorial dispute after facing backlash from fellow Republicans.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, Mr DeSantis termed Russian president Vladimir Putin a war criminal and demanded he be held accountable for his barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, Mr DeSantis said to Fox News host Tucker Carlson that it is against the USs national interest to get entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia.

While the US has many vital national interests  securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party  becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them, Mr DeSantis said.

In the interview, which is slated to be aired on Thursday on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Mr DeSantis said he regretted using the phrase territorial dispute.

Writing in The New York Post about the interview, Morgan quoted the Florida governor as saying: Well, I think its been mischaracterised. Obviously, Russia invaded (last year)  that was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014  That was wrong.

The Florida governor, who is laying the groundwork to win the Republican nomination against former president Donald Trump for the 2024 elections, faced a torrent of criticism from Republicans for his remarks.

What Im referring to is where the fighting is going on now which is that eastern border region Donbas, and then Crimea, and you have a situation where Russia has had that. I dont think legitimately but they had, Mr DeSantis clarified.

Theres a lot of ethnic Russians there. So, thats some difficult fighting and thats what I was referring to and so it wasnt that I thought Russia had a right to that, and so if I should have made that more clear, I could have done it, but I think the larger point is, okay, Russia is not showing the ability to take over Ukraine, to topple the government or certainly to threaten NATO.

Thats a good thing. I just dont think thats a sufficient interest for us to escalate more involvement. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified (in invading)  thats nonsense, he said.

Mr DeSantis also added that he viewed the Russian president as a war criminal who should be held accountable.

I think he is a war criminal, he was quoted as saying.

This ICC  we have not done that in the US because were concerned about our soldiers or people being brought under it. So, I dont know about that route, but I do think that he should be held accountable.

Former vice president Mike Pence on ABCs This Week called the description of the war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute wrong. He said: There are voices in our party that dont see a vital American interest in Ukraine. But I see it differently.

This is a clear  its not even a questionable  a clear vital national interest, to support what is going on in Ukraine, New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu said, according to Politico.

If you let Russia start to come in and walk over Ukraine, you put all of Eastern Europe at risk. You put all of our NATO allies there at risk. And then when a NATO ally is now at risk, now you really risk having to put potential American troops on the ground, which nobody wants to see and shouldnt happen, he said.

Earlier this week the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Mr Putin and accused him of war crimes by taking hundreds of Ukrainian children from orphanages.
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Saudi Arabia is in talks with Syria to reopen its embassy in the war-torn nation for the first time in a decade, state television in the kingdom reported late Thursday, the latest diplomatic reshuffling in the region.

The announcement on state TV comes after Chinese-mediated talks in Beijing saw Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to reopen embassies in each others' nations after years of tensions. Syrian President Bashar Assad has maintained his grip on power in the Mediterranean nation rocked by the 2011 Arab Spring only with the help of Iran and Russia, which made a historic call earlier in the day to Oman.

Saudi Arabian state television aired a report late Thursday, quoting an anonymous official in the country's Foreign Ministry, acknowledging the talks between the kingdom and Damascus.

A source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed to Al-Ekhbariyah that ongoing discussions have begun with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commenting on what was circulated by some international media, an anchor said on air. Discussions are underway between officials in the kingdom and their counterparts in Syria about resuming the provision of consular services.

Reuters first reported on the talks Thursday, spurring the Saudi state TV announcement. The Wall Street Journal, quoting anonymous Saudi and Syrian officials, later attributed the talks to reopen the countries' embassies to Russian mediation.

Syrian state media did not immediately acknowledge the talks. Officials in both Saudi Arabia and Syria did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press early Friday.

Earlier Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, which the Kremlin called the the first high-level bilateral contact since the establishment of diplomatic relations" between the nations. Muscat established ties with the Soviet Union in 1985.

Oman long has been an interlocutor between the West and Iran. Recent months have seen talks in Oman over Yemen's long-running war, in which Saudi Arabia backs the country's exiled government against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels that hold its capital, Sanaa.

The kingdom backed the Syrian opposition against Assad during Syrias uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011. However, in recent years, a regional rapprochement has been brewing. Last months devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey sparked international sympathy and speeded up the process, with Saudi and other Arab countries shipping aid to Damascus.

Assad visited Oman in late February. He traveled Sunday to the United Arab Emirates, another nation that earlier had backed fighters trying to topple his government.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister has acknowledged publicly that there is a growing consensus among Arab countries that dialogue with Damascus is necessary. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where most states hope to restore Syrias membership after it was suspended in 2011, the leagues secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has said.

China's and Russia's interest in the Middle East long has been a concern for U.S. officials, which view the the region as crucial to global energy prices even as America pumps more crude oil than ever before and doesn't rely on Saudi oil as much as it once did. Saudi Arabia has grown closer to Russia as Moscow has rallied allies to back production cuts by OPEC to boost global oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia also have been at a low since President Joe Biden took office calling the kingdom a pariah over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

___

Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Vladimir Isachenkov contributed to this report.
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Senator John Fettermans office told CBS News that the newly elected senator from Pennsylvania will return to his job soon, as he undergoes inpatient treatment for depression. His Democratic colleagues have continued to support Mr Fetterman throughout the process.

The senator checked into Walter Reed Medical Center last month to undergo treatment for depression, following a brief stay at George Washington University hospital after he experienced light-headedness.

Mr Fettermans chief of staff Adam Jentleson reportedly briefs the senator on a daily basis and he has opened regional offices throughout Pennsylvania.

Hell be back soon, at least over a week, but soon, Mr Jentleson said.

Mr Fetterman had reportedly dealt with depression off and on throughout his life but it had become more severe in recent weeks and Capitol physician Brian Monahan recommended he go to the hospital.

Mr Fetterman suffered a stroke last year right before the Democratic primary for Pennyslvanias Senate seat. Nevertheless, he managed to beat Republican nominee and celebrity physician Mehmet Oz, giving Democrats one more seat in their Senate majority.

Since then, hes had to manage auditory processing disorder, which means he uses a speech-to-text device to understand what people are saying.

We want to give him the space to recuperate, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference on Wednesday. He needs it, it's fair, it's right. There are other people in the Senate who have taken their time to recuperate but I'm confident he's going to come back and be an outstanding and fine senator.

More recently, Mr Fetterman cosponsored legislation with fellow Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, also a Democrat, Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio as well as Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri, Marco Rubio of Florida and JD Vance of Ohio to increase rail safety regulations after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border.
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As he enters his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump faces a looming potential indictment in New York, another set of potential charges in Georgia, and other possible criminal charges from a federal special counsel investigation. Meanwhile, a former GOP ally continues to pose a significant threat to his Republican presidential primary election in 2024.

The former president has demanded that his supporters protest and TAKE OUR NATION BACK! from what he calls the CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL Manhattan district attorney investigation, but so far only a handful of demonstrators have rallied to his defence at small events in Florida and New York.

Mr Trump, cornered by several investigations and predicting his own arrest in at least one of them, will hold his first 2024 presidential campaign rally in the city of Waco, Texas  in the middle of the 30th anniversary of the deadly 51-day siege that galvanised the far right and set the stage for the modern militia movement.

Following the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, extremism researchers have traced predictions from the former president and his supporters of violence and dysfunction, with ideological echoes of the infamous 1993 federal law enforcement standoff near the same Texas town where Mr Trump has steered his campaign.

Given what happened on January 6, hes playing with fire, professor Matthew Dallek, a political historian of the right and homeland security issues at George Washington University, told The Independent.

His social media posts have made violence, even if its by a lone individual, more likely, he added. Hes weaponised his bull horn.

For some, the fact that the former president is ushering in this new phase of his political life in Waco is a parallel too notable to ignore. The city was seared into the history books of the far right in 1993, when a militarised standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidian religious sect in nearby Elk, Texas claimed the lives of more than 80 people, some of whom died by gunshots and others by a fire which broke out in the Mount Carmel compound.

The event partly inspired Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh to attack two years later, and for those on the militant fringe of American life, Waco came to serve as a symbol of violent government overreach or the beginning of the end times.

The Branch Davidian compound in flames in 1993 after a shootout following a 51-day siege with federal law enforcement near Waco, Texas; 76 sect members died inside. (AFP/Getty Images)

Far-right anti-government militia groups have repeatedly referenced the deadly event in their missions, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones began his career following the galvanising effect of the siege not far from his home in Austin, and longtime Republican strategist and far-right activist Roger Stone dedicated his 2015 book The Clintons War on Women to the Branch Davidians who died at Mount Carmel.

By Trump going to Waco, hes clearly aligning himself with this idea of, we are now at a turning point moment, and its a turning point towards violence that Waco signifies so clearly, Robert Pape, a longtime researcher of terrorism and political violence at the University of Chicago who has performed wide-ranging studies on the Trump movement and January 6 attacks, told The Independent.

Wacos legacy is one of a deep source of distrust and hatred toward the federal government, Katie McCarthy, associate investigative researcher at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center On Extremism, told The Independent.

Mr Trumps decision to hold a rally there can certainly be interpreted as a dog whistle to the anti-government movement, she said.

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has repeatedly painted a darkly pessimistic picture of America, warning his followers that the country will enter World War III if he is not elected, and vowing retribution against political opponents if he is.

And on 23 March, he suggested there would be death and destruction if he is criminally prosecuted.

His critics have readily pointed out that Mr Trumps vision of an us-versus-them future, one in which he promises to punish his political enemies and govern only on behalf of his loyalists, has all the hallmarks of fascist rhetoric: invoking a glorious past and an apocalyptic future; villainizing journalists and the people who hold power to account; appealing to conspiracy theories as the source of his problems; and promoting a law and order solution to solve them.

During his headlining appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March, he pledged to be your warrior and your justice, vowing to his supporters: And to those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

Youre going to have World War III, if something doesnt happen fast, he said during his speech on 5 March. This is the final battle. They know it. I know it. You know it. Everybody knows that this is it  Either they win or we win. And if they win, we no longer have a country.

His rhetoric has become more and more incendiary and more extreme over time following the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago property in August 2022, Ms McCarthy with the ADL told The Independent.

His supporters, meanwhile, have offered him a feedback loop of support, with QAnon-aligned supporters and influencers latching on to his every word and sharing their reactions, which Mr Trump then broadcasts to his Truth Social following, which then reaches other platforms and mainstream press.

Its a volatile political current thats clearly developing beyond just the Trump campaign stage, according to Mr Papes research. A nationally representative January 2023 survey from the Chicago Project on Security and Threats suggested 6 per cent of Americans, or 15 million people, believe force is justified to keep Donald Trump from being prosecuted, with twice that many saying they couldnt make up their mind.

For its part, the Trump campaign has said the choice of Waco was about electoral strategy, not esoteric symbolism.

President Trump is holding his first campaign rally in Waco in the Super Tuesday state of Texas because it is centrally located and close to all four of Texas biggest metropolitan areas  Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio  while providing the necessary infrastructure to hold a rally of this magnitude, the Trump campaign said in a statement to TIME . This is the ideal location to have as many supporters from across the state and in neighboring states attend this historic rally.

Even if hes not intentionally evoking Wacos history, the resonance is hard to ignore, according to University of Hartford historian Professor Robert Churchill, author of To Shake Their Guns in the Tyrants Face: Libertarian Political Violence and the Origins of the Militia Movement.

Trump and the far-right generally have turned against federal law enforcement, see the FBI as corrupt, the Justice Department as corrupt, Mr Churchill told The Independent. Waco is certainly a movement that fits into that same narrative.

Others suggest that for all of his worrying talk, Mr Trump no longer has the magnetic influence over a sprawling base he once did.

His volcanic style, and some of his endorsed candidates, may still be well-represented on the national political scene, but national Republicans have coalesced around targeting LGBT+ people and public school curricula while absorbing some of Mr Trumps tactics without having to defend him at all.

Its sort of a tough spot for him to be in, said Shane Burley, who covers the right in America and is the author of Why We Fight: Essays on Fascism, Resistance, and Surviving the Apocalypse.

Theres a certain lack of gravitas to the on-the-ground movement. Partly because its been taken by DeSantis, partly because they have critical race theory and drag queens to unify them, he told The Independent. They dont necessarily need Trump anymore. The more radical wing of his base have abandoned him and dont want anything to do with him.

With his Truth Social, the former president lacks the gargantuan social-media megaphone he once possessed to instantly reach millions of people, but he has leveraged the platform to make bombastic statements that generate media attention and generate days of free press for his campaign.

Conspiracy theorists still believe Mr Trump is at the centre of a tangled web of Democratic corruption, but that belief doesnt seem to be sending people into the streets.

Prominent QAnon influencers, Trump loyalists, Christian nationalists and civil war accelerationists  including figures who were once central to the Stop the Steal effort that fuelled the crowds before the riot in the halls of Congress two years ago  have expressed some sceptism over the former presidents latest demands, or have refused to participate in his defence at all.

Others believe that any protest would be seized by federal authorities to create a violent scenario that would lead to their arrest, or that a deep state is preparing to assassinate Mr Trump, according to a report compiled by Logically, which analyses mis- and disinformation using artificial and expert intelligence, provided to The Independent.

Far-right extremists also believe that any news of an imminent indictment  which was leaked by the former president himself  would be a kind of false flag event to distract from a global financial collapse or other newsworthy event, including failed Arizona candidate for governor Kari Lakes ongoing challenge to her election loss, Logically found.

A post from a prominent right-wing influencer on Telegram with more than 173,000 subscribers claimed that Mr Trumps potential indictment is part of an ongoing Distraction War, a claim that has been viewed tens of thousands of times, according to Logically.

Another prominent Twitter user with more than 678,000 followers made a similar claim about imminent bank failures, which has been shared more than 10,000 times.

Few Trump supporters are heeding his call to take to the streets to protest (AFP via Getty Images)

Following the hundreds of arrests of people connected to the attack on the US Capitol, a violent event that many right-wing conspiracy theorists believe was instigated by federal agents, Trump supporters appear sceptical to demonstrate their support under a fear that they would face similar consequences by demonstrating against his criminal prosecution.

Users on far-right platforms like Telegram, Rumble, Gab, Gettr, Truth Social, and websites like the Gateway Pundit, have expressed caution about protesting a potential Trump indictment for this reason, according to Logically.

Users on the aforementioned platforms are continuing to amplify claims that a possible Trump indictment has been designed to distract from stories about bank failures and the upcoming pending US economic struggles on the horizon, the report found.

The central message among his supporters, despite his demands that they take to the streets to defend him, is to stay home, according to Ms McCarthy.

Many supporters are gripped with paranoia and fear stemming from January 6 as some sort of ploy from the deep state to arrest Trump supporters, she told The Independent.

Those conspiracy theories didnt go away. Theyve only continued to grow, said Ms McCarthy, noting that a narrative suggesting federal authorities instigated the Capitol siege has reached Fox News and Republican lawmakers in Congress.

That paranoia is a large part of why were not seeing the protests hes calling for, she said. People are angry, theyre upset about this, but for the most part I dont foresee any kind of mass protest happening anywhere near what we saw on January 6.

 Donald Trump v Stormy Daniels: The story so far

Mr Trumps apparent attempts to provoke his followers have drawn only small crowds, but threats of extremist violence cloud a volatile political landscape heading into 2024. All extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists, according to reporting from the Anti-Defamation League. High-profile ideologically driven attacks, including the hammer attack against Paul Pelosi and mass murders in Buffalo and Colorado, continue a worrying trend of extremist-linked violence.

As Mr Pape at the University of Chicago notes, political violence only requires a motivated few to move from rhetoric to reality, especially when they know their views are shared by others.

Weve seen this in our country, he said. Seven per cent of George Floyd protests turned violent. They were mostly peaceful. About 5 per cent of those who went to the [US Capitol] Ellipse on January 6 turned violent. Thats still mostly peaceful. But mostly peacful is not the same as peaceful.

What makes it all the more worrying is that these calls to action are hiding in plain sight, according to some observers. Donald Trump often uses just enough innuendo and suggestive language that a radical follower could be inspired to violence, while avoiding the kind of direct incitements that would invite legal scrutiny, according to Georgetown University professor Daniel Byman.

What hes doing is calling out his opponents and the system as fundamentally illegitimate, he told The Independent. If youre a true believer and you accept this, its not surprising you would be very angry. Hes saying the system will not provide you justice.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

It remains to be seen how Mr Trumps violent claims will impact his electoral fortunes, and the Republican party at large, but according to Mr Churchill, the former president has already made a shocking impact: bringing ideas once on the far-right of American politics, only uttered by people who saw Waco as a call to arms, into the centre of political life.

Waco and its aftermath, he said, was always more important to the degree to which their ideas were being addressed by local levels of the mainstream right and the Republican Party.

What was important was what sorts of things were being talked about in Republican committee meetings in a small town in Texas.

Now, discussions of political violence, conspiracy theories and the end of days have moved all the way to the halls of Congress. Waco may be a fading memory to some, but its ghosts linger.
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In imaginary images created by an artificial intelligence programme with a researchers prompts, police officers chase and tackle Donald Trump. Others show the former president behind bars and wearing an orange jumpsuit in federal prison.

The images, generated by Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins using the powerful text-to-image Midjourney programme, exploded across social media while a New York grand jury considers evidence in a criminal investigation into the former president, who has predicted his imminent indictment and arrest.

They served as a high-profile example of the kinds of viral phenomena relying on false images built with artificial intelligence programmes that could be used to spread harmful disinformation to spark unrest and disrupt news cycles and elections.

Democratic US Senator Mark Warner told The Washington Post that lawmakers have issued similar warnings about the potential for synthetic media to spread disinformation and more generally to sow confusion and discord.

Mr Warner, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the technology is now at a point where these tools are widely available and incredibly capable.

As we have all seen, it is so much easier to make fake videos and fake images and make them look really realistic, Vwani Roychowdhury, a professor at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, told HuffPost. Whether its the correct information or socially acceptable information or misinformation, in my opinion, theyre all embedded as part of a narrative.

The viral images followed at least two other high-profile faked images involving US elected officials that spread across social media, prompting platforms  which have faced criticism for varying responses and policies governing disinformation and potentially disruptive AI images  to take action.

Last month, a faked video that spread virally on Twitter appeared to show Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren claiming that Republicans should not be allowed to vote. The social media platform applied a label to the video as altered audio, and one account that amplified the video was later suspended.

Far-right activist Jack Posobeic also posted a so-called deepfaked video of President Joe Biden announcing the reinstatement of a military draft for Americans to combat Russias war on Ukraine.

Mr Posobeic labelled the video a sneak preview of things to come. Twitter applied a label noting that the video was a deepfake created with the aid of artificial intelligence.

In an appearance at the closely watched Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this month, he defended the videos creation and the entirely made-up scenario. Conservatives have to stop being scared of news outlets and fact-checking, he said. Screw them all.

Though the images created by Mr Higgins were clearly intended to be fakes, their vast spread and presentation by some bad-faith actors indicates that theres been a giant step forward in the ability to create fake but believable images at volume, according to Sam Gregory, executive director of the human rights organization Witness, speaking to The Washington Post.

And its easy to see how this could be done in a coordinated way with an intent to deceive, he added.

It does not really matter whether someone does fact-checking. Because the damage has been done, Mr Roychowdhury told HuffPost.

Brandeis Marshall, CEO of DataedX and a professor of computer science at Spelman College, told HuffPost that the spread of such images could be construed as an intentional bad act and a calculated strategy to incite supporters, while Mr Trumps well-executed disinformation campaign predicting his own arrest has also drawn attention away from other news that is not being reported.

 Donald Trump v Stormy Daniels: The story so far

The Poynter Institutes Al Tompkins offered a checklist to determine whether increasingly sophisticated AI imagery is real, including seeing whether the creator disclosed how the image was captured, if theres a watermark, and for other oddities in the image.

Meanwhile, as NPR noted in coverage leading into the 2020 presidential election,and fears that emerging deepfake technology could throw campaigns into chaos, disinformation already is able to spready rapidly through partisan narratives, deceptive editing or outright lies that have worked just as well to advance certain causes.
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Podcaster Joe Rogan compared Donald Trumps hush money case involving payments to Stormy Daniels to two previous scandals involving formerly centre-stage US politicians during his show this week.

Specifically, he referred to social media posts circulating in which the case is compared with those of President Bill Clinton and former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards  both Democrats.

Said Rogan, regarding former president Trumps possible indictment: Theyre talking about arresting him for paying a girl to stop talking about them having sex. I thought that was a good deal. I thought its a good deal.

He continued: You pay someone  Didnt Clinton do that? Didnt  John Edwards got in trouble for doing that, but he didnt go to jail. I dont believe he went to jail.

Some supporters of Mr Trump are claiming it is a double-standard that he may be indicted but neither Mr Clinton nor Mr Edwards faced any consequences.

The Associated Press published a fact-check of these and found them to be false.

Clinton and Trumps cases have key differences, according to legal experts. Clintons $850,000 payment to Paula Jones in 1998 settled a civil lawsuit. The payment was public and legal, and the funds did not come from the government, nor did they amount to a campaign contribution, the Associated Press explained.

By comparison, the payment in Trumps case was through a shell company and reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses in the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign.

There is no comparison between these two payments from a legal point of view, said Kathleen Clark, a law professor specialising in legal and government ethics at Washington University in St Louis. The 1998 Clinton-Jones settlement was a settlement of a civil lawsuit. And the settlement was public and was filed in court. In contrast, this payment from Trump to Stormy Daniels was secret.

She added that another difference is that Mr Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, pled guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in connection to the payment. Mr Cohen, now a key prosecution witness, has said Mr Trump was involved as well.

Trumps payment was illegal, and later became the basis for a guilty plea and was part of an illegal campaign contribution, Ms Clark said.

Mr Clinton agreed to pay his accuser, Ms Jones, $850,000 to drop a sexual harassment lawsuit. He settled out of court in November 1998, about halfway through his second term as president. As part of the settlement, he acknowledged no wrongdoing and offered no apology.

Ms Jones alleged that Mr Clinton, as Arkansas governor in 1991, made a crude advance in a room at a Little Rock hotel when she was a clerk for the Arkansas state government. Her lawsuit was later dismissed by a federal judge.

Both involve payments for alleged sexual misconduct, but from a legal point of view theres no comparison between the two, Ms Clark said. Theres no indication that the 1998 Clinton-Jones settlement was aimed at influencing the election, in addition it was not secret, it was public.

The case of former Senator Edwards is perhaps more comparable. His 2008 campaign for the presidency was investigated for the illegal use of funds to cover up his affair with former staffer Rielle Hunter with whom he fathered a child.

On 3 June 2011, Mr Edwards was indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina on six felony charges, including four counts of collecting illegal campaign contributions, one count of conspiracy, and one count of making false statements.

His trial began on 23 April 2012, and he faced the possibility of up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5m fine.

Mr Edwards was found not guilty on Count three, illegal use of campaign funding, on 31 May 2012, while mistrials were declared on all other counts against him when the jury could not reach an agreement on the verdict.

Two weeks later the Department of Justice announced it was dropping the charges and would not attempt to retry Mr Edwards.

With additional reporting by the Associated Press
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Former president Donald Trump has roundly rejected any investigations involving him, his campaign or business empire as a hoax, a fraud or a politically motivated hit job against him or his agenda.

In January, his company was fined $1.6m after two of its entities were convicted of 17 felonies, marking the first time that the former president and his empire  bolstered by a culture of fraud and deception, according to prosecutors  faced criminal consequences after he spent decades trying to avoid them.

Now at the centre of separate investigations from the US Department of Justice and from prosecutors in his hometown of New York and in Georgia, a state he lost to Joe Biden but where he pressed election officials to overturn the results, the leading 2024 Republican candidate for president has suggested that his supporters could respond to his election loss or potentially imminent indictments with violence.

On 18 March, he demanded that his supporters protest his imminent arrest in New York in a furious all-caps social media post typical of his violent visions of America in chaos: a dying and third world country where leftist thugs are killing and burning with no retribution.

A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Mr Trump on 30 March on 34 counts of falsifying business records, allegedly to conceal what prosecutors described as a wide-ranging scheme to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election by suppressing negative stories about him.

He appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment on the afternoon of Tuesday 4 April, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. As part of the booking process, his fingerprints and personal details were taken, but he was not placed in handcuffs and there was no mugshot.

In several of his posts leading up to the indictment, he specifically singled out the man who could bring about his downfall  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

In one late-night post on his Truth Social account on 23 March, he suggested death and destruction awaited the US if Mr Bragg brought criminal charges against him.

What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country? Trump wrote.

Why & who would do such a thing? Only a degenerate psychopath that truely [sic] hates the USA!

His comment echoes his calls to supporters that fuelled the attack on the US Capitol and his apocalyptic visions of America from his time in office and on the campaign trail, depicting his us-versus-them political stakes and a brewing civil war with grim conclusions  rhetoric that has gripped the GOP in the wake of Mr Trumps candidacy.

Another post showed an image of Mr Trump wielding a baseball bat at Mr Braggs head.

Following an uproar, the image was later taken down.

Its authoritarian purity, according to Joe Trippi, a Democratic strategist and adviser to anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project, speaking to The Washington Post. Its what happens when you have to intensify the rhetoric to get the same response, and so its a downward spiral.

Mr Trump has called other Americans our enemies (who are lunatics and maniacs, he told this years Conservative Political Action Conference) and repeatedly suggested that the country is on the brink of World War III without his leadership.

In August, the former president told right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt that a criminal indictment would not stop him from seeking office and that Americans would not stand for his prosecution.

If a thing like that happened, I would have no prohibition against running, he said. I think if it happened, I think youd have problems in this country the likes of which perhaps weve never seen before. I dont think the people of the United States would stand for it.

Asked what he meant by problems, the former president said: I think theyd have big problems. Big problems. I just dont think theyd stand for it. They will not sit still and stand for this ultimate of hoaxes.

Thats not inciting. Im just saying what my opinion is, he said. I dont think the people of this country would stand for it.

One month earlier, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told Fox News that if Mr Trump is prosecuted for mishandling classified documents at his Florida compound, therell be riot in the streets. Mr Trump shared a clip of that interview on his Truth Social profile.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, without naming the senator, said such comments from extreme Republicans were dangerous.

Recommended Inside the Stormy Daniels hush money payment that could lead to first Trump charges

Mr Trumps comments follow a legacy of statements that have fanned the flames of outrage among his supporters, from his depiction of American carnage in his 2017 inaugural address to months of baseless claims alleging a stolen 2020 presidential election before he called on supporters to fight like hell on 6 January, 2021 before a mob stormed the US Capitol.

Within a 25-hour period in 2020, he wrote of protests against police violence when the looting starts, the shooting starts and promoted a video from an ally claiming that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat. In a dark speech at the foot of Mount Rushmore on the Fourth of July that year, he declared that his political opponents want to end America. In campaign speeches, to applause from his supporters, he has repeatedly threatened to imprison journalists and endorsed executing people convicted of drug crimes.

Following a federal law enforcement search of his Mar-a-Lago property in August of 2022, Mr Trumps enraged response and criticisms of the FBI and US Department of Justice echoed among his supporters and in threats that resulted in real-world violence.

People are so angry at what is taking place, Mr Trump told Fox News at the time. Whatever we can do to help because the temperature has to be brought down in the country. If it isnt, terrible things are going to happen.

Mr Trumps business was convicted of criminal charges less than three weeks after the November announcement of his 2024 campaign, fuelled by grievances and his failure to overturn the election he lost just two years ago, and seen by his opponents as an attempt to shield himself from looming criminal prosecutions.

In the weeks that followed, Mr Trump has repeatedly invoked a darkly pessimistic view of America, warning his followers that the country will enter World War III if he is not elected, and vowing retribution against their political opponents if he is.

In February, he shared a post on his Truth Social to his millions of followers from a supporter who pledged to physically fight for the former presidents election.

What we got to lose? Ill donate the rest of my time here on this planet to do it. And I know many many others who feel the same. They got my 6 and we Are Locked and LOADED, the user wrote.

During his headlining appearance at CPAC, Mr Trump pledged to be your warrior and your justice, vowing to his supporters: And to those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

Youre going to have World War III, if something doesnt happen fast, he said during his speech on 5 March. This is the final battle. They know it. I know it. You know it. Everybody knows that this is it  Either they win or we win. And if they win, we no longer have a country.

In a statement on his Truth Social and a video from his campaign, he said this is the most dangerous time in the history of our country and that World War III is looming like never before in the very dark and murky background.

Hopeless Joe Biden is leading us into oblivion, he added. We cannot let it happen. We have to take back the White House, or our country is doomed.

In recent weeks, ahead of his indictment in New York and the investigation in Georgia, he said in posts on his Truth Social that our country is in big trouble and, in an all-caps rejection of the investigations, called them nothing other than election interference into the politics of a failing nation.

On Mr Braggs part, he remained defiant in the face of Mr Trumps violent rhetric.

In a memo to staff ahead of the indictment, he wrote: We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York.

But the rhetoric didnt end after Mr Trumps arrest and arraignment on 4 April.

As soon as the arraignment was over, he hopped back to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where he delivered a primetime TV address, railing against the charges, Mr Bragg and Judge Merchan.

The criminal is the district attorney because he illegally leaked massive amounts of grand jury information, he said to loud applause.

For which he should be prosecuted, or at a minimum he should resign.

He also targeted Mr Braggs wife and the Trump hating-judge with a Trump-hating wife and family whose daughter work for Kamala Harris.

It remains to be seen how long such rhetoric will last.

While he didnt hand down a gag order, Judge Merchan warned Mr Trump to stop making threatening posts on social media that could inflame tensions or incite violence. Fail to follow that court order, and he may find himself muzzled.

This story was first published on 16 March and has been updated with developments
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Fox News host Jesse Watters tried to downplay Donald Trumps calls to imprison his political opponents as he faces a potential indictment from the Manhattan District Attorneys office through a grand jury.

Watters, whom Mr Trump has on occasion broadcast at his rallies, said the former president never indicted former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, despite frequent chants to lock her up.

Lock her up was a joke, he said. Trump never indicted crooked. But theyre going after him hard. They never cared what Trump was arrested for. They just wanted him behind bars.

Watters said Democrats such as District Attorney Alvin Bragg were not prosecuting Mr Trump for a crime but because of who he is.

Democrats arrest the Republican frontrunner and then bait you into reacting and then arrest you if you do, he said. They disenfranchise you and then call you a domestic extremist.

Throughout much of the 2016 campaign, Mr Trump and his Republican acolytes called for Ms Clinton to be imprisoned for using a private email server to conduct official business as US Secretary of State.

I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, he said to Ms Clinton in the second general election debate in 2016. Because there has never been so many lies, so much deception. There has never been anything like it.

Ms Clinton for her part brushed off the remarks.

Its just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country, she said.

Because you would be in jail, he said.

Similarly, in 2020, he called on his then-attorney general William Barr to indict multiple people.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THE BIGGEST OF ALL POLITICAL SCANDALS (IN HISTORY)!!! BIDEN, OBAMA AND CROOKED HILLARY LED THIS TREASONOUS PLOT!!! BIDEN SHOULDNT BE ALLOWED TO RUN - GOT CAUGHT!!! he had tweeted.
Nairobi  The Ministry of Health has announced increased surveillance at all crossing points following the outbreak of the Marburg Virus Disease in neighboring Tanzania.

Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said Wednesday the ministry had directed all county-level health officials to be vigilant on suspect cases for proper and timely management.

"The Ministry has activated its surveillance and response mechanisms and enhanced surveillance at all border points between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Ministry has also directed all County Health Officials to be vigilant to identify and isolate any suspect cases for proper and timely management," the statement released on Wednesday read in part.

Amoth added despite substantial human traffic between Tanzania and Kenya through informal land and maritime border crossing points along the South Western border with Northern Tanzania, the ministry will remain vigilant to ensure all regions bordering affected areas are under effective surveillance.

The Ministry has cautioned Kenyans to remain vigilant against the virus which is scientifically classified under Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) and is in the same category as the Ebola Virus, both in symptoms and transmission.

"Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is often a serious and fatal disease caused by the Marburg virus and has a Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) of up to 88 per cent, but can be much lower with good patient care," he said.

The symptoms of the virus include severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting may follow shortly, with the diarrhea persisting for a week.

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Highly contagious

Amoth noted in fatal cases, many patients develop severe bleeding manifestations often with fresh blood seen in vomitus and feces accompanied by bleeding from the nose, gums, and the vagina.

The largely infectious virus spreads through body fluids in broken skin or mucous membranes and with surfaces such as bedding or clothing contaminated by an infected person. People remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.

The Ministry urged anyone who has visited Tanzania in the past or who shows any symptoms to go to a medical facility for a checkup.

"The Ministry wishes to inform the general public to be on high alert and report any unusual increase in individuals presenting with high fever (hotness of the body) of unknown cause, and especially those with a history of travel to Tanzania," said Amoth.

"Such individuals are advised to immediately report to the nearest health facility for assessment and management. For any enquiries call the following numbers, 0729 47 14 14 or 0732 35 35 35 or 719."

Marburg has its roots in West Africa and its patients are said to have often between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset up to the time of death.

The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care - rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids - and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.
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A lawyer for the man at the centre of a right-wing conspiracy theory surrounding the January 6 attack on the US Capitol has demanded that Fox News personality Tucker Carlson retract his false and defamatory statements about him and deliver a formal on-air apology for the lies he promoted.

Far-right conspiracy theorists have accused Ray Epps of working with the federal government to instigate a riot and provoke violence in the halls of Congress, fanciful notions about the events of 6 January, 2021 that are demonstrably (and already proven to be) false, his attorney Michael Teter wrote in a cease-and-desist letter on 23 March.

And yet Mr Carlson persists with his assault on the truth, according to the letter, a copy of which was provided to The Independent.

The Independent has requested comment from Fox News.

The letters demands that the network retract such statements come as the right-wing media network and its top personality face a $1.6bn defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems that accused them of amplifying lies and baseless conspiracy theories alleging the company interfered with the 2020 presidential election in a plot to steal the outcome from Donald Trump.

The letter on behalf of Ray Epps and his wife Robyn claims that the statements from Mr Carlson have exposed the couple to threats, intimidation, and harassment, resulting in significant economic and emotional damages, adding that each time MR Carlson and Fox News spreads more misinformation about Mr Epps, the harm redoubles.

Recent revelations from the Dominion Voting lawsuit make clear that Fox News has zero qualms about lying to its viewers, Mr Teter said in a statement shared with The Independent. The fictional story that Mr Carlson and Fox News have told, and continue to tell, about Ray Epps is just one more example of this. It is time for Mr Carlson and Fox News to stop the lies and to make amends.

A man appearing to be Ray Epps filmed speaking to a crowd on 5 January (Twitter @ThomasMassie)

The letter claims that Mr Carlson and Fox News have repeatedly peddled claims about Mr Epps that lack any foundation in fact, including accusations that Mr Epps is a federal agent acting as a provocateur to incite the riots.

Mr Teter said that they expect Mr Carlson and Fox News to give the same airtime in retracting these falsehoods as you spent amplifying them and demanded that they issue a formal on-air apology for the lies spread about Mr Epps.

Recommended Rupert Murdoch and son could testify as judge weighs trial for Fox News v Dominion

Mr Epps traveled to Washington DC from Arizona to support the now-former president as a joint session of Congress was set to certify the results of the 2020 election. Mr Epps was filmed the night before the attack urging people to go inside the Capitol and also was seen moving past exterior barricades on 6 January, though he did not go inside and he sought to diffuse the tensions with a violent mob.

But, because he was never arrested, he became embroiled in a far-right conspiracy theory that he worked with federal law enforcement to instigate the riot to entrap Trump supporters, part of a long-running belief on the right that federal authorities are using the levers of power to discriminate against them.

The House select committee investigating the attack dismissed the theory. In his interview with investigators, he testified that he was not a federal agent, and said that the crazy conspiracy theories surrounding him have torn his life apart.

We had a tour bus come by our home and our business with all these whacked out people in it, he said in his interview with the committee last year. When they do this sort of thing, this attracts all the crazies out there.
 Close Trump claims NYC courthouse staff were crying when he was arrested

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Donald Trump has come under fire for offering a slice of pizza to his supporters - after taking a bite out of it.

The former president courted a crowd of fans on Friday night at a pizza parlour in Fort Meyers, Florida, where he ordered a pie for himself.

Viral video showed Mr Trump sinking his teeth into a pepperoni slice before raising it in the air and asking: Does anybody want a piece that Ive eaten?

While the fans didnt seem fazed by the offer, viewers sounding off on social media were quick to brand it disgusting.

The pizza shop visit came after Mr Trump insulted his own home state of Florida in his latest attack on Governor Ron DeSantis as the war between the likely 2024 rivals continues to heat up.

The former president, who lives in Palm Beach, said Florida is among the worst states to live, die, pay taxes and be safe, among other things, in a campaign email on Friday.

The real DeSantis record is one of misery and despair, a Trump spokesperson said. He has left a wake of destruction all across Florida.
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A Texas newspaper has lambasted former president Donald Trumps decision to hold his first 2024 presidential campaign rally not far from the site of the deadly law enforcement siege in Waco, Texas, an event that galvanised far-right conspiracy theories as a symbol of violent government overreach.

As the state of Texas recognises the 30th anniversary of the deadly 51-day siege, The Houston Chronicles editorial board writes that dog ears wont be the only ones twitching when Mr Trump lands on 25 March.

Trump doesnt do subtle; dog-whistle messages are not his style. The more apt metaphor is the blaring air horn of a Mack 18-wheeler barreling down [Interstate-10], the newspaper writes.

The editorial compares the visit to Ronald Reagans first major campaign speech in 1980 during a trip to Philadelphia, Mississippi, remarks invoking states rights just miles from where three civil rights workers were killed by the Ku Klux Klan 16 years earlier. The speech was roundly criticised for its dog-whistle politics conveying a subtle message for those with ears to hear, while maintaining plausible deniability, the newspaper notes.

Mr Trump won McLennan County by more than 20 percentage points during the 2020 election, and the editorial board notes that Waco has every right to host the former president, but Waco the symbol, like Philadelphia, Mississippi, the symbol, means something else entirely.

Waco has become an Alamo of sorts, a shrine for the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters, the Oath Keepers and other anti-government extremists and conspiracists, according to the editorial board.

Dont bother with a bombastic, bullying candidate inclined to incitement and bent on retribution. His appearance is ample reason to stay home, the board writes.

The rally on 25 March comes in the middle the 30th anniversary of the 1993 siege at Mount Carmel Center ranch in Elk, Texas, that concluded with a fire that engulfed the compound and killed 76 people, including children and cult leader David Koresh.

Federal agents with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were met with gunfire while attempting to search the property outside Waco in February 1993, igniting a siege that ended on 19 April.

Mr Trumps campaign rally also comes as the former president potentially faces looming criminal indictments from prosecutors in his home state of New York, involving hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign.

He also is at the centre of an investigation in Georgia, where he sought to pressure election officials to overturn 2020 presidential election results after losing the state to Joe Biden. Special counsel investigations from the US Department of Justice also are investigating the former president in connection with January 6 and his alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.

Meanwhile, his increasingly dark and incendiary rhetoric surrounding looming indictments and his 2024 campaign has included demands for his supporters to launch mass protests, while he suggests his prosecution would spark violence and cause death and destruction across the country.
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Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York City grand jury on charges of falsifying business records stemming from payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing an affair he had with her before the 2016 election.

A source told The Independent that grand jurors voted to indict the ex-president at some point this week, and that indictment is currently under seal.

It was only filed with the New York Supreme Court late on Thursday, just before the court clerks office wrapped its business for the day.

Mr Trump is reportedly facing more than 30 counts related to business fraud, sources told CNN after the indictment became public.

Filing the indictment, which has been signed by the grand jury foreperson, with the clerk of court is what makes a criminal case official, but because it is currently under seal, it will remain so until it is unveiled at some point in the near future by district attorney Alvin Bragg.

The twice-impeached former president had signaled that he could face arrest by Mr Braggs office, which was still in the process of presenting evidence to a grand jury as recently as Monday. He previously said in a post on his Truth Social platform that he had expected to be arrested on 21 March, but that date came and went without an indictment being handed down from the grand jury.

Mr Bragg said in a statement on Thursday 30 March that his office has been in touch with Mr Trumps attorneys over the former presidents surrender.

This evening we contacted Mr Trumps attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan DAs Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal. Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected, Mr Bragg said.

Mr Trumps lawyers have indicated that he will surrender to New York authorities early next week.

In the time between when he falsely claimed he would be arrested and the announcement that the grand jury had, in fact, indicated him, the ex-president has ramped-up increasingly unhinged rhetorical attacks on Mr Bragg, including at a 25 March rally in Waco, Texas.

During an airplane flight to the Texas rally, he told a group of reporters traveling with him that he believed Mr Bragg had dropped the case against him and called the entire matter a fake case.

But at the event later that evening, Mr Trump described the Manhattan prosecutors effort to hold him to account for alleged crimes as interference in next years presidential election.

Prosecutorial misconduct is their new tool, and theyre willing to use it at levels never seen before in our country. Weve had it, but weve never had it like this, he said. We must stop them and we must not allow them to go through another election where they have yet another tool in their tool kit.

Mr Trump has also spent much of the last few weeks posting rambling rants against Mr Bragg to Truth Social in which he accused Manhattans top prosecutor, who is Black, of being a racist, and of using the power of his office to persecute, indict and persecute a former president of the United States of America while letting murderers, rapists and drug dealers walk free.

One such post to his website even included a photo of the ex-president holding a baseball bat positioned next to a photo of Mr Braggs head in a manner that made it look as if Mr Trump was preparing to strike the Manhattan prosecutor. He later deleted the post, which one of his attorneys called ill-advised and blamed it on the ex-presidents staff during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press.

The violent and incendiary rhetoric against Mr Bragg may have had an effect already. Last week, the New York prosecutor recieved a death threat in the mail along with a white, powdery substance that was later determined to be harmless.

Charges against Mr Trump come despite House GOP attempt to interfere

Mr Braggs decision to follow through with bringing charges against the ex-president also comes after an unprecedented effort by Mr Trumps House Republican allies to force Mr Bragg to give evidence about his ongoing investigation to a trio of House committees.

Last week, the chairs of House judiciary, oversight and administration committees  representatives Jim Jordan, James Comer and Bryan Stiel  sent Mr Bragg a letter demanding he appear for a transcribed interview and turn over documents about his investigation, which they, like Mr Trump, described as an effort to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.

After Mr Braggs general counsel responded by noting that the congressional request treads into territory very clearly reserved to the state by asking for information on a local prosecutors effort to enforce state law and said Mr Bragg is obliged by the federal and state constitutions to protect the independence of state law enforcement functions from federal interference, the trio of committee chairs replied in a Saturday letter stating that their inquiry is legitimate because the potential criminal indictment of a former president of the United States by an elected local prosecutor of the opposing political party (and who will face the prospect of re-election) implicates substantial federal interests.

They added that Mr Braggs work falls under the jurisdiction of Mr Jordans House Judiciary Committee because that panel  and Congress  has a specific and manifestly important interest in preventing politically motivated prosecutions of current and former Presidents by elected state and local prosecutors, particularly those tried before elected state and local trial-level judges.

Therefore, the Committee on the Judiciary, as a part of its broad authority to develop criminal justice legislation, must now consider whether to draft legislation that would, if enacted, insulate current and former presidents from such improper state and local prosecutions, they said.

Because your impending indictment of a former president is an issue of first impression, the committees require information from your office to inform our oversight.

The indictment against Mr Trump makes him the first former US president to face criminal charges in the countrys nearly 250-year history. Federal authorities once considered seeking an indictment against former president Richard Nixon for crimes he committed while in office, but the pardon issued to him by his successor, Gerald Ford, made charging him impossible.

Unlike the charges that were never filed against Nixon, who died in 1994, the charges against Mr Trump have been filed in state court and cannot be short-circuited by a future presidential pardon.

But Mr Braggs status as a state prosecutor outside the federal court system hasnt stopped Mr Trumps allies in the House GOP conference from attempting to use what power they have to defend him.

In a letter sent to Mr Bragg on Monday, House judiciary committee chairman Jim Jordan, House oversight committee chairman James Comer, and House administration committee chair Bryan Steil accused the Democratic prosecutor of being about to engage in an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority by indicting Mr Trump.

In light of the serious consequences of your actions, we expect that you will testify about what plainly appears to be a politically motivated prosecutorial decision, they said.

In a statement, Mr Bragg said his office evaluate[s] cases in our jurisdiction based on the facts, the law, and the evidence.

It is not appropriate for Congress to interfere with pending local investigations. This unprecedented inquiry by federal elected officials into an ongoing matter serves only to hinder, disrupt and undermine the legitimate work of our dedicated prosecutors. As always, we will continue to follow the facts and be guided by the rule of law in everything we do, he said.

How did Donald Trump end up in the dock?

The indictment against the twice-impeached ex-president is the latest chapter in a saga that stretches back to 2016, when Mr Trumps then-personal attorney, Michael Cohen, arranged for hush-money payments to two women with whom he had extramarital affairs: Ms Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford; and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Ms Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, allegedly received hush money payments via Trumps lawyer Michael Cohen (AP)

The $130,000 sum paid to Ms Daniels was funneled through a shell company created for that purpose by Cohen, who was later reimbursed by Mr Trumps company.

Earlier in 2016, Cohen also arranged for Ms McDougal to be paid $150,000 by the publisher of the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer, which squashed her story in a journalistically dubious practice known as catch-and-kill.

Mr Trump has repeatedly denied having an affair with Ms Daniels, but in her 2018 memoir, Full Disclosure, the adult film actress described her 2006 encounters with the future president  and his anatomy  in detail, writing that Mr Trumps penis was smaller than average but not freakishly small.

He knows he has an unusual penis  it has a huge mushroom head. Like a toadstool, she wrote. It may have been the least impressive sex Id ever had, but clearly, he didnt share that opinion.

The timing of Mr Trumps hush-money payments  a decade after the affair  will figure prominently in any trial on the charges he faces. Mr Braggs office will need to show that the payments were related to the 2016 election and not made for other purposes.

Those payments, which were reimbursed to Cohen from Mr Trumps eponymous company, the Trump Organization, saw the real estate and licensing corporation gross up Cohens reimbursement for the Ms Daniels payment for tax purposes, according to federal prosecutors who filed criminal charges against the lawyer in connection with the payments in 2018.

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 the ex-presidents 2016 campaign. But they declined to file charges against Mr Trump himself, citing a longstanding prohibition against indicting sitting presidents.

The disgraced former lawyer, who was disbarred following his federal guilty plea, has been a key witness against Mr Trump. He met with prosecutors as recently as 13 March, just days before the grand jury voted to indict his former boss.

The charges against Mr Trump, who prosecutors allege to have falsified business records by logging Cohens reimbursement for the Daniels payment as legal fees, are only misdemeanor charges under New York law. But a separate provision of Empire State law allows prosecutors to upgrade that charge to a felony because Mr Trump allegedly falsified the records to cover up another crime.

Michael Cohen has been a key witness against Mr Trump after pleading guilty to violating federal campaign finance law in connection with the payments (Reuters)

The decision by grand jurors to indict Mr Trump came following a surprise twist in the years-long probe into the ex-president by the office led by Mr Bragg.

After years of ignoring the hush-money case, prosecutors began interviewing witnesses about it earlier this year. Among those former Trump associates interviewed before the grand jury were Hope Hicks, Mr Trumps ex-White House communications director, and his 2016 campaign manager and former White House counselor, Kellyanne Conway.

It may have been the least impressive sex Id ever had Stormy Daniels on her alleged affair with Donald Trump

Prosecutors also repeatedly spoke to Cohen, Mr Trumps ex-fixer who is the only person to face charges as a result of the hush-money scheme  until today, and who once vowed to "take a bullet" for his former boss.

He later told the House oversight committee that everything related to the charges that sent him to prison was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Mr Trump.

Because Cohens prior criminal charges included having lied to Congress, Mr Braggs office interviewed Cohen upwards of 20 times to be sure of his testimony before bringing him before the grand jury for two sessions, one on Monday and one on Wednesday. He has also said that he has provided prosecutors with documentary evidence to back up his testimony.

So far, Mr Trumps camp has taken the same posture they have taken with regard to any attempt to hold him accountable for anything  by casting it as an illegitimate and politically-motivated attempt to hurt his electoral prospects, rather than an attempt to enforce criminal laws against a person who allegedly violated them.

In a rambling statement released last Thursday, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said the now-indicted, twice-impeached former president is completely innocent and did nothing wrong.

Democrats have investigated and attacked President Trump since before he was elected  and theyve failed every time. Now Democrats are at it again, pushing the Nuclear Button and attacking a president because of a disgraced extortionist. This is happening because President Trump is leading in the polls by a large margin against both Democrats and Republicans, and theres never been anything so blatant in American political history, he said.

What other criminal peril could Donald Trump face?

The New York grand jurys indictment against Mr Trump could be just the first set of criminal charges facing the ex-president as he attempts to become the first former president to return to the White House for a nonconsecutive term since Grover Cleveland accomplished that feat in 1892.

Authorities in multiple jurisdictions are overseeing four other investigations that could result in more indictments against the twice-impeached, once-indicted former chief executive.

In Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney Fani Willis is weighing whether to ask a grand jury to indict Mr Trump on charges relating to his efforts to pressure Peach State officials into overturning his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the state.

In 2022, a special grand jury Ms Willis requested concluded a monthslong probe into Mr Trumps efforts to reverse his 2020 election defeat to Mr Biden, including his calls to Peach State election officials and a plot to submit forged electoral college documents to the National Archives to give then-vice president Mike Pence a reason to hijack the 6 January 2021 joint session of Congress by declaring him and Mr Trump the winners of the election.

In a report filed with the Fulton County District Court, the 23-member grand jurys report said a majority of the grand jury believes that perjury may have been committed by one or more witnesses testifying before it and recommended that Ms Willis seek appropriate indictments for such crimes where the evidence is compelling.

Mr Trumps legal team has asked the court to toss out the grand jurys work in its entirety, citing public statements by grand jurors and other grounds which they say necessitates Ms Williss disqualification from ever prosecuting the ex-president. But its unclear whether the ex-presidents strategy will bear fruit.

The former presidents efforts in the run-up to the 6 January attack on the Capitol are also under investigation by a federal grand jury working with Jack Smith, a special counsel named to supervise probes into Mr Trump by attorney general Merrick Garland in November.

Mr Smith, a former federal prosecutor who most recently worked overseas for a war crimes tribunal in The Hague, has sought to interview numerous ex-Trump White House officials who were privy to the ex-presidents thinking and actions in the weeks between his 2020 election loss to Mr Biden and the worst attack on the Capitol since Major General Robert Ross ordered British troops to burn it during the War of 1812.

He is also investigating whether Mr Trump violated US laws prohibiting unauthorised retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice, with that investigating stemming from Mr Trumps alleged possession of hundreds of documents bearing classification markings long after his term in the White House  and his authorisation to possess such documents  came to an end.

Mr Smith recently obtained a court order allowing him and members of a separate Washington, DC grand jury to question one of Mr Trumps lawyers, Evan Corcoran, about conversations with the ex-president in the time period between when he recieved a grand jury subpoena compelling him to return any classified documents in his possession and Mr Corcorans drafting of a false affidavit in which another one of Mr Trumps then-lawyers, Christina Bobb, claimed that all such documents had been returned.

Yet another investigation by federal officials isnt targeting Mr Trump personally but could potentially imperil him in the future.

According to The Guardian, the ex-presidents Trump Media and Technology Group  the company that operates his Truth Social website  is the subject of a Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice probe into whether the company violated federal money laundering laws.

The investigation is reportedly focused on $8 million the company recieved in 2021 and 2022 from two obscure entities that both appear to be controlled in part by the relation of an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
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A Mongolian boy born in the US has been named as the reincarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism by the Dalai Lama.

The faiths spiritual leader has been pictured with the eight-year-old boy taking part in a ceremony in Dharamshala in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh  where the Dalai Lama, 87, lives in exile  recognising him as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, according to The Times.

Mongolian media reports suggest the child is one of a pair of twin boys named Aguidai and Achiltai Altannar, sons of Altannar Chinchuluun and Monkhnasan Narmandakh, a university mathematics professor and a national resources conglomerate executive, respectively.

The boys grandmother, Garamjav Tseden, is meanwhile a former member of parliament.

The move to acknowledge him as the rebirth of Buddhisms spiritual leader in Mongolia is likely to anger China, which has previously insisted it will only recognise Buddhist leaders who its own special government-approved appointees have chosen.

The development was reportedly met with a mixture of excitement and apprehension in Mongolia, with the likely animosity of Beijing considered cause for concern.

In 1995, when the Dalai Lama named a new Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in the faith, the child was swiftly arrested by Chinese authorities and replaced with a candidate of their own.

Fears persist that something similar could happen when the Dalai Lama himself eventually passes away, an event he has predicted will not take place on Chinese-controlled territory, indicating that his successor could emerge from another country in which Tibetan Buddhism is practised such as India, Nepal, Bhutan or Mongolia.

In a prelude to the present excitement, the spiritual leader visited Mongolia in 2016 and announced that a new incarnation of the Jetsun Dhampa had been born and that the search was underway to find him.

China reacted angrily to that visit and threatened Ulaanbaatar with diplomatic repercussions if it allowed him to return.

The eventual unveiling ceremony in question is understood to have taken place in Dharamshala on 8 March in front of an audience of around 600 worshippers.

We have the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche of Mongolia with us today, the Dalai Lama told his followers.

His predecessors had a close association with the Krishnacharya lineage of Chakrasamvara. One of them established a monastery in Mongolia dedicated to its practice. So, his being here today is quite auspicious.

The Dalai Lama was himself recognised as a reincarnation of the faiths previous leader in 1937 when he was just two years old.

Mao Zedongs communist forces occupied his native Tibet in 1950 and he was forced to flee Lhasa nine years later following a failed uprising.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in honour of his efforts to promote linguistic and cultural autonomy for his mountain homeland in the face of Chinese oppression.

Beijing, in turn, considers him a dangerous separatist and has banned his portrait from being displayed in public, although many Chinese Tibetans still revere him.
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Hundreds of people were evacuated as a major forest fire raged in Spains eastern Castellon region on Friday, marking an early start to the nation's fire season amid bone dry conditions.

Ximo Puig, the president of the Valencia region that incorporates Castellon, told reporters the fire had engulfed around 1,000 hectares of land since it broke out Thursday, and was very early in the spring, very voracious from the beginning.

Emergency services in the region said 600 people in eight towns had been evacuated, including a home for older people in Montan.

Puig added that the effects of climate change are undeniable, so the perspective of firefighting must be considered on an annual basis.

As of early Friday, four helicopters and more than 600 firefighters and soldiers were tackling the fire, as the Spanish military deployed additional support to try to bring the blaze under control.

The state weather agency, AEMET, tweeted that unfavorable weather conditions, especially considering the early date of the year, have favored the (fire's) rapid spread." Temperatures were above 25 Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) when the fire broke out, and relative humidity sank below 30% following an unusually dry winter in the area.

The risk of more fires in Castellon was classified as extreme" on Friday.
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The historic Bordeaux City Hall in France has been set on fire on the day of the biggest protest yet against Emmanuel Macrons controversial attempts to push through reforms to raise the pension age.

Protesters gathered outside the Palais Rohan cheered as a part of the building went up in flames, one of a number of incidents of vandalism and violence across the country on Thursday evening after a day of largely peaceful strike action.

The largescale protests threaten the prospect of King Charles IIIs visit to France  the British monarchs trip next week was to be his first abroad after becoming king.

Thursdays strike was the first day of national walkouts since Mr Macron pushed through a bill with his pension reforms, and upwards of one million people are reported to have taken part in protests and marches across France.

Building on the strong turnout on Thursday, unions have called for fresh protests this Tuesday, which would be the second day of the British monarchs visit, when he is scheduled to visit Bordeaux.

Videos circulating widely on social media showed huge flames engulfing the city halls heavy wooden front doors.

Construction of the city hall was completed by 1784, just years before the French Revolution. The building is a prominent example of French baroque architecture during the 18th century.

The city hall is just one of the instances where the anger of ordinary protesters has been on stark display.

The biggest day of the strike in France has seen the participation of a million people, with 119,000 people marching through Paris on Thursday, according to data from the countrys Interior Ministry.

The General Confederation of Labour, however, claimed the number to be much higher, at 800,000.

Around 80 people were arrested by police and 123 police personnel and gendarmes were injured amid widespread violence and rioting, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Thursday evening.

He said 12,000 security forces had been deployed on Thursday, with 5,000 of these stationed in Paris.

The nationwide protests are the ninth round of union-organised demonstrations that have taken place since January, over pension reforms, which the government chose to push through without a parliamentary vote, making it the biggest domestic crisis for president Emmanuel Macron during his second term in office.

Protests are raging against Mr Macrons bill that seeks to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, something the embattled president claims is necessary to keep the system afloat.

The streets of Paris saw pitched battles between the police and black-clad, masked groups that attacked at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank.

Protesters pelted Molotov cocktails, objects and fireworks at police, who charged at them multiple times and used tearas to break protests.

Videos showed teargas fumes covering part of the Place de lOpera, where demonstrators converged.

One of the shocking images emerging from the protest showed an unconscious police officer in Paris being dragged to safety after he and other officers came under fire from fireworks and other missiles. He was reportedly hit on the head.

French police officers protect a colleague injured during clashes with protesters (EPA)

A graphic image from the northern city of Rouen showed a young woman who was seriously injured on her hand lying on the ground and witnesses said she lost her thump after being hit by a "flash-ball" grenade fired by police.

Visiting police headquarters as fires still burned in some Paris neighbourhoods, Mr Darmanin said security posed no problem to the British monarchs visit and he will be welcomed and welcomed well.

He said there was enormous degrading of public buildings and commerce on Thursday, far more important than in precedent demonstrations.

There are troublemakers, often extreme left, who want to take down the state and kill police and ultimately take over the institutions, the minister said.
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The Irish Court of Appeal has dismissed architect Graham Dwyers appeal against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara in 2012.

Dwyer was convicted on March 27 2015 after a lengthy high-profile trial.

He had launched an appeal on numerous grounds, including the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence.

Last April, Dwyer won a case in Europe about the mobile data retention practices used in the case against him.

Data held in the Cork-born architects work phone was used in the trial to demonstrate how it placed the device at specific places at particular times and dates.

The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that EU law precludes the general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data relating to electronic communication for the purpose of combating serious crime.

Delivering the decision, president of the Court of Appeal George Birmingham said the court was quite satisfied the admission of very limited call data could not be perceived of arising to a miscarriage of justice in this case.

There is no miscarriage of justice here, he said.

We have not been persuaded that the trial was unfair or that the verdict was unsafe, and we dismiss the appeal, he added.

Mr Justice Birmingham referred to the use in trial of the contents of 2,620 text messages and data retained by mobile phone companies for billing purposes in relation to five phones.

There is no miscarriage of justice here George Birmingham, president of the Court of Appeal

The phones included what was referred to as Dwyers work phone, a phone attributed to Ms OHara which was left in her apartment, an additional green phone which the prosecution sought to attribute to Dwyer, as well as a master phone and slave phone, which the prosecution said could be attributed to Dwyer and Ms OHara respectively.

The president said the defences position was that the significance of data linking the phones was a central and integral part of the prosecution case.

He said the Director of Public Prosecutions did not dispute that it played a part but said the part it played was relatively minor.

He said the appellants response was that to push the significance of that evidence to the margins was an attempt to unscramble the omelette that was the prosecution case.

The evidence was also referred to as the icing on the cake.

It must be concluded that the icing significantly enhanced the cake Mr Justice Birmingham

Mr Justice Birmingham said: It must be concluded that the icing significantly enhanced the cake.

On the request from investigators for the phone data, he said Garda actions were in full compliance of provisions of an Act of the Oireachtas and enjoyed a presumption of constitutionality.

He said while there was evidence from the parallel movements of phones at issue in the case, there was evidence of the same effect which was independent and arguably more compelling.

He outlined alternative routes of the identification of the suspect through traditional detective work and other evidence.

Outlining the background and personal circumstances of Ms OHara, Mr Justice Birmingham noted she had experienced certain mental health difficulties since her teenage years.

He also later referred to the very unusual sexual relationship discussed in the case, which included acts of stabbing perpetrated on Ms OHara.

Dwyer had also made appeals against what the defence believed to be prejudicial videos.

Nine video clips were played in the trial showing Dwyer engaged in sexual intercourse with aspects of BDSM, three of which included Ms OHara.

The defence argued it was overly powerful and likely to cause a reaction among jurors.

A picture is worth a thousand words Mr Justice Birmingham

There was also accompanying commentary from an investigator in the trial.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the judge believed that the probative effect of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial value.

A picture is worth a thousand words, he said.

He said the videos represented the best evidence available.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the user of one of the phones had arranged to meet Ms OHara on August 22 2012 with the purpose of taking her up the mountains to be stabbed and or punished.

She was last seen alive on that date.

In the weeks before her disappearance, she had been admitted to hospital.

It was the prosecutions case that with the ending of Ms OHaras hospital admission, Dwyer began to put in a place a plan to use her for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification by stabbing a woman to death.
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Denmark has invited the Russian-controlled operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to help recover a mystery object found on the seabed near the pipeline.

It come six months after sections of the pipeline were sabotaged. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believes the object could be a signal antenna to activate an explosive in that part of the pipeline.

German, Swedish and Danish authorities are investigating the pipeline explosion that sparked four leaks on the two Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The gas leak at the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline (DANISH DEFENCE/AFP via Getty Ima)

The mystery cylindrical object is standing near the Nord Stream 2 pipeline at the bottom of the sea.

The Danish energy agency said it is possible that the object is a maritime smoke buoy and that it does not pose an immediate safety risk.

They continued: With a view to further clarifying the nature of the object, Danish authorities have decided to salvage the object with assistance from the Danish Defence, and added that the agency is still waiting for a response from the pipelines owner before starting the recovery operation.

Investigators searched a ship suspected of having transported explosives used in the blasts in January, German prosecutors said earlier this month.

The cylindrical object found near the pipeline (Reuters)

The New York Times reported that US officials had seen new intelligence indicating that a pro-Ukrainian group was responsible for the sabotage of the pipelines, which Russian energy giant Gazprom has a majority stake in.

The Ukrainian government has denied any involvement, while the Kremlin called the New York Times report a diversion.

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines have long been a target of criticism by the United States and some of its allies, who warned that they posed a risk to Europes energy security by increasing dependence on Russian gas.

Germany halted certification of the still uncommissioned Nord Stream 2 after Russias invasion of Ukraine, and Moscow stopped the flow of gas in Nord Stream 1 weeks before the attack.
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Russias Wagner mercenaries are running out of steam and Ukraine will soon launch a counteroffensive, a military official has said.

Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that the group, who have been at the front of Moscows assault on eastern and southern Ukraine, are losing considerable strength amid the fight for Bakhmut.

The Ukrainian military also claimed 1,020 Russian troops had been killed in the past 24 hours after unsuccessful attacks on Lyman, Avdiivka, Marinka and Shakhtarsk.

Mr Syrskyi said his forces would soon begin a counteroffensive after withstanding Russias winter campaign.

Saying the mercenaries are losing considerable strength and running out of steam, he added: Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk, listing Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that recaptured swathes of land.

Russian forces have for months been trying to capture Bakhmut as they seek to extend their control over eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen en route to the frontline close to Bakhmut (Anadolu Agency/Getty)

There was no immediate response from Moscow to suggestions its forces in Bakhmut were losing momentum, but Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has issued statements in recent days, warning of a Ukrainian counterassault.

At a Ukrainian-held village west of Soledar, on Bakhmuts northern outskirts, the intensity of the Russian bombardment noticeably lessened from two days earlier.

It was really hot here a week ago, but in the last three days it has been more quiet, a Ukrainian soldier told Reuters. We can see this in the enemys air strikes. If before there were five-six air raids in a day, today we had only one helicopter attack.

An apparent slowdown in Russian attacks in Bakhmut could mean that it is diverting resources and troops elsewhere. Earlier this week, the UK confirmed that Russia had made gains further north, regaining the upper hand in the fight for Kreminna.

It has also been more active in the northern Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, alongside the central Zaporizhzhia and southern Kherson regions.

Meanwhile, president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the war could last years without military aid, again urging Europe to increase the speed of weapon supplies.

If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war, he said in a video address to European Union leaders, calling for long-range missiles, ammunition and modern aircraft. Mr Zelensky also called for additional sanctions to be placed on Russia.

A Ukrainian serviceman fires his rifle at a drone flying above their position near Bakhmut (AFP/Getty)

The EU summit approved a plan agreed by foreign ministers to send 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine over the course of the next year. Global food security and sanctions on Russia were similarly discussed.

The UK has committed to supplying armour-piercing munitions containing depleted uranium, something Mr Putin remarked would necessitate a response from Russia as the weapons had a nuclear component.

Slovakia similarly confirmed on Thursday that it had donated the first four MiG-29 jets pledged to Ukraine, with the rest expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
13 African countries among initial group to receive coordinated and targeted support in new global early warning initiative.

A global initiative to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by early warnings by 2027 is being fast-tracked into action on the ground.

Early Warning Systems provide more than a tenfold return on investment. Just 24 hours' notice of an impending hazardous event can cut the ensuing damage by 30 per cent. The Global Commission on Adaptation found that spending just US$800 million on such systems in developing countries would avoid losses of $3 to 16 billion per year.Prof. Petteri TaalasWMO Secretary-General A recent record-breaking tropical cyclone in Southeast Africa once again shows the paramount importance of these services to save lives and livelihoods from increasingly extreme weather and climate events.

To aid this work, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has convened an Advisory Panel of leaders of UN agencies, multilateral development banks, humanitarian organizations, civil society, insurance and IT companies in March. 2023

The aim is to inject more political, technological and financial clout to ensure that Early Warnings for All becomes a reality for everyone, everywhere.

The months ahead will see stepped up coordinated action, initially in 30 particularly at-risk countries, including Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. Additional countries are expected to be added as this vital work with partners gathers pace, scale and resourcing.

At the same time, the UN's existing actions and initiatives to save lives and livelihoods and build resilience across a wide range of other countries will continue and be reinforced, ensuring the Early Warnings for All campaign turns its pledges into life-saving reality on the ground for millions of the most vulnerable people.

The Advisory Panel meeting will consider advancing the 4 key Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) pillars

Background to the Early Warnings initiativeThe Early Warnings For All Initiative (EW4All) was formally launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Initiative calls for the whole world to be covered by an early warning system by the end of 2027.

Early Warnings for All is co-led by WMO and UNDRR and supported by pillar leads ITU and IFRC. Implementing partners are: FAO, OCHA, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, REAP, and WFP.

The Advisory Panel will monitor and report on the progress against the achievement of the goal to the UN Secretary-General, and has the following objectives:

Assess progress of the Early Warnings for All initiative against its goals and targets

Build political and overall momentum and support for the Early Warnings for All initiative

Provide overall recommendations for the mobilization of resources, and

Monitor scientific and technical development related to early warning systems

The aim is not to re-invent the wheel, but rather promote collaboration and synergies and to harness the power of mobile phones and mass communications.

"Now it is time for us to deliver results. Millions of lives are hanging in the balance, It is unacceptable that the countries and peoples that have contributed the least to creating the crisis are paying the heaviest prices," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"People in Africa, South Asia, South and Central America, and small island states are 15 times more likely to die from climate disasters. These deaths are preventable. The evidence is clear: early warning systems are one of the most effective risk reduction and climate adaptation measures to reduce disaster mortality and economic losses," said Mr Guterres.

The need is urgent.

In the past 50 years, the number of recorded disasters has increased by a factor of five, driven in part by human-induced climate change which is super-charging our weather. This trend is expected to continue.

If no action is taken, the number of medium- or large-scale disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year - or 1.5 each day - by 2030.

The occurrence of severe weather and the effects of climate change will increase the difficulty, uncertainty, and complexity of emergency response efforts worldwide.

Preventable deaths

Half of countries globally do not have adequate early warning systems and even fewer have regulatory frameworks to link early warnings to emergency plans.

Initial countriesThe UN Secretary-General has sent a letter to heads of state and government of an initial group of countries to receive coordinated and targeted support. This list will be expanded in the future and UN support for other countries will continue in the meantime.

Africa: Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Comoros, Ethiopia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, South Sudan, Uganda

Asia and Pacific: Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Lao (People's Democratic Republic), Cambodia Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga

Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Lao (People's Democratic Republic), Cambodia Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga Latin America and Caribbean: Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, Antigua Barbuda, Guatemala, Ecuador

and Caribbean: Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, Antigua Barbuda, Guatemala, Ecuador Central Asia: Tajikistan

Membership of Advisory Panel

Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General

Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction

Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Secretary-General

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General

Implementing Partners:

UN Development Programme

UN Environment Programme

UN Women

Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS

UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO)

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Executive Office of the Secretary-General

Green Climate Fund

Microsoft

GSMA

Insurance Development Forum

Climate Action Network

SG's Youth Advisory Group

African Development Bank

COP 27 Presidency

COP 28 Presidency

"The unprecedented flooding in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar from Tropical Cyclone Freddy highlights once again that our weather and precipitation is becoming more extreme and that water-related hazards are on the rise," said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas. "The worst affected areas have received months' worth of rainfall in a matter of days and the socio-economic impacts are catastrophic."

"Accurate early warnings combined with coordinated disaster management on the ground prevented the casualty toll from rising even higher. But we can do even better and that is why the Early Warnings for All initiative is the top priority for WMO.

Besides avoiding damages the weather, climate and hydrological services are economically beneficial for agriculture, air, marine and ground transportation, energy, health, tourism and various businesses," he said.

WMO and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) are spearheading the Early Warnings for All initiative, along with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

"The operationalization of this initiative is a clear example of how the UN System and partners can work together to save lives and protect livelihoods from disasters. Inclusive and multi-hazard early warning systems that close the 'last mile' are among the best risk reduction methods in the face of climate-related hazards and geophysical hazards such as tsunamis.

Achieving this is not only a clear target in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction but a moral imperative as well," said Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR.

Climate Change Adaptation

Early warning systems are widely regarded as the "low-hanging fruit" for climate change adaptation because they are a relatively cheap and effective way of protecting people and assets from hazards, including storms, floods, heatwaves and tsunamis to name a few.

Early Warning Systems provide more than a tenfold return on investment

Just 24 hours' notice of an impending hazardous event can cut the ensuing damage by 30 per cent.

The Global Commission on Adaptation found that spending just US$800 million on such systems in developing countries would avoid losses of $3 to 16 billion per year.

"When disaster strikes, people and communities can turn to technology as a lifeline," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. "By leading the work of the UN Early Warnings for All initiative on 'Warning Dissemination and Communication,' ITU is helping ensure that those at risk can act in time to our increasingly climate-vulnerable world."

Alerts can be sent via radio and television channels, by social media, and with sirens. ITU recommends an inclusive, people-centered approach using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a standardized data format for public warnings, to keep messages coherent across different channels.

"Early warnings that translate into preparedness and response save lives. As climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent, more intense and more deadly, they are essential for everyone, but one in three people globally are still not covered.

Early warning systems are the most effective and dignified way to prevent an extreme weather event from creating a humanitarian crisis - especially for the most vulnerable and remote communities who bear the brunt of it. No lives should be lost in a predictable disaster," said IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain.

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People in Africa, South Asia, South and Central America, and small island states are 15 times more likely to die from climate disasters. These deaths are preventable. The evidence is clear: early warning systems are one of the most effective risk reduction and climate adaptation measures to reduce disaster mortality and economic losses.Antonio GuterresUN Secretary-General Advisory Panel

The Early Warnings for All initiative calls for initial new targeted investments between 2023 and 2027 of US$ 3.1 billion - a sum which would be dwarfed by the benefits.

This is a small fraction (about 6 per cent) of the requested US$ 50 billion in adaptation financing. It would cover strengthening disaster risk knowledge, observations and forecasting, preparedness and response, and communication of early warnings.

A range of new and pre-existing innovative financing solutions are required to implement the plan to protect every person on Earth.

These include a scaling up of the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative, the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), and accelerated investment programmes of climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund, and key Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), as well as other innovative new financial instruments across all stakeholders of the early warning value chain.

Disaster risk knowledge and management (US$374 million) : aims to collect data and undertake risk assessments to increase knowledge on hazards and vulnerabilities and trends. Led by UNDRR with support from WMO.

Detection, observations, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of hazards (US$1.18 billion). Develop hazard monitoring and early warning services. Led by WMO, with support from UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Dissemination and communication (US$ 550 million). Communicate risk information so it reaches all those who need it and is understandable and usable. Led by ITU, with support from IFRC, UNDP, and WMO.

Preparedness and response ($1 billion) : Build national and community response capabilities.
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Ukrainian children who returned from Russia after months of being deported have recounted the political indoctrination and mental trauma they endured during their detention.

At least 17 children, residents of besieged Kharkiv and Kherson, came back to Ukraine this week, non-profit Save Ukraine said in a release on Thursday.

An emotional video of their return to Ukraine from Crimea showed at least eight children, including teenagers, being reunited with their families after stepping out of a minivan.

Another social media post by Save Ukraine shows the children with their belongings at an undisclosed location in Ukraine.

Children from Kherson and Kharkiv regions are finally in Ukraine. They and their moms happily crossed the border and are currently safe. We were able to reunite families together after a long gap and staying in the occupied Crimea camps for re-education, the organisation said.

Officials in Ukraine have accused Russia of deporting more than 16,000 Ukrainian children after launching a full-scale invasion in February last year.

Russian president Vladimir Putin was recently slapped with an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.

The children who returned said they were made to watch Mr Putins New Year speech, a 15-year-old told AFP.

If they did not sing the Russian national anthem, the children were asked to write an explanatory note, the teenager said.

The mother of one of the children taken said her son became more serious upon separation. He looks at me and says Mom, I do not want to tell you about it, you wouldnt sleep at night, the woman said.

Another preteen said that while the camps seemed normal, the children were made to sing and dance when officials from Moscow visited.

Parents have maintained that their children were taken away from them after blackmail, manipulation and intimidation by Russian authorities.

For many, they last saw their offsprings in October last year in Kherson, where the children were sent to a so-called Russian summer camp. It is not immediately clear who was organising the logistics for the camp as the city was under Russian control in that period.

The parents made the choice to send their children to Crimea at the time because of the raging battle in Kherson, as a way of opting for a less problematic solution.

They were told by Russian officials that the children were being sent to these camps for a week or two, a parent told AFP.

But by the time they realised that the children should not have been sent at all, it was already too late, the parent said.

These are children from the Kherson and Kharkiv regions, who during the occupation were moved further into the occupied territories or to the territory of Russia. But after the de-occupation, the Russians refused to organise the childrens return, and the parents were left with this problem alone, the NGO said in its release.

They are tired of the road and prolonged stress, but glad that they are now at home, in the Motherland.

The NGO said difficult logistics, constant danger, the line of fire, or multiple borders have turned the return of children into an over-task for many of them (sic).

The children will be provided with psychological support and Save Ukraine is doing everything possible to prevent them and their parents from returning to dangerous territories, Myroslava Kharchenko, said a lawyer working with the non-profit.
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Thousands have been evacuated from their homes in the Russian city of Belgorod after an undetonated bomb was found.

Over 3,000 people were evacuated on Saturday two days after Russia accidentally dropped a bomb on the same city, which is located about 25 miles from the border with Ukraine.

It is not known if the bomb came from the same aircraft. However, the undetonated device was found in the same area as the bomb that was accidentally dropped on Thursday evening.

Local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov said that 17 apartment buildings had to be cordoned off within a radius of 200 metres of the undetonated bomb.

At least two people were injured after the bomb was dropped on Thursday evening, which left a crater of about 20 metres wide.

Buildings were destroyed and a car was blown on to the roof of a nearby shop.

The Russian defence ministry admitted that one of its fighter jets had accidentally discharged aircraft ordnance over the city.
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TikTok CEO Shou Chew says that no government devices should have social media apps on them.

I disagree with that characterisation. I think the government devices should have no social media apps to be honest, not just targeted at us, he told Rep John Joyce, from Pennsylvania during his testimony before Congress on Thursday.

TikTok is facing a complete ban in the US over fears that China is using the app as a covert tool for spying and spreading propaganda.

Mr Chew testified before Congress, with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raising their concerns about how much access the Chinese government has to user data, as well as how much influence the Chinese Communist Party has over it.

TikTok has consistently denied such allegations, though this has not stopped the US and other countries from banning the app from government and military-issued devices.

Some countries like India have even issued a nationwide ban of TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps as a result of national security worries.

With more than 150 million TikTok users in the US, many will be following Thursdays proceedings closely to see if Bidens administration follows India by banning TikTok.

You can follow all the latest news and updates in our live coverage here.
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The prospect of disruption for airline passengers flying from Heathrow Terminal 5 over the Easter holidays has increased.

Airport bosses say talks aiming to avert a walk-out by around 1,400 security staff belonging to the Unite union have broken down.

The strike is due to begin on Friday 31 March and continue until Easter Sunday, 9 April.

Unites general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: Workers at Heathrow airport are on poverty wages while the chief executive and senior managers enjoy huge salaries. It is the airports workers who are fundamental to its success and they deserve a fair pay increase.

Our members are simply unable to make ends meet due to the low wages paid by Heathrow. They are being forced to take strike action due to need not greed.

No future negotiations are scheduled before the strike begins, and Heathrows management says talks can resume only if the stoppage is suspended.

Heathrow says the security staff have been given a 10 per cent pay rise plus further enhancements.

Most of the workers who are planning to walk out are employed as security officers at Terminal 5. A smaller number work for the airports Campus Security team, who operate control posts that give vehicles access to the airfield.

The action is timed to coincide with the normal summer schedule of expansion, which begins on Sunday 26 March, and the start of the school Easter holidays. The walk-out is planned to continue until Easter Sunday.

Passengers on British Airways, which has a monopoly of flights from Terminal 5, are likely to be worst affected. A spokesperson for BA said: Following Heathrows requirement for us to reduce the number of passengers travelling during the period of its employees proposed strike action, weve regrettably had to make a small number of adjustments to our schedule.

Weve apologised to customers whose travel plans have been affected and have offered them a range of options, including rebooking onto a new flight with us or another airline, or requesting a full refund.

Our teams are continuing to work closely with Heathrow to ensure that our customers journeys run smoothly.

A spokesperson for the airport said: We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers. Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout.

We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of this irresponsible action by Unite.

We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be in the terminals providing assistance to passengers over the busy Easter getaway.

Airlines are being asked if they will voluntarily limit the number of passengers: by offering flexible re-booking to customers due to travel during the strike, and by stopping sales of seats on flights departing Heathrow even though there is capacity available.
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A man has filed a lawsuit against Israeli airline El Al after he claimed to have been injured by getting stuck in one of their business class seats.

Eshagh Wiseman was flying from Tel Aviv to New York JFK in October 2022 when the incident happened.

According to View From the Wing, a flight attendant had to pull him free from the seat, an experience that Mr Wiseman claims occurred because the cabin crew failed to explain to him how the seat operates.

Mr Wiseman, who was described as being a gentleman of advanced age, was alleged to have become trapped as the seat reclined.

He sought assistance from a flight attendant, who pulled him free, but this led to great pain, agony and mental anguish and medical treatment for his injuries.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Wiseman are bringing the lawsuit under the Montreal Convention, which holds airlines responsible for passenger injuries unless they can prove the injury was the result of the passengers own negligence, reads the lawsuit.

Its not the first time passengers have initiated legal action against an airline.

In 2020, a woman took legal action against Spirit Airlines after a bad odour on one of its flights caused her serious and permanent injuries.

In the lawsuit, Mary Vincent Randall accused Spirit of being negligent, careless and reckless in not preventing the odour from affecting passengers and for not helping with her after-care following the incident.

The suit alleged that the airline neglected and refused to adjust or pay [Randalls] claim and stated that Randall was suing for loss of earnings and economic damages.

In 2016, an 81-year-old retired lawyer initiated legal action against El Al after staff made her switch seats because an orthodox Jewish man refused to sit next to her.

Renee Rabinowitz, whose family moved to Israel after fleeing the Nazis during the Second World War, said: Despite all my accomplishments  and my age is also an accomplishment  I felt minimised.

I think to myself, here I am, an older woman, educated, I've been around the world, and some guy can decide that I shouldnt sit next to him. Why?

The Independent has contacted El Al for comment.
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Once more, the Europeans have failed to tip sufficiently and the Americans are furious.

Writing on Twitter, a US waitress recently vented about a negative workplace experience in a post that has since gone viral, with more than 38 million views.

Lmao I f***ing hate Europeans sometimes on god, she began.

This table just left $70 on a $700 check after chilling for HOURS. My manager even asked about their service and they were OVER THE MOON about my service so he explained the customary tip is 20% and they were like ok. and left.

Now, the internet is mutinous, with discussion predictably degenerating into criticism of each continents respective foreign policy, voting patterns, and slanderous remarks about the British predilection for beans on toast.

Nothing accentuates the Atlantic-sized chasm between our friends across the pond quite like tipping culture. Sure  we might think we have a special relationship but the speed with which this descends into white hot rage based on the cut you allocate to workers while in the US is quite something.

I think its clinically insane actually that Americans think this way about tips as a server and dont direct their anger towards the corporations paying them dust, wrote one user. No one in any other industry expects a 20 per cent tip for literally doing their job description.

In France, people are burning sh** down, wrote another. In The Land of the Free you have exploited workers demanding customers help sustain their exploitation. US Americans are collectively ill, this is just another example of their illness.

For those unfamiliar with US tipping etiquette, it can come as something of a shock. Often, when receiving a bill in a restaurant, youre presented with three tipping options: 20, 22 and 25 per cent.

This is in addition to a sales tax imposed on restaurant meals, a figure that varies from state-to-state, ranging from a combined rate of 10.75 per cent in Chicago, to 5.65 per cent in Milwaukee.

While this can be an eye-popping discovery for novice travellers, there is a good reason behind it.

Restaurant owners in the US are required to pay a minimum hourly wage of just $2.13 (1.74). There are different laws in different states around tipped minimum wage, but under federal law, employers are expected to pay $5.12 in tip credit on top of the minimum wage to meet the US Department of Labors federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. This amounts to around 5.90. In reality, servers are expected to top this up through tips, rather than through their employer. For comparison, the UK minimum wage is currently 9.50 for those aged 23 and over, a figure thats set to rise 10.42 from the beginning of April.

However, some groups feel that this process of tip credit is unfair and disproportionately impacts workers from minority groups. Campaigning group One Fair Wage cites research which states that white servers may be tipped higher than Black servers, for example, while women and LGBTQ+ employees are often forced to tolerate harassment by customers due to their reliance on tips.

And according to a 2021 report by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH), restaurant workers in the US are more than twice as likely to be in poverty than the general workforce.

The US tipping model system is irrational and cruel, argued US writer and podcast host Adam H Johnson on Twitter in response to tipping discourse being back in the limelight.

Its logic is one of employee monitoring with its roots in Jim Crow racial disciplining and humiliation. It's designed to pit workers against each other.

If a waiter complains about not getting 20 per cent, I beg you not to scold the waiter, or even the consumer. This is text book mutual antagonism. This is the facile, shallow discourse the assholes who set up this system want you to have. neither is the one transgressing in a systemic way.

He added: As a matter of courtesy, if one is going to visit the US, and they have the means, they should always tip 20 per cent short of the waiter literally punching them in the face. Its a stupid system but its the system, nonetheless. Its not about good service it's about worker solidarity.

Are you convinced yet? If so, remember that tipping isnt just confined to restaurant workers. Visitors should also expect to tip taxi and Uber drivers, porters who might take your bag to your room, guide and bus drivers on excursions, bartenders, although not necessarily at the higher rates referenced for restaurant workers above. The Independents Travel Correspondent Simon Calder has helpfully written a guide to tipping etiquette for travellers to the US which you can consult here.

I may lack a sense of patriotism, but whenever I visit another country, I largely do my best to challenge assumptions that were all rapacious anti-Europe colonisers  even when dealing with other rapacious anti-Europe colonisers. One of the joys of travel is making connections in unexpected places, with people you may not otherwise. Politeness and a sense of humility are not to be underestimated, and barging in with the entitled sense that we dont do that at home! is not the best way to endear yourself with your new friends.

Hackneyed, yes, but, the phrase, When in Rome, do as the Romans do continues to have resonance. Yes  your next trip to the US may involve budgeting an additional 20 per cent for tipping purposes, but its important to recognise that its the system thats broken, rather than punishing people at the coal face. After all, broken systems are something the British have become well-acquainted with. So, rather than complaining, why not shout your bartender a beer and discuss international mobilisation against The Man? It could just be the start of a beautiful friendship.
King Charles IIIs state visit to France has been postponed amid widespread protests over Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms.

Downing Street said Mr Macron had asked the British government to postpone the trip, which was set to begin on Sunday 26 March.

It would have been Charless first state visit to France as monarch.

In a statement, the Elysee Palace said the decision to postpone the trip had been taken by the French and British governments following a telephone conversation between Mr Macron and the King on Friday morning.

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Roles were reversed for a moment on Thursdays BBC Question Time, with host Fiona Bruce asking the audience a question.

Lets have a show of hands shall we? Who believes Boris Johnson was telling the truth yesterday? she asked, as the cameras turned to the studio audience.

Not a single one of them raised their hand.

Bruces question came a day after the former prime minister was grilled by parliaments Privileges Committee over whether he had intentionally misled MPs over Partygate.

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A 100-year-old widow of a World War II veteran compared her Florida countys efforts to ban some books to Nazi Germany.

Grace Linn attended the Martin County School Board meeting on Tuesday (21 March) to protest against Floridas new law that only allows books which are on the state-approved reading list.

Mrs Linn said: Banning books and burning books are the same. Both are done for the same reason: fear of knowledge. Fear is not freedom. Fear is not liberty. Fear is control.

Banned books need to be proudly displayed and protected from school boards like this, she added.

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A police horse buckled toward the ground as it was attacked by an out-of-control dog in a London park.

The incident happened in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, on Wednesday 22 March as shocked on-lookers watched on.

PH Urbane from Bow was attacked by a dog off the lead, the Metropolitan Police later tweeted, sharing images of the injuries the horse sustained.

We cant stress enough how important it is to keep dogs on a lead if you cant recall them or get them under control.

The horse needed stitches after the attack but is expected to return to duty following its recovery.

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Nairobi  President William Ruto has asked public servants to serve Kenyans with honour and dignity.

He said they must routinely consult and agree to be informed so that they can help move the country forward.

"It is time to come together, and work together, irrespective of our political biases, to offer our much-needed services to the people," he said.

He spoke on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during the swearing-in of Chief Administrative Secretaries.

He told them that he expects to see professionalism, skill, talent, energy and passion in action to "drive our agenda forward".

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Members of Parliament, among other leaders, were present.

The President noted that progress is being made in uplifting the lives of Kenyans, but more will be done.

"We are also on track to delivering affordable fertilisers to farmers.

Our goal is to produce more to feed more and alleviate poverty in the country." He announced that the first phase of the Hustler Fund has disbursed Sh24 billion to 19 million borrowers in 36.5 million transactions.

The President explained that the Government is on course to delivering 200,000 new housing units this year even as it works towards bridging the five million gap.

"Now that the formation of the Government has taken shape, we must work hard, serve the people with diligence as we further the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda."

However, he warned the Chief Administrative Secretaries and other public servants that they must serve within the parameters of the law.

"We are committed to a Kenya that will is built on the firm foundation of the rule of law. All of us are subjects to the Constitution, irrespective of our standing in the society." - Presidential Communication Service
An 87ac non-residential farm at Gardenrath, Kells got early auctions in Meath off to a flying start when it sold for 2.17m, exceeding its guide by 570,000 and making almost 25,000/ac.

Located less than 1km from Kells and beside the M3, with substantial road frontage on to a regional road, it is described as a fine block of ground currently in permanent pasture.

The holding is serviced by a natural water supply and a piped supply and has modern cattle-handling facilities on a concrete apron, with another stock-gathering pen towards the centre of the farm.

The property adjoins land zoned under the 2021 Kells Development Plan.

At auction proceedings opened when Stephen Barry of Raymond Potterton accepted a bid of 1.2m and as five bidders took to the chase, the price rose quickly in increments of 50,000.

The place went on the market at 1.95m but bidding continued until the hammer fell at 2.17m when an online bidder won the day.



18ac Cavan farm guided at 150,000

In Co Cavan, Mr Barry is handling the sale of an 18ac residential farm at Long, Cootehill, with a two-storey, derelict residence and a dated yard. The property is guided at 150,000.

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The residence is in need of complete refurbishment and, along with the yard, has frontage on to a local road with access to the Cavan-Cootehill road.

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The yard has a three-column round-roof shed with double-breasted lean-tos at either side and another round-roof shed with a single lean-to, along with a concrete yard and a storage shed.

The roadside land is in old pasture, laid out in three large fields and one smaller field, all divided by traditional hedgerow.

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According to Mr Barry the place would form a great addition to an existing enterprise or, would make for a nice, compact hobby farm.

The property will be sold at auction online and at the Raymond Potterton auction rooms, Navan, on Thursday, March 30 at 3pm.



Four-bed bungalow on 37ac near Enfield for 900,000

There is a marked increase in the number of compact residential farms on the market.

At Rathcore, Enfield, Co Meath a 37ac farm with a four-bedroom bungalow and a small farmyard will appeal to customers looking to return to their rural roots while staying within striking distance of the city.

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The property is 7km from Enfield, 14km from Trim and 48km from Dublin, and is guided pre-auction at 900,000.

The holding is made up of what auctioneer Thomas Potterton describes as old pasture suitable for a range of farming pursuits.

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The land has 800m of road frontage and, given its proximity to Rathcore, it may have development potential.

A useful yard contains a few substantial farm buildings including a large, five-column A-roof shed enclosed on two sides and a five-column, round-roof shed along with a series of old stone buildings.

The property can be bought as an entire or in lots, with the first made up of the house and yard on 2ac. This is guided at 350,000-400,000.

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A 15.5ac piece of ground around the house with its own entrance and 700m of road frontage forms the second lot and is guided at 15,000/ac.

The remaining 20ac parcel, known as Mulligans, is laid out in two fields with 200m of road frontage. According to Mr Potterton this would be an ideal site for a residence.

It will be sold at auction at The Property Exchange, Trim at 3pm on Wednesday, April 19.
The president of the High Court has approved moves for the final winding up of Quinn Insurance whose insolvency cost the taxpayer some 1 billion in payments from the Insurance Compensation Fund (ICF).

Quinn Insurance Ltd was put into administration in 2010 and some 23 reports have been presented to the High Court over the years by joint administrators Michael McAteer and Paul McCann of Grant Thornton outlining progress on the orderly winding down of its business.

On Friday, Mr Justice David Barniville ordered that, following a resolution, the company be wound up and a formal petition for the wind up could be presented to the court as part of the normal liquidation process.

He also approved what was the 23rd and final report presented to the court by the joint administrators of the firm which included the setting out their costs and fees for the last year.

The judge thanked the joint administrators for the work they did on "a very difficult and complex administration". He was thankful on his own behalf and that of his predecessors who had dealt with reports from the administrators over the last number of years.

The application to approve the winding up was made by Garvan Corkery SC, on behalf of the administrators, on an ex parte (one side only represented) basis.

Counsel said the application was in circumstances where effectively the administrators had taken on the role of the former Quinn directors and the court took on the role of the shareholders.

Counsel said there remained some outstanding matters relating to accounting and aspects of the insurance business which will still be dealt with by the administrators but it had been resolved to seek the winding up.

Counsel read from an affidavit from Mr McAteer outlining the course of the administration including the transfer of the various arms of the business - general and health insurance - to the Liberty and Catalina insurance companies.

He said proceedings brought against Quinn auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for allegedly negligent auditing of the firm were ultimately settled. PwC, which was sued for 900m, had denied the claim.

Quinn Insurance was founded by Cavan tycoon Sean Quinn, who was at one time Irelands richest man. The administrators had kept up its authorisation with the Central Bank but this is no longer required and will be withdrawn with the making of the winding up order, he said.

The cost of the administration will be of the order of 1 billion, the court heard.
JPMorgan Chase is facing a suit by a couple who claim the bank sold $10m (9.2m) in jewellery and other valuables that they stored in safe deposit boxes.

Jorge and Stella Araneta said that JPMorgan sent the bills for the boxes to a wrong address, causing them to fall behind in their account.

They claim they paid the delinquency in full after discovering it, and JPMorgan promised to return the property stored in the boxes. But the bank instead auctioned off the contents.

US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald threw out one of the 2022 suits claims under New York banking law, but the case is proceeding with negligence and other counts.

JPMorgan declined to comment on the decision. In court filings, the bank has said a delinquency remained and that it sent warnings to the Aranetas before the auction. JPMorgan decided to stop offering new safe deposit boxes as of December 2021.

The couple, who reside in the Philippines but have a Manhattan apartment on Park Avenue, sued the bank last year.

They claim they had leased safe deposit boxes at JPMorgan branches in New York starting in 2006 after the bank bought and had renewed them annually, with payments deducted from their checking accounts and sending invoices and statements to addresses in Manhattan and Miami.

In March 2016, the bank mailed notices about the renewal of two of the boxes, warning that they would be drilled open and the contents removed if payments weren't received within 60 days, the Aranetas claim. According to the suit, those notices weren't sent to the New York or Miami addresses but to a PO box in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the Aranetas say they never saw them.

In February 2017, the bank drilled into four of the couple's seven boxes, removed the contents and transferred them to a secure location. The couple claims they learned in October 2019 that the boxes had been opened and brought their accounts current, after which JPMorgan allegedly assured them their valuables would be returned.
US billionaire David Tepper, who beat the Irish Government's attempt to burn junior bondholders back in 2013, has now put himself in the vanguard of efforts to fight 17bn of losses on risky Credit Suisse bonds.

The losses on holders of very risky bank bonds were imposed by Swiss authorities as part of the lightning fast rescue of Credit Suisse last weekend and are controversial because holders were wiped out even before shareholders.

The standard waterfall for losses in capital structure situations means shareholders are wiped out first, with bonds and other debt suffering losses after.

David Tepper told the Financial Times he will fight the action to impose losses, which Switzerland says are allowed under the debt contracts and due to emergency legislation passed to facilitate the bank rescue.

If this is left to stand, how can you trust any debt security issued in Switzerland, or for that matter wider Europe, if governments can just change laws after the fact, Mr Tepper, a billionaire founder of hedge fund Appaloosa Management, told the newspaper.

Contracts are made to be honoured.

The hedge fund manager has a track record of success in similar circumstances, including beating an effort by the then government here to force his hedge fund to take a loss on investments in risky Bank of Ireland subordinated bonds back in 2011.

The hedge fund manager has a track record of success

In a 2013 interview with Bloomberg TV, Mr Tepper told viewers how he had beaten the Irish effort to burn junior bondholders.

"You wanna hear a great credit story, I got a great credit story," he said.

While efforts to burn bondholders here during the financial crisis were limited, the Irish government did cut 14bn off the total cost of bank bailouts by making sure some losses were borne by investors that, like Mr Tepper, had loaned money to the banks in the form of relatively risky subordinated bonds.

That was done by forcing most of the bondholders to sell back their bonds for a fraction of their face value.

However a handful, including Mr Tepper's hedge fund, fought the orders.

Mr Tepper told Bloomberg he baulked at attempts to "cram down" his bonds in favour of new investors in the bank in 2011. He wasn't prepared to allow that, but would have been willing to take shares in the bank instead. He was willing to, "fight the Bank of Ireland, and fight the Irish government for that matter".

After two years he succeeded.

Meanwhile, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) have defended the decision to wipe out about 16bn Swiss francs (17bn) in risky Credit Suisse bail-in bonds as part of the rescue deal for the bank even though shareholders will get a payment.

The losses were suffered by holders of a type of debt dubbed contingent convertible (co-co) bonds or alternative tier 1 (AT1) capital.

European Central Bank and Bank of England both said shareholders would be burned first

Finma said contracts for the bonds allow them to be written down if the bank faced a viability event.

However, the European Central Bank and Bank of England both said this week that in similar circumstances in either of their jurisdictions, shareholders would be burned first.

Bondholder groups are mobilising to fight the losses. Global law firm Quinn Emanuel says it has put together an international team of lawyers from Switzerland, the US and UK to act for bondholders representing a significant percentage of the total burned.
The European Central Bank is pressing Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International to unwind its highly profitable business in Russia, five people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The pressure comes after a top US sanctions official raised concerns about Raiffeisen's business in Russia on a visit to Vienna last month, said another person familiar with the matter, asking not to be named due to its sensitivity.

The push from Washington and the ECB is upping the stakes for Austria and its second-biggest bank, which plays a key role in the Russian economy but also an increasingly contested one as Moscow's year-long war in Ukraine drags on. Many Western companies, including French bank Societe Generale, have already left Russia.

While the ECB is not asking Raiffeisen to leave the country immediately, it wants a plan of action for unwinding the business, two of the people said. One person said such a plan could include the sale or closure of its Russian bank.

"We have been asking banks to keep closely monitoring the business in Russia, and ideally, reduce it and wind it down as much as possible," a spokesperson for the ECB said, adding it had been doing the same with all institutions concerned since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.

Raiffeisen, however, does not intend to present such a plan yet, the people said, and some Austrian government officials see the moves as unwarranted foreign meddling.

A Raiffeisen spokesperson said that it was examining options for its Russia business including a carefully managed exit and that it was expediting its assessment, adding that it had also reduced lending in the country.

The Austrian lender is now the most important Western bank in Russia, offering a payments lifeline and accounting for roughly one quarter of euro transfers to the country, although other banks, such as Italy's UniCredit, are still present.

ECB officials are reluctant to pressure Raiffeisen into an immediate sale, fearing the financial hit it could trigger, one person said, after a week of global banking turmoil.

A spokesperson for Austria's finance ministry said that while there could be no return to the status quo in relations with Russia, "most" international companies, including banks remained there.

"There is substantial trade going on between Russia and the rest of the world in commodities like grain, fertilisers, oil, gas, nickel and other metals, which...require payments," said the spokesperson.

In January, the US sanctions authority launched an inquiry into Raiffeisen over its business related to Russia.

Two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the probe concerned potential breaches of Western sanctions. Raiffeisen said the inquiry was of a general nature.

The inquiry, which has strained relations between Vienna and Washington, could prove perilous for Austria, which had modelled itself as a bridge between east and west, turning Vienna into a magnet for Russian money.

James O'Brien, a senior sanctions official with the U.S. Department of State, spelt out American concerns over Raiffeisen and its business with Russia during discussions in Vienna in February, one of the people said.

"Ambassador O'Brien and Austrians discussed our close cooperation on sanctions in response to Russia's illegal further invasion of Ukraine," a State Department spokesperson said when asked about the visit.

The Raiffeisen spokesperson said that the bank was in the "early stages" of collecting information to respond to the inquiry letter from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

During Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen's visit to Kyiv last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticised Austrian businesses still operating in Russia, singling out Raiffeisen, for supporting Moscow.

The bank has also been sharply criticised by investors after participating in a Russian scheme to grant loan payment holidays to troops fighting in Ukraine.

Although the stakes are high, some Austrian officials hope they can hold out long enough for a negotiated resolution to the war, allowing for a resumption of normal business with Russia, three of the people familiar with the matter said.

Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg has said that while it is "legitimate" for US authorities to approach Raiffeisen, Austria had primary responsibility for enforcing sanctions.

US authorities can go as far as preventing a bank from processing dollar transactions, a step that would deal a serious blow to Raiffeisen and that euro zone regulators fear could destabilise the bank. Latvia's ABLV Bank quickly unravelled after being placed under U.S. sanctions in 2018 due to concerns about illicit activity connected in large part to Russia. Some Austrian lawmakers are also critical of the government's stance.

"Supervisory authorities must examine the risks from Raiffeisen's activity and that from day one of the war," Stephanie Krisper, a lawmaker from the liberal Neos opposition party told Reuters last week.

"For many years, connections to Moscow permeated our political system - now, the economic and political dependence on Russia has finally become visible."
Sir Elton Johns Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour has landed in Liverpool as he is set for more UK dates.

The 75-year-old singer-songwriter with 10 UK number ones, including Dont Go Breaking My Heart, will also play London, Belfast and Glasgow throughout the next few months.

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Taking to the stage at the 11,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Thursday, Sir Elton was dressed in a glittery tailcoat jacket as he was heard singing Bennie And The Jets.

Before the concert, he told his Instagram followers: Im back baby! See you tonight, Liverpool!

Sir Elton will also play on Friday in the city before heading to Birminghams Resorts World Arena on Sunday and the SSE Arena, Belfast on Friday March 31.

He then lands in London for dates at the O2 Arena between April 2 and May 30 before ending his UK tour dates on June 18 at Glasgows OVO Hydro venue.

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His North American leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was filled with pyrotechnics, spectacular visuals and several guest appearances including Dua Lipa.

The series of shows came to an end at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in November 2022.

Sir Elton said in December there is no more fitting way to say goodbye to my British fans than playing his final UK show at Glastonbury.

The veteran pop superstar will top the bill on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday June 25 for his first performance at the Worthy Farm festival in Somerset.
TikTok will be the official entertainment partner for the Eurovision Song Contest for a second year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) selected the social media platform to livestream the competition as well as release exclusive performances and behind-the-scenes content.

It comes as the UK Parliament said on Thursday that it will block the Chinese-owned app from its devices and networks over security concerns.

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Martin Osterdahl, the EBUs executive supervisor for Eurovision, said: Millions of new Eurovision Song Contest fans discovered the event through TikTok last year and we know millions more will be excited by this years extra special event in Liverpool.

Both the Eurovision Song Contest and TikTok provide an international platform for discovering fresh new music and artists and we look forward to working together in creating more huge hits in 2023.

TikTok is also partnering with Visit Liverpool after the city was chosen to host the contest on behalf of last years winners Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

The social media app will promote busking sites in the city and host performances in the Eurovision Village  the official fanzone on Friday May 12 from 6.30pm.

We've seen Eurovision legends start their journeys on TikTok - like the UK's Sam Ryder - and Eurovision songs thrive on the platform well beyond the contest itself, like Maneskin's Zitti E Buoni Rich Waterworth, TikTok

Susan Finnegan, Culture Liverpool commercial director, said: Were delighted to be partnering with TikTok, showcasing our iconic city on a global stage and telling the authentic story of Liverpool through the eyes of visitors  the content creators.

Partnering with such an influential brand has the power to accelerate our destination positioning, and therefore support the growth of our glorious visitor economy sector.

Rich Waterworth, TikTok general manager operations Europe, said: Weve seen Eurovision legends start their journeys on TikTok  like the UKs Sam Ryder  and Eurovision songs thrive on the platform well beyond the contest itself, like Maneskins Zitti E Buoni.

We cant wait to see what Eurovision 2023 has in store.

British TikTok star Ryder, 33, was runner-up in 2022 to Ukrainian folk rap band Kalush Orchestra.

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TikTok is owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance, which argues that it does not share data with China, but Beijings intelligence legislation requires firms to help the Communist Party when requested.

Following the Government announcing earlier in the week it was banning TikTok from official devices, the House of Commons and Lords said it would also be barred across the Palace of Westminster.

A spokesman for Parliament said TikTok will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network.

Cyber security is a top priority for Parliament, however we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents.

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 TikTok spokesman

TikTok called the move misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions about the company and said it is disappointed by not being offered any opportunity to address concerns and only ask to be judged on facts and treated equally to our competitors.

The platform added: 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.

A spokesperson for the BBC, which is organising this years Eurovision as national broadcaster, said: The BBC takes the safety and security of our systems, data and people incredibly seriously.

We constantly review activity on third-party platforms  including TikTok  and will continue to do so.

The BBC allows staff to use the app on corporate devices for editorial and marketing purposes.

It said it will continue to use TikTok to promote its content, including news stories, but will be regularly assessing the situation.

TikTok will livestream the two Eurovision semi-finals  on Tuesday May 9 and Thursday May 13  as well as the grand final on Saturday May 13.
Great drama makes you care about bad people. So why am I so resistant to caring about the central characters in Kin (RTE One, Sunday, 9.30pm), now back for a second series on Sunday evenings?

That the Kinsellas are a gangland family should not, in itself, be a problem. There have been plenty of films and TV shows about violent criminal lowlifes. The Godfather, anyone? That was a family story too.

Their plight as series two opens couldnt be more high stakes. Having gunned down Ciaran Hindss Eamon Cunningham at the end of the last season, the Kinsellas have now been given an ultimatum by a Turkish cartel that the dead mans 70m debt has become theirs to repay.

Worse than that, the newcomers also want the head of Michael Kinsella for having shot dead the son of the Turkish gangland boss in the same attack in the mistaken belief he was a mere bodyguard and therefore didnt matter.

The dead mans sister, Nuray  a fabulously ruthless new character played with cold-eyed relish by Turkish actress Oyku Karayel  is in Dublin, looking for revenge.

But its hard to be on anybodys side in the battle. Irish or Turkish. They are all just drug-dealing dirtbags at the end of the day. Whichever lot wins, everyone else loses. It could be that the setting of Kin is simply too close to home.

Viewers cannot fail to be reminded constantly of Dublins bloody history of gangland violence, which has claimed so many innocent lives. Glamorising that world doesnt sit easy. Even the Kinsellass name, while obviously a pun on the word kin, has uncomfortable echoes of the Kinahan gang.

To be fair, Kin is slickly shot, fast moving, and admirably plot-driven. It plunges straight into the action. Theres no messing about.

It also has some genuine edge-of-the-seat moments, not least a scene in which two disposable hired goons track down Michael to an isolated cottage in the countryside, only to see the tables turned. That was thrillingly tense.

RTE should definitely have dropped all the episodes at once to capitalise on that strong beginning, rather than risking a fall-off in audiences by drip-feeding instalments week by week.

Again, though, I just dont care which of the protagonists ends up on top. In fact, if I was forced to choose anyone to champion, it would have to be Nuray.

She didnt ask for this war, after all. The Kinsellas brought it to her. The campaign starts here to set the next series in Istanbul.

On Tuesday, the Grafters were actually made to eat plates of dog food 

Rise and Fall (Channel 4, Sunday, 9pm) is for anyone suffering withdrawal symptoms after the end of BBC Ones The Traitors. For that alone, Im in.

The Traitors was one of the most gripping reality/game shows in years, and Rise and Fall is made by the same company.

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In many ways its the same show. The only difference is that, instead of being packed off to a Scottish castle, the 16 contestants are locked up in a plush London skyscraper, with the select few living in luxury in the penthouse at the top and the rest forced to work and sleep in the basement.

The so-called Grafters make all the money, but only one of the Rulers can win it. The job of the latter is to stay on top. The job of the former is to take their place.

Its an obvious metaphor for capitalism, with all the attendant backstabbing and power plays.

Typically, the show is full of people who seem to think they are auditioning for The Apprentice as they declare Im not here to make friends and youve got to have the killer instinct and other loathsome things no one ever says in real life  and if they did, youd run a mile in horror.

Rise and Fall, like The Traitors, does offer ample sociological opportunities to see people at their worst as they succumb to greed and groupthink, but sadly its nowhere near as much fun. Theres even something nasty about it.

On Tuesday, the Grafters were actually made to eat plates of dog food to bump up the prize fund. It was disgusting, but in a gratuitous rather than an entertaining way.

Ill keep watching for now, but I doubt Ill be there at the end.

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There were a few familiar shots in Mondays profile of playwright and author Sebastian Barry.

Behold the author writing in longhand in his study! See him as he walks his dogs in the Wicklow hills! It seems to be in the contract that every arts documentary on TV must include such stereotypical sequences.

The 67-year-old Barry deserves huge credit, though, for also allowing the cameras to film him while out on his morning run.

As a fellow runner myself, theres no way Id ever expose my technique to the judgment of strangers in this way.

I was even more struck by The Secret Scripture authors assertion that running left him feeling wonderful. People say this all the time, but its not something Ive ever experienced. For me, its more of a penance. Oh well.

Sebastian Barry: Family Stories (RTE One, Monday, 9.35pm) was a lovely piece of work, albeit that the emphasis was  as the title unambiguously promised  on the subject as a son, husband and father rather than a writer.

TV still struggles to talk about the craft of writing. It tends to focus on writers lives instead.

Barry spoke about his own experience so eloquently and movingly, and with such trusting vulnerability, that its only afterwards you noticed how his books had struggled to get a look-in.

My favourite bit was when he showed off a poster for his 1988 debut Abbey production, Boss Gradys Boys. His genuine delight at recalling these two lads in the Cork-Kerry border talking my nonsense made the years fall away. More of this, please.
A formal ceremony offering reconciliation and remembrance of everyone who lost their lives during the Civil War are among some of the events taking place this year as the Decade of Centenaries programme winds down.

Other events include a new exhibition at the National Archives as part of a programme to highlight the Irish Free States entry into the League of Nations and a new digital mapping programme in conjunction with University College Cork mapping Irish Civil War fatalities.

The Yeats Society will also be involved in a commemoration project marking the centenary of poet WB Yeats winning the 1923 Nobel Prize in Literature.

They are among a range of engaging and accessible initiatives and projects to commemorate important centenaries occurring this year, as part of the 2023 Decade of Centenaries programme, Arts and Culture Minister Catherine Martin announced today.

Announcing the publication of the programme during a visit to the National Library with members of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, she said the final year of the program will also highlight the centenaries of some of the greatest atrocities of the Civil War as well as the end of the conflict but also key cultural and societal milestones.

The final year of the programme will also continue to involve State and local authorities, national cultural and educational institutions as well as arts, media and creative communities that support respectful public engagement with these centenaries and broader themes.

Historical accuracy, academic integrity and archival discovery are again key tenets of the commemorative programme for this final year, she added.

She thanked everyone who has taken part in the centenaries commemoration programme, stating: Together, we have addressed the complexity of our history and the challenges linked to commemoration, and we will continue to do so this year as we navigate through this sensitive final phase, marking the emergence of an independent Irish State in the midst of a traumatic Civil War.

"While perspectives may have varied, we have engaged in respectful debate and discussion, supported by a wealth of scholarship and material from national and local archives, including newly digitised sources.



Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "Over the past 10 years, as a people and a nation, we have endeavoured to move from memory and contested history  often still deeply personal and deeply-felt  to mature reflection and historical exploration of the events that have shaped our country.

"It has not always been easy or uncontested; but we have striven to better understand, and to acknowledge that we may share a common history, but not always a common memory or understanding of events and their consequences.
Nairobi  City lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, a self-confessed backer of President William Ruto, has expressed frustration over the appointment of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) describing the appointees as an unnecessary burden.

"50 FREELOADERS! But I respect the prerogative of His Excellency William Ruto [albeit] GRUDGINGLY," Abdullahi, a Senior Council who has litigated presidential election petitions at the Supreme Court, tweeted on Thursday.

His position was backed by former Mukurweini Member of Parliament Kabando wa Kabando who blamed Ruto's aides for failing to offer sound advice.

Kabando, who once served as Assistant Minister (Youth Affairs), noted that with Parliament having declined to vet the appointees for lack of constitutional provisions on the same, the appointees will not effectively deputize Cabinet Secretaries.

"County Assemblies vet County Executives. National Assembly vets State Officers. Offices not recognized by Constitution are Null and Void," he said.

Kabando suggested the appointees will be unable to represent their respective Cabinet Secretaries before parliamentary committees.

"If Parliament can't approve, it can't oversight it."

The former lawmaker regretted that President Ruto's aides had failed to guide him through what he termed as "statecraft" exposing him to failure.

Ruto's yes-men

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"In 2021, I had 3 exclusive sessions with Ruto [on] electoral options and bottom-up economics. Ruto is a very reflective listener, just like Raila. But Ruto, though lucidly brilliant, needs statecraft. The Cabal of palace yes-men worsens," he said.

He went on to advise: "Mr. President, you'll win big time if you drop 50 CAS."

President Ruto appointed the CAS nominees on Thursday, a day after National Assembly Moses Wetangula returned a note indicating the House lacked the legal pathway to guide the process.

"The obligation to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution enjoins the House to refrain from assuming and discharging a role that it has not been expressly assigned by the Constitution or written law," State House Press Office quoted Wetangula as saying.

Wetangula concluded stating: "In that regard, the National Assembly is unable to vet the nominees in the absence of an express constitutional or statutory requirement to do so".
A judge will rule later on an appeal by former Sunday Independent columnist Eoghan Harris against a decision to transfer his defamation action against journalist Aoife Moore to the High Court.

Mr Harris had claimed in proceedings he brought before the Circuit Court that he was defamed in a tweet posted by Ms Moore about him in early May 2021.

He claims that in the post she wrongly accused him of directly sending her sexualised messages on Twitter.

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She denies defaming Mr Harris in a tweet which she says was posted after it emerged he was involved in an account which had posted defamatory material about her.

Ms Moore, and another journalist, Allison Morris of the Belfast Telegraph, have brought separate High Court proceedings against Mr Harris claiming that they were defamed in posts on a Twitter account called Barbara J. Pym, allegedly operated by Mr Harris and others on dates between 2020 and 2021.

Ms Moore claims those tweets were defamatory because they called into question her journalistic objectivity and claimed that her reporting was partisan in favour of Sinn Fein and the wider republican movement.

She also claims that the tweets referred to her in a sexualised manner. Mr Harris denies the claims.

Mr Harris's action against Ms Moore was due to be heard before the Circuit Civil Court earlier this year.

However, following a pre-trial application by Ms Moore's lawyers before Christmas, Judge John O'Connor ruled that Mr Harris's case should be transferred to the High Court.

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Mr Harris's appeal against the transfer decision came before Mr Justice Paul Burns today.

Remy Farrell SC, for Mr Harris, said while there were some similarities in both cases, Mr Harris claim against Ms Moore is "quite net".

It should be heard separately, and before a judge of the Circuit Court, it was argued.

Mr Harris also rejects Ms Moore's contentions that his client should have brought a counterclaim against Ms Moore in the High Court proceedings, counsel said.

Mr Harris was not under any legal obligation to do so, counsel added.

Any suggestion that Mr Harris is not entitled to bring his claim before the Circuit Court merely because Ms Moore's had brought her defamation action before his was "quite radical," he argued.

He compared the application to have Mr Harris's action taken out of the Circuit Court to strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP), which he said is a form of litigation designed to stop somebody from bringing a claim.

Aoife Moore claims tweets allegedly sent by Eoghan Harris and others were defamatory because they called into question her journalistic objectivity

Counsel said his client wants his claim determined as soon as possible, due to factors including Mr Harris's age and health, and that it can take some time before High Court defamation actions are finally heard.

In his submissions to the court, Thomas Hogan SC, for Ms Moore, said both cases should be heard by the High Court, rather than have two separate hearings before different courts over claims that arise out of the same background.

The reality of the situation counsel said is that the claims "could not be divorced from each other.

Counsel said it his side's intention to seek to have both Ms Moore's and Mr Harris's actions consolidated.

Mr Harris should have brought a counterclaim against Ms Moore in the High Court proceedings, counsel submitted.

In reply to the judge, counsel accepted that the proceedings against other parties alleged to have been involved in the posting of the allegedly defamatory tweets about Ms Moore are in progress.

However, counsel said his side has sought a defence to Ms Moore's High Court claims from Mr Harris's lawyers in order to progress the claim.

Following the conclusion of submissions from the parties, Mr Justice Burns said he would deliver his judgment at a later date.
The mother of Annie McCarrick has said it is her wish to bring her daughter home.

Earlier today, detectives upgraded the disappearance of the American woman to a murder investigation.

Annie was 26-years-old when she was last seen alive 30 years ago.

Nancy McCarrick said she hopes this decision will lead to a new discovery.

Speaking to RTE News from her home in Bayport, Long Island, New York, Mrs McCarrick said the move by gardai "means they are going to start from the very beginning".

"I think it's the best we could hope for, she said.

Mrs McCarrick said she does not believe it is remotely possible that Annie could still be alive.

"I did for a very, very, very long time but not after 30 years," she said.

Mrs McCarrick said Annie absolutely loved Ireland but that it is her wish" to be able to bring her daughters remains home to Long Island.

"I mean, whatever did befall her, it may have been accidental," she said.

"I would just love to be able to find her."

She appealed to anyone with any information about the disappearance of her only child to speak to the gardai.

"There is nothing more important, I don't think really, that anyone could do then if they had any - even just the smallest bit of information - you never know how helpful it might be," she said.

The last confirmed sighting of Annie was at an AIB on Sandymount Road while there were further subsequent sightings later that day.

The Indo Daily: The 30-year-mystery: Will Annie McCarrick ever be found?

This morning Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said that they were upgrading the case to a murder investigation.

He said they were satisfied from the information available to the investigation team that she more than likely "came to a foul demise".

Det Supt Carroll said the investigation had only been upgraded and they wouldn't be ruling any suspects in or out at this stage.

He also said there have been advances in investigative techniques which may assist the inquiry.

As part of the garda inquiry, investigators have discovered and collated over 5,000 documents and reports, taken over 300 statements of evidence, and retained several exhibits.

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On the day of her disappearance she spoke to her flatmates before they left separately to travel home for the weekend.

Shortly before 11am she visited the Allied Irish Bank on Sandymount Road to carry out some personal banking.

This, gardai say, is the last confirmed sighting of Annie McCarrick which was captured on CCTV.

At the time she had made arrangements with friends inviting them to her apartment for dinner the following day.

She was also expecting her mother Nancy to visit on March 30.

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Gardai say there have been subsequent reported sightings of Annie in the Sandymount Green area, boarding the No. 44 bus to Enniskerry.

There were further subsequent sightings of her in Enniskerry Village and at Johnny Fox's pub.

Gardai today said they were not discounting these sightings but that the last confirmed sighting of Annie was at the AIB which was captured on CCTV.

After she wasn't seen for several days friends became concerned for her welfare and reported her missing on March 28 to gardai at Irishtown Garda Station.

As part of the garda inquiry the senior investigating officer and Det Supt Eddie Carroll have recently visited her mother Nancy in the US.

Expand Close Groceries purchased by Annie McCarrick on the morning of Friday 26th March 1993, in Quinnsworth, Sandymount Road, had been left unpacked in shopping bags (a receipt in the bags confirm the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 11:02am). This is the last confirmed activity by Annie McCarrick (Pic: Gardai) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Groceries purchased by Annie McCarrick on the morning of Friday 26th March 1993, in Quinnsworth, Sandymount Road, had been left unpacked in shopping bags (a receipt in the bags confirm the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 11:02am). This is the last confirmed activity by Annie McCarrick (Pic: Gardai)

This morning he also said: "I want to speak to any person who met, spoke with or had any interaction with Annie McCarrick on the 26th March 1993 or subsequently.

"There are person or persons, who have information on the disappearance of Annie McCarrick and her murder on or about the 26th March 1993 and who havent yet spoken to Gardai or who may have already spoken to Gardai but were not in a position to tell everything that they know at that time.

"I want to speak with any person who has any information on the large brown handbag which it is believed that Annie was in possession of when she went missing.

"I am appealing to those persons, 30 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team.

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"The primary focus of this investigation is the victim, Annie McCarrick and her family.

"Annies father John has passed away not knowing what happened to his daughter.

"Annies mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on or about the 26th March 1993. She is waiting 30 years for those answers.

"I, and the Investigation Team are determined to gather all available information/ evidence to find those answers and bring this matter to a positive conclusion.

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"I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the Murder of Annie McCarrick to please come forward to either the investigation team at Irishtown Garda Station at 01 6669600, your local garda station or the Garda Confidential telephone line 1800 666 111.

"I appeal to any person who have information relative to Annies murder not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision.
TV presenter Davina McCall was delighted to meet a potential first contestant for her new show, a middle-aged version of Love Island, at a summit on the menopause in Dublin yesterday.

The former Big Brother host, who has become a champion for older women, had just spoken frankly of her own journey from feeling lost as she struggled with symptoms of the menopause to now enjoying her second spring.

Ms McCall (55) told how she herself pitched the idea of a Love Island for middle-aged people who are looking for romance and have lived full lives full of drama including divorces and widowhood.

So exhilarating is the prospect of finding new love on TV, with the search for contestants under way, that a woman in the audience chipped in that she had already applied.

Ms McCall said: People in middle age deserve love. They need love.

She told got her first menopausal symptom when she was 43 and opened up about how she felt flat and forgot who I was.

Ms McCall shared her experience along with broadcaster Grainne Seoige  who is also going through the menopause  at the first National Menopause Summit in Dublin yesterday. The event featured medical and other experts who attempted to lift some of the confusion around the old taboo and highlight the hill still to be climbed in providing more support, particularly in the workplace.

Ms McCall explained how she ended up with night sweats, aching bones, lack of energy and insomnia. Both women have made TV programmes about the subject and revealed how they were concerned at first that it would affect their careers.

When the symptoms started, Ms McCall did not even want to confide in friends because she thought it would age me. I disappeared for five years. I had forgotten who I was.

I looked older than I was. My hair was grey and flat.

The turnaround came when she started hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which she has now taken for nine years. She admitted she was worried at first about reports from the 1990s linking it to a higher risk of breast cancer, but was reassured after doing more research.

She said she would never give medical advice but has benefited hugely from topping up with the hormone testosterone at levels monitored by her doctor.

Her libido had been on the floor, but the testosterone replacement was transformative for me, she said.

I am now 55 and having the time of my life. I used to be scared of ageing and getting older. I love my work and have never worked so much in my life.

Ms McCall split up with her husband a number of years ago and has found love again with a London hairdresser, Michael Douglas. He now has a special interest in disguising thinning hair due to the menopause, and the advice is to eat enough protein and get sufficient iron.

Ms Seoige said she had had only one hot flush, but suffered from other symptoms such as waking up at 3am every night as if the alarm had gone off.

Earlier, she told the summit how she convinced Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to run an information campaign on the issue.

But I want more. I want an information leaflet sent through every door in the country. I want them in doctors waiting rooms, said Ms Seoige.

She told Mr Donnelly it was ridiculous that we had information campaigns on smoking and other issues but none on the menopause despite it affecting half the population.

I want it everywhere so that everyone has the information and no other generation has to scramble around trying to put two and two together like most of us have, said Ms Seoige, who fronted a documentary on the menopause last year.

She said she is happy that more and more is being discovered about the menopause, and said: The science is moving  science is on our side.

Other experts who addressed the conference called for more employers to introduce work policies and supports for women going through the menopause.

Katie Ridge, head of employer relations at Adare HRM, said around 600,000 women were affected by the menopause in Ireland and 350,000 of these were in the workplace.

She noted there was very good legislation around pregnancy for employees but none for women going through the menopause.

A survey found 60pc of women found the menopause had a negative impact on their work and 8pc needed to leave employment because it was so debilitating.

Ms Ridge said the specific needs of women with the menopause were not well looked after in workplace health and safety laws introduced in 2005, adding that: No country in Europe has legislated for menopause leave.

It was time to apply a rights-based framework and put it on the legislative agenda, she said.

Dr Sumi Dunne, a Laois GP, described how women could look for the Green Score on the internet to measure their symptoms.

If they have a score of 12 or more, they are likely to be in their perimenopause or menopause stage, but it could also be the case if they had a score below 12.

She herself is going through the menopause and is making lists about lists.

She revealed how some patients described how the symptoms had left them "shrinking into the background in the presence of others.

The majority can have a mixture of symptoms including hot flushes and night sweats, but one of the major difficulties can be disturbed sleep.

Ms Dunne applies the Green Score to patients and also does a lifestyle assessment.

When it comes to treating women, she opts for an individual approach and prescribes HRT if appropriate.

Loretta Dignam, founder of the Menopause Hub, urged the Government to appoint a Menopause Employment Champion and follow the lead of the UK.

She said Helen Tomlinson, who was named as Englands first ever Menopause Employment Champion this month, had explained she was determined to smash the taboo surrounding menopause.

"About time too, said Ms Dignam. Its time policy makers in this country challenged the taboo that still exists around menopause in Ireland and made a similar appointment here.
Joanne Hayes was given a state apology after she was wrongly accused of murder in the Kerry Babies case

Gardai conduct door-to-door enquiries at Knightstown on Valentia Island in Co Kerry as the investigation into the murder of Baby John was reopened in 2018. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Local people in Cahersiveen have reacted with surprise at the arrests of a man and a woman in relation to the Kerry Babies case as many felt so much time had passed that the investigation would not reach this stage.

A cold case investigation into the 1984 murder of the infant who became known as Baby John was launched in 2018, and the childs body was exhumed from his grave in 2021, but with the passage of time since without any definitive or obvious progress, locals started to think the investigation was not going to provide any answers.

There is a mix of surprise and shock, said local Fianna Fail councillor Norma Moriarty.

"Shocked is probably too strong a word because we obviously knew the case was ongoing. But by the same token, I dont think that over the years there was a genuine belief that the Gardai could come to the point where they would be making arrests or being conclusive in their answers.

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But Id say with advances in modern science and DNA testing  and again, we're waiting for that to be confirmed  I think there's a strong suspicion that that has been the biggest tool to allow gardai to progress this case.

There was surprise at the breaking news last night, and I would have gotten calls and text messages and people wondering about it. When there is a significant event or breakthrough the new facts become the topic of conversation. And then what always gets repeated is just the awfulness of the tragedy.

Ms Moriarty said local people were taking the matter seriously.

When people talk about this case it's not talked about as idle gossip. This is beyond idle gossip. It's never discussed in a trivial way, and there's very good reason for that, she said.

There's the injustice that was perpetrated against North Kerry woman Joanne Hayes and her family, and to discuss this in any sort of idle or trivial way would be to do something on a par with what was done to her.

Expand Close The grave of Baby John in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry. Photo: Don MacMonagle File photo 2014 / Facebook

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Ms Moriarty said the Gardai had to be allowed to get on with their investigations.

There has been a tremendous amount of patience with the Gardai over the last five years because of this cold case, she said.

"We're not an area that has a significantly high number of gardai, and over that five years two people have come to me and said those gardai seconded to the case shouldn't be there, and that we need them in the general policing force.

"The fact I got only two such claims over five years is a testament to how patient people were with this case. And I think it shows that there was an understanding that justice does need to be found for this child.

Ms Moriarty said she felt the Gardai have been very sensitive and understated about how they have approached matters.

Confidentiality has been to the fore, she said. It has been uppermost, because nothing has been leaked, and I suppose part of that is the unwillingness of people generally to engage in idle gossip.

Speaking about the treatment of Joanne Hayes, a local woman who had a baby who died around the same time as Baby John, and wrongly became the focus of garda inquiries into the childs death, Ms Moriarty said: What happened to Joanne Hayes was a huge injustice. And looking back at some of the documentaries over the last number of years, the only people who came out of that whole period with credibility are the people of Abbeydorney, who stood by her and the family, the people who protested in her favour outside the tribunal itself.

"Because Irish society at the time was a cold and unwelcome place. Thankfully, so much has changed. If you were a person in crisis circumstances at that time there just wasn't anywhere to go. There may have been centres in Dublin, or there might have been some helplines in the universities. But they weren't to the fore, it wasn't the norm.

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"It's with that reality that you have to contextualise this case, and that's where the compassion and empathy comes from, because people realise it was a very different and difficult Ireland to be in at that time if you've had any sort of problem.

Cllr Moriarty said local people wanted justice to be done for Baby John.

Even though we're measuring this case against time gone past people would still like to see this resolved and justice for the child, she said. There's no doubt about that. The patience that people have had with the ongoing investigation is testament to their desire, and their contribution if you like, to ensure justice is done as well.

On the long main street of the coastal tourist town, flanked on either side with shops and businesses, people were reluctant to talk about the arrests.

People are wondering who was arrested for sure, but people are reluctant to bring it up in conversation, because they dont know if the person they are talking to knows them or not, said one woman.

It would be good to see the case solved. There is a younger generation of people living here who knew nothing about the Kerry Babies when the cold case was launched, because its just not discussed in the town. So it would be good if there were finally some answers, she added.

Another local said the arrests might be a positive development in finding out what happened back in 1984, but said if there are any convictions down the line it will be very hard for the families of whoever was involved.
Owners of Whitegate oil refinery in Cork told the Government that the windfall tax on profits could force its closure

The Government made changes to its windfall tax on bumper energy profits after the owners of the countrys only oil refinery warned that the new charge could force it to shut down.

A secret Cabinet document shows the scope of the tax was diluted following lobbying from Irving Oil, the owners of Whitegate oil refinery.

Ministers were told in a confidential memo that disruption to the operation of the Cork refinery  which can process 75,000 barrels of oil a day and employs around 230 people  could impact on consumer oil supplies, particularly in the south of the country.

Maintaining an operating refinery in the country is therefore the preferred option from an oil security-of-supply perspective, the memo stated.

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There is renewed focus on energy costs for households after it emerged ESB profits surged to 857 million following price hikes in the teeth of the energy crisis.

However, speaking on Tuesday, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan would not commit to the introduction of another 200 electricity credit for all households. He cautioned that windfall tax proceeds may not be sufficient to fund another credit.

Now, the Irish Independent can reveal how ministers were told potential proceeds from the new tax on fossil fuel companies would be reduced, as a result of the changes made to the temporary solidarity contribution.

The contribution forms part of Government windfall tax measures aimed at raising as much as 600m. The solidarity contribution is expected to raise between 200m and 450m of this.

There is also a cap on renewable energy companies revenues, which is expected to raise up to 150m.

Legislation underpinning the new measures is expected to be passed by the summer, and the proceeds are expected to be collected in September 2023 and September 2024.

In a letter as well as in subsequent meetings, Irving Oil warned of the impact of the charge on the refinerys viability. It stated that it had made significant losses in recent years along with the levels of investment made to ensure its continued safe operation.

As a result of this, the Government decided to allow companies subject to the new tax to offset capital expenditure on assets or infrastructure over the last five years against their tax liability. This would reduce the amount of their profits subject to the 75pc tax.

Ministers were also explicitly told in the memo that the change reduces the potential proceeds from the temporary solidarity contribution in line with the investments made.

The memo added that it was considered a balanced measure that would maximise returns to the exchequer, reduce the risk of the refinery closing, and any consequent impact on the security of the States oil supply.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe also noted to colleagues in the memo that as well as reducing expected revenues from the charge, it would afford those subject to the tax an opportunity to reduce their tax liability by making new capital investments in 2023.

Ministers were told that while there was potential for other industry operators to fill the resulting supply gap from the closure of Whitegate through other terminals like Dublin and Foynes, there would be logistical implications in terms of cost and the availability of drivers and trucks.

The 75pc tax rate is one of the highest across Europe and the memo also recorded concerns expressed by the leaseholders of Corrib Gas Field  Vermilion Energy and Nephin Energy  about the potential impact of the tax on international investor sentiment toward Ireland.

However, the memo pointed out that while most other jurisdictions have existing taxation royalty payments to capture windfall gains, this is not the case in Ireland.

Vermilion is among the companies to issue a legal challenge to EU windfall tax measures. Ireland has decided not to intervene in any of these cases.
LABOUR leader Ivana Bacik has denied it was hypocritical to attend an event on media freedom days after her party issued legal warnings to media organisations over a political poison-pen-letter.

She claimed it was perfectly acceptable for a political party to issue legal warnings to journalists who rely on anonymous correspondence if it is defamatory.

Ms Bacik defended her party issuing legal threats to media organisations the day after chairing a panel at an event on freedom of speech organised by the Index on Censorship at Trinity College Dublin.

The event heard from speakers who campaign against strategic lawsuits against public participation or SLAPPs, which are considered an abuse of defamation laws. Ms Bacik has previously criticised Sinn Feins propensity for issuing libel writs against media organisations.

Last weekend, the Sunday Independent reported that it had received a legal warning from the party over an anonymous letter it had received which made claims about an adviser to Ms Bacik. Labour said the claims were completely untrue.

Speaking ahead of her first party conference as Labour leader in Cork on Friday, Ms Bacik said she did not accept it was hypocritical to attend the conference.

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There are many instances where those journalists who are speaking themselves about having been recipients of defamation claims had also themselves issued proceedings where they had been defamed, she claimed.

She said she does not engage with anonymous, untrue and defamatory alleged letters and disputed that the legal warning had a chilling effect on the media, claiming the partys warning didnt seem to chill.

She added: We don't engage in anonymous, untrue and libellous or defamatory correspondence.

We've made that very clear and I think it's very valid for any political party to take issue with journalists who seek to rely entirely on an anonymous alleged letter that's also untrue and that is defamatory. I think it is perfectly acceptable for a political party to take action.

Ahead of the conference getting underway, Ms Bacik said the housing disaster was currently engulfing the country and appealed to Opposition TDs, including those who backed the Government over the ending of the eviction ban next week, to step up and back Labours motion of no confidence in the Dail next week.

I don't think any of the Independents wanted to vote for evictions, they didn't want to vote clearly not for increased homelessness figures and yet we know that that's what's going to result from the lifting of the ban on April 1, she said.

Local Labour TD Sean Sherlock said the expression of the fear of eviction is driving the issue and claimed the party is being contacted by thousands of people who are fearful about the end of the eviction ban.

Ms Bacik said that the ban should be extended for the next three or four months to bring in measures that would alleviate the homelessness crisis.
Nairobi  Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has been summoned to appear before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on April 11.

The summon was issued by Committee Chairperson Abdullah Bashir (MP Mandera North) after Members of the committee raised concerns that the CS has become notorious and snubs invitations without valid reasons.

"Our direction is that the CS is summoned to appear on 11, April morning hours. That message will be conveyed today, and the clerk will do the necessary work. We do not want to go deeper into the discussions because we want the CS to be here," Bashir directed.

Members of the committee led by Kinangop legislator Kwenya Thuku and his Kamukunji counterpart Yusuf Hassan said CS Mutua has been taking the committee for granted thus needs to be reminded of the role that it plays in oversighting the ministry.

"I think the CS is drunk with power and he thinks he is the most powerful CS we have ever had. We have invited other CSs and they have appeared before us. As for him, he is always giving reasons which are of course not very convincing," said Kwenya.

MP Hassan echoed his sentiments saying, "And he waits until the last minute to say he is not able to come because there is another meeting that he has been called to. This clearly shows that the ministry is being led by a very confused and disorganized person. It is not acceptable that this committee which has the power to oversight this particular ministry is treated this way."

The CS called the Committee chairperson few minutes to the start of the meeting saying President William Ruto had requested him to remain at State House to welcome former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

CS Mutua was at State House where he attended the swearing in ceremony of the Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs).

He was supposed to appear before the committee to shed light on widespread reports that the Ministry had been compelled to cede part of its mandate to the office of the Deputy President.

He was also expected to give ministry's correct position on a communication from the Ministry to all Diplomatic and Consular Missions, United Nation Agencies, and International Organizations allowing the said Organizations to communicate directly with Ministries, Departments and Agencies( MDAs) of the Government of Kenya without going through the Ministry of Foreign And Diaspora Affairs.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic adopting the Windsor Framework this morning in London

The deal between the UK government and the European Union to address issues with trade in and to Northern Ireland has been formally signed off.

The Windsor Framework, which was unveiled in February, is legal agreement designed to adapt the current Northern Ireland Protocol.

The legal document was adopted by the UK and EU at a Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting between British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic in London this morning.

It comes as the UK Government won the backing of MPs for the deal in the House of Commons earlier this week to implement the Stormont brake  an aspect of the framework which allows a functioning NI Executive to veto EU rules.

"The Joint Committee welcomed the positive approach of both sides and adopted the new arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework said Mr Cleverly and Mr Sefcovic in a joint statement following the signing.

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"These arrangements address, in a definitive manner, the challenges in the operation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland over the last 2 years and the everyday issues faced by people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while supporting and protecting the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement in all its parts, and protecting the integrity of the European Unions Single Market, and Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdoms internal market.

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In addition to the meeting, Mr Cleverly, Mr Sefcovic and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris attended a special reception in the House of Commons to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

On Thursday, Mr Heaton-Harris held a series of talks with Northern Ireland leaders in Hillsborough in which he declared the deal is done following the DUPs leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons comments concerning further negotiations.

The DUP are continuing to oppose a return to powersharing, which collapsed last year following the partys concerns over the Protocol.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said now the deal has been adopted it's time to move forward.

The Joint Committee met this morning to ratify the deal and the British Government and EU are now moving towards its implementation.

"Now is the time to move forward. The negotiation is over, and the deal is done she said.

We have a big opportunity to strengthen our economy and create good jobs by seizing the competitive advantage that unique access to the EU and British markets offers us.

Lets get back to business. People cant wait any longer."




After an illustrious career that included dressing some of the most famous women in the world, Don ONeill is packing up boxes of memories in New York and moving home to his native Kerry.

International accolades for his work have poured in over the years. He has dressed A-list stars for the red carpet and magazine covers.

He has worked with a diverse mix of people, from Nicole Kidman, Taylor Swift and Julia Roberts to Carrie Underwood, Amy Poehler, Christine Baranski and Angela Bassett.

Oprah Winfrey  the queen of daytime TV  was such a big fan of the Irish designers work that she chose to wear one of his signature crunchy sequinned gowns to collect her honorary Oscar in 2011.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Don with Oprah Julia Roberts wearing one of Don's Theia dresses Carrie Underwood wearing a Don ONeill Theia dress Grainne Seoige wore a bespoke Don ONeill beaded gown for her 2019 wedding Seoige sisters both wearing Don O'Neill Theia gowns in Dublin Zendaya wearing Don O'Neill Amy Poehler wearing Don O'Neill Angela Bassett wearing Don O'Neill gown / Facebook

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However, the pandemic and the ripples it triggered in business have changed ONeills priorities in life. The brutal schedules of the fashion industry have led to a shift in perspective.

Being the person celebrities want to be dressed by comes with a heavy weight of pressure which eventually takes a toll.

I didnt realise I was burnt out until Covid happened, said ONeill (56), who is moving home to Ballyheigue with his French-born husband, Pascal Guillermie.

I got to step back. I was able to take a big breath, to be grateful for what I did but realise that I couldnt keep that pace up forever and that it was time to step away.

I guess I needed a new lens to actually appreciate what I had in my life with Pascal, who is my rock

We had 30 years extraordinary here  the stuff dreams are made of. We are looking to writing the next chapter in Ireland.

Working like we have in New York since 1993, you just work like crazy and you kind of lose perspective. I felt it was like you had your hand on the sewing machine all the time and you couldnt take it off.

Theres that saying, youre only as good as your last collection. You knew there would be an expiration date, you just didnt know when it would be.

ONeill was creative director of the Theia fashion brand he named after the Greek goddess.

It was, he says, a crushing blow when, in June 2020, he and his team lost their jobs as the brand was repositioned by its owners.

His next chapter saw him sitting down to write a book about his many adventures in the world of international fashion.

Expand Close Oprah Winfrey wore a dress designed by Don O'Neill when accepting her honorary Oscar in 2011. Photo: Disney / Facebook

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Now that he is returning to familiar surroundings, ONeill couldnt be happier.

I guess I needed a new lens to actually appreciate what I had in my life with Pascal, who is my rock, he said.

Ballyheigue is truly my happy place. Ive worn it on my sleeve, its ingrained in my heart and thats where were going to start our exciting new chapter at the end of the summer.

The couple met in France at the Opera National de Lyon in 1993, when Guillermie was a dancer and ONeill was sewing in the costume department.

They married in Ballyheigue in 2016 but fate almost dashed their dreams of coming home when ONeill and another man got caught in a rip current after they went to the rescue of a swimmer.

After that incident last September, it made me all the more determined to live life to the full, whatever that brings, he said.

We cannot wait to fashion a new future for ourselves and we have lots of exciting plans with family and friends.

ONeill has designed for Irish clients such as Sabina Higgins, while he designed Grainne Seoiges wedding dress in 2019

ONeill, who was awarded an honorary doctorate from University College Cork in 2015, added: Ive had success and now I want other people to taste what I had and to help people in my own way.

I want to use 30 years of extraordinary experience and share that knowledge, pass it on and help the new generation of people coming up.

Having finished his book, he is looking forward to the next phase of his career which will involve consultancy work, collaborations and maybe even some broadcasting and TV work, which he says he would love.

His husband is a florist but he may branch out too and work as a wedding planner.

ONeill has designed for Irish clients such as Sabina Higgins, while he designed Grainne Seoiges wedding dress in 2019.

In a new creative project, he is one of the artists taking part in this years Incognito art sale in aid of the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation.

Thousands of postcard-size art works will be auctioned at 65 each, but the artist will only be revealed once the sale is over.

Viewing starts next Friday, March 31, on incognito.ie.

I really enjoyed doing three art works for the charity and it was a break from writing, he says.

I have so many memories, like the time I entered a competition in the Irish Independent in 1986 in the hopes of winning second prize.

I ended up winning first place  a scholarship to the Barbara Bourke College of Fashion Design in Dublin. The rest, as they say, is history.
Almost 44,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in Ireland, and with an estimated one in two of us getting the disease at some point in our lifetime, it is safe to say that cancer affects all of us, either directly or indirectly.

But despite its prevalence, a cancer diagnosis isnt the death sentence it was once perceived to be. Due to ongoing research and new treatments, outcomes are improving and the likelihood of surviving many forms of cancer has increased.

However, in order to continue to improve cancer treatments, funding is essential. Every year, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) hopes its annual fundraising event, Daffodil Day, will help raise vital funds for cancer research and awareness of the need for early detection.

On March 24, the ICS also wants their most important fundraiser to be a reminder of the urgency to catch up on the detection of thousands of cancers which remain undiagnosed since the start of the pandemic.

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It is estimated that 2,600 cancer diagnoses were missed in 2020 alone due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and catch-up remains difficult due to demands on the health service. So the ICS is hoping to raise 4m to support their services and life-changing research, and also to fund its vital free services.

At the Irish Cancer Society, we want to support every single person in Ireland affected by cancer, says Averil Power, Chief Executive. Over recent years, and because of the publics generosity, we have significantly increased investment in our services, in counselling and in cancer trials. We have also launched a free health check roadshow, Your Health Matters, which has visited communities across the country. But there is so much more that we need to do. Were asking the public to rally around us to help us make this the biggest Daffodil Day ever, to ensure nobody in Ireland faces cancer alone.

Naomi Brosnan knows the reality of facing a cancer diagnosis as she was diagnosed at just 17 years of age after finding a lump in her breast. She immediately rang her GP and was referred to the Breast Clinic, but told not to worry as it was most likely to be a cyst. However, while waiting for her appointment, she found more lumps, in both breasts.

Her doctor was a little bit more concerned and called the hospital to see if her breast check appointment could be brought forward. This was arranged for five weeks, but in the meantime, things went from bad to worse.

By the time the five weeks were up, I had lumps on either side of my jawline, underneath my armpits, in both breasts and in my groin, along with night sweats and fatigue  and I had no appetite and was puking up green bile, she says.

So I was really sick, especially in the few days just before my appointment. Me and my dad drove to the hospital and when we arrived he had to get me a wheelchair because I was too weak to walk. Once we were in the clinic, I was put in a private room so I could lie down and then they did a blood test and took a biopsy from one of the lumps.

Within half an hour, the results came back to say I had stage 4 Burkitt lymphoma, which is very rare and fast growing. I like to think of myself as a good Google doctor and because of the lumps and symptoms, I just knew that it was cancer and had told friends that I thought I had it.

So my dad and I were in the room and while I was drifting in and out of sleep, he got called out by the doctor and minutes later I could hear him crying and I knew I was right  it was cancer.

They came and told me the results but I wasnt shocked or upset at the time, because for weeks I had been telling myself that I had it, so in a way I had already started processing it. I just zoned out and when they said I was going to the ward, I just said, OK, lets go and told my dad that I would be fine.

The 25-year-old was admitted and allowed to settle into the room which would become home for the next five months, before the long, hard treatment journey began.

I received chemotherapy and had lumbar punctures, which was when chemo was injected into my spine because the cancer had also spread to the fluid around my brain, she says. Luckily, Ive always thought that things could always be worse.

"I try to find the silver lining in every bad situation, but there were obviously some hard days  one of the hardest being the day most of my hair fell out. Also the day I lost the ability to walk (due to the cancer) and it took me a good few months to learn to walk again. But I had no choice other than to get on with it, because it was out of my control.

I got through it all because of my family, friends and the nurses on that ward. It sounds crazy but we had so much fun together during such a dark and scary time. I was young and bold so there were constant pranks and laughter going on. Everyone was so good, because for the five months I was an in-patient, I had someone stay with me almost every night so I was never bored or lonely.

"We were told that no under-18s could stay with me but my friends pretended that they were all 18 and in college (so they could stay). Sometimes they forgot what course they had said they were studying, so the doctors and nurses knew that they werent students  but they just left us at it, probably because they saw how much I needed them.

Expand Close Naomi Brosnan is fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society. Photo: Don MacMonagle / Facebook

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Whatsapp Naomi Brosnan is fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Because the Kerry woman, who has three siblings, was so young when she was diagnosed with cancer, it was possible that her future fertility might have been affected by treatment. But thankfully, she spoke to her doctor about her concerns and after looking into ways in which she could future-proof her chances of conceiving, she finally received support from the Childhood Cancer Fertility project, which she says has been invaluable.

I am forever grateful to the Childhood Cancer Fertility project as through this, I was able to begin my egg freezing process at the Merrion Fertility Clinic in Dublin for free, as it is funded by the Irish Cancer Society, she says. There is nothing I want more in life than to have my own kids, so when they told me I needed chemo, I asked about freezing my eggs. However, because of how severe my cancer was, I didnt have the time to do it because we couldnt delay treatment. I started intensive chemo the day after my diagnosis.

I knew it could cause infertility so once I was in remission, I got myself checked and to my relief I was still fertile. But I was advised to have my eggs frozen because after all the treatment, I was at risk of going into early menopause. I tried to get this funded by the government, because those diagnosed with cancer in Ireland are offered free fertility preservation before starting treatment  but unfortunately, because I had already had my chemo, I no longer qualified.

I was absolutely heartbroken because I knew I would need to get a loan to pay for egg freezing. So my dad contacted our local politician and he got in touch with the Minister for Health on my behalf. A few weeks later, I got a letter telling me that I could be eligible for the Childhood Cancer Fertility project and to contact the Irish Cancer Society. I was bawling crying when I found out that I was eligible  there are actually no words to explain how grateful I am.

Naomi has been affected both mentally and physically by her ordeal, but thanks to early detection and subsequent treatment, she is eight years in remission and is planning to move to Australia with her boyfriend this year.

Cancer has been a pain in so many ways, including the fact that Ive been left with an immune deficiency disorder, so I have to inject medicine into my stomach every month to keep me from getting sick, she says. But it has also taught me to be so grateful for everything I have and to just appreciate the small things in life, as sometimes these things get overlooked and its easy to forget how lucky we are.

My advice to someone else who has just been diagnosed would be not to underestimate themselves and to take time to process things, but not to hold on to any negativity. Celebrate the small wins and try to find little positives every day. I dont believe everything happens for a reason but I do believe we learn a lesson when going through hard times and come out stronger.

Ill be doing a 100,000 steps in a day challenge on April 21 to help raise money for the ICS. Cancer is both physically and mentally tough, so I wanted to do something which would challenge me in the same ways. Its not going to be easy, but I want to prove to myself that I can do it and give back to an organisation which has done so much for me.

To donate to Naomis challenge visit justgiving.com/page/walkwithnaomi. For more information about Daffodil Day or to find out how to donate or volunteer visit cancer.ie/daffodilday
Not much is known about the history of childbirth in Ireland. Until the 20th century, most women just got on with it. Only the wealthy or the desperate would have had a doctor in attendance.

Women gave birth at home, attended by neighbours, grandmothers and unofficial community midwives known as handywomen. These women, untrained but highly experienced, were viewed as a liability by some and a godsend by others.

In Perceptions of Pregnancy, historian Cara Delay quotes Kathleen Sheehan (1894-1985) of Co Cavan. Sheehans mother was a handywoman.

She was always ready to walk miles to deliver a baby, perhaps at night even, when a man could call for her, complete with his lantern, and they would set off over the hills and fields. I am well aware of the mothers and babies whose lives she saved. Handywomen operated under the radar and their skills and customs remain undocumented.

Now, an object has come to light that may help to fill a gap in this missing history. Catalogued as a 17th to 18th-century Irish yew birthing stool (Lot 200: est. 5,000 to 8,000) its coming up for sale in Sheppards Irish Vernacular sale, which takes place in Durrow, Co Laois on Tuesday, March 28. Its a four-legged stool (35 x 42 x 42cm) with a crescent-shaped seat made from a single piece of yew.

The legs are ash wood, held in place by mortise and tenon joints. Its known that the chair was acquired in Ireland and comes from an Irish vernacular collection amassed in Ulster over three generations.

The first part of the collection was sold by Sheppards in April 2022. Which leaves us none the wiser about the stool. It resembles birthing chairs from other cultures but, as an Irish object, seems to be unique.

Im not aware of any other Irish examples, says Philip Sheppard. There are certainly none in any of the National collections. This begs the question  is the chair actually Irish?

Theres no way of knowing this either but a very similar chair is illustrated and described in detail in Speculum Matricis Hybernicum; or, The Irish Midwives Handmaid (1670), a midwifery manual by James Wolveridge MD of Cork: The stool must be strong, and cut with a hole, in the shape of the moon, as high as a Barbers chair, that the Midwife sitting upon a lower stool, may the better bring the infant from the upper parts.

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The date of the chair could be confirmed by dendrochronology, a science that dates wooden objects based on the analysis of tree rings.

Its hard to get an analysis of an object thats for sale, says Sheppard. The objects history is further obscured by a series of enigmatic geometric symbols carved on its surface. Its tempting to read archaic wisdom into these, but they are more likely to have been added by someone using a geometry set.

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Theres more interesting symbolism on an 18th-century penal cross (Lot 225: est. 2,000 to 3,000).

This early piece of Irish folk art (35cm long) is also made from a single piece of yew with the figure of Christ carved in relief above a skull and crossbones. Theres nothing enigmatic in the symbols here. Many penal crosses carry the same coded messages which were once as easily understood as emoji are now.

The skull-and-crossbones is a memento mori (reminder of death) and the letters INRI come from the Latin for Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.

The reverse includes the date 1729, the monogram HIS (an abbreviation of Jesus name in Greek), as well as three nails (representing those used on Jesus hands and feet) and a cockerel-and-pot symbol. This is said to come from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus as told in the Irish medieval manuscript An Leabhar Breac.

In the story, Judas was feeling bad about betraying Jesus. Worried that Jesus would arise after three days, as foretold, he asked his wife to bring him a rope to hang himself. She was having none of it.

She was cooking chicken for dinner and reckoned there was as much chance of the Jesus rising from the dead as of the plucked cooked rooster jumping out of the pot. At which point, the bird leapt from the pot, flapping his wings and crowing: Mac na hOighe Slan (son of the Virgin is risen)!

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A dodgy tradesman who left dozens of pensioners feeling hurt, angry and embarrassed when he hoodwinked them was handed a suspended jail sentence today .

Stephen Stewart (49) admitted 55 offences under trading standards legislation at an earlier hearing. The offences included 50 counts of reckless commercial practice, three of misleading commercial practice and two of aggressive commercial practice, committed between November 2017 and July 2021.

While a raft of fraud charges were not proceeded with, the catalogue of malpractice charges related to 59 victims, all of whom were elderly, vulnerable or both, and the sums involved amounted to 58,990 (68,000).

The former Larne man, now with a bail address at a hostel on the Saintfield Road in Belfast, was handed a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for three years.

Prosecuting counsel Suzanne Gallagher outlined how the amounts the victims paid to Stewart ranged from 80 to 3,500 but that in each case, he was paid for work which was either never completed or not done properly.

She explained that trading under the name NI Home Improvement and formally SS Services, Stewarts method of business was to cold call at households in order to offer services and once prices had been discussed and agreed, he would ask either for a deposit or for full payment upfront for a discounted price.

The offences began to come to light in January 2021 when a householder in the Newtownbreda area reported how a workman had called at their house offering to replace a pipe for 500.

Antrim Crown Court heard the workman said he would do it for 500 cash and urged the victim to write him a cheque for 300 and withdraw other monies from the cash machine.

The following day, however, he contacted the victim to claim the 300 cheque had gone through the washing machine so could they write another one or alternatively, get him the cash.

He further advised that he would be unable to carry out the work on Friday, January 14, as he had a lot of other outstanding work. He did not give a time for coming to do the work, said Ms Gallagher, adding that when the police searched Stewarts home, they found the supposedly washed cheque.

Dozens more complains flooded in after the initial charges were reported in local newspapers and, in the end, a total of 59 victims reported how they had been duped by Stewart.

Ms Gallagher outlined how Stewarts victims were spread between Belfast, North Down and south east Antrim, and while some paid for work that was never started, other victims had jobs partially completed or finished but not to a satisfactory standard. And when they asked for money back, Stewart failed to hand over refunds.

That left many of the victims out of pocket to Stewart but also having to spend more time and money finding other trades people to right the defendants wrongs.

The offences were aggravated, the barrister submitted, given the number of victims, all of them elderly and three of whom have since sadly passed away.

Various descriptions as to the impact are provided such as feeling worried, stressed, annoyed, hurt, angry, cheated, foolish, frustrated, embarrassed, devastated, anxious, upset, manipulated, she told the court although she conceded that Stewarts guilty pleas was a mitigating feature.

Defence KC Neil Connor told the court that according to Stewart, very little of the cash he was paid ended up in his pocket as most of it was used to pay his staff and then buy materials for the ordered jobs.

He said that rather than a case of fraud, it was one where Stewart was always on the back foot, trying to deal with the backlog of work that he readily acknowledges he was responsible for.

He should have simply stopped taking work on board and dealt with the backlog that had been created, said Mr Connor, adding that Stewart instructs me to apologise to all of those who have been at a loss.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Roseanne McCormick KC said this is highly culpable offending and a high degree of harm has been experienced by many of the elderly and vulnerable people.

This sort of activity also had enormous implications for the confidence of those people who had engaged him, said the judge.

Suspending the immediate prison sentence, the judge explained it was only because he had spent the equivalent of a 30-month sentence on remand.

Judge McCormick said while Stewart, who has 94 previous convictions for theft, forgery, counterfeit, burglary and deception, is no stranger to the criminal justice system, she warned that if he was in the dock before her again, she would activate the suspended sentence in addition to any other sentence. Furthermore it is my express wish that if this man commits acts of offending that bring him before a Crown Court, it is my stipulation that he is put before me, said Judge McCormick.

Despite there being no prospect of any of the 59 victims getting their money back, the judge said she hoped that the case coming to a close was some comfort to the many elderly and vulnerable people who helped bring this man to justice.
The money saved by reducing EV grants will be spent on improving the public charging network. Photo: Getty Images

Electric vehicle (EV) buyers experiencing long delays in getting their new car will have to plead their case to hold on to their full purchase grant after the support is cut by 30pc in July.

The Department of Transport said it would pay grants at the current rate of 5,000 to all buyers whose grant is applied for and approved before July 1 and who take delivery of their car within four months of approval.

But some EV owners-in-waiting have been affected by supply-line problems and have been told they wont get their vehicle for months.

That will take them past the July 1 cut-off date and the four-month eligibility period, after which the grant drops by 1,500 to 3,500.

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Some, like Justin Moran from Dublin, have already been waiting a year for their new car. He has recently been told it will be some time in the second half of this year before the car arrives.

Its an MG so its being made in China and production in China is still very behind schedule after Covid, said Mr Moran. We paid the deposit in March last year and we were told it would be around a year before wed have it, so we were pre-warned.

But then we were told just before Christmas that it would take a good bit longer, so Im not sure what that will mean for the grant.

The Department of Transport said all grant applications received and approved by the grant administrators  the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)  prior to July 1 would be paid at the higher current rate of 5,000.

Under normal circumstances, that is dependent on the car being delivered within four months, but the Department said there may be some flexibility.

Should a situation arise where, despite the best efforts of customer and dealer to meet the timelines surrounding the grant changes, a vehicle has been inadvertently delayed for reasons outside the control of the customer or dealer, SEAI will review these on a case-by-case basis, it said.

Waiting times for new EVs lengthened in the last two years due to increased demand, Covid and a worldwide shortage of semiconductors  electrical components essential to EV manufacture.

While dealers said the delays would ease this year, some of the big brands are advising that a three- to six-month wait for popular models is likely.

Mr Moran is hopeful that the SEAI will understand that the delay in his order was unavoidable.

Im wondering how long it might take to approve it, though, if they have to review every case where there is a delay. It was supposed to be a fairly straightforward process when we started out.

He said the grant was an important support in choosing the car.

Its costing 35,000 and weve never bought a new car before, so its a big expense.

I dont think if the grant was 1,500 less when we ordered the car that it would have stopped us buying it. But we did factor the 5,000 in the cost, so it was certainly a factor in our choice.

The Government announced last year that it would begin reducing EV grants as the range of models increases and prices come down.

It said the money would be spent on improving the public charging network instead.

More than 40,000 EV buyers have availed of the grant to date.
With just 24 clipped words, EU leaders will today finally pronounce that the seven-year Brexit dispute on the Norths special trade status is definitively over.

Formal summit conclusions to be signed off this afternoon put Brexit requiem in at point number 27, one above the final pointer, which is a pious endorsement of United Nations calls for clean water.

The European Council welcomes the agreement on the Windsor Framework and looks forward to the swift implementation of all agreed solutions in good faith.

For Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who spent many long nights in Brexit crisis talks at this EU summit centre in Brussels, it was a mix of good and less-than-good news. He warmly welcomed Wednesday nights decisive London parliament vote  which did the same thing as the EU declaration.

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Im confident that the UK government and the European Union will implement the Windsor Framework now and that is going to be of benefit to the people of Northern Ireland, Mr Varadkar told reporters in Brussels.

Less encouraging was the Democratic Unionist Partys (DUP) stance.

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Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert

That, for the Taoiseach, was not good news for the people in the North who need their politicians at work puzzling solutions to homelessness, cost-of-living, a health service under pressure, and all the other daily realities.

Im disappointed to hear the DUP are not going back to the Stormont assembly and executive. I think they should, the Taoiseach said. He insisted he wanted to avoid antagonising anyone, and the Government would continue to work with the Norths five main political parties and London to see what progress could be made.

But if Stormont remains atrophied  what happens next? Will there be direct rule from London as there was over three decades? What about Dublin taking a more strident role in affairs north of the border under so-called joint authority?

Time and circumstances did not allow further discussion of Dublin taking a hand in the Norths affairs

Mr Varadkar was definitive in dismissing any question of direct rule from London as happened from 1972 until 1998. I think its premature to be talking about direct rule.

But it is consistently the position of the Irish Government that direct rule is not provided for in the Good Friday Agreement and we couldnt support going back to that, the Taoiseach said.

Time and circumstances did not allow further discussion of Dublin taking a hand in the Norths affairs and the Taoiseach was keen not to further irk DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

However, last October before the transfer of roles, Micheal Martin as Taoiseach was more strident on this matter.

As yet another deadline on re-establishing power-sharing loomed, Mr Martin told the Dail that the Irish Government will maximise its role in running the

North if the DUP continues to block the restoration of the Belfast power-sharing structures.

These issues will take time to play out, and there is a persistent flickering hope that Mr Donaldson and his DUP colleagues may be saying not yet rather than delivering a definitive permanent No.

Justifying his partys vote against the Windsor Framework on Wednesday, Mr Donaldson yesterday dubbed it a sticking plaster. But notably he has also said he is looking forward to negotiating with prime minister Rishi Sunak and foreign minister, James Cleverly.

Were looking primarily to the prime minister and to the government of the United Kingdom, the DUP leader said.

But he and his party are occupying an increasingly lonely place as there were just 22 Eurosceptic Tory rebels on their side in Wednesdays landslide vote in Westminster.

EU chief Brexit negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, is due in London tomorrow to formally sign the Windsor Framework documents with Mr Cleverly.

This one is over  somebody should tell the DUP.
Its not often the wrongs of the past are righted and lingering injustices recognised. But it happened this week when eight women and one man convicted of witchcraft  an invented crime  were commemorated with a public plaque near where the sorcery allegedly took place.

The Islandmagee witch case, Irelands last convictions for witchcraft, offers a fascinating insight into a time and mindset. Witch-hunting was women-hunting. It was a period when people believed in pacts with the devil, but women could be targeted for reasons that had nothing to do with witchcraft and everything to do with community tensions and neighbourhood dislikes or disputes.

In 1711, a girl named Mary Dunbar arrived in Islandmagee, Co Antrim, to stay with relatives. Almost immediately, she began to accuse local women of possessing her by witchcraft. She had fits, during which three men could barely restrain her, regurgitated pins and buttons, and claimed the women had the power to make themselves tiny and crawl through her bedroom keyhole to torment her.

Witch fever took hold. It caused a sensation in the tight-knit Ulster-Scots, Presbyterian community. The eight women denied being witches, but Mary was believed. She was 18, pretty, educated and from a higher social class. Her victims fitted the witch template  deformed, lame, blind, claw-handed or scarred. This was a way to persecute old, ugly, awkward women  once accused, innocence was difficult to prove.

The scapegoated women were tried in nearby Carrickfergus in a mass witchcraft trial, highly unusual in the Irish context. Alibis were discounted because spectral evidence was accepted: as witches, the accused had the power to bilocate. No objective medical evidence was entered, and all were found guilty.

They were tried under an Irish act from 1586 prohibiting witchcraft, which stipulated jail for a first offence. They were sentenced to a years imprisonment and four turns in the stocks  literally pilloried. Other jurisdictions, such as Scotland, would have imposed an automatic death sentence.

Six months later, a man  husband of one of the women and father of another  was also convicted of witchcraft. Men could be accused of witchcraft but it occurred in significantly smaller numbers  across Europe, 10 to 15pc of those executed for witchcraft were men.

Of course, those nine people were innocent, punished for a crime they couldnt possibly have committed. The guilty verdicts should be overturned and their good names restored to them. That has happened elsewhere as a necessary act of restitution: Massachusetts law pardoned the Salem witches some 20 years ago, and the Scottish parliament is considering a pardon for that countrys witch hunts.

For now, at least the nine known as the Islandmagee witches (although some came from the surrounding area) are remembered publicly in their community. A plaque was unveiled last Tuesday in the Gobbins Visitor Centre by the local mayor, Alderman Noel Williams. And I was honoured to be there to witness this long overdue gesture.

My connection with the story loops back more than a decade, when I stumbled across a reference to the trial in one of those On This Day In History newspaper columns. It said on this day, March 31, eight women were convicted of witchcraft at the spring assizes in Carrickfergus in 1711. I can still taste my astonishment.

The story intrigued me, and I went to Islandmagee to research it. I wrote a novel inspired by the case, The House Where It Happened, published in 2014.

And that should have been that. Except it wasnt. I couldnt forget the Islandmagee witches, bothered by the way they were silenced twice over  at their trial when their innocence was denied, and by history which had all but eliminated them. At least there should be a plaque listing their names, I thought. It would prompt inquiries. Perhaps schools would teach the story.

So began a campaign spanning almost nine years, which finally resulted in a memorial thanks to stellar support from Alliance councillor Maeve Donnelly. Back in 2014, I persuaded members of the local authority to pass a motion supporting a plaque. The DUP and TUV opposed it and the UUP abstained, but Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance carried it. I was invited to write the wording, and did so.

Nothing further happened. I kept asking why. It turned out there was resistance at local political level, along the lines of how do we know they werent witches?, and fears were even expressed that a plaque would become a shrine to paganism.

Years passed. I kept trying. I lobbied ministers, MPs, MLAs, councillors, tourism officials and civil servants. Councillor Donnellys intervention last year was the turning point in delivering the memorial. She understood how this would be a significant event, not just for the local area, but for Ireland  where selective silence pockmarks our history. All credit to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for finally progressing with the initiative.

Recording those nine names in public in the area where they lived is important. It matters to remember their stories because we can learn from them: that every age has its witches, we simply call them by different names  asylum-seekers, Travellers, transgender, etc; that group fear and hysteria can ruin lives; and that if allegations are made, people deserve due process.

Unfortunately, history regards some lives as worth less than others. Those who recorded history benefited from their times, and inserted their world view into the account. But today we understand history must include the people penalised by their times  discarded by them.

The slur against Islandmagees so-called witches still stands. Overturning their convictions would send a powerful message that all lives have intrinsic value. Political will is required, with a case made for the royal prerogative of mercy, but thats another days work.

Nobody can set aside the fact that nine people were treated abysmally. But even three centuries on, injustice should be publicly acknowledged.

Their names were Janet Carson, Janet Latimer, Janet Liston, Janet Main, Janet Millar, Margaret Mitchell, Catherine McCalmond, Elizabeth Sellor and William Sellor. You were punished wrongly. You are innocent.
Nairobi  Kenyans have so far taken up Sh24 billion from the Hustler Fund since it was launched by President William Ruto late last year.

The fund has supported 19 million beneficiaries nationwide.

The Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises notes that sh14.2 billion has been repaid as of today.

Customers who have borrowed more than once in the kitty now stand at 6.6 million. The total amount saved on the kitty in the last four months is sh1.2 billion.

On March 10, 2023, CS for MSMEs Simon Chelugui said over 800,000 borrowers under the Hustler Fund had defaulted on paying back their loans within the stipulated time of 30 days.

"There are about 800,000 Kenyans who have borrowed and have passed the limit of 30 days of paying the debt, however, we are still giving them a chance and we believe through enlightening and informing them to pay what they borrowed will help them respond," said Chelugui, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs.

"Out of the 19 million Kenyans enrolled only 16 million have borrowed from the fund, the 3 million are enrolled but did not borrow anything either because they are waiting for the large amount or they have not made their choice yet, however, we still welcome them when they decide."

The second phase of the Hustler Fund was launched on March 3 by President Ruto and will give loans of between Sh10,000 and Sh200,000 to businesses.

Besides credit, the fund also offers a saving component where taxpayers will match Sh1 for every Sh2 contributed by the state.

One must be a Kenyan citizen aged 18 or older with a valid identification card with a registered mobile number (Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom) to be eligible.

One will also be required to have a mobile money account that is either Mpesa, Airtel Money, or Tkash, and the sim card must have been in use for more than 90 days.

The Hustlers Fund identifier is the ID number; hence, one customer cannot use more than one number to borrow.
Judge Brian Sheridan preparing to cut his bespoke Cake at a gathering in honour of his retirement at Mallow Courthouse

Judge Alec Gabbett from Adare took on judging duties at Mallow Courthouse on Tuesday following the retirement of Judge Brian Sheridan

Judge Brian Sheridan pictured with members of An Garda Siochana at his retirement gathering in Mallow Courthouse on Tuesday morning

Solicitors Charlie O Connor, Philip Comyn, David O Meara, Cathal Lombard, Kevin Nagle and Matt Nagle pictured with Judge Brian Sheridan on the occasion of his retirement at Mallow Courthouse

Judge Brian Sheridan pictured with his brother Desmond (Mullingar) and his sister in law Patricia in Mallow Courthouse during his retirement gathering

The gavel came down on a long and illustrious law career at Mallow Courthouse last Tuesday morning when Judge Brian Sheridan concluded his final session on the bench after serving as a judge for the past 18 years.

Family members, courthouse staff, solicitors and gardai were on hand to wish Judge Sheridan a long and happy retirement.

District Court President Paul Kelly joined the gathering by video link: As a result of modern technology Im delighted to be able to join you today for the last sitting of our beloved friend and colleague Brian Sheridan. He has had a distinguished career as a judge, but also as a servant of the public in many ways and we acknowledge the many facets of his service.

"Judge Sheridan has dealt with all cases in his humane and compassionate way. On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I want to thank you Brian for your friendship, for your wisdom, help and advice and we wish you a long and happy retirement, Mr Kelly said.

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Additional tributes were paid to Judge Sheridan by Mallow District Court Manager Valerie Lynch, Senior Solicitor Matt Nagle and State Solicitor Frank Nyham. Inspector Tony OSullivan congratulated the judge on behalf of the Gardai and Probation Officer Eleanor OShea added her good wishes.

In reply, Judge Sheridan thanked everyone for their kind words.

Thank you all very much, its the end of a 43 year legal career and the past 11 years here with you have been full of life and spirit. I want to pay particular credit to Valerie and the staff here in Mallow, as well as the teams in Fermoy and Midleton, probation officers, solicitors and the gardai and on that note i wish you all well and I will be thinking of you, he said.

Minister for Justice Simon Harris wrote to Judge Sheridan commending him for his many years of dedicated service as a judge of the District Court. Although you have served the public for almost 18 years as a Judge, your time as a Solicitor also stands out. Your work has been of great importance for all the citizens of the State. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your hard work, commitment and dedication in your service to the State, not just on my own behalf, but on behalf of the Irish public who you have served through your role, Minister Harris said.

43-years ago, Judge Sheridan began his career as a solicitor with the Legal Aid Board. Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous facets of the legal scene in Ireland.

In 1994 he founded the Burren Law School with Mary Hawkes Green and Michael Green. The conferences held at the school addressed important issues such as Travellers rights, the use of simpler language in legal practice, access to justice and the prosecution of historic sexual abuse cases. Judge Sheridan was head of the Cork Legal Aid Board and former Chair of the Law Societys Family Law and Civil Legal Aid Committee.

He was a member of the District Court Rules Committee and contributed to various statutory instruments revising the District Court rules since 2007. He served on the bench in Dublin before being appointed to District No. 20 in 2012, encompassing the districts of Mallow, Midleton and Fermoy.

After giving so unselfishly in the service of the State over the past 43 years, Judge Sheridan who is known as a man of culture and learning with a great interest in history, architecture and antiques, will now have time to pursue his many hobbies and interests in the years ahead.
A Dublin mum-of-three facing eviction has said she was told to go to a garda station if she had nowhere else to turn.

Laura Harford and her three boys Riley (12), Logan (nine), and Teddy (seven), have been living in their home in Tallaght for nearly ten years but have now been told the landlord is leaving the market.

The young family will be homeless from next week.

On Wednesday, the governments eviction ban was lifted after 83 TDs voted in favour of it and 68 voted against it.

The vote has sparked widespread anger among opposition TDs who claim it will result in the current record levels of homelessness soaring even higher,

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Speaking to the Sunday World, Laura said she is very worried for her children.

It is traumatic, it is deeply upsetting, you fight tooth and nail for your children, to protect them from trauma, but nobody seems to care.

"Nobody wants to speak to you. I cant get an appointment with the council, Laura said.

Sounding visibly upset, she described how she has been told to attend her local garda station, if she has nowhere else to turn.

I rang the homeless section yesterday, they said go to a family member or friend, but I have nobody available, no siblings.

So, they told me to show up on the day I get evicted. With my bags packed. If they have something available, they will give it to me.

Then I was told I can always go to the guards on the day I get evicted, with my three kids, said Laura.

The young mum has been desperately trying to make an appointment with one specific section of South Dublin County Council.

I have needed for months to speak to someone from the allocation section, but they dont reply to voicemails or emails, nothing.

"I cant seem to speak to anyone, its impossible.

A number of charities and health services have letters on my file, in relation to my children.

"Upset and trauma will destroy their mental health  homeless hubs have one room with four beds. We have issues with ADHD in the family.

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Its been a tough year for my kids already before this. A homeless hub will ruin their progress.

"But I cant speak to anyone to see if they are taking these letters into account.

Homeless HAP (Housing Assistance Payments) staff in South Dublin Co Council dont give or sign their names anymore. So you cant deal with anyone specific, Laura said.

The Dublin mum has been on the waiting list for a home for a decade and, she says, a simple administrative error meant she missed out on some housing opportunities.

My account was on hold, but nobody informed me. I just wanted log in details.

"That error had had a huge effect. I missed months and months of looking for homes.

Weve been in this house for a decade and we thought we would be here for the forseeable future.

"Its devastating. Ive been rigorously looking since last August but when they hear you are on homeless HAP; landlords dont want to know.

I asked the landlord for a couple of more months because I have nowhere to go with my kids.

I was quite upset but I just said; OK, thank you and left it at that.

"Are my kids just a number? They are children.

A garda station or sofa surfing? Kids need structure and routine, I want to try to protect them from trauma.

Nobody cares, nobody wants to speak with us. The council offices are barely open. I have another letter I need to bring over on my kids behalf.

I cant even make an appointment  I feel like a failure right now. There are many empty houses boarded up.

In the allocation section, someone to speak to, thats all I want. I just want our health letters taken into account, Laura added.

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A Dublin artist will show a series of art works inspired by James Joyces celebrated story, The Dead, appropriately at Swenys Pharmacy in Lincoln Place in Dublin.

Penny Stuart is a mixed media artist and her art works go on exhibition from Friday March 24 for a full week until March 31. She says the exhibition, entitled The Ghost of Michael Furey, fits well amid the bottles and potions in Swenys famous former pharmacy which is now an exhibition centre and literary venue.

The famous old premises is celebrated in the literary world as the place in Joyces Ulysses where Leopold Bloom buys lemon soap.

The artist says she created the various art works over a period of 10 years, working sometimes in Berlin and at other times in her studio at Dublins docklands.

Critics describe the works as wild and dark, appropriately in keeping with the spirit of the tragic Michael Furey which pervades Joyces most celebrated short story which was filmed in 1987 by director John Huston.

Penny Stuart is a regular contributor to the Trinity Jolt magazine (Journal of Literary Translation) where she has had her artwork published in the past seven editions of the magazine since 2019.

Some of the published drawings are included in the exhibition. When she was offered Sweny's Pharmacy to hold her first Solo exhibition, Penny dived into the James Joyce Dubliners short story 'The Dead' and used it as inspiration for this exhibition 'The Ghost of Michael Furey'.

Apart from this exhibition Penny is currently participating in a group show with ArtnetDlr in Walters Pub Dun in Laogaire. She also has three colourful collages/drawings with an online LA/German gallery Kunsthaus Rozig.
John Bishop has paid tribute to his mother Kathy after her death at 80

Comedian John Bishop has said he is heartbroken after the death of his mother.

The comedian, who was due to perform in Mother Goose in Dublin this week, has taken compassionate leave after his mothers death at the age of 80.

In a tribute, he said his mother Kathy was sunshine and her death is a pain like no other.

Bishop has taken compassionate leave from his role in Mother Goose and has been replaced by his understudy Gabriel Fleary who will play the role of Vic Goose alongside Ian McKellen.

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On Instagram the Liverpool native recalled his mother coming to the show in Liverpool two weeks ago and singing along.

Two weeks ago my mum came to see me in Mother Goose in Liverpool and joined in the singalong at the end as I knew she would, he said.

This morning we said goodbye to her and we will never hear her sing again. As a family we are heartbroken. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother and she loved us all.

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Next week she would have been married to my dad for 62 years and they had a love and friendship that was beautiful to be around, he said.

We want to thank all of the brilliant staff at Whiston Hospital on ward 3C who could not have done more and provided exceptional care for us all.

Anyone who has lost a parent will understand when I say it is a pain like no other.

I will never have another mother but I will be eternally grateful for being lucky enough to have had the one I did.

Good night mum, you were our sunshine, he added.

Mother Goose opened in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on Wednesday and will run until Sunday, March 26.

In a statement earlier this week, the theatre said: We regret to announce that John Bishop is unable to appear in this weeks run of Mother Goose at Dublins Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

Mr Bishop has taken compassionate leave from the show. Gabriel Fleary, the Holby City and RSC actor and Mr Bishops standby, will play the role of Vic Goose alongside Ian McKellen as Mother Goose.
Linda Martin and Louis Walsh at the official launch of her new sanctuary, The Dublin Dog Hub. Pics: Steve Humphreys

Former Eurovision winner Linda Martin has officially launched her new dog sanctuary in north Dublin.

Ian McKellen was unable to make it, but familiar faces such as Louis Walsh and Anne Doyle joined in the ribbon cutting for The Dublin Dog Hub in Meakstown, Finglas.

Lord of the Rings star McKellen had hoped to attend, but could not make todays event due to rehearsals for Mother Goose at the Bord Gais Theatre.

Newly-built kennels, a veterinary area and facilities have been installed on the site which has been in the works for the past two years.

Ive always loved animals and been involved in animal rescue, said Ms Martin, who has 13 dogs at home.

Horses, dogs, cats, you name it, its come through my house over the years. When Ashtown pound closed two years ago, I thought right, Im going to put my money where my mouth is.

I applied for planning permission on this land and that took nearly two years. Today Im about 90pc finished, there are still lots of things that have to be fixed, but Im here, she added.

Although the centre is not officially open yet, it has already received a number of requests to take in dogs this week.

I cant take anything at the minute, we are not operational yet, Linda said, adding she is not yet able to give an official opening date.

The sanctuary owner said buying new puppies as Christmas or birthday presents for children is wrong, and urged people to consider whether they have the time and space for a pet.

When we went into lockdown parents were buying puppies to entertain the children, and of course they go back to work and the kids get fed up of the dog, she said.

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Suddenly they need to return it, and the puppy farmers wont take them back, so it falls on the rescue centres.

We have the laws, we just dont have the resources and the staff to put those laws into operation. We have to enforce it and there has to be control put on puppy farmers, she added.

Long-time friend Louis Walsh, who attended todays launch, said: Linda is all about animal rights, she was always into animals and saving them.

This is something she has always dreamt about and she has put blood, sweat and tears into this.

Im delighted its open. If you have a dog you have to love them and you have to care for them. Theyre like people, and Linda says they are more loyal.

They always love you, even if you are in good form or bad form, he added.

Locals came out to visit the sanctuary today and performances were given by Irish dancers and musicians, before Fr Damien OReilly blessed the sanctuary.
Kerry has a vast range of festivals throughout the year that offer the visitor a great opportunity to connect with the essence of Kerry life.

Many of these festivals are decades, even centuries, old and are a huge source of pride to the people who organise them. As well as the better-known festivals, many parishes hold their own festivals, and these are worth visiting if sampling Kerry life is your aim.

Among the most notable ones are Listowel Writers Week in June. As one of Irelands oldest Literary and Arts Festivals, this is where writers, artists and poets congregate in the beautiful heritage town of Listowel. The festival promotes the writing of all genres and creates an environment where literature can be appreciated by the widest possible audience  gathering writers and readers to celebrate the written word together.

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The Rose of Tralee Festival dates back to 1959, but with roots that stretch back to an older local festival. The Rose of Tralee Festival has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, celebrated in Irish communities from the USA to New Zealand and everywhere in between. This is one for the diary in August.

Also in August is one of Irelands oldest festivals: Puck Fair. This festival creates the kind of majestic and unique atmosphere found in no other festival. Over three-days of fun, this family-friendly street festival is like no other, and thats a promise.

October brings the Dingle Food Festival. This festival includes cookery demonstrations, wine tastings, food trails, and over 50 market stalls, and childrens events. The Dingle Food Festival is by far one of the fastest growing festivals in Ireland and definitely one for the short list. Be sure to watch out for other festivals in Kerry throughout 2023.
The two people arrested last night in relation to the Kerry Babies Cold Case remain in custody in the county this morning and are from Kerry.

After almost 39 years, Gardai have arrested two people, a male in his 60s and a female in her 50s, in relation to the discovery of the body of a male infant on White Strand, Cahersiveen in April 1984.

They were arrested in the Munster region on suspicion of the offence of murder and are being detained in Kerry stations. They are being detained in separate stations in Castleisland and Listowel, The Kerryman understands.

They are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and it is believed they will remain in custody throughout the day as questioning continues.

Both are understood to be from Kerry.

DNA samples have played a significant role in this investigation which has been ongoing since January 2018 when a Cold Case Review was announced.

Gardai in the Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team have since interviewed hundreds of people and over 560 lines of enquiry have been initiated.

In September 2021 the baby was exhumed for a higher quality DNA sample that was not available back in 1984, This is believed to have played a key part in the investigation and the latest development in the case.

"The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth surrounding the death of Baby John in 1984 and deliver justice for Baby John. I am again appealing to the public for any information in relation to the death of Baby John in 1984, said Superintendent Flor Murphy last night.

He has once again appealed for information. Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station (064) 667 1160 the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
A pioneering businessman with vision and a love for community, a Funeral Service celebrating the life of Killorglin man George Boyle has heard.

Tributes have flown in over the past few days for George who passed away peacefully in the presence of his loving family on March 21.

George was, by every definition of the word, a stalwart of the community and he will be undoubtedly sorely missed by all those who knew him.

At his Funeral Service at St Michaels Church of Ireland on Saturday, a church he had strong personal connections with, Georges unique vision was recalled, in particular his involvement in locating a site for the new church on Iveragh Road and in buying and providing the site at cost price.

Georges business acumen was highlighted too. A straight talker who expected a solid days work from his employees, George was also remembered as a man who was fair to those who may have had trouble paying.

Also recalled was his love of golf and in particular Dooks Golf Club and the words of former club manager and president Declan Mangan were read out. They referred to how George had organised an extension to the Dooks clubhouse over an Easter weekend to include a new club bar and his vision too in helping secure the commonage that formed part of the course expansion into a world famous 18-hole course.

One of the many who paid tribute to George this week was Cllr Michael Cahill who spoke fondly to The Kerryman of the memories he had.

Everyone in Mid-Kerry and South Kerry knew George Boyle. He was a superb business man, very friendly and someone who was always there to welcome, salute and have a quick word with and a chat with his customers, Michael said.

I recall the opening of what I would call Boyles new shop on Iveragh Road where he was in repose last week. I remember saying to him on that day of the opening that he had brought the city to the country. That was the way I described it. He was very progressive, he was very interested in the community. He was a great family man too of course, that goes without saying, he continued.

He was a great employer in the area as well. He had a huge amount of the staff who worked with him, stayed with him and I think that speaks volumes of the man he was and how good an employer he was, the councillor finished.

George will be deeply missed and is lovingly remembered by his wife Muriel, his children Sandra, Karen, Sarah, Lynda, Claire, Adrian and Hazel. He was predeceased by his son Norman.

He is sadly missed by his brothers Richie, Ernie and Alfie, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and many friends.

He was predeceased by his brothers Victor and Arthur and sisters Elizabeth, Mildred, Martha and Margaret.
Louth and Meath have joined forces before for ckean-ups, as these local councillors show!

Its hoped the two counties of Louth and Meath can unite to join in the Big Boyne Clean-up on Saturday April 1st 2023, to help clean along the river and connect with your local community.

The Boyne Rivers Trust, in collaboration with various community and voluntary groups across Meath and Louth, are organising a clean-up day for the Boyne River, meeting at six locations across the Boyne catchment.

East Meath councillor Elaine McGinty is one of the organisers and is hoping to rally the troops for a good cause.

"We would love if as many people as could join us!  the more the merrier, and we will provide all equipment, plus snacks and chats, says Cllr McGinty.

The clean-ups will take place in Mornington, Oldbridge, Slane, Navan and Trim from 11am-1pm. A clean-up in Drogheda will take place from 2pm-4pm. For more information and to-sign up for your chosen location, please use our sign-up form https://forms.gle/Rpv1LAuECW4YuMMn6

Signing-up in advance will enable the group to prepare a volunteer clean-up pack for you on the day.

This event is being organised by the Boyne Rivers Trust in collaboration with Trim and Drogheda Tidy Towns, Wild About Navan, the Gaelic Woodland Project, Sonairte and Cllr. Elaine McGinty. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and Meath County Council are also supporting the initiative.

We hope that everybody with an interest in their local river will take part in this exciting clean-up event as part of National Spring Clean. Please sign-up and join us at your local meeting point, explains Aoife McGrath, Community Water Officer for Counties Meath, and Kildare. It promises to be a brilliant day and will enable you to connect with your local community, help protect your local environment and help restore your local waterbody. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you on the day and we hope that you will join us!

This event it is a community-run initiative and is being assisted by The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and Meath County Council, which is providing the clean-up equipment and waste collection services.

Gaelic Woodland Project is a 100% volunteer-run Registered Charity, founded for both the creation of a new native woodland and the development of methodologies to turn invasive species into biofuel.

Wild About Navan is an urban nature conservation project to protect, explore, share and learn from the diverse natural habitats that surround us in Navan.

Trim Tidy Towns is no stranger to success as Trim Co. Meath was named Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2022.

Sonairte is an environmental charity established in 1988 that runs Sonairte Visitor Eco-Centre at the Ninch, Laytown.

The centre is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 5pm.

The Boyne Rivers Trust was established in 2021 to protect and secure the value of the river Boyne as a wild, healthy, natural river, valued by all. This reflects the ethos of the Rivers Trust Movement in Ireland and the UK. The Trust is currently voluntarily run by a board of 8 directors and non-executive advisors.

For more information contact your local Community Water Officer, Aoife McGrath at amcgrath@lawaters.ie. Alternatively, you can find further information at https://forms.gle/iJ4CB17zg5SWzWpp7
Recently qualified solicitor Shona Goring was introduced at Dundalk District Court on Thursday March 23. A native of Drogheda, Shona is the only child of Berndette Kierans and Brendan Goring

She was introduced to the court by Frank McDonnell solicitor who welcomed her as one of the ever-growing list of young solicitors in the town. He told the court that Shona attended Our Ladys College Greenhills in Drogheda before going on to study sociology, politics, and law in National University of Ireland, Galway between 2014- 2017 and subsequently obtaining a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in Dublin City University in 2020. Shona sat the New York Bar exams in December 2020 and now qualifies for admission in the state of New York.

Shona, however, has chosen the bright lights of Dundalk over those of Manhattan and has been training with Brian Berrills and Company solicitors since March 2021 and qualified as a solicitor in February this year. He noted also that since qualifying Shona had taken up the position of Secretary of the Louth Bar Association.

She was also welcomed also by the Court Clerk on behalf of the Courts Services, Sergeant James McGovern on behalf of An Garda Siochana and Henry Lynch BL welcomed her on behalf of the members of the Bar.

Shona thanked everyone for their kind words and said she was grateful for the assistance afforded to her during her training by her colleagues and court staff and paid tribute to her training solicitor, Mr Stephen Reel and all the staff at Brian Berrills and Company. In taking up her position with the company, Brian Berrills and Company are now the largest firm of solicitors in Dundalk.
Nairobi  The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition has accused the government of attempting to tarnish it from the international community.

In a statement dated 22nd March by the Azimio Party spokesperson Makau Mutua, stated that letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the international community was painting Azimio La Umoja as a violent party out to subvert and cause chaos.

"The letter, which can only be described as a screed of naked propaganda attempts to justify the police brutality against peaceful demonstrators on Monday and seeks to paint Azimio La Umoja One Kenya as a violent party bent on subversion and chaos," the letter read.

"We recognize the letter as a crude attempt by the Kenya Kwanza illegitimate regime to turn the international community against Azimio La Umoja and its current push to hold Mr. William Ruto and his regime accountable."

In the statement, Mutua refuted the allegations, stating that the party's demonstration was legal and within the constitution, with Kenyans having the right to assemble and demonstrate.

He accused the police of initiating the violence, resulting in several deaths and injuries, and damaging the vehicles in which Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka were riding.

He also claimed that some of their leaders were arrested or blocked from leaving their homes.

"Importantly, Mr Ruto panicked upon realizing that the world is very concerned that he recklessly, callously, and brutally misused the police to suppress people and prevent them from exercising their constitutional rights," he said.

"These are crimes for which he bears full responsibility."

He also claimed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had all been taken over by the government, with serious cases, some on murder and grand corruption, being dropped against members of its regime.

Mutua alleged that the government was selectively prosecuting and persecuting individuals perceived to have been close to the previous regime or those in Azimio La Umoja.

He further accused the government of trying to create its own IEBC to rig itself into power again in 2027.

"Mr Ruto went on to make up a puppet of his handpicked cronies to recruit commissioners. How can a player in a contest choose its own referees? For the umpteenth time we reiterate that Azimio will not recognize any electoral body formed out of this illegitimate process or participate in elections under such a body," he said.

He also urged the international community to stand with them and condemn the atrocities committed by the government.

"For our part, we will not relent, or surrender, to an illegitimate regime. As we announced on March 21, our demonstrations will now take place twice a week on Monday and Thursday until there is change in Kenya," he said.

The letter was responding to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who urged the International Community to consider putting sanctions against Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga and other leaders following Monday's protests.

The letter came a day after Odinga announced that anti-government protests will take place twice a week -- on Mondays and Thursdays -- as a response to what he cited as "public demand".

In a letter addressed to diplomatic missions based in Nairobi, United Nations Agencies and international agencies, the Ministry stated that the leaders were out to distabilize the country's peace and security.

"The protests and destruction to property are a continuation of the opposition leader Odinga's well known modus operandi deployed since 1997 to force extra constitutional political settlements for his own self-aggrandizement," the Ministry stated.

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According to the Ministry the mass action and threats by Odinga to storm State House is treasonous.

"Whereas the opposition leader's call for nationwide protests, when the new government is barely six months in office and working hard to revive the economy is insensitive, Mr Oding'a encouragement of protestors tp storm State House installations including the country's seat of the presidency is outright callous - even treasonous," it stated.

The Ministry assured that the National Police Service (NPS) will remain vigilant "to deter the weaponization of protests for unconstitutional purposes."

The Ministry encouraged the diplomatic missions based in Nairobi, United Nations Agencies and international agencies to be vigilant in supporting the sanctioning of any conduct adverse to the peace and security of the country.
Work is due to get underway this month on upgrades to the wastewater infrastructure in Cocklehill, Blackrock.

The works, involve the upgrade of Cocklehill Wastewater pump station located at the end of the Carraig Ard cul de sac, which in turn will improve capacity of the existing wastewater network in the area.

Working with our colleagues in Louth County Council, we are delighted that these essential works are underway, Padraig Hanly, Regional Delivery Lead at Uisce Eireann said.

"This upgrade is essential to help support business and social development in the community. These works will improve the overall performance of the wastewater network enabling the delivery of a reliable, sustainable, and high-quality wastewater service.

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Acknowledging the support of the local community, Padraig added, We understand that the works may cause disruption to residents and road users and our crews will continue to make every effort to minimise disruption and complete the project as quickly as possible. We thank the people of Blackrock for their patience as these works progress and know that the long-term benefits will far outweigh the short-term inconvenience.

These works are being delivered as part of Uisce Eireanns Growth and Development Programme and are due to be completed in 2023. This project is being delivered by GMC Utilities Group Ltd on behalf of Uisce Eireann.

Emergency traffic and access for residents will be maintained at all times.

Uisce Eireann and Louth County Council regret any inconvenience that this essential project may cause. The Uisce Eireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact them on Twitter @IWCare with any queries.
The eye-catching designs are among the reasons the National Surf Centre of Excellence is in the running for awards. Pic: Kelvin Gillmor

The National Surf Centre of Excellence project in Strandhill is in the running for two awards at the upcoming Irish Construction Excellence Awards (ICE) in Dublin.

Collooney based Arken Construction were the building contractors on the project, which was completed in Strandhill last year.

The project has been selected as a finalist in the Leisure category of the awards, which will be held in the Convention Centre in Dublin next month.

The ICE Awards are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for the contracting sector in Ireland. The ICE Awards provide an opportunity for the industry to showcase and reward best practice across the full range of construction disciplines and project categories.

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On top of this, the project is also in the running for Project of the Year which is a public vote. The general public can register their vote for the National Surf Centre here

A spokesperson for Arken Construction said: We feel it is a really unique building and fully deserves the recognition it is currently receiving. It is the only project representing the North West region, the next closest being in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

"This is a massive achievement for a small company like ours and we will be competing against some of the biggest contractors in the country on the night.

"The building is a really unique design and probably its most eye catching feature is the precast concrete panels on its external walls with its bespoke Celtic designs, Irish mythical and surfing imagery (see photos) designed by Donegal artist & surfing legend, Barry Britton.

"The project commenced in Summer 2021 and was completed in October 2022 and it is expected that the building will be opening to the public in the coming weeks in time for the busy tourist season in Strandhill.

Arken Construction are a Main Building Contracting firm based in Collooney, Co Sligo, led by directors, James Armstrong (Cloonacool, Co. Sligo) and Stephen Clancy (Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim).

Despite being a small to medium sized company, Arken construction have held their own in the region and have been growing steadily over the past number of years.

The National Surf Centre of Excellence is the their latest project completed in a broad portfolio of completed projects in the region across various sectors including residential, commercial, industrial, education & leisure.

Arken Construction, has the drive and the experience to ensure client satisfaction and customer focussed excellence through a hands-on approach and attention to detail on all of their projects. Arken are proud of their reputation as approachable, highly experienced professionals and see the number of repeat clients and the many word of mouth recommendations as testament to their success and to their exemplary attention to their clients needs.

The company has successfully delivered large and relatively small builds with the same degree of perfection, distinction, and always cognisant of budget and environmental considerations. A broad portfolio of successfully completed projects and a history of repeat business are testament to the high standards of this dynamic company.

For more details about the ICE awards, check out the website on www.iceawards.ie and for more information about Arken Construction go to www.arkenconstruction.com.
Comedian Neil Delamere will be host for the 2023 County Wexford Chamber Business Awards on May 5.

With over 220 businesses across County Wexford battling it out in this years County Wexford Chamber Business Awards, over 100 businesses from across County Wexford have been shortlisted for this years awards.

The excitement is certainly building to find out who will walk away with this years awards. The shortlist announced will now go forward to the final interview stages which will take place on Thursday, March 23.

Judges will score each application on multiple criteria and winners will be selected across 19 categories. The winner of the Overall County Wexford Business of the Year Award will be chosen from the winners in each award category.

Now in their second year, the prestigious event which is organised by County Wexford Chamber with Wexford County Council as the headline sponsor, is widely seen as the benchmark for business success in the county.

CEO Emma Dunphy says: We have received a record number of entries this year and we are delighted to see a broad range of diverse business applicants right across the county for this years business awards. I know it has been a real challenge for judges to whittle down so many applications to the shortlist. The very best of luck to everyone, we have incredible businesses across the county and these awards are here to celebrate them all.

The winners will be announced at the black-tie gala awards ceremony in Clayton Whites Hotel on Friday, May 5. The upcoming business awards will be a marvellous opportunity to gather with local businesses across the county and celebrate the successes of the year. It will certainly be a sold-out event, with over 450 guests expected to attend the stylish awards ceremony dinner. The event will be hosted by comedian Neil Delamere, with music by Divine Invention.

Tickets are already selling fast: to book your tables and to avoid disappointment, please contact jennifer@countywexfordchamber.ie or telephone 053 91 22226.

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Full list of nominations:

County Wexford Hospitality Provider of the Year Award, sponsored by Permanent TSB:

10 West Bistro & Cocktail Lounge

Partridges Bistro

The Cracked Teapot

Table Forty One

Clayton Whites Hotel

Mary Barrys Seafood Bar & Restaurant

La Cote Restaurant & The Cheeky Cod

Talbot Hotel Wexford

County Wexford Excellence in Retail Award, sponsored by Joyces Expert Wexford

The Clothesline Boutique

Hickeys Pharmacy

School Books Ireland / The Treasury

Liz Collins Boutique Ltd

Sully & Juno

Ferrybank Motors

County Wexford Business of the Year (20-50 Employees), sponsored by Scurri

K&K Windows Ltd

The Apex

Mann Engineering Ltd

County Wexford Employees of the Year Award, sponsored by Kent Stainless

Mann Engineering Ltd

Advance Cleaners Ltd

Azure Health & Beauty

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

Hidden Hearing Ltd

McGrath Quantity Suveyors

County Wexford Business of the Year Award (1-20 Employees), sponsored by Danone Nutricia Wexford

AMV Systems Ltd

Kingfisher Fresh Ltd

Ferrybank Motors

Harte Outdoor Lighting

Niall M Byrne Architects

Whizzy Internet

Coatek

County Wexford Family Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Reynaers Aluminium

K&K Windows Ltd

Trudies Kitchen Ltd

Harte Outdoor Lighting

Natural Health Store

Gainfort Hair & Beauty Supplies Ltd

Ferrybank Motors

Mann Engineering Ltd

Killowen Farm

County Wexford Training Provider of the Year, sponsored by County Wexford Chamber Skillnet

Ignite Training & Consultancy

Gainfort Hair & Beauty

Gorey Institute of Beauty

Sensible Safety Ltd

Maldron Hotel Wexford

County Wexford Business of the Year (50+ Employees) Award, sponsored by PwC

Mary Barry's Seafood Bar & Resaurant

AirconMech

Celtic Linen

Killowen Farm

Kent Stainless

County Wexford Operational Excellence Award, sponsored by Waters Technologies

Pure Oil Ltd

The Ultrasound Suite Ltd

Kersia-Group Medentech

McGrath Quantity Surveyors

County Wexford Service Provider of the Year Award, sponsored by Azets Ireland

Profitsflow

Secret Valley Wildlife Park

McGrath Quantity Surveyors

Denise's Beauty & Skin Clinic

Guardian Fire & Safety

Whizzy Internet

County Wexford Food & Beverage Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by Irish County Meats

Mor Taste

Trudie's Kitchen Ltd

Stafford Irish Spirits

Ministry of Flavours

Bouquets & Buttercream

Killowen Farm

County Wexford Excellence in International Trade Award, sponsored by Rosslare Europort

Kent Stainless

Niall M Byrne Architects Ltd

Pure Oil Ltd

All Ireland Foods

Kersia-Group Medenech

County Wexford Online Business & Digital Market, sponsored by AIB Bank

The Ultrasound Suite Ltd

Eoin O'Connor

Candy Boutique

Kent Stainless

Natural Health Store

County Wexford Excellence in Sustainability Award, sponsored by Wexford Bus

Slaney Farms Produce Ltd

Steam Esco Ltd

Profitsflow

Maldron Hotel Wexford

Wexford Arts Centre

Pure Oil Ltd

County Wexford Tourism Provider of the Year Award, sponsored by Zurich

Talbot Hotel Wexford

The Stables Fitness & Wellbeing

International Outdoor Activity Centre  IOAC

Hook Lighthouse (Hook Heritage CLG)

Kia Ora Mini Farm

Wexford Arts Centre

County Wexford Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by Wexford People

Colour Her Way

Wexford Arts Centre

Altura Credit Union Ltd

BASEGYM

Clayton Whites Hotel

County Wexford Start-Up Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Local Enterprise Office

Little Learning Steps

Earth Food

MK Aesthetics

Machinelab Ltd

Pitcrew Barbecue

Wipe Your Paws Dog Grooming

Mor Taste
The heartbroken family of a brave four-year-old girl with terminal cancer have been promised she will be allowed to die at home after their desperate public plea for palliative care.

Fiadh OConnor, from The Ballagh in Wexford, was diagnosed with aggressive neuroblastoma in 2019 and has fought a valiant fight since.

However, her family were left devastated when they were told in Crumlin Hospital this month that her cancer has relapsed for a third time despite intensive treatment over the last three years and that she will need end-of-life care.

Her aunt, Orlaigh Murphy, made a public appeal on Friday, contacting the media in a bid to get the medical support to allow the little girl return to her loving family to be looked after by her parents Laura and Rory along with her adored brother, three-year-old Paidi.

On the worst day of our lives, we were advised by the paediatric oncology team and palliative care team that we would have to put pressure on publicly, through any route of media and politically, through our local TD to get Fiadh access to palliative care at home, she revealed.

In such a heartbreaking time, we need help to get services that are provided in every other region within the HSE.

She said they had no option but to highlight their predicament.

The south-east is without paediatric palliative care since 2017 and it was feared it would not be possible to allow Fiadh to spend her final weeks or months with her family.

After being contacted by the media yesterday morning the HSE issued a statement in the afternoon that a comprehensive package of care has been finalised to allow this child to be cared for at home.

A spokesman said the HSE is very sorry that this took so long.

Just a few weeks ago Fiadh underwent more surgery to remove 100 per cent of the tumour that had grown back in her abdomen and despite the best efforts of the teams in Crumlin Hospital and the MSK Cancer Centre in America, to work on a plan to kill any remaining microscopic cancer cells her parents received the heart-breaking news on Wednesday, March 22, that nothing more can be done for their brave little daughter.

Speaking about the situation the day after her parents received the devastating news, and highlighting the impact the news had on the family, Fiadhs aunt, Ciara Murphy, who is a GP in Cork, described the lack of access to paediatric palliative care in the south east as desperate.

"It's a desperate situation," said Ciara.

"For Laura and Rory it was an awful day yesterday and we got awful news, and obviously we want Fiadh to be around people who know and love her," she added.

She highlighted the fact that in their case Laura and Rory are lucky to have some medical professionals within their family circle who are happy to help out and who know Fiadh and she knows them so she's happy being around them.

"She is comfortable with them caring for her but the reason Laura and Rory want to highlight this is because other families aren't as lucky and don't have people with a medical background around them," said Ciara.

"They don't have people who would know the medications or know how to administer them, or know how to care for somebody," she added.

However, the medical responsibility of the situation should not be left to the family and that was a point emphasised by Ciara.

"We still need somebody to take clinical responsibility for Fiadh to advise us because it would be unethical for us to decide what medication she needs, what doses she needs etc. and there has to be that kind of governance there," said Ciara.

"We are happy to do the day-to-day caring and looking after her which is good because we don't need the nursing care as such but it's an absolute scandal that based on where a child lives in this country determines whether they can die at home or not," she added.

Ciara pointed out that if Fiadh was living in Galway, Cork, or Dublin she would have access to care that would allow her to be looked after at home and to pass away at home.

"Because we live in the south east there is no access to palliative care home services for Fiadh," said Ciara.

"It's been brought up in the Dail before, it is a problem, and this is why we want to highlight it now," she added.

The family have spoken to local TDs about the situation and were told their situation is resolved but as Ciara pointed they want the situation resolved for future families going through similar experiences because nobody should be denied the right to die at home, especially a child.

"We want to make sure this doesn't happen again to anybody else," said Ciara.

"We were told yesterday; we met the palliative care consultant, and were told there is nothing else they could do for Fiadh," she added.

"They said they could keep it at bay for a little while but there is no cure and then also on the same day we were told we will have to fight for her right to die at home and that is just scandalous and unacceptable in this day and age."

"That is a situation that no family should have to go through, she said.

She then described how, having received the devastating news and trying to process the enormity of the situation while also caring for Fiadh, the family wrote letters to TDs discussing how they could do it, to ensure Fiadh remains being cared for at home.

Because of the current situation with Wexford General Hospital having limited access, Fiadh has to go to Crumlin Hospital for all her care, however, the family think that situation, which is nobody's fault as it's a result of the recent fire at the hospital, will be resolved.

The family just want to have their daughter at home so that she can be cared for by family members and people who know her and so that she can pass away in surroundings she is happy in and familiar with.

"Laura and Rory just want her at home with her brother and with them," said Ciara.

"It's an unimaginable situation and it breaks our hearts but Laura and Rory are very practical and they still want to do the right thing for Fiadh and for her to be comfortable and around people that she loves," she added.

"She has been through so much for the last three-and-a-half years and nobody could comprehend what she's been through."

"She has been so brave and we are so, so proud of her," said Ciara.

"She is terrified of hospitals and rightly so," she added.

"She's not even five yet and she knows that she's going to the hospital and she knows more about medical things than most adults know so we just want her to be at home and to be surrounded by people who love her and to be able to look after her at home," said Ciara.

"It's an absolute scandal that this hasn't been resolved," she added. A similar matter was raised in the Dail before Christmas yet the situation with regard to palliative care for children in the south east region is still not resolved.

"There have been other families in the south east who have had similar problems," said Ciara. She acknowledged the fact the TDs in Wexford who the family spoke to were very sympathetic to the situation but she also highlighted the fact the family shouldn't have to be in a situation where they have to fight for their 4-year-old daughter to be given the right to die at home.

Since 2017, the palliative care team in the south east haven't taken on children and while the general palliative care service is something Ciara said the family have great respect for it's the fact that a family going through what they're going through and having to fight to get their daughter the care she needs to enable to live out her final days at home is something no family should have to do.

"The palliative care service is a great service and our father availed of it the year before last, it's a great service for adults but it shouldn't be denied to children," said Ciara.

"It is a human right and probably even more important for children to be able to die where they are comfortable," she added.

"An adult has capacity to know what's happening but a child doesn't. Fiadh doesn't know what's happening, she just knows she wants to be at home with her family. She doesn't know and nor should she know but she shouldn't be in a place where she is afraid."

When the family asked the palliative team in Crumlin if they lived in Dublin would Fiadh have access to palliative care at home they were told yes.

"We were told yes, we would have and that's not right," said Ciara.

"If we lived in any other part of the country we would have it; the CHO5 is the HSE area that just doesn't have access to paediatric palliative care and that's not fair," she added.

The area in question incorporates Wexford, Waterford, South Tipperary and Kilkenny and everywhere else the palliative care teams take on paediatric care.

"There are palliative care consultants there and they do an exceptional job but if they need training or if they need more resources it should be provided," said Ciara.

In other areas the adult palliative care team take on children as well and while there is a paediatric palliative care team in Crumlin they don't do home palliative care.

"We don't know why in the south east it isnt there, whether it's they haven't got the resources or the ability to do it, but it's just not there and it should be," said Ciara.

"There should be training courses so that it can be provided because there are medically trained nursing people there and it just shouldn't be denied to a child based on where they live in this country," she added.

The family are now in a situation where they have to deal with the heartbreak of what's ahead of them while at the same time fighting to have Fiadh live out her final days in the place where she belongs, at home with her family.

"We shouldn't be spending our time doing this," said Ciara.

"We should be spending our time minding Fiadh, caring for her and doing things that are nice and not having to write emails to TDs and newspapers," she added.

"The local TDs have helped and said they discussed it with Stephen Donnelly and said it will be sorted for Fiadh but it's not fair that families have to fight for that or know a TD to do it," said Ciara, while also pointing out that other families in similar positions might not be able to do that.

"We are lucky enough in that we have enough people who know what's going on and Laura and Rory have good support and they can do that but they don't want another family to have to do this," said Ciara.

"It's wrong that this has to happen so if there is one good thing that comes out of Fiadh's death it will be that no other family will have to go through this," she added.

"That every other family would have a right to care at home for their dying child and shouldn't have to go to TDs.

While acknowledging that the family will hopefully get the support needed for Fiadh to be cared for at home Ciara emphasised the point that no family should have to do what they're having to.

"We were told by consultants in Crumlin that you are going to have to shout loud and that's wrong," said Ciara.

The family is hopeful that Fiadh will be able to spend as much time as possible at home coming towards the end of her life but they feel the overall situation with regard to palliative care in the south east region is something that needs to be highlighted so that no other family goes through what they are going through.
The schoolchildren of south county Wexford will have to wait for buses in the rain for at least six more months according to one local councillor. The planned shelters for bus stops in Tagoat and Drinagh are currently on hold while a risk assessment is being carried out by the road safety officer. Following the latest update Councillor Ger Carthy has been forced to concede that the shelters will not now be ready until the beginning of the next school year at the earliest.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) roads engineer Mark Collins said there was still no indication of when works can begin on the shelters.

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"The audit on the shelters has been completed, Im still waiting on further reports on the design of them, said Mr Collins. Theres been a couple of items raised at Tagoat and Drinagh, were waiting on the feedback from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and then well make a decision. I dont have a date or timeline at the moment, as soon as I get them Ill pass them on.

Accepting that the shelters wouldnt be ready before the summer, Cllr Carthy stressed the importance of them being in place for the next school year.

Meanwhile, the safety of the younger schoolchildren in the area was also of concern for Cllr Carthy. Responding to Mr Collins suggestion that speed cameras be installed outside Saint Mary's National School in Tagoat, he said it may be time to consider implementing a safe routes to school project for pupils and their families.

I know theres concerns about excessive speeds outside of the school, we need to address it as the local authority and if that means putting it as a safe routes to school project then so be it. I would welcome the results of a speed review, lets give it a couple of months and see where well take it from there.
There are 140 exhibiting artists involved and such was the level of interest in the art works on display that several sales were made on the night.

Most of the artwork in the exhibition is available to buy and submissions to the initiative came from all over Ireland and also from the UK.

The special guest adjudicator on the night was former editor of the Echo newspaper group, Tom Mooney, who is also known for his work promoting the arts in Wexford and nationally.

Speaking at the launch Mr Mooney said the exhibition is an important on each year because it brings the visual arts into Enniscorthy.

I worked here for 25 years as editor of the Enniscorthy Echo and found it very hard to see any exhibitions in town, he said.

"I see great efforts are being made to bring the visual arts to the community here and put them on a more permanent footing, and that's why I think we need a huge round of applause for Lisa and her staff and the work that they do, he added, referring to Lisa Byrne, the centres visual arts manager.

Larry Dunne, the visual arts associate at the centre expressed delight in the success of the exhibition.

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It's the most wonderful time of year, he said.

I love helping people see the value and beauty in their creativity, and seeing their self-esteem and confidence grow from being a part of this exhibition where everyone is showcased on a level playing field, he added.

While there were no representatives of Enniscorthy Municipal District present at the launch, or any of the local TDs, they have in the past praised the work that goes on in the Presentation Centre which is widely recognised as one of the foremost creative centres in the south east.

With an ongoing focus on the regeneration of Enniscorthy ongoing it could be argued there has never been a more important time for the creative arts to get support due to its very significant relevance, not just in terms of promoting creativity, but also in the area of self-expression and mental health.

Thats why initiatives likes the Open Call exhibition are so important because they give a platform to emerging and established artists which they might not otherwise have access to.

On the day of the launch Mr Mooney presented seven artists with awards for their work: Larry Dunne  Strawberries and Cream; Geraldine Walsh  Sunshine After Rain; Zdenka Maksimova Vesela - 'Seaside Street'; Stamp 3 Collective - a group of artists who submitted paintings and sculptures while living in Ireland on a restricted visa programme; John Kehoe - 'Dancing Trees'; Aaron Burke - 'Simpler Times', and Margaret Murphy - 'Golden Moments In The Park'

Lisa Byrne said its always an honour for the Presentation Centre to stage the exhibition and the management and staff dont underestimate the significance of it for the artists involved.

"We're always honoured that many emerging artists trust us with their artwork every year, and we hope that we can continue to provide a platform of guidance and support for all emerging artists across Enniscorthy and Wexford, she said.

The Open Call exhibition will remain on display until May 1.
A Wexford photographer and amateur astronomer was absolutely blown away to capture aurora borealis or the Northern Lights in all their splendour from Carrigfoyle Quarry, overlooking the Wexford countryside.

Mark Hogan had travelled up Forth Mountain from his home in Cleariestown on Thursday night after an app on his phone told him of an increased chance of seeing the Northern Lights. However, he travelled in hope rather than expectation.

"I am quite interested in astronomy, he said. But Ireland is one of the worst countries in the world to be interested in astronomy. It seems like any time theres anything interesting going on out in space, its raining or theres a lot of cloud cover.

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Having managed to capture the Northern Lights previously back in 2003 though, he was not to be deterred and he packed his camera and headed for the high ground of the quarry.

It was cold and windy up there and at first when I arrived, you could see some stars, but the clouds were blowing across, he explained.

"I was using the mast on Mount Leinster as a marker in the distance. I waited a while, but I couldnt see anything, so eventually I put the camera on a tripod and set it to 13 second exposure. I couldnt see anything with the naked eye.

"When I came back and looked at the screen, you could have heard my jaw hit the floor. I couldnt believe what I was seeing. To capture those colours and get the pinks and everything in there...I was just blown away. I expected to just see grey.

An avid landscape photographer, Mark was delighted to share his capture on social media and people across Wexford and the whole country were similarly amazed. For more of his work, search for Mark Hogan on Facebook.
There has been shock and anger expressed in County Wexford following the laying off of workers at the Becton Dickinson (BD) plant in Enniscorthy.

Workers expressed dismay and anger, not just at being laid off without any prior notice, but also at the alleged manner with which they say they were dealt with by management at the plant.

The lay offs occurred on Thursday, March 23, and speaking to the Enniscorthy Guardian, some of those who were laid off claim they were told on Wednesday that business was slow but there would be no layoffs and that instead training opportunities might arise.

However, the following day, 26 people were laid off having been called into the office individually and informed of the news.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed that 26 people had been laid off temporarily but said the characterisation about the manner with which the employees were informed about the decision was inaccurate.

One employee who spoke about the situation described it as a disgrace and claimed it was a classic tactic because it happened during the last hour of business during the week.

"We dont work on a Friday and youd have heard the horror stories before of people getting that call on a Friday but we more or less got that call yesterday, he said.

"I was there a relatively short time but there were people there a lot longer than me who were let go as well, he said.

"I was also humiliated by the manner it was done and thats what doesnt sit well with me, he added.

"We were told on Wednesday that things will be quiet around here but it gives us an opportunity to do a lot of training and there will be no jobs lost, he said.

"That was said to us by management and then yesterday, just before home time we were let go and it was done in a pretty savage manner because we were asked to hand in our badge, clear out the locker and leave the premises without any fuss, he added.

"We were told to not enter the clean room or the medical device area so it was cold and savage the way it was done.

Another worker said there was a lot of upset at the time and that people were angry with some female employees in floods of tears.

"We were asked to hand over the keycard, which gives you access to clean rooms and all the facilities, so basically we were told to hand over the keycard, clean out the locker and leave, and thats the way it was done, he said.

When asked if they were given a reason for the layoffs, he said they were told there was no work.

"We were told theres no work and that things have slowed down, he said.

"But the day before we were told it was slow but that there would be an opportunity to train people and that there would be no jobs lost  and then the following day there were jobs lost, he added.

The workers claim it was the manner with which the layoffs occurred was what angered people while the prospect of being without work was upsetting enough.

"I was more in shock at the news but there were a lot of people really upset there, said one of the workers.

Some, if not all of those affected have mortgages and families and thats something that has caused a lot of concern for those laid off.

Some of workers said they had experienced issues in work places before but never the coldness of how it was done there.

All of the people who were laid off worked on the production floor and that was a point highlighted by the workers.

"We are in a cost of living crisis and to lose your job now is just a disaster for a lot of people, he added.

"Its despicable the way it was done and just wasnt fair, people shouldnt be as disposable as the way they were treated yesterday.

The workers who spoke to the Enniscorthy Guardian expressed concern for the mental wellbeing of some of those laid off because of family circumstances and the cost of living at the moment.

"That would be a concern for some of them because a lot of people are struggling out there at the moment, said one of them.

When contacted about the matter a spokesperson for the company confirmed that 26 people were laid off but said they were laid off temporarily to right-size its manufacturing operations with todays realities.

The spokesperson also said the characterisation about the manner with which the employees were informed about the decision was inaccurate.

"I I can assure you that we are committed to treating each person affected by this decision with compassion and respect, said the spokesperson

While these types of decisions are the hardest ones to make as company leaders, we understand that it is even more difficult for affected employees to hear and process, he added.

That is why we offered paid leave for the entire duration of the notification period instead of requiring them to return to work.

The spokesperson highlighted that BD has been an active member of the Enniscorthy community for more than 25 years and commented: We are dedicated to the success of our employees and community. Since 1996, BD has consistently invested and expanded our presence in Enniscorthy to more than 490 employees today.

The spokesperson said that over the last five years alone the company has increased employment in Enniscorthy by 40 positions.

So over the past five years, including this week's action, we still have a net increase of 20 positions, said the spokesperson.

In addition to Enniscorthy, BD has maintained a manufacturing facility in Drogheda since 1964 and a global research and development centre of excellence in Limerick in 2017, he added.

He stated that more recently BD has set up a new research and development site based in Blackrock and that all together the company employs more than 1,200 people across the four facilities.

BD remains committed to growing in Ireland and intends to continue investing in Enniscorthy and across the country, he said.

This difficult strategic decision is not a reflection on the performance of the site, he added.

The site has met our operational expectations, but other business factors drove these actions.
Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for four months, will launch a long-awaited counterassault very soon now that Russias huge winter offensive is losing steam without taking Bakhmut, Ukraines top ground forces commander said yesterday.

The remarks were the strongest indication yet from Kyiv that it is close to shifting tactics, having absorbed Russias onslaught through a brutal winter and prevented Moscow from claiming its first victory since last August.

Russias Wagner mercenaries, trying to capture Bakhmut in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war, are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam, Kyivs ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a social media post.

Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk, he said, listing Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that proved turning points in the war, recapturing swathes of land.

Reuters journalists near the front line north of Bakhmut saw signs consistent with the claim that the Russian offensive in the area could be flagging. At a Ukrainian-held village west of Soledar on Bakhmuts northern outskirts, the intensity of Russian bombardment had noticeably lessened compared to a Reuters visit nearby just two days earlier.

It was really hot here a week ago, but in the last three days it has been more quiet, said a Ukrainian soldier who used the call sign Kamin or stone.

We can see this in the enemys air strikes. If before there were 5-6 air raids in a day, today we had only one helicopter attack and it was too far and so ineffective, said the soldier, a member of an anti-aircraft unit in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade.

A slow-down in Russias assault on Bakhmut could be in part a consequence of Moscow diverting its troops and resources to other areas. Britain said yesterday that Russian troops had been making gains further north this month, partially regaining control over the approaches to the town of Kreminna, a Ukrainian target. Intense battles were also under way further south.

The Indo Daily: The Putin paradox  Western war criminal, eastern ally

But any shift in momentum in Bakhmut, if confirmed, would be remarkable given the citys symbolic importance as the focus of Russias offensive, and the scale of the losses on both sides there in Europes bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

There was no immediate response from Moscow to the latest claims its forces in Bakhmut were losing momentum, but Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner mercenary boss, has issued pessimistic statements in recent days warning of a Ukrainian counterassault.

On Monday, Prigozhin published a letter to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, saying Ukraine aimed to cut off Wagners forces from Russias regular troops, demanding Shoigu act to prevent this and warning of negative consequences if he failed.

Ukraine had looked likely to pull out of Bakhmut weeks ago but decided to keep its troops there and fight on

After Kyiv rolled back Russian forces in the second half of 2022, front lines have largely been frozen in place since Ukraines last major offensive in November.

Moscow has meanwhile sent hundreds of thousands of freshly called-up reservists and convicts recruited from prisons into battles both sides call a meat grinder.

Ukraine had looked likely to pull out of Bakhmut weeks ago but decided to keep its troops there and fight on, a move some Western military experts described as a major risk given the need to preserve forces for a counterattack later this year.

But Ukrainian commanders said the battle was weakening Russias forces more than their own. Britains defence ministry reported that Ukraine had launched a local counterattack west of Bakhmut likely to relieve pressure on the main route used to supply Kyivs forces inside the city.

There was still a threat that Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut could be surrounded, it said, but there was a realistic possibility the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained.

President Volodymyr Zelensky continued a tour of frontline provinces yesterday, visiting the Kherson region in the south a day after meeting troops near Bakhmut. He posted a video showing him meeting residents in Posad Pokrovske, a bombed-out village on the former Kherson front line recaptured in Ukraines advance last year.

We will restore everything, we will rebuild everything. Just like with every city and village that suffered because of the occupiers, he wrote.




Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefs the Security Council on March 16, 2022.

The UN political affairs chief has underlined the critical need to ensure funding for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), warning that a shortfall could threaten plans to transfer security to the national forces by the end of next year.

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo was speaking on Wednesday at a meeting at UN Headquarters to draw attention to the widening financing gap at the year-old operation.

"Despite initial generous donor support, contributions have significantly declined, leaving the mission in a dire financial situation," she said.

Contributing to progress

ATMIS builds on the work of a previous African Union (AU) mission, AMISOM, and has contributed to progress made in Somalia on the political, security and development fronts, amid ongoing threats from Al-Shabaab insurgents.

Ms. DiCarlo highlighted some of the mission's work so far, which has included liberating population centres and providing an environment conducive for political processes to take place.

The mission has also made quantifiable progress in implementing the Somali Transition Plan, which calls for the handover of security to the Government.

At the same time, the Somali authorities have also logged recent advances in the fight against Al-Shabaab. Security forces have carried out successful operations in two states, Galmudug and Hirshabelle, recovering territory from the group.

Ensure reliable funding

Ms. DiCarlo warned that the lack of funding poses a significant risk to the security transition and could threaten hard-won gains.

"Our proposition is straightforward: It is urgent to ensure predictable, sustainable and multi-year funding for ATMIS and adequate resourcing for the Somali security transition," she said.

"Our common objective - the full handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces and institutions by the end of 2024 - depends on it."

Support Somali refugees

Meanwhile, UN agencies and partners are seeking $116 million to support Somalis escaping violence that erupted last month in the city of Laascaanood, displacing hundreds of thousands.

Close to 100,000 people have fled across the border and found safety in an extremely remote area of Ethiopia's Somali region, which has been hard hit by the ongoing historic drought in the Horn of Africa.

Most of the refugees are women, children, older persons and people with specific needs, who arrive empty-handed, scared and hungry. A high number of unaccompanied and separated children are among their ranks, heightening protection concerns.

Resources severely overstretched

"The Ethiopian Government and local communities have generously welcomed the refugees, extending any help they can, but with the continuing arrivals, resources are already severely overstretched," said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Regional Director for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

The funds will be used to purchase urgently needed shelter and relief items, such as blankets, mats, and mosquito nets. Families will also receive monthly food distributions and emergency food assistance will also be provided to meet the most immediate needs.

Protecting women and children

The partners will prioritize child protection services, prevention and response to gender-based violence, documentation, and education, given the high numbers of women and children among the refugees.

They will also set up child-friendly spaces for displaced boys and girls. Family tracing and reunification services, as well as alternative care arrangements for separated children, also will be undertaken.

Refugee settlements will be established at two sites, thanks to land provided by the Ethiopian authorities, and plans are underway to expand the existing government health clinics, supply medicines and medical care, and initiate nutritional support programmes.

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Displacement, drought, desperation

Michael Dunford, Regional Director for the World Food Programme (WFP) underscored the critical need for funding to save lives.

"This influx of refugees is happening at the worst time possible, in an extremely remote area of Ethiopia's Somali region which is also one of the most severely hit by the worst drought in 60 years," he said.

Humanitarian funding for Ethiopia remains "critically low", the partners said, and response to the drought is under severe pressure due to the rapidly escalating needs.

Ethiopia was already hosting 884,000 refugees and asylum-seekers - mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea - before the most recent arrivals.

They warned that as refugees continue to flee, needs will increasingly outstrip the resources available, and urged the international community to swiftly mobilize support.
Protesters angry with Emmanuel Macron and his plan to raise the pension age clashed with police across France yesterday as demonstrations and strikes threaten to overshadow King Charless official visit this weekend.

In central Paris, police used tear gas after protesters threw projectiles and set fire to uncollected rubbish piled high in the streets. A McDonalds restaurant was also ransacked.

Small groups of Black Bloc anarchists were seen among the protesters. Unions fear the protests could turn more violent if there continues to be no response from the government.

Charles De Gaulle airport was hit by wildcat strike action, while high-speed trains and other public transport were disrupted nationwide. About 30pc of flights at Paris Orly Airport were cancelled.

The Eiffel Tower and the Versailles Palace were closed, major roads and junctions were blockaded, power output was reduced and around one-quarter of public teachers joined a national walkout.

Police fired tear gas at protesters in several cities, including Nantes and Bordeaux. In Rennes, they used water cannons. In the western town of Lorient, Ouest-France newspaper said projectiles caused a fire in the yard of a police station.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin denounced unacceptable assaults and damage and said such cannot remain unpunished.

Mr Macron broke weeks of silence on his policy on Wednesday to say he would stand firm and the law would come into force by the end of the year. He likened the protests to the storming of the US Capitol in 2021.

There is a lot of anger, an explosive situation, said Philippe Martinez, leader of the hardline CGT union that claimed 800,000 protesters had taken part in a rally in Paris. He said Mr Macron threw petrol on the fire with his comments.

Opinion polls have long shown that a majority of voters oppose delaying retirement age by two years to 64. Voters were further angered by the governments decision last week to push the pension changes through parliament.

The street has legitimacy in France. If Mr Macron cant remember this historic reality, I dont know what he is doing here, 42-year-old Willy Mancel said at the Nantes rally.

Mr Macrons government survived two no-confidence votes in the lower chamber of parliament. The 45-year-old centrist president, in his second and final term, has repeatedly said he is convinced that Frances retirement system needs to be modified to make it sustainable. Opponents proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies, that Mr Macron says would damage the economy.

The unrest is tarnishing the sheen of Charless first overseas trip as monarch, with striking workers literally refusing to roll out a red carpet following the protests and calls for the visit to be cancelled altogether.

Its very bad timing. Normally the French would welcome a British king. But in this moment, people protesting are on high alert for any sign of privilege and wealth, said Paris-based writer Stephen Clarke, author of Elizabeth II, Queen of Laughs.

CGT said its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing red carpets, flags and furniture for public buildings, would snub a reception for his arrival in Paris on Sunday. The Elysee Palace said non-striking workers would set up the event instead.

The three-day trip with Queen Consort Camilla includes a visit to the Musee dOrsay, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a lavish dinner at the former royal residence, Versailles.

Unbelievable! We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles... while the people in the street are demonstrating, Sandrine Rousseau, a lawmaker from Frances Green Party, told BFM TV. Of course the king should cancel his visit, she added. ( Independent News Service)
The Wagner Group is preparing to refocus its efforts in Africa and away from Ukraine amid a long-running dispute with Moscow, it has been reported.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the mercenary group, has repeatedly accused Russias defence ministry of stymying his supply of ammunition and personnel.

Western analysts believe Sergei Shoigu, Russias defence minister, is trying to stifle Mr Prigozhins growing political influence over the Kremlin.

Wagner mercenaries have spearheaded Moscows eight-month attempt to capture the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

Expand Close Russian president Vladimir Putin, with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu (right). Photo: Mikhail Metzel/via AP / Facebook

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Mr Prigozhins private military has lost tens of thousands of men, mostly former convicts recruited from Russian prisons, during the assault.

The Indo Daily: The Putin paradox  Western war criminal, eastern ally

After failing to capture Bakhmut, Mr Prigozhin is planning to shift focus back to Africa, Bloomberg news agency reported.

The suggestion will likely prompt concerns in Moscow after a top Ukrainian general said Kyivs armed forces were ready to launch a counter-offensive on Bakhmut.

The attacker has not lost hope of taking Bakhmut at all costs, despite the losses of men and equipment. Very soon we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraines ground forces, said.

Mr Prigozhin admitted earlier this month that his Wagner forces would have to reset and cut down its size.

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Western officials have corroborated reports that the group has been forced to slow down after deliveries of artillery by Russias defence ministry were halted and prison recruitment drives blocked. A recruitment notice earlier this week invited applicants to come forward for a six-month stint in Ukraine or up to 14 months in Africa.

Those wanting to serve in Africa, where Wagner has contracts to protect mines and offer governments security services, were told they would be placed on reserve.

In response to the press reports, Mr Prigozhin denied Wagner was preparing a withdrawal from Ukraine.

It seems that Bloomberg knows better than we do what we are going to do, he wrote on Telegram. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)
People gesture as police use water cannon as demonstrators block a road in Tel Aviv. Photo: Amir Cohen

Protesters took to the streets in Israel yesterday against hugely controversial judicial reforms including a law that prevents a prime minister being declared unfit to hold office.

Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing ahead with the changes, which give the government more powers over courts, while he is still facing trial on corruption charges.
Manhattan prosecutors accused Donald Trump of misleading people to expect he would be arrested this week, a move they said prompted Republicans to interfere with a probe into his hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

On Saturday, the former president said he would be arrested on Tuesday in the probe by the Manhattan District Attorneys office.

On Monday, three Republican committee chairmen in the US House of Representatives went on the offensive against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, accusing him of abusing prosecutorial authority and seeking communications, documents and testimony from him.

Mr Braggs office yesterday sent the committee chairmen a letter rebutting their claims.

The letter said the chairmens accusations only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene.

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The Indo Daily: The Stormy Daniels Scandal  could Donald Trump run for President from behind bars?

It confirmed that Mr Braggs office was investigating allegations that Donald Trump engaged in violations of New York State penal law.

If indicted, Mr Trump would be the first US president to face criminal charges.

He served as president from 2017-2021 and has mounted a third campaign for the White House while facing legal woes on several fronts.

Mr Trump also faces federal investigations stemming from his handling of government documents after leaving the White House and alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat as well as a state-level probe in Georgia into whether he unlawfully sought to reverse the 2020 election results there.

Mr Trump has said he will continue campaigning for president if charged with a crime.

The response yesterday from Mr Braggs office said the three Republican House committee chairmen had sought non-public information about a pending criminal investigation, which is confidential under state law.

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The letters requests are an unlawful incursion into New Yorks sovereignty, said the letter signed by the district attorneys general counsel, Leslie Dubeck. Congress cannot have any legitimate legislative task relating to the oversight of local prosecutors enforcing state law.

The grand jury, made up of US citizens residing in Manhattan, convened in January.

Its proceedings are not public and prosecutors are barred from discussing them. It was not expected to meet again until next week at the earliest after media reports said it would not take up the case yesterday.

Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps former personal fixer and lawyer, has said he made the payment to Ms Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election at Mr Trumps direction. Ms Daniels, a well-known adult film actress and director whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she received the money in exchange for keeping silent about a sexual encounter she had with Mr Trump in 2006.

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Mr Trump has denied he ever had an affair with Ms Daniels, and has called the payment a simple private transaction. He has said he did not commit a crime and called the investigation politically motivated.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance law violations and other crimes related to the payment and received a prison sentence.

Last week he testified before the grand jury, which is believed generally to meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.




Donald Trump could be staring down a police station camera having his mugshot taken in a matter of days.

If, as expected, the former president is charged in New York for allegedly covering up hush-money payments to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign, he will be ordered to travel to the office of Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, and hand himself in.

But any announcement has been delayed after the Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence against Mr Trump was postponed on Wednesday without a reason given. The pause would probably delay the process into next week, sources said.

However, there is another scenario that legal analysts say the Manhattan DA would be dreading.

The charges concern payments made by Mr Trump to Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Mr Trump is understood to be at his Mar-a-Lago home. He could refuse to leave and hand himself in, essentially challenging Mr Braggs office to arrest him.

One could imagine Trump wanting to do that for the politics and the optics, to make himself look more sympathetic, said Shan Wu, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice.

In this scenario, an extradition request would be made  and have to be signed by Mr Trumps probable Republican rival for the 2024 nomination, Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida.

The Indo Daily: The Stormy Daniels Scandal  could Donald Trump run for President from behind bars?

In practical terms, the Manhattan DAs office would present the indictment to the office of Kathy Hochul, the Democrat governor of New York.

She would then send a written extradition demand to Mr DeSantis, along with a copy of the indictment.

Mr DeSantiss role has been described as purely administrative in that it is to make sure the indictment is valid, and he would be expected to order the extradition.

There is little wiggle room for the Florida governor.

If Trump is indicted in New York, both the US Constitution and a federal statute dating to 1793 require DeSantis (or the governor of whatever state Trump is in at the time) to hand him over, said Steve Vladeck, a University of Texas law school professor and an MSNBC opinion columnist.

And if DeSantis still refuses, a 1987 Supreme Court decision makes clear that federal courts can order him to comply.

Mr DeSantis can, however, slow the process down.

Michael Bachner, a New York-based lawyer and former assistant DA in Manhattan, said he could ask his legal affairs office or a prosecutor to review Ms Hochuls extradition demand and write a report on it before signing off on it. But if the extradition demand is legitimate, hell have to sign it within 60 days.

Then Mr Trump would have a decision to make  get on a plane and travel to New York to hand himself in, or stay put in Mar-a-Lago and wait to be taken out in handcuffs. For now, his private Boeing 757, dubbed Trump Force One, is parked at Palm Beach airport.

Given that New York police dont have jurisdiction in Florida, it would probably be Palm Beach Police officers who would go to the property, take him into custody and transfer him to New York.

An even more remote scenario would involve the Manhattan DAs office sidestepping Mr DeSantis completely and ordering a warrantless pre-requisition arrest  which is usually designed for a citizens arrest of fugitives.

While valid only for felony charges, authorities would arrest Mr Trump in Florida and take him in front of a judge for a probable cause hearing to prove he was criminally charged in New York with a felony. A judge would then order Mr Trumps extradition.

For Mr Trump, the choreography will be key. If he chooses to self-surrender in New York, he can arrange a time to be booked and processed. Mr Trumps attorney, Joe Tacopina, insists the process will be orderly.

There wont be a stand-off at Mar-a-Lago with Secret Service and the Manhattan DAs office, Mr Tacopina told the New York Daily News.

It is unclear whether Mr Trumps legal team has negotiated special arrangements, or whether he will have to do a perp walk in front of flashing cameras.

The former president has reportedly told friends that he actually welcomed the idea of being paraded by the authorities, has debated whether he should smile or not for the cameras, and described the potential event as a fun experience.

In any case, once inside, Mr Trump will hear the words: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will and can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and if you cannot afford one, they will be provided for you. Shortly after, his fingerprints and mugshot will be taken.

He will then be formally arraigned and appear in court to plead guilty or not guilty at the Criminal Courts Building. It is standard for defendants arrested on felony charges to be handcuffed.

Given he is unlikely to be a flight risk, Mr Trump will probably be immediately released on bond and free to leave New York. He is due to speak at a presidential campaign rally in Texas tomorrow. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)
The daughter of the man who collided with Gwyneth Paltrow on a ski slope, has said seeing her fathers state after the incident was like a slap in the face.

Polly Sanderson-Grasham said that following the crash in 2016, her father was unable to see the forest for the trees and got lost in the minutiae of things.

Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson is suing the Oscar-winning actress over the incident at the Deer Valley ski resort in Utah, alleging she crashed into him and caused severe brain injuries.

Ms Paltrow has denied the claim and is counter-suing Mr Sanderson, alleging that he caused the collision.

Yesterday the court heard that prior to the incident Mr Sanderson had been a fun-loving, gregarious man.

Ms Sanderson-Grasham described her father as a goer and a real positive influence, as well as an experienced skier.

She said seeing the state of her father at his granddaughters graduation around three months after the ski-ing crash had been like a slap in the face.

I felt like wow. There was a moment when I almost expected drool to come out of his mouth, she said.

He wasnt engaged with anyone... that was my first slap in the face that something is terribly wrong.

She added that her father could now not see the forest for the trees and got stuck in the minutiae of things.

Hes easily frustrated, he gets agitated, angry  I didnt have memory of him being an angry person, but hes got a pretty short fuse these days, she said.

I think hes just a little more cautious, not as confident  hes in a really negative place and thats hard for me as his daughter.

Ms Sanderson-Grasham later became emotional, telling the court: I hope that (my father) moves on. I hope that were able to put this very strange chapter behind us.

We dont always choose the doors we walk through but we can choose how we walk through them. We have a lot of healing to do.

Day three of the civil lawsuit began with a video deposition from neuropsychologist Dr Alina Fong, who said that when she first met Mr Sanderson in 2017, he had presented a myriad of symptoms indicative of having suffered a concussion.

She said: According to Terrys report, these were quite significantly affecting his life. It was affecting his personal life, his relationships.

It affected him on so many levels, especially for someone who was used to loving life... by the time he came to me that was pretty much gone.

Dr Fong challenged the opinions of other medical experts employed by Ms Paltrows defence, adding: This has completely changed his life physically, emotionally, biologically  and he has been affected in all those domains.

She said there was no evidence whatsoever that Mr Sanderson was faking his injuries and he had been an ideal patient.

Her words echoed those of fellow neuropsychologist Dr Sam Goldstein, from whom the jury heard from on Wednesday.

Dr Goldstein said the incident had caused an acute rapid downturn in Mr Sandersons behaviour and functioning that had not stemmed from pre-existing medical issues.

Mr Sanderson and Ms Paltrow are both due to take the stand in the coming days, as well as members of the actresss family.

The defence is seeking damages of up to $3,276,000 (3,020,000) while Ms Paltrows counter-claim is for one dollar.

The trial, taking place in Park City, Utah, continues.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs pending case against Donald Trump over hush money payments sure doesnt look like a slam dunk.

Thats important for the charges hell be making. Yet for Democrats, the biggest risk isnt just an acquittal.

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Trumps familiar refrain in response to allegations of wrongdoing is that hes consistently been the victim of witch hunts. If he can show thats true in the Stormy Daniels case, it gives fuel to his claim that its true in other cases, as well.

More and more, that threat looks likely.

Expand Close The case against Donald Trump is by no means clear cut and could bolster his campaign ahead of next year's US presidential election. Photo: Brett Rojo/Reuters / Facebook

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Conservative legal scholar Jonathan Turley has argued that the Trump hush-money case is long on politics, but short on the law. Its not just Republicans who feel that way.

Centrist political commentator Michael Smerconish, for example, has derided Braggs case against Trump as weak. CNN legal analyst and frequent Trump critic Van Jones has called on Bragg to call off the dogs in the current probe.

Time Magazine recently ran the headline, Why Even Some of Trumps Critics Think the Stormy Daniels Case Is Weak.

Theres hardly bipartisan consensus that the present case lacks merit. Yet theres been much more waffling from both the centre and centre-left than in prior instances where Trump has faced accusations of law-breaking.

That should mean something to the district attorney.

So far, Trumps witch-hunt claims have played better with his dyed-in-the-wool base. But if Trump can persuade even some voters that the current charges are either a hit job or overzealous prosecution, many might reconsider whether that applies to his other legal troubles, too.

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Heading into 2024, thats important not only in light of past cases where Trump has cried witch hunt, including Russia-gate, Impeachment 1.0 over Ukraine, and Impeachment 2.0 over January 6.

Its also true now, as Trump faces a blizzard of more weighty charges, including in a Georgia election-rigging probe, a Justice Department investigation into the Stop the Steal movement, a special counsel inquiry into the mishandling of classified documents, and various allegations of financial violations.

For Trump, everything is a politically-motivated vendetta. The deep state, the mainstream media, George Soros, the progressive establishment hellbent on resisting his reelection  the apparent culprits for his legal woes comprise a familiar bunch.

The more that Trump can show theres even a chance he wouldnt be prosecuted for paying hush money if the defendant were named John Smith, the more he can makes inroads with on-the-fence voters.

Alvin Bragg ran his 2020 election for Manhattan district attorney partly on the platform of having a charge ready case against Trump. Yet theres a reason why the Justice Department has long declined to bring charges against Trump in precisely this case.

By throwing out caution, Bragg risks not only his own credibility, and the credibility of his indictment against Trump. He risks that of numerous other prosecutions  legitimate ones  bearing on conduct where Trump has almost certainly acted illegally.

Thomas Gift is Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL, where he is director of the Centre on US Politics (CUSP). He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Yales Centre for the Study of American Politics.
Ron DeSantis is walking back his characterisation of Russias war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute, following criticism from a number of fellow Republicans who expressed concern about the potential 2024 presidential candidates dismissive description of the conflict.

In excerpts of an interview with Piers Morgan on Fox Nation, the Florida governor said his earlier comments referenced ongoing fighting in the eastern Donbas region, as well as Russias 2014 seizure of Crimea.

Ukraines borders are internationally recognised, including by the United Nations.

What Im referring to is where the fighting is going on now, which is that eastern border region Donbas, and then Crimea, and you have a situation where Russia has had that. I dont think legitimately, but they had, he said.

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Theres a lot of ethnic Russians there. So, thats some difficult fighting, and thats what I was referring to, and so it wasnt that I thought Russia had a right to that, and so if I should have made that more clear, I could have done it.

He made his initial comments last week in a written response to questions sent to declared and potential GOP presidential candidates by Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Mr DeSantis, seen as a top rival to Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, said defending Ukraine wasnt a national security priority for the US, and downplayed the Russian invasion.

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The day responses were posted, Mr Trump said that Mr DeSantiss answers were just following what I am saying.

But a number of Republican senators have weighed in with criticism.

And Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that failure to act on Russias aggression in his country could ultimately draw the US into a conflict if incursions are also made into Nato member countries.
Firefighters controlling the remains of a rubbish fire from Thursday nights protests in Paris against the retirement Bill (Thomas Padilla/AP)

Protesters angry at French President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms have continued with scattered actions.

It comes as the unrest across the country led officials to postpone a planned state visit by Britains King Charles III.

Although no major protests were planned on Friday, train traffic was slowed, rows of trucks blocked access to Marseilles commercial port and debris still littered the Paris streets following the previous days mass demonstrations.

More than 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide to protest against unpopular pension reforms.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday some 441 police and gendarmes were hurt as violence marred some marches.

He said 1,000 rubbish bins were set on fire in the French capital during the previous days action.

Amid a weeks-long refuse collectors strike, bins have become a symbol of the protest.

Mr Macrons office said a state visit by the British King has been postponed.

He was scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on his first state visit as monarch before heading to Germany on Wednesday.

The German part of the trip is still going ahead.

Polls say most French oppose Mr Macrons Bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.

The supply of fuel to Paris by the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed on Friday after police intervened, according to energy transition minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

At the Fos-sur-mer oil terminal near Marseille, however, protesters were meeting to plan future oil refinery blockades.

Fearing disruptions in the coming days as actions continue, Frances Civil Aviation Authority has asked for a third of flights to be cancelled on Sunday at Pariss second airport, Orly, with 20% to be cancelled on Monday.

Unions have called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday, the day Charles was scheduled to visit Bordeaux.

The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire on Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorised demonstration.

The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, said on Friday he has difficulty understanding the interest of such acts of vandalism.

The protests have drawn support from beyond Frances borders.

In Greece, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the French Embassy in Athens on Thursday to show solidarity.

Protesters chanted slogans and held placards that read Macron, your democracy hangs on nine votes and From Greece: victory for the workers of France.
Protesters scuffle at the end of a rally in Paris on Thursday (Christophe Ena/AP)

Protesters angry at French President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms have continued with scattered actions amid slowed train traffic, rows of lorries blocking access to Marseilles commercial port and debris still littering the Paris streets after the previous days mass demonstrations.

More than 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide to protest against unpopular pension reforms.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday that some 441 police and gendarmes were injured as violence marred some marches.

He said 1,000 rubbish bins were set on fire in the French capital during the previous days action.

Amid a weeks-long refuse collectors strike, bins have become a symbol of the protest.

Polls say most French oppose Mr Macrons Bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.

The supply of fuel to Paris by the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed on Friday after police intervened, according to energy transition minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

At the Fos-sur-mer oil terminal near Marseille, however, protesters were meeting to plan future oil refinery blockades.

Fearing disruptions in coming days as actions continue, Frances Civil Aviation Authority has requested that a third of flights be cancelled on Sunday at Pariss second airport, Orly, with 20% to be cancelled on Monday.

Unions have called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday, when Britains King Charles III is scheduled to visit Bordeaux on the second day of his trip to France.

The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire on Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorised demonstration.

The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, said on Friday he had difficulty understanding the interest of such acts of vandalism.

Mr Hurmic said he hopes Charless visit to his city next week will not be cancelled.

I hope that we do not give this gift to the thugs, he said, although he acknowledged that a tram ride with the King may now be off the cards.

The protests have drawn support from beyond Frances borders.

In Greece, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the French embassy in Athens on Thursday to show solidarity.

Protesters chanted slogans and held placards that read Macron, your democracy hangs on nine votes and From Greece: victory for the workers of France.
Mombasa  A controversial Malindi televangelist, who was arrested on Wednesday evening for allegedly directing congregants to starve to death, has been released on Sh10,000 police bond.

According to preliminary investigations report, Pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Ministries Malindi reportedly preached to his followers to starve and only drink water, "since there was a disaster coming soon."

Two children from Shakahola in Magarini Constituency, whose parents were part of the congregants, are said to have succumbed to hunger.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said the controversial preacher had asked his followers to starve and they shall die as heroes and go straight to heaven.

Police on Thursday arraigned Mackenzie before a Malindi Magistrate Court with an intention to charge him with conspiracy to kill.

However, he was not charged as the police officers sought 14 days to concluded their investigations.

2 minors starved to death

The Investigating Officer Joseph Yator told the court that Mackenzie was connected to the death of the two minors, but they would require more days to complete their probe.

Police had argued that the controversial preacher, who has numerous court cases within Kilifi County, is a flight risk and should not be released on bond.

Yator also told the court they would require to more for postmortem to ascertain the real cause of the death of the two children.

The suspect had already spent at a night at Malindi Police Station.

However, Mackezie's legal counsel Elisha Komora opposed the police application to continue holding his client for 14 more days, saying the police had failed to link him to the death of the children.

Komora argued that the real suspects to the death of the children are their parents.

Malindi Resident Magistrate Olga Onalo dismissed the police application and released the controversial preacher on a Sh10,000 police bond.

She ordered that Mackenzie should appear before the Malindi Police Station anytime upon request.
A Ukrainian police officer takes cover in front of a burning building hit in a Russian airstrike in Avdiivka (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Russian long-range strikes have killed at least 10 civilians and hurt 20 others in several areas of Ukraine, Ukraines presidential office said.

It comes as a senior Moscow official said the Kremlins forces are prepared for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the coming weeks.

Five people died in Kostiantynivka, a town in eastern Ukraines Donetsk province, when a Russian missile hit an aid station.

Ukrainian authorities last year established hundreds of so-called points of invincibility, where residents hard-pressed by the war could warm up, charge their mobile phones and get snacks.

Local prosecutors said the Russians attacked Kostyantynivka with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

The civilians who died were refugees, according to Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

As the mostly artillery war of the recent winter months stretched into its second spring, Russian forces also used air-launched missiles, exploding drones and gliding bombs in their attacks on several regions early on Friday, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Two civilians died and nine were wounded in the Sumy province town of Bilopillia by a nighttime rocket and artillery barrage and air strikes, the administration of the northeast region said.

In the southern Kherson region, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited on Thursday, Russian shelling killed one person in the main city, also called Kherson, and killed another person and wounded four others in the town of Bilozerka.

On Wednesday, a Russian drone attack hit a secondary school and dormitories south of Kyiv, killing at least nine people.

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Kyivs forces are poised to use the improved spring weather and arrival of modern weapons, including tanks, supplied by its western allies to launch a counteroffensive aimed at dislodging Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine.

But Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now the deputy head of Russias Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said the Russian military is ready to repel a counterattack.

Our general staff is assessing all that, Mr Medvedev said.

He also said a Ukrainian attempt to seize Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.

An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said.

Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realise that.

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Though known for his bombastic pronouncements, Mr Medvedevs warning stems from the Russian security doctrine envisaging the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an attack with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.

Mr Medvedev also said western experts operating weapons, such as the US-made Patriot air defence missile systems supplied to Ukraine, would be legitimate targets for the Russian military.

Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the US, although Russian officials have frequently claimed foreign instructors are present in Ukraine.

If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Mr Medvedev told reporters in video clips he posted on his messaging app channel.

They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state and they must be destroyed.

They must understand that as soon as an American or a Polish soldier shows up there, he must be killed, he added.

The Kremlins goal is to create a sanitary cordon of up to 60 miles around Russian-held areas so short and mid-range weapons cannot strike them, according to Mr Medvedev.

Moscow may even set its sights on grabbing a bigger chunk of Ukrainian territory, stretching all the way to the border with Poland, he added.
A strike by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in north-east Syria, the Pentagon said.

American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying they killed at least four people.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

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The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Mr Austin said on Thursday evening.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces throughout the Middle East to counter the US and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were taken to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields.

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

According to a defence official, the US counter strikes were conducted by F-15 fighter jets from the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

We will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people.

Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militia posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal.

It said the strikes also hurt people, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighbourhood in the city of Deir el-Zour.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said US bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv.

Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The exchange of strikes come as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries.

The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

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US army General Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, said American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said.

Addressing the US House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Gen Kurilla told politicians the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago.

He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Gen Kurilla also alleged that Iran had launched 78 attacks on US positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, he said.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes.

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area Hamidreza Azizi

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mr Austin said he authorised the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, he said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The US under Mr Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran.

In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Mr Biden launched attacks there.

US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the so-called Islamic State group.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened.

There are roughly 900 US troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and further south and east.

Since the US drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for US forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Mr Azizi wrote in a recent analysis.

Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Mr Assad.

The United Nations estimates more than 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war.

Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.
A US contractor was killed and another hurt alongside five American armed forces personnel when a suspected Iranian drone attacked a facility on a coalition base in north-east Syria, the Pentagon said.

Defence secretary Lloyd Austin said US Central Command forces hit back with precision airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard.

The intelligence community determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin, the defence department said.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Mr Austin said on Thursday night.

Videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir ez-Zor, a strategic province bordering Iraq and containing oil fields.

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Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv.

Iran has denied being responsible for these attacks, though western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts in the region to deescalate tensions, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries.

The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

We will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

US army General Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, said American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said in a statement.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes.

Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

No group will strike our troops with impunity US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser.

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mr Austin said he authorised the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The US under Mr Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran.

In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Mr Biden launched attacks there.

US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the so-called Islamic State group.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in north-east Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened.

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There are roughly 900 US troops and even more contractors in Syria, including in the north and further south and east.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Mr Austin said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Mr Assad.

The United Nations estimates more than 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war.

Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.
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Bengaluru/IBNS: The Centre has approved Rs 180 crore worth of Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Karnatakas Dharwad which is expected to create over 18,000 jobs, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Friday.

The project, which is being set up at Kotur-Balur Industrial Area in Dharwad District of Karnataka under the EMC 2.0 scheme, is expected to catalyse investments to the tune of over Rs 1,500 crore soon, said Chandrasekhar, who is the minister of state for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Electronics & IT.

Nine companies, including start-ups have already committed to make investment of Rs 340 crore with employment potential of 2,500 people.

Karnataka is emerging as a global Electronics manufacturing hub for the world, just as it is already a telecom hub with Apple plants in Kolar (Wistron) and Devanahalli (Foxconn). These new investments are creating jobs and development, the minister said.

This EMC has a strategic locational advantage and is well connected with NH -48 (1 Km), and Hubli Domestic Airport (33 Km) which will reduce the logistics/ transportation cost of the industry in the EMC, he highlighted.

The Centre has already approved a Common Facility Centre (CFC) for the development of an advanced testing facility in Mysore, Karnataka that will meet the various testing requirement of the industry.

The Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme was introduced on 1st April 2020 with the objective to create world-class infrastructure along with common testing facilities, including Ready Built Factory sheds/Plug & Play infrastructure for attracting Anchor unit along with their supply chain to set up their manufacturing/production facility in the country.

Under the Scheme, three Electronics Manufacturing Clusters over an area of 1,337 acres with project cost of Rs 1,903 crore, including Central financial assistance of Rs 889 crore have been approved which projected investment target of Rs 20,910 crore, Chandrasekhar said.

As a result of these initiatives, India has come a long way in electronics manufacturing in the past eight years, the minister added.
Image: Pixabay

New York: Right in the middle of womens history month, its staggering to think back on how recently women and their hearts began to be taken seriously by the scientific community.

As legendary Emory cardiologist Nanette Wenger, MD, wrote in a 2016 American College of Cardiology article: Although heart disease is the number one killer of women, cardiovascular disease was really thought of as a mans disease until the last few decades.

In the not-so-distant past, Wenger added, Women who came into the emergency room with chest pains were told they had a stomach problem or that they were imagining the pain and had emotional problems, so they were sent home.

Thankfully, following down the path first carved out by pioneers like Wenger, there are researchers and physicians like Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD, who have continued to build a data-backed case for the fact that women are very much not just making things up.

Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD

Vaccarino, the Wilton Looney Professor of Cardiovascular Research at Rollins Department of Epidemiology and faculty member in the Division of Cardiology, is the principal investigator of a prospective study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) looking at sex differences in bodily responses to mental stress and subsequent cardiovascular events among young and middle-aged patients who survived a heart attack at Emory University.

A resulting paper focusing on the reactivity of small vessels to stress, published earlier this month in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, will be one of two articles featured in the AHA Journals April 2023 issue.

Samaah Sullivan, PhD, the first author of the paper, now at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, was a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University working with Vaccarino when she embraced this research. With these latest findings, Sullivan, Vaccarino and their co-authorsincluding Emory cardiologists Puja Mehta, MD, Arshed A Quyyumi, MD, and Amit Shah, MDare building upon a growing body of evidence that links acute mental stress with a host of adverse cardiovascular events especially among women.

Samaah Sullivan, PhD

Their work supports emerging research that the function of small vessels, also known as the microcirculation, plays a key role in ischemic heart disease (meaning decreased blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle) among women. Vaccarino and her colleagues went into this new study with a strong hunch that mental stress makes this condition far worse. And, in fact, thats exactly what we found, she said.

The women in the study experienced more tightening of their small peripheral arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body) than men did when under mental stress. Not only that, but this microvascular response to stress was also associated with adverse outcomes in women but not in men. As a result, researchers determined that the ways in which small peripheral arteries in the body respond to stress carry important risks for women.

Vaccarino said that the reasons for these differences between women and men are still unclear. But the team is working steadily toward gaining more insights.

To that end, she added, theres a strong need for more studies and clinical trials to include more diverse samples of patients. If we think about stress and mental health issues, a larger representation of women is essential, Vaccarino said. We knew that women are more likely to have these issues  stress and depression. Young and middle-aged women struggle more, and we think it's perhaps because of the hardship of everyday life they may face.

Indeed, finding a clinical trial in the cardiovascular field that has included the same number of women as men can be challenging. If were lucky, its normally 30%, she said. In the case of this study, however, the participant breakdown between men and women was almost 50/50. How? By not turning people away because their symptoms were subtler or because they had other comorbidities.

To get participants in the study, we rigorously defined heart attacks, but didnt exclude people because they have other health problems, which opens up a level of participation for women. Thats one thing that clinical trials should be more open to doing.

In terms of next steps, Vaccarino said theyre planning to continue deepening their research into this area, thanks to continued funding from NIH. They have already begun enrolling men and women into a second phase of the study, which will have a larger sample size and go into more detail about the findings.

This second research phase will also expand stressful exposures from the lab to everyday life, and in a separate study theyll also start looking at women and men in rural communities in four states in the southeast (not including Georgia). Eventually, Vaccarino said the goal is for these findings to help inform clinicians and the public and expand health advisories from professional organizations.

Often stress and mental health factors are not considered in the guidance, Vaccarino said. And as we identify these specific mechanisms, there could be opportunities for future interventions.

Vaccarino holds a medical degree from the University of Milan and a PhD in epidemiology from Yale University. She joined Emory in 2000 in the Division of Cardiology and was the Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health between 2010 and 2018. She has directed the Emory Program in Cardiovascular Outcomes Research and Epidemiology ("EPICORE") since 2005.
Pixabay

The research, led by the University of Cambridge, the Beethoven Center San Jose and American Beethoven Society, KU Leuven, FamilyTreeDNA, the University Hospital Bonn and the University of Bonn, the Beethoven-Haus, Bonn, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, uncovers important information about the composers health and poses new questions about his recent ancestry and cause of death.

In 1802, Beethoven asked his doctor to describe his illness and to make this record public. The great mans health and cause of death have been debated ever since, but without the benefit of genetic research.

A new study shows that DNA from five locks of hair  all dating from the last seven years of Beethovens life  originate from a single individual matching the composers documented ancestry.

By combining genetic data with closely examined provenance histories, researchers conclude these five locks are almost certainly authentic.

The studys primary aim is to shed light on Beethovens health problems, which famously include progressive hearing loss, beginning in his mid- to late-20s and eventually leading to him being functionally deaf by 1818.

The team also investigated possible genetic causes of Beethovens chronic gastrointestinal complaints, and a severe liver disease that culminated in his death in 1827. Beginning in his Bonn years, the composer suffered from wretched gastrointestinal problems, which continued and worsened in Vienna.

In the summer of 1821, Beethoven had the first of at least two attacks of jaundice, a symptom of liver disease. Cirrhosis has long been viewed as the most likely cause of his death at age 56.

The team of scientists were unable to find a definitive cause for Beethovens deafness or gastrointestinal problems. However, they did discover a number of significant genetic risk factors for liver disease. They also found evidence of an infection with hepatitis B virus in at latest the months before the composers final illness.

Lead author, Tristan Begg, from the University of Cambridge, said: We can surmise from Beethovens conversation books, which he used during the last decade of his life, that his alcohol consumption was very regular, although it is difficult to estimate the volumes being consumed.

While most of his contemporaries claim his consumption was moderate by early 19th century Viennese standards, there is not complete agreement among these sources, and this still likely amounted to quantities of alcohol known today to be harmful to the liver. If his alcohol consumption was sufficiently heavy over a long enough period of time, the interaction with his genetic risk factors presents one possible explanation for his cirrhosis.

The research team also suggests that Beethovens hepatitis B infection might have driven the composers severe liver disease, exacerbated by his alcohol intake and genetic risk. However, scientists caution that the nature and timing of this infection  which would have greatly influenced its relationship with Beethovens liver disease  could not currently be determined, and similarly caution that the true extent of his alcohol consumption remains unknown.

Beethovens hearing loss has been linked to several potential causes, among them diseases with various degrees of genetic contributions. Investigation of the authenticated hair samples did not reveal a simple genetic origin of the hearing loss.

Dr. Axel Schmidt at the Institute of Human Genetics at the University Hospital of Bonn, said: Although a clear genetic underpinning for Beethovens hearing loss could not be identified, the scientists caution that such a scenario cannot be strictly ruled out. Reference data, which are mandatory to interpret individual genomes, are steadily improving. It is therefore possible that Beethovens genome will reveal hints for the cause of his hearing loss in the future.

It proved impossible to find a genetic explanation for Beethovens gastrointestinal complaints, but the researchers argue that coeliac disease and lactose intolerance are highly unlikely based on the genomic data. Beethoven was also found to have a certain degree of genetic protection against risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), often suspected as a cause, rendering this a less likely explanation.

We cannot say definitely what killed Beethoven, but we can now at least confirm the presence of significant heritable risk, and an infection with hepatitis B virus, said Johannes Krause, from the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology. We can also eliminate several other less plausible genetic causes.

Taken in view of the known medical history, it is highly likely that it was some combination of these three factors, including his alcohol consumption, acting in concert, but future research will have to clarify the extent to which each factor was involved, Tristan Begg adds.

In total, the team conducted authentication tests on eight hair samples acquired from public and private collections in the UK, continental Europe and the US. In doing so, the researchers discovered that at least two of the locks did not originate from Beethoven, including a famous lock once believed to have been cut from the recently deceased composers head by the 15-year-old musician Ferdinand Hiller.

Previous analyses of the Hiller lock supported the suggestion that Beethoven had lead poisoning, a possible factor in his health complaints, including his hearing loss. William Meredith, who was part of a team involved in earlier scientific analyses of Beethovens remains and initiated the present study with Tristan Begg, said: Since we now know that the Hiller lock came from a woman and not Beethoven, none of the earlier analyses based solely on that lock apply to Beethoven. Future studies to test for lead, opiates, and mercury must be based on authenticated samples.

The five samples identified as being authentic and from the same person belong to the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies in San Jose, California; to a private collector, American Beethoven Society member Kevin Brown, and to the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn. Beethoven hand-delivered one of the locks (now in Browns collection) to the pianist Anton Halm in April 1826 telling him Das sind meine Haare! (That is my hair!). Beethovens whole genome was sequenced from another of Browns samples, the Stumpff Lock, which emerged as the best-preserved sample.

The team found the strongest connection between the DNA extracted from the Stumpff lock of Beethoven's hair and people living in present day North Rhine-Westphalia, consistent with Beethoven's known German ancestry.

A family mystery

The team analysed the genetics of living relatives in Belgium but could not find matches among either of them.

Some of them share a paternal ancestor with Beethoven in the late 1500s and early 1600s based on genealogical studies, but they did not match the Y-Chromosome found in the authentic hair samples.

The team concluded that this was likely to be the result of at least one extra-pair paternity event  a child resulting from an extramarital relationship  in Beethovens direct paternal line.

Genetic genealogist Maarten Larmuseau from the KU Leuven said: Through the combination of DNA data and archival documents, we were able to observe a discrepancy between Ludwig van Beethovens legal and biological genealogy.

The study suggests that this event occurred in the direct paternal line between the conception of Hendrik van Beethoven in Kampenhout, Belgium in c.1572, and the conception of Ludwig van Beethoven seven generations later in 1770, in Bonn, Germany.

Although a doubt had earlier been raised concerning the paternity of Beethovens father owing to the absence of a baptismal record, the researchers could not determine the generation during which this event took place.

Tristan Begg said: We hope that by making Beethovens genome publicly available for researchers, and perhaps adding further authenticated locks to the initial chronological series, remaining questions about his health and genealogy can someday be answered."
Image: PAHO/Joshua Cogan

New York: For the first time in more than a decade, the number of people dying from tuberculosis (TB) rose last year due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and other crises, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

On the eve of World Tuberculosis Day, WHO announced that it will expand the scope of a five-year-old initiative in efforts to eradicate one of the worlds top infectious killers by 2030.

TB mainly affects the lungs, but it is preventable, treatable and curable. Although deaths have dropped by nearly 40 per cent globally since the year 2000, 1.6 million people die from the disease annually, and millions more are affected.

Equitable access to services

The WHO Director-Generals Flagship Initiative on TB was established in 2018 to advance research and increase access to services, in support of efforts to end the global epidemic. It will now be expanded and extended through 2027.

The aim is to scale up delivery of quality care to people living with TB through equitable access to rapid diagnostics and shorter all-oral treatment.

New tools needed

WHO also highlighted the pressing need for investment, particularly in new vaccine development, and has proposed the establishment of a TB Vaccine Acceleration Council.

The sole vaccine currently available is more than a century old, plus it does not adequately protect young people and adults, who account for most TB transmissions.

We need to make the tools we have available to more people. But we also need new tools," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in Geneva. "Increasing drug resistance is undermining the effectiveness of some medicines that are used to treat TB, he added.

Call to action

The flagship initiative aims to spur action and accountability to tackle the key drivers of the TB epidemic, such as poverty, undernourishment, diabetes, HIV, tobacco and alcohol use, and poor living and working conditions.

WHO and partners have also issued a call to action for governments to accelerate the rollout of new oral treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB, which continues to be a pressing health concern.

The UN General Assembly will convene a High-Level Meeting on TB in September, which Tedros said should be a turning point in the fight against TB, if leaders make real and lasting commitments to invest in the response to TB.
Image Credit: Twitter video grab

New Delhi: Fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh wants UK citizenship to escape Indian law, media reports said on Friday.

The Waris Punjab De leader had applied for British citizenship in February, sources told CNN-News 18.

This is on the basis of his marriage with Kiran Kaur, who is a UK citizen, the news channel reported.

According to sources, Amritpals application is pending with British authorities and they are yet to take a decision on the matter.

This is probably because the separatist understood the pressure and atmosphere building against him through local authorities and civil society, officials told the news channel.

Meanwhile, Amritpal Singh was caught on CCTV camera leaving the home of a woman in Haryana who had sheltered him when he fled the police on Monday.

The footage shows the wanted Khalistani leader carrying an umbrella to hide his face.

He was spotted leaving the house in a white shirt and dark blue jeans.

The police have already arrested the woman Baljit Kaur in Haryana for allegedly providing refuge to Amritpal Singh and his associate Papalpreet Singh.

The arrest has led to speculations that Amritpal Singh might have fled Punjab. The authorities confirmed that the woman was arrested in the Shahabad region.

He has been on the run since then.

Amritpal Singh had changed five vehicles in 12 hours to escape arrest on Saturday.

The Khalistani leader's aide, Papalpreet Singh, has been with him since that day and both have been seen together in other CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, the police interrogated Singhs wife, a UK-based NRI, over allegations of shoring up overseas funds for the pro-Khalistani group Waris Punjab De, her husband's helms.

The Centre has also invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Singh and a non-bailable warrant was issued against him.

Singh is linked to a massive protest on Feb 23 against the arrest of his key aide and kidnapping accused, Lovepreet Singh. Six policemen were injured during the clash.
Nairobi  Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Leader Raila Odinga has castigated the Communications Authority of Kenya for faulting media houses on the coverage of Azimio demonstrations.

Addressing journalists on Thursday at his private office in Capitol Hill, Odinga indicated that the statement by CAK Director General Ezra Chiloba was aimed at gagging the media.

On Wednesday, Chiloba faulted six media houses saying they violated the regulator's set standards in their live coverage of the Azimio-led protests on Monday.

"The statement by Ezra Chiloba is meant to censor the media and gag media professionals," Raila stated.

Odinga bashed President William Ruto's administration saying the move to ensure total blackout during the Azimio protest is a dictatorial stand.

"We agree with other democracies that democracy dies in darkness. This action by President Ruto is opening the full dictator playbook," he said.

The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition insisted that they will not allow President Ruto to claw back the gains enshrined in the 2010 constitution.

"In Azimio La Umoja,we will not allow President William Ruto to send us to dark days of yesterday,"Odinga stated.

In a statement, the CA Director-General Ezra Chiloba had claimed that six TV stations including NTV, Citizen, K24, KBC, TV47 and Ebru Africa depicted scenes that could cause panic or incitement to the public and threaten peace in the country.

He asked all broadcasters to ensure compliance adding that it was imperative all broadcasters exercise caution in live broadcast coverage to avoid scenes that would be detrimental to peace and cohesion.

"Take note that failure to adhere to the outlined obligations shall be acting in breach of license conditions, which shall attract liability under relevant provisions of the law including revocation of broadcast license or/and broadcast frequencies," said Chiloba
New Delhi/UNI: Fourteen political parties moved the Supreme Court complaining against the alleged misuse of law enforcing agencies by the union government to arrest political opponents.

Mention of the petition, by these 14 political parties for urgent hearing, was made before the Supreme Court by senior advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vivek Tankha.

The 14 parties who had moved the Supreme Court were: Congress, DMK, RJD, BRS, TMC, AAP, NCP, Shiv Sena Udhav, JMM, JDU, CPI, CPM, SP, National Conference.

A bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said, we will hear the petition on April 5.

Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, lawyer for the parties, said that the parties are seeking laying down of guidelines for pre-arrest procedure to be followed by probe agencies and post-arrest procedure to be followed by prosecutors and courts.

The political parties, in their petition filed before the Supreme Court, are seeking laying down of guidelines by the SC for law enforcing agencies and courts on arrest and remand, Dr Singhvi said.
Image Credit: UNI

New Delhi/UNI: US nominee for World Bank president Ajay Banga, who is in New Delhi and was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is down with Covid-19 and under quarantine, officials said.

"Mr. Banga tested positive upon arrival in Delhi. Mr. Banga has conducted multiple tests for COVID during his tour, and tested negative before departing for India.

"He has not met with any Indian counterparts. He is quarantining in isolation, in adherence to local guidelines," a US Embassy spokesperson said.

Asked if his meetings have been rescheduled, the spokesperson said "Additional information will be provided about Bangas schedule in India when available."

Banga arrived on Thursday, capping a three-week global listening tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Banga was to hold discussions on Indias development priorities, the World Bank, and global economic development challenges.
Image Credit: Facebook/Zakir Naik

New Delhi: The Indian government said on Friday that it will take all necessary measures to bring Indian fugitive and radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik back to India to face justice and that it is in talks with the Oman authorities in the matter.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in his media briefing, said that Zakir Naik is an accused in numerous cases in India.

He is a fugitive from justice; we have taken up the matter with the government of Oman; and we will continue to take all necessary measures to bring him to face justice in India, he added.

Naik, who has been residing in Malaysia since 2017, was invited to Oman to deliver two religious lectures in Muscat on March 23 and March 25 during Ramzan.

He had fled India in 2016 after his organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was banned, and a First Information Report was lodged under his name.

He is accused of instigating Muslim youth and terrorists in India and abroad to commit terrorist acts. He is also accused of money laundering.

In 2019, he was also banned from delivering public speeches in Malaysia after he made racist comments against Hindus and Chinese Malaysians.

The Government of India had taken his channel, Peace TV, off the air for peddling hate propaganda. His Peace TV network is also banned in Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the UK. One of the accused in the 2016 Dhaka Cafe bombing case had confessed that he was influenced by Naik's Peace TV to commit the terrorist act.

(With UNI inputs)
Image Credit: Video grab

Washington: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has condemned the recent attack of alleged Khalistani elements on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

Sullivan tweeted: "We condemn the acts of violence against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. We are committed to the safety and security of these facilities and the diplomats who work within them. The State Department is in touch with local law enforcement on next steps in this matter."

We condemn the acts of violence against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. We are committed to the safety and security of these facilities and the diplomats who work within them. The State Department is in touch with local law enforcement on next steps in this matter.  Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) March 21, 2023

India on Monday conveyed its strong protest to the US Charge dAffaires in New Delhi over the vandalization of the property of the Indian Consulate General in San Francisco by suspected Khalistani supporters.

An official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said that India also reminded the US government of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation, and take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The incident comes a day after Khalistani miscreants vandalised the Indian High Commission in London and removed the Indian national flag and attempted to put their Khalistani flag in its place. India conveyed its strong protest to the UK in the matter.

In San Francisco, a large group of raucous Khalistani supporters vandalised the Indian Consulate General building after the Indian staff removed the Khalistani flags planted there.

The Khalistani elements painted anti-India graffiti on the walls and tried to break the doors and windows, according to videos of the incident seen on social media.

The MEA statement read: In a meeting with the US Charge dAffaires in New Delhi, India conveyed its strong protest at the vandalisation of the property of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco."

The US Government was reminded of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation. It was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents," read the statement.

Our Embassy in Washington D.C. also conveyed our concerns to the US State Department along similar lines, the statement said.
Image Credit: Twitter/INC

New Delhi/IBNS: The Congress party Friday planned to hold a nationwide "save democracy" movement protesting against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament, a day after a court in Gujarat sentenced him to a 2-year jail sentence in 2019 defamation case for his remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decision was made at a strategy meeting this evening attended by top Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Union Minister P Chidambaram.

"We discussed political strategy on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. Abhishek Manu Singhvi briefed the members on the legal strategy. We have planned protests across the country in the coming days," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told media persons.

The party also welcomed the statement of support of all opposition leaders and called for "systematic" opposition unity.

Several leaders of opposition parties including Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, MK Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, KCR, Akhilesh Yadav have supported Rahul Gandhi and attacked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for its "dictatorship".

"The Congress welcomes the statement of support of all opposition leaders, we should now take the issue of opposition unity forward in a systematic way," Ramesh said.

"The Congress president has been coordinating with opposition parties every day in parliament, now this has to be done outside also," he said.

In his first reaction after disqualification for the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday said is "ready to pay any cost".

The move came a day after he was sentenced to a two-year jail term in a defamation case for a remark seen as an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any price," he tweeted in Hindi.

        



        Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 24, 2023

The former Congress President was disqualified as a member of parliament on Friday after he was sentenced to two years in jail in a 2019 defamation case.

Reacting to the same, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it "a new low for our constitutional democracy".

Banerjee, who is politically maintaining distance from Congress, backed the grand old party in a tweet which reads, "In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP!

"While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy."

In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP!



While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches.



Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 24, 2023

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too took swipes at the central government over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and said the Centre is "so scared".

Efforts are being made to destroy the country, alleged Kejriwal.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign, Rahul had said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname."

A complaint, which was lodged by BJP leader Purnesh Modi, claimed Rahul had defamed the entire Modi community.
Image: pixabay

Thimpu: As many as 6,000 international tourists paying the new Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) have arrived in Bhutan since the border reopened six months ago.

Another 7000 tourists paying the old tariff visited the country in the same period, reported The Bhutan Live.

To attract more tourists, the Tourism Department is working on introducing family-oriented tourism products and making Bhutan an all-season destination, the news portal reported.

Since 23rd September last year, up until yesterday, the country received around 31,000 tourists. More than half of them were from the region. Just before the pandemic, in 2019 the country recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals at more than 315 thousand.

Carissa Nimah, the Chief Marketing Officer at the department, told the news portal that while Bhutan needs to create itineraries around families on one hand, there is also a need to make sure that the hotels and tour operators in the country are capable of catering to families.

For instance, maybe it is time to look at having more family facilities in hotels like childrens rooms and childrens dens. Maybe allocate one room as a childrens club.

She also said more nannies and babysitters have to be employed in hotels besides coming up with nicely designed, special childrens menus.

Not just full of fried foods but healthy meals for children. So, I think there is potential.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Kolkata: More than 6 lakh people have registered for the next Char Dham Yatra, according to the fresh data released by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB).

Registration is ongoing for the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra which will start in April this year.

The Uttarakhand Tourist Development Board (UTDB) is offering the registration facility to the devotees through web portal, smartphone app, WhatsApp, and toll-free number in order to make the registration procedure simpler.

The registration process for the Char Dham Yatra is being carried out in accordance with the devotees' needs.

A quick redress of pilgrim travel grievances, an easy tracking of pilgrims, and so forth are offered as part of these facilities.

This time, the administration will issue tokens to registered devotees for darshan in order to prevent overcrowding.

They will be able to wait for their turn without standing in the queue till the number given on these tokens appears on the display.

Tourism Minister, Uttarakhand Satpal Maharaj said, "We are optimistic that this year's Yatra would surpass last year's Yatra's record in terms of registration and footfalls. This time, we have special provisions for each registered devotee while keeping their conveniences in mind. They will be able to tour each Dham with ease with the tokens we will arrange for them. Only those devotees who have registered will receive tokens, so, we strongly advise everyone who is excited to visit Char Dham to register to avail benefit of the state-of-art facilities while on the yatra."

A total of 6,13,624 registrations for Char Dham Yatra have been done so far which started from February 21, including 2,35,020 for Kedarnath Dham, 1,95,811 for Badrinath Dham, and 92,043 and 90,750 for Gangotri and Yamunotri respectively.

As part of this year's Char Dham Yatra, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board is offering four different registration options.

Yatra registrations can be completed online, over the phone, via WhatsApp, and on a mobile application. For online registration, devotees can register themselves by visiting the website of registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or uttarakhandtourism.gov.in.

To register via WhatsApp, type yatra and send it to +91 8394833833. Devotees can register themselves by calling the toll-free number 0135 1364.

Moreover, you can register via the mobile app "Tourist Care Uttarakhand." Bookings for heli services can also be made by vising website https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in/.

The government has also issued helpline numbers for travel-related information, suggestions and queries for the devotees.

The necessary information can be obtained by calling on Char Dham toll-free no. 1364 (for Uttarakhand) 0135-1364 (for other states), Char Dham Control Room No.0135-2559898, 2552627 and Disaster Management No. 0135-276066, 1070 (toll-free) etc.
Image:  UN Women/Christopher Herwig

New York: With the converging Ramadan, Easter and Passover holidays now beginning, Israelis and Palestinians must urgently crystalize agreements reached at several recent diplomatic meetings  the first of their kind in nearly a decade  the senior UN official for Middle East peace told the Security Council on Wednesday, while warning of escalating violence and inflammatory rhetoric on both sides.

This should be a period for safe and peaceful religious reflection and celebration for all, said Tor Wennesland, the UNs Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.

Diplomatic engagement

The Special Coordinator recalled that, on 26 February, senior officials from Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and the United States met in Aqaba, Jordan, to reaffirm their commitment to all previous agreements, and to work towards a just and lasting peace.

Among other things, the parties committed to steps to de-escalate the situation on the ground, pause unilateral measures and prevent further violence, including by upholding the status quo at the holy sites.

That meeting was followed by a similar session on 19 March, with the same parties attending, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

If implemented, the steps outlined in Aqaba would be an important start to reversing negative trends on the ground, said Mr. Wennesland.

Violent trajectory

In his briefing to the Security Council, however, the Special Coordinator noted that a very different  and much more negative  trajectory currently prevails.

Daily violence has increased in recent months, with deaths and injuries on both sides, and demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures in occupied areas continued.

Following the 26 February killing by a Palestinian of two Israelis, hundreds of Israeli settlers descended on the West Bank town of Huwwara, killing one Palestinian and injuring more than 300 others, and Palestinian armed groups responded by launching seven rockets from Gaza towards Israel.

The trend echoes concerns raised recently by Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who said 2022 saw the highest number of Palestinians killed by Israeli Security Forces in the past 17 years, and the highest number of Israelis killed since 2016.

Inflammatory rhetoric

Mr. Wennesland also outlined a series of new legal actions by Israel that run counter to important Security Council resolutions and international law more broadly.

In particular, he cited the Governments decision to repeal part of the 2005 Disengagement Law, which had previously ordered Israeli settlers to evacuate parts of the occupied West Bank.

Israel also recently announced its authorization of nine settlement outposts in that occupied area, and advanced plans for over 7,200 new housing units.

Another major source of concern is escalating rhetoric on both sides of the conflict.

Mr. Wennesland said some officials of the Palestinian Fatah party have glorified the perpetrators of attacks against Israelis, while several members of the Israeli Knesset praised settler attacks against Palestinians, and one called for the town of Huwwara to be wiped out by Israeli forces.

Two-State solution eroding

Recalling the Security Councils recent presidential statement reaffirming its commitment to a two-State solution and its opposition to terrorism and unilateral actions, the Special Coordinator appealed to both sides for restraint.

Expressing deep concern over continued Israeli settlement-expansion, in particular, he warned that such actions further entrench the occupation, fuel tensions and systematically erode the viability of a Palestinian State as part of a two-State solution.

Leaders on both sides must help calm the situation, avoid spreading inflammatory rhetoric and speak up against those seeking to incite violence.

It is critical to de-escalate the situation and move toward re-establishing a political horizon, he said.
Image: UNI

Paris: Over one million people participated in demonstrations against the pension reform across France, according to the French Interior Ministry, while unions give the estimate at over three million, French media reported on Thursday.

The interior ministry said 1.089 million demonstrators took to the streets in France on Thursday, double the amount present at the previous manifestation on March 15, however, it was less than at the demonstrations on January 19, 31 and March 7, the Monde newspaper reported. Then, the number of protesters amounted to around 1.2 million, the report said.

France's largest union, CGT, reported that a record 3.5 million people took part in the protests across the whole country, according to the media.

The Paris action gathered around 120,000 people, according to the police, and 800,000, according to the union.

Clashes between black bloc radicals and law enforcement officers broke out in the French capital during today's protests. A RIA Novosti correspondent reported that the police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, who reached the Place de la Republique, and demanded that the area be cleared through loudspeakers. A water cannon was also seen at the scene.

As of Thursday evening, 80 people were detained across France, and some 120 police officers were injured, French Interior Ministry said.

Moreover, during a demonstration in the city of Rouen, a 40-year-old woman had her thumb blown off by a grenade, the TF1 broadcaster reported. Her injuries were seen to by medical workers. The report said the injured woman was a college teacher and had two children.

France's leading unions announced that the 10th nationwide protest against the pension reform would take place on March 28, according to the BFMTV broadcaster.

Later in the day, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne commented on clashes between the demonstrators and police.

"The violence and damage we saw today are unacceptable. I am grateful to the police and emergency services that were mobilized," Borne said on Twitter.

On March 16, Borne announced that the government had adopted a law on raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030 by invoking Article 49.3 of the constitution, which allowed the bill to get passed without parliamentary approval. The decision sparked a strong backlash, prompting people to take to the streets across the country.

The opposition tried to prevent the adoption of the law on Monday through a vote of no confidence in the French government, but failed to secure an absolute majority in the parliament twice.

There have been several nationwide strikes and hundreds of demonstrations in France within the last two months, with over 1 million people taking part in most of them. During the protests, clashes often broke out between the police and the protesters.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: File image of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kasongo Kakubo by MFA PRC

Lusaka: Zambia, the African nation, is facing an unsustainable debt burden and debt servicing, media reports said.

The country is leaving little for capital formation, especially funds required for infrastructure development.

While the country is struggling to carry out World bank suggested reforms measures, including restoring fiscal and long-term debt sustainability, increasing farmer productivity and access to agricultural markets, ensuring access to energy and access to finance and private sector development, it is facing a paucity of resources and it makes the country dependent on and vulnerable to external debt, reports Africa Daily.

In view of this, the Zambian government is actively seeking further infrastructure development through Public-private Partnership (PPP) projects.

Zambia, like other indebted and capital-deficient countries of Africa, desperately needs funds to develop its infrastructure to connect its mineral-rich areas to the big cities and ports.

China is emerging as a major force where its debt trap is creating hurdles in the path of the country's progress.

Recently, a consortium of Chinese companies has won a bid to finance the upgrading of a 327 km road linking the Zambian capital Lusaka to Ndola, in the countrys Copperbelt province.

The Consortium Macro Ocean Investment won the bid which consists of three Chinese companies, viz., AVIC International Project Engineering, Zhenjiang Communications Construction Group and China Railway Seventh Group.

The consortium won the USD 650 million deal to build the dual carriageway road under the publicprivate partnership (PPP) model.

The agreement signed by the Chinese companies last month gave them a 25-year concession period, split into three years for construction and 22 years of operation and maintenance rights.

The road awarded to the Macro Ocean Investment consortium links the Zambian capital to the mineral-rich Copperbelt province and the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and carries almost all the road-bound mineral exports from the region along the southern corridor towards Tanzania.

However, there is a murmur among the critics of the Zambian government for its dependence on China for building infrastructure.

The concern expressed by them pertains to the fact that China is the single biggest lender to Zambia and now as a country is facing an unsustainable debt burden, additional Chinese loans at almost commercial rates would further aggravate the problem.
Nairobi  President William Ruto has announced that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has been given enough money in the 2023-2024 financial year to lend to students across the country.

Speaking during his visit of Kisii County Thursday, the Head of State said his administration will do its best to ensure those eligible receive the funds to eneble them continue with their studies.

"I want to confirm that we have ensured that HELB is well funded in the budget. We have done this in the last two weeks, and you will now have money. Those who need HELB loans will get it so that you do not struggle with your studies," said President Ruto.

President Ruto further reiterated that his administration has put the welfare of the young people at the centre and they will be involved in the decision-making table.

"I have and I am still taking care of matters concerning young people. Plans are underway to ensure that our young people become part of the transformation of the Republic of Kenya," said Ruto.

His remarks came a day after HELB said that 140,000 students in public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs) have missed State loans after the board ran out of funds.

HELB Chief Executive Charles Ringera told a parliamentary committee that the students will have to wait until the National Treasury releases Sh5.7 billion for onward disbursement to them.

Majority of loan applicants are usually from poor households and require financial support from Helb to pay for their tuition and upkeep.

"Currently we have 140,000 students in TVETs and universities that we have not been able to fund to the tune of Sh5.7 billion because we have run out of the budget that we had presented to Treasury of Sh4.5 billion," Ringera said.
Pixabay

Dhaka: Bangladesh has allowed its neighbour Bhutan to export and import goods with third countries through major seaports.

This is in line with the Agreement on Movement of Traffic-In-Transit signed with Bangladesh in Thimphu, reports The Bhutan Live.

The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment Karma Dorji and Bangladeshs Commerce Minister Tipu Minshu signed the agreement, the news portal reported.

After this agreement was reached, Bhutan will now have an additional export-import ports for third-country trade apart from the existing Kolkatta port in Indian city of West Bengal.
Pixabay

Kohat: Suspected unidentified terrorists attacked the house of a journalist in Kohat region of Pakistan, media reports said.

The police said that unknown terrorists carried out a blast on the main gate and then opened fire with automatic weapons on the house of Syed Yasir Shah, reportsThe News International and Geo.

According to reports, the main gate and house were partially damaged in the incident.

Soon after the incident, the personnel of police and the security forces rushed to the spot and launched a search operation in the area, the newspaper reported.
Image: pixabay

Muzaffargarh: A man, who was allegedly in the illegal custody of the Jatoi Police Station in Pakistan, has died due to alleged police torture, media reports said.

After the custodial death, six police officials, including a sub-inspector, were booked in a murder case and they were suspended from service, Dawn News reported.

Muhammad Safdar, a resident of Rampur, was taken into custody by the Jatoi police five days back; however, his arrest was not registered.

The body of the person was allegedly found hanging in the lockup of the check-post.

Safdars family alleged that police subjected him to severe torture during interrogation and killed him, the newspaper reported.

The body of the person was shifted to hospital for a post-mortem.

The police claimed that Safdar committed suicide by hanging himself and that he was on remand in a robbery case.
The Congress on Friday announced a nationwide agitation against Rahul Gandhis disqualification, alleging that the government has acted with lightning speed to "gag" him and calling for taking forward opposition unity in a systematic manner.

REUTERS

The Surat court sentenced Thursday Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark,



"How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also hit out at the BJP, saying that the Congress leader is the voice of the nation and he will come out stronger against this kind of "dictatorship".

BCCL

Soon after the Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified Gandhi, the top leaders of the Congress gathered at the party's headquarters to discuss what to do next.

Amid the turbulence, actress Swara Bhasker tweeted in favour of Gandhi.

The recognition of Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, in Parliament was revoked on a Friday. Swara Bhasker's response to the same topic has drawn considerable interest.

Swara stated that people are so terrified of the so-called 'Pappu' that the law has been heavily abused.

What did Swara tweet after Rahul Gandhi's disqualification?

Swara Bhaskar's reaction to the fact that Rahul Gandhi, a Congress party leader, was kicked out of the House of Representatives was clear. The actress took to Twitter to share a series of tweets in which she called the sudden action an "illegal misuse of the law."

screenshot

Reacting to the ANI news agencys tweet on the congress leader, Swara wrote:

Thats how scared they are of so-called Pappu ! Blatant misuse of law to ensure that @RahulGandhi s growing popularity, credibility & stature are curbed and clear strong-arm tactics for 2024 Lok Sabha that RG now cannot contest.. My guess is RG will come out of this taller  https://t.co/GEsLrgQuOC  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 24, 2023

She thinks this plan is part of a scheme to stop Rahul Gandhi from running in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

Swara continued her criticism of the government by tweeting that he still has a seat in the Lok Sabha.

        russia, turkey etc .                                #RahulGandhi https://t.co/j1fL0Tvi8i  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 24, 2023

Surat court found Rahul guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison.

Under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, the Lok Sabha Secretariat took Rahul Gandhi out of the House of Representatives.

        



        Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 24, 2023

Rahul Gandhi was seen at Swara Bhasker's wedding reception in Delhi. Swara recently married Samajwadi Party leader Fahad Ahmed.

(With PTI inputs)

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A private joyride glider- a small, lightweight aircraft designed to carry just two people- collided with a residential structure in Jharkhand's Dhanbad region briefly after its takeoff.

Dhanbad (Jharkhand) 2seater glider crashed in Dhanbad, Two people, including pilot injured , live video pic.twitter.com/bGrsEkUNL9  Rishi Tripathi    (@IndiatvRishi) March 24, 2023

As per media reports, the pilot and a 14-year-old passenger, identified as Kush Singh, were injured during this crash. The authorities disclosed that both of them have been admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

Cockpit shattered due to crash

The glider plane flew from Barwadda airstrip above Dhanbad city before it tumbled to ground level and crashed into a house 500 meters away due to a technical glitch.



Barwadda police station officer-in-charge Ashish Kumar Yadav said the joyride glider dropped on a building just after taking off from the Barwadda airstrip at around 4.50 pm, and it was captured on a camera lens.



Twitter

The glider's cockpit was shattered by a concrete pillar of the house, as shown by the visuals of the accident site.



Residents of building had narrow escape

The plane reportedly fell at the property of Nilesh Kumar near Birsa Munda Park. However, no one from the building got any injuries. Kumar said his two children were playing at the spot but had a narrow escape.



Though initial examination suggests that a technical glitch caused the incident, the officials said the exact cause will be revealed only after a thorough probe.



Elaborating on the incident, ASI SK Mandal of Barwadda Police Station said, "Information was received at the police station that a glider crash had happened near Birsa Munda. Police teams have reached the spot and are stationed there. Two people were injured. And we're further checking."



Injured passenger was on way to uncle's home

Kush Singh, the injured passenger from Patna, was on his way to his maternal uncle Pawan Singh's home in Dhanbad.



The youngster had taken a joyride in a glider operated by a private company from the Barwadda airstrip.



For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A strange incident occurred in the United States wherein a man was arrested for allegedly slapping a woman in the face with a slice of pizza during an argument.

The incident took place last week on Friday in Florida.



Representational Image

Attack during heated argument

According to an arrest affidavit by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the man, identified as Ortelio Lazaro Alfonso, allegedly attacked the woman during a heated debate.



As per a Fox News report, a "911 hang-up" call was received by the cops from a Marion County home about a possible domestic disturbance.



In conversation with the deputies, the 39-year-old suspect revealed that he had an argument with the female victim.



Woman attacked for disciplining individual at home

In contrast, the woman told the officials she had been smashed on the left side of her face with a slice of pizza.

Representational Image

She stated that this happened during an argument after Alfonso became upset when she physically disciplined another individual in the home "on his bottom area".



However, in the affidavit report, there was no mention of the individual whom the woman is accused of disciplining.

Cops found sauce on walls and ceiling

The victim had pizza sauce splashed all over her shirt - on her shirt collar and the back of the shirt, New York Post reported.



Representational Image

She also had "remnants of pizza" in her hair and near her ear. Police officials even found the sauce on the walls and ceiling of the kitchen.



"The defendant advised he did not physically strike the victim with his hands, just with the pizza," the cops noted in the affidavit, as per the publication.



Alfonso was arrested and booked on a battery charge in the Marion County Jail. The 39-year-old was later released on his recognizance.



For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign council in Adamawa State has called for the immediate removal and arrest of the States Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Yunusa Hudu Arri, over manipulation of collation process to favour All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aishatu Dahiru.

The Deputy Director, Southern Adamawa Campaign council, Felix Tangwami made this known at a press briefing, held Thursday, in Yola.

The campaign council said it has refused to join issues with the APC since the commencement of the governorship elections despite the lies it has been peddling to the whole world that Aishatu (Binani) won the elections, a move it said is to gain global sympathy.

Tangwami, however said they are concerned with how the the connivance of the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has thrown the country into disrepute and made mockery of Nigerias electoral process.

His words: The PDP, has reliably gathered that in another attempt to influence the outcome of the rerun elections in the state, INEC has again went ahead to inflate the number of polling units where elections would be held in the state from 69 to 77, against what was officially declared at the end of collation of results at the collation center.

There is no reason why the REC in Adamawa state has not been removed because he has been nabbed in a recorded phone conversation instructing the Presiding officer to manipulate the elections results in favour of the APC candidate.

He has been questioned and he has not denied it. What beats our imagination is how Mahmood Yakubu has not deemed it right to sack him.

We are calling on Mahmood Yakubu, the international community and the world at large to take note of the actions of INEC in Adamawa, Tangwami said.

READ ALSO: Gov. Matawalle Apologises To Zamfarans, Concedes Governorship Election Defeat

As I speak with you today, we have received information that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa state submitted to INEC Headquarters in Abuja that reruns will be held in 77 polling units instead of 69 for governorship which is at variance with what was declared by the returning officer, Mohammed Mele; this means an addition of eight polling units from Hudi Yunusa Ari, Tangwami added.

The returning officer had relied on the electoral guidelines to order for a repeat election in 69 polling units because the ballots at stake exceeded the leading margin, according to him.

The incumbent governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who polled 421,524 votes, as against Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binanis 399,275 votes but could not be declared the winner because of total PVCs collected in the affected units; which is 37,016, as collated by the state Returning Officer, Mele Mohammed.

According to the leaked document made available to Daily Sun, the total number of polling units affected across the state have now shot up to 77 as againt the 69 with an increased total number of 46,949, instead of 41,016 registered voters and 40,171 PVCs collected as againt the 37,016 PVCs collected.

It was clear that there was a connivance between the REC and APC to smuggle a doctored results which was foiled.

Tangwami added that, At the collation center the compromised REC, Hudu Arri, refused to accept the result provided by the Returning officer of Fufore LGAs and resorted to the IREV but still maintained that there was still a third copy of results which was only privy to himself and the APC.

Felix said, even with this outright violation of the electoral process, Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC boss should have sacked the REC.

He however cautioned that, while the state awaits the reruns, the whole world must pay attention to Hudus attempt to introduce new polling units, bumping the numbers to 77 units for elections, against the earlier 69 PUs scheduled for the reruns.
Nairobi  Azimio La Umoja One Kenya has dismissed calls by a section of the clergy to call off the coalition's demonstrations and instead focus on dialogue.

The party leader Raila Odinga defended the protests saying they are aimed at seeking for the truth which is espoused in the Bible.

Quoting John 8:2 in the bible, Odinga insisted that the demonstrations are aimed at agitating for the truth of what unfolded in the August 9 general election.

"We want the truth by opening of the servers to allow for a forensic audit of the election results. We want tangible action to lower the cost of living," he said.

"We are want the reconstitution of the IEBC to be stopped and the reinstatement of IEBC commissioners and the ending of trivialization when it comes to appointments," Odinga added.

The Opposition Leader reiterated that they are not interested in a handshake with President William Ruto as alluded by his close allies.

Odinga emphasized that he cannot engage in a truce with a government which he termed as "illegitimate".

"This is an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans.We cannot and we will not participate in a handshake with an illegitimate regime, "he said.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has asked President William Ruto to engage Azimio leader Raila Odinga in a dialogue to resolve the standoff for the sake of the country's peace.

The truce between the two leaders, they stated, will avert attempts to plunge the country into the risk of violence that will cripple the nation.

The bishops who opposed Odinga's call for mass action urged the former premier to avoid the route of demonstrations that saying dialogue is the best avenue to resolve their differences.

"We believe that dialogue can resolve this dangerous standoff. The two need to establish a common ground to address the ills facing the country and restore sanity we need in our country," said Archbishop Martin Kivuva.

"We plead and ask our President to follow through with his promise to sit with and listen to Mr Odinga and other leaders and come out with reasonable proposals to address the main plights in our country. We also invite Mr Odinga to accept dialogue for the good of the country," added the KCCB Chairperson.
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday sentenced four men to death by hanging for armed robbery and kidnapping of a woman identified as Mrs Gloria Emole.

The convicts  Victor Chukwunonso, Ifeanyi Maduaka, Obinna Nwankwo, and Richard Nwabueze  were sentenced for armed robbery and the kidnapping of a woman, Mrs Gloria Emole.

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The convicts were said to have committed the offences on November 19, 2012, at about 8.30 am. They were arraigned on July 13, 2013, and were remanded in prison custody.

READ ALSO: EFCC Nabs Cleric, 27 Others Over Internet Fraud In Kwara

The convicts were arraigned on a three-count bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping preferred against them by Lagos State.

The state Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, had told the court during their arraignment that they kidnapped the victim who was about to leave her house at 7, Unity Street, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are contrary to and punishable under Sections 297,285 (2) a, and 291, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The victim was later released on November 22, 2012, after a ransom of $70,000 was paid by her husband.

The defendants are sentenced to 10 years for the first count of conspiracy. They are hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the second count of armed robbery and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for the third count of kidnapping, Justice Lawal-Akapo held.
Five persons have been confirmed dead with one missing in Agatu and Otukpo Local Government Areas of Benue state after armed men suspected to be herdsmen militia attacked some communities.

According to The Sun, five persons were killed in two separate attacks on Thursday, 23rd March 2023 while many others were injured.

The attacks were carried out separately at Atakpa and Ogbaulu communities in Agatu LGA where four persons were reportedly killed and several women raped.

It was also gathered that another attack was launched by herders on the Iwili community of Otukpo LGA on Thursday where one person was killed.

READ ALSO: Traders Lament Pollution As Refuse Takes Over Lagos Road

Chairman of Agatu LGA, Joseph Ngbede, who confirmed the attack said that the suspected herders shot randomly at Atakpa by 5pm on Thursday and their mission was unknown.

He said that the youth leader from Atakpa was missing as police was still searching. He added that there was a threat to Ogbalu near Atakpa, the village.

As of now four people were killed, one is missing and another one was injured, Ngbede said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN), in Benue state, Ibrahim Galma, said he was just informed of the Agatu attack and his association were meeting over the incident.

Galma who confirmed that they dont have problem with the Agatu people said We are still in meeting as we speak over the crisis there. I just heard of the Agatu and Otukpo issue and Im trying to find out what went wrong.

The spokesperson for Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack in Agatu but said details of the report have not been received.

Agatu incident is confirmed but the detailed report has not been sent yet, Anene said.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be going off course as he will not be facing any disciplinary panel for alleged anti-party activities as mentioned by the Party.

Ortom who made this known in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur, in Markurdi, said the PDP National Chairman, Iyiorchia Ayu, should be the one to face the Partys disciplinary panel for anti-party activities, not him.

Information Nigeria earlier reported that the PDP referred Ortom to its Disciplinary Committee for alleged anti-party activities.

The Party also suspended the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and a former Senate President/Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, among others.

According to Ortom, Ayu should be explaining to party members how he lost his polling unit, ward, local government and State during the last general elections instead of chasing shadows.

He maintained that his referral to the disciplinary panel over alleged anti-party activities is tantamount to contempt of a subsisting court order, adding that the major opposition party should not be allowed to be ridiculed by some individuals who are bent on destroying the Party for their selfish gains.

The statement reads, Governor Ortom said it is contemptuous of the leadership of the PDP to disregard the Court Order which barred the party or any organ of the party from issuing any disciplinary measure against him.

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Ayu Has Begun Mother Of All Political Wars, Ortom Wont Appear Before Disciplinary Committee  Wike Replies PDP

The case is pending in court and there is an order of injunction restraining any organ of the party from carrying out any disciplinary action against the governor.

This Case is adjourned to 18th April 2023 and so it is baffling to see such a statement coming from the national leadership of the party.

I think the national leadership of our great party is losing its sense of direction.

Instead of the leadership to sit back and think of ways on how to rebuild the party from the ruins of the defeat from the just concluded elections, they are going about chasing imaginary shadows.

In any case, the first person the party should refer to the disciplinary committee should be the national chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

The national chairman lost his polling unit, lost his ward, local government, and even the state.

As if that is not enough, there are strong indications that the national chairman was involved in anti-party activities in Benue State by working for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, just to get at me because of my principled stand against certain aspects of the decisions of the national leadership of the party.
Kisii  President William Ruto has told Azimio leader Raila Odinga to stop 'planning chaos' and prepare for the 2027 contest.

The President, who won the August 2022 election, said he will still defeat Odinga who unsuccessfully challenged the election outcome at the Supreme Court.

"I told you during the campaigns that I would defeat the Opposition leader. And I did so, fair and square," he said during a tour of Kisii on Thursday.

He said demonstrations won't change the fact that last year's elections were conclusively determined and he was legitimately declared President of Kenya.

The President was speaking at Rigoma in Kitutu Masaba, Nyamira County, when he kicked off a three-day visit of Kisii, Nyamira and Migori counties.

Odinga led mass protests on Monday and has vowed to lead the same on Monday and Thursday next accusing the government of failing to bring down the high cost of living. He describes Ruto as an illegitimate president while insisting that he won the election despite having been dismissed by the Supreme Court in his petition.

The President said institutions that have been given the mandate of determining electoral matters, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Supreme Court, fully discharged their roles.

"It is not the supposed invented whistleblower who decides who wins elections. The institutions that have that mandate declared me duly elected President," he said.

President Ruto asked the opposition to end their destructive demonstrations and give him space to transform the country.

"I have a duty to protect the rights of all Kenyans from all threats. I have an obligation to the business owners in various parts of the country whose premises were looted and destroyed by protesters mobilized by reckless and irresponsible politicians."

He said he is ready to work with all elected leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations, to advance the country's development agenda for the benefit of the people.

"The election ended and Kenyans decided who their President is. They should give me space to transform Kenya, create jobs for the youth, empower our farmers to produce more food so that we can eradicate hunger," he said.

He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Eliud Owalo (ICT), Ezekiel Machogu (Education) and Zachariah Njeru (Lands). Others were Governors Simba Arati (Kisii) and Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira), and MPs.

Mr Arati said even though the President is from a different political formation, he will work with him to transform the country and Gusiiland.

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"We can only have one President at a time. You are the President and we must work with you," he said.

Earlier, at Kisii National Polytechnic, the President said the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has been given enough funds for students.

He also said the Government is equipping Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutes (TVET) with computers to elevate them to digital hubs.

"Our goal is to ensure we empower students with digital skills that will prepare them for online job opportunities, " he said.

The President said the government will hire an additional 2,000 TVET tutors to boost TVET institutions.

At Kegati, President Ruto commissioned the Kisii Town Water Supply Project, Kegati Water Treatment Plant. The project will increase the capacity of the Plant from 6,500 to 27,000 cubic meters per day and increase the supply of clean water that meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards in the county. This includes areas that were initially not covered like Suneka, Nyamataro, Egesa, Nyanguru, Kiogoro and Nyakoe.

Later, he commissioned the upgrading to bitumen standard and performance based routine maintenance of Gekano-Rigoma-Amabuko; Ngenyi-Manga-Motemumwamu; Gekano-Girango and Gekano-Muturmesi-Birongo roads. - Presidential Communication Service
Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former Katsina State governor, has given the Peoples Democratic Partys National Working Committe (PDP NWC) 48 hours to reverse his suspension or consider him out of the Party.

The PDP chieftain also asked the NWC to disband what he called the illegal caretaker committee  of the PDP in Katsina and recognise the duly elected executive committee in the State.

Shema, via a letter dated March 24 and addressed to Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman of the Party, said upon failure to rescind the decisions on the two issues he raised, the letter will serve as his formal and official withdrawal of membership from the PDP effective from Saturday, March 25, 2023.

I cannot therefore continue to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Dr. Iyorchia Ayus laws who is duty bound to preserve, protect and defend our constitution within his limited powers.

READ ALSO: My Suspension From PDP Holds No Water  Fayose

It is in the height of these developments that I make the following appeals: Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of unlawful dissolution of Katsina State duly elected Executive Committee and allow them to complete their tenure and disband the purported caretaker committee similar to which so many court decisions in the land have illegalised.

Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of my suspension as a member of our party within the next Forty-Eight (48) hours.

Take notice that failure to effect these two changes above within Forty-Eight (48) hours, this letter serves as the formal and official withdrawal of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective from Saturday 25 March 2023, the letter read in part.
The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state governor, Nyesom Wike, of electoral banditry in the just concluded governorship and state house of assembly election.

In a statement by the APC Chairman and Secretary, Mr. Emeka Beke and Mr. Darlington Nwauju, respectively, the party noted that the election was marred with intimidation, thugs attack, hijack of electoral materials, killings and other electoral offences.

The APC also alleged rigging masterminded by thugs allegedly working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police.

The party expressed sadness that about four of its members died during the election, adding that two were still missing as at the time of this report.

Last Saturdays election in Rivers State was between APC and INEC, the police and Gov Wikes PDP. There was no election in the real sense of it. INEC and the police brazenly worked together to install Gov Wikes PDP candidates as winners of the election.

As a party, we have repeatedly raised the alarm about how Gov Wike, using state resources that belong to Rivers people, to compromise key institutions like INEC and the police. What happened on Saturday was a systemic institutionalised rigging of the elections by Gov Wike with the supposed umpire, INEC and the police actively doing the bidding of Gov Wike.

READ MORE: PDP Crisis: Ayu Has Begun Mother Of All Political Wars, Ortom Wont Appear Before Disciplinary Committee  Wike Replies PDP

Gov Wikes weak and feeble attempt to distance himself from the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu failed abysmally. No amount of spin can change the facts Nigerians know, which is that, there exist an unholy alliance between Gov Wike and the INEC chairman.

Gov Wike is gloating that his PDP won election in Rivers State. But everyone knows that PDP did not win the election in Rivers State. PDP stole the election with the active connivance and participation of INEC and the police. They were brazenly and shamelessly allocated votes.

May we remind Nigerians that the event of March 18th and 19th 2023, which witnessed the suppression of votes, bypass of BVAS, intimidation of voters, outright violence and brutal killings in Rivers State which clearly violates Section 125 and 128 of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended), can never be forgotten or swept under the carpet by a million broadcasts.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerias president-elect following the conduct of the February 25 election, has debunked holding any secret meeting with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola in London, United Kingdom (UK) in order to curry the favour of the judiciary as his opponents battle to nullify his mandate.

Information Nigeria reports that vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed also alleged on Twitter that the president-elect met the CJN in London.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria secretly meeting with Bola Tinubu in London should tell you all you need to know, but you cant buy everyones loyalty with money. This will be a very long and interesting movie, Baba-Ahmed tweeted.

Tinubu, in a statement on Thursday night signed by the Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Bayo Onanuga, said he is currently in France and could not have also been in London holding the said meeting.

Our attention has been drawn to the grossly fake, misleading and malicious story about the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola disguising to meet President-elect Bola Tinubu in London.

The story was a pure concoction from the hallucinating minds of hatchet men bent on creating doubts and public distrust about the legitimacy of our recent election, which was won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

READ ALSO: Patriotic Keyamo Didnt Petition For Mc Oluomos Arrest During Election  Labour Party On Petition Against Obi, Baba-Ahmed

We refute emphatically that there has been no clandestine meeting between the President-elect and the respected Chief Justice of our country, any where. Its pure fabricated news, groundless in fact and authenticity.

To show that the story was a mere salacious fiction, meant to draw traffic to the discredited purveyor, it claimed the Chief Justice left Nigeria for London on 11 March, on a wheel chair to board a plane.

The President-elect left Nigeria on 21 March, 10 clear days thereafter. What kind of appointment or secret meeting will the two men have arranged in London, with so wide disparate arrival dates, except in the imagination of the false news merchants?

We can confirm that the President-elect, who left Nigeria Tuesday has not been in London. He is right now in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022. He will go to London thereafter before proceeding to Mecca for the lesser Hajj.

As we move towards inauguration on 29 May, 2023, Nigerians should expect more false and salacious news from a section of the Nigerian media, on the payroll of the opposition.
The management of Daar Communications, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower radio station has told Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to wait for court ruling before demolishing the building housing the media house.

Information Nigeria had reported that on Monday, governor Wikes government issued a 48-hour notice to Daar Communications, to remove its property from a proposed housing project in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Phase 5 area of Port Harcourt.

Wike said that failure to remove the property, his government would demolish the transmission station of the AIT and Raypower in Ozuoba.

Remi Olu Akerele, Head of Centre, Daar Communications, Port Harcourt, via a statement reacting immediately to the 48-hour notice, urged the government to postpone taking any action until after the courts decision is made April 6, 2023.

She furthered that if the building is destroyed, the fate and way of life of about 80% of the workforce, who were from the Ozuoba community, the host community in the Obio-Akpor local government area, would be impacted.

READ ALSO: Rivers APC Accuses Gov Wike Of Sponsoring Electoral Violence

Though according to her, the notice lacked any additional information and was simply pasted on the buildings wall, she pleaded that the workers should not be fired in order to protect their welfare and the welfare of their families.

It was one of the security guards who saw it and out of curiosity, he brought it to my office. When I saw it, I was surprised that a 48 hours demolition notice was served on us, she said.

She also noted Daar Communications had instituted a court action against the Rivers State Government to stop the demolition of the building.

I just want to appeal to the Governor to have a rethink if not for owners of Daar Communications PLC, but for over 80 percent workforce that are sourced from the locality of Ozuoba host community. We have been in good relationship with them. We have been doing everything humanly possible for the community as a company.

The matter has been taken to Court. We believe that in an idea situation there shouldnt have any action because the case is already in Court. Hearing of the case has been fixed for the 6th of April, she said

It was also found out some buildings inside the broadcasting complex have been marked for demolition.
Alina Soloviova, age 18 from Kyiv (second from left), and Lena Sarazhynska, 16, from Odessa (third from left), left the war and their homes in Ukraine to continue their ballet education at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. Read more

The war in Ukraine has displaced many people from their homes. Among them, four Ukrainian teenagers who moved thousands of miles away from their families to Philadelphia to continue their ballet studies at the Rock School for Dance Education.

Only two of them knew each other. None knew of the Rock aside from seeing photos and videos on Instagram.

They didnt know of the stars that came out of the school, including Christine Shevchenko, a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, who was born in Ukraine and studied at the Rock from age 8.

On a recent Tuesday, Nikita Malaki, 16, from Kyiv; Artem Bilokon, 16, from Kharkov; Lena Sarazhynska, 16, from Odessa; and Alina Soloviova, age 18, from Kyiv, stood at the barres, wearing gray ballet uniforms, blending in with their classmates from the United States and around the world.

Youth America Grand Prix, the largest and most prestigious student ballet competition in the world, had been planning to expand to Ukraine last year. But when Russia invaded, most ballet schools in Ukraine closed and the YAGP pivoted to helping students find training in safer countries.

The four students are settling in to the Rock School, learning English, and continuing their academic studies online through their schools in Ukraine. A fifth student is coming to the Rock soon and two more this summer. Theyll have a cohort, but life is certainly not what it once was.

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Sarazhynska, the youngest of the four, got teary speaking of her family. Her father is still in Odessa, but her mother is in France.

Its very hard to be away from them, Sarazhynska said through Aya Hayken, the Rocks music coordinator, who translated for her.

She keeps calling them and texting them but its very hard to be living away from them, Hayken said.

Soloviova agreed. I really miss my mom, my father, she said in English. I really miss my little brother. My mom and my brother are in Switzerland now. But my older sisters are in Ukraine, where they have jobs.

Malakis family is in Ukraine; his older brother moved to Lithuania before the war. YAGP originally placed him in Switzerland, at the School at Ballet Theater Basel, but that school closed in December after accusations of abuse, so he came to the Rock. Malaki has already been away from home for a year.

YAGP has placed 250 Ukrainian ballet students at 20 schools across the United States and Europe, founder and artistic director Larissa Saveliev said in an email to The Inquirer.

 READ MORE: Ballet students flocked to Peter Stark. And now hes coming to lead Phillys Rock School.

It was important for us to find a school for [Malaki] with an exceptional program that is specifically geared toward male dancers, wrote Saveliev, who is Russian and danced with the Stanislavsky Ballet and the Bolshoi. The Rock School for Dance Education is known as one of the best dance programs for men in the United States.

Malaki and Bilokon knew each other for about six months while attending the same ballet school in Ukraine and now room together in Philadelphia with several other boys.

Bilokon acts cheerful, but he is also worried about his family, all of whom still live in Ukraine, close to the border with Russia.

Many of these students left their homes with little clothing, food, or money  with their pointe shoes or dance attire sometimes being their only possessions, Saveliev wrote. Once they were placed and welcomed at these schools, the students still faced challenges such as housing and food security, language barriers, and had little money for necessities and required dance attire.

Their scholarships at the Rock  and visas  are for a year, but the goal is to get them to graduation so they can audition for ballet companies.

The Rock is similar to their training at home, the students said, in that they have ballet classes for several hours a day. But in Ukraine, they usually study with a single teacher. Here, they have several teachers and are taught a variety of styles.

Most students in Europe, said Peter Stark, president and director of the Rock School, are chosen to study ballet at a young age based on physical characteristics such as length of their limbs and flexibility of their feet. In the United States, anyone can study ballet.

I think that theyre beautiful dancers and beautifully placed dancers with actually stronger upper bodies in general than we have in America, Stark said. But Americans move very fast and with a lot of energy. So I think thats the challenge, like bringing that up.

Soloviova said the changes took some getting used to.

For me, before it was so hard, but now I like it. I think its very nice, very good, because every day we have a new teacher and some new [things to work on].

After graduation, theyll audition for companies throughout Europe or in the United States. American Ballet Theatre is a common goal.

Even if they end up going back to Ukraine, Stark said, turning to the students, I think youre all gonna go back a lot stronger, because youre going to go with new knowledge.
Urban Outfitters Inc. doesnt just want to sell you clothes. It wants to rent them to you for less than $100 a month.

The Philadelphia-based retailer, which also owns the Free People, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters brands, currently has roughly 150,000 active monthly subscribers for Nuuly, its clothing-rental platform. And chief operating officer Frank Conforti recently told Bloomberg that the company is sitting on a billion dollar-plus brand with Nuuly.

The concept of renting a wardrobe isnt new. Rent the Runway launched in 2009 by Harvard Business School grads Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, pioneering the concept that you didnt have to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for covetable wardrobe staples. Instead, you could simply borrow them from a curated selection of high-end pieces. The New York Times dubbed it a Netflix model for haute couture.

Since then, other rental companies have popped up, and individual retailers such as H&M and American Eagle Outfitters have begun offering rental services. Overall, the rental market is valued at about $5 billion and is expected to grow to $10 billion over the next three years, according to GlobalData research cited by Bloomberg.

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The option to rent clothing is seen as a more sustainable answer to fast-fashion brands, which are often criticized for turning out new inventory quickly and using synthetic fabrics. Chinese brand Shein produces 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, Time reported.

Nuuly  launched 10 years after Rent the Runway  sends subscribers six items from their closet for $88 a month, with the option to add up to two bonus items for $20 each. At the end of the month, customers send back their items in the prepaid Nuuly packaging and await their next order. Subscriptions can be paused at any time.

Nuuly subscribers may also purchase any item theyve received in their Nuuly order, and the platform has a thrift section where shoppers can list and purchase secondhand items themselves, similar to the resale app Poshmark.

The company processes 6,000 orders a day at a warehouse in Levittown, Bloomberg reported, and earnings reports show the brands revenue nearly topped $130 million for the 12 months ending Jan. 31.

Rent the Runway offers three subscriber tiers starting at $69 for your first trial month, which allows you to order five items a month worth up to $350 each. After the first-month trial, Rent the Runways highest tier runs subscribers $193 per month for five items at a time, up to 15 per month, with up to three shipments each month.

But both Rent the Runway and Urban have faced recent headwinds. Rent the Runway debuted with a valuation of $1.7 billion in October 2021, but the companys stock was down 90% a year later, and customers slammed the company on social media over frequent delays and quality issues. Hyman, the CEO, cited significant changes to our operation in an email to customers as a reason for the issues. Shares closed at $2.35 on Tuesday,, down from the stocks high of $17.25 on its IPO.

Urban Outfitters, which was founded in 1970 by University of Pennsylvania students Richard Hayne, Judy Wicks, and Scott Belair, has struggled since its market capitalization hit a high of nearly $4.9 billion in 2018. Despite performing well during the coronavirus pandemic, due in part to a boost in online sales, investor confidence has waned in the aging brand, and its valuation has dipped to nearly half of that peak to $2.4 billion.

Nuuly has attracted more new customers than it has converted existing customers of Urbans other brands, the company told Bloomberg. The company is expanding Nuulys footprint beyond the Levittown warehouse by adding a $60 million fulfillment center outside of Kansas City, Mo.
BERKELEY, Calif.  The first course was a celery root soup lush with whole milk. The last was a spice cake topped with maple cream cheese frosting served with a side of ice cream. And then a latte with its fat cap of glossy foam. In all, a delicious lunch. Maybe a little heavy on the dairy.

Only this dairy was different. It was not the product of a cow or soybean or nut. The main ingredient of this milk was made by microbes in a lab, turned into tasty and recognizable food, and then served to a hungry reporter.

Lab-grown meat is coming. But lab-grown dairy has already arrived.

Dozens of companies have sprouted up in recent months to develop milk proteins made by yeasts or fungi, including Perfect Day, the California-based dairy company that laid out this unusual spread. The companies products are already on store shelves in the form of yogurt, cheese, and ice cream, often labeled animal-free. The burgeoning industry, which calls itself precision fermentation, has its own trade organization, and big-name food manufacturers such as Nestle, Starbucks, and General Mills have already signed on as customers.

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The rapid advancement in this area has sparked hope for a revolution in the dairy industry, and not just because its kinder to the cows. Precision dairy doesnt have cholesterol, lactose, growth hormones, or antibiotics (though those with dairy allergies should beware). And cattle, for beef or dairy, is said to be the No. 1 agricultural source of greenhouse gases worldwide. Consumers concerned about climate change or animal welfare have been anticipating the U.S. launch of cultivated meat, which is grown in labs from animal cells, but cultivated dairy could have just as much of an impact on the environment  with fewer regulatory hurdles to clear.

Despite widespread acceptance of soy, oat, and almond milk, U.S. consumers, even vegan ones, continue to be underwhelmed by plant-based cheese options: Mostly made of starch and oil, they often lack the flavor or texture (no gooey strings, not enough bounce) of real cheese. And cheese is especially bothersome for the environment, more so than its liquid counterpart: Making one pound of cheese requires 10 pounds (or about five quarts) of cows milk. The World Economic Forum and many scientific reports suggest cheese generates the third-highest emissions in agriculture after beef and lamb.

For Ryan Pandya, chief executive of Perfect Day, those are the problems he's solving. But it really started as a bagel problem.

Studying chemistry and bioengineering at Tufts, he'd gone vegetarian but still had a craving and taste for animal products.

"I had a bagel with vegan cream cheese that was so bad that it led me to investigate. What's so hard about this? A lot of dairy alternatives are not made of food," he said with a wince.

He hit upon a process called precision fermentation, similar to what has been used for decades to brew beer, make insulin for diabetic patients, or produce rennet for cheese.

"Rather than using 22nd-century technology to produce meat, we're using 20th-century technology to produce milk protein," he said.

There are bubbling stainless steel fermentation tanks, software that maintains temperatures, agitator motors and oxygenators. And after the microbes eat their sugar solution and are programmed to make the desired proteins, there's a lengthy process to separate the milk protein from the medium, then to wash it and dry it in a spray dryer so the powder can be used to make food.

Beyond the fermentation process, making usable milk proteins is similar to that at regular cow dairies, which have stainless steel tanks, spray dryers and freeze dryers, pasteurizers and vacuum pumps, chillers and steamers. "We get to the same powder, but these are the cows," said Irina Gerry, chief marketing officer at Change Foods in Palo Alto, Calif., pointing to the fermenters in their San Jose lab.

The worlds demand for dairy keeps going up. But its not necessarily for liquid milk. The cheese category has grown 19% since 2017, according to Mintels Future of Cheese 2022 report, with plant-based versions making up a minuscule part of that market.

General Mills, which produces household brands such as Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Annies, Nature Valley, and Haagen-Dazs, launched a series of Bold Cultr cream cheeses, first using precision-dairy milk proteins from Perfect Day, then from Israeli foodtech start-up Remilk. (Last month, General Mills said it was deprioritizing funding for these cream cheeses, so its future is uncertain.) Perfect Days ingredients are being used in Brave Robot ice cream in the United States; Modern Kitchen cream cheese in the United States; California Performance Co. protein powder in the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong; and Coolhaus ice cream products in the United States and Singapore.

Perfect Day, the first to market in the United States, is also partnering with Mars, Nestle, Starbucks, Graeters, and other companies to provide milk protein for products. At its Berkeley, Calif., facility, it has fermentation and separations teams, analytics and regulatory experts, legal and logistics teams, as well as two full-time chefs to prototype products and dishes in a sleek exhibition kitchen. In addition to its Berkeley facility, the company operates a 90,000-square-foot production facility in Bangalore, India, and a 58,000-square-foot factory in Salt Lake City.

Precision dairy's growth has to happen fast to be price competitive with traditional animal dairy and to gain widespread adoption, said Ravi Jhala, Perfect Day's global head of commercial. Recent bobbles in plant-based meat sales are a cautionary tale.

But will customers buy it? It is delicious? Most of the 28 precision dairy companies gearing up globally are selling their milk proteins as ingredients to other food companies, so the finished products are only as good as the food companies making them. That could be a recipe for a sad schmear or pint, something that could turn shoppers off to the whole category.

Traditional cow dairy has pushed back against plant-based milks using words like milk or cheese in a series of largely unsuccessful lawsuits. At the end of February, the FDA announced that oat, soy, and almond drinks can keep the word milk in their names, but squabbles around precise language will likely recur when more of these precision dairy products reach the market.

The International Dairy Foods Association opposes any explicit or implicit use of the term dairy for precision products without qualification in their marketing and merchandising, said spokesperson Matt Herrick.

"Our position is that FDA must develop a uniform, mandated disclosure approach to this technology to ensure labeling is truthful and not misleading for consumers," he said.

Development of these products comes at a time when there's huge interest in finding alternative protein sources to feed a skyrocketing global population more sustainably. Still, for an industry in its infancy, the way forward could have significant roadblocks.

The dairy industry, with its clout and hefty lobbying budget, may not agree there is room for everyone: In 2022, U.S. cow dairy had ceded 16 % of all retail milk sales to plant based, according to data from SPINS and the Plant Based Foods Association.

Plant-based milk companies also may not welcome the competition, especially if cultivated dairy products are positioned as more sustainable and less resource-intensive. (A glass of almond milk takes 23 gallons of water to produce, according to the nonprofit Water Footprint Network.)

The industry is also likely to run up against Americans' increasing discomfort with processed food. The cow dairy industry and plant-based companies could team up to paint these newcomers as Franken-foods made by mad scientists in a lab.

And the regulatory path ahead is not assured for this fledgling industry. As a comparison, CBD-infused food and drink products burst onto the scene a few years ago as more states decriminalized marijuana and hemp. But after deliberation, in January, the FDA refused to regulate it and asked Congress to step in. For now it's still illegal, and CBD food companies are in limbo.
NEW YORK  Sitting before a large mirror in a cubicle in East Harlem, a man in his mid-40s tied a length of elastic around his arm and began searching for a vein.

He made no effort to hide his next step: injecting himself with illicit fentanyl  an often deadly opioid, far more powerful than heroin.

A medical worker watched the mans reflection from a desk in a room set up like a call center  but for the strategically placed mirrors, the neatly stacked sterile syringes and crack pipes, the crash cart with oxygen tanks and overdose-reversing medication.

The man, who asked not to be identified to protect his privacy, has been addicted to opioids since 2019. He used to use alone, in his car, sometimes blacking out and then waking up to find hed been robbed. But here in the supervised consumption site at OnPoint NYC, when he overdosed, he woke up with an oxygen mask on his face. He credits his life to OnPoint, the first officially sanctioned place in America where people in addiction can use drugs under medical supervision.

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Today, testing his drugs at OnPoint, he discovered a higher dose of fentanyl than he expected. Staff had shown him how to divide his drugs into smaller doses and inject slowly to avoid an overdose.

It makes me feel good that I can test it out, and definitely safer, he said. People who are [using drugs]  its not something that we choose. But this is where were at.

The concept of supervised drug consumption is on shaky legal terrain in the United States. Federal courts so far have blocked a years-long effort to open such a facility in Philadelphia, which has some of the nations highest urban overdose death rates. But just 90 miles north, New York City  in a different federal judicial district where the recent court rulings do not apply  has launched two sites, in East Harlem and Washington Heights.

The results: Since November 2021, the sites together have served more than 2,100 experienced drug users more than 50,000 times, with 672 overdoses treated. No one has died at the centers. Without these facilities, many of these overdoses would have been deadly unless somebody with a dose of Narcan happened to be present.

New Yorks program is a testing ground for one of the most controversial responses to an overdose crisis that killed a record 106,000 people nationally in 2021.

 READ MORE: How do sites for supervised drug use work? A primer.

In Philadelphia, settlement talks that could pave the way to a supervised injection site opening here continue in a lawsuit between the government and Safehouse, the nonprofit that has proposed opening such a facility.

But political and community concerns still loom. Pennsylvanias incoming governor, Josh Shapiro, opposes the facilities. Intense community opposition kept a site from opening in South Philadelphia in 2020, and skeptical neighbors in Kensington, another possible location for a site, have asked for more say in discussions around a site opening.

New Yorks sites have also faced controversy, with some neighbors worrying that the sites are overburdening neighborhoods that already deal with heavy drug use and dealing.

Meanwhile, staff and clients at OnPoint say they are proving that an approach used in dozens of countries can also be an effective tool against the U.S. overdose crisis. Supporters stress that the goal of such facilities is to keep drug users alive in a deadly overdose crisis  so that they can act with autonomy, including pursuing addiction treatment. (Research continues on the long-term impact of supervised consumption sites in the United States. But the limited research on forcing people into drug treatment rather than waiting for them to choose it suggests that the practice is often ineffective and potentially dangerous.)

What we have now is a health intervention that keeps people alive, said Sam Rivera, OnPoints executive director. And it should be all over the country.

An overdose in here doesnt look like an overdose out in the community

As temperatures dropped on a recent afternoon, OnPoints drop-in center was bustling with clients looking to get out of the cold. Some went to the health clinic on 126th Street, just off Park Avenue in East Harlem, to exchange used syringes for clean ones at the front desk; others sat in armchairs sipping coffee.

To the handful lined up to use the consumption facility, a staffer provided a list of questions: What kind of drugs did they plan to use today? How did they plan to consume them?

For six years before the site opened here in what had been a traditional syringe exchange, health clinic staff used to set timers on the bathrooms for a few minutes at a time. Clients would go in alone to use drugs. After the timer went off and a client was still behind closed doors, staff would check on them.

Now, with support from former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and his successor, Eric Adams, clients can use drugs within direct view of staff specially trained to spot an overdose. At the East Harlem clinic, mirrors and bright lights even help clients to more accurately find veins.

A sealed-off room with a two-door airlock system and air filters to dispel smoke is particularly popular among an older crowd that uses stimulants such as crack, a smokable form of cocaine.

Participants who inject their drugs receive sterile syringes; those who smoke get sterile pipes and rubber mouthpieces to prevent burns and the spread of diseases.

There are safety rules. For example, clients must tell staff at the front door if they plan to split a dose with another participant.

None of the participants are first-time drug users. But staff do offer safety tips, like avoiding injecting in the neck or in other large arteries.

Sometimes, staff will help clients find a vein, as missing a vein is one of the most common causes of infections among people who inject drugs. Participants, however, must push the syringes plunger themselves, said Rayce Samuelson, the morning manager at the East Harlem site, which is officially called the Overdose Prevention Center.

After clients use their drugs, staff watch closely for signs of an overdose: eyes rolling back in the head, discoloration of the face or mouth, arms extending downward, or the head sagging.

Acting swiftly saves lives and also results in better treatment. Some 85% of overdoses at the clinic were treated with only oxygen, which has fewer side effects than the reversal drug naloxone.

Naloxone is most commonly delivered via a nasal spray in 4-milligram doses  lifesaving, but also high enough to send a drug user into severe withdrawal. That painful experience often leads to more drug use and potential overdose. When clients do need naloxone at OnPoint, staff usually deliver a lower dose by injection into a muscle.

An overdose in here doesnt look like an overdose out in the community, Samuelson said. We know how long someones been out. Theres no question about how long they havent been breathing.

Phillys legal fight

Four years ago, New York and Philadelphia both started exploring the supervised injection site concept.

In New York, city leaders helped to pick a site. DiBlasio suggested the Washington Heights clinic  already offering syringe exchange services  as a potential location in an area where drug use and fatal overdoses were frequent. His health department ran community outreach operations, but the programs landlord at the time revoked the programs lease even before any such operation could open. (The Washington Heights facility has since found a new lease.)

In Philadelphia, city officials said they would allow  but not fund or operate  a supervised consumption site. When legal challenges began, city officials wrote a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the sites but directed most questions to Safehouse, the nonprofit thats been fighting in court to open one.

 READ MORE: After another delay in a decision on supervised injection sites, Shapiro says he still opposes them

The Philadelphia location question was more complicated than in New York. Syringe exchanges are not legal in Pennsylvania, and the few providing such services do so only at the discretion of local officials.

Still, in late 2018, advocates in Philadelphia announced that they were forming Safehouse, and were swiftly sued by the U.S. Department of Justice in a case argued by then-U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain. The Trump appointee argued that such facilities violated the so-called crackhouse statute  a 1980s-era law, sponsored by then-Sen. Joe Biden, prohibiting maintaining places for the consumption of drugs.

Safehouse scored an early legal victory when a federal judge ruled the proposed site wouldnt violate the statute because its primary goal was preventing overdose deaths and not providing a place for drug users to inject. The nonprofit identified a medical facility in South Philadelphia in February 2020 for a site.

But when residents protested, Safehouses landlord pulled its lease before the site could open  much like in Washington Heights. Later that year, a federal appellate court encompassing Philadelphia ruled that the sites were illegal, though the legal battle continues.

New York, which is in a separate judicial district, moved ahead with its plans, and two clinic locations opened late in 2021. This time, with Biden in the White House, the federal government did not sue. The sites exist in a legal gray area  with the government making no efforts to prosecute staff, but no definitive ruling on its legality in its own judicial district.

Around the country, the concept has advanced slowly, often with similar controversy.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill last April that would have legalized supervised injection sites there. In Rhode Island, the state legislature passed a law permitting supervised consumption sites in 2021; they are expected to open next year, funded by settlements in lawsuits against opioid manufacturers.

OnPoint had hoped to use opioid settlement funds as well, but earlier in December, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul rejected the idea, leaving it to rely on private donations.

People deserve to be alive

A year after the sites opening, not all residents are happy with the operation. Neighbors in East Harlem have complained that open-air drug use has increased in the area, a claim that Rivera rejects. After all, he points out, clients were using drugs in OnPoints bathrooms for six years when it was only a clinic offering syringe exchange.

In Washington Heights, commuter advocates have asked whether the site can stay open for longer to encourage more people to use drugs inside instead of on subway platforms. (East Harlems site is open five days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the Washington Heights site has similar hours during the week and accepts participants from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.)

Mayor Adams has said he wants to open more sites in the city.

Rivera is struggling to keep OnPoint funded, however, and wishes he could stay open round the clock. In recent weeks, he said, two regular participants died from overdoses while a site was closed.

We havent lost one person in the overdose prevention center. But we get the calls on Monday mornings when we return here, saying we lost another participant because the site wasnt open. Its just brutal, he said. People deserve to be alive.
Two New Jersey moms say they were administered prenatal drug tests without their consent and that poppy seed bagels they ate caused them to fail. In turn, they were each reported for possible neglect or abuse. Now, with the help of the ACLU, they're suing. File photo of an everything bagel. Read more

Two New Jersey moms are suing the hospitals where they gave birth for being drug tested without their consent ahead of their deliveries. They each say they ate a poppy seed bagel, causing a false positive result and the hospitals to report the women for possible neglect or abuse.

Through the American Civil Liberties Union, the mothers  referred to in their complaints as Kate L. and Kaitlin K.  say both hospitals violated New Jerseys antidiscrimination laws. They are asking the state Division on Civil Rights to order the hospitals to stop drug testing expectant mothers without their permission and to create policies and staff training related to drug testing.

No one should be subjected to unnecessary and nonconsensual drug tests. Our clients are sending a clear message to hospitals that these testing and reporting policies are unacceptable, ACLU-NJ staff attorney Molly Linhorst said. Discriminatory testing policies like these upend what should be a time of joy for families, and so often subject them to further trauma and unwarranted investigation by the state.

In their complaints, Kate and Kaitlin describe emotional trauma superseding what was supposed to be a happy occasion.

A pregnancy craving turns into shattered trust in doctors

For Kate, who craved everything bagels  which are rolled in sesame seeds, garlic, salt, poppy seeds, and other ingredients  throughout her pregnancy, picking up a bagel was routine, including on Sept. 20, 2022, when she was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center.

Kate ended up having an emergency C-section, and her baby was placed in the NICU, according to the complaint. The mother says hospital staff kept her and her husband in the dark about her urine sample being tested for drugs and showing up positive for opiates. They didnt know they were being investigated or why their newborn was still being monitored.

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Citing internal policy, the attending doctor told Kate and her husband that the hospital was conducting an investigation and contacted the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency to report the mother for possible child abuse and neglect, the lawsuit said. She says it has shattered her trust in medical professionals.

I felt like the doctors were questioning my character and parenting skills, Kate said in a statement published by the ACLU. Im terrified of ever going to a hospital again; Im always going to worry that our family could be torn apart. Thats why we are doing all we can to stop this from happening to anyone else.

I feel violated

Kaitlin also ate a poppy seed bagel on Oct. 20, 2022, before being admitted to Virtua Voorhees Hospital to give birth to her second child. Like Kate, she said she did not know her urine sample was being tested for drugs and returned positive opiate results. Despite her newborn testing negative for opiates, the hospital followed its internal protocol, contacting the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Before being allowed to come home, agents interviewed Kaitlins 7-year-old son, who was with a family friend while she was in the hospital. Two months later, Kaitlin said the agency conducted another home visit and she was subjected to follow-up drug tests. The agency visited a third time in December before concluding the allegations of abuse were unfounded.

I feel violated. This whole ordeal has been extremely stressful and has turned our lives upside down, she said. Now, because of what happened, I live in fear of medical tests and how they might be used against me as a mother.

ACLU says prenatal drug testing is discriminatory and racially biased

The ACLU says drug testing pregnant patients without their knowledge or consent is discriminatory and discouraged by health-care providers because it can deter people from seeking care throughout and after their pregnancy. The group says hospital drug tests thresholds often have lower thresholds for substance detection than federal guidelines.

In Kaitlins case, her drug test had a threshold for opiate levels 200 times lower than federal regulations. Lawsuits have been filed across the country for similar hospital practices. In Pennsylvania, a class-action lawsuit was filed in 2020 against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Allegheny County regarding pregnant women being drug tested without their consent.

The ACLU also says that the hospitals drug tests are racially biased. Reports show that health-care professionals are more likely to drug test pregnant Black women and their babies than white women. While Kates and Kaitlins races werent disclosed, Kates complaint says her doctor told her that this sometimes happens to women of color.

Both hospitals have declined to comment on the lawsuits specifically. A spokesperson for Virtua told the Washington Post that it is dedicated to providing safe, comprehensive, and equitable care to the community and fully committed to reviewing this matter.

Can poppy seeds really cause a positive drug test?

Eating poppy seeds and failing a drug test is a popular trope in pop culture. Its even the premise of a Seinfeld episode, where Elaine eats a poppy seed muffin and fails a urine test.

While poppy seeds dont directly contain opium, they can become contaminated with opiates from the milky material the seed pod covers them with when harvested, the University of Florida Health says.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency says the phenomenon is possible and that its hard to say how long the results will show in your system. As noted by the Guardian, the U.S. Department of Defense warned service members not to consume foods with poppy seeds before drug tests.
Joseph Meloche, the superintendent of the Cherry Hill School District, will take over in Rose Tree Media on July 1, with a $245,000 salary. Read more

The Rose Tree Media school board on Thursday approved a contract for Cherry Hill Superintendent Joseph Meloche, who will take over the Delaware County district July 1.

Under the five-year contract, Meloche will be paid a salary of $245,000 to oversee the district, which enrolls about 4,000 students. Cherry Hill, where Meloche was paid $204,324 last year, enrolls about 10,500.

The Board of School Directors was impressed with Dr. Meloches wealth of knowledge in all areas of school district leadership, Theresa Napson-Williams, president of the Rose Tree Media board, said in a statement. He has a proven track record as a thoughtful and innovative leader who will seek continual improvement for our district while being mindful of children first, always.

Meloche, who has served as Cherry Hills superintendent since 2015, was named superintendent of the year by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators in 2021. A graduate of Cherry Hill schools, he has been an educator for 30 years.

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The Rose Tree Media board said it selected Meloche after a national search to replace former superintendent Eleanor DiMarino-Linnen, who retired in 2022. Rose Tree Media is currently led by Acting Superintendent William Dougherty.

Meloche said in a statement released by Rose Tree Media that he was thrilled to join the dedicated faculty and staff of the Rose Tree Media School District. There has been such a discernible sense of pride throughout this process, reflecting the heart of the educational community. I am excited to begin meeting students, families, staff members, and community members as we embark on this journey together.

Meloches contract in Cherry Hill runs through 2026. The school board there is expected to vote on his submission of departure March 28, and will then determine a timeline and next steps for naming a replacement at an April 11 meeting.

Staff writer Melanie Burney contributed to this article.
Nairobi  President William Ruto on Thursday made three new appointments in his Executive Office office where he named three top advisors.

In a surprise move, the president named immediate former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto as Advisor, Legal Affairs and Agnes Odhiambo, the former Controller of Budget, as Head of Government Delivery Services.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party National Organising Secretary Karisa Nzai Munyika was named Advisor, Political Affairs.

Ogeto had served in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime since 2018 and was instrumental in his defence at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

During the 2022 elections of August, Ogeto was among officials said to have gone to the Bomas National Tallying Centre to persuade the then electoral Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati to declare Opposition Chief Raila Odinga as a winner of the election in what ended up to the tribunal that dismissed one of the four commissioners who disowned results declaring President William Ruto as the winner.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the appointments were "in support of the administration's strategic goals".

"The governance and delivery functions will augment the existing institutional framework and aim to promote accountability, transparency, productivity and openness in the management of public affairs," Koskei said.

Ruto has largely dismissed officials who served his former boss, apart from two cabinet Secretaries Simon Chelugui and Monica Juma who were retained in the new administration.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks in West Philadelphia's Parkside neighborhood. When Councilmember Kendra Brooks joined City Council over three years ago, she introduced a resolution calling for hearings on rent control. Read more

When Councilmember Kendra Brooks joined City Council over three years ago, she introduced a resolution calling for hearings on rent control.

During the pandemic, Brooks and her colleagues shifted to focus on eviction prevention and it is only now, as the mayoral and Council races heat up, that she is coming back to rent regulation.

We see rent prices continue to skyrocket, Brooks told a scrum of tenants and activists outside City Hall before the long-awaited rent control hearing Wednesday. We also see the prices of goods and services going up, but we dont see it going up in our pockets. Its time to return to this conversation about rent control.

Philadelphias median gross rent is $1,149, according to the latest Census figures.

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When Brooks was elected in 2019, she and district representative Jamie Gauthier were the only two renters on City Council. In a city that many experts believe could become majority renter by the end of this decade  the percentage of homeowners fell to 52% from over 58% in 2006  their focus on tenant issues is symbolic of Philadelphias shifting housing politics.

But absent a progressive sweep of the mayoral and City Council elections, rent regulation faces a difficult path in Philadelphia. At a recent mayoral candidate forum on development, every candidate except Helen Gym unequivocally rejected the idea.

What is rent control?

When most people think of rent control, they imagine rigid forms of regulation from the early 20th century that froze rents during times of particular stress, such as the housing shortage after World War II. Its that kind of rent control  with strict monetary caps  that most economists argue against and that most opponents form their arguments around.

Thats not what most rent regulation looks like in the United States today. In New York City, about 20,000 units are still under strict rent control, while half the citys rental units are protected by rent stabilization policies where a municipal board sets the percent that rents can be increased by annually.

Most forms of rent regulations exempt small landlords. New construction is usually exempted, too, partly because newly built apartments tend to be marketed to higher-income people and partly because most policymakers dont want disincentives for new construction. In New York, rent stabilization applies only to buildings from before 1974; in San Francisco the date is 1979. A new law in St. Paul, Minn., was quickly amended to adopt a rolling window that exempts new construction for 20 years.

Rent regulations also usually feature vacancy decontrol, which is meant to allow landlords to raise rents more dramatically between tenants. Tenants groups have long argued this is abused, effectively removing units from regulation by sending rents soaring between occupants. New York recently ensured increases cannot spike wildly, while still giving landlords a cushion to make repairs.

The debate in Philadelphia

During Wednesdays three-hour hearing in Philadelphia, Brooks and her colleagues heard testimony from tenants, local advocates, and experts from New York City.

Industry voices were relegated to the public comment section. Arguments against rent control included critiques that it would limit new construction, deter reinvestment in properties, and drive units out of the rental market as owners sell their properties.

Smaller landlords spoke against the idea in especially vituperative terms, sometimes denouncing other tenant-friendly bills that City Council passed in recent years such as lead paint and bedbug regulations.

The city [has been] sticking their hands in my pocket, and in the pocket of other landlords, said Stanley Daniel, who estimated that he had rented to 600 Philadelphia tenants over the last 15 years. Instead of passing all kinds of silly legislation that affects the rents, you guys should look at our side of the story before you make decisions.

Landlords with only a few units testified that they would not have been able to rehab their buildings or save for their retirements if they had been rent-regulated.

That echoed mayoral candidate Allan Dombs argument against rent control at the mayoral forum on development, in which he stated that 90% of Philadelphia landlords were individual mom and pops as opposed to jurisdictions like California where 70% of rentals were owned by corporate operations. (Domb, a former Council member who resigned to run for mayor, himself falls in the latter category.)

At Brooks hearing, a variety of other interest groups testified against the idea of rent control as well, including the Building Owners and Managers Association, the General Building Contractors Association and the Building Industry Association, which represents residential developers.

Economists ranging from Milton Friedman to Paul Krugman are opposed to the regulation of rents, said Andre Del Valle, of the Pennsylvania Apartment Association. Rent control will lead to a misallocation of limited resources as many housing suppliers will not invest in the routine maintenance of their property as they cannot charge market rents to offset those costs.

Rent control proposals around the U.S.

Rent control has been gaining traction around the country in recent years. In 2019 Oregon and California passed laws that limited rent gouging, while New York state tightened its rent regulations to preserve affordability in New York City and allow smaller municipalities to adopt their own regulations. A member of Philadelphias Harrisburg delegation, state Sen. Jimmy Dillon, plans to introduce a rent regulation bill soon, too.

At the municipal level, the policy is under active consideration in Minneapolis and Boston where Mayor Michelle Wu ran on a platform that include regulating rent gouging. In 2021, St. Paul, Minn., adopted an aggressive policy that set a hard ceiling on yearly rental increases and included new construction. (It has since been moderated.)

We need to lift wages and bring costs down, said Dillon, a Democrat from Northeast Philadelphia, at Brooks hearing.

Dillon said the bill would apply to landlords who own more than 15 units. It would not apply to new construction for 10 years and would only limit dramatic rent spikes, patterned after the California and Oregon legislation.

As landlords have scrambled to recoup their losses during the pandemic, rent prices have skyrocketed, Dillon said. Ive heard stories from constituents about their monthly rates being increased 50% over what they were just paying one year ago. This isnt right; this isnt fair.

What rent control studies say

The scholarship around rent regulations is complicated. A San Francisco study found that rent control limited displacement in the short run but prompted a substantial minority of landlords to sell their units, thus removing stock from the rental market. Studies of Massachusetts found that rent control similarly encouraged some landlords to sell their properties, while ensuring that existing renters had longer tenures in their units and preventing huge price spikes unrelated to property reinvestment.

The evidence of such laws hampering new construction is lacking, because rent regulations usually only affect older buildings. But the evidence is strong for it protecting existing tenants and stabilizing neighborhoods that might otherwise see massive demographic shifts due to reinvestment.

Thats what the rhetoric used by both Brooks and her allies highlights. They argue for rent controls potential as a means of ensuring income diversity and stable tenancy in neighborhoods that are seeing real estate investment and demographic change. (Its efficacy in low-income neighborhoods that are not seeing reinvestment is a different question.)

Do you know what rent control is about to us? Neighborhood stabilization, said Brooks. Its past time we approach rent control as a strategy to violence prevention, to homeless prevention, and to community empowerment, because affordable communities are strong communities.
PARIS  Ongoing unrest across France and calls for a new round of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macrons pension plan persuaded officials to postpone a planned state visit next week by Britains King Charles III.

While a clear disappointment to the royal palace, the decision is also a bad sign for Macron. The 45-year-old leader is increasingly detested by protesters and contested in parliament, and seen as oblivious to Frances souring mood as he sticks to his positions. And thats now hurting his global image, too.

Charles had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday to celebrate France and Britains renewed friendship. But the protests and strikes against Macrons decision to raise Frances retirement age from 62 to 64 promised to impact his visit, with some workers refusing to roll out the red carpet for the kings arrival.

Violence soared during Thursdays ninth union-organized nationwide marches. Over 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond, and hundreds of police and demonstrators were injured, as gatherings nationwide drew more than a million people.

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There were scattered protest actions on Friday. Train traffic was slowed, rows of trucks blocked access to Marseilles port for several hours and debris littered the streets of Paris.

Macron has made the proposed pension changes the priority of his second term, arguing they are needed to keep the pension system from diving into deficit as France, like many richer nations, faces lower birth rates and longer life expectancy.

Anger over the plan has increasingly turned into broader opposition to Macrons leadership. His insistence this week that the retirement measure be implemented by the end of the year prompted critics to describe him as self-satisfied and out of touch.

During his first term, Macrons government made other changes it said would make Frances labor market more flexible and revitalize the economy. Those included making it easier to hire and fire workers, cutting business taxes, and making it more difficult for the unemployed to claim benefits.

Critics argue the changes fray a social safety net seen as central to Frances way of life.

Countries across Europe have been raising pension ages. Retirement rules vary widely from country to country, making direct comparisons difficult. The official retirement age in the U.S. is now 67.

Macrons plan involves multiple adjustments to Frances complex pension system. It would also require French people to work 43 years to earn a full pension, or wait until they turn 67, as the law now calls for. Opponents have proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies.

The government refused to consider those, however, and forced the bill through parliament last week, using a constitutional power, and the text is now being reviewed by Frances Constitutional Council. The forced passage further angered Macrons critics.

Macron condemned the violent behavior at some protests, saying violence has no place in a democracy.

He said common sense and friendship required delaying King Charles visit, adding that it likely would have become a protest target, creating a detestable situation.

It wouldnt be reasonable to hold a state visit in the middle of protests, the French leader told a news conference after a summit in Brussels. He said he took the initiative to call Charles on Friday morning, and that the visit likely would be rescheduled for the summer.

Charles and Queen Consort Camilla planned to visit both France and Germany during the kings first trip abroad as Britains monarch. He still plans to go to Germany.

Charles had been scheduled to visit the city of Bordeaux on Tuesday, coinciding with the tenth round of nationwide strikes and protests. The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorized demonstration.

Bordeaux wine industry officials expressed regret that Charles would not visit next week, but were glad the visit would still happen.

We are of course disappointed Charles wont come now but we clearly understand why, said Cecile Ha of the Bordeaux Wine Council. We are looking forward to welcoming him at the end of summer, which is great time for the vineyards as they are very lively at this time of year before the harvests.

French authorities have blamed radicals for the protest destruction. But Europes main human rights body, the Council of Europe, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), and media watchdog Reporters Without Borders also raised concern Friday about violence by police against what has been a largely peaceful movement.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday that investigations are under way into 11 complaints of excessive violence by police this week.

He added that 1,000 trash bins were set on fire in the French capital; overflowing garbage cans have become a symbol of the protests during a weeks-long strike by sanitation workers.

Fires in Paris that were intentionally lit in narrow or inaccessible alleys on Thursday night alarmed both city officials and residents. Firefighters and residents worked to tame the flames that rose to the second story of an apartment building in the chic Palais Royal area.

Oil refineries have been another target. On Friday, emboldened protesters blockaded the Fos-sur-mer oil depot near Marseille to stop trucks from entering and leaving. However, fuel supplies to Paris from the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed after police intervened.

Fearing disruptions in coming days, Frances Civil Aviation Authority requested the cancellation of one-third of flights at Paris second airport, Orly, on Sunday, and 20% on Monday.
BEIRUT  A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria, and U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, the Pentagon said. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

While its not the first time the U.S. and Iran have traded strikes in Syria, the attack and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim. The drone hit a coalition base in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka. The wounded included five American service members and a U.S. contractor.

Austin said the strikes were a response to the drone attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

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Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy. The U.S. has had forces in northeast Syria since 2015, when they deployed as part of the fight against the Islamic State group, and maintains some 900 troops there, working with Kurdish-led forces that control around a third of Syria.

The U.S. airstrikes hit targets in three towns in eastern Syria, activists said. Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iranian-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

According to a defense official, the U.S. counter strikes were conducted by F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

According to a U.S. official, the U.S. F-15s struck three locations, all in the vicinity of Deir el-Zour.

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in the province, said the American strikes killed four people and wounded a number of others, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, put the death toll from U.S. strikes at 11 Iranian-backed fighters  including six at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour and five others at military posts near the towns of Mayadeen and Boukamal.

Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Observatory said three rockets were fired earlier Friday at al-Omar oil field in Deir el-Zour that houses U.S. troops, an apparent retaliation to the American strikes.

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from the AP.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

According to officials, Iran has launched 80 attacks against U.S. forces and locations in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The vast majority of those have been in Syria.

Diplomacy to deescalate the exchange appeared to begin immediately. The foreign minister of Qatar spoke by phone with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Qatari state news agency report. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran  in February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of U.S.-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

While the risk of an escalatory cycle is there, she said, I think the Biden administration wont be eager to escalate in Syria now and will instead have a relatively measured response.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis. Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.
More than half of Philadelphians think that addressing the opioid crisis should be a top priority for the next mayor  and that city leaders should focus on offering mental health and addiction treatment instead of arresting drug users, according to a Lenfest Institute for Journalism/SSRS poll that surveyed more than 1,200 people.

Black and Latino poll respondents were more likely to say that addressing the citys opioid epidemic should be a top priority than their white counterparts.

In Philadelphia, fatal overdose rates among Black and Latino residents have risen for years, while overdose rates among white residents have fallen. Last year, as overdose deaths rose particularly sharply among Black Philadelphians, the city scrambled to get education and resources into neighborhoods with higher Black populations, like North Philadelphias 19140 zip code, where overdose deaths increased 66% in three years.

Sam Rivera, 61, a disabled veteran and Red Cross volunteer from Northeast Philadelphia, said that hes been stunned by the open-air drug use and sales hes seen in Kensington, the majority Latino neighborhood at the epicenter of the citys overdose crisis. A former resident of Port Richmond, Rivera is Latino, but he said that everyone should be concerned about the opioid crisis, regardless of their race or neighborhood: Its affecting everyone.

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People are dying, said Anita Plumer, 59, who is Black and listed opioid use as a top priority on the poll. Plumer, a Mount Airy resident who worked for the citys Sanitation Department before retiring, has been in recovery from addiction to alcohol and crack for seven years.

Shes known several people who have overdosed in the last few years, and worries about the rise of pressed pills: fake pharmaceutical painkillers that contain illicit fentanyl. Its one-time use thats killing some people, taking fentanyl and thinking its something else, she said.

When asked which interventions were best to combat opioid addiction, 68% of poll respondents said the city should prioritize mental health treatment, and 62% said the city should offer more addiction treatment and recovery programs.

Alexis Roth, an associate professor in community health and medicine at Drexel University, said ensuring that Black residents receive equal access to addiction treatment is especially key as the demographics of the overdose crisis change. National studies show that Black patients are less likely than their white counterparts to be offered medication for opioid use disorder, which has been shown to be more effective to result in lasting recovery than abstinence from drugs.

Roth and other public health experts in the city said residents poll responses show that Philadelphians are rejecting some war-on-drugs-era policies that criminalize people with addiction. More than half of the polls respondents said the city should prioritize arresting drug dealers and educating people about drug use, but only 22% said city leaders should focus on arresting people who use drugs.

There is clearly a widespread recognition that using classic tools from the war on drugs isnt the right approach to take, said Megan Reed, a research assistant professor in public health at Thomas Jefferson University. We need a public health approach to the problem, and the mayor should realize this is a public health issue, not a law enforcement issue.

Zenovia Battle, 75, of Germantown, also ranked opioid use as a high priority for the next mayor. She said shes frightened when she encounters people openly using drugs on public transportation, and nervous about panhandling and robberies related to drug use. But arresting people with addiction isnt the answer, she said.

They need help, professional help. They need another chance. And they need to be off the streets, Battle said. Maybe that will extend the time they will stay off the drugs, if they have housing and get a chance to look at another way of life.

Nearly 67% of Philadelphians polled agreed, saying that providing more support to people with addiction and/or serious mental health issues should be a top priority in mayoral candidates housing policy. Black Philadelphians were also more likely to believe that than white Philadelphians, the poll found.

When your basic needs arent being met, its hard to prioritize anything about your health, said Roth. Providing an opportunity for people to become stable through adequate housing gives people that opportunity to prioritize things beyond just survival.

Housing programs geared toward people in addiction do exist in the city; the nonprofit Pathways to Housing offers homes to clients without requiring sobriety, and many participants use that new stability to subsequently seek treatment.

Less than a third of poll respondents ranked supervised drug consumption sites as one of the best interventions to combat the crisis. I dont think thats going to contribute to diminishing the problem. I think it would make it even worse, Rivera said. Everyone has to share responsibility and open up more rehab centers.

Dozens of supervised consumption sites operate internationally, and research suggests they reduce overdose deaths. In 2018, Mayor Jim Kenney announced his support for opening a site in the city where people can use drugs under supervision and be revived if they overdose, but the effort has been mired in legal battles for years. In the meantime, two sites have opened in New York City, the first in the country. Since November 2021, clients have used the site more than 65,000 times and staff there have treated more than 800 overdoses.

Recently, Safehouse, the nonprofit working to open a site in Philadelphia, announced that it was discussing a settlement in a federal lawsuit that so far has blocked its opening. If the new mayor also decides to open one, public health experts say, they must consider the publics concerns.

Evidence and popular opinion are not always aligned, said Rosie Frasso, the director of Jeffersons public health program. We have to respect that concern, not just march in, which is why we havent been able to pull it off.
A man was found dead, covered in white powder, in a Mayfair rowhouse Friday, prompting a response from hazmat units, Philadelphia police said.

Philadelphia fire units were called to the home on the 400 block of Teesdale Street around 10:30 a.m. and found the man in the basement. Hazmat units arrived shortly afterward.

A woman was also found unresponsive at the residence. Medics revived her with Narcan, police said. She was sent to the hospital along with a 6-month-old baby, who was being treated as a precaution.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said a preliminary investigation indicated the white substance was fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.

One police officer was transported to the hospital, also out of precaution, according to Outlaw. No other personnel were injured, she said.

The entire thing is unsettling, Outlaw said.

Around 50 units from the fire department and Office of Emergency Management responded. Hazmat units were decontaminating the house as police sought a search warrant to conduct their own investigation.
For National Cheesesteak Day, the city's Twitter account tweeted out Mayor Jim Kenney's alleged cheesesteak order  American cheese, onions, and ketchup  along with photos of an unidentified hoagie monstrosity with pickles and banana peppers. Read more

Some Philadelphians have disagreed with Mayor Jim Kenney because of his policy. Others may now be doing the same because of his cheesesteak order. But its the photos people are really mad about.

On Friday, for National Cheesesteak Day, the citys Twitter account commemorated the event by tweeting Kenneys alleged cheesesteak order: American cheese, onions, and ketchup. Questionable, but to make matters worse, it was accompanied by photos of an unidentified hoagie monstrosity  we hesitate to call it a cheesesteak, and the mayors office later confirmed its not  topped with pickles, banana peppers, and a thick drizzle of fire-engine-red ketchup.

Within an hour, the tweet garnered more than 53,000 views and a number of enraged replies. But were not buying that these photos are honest.

While we cant say with certainty, between the poorly composed photos and the citys repeated use of the smiley face emoji, this looks to us like a classic case of rage-baiting.

What is rage-baiting and what does it have to do with cheesesteaks?

Rage-baiting, also known as rage-farming, is a common practice on social media where content creators publish things that will intentionally make viewers mad. Typically, the goal is to earn virality because, lets face it, when people are mad about a tweet or a video, they share it.

On TikTok, known rage farmer Ryan Gawlik would purposefully call espresso expresso or bite into a whole KitKat bar without breaking it with the goal of boosting his engagement. Its become a lucrative move for his career, he told Insider.

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In the food scene especially, deliberately bad and gross takes are popular. Like tabletop nachos. Or, more recently, a scratch-made pasta made from blended boxed pasta that prompted outrage.

The citys tweet, we suspect, is no different. When one user replied, This cant be real, the citys account replied, , best known as the grimacing face, a yellow face with clenched teeth meant to express nervousness or awkwardness.

The photos are also especially gross, almost resembling something from the popular Boys Who Can Cook Instagram page  a meme account that posts photos of intentionally bad-looking meals  or hearkening back to 2013 when Martha Stewart got roasted by online viewers for her ugly food photography.

Its worth noting that the Philly accounts food photos appear to be originally sourced. A Google reverse image search couldnt track down another place they had been published. Meaning someone in the mayors office may have actually made that meal  yikes.

The photos dont match Kenneys usual order

Some lightweight social sleuthing was able to quickly corroborate the fact that Kenney does have a true taste for the American, onion, and ketchup combo. His press team later confirmed the same to The Inquirer. He also recommends the Trainwreck Cheesesteak at Becks Cajun Cafe for a less traditional order, a spokesperson said.

But hes never ordered pickles, raw tomatoes, and whatever else was piled on in those pics.

In fact, the mayor posted a tweet from his own account about National Cheesesteak Day with an ostensibly normal-looking cheesesteak (though he did opt for ketchup) being assembled at Reading Terminal Market and then making its way to his desk.

In 2018, Kenney tweeted about a trip to Maxs where he got American cheese, onions, and  not ketchup, but hot sauce. Acceptable!

What is the city saying about its tweet?

On Twitter, the citys account admins are committing to the bit  and theyre using a lot of GIFs in the process.

But when asked by The Inquirer about the photos, a spokesperson admitted they werent of a cheesesteak at all, but a loaded steak hoagie.

[A] steak hoagie with the works (the order featured on the City of Philadelphia Twitter account) is not for everyone, they said in an email. But thats the beauty of the cheesesteak  you can make it your own!

When pressed as to why they would post photos of a steak hoagie on National Cheesesteak Day other than to rage-bait, a spokesperson didnt immediately respond.
The students in Temple Universitys first-ever porn studies class arrived with memories of sex education that ranged from paltry to awkward to outright bizarre.

Francesca Ward, 21, recalled a teacher casually handing out ping-pong balls to the girls in her class in order to explain it was very easy to be date-raped with the drug GHB. Sarah Brenton, 26, remembered watching what seemed to be a Hallmark video about statutory rape and being told not to have sex, but if you do, it should only be with someone your age.

Porn was definitely my sex education, said Brenton, who grew up in Bucks County and said she first visited the website Pornhub surreptitiously on her iPod Touch in eighth-grade science class. In lieu of comprehensive education, she and others she knew turned to the internet.

Now she is back in the classroom to study that other sex education, online porn, in a new gender, sexuality, and womens studies course at Temple.

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The class aims to examine what messages about sex and culture viewers take away from porn, and look critically at how porn is discussed in both pop culture and scholarly research.

On a recent evening, about 40 students in the full-capacity class discussed Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides legal immunity to online platforms like Pornhub and Facebook, and debated the merits of the new Netflix documentary Money Shot: The Pornhub Story. In past classes, they heard from local sex educators about purity culture, studied the pre-internet history of U.S. obscenity laws, and read texts ranging from Jennifer Nashs The Black Body in Ecstasy to Sonya Renee Taylors The Body is Not an Apology.

I am not pro-porn. I am not antiporn, Jenn Pollitt, the Temple professor who designed the course, said in a recent interview in her office, which is adorned with pastel-colored ovaries, testicles, and penises hand-crocheted by a student. Were going to look at what the research actually says.

The class does not include viewing porn  a choice Pollitt made both because of the subjects general ubiquity (students could certainly find it for themselves if they wanted to) and also because such a screening might make the class even more of a target in the culture wars. Even so, after a university news release went out earlier this year, Pollitt said she received a small but dedicated stream of hate mail. The field of gender studies is more broadly under attack nationwide, with a bill in Florida seeking to ban degrees in the field entirely.

The field of porn studies is about three decades old, conceived partly in response to the growing and highly profitable porn industry, as well as the broader academic push to rigorously study gender and pop culture. In 2014, porn scholars welcomed their first international peer-reviewed journal, Porn Studies. (A recent article: Local flavour, film fantasies and shifting selections: Finnish sex magazines, 19721973). From its inception, porn studies has often been greeted by nonacademics with a mixture of intrigue and horror.

May the winds of academic change quickly rid the university of this fad before lasting damage is done to its reputation, read a 1999 editorial in the Hartford Courant about Wesleyans new class, Pornography: Writing of Prostitutes.

Over the years, a wide range of universities have hosted porn studies courses, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt University, and Arizona State University.

Pollitt, who students call Dr. J, designed the course because she found herself confronting a series of provocative questions as a scholar of sex education in a country without any mandatory across-the-board sex education. As digital porn became increasingly popular, she wondered: Does it function as a sex educator? What does it teach? And how does it impact peoples real-life experiences with consent, desire, and pleasure?

The spring class is a companion to a fall course Pollitt designed about sex education. The spring class, Social Perspectives in Digital Pornography: The Other Sex Education, was initially designed to be a 25-person class, but Pollitt kept raising the cap to accommodate high student interest.

This semesters students said they were grateful to get to think critically about ideas they had unintentionally ingested for years.

Some folks are actually pretty comfortable talking about sex, said Brenton, but talking about porn, there seems to be a thin layer, or sometimes even more than a thin layer, of shame.

Ward, who is from London and studying abroad for the year, said as a plus-sized person she was particularly excited for an upcoming lesson about how body size is portrayed in mainstream pornography. Its really interesting that were going to see it in an analytical way, and see the fetishization and the appreciation and the politics that goes into that, she said. Her classmate, Jack, 23, who requested to be referred to by their first name for privacy reasons, agreed.

We need some more objective research, Jack said. For that reason alone, it should have a place in the academy.
Mitchell Morgan, chair of Temple's board of trustees, (right) with Jason Wingard, president of Temple University, on the day his hiring was announced. Read more

Temple Universitys board of trustees is taking a stronger oversight role of the university as it faces what its chairman Mitchell Morgan called an unprecedented confluence of serious challenges.

Board leaders in a message to the Temple community Thursday evening said the board had formed a special committee on March 13, with the support of president Jason Wingard, to apply more rigorous attention to urgent matters, specifically campus safety, enrollment, and university engagement and responsiveness, between its quarterly board meetings.

Also on Friday, Wingard, who, like Morgan, is facing a no-confidence vote by Temples faculty union, said in a message to the campus that he intended to pause some of the initiatives in the strategic plan aimed at elevating Temple to the next level of best-in-class to focus more intently on campus safety and the enrollment decline.

I believe that vision is still possible, he wrote. However, to address the pressing issues facing Temple, it is clear that we must pivot from that external agenda to an internal agenda committed to our most urgent priorities.

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He also promised more communication and interaction in an accompanying announcement posted on the universitys website.

Temple has been wrestling with how best to beef up safety in the area around campus following the Feb. 18 shooting death of Temple Police Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald while on duty. Enrollment has fallen 14% since 2019  16.5% since its peak in 2017  and a source close to the deans said deposits for next year are down 25% compared to the same time last year.

 READ MORE: Temple faculty union authorizes a vote of no confidence to take place against university leaders

Meanwhile, the university is facing leadership challenges, with the faculty union preparing to take a no-confidence vote next month on Wingard, Morgan, and provost Gregory N. Mandel. That followed a 42-day strike by the Temple University Graduate Students Association that ended earlier this month after a new agreement was ratified. The deans, who also are concerned, have requested a meeting with Morgan, according to the source, and a student survey by the Temple News published earlier this week showed that 92% of the 1,000 who voted disapproved of Wingards performance.

I think we can all agree that the university is experiencing [an] unprecedented confluence of serious challenges, and that there are growing and legitimate concerns from students, faculty, parents, and alumni, said Morgan, founder and chairman of Morgan Properties, who has led the Temple board for more than three years. Forming the special committee was critical to assist the board [in providing] oversight and direction of matters of urgent concern ... that reach beyond the work of any single board committee.

 READ MORE: Temple grad students overwhelmingly ratify agreement, ending their six-week strike

The committee, he said, will meet with key groups, including Temple police, deans, faculty, staff, and students.

Jeffrey Doshna, president of the Temple Association of University Professionals, the faculty union, called the announcement by the board a positive step.

If this is reaction to the serious issues that we raised in our dialogue ... then we are happy to see the board take these steps toward greater engagement, he said.

While the administrations handling of the graduate student negotiations may have been the impetus for considering a no-confidence vote, union leaders have cited other areas of concern including noncontract renewals for some nontenured faculty, mounting public-safety concerns, and vacancies in some key administrative jobs. They also have raised concerns about university finances and problems in the offices of ethics and compliance and research and have cited Wingards seeming lack of presence on campus.

Others have said it would send the wrong message to vote no confidence in Temples first Black president when he has had less than two years on the job and has been confronting post-pandemic problems like rising gun violence.

Wingard, 51, a former Columbia University dean who also previously worked at Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania, became president of the 33,600-student Temple on July 1, 2021.

In his message Friday, he said the university would focus on two priorities: Safeguard the safety, security, and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and the entire Temple community. And combat the decline in Temples enrollment exacerbated by COVID-19 and a broader national decline in college student enrollment.

While many colleges are struggling with lower enrollment, in part due to a decline in the high school population, Temple officials also have acknowledged an impact from safety concerns. And Wingard emphasized it again in his message.

University enrollment and campus safety are inextricably linked, he wrote. The primary goal is to increase security, specifically in those areas with a density of students, and to continuously communicate details on our progress. We must instill confidence among prospective and current students and their families that we prioritize their safety.

His memo outlined some of the initiatives underway to improve safety, including a better agreement with the Philadelphia Police Department to provide up to 288 hours a week of supplemental patrols on nights and weekends, and the recent addition of eight new officers.

The university, he said, faces a significant deficit, and schools within Temple are working on adjusting their budgets.

The memo outlined plans that have been underway to combat the enrollment decline, including offering more scholarships and completion grants for students from lower-income families. The school also is looking at restructuring its international admissions and expanding its recruitment nationally. A new vice provost of enrollment management, Jose Aviles, a native of South Jersey, will start May 1.

Wingard said the university would communicate more regularly with its stakeholders.

Going forward, you will hear from us much more regularly and frequently, and we also want to hear from you, he wrote.

Morgan said the board has been working on the issues the university is facing, but noted that the challenges are significant, complex, and intertwined and not susceptible to easy fixes.

The special committee will be chaired by Lon Greenberg, retired former chief executive officer of UGI Corp., and include Morgan; Leon Moulder Jr., retired founding general partner of Tellus Bioventures; Bret Perkins, senior vice president, external and government affairs at Comcast Corp.; Phillip Richards, executive chairman and founder of North Star Resource Group; and Jane Scaccetti, founding partner and CEO of the tax firm Drucker & Scaccetti, which recently joined Armanino.
Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison on each charge, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Read more

Wildwood Mayor Peter J. Byron admitted in federal court to failing to tell the IRS about a second income from a sales job and assisting in committing tax fraud, prosecutors announced Friday.

Before U.S. District Court Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden, Byron, 67, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent tax returns to the IRS during 2017 and 2018  a time when Byron also served as city commissioner in charge of Wildwoods revenue and finance departments.

In the summer of 2017, according to court documents, Byron sent multiple emails soliciting a managing partner of a Gloucester County law firm for a second job at various companies.

In September of that year, court records say, that partner, who was not named in court documents, established a new business with the New Jersey Department of Treasury, and listed it as offering consulting services. A month later, Byron allegedly received an employment offer letter for a sales position from the new consulting business  penned with the forged signature of that persons law partner.

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By September 2018, Byron had received $40,425 from the consulting company, but failed to file tax returns for 2017 and 2018. Byron told federal investigators in 2020 that was because he did not have the money to pay his taxes.

Months after he was interviewed by federal law enforcement, court documents said, Byron aided and advised his accountant in preparing tax returns for 2017, 2018, and 2019 that listed his Wildwood commissioner paycheck and other income  but left off his $40,000 salary from the sales job.

Byron faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison on each charge, and a maximum fine of $250,000. He is scheduled for sentencing in August.

A Wildwood spokesperson and Byrons attorney, Thomas Young, did not immediately return messages seeking comment Friday.

Byrons plea comes a day after he appeared for a separate case in Cape May County Court, where he pleaded not guilty to submitting false records in order to qualify for state health benefits.

In that case, New Jersey prosecutors allege Byron, Commissioner Steve Mikulski, and former longtime mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. each fudged their timecards for years to make it look as though they were full-time employees in order to collect taxpayer-funded health care.

That indictment accuses the three men of official misconduct, filing false information, and tampering with public records. Attorneys for all three officials have contended that a 2011 Wildwood resolution declared them full-time employees and eligible for the health program, according to NJ.com.

Eric Shenkus, an attorney with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender who represents Byron in that case, did not return a request for comment Friday, but previously told NJ.com that Byron is not guilty, so he is not going to plead guilty.

If it takes a trial to prove it, then thats what were going to do, he said.

Byron, a Democrat and Northeast Philadelphia native, was elected mayor of the iconic Shore town in 2020 after a widespread campaigning effort. Before that, he served for nearly a decade on the citys three-member commission.
Cheesesteaks. Is there a word that is more Philly? No, we dont think so.

There are lots of opinions around whos got the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia and, truly, its hard to pick just one. So we have 13.

How we choose our best lists What makes something the best? Our recommendations are based on our reporters' deep regional knowledge and advice from local experts. We also strive to represent the geographic and cultural diversity of the city and region. Spot an error or omission? Email us at phillytips@inquirer.com

Heres our guide to Phillys best cheesesteaks.

Looking for the citys most popular and famous versions? Dig into those sandwiches, and their history, here.

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Johns is the rare treasure that does several specialties at the highest level. In fact, the Bucci family has long made some of the best cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches in the city, all wrapped up inside a crusty Carangis roll. What to order? You cant miss with the classic flow of American with onions. But we also love the sharp provolone and spinach for its South Philly swagger. Bonus: The popular spot just got a major renovation and has even more outdoor seating.

14 Snyder Ave.,  johnsroastpork.com,  @johnsroastpork

Owner Joe Groh has a larger spot in Fishtown, but theres a special savor to the house-cut rib-eye steaks expertly grilled (with deeply caramelized onions) at this Fishtown spot.

1 W. Girard Ave.,  joessteaks.com,  @joessteaks

The world got wind of Maxs Steaks after its feature in Creed, but Philadelphia has long-known what this iconic North Philly steak corner is all about: hefty 22-inchers stuffed with 1.5 pounds of gristle-free sirloin. Add sweet peppers and onions to your cheesesteak, and order a slushy of Phillys biggest cocktail from the Eagle Bar next door for the full experience.

3653 Germantown Ave.,  maxsteaks.com,  @maxsteaks

There may be more onions than anything else on the onion-mopped kaiser steak, the signature indulgence at this classic Camden tavern (with an announced Mount Holly location coming soon), but it all comes together like French onion soup on a poppy-seeded bun  the saucy onions, the molten cheese, and yes, plenty of beef stacked high. House-fermented hot sauces are a plus, as is Donkeys embrace of Jersey craft brewers like Tonewood, brewed just minutes away in Oaklyn.

1223 Haddon Ave., Camden,  donkeysplace.com,  @donkeys_place

Nick and Maria Miglinos ran Felicias at 11th and Ellsworth Streets for two-decades until closing up shop in 2007. Now theyre back with sandwich shop Dolores 2Street, with some of the citys most irresistible sandwiches, including a pizza steak that can compete with the best of them. The classic pizza steak was popularized by Anthony Milano in the 1950s in the South 11th Street space currently occupied by Mikes BBQ. Unlike most of its modern-day descendants, the original pizza steak did not ladle on rivers of red sauce, Nick says, but instead cushioned the meat with medallions of grilled plum tomatoes. At Dolores, those ripe tomatoes are dusted with hand-pinched Sicilian oregano and a few finishing drizzles of extra-virgin olive oil, the beef cooked from whole pads of tender, prime-grade L. Haltemans beef with molten mild provolone. There are no onions, but its pure harmony when you take a bite, the tomatoes adding to its juicy savor.

 1841 S. Second St.,  facebook.com/Dolores2Street,  @dolores2street

Head to this almost 100-year-old tavern in Chestnut Hill where the fourth-generation McNallys use high-quality ingredients to carry on the classic version of their cheesesteak variation, the Schmitter  with fried salami, grilled tomato, and signature sauce on a kaiser roll  conceived in 1964 for a regular who liked his Schmidts beer.

8634 Germantown Ave.,  mcnallys.com,  @mcnallystavern

When the pandemic hit, Ari Millers Frizwit pop-up turned into a weekly shop within the space of his current BYOB Musi. Now, Musi is open again and Frizwit at Musi is back to a once-a-month pop-up that takes place on the last Monday of the month  and its certainly worth stopping by. Here, Miller simply and effectively upgrades the classic cheesesteak with better ingredients: Primal Supply beef, a Merzbachers hoagie roll, a creamy beer cheese sauce, and onions.

100 Morris St.,  frizwit.square.site,  @frizwit

The crusty, sesame-speckled house-baked rolls are key for all the sandwiches at this Italian Market pizzeria. And, for the cheesesteaks, so is the chewy, but not too chewy, high-quality rib eye.

736 S. Ninth St.,  angelospizzeriasouthphiladelphia.com

Nothing at this East Passyunk barbecue spot certifies owner Mike Strauss status as a uniquely Philadelphian pitmaster quite like his brisket cheesesteak. He uses all the trappings of the South Philly classic: seeded rolls, caramelized diced onions, and a creamy house Whiz made from Cooper Sharp (the lesser-known American cheese with century-old Philly roots). Its the brisket, though, that gives this sandwich magnetic powers. A high-grade slab of beef is cured for a couple of days, then smoked over wood for up to 14 hours.

1703 S. 11th St.,  mikesbbqphilly.com,  @mikesbbq_215

The upgraded meat crowd too often falls short when the beef is cut wrong, usually too thick, messing with textures so the sandwich doesnt eat right. Brewerytowns SpOt Gourmet Burgers is an exception, where Josh Kim butchers his own meat, a half-pound of ribeye to be exact, for a steak with long savor.

2821 W. Girard Ave.,  spotburgers.com,  @spotburgers

Anna Marie and Joe Maglios cheerful Italian makeover for the Holme Circle space once occupied by the Blue Duck Sandwich Co. opened barely a month before the pandemic. But Joes got deep roots in local Italian restaurants and he happens to make one of the best new cheesesteaks in town, a house-sliced ribeye beautifully incorporated with melty Cooper Sharp cheese on a Carangi roll. The sandwich is modeled after Johns Roast Pork, but named after Joeys dad, Francesco Maglio, a.k.a. Don Cheech. Indoor dining, limited outdoor dining, and pickup are available.

2859 Holme Ave.,  cafecarmelaphilly.com,  @cafe_carmela_

At its two South Street locations, Ishkabibbles keeps it classic with a big-as-your-face cheesesteak with your choice of cheese. And as much as the shop is known for its cheesesteaks, its also popular for its Gremlin drink, a concoction made up of lemonade and grape juice.

517 South St. and 337 South St.,  eatishkabibbles.com

Near the 76 entrance off of West Passyunk Avenue is unassuming Philips Steaks, a small, streetside stand where the Old Fashion cheesesteak  with grilled tomatoes, long hots, onions, oregano, and provolone  shines.

2234 W. Passyunk Ave.,  www.facebook.com/SQ-Philips-Steaks,  @philips_steaks

Read more cheesesteak articles:

 READ MORE: Our best Philly tips: Read our most useful stories
Addis Abeba  The UN Human Rights Council during an interactive dialogue with the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) on Tuesday warned that the gravity and scale of the violations committed in Ethiopia since the outbreak of war, November 2020, must not be forgotten despite all the positive developments and relatively improved security that have seen in Tigray after both parties signed agreement.

The Federal Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) signed AU-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on November 2, in Pretoria, South Africa after the two-years atrocious war.

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia presented its first report to the UN Human Rights Council, in September last year, in which it said there were reasonable grounds to believe war crimes, and crimes against humanity were committed. Since then, a significant improvement in the situation in Ethiopia and sustained reduction in conflict.

"The previous report found reasonable grounds to believe that all parties to the conflict had committed war crimes and violations and abuses of human rights since fighting erupted," said Mohamed Chande Othman, chairperson of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia.

During the discussion, it was reported that the commission is still looking into wartime human right violations together with abuses that occur after the peace agreement, reads a statement by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), "The conclusion of the peace agreement between the government and the TPLF was a significant step, but it was still necessary to look into alleged violations that may have occurred prior to and after the agreement if a lasting peace with full respect for human rights was to be achieved."

Representatives from Ethiopia also discussed that the government is overseeing full implementation of lasting peace, which is the main focus, through a signed peace agreement, convened by African Union; "Humanitarian aid supply was significantly increased, and services were restored, as the second pillar of peace implementation while disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants, as overseen by the African Union, was a third mechanism."

Holding an independent, transparent, and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, and international refugee law was essential step to fight impunity and contribute to holding those responsible to account, said the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.

"Accountability and transitional justice must remain at the core of the peace process."

The Ethiopian commission also called for further progress on the implementation of the agreement and declaration, continued and unimpeded humanitarian access, and the further expansion of basic services in conflict-related areas in northern Ethiopia.

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The Commission had consulted with a wide range of stakeholders to inform its investigation priorities and strategy, investigating alleged violations in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, and Oromia, says the report. It addressed a notably attacks on civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, and denial of humanitarian assistance; also, other violations including arbitrary detention, violation of children's rights, and hate speech.

As required by the mandate, the commission was investigating alleged violations by all parties, including Eritrean forces operating on Ethiopian territory.

Meanwhile in a statement released on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Ethiopia should go hand-in-hand with backing for a UN body charged with carrying out an independent investigation.

"Statements that suggest shutting down the UN experts group undermine progress toward accountability. While the US and other donor nations are supporting nongovernmental groups to gather information of alleged crimes, this is no substitute for the critical investigative work of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia, which has the mandate to establish the facts of alleged violations, identify those responsible, preserve evidence, and provide guidance on accountability and transitional justice," stated .

However, despite repeated requests, the Ethiopian Government had not yet allowed the investigation team access to the country, according to the report. The Commission was conducting much of work remotely. The Government should reconsider its decision not to cooperate with the Commission. AS
Nourish adds portobello mushrooms to its jerk-seasoned seitan to create an even meatier filling for its vegan cheesesteak. Read more

In a city thats known for its cheesesteaks, naturally theres no lack of options to try. And just as Pats and Genos (Jims, Dalessandros, and beyond) vie to make the best version of the iconic Philly sandwich, there are restaurants looking to do the same  only without the meat.

But what makes a memorable plant-based version? The secrets, chefs say, arent all that different from their meatier counterparts.

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What makes a good vegan cheesesteak?

Whether its meat[-based] or vegan, there are a few things that make a cheesesteak either really good or kind of blah, and thats good bread, meaning bread that has substance but isnt overly chewy, quality protein, fried onions, and a gooey cheese, said Ryan Pasquale, the menu director at Tattooed Mom.

The protein thats stuffed in a vegan cheesesteak can range from soy-based beef to mushrooms to Beyond Meat crumbles. But the most common ingredient is seitan, made from gluten, the protein in wheat. It has a chewy texture that mimics steak. But to make it a convincing substitute it must be sliced very thin, said Pasquale.

You want to put it on the flattop, and then sear and chopuntil it reaches that right consistency with those nice crispy bits.

Attention to texture must also be coupled with attention to flavor. Seitan on its own is bland and contains very little fat. Many chefs add herbs and/or spices, like at Triangle Tavern, where every batch of seitan gets tossed with a classic Montreal steak seasoning.

Seitan doesnt render out like animal protein does, so adding fat and seasoning becomes really important, said Triangle Tavern chef Mike Schwartz.

A cheesesteak done right, whether meat-filled or not, can easily garner a cult following. Vegan cheesesteaks rank among the top menu items and both Tattooed Mom and Triangle Tavern, a fact echoed by many of the restaurants on this list.

Heres where to find them:

Price: $12

Local seitan from Blackbird Foods and fried onions are at the heart of this popular cheesesteak, along with fresh baked rolls from South Phillys Carangi Baking Company. Layered on top and bottom is a house whiz, made of Daiya vegan cheddar cheese, Tofutti cream cheese, miso, nutritional yeast, and seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. I really, really love Cheez Whiz, so it was important to me to emulate that creaminess and tang, Schwartz said.

1338 S. 10th St.,  215-800-1992,  triangletavernphilly.com,  @triangletavern

Price: $12

At the base, the cheesesteak at Tattooed Mom is thinly sliced seitan from Levittown-based Temple Foods, fried onions, and Follow Your Heart smoked gouda. It all gets sandwiched between vegan long rolls from Merzbachers of Germantown. To me, the key to a great vegan cheesesteak is to keep it simple and not get weird with it, so we keep ours very traditional, said owner Robert Perry. All orders include tater tots or fries.

530 South St.,  215-238-9880,  tattooedmomphilly.com,  @tmoms,  Caviar, DoorDash

Price: $15

Nourish gives its cheesesteak a Caribbean-inspired flare, using a signature jerk seasoning to flavor seitan thats sauteed with onions, peppers, and oregano. It comes slathered with Daiya mozzarella cheese, served on a whole wheat roll. I wanted it to be a traditional Philly cheesesteak, but at the same time I want to stand true to our purpose of providing healthier options, and Im not trying to use white flour for anything, said owner Sarah Scandone. But, she says, its still pure comfort food.

177 W. Girard Ave,  267-761-9242, nourishcafe.net,  @nourishphilly,  DoorDash, GrubHub, Seamless, UberEats

Price: $14 ($14.50 to make it BBQ)

This South Philly vegan diner makes its own seitan, which gets thinly sliced on a meat slicer, grilled to order on a flattop, and paired with caramelized onions and melted Teese mozzarella. Its all packaged inside steak rolls from nearby Sarcones Bakery, with an option to make it BBQ.

The BBQ cheesesteak is for all the saucy people out there, said co-owner Sofia Baltopoulos. Its our classic cheesesteak filling, doused in BBQ sauce on the grill and topped with more BBQ sauce.

 1401 S. 12th St.  267-457-5670  thetastyphilly.com  @thetastyphilly

Price: $12.95

Equally as popular as its plant-based burgers, HipCityVegs vegan cheesesteak uses a soy-and-grain-based beef seasoned with fresh garlic and herbs, and sauteed with mushrooms and onions. Layered throughout is a potato-based cheese, creating a hearty filling thats served on a toasted long roll with ketchup. Cheesesteaks are made to be big, indulgent, and a little sloppy, and thats what weve created, said owner Nicole Marquis. I think ketchup is essential to the real cheesesteak experience.

Multiple locations (including 214 S. 40th St.),  215-278-7605,  hipcityveg.com,  @hipcityveg,  Caviar, GrubHub, Postmates, Seamless, UberEats

Price: $12.95

Algorithms cheesesteak gets a signature spicy twist thanks to its secret Calabrian Chili Whiz sauce. The hearty sandwich starts with a filling of local Blackbird Foods seitan, seasoned with black pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic, and onion, and added to a mix of portobello and shiitake mushrooms from Berks Countys Primordia Farms. Order it as is, or opt for the Wake and Steak, an all-day-breakfast version that adds a layer of tofu-based eggs and hash browns.

705 E Passyunk Ave, (Food truck locations vary, check schedule online),  267-827-2022,  algorithm-restaurants.com,  @algorithmvegangrill, UberEats

Price: $15 (plus $2 for cheese)

Sink your teeth into the roll stuffed with garlic and turmeric-stained cauliflower, sweet and banana peppers. The Cajun remoulade soaks the veggies for a saucy, tangy cheesesteak. Make it vegan for $2 extra for vegan cheese.

 7165 Germantown Ave.,  267-320-2675,  brotherlygrub.biz,  @brotherlygrubfoodtruckncafe,  DoorDash, UberEats

Price: $17

In the Gayborhood, theres a baguette stuffed with Impossible beef, lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions, and slathered with garlic aioli, cheddar beer cheese sauce. If this sandwich is calling to you, order the cheesesteak hoagie.

 1229 Spruce St.,  215-790-9494,  themonstervegan.com,  @monsterveganphilly,  UberEats, Postmates

Price: $7-$14

Sometimes, simple is the way to go. On Girard Avenue, you can pick up an onion and mushroom vegan cheesesteak. Order it small for $7 or large for $14. And make get the sandwich with a gluten free roll for an extra $3 (small) or $4 (large).

 1 W. Girard Ave.,  215-423-5637,  joessteaks.com,  @joessteaks,  Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash, Caviar
Heres a guide to Philadelphias most-famous sandwich.

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What is a cheesesteak?

It is a sandwich made of thinly sliced beef  usually frozen chip steak  cooked on a griddle and served on a sliced roll with cheese and either "wit" or "witout" onions. The cheese is typically American cheese, provolone or melted Cheez Whiz. Fans of cheesesteaks sold by particular outlets  think Pat's, Genos, Jim's, or Tony Lukes  usually point to the meat or the source of the eatery's bread as a reason for their loyalty.

History of the cheesesteak

Brothers Pat (1907-1974) and Harry Olivieri (1916-2006) of South Philadelphia are credited with creating the steak sandwich in the 1930s while operating a hot dog stand on the triangle bordered by South Ninth and Wharton Streets and Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia, site of the current Pats King of Steaks.

According to legend, Pat, weary of hot dogs, suggested that Harry go to a store and buy some beef. They sliced it up, grilled the beef with onions, and piled the mix on rolls. A taxi driver who stopped for a dog smelled the beef and asked for one of the sandwiches. They charged the cabbie and the steak sandwich was born.

 READ MORE: The best cheesesteaks to eat in Philly right now

In 1939, Harry Olivieri filed business-registration papers for several locations:

Pat's King of Steaks at the site of the hot dog stand Million Dollar Steak Sandwich at 815 Wharton St., a row house a short walk from Pat's King of Steak's and the company's registration address Pat's Steaks Sandwiches, 3251 Ridge Ave., in the Strawberry Mansion section near what was then a trolley turnaround and is now a bus station

Soon, the idea caught on and other steak sandwich shops opened, according to newspaper clippings of businesses opening or being sold.

But the key phrase here is "steak sandwich." Cheese was not part of the original equation.

 READ MORE: Most popular cheesesteaks in Philly, including Pats, Genos, Jims, and Dalessandros

When was the cheesesteak invented?

The record here is murkier.

One story holds that a Pat's employee, Tony Lorenzo, who tired of the same old sandwich, added cheese about 20 years after Pat's opened. So that would put the birth of the cheesesteak sometime in the 50s. Others put the date at 1949.

According to Harry's grandson, Frank Olivieri Jr., Lorenzo worked at the Ridge Avenue location. Pat, he said, did not want to put cheese on the sandwiches in South Philadelphia.

"Pat never wanted cheese at his original shop because he tried to keep sort of kosher for all his Jewish friends," Frank Olivieri told the Inquirer in 2015. He said his father, Frank Sr., introduced cheese to the South Philly location.

"Then my dad discovered Cheez Whiz, and it was perfect, because he could just hide the can at the edge of the grill where my grandfather wouldn't see it. He started serving it to people anyway, like, 'Try this!' and it became the most popular way to order."

The ingredients and cooking

The main ingredient is thinly sliced steaks from various cuts of beef, with rib-eye considered the top-of-the-shelf cut. The quality of the roll is also key to a cheesesteak connoisseurs appreciation of a sandwich. Torpedo rolls, known as submarine rolls in other parts of the country, are standard, though one highly rated purveyor  Donkeys, across the Delaware River in Camden  puts its cheesesteaks on kaiser rolls. The crust should be firm but not teeth-crunching hard. The inside should be tender but not chewy.

The meat is sauteed on a slightly oiled grill until cooked through. Salt and pepper are standard. Onions are often cooked on the same grill but are not married with the steak until it times to put them on the roll. There are different approaches when it comes to the cheese. Cheese slices can be placed on the bread before the steak, and softened by the heat of the meat. Or they can be put on the meat on the grill for a short time before placement on the roll. Cheez Whiz is melted and drizzled over the steak in the sandwich.

Cheesesteak lovers dont always use condiments, but if they do, it is likely to be ketchup. Peppers, hot and sweet, and Sriracha also are favorites.

 READ MORE: How to make a cheesesteak at home

How to order a cheesesteak

A cheesesteak wit, is what you say if you want onions. A cheesesteak witout, is what you say if you dont want onions. You can also order your cheesesteak with onions or without onions and nobody will mind. At some places, you may be asked to specify whether you want American cheese, provolone, or Whiz. Dont ask for Swiss cheese. Presidential candidate John Kerry made that mistake. Dont ask for rare, medium rare, or medium. All cheesesteaks are well-done.

So, for example, you might order "One Whiz, wit (or witout)"; "One American, wit (or witout)"; or "One provolone, wit (or witout)"

How many calories in a cheesesteak?

There is no fixed calorie amount for a cheesesteak due restaurant variations, but the estimates range from 900 to 1200 calories.

Without bread or cheese, Steak-umm, the Reading-based manufacture of frozen sliced steak found in most supermarkets, says a 32 gram (1.12 ounce) portion of cooked meat has 100 calories, 80 percent from fat. Most recipes call for at least a quarter pound (4 oz) of meat per sandwich.

Who makes the best cheesesteak in Philly?

That is a controversial question, friends. Our food team has collected some of the citys best, as well as a rundown of popular favorites Pats King of Steaks, Genos Steaks, Jims Steaks, and Dalessandros Steaks and Hoagies.

If youre vegetarian or vegan, fear not: We also have a list of the best options for you, made with seitan, mushrooms, and more.

This story has been updated since it first published.

Read more cheesesteak articles:

 READ MORE: Our best Philly tips: Read our most useful stories
Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman speaks in front of supporters at an October rally in Philadelphia. He's been hospitalized and receiving treatment for depression since Feb. 15. Read more

Five weeks after Sen. John Fettermans hospitalization for clinical depression, his staff says the stay is coming to an end soon, though no certain timeline was offered for his return.

John will be out soon, spokesperson Joe Calvello said. Over a week but soon. Recovery is going really well. We have an amazing team at Walter Reed.

 READ MORE: John Fetterman wanted a quiet start in the Senate. His health has upended that.

Fettermans public acknowledgment in mid-February that he was suffering from depression and decision to seek treatment were heralded by many of his colleagues as a courageous disclosure about an often stigmatized topic. Intense scrutiny over his recovery and inpatient care has continued, though, after questions about his long-term health after a stroke in May.

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A five-week hospital stay is considered somewhat long for inpatient depression care. But members of Fettermans team have said they arent rushing his return and they expect him to be able to return to the key requirements of his new job.

Its about John getting the care he needs and not rushing this, a senior aide told The Inquirer. Six weeks is a grain of sand in a six-year term. Hes doing what he needs to do.

Since he went into the hospital, Fettermans staff has been making frequent visits most mornings to give him updates from Capitol Hill. Fetterman has also cosponsored legislation while hospitalized. He hasnt voted since Feb. 15, though there have been few major legislative decisions to come before the Senate, where Democrats hold a narrow majority. The Senate has spent almost all its time on confirmation votes, mostly on noncontroversial nominees who have enough support to advance even without Fetterman.

His wife, Gisele, has posted pictures of visits as well.

As Fetterman recovers, his aides have opened offices across the state, hired staff to reach out to constituent groups, and set up operations for constituent services.

A number of senators have missed far more time than Fetterman  some close to a year  due to strokes or other ailments. And aides have done most of the lifting for some older senators who have declined while in office. The difference for Fetterman is his absence came just two months into his tenure.

A prolonged hospital stay

Hospital stays for depression are usually shorter than that of Fetterman, who has been at Walter Reed for close to 40 days. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that the average length of hospital stay was six days.

Our average stay is around seven days, said Brittni Jones, the medical director of the inpatient psychiatric units at Main Line Healths Bryn Mawr Hospital. It really just depends if theres a variable that we can modify to make your life better.

Fettermans stay has been prolonged because his doctors are working on getting his medication balance exactly right, a source close to Fetterman told CNN earlier this month. The source noted an issue with the senators blood-pressure medication that might have contributed to dizziness.

A weeklong hospitalization, while the norm, is too short to assess whether some medications are having their desired effect, said Alexander Tsai, a psychiatrist at Bostons Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School.

It would take six to eight, if not 10 to 12 weeks to really know if an antidepressant really works for you, Tsai said, adding that one benefit of hospitalization is the ability to adjust medications quickly.

 READ MORE: Sen. John Fetterman has been hospitalized with depression. Here is what to know about the common but serious disorder.

Working while hospitalized could delay recovery, too. Having a patient focused on work can be a serious challenge, Jones said.

Most patients in psychiatric units dont have access to the internet, their cell phone, or anything that will distract them from focusing on their own mental well-being.

Accommodating work happens on a case-by-case basis, she said, depending on the capacity of the patient and how disruptive the demand of the job would be to recovery.

Its unclear how much access Fetterman has to outside communications, but his office has emphasized that hes engaged during his daily in-person briefings with aides.

Asked about Fettermans return on Capitol Hill this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said only that Fetterman is recovering.

We want to give him the space to recuperate, Schumer said at a Wednesday news conference. He needs it. Its fair, its right. There are other people in the Senate who have taken their time to recuperate, but Im confident hes going to come back and be an outstanding and fine senator.
A view of Providence Road within the Kirkwood Farm property in Willistown Township, Chester County. Long owned by members of the Rockefeller family, the 200-acre site has been sold to a private buyer, and conservationists are optimistic it will be protected from major development. Read more

A company traced to an address used by M. Night Shyamalan, writer and director of The Sixth Sense and Knock at the Cabin, has paid $24 million for a 210-acre Chester County property that was associated with generations of the Rockefeller family.

Public records show that Woodkirk LLC sold the Kirkwood Farm on Providence Road in Willistown Township to 944 Providence Road LLC for $24 million on March 14.

The registered address for 944 Providence LLC is on Campus Boulevard in Newtown Square. That is the same address used by the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation Inc., the famed directors charitable organization.

Shyamalan, who grew up in suburban Philadelphia, could not be reached for comment. He and his family live in Willistown on an estate called Ravenwood.

Conservationists who had feared hundreds of houses would be developed on the Willistown Township site known as Kirkwood Farm are relieved.

The sale is going to have a conservation-minded outcome, said Kate Etherington, executive director of the Willistown Conservation Trust. Kirkwood Farm is not being sold to a developer. And were thrilled.

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Kim Whetzel and Ellen Hass of Kurfiss Sothebys International Realtys Chestnut Hill office were the agents for the buyer, whom they declined to identify.

The new owners are thrilled to be the next stewards of Kirkwood Farm, Whetzel and Hass said in a joint statement.

A rolling landscape of fields and woods in the center of Willistown  an 18-square mile community of 11,000  the Kirkwood Farm was listed for $29.9 million, sales agent Lavinia Smerconish said.

Advertisements by Compass real estate described a property that was available for the first time in 90 years and offered endless views punctuated only by five charming residences, two barns, a pond, a stream, and spring house.

Smerconish said the property was sold by descendants of William Rockefeller Jr. who along with his brother, John D. Rockefeller, founded the Standard Oil company in 1870. The farm has belonged to generations of the Rockefeller family and in recent years has been used by members of a hunting club. The farmhouses have been rented to tenants, and two remain occupied, she said.

Public records show the property was associated with Almira R. Scott, daughter of William G. Rockefeller, once treasurer of Standard Oil. Notably, it was also associated with Hardie Scott, a former Republican U.S. representative who married into the Rockefeller family. Scott died in 1999 and appointed M. Roy Jackson, also a scion of the Rockefellers, and the Glenmede Trust Co., as executors. Jackson was a grandson of William Rockefeller Jr., who died in 1922.

Etherington declined to say whether the trust had been involved in discussions with Kirkwood Farms new owner, whom she declined to identify.

Like similar organizations elsewhere in Pennsylvania and beyond, the Conservation Trust pursues paid agreements with owners of large, environmentally sensitive, or otherwise significant tracts of open space to place permanent conservation easements on their properties to protect them from major development in perpetuity.

The Trust has protected about 7,500 acres of privately owned land in Willistown in the last 20 years. These include the 100-acre Kirkwood Preserve, which had once been part of the larger Kirkwood Farm property.
Insurance lawyer Valeriano del Rosario of Vera Law, who is speaking on behalf of the owners of the sunk MT Princess Empress, said that claims will only be assessed if sufficient information has been provided by the claimants. Affected citizens looking to apply for compensation can secure the necessary forms from the claims office.
We saw a significant increase in data breaches that impacted a larger number of Australians in the second half of 2022, said Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk. Cyber security incidents continue to have a significant impact on the community and were the cause of the majority of large-scale breaches.
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Washington  Human rights activists say Uganda's passage of an anti-homosexuality bill could be the impetus for similar far-reaching legislation across Africa as anti-gay sentiments grow.

More than 30 African states already have laws that ban same-sex relationships.

Ghana, for example, has recently introduced anti-LGBTQI bills before parliament in an attempt to criminalize consensual same-sex relationships.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "urged the Ugandan government to strongly consider [the impact of] the implementation of this legislation," saying via Twitter that the bill "could reverse gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the bill "one of the most extreme LGBTQI+ laws in the world." National Security Council spokesman John Kirby did not rule out U.S. sanctions against Uganda, saying, if enacted, the bill could force "repercussions that we would have to take, perhaps in an economic way."

Uganda's just-passed Anti-Homosexuality Act is seen by human rights activists as a "revised and egregious" version of its 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was struck down by a court on procedural grounds.

The legislation, which President Yoweri Museveni has yet to sign into law, calls for lengthy prison sentences for people who identify as gay or are found to have promoted homosexuality. It establishes the death penalty for homosexual acts with minors, people with disabilities and several other groups.

Negative and dehumanizing rhetoric against Uganda's LGBTQI community heightened as legislators debated the bill -- and Museveni described gay people as "deviants." Some supporters of the bill said it would make Uganda comport with God's wishes.

Robert Akoto Amoafo, advocacy manager at Pan Africa ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Trans and Intersex Association), told VOA from Accra that the passage of Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill is "worrying and concerning" for the LGBTQI community across Africa.

"This bill takes the basic rights of individuals across Uganda away from them by forcing them to report people, and then also forcing them to out their family members or friends or colleagues based on perception," he said, noting that "this is one thing that most of the time we lose sight of."

He said the bill would deepen discrimination in a country where LGBTQI persons already face punishment for having "carnal knowledge against the order of nature."

"People don't want to be associated with [homosexuals] because of the possibility of being tagged a criminal for not reporting. So, this clearly shows that the bill has gone beyond a homosexual issue to that of a human rights discussion."

On March 9, Human Rights Watch said the bill, if passed, "would violate multiple fundamental human rights."

Oryem Nyeko, a Uganda researcher at the international human rights organization, told VOA that he's "disappointed" at the bill's passage, describing it as "regressive."

Nyeko said there's high possibility of the bill becoming the norm across the continent because "historically, when one African country puts in place a repressive policy, other countries replicate it."

"Politicians are distracting from the contemporary issues that are facing ordinary Ugandans by picking the low-hanging fruit -- which is this idea of homosexuality being the cause of sexual abuse of children," he said.

"I definitely see other politicians and other public figures in other [African] countries using the same tactic," he added.

Some socially conservative groups applauded the Ugandan bill.

Tony Perkins, president of Washington-based Family Research Council, tweeted Wednesday that "Gender/Sexual ideology is not enshrined in international human rights treaties." He decried the Biden administration's response to the bill, writing, "It is inappropriate and coercive to shame countries for their traditional values."

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Human Rights By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

In Uganda, many fear the challenges sexual minorities already face will worsen. Eric Ndwula, a 26-year-old LGBTQI activist, told Reuters that his landlord issued him an eviction notice this month after a video of him being identified as gay went viral.

"I have been in this house for over four years. And I have never -- no neighbor here could come and say that 'You have recruited my child into homosexuality.' Or by the mere fact that they are looking at a homosexual, they have become homosexuals."

Museveni has yet to sign the bill into law amid calls by the international community, including the United Nations, to reject it.

Nyeko said despite Museveni's past rhetoric against the LGBTQI community, the Ugandan president has been a "relative ally" toward the community.

"Just two years ago, Museveni declined to sign the sexual offenses bill which had similar provisions but not as extensive as this one," Nyeko said, adding that "his [Museveni's] argument was that the penal code already provided for that."
We know there are a lot of brokers that try to stand out from the pack. But for that, you need to be doing things a bit differently, which is why our twin focuses on great technology and niche industries have helped make Fuse successful.
The legacy division at Howden Tiger is run by experienced brokers and actuaries in the US and the UK, advising clients in the design and execution of loss portfolio transfers, adverse development covers, reinsurance to close, Part VII transfers, and other insurance business transfer transactions. Combined with HTCMA, this team will now comprise over 30 professionals across the New York, Minneapolis, and London offices.
After meeting with the King Insurance team, we knew we found the right partner for us, said Mike Hart, owner of FFU. When we considered partnering with a larger firm, King was the right choice. This partnership will allow our team to compete at a higher level, and we are excited about our future with King.
The parallel path running beside [M&As] was our investment in technology. We have always had the capabilities, but getting them organized was key, such that we could get all our trucking agencies from different states and put them together in a practice, Crocker told Insurance Business.
Our team is always looking for new ways to connect insurance agents with truck drivers, said Dan Abrahamsen, CEO of Cover Whale. This partnership enables us to deliver instant quotes to more agents with trucking clients, and more coverage to Americas safest drivers and small fleets. TrustedChoice.coms vast network also gives us more opportunities to deploy our Driver Safety Program to make roads safer for everyone.
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Anyone who has read this column for the past four years, or earlier

articles of mine, knows that I am passionate about my disdain for the proliferation of price-focused industry advertising. I believe it creates or fuels the perception in the minds of consumers that insurance is a commodity differentiated solely by price, where coverage is pretty much the same from one policy and insurer to another.

In last months column, I wrote about being encouraged by what appears to be an increasing number of industry television ads focused more on coverage than price. That being said, I lamented that all too often it appears that the claim examples provided in the commercials dont actually appear to be covered by that insurers, or most insurers, policies.

At the end of that column, I posed several questions, including: Would a court find coverage for a claim clearly not covered based on policy language but arguably covered based on misleading advertising an insured allegedly relied on when purchasing the product? Should insurance regulators proactively take issue with advertisements that appear to suggest coverage equivalency that may not exist under that carriers policies?

To illustrate, one carriers auto insurance advertising pitch has included statements such as SAME COVERAGE, Better Price and You get the SAME COVERAGE, often for less. But does their policy provide the same coverage as a policy you currently have? Almost certainly not, depending on the unique circumstances of a claim and the fact that coverage is based on the insurance contract and claims practices.

Two insurers may interpret the exact same policy language differently.

For example, every personal auto policy Ive seen has a racing exclusion. So, does that mean that all policies provide the same coverage (or lack of coverage) because they have a racing exclusion? No. What coverage is or isnt available depends on the exact wording of each insurers racing exclusion and their interpretation of that language.

To illustrate, the ISO Personal Auto Policy excludes losses arising from racing inside a racing facility. Some non-ISO policies exclude racing losses that take place anywhere if prearranged. Other non-ISO policies exclude racing losses that take place regardless of location or prearrangement. In this latter instance, street racing is excluded but not under an ISO standard PAP form.

Courts

So, if you were persuaded to change insurers on the premise that youd be buying the same coverage when, as we just saw, you wouldnt be buying the same coverage, would a court uphold a lawsuit on that basis if your claim was denied by the carrier you switched to but it would have been covered by your prior insurer? Probably not, for a couple of reasons.

First, most courts look for coverage within the four corners of the policy. Unless something is demonstrably ambiguous or clearly against public policy, courts pretty consistently abide by the clear and unambiguous language of the insurance contract.

However, there are some exceptions. For example, in American Standard Ins. Co. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 210 Ill. App. 3d 443, 155 Ill. Dec. 162, 569 N.E.2d 162, (App. Ct. 1st Dist.,1991), the insurer denied a motorcycle policy claim involving the death of a passenger. The court found coverage, even though injury to passengers on motorcycles was clearly excluded by the policy language, because an illustration on the policy jacket showed a motorcycle with a driver and passenger, thus creating an ambiguity, in the eyes of the court, between the illustration and the conflicting policy language. Based on the illustration, the court ruled that the insured had a reasonable expectation of coverage.

Second, courts tend to give entities significant leeway when it comes to advertising claims. Exaggerated advertising or false meritorious claims are considered by many courts to constitute puffery. For example, in Pizza Hut, Inc. v. Papa Johns International, Inc., 227 F.3d 489 (5th Cir. 2000), the court referenced the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C.  1125) and held that the alleged inflated claims of product superiority did not rise to the level of a prima facie case of false advertising under Section 43(a) of the Act. I have my doubts if this reasoning would apply to the purchase of insurance products, but to my knowledge this has not been tested.

Regulators

Turning our attention to insurance regulatory agencies, what about potential regulatory issues with inaccurate industry advertising? Well, theres the old reliable twisting and churning that involves inducing someone into buying a policy represented as equivalent or superior to an existing policy that, in reality, actually isnt. If such a statute or regulation applies to non-life products, its application is possible, but likely difficult in that even an overall inferior policy might have some provisions that are superior to the policy being replaced.

A more likely and broader regulatory candidate is the Unfair Trade Practices laws found in all states. For example, the NAIC Model Act says [emphasis added]:

Misrepresentations and False Advertising of Insurance Policies. Making, issuing, circulating, or causing to be made, issued or circulated, any estimate, illustration, circular or statement, sales presentation, omission or comparison that 

Misrepresents the benefits, advantages, conditions or terms of any policy 

Uses any name or title of any policy or class of policies misrepresenting the true nature of the policy or class of policies 

False Information and Advertising Generally. Making, publishing, disseminating, circulating or placing before the public, or causing, directly or indirectly to be made, published disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public  an advertisement, announcement or statement containing any assertion, representation or statement with respect to the business of insurance  that is untrue, deceptive or misleading 

Do claims by an insurer that their policy provides the same coverage as a consumers existing policy (which theyve never seen) constitute an unfair trade practice? You can probably guess what my opinion is, but what is yours? Were always interested in civil dialogue among readers of this column, so feel free to offer your opinions.
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported it has obtained a default judgment in U.S. District Court in its sex discrimination lawsuit against Green JobWorks.

The EEOC filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the staffing agency that is located in Hanover, Maryland, for violating federal law by subjecting female workers to a pattern of sex discrimination in job assignments and assignment of work duties. According to the EEOCs lawsuit, Green JobWorks refused to hire female workers for demolition and laborer positions or to assign those workers to such positions because of their sex. The lawsuit also charged that Green JobWorks assigned certain work duties on the basis of sex.

The EEOC said it filed suit in U.S. District Court for Maryland after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement.

EEOC said the alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination in employment, including refusing to hire or to make assignments on the basis of gender.

On March 16, the federal court in Baltimore entered default judgment against Green JobWorks, establishing the companys liability and awarding 48 female workers a total of $2,692,265 in monetary relief, consisting of $665,566 in lost wages with interest and an additional $2,026,698 in punitive damages.

It has been almost 60 years since the passage of Title VII, yet many staffing agencies continue to believe that they can indulge discriminatory customer preferences and engage in stereotype-based selection practices with impunity  and theyre wrong, said EEOC Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence.

Topics Maryland
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Connecticuts Insurance and Real Estate Committee has advanced a surplus lines insurance measure that the industry says would lift an unnecessary administrative burden but the state insurance regulator believes would unnecessarily lessen consumer protections.

The bill would relieve surplus lines brokers of the need to obtain declinations from three admitted carriers before renewing a policy in the surplus lines market. The requirement would be removed for renewals only; it would remain for placement of new business in the surplus lines market.

The measure (HB-6621) gained a 11-1 favorable vote from members of the committee.

Surplus lines policies are not reviewed by the insurance department, nor are they protected by the states guaranty fund. While brokers can only pursue a surplus lines policy after being denied by three admitted carriers, there is an exception. The declinations are not required if the policy sought is on the states exportable list or white list of coverages that the insurance commissioner deems generally unavailable in the admitted market. (See sidebar.) Connecticut White List Surplus lines brokers are not required to submit statements for risks that are included in the these categories. Amusement Devices and Parks

Asbestos Abatement Contractors

Building Demolition

Carnivals and Circuses

Dealers Open Lot Physical Damage

Directors & Officers Liability

Employment Practices Liability

Environmental Impairment/Remediation

Fireworks and Pyrotechnics

Flood Insurance (Private)

Railroad Liability and Property

Special Events and Weather Insurance

Vacant Building not insurable in Fair Plan

Scott Hobson, assistant vice president of government relations, Big I Connecticut, urged passage of the measure to eliminate the three-declination requirement on brokers for surplus policy renewals. In practice, this is a significant time and paperwork burden on agents, particularly on renewals where the agent has already once received the necessary declinations, Hobson testified. Eliminating it when renewing a policy will streamline the process for obtaining coverage and allow agents to focus on what matters most  helping their customers.

Bradford J. Lachut, director of government affairs for the Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut, maintained that obtaining written declinations is unnecessary today because the risks the process is intended to protect clients from have greatly declined since the requirement went into effect as the surplus-lines market has greatly stabilized over several decades.

Lachut said that while the step of first checking the admitted market keeps policies from being placed in the surplus lines market unnecessarily at the beginning, the cumbersome process has no additional purpose when it comes to renewals. A producer can quickly confirm what coverage may be available through the online portals. Written declinations require steps outside the ordinary renewal procedures without adding additional protections for the client, he said.

Record-High Direct Premiums Written for the U.S. Surplus Lines Segment in 2021

But the insurance department opposes the change as a weakening of consumer protection. It maintains the three declinations are needed on renewals as well as on new business as a protection due to the nature of the surplus market where policies are not approved by the regulator and policyholders are not protected by the state guaranty association if an insurer cant pay its claims. Eliminating its applicability to renewal business will also eliminate the potential for consumers to purchase coverage from an admitted insurer upon the expiration of an existing surplus lines policy, the department maintained.

The department said it recognizes that the surplus lines market plays an important role in Connecticut as it allows many buyers to purchase coverages that would not otherwise be available. However, the agency argued, the risks to consumers of the surplus lines market still exist and the consumer protections should not be weakened.

The department said it welcomes a discussion of potential additions to the white list as a way to facilitate a more efficient policy production process.

Topics Legislation Excess Surplus Connecticut
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WILMINGTON, Del.  Lawyers for Fox News and a voting machine company tangled Wednesday over the high bar to prove defamation in a $1.6 billion lawsuit that has embarrassed the conservative network over its airing of false claims related to the 2020 presidential election.

The argument is at the heart of each sides attempt to persuade a Delaware judge that he should grant summary judgment in its favor and avoid a jury trial scheduled to start next month that would focus in part on media protections afforded in a nearly six-decade-old libel standard.

Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems claims that Fox program hosts, with the knowledge of executives for both Fox News and parent company Fox Corp., repeatedly allowed allies of former President Donald Trump to falsely claim that the machines and the software the company used were responsible for Trumps election loss. Documents released during the lawsuit have shown that top Fox executives and personalities didnt believe the claims but aired them anyway.

Fox contends that it cant be held liable for defamation for simply reporting on newsworthy allegations  a sitting presidents claim that the election was being stolen from him.

Fox attorney Erin Murphy argued Wednesday that the parent company cannot be held vicariously liable simply because Fox Corp. executives, including chairman Rupert Murdoch, might have had knowledge of who was appearing on Fox news shows and sometimes communicated with Fox News Network officials.

Fox Corp. doesnt belong in the case at all, she said.

Murphy also argued that Dominion cannot demonstrate that anyone at Fox Corp. acted with actual malice without first proving that that person directly participated in any of 17 programs that aired between Nov. 8, 2020 and Jan. 26, 2021, in which the allegedly defamatory statements were made. In addition to the programs, Dominion is claiming that three tweets from former Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs were defamatory.

Dobbs repeatedly offered a platform for Trump lawyer Sidney Powell to make unproven allegations about Dominion. Murphy argued that Dobbs often went out of his way to acknowledge evidence on the other side and explained why he had doubts. He also offered several invitations for Dominion representatives to appear on his show but was always turned down, Murphy said.

I dont think thats consistent with actual malice, she said.

Her comments came one day after Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said Fox appeared to have a Dobbs problem.

Stephen Shackelford Jr., an attorney for Dominion, said Fox cant escape the fact that Powell, during a Nov. 13, 2020, Dobbs program, made a clearly false statement that Dominion was created to produce altered voting results in Venezuela for late president Hugo Chavez.

Fox viewers dont expect Dobbs to bring liars on to his show to lie to them, Shackelford said.

Sidney Powell was hunting for somebody to make her relevant, and Fox made her relevant, he added.

The two-day summary judgment hearing was perhaps the most significant court action to date in a lawsuit that already has revealed Fox personalities private disdain for Trump and illustrated how political pressures can inform its coverage. The case also holds the potential for redefining libel law in the U.S.

Dominion attorneys say Fox employees allowed guests to falsely claim that the company had rigged the election, flipped large numbers of votes from Trump to Joe Biden through a secret algorithm, was owned by a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for Chavez, and offered bribes or kickbacks to government officials who used its machines.

Fox attorneys argue that the key issue is not whether the allegations were true or false, but whether it was accurately reporting the allegations. They also argue that there is a critical distinction between a factual statement and an opinion.

Despite the noise and confusion that Dominion has generated by presenting cherry-picked quotes without context, this case is ultimately about the First Amendment protections of the medias absolute need to cover the news, Fox News said in a prepared statement Wednesday.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Insurers continue to cover grain shipments from Ukraine through a U.N.-backed corridor although more clarity will be required soon, a senior Lloyds of London official said on Thursday, after the export accord was renewed for at least 60 days.

The deal allowing the safe wartime export of Ukrainian grain from its Black Sea ports, initially brokered last July by Turkey and the U.N., was renewed on Saturday for just half the intended period.

Insurance for ships going into the three Ukrainian ports covered by the agreement has been vital, and the war-cover policies need to renewed every seven days.

There is clearly underlying risk that if events change and somebody wanted to sink a ship to make a point, that clearly our appetite for continuing with those kind of risks might change, Lloyds markets Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown told Reuters.

The shorter renewal term has raised concerns over forward shipments beyond the 60-day period.

The United States has pushed back on Russian demands that Western sanctions be eased before Russia allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports beyond mid-May, saying there were no restrictions on Russian agricultural products or fertilizer.

Carnegie-Brown said that at the moment, Ships and cargoes come together at pretty short notice.

I would have thought that anything less than 30 days notice of the extension becomes a bit problematic, he said after Lloyds 2022 results were published on Thursday.

There are up to 60 commercial ships still stuck in Ukraine, a year after the start of the war with Russia, with insurers facing at least half a billion dollars of claims.

Ship owners can claim a total loss for vessels stuck for a year from their insurers.

When asked about the claims, Carnegie-Brown said, That number, whatever it is, will begin to crystallize.

The U.N. shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said the stranded ships remained a concern.

I will continue to actively pursue all avenues to develop, negotiate and facilitate the safe departure of vessels not covered by the Black Sea grain initiative, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said separately on Thursday.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Leslie Adler)

Photograph: Bulk carrier M/V Razoni, carrying a cargo of 26,000 tonnes of corn, leaves Ukraines port of Odesa, en route to Tripoli in Lebanon, on Aug. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP/Getty Images

Topics Carriers Excess Surplus Lloyd's Ukraine
Redwan Hussien and Getachew K Reda (seated), representing the Ethiopian government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, signing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Pretoria.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  Ethiopia's prime minister has appointed the spokesperson of the Tigray People's Liberation Front as head of an interim administration in the Tigray region.

The appointment is the latest sign of progress in the peace deal that ended the two-year war between the government and the TPLF last November.

Getachew Reda's appointment was announced in a Twitter message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office Thursday. The interim regional administration will be in place until elections are held for the region.

The peace deal has resulted in the halt of open conflict and a handover of heavy weapons from Tigrayan forces to the federal government. The government has resumed essential services to the region and has opened aid corridors. It also dropped its designation of the TPLF as a terrorist designation Wednesday, after lawmakers approved the decision by a majority vote.

Reda, along with other Tigrayan officials, had been charged with terrorism under the designation. Ethiopian media reports said those charges were expected to be lifted, though they have yet to be formally discontinued.

A TPLF spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.

Rights groups have accused all sides of committing war crimes during the two-year war, including the TPLF, Ethiopia's federal government, and Eritrean and regional Amhara forces who fought on the side of the government.
Illinois top court on Thursday said U.S. labor law bars unionized workers from suing their employers for violations of the states biometric privacy law, which can expose companies to massive penalties.

The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously held that campus security workers at Roosevelt University in Chicago must bring claims that the school used their fingerprints for timekeeping without their consent in union arbitration rather than court.

The university was backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest American business lobby, and groups representing the retail and restaurant industries.

The groups in a brief last year said a ruling against Roosevelt would create uncertainty over the enforceability of union contracts and hobble employers ability to negotiate agreements with unions.

The university and lawyers for the plaintiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) requires companies to obtain permission before collecting fingerprints, retinal scans and other biometric information from workers and consumers.

The law imposes penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, which can add up quickly in class action lawsuits.

The Illinois Supreme Court last month said fast-food chain White Castle System Inc must face claims that it scanned the fingerprints of 9,500 employees without their consent, which the company says could cost it $17 billion.

The BIPA, adopted in 2008, is the only law in the U.S. that grants workers and consumers a right to sue over the mishandling of biometric information.

But the state Supreme Court on Thursday said federal labor law preempts that right for unionized workers because their collective bargaining agreements establish procedures for arbitrators to hear legal disputes.

A Chicago-based federal appeals court came to the same conclusion in a pair of cases decided since 2019.

Only about 6% of private-sector U.S. workers are union members, so the ruling is not likely to significantly decrease the number of lawsuits alleging violations of BIPA.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York)

Topics Lawsuits Illinois
Global insurer Chubbs employees have begun to return to their offices in many countries around the world as governments have brought the coronavirus pandemic under control. However, the United State government has not been able to get the virus under control, which is causing greater problems, according to President and CEO Evan Greenberg.

We have been ready to begin our return to [the] office in the U.S., but took a pause, given the increase in infection rates in many parts of the world, Greenberg said during Chubbs 2019 second-quarter earnings call on July 29. Among developed countries in the world, the U.S. stands out in its inability to manage the health crisis on a national basis. This is damaging our economic recovery and our image globally.

According to Greenberg, the situation is far different for Chubb and its 31,000 global employees at many of its other global locations. He said Chubb continues to operate around the globe as a normal company during extremely abnormal times.

Depending on where you are in the world, with exceptions, a substantial portion of our international staff is back in the office at any given day, he said. This includes most of Asia Pacific, where about 50 percent [of employees] are back in the office, and in some countries, 100 percent.

According to Greenberg, Chubbs European operations, excluding Spain and Italy, have seen 25 percent of employees resume office work. In the UK, where working from home is continuing, Greenberg said that Chubb expects 20 percent to 25 percent of its staff to return to formal offices in August.

There are exceptions in the United States, Greenberg noted, with office life resuming where sections of the country have brought the coronavirus pandemic under better control. Where conditions have stabilized in the U.S., like the Northeast, weve begun to bring employees back to the office for meetings, to collaborate, learn and plan, Greenberg said. We are ready to return on a broader basis when conditions warrant [but] the health and well-being of our staff is of paramount concern.

Greenberg sounded the alarm, as he has previously, that the pandemic could be huge.

COVID-19 is a slow rolling global catastrophe impacting virtually all countries, unlike other natural catastrophes it has no geographic or time limits and the event continues as we speak. Together the health and consequent economic crisis will likely produce the largest loss in insurance history, particularly considering its worldwide scope and how both sides of the balance sheet are ultimately impacted, the Chubb leader said.

Greenberg had plenty to say about other matters, too, particularly the Black Lives Matter protests that have erupted across the United States, and a continued condemnation of efforts to force retroactive business interruption coverage of pandemics.

On Diversity and Inclusion. Greenberg, referencing the Black Lives Matter protests and marches against police brutality, said that the events have unfolded in our nation these past few months have focused our attention on what we should do as citizens and as a company.

He said that Chubb considers itself as an inclusive meritocracy that strives to make all colleagues feel comfortable and recognize them for their contributions. With that in mind, Chubb developed an action plan it shared with its employees designed to help enhance individual and collective understanding of racism in society and strive within Chubb to be antiracist in its behavior.

We want to actively support each other, Greenberg said. It starts with more frank dialogue between our employees of color, particularly our black colleagues, and white colleagues, to create better understanding of racism.

Greenberg said the insurer will hold its executives and other leaders accountable for developing and leading an inclusive environment. Also envisioned: the elimination of policies and practices that potentially create bias and inhibit our ability to create a greater racial mix of our workforce at all levels of the company.

As Greenberg explained: This is an enduring process, not a momentary event in time.

On the Pandemic and Business Interruption. As he has previously, Greenberg railed against attempts by trial attorneys and others to force carriers to retroactively cover pandemic-related business interruption claims. The insurance industry is under attack by the trial bar over business interruption claims, Greenberg said. They represent many businesses which purchased BI coverage that does not provide cover for pandemic. Those customers are understandably disappointed and upset.

Greenberg accused trial attorneys of reverse engineering insurance language to conjure up business interruption coverage that for the most part simply doesnt exist. He said that coverage for pandemic was not contemplated for most standard business interruption policies, which were designed for interruptions such as fire or flood damage interruptions.

He added that state insurance regulators who approved the policies agree that this risk is not covered and that the industry could not cover the massive open-ended tail risk of a global pandemic, because it threatens the industry solvency.

Greenberg said Chubb will pay business interruption coverage for policies that specifically cover pandemic related shutdowns.

But without the federal government playing a major role, he said pandemics are uninsurable on a broad basis. He said a federal backstop is one way to provide coverage more widely, he said, citing a proposed public-provide program Chubb unveiled earlier in July as one way to do this.

I believe the industry can and should take pandemic risk along with the government. This is a peril that can be covered to a greater degree than we do today as long as the tail exposure is covered by the government, Greenberg said. It is our job to figure out how to do that.

Topics USA COVID-19 Chubb
When insurance coverage lawsuits brought by businesses seeking coverage for COVID-related interruptions surpassed the 700 mark last week, the natural question to ask was: Is that a lot?

Thats exactly the question that Chris Cheatham, CEO and co-founder of insurtech RiskGenius, asked during a webinar he hosted last week, addressing the question to Tom Baker, the William Maul Measey professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who presented the figure.

Baker, an expert in insurance law and policy, showed an analysis of the numbers of business interruption coverage suits following past catastrophe events between 2009 and 2020in particular, Hurricanes Ike, Irma and Harvey and Superstorm Sandy and COVID-19.

They exceed the norm by two or three times all the nat cats, he said, comparing the current level of COVID-19 cases in federal courts to the business interruption coverage suits filed after those natural catastrophes.

Its a big deal, he added, displaying line graphs with case spikes that rose to less than 100 for Hurricane Ike a year after the third-quarter 2008 event, and to roughly 150 a year later. For Sandy, Irma and Harvey, case filings were less than 100 in similar time frames.

The University of Pennsylvania has been tracking insurance coverage litigation on a COVID Coverage Litigation Tracker (CCLT) powered by Lex Machina, machine learning-focused legal analytics software that harvest information from PACER, the federal docket system.

A webinar slide based on recent CCLT output indicated a figure of 694 total COVID-19 business interruption insurance coverage lawsuits, but Baker said that he had seen a list of 69 new cases on the day of the webinarJuly 21. While that number likely had some duplicates (owing to an overly inclusive search he uses to tap the Lex Machina tool), Baker confidently projected that the BI cases had eclipsed 700 at that pointmore than Ike, Sandy, Irma and Harvey together.

Although Baker could not compare COVID BI case numbers with those brought in the wake of Hurricane Katrina because Lex Machina only goes back to 2009, he speculated that while the Katrina-driven suits numbers would be bigger than those for the other storms, it wouldnt be anything like COVID-19.

And its not slowing down, Baker added, referring to the continual trend in COVID BI coverage suit filings.

Cheatham, who has been using the University of Pennsylvania tracker to put together analyses of his own, agreed with the assessment.

Its almost five-times, he said, comparing the COVID case counts to those following each of the storms individually. Providing one obvious reason for the disparity, Cheatham noted that while a hurricane hits just one areaa single state or multiple statesCOVID-19 shut down almost everything for a period of time. That was a countrywide shutdown essentially, except for some remote locations, where businesses just across the board were shut down, Cheatham said, turning to Baker to supply other reasons that COVID is a much bigger BI event in terms of the claims being filed than the storms.

Baker offered that the nature of the coverage disputes is different. For hurricanes, coverage disputes centered around question like what share of the loss the insurance company should pick up vs. the federal flood program. And then also, what was the value of the damage? In contrast, for COVID-19, the insurance industry has decided that its just not paying absent an affirmative coverage [grant] in the policy. He added: I think things move to litigation faster and also, with a greater propensity because theres not that belief that, Hey, we can come to some agreement. When the answer is, No, your claim is denied, the next step is litigation.

Penn. Higher Than New York

Cheatham and Bryan Wilson, MIT Fellow, have been working on their own analysis of trends in COVID litigation for a series of articles Cheatham is authoring exclusively for Carrier Management, titled COVIDigation Nation. In the accompanying article, COVIDigation: Why So Many Cases? Are More Coming?the first of the serieshe uses Penn Laws COVID Coverage Litigation Tracker to conclude that 69 percent of COVID insurance coverage lawsuits have been filed in just nine states. While big states known for high litigation rates generally, like California and Illinois are among them, Cheathams analysis shows another factor is the correlation between COVID infection rates and the number of insurance coverage lawsuits filed.

Still, there are a few questions that Cheatham needed Bakers help to answerlike why Pennsylvania, registering 10.5 percent of the coverage lawsuits as mid-July, and Florida, with 8.3 percent, were outpacing New Yorks 7.0 percent?

Part of the reason is that New York isnt viewed as a particularly policyholder-friendly jurisdiction, Baker said, explaining a slower pace of filings in the Empire state. Beyond that, he said that plaintiffs firms actively seeking to consolidate cases in other states may explain some of the other outliers.

MDL vs. Class Action: Whats the Difference? During a July 21 RiskGenius webinar, Prof. Tom Baker from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School explained that a class action decides the case for all the people who are in the class unless they choose to opt out so that decides the case. An MDL just gets the case ready, and then it goes back to the court where it started and where [cases are] resolved on an individual basis. Practically, MDLs tend to settle as a group and class actions, once class certification is granted, tend to settle too, he said, noting the similarities between the two that are nonetheless different from a legal procedure perspective. Speculating on what would happen in a COVID insurance litigation MDL, he said discovery would take place. Expert witnesses would address questions like, What is COVID-19? What does it mean to have virus in the building? Whats the transmission? In addition, motions to dismiss could be ruled upon. Summary judgment motions could be ruled on. And typically, in an MDL, with a lot of prodding from the judges, the parties will tend to agree to put cases in different categories and then some categories will be resolved and settled; others wont. Judges may also remand cases selectively for test case trials because the idea of an MDL is that theres too many casesto handle them all really individually so lets figure out the process that will allow the parties to resolve them.

There is an effort right now in the federal courts to have what is called an MDL, which is multidistrict litigationa procedure in the federal courts thats very widely used in products liability cases, but has, to my knowledge, never been used before in insurance cases, Baker said. He explained that what an MDL does is that it transfers all of the cases of a particular category to one federal court for proceedings leading up to, but not including trial. (The cases go back to the court where they originated for the trial.)

There are three teams of lawyers who have filed three competing efforts to consolidate these cases in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Illinois, Baker said, noting that the three cohorts have adopted different strategies. The Pennsylvania lawyers strategy has been, Hey, were going to file the most cases and that this case should be consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania because thats the center of gravity from cases.' While Florida lawyers are using a similar strategy, a high-powered coverage lawyer on the Illinois team of higher profile national lawyers is simply relying on their reputations rather than flooding the dockets. The strategy that theyre taking is, Listen, were just really amazing lawyers and you should do it in Chicagoand Chicago is in the middle of the country, Baker said.

Years Not Months

In his COVIDigation analysis, Cheatham also tracks the timing of case filings, finding roughly one-month lag between spikes in COVID infections and new high watermarks for litigation filings. Viewing a jump in infections during the week of a June 23 based on the New York Times COVID-19 dataset, Cheatham suggested there could be a surge in insurance litigation near the end of July. (See related article by Cheatham, COVIDigation: Why So Many Cases? Are More Coming?)

Baker, going back to his analysis of hurricane landfalls and BI coverage litigation, suggests an even longer loss development tail for insurers to worry about. The peak doesnt come until one year out, Baker said, pointing to a bar graph showing case counts at intervals of six months, 1-2 years, 2-3 years and over three years out for the storm events. While most showed case spikes in the 1-2 year bucket, for Ike, the spike came in 2-3 years, and there were still Sandy BI lawsuits being filed after 3 years. To the extent that COVID-19 cases follow that pattern, which its too soon to tell because were not even six months out really, then that suggests that theres a lot more lawsuits to come, Baker concluded.

Topics Lawsuits Catastrophe Florida New York COVID-19 Hurricane Illinois Pennsylvania
Americans are becoming less comfortable with the idea of driverless transportation.

A new report from an American Automobile Association (AAA) indicates that consumer trust in these vehicles has quickly eroded over the past few years. Today, three-quarters (73 percent) of American drivers report they would be too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, up from 63 percent in late 2017.

Additionally, two-thirds (63 percent) of U.S. adults report they would actually feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle while walking or riding a bicycle.

The survey comes after several high-profile accidents involving autonomous vehicle technologies. A 2018 Uber crash in Arizona that killed a pedestrian and several Tesla fatal crashes caught media attention and the attention of government safety regulators.

Greg Brannon, AAAs director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations, thinks the attention paid to incidents has an impact.

This technology is relatively new and everyone is watching it closely. When an incident occurs, it gets a lot of media attention, and people become concerned about their safety, said Brannon.

Despite their potential to make our roads safer in the long run, consumers have high expectations for safety, he added. Our results show that any incident involving an autonomous vehicle is likely to shake consumer trust, which is a critical component to the widespread acceptance of autonomous vehicles.

Surprisingly, AAAs latest survey found that Millennials  the group that has been the quickest to embrace automated vehicle technologies  were the most impacted by these incidents. The percentage of Millennial drivers too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle has jumped from 49 percent to 64 percent since late 2017, representing the largest increase of any generation surveyed.

While autonomous vehicles are being tested, theres always a chance that they will fail or encounter a situation that challenges even the most advanced system, said Megan Foster, AAAs director of Federal Affairs. To ease fears, there must be safeguards in place to protect vehicle occupants and the motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians with whom they share the road.

The technologies might not be quite as safe as some claim.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) analyzed 5,000 U.S. crashes and concluded that only a third of all U.S. road crashes could be prevented by driverless cars. It reported that only those caused by driver perception errors and incapacitation are likely to be prevented by self-driving cars.

Autonomous carmakers criticized the IIHS for underestimating the safety effects. Partners for Automated Vehicle Education, a group of self-driving technology companies, claims 72% of crashes can be avoided.

AAA said it supports thorough testing of automated vehicle technologies as they continue to evolve. The group also advocates for a common consumer nomenclature and classification system for the various driver assistance technologies.

There are sometimes dozens of different marketing names for todays safety systems, said Brannon. Learning how to operate a vehicle equipped with semi-autonomous technology is challenging enough without having to decipher the equipment list and corresponding level of autonomy.
A top U.S. cybersecurity official offered a dire warning to members of Congress on Wednesday, saying the American way of life faces serious risks amid the drumbeat of ransomware attacks and physical threats to the nations critical infrastructure.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, told the House Homeland Security Committee Wednesday that ransomware has become a scourge on nearly every facet of our lives, and its a prime example of the vulnerabilities that are emerging as our digital and our physical infrastructure increasingly converge.

Her appearance, aside National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, comes as the private sector and governments have grappled with pervasive cyberattacks during the last 12 months. Some attacks, including the Colonial Pipeline Co. breach in May, have led to gas shortages, disrupted supply chains and exposed federal systems to significant compromise.

Easterlys testimony came after CISA issued a binding operational directive that would create a catalog of known exploited cybersecurity vulnerabilities and would require federal agencies to fix these flaws within specific time frames. It would apply to all software and hardware on federal information systems, including those managed by an agency or hosted by third parties.

While the directive would only apply to federal agencies, Easterly said in a statement she wants every organization to adopt the directive and prioritize mitigation of vulnerabilities listed in CISAs public catalog. Shared defense is not a choice but an imperative, Inglis said.

Representative John Katko, a Republican from New York, said, The volume of alerts, advisories, and directives goes to show the pervasiveness of vulnerabilities affecting owners and operators of critical infrastructure, and federal networks.

Inglis said that privately owned critical infrastructure, which accounts for 85% of the total, is increasingly core to the governments imperative to protect and provide for national security.

Shared defense is not a choice but an imperative, Inglis said.

Inglis said he is working with the White House on a forthcoming executive order that would provide additional clarity on the roles and responsibilities for his newly created post, which is expected in the coming weeks to months. The Office of National Cyber Director was created by Congress earlier this year, and the role was designated as the top official overseeing cyber strategy and budgets within the government.

But lawmakers have raised concerns that it overlaps with authorities of CISAs Easterly and the White Houses Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology. The goal of the executive order is to provide clearer parameters around the new role, Inglis said.

Both Katko, the top Republican on the panel, and Representative Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi and the panels chairman, have placed a rare bipartisan emphasis on the importance of countering cybersecurity threats and offering praise for CISAs efforts. President Joe Biden has called cybersecurity a core national security challenge, and has since rearranged parts of the U.S. government to reflect new priorities.

Thompson, who also chairs the House select committee on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, also raised concerns of misinformation as key elections played out in Virginia and New Jersey. Just yesterday, voters went to the polls to cast their ballots even as efforts to push the Big Lie and erode public confidence in democratic institutions persist, Thompson said.

Inglis told members of Congress that there has been a discernible decrease in cyberattacks by Russia-based groups since President Joe Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.

Its too soon to tell whether thats because of material efforts taken by the Russians or the Russian leadership, he said. It may well be that the transgressors in this space have simply kind of lain low understanding that this is  for the moment a very hot time for them.

We need to make sure that the continues to be the case, Inglis said.

Photo: Jen Easterly Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber USA
Tony and Jhan Dunn never thought they would leave California, where they grew up, built a life together and planned to retire.

But after a wildfire swept through their Northern California town of Paradise three years ago, burning their home to the ground, they could not get insurance to buy another.

We basically got priced out of California, Dunn, a retired planning specialist, told Reuters from the couples new home in North Carolina.

There are thousands of homeowners and businesses from California to Australia in a similar position because the insurance industry, known for its readiness to cover anything from Bruce Springsteens vocal chords to alien abductions, has trouble factoring in climate change.

The tried and tested approach, where decades worth of historical data serve to estimate future claims, falls short when weather patterns change and hurricanes, floods, heat waves or snowstorms become more extreme and unpredictable, industry experts say. And the British hosts of the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow acknowledged on Wednesday that current pledges to cut greenhouse gases were not enough to avert climate catastrophe.

Insurance broker Aon said in a report last week that highly anomalous floods in Germany and China this year caused record insured losses in those regions.

Insurers are pulling out because nobody wants to be in the business of losing money, says Attila Toth, chief executive at specialist risk analytics firm Zesty.ai. And if they dont trust their traditional models, then they are concerned that they will be losing money.

Zesty.ai, whose customers include Farmers Insurance, reinsurer Berkshire Hathaway and Aon, uses artificial intelligence trained on more than 1,400 wildfire events to produce climate change risk scores for any individual property.

In the same vein, reinsurance broker Willis Re is using data from AI firm Cloud to Street to help clients price flood reinsurance.

Insurance statistics show an urgent need for such innovation.

For example, the average number of large U.S. wildfires has risen by 30% over the past 15 years and by nearly a fifth in just the last five, according to Lloyds of London insurer Chaucer.

In all, insured losses for so-called secondary perils such as floods and wildfires  rather than more closely modeled perils such as hurricanes  nearly doubled over the past decade, data compiled by Swiss Re shows.

The reinsurer expects no let-up, forecasting a 30-63% rise in insured losses for all types of natural catastrophes in advanced markets by 2040. China, Britain, France and Germany, could even see those soaring between 90% and 120%.

Given the momentum, it is no surprise that traditional models cannot keep up, Bruce Carnegie-Brown, chairman of insurance market Lloyds of London told Reuters.

If youve reached an exponential part of the curve where suddenly, somethings accelerating, its almost certain that we are underpricing the risk that were taking.

FEELING THE HEAT

Policyholders are already feeling the heat, with coverage getting costlier or harder to come by.

Broker Marsh estimates U.S. property insurance rates have risen by 10% in the third quarter.

In California, non-renewals of homeowners insurance policies rose 31% from a year earlier in 2019 to more than 235,000, the states Insurance Departments most recent data showed. The data for 2020 could be similar, according to Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog LA.

Across the northern border, the Insurance Bureau of Canada warned on its website homeowners might not be able to buy a new insurance policy if they have suffered a fire.

Among those pulling back from home insurance in California are some household names such as Liberty Mutual, Nationwide and State Farm. Liberty Mutual said it was a difficult but necessary step to reduce overall exposure to wildfires, a sentiment echoed by other insurers.

Some insurers aim to reduce their exposure by helping clients become more resilient. Commercial insurer AXA, for example, offers a consulting service for clients such as manufacturers, identifying their vulnerabilities and suggesting remedies, such as erecting flood barriers, its chief risk officer Renaud Guidee told Reuters.

This is really an alignment of interest.

U.S. insurer Chubb is also working with clients to help them make their infrastructure sturdier, said Paul J Krump, Vice Chairman, Chubb Group, Global Underwriting and Claims.

Reinsurers, with their global scope and long history of underwriting catastrophe risks, also have a role to play in helping the industry adapt to climate change, analysts say.

Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geo scientist at Munich Re, said the group had the expertise and willingness to take on climate risk.

The 141-year-old company set up a team to work on natural catastrophes and climate change in the 1970s after noticing loss patterns starting to change for weather related events, Rauch said.

We observed a continuation of years with losses significantly higher compared to the last 35 years or so. And thats reflected in our models, he said.

Yet there was a gap between what the reinsurer considered a fair premium and what insurers were prepared to pay.

We can only transfer this risk on our balance sheet if we get the premium which we need to cover these risks, based on our own assessment, Rauch said.

Ratings agency S&P Global warned even reinsurers could be underestimating their exposure to climate risk by as much as 50%, describing their efforts to account for climate change as nascent in a recent report.

Industry experts also say disasters such as hurricanes in Florida with a long history of causing severe damage, are more closely modeled than floods or wildfires, which have only in recent years begun to cause major losses.

That calls for reinsurers and independent risk modeling firms such as RMS and KCC to try new ways of approaching natural catastrophes.

One such approach is scenario modeling, where insurers are provided with a number of possible climate impacts on their portfolios over years, to take account of the whole range of uncertainty, said Laurent Marescot, senior director, EMEA and CIS, at RMS, which sells its risk models to insurers.

Another involves machine learning, which can be used to take existing models of floods in a particular region, for example, and map them to other parts of the world, Marescot said.

But any developments in making insurance more available and affordable will come too late for the Dunns.

It was sad because we both spent our whole lives in California, we both grew up in San Diego, Tony Dunn said. I never had any intentions ever of leaving California.

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru and Carolyn Cohn in London Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Elaine Hardcastle

Top Photo: A neighborhood destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif., in 2018. Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Topics Carriers Climate Change
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

Ransomware gangs didnt come out with any big new innovations last year, but what 2022 lacked in innovation it made up for in volume, according to a report by a financial services group.

In its annual outlook on cyber threats, the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, or FS-ISAC, reported that ransomware remained the biggest concern. The increase in attacks was likely due to the proliferation of the ransomware-as-a-service model, in which hacking groups provide affiliates with the malware and services necessary to carry out an attack, in exchange for a share of the criminal proceeds.

The analysis of the financial services industry comes as other recent news on ransomware has been positive. Some cybersecurity experts have reported that ransomware attacks appeared to be declining  though tracking overall incidents is difficult  and that fewer companies are making extortion payments.

Its still keeping us quite busy, said Teresa Walsh, FS-ISACs global head of intelligence. For us anyway, ransomware has not abated. FS-ISAC shares cyber intelligence among financial institutions around the world.

Russias war with Ukraine had by far the most significant impact on the cyber threat landscape for financial services, the report found. The war has spawned a surge of hacktivist DDoS attacks, data leakage and website takeovers by groups aligned with either Russia or Ukraine, including some that targeted financial services company.

Financial firms in countries that Russia considers hostile have been singled out for attacks and called out by name as targets on Telegram and other hacktivist forums, according to the report. While the attacks have yet to cause significant impact, they are notable in their ability to temporarily disrupt major businesses and governments while also garnering media interest.

FS-ISAC also cited business email compromise  in which criminals send an email that appears to come from a known source making a legitimate request  as a major issue for the financial services sector, with members reporting a 300% increase from 2021 to 2022. The majority of the potential attacks shared with FS-ISAC were payroll diversion requests, according to the report.

While email is the principal attack vector for these scams, fraudster tactics, techniques and procedures have begun to increasingly include the use of other media, such as WhatsApp, according to the report.

Walsh said companies should have processes in place so that when an employee gets an email from the chief executive officer asking for money, they can verify that its really that person.

FS-ISAC said the emergence of artificial intelligence tools will make detecting bogus communications and verifying identities more difficult, even as companies use them to bolster their own defenses. The use of mis-, dis- and mal-information  potentially leveraging generative text engines to spread  will continue to sow uncertainty, both politically and in the perceived impact of hacktivist campaigns, according to the report.

Photo: Photographer: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber
In line with President Lazarus Chakwera's Tigwirane Manja campaign in the wake of the disaster from the effects of Cyclone Freddy, Malawi's non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the civil society (CSOs) have been asked to avoid competition behaviours and scrambling for visibility by concentrating their operations in a few easy-to-reach camps at the expense of other remote communities which receive little support.

This was said in a joint statement at the official launch of a partnership of the NGOs and CSOs -- under Council for Non-Governmental Organisation (CONGOMA) -- which is to rally behind President Lazarus Chakwera's support of rescue operations and rebuilding programmes for survivors of Tigwirane Manja campaign.

The official launch of the partnership was held at a survivors camp at Chisombezi Primary School in Bangwe Township where the NGOs and CSOs -- under CONGOMA and led by presidential advisor on NGOs, Martha Kwataine -- donated dignity packs to the survivors.

Kwataine delivered a joint statement, saying Chakwera has suspended other official duties by camping in the Southern Region where the disaster has taken its tool.

"On almost a daily basis since Freddy hit Malawi, the State President has moved from one district to another, one village to another, and the President has walked on foot visiting communities cut off from all forms of Transport communication."

The statement also highlighted that former Presidents, Bakili Muluzi, Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda are playing their significant role of visiting, consoling and distributing relief items in selected communities hit by the cyclone.

"The leaders have set aside political differences and have United around the need to rescue communities devastated by Freddy.

"The message that President Chakwera and the former Presidents are carrying is one of hope while they deliver food, water, blankets, clothes and other material needs to the devastated communities," said the statement.

The NGOs and the CSOs are being called upon to reprogram their activities and direct their efforts towards restoring some faith -- and where possible to include their financing and budgets in their reprogramming "so that resources can be freed to maximize impact in the cyclone-hit communities".

They are also asked to "demonstrate stronger coordination and collaboration in the implementation of interventions" which includes mobilization and delivery of relief packages.

"It also includes the need for greater coordination in decisions sorrounding choices of geographical locations where the NGOs deliver relief items and conduct rescue operations.

"Specifically, NGOs are being reminded on the need to avoid competition behaviours and scrambling for visibility -- thereby concentrating their operations in a few easy-to-reach camps at the expense of other remote communities which receive little support.

"Some NGOs have the tendency to implement their interventions in an isolated manner without collaborating with other actors such as the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).

"In this vein, we remind CSOs and NGOs of the need to coordinate their efforts with relevant government departments such as DoDMA, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Water & Sanitation as well as local councils -- this is the central tenet of Tigwirane Manja."

The CSOs and NGOs are thus asked "to practice accountability and implement their disaster relief activities in a transparent manner and ensure that corruption does not meddle with the resource management systems".

"NGOs need to work with the highest standards of integrity and ensure ethical conduct at all stages of the work in the relief efforts. This responsibility includes fostering accountability among the state and non-state actors delivering relief and conducting rescue operations so that every Tambala must count and must contribute towards alleviating the suffering of the thousands of people affected by Cyclone Freddy."

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Kwataine was also accompanied by former presidential advisors on NGOs namely Mabvuto Bamusi for President Mutharika and Rev. MacDonald Sembereka for Joyce Banda, Catholic Church's Monsignor Boniface Tamani as well as CONGOMA chairperson, Mandinda Zungu of Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM).

Monsignor Tamani offered a sermon for the survivors of spiritual hope and quoting the Bible that God reached out to and rescued His people who were suffering in Egypt through Moses, saying that what the Almighty is doing to alleviate survivors' suffering through the public's intervention.

The survivors were comforted that they shall be properly assisted to rebuild their lives and meanwhile more relief items shall come their way all in good time.
Governance expert Dr. George Chaima has saluted President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for demonstrating statesmanship and servant leadership by engaging former Heads of State in a discussion on what the country needs to do to address challenges emanating from Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

President Chakwera is apparently the first leader to consult his predecessors on national issues.

He is also the first Head of State to pay courtesy calls to retired presidents in their respective places of residence and also assigning them to represent him at national and international events.

Commenting on the gesture on Thursday, Chaima said what the President has done only confirms his resolve to promote national unity among politicians despite differing in political affiliations.

"This is very encouraging step taken by President Chakwera. You know, right from the beginning after he assumed office, Chakwera called for unity among all Malawians. He also took a tour to visit former Heads of State like Dr. Bakili Muluzi and Professor Mutharika. And that was all in the spirit of solidifying relationship for national good," he said.

"And when he has also called for this meeting today, I think this is very commendable and it shows President Chakwera is a man who would always depend on others for participatory decision-making so that all that collective efforts can be put together for the good of the nation," added Chaima.

But Chaima expressed disappointment with the advice Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) loyalists gave Mutharika to shun the engagement when Muluzi and Dr. Joyce Banda responded positively to the invitation.

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The governance expert said he expected that any former Head of State would gladly take such an invitation as an opportunity to discuss and contribute to the matters of the nation.

"President Chakwera did not invite party followers to the meeting. He invited former Heads of State and not former heads of political parties. And Malawi is that state. I think the political party leaders of DPP are misguided by advising their president in a wrong manner," he emphasized, further advising Mutharika to stop living in denial that he lost the election.

Earlier in the week, DPP National Governing Council member Ken Msonda also took a swipe at his fellow party following for misleading Mutharika on the matter.

Msonda said he expected that all the three former state presidents would respond positively and attend 'this very important meeting'.

"The Think Tank would like to remind those misguided, confused, disgruntled and frustrated overzealous blind party loyalists that this call from the state president is meant for former state presidents and not political party presidents. Therefore calls from these called party members, followers, supporters sympathizers that the former state president shouldn't attend this very important meeting is not only uncalled for but unreasonable, undemocratic, primitive line of thinking and unfortunate," he said.

Msonda reminded his fellow DPP loyalists that Chakwera's call for a meeting with former Heads of State is 'a call for the national unity to work together'.
Source: Streetwise Reports

March 24, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Alpha Copper Corp. cancels its option agreement for the Okeover project in British Columbia so it can focus on its other three projects, including the drill-ready Star project.

Alpha Copper Corp. (ALCU:CSE;ALCUF:OTC) announced it has canceled its option agreement for the Okeover project in British Columbia so it can focus on its other three projects.

The company will now put its efforts into exploring the drill-ready Star project in the British Columbia's Golden Triangle, and its Indata project in British Columbia and Hopper project in the Yukon Territory.

"We decided to terminate the option agreement based on all the exploration results to date," Chief Executive Office Darryl Jones said. "After careful consideration, it became clear to us that the value of the option deal did not reflect the value of the project anymore. Rather than aligning the price and value, we have chosen to focus on the assets in our portfolio that we believe have more immediate exploration upside."

Demand for copper is expected to explode as the economy switches footing to green technologies, like electric vehicles (EVs), which use more than three times the amount of copper as gas-burning cars. Charging infrastructure, solar panels, wind, and batteries all require more of the red metal, as well.

The need for copper is expected to double from about 25 million metric tons (Mmt) in 2021 to about 50 Mmt by 2035, according to a report by S&P Global.

All of this will require much more investment in copper and copper explorers, a market analysis by RFC Ambrian said in 2022.

"Based on industry-wide capital intensity data, we calculate that some US$196 billion of investment will be required," according to the analysis. "Of this, US$80 billion is for greenfield projects, and US$116 billion is for brownfield projects, of which US$71 billion is simply for replacement capacity. A further US$35 billion of investment will be required to close the supply gap."

The Catalyst: Shifting Focus



Okeover project. Source: Alpha Copper Corp.

A drilling program at the 4,613-hectare Okeover project was finished last December. Its goal was to reconfirm historical drilling data at the North Lake Zone as the company pushed toward updating and publishing a new resource for the project.

Hole 4 looked promising from 330 meters to 600 meters, the company said. Historically, the hole intercepted 76 meters grading 0.34% copper (Cu) and 0.020% molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), including 19 meters grading 0.42% Cu and 0.020% MoS2.

Canceling the Okeover option agreement removes Alpha's obligation for a pending share issuance and a further US$3.5 million in working expenditures, the company said.

Alpha said it would use those resources to increase its focus on Star, Indata, and Hopper.

Last month, Alpha announced Hopper had been issued a 10-year permit for drilling and road and trail building.

A 74-kilometer multi-target porphyry copper-molybdenum project, Hopper has "significant copper-gold-silver peripheral skarn mineralization," Alpha has said. The best intercept there was 22.28 meters at 1.405% Cu.

Alpha obtained Hopper and Star with its purchase of CAVU Energy Metals Corp., which closed in December 2022.

"The Hopper Project is a great project with a lot of exploration upside," Jones said. "The Project has proven skarn horizons that are ready to build towards a maiden resource and the potential for a large porphyry zone that was proven up in the last two years and is close to discovery. We believe there is something big here and are looking forward to unlocking the project's potential."

Star is a multi-target copper-gold porphyry project in the Golden Triangle with 106.98 meters graded at 0.77% Cu in one hole. Over 13,000 meters of modern drilling have been completed there, and it is fully permitted for 200 drill sites until 2026.

"These could be multibillion-pound copper deposits," Jones has said.

CAVU was "well-positioned" even before its purchase to make a significant copper discovery, Red Cloud Securities analyst Taylor Combaluzier wrote last summer.

"We believe the company stands to benefit from the global trend toward electrification, which will require increased copper production to meet the demands of the worldwide green economy," Combaluzier wrote about CAVU before the sale.

Indata is close to Northwest Copper's Kwanika and Stardust discoveries. Historical drilling includes 148 meters grading 0.20% Cu, including 24.1 meters grading 0.37% Cu, the company said. Assays from Indata are also expected soon.

Analyst: More Exploration Needed

Adding to the problem of the looming supply and demand shortfall for copper is the lead time for getting new mines online.

The S&P report said politicized regulatory processes and litigation make it "unlikely that efforts to expand copper output in the United States would yield significant increases in domestic supply within the decade."

"Bottom line? We gotta find more copper," analyst Rick Mills wrote. "That sentiment is clearly shared by some of the world's largest copper companies, who are doing everything they can to expand existing mines and acquire prospective new deposits as they seek to replace their rapidly depleting copper reserves and resources."

Some used copper is recycled for things like plumbing tubes and roofing sheets. But it's not feasible to use scrap copper for all copper products, as electrical wiring and cables require the "very pure sort of copper that flows from the mining-smelting-refining process," the Copper Development Association Inc. wrote.

Ownership and Share Structure

About 15% of the company is held by insiders, including the CEO Jones, who holds 1.54% or 800,000 shares; and Director Daniel Matthews, who owns 1.11% or 580,000 shares, according to Reuters.

The rest is retail, Alpha said.

The company has about 52 million shares outstanding, 48.9 million of them free-floating, with a market cap of CA$15.89 million. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$1.02 and CA$0.135.

Disclosures:

1) Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

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Disclosure Requirement: Red Cloud Securities Inc. is registered as an Investment Dealer in all Canadian provinces and territories, and is a member of the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC). Part of Red Cloud Securities Inc.'s business is to connect mining companies with suitable investors. Red Cloud Securities Inc., its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, representatives, researchers and members of their families may hold positions in the companies mentioned in this document and may buy and/or sell their securities. Additionally, Red Cloud Securities Inc. may have provided in the past, and may provide in the future, certain advisory or corporate finance services and receive financial and other incentives from issuers as consideration for the provision of such services.

Red Cloud Securities Inc. has prepared this document for general information purposes only. This document should not be considered a solicitation to purchase or sell securities or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. The information provided has been derived from sources believed to be accurate but cannot be guaranteed. This document does not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs of individual recipients and other issues (e.g. prohibitions to investments due to law, jurisdiction issues, etc.) which may exist for certain persons. Recipients should rely on their own investigations and take their own professional advice before investment. Red Cloud Securities Inc. will not treat recipients of this document as clients by virtue of having viewed this document.

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New York, NY - March 24, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Tech / Telecom Stock Media alert for iQSTEL (USOTCQX: IQST) was recently featured on Alpha Status Stocks, a news stock channel for penny stock traders discussing recent news from the Company on its Metaverse Solution.

Watch the video on You Tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9_jU4zYi4

The Company recently announced entering into a Joint Venture (JV) with GOTMY to accelerate the launch of a turnkey, white label metaverse solution for iQSTEL's telecommunication customers. The metaverse market size by revenue is estimated to currently be worth $61.8 billion and expected to grow to $426.9 billion by 2027.

GOTMY has expanded its personalized live video marketplace and platform offered through an app available for iPhone, Android and PC enabling content creators and internet influencers to host and monetize online events. GOTMY now offers a white label metaverse solution empowering brands, large and small, to host 3D events where participants can interact with the brand and even buy from the brand in an online store without downloading any app or using a wallet. Learn more about GOTMY here.

Through the JV with GOTMY, iQSTEL will offer its telecommunication carrier clients a white label solution enabling telecommunication carriers to interact with their customers (end users, and enterprises) through a metaverse platform.

The iQSTEL white label metaverse solution developed in partnership with GOTMY will be tailored to provide telecom carriers with a distinctive and immersive customer experience. In line with GOTMY's mission to offer universally accessible experiential spaces, the iQSTEL solution for telecom carriers is intended to accommodate all mobile phone users, not just those with high-end VR headsets.

IQSTEL management believes the metaverse will become as ubiquitous as the Internet serving as a standardized gateway for all content, products, services, and customer support services.

In conjunction with the GOTMY JV, iQSTEL also announces the new iQSTEL Metaverse business division, with Jose Enrique Puente as CEO. The first business objective of the new Metaverse division is to complete a graphic design upgrade and launch the iQSTEL metaverse solution next quarter.

The iQSTEL and GOTMY partnership is set to revolutionize the telecommunications industry by presenting carriers with a leading, innovative approach to connecting with their customers. By merging the expertise of two industry-leading companies, this trailblazing solution promises to make a substantial impact within the telecommunications sector.

About iQSTEL Inc.:

iQSTEL Inc. (OTCQX: IQST) (www.iQSTEL.com) is a US-based publicly listed company holding an Independent Board of Directors and Audit Committee with a presence in 19 countries and 70 employees offering leading-edge services through its four business lines. The Telecom Division (www.iqstelecom.com), which represents the majority of current operations, offers VoIP, SMS, proprietary Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and international fiber-optic connectivity through its subsidiaries: Etelix, SwissLink, Smartbiz, Whisl, IoT Labs, and QGlobal SMS. The Fintech business line (www.globalmoneyone.com) (www.maxmo.vip) offers a complete Fintech ecosystem MasterCard Debit Card, US Bank Account (No SSN Needed), Mobile App/Wallet (Remittances, Mobile Top Up). Our Fintech subsidiary, Global Money One, is to provide immigrants access to reliable financial services that make it easier to manage their money and stay connected with their families back home. The BlockChain Platform Business Line (www.itsbchain.com) offers our proprietary Mobile Number Portability Application (MNPA) to serve the in-country portability needs through its subsidiary, itsBchain. The Electric Vehicle (EV) Business Line (www.evoss.net) offers electric motorcycles to work and have fun in the USA, Spain, Portugal, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. EVOSS is also working on the development of an EV Mid Speed Car to serve the niche of the 2nd car in the family.

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this news release may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other information relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about our business based partly on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may and are likely to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and iQSTEL Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release. This press release does not constitute a public offer of any securities for sale. Any securities offered privately will not be or have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

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Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has called upon researchers to come up with innovative solutions to solve the humanitarian crisis through modelling climate change and its impacts.

Wirima was speaking on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of National Research Agenda (NRA) developed by National Planning Commission (NPC) in collaboration with National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) with support from Unicef.

She said through the NRA, environmental sustainability pillar will allow researchers to come up with solutions that will solve the negative impacts of cyclone Freddy which the country is currently facing.

"I therefore direct the NCST to immediately put up a research call through NRA that will solve negative effects of cyclone Freddy using available resources in the Science and Technology fund," she said.

Wirima also encouraged youths and Early Career Researchers (ECR) to respond to the call that will evoke the application of predictive Artificial Intelligence (AI) to project occurrence of the natural disasters and help improve preparedness to such catastrophic phenomena.

She added that effective implementation of NRA will stimulate economic growth and realize Malawi 2063 aspirations.

Wirima assured that her ministry will advocate and lobby Parliament to prioritize Research, Science, Technology and Innovations (RSTI) if Malawi is to catch up the new pathways of attaining socio-economic development and transformation.

NCST Chairperson, Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said the scientific world has not done much to be able to state in advance on how to alert people.

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"We want to bring out the young minds which the country has to be able to get into science and technology, artificial intelligence to be able to alert or prepare people if there is a disaster," he said.

Kamanga said the research agenda is key and is providing a platform where all will going to be done in a coordinated manner.

NPC Director General, Thomas Munthali bemoaned less conduct of research and development of innovations and technologies which could have spurred growth on the country.

"Perhaps, our research and technological endeavours were less informed by what we want and aspire as a country in improving our economic growth and living conditions as well as transformation we aspire," he said.

Munthali said the NRA will provide a strategic focused research, innovation and technologies that should propel Malawi to a future it desires.

The NRA has been developed to operationalize the research and innovation needs of the country on the quest for the lower middle income economic status by 2030 and an upper middle income Inclusively wealthy and self-reliant by 2063.
The Health Service Executive should ramp up its recruitment of UK-based health workers, and do far more globally to promote the benefits of living and working in Ireland, says a leading recruiter.

Margaret Cox is director of Irish recruitment firm ICE Group, which works extensively in Australia, New Zealand and the US. She said that, in her experience, doctors and nurses moving from Ireland to Australia do so primarily for a better lifestyle and working conditions; e.g. nurse-to-patient ratios of 1-4 to 1-6 in Oz versus 1-6 to 1-15 in Ireland, according to the IMNO.

It is clear that Ireland needs to do two things  hire more nurses and doctors from abroad and encourage more Irish ones to stay, said Margaret Cox.

While the HSE is losing Irish staff to Australia and elsewhere, it is also actively recruiting in places where we can compete better on wages and working conditions, such as India and the Philippines. Spain, which is undergoing its own healthcare crisis, is also a main target.

One of the countries that the HSE should ramp up its recruitment drive is the UK, where the crisis in healthcare is acute and morale among staff at its lowest level in decades. The past three months have seen many NHS strikes due to pay and working conditions.

Given many British peoples family connections to Ireland, that we are an English-speaking country next door and Brexit, Ireland should be an easy sell to the UKs nurses and doctors.

Ireland trains around 700 or so doctors every year. In 2022, 432 of these went to Australia alone, never mind New Zealand, the US or the rest of the EU.

One Irish doctor working in Australia went viral for a Tweet in January highlighting that 62 out of 77 medicine students who graduated from UCC in 2021 are currently working in Australia.

Robert Watt, Department of Health General Secretary, told the public accounts committee recently that Ireland's health service missed its recruitment target by 3,332 workers. The number of nursing placements available in universities is less than the number of nurses Ireland needs to hire each year.

Over the years, I have spoken to hundreds of young Irish people moving to Australia, New Zealand and the US, said Margaret Cox. In the vast majority of cases, they do not cite higher wages as a reason for moving abroad. Wages can be higher abroad, but so can the cost of living, as it is in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

Many young doctors and nurses have told ICE Group that they want to see the world while they are young, and will return to Ireland once they have experience on their CVs.

In October, Australias Victorian state government erected large billboards outside a number of Irish hospitals encouraging Irish nurses and doctors to move to Australia.

There was an immediate rush to judgement from all sides," said Margaret. "Many started accusing the doctors and nurses of robbing the Irish taxpayer by stealing an education and running off abroad. On the other hand, many went straight into blaming the Government for failing young people and driving them overseas. The HSE came under fire for not looking after its own staff.

Any quick search on the websites of Irish recruitment companies will see page after page of adverts seeking nurses and doctors across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and across the country.

She said that the HSE needs to actively campaign to in Ireland and overseas to overturn a general perception that working in the HSE is a general nightmare. Without an active campaign, the Irish health sector will see a continual emigration of health workers.

The number of visa applications granted by Australia to Irish doctors rose by 44% from 2018-21, according to Australian civil service figures. The number of Irish doctors granted Australian visas rose to 391 in 2021, versus 332 visa applications granted in 2019, and 272 visa applications granted in 2018.

The attractions of hot beaches, surfing, swimming in warm oceans and regular barbecues are things that Ireland just cannot compete with. But we urgently do need to improve the working conditions in Irish hospitals in order to compete, said Margaret.

We have huge advantages over Australia when it comes to friendly people, history, culture and the arts. We have a supportive social welfare system and excellent education. We might not have the weather but we also have places of amazing natural beauty.

We shouldnt be shy about shouting these benefits from the rooftops when it comes to recruiting healthcare staff. A more welcoming environment needs to be created for those returning home.

Ireland isnt perfect, but we are better than most. if we make some improvements to our system, clever and proactive recruitment campaigns can make a real difference.
Chief executive of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) Brian Hayes has played down a fall in mortgage activity in February, saying it was expected given the wave of switching seen in recent months.

New BPFI figures show a significant decline in mortgage switching, while overall mortgage approvals slowed down compared to January.

The number of people switching or topping up their mortgage dropped from 877 in January to 634 in February  a decline of 27.7%. Compared to February 2022, it decline 30.9%.

The total value of non-purchase mortgages in February came to 144m  down from 205m in January.

Mr Hayes said while the figures showed a slowdown in approvals across all customer segments  both in terms of volume and value  it is in the context of a significant decline we are seeing in switching activity.

He said this fall was expected given the substantial wave of switching undertaken by customers in recent months with almost 4.3bn in new non-purchase approvals in the year to the end of January.

Mr Hayes added that despite the slowdown seen in February, mortgage activity remains at historically high levels, with demand being particularly strong among first-time-buyers.

The total number of mortgages approved in February stood at 3,378  down from 3,697 in January, a decrease of 8.6%, and the 3,894 recorded in February last year, a decrease of 13.3%.

The majority of these approvals, 1,877, were for first-time buyers, while mover purchases accounted for 801.

The value of mortgages approved in February came to 945m, which is also down from the over 1bn recorded in January. The value of mortgages approved in February 2022 came to 1.028bn.

There were 57,836 mortgages approved in the year up to February valued at 15.85bn.
Industry is considering opportunities that may exist for a veal processing industry to be developed in Ireland.

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Beef and Sheep.

Speaking this week, Bord Bia's chief executive Jim O'Toole said that "we certainly are very keen to eliminate the calf slaughterings that are happening at a young age", and that Bord Bia is working with industry players "who are interested in exploring this idea" of developing a veal sector.

"We actually last year worked with a couple of people on a pilot programme very much around the opportunities, or what would be the dynamics around developing a veal industry, and we did some trials with the company," Mr O'Toole said.

"Some of the calves that we export live typically go to the Netherlands. They're all for veal production, processed in the Netherlands, and typically consumed in Italy, and southern France.

"There is a market."

Seasonal industry

However, there has never been a traditional veal processing industry in this country, Mr O'Toole said.

"I think that's probably due to the fact that for a long number of years, we were constrained by quotas in terms of the output of our calves, but also, it's a highly seasonal industry," he said.

"But notwithstanding all of those constraints, we are certainly working with a couple of entrepreneurs who are interested in exploring this idea."

Mr O'Toole was responding to questions from members of the Oireachtas joint committee on agriculture, food and the marine at a recent meeting.

Senator Paul Daly said that there are "a lot of issues with the amount of calves that are exported when it comes to animal welfare".

"I've always asked the question as to why we can't send the calf out on the hook as opposed to on the hoof or why we can't develop our own veal industry," Mr Daly added.

"It would create, in my opinion, a little niche for some farmers prepared to fatten the calf, and it would create jobs in the abattoir."

PGI

Meanwhile, there is currently an application for protected geographical indication (PGI) status for Irish grass-fed beef to cover the island under consideration by the European Commission.

Mr O'Toole told the committee that Bord Bia has not "had any indication yet as to when that process is going to conclude".

"We're certainly very anxious for it to come to fruition."

There is no specific timeframe at this point, Mr O'Toole said.

"We'd certainly anticipate it this year," he added.

Sustainability

Senator Daly also raised his concerns at the meeting that in order to meet climate targets, land will be "coming out of production".

"We have nitrates regulations with the derogation under pressure and cow banding, which is probably cows coming out of production. We are limiting chemical fertiliser, which is bound to potentially reduce yield and tonnage of production," Mr Daly said.

"Based on those facts and that direction we are going in - which is necessary, do not get me wrong  can Mr OToole see the day coming where Bord Bia will not be able to fulfil its order book, let alone try to expand it?"

Mr O'Toole said that Bord Bia's strategy is "very much focused on developing and delivering sustainable food" in Ireland, and its "ability to win market share and develop export markets".

"There is regulatory pressure on agriculture and food production in Ireland. However, it is also important to recognise that it not an either-or situation," he said.

"Our ability to win export markets is highly correlated to our ability to demonstrate that we have sustainable food production, to demonstrate our environmental and sustainability credentials.

"As well as demonstrating our sustainability credentials, our focus is on driving value creation. We want to see the value of our order books increasing per unit.

"We are trying to target the best channels, customers and markets for the best products. We are trying to balance all those variables so that we maximise the value.

"If we are facing constraints around carbon emissions, our ambition is to drive the value of those exports so we can return it to the farm gate. It is not about the volumetric output. We are after the unit value. That is our strategic direction."
The 'Irish Mammy' has become something of a stereotype over the years, and even a figure of fun, but Gods Creatures (15A) suggests that Irish mothers are far more complicated than the cliches allow.

Aileen OHara (Emily Watson) is a no-nonsense manager of a fish processing plant in a small village in Irelands northwest, a woman with a flinty exterior who was long ago deserted by her feckless son Brian (Paul Mescal). When the prodigal arrives home unannounced from Australia, and declares an ambition to revive his grandfathers old trade of farming oysters, joy is unconfined  but then Brian is accused of sexual assault by his old flame Sarah (Aisling Franciosi).

Emily Watson in God's Creatures

Written by Shane Crowley and directed by Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer, the 1980s-set Gods Creatures offers a gripping exploration of the mother-son dynamic, placing Aileen in what she perceives to be an impossible moral dilemma: effectively, it is Aileens word against Sarahs as to Brians movements on the fateful night.

A mothers instinct, of course, is to protect her son  but can Aileen really trust Brian? Is he the same person he was when he left home? And why was he obliged to leave Australia in such a hurry, and return home to a rural Ireland that offers no real prospects? These and other questions torture Aileen and draw the viewer deeper and deeper into the moral quagmire she has created, ratcheting up the tension as the story drives onwards to its inevitably tragic climax.

Paul Mescal in God's Creatures

Emily Watson is superb here as the multi-faceted, emotionally inscrutable Aileen, and she gets excellent support from Paul Mescal, Declan Conlon as Aileens estranged husband Con, and Aisling Franciosi as the young woman who is devastated not only by her attacker, but by a village that affects indifference to her ordeal.

(cinema release)
Jane Casey has an incredibly loyal fanbase. They love her crime novels featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan so much that they are constantly asking her when the next one is due out. One reader, who bought her latest novel, The Close, at her recent London launch party, read it overnight, and messaged her in the morning, on publication day, saying, when is the new one coming?

Thats the quickest ever, says Casey, laughing, when we meet in Dublin on a dark miserably rainy afternoon. People take the day off work on publication day to stay at home and read the book. And some readers, when they finish it, start reading from the beginning again.

That comes as no surprise to this reader. And its not just because Caseys plots are intricate and clever; of all the crime writers I have read, Casey takes the most care with her major, and minor, characters. Theres an authenticity to them, and the nuances of the delicate relationships between them are beautifully handled. And none more so than between Maeve and DI Josh Derwent, her recalcitrant boss.

And in this one, Caseys 10th Maeve Kerrigan book, she sends the duo to the suburban Jellicoe Close, to live there for a while and to find out if theres a connection there to an unsolved crime. Theyre to pose as a couple who are dog-sitting. Living in such close proximity, will Maeve finally succumb to Joshs erotic charms?

Josh poses this as a holiday  but Maeve cant let go of the murder case shes currently investigating, of a hospital consultant found dead in his car. Shes not sure she can trust her deputy. Is the beautiful, flirty, but frankly hopeless Georgia capable of conducting a thorough investigation?

Maeve soon becomes embroiled in the life of the community, discovering a lot of unhappiness behind the closed doors. And is she imagining things, or is there a dark presence  a possible stalker with wrongdoing on his mind?

Its a fabulous read  with a sense of menace throughout, but how did Casey get the idea?

Ive had the idea since lockdown, she says. I struggled with the blurring of the personal and professional life which is a very lockdown thing. I was doing all those Zoom events and people were looking at you, but also the background. They were seeing a different side of you. And from that idea, I loved having this closed group of people.

OUT OF THE ORDINARY

She loved taking the two protagonists out of their usual setting and giving them permission to try out new ways of doing things. Its an opportunity for Maeve to do the things she normally stops herself from doing. Like being too girly, too pretty, or too attention seeking. She can live a different life and try a different way of being.

It was a dream to write, she says. Its a happy, sunshiny book, and it came out the way I imagined originally. That is what you want, and it never usually happens.

Since penning her first book in 2008, Casey has written a total of 15  including some standalone titles, and three books for teenagers. Before becoming an author, she was an editor in childrens publishing. Just how did she get started?

I loved my job, but I just felt a need to write stories, she says. I had wanted to do it, but I was waiting to be struck by inspiration for a big, maybe literary novel, and Id had no stories to tell.

I was on my train journey to work, and I had this story going through my head. I would tune into it and listen to the characters talking to one another. I had plotted the whole thing in my head before I thought, maybe I should write this down.

Her only ambition, back then, was to find an agent, so she was delighted when The Missing got a deal. Her editor at Ebury asked for a synopsis of her second book of the deal, and when she delivered it, suggested she should instead write the first of a series.

She said, People dont remember author names or plots, but they remember the characters. And Maeve hasnt really changed much since her first book, although, obviously, things have happened to her.

Maeve Kerrigan is a London-based Dubliner, a trait she shares with her creator. Casey lives in south-west London with her barrister husband, two sons, and a show cocker spaniel called Rory. Some years ago, the couple tried living back in Dublin. They lasted less than a year.

It was disastrous! Nothing went our way. For the first time in years, my editor turned down a book I had written. She said, Im not sure about this, and I said, I think I should scrap it and write something else.

The Close by Jane Casey

DRILLING FOR FOUR MONTHS STRAIGHT

Shes glad now, saying it was a bad book, but at the time it put financial pressure on the couple. Wed planned that my husband would work less, but because my book wasnt coming out he had to spend the whole time working away. We didnt have enough money, and the children werent particularly happy where they were in school.

If that was hard, lockdown was arguably harder. We were living in a tiny flat we had moved to between houses, and someone moved into the flat above and was renovating. And he was there on his own, and he drilled for four months straight, every day. That was difficult! But I managed to write The Killing Kind in the end. After that I could write anywhere  in a jumbo jet or a ballroom.

That book became a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, and is being adapted for television, but why, when she had won and been nominated for numerous awards for her series, did she choose to do another standalone?

I wanted to write something in the world of the bar, she says. Im interested in how barristers have to consider clients moral responsibility, and, being in a mans world constantly, having to deal with difficult men, and with men seeing her as a woman first, and barrister second.

And I felt I had more freedom to take the story in the direction I wanted.

Since then, Casey has suffered the loss of both of her parents  in December 2020 and December 2021. How is she doing? Its a long process, she says, but the year when my father was on his own was much harder. We spent a lot of time with him, we were able to come and go, but we had all that worry of someone living on their own. But he had great carers, and a lot of support from the gardai. They would ring and check in, and they came to the funeral. Im so grateful to everyone. There was so much kindness.

Casey is now settled into a new house  one that came with a writing shed  an unbelievable luxury, she says, after years of writing at the kitchen table. Shes about to finish her next Maeve Kerrigan novel and has plenty of ideas for others.

I tend to think about a book for a long time before I actually write it, she says. I know what the next two books will be about. Its like choosing a channel  deciding which one I will let run through my head.

She does still have ambitions. Shed like to write a historical novel based on a real event. But one time I tried it, it came out as a saga.

Casey would also, love to write a full-on romantic novel. But if I do, I will end up killing someone, she says, ruefully. Its inevitable.
In 2019, the European Parliament voted to remove daylight saving time (DST) permanently, initially planning to stop seasonal changes after spring 2021. This plan was put on hold due to the covid pandemic.

The decision was based on mounting evidence that found DST facilitated longer evenings that were not beneficial to physical and mental health.

The scientific evidence points to acute increases in adverse health consequences from changing the clocks, including in heart health and strokes, sleep expert Professor Adam Spira told the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Evidence suggests the change is also associated with a heightened risk of mood disturbances as well as elevated production of inflammatory markers in response to stress.

The potential for car crashes also spikes just after the spring forward, Spira says. A 2020 study found that the switch raises the risk of traffic

accidents by 6%.

Another study in 2020 published in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that human errors among healthcare workers in the Mayo Clinic Health System increased by about 19% in the week after the springtime change compared to the week prior.

Errors included giving people incorrect medications or dosages, mislabelling laboratory samples and making mistakes during surgery.

Physical and mental health impacts are thought to be related to the impact of DST on circadian rhythms  the 24-hour body clock that is governed by light  by forcing it to follow an unnatural schedule until November when the clocks switch back to standard time.

We function best when our sleep-wake cycle follows the sun. We get sleepy, due in part to melatonin release when it gets dark, says Spira.

A study in Sleep (2022) suggested that moving the clocks forward in the spring results in going to sleep and waking up before our internal clocks are ready.

This misalignment lasts for the duration of DST, says Spira, adding it can reduce the amount of sleep we get to the detriment of our health.

Pic: iStock

Sleep deprived teenagers

Research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2015) found that during school days after the time change, adolescent students were sleepier, had slower reaction times and were less attentive.

Teenagers face some of the greatest risks of sleep deprivation following the DST change because they already deal with chronic sleep issues during the school week, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Theres a biological explanation too, according to Dr Beth Malow, professor of neurology and director of the sleep disorders division at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Tennessee.

Teens release their natural melatonin levels an average of two hours later than adults because their body clocks shift to a later period during puberty. So, when DST comes around, their already altered sleep becomes more disrupted, aggravated by busy social lives, school schedules and part-time jobs.

Why does pushing the clock forward by one hour in the spring have such an impact on physical and mental health?

The key is the disruption that DST causes to your circadian rhythm.

These rhythms are a complex interaction of genes, enzymes and hormones that control your daily fluctuations in an array of body functions that include mood, appetite, digestion, blood pressure and blood sugar.

Just about every tissue, organ and cell in your body has an internal clock. So, pushing the clock forward an hour can impact those complex body clocks, an impact that can last for weeks or even months.

DST disrupts our social clock which dictates when we go to work, school and socialise.

Our biological clocks cant always keep up with the change.

The result is what scientists call circadian misalignment or social jetlag. The evidence suggests that some people struggle more than others, particularly those with sleep disorders, jobs with inconsistent hours, or mental health problems.

Time change disrupts body clock

Malow told Buzzfeed News (2022) that no matter who you are or what you do for a living, your body clock never really adjusts: You could say you adjust to the sleep loss in a few days, but from a circadian alignment standpoint youre really off the whole period of time. Theres a mismatch between whats going on with the light and whats going on with our bodies. It kind of jars the system in a way that just moving time zones might not.

Changing the time disrupts our body clocks. For most people, changing the time  even if only by one hour  may produce tiredness as a small inconvenience.

Other people can have more serious consequences. Prioritising sleep around the start of DST can smooth the transition.

Malow suggests going to bed a little earlier (about 15 to 20 minutes) two to three days before the switch to DST. Other measures include starting daily routines that serve as time cues for your body a bit earlier in the days before the DST switch.

Healthy sleep habits include getting seven to nine hours of rest a night; keeping your bedroom dark and cool; and avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed.

Benjamin Franklin invented the concept of DST in 1784, believing rising earlier would economise candle usage and save money. Is it finally time to change this outdated concept?
A public meeting about the second of two High Court challenges to the expansion of the Aughinish Alumina in Limerick is to be held in Limerick tonight.

The 1,485-acre plant wants to expand its red mud bauxite residue disposal area, which is currently so big the so-called red lakes can be seen from space.

Futureproof Clare (FPC), who are organising the meeting, is one of a number of organisations objecting to plans to, among other things, raise the lakes by 12 metres. FPC, who describe themselves as grassroots environmental justice campaigners, is hoping to create more awareness about what they claim are the environmental and social impacts of the plant.

FPC spokesperson Sinead Sheehan said: "We are organising a public meeting to bring together people who would like to learn more about why Futureproof Clare want to stop the waste disposal area at Aughinish from being expanded. We have organised for legal and environmental experts to speak at the meeting."

Threat to wildlife

The group cite safety concerns about the proposed expansion to the alumina refinery, including concerns for habitat and wildlife.

FPC also claims the cumulative effect of the facility over the 40 years it has been operating is not being properly assessed in the companys application to expand until 2039.

Points raised by objectors to the plans include concerns about the impact of the plant on bottlenose dolphins.

Dublins Harcourt Street-based planners Tom Phillips & Associates, who act on behalf of Aughinis

h Alumina Ltd, strongly dispute those and other environmental impact claims.

They said: "It is also noted that commentary in relation to dolphin health do not directly relate to operations at Aughinish Alumina but rather to the general operation of industry in general.

They also point out, in response to other environmental claims, that there is no evidence that heavy metals concentrations are elevated in the area around the plant.

The planners also insist there is no evidence of toxic impacts on dolphins or birds in and around the area from the plant on Aughinish Island, Askeaton.

Aughinish Alumina also disputes a claim repeated by FPC  in its submissions

to the planning application  that all you need is a combination of high tides in the estuary and an hour of prolonged rainfall and you have a potential disaster.

The planning consultants point out that no assessment or calculations were provided to back up that claim.

They also point out that in accordance with the EU regulations, no threshold is exceeded for any of the hazard properties and the bauxite residue is non hazardous and does not present a radiation hazard to the surrounding environment.

The public meeting will take place 6pm in the Schumann Building, University of Limerick this evening.

The event will also be live streamed via the Futureproof Clare facebook account.
I am the Kerry Baby are five words that help define Irelands longest-running murder mystery.

Inscribed on his gravestone, they gave voice to a little baby boy who never lived long enough to say them.

From the date he was baptised on April 14, 1984, and named John, nobody has ever discovered who he is, and nobody has come forward to claim him.

Indeed, in later years, someone has even vandalised his little gravestone on a number of occasions.

Thursdays two arrests, nearly six years into the cold case investigation they launched into the case in 2018, may eventually change that.

The fact that gardai are describing the arrests as a significant development in the case suggests they might be getting closer to finally unravelling the truth behind the compelling case.

Until then, the baby boys birth remains as much of a mystery as his macabre death was brutal and both he and the circumstances of his death will remain trapped in limbo.

Baby John, as he was later named by an undertaker before his lonely burial, or The Caherciveen Baby  as he was referred to officially  was found by a farmer on White Strand, Caherciveen in the evening of Sunday, April 14, 1984.

As Jack Griffin crossed some rocks, something caught his eye in the fading light.

Stopping to look at the pink face down form with black hair at his feet, he at first thought it was a doll.

But a closer look made him suspect otherwise and fearing the worst, he blessed himself, and went and got a relative who returned with him to the spot.

Shortly after they got back there, they turned the little body over, and realised to their horror they were staring down at the corpse of a baby boy.

The subsequent report into the case noted: On first view of the Caherciveen Baby it did not seem as though it had been murdered.

It looked more like a case of a stillbirth and the baby being thrown into the sea and the wounds on the baby being caused by sea creatures.

It was during the post-mortem examination carried out later by the then State pathologist Dr John Harbison it was discovered the baby had 28 stab wounds.

Four pierced his heart.

Dr Harbison also discovered the babys neck had been broken.

An investigation was immediately launched, with house-to-house inquiries being made in the area around White Strand, Caherciveen, and adjacent areas.

Gardai were specifically tasked with trying to trace any single, unmarried woman who could have recently given birth to a baby whose whereabouts were unknown.

At the same time, Joanne Hayes was being treated at Tralee General Hospital, where she had been admitted bleeding and in pain on April 14.

On the night of May 12, she gave birth to a baby boy in a field on her familys farm just outside Abbeydorney  some 75km away from Caherciveen.

He had died very soon after birth and she had put his body in a plastic bag and hid him.

The baby had been fathered by Jeremiah Locke, a married father-of-two who Ms Hayes started going out with socially in 1981.

She suffered a miscarriage the following year, but became pregnant by Mr Locke again in August, 1982, and gave birth to her daughter Yvonne in May, 1983.

Mr Locke was also the father of the baby Ms Hayes had given birth to on her familys farm in April 1984.

Word soon reached the gardai that not only had she been pregnant, but nobody had seen the baby.

Gardai then interviewed the 24-year-old receptionist, and members of her family, at the start of May 1984.

Her initial statement that  as she stated repeatedly  she gave birth to an illegitimate baby boy in a field on her parents farm in Abbeydorney and could show gardai his body was simply not believed.

They were instead convinced she gave birth to her baby in her bed, beat him over the head with a brush and strangled him before members of her family disposed of his body.

But the day after she was charged with the Caherciveen Babys murder, her own baby  known in official reports as The Tralee Baby  was found on her parents farm in a plastic bag.

Subsequent tests on a section of lung taken from the Caherciveen Baby showed he had a different blood group to Ms Hayes, Mr Locke and her own baby.

Charges against her and her family were eventually withdrawn in October 1984.

But some detectives persisted with their belief the Caherciveen Baby was hers, and that she had in fact given birth to twins fathered by two different men she had been having affairs with.

This, they maintained, would help explain the fact that the Caherciveen Babys blood type was different.

And they put forward the theory of heteropaternal superfecundation  an extremely rare occurrence in humans where a woman can give birth to twins who have different fathers.

It can happen where a woman sleeps with two different men within a few days of each other.

A tribunal was subsequently established to look into Garda handling of the case and how they had ever brought criminal charges against the Hayes family.

Chaired by Justice Kevin Lynch, its remit was also to look into claims by members of the family that they endured threats and had been assaulted during interviews by detectives.

But while the tribunal did indeed focus on Garda actions, and did make critical conclusions, detectives were effectively exonerated of the worst claims made against them.

The gardai accused of wrongdoing were moved to different departments within the force while Ms Hayes' reputation was torn to shreds.

Her entire life was dissected as much as was her morality and mentality.

Every aspect of her private life was minutely dissected in a mercilessly unforgiving fashion.

The case rocked the country and remains to this day one of the most enduring of its time.

Ms Hayes, already an unmarried mother-of-one, had been having an affair with a married man.

Were it not for the discovery on White Strand, the affair could have remained little more than the subject of the odd knowing wink and a nudge from behind the famously squinty windows of rural Ireland.

The tribunal, which opened in January 1985, all but turned on her and her family.

The young woman had to endure the unedifying and embarrassing spectacle of the minutiae of her sex life being paraded in public.

During the 82-day tribunal hearing, she was cross-examined for a total of five days, and asked some 2,000 questions, including about how she lost her virginity.

The grilling she received at the hearing remains the longest amount of time in the history of the State that a witness has been questioned.

Joanne Hayes received an apology from the State, including an overturn of any findings of wrongdoing against her arising from the Kerry Babies Tribunal. Picture Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The report noted: Joanne Hayes was well aware from the very start of her relationship with Jeremiah Locke, that he was a married man, but she allowed herself and indeed, encouraged herself to develop an overriding infatuation with him.

Joanne Hayes entertained foolish dreams that Jeremiah Locke would leave his wife and family and set up house with her and that in some way or other, the fact of his marriage and the problems created by it so far as she was concerned, would just disappear.

Obviously, it takes two people to have an affair.

But Joanne Hayes was the main or dominant force in the liaison between herself and Jeremiah Locke.

For his part, Jeremiah Locke gladly accepted the sexual favours which he knew were so readily available to him.

As broadcaster Roslyn Dee would later put it, the case opened a "Pandora's box of hatred and blame and misogyny and misery".

She added: For a nation that lived such a valley-of-the-squinting-windows existence, where secrets were held fast and all kinds of dirty deeds were swept under the carpet, suddenly there it was, the dirty linen not only out of the cupboard, but hanging on the clothesline for all to see.

Speaking on The Late Late Show after the tribunal, Ms Hayes said she felt she was the one on trial, not the gardai.

I didnt expect a clap on the back, but I didnt expect it would go so hard on me, she said.

After all, the tribunal was set up to look into the behaviour of the gardai, but it was I who went on trial.

The tribunal itself was a terrible experience.

The report, when it came out, was very anti-women, not just anti-me, but anti-women, and I dont think it showed any feeling at all.

I was the underdog going into the case, anyway, I dont think we could have won against the system.

Years after the tribunal concluded, it emerged in State archives that just days before it had been established on December 13, 1984, then justice minister Michael Noonan laid out his proposal for a judicial inquiry into the case.

The December 6 memo, drafted by Mr Noonan's department, stated Garda commissioner Larry Wren concluded that "some aspects of the original criminal investigation were being concealed".

It added: Officers conducting the criminal investigation into the death of the Caherciveen baby were grossly negligent in their handling of the case.

Joanna Hayes' lawyer, Tralee-based Pat Mann, had little to say about Thursdays requests, as the first he knew about them was a text he received while he was watching a film.

As well as representing Ms Hayes after she was questioned by gardai and throughout the subsequent tribunal, Mr Mann was instrumental in securing a High Court apology to Ms Hayes and her family in 2020, as well as a settlement of about 2.5m.

That formal apology had reiterated ones the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and acting Garda Commissioner Donall O Cualain in 2018.

The apology was condemned as "34 years too late" by human rights and women's groups.

Superintendent Flor Murphy, who has led the cold case review since 2018, revealed a viable DNA profile had been obtained from samples taken from Baby John in the course of the original investigation.

This sample had, he told reporters in 2018, been examined and compared, and as a result of this analysis, he said gardai could conclusively state Ms Joanne Hayes is not the mother of Baby John.

He also said: "On April 14, 1984, on White Strand Beach in Caherciveen, the lifeless body of a new-born baby boy was found in a bag.

The baby was called Baby John and he is buried here in Caherciveen.

"Someone is Baby Johns mother.

Someone is Baby Johns father.

Someone knew his mother or father.

People have carried a lot of pain and hurt over the last 30 years.

This is an opportunity for them to help bring closure to this terrible event and ensure that Baby John receives justice.

"After all these years, Baby John deserves the truth.

After their belated apology, gardai quietly returned to the area around Caherciveen to talk to residents and make statements.

It appeared  at the time  to yield few leads.

Gardai investigating the Kerry Babies back in September 2018 as they carry out door-to-door enquiries on Valentia Island. Picture: Alan Landers.

Gardai have always since believed answers to the shocking murder remain in Caherciveen, that someone, somewhere, has vital information, knows, saw, or heard something that can finally bring this case to an end.

In September, 2021, gardai subsequently exhumed Baby John from Holy Cross Cemetery because they said it was both essential and important in the search for justice.

They also appealed to the babys mother to come forward.

The subsequent investigation and multiple appeals for help and months of door-to-door inquiries by gardai in the Kerry Division were also supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.

Hundreds of people have been interviewed and over 560 lines of inquiry have been initiated.

Supt Murphy said of Thursday's arrests: The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth and deliver justice for Baby John.

The farmer who found the Caherciveen Baby could no longer bring himself to talk about that Sunday morning he found the lifeless remains he first mistook for a babys doll.

Jack Griffins wife told the Irish Examiner in December 2020 he never wanted to relive that day in public ever again.

When he did speak for the first time in a brief interview with the Irish Times in 2018 about the Kerry Babies case, he wondered aloud about how perhaps a lot of people have put it behind them and moved on.

Thursdays arrests make it even harder for anybody directly associated with this case to simply move on any time soon as this latest chapter in this saga opens.
Gardai investigating what is now classified as the murder of Annie McCarrick following her disappearance 30 years ago say her family, especially her mother, deserve to know what happened to her.

Senior officers overseeing the investigation confirmed on Friday it had now been reclassified as a murder investigation.

They issued a specific appeal for anyone with information, especially in relation to a brown handbag Ms McCarrick had at the time of her disappearance on March 26, 1993, to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll, of the serious crime unit of the Dublin Metropolitan Region South Central Division, issued the appeal at a media briefing in Dublin on Friday to mark the 30th anniversary this weekend of her disappearance.

The primary focus of this investigation is the victim, Annie McCarrick, and her family, he said.

Annies father John has passed away not knowing what happened to his daughter.

"Annies mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on or about March 26, 1993.

She is waiting 30 years for those answers.

"I, and the investigation team are determined to gather all available information and evidence to find those answers and bring this matter to a positive conclusion.

An American national, originally from New York, Ms McCarrick visited Ireland as a teenager on a school trip and fell in love with the country and the way of life.

When she got home to New York, she told her parents she intended to return to Ireland to live.

In the late 1980s, Ms McCarrick completed third-level studies at St Patricks College, Drumcondra, and at St Patricks College, Maynooth, before returning to New York in 1991, where she completed her studies at Stoney Brook University, New York.

Then on January 4, 1993, she fulfilled her dream of moving to Ireland to live permanently, settling in rental accommodation at St Catherines Court, Sandymount, Dublin 4, with two other tenants.

She worked as a waitress at the Courtyard Restaurant in Donnybrook and as a waitress at Cafe Java on Leeson Street, and on March 17, 1993, she attended the St Patricks Day Parade with friends.

She spent the next few days working, socialising in various licensed premises and visiting friends.

On Thursday March 25, 1993, she was on a day off but called to Cafe Java to collect her wages, which were not ready, so she arranged to call again the next day to collect them.

She visited friends and stayed for dinner and on Friday, March 26, 1993, she spoke to both her flatmates before they left separately to travel home for the weekend.

Annie McCarrick has not been seen since March 26, 1993. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins

Gardai know she had made arrangements with friends, inviting them to her apartment for dinner the next day, Saturday, March 27, and that she was excited planning for a visit by her mother, Nancy, who was due to arrive in Ireland on March 30, 1993.

Shortly before 11am on Friday, March 26, 1993, Ms McCarrick visited the Allied Irish Bank branch on Sandymount Road to carry out some personal banking. Her visit was captured on the banks CCTV system.

It is the last confirmed sighting of her. She has not been seen since.

There are reported sightings of her subsequently in the Sandymount Green area, with reported sightings of her boarding a number 44 bus bound for Enniskerry and a number of further reported sightings in Enniskerry village and Johnnie Foxs pub in Glencullen.

By March 28, 1993, her friends were concerned for her welfare. Annie was not at home on Saturday, March 27 when they called for dinner, and she had not turned up for work that day, or the following morning.

A friend called to her apartment on the evening of March 28 and spoke with Annies flatmates.

A friend reported her missing on the evening of March 28, 1993, at Irishtown Garda Station, and this missing person report was confirmed by her mother Nancy when she arrived in Dublin on March 30.

Gardai established that groceries she had bought on the morning of Friday March 26, 1993, in Quinnsworth on Sandymount Road, had been left unpacked in shopping bags. A receipt in the bags confirmed the date and time of purchase as 11.02am that morning.

This is the last confirmed activity by Ms McCarrick.

Gardai said on Friday they have maintained an open and active investigation into the case, with a dedicated investigation team based at Irishtown Garda Station, which over the last 30 years has discovered and collated in excess of 5,000 documents and reports, taken more than 300 statements of evidence, and retained a number of exhibits.

When Annie McCarrick disappeared, it is believed she was in possession of a large brown leather bagPicture: Colin Keegan/ Collins

Det Supt Carroll said he and a senior investigating officer travelled to New York recently to speak to Ms McCarricks mother, Nancy, and that based on all of the information available to the investigation team, the missing person investigation has now been reclassified as a murder investigation.

Ms McCarrick is described as 5ft 8in in height, she weighed 10 stone, had long brown hair and spoke with a soft Irish-American accent.

When she disappeared, it is believed she was in possession of a large brown leather bag.

Det Supt Carroll said there is a person, or persons, who have information on the disappearance of Annie McCarrick and her murder on or about March 26, 1993, and who have not yet spoken to gardai or who may have already spoken to gardai but were not in a position to tell everything they know at that time.

"I am appealing to those persons, 30 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team, he said.

"I want to speak with any person who has any information on the large brown handbag which it is believed that Annie was in possession of when she went missing.

I appeal to any person who have information relative to Annies murder not to assume we know, or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision.

"I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Annie McCarrick to please come forward to either the investigation team at Irishtown Garda Station at 01 6669600, your local Garda station or the Garda Confidential telephone line 1800 666 111."

Justice Minister Simon Harris said gardai were absolutely clear there are people who have information about Ms McCarrick who have yet to speak to them and urged anyone with information to contact them.
The Opposition motion over lifting the eviction ban is just playing politics, the Tanaiste has said, claiming that the tenant in situ scheme to buy rental properties from landlords was already being put to use to save people from homelessness.

Micheal Martin said the focus and challenge for Government now is getting houses and apartments built faster to catch up with population growth.

He said that the tenant in situ scheme, whereby local authorities will be directed to buy homes for sale where tenants are renting, is already being taken up by city and county councils and was key to tackling the current housing crisis.

Next weeks no-confidence motion in the Government is being done for political purposes, he said, and he expressed full confidence that the Government would win it because Government is "working well".

He denied there would be any bargaining with Independents to secure more votes for Government, but that they would be open to suggestions from parties and Independents on addressing the housing crisis.

What Im interested in is the housing issue and getting more houses built and getting them built faster, Mr Martin said. We have made a quantum shift in housing but given the scale of the challenge in housing we have to do much more.

Some 1,600 people exited homelessness in Q4 of 2022  a 25% increase from Q4 in 2021  which demonstrated that government policies were working, he said.

We want to prevent homelessness. I think the way to do it now is to increase the direction to the county and city councils to buy the properties where tenants are in situ and at risk of being made homeless.

Last night, I spoke to some city and county councillors who said there are some cases now where that is happening.

Where its not happening, we want to know about it and then well focus on that council and engage to make sure people dont end up in homeless situations where the council can buy the house.

Indefinite eviction bans will make the situation worse. I have not seen any economic analysis that underpins the rationale for an indefinite eviction ban. Even all of the Opposition parties acknowledge that.

"The previous two eviction bans were introduced at times of major international crises  covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine which drove fuel prices up over winter.

They were specific emergency contexts. But now we have to get the housing market right. If we kept the eviction ban going it would do more harm than good.

He slammed calls for tenants to overhold on their properties, staying on past the terms of their lease, saying that such actions would deter landlords from entering and staying in the rental market and would ultimately make the rental property shortage worse.

The Tanaiste was speaking at the opening of new social housing in Charleville, Co Cork, in an iconic building where former President Eamon de Valera had once attended school but which had fallen into disuse for many years.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin was at the launch of Peter McVerry Trusts new social housing project in Charleville.

The building was converted into nine bright, spacious apartments with the potential for a 10th through the Peter McVerry Trust and Cork County Council.

Its an illustration of the types of developments that are happening all over the country now in terms of social housing provision through approved housing bodies such as the Peter McVerry Trust, he said.

Such housing schemes also aid in the renewal of town centres like Charleville, which has also benefitted from an investment of up to 6m for a major new arts centre in the town through the rural development fund and Cork County Council," he said.

So what we are witnessing now in very real time is the rejuvenation of town centres and with the Croi Conaithe town fund [a grant scheme to renovate vacant and derelict buildings] as well theres even further opportunities for derelict buildings as well, such as this, to be rejuvenated, repurposed for housing, social and affordable housing, and I think thats the way forward in terms of the housing issue.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe on Tuesday took a tour of the roads in Chikwawa, Thyolo and Mulanje to appreciate the extent of the damage Tropical Cyclone Freddy has made.

Gwengwe also wanted to monitor the progress towards the rebuilding process.

Among others, the minister visited Namikalango bridge near Miseu Folo in Chikwawa along M1 Road, Nsuwazi Bridge along Thyolo, Thekerani- Muona Road and Thuchila Bridge along Robert Mugabe Highway.

"I personally visited the roads to assess the damage and monitor progress on the rebuilding and maintenance of the structures. We need to quickly connect people and restore peoples' livelihood," said Gwengwe.

The minister stated that the Chakwera administration has already started the rebuilding process with the available resources in order to quickly bring life to normalcy.

Speaking to journalists after the tour, Gwengwe said that due to the magnitude of the devastation Government has approached a number of development partners to provide technical and financial assistance in the rebuilding process.

Cyclone Freddy has cut off a number of roads and washed away bridges especially in the southern region.

In his remarks, Roads Authority Director of Maintenance Engineer Florence Ndenguma said currently her office is busy carrying out assessments of the damage in the 10 hardly hit districts.

"Once we complete the assessment we will soon submit the report to our financing agency the Roads Fund Administration and Government," said Ndenguma.

Meanwhile, the Roads Authority has already mobilized contractors who have been engaged to quickly repair damaged roads and bridges and in some cases provide temporary connections as they look forward to providing a long-lasting solution.

The Roads Fund Administration (RFA), being the financing agency in conjunction with the government, is expected to provide some of the resources for the emergency work.
The Government is trying to minimise concerns of a wave of people being made homeless following the lifting of the eviction ban next week.

At an EU summit in Brussels, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said judges would be very reluctant to issue eviction notices. I think people often mix up termination with evictions, he said heading into the meeting.

Eviction notices can only be issued by the courts and I would expect those numbers to be very small.

In something of a defensive statement to the press, the Taoiseach said: I can guarantee you that judges are very reluctant to evict people into homelessness. So we do need to start using words a bit more accurately.

Earlier this week, the Government won support in the Dail to end the eviction ban in an attempt to free-up desperately needed housing in Ireland, but homeless charities are raising concerns about what it will mean for renters.

The Governments decision to end the ban at the end of the month is fuelling a hopeless outlook for renters in Ireland, said John-Mark McCafferty, the CEO of Threshold.

Threshold advisers received queries from 1,853 renters who face eviction once the ban lifts. It is highly likely that this number will exceed 2,000 by the end of the month, he said.

But the Taoiseach believes the eviction ban wasnt preventing people from being made homeless anyway, saying: if you look at the last couple of months, when the number of people in emergency accommodation has increased, there was an eviction ban in place.

This idea that the Opposition put across that notice of termination, turns to eviction, turns to [a] person in homeless accommodation  thats not how it works, he said.

Pressed on whether people who are evicted might stay in their homes regardless, Mr Varadkar said: The vast majority of property owners and landlords are very reasonable and understand that sometimes people will need more time to find an alternative place to go.

From my experience dealing with difficult cases and constituency cases, the courts are very reluctant to evict people into homelessness for humanitarian reasons.
Graham Dwyer has failed in his bid to overturn his conviction for murdering vulnerable child care worker Elaine O'Hara, almost eight years to the day he was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict.

President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham on Friday morning delivered the judgment of the three-judge court, dismissing all grounds of appeal including a claim by Dwyer's lawyers that the use of call data records at his trial should lead to a retrial.

Mr Justice Birmingham said: "In this case we are satisfied that the admission of limited call data evidence could not give rise to a miscarriage of justice." He said that even if the evidence should not have been admitted at his trial, it was of little significance given that the prosecution was able to establish through other evidence that the phones, which contained evidence of his plan to murder Ms O'Hara, belonged to Dwyer.

Dwyer (50), who murdered the vulnerable care worker for his sexual gratification in 2012, appealed his conviction after securing declarations that the retention of mobile phone data is a breach of rights under the European Charter on Fundamental rights. His lawyers had argued that the retention of mobile phone data used in the case was an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" that transforms phones into tracking devices that can reveal a detailed picture of every aspect of a person's life.

Dwyer denied being the person who bought and used a phone found in Vartry Reservoir, Co. Wicklow, to send messages regarding stabbing to Ms O'Hara and denies sending a text telling her to "go down to the shore and wait" on the day she was last seen, August 22, 2012.

Dwyer, a Cork-born architect with an address at Foxrock in Dublin, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2015 of the murder of the 36-year-old. His victim had been discharged from a mental health hospital hours earlier.

Elaine O'Hara had had been discharged from a mental health hospital hours before her murder. File picture: Garda/PA

Dwyer fantasized about stabbing a woman during sex and used Ms O'Hara to fulfil his fantasy. After murdering her he disposed of some of her belongings in Vartry reservoir and tried to make it look like she had died by suicide. He dumped her body in a forest where it was found in 2013.

At a previous hearing Sean Guerin SC, for the State, said there was still "overwhelming" evidence in the case that Dwyer was the user of the phone central to the case and that the prosecution had not been dependent on the disputed call data in securing the guilty verdict at trial.

"The appellant is over-stating, significantly, the use of the call data," said Mr Guerin, who said there was also the Garda process of investigating a suspect during an investigation to be considered.

The barrister said Dwyer was identified at trial through three different means. "One was call-data. At the same time, there is an old-fashioned detective job in Blackrock garda station which involved reading the text messages and identifying personal information which would point towards the identity of the suspect," he said.

He added that there was also scientific analysis regarding DNA and genetic materials that produced the same suspect.

Mr Guerin said there were four elements to the DPP's case at the trial that had not changed.

"The first point was that he [Dwyer] was the author of the text messages and connected to Ms O'Hara. The second thing we sought to do was to show the desires expressed in the text messages were real and reflected the intention to kill. Thirdly, that the circumstances of Ms O'Hara disappearance and death could only be explained by the realisation of that intention. The fourth element was to eliminate any other possibility, in this case suicide, as an explanation," he said.

Graham Dwyer denied being the person who bought and used a phone found in Vartry Reservoir, Co. Wicklow, to send messages regarding stabbing to Ms O'Hara and denies sending a text telling her to "go down to the shore and wait" on the day she was last seen, August 22, 2012. File picture: Collins Courts.

Mr Guerin said one text from Ms O'Hara to the phone attributed to Dwyer read: "You're now a daddy again." At the trial, the child's birth certificate matched the date of the text, which the DPP said proved it was Dwyer who was using the phone.

Counsel said that on 4 April, 2011, the phone attributed to Dwyer texted saying he had a committee meeting at Shankill Flying Club and a witness gave evidence and produced minutes proving Dwyer's attendance at the same meeting.

On another date, the phone attributed to Dwyer complains in a text of an almost 4,000 bill to fix his car, which documents produced in court corroborated.

Similar texts regarding buying a new bike, an email query to a tattoo parlour, entering a model plane flying competition, getting a wage reduction and a reception at the Polish embassy were also all corroborated by witnesses or documents at trial, said Mr Guerin.

Mr Guerin asked if there could be "any other person in the world" with a child born on the same day Dwyer's child was born, who also bought a bike on the same day Dwyer did and whose car bill, pay cut, flying competition entry, and attendance at a reception at the Polish Embassy all matched the dates of the texts referencing them.

Videos

Anne Marie Lawlor SC, also for the State, said that the playing of videos to the jury of Dwyer being intimate with other women were "relevant and probative". Dwyer's lawyers submitted that the jury could have been "overwhelmed" and "overborne" by the nine videos of Dwyer being intimate with different women.

The videos were introduced in the trial to show the extent of Dwyer's interest in bondage, discipline and sado-masochism (BDSM) and to challenge his claim that he "wasn't really into" BDSM and that it was more Ms O'Hara's interest.

Michael Bowman SC, for Dwyer, said that a description of the videos would have achieved the prosecution's aims. Showing the actual videos, he said, had introduced "something toxic into the forensic process of a criminal trial" and could have "overwhelmed the ability of the jury to remain impartial".

Ms Lawlor said that if only a narrative of what was in the video was read into the trial, the real evidence in the case could be diluted or denied to the jury. Ms Lawlor said the videos were necessary for the jury to prove Dwyer's "manifest and bare-faced lies" to gardai when Dwyer said that he was not interested in bondage.

Ms Lawlor said the judge was acting entirely within his discretion to allow the jury to watch the videos with their own eyes and assess the lies told by the accused.

Non-verbal communication

Mr Bowman had also submitted that at one point as evidence was being heard in front of the jury, the trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, "looked in a very disapproving manner at the defendant", looked away and then "glared back down at the defendant".

Mr Bowman said this was a non-verbal communication that "something has triggered the judge" and that a jury can pick up on non-verbal cues. Ms Lawlor said the complaint was a "nebulous one" in that it could not be known what the jury took, if anything, from a look if they even saw it.

She said the trial judge repeatedly told the jury that the case was entirely a matter for them in his charge. She said the trial lasted over eight weeks and the appellant was implying that the judge should remain "stone-faced" throughout. She said even if the judge did not, it could not conceivably result in an unfair trial.

Texts

Ms Lawlor said there were 2,600 texts between the two and that a number of those featured the words "stab, stab, stab, kill... all be worth it when I kill you... how much blood I can get out of you? A lot of blood I can get out of you".

Counsel said Dwyer "feigned total disgust and shock" when interviewed by gardai. "He asked gardai to stop the interview 25 times, saying 'Oh my god please stop," she said, adding that these were "bare-faced lies".

Cause of death

Ms Lawlor said that the lack of a cause of death in the case was not fatal to the trial because it was possible to draw inferences as to the cause with regard to circumstances around Ms O'Hara's death.

Remy Farrell SC, for Dwyer, has told the three-judge Court of Appeal that mobile phone data should not have been admitted as evidence in his client's trial as the retention of that data was a breach of his rights under the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Mr Farrell said that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has said "again and again" that the retention of mobile phone data cannot be done and the Irish courts must now "internalise" what the European court has said.

Mr Farrell said he wondered if the prosecution in the case were now feeling "buyer's remorse" regarding the call data evidence.

Mr Farrell said the notion that the prosecution could now say that the call data retention was not important was "unsustainable". Counsel said a "big chunk" of the 47-day trial was spent on introducing call data and cell site evidence through maps and extrinsic evidence through a number of exhibits put before the jury.

Mr Justice George Birmingham, sat with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Mr Justice John Edwards.
A man murdered his wife of 34 years "on an ordinary Sunday morning" by thrusting a samurai sword into her 16 times before turning to their son and telling him "you're next", the Central Criminal Court heard on Friday.

Dillon Eagers told the court he had tried in vain to save his mother Jean as she was horrifically murdered by his father William in their home, and now suffers constant night terrors and has undergone hours of therapy as a result.

Murder-accused William Eagers told gardai he could not recollect what had happened during the attack on Father's Day 2020 and claimed he "lost his memory and blacked out".

Sentencing judge Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted the "horrific circumstances" of the killing and said no child should be put in the position where they see their father murder their mother "in circumstances that can only be described as terrible".

The judge refused to backdate Eagers' sentence to when he went into custody three years ago, stating this matter had been resolved at a "very very late stage in the proceedings".

She added: "I note the family's victim impact statements and the distress that the past three years has caused to them. The court is aware this is an aggravating element for victims and families in cases such as this".

The testimonies were heard as part of three emotional victim impact statements read on Friday to the Central Criminal Court, where William Eagers was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering his wife Jean.

Apology

Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC, for Eagers, said his client wanted to apologise to his family for "the horrific acts" he committed that day and convey his deep sense of shame and remorse. "He loves his wife and doesn't know why he did what he did," he added.

Eagers, 62, appeared at the court on Friday for his sentence hearing, having pleaded guilty earlier this month to the murder of Jean Eagers in their home at Willow Wood Grove in Clonsilla, north Dublin, on June 21, 2020.

Mother-of-two Ms Eagers, 57, died of her wounds at the house in Willow Wood Grove estate on the morning of June 21. A previous hearing of the case heard a family member raised the alarm on the day and that the Garda Armed Support Unit forced entry to the house following a stand-off where Jean Eagers was discovered with serious injuries.

Eagers, a former export operations manager and part-time taxi driver, had been charged with murder and the production of a samurai sword while committing the offence in the course of a dispute.

Ms Justice Ring sentenced the defendant to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder. She noted his guilty plea was entered on March 10, 10 days before his trial was due to take place. She did not backdate his life sentence and said it would commence from March 10, 2023. The court heard the defendant has been in custody since June 21, 2020.

After sentencing William Eagers, Ms Justice Ring said: "I note the family's victim impact statements and the distress that the past three years has caused to them. This matter was resolved at a very very late stage in the proceedings. The court is aware this is an aggravating element for victims and families in cases such as this. I won't give him credit for time spent in custody for the past three years. He will commence his sentence from the date of his plea on March 10".

The judge added the court had heard the "horrific circumstances" of the incident and in particular the position Dillon Eagers had been put in. She said no child should be put in the position where they see their father murder their mother "in circumstances that can only be described as terrible".

She said Ms Eagers right to life had been taken away from her in "inexplicable circumstances" and that her children and her grandson had lost their "maternal stability" and the "lifeline a mother and grandmother brings to a family".

Victim impact statements

The deceased's daughter Michele Connolly cried in the witness box as she told the court that her mum was her best friend and they shared a relationship that most people could only wish for.

"She was my rock, a strong caring and warm person that made people want to be in her company. She always knew what to say and was always right, I don't have that comfort anymore," she said.

Ms Connolly said her family home was always a safe place and was a "normal, family home". She said she had two great parents that loved her but on June 21 that was "ripped" from her.

She said she was 14 weeks' pregnant with her first child at the time and that day was supposed to be a happy day as it was Father's Day. She said she learned about an accident in her parent's house and "arrived to chaos and so much fear".

She added: "I could never have expected it to be dad, a dad is meant to protect you from pain. I couldn't believe it was real. It is hard to put into words how much it has changed my life and destroyed it. I am heartbroken, sad, worry more and suffer from anxiety".

She continued: "I'm broken and shattered and my heart hurts with the loss of my mam. At night I go to sleep and I don't want to wake up the next morning. Living this life without her is too painful, my heart aches with the pain".

Addressing her father in the statement, Ms Connolly said: "I don't think you will ever comprehend how much you have destroyed me. I worry how my little brother processes that day. You have robbed so much from happy newlyweds and the excitement of a new baby. You have robbed us of our support system. Trying to navigate loss and grief when becoming a mother is so difficult".

She said becoming a mother was meant to be such a happy time but it had been ruined by her father's selfish actions. "My mam was so excited to become a nanny and you took that from her. It kills me that my son will never know my mam. My son will never get to experience her warm hugs and kisses. Life is hard now, family occasions are filled with pain and sorrow."

Dillon Eagers said in his statement he witnessed his mother being brutally murdered nearly three years ago by a person that was supposed to protect her; "my dad". "When I was trying to get into the room to save my mum, he looked at me and said 'you're next'."

Dillon said he has constant night terrors, undergoes hours of therapy and the incident had ruined relationships with his family and friends. He said he has lost the only home he has ever known.

"One of the hardest things is to see my sister become a mother without her mother by her side," he said. He called his mother an amazing person and said she was someone who always gave to others and wanted nothing in return. "I love you mam, I miss you so much," he said.

The deceased's brother, Ronnie O'Farrell, said in his statement the defendant had shown no remorse for almost three years and had chosen to prolong the agony for his family and the deceased's family.

"Father's Day is to be enjoyed with our families until I got a call at 1.25pm to say that Jean had been murdered by her husband. Jean's home should have been a place of safety and comfort but you have destroyed that.

"Her life was taken by the one person she should have been able to trust in the world, you, her husband. Most of all, you have robbed the world of a beautiful woman, our heartache will never end because of you".
Elements of the second leg of a challenge to the 2020 permission for 123 apartments in Co. Cork have been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

In a ruling on Friday, the High Courts Mr Justice Richard Humphreys proposed to ask the European court to determine three complex legal questions regarding the level of information a developer must obtain about species that might be affected by a proposed development.

The questions relate to requirements under the EUs Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. The first module of the Waltham Abbey Residents Associations case, involving domestic law points, failed in the Supreme Court.

The associations judicial review challenge to the fast-track permission granted to OFlynn Construction Company had been successful in the High Court on a point of domestic law.

The judge granted an order overturning the June 2020 permission for the strategic housing development at Old Fort Road, Ballincollig, as a particular environmental statement was not provided in the planning application as a separate identifiable document.

The Supreme Court reversed this decision in a direct appeal to it from An Bord Pleanala. The court held that the failure to supply a separate statement was not in any sense a real impediment to the boards ability to discharge its statutory functions.

Mr Justice Humphreys, who heads the High Courts planning list, said the Supreme Court decided a domestic law issue contained in the first module of the case but it did not consider the meaning of EU law requirements underlying the 2001 Planning and Development Regulations.

Endangered species

In this second EU law-focused module, Waltham Abbey alleged the board failed to adequately consider, under EU directives relating to habitats, that the development might disturb bats or lead to the destruction of their resting places.

The group claims no bat survey appears to have been carried out, notwithstanding that the proposed build will lead to the loss of trees. The board was wrong to screen out the need for an environmental impact assessment, it alleges.

Bats are a protected species under the Habitats Directive, and Waltham Abbey claims the nearby River Lee is recognised as a host for rare and endangered bat species.

Mr Justice Humphreys said the boards inspector believed the development site was not generally suitable for wildlife or species of conservation interest but the inspector said tree-felling should occur with the advice of a suitably qualified ecologist to avoid a potential impact on bats.

He referred to the CJEU four detailed questions regarding a developers obligations under EU environmental law to survey for potentially affected species. It was appropriate to do so to enable the Irish High Court to make a decision in the case, he said.
"Anger and anxiety" about ending the eviction ban will fuel the first in a series of national housing crisis protests to be held in Cork on Saturday.

Housing campaigners and people who are set to lose their rental homes will address the gathering outside the vacant buildings at 7-9 Parnell Place next to Cork citys bus station.

The location for the protest is symbolic as well as central. The buildings were sold by Cork City Council to Dublin-based developers Tetrarch Capital in 2017 to develop a hotel but have been idle since, said TD Mick Barry.

Alina Maranescu, who was living with her young son in a flat where faeces and urine dripped in through her ceiling will also speak. She says the housing crisis left her feeling forced to stay there despite fears for their health.

Ending the eviction ban will impact many people, Mr Barry said, from parents of young children to professionals.

There is real anger with what people are going through, he said.

Mr Barry said that people are desperately trying to find alternative accommodation but some will be forced to turn to already overstretched homeless services or to Garda stations for shelter.

TD Mick Barry said some people will be forced to turn to already overstretched homeless services or Garda stations for shelter. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

It is inevitable that the number of people overholding on their lease will increase, Mr Barry said, because many people will have nowhere else to go.

Overholding, or staying on in a property and continuing to pay rent after a valid notice of termination has expired, is not illegal once a tenant and landlord enter dispute and it can give tenants some time to source alternative accommodation, he said.

Already hundreds of people at least are overholding, it can be the only alternative to being evicted into homelessness, he said.

There is going to be a significant increase in the numbers of people overholding in the State.

He expects a round of protests to follow Corks speak out protest on Saturday. Eviction-ban protests are planned nationwide for April 1  the day the ban officially lifts  including a protest outside the Dail.

Collective action  where neighbours band together to show support and solidarity with someone facing the threat of eviction into homelessness  is another possible tool communities may use in the coming months to prevent evictions or put pressure on landlords not to evict, he said.

Vocal protests

Elected representatives who voted for the ban, particularly senior Government officials, should meet vocal protests over the coming weeks and be held to account for their part in lifting the ban, he said.

On Thursday, Trinity College students protested at an event attended by Transport and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, over his vote with Government to lift the eviction ban.

On Wednesday evening, some Independent TDs helped Government defeat Sinn Feins motion calling for the eviction ban to be extended until January, with a majority of 83 votes to 68.

The Government instead outlined plans to increase social housing, buy up homes for sale for tenants in situ, and create tax incentives for small landlords, claiming that extending the ban would do more harm than good in the long term.

However, it is now feared that thousands of people will face eviction, with limited alternative places to rent, due to a severely-constricted rental housing supply.

Approximately 4,700 people were issued with eviction notices prior to the last ban, which began last October.

The Labour Party now plans to bring forward a no-confidence motion in the Government over ending the eviction ban.
Three weeks from today will mark the 39th anniversary of the discovery of five-day-old Baby John's body on a beach in Caherciveen, Co Kerry.

On Thursday night, two people  a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s  were arrested as part of a cold case review of the investigation into the case.

Below is a timeline of all of the developments in the Kerry Babies case, one of the darkest and most emotive chapters in Irish history.

- April 14, 1984: The body of a baby boy is discovered on White Strand beach in Caherciveen.

The infant, who is later given the name "Baby John", had suffered more than 20 stab wounds. Gardai in Dublin are sent to investigate.

- May 1984: 25-year-old Joanne Hayes from Abbeydorney is arrested in connection with the death. She and her family are accused of concealing the birth of a child.

Ms Hayes came under suspicion as she had been admitted as a patient at Tralee General Hospital on the day Baby John's body was found. She had recently been pregnant but because there is no sign of her baby, detectives wrongly believe she is Baby John's mother.

Joanne Hayes. File Picture: Collins Photos

Joanne and four other members of the Hayes family sign statements confessing to a role in the death of Baby John.

Joanne is charged before a special court with the murder of an unnamed infant and remanded in custody.

- October 1984: The confessions from the Hayes family are all withdrawn.

They accuse investigating gardai of intimidating them and coercing them into making false confessions.

During questioning, Joanne Hayes had told gardai she gave birth to a baby boy  who she named Shane  who was stillborn or died days later and was buried on the family farm around the same time as the discovery of of Baby John.

- October 1984: All charges against Joanne Hayes and her family are dropped.

- Late 1984: The Kerry Babies Tribunal is established.

The tribunal is to investigate the circumstances leading to the charges against Ms Hayes, the family's allegations of Garda ill-treatment, and any other connected and relevant issues.

Joanne Hayes with her sister Kathleen, left, arrive for the hearing at the Kerry Babies Tribunal in 1985. File Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

- 1985: Joanne Hayes is publicly cross-examined for five days. She is asked thousands of questions, many about her sex life.

The tribunal of inquiry attracts widespread media coverage, at home and abroad, and its conduct is heavily criticised.

The Dail committee on womens rights later describes the questioning of Hayes as insensitive, harrowing, horrific and shameful.

After 82 days, the tribunal ends. It mostly exonerates gardai and finds Ms Hayes was not the mother of Baby John. However, it also makes other claims against Joanne Hayes and her family. The family say the claims are untrue.

A woman protests during the Kerry Babies Tribunal. File Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

- January 2018: Following a DNA test, Joanne Hayes is proven not to be the mother of Baby John.

Gardai issue a full apology, both verbal and written, to Joanne Hayes and her family.

- January 17, 2018: 35 years later, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar issues an apology to Joanne Hayes on behalf of the State.

I only fully learned the details of the Kerry babies case recently as I was too young at the time. It's been eye opening. Joanne Hayes was treated terribly. I want to reiterate the apology to her from the Gardai and to make that apology on behalf of the State.  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 17, 2018

Gardai announce a review into the case.

- 2019: Joanne Hayes, her daughter and her siblings commence High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

- December 2020: The Hayes family secure declarations from the courts and the State that all findings or wrongdoing made against them by the tribunal of inquiry were unfounded and incorrect.

The remains are taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee for examination. They are then reinterred in the same grave.

- March 23, 2023: Gardai announce a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s have been arrested in connection with the investigation into the death of Baby John.

They have both since been released without charge. A file will now be prepared for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Its a word that brings me out in a bit of a rash. Recent events have simply cemented my negative views towards the homeschooling of children.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin was bang-on when he said he wasnt a great fan of the practice, referencing the importance of socialisation for children, the idea that children should be educated in schools. I think children need to socialise, he told this newspaper last week.

No surprise the issue is topical owing to a certain family whom it seems wiser to simply not name at this stage. The vast majority witnessing their antics will already have come to the conclusion that the homeschooling did them no favours at all.

A teacher before he entered politics, the Tanaiste said he did not wish to sound patronising but he believed there was a reason these siblings have a very isolated perspective in life and everybody else is wrong.

It is understandable that parents around the country who do homeschool might grit their teeth at being judged by the extraordinary carry-on of one particular family.

But those particular home educators aside, the idea of keeping your children away from a school setting has simply never sat easy. It points towards an obsessive need to keep control of your childs/childrens environment, and to not allow any challenge of the purity of the beliefs you wish to instil as a parent, whether that be in the classroom or on the playground.

Our Constitution states the primary and natural educator of the child is the family. Article 42 allows parents to provide this education at home.

What a loss not to have those experiences of navigating that first day at primary school all the way through to the Leaving Certificate. The friendships that began right at the start and survived the entire way through into adulthood.

According to Tusla, which is responsible for regulating homeschooling, the parent is obliged to apply to the Child and Family Agency to register as outlined in the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. An assessment of the education being provided is carried out.

The numbers registered have risen to 1,995 children. The agency confirmed that throughout the period of 2020-2022 there was an increase in queries and applications for home education as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the number was 1,648 children.

But just because you can, does not mean you should. While numbers did increase, surely the pandemic period also convinced many, many parents who might have flirted with the notion, that day-to-day education is best left to the experts.

Homeschooling clearly requires enormous effort but there must also be quite an element of ego involved in a parent believing an exclusive relationship between them and their children is the best way forward. Someone who has never sent a child through a school gate is likely inclined to surround themselves with confirmation bias that this is the best thing to do.

How stifling for the children. How does this prepare them for real life beyond the kitchen table?

What a loss not to have those experiences of navigating that first day at primary school all the way through to the Leaving Certificate. The friendships that began right at the start and survived the entire way through into adulthood.

If its your bog standard national school, its the richness of the experience of your child spending their day with others from different social backgrounds, different family make-up, different religion.

The learning that goes on in the playground is just as important as that which takes place in the classroom, certainly in terms of preparing your child for adulthood and the workforce.

Its learning to take your turn, to move outside of your comfort zone, to be part of a class discussion, to take on board the opinions of others. What about the intellectual development of your own thoughts so that you can refute the claims of classmates in a debate?

You do hear homeschool parents say they bring their children to meet up with other kids in a similar situation to ensure they get to socialise. Still though, theyre a fairly like-minded bunch, arent they all the same?

Its the dynamic of being in a situation with your peers for a sex education class, a consent workshop  all the better if it is boys and girls. Still, I imagine there is a fair number of home educators who keep their children at home precisely so they do not have this shared experience  for fear of some sort of corruption of their thoughts.

Our education system has its faults. There are some years in primary school when you wait with bated breath to wonder which teacher your child has got for next year  there is so little can be done in Ireland with a bad teacher, whether in primary or secondary. But the majority of teachers are very good and work hard.

The learning that goes on in the playground is just as important as that which takes place in the classroom, certainly in terms of preparing your child for adulthood and the workforce.

If children learn to deal with adversity in a healthy way when they are younger then they are well-equipped for when it inevitably happens in adult life. We all want to protect our children and there is nothing worse for a parent than the idea their child is being bullied by a teacher or a fellow pupil. If a school fails to deal with such issues a parent is perfectly correct to consider moving them. Id still hesitate to think homeschooling is the answer.

However, there clearly will be a small number of cases where it might be of value  where other ideas have been exhausted. An Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) research professor told the Irish Times homeschooling had the potential for keeping school refusers engaged in education.

Dr Selina McCoy, ESRI associate research professor and joint head of education research, said homeschooling has potential for keeping school refusers engaged in education, and improving the experiences for some students with special educational needs.

Homeschooling is not something in general the ESRI has examined but arising from covid and school closures there was the unexpected finding that for a small subset" of students, some with special education needs, distance learning was a generally positive experience. There is a suggestion that distance learning and possibly homeschooling has potential for keeping school refusers engaged in education.

Homeschooling is for the self selecting few  the preserve of the middle classes who have the time and resources to do it. Looking generally at the research, its not easy to draw any definitive conclusions. Some parents opt for a structured homeschool programme, others are more freewheeling.

Obviously, it will depend on the skill of the parent as a teacher, their own educational attainment. Some children will have the benefit of being involved in lots of after-school activities and socialising there with their peers. Others wont.

Ultimately, for children, going out the door each morning to school is the best option.
No rights, no attitudes, can ever be taken for granted. It is a dangerous assumption to believe that certain rights and inclusive attitudes, once rooted, will remain stable, or even progress.

This sentiment was committed to the public psyche this month, 55 years ago, by Martin Luther King Jr, who said the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

We hope it bends towards justice. But in Ireland, it hasnt been looking great of late.

On Wednesday of this week, new figures showed that the number of reported hate crimes and other hate-related incidents notified to the gardai rose by 29% last year.

There were 582 hate crimes and hate-related incidents recorded in Ireland, in 2022. The figure for 2021 was 448.

Some people might look at this jump and say: Theres just been an increase in reporting, and thats great people are reporting.

Zero incidences are what we should be aiming for.

When any alleged hate crimes or hate incidents are reported here, they are recorded and investigated. And a total of 617 discriminatory motives were recorded in 2022, up from 483 in 2021.

Race was the most prevalent discriminatory motive at 32%, next was sexual orientation at 22%, and then nationality at 21%.

For many people, Ireland is not all cead mile failte.

For many people, safety, basic bodily safety, and human dignity is not something they can take for granted. For some, Ireland is not a safe place

Are we OK with that?

One positive here is that you dont have to be the one directly experiencing the hate crime to report it, but witnesses can too.

I urge any person who has experienced or observed prejudice to come forward and report those incidents to us. I can assure people that complaints will be dealt with thoroughly and professionally, said assistant commissioner Paula Hilman this week.

Reporting these crimes also makes some kind of a difference, even though people not having to experience them in the first place would be the ideal. One man was jailed for three months in the district court after gardai witnessed him being involved in homophobic abuse and public order offences.

And in another case, a customer in a shop who shouldered a young black staff member received a 10-month suspended sentence, also by the district court.

Racism and homophobia will not be tolerated, and where hate crimes have occurred  they will be prosecuted. If youre a perpetrator of such crimes, youre not necessarily going to get away with it.

Also this week, the Government published our National Action Plan Against Racism  something activists have been calling on for several years now.

In response to the new plan, which comes with five objectives, Brian Killoran, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), made a pertinent point.

For a long time in Ireland, we swallowed our own international marketing pitch  that of 100,000 welcomes, where we lived in a State immune to racism and free of hate. Should anyone provide us with information to the contrary, wed quickly shut it down, shaking it off as a one-off.

For too long the issue of racism has been seen as not impacting Ireland  a position which stands in stark contrast to the experiences of many within migrant and diverse communities who have been on the receiving end, Mr Killoran said this week.

Like other crimes of a personal nature, believing the victim of the crime is key  following their lead, over our bias.

Valeria Aquino, the ICIs integration manager, said it is only those who have experienced racism that can really detail its effect.

Only those who have experienced racism can adequately describe its impact. It cuts a personal wound which is not easily healed, Ms Aquino said.

Attack on identity

But whats more, its a crime that is felt wholly personally.

You are being attacked for a fundamental part of your identity  your skin colour, your religion, your nationality  and made to feel that you are somehow less of a person, less of a human being, because of it, Ms Aquino added.

She also said that the majority of Irish society is not racist, but it is up to the whole to address it.

Those of us who have been impacted by racism know that it is not the majority opinion of Irish society, but it does exist, and it is up to all of us to collectively respond, guided by those who have experienced it, she said.

And while we may not all be out shouldering shop workers or hurling homophobic abuse at random passers-by, are we laying blame, in the private confines of our own minds, for our countrys issues on the wrong shoulders? Recent upsurges of anti-migrant sentiment, corralled and fanned by the far right, show that the need is clearly there to stop the spread of prejudice and division. Ireland is diverse, and that diversity is a massive positive for all of us, said Mr Killoran this week.

Those who would seek to lay the blame for all the failings within our society, such as housing or healthcare issues, at the feet of new communities have nothing to offer but corrosive, racially charged sentiments and misguided blame, he added.

Punching down on the far less powerful in our society does nothing to hold those with actual legislative power to account.

It certainly might be easier, but it is not at all effective.

Punching down does not actually build homes, bring down the cost of rents or reduce the numbers on hospital trollies

If money and the division of resources are all we really care about, multiple economic reports have found that undocumented immigrants in America pay billions of dollars in tax every year. And not only do they pay large sums of tax, but they also work in those low-paid precarious jobs that the documented middle class rely on  childcare, cleaning and the service industry.

For refugees in America, those who get into the system and receive some support, it has been proved that they pay more in taxes than they ever received in benefits.

According to a working paper from Americas National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), refugees who entered the country as adults will have paid an average of $21,000 more in taxes than they received in benefits over their first 20 years in the country.

And thats just the money.

Ireland now, thankfully, has an ethnically diverse population. According to Census 2016, various minority ethnic groups account for approximately 15% of the population.

We are richer in many ways because of this development, lets only build on this progress.
Lets talk about Barbie Kardashian.

On first hearing the name you might think, as I did, that she was connected to the reality TV family from California, but not so.

On March 16, Kardashian was jailed at Limerick Circuit Court for five and a half years for threats to kill her mother.

She was found not guilty of threatening to kill a staff member in a residential care facility.

A detective garda told the court that she continues to pose a significant threat to those she has made threats towards, as well as to the wider public.

She has 15 previous convictions, including threats to kill, sexual assault, and assault causing harm.

She was placed in care from the age of nine and later told gardai and social workers that she had been sexually and physically assaulted at a young age.

Kardashian was born a male by the name of Gabrielle Gentile, but later changed her name by deed poll.

In 2020, she was granted a gender recognition certificate.

She is currently on a waiting list to be assessed for the appropriate medical treatment regarding her gender and is now incarcerated in the womens prison in Limerick.

Some people, quite reasonably, believe that such an arrangement could pose a risk to the safety of other female inmates.

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach was asked by a reporter from the right-wing media outlet Gript.ie about a biological male serving a sentence in a womens prison. He replied that violent biological males should not be put into womens prisons.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was asked by a reporter from the right-wing media outlet Gript.ie about a biological male serving a sentence in a womens prison. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

I know that a similar situation arose in Scotland and it was necessary there to change the law to make sure that women were protected, he said.

During the exchange, Mr Varadkar looked like a petrified rabbit caught in headlights.

At his side, the Tanaiste Micheal Martin was seen to roll his eyes to heaven.

Quite obviously, this was an issue that hauled both men out of their comfort zones.

The case referenced by the Taoiseach caused a big headache for First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon who was seen to be out of step with public opinion in allowing a male rapist who had transitioned to be housed in a female prison.

Lets be clear about one thing: There is not a scintilla of evidence that Gript.ie gives as much as two figs about conditions in womens prisons.

It does, however, regularly have plenty to say on aspects of gender dysphoria, usually coming from a position of scepticism about the condition and how it is being managed today by the State and wider society.

For those who subscribe to that view, this case is a perfect weapon in what is known as the culture wars.

Hence the apparent concern for the women inmates whose safety might be threatened by the presence of a person of a violent disposition in the body of a male.

But what of the other side?

Lack of compassion

One might have thought an organisation like, say, the National Womens Council of Ireland (NWCI), or others concerned with the safety of women, would have something to say about this.

Well, no. It also, it would appear, consider this case to be a weapon in the culture wars and are therefore inclined not to give it oxygen. Perhaps women serving prison sentences are not considered the right kind of women for whom to advocate in todays climate.

Serious issues arise in this case.

In the first instance, it highlights once again the complete lack of compassion or even interest in the plight of women serving prison sentences.

Female crime has many different features to that committed by males and quite often those who end up imprisoned are highly vulnerable individuals.

Ironically, in light of the correct elevation of women across society in general in recent years, the plight of those imprisoned has in some ways worsened.

For the last three years, this newspaper has highlighted major issues around conditions in the Dochas Centre which led to the resignation of a diligent and passionate prison chaplain who could no longer stand by and witness what she thought was highly inappropriate treatment.

Later, following an investigation of complaints at the centre, the Inspector of Prisons, a committed public servant, resigned.

The Irish Examiner reported that her resignation was directly linked to the difficulties she encountered in completing her investigation.

Patricia Gilheaney, was the Inspector of Prison. Ms Gilheaney resigned after encountering issues with her investigation into the Dochas Centre at Nountjoy. Picture: Jason Clarke Photography

Outside of a couple of non-governmental organisations who work on prison reform there has been practically no reaction, and certainly not the slightest hint of outrage, from anybody.

So when an issue like this arises, the female inmates are mere cannon fodder for the two sides, both small yet amplified, in the divide over gender dysphoria.

Barbie Kardashian, it is safe to say, has a history that suggests gender dysphoria is just one of many conditions that have impacted this persons life from a young age.

She is not typical of most of those who conclude that they are in the wrong body and wish to transition.

In all likelihood, there are people who have transgendered from male to female for whom there would be no reason to believe they might threaten the safety of inmates in a prison.

The problem is that none of this can be discussed in a reasoned manner because those who classify themselves trans allies will condemn all discussion as an expression of transphobia.

This was precisely what occurred during the week following Leo Varadkars response to the reporters query.

On social media, he was attacked as being a self-hating gay man, somebody who issued a dog whistle to transphobes, who wont take a stance for trans people, and a person who shouldnt go on Pride.

This, remember, is because he reluctantly answered a question that was put to him, arguably, in the only way that he could without causing a public outcry.

A chance of reform

Is it healthy, or even desirable, that the vast majority of mainstream politicians, media, or the public are scared stiff to broach this subject for fear of how they will be misrepresented and cast as merchants of hate?

Does such an approach serve the best interests of the small number of people who have gender dysphoria and their relationship to wider society?

Meanwhile, it would be no bad thing if there is even the remotest chance that this case might finally highlight the issue of prison reform.

It may be unfashionable, and for some like the victims of crime it may be difficult, but there are a lot of women in particular behind bars who should not be there, certainly not in the circumstances in which they are currently held.

Their rights and needs are worthy of the appropriate attention as any other vulnerable group in society.
People with war wounds are evacuated with support from the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (file photo).

Uganda Red Cross Society has installed a solar water treatment unit in Kasese as part of its efforts to strengthen disaster response and preparedness.

This is also part of a disaster preparedness program aimed at strengthening capacities of district disaster management committees, district task forces and their local structures to establish well-functioning multi-hazard preparedness and response systems to ensure effective Early Warning and Early Action (EW/EA).

The program is implemented with support from European Union Humanitarian Aid, through a consortium consisting of Netherlands Red Cross ,Austria Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent.

One of the key activities of the project is training district disaster management committees from Ntoroko, Kabarole ,Bundibugyo and Kasese districts as well as Red Cross Surge team in Emergency Water Sanitation

and Hygiene (WASH).

Speaking while training district teams on to set up the emergency water treatment units, Eng. Gracious Kyagaba the WASH Manager at Uganda Red Cross noted that, the kit is designed for treatment and distribution of water for individuals during emergency situations.

"The kit allows transport of treated water to several distribution points and allows promotion of hygiene. This kit is solarized, easy to set up and mobile just in case of a disaster,"Kyagaba said.

He said the solarized water treatment unit is one of the measures put in place as a response to water and sanitation challenges during disasters and emergencies.

The district environment officer for Kasese , Augustine Koli who is also a member of the district disaster management committee applauded Uganda Red Cross Society for helping build capacity of the district officials.

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"This initiative is good because if we as the district people get skills and knowledge, we can help the communities instantly and by the time Red Cross brings assistance we are already set,"Koli noted.

As part of the project, Uganda Red Cross Society also enhanced community engagement within villages that are affected by floods in Kasese.

A mapping exercise with the communities was done through community meetings on participatory scenario planning basing on the March April May (MAM) seasonal outlook are being held in Kasese district in the sub-counties of Ibanda-Kyanya and Karusandara.

These were held so as to prepare communities for the worst case scenarios and to come up with actions that work to address the common disasters and hazards.

As part of disaster preparedness efforts, Uganda Red Cross also installed solarised community radios were also installed with an aim of complementing on the existing early warning systems in the communities to support in dissemination of early warning systems.

On top of that communities were also given Information ,Education Materials emphasising early warnings.
Television shows might have you convinced gutting your home to a shell and slapping an edgy glass box on the back is the only way to have a space-efficient, modern home, not helped by our tendency to have myopia regarding the potential of our property as it stands.

Its something Cork-based couple Nicola-Marie and James realised when they looked to improve their 1970s three-bedroom semi-detached house where theyve lived with daughter Clara (seven) since 2018.

When we first moved in, we painted the walls magnolia and put down flooring which cost 4.99 a yard, just to make it clean, Nicola-Marie says, as we sit in her now beautifully revamped house tucked away on a quiet avenue in the north city neighbourhood of Ballyvolane.

It looked like it hadnt been touched since the '70s, she explains, while James tells of uncovering three layers of skirting boards in the house and wires for the phone and alarm everywhere.

Starting in 2021 they took a DIY approach, installing an Ikea kitchen in sage green, with echoes of another era in the smoked glass wall unit doors.

Nicola-Marie tackled the plumbing herself using YouTube tutorials, with Dad double-checking her work and sealing it with approval.

But when it came to the living-cum-dining room, running from the front to the back of the house, and the hall, stairs and bathroom, they sought professional input.

When you bring in someone with fresh eyes, he can visualise it empty, says James. Thats very hard to do in your own home.

The fresh eyes in this case belong to interior designer David OBrien who collaborated with Nicola-Marie and James on the project, with RJ OBrien Building Contractors doing the hard graft.

We wanted a mid-century look, not garish; rooms relatively plain and as much black as possible in a small house," says Nicola-Marie.

Adds James: "But furniture and floors to do most of the talking."

So, if the new living-dining room floor could speak it might describe itself as double-smoked oak herringbone engineered, rimmed by walls in a stone white paint hue.

Its a stylish pared-back look, interrupted by a cheeky green velvet sofa and matching ottoman complementing greenery from the garden, now accessible by French doors which replace a small window.

But a star shy of the limelight is a teak dining table.

Urged by the interior designer who saw its potential, the couple bought the dilapidated table from Facebook Marketplace for 50.

Now restored after diligent cleaning by Nicola-Marie, its surrounded by vintage chairs sourced from The Workshop in Ballygarvan, with the addition of another of Nicola-Maries projects  a banquette seat with storage underneath for Claras treasures  upholstered in hardwearing Moquette, the fabric of choice for London Underground train seats.

London is a place close to their hearts and one of several citations around the home reflecting their personal interests: Cork-themed art and print work and space exploration being others, giving the home a lived-in feel even though they returned just last month after staying with Nicola-Maries parents while work was carried out.

Following the herringbone floor out to the hallway, patterned stairs carpet  loved by 1980s homemakers  has been replaced by chic black painted treads and bannisters, and the dreaded strewing of shoes in the hall now accommodated in a compact cabinet with extra space for post and car keys.

Storage solutions are clever all round, determined by what Nicola-Marie calls her organising paradigm. I let the house get messy to see where the problem areas were.

Upstairs the tricky bathroom shape is resolved with a roomy shower enclosure and streamlined storage filling what had been unusable space over the stairwell. But roll out the red carpet please for the flooring treatment, a terrazzo tiling delight in a crushed raspberry hue, carried up the shower enclosure walls.

In addition to all this style, full advantage was taken of floors being pulled up to replace oil central heating with electric radiators; and the installation of insulated plasterboards  thanks to a retired plasterer in the family  has mitigated helped with heat-retention shortcomings of '70s breezeblock construction.

In just a few months, without a centimetre added but meticulous design planning, the home has had a full reset, as James put it, and is ready for modern family living.
More than 1 million people demonstrated across France on Thursday against unpopular pension reforms, with violence erupting in some places.

Unions have called for new nationwide strikes and protests next week, coinciding with King Charles planned visit to France.

The Interior Ministry said the march in Paris  marred by violence, as were numerous marches elsewhere  drew 119,000 people, which was a record for the capital during the pension protests.

Polls say most French oppose president Emmanuel Macrons Bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.

There are troublemakers, often extreme left, who want to take down the state and kill police and ultimately take over the institutions

Building on the strong turnout, unions swiftly called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday when Charles is scheduled to visit Bordeaux on the second day of his trip to France.

The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was set on fire and quickly destroyed on Thursday evening by members of an unauthorised demonstration, the Sud Ouest newspaper said.

Nationwide, more than a million people joined protest marches held in cities and towns around the country on Thursday, the ministry said.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin, visiting police headquarters on Thursday night as fires still burned in some Paris neighbourhoods, gave assurance that security poses no problem and the British monarch will be welcomed and welcomed well.

He said there was enormous degrading of public buildings and commerce on Thursday, far more important than in precedent demonstrations.

There are troublemakers, often extreme left, who want to take down the state and kill police and ultimately take over the institutions, the minister said.

The demonstrations were held a day after Mr Macron further angered his critics by standing strong on the retirement Bill that his government forced through parliament without a vote.

While the (president) tries to turn the page, this social and union movement confirms the determination of the world of workers and youth to obtain the withdrawal of the reform, the eight unions organising protests said in a statement.

A protester kicks a tear gas canister in front of the Opera at the end of a rally in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP)

It called for localised action this weekend and new nationwide strikes and protests on Tuesday.

Strikes upended travel as protesters blockaded train stations, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, refineries and ports.

In Paris, street battles between police and black-clad, masked groups who attacked at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank reflected intensifying violence and drew attention away from the tens of thousands of peaceful marchers.

Police, pelted by Molotov cocktails, objects and fireworks, charged multiple times and used tear gas to disperse rioters. A haze of tear gas fumes covered part of the Place de lOpera, where demonstrators converged at the marchs end.

Violence marred other marches, notably in the western cities of Nantes, Rennes and Lorient  where an administrative building was attacked and the courtyard of the police station was set alight and its windows broken  and in Lyon, in the southeast.

Thursdays nationwide protests were the ninth union-organised demonstrations since January, when opponents still hoped that parliament would reject Mr Macrons measure to raise the retirement age. But the government forced it through using a special constitutional measure.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mr Macron refused to budge from his position that a new law is necessary to keep retirement coffers funded.

Opponents proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies, which Mr Macron says would hurt the economy. He insisted the governments bill to raise the retirement age must be implemented by the end of the year.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron (Olivier Matthys/AP)

The Constitutional Council must now approve the measure.

High-speed and regional trains, the Paris metro and public transportation systems in other major cities were disrupted. About 30% of flights at Paris Orly Airport were cancelled.

The Eiffel Tower and the Versailles Palace, where the British monarch is to dine with Mr Macron, were closed on Thursday due to the strikes.

Violence, a recurring issue at protests, has intensified in recent days. Mr Darmanin said that 12,000 security forces were in the French streets on Thursday, with 5,000 in Paris.

The Education Ministry said in a statement that about 24% of teachers walked off the job in primary and middle schools on Thursday, and 15% in high schools.

At Paris Gare de Lyon train station, several hundred strikers walked on railway tracks to prevent trains from moving, brandishing flares and chanting and we will go, and we will go until withdrawal and Macron, go away.
A US contractor was killed and another hurt alongside five American armed forces personnel when a suspected Iranian drone attacked a facility on a coalition base in north-east Syria, the Pentagon said.

Defence secretary Lloyd Austin said US Central Command forces hit back with precision airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard.

The intelligence community determined the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin, the defence department said.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Mr Austin said on Thursday night.

Videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir ez-Zor, a strategic province bordering Iraq and containing oil fields.

BREAKING: US carries out an air strike on Iranian targets in Syria after 5 military members were injured and one US Contractor was killed from an Iranian drone strike.



This is a significant escalation.



pic.twitter.com/Dh9dWoGgm2  Ryan Cunningham (@rycunni) March 24, 2023

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv.

Iran has denied being responsible for these attacks, though western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts in the region to deescalate tensions, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries.

The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

We will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing

US army General Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, said American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said in a statement.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency did not immediately acknowledge any strikes.

Syrias mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran over the strikes, which come during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

No group will strike our troops with impunity

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser.

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mr Austin said he authorised the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The US under Mr Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran.

In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Mr Biden launched attacks there.

US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the so-called Islamic State group.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in north-east Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened.

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Coalition Aircraft conducted Airstrikes against Iranian Positions in Eastern Syria tonight after an Iranian Drone Attack on a Base in the Region caused 5 U.S. Servicemembers to be Injured with 1 Contractor being Killed.  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 24, 2023

There are roughly 900 US troops and even more contractors in Syria, including in the north and further south and east.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Mr Austin said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Mr Assad.

The United Nations estimates more than 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war.

Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.
A strike by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in north-east Syria, the Pentagon said.

American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying they killed at least four people.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

BREAKING: US carries out an air strike on Iranian targets in Syria after 5 military members were injured and one US Contractor was killed from an Iranian drone strike.



This is a significant escalation.



pic.twitter.com/Dh9dWoGgm2  Ryan Cunningham (@rycunni) March 24, 2023

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Mr Austin said on Thursday evening.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces throughout the Middle East to counter the US and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while three others and the injured contractor were taken to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields.

Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, while their officials at the United Nations in New York did not respond to requests for comment.

We will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people.

Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militia posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal.

It said the strikes also hurt people, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighbourhood in the city of Deir el-Zour.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said US bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv.

Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The exchange of strikes come as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries.

The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Coalition Aircraft conducted Airstrikes against Iranian Positions in Eastern Syria tonight after an Iranian Drone Attack on a Base in the Region caused 5 U.S. Servicemembers to be Injured with 1 Contractor being Killed.  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 24, 2023

US army General Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, said American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said.

Addressing the US House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Gen Kurilla told politicians the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago.

He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Gen Kurilla also alleged that Iran had launched 78 attacks on US positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, he said.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes.

Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area

Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mr Austin said he authorised the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, he said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The US under Mr Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran.

In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Mr Biden launched attacks there.

US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the so-called Islamic State group.

The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened.

There are roughly 900 US troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and further south and east.

Since the US drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for US forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Mr Azizi wrote in a recent analysis.

Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Mr Assad.

The United Nations estimates more than 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war.

Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.
Protesters angry at French President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms have continued with scattered actions.

It comes as the unrest across the country led officials to postpone a planned state visit by Britains King Charles III.

Although no major protests were planned on Friday, train traffic was slowed, rows of trucks blocked access to Marseilles commercial port and debris still littered the Paris streets following the previous days mass demonstrations.

More than 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide to protest against unpopular pension reforms.

Protesters scuffle with riot police during a rally in Nantes (Jeremias Gonzalez/AP)

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday some 441 police and gendarmes were hurt as violence marred some marches.

He said 1,000 rubbish bins were set on fire in the French capital during the previous days action.

Amid a weeks-long refuse collectors strike, bins have become a symbol of the protest.

Mr Macrons office said a state visit by the British King has been postponed.

He was scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on his first state visit as monarch before heading to Germany on Wednesday.

The German part of the trip is still going ahead.

The then-prince of Wales welcomes French president Emmanuel Macron, left, to Clarence House in London in June 2020 (Jonathan Brady/AP)

Polls say most French oppose Mr Macrons Bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.

The supply of fuel to Paris by the large Gonfreville-LOrcher refinery in Normandy resumed on Friday after police intervened, according to energy transition minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher.

At the Fos-sur-mer oil terminal near Marseille, however, protesters were meeting to plan future oil refinery blockades.

Fearing disruptions in the coming days as actions continue, Frances Civil Aviation Authority has asked for a third of flights to be cancelled on Sunday at Pariss second airport, Orly, with 20% to be cancelled on Monday.

Unions have called for new protests and strikes on Tuesday, the day Charles was scheduled to visit Bordeaux.

The heavy wooden door of the elegant Bordeaux City Hall was destroyed by fire on Thursday night by people taking part in an unauthorised demonstration.

Protesters scuffle at the end of a rally in Paris on Thursday (Christophe Ena/AP)

The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, said on Friday he has difficulty understanding the interest of such acts of vandalism.

The protests have drawn support from beyond Frances borders.

In Greece, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the French Embassy in Athens on Thursday to show solidarity.

Protesters chanted slogans and held placards that read Macron, your democracy hangs on nine votes and From Greece: victory for the workers of France.
Features Donated Huts Provide Modicum of Shelter for Victims of Myanmar Junta Arson Attacks

A resident stands in front of her palm hut. / S&C

Although it is just a flimsy palm hut, it offers a small degree of consolation for Daw Thida and her family, and a better option than living near a haystack without a roof over their heads. The 44-year-old teacher and mother of two children lives in Let Yat Kone Village of Sagaings Depayin Township, a stronghold of the anti-junta resistance.

She lost her moderately spacious and pleasant house worth more than 10 million kyats (US$4,800) in late December when regime troops sped up their arson campaign in order to wipe out local support for resistance groups.

According to independent researchers Data for Myanmar, over 43,000 houses in Sagaing Region have been burned down by junta forces. This is almost 80 percent of the total number of civilian houses that have been burned down nationwide. Depayin Township has suffered the most in Sagaing Region, with 6,018 civilian homes torched as of the end of January 2023.

Daw Thidas village, Let Yat Kone, which has more than 300 households, was torched in December 2022 and again in January 2023, with almost 250 houses destroyed. After her house burned down, there was one bed left for her family. As they werent able to rebuild the home, they were living next to a haystack.

We have suffered many losses and suffered a lot of trauma because of them [regime soldiers], Daw Thida told The Irrawaddy.

Daw Thida and some other villagers were able to build low-cost palm huts in February with the help of Myanmar people at home and abroad. Such palm huts have become an alternative form of shelter for a growing number of homeless civilians in Sagaing Region. As of the second week of March, 31 palm huts had been built in Let Yat Kone by the donors, out of 250 houses burned down by the junta.

Palm huts: homes reborn in Anyar

Palm trees and palm huts are characteristic of the Myanmar countryside and are also recognized as a symbol of central Myanmars Anyar Region, which comprises Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe, where the majority of Bamar people live.

Many years ago, Anyar people lived in houses made of palm leaves but in later times they opted for stronger materials and only a few people lived in palm leaf houses. However, at present, the small palm huts are increasingly being seen in central Myanmar again, especially in Sagaing Region.

Even those who have money and can build a new house are living in palm huts because they fear their homes will be burned down again, a resident of Mu Kha Twin Village of Depayin Township told The Irrawaddy.

Mu Kha Twin is near Let Yat Kone and is one of the villages in the area that recently suffered a regime arson attack. It has more than 300 households, with 164 houses torched in arson attacks in December 2022 and January 2023. So far, 14 palm huts have been built in that village thanks to donations from the S&C educational and emergency rescue team, which help civilians displaced by the regimes raids with the support of Myanmar well-wishers at home and abroad.

Structure of palm huts

Palm huts are made of palm leaves, bamboo and wood, ranging in width from around 15 feet (4.5 meters) to 18 feet with enough room for five people. It costs only 200,000 kyats for a hut. For those like Daw Thida who are unable to rebuild, S&C and private donors provide the money for the hut.

The main reason palm huts were chosen is because it is easy to find the palm leaves for the roofsalthough they are becoming scarcer due to strong demandand it doesnt take too much time to build one, according to Ko Soe Moe Aung, a representative of S&C. The S&C team started their support activities in 2021 and have been helping Sagaings homeless civilians to build the palm huts since last year.

S&Cs aim is to donate 1,000 huts to Sagaing residents. So far over 400 have been built in the regional townships.

Our intention is to build quickly at a fair price. So, we chose palm leaves because they are readily available in the region, Ko Soe Moe Aung explained.

The price of a palm leaf is 120 kyats and a bamboo stick is 900 kyats. Around 300 palm leaves and 37 bamboo sticks are needed for a hut. Mostly, the villagers use palm leaves as the roof and the sides are surrounded with tin sheets left over from the fires in the villages. However, some villagers use bamboo and wood instead of tin in order to reduce the heat.

Daw Myint, 48, from Nyaung Gyi Kone Village never thought she would live in a small and narrow hut. She is one of many Sagaing villagers to lose everything in a junta raid.

We had to flee with fear because they shelled our village with heavy weapons. We couldnt take anything with us, Daw Myint recalled about the junta raid in late December.

There are only seven houses left that did not burn in the village of Nyang Gyi Kone, which has around 70 households.

She lost her wooden house built with money saved over many years by selling vegetables. Currently, she lives in the palm hut with her four children.

It is very different from living with our house because we are living very close to the ground. Furthermore, it is also narrow, Daw Myint told The Irrawaddy.

However, Daw Myint and the Sagaing residents are very grateful to those who donated money to build the palm huts for them.

We are very glad for their help in such a difficult situation. At the same time, we are very sad for our losses because it is not easy to rebuild our house the same as before, Daw Myint said.

As Sagaing Region has been the worst hit by the regimes arson campaign, S&C has accepted a lot of requests from residents for palm huts. However, some villagers request tarpaulin tents instead of palm huts, according to Ko Soe Moe Aung.

Advantages of tents

Those who are worried that the regime troops will repeatedly raid and burn down their villages have asked for donations of tarpaulin tents because they are portable.

Some homeless residents in Myaung Township in Sagaing Region live in tarpaulin tents which were donated by the Helping Hands team, another charity for displaced civilians run with support from Myanmar well-wishers. Until his arrest, the charity group was led by a senior monk, Sayadaw Agga Wuntha, the leader of the Pyigyitagon anti-dictatorship strike group. The team put up 48 tarpaulin tents in the border of Myaung Township and Mandalay Regions Nganzon Township before the monk was captured by the regime in early March.

A tarpaulin tent costs 150,000 kyats and one tent can sleep eight to a dozen people, according to Helping Hands.

Some residents just live on the ground without shelter because their villages were burned down two or three times. So, Sayadaw made the shelters using tarpaulin in order to keep out the heat and rain, said Kyar Khin Sein, a female resistance fighter who donated tarpaulin to Myaung residents along with the senior monk.

The monk was captured while planning to build palm huts for homeless residents in Ma Yoe Kone Village of Myaung Township.

Challenges for donors

Although the palm leaves were easily available last year, they are becoming scarcer due to high demand among Sagaing residents following the regimes arson campaigns, according to regional charity groups.

As the military sped up the arson campaign, we werent able to get enough palm leaves for the villagers. So, we are thinking of using an iron frame but it will cost more than a palm house, S&C representative Ko Soe Moe Aung told The Irrawaddy.

He said there are now so many homeless civilians in Sagaing Region that demand is exceeding supply. According to the UN, 726,800 civilians from Sagaing Region had been forced to flee their houses as of March 6 this year. Often, they shelter in nearby forests and return to their villages after the regime troops depart, only to find themselves without homes.

Daw Chit is one of those civilians who fled a junta raid, taking with her only the clothes she wore on the day. The 75-year-old resident of Let Yat Kone Village lost her wooden house in late December. Currently, she lives with her youngest sons family in a palm hut built by a private donor this month.

The donors donate food for us. Now, we are living in a small narrow hut. As our hut is surrounded with tin sheets, it is too hot, Daw Chit told The Irrawaddy.

She misses her two-story wooden house, which was torched by regime troops. She said it is not easy for her family to rebuild the house because her three sons are day laborers and dont have their own farms like some other villagers.

If possible, I would like to rebuild the house, Daw Chit said.
Interview Narrow Chinese Interests Shaping Security Landscape in Northern Myanmar: US Expert

A protester (center) holds up a sign showing a cartoon image of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a demonstration against the military coup in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon on Feb. 11, 2021. / AFP

In this second installment of a two-part interview, human rights campaigner Igor Blazevic asks Jason Tower, country director for the Burma Program of the United States Institute of Peace, about Beijings moves to keep the National League for Democracy and National Unity Government at arms length, its goals in relation to the northern EAOs, and what role other international actors can play in Myanmars crisis.

Blazevic: Is ASEAN [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] just a proxy that will in the end serve Chinas interests in Myanmar, or is ASEAN concerned with increased Chinese influence in Myanmar, and ready and able to counterbalance it?

Tower: If you look at Chinas policies, statements and bilateral encouragements that Chinese diplomats have been giving to ASEAN, you see that China actually emphasizes ASEAN unity. But by unity, this means going with the least common denominator type of approach, meaning ignoring calls by maritime ASEAN states to take bold steps towards addressing the Myanmar crisis, and throwing out the failed ASEAN Consensus. Instead, this means prioritizing the voices of mainland ASEAN states, who are calling for a long wait-and-see approach, and who would much rather focus on quietly conducting business with the military regime rather than looking for long-term solutions.

Where ASEAN can be effective in pushing back is when China starts openly meddling in the region in ways that are counter to ASEAN efforts. Last year China became quite aggressive in trying to leverage the divisions between the mainland and maritime ASEAN countries. China started convening the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation [LMC] Forum in ways that undermine the agreed position within ASEAN around no engagement with the Myanmar military at the level of foreign minister or above. China completely ignored that when convening the LMC in partnership with the junta last July, bringing the FMs of four ASEAN countries to meet with senior junta officials towards the achievement of a new normal. The ASEAN maritime states, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, pushed back when China did this, noting that the LMCs own founding documents emphasize the platform as contributing to ASEANs objectives.

Blazevic: At the beginning and for quite a long time China was treating the junta, ethnic revolutionary organizations and the National League for Democracy [NLD] as stakeholders. Where does China stand today? Has it excluded the NLD in the meantime or is China still interested in keeping the NLD as a relevant and an unavoidable stakeholder?

Tower: For the first nine months following the coup China continued to give the NLD party a high level of public legitimacy. Chinese diplomats referenced the NLD in statements. The Chinese Communist Party was openly inviting the NLD party to participate in its major party dialogues with other political parties around the world. Through its envoy Sun Guoxiang, China was encouraging the military not to dissolve the NLD party and trying to gain access to Aung San Suu Kyi. While doing so, it prefaced all of these efforts on a resolution based on dialogue and in accordance with the militarys 2008 Constitution.

By October of 2021, as China became increasingly aware that the NLD and NUG [National Unity Government] were moving away from the 2008 Constitution and towards revolutionary, transformative change in Burma, China increasingly departed from the strategy of giving public legitimacy and recognition to the NLD. China started downplaying relationships with the NLD.

China has not completely burned all bridges, and the Chinese Embassys occasional outreach to the NUG when violent conflict threatens its economic interests does signal that it has concerns about the juntas capacity to manage the situation. But the Chinese are increasingly less and less responsive to the NLD party and to the NUG and are much more focused on the militarys own plan for so-called disciplined democracy and engagement with political parties that are more willing to accept solutions within the frame of the 2008 Constitution.

Blazevic: China probably sees the NUG as a pro-Western, pro-democracy, and peoples power revolutionary movement. All three, being pro-Western, pro-democracy, and rooted in peoples power, are no-nos for China. Is there a way the NUG can reframe itself and make itself more acceptable to China? Or will China still not see the NUG as a factor to deal with, whatever it does?

Tower: There are three things that I think the NUG could do. The first is sending as many signals as possible of a diversification of the NUGs international relations. This means reaching out much more to developing countries, and building stronger ties with Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the rest of Asia. One significant entry point for these conversations is the growing global security challenge that the military junta represents to countries around the world. Because of the lawlessness left by the coup, transnational criminal actors from around the world are now deeply embedded in Burma, and use it as a hub for global fraud operations, financial scams and for human trafficking into what is known as cyber-slavery. These novel forms of trafficking have resulted in nationals from over 37 countries being trafficked into Burmasomething that the junta has neither the political will nor interest in addressing. This could be a perfect entry point into engaging countries around the world on the situation in Burma, and around which a strong coalition might be built to end the chaos generated by the Myanmar army.

The second thing that the NUG could do is to build relationships with the United Wa [State] Army, with the MNDAA [Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army] and the NDAA [National Democratic Alliance Army]. Some of them have recently sent quite interesting and even public signals, which indicate that they legitimate the National Unity Government. The most interesting is that the Wa is publicly voicing in its central party meeting that they see Lower Burma having two governments; the military on one side and the NUG on the other side. That is something that the NUG could try to leverage. For example, the military has a liaison office in Wa. What about the NUG, should the NUG have a liaison office there?

The third thing is getting ahead some narratives on what the NUG is actually doing when it comes to stabilizing Chinese investments. Its remarkable, given what is happening in the country, that we havent seen greater threats to or disruptions of Chinese investment projects. We have heard China reaches out to the NUG to secure Chinese interests, but often with a threatening type of tone. That needs to be turned around by saying Look, the NUG has done quite a lot to ensure that Chinese projects are not targeted, and are even protected by PDFs [Peoples Defense Forces]. Together with its own allies the NUG can play an important role in offering some degree of stability or protection to Chinese projects. China needs to give it more credit for this role, and there is a huge risk that if China fails to do this that rogue PDFs will eventually become frustrated, and may even quietly target these projects.

Blazevic: More and more small arms produced by the UWSA are seen in Sagaing and other heartland Burma regions. Is it possible that China is intentionally allowing the Wa to provide weapons to ethnic revolutionaries and PDFs, or is the Wa doing it on its own?

Tower: A lot of the different types of businesses the Wa is engaged in are not things that [China] is terribly excited aboutthe meth business, the scams, online frauds, and money laundering across borders, and small arms sales. All of these are incredibly profitable illicit forms of business.

Due to COVID-19 and because of the partial crackdown on cross-border telecommunication fraud, you saw the Wa economy taking a big blow. The callback of 30 or 40,000 Chinese nationals out of Wa really decimated the Wa economy. So, no surprise the Wa is looking for all sorts of business opportunities.

China knows very well that the Wa are going to supply arms to a lot of their allies. China probably feels quite comfortable with arms flows to any of those alliances. Those arms flows are enabling some of those EAOs to take steps that will be helpful for Chinas influence in the border areas. However, there are red lines. You dont see the Wa transferring sophisticated equipment to PDFs. The Was leaders during the Wa central committee meeting a couple of weeks back, openly said that the Wa is not going to be arming the NUG.

Wa is probably trying to give reassurances to China that when China provides the Wa with more sophisticated equipment in order to enable the Wa to protect themselves in case of the increasingly sophisticated junta air force, that this equipment is not for transfer to other actors. Regarding the small arms, many of which are produced in Wa State, China has much less ability to control that. The Wa has a quite diverse means of getting those smaller arms to whoever they want to ultimately sell at a probably significant profit.

Blazevic: Will China be ready to actively facilitate negotiations between the SAC [State Administration Council, the juntas governing body], NUG, ethnic revolutionary organizations [EROs] and PDFs for the sake of its own strategic and business interest? Or would China rather stay away and let ASEAN be the facilitator of the negotiations? Or can China play a role in facilitating negotiations between the SAC and northern EROs, but leave out the NUG?

Tower: So far, the newly deployed Chinese special envoy is focusing on eight parties; seven northern EAOs (the FPNCC [Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee] members) plus the military. You dont really see any effort so far to reach out to the NUG, the NLD party, or other more democratically oriented ethnic armed organizations and EAOs outside Chinas immediate influence in the border area.

China is going to try and manufacture dialogues with a very narrow set of stakeholders which is something that ultimately will be beneficial for the very immediate interest of some EAOs, but also beneficial to the junta in terms of its strategy of dividing the resistance actors. Thats not a good thing for Myanmar overall though, because its going to create more fragmentation and likely cause a resumption of forms of ceasefire capitalism that lead to greater and greater influence of illicit business actors. This could also result in frustration and higher levels of violence in some parts of the country, particularly in the Burma heartland.

China is somewhat emboldened in this approach because you have some other international actors, such as [Japanese envoy] Mr. [Yohei] Sasakawa doing the same thing in Rakhine State with the AA [Arakan Army], and still others, including some European foundations and diplomats pushing the EAOs on the Thai border to do the same. All of these things are emboldening China and are supporting [its] strategy.

Blazevic: China is openly engaging with the northern allies. Why is the SAC not complaining about that?

Tower: China has a wide range of interactions with all the members of the FPNCC. This includes direct business relationships, developmental assistance, or local government to government dealings. During COVID-19, these dealing scaled up considerably to combat COVID in the border area. These are seen as normal, ongoing. The interactions alone are not something that you would see the junta protest.

Frankly, the junta now probably sees some value in getting Chinas involvement in pushing the EAOs in the North to have some engagement with the military. The military would probably extract some benefits from Chinas engagement, as it would put some pressure on those northern EAOs to limit their interactions with the West and potentially also limit their interactions with other EAOs and with the NUG. The junta also sees that it can gain legitimacy from its ability to have dialogue with these powerful EAOs, and to have regular interactions with Chinese envoys. This helps its overall strategy. Of course, the junta does not want the northern EAOs to establish a robust buffer in the China border area, but frankly it has very little capacity or capability to do anything about this.

Blazevic: How can the NUG balance the diplomatic narratives between the West and China? When the NUG is reaching out to the West, one of the narratives says that we will have a democratic Burma and there will be geopolitical benefits for the US. But that is far from what China wants.

Tower: All countriesthe U.S. and China includedhave a very strong interest in stability in Burma and across the region. At the end of the day, through its efforts to contribute to inclusive and sustainable governance, a strong coalition between the NUG and the EROs offers the best possible option for stability in Burma over the long term. The alternative is perpetual wars between militia groups over control of territories and the further rise of illicit business as ceasefire capitalism once again emerges.

Second, the focus should be on whats more beneficial for the Myanmar people, who are increasingly being forgotten as special envoys emphasize dynamics between powerful armed actors.

When it comes to stability and giving priority to the will of the Myanmar people, these are things that all countries should be ready to support. If you look at public statements from [China], it certainly indicates that it wants to see stability. That it does not want transnational crimes spreading across the region. Both China and the US should have a shared interest in an outcome that is positive for the Myanmar people. Those are some common denominators between the two.

Blazevic: In December, the US Congress passed the Burma Act. China has been very quick to react to it, however we have not seen the US administration moving on this yet.

Tower: A challenge here is that the Chinese, and to some extent some other regional actors, have clearly misread the incorporation of the Burma Act into the NDAA. One of the key issues here is the mention of assistance to EAOs and PDFs, which is meant to recognize the tremendous contributions that they are playing in the overall movement to end the militarys ongoing reign of terror against the Myanmar people. The US interest is in supporting coalitions of stakeholders to achieve long-term peace in Myanmar, and for this to happen, the military must ultimately end the violence and step back from the political space. This will create conditions for inclusive conversations about the countrys future. One risk right now is that China, Russia and other countries may dramatically increase support for the SAC, or exert much greater influence in Burma out of fear that Western actors may be getting much more involved in shaping the trajectory of the conflict. On the whole, it is critical that all international stakeholders interested in a free, stable and peaceful Burma dramatically increase their support for the emergence of a strong coalition between the NUG, the EAOs, civil society and the many other actors on the ground working for the countrys future. Failure to act decisively and swiftly could unfortunately result in miscalculations by neighboring countries shaping outcomes that are highly unfavorable to the people of Burma. At the same time, this also points to the need for some type of dialogue between the US and its partners on the Burma issue, as well as between the US and the neighboring countries, including China.

Jason Tower is the Country Director for the Burma Program of the United States Institute of Peace. Jason has over 20 years of experience working on conflict and security issues in China and Southeast Asia. Since 2019, his research has focused on a range of issues at the nexus of crime and conflict in Southeast Asia and on Chinas influence on conflict in Myanmar.

Igor Blazevic is a senior adviser at the Prague Civil Society Centre. Between 2011 and 2016 he worked in Myanmar as the head lecturer of the Educational Initiatives Program.
Burma Court Rejects Appeal to Seize Land From Daw Aung San Suu Kyis Charity

The design of the La Yaung Taw project / Daw Khin Kyi Foundation Facebook

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to seize Naypyitaw land from the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, a charity founded by jailed former State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and named after her mother.

In 2018, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi bought about 100 acres of land in Naypyitaw for the planned La Yaung Taw project to establish a vocational training school and forest to raise public awareness of the impacts of deforestation.

Following the 2021 coup, the junta accused Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of abusing her power to purchase land for the project at lower than market value and filed three counts of corruption against her. A junta court sentenced her to three years in jail for each charge, to be served concurrently.

In December, the junta-controlled Attorney-Generals Office appealed, seeking also to seize the land and buildings for the La Yaung Taw project.

The Supreme Court rejected that appeal, as well as an appeal by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a source close to the court told The Irrawaddy.

However, the rejection of the regimes appeal is not final, according to a legal expert. It could still submit a special appeal to confiscate Daw Khin Kyi Foundation assets.

The foundation owns 23.855 acres of land and buildings in Poppathiri Township, close to former president general Thein Seins private farm, known as Shwe Lel Taw.

It also owns 101.33 acres near Raja Theingaha Housing in Ottarathiri Township, the site of the La Yaung Taw project. The land was bought at five million kyats per acre, a price officially set by the Naypyitaw Development Committee, said the foundation.

Land was also sold at five million kyats per acre to 23 other organizations, including the Myanmar War Veterans Organization (MWVO), the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Organization (predecessor of the USDP), and Myat Sedana Foundation, according to the Presidents Office of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Both the MWVO and the USDP have built their headquarters on this land.

While no action was taken against the other organizations including the MWVO and USDP, junta courts handed three-year jail sentences to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, then Naypyitaw Mayor Dr. Myo Aung, deputy mayor U Ye Min Oo, and member of the Naypyitaw Development Council U Min Thu over land permits for the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation.

The foundation was established in 2012 to improve the health, education and living standards of Myanmars people, especially in the countrys least-developed areas. The not-for-profit foundation provided free vocational training and carried out humanitarian work.

Following the February 2021 coup, the foundation announced it was closing temporarily. The junta then launched an investigation into its finances, seeking excuses to imprison ousted civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The regime has also sealed off the foundations offices.

Junta courts have sentenced Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to 33 years in prison on 19 charges including corruption. She is being held in solitary confinement in Naypyitaw and has submitted appeals to rulings against her.
Burma Indian Border Security Forces Incursions Into Myanmar Alarm Chin Residents

Assam Rifles troops are seen in Shwe Lai Wa village on March 13. / CDF-Paletwa

Members of the Assam Rifles, an Indian border security force, have entered Paletwa Township twice so far this year, causing concern among ethnic Chin residents and resistance groups in Myanmars Chin State.

About 15 troops from the Assam Rifles, an Indian paramilitary force responsible for guarding the border, entered Shwe Lai Wa Village in Paletwa Township on March 13 and fired their guns in the air as they left, according to the Chin Defense Force (CDF)-Paletwa.

Shwe Lai Wa, a village located on the border between Myanmars Chin State and Indias Mizoram State, and nearby areas form the base of the CDF-Paletwas Battalion 2. Salai Paul, chairman of the group, said it was the second time the Indian force had trespassed in the area.

Salai Paul wrote on his social media page that, Assam Rifles troops entered the village and every time they enter, columns of the juntas military also come around to the Paletwa area. I want to ask why these Indian troops are moving into the area frequently and rashly.

According to resistance groups and local news reports, Assam Rifles personnel do not merely trespass in the area, but also frequently arrest ethnic Chin ethnic people with ties to the anti-junta resistance, including some who have been members of the resistance since mid-2021, when armed revolt against the regime began.

Residents of Shwe Lai Wa confirmed that Assam Rifles troops arrived in the village on March 13 and fired 10 rounds into the air. They said the group earlier moved into the area in February.

Residents of the whole township are still very concerned that they will be trapped in an intense conflict situation again. If something happens suddenly, our township will be trapped and we could all face shortages of food and all necessities, said a 43-year-old man who operates a civil society organization in Paletwa.

He recalled the situation faced by the township during the peak of the fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military back in 2019. At that time, residents of Paletwa Township suffered shortages of all necessities as all routes in and out of the area were blocked due to the conflict situation.

Some members of resistance groups in Chin State said the Indian military is in negotiations with the junta, while the Indian government also continues to deal with the junta regarding its ongoing Kaladan Project.

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a US$484-million project connecting the east Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmars Rakhine State by sea. Paletwa is a strategic hub on the route, as it links Sittwe seaport and Mizoram via the Kaladan River boat route.

The Kaladan projects Paletwa phase is almost finished. This project is also important for India. We understand thats why [India] is dealing with the military council and also it seems it is attempting to check if the project is still safe by occasionally sending its border security force in, said a liaison officer of the CDF.
Burma Myanmar ethnic rebel alliance asks China to help defuse post-coup crisis

FPNCC members meet in the Wa Region capital of Panghsang on Thursday.

YANGONAn alliance of China-backed Myanmar ethnic rebels on Thursday called for Beijings help to defuse the bloody post-coup crisis that is ravaging the country.

China is a major ally and arms supplier of the internationally isolated junta and has refused to condemn the putsch that ousted Aung San Suu Kyis government two years ago.

Beijing also backs and arms several ethnic rebel groups along its border with Myanmar, analysts say, some of which have clashed repeatedly with junta troops in the aftermath of the coup.

The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) groups seven ethnic outfits, who together can call on tens of thousands of well-armed and well-trained fighters, analysts say.

We welcome and support Chinas involvement to end domestic conflicts happening in Myanmar, the FPNCC said following the meeting in an autonomous enclave run by the United Wa State Party (UWSP).

With a standing force of around 25,000, the UWSPs force is one of the worlds largest non-state militaries.

The FPNCC statement did not give details on what involvement from Beijing it would welcome.

It would continue working together with the Chinese government to improve the stability of border areas, it added.

On-off fighting along the border before the coup sent thousands fleeing into China, and analysts say Beijing has recently been pressuring the northern ethnic rebel groups to stay out of the post-coup conflict.

But many FPNCC members have offered shelter and weapons training to the Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) that have sprung up across the country to fight back against the coup.

Last year a military airstrike on a concert held by the Kachin Independence Army in northern Kachin state killed around 50 people and wounded more than 70, the rebels said.

Several projects in Beijings Belt and Road initiative are slated to run through northern Myanmar to link Chinas landlocked Yunnan province with the Indian Ocean.

Chinas special envoy to Myanmar has met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at least twice since he was appointed in December and has also met ethnic rebel leaders for talks.

Beijings diplomats are also mediating between Myanmar and Bangladesh for a pilot program to repatriate Rohingya refugees who fled a 2017 military crackdown now subject to a UN genocide investigation.

Repatriations would start very soon, Beijings ambassador to Dhaka, Yao Wen, told reporters on Tuesday.
Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta, has said that some international actors are adamant and don't want to recognise the eminent Genocide against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in eastern DR Congo, despite several reports and evidence highlighting the facts.

While addressing members of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations, on Thursday, March 23, Biruta said: "Recognising Genocide goes hand in hand with the responsibility to prevent it from happening. The reason some international actors are hesitant about recognising a Genocide being planned in DR Congo is because it comes with a responsibility to intervene and stop it.

"They are dodging that responsibility but we keep reminding them."

He added: "In avoiding the responsibility to protect and stop the Genocide in DR Congo, international actors use ambiguous language in their statements when addressing concerns like hate speech."

In November 2022, the UN Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, issued a statement condemning the escalation of violence in eastern DR Congo. She said that it was a "warning sign" in a region where genocide happened in the past, referring to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, where more than one million people were massacred in three months.

"The current violence is a warning sign of societal fragility and proof of the enduring presence of the conditions that allowed large-scale hatred and violence to erupt into a genocide in the past" Nderitu said.

Her official visit to the DR Congo from November 10-13, 2022, followed a technical-level mission by her Office that established that indicators and triggers contained in the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes were present in DR Congo.

The latter include: dissemination of hate speech and absence of independent mechanisms to address it; politicization of identity; proliferation of local militias and other armed groups across the country; widespread and systematic attacks, including sexual violence, against especially the Banyamulenge on the basis of their ethnicity and perceived allegiance with neighboring countries; and intergroup tensions.

The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide acts as an early warning mechanism by alerting the UN Secretary-General and, through the latter, the Security Council - one of the six UN principal organs charged with ensuring international peace and security - to situations where there is a risk of genocide and presenting recommendations.

In eastern DR Congo, the current violence mainly stems from the refugee crisis that resulted as many individuals involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda fled to eastern DR Congo, forming armed groups such as the FDLR which is still active there, the Special Adviser said.

In response to the presence of this militia group, new armed groups were formed and the failure to bring non-state armed actors to book is "the consequence we now see," she added.

She noted that finding a solution to the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo would require addressing the underlying causes of the violence and learning lessons from the past.

Ndiretu noted that the abuses currently occurring in eastern DR Congo, "including the targeting of civilians based on their ethnicity or perceived affiliation to the warring parties" must be halted.

"Our collective commitment not to forget past atrocities constitutes an obligation to prevent reoccurrence," the Special Adviser stressed.

Reiterating her June 2022 statement issued jointly with then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, Nderitu expressed particular concern about the impact on civilians of the recent increase in hostilities between the M23 armed group and the Congolese armed forces, FARDC.

The statement had also expressed concern over an escalation of hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence nationwide - and specifically against the Kinyarwanda speaking Banyamulenge people.

"We keep reminding everyone about the situation in DR Congo...When it comes to Genocide, everybody should be concerned. And Rwanda is actually very concerned," said Biruta.

Emmanuel Gatera, the vice president of the Centrist Democratic Party (PDC), also expressed concerns about the "increasing toxic content on social media that is being pushed by genocidal groups like the FDLR which needs to be countered."

Alphonse Nkubana, the president of Party for Solidarity and Progress (PSP), questioned the international community's silence on the DR Congo's continued provocation of Rwanda in addition to the unrelenting acts of Genocide targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.

The conflict in the eastern DR Congo is mainly fuelled by the leaders in Kinshasa, including President Felix Tshisekedi, who in November 2022, during a national address, encouraged Congolese youth to form "vigilante groups," - an act that resulted in incitement of mass violence.

According to Tito Rutaremara, a commissioner in the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), in the face of a Genocide, any country has an obligation to intervene and stop it.

Rutaremara added: "These concerns raised shouldn't stop at just following up. This is exactly what happened here in 1994. When the Genocide against the Tutsi was being prepared and implemented, the international community was simply observing."

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The UN and the East African Community have forces in DR Congo that should verify these concerns and address them, Rutaremara said.

Lack of political will

Minister Biruta said that the DR Congo government's lack of political will is frustrating regional peace efforts to restore normalcy in the vast country's volatile eastern region.

Biruta said: "However much we may want to have the situation addressed, DR Congo holds the upper hand and has the responsibility and obligation to address its internal issues."

"There has been very many agreements in relation to the issue of security in DR Congo starting from those signed in 2009, 2013, 2019, and so on. The problem is, DR Congo never implemented any of those agreements," Biruta added.

"When I refer to lack of political will, that's what I mean. It requires DR Congo to be more serious and implement all these agreements including recent ones that were signed in the framework of the East African Community, the African union. These agreements carry all the solutions to solve the problem but without political will, we won't achieve anything."
Burma Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Kill Three Civilians in Kayah State

Myanmar regime airstrikes killed three civilians in Kayah States Bawlakhe Township.(Photo: Bawlakhe PDF)

Myanmar regime airstrikes have killed three civilians in southeast Myanmars Kayah State, where junta forces have been attacking resistance strongholds since the beginning of March.

The civilians were killed, and five others injured, on Thursday after junta airstrikes hit a logging site near Wan Ba La Village in Kayahs Bawlakhe Township, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG).

Eight civilians were injured and three of them subsequently died, said Ko Banya, the KnHRG spokesperson. Detailed information about the casualties is still unknown due to communication difficulties.

The regime launched the airstrikes without provocation, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).

There is no fighting in that area and we havent received detailed information yet, but we can confirm that the victims were civilians and that the airstrike happened at a logging site, said the KNDF.

Regime soldiers are also launching indiscriminate artillery attacks on civilian areas elsewhere in Bawlakhe Township and also in Demoso Township, according to a local source.

Artillery shells are raining over our village every day. I heard nearly 70 rounds of artillery fire within 30 minutes. Luckily, there were no casualties since most residents have already fled their homes, he said.

On Thursday, junta forces and a combined force of resistance groups clashed fiercely near Daw Ta Ma Gyi village tract in eastern Demoso Township. Both sides are thought to have suffered casualties.

At least six Myanmar military detachments have been deployed in eastern Demoso alone, where fighting has been escalating since the beginning of March. Clashes are also ongoing in Pekon Township on the border of Shan and Kayah states.

Combined forces of the Karenni Army and KNDF have raided at least eight regime outposts since late 2022, according to the Karenni Military Information Centre.
Burma Myanmar Junta Chief Visits Sagaing as Terror Campaign Intensifies

Min Aung Hlaing talks to troops at Northwestern Command in Monywa on March 19, 2023. / MWD

Myanmar junta boss Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday visited Sagaing Region, the hotbed of resistance to the military regime in central Myanmar, where he met junta personnel in Monywa serving under the Myanmar militarys Northwestern Command.

The regime chief called for unity within the military, and gave long lectures about how soldiers should fully utilize the military training they have been given.

In February, the military regime declared martial law in 14 townships in Sagaing, placing them under the direct control of Northwestern Command.

Since the imposition of martial law, the junta has stepped up its terror campaign in Sagaing, perpetrating more massacres and arson attacks targeting both resistance fighters and civilians. Observers say Min Aung Hlaing went to Sagaing to give detailed guidance about the ongoing military operation.

Min Aung Hlaings visit to Northwestern Command was his first since the imposition of martial law in Sagaing Region. The command has a huge part to play for the regime, as five townships in Magwe Region and seven in Chin State are also under martial law.

Resistance to the regime is also strong in Magwe and Chin, meaning Northwestern Command has to deal with resistance attacks in 26 townships under martial law. The junta has recently launched fresh assaults in both Magwe and Chin.

Last week, deputy junta chief Soe Win visited another anti-regime hotbed, Kayah State, and instructed junta troops based there to fully utilize their weapons. The regime has sent around 2,000 reinforcements into Kayah, according to local resistance forces.

Yet over two years after the coup, the regime is still far from controlling Myanmar. At a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council last month, Min Aung Hlaing admitted that half of the country is unstable. Only 198 of Myanmars 330 townships have 100 per cent stability, and security needs to be beefed up in the rest, said the junta boss.

A March 4 statement from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that around 750,000 civilians have been displaced by armed conflict in Sagaing Region since the 2021 military takeover.
Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Massacre 23 Civilians Including Monks in Shan State: Resistance

Nam Name village is burned by junta troops on Saturday. / KNDF

Myanmar junta troops massacred 23 civilians including a female resident and three Buddhist monks during a raid on Nam Name Village in Pinlaung Township, southern Shan State on Saturday, according to resistance groups.

At 5 a.m. on Saturday, a large number of regime forces raided the village while a military unit from a hill nearby shelled it with heavy explosives.

In the morning, a fierce clash broke out in the village when several Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and Karen Nationalities Defense Force fighters from Pinlaung, Pekon, Mobye and nearby Naypyitaw and Kayah State attacked regime forces that were torching houses, said the Karenni Revolution (KRU), which joined the firefight.

During the clash, a large amount of ammunition was seized from the regime forces. Many junta troops are believed to have been killed and injured, the KRU said.

In the clash, several resistance forces including a KRU fighter suffered serious injuries. Resistance forces were forced to leave the village when junta aircraft attacked in the evening.

On Sunday morning, the combined resistance forces found the dead bodies of 23 civilians including three Buddhist monks who had been shot to death in the villages monastery, which regime forces temporarily occupied, a representative of the KRU who saw the bodies told The Irrawaddy on Monday.

Video and photos recorded by the resistance groups show several bodies including those of three monks. Most of them had been shot in the head. The bodies were found behind the monastery building.

Before the resistance groups issued their statement and photo evidence, pro-regime Telegram channel Ko Thet shared photos of some of the slain people, labeling them as Karenni PDF forces who were killed by military troops in Nam Name. The time on the pictures show they were taken at around 9 a.m. on Saturday. Pools of fresh blood can be seen oozing from the victims.

In the photos shared by the pro-junta channel, homemade air-guns are placed on the bodies of the victims.

Junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun said via the military-owned Myawaddy Television Channel on Monday that clashes occurred in Nam Name Village as terrorist groups, which he identified as the PDF, Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), ambushed military troops and allied Pa-O National Army (PNA) fighters.

He said there were some casualties among villagers due to random shooting by the terrorist groups. However, the junta spokesman did not specifically comment on the massacre of the 23 residents including the three monks.

Instead, he insisted the terrorist groups, referring to the resistance forces, invaded the area aiming to destroy the stability and development of the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone (SAZ).

Pinlaung Township is part of the Pa-O SAZ, which is governed by the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), the political wing of the pro-junta PNA.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing visited his ally, PNO leader U Aung Kham Hti, on March 7 at his home in Kyauk Ta Lone Gyi Town in the Pa-O SAZ, according to regime-controlled media. It is not known what the two men discussed.

However, local observers believed the regime boss would have been pushing U Aung Kham Hti to help defend the SAZ. The area is strategically important, as it stands between Myanmars capital Naypyitaw and resistance groups from Kayah and Karen states.

On the day of Min Aung Hlaings visit, the PNA released a statement calling on young ethnic Pa-O people to help fight the invaders.

Following the Nan Name massacre, local resistance group the Pa-Oh National Defense Force (Kham Koung), which joined the resistance attacks at Nam Name, claimed in a statement on Sunday that the junta troops had committed war crimes and crime against humanity by massacring war refugees sheltering at Nam Names monastery.

Clashes have been occurring in Pinlaung Township since Feb. 24 when the KA, KNDF and local resistance groups launched an attack on a junta outpost in Saung Pyaung.
Burma Thousands Flee Fighting in Southeast Myanmar

A displaced family in Demoso Township, Kayah State set up a temporary tarpaulin shelter under a tree. (Photo: KnHRG)

Fighting between the Myanmar military and Karenni resistance groups has forced around 3,000 villagers and 500 people already displaced to flee their homes and temporary shelters in southeast Myanmars Kayah State.

On Thursday, residents of three villages in the Daw Ta Ma Gyi village tract in the east of Kayahs Demoso Township fled their homes as clashes continued between junta troops and a combined force of Karenni Army and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force fighters, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG).

Regime troops set up an outpost on a hilltop near Daw Ngay Khu Village. Clashes also occurred near Daw Ta Ma Gyi village tract yesterday. Residents and displaced persons sheltering in Daw Ta Ma Gyi, Daw Ngay Khu and Daw So Hpya villages fled their homes, said Ko Banya, a KnHRG spokesperson.

Clashes also reportedly took place on Thursday and Friday near San Pya 6 Mile, Nang Hu Htway and Daw Hse villages in Demoso township, with military regime soldiers launching artillery strikes, said locals.

Fighting was ongoing for two days and they [regime troops] have been firing artillery continuously. It was almost impossible to count how many times they fired, a displaced person said.

KnHRG spokesperson Ko Banya said that the refugees from the three villages in Demoso are currently sheltering under plastic sheets and tarpaulins.

I saw that some displaced people have brought as much food and water as they can carry with them. My concern is about the shelters and supply of medicine. Some people dont have proper shelters and are just camping under trees. Rain is forecast for the coming days and I am worried for them, said Ko Banya.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Kayah State have fled their homes since fighting broke out in May 2021. Many are living in makeshift refugee camps.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that there were at least 86,600 internally displaced persons (IDP) in Kayah as of February 13, 2023.

However, KnHRG said that the total number of refugees is likely much higher, as over 200,000 people have fled their homes since May 2021.

There are now around 225 IDP camps, with nearly 100,000 refugees in Demoso Township alone. Other Kayah residents have fled to southern Shan State, Karen State and Bago Region.
Ethnic Issues Myanmar Junta Holding Talks With Leaders of Three Powerful Ethnic Armed Groups

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing meets leaders of the UWSA, NDAA and SSPP in Naypyitaw on September 26, 2022.

Myanmars military regime has been holding talks since Wednesday with three powerful ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) based in the north and northeast of the country, according to junta media.

Leaders of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) are meeting the juntas National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee, led by Lieutenant-General Yar Pyae, in the capital Naypyitaw.

On the agenda are regional development and stability in areas controlled by the three EAOs, the election proposed by the junta, the holding of a peace conference between the regime and EAOs, and amending key provisions in the military-drafted 2008 Constitution, according to junta-controlled media.

The talks follow last weeks meeting between the UWSA, NDAA and Chinas special envoy to Myanmar, Deng Xijun, in Kunming, China.

On March 15-16, the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which is made up of seven EAOs including the UWSA, NDAA and SSPP, met in Panghsang, the capital of Wa State, an autonomous enclave in Shan State run by the UWSA. The other FPNCC members are the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Arakan Army (AA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

We welcome and support Chinas involvement to end the domestic conflicts in Myanmar, the FPNCC said in a statement following the March 15-16 meeting, adding that it would continue working together with Chinas government to improve the stability of border areas.

Deng has met FPNCC members three times since his appointment in December, as well as meeting junta chief Min Aung Hlaing twice. Chinas envoy has been urging all FPNCC members to hold talks with the regime. So far, the MNDAA, AA, TNLA and KIA have rejected taking part in the juntas peace talks.

Since his appointment, Deng has apparently succeeded in persuading EAOs not to fight the Myanmar military along the Myanmar-China frontier, which late last month enabled the regime to move around 3,000 troops based near the border in Shan State to reinforce its battalions fighting in central and southeastern Myanmar.
News Myanmars Civilian President Holds Talks With European Union Envoy

A candlelight vigil in Yangon in February 2021 for anti-coup protesters killed during the military regimes crackdowns.

The European Union (EU) is ready and willing to expand humanitarian assistance for Myanmar people in need and to support the countrys struggle for democracy, the EUs Special Envoy for Myanmar told the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).

Igor Driesmans, the EU Special Envoy for Myanmar, held virtual talks with NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La on Thursday. The pair discussed a wide range of issues related to Myanmar.

NUG Presidents Office spokesperson U Kyaw Zaw, who also joined the meeting, told The Irrawaddy that the two sides focused on the humanitarian and political crisis in Myanmar caused by the terrorist military regime, as well as the Spring Revolution and the need to build a genuine federal democratic union in Myanmar.

Over two years after the Myanmar military staged a coup, toppling the elected government and aborting the countrys fragile and long-hoped for political transformation to democracy, Myanmar has rapidly descended into chaos.

At least 3,120 people have died at the hands of the junta, while over 20,000 have been arrested by the regime, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Despite Myanmar being one of Southeast Asias most resource-rich countries, the economy has tanked, driving the country towards failed-state status.

The EU is standing together with the people of Myanmar and is looking to expand humanitarian assistance, as well as offering help and support for the democratic movement, said U Kyaw Zaw.

At the same time, we do have challenges in delivering assistance so we discussed coordination with the NUG, ethnic armed organizations and local CSOs on the ground to provide direct humanitarian assistance to people inside Myanmar and refugees, he added.

The EU also expressed serious concern about atrocities committed by the military, especially the recent brutal mass killings committed by junta forces in Sagaing Region.

The EU special envoy said that the bloc is finding ways to take more action against the regime, the generals and their associates, while at the same holding them accountable.

Overall, it was a very good meeting. We had a very friendly discussion and it was very productive as well, said U Kyaw Zaw. He added that both sides will engage further in the future.

Last month, the EU imposed its latest round of sanctions targeting members of the junta, its arms brokers and jet fuel suppliers.
War Against the Junta Myanmar Resistance Inflicts Heavy Losses on Notorious Military Unit

Members of the CDSOM and allied resistance groups were seen taking a rest after a fight on March 21. / Supplied

A notorious junta military unit referring to itself as the Ogre Column and responsible for a string of atrocities in Sagaing Region suffered at least 42 deaths in recent clashes with resistance forces, including a column commander, according to the local armed groups.

After the column, comprising around 150 troops, entered Myaung Township on March 12, a coalition of resistance forces in Myaung and nearby townships organized a joint operation to defend local civilians.

In a clash on March 15 between the military column and resistance groups, at least eight junta troops were killed, while two PDF fighters were injured. The next day, the resistance forces continued to closely monitor the column before using drones to drop bombs on it, killing at least nine more troops, according to the resistance groups.

Resistance forces said another six regime troops were killed in a land mine attack on the same day.

The heavy losses prompted the military unit to flee to a bank of the Irrawaddy River, where troops killed an internally displaced person who had taken refuge on the riverbank with his family. The column then raided more villages in Yesagyo Township in Magwe Region and torched civilian houses there, according to resistance groups in Myaung.

The coalition of resistance groups launched three additional intensive attacks against the military column on March 21, killing 19 more troops, said Ko Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Civilians Defense and Security Organization of Myaung (CDSOM).

He said that among those killed was a column commander. The resistance group had not yet confirmed his identity, but believed it was one of three officersColonel Thant Zin, Major Yaung Chi Oo or Captain Hein Htet Aungbased on classified information on junta military deployments obtained by the resistance groups.

We have taken up arms in the cause of the revolution, so fighting is simply our duty But the people are especially pleased that we were able to successfully hit such a notorious column, said Ko Nway Oo.

The military unit, which identifies itself to villagers simply as the Ogre Column, is composed of troops from the juntas Light Infantry Division 99. Since late last month, it has conducted a series of raids in Ayadaw, Myinmu and Sagaing townships in Sagaing Region. In the raids, it beheaded and mutilated detained resistance fighters and massacred civilian detainees including women who were raped before being killed.

On March 2, the bodies of 17 people who had been detained by the column the previous day in Tar Taing Village, Myinmu Township, were found. All had been brutally slain.

Thousands of people have had to flee this columns raids, so were really glad that the PDFs were able to fight them so effectively and cause them to suffer that much. We want this column to leave our township too, since we heard they have started entering it, said U Nyo Maung, 53, a resident of a village in southern Myaung Township who was forced to flee his home with his family.
War Against the Junta Over 70 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks

A PDF fighter of Tawgyi Mwaybawe poses with a rocket-propelled grenade. / Tawgyi Mwaybawe PDF

At least 74 Myanmar junta forces were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime targets across the country.

Currently, the Myanmar junta is deploying large numbers of troops in Sagaing Region and Chin and Kayah states.

Incidents were reported in Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Chin, Kayah and Mon states.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.

Some military casualties could not be independently verified.

Military detachment faces land-mine ambushes in Mandalay

Local PDF group Tawgyi Mwaybawe claimed to have killed 17 regime troops in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region on Saturday as it ambushed a military detachment twice.

First, the detachment was ambushed with land mines between Mway Taline and Mway Hintha villages on Friday night, killing eight soldiers.

On Saturday, nine more soldiers were killed when the PDF groups again used land mines to ambush the same detachment heading to Sakyin Village in the township.

Later, ambulances transported the killed and injured soldiers, the PDF group said.

Regime targets bombed by PDF drones in Mandalay



PDF drones drop bombs on regime targets in Myingyan District last week. / MDDS

Local PDF group Myingyan District Drone Strike Team said it and other resistance groups conducted drone strikes on a military vehicle factory outside the town of Myingyan in Mandalay Region on Saturday.

The factory building was damaged after being hit by four bombs.

Last Thursday, the group also used drones to drop 12 bombs on a police outpost in Kokkae Village, killing two police officers.

Military convoy carrying 1,000 troops faces repeated ambushes in Mandalay

Local PDF group Wild Elephant Guerrilla Force claimed it and another PDF group killed at least 20 regime troops as they repeatedly ambushed a military convoy of 49 vehicles carrying around 1,000 reinforcements in Thabaikkyin Township, Mandalay Region last Friday.

The PDF groups used land mines and firearms in three ambushes against the convoy.

The convoy was traveling from Mandalay to Sagaing Region.

Military convoy ambushed in upper Sagaing

At least 10 junta troops are believed to have been killed in Indaw Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday when Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and PDF forces ambushed a military convoy of 46 vehicles from the militarys Battalion 309 in Katha Township, said Indaw Revolution, the media wing of local PDF groups.

The combined group used land mines and firearms to attack the convoy traveling in Indaw township, in which two vehicles were destroyed.

Regime forces bombarded in Sagaing

Local PDF group Black Wolf Army said it used mortar shells to bomb regime forces stationed in Han Lin Village in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday night. Military casualties were unknown.

Junta troops responded with heavy explosives, but all PDF fighters retreated from the area without casualties.

Regime troops ambushed with land mines in Sagaing

At least three regime forces were thought to have been killed and some others injured in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday when Royal Tiger Guerrilla Forces and another urban PDF group used land mines to ambush a military detachment of 100 troops, the PDF groups said.

The detachment left from the town of Ye-U and was ambushed while entering the town of Khin-U.

Three military detachments ambushed in Kayah

At least 16 regime forces were killed and many others injured in Demoso Township, Kayah State last Friday when the Karenni Army (KA) and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) ambushed three military detachments attempting to raid resistance bases in Demoso, said the Karenni Military Information Center, the media unit of the KA.

At 6 a.m. on Friday, the combined resistance forces clashed with a military detachment at Daw Thae Village in the township. Fourteen soldiers were killed and others injured. Junta helicopter gunships bombed the village the next day.

Resistance forces also ambushed another military detachment on a hill in the eastern part of the township, killing two soldiers last Friday.

On the same morning, the KA and KNDF ambushed one more military detachment from Bawlakhe Township while it was traveling to raid villages in Demoso. There were some military casualties. Fighting continued in the area the next day.

Police outpost bombed by PDF drones in Mon



A PDF drone drops bombs on a police outpost in Paung Township on Saturday. / S.O.F

Some regime forces were killed or injured in Paung Township, Mon State on Saturday when PDF group Special Operation Force used drones to drop two bombs on a police outpost in Yin Nyein Village, the group said.

An ambulance transported the killed or injured junta forces from the police outpost.

Military detachments ambushed in Chin State

Local resistance group Civic Defense Militia-CDM-Siyin said it and two other PDF groups killed six soldiers and injured 21 others as they conducted 10 ambushes using land mines against a military detachment marching to Chin State on the Kale-Falam highway on Saturday.

Regime forces raided in Chin

Local resistance group PDF Zoland said it attacked regime forces stationed at the public hospital in Tedim Township, Chin State on Sunday night.

After facing an hourlong attack from PDFs, the regime forces fled after abandoning their base at the hospital. Military equipment, weapons and ammunition were seized by the PDF forces.

The number of military casualties was unknown.
Guest Column UNs Refusal to Talk to Myanmars NUG Will Lead to Convoy Attacks

A World Food Program convoy makes its way through Rakhine State on January 20 this year. / Supplied

The only reason that World Food Program convoys havent been attacked in Myanmar so far is the restraint being shown by the Peoples Defense Forces (PDF). The junta has been disguising its own convoys as UN convoys and the UN has not been coordinating with the National Union Government (NUG), so Local Defense Force (LDF) troops on the ground have to make difficult decisions.

As the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) reported on Friday:

The junta is deliberately using impounded civilian vehicles, otherwise driven by plain-clothed armed soldiers, as military transport to preemptively put the blame on Chin resistance when their convoys get attacked en route to Chin State.

On Thursday last week, a convoy of seven junta trucks was attacked by a Local Defense Force (LDF) with a drone. Two trucks were disabled but there were no injuries and the other five trucks returned. An assistance vehicle was sent and took the other two trucks back. One truck had a World Food Program (WFP) banner on it but the PDF group realized this was not a UN convoy. Luckily, they were correct.

However, it is going to be difficult for PDFs to always be sure whether a convoy is UN or not. One way of course is if the Myanmar United Nations Country Team (UNCT) communicates with the NUG and ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) about their travel movements. They are not doing this.

The WFP and UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have been warned of the danger of not informing NUG of convoys travelling through their areas many times. Both the WFP and UNHCR and in fact the UNCT have been asked to just communicate information about convoys to the National Unity Government and warned of the dangers of not doing so. But the UNCT has chosen to ignore this. This author also raised it with WFP, UNHCR, Resident Coordinator and in fact to the whole UNOCHA group email including UN and donors but with no result. This is disrespectful, arrogant and dangerous. International UN agencies know that if one drives through an area controlled by an armed group, they need to inform the armed group. It is basic procedure and common sense for the protection of their staff and aid, besides the political considerations.

In January, the NUG raised this concern with the UNCT, explaining that they just need to be informed and that it was in everyones interest. On January 31, this author wrote the following in an email to an UNOCHA group email addressed to WFP and UNHCR:

I have just had a disturbing report that WFP and UNHCR are sending relief convoys, with junta permission, through Sagaing to Kachin. As we know NUG has control of most of Sagaing but even after requests to WFP, UNHCR and RC they are not communicating with NUG. They are bypassing NUG control and ignoring it. The convoys have been checked and copies of the documents made but the convoys have been allowed to continue for humanitarian reasons. However, NUG troops on the ground are understandably angry. NUG would at least like some communication when the UN agencies plan to send convoys through Sagaing. This is obviously common sense for the UN agencies also concerning conflict sensitivity and do no harm.

On February 4, I wrote to Adrini Wahjanto, UNHCR Deputy Representative for Myanmar and acting Representative, to stress that not communicating with the NUG is putting their staff at risk, but just received a standard generic response and then no further reply. I reiterate that the NUG does not want a complex bureaucratic system of travel permission as the junta imposes, they just want to be informed when a convoy is going to travel through areas the resistance controls, which is in everyones interest.

The NUG has instructed Local Defense Forces not to attack aid convoys, but how do they know it is a UN aid convoy, and not transporting junta troops and/or supplies? An email to the NUG to inform them is not such a bureaucratic burden, especially considering the complex procedures for obtaining a travel permit from the junta.

Unfortunately, while the UNCTs attitude towards the legitimate NUG has been arrogant and dismissive they have complied to all of the illegal juntas demands as if they were the legitimate government of Myanmar rather than a criminal military force that is killing, torturing, raping and burning its own people. If the UNCT doesnt communicate with the NUG about convoys, sooner or later they will be attacked by mistake and it will be the UNCTs mistake.

Paul Greening is an ex-UN senior staff member with over 20 years of experience in six Asian countries working for six UN agencies and four INGOs. He worked in Sittwe, Arakan for IOM from 2017 to 2020 and since then has been involved in advocacy against the illegal attempted coup and supporting those who have suffered from it.
Myanmar-China Watch Beijing Uses University Scholarships to Tighten Ties With Myanmar Junta

China has awarded PaukPhaw scholarships to 111 university students of the Naypyitaw State Academy founded by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

China has awarded PaukPhaw scholarships to 111 university students of the Naypyitaw State Academy founded by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, the latest in Beijings steps to rekindle ties with Myanmar military generals after it distanced itself from the regime following the 2021 coup.

Students from 12 different fields of study received 500,000 kyats (around US$ 180) each for the 2022-23 academic year in a ceremony held at the academy on Friday.

According to junta media, PaukPhaw (fraternal) scholarships will be awarded to a total of 800 university students from East Yangon University, Yangon Education University, Yangon University of Foreign Languages, Dagon University, and Naypyitaw State Academy, with funding from Alibaba Philanthropy for the current academic year.

The PaukPhaw scholarship project was launched by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in Myanmar Office (CFPA) in 2015. Scholarships have been presented to a total of 1,348 students from 14 universities to date, according to junta media.

The four-month-old Naypyitaw State Academy founded by Min Aung Hlaing is the latest recipient of the China-backed scholarship.

Touted by the junta as a potential academic hub of Myanmar, the Naypyitaw State Academy opened in November last year in the administrative capital. Min Aung Hlaing aims to turn the academy into an international university and is cooperating with the juntas key arms supplier, Russia, to enhance its quality.

Relations between Beijing and the junta became strained following the visit of Chinas special envoy to Myanmar Sun Guoxiang to Naypyitaw in November 2021. However, since Sun was succeeded by Deng Xijun in December, relations have improved between the two neighbors.

China has resumed its investment projects in Myanmar and is also pouring in new investments.

Along with economic and education ties, cultural relations are also being strengthened. China recently opened a Wushu class in Myanmars commercial capital of Yangon to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Myanmar and China.
analysis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease. Half of the world's 30 highest TB burden countries are in Africa. In many of these countries, TB is the leading cause of death across age groups, but especially among children. Globally, TB is the leading cause of death by any single infectious agent (above COVID-19 and HIV).

The people most affected by TB are often the most socio-economically marginalised, with the fewest reserves to take them through the treatment journey. This is extremely challenging, with complex, often delayed diagnosis, many months of treatment, and often long-term effects after treatment. The Conversation Africa's Ina Skosana spoke to Graeme Hoddinott, a socio-behavioural science lead at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Stellenbosch University, and an African Academy of Sciences ARISE Fellow.

What's the TB burden among young people?

In Africa, of the three million people who develop TB disease every year, nearly 160,000 are children 0-4 years old, and another 160,000 are 5-14 years old. Every year, about 500,000 people in Africa die because of TB. Children make up 15% (75,000) of these deaths.

Less than half of the children aged 0-14 who have TB are diagnosed - so they never even start treatment.

What are some of the drivers?

TB is transmitted between people through the air. When a person with TB coughs or breathes out, some of the TB bugs are expelled to float in the air. If someone else then breathes the bugs in, they cause a new infection. There are several factors that increase the risk of TB transmission. These include actions that increase the number of bugs in the air, such as not wearing a mask and coughing more. And actions that increase exposure, such as spending long periods of time breathing the air in.

A person might breathe the TB bugs in (that is, become infected), but not become ill. This is known as latent TB. Sometimes, though, the TB bugs are able to multiply and escape the body's immune system. As the number of bugs increases, the person begins to experience symptoms such as coughing, drenching sweats and weight loss. This is then called TB disease.

A variety of factors increase the risk of progressing from TB infection to disease. These are factors that might impede the body's natural immune functioning, such as undernourishment or smoking.

Children (especially young children) have less developed immune systems. This makes their chance of progressing from infection to disease higher than it is for adults.

Prevention of infection can be done through reducing risks of transmission, for example by opening windows to allow the bugs to blow away. Also, if a person with TB is on treatment, then the number of bugs they expel is dramatically reduced. That's why it's important to get an early diagnosis and start treatment.

Where there is an exposure risk, we can also use medicines to reduce the chance of developing disease - this is called TB preventive therapy. The most recent World Health Organization guidelines suggest that preventive therapy be offered to everyone who has significant exposure risk to an adult or adolescent with TB. For example, think about young children who are sharing a bed with their mother. If she has TB, then the child should be offered preventive therapy, as should other people who share their home.

Unfortunately, in most settings in Africa, implementation of TB preventive therapy is either non-existent or extremely sub-optimal. Historically, the only available TB preventive regimen was a once-daily treatment for six months that is burdensome to administer; new regimens are becoming available. Unfortunately, the limited resources available to TB services have prioritised TB treatment and not prevention.

Where are the gaps?

There have been substantial improvements in some areas of TB therapeutics, with shorter, more palatable regimens and more easy-to-use formulations. However, these are not universally available and are still not optimal. Even "shorter" treatment is four months long. Health systems are poorly equipped to support continuity of care when patients (including children and adolescents) move between facilities.

Far too many children who initiate both TB preventive therapy and TB treatment are lost to follow-up. TB programmes across the world have yet to operationalise the high-minded ideals of "patient-centred care". The experiences of adolescents and young people (10-24 years old) accessing TB services are often especially problematic. For example, adolescents report being assumed to have HIV, being shouted at for being sexually active (even if they are not) and being told to access TB services at times when they are in school.

There is also limited integration between health services and other sectors (like basic education) to make care easier to get. There remain high rates of TB-associated stigma, and the costs of TB care (economic, social and psychological) can be catastrophic and long-lasting.

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How must TB programmes be tailored?

A fraction of the funding and collective effort that was mobilised for COVID-19 could realistically push towards TB elimination. Perversely, instead, resources redirected towards COVID-19 have set the global TB programme back by a decade's worth of progress.

TB programmes must be tailored by listening to the preferences and priorities of people affected by TB, by working to address the real-world limitations experienced by frontline health services, and by continuing to develop better, more acceptable therapeutics; especially medicines that are more acceptable for children and easier for caregivers to prepare and administer.

But really all of that can only make a big difference if we all wake up to this leading cause of death, especially among children, and care more.

Graeme Hoddinott, Socio-behavioural Scientist and Senior Researcher, Stellenbosch University
Friday, Mar 24th, 2023 (10:55 am) - Score 1,344

Network operator Netomnia  supported by UK ISP YouFibre  has just quietly added two new towns in Kent (England) to the 2023 rollout plan for their 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network, which has already been extended to cover 410,000 UK premises (up from 300k in November 2022).

The operator, which is currently present in parts of 35 towns and cities (with many more in-planning), ultimately aims to reach 1 million premises across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by the end of 2023. Indeed, they already revealed their full coverage plan for this year, but the good news is that theyve just added two new towns to the list.

NOTE: The company is fuelled by an equity investment from DigitalBridge, plus commitments from existing shareholders (Soho Square Capital LLP, Advencap Ltd etc.). Total funding of 418m. Theyve also secured 230m in committed debt financing from six bank ( The company is fuelled by an equity investment from, plus commitments from existing shareholders (Soho Square Capital LLP, Advencap Ltd etc.). Total funding of 418m. Theyve also secured 230m in committed debt financing from six bank ( here ).

The two new neighbouring towns are Deal (population of around 31,000) and Walmer (population of around 7,000), which are both just up the road from their existing deployment in Dover (homes are already live there). We should point out that Openreach has already delivered extensive FTTP coverage across both locations, although they appear to be the only gigabit-capable competition for Netomnia.

The service, once live, is typically supplied to consumers via YouFibre, which offers unlimited usage, symmetrical speeds, a Wi-Fi router, free installation and 24/7 UK based support. Customers pay from just 21 per month on a 24-month term for their unlimited 150Mbps package (25 thereafter), which rises to just 29.99 if you want their top 920Mbps plan (40 thereafter). The latter is also on an offer of 1 a month for the first 3 months.
Financial services provider Latitude Financial says the personal information of about 330,000 customers and applicants was stolen during a data breach which it made public on 16 March.

It warned that this number could increase as its review of the incident widened to include "non-customer originating platforms and historical customer information".

In an update about the investigation into the breach on Monday, the company said about 96% of the personal information that was filched was copies of drivers' licences or driver licence numbers.

Also stolen were Medicare card and passport details, though this was 1% and 4% respectively of the total data theft, Latitude said.

The breach is now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.

Major Australian retailers Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, David Jones and The Good Guys offer buy-now-pay-later services in association with Latitude.

"Because the attack remains active, we have taken our platforms offline and are unable to service our customers and merchant partners," Monday's statement said. "We cannot restore this capability immediately.

"However, we are working to do so gradually over the coming days and ask our customers for their continued patience. Our restoration of these services is aligned to our forensic review."

Latitude chief executive Ahmed Fahour said: "I sincerely apologise to our customers and partners for the distress and inconvenience this criminal act has caused. I understand fully the wider concern that this cyber-attack has created within the community.

Our focus is on protecting the ongoing security of our customers, partners and employees personal and identity information, while also doing everything we can to support customers and applicants who have had information stolen.

While we continue to deliver transactional services, some functionality has been affected resulting in disruption. We are working extremely hard to restore full services to our customers and merchant partners and thank them for their patience and support. We understand their frustration. Customers should refer to Latitudes website for regular updates.
New Zealand telecommunications and digital services provider Spark has tapped telecommunications service provider Ciena to implement its second-generation Optical Transport Network (OTN 2.0), a fibre-based network that provides the backbone and core connectivity between all the main cities in New Zealand.

Sparks new adaptive network can adjust to unexpected network interruptions such as those caused by natural disasters as well as adjust to meet rising subscriber demands for HD video and other bandwidth-hungry services.

With OTN 2.0 close to completion, the network now carries up to seven times more data capacity than Sparks first generation OTN, claimed Ciena.

It also connects Sparks network with other service providers and international cable networks.

Real-time analytics and advanced automation have been key in helping us build a world-class network that can better serve our customers ever-changing needs. These tools help us with essentially an X-ray of our network, enabling us to visualise exactly what is happening, eliminate the risk of guesswork, localise and address trouble spots and enable the network to self-heal in the process, said Spark New Zealand technology evolution lead Renee Mateparae.

For instance, in the event of a disaster, Liquid Restoration delivers resiliency by automatically moving affected services across any available restoration path in the network with the option to adjust optical capacity.

PinPoint OTDR localises and address potential trouble spots  even over traffic carrying links, which means Spark can initiate in-service OTDR traces from their Networks Operations Centre for proactive maintenance and remotely validate that installation, maintenance, and repairs have been properly executed.

Additionally, Spark has used this information to notify cable owners to minimise outage duration and reduce repair times.

A recent example of how Spark used these capabilities occurred during cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand.

The impacts of the cyclone included widespread landslips and floodings, affecting key infrastructure and damaging fibre cables at multiple, hard-to-reach places.

Within minutes, Liquid Restoration restored traffic using available restoration paths, whilst PinPoint OTDR confirmed the approximate locations of fibre damage quickly and accurately.

Spark gains unprecedented visibility with Channel Margin Gauge (CMG) and Photonic Performance Gauge (PPG)

CMG gives a real-time snapshot of every active channels performance across its network, significantly enhancing its day-to-day operations. With this tool, Spark can maximise overall network capacity and thus optimise network utilisation by closely matching optical capacity to available channel margin.

Currently, Spark can operate its network at a higher than originally planned capacity due to the real time analytics providing its network planners with the confidence sufficient channel margin is available.

Sparks network engineers who deploy PPG allows them to detect underperformance or degradation in spans that are contributing the most noise to their network.

In addition to using this information for continuous network optimisation, accurate knowledge of network performance is vital for optical restoration, as it allows Spark to validate upfront that any defined restoration paths will work.

Advanced analytics apps are changing the way we plan, deploy, operate, and optimise our network. In essence, these tools enable a smarter optical network. They take the risk away by enabling us to accurately keep a close eye on our current network performance and make any adjustments to optimise our network upon deployment, said Mateparae.

Sparks OTN 2.0 runs on Cienas 6500 flexible grid colourless, directionless and contentionless (CDC) photonic line system with advanced L0 control plane capabilities, powered by WaveLogic 5 Extreme, WaveLogic 5 Nano coherent optics, and leverages Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) domain control and advanced analytics applications that include Liquid Spectrum.
COMPANY NEWS: Acer recently introduced its new business model. We interviewed MD, Gaba Cheng about himself, Acer and the new changes...

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Gaba Cheng, I am the Managing Director of Acer Australia and New Zealand. I have had a long tenure at Acer, first joining the company in 2007 as National Product Manager. I previously lead the Consumer Client Products Group in 2012, then shifted to a General Manager role in 2015. Over the past 15 years, I have held various senior roles within the Acer Oceanic team with increasing scale and complexity.

In 2022, in line with stepping into my current role as Managing Director, I have been working with the Acer Australia and New Zealand team to review our business model, looking at areas to improve efficiencies and streamline operations, inspire and grow talent within the business and strengthen relationships with partners and customers, all whilst building on the existing Acer Australia and New Zealand platform.

What products and services has Acer been delivering to ANZ?

As Acer looks to the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies, the Internet of Things and gaming to sustainability initiatives and innovations, Acer is dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology.

Our products include laptops and computers in addition to a wide range of commercial and consumer solutions. Acer has a strong pipeline of innovative products coming to Australia and New Zealand in 2023. This includes new display monitors in the Vero line-up which utilise recycled plastic and packaging and a new range of connected devices including 5G and WiFi router products. We are also introducing Acerpure, a new brand to the local market offering a variety of high quality, high efficiency air treatment products. At Acer, It is not merely about making things different, but about setting new benchmarks and breaking new ground.

With a new business model in place, Acer Australia and New Zealand is in a strong position for growth. We are committed to ensuring that the quality of services and solutions the company provides its partners and customers is not only maintained but also enhanced over the long-term.

Which sectors does Acer operate in?

Under the new model featuring three distinct business units, Commercial, Retail and Distribution, Acer Australia and New Zealand will continue to strengthen its presence in Education, Government and Corporate sectors each with a dedicated sales and support team focused on client engagement and growth. Re-energising the SMB/SME Channel market is also a focus of the Distribution segment with strategies already in advanced stages and to be announced in due course.

Whats changing with regards to Acers business units?

The objective of the new business model is to make Acer ANZ more dynamic, innovative and responsive in the current market. The new business model marks the start of an exciting journey for Acer Australia and New Zealand with a strong and strategic local team in place.

The three distinct business units, Commercial, Retail and Distribution with a dedicated sales and support team focused on client engagement and growth, have been implemented in order to support Acers growth aspirations in 2023 and beyond.

Are there any personnel changes to go with this?

As part of the new business model there has been a number of new appointments within Acer, both external hires and internal promotions, bringing a wealth of new talent and industry experience to the business. Cameron Anderson, who has been with Acer for over 15 years, has taken on the position as General Manager  Acer Australia Commercial Business and Acer New Zealand. Anna Viengkham, formerly New South Wales Retail Manager, has been appointed to National Retail Business Manager, heading up Acers new Retail Business Unit. Additionally, Acer ANZ is thrilled to welcome Ali Lokhanwala, who will head up the Channel and Distribution Business Unit in his role as Channel Sales Manager. Acer has made some innovative products with recycled materials. How have they been received by consumers and industry, and will we see more?

For the third consecutive year, Acer was listed in the top 5% of companies in S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2023 for our sustainable business practices. This acknowledgement reflects Acers commitment to the environment, innovation, and integrated solutions.

Acer took major steps towards environmental responsibility and re-imagining the manufacturing process with the launch of the Aspire Vero  Acer's green-pioneer laptop (Green PC). Encapsulating sustainable design resolutions, the Aspire Vero represents the first of many sustainable product innovations and initiatives by Acer.

Continuing the momentum and recognition for achievements in environmental, social and governance (ESG), the Vero line of green products built with recycled materials locally will be expanding to offer customers even more options to reduce their carbon footprint.
GUEST OPINION: Character.AIs founders left Google when it was slow to release their AI chat innovations, but theyre making their mark with the second most popular AI chatbot to date  and the champion in terms of user engagement.

According to todays Reuters story, AI chatbot Character.AI, with no revenue, raises US$150 million led by Andreessen Horowitz.

Character.AI says users spend an average of two hours per day on the site. Thats consistent with Similarweb estimates that time per visit has ranged from 25.4 to 29.7 minutes in recent months, which could easily add up to two hours across a few visits.

That time per visit is about three to four times higher than the average for the top 100 websites  higher even than YouTube, which is famous for claiming lots of user time.

Key takeaways

1. In February 2023, time per visit was 25.4 minutes for Character.AI, versus 8.4 for ChatGPT (chat.openai.com). We cant say whether Bings version of the OpenAI chatbot is keeping visitors engaged for longer, but none of the other dedicated AI chat sites came close to Character.AIs score. The second highest of those we looked at, neeva.com, was at 8.5 minutes in February.

2. For comparison, time per visit for YouTube has ranged from 19 to 19.7 minutes per visit over the last three months on record. Time per visit for Facebook and Twitter is close to 10 minutes, and only a handful of small, specialised social media sites capture more time per site than ChatGPT.

Is more time on site good? Its gold.

You might say ChatGPT users get the answers they want in less time, which could make it more valuable for the dedicated searcher. Character.AI has a more playful personality, with chatbots that answer in the voice of celebrities, historical figures, and fictional characters, making it less efficient but more engaging for those who enjoy its style.

In terms of commercial potential, for purposes like advertising, engagement is gold.

We started the company because we want to get this technology in the hands of everybody on Earth, a billion people can invent a billion use cases, Character.AI CEO Noam Shazeer told Reuters.

While not currently generating any revenue, Character.AI says it plans to launch a paid subscription in the not distant future, while keeping the current free version available, and may also consider running ads.

Time spent with AI chatbots

Average minutes per visit, desktop and mobile web, worldwide

Tremendous growth  on any normal scale

Character.AI drew more than 86 million desktop and mobile web visits in February, up from less than 500,000 in September.

Its only in comparison with ChatGPTs hypergrowth that Character.AIs momentum looks diminished. ChatGPT, which just launched at the end of November 2022, topped 1 billion visits in February.

Compared to other top websites

For context on how strong Character.AIs time per visit is  25.4 minutes in February and as high as 29.7 minutes in recent months  we looked up this statistic for the top 100 websites (ranked by traffic) for the US. Heres what that looks like sorted by minutes per visit.

By this measure, Character.AI ranks higher than YouTube, WhatsApp, and Roku, as well as social media sites built around the goal of creating high engagement.

Here are a few points of comparison.

Popular social media sites, time per visit


GUEST OPINION: Cyber risk is not a new business threat. It has been a significant and growing challenge for businesses for years, and has been brought into the spotlight following 2022s slew of high-profile data breaches. Consequently, many boards are stipulating that leadership teams not only have plans for responding to cyber security attacks, but ensuring the proper precautions are in place to prevent it from happening in the first place.

One of the biggest cyber risks to businesses is the impact of exposing personally identifiable information (PII) and how that can lead to identity theft. Despite consumers becoming increasingly comfortable with sharing their information online, they are also acutely aware of the damage that a single identity theft incident can cause.

Identity theft and identity fraud have been highlighted by the ATO as needing imminent attention among both the public and private sectors, as these threats are only going to rise with the ongoing growth of digital-first consumer and business behaviours. According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, identity theft or identity fraud involves someone using another individuals personal information without consent, often to obtain a benefit. This could involve fraudulently using someone elses identity to open a bank account, apply for a loan, or make a payment.

For businesses, as well as financial and operational losses, a significant and long-lasting impact of identity theft instances is reputational damage and lost trust. Consumers today are less forgiving of businesses when it comes to privacy and data security, and a single incident can be more than enough to push them to stop using that organisations services, spread negativity about that brand on their social accounts, and refrain from engaging with the brand in the future.

These social and behavioural shifts, alongside the growing threats of cyber attacks, have made preventative approaches critical for businesses. Organisations need to ensure the right safeguards are in place throughout a customers journey, from the onboarding process through to every ongoing interaction and transaction with the companys staff, products, and systems.

Preventing identity theft with biometric verification

One of the most effective ways businesses can mitigate the risks of identity theft is by investing in secure onboarding processes. Document verification can be an important step in the process to confirming someone is who they say they are. But with the increasingly digitised ways consumers are accessing services and products, verification at the onboarding stage needs to go beyond this to ensure bad actors are not merely submitting someone elses credentials or using stolen personal information.

Biometric technology can be highly effective in adding this extra layer of security and verification. Consumers are now highly familiar with using biometric technology to use or sign up for a service, whether it involves pressing their thumbprint to their mobile phone screens or taking a quick selfie. These ways of verifying someones identity can be quick and easy for consumers, while not coming across as invasive or disruptive to their overall customer experience.

With customer-centric biometrics solutions, features such as passive liveness checks can also rid customers of the burden of having to do lengthy, embarrassing, or confusing movements to prove their identity. Instead, a simple selfie can link to cutting-edge technology that can match someones identity, prove that same person genuinely is who is in front of the camera or phone at the time, and can verify the person applying for the digital product or service is who they say they are.

Know your customer, know your risk

Once the right technology is in place to help businesses know with certainty a customer is who they say they are, mitigating the risk of each customer becomes significantly easier. High-risk individuals or businesses can automatically be screened out from progressing, while customers who may require further checks or verification can be seamlessly identified to remove any doubt for risk and compliance teams.

As cyber threats, fraud, and identity theft continue to rise in 2023, understanding who your customers are and how they are interacting with your business is one of the most effective security measures an organisation can take. Biometric technology is now highly accessible and familiar to consumers, and is part of the new standard in customer onboarding and fraud prevention that all businesses should be exploring, particularly those managing high volumes of personal data.

Carol Chris is General Manager for Australia and New Zealand, GBG
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.
At Bolivias Lake Poopo, the once abundant water now lies in a dry bed. Despite many droughts in the past, this dry
The US navy carried out a number of air strikes in Syria on Thursday night time towards teams allied with Iran.

These identical organizations are accused of being behind a drone strike that killed an American contractor, injured one other, in addition to 5 American troopers.

The Pentagon mentioned that an American contractor was killed and 5 American service members and one other American contractor had been wounded when a drone struck a facility at a coalition base in northeastern Syria on Thursday. In a press release issued late Thursday, the Protection Division mentioned the intelligence neighborhood had decided that the drone was of Iranian origin.

Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned US Central Command forces responded with precision air strikes towards amenities in jap Syria utilized by teams affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The airstrikes had been performed in response to immediatelys assault in addition to a collection of latest assaults towards coalition forces in Syria by teams affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Austin mentioned.

In a single day, movies on social media claimed to indicate explosions in Syrias Deir Ezzor province, a strategic province that borders Iraq and comprises oil fields. Iran-backed armed factions and Syrian forces management the world, which has additionally witnessed suspected Israeli air strikes in latest months concentrating on Iranian provide routes.

The Syrian state-run information company SANA didnt instantly acknowledge any strikes. Syrias mission to the United Nations didnt instantly reply to a request for remark. The state-run Qatar Information Company reported a cellphone name between its international minister and Jake Sullivan, the US nationwide safety adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the USA just lately amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear programme.

There was no fast response from Iran to the strikes, which come through the holy month of Ramadan.

Austin mentioned he licensed the retaliatory strikes on the course of President Joe Biden. As President Biden has made clear, we are going to take all essential measures to defend our individuals and we are going to at all times reply at a time and place of our selecting, Austin mentioned. No group will strike our forces with impunity.

The Pentagon mentioned two of the wounded had been handled on the web site, whereas three others and the injured contractor had been transferred to medical amenities in Iraq.

(AP)
Mali questions the credibility of the UNHR report

Malian authorities have questioned the credibility of a UN report that claimed a big enhance within the loss of life toll in 2022 and blamed greater than a 3rd of human rights abuses on the army.

Bamako mentioned the report, revealed Wednesday by the UNs MINUSMA mission in Mali, used paperwork revealed by governmental and non-governmental organizations and distant interviews had been carried out to confirm among the particulars.

This strategy raises questions concerning the reliability of all the knowledge collected, she mentioned.

MINUSMA mentioned 1,277 individuals had been killed in Mali in 2022, greater than double the earlier yrs whole of 584.

He additionally attributed 35 % of human rights violations to the safety forces, who had been generally accompanied by international army personnel.

These figures dont embody violations dedicated in Mora, the place in late March 2022 what Human Rights Watch described as a bloodbath of 300 civilians by Malian troopers linked to international fighters passed off.

The Malian military denies this and claims to have eradicated greater than 200 jihadists.

No UN report has but been issued on these alleged violations.

In 2022, the Mali Navy Council started working with what you name Russian trainers. Opponents say that these are mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

In February, the pinnacle of the human rights division of the UN mission was expelled from Mali.

AFP
Mohamed ElBaradei: The Iraq conflict was for regime change, not weapons of mass destruction

Mohamed ElBaradei served as director common of the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) from 1997 till 2009, and in an interview with, he spoke this week concerning the US-led invasion of Iraq 20 years in the past, which he opposed.

When you look now in hindsight, it wasnt actually about weapons of mass destruction. It was about regime change, he mentioned.

ElBaradei added, They (america) thought the very best excuse was to say that Saddam Hussein was linked to al-Qaeda and had weapons of mass destruction.

They really had no proof. It was all about religion. They began a lot of deception and data deceptive.

Once we went to Iraq, we could not see something. There was completely no whiff of a revival of nuclear weapons. We went right into a conflict that ought to not have been (waged).

Now we notice it is a conflict that has a horrible human toll, ElBaradei informed France 24. On the stage of Iraqis, horrific repercussions for the area, by way of terrorism and extremism.

He added, Saddam Hussein was a dictator, there is no doubt about that. However do you go to a rustic, utterly destroy a rustic, simply to do away with a dictator? That is a query we see in lots of nations and wed like that.

Perceive that is not the way in which to vary the regime, if An occasion, it has to return from inside. Youll be able tot impose a political system; youll be able tot impose democracy.

ElBaradei additionally expressed remorse that nobody was held accountable for the conflict. There was no accountability in any respect.

Extra importantly, did we do something to verify we would not repeat such a catastrophe, such a catastrophe? I do not assume we did.
French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the violence that erupted in Thursdays demonstrations towards elevating the retirement age in France, and mentioned he wouldnt give in to them.

We wont concede something to violence. I condemn violence with the utmost drive, Macron advised a information convention following the EU summit in Brussels on Friday.

Macron is beneath stress to discover a manner out of a disaster that has seen a few of Frances worst avenue violence in years over a pension invoice that parliament handed with out a vote.

The strikes have precipitated widespread unrest in France, however Macron has vowed that the federal government will proceed the democratic course of to legitimize the reform, which is now being scrutinized by Frances highest constitutional authority.

Macron mentioned, The reform of the pension system is earlier than the Constitutional Council, and its clear that well look forward to the choice of the Constitutional Council. We maintain transferring ahead, France cant stand in a useless finish.

The top of state additionally mentioned he is able to converse with union leaders as soon as the Constitutional Council takes its resolution on the pension reform invoice.

I indicated our willingness to maneuver ahead on points corresponding to occupational decline, job termination, retraining, profession growth, working circumstances and wages in some sectors, he mentioned.

Im on the disposal of the joint guilds in the event that they want to come and meet me to make progress on all these topics.

With protests anticipated to proceed subsequent week, a state go to by Britains King Charles III to France has been postponed at Macrons request.

>> Postponement of Charles IIIs state go to to France attributable to unrest over pension reform

I believe wed not be critical and lack frequent sense to counsel to Their Majesties the King and Queen Consort that they pay a state go to within the midst of the demonstrations, Macron mentioned on Friday.

The French president mentioned the go to can be rearranged in early summer season.

AFP
Rwanda stated on Friday it had commuted the 25-year jail sentence towards ailing Resort Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina, a staunch critic of President Paul Kagame who has been behind bars for greater than 900 days.

The announcement comes lower than two weeks after Kagame stated Kigali was contemplating resolving the Rusesabagina difficulty, which has been of concern to the West and world human rights teams.

Paul Rusesabagina and (defendants) Calixte Nsabimana have had their sentences commuted by presidential order after consideration of their requests for clemency, authorities spokeswoman Yolande Makulu informed AFP, with out disclosing after they could be launched.

McCullough added, Nobody must be delusional about what which means, as theres a consensus that severe crimes have been dedicated, they usually have been convicted for it.

It stated sentences for 18 different individuals convicted of terrorism offenses moreover Rusepagina in September 2021 had additionally been commuted, highlighting the function of the US and Qatar within the case.

The Qatari authorities introduced on Friday that Rasabagina will journey to Doha after which to the US after his anticipated launch.

Rusebagina, now 68, was jailed after a trial that his supporters denounced as a sham plagued with irregularities. He has now been held for 939 days, in keeping with Free Rusesabagina.

His household had lengthy warned of Rusesabaginas failing well being and feared he would possibly die in jail.

A court docket in Might 2022 upheld the sentences towards Rusebagina and many of the 20 different defendants who have been jailed for between 3 and 20 years for supporting an armed group.

Rusesabagina was a resort supervisor in Kigali and is credited with serving to to avoid wasting 1,200 individuals throughout the 1994 genocide during which some 800,000 individuals have been killed, largely Tutsis, however reasonable Hutus as effectively.

Rusesabagina, whose story impressed the Oscar-nominated 2004 movie Resort Rwanda starring US actor Don Cheadle, has grow to be a vocal critic of Kagame, founding his personal celebration.

He has come throughout as a powerful critic of the federal government whose vengeful utterances towards Kagame lead him to be handled as an enemy of the state.

Rights teams accuse Rwanda  which Kagame has dominated with an iron fist for the reason that finish of the genocide  of suppressing freedom of expression and dissent.

Talking by way of video hyperlink on the International Safety Discussion board within the Qatari capital Doha on March 13, Kagame indicated a doable softening of Rwandas strategy on the Rusesabagina difficulty.

There may be dialogue, there may be analysis into all doable methods to resolve the problem with out compromising the elemental facets of this difficulty. I feel there will probably be a means ahead, he stated on the time.

On Friday, McCullough stated that Rwanda notes the constructive function of the US authorities in creating circumstances for dialogue on this difficulty, in addition to the services offered by the State of Qatar.

Final yr, the US stated Rusepagina  who has Belgian citizenship and a US inexperienced card  was unjustly detained after a aircraft carrying him to Burundi was diverted to Rwanda in August 2020.

Additionally in 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion concluding that Rusepagina had been kidnapped and that his detention was arbitrary.

Rusebaginas household stated he was tricked into leaving his residence in the US with the promise of labor in Burundi and that he was tortured whereas in detention.

He was accused of supporting the Nationwide Liberation Entrance, a insurgent group blamed for assaults inside Rwanda in 2018 and 2019 that killed 9 individuals.

Rusepagina denied any involvement within the assaults, however was the founding father of the Rwandan Motion for Democratic Change, an opposition group of which the Nationwide Liberation Entrance is seen because the armed wing.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and rights teams have raised the problem with Rwanda, although Kagame stated final yr the US couldnt bully him into ordering his launch.

Final yr, Rusesabaginas household filed a $400 million lawsuit in the US towards Kagame, the Rwandan authorities and different figures for allegedly kidnapping and torturing him.

In 2005, Rusesabagina was awarded Americas highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

AFP
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  President Joe Biden ordered air strikes on Thursday (Friday in Syria) against militiamen in the Harabish neighborhood just outside the city of Deir az-Zor, who are suspected of having launched an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone against an American base in northeast Syria.

The metro area of Deir az-Zor has a population of about 338,000. The governorate of which it is the capital is largely Sunni Arab, though there is a small convert Shiite population and about 1,000 Christians. The Atlantic Council reports that Lebanese Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces, and Pakistani and Iranian volunteer Shiite forces have operated in the area.

The drone had killed one contractor, an American, as well as injuring 5 US service personnel and another contractor. The UAV appeared to have been of Iranian design, though it was allegedly fired by an Iran proxy rather than by Revolutionary Guards directly. Hezbollah and some radical Iraqi militias, along with Alawi Shabiha militias, are in Syria to help the government of President Bashar al-Assad fight the Sunni Arab rebels, though the latter have by now largely been defeated.

Article continues after bonus IC video

ABC Philadelphia: US military carries out airstrikes in Syria after drone attack kills American contractor

The US has 900 troops in Syria, which is too small a force even to defend itself. They are involved in mopping up operations against the ISIL terrorist cult, and they coordinate with the mainly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to ensure that Deir ez-Zors petroleum production goes to the Kurdish-majority provinces rather than to the Syrian government in Damascus.

The small US contingent is said to try to interfere with Iranian trucking from Iraq into Syria, which resupplies Shiite militias in Syria or Lebanons Hezbollah. It is unlikely that they actually stop much in the way of such traffic, since Shiite militias control the Iraqi border checkpoint into Syrias Deir ez-Zor governorate.

Biden should, of course, withdraw these US troops from Syria, given that they are vulnerable to such drone attacks. The Obama administrations rationale for putting US troops into Syria, over the objections of Damascus, had been self-defense against ISIL. Since ISIL is no longer in a position to carry out attacks in the US  and never really was, if it had just been deplatformed by Facebook and Twitter  that justification seems to me to no longer be valid, if it ever was. Most of the activities of these US troops and contractors in Syria are probably illegal in international law, and they are in constant danger of dragging the US into a wider conflict.
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( Middle East Monitor )  US President Joe Biden placed much emphasis on rhetorically opposing Israels settlement expansion. Hence the reaction from Washington over the Israeli Knesset passing the second and third readings of the Disengagement Law that would allow resettlement of Jewish Israelis in four previously vacated illegal settlement areas in the occupied West Bank. Israels Ambassador to the US Mike Herzog was summoned by the US State Department over the rescinding of the 2005 bill, while the State Departments Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel referenced the agreement between then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W. Bush on Palestinian territorial contiguity.

The Abraham Accords have changed much of politics since then. Settlement expansion continued and despite the two-state compromise being still touted as the only solution, the international community is not working towards its implementation. The normalisation agreements have now eclipsed the two-state politics, validating the Trump administrations claims that annexation was just temporarily suspended, as did Netanyahus return as prime minister.

Repealing the Disengagement Law may have temporarily irked the US, but within Israel, the sentiment is different. Far-right MK Orit Strok has already declared the law as a step towards settlers reoccupying Gaza, after Sharon evacuated the settlements in 2005. I dont know how long it will take, Strok stated. Sadly, a return to the Gaza Strip will involve many casualties, just as the departure from the Gaza Strip came with many casualties. But ultimately it is part of the Land of Israel, and a day will come when we will return to it.

Primarily, colonial settlement does not constitute a return, but a continuation of land theft. The language of return is stolen from the Palestinians historical narrative  the 1948 Nakba is the reason why Palestinians speak of their right to return to their homeland. Gaza is one of the main locations where Palestinians fled to during the Nakba  the population is not merely symbolic of refugees but consists of refugees who have not just lived their initial displacement, but whose generations have also suffered internal forced displacement as a result of Israels periodic bombing of the enclave.

Stroks words were not uttered in isolation. While Gaza has been vilified and marginalised by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, not to mention being the primary weapons testing ground for Israels military-industrial complex, the concept of Greater Israel, upon which Zionism rests, will not exclude any Palestinian territory from colonisation. Israels earlier disengagement from Gaza has been touted by officials as a cessation of military occupation, yet Gaza remains under siege as a result of the colonial process Israel is constructed upon.

The current Israeli government is going beyond its usual levels of inciting violence against Palestinians, and one of the reasons Israel can get away with it is that the international community has normalised the forced displacement of Palestinians. Strok speaks of casualties, yet Israel would be committing further violations of international law with full knowledge of impunity. The international communitys categorising of Gaza and the occupied West Bank as distinct entities despite calling for an independent and viable Palestinian state facilitates Israels narrative. One must not forget, however, that the new Palestinian resistance is changing the international communitys status quo. As a result, despite the current focus on the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian narrative will, with time, shift heavily towards the Palestinian refugees, which Gaza particularly embodies.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.
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By Brian Urlacher, University of North Dakota | 

(The Conversation)  President George W. Bush and his administration put forward a variety of reasons to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In the months before the U.S. invasion, Bush said the looming conflict was about eradicating terrorism and seizing weapons of mass destruction  but also because of a freedom deficit in the Middle East, a reference to the perceived lag in participatory government in the region.

Many of these arguments would emerge as poorly grounded, given later events.

In 2004, then Secretary of State Colin Powell reflected on the weak rationale behind the main arguments for the invasion: that there were weapons of mass destruction. He acknowledged that it turned out that the sourcing was inaccurate and wrong and in some cases deliberately misleading.

In fact Iraq did not have a stockpile of weapons of mass destruction, as Powell and others had alleged at the time.

But the Bush administrations rhetoric of building a more free, open and democratic Middle East persisted after the weapons of mass destruction claim had proven false, and has been harder to evaluate  at least in the short term. Bush assured the American public in 2003 that, A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region.

He focused on this theme during the ground invasion, in which a coalition force of nearly 100,000 American and other allied troops rapidly toppled Saddam Husseins regime.

The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution, Bush said in November 2003. He also said that the U.S. would be pursuing a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East.

Twenty years on, it is worth considering how this forward strategy has played out both in Iraq and across the Middle East. In 2003, there was indeed, as Bush noted, a freedom deficit in the Middle East, where repressive authoritarian regimes dominated the region. Yet, in spite of tremendous upheaval in the Middle East over the past two decades, many authoritarian regimes remain deeply entrenched.

Measuring the Freedom Gap

Political science scholars like myself try to measure the democratic or authoritarian character of governments in a variety of ways.

The non-profit group Freedom House evaluates countries in terms of democratic institutions and whether they have free and fair elections, as well as peoples civil rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and a free press. Freedom House rates each country and its level of democracy on a scale from 2 to 14, from mostly free to least free.

One way to think about the level of democracy in the region is to focus on the 23 countries and governments that form the Arab League, a regional organization that spans North Africa, the Red Sea coast and the Middle East. In 2003, the average Freedom House score for an Arab League member was 11.45  far more authoritarian than the global average of 6.75 at the time.

Put another way, the Freedom House report in 2003 classified a little over 46% of all countries as free, but no country in the Arab League met that threshold.

While some Arab countries, like Saudi Arabia, were ruled by monarchies around this time, others, like Libya, were ruled by dictators.

The nearly 30-year-long regime of Hussein in Iraq fit this second pattern. Hussein was part of a 1968 coup led by the Baath political party, a group that wanted all Arab countries to form one unified nation  but also became known for human rights violations. The Baath Party relied upon Iraqs oil wealth and repressive tactics against civilians to maintain power.

The fall of Husseins regime in April 2003 produced a nominally more democratic Iraq. But after fighting a series of sectarian insurgencies in Iraq over an eight-year period, the U.S. ultimately left behind a weak and deeply divided government.

Post-invasion Iraq

The U.S. 2003 invasion succeeded in ousting a brutal regime  but establishing a healthy and thriving new democracy proved more challenging.

Rivalry between Iraqs three main groups  the Sunni and Shiite Muslims as well as the Kurds, the largest ethnic minority in the country  paralyzed early attempts at political reorganization.

While Iraq today has a constitution, a parliament and holds regular elections, the country struggles both with popular legitimacy and with practical aspects of governance, such as providing basic education for children.

Indeed, in 2023, Freedom House continues to score Iraq as Not Free in its measure of democracy.

Since the U.S. military withdrawal in 2011, Iraq has lurched from one political crisis to another. From 2014 to 2017, large portions of western Iraq were controlled by the extremist militant Islamic State group.

In 2018 and 2019, rampant government corruption led to a string of anti-government protests, which sparked a violent crackdown by the government.

The protests prompted early parliamentary elections in November 2021, but the government has not yet been able to create a coalition government representing all competing political groups.

While Iraqs most recent crisis avoided descending into civil war, the militarized nature of Iraqi political parties poses an ongoing risk of electoral violence.

The post-invasion Middle East

While Iraq continues to face deep political challenges, it is worth considering the U.S. efforts at regional democracy promotion more fully.

In 2014, widespread protest movements associated with the Arab Spring toppled dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya. In other countries, such as Morocco and Jordan, monarchs were able to offer concessions to people and remain in control by delaying public spending cuts, for example, and replacing government ministers.

Yet sustaining stable democracies has proved challenging even where the Arab Spring seemed to succeed in changing political regimes. In Egypt, the military has reasserted itself and the country has slid steadily back to authoritarianism. In Yemen, the political vaccum created by the protests marked the start of a devastating civil war.

The average Freedom House democracy score for members of the Arab League is today 11.45  the same as it was on the eve of the Iraq invasion.

It is hard to know if U.S. efforts at democracy promotion accelerated or delayed political change in the Middle East. It is hard to know if a different approach might have yielded better results. Yet, the data  at least as social scientists measure such things  strongly suggests that the vision of an Iraq as an inspiration for a democratic transformation of the Middle East has not come to pass.

Brian Urlacher, Department Chair and Professor, Political Science & Public Administration, University of North Dakota

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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( RFE/RL)  Im RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Heres what Ive been following during the past week and what Im watching for in the days ahead.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations, seven years after the regional foes cut formal ties.

In a statement issued on March 10, Tehran and Riyadh pledged to reopen their embassies within two months and reactivate a security cooperation pact. The sides also confirmed their respect for the sovereignty of states and noninterference in their internal affairs.

The deal was brokered by China, a major buyer of Iranian and Saudi oil. Beijing is also one of the few allies of Irans clerical regime, which has come under mounting pressure from the West.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in 2016, when protesters attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran after Riyadh executed a revered Saudi Shiite cleric.

Since then, tensions between Shia-majority Iran and Saudi Arabia, a predominately Sunni Muslim kingdom, have soared. The two rivals have fought proxy wars across the Middle East, including in Yemen and Syria. Pro-Iranian armed groups have been blamed for drone and missile attacks on Saudi soil.

Why It Matters: If the agreement holds, it could help deescalate tensions in the Middle East, where the two longtime foes have competed for influence for decades.

For Iran, repairing relations with a regional foe would alleviate the growing pressure it has faced at home and abroad recently. The clerical regime has been rocked by months of anti-regime protests, the biggest challenge the authorities have faced in decades. Tehran has also been under mounting Western pressure over its supply of combat drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

The Islamic republic is under significant pressure, both domestically and regionally, Thomas Juneau, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, told RFE/RL. By stabilizing its relations with its Saudi rival, even if only partially, it provides it with some breathing space.

Whats Next: Its unclear if the Iran-Saudi deal will lead to a lasting rapprochement between the countries.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan struck a cautious note, saying on March 13 that agreeing to restore diplomatic ties does not mean we have reached a solution to all disputes between us.

Juneau of the University of Ottawa expressed doubts that there would be a significant improvement in Iran-Saudi ties, although he added that tensions might be better managed. The pattern in Saudi-Iranian relations in recent decades has been fairly consistent: Tension ebbs and flows, but never goes below a high floor, he said.

Via RFE/RL
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( Tomdispatch.com )  Indulge me for a moment. This is how The Prophecy in my 1962 high school yearbook began. It was written by some of my classmates in the year we graduated from Friends Seminary in New York City.

Being an historian, I am jotting down these notes out of habit, but what I saw and experienced two days ago I am sure no one else as civilized as I am will ever see. I am writing for those who shall come a long time from now. First of all, let me introduce myself. I am THOMAS M. ENGELHARDT, world-renowned historian of the late twentieth century, should that mean anything to whoever reads this account. After the great invasion, I was maintaining a peaceful, contented existence in the private shelter I had built and was completing the ninth and final volume of my masterpiece, The Influence of the Civil War on Mexican Art of the Twentieth Century, when I was seized by a strange desire to emerge from my shelter, have a look at the world, and find some companions. Realizing the risk I was taking, I carefully opened the hatch of the shelter and slowly climbed out. It was morning. To my shock, I was in a wide field overgrown with weeds; there was no sign of the community that had been there

As I wander, I finally run into one of my classmates, now a skinny old man with bushy white hair, wearing a loose deer skin. And yes, whatever happened (that great invasion) while I was underground in  as anyone of that period would have known  a private nuclear-fallout shelter, is unclear. Still, in the world I find on emerging, all my former classmates, whom I meet one after another in joking fashion, now live in caves. In other words, it had obviously been devastated.

True, in those high school years, I was something of a Civil War nut and my classmates ragged me for it. I couldnt stop reading grown-up books on the subject. (Thank you, Bruce Catton, for your popular histories of that war and for the magazine you founded and edited, American Heritage, to which I was a teen subscriber!) They obviously thought I was a history wonk of the first order. But more than 60 years later, it strikes me that we kids who had learned to duck and cover at school  to dive under our desks, hands over our heads (with CONELRAD warnings blaring from the radio on our teachers desk)  in preparation for a Russian nuclear attack, already had a deep sense not of future promise but of doom to come. In those days, it wasnt that hard to imagine ourselves in a future devastated world returned to the Stone Age or worse.

And at the time, I suspect that was hardly out of the ordinary. After all, there were, in a sense, mushroom clouds everywhere on the horizon of our lives to come. By 1962, Americas victory weapon that, in two blinding flashes in August 1945, took out the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II, had become a weapon (in other hands) of potential defeat. Everywhere in our lives there lurked the possibility that we, not they, might be the next victims of nuclear extermination. Consider it an irony indeed that our countrys nukes would chase Americans through the decades to come, infiltrating so many parts of our world and our lives.

Back in 1954, our Cold War enemy, the Soviet Union, already had its own nukes (though as yet little effective way of delivering them). No one thought it worth a comment then that, in Walt Disneys cinematic retelling of Jules Vernes Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, when Captain Nemo blows up his island, whats distinctly a mushroom cloud rises over it. Of course, in those years, end-of-the-world movies would become everyday affairs.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, a now-forgotten bunker-culture mentality enveloped this country and my classmates caught the moment perfectly. In fact, that shelter I emerged from would, in 1962, still have been far too recognizable to need further description. After all, we grew up in a time when the Cold War was only intensifying and the very idea of building private nuclear shelters had become a commonplace. As an article in Smithsonian Magazine reminds us, right after the first Russian nuclear test went off in 1949, [General] Douglas MacArthurs ex-wife said she was furnishing the former slave quarters beneath her Georgetown mansion as a bomb shelter and, only six years later, the head of Civil Defense began urging every single American to build an underground shelter right now.

By 1961, faced with a crisis over a divided Berlin, President John F. Kennedy himself urged Americans to do just that. (The time is now, he insisted.) In those years, Life magazine typically ran a feature on constructing an H-bomb Hideaway for a mere $3,000! And real-estate ads even promised good bomb immunity, while Science News warned of hucksters who were peddling backyard shelters, burn ointments, dog tags, flashbags, and decontaminating agents. Naturally, once you had built your private shelter, there was the question of whether, should a nuclear war be about to begin, you should let the neighbors in or arm yourself to stop them from doing so. (A friend of mine still remembers one of his schoolmates and neighbors warning him that, in a crisis, according to his parents, his family better not try to come to their nuclear shelter or they would regret it.)

And that yearbook passage of mine was written in the winter or spring of 1962, months before the Cuban missile crisis shook us all to our bones. That October, I remember fearing the East Coast, where I was then attending my freshman year of college, might indeed go up in a giant mushroom cloud. And keep in mind that, in those years, from popular magazines to sci-fi novels to the movies, the bomb either exploded or threatened to do so again and again. In my youth, atomic war was, culturally speaking, all around us. It was even in outer space, as in the 1955 film This Island Earth in which another planet goes up in a version of radioactive flames, scaring the living hell out of the 11-year-old Thomas M. Engelhardt.

So, yes, my classmates were messing around and having fun, but underneath it all lurked a sensibility (probably only half-grasped at the time) about the world we were to graduate into that was anything but upbeat. The planet that our leaders were then assuring us was ours for the taking seemed to us anything but.

World-Endings, Part Two

Its true that, in the years between then and now, the world didnt go up in a mushroom cloud (with an accompanying nuclear winter killing billions more of us, a probability we knew nothing about in 1962). Still, whether youre talking about actual war or potential nuclear catastrophe, its certainly looking mighty ugly right now.

Worse yet, if youre 18 as I was then (and not 78, as I am now), you undoubtedly know that the future isnt looking cheery these days either, even without a nuclear war. Sadly, in the years since I graduated high school, we discovered that humanity had managed to come up with a second slower but potentially no less devastating way to make this world unlivable. Im thinking, of course, of climate change, a subject deeply on the minds of the young on this embattled planet of ours.

I mean, from unparalleled floods to unprecedented melting ice, staggering megadroughts to record wildfires, sweltering heat waves and ever fiercer storms to well, increasingly extreme weather of almost any imaginable sort, this planet is an ever less comfortable place on which to live, even without a mushroom cloud on the horizon. And thats especially true, given how humanity is dealing with the crisis to come. After all, what makes more sense right now than a never-ending war in Europe to create an energy crisis (though that crisis is also helping fuel the rapid growth of alternative energy)? What makes more sense than an escalating arms race globally or the worlds two greatest greenhouse gas producers, the United States and China, facing off against each other in an increasingly militarized fashion rather than cooperating to stop our planet from burning up?

What makes more sense than the Biden administration giving the nod to an oil drilling project on federal land in Alaska expected to produce an estimated 576 million barrels of oil over the next 30 years, despite the presidents previous promise not to do such a thing? (No more drilling on federal lands, period. Period, period, period.) What makes more sense than China using more coal, that monstrous greenhouse-gas producer, than the rest of the world combined? What makes more sense than the major oil companies garnering greater profits in 2022 than in any previous moment in history as they broil the planet without mercy? What makes more sense than, as the Guardian reported, more than 1,000 super-emitter sites, mostly at oil and natural gas facilities, continuing to gush the potent greenhouse gas methane into the global atmosphere in 2022, the worst of those sites spewing the pollution at a rate equivalent to 67 million running cars?

And no less daunting, so Michael Birnbaum reported at the Washington Post recently, as various countries begin to explore the possibility of solar geoengineering (spraying a sun-blocking mist into the earths atmosphere to cool their overheating countries), they might also end up messing with atmospheric conditions in other lands in a fashion that could lead to yes, as the U.S. intelligence community has come to fear, war. So add potential climate wars to your list of future horrors.

Its true that alternative energy sources are also ramping up significantly, just not yet fast enough, but theres certainly still hope that, in some fashion, humanity will once again figure out how to come up short of The End. Still, if youre young today and looking at the world, I suspect its not a pretty sight.

Prophesies to Come

Let me now offer my own little summary of the very future that I, like so many of my classmates, did live through to this moment: No, Thomas M. Engelhardt never wrote that classic book The Influence of the Civil War on Mexican Art of the Twentieth Century, but he did author The End of Victory Culture: Cold War America and the Disillusioning of a Generation (published in 1995) in which he wrote about the victory weapon of World War II, the bunker culture of the 1950s and 1960s that it produced, and what (as best he could tell) to make of it all.

In addition, with that end-of-the-world sensibility still in mind, while an editor at the publishing house Pantheon Books, he would make more visible something Americans had largely been prevented from seeing after August 1945. As it happened, a friend would show him a book put out by a Japanese publisher that collected the memories of some of the survivors of Hiroshima along with drawings they had done of that experience. Yes, in his childhood, Thomas M. Engelhardt had indeed seen giant irradiated ants and an incredible shrinking man on screen in science-fictionalized versions of an irradiated future. But missing from his all-American world had been any vision of what had actually happened to the inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in that all-American past.

In 1979, not long before an antinuclear movement that would make use of it revved up in this country, he published that Japanese book, Unforgettable Fire: Pictures Drawn by Atomic Bomb Survivors, which all too vividly laid out the memories of those who had experienced worlds end in an up-close-and-personal fashion. And several years later, thanks to that books Japanese editor (amazed that any American would have considered publishing it), he actually went to Hiroshima and visited the Peace Memorial Museum, something hes never forgotten.

And in the next century, the one my high school classmates and I hadnt even begun to imagine and werent at all sure wed live to see, he would, almost by happenstance, start a website called (not by him) TomDispatch that would repeatedly focus on the two world-ending ways humanity had discovered to do itself in and how to begin to deal with them.

And honestly, all of this leaves me wondering today what that prophesy might look like for the high school graduates of 2023 or those of my grandchildrens generation in an even more distant future. I certainly hope for the best, but also fear the worst. Perhaps it, too, would begin: Being an historian, I am jotting down these notes out of habit, but what I saw and experienced two days ago I am sure no one else as civilized as I am will ever see. I am writing for those who shall come a long time from now. First of all, let me introduce myself. I am [NAME TO BE FILLED IN], world-renowned historian of the twenty-first century, should that mean anything to whoever reads this account.

More than 60 years later, even writing that, no less remembering the world of once-upon-a-time, and imagining what it will be like after Im long gone sends chills down my spine and leaves me hoping against hope that, someday, one of my grownup grandchildren will read this and not think worse of the class of 1962 or their grandfather for it.

Copyright 2023 Tom Engelhardt

Via Tomdispatch.com
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( Tomdispatch.com)  Bosley Crowther, chief film critic for the New York Times, didnt quite know what to make of Dr. Strangelove at the time of its release in January 1964. Stanley Kubricks dark antiwar satire was beyond any question the most shattering sick joke Ive ever come across, he wrote. But if the film had its hilarious moments, Crowther found its overall effect distinctly unnerving. What exactly was Kubricks point? When virtually everybody turns up stupid or insane  or, what is worse, psychopathic  I want to know what this picture proves.

We may find it odd for an influential critic to expect a movie to prove anything. Kubricks aim was manifestly not to prove, but to subvert and discomfit.

With feature-length hyperbole  not a wisp of subtlety allowed  Dr. Strangelove made the case that a deep strain of madness had infected the entire U.S. national security apparatus. From the War Room that was the Pentagons holiest of holies all the way to the cockpit of a B-52 hurtling toward its assigned Russian target with a massive nuclear bomb in its belly, whack jobs were in charge.

A mere two years after the Cuban missile crisis, few Americans viewed the prospect of nuclear Armageddon as a joking matter. Yet here was Dr. Strangelove treating this deadly serious topic as suitable for raucous (and slightly raunchy) comedy. Thats what bothered Crowther, who admitted to being troubled by the feeling, which runs through the film, of discredit and even contempt for our whole defense establishment, up to and even including the hypothetical Commander-in-Chief.

If the nation owed its very survival to that defense establishment  a widely accepted supposition during the Cold War  Kubricks contemptuous attitude was nothing short of blasphemous.

We may imagine other inhabitants of the circle in which Crowther lived and worked sharing his unease. Collectively, they comprised a world of believers  not a faith community in a religious sense but an elite establishment. Members of that establishment accepted as gospel an identifiable set of political, cultural, and moral propositions that defined mid-twentieth-century American life.

Chief among them was a conviction that communism  monolithic, aggressive, and armed to the teeth  posed an existential threat to what was then known as the Free World. In the face of that, it had become incumbent upon the United States to arm itself to the teeth. The preeminent symbol of U.S. readiness to thwart that Red threat was a massive nuclear strike force held on hair-trigger alert to obliterate the entire Soviet empire. (A typical 1961 report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff suggested that a full-scale U.S. nuclear attack on the Soviet Union would kill half its population, or 108 million people. An analysis the Joint Chiefs provided to the Kennedy White House that same year put the dead for Russia and China together at upwards of 600 million.)

Instant readiness to wage World War III thereby held the key to averting World War III. Politicians, generals, and PhD-wielding defense intellectuals all affirmed the impeccable logic of such an arrangement. As the menacing motto of the Strategic Air Command, which controlled Americas nuclear bombers and missiles, put it: Peace Is Our Profession.

Kubrick was not alone in expressing concern that such a saber-rattling pursuit of peace might yield an altogether different outcome. Could policies supposedly designed to prevent a nuclear holocaust actually produce it?

Arbiters of American culture like Crowther might have bridled at such a thought but proved unable to prevent it from gaining purchase. For authors of pulp fiction thrillers and Hollywood studio executives, the anxieties induced by the possibility of nuclear war were pure catnip. In 1964 alone, in addition to Dr. Strangelove, major movie releases included Fail Safe (Moscow and New York City are vaporized) and Seven Days in May (a military plot to overthrow a dovish U.S. president is barely averted). The near-miss of the Cuban missile crisis endowed such fictional plots with an eerie element of verisimilitude. So, too, did the USSRs atmospheric detonation of a 50-megaton nuclear weapon in October 1961. That Tsar Bomba was over 1,500 times more powerful than both of the obliterating atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 to end World War II.

As long as the Cold War continued, popular worries about a single spasm of violence extinguishing humankind persisted, with national leaders obliged to offer at least gestures of sympathetic concern. Thus was born the project that came to be known as nuclear disarmament, which dated from President John F. Kennedys justifiably famous June 1963 speech at American University. Here was his inaugural pay any price, bear any burden speech of 1961 turned inside out and upside down. As if anticipating the cultural mood of our own day, the commander-in-chief vowed to help make the world safe for diversity. What followed was JFK at his most eloquent:

For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our childrens future. And we are all mortal.

From that moment on, Washingtons enthusiasm for ever larger nuclear arsenals containing ever more powerful weapons began to ebb. So, too, did public deference to the proponents of overkill. Crucially, however, the U.S. militarys ability to incinerate millions at a moments notice remained intact  as it does to this day, with a modernization of the American arsenal at a cost of a couple of trillion dollars now well underway.

In a sense, the disarmament movement of those years compares to the collective American response to the climate crisis of our own day. Sometimes the most expeditious approach to preserving the status quo, after all, is to make a pretense of embracing change. Think of Frank Sinatra partnering with Elvis Presley in a duet of Love Me Tender. Even without Irving Berlin and the Gershwins, Old Blue Eyes kept on selling records well into the era of rock-and-roll.

Putin Spoils the Party

Then came the collapse of communism.

As if at a stroke, worries about World War III dissipated. American schoolchildren soon forgot all about mandatory duck-and-cover drills. Dr. Strangelove became a curiosity from another era like The Maltese Falcon or Gone with the Wind. And while the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists continued to update its creepy Doomsday Clock, the public ceased to pay much attention.

Considered in retrospect, Bosley Crowther had seemingly gotten the better of Stanley Kubrick in their little tiff. After all, a quarter-century after Dr. Strangelove appeared, the Cold War ended peacefully without a hint of World War III. Yes, a nuclear holocaust remained hypothetically possible, but it was no longer something worth fretting about.

Yet as nuclear nightmares faded, blissful dreams of peace did not take their place. Indeed, the ensuing post-Cold-War era, extending from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, found the United States perpetually at war or verging on war. During that period, however, few paid serious attention to the possibility that any of our conflicts might involve the use of nuclear weapons.

Nukes did retain occasional utility as a rationale for war. Consider, for instance, the decision of President George W. Bush and crew to invade Iraq in 2003, supposedly to eliminate Saddam Husseins (non-existent) nuclear arsenal. Still, among the subjects that riled up American politicians, newspaper columnists, and late-night TV hosts, nuclear worries seldom made the cut. Even as the Pentagon embarked on that multi-trillion-dollar program of nuclear (re)armament  marketed as needed safety upgrades  few seemed to notice. For Americans, culture wars, real and ongoing, took precedence over the theoretical prospect of replaying Hiroshima on a grander scale.

One might have thought that Russias attack on Ukraine and the protracted conflict that followed would have revived the nuclear nightmares of an earlier era. After all, Vladimir Putin has shown no reticence when it comes to sowing death and destruction (nor to implicitly threatening the use of tactical nuclear weapons). His determination to achieve Russias political objectives regardless of cost seems readily apparent.

Furthermore, U.S. officials and major media outlets have concurred in classifying the Russian president as uniquely dangerous. For example, a recent front-page news article in the New York Times  not an editorial or opinion piece  described Putin as beset by grievances, paranoia and [an] imperialist mind-set (that is, as an embittered nutcase).

Putins ostensible paranoia in combination with Russias gigantic nuclear arsenal would seem to justify a hair-on-fire response from Washington national security officials. Certainly, the danger of nuclear weapons use today greatly exceeds that of 20 years ago when the Bush administration argued that the Iraqi nuclear threat justified a Ukraine-style invasion.

The Biden administrations insouciance regarding Russian nukes therefore qualifies as, at the very least, odd. According to my colleague at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Anatol Lieven, The greatest threat of nuclear catastrophe that humanity has ever faced is now centered on the Crimean peninsula. His understanding of all things Russian greatly exceeds my own, but that assessment strikes me as about right. And while Planet Earth dangles on the edge of an abyss, the U.S. response is to debate whether or not to supply Ukraine with F-16s.

As far as I can tell, Biden administration policy regarding that embattled land rests on one crucial assumption: in the face of an open-ended, incremental U.S. escalation, the Kremlin will ultimately submit. In turn, Ukraines inevitable victory will endow Europe with peace and security until the end of time.

How that assumption meshes with the conviction that Putin is mentally unbalanced isnt clear. Counting on an irrational actor to behave rationally is an inherently risky proposition.

Whos in Charge Here?

Ukraine has become the locus of a conflict that, willy-nilly, pits Russia against the West  which means against the United States. How far can Washington push Putin before he tries to retaliate in some fashion against his primary adversary? Does President Biden even recognize the urgency of that question? If he does, hes chosen not to share his concerns with the American people.

Granted, Biden has made clear his determination to prevent any direct American involvement in combat with Russia. The president likely calculates that the willingness of Americans to support Ukraine with billions of dollars in weapons and munitions stems in part from the fact that no U.S. troops are fighting and dying.

But there may well be another assumption that underlies popular support for U.S. involvement in Ukraine  namely, that the people in charge, beginning with the man in the White House, know whats actually going on. Dr. Strangelove confronted that assumption head-on 69 years ago and rejected it utterly, depicting the people then in charge as somewhere between clueless and just plain dangerous.

Not for a moment would I liken Mr. Biden to that movies President Merkin Muffley, current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to Buck Turgidson, or any senior officer on active duty to Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper, the crazed commander of that films Burpelson Air Force Base. (Although I do wonder why the four-star Air Force General who recently told his troops to get ready for war with China in two years wasnt immediately canned.)

Heres the problem, at least as I see it: however smart and well intentioned, the people in charge in Washington today dont know everything they think they know  and everything they need to know either. Detailed studies of the Cuban missile crisis have revealed that Kennedy and his men were acting on information that was all too often inadequate or simply wrong. They thought themselves in a position to control events when they werent. To a considerable extent, the U.S. and the Soviet Union avoided war in October 1962 through sheer dumb luck  and the selective disobedience of certain U.S. and Soviet junior officers who knew a stupid order when they heard one.

Of course, that was way back in the 1960s, ancient history as far as most Americans are concerned. Today, thanks to the wonders of advanced technology, U.S. intelligence and decision-making are much improved, right? Alas, recent screwups, including the disastrous termination of the Afghan War, dont treat that claim kindly.

A proxy war pitting the United States against a paranoid adversary with a massive nuclear arsenal at his command: What could possibly go wrong? Kubricks timeless masterpiece invites us to reflect on that question  and the sooner we do, the better.

Copyright 2023 Andrew Bacevich

Via Tomdispatch.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 22, 2023) - CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPAU) (OTCQX: COPAF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement and planned drill program at the Company's flagship Kinsley Mountain Gold Project (the "Kinsley Mountain Project" or "Kinsley Mountain") in Elko County, Nevada.

The Company announces a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 4,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.50 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of $2,000,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one transferable share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire an additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.75 per share for a period of two years from the closing date of the private placement.

In conjunction with this financing, the Company may pay a finder's fee to eligible persons in compliance with applicable securities laws and exchange policies. This financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Proceeds will be used for general working capital and a planned initial drill program for the Kinsley Gold property, Elko Nevada.

"We are excited to be moving forward with plans to drill Kinsley with the help of our expanded technical teams input, as we continue to unlock the full potential of this advanced project in Nevada. I am confident in our team's abilities and in the targets that we have set for a significant resource expansion," states Jeremy Yaseniuk, CopAur's CEO.

The Kinsley Mountain Project was a historical past producer that yielded 138,000 ounces of near surface open pit oxide gold between 1995-1999. Kinsley contains current mineral resources comprising the high-grade Western Flank Zone and near surface oxide of 418,000 indicated ounces gold at 2.63 grams-per-tonne (g/t) gold, and 117,000 inferred ounces gold at 1.51 g/t gold1 (Figure 1).

Kinsley has significant resource expansion potential through continued near mine exploration and potential greenfield discoveries. Near resource areas drilled during the highly successful 49 hole, 18,000 metre 2020 drill campaign demonstrate significant resource expansion potential remains at Western Flank, Main Pit Oxide, and Secret Spot targets with highlights including2:

Western Flank resource expansion drilling

10.22 g/t gold over 6.1 metres within a broader zone grading 2.63 g/t gold (sulphide) over 38.10 metres in KMR20-017

15.1 g/t gold (sulphide) over 7.6 metres, including 24.1 g/t gold (sulphide) over 4.6 metres lower zone, 9.08 g/t gold (sulphide) over 6.1 metres upper zone in KMR20-026

Main Pit North Oxide Target yields high-grade intercepts 75 m outside the current pit shell

9.83 g/t gold over 7.6 metres high-grade shallow oxide

New surface oxide Discovery at the Secret Spot, including

1.77 g/t gold over 25.3 metres in new surface oxide discovery in KMD20-007B

Figure 1. Kinsley Mountain Gold Project Cross Section Through Mine Trend

(Looking northeast)

The Western Flank Zone has yielded numerous outstanding high-grade gold drill intercepts including: PK137C that returned 21.3 g/t gold over 29 metres2. See Table 1 below for selected Secret Canyon Shale drill intercepts.

Table 1 Selected Historical Western Flank Zone Secret Canyon Shale Diamond Drill Intercepts2

Hole ID (Az, Dip)

(degrees) From

(m) To

(m) Intercept3

(m) Au

(g/t) Au

Cut-Off Hole Depth

(m) PK091CA (90, -70) 255.1 291.7 36.6 8.5 0.2 291.7 including 276.5 284.0 7.6 29.4 5.0 PK127C (090, -66) 276.5 318.1 41.7 6.9 0.2 389.2 incl 282.5 287.1 4.6 8.5 5.0 incl 301.0 309.5 8.5 16.3 5.0 incl 314.6 318.1 3.6 20.5 5.0 PK131C (110, -72) 262.7 305.4 42.7 10.5 0.2 398.4 incl 276.5 299.3 22.9 18.3 5.0 PK132C (-90) 249.6 303.0 53.3 7.5 0.2 456.9 incl 257.3 259.5 2.3 18.1 5.0 incl 269.4 292.3 22.9 14.9 5.0 PK133C (270, -77) 310.0 340.0 30.0 10.6 0.2 413.6 incl 322.2 338.6 16.5 16.1 5.0 PK137C4 (120 -80) 253.9 282.9 29.0 21.3 0.2 282.8 incl 259.7 264.6 4.9 46.4 5.0 incl 270.5 281.9 11.4 32.7 5.0

Initial metallurgical testing of Secret Canyon Shale sulphide mineralization yielded 89-95% recoveries via combined flotation and tails cyanidation1.

During 2022, IP/resistivity geophysical surveys defined 8 new high-priority targets within a 20 km2 underexplored area north of the high-grade Western Flank gold deposit (the "Kinsley North Range"). The anomalies occur in association with prospective Pogonip Group and upper Notch Peak Formation carbonate rocks that are known to host significant gold mineralization at the Long Canyon Mine located 90 km north of Kinsley5.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC), Principal and Consultant, and Christopher W. Livingstone, P.Geo. (BC), Senior Geologist, both of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, and "Qualified Persons" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle and Mr. Livingstone have verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained herein.

On Behalf Of The Board Of Directors,

Jeremy Yaseniuk

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Jeremy Yaseniuk

CopAur Minerals Inc.

Telephone: 604-773-1467

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

1 Technical Report on the Kinsley Project, Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A., dated June 21, 2021, with an effective date of May 5, 2021, and prepared by Michael M. Gustin and Gary L. Simmons, and filed under New Placer Dome Gold Corp.'s issuer profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

2 True widths of the mineralized intervals are interpreted to be between 60-90% of the reported lengths.

3 True widths of the mineralized intervals are interpreted to be between 60-90% of the reported lengths.

4 PK137C was lost in the mineralized zone due to poor ground conditions higher in the hole. PK137CA was wedged off the same hole above the mineralized zone and was completed through the mineralized zone adjacent to PK137C.

5 Not necessarily indicative of mineralization on CopAur properties.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 20, 2023 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from seven drillholes targeting the recently discovered "La Luisa" Vein located ~700 metres west of the Napoleon Vein, at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco") in Mexico. Today's results expand the high-grade footprint at La Luisa by over ~150 metres down dip from previously reported hole NP-22-305 (see press release dated October 25, 2022).

Highlights

NP-22-332 returned 4,227 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 2.30 metres true width (mTW) (2,699 g/t silver, 24.99 g/t gold, 0.22 % lead and 0.65 % zinc) Including, 18,950 g/t AgEq over 0.47 mTW (11,502 g/t silver, 120.50 g/t gold, 0.82 % lead and 2.63 % zinc)

(2,699 g/t silver, 24.99 g/t gold, 0.22 % lead and 0.65 % zinc) NP-23-358 returned 1,076 g/t AgEq over 5.60 mTW (257 g / t silver, 11.13 g / t gold, 0.42 % lead and 2.03 % zinc) Including, 3,698 g/t AgEq over 1.11 mTW (659 g/t silver, 44.22 g/t gold, 0.53% lead and 2.33 zinc) And, 1,761 g/t AgEq over 0.27 mTW (221 g/t silver, 22.68 g/t gold, 0.26% lead and 0.50% zinc)

g t g t NP-22-345 returned 1,967 g/t AgEq over 2.50 mTW (1,286 g/t silver, 9.76 g/t gold, 0.90 % lead and 2.35 % zinc) Including, 4,630 g/t AgEq over 0.99 mTW (2,982 g/t silver, 24.01 g/t gold, 1.82 % lead and 5.03 % zinc)

(1,286 g/t silver, 9.76 g/t gold, 0.90 % lead and 2.35 % zinc)

"A key focus for this year's ongoing, fully funded 90,000 metre drill campaign is to explore high-priority targets proximal to the main resource centres in the western portion of the Panuco District," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO. "La Luisa is one of several such prospective targets that does not currently host a mineral resource. Drilling at La Luisa has now outlined a near-surface high-grade footprint approximately 350 metres long by 325 metres down dip and is open in all directions. Furthermore, the relatively high gold to silver ratios indicates the current drilling horizon may be at the top of the mineralized system, similar to the near surface gold rich zone at the southern extent of the Napoleon vein. This ultimately supports the potential for La Luisa to deliver improved grades and widths at depth."

Figure 1: Plan map of recent drilling along the La Luisa vein.

Details of the La Luisa vein discovery

The La Luisa Vein is located approximately 700 metres to the west of Napoleon in the southwest portion of the Panuco district. The structure has been mapped on surface for almost 1,000 metres with an average strike of N35W and dip of 70 - 80 to the NE. To date, Vizsla has reported 17 holes from La Luisa outlining a high-grade mineralized footprint approximately 350 metres long by 325 metres down dip and remains open in all directions. The upper portion of the vein is hosted primarily by rhyolite tuffs (the upper horizon of the regional lower volcanic sequence) whereas deeper vein-intercepts occur in the more favourable diorite host rock. Additionally, deeper drilling to date shows the vein changes dip direction from northeast to the southwest with increased depth (Figure 3).

Initial near surface drilling at La Luisa, returned significant gold concentrations with generally low silver and base metals. The relatively high gold to silver and base metals ratios observed, indicate this zone is analogous to the previously reported "Gold Rich-Shallow" horizon at the southern end of Napoleon. At Napoleon, initial interpretation, confirmed by subsequent drilling, used metal zonation and alteration to determine the block was tilted making the southern extent the top of the mineralized system (See press releases dated December 16, 2021 and October 12, 2022). Deeper drilling at La Luisa, including holes, NP-22-345 and NP-23-358, intercepted vein mineralization marked by higher silver concentrations, suggestive of shoot- or top-shoot elevation.

Going forward, Vizsla plans to mobilize a second drill-rig and continue drilling deeper holes at La Luisa to target the zone's precious metals rich core, which given the ongoing success of the local exploration model utilized at Napoleon, there exists the potential for increased grades and widths along strike and down plunge to the south. Due to the observed dip-reversal at depth, Vizsla is preparing drill pads on the west side of the vein to be able to intersect the vein system at a more favourable angle.

Figure 2: Longitudinal section of the La Luisa Vein. The section is inclined along the dip of the structure.

Figure 3: Cross section highlighting recent drill intercepts on La Luisa vein.

Drillhole From To Downhole

Length Estimated

True width Ag Au Pb Zn AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % % (g/t) NP-22-327 469.80 472.00 2.20 1.68 104 1.08 0.12 0.33 185 HW 1 NP-22-327 503.75 504.60 0.85 0.65 97 0.38 2.13 3.98 323 La Luisa NP-22-332 449.30 451.45 2.15 1.68 92 0.65 0.11 0.27 142 HW 1 NP-22-332 455.30 458.25 2.95 2.30 2,699 24.99 0.22 0.65 4,227 La Luisa Includes 456.45 457.05 0.60 0.47 11,502 120.50 0.82 2.63 18,950 NP-22-332 472.90 476.20 3.30 2.57 74 0.76 0.30 0.52 148 FW 1 NP-22-332 481.40 488.50 7.10 5.54 92 0.69 0.42 0.60 166 FW 2 Includes 481.40 482.20 0.80 0.62 227 1.11 3.12 3.97 522 NP-22-341 443.40 452.60 9.20 6.30 61 0.92 0.10 0.71 147 La Luisa Includes 443.40 445.10 1.70 1.16 146 1.30 0.03 1.26 270 Includes 450.00 452.60 2.60 1.78 87 1.99 0.26 1.38 273 NP-22-345 511.65 515.70 4.05 2.50 1,286 9.76 0.90 2.35 1,967 La Luisa Includes 511.65 513.25 1.60 0.99 2,982 24.01 1.82 5.03 4,630 NP-22-345 556.10 558.50 2.40 1.48 42 1.55 0.51 2.17 237 FW 1 NP-22-345 586.40 590.50 4.10 2.53 42 4.05 0.24 2.93 426 FW 2 NP-22-345 597.55 600.30 2.75 1.70 65 2.21 0.09 2.59 306 FW 3 NP-23-352 456.00 457.90 1.90 1.20 382 1.17 0.31 0.64 467 La Luisa NP-23-358 501.30 513.90 12.60 5.60 257 11.13 0.42 2.03 1,076 La Luisa Includes 505.15 507.65 2.50 1.11 659 44.22 0.53 2.33 3,698 Includes 508.90 509.50 0.60 0.27 221 22.68 0.26 0.50 1,761 NP-23-358 527.70 530.30 2.60 1.16 174 0.77 0.43 0.46 243 FW 1 NP-23-358 537.85 540.70 2.85 1.27 226 1.45 1.16 8.00 633 FW 2 NP-23-362 Pending Assays

Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from the holes completed along the La Luisa vein.

Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + ((Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)+(Pb% x Pb rec. X Pb price/t) + (Zn% x Zn rec. X Zn price/t))/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver, $1,800/oz gold, $2,424.4/t lead and $2,975.4/t zinc. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 93% for silver, 90% for gold, 94% for lead and 94% for zinc. Metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Napoleon vein (see press release dated February 17, 2022).

Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth NP-22-327 403,025 2,586,785 450 251 -50.0 567.0 NP-22-332 403,025 2,586,785 450 229 -43.4 556.5 NP-22-341 403,077 2,586,547 480 240 -47.5 519.0 NP-22-345 403,026 2,586,786 450 234 -52.1 624.0 NP-23-352 403,025 2,586,786 450 219 -37.0 618.0 NP-23-358 403,025 2,586,786 450 219 -42.0 651.0 NP-23-362 403,165 2,587,117 526 304 -60.0 414.0

Table 2: La Luisa vein drillhole details. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13.

About the Panuco project

The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

The Panuco Project hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 104.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 114.1 Moz AgEq. An updated NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico" was filed on SEDAR on March 10, 2023, with an effective date of January 19, 2023 was prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., Ben Eggers, MAIG, P.Geo. and Yann Camus, P.Eng. of SGS Geological Services.

About Vizsla Silver

Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla has completed over 250,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2023, Vizsla has budgeted +90,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Qualified Person

In accordance with NI 43-101, Martin Dupuis, P.Geo., COO, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling and the release of results related to such activities.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner; general economic factors; and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Vizsla's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla' management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received authorization to drill the approximately 70% of the Palos Verdes vein strike length that was not previously accessible for drilling. The drill program is slated to commence in early April. The Palos Verdes is located in the historic Panuco-Copala district of the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, and is contiguous to Vizsla's property.

A crew has already been mobilized to prepare this new phase of drilling at the Palos Verdes project. Work is focusing on the installation of drill sites for a portable drill rig. A total of 2,500 meters of drilling is planned to test the strike length of the Palos Verdes vein that was not previously accessible until now.

Regarding the drill program, Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of the Company, said: "We are pleased to be able to access the remaining portion of the Palos Verdes concession to conduct a program to test the Palos Verdes vein along strike from the previous drilling. The program is designed to expand on the positive results from our past drilling and expand the area of the high-grade mineralized shoot to the northeast of the Palos Verdes tunnel."

He added: "In January, Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) concluded a strategic investment in Prismo which resulted in Vizsla owning 10.1% of Prismo. In connection with the investment, Prismo and Vizsla have agreed to form a technical committee to pursue district-scale exploration of the Panuco silver-gold district. We look forward to working with Vizsla's Vice President of Exploration Jesus Velador and his team to design our next phase of drilling at Palos Verdes."

Geologic map of the Palos Verdes concession showing past drill sites and locations included in the most recent drill permit application.

The new drill sites, shown in blue, are primarily located to the northeast of the area of past drilling. The main target is the Palos Verdes vein, but mapped parallel and cross cutting veins may also be tested.

Longitudinal vein projection of the Palos Verdes vein showing interpreted mineralization and areas to be explored by drilling in 2023.

Past drilling on the Palos Verdes vein has shown the presence of a large mineralized shoot. The planned drill program will test the area to the northeast along strike to expand the mineralized body.

Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and President, CEO and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.

About Palos Verdes

The Palos Verdes project is located in the historic Panuco-Copala silver-gold district in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, approximately 65 kilometers NE of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, in the Municipality of Concordia. The Palos Verdes concession (claim) covers 700 meters of strike length of the Palos Verdes vein, a member of the north-easterly trending vein family located in the eastern part of the district outside of the area of modern exploration. Shallow drilling (<100m) conducted in 2018 on the Palos Verdes Vein was targeted 30 to 50 meters beneath largely barren vein outcrops and cut a well mineralized multistage vein two to seven metres wide with narrow intervals of high-grade precious metal values and subordinate base metals (see table of intercepts at www.prismometals.com). This mineralization is open in all directions and the currently planned drilling program is designed to follow it along strike and to depth.

About Prismo

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia).

Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6

Contact:

Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jason Frame, Manager of Communications This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.
TORONTO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT) (the Company or Collective Metals) is pleased to announce that the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (the Units) through the issuance of 8,840,000 Units at $0.125 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,105,000 (the Offering).

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a Share) and one whole common share purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.20 on or before March 23, 2025 (the Expiry Day). The Warrants are subject to an acceleration clause such that, if the price at which the Shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange is greater than $0.30 for 10 consecutive trading days after four months and one day from the closing date of the Offering, the Company may accelerate the Warrant expiry date by giving notice to the holder of the Warrants. In such case, the Warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the date which is the earlier of: (i) the 30th day after the date on which such notice is given by the Company; and (ii) the Expiry Day.

The Company has paid eligible finders (collectively, the Finders) a cash commission in the amount of $74,200, being 7% of the aggregate proceeds from the sale of Units to purchasers introduced to the Company by the Finders, and issued the Finders an aggregate of 593,600 share purchase warrants (the Finders Warrants), being 7% of the number of Units sold under the Offering to purchasers introduced by the Finders. Each Finders Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at a price of $0.20 per Share on the same terms as the Warrants.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four-months and one day in accordance with applicable securities legislation ending on July 24, 2023. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for work on its properties, new projects or acquisitions, marketing and working capital.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the Company and management, as well as financial statements.

Director Resignation

The Company also announces that, effective immediately, Jessica Patterson has resigned from her role as director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Ms. Patterson for her support and contributions to the Company.

About the Company

Collective Metals Inc. is a resource exploration company specialized in precious metals exploration in the Northwest Territories. Collective Metals is currently advancing the Uptown Gold Project (the Property) 4 km outside of Yellowknife adjacent to high grade past producing mines. The Property is a high grade Archean lode gold prospect adjoining the Giant Mine in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The Property consists of 4 claims covering over 2,000 hectares and borders the west side of the Giant Mine leases. The Property centre is approximately 6km north from downtown Yellowknife, and adjoins TerraX Minerals' Yellowknife City Gold Property. The Property is road accessible year-round via the Ingraham Trail (Territorial Highway 4) which runs through the eastern portion of the claims. Gold was discovered on the Property in 1960 and two targets were explored intensively from 1963 to 1966.

For further information please contact:

Christopher Huggins, CEO

Ph: 604-968-4844

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
10,870 m drilled over 68 holes drilled in Phase 1 program

Laboratory equipment unavailability issues continue to prolong assay turnaround times

Limited partial results from the re-assay program are highly encouraging

Kiboko has decided to stop reporting preliminary assay results

Maiden mineral resource targeted for mid-2023

KELOWNA, British Columbia / Mar 23, 2023 / Business Wire / Kiboko Gold Inc. (TSXV: KIB) (Kiboko or the Company) is providing an exploration update for its Harricana Gold Project (the Harricana Project), located 55 kilometres north of Val-dOr, Quebec, in the world-renowned Abitibi gold belt.

10,870 metres drilled over 68 holes drilled in Phase 1 Program

Kiboko recently completed its Phase 1 drill program at the Fontana area of its Harricana Project. This program consisted of 8,212 metres over 55 holes drilled in 2022 and 2,658 metres over 13 holes in 2023 for a grand total of 10,870 metres drilled over 68 holes.

Laboratory equipment unavailability issues continue to prolong assay turnaround times

Unfortunately, the analytical service provider continues to experience extended periods of equipment unavailability at its Quebec location. As a result, the time it takes to receive assay results remains prolonged. To mitigate this issue, the analytical service provider began sending samples to its second photon assay location in Canada, which began operating last week. However, as of today, the equipment at the Quebec laboratory has been repaired and assaying has resumed.

Limited partial results from the re-assay program are highly encouraging

In late 2022, the Company initiated a re-assay program to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the gold mineralization distribution and reduce sub-sampling bias. A small number of highly encouraging partial results have been received. Despite the limited number of results received so far, they provide strong support for the Companys hypothesis that sample sizes assayed by prior operators were inadequate, resulting in an underestimation of grade due of the natural Poisson distribution of the gold in the mineralization.

Kiboko has decided to stop reporting preliminary assay results

Due to the potential implications of the re-assay programs ongoing test work, the Company has decided to stop reporting preliminary assay results. This decision is consistent with the Company's commitment to transparency and reliability in its reporting of results to its stakeholders.

Maiden mineral resource targeted for mid-2023

The Company believes that the areas targeted in the Phase 1 exploration program have the potential to support a near-surface, pit-constrained mineral resource estimate. As part of the Phase 1 program, Kibokos technical team is continuing with its thorough review of new drilling information. This review aims to improve the Companys understanding of the geology and controls on gold mineralization, as well as assay results from 79,565 m of historical drilling data from the Fontana area of the Harricana Project.

The Company is targeting the reporting of a maiden mineral resource for a portion of the Fontana area of the Harricana Project in mid-2023 (from the second quarter of 2023), subject to the timely receipt of final assay results.

Exploration intended to verify historical Fontana drilling and partially validate Exploration Targets

The Phase 1 program is intended to verify a significant portion of the 79,565 m of historical Fontana area drilling, characterize gold mineralization in the wall rock surrounding the main vein systems, and partially validate the Fontana area Exploration Targets (as defined herein).

The near surface Exploration Targets for the Fontana area of the Project total 13.6 million to 23.1 million tonnes at a range of grades of 3.0 to 3.4 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au). All of the Exploration Targets for the Harricana Project are summarized in Table 3 at the end of this release.

The Company cautions that while the Exploration Targets are based upon results from historical drilling, the potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Targets are conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient verifiable exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in any of the Exploration Targets being delineated as a mineral resource.

The Phase 1 exploration program is only intended to partially validate a portion of the Exploration Targets for the Fontana area of the Project, which does not have any mineral resources or mineral reserves. For further details regarding scientific or technical information relating to the Harricana Project, including the recommended exploration programs to validate the Exploration Targets, please refer to the technical report entitled Harricana Gold Project Technical Report, Duverny Township, Quebec with an effective date of April 1, 2022, and an issue date of May 2, 2022 (the Harricana Technical Report), which is filed under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

About the Harricana Gold Project

Kibokos Harricana gold project is a consolidated 102 km2 prospective mineral claim package that is located 55 km north of Val- dOr, Quebec, in the world-renowned Abitibi greenstone belt. Historical records compiled and digitized by Kiboko into a new geospatial dataset includes data from 937 historical diamond drillholes totalling 139,397 metres.

The Harricana Project benefits from an exceptional location, close to operating mines, with excellent access and proximity to existing infrastructure, including road, rail, and clean, low-cost, renewable hydroelectric grid power. The Harricana Project also benefits from low royalty coverage with the most significant royalty being a 2% NSR production royalty held by Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. on 196 claims covering an area of 89.7 km2, which includes the areas drilled in the Companys Phase 1 drill program.

Additional information about Kiboko and its Harricana Gold Project can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Companys website at www.kibokogold.com.

Qualified Person

Ivor W.O. Jones, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc., FAusIMM, P. Geo., Kibokos Vice-President Technical Services & Project Evaluation, has reviewed and approved the pertinent technical or scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. Jones is the Companys designated Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).

About Kiboko Gold Inc.

Kiboko is a Canadian-based gold exploration company focussed on advancing its 102 km2 Harricana Project, located 55 km north of Val-dOr, Quebec, within the world-renowned southern Abitibi gold belt. Kibokos shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KIB.

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.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition, belief, estimate or opinion, or result to occur. Forward looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, interpreted, pending, suggests, preliminary, estimates, may, aims, targets, could, would, will, or plans and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, can, could or should occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information.

Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, assay results, re-assay results, potential mineralization, the interpretation of drilling and assay results, the results of the drilling program, the results of the re-assay program, mineralization and the discovery of zones of high-grade mineralization, verification of historical drilling results; the Companys cost estimates and plans to execute and complete its Phase 1 exploration program including the completion of a maiden mineral resource; future exploration and mine development plans; future news releases by the Company, and the funding of the exploration program, and the timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other Indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, scarcity and cost of skilled and unskilled labour, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and travel and supply chains, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prosper Gold Corp. ("Prosper Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV:PGX) is pleased to report results from its recently completed Induced Polarization (IP) survey over the Skinner North area at the Golden Sidewalk Project in Red Lake, Ontario. The survey outlines a large area of chargeability coincident with high resistivity, both of which represent favourable geophysical characteristics of a mineralized gold-bearing system. Given the disseminated nature of the mineralization seen in the Skinner North in Fall 2022 drilling, the IP survey results show there is significant exploration upside in this area of the project.

The recently completed IP survey results from the Skinner North suggest the presence of a large hydrothermal system given what we encountered in our November 2022 drill program, commented Peter Bernier, CEO. High chargeability over a large area coincident with resistivity high anomalies is what we were hoping to see and our team and technical advisors are prioritizing drill targets for testing.

Winter 2023 Skinner North IP Survey

The area of high IP chargeability is approximately 2 square kilometers, continuing to the east, west and north of the Fall 2022 drilling (Figure 1). High resistivity anomalies adjacent to the contact between the Trout Lake Batholith to the west and mafic volcanics to the east may represent contact metamorphosed mafic volcanics and/or hydrothermal metasomatism from a gold-bearing system. To date, the Company has been looking to identify areas of resistive, competent rocks that are more conducive to brittle fracture and vein formation. The mafic volcanics adjacent to the intrusive contact is a high priority exploration target and represents a geological setting analogous to many world-class gold belts.

The high-resolution IP survey covered over 5 square kilometres and was roughly centred on the Skinner North prospect which was drilled by the Company in November of 2022. The survey comprised approximately 25 line-kilometres at an a-spacing of 25 metres along 200 metre spaced lines and was designed to outline chargeable and resistive features that could indicate the presence of hydrothermal alteration and associated sulphide mineralization, some of which has been shown to be gold bearing based on 2022 drilling results (Figure 2).

Next phase of Exploration at Skinner North

The Company intends to complete additional diamond drilling at Skinner North to build off initial drilling results from the maiden November 2022 program (see the Company's Jan. 9, 2023 news release for details). Given the presence of glacial sand deposits and the lack of outcrop at Skinner North, target selection will be largely based on coincidence of high chargeability, high resistivity and east-west to west-northwest-trending faults and shear zones identified in drilling and those outlined from ground magnetometer surveys completed in 2022.

About the Golden Sidewalk

The Golden Sidewalk is a district-scale gold exploration project covering over 160 square kilometres of contiguous mineral claims and mining leases in the western Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt, approximately 60 km east of Red Lake, Ontario and 60 km northeast of Kinross Golds Dixie Project, acquired from Great Bear Resources in 2022. The vehicle-accessible project straddles 12 kilometres of the Balmer Assemblage  Narrow Lake Assemblage unconformity, a regional-scale feature that has been the Red Lake exploration guide, but which has seen limited exploration in the project area. The Golden Corridor lies immediately north of the unconformity and is characterized as a highly prospective trend of coincident favourable magnetic and resistivity lineaments supported by highly anomalous gold-in-till samples covering 7.0 by 0.5 kilometres. An additional highly prospective target area was defined in 2021, termed the Skinner North Target Area, where 2022 channel sampling results include 9.69 gpt gold over 3.0 metres and 13.13 gpt gold over 1.8 metres and till samples containing up to 1,014 gold grains, was drilled for the first time in November of 2022. Historical drilling by previous operators at the Bathurst Mine, Joe Vein, KT vein, Dunkin and Vihonen prospects reported high-grade gold intercepts which have yet to be followed up by Prosper Gold.

QA/QC Procedures

Quality assurance and quality control measures implemented by the Company include the insertion of certified reference materials in the sample sequence at a rate of 1 in 20 for both blank material and certified reference standards. Analytical results for reference standard and blank samples are scrutinized internally to ensure adequate analytical precision and accuracy in both sample preparation and instrumental procedures. A chain of custody from drilling to laboratory is strictly monitored to ensure sample and analytical integrity and reliability. Half-split core samples are sent to AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where they are analyzed in 50-gram aliquots using Fire-Assay with ICP-OES finish. Any overlimit analyses (>10 g/t Au) are re-analyzed with a pulp metallic screen method designed to give the most accurate representation of gold concentration in each sample. AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay, ON, is an accredited testing laboratory having been assessed by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and found to conform with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Rory Ritchie, P.Geo., Vice-President of Exploration for Prosper Gold and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

For a detailed overview of Prosper Gold please visit www.ProsperGoldCorp.com.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per: Peter Bernier

Peter Bernier

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Peter Bernier

President & CEO

Prosper Gold Corp.

Cell: (250) 316-6644

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about the planned exploration of the Golden Sidewalk project, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

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.
BRISBANE, Australia , Nov. 22, 2018 /CNW/ -- Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE, TSX: ORL) ("Orocobre" or "the Company") wishes to provide the following transcript of the Chairman's Address from the 2018 AGM. Good morning and welcome to the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Orocobre Limited. My name is... Read More
This announcement is an advertisement for the purposes of the Prospectus Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority ('FCA') and not a prospectus and not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or to acquire, securities in any jurisdiction, including in or into the United... Read More
Yoo Yeon Seok is creating a major buzz online after the actor was accused of disrespecting a security guard and allegedly abusing his power.

As mentioned by a media outlet, the "Hospital Playlist" star was the subject of the online post where the uploader detailed how the author's father was humiliated by the actor.

Yoo Yeon Seok's Rudeness Towards Security Gains Online Attention

In a post, it says that the father works as a security guard at a building where Yoo Yeon Seok lives. Moreover, the uploader claimed that the "Narco-Saints" star was rude and ignored him many times.

In addition, the post also mentioned that the security guard would hear the actor along with his friends insulting him. This is also the reason why he quit his job because of the shame he would feel every time he sees the actor.

Yoo Yeon Seok's Agency Announces Plan to Take Legal Action Against False Claims

Immediately after the post circulated online, Yoo Yeon Seok's agency, King Kong by Starship, released a statement addressing the controversy involving the 38-year-old celebrity.

Expressing their official stance towards the incident, the label pointed out that after "checking facts" they have confirmed that the online post against the actor is "completely groundless."

READ MORE: Yoo Yeon Seok Reveals Heartfelt Story About His Rescue Dog Rita

Moreover, the talent agency also announced that they are looking into filing a legal complaint regarding the malicious post.

"We plan to file a complaint against the poster for defamation through stating false information. We have already hired a lawyer and are preparing for strong legal action," the statement reads.

Lastly, Yoo Yeon Seok's agency advises the public to "refrain from distributing any groundless rumors or speculative posts" about the issue.

With the warning expressed by the actor's camp, the uploader apologized for posting such claims, adding that the reason why the person rant out the claims is because of "jealousy."

According to a different media outlet, the author of the post is envious of what the actor has been accomplishing in his career.

In addition, the person, who hadn't met Yoo Yeon Seok, mentioned that they did not expect that the post will blow up and reach the actor's agency.

"I have never met him, but I think he must be an actor with a good personality full of consideration," the uploader said.

Following the person's apology, King Kong by Starship stood firmly with their decision to plan to file a complaint against the person.

Yoo Yeon Seok has been in the industry since 2008 after joining as one of the supporting actors in the medical K-drama "General Hospital 2." He started his career as a theater actor but also tried his luck on screen.

Interestingly, he rose to stardom after landing the lead role in "Reply 1994" back in 2013 along with Go Ah Ra, Jung Woo, and more.

From then on, viewers continue to see Yoo Yeon Seok dominating the small screen with interesting characters which include "Hospital Playlist," "Narco-Saints" and his recent "The Interest of Love" with Moon Ga Young.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Moon Ga Young Reveals Surprising Secret Behind Kissing Scene With Yoo Yeon Seok in 'The Interest of Love'

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
After fully accepting their romantic attraction for one another, Lee Sung Kyung and Kim Young Kwang find it difficult to hide the tension in their bodies.

In "Call It Love" episode 9, the romance between the two continues to bloom. Will they finally confess their feelings to each other?

Shim Woo Joo's Anger For Han Dong Jin Intensifies

"Call It Love" episode 9 begins with Shim Woo Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) sitting outside a karaoke bar. She learns that her younger brother secretly works there.

Shim Ji Goo (Jang Sum Bum) then talks her out of it while she dodges his sister's nagging, saying that he should go back to school again.

Things get emotional when he shares that he doesn't want Shim Woo Joo to shoulder everything, especially after seeing that she is also struggling on her own.

Shim Woo Joo becomes even more frustrated when she discovers that her brother is living with Han Dong Jin (Kim Young Kwang), the son of her late father's mistress and the man she's in love with.

Jealousy Adds Fuel To Shim Woo Joo's Fire

At Han Dong Jin's apartment, she sees him and his ex-girlfriend go on a heated argument. Kang Min Young (EXID Hani) apologizes once again for what happened to their relationship.

Han Dong Jin then clarifies that he doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, breaking the latter's heart.

The following morning, Han Dong Jin contacts Shim Woo Joo, saying that he's sorry for not telling her the truth about his brother.

Shim Woo Joo gets caught by Cha Sun Woo (Jeon Seok Ho) staring at Han Dong Jin. With this, the two are paired together for some work.

However, instead of working, the two talk about his living conditions with her younger brother. What surprises Han Dong Jin the most is the fact that she's not miffed with him keeping her brother's secret.

It's how she became upset after learning that Kang Min Young and Han Dong Jin still meet. Unfortunately for her, she can't tell him to stop as they are just friends.

Han Dong Jin Receives Ominous Call

Shim Woo Joo doesn't renew her contract at Best Fairs despite being offered a full time position. Jaded, Han Dong Jin tells their boss to let her do whatever she wants.

His stoicism doesn't last long when he gets a call from a hospital, saying that Shim Woo Joo is currently confined in.

It is revealed that a drunk Kang Min Young is at fault. Due to his anger, he orders her to leave. Shim Woo Joo flinches in her sleep and Han Dong Jin holds her hand as he soothes the pain away.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Kim Hye Soo never fails to make heads turn every time she walks on the red carpet. However, the actress taled about what she truly feels about dressing up and being in front of a large audience.

During her appearance on Song Yoon A's YouTube channel, the actress talked about her Blue Dragon Film Awards looks and the actor she looks up to.

Known for her remarkable acting, Kim Hye Soo made a name for herself as one of the actresses who can portray various roles. With her decades-long career in showbiz, the 52-year-old star named an actor that impressed her the most.

THIS 'Narco-Saints' Star Impressed Kim Hye Soo - Here's Why

During her chat with Song Yoon A, Kim Hye Soo expressed how he admired Jo Woo Jin's acting skills.

To recall, they became co-stars in the 2018 movie "Default" where the versatile actor took the role of Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Finance, while Kim Hye Soo played the Bank of Korea's monetary policy manager Han Shi Hyun.

As obtained by a media outlet, she pointed out Joo Woo Jin is "talented" and a "decent man."

"When I saw him act. Every single time, it can't get any more real than that," she added.

Moreover, she also recalled an instance during the filming of the movie and shared that all cameras were focused on her but wanted to tell everyone to pan the camera to Jo Woo Jin's intense acting and viewers deserve to see it.

"But deep down, I was thinking, 'Get a shot of him! He's killing it!'" she said, adding, "It wasn't even on purpose."

Kim Hye Soo also mentioned how "cool" her co-star is. "Actors like him get me all excited."

The 44-year-old actor gained attention in 2021 after landing the role of undercover agency Byun Ki Tae in "Narco-Saints."

At the time, netizens express how they are drawn to Jo Woo Jin's role, especially the plot twist on his character.

Kim Hye Soo Making Headlines Because of her Blue Dragon Film Awards Looks

From the actor she looks up to her iconic Blue Dragon Film Awards outfits, Kim Hye Soo then got honest and said shet prefers to be recognized for her work than her looks.

As the conversation with Song Yoon A continued, she confessed the bitter story behind of her Blue Dragon Film Awards attendance.

Although she is thankful to be hosting the prestigious ceremony for several years, the actress said she "didn't want to see the article" about her dress and "didn't go out after receiving applause as an actor." What she values is the recognition for her work.

For five consecutive years, Kim Hye Soo has been hosting Blue Dragon Film Awards, which made her earn the title "Blue Dragon Lady."

Apart from it, she also received tons of nominations and trophies from the ceremony, including Best Leading Actress for "First Love" in 1993 followed by "Dr. Bong" in 1995, and Tazza: The High Rollers" in 2006 where she was also nominated for Popular Star Award.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Hye Soo Reveals Difficulties of Filming Sageuk Drama + Shares Behind-the-Scenes

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
While still starring in "Taxi Driver 2," Shin Jae Ha is already being courted to headline a new drama with these talented actors. Can you guess who these stars are?

Shin Jae Ha to Potentially Work With Shin Ha Kyun & Kim Young Kwang

After making an outstanding performance in tvN's rom-com series "Crash Course in Romance," where he played as villain, Shin Jae Ha is starting to build a strong presence in the K-drama scene.

On March 23, it was reported that Shin Jae Ha is in talks to star in the upcoming noir drama "Biography of the Evil." Apart from the new project offer, he might work with brilliant actors Shin Ha Kyun and Kim Young Kwang.

The K-drama will be directed by Kim Jung Min. If Shin Jae Ha accepts the offer, he is expected to show a different charm that the audience hasn't seen before.

Shin Jae Ha is drawing positive responses from viewers for his amazing portrayal as antagonist in "Crash Course in Romance." He continues to deliver a high-quality performance as he stars in the ongoing revenge-adventure series "Taxi Driver 2."

Meanwhile, it has been said that Shin Jae Ha's character Oh Ha Joon will increase tension in the development of the story.

Once the actor agrees to join the cast of "Biography of the Evil," it will mark his next work following "Taxi Driver 2."

Where to Watch Shin Jae Ha Next

Thanks to his laudable acting, people became curious about his previous works. Here are some of the dramas he starred in that viewers can watch next.

The male star first appeared in the 2014 fantasy-romance series "Pinocchio," alongside Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye. In the same year, he also made his silver screen debut in "Futureless Things."

In 2015, he joined the cast of "Cheer Up!" and "Remember: War of Son."

The following year, he starred in four series namely "Page Turner," "Memory," "Wanted," and "Gogh, The Starry Night."

Shin Jae Ha reunited with his real-life friend Lee Jong Suk in "While You Were Sleeping," alongside Jung Hae In.

Other dramas that Jae Ha made appearances in are "Prison Playbook," "A Poem A Day," "The Ghost Detective," "Welcome 2 Life," "VIP," and "My Unfamiliar Family."

Catch Shin Jae Ha every Saturday and Sunday on SBS' "Taxi Driver 2."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Shin Jae Ha Update: Did You Know the Actor is Close to THESE K-Heartthrobs?

What can you say about Shin Jae Ha's potential drama? 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.
By the time I was in elementary school, I was Moms right-hand man when it came to interpreting official documents, work emails, or confusing American jokes. Like 20.3 percent of the U.S. population, I grew up in a primarily non-English speaking home since Korean is my parents native tongue. Among all the odd translations my mom consulted me for, health care ones were always the hardest. Even today, as a medical student, I find it difficult to fully comprehend the fine-print details on insurance policies, terms, and conditions. So when the U.S. health care system and its health care-steeped jargon are already confusing enough to navigate as fluent English speakers, how difficult is it for limited-English-proficient (LEP) patients?

In a country that self-proclaims to be a melting pot, how can we address the unfair correlation between poor health literacy and negative impacts on health outcomes?

According to the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services (HHS), health literacy is the ability to access and understand health information and services, which can be used to make informed decisions and take care of ones health. There is a strong correlation between low health literacy and poor health outcomes, due to an underutilization of vaccinations, routine screenings, and other preventive care services. Even something as simple as taking a pill once a day can be extremely dangerous if misunderstood as taking it eleven times a day. This is the reality for many LEP patients.

In other words, this leaves us with vulnerable patient populationsand as written by the former Surgeon General, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, poor health literacy causes an increased prevalence of health disparities among elderly adults, racial/ethnic minorities, recent refugees and immigrants, low-income individuals, and non-native speakers of English.

Despite there being 22.4 million Asian Americans, there is a limited number of U.S.-based studies on Asian American health literacy, let alone Asian American health in general. Given this research gap, we turn to a study conducted in Norway which found that language barriers made it significantly more difficult for Thai and Filipino immigrant women to understand the Norwegian health care system. The same holds true for individuals in the U.S., where being a racial minority or immigrant with a language barrier further complicates navigating an already unfamiliar, overly complex health care system.

Dr. Chen and colleagues research found that a significant number of LEP Chinese immigrants had higher health literacy levels when communicating in Chinese rather than English. This result was consistent when measuring health literacy on all fronts: functional health literacy, interactive health literacy, and information appraisal. Once again, we are shown that language barriers can contribute directly to health disparities in the Asian American immigrant population.

Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that these health disparities fall disproportionately on underrepresented ethnic minorities, even within the greater Asian American population. One study looked specifically at the health disparities faced by Hmong Americans, who make up the third lowest-earning population among all ethnic groups in the United States. This study is particularly notable because it suggests that it would be important for health information to not just be linguistically matched but also be presented in ways that incorporate the patients existing cultural understanding of health and illness. Put more plainly, we should be recruiting interpreters who not only understand the language but also the culture and background to better serve each individual in a health care setting.

Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Executive Order 13166, and Section 1557 of the ACA, federal entities must provide adequate interpreter services for LEP patients. Yet, in 2016, the American Hospital Association found that only 56 percent of hospitals surveyed offered linguistic and translation services. Moreover, while Section 4302 of the ACA mandated stricter data collection standards, less than half of commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare plans reported any data on language needs. While some interpreter services are already offered, they are not always widely available in all languages, cost-effective within the health care system, or made known and accessible for LEP patients.

However, multiple studies repeatedly show that comprehensive interpreter services are directly responsible for improving health care delivery and outcomes for LEP patients. Therefore, we need to focus on upgrading interpreter services to better address the unfair correlation between low health literacy and poor health outcomes.

Improved interpreter services can be made possible through the following three steps: 1) HHS should be held accountable for offering a wider range and quantity of interpreter services, 2) medical interpretation training should increasingly emphasize the importance of cultural competency during interpretation, and 3) the CDC Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health department can increase the amount of health care research focused on underrepresented populations.

So, I ask our governments policymakers, will you finally embrace our countrys infamous identity as the so-called melting pot of the world? Its time we lived up to the name and worked toward ensuring better health care for all of our people.

Stella Cho is a medical student.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the expanded scope of the WHO Director-Generals (DG) Flagship Initiative on Tuberculosis as the world commemorates World TB Day.

The Initiative which is running for a period of five years is intended to fast-track progress towards ending TB and achieving universal health coverage by 2030.

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom says the initiative builds on the progress achieved and lessons learned from 2018-2022.

The initiative aims to scale up the delivery of quality care to people living with TB through equitable access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics, shorter all-oral treatment for infection and disease, increasing their access to social protection and other innovations including digital tools for health.

Tuberculosis remains one of the worlds top infectious killers, causing 1.6 million deaths each year and affecting millions more, with enormous impacts on families and communities.

The theme for this years TB day is Yes! We can end TB!
In this episode of the KFM HotSeat, Patrick Kamara hosts Minister Henry Okello Oryem, and Dr. Adrian Jjuuko to discuss the recently passed Anti-homosexuality Bill.

The White House and the European Union (EU) have joined the United Nations (UN) and other human rights groups in condemning the just passed Anti-homosexuality Bill.

The bill introduces stricter penalties for people engaged in same-sex activities in Uganda including a death penalty for aggravated homosexuality.

Listen to the show below;
Buganda Road Court has issued criminal summons against Kawempe North Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya together with his two sureties to appear before court on April 21, 2023, for his trial to proceed on charges of incitement to violence.

Court has identified Ssegirinyas securities as Bagonza Thomas and Apollo Ariho both LC3 Councillors of Wandegeya and Kasangati Town Council respectively.

Prosecutions Ivan Kyazze applied for an extension of Criminal Summons to MP Ssegirinya and his sureties saying it is the second time the accused legislator is not appearing in court yet witnesses are always present.

Today, neither MP Ssegirinya nor his new Lawyer, Medard Lubega Ssegona appeared before court but Detective AIP Ocen Bosco Olukuwode, a prosecution witness from Gulu was present.

It is against this background that presiding Grade One Magistrate, Sienna Owomugisha summoned both MP Mohammed Ssegirinya and his surities emphasizing the consistent appearance of prosecution witnesses in court.

It is alleged that between August and September 2020 while in Kampala, Ssegirinya commonly known as Mr. Update made statements on his Facebook page Ssegirinya Muhammad Fans Page calculated to incite the public to participate in violence against a section or group of Ugandans.

He is quoted by prosecution to have posted a statement reading, I am warning those who are trying to assassinate Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu that what will happen will be forty times worse than the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

He has since denied the charges and is now out on bail.
Civil Society Organizations have protested before the Financial Intelligence Authority to have them removed from the list contained in the Anti-money Laundering Act, which makes them reporting entities.

The Anti-money Laundering law requires such entities to formulate policies, controls, and procedures to monitor and address risks relating to money laundering.

The executive director of Defenders Protection Initiative, Yona Wanjala, says the Anti-money Laundering Act, 2013, is indiscriminate and burdensome, particularly for non-governmental organizations with responsibilities that curtail their operations.

He made the remarks while handing over the policy brief on the justification to de-classify non-profit organizations in Uganda from the list of accountable persons under the 2nd schedule to the AML-Act 2022 as amended.

He says nongovernmental organizations are not supposed to be accountable unless the risk identifies them to be engaging in money maundering.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem says to protect the younger generation, Uganda will not bow to pressure from the Western world to okay homosexuality in the country.

The UNAIDS has since urged the government of Uganda not to enact what it calls a harmful law that threatens public health.

Earlier on, US secretary of state, Antony Blinken said that the Anti-homosexuality Act would undermine fundamental human rights of all Ugandans and could reverse gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Now speaking to KFM, Okello Oryem noted that Ugandans through their area MPs voted against homosexuality and that as government, they plan to uphold the decision.

If ever there was a demonstration of democracy in Uganda, this is the true reflection of democracy. Members of Parliament ensured a true reflection of what is at the grassroots and the Western countries are making noise about democracy. Please, Members of Parliament who were voted at the grassroots are telling you this is what the people are saying, Oryem said.

He is optimistic that president Museveni will assent to the Anti-homosexuality Bill 2023.

The Bill passed by parliament criminalizes homosexuality, prescribes a life sentence for convicted homosexuals, and a death penalty for aggravated homosexuality.
Moslems have lauded parliament for standing strong to pass the controversial Anti-homosexuality Bill, urging President Museveni to assent to it.

The head of Jumiat Dawa Al Salafiya at Nakasero Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga, said what parliament did had to be welcomed by any God-fearing person and a Pan-Africanist.

He has asked the president not to bow to foreign pressure but go ahead and sign the Bill in a bid to protect the countrys culture and norms and also to respect God as Ugandas motto goes.

Meanwhile, Kamoga has advised Muslims to use this month of Ramadan to do charity works and pray for others
Business to Arts launched the call for Kilkenny nominations for the annual Business to Arts Awards 2023 to join previous local winners Kilkenny Famine Experience Sculpture recipients of the Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice (2018).

Today, Business to Arts launches its annual call for nominations, running up to Thursday 27th April.

The Business to Arts Awards is Irelands only event that recognises excellence in creative partnerships, where a business, philanthropic organisation or individual has supported the arts in a compelling way.

The Awards feature a range of categories that celebrate arts sponsorship, commissioning, philanthropy, staff engagement programmes, corporate social responsibility, access programmes, creative community initiatives, and more.

This year sees a new Award join the slate, the Creative Access Award supported by the Community Foundation Ireland, which recognises corporate-sponsored creative programmes that allow marginalised or underrepresented communities to engage with the arts, be it through education, equipment, funding or more.

Speaking about the Award, Community Foundation Irelands Chief Executive Denise Charlton said:

Community Foundation Ireland shares a mission of equality for all in thriving communities with its donors, supporters and 5,000 community partners. Access to arts is an equality issue.

As Irelands philanthropic hub, the Community Foundation, is proud to sponsor the new Creative Access Award to acknowledge those who continue to break down barriers to make art, creative and colour open to all.

The Awards has a total of 12 categories in 2023, that recognise the hard work of partnerships that range from small, community-based initiatives, through to large-scale, and long-term engagements with national reach.

Applications are welcomed from projects of all sizes and approaches, with the judges looking to award relationships that show true collaboration; considered investment of funds, time, or expertise; innovative concepts or relationship models; fresh ideas, and genuine impact.

This years new and returning Awards partners include Innovation Partner Accenture, the Arts Council, Community Foundation Ireland, daa, ESB, Irish Life, Kmend, The Irish Times, and TileStyle.

The annual Bursary programme features a total of three monetary prizes from TileStyle, Accenture, and daa. These bursaries will support emerging artists, digital artists, creative producers, and a chosen arts organisation from the main nominations to further their nominated project/programme.

Speaking about the launch of the nominations Louise OReilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts:

We are thrilled to launch this year's Business to Arts Awards nominations. The Awards provide a unique opportunity to show just how meaningful and impactful arts partnerships can be for both the corporate sector and the communities they serve. We are excited to learn about a new generation of creative partners and welcome our new Creative Access Award supported by Community Foundation Ireland.'

Closing date for applications is midnight, Thursday, April 27th 2023. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.
Famers and woodland owners from all over Ireland will meet tomorrow, Saturday March 25 in Thurles for the first Ash dieback conference held in Ireland.

Ash Dieback 2023 is organised by woodland owners for woodland owners. This conference will see farmers from around the country talking about the devastation of ash dieback and debating proposals for how to recover from it.

Speakers include representatives from Teagasc, the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Forestry Owners association, affected woodland owners, forestry contractors and scientific experts.

There will also be ample time for questions and debate from the audience. The conference has been organised by Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners (LTWO) and will be held at the Dome, Semple stadium Thurles on Saturday March 25.

We desperately need to plant more trees to combat climate change and we need more broadleaf trees to increase biodiversity," said LTWO Chairman Simon White.

"Yet almost all 123 million ash trees in Ireland are doomed because of ash dieback. This is causing devastation to the environment, to the woodland owners who stand to lose decades of investment and is making prospective woodland owners very reluctant to plant trees.

"But we also want to look to the future and discuss solutions to this problem. So I am delighted that we have a range of speakers who will tackle this problem from many different angles."

The conference will start at 10am and attendance is free. For more information and to register go to www.ashdieback2023.com.
The 175th anniversary of the Young Irelanders Monster Meeting on Slievenamons summit to protest against the export of food during The Great Famine, will be commemorated with a re-enactment of the historic gathering on July 16.

The commemoration of the 1848 monster meeting attended by between 20,000 and 50,000 people, is being organised by Lingaun Valley Tourism, the people of Kilcash and other communities surrounding Slievenamon.

It will include a hike up to the cairn on Slievenamons summit, a re-enactment of the monster meeting and lecture along with a music, cultural and historical festival in Kilcash. A childrens art project will also be run in local schools.

The monster meeting was organised by the Young Irelanders, led by William Smith OBrien MP, Thomas Francis Meagher and Michael Doheny, during the height of The Famine. It was the first time the Irish tricolour flag was displayed at a large scale event.

A band from Cashel led the Young Ireland leaders to the summit to meet the large assembly.

The idea of marking the 175th anniversary of the 1848 Monster Meeting on Slievenamon was envisaged by Dr Tom McGrath of Ballingarry 1848 House Museum with Robert Duggan of Lingaun Valley Tourism last summer.

A number of well attended meetings have already taken place in Kilcash to plan the commemoration and the organisers have received support from Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, Clonmel Borough District and Tipperary County Councils Arts, Heritage and Tourism officers.

The organisers began their promotion campaign for the commemoration at the St Patricks Day Parades in Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel and Kilkenny last Friday.

Michael Keogh, chairman of the organising committee, said grants and local funding of approximately 5,000 have been committed so far but more funding is needed to host the commemoration.

If the commemoration is successful, he said the committee intend to make it an annual event attractive to locals and tourists including members of the Irish diaspora, especially those whose ancestors emigrated due to The Famine

More information on the 175th anniversary commemoration is available on the Slievenamon 1848 Commemoration Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Updates were recently issued on the status of flood relief schemes across County Kilkenny by Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Patrick O'Donovan TD.

Minister O'Donovan provided the details following a query from Deputy John McGuinness, Chairman of the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach.

"We have very much engaged with Kilkenny County Council, as the Chairman will know," O'Donovan said.

"Graignamanagh is the first one and, hopefully, there will be planning in August 2023 and completion in 2027.

"Ballyhale is at planning and there are compulsory purchase order, CPO, issues with Kilkenny County Council.

"The remainder of the schemes at Freshford, Pilltown, Inistioge and Thomastown are in the second tranche of the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme."

Deputy McGuinness then raised the point with the Minister that Freshford was flooded very badly recently and 'is at a higher risk than before'.

"Is there a timeframe? Where is Freshford in the scheme of things?", McGuinness asked.

"The Chairman is right about the extensive damage because 30 properties and two businesses were flooded, and there was a lot of land and infrastructural damage," Minister O'Donovan responded.

"The OPW is in discussions with Kilkenny County Council to see if there is some way to move the scheme forward. Kilkenny County Council is due to deliver its report to the Office of Public Works and we expect that shortly.

"With regard to the other schemes in the second tranche, our staff in the Office of Public Works are engaging with the directors of services in each of the individual local authorities because we do resource engineers in individual local authorities, including Kilkenny.

"We do that to ascertain whether, were additional resources to be applied, it would be of benefit to the council in terms of doing some of the preliminary works around collecting the data that will be needed to present a planning application that is likely to succeed.

"We are having that discussion with Kilkenny County Council at the moment."
The village of Gowran should be attracting more visitors due to the 'magnificent' St Mary's Church and its 'proximity' to Kilkenny City, according to Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan.

O'Donovan stated that there is currently a good working relationship between Kilkenny County Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW) but noted that more could be done, with additional funding, to enhance Kilkenny's tourism offering.

"With some small money provided by Failte Ireland, Kilkenny County Council or both, that site [St Mary's Church] could be promoted as an add-on to Kilkenny Castle and the city's Medieval Mile trail, which would really help the village and community of Gowran," he said.

"It is a magnificent site. It is absolutely fabulous. There are permanent guides there. However, its proximity to Kilkenny suggests that the numbers visiting should be far bigger," he added.

"There is an opportunity, particularly in a county like Kilkenny, for villages to draw off the centre where there are OPW sites.

"We will work with any such villages. I do not have the number in front of me but, last year, close to 1 million people went through Kilkenny Castle between the parklands and everything. It is a very significant part of the city and county."
Thousands of motorists are believed to have been offered free NCT tests since the start of the year, because of delays caused by a massive backlog.

The test normally costs 55. However, under a customer charter, drivers qualify for a free test if they are not offered an appointment within 28 days of seeking a test.

This rule is subject to a number of conditions, including that the vehicle owner did not fail to attend an appointment.

In February it emerged that there are now 375,000 vehicles on Irish roads without a valid NCT certificate.

One reason for this is that 3,500 people per week are not turning up for appointments to have their car tested.

Many NCT centres around the country do not have appointments available for the next 5 months.

Representatives from the car testing company told an Oireachtas Transport Committee in February that there are 375,000 vehicles overdue their NCT, which they said is more than double the normal amount for the early months of the year.
Russian long-range strikes have killed at least 10 civilians and hurt 20 others in several areas of Ukraine, Ukraines presidential office said.

It comes as a senior Moscow official said the Kremlins forces are prepared for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the coming weeks.

Five people died in Kostiantynivka, a town in eastern Ukraines Donetsk province, when a Russian missile hit an aid station.

Ukrainian authorities last year established hundreds of so-called points of invincibility, where residents hard-pressed by the war could warm up, charge their mobile phones and get snacks.

Local prosecutors said the Russians attacked Kostyantynivka with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

The civilians who died were refugees, according to Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

As the mostly artillery war of the recent winter months stretched into its second spring, Russian forces also used air-launched missiles, exploding drones and gliding bombs in their attacks on several regions early on Friday, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Two civilians died and nine were wounded in the Sumy province town of Bilopillia by a nighttime rocket and artillery barrage and air strikes, the administration of the northeast region said.

In the southern Kherson region, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited on Thursday, Russian shelling killed one person in the main city, also called Kherson, and killed another person and wounded four others in the town of Bilozerka.

On Wednesday, a Russian drone attack hit a secondary school and dormitories south of Kyiv, killing at least nine people.

The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  24 March 2023. Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/bxsCRzNRtt #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/9KoMBHi9pm  Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 24, 2023

Kyivs forces are poised to use the improved spring weather and arrival of modern weapons, including tanks, supplied by its western allies to launch a counteroffensive aimed at dislodging Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine.

But Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now the deputy head of Russias Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said the Russian military is ready to repel a counterattack.

Our general staff is assessing all that, Mr Medvedev said.

He also said a Ukrainian attempt to seize Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.

An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said.

Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realise that.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  24 March 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/rQBoHmhsbB #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/leo9MwlOvq  Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 24, 2023

Though known for his bombastic pronouncements, Mr Medvedevs warning stems from the Russian security doctrine envisaging the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an attack with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.

Mr Medvedev also said western experts operating weapons, such as the US-made Patriot air defence missile systems supplied to Ukraine, would be legitimate targets for the Russian military.

Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the US, although Russian officials have frequently claimed foreign instructors are present in Ukraine.

If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Mr Medvedev told reporters in video clips he posted on his messaging app channel.

They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state and they must be destroyed.

They must understand that as soon as an American or a Polish soldier shows up there, he must be killed, he added.

The Kremlins goal is to create a sanitary cordon of up to 60 miles around Russian-held areas so short and mid-range weapons cannot strike them, according to Mr Medvedev.

Moscow may even set its sights on grabbing a bigger chunk of Ukrainian territory, stretching all the way to the border with Poland, he added.
Sixteen festivals have been recommended to go forward for funding approval under the Kilkenny County Council Festival Supports Grants Scheme 2023.

The main purpose of the scheme is to support festivals which drive tourism in Kilkenny, underpinning Kilkenny County Council's tourism strategy and improving the visitor experience in Kilkenny city and county.

Abhainn Ri Festival, Smithwick's Kilkenny Roots Festival, Kilkenny Tradfest, Cannonball Ireland, Kilkenny Animated, Kilkenomics, Savour Kilkenny, Kilkenny Cat Laughs, Graig' Town of Books, Castlecomer Wellie Race, Keep Her Lit Festival, The Iverk Show, Alternative Kilkenny Arts, Kilkenny Fleadh Cheoil, Hughes Pumpkin Festival and Ras na mBan will now all go forward for funding approval.

Commenting on the allocations, Cllr Andrew McGuinness applauded the 'quality of all of our festivals' and stated that it is 'absolutely fantastic the opportunities they create for local artists, musicians and people'.

The councillor noted that this year is the 25th Anniversary of the Smithwick's Kilkenny Roots Festival, 'renowned within the music sector and around the world'.

He also asked that unsuccessful applicants are helped and guided to alternative funding pathways.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, also paid tribute to the immense variety of festivals that Kilkenny has become home too.

"In particular I'd like to commend the immense amount of work that goes into the Castlecomer Wellie Race every year that kicks the whole festival season in the county off," he said.

"It's great to see our festivals picking up from where they left from pre-Covid and going from strength-to-strength. It's also great to see some new festivals getting funding. Long may they continue."
St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny is under 'huge pressure' following the devastating fire that recently ripped through Wexford General Hospital, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, Varadkar stated that 'a new 22-bed ward is opening in Kilcreene Regional Orthopaedic Hospital in Kilkenny to help out'.

"It is putting huge pressure on University Hospital Waterford, St. Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny and other hospitals," Varadkar told elected members.

"I was in Wexford General Hospital in the past two weeks since the fire and I had a chance to speak to the management, doctors and other healthcare staff there about the situation.

"Part of what is happening is that a minor injuries unit has been reopened in the hospital. Patients are being repatriated to Wexford too. Staff are being transferred. Mowlam Healthcare, a nursing home in Tramore, is being used as well.

"If it is possible to do a modular unit or to do something to provide additional capacity, we should do it. I gave that indication to the management when I was there. The emergency rules that applied during the Covid-19 period no longer do."


LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - Aluminium giant Rusal plans to bring a further lawsuit in London against Vladimir Potanin, CEO of Nornickel, court documents show, marking the latest flare-up in relations between two of Russia's biggest metal companies.

Rusal wishes to "bring certain further claims" against Potanin and his affiliate Whiteleave Holdings Ltd that are not covered by a lawsuit filed in London's High Court on Oct. 21, according to a court order dated March 21 and seen by Reuters.

Rusal declined to comment, but previously said its legal action was to protect the interests of Nornickel's shareholders. Potanin holds a 37% stake, while Rusal holds 26%.

"Lawyers on the case are waiting for their licence as they are preparing to litigate," Potanin's Interros holding company said in an emailed statement.

Rusal's lawsuit has been paused until mid-July pending an application by Potanin and Whiteleave's lawyers Seladore Legal to Britain's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation for a licence to represent them, the court order states.

Nornickel has not been directly targeted by Western sanctions, but Britain and the U.S. have placed sanctions on Potanin.

The dispute that led to the October lawsuit, and Rusal's planned further claims, centres on an agreement brokered by Moscow in 2012 between Nornickel's two largest shareholders, Potanin and Rusal, which protected Nornickel's dividend payouts.

Oleg Deripaska, founder of Rusal, is not a party to the litigation.

Disagreements over dividends have been the main reason for on-and-off rows between shareholders at Nornickel and Rusal. One of the parties to the 2012 deal is billionaire Roman Abramovich, who helped to cool the dispute a decade ago.

The deal, which was due to expire at the end of 2022, resolved a disagreement over how much profit should be returned to investors and how much should be invested in Nornickel.

Rusal alleges Potanin and Whiteleave procured the transfer of "crucial subsidiaries" out of Nornickel's corporate group "with the sole or main purpose of diverting value away from the (Nornickel) Group, as part of a wider strategy of entrenching (Whiteleave and Potanin's) control", according to a summary of the lawsuit dated Oct. 21.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin and Clara Denina, additional reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova; editing by Barbara Lewis)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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(Kitco News) - Rock Tech Lithium CEO Dirk Harbecke plans to build lithium conversion plants in the heart of Europe's automotive industry: Germany.

Harbecke was interviewed by Kitco Mining Audiences Manager Michael McCrae in February at the BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference.

The company aims to be a lithium hydroxide supplier to the battery and automotive industries. To that end, Rock Tech Lithium (CVE:RCK) plans to construct up to five lithium converters in Germany by 2030.

Harbecke sees downstream opportunities from this significant investment.

"This is where we see the bottlenecks in the lithium industry," said Harbecke. "We are convinced that we need western supply chains. We need a regional supply of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate in Europe and in North America."

The company is also advancing its Georgia Lake lithium project in Ontario. A pre-feasibility on the project was completed last year.
LISBON, March 24 (Reuters) - ECB Governing Council member Mario Centeno said on Friday Europe's banking system was not demonstrating signs of growing financial tensions seen outside the euro zone, although it was not completely isolated due to interconnections.

"I don't see these signs (of growing tensions)," he told a news conference, adding though that the ECB was constantly monitoring financial stability.

Banking stocks fell sharply again on Friday, with European giants Deutsche Bank and UBS knocked by worries that regulators and central banks have not yet contained the worst shock to the sector since the 2008 global financial crisis.
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(Kitco News) - Harmony Gold Mining reported today that an employee tragically lost his life on Thursday, 23 March 2023 at its Kusasalethu mine, near Carletonville, in Gauteng province of South Africa.

In a statement, the company said that the nature of the incident leading to this loss of life is still to be confirmed.

"This is a tragic and regrettable loss for all of us. We have been putting in every effort as a company, involving all our stakeholders, to ensure the safety of all our employees. We will continue to apply Harmony's integrated approach towards risk management that involves our employees, all stakeholders and working environment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased during this sad time," said CEO Peter Steenkamp.

The company added it has reached out to the relevant authorities, including the family of the deceased and the affected employees to provide assistance wherever possible.

"All work in the affected section has been temporarily ceased, pending a comprehensive internal investigation," Harmony said.
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(Kitco News) - Anyone who has been paying attention to financial headlines in recent weeks knows that the world is currently undergoing the worst banking crisis since 2008, as numerous banks have already gone bankrupt while the contagion slowly spreads.

For crypto fans, the struggles with banking have been going on for some time, but a faltering financial system is not to blame in this case, as it has been the U.S. government that is the source of the difficulties.

Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, was one of the first to point out this development in a February 7 tweet: I don't want to alarm, but since the turn of the year, a new Operation Choke Point type operation began targeting the crypto space in the US. It is a well-coordinated effort to marginalize the industry and cut off its connectivity to the banking system - and it's working.

According to William Isaac, who served as Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) from 1981 to 1985, chokepoint operations are designed To target entire industries deemed undesirable by putting regulatory pressure on the banks that serve them.

Operation Chokepoint (1.0) was an effort conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Obama administration in 2013 to investigate the business that banks did with firearm dealers, payday lenders, and other companies believed to be a high risk for fraud and money laundering.

Carter provided evidence for his theory of an ongoing Operation Chokepoint 2.0 in a February 9 blog post, where he highlighted a Jan. 3 joint statement on crypto assets from the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which warned that decentralized blockchain networks are highly likely to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices.

In the time since Carter first proposed the possibility of a stealth crackdown on cryptocurrencies, numerous crypto proponents have reiterated the accusations that the government has embarked on Operation Chokepoint 2.0 with a focus on cutting the crypto industry off from all banking services.

At this point, it's hard to deny that the broader crypto industry is being targeted, regardless of the official comments provided by US regulators, said John Haar, Managing Director at Swan Bitcoin, during a conversation with Kitco Crypto. And there has been no legislation passed to authorize such action.

Haar cited speculation that Signature Bank was actively shut down by regulators  as opposed to the bank failing on its own  as an example of undercover blackballing. Reuters reported that the FDIC mandated the acquirer of Signature Bank give up all crypto customers upon acquisition, Haar noted. The FDIC denied this, but when it was announced that Flagstar Bank would acquire Signature Bank's assets, it excluded all deposits belonging to crypto companies.

Swan Bitcoin has first-hand knowledge of the crackdown, according to Haar, as the firm was dropped by Citibank in 2022 with no reason and will very little notice.

The fact that US regulators are denying the existence of Operation Chokepoint 2.0 in their official comments is consistent with what we saw in the first iteration, which happened under the Obama Administration, Harr said.

Thus far, it seems that the targeting of the broader crypto industry has been stealthy and arbitrary, as opposed to transparent and all-encompassing. This means that crypto companies may find themselves in a position where they are able to find banks who will work with them, but they will be selecting from a small and ever-changing list. If this is the case, it would be prudent for crypto companies to evaluate multiple banking partners and maintain multiple active banking relationships, because you never know exactly when a bank will stop serving the industry on short notice and provide no explanation as to why, he advised.

Stoking a nonviolent revolution

These sentiments were echoed by Stefan Rust, CEO of on-chain data aggregator Truflation, who said, There is no doubt that Operation Choke Point 2.0 is real. This is a concise, targeted effort to shut down on and off-ramps into crypto as they go through emergent banks that are not a part of the systemically important global banks.

Its no simple coincidence for Rust that, All of a sudden, governments in Europe and the US are very sensitive to Silvergate, Signature, and also Deltec Bank, all being the on and off ramps for crypto in a now emergent $1 trillion industry.

For Rust, these moves point to a concerted effort to ensure that all funds going into and coming out of the crypto ecosystem have to go through systemically important banks that regulators work with on a regular basis and can exercise a greater degree of control over.

You can be sure that JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Nomura, and UBS are all working with crypto desks, doing OTC trades for their high-net-worth individuals and potentially even building out on and off ramps for cryptocurrencies, Rust said.

While many crypto proponents have lambasted the recent moves, Rust offered an alternative view, saying, Either way, this is ultimately good for the crypto industry. Crypto evolved from being its own ecosystem to rapidly becoming a $1 trillion industry today; yet the community is strong, has faith in crypto and blockchain technology, and will continue to grow this ecosystem with or without banks. No doubt such bridges will emerge again, though, as the trade between crypto and Fiat is extremely lucrative.

Rust suggested that the latest moves by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Reserve, and other regulators only serve to cultivate stronger energy and cohesion among the crypto community where the sense of nonviolent rebellion is being stirred up and continuously stoked.

Rather than being a negative for the crypto community, Rust said it was unfortunate for the U.S. economy. Historically, the US has been the leader in innovation that is open to new ideas, and disruptive change - it has thrived on that philosophy. Indeed, it is now only crypto that represents that spirit in its truest form.

He went on to say that the current global cohort of leaders, many of whom are above 60-70 years of age, is concerned largely with protecting the status quo, noting that the boomer generation was raised in a period of almost unparalleled economic prosperity, [and] has accumulated a huge and vast amount of both wealth and debt.

The debt, Rust said, is now being layered onto the next generations, especially very young people in their 20s and 30s. This generation is going to have to carry this burden going forward - a burden of debt, fear, uncertainty, protectionism, and scarcity.

The Truflatoin CEO chastised the current cohort of leaders, saying that Rather than encourage and cultivate new, emergent industries that can generate strong economic growth that can help younger generations pay off horrific student debt and build some level of wealth, these leaders are crushing such industries in favor of protecting a banking system that serves very, very few.

The U.S. is the biggest loser in Operation Chokepoint 2.0

Rust called for governments to return to a focus on entrepreneurship and lift pioneers who are willing to take on risks to evolve the system forward. This is the kind of hope that we need to bring back to business rather than this market-driven fear we now find ourselves in.

Aggressive moves to limit crypto innovation in the U.S. has led to an increase in jurisdictional arbitrage, he said. Countries like Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong, are all trying to find a foothold in attracting crypto talent to their respective jurisdictions with favorable tax regulatory frameworks that are clear and accessible.

In the end, this only hurts the forward-looking prospect of the U.S. and limits the ability of U.S. citizens to capitalize on the future growth of the blockchain industry.

Ashton Addison, founder and CEO of Crypto Coin Show, reiterated this point, saying, Operation Chokepoint is not good for digital assets inside the USA. However, cryptocurrencies and digital assets are global assets, and limiting US citizens' access to crypto won't stop crypto adoption from happening globally.

Addison said the move is only concerning for Americans because they will miss out on technology that is going to positively change the world and global finance as we know it. These limits will only leave the USA behind in global tech adoption, and countries that embrace Web3 technologies will gain an advantage as technology continues to grow exponentially.

Despite the heavy-handed efforts by U.S. regulators, Addison sees these restrictions as having little effect on the direction of the market and merely affecting the market to a small degree on a day-to-day basis. Bitcoin cannot be stopped, and more countries are bound to adopt it, so the USA needs to play their cards right to remain competitive on the global front.
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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its position in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,810 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 162 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in BlackRock were worth $8,369,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in BlackRock by 3.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,492,083 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $7,424,424,000 after buying an additional 444,552 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in BlackRock by 1.8% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,696,425 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $5,335,747,000 after buying an additional 174,789 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 4.3% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,319,438 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $3,477,460,000 after purchasing an additional 259,896 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 15.4% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,326,618 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,777,933,000 after purchasing an additional 310,256 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 1.6% during the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,945,360 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,184,803,000 after purchasing an additional 30,163 shares during the last quarter. 77.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 575 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $689.06, for a total value of $396,209.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,670 shares in the company, valued at $3,217,910.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Stephen Cohen sold 1,149 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $753.46, for a total value of $865,725.54. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,135 shares in the company, valued at $3,115,557.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 575 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $689.06, for a total value of $396,209.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,670 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,217,910.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,839 shares of company stock worth $3,578,947 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.06% of the companys stock.

BlackRock Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BLK opened at $651.78 on Friday. BlackRock, Inc. has a one year low of $503.12 and a one year high of $788.65. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $706.46 and a 200-day moving average of $680.42. The company has a market capitalization of $97.92 billion, a PE ratio of 19.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 2.99 and a current ratio of 2.99.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 13th. The asset manager reported $8.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.99 by $0.94. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.38% and a net margin of 28.97%. The company had revenue of $4.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that BlackRock, Inc. will post 34.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 7th were given a dividend of $5.00 per share. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 6th. This is an increase from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $4.88. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is 58.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BLK has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on BlackRock from $785.00 to $828.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on BlackRock from $741.00 to $825.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on BlackRock in a report on Wednesday, December 14th. They set an overweight rating and a $820.00 target price for the company. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on BlackRock from $540.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on BlackRock in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, BlackRock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $740.92.

About BlackRock

(Get Rating)

BlackRock, Inc engages in providing investment management, risk management, and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. Its products include single and multi-asset class portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives, and money market instruments. The company was founded by Susan L.

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BLB&B Advisors LLC cut its position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 39,526 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 578 shares during the quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLCs holdings in Waste Management were worth $6,201,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WM. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Waste Management by 2.8% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,984,227 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $5,925,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,016,798 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Waste Management by 194.9% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,217,592 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $192,988,000 after acquiring an additional 804,708 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 3,120.2% during the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 600,443 shares of the business services providers stock worth $96,197,000 after purchasing an additional 581,797 shares during the period. Amundi raised its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 18.8% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 3,194,558 shares of the business services providers stock worth $482,604,000 after purchasing an additional 504,966 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 21.5% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock worth $417,394,000 after purchasing an additional 461,425 shares during the period. 78.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Waste Management

In related news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total value of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 6,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,054,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 57,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,915,135. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 31,027 shares of company stock worth $4,806,619 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Waste Management Stock Performance

A number of brokerages have weighed in on WM. UBS Group cut shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 6th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Waste Management in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $185.00 to $171.00 in a report on Monday, December 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $177.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Waste Management has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $169.50.

Shares of WM opened at $150.70 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $152.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $158.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $61.51 billion, a PE ratio of 27.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $138.89 and a 52-week high of $175.98.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $4.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.36% and a return on equity of 32.91%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, December 8th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the business services provider to buy up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th will be given a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 9th. This is a positive change from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 51.95%.

Waste Management Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada.

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Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. (NYSE:CPAC  Get Rating)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $5.20 and traded as high as $5.29. Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. shares last traded at $5.29, with a volume of 2,513 shares trading hands.

Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. Trading Down 1.3 %

The stocks fifty day moving average is $5.30 and its 200 day moving average is $5.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $441.65 million, a P/E ratio of 9.78 and a beta of 0.54.

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Institutional Trading of Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A.

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. (NYSE:CPAC  Get Rating) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 12,464 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $59,000. 0.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A.

Cementos Pacasmayo SAA engages in the production and market of cement, quicklime, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete products, and construction materials. It operates through the following segments: Cement, Concrete, and Blocks; Construction Supplies; Quicklime; and Other. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Lima, Peru.

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Vodafone Group Public (LON:VOD  Get Rating)s stock had its buy rating restated by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a GBX 185 ($2.27) target price on the cell phone carriers stock, down from their previous target price of GBX 195 ($2.39). Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price objective suggests a potential upside of 108.85% from the companys previous close.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. UBS Group set a GBX 120 ($1.47) target price on Vodafone Group Public in a research note on Thursday, December 8th. Berenberg Bank set a GBX 100 ($1.23) price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein set a GBX 100 ($1.23) target price on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Credit Suisse Group restated an underperform rating and set a GBX 90 ($1.11) price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a GBX 97 ($1.19) price objective on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 119.73 ($1.47).

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Vodafone Group Public Stock Down 2.4 %

LON:VOD opened at GBX 88.58 ($1.09) on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 134.84, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.88. The company has a market cap of 23.91 billion, a PE ratio of 1,476.33, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.57. Vodafone Group Public has a 52-week low of GBX 83.24 ($1.02) and a 52-week high of GBX 132.30 ($1.62). The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 95.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 96.12.

About Vodafone Group Public

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company engages in telecommunication services in Europe and internationally. The company offers mobile services that enable customers to call, text, and access data; fixed line services, including broadband, television (TV) offerings, and voice; and convergence services under the GigaKombi and Vodafone One names to customers.

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Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:HMN  Get Rating) and Hippo (NYSE:HIPO  Get Rating) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Horace Mann Educators and Hippos top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Horace Mann Educators $1.38 billion 0.96 -$2.60 million ($0.07) -462.14 Hippo $119.70 million 2.90 -$333.40 million ($14.65) -1.02

Horace Mann Educators has higher revenue and earnings than Hippo. Horace Mann Educators is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hippo, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Horace Mann Educators -0.19% 4.15% 0.37% Hippo -278.53% -39.58% -17.00%

Analyst Recommendations

This table compares Horace Mann Educators and Hippos net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Horace Mann Educators and Hippo, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Horace Mann Educators 0 1 0 0 2.00 Hippo 0 1 3 0 2.75

Horace Mann Educators presently has a consensus target price of $38.00, suggesting a potential upside of 17.47%. Hippo has a consensus target price of $33.88, suggesting a potential upside of 127.50%. Given Hippos stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Hippo is more favorable than Horace Mann Educators.

Risk and Volatility

Horace Mann Educators has a beta of 0.4, indicating that its share price is 60% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hippo has a beta of 0.76, indicating that its share price is 24% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About Horace Mann Educators

(Get Rating)

Horace Mann Educators Corp. is an insurance holding company, which engages in the provision of insurance and retirement solutions to educators and school employees. It operates through the following business segments: Property and Casualty, Supplemental, Retirement, Life, and Corporate and Other. The Property and Casualty segment focuses on personal lines of automobile and property insurance products. The Supplemental segment focuses on heart, cancer, accident, and limited short-term supplemental disability coverage. The Retirement segment consists of tax-qualified fixed and variable annuities. The Life segment offers life insurance. The Corporate and Other segment includes interest expense on debt, the impact of realized investment gains and losses and certain public company expenses. The company was founded by Carrol Hall and Leslie Nimmo in 1945 and is headquartered in Springfield, IL.

About Hippo

(Get Rating)

Hippo Holdings Inc. provides home protection insurance in the United States and the District of Columbia. Its insurance products include homeowners' insurance against risks of fire, wind, and theft; and commercial and personal lines of products. The company distributes insurance products and services through its technology platform; and offers its policies online, over the phone, or through licensed insurance agents. It provides care and protection for homeowners, as well as operates an integrated home protection platform. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

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Yamana Gold Inc. (TSE:YRI  Get Rating) (NYSE:AUY) Director Peter Marrone sold 55,633 shares of Yamana Gold stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$6.96, for a total value of C$387,205.68.

Yamana Gold Price Performance

Shares of TSE YRI opened at C$7.98 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$7.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.57, a PEG ratio of -0.78 and a beta of 1.29. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$7.61 and a 200-day moving average of C$7.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.85, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.25. Yamana Gold Inc. has a fifty-two week low of C$5.35 and a fifty-two week high of C$8.38.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, National Bankshares dropped their price target on Yamana Gold from C$8.05 to C$7.65 and set a tender rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Yamana Gold currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of C$121.53.

Yamana Gold Company Profile

Yamana Gold Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a precious metal producer. It has gold and silver production, development-stage properties, exploration properties, and land positions throughout the Americas, including Canada, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. The company was formerly known as Yamana Resources Inc and changed its name to Yamana Gold Inc in August 2003.

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Mohawk Industries (NYSE:MHK  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Credit Suisse Group from $109.00 to $103.00 in a research report report published on Monday, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Loop Capital raised their target price on shares of Mohawk Industries from $95.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Mohawk Industries from $104.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Barclays raised their price target on Mohawk Industries from $83.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Mohawk Industries in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $132.07.

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Mohawk Industries Trading Up 0.5 %

MHK stock opened at $95.07 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $109.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $103.48. Mohawk Industries has a fifty-two week low of $87.01 and a fifty-two week high of $159.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.92. The firm has a market cap of $6.04 billion, a PE ratio of 316.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.28.

Insider Activity

Mohawk Industries ( NYSE:MHK Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 10th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.03. Mohawk Industries had a net margin of 0.22% and a return on equity of 10.06%. The firm had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.69 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.95 earnings per share. Mohawk Industriess revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Mohawk Industries will post 8.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, insider Suzanne L. Helen sold 5,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.59, for a total transaction of $621,868.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 14,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,776,270.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, insider Suzanne L. Helen sold 4,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.23, for a total value of $438,727.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,388,753.19. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Suzanne L. Helen sold 5,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.59, for a total transaction of $621,868.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 14,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,776,270.27. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 12,150 shares of company stock valued at $1,374,876. 18.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Mohawk Industries

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 4.7% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,953 shares of the companys stock worth $615,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in Mohawk Industries in the first quarter worth about $1,043,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 23.2% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 14,929 shares of the companys stock worth $1,854,000 after purchasing an additional 2,809 shares in the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 98.7% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,628 shares of the companys stock worth $1,320,000 after purchasing an additional 5,280 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 6.6% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 7,341 shares of the companys stock worth $912,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares in the last quarter. 75.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mohawk Industries Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Mohawk Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture, design, and distribution of residential and commercial flooring products. It operates through the following segments: Global Ceramic, Flooring North America (NA), and Flooring Rest of the World (ROW). The Global Ceramic segment manufactures ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tile products used for wall and floor applications.

Further Reading

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Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH  Get Rating) have been given an average rating of Hold by the twelve brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation, four have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $17.71.

A number of research firms have recently commented on NCLH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an overweight rating and issued a $30.00 price objective (down from $35.00) on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a report on Tuesday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley downgraded Norwegian Cruise Line from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $13.00 to $11.50 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $17.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Citigroup lowered their target price on Norwegian Cruise Line from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on Norwegian Cruise Line from $21.00 to $17.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Performance

NYSE NCLH opened at $12.57 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $15.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $14.99. Norwegian Cruise Line has a twelve month low of $10.31 and a twelve month high of $23.43. The company has a market capitalization of $5.30 billion, a PE ratio of -2.32 and a beta of 2.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 32.25.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line ( NYSE:NCLH Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported ($1.10) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.94) by ($0.16). The firm had revenue of $1.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.50 billion. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative return on equity of 180.24% and a negative net margin of 88.14%. On average, research analysts predict that Norwegian Cruise Line will post -4.74 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Norwegian Cruise Line by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 17,407 shares of the companys stock valued at $198,000 after purchasing an additional 630 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc grew its stake in Norwegian Cruise Line by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 22,447 shares of the companys stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 630 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its stake in Norwegian Cruise Line by 12.3% during the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 6,072 shares of the companys stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 666 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund grew its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 15,101 shares of the companys stock worth $172,000 after acquiring an additional 782 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Koshinski Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 11,270 shares of the companys stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 792 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.17% of the companys stock.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

(Get Rating)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of cruise travel services. It provides cruise experiences for travelers with itineraries in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Africa, Canada, Bermuda, Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. It also offers an entirely inter-island itinerary in Hawaii.

See Also

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Women's Health

The big picture: Dr. Lindsay Boik-Price says "Cannabis' safety is not assured."

In the news: New research continues to show that cannabis use during the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to poor outcomes for the mom and child.

The key point: The research showed that cannabis use during the early stages of pregnancy was associated with poor fetal growth, higher stillbirth rates, and increased rates of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, many women still consider marijuana safe to use during pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommends that women thinking about becoming or are pregnant should abstain or discontinue the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Did you know that 16.7% of the adults living in Delaware County report that their mental health is not good? 24.8% of the adults living in Delaware report being depressed.

Mental health impacts your pregnancy and drug use.

Doctor's Insight about Using Cannabis During Pregnancy

Know this: "It's not a good idea to smoke during pregnancy. This includes cigarettes, cannabis, and any other type of recreational/illicit drugs. Studies keep showing that smoking impacts and interferes with pregnancy--both for the mom and child." Dr. Adrianna Davis, Family Medicine.

Next steps: If you can't quit smoking, talk to your healthcare team. Most insurances in Indiana have smoking cessation programs; and, your doctor should be able to help.

Further steps: If you're pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or recently gave birth, you should know that you can get insurance. (HHS)

Call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229).

Did you know 77.8% of women in 2020 received prenatal care?

In Delaware County, 11.7% of the adults reported not being in good physical health.

What they're saying:

"We wanted to look specifically at cannabis use early in pregnancy because that's when the placenta is forming, and a lot of information we currently have indicates that cannabis use does affect the placenta..." Dr. Torri D. Metz, Obstetrics and Gynecology.) Interview Source

"In a large, diverse multicenter cohort with cannabis use ascertained by biological sampling, early pregnancy use was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes that are mediated by the placenta."

Source:

The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology published the paper: Early pregnancy cannabis exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes (Read it Here)

Marijuana Usage Stats During Pregnancy: (GE Healthcare)

1 in 4 pregnant and nonpregnant that cannabis use poses little to no risk to maternal or fetal health.

34-60 percent of marijuana users continue to use during pregnancy.

THC passes to the fetus during pregnancy.

40.1% of Delaware County adults are obese.

The Health Standard Newswire
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 34F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 34F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
In a forum, fandom DIVEs discussed about THIS IVE member, pointing out her potential to become an actress.

Who is she?

IVE Yujin Chosen by DIVEs As Member Who Can Become Actress

On March 22, IVE's fans opened a forum and discussed about Ahn Yujin's potential to become an actress.

While IVE has their bright future ahead, it's totally normal for a K-pop idol to take on multiple fields during promotions, and in Yujin's case, a promising acting career. DIVEs considered Yujin to become the first member of IVE to possibly debut as an actress, due to her facial features and visuals.

Fans also commented on her voice, which is a perfect asset to utilize on shootings and acting. With proper training, DIVEs believe that Yujin can pull off an acting career gracefully.

DIVEs also deliberated potential roles for Yujin. In the discussion, fans stated Yujin can even play an antagonistic role, reminiscent of an evil "chaebol" daughter. However, some insisted that Yujin's visuals are embedded with a "first-love" vibe, which can be applied to light storylines.

During the discussion, they also agreed that Yujin can start with small acting roles while improving her skills on the process.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: This IZ*ONE Member Transformed From Being an Audience Member to an Idol Performing on Stage

See their comments below:

"Anyways, she has a face that would work both as an actress and as an idol, so she would match being an actress too. Her voice is nice too." "Her voice and tone are also perfect for acting. I think that she'll do well if she gets proper training." "Seeing Yujin play an evil chaebol daughter would be cliche, but nice. I feel like she'd nail that quintessential K-drama antagonist smile." "Yujin's visual is first love coded. Her first role should at least be something like that." "It would be nice if she worked her way up in acting, starting with small roles to learn and hone her skills."

Ahn Yujin Admits She Didn't Enjoy IVE's First Music Show Win for THIS Reason

In other news, Yujin confessed why she didn't get to enjoy the group's first music show win. On May 18, 2022, the IVE leader appeared on magazine Marie Claire, who also got to interview her.

Yujin was asked how she felt during their first win on "The Show" with debut song "LOVE DIVE." The idol elaborated that she didn't get to savor their victory because she was worried about the future.

Nevertheless, Yujin reaffirmed her growing confidence during their comeback preparations.

Yujin remarked:

"I didn't enjoy it since I was worried about the next one. I thought, 'What will happen in the future?'" "However, as I prepare for this promotion, my confidence is gradually getting stronger. I can enjoy it as much as I can."

Do you also want to see Yujin as an actress? Tell us in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
On 27 March 2023, the Commission launches the first edition of the Day of European Authors, a new initiative led by the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel.

The day will be the occasion to reconnect younger generations with book reading and show them how literature can be a tool for individual empowerment. Reading can enable especially pupils in secondary education to engage with ongoing social and personal challenges. The new yearly celebration also aims at promoting the richness and diversity of European literature and is an opportunity to emphasise the importance of all the programmes and initiatives carried out by individual European countries to promote reading.

Secondary schools across Europe have been encouraged to organise reading aloud sessions, either with an author, a popular personality or a representative of the book sector to tell pupils about the different professions involved in the production of a book from author to illustrator, to translator, editor, and many more. More than 1,000 schools across Europe are organising reading aloud sessions on the 2023 EU Authors Day.

This year, 100 European authors will visit schools to read aloud a piece of their works and encourage students to discover European authors. The Commission organises this tour of European authors in collaboration with the European Writers Council and the European Union Prize of Literature consortium.

Also on 27 March, the Day of European Authors Conference, a one-day conference on reading promotion, is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The conference will gather EU countries' representatives of the culture and education ministries, public institutions and national NGOs active in this field as well as organisations representing the publishing sector at European level. It is an opportunity to share examples and practices on how the education system and the publishing sector are collaborating to promote reading in schools at local, national and European level. The conference can be followed online.

On the Day of European Authors, everybody is invited to engage sharing the image of a book by his or her favourite European author on social media with the hashtag #ReadWithEurope.

Background

The new Day of European Authors aims to shed light on everything European literature can offer to a young audience and heighten the youth's interest in reading in a fun and inclusive way. Further, it aims to reinforce the circulation of literature in Europe and strengthen the competitiveness of the publishing sector.

The Day of European Authors, held for the first time this year, is an initiative of the European Union's Creative Europe Programme Culture strand, which supports literature and publishing. Creative Europe's Culture strand already hosts the European Union Prize for Literature, co-finances translation efforts to make European literature more accessible, and connects audiences with European Literature, goals that the Day of European Authors also strives to support.

For More Information

Day of European Authors | Culture and Creativity (europa.eu)

European Union Prize for Literature | Culture and Creativity (europa.eu)

Circulation of European literary works and literary translations | Culture and Creativity (europa.eu)

Facebook: Creative Europe

Twitter: Creative Europe

Instagram: Creative EU

Hashtags: #ReadWithEurope #CreativeEurope
As Europe races to replace Russian fossil fuels with cleaner power sources, EU lawmakers are weighing up the future of firewood as a renewable energy source. The debate is getting heated.The European Unions race to rid itself of dependence on Russian fossil fuels is well underway. The International Energy Agency says widespread bids to beef up energy security "turbocharged" growth of green power in 2022, and EU parliamentarians hope to ramp up renewables targets to reach 45% of bloc-wide energy consumption by 2030.

Also Read | India News | NIA Chargesheets Gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, 12 Others in Terrorist-gangster Nexus Case.

The word "renewable" often conjures up images of wind farms or solar panels  less so scenes of burning trees. But biomass, which includes firewood, plants and other organic materials, makes up 60% of the EUs renewable energy mix according to the European Commission.

Also Read | World News | Man Drives into People in German Airport Garage, Some Hurt.

As the bloc now reviews its landmark renewable power legislation, a political battle over firewoods future is playing out in Brussels.

EU accused of incentivizing environmental harm

Because new trees can be planted after others have been chopped down, firewood gets the renewable seal of approval under EU law. That means member countries can subsidize wood burning, as long as certain sustainable sourcing rules are met.

But Martin Pigeon of Brussels-based forest protection campaign group Fern argues the subsidy setup is "insane" as it means "EU citizens are paying energy companies to burn forests in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis."

Industry groups refute these claims. Bioenergy Europe is a Brussels-based nonprofit focused on raising awareness, acceptance and reputation of bioenergy. The organization represents more than 150 energy companies and 40 associations  and Policy Officer Irene Di Padua told DW in written comments that responsibly sourced biomass is essential for the EUs green transition, especially in providing renewable heat.

Bioenergy needs to comply with strict sustainability criteria that ensure sourcing and use of biomass for energy does not cause any environmental harm or biodiversity loss, she said.

Martin Pigeon, however, argues that those criteria are not strict.

Climate impact of wood-burning under debate

The climate impact of wood-burning is contested. The EU officially counts wood and other biomass as carbon neutral, based on the premise that CO2 emitted through burning will be reabsorbed by more trees in future. But the European Academies Science Advisory Council says scientific study suggests the trend to replace coal with wood pellets as a means of generating electricity actually increases atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide for substantial periods of time."

A 2019 EASAC report says the time it takes for carbon emissions associated with woodburning to be evened out can range from years to decades or even centuries, depending on conditions.

EU institutional showdown over future of firewood subsidies

The European Parliament wants to limit subsidies for burning wood taken directly from forests, and instead restrict state support to secondary wood products like sawdust.

Lawmakers also want to phase down the amount of wood that counts toward EU renewable energy targets.

Nils Torvalds, one of the lawmakers working on the legislation, said the proposal is "the parliaments way of trying to limit the unsustainable and inefficient use" of wood.

But Eurelectric, an industry group representing national electricity associations and major electricity companies across Europe, told DW that the European Parliament proposals would "disturb the practicalities of forest management, lead to further supply shortages of sustainable biomass, and thus impair energy security and increase prices.

In a 2022 letter to EU member states, Eurelectric also argued that the suggestion to restrict subsidies could result in some wood excluded from support under proposals, to decompose on forest floors. "This causes CO2 emissions but yields no energy," the group said.

EU member states, meanwhile, prefer a looser definition of which type of wood can be subsidized. One diplomat who asked not to be named told DW "theres a feeling that with Russias invasion of Ukraine, with the energy crisis, member states do think that bioenergy is an important renewable source of energy. It has an important contribution to the energy system and to reaching the climate goals."

Negotiations on the details of the legislation continue this month.

European Commission promises tighter forest sustainability rules

The European Commission has also put forward plans to tighten laws on which firewood qualifies for subsidies. A spokesperson told DW that proposals include barring wood sourced from ancient forests, and only greenlighting state support for lumber from "highly biodiverse forests when there's no interference with nature protection purposes."

Under the plans, all wood-burning power plants will also have to meet certain greenhouse gas saving thresholds.

But the track record on existing rules leaves room for concern. National authorities are supposed to transpose EU standards into domestic legislation, but the European Commission spokesperson told DW that the body launched legal action against all 27 member states in 2021 for failing to complete this process or failing to notify Brussels of completion.

We are closely monitoring this process and stand ready to take enforcement actions, if needed, the spokesperson said.

Edited by: Sarah Steffen and Tamsin Walker

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2023 05:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) A group of activists on Friday alleged that their 'peaceful' protest against the "ongoing attack" on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 by the Centre was stopped by the Delhi Police.

The activists, under the 'NREGA Sangarah Morcha', also accused the police of detaining several student protesters outside the Delhi University's Arts Faculty.

Also Read | Hotel Rwanda Icon Rusesabagina to Be Freed.

A senior police officer said the university had approached the police over apprehensions that peace and tranquillity could be disturbed. He said the students and activists were later removed from the spot.

An activist associated with NREGA Sangarah Morcha said several students were picked up during the peaceful gathering.

Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Minor Girl Raped, Impregnated by Elder Cousin in Morbi, Accused Arrested.

Many Delhi University (DU) students as well as an American student were detained and taken to the Maurice Nagar Cyber cell station for simply holding a discussion on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005 and the right to work. Several other activists were also detained when they went to the police station to support those who were detained, Raj Shekhar said.

Taking to Twitter, the NREGA Sangarsh Morcha shared a series of tweets about the incident.

In the video, police personnel were seen gathered around the students who were assembled to conduct the meeting.

Few moments later, they were removed from the spot and many were taken in police vans.

The Delhi police is silencing the right of peaceful protestors to hold public discussions on issues crucial for the poor of the nation. Let us resist this and protest harder, the group tweeted.

Reacting to the incident, a senior police officer said no FIR has been registered in this regard.

"When activists and students were trying to assemble, they were removed from the spot. Eleven people who had gathered were peacefully removed. Among these 11 people, two were women," he said.

No FIR has been registered in the matter, he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Amethi (UP), Mar 24 (PTI) Congress workers raised slogans in support of party leader Rahul Gandhi over his disqualification from Lok Sabha and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at their party office here Friday, police said.

Spokesperson of the district unit of the Congress Anil Singh said Gandhi has been framed as a part of conspiracy so that his Lok Sabha membership ceases to exist and he is unable to raise the voice of the people in the House and question the government.

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"Congress workers burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the party office here and later threw it outside," he said, adding that the party is not afraid and its workers have geared up for battle.

When contacted, Superintendent of Police Elamaran G said, "The Congress workers burnt the effigy inside the party office and then threw it outside. However, this matter will be probed."

Also Read | MVA Slams Action Against Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, Terms It 'Murder of Democracy'.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was on Friday disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case, an action the party dubbed as an attempt to "silence" his voice as it vowed to fight the battle legally and politically.

The BJP, however, has dismissed the charges and termed the disqualification "lawful".

(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 24 (ANI): The Congress has also called an urgent meeting of its steering committee members, PCC presidents, CLP leaders and frontal organization chiefs at party headquarter in the national capital on Friday evening. Party president Kharge will preside over the meeting.

A day after its MP Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Surat court in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail, the Congress party has today planned a massive agitation. It has planned a protest at the Vijay Chowk here today.

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The party said it also plans to meet President Droupadi Murmu with other parties over the issue.

Congress is also expected to raise the issue in Parliament during the ongoing second leg of the Budget Session.

Also Read | Kerala: Russian Woman Jumps From First Floor of Building in Thiruvananthapuram, State Women's Commission Seeks Report.

Heavy security was seen deployed at Vijay Chowk after the Congress call for a protest march against the verdict sentencing party MP Rahul Gandhi.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday convened a meeting of senior party leaders and MPs at his residence where it was decided that a protest would be staged at Vijay Chowk.

"They (BJP) are doing this to sidestep the main issue. Congress has always stood by OBC, SC, ST, Backward class and minorities and fought for them," Kharge said on the conviction of Rahul Gandhi. On Thursday, Surat District Court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years of imprisonment in a criminal defamation case. He was later granted bail by the court and his sentence suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the decision.

The Surat District Court pronounced the verdict in the case for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

Gandhi had made the alleged remarks about Modi's surname at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, according to legal experts, as a consequence of the Surat District Court's verdict, Rahul Gandhi can be disqualified as MP. The Supreme Court in a 2013 verdict had said that any MP or MLA stands disqualified from the time of his conviction if a sentence of two or more years is pronounced.

Reacting to the District Court's verdict, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh in a tweet on Thursday said that Rahul Gandhi was being punished for speaking the truth and raising his voice against the dictator. Ramesh had also added that the law of the country gives Rahul Gandhi an opportunity to appeal so he will exercise this right and that they're not afraid.

On Thursday, the Rajasthan Congress in support of Rahul Gandhi and against the misuse of central agencies protested outside the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters and raised slogans against the Modi government.

"An appeal will be made in the High Court. Congress workers from all over the country are standing in support of Rahul Gandhi and his ideology", Dotasara had told ANI.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday in a tweet said that his religion was based on truth and non-violence after he was found guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his alleged 'Modi surname' remark. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, March 24: Amritpal Singh, Khalistani supporter and head of the organization Waris Punjab De, kept his wife in captivity, beat her up regularly, and was associated with several other women, according to inputs by intelligence agencies.

A report by Central Intelligence agencies reveals that Amritpal was living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without following Sikh tenets and was not an Amritdhari Sikh. Amritpal Singh Crackdown: Kirandeep Kaur, Britain-Origin Wife of Fugitive Waris Punjab De Chief, on Police Radar for Raising Funds Abroad.

Probe agencies are investigating why Singh visited Thailand numerous times, including whether he was indulging in prostitution or did he have a girlfriend in Thailand and was he maintaining a second wife in Thailand?

His organisation gave no prominent role to women. Reena Roy, the girlfriend of late Deep Sidhu was not allowed to open up about Amritpal's association with Deep Sidhu. Kirandip Kaur, the wife of Amritpal Singh has been kept in captivity and beaten up regularly him.

Amritpal Singh called his marriage an example of reverse migration projecting he will stay in Punjab. Probe agencies are also question the premise of Amritpal Singh's organisation and is seeking answers on why no women were at the forefront if it was actually a fight against drugs. Women of any family are the biggest sufferers of the widespread drug menace phenomenon. As they have not been at the forefront, it shows that it is not an actual fight against drugs, but only a show-off, according to intelligence reports. Amritpal Singhs Associates Shifted Out of Punjab After Intelligence Report on Possible Jail Break.

Amritpal does not talk about his past as it is overtly due to possible damage to his image leading to a decrease in credibility. He was closely involved with drug dealers in Dubai namely Jaswant Singh Rode whose brother is operating from Pakistan, reads the report.

He does not talk about his past life where he was non-Amritdhari and not following Sikh religious tenets. After coming to India, he and his organization started working as a religious fundamentalist cum vigilante group, completely contradictory to his earlier personality which clearly shows that he has been planted in India by forces inimical to Indian interest, according to intelligence reports.

(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 24 (ANI): Ahead of the commencement of the ninth day of Parliament today, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Friday moved an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the issue of the border situation with China.

In a letter dated March 24, the Congress leader stated that 17 rounds of talks have taken place between India and China with "little success".

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"Since April 2020, China has engaged in what can only be described as a steady land grab. Seventeen rounds of Commander level talks have taken place between India and China with little success. All the while China continues to build significant infrastructure, including bridges, roads and accommodation for its troops. China is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo," the letter stated.

He further said that China's steady aggression is aimed at changing the status quo on the border.

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"The clashes in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh were another indication of China's steady aggression aimed at changing the status quo on the border. What is more, such aggression is no longer limited in territorial scope as is evidenced by the clashes that took place in Arunachal Pradesh, around 2000 Kilometers away from the place of previous clashes. There is growing concern that China is unwilling to restore the status quo ante, a situation that puts India at a massive disadvantage," the letter stated.

He also pointed out China's large trade surplus with India even after the standoff.

"Despite this, China's large trade surplus with us has continued to surge since the military confrontations began in 2020. The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion," the letter added.

Other than him, Congress MP Manickam Tagore has also given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the "threat" to the Indian democracy.

"To discuss the threat to the Indian democratic system by not allowing 18 Opposition party leaders to speak for 8 days and Rahul Gandhi to reply to honourable minister's false statements as Opposition MPs wanted to speak about the activities of fraudulent Adani Groups in Parliament and demand JPC. Hoisted false cases against Rahul Gandhi to stop him from speaking in Parliament," he stated in the letter.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha has given a suspension of business notice in the Parliament to discuss the withdrawal of the Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol against the fugitive Mehul Choksi in Rajya Sabha.

"To discuss the withdrawal of red corner notice issued by Interpol in the name of the fugitive economic offender, Mehul Choksi who is involved in the fraud of Rs 13,500 crores, on account of Indian Government's failure to put a strong case before Interpol and the inability of the Government of India in extraditing Mehul Choksi," Chadha stated in the letter.

Congress MP Jebi Mather has also given a suspension of business notice under rule 267 to discuss the alleged role of government in "promoting" Adani group.

"To discuss government's role in promoting the Adani Group, including through inaction on serious of corporate fraud, political corruption, stock-market manipulation and financial mismanagement, illegal coal mining allocations, amending rules and regulations to allow bidding of six airports, etc," Jebi Mather stated in the letter.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari has also given a suspension of business notice under rule 267 to discuss in Rajya Sabha, the government's "failure" in constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate Adani Group issue.

The second leg of the budget session has been facing repeated disruptions. The two houses of Parliament have been witnessing adjournments over the repeated logjam. While, the BJP has been demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the United Kingdom, the opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row.

The second half of budget session began on March 13 and will commence on April 6. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): Ahead of the budget session on Friday, several like-minded Opposition parties held a meeting at the office of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Earlier on Thursday, the opposition parties held a meeting at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence in the national capital.

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The parties decided to seek answers from the Election Commission of India regarding the efficacy of Remote Electronic Voting Machines in the elections.

The leaders of various political parties participated in the meeting convened by Pawar including Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, and Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, SP leader Praful Patel, CPI leader D Raja, BRS leader Keshava Rao, CPIM leader Elamaram Kareem among others.

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However, Trinamool Congress skipped the meeting despite the invitation by the NCP chief.

Earlier in the day, the Opposition MPs staged protest at Parliament seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg issue.

Both Houses have been facing repeated adjournments with the Opposition demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani Group issue and the Treasury benches vociferous in their demand for an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in London.

The budget session commenced on March 13 and will conclude on April 6. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attended the meeting of Congress MPs at the party office in the Parliament premises.

This comes a day after the Wayanad MP was convicted by a Surat case in a 2019 defamation case.

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Party national president Mallikarjun Kharge and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Congress has also called a meeting of its steering committee members, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, Congress Legislative Party leaders and Frontal Organisation Chiefs this evening.

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As per the party, the meeting is being organised to discuss the "recent political developments".

An official notification dated Thursday, stated, "An emergency meeting of Steering Committee, PCC Presidents, CLP Leaders and National Heads of Frontal Organisations, Departments and Cells is scheduled to be held tomorrow, March 24, 2023, at AICC Office, New Delhi at 5 pm, to discuss the latest political developments".

On Thursday, a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark with the Congress leaders rallying in his support.

Rahul Gandhi made the "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka.

The court approved Rahul Gandhi's bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts. (ANI)

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Sarguja (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 24 (ANI): A five-year-old child of a deceased police officer was posted as a child constable in Chhatisgarh on Thursday.

Naman Rajwade, who is a UKG student, has been posted as a child constable in Sarguja, Chhattisgarh.

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His father Raj Kumar Rajwade, a police officer, posted in Mahila Thana died in an unfortunate road accident.

Following this, the administration took the decision on compassionate grounds.

Also Read | Kolkata: Kid Swallows Balloon While Playing, Chokes to Death Despite Best Efforts of Doctors.

Speaking to ANI, the wife of the deceased constable, Nitu Rajwade said, "My husband died in an accident. Now, my son has been appointed as the child constable. It hurts a bit, but I am happy for my child".

Superintendent of Police, Bhavna Gupta told ANI that the decision was taken as per the guidelines by the administration and police headquarters.

"Raj Kumar Rajwade, who was a police officer posted in Mahila Thana, died in a road accident. According to the guidelines of the Police Headquarters, in such a case, if someone below 18 years is present in the family, he is appointed as a 'child constable'. Under this, Naman Rajwade has been appointed as child constable," she said. (ANI)

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Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 24 (ANI): Several persons were injured in a scuffle that broke out between BJP workers and Youth Congress members, who were protesting Rahul Gandhi's disqualification.

According to sources, the Youth Congress members marched to the BJP's party office in Raipur and threw ink on the poster of the BJP's state chief, put up outside.

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Responding to the incident, the BJP workers gathered outside the Congress office and allegedly resorted to stone pelting, leading to a scuffle.

However, state police personnel reached the spot after receiving word of the affray and controlled the situation.

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The fracas between the parties followed Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP earlier on Friday.

The disqualification came in the wake of Rahul's conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation case on Thursday.

The Congress leader was sentenced to two years in prison following his conviction for a remark using the surname 'Modi' at a campaign event for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in Karnataka.

However, the court later approved his bail on a surety of Rs 15,000 while suspending his sentence for a period of 30 days during which he can challenge his conviction at a higher court.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday came down heavily on the Centre over Rahul's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member, calling it a "strangulation of democracy" while exuding confidence that the disqualification will be revoked through a stay on his conviction by a higher court.

The party alleged that Rahul's disqualification is part of a "pattern" to stop him from speaking out against the Central government and also an attempt to divert public attention from real issues.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital, Congress national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and senior leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the Centre over the disqualification of the former national party president.

"The issue before us is political, more than it is legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself. We know that defamation is an exception to free speech, but over the last several years, we have had repeated examples of unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech, more importantly, freedom after speech. We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking fearlessly inside and outside Parliament. He is paying a price for it," Singhvi said.

He said that the government was resorting to new methods to "throttle" Rahul Gandhi's voice.

"This government is rattled because he clearly speaks with facts and figures on demonetisation. Be it the supposed clean chit to China, or the GST, he is consistently aggressive and open in his questioning. Therefore this government is finding new techniques of throttling his voice," Singhvi alleged.

On the severe criticism by the BJP following Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Indian democracy in the UK recently, Singhvi said the Congress leader is not entitled to speak freely on grounds of "fake and imaginary nationalism".

"Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he is not entitled to speak freely on grounds of fake nationalism, created imaginary nationalism. He comes back and his speeches abroad become the basis of action against him inside Parliament. All of this is part of a pattern to stop him (from speaking out against this government), to divert public attention from the real and burning issues before the nation today. It is also intended to create a fear psychosis among those who dare to question this government," he said.

Singhvi said Rahul will emerge victorious in the higher court in the defamation case.

"We are confident that we will get a stay on his conviction, which will, in turn, remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future," he said. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed BJP MLA Vijender Gupta to attend the budget session of the Delhi Assembly session from Monday.

Gupta had challenged his suspension for one year from Delhi Assembly by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

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Justice Pratibha M Singh after hearing the submission and considering the rules of Assembly proceedings allowed Vijender Gupta to attend the house.

Justice Singh said, "As an interim measure the petitioner would be permitted to attend the house on Monday which is the last day of the budget session."

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Petitioner shall also maintain the decorum of the house, the bench said. The petition has been disposed of.

Senior advocate Jayant Mehta appeared for Gupta and submitted that according to Assembly Rule 277, the speaker can suspend a member only for 3 sitting for the first occasion. Subsequently for 7 sittings and thereafter for the remainder of the session.

On the other hand, advocate Sameer Vashisht appeared for the respondent and submitted that It is not the speaker who suspended him, it is the entire house. A motion for his suspension was moved by the MLA Sanjeev Jha.

He submitted that at around 11.23 AM, the petitioner moved a notice of privilege.

At around 12.04 PM speaker gave the ruling on the notice, Vasisht submitted.

The sole motive of the petitioner was to disrupt the house. He was warned. He was called back.

Sameer Vasisht submitted that at around 2.47 PM, the petitioner again started shouting.

MLA Sanjeev Jha moved the motion for suspension of the petitioner for one year.

Advocate Vashist submitted that such suspension can not be inquired into by any court.

The house is empowered to issue punishment of an even higher nature.

The speaker may suspend any member for only 3 sitting on the first occasion.

The budget session of Delhi is on going, the petitioner has remained suspended for 4 days

The perusal shows there was a disturbance caused by the Petitioner. This was the first suspension.

MLA Vijender Gupta on Thursday moved Delhi High Court against his suspension for one year from Delhi Assembly by the Speaker Ram Niwas Goel until the next budget session, for allegedly interfering in the assembly proceedings.

The matter was mentioned on Thursday before the bench headed by Delhi Chief Justice by Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta who appeared for Gupta.

The case is filed by Advocates Neeraj, Pavan Narang and Satya Ranjan Swain.

Plea stated that on 20.03.2023, the Finance Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi Kailash Gahlot came out with a statement claiming that the Home Ministry deliberately delayed the budget by not giving its approval. The said statement was put out from another Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi by Gopal Rai from his Twitter handle.

Plea stated that this act of breach of privilege was noted by the Petitioner at the late evening. Before the Session was yet to begin i.e. before 11:00 AM, the Petitioner submitted a Notice calling for breach of privilege of motion against Gahlot, the Finance Minister. However, the Petitioner was not allowed to make a detailed statement.

Petitioner Vijender Gupta stated that Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel repeatedly interrupted on one pretext or the other and marshalled out the Petitioner. After the Petitioner was marshalled out, taking back his own Order, the speaker called the Petitioner back and allowed him to make a statement.

However, surprisingly after 10 seconds, his mic was switched off and he was not allowed to make a statement. So the Petitioner went to the well of the House to show the provision of the Assembly Rules to the speaker, stated Gupta in the plea.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sanjeev Jha proposed the Petitioner's suspension from the House for a period of one year. The Speaker put the motion to vote by adopting the voice vote and ordered the suspension of the Petitioner without any justification and again marshalled out the Petitioner.

The said act of suspension is unjust, unfair, unreasonable and against the tenets of the settled position of law but also violative of the Powers and Privileges of the members of the House as enshrined under Article 194 of the Constitution of India. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Central Government on a plea moved by an 11-year-old child suffering from the rare disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

The child has sought direction to the Centre to release funds for continuous treatment.

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Justice Prathiba M Singh on Friday issued notice to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the plea and listed the matter on April 13 for further hearing.

The petitioner has also prayed to direct AIIMS to forthwith procure medicines and continue to provide treatment to the petitioner and other similarly placed petitioners in connected matters.

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The application has been filed by advocate Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh has alleged inaction on the part of the government to consider the case of the petitioner for treatment through Antisense Oligonucleotide (AON) therapy of the petitioner.

The petitioner is suffering from a rare genetic disease known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Treatment is of high cost and is beyond the capacity of the parents of the petitioner, the plea stated.

It is also prayed to direct the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to providefree of cost treatment to the petitioner.

It is further submitted that the impugned inaction is in violation of the fundamental and human right to life, health, and medical aid of the petitioner suffering from as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) a rare genetic disease as guaranteed to him under Articles 14, 21, 38, 39, 41 and 47 of the Constitution of India.

In terms of the enhanced National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 Rs 50 Lakhs qua each DMD petitioner was transferred to respondent AIIMS for procurement of medicines, the plea stated.

It is submitted that respondent AIIMS procured medicine for the petitioner in the budget of Rs 50 lakhs and now treatment has commenced.

It is also submitted that on 13.03.2023 petitioner received 1st dose of Exondys 51 medicine (36 ml) out of 120 ml procured out of the budget of Rs 50 lakhs.

It is further submitted that on 20.03.2023 petitioner was infused with the 2nd dose of Exondys 51 medicine (28 ml).

The plea stated that AIIMS has procured 120 ml of Exondys 51 medicine in the allotted budget of Rs 50 lakhs.

It is also stated that as per the petitioner's weight, 120 ml of Exondys 51 medicine is divided into 4 doses for infusion.

Therefore, the petitioner will get only 4 doses in total and the remaining two doses will be infused to the petitioner on 27.03.2023 and on 03.04.2023.

It is needless to say that though the treatment of the majority of DMD patients in other connected has started they are facing the same problem like the petitioner herein, the plea said.

All the DMD patients petitioners in other connected whose treatment has commenced with sanction fund of Rs 50 Lakhs, will get only a maximum of 3-5 infusions depending upon the weight of the patient, the plea added.

Therefore, like the petitioner, other DMD patients also require doses of medicines for which timely orders need to be placed by respondent AIIMS so that their continuous treatment is not affected, the plea submitted.

It is submitted that normally the result of the dose infused is seen at least after 6 months. Therefore, it is much required in the interest of DMD patients' petitioner children, that they may be provided with infusions of Exondys 51 medicine or other concerned medicines continuously. The Union of India and AIIMS are required to arrange for funds and place orders for the medicines in advance.

Therefore, respondent Union of India is required to sanction funds at the earliest to respondent AIIMS so that treatment of petitioner and other similarly placed petitioners whose treatment has commenced and treatment will cease after 3-4 doses of medicine can get further doses before the next date of hearing on 13.04.2023, the plea stated. (ANI)

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Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], March 24 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that some people are spreading false propaganda against women's safety across the state and promoting such things is not a good tendency.

Speaking after inaugurating the Women Safety Expo, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said, "Amid the rising attack on women, false campaigning against women's safety in Kerala is also rising. We have all sorts of laws here and they can be used effectively."

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CM added, "The public should use the security and laws effectively when issues arise. Recently based on isolated incidents, some people have been spreading false propaganda that women are not safe in Kerala. Promoting such things which are false is not a good tendency."

CM Vijayan also said that women should make use of the schemes and programs of the government to ensure their economic and social security. He said that there are several schemes in place to prevent domestic violence, prohibit dowry and ensure safe workplaces. Only then gender equality and gender justice will be served, he added.

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He said that women need not put up or bear with the violence against them. They should try to make use of the legal remedies available and address the issues around them.

"They should not hesitate to file complaints. Hesitating to file complaints will nurture the criminals. Women should endeavour to ensure that the bad experience of one is not suffered by anyone else. That should be the mindset. Many do not opt for moving legally due to the ignorance about laws regarding women's safety, their family backgrounds, etc.", CM said.

The CM also urged women to make use of the opportunity provided by such Expos to increase their awareness and knowledge about their rights.

"Besides these, the police too have implemented various measures like Aparajita helpline, women help desks in all police stations, Pink police, cyber police stations and women self-defence training", 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)
New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): A fraudster who has allegedly cheated a retired army colonel of his retirement funds worth Rs three crores was arrested from Rohini area here, police said on Thursday.

Retired colonel Raghujit Singh has filed a complaint against the accused Amit Thakur and his associates alleging that the accused persons duped him of his retirement funds worth Rs 3 crores on the pretext of investment in various insurance policies, Special CP Crime Ravinder Yadav said.

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"The accused persons first lured the complainant to invest in various insurance policies, took money from the complainant in their bank accounts as premium of insurance policies but never paid/deposited the same against any policy", the SP said.

Reportedly, the present case was registered in the year 2018 but the accused was evading his arrest since then and could not be traced, police said.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Disqualified From Parliament As Lok Sabha Member After Conviction in 'Modi Surname Remarks' Case.

"On the basis of received inputs, the team located the above accused person in the area of Rohini and conducted a raid at his hideout. Subsequently, the team arrested the accused person namely Amit Thakur Resident of Vijay Vihar, Sector-4, Rohini, Delhi", said the SP said.

SP Yadav added that during the course of interrogation, it was found that the accused Thakur was also declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) in a case under sections 420/406/120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The accused was absconding for 5 years and was continuously shifting his hideouts in Delhi, police added. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to pay Rs 3 lakh ex-gratia to a two-and-a half-year-old child who lost his vision after premature birth at Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital here.

Justice Prathiba M Singh said awarded Rs 3 lakh towards the ex-gratia costs or reimbursement of medical expenses while taking a compassionate and empathetic view of the matter as also the fact that the parents had moved from one hospital to another to get the requisite treatment for the newly-born child.

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"It is made clear that the direction for release of the sum of Rs 3 lakh shall not be construed as an opinion on merits qua the conduct of the hospital or the doctor concerned. The Delhi government shall release the amount within a period of 6 weeks from today," the court said in an order passed on March 21.

The court was hearing a petition by the minor boy, through his father, seeking compensation for alleged medical negligence of doctors of the government hospital.

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The minor was born on June 28, 2020, as a premature child in the 29th week of gestation.

The case of the petitioner is that he is totally blind due to medical negligence at the hospital, as a Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening which was to be conducted within four weeks of the birth of the child was not conducted in the required time frame.

The minor has sought a compensation of Rs 11 crore for causing loss of vision, and the medical expenses incurred in different hospitals. Additionally, Rs 1 crore was also sought towards mental harassment and physical and mental agony.

A senior resident doctor of the hospital's Department of Ophthalmology apprised the court that after it was informed about the child's condition on July 27, 2020, all the necessary steps were taken to conduct his dilation.

The court observed that the newly born child has turned blind due to various unfortunate circumstances.

"After perusing the record, at this stage, the court is unable to go into the facts in detail and pin point the blame to any particular individual or organisation. The child was a premature baby, had several birth related complications and thereafter contacted Pneumonia.

"In the midst of this, the ophthalmic department has conducted the requisite tests and taken the necessary steps. In view of various complications, the child could also not be discharged early. The entire period was during the pandemic," the court said.

Taking into account the doctor's submissions and perusing the record, the judge said the "finding of medical negligence cannot be given by this court at this stage and the same may require a proper assessment on a factual basis, which this court is not to undertake in a writ petition".

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 24 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a fresh attack on Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Kamal Nath and called him 'Jhooth Nath' (liar) on Friday.

CM Chouhan made the remark while talking to reporters after plantation at smart city park in the state capital Bhopal.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Disqualification: Jairam Ramesh Says Indian Democracy 'Om Shanti' After Congress Leader Disqualified From Parliament in 'Modi Surname Remarks' Case.

He said, "I would like to ask only one question to Kamal Nath, he promised to give unemployment allowance to the youth. How many youths were given unemployment allowance during the 15 months rule of the Congress party in the state."

"Why did you (Kamal Nath) not give unemployment allowances? You will have to answer because you have become 'Jhoot Nath' (liar) by making false promises," Chouhan said.

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Besides, the chief minister took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail.

Chouhan said, "Who will say that you do false things and don't even remember the limits. This has not happened for the first time with Rahul Gandhi. He has been sentenced in the case of 2019, even before this he has apologised. He has given many controversial statements.

"Rahul Gandhi had also given a statement in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district in which the case is going on in the court. I always say that he (Rahul Gandhi) is irresponsible and is immature. He says anything anywhere," he added.

Chouhan further said, "There is an arrogance inside the Gandhi family that we are the best, we can say anything to anyone. They behave like kings. But this sentence by Surat court has proved that no one is above the law in a democracy."

Notably, on Thursday, Surat District Court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years of imprisonment in a criminal defamation case. He was later granted bail by the court and his sentence suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the decision.

The Surat District Court pronounced the verdict in the case for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

Gandhi had made the alleged remarks about Modi's surname at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)

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Mumbai, March 24: Two persons were killed and three injured when a 54-year-old man went on a stabbing spree at a residential building in south Mumbai on Friday, police said. The incident took place around 3.30 pm at Parvati Mansion on Grant Road, an official said, adding that the accused has been arrested. Delhi: Six Arrested After Students Sustain Stab Injuries in Clash Between Two School Groups in Sadatpur Karwal Nagar.

The man's family members had left him, and he suspected that his neighbours had instigated them, the official said. He had been mentally disturbed ever since, and on Friday, upon spotting his neighbours, he went to his house, picked up a knife and allegedly attacked five persons from neighbouring families. Bengaluru Shocker: Man Stabbed to Death, Two Others Injured After Fight Over Sharing Cigarette in Upparpete.

Disturbing Video: Viewer Discretion Advised

The injured were rushed to a private hospital in Girgaum where a couple, Jayendra and Neela Mistry, died during treatment, the official said. An offence under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at D B Marg police station and probe is underway, the official added.

(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, March 24: The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha a dictatorial move and asserted that the BJP will not be able to suppress the voice of the opposition.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Also Read | BJP Using Defamation Route To Target Opposition Leaders, Says CPI-M Leader Sitaram Yechury.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court, the Congress leader's lawyer Babu Mangukiya said. The former Wayanad MP attended Lok Sabha on Friday briefly as the House was adjourned for an hour soon after it convened for the day. Also Read | SC/ST Quota Hike: Congress Leaders Try To Lay Siege to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's Residence, Detained (Watch Video).

He was disqualified hours later by the Lok Sabha Secretariat from the day of his conviction. Modi made his remarks before the disqualification was announced. AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "It is very unfortunate. We have differences with Congress and they have attacked us several times whenever we have been targeted. But Rahul Gandhi's disqualification is dictatorship of the BJP and they will not succeed in suppressing the voice of opposition".

The AAP is among the 14 parties, led by the Congress, to approach the apex court on Friday, alleging misuse of central probe agencies against political opponents. These parties seek pre-and post-arrest guidelines to be followed by agencies such as the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Supreme Court has agreed to hear their plea on April 5.

"Manish Sisodia's arrest has brought 14 parties together. Fourteen parties have come together and approached Supreme Court. BJP wants even the judiciary to act like ED and CBI. That party is doing everything that never happened before. BJP's countdown has begun," Bharadwaj added.

The Central Bureau of Investigation on February 26 arrested the then Delhi deputy chief minister in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sisodia on March 9 evening in Tihar jail, where he was lodged in connection with the case being probed by the CBI.

(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 24 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim protection from coercive action against the Chairman of Broadwell Christian Hospital Society and other members of the Christian community by Uttar Pradesh police in a case of alleged forceful religious conversion.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud also issued notice to the State police and also ordered a stay on coercive action against the Chairman Dr Samuel Mathew and other persons.

Also Read | Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Says 'I Am Fighting for India's Voice, Ready To Pay Any Price'.

The bench was hearing the anticipatory bail plea of the accused.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that the situation was getting out of control while highlighting a video in which he claimed a person was openly advocating the killing of Christians.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification From Lak Sabha: Act of a Scared Government, Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Dave said that the petitioner was not being protected by the police or subordinate judiciary.

"What is happening is that things are going out of control. There is a video sent to me by a Christian missionary where a gentleman is telling openly to kill Christians. Magistrate has recorded it and yet remand given, not protected by police and not by the subordinate judiciary. Your lordships can alone save us. these forcible conversion cases...," he said.

The CJI said the apex court would take the matter seriously.

The bench said, "We are here and that is why we are entertaining all this. Issue notice to the state of Uttar Pradesh. Stay on coercive action against the petitioner."

The FIR against Mathew and others was registered on January 23 by Kotwali police station in Fatehpur district alleging fraud conversions.

The FIRs were registered based on the complaint of people associated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.

The accused were booked under various sections of the IPC including forgery, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, and sections 3 (Prohibition of conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force etc.) and 5(1) (Punishment for contravention of section 3) of Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, among others.

The staff, doctors and nurses claimed that they were facing constant harassment by Hindutva supporters and the police over allegations of conversion. (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 24 (ANI): Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday sought status report of the alleged Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak case from the top officials of the state.

As per Governor's instructions, Raj Bhavan wrote to the Telangana Chief Secretary, the TSPSC Secretary and the Director General of Police seeking the latest status of the case within 48 hours.

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In the letter, it was asked to furnish a status report on the alleged paper leak case including Special Investigation Team's investigation status.

The TSPSC was also asked to furnish the details of its regular and outsourcing employees who appeared for examinations with or without permission from the Commission and their performance in the exams and preparatory leave etc.

Also Read | Jharkhand Shocker: Newborn Baby Sold by Mother After Delivery in Chatra.

This comes a day after Telangana Congress leaders submitted a representation to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan urging her to sanction prosecution against Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao for the TSPSC exam paper leak.

The delegation led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Revanth Reddy and including Madhu Yashki, Hanumanth Rao and Mallu Ravi on Wednesday met with Governor at the Raj Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum urging action against the minister as well as TSPSC Chairman Janardhan Reddy and IAS officer Anita Ramachandran.

The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on March 15 cancelled the Assistant Engineers (AE) exam held on March 5, following allegations of the question paper leak.

On March 13, police arrested nine people, including two employees of the TSPSC.

Following the arrest of the accused, the Commission cancelled the exam and also postponed other exams scheduled to be held later this month.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a 'Nirasana Deeksha' (protest) against the TSPSC paper leakage issue in Hyderabad.

Many BJP leaders and party workers participated in the protest. Speaking to ANI, BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said that BJP is the only party in Telangana that supports the unemployed youth.

"We demand that proper inquiry should be done, culprits should be punished and they should be behind bars so that this kind of misuse of power should not be there in the future," he stated. Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team, Hyderabad investigating the exam paper leak case has summoned Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay to appear before it on March 24.

Earlier on March 20, the SIT issued a summons to State Congress president Revanth Reddy regarding his alleged statements on the issue.

Reddy was asked to share the information and submit evidence to the SIT with regard to the allegations made by him.

The development came a day after Revanth Reddy made a serious allegation that state minister KT Rama Rao's personal assistant was also involved in the paper leak.

"Personal assistant of State IT Minister KT Rama Rao has links with the second accused (a contract employee at TSPSC) in the paper leak case and the PA and the accused belong to neighbouring villages," the Congress leader 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)
New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar on Friday issued a press statement on the media reports that filmmaker Anand Kumar is planning to make a movie on his life. Chandrashekar said that he would not allow creating any content on his story with a small time, wannabe film director like Kumar, who is a flop, and needs publicity.

Sukesh issued press statement through his lawyer Anant Malik, telling Director Anand that his team is already in final talks with "A" lister director and star cast with a top "OTT" platform. This is for your information, so don't waste your time, Chandrashekar said.

Also Read | Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Says 'I Am Fighting for India's Voice, Ready To Pay Any Price'.

"Anand you have called me "Conman"; may I know on what basis? Can you show me any case that is proved against me? As you have called me so, hereby I am filing a defamation suit against you, hence you will be receiving legal notice from my legal team," stated the press statement

"Anand lastly it is not wrong of you dreaming of making a movie/OTT about me, but unfortunately, I am a person for who, even my enemy has to be a brand, so imagine if someone has to be my friend to do my story, what it would be, hence Mr. Anand you are nowhere even close to the "B" of the word Brand, instead you have tried rubbing me on the wrong side and tried humiliating me, for which, you will be answerable prepare yourself and get yourself a good legal team," read the press statement. (ANI)

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification From Lak Sabha: Act of a Scared Government, Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

(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 24 (PTI) World Bank presidential nominee Ajay Banga has tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing in New Delhi where he was travelling on the last leg of his world tour, and is currently quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday.

India is witnessing a spike in influenza and coronavirus cases in the past two weeks. The country has recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases increased to 7,026, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

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Banga's New Delhi visit (March 23 and March 24) is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for COVID-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday afternoon.

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While in India, 63-year-old Banga was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Treasury said in a previous statement.

India endorsed Banga's candidacy soon after his nomination was announced.

Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cote d'Ivoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society.

Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials.

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront longstanding challenges.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.

New Delhi logged 84 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.08 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the health department.

The city has seen an increase in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last few days, amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Moscow [Russia], March 24 (ANI): Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that any Ukrainian attempt to capture Crimea could be met with a nuclear response by Moscow, Russia Today reported.

He underlined that Kyiv's assertions that it could grab the peninsula are merely empty threats.

Also Read | Pakistan President Arif Alvi Asks PM Shehbaz Sharif To Provide All Support to Officials for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elections.

Asserting that "this is propaganda and should be viewed that way, during the war it always occurs," Medvedev rejected the probability that Ukraine will assault Crimea, in remarks to the media on Friday.

Medvedev, who is currently the constable head of Russia's Security Council, said, "If we talk about some sort of serious offensive that is associated with an attempt to retake Crimea, it is quite obvious that this is the basis for the use of all means of protection, including those provided for by fundamentals of Doctrine of Nuclear Deterrence when the use of any types of weapons against Russia threatens the existence of the state itself," Russia Today reported.

Also Read | TikTok Ban: France To Ban Chinese-Owned Video-Sharing App on Work Phones of Civil Servants.

Following a coup in Kyiv supported by the West, Crimea joined Russia in 2014 after a resounding majority of the local population voted in favour of the change. Kyiv has frequently promised to use force to reclaim the peninsula, but Ukraine and its Western backers have refused to acknowledge the move.

Medvedev emphasised that any attempt to sever a piece of Russia would be viewed as a threat to the survival of the country. The former president said, "Therefore, draw your own conclusions. There are absolutely grounds for using any weapon here. Absolutely any kind. And I hope our 'friends' across the ocean understand this."

He further emphasised that the likelihood of a nuclear exchange has not diminished but has, rather, increased. Medvedev warned that "the horsemen of the apocalypse continue to march," adding, "It doesn't mean that this will happen, but the closer the world creeps towards a nuclear holocaust with every day that Western weapons are sent to Ukraine."

According to Russia Today, the former Russian president further asserted that the Kyiv administration "would not have survived even a week" in the face of Russian forces without military support and "direct monetary injections" from NATO. The issue becomes more challenging the more weapons there are available, Medvedev continued.

Despite the fact that Russia's General Staff is doing its own analysis and formulating plans for a defence, he claimed it is "clear" Kyiv is putting together a fresh offensive. Medvedev maintained that while Moscow would prefer a peaceful conclusion to any issue, the West is uninterested in doing so, Russia Today reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
United Nations, Mar 24 (PTI) India has committed investments of more than 240 billion dollars in the water sector and is implementing the largest dam rehabilitation programme in the world as well as efforts to restore groundwater level, Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the UN.

Shekhawat highlighted the ambitious programmes and efforts being undertaken in India towards ensuring water security and achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of clean water and sanitation for all as he addressed the UN Water Conference 2023 Thursday.

Also Read | Biden, Trudeau Reach Deal to Stop Asylum Seekers at Unofficial Crossings-sources  Latest Tweet by Reuters.

We have committed investments of more than 240 billion dollars in the water sector through government resources, in partnership with private innovators, start-ups, and water-user associations. India is implementing two flagship missions to ensure universal access to sanitation and drinking water, Shekhawat said, delivering the national statement in the UN General Assembly.

He said India is implementing the largest dam rehabilitation programme in the world, to build climate resilience critical water storage infrastructure. Further, due to the country's unique geography, India is among the largest users of groundwater in the world.

Also Read | No, Putin Did Not Kneel Before Xi Jinping.

However, today we are making efforts to restore groundwater level and create mindful communities by combining demand and supply side interventions through village Water Security Plans, inculcating behavioural changes on water usage and conservation at the grass-root level, financing these plans through incentives and convergence of existing programmes, he said adding that this has led to creating greater community ownership in the equitable management of water at a local level.

Shekhawat told the conference that India's ambitious National Mission for Clean Ganga or Namami Gange has been recently recognised by the UN Convention of Biodiversity conference COP15 held at Montreal as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world.

This mission has created a paradigm shift in river rejuvenation, pollution abatement, conservation of ecosystems and holistic approach to river basin management, he said.

In this regard, Arth Ganga, a model of circular economy, fully aligns with SDG goals 6.3 and 6.6 with 6(b) in creating environmentally friendly sustainable practices of resource management by local communities for water security.

He emphasised that the government's Jal Jeevan Mission' or Water Life Mission aims to achieve safe and affordable drinking water in rural households by 2024 and manage its own in-village water supply systems.

With a commitment to successfully implement this ambitious 50 billion dollar programme in mission mode, we are poised to achieve SDG 6.1 well before 2030, he said, referring to the target of achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.

He further said that India's Swachh Bharat Mission or Clean India Mission milestone was reached in 2019 when the country was declared open defecation free.

In our journey to achieve SDG 6.2, since 2014 we have built over 105 million toilets, and transformed sanitation habits through mass scale behaviour change of more than 600 million Indians.

The campaign continues through efforts at ensuring sustainable solid and liquid waste management solutions in all 600,000 villages and communities in India. The SGD 6.2 target aims to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation by 2030, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

He noted that at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of LiFE or Lifestyle for Environment.

This concept was translated into an action agenda with the launch of Mission LiFE by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and PM Modi in October 2022.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging people to pick pro-planet sustainable choices in their daily lives, to live sustainably and reduce our environmental footprint, and is driven by the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle'.

Underscoring that water is at the heart of Mission LiFE, Shekhawat appealed to all delegates at the conference to successfully adopt mission LiFE in this international decade for action on the water.

The UN 2023 Water Conference  formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028)  is currently underway at UN Headquarters.

Co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands, the March 22-24 conference will result in a summary of proceedings from the UNGA President that will feed into the 2023 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, March 24: A 34-year-old Indian national, working on a cruise ship, has been sentenced by a federal district court to 188 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, the US Department of Justice said on Thursday.

Angelo Victor Fernandes, who hails from Goa, in 2022 sent 13 child pornography videos through an instant messaging application to Daniel Scott Crow. Indian Descent Man Sentenced for 15 Months in Prison by Minneapolis Court for Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy on Plane.

Fernandes also communicated with Crow about arranging for Crow to travel to engage in sexual activity with minor children. During a separate communication with an unidentified person, Fernandes talked about sexual abuse of minor children and his ability to obtain children for sex, federal prosecutors alleged. Indian School Student Missing From Home in US for More Than Three Weeks; Police Suspect She Ran Away Over Fear of Deportation.

Crow pled guilty to one count of enticement of a minor and one count of production of child pornography. He was sentenced on December 12, 2022, to 30 years in prison, a media release 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 York, Mar 24 (AP) A cleric arrested in his native Jamaica and extradited to New York to face state terrorism charges on accusations of recruiting support for the Islamic State group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison.

Abdullah el-Faisal was convicted in January in state Supreme Court in Manhattan on counts including soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism.

Also Read | No, Putin Did Not Kneel Before Xi Jinping.

The state law he was prosecuted under was put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and prosecutors said his case was the first state-level trial on terrorism charges.

El-Faisal was extradited to New York City in 2020 after being arrested in Jamaica in 2017. Beginning in 2016, authorities said an undercover officer in New York City posed as a would-be jihadist and started communicating with the cleric.

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The cleric was accused of giving out information to help the officer ultimately connect with the Islamic State group, as well as trying to do things like act as a conduit for a marriage between the officer and a member of the militant group.

Prosecutors said el-Faisal had supported the Islamic State organization for several years. They said he was very influential, using online lectures to encourage violent acts and advocating for an Islamic caliphate.

He had previously served prison time in Britain after being convicted of incitement and stirring racial hatred and had also been deported from Kenya.

Shaikh Faisal's advocacy, recruitment and provision of material support to ISIS helped the terrorist organization perform horrific acts, including the murder and kidnapping of innocent people, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said in a statement announcing the sentence.

An attempt to leave a message for Michael Fineman, the cleric's attorney, was unsuccessful.

Federal officials have said el-Faisal's sermons influenced people such as Faisal Shahzad, who tried to set off a bomb in Times Square in 2010, and Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the so-called underwear bomber who attempted to blow up a transatlantic flight on Christmas Day 2009. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Streaks of Light Seen in California. (Photo Credits: Video Grab)

Washington, Mar 24 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha is a "deep betrayal" of Gandhian philosophy, an influential Indian-origin Congressman said on Friday.

Gandhi, the former Congress president, was on Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha, nearly 24 hours after a court in Surat convicted him in a defamation case.

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The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from parliament is a deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India's deepest values, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said in a tweet.

This is not what my grandfather sacrificed years in jail for, Khanna said. Khanna represents Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives.

Also Read | TikTok Ban: France To Ban Chinese-Owned Video-Sharing App on Work Phones of Civil Servants.

Khanna, who is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian- Americans, has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention on this issue.

You have the power to reverse this decision for the sake of Indian democracy, Khanna said in another tweet.

The disqualification will bar 52-year-old Gandhi, a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Meanwhile, George Abraham, vice-chair of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA, termed Gandhi's disqualification as a sad day for democracy in India.

It is a sad day for democracy in India. By disqualifying Rahul Gandhi, Modi sarkar is ringing the death knell for the right to free speech and freedom of Indians everywhere, Abraham said.

Bringing a frivolous court case against a remark in the heat of a political campaign is shameful and not on par with the spirit of the Constitution regarding freedom of expression, he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The Banshees of Inisherin star Colin Farrell has split from his partner of five years. The Irish actor and Kelly MacNamara are said to have gone their separate ways, reports Mirror.co.uk. Sources have claimed it was his hectic work schedules that has pushed them apart. Colin Farrell Was Astonished by the Set of His Film Dumbo, Says This Is like Nothing I Have Ever Seen Before.

It's said that the Hollywood star's schedule, including his recent filming for hit film The Banshees of Inisherin had taken its toll on the pair. A source said, quoted by Mirror.co.uk: "Colin is the man of the moment in film thanks to his role in The Banshees Of Inisherin. He spent months working on that along with the last Batman blockbuster, where he played Penguin." Did You Know Colin Farrell and Jude Law Were Supposed to Star in a 'Very Dark' Batman vs Superman Movie?.

Speaking to The Sun, the source continued: "Colin's schedule took its toll on his relationship with Kelly and they quietly called it quits." They added that the pair didn't leave their relationship with any bad feeling but claims they were struggling to uphold a romantic relationship.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2023 03:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, March 24: The Congress on Friday questioned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha, and said that only President has the powers to do so. Congress MP Manish Tewari said that under the Constitution of India only the President has the power to disqualify an MP.

"Under COI powers to disqualify an MP lie with the President -Article 103 if disqualification is incurred under Article 102 (1) (e). In Re Lok Prahari VS ECI (2018) 18 SCC 114 SC records EC's contentions qua Lily Thomas but records no finding that disqualification is automatic." Rahul Gandhi Disqualified From Lok Sabha; Congress Says Will Fight Legally and Politically, BJP Terms Action Lawful.

After getting disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's fate in electoral politics now depends only upon the legal relief that he can get from the courts as the Election Commission may likely declare his seat vacant and announce elections. Rahul Gandhi Disqualification: Jairam Ramesh Says Indian Democracy Om Shanti After Congress Leader Disqualified From Parliament in Modi Surname Remarks Case.

The Congress has raised the issue that only the President can disqualify an MP, but legal experts say that the conviction itself sets the disqualification in motion.

Majeed Memon, a former MP and a legal expert said, "If Rahul's sentence is suspended post-conviction by an appeal in court under section 389 of the Criminal Procedure Code, his disqualification from the Lok Sabha can be deferred." P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister said, "Judgement on 23 March, disqualification on 24 March.

"The speed with which the system moved is astonishing, No time is spent on reflection, understanding or allowing time for legal review, Obviously, there are no voices of moderation in the BJP party or government, The net result is parliamentary democracy has suffered another cruel blow."

Rahul after losing the membership will lose his official accommodation in the Lutyens area and will have to vacate the 12, Tughlak Lane Bungalow allotted to him.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti."

The Lok Sabha Secretariat in its notification said, "Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat..., Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of the lower house from the date of his conviction..."

This order was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday and was signed by Secretary General, Lok Sabha. Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged 'Modi surname' remark in 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2023 05:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, March 24: Maharashtra's opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) exploded in fury on Thursday over the action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who has been disqualified from his Lok Sabha seat while the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party strongly supported the move.

Shiv Sena-UBT President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called it "a sheer murder of democracy" and said now "it's a crime to call even a thief a thief" in the country. Nationalist Congress Party's Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar flayed the move and said "this has put democracy in peril". Rahul Gandhi Disqualification: Jairam Ramesh Says Indian Democracy Om Shanti After Congress Leader Disqualified From Parliament in Modi Surname Remarks Case.

State Congress President Nana Patole demanded to know "if you don't call a 'chor' (thief) as a 'chor', then should he be called a 'daaku' (dacoit)" and said that democracy is being trampled with the help of all agencies. Rahul Gandhi Disqualified From Lok Sabha; Congress Says Will Fight Legally and Politically, BJP Terms Action Lawful.

"Gandhi is being punished for exposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government which is only working for the corrupt people like Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya, who have looted thousands of crores of public money, and he is not being allowed to speak in the parliament," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray added: "The thieves and scamsters are running around freely while Rahul Gandhi has been punished. This is a blatant murder of democracy. All institutions are under pressure. It spells the beginning of the end of autocracy, and the fight needs a new direction."

Commenting on the developments, NCP President Sharad Pawar had cited on Thursday the example of his party's Lakshwadeep MP Mohammed Faizal's matter and said that the Surat court judgement on Rahul Gandhi underscores the point

"I deplore this new trend in our political landscape which should concern everyone in today's scenario. I express my serious concerns at the attempt to curtail fundamental rights, freedom of speech, and democratic expressions in the country. The repeated attempts to suppress the voices of political parties, leaders and citizens of India is a matter of grave concern," said Pawar.

Congress Legislative Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat said the LS decision is like "killing" democracy, but now Gandhi will emerge like Indira Gandhi, and will vanquish the BJP to lead the country.

Sena-UBT leader Aditya Thackeray said that the Constitution and democracy is being finished off and those who speak the truth are being targeted, and its not about Gandhi alone but it is against the entire democratic foundation.

Other state Opposition leaders like Samajwadi Party President Abu Asim Azmi, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Jayant Patil, Ajay Chaudhary, also slammed the move and later staged a black-ribbon demonstration outside the legislature.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attacked Gandhi and warned that "no attack against PM Modi will be tolerated", and even asked the MVA on what grounds were they calling him a "gaddar" and running a "Khokha" government. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis chided the Opposition MVA for calling even the CM Shinde a "thief" and said this was not right in a democracy.

State BJP leaders like Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ashish Shelar and others have slammed Gandhi for his unbridled utterances for which he is now paying, and said that the law is equal for all in a democracy.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2023 09:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, March 24: The Supreme Court on Friday said that all prisoners, released on emergency parole by the state high-powered committees constituted on its order during the Covid pandemic, will have to surrender within 15 days.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said: "All those under-trials/ convicts who have been released on emergency parole/interim bail pursuant to the recommendation of the High-Powered Committee, in compliance of the orders, dated March 23, 2020, May 7, 2021 and July 16, 2021, passed by this court in suo moto writ petitiona have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities within 15 days." Supreme Court Lawyer Collapses While Arguing Case, Doctor Called To Check on Advocate.

The bench added that the present order be intimated to the accused/inmates concerned by the jail authorities that they have now to surrender within the period of 15 days. Supreme Court Quashes NCDRC Order Awarding Rs 2 Crore Compensation to Woman for Bad Haircut at a Five-Star Hotel in Delhi.

"However, it is observed that thereafter after the concerned prisoners/inmates surrender before the concerned prison authorities, it will be open for the concerned undertrials to pray for bail before the competent court and their applications be considered in accordance with law and on its own merits."

It further added that after the surrender by the concerned convicts who are released on emergency parole, it will be open for them, if so advised, to pray for suspension of sentence before the concerned court in their appeals which might have been pending, and which also may be considered in accordance with law and/or on merits.

The bench noted that it is not in dispute and cannot be disputed that all those undertrial prisoners/convicts were released on interim bail/emergency parole taking into consideration the overcrowding in the prisons and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus among prisoners in overcrowded prisons.

"All those undertrial prisoners/convicts therefore were not released on merit but were released on the aforesaid ground alone. Therefore, now when the Covid-19 situation has now been normalised, all those prisoners/inmates/undertrial prisoners/convicts who are/were released on emergency parole/interim bail have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities," it said.

In March 2020, the apex court took suo motu cognisance of the medical assistance needed for prisoners in overcrowded jails to save them from coronavirus, and issued notices to the Chief Secretaries, the Home Secretaries, the DGs (Prisons) and Social Welfare Secretaries of all states and Union Territories.

During the first and second wave of the pandemic, the top court had passed several orders for grant of emergency parole to prisoners to avoid the overcrowding of prisons to contain the spread of the viral infection among them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2023 11:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Lucknow, March 24: Nearly 50 per cent of the startups in Uttar Pradesh are headed by women, according to a government spokesman. Akshay Tripathi, special secretary, IT and Electronics, said that out of 8,714 registered startups in the state, 4305 are run by women entrepreneurs,

The state IT department provides extra 50 per cent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs. It may be pointed out that the department, a nodal agency for startups, is providing financial assistance of up to Rs 7.5 lakh to startups. Indian Startups Raised $1.2 Billion in January 2023, PhonePe and KreditBee Lead.

In addition to this, the government also provides Rs 17,500 monthly sustenance allowance to them. Neha Misra, whose expertise lies in investment, insurance and pension planning and other financial matters, started 'The Fin Lit Project' to educate people on financial literacy. Tech Companies, Startups Layoff: Fear of Impending Layoffs Hangs Heavy on Executives, Techies Across Sectors.

Misra, who hails from Lucknow, developed a mobile application that has so far been downloaded by close to 5000 people. She also makes people aware of financial planning and investment through seminars and webinars also. Likewise, there are thousands of other women startup owners who are doing a commendable job.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2023 11:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Governments employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners with effect from 01.01.2023.
Three policemen attached with the Bengaluru police allegedly kidnapped a man and demanded Rs 45 lakh ransom from his relatives to free him. Two civilians were also helping the cops in the crime. The police arrested a constable while the other accused, a sub-inspector, was on the run.
Google Doodle is, on Friday, celebrating the 77th birth anniversary of iconic American stuntwoman Kitty O'Neil. Born in 1946, O'Neil was an American stuntwoman and racer who once drove rocket-powered cars in the 1970s. Kitty O'Neil once drove a car at the speed of 825 km per hour, earning her the title of "the fastest woman in the world". The most remarkable thing about her achievements were that she did all this despite being deaf since childhood. PK Rosy Birth Anniversary 2023 Google Doodle: Search Engine Honours Actress Who First Played Female Lead in Malayalam Cinema.

Kitty O'Neil Birth Anniversary 2023 Google Doodle

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Sharon Vilsack pulled into a San Clemente strip mall on a recent morning to perform one of Southern Californias most quintessential rituals  picking a pink box of doughnuts to share.

She chose carefully: an old fashioned, plenty of glazed, a few sprinkles, and a puffy maple bar, all tucked neatly into that familiar container that so often blends into the background of daily life here.

Im like one of Pavlovs dogs when I see a pink box, said Vilsack, 29, outside Rose Donuts & Cafe. My mouth starts watering because I know whats inside.

The pink box is a distinctly regional tradition, one so ingrained it often requires an outsider to notice. The Northeast has Dunkin Donuts and its neon orange and pink box. The South has Krispy Kreme and its polka dot box. But come to Los Angeles and its the no-frills pink box, with signature grease marks, that commands counter space in our offices, waiting rooms and police stations.

Any time you see a movie or sitcom set in New York and a pink doughnut box appears, you know it obviously took place in L.A., says Peter Yen of Santa Ana Packaging, a local manufacturer of the carnation-pink containers that cost about a dime each.

But unlike New Yorks celebrated Grecian coffee cups, the pink box has endured with little fanfare, its origins something of a mystery.

One thing is certain, though, the pink box phenomenon could only happen here. Southern California is the undisputed epicenter of the doughnut world  a testament to our love affair with junk food you can handle behind a steering wheel. L.A. County alone has at least 680 doughnut shops, according to Yelp, about 200 more than New York City and double the number in Chicagos Cook County.

Instead of national chains, the Southern California doughnut sector is dominated by mom-and-pop businesses run by immigrants, none more influential than Cambodian Americans.

Landing here as refugees in the mid-1970s to escape the Khmer Rouge, the Southeast Asian community quickly found a lifeline in the demanding doughnut business, giving it an outsized role in the expanding waistlines of countless Angelenos  and the spread of an unsung culinary icon.

For years, the doughnuts Stan Berman sold out of his eponymous Westwood shop were packaged in a neat white box with a smooth clay coating. But when the supplier of those boxes died in the early 1980s, Berman turned to the biggest local distributor at the time, a Pico Rivera company that had been around since the 1920s called Westco.

They gave us pink boxes and I didnt think anything of it, said Berman, now 87.

What Berman didnt know at the time was that a sea change was taking place in the doughnut business farther south in Orange County.

Im like one of Pavlovs dogs when I see a pink box. My mouth starts watering because I know whats inside.  Sharon Vilsack, 29

An ambitious Cambodian refugee named Ted Ngoy was building a vast network of doughnut shops and staffing them with hundreds of countrymen whose visas he sponsored. Ngoy (the g is silent) started in La Habra and expanded to Fullerton, Anaheim and Buena Park. It wasnt long before Cambodian doughnut stores spread to L.A. County too, upending a market that had long been dominated by the Winchells Donuts chain.

Ngoy grew fantastically rich and bought a 7,000-square-foot mansion in Mission Viejo, a vacation home in Big Bear and a time-share in Acapulco. Then he squandered his wealth gambling in an epic reversal of fortune first chronicled in the Times in 2005.

Ted could talk a bird out of a tree, said Chuong Lee, who married Ngoys nephew and bought DKs Donuts in Santa Monica in 1981. Hes such a good businessman. But every time hed go to Las Vegas, hed lose one of his stores.

Ngoys wife divorced him and he ended up sleeping on the porch of a friends Long Beach mobile home. But before all that, Ngoy set in motion a change that, for Angelenos, has made the color pink synonymous with sweets.

Experienced doughnut makers know you cant skimp on ingredients. Switch regular wheat flour for cheaper potato flour and the doughnut becomes glutinous and sticks to your teeth. An otherwise good jelly doughnut can be undone by an inferior filling loaded with corn starch and too little fruit.

For decades, doughnut makers got their better ingredients from Westco. But even purveyors of glazes and sprinkles arent immune to corporate consolidation. In 1992, Westco was sold to CSM, a century-old sugar processing company from Holland thats grown into a baking supply behemoth now headquartered in the suburbs of Atlanta. Westcos business shifted to a brand CSM launched in 1998 called BakeMark.

I know they wanted to do red boxes, but the mills kept sending it back pink.  Peter Yen, sales manager at Santa Ana Packaging

According to company lore, a Cambodian doughnut shop owner asked Westco some four decades ago if there were any cheaper boxes available other than the standard white cardboard. So Westco found leftover pink cardboard stock and formed a 9-by-9-by-4-inch container with four semicircle flaps to fold together. To this day, people in the business refer to the box as the 9-9-4.

Its the perfect fit for a dozen doughnuts, said Jim Parker, BakeMarks president and chief executive.

More importantly to the thrifty refugees, it cost a few cents less than the standard white. Thats a big deal for shops that go through hundreds, if not thousands, of boxes a week. It didnt hurt either that pink was a few shades short of red, a lucky color for the refugees, many of whom are ethnic Chinese. White, on the other hand, is the color of mourning.

Alfredo Paredes loads pink doughnut boxes from a shrink wrap machine at Evergreen Packaging in La Mirada. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Len Bell, president of Evergreen Packaging in La Mirada, first noticed the proliferation of pink boxes as a regional manager for Winchells in the early 1980s. Back in the Southland after a few years in Minnesota, Bell was amazed to see the doughnut business seemingly transformed overnight by Cambodian refugees, who proved quick studies and skillful businesspeople.

Pink boxes have been around for a long time, dont get me wrong, he said. But they really came into vogue in the late 70s and early 80s simply because it was a less expensive box to produce and buy.

The trend has caught on in other states too. Evergreen sells pink boxes in Arizona and Texas to relatives of local Cambodian doughnut shop owners.

And few pink doughnut boxes are more coveted than those found at Voodoo Doughnut, the outlandish Portland, Ore., shop that gave us the NyQuil doughnut. A trip to California 15 years ago inspired the stores owner Kenneth Cat Daddy Pogson to go pink. To this day, Voodoos slogan remains: Good things come in pink boxes.

Susan Lim was 12 when her parents, three brothers and one sister fled the Khmer Rouge in 1979 for the U.S. The family was taken in by Ngoy, Lims uncle, who lived in a five-bedroom house in La Habra. When Lim arrived at her uncles house, it was the first time she had ever seen a refrigerator.

I thought it was a mansion, said Lim, 49. We were so happy just to see food on the table every day and not having to worry anymore if they will come to kill us today or tomorrow.

Within five years, Lims parents were running multiple doughnut shops. Lims father baked and her mother worked the counter. The children were tasked with mostly menial jobs, none more tedious than folding stacks of pink boxes.

Wed sit in the back and fold hundreds and hundreds of them, Lim said. And they always needed more on the weekends. After a while, I found it meditative.

Lim now runs Rose Donuts & Cafe. The Orange County shop has used pink boxes since Lims parents bought the business in 1984. Recently, Lim replaced the larger of her two pink boxes (made for two dozen doughnuts) with a pricier brown variety that doesnt require folding. She didnt think anyone would notice. But a customer returned to say her children found the brown box unsatisfactory.

They asked their mother, Wheres the pink box? said Lim, whos sticking with the new box.

Susan Lim, the Cambodian American owner of Rose Donuts & Cafe, serves doughnuts at her San Clemente store. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Lim isnt certain who first requested cheaper boxes from Westco. But after consulting relatives, including Ngoys ex-wife, she figures it may have been Ning Yen, a protege of Ngoy who went on to open doughnut shops, a doughnut supply distribution company called B&H (which was sold to BakeMark in 2005) and then box manufacturer Santa Ana Packaging.

Its possible, she added, that Yen and Ngoy, who were business partners, may have requested pink boxes together.

Yen, who was traveling in Cambodia, couldnt be reached for an interview. His son, Peter Yen, agreed it was possible that his dad first called Westco. He remembers his dad saying, back in the 1980s, he wanted red boxes to bring some much-needed good fortune to a community traumatized by war.

I know they wanted to do red boxes, said Peter Yen, 32, a sales manager at Santa Ana Packaging, but the mills kept sending it back pink.

Driving through Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he has mostly lived since 1992, Ngoy is tickled to see doughnut shops in his homeland. He cant help but feel somewhat responsible.

It all started with me and one shop and it became thousands of people, Ngoy said.

He could have just as well been talking about the boxes, though his memory is fuzzy about whether it was he or Ning Yen who asked for cheaper boxes.

We doughnut makers were all about saving money, Ngoy said. Why buy the more expensive white? Save a few pennies and make big bucks.

Ted Ngoy sits inside a Christys Donut Shop, which he built in the mid-1980s, in Hawthorne in 2004. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

How the pink box has persevered so long may be about more than just dollars and cents. Experts say the color triggers an emotional connection to sweetness that makes doughnuts more irresistible than they already are.

Its romantic and childlike and it entices you, said Kimberly Marte, who teaches at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and helped Tesla Motors develop its hues. It makes you crave sugar.

There are hints, though, that the pink box may soon be passe.

Evergreen is getting more orders from shops wanting boxes with graphics and logos. Store owners want to stand out and they understand the inherent branding opportunity of customized packaging.

Evergreens printing room features a wall covered with pink and white pastry boxes bearing logos of some of the regions most beloved bakeries and doughnut shops, including Du-pars, the Donut Man in Glendora, California Donuts in Koreatown and DKs Donuts in Santa Monica, which uses its glossy packaging to promote its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter handles.

The box is the work of Mayly Tao, who in recent years has re-branded her mothers shop for the social media generation, attracting nearly 79,000 followers on Instagram.

When the cronut craze swept New York, it was DKs that was the first to introduce a similar hybrid pastry in the L.A. area in 2013. Business at the shop tripled.

There were lines out the door every day, said Taos mother, Chuong Lee.

Tao was folding pink boxes for as long as she can remember. But to dedicate a career to the grueling work seemed to go against everything her mother had hoped for in raising a family in America. Its a quandary facing myriad refugee shop owners. Should their children take over or should they cash out of the business?

Tao argued firmly for the former and has relished the opportunity. Introducing a new box  one adorned with winged doughnuts flying above a beach tableau  is no small feat for a store averse to change. But Tao insisted on a fresh look, despite her mothers reservations.

People seem to like the new box, said Lee, 53. To me, I dont care as much. People come for good doughnuts. But, she added, Id rather pay half the price for the old pink box.

Follow me @dhpierson on Twitter

Additional credits: Animations by Swetha Kannan | Design and development by Sean Greene

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On 23 March, Paraguays attorney general announced the launch of an investigation into former president(2013-2018) and current vice president, after the US accused the two men of corruption.

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On 23 March the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Corte-IDH) held a second and final day of hearings on the case of a young woman known only as Beatriz, who was denied an abortion by El Salvador despite her high-risk pregnancy.

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On 23 March, police from Brazil's south-eastern state of Rio de Janeiro announced the launch of an operation to capture high-ranking members of criminal organisations in the municipality of Sao Goncalo, leading to at least 13 fatalities, according to local media reports.

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Uruguay can deliver every vacationer's trip goals, with it being home to numerous heritage sites. The country is known for its beach-lined location and is famed for being South America's second-smallest country.

But the size of Uruguay has never deterred it to become a world-renowned destination for tourists seeking their next vacation.

Tourists can enjoy several things in Uruguay, such as wine tasting, with the country's wine industry booming. Many of the country's wineries are small and family-owned, but they produce high-quality red and white wines.

READ NEXT: Saint Lucia: Best Travel Destinations to Visit in the Caribbean Island Country Aside From Piton Mountains

Uruguay's Heritage Sites

A world heritage site is a natural or cultural site that shows the influence or significance of the country in a global context. Usually, there are three types of heritage sites such as cultural, natural, and mixed, according to Britannica.

Cultural heritage sites are common tourist spots with historical structures and town sites. It can include significant archeological sites and works of huge artists, such as sculptures or paintings. In Uruguay, one of its most popular heritage sites is the bay and the island of the Colonia del Sacramento.

Colonia del Sacramento has been featured on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage list. Its bay is described as a "reservoir of historic testimonies of rural life," as Culture Trip reported. It is also the second oldest city in Uruguay and once played a host to a dispute between Spanis and Portuguese colonials.

Rock Paintings Area in Chamanga

Chamanga has a concentrated pictographic site and is considered to be the greatest in Uruguay. Located in the Province of Flores, it has more than 40 rock paintings registered up until now.

UNESCO noted that pictographs are characterized by abstract representations with varied geometrical motives. The pictographs are estimated to be around 2,000 years old.

Ciudad Vieja in Montevideo

Founded between 1724 and 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, it is a port city that faces Rio de la Plata with peaceful communities.

The center of the area's cultural life is in the so-called "Old City," which is where the past and present overlap among historical buildings, as detailed by Welcome Uruguay.

In the area, tourists can see Zabala Square, the Port Market, and Sarandi Pedestrian Street, where most art galleries are located.

Montevideo also features a collection of various architectural styles, showing both the era in which it was built and the nationality of those who designed the structures.

Fray Bentos

The heritage site is an industrial landscape established after a factory's construction in 1859. The said factory was used to process meat at the time.

UNESCO stated that the area's property has all elements related to the history of the site and the period of its operation. The landscape also shows original workhouses and early commercial buildings.

Fray Bentos has great places to visit, such as its Balnerio Las Canas, Museum of the Industrial Revolution, and Plaza Constitution, among many others.

READ MORE: Gaucho of Argentina: How Did the Cowboy Culture Start in South American Country?

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Top 10 Reasons to Visit Uruguay in 2021 - From Mojo Travels




On May 9, 2021, Florida cheerleader Tristyn Bailey, 13, was stabbed to death by her then-14-year-old classmate Aiden Fucci. Now 16, the teen killer faced his victim's mother as she testified in court.

Back on February 6, Fucci pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in a move that surprised many. According to Fox News, the teen stabbed Tristyn Bailey 114 times before leaving her body in a wooded area near a pond.

Stacy Bailey, the victim's mother, took the stand in an emotional hearing and said, "Your Honor, I plead with you, please consider everything he has done to our daughter and our family. Aiden Fucci made a heinous decision on May 9, 2021, and took the very life that I brought into this world."

She then added, "Please do not for one second think that he could be rehabilitated at any point. He is beyond saving."

Judge R. Lee Smith of the 7th Judicial Circuit heard the case and allowed the family of Tristyn Bailey, including her father and three of her four older sisters, to address him. All of them urged him to impose the maximum sentence.

Fucci is not eligible for the death penalty as he committed the crime when he was still 14. However, he is still being tried as an adult, given the severity of his crime. He faces a minimum of 40 years in prison and could be sentenced as early as Friday.

Aiden Fucci Writes Apology Letter to Tristyn Bailey's Family and the Judge

According to First Coast News, Aiden Fucci wrote a letter not just to his victim's family but also to his own family, as well as the judge. For the latter, he begged to be sentenced none times throughout the letter.

For the Bailey family, he wrote, "I'm sorry that you didn't get to know her that long," before adding, "You did not have any long relationships with Tristen and for that i'm sorry," he said while misspelling the teen cheerleader's name.

READ NEXT: Bailey Family Testifies in Aiden Fucci Trial

He also wrote to his mother, Crystal Smith, writing that he misses her pepper chicken.

"The longer I'm in here the more i forget the more memories i Lose. I'll never forget you love me," stated the murder suspect.

Fucci's mother has also been charged with tampering with evidence relating to her son's murder of Tristyn Bailey.

Aiden Fucci Trial Reminds Jacksonville Community of 1998 Murder of 8-Year-Old

Tristyn Bailey's murder shares several similarities with an old case from back in 1998, according to News 4 Jacksonville. In that case, then-14-year-old Joshua Phillips murdered 8-year-old Maddie Clifton.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Jay Plotkin, who tried that 1998 case, stated that the judge had to weigh many different factors, including the age and mental capacity of a 14-year-old, and with the Fucci case, the judge would have to do the same thing,

He also noted that this case impacted the Jacksonville community, as the little girl was murdered by her neighbor, beaten and stabbed repeatedly, then hidden under Phillips' waterbed. Her murderer even participated in the search around the neighborhood for Maddie.

The prosecutor also pointed out similarities, including both victims being stabbed over 100 times and their bodies being left in the woods. The mindset of the young perpetrators is also questioned in both cases.

READ NEXT: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Injured After Attack at Florida Gym

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Aiden Fucci Prosecutor Urges Judge to Hand Down Life Sentence to Teen Killer - Law&Crime Network
There should be a TikTok ban in the US, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said during an exclusive interview with Fox Nation host Piers Morgan, citing reports about the app's purported dangers that have brought its CEO Shou Zi Chew to Capitol Hill to appear before Congress.

With allegations flying about that the video-sharing site captures user data and makes that data accessible to China, DeSantis said he would likely take steps to prohibit the app if given the right to do so, according to Fox News.

DeSantis added that the app is a security risk as it harvests much data from people.

"There's a whole bunch of other apps and stuff out there, and, honestly, I've got young kids, and I don't want our kids on some of this stuff," he said.

TikTok, a China-based platform, is causing concern because, according to cybersecurity firm Feroot Security, it not only collects data from users who have the app installed and use it regularly but also from sites that have integrated TikTok videos.

You may be giving these trackers access to sensitive information such as login credentials, financial data, and even information about your physical and mental health, according to "The CyberGuy" Kurt Knutsson. He said TikTok pixels are collecting and transferring all that information over the globe, even if a site requires additional logins and authentications.

Moreover, ByteDance, the app's parent business, follows China's legal requirements and would be obliged to hand over user data to the Chinese Communist Party if asked.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Administration Demands TikTok to Sell Shares or Face Nationwide Ban

The Effects of TikTok Ban in the US on Influencers

Marjan Tabibzada, a makeup tutorial creator on TikTok, told Yahoo Finance that a complete TikTok ban in the US would not have a significant impact on her earnings, adding, "20 to 30% if anything, but at the end of the day, the value is in the content creator."

Tabibzada further emphasizes that the effects will be financial and personal, stating that her biggest concern about a possible TikTok ban as a creator is just watching all the time and work she has invested into developing a community on TikTok go away, per Yahoo! Money.

The far-left Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who The New York Times calls TikTok's "lonely progressive defender," is among the "progressive" Democrats now raising objections amid a rising bipartisan movement to push TikTok ban in the US.

The congressman staged a press conference on Wednesday with 30 TikTok creators whose prospective ban threatens "jobs," BPR noted.

"I just realized something. Republicans ain't got no swag - that's why they want to ban TikTok. Republicans ain't got no swag. That's the problem. And I mention that in the context of engaging young people in the democratic process," he said at one point during the conference:

Rep. Jamaal Bowman: "Republicans ain't got no swag. That's why they want to ban TikTok." pic.twitter.com/pop3P1tLQG  Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 22, 2023

Ron DeSantis' 'Digital Bill of Rights'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed legislation last month to push the TikTok ban in the US state-government devices and public school and university networks. The law also covers other Chinese software, StateScoop reports.

The legislation would bring Florida on pace with dozens of other states that have pushed to ban the video-sharing app, and it would apply to all government-owned devices, not just those used by employees.

The proposal would also prohibit state and local government officials from working with Big Tech corporations to restrict protected expression and demand more transparency from Google and other popular search engines about how they create results.

Meanwhile, the White House mandated on February 27 that all government-issued devices must be free of TikTok, owned by the Chinese firm, ByteDance, within 30 days, said Tallahassee Democrat.

However, there are exceptions for "law enforcement activities, national security interests and activities, and security research."

READ MORE: Raiders' Foster Moreau Is Stepping Away From NFL

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WATCH: Piers Morgan vs Ron DeSantis | The Full UNCUT Interview - From Piers Morgan Uncensored
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was in the hot seat as House representatives from both major parties piled onto him as they grilled him on whether the Chinese-owned app can protect American privacy.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have expressed deep skepticism about TikTok's attempts to protect user data in the U.S. amid reports that data is still being sent back to its parent company's servers in Beijing.

According to CNN, this was a rare chance for the public to finally hear from the TikTok CEO, whose company has been facing massive scrutiny over the app's security concerns. Several state and local governments, both red and blue states, have already banned the app from all government devices. Several big-name politicians like Pres. Joe Biden gave the app an ultimatum, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for it to be banned entirely.

Chew stressed that his company has independence from China and even pointed out that it has more U.S. ties.

"TikTok itself is not available in mainland China, we're headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we have 7,000 employees in the U.S. today," he told Congress.

Chew defended his company but acknowledged that there is "potential for unwanted foreign access to U.S. data and potential manipulation of the TikTok U.S. ecosystem." He added that the company's approach had never been to dismiss any of these concerns and stated that they are addressing them with real action.

READ NEXT: TikTok May Soon be Banned From All U.S. Government Devices

Engineers from TikTok Parent Company in China Have Access to U.S. Data

TikTok's parent company is ByteDance, which must comply with laws set up by the Chinese Communist Party that they must hand over all its data.

During the hearing, this fact was pointed out as lawmakers were grilling Chew. He admitted that engineers from ByteDance back in China have access to U.S. data.

"We rely on global interoperability, Chinese engineers have access to data," he said.

Lawmakers then zeroed in on this, as it is hard to see how the Chinese government could not also access it, according to the BBC.

The TikTok CEO did mention "Project Texas," which was the company's attempt to answer security concerns. It will store all data in the U.S. under the watch of American firm Oracle, but it is still not operational, which means U.S. user data is still being sent back to China.

Lawmakers Still Skeptical After TikTok CEO Testimony During Hearing

After five hours of grilling, Chew did not seem to quell any of the lawmakers' concerns about security and data being given to the Chinese government, according to CNBC.

"I've not been reassured by anything you've said so far and I think quite frankly your testimony has raised more questions for me than answers," said Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Democrat.

Chew stressed that much like American social media apps like Facebook and Twitter, TikTok also gets data as its business practice, and this does not make them any different. However, it was pointed out that the difference is that the data may be used by a foreign government to influence U.S. citizens.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Administration Demands TikTok to Sell Shares or Face Nationwide Ban

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: TikTok CEO explains to congress why his kids aren't on the app - FOX 35 Orlando
The San Francisco, California's famous Wild 94.9 radio host Jeffrey Vandergrift, who has been missing since February, has been found dead, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in San Francisco told SFGATE Thursday.

"With a heavy heart, we must confirm that the body found near Pier 39 on Wednesday afternoon has been identified as our dear friend, family member & colleague, JV," wrote his employer, Wild 94.9, in a March 23 tweet.

The radio station added that they are devastated to know now that the host is gone and pleaded with everyone to keep his wife Natasha, his family, and his close friends in their prayers.

JV, we will miss you. You are forever a Bay Area icon pic.twitter.com/9A6oGYHEkt  WiLD 94.9 (@Wild949) March 23, 2023

The host of the "JV Show," a popular radio program in the Bay Area, has built a loyal following among locals throughout his career.

The station claims he became famous for his pranks and other comedic acts while broadcasting.

READ NEXT: British Actor Mysteriously Vanished While Hiking in California Mountains

Wild 94.9 Radio Host Jeffrey Vandergrift Talks About Health Struggles Before Disappearance

Jeffrey Vandergrift updated his listeners on his health status on his last show on February 23 before he went missing, ABC 7 noted.

"The stuff I've been going through in my brain that they are trying to figure out," he said

"It started off... with them believing that something had reignited old infections," he stated, saying that he can deal with the physical aspects, including discomfort, but he cannot even begin to explain what is happening to his mind.

Although Lyme disease is commonly associated with exhaustion and lightheadedness, it can also bring on emotions such as depression, anxiety, and even anger.

"Thank you for a wonderful life filled with joy, laughs, pain, and struggle..." Vandergrift said in his final message on social media.

Wild 94.9 Radio Host Jeffrey Vandergrift Went Missing

Jeffrey Vandergrift was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2021. He has been open about his struggles with the illness, including his ongoing "brain fog," dizziness, migraines, and blurred vision.

Wild 94.9 radio host Jeffrey Vandergrift was last seen on February 23 at 10 p.m. on the 200 block of King Street, San Francisco, California, according to Fox 13.

The police were notified of his disappearance the following day and declared him in danger without providing further details.

The San Francisco Police Department tweets a missing person report for Vandergrift at 3:04 p.m.

Wild 94.9, an American radio station in San Francisco, California, posted online that it was "deeply concerned" about Vandergrift's location two hours later.

There has been no traceable activity on Vandergrift's phone, credit cards, or bank accounts, according to a report from Wild 94.9 from February 27.

The authorities said they did not suspect foul play in his disappearance.

Natasha Yi, Jeffrey Vandergrift's wife, stated on March 1 that she does not expect her husband to return. She also expressed appreciation to the audience for their continued encouragement.

She informed the listeners that personal information had recently been discovered, leading them to believe that her husband would not return, Yi stated in a message broadcast by Wild 94.9. on Wednesday. Yi is also a co-host on the JV Show.

"I tell you this with incredible pain and sadness in my heart," she concluded.

READ MORE: Shakira Betrayed as Gerard Pique's Mom Helped Son Hide Clara Chia Affair

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Body found of Jeffery Vandergrift, San Francisco radio host - From KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
Taiwan has accused China of wielding its influence in Honduras' plan to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also suggested on Thursday that the Central American country had asked for a "high price" to maintain relations with them.

According to Al Jazeera, Wu's statement came a day after Honduras denied that it asked for $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan before announcing a plan to open diplomatic relations with China.

Wu described the situation with Honduras to reporters as "not very good." He added that the "marks of Chinese involvement are very obvious," but the island will not engage in dollar diplomacy with China.

It was reported on Wednesday that Honduras demanded the funds in aid from Taiwan the day before Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced that her government is eying to "open relations" with China.

China has yet to respond to the accusations against its government, which allegedly wielded its influence in breaking Honduras' diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

READ NEXT: Honduras Declares National Security Emergency Amid Rising Number of Gang Extortions

Honduras Diplomatic Relations

Xiomara Castro announced almost a week ago that the country aims to expand its foreign engagements, while Taiwan warned Honduras of falling "into China's trap," BBC reported.

China has considered Taiwan part of its territory and prohibited its partners from having relations with the island.

The two nations have been in dispute for years about whether Taiwan is an independent country or is subjected to the governance of China. If Honduras switches allegiance to China, Taiwan would be left with just 13 governments acknowledging them.

China's foreign ministry welcomed Castro's announcement, saying it was willing to create "friendly and cooperative relations" with the Latin American country.

Since 2016, Taiwan has lost eight diplomatic allies. It was a time when Tsai Ing-wen was elected as president. In January 2022, Castro said she hoped to keep ties with Taiwan.

Taiwan Removes Honduras Ambassador

The government of Taiwan has decided to remove its ambassador to Honduras after the Central American country sent its foreign minister to China, which Taiwan took as a signal that it would sever diplomatic ties with them.

Taipei Times reported that Honduras Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduardo Enrique Reina traveled to China to launch "efforts for establishment of diplomatic relations," as instructed by Castro.

In a statement, Taipei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its government has decided to "immediately recall the ambassador to Honduras" in expressing their "strong dissatisfaction."

China's Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Jan Jy-Horng noted that he has no comment on reports that China spent $1.46 billion to $2.95 billion to create diplomatic relations.

Wu said the requested amount to them from Honduras was beyond what "Taiwan could do."

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin commented on the reports of China supporting Honduras to "request extortionate aid" from Taiwan, describing it as "very absurd and out of thin air."

Taiwan's Ing-Wen is coming to Central America next Wednesday.

READ MORE: Honduras Travel: Safety Advisories and Tourist Attractions You Should See During Your Visit in Honduras

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Honduran Foreign Minister Visits China, Signaling End to Decades-Long Relationship With Taiwan - From CNA




During a rescue operation in Texas, FBI agents managed to kill one of the kidnappers who held three migrants hostage for nearly a week.

Without disclosing their nationalities, authorities said the three migrants had illegally crossed the U.S. border from Mexico.

According to the Associated Press, the three migrants were traveling in a vehicle on Interstate 10 in Waller County on March 18 when they were stopped by kidnappers and then forced into another vehicle.

However, the driver was able to call 911 and informed the Waller County Sheriff's Office about the kidnapping.

That led to a situation where the hostage takers took the migrants hostage in north Houston and confronted elements of the Waller County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and other law enforcement groups.

Gunfire reportedly broke out between the hostage-takers and FBI agents early Thursday morning when federal agents moved in.

James Smith, special agent in charge of the FBI's Houston office, said one suspect was killed while the Harris County Sheriff's Office arrested another suspect.

Smith noted that agents with the FBI's hostage rescue team were able to rescue two people being held at a motel. He said no law enforcement personnel was injured, and a review team from the FBI will investigate the shooting.

However, Smith did not say how many agents were involved, how they found the migrants, what led up to the shooting, or what happened to the other migrant that was not rescued.

READ NEXT: Mexico: US Warns About Fake Pills Sold at Pharmacies

Kidnappers Demanded Money From the Family of One of the Three Migrants

After kidnapping the migrants, the kidnappers held them inside a Motel 6 in Texas. That was when the tense five-day ordeal began for the kidnapped migrants.

According to New York Daily News, the kidnappers demanded money from the family of at least one of the migrants, and they were paid an undisclosed amount.

However, the kidnappers wanted more and even sent videos to the family to show them they were armed and beating up one of their hostages. The hostage being beaten up was described as an elderly man.

Waller County District Attorney's Office prosecutor Sean Whittmore did not disclose the migrants' immigration status. It was also unknown whether they were being illegally transported at the time of their kidnapping.

3 Migrants Held Hostage in Texas Tortured

It was a harrowing experience for the migrants. The New York Post reported that the kidnappers tortured the migrants over those five days, apart from being held against their own will as the kidnappers attempted to extort their families for money.

James Smith said the migrants were now safe and relocated to a hotel after they were rescued. As for the suspects, authorities have not yet released their identities.

READ MORE: Texas: Vikings Star KJ Osborn Helps Save Man From Burning Car

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WATCH: Authorities Say 1 Person Fatally Shot During Rescue - From the Associated Press
The White House COVID-19 response team will reportedly disband in May, with some staff members already departing. The public health emergency is also set to end the same month.

It was first reported by The Washington Post, with speculations that the team will be dissolved as President Joe Biden seeks to move forward as U.S. hospitals see a decrease in their COVID-19 patients.

In a statement sent to The Post, a senior administration official noted that it makes sense now to "shift out of emergency status."

The official said the administration's COVID-19 response had created a "safer, better place" compared to three years ago. Some experts also believe there are practical reasons for dissolving the team and lessening its response.

Bob Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, noted that there is a "war on cancer," but it does not require "a cancer czar."

However, Deborah Birx, the country's first coronavirus coordinator, believes it is too early to disband. Birx noted that the virus' evolution has allowed it to evade some treatments, leaving immunocompromised individuals with fewer protections.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Administration Ending the Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Order to Preserve Supply

White House COVID-19 Response Team

The speculation that the team will be dissolved comes as Republicans in Congress have introduced multiple investigations into the virus' origins.

Several House Republican lawmakers have pushed theories that the COVID-19 origins were from a lab leak in Wuhan, China, The Guardian reported.

President Joe Biden recently signed a bill into law that would require the release of intelligence on possible links between the outbreak of COVID-19 and the Wuhan lab.

Biden said his administration would continue to review all classified information about the COVID-19 origins, which included theories on the possible link to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

By signing the bill, the Biden administration will be declassifying intelligence materials regarding the possible origins of COVID-19, making the information available to the public.

Some experts have concluded that COVID-19 most likely originated from an animal market in Wuhan.

Public Health Emergency Declaration Ending

The end of the public health emergency declaration would mean that coverage for millions of Americans would also end.

Jodie Guest, professor and vice chair of the department of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, said the insurance and health care system is "pretty chaotic" and can be very costly, with the public seen to be going back to that.

With the end of the public health emergency declaration, the free at-home tests the government provides will likely go away. Medicaid will likely have free tests until 2024, while Medicare recipients will no longer receive at-home tests for free.

In addition, vaccine companies such as Pfizer and Moderna are already considering price hikes between $110 and $130, USA Today reported. It would also limit access to the few drugs available when treating COVID-19, such as the antiviral Paxlovid from Pfizer.

Many people will also lose access to telehealth once the declaration ends. Health experts said hospitals would also not get extra funding.

READ MORE: COVIDtests.gov: More Free COVID-19 Test Kits Available on Federal Government Website | Here's How You Can Order

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: White House to Disband COVID-19 Response Team - From WFAA




Fox News and host Tucker Carlson are being asked to publicly retract and apologize for a January 6 conspiracy theory they may have helped spread.

Former Marine from Arizona Raymond Epps was caught up in a conspiracy theory that accused him of helping to instigate the Capitol attack by pro-Trump demonstrators.

Carlson featured this conspiracy theory in his Fox News show, and Epps' lawyer, Michael Teter, wanted them to retract the statements and apologize.

Epps was a Donald Trump supporter who went to Washington, D.C., for the January 6, 2021, rally of the former president. He was caught on video twice urging Trump supporters to go to the U.S. Capitol that day, the Associated Press reported.

However, he was never arrested, leading some to theorize that he was a government agent conducting a "false flag" operation to inflame trouble that would be blamed on Trump supporters.

According to the AP, there was no evidence suggesting it was true. Epps has already told the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack that he has never worked at or become an informant for a government agency.

READ NEXT: Fox News vs. Dominion: Skeptical Judge Grills Fox News Lawyer as Lawsuit Finally Heads to Court

Arizona Man's Attorney Says Fox News and Tucker Carlson Lied About His Client

Tucker Carlson was reportedly among the first major figures in the media to give the theory centering on Raymond Epps a wide audience. Ultimately, they were also echoed by Republican members of Congress and Donald Trump himself.

"The fanciful notions that Mr. Carlson advances on his show regarding Mr. Epps's involvement in the January 6th insurrection are demonstrably (and already proven to be) false," wrote Michael Teter in his letter directed to Fox News. "And yet, Mr. Carlson persists with his assault on the truth."

The letter demanded that they apologize and make their retraction on air. That comes as Fox News faces mounting scrutiny over their false claims surrounding the 2020 presidential elections.

During his private deposition with the January 6 committee, Epps denied that he has ever worked for the FBI but admitted under oath that he was a Trump supporter and was present for January 6.

Teter mentioned in his letter that the conspiracy theories surrounding his client are "nonsensical fantasies" that have been "disproven by videos and accounts by those attending the January 6 events."

He then told Fox News and Carlson that the "consequences of your lies cannot be minimized," noting that his client has "been subjected to threats, intimidation, and harassment, resulting in significant economic and emotional damages."

He added that "each time Mr. Carlson and Fox News spread more misinformation about Mr. Epps, the harm redoubles."

Epps and his wife reportedly sold their house and business in Arizona and now hiding in a mobile home in the Rocky Mountains.

Dominion Lawsuit Against Fox News Mwntioned in Raymond Epps' Case

Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corp., are facing a $1.6 billion defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems.

Raymond Epps' lawyer said revelations that came out through court papers in the Dominion lawsuit might explain why Fox acted the way it has with Epps.

The Dominion has accused Fox of amplifying lies that the voting machine company was involved in a plot to steal votes from Donald Trump during the 2020 election. Epps and his attorney feel it is now the time for Fox News to retract their statements.

"Recent revelations from the Dominion Voting lawsuit make clear that Fox News has zero qualms about lying to its viewers," said Michael Teter.

"The fictional story that Mr. Carlson and Fox News have told, and continue to tell, about Ray Epps is just one more example of this. It is time for Mr. Carlson and Fox News to stop the lies and to make amends."

According to The Independent, the letter also claimed that Carlson and Fox News "have repeatedly peddled claims about Mr. Epps that lack any foundation in fact."

READ MORE: Tucker Carlson Admits He Hates Donald Trump 'Passionately'

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Tucker Carlson Promotes Conspiracy that FBI Planned Capitol Riot - From CNN
Osiel Cardenas Jr., the son of Gulf Cartel boss Osiel Cardenas Guillen, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to gun smuggling charges.

According to Yahoo News, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Fernando Rodriguez Jr. on Thursday sentenced Cardenas to 109 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

The son of the Gulf Cartel boss was also ordered to pay a fine of $20,000. Cardenas, 31, pleaded guilty to gun smuggling charges last August. Undercover federal agents arrested him in the parking lot of a store in Brownsville, Texas, on April 22, 2021.

The son of the Gulf Cartel boss reportedly ordered another person to cross into Mexico to pick up the $15,000 for the weapons and to inform him when the transaction was complete.

According to Border Report, Cardenas and two accomplices attempted to purchase five Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifles and five Zastava M90 rifles at the time.

Cardenas was reportedly indicted with Azhuan Martinez and Jose Roberto Molina-Medrano, who was in the U.S. illegally and previously convicted of illegal reentry.

Cardenas also admitted that he committed the crime while on supervised release for a previous felony. He also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During Thursday's hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Cardenas' role as a supervisor/manager, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas said in a press release.

The statement noted that In handing down the sentence, the court said Cardenas "had two firearms related cases in his criminal history and continued to engage in additional criminal activity with the smuggling of weapons, repeatedly engaging in violations involving firearms."

The son of the Gulf Cartel boss apologized to the court during the hearing and asked for mercy.

READ NEXT: Mexico: 2 Bodies Found Hanging From Bridge, 3 Police Officers Killed as Mexican Drug Cartels Battle for Territory

Osiel Cardenas Jr. Uncle, Gulf Cartel Boss' El Gordo,' Extradited From Mexico to the U.S.

In May last year, the uncle of Osiel Cardenas Jr., Mario Cardenas Guillen, also known as "El Gordo" or "El M-1," was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. also to stand trial in a Texas court.

The former leader of the Gulf Cartel is facing drug trafficking charges in Texas. According to reports, El Gordo was previously responsible for the large-scale importation of cocaine into Houston, Texas.

He previously controlled the Gulf Cartel with Eduardo Costilla, also known as "El Cos," who was arrested in Mexico in 2012 and extradited to the U.S. in 2015.

El Gordo has reportedly run the Gulf Cartel since his brother, former leader Antonio Cardenas Guillen or "Tony Tormenta," was killed in a gunfight with the Mexican government in 2010.

Mario Cardenas Guillen is also the brother of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, a co-leader of the Gulf Cartel who was arrested in 2003 and extradited to the U.S. in 2007.

Osiel Cardenas Guillen was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $50 million to the United States. According to reports, El Gordo was initially arrested and convicted on organized crime charges in 1995.

He was imprisoned in Matamoros city, across the U.S.-Mexico border from Brownsville, Texas, where he was caught organizing large shipments of cocaine and marijuana from behind bars.

El Gordo was then reassigned to a prison in Jalisco state and was released in 2007 after he finished his sentence. He reportedly rejoined the Gulf Cartel after his release.

Because of this, the DEA has maintained him on its fugitive list for violations of federal law on conspiracy charges.

El Gordo was arrested a second time in Mexico's state of Tamaulipas in 2012. He was reportedly caught with weapons, ammunition, and four small envelopes containing cocaine.

El Gordo, who was previously incarcerated at the Altiplano maximum-security federal prison in Mexico State, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in April 2021.

The Gulf Cartel

The Gulf Cartel is considered to be one of the oldest and most powerful criminal groups in Mexico. However, the group has lost territory and influence over the years due to its rivals. Its rivals include its former enforcer wing, the Zetas, Insight Crime reported.

During its most powerful term, the drug cartel was led by its kingpin Osiel Cardenas Guillen, who was considered to be the country's most powerful leader. The Gulf Cartel was reportedly pulling in billions in revenues at the time.

Today, alliances with smaller splinter cells have allowed the cartel to retain a significant place in the organized crime world in Mexico.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the DrugLLord's Absence: Report

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: On the Front Line With Mexico's Warring Cartels - From VICE News
During a surprise visit to Poland near the Ukraine border, Prince William thanked British and Polish troops for "defending our freedoms," and Russia mocked him.

According to the Daily Mail, the Prince of Wales on Wednesday visited the base in Rzeszow city, about an hour from Ukraine, and spoke to troops, telling them that "everyone back home thoroughly supports you."

The troops are part of the first line of defense against Russia's war on NATO's eastern flank.

In response to the visit, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova, the director of the information and press department of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, belittled the prince's royal title to merely "son of Charles," The Sun reported.

She also cited the depleted uranium tank shells Britain supplied to Ukraine.

"I wonder if William Charles-ovich brought depleted uranium ammunition for his troops," Zakharova said.

READ NEXT: Prince Harry Says Prince William Physically Attacked Him

Prince William Visits British Troops Fighting Russia in Poland

Sources close to Prince William reportedly said his trip to Rzeszow city in Poland was a "personal mission" to recognize and thank the soldiers, largely consisting of the Royal Artillery Regiment.

During his trip, which had been kept in secret for security reasons, the Prince of Wales managed to get an up-close look at Britain's high-tech Sky Sabre missile defense system deployed near the border.

As he spoke to British troops without a script, the prince said: "I know how busy you all are. Thank you for hosting me today, I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that you are doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what's going on."

He added: "You are doing a really good job out here, defending our freedoms is really important and everyone back home thoroughly supports you... and everything you are doing with our Polish counterparts in providing that safety is really important, so thank you for your time, lovely to meet you all and good luck."

Prince William reportedly spent 20 minutes talking to army personnel inside a military tent.

Prince William Visits the Tomb of the Unknown in Poland

Prince William also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, where he laid a wreath.

The wreath, signed with his name, bore a handwritten note: "In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice." According to Daily Mail, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument dedicated to soldiers who died in conflict.

Prince William was greeted by dignitaries and a guard of honor comprised of Army, Navy, and Air Force members. He then solemnly walked to the monument, where he spent about 10 minutes before leaving.

It was Prince William's first visit to Poland since visiting the country with his wife, Kate Middleton, back in 2017.

READ MORE: Wild 94.9 Radio Host Jeffrey Vandergrift Found Dead

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Prince William Meets Troops Supporting Ukraine in Poland - From The Telegraph
Laurel, MS (39440)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High 72F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Thursday night in Allentown.

Darnelle Thompson, 39, who was from the city, was pronounced dead at 7:08 p.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio said.

Thompson died from gunshot wounds to his body. His death was previously ruled a homicide.

Police said the shooting occurred at 6:30 p.m. in the 500 block of North Fourth Street. Authorities have not released details on what led to the shooting and have not announced any arrests.

Officers found Thompson suffering from gunshot wounds and he was taken to the hospital in Salisbury Township.

The killing is being investigated by Allentown police and the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force with assistance from the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office.

Police are also investigating a separate double fatal shooting early Friday morning on East South Street on the citys east side.

Anyone with information about either incident or who may have witnessed the shootings should call the Allentown Police Criminal Investigations Division at 610-437-7721, or make an anonymous tip through the Allentown Police Tip411 app.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Editors Note: On April 18, the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office announced that an investigation uncovered no evidence of car break-ins prior to the shootings. The headline above and story below have been updated to include the new information.

Two men were killed in an exchange of gunfire early Friday during a confrontation over suspected car break-ins in Allentown, the second fatal shooting in the city in a matter of hours.

Police said residents believed two males were trying to open the doors of parked cars in 100 block of East South Street. A resident confronted them, and the resident and one of the males started firing, according to police.

Allentown police found the two men, ages 21 and 42, suffering from gunshot wounds at about 1:30 a.m. Officers started giving first aid, but the resident and the suspect succumbed to their injuries, police said.

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio said both men are from Allentown and, while they have been identified, he was not releasing their identities Friday morning, allowing the families to grieve privately.

The two deaths were ruled homicides, and autopsies will be scheduled to officially rule the causes of death.

Police said they are still investigating, but there is no physical danger to the community. The 100 block of East South Street, a steep neighborhood road on the east side of the city near the Lehigh River, was quiet Friday morning.

The shootings come after a man was killed Thursday night in a shooting at about 6:30 p.m. in the 500 block of North Fourth Street, authorities said.

Officers found the man suffering from gunshot wounds and he was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

The coroner ruled the mans death a homicide.

Anyone with information about either incident or who may have witnessed the shootings should call the Allentown Police Criminal Investigations Division at 610-437-7721, or make an anonymous tip through the Allentown Police Tip411 app.

Allentown has had six homicides so far this year.

The first homicide of 2023 was Jan. 22, when Blessing Taveras, 28, was shot and killed in the 1000 block of Union Boulevard. Authorities have not announced any arrests in her killing.

Xavier Arnold, 20, died after exchanging gunfire with an Allentown police officer Feb. 10 on Maple Street in the city. Arnolds death was ruled a homicide, but Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said the officer was justified in the fatal shooting and would not be charged.

The third homicide was Mastapha Brown. The 38-year-old was assaulted earlier this month near 10th and West Linden streets, and died from his head injuries on March 16. Police have not announced any arrests is Browns case.

Allentown mayor responds

Mayor Matt Tuerk in a prepared statement said he was saddened at the loss of life overnight in the city.

My heart goes out to the mothers and children of those we lost and I understand the fear and frustration felt by our neighbors. We are hurting, but I trust Allentonians to find a path to healing, Tuerk said. I want our residents to know that we are here to help. If youre feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, angry, health care providers can help. Mental health is key to our communitys health, and both our hospital networks and our first responders are here to serve. Our police are capable and do respond to both to neighborhood emergencies and also neighborly disputes. Were here to help.

The mayor was in Harrisburg Thursday afternoon for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence. Tuerk repeated his stance that illegal guns are a toxin in Allentown and legislators need to take action.

When we have safe streets, we give Pennsylvanians a chance to thrive. The Allentown police department has taken over 350 guns off the street since the beginning of 2022, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly can help by passing laws mandating the reporting of gun theft, improving background checks, and enacting extreme risk protection orders, the mayor said.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
UPDATE: Coroner identifies man killed in Allentown shooting Thursday

A man was shot to death Thursday night in Allentown, authorities said, and the investigation was continuing into who was responsible.

Allentown police were called around 7:30 p.m. to a report of a shooting in the area of the 500 block of North Fourth Street, according to a news release from the department.

Officers found the man suffering from gunshot wounds and he was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, according to police and the Lehigh County Coroners Office.

The man was pronounced dead in the emergency department, Coroner Daniel Buglio said in a news release.

Buglio ruled the death a homicide. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

The investigation is active and ongoing, police Assistant Chief James Gress stated Thursday night. There is no physical danger to the community at this time.

Authorities did not immediately identify the victim.

The citys mayor hours earlier on Thursday attended a rally in Harrisburg against gun violence, joining activists including an Allentown mother whose 17-year-old was shot and killed while asleep at home. Mayor Matt Tuerk called for action on getting illegal guns off the streets during the March For Our Lives rally at the state Capitol.

Allentown police and the coroners office were continuing to investigate the homicide and asked any with information about the incident or who may have witnessed it to call Allentown detectives at 610-437-7721. Additionally, anonymous text tips can be sent via the departments Tip411 App available on the Allentown Police Facebook Page or via the Allentown Police Department website.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
The Bethlehem Area School District is losing its superintendent of 13 years.

Superintendent Joseph Roy notified the school board of his intent to retire in July, after serving in the role since 2010, according to a district announcement Thursday.

I have been fortunate to have the support of amazing school board members who value public education and do whats best for students and the community, Roy said in a statement from the district. I am honored to have worked with the finest group of teachers, staff and administrators in any district, anywhere. The entire Bethlehem community values its public schools and I am proud to have played a role in this district for the past 13 school years.

Roy is in the fourth year of a five-year contract that runs through June 2024. But he said he doesnt view his departure as coming a year early, but rather two years after becoming fully vested in his pension over a 37-career in education. His salary is $209,000 this year.

Named Pennsylvanias superintendent of the year in 2017, Roy during his tenure in Bethlehem placed a premium on building relationships across the school community, the districts announcement states. Hes made more than 2,000 school visits, where he engaged with teachers, principals, parents and students to better understand school level successes and challenges, the announcement states.

I cannot thank Dr. Roy enough for his incredible work over the past 13 years, stated school board President Michael Faccinetto. When he arrived, the BASD was a much different place than it is today. His efforts in equity and inclusion have made our schools more accessible and welcoming for all students. The board is eternally grateful for his unrelenting dedication to the success of our students and families.

We all knew this day would come, but it doesnt make it any easier. A huge thank you to Dr. Roy for everything. He has done his past 13 years. https://t.co/LMYKqhwy5M  Michael Faccinetto (@MikeFaccinetto) March 23, 2023

Thursdays announcement goes on to recognize Roys leadership as the district recovered from significant financial pressures while dealing with inadequate state funding. Bethlehem Area has avoided raising school taxes in three of the past four years.

Roy led the efforts to implement full-day kindergarten, elementary Spanish, digital literacy and the districts nationally-recognized Community Schools and early literacy programs, the announcement states. Under his leadership, the district says it expanded opportunities at both the middle and high school levels, as well, including innovative curriculum such as Project Lead the Way Engineering/Biomedicine and the Moravian University Superintendents Scholarship  a full tuition grant awarded to Liberty and Freedom graduates each year.

The district, during Roys tenure, built from scratch a social media and public relations presence, introducing #BASDProud as Roy engaged on Twitter with students and adults.

At the start of the 2018-19 school year, the district unveiled a new logo and tagline paying homage to Bethlehems roots as the source of steel for national infrastructure and defense projects  Built by Bethlehem.

Along with social media, video productions, a 24-hour BASD TV channel and weekly BASD eNews helped inform the community about what was going on in local schools.

Dr. Roy has served as our districts superintendent with great distinction since 2010, stated district Assistant Superintendent Jack P. Silva, who is also chief academic officer. He steered the district successfully through historic challenges to public education. Dr. Roy deserves the numerous awards that he has received for his strong leadership over the past 13 years. He leaves the district in a strong position both educationally and financially. I honor his tremendous service to the school community, and cherish the partnership and friendship we have shared. I wish him and his family every blessing in the next chapter of his life.

Roy oversaw the districts management of the coronavirus pandemic and the introduction of wellness centers at both high schools, plus school-based behavioral health supports for students in collaboration with community partners such as the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Pinebrook Family Answers, Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Lukes University Health Network.

At the start of the 2022-23 school year, Roy created an Office of Equity Initiatives to ensure all learners have equitable access and opportunities for academic and professional achievement in a warm and welcoming environment, his retirement announcement states; throughout his tenure, he chaired the districts Superintendents Task Force for Equity and Excellence with outside community leaders.

Roy told lehighvalleylive.com on Thursday his retirement has absolutely nothing to do with an unspecified, internal personnel investigation that wrapped up in February.

The district hired former Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano in November to conduct the investigation, with Giordanos law firm, Norris McLaughlin in Allentown, paid $12,087 for professional services rendered between Nov. 11 and Jan. 30.

Faccinetto in November said the district had been made aware of an incident that allegedly involved its superintendent, and Roy at the time sought to dispel rumors as he worked with district to address what he called this unfounded allegation.

Roy had told the school board in June 2021 that he was eyeing retirement, he said Thursday, noting there is no penalty in his contract for leaving early.

Giving the board a heads-up, he said, aimed to ease the transition to new executive leadership in the district that has also included the hiring announced last September of Arutyun Harry Aristakesian as chief financial officer, succeeding Stacy Gober after she retired from a 35-year career in education.

The district earlier this month announced the appointment of new Chief Human Resources Officer John T. Burrus, who was hired from his role as chief human resources officer for the Easton Area School District.

Dr. Roy has a keen eye for talent and uncommon vision to match individual potential with the districts strategic objectives, current Bethlehem Area schools Chief Human Resources Officer Russ Giordano stated. He has placed administrators and other staff members in positions where they grow and excel.

He has been an amazing leader for both our district and school community, and I am proud to have worked with him and the leadership team he assembled.

Easton Areas school board just this week announced the appointment of Assistant Superintendent Tracy Piazza as the districts next superintendent. Shell take the place of Superintendent David Piperato, who said March 6 hed retire by August. The Allentown School District also has a new superintendent, with the school board on March 9 signing former interim Superintendent Carol D. Birks to a contract that runs through June 2027.

Roy lives in Northeast Bethlehem and has two daughters in the school district. An older daughter is about to get married. He said he is looking forward to some time away from the untold hours involved in serving as superintendent of a school district with more than 13,000 students.

Im at the point that I can take hopefully a decade of good health into my 70s and just spend a lot more time with family, he said.

Roy received his doctorate from Lehigh University, his masters from Bucknell University and his bachelors from Franklin & Marshall College. Prior to his position as superintendent, he served as a teacher, assistant principal at Liberty High School, and a high school principal in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Roys retirement will appear on the April 24, school board meeting agenda, and he said an announcement related to his successor could come as early as next week.

In addition to being named Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year in 2017, Roy has been recognized for his accomplishments by receiving the Champion of Education Award in 2022 from Communities in Schools, PBS39 Good Neighbor Award in 2018, Priscilla Payne Hurd Award in 2017 from the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce, Excellence in Education Award in 2013 from Lehigh University, Community Builder Award in 2011 from the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Outstanding Communicator Award in 2005 from the National School Public Relations Association and National Principal of the Year Award in 2004 from the School Library Journal, according to his retirement announcement.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
A former police officer in Pennsylvania who lived in South Jersey was sentenced to prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting five boys in the 1980s and 1990s.

James Carey, 54, of Middle Township in Cape May County, will serve 24  to 55 years in state prison.
Three people, including a mother and her son, face federal charges in a scheme to acquire personal information from Northampton County Prison inmates and use it to fraudulently obtain more than $70,000 in COVID relief funds, authorities said.

The alleged frauds occurred between June 10, 2020 and Aug. 24, 2020, just months after the pandemic first struck the Lehigh Valley and the rest of the nation.

Charity Larusso, 48, and co-defendants Cole Hade, 24, and Dominic Ciufo, 31, are each charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of public money. Hade is Larussos son, officials said. All three suspects live in Northampton County, although authorities did not specify their hometowns.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck announced the charges on Friday, but the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Turzyn.

Larusso was arraigned on her charges Thursday. There is currently an active warrant for Hade, who is Larussos son, while Ciufo remains in New Jersey State Prison on an unrelated charge, Houck said in a news release.

These defendants organized a scheme to not only take the personal information of incarcerated individuals, but to selfishly use the money they received for themselves, the district attorney said in the release. The defendants stole currency, which should have been sent to those in real need of COVID-19 relief funds.

Heres how Houck said the scheme worked:

While he was incarcerated in Northampton County Prison, Ciufo allegedly collected the necessary personal identifying information of other inmates for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications. The government assistance program, known as PUA, was initiated to help millions who lost their jobs as a result of the rapid economic downturn brought on by the pandemic.

Ciufo allegedly shared that personal information with Larusso and Hale via telephone, text and video chat, or arranged for the inmates to directly transfer their information to Larusso and Hale. Authorities said Larusso and Hale used it to file fraudulent PUA applications.

They allegedly received government-issued U.S. Bank debit cards after the applications were accepted. Officials said the suspects drained the balance on the cards through direct expenditures, cash withdrawals and money transfers to other bank accounts.

Larusso and Hale also are accused of depositing money in the commissary accounts of the incarcerated inmates who provided their personal information to the defendants.

All told, they took the government for at least $72,021, authorities said.

Houck said in the news release the investigation is ongoing.

It was not immediately clear if the suspects have attorneys. Larusso was set free on a $20,000 bond following her arraignment, a spokesman for Houcks office said. She is under pretrial supervision, he said.

Public records show she lives in Bangor. Efforts to reach her on Friday afternoon were unsuccessful. A listed phone number under her name was not in service.

A conviction on a single count of mail fraud alone can carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

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A delegation from Laois IFA met with local Oireachtas members on James Barber's farm at Rathdowney last week to see and hear how the nitrate regulations are working and the negative impact they are having on Jamesss dairy farm and the dairy industry in the county.

The new banding system and changes in the derogation limits were the two key issues discussed.

The visit to the Rathdowney farm came as IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chair Paul OBrien described as positive a commitment from the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue in the Seanad this week that he was going back to the European Commission to seek further flexibility around the Nitrates Derogation as part of the interim review.

IFA had requested this, as we have serious concerns that the review wont capture the impact of the measures that have been introduced on farms, said Paul OBrien.

In 2022, the European Commission granted Ireland a nitrates derogation until the end of 2025.

However, this included a condition that Ireland was required to carry out a two-year review of water quality based on data from 2021 and 2022.

Based on the results, the maximum stocking rates could be reduced from 250kg to 220kg/nitrogen/ha for part, or all of, the country from next January.

It is IFAs position that the condition is flawed; it is well accepted that analysing a water quality trend over a two-year time period is too short to capture an overall trend.

Also, measures introduced by farmers last year and this year such as banding and increased closed periods will not be captured in the monitoring data and their impact on water quality trends will be unknown, said Mr. OBrien.

The Environment Chair recently led an IFA delegation to Brussels to meet representatives from the European Commission to voice these concerns.

Let me be clear: farmers understand their responsibility to comply with regulations to protect and improve water quality.

We will continue to engage positively with measures that are scientifically proven to improve water quality.

What we cannot accept is the introduction of regulations that will undermine the viability of the sector and further disrupt the land market, but may do little to improve water quality.
The Irish Defence Forces representative body is planning to open a new base in Laois.

The Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) is seeking planning permission from Laois County Council to convert a large Portlaoise town centre house, currently on the market, into an office.

The group which is headquartered in Dublin, states that it has been looking for offices for a number of months and the location of No.1 Wesley Terrace on Railway Street in Portlaoise is "ideal for their wants and needs".

The application is for a change of use from dwelling house to offices and all associated site works.

The large three storey four bedroom, four bathroom Georgian style modern home is on the market for 395,000. Read the full property description and see photos in our property story below.

"The location, adjacent to the train station from Dublin, Limerick and Cork and other areas and near to bus stop on the link road. We have allowed that the entire dwelling house will become office space.

"The basement level floor will become a kitchen/canteen with data room to the front. The entrance level ground floor will be a reception/office are and the first floor will become open plan offices. The total area of the office building is 231msq.

"Associated on-site parking is limited to one space off-street parking is available and there is a multi-storey car park within the vicinity and a new railway street carpark currently under construction. We do not envisage any additional parking for the building as two of staff live within walking distance and a third will travel via train.

"We have provision on site for bicycle parking. The rooms to be used as offices have an area of: First floor  50msq (2 x 25msq) Ground floor  meeting room 26msq, reception 26msq.

"We estimate the parking requirement at 5 spaces, we can provide 1 car-space leaving a shortfall of 4 spaces. Full time staff on site will be 3 persons and there will occasionally be 2 additional persons. Office hours will be Monday to Friday 9-5pm.

We dont envisage visitors in large numbers to the site and visiting will be by appointment only."

A decision is due on the application by May 10.

PDFORRA is the representative body for enlisted personnel serving in the Defence Forces of Ireland. It represents and pursues the interests of enlisted personnel serving full-time in the Irish Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.
A stunning new collection of photographs of Irelands finest archaeological monuments titled Monumental Ireland - A New Focus, is currently being hosted by the Dunamaise Arts Centre and to the end of April.

Curated by the National Monuments Service (NMS) in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW), Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform will officially open the exhibition on Thursday 30 March at 7pm.

Offering fresh new perspectives on Irelands ancient monuments, the exhibition highlights both the resilience of these monuments and their vulnerability. The exhibition provides in one space, an accessible and breath-taking gaze at a range of monuments that tell the story of Ireland.

The photos are from the National Monuments Service Photographic Unit, originally set up in 1955. The unit has built upon its collection of photographs over the years and this archive is now approaching 550,000 images, mainly of national monuments and historic properties in State care.

The Photographic Units main function is to record conservation works at national monuments and to maintain its collection of photographs of sites and monuments, recording their condition and conservation works. Selected images from this photographic archive will be on display to the public at Monumental Ireland, allowing members of the public to witness and appreciate the monuments and the work of the Photographic Unit in cataloguing this heritage.

The exhibition includes remarkable new imagery of the world-renowned Winter Solstice phenomenon at Newgrange passage tomb. As part of a two year research project between NMS and OPW, imagery captured from a high-resolution camera in the burial chamber and controlled via an internet connection, has shown the dawn sun rays illuminating the chamber as never previously captured, enabling this phenomenon to be witnessed by everyone.

There are over 145,000 known archaeological monuments across Ireland, representing more than 12,000 years of human settlement. This archaeological heritage is central to a sense of place for communities across the country, evidence of continuity and change across our landscapes and towns. Offering places of retreat, for quiet reflection and education, they also prompt questioning of a past, which has been at times conflicted in its complexity of ancient tribalism, conquest and independence.

Over the last 150 years, approximately a thousand of these monuments have come into the care of the State and are the responsibility of Irelands Office of Public Works and National Monuments Service.

This collection from the NMS Photographic Archive allows an appreciation of the work undertaken to conserve and maintain the monuments. The images demonstrate the value of using modern photographic techniques in preserving records of the past. Advanced photographic technology is increasingly being used to better understand and record these monuments and conservation work carried out on them.

High Resolution Medium Format cameras are used to capture intense detail of monuments across the country, with infrared camera technology bringing this detail to life, including prehistoric rock art and ship graffiti. Drone technology is also now an integral part of the survey and monitoring regime, producing photogrammetric models for ongoing conservation research. These aerial views of iconic monuments within their landscapes brings to view these monuments in a way not previously appreciated.

Minister of State for Heritage, and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan said: This exhibition is a wonderful display of the beauty of our archaeological monument in State care, managed by OPW. I applaud the work of our National Monuments Service in curating this exhibition and managing its extraordinary photographic archive.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Patrick ODonovan said: Our partnership with the National Monuments Service is a strong one. The photographing of the monuments in our care, including of conservation works carried out by us is a really important record that I am delighted to see exhibited so wonderfully here in Dunamaise Arts Centre.

The exhibition in Dunamaise Gallery is free entry and runs from 14 March to 30 April.
County Kildare Chamber, the voice for business in Kildare led a trade visit to Boston this month in which CEO Allan Shine said will lead to economic investment into Kildare and cemented already strong ties with key stakeholders in the city.

The delegation met with the CEO and management team of Mass Bio, a leading global life sciences and healthcare hub with 1,600 companies in situ, Boston Irish Business Association, Quincy Chamber, the Irish American Partnership as well as key business leaders in Boston.

Allan Shine said: This trade visit has proven very successful, the companies on the visit with the Chamber are extremely confident of future business to come from the several meetings organised by the Chamber.

"The visit afforded the Chamber the opportunity to promote Kildare as the destination of choice, for potential business enterprise in the US looking to set up in Ireland. We will be hosting several further meetings with interested parties in Boston when we welcome a delegation to Kildare this August.

County Kildare Chamber representatives at the Irish American Partnership St Patrick's Day Breakfast

"Stakeholder interest was heightened by the delegation visit which included the President of the Chamber Mairead Hennessy and Vice President Brian Purcell."

Shine concluded by saying, Our continued investment in visiting Boston and hosting reciprocal visits in Kildare is proving very beneficial.

"Our brand and identity in the city is growing and we leverage this with our work on the ground with partners such as Maynooth University and IDA Ireland.
Family Carers Ireland has welcomed a motion put before the Oireachtas this week by Marian Harkin TD calling for fundamental reform of the Carers Allowance scheme. The motion, supported by Independent TDs Michael Fitzmaurice TD, Michael McNamara TD, Joan Collins TD and Catherine Connolly TD, received overwhelming support from all speakers in the Dail. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys stated that the Government would not oppose the motion.

The motion called on the Government to:

- Increase the Income Disregard for Carers Allowance to 900 per week per household (or the equivalent average weekly earnings for 2023) in Budget 2024 and increase it to at least 450 per week for a single carer.

- Fundamentally reform the Carers Allowance scheme to ensure:

o the adequacy of the Carers Allowance payment;

o the income disregard for Carers Allowance is further significantly increased above the average weekly earnings level with pro-rata increases for single carers;

o an individualised approach to the means testing of carers payments;

o that young carers are adequately supported to have a life and opportunities outside their caring roles.

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy with Family Carers Ireland, said: We wish to acknowledge and thank Deputy Harkin for her continuous support for family carers over many years both at a national and European level; and for bringing this motion forward for discussion.

We believe that in deciding not to oppose this motion, the Government has accepted that the value of work being done by family carers deserves to be better compensated and that the current Carers Allowance scheme must be reformed.

As the motion states, the Carers Allowance scheme, which has been in place for 33 years, is inadequate, gender biased, overly restrictive and no longer fit for purpose. Support for family carers should be needs based and not means based.

There is no doubt that the current Carers Allowance scheme undervalues care - approximately 1 in 8 recipients of Carers Allowance receive a reduced rate and thousands of full-time family carers are excluded from the scheme entirely due to their means.

The current income disregards bear no resemblance to the actual disposable income of caring households and whilst some progress has been made in the past two years specifically by Minister Humphreys to address the payment inadequacies, more needs to be done as a matter of urgency. Government has failed to meet their commitment to expand the income disregard for the Carers Allowance to keep pace with the average industrial income and the cost-of-living crisis.

It is not good enough that many family carers are receiving payments that fall way below the established minimum essential standard of living (MESL). The income inadequacy imposed by existing social welfare payments must be addressed to ensure it can sufficiently support the needs of family carers and those they care for.

We know that many family carers providing round the clock care are struggling financially and emotionally. They have been experiencing persistent financial strain long before the cost-of-living crisis and now the situation is even bleaker. Reform is long over-due.

Both the Citizens Assembly and the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality recommend moving towards an individualised approach to the means testing of carer payments, with the Citizens Assembly recommending a move towards an individualised social protection system, while the Oireachtas committee recommends assessing applicants for Carers Allowance on their individual means rather than those of their partner or other household members.

Family Carers Ireland now looks forward to building on this foundation and working with Government to ensure that family carers are truly recognised, valued and remunerated in the upcoming budget for 2024 by implementing some of these crucial reforms.
European tour

A very special meeting with our MEP, Maria Walsh and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, was organsied for the group. It was such a pleasure to meet these two formidable MEPs and learn from them as part of our European Parliament Ambassador School Programme, especially as we celebrate 50 years membership of the EU. Our 5th Year student, Erin McCauley, presented the MEPs with gifts from Drumshanbo.

We would like to sincerely thank Roisin Abbott and Alison Mooney, ladies with ties to Roscommon and Leitrim, who are two wonderful Irish ambassadors in their own right, working in the European Parliament in Brussels.

After the European Parliament visit, the group went on a sightseeing tour of the city centre of Brussels. It was then onto Leuven for dinner.

The second day of the tour saw the group travel to Cologne, Germany. The students and teachers went to Aqualand for a few hours of water slides and fun. After the waterpark they visited Cologne Cathedral. This UNESCO site is host to the Shrine of the Three Kings.

The third day saw the students and teachers visit and explore Efteling Theme Park in Kaatsheuval, the Netherlands. The group returned for their final European dinner to Leuven.

The final day of the Border Hopping Tour saw the group head north to Ghent. This is a beautiful medieval city in Belgium. The students and staff had a very enjoyable and informative boat tour hearing about the history of Gent. The group got to enjoy one final shopping expedition in the magnificent city before their departure to the airport in Brussels.

A special word of thanks to Miss Conefrey, Mrs Cullen, Mr Guihen, Mr Smith and Miss Traynor and to the wonderful students who made the trip even more enjoyable.

ETB Day

The first week of March marked the 10 year anniversary of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board. The staff of Drumshanbo Vocational School had a staff tea party, on the 3rd March, to mark this momentous occasion.

Volleyball Under 20 - Ruairi Grier

We would like to congratulate to our Leaving Cert Student, Ruairi Grier (pictured below right) who had been chosen for the Volleyball Under 20 14-man panel, representing Ireland in the St. Patrick's Challenge with Northern Ireland. What an amazing achievement Ruairi! Maith thu! Ar fheabhas ar fad. Wishing you and the Ireland team the very best of luck. Go n-eiri an t-adh libh go leir.

Hannah McPartlands Entrance Exhibition Award

We would like to congratulate our former student Hannah McPartland, Leaving Cert class of 2022, on her Entrance Exhibition Award presented to her at a ceremony held in Trinity College last week.

This award, for new students at Trinity College, is based on results obtained in the Leaving Certificate examinations. Best wishes to Hannah from all at Drumshanbo Vocational School. Iontach ar fad.

Hannah McPartland.

Young Enterprise County Finals

On the 7th March, students and teachers from Drumshanbo Vocational School travelled to the Bush Hotel for the annual Young Enterprise County Finals. We had entries in all categories - Junior, Intermediate and Senior.

The hard work completed by the fantastic students over the last 5 months from the initial brainstorming of ideas, to making, marketing and selling their products/services was incredible.

It was no surprise that our school produced lots of winners on the day and we couldnt have been more prouder of them all.

The winners were as follows:

Junior Winners Grasper- Alex OLooney, Amy Keaveney and Freya Whitney

(1st Year)

Junior Winner of My Entrepreneurial Journey - Alexandra OLooney (1st Year)

Intermediate Runners Up  RoRo & Co. - Roisin Grier and Roisin McCauley

(3rd Year)

Innovation Award  YO Cards - Yurii Nadilnyi and Oleh Yurchencko (Transition Year)

Senior Winners  Pocket Socks - Aoife McGovern, Clodagh Daly, Rosie McGreevy and Ruth McLoughlin (Transition Year)

Educator Award - Miss Feeney and Miss Traynor

The Junior and Senior winners from Drumshanbo Vocational School go through to represent Leitrim in the National Finals in Croke Park, on 5th May.

Congratulations to all the County Finalists and Winners, we are so proud of all your efforts. The next generation of Entrepreneurs.

We would like to extend a sincere thanks to Cait Cullen for all the help given to Ms Traynor and Ms Fenney and to Sheena Cannon and Brian Dolan from Leitrim LEO for their continued support of our students.



World Maths Day

On the 9th March, the students and staff of DVS enjoyed some fun and interactive maths as part of World Maths Day 2023, in the Junior maths classes. The students got to see the subject in a different light competing with each other, as well as working as part of a team, in order to solve the tricky maths equations and games that were presented to them.

We would like to thank Ms Reynolds and the maths teachers for organising this exciting event.

St. Patricks NS visit

We had the pleasure in welcoming the 5th Class students from St Patricks N.S. in Drumshanbo, who joined our Transition Years in celebrating Engineers Week (4th  10th March)

The students had great fun making metal keyrings. They showed their great patience filing and smoothing the edges and then drilling the holes. Nevertheless, the most enjoyable factor of the whole process was personalising their own keyrings to their taste. The students of St. Patricks N.S also got to see our 3D printer at work.

Thank you to Mr Mulvey, Mr Guihen, Ms Traynor, Ms McLoughlin and the 5th Class teachers for facilitating the visit. A special thank you to the Transition Year students who helped out with the 5th class visit. Maith sibh go leir!

Young Social Innovators

Part of the Transition Year Programme this year involves Young Social Innovators. YSI empowers young people to re-imagine the world as one that is more caring, equal and fair, coming together to bring their ideas to life.

In the run up to the Speak Out Tour in Sligo, our YSI students hosted a week of events, one of which seen the corridors and classrooms of Drumshanbo Vocational School glowing in the colour purple, as the groups hosted a Wear Purple Day in support of Womens Aid.

Thomas McKeon and Clodagh Daly

We, at Drumshanbo Vocational School, would like to congratulate and state how very proud we are of Thomas McKeon and Clodagh Daly who got distinctions in higher level Irish in the Junior Cert. They were presented an award in NUI Galway for their achievement.

All of your hard work really paid off. Congratulations to you both. Maith sibh.

Variety Concert

Drumshanbo Vocational School hosted their Variety Concert on Wednesday, 15th March.

This concert was an extension concert from one that was hosted in December, however with the harsh weather conditions in December an evening concert could not take place.

The school was filled with smiles and excitement as the students began rehearsing again for their big performances.

The theme of the Variety Concert was Culture and the students did not fail to showcase the immense cultures that are present within the school and the talent they have.

We would like to thank Mr Shannon and all the teachers and students who helped bring this amazing performance to life. Without your dedication this concert would not have been such a success.

Thank you to Liam Cunningham and Batty Gibbons for your amazing assistance in the event, we are very grateful for all your help on the night.

We would also like to thank the following for their generosity towards the raffle that took place on the night:

Gala in Drumshanbo

The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo

Jinnys Tearooms at Acres in Drumshanbo

Centra in Drumshanbo

Electric Bike Trails Ltd in Leitrim Village

The Leitrim Inn & Blueway Lodge in Leitrim Village

Rinn Neimhe Beauty Salon Leitrim

Yvonne Traynor

La Belle Fleur Florist & Gift Shop in Drumshanbo

Top Oil Leitrim Village McCormacks Mace in Leitrim Village.
Strongpoint Partners Provides Business Updates for Q1 2023





Strongpoint Partners ("Strongpoint" or the "Company"), a tech-enabled financial services platform focused on third-party administration of retirement plans, recordkeeping, payroll and HR solutions for SMBs, today announced several updates from companies under its umbrella of brands in the first quarter of 2023. Backed by Shore Capital Partners ("Shore" or "Shore Capital"), a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on microcap investing, Strongpoint combines an integrated software platform for outsourced retirement services alongside a relentless passion for service and innovation.

"Following last year's transformational growth, we are focused on expanding and investing in our partners, products and services throughout 2023," said Danny Hest, Chief Executive Officer of Strongpoint. "We are committed to ensuring that we continue to provide the highest quality retirement, payroll, and human experience management services for our growing customer base, while pursuing a relentless passion for innovation."

Strongpoint Partners is pleased to share the following updates for Retirement Strategies Group, Jocelyn Pension Consulting and HowardSimon.

Retirement Strategies Group

Retirement Strategies Group (RSG) has been recognized as a Top-Tier third party administrator (TPA) by John Hancock. The rating recognizes RSG's continued plan growth and plan retention rate of 98.7 percent, including a plan asset retention rate of 99.8 percent compared to the industry average of 84 percent.

"We are honored to be recognized as a Top-Tier TPA partner of John Hancock," said Todd Barker, Principal and Director of New Business at RSG. "For over a decade, John Hancock has been one of RSG's leading Recordkeeping partners. This Top-Tier recognition illustrates that it is possible to achieve significant growth while continuing to prioritize customer service and client needs above all else."

"This recognition is a testament to the phenomenal relationships our team has built with John Hancock and the numerous leading investment advisors across the greater southeast who use their platform to serve our mutual clients," continued Toni Superneau, General Manager at RSG. "We are proud of the work our staff does to give our clients confidence that their plan is designed, administered and managed with the best interest of their business and employees in mind."

Jocelyn Pension Consulting

Nick Jocelyn, Principal of Jocelyn Pension Consulting, has been appointed to the Schwab Retirement Business Services Trust & Custody Advisory Board. As a board member, Jocelyn will be responsible for assisting Schwab Retirement Business Services to develop, enhance, and deal with planned or existing Schwab products and services to better meet the needs of its clientele. Jocelyn Pension Consulting has also been a member of the Schwab Retirement Network for over a decade and has a proven track record of designing solutions that meet the needs of their customers, regardless of the complexity of the plan design demands.

"Over the years, Schwab has been an incredible partner, and I am humbled by the opportunity to give back to the company by joining the Schwab Retirement Business Services Trust & Custody Advisory Board," said Jocelyn. "I look forward to representing Jocelyn Pension and Strongpoint, and providing strategic insights, guidance and concepts for tools and services that will further our ability to collectively serve both our customers and the broader marketplace. We work every day to ensure our customers receive the best service and resources, and this role will further ensure our customers' needs are well represented throughout Schwab's strategic initiatives."

HowardSimon

HowardSimon has begun utilizing the Strongpoint plan administration infrastructure, built in partnership with Salesforce. The infrastructure aims to streamline workflows, improve cross-team communication, better enable seamless data integration and ultimately improve transparency, accuracy and compliance for customers. While still in beta testing, early results illustrate that the ability to serve customers and connect with partners through one single pane of glass - from first interaction through a lifetime of customer service, across payroll, human experience management and retirement administration - is providing significant value to HowardSimon's stakeholders, including administrators, partners and customers.

"Utilizing Salesforce enables our team to seamlessly integrate payroll, HR and retirement administration services, which increases accuracy and prepares us for a future of auto-enrollment, auto-increases and increased regulatory compliance as the Secure Act 2.0 regulatory framework goes into effect," said Brad Simon, Chief Operating Officer at Strongpoint. "This platform will provide our employees with a unique toolset that is more adaptive, and adaptable, to the ever-increasing complexity of modern retirement administration. As an added benefit, the platform offers greater transparency and interoperability for our clients that leverage multiple services from across our retirement administration, payroll, and human experience management product portfolio."

To learn more about Strongpoint Partners, please visit www.strongpointpartners.com or email [email protected].

About Strongpoint Partners

Strongpoint Partners is a tech-enabled financial services platform that provides third party retirement administration ("TPA"), payroll, HR, and recordkeeping to small-and-medium businesses ("SMB"). Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in Riverwoods, Illinois, Boulder, Colorado, and Northern California, Strongpoint combines an integrated software platform for outsourced retirement and payroll services alongside a relentless passion for service and innovation. For more information, please visit: www.strongpointpartners.com.

About Shore Capital Partners

Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm with offices in Nashville, is focused on microcap investments within the Healthcare, Food and Beverage, Business Services and Real Estate industries. Shore supports management partners with capital, business development expertise and industry knowledge to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions and generate value for shareholders. Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow and significant growth potential, including organic growth and growth through industry consolidation. Shore has approximately $3 billion of cumulative capital commitments through various investment vehicles. For more information, please visit: www.shorecp.com.

23 march 2023 at 09:05

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Satya Inc. Receives Manufacturing License from Oregon Health Authority to Begin Psilocybin Manufacturing





MEDFORD, OREGON / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / Satya Inc. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Oregon Health Authority ("OHA") has granted the Company a license to manufacture psilocybin mushrooms for sale to licensed service centers.

Andreas Met, CEO and Co-Founder, said, "This is the result of 42 days of tireless teamwork getting the site ready with the other Co-Founders! We beat our original goals and are well ahead of schedule. The OHA has been a real pleasure to work with, helping us as a small company navigate the process. It's been an amazing experience."

Mr. Met continued, "It's hard to describe how thrilling this is: we are among the first group of applicants to be fully licensed to grow psilocybe cubensis for legal consumption in Oregon. In fact, we believe we are among the first to ever be granted this privilege on earth, in history."

Type 1 Permit Application Filed with Jackson County

On March 6 the Company submitted its Type 1 Land Use Application to Jackson County. The Company understands that it may take up to sixty days to complete the process. The Company does not expect any issues to arise during this process.

Mr. Met opined, "We are likely going to be one of the first production facilities to begin operations in Southern Oregon. To date, the County has been very supportive as we navigate the requirements to begin operations. It's a new process for everyone and it's been surprisingly smooth to this point. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the County's Planning Department to move the approval process forward."

Commercial Kitchen Plans

The Company plans to install a commercial kitchen to produce edible psilocybin products, such as gummies and chocolates. Upon its Type 1 Land Use Approval, the Company, will turn its focus to working with the County, OHA, and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to develop a fully compliant commercial kitchen.

"It's not exactly clear what specific products our future service center customers will want to buy from us since no service centers have been licensed yet! We intend enter into material supply agreements (MSAs) with service centers to develop and deliver desirable products pursuant to precise specifications," said Mr. Met.

"A phased approach makes execution easier to handle between the Company, the OHA, ODA, and the County," continued Mr. Met, "This industry will start small enough for us to develop and produce the different product offerings that our customers demand. And we will produce the best quality products that our clients request."

Land Acknowledgement

Part of the licensing process called for the Company to submit a "Social Equity Plan" to the OHA. Given the longstanding relationship between Indigenous peoples and psychedelic mushrooms, and the disproportionate impact that historic drug policies have had on marginalized communities, the Company is highly committed to the pursuit of social equity and being a leader in providing opportunity to people of all backgrounds.

Mr. Met states "We lease a 100+ year old barn to conduct our business. It's really cool to take something that old and revitalize it so we can help provide legal access to something that has been used since ancient times. We need to remember that the barn was built on land used by Indigenous people for generations before the barn was built. We need to acknowledge that fact and pay respect and homage to the people that were here before us."

As such the Company offers the following Land Acknowledgement:

We would like to acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Shasta, Takelma and Athabaskans on which we are learning, working, and growing as a company today.

It is important to acknowledge this land because there were Indigenous tribes who lived here far before colonizers did. I also believe we must acknowledge the land and the people who lived here as I grew up the son of immigrant parents and several of our co-founders are immigrants as well, or children of immigrants. I was once ignorant of the traditional names of these territories, all the while enjoying the splendor of the land in the Rogue Valley.

In school, we talked about Indigenous people in the past tense. Likewise, we discussed all the struggles they faced as if those struggles ended long ago. Speaking in the past tense about Indigenous communities makes it easier to deny Indigenous people their rights. If we do not see their struggles and the byproducts of oppression as current, we are pretending they do not exist.

I take this opportunity to commit myself, and Satya Inc., to combat the systems of oppression that have dispossessed Indigenous people of their lands and denied their rights to self-determination. I also acknowledge a commitment to equity within the company for all.

ABOUT SATYA INC.

Satya Inc. is a growth-oriented company focused on psilocybin-based opportunities that benefit from a diverse ecosystem and exceptional leadership. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Medford, Oregon, the Company intends to become a global leader in the psychedelic treatment space.

For more information about Satya Inc. Contact:

Andreas Met, CEO

541-930-2478 or

[email protected]

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company, none of which have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the laws of any other jurisdiction. The plans and goals of the Company may not be realized and are subject to significant business, economic, legal, regulatory, and competitive risks and uncertainties.

SOURCE: SATYA INC.

23 march 2023 at 12:00

View source version on accesswire.com:News published onand distributed by:
Atlas Drills 305.5 Meters of Massive Salt in Eastern Step-Out at Great Atlantic





ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland and Labrador, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Salt (the "Company" or "Atlas" ? TSXV: SALT; OTCQB: REMRF; FSE: 9D00) announces that drill hole CC-9b, collared 250 meters east of CC-4 into an untested part of Great Atlantic, has cut a 336-meter gross interval of salt highlighted by thick sections of massive salt comprising 305.5 meters grading 95.56% sodium chloride (NaCl ? salt).



Highlights:

The first major section (168 meters) of massive salt started at a depth of only 240 meters, and included 6.39 meters of 99.1% salt, further solidifying Great Atlantic as the shallowest deposit in the heart of the robust North American road salt market;

High-grade massive salt is continuous throughout almost the entire drill hole from 240 meters (see attached table), interspersed with only three minor intervals of salty mudstone;

Very high purity salt (98.15%) occurs near the bottom of the drill hole over 14.2 meters within a broader 81.5-meter section grading 95.87%;

Analytical results for CC-9b were not available prior to the effective date of the recent SLR Technical Report (Preliminary Economic Assessment ? PEA) and are therefore not included in the current resource estimate. Inclusion of these results will upgrade the Great Atlantic salt resource in the upcoming Feasibility Study.

Mr. Rowland Howe, Alas Salt President and CEO commented: "After 30 years in the salt business I can state unequivocally that drill hole CC-9b is truly extraordinary in terms of its shallowness, thickness, and grade profile, underscoring how Great Atlantic is the premier undeveloped salt project in North America. We have yet to find the limits of this massive homogeneous deposit blessed with highly favorable logistics next to a deep sea port on the west coast of Newfoundland."

Mr. Howe continued, "The thickness of this deposit will allow for multiple mining levels while the shallowness of it will enable Great Atlantic to become the first major salt mine in North America to be accessed through inclined ramps vs. vertical shafts, as detailed in the PEA. The low-cost producer always wins."

PRmediaNow Interview with Rowland Howe:

"It's quite an extraordinary drill hole by any standard." Atlas Salt President Rowland Howe discusses this news release with PRmediaNow's Cyndi Edwards ? click on the link below to view.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVd5YVFHGAY





Notes: Given that the deposit is flat lying to gently dipping, drill lengths reported above closely approximate true width. Diamond drill hole CC-9b was completed between November 24, 2022 and December 20, 2022 at location 388362E, 5363314N, UTM NAD83 Z21. The hole was drilled vertically (CC-9a was abandoned for technical reasons at shallow depth and restarted as CC-9b). CC-9b intersected a 336-meter gross interval of salt that included four sections of massive high-grade salt and three minor sections of salty mudstone (408 m to 426 m, 472 m to 483 m, and 493 to 494.5 m).





Project Map





Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Drill core from CC-9b, through the salt interval, is NQ in diameter (47.6mm). Samples were taken in lengths of whole core at a minimum of 0.10 m in length per sample. A total of 189 samples were taken over a gross interval of 336 m with a sample ratio of 1.77, averaging 1 sample per 1.7 meter of core.

All samples taken from CC-09b were sent to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario, and analyzed for NaCl (salt) by ASTM D632-12 analytical package.

Drill core was collected from the drilling site by Atlas geological staff. Drill core was then transported to a secure core storage facility in Stephenville, Newfoundland, for logging and sampling. Core sample tags were placed in the core box and sample bags, with a third tag placed in a record book. All sample record books are stored at the Atlas offices. Samples were placed in individual sealed and labelled plastic bags and sample shipments are accompanied by sample inventory sheets. Atlas geological staff delivered sample batches to the courier and received tracking details, after which samples are transported by courier to the Actlabs laboratory in Ontario. Further discussion related to quality control/assurance and geologic context of the 2022 drilling program is contained in the "Technical Report on the Great Atlantic Salt Project, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Report for NI 43-101" by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. and filed on SEDAR.

Qualified Person

Patrick J. Laracy, P.Geo, and CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical contents of this news release as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Atlas Salt

Bringing the Power of SALT to Investors: Atlas Salt owns 100% of the Great Atlantic salt deposit strategically located in western Newfoundland in the middle of the robust eastern North America road salt market. The project features a large homogeneous high-grade resource located immediately next to a deep-water port. Atlas is also the largest shareholder in Triple Point Resources as it pursues development of the Fischell's Brook Salt Dome approximately 15 kilometers south of Great Atlantic in the heart of an emerging Clean Energy Hub.

We seek Safe Harbor.

For information, please contact:

Patrick J. Laracy, CEO

(709) 754-3186

[email protected]

MarketSmart Communications Inc.

Adrian Sydenham

Toll-free: 1-877-261-4466

Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statement

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion, delivery and timing of the referenced assessments and analysis. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing, completion and delivery of the referenced assessments and analysis. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Infographics accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2281ff4c-acc3-486c-8ee2-8865d42d69cf

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5252d3b1-7aed-4308-9b3d-535a8555011c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a6a66d5-7a07-4dee-b0df-5f042845a75e

23 march 2023 at 16:00

News published onand distributed by:
TEAMSTERS HOLD UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE AT RISD





Strike Comes Amid Workers' Fight for First Contract

PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Teamsters Local 251 members working as custodians, caretakers, groundskeepers, and movers at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) held a one-day unfair labor practice (ULP) strike, picketing various locations on the city campus. Prior to the strike, Local 251 filed ULP charges against RISD for failing to pay a general wage increase and changing starting rates for workers without providing them with notice or an opportunity to bargain.

"RISD workers are on strike today because they refuse to be treated like expendable labor," said Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251 and Teamsters Eastern Region Vice President. "For months, RISD has refused to negotiate in good faith and deployed unlawful labor practices to stall negotiations. Our members play a critical role in keeping the college running smoothly and it's time for RISD leadership to come to the table and offer the workers a strong first contract."

The college has an endowment of $440 million and an operating budget of $161 million. More than 2,100 community members, students, faculty, and other workers have shown support for the workers and their fight for a fair contract by sending letters to RISD President Crystal Williams and her cabinet members.

Teamsters Local 251 represents over 6,300 workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. For more information, go to teamsterslocal251.org/.

Contact:

Matt Taibi, (401) 434-0454

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 251

23 march 2023 at 16:23

News published onand distributed by:
Kontiki Finance Limited Prepares for Growth and Expansion With Q2's Digital Lending Solutions





Q2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: QTWO), a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for banking and lending, announced today that Kontiki Finance Limited (KFL), a USD $110 million, multi-ethnic microfinance company based in Fiji, will modernise and future-proof its finance business using the Q2 loan management and origination solutions. The move will enable rapid, scalable business growth for Kontiki Finance Limited to enter new markets throughout the Pacific Islands and beyond. Kontiki Finance Limited is Q2's first customer in the Pacific Islands.

Established in 2015 as an alternative to large, traditional banks and finance companies, KFL is a Fijian-majority owned company that provides consumers and small businesses with competitive access to smaller loans for terms between 12 and 84 months. It specialises in personal loans, vehicle loans, business loans and term deposits.

KFL will replace its legacy banking system with Q2's cloud-native, API-first, configurable and scalable loan management system and loan origination system. It will deploy several Q2 solutions, including Q2 Originatetm, Q2 Loan Servicingtm and Q2 Collectionstm. Q2's fast, flexible digitised platform will enhance the customer experience, increase internal productivity, enable greater speed to market and reduce technology and operational risk for Kontiki Finance Limited.

Its Chief Financial Officer David Oliver said, "We're growing rapidly, and we needed a digital partner to carry out our vision for growth throughout Fiji, Samoa and Oceania. Q2 quickly emerged as the ideal digital partner due to its unified, innovative cloud platform, which fully digitises loan origination and loan servicing. Additionally, Q2's credibility with its existing customers ? including Harmoney and Latitude ? spoke volumes about its modern technology, innovation and scalability for expansion into new markets. We're excited about extending our business model more widely as we move forward with Q2."

Q2's Senior Regional Sales Manager APAC Simon Heeringa said, "Q2 is particularly pleased to partner with Kontiki Finance Limited. Today's announcement is an important strategic step for KFL as we help drive the expansion of its unique and important niche-area funding model. We look forward to helping Kontiki Finance Limited grow its business and enable a more efficient, streamlined lending experience for customers and employees.

Learn More

Read more about:

Consumer Lending https://www.q2.com/consumer/consumer-lending,

Commercial Onboarding https://www.q2.com/commercial/acquire-and-onboarding

Digital Banking https://www.q2.com/consumer/digital-banking

About Q2 Holdings, Inc.

Q2 is a leading provider of digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance, and fintech companies in the U.S. and internationally. Q2 enables its financial institutions and fintech companies to provide comprehensive, secure, data-driven digital client engagement solutions ? from consumers to small businesses and corporate clients. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Q2 has offices throughout the world and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the stock symbol QTWO. To learn more, please visit Q2.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up-to-date.

About Kontiki Finance

Kontiki Finance Limited is a South Pacific Stock Exchange-listed finance business. It offers competitive loans for new and used vehicles, debt consolidation and equity release loans. Services provided by Kontiki are local, secure and innovative with a focus on delivering the best possible financial solutions to customers. The company is fully licensed and regulated by the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

23 march 2023 at 17:05

News published onand distributed by:
AUXICO ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT UPDATE CALL





MONTREAL, March 23, 2023 /CNW/ - Auxico Resources Canada Inc. (CSE: AUAG) (OTC: AUXIF) (the "Company" or "Auxico") announces that the Company will host a management update call on Friday March 24, 2023, at 9:00 AM Eastern time. During the call, the Company's management will provide information on the following: (1) launch of the Company's Colombian tin trading operations with joint venture partner Gracor S.A.S; (2) development of the Brazilian Massangana Tin Tailings project; (3) ongoing monazite sales from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and (4) review of the recently released financial statements.

Auxico's President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Kozak will discuss Company's key initiatives and expectations for Y2023, including prospective revenue streams, and will respond to shareholder questions submitted in advance to the scheduled call.

The participants may use the below information to join the call, accessible via the Zoom platform, by video conferencing and by dial-in:

Please click the link below to join the video call:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86569852228?pwd=ZUZ0RVh0SHB2RDVDU3Q4ZlpNeUp0Zz09

Passcode: 507156



Or join via telephone:

US: +1 312 626 6799

Canada: +1 438 809 7799

United Kingdom: +44 203 481 5237

Webinar ID: 865 6985 2228

Passcode: 507156

More international numbers available on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kx32Kj5A5

"Although the first quarter of 2023 saw challenging capital markets and a recent economic shift, management believes the supply and demand dynamics of the critical minerals market remains robust. The strength of the tin and rare earth segments specifically, combined with current global supply constraints, provides an opportunity to accelerate potential high-return strategic growth opportunities through the trading and sales of these commodities from various jurisdictions. The Company has made great progress in establishing a multi-channel revenue strategy during 2022, and although further project development has been off to a slightly delayed start, and the advancement of its commodity trading operations intermittent, this year aims to prove that the Company can create sustainable growth and significant shareholder value," said Mr. Kozak.

If shareholders would like any specific items addressed during the call, they should email questions in advance to: [email protected] to ensure questions are duly communicated.

About Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

Auxico Resources Canada Inc. ("Auxico") is a Canadian company that was founded in 2014 and based in Montreal, trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) under symbol AUAG and on the OTC Markets under symbol AUXIF. Auxico is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Additional information on Auxico can be found on the Company's website (www.auxicoresources.com) or on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under "Auxico Resources Canada Inc."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 signed   signed 



Frederick Kozak

CEO and President, Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

[email protected]

Cell: +1 403 606 3165 Mark Billings Chairman, Auxico Resources Canada Inc. [email protected] Cell: +1 514 296 1641

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the planned studies, drill program and the development of the Minastyc or Massangana Project, its sampling program, indications and other mining projects and prospects thereof, related to the Company's operations in Brazil, Colombia and/or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. 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.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various risk factors. These factors include, among others, uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors, and their potential effects, which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Except as required by securities law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.

SOURCE Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

23 march 2023 at 17:11

News published onand distributed by:
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and Community Leaders Break Ground on Westside Trail - Segment 4





The completion of the Westside Trail will create the longest section of paved Atlanta BeltLine trail at 6.5 miles long, connecting historic intown Atlanta neighborhoods

ATLANTA, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. leaders and community members broke ground on the 1.3 mile stretch of the BeltLine's Westside Trail connecting Washington Park to Bankhead / Historic Westin Heights.

Once Segment 4 is finished it will represent the longest continuous section of paved trail along the BeltLine. People will be able to travel 6.5 miles on paved trails from Pittsburgh Yards in the southwest to Huff Road in West Midtown to the northwest and to downtown Atlanta, going through some of Atlanta's most historic neighborhoods.

Running through the Washington Park neighborhood to Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Segment 4 of the Westside Trail brings long-awaited connectivity to the vibrant westside of Atlanta.

"As we break ground on the last major segment of the Westside Trail, we are creating a bridge between the past and present in Atlanta," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "The Westside Trail ultimately closes the loop from Downtown Atlanta through Vine City and English Avenue and connects Washington Park to Bankhead and Historic Westin Heights. This segment embodies my goal for a city of safe, healthy, connected neighborhoods that also symbolizes African American history and showcases Atlanta's ongoing growth and innovation to create a city built for the future."

The Westside Trail - Segment 4 starts at the western boundary of the Washington Park neighborhood, founded 100 years ago as a trailblazing Black suburb and the proud home of Atlanta's first greenspace that provided key recreational amenities for an African American community. The park is a vital component of the Atlanta BeltLine's "emerald necklace," a network of public greenspaces connected by the BeltLine.

"With the Westside Trail, we're creating a brighter tomorrow for all who call Atlanta home," said Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. "It's an important part of our 22-mile trail network, and we're excited that our vision is coming to completion. We estimate the BeltLine will be 80 percent completed or under construction in the next two years."

To date, 9.3 miles of the 22-mile BeltLine mainline trail loop are complete. In addition, 10.3 miles of connector trails have been completed that tie directly into current and future segments of the BeltLine mainline trail. Construction on Westside Trail ? Segment 4 is expected to be complete in the summer of 2025.

"As a 14-year homeowner in Historic Washington Park, and having watched (and enjoyed!) the Eastside BeltLine boom, to FINALLY see our segment take physical shape is exciting for our families and Westside neighborhoods," said Zena Scott, a resident of Washington Manor. "We're anticipating this extension to attract new business, restaurants and increase walkability!"

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership collaborated with multiple partners to start construction on this section of trail. Partners include: Atlanta Public Schools, City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, City of Atlanta Department of Transportation, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Fulton County, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Power, MARTA, Invest Atlanta, The Conservancy at Historic Washington Park, Special Service District investors, and Trees Atlanta.

Trail design was led by Alta with subcontractors Sherwood Design Engineers, Sastry and Associates, Planners for Environmental Quality, TerraMark, United Consulting, Roosevelt Powell and Associates, Palacio Collaborative, Grice Consulting Group, Arborguard Tree Specialists, and Long Engineering. Astra Group is the construction firm.

Lead philanthropic support to complete the full BeltLine corridor comes from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc. and The James M. Cox Foundation.

Media Contact

Jenny Odom, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., 4044773659, [email protected]

SOURCE Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.

23 march 2023 at 17:15

News published onand distributed by:
Getinge recieves FDA premarket approval for the iCasttm covered stent system in the US





GOTHENBURG, Sweden, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Getinge's iCasttm covered stent system has received premarket approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with iliac arterial occlusive disease.

Iliac arterial occlusive disease is a type of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a serious condition that only in the US affects 8 million persons,1 in which atherosclerosis narrows and blocks peripheral arteries. As the world population ages and rates of diabetes and obesity rise, it is estimated that more people will be affected with iliac artery disease.

"We are pleased that the iCasttm stent system is approved in the United States for use in iliac arteries to benefit an even greater number of patients", says Elin Frostehav, President Acute Care Therapies at Getinge. "The global market for covered stents is growing at an annual rate of 5%. Getinge will continue to ramp up capacity throughout the year in order to meet the demand."

The iCast covered stent system, which is sold outside the US under the brand name Advanta V12 covered stent, has been used by clinicians for 20 years and is the most clinically evaluated balloon expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered stent in the world, with clinical data published in more than 550 articles.

Media contact:

Anna Appelqvist, Corporate Communications

Phone: +46 (0)10 335 5906

Email: [email protected]

About Getinge

Getinge is a global provider of innovative solutions for operating rooms, intensive-care units, sterilization departments and for life science companies and institutions. Based on our first-hand experience and close partnerships with clinical experts, healthcare professionals and medtech specialists, we are improving the everyday life for people, today and tomorrow.

1 Norgren L, Hiatt WR, Dormandy JA, et al. Inter-society consensus for the management of peripheral arterial disease (TASC II). J Vasc Surg. 2007;45(Suppl S):S5?S67

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/942/3740488/1940861.pdf Getinge recieves FDA premarket approval for the iCasta? covered stent system in the US https://news.cision.com/getinge/i/elin-1200x600,c3159934 Elin 1200x600 https://news.cision.com/getinge/i/icast-stent,c3159948 iCast stent

SOURCE Getinge

24 march 2023 at 12:07

News published onand distributed by:
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) shakes hands with Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune during a press conference on August 25, 2022, in Algiers. ANIS BELGHOUL / AP

Algerias ambassador to France, recalled home in February, will be returning to his post in the coming days, President Emmanuel Macrons office said on Friday, March 24, in a sign that the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries has been resolved.

Ambassador Said Moussi was recalled after a well-known Algerian militant was whisked to France from Tunisia on February 6 with the help of French diplomats, a move that defied an official demand for her to be returned home. Amira Bouraoui also holds French nationality. She was not supposed to leave Algerian territory and authorities in Algiers said her flight to France amounted to an "illegal exfiltration."

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune informed Macron in a phone call that the ambassador would be returning to Paris shortly.

"This exchange allowed for the lifting of misunderstandings," Macrons office said, adding that the two leaders agreed to strengthen communication channels between services concerned to ensure "that this regrettable type of misunderstanding is not repeated."

Tebboune is expected to make a state visit to France, perhaps in May, making the return of the ambassador and resolution of the spat of particular importance.

Algeria and France have long had delicate relations, marked by 132 years of French colonial rule and a brutal seven-year war that ended with Algerian independence in 1962.

In 2021, Algerias then ambassador Antar Daoud was recalled home for three months in another diplomatic spat  that time over "irresponsible comments" by Macron concerning post-war Algeria.

Macron had reportedly said that Algeria rewrote its official history with a discourse based not on truths but on "a hate of France." The remarks at the time, made during an encounter between the French president and descendants of people who fought in the Algerian war, were reported by the French newspaper Le Monde and flashed across the Algerian media.

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Le Monde with AP
KICKING off the summer this year, two TV celebrities are coming to the Treaty County for an exclusive meet and greet event with their fans, in a Limerick city hotel.

Sophie Dillman and Paddy O'Connor, who play the popular characters, Ziggy and Dean on the hit Australian soap opera Home and Away will arrive to Ireland this June.

A Q&A session, followed by a meet and greet will take place in the Absolute Hotel on Sunday, June 11, at 7pm, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask Sophie and Paddy questions about their experiences on the show, their personal lives, their plans for the future. After that, the fans will have a chance to meet the stars and take pictures with them.

Having been to Ireland previously, the pair will be meeting fans in Limerick and Galway this summer.

Love interests on-screen, and indeed off, Sophie Dillman and Paddy O'Connor have become household names in Ireland for their portrayal of Ziggy and Dean, two of the most beloved characters on Home and Away.

Unfortunately, the pair have announced that they are leaving the show, with Paddy announcing via social media, "well my friends my time as a river boy has come to an end."

In an ode to his fans, he wrote, "there would be no show without you. You truly have made the experience unforgettable.

"Thank you for the support, Ill always remember the love."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patrick O'Connor (@paddy.oco)

Sophie also announced the move to leave by posting, "the sun is setting on Ziggy and Deans time in the bay!"

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sophie Dillman (@sophiedillman)

For any Limerick fan who wants to meet Sophie and Paddy person, tickets for the event are now available for purchase online here, with a VIP option available too.
NOT TOO many will remember the scoreline in Limericks defeat of Westmeath but it is a day one family will never forget.

Prior to the League match earlier this month, John Kiely agreed to a special request to visit the grave of a proud Limerick man laid to rest in the Lake County.

The county senior hurling manager paid his respects at Anthony McAteers final resting place in Rochfortbridge cemetery.

His son Niall McAteer said his dad was from Coolraine Estate, Mayorstone in the city. Mr McAteer Snr left Limerick after training to be a chef in Rockwell Catering College and worked in Tullamore, Cashel and London for many years.

He passed away, aged 63, in 2019.

He would have seen Limerick win the 2018 All-Ireland. He said to my sister Yvonne, I can die with a smile on my face after witnessing Limerick winning another All-Ireland. He was always going on about 1973. He was delighted to see Limerick win another All-Ireland before he passed away.

I remember he was in hospital in England at the time of the semi-final against Cork. He sneaked out to find somewhere to watch it because he couldnt get it in the hospital at all. When he came back he told the nurses where he had gone and they got a great laugh out of it, said Mr McAteer Jnr.

Limerick warmed up at Rochfortbridge GAA club before the clash with Westmeath.

My sister Yvonne knew they were coming and asked somebody in the GAA club would they ask John Kiely would he mind going over to the grave and he said no problem. The graveyard is just opposite the GAA pitch, said Mr McAteer Jnr, who added that Limerick and the county GAA crest is on his fathers headstone

You couldnt put London or Westmeath  it had to be Limerick. John said it was just a pity he didn't have the Liam MacCarthy with him, said Mr McAteer Jnr.

He says the photo of the Limerick manager at his fathers grave will be treasured. Fair play to him, he must be some sound man to say no problem at all and go over to visit the grave. We are absolutely made up with it. My father would have been delighted as well. He would have been as happy as Larry. It meant an awful lot to us, said Mr McAteer Jnr, who wished to thank Mr Kiely for his kindness and let him know how happy he has made the McAteer family.
STUDENTS in Limerick and further afield are being urged to watch out for scammers if purchasing a ticket for the upcoming Spin Southwest Student Raceday.

The sold-out event, which is due to take place on March 30, is hugely popular for Limerick students as they sport their finery and head for Limerick Racecourse to watch the thrilling spectacle.

General admission tickets, which went for 30 at the time of sale, and Private Suite Packages, which were 40 at the time of sale, have been sold out since last November.

The organisers took to social media this Thursday evening to warn last minute ticket buyers of fake resale tickets which are circulating.

"Please be vigilant if purchasing tickets for the Spin Southwest Student Raceday from an unauthorised seller," wrote the event organisers.

"We have received calls and messages from some very upset and disappointed people who have unfortunately been scammed into thinking they were purchasing a valid ticket".

They added that if a buyer is in doubt about the validity of a ticket, they are being urged by the organisers to "call us in the office on 061-320000 and we will confirm if the ticket is valid or not."

The organisers have also reminded people that any complete legitimate tickets are sold out, and there will be no further tickets available.

Please be vigilant if purchasing tickets for the Spin Southwest Student Raceday from an unauthorised seller.



We have received calls and messages from some very upset & disappointed people who have unfortunately been scammed into thinking they were purchasing a valid ticket. pic.twitter.com/TRxADNk077  Limerick Races (@LimerickRaces) March 23, 2023

The event will feature seven National Hunt races, with gates opening at noon. The first race at 1:30pm, and the last race will go to post at 5.30pm.
A PUBLIC meeting will take place in Limerick this Friday night to create awareness about the potential impacts of the proposed expansion of the Aughinish Alumina plant in west Limerick.

Last September, An Bord Pleanala approved the company's proposal to expand the area where bauxite residue  a waste product from the alumina production process - is stored.

The Russian owners of the plant, close to Askeaton, have stated the expansion will allow it to continue operating up to 2039.

However, two separate High Court challenges against the decision to approve the proposed expansion have since been lodged with full hearings yet to take place.

Environmental Trust Ireland was granted permission to launch Judicial Review proceedings last November while Futureproof Clare was granted leave earlier this year.

This Friday's meeting, which takes place at 6pm in the Schumann Building at University of Limerick, is being hosted by Futureproof Clare.

The group, which is also hoping to raise funds to support the legal challenge, says it hopes to create more awareness about the ongoing environmental and social impacts of the smelter, which has been in operation for around 40 years.

We are organising a public meeting to bring people together including environmental campaigners, local concerned citizens, politicians and anybody who would like to learn more about why Futureproof Clare want to stop the waste disposal area at Aughinish from being expanded, explained Sinead Sheehan of FPC.

We have organised legal and environmental experts to speak at the meeting so it may be of interest to any campaigners who would like to stand up to unsustainable developments, like the proposed Aughinish waste disposal area expansion, she added.

The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook.
Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Shashank Srivastava said that the auto maker expects the sale of its premium vehicles sold through the Nexa retail outlets to exceed the overall sales of Hyundai and Tata Motors by 2023.

The company started its Nexa retail chain in 2015 to sell Maruti Suzuki's premium vehicles. It sells models such as Baleno, Ignis, Ciaz, XL6 and Grand Vitara and has recently crossed the cumulative sales milestone of 20 lakh units. The upcoming SUVs Fronx and Jimny - unveiled at Auto Expo 2023 will also be sold through the chain.

Maruti Suzuki India has decided to increase prices of its vehicles from April, conforming to the BS VI Phase 2 norms. The company feels that response of consumers to the increase in vehicle prices by auto manufacturers to meet regulatory requirements needs to be watched out for, although it expects passenger vehicle sales to grow between 5 per cent and 7.5 per cent in FY24.

"We have completed the two million mark for the Nexa. The first million came in four years, the next million has come in three years, despite the fact that we have had in the last three years, a little bit of a disturbance in the business environment because of the COVID-19," Srivastava told reporters in a virtual interaction.

He further said, "We are hopeful that next year, Nexa which is currently number four in the industry, we hope to make it the second largest brand in the auto industry next year."

Maruti Suzuki's Nexa chain accounts for about 23 per cent of the company's overall sales this year and has grown around 47 per cent. On a standalone basis Nexa has a market share in excess of 10 per cent overall in the domestic passenger vehicles industry, Srivastava added.

"We expect (Nexa) to close this (fiscal) year at around 3.7 lakh units against 2.55 lakh units that we did last year...We hope to sell larger numbers next year with the Fronx, the Jimny (coming in) and the full year effect of the Grand Vitara. Next year, thanks to these new models, we are expecting the sales to be even higher, maybe close to six lakh units," he said.

On the overall PV industry sales growth prospects, Srivastava said, The industry growth is expected to be somewhere in the 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent range. This year, it is expected that the industry sales will close at around 3.89 million, that's a growth of almost 26 per cent over last year's 3.07 million. So on this base of 3.89 million, we expect actually the volumes next year in the industry to be between 4.05 million to 4.1 million units."

(With inputs from PTI)
Hair loss is a completely natural process that occurs daily. On average, men and women can lose 100 hairs daily  often even more, depending on the season, weather, and stress levels. However, with healthy hair loss, all the hairs that fall out start to grow back pretty quickly. Problems arise when theres no new hair growth. Thats when you experience excessive thinning and balding.

The solution? Hair transplants.

Unfortunately, genetic balding cannot be reversed or cured. It can only be treated through surgery. So if you want to restore your hair to its former glory, the only thing you can do is schedule a hair transplant with a reputable clinic. And if you want to make the treatment more affordable, the only thing you can do is schedule a hair transplant in Turkey.

Find out what made Turkey a global hub for hair transplants and learn what you can expect when you travel to Turkey to visit hair clinics.

View Full Image Established in 2013, Vera Clinic has become a leader in the field of hair restoration

Treating hair loss at Turkish clinics

Turkey isnt just one of the most popular destinations for worldwide travelers. Its one of the most popular destinations for medical tourists.

The country boasts outstanding education and healthcare systems, producing highly-trained medical staff that undergoes years of training to deliver the utmost care and professionalism to patients.

Every employee in the healthcare sector needs to adhere to strict rules and regulations, meet stringent medical licensing requirements, and display the utmost mastery of their field. Hence, Turkey established quite a reputation as the top medical tourism destination.

However, that doesnt mean you should have your hair transplant with any random hair transplant clinic in Turkey you come across. If you want to enjoy natural-looking results with the perfect hairline and the highest hair density, youll need to find a clinic with experience, such as the Vera Clinic in Istanbul.

Established in 2013, Vera Clinic has become a leader in the field of hair restoration. It has a team of four expert hair transplantation surgeons with years of experience under the belt, Dr. Gokhan Vayni, Dr. Saim Nedim Ecevit, Dr. Oguzhan Kale, and Dr. Didem Karadilek.

Together, theyve helped over 25,000 patients restore their natural hair appearance after a single surgery. Before the procedure, each surgeon completes a thorough hair analysis on the patient to customize the surgery to their needs and deliver superior results.

The clinic is devoted to ensuring the greatest patient satisfaction and adheres to the highest quality standards.

Hair transplant cost  how much you can expect to pay

Having hair transplant procedures at clinics such as Vera might initially strike you as unaffordable. The clinic hires only the top surgeons, has top-of-the-like tools and equipment, and boasts excellent results  its only natural that its costs would reflect that.

However, thats not quite the case, especially when compared to the hair transplant cost in countries such as the US.

Hair loss treatments in the US with all the required postoperative medication and care can cost upwards of $15,000. With no insurance provider that would offer coverage for such procedures, every penny would have to go straight out of your pocket.

The same procedure done by Turkish clinics can cost as little as $3,000 to $5,000.

Such a significant price difference is solely due to the contrast in the costs of living paired with currency devaluation.

The costs of living in Turkey are about 76% lower than in the US, meaning that everything from housing to education, gas, groceries, and medical services is around 76% cheaper in Turkey than it is in the US. Therefore, even though hair transplants would be considered expensive for anyone living and working in Turkey, they are accessible to medical tourists from high-cost countries.

Hair transplant packages for medical tourists

Since medical tourism can be tricky, Turkish clinics like the Vera Clinic offer all-inclusive hair transplant packages. When booking your surgery, included in your transplant package expenses will be:

 Free consultation;

 Surgery with the maximum number of hair follicles transplanted;

 Medication;

 Accommodation;

 Transport between airport, hotel, and clinic.

There are no hidden costs or unexpected surprises. Youll only have to cover the additional costs of your airfare, while everything else is included in your hair transplant package.

Hair loss treatments available at Turkish clinics

Each hair transplant clinic has its unique area of expertise. Vera Clinic, for instance, offers several different treatments for hair loss, focusing primarily on FUE hair transplant and DHI hair transplant surgery.

FUE, or follicular unit extraction, and DHI, or direct hair implantation, include treating hair loss by extracting follicles from the donor area and inserting them into the balding (or recipient) area.

With the FUE, the surgeon has to make small incisions in the recipient area before they can insert transplanted follicles one by one. With the DHI, they insert individual follicles into a hollow needle first and then into the scalp, thus eliminating the need for prior incisions and minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.

As a general rule of thumb, the FUE technique covers larger recipient areas, while the DHI increases hair density in a smaller recipient area.

While hair transplants are most commonly performed on the head, they can be done on the beard, eyebrows, and even mustaches and sideburns.

The before-and-after results

At Vera Clinic, each surgery is customized to suit each patients needs. After all, not everyone has the same hair quality, density, and hairline, so every patient needs a unique approach.

However, even though the procedure is customized, you shouldnt expect to see the results immediately.

The surgery is minimally invasive, and you can get back to your normal life within a couple of days. But it will take at least three to six months to start noticing the first signs of hair growth. After that, it will take an additional six to twelve months for the full results to become fully visible.

To get familiarized with what you can expect post-surgery, you can take a look at the clinics before-and-after pictures.

Final thoughts

Though hair transplant surgery isnt dangerous, you can risk subpar results by scheduling your treatment with an inexperienced doctor. Its always in your best interest to find a reputable clinic like the Vera Clinic and have your surgery performed by experienced doctors.

Surgeons at Vera Clinic can ensure picture-perfect results at affordable prices, so dont be afraid to schedule your hair loss treatment and restore your hair to its full former glory.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
As one of the market leaders in the overseas education space, KC Overseas Education has leveraged human-tech collaboration to help its partners and student fraternity alike and has achieved exponential growth in the process. Over the last 25 years, it has assisted more than 3 lakh students in their study-abroad journey. The firm has deployed cutting-edge technology in its digital platforms coursefinder.ai and elanloans.com to make student recruitment and financing a seamless and intuitive process for its students and channel partners located across the globe. This smart use of technology has helped the organization scale its international student recruitment by over 400% over the last 2 years. In an exclusive conversation, Head of Product at KC Overseas Education, Mr Prachet Agrawal spoke about the companys growth story and the role played by technology.

Q. KC Overseas Education was set up in 1998 from a two-room office to help students fulfill their study abroad dreams. Today, you are one of the leading study abroad EdTech companies in India with more than 65 global offices. Can you tell us more about your growth story?

Mr Prachet Agrawal: KC Overseas Education was set up with the objective of providing world-class services to study abroad aspirants. With that goal in mind, we tied up with 700+ universities located across 29 study destinations including USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, among others, to offer students the right course, country, and university options to suit their profile and preferences. We also launched our EdTech platform coursefinder.ai and FinTech platform elanloans.com in 2018 which was an amalgamation of our two decades of industry expertise with cutting-edge technology. This human-tech collaboration helped us to redefine the service standards for all the stakeholders in the industry, leading to our rapid expansion across the length and breadth of South and Southeast Asia as well as Africa. Today we operate out of 11 countries namelyIndia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Q. One of the key differentiators for KC Overseas Education is the human touch that you offer. You have pioneered human-tech collaboration by investing heavily in quality human resources which power the technology in the right direction. Can you tell us more about this?

Mr Prachet Agrawal: Being an EdTech company in the International Student Recruitment Industry, our biggest asset over and above our tech capabilities is our human capital. We believe in recruiting the best talent for the role, be it for tech positions, counselling, or operations and we make no compromises here. Apart from imparting the right training to ensure success on the job we also inculcate our core values of excellence, commitment, honesty, and transparency in all our employees.

With the objective of providing seamless and end-to-end services to all our stakeholders, we have more than tripled our workforce  from 250 employees to 800+ employees over the last two years. We have received several awards and recognitions in the Study Abroad Industry which is a testament to the efforts and hard work of each team member at KC Overseas.

View Full Image KC Overseas has more than tripled their workforce  from 250 employees to 800+ employees over the last two years.

Q. Over the past 25 years, you have helped more than 3 lakh students aspiring to study overseas. What is the vision that keeps you going at KC Overseas Education?

Mr Prachet Agrawal:Our vision is to make a transformative impact on the Study Abroad Service sector through continual innovation in student services by connecting institutions, recruiters, and students across the globe.

Each one of us at KC Overseas is driven by the purpose and mission to bring overseas education within everyones reach. Seeing students succeed and knowing that we have been instrumental in changing their career and life path is our greatest achievement.

Q. One of the main levers that powered your growth story is technology. How is KC Overseas Education using technology as an enabler of change?

Mr Prachet Agrawal: An increased emphasis on technology has helped us enable more study abroad recruiters across the globe to guide and counsel their students with one of the most crucial life decisions  pursuing higher education in an overseas location. At KC Overseas Education, we have leveraged tech solutions and services to empower our partners who have assisted scores of students to reach their dream international universities. This, in turn, has helped our partners scale their businesses to new heights.

We have also used the power of technology to scale our operations across geographies like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. By spreading our wings across diverse geographies, we have helped our university partners gain more student diversity on their campuses. Our students, too, get a more enriching educational experience as they learn and interact with students from different cultures and backgrounds.

Our endeavor is to use technology to reach out to students at a grass-root level and offer students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities access to global education. This education and international exposure will help them with better career prospects and brighter futures.

View Full Image The smart use of technology has helped KC Overseas scale its international student recruitment by over 400% over the last 2 years.

Q. By 2024, an estimated 20 lakh Indian students will be studying abroad, how are you going to leverage this massive opportunity at KC Overseas Education? What is the roadmap for the future?

Mr Prachet Agrawal: Technology has played a transformative role in helping KC Overseas deliver exceptional services to all stakeholders in the study abroad industry. Keeping this in mind, we plan to increase the investment in our tech platforms and recruit more tech talent that will help us in our growth plans. We also plan to add additional features and functionalities to our platform to further improve our services.

Furthermore, we plan to increase our student outreach by offering the KC Overseas Franchisee to qualified candidates in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India. We are keen to onboard more Study Abroad Recruiters who are hungry to expand their business and serve more students.

In addition, we also intend to scale our global operations to offer our services to more students and channel partners across different geographies. By 2024, we aim to recruit 50,000 students to international universities from South and Southeast Asia and Africa as well.

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio.
Americas biggest cigarette company has a new plan to shift its business toward less-harmful products, after a string of failures. This time, the Marlboro maker says, its plan will work.

Altria Group Inc. earlier this month divested itself of e-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc., recording a loss of at least $12.5 billion. Altria now has a new lineup of e-cigarettes, heated-tobacco devices and oral nicotine pouches in the works, including the planned acquisition of vaping pioneer NJOY Holdings Inc.

Altria said it hopes to take its reduced-risk products overseas and is considering expanding into non-nicotine offerings such as cannabis products or caffeine pouches.

Previously, we were chasing the market," Chief Executive Billy Gifford said in an interview, referring to Altrias past attempts to develop or acquire vaping products. Youre constantly watching what the consumer is telling you in the marketplace, but none of them were satisfying the consumer enough to ultimately meet all of their needs and desires."

Now Altria is soliciting smokers feedback during the development process, and making tweaks based on that feedback, Mr. Gifford said.

Altria this week for the first time set volume and revenue goals for its transition to smoke-free products: It aims to increase its smoke-free sales volume by at least 35% over the next five years.

View Full Image PHOTO: ANGELA OWENS/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

It also wants to roughly double its net revenue from smoke-free products to $5 billion by 2028, including $2 billion from new reduced-risk products.

Last year, Altria reported $2.6 billion in net revenue from smoke-free products, nearly all from moist smokeless-tobacco brands such as Copenhagen.

Many of the new products in Altrias plan havent yet been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and cant go on the market until they are. That process could take years.

NJOY is one of the few e-cigarette makers whose products have clearance from federal regulators. But Altrias acquisition must first pass a federal antitrust review. Mr. Gifford said he is optimistic but cant project when the deal would close.

Altrias lineup includes two prototypes unveiled this week: a higher-nicotine version of its On! pouch and a device called Swic that heats a single-use metal capsule containing tobacco.

The FDA so far has authorized only tobacco-flavored vaping products. NJOY plans to seek authorization for watermelon and blueberry flavors in a new version of its device that uses a Bluetooth connection to authenticate the user before unlocking, according to people familiar with the matter.

Altria in 2018 voluntarily pulled its own fruit-flavored e-cigarettes off the market, saying that those flavors were contributing to a rise in underage use. In the interview Thursday,Mr. Gifford said that flavored e-cigarettes help adult smokers switch from cigarettes and that NJOYs locked version would mitigate the risk to young people.

Speaking about the companys plans to explore non-nicotine products, Mr. Gifford pointed to people who used to use cigarettes to take a break, reward themselves, multitask or socialize.

Those consumers didnt stop enjoying those moments," he said. They replaced it with other stuff. It could be caffeineanything in that energy space. Some are now using their phone."

Altria executives said they hope to use non-nicotine products to reach a broader consumer base in similar everyday moments.

How do you meet them in that moment and fix their unmet needs and desires?" Mr. Gifford said.

Altria struggled for years to develop e-cigarettes that appealed to smokers as U.S. cigarette sales declined. Among the stumbling blocks was trouble recruiting product developers. The companys e-cigarettes leaked. And they lacked the nicotine kick smokers were looking for. Altria closed its e-cigarette business in 2018, shortly before it paid nearly $13 billion for a 35% stake in Juul. The vaping market leaders valuation quickly evaporated.

Altria last year recruited Olivier Houpert, an alumnus of Procter & Gamble Co., to be its chief innovation and product officer. Mr. Gifford said he hopes to bring talent from NJOY. And he said Altria is better able to recruit now because of its remote-work policy.

He and Mr. Houpert said the company plans to invest in early-stage startups with promising technology and to work with external partners on technical aspects such as electronics.

Mr. Gifford served as Altrias finance chief before he was tapped in 2020 to succeed Howard Willard, the CEO who forged the companys ill-fated Juul deal. Mr. Gifford, who grew up outside Richmond, Va., said he began dipping Copenhagen smokeless tobacco on hunting trips with his father.

Now 52, he said he exclusively uses On!, Altrias oral nicotine-pouch brand. At an investor presentation Thursday, he had a cinnamon-flavored pouch tucked in his cheek as he fielded questions from analysts.

States including California are enforcing bans on menthol cigarettes, and the Biden Administration is moving forward with plans to ban them nationwide. The administration also has said it intends to mandate the near-elimination of nicotine in all cigarettes sold in the U.S. The menthol and nicotine rules would take years to implement. Altria opposes both and has been lobbying for policies that support harm reduction and avoid prohibition," executives said.

Cigarette smoking is linked to 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. health officials have said they want to encourage cigarette smokers who cant quit to switch to less-harmful products such as e-cigarettes.
New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL) will likely see its despatches to non-regulated sectors increase 16.6% sequentially during January-March. Coal despatches to customers in non-regulated sectors, including cement, steel and aluminium industries, have been averaging 3.67 lakh tonne per day so far in Q4 FY23.

CIL will likely close the current quarter with 33 million tonne (MT) supply to the sector, as per a company statement on Friday. It would lead to 4.7 million tonne more coal, or a jump of 16.6%, from the 28.3 MT supplied in the third quarter of fiscal 2022-23.

Supplies to the non-regulated sector during January-March, expected at 33 MT, would be 3.1 MT more from the comparable quarter of FY22, representing a growth of 10.4%. CIL supplied 29.9 MT to non-regulated sector (NRS) in the final quarter of FY22.

Improved supplies to NRS, from the quarter beginning January 2023, were due to inventory build-up CILs pitheads. In March so far, coal stock increase at CIL has been to the tune of 6 kakh tonne per day despite higher supplies to power utilities.

Coal Indias pithead stock, which was at 32 MT as of 31 December, has doubled to a comfortable buffer of 63.8 MT as on 23 March. Stocks are expected hit 68 MT by the end of FY23.

We are making all efforts to supply higher quantities to NRS customers without affecting supplies to power sector, through increased production" said a CIL official.

During the current quarter, CIL has booked close to 16 MT in e-auctions compared to 15 MT in the previous quarter. With more auctions lined up in the last week of March, coal booking will increase going ahead.

CIL has the option of placing up to 20% of its total production in the e-auction, after fulfilling its fuel supply agreements. Though e-auction sales fetch higher add-on over notified prices, CILs priority is to fulfill its FSA commitments and meet the demand surge from the power sector.
NEW DELHI : India is Mercedes Benzs largest assembly centre and fastest growing foreign market, but its relatively small sales here means the German luxury carmaker is not thinking of starting part-by-part production in the country, Matthias Luehrs, head, region overseas, Mercedes Benz AG, said during a recent visit.

Mercs focus in India is to assemble vehicles from knocked down (CKD) kits, unlike in China, where it makes cars from the scratch.

The reason: despite India being billed to become the fastest growing economy in the world, its luxury car market is still only 1% of its global sales, or less than 40,000 units out of 3.7 million passenger vehicle volumes annually.

By comparison, Chinas passenger vehicle market is around 20 million units in annual sales, while luxury cars account for nearly 2 million.

To venture into local production, carmakers need at least 300,000 units in annual sales

Nonetheless, Mercedes Benz is pushing ahead with its portfolio expansion plans in India, especially for the electric vehicle segment, with four new products slated for launch in the next 8-12 months via both the local assembly and import routes, Luehrs said.

The German carmaker will launch the AMG GT 63 S E Performance in April as part of its plans to launch 10 new products in Indian in 2023.

India was Mercedes Benzs fastest-growing market in 2022 with over-41% year-on-year growth. As of March, it is trending in the top-three overseas markets in terms of growth.

However, the Stuttgart-based company is well catered-to in terms of assembly capacity for its annual sales of over 15,000 units in India, and the growth it sees on top of these volumes over the next few years, Luehrs said.

We dont have plans to go into (part-by-part) production at this moment. Because with our CKD operation, we have enough production capacity to cater to the market. We still can grow with the current capacity, so that is for us the important part and to really go into a full production scheme, we will have to study the business case and the requirements we have. It is not required to have a production in India for the local market. This is a CKD plant. Normally if we do production in a country, it is a facility not for a single country but for the entire world," he said.

At this moment, we dont see any need to increase production capacities because we have enough capacities worldwide, with the US, Germanand Chinese plants."

One of Mercedes Benzs largest overseas markets is South Korea, a country whose luxury car market is dominated by German carmakers who import fully-built cars with zero-tariff.

In India, by contrast, imported vehicles attract duty of nearly 100%. To be sure, India is negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

A favourable FTA would obviously have lower import taxes and therefore be able to import more cars, and at the same time, the Indian brands can go to Europe. We are open to negotiate the FTAs, to see benefits for all sides for the Indian side and for the European side to have more free trade that we are very open to. But for now we are not exposed to any of those discussions," Luehrs added.
MUMBAI : The government is considering exempting overseas funds from complying with Section 56.2.Vii b, otherwise known as angel tax, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

In February, the Union budget proposed to bring foreign investors under the ambit of the controversial section that applies to the premium paid over a companys so-called fair market value when raising capital. The provision will come into effect from 1 April 2024 and remains unchanged in the Finance Bill for the year starting 1 April.

Currently, Section 56.2.Vii b exempts domestic Alternative Investment Funds regulated by the Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the International Financial Services Centre Authority.

A senior official aware of the details said that, Rules on angel tax that will come out next month will specify the carve out for certain foreign entities who are genuine investors."

Another official said that concerns raised by stakeholders in the implementation of the proposal would be addressed.

The first set of foreign funds that are likely to be exempted are sovereign wealth funds such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, GIC, and Qatar Investment Authorityas there is concern that the threat of Section 56.2 Vii B tax could adversely impact foreign investments, which could jeopardize the governments infrastructure investment push. The Union budget 2020-21 introduced several tax concessions specially targeted at sovereign wealth funds to shore up infrastructure investments.

Foreign funds such as KKR, Softbank and Sequoia Capital are also likely to be exempted from Section 56.2.Vii b, the second person familiar with the details added.

The notification exempting overseas funds would be clarifying for the ecosystem, which drew in over $130 billion in private capital over the last two years. Foreign PE/VC funds announced investments worth $77 billion in 2021, which dropped slightly in 2022 to around $54 billion, according to EY. The startup ecosystem, which disproportionately depends on foreign capital and typically issues shares at a premium to the fair market value (FMV) on the promise of future growth, was particularly concerned that the new amendment in Section 56.2.Vii b could be applied for foreign investment.

This would have treated a fundraise as additional income, which would attract corporate tax.

The section, which came to be known as angel tax because of its disproportionate impact on startups, was first introduced in 2012 as an anti-tax abuse measure and treated the difference between the premium and the FMV as income.

The startup ecosystem still holds hope for exemptions to international institutional investors like VC funds, sovereign wealth funds, etc. The central government is empowered to do so via notification. The hope is that the notification comes before 1 April 2023 so that ongoing funding rounds arent dislocated," said Siddarth Pai, founding partner of 3one4 Capital and co-chair of the Regulations Affairs Committee of industry body Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association.

On 3 February, DPIIT (department for the promotion of industry and internal trade) secretary Anurag Jain clarified that the tax would not apply to DPIIT-registered startups.
While he was holed up in caves in Yanan in 1938, Mao Zedong gave a series of speeches that would form one of his best-known works. In On Protracted War" he argued that China, which had been invaded by Japan, should not expect a quick victory. It had to dig in for a long struggle.

Xi Jinping, Chinas current ruler, is also fighting what he calls a protracted war". But the enemy in this struggle is official corruption. During Mr Xis first decade in power millions of cadres were investigated for graft, from low-ranking flies" to high-ranking tigers", as the Communist Party calls them (see chart 1).

As he begins his third five-year term as party chief, there are no signs that Mr Xis anti-corruption campaign is letting up. Quite the opposite. A new generation of foot-soldiers is being trained on university campuses. In February the ministry of education added discipline inspection and supervision"that is, stopping corruption and other infractionsto its list of undergraduate majors.

View Full Image (Graphic: The Economist)

Inner Mongolia University was the first in China to set up such a programme. In September a cohort of 45 students began studying for a degree in discipline inspection and supervision. They will learn about the law and regulations. Inspectors must know, for example, how many dishes public servants are allowed to order at a meal. Students will also read up on Marxism and learn what it means to be a loyal party member. Over a dozen other universities are planning similar programmes.

The idea is to set students up for careers in the partys anti-corruption ecosystem, atop of which sits the feared Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). Inspectors are sent to party bodies and state-owned companies to investigate corruption and disloyalty, or to hold criticism sessions with the goal of making officials red-faced and sweating", according to party regulations. When the disease of corruption has reached the bone marrow", offenders are cast out of the party and handed over to the police.

In Zero Tolerance", a documentary series released this year by state television, contrite high-ranking officials opened up about their former luxurious lifestyles. Investigators from the CCDI explained how they caught offenders. The party was once wary of airing its dirty laundry in this manner. In the decade before 2014, there was an unofficial ban on corruption-related television shows. Now the party seems to think that series such as Zero Tolerance", along with new dramas about corruption investigations, will have a deterrent effect.

Mr Xi often refers to the three nots" of corruption: officials should not dare to be corrupt, not be able to be corrupt and not want to be corrupt". The CCDI describes its work as forging souls". But there is a political element to the anti-graft campaign. In his first term Mr Xi used it to purge rivals, such as Bo Xilai (pictured). The CCDI enforces loyalty as well as clean governance. This is one of the most important ways in which Xi has centralised power," says Yuhua Wang of Harvard University. Every official understands that if they voice any opposition, they would face the risk of being punished in the name of corruption."

Nervous officials seem to be leading more decorous lives than in the past. The expensive watches they once sported are gone. High-end restaurants suffered after the party imposed strict limits on cadres banquets. Last month an official in Inner Mongolia aroused public ire when she went on television wearing a fancy scarf and earrings. The local anti-corruption authorities are reportedly investigating her.

Surveys suggest that the Chinese public support Mr Xis campaign. But Chinas scores on the corruption-perceptions index published by Transparency International, an anti-graft watchdog based in Berlin, have not improved much (see chart 2). The number of corruption cases involving officials has remained above 600,000 for four years running.

Maos warning about a protracted war proved correct: it would be another seven years before the Japanese left China. Mr Xis war has already lasted longer and is likely to continue for as long as he is in power," says Christopher Carothers of the University of Pennsylvania. That could be a while. Studying for a degree in anti-corruption is a sensible career move.

Subscribers can sign up to Drum Tower, our new weekly newsletter, to understand what the world makes of Chinaand what China makes of the world.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
NEW YORK : As a series of U.S. lenders were besieged by customers yanking out their money this month, banking behemoths JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc warned employees: do not make it worse.

JPMorgan, the nation's largest bank, told all employees they "should never give the appearance of exploiting a situation of stress or uncertainty," in a March 13 memo, extracts of which were seen by Reuters. "We do not make disparaging comments regarding competitors."

On the same day, the leaders of its consumer and business banking unit told branch employees: "We should refrain from soliciting client business from an institution in stress," according to extracts seen by Reuters. Citigroup has also given similar guidance to its business heads, a source familiar with the matter said. The guidance includes not speculating about other banks or market rumors.

The bank runs that toppled Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, the second and third largest lenders to fail in U.S. history, prompted customers to move about half a trillion dollars of deposits from the "most vulnerable" U.S. banks to bigger institutions this month, JPMorgan analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in a note Wednesday.

As SVB teetered, billions of dollars in deposits poured into the nation's banking giants, which are required by regulators to hold more capital to withstand shocks. While lenders regularly compete for customers, the loss of confidence that shook the banking system in the last two weeks sparked concerns about contagion that could lead to a broader panic.

The turmoil prompted unprecedented moves by regulators to guarantee the deposits of SVB and Signature. President Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Citigroup Inc. Chief Executive Jane Fraser have all made statements in recent days to reassure the public that the U.S. banking system is safe.

"We all have a vested interest in keeping America's financial system strong and thriving," a JPMorgan spokesperson said. "It's the envy of the world with thousands of institutions of all sizes serving every corner of the country."
Gold rate today witnessed profit booking in early morning session as US dollar appreciated against the Indian National Rupee (INR) and the Dollar Index sustained above the psychological 102 levels. Gold future contract for April 2023 on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) opened with a downside gap at 59,490 per 10 gm and went on to hit intraday high of 59,546 per 10 gm within few minutes of commodity market's opening bell. However, due to rise in US dollar rates, gold price lost its shine and went on to hit intraday low of 59,405 levels in early morning deals.

According to bullion market experts, gold price today is under profit-booking pressure as the US dollar has witnessed relief rally after hitting 7-week low on Thursday. They said that gold rate today is sustaining above $1,990 per ounce levels in early morning session and is now in $1,980 to 42,010 per ounce range. They advised traders to buy gold at around 59,300 levels for the intraday target of 59,900 per 10 gm on MCX.

Speaking on the reason for correction in gold price today, Anuj Gupta, Vice President  Research at IIFL Securities said, "After hitting 7-week lows on Thursday deals, US dollar is witnessing some relief rally and Dollar Index has once again regained the psychological 102 mark. However, this relief rally in the US dollar is limited and it may correct further and may breach its current support placed at 100 levels. So, gold investors are advised to maintain buy on dips strategy and avoid taking any short position in current scenario."

US dollar to INR

Speaking on INR vs USD, Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas said, "We expect Indian Rupee to trade with a slight negative bias on weak Dollar amid dovish FOMC may support risk assets. Global equities may also recover on dovish FOMC which may be supportive for the domestic currency. However, selling pressure from foreign investors and month Dollar demand from importers may cap sharp gains in Rupee. USDINR spot price is expected to trade in a range of 81.60 to 82.70."

Outlook for bullions

On gold price outlook, market expert Sugandha Sachdeva said, "The overall trend is positive for gold, but it would be difficult to surpass the ceiling of the $2,000 per ounce mark for gold in a hurry, and only a weekly closing above the same would lead to further advances in the precious metal. Downside support rests at 58,500 per 10 gm mark and then 58,000 per 10 gm."

Asked about the silver price outlook, Sugandha Sachdeva said, "Silver prices have a key hurdle around $23.5 per ounce or 70,500 per kg and further upside is likely only in case this level is breached on a weekly closing basis."

Near term strategy

On suggestion for gold traders, Anuj Gupta of IIFL Securities said, "One can buy gold at around 59,300 per 10 gm levels for intraday target of 59,900 levels maintaining stop loss at 59,050 levels."

On outlook for silver rate today, Anuj Gupta said, "One can buy silver at around 69,800 per kg levels for near term target of 71,000 per kg mark. However, one must maintain strict stop loss at 69,250 levels."

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
MUMBAI : Despite investor inflows through systematic investment plans (SIPs) crossing 13,000 crore for a fifth consecutive month in February, cash market turnover fell 20% during FY23. Meanwhile, the notional value of derivatives more than doubled thanks to persistent volatility that likely reduced delivery volumes and regulatory restrictions, which drove traders to the derivatives instead of cash trading.

The average daily turnover in the cash market in FY23 (until March 22) stands at 53,564 crore, down almost a fifth from 66,799 crore in FY22. Over the same period, average daily derivatives turnover more than doubled to 152 trillion a day, notionally from 68.3 trillion. Even if the premium turnover of options is considered, there has been a jump in derivatives total turnover of 10% to 1.61 trillion in FY23, from 1.46 trillion in the previous fiscal year.

A flat to lower market has caused cash volumes to correct, while derivatives volumes have risen due to intraday traders shifting to the F&O (futures and options) segment from the cash market where broker leverage has also been capped," said Nithin Kamath, founder and CEO of Zerodha, Indias largest stockbroker.

Against a rise of 19% rise in FY22, Nifty so far this year is down 2.22% to 17,076.9 as of Thursday. A Sebi rule which took full effect in the second half of 2021 mandated that clients trading in the cash market compulsorily put up a 20% upfront margin, which was earlier funded by brokers. The move aimed to reduce systemic risk by protecting the market against broker default in case clients failed to pay up in case their trades went awry.

There are many reasons for the cash market volumes falling sharply," said Kamlesh V. Shah, president of the Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI), a pan-India brokers body. The upfront margin is one of the main reasons for intra-day trading in cash moving to the derivatives segment, where volumes have risen. To be sure, Sebis rule on upfront margin is a good move to protect market integrity," Shah said. Shah also said trading in Nifty weekly options was a cheaper and more effective way of managing risk.

The futures and options segment is used by foreign portfolio investors, domestic institutional investors and some high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) to hedge their cash market portfolios. Their risk is transferred to proprietary traders and other HNIs who take contra positions based on informed decisions, said S.K. Joshi, executive director at Khambatta Securities.

Inflows into mutual funds through the SIP route have been averaging above 13,000 crore each month since October 2022. However, the share of individual investors in total NSE turnover fell 434 basis points (one basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point) to 37% in April-January FY23 from a year ago.
Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from his position after being convicted and sentenced in a 2019 defamation case by a court in Gujarat. While some legal experts had previously suggested that Gandhi's disqualification would be automatic upon conviction, others had argued that it could be staved off if the conviction was overturned. Here's a deeper look into the matter.

What does the court's decision mean?

The court's decision meant that he was at risk of automatic disqualification as an MP under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Section 8(3) of the Act stipulates that if an MP is convicted of any offence and sentenced for at least two years, they are automatically disqualified from their position. The Lok Sabha Secretariat has now disqualified Rahul Gandhi and declared his constituency vacant. The Election Commission can announce a special election for the seat, and Gandhi may also be required to vacate his government bungalow in central Delhi.

What's next for Rahul Gandhi?

Although the Congress leader was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the decision, he remains at risk of disqualification. Legal experts have suggested that the disqualification could be avoided if he manages to get his conviction overturned in a higher court.

Former union law minister Kapil Sibal, also a senior advocate formerly with the Congress, has suggested that Mr. Gandhi stands automatically disqualified as an MP with his two-year jail sentence.

"If it (the court) only suspends the sentence, that's not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction," Mr Sibal told NDTV.

Congress leaders have questioned the legality of the decision and stated that they intend to challenge the verdict in a higher court.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We are not going to be afraid or silent. Instead of the JPC, Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified in the Adani scam related to the Prime Minister.

Adding to that, the Congress president said, "We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy."
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and SAEL Industries Limited have signed an agreement of up to 7.54 billion to promote the generation of biomass energy using agricultural residue. It will help diversify Indias energy mix and reduce carbon intensity.

Every year, farmers in North India burn crop stubble in their fields to remove paddy residue, causing severe air pollution with devastating health effects in the region.

SAEL Industries Limited has developed a business model to use crop residues as fuel in waste-to-energy projects. The company aims to grow its portfolio to 3.5 GW over the next four years by adding 100MW of new biomass and 600MW of new solar capacity annually.

ADBs support will fund the construction of five biomass powerplants in the districts of Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar of Rajasthan.

Establishing biomass power plants that can repurpose agricultural residue will help protect the environment while contributing to the governments goal of expanding renewable energy sources and reducing carbon dioxide emissions," said ADB vice-president for private sector operations and publicprivate partnerships, Ashok Lavasa.

It will also help increase income of local farmers through sales of agricultural residue and reduce burning of agricultural waste, contributing to improvement of air quality," he said.

Reducing air pollution and climate emissions while providing income to farmers fine particle matter (PM 2.5) levels rise with the yearly burning of crop stubble contributes to some of the worlds worst air quality1. High levels of PM 2.5 have been linked to health effects such as asthma and lung diseases.

More than half the land in Rajasthan is dedicated to agriculture. Local farms burn huge volumes of waste, including stalks, husks, and straw. This causes air pollution. The power plants will convert about 650,000 tonne of agricultural residues into electricity and are expected to generate 544 gigawatt-hours of energy per annum. This will help to avoid up to 487,200 tonne of carbon dioxide annually. Income of local farmers will rise through the sale of agricultural residue.

By collecting the crop stubble to be used as fuel in our waste-to-energy plants, we contribute to combat one of our nations greatest health issues, while at the same time creating local employment and generate extra income to farmers and local entrepreneurs," said Jasbir Singh, chairman and managing director of SAEL Limited.

ADBs assistance will have a powerful demonstration effect for biomass power by helping reduce risk perceptions and by creating awareness of its benefits and potential for use in other rural communities and developing member countries," Singh added.

SAEL Industries is a renewable company with strong focus on creation of green assets to contribute to transition to green energy with projects across biomass and solar power projects in various States.

ADB, on the other hand, a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, promotes social and economic development in Asia.
World Bank presidential nominee Ajay Banga tested positive for COVID-19 during a routine testing in New Delhi following which his scheduled meetings have been cancelled.

According to a Finance Ministry's statement, Banga's meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman would not happen as he is in quarantine.

Banga was travelling on the last leg of his world tour, and is currently quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury had said on Thursday.

Banga's New Delhi visit on 23-24 March is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

As per the Tresury's previous statement, the 63-year-old Banga was also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

India currently witnessing a spike in influenza and coronavirus cases since the past two weeks. The country has recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases increased to 7,026, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

India endorsed Bangas candidacy soon after his nomination was announced. Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cote dIvoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society.

Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials.

Previously, he was President and CEO of Mastercard, leading the company through a strategic, technological and cultural transformation. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016.

Banga's nomination was hailed as an inspired choice.

President Joe Biden announced that the US is nominating Banga to lead the World Bank, saying the business leader is uniquely equipped to lead the global institution at this critical moment in history."

Further US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Banga has the right leadership and management skills, experience in emerging markets, and financial expertise to lead the World Bank at a critical moment in its history

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront longstanding challenges.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.

New Delhi logged 84 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.08 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the health department.

The city has seen an increase in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last few days, amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)
Waris Punjab De chief and Khalistani supporter Amritpal Singh kept his wife Kirandip Kaur in captivity, beat her up regularly, according to inputs by intelligence agencies. It also added that Singh was also associated with several other women.

A report by Central Intelligence agencies revealed that Amritpal was living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without following Sikh tenets and was not an Amritdhari Sikh.

The probe agencies are also investigating why Singh visited Thailand numerous times, including whether he was indulging in prostitution or did he have a girlfriend in Thailand and was he maintaining a second wife in Thailand?

His organisation gave no prominent role to women. Reena Roy, the girlfriend of late Deep Sidhu was also not allowed to open up about Amritpal's association with Deep Sidhu. Kirandip Kaur, the wife of Amritpal Singh has been kept in captivity and beaten up regularly him.

Singh called his marriage an example of reverse migration projecting he will stay in Punjab.

Probe agencies are also questioning the premise of Amritpal Singh's organisation and is seeking answers on why no women were at the forefront if it was actually a fight against drugs. Women of any family are the biggest sufferers of the widespread drug menace phenomenon. As they have not been at the forefront, it shows that it is not an actual fight against drugs, but only a show-off, according to intelligence reports.

Amritpal does not talk about his past as it is overtly due to possible damage to his image leading to a decrease in credibility. He was closely involved with drug dealers in Dubai namely Jaswant Singh Rode whose brother is operating from Pakistan, reads the report.

He does not talk about his past life where he was non-Amritdhari and not following Sikh religious tenets. After coming to India, he and his organization started working as a religious fundamentalist cum vigilante group, completely contradictory to his earlier personality which clearly shows that he has been planted in India by forces inimical to Indian interest, according to intelligence reports.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, an alert was issued in three districts of Uttarakhand as precaution in view of the possibility of Singh entering the state, the state's Director General of Police Ashok Kumar had said. While speaking to news agency ANI, the DGP said, An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalisthan Amritpal Singh entering the state." He added that the police are conducting intensive checking on the borders of all three districts and in other areas. Significantly, all three districts of the State have been affected by terrorism in the 90s, DGP had said.

(With inputs from ANI)
The parliament on Friday disqualified opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker, a day after he was found guilty of defamation by a lower court. This would mean he is set to lose the perks and privileges of a Member of Parliament.

Gandhi "stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha", a notice said, referring to the lower house of parliament.

His disqualification as Wayanad MP is effective from March 23, the day of his conviction, the secretariat said in its notification.

Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi's grandmother Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India, had also lost her MP status back in 1975.

On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court invalidates Indira Gandhi's 1971 electoral victory and barred her from holding elected office for six years for electoral malpractices, as per a news report.

Check here:

Rahul Gandhi set to lose the perks and privileges of a Member of Parliament, now that he has been disqualified. pic.twitter.com/SysUvHArQq  Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) March 24, 2023

Congress leaders on Friday questioned the legality of the disqualification. President of the Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI, they (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy.

Taking to Twitter, Tharoor said, "I am stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy."

Gandhi, 52, a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, was convicted on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi. He had commented, "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" during an election rally in Karnataka.

A court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case on Thursday. However, he was granted bail immediately and the sentence was suspended for a month.

Congress members held protests in some parts of the country on Friday against Gandhi's conviction and two-year-old jail sentence. They have described the judgment as politically motivated and blamed the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A day after the Surat court convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail, he was on 24 March disqualified from the parliament.

According to the Surat Court's ruling on 23 March, though Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail, he was granted bail on a bond of 10,000 and was given 30 days' time to file an appeal.

With opposition hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for targeting Rahul Gandhi, former Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal had said in 23 March that Gandhi stands automatically disqualified as an MP with his two-year jail sentence. "If it (the court) only suspends the sentence that's not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction," NDTV quoted Sibal as saying.

ALSO READ: LIVE: Rahul disqualified

What the law states?

According to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, makes it mandatory for any lawmaker to be disqualified on immediate basis who is "convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years".

Apart from this, those lawmakers if convicted for more than 2 years will have to vacate the seat immediately.

Can Rahul Gandhi contest 2024 General Elections?

If the Congress leader's conviction is not suspended or overturned by a higher court before the elections, he will not be able to contest the polls, as per law. RP Act provision says a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified 'from the date of such conviction'. Apart from this, the leader also remains disqualified for another six years after serving time.

How Rahul Gandhi Can avoid this?

For Rahul Gandhi, he will have to secure an order from a higher court suspending the conviction. In case the conviction is stayed or overturned, the lawmaker can be reinstated to the parliament. However, this can only be possible, in case a fresh election to the seat is yet to be conducted.

Also, decrease in quantum of sentence to below 2 years will also nullify the disqualification, as per Representation of the People Act.

Congress in the meantime has said that it will appeal in a higher court against the Surat Court order.

MPs/MLA disqualified since 2013:

Upon conviction in cases, several of the MPs/MLAs have been disqualified since 2013, after being sentenced to jail term of two years and above. Leader include Lalu Yadav, then Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Rajya Sabha MP Rasheed Masud; MLAs Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam Khan; and Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal.

With agency inputs.
Canada is planning to invite over 105,000 immigrants annually for the next three years through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 outlines a projected increase in the number of Canadian immigrants through the PNP, rising to 105,500 in 2023 and 117,500 by 2025.

It is to note here, the PNP was launched in 1998, with only 400 immigrants arriving in Canada through this program the following year.

Why Canada is focusing on PNPs?

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in Canada is intended to address the unique labour shortages of each province and territory. It allows them to select and nominate skilled immigrants who possess the required qualifications, work experience, and education to meet their regional needs. As a result, the program enables provinces and territories to spread the benefits of immigration, including social, economic, and cultural benefits, throughout the country.

By increasing the number of PNP immigrants, Canada aims to achieve this goal while providing selected candidates with permanent residency opportunities.

Currently, as many as 11 of Canadas provinces and territories, excluding Quebec and Nunavut, operate a PNP. Meanwhile, Quebec operates its own economic class immigration programs through a separate agreement with the federal government.

Currently, PNPs have surpassed the federal Express Entry system as the primary way for economic class candidates to obtain Canadian permanent residence.

In July 2022, Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial immigration ministers agreed to develop a multi-year immigration plan specific to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The aim of this plan is to enable the two levels of government to better plan and attract skilled immigrants to each province/territory in Canada.

How to apply for the PNP?

There are two types of nominations: base and enhanced. The key difference is that enhanced nominations are processed more quickly than base nominations. While base nominations take an average of 20 months to process, enhanced nominations are processed in 11 months.

Enhanced nominations are a fast-track option for skilled workers who are identified as having the potential to integrate quickly into the local labor market and contribute to the regional economy.
Son after the news of the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, being disqualified from Lok Sabha spread, Chhattisgarh Youth Congress started protesting in the state capital on 24 March.

However, the silent protest became violent after sometime as the Youth Congress and BJP workers enter into a clash with each other. Also stone pelting was ensued.

#WATCH | Chhattisgarh: Youth Congress and BJP workers enter into a clash with each other in Raipur over the disqualification of #RahulGandhi as an MP. Stone pelting also ensued.



Earlier this evening, Chhattisgarh Youth Congress protested against BJP over the issue in Raipur. pic.twitter.com/Ve2E0xqyLA  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 24, 2023

Videos of clash between Youth Congress and BJP became viral on social media, as state police was seen tackling the violence.

ALSO READ: LIVE: Rahul Gandhi disqualified

On 23 March, a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019.

Following this, Lok Sabha Secretariat on 24 March announced that the Wayanad MP has been disqualified from Lok Sabha and it would be effective from date of his conviction 23 March.
Two days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Surat court and sentenced to two years in prison, the party is yet to appeal the verdict. The senior politician was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, with Congress leaders assuring that they would fight the battle both legally and politically. The BJP meanwhile contends that there was a conspiracy within the party with some people wishing to get rid of Rahul Gandhi.

You (Rahul Gandhi) have to dig into the matter and find out who formed this well-planed conspiracy to get rid of youThere are a battery of lawyers as members of Congress, isn't there anyone left to give right advice?" Thakur asked at a press conference on Friday evening.

Addressing the presser alongside fellow union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he also suggested that this conspiracy might be the reason why the party's leaders had so far refrained from appealing Gandhi's conviction. He also wondered whether the former party chief was deliberately put on the wrong path".

ALSO READ: Mass resignations? Here's what happened in Congress meeting

Top Congress leaders including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi had assembled at 6 pm for a meeting at the party headquarters. Gandhi's disqualification was at the top of the agenda, with the party mulling strategies and plans for agitation.

But while many have called for Opposition unity to counter the disqualification, others held a divergent stance.

Democracy is in danger in India. So all those parties must forget their differences. First thing's first, we must protect our democracy and our Constitution. So, all opposition parties must unite and we must fight against this mischievous move by the present government," appealed senior party leader AK Antony.

His son Anil Antony, however, opined that the Congress should stop focusing on the "gaffes of an individual" and instead work on issues of the country.

Meanwhile, forty opposition MPs - including those from the Congress - were detained on Friday as they took out a protest march from Parliament House. They alleged that democracy was in "danger" and demanded a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

(With inputs from agencies)
NEW DELHI : The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Thursday lodged complaints with Economic Offences Wing and Cyber Crime cell of the Delhi Police to register FIRs against some fraudulent people using a fake URL in the name of its housing scheme to lure public for booking of flats.

The housing authorityresponsible for planning, development and construction of housing projects, commercial lands, land management, land disposal, land pooling in the national capital cautioned the genaral public about the fake URL and warned that the fake websites may cause them financial losses.

In a statement, the DDA said the orgination has taken a serious note of the matter, and complaints have been lodged with the Economic Offences Wing and Cyber Crime cell of the Delhi Police.

"It has come to DDA's notice that some fraudulent persons are using fake URL (https://DDAflat.org.in/index.php) in the name of DDA's Housing Scheme to lure public for booking of flats," the statement said.

The statement further said, "other source/websites may lead to public in the trap of fraudulent/unscrupulous persons or entity causing financial loss. It is requested to check DDA's authentic websites for regular updates/transactions."

Giving the genuine URLs of its websites www.dda.org.in and www.dda.gov.in, the housing authority said people can apply to all housing schemes online only through its these websites.
India will seek a better dispute settlement mechanism at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and plans to initiate the issue of reforms in the global trade body during G20 talks this year, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Friday.

This comes amid a logjam in the appointments of new members in WTOs appellate body that has rendered the organizations top court dysfunctional. The appellate body is a standing committee of seven members that presides over appeals against judgments passed in trade-related disputes brought by WTO members. It was set up in 1995.

The dysfunctional WTO appellate body doesnt bode well for global trade as experts fear it could give rise to trade protectionism. Moreover, India is seeking a resolution of the issues as it is facing a rising number of dispute cases concerning agricultural products.

Membership to the appellate body has dwindled as the US has been blocking appointment of new members as it believes that WTO is biased against it.

Among other issues that India would be taking up in the G20 talks would be WTO-related issues where we want a better WTO dispute settlement mechanism. WTO multilateral arrangement should be working for the benefit of all the countries," Barthwal said at a press briefing.

The commerce ministrys Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) will look after the trade issues from the G20 point of view with meetings slated to begin 28 March.

We have taken up five priority issues which are in the field of maintaining and diversification of the global value chains. So, that is one very important priority issue which we are going to take up. Another will be on how to integrate MSMEs within the global value chains and their better integration in the global trading system. The third priority would be regarding the logistics, the external logistics particularly," Barthwal said.

India also wants better integration with the world in terms of facilitating trade between the customs authorities and the government authorities, externally with other countries, he said.

The last issue concerns trade and growth, which is the general issue. India will also be looking at the sustainable development goals (SDGs), how trade can reduce poverty and also how to reduce inequality, not only within nations but also among nations, he added.

The commerce and industry ministry said, in a statement, that the first TIWG meeting with India as G20 president is scheduled in Mumbai, from 28-30 March.

TIWGs priority issues such as making trade work for growth and prosperity, and building resilient global value chains (GVCs) will be discussed. The emphasis will be on achieving shared outcomes to make growth inclusive and resilient, increase the participation of developing countries and the global south in GVCs, make GVCs work for inclusive development and build resilient GVCs to withstand future shocks, the ministry said.

It added that TIWGs priorities on integrating MSMEs in global trade, and building efficient logistics for trade will be discussed across two working sessions.

The presidency will aim to carry forward the work done by past G20 presidencies to better integrate MSMEs into global trade considering their primacy in sustaining livelihoods in both the developed and developing countries. The ways of developing robust logistics infrastructure that could reduce transaction costs both across borders and in the hinterland will also be discussed during the G20 meetings.
Mohammed Faizal, an NCP leader, has expressed his annoyance over the delay in his reinstatement as a Member of Parliament following his disqualification due to a conviction in a criminal case.

Faizal pointed out that the Lok Sabha Secretariat was prompt in disqualifying him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi but has been slow to reinstate them.

The Law Ministry has recommended the reinstatement of Faizal, an NCP MP from Lakshadweep, after his conviction in an attempted murder case was put on hold by the Kerala High Court.

Faizal was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on January 11, the day of his conviction by a sessions court in Kavaratti, as announced in a notification by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on January 13.

However, despite the Kerala HC order and a subsequent Law Ministry recommendation that he be reinstated, the LS Secretariat is yet to issue an order reinstating him, Faizal said.

The former MP is yet to be allowed inside the Lok Sabha despite his conviction being suspended by the Kerala High Court.

"The Lok Sabha Secretariat without a hitch is quick to disqualify. But they take their own time where reinstatement is concerned, even when the legal position is clear. "Look at how quick they were to disqualify Rahul Gandhi. His conviction and sentencing were barely 24 hours ago," he told PTI.

Faizal said Gandhi would now have to move the High Court in Gujarat to suspend his conviction and if no relief was available from there, then move the Supreme Court.

"He (Gandhi) will have to walk the same route as me," the NCP leader said, adding that he himself was gearing up to move the apex court against the inordinate and inexplicable delay by the LS Secretariat in reinstating him.

"They have been sitting on the file for nearly two months now without a reason. Whenever I make enquiries, they say they will do it shortly. I cannot keep waiting like this. I already lost one session. "I have no option but to move the court," he said.

Earlier, the MP had been convicted by a court in Lakshadweep in January, but the Kerala High Court suspended the conviction and declared his disqualification as a Lok Sabha member as invalid.

The Election Commission had announced by-polls in the MP's constituency, which he challenged in the Supreme Court, resulting in the cancellation of the Commission's order.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case on Wednesday for his "Modi surname" remark made in 2019.

The next day, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification stating that his disqualification as a Member of Parliament would be effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

As per a 2013 verdict by the Supreme Court, any MP or MLA stands disqualified from the time of their conviction if a sentence of two or more years is pronounced.
Parliament has disqualified Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker after a lower court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, as per a parliament notice that was released on Friday.

Gandhi "stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha", parliament said, referring to the lower house of parliament.

His disqualification as Wayanad MP is effective from March 23, the day of his conviction, the secretariat said in its notification.

Congress to fight the disqualification

Putting out the notice, Shashi Tharoor tweeted, Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy.

Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy. pic.twitter.com/IhUVHN3b1F  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 24, 2023

Meanwhile, Congress president said, they (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy

Reacting to the disqualification, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We are not going to be afraid or silent. Instead of the JPC, Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified in the Adani scam related to the Prime Minister. Indian Democracy Om Shanti.

                         JPC                Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023

Gandhi, 52, a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, was convicted on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi. He had commented, "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" during an election rally in Karnataka.

A court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case on Thursday. However, he was granted bail immediately and the sentence was suspended for a month.

Congress members held protests in some parts of the country on Friday against Gandhi's conviction and two-year-old jail sentence. They have described the judgment as politically motivated and blamed the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

What experts had said?

Earlier, several experts had cited that Gandhi will not be disqualified as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction and two-year jail term awarded to him by a Surat court. They had cited Lily Thomas and the Lok Prahari case while justifying Rahul Gandhi's defence.

Constitutional law expert Rakesh Dwivedi said the suspension of sentence and stay of conviction were necessary to escape disqualification as a lawmaker under the Representation of the People (RP) Act.

"The appellate court can suspend the conviction and the sentence and grant him bail. In that case there will be no disqualification," he said, adding "However the politicians must choose their words carefully to avoid getting entangled with law."
With Congress leader Rahul Gandhi disqualified from the Lok Sabha following a lower court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, political leaders have spoken out in open and alleged BJP is behind the conspiracy.

Commenting on the decision, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter and wrote, We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti."

We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023

ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi Live Updates

Congress leader and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on 24 March hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi government following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha.

  - 14,000 Cr

  - 425 Cr

  - 13,500 Cr



      ,       ?      ?

             



      ?  Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 24, 2023

Expressing similar opinion, Congress president Mallikajun Kharge said, "They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy."

He added, We've called a meeting of our senior party leaders at the party office at 5pm today. In the meeting, we will formulate our strategy as to how to proceed forward."

Earlier on 23 March, a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019.

Following this, Lok Sabha Secretariat on 24 March announced that the Wayanad MP has been disqualified from Lok Sabha and it would be effective from date of his conviction 23 March.

Maharashtra Congress leader and former CM Prithviraj Chavan commented, "Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as an MP. We had suspected this as soon as the two years jail term was pronounced - this is essential to cancel anyone's membership (of the House). They could have pronounced a 6-month or 1-year jail term but the 2 years term meant that they had a further plan and they did it today. I condemn this action. This shows how scared of Rahul Gandhi is Narendra Modi."

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said, "We condemn the way in which Rahul Gandhi is disqualified...On the basis of Surat Court verdict, under Modi Govt's pressure, Lok Sabha disqualified him...If action is taken on calling someone chor, we'll call them daaku."

The day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against Adani, PM, this type of conspiracy was started to silence Rahul Gandhi. It's a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude of BJP govt," Congress MP KC Venugopal said.

Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has referred the development as Vindictive and shameful action. She took to Twitter and wrote, "Vindictive and shameful action against Sh Rahul Gandhi. This disqualification yet again proves that we are living in the times of caged democracy."

West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee while commenting on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification said that opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP.

In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP!



While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches.



Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 24, 2023

Rahul Gandhi's candidacy has been cancelled. Calling a thief, a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves & looters are still free & Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy. All govt systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of dictatorship. Only the fight has to be given direction," said former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

With agency inputs.
Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the lower house of Parliament on Friday. The development came less than a day after the senior Congress leader was handed a two year jail term in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Party leaders insist that they will fight the battle both "legally and politically".

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party had called a meeting of senior leaders at 5 pm. Discussions would be held on the party's strategy going forward.

They tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy," he added.

ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha, opposition leaders hit out at BJP

Following his disqualification, Gandhi's Wayanad seat has been declared vacant. The Election Commission can now announce special elections for the seat - a contest that Gandhi will not be eligible to join. The Congress leader can also be asked to vacate his government bungalow in central Delhi

Since the conviction was announced on Thursday afternoon, Leaders of the Congress party have repeatedly said that they were gearing up to file an appeal in a higher court. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi had previously said that the 170-page judgment was still subject to translation.

Party members have also led protests in some parts of the country against Gandhi's conviction and two-year-old jail sentence.

"We believe that this is full of errors and legally unsustainable in conclusion. But make no mistake generally...all your (government's) efforts to create a chilling effect, a throttling effect, strangulating effect on open, fearless speech relating to public interest will not stop either Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party," Singhvi told reporters after the verdict.

(With inputs from agencies)
World tuberculosis day is observed annually on 24 March to raise awareness about TB and efforts to end the global epidemic, marking the day in 1882 when the bacterium causing TB was discovered. This years theme is Yes! We can end TB! which aims to inspire hope and encourage high-level leadership, increased investments, faster uptake of new WHO recommendations, adoption of innovations, accelerated action, and multisectoral collaboration to combat the TB epidemic.

In March 2018, during the End TB summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister had called for India to achieve TB-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of the stipulated time. In 2022, for the first time in nearly two decades, WHO reported an increase in the number of people falling ill with TB and drug resistant TB, alongside an increase in deaths.

TB is preventable, treatable and curable, and yet this ancient scourge that has afflicted humanity for millennia continues to cause suffering and death for millions every year," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said.

TB Signs and Symptoms

As per WHO, Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable. It is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.

Common symptoms of active lung TB are

cough with sputum and blood at times,

chest pains,

weakness,

weight loss,

fever

night sweats.

As per Mayoclinic, symptoms of TB are different in each stage: Primary, Latent, Active. The first stage is called the primary infection where patients have symptoms like low fever, tiredness, and cough. The next stage is latent TB infection wherein immune system cells form a wall around the lung tissue containing TB germs, however they cannot do any harm if the immune system continues to keep the germs under control. Latent TB infection is asymptomatic. In active TB disease happens when the immune system can't control the infection. The active TB disease symptoms in the lungs usually begin gradually and worsen over a few weeks. They include:

Cough.

Coughing up blood or mucus.

Chest pain.

Pain with breathing or coughing.

Fever.

Chills.

Night sweats.

Weight loss.

Not wanting to eat.

Tiredness.

Not feeling well in general.

As per Mayoclinic, TB infection that spread from the lungs to other parts of the body is called extrapulmonary tuberculosis. These symptoms include:

Fever.

Chills.

Night sweats.

Weight loss.

Not wanting to eat.

Tiredness.

Not feeling well in general.

Pain near the site of infection

Common sites of active TB disease outside the lungs also include Kidneys, Liver, Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, Heart muscles, Genitals, Lymph nodes, Bones and joints, Skin, Walls of blood vessels, Voice box, also called laryn.

Tuberculosis is particularly difficult to diagnose in children. In Teenager, symptoms are similar to adults, from age 1-12 year-olds, symptoms like fever that won't go away and weight loss. In infants, symptoms include being sluggish or not active, unusually fussy, vomiting, poor feeding, bulging soft spot on the head and poor reflexes.

TB in India

Currently, Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh has over 6,600 active patients of tuberculosis. In 2022, the district had registered 9,790 TB patients, including 2,331 who got tested at private facilities, and in 2023 (till March 15), it has registered 1,961 patients, including 723 from private facilities, the department's data showed. In Mumbai, as per Hindustan Times report, after the roll-out of the initiative to screen relatives of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients, BMC found 47.60 percent i.e. 3,645 out of 7,656 positive for latent TB.

On Thursday, while speaking to news agency ANI, the Executive Director of the STOP TB Partnership, Dr Lucica Ditiu said she has no hesitation to say that India will end TB by 2025. In an exclusive Interview with ANI, Dr Ditiu said, "I think the financial resources will come and will basically facilitate the implementation of these activities and the last one is this, I think is important to decentralise as much as possible the services and to ensure that everybody goes closer to people with TB, in the periphery, in the smaller communities, in the villages in the small parts of cities and so on, to make sure that you know you create this foundation and the basis. If these three things will go with the ambition and the tools that we see now in India. I really have no hesitation to say that India will end TB by 2025."

India recently launched the Ni-kshay Mitra (Donor) programme wherein anyone can adopt TB patients and take care of their medicine, food and even vocational expenses. In a short time, nearly 1 million TB patients have been adopted. Speaking of the policy, she said, This is an amazing policy and India has put a lot of innovative tools in place. There is no other country in the world that had this idea which is fantastic. It brings empathy and love for the person near you and the desire to help."
Block Inc. said it will explore legal action against Hindenburg Research after the short seller issued a report alleging the payments company facilitated fraudsters.

Shares of Block slumped 15% to $61.88 at the close of New York trading, after earlier sliding as much as 22%, the companys biggest intraday decline in three years.

Hindenburg, the firm run by Nathan Anderson that bolstered its profile with a scathing report on billionaire Gautam Adanis business empire earlier this year, conducted a two-year investigation into Block, it said in a report published on its website and distributed via Twitter. The chairman of Block is Jack Dorsey, also a co-founder of Twitter.

In its investigation, Hindenburg alleged it found that Blocks wildly popular Cash App was likely facilitating scammers taking advantage of government-stimulus programs during the pandemic. In response to a public-records request, the state of Massachusetts told the short seller that it sought to claw back over 69,000 unemployment payments from the bank behind Cash App accounts, an amount that exceeded those it sought to reverse from major banks like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co., which have far more customers.

Block ignored both internal and external warnings that multiple individuals using the same bank account number to receive government funds was a brazen red flag of fraud," Hindenburg said in the report. Multiple key lapses in Cash Apps compliance processes facilitated billions in government payment fraud."

Block, formerly known as Square Inc., intends to work with the Securities and Exchange Commission and explore legal action against Hindenburg Research for the factually inaccurate and misleading report they shared about our Cash App business today," the company said in a statement. We have reviewed the full report in the context of our own data and believe its designed to deceive and confuse investors. We are a highly regulated public company with regular disclosures, and are confident in our products, reporting, compliance programs and controls."

Hindenburg has targeted about 30 companies since 2020 and their shares lost about 15% on average the next day, according to calculations by Bloomberg News. Six months later, the shares were down 26% on average.

Hindenburg gained more prominence after its Adani report in January, which roiled stocks and bonds from all 10 Adani-related companies. The conglomerates flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd. has dropped 48% since the report, even as the group denied Hindenburgs allegations of accounting fraud and stock manipulation. Hindenburgs Twitter following has doubled to surpass 500,000.

Hindenburgs report on electric-vehicle maker Nikola Corp. in September 2020 sent the stock plunging and led to criminal charges against the companys founder, Trevor Milton. He was convicted in October of defrauding investors.

Andersons firm describes itself as a forensic-research outfit operating with its own capital. But it follows the standard procedure for a so-called activist short: After researching a potential target, Hindenburg places a bet that the stock will decline, then trumpets its research publicly, using social media to get the message out.

Blocks status as a stock-market darling had already somewhat faded. The firms market value peaked at almost $130 billion in 2021, and its shares are down more than 75% since August of that year. Dorsey and co-founder James McKelvey collectively sold more than $1 billion of stock during the pandemic, Hindenburg said in the report.

Investors have long worried about Cash App as well as many of its mobile-money rivals such as PayPal Holdings Inc.s Venmo, which have faced scrutiny in recent months as fraudsters have seized the technology to fool consumers into sending them payments. But in its research, Hindenburg alleges Cash Apps problems go deeper and can be traced back to shortcomings in compliance protocols.

Hindenburg alleged that Block was overstating the number of users of Cash App, citing an acknowledgment from the company that certain of these accounts may share an alias identifier with one or more other transacting active accounts."

Investors have been on high alert for such activity ever since PayPal last year announced it closed 4.5 million accounts and lowered its forecast for new customers after finding bad actors" were taking advantage of its incentives and rewards programs. The company abandoned a long-term goal for increasing the number of new users on its platform and now focuses on enticing existing customers to use it more.

Interchange Fees

The short seller also took aim at Blocks collection of so-called interchange fees, which banks collect from merchants each time a consumer swipes a debit card at checkout. Thats one of the key revenue drivers for Cash App, which has an accompanying debit card provided by Sutton Bank.

But big banks have taken aim at large tech companies partnering up with tiny regional lenders for such a business. Thats because Congress has capped what banks such as JPMorgan and Bank of America Corp. can charge for those swipes, while smaller banks arent subject to the same rules.

Hindenburg noted that PayPal has disclosed that its under investigation by the SEC for the practice, though it has no proof that Block faces a similar query.

In the wide-ranging report, the short seller also took aim at Blocks $29 billion purchase of Afterpay. Investors broadly have become more critical of the deal as losses tied to those loans have soared in recent quarters and regulators have taken aim at the underlying business of buy now, pay later.

Good Value

We view the stock as good value, but are concerned with the prevalence of any criminal activity and how this could impact investor sentiment," Robert W. Baird & Co. analysts David Koning and Robert Bamberger said in a note to clients about the Hindenburg report. Its hard to know exactly what impact this could have, though in a pretty dire case, if they shed 20% of accounts, it could be about 8% of total gross profit impact."

Cathie Woods ARK Investment Management holds 1.66% in Block, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, with the exchange-traded fund buying shares as recently as yesterday. The stock is also the flagship ARK Innovation ETFs fifth-biggest holding on a weighting basis.

This is not the first time Block has been accused of misleading investors. Last year, a Block shareholder filed a complaint against the company, accusing it of waiting several months to disclose that an ex-employee took customers names and brokerage information. The disclosure sent share prices plunging.

Stock owner Donna Esposito specifically accused both Dorsey and Chief Financial Officer Amrita Ahuja of participating in issuing misleading press releases and SEC filings.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
New York's iconic Flatiron Building -- famous for its thin, triangular shape -- has sold at auction for $190 million following a court order.

The 22-storey skyscraper, built in 1902 and often said to resemble a clothes iron, fetched almost four times the opening price of $50 million following a keen bidding war.

"It's been my lifelong dream of mine since I'm 14 years old," winner Jacob Garlick, managing partner at the Abraham Trust investment fund, told TV station NY 1.

Also Read: Starbucks' new CEO Narasimhan plans to work in company's stores monthly

Garlick has not said what he plans to do with the landmarked building, the channel added.

The Flatiron -- which straddles Fifth Avenue, Broadway and East 22nd Street in Manhattan -- has been empty since 2019 when its last tenant, MacMillian Publishers, vacated.

Also Read: JPMorgan, Citi tell staff not to poach clients from banks under stress

Prior to the auction, the building had been owned by a consortium of real estate companies that disagreed about renovations and future occupants.

Also read: JPMorgan accused of selling $10 million in jewels from bank deposit boxes

Following a lawsuit and counter lawsuit amongst the parties, a judge ordered them to put the building on the auction block.

Matthew Mannion of Mannion Auctions, which ran Wednesday's sale, told AFP that Garlick has to pay ten percent by close of business on Friday or the building will be awarded to the second highest bidder.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Protesters clashed with French security forces Thursday in the most serious violence yet of a three-month revolt against President Emmanuel Macron's hugely controversial pension reform.

Almost 150 police were injured and scores of protesters arrested nationwide, the government said, as a day of protests descended into chaos in several cities including Paris, where protesters lit fires in the historic centre of the city.

The uproar over the imposition of the reform -- which the government chose to push through without a parliamentary vote -- has turned into the biggest domestic crisis of Macron's second term in office.

It also threatens to cast a shadow over King Charles III's visit to France next week, his first foreign state visit as British monarch. Unions have announced fresh strikes and protests for Tuesday, the second full day of his trip.

In the southwestern city of Bordeaux, which King Charles is due to visit on Tuesday, the porch of the city hall was briefly set on fire.

Trash set alight

The numbers in Paris and other cities were higher than in previous protest days, given new momentum by Macron's refusal in a TV interview Wednesday to back down on the reform.

Police and protesters again clashed on the streets of the capital during a major demonstration, security forces firing tear gas and charging crowds with batons.

Some protesters lit fires in the street, setting ablaze pallets and piles of uncollected rubbish, prompting firefighters to intervene, AFP correspondents said.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that across France, 149 members of the security forces had been injured and at least 172 people arrested, including 72 in Paris.

Around 140 fires were set alight in Paris, said Darmanin, blaming "thugs" for the violence, who had come to Paris "to have a go at the cops and public buildings".

Some 1.089 million protesters took part in demonstrations across France, the interior ministry said, putting the Paris turnout at 119,000, the highest for the capital since the movement started in January.

The nationwide figure still fell short of the 1.28 million people who marched on March 7, according to the government figures.

Unions claimed a record 3.5 million people had protested across France, and 800,000 in the capital.

- 'Until the end' -

In Paris, several hundred black-clad radical demonstrators were breaking windows of banks, shops and fast-food outlets, and destroying street furniture, AFP journalists witnessed.

In the northeastern city of Lille, the local police chief Thierry Courtecuisse was lightly injured by a stone.

In Paris, a video went viral of a police officer in helmet and body armour being knocked unconscious and plunging to the ground after being hit on the head by a stone.

The garbage that has accumulated in the streets due to strikes by refuse collectors proved an appealing target, protesters setting fire to the trash piled up in the city centre.

"It is a right to demonstrate and make your disagreements known," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Twitter, but added: "The violence and destruction that we have seen today are unacceptable."

Unions again appealed for peaceful protests. "We need to keep public opinion on side until the end," said Laurent Berger, leader of the moderate CFDT.

Protesters briefly occupied the tracks at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, and some blocked access to Charles de Gaulle airport.

Anger surged after a defiant Macron said on Wednesday he was prepared to accept unpopularity over the pensions reform which he said was "necessary".

Even before then, a survey on Sunday showed Macron's personal approval rating at just 28 percent, its lowest since the anti-government "Yellow Vest" protest movement in 2018-2019.

'Excessive force'

Acting on Macron's instructions, Borne last week invoked an article in the constitution to adopt the reform without a parliamentary vote. That sparked two no-confidence motions in parliament, which she survived -- but one by a narrow margin.

Thursday's protests were the latest in a string of nationwide stoppages that began in mid-January against the pension changes.

The ministry of energy transition on Thursday warned that kerosene supply to the capital and its airports was becoming "critical" as blockages at oil refineries continued.

Since the government imposed the reform last Thursday, nightly demonstrations have taken place across France, with young people coordinating their actions on encrypted messaging services.

There have been hundreds of arrests and accusations of heavy-handed tactics by police.

Amnesty International has expressed alarm "about the widespread use of excessive force and arbitrary arrests reported in several media outlets".

King Charles is due to arrive Sunday, with a trip scheduled on the new strike date of Tuesday to Bordeaux.

The fire at the entrance to the city hall in Bordeaux damaged its massive wooden door and was put out after 15 minutes, mayor Pierre Hurmic said.

French public sector trade unionists have warned they will not provide red carpets during the visit, but non-striking workers are expected to roll them out.
Massive protests have rocked Israel for months as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to push through a controversial reform of Israels judiciary. Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets, accusing Netanyahu of attacking the heart of Israels democracy. Mint breaks down the controversy.
A giant asteroid will zoom past Earth on Saturday (25 March). According to space scientists, the asteroid will be in such a close range that a standard telescope will be able to spot it in the night sky tomorrow.

Saturday's close encounter will offer astronomers the chance to study a space rock from just over 100,000 miles (168,000 kilometers) away. That's less than half the distance from here to the moon, making it visible through binoculars and small telescopes.

The asteroid is so large that it can easily wipe out a city, but US Space Agency NASA has assured that the asteroid will not enter Earth.

While asteroids are a common celestial creature, NASA said this latest asteroid is rare and can be viewed once per decade.

"A newly discovered #asteroid named 2023 DZ2 will safely pass by Earth on Saturday at 100K+ miles away. While close approaches are a regular occurrence, one by an asteroid of this size (140-310 ft) happens only about once per decade, providing a unique opportunity for science," NASA tweeted.

A newly discovered #asteroid named 2023 DZ2 will safely pass by Earth on Saturday at 100K+ miles away. 



While close approaches are a regular occurrence, one by an asteroid of this size (140-310 ft) happens only about once per decade, providing a unique opportunity for science.  NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) March 21, 2023

Dubbed as 2023 DZ2, scientists estimate its size somewhere between 130 feet and 300 feet (40 meters and 90 meters).

The asteroid will pass within 320,000 miles (515,000 kilometers) of the moon on Saturday and, several hours later, buzz the Indian Ocean at about 17,500 mph (28,000 kph).

Astronomers at the observatory of La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands discovered 2023 DZ2 in late February of this year. Since then scientists studied the rock to note its orbit, size, and anticipated trajectory.

The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live webcast of the close approach.

The asteroid won't be back our way again until 2026. Although there initially seemed to be a slight chance it might strike Earth then, scientists have since ruled that out.

Time to watch the asteroid:

The 2023 DZ2 asteroid will travel closest in the afternoon on March 25, at around 3:50 pm (EST).

Another asteroid scientists also discovered in February--2023 DW. This asteroid potentially carries a larger risk of impacting Earth in the future. The asteroid was first spotted on 26 February, according to the European Space Agency, which added the rock to its own Risk List and ranked it at No. 1. The European Space Agency has predicted that the 2023 DW asteroid has a 1 in 607 chance of impacting Earth and estimates that the collision could occur as early as Valentine's Day 2046.
The calcite-encrusted skeleton of an ancient human, still embedded in rock deep inside a cave in Italy, has yielded the oldest Neanderthal DNA ever found.

These molecules, which could be up to 170,000 years old, could one day help yield the most complete picture yet of Neanderthal life, researchers say.

Although modern humans are the only remaining human lineage, many others once lived on Earth. The closest extinct relatives of modern humans were the Neanderthals, who lived in Europe and Asia until they went extinct about 40,000 years ago. Recent findings revealed that Neanderthals interbred with ancestors of today's Europeans when modern humans began spreading out of Africa  1.5 to 2.1 percent of the DNA of anyone living outside Africa today is Neanderthal in origin. [Image Gallery: Our Closest Human Ancestor]

In 1993, scientists found an extraordinarily intact skeleton of an ancient human amidst the stalactites and stalagmites of the limestone cave of Lamalunga, near Altamura in southern Italy  a discovery they said had the potential to reveal new clues about Neanderthals.

"The Altamura man represents the most complete skeleton of a single nonmodern human ever found," study co-author Fabio Di Vincenzo, a paleoanthropologist at Sapienza University of Rome, told Live Science. "Almost all the bony elements are preserved and undamaged."

The Altamura skeleton bears a number of Neanderthal traits, particularly in the face and the back of the skull. However, it also possesses features that usually aren't seen in Neanderthals  for instance, its brow ridges were even more massive than those of Neanderthals.These differences made it difficult to tell which human lineage the Altamura man might have belonged to. Moreover, the Altamura skeleton remains partially embedded in rock, making it difficult to analyze.

Now, new research shows that DNA from a piece of the skeleton's right shoulder blade suggests the Altamura fossil was a Neanderthal. The shape of this piece of bone also looks Neanderthal, the researchers said.

In addition, the scientists dated the skeleton to about 130,000 to 170,000 years old. This makes it the oldest Neanderthal from which DNA has ever been extracted. (These bones are not the oldest known Neanderthal fossils  the oldest ones ever found are about 200,000 years old. This isn't the oldest DNA ever extracted from a human, either; that accolade goes to 400,000-year-old DNA collected from relatives of Neanderthals.)

The bone is so old that its DNA is too degraded for the researchers to sequence the fossil's genome  at least with current technology. However, they noted that next-generation DNA-sequencing technologies might be capable of such a task, which "could provide important results on the Neanderthal genome," study co-author David Caramelli, a molecular anthropologist at the University of Florence in Italy, told Live Science.

Whereas previous fragmentary fossils of different Neanderthals provided a partial picture of what life was like for Neanderthals, the Altamura skeleton could help paint a more complete portrait of a Neanderthal  for instance, it could reveal more details about Neanderthals' genetics, anatomy, ecology and lifestyle, the researchers said.

"We have a nearly complete human fossil skeleton to describe and study in detail. It is a dream," Di Vincenzo said. "His morphology offers a rare glimpse on the earliest phase of the evolutionary history of Neanderthals and on one of the most crucial events in human evolution. He can help us better understand when  and, in particular, how  Neanderthals evolved."

The scientists detailed their findings online March 21 in the Journal of Human Evolution.

Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
NEW YORK (AP)  It was the stuff of novels: For years, a con artist plagued the publishing industry, impersonating editors and agents to pull off hundreds of literary heists. But the manuscripts obtained from high-profile authors were never resold or leaked, rendering the thefts all the more perplexing.

The Thursday sentencing of Filippo Bernardini in Manhattan federal court brought the saga to an end and, with it, finally some answers. After pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in January, Bernardini was sentenced to time served, avoiding prison on a felony charge that carried up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of at least a year.

Bernardini, now 30, impersonated hundreds of people over the course of the scheme that began around August 2016 and obtained more than a thousand manuscripts, including from high-profile authors like Margaret Atwood and Ethan Hawke, authorities have said.

In an emotional, four-page letter to Judge Colleen McMahon submitted earlier this month, Bernardini apologized for what he characterized as his egregious, stupid and wrong actions. He also offered insight into his motivations, which had long stymied victims and observers alike even after his plea.

He described a deep love of books that stemmed from childhood and led him to pursue a publishing career in London. While he obtained an internship at a literary agency there, he wrote, he had trouble securing a full-time job in the industry afterward.

While employed, I saw manuscripts being shared between editors, agents, and literary scouts or even with individuals outside the industry. So, I wondered: why can I not also get to read these manuscripts? he recounted.

He spoofed an email address of someone he knew and mimicked his former colleagues' tone to ask for a manuscript that had yet to be published. The success of that deception turned his quest for ill-gotten books into an obsession, a compulsive behaviour.

I had a burning desire to feel like I was still one of these publishing professionals and read these new books, he wrote.

Every time an author sent me the manuscript I would feel like I was still part of the industry. At the time, I did not think about the harm I was causing, he added. I never wanted to and I never leaked these manuscripts. I wanted to keep them closely to my chest and be one of the fewest to cherish them before anyone else, before they ended up in bookshops.

As part of a bid to avoid prison, Bernardini's lawyers also submitted more than a dozen letters to the judge from his friends and family. In a novelistic twist of sorts, among them was a letter from a victim  writer Jesse Ball, the author of Samedi the Deafness, Curfew and The Divers' Game.

Bernardini impersonated Ball's editor to convince the writer to send several unpublished manuscripts, Ball said in his letter pushing for leniency. Decrying the state of the industry as more and more corporate and cookiecutter and referring to the crime as a caper and a trivial thing, frivolous thing, Ball argued that we must be grateful when something human enters the picture: when the publishing industry for once becomes something worth writing about."

For once a person cared deeply about somethingwhat matter that he was an interloper? You cannot imagine the soul crushing boredom of run-of-the-mill publishing correspondence, Ball wrote, adding that he suffered no harm from the thefts other than some confusion. Im grateful that there is still room in the world for something facetious to occur now and then.

In weighing arguments from the prosecution and defense, McMahon pushed back on the idea that the crime was victimless, with New York magazine's Vulture  the publication that brought the mystery to public attention with a 2021 story called The Spine Collector  reporting that she was especially moved by a letter from a literary scout" who had been accused of Bernardini's crimes. Vulture also reported that McMahon expressed sympathy for Bernardini in light of a new autism diagnosis, but said it didn't excuse the threats he made in some correspondence. But she concluded a prison sentence wouldn't help the victims.

Bernardini  an Italian citizen and British resident who was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in January 2022  will be deported from the U.S. Court documents show he asked to be deported to the United Kingdom, where he lives with his partner and dog, with Italy as the designated alternative.

As part of his guilty plea, Bernardini agreed to pay $88,000 in restitution, which court documents show will go to Penguin Random House.

The cruel irony is that every time I open a book," Bernardini wrote of his one-time passion, it reminds me of my wrongdoings and what they led me to.
By Cristina Rivera Garza

Hogarth. 320 pp. $28

- - -

Liliana Rivera Garza was many things all at once - an insatiable writer, a talented swimmer, a movie lover, a devoted friend, a budding architect and an absolute feminist who loved smoking cigarettes. She dreamed of traveling and collecting experiences on her own. When she was 20, she took the first steps toward fulfilling that dream, moving to Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, where she began studying architecture at Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana.

On July 16, 1990, Liliana was found dead in her apartment. She was killed by an ex-boyfriend, who had stalked her for many years. By the time an arrest warrant was filed months later, he was nowhere to be found. Nearly 30 years later, her older sister, the writer Cristina Rivera Garza, set out to recover a record of her sister's life - and death. The trail, such as it was, had mostly evaporated, but Garza was determined to capture her sister's last months and days. "I want to find the murderer and I want him to pay for his crime," she writes in her powerful new book, "Liliana's Invincible Summer." "I seek justice."

Garza realizes that her pursuit is daunting, if nearly impossible, but her determination is unflappable. She may never find what she is seeking, but writing about the process is a kind of conjuring of the sister she lost. An artful catharsis. Her words come together in a book that is not so much plot-driven but rather a very careful excavation. Garza, a celebrated author and distinguished professor at the University of Houston, literally retraced her sister's footsteps as a young college student to better understand her world before her death. The reader is privy to photographs and other ephemera left behind. The most minute details contain multitudes. Every word counts.

Throughout her journals, Liliana wrote extensively about her desire for freedom: "I am a seeker. I want to try new things; maybe more pain and loneliness but I think it would be worth it." She longed for independence and often pondered why it was so difficult to simply exist as she was. Liliana's ultimate goal was to belong to herself, to be the architect of her own life. Relationships with men were fraught because many of them resented this core part of her identity.

How many women will read about Liliana and see themselves? How many of us will shudder thinking of a dangerous partner from the past? How many of us will realize that we're still on this Earth by sheer luck? Life has always been so precarious for women. It's difficult to find a time in history in which we've been safe. As Garza writes, "The only difference between my sister and me is that I never came across a murderer."

Thousands of years of human civilization, and women are still murdered with abandon all over the world. In this case, in one of the largest cities on the planet. Mexico is not safer than when Liliana left it. Far from it. On average, 10 Mexican women or girls are killed daily across the country. Women's bodies are often disposed of in public places to send a message. Between January and November 2022, there were 131 femicides in the state of Mexico alone. The authorities are often hostile or indifferent to the victims - dissecting their personal lives to find culpability in their own murders. What was she wearing? Why was she out alone at night? Why did she live by herself? The perpetrators are very rarely brought to justice, and some go on to kill more women.

As Garza points out, the terms "intimate partner violence" and "femicide" did not exist when Liliana was murdered. This type of violence was considered "a crime of passion," as if the brutal killing of a woman were simply a quarrel between lovers. Femicide, the murder of a woman because of her gender, is now a term we hear quite frequently, thanks to the feminists who have been fighting a literal war in the streets of Mexico and beyond. Women all over the country have been marching to draw attention to the ongoing crisis. Mothers are demanding justice for their slain daughters, which can lead to their own murders. In 2020, protesters took over the Human Rights Commission building in Mexico City and have occupied it ever since. It's become a refuge for women who have been victims of gender-based violence.

Throughout the memoir, Garza endures the excruciating bureaucracy of the Mexican government. She searches for her sister's file and is sent to countless government agencies, each sending her to another office in an endless quest. It's possible that the file may no longer exist. Liliana's killer is still on the run. (Since the publication of the Spanish edition of the book, Garza has been able to track down a few new clues, thanks to readers.)

Garza understands the urgency of justice in a land full of young women like Liliana. Ni Una Mas, Not One More, is a chant heard across Mexico and Latin America. Women won't let up until the violence ends, whenever that may be. We now have more language for violence against women. I suppose that's progress. To be able to name something is powerful. That's when we can begin to dismantle oppressive systems. Language and action, however, are two different things. Language often fails us, leaves us incomplete. That's the nature of language. Not everything can be put into words, especially grief and rage, no matter how precise and skilled the writing is. The beauty of this book is that it reaches for that truth regardless, and in doing so, Liliana becomes indelible.She is so fully realized that by the end, the reader is also mourning. I will be thinking of Liliana for a very long time, perhaps forever.

- - -

Erika L. Sanchez is a poet, novelist and essayist whose books include "Lessons on Expulsion," "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" and, most recently, "Crying in the Bathroom." She is the Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz chair at DePaul University in Chicago.
WASHINGTON - The metaphors flowed freely in Janos Szasz's rehearsal room. "It's like our unhappy ballet," declared actor Nick Westrate, as he glided past the full-length mirrors set up in a wide circle. "We're allowed to revel in our unhappiness."

The scene being worked out and talked out so poetically was the first encounter of Prior Walter and Harper Pitt in "Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches." Portrayed by Westrate and Deborah Ann Woll, they're two central characters in Szasz's eagerly awaited revival of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer-winning play at Arena Stage.

Szasz, a highly regarded stage and film director who recently moved to Washington from Hungary to escape that country's ultranationalist regime, jumped in frequently to add his own lyrical imagery. "You are appearing in like a music box," Szasz, 65, told the actors, in pleasantly accented English.

Nearby sat an interpreter, Natalia Gleason-Nagy, upon whom Szasz relied from time to time, even though he has directed in the United States several times before, including a wild 2001 production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" at Arena that daringly ventured beyond Tennessee Williams's script and imagined Blanche and Stella as children.

For the first time since "Streetcar," Szasz (pronounced "sahss") is back at Arena, and now settled in Potomac, Md., perhaps permanently, with his actress wife, Ginger, and two of his three children, Peter, 18, and Jakob, 10. (His grown daughter, Hannah, an art therapist, is still in Hungary.) His roller-coaster life as a child of Holocaust survivors, an adult in an increasingly authoritarian society, and an artist with a bold dark eye has propelled him to the unlikely role of suburban D.C. dad.

"It was hard," Szasz said over lunch, about upending a life in Europe. "You know, we left a home with the children. But we are still very happy here, I must tell you."

How much contentment continues hinges in part on the reception to his new take on the first half of Tony Kushner's kaleidoscopic 1991 portrait of AIDS in the age of President Ronald Reagan. (There is no plan for Arena to produce the second part, "Perestroika.")

It will doubtless be a major happening, what with Szasz's penchant for bringing an auteur's brash visual aesthetic to the classics, and word that for this revival, 28,000 pounds of nontoxic, low-dust sand have been trucked in, to fill a circle on the Fichandler Stage 30 feet in diameter and six inches deep.

Because some of his family remains in Hungary, Szasz does not like to dwell on the government harassment that led to the decision to leave his beloved country and culture. Szasz's films have been seen around the world, including the widely admired "The Notebook" (2013), a haunting study of twin boys who live out World War II with a brutal grandmother.

But the decision to move here, according to Szasz's friends in the theater world, came after mounting acts of aggression by the authoritarian government of Viktor Orban, which culminated in February 2021 in a police raid on his Budapest home and the confiscation of his computers and phones.

Philip Arnoult, founder of the Center for International Theater Development based in Baltimore and a pioneer in forging ties between American theater companies and artists in Central and Eastern Europe, recalled Szasz's anxieties about the rise of Hungarian antisemitism even before Orban took power in 2010. "He said, 'Philip, you've got to help me get out of this country,'" Arnoult said. "Certainly things have gotten very, very dire as the years have gone by."

So dire that after the raid, Molly Smith, Arena's artistic director, and her wife, Suzanne Blue Star Boy, decided to intervene. "Suzanne woke up one day and just said, 'We need to bring him here,'" Smith recalled. "I said, 'Yeah, that's a great idea.' And we reached out and said, 'Come stay with us, make all of the connections you can, find the people you want to work with.'"

Szasz arrived by himself in 2021 and lived with Smith and Blue Star Boy in D.C. for three months before returning to Budapest and figuring out the next step. "I love the country [but] I don't want my children to grow up in Hungary," he said. The continuous turmoil, including the 2021 takeover by Orban's allies of the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest, compelling Szasz and many of his faculty colleagues to resign, reinforced the urgency of getting out.

"I'm not going to talk about the politics, but I can talk about the cultural politics," he said, pointing out that he was denounced in the right-wing media after announcing that he would be making a film about medieval Hungarian history. "I was attacked, because I am 'not Hungarian,' you know, because I am Jewish. Nobody can tell me I'm not a Hungarian. Nobody."

It was after Smith's offer to direct "Angels" that Szasz returned last spring, committed to starting a new life in D.C., this time with his family. And it was deeply meaningful, as he embarked on the project, that Kushner agreed to sit down with him and Westrate. At the end of their talk, during which Szasz told Kushner how he imagined staging the play, the director pulled out a copy of the script.

"Maybe he thought that I want the signature," Szasz said. "No, no, just bless it," he told Kushner. "So he gave it his blessing. I'm very proud of this. It is not any signature. It is just his blessing. It was very important to meet him."

Szasz is a product of a freewheeling European tradition in which the playwright's script is not held as sacred by the director. So for Szasz, this quasi-religious gesture had the feeling of a genesis, a new beginning, though how thoroughly he adapts to the American reverence for the writer is still to be seen.

In any event, "Angels" is nowhere near a U.S. baptism for Szasz. In the early 2000s, he taught at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Mass., and directed plays there by Anton Chekhov, Bertolt Brecht and Eugene O'Neill.

Then, of course, there was that even earlier "Streetcar" at Arena, which Smith invited Szasz to direct after seeing his work in Europe, on a trip organized by Arnoult. Actors who were in Szasz's Arena show still have vivid memories.

"We knew right from the auditions that it was not going to be your father's 'Streetcar Named Desire,'" said Marty Lodge, cast as one of the poker players in Mitch's card games. "We thought he was a little insane, but at the same time, brilliant."

Szasz transferred Williams's setting of New Orleans to what Nelson Pressley in The Washington Post described disapprovingly as "a flavorless gray anyplace." Smith said that she loved it but that it divided audiences. "People were shocked. I was completely floored by it, but some people hated the production."

That Szasz was unschooled in the "Streetcar" mystique was clear at the first table read, when the director, looking for places to trim, told the cast he was getting rid of one of Blanche's lines in the last scene.

"He says, 'this is a cut,' and the entire cast goes almost, like, vaulting over the table," recalled Lawrence Redmond, cast as another poker player. "And the guy who's playing Stanley goes, 'Janos. We love the cuts. We are so behind the cuts. We understand what you're trying to do. You're trying to pare it down. But this is a very famous line.'"

The line? "Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." It stayed in. Even in such moments, Szasz earned the admiration from the actors for his openness and fearlessness. "We knew we were in the presence of just an original, creative, extraordinary mind," Lodge said.

That impression seems to be shared by the "Angels" cast. "Janos showed up with so much vision and no agenda," Westrate said. "He has so many beautiful ideas but he gives them up. He doesn't hold on too tightly to anything. He steers with a very loose grip. He doesn't force choices on you. It fosters a lot of growth. It fosters courage in the room."

Szasz sees in "Angels" parallels between the AIDS crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, but also views Kushner's epic as spiritually profound. "It's a love story," he said, adding that fostering love in the rehearsal room is part of his practice. "I'm working in a fantastic group. You know, I am coming from Eastern Europe, it means that I'm always thinking about company, company, company, where we are vulnerable with each other."

"This a family here," he added. "I found a family."

- - -

"Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches," by Tony Kushner. Directed by Janos Szasz. Through April 23 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, Washington, D.C. arenastage.org.
Courtesy / UISD

The Scripps Regional Final Spelling Bee will be held Saturday, March 25 as the top spellers from schools across the Gateway City gather for a chance to represent Laredo at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The regional competition will be held at the Vidal M. Trevino Magnet School located at 2102 E. Lyon St. across from Nixon High School. Registration for contestants begins at 8 a.m., and the event runs from 9 a.m. to noon. It features local students ranging from third grade through eighth grade.
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Local, state and federal authorities busted a stash house holding 10 migrants, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

On March 21, agents along with Laredo police and the Texas Department of Public Safety entered a south Laredo home and discovered 10 people inside. Authorities also encountered a shrine to Santa Muerte.

The group was transported to the Laredo South Station for processing. A records check of the individuals revealed they were from Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador and Guatemala.

Border Patrol encourages the community to report suspicious activity by calling 1-800-343-1994.
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U.S. Border Patrol EMTs aided an injured student at a high school track meet in Hebbronville, authorities said.

The incident occurred on March 22, when the Jim Hogg County Sheriffs Office requested EMT assistance from Border Patrol for a 14-year-old Hebbronville High School student.

Authorities said the student had a possible knee dislocation. Border Patrol said the injury occurred during a track meet competition.

Due to the remote location, EMS was not available.

But Border Patrol EMTs from the Hebbronville Station rendered aid to the student and stabilized his knee.

EMTs transported the student to a helipad in town. The student was airlifted to a hospital in Corpus Christi for further treatment.

Laredo Sector Border patrol has 142 EMTs. Twelve are assigned to the Hebbronville Station.
You can take a walk on the wild side this weekend when "Repitcon Chattanooga" returns to Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge.

Guests at this family-oriented event will learn about reptiles and exotic animals from vendors and breeders.

You could also choose a new family pet from hundreds of reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and small exotic animals.

All-day tickets are just $12 or you can purchase a two-day pass for $15.

Children age four and under are admitted for free.

"Repticon Chattanooga" opens at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
North Carolina set to become 40th state to expand Medicaid after yearslong battle in GOP-led statehouse
Judge says several Trump aides, including former chief of staff, must testify to Jan. 6 grand jury
A father of three charged has pleaded not guilty to confronting a lorry driver with a nine inch kitchen knife during an alleged road rage incident in Longford last year.

Fifty-one-year-old Valquir Borges, 6 The Hawthorns, Clonbalt Woods, Longford, was initially charged in connection to the aforementioned incident at a sitting of Longford District Court last December.

That came following an incident along the N4 at Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on 23 September.

He was charged with the possession of a knife contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the production of an article during the course of a dispute.

On that occasion, the court heard that the episode stemmed from an alleged "road rage" incident after the accused allegedly pulled in front of a lorry.

Judge Bernadette Owens was told the lorry driver sounded the horn of his vehicle before both men pulled in and got out of their vehicles.

The lorry driver, it was alleged, went to approach the accused man's car, at which point Mr Borges exited his own vehicle armed with a large knife.

It's believed a large chunk of the prosecution's case will centre on dash cam footage taken from the scene of the alleged incident.

Defence solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client would be professing his innocence to the charges before the court.

"He believed that the main aggressor was the lorry driver," she said.

Judge Owens described the incident as a "very serious matter" before accepting jurisdiction on the case.

At a sitting of Longford District Court last Tuesday, Mr Borges was not present, but it was confirmed the accused through his solicitor would be seeking a full hearing into the matter.

Judge Owens was informed the case should take in the region of an hour to conclude.

Mr Borges was remanded on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on April 25.
10:01 | La Convencion (Cusco region), Mar. 24.





The head of the Decentralized Unit at the Decentralized Culture Directorate (DDC) in Cusco, Maritza Rosa Candia, referred to the road maintenance works undertaken in the area, which involved cutting vegetation, removing stones and fallen rocks, as well as widening the roadway and conserving ditches. Thus, the path has been left clear for visits.





The works were carried out by the construction staff, guards, and custodians of the Choquequirao Archaeological Park and were supported by members of the Tour Operators Association located in the district of San Pedro de Cachora in Abancay Province.





Prevention against rain





The head of the Choquequirao archaeological park, Jose Estrada Pachacuteq, thanked San Pedro de Cachora residents for their support, and recommended adopting preventive measures in the face of persistent rains in the area.





"Visitors and tour operators are recommended to adopt preventive measures, since heavy rains continue to fall in the area, which could cause difficulties during the tour," he warned.









Visits suspended in early 2023





Visits to Choquequirao were suspended at the beginning of the year, due to the risk of rock slides, a situation that has been overcome because of the works carried out in the area.





The population of San Pedro de Cachora will be the most economically benefited with the reopening of the archaeological monument, given that most of them are dedicated to tourism and related cultural activities.





(END) PHS/JOT/RMB/MVB

The Choquequirao Archaeological Park reopened to visitors after completing cleaning and maintenance works on the bridle path in the Capuliyoc-Cocamasana, Chiquisca-Playa Rosalinas, and Playa Rosalinas-Marampata-Choquequirao sections.Publicado: 24/3/2023
Longfords Eric Ehigie, who is President of the African and Caribbean Society at the University of Galway (UG), is leading a campaign calling on UG to introduce a Black Studies elective, taught by a Black academic, to the pool of available modules at the University.

The Cumann Staire (History Society) at UG is also backing the campaign and Eric outlined, All it takes is a glance at the diversity of the student body at University of Galway, and then another at the inaccurate reflection of this in the academic material taught in various courses, despite the ample academic contributions from ethnic minority thinkers, for one to see the need for a Black Studies module.

He added, As president of the African and Caribbean Society, I have heard countless stories from Black students about how their stories are often told from a Western paradigm and that texts ascribed about Africa are ones written by people not based in or from Africa, this is a slap in the face of the unfathomably large body of work produced by countless great Black intellectuals across time.

According to The African and Caribbean Society and Cumann Staire (History Society), there is a gaping absence of any substantive dedication to the bountiful academic, intellectual, and philosophical contributions of Black people from across the world in the academic corpus of the University; with students of African and Caribbean descent usually having to settle for reading texts in which their cultural story is told by people who dont share in their cultural background.

In a joint statement, they said, This is not good enough for a modern, diverse academic institution and a Black Studies module would be a major step in the right direction, in correcting this anomaly - and in allowing for students, no matter their race, to have a better cultural understanding of their peers from diverse backgrounds.

The University of Galway is ranked in the top 2% of universities across the world, alongside renowned institutions such as Harvard University, and University of Oxford; both of which share in the fact that they have a Black Studies module. At home in Ireland, UG is amongst the best academic institutions in the country, in community with universities such as Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin; two of these institutions being ones that also offer a Black Studies module.

We believe it is imperative for UG, in light of its calibre and its international character, to offer a Black Studies module to its diverse range of students.

"This will go a long way in enlightening students about the long line of academic contributions from great Black figures, Black history, and the cultures of various Black communities; minimise the potential of ignorance-inspired prejudice arising; and reflect the values that the University has committed to in its Race Equality Framework and Action Plan.

This year marks 20 years since Nelson Mandela visited the University of Galway to be conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

"To celebrate this anniversary, the University is holding Mandela Week to highlight the importance of fighting racism and promoting the principles of equality that Mandela championed.

Madiba knew that one of the key ways of challenging racial discrimination is through education. This is exactly what a Black Studies module provides - the type of education that can allow Black students to see themselves in the curriculum and that ensures that their peer students gain a better cultural understanding of others background and of the diverse, interconnected world we live in.
Lawmakers, School Administrators, and Advocates to Call on Governor Hochul to Fully Fund Free School Meals for All NY Students

School & Education

By Jacob Alvear Published: March 24 2023

More than 243,000 students on Long Island would benefit from HSMFA

Last week, Minnesota became the eighth state to fund free school meals for all students. Now, with funding for universal free school meals included in both the Senate and Assembly one-house budget bills, legislators will join advocates, parents, and school leaders for a press event at Jefferson Primary School on Long Island on Friday, March 24th at 10:00 a.m. calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to fully fund Healthy School Meals for All in this years State budget.

In June, federal waivers that provided free school meals for all students expired. As a result, more than 726,000 students in New York lost access to free meals at school and families school meal debt has skyrocketed. This loss hit Long Island especially hard, with nearly 243,000 students in Nassau and Suffolk Counties losing access to free school meals this year.

Both the Senate and Assembly included $280 million to restore free school meals for all students in their one-house budget bills. Now it is up to Governor Hochul to ensure HSMFA is fully funded in the FY2024 State budget.

About Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, Nassau Suffolk School Board Association, and the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition

The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization. HWCLI serves the interests of poor and vulnerable people on Long Island by convening, representing, and supporting the organizations that serve them and by promoting the development of public policies and programs.

The Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) membership organization comprised of Boards of Education from school districts located in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. N-SSBA exchanges information on best practices for highly effective governance of school districts and works closely with other associations of the Long Island educational community to help advocate for the regions schools.

The Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids Coalition is a group of 250+ organizations led by Hunger Solutions New York and Community Food Advocates with funding from the New York Health Foundation (NYHealth).
For over 50 years, Amideo Nicholas Guzzone and Associates, PC has been representing clients in the areas of Personal Injury and Accident law as well as General Practice Law. We have recovered Millions of dollars for seriously injured accident victims.



The firms Long standing history and experience provide expertise in many areas of Accident Law and General Practice Law including: Personal Injury law, Estate and Probate, Wills, Real Estate law, Matrimonial Law, Auto Accident law, as well as many other types of legal issues.



The firms three offices are conveniently located in the counties of Suffolk and Nassau in New York State. Amideo Nicholas Guzzone and Associates, PC represents people in need of legal services in Suffolk County, Nassau County and the Five Boroughs of New York City.



The experienced lawyers at our firm are able to provide guidance and counsel to both our clients and their families. The combined experience and expertise of the firms lawyers and associates, as well as the attentive personalized service we provide to each of our clients, are the hallmarks of the firms practice, which set us apart as an outstanding local area law firm.



The firms lawyers, experts, investigators and professional legal staff give each and every case our utmost attention. We handle both large and small cases. As experienced attorneys we have the legal knowledge, skills and resources to guide our clients through every aspect of their case.



Should you or a family member have a legal problem or suffer personal injuries in an auto accident it is important to contact and consult with an attorney with knowledge and experience. When you call, we will schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys. Your consultation is completely free.



Personal Injury Law: Providing legal guidance for over 50 years. Our firm has a long standing reputation, recovering Millions of dollars for seriously injured clients. Representing accident and injury victims.



MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

We have the experience to protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve following an auto related accident.



WILLS and TRUSTS

Both Wills & Trusts can protect your assets. Your family deserves both competent and compassionate guidance.



ESTATE and PROBATE

As experienced estate and probate lawyers, we are able to guide you through the difficult times following the death of a loved one



WRONGFUL DEATH and ACCIDENTAL DEATH

Providing compassionate legal guidance for over 50 years. We have recovered Millions of dollars for families who have lost a loved one due to someone's negligence.



Number of Attorneys:

4 Litigation Attorneys

2 Trial Attorneys

5 Litigation Support Assistants and Paralegals

The Firm also retains a team of well respected experts including: Private Investigators, Safety and Engineering Experts, Physicians, Surgeons, Psychologists, Radiologists, Nurses, Economists, as well as Vocational and occupational experts



Office Location(s):

Centereach - Hauppauge - Carle Place, New York



Firm Specialties include: Lawyers, Personal Injury, Car accidents, Motorcycle accidents, Auto accident, Construction accidents, Workers Compensation, Slip and fall accident, Work and job injuries, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Accidental Death

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Food, Wine, & Dining

By Ls Cohen Published: March 24 2023

No-nonsense places to grab a drink.

Dont expect much and you wont be disappointed. We found ten of our favorite so-called dive bars across Long Island. Basically, local places to have a drink or two and maybe a bite to eat. No pretense. No gimmicks. No dress code. Just a local place to hoist a few.

The Broken Down Valise - One person online gave it a two-star review and commented, "it's not the place to get a fancy cocktail or a wide wine list, which is probably the biggest compliment a dive bar could ever get. Where: 180 Pike Street, Mattituck, (631) 298-9796.

Tara Inn - Once a bowling alley, the Tara Inn has been a local watering hole where those who know can get decent drinks and okay food at a great price. Its been around so long that the owners young daughter who the bar was named after in 1977 grew up to now own the place and is actually a village justice in Port Jefferson. Where: 1519 Main Street, Port Jefferson, (631) 828-5987.

Valencia Tavern - Described by patrons as classic, old-school, one of the last remaining authentic dive bars, and an old fashioned bar like the old days. Newsday says it was built in 1933 as a residence but the owner had it rezoned so he could serve food from his home - smart dude. Where: 236 Wall Street, Huntington, (631) 683-4166.

Misfits Tavern - A place where people who stand out fit in. Live music. Cold beers. Good times. Where: 800 Middle Country Road, Ridge, (631) 775-8733.

Jillys 11 - As one reviewer put it on Google, Yes, its a dive bar, but welcoming and fun. We had a great time here. Not for everyone, but perfect for us! Where: 713 Medford Avenue, Patchogue, (631) 475-6323.

Nolan's Pub - "Nothing wrong with a cool dive bar!!! Cheap and fun and a pool table old house fun." - Guy who knows a thing or two about dive bars on Google. Where: 435 East Park Avenue, Long Beach, (516) 432-9530.

Railroad Inn - They have dart boards and railroad themed decor. Conveniently, also near the railroad. You get drinks there. Hits all the marks. Where: 151 S Franklin Avenue, Valley Stream, (516) 561-9397.

SomePlace Else - Touts itself as the cleanest dive bar on Long Island. Nuff said. Where: 226 Higbie Lane, West Islip, (631) 539-9777.

Jax Cocktail Lounge - Cocktails? Yes. Lounge? Maybe. Dart tourneys and beer at this long-standing staple in Lake Ronkonkoma. Where: 720 Portion Rd, Lake Ronkonkoma, (631) 467-9703.

Charlie Bullfrogs - Like Cheers where everyone knows your name but is named Charlie Bullfrogs. Where: 316 Jericho Turnpike, Floral Park, (516) 352-2384.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: March 24 2023

The victim received a call from an unknown female instructing the victim he would need to provide money for his girlfriends bail.

The Major Case Bureau reports the details of a Grand Larceny/Elder Scam that occurred on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 12:05 p.m. in Woodbury.

According to Detectives, a 71-year-old male victim received a phone call from an individual claiming to be his girlfriend. An unknown male subject then got on the phone and stated the victims girlfriend had been in an auto accident and he would be receiving a phone call from Legal Aid regarding the situation.

Shortly after the victim received a call from an unknown female instructing the victim he would need to provide money for his girlfriends bail. The victim was told to retrieve the money and a courier would be sent to his residence to pick up the money. A male Hispanic arrived at the victims residence and took the money and left the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

The Nassau County Police Department urges the community to be on alert and to remind vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors about potential scams or frauds.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: March 24 2023

Stavros Tsakonis Allegedly Collected More than $160K in Disability Benefits for Nearly Eight Years.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced a 30-count indictment of Stavros Tsakonis, 61, of Shirley, for allegedly stealing the identity of his dead brother, U.S. Army and Vietnam War veteran Chris Tsakonis, in order to continue to work while still receiving disability benefits. The Suffolk District Attorneys Office was assisted in the investigation by the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office, Suffolk County Police Department, the United States Social Security Administration, the Office of Inspector General, and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

This defendant allegedly exploited the death of his half-brother so he could work under his brothers name and simultaneously claim a full disability under his own given name, Stavros Tsakonis, said District Attorney Tierney. Instead of respecting the memory of his half-brother, this defendant exploited his death to start a plumbing business and purchase vehicles, while lining his own pockets with fraudulently obtained taxpayer funds for a supposed disability.

This 8-month-long investigation uncovered this scam artists scheme to work under the identity of his deceased veteran brother while obtaining over $160,000 in fraudulent disability benefits, said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. I applaud the Suffolk Sheriffs Office Investigators, District Attorneys Office and all of our law enforcement partners for their collaboration to expose this mans abuse of a system meant to help those in need.

According to the investigation, from February 2015 to January 2023, the defendant received more than $160,000 in disability benefits, claiming to the U.S. Social Security Administration he was too disabled to work. As recently as January 25, 2023, the defendant was allegedly observed entering the Social Security Administrations office in Patchogue using the assistance of a walker. After completing a form claiming that he had not worked since February 1989 and re-affirming he was disabled, the defendant was surveilled while walking unaided, without the assistance of any person or device.

A review of the defendants financial records, combined with multiple law enforcement surveillances, revealed he was gainfully employed as a plumber and has earned income as far back as February 2015 under the name of his deceased half-brother Chris Tsakonis, who passed away in 2012. In addition, the investigation found the defendant operated a company known as CT Plumbing, which utilized Chris Tsakonis assumed personal identifying information, social security number, and date of birth, to allegedly conceal income the defendant earned while still claiming to the Social Security Administration that he was physically unable to work.

The defendant also allegedly obtained a New York State drivers license in his half-brothers name to open bank accounts that he used to deposit the work income he earned while posing as Chris Tsakonis. The defendant also allegedly purchased several vehicles which he then registered under Chris Tsakonis name. Law enforcement observed the defendant driving one of the illegally registered vehicles from his house to his current job.

Furthermore, between 2016 and 2022, the defendant allegedly used his deceased half-brother Chris Tsakonis drivers license at the Suffolk County Department of Consumer Affairs to apply for and renew a plumbing license that he obtained under Chris Tsakonis name.

The defendant was indicted for the following charges:

One Count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;

Twelve Counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony;

Eight Counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;

Three Counts of Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class E felony;

Three Counts of Falsifying a Business Record in the First Degree, a Class E felony;

Two Counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony; and

Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

On March 13, 2023, Tsakonis was arrested and arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro. He was released on his own recognizance and as per Justice Ambros order, returned to court on March 14, 2023 to surrender his passport. The defendant is due back in court on April 12, 2023, and is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.
Business & Finance

By Chris Boyle Published: March 24 2023

Grieving your property taxes can be a long and difficult process without a knowledgeable and experienced third party like Heller & Consultants to handle it for you.

If theres one thing that people like, its the ability to save a buck or two, and when it comes to their home  and the taxes they pay on it  the more money you can save, the better.

Many Long Islanders are familiar with the concept of grieving their property taxes with the county or town that they live in to potentially lower their bills. However, this can be a long and difficult process, and one in which people often recruit knowledgeable third parties to handle for them.

And when it comes to saving Long Islanders every cent of money that they possibly can on their property taxes, no other firm has the proven track record and enormous reductions that Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance has garnered over the years.

Based out of Rocky Point with satellite offices in Deer Park and Farmingdale, Heller & Consultants first opened their doors for business in 2007, and service clients in both Nassau and Suffolk County. Owner Adam Heller was kind enough to lay out the basic process behind why people grieve their taxes, and what his company can do to help them in that endeavor.

Your tax bill is based on what your municipality believes the property to be worththe more they think your property is worth, the higher your property tax bill, and the lower they think its worth, the lower your property tax bill, he said. What we do is that we prove to the assessor that its worth less than what they say it is, reducing the homeowners property taxes.

Grieving your property taxes is literally a no-lose situation for any homeowner. First of all, Heller & Consultants charges the client nothing upfront, and nothing at all unless they actually reduce their taxes, in which case they typically charge one-half of the first years savings. There will also be no unwanted visits from a Heller representative or from any Suffolk or Nassau officials, and homeowners are protected under NYS law so that their taxes cannot be raised due to filing a grievance.

Also, if the idea of successfully grieving your property taxes has some homeowners worried that this can actually reduce the market/selling price of their home, nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, it actually increases the value of their home instead! MLS studies show that homes with lower property taxes than surrounding homes sell for 10-20 percent more than surrounding homes; therefore, lowering your property tax assessment actually increases your homes market value.

When it comes to the success that Heller & Consultants brings to the table in terms of saving their clients money, nothing speaks louder than the fact that they are literally a record-breaking agency in that regard, Heller said.

Our firm holds the highest-ever one-year residential property tax decrease in both Nassau and Suffolk County, he said. In Nassau County, the record is $73,443, and in Suffolk County its $29,185.

Its no accident that Heller & Consultants can achieve those lofty numbers when it comes to saving their clients money on their property taxes; Heller notes that they put their all into each and every case they handle, whereas many of their competitors will only do so for their high-profile clients.

We spend more time preparing the cases, and we put more work into it than other firms do. We try just as hard to get a homeowner a $1,000 reduction a year or a $70,000 reduction a year, he said. Many firms will prioritize their cases by the most profitable ones, and we really pride ourselves at looking at each case individually and putting everyone under a microscope and preparing the best evidence we can in court. After all, the burden of proof is on us to prove the assessor is wrong.

Heller & Consultants will grieve property taxes for both residential and commercial clients.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Heller said that 2020 is shaping up to be one of his firms busiest ever, simply by the fact that people are doing whatever they can to save an extra buck due to the financial hardship so many are facing.

In addition to the pandemic, Nassau Countys recent overhaul of their assessment system is also causing more than a few headaches for people this year, Heller said; the assessed values of every property in Nassau have been all essentially reset, so even if a person has grieved in the past, they are starting from scratch in 2020.

Nassau has started reassessing on an annual basis, so its vitally important for Nassau residents to start grieving their taxes every year, he said. In contrast, in Suffolk County you can only win a tax grievance case every other year. If you win one year, you cant win again the following year.

When it comes to helping people navigate the complicated legal system  and saving them some of their hard-earned money in the process, including not taking a fee unless they are successful  Heller said that the hard work is all worth every second that he and his dedicated consultants put into it.

I used to be a real estate broker, and during a downturn in the market I sold the business and moved into grieving property taxes, which is very similar in that we are valuing real estate and still helping people, he said. Unlike many firms, we update the client monthly because it does typically take 12-18 months to get a result, whereas other firms will just disappear until a verdict is reached. We are always honest and always go the extra mile for our clients.

To find out more or apply to grieve your property taxes, please visit hellertaxgrievance.com.
The Head of state pointed out that her administration has injected millions of Soles (Peruvian currency) "in record time" to address improvements in infrastructure required for the country's development.

Likewise, the Head of State asked mayors to take care of said machinery by providing it with proper maintenance; otherwise, these tools will break down within two years.

Municipal budget

Addressing the municipal authorities gathered at La Libertad Regional Government's auditorium, the President asked them to execute their budgets in the most efficient manner possible.

The top official said those with the least execution of said resources in Peru are, precisely, regional and municipal governments.

Mrs. Boluarte also indicated that the government will promptly review the observations that may emerge in public works execution procedures.

???? Promovemos una agenda regional con desarrollo.

En la presentacion de #ConPuncheRegional La Libertad, la presidenta Dina Boluarte dijo que su Gobierno inyecto presupuesto para infraestructura y que la region tendra obras emblematicas, como un hospital y el proyecto Chavimochic. pic.twitter.com/Al7x1htqMU
(Alliance News) - James Fisher & Sons PLC on Friday delayed the publication of its annual results by a month to allow additional time for it to complete discussions on its existing debt facilities.

Shares in James Fisher were down 5.9% to 294.50 pence each in London on Friday morning. The stock is down 20% over the past 12 months.

The Cumbria, England-based marine services provider said publication of its 2022 results will be delayed to April 28 from Tuesday next week, due to discussions with its lending banks regarding existing debt facilities with maturity dates ranging from October 2023 to September 2024.

James Fisher also said it is required to resolve certain technical restrictions regarding the sale of James Fisher Nuclear Holdings Ltd earlier this month, which have been waived through to April 28.

Under the agreement, several legacy parent company guarantees supporting the obligations of James Fisher Nuclear were retained by James Fisher, but this required consent under the group's debt facilities prior to sale. This was not obtained at the time, it said.

James Fisher said it was grateful for the lenders' "constructive approach" and "has accelerated engagement" with them to seek a permanent solution by the end of April.

In a trading update on Friday, it said 2022 underlying operating profit from continuing operations was broadly in line with 2021. It expects revenue from continuing operations to be around GBP475 million, up 7.4% from GBP442.4 million in 2021.

James Fisher also said it has made an encouraging start to 2023 across January and February, in line with its expectations and above levels observed in the equivalent periods during 2022.

Net debt is in line with management's expectations, it said, benefiting from the receipt of GBP20 million in cash proceeds from the completed sale of Swordfish Dive Support Vessel in January. It expects to continue to de-lever its debt in the future.

Before receipt of the Swordfish proceeds, James Fisher said net bank borrowings stood at GBP135 million on December 31, down 3.3% from GBP139.6 million a year earlier.

By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Seraphine Group PLC - London-based maternity wear retailer - Announces the offer for the company from Mayfair Equity Partners will close for acceptance at 1300 GMT on April 6. Urges shareholders who have not yet accepted the offer to do so as soon as possible. Confirms anticipated date of cancellation of the listing and admission to trading of Seraphine shares is expected to be on, or around, April 6. Notes Mayfair held 88% of Seraphine shares as at 1300GMT on March 22.

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SulNOx Group PLC - London-based green technology company - Announces that Chief Executive Officer Ben Richardson, is stepping down from the board with effect from today. Adds decision is being taken so Richardson can focus his efforts on sales and business development. He will remain in a non-board executive management position.

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Fragrant Prosperity Holdings Ltd - British Virgin Islands-based special purpose acquisition company - Signs heads of terms with Hi 55 Ventures Ltd, a UK based fintech business, in relation to the potential refinancing of FPH and acquisition of Hi 55 by FPH for GBP47 million. The acquisition, if it proceeds, will constitute a reverse takeover under the listing rules. Deal will be satisfied by the issue of shares in FPH. Requests suspension of shares. Oscillate PLC says Thursday it ended discussions to acquire Hi 55 Ventures. It says it will provide a more detailed update, including a timetable for lifting suspension of trading in its shares, shortly.

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Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC - London-based biopharmaceutical group developing new therapies and treatments for deadly blood diseases - Announces successful completion of a full set of analytical tests for HEMO-CAR-T. The completion of the tests is the last manufacturing requirement that is necessary for the submission of an investigational new drug application to the US Food & Drug Administration which is now being prepared. The IND is needed to obtain authorization from the FDA to commence Phase I clinical trials of HEMO-CAR-T.

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Macaulay Capital PLC - London-based private capital specialist - Raises GBP1.6 million to be invested in HC 1340 Ltd, a newco vehicle used to acquire an established engineering business. The investment is represented by GBP52,667 in ordinary shares for 52.7% of the equity, alongside GBP1.5 million in unsecured loan notes. The loan notes are scheduled to be redeemed in March 2029. Of the GBP1.6 million, the company has invested GBP700,000, which is higher than the anticipated GBP200,000 referred in its admission document. This enables the firm to complete the transaction within the agreed exclusivity period.

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Rockhopper Exploration plc - Salisbury, England-based oil & gas exploration and production company - Updates on Sea Lion development. Says new approach represents a material reduction in both upfront and life of field cost when compared to the previous development scheme, while still achieving a plateau production rate in the initial stage of approximately 80,000 bbls/d, a peak production rate of approximately 100,000 bbls/d. The new development plan proposes 18 wells to be drilled in phase 1, 11 of these coming before first oil. The phase 2 drilling campaign will add a further five wells approximately 42 months after first oil. Those later wells will also be tied into the FPSO to extend the production plateau.

By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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Lycoming College will welcome published author and expert on American history Robert Parkinson, Ph.D., as keynote speaker for its inaugural Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference, with a talk entitled Making Thirteen Clocks Strike as One: Race, Fear, and the American Founding. Parkinsons lecture will be held on Saturday, April 1, at 5 p.m., in the Trogner Presentation Room of the Krapf Gateway Center. The event is free and open to the public.

An associate professor of history at Binghamton University, Parkinson teaches about the American Revolution, colonial America, the history of American slavery, Native American history, and nation-making and race in the early modern world. His current research-book project, The Heart of American Darkness, explores the building up to and aftershocks of the murder of nine Native Americans on a tributary of the Ohio River in 1774.

His lecture at the conference will reflect these topics in exploring how racial fear helped to unite the thirteen colonies against the British. Parkinson will discuss how Patriot leaders weaponized rumors of British officers enlisting enslaved and Native people against the rebellion to unite Americans under a banner of war. That racial fear, being so prevalent since our nations beginning, has shaped it today.

Parkinson graduated from the University of Tennessee with his B.A. and M.A. in history before going on to the University of Virginia for his Ph.D. He is the author of multiple award-winning books, including; The Common Cause: Creating Race and Nation in the American Revolution and Thirteen Clocks: How Race United the Colonies and Made the Declaration of Independence. Parkinson has held numerous fellowships, most recently serving as the Patrick Henry Writing Fellow at the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience in 2019.

The Lycoming College Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference is a gathering and celebration of the regions bright minds who are dedicated to furthering the humanities through high-level research. The Humanities Research Center at Lycoming College bolsters educational opportunities for those majoring or minoring in the humanities by supporting joint student-faculty research, internships, guided scholarship, digital humanities, graduate school placement, and fellowships. More information about the Conference can be found at https://www.lycoming.edu/humanities-research-center/humanities-conference.aspx.
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Lycoming College welcomes Jill McCorkel, Ph.D., as the speaker for the 22nd annual Strauser Lecture. Her talk, titled Ain't I a Prisoner? How Justice Reform Efforts Are Failing Incarcerated Women, will discuss the widespread failure of modern reforms in the justice system to help disenfranchised women. It will be held on Monday, March 27, at 4 p.m. in the Academic Center, room D-001, followed by a reception at 5 p.m. in Pennington Lounge. This event is free and open to the public.

McCorkels lecture will draw on her years of experience researching the social and political consequences of mass incarceration in the United States. A professor of sociology and criminology at Villanova University, McCorkels expertise lies in scrutinizing how law and systems of punishment perpetuate race, class, and gender inequality.

She is the author of the critically acclaimed Breaking Women: Gender, Race, and the New Politics of Imprisonment, which studies how the War on Drugs and punishment-centered laws affected incarcerated women. It was a finalist for the prestigious C. Wright Mills Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems. She is at work on a second book that expands on the topic of her presentation.

McCorkel first graduated from Bucknell University with a B.A. in sociology and political science, and went on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Delaware. She is the recipient of prestigious awards such as the Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Society of Criminology Division of Women and Crime, Villanova Universitys Mid-Career Scholar Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Criminology Division of Corrections and Sentencing. Currently, she serves on the editorial boards of Punishment & Society and Journal of Higher Education in Prison, and is chair of the 2023 meetings of the American Society of Criminology.

With the annual Strauser Lecture Series, Lycoming honors the legacy of Professor Larry R. Strauser, who began the criminal justice major at Lycoming College in 1975. He envisioned a unique interdisciplinary curriculum at a liberal arts college that would contribute to the reformation of the criminal justice system. Under Strausers direction the program grew, and today many alumni hold successful criminal justice careers. Past speakers include Ramiro Martinez, Ph.D., professor of sociology and criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University; Thomas Vanaskie 75, federal judge of the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania; and Elijah Anderson, Ph.D., the William K. Lanman Jr. Professor of Sociology at Yale University.
?? Promovemos la articulacion con las autoridades locales.

? La presidenta Dina Boluarte se reunio con los alcaldes de la Mancomunidad Municipal Lima Este, para agilizar la atencion de los danos provocados por las emergencias en esta parte de la capital. #ConPunchePeru pic.twitter.com/6tKHcLNMn9
Being Welsh, he is hesitant to swear allegiance to a king. So he decided since we have to do it, lets do it in the true language of New Zealand. His first language is also a minority language under the crown (cymraeg), she added.
The Albigensian Crusade was one of the Middle Ages most infamous persecutions of heretics. The Albigensian tag came from Albi in southern France and nowadays in the Occitanie region. It was here that Catharism had taken hold early in the eleventh century. This was a Christian dualist movement. The Cathars believed that there were two Gods - one good, one bad - and as such they were always destined to come into conflict with orthodox Christianity.

There had been almost two centuries of repression before Pope Innocent III decided that it was time for a crusade. In exchange for undertaking the crusade, French knights and nobles could expect to gain Cathar land, and these men of arms came to be greatly aided by what in effect was a product of the crusade - the founding of the Dominican Order by Domingo de Guzman, a mystic from Castile.

Following for the order of Sant Domingo (Saint Dominic) spread like wildfire after its formation in 1206, and Domingo himself sought to persuade the Albigensians to see the error of their ways. When they didnt, the Dominicans were embraced by the Episcopal Inquisition. The Albigensians never really stood a chance. Orthodox Christianity, the mass following of Domingo, the lust for land and power; they all combined to eventually massacre Catharism.

The crusade came to an end twenty years after it had begun in 1209. A treaty was signed in 1229, but there was still to be persecution, which was where this early Inquisition really came into play. Cathars who refused to repent were driven underground, unless they were exposed, in which case the usual outcome was the stake. Fleeing was a possibility. But where to?

By coincidence, the crusade ended in the same year that Jaume I led his forces in the conquest of Madina Mayurqa (Palma) and Mallorca. Orthodox Christians all, Jaume was to favour the Dominicans in particular. In 1231, the Convent of Sant Domingo in Palma was created. This initial building was to expand into what became a huge complex that was to remain until the confiscations ordered by Spains prime minister, Juan Alvarez Mendizabal, in 1835. Nothing was left of this one-time Dominican centre; it was demolished.

At the time of the conquest, though, the Dominicans clearly formed a religious powerhouse in Mallorca. Orthodoxy prevailed and had sailed with Jaume, and yet there was something from Jaumes past that hinted at less than orthodoxy. His father, Pere el Catolic, had in fact given his support to the Cathars. He died at the Battle of Muret during the crusade, his Aragonese forces having clashed with the French of Simon de Montfort.

It wasnt that Pere was a Cathar sympathiser, but he had his vassals to concern him, most notably those of Toulouse, which was conquered by De Montfort in 1212. The crusade became an exercise in warfare for expansion purposes as much as it had anything to do with religious fanaticism. Jaume was only five when his father died. He was to come under the influence of the Knights Templar, so he was brought up with the orthodoxy of the Benedictines, who had preached against Catharism.

Given all this, how was it to be that there was a Cathar community in Palma? This community was specific to Son Ferriol, a district of Palma about which there is some mystery. The name would appear to have come from an Aragonese knight by the name of Francesc (or Francisco) Ferriol, yet there is vagueness as to the existence of a Son Ferriol estate (possession), while the name Ferriol is in fact absent from the inventory of what became the Mallorcan nobility after the conquest.

A key reason for knowing that there was a Son Ferriol back in those days and for also knowing that there was someone called Ferriol is directly linked to the Cathars and in particular to a Cathar priest called Pere Mauri. In 1321, he was documented as having been in Mallorca, in Son Ferriol. He encountered a Ferriol, who wasnt necessarily a Cathar but who most certainly was in a community where Cathars had seemingly found some sort of haven. Separated from the main city, it would seem that descendants of Cathars had been allowed to live there in relative peace.

But this doesnt explain how they came to be there in the first place, unless of course the forces of conquest hadnt all been orthodox Christians after all. Unless, maybe, there had been Cathars who had sensed an opportunity to flee to a new territory under the son of a king who had fought on their behalf and having been driven out of their homelands in southern France. It is known that Albigensian troubadours moved to Aragon, so perhaps it wasnt totally surprising that some Cathars made their way to Mallorca.

For all this, though, there were the Dominicans, an order from which Gregory IX enlisted itinerant Papal Inquisitors in 1231. Maybe they weren't active in Mallorca, allowing the Cathars of Son Ferriol to indeed live in relative peace. How long this community survived is unknown. As to Pere Mauri, he left by ship from Soller, having spent a month or so on the island. He was later imprisoned, his fate not having been recorded. His mentor, Guillaume Belibaste, was burnt at the stake in the same year that he came to Mallorca.
??| La Segunda Fiscalia Suprema Transitoria de Corrupcion de Funcionarios allano e incauto bienes y documentos en el inmueble de Anibal Torres Vasquez, en la investigacion preparatoria seguida por el delito de rebelion y alternativamente conspiracion. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/R54gVHBiyf
From left: Wilson Tan, director of AutoStudio; Edsa Samson; director of AutoStudio; Pancho Luzzuriaga,

managing director of AutoStudio; Kidd Yam, head of MINI Asia; Willy Tee Ten, president of MINI Philippines Jefferson Lizardo, general manager of MINI Philippines; and Owee Cruz, communications vice president of the Autohub Group.

MINI Philippines continues to strengthen its presence in the countrythis time in Central Visayas with the opening of MINI Cebu, the sole MINI dealership in the region. Operated by AutoStudio Philippines Corporation (AutoStudio), the facility offers a full suite of services such as new car displays, three after sales service bays, and retailing of vehicle and lifestyle accessories.

Gracing the launch event were Kidd Yam, Head of MINI Asia; Willy Tee Ten, president of MINI Philippines and of the Autohub Group; Alfonso Luzuriaga Jr., president of AutoStudio, and esteemed board members of AutoStudio  Gabriel Alonzo, Edmundo Samson, and Wilson Tan.

Measuring 419.57 sqm, the new showroom displays the MINI Cooper S 3-Door, a compact urban icon fit for the streets, and the MINI John Cooper Works 3-Door, which embodies the very essence of motor sport. The showroom also features a dedicated John Cooper Works corner, an expansive lifestyle and lounge area for customers to enjoy, and comprehensive service facilities for clients.

Located at Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City, the new MINI Cebu showroom is now open to the public. It operates from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

MINI Cebu is also offering special promotions of up to 10% discounts on selected MINI lifestyle items, and up to P100,000 discounts on new MINI units during its launch period from today until 31 March 2023. For more information about the showroom, its services, or to arrange an appointment, customers are invited to call 0917-652-3345.

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Meet the Thrifty Indulgers, Sensory Adventurers and Present Hedonists of WGSNs Asia Shopper Forecast 2023

SINGAPORE  WGSN, the global authority on trend forecasting, has published its annual Asia Shopper Forecast 2023 report highlighting the Asian consumer preferences and profiles that will impact consumer decision making in 2023 and beyond.

The forecast is meant to help brands, businesses, and marketers to strategize and create meaningful experiences catered to the consumers of tomorrow.

As we enter 2023, the effects of a global economic crisis will manifest and always-rising consumer expectations will force businesses in the region to find new drivers of growth. Just as mobility in Asia-Pacific (APAC) returns to pre-pandemic levels, Asian shoppers will continue to prioritise travel and look to heading out In-Real-Life (IRL), while retailers will need to offer powerful counterpoints to digital fatigue. At the same time, the uptake of digital technologies that commenced during the pandemic, will continue to enable consumers to move seamlessly between online and offline channels. We will also begin to see a growing desire among Asian consumers to make the most out of the present by finding respite in a variety of experiences despite the global economic slowdown, said Jess Tang, Senior Consultant of APAC, WGSN.

A region with a changing consumer behavior

In the Philippines where much of the pandemic restrictions are already lifted, major mall developers are reporting that consumer traffic has reached up to 95% of pre-COVID levels in the third quarter of 2022, according to a 2023 retail property market outlook report by real estate company Colliers Philippines.

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The same report saw more foreign and local retailers opening physical stores in malls due to the rising consumer traffic and anticipated increase in purchasing power. Colliers expects the food and beverage segment to account for 50% of upcoming mall retailers while fashion, accessories, beauty, and health will account for 27%.

This shows that consumers in the Philippines and in the region are now coming back to physical stores with many craving IRL, sensory, and engaging experiences. Savvier decision makers will also emerge with more conscious buying decisions and mobile will be key to reaching consumers with convenience and speed.

The key Asia shopper behavioural trends to watch for 2023 and beyond are:

Sensory adventurers  IRL experiences are now a key motivator for APAC consumers to head out and shop. After increased time spent online, sensory adventurers are getting out and about in 2023, seeking in-person experiences that foster creativity, excitement and tactile moments.

 IRL experiences are now a key motivator for APAC consumers to head out and shop. After increased time spent online, sensory adventurers are getting out and about in 2023, seeking in-person experiences that foster creativity, excitement and tactile moments. Phygital (physical + digital) connectors  During the pandemic, retailers looked to shift online to connect with many first-time digital shoppers. Now as consumers are gradually venturing out, phygital connectors are still looking to the convenience of technology, and want the best of both online and offline shopping.

 During the pandemic, retailers looked to shift online to connect with many first-time digital shoppers. Now as consumers are gradually venturing out, phygital connectors are still looking to the convenience of technology, and want the best of both online and offline shopping. Thrifty indulgers  While APAC consumers feel uncertain and anxious about their future and the economy, thrifty indulgers will spend effort on hunting for products and services that create micro moments of indulgence and bring them joy on a limited budget.

 While APAC consumers feel uncertain and anxious about their future and the economy, thrifty indulgers will spend effort on hunting for products and services that create micro moments of indulgence and bring them joy on a limited budget. Present hedonists  The shocks of Covid-19 and global political and economic uncertainty have given way to the emergence of live for now values. This cohort of present hedonists is now prioritising their present wants to enjoy life to its fullest post-pandemic.

 The shocks of Covid-19 and global political and economic uncertainty have given way to the emergence of live for now values. This cohort of present hedonists is now prioritising their present wants to enjoy life to its fullest post-pandemic. The conversationalists  Evolving from last years Social explorers, the social-driven conversationalists are now deepening their relationships with brands by forging hyper-personal connections and building conversations and trust via private messaging.

 Evolving from last years Social explorers, the social-driven conversationalists are now deepening their relationships with brands by forging hyper-personal connections and building conversations and trust via private messaging. Inclusivity advocates  The social justice movement that gathered momentum in 2020 has had a meaningful impact on consumer values. Moving ahead, the inclusivity advocates will spend more based on their social values, supporting minority-owned brands and investing in underrepresented communities.

 The social justice movement that gathered momentum in 2020 has had a meaningful impact on consumer values. Moving ahead, the inclusivity advocates will spend more based on their social values, supporting minority-owned brands and investing in underrepresented communities. Mindful re-assessors  A growing cohort of younger shoppers in Asia are reassessing what post-pandemic living means and accepting there will be no return to normal. The pandemic has impacted their perspective on what is considered important in life, and mindful re-assessors are looking to change the way they live and work.

Developed using its proprietary methodology to identify the signals of change and evaluate, verify and forecast trends, WGSN works with over 440 industry experts globally to map influencers, disruptors and changemakers to deliver clear and specific action points. WGSNs consumer sentiments are selected using WGSNs unique STEPIC framework: examining changes in society, technology, the environment, politics, industry and creativity to identify the macro forces that will drive the emotional sentiments in the years to come.

A copy of the sample report can be found here: link

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YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has responded to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs latest false claims and bellicose statements made during the Organization of Turkic States summit.

In a statement, the Armenian Foreign Ministry warned that Aliyevs speech was a clear manifestation of territorial claims against the Republic of Armenia and preparation of another aggression.

Below is the full statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

The speech of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev delivered on March 16 during the summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States was a clear manifestation of territorial claims against the Republic of Armenia and preparation of another aggression.

Presenting the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia under the fictitious name Western Azerbaijan the President of Azerbaijan grossly violates the UN Charter, the UN GA Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the UN Charter, the Alma-Ata Declaration, but also his own commitments undertaken by the Prague and Sochi statements to which he is referring in this exact speech.

Azerbaijan continuously obstructs the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions, while at the same time announcing that it is going to resettle the territories that came under its control as a result of the deportation of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Having violated basically all the points of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 and with the narrative, which he himself admits as fictitious, about the corridors the President of Azerbaijan is obstructing the process of opening of regional communications.

The bellicose rhetoric of the leader of Azerbaijan is aimed at completely disrupting the efforts to establish stability in the South Caucasus and resorting to the use of large-scale force against both the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, the insulting language used against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is accompanied by actions aimed at creating a humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, demonstrates Azerbaijan's unconcealed policy of ethnic cleansing at the highest level.

Moreover, voicing such provocative theses in Ankara aims not only to undermine the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also to hinder the positive dynamics in the process of normalisation of Armenia-Turkey relations.

All partners interested in the stability and peace of the region should give an assessment to this policy of the President of Azerbaijan without any hesitation and take active steps to eliminate the violations of international law by Azerbaijan and exclude the manifestations of the use of force.
There have been several cases of people believing that they could be the grown up version of Madeleine McCann since the British child went missing in Portugal in 2007, and one of them is Julia Wendell.

The Polish 21-year-old has requested a DNA test to understand her ancestry to identify if she could be Madeleine McCann, and has already sent a message to the couple who she believes to be her parents.

"I want to say something to Kate McCann: I listened to a song that you sang to your daughter Madeleine," Wendell told Radar Online.

"When I hear your voice - from movies, from interviews - I feel like I really know this voice, your voice.

"I really believe that I could be Madeleine."

Pleas ignored by authorities

Wendell claims to have reached out to Interpol and local police authorities on three occasions and claims to have been ignored each time.

"If I am not Madeleine McCann, I know that I can open this case again," Wendell insisted.

"I tried to talk with many authorities back in 2022.

"I talked with the embassy in Poland, embassy in Portugal, embassy in England, Metropolitan Police with Operation Grange [the British police operation investigating the case], with Interpol, with Polish police, Portugal police... but nobody listened to me.

"I have a message to McCann's family... I want to say that I really believe I can be Madeleine, your daughter, but if I'm not, I'm over 100 percent sure that the person who abused me is involved because I recognize his picture from the site findmadeleine.com."

McCanns have not responded

Kate and Gerry McCann have not responded to Wendell's claims, and have not recognized her as their potential daughter.

Wendell is now awaiting the results of her DNA test in the hope that they will help to give clues to the mystery.
This week, national restaurant chain Panera Bread announced a planned rollout of Amazon One palm-scanning technology as a part of its MyPanera loyalty program, starting with a handful of bakery-cafes in Missouri.

The company announced in a new release that the technology is already deployed at some locations in St. Louis, with plans to expand in the coming months.

Panera said it is the first national restaurant company to use Amazon One as a way for customers to pay and access a loyalty account, all contactless, with the palm of their hand.

The company said the Amazon One technology will bring an even more personalized touch to its dining experience, stating that guests who link their MyPanera account to Amazon One will enjoy the convenience of fast payments as well as tailored meal recommendations from Panera employees based on their preferences and past orders.

Panera said once a customer scans their palm by hovering it over the device, a Panera employee will be able to greet them by name and relay to them their available rewards. Once done ordering, the customer can scan their palm again to pay, Panera added.

A customer uses Amazon One palm scanning technology at a Panera Bread cafe. (Photo: Business Wire)

Panera said those interested can enroll online or sign up when placing their order in store. The company added it takes a minute for a customer to link their credit card and MyPanera account to their Amazon One ID.

If a Panera guest has previously enrolled in Amazon One at Amazon Go, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, or other locations such as airports and stadiums, they will not need to re-enroll at Panera, the company said. Customers are able to link their MyPanera account to their Amazon One ID if they have one already.

Participation in the palm scanning feature is voluntary and opt-in only, according to Panera, adding that it does not store personal palm data.

As for Amazon One, Panera said any personal and private data shared with the tech company is securely stored and protected by multiple security controls, adding that palm images are never stored on the Amazon One device.

All images are encrypted and sent to a highly secure area custom-built for Amazon One in the cloud where palm signatures are created, it said.

Dilip Kumar, vice president of Amazon Web Services Applications, said one in five, or 66 million Americans, go to Panera each quarter, with 52 million members in its MyPanera loyalty program, with each member having their own personalized rewards.

Kumar explained the significance of the palm scanning tech is that it streamlines a major pain point for restaurants and retail  customers opting to skip loyalty programs out of inconvenience or requiring more time-consuming methods like locating email vouchers, bringing physical coupons with them and opening sub-menus within mobile apps.

Panera has more than 2,100 bakery-cafes across 48 American states and in the Canadian province of Ontario, the company said.
New England-based restaurant chain Legal Sea Foods reopened its location at the Burlington Mall Thursday evening after a year-long major renovation project that includes a four-season patio space and updates to the menu such as a Sushi & Sake program.

The patio space is state-of-the-art, according to Legal Sea Foods in a news release about the reopening. It is fully enclosed and features retractable windows and comfortable seating for over 45 guests, it added.

Other sections of the restaurant have also been upgraded, including its 33-seat four-sided bar surrounded by ample high-top and high-booth lounge seating allowing for more than 100 guests in the bar area alone, Legal Sea Foods said.

The restaurants dining room features plush booth seating, additional tables with patio views, and three combinable private dining spaces with the ability to accommodate over 80 seated guests, it added.

Legal Sea Foods said the design enhancements include all-new modern furnishings which feature warm, natural wood tones, bright pops of blue, and other colorful accents, which combined with other designs aspects of the space, such as the lighting, make for a clean, comfortable and contemporary ambience.

The restaurant also features a take-out window inside the mall corridor for local delivery, pickup and catering options.

The renovated interior of the Legal Sea Foods at the Burlington Mall. Photo courtesy of Legal Sea Foods.

On its updated menu, the new Sushi & Sake program features a carefully curated selection of sake and a variety of hand-rolled sushi, nigiri and sashimi, the restaurant said.

Dishes in the program include classics like the California roll, but also contemporary offerings such as its Caterpillar Roll, Firecracker Roll and Dragon Rolls, Legal Sea Foods said.

Many of the brands signature dishes remain on the menu as well, the restaurant added.

The Burlington restaurant, located at 75 Middlesex Turnpike, is open for lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Legal Sea Foods restaurant staff celebrate the grand reopening of location at the Burlington Mall. Photo credit: Christopher Acevedo.

The local chain was founded 70 years ago as a fish market in Cambridge and now operates 23 restaurants along the East Coast in addition to its own Quality Control Center on Boston Harbor.

The restaurant serves more than 40 varieties of fish and shellfish throughout the year, according to Legal Sea Foods.
HOLYOKE  After a 24-year career in corrections, Moises Marshall said he was looking forward to a new job, a career of a lifetime: serving as an officer in the Holyoke Police Department.

Marshall was one of the 11 recruits who where sworn in as new police officers in a ceremony Wednesday at Holyoke City Hall.

Ive always wanted to help people. I boxed in Holyoke for years. I was always part of the community, Marshall said.

Marshall, who was 5 when his family moved from Panama, graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1997 and studied history and criminal justice at Springfield Technical Community College. His corrections career included 10 years at a juvenile detention center in Westfield.

Including Marshall, Assistant City Clerk Irma Cruz swore in Jorge Soto, Percy A. Garcia, Marian Rivera, Genesis Saenz, David P. Clark, Jean C. Maldonado, Samuel Rodriquez Jr., Nilda M. Hernandez, Gabriel Perez and Darius Moody.

Marshall looked forward to working with his colleagues and setting a high bar at the training academy. They are the first group to attend the Holyoke Police Academy full-time.

The Municipal Police Training Committee operates the Holyoke facility at 600 Kelly Way. Before, Holyoke recruits underwent training on Springfield Technical Community Colleges campus.

The last class of Holyoke recruits began in Springfield and finished at the new Holyoke campus.

Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and Police Chief David Pratt presided over Wednesdays ceremony and praised the officers commitment to serving and protecting the community.

Garcia spoke about law enforcements complexity and how communities struggle to attract recruits. However, he stated the case was not so in Holyoke, as evidenced by the 11 committed individuals before him.

We have people ready to become police officers and get on our streets, Garcia said. Its going be one of the best experiences youre going to have, and will it help you grow as an individual.

The mayor also thanked the officers families and acknowledged the challenges and complexities police officers face daily. He assured the families the group was joining a committed department of officers who work collaboratively with regional agencies and provide quality services.

Mayor Joshua Garcia and Police Chief David Pratt stand with 11 newly sworn in Holyoke Police Officers. The group will attend the Holyoke Police Academy starting April 3. (Dennis Hohenberger photo)

Pratt stressed the role of recruits families in supporting their commitment to serve and protect the community.

They are not just taking on a job. Theyre taking on a career. Their families are coming on board as well, he said. Theres going to be a lot of nights, holidays and weekends where theyre not going to be there.

Pratt acknowledged that the officers families would make sacrifices along the way, but he emphasized that they would join a close-knit community that supports and cares for each other.

We have a vested interest in this class because theyre the light at the end of our long tunnel, Pratt said. This group is bringing us up to that magic number weve been trying for over a year.

Currently, the police department has over 80 active officers. Pratt and Garcia set a goal of increasing the ranks to 100 or more officers. In addition, three veteran police officers are expected to retire in the coming months.

Newly sworn in Holyoke Police Officer Jorge Soto signs the city registry as Assistant City Clerk Irma Cruz looks on. (Dennis Hohenberger photo)

Pratt thanked Garcia for helping rebuild the police force and boosting the departments numbers. He also thanked the new officers for enduring the recruitment process and encouraged them to help each other at the academy.

You are going to be well received by our department because we are very eager to get you in the door and working with us, Pratt said.

After the swearing-in, Cruz called each officer forward to sign the citys official registry affirming their oath.

Nilda Hernandez said her family and children motivated her to join the Holyoke Police Department. Her brother is Springfield police officer Jonathan Hernandez.

Its a pleasure to help the community and reach out and make a difference, she said. And its a job and a career you learn to love.

She attended Central High School and graduated in 1993.

Hernandez was anticipating completing the academy and beginning street patrols. Her brother helped prepare her for the rigors of academy life. He advised her to stay physically fit and expect sleepless nights and lots of homework.

I know its tedious, but well get over it, and well be out on the streets, said Hernandez.
Thats no moon, its an asteroid set to make a harmless pass between Earth and the moon on Saturday.

Called 2023 DZ2, this asteroid was discovered in February by the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain, the International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center announced on March 16.

Estimated between 141 and 312 feet in diameter, 2023 DZ2 is expected to hurtle past Earth at 17,403 mph, according to EarthSky. Going at what experts said was a relatively slow speed, it will appear like a slow-moving star and could be detectable with a small telescope.

The asteroid will miss Earth by 108,758 miles, according to NASAs Center for Near Earth Object Studies. Its expected to make its closest approach to Earth at 3:51 p.m. EDT., but the best time to see 2023 DZ2 from the Northern Hemisphere will be early Friday evening, EarthSky said.

By NASAs standards on asteroid damage, an object of 2023 DZ2s size  larger than 82 feet but smaller than 3,280 feet  would leave local damage to the impact area. On March 21, 2023 DZ2 was removed from the Sentry Risk Table due to a lowered calculation of risk if it hit Earth.

While its expected to fly by after Saturday, 2023 DZ2 is expected to make a comeback on March 27, 2026, according to early data from EarthSky. For now, it has a 1-in-38-million chance of striking Earth on that date.

Read more: NASA unveils spacesuit prototype for astronauts on mission to the moon

Astronomers at the Goldstone Antenna in Fort Irwin, California, hopes to take pictures of 2023 DZ2 until March 26, EarthSky said.

Asteroids the size of a car hit Earth, on average, once every year according to NASA. Last October, an asteroid designated 2022 RM4, which was between 1,082 and 2,427 feet in diameter, flew by Earth. NASA called it potentially hazardous with a 1.4 million-mile near Earth approach, MassLive previously reported.
A California man accused of making unwanted sexual contact with two women sitting next to him on a flight from Los Angeles to Boston in May 2022 pleaded guilty to assault charges in connection with the incident.

In U.S. District Court Monday, Jairaj Singh Dhillon, 43, of Modesto, Calif., pleaded guilty to two counts of assault while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States in connection with a sexual assault on two women on a Boston flight in 2022.

During an overnight flight from Los Angeles to Boston on May 31, 2022, Dhillon made unwanted sexual contact with two female passengers sitting next to him, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts.

The first victim said Dhillon, seated in the aisle seat next to her, touched her thigh and groin area while she was taking care of her infant child who was in a car seat in the window seat next to her. She called for help and shouted, this man just groped me, according to prosecutors.

The second victim, who was seated in the aisle seat opposite Dhillon, said the man reached out with both hands and simultaneously grabbed her groin and buttocks when she was standing in the aisle.

Flight crew intervened and moved Dhillon to another part of the plane for the remainder of the flight. Dhillon was immediately taken into custody once the plane landed in Boston.

The charge of assault while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to six months in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Springfield police arrested two people in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in the citys Forest Park neighborhood.

On Monday at 4:05 p.m., Springfield police said a man was seriously injured from gunshot wounds near 100 Belmont Ave. in Springfields Forest Park neighborhood.

First responders rushed the man to Baystate Medical Center to receive treatment for his gunshot injuries where he later died of his injuries, according to Springfield Police Department Spokesperson Ryan Walsh.

Update: Justin Breitung identified as victim in fatal shooting in Springfield Monday

A homicide investigation led police to identify 32-year-old Christina Guzman and 37-year-old Rafael Calo, both of Springfield, as suspects in connection with the fatal shooting.

On Friday morning at around 8:40 a.m., police found Guzman near the intersection of Bloomfield and Oakland Streets and arrested her on an arrest warrant for murder charges.

Police also found Calo around that same time and arrested him in connection with the murder near the intersection of Leyfred Terrace and Dickinson Street. Police also recovered a large-capacity firearm in his possession during the arrest.

Rafael Calo was charged with the following in connection with the fatal shooting:

Murder

Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way

Firearm Violation with 2 Prior/Violent Crimes

Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device

Christina Guzman was charged with the following in connection with the fatal shooting:

Murder

Intimidation of a Witness

Guzman is expected to be arraigned in Springfield District Court Friday and Calo is expected to be arraigned on Monday, according to police.

Authorities are still investigating the fatal shooting.
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. On March 17, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

At the beginning of the meeting Minister Mirzoyan congratulated Imangali Tasmagambetov on assuming the position of the CSTO General Secretary, wishing him efficient work and success.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the current military-political situation in the region.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the need for a clear and targeted response of the organization to the military aggression carried out by Azerbaijan against the sovereign territory of Armenia, which is a member of the CSTO.

The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan was touched upon. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the imperative to implement the provisions of the November 9, 2020 Trilateral Statement and the decision made by the International Court of Justice on February 22 regarding the request for provisional measures against Azerbaijan.

During the meeting the General Secretary of the CSTO shared his impressions from his visit to the city of Jermuk the day before.

The Foreign Minister underlined that the Azerbaijani side with its continuous provocations is disrupting the efforts to establish peace and stability in the region, while Azerbaijan's bellicose rhetoric is aimed at preparing ground for the use of large-scale force against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, as well as Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context, the importance of the need to undertake active steps by the allies and partners of the Republic of Armenia towards fulfilling Azerbaijans obligations and excluding manifestations of the use of force by Azerbaijan was highlighted.

In the morning of the same day the CSTO General Secretary, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, visited Yerablur pantheon.
The murder trial of a Springfield man accused of killing a 65-year-old California man in a fit of jealous rage wrapped up before a single witness took the stand.

The trial began on Tuesday for Daryl Hill, 53, who prosecutors said killed Humphrey Christopher Hardy, of San Diego, in a confrontation over Hills on-again, off-again girlfriend in September 2019. Authorities previously said Hardy was in Springfield visiting family, and after a night out with the woman, died from a brutal beating at the hands of Hill.

The trial concluded on Wednesday morning after Hill decided to change his plea to guilty to several charges brought by the Hampden District Attorneys Office. Hill pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter  a lesser charge than the original 2nd-degree murder charge  and six other charges including witness intimidation, assault and battery on a household member, and three counts of violating an abuse prevention order.
SPRINGFIELD  First Resource Companies and developer Gordon A. Pulsifer added a Worthington Street apartment building to financing package for their Residences at The Vault project.

Residences at The Vault LP bought 878 Worthington St. earlier this month for $1 million, according to papers on file at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds.

The 109-year-old apartment building at 878 Worthington St. has eight, three-bedroom apartments and Pulsifer, president of the company, said First Resource will renovate it.

It was for sale, Pulsifer said Friday. It made sense to fold it in with the The Vault.

The Vault will have 52 affordable and workforce housing apartments in the 99-year-old Federal Land Bank Building at 300-310 State St.

First Resource, which has its headquarters in Hanover, bought the building for $1.6 million from Francis J. Cataldo and John M. Wallace in December 2022. The property spans the north side of State Street between Spring and Byers streets. Its across Spring Street from the federal courthouse.

The 23,000-square-foot building was built in 1924 as the Federal Land Bank of Springfield, and the vaults that remain in the building serve as inspiration for the projects name. Most recently, the building had been used for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and by the Springfield Public Schools adult-education program.

First Resource Companies already owns apartments in the Worthington Street neighborhood: Worthington Commons and City View Commons.

In Springfield, the company also owns Maple Commons, High Street Commons, Concord Heights, City View Commons, Outing Park Apartments and the Mason Square Apartments at Indian Motocycle.

Timothy T. Sheehan, the citys chief development officer, said Pulsifers projects are especially valuable because he helps preserve the citys architecture be it at the Indian Motocycle factory or elsewhere.

So many of Gordons projects have been transformative for entire neighborhoods and have improved the quality of life for so many residents in need of housing, Sheehan said. Hes taken crime ridden areas and made them safer. Hes put properties that were blighting influences and made them contributing influence to the city.

- Gordon Pulsifer, president of First Resource Development Co. , explains his vision for the Knox Monday at a meeting of the Springfield City Council in City Hall in 2019. He plans to build 114 apartments in a $57 million project. (Jim Kinney/ The Republican)

Later this summer, First Resource Companies will open the $57 million, 92-unit Knox Residences development inside of what was once an automobile and fire-engine factory at 53 Wilbraham Rd., just across the street from the Indian Motocycle factory.

There are just not enough apartments in Springfield, Pulsifer said. Its a great city to work in. The state loves providing resources to that community. As long as the resources are there, well keep fixing things.

First Resource came to Springfield 23 years ago for one project, he said.

In 2021, the city chose First Resource Development for the estimated $46 million affordable housing project in the long-vacant former school department headquarters downtown at 195 State St.

It will have 41 apartments: 31 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments
Despite early statements from officials that severe turbulence contributed to the death of a former White House official on a flight earlier this month, a preliminary federal investigation found a jolt to the aircraft came when pilots switched off a stabilizing system in response to alerts from the aircraft.

Faced with multiple advisory messages after takeoff on the afternoon of March 3, the pilots followed a procedural checklist and turned off the planes stabilizer trim switch, a report from the National Transportation Safety Board found.

The plane  a small, twin-engine Bombardier Challenger 300 jet  abruptly lurched nose-up multiple times before the pilots regained control and turned the stabilizer switch back on, the NTSB report said.

The sudden movement fatally injured passenger Dana Hyde, 55, who served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations and was counsel to the 9/11 Commission, according to the Associated Press.

She was one of five people, including two pilots, on board the small plane, and according to the AP was traveling with her husband and son. None of the other passengers or crew were injured.

The flight, which had left Keene, New Hampshire, en route to Leesburg, Virginia, diverted to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, where emergency responders were waiting. Hyde, of Cabin John, Maryland, later died at a nearby hospital, officials said.

A Southwest plane lands at Bradley Internal Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

An NTSB spokesperson said the day after the incident that the airplane faced a severe turbulence event.

Before leaving New Hampshire, the pilots aborted takeoff after one pilot noticed a cover over a device measuring airspeed had not been removed, the NTSB report said.

The report said the plane then issued an advisory message regarding the rudder, but that the pilots determined it was safe to take off.

As the plane climbed to several thousand feet, it issued multiple alert messages, including for autopilot stabilizer trim failure.

As the pilots moved through a checklist to correct the issue, they followed instructions to turn the stabilizer trim switch off.

The airplane abruptly jolted up and down, during which Hyde was injured, the NSTB report said.

The two pilots, who were not named in the report, respectively had more than 8,000 and 5,000 hours of flight experience. They were approved to fly the Challenger 300 in October, the report said.
SPRINGFIELD  Former Westfield police detective Brian Fanion will spend the rest of his life behind bars, after murdering his wife to clear the way for a beachside retirement with his former mistress.

He was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Hampden Superior Court jury on Wednesday for fatally shooting his wife in 2018 at the couples home on North Road in Westfield, where they raised two children and routinely gathered for lunch and dinner during Brian Fanions breaks at work.
An Arlington man was arrested Wednesday in connection with an investigation into homophobic graffiti found at a Bluebike station.

John Silva, 65, of Arlington was arrested and charged with four counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,200, according to a statement from Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty. He was arraigned Thursday in Cambridge District Court.

At around 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Arlington police were patrolling in the area of Scannell Field, the statement read. A Bluebike station in the area had been vandalized multiple times over the past month.

Police said they noticed a vehicle parked next to the station, with Silva standing outside it. Silva entered the vehicle and left as an officer approached and soon found graffiti written in red marker on the Bluebike station. The officer followed Silvas vehicle to an apartment complex, who was later asked about the graffiti.

During the investigation into the graffiti, Silva was identified by police as the person who wrote the graffiti. More graffiti on two pillars and on a sign at the station were found by police, the statement said.

Silva was arrested without incident and taken to the Arlington police station.

Read more: Ricky Brown of West Springfield arrested in fatal shooting of John Rivera in Springfield

In her statement, Flaherty said the department wants Arlingtons residents to feel that they are respected, accepted and welcomed.

We do not tolerate hateful, discriminatory incidents in our community, and anyone found responsible for such acts will be held accountable, she said in her statement. We are grateful for our partnerships with Arlingtons Health and Human Services, the Arlington Rainbow Commission and the Arlington Human Rights Commission who have been working with us to raise awareness around hateful acts.
A man has been indicted on charges in connection with the killing of a Worcester woman who was found dead in her Kelley Square apartment in 2021.

Kyle Curley, 32, was indicted on a murder charge in connection with the 2021 killing of 29-year-old Worcester woman Erica Lara, according to the Worcester County District Attorneys Office.

On June 29, 2021, Worcester police found Laras dead body inside a Kelley Square Worcester apartment during a call for a reported death.

Read more: Worcester guidance counselor arrested on school grounds Monday

An investigation led police to discover that Lara shared the apartment with Curley. Authorities accused Curley of assaulting Lara in the apartment and leaving her with serious injuries resulting in her death.

Curley was arraigned in Worcester District Court on Dec. 9, 2022, after he was charged in connection with the death of Lara. He was ordered held without bail at that time and has remained in custody.

On Friday, a grand jury indicted Kyle Curley on charges of murder, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and intimidation of a witness, according to the Worcester County District Attorneys Office.

Read more: Christina Guzman and Rafael Calo arrested in fatal shooting in Springfield

Worcester Police detectives, prosecutors from the Worcester County District Attorneys Office, investigators from the San Diego Police Department and officials from the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner gathered evidence and worked collaboratively in the investigation that led to Curley facing the charges.
A Springfield man was arrested and charged after police said he brought a BB gun in his carry-on to Bradley International Airport Thursday.

Darius Johnson, 28, was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, Connecticut State Police said.

Police responded to the airport Thursday after they were told a passenger was traveling with a gun in his carry-on luggage. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it found the BB gun during the security checkpoint.

Johnson was later released on bail.

2022 had a record-breaking year of gun detections across New England airports, including Boston Logan. 46 guns were detected in New England, and 31 of those were at Boston Logan.

TSAs website states it considers a weapon to be loaded if the weapon and its ammunition are both accessible to the passenger. TSA allows unloaded firearms to be transported within a locked, hard-sided container and declared to the airline before traveling in their checked baggage.

Along with guns, TSA also considers frames, receivers and 3D-printed guns to be firearms. A first-offense penalty for having a gun at security checkpoints is typically $4,100, but the fine can go as high as $13,669.

This rule applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits. Although a passenger may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow them to carry a firearm on a plane, officials said. TSA has the complete list of civil penalties posted online, and its website has more details on how to properly travel with a firearm.
On Thursday, Somervilles City Council passed a trio of ordinances to provide protections for people in polyamorous relationships that are available in few other places in the country  if anywhere.

The ordinances  passed unanimously, according to the Somerville City Clerks office  would prevent the city from firing or otherwise discriminating against any city employee, including teachers, firefighters and police officers, in romantic relationships with two or more people. They also protect people from biased policing.

Somerville City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr., who helped propose the ordinance, said he believes the city will also pass an ordinance in the next two months protecting polyamorous individuals from housing discrimination from landlords in Somerville.

I think its very important people arent denied their basic rights based on who they love, Burnley said. This is such a crucial and important step forward in recognizing the diversity of our relationship structures.

Families and individuals in non-monogamous partnerships and relationships generally have little protection against discrimination in the workplace and other arenas, and many have been afraid for years, even decades, to be open about those relationships, he said.

Thats because discrimination protections are legally defined for certain categories called protected classes, including race, religion and gender, according to Diana Adams, executive director of the Chosen Family Law Center in New York and cofounder of the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition.

You can still openly discriminate against someone based on someones relationship status, Adams said, adding that workplace discrimination is among the most common form of discrimination they see in this area.

People have been fired from their jobs for mentioning they are in polyamorous relationships or for having photos of multiple partners on their desks, Adams said.

Adams has represented clients in New York in which a parents sexuality has become a key factor in whether they are allowed to have custody of their child.

Polyamory is unfairly conflated with being a sex addict or described as a mental health issue, Adams said.

At the same time, about one in five people has had a non-monogamous relationship in their lifetime, according to a pair of studies published in the National Library of Medicine.

Heath Schechinger, a fellow cofounder of the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition and a psychologist, said the majority of non-monogamous adults experience some form of discrimination, including family rejection, difficulty accessing supportive mental health care, housing discrimination and workplace discrimination.

For many, societal stigma can lead to increased psychological distress such as increased depression and anxiety and have a negative impact on their relationships, Schechinger said.

In 2020, Somerville became the first city in the country to pass a domestic partner ordinance that recognized relationships with more than two people, according to Burnley. The ordinances passed Thursday, however, provide what Burnley described as necessary protections for people in polyamorous relationships.

Burnley, who is polyamorous himself, said people in polyamorous relationships can be at risk of losing employment and even being in danger of losing their children.

We have seen many people have to fight for custody based on the fact that people do not understand that having multiple partners does not create an unsafe home, he said.

As a result, a great number of people in polyamorous relationships keep silent about their relationship status in many areas of their lives, Burnley said.

Burnley said the council cant create an ordinance that would extend employment protections to those working for private companies in the city, but they do control policing, and that aspect of the ordinances is important for normalizing those relationships.

He said the ordinance directs police that they not use someones family or relationship structure as a pretext to escalate legal consequences against them.

I am hoping that this is going to be the start of a larger conversation or movement toward stability and protection for all non-monogamous families, he said.

Adams agreed, saying other municipalities in Massachusetts, and as far away as California, are considering similar ordinances.

Burnley said he hasnt heard much negative yet about the ordinances, but he fears it is coming. In the polyamorous community, many have been hesitant to fight for rights because they are concerned about hateful reprisals.

I wont lie, theres a part of me that is worried about the coming backlash as polyamorous individuals become more visible and more ordinances are passed, but I also think its important that we create that legal infrastructure to ensure that people arent discriminated by the government or private industries because of who they love or how many people they love, he said.

No one should have to lose their job because of that.
A suspicious packaged caused those living on James Street in Holyoke to have to evacuate Thursday, the Holyoke Fire Department said.

At about 11 p.m., the Holyoke Fire Department responded to a report of a suspicious package in the area of James Street and Main Street. Out of an abundance of caution the area was evacuated until it could be determined what was in the package, officials said.

Massachusetts State Police also responded and helped determine the package was safe. People were allowed back into their homes around midnight, the fire department stated.
A Shirley man pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court on Friday in connection to a crash that killed 16-year-old Krystal Mello of Ayer in October 2022.

Christopher Filz, 19, of Shirley, pleaded not guilty to the charges of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, speeding and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. He was released on personal recognizance.

Filz is due back in court on May 25. When he was arraigned, Filz was ordered not to drive a vehicle or make contact with Mellos family or witnesses.

On Oct. 6, 2022, Massachusetts State Police troopers with the Leominster Barracks received reports of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 190 north in Leominster at about 7:10 p.m., MassLive previously reported.

State troopers found a 2001 Ford Mustang off the right side of the roadway that went down an embankment and rolled over, MassLive previously reported. The car was traveling northbound in the right lane before Filz moved left and lost control of the car, spinning as it went off the right side of the road, officials said.

Leominster firefighters pulled three passengers out of the vehicle, including Mello. She was pronounced dead.

A 16-year-old girl from Shirley and a 16-year-old boy from Harvard were both injured and taken to a Worcester hospital, MassLive previously reported.
YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans fake eco-activists whove been blocking the Lachin Corridor for already 100 days are now explicitly threatening to kill Armenians, despite their own president Ilham Aliyevs repeated claims that Azerbaijan stands ready to provide security and rights to the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh according to Azeri legislation.

It's never enough for a bloodthirsty regime and its puppets to starve 120000 people of Nagorno Karabakh. Now their pseudo-eco-activist threatens to kill all Armenians and literally drink their blood. Are we truly in the 21st century? Is there a civilized world somewhere around? pic.twitter.com/OIjh7F7Rf2  Edmon Marukyan (@edmarukyan) March 20, 2023

A video online shows one of the fake eco-activists in the Lachin Corridor threatening to slaughter Armenians. We will soon slaughter an Armenian for Nowruz here and will add his blood on kebab, one of the fake eco-activists says smilingly looking into the camera. Those standing next to the man are heard laughing.

Armenias Ambassador-at-Large Edmon Marukyan reacted to the video. It's never enough for a bloodthirsty regime and its puppets to starve 120000 people of Nagorno Karabakh, he tweeted. Now their pseudo-eco-activist threatens to kill all Armenians and literally drink their blood. Are we truly in the 21st century? Is there a civilized world somewhere around?
As Worcester police Sgt. Derrick Letos funeral is set to take place on Friday, the Worcester Police Department announced Friday that there could be traffic delays as a result of a road closure and parking restrictions due to the funeral.

Beginning at 9:15 a.m., drivers can expect intermittent delays and detours on Grafton Street, police said, with traffic detoured to Dorchester Street and Hamilton Street.

Police also noted that motorists should consider using different routes, while tractor-trailers should avoid the area. Parking around St. Stephen Catholic Church, located at 357 Grafton St., will also be restricted.

Traffic Division officers advise drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to take extra care to obey the rules of the road and to be considerate of others traveling on local streets around Letos funeral. The Grafton Street closure is expected to be lifted at around 11:45 a.m., police said.

Leto is scheduled to receive a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the church, followed by a burial with military honors at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton, according to Letos obituary. On Thursday, visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at Callahan Fay Caswell Funeral Home on 61 Myrtle St. in Worcester.

Leto was married to his wife Nichole and had two children, Damon and Mickey. He previously served in the United States Marine Corps, the department said. He was also active in the community, frequently volunteering at several programs including with the Second Baptist Church of Worcester and the Friendly House, a multi-service Worcester community nonprofit.

A GoFundMe was set up by family friend Jennifer Fenuccio and cousin Patricia Leto. Since it was set up on Tuesday, 75 donations have accumulated $9,190, within reach of its $10,000 goal.
Three men have been indicted on charges in connection with the October 2022 fatal shooting of Andrew Barley in his Burncoat Street home, Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.s office announced Friday.

A Worcester County Grand Jury on Thursday March 24 indicted Kelvin Verde, 23, of Worcester, and Berny Calderon, 25, of Webster, on charges of murder, home invasion and armed robbery.

The Grand Jury also handed up an indictment for Luis Cotto, 30, on an accessory after the fact to murder charge.

Calderon has been in custody since his Jan. 4 arrest and Verde has been in custody since he turned himself in on Feb. 13, days after the police released a wanted poster to the public.

During his Nov. 16 arraignment in Worcester District Court, Cottos bail was set at $50,000, according to the DAs office.

The indictments move the cases to Worcester Superior Court and all three men will be arraigned there at a later date.

At Verdes arraignment in Worcester District Court in February, Assistant District Attorney Terry McLaughlin stated that on Oct. 24, 2022, two people arrived at 480 Burncoat St. in a 2007 Gray Chevrolet Malibu with New Hampshire plates. At least one of the individuals had a gun and kicked in the rear door of the home.

At that point, they headed directly to the victims room, McLaughlin said.

The victim, who is identified in court documents as Andrew Barley, was then reportedly shot twice, McLaughlin said.

Court documents state that Barley was shot once in the right thigh and once under the left armpit.

The second strike caused catastrophic injuries to the internal organs and caused the fatal injury to the victim, court documents said.

Barley was brought to a hospital where he later died, the prosecutor said.

The suspects drove away from the home in the Malibu and stopped near 247 Pilgrim Ave. where they took Uber rides out of Worcester.

McLaughlin claimed the investigation into the fatal shooting included eyewitness evidence, photographic evidence, video evidence, social media evidence, license plate reader evidence and cell phone evidence.

Verdes cell phone location records also place the 23-year-old in the general areas of various know locations of the suspects prior to and following the murder, court documents stated.

Evidence that the DAs office says connects all three men to the killing was gathered by Worcester Police Detectives, prosecutors from the Worcester County District Attorneys Office and investigators from the Boston and Nashua, N.H. Police Departments

The investigation has, at this point, revealed that the defendant Mr. Verde is one of the individuals, one of which at least was armed, that did enter 480 Burncoat St. causing the death of the victim in this case, McLaughlin said in February.

Officers responded to the Burncoat Street home at about 8:40 a.m. that October morning after receiving a call reporting a shooting. Officers found a man who was shot, police reported.

According to Barleys obituary, the 28-year-old man was a graduate of Worcester Technical High School. The Worcester man was working in construction with his father, the obituary said.
Bourne police officer Daniel Mooney, a Worcestser native, died at his home in Sandwich on March 14 at the age of 73.

Mooney died due to complications from service-related injuries that he got while in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, Bourne police said in a Facebook post.

He was born and raised in Worcester and lived much of his life on Cape Cod, according to his obituary. He graduated from the Worcester Industrial Technical Institute with a certification in welding, a passion that Mooney carried with him throughout his life.

Also serving as a military police officer, Mooney received several medals for his service during the Vietnam War. He went on to work as an officer with the Bourne Police Department during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the department said. He retired after being injured and became a maintenance supervisor for the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, his obituary read.

Mooney was a member and supporter of the Disabled American Veterans since 1975, his obituary said.

Dan Mooney was a decent good guy, commented Richard Riley, listed as a friend, below Mooneys obituary online. When he was a new patrolman partnered with Henry Gould, we had more than a couple of interactions. He always treated us miscreants with dignity and fairness. I send my condolences and prayers to his family. Thank you for sharing this good man with us!

Mooney is survived by his wife, Janet; son, James and his wife, Alysha; grandchildren Aidan and Kyra, all of Cranston, RI; and his brother, James and family in Salem, Oregon. Mooney is predeceased by his son, Patrick.

His obituary asked for no flowers, with the hope that anyone who knew Mooney send a donation to the Disabled American Veterans to support their service and advocacy for veterans.
A Burncoat High School staff member in Worcester was arrested on school grounds Monday morning and has been placed on administrative leave, according to a letter Principal Joseph Ewick sent to families.

The letter does not identify the staff member, stating the incident the staff member was arrested in connection with is not associated with the school and school officials do not believe the staff member poses a threat to students.

Kevin Wall, who is listed as a guidance counselor on the schools website, was arraigned on a charge of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over on Monday, according to court documents.
Global technology firm, Huawei Technologies, has outlined its 2019 growth strategy largely focused on guaranteeing its business resilience while forecasting a 21% growth this year.

In a New Years message Huawei Technologies Rotating Chairman, Mr Guo Ping, described the year 2018 as an eventful year for the firm while promising swift recovery from negative conjecture and market restrictions.

Undeterred by thinly veiled market restrictions, Guo said that Huawei has this year, managed to sign 26 commercial contracts for 5G with leading global carriers, and have already shipped more than 10,000 5G base stations to markets around the world. More than 160 cities and 211 Fortune Global 500 companies, he added, have selected Huawei as their partner for digital transformation, affording the firm 2018 sales revenues of up to US$ 108.5 billion.

The early waves of mobile communications technologies were largely driven by American and European companies. As 5G approaches, promising to unprecedentedly transform the way people live and reshape the society and industries, Huawei has emerged as a player. In the battle to determine who will lead the race, the United States has barred Huawei from supplying its government and contractors for alleged Chinese manufacturers are spying on the West.

However, no evidence has ever been provided to prove the accusation. It would not be in Huaweis interest to carry out the alleged surveillance activities, as it would cause the company to lose its image and the current position in the international market.

Huaweis growth in the past 10 years has worried its international competitors. Huawei is the leading networking equipment supplier in the world. Earlier this year, Huawei topped Apple in the number of smartphone units shipped, and ranks only behind Samsung.

The motivations behind these accusations are partly commercial and partly geopolitical, given that the United States and China are locked in a trade dispute that has disrupted the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of goods. Project Syndicate, an international media organization, reported on Dec 11, 2018 that Huawei is one of Chinas most important technology companies, and therefore a prime target in Trump administrations effort to slow or stop Chinas advance into several high-technology sectors. Forbes also published an article on Dec 10, 2018 with the heading The Feds Shamefully Persecute Chinas Huawei For Being Too Successful.

A number of carriers globally including British Telecommunications (BT) has expressed support for the worlds biggest telecom gear maker. While attending an event in London in November, BTs Chief Architect Neil McRae proclaimed there is only one true 5G supplier right now and that is Huawei  the others need to catch up.

Deutsche Telekom responded to an inquiry from Der Spiegel, a German weekly news magazine in November, explaining that they use equipment from various manufacturers, including Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco and Huawei, and stating that they cannot afford to exclude high-performance suppliers.

Despite the intense 5G race and the US-China trade dispute, Huaweis business performance remains strong.

We have never stopped pushing forward, and as a result our 2018 sales revenue is expected to reach 108.5 billion US dollars, up 21% year-on-year,Guo said, adding that, Our business performance remains strong, and this is by far the most direct form of validation that we can receive from our customers. 

Guo pointed out in the New Years message that as the dynamic between world powers becomes more intense, there will be greater uncertainty in the macro business environment, but Huawei will keep feet on the ground and improve the business ecosystem for the industry, making tangible contributions to local communities and working to secure opportunities for fair competition.

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When it comes to hotel development across Africa, Egypt and Marriott are the two phenomena to watch. This insight comes from this years African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline report, widely acknowledged as the industrys most authoritative source, documenting and analysing the number of hotels being planned and built across the continent.

The survey, conducted by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, in association with the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), is based on responses from 45 global and regional (African) hotel chains, reporting on a pipeline of hotel development activity totalling around 84,400 rooms in 482 hotels, in 42 of Africas 54 countries.

North Africa continues to dominate the pipeline, with Egypt far ahead. It alone numbers 21% of the hotels and 30% of the rooms being planned or built on the entire continent. West Africas share of the total is slightly down this year, despite having the largest number of countries. After several years of slumber, Central Africa is increasing its share, particularly in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The top ten countries represent 68% of hotels in the survey, and 74% of the rooms.

Egypt not only leads the country table, with almost 25,000 rooms in 103 hotels, but is streaking ahead of the pack, with more than three times the number of rooms being developed in second-placed Nigeria, and four times Morocco and Ethiopia.

Despite its clear leadership in the absolute pipeline numbers, Egypt has the lowest percentage of rooms onsite due to its relatively young pipeline. Of the total 103 projects, half were signed in 2020 and later, and thats nearly 60% of the rooms. In contrast, Morocco and Algeria have some of the highest ratios of rooms under construction on the continent. After Egypt, Nigeria has quite a low percentage onsite, and, of the 22 hotels that have started construction there, eight of them, with about half of the onsite rooms, have stalled (often due to a lack of funds) and the sites are closed.

On a city basis, Greater Cairo has by far the largest share, 12% of the entire pipeline, followed by Sharm El Sheikh and Addis Ababa.

As in previous years, three international hotel chains, the USAs Marriott International and Hilton, plus France-based Accor, top the table, with Marriott pulling firmly ahead in 2023.

Radisson has been opening hotels at a faster pace than any other operator, with some hotels opening the same year they are signed  four in Morocco in 2021, and one in Tunisia in 2022. Marriott are projecting a massive number of openings in 2023, more than opened in total for all the chains in 2022, and Accor are projecting a catch-up with eight times their 2022 performance.

Kerten Hospitality (a newcomer to the survey this year) and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts have all their pipeline on site, but Marriott International, the worlds largest hotel chain, with the largest number of rooms and the largest African development pipeline, have three times the number of rooms onsite of those two hotel chains put together. Hilton is in second place for onsite rooms, after Marriott International.

Of the total 84,427 rooms in the pipeline, over 37,500 rooms (about 45%) are expected by the hotel chains to open in 2023 and 2024. After a positive performance in 2019 (75% opened), the actualisation of hotel deals (the proportion that opened, versus what the chains expected to open) has been 30 per cent or less in the last three years  severely down for obvious reasons. The headwinds that developers have faced are mostly abating, although it can still be a challenge to open on time.

Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality Group said: There are several reasons why new hotel development in Egypt is so strong, including the low value of the Egyptian pound, its unparalleled tourism assets, its proximity to major source markets and good infrastructure. One of the drivers of Marriotts strong performance is a growing trend towards franchising in Africa, and Marriotts relative strength in franchising with 30 brands in its portfolio. Franchising appeals to owners and investors as they retain more control of their properties; and they are now able to work with proven white-label operators in Africa to run them.

Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of The Bench, which organises AHIF, concluded: The high expectations for 2023 and 2024 openings dont just make a really good news story; they bode very well for AHIF, as there will be an optimistic atmosphere at the conference, which is likely to encourage participants to seek new deals and further investment opportunities.

Matthew and Trevor discuss the findings in more depth in a podcast, which can be found here (https://apo-opa.info/3JquUNC). An update to the pipeline development survey, along with in-depth insights, will be presented by Trevor Ward at AHIF, which takes place at the Radisson Nairobi Upper Hill from 12th  14th June. The event is the most influential gathering of hospitality executives in Africa, connecting business leaders and fuelling investment in tourism projects, infrastructure, and hotel development across the continent.

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YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan revealed the peace treaty proposals made by Yerevan to Baku during the rounds of talks.

In an interview with the Egyptian AlQahera News Agency, FM Mirzoyan said that proposals have been exchanged since December 2022 in an attempt to advance the process and find fair solutions to the core issues.

Armenias suggestions include clarification of parameters for the delimitation of the state border, distancing of forces from the state border and the creation of a demilitarized zone along the borderline as a confidence-building measure and security mechanism, establishing a mechanism of guarantees, which will ensure the implementation of the obligations, and an international mechanism to address the issues of rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

There are separate tracks of negotiations, the Armenian foreign minister explained. First is the opening of all transport communications in the region, second, delimitation and border security and the third, the treaty on establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia is ready to open all communications at the very moment when Azerbaijan accepts that the roads should be operating under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the states they are passing through, the FM said.

The Armenian Foreign Minister noted that unfortunately Armenias efforts are met with not only the dismissive and maximalist approach by Azerbaijan during the negotiations, but also aggressive actions on the ground despite the ongoing negotiations.

Below is the transcript of the interview:

Question: What is the nature of the relationship between Egypt and Armenia? And what do the coming days hold regarding this cooperation?

Answer: The relations between the two countries are, of course, based on the historically friendly ties between Armenian and Egyptian nations. Starting from the Middle Ages our compatriots have played a significant role in the political, social and cultural life of Egypt. During the World War I, escaping the Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire, Armenians received a safe shelter in the Arab countries, including in Egypt where they found a new home. This will never be forgotten by the Armenians. And I am proud to note that during my recent visit to Cairo both political figures and religious leaders of Egypt once again emphasised the great contribution of the Armenian community to the progress and development of Egypt.

Based on these ties, the two countries have been demonstrating willingness and commitment to further develop bilateral relations on the state level. During the last three decades, since the independence of the Republic of Armenia, we have developed close relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt, which have constantly been growing and expanding.

So far, this year has been very significant in bilateral relations and in particular in terms of political dialogue, starting with President El-Sisis historic visit to Armenia in January. Earlier last year the President of Armenia visited Egypt to attend COP-27 and on March 8, as you know, in the margins of the session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level I had an opportunity to discuss questions of mutual interest with my colleague, Minister Sameh Shoukri.

There is willingness on both sides to further deepen our cooperation, including in the economic sphere. The next session of the Armenian-Egyptian intergovernmental committee, along with a business forum, is planned later this year, and we hope that it will bear several tangible results. A business forum between Armenian and Egyptian tour operators was already organised in Cairo in February, the next one is expected in Yerevan. We are convinced that there is huge untapped potential with Egypt that we should explore and firmly realise it.

Question: What about political cooperation with the Arab world?

Answer: Armenia attaches great importance to its relations with the Arab world due to the geographical proximity, historical and cultural ties, the presence of large Armenian communities in Arab countries as well as regional security issues. Armenias relations with the Arab states have always been based on mutual respect and sincere friendship. A good manifestation of that was my participation and the speech delivered during the Session of the Council of the League of Arab States, as mentioned above. This was the 1st time that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia delivered a speech during the Ministerial Session of the Arab League. The decision within the Arab League was taken by consensus of all member states, which already speaks about a certain political understanding between Armenia and all the members of the League.

Armenia is strongly committed to further strengthen political, economic as well as cultural relations with all the Arab States. We notice a similar approach on the partners side and think that there are no major obstacles on our way. It is important for us to be well understood by our Arab brothers and not let any speculation by third parties shadow our century-old relations.

Question: What is the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on Armenia?

Answer: The situation in Ukraine clearly shows the deterioration of the security architecture in Europe. And I believe that it first became clear back in 2020 when many stayed indifferent to the fact that Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale war against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh trying to solve the conflict by the use of force. The absence of an equivocal condemnation by the international community of the use of force brought us to the situation the whole world is facing now.

Moreover, since February 2022, as the whole attention was concentrated on the developments around Ukraine, Azerbaijan has been using force frequently. The most blatant example of that was in September last year, when the Azerbaijani armed forces conducted unprovoked aggression against the Republic of Armenia, violating the territorial integrity and occupying around 150 sq km of the sovereign territory of my country. I do believe that certain rules, particularly refraining from use of force or threat of use of force, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity have to be followed by everyone.

Question: What about Armenia's willingness to intensify dialogue with Azerbaijan towards the normalisation of bilateral relations? What specific issues are being discussed?

Answer: After the war in 2020, for the last two years the Armenian government, having the political will to find a real lasting and comprehensive peace in our region, has been engaged in talks with Azerbaijan in good faith. There are separate tracks of negotiations: first, the opening of all transport communications in the region, second, delimitation and border security and the third, the treaty on establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Regarding the connectivity issue, our position is clear: Armenia is ready to open all communications at the very moment when Azerbaijan accepts that the roads should be operating under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the states they are passing through. With regard to delimitation of borders, regrettably, months after the establishment of the commissions on the delimitation of borders in 2022, Azerbaijan not only raised new territorial claims, but also launched another invasion into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and then tried to justify its aggression with a fake argument that the border is not delimited.

Coming to the agreement on establishment of peaceful relations, I should mention that since December 2022 we have exchanged proposals on the draft treaty and tried to move ahead with the process to find fair solutions to the core issues.

Here, among Armenias suggestions is clarification of parameters for the delimitation of the state border, as we think that without clearly agreed parameters on the delimitation of the international borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, countries cannot specify which territorial integrity they mutually recognize, and this will lead to another fighting instead of establishing peace.

Next is the distancing of forces from the state border and the creation of a demilitarized zone along the borderline as a confidence-building measure and security mechanism, helping to ensure prevention of any possible future escalation. We also believe that the treaty should establish a mechanism of guarantees, which will ensure the implementation of the obligations, as well as outline ways of resolution of possible misinterpretations and disputes.

Of course, as a key component, there should be an international mechanism to address the issues of rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Unfortunately, in response to our efforts we face not only the dismissive and maximalist approach by Azerbaijan during the negotiations, but also aggressive actions on the ground despite the ongoing negotiations. Most recently, following the ceasefire violations on March 2-3, three servicemen of the Police of the Nagorno-Karabakh were killed in the Lachin corridor on March 5 as a result of a pre-planned ambush by Azerbaijan. These actions once again demonstrate the lack of sincerity in Bakus approach to the normalisation process as well as continuous recourse to use of force.

In parallel to these actions, Azerbaijan regularly steps back from agreements, continues its hate speech and xenophobic rhetoric, as well as rejects to resolve humanitarian issues such as the release of confirmed 33 Armenian prisoners of war who are still held hostage in Azerbaijan. The fate of many more Armenians is still unknown, and we have submitted to our partner organizations cases of enforced disappearances. The Armenian religious and cultural heritage, fallen under the Azerbaijani control in 2020, is facing an imminent threat of total erasure. All this is challenging the efforts towards establishing lasting peace and stability in the whole region.

Question: What is the solution to the blockade of the Lachin corridor, in your view?

Answer: First of all, the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan is a blatant violation of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020 which envisages that Azerbaijan shall guarantee safe movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo in both directions along the Lachin corridor.

One would think that a legally binding decision of the International Court of Justice, which was adopted on February 22, could have resolved the situation as the Court ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement along the Lachin corridor. It is regrettable that so far the decision has not been implemented.

Furthermore, I would like to emphasize that the Lachin corridor is not only a road, but a 5 km security zone. Thus, the sabotage attack of March 5 in the Lachin corridor, which I mentioned earlier, violated not only the ceasefire agreement, but also the contact line and the security zone of the corridor.

In current circumstances, I would like to stress the imperative of strong international engagement and pressure on Azerbaijan to implement the ICJ decision and lift the blockade. Armenia has been calling for an urgent international fact-finding mission to be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor to assess the situation on the ground. Its also not a secret that the proposal of such a mission was repeatedly rejected by the Azerbaijani side, clearly showing the absence of willingness of Azerbaijani leadership to be transparent and accountable towards the international community.

Question: Is there any recent dialogue or international action regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue?

Answer: In parallel to blocking the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting the Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, for more than three months and creating a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan continues to terrorise the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh by creating unbearable conditions for living in their homeland with the ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing. Along with the humanitarian crisis, Azerbaijan has also provoked an energy crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. In cold winter conditions, the authorities of Azerbaijan repeatedly disrupted and continue to disrupt the gas and electricity supply.

The actions of Azerbaijan as well as the aggressive and maximalist rhetoric have proven the absolute necessity of international engagement to address the issues of rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as to prevent the clear attempts of Azerbaijan aimed at the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The position of the international community, including our partners and friends in the Arab world should be clear against any narrative and actions perpetrating another genocide, the international system cannot afford to sustain yet another such failure.

To conclude, despite all the risks and the fragility of the situation around my country, Armenia remains determined to make its contribution to creating a stable region where our generations wont just dream about living in peace.
The intersection of machine learning and mathematical logic  spanning computer science, pure mathematics, and statistics  has catalyzed recent advances in artificial intelligence and deep learning toward solving complex problems with predictive models.

On February 28, the Institute for Data, Econometrics, Algorithms, and Learning (IDEAL) hosted a workshop introducing researchers to problems involving the fields of machine learning and logic.

The event was organized as part of the IDEAL Winter/Spring 2023 Special Program on Machine Learning and Logic by James Freitag, associate professor of mathematics, statistics, and computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC); and Lev Reyzin, professor of mathematics, statistics, and computer science and IDEAL site director at UIC.

It was exciting to introduce the IDEAL community to emerging and foundational problems at the intersection of machine learning and logic, Reyzin said. I hope this special program will encourage researchers working in these seemingly disparate fields to learn about and to collaborate on topics of mutual interest and for newcomers to get involved in this growing area."

Northwesterns IDEAL site director Aravindan Vijayaraghavan, associate professor of computer science and (by courtesy) industrial engineering and management sciences at Northwestern Engineering, welcomed attendees to the workshop held in Mudd Hall, hosted by Northwestern Computer Science. He noted the expertise across disciplines represented by IDEAL investigators, including computer science, economics, electrical engineering, law, mathematics, operations research, and statistics.

This special program is the first of IDEAL Phase 2, which aims to accelerate transformative advances in the theoretical foundations of data science through research and education programs on machine learning and optimization; high-dimensional data analysis and inference; and emerging topics including reliability, interpretability, privacy, and fairness. IDEAL is a multidisciplinary collaboration across Northwestern, Google Research, the Illinois Institute of Technology, the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, UIC, and the University of Chicago.

Program

The workshop began with overviews of machine learning and logic, followed by a research talk at their intersection.

Reyzin outlined foundational notions of computational learning theory, including probably approximately correct (PAC) learning, online learning, and statistical queries. He also related these learning models to different notions of dimension, including VapnikChervonenkis (VC) dimension, Littlestone, and statistical query (SQ).

Freitag discussed Littlestone dimension and its origins in model theory. He also connected trees and half-graphs via a Ramsey-type theorem argument related to Littlestone dimension and its dual.

Maryanthe Malliaris, professor of mathematics at the University of Chicago, presented joint work with Shay Moran, professor of mathematics at Technion  Israel Institute of Technology, titled The Unstable Formula Theorem Revisited via Algorithms. The work proves that Littlestone classes characterize learnability in a new statistical model and sets the stage for an approximation theorem characterizing Littlestone classes in terms of a range of learning models.

Upcoming events

On April 10-14, the five participating universities of IDEAL will host the Workshop on Machine Learning, Interpretability, and Logic, organized by Reyzin, Shai Ben-David, professor of computer science at the University of Waterloo, and Gyorgy Turan, professor of mathematics, statistics, and computer science at UIC.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. A senior Armenian government official has rebuked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs apparent proposals of Donbas and Kosovo models as a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Amabssador-at-Large Edmon Marukyan said that Nagorno Karabakh, with its entire legal and political history, is incomparable with Donetsk, Lugansk or the Kosovo Serbian model.

With its entire legal & political history Nagorno Karabagh is incomparable with the Donetsk, Lugansk or Serbs of Kosovo, because its always been an autonomy, & a self-proclaimed state in the last 30 years. Moreover, NK conflict predates the collapse of USSR, unlike those listed Marukyan tweeted. Hence, while looking for a solution to the NK problem, the International Community should take into account the entire historical legal-political background, otherwise any solution built upon irrelevant examples will lead to the deepening of the problem and its non-resolution.

During a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on March 20, Lavrov expressed support for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans position on the need for a dialogue between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Lavrov cited the example of the Minsk agreements in Ukraine, under which the Russian-speaking residents of the eastern part of Ukraine were to have the right to their native language, to educate their children in their native language, to live and work in their native language environment, to preserve their culture, their religion, and other relations with their compatriots.

Approximately, the same rights were provided in the agreement signed between Belgrade and Pristina 10 years ago, in the agreement on the establishment of the Serbian community of Kosovo, language, local self-government, education, culture, religion, special economic ties with Serbia. I think that the people of Karabakh need such a set of rights, Lavrov added.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, March 17, 2023

Disney+s ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) plan is off to a faster start than either Netflix or HBO Max among new subscribers.

In the first month of release, 20% of new sign-ups were to one of the Disney+ ad-supported plans, versus 9% for Netflix in its first month and 14% for HBO Max. By its third month, this February, the Disney+ with-ads tier (including subs sold as part of a bundle with ESPN+ and Hulu) reached 36% of new sign-ups, compared to 19% for Netflix and 21% for HBO Max.

However, Netflixs ad-supported plan is different than the others, because its available only with its Basic plan. The Standard and Premium service tiers, which include additional features like concurrent streams and HD quality, currently dont have ad-supported versions.

Since its introduction in November 2022, Basic with Ads share of total Netflix sign-ups has grown from 9% to 19%, while the no-ads Basic plans share of total sign-ups has dropped from 41% to 18%. As of January, the with-ads version accounted for fully 54% of all Basic tier sign-ups.

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Analysis of Disney+s AVOD tier launch is complicated by its coupling with a price increase. Existing subscribers had to accept a $3 price hike to stay ad-free, or accept ads and maintain the current price, or cancel.

Among Premium plan subscribers, Antenna found that a whopping 94% took the price increase to stay ad-free, 5% canceled, and under 1% maintained their current cost by switching to the ad-supported plan.

Looking across the ad-free plans now available among premium streaming services, consumers are clearly demonstrating that they are willing to choose advertising in exchange for a lower price, Antenna notes. The trend is particularly pronounced at Peacock, where three out of four subscribers now have the ad-supported plan.

Still, growth takes time.

HBO Maxs ad-supported plan saw incremental increases among both new signups and existing subscribers in the months following its launch in June 2021, to reach 20% of new sign-ups by its third month, August 2021.

As of February 2023, HBO Max's ad-supported subscriptions account for 20% of total subscribers. However, that's modest next to the 75% penetration of Peacock's ad-free tier, which was launched only about a year earlier, and the 43% ad-supported shares at both Discovery+ and Paramount+, which each launched with both ad-supported and ad-free plans in first-half 2021. (Hulu launched as a free, ad-supported platform in 2008 before establishing a subscription tier in 2015.)

While Antenna doesn't suggest this, it seems possible that HBO Max, which has a subscriber base accustomed to ad-free content for decades, may have a relatively low natural saturation rate for a with-ads option.

The Disney+ and Netflix AVODs are seeing incremental ad-free sign-up increases similar to HBO Max's in their first months, with Disney+ growing a bit faster than HBO Max, and Netflix a bit slower. This, says Antenna, suggests that both services are headed toward accumulating meaningful audiences for advertising.
by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, March 24, 2023

The title of Peacocks planned revival of Monk would seem to indicate that this project will be a one-off.

Thats because this resurrection of the old Adrian Monk detective character will come in the form of a made-for-TV movie titled Mr. Monks Last Case: A Monk Movie.

The movie will bring back Tony Shalhoub in the title role, a detective-consultant connected with the San Francisco Police Department, where he was once a full-time detective until his wife, a journalist, was killed in a car bombing.

His most distinguishing characteristic was his advanced obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that impacted his ability to live normally in the world outside his perfectly arranged and cleaned apartment.

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Other original cast members will be back too, including Traylor Howard, who joined the show in season 3 as Monks second assistant Natalie Teeger; Ted Levine as SFPD Capt. Leland Stottlemeyer; and Jason Gray-Stanford as Lt. Randy Disher, NBCUniversal announced last week.

The press release provided a one-sentence summary of the movies plot. Monk returns to solve one last, very personal case involving his beloved step-daughter Molly, [who is] a journalist preparing for her wedding, the release said. No premiere date was given.

The movie will be made principally by the same creative team that made the show -- Andy Breckman, creator, writer and executive producer; executive producer David Hoberman; and Randy Zisk, also an executive producer who is directing the movie.

The movie is being produced at one of the Universal studios owned by NBCU. Monk originated on another NBCU property, USA Network.

The series premiered in July 2002 on USA and ran until December 2009 -- 125 episodes in eight seasons.

All eight seasons are available to stream on NBCU-owned Peacock, where the new movie will stream too.

Monk also airs weekdays at 2 p.m. Eastern on Cozi TV, the NBCU diginet managed under the auspices of NBCUs owned-and-operated TV stations.

Monk became a hit almost immediately upon its premiere, and was consistently nominated for various top Emmy Awards.

One of the curiosities debated by some during the run of the show was its classification as a comedy by the Emmy Awards, and not as a drama, even though its episodes were an hour long and the shows subject matter was murder. Other such shows had long been nominated as dramas.

It is also true that Det. Monks constant worries about germs and crooked picture frames were played in a decidedly light-hearted manner. They were the very basis of the show.

The show seemed to straddle both categories and, in the end, the Television Academy decided to classify it as a comedy.

Tony Shalhoub, now 69, was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in all eight seasons of the show. He won three of them.

From time to time, critics in the psychology community decried the shows depiction of OCD, complaining that the illness was much more serious than the way it was being portrayed.

At the same time, others from the same community applauded the show for shining a spotlight on the condition.

One of the criticisms focused on the promotional tagline composed and used for the first season of Monk on USA -- Monk! Americas Favorite Defective Detective!

The phrase defective detective then appeared in countless headlines and lede sentences in reviews and feature stories about the show in newspapers and magazines from coast to coast.

Understandably, professional psychologists were unhappy with the slogans characterization of OCD as a defect.

Over the years, the slogan disappeared. It is doubtful it will reappear along with Monks Last Case, and if it does, that will be a topic for a future TV Blog.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of 12 patients from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia for treatment on March 24, according to the Nagorno Karabakh healthcare authorities.

Another 8 persons, together with their attendants, returned to Nagorno Karabakh following treatment in Armenia, the healthcare ministry said in a statement.

Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, 12 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology and cardiovascular system have been transported today, on March 24, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

8 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with an accompanying persons.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh.

5 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of the Arevik medical centre.

8 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 3 of them in critical condition.

A total of 215 patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross, reads the statement issued by the Nagorno Karabakh healthcare ministry.
by Ray Schultz , March 21, 2023

Video advertising inventory on iOS is going unsold, thanks to privacy changes instituted by Apple last year. And as usual, publishers are getting the short end of the stick, says Binda Patel, director, head of client success for Connatix.

Patel says iOS makes up 64% of traffic, but accounts for only 48% of impressions, or revenue. In contrast, Android comprises 36% of ad requests and 52% of revenue.

The result is that a ton of inventory is not getting bought anymore, Patel notes.

This hurts firms like Connatix, a company that facilitates programmatic video advertising, serving both publishers and advertisers. Our iOS inventory is not getting filled, Patel says. Were losing money on that side of the business.

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Specifically, the problem concerns buys based on audience targeting, a category that has suffered in the wake of Apples allowing consumers to walk away from this form of engagement.

These consumers account for 66% of traffic, but only 4% is being monetized because advertisers are using audience segments that dont work in iOS environments, Connatix estimates.

Overall, theres no way to match the audience if the audience decides to opt out, Patel says.

Both publishers and advertisers are upset -- publishers to a somewhat greater extent.

The answer is to target by context, not audience segment, Patel contends. To that end, Connatix has developed a product, still nascent, called Deep Contextual, which examines publisher videos to determine key words that keep popping up.

Were analyzing the video in a very precise way, Patel says Our advertisers can do a deeper level of video targeting contextually.

Case in point: A Forbes video might contain the word finance. The reader is targeted by this topic, or context.

Does it work? When looking at the non-audience buy based on Deep Contextual for one client, Connatix has seen that 76% of the traffic represented 72% of the ad impressions, Patel claims.

Founded in 2014, Connatix helps publishers and advertisers deliver video experiences, using an online video player and monetization formats.

On the publishing side, Connatix serves HuffPost/Buzzfeed, LADbible, Accuweather and others. On the advertiser side, it helps brands and agencies such as Mars, Citi, American Express, UM, Bliss Point Media & Goodway Group. The company, which now has 176 employees, obtained a significant investment from Court Square Capital Partners in 2021.

Summing up, Patel argues that Deep Contextual will help brands in a cookyless environment by making sure that audience buying substituted or complemented in a good way.
by Ray Schultz , March 21, 2023

Workers are planning walkouts at Hearst offices this Thursday to protest the inability to finalize a first contract. Negotiations are scheduled to end on March 28, with one session left.

The bargaining has been going on for two years, according to the WGA East Hearst Union.

The half-day walkouts are scheduled for the Hearst Tower in Manhattan and the Hearst offices in Easton, Pennsylvania, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Birmingham, Alabama. Rallies will be held outside.

The 500-member bargaining unit at Hearst has been fighting an intense anti-union campaign by management while trying to win important contract proposals around fair salary minimums, fair wage increases, better severance, and strong anti-harassment protections, among other key issues, the union states.

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Hearst issued a statement saying, We are committed to fostering a workplace where all employees feel supported. Weve reached agreement on important issues and look forward to continuing to bargain in good faith and finalizing this process with a fair contract. Negotiations resume next week and we have offered future meeting dates, according to Deadline.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, March 23, 2023

Lawmakers with the House Energy and Commerce Committee spent the better part of Thursday criticizing TikTok CEO Shou Chew over policies regarding online privacy and potentially harmful content.

Americans' data is not safe, and Big Tech is doing nothing to protect it, Rep. Greg Pence (R-Indiana) told Chew.

Rep. Russ Fulcer (R-Idaho) called the company, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, a data-gathering masterpiece.

Another elected official asked Chew whether TikTok draws on users' cameras to detect whether their pupils are dilated, in order to harness data about users' preferences. (Chew said the company only captures data about people's eyes to facilitate special effects.)

Yet others questioned Chew about a variety of privacy reports, including one saying that TikTok logs keystrokes of iPhone owners who visit outside websites through TikTok's in-app browser.

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Chew defended the company throughout the day by saying its data practices were comparable to those of other tech platforms.

I don't think American companies have a good track record with respect to privacy," Chew told one lawmaker, citing to Facebook's Cambridge Analytica debacle.

The TikTok CEOalso faced questions about potentially harmful content, such as the NyQuil challenge, which involved videos showing chicken being cooked in NyQuil. (Buzzfeed reported last year that the challenge didn't take off until after the Food and Drug Administration warned against cooking chicken in medicine.)

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Florida) showed Chew a video that she characterized as a death threat against committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Florida). The clip, posted last month, appeared to show a gun firing, a reference to the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, and a hashtag next to Rodgers' name.

You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data privacy and security of 150 million Americans, when you cant even protect the people in this room? she said. You damn well know that you cannot protect the data and security of this committee or of the 150 million users of your app, because it is an extension of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party].

Soon after Cammack's comments, the video was taken down.

Rep. Annie Craig (D-Minnesota) told Chew that teens used TikTok to find illegal drugs.

Our kids are at risk from your platform, she said.

Chew repeated throughout the day that the company has policies banning illegal material, and that concerns about content and privacy have also been raised about other social media platforms.

Craig said one difference between TikTok and U.S.-owned social media platforms is that American companies, at least publicly traded ones, provide information about board members and executive compensation. That type of publicly available data makes those companies more accountable, she suggested.

Rodgers kicked off the hearing by endorsing a ban on the social-media app.

From the data it collects to the content it controls, TikTok is a grave threat of foreign influence in American life, she said.

It's been said it is like allowing the Soviet Union the power to produce Saturday morning cartoons during the Cold War but much more powerful and much more dangerous.

Banning your platform will address the immediate threats."

Immediately after the hearing, Sens Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and John Thune (R-South Dakota), stated that Chew failed to quell concerns about the app.

Under PRC [People's Republic of China] law, all Chinese companies, including TikTok, whose parent company is based in Beijing, are ultimately required to do the bidding of Chinese intelligence services, should they be called upon to do so, the senators stated. Nothing we heard from Mr. Chew today assuaged those concerns.

Warner and Thune recently introduced legislation that could pave the way for a ban on TikTok.

On the other hand, civil rights advocates, content creators and others oppose a ban.

If passed by Congress and enacted into law, a nationwide ban on TikTok would have serious ramifications for free expression in the digital sphere, infringing on Americans First Amendment rights and setting a potent and worrying precedent in a time of increased censorship of internet users around the world, groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, PEN America and Fight for the Future said Wednesday in a letter to lawmakers.

People in the U.S. have a constitutional right to speak via the internet, and to do so on the platform of their choosing, the groups add. For citizens, and particularly the tens of millions of young Americans who use TikTok, to witness a popular social media platform summarily shut down by the government will raise serious questions in the minds of a rising generation about the sanctity of free speech in our system of governance.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 23, 2023

Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Thursday signed legislation prohibiting social media companies from allowing minors under 18 to have accounts without parental permission, and banning the companies from serving ads to minors.

The Social Media Regulation Act (SB 152) also requires social media companies to verify all users' ages, and forces the companies to allow parents to access all content and interactions of their underage children's accounts.

A companion bill (HB 311) prohibits social-media companies from designing their services in a way that causes a minor to have an addiction to the company's social media platform, and allows teens to sue the companies.

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Cox used social media to publicize the signing, tweeting that people could watch him sign the bills live on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.

The legislation, slated to take effect next March, is opposed by digital rights groups and the ad industry.

The law is one of the worst we've seen, the advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote earlier this month.

Young people have a First Amendment right to information that S.B. 152 will infringe upon, the organization wrote, adding that the law will endanger the privacy of all Utah users, as it requires many sites to collect and analyze private information, like government issued identification, for every user.

Chris Oswald, executive vice president at the Association of National Advertisers, reiterated Thursday that the legislation would unduly curtail the First Amendment rights of both young people to access advertising-based information and businesses to share it.

The law limits the ability of older teens to get important information they need, including ad-based information about colleges, trade programs, military recruitment, job opportunities, apartments, and other resources for their futures, he stated. A Utah teen who is old enough to work and drive a car should also be old enough to see an ad for a job or an auto dealer.

Earlier this month the tech industry group NetChoice urged Cox to veto the bills, arguing that they violate the First Amendment.

The advocacy group TechFreedom and a group of law professors also said in a letter to Cox that the proposed laws will violate the First Amendment -- noting that the Supreme Court already ruled hat minors have First Amendment rights to access non-obscene material. In 2011, the Supreme Court voted 7-2 to strike down a California law that banned the sale of violent video games to minors, without parental consent.

Ari Cohn, a First Amendment lawyer with TechFreedom, recently got into a public disagreement on Twitter with Cox about the bills.

The Utah legislature unsurprisingly passed these bills -- which violate the First Amendment and threaten to fragment the Internet -- and they now sit on @SpencerJCox's desk. He must now decide whether to do with is right, or what is politically expedient, Cohn tweeted.

Cox responded by tweeting, Cant wait to fight this lawsuit. You are wrong and Im excited to prove it.
by Ray Schultz , March 23, 2023

Hundreds of Hearst Magazine employees walked off the job on Thursday to demand a fair union contract prior to the last scheduled day of negotiations on March 28.

The employees are members of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).

The union held walkouts and rallies at Hearst Tower in Manhattan, NY, and at Hearst offices in Easton, PA, Ann Arbor, MI, and Birmingham, AL.

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For two years Hearst has stalled, low-balled, and refused to bargain with us, said Zach Lennon-Simon, of Delish, in Hearsts New York office said. Today we're walking out because we'd like to remind Hearst what they are without our labor: nothing but a name.

Joey Capparella, of Car and Driver from Hearsts Ann Arbor, Michigan office, argued, "We're walking out today because more than two years is too long to wait for a fair union contract.

Capparella added, We need to show Hearst management that our members care about higher salary minimums, better severance protections, diversity in our hiring practices, and the right to have a union representative present in meetings about harassmentall of which are items that management refuses to agree on."

Jennifer Leman, of the Enthusiast Group, Pennsylvania office, said, So many of us pour our heart and soul into these brandsthey dont call us the Enthusiast Group for nothingand were simply asking for that work to be fairly compensated.



Earlier this week, Hearst issued a statement to Deadline, saying, We are committed to fostering a workplace where all employees feel supported. Weve reached agreement on important issues and look forward to continuing to bargain in good faith and finalizing this process with a fair contract. Negotiations resume next week and we have offered future meeting dates.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 23, 2023

Think of her as the Flo of the Caribbean.

CG Insurance has just launched a new ad campaignthe work is by independent agency Chemistrythat introduces the character Aunt Angie. The Insurance company claims that she is the first brand character created for the Caribbean region.

In the campaign ads Aunt Angie is shown regaling family members with some of her zany adventures, like hang-gliding with goats. And, unfortunately, crashing and ending up in the hospital. Sample the work here.

The main message of the campaign is that though Aunt Angies experiences are a bit complicated, her CG Insurance coverage is not.

The campaign was created by an all-Black women-led production team at Chemistry/Test Tube Productions that tapped into a cultural narrative that resonates with the consumers across the 21 countries and jurisdictions in the Caribbean where CG offers coverage.

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"Our Test Tube Productions team worked overtime to bring this campaign to life," says Renee Royal, VP, Head of Production at Chemistry and Test Tube Productions. "We shot the majority of these spots on a virtual wall in Miami which gave us endless opportunities to dive into Angie's world. Without that piece of technology, we would be hard-pressed to do some of the action you see in the campaign.

The campaign launched this week in the 21 countries and jurisdictions in the Caribbean and runs on TV, social, radio, print, and out-of-home.

CG, which rebranded from Colonial Group Insurance in 2020, sells an array of insurance products including travel, auto, health, life and other policies.
by Ray Schultz , March 23, 2023

Journalists, who already fear they will replaced by AI, will soon be faced with press releases generated by the technology.

PR agency Gregory FCA has launched a free tool called Write Release that emulates how professionals generate press releases.

The company announced the product in a press release generated by Write Release.

Gregory FCA launched a tech-enablement investigation over two years ago, and determined that generative AI would redefine public relations and corporate communications.

The program suggested that the agency add a series of questions. One was, Why would a PR firm make its secret sauce available to competitors?



The answer was, There is no secret sauce. AI is evolving quickly. We wanted to show the world that what is novel today will be commoditized tomorrow and that we no longer have to buy expensive technology platforms that dont fit our workflow.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 24, 2023

A Google Ventures-backed data-security company launched an advertising and marketing campaign this week riffing off the notion of a scapegoat.

We have a lot of customers in the security world and they tend to get blamed for things that are not their fault, said Jason Garoutte, CMO at Veza, an authorization platform that keeps track of permissions for employees to access company data. CISOs get fired when theres a data breach. It dawned on me that they must feel like a scapegoat, so we wanted to connect with that idea and let them know theres a solution.

Garoutte has supported chief information security officers (CISOs) and chief information officers (CIOs) for years. He joined the heavily backed one-year old startup in October 2022, after spending more than four years at Twilio.

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Aside from Google Ventures, Veza also is financially backed by Accel, Blackstone, and Northwest Ventures, and supports companies such as American Express, Expedia, Wynn Resorts, and Zoom.

Garoutte, with help from the small marketing team, created the campaign in-house. He personified the character, naming the goat Gurdy -- a nickname for Gertrude. Gurdy, the company mascot and part of the advisory board, wrote and published her first blog this week as part of on why she chose to join Veza. She is a former fed-up CISO, and refuses to take the blame anymore. The title of the post is Why I Put My Hoof Down & Joined Veza.

About 100 employees support Veza, with about eight in marketing. With help from the companys marketing department, Garoutte created a t-shirt and a stuffed animal in Gurdys likeness for the Gartner Security show in Dallas, ran an ad on LinkedIn targeting security specialists, and is contemplating running out-of-home (OOH) ads along the East Coast. Airport ads are also quite likely. The company is popular with banks and healthcare companies, he said. The campaign is schedule to run at least a year.

We do search ads for keywords related to our products, but I dont see the scapegoat campaign as part of that, he said. I see search ads as more of an awareness campaign at the very top of the funnel.

Many companies are not prepared to deal with data breaches and cyberattacks, mainly because CISOs and CIOs do not know where their data is and who has access to it.

Data breaches are now commonplace, Garoutte said. There are big ones in the news like Equifax and Capital One, and smaller ones. In the past few months, we saw Twilio ... About 75% of these breaches occur because someones password gets misused.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 24, 2023

Meta Platforms is asking a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit alleging that the company collects data about smartphone users' online activity by injecting tracking code into sites accessed through Facebook's and Instagram's in-app browser.

Among other arguments, Meta says the claims, which drew heavily on a report by security researcher Felix Krause, are too speculative to warrant further proceedings.

Plaintiffs rushed into court to file this litigation after seeing a blog post critical of Meta ... without closely reading, or else deliberately ignoring, what it actually says, the company argues in papers Thursday with U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar in the Northern District of California. While the blog post criticizes the use of in-app browsers, based on the concern that app developers could use such browsers to improperly collect user browsing activity, it never asserts that Meta actually uses its in-app browser in such a way.

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The company's argument comes in a class-action complaint dating to September, when Wayne Mitchell and other Facebook users claimed Meta violates the federal wiretap law, as well as various California state laws, through its in-app browser.

The complaint was filed shortly after Krause reported that Facebook and Instagram can track app users who click on links to outside sites -- such as ads or retail sites. Meta is able to do so because its apps automatically open a Meta browser when people click on in-app links; that browser then injects tracking code into those outside sites, according to Krause.

The Instagram app injects their JavaScript code into every website shown, including when clicking on ads, he wrote. Even though the injected script doesnt currently do this, running custom scripts on third party websites allows them to monitor all user interactions, like every button & link tapped, text selections, screenshots, as well as any form inputs, like passwords, addresses and credit card numbers.

Krause added that Meta told him the injected code helps to aggregate events such as online purchases, and that the code respects an Apple setting that doesn't allow developers to track users without their explicit consent.

Meta now wants Tigar to rule that the complaint's central allegations -- that the company monitors all activity by users in in-app browsers , and that it violates Apple's no-tracking policy -- are not supported by Krause's blog post.

Without those allegations, plaintiffs are left only with the Krause Posts generalized concern that a custom in-app browser could be used to monitor everything a user does, or plaintiffs own speculation that Meta could be doing so through the in-app browser, the company writes, adding that the the mere possibility of improper conduct, doesn't establish grounds for a lawsuit.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 24, 2023

Amazon is urging a federal judge to reject Alexa users' bid to pursue claims that the company wrongly targets ads based on people's interactions with voice-controlled devices.

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein in the Western District of Washington previously dismissed the complaint, ruling that even if the allegations were proven true, they wouldn't show that Amazon misrepresented its policies regarding Alexa's voice data. That dismissal was without prejudice, meaning that Gray and Horton could reformulate their allegations and bring them again.

Earlier this month, the duo filed a proposed amended complaint with Rothstein.

Amazon responded Friday by arguing that the new complaint should also be rejected -- this time with prejudice.

The attempt to bring an amended complaint is a futile exercise and cannot save plaintiffs claims because, as the court already held, Amazon disclosed, and plaintiffs consented to, the very conduct they challenge, Amazon writes.

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The company adds that since at least 2016, it disclosed that data such as interactions with Alexa might be used for ad targeting.

The original complaint came soon after researchers from the University of Washington, University of California-Davis, University of California-Irvine, and Northeastern University posted the paper Your Echoes are Heard: Tracking, Profiling, and Ad Targeting in the Amazon Smart Speaker Ecosystem, which concluded that Amazon processes voice data to infer user interests.

That report doesn't allege that Amazon secretly listened to conversations, or directly shared voice recordings with third parties.

After the paper was posted, Amazon said it is not in the business of selling data, and doesn't share Alexa requests with ad networks.

Similar to what you'd experience if you made a purchase on Amazon.com or requested a song through Amazon Music, if you ask Alexa to order paper towels or to play a song on Amazon Music, the record of that purchase or song play may inform relevant ads shown on Amazon or other sites where Amazon places ads, the company stated in response to the paper.

Gray and Horton alleged in their original complaint that Amazon violates users' privacy, and that it engages in misleading and unfair conduct, among other claims.

Amazon argued that the allegations in the original complaint -- even if proven true -- would show only that the company targets ads based on transactions people make via Alexa, as opposed to recordings of users' conversations.

Rothstein said in her January dismissal order that Alexa's terms of service incorporate Amazon's privacy policy, which discloses that Amazon uses personal information for interest-based ads.

The applicable policies do not conceal Amazons use of Alexa-captured voice data for advertising, she wrote at the time.

Among other claims, the new version of the complaint alleges that Amazon's official terms of use are inconsistent with its public statements about Alexa, and references an updated version of Your Echoes Are Heard -- which now says that around 63% of survey respondents do not think that Amazon will use their voice recordings or the information derived from their voice recordings, to target ads.

Amazon countered Friday that the new allegations about survey respondents' beliefs don't provide Gray and Horton with grounds to proceed in court.

Plaintiffs still have not alleged that they saw, were deceived by, and relied on that alleged statement (or any other Amazon statement for that matter), the company writes. Hearsay allegations that some group of absent consumers might have been deceived cannot ... support plaintiffs own claims of harm.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. The United States said Friday that it very much appreciates Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans message on the progress toward peace in South Caucasus.

Secretary Blinken is very engaged in facilitating peace discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we are encouraged by the progress made toward lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. We very much appreciate Nikol Pashinyans message on that progress, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel tweeted, sharing the Armenian Prime Ministers March 23 tweet.

Pashinyan tweeted on March 23: There will be a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and it will be based on the joint official statements adopted at the highest level. There wont be  new escalation! The international community must strongly support this narrative.
Hirayama disease, also known as monomelic amyotrophy, Sobue disease or Juvenile non-progressive amyotrophy is a rare and incurable disease that was first described in 1959 by Dr. Keizo Hirayama, a neurologist, attached to the Chiba University School of Medicine in Japan. It mainly affects young males aged between 15-25 years, generally after they experience their adolescent growth spurt. Technically, it is termed as a lower motor neuron disorder.

Classical findings include muscle wasting (atrophy ) and weakness of the forearms and hands, either on one or both sides. There is, however, no change in sensation and the patient doesnt experience any pain. There may be involuntary muscle twitching (fasciculations), but these are rare. The disease usually progresses for 2-5 years before stabilizing or plateauing. After plateauing, improvement in the symptoms does not occur. However, it does not worsen either.

Even though Hirayama disease is regarded as a self-limiting and non-progressive disease, it can be severely debilitating is certain individuals. For this reason, early intervention is vital for halting disease-progression and reducing the severity of the disability.

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Salient Features of Hirayama Disease

Muscle weakness in the hand and forearm

Muscle wasting in the hands

Usually affects the hands on one side (unilateral)

Legs are not affected

Occurs between the ages of 15-25 years

Occurs suddenly, progresses gradually for several years, then stabilizes

Pain or sensory changes do not occur



Epidemiology of Hirayama Disease

Hirayama disease predominantly occurs in Asian countries, especially in Japan, where it was first reported. Other Asian countries where the disease has been reported, include China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and India. However, very few cases have been reported from Europe and USA. In the case of India, most patients are from eastern and southern India, and to a lesser extent from northern India. The major affected states include West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Clinical Presentation of Hirayama Disease

Hirayama disease generally starts at puberty and progresses to mid-teens and early adulthood, then reaches a plateau and does not progress any further. But by that time, irreversible damage has already been done to the hands, which become totally useless. Therefore, early diagnosis and medical intervention are vital.

The disease affects males more than females (male to female ratio - 3:1). In most patients, the right hand is predominantly affected at a ratio of 2.8:1, irrespective of hand dominance. However, in severe cases, both hands can be affected. This is especially evident in case of a rare condition called OSullivan-McLeod syndrome.

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Hirayama disease progresses very slowly, usually up to 5 years, but sometimes, may be as long as 10 years. After this period, the symptoms stabilize, but in rare instances, they can persist till the age of 40 years. Other rare clinical features include worsening of symptoms upon exposure to cold (cold paresis), cold hands, muscle cramps, and occasionally tremors and twitching. However, there is no difficulty in passing urine.
Medindia Home Page for Doctors is a free service we provide to doctors and healthcare professionals to create a full-featured online presence and profile that they can fully control and maintain. If you are a doctor it allows you to list your practice details, locations, specialities and showcase your credentials, experience, expertise and skills to the world and to your patients. An online presence and profile is essential so visitors and patients can find you when they search for you. For example, you may have done work in certain area of medicine that may be useful for a patient's to understand, so that they can seek advice and guidance from you.

Medindia gives doctors and healthcare professionals tools to create a free home page, a full-featured online profile that can showcase their experience, expertise and skills, and a free listing in a searchable national directory visited by millions. In addition, doctors can provide better care to their patients with a wellness portal branded with their practice name to enhance patient education and engagement, and provide online appointments and teleconsultations. Doctors can also stay updated with abstracts from current medical journals and track upcoming conferences in their specialty.

Medindia's Doctors' Home Page and Wellness Portal are designed with a host of features for doctors and healthcare professionals to create and maintain an online presence, increase visibility in web searches, provide better care and education to their patients, and stay current in their specialty.

When you create a home page, we also include your name and practice details in our searchable doctors' directory, which contains over 260,000 records, categorized by state, city, pin code and specialty and is visited by millions of visitors each month. This listing is linked to your home page and enhances your online visibility in search engines. It can also provide you with a source of new patient leads and referrals, and allow visitors to book an appointment with you directly.

The selection of information that you can publish, has been done consistent with the ethical requirements of medical bodies such as Medical Council of India (MCI) and the recently published and notified guidelines for 'Practice of Telemedicine' in India. The homepage stores all your essential information and takes care of the needs of your patients in your practice. It has both areas that are visible to the world out there and the non-visible area just for you.

Benefits

Medindia is India's leading health website that is visited by several million visitors each month . Medindia is certified by the Health On Net Foundation (HONCode), for publishing authentic, validated content that follows and complies with their standards for ethical health information for consumers.

Medindia follows the highest standards for data security, privacy and confidentiality and all communication is encrypted and protected via TLS/SSL. Medindia's Privacy Policies ensures security and privacy of all your data and that it will not be shared or sold.

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Medindia also has high domain authority and search rankings in Google, Bing and other search engines. As a result, a Home Page and online profile on Medindia, increases your visibility in search engines. You greatly increase your chances of being found on the first page of Google when people search for you by name, specialty in your city or state or for details in your bio, experience, expertise and any other information you provide on your Home Page.

Sections & Features

Once you register and create a Home Page on Medindia, your details are verified manually to ensure they match with MCI registration data and a "Verified" icon is added to your profile. All verified pages are then published.

Basic Information: This is displayed at the top of your Home Page and includes:

This is displayed at the top of your Home Page and includes: Photograph



Full Name



Primary Speciality



Secondary Speciality



Qualification



Location (City and State)

Biographical Sketch: You may enter about 100 words about yourself in this sketch

Locations: In this section, you can provide information about all your practice locations including address, phone number, and working hours for each location. You may enter your primary and any number of additional locations. Patients can book appointments by clicking on the 'Book Appointment' button.

The next section of the Home page allows you to showcase your credentials, professional experience and accomplishments.

Education: A list of all the colleges attended, year of graduation and degree obtained.

A list of all the colleges attended, year of graduation and degree obtained.

Experience: List all work and professional experience including description and duration.

List all work and professional experience including description and duration.

Areas of Special Interests and expertise: List here any areas of medicine that are of interest to you - for example preventive nephrology

List here any areas of medicine that are of interest to you - for example preventive nephrology

Accreditations: List of professional accreditations including the year and accreditation number.

List of professional accreditations including the year and accreditation number.

Awards and Recognition: List of all awards and recognitions obtained including description and year.

List of all awards and recognitions obtained including description and year.

Publications: List of all publications, paper, journal articles including description and year published.

List of all publications, paper, journal articles including description and year published.

Memberships: List all your affiliations and memberships of any medical societies

List all your affiliations and memberships of any medical societies

Certifications: List of all your certificates

List of all your certificates

Languages known: All languages you can speak

All languages you can speak

Social Networking: Links to all your social networking profiles Twitter, LinkedIn, Website, Blog and any other

Articles published on Medindia: An added benefit for doctors registered on Medindia is the ability to contribute to the site as an author or an editor. All articles written or edited by you will be linked to from your home page. Medindia gets millions of visitors from over 230 countries and publishing on Medindia is a great way to showcase your professional expertise and build your reputation and brand globally. Please contact our Editorial Director if you are interested in contributing to the site indicating your area of interest.

Dashboard

Medindia's Doctors' Home Page is loaded with many other features that are accessible and visible only after you login to your account securely with your username and password.

The dashboard provides one-click access to managing all aspects of your home page including updating any part of your profile, managing your appointments, communicating with patients, performing teleconsultations, staying current with medical journals, conferences and providing better care to your patients, by giving them access to a personalized wellness portal that is branded with your name.

The following describes each section of the Home Page Dashboard in greater detail:

1. Top Bar of the dashboard

The top bar has a login and log out buttons, along with your name. When you are finished, make sure you log out by clicking on the button. If you do not do so you will be logged out automatically after a few minutes as a security measure and protect your account.

2. Doctors Home Page Dashboard

Your name, picture and qualifications: This section has a picture of you that can be changed at any time by clicking on it and this change will be reflected on your homepage. Always use a professional, high resolution photo that is clear.

Sidebar: There is a side menu bar that essentially lets you control all the visible and non-visible features of your homepage and the backend of the website to help you with your practice. It goes even further than this and allows you to keep yourself abreast with your areas of interest in your speciality. These include access to abstracts of the top ten journal of your speciality and the upcoming medical conferences that you may wish to attend.

Manage your Information & Listing (left side): Control the top half of the dashboard on the left is about your information on Medindia, i.e. your homepage and your listing in Medindia's doctors' directory. The doctor's directory has over 260,000 doctors listed on Medindia. The right half allows you to control your patient information.

Wellness Portal As a registered doctor with Medindia you can offer a full-featured wellness portal to all your patients that are branded with your practice name. All your patients can login to this portal and get a private and personalized 'My Health Page' where they can manage their health. It also has the full library of Medinda health and wellness content, educational material and tutorials designed to increase engagement and educate patients on their health.

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For more information on all the features in this wellness portal please view this page or watch the video here.

Appointments

This section allows you to manage all your patient appointments. Patients can book appointments with your practice for online or in-person visits based on available time slots and office locations. All appointments are subject to your confirmation and can be rescheduled if required. We provide automatic Email and SMS reminders to minimize missed patient appointments.

You can even Block your Dates if you are not available in one particular location.

Telemedicine Guidelines

Medindia promotes access and affordability of patients to achieve universal healthcare for all through the practice of telemedicine. We have included several telemedicine resources including a few articles and the notified guidelines by the Government of India. All doctors who wish to practice telemedicine practice are required to become familiar with these guidelines.

Teleconsultation Dashboard: This feature allows you to view and manage all teleconsultations with patients. Features include full secure text chat and communication with patients as well as secure audio / video teleconsultations via a web browser or using a mobile phone. Medindia follows all the legal requirements of the Telemedicine act of India and obtains the required consent form from patients prior to any teleconsultation to fully protect you. Online payment processing is built- in and patients can pay by bank transfer or credit card. Automatic SMS and email reminders are sent to the patient and a secure audio/video session is initiated at the scheduled time. All of the above features of the portal are available from a desktop, notebook or tablet browser as well as a mobile smartphone app.

Medindia helps its registered doctors by making them visible and informing our members about their availability for teleconsultations on our online consultation pages for free.

Journal Articles & Latest from Pubmed

This feature is designed to keep you updated with the latest in medical research and developments by providing you with abstracts of recent articles from top medical journals and the latest articles from PubMed.

You can also search by Title and Keyword: The abstracts are linked to the full article when available so you can stay abreast of the latest research in your specialization.

Conferences

The page provides you with information about the forthcoming medical conferences in your specialty.

Medindia truly believes in its Mission to Network doctors with Patients. Please do watch the short video that describes all the advantages and features of the Medindia Homepage.
REM sleep is characterized by quick uncontrolled eye movements along with a decline in muscle tone. Most people experience REM sleep on a nightly basis though the amount of REM sleep differs from one individual to another although age is a significant factor. An adults REM sleep would account for just 20% of his/her total sleep time but an infant would experience REM sleep for over half of his/her total sleep time.

Sleep is generally divided into two main categories: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM or non-REM) sleep. It is easy to differentiate between these two types of sleep as each one is characterized by a distinct set of neurological and physiological features. An EEG (Electroencephalography) measures and records the electrical activity in an individuals brain through multiple electrodes that are placed on the persons scalp. This electrical activity can be divided into frequency ranges and this will determine whether the person is experiencing REM or NREM sleep.

NREM Sleep

In NREM sleep, there is very little or no eye movement and there is also no muscle paralysis as in REM sleep. NREM sleep constitutes 80% of a persons total sleep time and it is during the deep stages of this type of sleep that the body self-repairs and regrows tissue.

Sleep Cycles

When a person first settles down to go to sleep, they are still wide awake, alert and aware of their surroundings. At this point, the brain produces small and fast waves that are called beta waves but as the person starts to relax and drift off to sleep, the brain produces slower alpha waves. There are four stages of sleep and collectively they are known as a sleep cycle. Most people go through 6 to 8 sleep cycles every night with each cycle lasting anywhere from 60 to 110 minutes. These are the stages of a sleep cycle:

The First Stage (NREM)

Stage 1 of a sleep cycle is a transition period from wakefulness to sleep and it is a light stage of sleep. During this stage, a person gets very drowsy and their breathing slows down and their muscles relax.

The Second Stage (NREM)

In Stage 2 of a sleep cycle, eye movements stop and the individuals heart rate slows down. In this stage, brain waves become much slower with short bursts of rapid waves  these are known as sleep spindles. There are short periods of muscle tone interspersed with periods of muscle relaxation. In this stage of sleep, a person is no longer conscious of their surroundings.

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The Third Stage (NREM)

Stage 3 of a sleep cycle is when you experience deep sleep. It is sometimes referred to as slow wave sleep or delta sleep as this stage is characterized by the occurrence of slow brain waves called delta waves. During this stage, there is no response to external noises in the persons environment. Bed-wetting, sleepwalking and other similar sleep problems are most likely to occur at the end of the third stage of the sleep cycle. The proportion of deep sleep decreases after the initial 3 to 4 sleep cycles.

The Fourth Stage (REM)

Most dreaming occurs during stage 4 of a sleep cycle when the respiration rate and brain activity increases. During this time, voluntary muscles are paralysed. The proportion of REM sleep will increase in the last 2 sleep cycles before the individual wakes up.

A single sleep cycle generally follows this pattern: Stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, stage 2 and then finally stage 4. While the full functions of REM sleep are not yet understood, research in the field of sleep deprivation shows that a lack of sufficient REM sleep impairs the ability to learn and remember complex tasks.

Power naps vs Long sleep

A power nap is a short sleep that does not last through all the stages of a sleep cycle. This short nap is generally used to revitalize a person as it supplements normal sleep time. According to a growing body of research, a midday nap will not only improve mood and temperament but can also improve performance. However, it is the duration of the nap that determines the health benefits of power naps and very long naps can have a negative effect. For instance, two independent research teams recently found that there was a relation between hypertension and regular long naps. Their evidence strongly suggests that people who nap for more than an hour on a daily basis are at an increased risk of high blood pressure problems. Similarly, a study into the effects of lengthy napping on diabetes showed that long naps are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Short power naps are effective and produce immediate improvements on cognitive performance and vigour. While a 5 minute nap has no noticeable effect, a 10 minute nap produces benefits that last for the next one and a half hours. A 20 minute nap does not have immediate benefits as these only kick in half an hour after the nap has ended. A 30 minute nap has a temporary negative effect as the individual experiences impaired alertness for a brief period but the positive effects after that can last for up to two and a half hours.

Power naps at work should be approximately 20 minutes long as this will promote alertness and improve typing skills and other motor abilities while power naps for studying should be no less than 30 to 60 minutes. A nap of 30 to 60 minutes allows the student to enter into slow-wave sleep and the occurrence of deep sleep will improve memory and recall abilities. It can take a while to get used to regular power naps  time your naps to make sure that you dont nap for over an hour or you will wake up groggy and sleepier than before. When it comes to naps vs coffee, although the caffeine in a cup of coffee can give you a boost, go for a short nap instead, as it will leave you more refreshed and alert.

While it may seem like power naps have an obvious advantage in the contest of power naps vs sleep, it is essential that an individual experiences a certain amount of deep sleep every night. It is during deep sleep that the human growth hormone is secreted which is responsible for cell repair which is why this type of sleep is also referred to as restorative sleep. Some people make the mistake of having short power naps through the night instead of long sleep but this goes against the basic biorhythms of our bodies and can cause sleeping problems. Inadequate deep sleep will leave you fighting drowsiness throughout your day and will drastically reduce your productivity.
The term Mozart Effect which was first coined by Alfred A. Tomatis who used Mozart's music as the listening stimulus in his work attempting to cure a variety of disorders.

Mozart Effect refers to the phenomenon of increased spatial abilities after listening to the musicians compositions. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a German prolific and influential music composer of the Classical era. Many studies evidence that if babies listen to music composed by Mozart then they can become more intelligent. Mozart baby music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of mental tasks known as spatial-temporal reasoning. However, subsequent research also suggests that the Mozart Effect may be an artifactual outcome of mood arousal.

Mozart and Social Media

The initial study by Rauscher, Shaw, & Ky, in 1993 received widespread attention from the social media. The idea that listening to Mozart might increase intelligence quotient (IQ)scores sparked the development of many "educational" books and classical music products. Eventually, thousands of parents started playing Mozart to their children. It has also been reported that in 1998 Zell Miller, the Governor of the state of Georgia (US), even asked for money to be fixed in the state budget for CDs that have music for baby in womb and newborn babies. Moreover, a quick Internet search will reveal plenty of products to assist you in the task. There are also the books to help you to enjoy the Mozarts music benefits.

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Mozart Effect and Growing Preterm Infants

Preterm infants are often kept with more care and considered to have less weight or growth as compared to full-terms pregnancy infants. So, with this perspective a randomized clinical trial with crossover design was conducted in 20 healthy, appropriate-weight-for-gestational-age, gavage-fed preterm infants. Infants were randomly exposed to a 30-minute period of Mozart music or no music on two consecutive days. Their metabolic measurements were performed by indirect calorimetry. The rate of weight gain in preterm infants who are exposed to music was found to improve. So, from the findings it can be concluded that Mozart reduces Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) in the development of healthy preterm infants. Research at Brigham Young University suggests that music has a positive impact and can even promote calmness in babies.

Classical Music and your Babys Brain

Brain is considered to be the most mysterious and complex object known to man. And, when it comes to increasing a babys brain power. people are more than interested to know the ways how to boost the babys IQ. While if you talk about a newborns brain, it is only 25 percent of its adult weight, by age 3, it grows and builds its pathways and connections, called synapses. According to Dr. Diane Bales, Ph.D., author of "Building Baby's Brain, the synapses used for classical music are similar to those that are used for spatial and temporal reasoning. Rauscher, in 1998 suggested that if music acts as a sort of pre-language of the brain, certain kinds of music (such as Mozarts) is likely to facilitate brain function, even on a short-term basis. The results of the experiment explain the higher scores on spatial-temporal tasks by stating that such music causes short-term causal enhancement of pattern development. Listening to classical music may soothe your babys ears. Music for kids offers numerous benefits that could alleviate physical and health problems. As you know that the brain has two lobes, the studies show that music involves both hemispheres of the brain. Its creativity and emotion is found to engage the right lobe, while rhythm and pitch engage the left one. So, notions of Mozart music work here, the child who receives musical exposure at a young age more efficiently develops the bundle of nerves that connects those two halves. One of the lead researchers in the original U.C. Irvine study believes that listening to a Mozart sonata can activate the brain to tackle mathematical tasks. In another study, performed by John Hughes, a neurologist at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, reported that Mozarts compositions triggered the strongest response in the brain. The effect on brain and its wave patterns was 2-3 times more compared to other popular tunes.

Prenatal Music Exposure

Music therapy during pregnancy also proves to be beneficial. The elements of music such as rhythm intervention & range may affect physiologic function like heart and respiratory rates, activity levels and developmental functions. Music also decreases the parental stress perception. Early exposure to music increases abilities in several other areas, including math and language. Studies show that prenatal music exposure induces long-term neural effects. The approach considered was to use the brain's event-related potentials (ERPs). It provides more specific information on the neural correlation of the types and features of sounds the fetuses can learn. During the last trimester of pregnancy, the mothers in the learning group were asked to play the Twinkle twinkle little star melody 5 times per week. After birth and again at the age of 4 months, the modified melody with some of the notes changed was played for the infants. While at the same time, ERPs to unchanged and changed notes were recorded. The results showed that extensive prenatal exposure to a melody induces long term neural representations and prolonged periods of quietalert states. Even more the infants can categorize auditory stimuli, such as recognizing two or more stimuli that are different.

Conclusion

For centuries, the science of mind what we call as Psychology is studied differently and independently from the science of brain Neuroscience. Psychologists are mainly concerned with our mental capacities - how we learn, or think while Neuroscientists continue with their studies for brain development and its functioning. Thanks to the musical elements which stimulate a realistic and meaningful environment. Babies who listen to Mozart Music can develop positive attitudes, self-perceptions and cognitive skills.
The tongue is the most common site of oral piercing followed by the lips (1.5%). It may also be rarely seen on the cheeks, uvula or the frenums. There is a greater prevalence of oral piercings in women than in men.

Oral piercing is defined as the cosmetic piercing of the oral cavity to insert accessories such as rings, studs or pins. This is a common form of self expression and is commonly seen among teenagers and young adults. The most common sites of oral piercings include the tongue followed by the lips, they may also be seen on the cheeks, uvula and the frenums. However it is also important to understand the potential and sometimes life threading complications such as hepatitis, AIDS, airway obstruction etc. associated with such procedures.

Placement of Tongue Piercing

The piercing is done along the midline of the tongue, essentially in the center of the mouth; the top half of the jewelry is a little farther back than the bottom. The placement is just in front of the lingual frenulum. When two tongue piercings are placed side by side they are known as venom piercings. The snake-eyes refers to a curved bar going horizontally through the tip of the tongue. Sometimes a tongue piercing may be done along the width of the tongue.

Placement of Lip and Cheek Piercing

The position of the jewelry should be chosen so that it does not irritate the oral tissues and does not interfere in their functioning. The piercer must make sure that the piercing does not impinge on any anatomic structures such as nerves, blood vessels or in the case of cheek piercings the opening of the parotid glands.

Types of Piercings

Tongue Piercing

There are Two Common Techniques of Tongue Piercing:

The first involves placing the piercing from the top to the bottom of the tongue. It is also known as dorso-ventral.i.e. top to bottom piercing of the tongue. This is the most common form of tongue piercing.

The second less common form of tongue piercing is placing the piecing along the width of the tongue.i.e. ventro-lateral piercing. However the rich vascularity of the tongue makes this procedure an unsafe procedure, as it increases the risk of bleeding and infections.

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Lip Piercing:

The lip piercing may be made anywhere on the lip, in case it is made on the upper lip off centre on the left hand side it is known as a Monroe piercing and is meant to resemble Marilyn Monroe''s beauty spot.

Cheek Piercing:

These may be done unilaterally (on one side) or bilaterally (on both sides). In case they are done penetrating the cheeks they may create the impression of false dimples and are therefore also known as dimples.

Uvula Piercing:

The uvula is a triangular fold of soft tissue handing from the back of the soft palate. This is rarely performed due to the associated risks and complications.

Frenum Piercing:

These are done on the under surface of the tongue on the band of tissue that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth. They are also referred to as web piercings.

Oral Piercing Procedure

What to Look for?

Before getting a piercing make sure that the piercing is performed by a professional piercer, the studio where the piercing should be performed should be neat and clean before getting a piercing make sure that the piercing is performed aseptically as the piercing instruments can be a source of various infections such as hepatitis and AIDS.

Procedure:

The piercings are generally performed without any anesthesia.

The piercer will check the area to be pierced for any blood vessels or nerves.

The area to be pierced is then marked.

The area is then clamped, the clamp decreases the blood supply to the area thereby reducing pain and bleeding then a sharp needle is inserted into the area.

Immediately following piercing you may experience considerable pain and swelling.

It is thus suggested that the initial jewelry is slightly longer to allow for swelling that will almost always occur after a piercing.

After a period of healing, approx 2-3 months the initial jewelry will be replaced by a shorter one.

Care after an Oral Piercing

Cleaning the Piercing

It is important to keep your mouth clean to avoid any infections.

Use an alcohol free mouth wash to rinse your mouth regularly especially after meals.

Use a soft tooth brush to clean your teeth to avoid trauma to your piercing site.

You may also use saline solution to rinse this may also help in bringing down the swelling.

In case of cheek or lip piercing the skin should be washed with soap and then patted dry with a clean tissue or cloth.

What not to do:

Avoid alcohol, spicy food, tobacco and chewing gum which may irritate the piercing site.

Do not touch the piercing or try to move it with dirty hands; this may increase the risk of infections.

It is important that good care be taken of the piercing site to avoid the associated pain, discomfort and associated complications.

Do not chew foreign objects such as pencils, fingernails etc as they may traumatize the piercing site and also cause infection.

Do not talk excessively or try to move or play with your jewelry as this can slow down the process of healing.

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What to do in Case of Pain and Swelling?

Immediately after the piercing take cold beverage and avoid any hot and spicy food for at least 24-48 hrs.

In case of pain an over the counter painkiller may be taken.

Rinsing with saline can help bring down the swelling.

It is normal for a certain amount of pain and swelling to be present, however if the pain or swelling is excessive it is important to reach out to a health care provider as they could indicate a life-threatening complication in the form of airway obstruction.

Complications of Oral Piercings

Since oral piercings are performed at a relatively sensitive area of the body that due to its rich blood supply and a plethora of bacteria increases the chances of complications. The various complications associated with oral piercings have been classified as follows:

Complications during Piercing: The most important complication during oral piecing is pain, excessive bleeding or nerve damage, associated with paraesthesia or loss of sensation and localized infection.

The most important complication during oral piecing is pain, excessive bleeding or nerve damage, associated with paraesthesia or loss of sensation and localized infection. Complications Immediately following Piercing: The common post piercing complications are pain and excessive swelling of the tongue and sometimes secondary bleeding and problems in wound healing problems.

The common post piercing complications are pain and excessive swelling of the tongue and sometimes secondary bleeding and problems in wound healing problems. Long term Complications: The long term complications include allergic reactions, damage to teeth and gums.

Here is a List of the Common Complications associated with Oral Piercing:

Pain: The oral piercing could be a possible cause of infection and there could also be damage to the associated nerves during the piercing process. This could cause excessive pain and become a possible emergency.

The oral piercing could be a possible cause of infection and there could also be damage to the associated nerves during the piercing process. This could cause excessive pain and become a possible emergency. Swelling: The oral environment is the breeding ground for various bacteria. Any infection or allergic reaction to the piercing material or jewelry could result in excessive swelling. In case of extreme swelling of the tongue and peri-oral tissues the airways can get restricted creating a life-threatening situation.

The oral environment is the breeding ground for various bacteria. Any infection or allergic reaction to the piercing material or jewelry could result in excessive swelling. In case of extreme swelling of the tongue and peri-oral tissues the airways can get restricted creating a life-threatening situation. Bleeding: During the piercing blood vessels may get damaged or a secondary infection may result in breakdown of your blood vessels. Some amount of bleeding during and after an oral piercing is normal however in some case there may be excessive bleeding. Creating a life-threatening situation.

During the piercing blood vessels may get damaged or a secondary infection may result in breakdown of your blood vessels. Some amount of bleeding during and after an oral piercing is normal however in some case there may be excessive bleeding. Creating a life-threatening situation. Localized infections: The mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, any injury will allow easy access to the tissues. Oral piercing particularly, if done without proper asepsis can result in serious infections. The oral cavity is also connected to the brain sinuses and can also result in thrombosis and stroke.

Systemic infections: If the piercing is not performed under aseptic conditions it could result in serious and sometimes life-threatening infections such as endocarditis, hepatitis, AIDS etc. Ludwigs angina is a life-threatening infection that results in swelling and airway obstruction.

If the piercing is not performed under aseptic conditions it could result in serious and sometimes life-threatening infections such as endocarditis, hepatitis, AIDS etc. Ludwigs angina is a life-threatening infection that results in swelling and airway obstruction. Nerve damage: A piercing if not done properly taking into account the oral anatomy, the piercer may damage localized structure including nerves and blood vessels. In case of damage to a nerve there may be loss of sensation to the affected part such as the lip, tongue or cheeks.

A piercing if not done properly taking into account the oral anatomy, the piercer may damage localized structure including nerves and blood vessels. In case of damage to a nerve there may be loss of sensation to the affected part such as the lip, tongue or cheeks. Damage to hard tissues: The jewelry may impinge on the dental hard tissue causing loss of tooth substance and may also cause dental hypersensitivity (pain). To prevent this, it is important to choose the appropriately sized jewelry.

The jewelry may impinge on the dental hard tissue causing loss of tooth substance and may also cause dental hypersensitivity (pain). To prevent this, it is important to choose the appropriately sized jewelry. Hypersensitivity reaction: The dental jewelry may contain a metal that can cause an allergic reaction which can also become life-threatening. This may also cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. It is important that jewelry contains minimum nickel (European union has suggested that nickel content be less than 0.05g)

The dental jewelry may contain a metal that can cause an allergic reaction which can also become life-threatening. This may also cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. It is important that jewelry contains minimum nickel (European union has suggested that nickel content be less than 0.05g) Damage to gums: Impinging on the gingiva/gums may cause gingival recession.

Impinging on the gingiva/gums may cause gingival recession. Drooling: Drooling can also occur in case the piercing creates a patent opening especially through the cheek or lips.

Drooling can also occur in case the piercing creates a patent opening especially through the cheek or lips. Localized tissue over growth.

Aspiration and air way obstruction: There are chances of aspiration of the jewelry which may cause airway obstruction and may have to be removed surgically. This can have serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. There is also a pertinent risk involving the barbell accessory which can sometimes get unscrewed and end up in your lungs.

There are chances of aspiration of the jewelry which may cause airway obstruction and may have to be removed surgically. This can have serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. There is also a pertinent risk involving the barbell accessory which can sometimes get unscrewed and end up in your lungs. Interference in medical and dental procedures: The metal of the jewelry may create problems during dental and medical procedure such as an x ray.

The metal of the jewelry may create problems during dental and medical procedure such as an x ray. Speech difficulty: The jewelry may interfere with normal speech by interfering with articulation and tongue movement.

Types of Oral Piercing Jewelry

The jewelry that is worn after an oral piercing is generally made of metals such as steel, titanium or niobium, however, polymers or glass can also be used.

Rings: These are generally placed near the tip of the tongue or on the lips.

These are generally placed near the tip of the tongue or on the lips. Barbells: These are used most often during dorso-vental piercing and are dumbbell shaped jewelry with two balls at both ends.

These are used most often during dorso-vental piercing and are dumbbell shaped jewelry with two balls at both ends. Studs: These are often worn on the lip and the tip of the tongue.

These are often worn on the lip and the tip of the tongue. Capture rings: These are rings which do not meet at the ends, worn on the tongue or lips.

The Minimum Standards for Jewelry to be used are as follows:
Prostitution or sexual gratification for money is perhaps the worlds oldest known trade. The changing face of the murky trade has now broadened to include street prostitution, massage brothels, escort services, gigolo outcall services, strip clubs, lap dancing, phone sex, child prostitution and sex tourism.

This high risk industry is fraught with violence and abuse but keeps growing by the day, raking in revenues for those who call the shots and with women and children as hapless victims of exploitation.

Consensual offence?

Prostitution is classified as victimless or consensual offence, because it is generally assumed that in such shady deals services are willingly offered and taken. But research done all over the world in developed, developing and under developed countries shows that may not be the true picture of prostitution.

Sexual and physical violence and pornography

Most prostitutes have been subject to sexual and physical violence at some point of time in the line of their job. A US survey among adults working in prostitution reported the following:

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82% had been physically assaulted;

83% had been threatened with a weapon;

73% had been raped while working as a prostitute;

70% were victims of sexual assault by customers;

50% were reportedly kidnapped by pimps;

76% were beaten by pimps;

79% were beaten by customers;

In another study 38% of prostitutes stated that pimps regularly exposed them to pornography. 80% stated that customers used pornographic videos and photographs to demonstrate which activities they wanted the prostitutes to perform, most often for kinky sex.

Prostitution causes harm to women and children

Melissa Farley who conducted an extensive research on prostitution in the US, observes in her Prostitution: Fact sheet on Human Rights Violations, that prostitution involves sexual harassment, battering, rape, verbal abuse, childhood sexual abuse and a violation of human rights on the whole. Farley writes, "Whether it is being sold by one's family to a brothel, or whether it is being sexually abused in one's family, running away from home, and then being pimped by one's boyfriend, or whether one is in college and needs to pay for next semester's tuition and one works at a strip club behind glass where men never actually touch you  all these forms of prostitution hurt the women in it."

Statistics in the West

Given the clandestine nature of this trade and the social stigma attached to it, statistical data are extremely difficult to gather, but researches suggest that there are more than 1 million prostitutes in the US and 80, 000 in the UK.

One survey shows that nearly 50%of men in the US have been with a prostitute at least once in their lifetime. In a study among prostitutes in London, it was seen that 50% of clients were married or co-habiting. A 2004 survey shows that 95% of the street prostitutes or kerb crawlers as they are infamously called, are drug users and many are homeless.
In todays tech-dependent world of smartphones and laptops, it is not surprising that most kids are more comfortable using a keyboard than a pen. Many states in the US have dropped cursive writing from their curriculum as students use laptops to type and organize their notes. In many ways, it is easier to use a laptop to take down notes in class as this method allows for quick note-taking and students can easily share notes or look up information if required.

However, recent studies show that there are several reasons why writing by hand is a better option. Here are seven reasons why writing by hand is important:

Boosts Cognitive Skills

Writing by hand is an essential tool in the development of cognitive skills in children. Several studies show that children who learn to write letters and shapes by hand fare better than those who use mechanized methods. Unlike typing, writing by hand requires a combination of visual, motor and cognitive skills which is an integral part of the learning process, despite the age of the student. Writing practice not only allows a child to learn the required shapes or letters but it can also help improve the expression and composition of ideas. This benefit is not limited to children but even among adults, improved writing skills help enhance cognitive skills.

Increases Focus

When writing by hand, a certain part of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS) is stimulated. This system acts as a filter for the inputs of all the sensory information and decides the bits of information to be retained or ignored. Since writing by hand aids in stimulating RAS it allows the individual in focusing the hand task with minimal scope for distraction.

Improves Memory

In a series of experiments conducted by psychological scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), students were divided into two groups where one group used laptops to take notes while the others used traditional notebooks. The experiments proved that the students who took notes using laptops were more likely to take verbatim notes with little or no mental processing of the information. Students who used notebooks memorized the information better and were able to understand and retain the knowledge better. The results of the experiment showed that handwriting information leads to better factual learning as well as conceptual learning and is a superior method of memorizing information. Handwriting information helps in improving memory among both young students and aging individuals which is why seniors are often advised to keep a journal or a diary to sharpen their mental acumen as well as improve their memory.

Sharpens Aging Minds

As we age, we start to notice diminished physical and mental capabilities. This is a natural part of the aging process and while it cannot be completely reversed, there are ways to slow down the effects. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied the effects of intellectual stimulation on memory and comprehension. It was found that older people who undertook regular intellectually stimulating tasks had better reasoning, judgment and cognitive abilities. Learning to write in cursive and practicing it regularly is considered to be a good mental exercise for seniors as it helps to keep the mind sharp and increases focus and attention.

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Improves Creativity

Creativity requires analysis, comprehension, memorization and insight. Writing by hand is not merely a style; it also promotes a deeper understanding of the subject matter along with an organized approach to communication. In recent years, cognitive science research and neuroscience have presented evidence that shows a definite connection between creativity and the process of writing by hand. Psychologists at the University of Washington tested students to observe and understand the differences between the effects of handwriting and using a keyboard.

The researchers noted that children who used notebooks to compose text consistently produced more words within a shorter period than the children who used keyboards. In older children, brain imaging tests showed that the connection between handwriting and idea generation was much stronger than researchers had realized as writing activates a unique neural circuit. During the analysis of handwriting, it was observed that children with better handwriting had better neural activation in the areas of the brain that are associated with creativity.

Promotes Sequencing and Estimation

Sequencing and estimation are fundamental abilities without which we would have trouble with even the simplest of tasks. For instance, an individual with sequencing problems would not be able to follow the logical sequence of a story  starting with the beginning and ending at the conclusion but instead, the person would present the story as a jumble of sentences which would make the story unintelligible. Since each written letter of the alphabet needs to be executed in a specific sequence, handwriting helps to develop and sustain this skill. It also helps with spatial skills as it requires consistent letter sizing as well as spacing before and afterwords.

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Creates a Calming Effect

Each letter of a word and each word of a sentence requires skill and a certain amount of coordination, especially with cursive writing. The number of complex motor and visual functions required for handwriting is quite surprising and many people find that it is a calming and cathartic activity. Some people even choose creative calligraphy as a means of self-expression.
A miscarriage or what is medically known as spontaneous abortion is the loss or death of a baby, which typically happens before the 20th week of pregnancy. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage and this happens most often before a woman misses her menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant. It is also estimated that more than 80% of miscarriages happen within the first three months of pregnancy.

Sometimes the smallest thing takes up the most place in your heart. As they say, The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor touched, but are felt in the heart. This is exactly what you feel when you are pregnant. However, sometimes the happiness you experience may only be short-lived and momentary. There may be many reasons for your inability to carry your pregnancy to full term, but each little life, no matter how brief it may be, changes your world forever.

During a period of physical or emotional stress, the brain releases several hormones in our body; one of the hormones is the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Incidentally, CRH is also produced in the placenta and the uterus of pregnant women to trigger uterine contractions during labor and the delivery process. It has been observed in numerous studies that women who deliver prematurely or have low birth-weight babies were found to have high levels of the hormone CRH in them.

The majority of miscarriages are random, isolated events and the exact cause cannot be pinpointed. Henry Lerner, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School says, Since you got pregnant once, the odds are 80 percent that you will go on to have a healthy baby and as many healthy babies after that, as you want. Women who go on to have two or three miscarriages (called recurrent miscarriage) may ultimately learn they have a medical problem that is causing their pregnancies to end spontaneously, but even with recurrent miscarriage, half the time there is no known cause.

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Age of the mother plays an important role. It has been seen that in women who are over the age of 45 years, more than half of all pregnancies will end in a miscarriage and in women between the ages of 35 to 39, nearly 2 in 10 pregnancies will terminate in a miscarriage.

During the first trimester, it is believed that any major problems with the fetus could be the main cause of a miscarriage. It is estimated that three out of every four miscarriages happen during this period.

Any chromosomal problems or abnormalities occurring in the fetus at the time of conception could result in the abnormal development of the fetus leading to an eventual miscarriage. It is estimated that nearly 60 percent of miscarriages occur due to mismatched chromosomes.

Problem(s) with the development of the placenta, which basically links the mothers blood supply with her baby could potentially lead to a miscarriage.

Chronic health problems suffered by the mother, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lupus, celiac disease, thyroid issues, or infections, such as German measles, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, malaria, bacterial vaginosis, among others, may be causes for a miscarriage.

Some medications, such as retinoids (used for the treatment of acne and eczema), methotrexate and misoprostol (used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis), and certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Abnormalities in the womb structure and some abnormal growth in the womb, such as fibroids, lead to a situation where the resulting embryo either cannot implant or if it does implant then it does not get the nourishment it needs to grow.

Weakened cervix or what is medically termed as cervical incompetence, which could be due to a previous injury to the cervix leads to a condition where the cervix cannot hold the fetus and tends to open up too early during pregnancy, causing loss of the fetus or a miscarriage.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is a medical condition, where the ovaries are larger than usual can lead to hormonal imbalances in the womb.

Smoking during pregnancy can cause harm to the fetus.

Excessive use of alcohol or cigarettes could expose the growing fetus to large amounts of unwanted chemicals.

Drinking many cups of tea and/or coffee in a day (more than 200 mg of caffeine) could also affect the fetus.

Stress is part of everyday life. Every pregnant woman worries at least a little bit, whether it's about the pregnancy or about other life factors. This has been going on since time immemorial, and yet the majority of pregnant women give birth to healthy babies.

When you start talking about stress as a factor in pregnancy loss, it is easy to self-blame and think that you had a miscarriage because you were too stressed out. However, never let this happen since you are bound to be stressed out even more.

Being overly stressed during pregnancy could affect the fetus in more ways than one, so it is essential to make stress management a top priority.

New research now suggests that too much stress during early pregnancy could lead to a miscarriage, hence it is advisable to avoid stress during the early stage of pregnancy.

In this new study, researchers from the University of Michigan found that women who suffered from stress were three times more likely to have miscarriages during the first three weeks of pregnancy. The women who participated in the study did not know that they were pregnant due to the early stage of pregnancy.

Scientists stipulated that the stress hormone cortisol could have a role in this, however, they were not sure. Thus, the research suggests that it is vital for pregnant women to stay stress-free, especially during the early stages of pregnancy. They stated that excessive stress may be something like the loss of a job, the end of a relationship with a loved one, the end of a marriage, or the death of a close family person, among others.

The research team, led by Pablo Nepomnaschy of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in America, measured cortisol levels three times a week, for a period of one year, in 61 women. The study is incidentally the first one to link increases in cortisol levels to very early-stage pregnancy loss.

Scientists believed that most miscarriages are known to occur during the first three weeks of pregnancy. They thought that the only way to capture the first three weeks of pregnancy was by collecting urine samples from these women before they became pregnant.

The researchers studied the cortisol levels in 22 pregnancies that occurred in 16 women, and they found that 90 percent of women, whose ages ranged from 18 to 34, had elevated levels of the cortisol and miscarried during the first three weeks of pregnancy as compared to 33 percent of those with normal levels.

In another series of studies conducted by researchers in Germany, it was shown that when pregnant mice were subjected to different forms of stress, such as loud noises, among others, they developed hormonal imbalances that could potentially turn the immune system against the fetus.

The researchers think cortisol, released during stress, suppresses the production of progesterone, which is a hormone responsible for a healthy pregnancy. This reportedly sets off a domino effect that eventually stops the immune system from tolerating the foreign cells of the fetus.

Lead researcher Petra Arck conducted a study to see the effect of stress on 864 pregnant women. They found that the 55 women, who miscarried, reported a higher level of stress and lower levels of progesterone as compared to the others. Arck also said that they were able to prevent the miscarriages of mice, who were under stress, by giving them an artificial version of progesterone and that she hoped to try out the same in pregnant women in the near future.

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Relax and Focus on Your Health

One of the best ways to relax is by laughing, whether it is by watching a comedy movie, or a TV serial, or anything amusing that is happening around you. Laughter, incidentally, is known to improve your mood by releasing chemicals in your brain. Take good care of your health and do not exhaust yourself.

Take a Deep Breath

You could consider doing prenatal yoga and meditation under the supervision of your physician. Visualize good things about your baby. Meditation for just about 20 minutes in a day will calm you down and moreover, you could do it anywhere you wish.

When stress levels become overwhelming, take a break, sit down in a quiet place, and close your eyes. Take five full breaths and when doing so, notice the rising and falling of your chest muscles. This helps you calm down instantly.

Eat Well, Stay Hydrated, and Get Plenty of Sleep

There cannot be a better time than now to eat a good, balanced meal. Remember, your baby needs all the vital nutrients, whether it is omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, or minerals.

Fishes, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, among others, are not only good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, but also help in reducing depression as well.

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, mainly found in nuts, seeds, fresh chicken, eggs, and yogurt not only helps you sleep well by raising the brain chemicals serotonin and melanin, but also boosts your feeling of well-being.

Drink plenty of water and juices to stay well hydrated throughout the day as dehydration is known to cause headaches and also affects your mood.

Rest and get plenty of sleep while you can.

Exercise

Gentle exercises are not only good to keep your body fit but is also good for the baby. Brisk walking for about 20 minutes in a day is a good way to start. Pregnancy yoga helps you control your anxieties by teaching you to breathe and relax. You could also consider swimming after taking approval from your physician; it keeps your body toned without being too hard on your joints. At work, make sure you get up and stretch once in a while, especially if your work calls for being bound to the desk most of the time.

Ask for Help

During pregnancy, even simple household chores can sometimes become overwhelming. Dont let this stress you out, take help from friends and family who could provide all the support you need to get through this not only during pregnancy but even after the baby is born. Ask your health care provider about other helpful resources within your community.

Take Childbirth Classes

Enrich your knowledge about labor and birth by taking child-birth classes. It will tell you what all you should expect during your pregnancy as well as when the baby is born. It will also teach you breathing and relaxation techniques.

So, to sum it up, if you are worried and concerned about early miscarriage, concentrate on taking good care of your health and your baby. Avoid the known risk factors and seek regular prenatal care. Remember, by taking good care and following your doctor advice, you will one day have the joy of holding your baby in your own arms!
There is a limited amount of scientific literature on the idea behind Indian classical music as a healing therapy. Its position in the genre of healing through music, though proven through the ages, has not been researched and applied as thoroughly and on the scale that it ought to have been. Every parent knows that soothing tones and sounds pacify even the most irritable of babies. Therefore, the primary proof of the efficacy of music or Raga therapy is the lullabies we sing to infants and toddlers. This is later heightened into Raga therapy for more mature perceptions of adults and adolescents. Practitioners of music therapy have living proof of the effectiveness of music in therapeutic applications on a daily basis. They treat conditions like stroke, brain injury, depression, autism, Alzheimers disease and many others.

The therapeutic effect of ragas in Hindustani and Carnatic classical music is a time-tested one, described in the ancient system of Nada Yoga. It channelizes vibrations emanating from sounds to uplift the level of the patients consciousness. Raga Chikitsa, an ancient manuscript in Tanjores Saraswati Mahal Library built by Raja Serfoji, a Maratha king, contains a treasure on ragas and spells out their application and use in fighting common ailments and diseases.

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How does the system of Raga therapy actually work? A Raga is a sequence of selected notes (swaras) that lend appropriate mood or emotion in a selective combination. Its a yoga system through the medium of sonorous sounds. Depending on its nature, a raga could induce or intensify joy or sorrow, violence or peace, and it is this quality which forms the basis for musical application. Thus, a whole range of emotions and their nuances could be captured and communicated within certain melodies. Playing, performing and even listening to appropriate ragas can work as a medicine.

To be rendered effective, Ragas are used in a combination with Ayurveda, the ancient science of Vedic healing. A Raga must be played or sung to a patient keeping in mind his/her physical nature of vata, pitta or kapha.

Vata is responsible for all kinds of movement in the body

Pitta is responsible for digestion and metabolism

Kapha is responsible for all structure and lubrication in the mind and body

The time assigned to the Raga during the day or night is also important. Moreover, it is to be seen whether the time of the day or night is naturally suited to vata, pitta and kapha.

Lets take an example. Early morning is the natural kapha time for Ayurveda. A kapha-type person should be treated to an early morning Raga like Bhairav, to cure physical imbalances. The later part of the morning and afternoon is pitta time. Raga Bilawal can be used during these hours to treat patients. Late afternoon and evening is vata time, when Raga Pooriya Dhanashri and Marwa can be used as a cure. It is very important, however, that the Ayurvedic constitution of the patient be kept in mind  as to whether he or she is a vata, pitta or kapha person.

The people at the core of this treatment would be the music therapist, the client, the clinical facility whether at home or in a hospital, and music providers. Music therapists interact with their clients and the use of music. They assess their clients and create a clinical plan for treatment in coordination with the team and client goals. This is what determines the course of clinical sessions. A music therapist works within a client-centered, goal-directed framework.
Telugu superstar Venkatesh made his OTT debut and return to Bollywood with the Netflix web series Rana Naidu which also saw him unite on-screen with his nephew Rana Daggubati.

An official remake of the American show Ray Donovan, Rana Naidu caught many by surprise especially the fans of Venkatesh who saw him hurling abuses and mouthing extremely sleazy language throughout the show for the first time ever.

The shows obscenity became the talk of the town with many even saying that shows like Sacred Games and Mirzapur seem highly sober in front of Rana Naidu.

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Now, a report in Bollywood Hungama has claimed that the backlash received by the show has resulted in a major change in its season 2 that is definitely happening thanks to huge viewership of the first season.

In the report, it is mentioned that indirectly referring to the show, actress Vijayashanthi slammed it advising censorship on OTT platforms.

As per sources, the backlash that the show has received has affected its helmers severely and they have now decided to tone down the abuses and obscenity in the second season heavily.

 Netflix

A source told the website, Rana Naidu is a big hit on Netflix. If people were so outraged by its content how come it has clicked big time? So no, the second season wont be scrapped. But yes, it will be severely toned down.

Besides Venkatesh and Rana, the show also features Sushant Singh, Surveen Chawla, Gaurav Chopra, Abhishek Banerjee, Rajesh Jais and Ashish Vidyarthi among others.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on March 24 with the new Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia George Sharvashidze.

PM Pashinyan congratulated Ambassador Sharvashidze on taking office and expressed confidence that his activities will boost the development of the Armenian-Georgian relationship, the Prime Ministers Office said in a readout.

The Prime Minister praised the Armenia-Georgia cooperation course and attached importance to further expanding the economic ties and initiatives aimed at utilizing untapped potential.

Ambassador Sharvashidze vowed to make maximum efforts to strengthen the Armenian-Georgian ties.

PM Pashinyan and Ambassador Sharvashidze exchanged views around prospects of cooperation and discussed the trade-economic agenda. In this context they attached importance to active contacts and mutual-visits between business circles and their involvement in investment programs.

The importance of the signing of the agreement on introducing simplified visa-free travel requirements between Armenia and Georgia was stressed in terms of strengthening humanitarian ties.

Both sides attached importance to regional stability and peace.
Stranger Things has taken the world by storm and brought the 80s back with a bang. And with the retro vibes in full swing, it's no surprise that men's fashion and hairstyles are also getting a major throwback.

We're seeing a resurgence of the bold, edgy looks that defined the 80sthink big, voluminous hair, sharp fades and daring, geometric shapes.

But why the sudden interest in 80s hairstyles? Part of it may be nostalgia, the other part is individuality. For many people, the 80s were a decade of long hair, bold fashion, and iconic music. From Madonna to Michael Jackson, Prince to Cyndi Lauper, the '80s were a pop culture explosion. And with that came some seriously stylish hair.

So if youre looking for some statement hairstyles from the 80s, have a look at these.

1. The Mullet

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This iconic 80s hairstyle is all about balance, with short, neatly trimmed sides and a long, flowing mane in the back. Perfect for guys who want to show off their wild side without going too over the top.



2. The Jheri Curl

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This is a classic 80s look, with tight, glossy curls that are perfect for adding volume and shine to your hair. Just make sure to use plenty of hair gel and a curl activator to keep your curls looking fresh and bouncy.



3. The Perm

If you want to add some serious body and texture to your hair, a perm is a way to go. This 80s classic involves using chemicals to permanently alter the structure of your hair, creating tight, bouncy curls that will last for months.

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4. The Flat Top

This bold, geometric hairstyle is all about precision and symmetry. To achieve the look, you'll need to get your hair trimmed into a sharp, rectangular shape that sits straight across the top of your head.

5. The High and tight

This is a classic military-inspired haircut, with short, closely cropped sides and a longer, tapered top. It's an excellent choice for guys who want a clean, streamlined look that's easy to maintain.



6. The Fro

This big, bold 80s hairstyle is all about volume and texture. To achieve the look, you'll need to let your hair grow out long and thick, then use a wide-tooth comb and plenty of hair oil to create big, bouncy curls.



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7. The Side ponytail

This fun, playful hairstyle is perfect for guys who want to add a touch of 80s flair to their look. Gather your hair into a low ponytail on one side of your head, and secure it with a hair tie.



8. The Spikey hair

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This bold, edgy look is all about texture and height. To achieve the look, you'll need to use plenty of hair gel and a fine-tooth comb to create sharp, pointed spikes that stand up straight.



9. The Feathered hair

This is a softer, more feminine take on the 80s hairstyle trend. To achieve the look, you'll need to use a wide-tooth comb and plenty of hair gel to create soft, wavy layers that frame your face.



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10. The Mohawk

This is the ultimate 80s hairstyle, with a bold, daring strip of hair down the centre of the head and short, closely cropped sides. It's a great choice for guys who want to make a statement with their hair.



11. The Rat tail

This iconic 80s hairstyle involves having a long, thin strip of hair left at the back of the head, resembling a rat's tail. This look was popularized by rockstars and rebels alike and is perfect for those looking to add a bit of edge to their hairstyle.



12. The Shag

The shag is a messy, layered hairstyle that originated in the 70s and became a staple of the 80s. With choppy layers and a carefree attitude, the shag is perfect for those who want to embrace their inner rockstar.

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13. The Long and curly hair

The 80s were all about big, bold hair, and nowhere was this more evident than in the long and curly hairstyles that were popular at the time. Think Bon Jovi and Prince, with their wild locks flowing freely. This look is perfect for those with naturally curly hair, or for those willing to put in the extra effort to create some curls.

14. The Afro

The afro is a timeless hairstyle that has been worn by many iconic figures throughout history. In the 80s, it was embraced by everyone from political activists to pop stars and is still a popular choice for those looking to make a statement with their hair.

15. The Cornrows

Cornrows are a traditional African hairstyle that involves braiding the hair close to the scalp. In the 80s, they were popularized by hip-hop culture and are still a go-to for those looking for a cool, edgy hairstyle.



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16. The Dreadlocks

Dreadlocks are a type of hairstyle that allows hair to dread and knot together naturally. In the 80s, they were often associated with reggae and Rastafarian culture and are still a popular choice for those looking to embrace a more bohemian aesthetic.



17. The Pompadour

The pompadour is a classic hairstyle that involves sweeping the hair upwards and back, creating a voluminous, pomp-like appearance. In the 80s, it was popularized by rockstars and rebels alike and is still a popular choice for those looking to add some height and drama to their hairstyle.



18. The Undercut

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The undercut is a hairstyle that involves shaving the sides and back of the head, leaving a strip of longer hair on top. In the 80s, it was often paired with a mohawk or a rat tail for a truly rebellious look.



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19. The Slicked back hair

The slicked-back hair is a sleek, polished hairstyle that involves combing the hair back, away from the face. In the 80s, it was often paired with a sharp suit and a strong jawline and is still a popular choice for those looking to exude confidence and power.



20. The Sideburns

Sideburns are a type of facial hair that extends from the hairline down the sides of the face. In the 80s, they were often worn long and thick and were a popular choice for those looking to add some extra ruggedness to their look.

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Conclusion

If you're thinking about embracing the 80s trend, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, choosing a hairstyle that works with your face shape and hair type is important. For example, a mullet may not be the best choice for someone with fine, straight hair, while a mohawk may be too extreme for someone with a round face.

It's also important to consider the occasion and your style. A mullet may be perfect for a rock concert, but it might not be the best choice for a job interview.

Overall, the 80s trend is a fun and creative way to express yourself through your hair. Whether you're a fan of big hair, bold colours, or rebellious styles, there's an 80s hairstyle out there that's perfect for you.

So go ahead and embrace the throwback trend, and let your hair do the talking.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan have found mutually-acceptable, albeit non-ideal wordings in the several rounds of peace treaty talks, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Friday.

However, he stressed that the issues of primary importance are still under discussion.

We were able to find non-ideal, but mutually-acceptable wordings around numerous issues, the foreign minister told lawmakers during the parliamentary foreign relations committee hearings.

Thereve been discussions, exchange of views, some compromised texts were drafted. Unfortunately, this pertains to the non-priority issues. All priority issues are still under discussion. And I wont hesitate to say that in most part the positions of the parties are rather far from each other.

The FM was asked by MP Agnessa Khamoyan to comment whether or not theres any issue that Armenia and Azerbaijan have thus far agreed upon.

There is no mediation in this negotiations process, FM Mirzoyan said. He stressed that these negotiations are bilateral talks.

He said that Armenia is notifying the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group  the US, Russia and France  on the peace treaty talks.

Asked which option is being discussed  the version proposed by the West or by Russia, the FM said: A Western option simply doesnt exist. There was a Russian option over the course, meaning thereve been parameters. We agreed to take it as a basis, but the Azerbaijani side didnt. The rest is basically the Armenian-Azerbaijani option.

Neither the collective West nor any individual country has offered an option of a peace treaty, he said.
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Turkey have agreed to open the border for citizens of third countries and persons with diplomatic passports until the beginning of the 2023 tourist season, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said at the session of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly, adding that Yerevan is actively working in this direction.

Presenting the report on the progress and results of the implementation of the Government's Action Plan, the Minister said that the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey continued in 2022.

Mirzoyan reminded that on February 15 he was in Turkey to offer his condolences on the occasion of the many victims of the earthquake.

"We reaffirmed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey the readiness to open the Armenian-Turkish border for citizens of third countries and persons with diplomatic passports before the start of this year's tourist season," said Mirzoyan.
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. The message spread by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that the units of the Artsakh Defense Army opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions located in the occupied territories of the Martuni region of the Republic of Artsakh on the evening of March 24 is another disinformation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh.
The European Unions next, 11th package of anti-Russian sanctions will be aimed at countering loopholes and circumvention, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after the first day of the EU summit in Brussels, Tass informs.

March 24, 2023, 10:35 EUs 11th package of anti-Russian sanctions to focus on circumvention and loopholes

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 24 , ARTSAKHPRESS: "The 11th package of sanctions will <> mainly deal with the question of circumvention and how we can go against it," she said.

She did not elaborate whether the new package of sanctions was already in the works and gave no timeframes for imposing it.

The European Union expanded its anti-Russian sanctions after Russia began its special military operation in Ukraine last year. A total of 10 packages of sanctions have been imposed since. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said earlier that no new restrictions were being discussed at that point.
Women and girls wanting to improve their hunting skills can attend a workshop in Tuscola County offered by the DNR.

As part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program, the organization is offering a Beyond BOW turkey hunt workshop for women and girls. During the weekend of May 12 and 13, the program is geared toward those to want to improve upon their hunting abilities as well as learn new skills.

"We are so appreciative to these sponsors for their continued support for this program," said BOW coordinator Michelle Douglas.

The free workshop is open to any properly licensed woman hunter ages 10 or older. No experience is required, as proper safety and hunting techniques will be taught.

On the first day of the event, participants will gain knowledge of turkey biology, general turkey hunting techniques, turkey calls and calling, hunting ethics, general firearm safety, and shooting. They will also get a chance to be paired with hunting mentors. On Saturday, May 13, both participants and mentors will meet at the DNR's Cass City field office to hunt after breakfast. After lunch, participants will be able to clean their turkeys and take them home.

The event, sponsored by The National Wild Turkey Federation, Cabela's, and Ben's Great Outdoors, will be held at the DNR office in Cass City. In order to participate in the event, attendees must have a Michigan base hunting license and a turkey hunting license, which can be purchased prior to attending the workshop.

The event is available to first-time BOW turkey workshop participants only and enrollment space is limited. The deadline for registration is May 1, 2023. Class information and registration materials are available online at Michigan.gov/BOW.

For more information about the event, including how to sign up for the program, contact Michelle Douglas at 517-582-3854 or Ron Sting at 989-872-5300.
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BIG RAPIDS  Elves, dragons and gelatinous cubes have taken over Ferris State University's theater department.

This year's spring play, She Kills Monsters by Qui Ngyuen, runs March 22-26 in the Williams Auditorium, 630 S. Michigan Ave.

The play is based on the popular tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons, as seen in the Netflix series Stranger Things. As the name implies, it features a large host of different monsters, from elves, kobolds, dragons and liches, to mimics, gelatinous cubes, shambling mounds, fairies and succubi.

Community liaison/social media manager Ainsley Miller said as someone who has played Dungeons & Dragons for eight years, she was really excited to be a part of it.

It's definitely a big '90s show. Youll get it if you're a '90s kid or know the '90s very well, you'll get all the references, she said.

Many of the creature costumes were handmade by members of the cast and crew.

Being able to find D&D costumes is kind of hard. We made a lot of costumes, Tilly up there, her armor breastplate was handmade by our fairy. Our big boss battle at the very end is all completely made by hand, lead Abigail Beveridge said.

Freshman Max Sorek, who plays an elf, said on the second day of wearing elf ears that even though its challenging, shed love to do another play with creature makeup.

I like being able to do creature makeup. I like the way that we go from the real world into the D&D world pretty seamlessly, and the way that it blends together, versus the human world, and then you get the dragons and the monsters and stuff, Sorek said.

Beveridge said there are a lot of DND characters and monsters that people in the cast recognize if theyve ever done a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

There's a lot of fun stuff in here that a lot of us, we tend to get. It's kind of fun seeing a story, a play behind a D&D adventure, she said.

The play will still be easily understandable and fun for those who have never played Dungeons & Dragons.

We get some of the terminology that some people might not get, but we try to make it easy and base level not too complicated or anything, she said.

The play has a serious message about bullying of people on the LGBTQ spectrum, as well as some traumatic events that happen to the lead character Agnes.

It uses some of the monsters and the Dungeons & Dragons campaign to portray these struggles in a more fantastical, metaphorical way.

We all really take pride in each of the characters, even the really bad ones, Beveridge said.

Actor Mason Yarnell said the play was much different than he thought it would be.

Don't come in with expectations or an image in your mind. It's gonna be really different than that image, he said.

The show has lots of sword fight choreography.

We got to learn that for the show and it was a lot of fun. We go through each and every single fight to make sure that we're all safe and we know what we're doing for those fight scenes, Beveridge said.

IF YOU GO

She Kills Monsters
The city of Bad Axe and the Bad Axe Chamber of Commerce welcomed Green Girl Wellness into its new home, holding a ribbon cutting March 20, the first day of spring.

Shar Mohr, owner of Green Girl Wellness started the business to help people find affordable alternatives for health and wellness back in 2018, but closed during the pandemic. She reopened in April of last year, but was at a location on Scott Street. After being offered a chance to move into the old Fair Trade Shop after the store moved out, Mohr moved in last July.

"It was kind of a rocky start just getting (into the business), but people were excited about what I did," said Mohr. "I started with hemp primarily because at the time that is what everybody was demanding and was interested in, not so much the other herbals. I was a little discouraged, but natural health, in general, has been an interest for many years."

Bad Axe Mayor Kathleen Particka was also in attendance to celebrate Mohr and is excited to see her thrive in the community.

"It is phenomenal and she will do very, very well," said Particka. "To come in and see what it is all about, it is amazing."

Representatives from the Bad Axe Chamber of Commerce were in attendance to congratulate Mohr and Green Girl Wellness on the success of the business and its new location.

"Today we are celebrating the business opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the first day of spring, it is very fitting," said Kaitlyn Fay, chamber of commerce president. "Through her business, Shar has been proving the community with alternative natural health products and education for years and has become an active chamber member, and we are very lucky to have her."

"Green Girl Wellness is a place where everyone should be able to feel welcome and excited to take care of themselves naturally," Mohr said. "I work integratively, so with modern medicine as well, and just helping people to find affordable and easy-to-use ways to boost their health and wellness and improve their quality of life."

Mohr said that coming off of the pandemic, she chose to hold her ribbon cutting later after she became stable because she was not sure what would happen after she reopened. She was pleased to find out that the community she made her business in stood behind her and supported the business.

"It feels as though I have a purpose in a bigger way than I had hoped," Mohr said. "I knew I liked what I was doing and I had a small base of people who were receiving help (from my products), veterans, people with COPD, and chronic illnesses were being a little let down by modern medicine. They weren't quite getting the care they needed so now I see more and more people say, 'I see what you are doing.' The people are Green Girl Wellness more than me it seems."

For Mohr, it has mainly been word of mouth for her store and she said she is grateful for the support that the community has given her business, especially being in a rural area.

Mohr has also shown support back to the community as well, as Fay from the chamber shared her thoughts about the ribbon cutting for an active chamber member.

"It's wonderful to have our bigger businesses (succeed), but it is also nice to have our sole proprietors growing and being comfortable enough to be able to do things in the community," said Fay. "It feels good to see (Mohr) participate and be active in the community."

Green Girl Wellness is located at 102 East Huron Ave. and can be found on Facebook and Instagram @greengirlwellness_mi.
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LANSING  Michigan, long known as a mainstay of organized labor, on Friday became the first state in decades to repeal a union-restricting law known as right-to-work that was passed over a decade ago by a Republican-controlled Legislature.

The state's right-to-work law had allowed those in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying union dues and fees. Its repeal is seen as a major victory for organized labor with union membership reaching an all-time low last year.

"Today, we are coming together to restore workers rights, protect Michiganders on the job, and grow Michigans middle class, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday after signing the legislation.

The second-term governor also signed legislation restoring a prevailing wage law that had been repealed by Republicans in 2018. It requires contractors hired for state projects to pay union-level wages.

"This is about the opportunity for people to make a living wage in Michigan when they're dong this kind of work, particularly in construction," said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. "We believe people who are doing hard work should be paid so that they can support themselves and support their families and that's what this was looking to restore."

State Rep. Bill G Schuette, R-Midland, said that the prevailing wage is another case of Michigan "heading down the wrong path" and is an inefficient use of tax payer dollars.

"It's disrespectful to the wallets of Michiganders," he said.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which promoted Right to Work when it was enacted in 2012, said in a press release that repealing the law was a mistake and makes Michigan less attractive to workers.

"Gov. Whitmer and Democratic lawmakers have just committed a massive, unforced error that weakens Michigans ability to compete globally and signals to the world that there are better places than Michigan to live, work, invest, and create jobs," said Joseph G. Lehman, president of the Mackinac Center.

Schuette agreed that repealing the law was taking Michigan in the wrong direction and driving workers away from the state instead of encouraging them to live and work here.

"It's basically going to put a closed for business sign on the state of Michigan and that's going to hurt everybody in our state," he said.

Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, disagrees. She said repealing the law will improve the lives of workers in Michigan, particularly those in the middle class.

"In the Midwest, Minnesota has the highest standard of living...and Minnesota is not a Right to Work state," she said.

Lehman claims that repealing the law would help only some Michiganders with short term benefits.

"Some of our state elected officials have made it resoundingly clear that they are willing to sacrifice many to serve a few," Lehman stated in a press release. "That may be politics, but it is not leadership. The Mackinac Center is committed to a freer and more prosperous Michigan, helping all people for the long term rather than benefiting just a few in the short."

McDonald Rivet said repealing the law would aid the large middle class, but may have adverse effects on those in the upper class.

"What's important to note is that in the past 10 years since Right to Work was passed, we have not seen a rebound of economic initiative," she said. "We have fallen to the bottom in income (growth) and the gap between the working class and the top one percent has grown substantially."

Repealing the law had long been listed as a top priority for Democrats, who took control of the full state government this year for the first time in 40 years.

Supporters of the repeal poured into the state Capitol in Lansing earlier this month as the House and Senate took up the legislation before approving it along party lines after limited deliberations.

Its a new day here in Lansing, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said prior to the vote. Its time to once again make Michigan known as a place where workers want to come."

Democrats had argued that the law allowed for free riders that received union representation without having to pay fees or dues. Without it, unions can now require all workers in a unionized workplace to pay fees for the cost of representation in bargaining.

Michigan had the nations seventh-highest percentage of unionized workers when the right-to-work law was enacted in 2012, but that dropped to 11th in 2022. Over the past decade, union membership in Michigan has fallen by 2.6 percentage points as overall U.S. union membership has been falling steadily for decades, reaching an all-time low last year of 10.1%.

Michigan becomes the first state in 58 years to repeal a right-to-work law, with Indiana repealing its in 1965 before Republicans there restored it in 2012. In 2017, Missouri's Republican Legislature approved a right-to-work law, but it was blocked from going into effect before voter's overwhelmingly rejected it the next year.

In total, 26 states now have right-to-work laws in place. There were massive protests in Indiana and Wisconsin in recent years after those legislatures voted to curb union rights.

In Michigan, thousands of union supporters descended on Michigans Capitol to protest in 2012 when the Republican controlled Statehouse pushed the right-to-work legislation through without hearings.

Neighbored by state's with right-to-work laws, Republicans say the repeal will lead to Michigan becoming less attractive to businesses and will lead to forced union membership.

These wide swings in public policy, this whiplash effect that were possibly seeing here in Michigan isnt helpful for a stable economic climate or for growing jobs in Michigan, Wendy Block of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce said during committee hearing earlier this month.

The legislation Whitmer signed also includes $1 million in appropriations, which Republicans say is to ensure they are referendum-proof. The Michigan Constitution states that bills with appropriations attached to them are not subject to a public referendum in which voters could reject the law.

Whitmer promised in her 2019 State of the State speech to veto bills designed to cut out the publics right of referendum.

Schuette said Whitmer was hypocritical for signing the law with appropriations after "repeatedly promising she would not sign referendum-proof legislation."

"It really represents the worst of politics when you say one thing on the campaign trail and once you're in power you completely (disregard) it," he said.

The Democratic governor on Friday also signed legislation repealing a third-grade reading law that required students to repeat the grade if they test more than one grade level behind in reading and writing.
The northern lights were photographed at 11 p.m. on March 23, 2023, in Gladwin.

The northern lights were photographed at 11 p.m. on March 23, 2023, in Gladwin.

Lucky Michigan residents were in for a surprise Thursday night into early Friday morning thanks to bursts of solar energy that impacted Earth's magnetic field that surrounds the outside of our planet.

Tyler Leipprandt, the man behind the lens at Michigan Sky Media, captured numerous photos of the auroras, also known as northern lights, Thursday night over Mission Point Lighthouse in Traverse City.

Some skywatchers called it the best show theyd ever seen, as it covered the sky for hours.

A geomagnetic storm warning was issued Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. The warning had a G4 (severe) classification, making auroras visible in northern parts of the United States and further south than usual.

Other residents caught a glimpse of some northern lights, too. A trooper for the Michigan State Police Gaylord Post snapped the below image at midnight Thursday during their shift.

In Michigan's Thumb, the news outlet Huron Daily Tribune posted photos to Facebook that were taken Thursday night in Kinde and Port Austin. The outlet asked residents to share shots of the lights in the comments.

Vivid northern lights displays usually follow a few days after solar events, known as coronal mass ejections, according to NASA. When a solar storm comes toward us, some energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth's atmosphere.

The particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in striking displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red lights. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.

With the geomagnetic storm warning in effect until Saturday, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, there is a chance to see northern lights again Friday night  so mittens crossed.

There are several spots to catch the show, thanks to the states low light pollution, Pure Michigan, the state's leading tourism campaign, said.

Northern Michigan sits in a great location latitude-wise, as the auroral oval dips further south on nights of stronger auroral activity," Pure Michigan explained in a blog post. "The Upper Peninsula is blessed with hundreds of miles of shoreline along the south shore of Lake Superior, which provides some of the best northern lights viewing in the lower 48 due to the very dark night skies."

Pure Michigan listed Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Eagle River, Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor, among other locations around the state, as optimal viewing areas.
A Sebewaing man has pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.

Brandon Paul Hutchinson, 39, pleaded guilty on March 20 in Huron County 52nd Circuit Court to one count of failure to comply with reporting duties as a sex offender.



Hutchinson was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, personal injury, in Tuscola County's 54th Circuit Court in April of 2010.

The failure to comply charge, which stemmed from an incident in July 2022 in Fairhaven Township, is a high court misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.

In exchange for the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss an additional count, declined to add a habitual offender enhancement to the charge and won't file any additional charges in the case.

Judge Gerald M. Prill scheduled sentencing for Monday, May 15 at 9 a.m.
After more than 20 marijuana dispensary break-ins across Michigan, the state's attorney general urges Congress to change the federal banking law.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday she issued warrants for 12 people believed to be responsible for the break-ins which occurred in May 2022.

Some of the suspects were identified with the help of the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department after they attempted to break a safe stolen from one of the dispensaries by throwing it off the rooftop of a house, according to Nessel's office in a Thursday press release. The investigation discovered 20 dispensaries with related break-ins during the time.

Most of the 12 defendants are being charged with safe breaking, a life felony; criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony; and breaking and entering a building with intent, a 10-year felony, according to Nessel's office.

Two defendants were recently arrested in a separate case involving an alleged attempted theft from a dispensary in Bay County in March 2022. The Bay County Prosecutors Office is handling that investigation, which is separate from these charges.

"This is an unfortunate example of why Congress must pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act," Nessel said in the Thursday release. "Without access to traditional banking, the cannabis industry is left as a ripe target for criminals. Any legal business should have fair access to our banking institutions for the security of their own business and employees as well as public safety."

Recreational marijuana was legalized in 2018 in Michigan but remains illegal at the federal level so many banks avoid providing services including loans, lines of credit and even checking accounts to cannabis companies. This has made cannabis an industry dominated by cash, which can cause security concerns and be an expansionary constraint.

The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, also known as the SAFE banking act, was introduced in 2021. It would prohibit federal banking regulators from penalizing a depository institute for accepting a legitimate marijuana business as a client. It would also prevent federal regulators from denying or limiting depository insurance to banks with legitimate marijuana clients.

Supporters of the banking act, including Democratic Rep. Denny Heck of Washington, characterized it as a public safety measure, according to reporting by The Associated Press. In urging lawmakers in the House to vote yes, Heck relayed the story of a 24-year-old Marine veteran, Travis Mason, who was shot and killed during a robbery of a dispensary in Denver in 2016.

"Because the federal law did not allow for that business to be banked, to be within the guardrails of the financial system, an evil person walked in that night and shot Travis dead," Heck said in 2019 when the bill passed the House. "That does not have to happen. It is not hypothetical."

Rob Nichols, president of the American Bankers Association, called the House vote "a significant step forward for public safety, transparency and common sense."

"By helping to provide clarity for the financial sector in those states where cannabis is legal, this bill will help banks meet the needs of their communities while reducing cash-motivated crimes, increasing the efficiency of tax collections and improving the cannabis industrys financial accountability," he said.

Opponents said it would facilitate the spread of marijuana, according to reporting by the AP. In a 2019 written statement, Kevin Sabet of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana noted that hundreds of people have been sickened and several have died after using marijuana vaping products.

"Surely this is not the time to reward Big Marijuana with investment opportunities," Sabet wrote. "Granting this industry access to banks will bring billions of dollars of institutional investment from the titans of addiction and vastly expand the harms we are already witnessing."

In Michigan, with 487 licenses so far distributed, 189 metric tons of cannabis are produced annually, according to a 2021 report by Leafly, bringing in $736 million to the state and its farmers. That makes the cannabis crop the third most valuable crop in the state, second to corn and soybeans. That's more than the values of the hay and apple crops combined.
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EAST HAMPTON  The 1998 homicide of a local home health aide who was strangled at an apartment above a Main Street laundromat is the focus of a new episode of American Detective With Lt. Joe Kenda on Discovery Plus.

Gerald Brian Tuttle, the buildings maintenance worker, was sentenced to 18 years in jail after being convicted of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree kidnapping in August 2016 for killing Gertrude Trudy Ochankowski, 60.

Ochankowski, the mother of two daughters, was found in a stream off Tartia Road in January 1998. An autopsy concluded that she had been strangled.

The shows season two premiere, The Creek, which was filmed in town, will be available for streaming Wednesday starting at 4 a.m.

The episode includes scenes of Lake Pocotopaug and Main Street.

The episode stars Kenda, who is retired from the Colorado Springs Police Department, and Detective Garritt Kelly, a former East Hampton police sergeant.

Tuttle was charged in December 2013 as a fugitive from justice at his home in Surfside Beach, S.C.

Trudy was a loving, warm person and she would give you the most amazing hugs you could possibly imagine, her friend Melissa Bradbury said in the show. Your whole world was safe when Trudy hugged you.

She always put her life aside for someone else, Bradbury added. You dont find people like that. You just dont.

Police had already been looking for Ochankowski that day after her car was found in a parking lot at 82 Main St. with the engine running. Her dog Muffin, a constant companion, was inside the car, which was parked outside the laundromat. Police said at the time they believed Ochankowski had been forced into an apartment above the laundromat and killed.

She would never do that. She would never leave her dog, especially for that extent of time. Somethings wrong, Bradbury said in the show. The way she was treated was awful  awful.

High school students went to a local hangout at Falls / Engel Falls, a remote area, after school around 3 p.m., Kenda says at the start of the episode. While throwing rocks into the water off a bridge, they saw something below, went down to investigate, and made a grisly discovery: A woman, face-down with her hands tied behind her back in shallow water, Kenda says.

Kelly immediately knew it was Ochankowski, he said, who had lived in town her entire life.

It takes a rare breed to solve the unsolvable, to catch a ruthless killer; to find justice for the dead, Kenda says in the show.

East Hampton at the time was a sleepy community, he added.

They hadnt had a homicide for 10 years, he said.

Ever since Kelly got on the force, he said in the episode, I always wanted to get involved in the big one. I had no idea what was to come.

Investigators eventually located some tape that was used to bind Ochankowskis hands, drag marks and tire tracks. Detectives realized they were looking at a dump site, not a crime scene, Kenda says in American Detective.

When officers interviewed her boyfriend, he mentioned a man who had been spying on her through her bedroom window, the episode details. Mr. Peeping Tom  someone of interest, finally, Kenda narrated.

As a result, Ochankowski wanted to move somewhere else, he added.

Almost from the beginning, investigators focused on Tuttle, police said at the time.

Sixteen years later, in 2013, advanced technology helped investigators identify DNA that was found in her car, Kelly said in the episode. They were able to match Tuttles cigarette butts while he was being questioned to the DNA found in Ochankowskis vehicle, he added.

When Tuttle appeared in state Superior Court at Middletown, Kelly was surprised to see he was morbidly obese, on oxygen and in a wheelchair, very immobile, he said in the show.

Karma comes back, Bradbury said in the episode.

Tuttle eventually pleaded guilty to the crime in August 2016 and was sentenced to 20 years in jail, suspended after 18 years, and five years probation for first-degree manslaughter and second-degree kidnapping. He was also sentenced to 20 years in jail, suspended after 12 years, followed by five years probation for kidnapping, according to state judicial records.

Film clips can be found at bit.ly/3qQmSWz. For information on the show, go to bit.ly/3IHKv9V. The episode link is at discoveryplus.com.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of 12 patients from blockaded Artsakh to Armenia for treatment on March 24, according to the Nagorno Karabakh healthcare authorities.

March 24, 2023, 12:30 ICRC facilitates transfer of 12 patients from Artsakh

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 24 , ARTSAKHPRESS: Another 8 persons, together with their attendants, returned to Nagorno Karabakh following treatment in Armenia, the healthcare ministry said in a statement.

Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, 12 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology and cardiovascular system have been transported today, on March 24, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

8 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with an accompanying persons.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh.

5 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of the Arevik medical centre.

8 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 3 of them in critical condition.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Four of five former Memphis police officers charged in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who was handcuffed, brutally beaten and ignored by first responders for crucial minutes despite being barely conscious, can no longer work as law enforcement in Tennessee.

The Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission, or P.O.S.T., voted Friday to decertify Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith. The state panel also approved the decision by Desmond Mills to surrender his certification.

The former officers have 30 days to appeal.

The beating of the 29-year-old Black man happened during a late-night traffic stop Jan. 7. The commission subsequently released documents showing that Haley dragged Nichols from his vehicle and never explained why he was stopped, and that he also took photos of Nichols slumped against the car after he was pummeled by officers and sent the pictures to colleagues.

Nichols died at a hospital Jan. 10.

Early police accounts minimized the violence of the traffic stop  accounts since disproven by witness statements and police and surveillance video  and their specialized unit was disbanded. Two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical workers and a lieutenant were also fired.

The five former police officers charged with second-degree murder have all pleaded not guilty.

The Memphis Police Department requested the decertification of seven of the former Memphis officers involved, including one who retired before he could be fired.

None of the fired officers or their attorneys attended their hearings before the commission on Thursday or its vote on Friday.

Mills attorney said his client had been wrongly indicted and was focusing on his freedom.

Its a waste of time, attorney Blake Ballin said of the decertification attempt. It is meaningless to him at this stage in his life.

An attorney for Haley declined to comment on the decertification vote. Attorneys for Martin and Smith did not immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment.

In a letter included in the file seeking his decertification, Smith defended his conduct, stating that Nichols was violent and would not comply.

The fifth former officer charged, Tadarrius Bean, has not yet had his decertification hearing before the commission. Neither have two former officers who were not charged: Preston Hemphill, who was terminated after firing a stun gun at Nichols during the traffic stop; and Dewayne Smith, the supervising lieutenant who arrived on scene after the beating, who retired instead of being fired.

A seventh police employee who was fired has not been publicly named.

During Nichols' funeral, Vice President Kamala Harris urged lawmakers to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a broad package of reforms that includes a national registry for police officers disciplined for misconduct, a ban on no-knock warrants and other measures.

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Associated Press reporter Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

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For more on the killing of Tyre Nichols: https://apnews.com/hub/tyre-nichols
The Russian Imperial Army has been portrayed as unfit to wage a modern war. It is best known for a catalogue of disasters at the hands of the Germans, notably at Tannenberg in 1914 and Gorlice-Tarnow in 1915, and then for its sudden collapse in the 1917 revolution.

Yet General Alexsei Brusilov launched one of the most successful offensives of the First World War in June 1916  an event in sharp contrast to the failed offensives at Verdun and on the Somme.

In 1914, Russian successes against the Austro-Hungarians and a subsequent advance to the Carpathian Mountains, which threatened an invasion of Hungary, were counter-balanced by defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes at the hands of the Germans.

The stalemate reached at the end of 1914 was broken by the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive of May 1915, which broke through the Russian defences east of Cracow and led to the Great Retreat of the Russians along the entire Eastern Front.

This rescued the Austro-Hungarians in the Carpathians, and ended the Russian threat to Hungary and Silesia. But, despite huge losses in men and materiel, the Russian armies survived and established a new line running from Riga in the north to Czernowitz in the south.

Many incompetent commanders were removed or reassigned, notably Nikolai Ivanov, who was replaced as commander of the South-Western Front by Alexei Brusilov in March 1916.

The winter of 1915/1916 allowed the Russians to rally. The Army recovered its strength, the war economy cranked up, and the munitions factories increased the production of shells. By 1916, the Russians were ready to take the offensive again. Brusilov was to play a major part in reversing Russian fortunes.

An Allied conference at Chantilly in December 1915 agreed that offensives would be launched on the French, Italian, and Russian fronts. The aim was to keep the forces of the Central Powers dispersed. The Russians were to attack by early June.

Accordingly, in April 1916, a conference of front commanders at Mogilev chaired by Tsar Nikolai and General Alekseev agreed to launch simultaneous assaults by all three fronts (Northern, Western, and South-Western). These Allied and Russian plans were disrupted by the German offensive at Verdun and the Austrian offensive at Asiago in Italy. This prompted the French and the Italians to increase the pressure for Russian action.

This was the immediate context for Russian attacks at Lake Naroch in March and on Brusilovs South-Western Front in June. Rather than attacking on a narrow front, Brusilov decided to launch simultaneous assaults with all his armies. This meant dispersion of force, not least artillery.

He was deliberately forsaking the concentrated, sustained artillery bombardment that usually preceded offensives and was designed to pulverise the enemys defences on a particular sector of the front. Both the Tsar and Alekseev opposed Brusilovs plan, arguing for the traditional approach and a concentration of Russias limited resources on a narrow front.

Making a virtue of their ammunition shortages, on 4 June 1916 the Russian artillery mounted an intense and brief but accurate and effective hurricane bombardment of the Austro-Hungarian defences.

Seeking shelter from the bombardment in their deep dugouts, the Austro-Hungarian defenders were unable to fire on the advancing Russians and, once their positions had been overrun, they surrendered in their thousands. By the end of the first day, there was a 20-mile wide by five-mile deep gap in the Austro-Hungarian line.

Brusilov had achieved the breakthrough that most commanders could only dream of during the First World War. As there were no substantial defences behind the first trench line, the Russians were able to advance very quickly during the next three days, capturing more than 200,000 enemy soldiers. The Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff was forced to seek German assistance and to close down the Asiago offensive as he moved his divisions back to Galicia.

Brusilov lacked the reserves to sustain his breakthrough offensive. The Russian Army was not yet mechanised, still relying on horse-drawn transport, and the creaking Russian infrastructure simply could not deliver the necessary flow of fresh men and munitions needed to power a continuous advance.

The incompetence of most senior Tsarist commanders  many of them court favourites and aristocratic non-entities  remained a crucial failing throughout the war. The high command was also divided by rivalries and personal disagreements which prevented close cooperation at crucial moments.

By the time Brusilov had regrouped, been reinforced by the Guard Army (Aleksandr Bezobrazov), and resumed the offensive on 28 July, the opportunity to exploit the initial success had passed.

In an impressive feat of logistics, the Germans had transferred ten infantry divisions so as to establish a defensive line opposite Brusilov strong enough to repulse renewed Russian attacks with heavy losses. Brusilov launched another offensive between 7 August and 20 September. This reached the Carpathian Mountains, but suffered further heavy losses, then lost momentum.

The offensive finally ran out of steam in October as Brusilov exhausted his supplies and reinforcements. Blaming the Tsarist system for his inability to exploit the initial success of his offensive, Brusilov, like many others, began to think that only revolution would enable Russia to modernise and secure victory.

Dr Simon Innes-Robbins, a graduate of the University of Nottingham and Kings College London, is Senior Archivist at the Imperial War Museums. This is an extract from an article that appeared in issue 71 of Military History Monthly.
As every Scotsman knows, in 1314, at midsummer, the might of the English army came to grief in the boggy ground below Stirling Castle. Heroic charges were not enough; the packed infantry formations of the Scots triumphed.

The King of Scots, Robert Bruce, had not wanted to risk battle, but in May his brother Edward had reached a deal with the English garrison of Stirling. The deal was that the castle would be surrendered, unless it was relieved by an English army before midsummer. The challenge was one which even the worthless English king, Edward II, could not ignore. Both sides knew that the battle would be fought close to Stirling Castle.

Recruited at short notice, the English army was formidable, probably consisting of up to 3,000 cavalry and some 10,000 infantry. Scottish numbers are hard to estimate, but between 7,000 and 10,000 men seems reasonable.

There were two days of fighting at Bannockburn  extraordinary in an age when most battles lasted a few hours. On the first day, a force of English cavalry under Robert Clifford rode towards the castle, but was engaged by a Scottish force under Thomas Randolf, and forced to withdraw. The main English army also advanced. Robert Bruce rode out ahead of his men, and defeated an English knight in single combat, using not a sword, but his favourite axe. The English withdrew, and prepared for the major conflict the next day.

There were bitter arguments in the English camp. Two earls, Gloucester and Hereford, squabbled over who had the right to lead the vanguard. The night was uncomfortable; the boggy ground was cold and wet. In the morning, Robert Bruce knighted some his men, and then drew up his troops in a dense formation, known as a schiltrom. All knelt in prayer before the fighting began.

The English charge could not break through the Scottish lines. The Scots had dug pits, which they then covered over, into which the horses began to tumble. Others reared and fell, impaled upon Scottish spears. When the Earl of Gloucester spurred his horse into the massed formation of the Scots, his men failed to follow him, and he was slain.

The English archers, potential battle-winners, were scattered when Bruce ordered his reserve force of cavalry to attack them from the flank. That gave the Scottish archers free rein to cause havoc among the English cavalry.

The melee was fierce, with the two sides locked together. The noise was horrendous, with men shouting, horses neighing, and metal clanging as swords and axes struck shields and armour. Gradually, the advantage went to the Scots, who gave such blows with axes that they split heads and helmets. The coats of arms on surcoats and shields were soon so stained with blood that it was impossible to make them out.

In the closing stages of the battle, the English servants and camp-followers, who had been left to guard the baggage, made makeshift banners. They advanced, shouting, toward the fight to try to save the day, but the English army thought they were Scots, and began to pull back. The miserable English King was led off by the Earl of Pembroke to find safety; eventually, he reached the castle at Dunbar. Many of those who had survived the fighting were drowned in the Bannock Burn as they fled.

This article was published in the February 2011 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
The Azerbaijani propaganda machine has again spread disinformation in an attempt to mislead both its own society and the international community.

March 24, 2023, 12:51 Transcript of Dutch FMs speech debunks Azerbaijani disinformation: ambassador was indeed summoned over ICJ ruling

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 23 , ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizade denied that the Netherlands Foreign Ministry summoned the Azerbaijani Ambassador over the non-compliance with the International Court of Justice ruling on the Lachin Corridor. Hajizade claimed that their Ambassador was not summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and that his last meeting at the ministry took place on his own initiative on March 15.

However, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra himself said that the Azerbaijani Ambassador was called to the Foreign Ministry. The Dutch FM made the remarks during question time in parliament, the transcript of which is available online.

During the question time in parliament, Dutch lawmakers asked FM Hoekstra whether the government plans to contact the Azeri ambassador over his countrys non-compliance with the ICJ order.

Yes, as weve said previously, on February 28 the Azerbaijani Ambassador was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a discussion on this issue, in order for the UN International Court decision to be fulfilled. During the conversation the Netherlands called upon Azerbaijan to comply with the decision of the international court. During this conversation, it was noted that the Netherlands does not share the limited explanations given by Azerbaijan on the decision, and that the courts decision must be implemented entirely, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra told lawmakers.

The United Nations highest court  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.
It was the culmination of ten years of increasingly violent unrest between supporters of King Henry VI and his cousin Richard, Duke of York. Helen Cox takes us on a battlefield tour of Wakefield.

In October 1460, the exasperated Duke finally pressed his own claim to the throne and was recognised as heir-apparent  whereupon Henrys resolute Queen, Margaret of Anjou, immediately called on Lancastrian loyalists to restore the succession to their son Edward, Prince of Wales. Her supporters duly harassed the Dukes northern estates to draw him away from his power-base in London, and around 21 December, an opening skirmish was fought at Worksop between outriders of the armies converging on Yorkshire.

The Yorkists spent Christmas 1460 at Sandal Castle near Wakefield with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 men, and the Lancastrians, with perhaps twice that number, nine miles away at Pontefract Castle. During a brief festive truce, the Duke granted a commission of array to one of his in-laws, John, Lord Neville, to recruit on his behalf; he may also have received a pledge of support from an erstwhile Yorkist ally Sir Andrew Trollope, a veteran commander in Calais.

Battle Commences

On Tuesday, 30 December 1460, the Lancastrians marched to Wakefield and deployed on a low hill just south of the city, separated from Sandal Castle by a mile of arable fields and rough common. Yorks army, swelled by a substantial muster newly arrived with Lord Neville, sallied forth to meet them  but their confident expectations of victory were soon to prove misplaced.

Contemporary details of troop deployments and the course of battle are scarce, but the armies would typically have been arranged in three wards: the main (centre), van (right) and rear (left). The Yorkist wards may have been led by their three senior peers, the Duke himself, his second son Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and their ally Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury. Facing them were Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset; James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire; John, Lord Clifford of Craven; and numerous other magnates including Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter (Yorks embittered son-in-law).

Hostilities may have begun when, on a pre-arranged signal, several hundred of Trollopes men launched a surprise attack on their supposed allies. With panic and disorder sown in the Yorkist ranks, battle proper was joined. Then, with Yorks army fully engaged, their enemies carefully-laid battle-plan was revealed: John Nevilles contingent entered the fray  on the Lancastrian side.

The Outcome

Within the moment of an hour (according to the Tudor historians account Three Books of Polydore Vergils English History, Sir H Ellis [ed.] Camden Society) it was over. Hopelessly outnumbered, Richard of York attempted a fighting retreat but was overcome and killed not far from Sandal Castle. Other desperate troops broke north for the shelter of the city, only to be cut down in the bottle-neck killing field enclosed by a loop of the River Calder, now known as Fall Ings. Among them was Edmund of Rutland, who was overtaken and slain by Lord Clifford near Wakefield Bridge. Up to 2,000 Yorkists died on the field for the loss of only 200 Lancastrians, while some prominent figures, including the Earl of Salisbury, were captured and beheaded at Pontefract the following day.

The Battlefield Today

The battlefield survived largely unchanged until the 18th century, but is now almost completely obliterated by urban development. However, you can still visit several key sites where the action took place  among them Sandal Castle. From the castles keep you will see to the south a stretch of open fields, which in the 15th century contained 30 acres of stoutly-fenced deer-park where Yorkist troops may have hunted in the run-up to battle. Immediately to the north was probably an encampment for men who could not be accommodated within Sandal Castles relatively small confines. Looking north-west, you can trace the line of the Calder running towards Wakefield, and see the island of Fall Ings just south of the city  on a clear day you may also spot the chantry chapel on the Medieval bridge. And half a mile north-east of the castle, a green field bounded by trees marks the site of Yorks demise  of which youll get a better view on foot.

Leave Sandal Castle and follow Manygates Lane  the same route the Yorkists took to battle in 1460. In less than half a mile, you will reach the remnant of Wakefield Green, now called Castle Grove Park  a well-preserved field of Medieval ridgeand- furrow which would have seen fierce hand-to-hand combat as the Duke strove vainly to reach the safety of his fortress. His Victorian monument stands opposite, among school railings, moved from its original position closer to where he died (slightly further north by the junction of Manygates and Milnthorpe Lanes) when the site was built on.

Walking on towards Wakefield you pass the Portobello estate, where human bones and weapon fragments (all since lost) were unearthed in the 19th century. Turning left from Manygates Lane onto the A61 Barnsley Road takes you gently uphill to the Lancastrian opening position, corresponding with the present Bromley Mount. Just beyond is Fall Ings, the site of the main Yorkist rout, and, finally, ahead on the right, the bridge and Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin, where Edmund of Rutland is popularly thought to have died. Others believe the Earls flight took him further north along Kirkgate into the city proper, and that he was killed near a building called the Six Chimneys. Unfortunately this collapsed in 1941, but its location and name are preserved in the modern building erected on the same site.

This article featured in the January 2011 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
When the war began in 1566, Imperial Spain was the worlds greatest superpower. By the time it ended, in 1609, the Spanish century was over.

The Dutch War of Independence was the defining conflict of its era. It secured the triumph of the Reformation in north-west Europe, and along the way reconfigured the geopolitics of the Continent. It also produced one of historys greatest captains, and completed the transition to a new way of war.

Maurice of Nassau, the Prince of Orange, became Captain-General of the United Provinces in 1587. A master of siege-warfare, he turned the tide of the war with the capture of Breda (1590), Zutphen (1591), Steenwijk (1592), and Geertruidenberg (1593). Four years later, in a lightning campaign, he captured no fewer than eight further towns, such that Holland had, by the end of 1597, cleared its territory of foreign troops and secured its borders.

Having reformed the army, moreover, he faced the Spanish in the open field, and won two stunning victories: at Tournhout in 1597, and at Nieuwpoort in 1600. Central to Maurices reforms were linear formations and intensive drill. Only thus, he realised, could the full potential inherent in the development of firepower be realised, for the blocky formations of the Medieval past were clumsy in manoeuvre and wasteful of manpower.

Below are the maps from the 17-page special feature on the Dutch War of Independence, seen in issue 52 of Military History Monthly.

1566: The Dutch Revolution Begins

Flemish and Dutch opposition to Spanish Catholic rule explodes in weeks of politico-religious rioting. Churches are vandalised and plundered. Conservative town councils are overthrown and replaced. Most of the local aristocracy remains loyal to Spain, but the House of Orange puts itself at the head of the Protestant forces. An Spanish army is dispatched under the Duke of Alva, and this first uprising is crushed.

1576: Spanish Fury

The Duke of Alvas campaign against the second uprising culminates in the sack of Antwerp. During several days of Spanish Fury a er the capture of the city in November 1576, 1,000 houses are destroyed and 8,000 people are killed. Military terror defeats the Flemish movement, and restores Spanish rule in Belgium.

1585: English Intervention

The Earl of Leicester leads an English army of 6,000 men to Holland. Though Leicester is granted almost dictatorial powers by the Dutch States-General, he performs badly, failing to take Zutphen. A er his death (1586), the main English army withdraws (1587), but contingents of English volunteers and mercenaries continue to serve. These play a major role in the campaigns of Maurice of Nassau.

1590: Maurices Ten Glorious Years

After the assassination in 1584 of his father, William of Orange, Maurice of Nassau succeeds him as Captain-General and Admiral-General of the United Provinces. He then embarks on a ten-year series of stunning military victories, clearing Holland of enemy troops and securing its borders between 1590 and 1600.

1604: The Fall of Ostend

Despite Maurices victory at Nieuwpoort, he is forced to withdraw from coastal Belgium: the Dutch are too exposed attempting to campaign in this region. The Spanish then put Ostend under siege. Although the Dutch lose 30,000 men, their compatriots are able to keep them supplied by sea, and the siege lasts for 3 years and 71 days, one of the longest sieges in history. The Spanish lose 60,000 men, but they eventually take the town.

1609: Twelve Years Truce

The Dutch have effectively secured their independence when a truce is agreed in 1609. However, they find themselves again at war with Spain when the Thirty Years War breaks out, though the epicentre of this titanic collision between the forces of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation is now Germany. Spain does not give formal recognition to Dutch independence until the Treaty of Munster, part of the wider Peace of Westphalia, at the end of the Thirty Years War in 1648. By now, however, the Dutch Golden Age is already under way.

These maps appeared in issue 52 of Military History Monthly as part of the 17-page special feature on the Dutch War of Independence.
In photography, timing is all  and there is no better example of the dictum than this gem of a snapshot capturing a surprising moment from ordinary London life during the Second World War.

The image shows two airmen in Luftwaffe uniform walking through the Underground. One is a corporal, the other an Oberleutnant (the highest-ranking type of lieutenant), and together they stroll with studied nonchalance, relaxed, with hands in pockets.

The men are young, broad-shouldered, good-looking, and well-groomed  and, for all they seem to care, they could be off to the pictures for a night out. Is it possible that the second of the two is even forming his lips into a carefree whistle?

They are escorted not in handcuffs, nor with any evident high security, but by a file-toting military-secretarial type whose demeanour hardly seems tense or intimidated.

Of course, what makes the photograph extraordinary, and almost comical, is the astonished reaction of the onlookers in the background.

An older gentleman in a three-piece suit and hat appears to have just turned around, and, registering what he sees, stares in open-mouthed astonishment, as if to say, Whats this? Germans? On the Tube? A second onlooker can just be glimpsed, his eloquent, widened eye peering over the shoulder of the first man.

Pilots and aircrew may have been the first German prisoners on British soil during WWII, shot down or bailed out during bombing raids. But it is unclear how common a practice it was to transport PoWs through Londons public transport system. It certainly seems astonishing to modern sensibilities.

There appears to have been a strong bond of chivalry between RAF and Luftwaffe pilots. Perhaps by treating these highly skilled warriors as gentlemen, their captors expressed the hope that they would be treated in a similar manner should they themselves be caught.



By Maria Earle

This article was published in issue 71 of Military History Monthly.
In May 1944, an official document was prepared by Jurgen Stroop detailing the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising. The 75-page report was put together for the benefit of Heinrich Himmler and assembled as if it were a souvenir album. The contents of the report, despite the design, contained images of a stricken city razed to the ground and the civilian population of the Warsaw Ghetto being led to deportation points and on to their deaths.

Originally titled The Jewish Quarter of Warsaw is no more!, what came to be known simply as The Stroop Report was commissioned by Friedrich-Wilhelm Kruger, the Higher SS and Police Leader in Krakow, whom Himmler had promoted because of his ambition and loyalty. The SS, with Kruger in charge, had been responsible for the liquidation of the ghetto. He had become the most powerful man in occupied Poland, and, almost as if it were a little in-joke between the two Nazi officials, a sort of thank-you for the promotion, Kruger arranged for the dossier to be presented in this way.

In appearance it was bound in black pebble leather, typed, and accompanied by over 50 photographs all with hand-written captions in a Gothic Sutterlin script. It was split into three sections: an introduction and summary of SS operations; a collection of all daily communiques sent to Kruger; and the series of photographs.

Three distinct copies were made, an album each for Himmler, Kruger, and Stroop. All three copies were recovered after the war and are currently located at the National Archives in Washington DC, the Bundesarchiv in Koblenz, and the Institute of National Remembrance in Warsaw. At the Nuremburg Trials, one copy was brought forward as evidence. It was described by the assistant prosecutor dealing with the persecution of the Jews as the finest example of ornate German craftsmanship, leather bound, profusely illustrated, typed on heavy bond paper  the almost unbelievable recital of the proud accomplishment by Major-General of Police Stroop.

This photograph, taken from one of the three copies, shows Jewish families being forcibly removed from their hide-outs and driven from the Warsaw Ghetto. The original German caption reads: Forcibly pulled out of dug-outs. The woman at the head of the column on the left, holding onto her mother-in-laws arm, has been identified as Yehudit Neyer. The child is the daughter of Yehudit and Avraham Neyer, who can be seen to the left of the little girl. Of the four, only Avraham would survive the war.

The picture was taken by an anonymous photographer at Nowolipie Street looking east, near the intersection with Smocza Street. On the right is the townhouse at Nowolipie 63, and a little further, shrouded by smoke, the ghetto wall and gate. The raging fire on the left is the burning balcony of the townhouse at Nowolipie 66.

Over 80% of Warsaw was burned and destroyed by the Germans as the Jewish population was extinguished. The subjects of this photograph could not have known that they were to be made into a page of an SS officials gift photo album, and we will never know the fates of so many in that column of people. We do know, however, that for his part in this tragedy, Jurgen Stroop was extradited to Poland and tried and convicted for crimes against humanity. He was hanged by the Polish authorities in 1952. As for the photo, it would go on to become one of the most famous images of the Second World War, described by The Photograph Book in 1997 as being the most famous picture by an anonymous photographer.

This article appeared in issue 26 of Military History Monthly.
It looks like the interior of a spaceship. But the shimmering framework is that of a B-17F, under construction at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach, California, in 1942.

The picture is by Alfred Palmer, a photographer for the United States Office of War Information (OWI). Established by Franklin Roosevelt following Americas entry into the Second World War, the OWI was essentially a propaganda agency, with the purpose of toughening the resolve of a nation plunged into a conflict of unprecedented scale.

The OWI coordinated all news about the war that the American public received. It also produced posters and radio broadcasts, safety and recruitment campaigns, and worked extensively to torment the enemy overseas.

Palmer became known for his focus on the war economy, now in high gear, with pictures of men and women hard at work on the railways and in the factories of the United States.

His style was that of crude, striking images  perfect for propaganda. Although this one was probably staged, it is realistic. With so many men enlisted abroad, a typical aircraft plants wartime workforce was around 40% female.

The Douglas Aircraft Company was, along with Lockheed and Boeing, responsible for producing various models of B-17s until the end of the war. First developed in 1935, each new version of the fearsome aircraft was more heavily armed than the last.

And its nickname too was apt: over Germany and the South Pacific in particular, the Flying Fortress became legendary for its ability to stay in the air even after taking a severe battering.

Palmer, meanwhile, ultimately worked for the OWI until 1945, when the agency was disbanded by Roosevelts successor, Harry Truman, who hailed its outstanding contribution to victory. The same, of course, could be said of the B-17.
Belgian Carabiniers with dog-drawn heavy machine-gun, 1914

Marching toward the camera, and shot from a low angle, these Belgian Carabiniers are given a powerful sense of purpose by the photographer. Clean uniforms and neat formation say the soldiers have not come from battle.

These are the early days of WWI and Belgium has been invaded by the Germans in a surprise move. The Germans, 600,000 strong, were confident against the small Belgian Army of around 117,000, who were ill-equipped and poorly trained.

Yet the Belgians fought bravely in and around their fortifications in the Liege area. They held up the German advance for ten days before withdrawing on 16 August, when the Liege system finally fell. This delay would prove crucial to the French forces ability to re-organise and oppose the German push through Belgium into France.

King Albert I had ordered his Army to retreat to the National Redoubt at Antwerp, consisting of over 40 forts and several lines of defence. Our Carabiniers are part of the force sent forward to cover that retreat by confronting the advancing Germans.

Marching out of the foggy background, the Carabiniers, with their Tyrolean hats and dog-drawn heavy machine-gun, look as if they are striding out of the past into the light of 20th century warfare. Almost like gentlemen in top hats taking their dogs for a walk.

The traditional dress of the Carabiniers, a light-infantry unit, was a tunic and greatcoat of a green so dark that the German nickname for them was the black devils. Many new recruits, however, were given a greatcoat of the more usual Belgian Army dark blue because of the chaotic supply situation. Despite their old-fashioned uniforms, their machine-guns were effective enough, though both soldier and dog were to pay a high price.

Although the main German forces bypassed Antwerp, four divisions had to be diverted to contain the Belgian forces there, further weakening the thrust into France. Antwerp did not fall until 9 October.

This article was published in the June 2014 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
This poignant image is evidence of the miles of utter devastation caused when the worlds second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, three days after the nuclear attack on Hiroshima. The atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was the final act of the Second World War, and resulted in an Allied victory, a Japanese surrender, and hundreds of thousands of lives destroyed.

This photograph was taken on 24 September 1945, six weeks after the attack. We see here the remnants of a temple that was demolished in the blast. On top of a pile of burnt rubble and splintered wood sit two abandoned statues of the Buddha. The statues lean sadly forward. Behind them, the razed city stretches out towards distant mountains, a desolate waste  land of blast-site ruins and hollowed-out shells of half-standing buildings.

The Manhattan Project created the first atomic bombs in the United States while the Second World War raged elsewhere. The bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki was a plutonium implosion-type fission bomb, code-named Fat Man. Fat Man was the second bomb of this type to be made, the first being The Gadget, which was detonated at the Trinity nuclear test-site in New Mexico on 16 July 1945.

The Nagasaki bomb exploded after its nuclear fuel of plutonium was brought to critical mass, starting a chain reaction. This reaction is caused by neutrons hitting the plutonium nucleus, which splits and releases a huge amount of energy, as well as further neutrons, which split more nuclei, and so on.

The core of plutonium was surrounded by high-explosive, designed to explode inwards, crushing the plutonium core into a super-critical state. The bomb, which had an explosive yield force of about 20,000 tonnes of TNT, killed thousands of people outright, but left many more to die weeks and months later from burn and blast injuries, and from radiation illnesses.

During the war, annihilationist rhetoric towards the Japanese became rife, as Allied propaganda encouraged people to see them as nothing but an enemy. After the nuclear bombings, images from Hiroshima and Nagasaki were censored, so as not to show the victims of the attacks. It wasnt until weeks later, when journalists visited the sites and sent pictures back to Britain and America, that the full scale of the atrocity that won the war began to be seen.

This image shows the vast mushroom cloud exploding upwards from Nagasaki, following the release of the atomic bomb. About 30% of Nagasaki, including almost all of the citys industrial district, was destroyed by the blast. Nearly 74,000 were killed, and a similar number injured. Residents of Nagasaki and Hiroshima continue to suffer the physical and mental consequences of radiation to this day.

The day after the bombing, one New York Times correspondent wrote, Yesterday man unleashed the atom to destroy man, and another chapter in human history opened, a chapter in which the weird, the strange, the horrible becomes the trite and obvious.

This is an article from the January 2015 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
The Second World War was the deadliest conflict in human history  involving 30 belligerent nations, it was fought from the far north of Europe to the South Pacific, and mobilised 1 in 9 of the global population. Estimates of the total number of soldiers and civilians killed range from 56 million to 85 million. But even today, many  perhaps especially in Britain  still believe that it was this country, standing alone and isolated, that delivered final victory over the Axis powers, led by Germanys Third Reich.

In fact, as the infographic reprinted here attests (one figure on the graphic representing 100,000 people), Britains contribution in terms of men and woman mobilised was comparatively small when considered as part of the global total. Some 5,896,000 Britons were mobilised, fewer than 1 in 20 of the total figure of 127,171,000 men and women mobilised around the world, from a total population figure of 2.2 billion in 1939. That figure does, however, comprise almost a quarter of the male population of Britain at the time.

Of that overall number, 70% were fighting on the Allied side. They came from 16 nation-states and included citizens of the colonies of the imperial powers. In the last years of the war, Britain was conscripting more combatants from Australia and New Zealand than from the mother country. Russia supplied the greatest number, at over 34 million people  so many were conscripted that the economy was at risk of collapse by 1942.

However, the highest proportion in relation to the total male population came from the German Reich: 42%. This mass conscription of appropriately aged male soldiers was supplemented by foreign workers (involuntarily in the main), POWs, and concentration camp prisoners. By the last two years of the war, teenagers and old men were being conscripted as the fight for ultimate victory became desperate.

The astonishing scope of the Second World War, and the amount of data now available to digest and interpret, is overwhelming. The image above is only one graphic from a book that takes a new approach to the display and dissemination of the raw numbers, in terms of not only human involvement but also over 50 other subjects, including arms production, operations, specific organisations such as the SS, and many more. Reading lists of numbers can often numb the brain, but these fresh graphic displays bring the statistical realities of the calamitous conflict into sharp focus again.

World War II: Infographics is published by Thames & Hudson
The 16th (The Queens) Lancers (3rd Cavalry Brigade) advancing from the Marne to the Aisne, September 1914

Keith Robinson studies the aesthetics of this WWI photograph.

At first this seems a generally quiet, almost static photograph dominated by the horizontals of earth and sky. But our eye is drawn from left to right as a series of diagonals converge at a clump of trees on the centre of the pictures right edge.

Bank, shadow, verge, track, line of horseman, hedge, all head towards those trees. The scale of the lancers thus rapidly diminishes, suggesting both large numbers of men and distances to be travelled.

The lances of the cavalrymen provide a minor diagonal counterpoint to the strong lines of road, hedge, and bank, forming a series of light v shapes arrowing towards the vanishing point, underlining the sense of movement to the right.

Yet there seems no urgency in this movement of men. A mixed detachment of French mounted troops wait on the verge while the Lancers pass unhurriedly by. Perhaps the French soldiers have pulled on to the verge to let the Lancers through, or perhaps they are taking a break. A group of French villagers watch the whole event from the height of the bank to the right.

One or two of the lancers appear to look at their French allies, maybe passing a friendly comment or two. The hindmost of the lancers, though, has definitely seen the photographer and manages a nice cheery grin for the camera.

However, the vertical of the young, recently planted tree creates a note of unease. Placed roughly a third in from the right, a traditionally important compositional placement, it partially obscures one of the French riders and his horse. The vertical also obstructs that general sense of left to right movement. A note of disharmony in an otherwise picture of gentle movement.

This photograph of the Lancers and mounted French troops tells the story of the first couple of months of the Great War when the conflict on the Western Front was still a war of movement.

The 16th were the British Armys second ever light-cavalry regiment, raised in southern England in 1759 by the cavalry officer John Burgoyne, who served as its commander for 16 years.

The regiment deployed to France under the command of Hubert Gough  later to become commander of the British 5th Army  as part of 3rd Cavalry Brigade in August 1914. On 16 September, the Cavalry Brigade became part of the newly created 2nd Cavalry Division.

This was just a er the First Battle of the Marne, 5-12 September 1914, often referred to as the Miracle of the Marne. This Allied victory effectively ended the month-long campaign that opened the war, with the German Imperial Army having reached the outskirts of Paris.

The counter-attack of sixFrenchand oneBritish armyalong the Marne Riverforced the Germans to abandon their push on Paris and retreat north-east. The Battle of the Marne was an immense strategic victory for the Allies, wrecking Germanys bid for a swift victory over France.

In the photograph, we see the 16th Lancers making their way to the Front at Aisne, where the German Army had dug in along the commanding heights north of the river. The war of movement of the early weeks of World War I would now give way to four years of static, attritional trench warfare.

The uncomfortable feeling caused by the placement of the sapling would be born out for the Lancers during much of the rest of the war. Indeed, the 16th Lancers would spend much of the remainder of the conflict fighting in the trenches as infantry.

By the end of the war, the traditional roles of the cavalry would be superseded by new technologies: the cavalrys speed and their use in scouting and reconnaissance roles were usurped by the tank, motor transport, and the aeroplane.

This article appeared in issue 42 of Military History Monthly.
Crowds of jubilant Parisians greet the US 2nd Armoured Division as it passes through the Arc de Triomphe and along the Champs-Elysees. The American troops had been chosen to accompany the returning Charles de Gaulle  whose familiar figure is not seen here. He was several inches taller than any of his entourage, and made even taller by the characteristic kepi he wore atop his head.

De Gaulle strode down the centre of the grand route, hailed by banners that proclaimed, Long live de Gaulle and De Gaulle to power  but his journey to this moment of triumph had not been by any means inevitable, and a few hours later it may even have ended in tragedy.

The general had left the French capital in June 1940, desperate for the city to be defended as the Germans approached. But his colleagues in government, Petain, Weygand, and Reynaud, declared an open city and perhaps in the misguided hope of preventing another slaughter 20 years after the last German conflict  argued for an armistice.

In exile in London, de Gaulle became (by both choice and accident) the symbol of French resistance and the voice of Free France. Having declared his opposition to his colleagues swift capitulation  and stripped of his rank by Vichy officials  his leadership was affirmed with a speech, broadcast by the BBC on 18 June 1940, that reignited resistance in occupied France.

De Gaulles eventual return to Paris in August 1944 was equally dramatic. Thousands lined the route  but with German snipers, Vichy supporters, and fifth columnists fighting to the last, his procession was targeted by machine-guns in the Place de la Concorde.

Later, as the general entered Notre-Dame as head of the provisional government, more shorts were heard. Reporting live, a BBC correspondent conveyed the drama:

the General is being presented to the people. He is being received they have opened fire! firing started all over the place that was one of the most dramatic scenes I have ever seen. General de Gaulle walked straight ahead into what appeared to me to be a hail of fire but he went straight ahead without hesitation, his shoulders flung back, and walked right down the centre aisle, even while the bullets were pouring about him. It was the most extraordinary example of courage I have ever seen.

Later in the day, de Gaulle gave the historic declaration of the continuity of the Third Republic, but the jubilant city was again targeted by the Wehrmacht: that evening, several thousand Parisians were killed and injured in revenge.

This is an article from the April 2019 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned of the disastrous consequences of a potential confrontation between the armies of Russia and the United States.

March 24, 2023, 15:26 There could be no winner in war between Russia, US  Medvedev

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 24 , ARTSAKHPRESS:In an interview with Russian media outlets and users of leading Russian social media network VKontakte, Medvedev said, "The first thing is, only a real conflict can decide which army is first, second or 21st. Secondly, it would be wrong to say that the US army is No. 1, while ours is No.2 for one simple reason. If these armies start a war, how could we say who the winner is? Obviously, there will be no winner."

A potential confrontation "would cause disastrous consequences," the politician warned. "And it would be impossible to say whose army is superior," he added, Tass informs.

According to Medvedev, the US army could have been considered the best "at least during that period when it was active on the ground - as usual, not on its own soil, at that," referring to the US occupation of Vietnam. He said he was shocked to learn that 3 million Vietnamese people had been killed in that conflict.

"Therefore, I would not speculate on whether one army is stronger than the other. A fighting army is a strong army," Medvedev concluded.
Eighty years ago, on 10 May 1940, the German assault on Western Europe began.

The Nazi Wehrmacht stormed through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg with devastating ease.

Paris was on edge. Remembering the previous war, the French government had prepared for a defensive conflict, and had not anticipated an invasion of the capital.

But, by the beginning of June, the Nazis began to bomb Paris ahead of their full-scale takeover of France.

This campaign of terror provoked an exodus  and the Biblical term is appropriate. The French government fled, soon followed by many of the citys inhabitants.

The exodus is the subject of a new exhibition at the Musee de la Liberation de Paris  Musee du General Leclerc  Musee Jean Moulin in Paris, which has recently opened on a new site in the heart of the capital.

Bringing together rarely seen archive film, as well as many photographs, the exhibition focuses on the sense of urgency that provoked Parisians to flee the Nazi storm.

Hanna Diamond is a curator of the exhibition. Her 2007 book Fleeing Hitler: France 1940 considers the exodus an important modern event in its own right.

Diamond wrote of the disparity between wealthy Parisians, people who had nothing to lose, people who had money, people who had salaried jobs, who made arrangements to leave well in advance, and those who fled at the last minute.

The latter typically tried the train stations first, only to find them gridlocked. If all else failed, she wrote, they would pick up whatever wheeled vehicle they could find.

Something like this eventuality appears to be happening in this image, which shows a family who have piled their belongings  valuables, clothes, and even bedcovers  onto a cart in order to flee on foot.

Such a sight would have been common on the routes out of the city, along with more bicycles, trucks, and cars than the roads could handle.

Some sought sanctuary with relatives living in the south. Others were simply desperate to get away.

Yet even after they fled, safety was not guaranteed. Around 100,000 of the refugees would die on their journeys.

The consequences for Paris were devastating. By the time the Germans entered on 14 June, three quarters of the citys population had gone.

The exhibition 1940: Paris Exodus runs at the Musee de la Liberation de Paris  Musee du General Leclerc  Musee Jean Moulin until 30 August 2020. For further information, click here.
Image:  Josef Koudelka/Magnum Photos

Fifty years ago, during the so-called Prague Spring of 1968, the citizens of Czechoslovakia enjoyed a few brief, tantalising months of liberation from some of the worst effects of Soviet domination. The reforms introduced by Alexander Dubcek, the countrys incoming First Secretary, under the banner of Socialism with a human face, brought a new openness to daily life, with greater press freedom and a relaxation of restrictions on travel.

All that was to change, however, on the night of 20/21 August, when 200,000 troops from five Warsaw Pact countries marched in to reintroduce a more authoritarian style of control under what became known as the Moscow Protocol.

The understandable bewilderment, anger, and fear felt by many ordinary Czechs as the clampdown took effect is captured in an extraordinary set of images taken by a young photographer in Prague. Josef Koudelka, a theatre photographer who had never covered news, was engulfed in the momentous events taking place in his home city, and documented them over the coming days and weeks.

In images such as the one reproduced here, disbelief and despair show on the faces of onlookers, while youths carrying national flags climb on to the tanks to shout their defiance.

There was, despite the crushing of his reforms, a request from Dubcek to react without violence, and the resistance movement, although urgent and angrily defiant, did not in the main endanger life  instead, pots of paint were thrown at tanks, while road signs were moved to bamboozle and disorientate the incoming troops.

Tragically, the non-violence of the protesters was not always answered in kind: 72 Czech and Slovak citizens were killed during the invasion, and Koudelka himself was shot at by soldiers while taking pictures. But the experience and mischievously creative spirit of the 1968 resistance is credited with inspiring the later success of the Velvet Revolution (1989), which restored democracy to the country after more than 40 years.

Only a few images from those tumultuous days of August 1968 emerged in the West at the time, smuggled out of Prague before reaching the offices of Magnum, the renowned photographic agency.

Koudelkas pictures would eventually be published in The Sunday Times magazine in 1969, credited anonymously to Prague photographer to protect him and his family from reprisals. Koudelka fled his home country in 1970, going on to become a French citizen and one of the most admired photographers of his generation. He did not return to Prague until 1990.

This is an article from the July 2018 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
Here lies the toppled Japanese aircraft carrier Amagi. Photographed towards the very end of the Second World War, it is a metaphor for the vanquished hopes of Japanese military ambition.

As the ship lists to the side, a pylon points forlornly towards the sky  creating a dynamic diagonal across the picture, balanced by the dark mass of the underside of the carrier.

The hull, almost like some metal iceberg, dominates the image. The contrast of the dark underside with the light of the carriers flat top creates drama, before returning to dark with the silhouetted mass of the ships superstructure.

Amagi, or Heaven Castle, was an Unryu class aircraft carrier. Some 16 were planned as part of a huge naval construction programme begun in 1942 and designed to replace the losses suffered at the Battle of Midway.

The Unryu series proved to be the last purpose-built carriers constructed by the Japanese, and then only three were completed before the end of the war.

The Amagi had an overall length of around 225 metres, a beam of 22 metres, and a draft of 8.73 metres, displacing some 20,450 metric tons. The crew consisted of 1,595 officers and men.

When it was commissioned in 1944, the carrier was intended to carry a mixed compliment of 48 aircraft.

However, by then the shortage of carrier-qualified aircrew was such that planes were ordered to operate from shore bases and Amagi never embarked her air group.

By July 1945, Japans remaining large warships were concentrated at the major naval base at Kure, on the Inland Sea. On the 24th of that month, the US Third Fleet launched a massive attack against these remaining capital ships.

On this day, routine attacks by Superfortresses, around 570 on this mission, were joined by carrierbased aircraft that flew some 1,747 planes. Raids continued the following day.

The attacks accounted for one battleship, one fleet (the Amagi) and two escort carriers, one heavy cruiser, and several smaller vessels, including nine merchantmen. The Imperial Japanese Navy was left with only one capital ship.

Pearl Harbor had been well and truly avenged.

Keith Robinson

This is an article from the October 2017 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
The coffin of the unknown warrior is carried into Westminster Abbey.

On 11 November 1920, one of the largest funerals ever held in London took place  and yet the deceased was a man unknown to the hundreds of thousands of mourners who turned out in his honour.

Described as the greatest outpouring of grief the country had ever known, the event was the burial of the Unknown Warrior, whose remains lie at Westminster Abbey alongside kings, princes, and other assorted dignitaries. But the story of how he came to be there  and how his memorial came to represent all of the fallen husbands, sons, uncles, and friends of the Great War  begins with an army chaplain serving on the Western Front.

In 1916, amid the devastation of the frontline, the Reverend David Railton had come across an improvised grave marked with a simple wooden cross and a pencil inscription to A British Warrior who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 for King and Country.

Touched by the gesture of one soldier to an anonymous comrade, he wrote to Field Marshal Lord Haig, commander of the British Expeditionary Force, suggesting that the body of another unknown warrior be taken to England and buried with military honours.

The coffin of the unknown warrior lying in Westminster Abbey.

Though his letter seems at first to have been ignored, Railton was not to be deterred. In August 1920, he wrote again, this time to the Dean of Westminster. Before long, the idea had secured the support of Prime Minister David Lloyd George and finally it was blessed by King George V.

An elaborate plan was devised to ensure the anonymity of the chosen warrior. All that could be known was he was British, his body exhumed

from one of six battle sites in Northern France: Ypres, the Marne, Cambrai, Arras, the Somme and the Aisne.

Six unidentifiable bodies were duly placed in plain coffins and covered with Union flags, before one was selected at random by Brigadier General L J Wyatt, the British commanding officer in France. The chosen body was then transferred to a coffin made of oak from Hampton Court Palace  and carrying an identical inscription  while the others were re-buried in the fields of France.

Amid solemn ceremony, and with thousands of soldiers and civilians saluting along the way, the coffin of the Unknown Warrior began its journey home, leaving Boulogne on 8 November 1920 and travelling by boat and train to Londons Victoria Station, where an honour guard stood vigil until the morning of 11 November.

Passing on Whitehall for the unveiling of the newly created Cenotaph memorial, the cortege advanced to Westminster Abbey, where the coffin was finally buried in soil brought from the French battlefields.

Women who had lost their closest relatives were chosen from thousands who had applied to be part of the ceremony  reinforcing the idea that here was the place of mourning for any one of roughly 300,000 fallen soldiers whose bodies were never identified. In the week following the burial, one-and-a-half million people visited the grave of the Unknown Warrior to pay their respects, and it has remained a place of solemn pilgrimage ever since.

This article appeared in the December 2018 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
Two years of amateur warfare had changed nothing.The English Civil War remained in the balance. Then, in February 1645, Parliament created the New Model Army.

Cromwell had raised a regiment of cavalry in Cambridgeshire. He deliberately recruited men of a spirit and allowed complete liberty of conscience. His men  the original Ironsides became the the deepest root of the modern British Army.

Four months later, it fought its first major battle  Naseby.

Taken from our new series the History of the British Army in 25 Battles  here are maps of the Battle of Naseby.

Naseby was badly handled and close-run. The New Model Armys first major battle was no glorious feat of arms. But it was decisive: it destroyed the Kings field army, and he never got the chance to raise another.

Later, as experience increased, the New Model evolved into one of the finest armies in the world, fighting and winning two further civil wars, campaigning successfully in Ireland, Scotland, Flanders, and the West Indies, and winning notable victories at Preston (1648), Dunbar (1651), and Dunkirk Dunes (1658).

The creation of that extraordinary army is our theme as we open the new series, the History of the British Army in 25 Battles.

Subscribe to Military History Matters today, and discover the history of warfare written by experts  click here for more details.

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Between 1642 and 1645, London was the heart of a national revolution against absolutism.

During the December Days in late 1641, the political crisis in relations between Court and Parliament tipped over into revolution. Vast crowds of ordinary Londoners besieged Parliament to force through the anti-royalist measures they supported. Then, in early January 1642, an attempted coup by the Court backfired. King Charles entered Parliament to arrest opposition leaders, only to discover that the birds had flown.

They had flown into the City, where gates were shut, portcullises lowered, and chains put across streets. For several days, thousands of men stood armed and ready, and women boiled water to throw on the cavaliers.

But the cavaliers never came. Charles fled the capital on 10 January, and London became a revolutionary city in armed revolt against King and Church.

London was the countrys chief port and financial centre, the seat of government, and, with the Tower of London, the nations chief arsenal. Charless flight at the beginning of the war therefore placed his cause at a distinct disadvantage. To many Parliamentarians, it was obvious that the King would attempt to regain the capital by force.

So, between the autumn of 1642 and the spring of 1643, an 18km circuit of forts and bulwarks connected by ramparts and ditches was thrown up around London. It was the largest feat of military engineering undertaken anywhere in the country during the conflict, and at the time the circuit was among the largest urban defence systems in Europe.

The map below shows a detailed plan of the Parliamentarian defences around London, drawn by George Vertue in 1738.

The full article can be seen in issue 24 of Military History Monthly.

KEY

EAST

1. Bulwark and half-bulwark: Gravel Lane

2. Hornwork: Whitechapel Road

3. Redoubt and two anks: Brick Lane

4. Redoubt and four anks: Hackney Road

5. Redoubt and four anks: Kingsland Road

NORTH

6. Battery and breastwork: Mountmill

7. Battery and breastwork: St John Street

8. Small redoubt: Islington Road

9. Large fort and four half-bulwarks: Upper Pond, New River

10. Battery and breastwork: Blackmary Hill

11. Two batteries and breastwork: Bedford House

12. Redoubt and two anks: St Giles Road

13. Small fort: Tyburn Road

14. Large fort and four half-bulwarks: Wardour Street

15. Small bulwark: Olivers Mount

16. Large fort and four bulwarks: Hyde Park Corner

WEST

17. Small bulwark and battery: Constitution Hill

18. Court of Guards: Chelsea Turnpike

19. Battery and breastwork: Tothill Field

SOUTH OF THE THAMES

20. Quadrant fort and half-bulwarks: Vauxhall

21. Fort and four half-bulwarks: St George Field

22. Large fort and four bulwarks: Blackman Street

23. Redoubt and four anks: Kent Street
In the years 58-51 BC, Gaul was conquered and added to the Roman Empire through the military campaigns of Julius Caesar and his legions. For the first time in history, tribal groups in north-western Europe were confronted with the violent expansionism of an imperial system.

Although Caesars war narrative is coloured by personal propaganda and imperial ideology, there is no doubt that the conquest had dramatic consequences for Gallic societies. The Roman writer Appian claimed that Caesar killed one million Gauls and enslaved another million out of a total population of four million.

Until recently, Caesars conquests in the northern periphery of Gaul were known only from his historical account. In the Netherlands, Belgium, and the German Lower Rhine area, the Caesarian conquest was almost totally invisible archaeologically. Direct evidence in the form of Roman army camps or battlefield locations was absent.

One of the most spectacular discoveries of Roman provincial archaeology of the past few years is the identification of a Late Iron Age fortification at Thuin as the oppidum of the Aduatuci. For the first time in northern Gaul, archaeology can identify one of the major crime scenes described by the Roman proconsul. This site was conquered by Caesar in 57 BC as part of his campaigns against the tribes of the Nervii and the Aduatuci. The fortification of Thuin (Belgium) occupies a plateau of more than 13ha and can be reached on the eastern side via a narrow, 60m-wide finger of land. Several arguments indicate this to have been the oppidum of the Aduatuci. The historical account has it that, after the sites capture, the entire population of 53,000 individuals were sold as slaves and deported to Italy:

On the morrow the gates [of the oppidum] were broken open, for there was no more defence, and our troops were sent in. Then Caesar sold as one lot the booty of the oppidum. The purchasers furnished a return to him of 53,000 persons.

The main arguments for the identification of Thuin are as follows: it was an important Late Iron Age fortification situated in the territory of the Aduatuci that did not survive into the Roman period; there is a close match with the topography described by Caesar; several gold hoards of the early 50s BC have been found and these seem to reflect a single event; finally, and most importantly, concentrations of Roman lead sling-bullets imply a Roman siege of the site.

The sling-bullets appeared in two separate concentrations: on the wall near the main entrance of the fortification, and on the far side of the Biesmelle River. Their concentration at the main rampart strongly suggests that they were used by the attackers.

These maps and extract of text appeared within the feature on Caesars Gallic War in issue 56 of Military History Monthly.
To celebrate the launch of Civilization V, Patrick Boniface explains why he believes Alexander was the greatest leader of all time

My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambition. Macedon is too small for you, the words of King Phillip II of Macedon were prophetic as he addressed his son Alexander after he had tamed a fearful horse at the age of just 10.

Alexander would grow up to be one of the worlds most legendary military commanders. Born into an era of petty tyrants and brutality Alexander the Great used the exceptional education he received  from, among others, Aristotle  and used it to marshal his forces in nearly impossible battles. He emerged victorious over the course of 13 years of battles from which was forged one of the largest empires the world has ever seen.

Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC to King Phillip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias. Following his fathers assassination Alexander succeeded him to the Macedon throne and the 20 year old King ruthlessly murdered all of his rivals to the crown. This ruthlessness would contribute to Alexander conquering most of the known world with an empire that stretched for 10,000 miles and encompassed the Mediterranean, most of Europe and touched the borders of India. Alexander the Great was prone to fits of savage tempers and in later life he succumbed to megalomania

Alexander the greatest?

Although not exactly what one would call a diplomat, he was a military genius who used guile, ingenuity and lateral thinking to defeat often vastly superior forces. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaupamela in 331 BC in what today is Iraq.

The Greek language was also a tool that Alexander the Great wielded with great purpose. Prior to the expansion of his empire there were hundreds of little spoken languages, when he imposed the use of Greek, it created a common language that fostered the expansion of culture, commerce and hegemony amongst the conquered lands.

Above all else Alexander the Great was a commander because of his sheer bloody minded arrogance and his belief in his own superiority. He knew he was right and through his charismatic dominance he controlled, after all he firmly believed he was a direct descendent of Achilles. This belief was instilled in him from an early age by his father and his tutors at school, church and in the military.

When he died in 323 BC, in suspicious circumstances at the age of just 32, he left behind a huge empire in which a cultural revolution had started but which was always on the brink of a fall into chaos.

Former infantry officer and military historian Mark Corby begs to differ with this opinion.

Read his piece on Why Alexander should not be considered one of historys greats here:

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Why you voted for Alexander the Great:

Alexander was the Philospher King. He led militarily but also understood how to really build an empire that would follow you, even those conquered.

Mike

The man brought down the greatest empire the world had seen, seemingly without difficulty and within a matter of just a couple of years, conquered most of the known world while fighting far from home, never lost a battle, led from the front, was tutored by Aristotle and maintained his passion for philosophy throughout his life, spread Greek culture across the globe  you get the idea. Oh, and he did all of this before the age of 33. Perhaps the clincher, however, is this: Julius Caesar weeped when he considered Alexanders accomplishments.

Darryl

He had an undefeated battle record. Upon his death, Alexander had conquered most of the world then known to the ancient Greeks.

Thomas

He conquered most of the known world, frequently doing things that were widely believed to be impossible!

And Im named after him!

Alex

He conquered the world by his 18th birthday

Shane

He conquered his entire known world and continued onwards

Alexander was the Philospher King. He led militarily but also understood how to really build an empire that would follow you, even those conquered.

Mike

He had an undefeated battle record. Upon his death, Alexander had conquered most of the world then known to the ancient Greeks.

Thomas

He conquered most of the known world, frequently doing things that were widely believed to be impossible!

And Im named after him!

Alex

He conquered the world by his 18th birthday

Shane

He conquered his entire known world and continued onwards

Pete

Surely its Alexander, he lived in times before Jesus yet they still teach his tactics at military academies today

Ian

Alexander III of Macedon , commonly known as Alexander the Great. Alexander the Greats accomplishments and legacy have been preserved and depicted in many ways. Alexander has figured in works of both high and popular culture from his own era to the modern day. Titles: King of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt and Lord of Asia

Alexander

For the age in which they lived they were by far the most advanced technological and militarial civilization in the world using many inventions and techniques that still hold sway today. All of this held under a system that in equal measures was democratic but extremely ruthless.

Gary

Tremendous lasting impact in both military and cultural spheres  his tactics are still studied 2300 years later.

Jennifer

All would be rulers of the world were in awe of Alexander. His story, based largely on legends of his persona, is everything a military leader wished to be in life (handsome, bold, fearless, an artist and a dashing warrior).

In reality Alexander more than an experienced leader was an extremely lucky and able heir to the throne. Alexander is today revered and set apart from other leaders because of eurocentrism that still remains to this day.

Rodrigo

Alexander the Great was one of the greatest conquerors and tactical minds of all time, as evidenced by his large empire acquired with relatively small resources. He was inspiring and charismatic, his men would (and did) follow him anywhere. Beyond the conqueror, however, he took Hellenistic culture to an entirely different level; instead of the ideas of liberty, equality, philosophy, drama, and scientific categorization and study remaining in Greece and slowly spreading by basic trade and other modicums of idea osmosis, he spread it like wildfire across Asia Minor and the Middle East all the way to the Indian subcontinent. Very similar to Napoleon, except that Napoleon spread Nationalism, efficient bureaucracy, and a renewed vigor for republics. Both are great, but Alexander has to win in my book.

Maxwell

His stunning and rapid record speaks for itself, brilliant commander and fearless.

Alex

Conquered most of the known world, ruled Afghanistan, created one of the largest empires in history, all before he was 33. If he hadnt dropped dead, he might have conquered the world.

Julian

He fought in the head of his army. His conditions were the same as of his soldiers his starting point was terrible small state with a huge an seemingly undefeatable enemy

Ronen

Out of the choices given I believe Alexander is the greatest leader. I thought of such greats as Bismarck, Washington, Napoleon, and Augustus, however Alexander was able to be a very successful military leader and politician. The others were either great commanders or political leaders, not both.

With Alexander he was able to conquer lands with military tactics across the then-known world. The other candidates werent able to spread their military campaigns as far as he did as well as liberate territories such as Egypt.

On the battlefield, Alexander, like Napoleon, gave the soldiers a dramatic surge in morale. However, unlike Napoleon, Alexander also understood the different religions, cultures, and economies of the territories he captured. Granted, like Napoleon they may have both been aggressive military leaders, but Alexander was able to gain a lot of respect worldwide by not just conquering but keeping a lot of the conquered areas in-tact.

Because Alexander was able to conquer a lot of territory of the then-known world, allowing to keep their customs, inspiring his soldiers, and acknowledging economics impact by establishing Alexandria, I believe this shows that Alexander was a great military commander and political leader. Which is what makes him the greatest leader out of the choices.

Jaron

He commanded an elite army inherited from his father, but even so, it takes some talent to crush the greatest empire in the world. Furthermore, he managed to keep his Macedonians from bickering and plotting too much against each other  not bad when leading a people among whom political assassinations was practically a standard procedure and every ascension on the throne was followed by the killing of all those opposed and all rival claimants.

Ojevind

An innovative general, Alexander led a superbly trained army, against many foes and throughout the known ancient world. Yet his force was small compared to those he fought, (Persians, Indians) and he never lost a battle. When he died at 33, he had conquered the entire known world, and we will never know if he was a capable governor because he died so young before he could truly rule his empire, yet as a military leader he is certainly without equal

Ben

Hes responsible for spreading Hellenic culture all the way to India; shaping the Classical Age single handedly. Julius Ceaser is noted to have cried at the sight of a statue of Alexander because he could never be a great a leader as Alexander. Also, a simple statement of military tactics that is attributed to Alexander; Hammer and Anvil.

Brett

He liberated more than conquered, and fought in the wars he waged.

Mike

Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great) is the single greatest leader in all of history because he lead one of the grandest armies in the world and established one of the largest armies of antiquity. Dozens of the cities which he established still exist today, and the culture he spread and assimilated is very evident in the lands in which his empire existed. Truly, Alexanders exploits have stood the test of time, and likely will remain standing until some other great leader buries them under blood and bone.

Will

Uncomparably vast feats in significantly short space of time that will forever be remembered and compared.

Richard

Did the unimaginable by conquering the most powerful empire of its time, then pushing his army east into the unknown, spreading Hellenism and his name throughout the land. Alexander was a brilliant on-the-fly tactician, integrating units from disparate lands and cultures while also utilizing the terrain and his opponents tendencies to his advantage.

Elliott

He created one of the largest empires in a short time

George

He was a fearless warrior and took part of front line battles. Therefore, unlike many other leaders, he inspired his people better than a regular king of sorts would have done. He was also a tactical and stratetical mastermind. His exploits speak for themselves.

Christopher

He rose from a small kingdom to conquer the known world  and his reputation was so fearsome that decades after his death people still refused to revolt out of fear that he might really still be alive and come back to punish them.

Its a real shame that Ghengis Khan is not on the list, though.

David

A huge empire in his lifetime with some splendid military victories.

Chris

He helped unify most of the ancient world. And he was a certified military genius. Some of the combat accomplishments were quite amazing.

Jonathan

Alexander was so young when he conquered the then-world that it puts all these other old fogeys to shame  a true child prodigy. He was a kind and fair ruler to his citizens, which held together despite the vast mix of cultures. It was only after he died that his empire crumbled, signalling that it was really him that was the key piece that held the empire together. He also defeated Darius III, another leader in this poll, something that doesnt apply to any of the other leaders I think. Go Alexander the Great!

Arthur

He dared

Philippe

Alex won every battle he fought. I believe no one else did that. Ceaser, Augustus, Gendis Khan all lost battles at one time.

Stephen

Alexander the Great never lost a battle ever in his entire military campaign all the way to India. Had he not died he could have made the Grecian Empire as great or greater than the Roman Empire that was formed years later.

Ryan

Alexander took the unity forged by his father in the Agean and with it conquered the colossus of Persia in 10 years and enabled Greek thought and language to permiate the entire near east and through the conquests of the Romans, extend throughout Western Europe, influencing all of modern history.

John

He was the greatest and brightsest leader. He didnt only conquered all the known world (for the greeks until that time) but he also focused on unifying them.

He also used a lot of scientist during his quest including doctors engineers and many more. All together united under the commands of Alexander made the greatest empire the world has ever known in such a sort time (if we take into account the huge distances and the difficulty of transportation during that period) and by one ruler..

Dimitris

Smart cunning and ruthless he was the greatest because he thought for himself and knew what he wanted how he would get it

Trevor

Run close by Napoleon, by to achieve so much in such a short period of time is something that is very hard to match, especially as the whole logistical side of what he did would have been far harder than Napoleon, plus he never lost.

Kevin

He was the first real icon for unity amongst all people, he had his flaws though but his idea & vision is something that would inspire many, and what he achieved being so young in short span of time was amazing aswell. Also one of his quotes or something that he showed. Nothing is Impossible,everything is possible, you just have to have the willpower to do it.

Mohammed

To me, a leader is one who provides a strong example of how followers should live and believe, not necessarily how they must. I think Alexander fits this bill very well.

Not only did he utilize the military advances his father developed to defeat the most imposing army and empire of the time, often leading assaults himself (much to the worry of his officers and troops), but he then tried to join the cultures of Greece and Persia into a greater whole. To advance this idea, he even married a woman of that eastern empire and encouraged his followers to do so as well.

When he led his soldiers to the Indus River and they decided that they would go no further, he let them have their way. Unfortunately, many woes befell them during their return to Babylon, and later, Alexander failed to consolidate his dream for a combined east-west empire, but his conquests did help Greek culture thrive and survive through the middle ages, the crusades and on to inspire the Renaissance.

Jonathon

Alexander was the greatest military strategist of all time. He redefined warfare for ages to come and his death brought a civil war fought between the Seleucids and Ptolemaics that would last until Roman conquest hundreds of years later. Alexander was able to destroy a Persian army that massively outnumbered his and still have enough men to march through Persia and conquer the empire. Alexander may not have had the best of everything, but he made it work

Darren

He conquered most of the known world at the time with ease, all before he died young. He was known mainly for his military skills.

Matthew

It may be true that without his father, Phillipous the second of Macedonia, Alexander the Great would not have been that great. However the reported historical fact depict him as an intelligent and charismatic personality, understanding complexities that go beyond simple strategy and tactics. He used the conquered lands, sent back to Europe a great variety of plants and animals that did not existed and bringing them a lot of the advantages that the Greek city-states had developed. He build cities all around the then known world in strategic locations, many of which continue to prosper. He allowed the conquered nations to continue their existences without forcing a religion upon them. And above all he did all this with minimal resources, always involving himself in all the aspects of his military, economic and cultural campaign. He brought forth an age of contact between nations that ignored each others existence and is rightfully remembered as Alexander the Great. If that is not a sign of greatness, I do not know what is.

Anastase

He conquered all Greece, then Egypt, Persia, India that makes a huge empire with so much victories during a so hard period of the History. Desire of territories was his main objective as an explorer and he will stay in the History by Alexander the great who makes Macedonia has one of the most extensive territories of all time.

Nicolas

None other in this list have realy had the same long time effect og his rule, making sure that greek culture became so dominant and making sure Rome herited it. Also hes seen as a great figure not only in the western world, but in the middle east and India as well, and few have had as brilliant military careers as he have.

Jimmy

Because of introducing the psychology of the God/Man King, and using it to his advantage in warfare and conquest, while at the same time inspiring the world with advances in the sciences and mathematics.

Steve

No other man in history has conquered so vast an area with so little an Army; I will be the first to point out that the classical Macedonians were Greek through and through, and only the snobbery of the Southern Greek states -who viewed anyone who didnt both speak Greek, and organize themselves in city states as various shades of barbaric- but at the end of it, even if more or less controlled by Macedonia b the time of Alexander, it was the Macedonian army and some mercenary auxiliaries that toppled what had been the greatest empire the world had ever seen, spread Greek culture to the Indus (where it would influence Indian culture, and have faint reverberations even in China and Japan- usually seen as culturally impregnable entities, even they felt the result of Alexanders mighty thrust East.)

As a single man, none have accomplished a greater feat; the only man who might offer a challenge in terms of pure military conquest, Ghengis Khan falls flat on his face when one considers the cultural effect as a legacy of conquest, and between the two, i think its fairly certain that through modern eyes, it is far more easy to see Alexander, the Philosopher-King as perhaps the greatest ruler our little species has so far produced- had he lived longer, what else might he have done to make his legend yet greater then it already was?

Harrison

Took over most of Europe and much of Asia and Africa. Was loved by his people. Ahead of his era and forward thinking in the fields of art, religion, architecture, city planning, and many other cultural and technological fields.

A military genius and a man that was wise enough to know when to consult others in areas where he did not know himself.

Chris

The battles he won, the enemies he defeated and the subjects he gained. In a few short years he forever became the benchmark for being called great.

Douglas

Just with the sheer scale of the empire that Alexander created at an early time, he has to be the greatest

Peter

Surely its Alexander, he lived in times before Jesus yet they still teach his tactics at military academies today

Ian

Alexander III of Macedon , commonly known as Alexander the Great. Alexander the Greats accomplishments and legacy have been preserved and depicted in many ways. Alexander has figured in works of both high and popular culture from his own era to the modern day. Titles: King of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt and Lord of Asia

Alexander

For the age in which they lived they were by far the most advanced technological and militarial civilization in the world using many inventions and techniques that still hold sway today. All of this held under a system that in equal measures was democratic but extremely ruthless.

Gary

The man brought down the greatest empire the world had seen, seemingly without difficulty and within a matter of just a couple of years, conquered most of the known world while fighting far from home, never lost a battle, led from the front, was tutored by Aristotle and maintained his passion for philosophy throughout his life, spread Greek culture across the globe  you get the idea. Oh, and he did all of this before the age of 33. Perhaps the clincher, however, is this: Julius Caesar weeped when he considered Alexanders accomplishments.

Darryl

Tremendous lasting impact in both military and cultural spheres  his tactics are still studied 2300 years later.

Jennifer

All would be rulers of the world were in awe of Alexander. His story, based largely on legends of his persona, is everything a military leader wished to be in life (handsome, bold, fearless, an artist and a dashing warrior).

In reality Alexander more than an experienced leader was an extremely lucky and able heir to the throne. Alexander is today revered and set apart from other leaders because of eurocentrism that still remains to this day.

Rodrigo

Alexander the Great was one of the greatest conquerors and tactical minds of all time, as evidenced by his large empire acquired with relatively small resources. He was inspiring and charismatic, his men would (and did) follow him anywhere. Beyond the conqueror, however, he took Hellenistic culture to an entirely different level; instead of the ideas of liberty, equality, philosophy, drama, and scientific categorization and study remaining in Greece and slowly spreading by basic trade and other modicums of idea osmosis, he spread it like wildfire across Asia Minor and the Middle East all the way to the Indian subcontinent. Very similar to Napoleon, except that Napoleon spread Nationalism, efficient bureaucracy, and a renewed vigor for republics. Both are great, but Alexander has to win in my book.

Maxwell

His stunning and rapid record speaks for itself, brilliant commander and fearless.

Alex

Conquered most of the known world, ruled Afghanistan, created one of the largest empires in history, all before he was 33. If he hadnt dropped dead, he might have conquered the world.

Julian

He fought in the head of his army. His conditions were the same as of his soldiers his starting point was terrible small state with a huge an seemingly undefeatable enemy

Ronen

Out of the choices given I believe Alexander is the greatest leader. I thought of such greats as Bismarck, Washington, Napoleon, and Augustus, however Alexander was able to be a very successful military leader and politician. The others were either great commanders or political leaders, not both.

With Alexander he was able to conquer lands with military tactics across the then-known world. The other candidates werent able to spread their military campaigns as far as he did as well as liberate territories such as Egypt.

On the battlefield, Alexander, like Napoleon, gave the soldiers a dramatic surge in morale. However, unlike Napoleon, Alexander also understood the different religions, cultures, and economies of the territories he captured. Granted, like Napoleon they may have both been aggressive military leaders, but Alexander was able to gain a lot of respect worldwide by not just conquering but keeping a lot of the conquered areas in-tact.

Because Alexander was able to conquer a lot of territory of the then-known world, allowing to keep their customs, inspiring his soldiers, and acknowledging economics impact by establishing Alexandria, I believe this shows that Alexander was a great military commander and political leader. Which is what makes him the greatest leader out of the choices.

Jaron

He commanded an elite army inherited from his father, but even so, it takes some talent to crush the greatest empire in the world. Furthermore, he managed to keep his Macedonians from bickering and plotting too much against each other  not bad when leading a people among whom political assassinations was practically a standard procedure and every ascension on the throne was followed by the killing of all those opposed and all rival claimants.

Ojevind

An innovative general, Alexander led a superbly trained army, against many foes and throughout the known ancient world. Yet his force was small compared to those he fought, (Persians, Indians) and he never lost a battle. When he died at 33, he had conquered the entire known world, and we will never know if he was a capable governor because he died so young before he could truly rule his empire, yet as a military leader he is certainly without equal

Ben

Hes responsible for spreading Hellenic culture all the way to India; shaping the Classical Age single handedly. Julius Ceaser is noted to have cried at the sight of a statue of Alexander because he could never be a great a leader as Alexander. Also, a simple statement of military tactics that is attributed to Alexander; Hammer and Anvil.

Brett

He liberated more than conquered, and fought in the wars he waged.

Mike

Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great) is the single greatest leader in all of history because he lead one of the grandest armies in the world and established one of the largest armies of antiquity. Dozens of the cities which he established still exist today, and the culture he spread and assimilated is very evident in the lands in which his empire existed. Truly, Alexanders exploits have stood the test of time, and likely will remain standing until some other great leader buries them under blood and bone.

Will

Uncomparably vast feats in significantly short space of time that will forever be remembered and compared.

Richard

Did the unimaginable by conquering the most powerful empire of its time, then pushing his army east into the unknown, spreading Hellenism and his name throughout theland. Alexander was a brilliant on-the-fly tactician, integrating units from disparate lands and cultures while also utilizing the terrain and his opponents tendencies to his advantage.

Elliott

He created one of the largest empires in a short time

George

He was a fearless warrior and took part of front line battles. Therefore, unlike many other leaders, he inspired his people better than a regular king of sorts would have done. He was also a tactical and stratetical mastermind. His exploits speak for themselves.

Christopher

He rose from a small kingdom to conquer the known world  and his reputation was so fearsome that decades after his death people still refused to revolt out of fear that he might really still be alive and come back to punish them.

Its a real shame that Ghengis Khan is not on the list, though.

David

A huge empire in his lifetime with some splendid military victories.

Chris

He helped unify most of the ancient world. And he was a certified military genius. Some of the combat accomplishments were quite amazing.

Jonathan

Alexander was so young when he conquered the then-world that it puts all these other old fogeys to shame  a true child prodigy. He was a kind and fair ruler to his citizens, which held together despite the vast mix of cultures. It was only after he died that his empire crumbled, signalling that it was really him that was the key piece that held the empire together. He also defeated Darius III, another leader in this poll, something that doesnt apply to any of the other leaders I think. Go Alexander the Great!

Arthur

He dared

Philippe

Alex won every battle he fought. I believe no one else did that. Ceaser, Augustus, Gendis Khan all lost battles at one time.

Stephen

Alexander the Great never lost a battle ever in his entire military campaign all the way to India. Had he not died he could have made the Grecian Empire as great or greater than the Roman Empire that was formed years later.

Ryan

Alexander took the unity forged by his father in the Agean and with it conquered the colossus of Persia in 10 years and enabled Greek thought and language to permiate the entire near east and through the conquests of the Romans, extend throughout Western Europe, influencing all of modern history.

John

He was the greatest and brightsest leader. He didnt only conquered all the known world (for the greeks until that time) but he also focused on unifying them.

He also used a lot of scientist during his quest including doctors engineers and many more. All together united under the commands of Alexander made the greatest empire the world has ever known in such a sort time (if we take into account the huge distances and the difficulty of transportation during that period) and by one ruler..

Dimitris

Smart cunning and ruthless he was the greatest because he thought for himself and knew what he wanted how he would get it

Trevor

Run close by Napoleon, by to achieve so much in such a short period of time is something that is very hard to match, especially as the whole logistical side of what he did would have been far harder than Napoleon, plus he never lost.

Kevin

He was the first real icon for unity amongst all people, he had his flaws though but his idea & vision is something that would inspire many, and what he achieved being so young in short span of time was amazing aswell. Also one of his quotes or something that he showed. Nothing is Impossible,everything is possible, you just have to have the willpower to do it.

Mohammed

To me, a leader is one who provides a strong example of how followers should live and believe, not necessarily how they must. I think Alexander fits this bill very well.

Not only did he utilize the military advances his father developed to defeat the most imposing army and empire of the time, often leading assaults himself (much to the worry of his officers and troops), but he then tried to join the cultures of Greece and Persia into a greater whole. To advance this idea, he even married a woman of that eastern empire and encouraged his followers to do so as well.

When he led his soldiers to the Indus River and they decided that they would go no further, he let them have their way. Unfortunately, many woes befell them during their return to Babylon, and later, Alexander failed to consolidate his dream for a combined east-west empire, but his conquests did help Greek culture thrive and survive through the middle ages, the crusades and on to inspire the Renaissance.

Jonathon

Alexander was the greatest military strategist of all time. He redefined warfare for ages to come and his death brought a civil war fought between the Seleucids and Ptolemaics that would last until Roman conquest hundreds of years later. Alexander was able to destroy a Persian army that massively outnumbered his and still have enough men to march through Persia and conquer the empire. Alexander may not have had the best of everything, but he made it work

Darren

He conquered most of the known world at the time with ease, all before he died young. He was known mainly for his military skills.

Matthew

It may be true that without his father, Phillipous the second of Macedonia, Alexander the Great would not have been that great. However the reported historical fact depict him as an intelligent and charismatic personality, understanding complexities that go beyond simple strategy and tactics. He used the conquered lands, sent back to Europe a great variety of plants and animals that did not existed and bringing them a lot of the advantages that the Greek city-states had developed. He build cities all around the then known world in strategic locations, many of which continue to prosper. He allowed the conquered nations to continue their existences without forcing a religion upon them. And above all he did all this with minimal resources, always involving himself in all the aspects of his military, economic and cultural campaign. He brought forth an age of contact between nations that ignored each others existence and is rightfully remembered as Alexander the Great. If that is not a sign of greatness, I do not know what is.

Anastase

He conquered all Greece, then Egypt, Persia, India that makes a huge empire with so much victories during a so hard period of the History. Desire of territories was his main objective as an explorer and he will stay in the History by Alexander the great who makes Macedonia has one of the most extensive territories of all time.

Nicolas

None other in this list have realy had the same long time effect og his rule, making sure that greek culture became so dominant and making sure Rome herited it. Also hes seen as a great figure not only in the western world, but in the middle east and India as well, and few have had as brilliant military careers as he have.

Jimmy

Because of introducing the psychology of the God/Man King, and using it to his advantage in warfare and conquest, while at the same time inspiring the world with advances in the sciences and mathematics.

Steve

No other man in history has conquered so vast an area with so little an Army; I will be the first to point out that the classical Macedonians were Greek through and through, and only the snobbery of the Southern Greek states -who viewed anyone who didnt both speak Greek, and organize themselves in city states as various shades of barbaric- but at the end of it, even if more or less controlled by Macedonia b the time of Alexander, it was the Macedonian army and some mercenary auxiliaries that toppled what had been the greatest empire the world had ever seen, spread Greek culture to the Indus (where it would influence Indian culture, and have faint reverberations even in China and Japan- usually seen as culturally impregnable entities, even they felt the result of Alexanders mighty thrust East.)

As a single man, none have accomplished a greater feat; the only man who might offer a challenge in terms of pure military conquest, Ghengis Khan falls flat on his face when one considers the cultural effect as a legacy of conquest, and between the two, i think its fairly certain that through modern eyes, it is far more easy to see Alexander, the Philosopher-King as perhaps the greatest ruler our little species has so far produced- had he lived longer, what else might he have done to make his legend yet greater then it already was?

Harrison

Took over most of Europe and much of Asia and Africa. Was loved by his people. Ahead of his era and forward thinking in the fields of art, religion, architecture, city planning, and many other cultural and technological fields.

A military genius and a man that was wise enough to know when to consult others in areas where he did not know himself.

Chris

The battles he won, the enemies he defeated and the subjects he gained. In a few short years he forever became the benchmark for being called great.

Douglas

Just with the sheer scale of the empire that Alexander created at an early time, he has to be the greatest

Peter
The Army is moving forward with renaming bases that for decades have honored Confederate rebels who waged war against the United States largely to protect and expand the slave trade.

Those new designations are set to be mostly wrapped up in the summer with Fort Pickett, Virginia, being renamed Fort Barfoot on Friday and most other posts set to have name changes by early June.

The new names are part of a larger effort by the Pentagon to scrub references to Confederate military leaders and commemoration of rebel victories. The congressionally mandated Naming Commission, a committee formed to examine all Confederate references across the military, recommended nine Army bases for redesignation.

Read Next: Army Identifies Command Sergeant Major Who Was Killed Alongside 3 Children

Those bases were founded long after the Civil War, between the early- and mid-twentieth century -- an era in which the bulk of Confederate monuments were erected as Southern states enacted laws disenfranchising Black Americans.

The next redesignation will be Fort Rucker, Alabama, home of the Army's aviation training, on April 20. The base will be renamed after Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr., a veteran of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam after he flew his helicopter into heavy gunfire during 15 medical evacuations in a single battle, saving 29 soldiers. His helicopter was heavily damaged, and he was also shot while flying.

On April 27, Fort Lee, Virginia, will be redesignated Fort Gregg-Adams, a name that references two trailblazing Black officers: Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg, the first Black soldier to rise to three-star general in the logistics field; and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, the first Black officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, the component of the Army where women served when units were still segregated by gender. Gregg, 94, would be the only living person to have an Army post named after him.

On May 11, Fort Benning, Georgia, which is the home of the service's infantry, tanker and cavalry scout basic training, will be renamed Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia Moore. Hal Moore, a Korean and Vietnam war veteran, is best known for leading 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, in the legendary Battle of Ia Drang Valley in 1965 -- immortalized in the book and movie "We Were Soldiers." The battle was one of the first major engagements for the U.S. in the war and was the first notable employment of modern cavalry and air assault tactics.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Ia Drang, in which the U.S. took heavy casualties, Julia Moore lobbied the Army to reinvent how it notified next of kin of battlefield deaths. Previously, families had been notified via telegram, sometimes delivered by a cab driver. Following Julia Moore's advocacy, the service implemented a support network that involved the family being notified in person by a soldier wearing their dress uniform, a system still in use today.

"There can be no better way to inspire the men and women who will train to defend our nation, and particularly to provide recognition to the widows of our Nation's fallen, than to name our installation for a couple who exemplifies America's highest standards of courage, character, and compassion -- Hal and Julia Moore," Maj. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, Fort Benning's commander, said in a press release.

Fort Hood, Texas, is set to be renamed Fort Cavazos on May 9 after Richard Cavazos, the Army's first Hispanic four-star general and a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross separately in each conflict for heroic actions in combat.

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is home to the Army's airborne and Special Forces, will be renamed Fort Liberty on June 2. It's the only post that will not be named after a famed member of the service. It is unclear why Army planners took a unique path with Fort Bragg, amid a vast roster of Medal of Honor recipients from the airborne and Special Forces communities.

"The name Fort Liberty was not chosen at random," a news release from Fort Bragg said. "Those who served on the Naming Commission for Fort Bragg struggled to agree on one name from the more than 50 Medal of Honor recipients who could capture and encompass the scope and spirit of this installation. Each of them is just as deserving as the other. What resonated among the Commission and community members was the desire to name the installation not after a single person, but a value or characteristic that would have significance for everyone."

Fort Gordon's date is not set in stone, but garrison officials are aiming for October, according to a spokesperson for the Georgia base. That could coincide with the birthday of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who will be the installation's new namesake.

Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, and Fort Polk, Louisiana, do not have dates yet for their renaming, spokespersons for each post told Military.com.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: These Southern National Guard Units to Toss Confederate Battle Streamers
Nearly two years after it was initially filed, the city of Dayton's $300 million lawsuit against Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Department of Defense over so-called "forever chemicals" sits in legal limbo, blended with thousands of similar lawsuits under a single federal court master docket.

"It was unilaterally transferred to a federal court in South Carolina over a year ago under a statute called 'multi-district litigation,'" said Stephen Neal Haughey, a Cincinnati attorney representing Dayton in the suit. "It was consolidated with probably 10,000 PFAS cases that are down there."

"It literally got yanked out," he added. "We never got a chance to even prove our case."

The suit finds itself "indefinitely stayed," as Haughey put it  a precarious position given that newly proposed federal PFAS standards for drinking water make the city's need for new water treatment funding dollars more urgent, he contends.

The city of Dayton formally filed a drinking water contamination lawsuit against Wright-Patterson and the DoD in early May 2021.

The suit, initially filed in Cincinnati's federal court, accused the base and the DoD of failing to stop water containing a group of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  or PFAS  from flowing into the city's Mad River wellfield. The wellfield is one of several Dayton uses to supply drinking water to more than 400,000 residents in Dayton and Montgomery County.

At the time of the filing, Wright-Patt and defense officials denied the city's allegations, saying they had followed federal guidelines and were taking an aggressive approach against the chemicals. By the city's own admission, the base noted at the time, Dayton's water was safe to drink.

Since the filing, the base has embarked on $26.5 million project to cleanse the chemicals from the ground.

In January, the base said an Army contractor built a 420-foot-long trench near a hazardous materials storage site on the base in an effort to intercept impacted groundwater. A downgradient-collection basin is meant to catch affected surface water so it can be treated before it's discharged near the Dayton drinking water wellfield, the base also said in January.

The city's lawsuit sought damages from $10 million to $300 million.

Rose Riley, an Air Force spokeswoman, said the service does not comment on ongoing litigation. A spokeswoman for the 88th Air Base Wing, the unit responsible for security and infrastructure at Wright-Patterson, likewise declined to comment.

Questions were also sent to city of Dayton deputy law director John Musto.

"I don't know when we will ever have a chance to prosecute our claims and seek relief for the contamination," Haughey said in a recent interview. "The city is working aggressively to try to find sources of funding at other levels to try to deal with the problem while we sit down there 9,000-plus other complaints in Columbia, S.C."

The city's lawsuit was placed with thousands of cases brought by individual plaintiffs, state governments and municipalities like Dayton.

A Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation determined that the cases filed "involved common questions of law and fact such that centralization of the cases was appropriate," a notice on the South Carolina court's web site says. "Weighing a number of factors, the Judicial Panel selected the District of South Carolina as the forum for this litigation."

Judge Richard Gergel oversees discovery and pretrial issues.

Of the thousands of cases, only 28 are complaints against military bases, Haughey said. Most are lawsuits against the manufacturers of PFAS chemicals, such as DuPoint, 3M and others.

"We're not even a lawsuit against the manufacturers," Haughey said. "We're going right after the source of contamination."

In December, 3M Co. said it will end the production of goods with PFAS chemicals by the end of 2025.

Dayton is not alone in the Miami Valley with its lawsuit. Fairborn and Bellbrook have sued 3M and others, alleging PFAS contamination or potential contamination of community water sources.

In mid-March, the Biden administration said it is proposing the first national drinking water standard for six PFAS chemicals. The EPA is proposing to regulate PFOA and PFOS at a level where the chemicals can be "reliably measured" at 4 parts per trillion.

It's difficult to say what the future holds for the lawsuit.

"Obviously, the city needs funding to install treatment," Haughey said. "The U.S. EPA has issued proposed drinking water standards last week (on March 14) that are so low that the city will absolutely need to install treatment to remove PFAS down to the level proposed by the U.S. EPA."

"We want funding," the attorney added. "We don't care how we get it  through litigation, through negotiation, through state and federal funding bills. That's what the city wants. They don't want to sue anybody if they (the city) can find funding."

___

(c)2023 Springfield News-Sun, Ohio

Visit Springfield News-Sun, Ohio at www.springfieldnewssun.com

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On March 24, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan informed that they have registered the fact of the construction of the new Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road in Artsakh with the involvement of engineering and special equipment.

March 24, 2023, 19:48 Azerbaijan is also trying to target inter-communal roads of Artsakh with false theses. Ministry of Internal Affairs

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 24 , ARTSAKHPRESS: The Azerbaijani side used this fact in the context that the Armenian side allegedly intends to use the mentioned road for the purpose of transporting weapons and ammunition.

In the meanwhile, the authorities of Artsakh have repeatedly announced and presented factual evidence that the mentioned road is used exclusively for the purpose of the movement of civilians and the transportation of humanitarian goods, taking into account the fact that since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijani government agencies have been keeping the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to the outer world, closed. The fact of the civilian significance of that road was irrefutably proven as a result of the Azerbaijani sabotage ambush attack on March 5, when the Azerbaijani terrorist group, in order to allegedly prevent the transfer of weapons, attacked and killed the police officers who were traveling from Stepanakert to the communities of Shushi region to perform a civil service.

Moreover, the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road with a mountainous and complex relief connects a number of communities of Shushi region (Lisagor, Yeghtsahogh, Hin Shen and Mets Shen) to the capital of Artsakh and other settlements. It is the only inter-community route bypassing the blocked Shushi highway, where road construction activities are needed to ensure relatively safe and accessible traffic.
BEIRUT  A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

The attack and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria" by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people. Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militiamen posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal. It said the strikes also wounded people, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour. The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said U.S. bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said.

The AP could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Kurilla also claimed that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on U.S. positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes. Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of U.S.-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

While the risk of an escalatory cycle is there, she said, I think the Biden administration wont be eager to escalate in Syria now and will instead have a relatively measured response.

U.S. forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The U.S. still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened. There are roughly 900 U.S. troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis. Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

__

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Kesten reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.
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Congress and the Biden administration are currently considering bans or requiring changes to ownership for the popular social media app TikTok. Their concerns stem from the app's current Chinese ownership group and issues around data security for American users, as well as the potential spread of false information to Americans by foreign actors.

Veterans and military families should be especially aware of the risks involved with the use of TikTok. Most Americans hold veterans and military families in high esteem. With that trust and respect comes responsibility, and that includes all aspects of operational and national security, including what is on your phone.

Here are five reasons veterans and military families should be concerned about TikTok.

1. Securing Sensitive Information

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, can access and record every keystroke made by American users on their phones -- even when the app is not actively being used. As a result of a 2017 Chinese cybersecurity law, ByteDance could be compelled to share data with the Chinese government. Thus, Beijing could collect sensitive information and be given a powerful tool for espionage against American targets. For military families, this could include data that endangers operational security, such as unit movements and timelines, training details, and locations pinpointed to the individual level. For these reasons, the U.S. Army banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices in 2019, and all government employees faced a similar restriction as of last December.

2. Protecting Military Children

Military kids are also high-value targets because they have the ability to unintentionally or accidentally provide potentially sensitive information as a result of actions taken in their everyday lives. The children of service members and veterans could also be specifically targeted, and TikTok's core audience skews younger than most social media apps and networks. Once data is available to foreign bad actors, TikTok users could be susceptible to phishing or location tracking. This would include not only the Chinese Communist Party, but any other government or non-state actor to whom the Chinese might sell or share information.

3. Insulating Against Misinformation

Because veterans and military family members enjoy a high level of trust amongst the American public, they have a responsibility to be thoughtful about the kind of information they share. An increasing number of adults today get their news from TikTok and, like any social media platform, TikTok can be a purveyor of misinformation. Incorrect or misleading information (regardless of the intent to mislead) has consistently played a detrimental role in the political and ideological discord that currently plagues our country. What makes TikTok particularly dangerous is the chance that the app's algorithms could be manipulated or abused to push the most harmful types of misinformation to the most vulnerable users.

4. Defending Against Disinformation

While misinformation is typically defined as falsehoods that the user doesn't know are falsehoods, disinformation is deliberately misleading or biased information, typically spread with malicious intent. This is one area where U.S. political leaders find common ground. The Biden administration has warned against the spread of disinformation from China. Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., wrote an op-ed last November where they warned, "The CCP [Chinese Communist Party] could also use TikTok to propagate videos that support party-friendly politicians or exacerbate discord in American society."

5. Halting Propaganda from Anti-American Groups

Should the Chinese government choose to share data collected on TikTok, anti-American and anti-democracy groups around the globe would be able to use it for their own nefarious intentions. Both international and domestic bad actors -- terrorists, Nazis, anarchists, etc. -- have recruited veterans because of their leadership skills and weapons training. The propaganda they spew, in combination with mis- and disinformation, can lead to detrimental results for our nation and our democracy.

President Biden has cited national security concerns in his proposed plan requiring TikTok's Chinese owners to divest their stake in the app. While the administration and Congress decide how to act, veterans and military families should take particular care when using TikTok -- for their own interest and the best interest of all Americans.

-- Ellen Gustafson is the co-founder and co-executive director of We the Veterans, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers the veteran and military family community to strengthen American democracy, and she is a proud military spouse.
For some business owners, "culture" might sound like some gobbledygook corporations use to sound more woke. For others, it might seem like something a high-minded business guru came up with to sell books. In reality, culture has a very practical -- and important -- business function.

Culture can mean everything from the attitudes of a company's employees and the way they communicate to the general "vibe" of the office and the company's core values. All of those definitions are correct, but what business culture really comes down to is what makes the company successful.

"Culture is a really squishy topic and encompasses so many things," Chris Cancialosi, managing partner and founder of gothamCulture, said in a presentation at the 2023 Veteran Edge Conference in Dallas. "If I asked everyone their definition of culture, they're all probably going to be correct. But culture is essentially 'The Way Things Get Done Around Here.'"

Cancialosi, a former Army Cavalry officer and Blackhawk pilot, in 2005 founded gothamCulture with a mission to help businesses address changes as they scale up and change, especially in the areas of leadership, culture and people strategy.

He's also scaled up his own business, through both normal functions and acquisitions. After a couple of years in business, gothamCulture officials decided to sit down and consider what has made the company so successful. The discussions revealed the core values the company believes led to its success.

"We still hold ourselves accountable to them," he says. "So when we talk about organizational culture, we're talking about the fundamental values of the organization that guide our behavior."

gothamCulture has a five-phase process for determining the core values: Assess, Dialogue, Design, Implement and Sustain. The most unique part about its process is the Dialogue phase.

"One of the things that makes organizational culture difficult is that it's a concept based on a collective experience," Cancialosi says. "You can't understand or evolve it without including the collective. You need the dialogue phase to tap into the collective."

Cancialosi compares the aspects of business culture to an iceberg. A company's norms and behaviors, the most visible and tangible parts of company culture, are the tip of the iceberg.

Just below the waterline, sometimes visible but often obscured, are the attitudes and beliefs the company holds to be true. These are important because they manifest as company policies and procedures that guide employee behavior.

Well below the surface, not visible to most, are the underlying beliefs, values and assumptions about the proper way things get done. These are the less-understood and rarely questioned beliefs. They are also often intangible.

"Our job is to peel back the onion and try to understand, as deeply as possible, what is driving those behaviors of the invisible part," says Cancialosi. "We can observe behaviors, but we can't observe things we don't even think about. It's the way a new employee starts a new job, trying to understand everything about the job. Eventually, they don't think about it anymore because they automatically understand how to survive."

Organizations make mistakes, but they learn from those mistakes as a collective. Once you learn what works and what doesn't work in the system, organizations can adjust. This process is where the core set of beliefs of how they should work begins.

"The more collective lessons we have over time, the more it reinforces our belief that how we do things is the right way to do it," says Cancialosi. "Culture develops in any group over time, based on shared experiences and lessons learned. Every culture is going to be different.

"Culture provides those unwritten rules about 'how we do things around here,' so you don't need to think about it every day," he continues. "It frees up our brain power to move things forward."

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn.

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December 29: Seguras deal has a third year team option, per Craig Mish of the Miami Herald. Its not clear what kind of option that is, but Mish provides the specific financial breakdown. Segura will make $6.5MM in 2023 and $8.5MM in 2024, then theres a $10MM option for 2025 with a $2MM buyout.

December 28: The Marlins are in agreement on a deal with Jean Segura, as first reported by Hector Gomez of Z101 (Twitter link). Once finalized, itll be a two-year, $17MM contract for the CAA client.

Segura has spent the last four years in the NL East. The Phillies acquired the right-handed hitting infielder over the 2018-19 offseason in a deal that sent J.P. Crawford and offloaded the final season of Carlos Santanas contract to the Mariners. He spent four seasons as an everyday middle infielder in Philadelphia. He hit free agency at the start of this offseason when the team bought him out for $1MM in lieu of a $17MM option.

As he has for much of his career, Segura provided consistently effective work on both sides of the ball. He hit between 10 and 14 home runs in all three full seasons while stealing between nine and 13 bases in each year. In each of the past three seasons, hes put up slightly above-average numbers at the plate. Since the start of the 2019 campaign, the two-time All-Star owns a .281/.337/.418 line through just under 1800 trips to the dish.

Segura has typically been a durable and reliable presence in the lineup, topping 125 games in all eight full seasons from 2013-21 and playing in 57 of 60 games during the abbreviated 2020 campaign. That wasnt the case in 2022, as he fractured his right index finger on a bunt attempt at the end of May. That required surgery and sidelined him through early August, but Seguras rate production this year was in line with that of prior seasons.

The 32-year-old (33 in March) hit .277/.336/.387 over 387 plate appearances. Hes not one to draw many walks or hit for huge power, but he makes plenty of contact. Segura only struck out in 15% of his trips to the plate and has posted a lower than average strikeout percentage in every season of his career. He put the bat on the ball on 83.2% of his swings this past season, a rate thats nearly six percentage points higher than the league average. Those contact skills are certainly appealing to a Marlins club that entered the offseason seeking hitters with low strikeout rates.

Its the first notable roster move of the winter for Miami general manager Kim Ng and her staff. Theyve sought to upgrade a lineup that ranked 28th in MLB in run scoring but hadnt made any moves to bolster the offense thus far. Segura adds a potential top-of-the-lineup threat for first-year manager Skip Schumaker.

While hes a solid addition to the batting order, its not as ideal a fit positionally. Segura played shortstop for the early part of his career but posted below-average defensive marks there in 2019. After that season, Philadelphia signed Didi Gregorius and kicked Segura to the other side of the bag. Hes played almost exclusively second base for three years, with just 21 starts at third base and two starts at shortstop (all in 2020) over that stretch. Segura has manned shortstop for only two innings in the past two seasons.

Since moving to the keystone, the Dominican Republic native has rated highly with the glove. Defensive Runs Saved has credited him a cumulative six runs above average for the past three years, while Statcast has pegged him 13 runs above par. Second base is his best position at this stage of his career, meaning it appears young star Jazz Chisholm Jr. will kick over to shortstop. While Chisholm came up as a shortstop prospect, hes played mostly second base in MLB. Like Segura, he didnt log a single inning outside of second base in 2022. In a fairly small sample of 329 2/3 innings at shortstop from 2020-21, Chisholm rated as a below-average defender by both DRS and Statcast.

Moving Chisholm to shortstop could signal a reduction in playing time for Miguel Rojas. Regarded as Miamis unofficial team captain, Rojas has been the primary shortstop in South Florida for five straight seasons. Hes a quality defender but hit only .236/.283/.323 across 507 plate appearances in 2022. That lackluster offensive showing could be partially explained by injury, as the 33-year-old underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right wrist at seasons end. Rojas is under contract for $5MM next season and reportedly drew some trade interest from the Red Sox earlier this winter. Miami could certainly keep Rojas around as infield depth  particularly if they deal third baseman Joey Wendle instead  but the Segura signing could make them more willing to entertain trade offers on their incumbent shortstop.

Segura was one of four players and two position players (the other being Jurickson Profar) from MLBTRs pre-offseason top 50 free agents who hadnt yet agreed to terms. The reported contract is a near-match for the two years and $18MM which MLBTR had projected. The deals specific financial breakdown remains unreported, but evenly distributing $8.5MM salaries would bring Miamis estimated 2023 payroll to $103MM, as calculated by Roster Resource. Thatd be a fair bit north of this past seasons $79MM Opening Day mark.

How much money Ng and her staff still have to play with isnt clear, though the club could continue to look for ways to address the offense. Center field is an obvious area of need, while Miami may add behind the plate or at the corner infield. The Marlins stable of quality young pitching gives them the chance to turn to the trade market for offensive help, which now figures to be the course of action after tonights dip into free agency.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
A wanted man has been found and dramatically arrested by police after authorities were reportedly notified of an Uber Eats order purchased under the suspect's name.

The 49-year-old man is the third person arrested in connection to an alleged attempted drug importation of over 300 kilograms of cocaine into Western Australia. After their boat capsized last month, the trio were left clinging to an esky, piquing the attention of police.

The men told police they were fishing when their boat capsized, however when a vessel was found partially submerged a week later with authorities alleging cocaine was found inside, investigators began what would become a six week manhunt.

Police received a tip off after the suspect ordered an Uber Eats delivery using his own name to his secret location. Source: AFP

The suspect was found in a "secret compartment" hidden under a spa in the backyard of a Byford property, with the man accompanied by a "loaded gun", federal police said in a statement. According to 9News, an Uber Eats order in his own name led authorities to his location.

Local residents were reportedly told to remain inside while heavily armed specialist operations Tactical Response Team completed the three-hour operation.

"We just heard a voice over from police saying stay inside your house," one witness told 9News.

"We weren't sure what was going on and we checked the cameras and there was three guys in our backyard."

The operation took three hours for the police to safely arrest the man, authorities said. Source: AFP

Men charged with importing border controlled drug

Police confirmed all three men have been charged in relation to their alleged attempt to import a "commercial quantity" of cocaine over the border, with the maximum penalty for the offence being life imprisonment.

It is still unknown how and where the men got possession of the illegal drugs in the ocean, however police are continuing to investigate with Australian Federal Police Sergeant Kristen Swan saying authorities would continue to search for answers.

Our investigation has not ended with the charging of these three men, we continue to work with our partners to track down anyone involved in this importation, she said.

Story continues

The seizure of more than 300kg of cocaine prevented millions of dollars of drug profit from flowing back into a transnational criminal syndicate to fund another illegal venture or lavish lifestyles."

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.
The Dodgers bolstered their infield depth Wednesday evening, announcing agreement with the Marlins on a deal that brings in veteran infielder Miguel Rojas. Miami receives infield prospect Jacob Amaya in a one-for-one swap.

Rojas, 34 in February, actually made his MLB debut for the Dodgers in 2014 but was one of the seven players involved in a trade that December that saw him head to Miami. He served in a utility role for a few years but gradually took over the everyday shortstop job for the Marlins.

He hasnt hit much in the majors, having only gone over the fence 39 times in his nine seasons. However, he has proven tough to strike out, only going down on strikes in 12.6% of his career plate appearances. For reference, the league average last year was 22.4%, so Rojas has been punched out at a rate barely half of that. The overall result is a career batting line of .260/.314/.358 and a wRC+ of 85, indicating hes been about 15% below league average.

What really makes Rojas appealing is his glove. Last year, he got strong marks from all three of Defensive Runs Saved, Ultimate Zone Rating and Outs Above Average. His 15 DRS was second among shortstops last year with only Jeremy Pena ahead of him. His 4.9 UZR was fourth-best in the league and his 10 OAA had him tied for fifth. He also finished second at the position in the Fielding Bible voting, trailing only Jorge Mateo. His sprint speed is only in the 29th percentile but he was still able to swipe 22 bags over the past two seasons. Despite the subpar batting, hes been worth 1.2 wins above replacement or higher in each of the past six seasons, according to the calculations of FanGraphs.

Rojas had previously been connected to the Red Sox in the offseason but instead returns to Los Angeles. The Dodgers lost their incumbent shortstop when Trea Turner reached free agency and signed with the Phillies earlier this offseason. The club is expected to give Gavin Lux a chance to move from second to short and become the long-term solution there, but having Rojas on hand gives them a veteran fallback who can also potentially impart his veteran wisdom to the younger player.

Despite the attributes of Rojas, the Marlins have moved on. Theyve been known to be looking for more offense for quite some time given their struggles in that department. The team-wide batting line last year was .230/.294/.363 for a wRC+ of 88, placing them ahead of just five other teams in the league in that regard. The Fish tried to add a bit more pop to the lineup recently when they signed Jean Segura. It was speculated by some at that point that they would then move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to shortstop and install Segura at the keystone. Subsequent reports suggest the club actually planned to have Segura at third, while it appears Joey Wendle will get first crack at shortstop.

Its possible the other player in this deal will be a factor at the shortstop position in Miami before long. Amaya, 24, was drafted by the Dodgers in 2017 and has been considered one of their more interesting prospects since then. Prospect evaluators have generally considered him to be an excellent defender but there are questions about his bat. In 2021, he spent the year in Double-A, getting into 113 games at that level. While he walked in 10.9% of his plate appearances, he hit just .216/.303/.343 for a wRC+ of 75. Despite that tepid showing, he was added to the clubs 40-man roster in November of that year to protect him from selection in the Rule 5 draft.

Last year, seemed to get the hang of Double-A, hitting .264/.370/.500 for a wRC+ of 120 in 49 games. He was sent up to Triple-A but hit another speed bump. He walked in 14.9% of his trips to the plate but his .259/.368/.381 line was only good enough for a 94 wRC+ in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He still has a couple of option years remaining, which would allow the Marlins to keep him in the minors to continue developing as a hitter. But since hes already played in 84 games at the Triple-A level, it doesnt seem like a major league audition should be too far off.

It seems the win-now Dodgers have placed a higher value on the immediate impact of Rojas than the future value of Amaya. The Marlins, meanwhile, have a longer path towards contention and would appear to have a stronger interest in Amayas ability to help them for years to come.

The Dodgers are reportedly assuming the entirety of Rojas $5MM contract for the 2023 season. Theyre tacking on a matching number to their competitive balance tax calculation with Rojas in the final season of his two-year deal. That latter point is more important, since the payroll is well below the clubs spending over the past few years.

There has been some suggestion the Dodgers would like to get under the tax threshold this year in order to reset their status. The CBT features escalating penalties for paying it in consecutive seasons but the Dodgers could theoretically stay under the $233MM line this year and go into 2024 as first-time payors. They have been right around that border of late, at least per the unofficial calculations of Roster Resource. Theyre now firmly over the line, projected around $237MM. If the club is indeed hoping to duck under the line, they would likely have to subtract another contract from their ledger between now and seasons end.

Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic was first to report the Dodgers were deep in talks with Miami about a Rojas deal. Craig Mish of SportsGrid was first to report the Marlins would receive Amaya in return. Jon Heyman of the New York Post confirmed the sides were in agreement. Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase was first to report Los Angeles was taking on Rojas entire $5MM salary.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
10:44pm: Bertis deal guarantees him $2.125MM  taking the form of a $2.1MM salary for the upcoming season and at least a $25K buyout on the 2024 option, reports MLBTRs Steve Adams (Twitter link). The option has a $3.5MM base value and can escalate as high as $4.125MM depending on his plate appearance total for the upcoming campaign.

8:40pm: The Marlins announced theyve avoided arbitration with Jon Berti on a one-year contract with a team option covering the 2024 season. The deal does not have any impact on Miamis window of club control. Berti is represented by the Ball Players Agency.

Berti is wrapping up his fourth season in Miami. The speedy utility player had the best year of his career in 2022, stealing 41 bases to lead all major leaguers. That he managed to lead the league in any noteworthy counting stat is remarkable, considering he only played in 102 games. That was due both to inconsistent playing time early in the year and a left groin strain that cost him a month of action between August and September.

The 33-year-olds profile is built around his elite baserunning and the ability to handle multiple positions on defense. Berti started games at the three infield positions to the left of first base and in both left and center field. The bulk of his playing time came at second and third base, while he eventually carved out a top-of-the-lineup spot by seasons end.

Berti hit .240/.324/.348 with four home runs through a personal-high 404 plate appearances. He walked at a strong 10.4% clip against an average 22% strikeout rate. The former 18th-round selection has never had much power, as he owns just 16 homers through 303 career big league contests.

Miami has revamped its infield this offseason. Jean Segura  another right-handed contact hitter/speedster  signed a two-year deal to man third base. Miami acquired Luis Arraez to play second base, thereby pushing Jazz Chisholm Jr. into center field. With Joey Wendle set to man shortstop on most days, Berti looks headed for a multi-positional role off the bench. His defensive flexibility gives him the ability to cover anywhere on the infield if injuries necessitate, while first-year manager Skip Schumaker figures to deploy him fairly frequently as a pinch-runner in games which he doesnt start.

Berti has between three and four years of major league service. He first qualified for early arbitration last winter as a Super Two player, settling for $1.2MM. This years salary has not yet been reported, though itll land somewhere between Miamis $1.9MM filing figure and his camps desired $2.3MM salary. Hell remain eligible for arbitration through the end of the 2025 season. Thats true regardless of whether Miami exercises next years option, as the team could decline the option while still deciding to tender him an arbitration contract (as they did in a similar case with Wendle this offseason).

The agreement wraps up the Marlins arbitration business. Two players who did go to a hearing with the club  Arraez and left-hander Jesus Luzardo  both prevailed over the team. Theyll avoid that possibility with Berti, the only other player on the roster who hadnt agreed to terms by last months deadline to exchange filing figures.
DETROIT - They havent toured together in four years. Queen with Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor are once again joining forces with frontman Adam Lambert and hitting the road with a small tour later this year. There will be one concert in Michigan on Tuesday, October 10 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 31 at 10 a.m. The band is collaborating with the venues ticketing partners to restrict the ability to transfer tickets so that they may only be transferred between fans at the original price.
ALLEN PARK -- The changes keep coming on special teams for the Detroit Lions.

Josh Woods is the latest departure. The Arizona Cardinals announced they signed the linebacker and special teams standout to a one-year deal. Woods was among the leaders in special teams work last season in Detroit. The 26-year-old also evolved into one of the leaders on for those coverage units.

Woods was third on the team in snaps on special teams. Fellow linebacker Chris Board led the team with 359 snaps in that department. And now both are gone. But the cupboard isnt bare, with the Lions re-signing Anthony Pittman and C.J. Moore to new deals, not to mention bringing back Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

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Reeves-Maybin brings familiarity as a natural replacement for Woods. The 28-year-old logged 1,228 snaps on special teams through five seasons with the Lions. He started a career-high 11 games at linebacker in 2021, then signed with the Houston Texans in free agency. Detroits decision-makers tried to bring the 28-year-old back. But they were outbid by the Texans to the tune of $7.5 million over two years. Reeves-Maybin played only 88 defensive reps in Houston. But he was third on special teams (390), then cut earlier this month.

The linebacker re-joins Pittman and Moore as the likely core on special teams in 2023. Woods presence will be missed, though. He appeared in 29 games since joining the Lions midway through the 2021 campaign. He spent two-plus seasons with the Chicago Bears after going undrafted out of Maryland.
MANISTEE COUNTY, MI  Six Colorado residents will pay $1,100 each after they pleaded guilty to taking fish from the Manistee River via an illegal method.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, the men were cited near the Tippy Dam in October 2022 after conservation officers caught the group illegally fishing.

The officers also found that the group did not have valid fishing licenses, were using illegal tackle and had taken salmon by illegal methods.

The DNR later donated more than 460 pounds of fresh fish to Manistee County families in need.

The last of the six men was charged earlier this month in the 85th District Court in Manistee County. Each of the men owes more than $1,100 in restitution, fines and costs.

Those who pleaded guilty include:
WEST BRANCH TOWNSHIP, MI  Footprints through a frozen swamp in Michigans Upper Peninsula led conservation officers to a missing teen who was found barefoot and wearing only a T-shirt and pajama pants.

The 14-year-old boy had removed his wet shoes and socks after falling into a creek. Officers found him sitting on a snowbank with his jacket wrapped around his bare feet.

At 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, Marquette County Central Dispatch informed local first responders of a teen who had run away from his home on County Road 545 North in West Branch Township. John Kamps, a conservation officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Steve Sajtar, a probationary conservation officer, were patrolling nearby and immediately began searching the area.

The officers found a set of footprints and began following them south of County Road 545 North and Maplewood Road. They had been following the footprints for about 650 yards when they encountered a person who confirmed a boy who matched the missing teens description had walked east on Maplewood Road about three hours earlier.

The footprints continued for over a mile. When Maplewood Road came to a dead end, they continued into swampland surrounding Foster Creek. In this area, the snow was thigh-deep on the officers.

With below freezing temperatures and only a couple hours of daylight left, time was of the essence, Sajtar said. We knew the boy was likely cold and wet from the swamp.

At 6:10 p.m., Kamps and Sajtar found the boy sitting on a snowbank along Foster Creek, wearing only a shirt and pajama pants. He had removed his wet shoes and socks, and wrapped his bare feet in his jacket in an attempt to stay warm.

Im freezing cold, he told the officers.

The officers did a brief first-aid scan and noted that the boy had a loss of pigmentation and numbness in his feet.

Kamps removed his wool gloves for the boy to put on his feet. Sajtar helped the boy put his shoes back on, and they hiked out of the woods. The officers helped the boy walk about 275 yards, taking several breaks, to Foster Creek Drive where an ambulance met them.

The teen was taken to UP Health System in Marquette where he was treated for cold exposure.

Kamps has been a conservation officer since 2017 and is assigned to patrol Marquette County. Sajtar graduated from the 2022 Conservation Officer Recruit School Academy and is currently training in Marquette County.

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LANSING, MI  A Michigan doctor is accused of repeatedly prescribing controlled substances to patients who didnt need them.

Dr. Stephen Swetech of Clinton Township was arraigned in the 41B District Court in Macomb County for overprescribing controlled substances on Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

Dr. Swetech was charged with nine counts of delivery of a controlled substance, a 7-year felony.

It is imperative that those entrusted to prescribe medication use that power lawfully, ethically, and in such a manner not to facilitate addiction, Nessel said.

Dr. Swetech was charged after an investigation into his actions at his medical practice located in Clinton Township.

Patients told investigators that Swetech would prescribe opiates at appointments with little to no physical examination, medical necessity, or testing performed in exchange for cash.

The investigation utilized undercover patients who saw Dr. Swetech, Nessel said. Controlled substances were prescribed at each of the nine medical appointments between March 29, 2017, and September 28, 2017.

Nessel alleges that legal standards governing patient care and prescribing were violated during the medical appointments, causing the care provided to be dangerous to patient health and safety.

Dr. Swetech is due back in court for a probable cause conference on April 24.
MACOMB COUNTY, MI  A jury in Macomb County has found a Michigan man guilty of murder after a he crashed a vehicle while fleeing police, killing his passenger.

Jason Brilla, 35, of Clinton Township was convicted on charges of second-degree murder, fleeing a police officer, operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license causing death and obstructing a police officer.

The charges stem from an incident on May 2, 2022 when Brilla fled a traffic stop, ran a read light and crashed into another vehicle at a high rate of speed.

Brilla fled from the vehicle on foot but was apprehended by police officers. The passenger of Brillas vehicle, Jennel Castro, was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.

The Warren Police Officers attempted life saving measures to the victim who was unresponsive after the crash, said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. Unfortunately, the victims injuries were too severe in this case, and she succumbed to her injuries while at the hospital. These officers went above and beyond in their duties.

Brilla will be sentenced before Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Diane Druzinski on May 2.
CHARLOTTE, MI  A Michigan woman is dead after her husband allegedly shot her and then himself in an attempted murder-suicide, police said.

Around 11 a.m. Friday, March 24, troopers with the Michigan State Police Lansing Post responded to a report of shots fired at a home in the 1100 block of West Five Point Highway in Charlotte.

Upon arrival, they found two people, a 52-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man, suffering from gunshot wounds, police said. The woman died. The man was transported to a local hospital; his condition is unknown.
After seeing the northern lights forecast for Thursday night, UPS pilot Rod Pentoney had a problem that only a rental car could solve. He had just gotten off work in Louisville, Kentucky, where his flights are based, and was ready to get home to Michigan. But there were no plane seats to be had, and this amateur photographer who loves to capture auroras knew he was in a time crunch if he was going to make it back in time to see the lights.

He slid behind the wheel of a rental car before lunch and by dinnertime, he was swapping that for his truck and camper setup just north of Grand Rapids. Joined by his 15-year-old son, Caleb, they arrived at Sleeping Bear Dunes a couple hours later to see the sky already shimmering.

Lady Aurora did not disappoint.

Northern Lights at D.H. Day Farm in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Photo provided by Rod Pentoney.

It was the best show Ive ever seen, said Pentoney, who lives in Greenville. Ive been very fortunate to travel across the northern Atlantic - Iceland, Greenland, Alaska. Ive seen them from the airplane probably 60 or 70 times.

Thursday nights sky show was the best one Ive seen in my life, and Ive seen a lot of them.

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Pentoney joins legions of other Michigan sky lovers in his praise for Thursday nights explosive aurora display. In some areas, the shimmering greens and pulsating purple hues were visible from mid-Michigan and northward. The Upper Peninsula saw some amazingly intense colors. Even in areas around Traverse City, the sky lit up and people gathered at local beaches to share in the moment.

Northern Lights at D.H. Day Farm in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Photo provided by Rod Pentoney.

Pentoney and his son, Caleb, set up their cameras near the D.H. Day Farm barns at Sleeping Bear Dunes. They love that spot because its wide-open sky allows for some great angles with the historic farm buildings in the background. Even as they approached the area after 9 p.m., they could see the beginnings of a good display.

We could see the whole northern third of the sky was already lit up, he said. The two began chasing the lights last summer. Of the 17 times theyve been out following an aurora forecast with a strong Kp index - a scale for how the intensity is measured - theyve seen northern lights on nine of those trips.

Last night, the auroras red hues were extremely vivid.

They were pulsating, like waves of energy. Ive never seen something like that. It was just phenomenal, he said.

Northern Lights at D.H. Day Farm in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Photo provided by Rod Pentoney.

Father and son finally pulled the plug on their trip at 1:30 a.m. The lights were still dancing, but they needed to head home, catching a nap in their camper at a mid-way point.

Pentoney says he and his son are ready for the next lights forecast.

Im addicted to it now, he laughed.
A Ugandan transgender woman who was recently attacked and currently being sheltered watches a TV screen showing the live broadcast of the session from the Parliament for the anti-gay bill, at a local charity supporting the LGBTQ Community near Kampala (AFP via Getty Images)

The world's strongest anti-gay legislation was enacted by the Ugandan Parliament on Tuesday (March 21), making some offences punishable by death and imposing sentences of up to 20 years in prison for anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+.

The new law represents a further clampdown on LGBTQ+ people in a nation where same-sex relationships were previously forbidden and subject to a life sentence in jail. Reuters says it prohibits several actions, including conspiring to engage in homosexuality and encouraging and abetting homosexual behaviour.

The measure states that incidents involving "aggravated homosexuality"  a broad phrase used in the legislation to include sex activities carried out against minors, people with physical or mental disabilities, by "serial offenders," or involving incestcan result in the death penalty being applied.

The revisions, which were proposed by the chairperson for legal and parliamentary affairs Robina Rwakoojo, stated that "a person who commits the offence of aggravated homosexuality and is liable, on conviction to suffer death.

The Anti Homosexuality Bill 2023 was presented to parliament by opposition MP Asuman Basalirwa. He said it was intended to protect our church culture; the legal, religious and traditional family values of Ugandans from the acts that are likely to promote sexual promiscuity in this country.

The objective of the bill was to establish a comprehensive and enhanced legislation to protect traditional family values, our diverse culture, our faiths, by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex and the promotion or recognition of sexual relations between persons of the same sex, Mr Basalirwa said on Tuesday.

Lawmaker Fox Odoi-Oywelowo spoke out against the bill, saying it contravenes established international and regional human rights standards as it unfairly limits the fundamental rights of LGBTQ+ persons.

Frank Mugisha, an LGBT campaigner in Uganda, warned that the bill would result in a wave of LGBTQ arrests and mob violence against them, making people fearful of coming out.

The last time the legislation was around, there were cases of suicide so, this time, this law is worse than the one that was here before because it has a death penalty and many people would be worried, many people would be scared, he said, as quoted by Reuters.

Mr Mugisha added: We will go to all courts in Uganda. If need be, we will go to the international court as well but, we definitely have to go to court and challenge this law.
LANSING, MI - Spurred by requests from some campers who want to avoid campfire smoke during their stays at Michigan parks, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking into the possibility of offering campfire-free camping opportunities in the future.

According to the DNR, these requests for no-campfire camping are largely due to health reasons. The DNRs Parks and Recreation Division is taking the concern into consideration, though no actions are underway at this time.

We havent decided anything to implement for sure, DNR Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson told MLive. Its an issue that was brought up by some people. Were in the process of investigating what might make sense and perhaps what other people in other states have done.

A lively discussion thread on the topic took place last month when Holland State Park posted about the consideration on Facebook and invited people to share their thoughts on the importance of campfires to the camping experience.

In a continuing effort to increase accessibility to a greater number of citizens, the division is discussing the idea of smoke-free or smoke-less camping opportunities, the post said. There are no immediate plans to make changes here but having an idea of how our guests feel about it will help us in our conversations.

While many commenters said that campfires are essential to their enjoyment of camping, some expressed support for the idea of smoke-free sites, citing health conditions such as asthma and allergies, as well as the need for more accessible camping options.

After the post garnered more than 200 comments, park officials followed up to note that the park does not wish to remove campfire rings or ban campfires. Its pretty obvious that campfires are considered essential to the camping experience for a majority of our patrons, it stated. We also see that some folks see the value in a smoke-less or smoke free option. This is all important information for us to have.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - University of Michigan College of Engineering Dean Alec Gallimore will serve as the next provost and chief academic officer of Duke University.

Gallimore, dean of the college since 2016, will begin his tenure at Duke on July 1, he confirmed on Friday, March 24.

During his time as dean, Gallimore helped maintain UMs status as one of the top engineering schools in the country, with the college consistently among the nations top 10 in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Gallimore has spent 31 years in the UM faculty and describes his time with the university as a thrill.

I just cant thank the people of the University of Michigan and the people of Ann Arbor enough for being a welcoming place for my family and a great place to raise my two college-aged kids and a wonderful place for me to have a career, Gallimore said.

Its hard to leave a place you love and I love the University of Michigan. Anyone who knows me knows I bleed maize and blue. I love Michigan and actually I love the state of Michigan. So its been wonderful.

Prior to his time as dean, Gallimore served as an associate dean in UMs Rackham School of Graduate Studies and the College of Engineering.

Within the college, he orchestrated the conversion to a fully-funded doctoral program and was the associate dean for research and graduate education.

In 2014, Gallimore was appointed associate dean for academic affairs, a position equivalent to the chief operating officer of the college.

Gallimores time at UM also was highlighted by receiving the U.S. Air Force Decoration for Meritorious Civilian Service and serving on a number of national boards, including the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and NASAs High-Power Electrical Propulsion Technology Assessment Group.

He also directed the Michigan Space Grant Consortium for NASA, where he led an effort to reach out to women and underrepresented ethnicities for scholarships, internships and grants.

Gallimore said as dean, he is most proud of the culture he was able to be a part of, which focused on being highly collaborative and collegial while maintaining a focus on education and research.

We also have a, how do we get to yes? attitude and a can do attitude, Gallimore said. We dont have to make a huge amount of fanfare with what we do, we just get the work done, and do it with excellence and with grace. I saw that in my 10 or 12 years as academic leader here at the College of Engineering.

Gallimore said hes looking forward to the new challenge at Duke University, where he will oversee the universitys academic mission, with broad responsibility in leading the schools and institutes, admissions, financial aid, libraries and information technology.

There comes a time when you think its time to use the things youve learned and have been privy to learn from great mentors and opportunities here at the University of Michigan, and to operate on maybe a bigger stage than even a very big stage, which is Michigan Engineering, Gallimore said. And maybe its time to take the lessons learned here at the University of Michigan and see if I can both help another institution but also learn and continue to grow by serving that institution.

UM Provost Laurie McCauley said Gallimore stewarded the College of Engineering through some of its most ambitious, forward-looking projects to date.

He significantly expanded the colleges enrollment, faculty, and staff, established partnerships with industry, all with an eye toward the future, McCauley said. From augmented reality to carbon neutrality, Alecs vision has been a guiding force at the college and university. It is bittersweet, but not surprising, that he has been engaged to apply his astute leadership skills to advance academic affairs at the university level. We will miss him and wish him great success.

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ALLENDALE, MI  Grand Valley State University officials are denying recent claims from national news outlets that the university is segregating graduation ceremonies by race.

The Michigan university has come under fire this week amid reports from FOX News and the New York Post that Grand Valley is planning separate graduation celebrations for different student groups like Asian students, Black students, Latino/Hispanic students, LGBTQ students and Native American students.

Grand Valley does not segregate any of its graduation events, university spokesperson Chris Knape told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press Thursday, March 23. Some students and faculty host their own cultural graduation celebrations, but those events are still open to all students and their supporters, he said.

The celebrations that have come under recent scrutiny are completely separate from GVSUs commencement ceremonies, where students wear caps and gowns and walk across the stage to get their degrees conferred, Knape said.

Grand Valley State University holds unified commencement ceremonies for all of its graduates, Knape said. The university is not segregating graduation ceremonies by race, as some people and outlets have alleged.

In the days leading up to GVSUs commencement, many student groups and faculty associations host smaller, more intimate celebrations as an opportunity to say farewell to graduating seniors in their respective groups, Knape said.

These more intimate celebrations are a complement to GVSUs commencement and are open to all students and their supporters, he said.

Knape said GVSU is proud to support group celebrations leading up to its official commencement, which allow students to celebrate how they choose to identify and get involved during their time on campus. These events let students say goodbye to groups theyve been involved with during college, he said.

Some of these groups, the people attending them have been part of their campus experience for however long theyve been on campus, he said. So its a chance for fellow classmates that maybe arent graduating, they get a chance to congratulate them if they might not otherwise attend the commencement ceremony.

There are countless similar graduation celebrations hosted by other student groups, including veteran students, foster students and more, Knape said. The vast majority of graduating students who participate in these celebrations also choose to participate in GVSUs official commencement ceremony, he said.

The five specific celebrations that have come under recent fire are the events for Asian students, Black students, Latino/Hispanic students, LGBTQ students and Native American students. According to the universitys website, the events are hosted by various faculty and staff associations.

The national scrutiny surrounding GVSUs graduation events started on Monday, March 20, when conservative commentator Matt Walsh tweeted that Grand Valley State was hosting segregated graduation celebrations.

Walshs tweet reads: Ridiculous. Grand Valley State University (@GVSU) is holding five segregated graduation celebrations, singling out Asian, black, LGBT, Hispanic, and Native American graduates. There will be no special celebrations for straight white people, of course.

The tweet contained a screenshot of an email that appears to have been sent to soon-to-be GVSU graduates, inviting them to attend one of five separate cultural celebrations for Asian, Black, Latino, LGBTQ and Native American graduating seniors.

Walshs tweet has since received over 11,000 likes and 2,000 retweets, as of Thursday, March 23.

Knape said recent reports have misrepresented GVSUs graduation celebrations.

Theres a difference between commencement ceremony and a graduation celebration, Knape said. Thats the distinction that people are having a hard time understanding. Theres no segregated commencement, and none of these celebrations are segregated, either.

Theres just a lot of misinformation (about the celebrations).

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HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, MI  A 30-year-old Holland woman was pinned in a vehicle and injured in crash Friday morning.

Ottawa County deputies say the woman is expected to survive her injuries.

The crash was reported at 11:50 a.m. Friday, March 24, at the intersection of Douglas and River avenues, according to Ottawa County deputies.

Around that time, the woman was a passenger in a 1994 Geo Prizm that was attempting to turn onto northbound River Avenue during a blinking yellow light.

The driver of the Prizm, a 43-year-old Holland man, didnt see a 2010 GMC Yukon that was westbound on Douglas and had a green light, according to deputies.

The two vehicles crashed in the intersection.

The Holland woman was pinned in the vehicle with injuries and was freed by Holland Township Fire and Rescue personnel. She was transported to an area hospital, and deputies say she is expected to survive her injuries. The Holland man wasnt injured.

The driver of the Yukon, a 41-year-old Alto woman, was also injured in the crash. Deputies did not disclose the extent of injuries she suffered.

The crash remains under investigation.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  In another official sign of spring, John Ball Zoo opened its doors to guests for the first time this year on Friday, March 24.

The zoos opening day featured crowd-favorite paws, tails and snouts, along with a few new animal friends. John Ball Zoo has welcomed a new two-toed sloth named Twiggy, a female snow leopard, two new eagles and two coati, sometimes called hog-nosed raccoons.

Its just seeing all the smiling faces come back to the zoo and support us and what we do, said John Ball Zoo Chief Operating Officer Andy McIntyre. We have new animals and new experiences. Theyre just amazing animals.

The zoo is also gearing up for a large-scale luminated art installation, which will feature 55 sculptures of Asian-inspired lanterns. The lanterns are made of fabric stretched over metal frames and are made in the shapes of land and water animals. Though the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival officially runs from April 19 to June 11, some of the installations are already set up throughout the zoo.

The lanterns will be lit during the evening hours at the zoo every Wednesday through Sunday during the festival.

They add a tremendous amount of color and its the first of its kind in Michigan, McIntyre said.

Also new this year to the zoo is the addition of pygmy hippos. The small hippos have arrived at the zoo already but are currently behind the scenes getting to know each other and their habitat mates. McIntyre said the pygmy hippos will be available to the public after Memorial Day.

Twiggy the sloth and coatis Kuzco and Durango are the newest members of John Ball Zoos ambassador program and will help educate the community about wildlife conservation. The two new bald eagles at the zoo are both rehabilitated raptors who cannot be released back into the wild.

Sue McCauley-Goad and her grandsons spent the day visiting the zoos porcupines, bears and red pandas.

We love the zoo, McCauley-Goad said.

Along with the wild animals, the zoo has welcomed seven new goats and two new sheep to its petting zoo area, joining Pumpkin the mini cow. The zoo recently held a retirement party for some of its older petting zoo members before they left together to live out their golden years at an area farm.

More and more people dont have the chance to interact with nature, so its just the chance to do that, McIntyre said. There are so many great ways for the community to connect with the zoo and all we have going on. Im glad we can continue to provide that.

Families streamed into the zoo throughout the day, some beelining to their favorite critters and others leisurely taking in the sights.

Monica Rainey and her daughter Mira, 4, said they were most excited to see the wallabies and the tigers.

Its just so exciting, Rainey said. We just wanted to get out and explore.

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Tickets for the zoo can be reserved online at at jbzoo.org/tickets or purchased at the zoo entrance in person. Early season tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors, children under 12, college students and military personnel. Children 2 and under get in free.

John Ball Zoo, at 1300 Fulton St. W, is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in March and April.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A Grand Rapids man is headed to prison for shooting the person he thought had killed his son just days prior last summer in a case described as an act of emotion.

The victim, who survived six gunshot wounds, told the shooter, Anthony Johntil Webb, he was sorry what happened to his family and son.
JACKSON, M - The Jackson School Board is looking to commit to a set of norms to assure its members are all on the same page, after several contentious discussions during meetings and social media comments from a trustee brought significant attention to the district.

Sometimes we listen and were really just waiting to interject to say what we want to say next, Board President Pam Fitzgerald said referring to the board norm listen to learn during the March 21 meeting.

We need to listen to learn, not to listen to see what we can respond to.

The board is revisiting creating a document of norms after it had originally discussed the concept in September 2021 with the assistance of the Michigan Association of School Boards.

Board members voiced their support or opposition to the norms previously suggested by members, which were all discussed individually and are being considered. They include:

Assume positive intent

Listen to learn

Treat each other with respect

Agree to disagree

Challenge ideas, not people

Employ a racial equity lens when looking at all policies or programs

Demonstrate positive public relations

Be respectful and conscious of the time parameters for board comments

Be prepared for all meetings

Board members make succinct comments

While board members could agree on the basic concept of a handful of the norms, others drew more scrutiny and input.

A norm ultimately removed from the list stated remember that positive public relations will be expected of each board member: For example negative, accusatory, racially-charged, social media posts may not be posted on a site that identifies the author as a JPS board member.

When asked by Trustee Kesha Hamilton what was meant by this norm, Fitzgerald referenced Hamiltons social media comments describing whiteness as evil that received considerable media attention and led to a contentious discussion during public comment at a Jan. 17 board meeting

What I mean by that is we should never, ever have newspapers from all over the country contacting the president of this board and receiving 712 emails blasting a post on social media that could have been and was believed to be extremely negative, that identified the author as a JPS board member, Fitzgerald said. That put the board in the spotlight unnecessarily.

Hamilton disagreed with the norm, saying board members cant control what each other say outside of meetings.

As board members we have no jurisdiction over what we as board members do outside of this table, Hamilton said. As personal board members, you have no jurisdiction over what we do and Im going to continue to do what I do in the same manner that Im doing it in.

Hamilton suggested the norm employ a racial equity lens when looking at all policies or programs, and provided an example of how Ferndale Public Schools asks five questions about which groups of people are impacted by each of its decisions.

However, Hamilton cautioned she only wants the norm to be included if it isnt performative.

Performative measures further disenchant these communities who expect us to actually do something, she said. I dont want be a part of a space where we say were going to adopt these board norms and not actually do something with them.

When discussing board members make succinct comments, Vice President Shalanda Hunt suggested the board veer away from limiting the time board members have to deliver their own comments at the conclusion of meetings.

Instead, she offered that board members should come prepared to deliver their remarks and stay on point, without adhering to a time limit.

I fee like every board member should be able to offer their full thought, Hunt said.

Hamilton agreed, adding the board should consider having another committee of the whole type of meeting where topics that ultimately go before the board for approval can be discussed publicly.

Forcing board members to just have sound bytes - thats not fair, Hamilton said. When we can dialogue, we are able to find places we can agree. A lot of times at this table, I feel like dialogue is not allowed.

After more than an hour of discussion, Superintendent Jeff Beal suggested the board bring the norms back for further discussion at JPS April board meeting.

Revisiting the board norms is one of the measures the board has considered to streamline its meeting times and reinforce the need for decorum, including shortening the amount of time people have to speak during its public comment period from five minutes to three minutes.

Fitzgerald brought the proposed public comment time limit change up for discussion during the boards February meeting, suggesting the move would get the negativity out of the board room at all levels.

We have had, in the past, significant negative comments directed at one another in the audience - not even just the board members but at one another, Fitzgerald said at the February meeting. We are looking at a way to curb that and make it clear that board comments are not for insulting one another.

Fitzgerald opened the March 21 meeting, however, indicating the board would not be taking action on that item. Fitzgerald motioned that the item be removed from the agenda, stating that the board should keep the existing time limit based on the general consensus.

As president Ill still be able to shorten the time (speakers have) whenever necessary, just like now, Fitzgerald said. In addition, at beginning of public comment, I will ask participants to refrain from negative comments to other people and keep their topics to agenda items or other board business without personal attacks.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has created a new coordinator position to focus on climate sustainability and environmental justice.

The county board voted unanimously to create the Climate Sustainability Coordinator position at its meeting Tuesday, March 21.

This is an opportunity for the county to continue to provide leadership and be a facilitator to create collaboration across the county so we can meaningfully address the effects of the climate crisis, Commissioner Jen Strebs said Tuesday. Im proud to be a part of this work.

The position pays $60,840.96 to $83,265.66, according to the county agenda.

It will be funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The pilot project grant will provide $300,000 over three years.

The Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition Board and Coordinating Committee called the position creation an urgent and courageous step following the Countys formal declaration of climate emergency in 2019.

Advocates of climate action have warned of impacts such as floods and other intense weather events.

Related: Michigan is a climate haven in a warming world. Will everyone move here?

The recent ice storms that caused widespread and prolonged power outages that led to Kalamazoo and Portage declaring a state of emergency are timely reminders of the need for climate leadership and resiliency planning for a just and sustainable future, coalition board Chair Jace Bylenga said.

Related: We slept in the cold: Kalamazoo residents describe how a 5-day power outage affected them

Per the job description, the role is tasked with providing leadership and writing skills in the creation of the countywide climate impact action plan, and complete four climate adaptation and environmental justice outreach projects throughout the county.

Ice storm damage in the Westwood neighborhood in Kalamazoo Township, Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com)Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.

Weve got a window until 2030 to make drastic changes, Michigan Climate Action Network Director Denise Keele told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. We need people dedicated to meeting the challenge, she said.

The job approval is a great start, said Keele, of Kalamazoo Township. She is also an associate professor of political science and environmental and sustainability studies at Western Michigan University.

If you dont have a staff and funding to make something happen, its just not going to happen, Keele said.

Climate action currently depends on volunteers, she said, and this role can help organization to spur progress on the issue.

Environmental justice is part of the position, according to the job description.

If were not bringing along our most disadvantaged communities, then were not actually solving anything, Keele said. Climate change and racial inequality are part of the same systems, she said.

Related: Environmental racism happened in Kalamazoo, commissioner says as city pauses decision on tax break for factory

According to the job posting in the county agenda packet, the job duties include:

Conducting high-level, academic research of existing and recent data related to greenhouse gas emissions and potential impacts from climate changes

Formulate goals and steps towards reducing impacts and creating long-term resiliency plans

Assist communities in developing plans to mitigate climate change impacts

Draft reports and outreach communications and assist grant partners with community outreach and grant writing

Establish models for collaboration and suggestions for other communities to create community-wide climate action plans

Provide staffing to an advisory group which includes agendas, minutes, information gathering and summarizing

Provide reports and summaries to grant partners for EGLE and EPA reporting

Provide information, feedback and reports to county commission as scheduled and requested.

The Climate Sustainability Coordinator will develop partnerships with county municipalities and stakeholders, and provide leadership in the creation of collaborative action and resiliency plans to address climate-related impacts and environmental justice throughout Kalamazoo County.

Interested candidates are encouraged to review the list of job qualifications and apply at www.kalcounty.com.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Countys new courthouse is months away from completion, and county workers are already preparing for the move.

The new approximately $92 million Kalamazoo County Downtown Justice Facility is expected to be done in September. Courts will then move to the new justice facility, which is at the corner of North Park Street and West Kalamazoo Avenue, pending any additional delays, county Public Information Officer Taylor Koopman said.

The county board has approved requests for operational funding, four more custodians to help clean and one extra maintenance position to maintain the new facility.

The project, which broke ground in May 2021, faced an approximately four-month delay earlier in the building process.

The transition to the new downtown justice facility equates to an additional 18,000 square feet to clean and maintain. Theres also a significant amount of glass and other hard surfaces to clean, according to county documents.

The four custodian positions will cost a total of $184,046, plus $51,143 for a building maintenance technician position. In total, the board approved the five positions for $235,198.

The county expects to operate the new facility simultaneously with the Michigan Avenue courthouse for a period during the transition.

Along with the new custodians and a maintenance worker, the current custodians and building operator from the Michigan Avenue courthouse and Crosstown courthouse will be reassigned to the new facility when it becomes operational.

The county board also approved money for operational funding of $101,900 and utility funding of $121,964 at the building, for a total of $223,864.

With the construction, there have been cost increases and decreases, Koopman said, though the project has stayed within the project budget of about $92 million. Currently, about 95% of all materials needed for the project have been ordered.

The project was previously reported to cost between $90 million and $95 million.

The five-story, 165,000-square-foot facility is located next to the Kalamazoo County Administration Building along Kalamazoo Avenue downtown.

The county doesnt currently know how much money will be left over from the project, since its still under construction. Any remaining balance may be used to pay for a renovations at the Gull Road Justice Complex to accommodate the new judge the Michigan Legislature recently approved for the 9th Circuit Court, Koopman said.

Construction crews work on the Kalamazoo County Downtown Justice Facility in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Thursday, March 23, 2023. The county plans to move into the facility in September. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The county provided a list of courts that are moving to the Kalamazoo County Downtown Justice Center, and where theyre coming from:

9th Circuit Court  Michigan Avenue Courthouse

8th District Court  Michigan Avenue Courthouse

8th District Court  Crosstown

9th Circuit Court  Probate  Crosstown

The prosecutors office is also moving to the new facility.

The countys Circuit Court will be on the top floor, then the prosecutors office on the floor below and the District Court below that.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  A former adjunct professor is suing Western Michigan University, alleging his right to free speech and religion were violated when his contract was not renewed with the school.

Daniel Mattson alleges his rights under the First and 14th Amendments were violated by employees at WMU, in a lawsuit filed March 20 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

The lawsuit names Dean of College of Fine Arts Daniel Guyette and School of Music professor and former director Keith Kothman as defendants. The current School of Music Director and WMU president are also named as defendants, but their names are not included in the lawsuit.

Mattson, a trombonist, had been an adjunct faculty member at WMU since 1999, playing on the faculty-only Western Brass Quintet, along with the faculty-student Western Winds ensemble.

Since he was a child, Mattson believed he was gay, but converted to Catholicism and left behind his prior homosexual lifestyle, in 2009, the lawsuit said. He started writing articles and speaking at public events about how the Catholic Church should engage with people who experience same-sex attraction.

Mattson published Why I Dont Call Myself Gay: How I Reclaimed My Sexual Reality and Found Peace, in 2017.

His writings state his opinion that it is incorrect to label someone as being homosexual or heterosexual, but rather those are labels that describe attractions or behaviors, the lawsuit said. He also argues that, while homosexual behavior is sinful and contrary to natural law, homosexual inclinations are not sinful.

Mattson was routinely a guest artist, including having a pair of performances scheduled for October 2021, the lawsuit said. Students in the musical area are normally required to attend guest performances.

In late September 2021, a recently-appointed music school faculty member and LGBTQ activist, Lauron Kehrer found Mattsons writings and efforts to reject the gay lifestyle, the lawsuit said. With the help of students and faculty, Kehrer convinced the administration to cancel or restrict Mattsons guest artist recital, the lawsuit said.

Mattson never initiated discussions of his religious and moral belief with students and kept his advocacy separate from his work at WMU, the lawsuit said. His writings and speaking engagements about LGBTQ people were mainly in Catholic and Christian publications, which are not widely read by anyone beyond devoted readers, the lawsuit said.

Even though Mr. Mattson never expressed his religious views at Western Michigan University, he was maligned and punished solely for holding to and expressing orthodox Catholic teaching elsewhere, the lawsuit said.

WMU does not comment on pending litigation, spokesperson Paula Davis said.

Then-School of Music Director Kothman called Matson on Oct. 1, 2021, and told him he was no longer allowed to work with students, due to his public advocacy about homosexuality being a chosen lifestyle that should be avoided, the lawsuit said.

Students were not required to attend Mattsons concert, which did happen Oct. 2, 2021. One student was in attendance compared to the average of about 20 students, the lawsuit said.

Mattson was no longer allowed to work with the faculty-student ensemble and students were not required to attend performances by the Western Brass Quinet.

Kothman sent an email to School of Music students Oct. 1, 2021, on behalf of himself, School Dean Guyette and Special Assistant to the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Kenlana Ferguson, according to an email included in the lawsuit.

Mattson is free to express his beliefs, but the school cannot ignore the harm it causes to the LGBTQ community and students, the email said.

There is a power differential between a student and the faculty member or guest artist with whom they choose to participate, the email said. Unfortunately, Mr. Mattsons strong public opinion has raised doubts about whether an educational setting that includes him can be fair and unbiased.

Today, we are providing students the ability to make that decision for themselves and choose whether to participate in musical activities with him.

In an email to a faculty member, Kothman also wrote the decision to not require student attendance was not about Mattsons personal religious beliefs, but how public those beliefs are and the pain it causes WMU community members, the lawsuit said.

He actively chose to counsel others that they could follow his path, the email in the lawsuit said. Yes, he has not done that at WMU, ever.

But members of the LGTBQ community have expressed the huge amount of pain that he causes them. We have an obligation to take their pain into account, especially when they do not have the same power we have.

The school held two town halls on the subject on Oct. 8, 2021. Mattson was not invited and did not attend, the lawsuit said.

At that time, Mattson had not received his annual contract. His typical contract ran from September to May, the lawsuit said.

He received a proposed contract Oct. 21, 2021, that ran from Oct. 20 to Oct. 31, 2021, the lawsuit said. When Mattson asked about the time frame, he was told by Kothman that he was being paid for his work with the Brass Quinet through that time.

The school agreed to pay Mattson what he was expected to receive for a full year of work, $13,200, but that his services with the quintet were no longer needed, the lawsuit said.

The contract did allow for more performances with the quintet during the academic year, if it was requested, but those requests were not anticipated to happen, Kothman said in an email.

Mattson signed the contract in February 2022. He never received a signed copy from WMU, but was paid the $13,200 in late March 2022, the lawsuit said.

He was never offered a contract for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The school doesnt have an obligation to renew independent contractors each year, Kothman said in an email in a lawsuit, although Mattsons contract had been renewed every year since 1999.

The lawsuit alleges three violations of Mattsons constitutional rights under the First and 14th Amendments.

His free speech was violated when he received adverse treatment because of his writing and speaking about same-sex attraction. That violation happened despite WMU having clear written policies about the guarantee of free speech.

His free exercise of religion under the First and 14th Amendments was also violated by WMU, the lawsuit said. Employees of the university used their authority to prevent contact between Mattson and students and to decline to renew his contract.

Those actions were because of his sincerely held religious beliefs, per the lawsuit.

Mattson was targeted for his religious beliefs, but those consequences were not given to people of other religions who have similar views, the lawsuit said.

Mattson also has equal protection of the law under the 14th Amendment, which was violated when he was discriminated against because of his religion, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit asks for Mattson to be reinstated as adjunct faculty without restrictions, asks for a judgement saying the defendants violated the U.S. Constitution and seeks any damages the court sees fit.

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City

 Andrew R. Smith, 33, 97 Van Anden St., Auburn, was charged March 18 with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction in 10 years, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle while registration or privilege is suspended or revoked and use of a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock device.

 Lynn M. Mosher, 39, 97 Van Anden St., Auburn, was charged March 18 with resisting arrest and two counts of disorderly conduct.

 Lawrence A. Atkins, 26, 52 Capital St., Auburn, was charged March 19 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 Traci M. Flore, 36, 80 Washington St., Auburn, was charged March 19 with possession of a mislabeled dangerous drug.

 Aysean J. Hawkins, 21, 108 Tyler Court, Syracuse, was charged March 20 with second-degree criminal contempt and aggravated family offense.

 Caleb J. Marsh, 18, transient, Auburn, was charged March 20 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Savannah N. Ashbaugh, 38, 30 West St., Auburn, was charged March 20 with endangering the welfare of a child.

 Brandi Lynn Smith, 38, 19 Homer St., Union Springs, was charged March 20 with second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

 Cory Jonathan Albert Smith, 42, 19 Homer St., Auburn, was charged March 20 with first-degree criminal contempt and second-degree criminal impersonation.

 Christopher J. Driscoll, 34, 4 Dexter Ave., Auburn, was charged March 21 with second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

 Shelbie S. Vannorstrand, 27, 2046 Route 31, Mentz, was charged March 21 with third-degree assault.

 Robert A. Walker, 48, 111 Osborne St., Apt. 4, Auburn, was charged March 22 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Lorence D. Flowers, 42, 11 Benham Ave., Auburn, was charged March 22 with second-degree aggravated harassment.

 Courtney M. Condes, 28, 3 Auburn Ave., Auburn, was charged March 22 with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree welfare fraud, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and misuse of food stamps.

 Theresa M. Coff, 40, 3 Pine St., Auburn, was charged March 23 with petit larceny.

 Randy L. Humphrey, 56, 112 Park Place, Apt. 8, Auburn, was charged March 23 with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing and second-degree aggravated harassment.

County

 Yahya Ma Sweiki, 26, 405 Chestnut Heights, Liverpool, was charged March 18 with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

State

 Adrian C. Bozek, 19, Auburn, was charged March 19 with first-degree criminal contempt.

 Brian K. Brotherton, 30, Locke, was charged March 20 with two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

 Amara A. Drake, 40, Galesburg, Michigan, was fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

 Jason S. McCraw, 40, Elbridge, was charged March 24 with operation of a motor vehicle impaired by drugs.
GRAND HAVEN, MI  The last phase of exterior restoration of Grand Havens iconic lighthouse will be completed this summer with the expectation it will open a museum and gift shop next year.

After 10 years of planning and executing restoration of the outer south pier lighthouse, the end is in sight.

Were finally getting there, said Dave Karpin, president of the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy.

This years renovation will involve restoration of the lighthouses concrete foundation. Also included in the work will be new cement steps with handrails and handrails around the top of the foundation, Karpin said.

The Grand Haven City Council recently approved a $172,450 contract with Smiths Waterproofing of Imlay City to complete the work. The total cost, which includes engineering and architecture fees and a 10% contingency fund, totals $212,465, according to information provided to the council.

A $60,000 Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant will help pay for the costs, with the rest being covered by the conservancy.

Construction is expected to begin in May or June and be completed by late August, Karpin told MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle. Work will be suspended during the U.S. Coast Guard Festival, which will be July 28 through Aug. 6.

Public tours of the lighthouse will be offered on Aug. 7, which is National Lighthouse Day, Karpin said.

Related: Iconic lighthouse could transfer to Muskegon city ownership as repair plans take shape

Plans are to open the lighthouse to the public in spring 2024 with displays of artifacts and a gift shop, he said.

Interior renovations will continue after it opens to the public, Karpin said. The interior housed keeper living quarters and machinery.

The red wooden lighthouse attached to square-shaped living quarters was built in the 1870s. It originally only housed a foghorn, hence its nickname the Fog House, with the lantern room added in 1907, Karpin said.

The lighthouse is at the far end of the citys pier and recently refurbished catwalk. There also is a second cast iron inner lighthouse located in the middle of the pier.

The city took control of the lighthouse structures about 20 years ago from the federal government, and the conservancy is responsible for their restoration, Karpin said.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to maintain their lights.

Last year, repairs were completed on the Fog House lantern rooms interior and exterior. Previous work included removing lead paint from the interior and exterior of both the Fog House and the inner lighthouse and replacing windows on the Fog House.

Total repairs to both lighthouses already have cost more than $500,000, which doesnt include this years work, Karpin said. Costs have been covered by grants, proceeds from the sale of lighthouse license plates and fundraising.

Once the lighthouse opens to the public, Karpin believes revenue will help keep it self-sustaining. The Grand Haven pier is one of the most visited in the state, he said.

Theres always work to do on an old lighthouse, he said.

Those who wish to contribute to the Lighthouse Rehabilitation Fund can visit the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation website at ghacf.org or call the foundation at 616-842-6378.

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BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI  Fresh from a nearly week-long stint in a psychiatric facility, Buena Vista Township Trustee Eddie Billings said he plans to fight attempts to remove him as an elected representative as well as the no-trespass order banning him from properties owned by the municipality he serves.

Billings said he also will legally address a warrant issued after township officials said he twice violated that no-trespass order, a misdemeanor offense.

The situation began last week. Thats when Buena Vista Township Superintendent Torrie Lee said the township Board of Trustees directed her to issue the no-trespass letter after Billings live-streamed an extremely concerning video on Facebook. The since-deleted footage featured Billings drinking alcohol and threatening that, if he leaves this Earth, hes not worried, because hes taking 12 people with him, Lee said.

Since then, Billings said he was released from HealthSource Saginaws White Pine Mental Health Center Wednesday, March 22, after a six-day stay at the Saginaw Township-based facility. He shared with The Saginaw News/MLive how he landed there because of the no-trespass order and the Facebook video, which he said was misconstrued as a threat.

I was basically saying, If I see anybody come at me, Im coming right back at them, Billings said. I was talking about self-defense.

Billings said trustees and township officials likely were hasty to ban him from township property because he disagreed with them on some township matters.

Legal matters

His latest trouble began when Buena Vista Police Chief Reggie Williams II delivered that no-trespass notice in-person to Billings at his home Wednesday, March 15.

I was mad; I was upset, and I did not read the letter, Billings said. When I got the letter from chief, I just threw it on the sofa and went about my business.

Williams told The Saginaw News/MLive he verbally recited the terms of the order to Billings during the letters delivery.

And I told him he could call me if he had any questions, Williams said.

Still, Billings said he was unaware the no-trespass order prevented him from legally entering municipal property later that day when he said he showed up at Buena Vista Township Hall  a municipal property  to ask officials if he could attend a Monday, March 27, Buena Vista Board of Trustees meeting.

Williams said staff alerted the police that Billings was in the building, but the trustee left before law enforcers could arrive.

Then, the next day, as Im returning to my office, hes standing right there in the lobby, Williams said of his office at the township police headquarters, also a municipal property.

I had to explain to him again what the letter said. And I told him, As of right now, youre under arrest.

While both Williams and Billings said he never spent time behind bars, its unclear how Billings instead landed in White Pine Mental Health Center Thursday, March 16.

Williams would not confirm Billings spent time in the facility. He said HIPAA, the federal law that monitors medical privacy rights, would prevent him from publicly discussing when individuals were housed at the medical facility.

Billings said officials started to put me in the (Saginaw County Jail) but instead sent him to receive a psychiatric evaluation at the HealthSource Saginaw-operated mental health facility. Billings said officials told him that decision was based on the reaction to his Facebook video and because of his admission he was bipolar, a disorder that can result in mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.

His stay at White Pine Mental Health Center, though, did not end his legal woes.

(Billings) does have two warrants for the trespasses, Williams said. We are allowing him an opportunity to turn himself in. If he does not, he will be arrested for the warrants.

Billings said he planned to visit the Saginaw County courthouse in the near future to resolve the issue.

The trustee, as of Thursday, said he was in search of legal counsel.

Board conflict

Billings said, along with addressing his trespass violations, he planned to task an attorney with seeking legal remedies that would keep him in place as a township trustee and allow him to enter municipal property again.

Superintendent Lee said, based on consultation from Billings fellow board members, township attorneys sent a signed affidavit Thursday, March 23, to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office requesting to strip Billings of his position as trustee.

Whitmer possesses that authority under state election law, section 168.369. The law states the governor can remove township officers when provided evidence of misconduct.

Billings, elected in 2020, could serve another year under his term.

The trustee said he does not plan to attend the 6 p.m. Monday township board meeting, which would qualify as another violation of the no-trespass order.

If he showed up, Williams said officers would arrest Billings.

The police chief said much of the police force was expected to attend the meeting for a swearing-in ceremony.

Billings said much of his contention with his township board peers stemmed from his vocal opposition to township resolutions allowing the sale of alcohol at township-operated venues. Specifically, Billings said, he was in opposition to Township Supervisor Christina Dillard-Jackson hosting her drink-mixing mobile business at events at municipal properties.

Dillard-Jackson said, during trustee meetings, Billings did not always appear to understand or follow the parliamentary procedures and rules that often govern public municipal sessions. The supervisor said staff and board members offered advice and sometimes 1-on-1 training to their colleague.

We were trying to show him support, but he just did not comprehend, Dillard-Jackson said.

At times, he took personal offense to board decisions that did not fall in favor of his vote, Dillard-Jackson said. On those occasions, he showed disrespect to political peers and township staff including Lee, Williams and Dillard-Jackson, the supervisor said.

The real reason he is in the position that he is in right now is because of his behavior, Dillard-Jackson said. When that video came out, and we saw the behavior behind that, we just werent taking any chances.

Billings said he did not take offense to votes in opposition to his own, although he did at times feel ignored when voicing views that did not align with his peers views.

He said Dillard-Jackson and others should not have interpreted his Facebook video as threatening, and they should not feel threatened by him now.

Im not a threat, Billings said.

I just was releasing my anger. And my anger wasnt targeting anybody. It wasnt intended to be directed at anybody in particular. I was just upset because of peoples refusal to hear me.

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BAY CITY, MI - Normally Bay City State Parks parking lots get busy and full during hot summer days when patrons look to cool off in the Saginaw Bay or the splash pad. But the park was instead full this week of nighttime visitors seeking something else.

Bundled in blankets to brave the chilly bayside air and armed with cameras, visitors flocked to the park to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights. On Thursday, March 23, bright green auroras were spotted all over Lower Michigan. The phenomenon even paid a special visit to the Saginaw Bay area.

For the staff at Bay City State Park, this was the icing on the cake as the park continues to celebrate its 100th birthday.

Its a way for people to create memories here at the state park, said Michael Barker, lead ranger at Bay City State Park.

Bay City State Park has been giving a warm welcome to aurora watchers. While the park technically closes at 10 p.m., the park has remained open for those looking to witness the Northern Lights.

We are excited about it because normally you dont see the Northern Lights here at the state park because theres so much light pollution, Barker said.

While the Northern Lights are a rarity in the area, Bay City State Park has lucked out as a prime viewing location lately. Aside from Thursdays show, Barker said that photographers caught photos of the park back in late February.

I dont know whats going on in Mother Nature thats causing it to be more visible further south this year, he said.

There is a chance that visitors might be able to spot the lights again on Friday, March 24. If you venture out to the park to see the auroras, Barker advised that you bundle up for cold weather since it is forecasted to be windy tonight with low temperatures near freezing.

Visitors are also advised to be careful with where they are pointing their flashlights and car headlights.

Instead of pulling in and turning your headlights right to the Bay, maybe pull in and park toward State Park Drive to the south, that way youre not putting the light out there ruining the experience for people, he said.

One of the top viewing locations at the park is the eastern part of the day-use area, which can be reached by turning right after you pass the DNR booth at the entrance. This area requires a shorter walk from the parking lot to the beach.

For those looking for a little less light pollution, you can also turn left at the booth and head over to the western part of the day-use area towards the parks swim beach.

One advantage I think youd have with being more on the swim beach is having less light pollution from the cars driving on State Park Drive because youve got the tree line and stuff right behind you there, Barker said.

Visitors that take photos of the Northern Lights are welcome to send them to the park. Barker said photos can be sent by messaging them directly to the Bay City State Park Facebook page or by tagging the page in your own post. Photos can also be sent via email to DNR-baycitystatepark@michigan.gov.

For more information on the Northern Lights, visit the National Weather Service website at: https://www.weather.gov/fsd/aurora

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SAGINAW, MI  For kidnapping two women and holding them captive for days, a Saginaw man is heading to prison.

Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello on Wednesday, March 22, sentenced 34-year-old Chad E. Bryant to 38 months to 45 years in prison. Borrello gave Bryant credit for 552 days already served in the county jail.

The day before his trial was to begin in November, Bryant pleaded guilty to assault with intent to cause great bodily harm. He also pleaded as a fourth-time habitual offender.

The prosecution dismissed a second count of the same charge, three counts of unlawful imprisonment, two counts of felonious assault, and single counts of first-degree home invasion, unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, witness interference, and second-offense domestic violence.

Bryants charges date back to Sept. 17, 2021, the day police issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for two women, ages 38 and 28. The older woman had been in a dating relationship with Bryant.

A relative reported Bryant had kidnapped the two women about 11 p.m. on Sept. 16 from one of the womens Saginaw Township home.

Police came to believe the women had been abducted the night of Sept. 13 or early the next morning. Bryant allegedly brandished a knife during the ordeal.

The afternoon of Sept. 17, the 28-year-old woman managed to escape her confinement and sought help. Michigan State Police troopers responded to an abandoned house in Owosso and found the other victim.

Bryant briefly barricaded himself inside the house before surrendering to troopers. Both women suffered non-life-threatening injuries for which they were hospitalized.

At Bryants arraignment, Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Shellbe A. Sanborn described Bryants case as incredibly disturbing.

Its alleged that Mr. Bryant broke into one of the victims homes, Sanborn said. He hogtied and bound two victims, placing them in the trunk of a vehicle after stealing that vehicle and kept them captive for multiple days, driving around multiple counties.

The vehicle was stolen from a third woman, who is related to the younger of the two abducted women.

Additionally, Bryant was on probation for stalking and had personal protection orders issued against him regarding one of the two kidnapped women. He was also free on bond when the abductions occurred.

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SAGINAW, MI  Having recently been arrested in Saginaw, two suspects accused of killing a married couple in their Kansas home have agreed to be returned to the Sunflower State to face charges.

Saginaw police officers on the evening of March 15 located and arrested Steven P. Pierce, 33, and Kallie R. Peters, 29, lodging them in the jail on multiple charges of felonious assault and resisting arrest. In their possession at the time was a 2016 Buick Lacrosse, which they were trying to sell locally, police said.

The person Pierce and Peters were trying to sell the car to ended up in an altercation with them, prompting him to call police.

Investigators later determined the Buick was owned by Roland C. and Valerie J. Krissman, 80 and 75, respectively, though it had not been reported stolen.

On March 17, both defendants appeared in Saginaw County District Court for arraignment on a combined six felonies and two misdemeanors.

The next day, police in Junction City, Kansas, responded to a well-being check at the Krissmans home and found the couple dead inside. They had been killed as early as March 11, though police have not disclosed their causes of death.

As Pierce and Peters were held in the Saginaw County Jail, authorities in Geary County, Kansas, issued warrants for the pair on March 19. Both face the same five counts  two counts each of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery and one count of felony theft between $1,500 and $25,000.

Peters and Pierce on Wednesday, March 22, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens for an extradition hearing. Both defendants waived their right to contest extradition, with Jurrens ruling Kansas authorities had two weeks to return the suspects to their jurisdiction.

Investigators have not provided details on if the suspects knew the Krissmans previously.

While Peters and Pierce resided in Junction City at the time of the Krissmans deaths, records indicate they also have addresses in Ogemaw County. Pierce is currently on probation out of Ogemaw County on five drug and larceny convictions from 2016.

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UPDATE: After 11 a.m., the Bay City Department of Public Safety issued an update. The story below has been updated to reflect this.

BAY CITY, MI - On Friday, March 24, officials made the call to cancel school at Bay City Central High School due to an alleged threat against the school.

We had a note put on a door that was found early this morning, said Stephen Bigelow, Bay City Public Schools superintendent to MLive.

We have to take that seriously, he added.

The note contained a threat to shoot up the school, according to the Bay City Department of Public Safety. The note was discovered by school personnel on one of the entrance doors to the school, police said.

Officers from the department responded to the school at 6:15 a.m. on Friday in response to the note and searched the school and the surrounding area. Nothing was found other than the note, police said.

In addition to classes being canceled, all activities scheduled at Central today were canceled, including extracurricular events, meetings and performances. The district stated that it will provide updates on any plans for rescheduling these activities.

In a notice to parents, Bigelow stated that the school is working closely with the Bay City Department of Public Safety, which is currently investigating this incident.

We understand that this situation may cause anxiety and concern among our students, staff, and community members, said Bigelow in the notice. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this situation.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Bay City Department of Public Safety at 989-892-8571 or the non-emergency number to Bay County Central Dispatch at 989-892-9551. Individuals can also provide information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), download the P3 mobile app or go to P3Tips.com. Photos and videos can be uploaded on the app or online.

The incident comes one day after another threat in the district that turned out to be a hoax. Bay City Western went into secure mode on Thursday, March 23 due to a fake threat on social media.

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MLive sat down with new Michigan Republican Party chair Kristina Karamo for nearly two hours March 17 for a sweeping interview that encompassed everything from her conspiratorial beliefs to plans for the party she will lead to the 2024 election.

Karamo was warm, engaging, forthright and unabashed in conversation. Her outspokenness about her convictions is central to how she earned the admiration of her hardline conservative followers. Karamo has a degree in Christian apologetics from Biola University, a private, Christian school in southern California. The theology involves the verbal defense of her faith, and the techniques of that debate style come through in conversation.

Read more: Conspiracies and a Holocaust meme mark the dawn of Karamos Michigan Republican Party

In politics you have a lot of liars and con-men and women, but I legitimately was just an everyday mom, she said about her background. I was just teaching at Wayne County Community College. I just graduated from Biola. I started my Christian podcast. My goal was to go spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. That was it.

Karamo entered the political spotlight by alleging she saw widespread fraud in Detroit during the 2020 election and remained there by championing the ensuing conspiracy theories. With a promise to root out systemic election corruption in Michigan, she lost her bid to become secretary of state last November by more than 615,000 votes, 14 percentage points, to Democratic incumbent Jocelyn Benson.

She has never conceded the election.

Karamo believes Republicans have participated in election corruption too

Its people in both parties who have been involved in corrupted elections, Karamo said. You have people in our party who will say that theyre upset with the weakness of our elections and turn around and quietly vote for and support legislation that weakens the process, where the Democratic Party will get on the springboard and actually advocate for ridiculous things like the nine days of early voting, "

Karamo is now the most prominent election fraud conspiracy theorist in Michigan politics, though she objects to the label, calling it a derogatory term for people who question government narratives. Though no evidence has ever been presented in the 2020 or 2022 election to substantiate any claim of widespread or systemic election fraud, Karamo still carries the torch.

Ill dispute the claim that I lost the race, Karamo said. But she clarifies, Im not saying I won, either.

Her argument is that if elections results cant be trusted, its impossible to really know how the election resulted. Yet at the same time, Karamo claimed that shouldnt dissuade Republican voters from showing up to vote.

The solution isnt to not vote. The solution is to get more involved in the voting process, she said. Theyre relying on the person who has the ability to corrupt the system to tell them whether or not its corrupt. Thats horrible. So weve been clear, the last thing people should do is not vote. That would be stupid.

Michiganders who voted for a constitutional right to abortion in 2022 are participants in murder

Karamo is vehemently against abortion. Her faith as a Christian, she said, compels her to speak out against it. And Karamo didnt spare from judgement the 57% of Michigan voters who chose yes on Proposal 3, which amended the state constitution to include a right to reproductive freedom, including abortion.

I think theyre participants in murder. I think theyre complicit, absolutely, she said. I think its an indictment on our culture, of where were going. But in some regard, it isnt the full burden of the party, the goal of the party is to win elections but to still speak truth to those issues.

She has called abortion a death cult and child sacrifice in the past. The Satanic Temple, which describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization and doesnt believe in worship or Satan, winkingly refers to abortion as a sacrament and has used their religious status in legal fights. Karamo points to their advocacy as evidence abortion is a satanic practice.

Republicans must remain loyal to their core supporters, she emphasized

For too long, the Republican Party has not honored its base, she said. They dont honor their platform, their convictions.

She pointed to Democrats and the aggressiveness with which they pursued their agenda after winning control of state government: their base is going to be very committed. When Republicans had trifecta control of state government, Karamo said, they mocked their base, they made fun of them.

Are Republicans in the legislature now representing and respecting the base?

I believe some of them are, Karamo said.

When asked if that means some legislators are failing to represent their most loyal followers, she laughed and said, now youve got me in a tight spot, before offering a diplomatic answer.

Im here to support all of our elected officials, and I think that if theyre not honoring the wishes of their constituents, their constituents will let them know, Karamo said.

If Republicans retake the legislature, shed like to see them investigate election fraud

Karamo wants to make clear this isnt about 2020.

I think we should look at any election, Karamo said. I want to look into the entire election system.

On the other hand, Karamo said shes never seen a well-run election. For her, it means she cant rule out the possibility that every election has been corrupted.

Ive only looked at the ones that are problematic. So I havent looked at ones where people say, hey, this ran really well, Karamo said. So I cant say there isnt (a legitimate election) because I dont know.

Karamo called the Senate Oversight Committees 2020 election investigation, which was led by Upper Peninsula Republican Sen. Ed McBroom and found no evidence of widespread fraud, deeply flawed and not exhaustive.

Related: A Michigan senators sermon and the sin of pushing stolen election lies

The Michigan Department of State regularly conducts hundreds of audits after each general election and election results are certified after a period of review by an independent Board of State Canvassers. Karamo attended meetings after Novembers election to rail against the certification. The bipartisan board, regardless, unanimously certified the election.

They tried to insinuate I was a liar when I talked about the problems with the (qualified voter file.) Its completely ridiculous, she said.

Karamo campaign materials at the Macomb County GOP Headquarters, 39099 Garfield Road in Clinton Township on Friday, March 17 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Michigan Republicans were previously in cahoots with Democrats, Karamo said

Karamo and her supporters view her election as chair, and the upending of the composition of delegates in the party, as a resuscitation of true Republicanism.

Shes a big believer in the idea of the uniparty, a populist notion that the Republican and Democrat elite work together behind the scenes to maintain the status quo.

Do I believe that the party was controlled by the uniparty? Karamo said. In some actions, yes. Some factors, absolutely.

Her belief now is that, under her leadership, voters will no longer have to feel like theyre choosing between two sides of the same coin.

This change, Karamo argued, will unlock a lot of conservative voters for Republicans.

A lot of people dont even vote, not because they dont have confidence in the election system, but because they feel like its a bunch of dirt bags, she said.

Her concept of Republican factions has evolved

I used to think really, thats it: Republicans are the good guys, the Democrats are the monsters, she said. And then as I got involved in the party, Im like, oh, its the grassroots and the (Republicans in name only). And then as I got more involved, Im like, OK, its the grassroots, establishment and the RINOs. And then as I go up in the party, Im like, OK, you just have people who actually want to do whats right, and a bunch of jerks.

The jerks, she explained, without naming individuals, are the politicians only in it to get more power.

Its a lot of people who may ideologically agree with me and be just as conservative as I am, but theyre bad people, she said. And then they turn around and theyll do awful things to move through the system. And if they have to get in bed with someone who is evil, they will gladly do it.

Public policy should always reflect Judeo-Christian values

I will never advocate or fall away or not speak truth about the principles in scripture, but its not my job as chair to force other people to go along with my religious beliefs, Karamo said. Im not trying to establish some theocracy. I think thats very important to point out this country, its in our constitution that people have freedom of religion.

That said, Karamo believes the U.S. Constitution is framed within Judeo-Christian values. One Republican candidate for president, Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, is Hindu. Should his beliefs constrain him and his policy objective?

Its not that people should be compelled to share my religious beliefs, but what about those tenets of Judeo-Christian values, which we see in our Constitution? Karamo asked rhetorically. So as long as his policies are consistent with the U.S. Constitution, thats my only question. He has a right to have his really own religious beliefs, and he has a right to be in leadership and serve in public office, and he should not be stymied in any way serving in public office because of his religious beliefs. "

She pledged to support all Republicans

In the last election, the Republican party didnt support their candidates, Karamo said.

I looked at the Michigan Democrats, they were behind their people. They are squarely behind their people, she said. They may not like them, but theyre the Democrat. Theyre the nominee for that office. They are behind their people. The Republican Party did not do that.

Despite Karamos ideological intensity, she said it wont be her place to pick and choose who should receive Republican support. And it doesnt seem like there is anything that could disqualify a candidate from receiving party support, either.

I dont care what our candidates say, Karamo said. If their constituents voted for them in the primary, those are our candidates and I will be supporting them 100%.

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Michigan has become the first state in nearly 60 years to undo right-to-work, nearly one decade after it became law in the state.

The stroke of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers pen signed a three-bill package into law that repealed the policy, which prevented unions from requiring employees to join a union or pay fees in order to work in a unionized workplace.

The legislation covers unions both public and private sectors, and a third bill reinstated union wages on all state projects, a policy known as prevailing wage. Right-to-work will effectively remain in place for public sector employees, however, thanks to a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Right-to-work was a deeply controversial policy, as heated debate about its economic impact continued throughout the 10 years it was law in Michigan. Polling suggested the policy enjoyed some popularity among the public, and Whitmer signed the bills in private with the news announced via press release.

Related: Michigans right to work is at deaths door. What will its legacy be?

Today, we are coming together to restore workers rights, protect Michiganders on the job, and grow Michigans middle class, Whitmer said in a statement. Michigan workers are the most talented and hard-working in the world and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. ... Lets continue delivering for working people and ensuring Michigan is open for business.

Organized labor and the hundreds of thousands of members who belong to Michigan unions play an enormous role in state Democratic politics, and the repeal had been on the partys agenda since they took control of state government in the last election.

Aside from some pro-labor progressives, however, Democrats had largely avoided discussing a repeal in public until House Democrats abruptly disclosed their plans in early March. Less than 24 hours later, the legislation had passed the chamber on a party-line vote. The next week, the bills moved through the Senate with similar speed. At each stage union members turned out in force to show their support for the long-awaited reversal.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the nations largest unions, on Friday called the legislation a massive win for Michigan workers.

The Governor and the legislators responsible for passing this law have ushered in a bright future for Michigan. One where workers have better safety standards, higher wages, a louder voice on the job and the uninhibited freedom of association in the workplace that they need and deserve, Fred Zuckerman, Teamsters general secretary-treasurer, said in a statement.

Related: In right-to-work repeal, a big win for Democrats biggest donors

The right to work bills contain $1 million appropriations to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to help implement the repeal. This makes them immune from a voter-initiated referendum that could later undo them. When first running for office in 2018, Whitmer pledged to veto a non-appropriations bill containing such spending provisions and renewed that intent with an executive directive in 2019.

I have made a promise to restore workers rights in Michigan, Whitmer said at an event earlier this week. I have fought against the creation of this barrier in the first place. I did not ask the legislature to put that part into the bill and it certainly is not on my agenda. But I am going to sign a bill that restores workers rights.

The reinstatement of prevailing wage and repeal of right-to-work are the latest in a series of significant policy changes by Whitmer and Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers. With trifecta control of state government for the first time in 40 years, Democrats have moved quickly to undo some of the key policies enacted during the tenure of Whitmers predecessor, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.

Snyder recently penned a column in The Detroit News arguing right-to-works repeal would mean Michigan is closed for business, not open.

Democrats have undone cuts in Michigans match of the Earn Income Tax Credit, the taxation of pension income, added protections for LGBTQ Michiganders into the states civil rights law. A package of legislation confronting gun violence is also nearing passage.

Related: Democrats realize decade-long goal to repeal pension tax, restore credits

This is tangible proof that the Republican attack on organized labor has failed. Were entering a new chapter in Michigan, Sen. Darrin Camilleri said in a statement.

Business and conservative groups had been prepared to decry the long-anticipated signing for some time.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a main right-to-work proponent, called the repeal a massive, unforced error.

Joseph Lehman, the organizations president, said the repeal will harm Michigans ability to compete globally and signals to the world that there are better places than Michigan to live, work, invest and create jobs.

Compelling support for organized labor does directly and immediately harm tens of thousands who will now be fired if they choose not to support a union, he claimed.

He noted leadership of major unions like the United Auto Workers had recently been convicted of embezzlement.

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Ongoing issues with Michigans electric grid saw representatives from the states largest utility companies back in front of lawmakers Thursday, March 23.

Members of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee wanted answers for the thousands of DTE Energy and Consumers Energy customers who were left without power and heat for days after back-to-back ice storms last month.

Many people in Michigan suffered greatly due to the effects of the recent ice storms, and we all know that its exceedingly frustrating to have these situations repeated and more frequently, said committee chair Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo. This legislature and this committee want to fix it.

Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, estimates that 16 storms in the past decade resulted in a quarter-million residents losing power. Five of which, he said, impacted more than half-a-million residents and at least three that impacted more than a million.

He echoed similar statements made by McCann that these storms are increasing in frequency, adding theyre also becoming increasingly dangerous.

If were getting historic storms essentially every other year, its hard to say that theyre truly historic anymore, Scripps said. I think thats the job thats in front of all of us is to make sure that even as extreme weather becomes more frequent and more extreme, that we have a grid that can handle the realities of the new normal.

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Representatives of DTE and Consumers apologized for the stress their customers endured, but as these issues repeatedly come in front of lawmakers, they remain frustrated by the companies lack of action.

What has changed? We are in a position where we just keep having storms continue to happen, said Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton. Where can we get to a place where we feel competence in the changes that are coming and seeing the improvements in our communities.

Scripps emphatically discussed the importance of vegetation management, and that DTEs $162 million investment in tree trimming successfully decreased outages and outage durations.

However, Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-Keego Harbor, noted the difference in spending and the $1.1 billion in profits taken in by DTE last year.

Thats seven times what they spent on trying to build reliability into the system, Bayer said.

When Trevor Lauer, president and COO of DTE Electric, a subsidiary of DTE Energy, was up to testify, Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, pushed further on the handling of company finances. She asked about media reports that DTE issued $700 million to investors last year, at a time when the company also paused hiring and maintenance.

Lauer clarified that none of those maintenance activities  extending the period of time between mowing of substations and hiring of summer students  were crucial to safety or reliability issues.

Neither of these activities cause any concern for me, he said.

Residents have criticized how they were reimbursed for the days without power, and many incurred extra expenses by having to seek shelter at hotels or eat out at restaurants.

DTE issued $35 credits to people who had no electricity for at least four days, and Consumers issued their customers a $25 credit if they lost power for five or more days.

Related: $35 doesnt cut it: Residents share power outage pains and hardships with state regulators

The reimbursement rates are set by MPSC, but Sen. Polehanki, D-Livonia, suggested to Lauer that they consider voluntarily raising it to a more substantial level.

The $25 to $35 credit is a joke, Polehanki said. Its embarrassing for me to tell my constituents that thats all theyre going to get for all the rotten food, all the heartache.

MPSC has been working for several years to implement performance-based regulations instead of a traditional cost-of-service model, Scripps said, to better align the utility financial performance with results that that their customers are seeing from the system.

The utility companies and MPSC said residents can expect them to work quickly on implementing changes to the electric grid system, but it will still take time to see results.

Related: Michigan utilities will need to restore power faster under proposed state rules

Scripps said MPSC will launch a website to provide additional information on system reliability, customer outages and storm response data.

He also mentioned a potential change in the reimbursement rate to a base credit amount of $35 with an additional $35 for each additional day a resident is without power, and a first of its kind third-party independent audit of the states grid.

Chris Laird, vice president of electric operations for Consumers Energy, said the company welcomes the audit. While they do their own benchmarking, he said theyre happy to have an independent party who can go out into the field and validate their findings.

We expect therell be some learnings from it, Laird said. We welcome that feedback and thatll help us get improved at a quicker rate.

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Federal regulators said it will take more than a year longer than first expected to analyze a plan to build a Great Lakes oil pipeline tunnel, pushing the possibility of completing the infrastructure project beyond 2030.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week said its review of the proposed tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac was initially expected by years end but is now projected to take until spring 2025. Enbridge wants to run a section of its Line 5 oil and natural gas pipeline through the tunnel as a replacement for the portion that now crosses the bottomlands of the straits between Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Federal officials said a decision would now be expected in early 2026. More than 17,000 public comments submitted during a scoping period led to the timeline revision.

Lt. Col. Brett Boyle, the Corps Detroit district commander, said the meaningful input would help shape studies and continued consultations as the agency writes its draft environmental impact report.

Company officials said this timeline setback is a disappointment.

While we are supportive of a thorough, comprehensive and carefully considered permitting process that ensures adequate opportunity for review and comment, we are disappointed with the extended timeline for a project of this scope, said Ryan Duffy, company spokesperson.

Enbridge at one point planned to complete the tunnel construction as early as next year at an estimated $500 million price tag. Mike Fernandez, a senior vice president of the Canada-based oil transportation company, told the Associated Press the cost has risen but did not have a new estimate. The new timeline could push the finish line to 2030.

Related: Line 5 tunnel could be a stranded asset in 20 years, report suggests

Fernandez said the delay flies in the face of the Biden administrations pledge to quicken environmental permitting for infrastructure projects. The company remains committed to the tunnel, he said.

Both Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with Michigan Indigenous tribes, want the existing section of underwater pipeline shut down. They consider the nearly 70-year-old dual natural gas and oil pipelines a constant spill risk to the Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for millions in both the United States and Canada.

The agreement to build the tunnel was made in the waning days of the administration of former Gov. Rick Snyder, Whitmers Republican predecessor.

Opponents to the plan  including environmental advocates and tribal groups  argue a tunnel brings risk of explosion and oil leaks that could wreak havoc on the natural environment and local economy, and that investment in new fossil fuel infrastructure would be counterproductive given the climate crisis and worldwide urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental advocate Liz Kirkwood, director of Traverse City-based nonprofit For Love of Water, said when the tunnel project is considered along with Enbridges plan to reroute Line 5 around the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Wisconsin, it all seems like a nonsensical pipe dream.

Related: Wisconsin Line 5 trespass ruling may influence Michigan legal fight

Why would anybody in their right mind spend billions of dollars to just rebuild these two sections of a failing, aging, old pipeline, when you could take those funds and readjust the current system with existing pipelines around the Great Lakes and then invest in renewable energy and other alternatives, Kirkwood said.

The Upper Peninsula-based Bay Mills Indian Community argues tunnel construction near the straits would harm sensitive wetlands, rare plants and cultural artifacts. Tribal aquatic biologist Brad Wesolek told AP he was convinced during a September site visit that Enbridge undercounted wetlands that would be affected by building the tunnel.

Its a very unique site, he said. It has plants and animals that are only found in the Great Lakes.

Related: Migratory birds, boreal forest, carnivorous plants all thrive at new up north nature preserve

The shorelines host a plant community called limestone bedrock glade, Wesolek said, which include threatened wildflower species like Houghtons goldenrod and dwarf lake iris.

Whitney Gravelle, Bay Mills tribal president, said the proposed construction zone is historically and culturally significant.

Its where we went historically for trade, she said. Its where we performed ceremony. Its where we would have our fishing camps and our hunting camps.

Related: Tribal challenge to Line 5 tunnel permit reinstated by oversight panel

Enbridge expects to damage less than a half-acre of wetlands during tunnel construction. However, the Corps in December ordered Enbridge to redo measurements of wetlands that could be damaged from roads and structures during tunnel construction.

Fernandez said slowing down the tunnel project only lengthens the time that oil flows through the existing pipelines through the straits. The company refused Whitmers order to shut down Line 5 and two lawsuits over its future remain pending.

Related: Michigan AG files appeal to return Enbridge Line 5 case to state court

Pro-tunnel groups criticized the new federal schedule.

Every month the project is delayed pushes this important economic and environmental investment down the line, said Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Proponents contend a tunnel is needed to maintain energy market stability in the Midwest and would heighten environmental protections for the pipeline that is now exposed to Great Lakes waters and strong underwater currents.

Federal approval is not the only hurdle to Enbridges tunnel plan, which still must clear a lengthy review by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

State environmental regulators already approved permits for the company to build the tunnel, as well as the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority.

In 2021, Canada invoked a 1977 treaty over Michigans efforts to close the line, arguing that it delivers critical fuel supplies to Ontario and Quebec. The treaty limits actions that could impede energy supplies of either the U.S. or Canada.

The Biden and Trudeau administrations remain in negotiations over the treaty invocation.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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AUBURN  Officials with the city of Auburn and Cayuga County detailed their strategies on potentially getting in on the opportunities represented by a potential $100 billion project.

Cayuga County Legislature Chairman David Gould and Auburn City Manager Jeff Dygert were among those who spoke about future plans and recent projects during the annual State of the City and State of the County events at Auburn Public Theater Thursday. One of the topics mentioned was the upcoming Micron project. The semiconductor chip company announced plans in October to invest $100 billion over 20 years to build a manufacturing facility in nearby Onondaga County. It is estimated the undertaking would create 9,000 new jobs, in addition to over 40,000 more in supporting industries.

Gould said work has begun preparing for the project, emphasizing that the Cayuga County and Auburn are "working together as a team"

"The city's been such a great partner since I've taken over. I know they did before ... I think we're working better than ever, and we have to, to get this Micron system here," Gould said, also noting his friendships with Dygert and Auburn Mayor Mike Quill.

The facility will be located in the town of Clay, with construction currently due to start in 2024. Gould mentioned that not all employees and affiliates involved with the project will be located within the area where the facility will be, and said "they will filter out in the surrounding counties."

A committee exploring how Cayuga County can capitalize on the Micron project was created last year, with subcommittees concerned with planning, housing, energy and employment and training. Gould said the groups meet regularly and report monthly to the steering committee. The county has also been in contact with people in the Syracuse area such as Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

"We will continue our networking and collaboration to ensure that our county is in the eyesight of those relocating for residence, employment and/or business," Gould said.

The chairman also discussed planned renovations to the county office building, potential improvements to the Cayuga County Fire Training Center, the county highway department replacing two bridges last year and more updates.

Earlier in the event, Dygert gave an update on city endeavors, also touching upon Micron, saying Auburn is "working hand-in-hand" with the county and Cayuga Economic Development Agency.

"We are working very hard to make sure that we are relevant in the discussion of Micron in central New York," Dygert continued. "We are pursuing a lot of different initiatives, we want to make sure that we're well-positioned for commercial development, and part of that is our appropriate investment and maintenance of our utilities."

As Auburn discusses projects with commercial developers, he said, the city has been finding more and more that "water, sewer and power are the big issues."

"We are making major investments in water and sewer, and that, I think, will serve us well in the coming years as we deal with things that spin-off from Micron," Dygert said.

He also said the Micron announcement has caused the city to have some renewed focus, energy and concentration on commercial development in neighborhoods.

"Because now we have some real opportunity. We are experiencing more interest in commercial properties that I don't think are necessarily related to Micron, it's just time," Dygert said. "I think it's our time and we're taking that very seriously, we're trying to really take a good look at how we're approaching things as far as land use goes, residential development and commercial development. We have some great opportunities out there, we're trying to put ourselves in the best position to deal with all of those."

In addition to bringing up endeavors such as the Auburn's upcoming $84 million wastewater treatment improvement project and a planned project related to sewer separation and rehabilitating Auburn's four existing combined sewer overflow treatment facilities, Dygert also talked about the city-run ambulance service that started in 2021, an initiative where all members of the Auburn Police Departments received body-worn cameras and more.

The State of the City and the State of the County presentations were hosted by the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce. Shereen Androsko, the county's operations officer, and Steve Lynch, who runs the county's Department of Planning and Economic Development, also spoke.

Before Dygert went up on stage, Auburn Mayor Mike Quill spoke during his last State of the City as mayor, since Quill said in November he doesn't plan on seeking reelection this year after four terms.

"This is my 16th and final year as mayor of Auburn and I am both humbled and pleased that Auburn residents have allowed me the opportunity to lead our great city," he said. When Quill was later finished, applause filled the theater.
The envious and mutually beneficial relationship seen between American rap legend Christopher Brian Bridges, better known as Ludacris, and Africa's most decorated rapper Sarkodie dates back to some unforgettable memories.

The emergence of remarkable rappers such as Okyeame Kwame, Obrafour, Lord Kenya, Reggie Rockstone, and others led some Ghanaian music fans to believe that the apex of rap artistry had been reached.

In an unexpected turn of events, Sarkodie emerged from the midst of the storm to deliver an outstanding rap performance.

This moment of awe gave the then-young but incredible rap talent the opportunity to share the stage with the 20-time Grammy nominee.

The global icon was then booked by Vodafone Ghana to perform at the 2012 Vodafone 020 Live Concert, thrilling the audience with his songs and giving Sarkodie the opportunity to battle him on his How Low remix.

Ludacris was taken aback by how Sarkodie paid dividends to punches with consistent flow and delivery, leaving Ghanaians excited to see one of their own and Ludacris perform one song together on one stage.

That was the dawn of their relationship, which will give the musical world a mind-blowing track on the American idol's upcoming Afrobeats projects after 11 years.

For nearly a week, the American hip-hop star has been in Ghana, sharing a musical moment with Ghanas music landlord.

As there have been several videos and pictures of them together in the recording studio, the two are expected to produce a powerful track from their recent collaboration.

The Grammy-winning rapper is seen vibing with a song in a recent video posted online, much excited with the caption, "Live From The Motherland, Accra, Ghana."

Ludacris appears to be serious about Ghana being his motherland, as his recent visit was his third to the country.

As previously stated, he performed at the Vodafone 020 Live Concert during his first visit in 2012, which was preceded by his private visit in 2019 during Ghana's Year of Return, where he visited the Cape Coast Castle and was inspired by the struggles of his Black ancestors.
ALBANY  Gov. Hochul has a new list of seven candidates from which to choose a nominee to be the next chief judge of New York after Senate Democrats rejected her first pick to lead the state judiciary last month.

The governor now has 30 days to choose a nominee to lead the state Court of Appeals, New Yorks highest court, from a shortlist released Friday by the Commission on Judicial Nominations.

Hochul must weigh the panels recommendations after the Democratic-led state Senate shot down her initial nominee, Justice Hector LaSalle, in an unprecedented rejection that followed weeks of conflict over his background, questions about constitutional duty and a Republican lawsuit over the process.

LaSalles nomination drew opposition from progressive lawmakers as well as labor unions and other groups who viewed him as too conservative to lead the states sprawling court system.

Among the new recommendations from the commission are Justice Anthony Cannataro, the acting chief judge of the Court of Appeals, as well as two other judges currently serving on the states highest bench: Justice Shirley Troutman and Justice Rowan Wilson.

Two appellate court judges made the list: Hon. Elizabeth Garry, the presiding justice of the 3rd Appellate Division and Hon. Gerald Whalen, the presiding justice of the 4th Appellate Division.

Additionally, Caitlin Halligan, a lawyer and former general counsel for the Manhattan district attorneys office who also served as solicitor general for the state from 2001 until 2007, and Corey Stoughton, an attorney with The Legal Aid Society, both made the list.

I am gratified at the extraordinary quality and diverse backgrounds of the applicants received by the Commission, E. Leo Milonas, chair of the commission, said in a statement. That so many exceptional candidates were motivated to apply demonstrates the remarkable strength and depth of the legal profession in the State of New York.

LaSalle, presiding justice of the 2nd Appellate Division in Brooklyn, was initially nominated by Hochul in December following the resignation of former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore last summer.

Initially, Senate Democrats refused to grant his nomination a full floor vote and rejected LaSalle during a committee hearing in January. That prompted a lawsuit from Republican lawmakers which resulted in a Long Island judge determining that future nominees must get a vote by the full chamber. LaSalle was formally rejected last month in a 39-20 vote on the Senate floor.

Opponents argued the former prosecutors judicial records showed him to be anti-union, anti-reproductive rights and overall too conservative to lead the state court system.

Prior to the previous shortlist being released last year, several lawmakers, including state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan), the Judiciary Committee chairman, called on the commission to include candidates with diverse backgrounds, such as civil rights attorneys, public defenders and tenant advocates, when compiling recommendations over the summer.

The calls came in the wake of a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning abortion protections and criticism that New Yorks highest court was being pushed to the right by a quartet of conservative-leaning judges led by DiFiore.

In the wake of LaSalles formal rejection, Hochul said she would use the same criteria she applied when picking a new nominee.

I will always do what I did before and do in the future, and that is select the person I think is the best individual and the best person to lead an extraordinary court, she said last month.
23.03.2023 LISTEN

The Electricity Company of Ghana National Taskforce has rejected GH4 million as part payment offered by Star Steel Company at Prampram.

ECG insisted on full payment or at least a 50% settlement to avoid disconnection of any customer that owes.

According to the power distributor, most of their targeted customers have deliberately refused to pay their bills despite consuming power over a 4-month period.

When the task force visited the Star Steel Company, the manager was willing to settle its GH10 million debt but pleaded to pay GH4 million instantly and GH6 million the following day.

This was vehemently declined by the task force, which subsequently moved to disconnect the factory from the national grid.

The company had no option but to switch to a secondary power source in order to continue its production.

Earlier, the task force disconnected Fabrimetal Company over a GH28 million debt after an inconclusive engagement with management.

The Electricity Company of Ghana has noted that it wont spare any private company, state institutions, or residential properties that have failed to pay bills.

According to the manager of external communications, Laila Abubakari, ECG owes its power producers over $5 billion, a situation that puts the company in an uncomfortable position not to go after its debtors.

-citinewsroom
Chiefs and residents of Kecheibi Asuoja, a farming community in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, have called on the contractor working on the community's three-unit classroom block project to return to site to complete works.

They have consequently called on Mr Joshua Makubu, the Regional Minister and Mr Bright Lenwah, the Municipal Chief Executive, as a matter of urgency, to summon the said contractor, NIN-SAALA Construction Limited, to return to site to complete his task.

Nana Sei Ngbanpoan, Chief of the community in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency, said the conduct of the contractor was a surprise to chiefs and residents as we gave our all to support him to deliver on schedule but left without any recourse to them.

He narrated the project was abandoned and all efforts to get him back proved futile.

He observed that the first rain had collapsed the building, an indication of shoddy work.

The chief in his lamentation appealed to the Minister to expedite action on their predicament.

Mr Benjamin Kwaku Alhassan, the headteacher of Kecheibi Asuoja Primary School, said the pupils would have to continue classes under trees with its attendant challenges and unpredictable weather during this rainy season.

He called for extension of the school feeding programme to the school to bolster attendance as well as teaching and learning.

The pupils jointly pleaded for the return of the contractor to complete the school project to give them a better place to stay and learn.

Mr Samuel Yaw Tala, Assembly member for the area, said he did everything humanly possible to get the contractor back to no avail and alleged that the Assembly did not owe him any money as far as the building was concerned.

GNA
Former President John Dramani Mahama's Special Aide has criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo for appointing a known New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist to the Electoral Commission's board.

Madam Bawah Mortari accused President Akufo-Addo of undermining the independence of the EC by appointing NPP foot soldiers to the commission.

Speaking on a TV3 panel discussion on Thursday, March 23, she emphasized the importance of neutrality and independence of the electoral management body.

She said, There is a good reason the Electoral Commission is given good protection and the independence that is required to undertake its duties and obligations as an arbiter of very sensitive elections across the world."

There is also a good reason we talk about neutrality of our arbiters. We also need to demand the sanctity of these institutions because it is the sanctity that guarantees their independence, she stressed.

She called on Ghanaians to speak up against such appointments that give the impression of favoritism and job for party supporters.

Madam Bawah's criticism comes after President Akufo-Addo swore three new members to the Electoral Commission governing board, including Dr. Peter Appiahene, who has been accused of being an NPP activist and a patron of TESCON at the University of Energy and Natural Resources.

The appointment of the alleged known party activists to the EC has led to widespread condemnation from some political activists and groups.

Critics argue that such appointments undermine the independence and credibility of the Electoral Commission, which has a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections in Ghana.

The controversy surrounding Dr. Appiahene's appointment highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the selection process for members of the Electoral Commission's board.
An Accra Circuit Court has adjourned to April 25, the case of Nana Appiah Mensah, aka NAM 1, Chief Executive Officer of Menzgold Ghana Limited, accused of duping customers of their deposits over GHC1.6 billion.

Relieving Judge, Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah, adjourned the case because the prosecution had informed the court that the Police was still waiting for the Attorney General's advice.

The Court said the matter would be adjourned awaiting any updates from the Attorney General's Department.

When it was called, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, who held the brief of Superintendent of Police Sylvester Asare, said the Police was still waiting for the Attorney General's advice.

He, therefore, prayed for a date.

Ms Audrey Twum who also held the brief of Kwame Boafo for the accused person and the prosecution agreed on a date.

This is the 33rd time that the accused person had appeared before the court over the past two years.

Nana Mensah is facing 61 counts of abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretences, carrying on deposit-taking business without license, sale of minerals without license, unlawful deposit-taking, and money laundering.

The accused person has denied the charges and the court on July 26, 2019, admitted him to bail in the sum of GHC1 billion with five sureties, three to be justified.

The court ordered him to be reporting to the Police every Wednesday pending the outcome of the case.

GNA
Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project is to provide 150 modern toilet facilities in the GAMA and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area by 2024.

Mr. Emmanuel Addai, Knowledge Management Expert, at GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, disclosing this said the World Bank funded project, which was supposed to end in 2020, was extended to 2024.

He said the project under the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources was also upscaled to cover the Greater Kumasi Area with Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies being the direct implementers of the project.

Mr. Addai stated at the commemoration of the 2023 World Water Day organized by the Media Coalition against Open Defecation (M-CODe) in collaboration with the Ghana News Agency-Tema Regional Office.

The M-CODe commemoration of the 2023 World Water Day was on the theme: Lets Kill Open Defecation today! before it Kills us tomorrow.

It forms part of the national M-CODe 2023 Anti-Open Defecation Nationwide Advocacy which is a relentless national campaign aimed at ending the practice of defecating in the open rather than in a toilet.

Mr. Addai said out of the 150 school toilets, the Greater Accra area would get 30 while the Kumasi area was entitled to receive 120, explaining that the Greater Accra area already benefitted from the initial project, which commenced in 2014.

He said out of the total 150, currently 60 had been completed and would be handed over to the beneficiary schools, adding that the remaining would be delivered by the end of the project in 2024.

He explained that the delay of constructing the facilities was mostly due to land issues, environmental, and design, among others, as according to him, the actual construction could be done within two months after sorting out those issues.

He noted that the provision of school toilets was in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six, which emphasised water and sanitation, and SDG four which covered improved learning environments, including health and sanitation.

Mr. Addai indicated that the facilities, including the households' ones, aimed at reducing open defecation in the country and particularly in schools, especially public basic schools, inculcate in children the habit of always using a toilet, and minimize possible outbreaks of diseases and preventable infections in schools.

The school toilet facilities, he said, had separate toilet rooms for males, females, and teachers, as well as changing, and shower rooms for females, water closet toilets and septic tanks, squat plate toilets for easy access to pupils with disabilities, and disability-friendly access.

Other features are hand-washing basins, storage rooms for storing toiletries, cleaning materials and tools, water storage tanks, and waste bins as well as boreholes for schools that do not have access to water.

Mr Francis Ameyibor, M-CODe National Convenor, said water has a significant relationship with toilet as open defecation affected water bodies toilets find their way into water bodies and in turn, people drink it.

Mr Ameyibor who is also the GNA Tema Regional Manager said open defecation was a health hazard that needed to be tackled head-on.

He called on media houses and personalities, traditional leaders, presiding members of assemblies, regional coordinating councils to join M-CODE in fight against the practice.

Mr Joseph Korto, National Dean of Presiding Members, and Presiding Member of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), on his part, gave the assurance that intensified education on the need for household toilets and intensifies the fight against open defecation.

GNA
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman, National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in Parliament to observe the debate on the Appointment Committees report on six persons nominated by the President for appointment as Ministers, Ministers of State, and a Deputy Minister.

The opposition NDC, in an earlier statement on February 19, directed its sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) to reject the Presidents Ministerial Nominees as part of efforts to help push for the reduction in the size of the current government.

The Ministerial nominees, who have gone through vetting at the Appointment Committee include Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, Minister-designate for Trade and Industry; Mr Bryan Acheampong, Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture and Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

The rest are Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State-designate at the Ministry of Finance; Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State-designate at the Ministry of Local Government,

Decentralization and Rural Development and Dr Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister-Designate for Trade and Industry.

Both sides of the House, Majority New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC), are in full attendance.

GNA
Building on the success of the Carbon Market Development Roundtable 2022, the UK Government alongside Ghanas Environmental Protection Agency, Ghanas Forestry Commission, Foundation for Climate Protection and Carbon Offset (klik) and the Embassy of the Netherlands, have joined together to host Growing the Carbon Market in Ghana - Roundtable and Drinks Reception at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Thursday 23rd March.

Held in the same week as the UN International Day of Forests and the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)s AR6 Synthesis Report; the roundtable will bring together project developers, traders, verifiers and other sector experts to discuss the progress and ongoing potential of Ghanas carbon market. Discussion will focus on two key areas for Ghana  progress on cook-stove emissions and the protection of Ghanas forests.

Speaking ahead of the roundtable, British High Commissioner Harriet Thompson said: "Ghana is embracing and growing its carbon market at time when the world is looking for smart climate finance solutions. This is important as nations come together to work towards ambitious climate commitments ahead of COP28.

As a long-term partner to Ghana and as a global champion of carbon markets, we are determined to bring together governments, civil society organisations, experts, policy-makers, businesses and investors to realise Ghanas carbon trading potential. A potential that will create economic opportunities and protect Ghanas beautiful forests and green spaces.

Ghana is showing global leadership in the supply and selling of carbon credits under the Paris Agreements Article 6 international trade provision. The recently published National Carbon Market Framework means that Ghana has one of the most advanced carbon markets across Africa. The Framework has created levies on carbon credit exports, and is supporting the growth of relationships with nations buying carbon credits and opening opportunities with new trading platforms.

Since, the first Carbon Market event, the country has made substantial progress:

Receiving its first payment through the UNs Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+ scheme (REDD+ scheme);

Developing Swiss-Ghana collaboration around carbon projects;

The new framework has seen major businesses developing their plans to invest carbon offset finance in Ghana.

The event will include four focused sessions: an update on Ghanas carbon market and regulatory framework, a discussion about structuring carbon projects and lessons learned, a session on the forestry sector and a deep-dive into global standards for carbon trading.
Minority in Parliament says it will later today Friday, March 24, vote against the new Ministers and deputies appointed by President Akufo-Addo.

The group says the house must unanimously reject the nominees despite the affinity to some of the nominees who are their colleague legislators to help the government cut down on its expenditure amid the current economic crisis.

Debating the report of the Appointments Committee on the Mministerial nominees, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson outlined some basis for the group's position.

We stand with the people of Ghana, and we are urging our colleagues from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stand for Ghana and not to stand for their colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the nominees are our colleagues, but the principle is that its not about them, its about the republic of Ghana. They may be our colleagues and friends and relatives, but its not about them. I call on you to look them in their faces and vote against them for the republic of Ghana. For the future of our country, he said.

The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu however appealed to the house to consider the approval of the nominees.

I will just plead that we approve the ministers, he appealed.

The Speaker, Alban Bagbin said the house will decide on the fate of the nominees on Friday.

Prior to the vetting of the newly nominated ministers on Monday, February 20, 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) directed the Minority group not to approve them, describing their appointments as an insensitive move that would increase government's expenditure in the midst of an economic mess.

The nominated ministers include the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond as the Minister for Trade and Industry with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy.

The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong was also appointed as the Minister for Food and Agriculture.

Stephen Asamoah Boateng was appointed as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

citinewsroom
The Upper East Regional Minister Mr. Stephen Yakubu has disclosed that two basic school pupils in the region have tested positive for Covid-19.

The pupils he noted are currently under quarantined at the Upper East Regional Hospital while contact tracing is ongoing.

Failing to disclose the identity of pupils, the Minister, however, called on individuals, traders, and visitors to take the covid-19 safety protocols seriously.

Mr Yakubu made this known at the launch of a COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (CERP) in Bolgatanga.

The Minister also used the event to advise unvaccinated residents to immediately get the jab at the nearest health facility as the virus was real.

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Project was undertaken by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO), to reach out to 21 Districts, 63 health facilities, and 63 communities in both Upper East and North East Regions with the target of vaccinating 712,063 people.

Dr. Joseph Ayembilla, Human Development Coordinator of NABOCADO indicated that the key element of the initiative was to increase vaccine availability and accessibility.

He, therefore, stressed that as of February 28, 2023, a total of 23,899,801 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered, which comprised 13,125,372 doses for persons who at least received a dose, 10,105,181 doses administered to fully vaccinated people, and 3,972,718 booster doses.

Meanwhile, a pick-up vehicle with six new motorbikes was presented to the NABOCADO office to help deliver on its mandate.

Source: Classfmonline.com
The immediate past Minister for Food and Agriculture and aspiring flagbearer for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has shot down conversations about his age being an issue.

Some Ghanaians have been lamenting that the mismanagement of the country by President Akufo-Addo is due to his age and will not dare entrust it into the hands of another 'old man.'

But speaking on Accra-based Angel TVs Anopa Bofo morning show, Mr. Afriyie Akoto said old age is not a limitation for the presidency.

He cited President Biden of America, who first came into office at the age of 79. He cited former President Mahamas abysmal performance in his first term despite being a young and energetic man in his 50s at the time.

He noted that the most important ingredient is having in-depth knowledge and experience to govern a country.

He stressed that the partys upcoming contest is not a beauty pageant but a contest of the intellect where the one with good policies will be crowned victorious by the delegates.

"Listen, let me tell you, everybody has challenges; how old was John Mahama when elected President? He was in his 50s, right..., and we all can attest to his performance. He led us into dumsor, so that belief is irrelevant," he highlighted.

He further established that "when they see me, they see that I'm more youthful than them... It's not about handsomeness!! "Look, it is not a beauty contest; it is a contest of the brain."
Just when TikTok was all set for its debut in passenger cars in the US, there is a larger ban on the app that is looming for it over the American horizon. Increasing security concerns around TikTok and suspicions that the Chinese government has a substantial influence over it has led to alarm bells ringing loud.

The popularity of TikTok around the world and specifically in the US has been quite impressive. Such has been the rate of acceptance that the social media app has around 150 million active users in the US alone. And with the development of cutting-edge, in-cabin technologies in modern-day vehicles, it was only a matter of time before TikTok teleported itself from phones to cabin displays. The updated Mercedes-Benz E-Class, scheduled for an official US launch late 2023, will come with an updated MBUX that may include TikTok. That is unless of course, the app is banned by the US government.

While Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said the decision to include certain apps in certain regions depends on its popularity in that region, TikTok may be very relevant in its home base of China. There is no confirmation on whether US customers of the E-Class too would get TikTok in the car but much of that decision would hinge upon TikTok's overall fate here.

TikTok - owned by Chinese internet technology company ByteDance - has already been banned from US-government-owned devices. This has led to speuclation of a wider ban. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was recently grilled in the US Congress for several hours. Chew underlined that the app does not share data with the Chinese government. But many lawmakers may not have been entirely convinced, some of them even pointing to the ban imposed on the app in India.

India had banned TikTok in June of 2020. It was a blanket ban. Many other countries partial bans in place, and the list includes Canada, UK, Denmark and Taiwan, among others. With increasing focus on in-car data and the security and privacy around this, the times ahead could potentially be more challenging for apps such as TikTok.

First Published Date:
The chiefs of the Wassa Fisae traditional area in the Western region, under the leadership of Okatakyie Ntsiful Essel paramount chief of the traditional council, spoke against the attitude of the youth of Wassa Benso against the Golden star mines which resulted in the burning of several properties of the company.

The youth has explained that the Golden star company in a banter with them shot one of their men to death hence the anger to cause harm.

Meanwhile, management of the Golden star mining company says, the said youth were illegal miners who have chosen to share in their mine. According to the company, several warnings have been issued, to put a stop to their activities but to no avail.

Speaking at a press conference, Kyeamehene of the Wassa Fiase traditional council and the chief for the people of Essikuma Bonsawire, Nana Ampong Kwesi said, the chiefs made up of elders condemn the wrong actions of the youth.

He said though they support demonstrations as constitutional they cannot support a deadly protest.

He added that the act by the youth has a lot of bad consequences on their land.

He cried that the actions of the youth could drive away investors, collapse the mining activity in the area and further destroy the name of the traditional area.

He further warned political actors and community youth groups to avoid interfering in police investigations to avoid any chaos.

The report has it that about 400 people have been arrested after a police gun got missing at the scene.

It says all men have fled the community leaving only women and children.
Six French nationals remain imprisoned in Iran. A seventh, the Franco-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah, is no longer behind bars, having been released from Tehran's Evin prison in February. But the Iranian authorities have refused to return her identity papers, making it impossible for her to travel.

Adelkhah was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison for having endangered national security. She was released in February after serving three-and-a-half years.

But the authorities in Tehran have refused to return her personal documents, confiscated at the time of her arrest. In order to travel, Adelkhah is obliged to go through the slow administrative process to obtain replacement identity papers.

On Monday France celebrated the safe release of French journalist Olivier Dubois, held by islamist captors for two years in the Sahel.

Committees of support for several French nationals still either imprisoned in Iran or unable to leave that country lashed out at media claims that said Olivier Dubois was the sole remaining French hostage in captivity.

Six 'state hostages' still held

"Let us not forget the 'state hostages' as they have been named by the French authorities, because they need our support if they are to hold on," according to supporters of Adelkhah and other Iranian prisoners.

"We are kept in ignorance as to the conditions under which they are held. We are worried about their health. The situation is especially difficult given the fact that these people are innocent and have been deprived of basic human rights.

"We call for their release and for them to be allowed to rejoin their families."

Six French hostages are in jail in Iran.

Benjamin Beiere has been held for three years; Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris for 10 months; Louis Arnaud and Bernard Phelan for five months. The remaining French detainee in Iran has not been publicly identified.

On Tuesday, French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna assured the National Assembly that the government was "fully mobilised" to secure the release of the six in detention.

The minister made no mention of Adelkhah.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) former Constituency Chairman for New Juaben North in the Eastern Region has said Ghanaians would have been laughing at the wrong side of their mouths if the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was at the helm of affairs of the countrys economy following the global crisis.

According to Mr Kwadwo Boateng Agyemang, Ghanaians would have willingly drunk the banned poisonous substance Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) to escape the bad economic management of the NDC.

He said things would have been more difficult for the ordinary Ghanaian on the street if the NDC was in charge of the economy.

He explained this would be so because of the NDC's track record of bad economic management.

Mr Agyemang argued that the NDC are in no way better managers of the economy, adding that their administration would have brought endless hardships on Ghanaians.

Even in the face of economic woes occasioned by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, the economy is being better managed by the NPP administration, he touted.

Mr Agyemang said this on the discussion segment of the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Odeyeeba Kofi Essuman on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, March 23, 2023.

The NDC could not have managed such an economy, he stressed.

The NDC would have thrown its hands in the air in despair if it were at the helm of affairs, he posited.

He was of the view that the NDC is confused and just throwing things out there in the public domain concerning the NPP's management of the economy.

He said the appreciation of the cedi against major foreign currencies and reduction of fuel prices at the pumps are a result of the prudent management of the economy by the NPP in the wake of the world crisis.

Things would not have been as rosy as it is if the NDC was in government, he stated.

Source: Classfmonline.com
A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by the outgoing Chief Representative of Ghana Office, Yasumichi Araki, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Health Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu.

The visit on Wednesday was to introduce the new Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office, Miss Momoko Suzuki to the Minister, whilst Mr Yasumichi Araki bids farewell to the Minister as he departs Ghana on Friday, March 24 after three years of service as Chief Representative of Ghana Office.

Mr Araki commended the Minister and the government of Ghana for the swift response in combating COVID-19. He further congratulated the Minister on receiving the Order of the Volta award from the President of Ghana which is the highest honour in Ghana.

On his part, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu commended JICA for its support to Ghana even before COVID-19. JICA donated the record booklets for Maternal and Childbirth which are currently used in all health facilities in Ghana.

He bid Mr Araki farewell and wished him the best in all his endeavours and assured Miss Suzuki of the support and cooperation of the Ministry.
24.03.2023 LISTEN

Ghanaians have been warned against any act that will incur the wrath of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Community members who doesn't respect the orders of the police will be made to 'smell pepper' when we step in, the military has said.

The Director General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Brigadier Eric Aggrey Quarshie, made the statement on Thursday, March 23, at the National Public Relations and Communication Summit organised by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana at Kwahu-Nkwatia in the Eastern Region.

He said people need to be aware that military don't ask questions during operations but action that may turn out brutal.

"I can assure you that when you call the military in, dont expect normal procedures. So the best thing is: dont do things that will bring the military there.

"The military is not now coming to ask you, Oh, please, why didnt you respect the police?'" he said.

"If you wanted to respect, you would have respected the police, and so, when I come in, the issue of respect doesnt come in anymore. Because we want to subdue whatever issues that are coming up," Brigadier Aggrey Quarshie added.

This comes after the military, in an attempt to fish out the murderers of slain colleague, Sherif Imoro, who was assassinated a few weeks back, brutalized some residents of Ashaiman.
The Chiefs and people of the Volta Region have commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for granting the region the hosting rights for the 66th Independence Day celebrations.

The Chiefs said they hoped that the inclusiveness that was emphasised by the Independence Celebrations would be carried further for the good of the country.

A delegation of Chiefs led by the Paramount Chief of Anfoega Traditional area, and President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbe Tepre Hodo, called on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House to express their appreciation for the honour done to the region.

Togbe Tepre Hodo in his remarks emphasised that they are also hopeful that with the countrys current state of affairs it should be possible in the not too distance future to address some of the problems of our region.

Speaking particularly to the completion of the Youth Resource Centre in Adaklu, in North Dayi District, the Paramount Chief said work on the project had resumed and hoped that it would be completed on time to serve its purpose for the good of the region and the country at large.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo said he was delighted that the Chiefs and people of the Volta Region had recognised the governments efforts at driving inclusiveness among Ghanaians, one of which is to rotate the hosting of the countrys independence celebrations.

He said that decision taken is to make clear to all Ghanaians that each part of the countrys fabric is part of the nation-state Ghana.

That all segments of the population should feel the presence of Ghana, especially on the critical day of our independence celebrations.

So, to hear from the very distinguished president of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs identifying that inclusiveness drive, is a main key takeaway is very refreshing and encouraging to me. It means I am on the right path.

With the glimpse and spectacular stunts of the celebrations that were witnessed by millions of people across the world, according to President Akufo-Addo, the celebration also showed case the beauty, the neatness of the environment, as well as the tourist attractions of the region to the world.

President Akufo-Addo said with the current financial difficulties of the country, he was delighted that work had resumed earnestly at the Adaklu Youth Resource Centre.

The President assured that, with the completion of the Ghana/IMF $3 billion bailout, it would be possible for the government to begin with some of the development projects that had stalled.
Four hundred and fifty-seven people were arrested and 441 security forces injured on Thursday during nationwide protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's pensions reform, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on television on Friday morning.

Darmanin also said that there had been 903 fires lit in the streets of Paris during by far the most violent day of protests since demonstrations against pension reform began in January.

"There were a lot of demonstrations and some of them turned violent, notably in Paris," Darmanin added, saying the toll was alarming. The minister praised the police for protecting the more than one million people who marched around France.

The authorities had warned that anarchist groups were expected to infiltrate the Paris march. Young men wearing hoods and facemasks were seen smashing windows and setting fire to uncollected rubbish in the latter stages of the demonstration.

Darmanin, a rightwing hardliner in Macron's centrist government, dismissed calls from protesters to withdraw the pensions reform which cleared parliament last week in controversial circumstances.

Call for democratic debate

"I don't think we should withdraw this law because of violence," he said. "If so, that means there's no state. We should accept a democratic, social debate, but not a violent debate."

Elsewhere on Thursday, the entrance to Bordeaux city hall was set on fire during clashes in the southwestern wine-exporting hub.

"I have difficulty in understanding and accepting this sort of vandalism," the mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, told RTL radio on Friday.

"Why would you make a target of our communal building? I can only condemn it in the strongest possible terms."

British King Charles III is set to visit the southwestern city next Tuesday, and had been expected to visit the city hall and meet with Hurmic.
24.03.2023 LISTEN

There are some parts of Ashaiman where the Police cannot go and arrest suspected criminals, Director General in charge of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Eric Aggrey Quarshie has said.

He said the Police will not dare not go to those areas.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting and the National Public Relations and Communications Summit of the Institue of Public Relations on Thursday, March 23, he explained that a lot of things have been happening at Ashaiman however the killing of the soldier Sherrif Imoro became the last straw that broke the camels back

He said whatever happened in Ashaiman was not something somebody woke up one morning and said let us go to Asahiman, so many things are taking place and our soldier dying became like the last straw that broke the camels back.

Ashaiman, there are still sections that the Police cannot go and effect an arrest, they wont dare. Somebody commits a crime and you cant go there to even arrest the person and so we were tracking the event.

His comments come at a time the military received flak for taking the law into their own hands to brutalize and arrest some persons they suspected to be killers of the soldier.

For instance, the National Peace Council said they should have allowed the Police to handle the situation.

Speaking on the mid-day news on TV3 Monday, March 13, Executive Secretary of the Peace Council, George Amoh said that the Police had the expertise to deal with situations of this kind hence, the military should have exercised restraints.

He said coming from a human rights point of view, I think that the Military could have allowed the Police to investigate it.

Our Police have the resilience and all the strategies to get whoever was involved so I think they should have exercised residents and allowed the Police whose duty it is to arrest people of such nature, those who commit crimes. to do it. The Police have indicated strongly that they have the capacity to do that.

It has emerged that Imoro Sherrif, the soldier who was killed in Ashaiman Taifa on Saturday, March 4, was stabbed in the left arm.

It had initially been reported that the trooper in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) was stabbed in the neck following the attack by armed robbers.

Further investigation has established that suspects Samuel Tetteh and Abubakar Sadick at about 1:45 am on 4th March 2023 attacked the deceased at Taifa Ashiaman in an attempt to rob him of his phone and a backpack, police said in a statement issued on Sunday, March 12.

The deceased, however, resisted and struggled with the suspects.

During the struggle, suspect Samuel Tetteh pulled out a knife and stabbed the deceased in the arm, snatched his phone and bolted leaving the deceased with the knife stuck in his arm.

This is said to have been confirmed by a pathologist's report after a post-mortem examination conducted on Wednesday, March 8.

A postmortem examination was performed on the deceased's body on 8th March 2023, after which the pathologist gave the verbal cause of death as exsanguination and laceration of major vessels of left arm consistent with stabbed injury.

The soldier was laid to rest on Thursday, March 9 at the New Military Cemetery in Burma Camp.

The police led by the Tema Regional Police Command on Sunday, March 12 visited the family of the deceased and briefed them on the investigations done so far.

We wish to commend all police officers at all levels of Command, especially the crack police intelligence and investigation teams as well as the Ashiaman District Police Command for their professionalism and meticulous dedication, working around the clock to unravel this case.

3news.com
Ghanaian human rights and good governance activist, Oliver Barker Vormawor has slammed the Ghana Armed Forces for justifying the pains they caused some residents of Ashaiman.

The Ghana Armed Forces claim it has received several commendations from residents of Ashaiman over it recent raid of the area.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting and National Public Relations and Communication Summit on Thursday, March 23, 2023, Brigadier General Aggrey Quarshie, the Public Relations Officer of GAF, said some community members, despite the recent brutal action of the military in the area are calling for more to help clamp down all criminal hideouts.

"It will surprise you to know that we have received several calls from people in Ashaiman commending us for the move, and they are calling for more," he revealed.

The comment, according to the #FixTheCountry convener, is disgraceful for the military to be justifying the harsh treatment of the residents.

He also wondered why the Institute of Public Affairs Relations will give it platform for such utterances.

"I am appalled that the Institute of Public Affairs gave a platform to the Armed Forces to come & gloat over their Ashaiman brutality.

"We are a strange people who claim to abhor coups yet celebrate the military for their violence and brutality. Provide them platforms to float," he wrote in a Facebook post.

He adds, "Completely disgraceful that the military will come out to say that they are being applauded for what happened in Ashiaman and that many people are even calling for more."

According to the legal practitioner, "we cannot as a society sit aloof when the threats to our way of life are so glaringly celebrated."
Former President, John Dramami Mahama is this weekend continuing his campaign to become the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general election.

The leading member of the NDC on Wednesday officially filed his nomination forms to contest the flagbearer elections of the largest opposition party.

Early in March, he launched his campaign for President at an event hosted at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, (UPSA).

Since then, he has toured various regions to campaign in his efforts to convince delegates to choose him as the next NDC flagbearer.

In a post on Facebook today, John Dramani Mahama has announced that he is starting a tour of the Western Region today.

The campaign tour of the region will continue through the weekend and will be climaxed on Sunday, March 26.

This week, John Dramani Mahama has launched a campaign fundraising platform to illustrate how politicians generally and political parties can broaden and make more transparent, their sources of financing.

At the event, he appealed to Ghanaians, both at home and abroad to support him with monetary contributions to help his bid to become President again.

He argues that he has the priceless experience and will build the Ghana everybody wants when given the chance to lead the country again.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Daimler Greater China Ltd. renamed as Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co. Ltd.

Daimler Greater China Ltd. has officially been renamed as Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co. Ltd. The company, with a registered capital of approximately $503 million, was established in January 2001.

Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz

smart to expand sales network to over 200 stores in China by 2023

smart disclosed that it has so far opened 154 offline stores in over 40 cities in China. In a bid to expand its service coverage in the country, smart plans to cumulatively establish more than 200 stores in over 60 first-tier, up-rising first-tier, and second-tier cities in China. The electric vehicle maker will inaugurate its smart brand global training center and aftersales service brand by the end of 2023.

Haima Automobile plans to invest 100 million yuan in auto startup IT BOX

On March 23, Haima Automobile announced its plan to invest 100 million yuan in the Beijing-based new energy ride-sharing vehicle startup, IT BOX, as it is upbeat about the prospect of smart mobility industry.

Huawei to unveil advanced intelligent driving versions of M5, M5 EV in April

Huawei announced at its Spring Flagship New Product Launch 2023 on March 23 that the advanced intelligent driving versions of the AITO M5 and M5 EV models will be released in April.

Autonomous driving tech firm UISEE closes C-round financing

Chinese autonomous driving solution provider UISEE announced the completion of its C-round financing, which raised for the company hundreds of millions of yuan.
Kwame Jantuah

24.03.2023 LISTEN

Private legal practitioner, Kwame Jantuah has expressed concern over President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos latest appointments for the Electoral Commission (EC).

The President early this week sworn into office Dr. Peter Appiahene, Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng, and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani.

The appointment of Dr. Peter Appiahene in particular has generated a lot of heat with many describing him as a TESCON Patron and a known member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

People who have opposed the appointment have argued that Dr. Peter Appiahene is politically exposed and should not be working at the EC especially with the 2024 general elections just around the corner.

Speaking to TV3 in an engagement on the conversation around the matter, Kwame Jantuah bemoaned the appointments, insisting that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is taking Ghana back to the olden days.

The President is taking us back to the days of my father, he should be taking us forward, Mr. Jantuah who is a member of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) said.

Meanwhile, the NPP has mounted a strong defense for Dr. Peter Appiahene. National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye in an interview has refuted the claims that the new EC appointee is a TESCON patron.

I have been National Youth Organiser for the New Patriotic Party for four years, I am now the National Organiser for the New Patriotic Party, the said nominee or the appointed person, Dr. Peter Appiahene, has never been a TESCON patron.

We have a list of TESCON patronsthe said person hes never been a TESCON patronwe have processes, he is never in our books as a TESCON patron. I mean, you can say that, yes, again my checks that Ive run, hes been invited by students, he has affiliation with some students who are TESCON, but it doesnt mean hes a TESCON patron, he told Joy News.
Mr. Francis Atayure Abirigo

24.03.2023 LISTEN

A Communications Specialist, Mr. Francis Atayure Abirigo on Wednesday 22nd March 2023 filed his nomination form to contest the Chiana-Paga Constituency Parliamentary Primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He gave assurance to the delegates and party executives that he intends to adopt an open-door leadership where he will take decisions with the constituents about every development project in a consultative manner.

Mr. Abirigo who was addressing the NDC members at the constituency party office in Paga after filing said his modus operandi was, first of all, to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable in society such as widows, physically challenged, the elderly, and orphans amongst others who he said deserve to be happy too.

"I am not coming to lord myself over you, as an orphan myself I know how difficult it is for a single mother to raise children and I want to assure those my mothers, wives, and sisters that if I am voted I shall ensure that their children are in school and their welfare will be seriously taken care of," he assured.

He further stated that the NDC party in Chiana-Paga is saddled with petty squabbles among members and he intends to resolve that feud for peaceful coexistence where respect for the elderly, the youth, and women will be the order of the day.

Francis Atayure Abirigo who is a former local GRASAG President at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), holds a master's degree in Development Communications, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, an LLB, and diplomas in journalism and marketing with extensive on-the-job local and international training.

He has practised Journalism, PR, and Corporate Communication since 2000 with several media houses, and the National Health Insurance Scheme. He is currently a Senior Communications Specialist at Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

The 49 years old Francis Atayure Abirigo is married with four children and is contesting the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon Thomas Dalu Addah a retired worker of WAEC and former District Chief Executive.
Tax expert, Abdallah Ali-Nakyea

24.03.2023 LISTEN

Tax expert, Abdallah Ali-Nakyea has rubbished the claims that Ghana is a poor country and is currently broke.

The countrys economy has been in crisis since last year, forcing the government to run to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support.

Speaking to Joy News in an interview, tax expert Ali-Nakyea stressed that he does not buy the idea that Ghana is broke.

According to him, if that assertion was anything to go by , government officials will not be living flashy lifestyles.

In his view, Abdallah Ali-Nakyea said Ghana is only suffering in its current crisis due to corruption and poor management by leaders.

My key issue is corruption. We cannot run away from it.

How can they [politicians] live that way if we dont have money? That is why I am saying that Ghana is not poorwe are only being poorly managed, tax expert Ali-Nakyea argued.

Government is keenly looking forward to securing a board-level agreement with the IMF for a $3 Billion credit facility by the close of this month.

Unfortunately, things are not looking good. Experts have argued that it is unlikely for the deal to be closed anytime soon and may drag to May.
A senior Nigerian politician, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife and doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta have all been found guilty in a plot to harvest the kidney of a young Nigerian man in London.

On Thursday, March 23, a Jury in London determined that the trio were guilty of conspiring to exploit the trader from Lagos for one of his organs for their daughter, Sonia, who has a renal condition.

The landmark trial which had been running for close to a year shocked the United Kingdom and set tongues wagging in Nigeria.

Prosecutors told the court that the former senate president, 60, and his wife Beatrice Ekwerenadu, 56, had convinced the trader to donate his organ to save their daughter and offered a sum of 3.5 million Naira (GHS 93,498.00, or $7,600) as payment.

According to court documents, the couple had lied about their relationship with the victim on immigration forms, calling him a cousin.

The couple who found the trader in Lagos brought him to London with the hopes of donating his kidney to the 25-year-old daughter of the Senator. However, the operation was unsuccessful as doctors in the UK suspected foul play and did not go ahead with it.

The victim who testified in the case against the politician claimed he had not known of the plot to harvest his kidney until he was taken to the hospital where he run away into the streets for three days before reporting to London Police.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Joanne Jakyme who spoke at the London Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, said the defendants had showed utter disregard for the victims welfare

The convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victims welfare, health, and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having a limited understanding of what was really going on here, she pointed out.

An emotional court day saw the sick daughter in tears whiles hugging her parents as they were taken into custody ahead of their sentencing on May 5, 2023.

The opposition lawmaker had represented the Enugu West constituency in southeastern Nigeria for twenty years and did not seek re-election in the recent general elections .
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta

24.03.2023 LISTEN

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has provided an update on his visit to China.

In a post on the social media page of the Finance Ministry, it said the Minister has so far had very positive and encouraging meetings in the Asian country on Ghanas debt restructuring in a bid to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to Ken Ofori-Atta, external assurances will be secured soon after making significant progress as far as the talks in China are concerned.

So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts, a post on the Finance Ministrys Twitter page said on Friday, March 23.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been out of the country this whole week. While in China, he has held bilateral talks with officials of the Asian country to seek financial assurances for Ghanas programme with the International Monetary Fund.

It is all part of efforts by the government to secure a board-level agreement with the IMF for the $3 billion credit facility.
On 1st January 1984, nearly 40 years ago, I joined the workforce of the Petroleum Department of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, based in the Republic House building, opposite COCBOD on the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.

The total workforce was no more than 30, and our boss the Chief of Petroleum was called Mr. THOMAS TROTGRAD FABYAN, a half caste Ghanaian very FIRM extremely hardworking, full of humor and a tough disciplinarian.

In those days, Mr. Appiah Korang was the PNDC secretary for Fuel and Power and we had a small Technical Committee at the Ministry with me as the secretary.

After doing all the ground work the foundations were laid and on 12 February 1985 the Petroleum Department was converted to Ghana National Petroleum Corporation with our offices at the Black Star Line premises in Osu later moved to Tema.

After working in Petroleum for 10 solid years as legal officer I resigned on 1st June 1994 and started my own private law firm, Nkrabeah and Associates, till date.

On Wednesday 15th March 2023, called by the ancient world as The Ides of March The fateful day on which historians agree the greatest man who has ever lived JULIUS CAESAR was assassinated in the Roman Senate by 16 conspirators led by his own son MARCUS BRUTUS  on that day I bought newspapers and saw a full page OBITUARY notice of the upcoming funeral of T. T. Fabyan who fell in 2022 at the ripe old age of 80 years.

This is one funeral I must attend at all costs; I said to myself.

Come Saturday 18th March 2023, I left my Kasoa abode at exactly 0600 hours, objective  Elmina for the funeral of T. T. Fabyan.

Reader, believe it or not, one day in 1989, I drove from Cape Coast High Court to Accra High Court in exactly 55 minutes  oh yes, I did it, but not today. Even at that early hour, from Kasoa to Winneba alone took one solid hour and I finally entered Cape Coast circa 0900 hours.

I drove on by the seashore and entered ELIMINA called EDINA by the local people, the first location that the white man landed on our shores in 1472  Don DIEKO D'AZAMBUNB  a Portuguesa.

Where is the funeral taking place? I drove on to the Catholic Church but there was nobody there  oh, no, sir, a passer by pointed out  go to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on the other side of the Cape Coast  Takoradi Highway.

I finally located the place, a very impressive compound, in time to see the procession of the choir for the commencement of the burial mass. It was a typical Catholic liturgy, with AGNUS DEI and KYRES SANCTUS, PATER NOSTER and so on.

Even though tributes were read before the service started, formally, the biography and tribute by the widow were read at the very tail end of the service.

Reader don't forget that I was privileged to have worked before as an Honourable Members of Parliament for Berekum for 8 years and Deputy Minister for 6 years under President Kufour, so, my presence was acknowledged by the MC and I was given an opportunity to sing my personal anthem M'atwen Awuarade Anim to the glory of my Maker, Almighty God.

To my shock, when I mounted the lectern to sing. I suddenly found myself surrounded by old comrades, all retired GNPC Senior officers, including Mr. SAM who took over from me as President of the GNPC Senior Staff Association, a post I held for seven years. I had not seen any of them for more than 10 years, and I did not know whether to laugh in excitement at the sudden reunion or to seriously concentrate on the business at hand  sing, Captain.

Around 11 o'clock everything was over and pallbearers carried the cadaver into a waiting Transitions motorcade or hearse out for interment.

Reader, one Sunday I went to a Presbyterian Church in the countryside, at about 10 o'clock. There was NOT even ONE car parked outside the chapel but it was full  no sitting space.

By contrast I came out of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Elimina to see the car park VERY FULL, as if everybody who came to the burial mass came with a private car  you name it  , BMW, 44 land cruiser, saloon cars.reader, call it a RICH MAN'S FUNERAL and you will not be far from right.

Elmina  the Omanhene, Nana Couduah IV was my client in the early 90s  let me go to the Palace to greet him. Reader he hosted me handsomely with 'fufu' at the Elmina Beach Resort. When I sat in my car I rolled the seat backwards to find two hours later that I was back home in Kasoa.

Farewell, T T Fabyan.

By Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey
Concerns

The proliferation of AI technologies in Africa is not without its challenges, as foreign companies and governments have been known to introduce technologies that have questionable benefits for local communities. China has been at the forefront of exporting AI-driven technologies to Africa, with its Belt and Road Initiative and Digital Silk Road Initiative paving the way for introducing smart city infrastructure, 5G networks, surveillance cameras, cloud computing, and e-commerce in many African cities.

The impact of AI technologies developed elsewhere without meaningful testing, impact assessment, or local skills development can be detrimental to fundamental human rights and political stability. A few multinational monopolies, which can undermine local businesses and domestic growth potential, typically develop, and offer AI technologies. Huawei and AWS are among the companies that dominate the market, with the latter offering cloud services that are essential for AI systems and the storage of large datasets. However, establishing highly technical cloud services and the massive data centres needed to house and power these data-driven services requires substantial resources that are often only accessible to Big Tech.

In South Africa, AWS is currently constructing a new data storage centre in Cape Town as part of its regional headquarters strategy. Unfortunately, the 150,000m2 development is on contested indigenous land of South Africa's first peoples, the Khoi and San, who were dispossessed of the area by Dutch colonizers in the 17th century. Despite campaigns against the development and an ongoing court case, the promise of generating 8,000 direct and 13,000 indirect jobs is a compelling counterargument in a country where the official unemployment rate is 46.6%, according to the expanded definition of unemployment following the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world becomes increasingly digitized and data-driven, artificial intelligence is transforming the global job market. This shift is notable in Africa, where historically, multinational corporations have sought cheaper labour. Today, the rise of AI has created a new form of insecure and precarious employment, which is often extracted from impoverished communities. This type of work is referred to as micro digital labour or "click work'.

Click work typically involves labelling vast amounts of data and requires workers to have access to a computer. Workers often must bid for such work and are paid a fraction of a penny per unit of work. Many click work assignments involve emotionally distressing content, such as labelling violent and disturbing images or videos. Recently, there have been investigations into the use of refugee camps as a source of cheap digital labour. For example, in Dadaab, one of the world's largest refugee camps in Kenya, hundreds of computers and yards of wires have been set up to facilitate click work for camp residents.

It is important to recognize that the demand for click work is driven by the global AI economy, which requires vast amounts of labelled data to improve machine learning algorithms. Unfortunately, this demand has led to a situation where vulnerable populations are exploited for cheap labour, without proper protections or benefits. There is a pressing need to address the ethical and social implications of the AI-driven labour market, particularly in regions where poverty and inequality are widespread.

Digital ID systems, which often incorporate biometric technologies like facial recognition, fingerprints, and iris scans, are becoming increasingly popular in Africa. Governments and businesses are adopting these technologies to centralize and streamline government services to prevent fraudulent claims, as well as to protect consumers from identity theft. However, there are concerns regarding the collection and protection of personal data, and the potential for misuse and abuse of this data.

MTC, Namibia's leading internet services and telecommunications company, is implementing an AI-driven digital ID verification system to improve customer access to its services. This system will collect and store vast amounts of personal data, including facial images and fingerprints, which may be linked to other sensitive data like geolocation. But there is little information available about how this data will be protected or who may have access to it.

In South Africa, an AI-driven digital ID system was used to provide access to social grants for grant recipients. This system was problematic, as the company responsible for distributing the grants, Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), had access to the personal data of all 18 million beneficiaries. CPS used this data to offer predatory financial services to these vulnerable individuals, resulting in many of them receiving little to no grant payment each month. This case highlights the unethical sharing of personal data and the lack of awareness of digital and information rights in South African communities.

Facial recognition technologies, another form of biometric AI, are also being used within digital ID and biometric systems in Africa. Despite this, these technologies are controversial due to inaccuracies, particularly for women, gender minorities, and non-white populations. Facial recognition systems developed elsewhere may also misread African faces and limit human rights, such as freedom of movement, association, and the right to equality and fair treatment. For example, in South Africa, Vumacam has established a network of surveillance cameras using a Danish-built facial recognition system to profile suspicious behaviour. These technologies may be at odds with the country's democratic vision of an equal society. In Uganda, for instance, Huawei's AI-powered facial recognition system was used in the 2020 elections to identify, track, and arrest supporters of the opposition wing, which raises concerns about privacy and fundamental human rights violations.

The above analysis suggests several key policy areas for African policymakers and technologists to focus on. To kick start, it is essential to prioritize the development of safe and inclusive infrastructure to support the local development of technology. This includes policies to improve internet access and prevent internet shutdowns, as well as policies to support good governance and availability of data for development. African Union Data Policy Framework and Africa-EU Global Gateway should promote uniformity in data governance standards across the continent and establish equal access to basic and advanced digital infrastructure.

Besides that, policymakers should consider the benefits of regional cooperation for developing common regulatory responses to multinational and foreign tech companies operating in the region. Cooperation between countries could also extend to developing taxation provisions for multinational social media platforms and data-sharing agreements to provide access to a broader range of public sector data. The African Continental Free Trade Area Protocol on E-Commerce may present an important opportunity for integrating a provision to support inter-regional data sharing, supporting regional development goals, and economic growth.

To conclude, policymakers should prioritize the development of local capacity and skills in technology-related fields, such as AI and data science. We need capacity development policies to promote understanding of AI at all levels, with specific measures to advance women in STEM and AI-related decision-making positions. Policies may also include measures to attract diverse AI talent by lifting entry barriers between countries for Africans with data science and computing skills. By focusing on these key policy areas, African governments can ensure that AI adoption is inclusive and does not perpetuate social inequality while promoting sustainable development and growth across the continent.

Author: Osei Manu Kagyah

The writer is a member of the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH) and works at the nexus of technology and society as a Technology Policy Advocate / Analyst. For comments, contact [email protected]
A visit to France by King Charles III, due to start on Sunday, has been postponed at the request of President Emmanuel Macron because of ongoing protests over pension reform. There has been widespread violence and unions have called a national day of protest on Tuesday.

The French presidency said the postponement was decided after a call between Macron and the king on Friday morning.

"Given the announcement yesterday of another national day of protests against pension reform on Tuesday March 28, the visit of Charles III, initially scheduled from 26-28 March, has been postponed," a presidency statement said.

The decision was "in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King III in conditions which reflect our friendly relations.

"This state visit will be reorganised as soon as possible," the presidency added.

First tour as sovereign

Charles had been due to arrive with Queen Consort Camilla on Sunday evening before spending a day in Paris on Monday and travelling to Bordeaux in the southwest on Tuesday.

The trip was due to be his first foreign tour as sovereign since ascending to the throne last September.

Royal officials said Charles and Queen Consort Camilla "greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found", according to a statement from London.

A total of 457 people were arrested and 441 security forces injured on Thursday during nationwide protests against the pensions reform in a major escalation of the unrest.
The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) has called for special prayers from Muslims across the country during this period of Ramadan for the leadership of Ghana and Parliament. .

The Coalition wants Muslims to remember the countrys legislators in their prayers for the successful passage of the recently adopted Supreme Ummah Constitution for Muslim leadership in Ghana by Muslim Chiefs, Imams and MSOIs.

The Coalition believes this would contribute to unity, peaceful coexistence and socio-economic empowerment of the Muslim Ummah in Ghana.

The bill is scheduled to be tabled for a second reading and debate in Parliament.

In a statement issued on Thursday, 23 March 2023, to wish all Muslims a happy Ramadan period, COMOG noted: The successful passage of this bill will bring about security and promotion of moral and cultural values in Ghana.

It further noted that: The Gayism and Lesbianism which is foreign to our culture must, therefore, not be encouraged, hence, the anticipation that the bill is going to be passed in this Ramadan.

It called on Muslims all over the country, to pray to Allah for wisdom for the legislators to enable them be wise in their decision-making when the bill is laid before them.

Muslims all over the country must pray, for Allah to grant our MPs wisdom for the love ofAllah and this country, so as to take that decision in the interest of Ghana and a better future for our children, the statement added.

Source: classfmonline.com
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has disclosed that online scams constitute the highest number of scams in the country.

According to her, common among them are recruitment scams, investment scams, shopping scams, credit card frauds, and mobile money scams among others.

The Executive Director made this disclosure at the research and innovation week celebration of the Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID) of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) in the Ashanti Region.

The celebration was on the theme: "Building a sustainable cyber crime-free society for economic development".

Maame Tiwaa said digital extortion known as online blackmail or sextortion is also identified as the most prominent cyber threat.

Business e-mail compromise, she said, has also become a significant concern and threat with huge sums of money lost, affecting the financial standing of the entities.

She explained that Ghana's internet penetration is 69. 2 per cent adding that some 6.6 million Ghanaians representing 19.5 per cent are active on social media.

She noted the move towards a digital society has created new accounts for criminals.

In suggesting ways to deal with cybercrime, COP Maame Tiwaa urged the public to be vigilant and not be susceptible to things seen on the internet.

For his part, the Head of the Kumasi Technical University's Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID), Dr Smart Sarpong explained the programme is aimed at sensitizing the public not to be quick to communicate with people they are not sure of on the internet

Source: Classfmonline.com
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The China-made Honda HR-V came off the production line on Mar. 24 at a factory of Dongfeng Honda, according to a post on the Sino-Japanese joint ventures WeChat account.

As the sister model of GAC Hondas ZR-V, Dongfeng Hondas HR-V will take on the likes of the Toyota Frontlander and the Nissan Qashqai.

Photo credit: Dongfeng Honda

The HR-V still retains Honda's family-style design, with a trapezoidal front grille that is slightly different from the GAC Hondas ZR-V. There are also nuances in the internal details of the grille at different trims.

The new models front end features a dynamic three-stage air intake at the bottom and a chrome strip on the top of the grille flanked by the light clusters on both sides, which accentuates the vehicles width.

The light strip that runs across the rear end forms a trendy light design as well.

The made-in-China Honda HR-V measures 4,569mm long, 1,840mm wide, and 1,621mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,655mm.

The automaker revealed that the Honda HR-V SUV model will feature multiple active safety functions thanks to the Honda SENSING system. It will come with two powertrain solutions, one of which carries a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out up to 134kW, paired with a CVT, and the other one adopts a hybrid electric system that includes a 2.0-liter engine good for 105kW.
A rainstorm has ripped-up most parts of the Aburi Amanfo M/A Junior High School (JHS) building making the classrooms and Headteacher's office to accumulate volumes of water.

Most documents, textbooks and exercise books in the office were saved due to the presence of some teachers in the office during the rainfall.

Mr. Seth Akwagyiram, the Headteacher of Aburi Amanfo M/A JHS told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that it was an unfortunate incident which occurred when the school was preparing to vacate.

He, however, noted that the incident was expected as the weak roofs of the school building could not withstand the magnitude of the storm.

Mr. Akwagyiram noted that the school building after its construction had not seen any major renovations apart from painting which had been done twice.

The only thing we can boast of as a school is that the school has been painted before. Apart from that, nothing has been done to maintain the school building despite the continuous call for help, he said.

As a result of the current situation of the building, Mr. Akwagyiram called on all stakeholders to help repair the damage caused before school resumed so that students would have a safe place to learn.

Ms Gould Benney, a Fellow of the Lead For Ghana and a teacher at Aburi Amanfo M/A JHS who witnessed the incident said, the roof came off effortlessly as if the building was not constructed properly.

The whole community has to sit up and do something about the school because it's the only Junior High School serving about 12 communities.

Meanwhile, some residents of the Yaw Duodu, where the school is situated, Oboadaka, Adukro and other communities have also had their fair share of the rainstorm as it ripped up some buildings, uprooted market sheds and also destroyed some aluminum sheet kitchens.

The residents called on the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), assembly and other stakeholders to come to their aid as their property had been left at the mercy of the rain.

The rain which started at about 1420hrs in some communities connected to Yaw Duodu in the Akuapim South Municipality lasted for more than three hours.

Victims of the rain impatiently waited for the rain to cease so that they could find suitable solutions to their problem at hand.

GNA
NEW YORK, 22 March 2023  On the sidelines of the UN Water Conference, African Heads of State committed to five new Presidential Compacts which will accelerate access to water and sanitation services, including increasing budget allocations, reducing open defecation and delivering climate-resilient services.

The announcement took place at a meeting hosted by The Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is also a co-host of the UN Water Conference. Other conveners of the meeting were UNICEF, the UN-hosted Sanitation and Water for All global partnership (SWA), and think-tank IRC WASH.

In the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, during the opening of the event, Liesje Schreinemacher Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation expressed that she is committed following the lead of national governments, and through our partners UNICEF, SWA and IRC WASH, we support resilient national water, sanitation and hygiene systems capable of delivering safe and sustainable services to all.

Key commitments made during the high-level meeting include:

Ethiopia: A Presidential Compact that will revise the loan policy and directives to accommodate loan access for water and sanitation for businesses and consumers. It will also strengthen accountability among water and sanitation stakeholders (policymakers, service providers and the community) and development partners through establishing a strong accountability framework which aligns with the ONEWASH National Programme.

A Presidential Compact that will revise the loan policy and directives to accommodate loan access for water and sanitation for businesses and consumers. It will also strengthen accountability among water and sanitation stakeholders (policymakers, service providers and the community) and development partners through establishing a strong accountability framework which aligns with the ONEWASH National Programme. Ghana: A Presidential Compact to establish a National Sanitation Authority, reduce inequalities in water and sanitation services, particularly in poor and rural communities, and make Ghanas cities some of the cleanest in Africa.

A Presidential Compact to establish a National Sanitation Authority, reduce inequalities in water and sanitation services, particularly in poor and rural communities, and make Ghanas cities some of the cleanest in Africa. Liberia : A Presidential Compact to increase access to basic sanitation by ending open defecation, as well as to create a unifying monitoring mechanism at all governance levels (national, county, district, and community) to improve institutional coordination.

: A Presidential Compact to increase access to basic sanitation by ending open defecation, as well as to create a unifying monitoring mechanism at all governance levels (national, county, district, and community) to improve institutional coordination. Uganda: A Presidential Compact to increase public financing for water, sanitation and hygiene.

A Presidential Compact to increase public financing for water, sanitation and hygiene. Zimbabwe: A Presidential Compact to create a State of Emergency on Water and Sanitation which will trigger budget and coordination prioritization.

These commitments were announced by President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President George Manneh Weah of Liberia, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.

They will be supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, UNICEF, SWA and IRC WASH.

Catarina de Albuquerque, CEO of SWA said: Were so pleased and encouraged to see these government leaders stepping up, committing, prioritizing water and sanitation at the highest levels and taking action and accountability for the human rights to water and sanitation. The only way to make sustainable change is through the political prioritization at the highest level that we see here today. SWA commits to mobilize our more than 350 partners to support and learn from these Presidential Compacts. Our vision is that these announcements will inspire other countries around the world.

Patrick Moriarty, CEO of IRC WASH said: As an organization, we have long championed the transformation of national systems to deliver the human right to safe water and sanitation for everyone, everywhere, and forever. Yet we also know that a truly transformative agenda for national systems strengthening can only follow visionary national leadership  from the highest political level. What we have seen today in this room is an inspiring example of such visionary political leadership and we commit to follow and support it in whatever ways we can.

ABOUT THE UN 2023 WATER CONFERENCE

In March 2023, the world will come together in New York during the UN 2023 Water Conference. The Conference is convened by the UN General Assembly. The Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Tajikistan, co-hosts of the Conference, are committed to making the Conference a watershed moment that will bring stakeholders from all sectors together and will create a global momentum for accelerated implementation and improved impact to advance the broad challenges surrounding water. The Conferences Water Action Agenda encourages Member States and other stakeholders across all sectors, industries, and interests to make voluntary commitments to address global water challenges. For more information visit: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023



ABOUT IRC

IRC is an international think tank actively building strong water, sanitation and hygiene systems  from the bottom up and the top down. IRC exists to support countries to build strong local and national services, underpinned by resilient systems, that transform lives and build equity, justice and opportunity for all. https://www.ircwash.org/home

ABOUT SANITATION AND WATER FOR ALL (SWA)

SWA is a United Nations-hosted partnership working towards a joint objective of water, sanitation, and hygiene for all. Its partners include governments, utilities, regulators, donors, financial institutions, UN agencies, civil society and research organizations and the private sector. For more information, visit www.sanitationandwaterforall.org.

ABOUT UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: www.unicef.org.

Ing. Habtamu Itefa, Minister Of Water And Energy, Liberia | Photo credits: Tanya Bindra/SWA



Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister Of Water And Sanitation, Ghana | Photo credits: Tanya Bindra/SWA

King Of Netherlands And Catarina De Albuquerque Swa | Photo credits: Tanya Bindra/SWA

King Of Netherlands And Catarina De Albuquerque, Ceo Swa | Photo credits: Tanya Bindra/SWA

King Of Netherlands And Catarina De Albuquerque, Ceo Swa | Photo credits: Tanya Bindra/SWA

Minister Anxious Masuka, Zimbabwe | Photo credits: Tanya Bindra/SWA
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day takes place on 24 March every year. But the truth is, we should be thinking about TB every day  especially in Africa. The World TB Day theme for 2023 is Yes! We can end TB!  and this is quite a poignant statement  because, as simple as the slogan may sound at first glance, TB is preventable and curable. Still, 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis annually. It remains the worlds most infectious killer and is also the leading cause of death for those infected with HIV.1

The reality in Africa

TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. 25% of all TB cases are in Africa, and so are 25% of all deaths. Africas HIV burden causes further complications, as those infected with HIV are 18 times more likely to develop TB. The conditions form a lethal paradox, both accelerating the development of the other. 85% of TB patients in Africa are also HIV positive. 2

Despite the stark reality, however, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Funding for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services continues to fall far short of estimated global needs and the United Nations global target. In 2020, global spending on TB services fell to US$5.3 billion, and funding for research was US$901 million. 3

Although the ambition to end TB is present in Africas most affected countries, the mobilisation of funds has not kept up. In Africa, only 22% of the resources needed to provide adequate TB services are provided by governments and 44% remain unfunded. This drastically limits efforts to reduce the TB burden.3

Changing the narrative

The WHO End TB Strategy, adopted in 2014, focuses on achieving universal access to patient-centred prevention and care, multisectoral action and innovation to eliminate the catastrophic cost for TB-affected households by 2030. To quote the WHO, Ending TB is not just a public health problem, but a development challenge and opportunity.4

Opportunity is the word that may come as a surprise to many who read the statement. But the words optimism is fitting in the context of the 2023 World TB Day theme  Yes! We can end TB. There is opportunity for private sector companies to extend their business into emerging markets by participating in the fight to end TB, and there is also an opportunity for governments to nurture healthier, more economically active populations. The collective we is relevant here, however, in that no organisation can stop TB on its own.

Without diagnostics, there can be no treatment. High-quality diagnostics are the cornerstone of any clinicians arsenal against disease. But presently, primary care medical facilities in many developing nations have significant gaps in access to critical diagnostic tools.5

The WHO End TB Strategy prominently highlights the need to engage partners within the health sector and beyond. This includes public and private sector partners that can bring together innovation, funding and understanding to increase access where it is needed most.4

Public-private partnerships historically have highlighted the message of hope encompassed in Yes! We can end TB. Partnerships between governments, development and technical agencies, implementing organisations, civil society, and the private sector are needed to bridge the gap in care. And as we once again commemorate World TB Day, its fitting that we touch on at least one case study that proves partnership CAN significantly impact fighting disease and increasing access to healthcare.

In 2014, Roche, in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), USAID, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, launched the Global Access Programme  an initiative to expand access to HIV viral load tests and effectively monitor anti-retroviral treatment in low and middle-income countries. The programme has since extended its reach to guarantee reliable testing solutions for infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV).

As part of the Global Access Programme, through continued partnership, over eight million African patients are tested annually to manage their HIV infections. Over the past seven years, more than 11 million babies have been tested for HIV, and over 8,300 laboratory technicians have been trained. Additionally, 33 African countries have installed Roche molecular diagnostics systems. 6,7

Roche has a demonstrated history of public-private partnerships. Most recently, Roche and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) expanded their collaboration to strengthen laboratory systems in countries that have been affected the most by HIV and TB. This is yet another hopeful and proactive partnership that seeks to take action against the TB problem in Africa.

Through the partnership, Roche and the Africa CDC will optimise laboratory workflows and integrated diagnostics networks to increase access to vital multi-pathogen testing capabilities, and to enhance pandemic preparedness. The partners will also increase laboratory human-resource capacity building through expanded training interventions and support laboratory quality management systems and improvement programmes.

Yes, we can

The nature of partnership in the African healthcare landscape is a moving target. New opportunities for collaboration are constantly evolving, growing in scope as technology makes the world more geographically agnostic.

More than ever before, Yes! We can end TB. We have the unique opportunity now to draw insight and learn lessons from the accomplishments of partnerships that came before. To reach more patients, we must collaborate with numerous stakeholders to create better access to diagnostics and treatment.

By joining forces, combining private innovation with public reach and insight, we can work together to resolve the TB crisis in Africa. Indeed, we do have the capacity to end TB. Lets do it together.

References


The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has indicated that violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations in the world today, yet it remains unreported due to stigma.

The Minister said this at the Ministrys first Domestic Violence Management Board meeting for the year.

The meeting was held to identify and discuss current issues of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ghana and issues on the Domestic Violence Victim Support Fund.

She urged members to work efficiently to end domestic violence in Ghana by 2030.

The Domestic Violence Management Board was established under the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732) sections 36-37. Section 38 of the Domestic Violence Act specifies that meetings of the Management Board must be held at least once every three months.
The Nigeria High Commission in Ghana has met with the organizers of the Africa Monologue Challenge to discuss the possibility of sponsoring the trip of the Nigeria finalist to Accra. The meeting was held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Nigeria High Commission in Accra, Ghana. In attendance were Mrs. Cecelia Francis Eteng; Ministers Counselor and Mrs. Okoro Wanyiko; First Secretary, who represented the High Commissioner. Organizers of the Africa Monologue Challenge were represented by Mr. Mawuko Kuadzi; CEO of MK Casting and Mr. Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin; Executive Director of the African Chamber of Content Producers.

During the meeting, the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana expressed its commitment to supporting Nigerian talent and creativity. Mrs. Cecelia Francis Eteng, Ministers Counselor, reiterated Nigeria's strong cultural ties with Ghana and the importance of promoting African culture on the world stage. She congratulated the organizers for initiating such an event that seek to unite the continent of Africa through culture.

Mrs. Okoro Wanyiko, first secretary of the Nigeria High Commission expressed her excitement for Rose Okeke for making it to the final ten of the competition and pledged the High Commissions support to reach out to the necessary government agencies in Nigeria to provide any available support for her.

 We are determined to see Rose win this competition, therefore we will provide all possible support she may need to ensure she gives her maximum performance during the final event she stated.

The Africa Monologue Challenge is a prestigious competition that seeks to promote the talent and creativity of African actors and actresses. The competition is open to all Africans around the world, and finalists are selected through a rigorous selection process.

The organizers of the Africa Monologue Challenge expressed their gratitude to the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana for its support of the competition. They noted that the Nigeria finalist, just like the other nine finalists is a talented actress who has a great chance of winning the competition.

The Nigeria High Commission in Ghana further promised to solicit community support for their finalist in the Africa Monologue Challenge. They also pledged to provide financial and logistical support for the finalist's trip to Accra.

The organizers of the event expressed their appreciation for the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana's support and promised to work closely with the Commission to promote African culture and talent.

The Africa Monologue Challenge finals is scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, on 27th May 2023 at the UPSA Auditorium. The competition is expected to attract a large audience from across the African continent and beyond.

The Nigeria High Commission in Ghana has called on Nigerians living in Ghana to support the Nigeria finalist in the Africa Monologue Challenge. The High Commission has also encouraged other African countries to support their respective finalists and promote African culture on the world stage.

The meeting between the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana and the organizers of the Africa Monologue Challenge is a positive step towards promoting African talent and culture. It demonstrates the commitment of African countries to supporting their own and working together towards a common goal.

According to the organizers, the winner of the competition will be inaugurated as a Pan-African Trade ambassador, as he/she would be able to promote the AfCFTA in a more creative and exciting way. The winner will also be involved in campaigns to promote inter-regional trade and collaboration, as well as use their influence to inspire more people to engage in regional trade. The winning country also gets to host the next edition of the Africa Monologue Challenge.
24.03.2023 LISTEN

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reiterated its readiness to grant Ghana the support programme the country is looking to secure.

According to the Fund, the deal will have board-level approval once Ghana secures the necessary financing assurances from partners and creditors.

Responding to a question at a news conference in Washington DC, U.S.A on the status of Ghanas programme, the Director of Communications at the IMF, Julie Kozack appealed to bilateral creditors to support Ghanas effort to restore debt sustainability

Financing assurances from partners and creditors are necessary for presenting the programme request to the IMFs Executive Board for approval.

Were calling on bilateral creditors to support Ghanas effort to restore debt sustainability, form an official creditor committee, and deliver the necessary financing assurances as soon as possible, Julie Kozack shared.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been out of the country this whole week. While in China, he has held bilateral talks with officials of the Asian country to seek financial assurances for Ghanas programme with the International Monetary Fund.

It is all part of efforts by the government to secure a board-level agreement with the IMF for the $3 billion credit facility.

In a post on the social media page of the Finance Ministry, it said the Minister has so far had very positive and encouraging meetings in the Asian country on Ghanas debt restructuring in a bid to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund.

So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts, a post on the Finance Ministrys Twitter page said on Friday, March 23.
Ailing "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina was set to be released after the government said on Friday it has commuted a 25-year jail sentence against the fiercely outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Kagame said Kigali was looking into resolving Rusesabagina's case, which has been a cause of concern for the West and global rights groups.

"Paul Rusesabagina and (co-defendant) Callixte Nsabimana have had their prison sentences commuted by presidential order, after consideration of their requests for clemency," government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told AFP.

The sentences of another 18 people convicted of terrorism offences alongside Rusesabagina in September 2021 have also been commuted, she said, highlighting the role of the United States and Qatar in resolving the case.

But Makolo added: "No one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted."

A government source told AFP on condition of anonymity that Rusesabagina and the other prisoners were expected to be released on Saturday.

Rusesabagina, now 68, was jailed after a trial his supporters denounced as a sham that was plagued with irregularities. He has now been detained for 939 days, according to the Free Rusesabagina website.

His family, which has long warned about Rusesabagina's deteriorating health and voiced fears he could die in prison, told AFP it was looking forward to reuniting with him.

"We are pleased to hear the news about Paul's release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon," the family said in a statement.

Rusesabagina, then the manager of a Kigali hotel, is credited with helping to save about 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide in which about 800,000 people were slaughtered, mainly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus.

Rusesabagina, whose story inspired the Oscar-nominated 2004 movie "Hotel Rwanda" starring US actor Don Cheadle, became a vocal critic of Kagame, founding his own party.

His tirades against Kagame led him to be treated as an enemy of the state.

Rights groups accuse Rwanda -- ruled with an iron fist by Kagame since the end of the genocide -- of cracking down on free speech and opposition.

'Wrongfully detained'

Speaking via videolink at the Global Security Forum in Qatar's capital Doha on March 13, Kagame had signalled a possible softening in Rwanda's approach to Rusesabagina's case.

The government of President Paul Kagame is accused of cracking down on the opposition and the media. By AHMAD GHARABLI (AFP/File)

"There is discussion, there is looking at all possible ways of resolving the issue without compromising the fundamental aspects of that case. I think there is going to be a way forward," he said at the time.

Makolo said on Friday that Rwanda "notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the State of Qatar".

Last year, the United States said Rusesabagina -- who holds Belgian citizenship and a US Green Card -- was "wrongfully detained" after a plane carrying him to Burundi was diverted to Rwanda in August 2020.

Also in 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion concluding that Rusesabagina had been "abducted" and that his detention was "arbitrary".

Rusesabagina's family said he was tricked into travelling from his US home with the promise of work in Burundi and that he was tortured while in detention.

Torture allegations

"His release would conclude a case that has highlighted Rwanda's blatant disregard for international norms when it seeks to target people deemed an enemy of the state -- even those far beyond their border", Lewis Mudge, central Africa director at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and rights groups earlier raised the case with Rwanda, although Kagame said last year that Washington could not "bully" him into ordering a release.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the National Liberation Front (FLN), a rebel group which is blamed for attacks inside Rwanda in 2018 and 2019 that killed nine people.

He denied any involvement in the attacks, but was a founder of the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), an opposition group of which the FLN is seen as the armed wing.

Rusesabagina's family last year filed a $400 million lawsuit in the United States against Kagame, the Rwandan government and other figures for allegedly abducting and torturing him.

In 2005, Rusesabagina received the highest US civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
A Security Analyst has expressed concerns about the unrepentant attitude of the military hierarchy in the use of brute force on innocent civilians over the killing of an officer in Ashaiman.

According to the analyst, what the military did in Ashaiman was socially and legally wrong.

He said there was no justification for that moot action in the popular Greater Accra township.

He challenged the Director-General of the Ghana Armed Forces to provide evidence of the calls of praise the military received after the use of brute force in Ashaiman leading to some innocent people being maimed.

He said the military has no mandate to embark on an exercise to torture innocent people of the urban slum.

Mr Addib Saani made these demands while reacting to claims by Brigadier Eric Aggrey Quarshie, the Director-General of the Public Relations Directorate of the Ghana Armed Forces, that many Ghanaians are calling to thank the military for their action in Ashaiman.

The Director-General of the Public Relations Directorate of GAF speaking at the National Public Relations and Communication Summit organised by the Institute of Public Relations in the Eastern Region said what happened in Ashaiman where the residents were asked to lie down was a filtering process and further justified their actions.

Speaking on the mid-day news on Accra 100.5 FM on Friday, March 24, 2023, Mr Adiib Saani quizzed: Is it a claim by the military that all the people in Ashaiman are criminals?

He said this is not so because of all the 150 persons arrested in the military swoop, none had been linked to the murder of the slain officer.

He was of the view that what the military hierarchy did at Ashaiman was unintelligent and unscientific.

He said the militarys justification for their action in Ashaiman is moot.

He called on the military hierarchy to render an unqualified apology for their actions in Ashaiman.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Hungary is in talks with France about the possibility of enlarging the French role in refurbishing its nuclear programme. This could eventually lead to the replacement of Russia at Hungary's only atomic power plant, marking a shift in Prime Minister Viktor Orban's pro-Moscow stance.

Despite pressure from other EU states anxious to target Russia's nuclear exports with sanctions because of the war in Ukraine, Orban has maintained his cooperation with Russia.

According to a report in The Financial Times, the 12bn expansion of Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant, led by Moscow's state-owned Rosatom and financed mostly from a Russian state loan, is a flagship project in Hungary's economic cooperation with Russia.

This month the Hungarian news agency MTI reported that Hungary would increase French involvement in the Paks NPP expansion project.

It quoted Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto as saying "the Paks expansion cannot be successful without French cooperation, since the control technology system, which is considered the 'soul of the power plant', was developed by the Franco-German consortium".

The expansion plans for the Paks plant date back to 2014 when Orban signed a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, the ongoing war in Ukraine, which Orban had expected to be over quickly, has raised questions over the Paks timeline and the feasibility of long-term cooperation with Moscow. This has forced Hungary to look for potential alternatives.

Increased pressure

While Hungary and France have blocked efforts by other EU member states to directly sanction Rosatom, there is increasing pressure on the bloc to find ways of restricting the Russian company's future business.

The longer the war in Ukraine drags on and the sanctions regime lasts, the more likely it becomes that Russian participation in the project may have to be phased out altogether. Whether that means replacing Rosatom with another main partner or building an entirely new power plant is not clear.

Hungary is under a time constraint as it has banked on nuclear energy to complete its green transition, alongside renewable and other sources.

Paks is Hungary's only operating nuclear power plant, whose four Soviet-era reactors have been upgraded and equipped with western control systems, extending their lifespan into the 2030s.

Budapest wants to rely on nuclear power for most of the rest of the century, according to the government's energy strategy.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Orban discussed the Paks project and cooperation on nuclear at a meeting in Paris last week. Hungary is not yet ready to abandon the project altogether or replace the main Russian reactor design.

The country is intent on saving as much as possible from the originally approved plans to avoid having to re-approve them with local regulators, as well as those of the EU and the International Atomic Energy Agency, a process that could take years.

The loss of the Paks project would be a serious blow to Rosatom, which has lost its foothold in all other EU countries in recent years, leaving Hungary as the only EU country where Rosatom is still doing business.

It would also mean a shift from Orban's pro-Russia stance. Just days ago he declared that Vladimir Putin "would not be arrested" in case of a visit to Hungary, in spite of an arrest warrant recently issued against the Russian President by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Hungary is also one of a few EU member states that still receives Russian gas, and Orban has repeated on several occasions that he is not happy with EU- and Nato-sponsored military support for Ukraine.

No sanctions?

Meanwhile, Moscow's nuclear energy exports have not been subject to EU sanctions, in spite of Kyiv's request for a complete embargo on Russian nuclear exports.

Eight rounds of sanctions and targeted action against Moscow's energy exports did not include shipments of nuclear fuel from Russia that are still being sent to member states of the European Union, including France.

It was precisely because of the Hungarian Paks project that Victor Orban threatened to veto any EU sanctions related to nuclear energy.

"We will not allow the plan to include nuclear energy into the sanctions be implemented," the Hungarian premier said as recently as January. "This is out of the question."

Ariadna Rodrigo, EU sustainable finance manager at environmental group Greenpeace, was quoted by US TV station CNBC as saying that it is absolute madness for the bloc to continue bankrolling the Kremlin by exempting Russian nuclear trade.

In its explainer on sanctions against Russia, the European Commission does point out that export of "food and fertilisers coming out of Russia" are permitted as well as "overflight of [EU] airspace by Russian aircraft if that is required for humanitarian purposes," but no reason is given for the absence of measures against the importation of Russian nuclear fuel.
Parliament will adjourn sine die on Friday, March 31, for the Easter break, with the Business Committee urging members to be devoted to disposing of all business pending before the House.

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Vice Chairman of the Business Committee of Parliament, and Deputy Majority Leader, presenting the Business Statement for the week ending Friday, March 31, 2023, on Friday, said given the tall order of parliamentary business pending, the Business Committee recommended extended sittings to enable the completion of scheduled business.

. Mr Speaker, Members are aware, the House has barely one week to adjourn sine die for the Easter break. Given this, the Business Committee again entreats all members to devote themselves to the business of the House to dispose of the tall order of business pending the House.

The Committee also recommends that the House commences sitting each day at 1000 hours.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, Member of Parliament for Effutu, said the programmed financial Bills that ought to have been considered last week and were unable to be passed would be considered in the ensuing week, that is the eight weeks.

The Committee had, accordingly, scheduled the Committee of the Whole for Thursday, March 30, to discuss the proposed formulae for distributing the District Assemblies Common Fund, Ghana Education Trust Fund, and National Health Insurance Fund all for the year 2023, that was laid on Friday, March 17.

Mr Speaker, a joint Caucus meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023 after adjournment. Outstanding pertinent matters would be discussed. In this regard, all members are, therefore, encouraged to avail themselves of the meeting.

Mr Afenyo-Markin told the House that per the scope of work for the ensuing week, 11 ministers were expected to attend upon the House to respond to 58 questions.

The questions are categorised under 48 oral and 10 urgent queries.

The ministers of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Sanitation and Water Resources; Finance; Energy; and the Interior, as well as the Minister of State in Charge of Public Enterprises, were scheduled to respond to the questions.

Others are the ministers of Defence; Health; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Communication and Digitalisation, and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Mr Afenyo-Markin urged the committees with referrals to expedite work on them for the consideration of the House.
China's monthly registrations of locally-made passenger vehicles (PVs) reached 1,250,025 units in Feb. 2023, rising 10.2% from the previous year and also edging up 0.32% from the previous month, according to the data compiled by Gasgoo Auto Research Institute (GARI).

The year-on-year growth in the Feb. registrations was partly due to the relatively low base for the year-ago period, where last years Spring Festival holiday fell in. In addition, the price reduction spree by many automakers to some extent spurred the auto shopping demands as well.

In Feb. 2023, three brands saw their monthly PV registrations in China exceed 100,000 units, namely, BYD, Volkswagen, and Toyota. The two Chinas indigenous brandsChangan and Geely, ranked 6th and 7th among all brands by Feb. PV registrations, both dropping 2 spots compared with the previous-month rankings.

The German trio BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi ranked 8th, 10th, and 11th, respectively, by Feb. China-made PV registrations. In the same period, Tesla had 34,064 Shanghai-made vehicles registered in China, climbing 3 spots to the 12th place.

As for the Jan.-Feb. registrations, Volkswagen outshone other brands in China, outselling the runner-up BYD by 9,891 vehicles. The three major Japanese brandsToyota, Honda, and Nissanoccupied the 3rd, 6th, and 10th places, respectively.

Among all China-made PV models, the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV went up to the No. 1 place by Feb. registrations. Teslas Model Y jumped 9 spot from a month earlier to the 2nd place in Feb., which made it the highest-ranking SUV model. Nevertheless, the Sylphy, who was honored the champion in Jan., fell to the 4th place in the past month.

On the list of the top 20 homemade PV models by Feb. registrations, there were 9 new energy vehicle (NEV) models, namely, 7 of which were battery electric vehicle (BEV) models.

As for the year-to-date performance, the Sylphy was crowned the best-selling PV model in China, outselling the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV by only 19 units.

Compared to the city rankings made based on Jan. data, Chengdu dropped to the 2nd place among Chinese cities by Feb. registrations, while Shanghai again came up to the top. Aside from the top 2 cities, both Beijing and Zhengzhou recorded a registration volume of over 30,000 homemade PVs each last month.

For the first two months, a total of six cities had over 50,000 locally-made PVs registered each, of which the first three ones volumes all surpassed 60,000 units.

In Feb. 2023, China's monthly locally-made new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) registrations came in at 394,466 units, surging 60.11% year on year, and also leaping 35.6% month on month.

Despite the downward movement in Jan. mainly due to the holiday factor, the Jan.-Feb. NEPV registrations in China still jumped 22.58% over the prior-year period to 685,360 units.

By specific powertrain solutions, the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sector logged a registration volume of 278,535 units in Feb., accounting for 70.61% of the country's total NEPV registrations. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) registrations reached 115,923 units, which included 23,242 range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs).

There were 8 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) registered on the Chinese mainland last month. Nevertheless, its market share was hereby omitted due to its tiny quantity.

Of the NEPVs registered in the first two months of this year, 67.17% were contributed by BEVs.

With respect to the NEPV registrations in Feb., BYD still took a remarkable lead over other brands. It had 139,521 NEPVs registered last month, which were even more than the sum of the No.2-No.7 occupants. The U.S. EV brand Tesla was credited the runner-up, while Wuling and AION ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively.

Li Auto was the highest-ranking Chinese NEV startup by Feb. registrations. Besides, both NIO and NETA also cracked the top 10 brands list by Feb. NEPV registrations.

Regarding the year-to-date NEPV registrations, the top 7 brands were the same as those included in the rankings by Feb. NEPV registration volume.

Some young NEV brands launched by Chinese legacy automakers, such as Geelys ZEEKR and Changan Autos Shenlan were among the top 20 brands list by Jan.-Feb. NEPV registrations.

With regard to Feb. registrations, the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV topped other homemade NEPV models. On the top 20 NEPV models list, there were 9 under BYD brand, 5 of which entered the top 10 rankings. Notably, the DENZA D9, which ranked 17th, was from a BYD-backed brand.

Both the Model Y and Model 3 entered the top 20 NEPV models list. Both AION and Li Auto brands had two models included in the top 20 rankings.

Judging from the Jan.-Feb. performance, the Wuling Honggunag MINIEV, the Song PLUS DM-i, and the Model Y were the only three NEPV models with over 40,000 vehicles registered.

In Feb. 2023, Shanghai outdid other cities with 17,519 homemade NEPVs registered, which accounted for 47.89% of the city's overall PV registrations. It was closely followed by Hangzhou and Shenzhen.

During this years first two months, there were 16 cities on the Chinese mainland with over 10,000 domestically built NEPVs registered each.
The Abesim township, near Sunyani, has virtually turned into a ghost town as traditional warriors from the Dormaa Traditional Area besieged the town for the burial and interment of the late Chief Barima Kumi Acheaw II.

Barima Acheaw II, who was also the Kyidomhene (chief in-charge of crowd) of the Dormaa Traditional Area, died on September 30, 2021, after a short illness.

He was 70 and reigned for 19 years and left behind a wife and six children.

During a visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the town around 0900 hours on Friday, most of the residents remained indoors, as the traditional warriors, dressed in ancient warring regalia fired sporadic musketries on the main street of the town, amidst heavy police presence.

Economic activities in the township have also halted, as all shops, stores, food joints, drinking spots, and market areas had been closed under the directive of the traditional council.

The Dormaa Traditional Council has laid the body of the mortal remains of the late chief in the Abesim palace for public view.

However, the GNA gathered the council was yet to perform some secret rituals on the body before it would be sent to the Abesim Royal Cemetery for burial on Saturday dawn.

Nana Kantanka Aduosare, the leader of the traditional warriors and the Chief of the Asuowam (river deity) at Wamfie in the Dormaa Traditional Area advised the residents not to be scared, and remain calm, saying the traditional warriors were not in the town to hurt anybody.

He explained the chiefs and people of the Dormaa Traditional Area revered their cultural practices, saying culture and tradition portrayed the identity of the people and this is why you can see all these people in the warring regalia.

Nana Kyei Nketiah, the chief of the Adonten royal family of Abesim, advised the youth in the area to remain disciplined, moderate and guard against alcoholism in order not to land themselves in trouble.

He told the GNA the burial and final funeral rites of the late chief officially started on Thursday March 23 to Sunday March 26, saying a funeral durbar would be held at the Abesim Roman Catholic School Park.

At the time of filing this report, scores of mourners from all walks of life had arrived in the town to attend the funeral.

GNA
Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini has bemoaned the exclusion of persons from the Northern region to the Supreme Court by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The MP raised the concerns in Parliament today, Friday, 24 March 2023, during the debate on the approval of the four Justices nominated by the President to the Supreme court.

The House had approved the nominations of two of the judges; Barbara Ackah-Yensu and Samuel Adibu Asiedu while the Minority had kicked against the approval of two others; Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu and Justice George Kingsley Koomson.

The Deputy Majority leader had however appealed for unison from both sides of the House to approve the nominees.

As part of the reasons given by the Deputy Majority leader for why both sides should come together to approve the nominees, he had asserted that one of the nominees was from the Volta Region.

Reacting to this, however, the Tamale North law maker noted that none of the nominations to the Supreme court have been from the Northern region.

He said: He [Deputy Majority leader] says that one of them comes from the Volta region, and Mr Speaker that wouldnt have been an issue but because he makes it now, it is important that one also puts on record, in the last couple of years, his excellency the President has made a number of nominations to the Supreme Court.

Some nominations that have been heavily criticised but none has been made with origin or hailing from the Northern part of this country.

According to the Tamale North MP, It wouldnt have been an issue but because the Deputy majority leader makes the case that one of the nominees is from a particular region, and for that reason people must support it then it becomes necessary to wonder why over the years, so many nominations have been made by the President but none has been made from the Northern part of this country.

Mr Speaker, the North has six regions currently, six regions, Mr Speaker, and perhaps I should take the opportunity of this to make the point that the North is not one region, the North is made up of six regions just as the South is made up of many regions," he clarified.

He added that: When I speak of Northern region, I speak of Northern region and not the six Northern regions. None has come from the Northern region.

Source: classfmonline.com
Thirty-four migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were missing off Tunisia's Mediterranean coast Friday after their boat capsized, a court official said, the latest in a string of tragedies this month.

The boat carrying 38 people had set off Thursday from near Sfax and was attempting to reach Italy, said Fawzi El Masmoudi, a court spokesman in the port city.

Sub-Saharan African migrants residing in Tunisia have been living in fear since an incendiary speech by President Kais Saied speech last month, in which he accused them of representing a demographic threat and causing a crime wave.

The North African country's population of 12 million hosts an estimated 21,000 migrants from other parts of Africa, representing 0.2 percent of the population.

Earlier Friday, Alarm Phone, a charity monitoring migrant boats, said that 40 people were at risk on a "boat in distress trying to escape Tunisia".

Those on board reported that "so-called Tunisian coastguards have removed their engine, beaten some of them, and abandoned them at sea," the group said.

The latest deadly shipwreck off Tunisia, one of at least four this month, comes two days after five sub-Saharan African migrants drowned and another 28 went missing when a boat carrying 38 mostly Ivorian migrants capsized.

In the days after Saied's speech, slammed by rights groups as "racist hate speech", migrants reported an upsurge in racist attacks and many were evicted from their accommodation by landlords fearing large fines or prison for housing them.

Those working informally in construction and other sectors also lost their jobs, and thousands rushed to their embassies to be repatriated.

While some migrants arrive in Tunisia to study, many use the country as a springboard for attempts to reach Europe by sea. European governments have pressured Tunis to rein in the flow.

Map of Tunisia locating the city Sfax. By Sylvie HUSSON (AFP)

Parts of Tunisia's coastline are within 150 kilometres (90 miles) of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

A spokesman for the Tunisian National Guard said Friday that in 24 hours, the coastguard had intercepted more than 1,000 migrants, 25 of them Tunisians.

Italy's hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned Friday that Tunisia's "serious financial problems" risked sparking a "migratory wave" towards Europe.

She also confirmed plans for a mission to the North African country involving the Italian and French foreign ministers.

Meloni echoed comments earlier in the week by Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, who warned Tunisia risks economic collapse that could trigger a new flow of migrants to Europe, fears Tunis has since dismissed.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned this week that Tunisia urgently needs to reach a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund.
An ailing Paul Rusesabagina, the polarising hero of the hit movie "Hotel Rwanda", is set to be released after the government said Friday it had commuted a 25-year jail sentence against the outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame.

The government of Qatar announced that Rusesabagina -- whose case has been a cause of concern for the West and rights campaigners -- would fly to Doha after he was freed, then the United States.

The 68-year-old's sentence on terrorism charges was "commuted by presidential order", government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told AFP.

The sentences of 19 co-defendants convicted alongside Rusesabagina in September 2021 have also been commuted.

But Makolo added: "Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction."

A government source told AFP on condition of anonymity that Rusesabagina and the other prisoners were expected to be released Saturday.

Rusesabagina was jailed on charges of backing an armed group after a trial his supporters denounced as a sham that was plagued with irregularities.

Rwanda highlighted the role of both the United States and Qatar in resolving the case, long a bone of contention with Washington, which has also voiced concerns about Rwanda's alleged backing of rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"This is the result of a shared desire to reset US-Rwanda relationship," Kagame's press secretary Stephanie Nyombayire said on Twitter, adding that the close relationship between Rwanda and Qatar was a "key" factor.

Friday's announcement came a day after Kagame left Qatar, where he had signalled his government was looking at ways of resolving the case.

Talks on a potential release started at the end of 2022, and a breakthrough came last week in discussions between Kagame and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, said a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

'No political ambitions'

The Belgian citizen, who also holds a US Green Card, has now been detained for 939 days, according to the Free Rusesabagina website.

His family has accused the authorities of torturing him in prison and warned about his deteriorating health, voicing fears he could die behind bars.

"We are pleased to hear the news about Paul's release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon," the family said in a statement to AFP.

Rusesabagina's wife Taciana and daughter Carine Kanimba campaigned for his release. By Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD (AFP)

Rusesabagina, then the manager of a Kigali hotel, is credited with having helped to save about 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide in which about 800,000 people were slaughtered, mainly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus.

His story inspired the Oscar-nominated 2004 movie "Hotel Rwanda" starring US actor Don Cheadle.

He went on become a vocal critic of Kagame, but his tirades against a leader he branded a "dictator" led him to be treated as an enemy of the state.

In a letter dated October 2022 seeking a pardon that was released by the government on Friday, Rusesabagina pledged to bow out of political life.

"I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me."

'Wrongfully detained'

Kagame, whose country has a grim record on human rights, last year insisted the US could not "bully" him into ordering his release.

Washington has said Rusesabagina was "wrongfully detained" after a plane carrying him to Burundi was diverted to Rwanda in August 2020.

Rusesabagina's family said he was tricked into travelling from his US home with the promise of work in Burundi and that he was tortured in custody.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the case with Rwanda, and a senior US official said his visit to Kigali in August "played a key role in getting us closer to Paul's eventual release."

"He raised directly in his engagements with President Kagame and discussed Paul's case at length. They spoke a great deal about the road map to Paul's eventual release," the official said, speaking anonymously.

Timothy Longman, a professor of political science and international relations at Boston University, described Friday's announcement as a "pretty standard tactic" for the Rwandan government.

Then US president George W. Bush awarded Rusesabagina the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. By MANDEL NGAN (AFP/File)

"They put an opponent on trial on trumped-up charges and publicly humiliate them. Then either they're acquitted or pardoned. It's quite effective at silencing would-be critics while appearing moderate and reasonable," said Longman, who first met Rusesabagina in the mid-1990s.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the National Liberation Front (FLN), a rebel group blamed for attacks in Rwanda in 2018 and 2019 that killed nine people.

He denied any involvement in the attacks, but was a founder of the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), an opposition group of which the FLN is seen as the armed wing.

"I wish to express my regret for any connection my work with the MRCD may have had to violent actions taken by the FLN," he said in his October letter.

Rusesabagina's family last year filed a $400 million lawsuit in the United States against Kagame, the Rwandan government and other figures for allegedly abducting and torturing him.
Shares of Banco Santander, S.A. (LON:BNC  Get Rating) passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 300.01 ($3.68) and traded as low as GBX 280 ($3.44). Banco Santander shares last traded at GBX 297.45 ($3.65), with a volume of 492,294 shares trading hands.

Banco Santander Stock Down 2.7 %

The companys 50 day moving average is GBX 300.68 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 256.50. The firm has a market capitalization of 48.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 641.20 and a beta of 1.39.

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Banco Santander Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, April 27th will be paid a 0.06 ($0.06) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. This is an increase from Banco Santanders previous dividend of $0.06. This represents a dividend yield of 1.6%. Banco Santanders dividend payout ratio is 2,173.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling

About Banco Santander

In other news, insider Pamela Ann Walkden acquired 80,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 325 ($3.99) per share, with a total value of 260,000 ($319,292.64). 0.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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Banco Santander, SA provides various retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large companies worldwide. It offers demand and time deposits, and current and savings accounts; mortgages, consumer finance, syndicated corporate loans, structured financing, cash management, export and agency finance, trade and working capital solutions, and corporate finance; and insurance products.

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BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BFZ  Get Rating) major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 27,924 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $11.21 per share, with a total value of $313,028.04. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 3,263,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at $36,578,801.71. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Saba Capital Management, L.P. also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, March 21st, Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 54,414 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $11.38 per share, with a total value of $619,231.32.

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE BFZ traded down $0.12 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $11.22. 104,842 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 85,617. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust has a twelve month low of $10.03 and a twelve month high of $12.42.

About BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to provide current income exempt from Federal and California income taxes. The company seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and California income taxes.

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Eastman Kodak (NYSE:KODK  Get Rating) Director Philippe D. Katz acquired 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $3.85 per share, with a total value of $38,500.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 152,496 shares in the company, valued at $587,109.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Eastman Kodak Price Performance

NYSE KODK traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $3.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 383,733 shares, compared to its average volume of 593,550. The firm has a market capitalization of $296.78 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.94 and a beta of 3.75. Eastman Kodak has a 1-year low of $2.78 and a 1-year high of $7.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 2.32 and a quick ratio of 1.52. The companys 50-day moving average is $3.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4.14.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eastman Kodak

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of KODK. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Eastman Kodak by 45.5% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 37,568 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $246,000 after acquiring an additional 11,749 shares during the last quarter. Swiss National Bank raised its holdings in shares of Eastman Kodak by 9.3% during the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 92,900 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $608,000 after acquiring an additional 7,900 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Eastman Kodak by 20.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 22,152 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $146,000 after acquiring an additional 3,822 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Eastman Kodak by 471.4% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,000 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 6,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in shares of Eastman Kodak by 125.0% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 27,000 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $185,000 after acquiring an additional 15,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 44.77% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

About Eastman Kodak

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on KODK. TheStreet cut Eastman Kodak from a c- rating to a d rating in a report on Wednesday, November 23rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Eastman Kodak in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company.

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Eastman Kodak Co engages in the provision of analog and digital innovations. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Printing, Digital Printing, Advanced Materials and Chemicals, and Brand. The Traditional Printing segment consists of Prepress Solutions, which includes Kodaks digital offset plate offerings and computer-to-plate imaging solutions.

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Energy Revenue America, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ERAO  Get Rating) shares passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $0.02 and traded as high as $0.03. Energy Revenue America shares last traded at $0.03, with a volume of 3,000 shares traded.

Energy Revenue America Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $0.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.01.

Energy Revenue America Company Profile

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Energy Revenue America, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of natural gas. The company primarily focuses on coal bed methane unconventional natural gas projects. It transports and sells natural gas through a 65 mile pipeline with approximately 3,000 acres in the Cherokee basin and 3 compressors in Nowata County, Oklahoma.

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Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (NYSE:ASG  Get Rating)s share price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $5.26 and traded as low as $5.09. Liberty All-Star Growth Fund shares last traded at $5.14, with a volume of 90,169 shares.

Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Stock Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.25 and a 200 day moving average of $5.22.

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Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 20th were paid a $0.11 dividend. This is an increase from Liberty All-Star Growth Funds previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 19th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.68%.

Institutional Trading of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund

About Liberty All-Star Growth Fund

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $154,000. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $54,000. Mariner LLC bought a new position in shares of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $228,000. Bluefin Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund by 81.0% in the 4th quarter. Bluefin Capital Management LLC now owns 51,929 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $256,000 after acquiring an additional 23,237 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new position in shares of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $64,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.43% of the companys stock.

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Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc operates as a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities. The company was founded on March 14, 1986 and is headquartered in Denver, CO.

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Midatech Pharma plc (LON:MTPH  Get Rating)s share price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 1.80 ($0.02) and traded as low as GBX 0.90 ($0.01). Midatech Pharma shares last traded at GBX 0.95 ($0.01), with a volume of 366,168 shares.

Midatech Pharma Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of 1.65 million, a PE ratio of -18.10 and a beta of 1.22. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 1.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 4.73. The company has a current ratio of 5.28, a quick ratio of 5.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.52.

Midatech Pharma Company Profile

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Midatech Pharma plc, a drug delivery technology company, focuses on the research and development of medicines in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally. The company is developing MTX110, a direct delivery treatment for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, medulloblastomas, and glioblastoma multiforme; MTX114, an immuno-suppressant for topical application in psoriasis; MTD211, a long-acting formulation of brexpiprazole for the treatment of schizophrenia and adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder; and MTD219, a long-acting formulation of tacrolimus used to lower the risk of organ transplant rejection.

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese autonomous driving solution provider UISEE announced the completion of its C-round financing, which raised for the company hundreds of millions of yuan.

Photo credit: UISEE

The funding round attracted investment from Dongfeng Asset Management and a subsidiary of Chongqing High-tech Development and Construction Investment Group. The successful financing also accelerate the strategic layout of UISEE in the field of autonomous driving for passenger vehicles.

Supported by the local government and two new shareholders, UISEE will establish a passenger vehicle business headquarters in Chongqing city, applying its L4 U-Drive self-driving technology to mass production fields for L2+ and L2++ autonomous driving application.

Since its inception in 2016, UISEE has been committed to providing AI driving services for the entire industry and all scenarios, serving as an AI driver to reinforce the development of mobility and logistics. UISEE has gained recognition from authoritative industry institutions for its technical capabilities, commercial value, investment potential, and development prospects.

As of February 2023, UISEE's commercially-operated distance enabled by L4 autonomous driving system has exceeded 2 million kilometers.

The establishment of the passenger vehicle business headquarters in Chongqing is expected to accelerate UISEE's efforts in the field of autonomous driving for passenger vehicles and expand its commercial applications in the future.
Nektan PLC (LON:NKTN  Get Rating) passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 0.85 ($0.01) and traded as low as GBX 0.85 ($0.01). Nektan shares last traded at GBX 0.85 ($0.01), with a volume of 104 shares trading hands.

Nektan Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of 2.10 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.13. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 0.85 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 0.85.

About Nektan

(Get Rating)

Nektan plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides B2B gaming solutions and services in Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and internationally. The company provides Evolve, a white label casino technology platform that manages the casino operator experience, including back-office operations.

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Theratechnologies Inc. (TSE:TH  Get Rating) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$1.26 and traded as low as C$1.17. Theratechnologies shares last traded at C$1.19, with a volume of 20,210 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Leede Jones Gab upgraded Theratechnologies from a hold rating to a speculative buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 5th.

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Theratechnologies Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 562.07. The company has a market cap of C$112.30 million, a P/E ratio of -1.61, a P/E/G ratio of -8.50 and a beta of 1.58. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$1.25 and a 200 day moving average of C$1.97.

About Theratechnologies

Theratechnologies Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of various therapies to address the unmet medical needs in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company offers EGRIFTA and EGRIFTA SV, for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with lipodystrophy; and Trogarzo, an injection refers to ibalizumab for the treatment of multidrug resistant HIV-1 infected patients.

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ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ZIVO  Get Rating) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $3.20 and traded as low as $3.14. ZIVO Bioscience shares last traded at $3.15, with a volume of 2,652 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Maxim Group dropped their price objective on shares of ZIVO Bioscience from $9.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Monday, February 13th.

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ZIVO Bioscience Trading Down 19.8 %

The company has a market capitalization of $23.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.57 and a beta of 0.25. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $3.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $3.04.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ZIVO Bioscience

ZIVO Bioscience Company Profile

An institutional investor recently raised its position in ZIVO Bioscience stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. ( OTCMKTS:ZIVO Get Rating ) by 19.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 92,468 shares of the biotechnology companys stock after acquiring an additional 15,147 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 0.98% of ZIVO Bioscience worth $359,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.05% of the companys stock.

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Zivo Bioscience, Inc engages in the study, development, and commercialization of natural nutritional compounds and bioactive molecules. It offers proprietary algae strain, extracts and supernatants, and bioactive compounds. The company was founded by Howard R. Baer on March 28, 1983 and is headquartered in Keego Harbor, MI.

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Activest Wealth Management cut its position in BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust (NYSE:BCAT  Get Rating) by 29.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 20,675 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,800 shares during the quarter. Activest Wealth Managements holdings in BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust were worth $287,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Selective Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust in the first quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $178,000. Finally, Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust by 75.4% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,336 shares of the companys stock worth $154,000 after buying an additional 4,872 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.96% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust

In related news, Portfolio Manager Richard M. Rieder bought 14,500 shares of BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $13.76 per share, with a total value of $199,520.00. Following the acquisition, the portfolio manager now directly owns 34,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at $473,123.84. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust Trading Down 0.6 %

BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust Dividend Announcement

BCAT stock traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $14.48. 63,075 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 294,149. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $14.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.42. BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust has a 52 week low of $13.32 and a 52 week high of $16.93.

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.127 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.52%.

About BlackRock Capital Allocation Trust

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Advocate Group LLC increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Rating) by 4.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 75,252 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,052 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley comprises 1.4% of Advocate Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Advocate Group LLCs holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $6,398,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Morgan Stanley by 68.9% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 18,416,436 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,455,083,000 after buying an additional 7,514,505 shares in the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new stake in Morgan Stanley in the first quarter valued at approximately $451,711,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its position in Morgan Stanley by 123.3% in the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 3,183,121 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $251,546,000 after buying an additional 1,757,682 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its position in Morgan Stanley by 152.3% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 2,500,681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $197,539,000 after buying an additional 1,509,589 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Credit Suisse AG boosted its position in Morgan Stanley by 26.4% in the second quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 5,543,155 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $421,612,000 after buying an additional 1,158,383 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.48% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO James P. Gorman sold 250,000 shares of Morgan Stanley stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.93, for a total transaction of $24,232,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,112,348 shares in the company, valued at $107,819,891.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CFO Raja Akram sold 5,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.00, for a total transaction of $494,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 118,558 shares in the company, valued at $11,500,126. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO James P. Gorman sold 250,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.93, for a total transaction of $24,232,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,112,348 shares in the company, valued at $107,819,891.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 341,699 shares of company stock worth $33,143,046 over the last three months. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Morgan Stanley Stock Down 4.2 %

A number of analysts have weighed in on MS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $92.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $107.00 to $95.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $90.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $95.99.

MS traded down $3.63 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $82.21. The company had a trading volume of 2,999,131 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,067,042. Morgan Stanley has a 52 week low of $72.05 and a 52 week high of $100.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57. The company has a market capitalization of $138.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.98, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.37. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $95.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $88.88.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.06. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 16.73% and a return on equity of 12.06%. The firm had revenue of $12.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.16 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that Morgan Stanley will post 7.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 31st were issued a dividend of $0.775 per share. This represents a $3.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.77%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 30th. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio is currently 50.49%.

Morgan Stanley Profile

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Morgan Stanley operates as a global financial services company. The firm provides investment banking products and services to its clients and customers including corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. It operates through the following segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management.

Further Reading

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Advocate Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI  Get Rating) by 4.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 29,283 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,202 shares during the quarter. Cummins makes up approximately 1.5% of Advocate Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Advocate Group LLCs holdings in Cummins were worth $7,095,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Cummins during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its holdings in Cummins by 588.2% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 117 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Cummins by 64.0% in the 3rd quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 164 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the period. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Cummins during the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Castle Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Cummins by 125.0% in the third quarter. Castle Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. 80.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Cummins

In other news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total value of $486,420.12. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,742 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,471,156.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Cummins news, VP Walter J. Fier sold 3,307 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.99, for a total value of $836,637.93. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 8,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,046,689.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total value of $486,420.12. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 21,742 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,471,156.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 16,709 shares of company stock valued at $4,245,545. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Cummins Price Performance

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Cummins in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 20th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Cummins from $235.00 to $231.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $254.75.

Shares of Cummins stock traded down $4.75 during trading on Friday, hitting $221.44. 158,551 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,045,431. The company has a market cap of $31.31 billion, a PE ratio of 14.97, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.01. The firms fifty day moving average price is $246.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $237.47. Cummins Inc. has a twelve month low of $184.27 and a twelve month high of $261.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Cummins (NYSE:CMI  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 6th. The company reported $4.52 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $4.52. Cummins had a return on equity of 24.58% and a net margin of 7.66%. The company had revenue of $7.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.21 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.85 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 32.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Cummins Inc. will post 18.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Cummins Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $1.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a $6.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. Cumminss dividend payout ratio is currently 41.56%.

Cummins Company Profile

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Cummins, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and market of diesel and natural gas engines. It operates through the following segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The Engine segment manufactures and markets diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins brand name, for the heavy- and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets.

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Rogers Communications Inc. (TSE:RCI.B  Get Rating) (NYSE:RCI) has earned a consensus rating of Buy from the ten brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have given a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$72.22.

Several analysts recently weighed in on RCI.B shares. UBS Group upgraded Rogers Communications from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from C$64.00 to C$75.00 in a research note on Monday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a focus stock rating on shares of Rogers Communications in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Cormark upped their price target on shares of Rogers Communications from C$69.00 to C$74.00 in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$68.00 to C$69.00 in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, TD Securities upped their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$76.00 to C$78.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd.

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Rogers Communications Price Performance

Shares of RCI.B opened at C$62.50 on Friday. Rogers Communications has a fifty-two week low of C$50.53 and a fifty-two week high of C$80.85. The firms 50-day simple moving average is C$64.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$60.07. The stock has a market cap of C$24.61 billion, a PE ratio of 18.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 364.11, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 2.02.

Rogers Communications Company Profile

Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses.

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Argus Investors Counsel Inc. lifted its position in shares of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI  Get Rating) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,062 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. Argus Investors Counsel Inc.s holdings in Cummins were worth $1,227,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of CMI. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of Cummins by 39.5% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,240,383 shares of the companys stock worth $1,067,213,000 after buying an additional 1,484,171 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in Cummins by 48.8% during the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,033,702 shares of the companys stock worth $413,878,000 after buying an additional 666,567 shares during the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Cummins by 69.6% in the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 1,221,941 shares of the companys stock worth $248,698,000 after purchasing an additional 501,499 shares in the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC grew its stake in Cummins by 18,796.4% during the second quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 432,539 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,235,000 after acquiring an additional 430,250 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Cummins by 1.7% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,203,832 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,687,113,000 after acquiring an additional 226,774 shares in the last quarter. 80.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Cummins Stock Down 1.4 %

CMI traded down $3.06 on Friday, hitting $223.13. The company had a trading volume of 125,105 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,044,976. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $246.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $237.47. Cummins Inc. has a 12-month low of $184.27 and a 12-month high of $261.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.01.

Cummins Dividend Announcement

Cummins ( NYSE:CMI Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 6th. The company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $4.52. Cummins had a return on equity of 24.58% and a net margin of 7.66%. The firm had revenue of $7.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.21 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.85 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 32.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Cummins Inc. will post 18.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 9th. Investors of record on Friday, February 24th were given a dividend of $1.57 per share. This represents a $6.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. Cumminss payout ratio is 41.56%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Cummins news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total value of $486,420.12. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 21,742 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,471,156.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, VP Sharon R. Barner sold 5,540 shares of Cummins stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.34, for a total value of $1,397,963.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 16,144 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,073,776.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of Cummins stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total value of $486,420.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,742 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,471,156.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 16,709 shares of company stock worth $4,245,545. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CMI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Cummins in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of Cummins from $235.00 to $231.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 20th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $254.75.

About Cummins

(Get Rating)

Cummins, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and market of diesel and natural gas engines. It operates through the following segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The Engine segment manufactures and markets diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins brand name, for the heavy- and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets.

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Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:BKKLY  Get Rating) shares were up 5.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $23.06 and last traded at $22.58. Approximately 1,045 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 76% from the average daily volume of 4,355 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.35.

Bangkok Bank Public Trading Up 5.7 %

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $23.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $21.09.

About Bangkok Bank Public

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Bangkok Bank Public Co Ltd. engages in the provision of commercial banking services. It operates through the following business segments: Domestic Banking, International Banking, Investment Banking, and Others. The Domestic Banking segment provides loans, deposits, trade finance, remittances and payments, electronic services, credit cards, debit cards, and related other financial services.

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The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (NYSE:NTB  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $26.22 and last traded at $26.61, with a volume of 22676 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $27.04.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on NTB shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $36.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $41.00 to $36.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 20th. Finally, Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $38.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $41.50.

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Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock has a market cap of $1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.30 and a beta of 1.42. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $32.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.80.

Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Announces Dividend

Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son ( NYSE:NTB Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The bank reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $148.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $140.30 million. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son had a net margin of 37.09% and a return on equity of 26.44%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.84 earnings per share. Analysts predict that The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited will post 4.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 27th were given a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 24th. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Sons payout ratio is 41.03%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 106.9% during the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 20,707 shares of the banks stock worth $617,000 after purchasing an additional 10,701 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new position in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son during the 4th quarter worth approximately $52,000. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 106.1% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 18,594 shares of the banks stock worth $554,000 after purchasing an additional 9,573 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 50.4% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 4,204 shares of the banks stock worth $125,000 after purchasing an additional 1,409 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 28.0% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 308,011 shares of the banks stock worth $9,182,000 after purchasing an additional 67,328 shares in the last quarter. 68.21% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son

(Get Rating)

The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd. provides community banking and wealth management business. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, The Bahamas, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Bermuda and the Cayman Islands segment offers a range of retail and corporate banking services to individuals, local businesses, captive insurers, reinsurance and trust companies, and hedge funds.

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The French Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) has asked air carriers to cancel 33% of flights scheduled for Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 March and 20% those on Monday at Paris-Orly airport. Because of this decision, the inconvenience to air traffic triggered by the national strike against the pension reform plan wanted by the Macron government.

Once again paralyzed the second most important airport of the capital, which constitutes an airport hub of the Franco-German aviation group Air France-KLM. Inconvenience is also expected at the airports of Lyon-Saint-Exupery and Marseille-Provence, where DGAC has requested the cancellation of 20% of flights, especially on Monday. The French trade unions have in fact involved the air traffic controllers in the mobilization, who will abstain from work to participate in the protests underway in France against the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Barclays lowered shares of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVNLY  Get Rating) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report released on Tuesday morning, Briefing.com reports.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) from SEK 105 to SEK 110 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $103.20.

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Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS SVNLY opened at $4.12 on Tuesday. Svenska Handelsbanken AB has a twelve month low of $3.90 and a twelve month high of $5.45. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $5.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.77. The company has a market capitalization of $16.32 billion, a PE ratio of 7.49, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23.

Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Increases Dividend

Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors of record on Friday, March 24th will be paid a $0.2699 dividend. This is an increase from Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s previous dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a yield of 5.95%. Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.09%.

(Get Rating)

Svenska Handelsbanken AB engages in the provision of financial and banking services. It operates through the following segments: Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway, The Netherlands, Capital Markets, and Others. The Capital Markets segment refers to the investment bank, including securities trading, and investment advisory services.

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Big Technologies PLC (LON:BIG  Get Rating) shares were up 1.6% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 247 ($3.03) and last traded at GBX 247 ($3.03). Approximately 1,858,758 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 1,625% from the average daily volume of 107,765 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 243 ($2.98).

Big Technologies Stock Down 2.4 %

The company has a quick ratio of 7.23, a current ratio of 7.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The firm has a market cap of 699.86 million and a P/E ratio of 4,800.00. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 248.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 259.41.

About Big Technologies

(Get Rating)

Big Technologies Plc provides products and services to the remote personal monitoring industry under the Buddi brand name in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company's criminal justice solution includes proprietary cloud-based monitoring software platform with modular hardware that allow real time tracking monitoring.

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BLB&B Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 5.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,542 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,302 shares during the period. BLB&B Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,629,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of BMY. Xponance Inc. grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 28.0% during the third quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 219,534 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $15,607,000 after purchasing an additional 47,993 shares during the last quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% during the third quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. now owns 295,464 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $21,005,000 after acquiring an additional 4,778 shares during the period. Cliftonlarsonallen Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.2% during the third quarter. Cliftonlarsonallen Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 12,366 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $879,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the period. Advocate Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 9.0% during the third quarter. Advocate Group LLC now owns 97,286 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $6,916,000 after acquiring an additional 7,998 shares during the period. Finally, Columbia Asset Management acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the second quarter worth $495,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.51% of the companys stock.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.4 %

Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $66.98 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $140.58 billion, a PE ratio of 22.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The companys 50-day moving average is $70.62 and its 200-day moving average is $72.85. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a fifty-two week low of $65.28 and a fifty-two week high of $81.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 13.71% and a return on equity of 51.60%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.83 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 77.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on BMY. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Finally, Atlantic Securities lifted their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $79.69.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $17,916,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(Get Rating)

Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Shares of Blue River Resources Ltd. (CVE:BXR  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as C$0.01 and last traded at C$0.01, with a volume of 51000 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.01.

Blue River Resources Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$0.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.01. The stock has a market cap of C$2.35 million, a PE ratio of -5.00 and a beta of 0.07.

About Blue River Resources

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Blue River Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds 100% interests in Castle copper project covering an area of 335 hectares located in British Colombia. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH acquired a new stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 3,734 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $170,000.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 97.1% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 609 shares of the banks stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 132.2% in the third quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 692 shares of the banks stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares during the period. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the third quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 74.0% in the third quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 802 shares of the banks stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares during the period. 82.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BK. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. They set a buy rating and a $56.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $59.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $49.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.81.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Down 3.3 %

Bank of New York Mellon stock traded down $1.44 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $41.80. 1,067,877 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,021,385. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.66. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 12 month low of $36.22 and a 12 month high of $53.63. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $49.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $45.26. The company has a market cap of $33.43 billion, a PE ratio of 14.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.11.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The bank reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.08. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 12.87% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The company had revenue of $3.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.04 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 23rd were issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 20th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 51.03%.

Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and Other segment. The Securities Services segment includes Asset Servicing business, which provides global custody, fund accounting, integrated middle-office solutions, transfer agency and data and analytics solutions.

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Bridgetown Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:BTWNU  Get Rating) shares dropped 0.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $10.09 and last traded at $10.09. Approximately 450 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 2,454 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.12.

Bridgetown Trading Down 0.3 %

The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $10.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.99.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bridgetown

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of Bridgetown in the 4th quarter valued at $144,000. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bridgetown in the 4th quarter valued at $114,000. Finally, Clear Street LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bridgetown by 381.9% in the 3rd quarter. Clear Street LLC now owns 9,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,000 after buying an additional 7,279 shares during the period.

About Bridgetown

Bridgetown Holdings Limited does not have significant operations. It intends to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses in the technology, financial services, or media sectors. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Central, Hong Kong.

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BRP (TSE:DOO  Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from C$145.00 to C$150.00 in a research note issued on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. Stifel Nicolaus price objective would suggest a potential upside of 45.35% from the stocks current price.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on DOO. CIBC raised their target price on shares of BRP from C$132.00 to C$137.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, December 1st. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of BRP from C$123.00 to C$125.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 1st. Scotiabank set a C$143.00 price target on shares of BRP and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of BRP from C$124.00 to C$137.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, National Bankshares raised their price target on shares of BRP from C$130.00 to C$139.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$141.33.

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BRP Stock Performance

Shares of BRP stock traded down C$1.80 during trading on Friday, hitting C$103.20. 229,675 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 139,600. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1,681.80, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 1.04. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$113.45 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$101.17. BRP has a 52-week low of C$76.72 and a 52-week high of C$120.51. The stock has a market capitalization of C$3.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.18, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 2.53.

About BRP

BRP Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets powersports vehicles and marine products in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Powersports and Marine. It offers all-terrain, side-by-side, and three-wheeled vehicles; seasonal products, which consists of snowmobiles, personal watercraft, and pontoons; and parts, accessories and apparel, and engines for karts and recreational aircraft and other services.

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Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL (NYSE:ELP  Get Rating) and ENEVA S A/S (OTCMKTS:ENEVY  Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL and ENEVA S A/Ss net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL 10.78% 9.93% 4.38% ENEVA S A/S 28.38% 15.15% 7.51%

Volatility & Risk

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL has a beta of 0.73, meaning that its stock price is 27% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ENEVA S A/S has a beta of -28.9, meaning that its stock price is 2,990% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL 0 0 0 0 N/A ENEVA S A/S 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL and ENEVA S A/S, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

4.5% of Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL and ENEVA S A/Ss revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL $8.89 billion 0.37 $917.71 million $0.32 18.78 ENEVA S A/S $856.12 million 2.25 $242.92 million N/A N/A

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL has higher revenue and earnings than ENEVA S A/S.

Summary

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL beats ENEVA S A/S on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL

(Get Rating)

Companhia Paranaense de Energia engages in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Power Generation and Transmission (GET), Power Distribution (DIS), Telecommunications (TEL), GAS, Power Sale (COM), and Holding Company (HOL). The GET segment include production of electricity from hydraulic, wind, and thermal projects (GER) and also provides services of transmission and transformation of electric power. The DIS segment comprises public electricity distribution services. The TEL segment offers telecommunications and general communication services. The GAS segment encompasses public service of piped natural gas distribution. The HOL segment participate in other companies. The company was founded on October 26, 1954 and is headquartered in Curitiba, Brazil.

About ENEVA S A/S

(Get Rating)

Eneva S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated energy company in Brazil. It generates electricity through coal, natural gas, hydro, and solar energy. The company has an operational installed capacity of 2.2 GWs. It also engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas; and energy trading activities. The company was formerly known as MPX Energia S.A. and changed its name to Eneva S.A. in October 2013. Eneva S.A. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $246.00 to $237.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Hershey from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Hershey from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Hershey from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, March 18th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Hershey from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $244.00 to $269.00 in a report on Thursday, December 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Hershey from $231.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $247.20.

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Hershey Stock Up 0.5 %

Hershey stock opened at $243.98 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $49.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 0.31. Hershey has a 52 week low of $201.42 and a 52 week high of $247.20. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $234.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $230.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

Hershey ( NYSE:HSY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.25. Hershey had a return on equity of 57.76% and a net margin of 15.79%. The company had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.69 EPS. Hersheys quarterly revenue was up 14.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Hershey will post 9.37 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $1.036 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $4.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.70%. Hersheys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 52.01%.

Insider Transactions at Hershey

In related news, insider Rohit Grover sold 1,180 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.79, for a total value of $287,672.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,631,766.21. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Rohit Grover sold 1,180 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.79, for a total value of $287,672.20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 18,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,631,766.21. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Charles R. Raup sold 1,512 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $236.38, for a total transaction of $357,406.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,713 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,241,478.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 50,256 shares of company stock worth $11,895,361. 0.34% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hershey during the third quarter valued at approximately $415,000. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. MCF Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Hershey during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its position in shares of Hershey by 121.3% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Hershey during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 54.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hershey Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Hershey Co engages in the manufacture and marketing of chocolate, sweets, mints and confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America and International and Other. The North America is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada.

Further Reading

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Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI  Get Rating)s stock price traded up 5.3% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $11.48 and last traded at $11.41. 3,688,570 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 57% from the average session volume of 2,350,906 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.84.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $13.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. BMO Capital Markets lowered Douglas Emmett from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $21.00 to $13.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Douglas Emmett from a hold rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $17.00 to $13.00 in a research note on Monday, January 2nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Douglas Emmett from $17.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $19.44.

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Douglas Emmett Trading Up 5.2 %

The firm has a market cap of $2.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.00 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a current ratio of 2.77. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $14.74 and a 200-day moving average of $16.36.

Douglas Emmett Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Douglas Emmett

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Douglas Emmetts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 138.18%.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its stake in Douglas Emmett by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 37,589 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $841,000 after acquiring an additional 521 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 51,216 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $918,000 after buying an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp raised its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 88,337 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,952,000 after buying an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 218,255 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $7,294,000 after buying an additional 635 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 24.3% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,294 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.25% of the companys stock.

Douglas Emmett Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Douglas Emmett, Inc is a real estate investment trust, engages in the acquisition, development, ownership, and management of real estate properties. It operates through the following segments: Office, and Multifamily. The Office segment comprises rental of office space and other tenant services, including parking and storage space rental.

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Fact, fiction, and feeling collide and combine in Stephen Frears The Lost King, written by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, an adaptation of the book The Lost King: The Search for Richard III. This unique and lively mystery based on a true story comes from the team behind the Oscar-nominated Philomena, and it takes much the same approach, centering the story of a British woman embarking on a nigh-impossible search for a man, assisted in some way by a kind, yet put-upon, Coogan.

While Judi Denchs Philomena sought her long-lost son, Sally Hawkins Philippa seeks a long-lost king, Richard III, trapped in the amber of our collective imaginations as the titular evil anti-hero of Shakespeares play. Philippa, a middle-aged woman in Edinburgh with two boys, a faltering marriage to John (Coogan), a dead-end sales job and a challenging diagnosis of ME/CFS (otherwise known as chronic fatigue syndrome), becomes inspired by the story of Richard III at a local production of the play she has to attend for her sons school.

Struggling to be taken seriously at home and work despite her physical condition, she relates to Richards struggle with his own disability (his hunchback), and objects to his villainous depiction. Philippa sets out to discover the truth about Richards life and story, embarking on a research journey that lands her in a car park in Leicester, England, uncovering and rewriting history with her own intuition.

Its an inspiring story of personal determination, as Philippa meets obstacles at every step, from a lack of funding, to folks who simply dont believe her or object to her reliance on gut feeling. Frears animates her journey with crisp, beautiful cinematography by Zac Nicholson, who frequently captures Philippa in aerial shots as she crosses the ancient squares of Edinburgh and Leicester, foreshadowing the maps of her future archaeological dig. A spritely score by Alexandre Desplat, riffing on Bernard Herrmann, offers a whimsical, almost Hitchcockian sense of thriller suspense to the drama, as big musical cues signify important moments in the story, such as when Philippa is overcome with a strong feeling as she stands on a giant R painted in the car park.

Frears anthropomorphizes Philippas otherworldly intuition by granting her a literal spirit guide of Richard III, in the form of a taciturn apparition, played by the actor (Harry Lloyd) who initially sparked her interest on stage. He pops up from time to time, his presence encouraging Philippa to keep going, that shes on the right path in her quest to lay the king to rest.

Toward the end, The Lost King reveals its distinctly British obsession with royalty and propriety that doesnt always translate with the same reverence abroad. But the more important story being told is the one about discrimination and misinformation; that fact can be twisted into fiction thats perpetrated for centuries. Philippas mission to ensure Richard IIIs royal coat of arms on his tomb might seem a bit superfluous, but for her, its about restoring the truth, not necessarily the title.

Believing that Richards scoliosis allowed his rivals to render him monstrous, Philippas mission as a Ricardian is to emphasize his humanity among the politically motivated fake news that became Shakespearean fiction and was eventually cemented as common knowledge. Another Ricardian in her Richard III Society chapter emphasizes that they dispute misinformation from the Tudors to Twitter, making reference to our current landscape of questionable information accepted as real all too easily. Its a film that calls into question our own biases and accepted notions and encourages one to get out there and find the truth  it could be an adventure after all.
Fortis (TSE:FTS  Get Rating) had its target price boosted by equities researchers at Bank of America from C$51.00 to C$52.00 in a report issued on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. Bank of Americas target price would suggest a potential downside of 6.78% from the companys current price.

Several other research firms also recently commented on FTS. CSFB upped their price target on shares of Fortis from C$61.00 to C$62.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. National Bankshares upped their price target on shares of Fortis from C$55.00 to C$56.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$55.00 to C$57.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$57.00 to C$58.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$53.00 to C$51.00 in a research report on Monday, March 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$57.81.

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Fortis Stock Performance

Shares of TSE:FTS traded up C$1.26 on Friday, hitting C$55.78. The company had a trading volume of 615,732 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,159,859. Fortis has a 1-year low of C$48.45 and a 1-year high of C$65.26. The stock has a market cap of C$26.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.64, a P/E/G ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 0.17. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of C$55.17 and a 200 day moving average price of C$54.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 127.16.

Fortis Company Profile

Fortis Inc operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 438,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 100,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,485 megawatts (MW), including 53 MW of solar capacity and 252 MV of wind capacity.

Further Reading

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Assicurazioni Generali (OTCMKTS:ARZGF  Get Rating) and Gjensidige Forsikring ASA (OTCMKTS:GJNSY  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Assicurazioni Generali and Gjensidige Forsikring ASAs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Assicurazioni Generali N/A N/A N/A Gjensidige Forsikring ASA N/A N/A N/A

Dividends

Assicurazioni Generali pays an annual dividend of $0.33 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Gjensidige Forsikring ASA pays an annual dividend of $10.70 per share and has a dividend yield of 61.9%. Assicurazioni Generali pays out 26.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Gjensidige Forsikring ASA pays out 122.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Assicurazioni Generali 1 0 0 0 1.00 Gjensidige Forsikring ASA 2 1 3 0 2.17

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Assicurazioni Generali and Gjensidige Forsikring ASA, as provided by MarketBeat.

Assicurazioni Generali presently has a consensus price target of $17.50, suggesting a potential downside of 13.37%. Given Assicurazioni Generalis higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Assicurazioni Generali is more favorable than Gjensidige Forsikring ASA.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

14.6% of Assicurazioni Generali shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Gjensidige Forsikring ASA shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Assicurazioni Generali and Gjensidige Forsikring ASAs top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Assicurazioni Generali N/A N/A N/A $1.24 16.31 Gjensidige Forsikring ASA N/A N/A N/A $8.72 1.98

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Assicurazioni Generali, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

About Assicurazioni Generali

(Get Rating)

Assicurazioni Generali SpA engages in the provision of insurance and financial products. It operates through the following business segments: Life, Property and Casualty, Asset Management, and Holding and Other Businesses. The Life segment offers coverage through a lump sum or an annuity payment if an event occurs involving human life in exchange for the premium payment as remuneration from the policyholder for the risk taken. The Property and Casualty segment offers insurance against damage to property, personal injury, and public liability. The Asset Management segment provides solutions for the selection and maintenance of listed and unlisted financial instruments in order to generate the best possible return for a given level of risk. The Holding and Other Businesses segment performs parent company functions through the management and coordination of administrative and financial services for the companies in the group. The company was founded on December 26, 1831 and is headquartered in Trieste, Italy.

About Gjensidige Forsikring ASA

(Get Rating)

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA engages in the provision of insurance services. It operates through the following segments: General Insurance Private, General Insurance Commercial, General Insurance Denmark, General Insurance Sweden, General Insurance Baltics, and Pension. The General Insurance Private segment offers insurances related to motor, property, accident and health, and leisure. The General Insurance Commercial segment provides general insurance products to the commercial, agriculture, and municipality markets. The General Insurance Denmark segment engages in the provision of general insurance products to the private, commercial, and municipal markets in Denmark. The General Insurance Sweden segment consists of motor, property, accident and health, and other insurance products. The General Insurance Baltics segment supplies general insurance products to the private and commercial markets in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The company was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

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Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ  Get Rating) dropped 5.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $15.44 and last traded at $15.48. Approximately 2,893,379 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 20% from the average daily volume of 3,610,604 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.43.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Hertz Global in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Hertz Global Trading Down 4.8 %

The firm has a market cap of $5.04 billion, a PE ratio of 5.02 and a beta of 2.22.

Hertz Global Company Profile

The Hertz Corporation, a subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc, operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Hertz Corporation is one of the largest worldwide vehicle rental companies, and the Hertz brand is one of the most recognized globally.

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS  Get Rating) COO Melissa Baird sold 9,333 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.54, for a total value of $89,036.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 475,843 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,539,542.22. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Melissa Baird also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, March 16th, Melissa Baird sold 11,943 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.82, for a total value of $117,280.26.

Hims & Hers Health Stock Down 2.9 %

HIMS stock opened at $9.41 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $8.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.93. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. has a one year low of $2.72 and a one year high of $12.04.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hims & Hers Health

Hims & Hers Health ( NYSE:HIMS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by $0.02. The company had revenue of $167.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $161.18 million. Hims & Hers Health had a negative net margin of 12.47% and a negative return on equity of 20.69%. Hims & Hers Healths revenue for the quarter was up 97.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.11) EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Hims & Hers Health, Inc. will post -0.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HIMS. Swiss National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 185,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $986,000 after acquiring an additional 13,500 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 249.9% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 34,718 shares of the companys stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 24,796 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hims & Hers Health in the 1st quarter worth about $949,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 616,214 shares of the companys stock worth $3,285,000 after purchasing an additional 14,990 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 253,307 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,350,000 after buying an additional 3,226 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 45.60% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on HIMS. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Hims & Hers Health from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $7.00 to $11.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Hims & Hers Health from $7.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Tigress Financial increased their target price on shares of Hims & Hers Health from $11.00 to $12.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Hims & Hers Health from $7.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on shares of Hims & Hers Health from $8.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $11.55.

About Hims & Hers Health

(Get Rating)

Hims & Hers Health, Inc operates a multi-specialty telehealth platform that connects consumers to licensed healthcare professionals. The company offers a range of health and wellness products and services available to purchase on its websites and mobile application directly by customers. It also provides prescription medication on a recurring basis and ongoing care from healthcare providers; and over-the-counter drug and device products, cosmetics, and supplement products, primarily focusing on wellness, sexual health and wellness, skincare, and hair care.

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Atlas Private Wealth Management grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) by 7.0% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,037 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the period. Atlas Private Wealth Managements holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $669,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 52,903 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,653,000 after buying an additional 870 shares during the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth $44,000. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. now owns 1,267 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $229,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth $1,381,000. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter worth $268,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.83% of the companys stock.

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Illinois Tool Works Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE ITW traded down $1.83 on Friday, hitting $229.45. 204,595 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,090,261. The companys 50 day moving average price is $234.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $218.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.56 and a beta of 1.10. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a twelve month low of $173.52 and a twelve month high of $253.37.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by ($0.26). Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 87.15% and a net margin of 19.04%. The company had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.95 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.31 per share. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is presently 53.58%.

Insider Activity at Illinois Tool Works

In other news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total transaction of $14,809,337.62. Following the sale, the insider now owns 40,072 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,868,130.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total transaction of $14,809,337.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 40,072 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,868,130.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total value of $58,039,716.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,592,274.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.78% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ITW has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $222.00 to $255.00 in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $210.00 to $238.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $223.07.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Get Rating)

Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating).

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Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL  Get Rating) CMO Jennifer Vecchio sold 47,153 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.46, for a total transaction of $9,876,667.38. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 55,173 shares in the company, valued at $11,556,536.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Burlington Stores Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE BURL opened at $203.67 on Friday. Burlington Stores, Inc. has a one year low of $106.47 and a one year high of $239.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $220.96 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $181.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 58.03, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.10.

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Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.72 by $0.24. Burlington Stores had a net margin of 2.64% and a return on equity of 40.35%. The business had revenue of $2.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.61 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.53 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Burlington Stores, Inc. will post 6.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BURL. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in shares of Burlington Stores by 5.8% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,412 shares of the companys stock worth $1,222,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in shares of Burlington Stores in the first quarter worth approximately $246,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Burlington Stores in the first quarter worth approximately $751,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Burlington Stores by 8.5% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 1,538 shares of the companys stock worth $280,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Burlington Stores by 14.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock worth $268,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. OTR Global raised shares of Burlington Stores from a mixed rating to a positive rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Burlington Stores from $222.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an outperform rating and issued a $250.00 price target on shares of Burlington Stores in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Burlington Stores from $214.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Burlington Stores from $240.00 to $270.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Burlington Stores currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $231.73.

About Burlington Stores

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Burlington Stores, Inc engages in the retail of off-price apparel and home products. It offers womens ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, footwear, menswear, youth apparel, baby, coats, beauty, toys, and gifts. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Burlington, NJ.

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Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE:SIG  Get Rating) insider Oded Edelman sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.14, for a total transaction of $731,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 55,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,051,809.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Signet Jewelers Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:SIG opened at $72.96 on Friday. Signet Jewelers Limited has a 1 year low of $48.31 and a 1 year high of $83.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 2.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $74.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.91.

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Signet Jewelers (NYSE:SIG  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported $5.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.35 by $0.17. Signet Jewelers had a return on equity of 46.64% and a net margin of 4.80%. The firm had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.01 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Signet Jewelers Limited will post 11.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Signet Jewelers Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $0.23 per share. This is a positive change from Signet Jewelerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.26%. Signet Jewelerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.68%.

Several brokerages recently weighed in on SIG. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Signet Jewelers from $77.00 to $82.00 in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Signet Jewelers from $90.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Signet Jewelers from $92.00 to $98.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and issued a $75.00 price objective on shares of Signet Jewelers in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Signet Jewelers in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $86.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd lifted its holdings in Signet Jewelers by 22.5% in the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 965 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares in the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Signet Jewelers by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 14,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $984,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Archer Investment Corp lifted its holdings in Signet Jewelers by 28.6% in the 4th quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 900 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P lifted its holdings in Signet Jewelers by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P now owns 21,265 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,446,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in Signet Jewelers by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 12,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $741,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.88% of the companys stock.

Signet Jewelers Company Profile

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Signet Jewelers Ltd. engages in the retail of diamond jewelry. It operates through the following business segments: North America, International, and Others. The North America segment operates jewelry stores in malls, mall-based kiosks, and off-mall locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The International sells primarily in the UK and Ireland under the H.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSE:THM  Get Rating) in a research report report published on Tuesday. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance

THM stock opened at $0.54 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $105.66 million, a P/E ratio of -54.21 and a beta of 0.75. International Tower Hill Mines has a 52-week low of $0.38 and a 52-week high of $1.09. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.50.

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About International Tower Hill Mines

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Further Reading

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. is a mineral exploration company, which engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. It holds the right to acquire interest in an advanced stage exploration project in Alaska, known as the Livengood Gold Project. The company was founded by Jeffrey A.

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iShares MSCI France ETF (NYSEARCA:EWQ  Get Rating) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 1,436,957 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 122% from the previous sessions volume of 647,329 shares.The stock last traded at $35.96 and had previously closed at $36.45.

iShares MSCI France ETF Stock Down 1.1 %

The company has a market cap of $1.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.58 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $33.04.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI France ETF

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EWQ. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 5,098.9% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,868,322 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $66,007,000 after buying an additional 1,832,385 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI France ETF by 251.6% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 2,306,088 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $76,378,000 after purchasing an additional 1,650,281 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI France ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $10,262,000. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI France ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $6,965,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI France ETF by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,488,568 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $49,301,000 after purchasing an additional 147,115 shares in the last quarter.

iShares MSCI France ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI France ETF, formerly iShares MSCI France Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the French market, as measured by the MSCI France Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the French equity market.

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Wedbush restated their outperform rating on shares of KB Home (NYSE:KBH  Get Rating) in a research note published on Monday morning, RTT News reports. The firm currently has a $42.00 target price on the construction companys stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of KB Home in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of KB Home from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and cut their price objective for the company from $36.00 to $32.50 in a research report on Monday, March 6th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of KB Home from $48.00 to $45.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. TheStreet raised shares of KB Home from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of KB Home from $34.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $38.13.

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KB Home Price Performance

Shares of KBH stock opened at $39.57 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $36.37 and a 200-day moving average of $32.07. The company has a market cap of $3.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.58. KB Home has a one year low of $24.78 and a one year high of $40.92.

KB Home Dividend Announcement

KB Home ( NYSE:KBH Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 22nd. The construction company reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.30 billion. KB Home had a net margin of 11.83% and a return on equity of 24.06%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.47 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that KB Home will post 4.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 1st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.52%. KB Homes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.58%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KBH. Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in KB Home by 11,077.8% in the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,006 shares of the construction companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 997 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of KB Home during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Heritage Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in KB Home by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 880 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new stake in KB Home during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in KB Home by 45.4% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 922 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 288 shares during the period. 89.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

KB Home Company Profile

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KB Home engages in selling and building a variety of new homes. It builds various types of homes, including attached and detached single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums. The firm operates through the following segments: West Coast, Southwest, Central, and Southeast. It offer homes in development communities, at urban in-fill locations and as part of mixed-use projects.

Further Reading

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The City of Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission heard presentations and public comments Wednesday on Northern Arizona Healthcares (NAH) plans to build a new Health and Wellness Village near Fort Tuthill County Park.

The meeting was the first of two public hearings on the topic before Planning and Zoning will make a motion on whether to send the plans to city council. The next hearing is set for April 12 and will be held at the Aquaplex (1702 N. 4th St.) rather than City Hall.

Both city staff and NAH presented details of the project, and gave the commission an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the proposal with more specificity.

While the request was split into two items -- a specific plan and concept zoning map amendment -- staff gave one presentation that covered both.

A specific plan is a more detailed look at a part of the citys regional plan. When a rezoning request comes with one, according to the presentation, that plan can also be a development master plan.

In this case, this specific plan is serving as a master plan for this development, said zoning code manager Tiffany Antol, who gave most of the citys presentation. It will be adopted by ordinance. It will include some specific zoning modifications.

The zoning map amendment will change 98.39 acres on the new site from a mix of rural residential and estate residential to highway commercial and public facilities, adding three parcels to the resource protection overlay.

The plan splits the project into two phases. The first includes the hospital and ambulatory care center (ACC, which with the hospital totals 1.15 million square feet), as well as open and civic space (31.2 acres).

This fits into three of the seven land use areas proposed for the project site: 1A, 1B and 2B. The first two are both public open space, the area around the Sinclair Wash section of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System and a planned wellness retreat, respectively. Area 2B is the hospital site, which includes the ACC, medical offices and both garage and field parking areas.

Phase two is the rest of the health village -- the surrounding structures and businesses that will support the hospital and ACC. This phase includes the residential units (in its presentation, NAH raised the expected number to 325, with 7% dedicated to affordable housing and only 10 to 15 reserved for the organizations use), non-residential uses such as hotels, retail and additional medical offices (230,000 square feet), and research and development (250,000 square feet).

Only the first phase is currently up for approval by planning and zoning at this time before it will make its way to city council.

Code modifications

A number of zoning code modifications were included in the specific plan to allow for the development needs of the hospital.

Rather than building close to the street as required by code, the hospital is proposed to be on the center of the site in order to avoid the greatest noise impacts from both the airport and Interstate 17. NAH also plans to use more than the maximum allowed amount (25%) of stucco on the building's exterior due to the height of the patient tower (itself another zoning modification).

The plan adds more bike parking than is in the code (200 spaces rather than 100 required), as well as a requirement that 20% will be covered.

In the rezoning part of the presentation, Antol said NAH is also expected to exceed parking requirements.

The citys calculations based on use type would require 1,165 spaces for the hospital and ACC, while NAHs plans for the site have 2,355. It is allowed to go over because the plan includes a parking garage (meant for employee parking). There will also be a parking field for general parking -- which Antol noted also allows for a second garage should one be needed.

Codes for the project will also be changed to prohibit unrelated uses typically allowed in public facility and highway commercial zones, and that any highway commercial uses need to be accessory to the hospital. A new use was also added to the latter zoning category to allow for a helipad on the hospital roof.

The hospital will also not need to go through the typically required process of obtaining a conditional use permit for the location.

In every zone in the city, hospitals require a conditional use permit; they are permitted nowhere by right, Antol said. A conditional use permit is considered a permitted use but does have to go through that additional process. In this particular case, we were doing so many entitlements for the specific plan and the rezoning, it didn't seem valid to also require a conditional use permit on top of that.

Antol then went into detail on impacts in a number of areas: police, fire, schools, economics, parks, bike and pedestrian circulation, cultural resources, traffic, water and sewer. Fire, specifically the fire departments needs in responding to the new site, and the traffic impact analysis (TIA) were the focus of the commissions questions for this section.

Throughout NAH's presentation, one focus of discussion was the use of its other locations around Flagstaff, including the current hospital, after the new site was built.

Fire department

The fire impact report's recommendations included further assessments of the relocation of the emergency room and fire stations in the context of further development to the south of Flagstaff as well as following the recommendations outlined in the fire risk analysis.

The best way to reduce the impact of this development on the Flagstaff Fire Department will be to design and construct the project according to the adopted building and fire codes in place for the City of Flagstaff, the staff report said. The development of this project at the far southern end of the city has longer-term impacts on the delivery of fire and emergency medical services.

A J.W. Powell Fire Station siting study finished in November of 2022 included impacts from the project. Among the report's findings were that Flagstaffs fire department does not meet the minimum staffing requirements of relevant national standards and best practices and that the high-rise tower included in NAH's design would need additional response units.

Station No. 6, which is located on Lake Mary Road, is the nearest fire station to the new medical campus, and the report recommended that a second unit be provided there. Station No. 6 is also too small to add another unit, so a new station nearby is needed.

A new ladder truck, engine, battalion chief SUV and nine full-time personnel will be needed to fulfill these recommendations, including an additional battalion chief and three fire personnel per shift (15 total full-time employees at an additional $2.4 million in annual operational costs).

Multiple questions about the fire analysis had to do with the risk associated with the additional building height. Fire Chief Mark Gaillard said during the meeting that the department would not need new equipment to handle the patient towers, but it would need additional staff, both because of height and the larger proportion of non-ambulatory people in a hospital.

While a lower height would make for an easier response, he said, other factors would still create an elevated risk at the site.

The fact that the location is on the edge of our infrastructure, our system of fire stations, it still presents a large risk, he said. I have less trucks that can get there in a timely manner than I do at the existing location. So yes, it's a risk: if it's not high rise, it's better. I mean in just life-safety context only, not whether its functional for the applicant. In a life-safety sense, yes, thats a little bit better, but it's still at a high risk and it still creates problems because our city system never anticipated that intensity of risk at that location.

Planing and zoning Commissioner Marchell Camp asked who would pay for the needed improvements, listing a $9.5 million truck, $2.4 million in annual staffing and the unspecified cost of building a new station. Gaillard replied that this is currently the subject of great debate, adding that the city and NAH were both working on the question. Antol also noted that having staff is a condition of the plan, so the hospital cannot be built without it being funded.

Traffic impacts

NAH has requested to use a phased TIA for this project. The first has been completed and the second is expected to begin soon after the first phase of construction is finished. There are also plans to study the hospitals effect on actual traffic once the first phase is completed.

The TIA found that once the project is complete it will generate a total of 53,190 new daily trips. For comparison, Beulah Boulevard currently sees 3,823 daily trips, and senior transportation engineer Stephanie Santana mentioned that Milton Road gets around 35,000 daily trips. Of 32 intersections studied throughout the city, it was found that 26 will need some form of improvement.

Required improvements from this phase include widening Beulah to four lanes (between Woodlands Village and J.W. Powell boulevards) and intersection improvements along both Beulah and Powell.

Topics Santana mentioned as ongoing discussions had to do with elevation designs to accommodate planned construction for the future, specifically Beulahs intersection with Purple Sage (future I-17 underpass) and the hospitals main entrance (future signal). The discussions are expected to be complete by the time the plans are brought to city council, she said, with the proposed date currently expected for April.

We won't know what the full cost of the improvements on Beulah would be until we actually get into the civil plan review and start to get the construction estimates, Antol said in response to a question, but we can tell you that the city has partnered with NAH for a RAISE grant, so we are pursuing federal transportation dollars to have this funded.

She added:  ... We need to be fluid in how those elements are paid for, but understanding that they are required to occur in order for the development to be supported."

Community response

A total of 15 residents made comments at the meeting (including representatives from Coconino County, the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Flagstaffs Future and ECONA), though more were in attendance. Of those who spoke, 10 supported the new campus and five expressed concerns.

Dr. Adam Weiss, who works at FMC, said he supported the project.

In this case, the risks are far outweighed by the benefit of a new state-of-the-art hospital in our community, he said. Practicing in an outdated, undersized facility creates major challenges for patient care.  Yes, there will be challenges to overcome, but most of the physicians Ive talked to agree that a new campus is the best thing for our community.

Flagstaff resident Steve Vargus, who said hed volunteered with NAH, was also in favor of the new hospital.

Were beyond the ability for us to meet current needs and with that, we end up making as a community choices about what services we offer and what we do not offer, and that's at our expense," he said. " ... I've heard community members today speak saying what we have today is just fine. In my opinion, that's standing still and standing still is going backwards."

Marilyn Weissman was among the residents who spoke against the new campus, and one of two to cite city policy LU 5.2.

"NAH knew perfectly well that the activity center at this location was for suburban use, but they also knew perfectly well how to work the system so that a large wealthy player could get their way," she said. "Without much discussion, the suburban activity center definition was changed to regional to accommodate them, and now you're expected to follow along and approve the rest of the changes they need to proceed without any of the guarantees that being on the periphery won't burden city finances, the taxpayers, make Milton a parking lot and severely limit the ability to make Flagstaff climate neutral."

A recording of Wednesday's meeting can be found online (discussion of this project starts at about 20 minutes). The next hearing will be at the Aquaplex on Wednesday, April 12.

More about the project is available at nahealth.org/expansion.
Investment analysts at Liberum Capital began coverage on shares of Greggs (OTCMKTS:GGGSF  Get Rating) in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage set a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on GGGSF. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Greggs from GBX 2,900 ($35.61) to GBX 3,020 ($37.09) in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Greggs from GBX 3,000 ($36.84) to GBX 3,200 ($39.30) in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Greggs from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th.

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Greggs Stock Performance

GGGSF stock opened at $30.00 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $30.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.82. Greggs has a 52 week low of $18.00 and a 52 week high of $30.00.

Greggs Company Profile

Greggs plc operates as a bakery food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh and frozen bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses.

Further Reading

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Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) CEO Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.03, for a total value of $137,046.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 27,671,609 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,230,764,249.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Marc Benioff also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, March 20th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.32, for a total value of $133,632.00.

On Friday, March 17th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.49, for a total value of $134,480.25.

On Wednesday, March 15th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $181.28, for a total value of $131,428.00.

On Monday, March 13th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.42, for a total value of $126,454.50.

On Wednesday, March 8th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.19, for a total value of $132,812.75.

On Monday, March 6th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $186.62, for a total value of $135,299.50.

On Thursday, March 2nd, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.10, for a total value of $136,372.50.

On Monday, February 27th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.07, for a total value of $118,225.75.

On Friday, February 24th, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.98, for a total value of $116,710.50.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, Marc Benioff sold 725 shares of Salesforce stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.33, for a total value of $118,414.25.

Salesforce Stock Performance

NYSE CRM traded up $0.93 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $187.44. The companys stock had a trading volume of 8,681,664 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,434,693. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $168.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $154.49. Salesforce, Inc. has a 52 week low of $126.34 and a 52 week high of $222.15. The stock has a market cap of $187.44 billion, a PE ratio of 888.19, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.21.

Salesforce ( NYSE:CRM Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The CRM provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by $0.32. Salesforce had a net margin of 0.66% and a return on equity of 4.48%. The firm had revenue of $8.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.99 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.24 earnings per share. Salesforces revenue was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Salesforce, Inc. will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Salesforce announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, March 1st that permits the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the CRM provider to reacquire up to 10.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Salesforce

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in CRM. Fairfield Bush & CO. increased its stake in shares of Salesforce by 8.7% in the first quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 4,468 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $949,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares during the period. Roundview Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Salesforce by 18.8% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 24,037 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $5,104,000 after purchasing an additional 3,809 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Salesforce by 42.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 621 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $132,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new position in shares of Salesforce during the first quarter valued at approximately $455,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of Salesforce by 21.3% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 860,950 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $182,797,000 after acquiring an additional 151,440 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.83% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have weighed in on CRM. UBS Group boosted their price target on Salesforce from $162.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Salesforce from $200.00 to $185.00 in a report on Monday, November 28th. Bank of America boosted their price target on Salesforce from $200.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Salesforce from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and cut their price target for the company from $134.00 to $119.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Salesforce from $185.00 to $225.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, twenty-eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $211.24.

Salesforce Company Profile

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Salesforce, Inc engages in the design and development of cloud-based enterprise software for customer relationship management. Its solutions include sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, digital commerce, community management, collaboration, industry-specific solutions, and salesforce platform.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System acquired a new stake in ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 143,044 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $9,398,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Command Bank increased its position in ONEOK by 401.0% in the 2nd quarter. First Command Bank now owns 491 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in ONEOK in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in ONEOK in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in ONEOK in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, CI Investments Inc. increased its position in ONEOK by 1,003.7% in the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 596 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 542 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.16% of the companys stock.

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ONEOK Stock Down 2.6 %

ONEOK stock opened at $58.64 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $67.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is $63.33. ONEOK, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $50.50 and a fifty-two week high of $75.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.31, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.64.

ONEOK Increases Dividend

ONEOK ( NYSE:OKE Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.06. ONEOK had a net margin of 7.69% and a return on equity of 27.65%. The firm had revenue of $5.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.03 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.85 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.28 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 30th were paid a $0.955 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 27th. This represents a $3.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.51%. This is a positive change from ONEOKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. ONEOKs payout ratio is presently 99.74%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of ONEOK from $70.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of ONEOK from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of ONEOK from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $68.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Friday, December 16th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of ONEOK in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. They set a sector perform rating and a $74.00 price target for the company. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of ONEOK from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.44.

ONEOK Profile

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ONEOK, Inc engages in gathering, processing, fractionating, transporting, storing and marketing of natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines. The Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment offers midstream services to producers in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System raised its holdings in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 119,625 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,641 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $9,960,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SCHW. Fisher Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the third quarter worth about $1,109,194,000. Dodge & Cox grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 9.4% during the second quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 79,042,463 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,993,903,000 after buying an additional 6,803,282 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 37.0% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 10,355,686 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $747,479,000 after buying an additional 2,798,159 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 124,437,061 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,943,291,000 after buying an additional 2,589,952 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 49.3% in the second quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 4,986,327 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $315,036,000 after acquiring an additional 1,645,558 shares during the last quarter. 73.49% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Charles Schwab news, insider Bernard J. Clark bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $54.83 per share, for a total transaction of $274,150.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 120,653 shares in the company, valued at $6,615,403.99. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, insider Bernard J. Clark bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $54.83 per share, for a total transaction of $274,150.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 120,653 shares in the company, valued at $6,615,403.99. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Walter W. Bettinger bought 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,937,074.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders purchased 76,000 shares of company stock worth $4,439,610 and sold 728,106 shares worth $58,067,403. Insiders own 7.50% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Stock Down 6.0 %

Shares of NYSE:SCHW opened at $52.89 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $74.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $76.15. The firm has a market cap of $94.75 billion, a PE ratio of 15.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.93. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12-month low of $45.00 and a 12-month high of $93.16.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.55 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.94% and a net margin of 34.60%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.86 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 4.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 9th. This is a positive change from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 28.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SCHW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, March 10th. They issued a buy rating and a $97.00 target price on the stock. Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $81.50 to $67.50 in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $79.00 to $61.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $88.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and reduced their price target for the company from $83.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Monday, March 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $83.65.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

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The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED  Get Rating) by 311.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 113,344 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 85,819 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $10,803,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 3,908 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $372,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the period. Brinker Capital Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 9,592 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $908,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the period. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC boosted its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC now owns 3,016 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $258,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the period. Keybank National Association OH boosted its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 13,223 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,134,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the period. Finally, G&S Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Consolidated Edison by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. G&S Capital LLC now owns 9,026 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $774,000 after acquiring an additional 148 shares during the period. 64.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on ED shares. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on Consolidated Edison from $97.00 to $86.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Consolidated Edison from $94.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 27th. Mizuho lowered their target price on Consolidated Edison from $98.00 to $92.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 17th. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on Consolidated Edison from $95.00 to $91.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Consolidated Edison from $92.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Consolidated Edison has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $89.92.

Consolidated Edison Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of ED stock opened at $91.73 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $92.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.57 billion, a PE ratio of 19.64, a P/E/G ratio of 9.65 and a beta of 0.35. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $78.10 and a fifty-two week high of $102.21.

Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.03. Consolidated Edison had a return on equity of 7.79% and a net margin of 10.59%. The firm had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.00 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 18.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 4.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Consolidated Edison Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 15th were given a dividend of $0.81 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 14th. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.53%. This is an increase from Consolidated Edisons previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Consolidated Edisons dividend payout ratio is currently 69.38%.

Consolidated Edison Company Profile

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Consolidated Edison, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the business of regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery. It operates through the following segments: Consolidated Edison Company of New York (CECONY), Orange and Rockland Utilities(O&R), Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses and Con Edison Transmission.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System bought a new position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 111,401 shares of the retailers stock, valued at approximately $15,796,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. AMI Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Walmart by 1.6% in the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,269 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,231,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in Walmart by 36.8% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 4,820 shares of the retailers stock valued at $718,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Walmart by 31.7% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,162 shares of the retailers stock valued at $173,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 123.9% in the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 10,566 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,573,000 after acquiring an additional 5,847 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Walmart by 1.7% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 857,839 shares of the retailers stock valued at $127,749,000 after acquiring an additional 13,985 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.27% of the companys stock.

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Walmart Stock Up 0.8 %

WMT stock opened at $140.65 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $141.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $141.24. The company has a market cap of $379.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.86, a P/E/G ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a twelve month low of $117.27 and a twelve month high of $160.77.

Walmart Announces Dividend

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $164.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $158.67 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The businesss revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.53 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is 53.27%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 478,764 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.71, for a total transaction of $67,366,882.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 254,748,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,845,591,502.13. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 478,764 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.71, for a total transaction of $67,366,882.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 254,748,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,845,591,502.13. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 852,215 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total value of $122,940,535.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 266,841,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,494,543,249.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 12,503,132 shares of company stock worth $1,753,800,408 over the last ninety days. 47.06% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMT has been the topic of several analyst reports. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 target price on Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, December 6th. They issued a market perform rating and a $159.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Walmart in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Walmart from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $162.44.

Walmart Company Profile

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Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 134,658 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 1,552 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $14,784,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 21,523 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,083,000 after acquiring an additional 495 shares during the period. Country Club Bank GFN lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Country Club Bank GFN now owns 18,236 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,793,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the period. First Financial Corp IN lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 18,541 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,794,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares during the period. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC now owns 42,554 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,118,000 after acquiring an additional 1,301 shares during the period. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,141 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $674,000 after acquiring an additional 389 shares during the period. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of ABT opened at $97.04 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $168.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.82, a PEG ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.68. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $93.25 and a 12-month high of $124.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The company has a 50-day moving average of $105.59 and a two-hundred day moving average of $104.70.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.69 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 15.88% and a return on equity of 26.09%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.32 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 52.17%.

Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories

In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $103,922.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 1,971 shares of company stock worth $199,140. 0.52% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on ABT. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $109.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $124.67.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Mistras Group (NYSE:MG  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report report published on Tuesday.

Mistras Group Stock Performance

Shares of MG stock opened at $6.07 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 1.62. Mistras Group has a fifty-two week low of $3.38 and a fifty-two week high of $6.83. The company has a market capitalization of $181.68 million, a P/E ratio of 30.35 and a beta of 1.49. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $5.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.91.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mistras Group

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Mistras Group by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,869 shares of the technology companys stock worth $171,000 after purchasing an additional 1,713 shares during the period. Red Cedar Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mistras Group by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Red Cedar Capital LLC now owns 394,411 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,759,000 after purchasing an additional 2,407 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mistras Group by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 158,033 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $779,000 after purchasing an additional 2,413 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Mistras Group by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 38,469 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $254,000 after purchasing an additional 2,477 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Mistras Group by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 336,369 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,223,000 after purchasing an additional 3,295 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 48.42% of the companys stock.

Mistras Group Company Profile

MISTRAS Group, Inc engages in the provision of technology-enabled asset protection solutions. The firm serves the oil and gas, aerospace, power, infrastructure, and manufacturing markets. It operates through the following segments: Services, International Offers Services, and Products and Systems. The Services segment provides asset protection solutions primarily in North America, consisting primarily of non-destructive testing, inspection, mechanical, and engineering services.

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Shares of New Zealand Energy Corp. (CVE:NZ  Get Rating) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$0.10 and traded as high as C$0.13. New Zealand Energy shares last traded at C$0.13, with a volume of 5,000 shares trading hands.

New Zealand Energy Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of C$2.20 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.17 and a beta of 1.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$0.10 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 182.40.

New Zealand Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

New Zealand Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in New Zealand. It has interests in Taranaki Basin; Copper Moki/Eltham permits; Alton permits; and TWN licenses. It also operates midstream assets. New Zealand Energy Corp. was incorporated in 2010 and is based in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

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Northwest Investment Counselors LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Get Rating) by 334.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,124 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,026 shares during the period. Northwest Investment Counselors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $658,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 7.8% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,253 shares of the companys stock worth $646,000 after purchasing an additional 594 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.7% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 95,612 shares of the companys stock worth $7,417,000 after purchasing an additional 1,612 shares during the period. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.4% during the first quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 1,348,690 shares of the companys stock worth $104,618,000 after purchasing an additional 57,434 shares during the period. Founders Financial Securities LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 27.0% during the first quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 88,779 shares of the companys stock worth $6,887,000 after purchasing an additional 18,853 shares during the period. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 6.1% during the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 12,575 shares of the companys stock worth $975,000 after purchasing an additional 719 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Trading Down 0.3 %

USMV stock traded down $0.23 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $69.68. 3,894,727 shares of the company were exchanged. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $71.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $71.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.10 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.76. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $47.44 and a 1-year high of $55.45.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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At around 6:20 a.m. Friday morning, a Flagstaff Unified School District school bus was on its way to pick up students when Slayton Ranch Road collapsed.

The bus driver said she was just a few yards away from the very first stop, driving slowly over the icy Doney Park road. She felt the rear end of the bus drop and was immediately startled.

There were no children onboard, and the driver was able to exit the vehicle safely. The road beneath the rear wheels started to crumble away, leaving about a foot of the buss frame to hold it on the remaining pavement on the south side of Slayton Ranch Road.

The road collapse was caused by extreme flows in the Rio De Flag, which overwhelmed and eroded the soil around two metal culverts that ran underneath Slayton Road. Following a season of record snowfall, flows in the Rio de Flag have been elevated by rapid and widespread snowmelt across the Flagstaff area.

As the water rushed by after the collapse, it continued to erode the pavement, and large chunks broke off into a stream traveling west under the bus, barrelling through a white fence, corral panels and still more Doney Park property downstream.

Dave Fritzche lives on Slayton Ranch Road and said hed seen the road take on water on Thursday night.

The water was running over the road and cutting it out. Then it slowly ate it away, he said.

Fritzches property was beginning to become waterlogged, and his family was out at 9 p.m. Thursday building sandbag walls. When he saw the water change course, he noticed the road collapse and the stranded bus.

Another Slayton Road resident, Jim Herre, said he saw the road collapse just after 6 a.m.

It was not the drivers fault, Herre said, describing how erosion from the flowing water had created a false bridge over the road.

Herre also noted that seeing water run through drainages in the area was a rarity.

I have not had water in my Rio de Flag since 2005, he said.

Deputies with the Coconino County Sheriffs Department arrived on the scene at about 6:30 a.m. on Friday and set up cones to restrict access to the area.

Deputy Chris Smolinski told the Arizona Daily Sun that, as of press time, the road was closed except to local traffic.

According to a county release, residents on the north side of the wash may use Neptune Road to access Silver Saddle Road, while residents on the south side of the wash should use Townsend-Winona Road.

A crew from Jett Towing arrived to help free the stranded bus, speculating that the vehicle might be totaled as a result of damage to the axle from impact with the remaining road. They brought in material to backfill the road where it had collapsed in order to hedge against further erosion as they suspended the buss rear end by crane and drove it forward onto a tow trailer.

Rescuing the bus went as smooth as it could have, said Sean Dziedzic of Jett Towing. We were all worried about that road caving in and washing away more.

By about 11 a.m. the bus had been successfully towed. The bus driver, who came out of retirement recently when the district expressed a need for bus drivers, expressed her gratitude that there werent any children onboard and wished only that the road had been closed when the flooding began.

Coconino County Public Works has closed Slayton Ranch Road indefinitely while it assesses the damage and determines steps forward in making repairs.

Were mobilizing now to put up larger signs at the Townsend-Winona entrance as well as the Doney Park location. Were going to put up some major barricades, said Andy Bertelsen, county deputy manager.

They recommend residents use Neptune Road to access Silver Saddle Road on the north side of the wash, and that residents on south side take Slayton Ranch Road to Townsend-Winona.

Waterlines at the location were all but submerged, exposed between rolling waves and the crumbling pavement. Doney Park water crews were on-site to keep an eye on the situation, and an employee stood near the meter to shut off the lines in the event of a break.

Neighbors on site expressed their concern for people farther downstream and said this was an unexpected and shocking side effect of the flooding many have already been dealing with for much of the week.

Coconino County engineer Christopher Tressler said the county was acting fast to understand the full range of risk posed by this seasons snowmelt.

Public safety is really important to us, he said. We're conducting rapid assessments of all the county crossings of washes that are seeing spring runoff and snowmelt runoff.

Tressler said the assessments will be used to identify necessary improvements in the area, including a potential upsizing of the culvert beneath Slayton Ranch Road. In his estimation, a full repair of the road could be 60 to 90 days out  a timeline commensurate with the jurisdictional complexity of the waterway.

Some things are outside of the county's control, he said. This is the Rio de Flag, so this waterway is influenced by decisions of the Army Corps of Engineers. It goes to the state level and the federal level as well.

Bertelsen added that the county is now monitoring all of the places where the Rio de Flag crosses over or might overwhelm culverts and roads.

We have ponding as well at Hutton Ranch Road, Bertelsen said. Even in Flagstaff, the Rio de Flag is flowing heavily through town. Fort Valley as well, as the Rio de Flag flows through our community, the extreme ponding that we have in Fort Valley that threatens peoples homes and outbuildings.

He described the county as a heavily saturated area as snow continues to melt and the region receives additional precipitation.

Gallery: Flagstaff under water as snowmelt, rain saturates the city Foxglenn Park Flooded There's a Hippo in the Park Merilee Lane Foxglenn Park Flooded Picnic, Anyone? Water Pumped Off 89N Foxglenn Park Flooded Water, Water Everywhere Foxglenn Park Flooded Rio de Flag Floods Foxglenn Park Driving Range Becomes Pond, Floods FAC East Parking Lot Foxglenn Park Flooded Water, Water Everywhere Water, Water Everywhere Water, Water Everywhere Walnut Canyon Lake Bursts Its Banks Water, Water Everywhere Why Did the Duck Cross the Road? Making a Splash Bursting Banks Water, Water Everywhere Water, Water Everywhere Water Crossing on Soliere Avenue Harold Ranch Road Cut-Off By Floodwater

At the same time that crews were rescuing the bus at Slayton Ranch Road, county public works personnel took up stations downstream to evaluate flows over Hutton Ranch Road.

There, ponding had begun to overtop the road from the west, flowing at a height of about an inch. While the water was not particularly deep, erosion had begun to cut foot-long gouges into the east side of the road, where the water descended to meet its original flow path.

The roads integrity remained relatively uncompromised, however, and by noon county public works crews had dropped and graded a fresh layer of material, effectively stopping the flow and repairing the eroded section of the road.

Longtime resident Roy Van Horn was driving down Hutton Ranch Road to check on a friend at the time the county was performing the repairs. He said he hadnt seen snowmelt of this magnitude since 1979.

Water is the most powerful force in nature, Van Horn said. It cant be stopped and it will take everything in its path, no lie.

Back on Slayton Ranch Road, County Manager Steve Peru corroborated the observation that the water responsible for Fridays road damage was an anomaly.

The flows in that area have historically been limited to none, he said.

The supervisor said he was in a meeting when he heard about the buss situation and arrived at the scene after 7:15 a.m.

From the north side of the road, Peru was able to see the bus straddling the banks of a rushing Rio. He described the scene as an extreme example of the impacts of the record-breaking weather events affecting the 18,000-square-mile county.

As of Friday, the National Weather Service reported that Flagstaff had received 159.2 inches of snow  the fifth-highest amount in over a century of record keeping.

It has been a challenging time for everyone. We appreciate the patience and fortitude of everyone in our county. I think were all just ready for a break, Peru said.
Orchard Funding Group plc (LON:ORCH  Get Rating) traded down 3.6% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 40.13 ($0.49) and last traded at GBX 40.50 ($0.50). 53,817 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 43% from the average session volume of 37,529 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 42 ($0.52).

Orchard Funding Group Trading Down 3.6 %

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 44.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 47.39. The firm has a market capitalization of 8.65 million, a P/E ratio of 578.57 and a beta of 0.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 153.05.

Orchard Funding Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Orchard Funding Group plc, through its subsidiaries, provides insurance premium finance, professional fee funding, finance, and secured property lending services in the United Kingdom. It offers credit to businesses and consumers for spreading the cost of their insurance premiums; and professional customized fee funding solutions to accounting firms, professionals, and small businesses to provide extended credit to their business clients.

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Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OTCMKTS:OROVY  Get Rating) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $84.34 and traded as low as $82.16. Orient Overseas (International) shares last traded at $82.16, with a volume of 246 shares.

Orient Overseas (International) Price Performance

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $84.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $85.87. The company has a quick ratio of 2.96, a current ratio of 3.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.

Orient Overseas (International) Company Profile

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Orient Overseas (International) Limited, an investment holding company, provides container transport and logistics services in Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, and internationally. The company offers supply-chain management and distribution services; and containerised shipping services in various trade lanes comprising Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, Asia/Europe, Asia/Australia, and Intra-Asia trades.

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Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $109.73.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $86.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $95.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Societe Generale initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. They set a sell rating and a $90.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $95.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total transaction of $786,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares in the company, valued at $8,588,020.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 20,308 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.30, for a total value of $2,036,892.40. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,248,525.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total transaction of $786,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares in the company, valued at $8,588,020.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 117,064 shares of company stock worth $11,738,763. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Philip Morris International Price Performance

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,762 shares of the companys stock worth $1,308,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 9.5% during the 3rd quarter. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. now owns 35,760 shares of the companys stock worth $2,968,000 after acquiring an additional 3,089 shares in the last quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $263,000. Gradient Investments LLC grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 5,136 shares of the companys stock worth $426,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Bank Trust Division grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 3,106 shares of the companys stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.85% of the companys stock.

Shares of PM stock opened at $90.27 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $139.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.54, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.69. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $100.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $96.69. Philip Morris International has a one year low of $82.85 and a one year high of $109.81.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.10. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.22% and a negative return on equity of 127.24%. The business had revenue of $8.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.35 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Philip Morris International will post 6.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be given a dividend of $1.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.63%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 87.44%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

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Berenberg Bank reiterated their buy rating on shares of Rainbow Rare Earths (LON:RBW  Get Rating) in a research note published on Monday, Marketbeat.com reports. Berenberg Bank currently has a GBX 10 ($0.12) price objective on the stock.

Rainbow Rare Earths Price Performance

Shares of LON:RBW opened at GBX 9.25 ($0.11) on Monday. The firm has a market cap of 48.69 million, a PE ratio of -925.00 and a beta of 1.68. The firms fifty day moving average is GBX 11.06 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 10.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.66, a quick ratio of 3.79 and a current ratio of 4.59. Rainbow Rare Earths has a 52 week low of GBX 8.51 ($0.10) and a 52 week high of GBX 16.50 ($0.20).

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Rainbow Rare Earths Company Profile

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Further Reading

Rainbow Rare Earths Limited engages in the mining and exploration of rare earth minerals. It explores for neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and praseodymium deposits. The company primarily holds a 90% interest in the Gakara project covering an area of approximately 135 square kilometers located in Western Burundi.

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Retirement Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $47,000.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. GQG Partners LLC raised its holdings in British American Tobacco by 17.5% in the 2nd quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 34,129,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,464,643,000 after acquiring an additional 5,093,321 shares during the period. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in British American Tobacco by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 9,449,045 shares of the companys stock valued at $400,788,000 after acquiring an additional 1,060,090 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,624,861 shares of the companys stock worth $237,145,000 after purchasing an additional 582,790 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 8.6% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,311,628 shares of the companys stock worth $181,778,000 after purchasing an additional 340,040 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 4,154,789 shares of the companys stock worth $178,282,000 after purchasing an additional 62,777 shares in the last quarter. 6.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on BTI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of British American Tobacco from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 1.4 %

British American Tobacco Increases Dividend

Shares of NYSE BTI traded up $0.48 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $35.08. 1,887,803 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,661,485. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.86. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $37.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $38.70. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 1-year low of $34.44 and a 1-year high of $45.28.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 22nd will be paid a $0.7006 dividend. This is an increase from British American Tobaccos previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 21st. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.99%.

About British American Tobacco

(Get Rating)

British American Tobacco plc is a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and distribution of tobacco products. Its brands include Kent, Dunhill, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Asia-Pacific and Middle East (APME), Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa (AMSSA), and Europe and North Africa (ENA).

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Romano Brothers AND Company lowered its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW  Get Rating) by 10.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 31,490 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 3,735 shares during the period. Romano Brothers AND Companys holdings in Pinnacle West Capital were worth $2,394,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Infini Capital Management Ltd bought a new position in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the second quarter valued at $217,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 60.1% during the second quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 66,318 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,849,000 after acquiring an additional 24,896 shares during the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division raised its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 164.1% during the third quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 8,084 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $521,000 after buying an additional 5,023 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 23.6% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 102,520 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,614,000 after buying an additional 19,550 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC raised its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 19.7% during the second quarter. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC now owns 11,090 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $811,000 after buying an additional 1,823 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.21% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on PNW. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $76.00 to $74.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Evercore ISI set a $72.00 target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Thursday, November 24th. Siebert Williams Shank lifted their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital to $91.00 in a research note on Monday, November 28th. Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $77.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $70.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.73.

Pinnacle West Capital Trading Down 1.6 %

NYSE:PNW opened at $74.10 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.35 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $75.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $73.26. Pinnacle West Capital Co. has a 12 month low of $59.03 and a 12 month high of $80.60.

Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported ($0.21) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.18) by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $1.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $638.28 million. Pinnacle West Capital had a net margin of 11.18% and a return on equity of 7.87%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 26.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.24 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Pinnacle West Capital Co. will post 4.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pinnacle West Capital Profile

(Get Rating)

Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is a holding company, which engages in providing energy and energy-related products. It offers regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses and related activities, such as electricity generation, transmission and distribution through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Co The company was founded on February 20, 1985, and is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ.

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Societe Generale downgraded shares of UBS Group (NYSE:UBS  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. They currently have $18.86 price objective on the banks stock.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of UBS Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Bank of America raised shares of UBS Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded shares of UBS Group from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a report on Monday. TheStreet downgraded shares of UBS Group from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group downgraded shares of UBS Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $19.38.

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UBS Group Stock Performance

Shares of UBS stock opened at $19.17 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $66.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.56, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.29, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.00. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $21.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.47. UBS Group has a 52 week low of $13.80 and a 52 week high of $22.30.

UBS Group Cuts Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UBS Group

The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a dividend of $0.179 per share. This represents a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. UBS Groups dividend payout ratio is 7.14%.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UBS. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in UBS Group by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 24,726 shares of the banks stock worth $483,000 after purchasing an additional 1,412 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in UBS Group by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,465,156 shares of the banks stock worth $48,169,000 after purchasing an additional 142,328 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in UBS Group by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,348,771 shares of the banks stock worth $84,975,000 after purchasing an additional 453,906 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its position in UBS Group by 136.0% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 293,491 shares of the banks stock worth $5,716,000 after purchasing an additional 169,106 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in UBS Group by 39.3% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 15,826 shares of the banks stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 4,466 shares in the last quarter. 32.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About UBS Group

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UBS Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial management solutions. It operates through the following segments: Global Wealth Management, Personal and Corporate Banking, Asset Management, Investment Bank, and Group Functions. The Global Wealth Management segment advises and offers financial services to wealthy private clients except those served by Wealth Management Americas which include banking and lending, wealth planning, and investment management.

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Spire (NYSE:SR  Get Rating) had its price target reduced by Morgan Stanley from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research note released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the utilities providers stock.

SR has been the subject of several other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Spire from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, November 21st. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Spire from $61.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Spire from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $69.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday, December 5th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Spire in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Spire from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.63.

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Spire Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of Spire stock opened at $66.82 on Tuesday. Spire has a 52-week low of $61.52 and a 52-week high of $79.24. The company has a 50 day moving average of $71.03 and a 200 day moving average of $69.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The company has a market capitalization of $3.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.43, a P/E/G ratio of 3.93 and a beta of 0.47.

Spire Increases Dividend

Spire ( NYSE:SR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.49. Spire had a net margin of 10.42% and a return on equity of 9.18%. The company had revenue of $814.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $561.35 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.14 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 46.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Spire will post 4.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th will be paid a $0.72 dividend. This is a boost from Spires previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 9th. Spires payout ratio is currently 62.20%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Spire

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SR. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Spire in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new position in Spire in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Spire by 77.2% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 622 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 271 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in Spire by 47.1% in the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 581 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, CI Investments Inc. acquired a new position in Spire in the 4th quarter valued at $44,000. 99.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Spire Company Profile

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Spire Inc operates as a public utility holding company, which provides natural gas service through its utility operations while engaging in non-regulated activities. It operates through the Gas Utility and Gas Marketing Business segments. The Gas Utility segment includes the regulated operations of Laclede Gas Company and Alabama Gas Corporation.

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The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI  Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note issued on Thursday.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on CI. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on The Cigna Group from $347.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 6th. SVB Leerink raised their target price on The Cigna Group from $309.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Raymond James cut their target price on The Cigna Group from $370.00 to $350.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on The Cigna Group from $359.00 to $348.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut The Cigna Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price objective for the company from $370.00 to $355.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $339.00.

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The Cigna Group Trading Down 5.1 %

Shares of CI traded down $13.86 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $256.58. The company had a trading volume of 3,384,623 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,735,089. The firm has a market cap of $76.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.00, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.67. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $293.47 and its 200 day moving average price is $303.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The Cigna Group has a 52-week low of $238.50 and a 52-week high of $340.11.

Insider Activity

The Cigna Group ( NYSE:CI Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 3rd. The health services provider reported $4.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.84 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $45.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.79 billion. The Cigna Group had a return on equity of 16.01% and a net margin of 3.69%. The companys quarterly revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.77 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that The Cigna Group will post 24.92 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CEO David Cordani sold 20,148 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $294.06, for a total value of $5,924,720.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 120,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,433,053.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO David Cordani sold 20,148 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $294.06, for a total value of $5,924,720.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 120,496 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,433,053.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Cynthia Ryan sold 803 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $294.06, for a total transaction of $236,130.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,912,272.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 27,752 shares of company stock worth $8,008,479. Insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On The Cigna Group

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CI. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of The Cigna Group by 154,255.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,954,841 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $3,961,117,000 after acquiring an additional 11,947,096 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of The Cigna Group in the 4th quarter worth $963,542,000. Edmp Inc. increased its stake in shares of The Cigna Group by 32,426.5% in the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 1,606,807 shares of the health services providers stock worth $4,849,000 after purchasing an additional 1,601,867 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in shares of The Cigna Group by 451.9% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 557,738 shares of the health services providers stock worth $154,940,000 after purchasing an additional 456,688 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Putnam Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of The Cigna Group by 16.5% in the 3rd quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 1,997,800 shares of the health services providers stock worth $554,330,000 after purchasing an additional 283,323 shares in the last quarter. 87.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

The Cigna Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Cigna Group is engaged in the provision of global health services. It operates through the following segments: Evernorth, U.S. Medical, International Markets, and Group Disability and Other. The Evernorth segment includes a broad range of coordinated and point solution health services, including pharmacy solutions, benefits management solutions, care solutions and intelligence solutions.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its position in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 306,703 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,617 shares during the quarter. Coca-Cola accounts for 0.6% of Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $19,509,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola in the first quarter worth $77,000. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 16.7% in the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 12,227 shares of the companys stock worth $758,000 after acquiring an additional 1,754 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 41.4% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 149,275 shares of the companys stock worth $9,255,000 after acquiring an additional 43,680 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 385.3% in the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 19,032 shares of the companys stock worth $1,180,000 after acquiring an additional 15,110 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 11.9% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,840,557 shares of the companys stock worth $176,115,000 after acquiring an additional 301,804 shares during the last quarter. 68.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola

In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Brian John Smith sold 126,972 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.07, for a total value of $7,881,152.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 116,168 shares in the company, valued at $7,210,547.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 282,268 shares of company stock worth $17,137,823 over the last quarter. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Coca-Cola Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of KO opened at $59.92 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $259.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.24, a P/E/G ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.53. The Coca-Cola Company has a one year low of $54.01 and a one year high of $67.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $60.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $60.36.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.45. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.35% and a net margin of 22.19%. The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.92 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.45 earnings per share. Coca-Colas revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.07%. This is a boost from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio is presently 83.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on KO shares. Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 target price on Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 target price on Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.55.

Coca-Cola Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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March 10 marks a glorious moment in diplomatic history, as Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations after seven years of feud thanks to efforts by China.

However, as pointed out by Nury Vittachi, a journalist who has worked with the BBC, CNN and NBC, a BBC report on the detente made no mention of China's role as facilitator. The report cleverly omitted China in the headline, just briefly touching upon its role toward the end of the report.

Using such ploys they managed to make China "disappear" from the whole thing. But that won't hurt China's image one bit, as anybody with access to the official statement issued by both countries and/or other media reports will know of China's role in facilitating the turnaround in ties. Clearly, China's sincere contribution cannot be overlooked.

Instead, ignoring China's role will only hurt, or has already hurt, BBC's credibility. As Vittachi's video on the issue has gone viral, the whole world has already got to know that the BBC hid key information about China's active role in the diplomatic event. In an age of free information flow, the BBC has ended up with egg on its face for trying to block information and mislead audiences.

China is only one of many topics on which BBC naturally switches to a biased mode. In their reports, the Middle East is portrayed as a region lacking religious reform, Eastern European countries are always needing money while Chinese students are bookworms without any friend in class and without anyone to talk to. These biases are so deeply rooted that some people rightfully refer to the BBC as British Bias Corporation.

To rid itself of that moniker, the BBC would do well to rid its reports on the establishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran of the China bias.
Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (NYSE:TNP  Get Rating)  Equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group lowered their FY2023 earnings estimates for Tsakos Energy Navigation in a report issued on Tuesday, March 21st. Jefferies Financial Group analyst O. Nokta now expects that the shipping company will post earnings per share of $9.89 for the year, down from their previous estimate of $10.00. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a Buy rating and a $30.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Tsakos Energy Navigations current full-year earnings is $9.89 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Tsakos Energy Navigations FY2024 earnings at $10.28 EPS.

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TNP has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TheStreet raised shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, December 5th. StockNews.com raised shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday.

Tsakos Energy Navigation Stock Performance

Institutional Trading of Tsakos Energy Navigation

Shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation stock opened at $19.05 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The firm has a market cap of $346.71 million, a P/E ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.13. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $20.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.26. Tsakos Energy Navigation has a fifty-two week low of $8.01 and a fifty-two week high of $24.78.

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 89.6% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,048,370 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $17,749,000 after acquiring an additional 495,349 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its holdings in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 20.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 447,857 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $7,582,000 after acquiring an additional 76,457 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 171.1% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 430,527 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $7,289,000 after acquiring an additional 271,733 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 71.7% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 375,885 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $6,364,000 after acquiring an additional 156,989 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 5.2% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 365,800 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $5,586,000 after purchasing an additional 18,200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.87% of the companys stock.

About Tsakos Energy Navigation

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Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. engages in the provision of seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services. Its activities include the operation of crude tankers, product tankers, and liquefied natural gas carriers. The company was founded by Nikolas P. Tsakos and Michael Gordon Jolliffee in July 1993 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece.

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Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:HHFA  Get Rating) has been given a 9.00 ($9.68) price target by Warburg Research in a report released on Thursday, Borsen Zeitung reports. Warburg Researchs price target would indicate a potential downside of 19.93% from the companys previous close.

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft Price Performance

Shares of ETR HHFA traded up 0.16 ($0.17) during midday trading on Thursday, reaching 11.24 ($12.09). The companys stock had a trading volume of 92,175 shares, compared to its average volume of 117,376. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 124.18. The company has a 50 day moving average price of 12.54 and a 200 day moving average price of 12.07. Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft has a one year low of 10.78 ($11.59) and a one year high of 17.12 ($18.41). The company has a market cap of $815.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.36.

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Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft Company Profile

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Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft operates as a port and transport logistics company in Germany, rest of European Union, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Container, Intermodal, Logistics, and Real Estate. The company operates three container terminals in Hamburg; and container terminals in Odessa, Ukraine, and Tallinn, Estonia, as well as in Trieste, Italy.

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Wealth Management Resources Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ  Get Rating) by 9.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 47,013 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,995 shares during the period. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF makes up 1.3% of Wealth Management Resources Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Wealth Management Resources Inc.s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF were worth $2,069,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SPHQ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $150,000. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 44,610 shares of the companys stock worth $2,226,000 after buying an additional 2,226 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 5,421 shares of the companys stock worth $271,000 after buying an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 23.7% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,463 shares of the companys stock worth $173,000 after buying an additional 663 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 44.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,505 shares of the companys stock worth $432,000 after buying an additional 2,618 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of SPHQ stock opened at $45.58 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.07 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $45.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $44.32. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF has a 12-month low of $39.18 and a 12-month high of $51.45.

About Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF

The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large-cap stocks selected by return on equity, changes in net operating assets and financial leverage. Stocks are weighted by these quality factors, scaled by market cap.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPHQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ  Get Rating).

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Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK  Get Rating) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $97.50.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on WK shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Workiva from $101.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Workiva from $80.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Workiva from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Workiva in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Workiva from $88.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Workiva

In related news, Director Robert H. Herz sold 9,182 shares of Workiva stock in a transaction on Friday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.07, for a total value of $827,022.74. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 62,720 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,649,190.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Workiva news, Director Robert H. Herz sold 9,182 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.07, for a total value of $827,022.74. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 62,720 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,649,190.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael D. Hawkins sold 8,431 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.28, for a total transaction of $727,426.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,026 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,041,843.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 55,249 shares of company stock worth $4,924,271. Insiders own 5.70% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Workiva

Workiva Stock Up 1.6 %

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in Workiva by 44.9% during the third quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 65,475 shares of the software makers stock valued at $5,094,000 after purchasing an additional 20,289 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Workiva by 13.4% during the third quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 21,165 shares of the software makers stock valued at $1,647,000 after purchasing an additional 2,495 shares in the last quarter. American Trust bought a new position in shares of Workiva in the third quarter worth approximately $208,000. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Workiva by 1.7% in the third quarter. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC now owns 64,015 shares of the software makers stock worth $4,980,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Workiva by 30.5% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 165,229 shares of the software makers stock valued at $10,904,000 after purchasing an additional 38,585 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.41% of the companys stock.

WK stock opened at $97.38 on Friday. Workiva has a fifty-two week low of $59.43 and a fifty-two week high of $124.76. The company has a market capitalization of $5.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -56.62 and a beta of 1.15. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $90.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $81.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.31, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 1.47.

Workiva (NYSE:WK  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The software maker reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.43) by $0.20. The company had revenue of $143.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $139.22 million. Workiva had a negative return on equity of 1,024.28% and a negative net margin of 16.91%. As a group, analysts forecast that Workiva will post -1.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Workiva Company Profile

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Workiva, Inc engages in the provision of cloud-based compliance and regulatory reporting solutions that are designed to solve business challenges at the intersection of data, process, and people. Its platform includes Wdesk, which offers controlled collaboration, data linking, data integrations, granular permissions, process management, and a full audit trail.

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It is a desperate bid by the BJP. Something it never attempted in the last three decades. The ruling party in Karnataka is trying its best to put up a creditable show in the Old Mysuru region where it has traditionally failed to make an impact. The party is focussing its attention on this Vokkaliga belt while believing that its performance in all other areas will continue to be the same or better than in the 2018 polls. Why Old Mysuru Matters The party has never touched the majority (113 seats) mark in the state in general elections. Since it has made inroads in other areas, it believes that only a good performance in the Old Mysuru region will ensure it can accomplish that feat . For this reason, BJP bigwigs are leaving no stone unturned to impress the electorate. Prime Minister Narendra Modis roadshow and speech in Mandya on March 12 seemed to evoke good response. On March 25, he will have made his seventh visit to the state since January, this time to inaugurate a Metro line in Bengaluru. Before him, Home Minister Amit Shah had visited Mandya. In all these events, a slew of inaugurations/laying of foundation stones were carried out. BJP president JP Nadda launched the partys Vijay Sankalp Yatra from Chamarajanagar district in the Old Mysuru region. The PMs visit was preceded by independent Mandya MP Sumalatha pledging support to the BJP. Sumalatha is the wife of popular actor late Ambareesh who still has a good following in the constituency. Sumalatha had defeated Nikhil Kumar, son of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in a high-pitched battle for Lok Sabha in 2019. BJP had supported Sumalatha in that election. A JD(S)-Congress Bastion The region, which consists of nine districts, accounting for 57 seats, is known to be the stronghold of JD(S). Congress too has a sizable presence in the region which consists of districts of Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Mandya, Ramanagara, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura and Kolar (not considering Bengaluru Urban here). The region is the heartland of the powerful Vokkaliga community whose main support base is spread out in Mandya, Ramanagara and Hassan districts. The fact that Old Mysuru sends 57 MLAs to the state assembly reflects the importance of the region and also why the BJP wants to do well here. Of this, in 2018, JD(S) won 27, Congress 17 and BJP only 11. The BJP took its tally from 11 to 15 in the byelections held following the defection of Congress and JD(S) MLAs to BJP during `Operation Lotus. Such was BJPs dismal performance in 2018 that it failed to open its account in four districts  Mandya, Ramanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapura. In the Vokkaliga fort of Hassan, Mandya and Ramanagara, JD(S) and Congress each had 40 percent vote share in 2018. The BJP can take some solace from its showing in the 2019 byelections when its candidates won in KR Pet in Mandya district and Chikkaballapura grossing over 40 percent of votes. But then, BJP is beset with several problems while making its presence felt in the region. No Big Vokkaliga Neta The party has no strong Vokkaliga leader or for that matter from any other important community of Old Mysuru region whereas JD(S) has Gowda and Kumaraswamy while Congress has DK Shivakumar (all Vokkaligas) and Siddaramaiah (Kuruba). The lone tall Vokkaliga leader from the region SM Krishna, who joined BJP, has announced his retirement from politics. But BJP does have Vokkaliga leaders from other parts of the state. DV Sadananda Gowda was made CM and Union minister (but later dropped), CT Ravi was made the partys national general secretary, Shobha Karandlaje is a Union minister of state, and CN Ashwath Narayan was a deputy chief minister (now a minister) etc. But this is perceived to have not cut ice with the community which goes by Deve Gowda as its undisputed leader. Karnataka has a practice of appointing `district in-charge minister' but the BJP government is facing problems when appointing one for Mandya district. The appointment of R Ashoka, a Vokkaliga, as Mandya in-charge minister has faced stiff opposition from the district unit, reportedly for his soft-corner for the Gowda family. There were even "Go back Ashoka" posters. Minister Narayana Gowda was then given the charge but he refused. Now, there is no in-charge minister for Mandya, one of the key districts in Old Mysuru region. Similar factional troubles are also dogging BJP in Chamarajanagar. Little Traction For Hindutva Different state leaders have tried to whip up BJPs favourite issue of Hindutva in the area  which has not seen any major communal incident in the last couple of decades  but the people seem to have not appreciated it much. Some BJP leaders have tried to prop up two apparently fictional characters  Uri Gowda and Dodda Nanje Gowda  as those who killed Tipu Sultan and not the British. Muniratna, a minister and film producer, announced a film on the Vokkaliga chieftains. However, Vokkaliga pontiff Nirmalananda Swami intervened and said the issue should not be taken forward as there is no conclusive proof of the existence of these two characters. A day before the PM visited Mandya, a huge banner of these fictional men with Modi in the middle was put up in the town. However, as criticism mounted, the banner was hurriedly brought down. Despite its dogged efforts, BJP seems a fair distance away from a good performance in the Old Mysuru region. However, it hopes to gain from a triangular contest with Congress and JD(S). Moreover, the BJP is famous for its long-term goals. At present, the party may not be unhappy with small gains but it is sure that it will up the ante before next years Lok Sabha polls and thereafter.
A committee headed by Finance Secretary TV Somanathan has been tasked to review the issues plaguing government employees' pensions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on March 24. "Representation has been received that the National Pension System for government employees needs to be improved," the finance minister said in Lok Sabha. "I propose to set up a committee under the Finance Secretary to look into this issue of pensions and evolve an approach which addresses the needs of the employees while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect the common citizens," she added. "The approach will be designed for adoption by both central and state governments." The setting up of the committee to look into the matter comes at a time when several states have made a move back to the Old Pension Scheme. On March 14, the finance ministry informed the Parliament that Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh had informed the Centre about their decision to restart the Old Pension Scheme for their state government employees and had requested the refund of corpus accumulated under the NPS. The Old Pension Scheme is widely seen as being fiscally more expensive. However, it has taken a central role in state politics, with the refusal of the erstwhile BJP government in Himachal Pradesh to bring back the Old Pension Scheme seen as one of the reasons behind its loss in the recent state elections held in late 2022. More recently, Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Maharashtra saw demands for a return to the Old Pensions Scheme, with state government employees going on a strike starting March 14. The strike only ended on March 20 after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured them that the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme would be included in the new scheme. On March 20, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwa Karad had told the Lok Sabha that there is "no proposal under consideration of Government of India for restoration of old pension scheme in respect of Central Government employees". Credit cards and LRS In addition to setting up the aforementioned committee, Sitharaman also said on March 24 that the Reserve Bank of India had been asked to bring credit card payments for foreign tours under the purview of the Liberalised Remittance Scheme as such payments escape tax collection at source. "It has been represented that payments for foreign tours through credit cards are not being captured under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme," Sitharaman said. "The Reserve Bank is being requested to look into this with a view to bring credit card payments for foreign tours within the ambit of LRS and tax collection at source thereon," she added. The latest move comes after the Union Budget for 2023-24 had proposed a hike in the tax collection at source for overseas packages to 20 percent from 5 percent.
The Andhra Pradesh government on March 24 adopts resolutions to include converted Christians in Scheduled Caste reservations. This comes even as the union government made its stand clear before the Supreme Court of not extending the benefit of reservation available to the SC community to Dalits who have converted to other faiths. Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress government has also resolved to include the Boya/ Valmiki community in the list of the Scheduled Tribes while assuring that it would not affect the STs living in the agency areas of the State. On extending the SC status to members of the SC community who converted to Christianity, Jagan told the Andhra Assembly that the economic and social status of the people doesnt change automatically just because they convert to another religion. In terms of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, the SC status can be granted only to those who are Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist. It was only for Hindus initially, but was later amended in 1956 to include Sikhs and again in 1990 to include Buddhists. The retired Chief Justice of India, Justice Ranganath Misra-led National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, had recommended granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians. However, the Union Government did not approve this recommendation and instead appointed a new committee headed by the former Chief Justice of India, Justice KG Balakrishnan, in October 2022. In another development, Chief Minister Reddy stated in the Assembly that the Boya/Valmiki community living in the Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh had been included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. He clarified that this inclusion would not reduce the quota of STs of the agency areas in government jobs or educational institutions, as the zoning system was in force as per the six-point formula. Reddy further stated that the inclusion would have only a negligible impact on Group-1 jobs, which fall under the non-zoning category. He appealed to the public not to believe false propaganda being carried out in some sections of the media regarding this matter.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to launch corporate passes in an effort to attract tech parks and businesses in the city and increase ridership. We are planning to come up with tailor-made corporate passes," BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez told Moneycontrol. "A company/tech park can procure passes in bulk, say 5,000 passes for instance. The dedicated passes will be co-branded with name/logo of the BMRCL and the respective company/tech park," he said. "The companies/tech parks can charge the required amount in the cards and distribute it among employees. It will work out cheaper than cabs and also encourage more people to use public transport. When employees change workplace, firms can transfer the same card to new employees. We are planning to offer discounted rates but we havent yet finalised the details. We will also soon decide on the minimum number of cards that corporates are required to procure under this scheme, he said. Whitefield, a model Metro corridor According to the BMRCL chief, they have already received lots of enquiries from corporate firms for passes. He's keen on the partnership with corporate firms. "Its not just about saving money or boosting ridership, but it's at its core a relationship-building exercise. It will lead to private firms having greater ownership towards the city and its assets," he said. The move to introduce dedicated passes for corporates is significant particularly in the context of Whitefield becoming the first tech corridor in Bengaluru to be connected by Metro, on March 25. Namma Metro work on the city's other tech corridors on Outer Ring Road and Electronics City is in progress. "We haven't received an official communication from BMRCL yet but it sounds like a good idea," Krishna Kumar Gowda, general manager, Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), an umbrella organization of major tech companies of the city's tech-corridor, said. "In fact, we used to hire BMTC buses and have dedicated passes for employees before Covid-19. We have 70-80 major companies as members and each have an average of 1,000 employees. Whitefield and Outer Ring Road Metro corridors will facilitate easier transit options for lakhs of employees," he said. Parwez describes Whitefield Metro (KR Puram-Whitefield) as a 'model Metro corridor' for the rest of the country. In Whitefield, all Metro medians are maintained by corporate firms. International Tech Park Bangalore (ITPB) is building a walkway from Pattandur Agrahara Metro station so the employees have direct access to their office premises from the station concourse itself. Painting of pillars and viaducts on that stretch was also was done by in partnership with corporates. BMRCL to allow up to 10 passengers in one QR-code ticket Currently, passengers have the option of purchasing tokens, smart cards, and mobile phone QR-based tickets. BMRCL offers 5% discounts to customers who use smart cards and QR-based tickets. Additionally, BMRCL had introduced one-day, three-day, and five-day passes that gave customers unlimited access to the Metro during that time. If businesses are interested, according to Parwez, BMRCL could facilitate monthly passes so that employees can undertake unlimited Metro travel in a month. He added that BMRCL will soon allow up to 10 passengers to travel using one QR-code ticket. This will help passengers travelling in a group so one ticket on the phone needs to be scanned and the system will allow up to 10 passengers through Automatic Fare Collection gates." 4 lakh ridership after Byappanahalli-KR Puram link completion The Metro chief said they are expecting a daily ridership of 1.25 lakh for the KR Puram-Whitefield section. We are expecting footfall from techies working in ITPL/Hoodi and staying in Whitefield/Kadugodi. During weekends, we might draw in crowds headed for shopping malls. Once the KR Puram and Byappanahalli section is connected, we are likely to draw an additional 4 lakh ridership, he said. At present, Bengaluru Metros daily ridership stands at 5.3-5.6 lakh.
Shares of Vedanta Ltd erased the 3% that it gained in the morning and were trading flat on 24 March. The stock was down over 20% in February while so far in March it is up just 2.6% after huge volatility. The sharp swings were seen on the counter after many analysts cautioned Vedanta's ability to repay debt in the near term. According to ET reports, Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta, whose debt repayments upto $2 billion are maturing by June, has reached out to investors for a strategic stake sale of upto 10 percent in India-listed Vedanta Ltd. It is also exploring the possibility of leveraging the cash flows of the domestic subsidiary and upstreaming the borrowed funds moving them to the parent via dividend payouts, the ET report said. Recently S&P Global has said that Vedanta Resources, the London-based parent company of Indian mining major Vedanta, liquidity is dependent on its capacity to secure funding and the proposed sale of international zinc assets to Hindustan Zinc. The rating firm said that the upcoming weeks will be critical for the company's liquidity. Hindustan Zinc has recently sanctioned a fourth interim dividend of Rs 26 per equity share for the ongoing fiscal year. This dividend, which applies to each share with a face value of Rs 2, will result in a payout of Rs 10,986 crore. The dividend will be paid on March 29, as per the record date. Vedanta Ltd will be a significant beneficiary, holding approximately 65% of Hindustan Zinc. The Indian government, with around 30% ownership, will also benefit. Vedanta Resources Ltd, based in London, is the ultimate holding company. This additional amount will bring some relief to Agarwal, who has been relying on dividends to clear his debt obligations, particularly after the Indian government opposed the group's proposal to sell its international zinc operations to Hindustan Zinc for about $3 billion. Vedanta Resources currently has a net debt of $7.7 billion. Recently Vedanta also announced that its board will meet on March 28 to consider and approve the fifth interim dividend on equity shares, if any, for the financial year 2022-23.
Lok Sabha on Friday cleared changes in the Finance Bill to pave the way for setting up of an appellate tribunal for resolution of disputes under GST. Currently, taxpayers are filing writ petitions before high courts in the absence of the appellate tribunal. As per the amendments proposed in the Finance Bill 2023, which was passed by Lok Sabha on Friday, benches of the GST Appellate Tribunal would be set up in every state while there will be a principal bench in Delhi which will hear appeals related to 'place of supply'. Even after more than five years of implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the appellate tribunal has not been set up. As a result, unresolved legal matters under GST have accumulated. Nangia Andersen India's Tanushree Roy, Director- Indirect Tax, said establishment of the appellate tribunal would result in lower burden on high courts, Supreme Court and at the same time, would also provide taxpayers the much needed reprieve. "This is certainly a welcome and a positive move, ending the industry's long wait for establishment of the GST Appellate Tribunal," Roy said. EY Tax Partner Saurabh Agarwal said the amendment made in Section 109 of the CGST Act would help the government in setting up of the GST tribunal in a time-bound manner. It would also enable the principal bench to take certain important decisions such as distribution of cases amongst the state benches, referring of case to other members if there is a difference in views within the same bench or otherwise. These would help in expediting the decision-making process, Agarwal added. "Further, on the vexed issue with respect to place of supply, the power to hear the appeal should now vest with the principal bench which would likely aid in better decision making," Agarwal said. Abhishek Jain, Partner, Indirect Tax at KPMG in India, said it will bring to an end the long wait by the industry and help streamline pending litigations. Last month, the 49th GST Council meeting accepted the report of a panel of state ministers on appellate tribunals with some modifications. Currently, taxpayers aggrieved with ruling of tax authorities are required to move high courts. The resolution process takes longer time as high courts are already burdened with backlog of cases and do not have a specialised bench to deal with GST cases. Setting up of state and national level benches would pave the way for faster dispute resolution.
In 1933, in order to help America's struggling farmers, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Agricultural Adjustment Act into law, effectively giving the secretary of agriculture the power to make policy. The secretary of agriculture then issued a series of quotas that limited the amount of produce that could be shipped each week.

The goal was to maintain a balance between supply and demand in the market. However, the quotas had a result voters never dreamed of. In the orange-producing states of California and Arizona, many fresh oranges were used as cattle-feed instead of being consumed by people.

Why? Under the quota system, in order to boost the price of fresh oranges, oranges were mostly processed into other products, fed to livestock, and even dumped. However, profits from increased fresh orange prices did not turn into long-term profits for orange farmers because their short-term gains were offset by the waste of oranges. Consumers were the ultimate losers, because they spent more money but had a harder time getting good oranges. The real winner was the orange seller and processor Sunkist in California and Arizona.

Sunkist, known as the largest fresh produce shipper in the country and a giant in the international orange market, formed a large marketing alliance to control orange farmers and distributors and regulate internal production and sales plans through order management with the help of the quota system. Under the quota system, Sunkist gained a competitive edge in exclusivity and maximizing profits. Despite opposition, Sunkist managed to maintain the quota system for decades until it was finally changed in the 1990s.

How did Sunkist get an elected government to agree to a quota system that served the private interests of a few at the expense of the majority?

That is the question posed by David Schoenbrod, the American scholar who told this story. Schoenbrod pointed out that Sunkist, like other big corporations, used political donations and lobbyists to curry favor with policy makers in Congress and the White House. Through these maneuvers, Sunkist developed long-term good relationships with members of Congress.

Most politicians seek to avoid the bad optics of passing laws that would flagrantly help a corporation like Sunkist at the expense of small farmers and the public.

But under the New Deal, Congress delegated authority to the executive branch. After Congress gave the executive branch "blanket authorization," Congress could wash its hands of any responsibility for ripping off the public. Members of Congress only needed to keep taking money from Sunkist lobbyists to keep the status quo, blaming any unfair rules such as the quota system on the executive branch.

With this trick, politicians who accepted Sunkist's contributions could actively campaign for the company's interests and influence the executive branch behind the scenes through various channels to formulate policies.

This means that policy was outsourced by Congress to the faceless bureaucrats in the executive branch. In this way, interests groups, with money and connections with the bureaucrats, could easily influence regulatory decisions.

In contrast, the general public has been excluded from the policy-making process. Rules are therefore made to satisfy special interests. This happened not only with oranges but in almost all areas of government, eventually touching on every aspect of American life. It has not only undermined governance, but also led to structural polarization between rich and poor.

As the decades passed, Americans witnessed the privatization of American public policy. Issues once decided by Congress were increasingly made by the executive branch, often in partnership with the private sector.

As the privatization of public policy spread to all spheres of American society and economy, public undertakings were often handled by private enterprises contracted by the government. This created a situation in which lobbyists, individual politicians and the private sector benefit while the public suffers. The interests of most Americans are harmed, and this widens polarization.

In American society, it is no secret that private enterprise and the public sector work out deals together and benefit each other. This kind of exchange has been institutionalized and is protected by law. In the opinion of Schoenbrod, American politicians are irresponsible to the public, but become very responsible when it comes to reciprocating favors to donors. This has become an essential characteristic of American democracy.

The alliance between power and capital means that American democracy is actually an unbalanced system of representation. Checks and balances may work within the elite classes, but there is lack of balance between the elite and the public. This imbalance is, to a large extent, masked by majority participation in voting, and the bogus rhetoric of "equal opportunities."

What do ordinary Americans have other than a ballot to influence their government? They absolutely cannot compete with interest groups and lobbyists in the distribution of political and economic resources and channels of participation. The public is excluded from most of the political process, which takes place in restaurants and back rooms, away from public oversight.

However, the powerlessness of the American people in this political process does not mean they are powerless in the future development of their country. Nor will the imbalance between private capital and the general public hold forever. As inequality grows, perhaps the American people will finally come to the forefront, and the sovereignty of the people in the true sense of the word will be revisited and redefined at some point. The people are already starting to ask: Is there any legitimacy to the American system? Who really owns American democracy?



Source: CGTN
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank is unlikely to impact the Indian banking sector as Indian banks have high capital adequacy and a very large share of assets under management, former NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said. The last 2008 crisis didnt affect the Indian banking sector. The same scenario will play out now. All large banks in India have 14-16 capital adequacy ratio which gives them the resilience to bear with this (US bank crisis), Kumar said at Moneycontrol Policy Next. Silicon Valley Bank, which was a key funding source of startups in the US, collapsed on March 10. This was followed by the failure of Signature Bank on March 12. The 20072008 was a severe worldwide financial economic crisis that occurred in the early 21st century. Also Read: How many banks are at risk of failure in the US? Capital adequacy ratio (CAR) is the ratio of a bank's capital in relation to its risk weighted assets and current liabilities. Our banking sector is quite well regulated and very well capitalised. Our capital adequacy norm is higher than recommended by Basel norm. The PSBs still have a very large share of assets under management, he said. Indian public sector banks must maintain a CAR of 12 percent while Indian scheduled commercial banks are required to maintain a CAR of 9 percent. Under Basel III, the minimum CAR that banks must maintain is 8 percent. "I am confident that the Indian banking sector, unlike Korea or Indonesia, will not face any impact of the US banking crisis", Kumar mentioned. Also Read SVB Collapse: Should auditors be responsible to assess the business model of a company?
The US allowing people with tourist visas to apply for jobs provides a ray of relief to many Indians who have been laid off, say staffing firms. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said that employers should renew the applicant's visa status before they join the new position. A request for change of status from B-1 (or B-2) to an H1B (authorised to work in the US) must be approved, and the new status must take effect before starting any new job. After the series of mass layoffs that affected the US IT workers, this notification does usher in relief and hope among the workforce. However, the pressure of finding the right job will still be on the laid-off employees, said Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services, a staffing firm. Santhosh Nair, Director & COO of CIEL HR, highlighted that the process of changing the status of a visa can still be a challenge, especially given the backlog of pending visa applications in the US. Moreover, more people may go to the US on tourist visas now and try to find a job and establish themselves in the country, he added. Nevertheless, Nair thinks the new option is better than the previous 60-day deadline for finding new employment and transferring H1B visas. The 60-day period begins on the first day after the employment is terminated, which is often based on the final day for which a salary or wage was paid. If eligible, a non-immigrant worker whose employment has been terminated, whether by the employer or because the person has himself resigned, may avail of one of the options to continue to be in the country for a given period. That includes applying for a change in non-immigrant status, applying for an employment authorisation document with "compelling circumstances," or submitting a non-frivolous petition to change the employer. "If one of this is done within the 60-day period, the non-immigrant's period of authorised stay in the US can exceed 60 days, even if they lose their previous non-immigrant status," the USCIS said. If the worker takes no action within the 60-day period, they and their dependents may then need to leave the US within 60 days, or when their authorised validity period ends, whichever is shorter, it said. But, as Alug highlights, non-immigrants who have been laid-off and who have crossed the 60-day period, are not addressed in the notification. (With inputs from PTI)
Union road, transport and highway minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that if India can use recently discovered reserve of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, it will become number one automobile manufacturing country in the world. Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, Gadkari said there is a need to encourage public transport, and electric buses are the future. "Every year, we import 1,200 tonnes of lithium. "Now, in Jammu and Kashmir, we got lithium. (If) we can use this lithium ion, we will be the number one automobile manufacturing country in the world," he said. India has beaten Japan to become the third largest vehicle market in 2022 after China and the USA. According to Gadkari, presently India's automobile industry is worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore, and the sector's contribution to the overall GST revenue is maximum. The estimated 5.9-million tonne reserve of lithium, a crucial mineral for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and solar panels, had been discovered in Reasi district by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). "Lithium falls in the critical resource category, which was not earlier available in India and we were dependent for its 100 per cent import. The G3 (advanced) study of the GSI shows the presence of best quality lithium in abundant quantity in the foothills of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Salal village (Reasi)," J&K mining secretary Amit Sharma told PTI. Gadkari noted that good infrastructure is needed for the development of any country. "With our innovative approach, we can develop the backward area, increase the growth and at the same time create employment potential," he said. The minister also asked industry leaders to invest in vehicle scrapping. Gadkari also stressed on the need of reducing India's logistics cost to single digit by 2024 from 16 per cent of GDP presently.
The Lok Sabha on March 24 passed the Finance Bill 2023 with amendments even as the Opposition continued to press for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation against the Adani group. The Finance Bill, which contains proposals related to taxation and government spending, was passed with several amendments. Besides, 20 more sections were added to the Bill. While the House was taking up the Bill, several opposition members were in the well raising slogans and holding placards demanding a JPC probe into the allegations against the power-to-port conglomerate after a US-based short-seller accused the group companies of stock manipulation, a charge denied by the Adani group. As sloganeering continued, the proceedings were adjourned till March 27. Key amendments in the Finance Bill 2023-24 Securities transaction tax hiked As per an amendment, the securities transaction tax (STT) on the sale of options has been hiked to Rs 2,100 on a turnover of Rs 1 crore against an earlier levy of Rs 1,700, an increase of 23.5 percent. On the sale of futures contracts, STT has been hiked to Rs 12,500 on Rs 1 crore of turnover against Rs 10,000 earlier, indicating a 25 percent hike. Debt mutual funds may lose long-term capital gains taxation benefit Finance Bill 2023 has proposed that investments in mutual fund where not more than 35 percent is invested in equity shares of Indian companies ie debt funds will now be deemed to be short-term capital gains. That is, capital gains from debt funds, international funds and gold funds, irrespective of their holding period, will be taxed at an individuals relevant tax slab. No relief for startups on angel tax provision Startups have failed to get any significant respite from the proposed change in the angel tax regime, which might hamper foreign funding for young companies. Govt has shared a background note on key amendments in Finance Bill 2023-24. Full text: 1) Angel tax deferred to 1st April 2024: No, in the original proposal as well it was to come into effect from 1st April 2024, ie For Assessment year 2024-25 (FY 2023- 24). There is no change in it. However, all concerns raised by stakeholders in implementation of this proposal would be addressed. The draft rules related to valuation shall be shared with the stakeholders for their inputs in the next month itself, viz April. Exclusions, as already provided to domestic Venture Capital Funds etc, shall also be considered for similar overseas entities. 2) Taxation on debt mutual fund: It is proposed to tax the income from debt mutual fund at applicable rate since it is of the nature of interest income. An arbitrage is being created right now where interest income from debt mutual fund (where not more than 35% invested in share in domestic company) is not distributed and converted into long term capital gains of 20% (with indexation). In some case it comes to even less than 10% due to indexation. Thus many taxpayers are able to reduce their tax liability through this arbitrage. This is sought to be addressed. 3) Changes in REIT/InvIT: Finance Bill proposed to tax distribution from business trust which as income from other sources at applicable rate. This is now proposed to be treated as return of capital ie reduction from cost of acquisition, till the cost at which the unit was issued. However, any amount in excess of the issue price would be taxable as income. Thus, the change would benefit the unitholders vis a vis the earlier proposal. 4) Any change to 7L limit: No there is no change. Only marginal relief is proposed to be provided. Currently if a taxpayer has income of 7 L s/he pays no tax but if s/he has income of 7,00,100 s/he pays tax of 25,010. Thus additional income of Rs 100 leads to tax of Rs 25,010. Hence, marginal relief is proposed to that the tax that what one pays should not be more than the income that exceeds 7L (Rs 100 in this case). 5. LRS 20% TCS (applicability to IFSC): At present there is TCS on LRS if it is remitted out of India. Hence, when money is remitted by resident to Gift City there is no TCS. To bring parity in treatment it is proposed that TCS shall apply to all LRS even if within India.
Shares of Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) gained two percent on March 24 reacting to the companys new order win. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed two contracts worth of Rs 3,800 crore with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) a DPSU for supply of Medium Power Radar and Digital Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) for Indian Air Force, the company said in a regulatory filing. The first contract worth over Rs 2,800 crore pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars 'Arudhra', and the second, at an overall cost of around Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers, a news report said. Both projects are under 'Buy IndianIDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)' category, it added. Catch up on all LIVE stock markets At 9:26 am, shares of the company were trading percent at Rs 93.05 on the BSE. The stock has zoomed over 360 percent in the past three years but is down 8 percent YTD. BEL within the defense PSU space has undergone decent price and time correction which has made risk-reward favourable, according to some analysts. As per ICICI direct Research, We expect stock to resume its uptrend in coming weeks and head towards Rs 110 which is 80 percent retracement of the entire decline of September 2022- January 2023 decline (Rs 114-87). Despite order inflow of just Rs 3,736 crore in the first nine months of FY23, the management has reiterated its FY23 order inflow guidance of Rs 20,000 crore. Major orders expected are Himshakti programme of Rs 3,300 crore, Atulya medium-power radar of Rs 2,000-3,000 crore and orders worth approximately Rs 10,000 crore for radars and SONAR expected from naval shipyards, said ICICI direct Research. BEL is an aerospace and defence electronics company. It has a multi-product, multi-technology- diverse product range including radar, missile systems, electronic warfare and avionics, anti-submarine warfare, electro-optics, home land security, civilian products, etc. BELs focus is on increasing non-defence share to around 20-25 percent over two to three years. The domestic brokerage firm is of the view that BELs strategy to diversify into non-defence areas, focus on increasing exports and services share would aid long term growth and help de-risk its business.
The US regulatory agency, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a warning to investors to be cautious when investing in cryptocurrencies that are securities. According to the SEC, such investments are not subject to the same protections as those offered to traditional investments like stocks and bonds. The SEC warns that the market for crypto asset securities is still largely unregulated and lacks transparency, making it prone to fraud and manipulation. The SEC's warning comes at a time when the popularity of cryptocurrencies is on the rise, and more investors are considering investing in these assets. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have become household names, and their values have soared over the past few years. However, the SEC has noted that many of the investment opportunities in the crypto market are not legitimate, and investors should exercise caution when considering investing in them. The SEC has also cautioned investors about the risks associated with investing in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), which are a common way for crypto companies to raise funds. ICOs involve the creation of a new cryptocurrency, which is sold to investors in exchange for traditional currencies like dollars or euros. The SEC warns that many ICOs may be fraudulent, and investors may end up losing their money. The SEC's warning is not the first time that regulators have cautioned investors about the risks of investing in cryptocurrencies. In the past, other regulatory agencies like the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have issued similar warnings. However, the SEC's warning is significant because it specifically focuses on crypto asset securities, which are becoming increasingly popular among investors. In conclusion, the SEC's warning is a reminder that investing in cryptocurrencies is a high-risk venture, and investors should exercise caution when considering investing in these assets. The lack of regulation and transparency in the crypto market makes it vulnerable to fraud and manipulation, and investors should thoroughly research any investment opportunity before committing their funds. What have been the views of other financial institutions and prominent individuals on cryptocurrencies? US Federal Reserve: "They're highly volatile and, therefore, not useful stores of value, and they're not backed by anything," Powell said during a virtual panel discussion on digital banking hosted by the Bank for International Settlements in March 2021. Since then the chair of the federal reserve has continued to criticize cryptocurrencies on various other platforms and interactions. European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde: She thinks cryptocurrencies arent worth a dime. My very humble assessment is that it is worth nothing, Lagarde said of crypto in an interview with Dutch talk show College Tour that was aired in May 2022. It is based on nothing, she added. There is no underlying asset to act as an anchor of safety. RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das: While talking about the position of crypto in the Indian economy in January 2023 Das said, " crypto should be banned, given its no underlying value in the market. Just like every asset, every financial product comes with some underlying value, hence the value of crypto is totally based on the make-believe factor." At the event, Das continued to say, "Crypto is a form of gambling without any underlying value and is nothing but a 100 percent speculation world." Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger: He called bitcoin disgusting and contrary to the interests of civilization in an annual general meeting of Berkshire Hathaway in May, 2021. I dont welcome a currency thats so useful to kidnappers and extortionists and so forth, nor do I like just shuffling out of your extra billions of billions of dollars to somebody who just invented a new financial product out of thin air, he said. The 97-year-old Munger has long criticized bitcoin for its extreme volatility and a lack of regulation. It is hence in the interest of investors to take an informed and considered call before investing in such highly volatile and unregulated risk assets. The cumulative views of prominent financial institutions and individuals should not be overlooked without proper consideration and consultations.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on March 23 said that Mumbai's 2,055 km road network will soon be free of potholes as they will be converted into concrete roads in the next two years. Speaking at the inaugural MoneyControl Policy Next - The Rs 10 Trillion Infra Push summit in New Delhi, Gadkari said Mumbai's bitumen roads will be concretised in the next two years in an attempt to rid them of potholes. "We are spending around Rs 6,000-crore to make all roads in Mumbai pothole free, the tender of the project has been awarded and the project will be completed in two years," Gadkari said. Last year the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had come out with a Rs 6,000-crore contract to concretise 397 km of Mumbai roads. The contract was divided into three parts- Island City to concretise 212 roads, Eastern suburbs to concretise 181 roads, and Western suburbs to concretise 516 roads. NCC Ltd has won the bid to carry out works in the western suburbs, but had initially backed out of the project. The company had written a letter of regret to the BMC, stating it cannot carry out the work at par. Mumbai's roads develop potholes during the monsoon rains when rains play havoc with life in the city. The heavy continuous rain deteriorates road surface - particularly, of the bitumen road which most of the city roads are made of - and leads to development of pot holes and deteriorated pavement. In the summers due to extreme heat, the tar/asphalt melts and opens the aggregates, leading to pothole formation. Also, water and asphalt cannot stay together and eventually give rise to potholes. Compared to this, concrete roads do not develop any potholes. In case of concrete roads, once the road is open to traffic after 14 -21 days, the heat does not have any effect and also water does not impact the concrete road structure. Further, concrete roads being pothole-resistant doesnt require period surfacing. These roads can also easily bear the weight of heavy vehicles and have a life of at least 30 years, compared to a 5-year life span for tar roads.
Oil prices fell about 2.5% on Friday amid declining European banking shares and after U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said refilling the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) may take several years, dampening demand prospects. Brent crude fell $1.85, or 2.4%, to $74.06 a barrel by 11:13 a.m. EST (1513 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude futures fell $1.79, 2.5%, to $68.23 a barrel. Both benchmarks, which fell over 4% earlier in the session, were on track to end the week higher, after posting their biggest weekly declines in months last week due to banking sector turmoil and worries about a possible recession. "We're riding along macroeconoic headwinds, and there's a newfound correlation with equities" said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Banking stocks slid earlier in the session in Europe with Deutsche Bank and UBS Group hit hard by worries that the worst problems in the sector since the 2008 financial crisis have not yet been contained. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen convened an unscheduled meeting of the Financial Stability Oversight Council on Friday morning. A stronger dollar, which rose 0.6% against other currencies, also fuelled the sell-off. A stronger greenback makes crude more expensive to holders of other currencies. The White House said in October it would buy back oil for the SPR when prices were at or below about $67-$72 per barrel. Granholm told lawmakers on Thursday that it would be difficult to take advantage of low prices this year to add to stockpiles, which are currently at their lowest level since 1983 following sales directed by President Joe Biden last year. Strong demand expectations from China capped decreases, with Goldman Sachs saying commodities demand was surging in China, the world's biggest oil importer, with oil demand topping 16 million bpd. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said a previously announced cut of 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in Russia's oil production would be from an output level of 10.2 million bpd in February, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. That would mean Russia is aiming to produce 9.7 million bpd between March and June, according to Novak, which would be a much smaller output cut than Moscow previously indicated.
Isha Ambani, the chairperson of Reliance Industries' retail unit, Reliance Retail, has won the 'Gennext Entrepreneur' award at Forbes India Leadership Awards 2023 at the ceremony held on March 24. Along with her, several other major industry leaders were also felicitated at the award ceremony. The other big names include CK Venkataraman, managing director of Titan Company, who was felicitated with the 'CEO of the Year' award and Abhay Soi, chairman and managing director of Max Healthcare, who was awarded the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award. #FILA2023: Gennext Entrepreneur award goes to Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Retail Ventures. Watch Forbes India Leadership Awards 2023 here: https://t.co/koM5PsyQcS pic.twitter.com/vOg2J3F8EN  Forbes India (@ForbesIndia) March 24, 2023 Venkataraman, a postgraduate diploma holder in Management from IIM-Ahmedabad, joined Titan Company Limited in 1990 and worked in the Advertising and Marketing functions before becoming the Head of Sales & Marketing for the Titan brand in 2003. Thereafter he took charge of the Jewellery Division in 2005 and last held the position of Chief Executive Officer, Jewellery till September 30, 2019. Subsequently, he assumed office as Managing Director of the Company on October 1, 2019. Meanwhile, a former finance professional Abhay Soi is chairman and managing director of Max Healthcare Institute, India's second-largest listed hospital chain by revenue. He started his career at the erstwhile Arthur Andersen and later worked for EY and KPMG. Post that, he got his entrepreneurial break in 2010 when he took over a struggling 650-bed hospital in Delhi and set up Radiant Life Care. About Isha Ambani Isha Ambani, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's daughter and the twin sister of Akash Ambani, is the chairperson of Reliance Industries' retail unit, Reliance Retail. Isha, 30, is an alumnus of Yale University, where she studied psychology. She then went on to pursue an MBA degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business. She briefly worked as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company before returning from the US. Isha is married to Anand Piramal, the son of the Piramal Group's Ajay and Swati Piramal. On November 19, 2022, she gave birth to twins, Krishna and Aadiya Primal. She was ranked second on the 'Youngest Billionaire Heiresses' list by Forbes in 2008 and had an estimated net worth of Rs 471 crore. At the 2016 Lakme Fashion Week, Isha also launched the online fashion retailer, AJIO, a subsidiary of Reliance Retail managed by her. Disclaimer: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
Information Technology (IT) services firm Accenture, which follows a September-August financial year, on Thursday reported that revenue grew 9 percent in local or Constant Currency terms to $15.8 billion in the second quarter of FY 23. Accentures revenue was better than the $15.2-15.75 billion it had guided for. Industry-wise, the highest growth was posted by the resources segment, which grew 16 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) to $2.2 billion followed by health and public services which expanded 15 percent to $3.0 billion. Also Read: Accenture layoffs: How much will it impact Indian ops and employees? Financial services and products segments increased by 10 and 9 percent on a yearly basis to $3.0 billion and $4.7 billion respectively. Communications, Media and Tech segments remained flat at $2.9 billion. Geographically, North America grew 5 percent YoY to $7.4 billion, Europe 12 percent YoY to $5.3 billion, and growth markets the highest at 13 percent YoY to $3.1 billion. Positives outnumber negatives The slowdown in North America, and the hi-tech and communications verticals were a negative, but the results had more positives than negatives for Indian IT vendors, said investment manager Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley says the companys results could generate positive sentiment. Any weakness around its Q4 results and FY 24 guidance should be used as a buying opportunity, it added. The firm prefers LTIMindtree, Infosys and HCL Technologies among large-cap IT firms. Accenture also reported record new bookings at $22.1 billion, a rise of 17 percent YoY, driven by managed services, which stood at $11.4 billion, while consulting bookings stood at $10.7 billion for the quarter. Managed Services bookings held up well and grew by 37% YoY cc (constant currency), while consulting bookings were up 2% YoY cc, reflecting continued emphasis on cost optimization projects vs. growth projects. Management remained positive around technology spends and indicated a strong deal pipeline for 3QFY23, especially in managed services, financial services firm Jefferies said. Caution among clients Management has highlighted caution among clients with delays in decision-making, particularly on consulting, and a slowdown in smaller deals, it added. CLSA believes strength in the companys order bookings should give comfort to investors and healthy managed services revenues/bookings was a positive read-through. Comfort should come, given supportive valuations after the recent correction, it added. It remains cautious on the IT sector and only rates Infosys a buy. Follow our live blog for all market action Given the worsening global macroeconomic outlook, Accenture has lowered its annual revenue and profit projections and now expects annual revenue growth to be around 8-10 percent (with -4.5 percent forex impact) YoY in local currency or constant currency, compared with 8-11 percent (with -5.0 percent forex impact) expected previously. The guidance implies a belief in the soft landing narrative with pain largely behind us while we believe that pain from the rapid rate tightening that has happened in the Developed Markets (DM) as well as the recent banking turmoil in US/Europe is only ahead of us, according to Nirmal Bang Securities. Nirmal Bang is not sure whether the new guidance is pointing to a sustained recovery beyond FY 23 and whether that would be smooth. The firm has an underweight stance on the IT Sector and believes consensus is underestimating growth and margin risks in FY 24/FY 25. Also Read: IT services face risk due to banking challenges, says Bernstein research Key takeaways The company also announced 19,000 layoffs globally, of which 7,000 employees are based in India. We have three key takeaways for Indian IT firms from Accenture's 2Q results: 1) Rising caution among clients with focus on cost optimization suggests a moderation in growth in FY 24. This is evident from Accenture's implied 2HFY23 revenue growth guidance of 4-8% YoY cc. 2) Increasing client focus on larger deals and slowdown in smaller deals position larger IT firms more favorably than mid/small sized firms; 3) A cooling off of the job market, lower attrition and more prudent hiring are likely to support margins, Jefferies commented. Demand continues to shift towards cost optimisation, says Nomura, retaining its cautious stance on the sector and cutting the top end of its FY 23 revenue estimates and Constant Currency growth guidance. It expects operating performance to vary significantly across companies in FY 24. It prefers large-cap over mid-cap IT companies, with its top Picks being Infosys and Tech Mahindra in the former and Coforge and Persistent in the latter. At 10.31 a.m., the Nifty IT index was up 0.8 percent at 28,224.25 points with LTIM and TCS trading the highest, up 1.7 percent and 1.2 percent, at Rs 4,680.00 and Rs 3,163.50 respectively. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A road has become a hotspot for locals and tourists alike in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, thanks to the stunning cherry blossom tree and the newly decorated crosswalk.




Waste from Delhis three landfill sites in Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalaswa will be used in the construction of Urban Extension Road (UER) 2, the third ring road of the capital, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari said on March 24. Speaking at the inaugural MoneyControl Policy Next - the Rs 10 trillion infrastructure push summit in New Delhi - Gadkari said that Rs 700 crore will be used from the Central Road Fund for construction, repair, maintenance, and beautification of roads in the project to convert waste to roads. The National Highways Authority of India committed to using 20 lakh tonnes of waste for road construction, in 2022. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena met Gadkari in December to urge him to provide funds for the conversion of waste to roads in Delhi. "My vision is to use all the waste from Delhi's three landfill for the construction of roads in the next two years. I want to see no more landfill mountains in Delhi," Gadkari said. The road minister added that his ministry is working towards being more sustainable and using renewable resources in the construction of roads in the country. Gadkari said the ministry is also looking to use recycled water for the construction of roads and national highways in India. The NHAI had signed an agreement with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in November 2016, it estimated, for the year 2018, a cumulative cost of Rs 349 crore to use the then entire garbage volume at Ghazipur-13 million metric tonnes. In 2017, the NHAI had floated a tender for 'lifting and segregation' of the Ghazipur landfill trash, to fill up the 96-km-long Delhi-Meerut Expressway. But the garbage was used only for construction of two kilometres of roads. The NHAI refused to lift the landfill trash due to financial viability. Delhi has three sanitary landfill sites located at Ghazipur, Okhla, and Bhalswa. Earlier, a piece of land in South Delhis Tehkhand area has been allocated to the MCD for an engineering landfill site and the project is expected to be completed by April 2023. This proposed 'engineering landfill site' will be the citys first such site. The current three landfill sites in Delhi are spread over an area of 202 acres in total. Inert material  waste which is neither chemically nor biologically reactive and will not decompose or only very slowly  will be provided from the bio-mining project at the citys landfills. Bio-mining separates various components of legacy waste such as plastic, paper, cloth, sand and bricks by passing them through a trammel screening machine. The three landfills in the city hold more than 28,000,000 tonnes of legacy waste and it has been estimated that 60 to 70 percent of the material recovered after trommeling and bio-mining process consists of soil, stones and inert material.
In signs of protests against the 9-month-old windfall tax, mining mogul Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd has withheld about USD 91 million from the share of profit due to government from its oil and gas fields, to make up for the additional tax outgo, according to sources and correspondence on the issue. India first imposed windfall profit tax on July 1, 2022 joining a growing number of nations that tax super normal profits of energy companies. But the levy of Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on locally produced crude oil was seen by producers as violation of the contract which provides fiscal stability. The SAED initially was Rs 23,250 per tonne (USD 40 per barrel) and in fortnightly revisions brought down to Rs 3,500 per tonne. This is in addition to the 10-20 per cent royalty on price of oil and gas realised and an oil cess of 20 per cent. On top, the government is also entitled to a pre-decided share of profit after expenses are deducted from revenue earned from sale of oil and gas. Vedanta on January 31 and on February 20 informed the ministry of petroleum and natural gas that it has made a deduction of USD 85.35 million for SAED paid on its prolific Rajasthan block, RJ-ON-90/1, and another USD 5.50 million for block CB-OS/2 in Cambay basin. This was being done with a view to restore economic benefits as mentioned in the signed contracts under which it operates, the correspondence, reviewed by PTI, showed. It argued that the contracts, called production sharing contract or PSC, provides for fiscal stability for the contracting parties. The PSC states that in the event of a change of law or rule or regulation that results in adverse change to the expected economic benefits to any of the parties, the parties shall consult promptly and make necessary revisions and adjustments to the contract in order to maintain such expected economic benefits to each of them. The ministry however in a February 22 letter called the "unilateral" deduction as "wrongful" and asked the company to pay the short paid profit along with interest within 7 days. Vedanta has not complied with the direction. Vedanta's Cairn Oil & Gas, which operates the two blocks, did not answer emails sent for comments. Emails sent to the oil ministry too remained unanswered. Sources said the ministry was of the view that arbitration was the dispute resolution mechanism provided in the PSC and Vedanta was contemplating on that. But arbitrations are costly and time-consuming. Also, they carry reputation risk for the government that needs to be considered especially in context of promotion of ease of doing business. Sources said the ministry on February 28 wrote to the finance ministry seeking a review of the SAED and raising the base price for such levy to USD 80 per barrel from current USD 74-75. The ministry, which had written to the finance ministry on August 12, 2022 for a review of SAED, is of the view that the levy of windfall profit tax would reduce the prospects for further exploration. It believes the PSCs already provide an in-built mechanism for profit sharing when windfall gain accrues, they said. Alongside imposing SAED on locally produced crude oil, India had also slapped duties on the export of petrol, diesel and jet fuel (ATF) on July 1. Export duties on petrol and ATF in subsequent fortnightly reviews have been brought down to nil.The oil ministry has already got representations from major crude oil producers, including state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) and private sector Vedanta Ltd, for a review of the levy as it was adversely impacting their investment plans. The concerns raised by these firms include economic unviability and contract clause violation, sources said, adding the companies have stated that double taxation was taking place since royalty is payable on gross crude oil prices instead of realisation after deduction of SAED.
Defence training solutions firm Zen Technologies on Friday said it has bagged Rs 127 crore order from armed forces. After setbacks faced in 2012 due to cancellation of large tenders, Zen said in a regulatory filing that it had stopped participating in large tenders and has now made a complete turnaround over the last 10 years. "The government of India has recently accelerated the induction of simulators into the armed forces, in line with the simulation framework issued in September 2021. This move not only saves a significant amount of money but also provides better training value and is the most environmentally sustainable way to train our forces for combat readiness," Zen Technologies Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Atluri said. The company indigenously designs, develops and manufactures sensor and simulators technology based defence training system to security forces. It also provides drone and anti-drone solutions. "The company has made a complete turnaround over the last ten years. Zen is confident that it is well-positioned to participate in and contribute to the country's growth and progress. The company believes that the next few years will be extremely positive, and it anticipates the signing of several more significant contracts in the near future," Atluri said. He said Zen will play a significant supporting role in the government's Agnipath initiative and efforts to modernise training. "The government of India's actions show that it is walking the talk when it comes to supporting its stated objectives. The induction of simulators into the armed forces is an example of this," Atluri said.
Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, recommended Siddhartha Mohanty for the position of chairperson of Indias largest insurer Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) on March 23. As per guidelines, the chairman is selected from the four managing directors of the company. Mohanty is currently serving as the interim chairperson of LIC for a period of three months, along with discharging his responsibilities as managing director (MD) of the corporation. The final decision on the FSIB recommendation will be taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read: Competition Commission clears LIC Mutual Fund-IDBI Mutual Fund deal Mohanty is a post graduate in Political Science with a degree in law. He has also done his post-graduation in Business Management and is a Licentiate from the Insurance Institute of India. LIC's Q3FY23 gross premium income rose 14.6 percent on year to 1.12 lakh crore, driven by a 31.2 percent yearly increase in single premium, a 10.8 percent rise in first-year premium, and a 5.9 percent uptick in renewal premium.

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Over 30 opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were detained on Friday as they took out a protest march from Parliament House, alleging that democracy is in "danger" and demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue. Prominent leaders, including K C Venugopal, Adhir Chowdhury, K Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammed Javed, were stopped by the police and detained at Vijay Chowk here for violating prohibitory orders, the opposition said. "Over 30 MPs from opposition parties had to be detained for violation of Section 144 (prohibitory orders)," a senior Delhi Police officer said. The Delhi Police said those detained have been taken to a nearby police station. Earlier addressing the media at Vijay Chowk, several leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, also raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court and alleged that the government was targeting the opposition with cases to suppress their voices. After a protest inside the Parliament House complex, a host of Opposition leaders from parties such as the CPI, CPI(M), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), JD(U) and Aam Aadmi Party, marched to Vijay Chowk, holding placards like 'We demand JPC' and 'Save LIC' and a huge banner in front of them with 'Democracy in Danger' written on it. "We're fighting for JPC into Adani issue for months. They have a majority but the BJP is scared as there's something fishy. We'll keep fighting unitedly for it," Kharge said. He also hit out at BJP chief J P Nadda over his allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the BJP of indulging in "caste politics". AAP's Sanjay Singh said Gandhi's conviction shows that the government wants to finish off the opposition by slapping cases on them. Security was stepped up around Parliament House and Vijay Chowk area to ensure that no untoward incident takes place, a senior police officer said.
For those of us who entered the legal profession in the 1990s  the opening of the Indian market for legal services has been a long time coming. While the winds of liberalisation swept through the Indian economy, it seemed inevitable that the profession would open to the world. However, what followed were decades of uncertainty on the implications of opening up due to the absence of a level playing field for Indian lawyers who were amongst other things unable to advertise, own websites or offer alternative fee arrangements like their international counterparts. An abiding mistrust of what opening up the profession would entail and various other issues resulted in stiff resistance to the liberalisation of legal services. Until now. On all counts, the Bar Council of Indias (BCI) recent announcement that foreign law firms would be permitted to establish offices in India is a watershed moment. Overnight, the BCI in its Rules for the Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022 (Rules) has called out some of the fault lines in the debate surrounding liberalisation which had resulted in status quo, and suggests that finally the time has come to take a call on the opening up of the legal profession. Curious Timing Some commentators have linked the timing of the BCIs announcement to the recent visit of the President of the Law Society of England and Wales, the ongoing UK-India FTA negotiations, the recent international arbitration week in New Delhi, etc. While the reasons for the timing are unclear from the BCIs own announcement, the profession has generally reacted positively to this development, with the common refrain being that the actual implications of the BCIs announcement will become apparent only once the Rules have been framed and that the devil will lie in the detail. Nevertheless, driven by apprehensions of certain sections of the bar, the BCI was compelled to issue a clarification a few days later, reiterating that foreign law firms would not under any circumstance be permitted to advise on Indian law and that practising lawyers had nothing to be concerned about. So, what exactly do the BCI Rules permit foreign law firms to do in India? The BCI has set out a few broad prerequisites for international law firms to establish offices in India: the first being that reciprocity is a precondition to permitting international lawyers and law firms to open offices in India, and they will only be allowed to do so if their own home jurisdiction allows Indian lawyers a corresponding right. The second is that foreign law firms will be allowed to advise only on foreign law and are precluded from advising on Indian law altogether. The third is that foreign law firms will not engage in any form of litigation before Indian courts, tribunals or regulators, although they may advise on international arbitration. The BCI has introduced a registration mechanism for foreign law firms to set up offices in India and requires that Indian lawyers engaged by such foreign law firms, forgo their rights as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, including the right to assert advocate-client privilege. Opportunities And Limitations These limitations placed on foreign law firms seem designed to provide Indian lawyers with an opportunity to establish offices overseas and follow their clients as Indian conglomerates grow in size and international footprint. Foreign law firms established in India would likely do the same and advise their international clientele on corporate and M&A transactions, where the choice of law would be less relevant. Such delineation is not unknown in other jurisdictions which have opened up gradually to foreign law firms  both Singapore and China for instance, allow international law firms to set up local offices, but do not permit them to appear before courts or advise them on national law. However, it has been pointed out that the delineation between practising national and international law on transactions could be hard to monitor and even harder to implement and that the BCI will need to enhance its supervisory role to ensure that foreign law firms adhere to the Rules. It has also been pointed out that antiquated rules that apply to Indian lawyers  such as limitations on advertising, require immediate reconsideration or else it will place them at a competitive disadvantage. Questions have also been raised on why foreign law firms should not be subject to the same ethical rules for misconduct as their Indian counterparts if they are operating in India. A recent meeting of the Society for Indian Law Firms (SILF) laid bare these misgivings and it seems likely, and rightfully so, that the BCI will conduct more widespread consultations before giving shape to the implementing regulations. Opening up the Indian market for legal services will result in greater competition for well-established Indian law firms, create more opportunities for Indian lawyers and introduce much-needed technology and infrastructure to the practice of law. Indian law firms that are focused on providing contentious advice in niche practice areas, representation and litigation before courts and regulators will be particularly sought out for their expertise since these are areas where foreign law firms will not be permitted to advise their clients. Equally, we are likely to see informal alliances between established large corporate law practices  or best friends relationships flourish, as the practice of law in India moves the country closer towards its ambitions of becoming a $10 trillion economy. Samir R Gandhi is a co-founder of Axiom5 Law Chambers, a boutique competition law practice, and visiting faculty at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
One year into Yogi Adityanaths second term as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), it would be an opportune moment to examine the continuities and changes in governance from the CMs first term in office. The focus of Yogis first term was in creating infrastructure and a conducive law and order atmosphere for attracting investments for employment generation. That he was successful on both counts was evident in the thumping majority he received in 2022, becoming the first chief minister in decades to be re-elected in UPs ultra-competitive electoral politics. Continuity: Security-Infrastructure-Welfare The notion of suraksha remains an important concern for the Yogi government, central as it was to his popular appeal in the first term. Attempts to demolish the power, networks and illegal operations of mafias are proceeding apace. While the recent operations of UP police against Atiq Ahmad and his gang in Prayagraj was a high-profile example of Yogi prioritising law and order, the UP police across cities are aggressively tackling landgrabbers and criminals. The development of infrastructure such as roads, highways, airports and electricity is a continuing focus area in Yogis second term too. The fast evolving infrastructure is also contributing to speeding up the process of urbanisation in UP. The implementation of various central government-sponsored welfare schemes tops the priorities in the second term too, as it was in his first stint in office. The implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, various poverty alleviation schemes and pension schemes are being closely supervised by the CM in his meetings with bureaucrats of the state. New Mantra: Investments The new area of emphasis in Yogis second term is the focus on bringing investment into Uttar Pradesh. He believes that huge investments are needed to take forward the process of development, urbanisation and employment generation. To attract investment, Yogi has personally led roadshows to various economic capitals in India and abroad. The UP Global Investors Summit 2023 has cast UP as a promising investment destination. In these interactions, Yogi has assured investors and industrialists of impeccable law and order, ample availability of land, and infrastructural support. Violence, crime and fear of lawlessness used to scare investors away from the state earlier. The bureaucracy is also being reoriented to become investor friendly. Importantly, the government is also trying hard to strengthen medium and small enterprises (MSMEs) by encouraging local entrepreneurship in the economically backward zones such as Bundelkhand and eastern UP. The skill development projects of the state are trying to convert people from traditional occupations into traditional skill-based entrepreneurs. The One District One Product is finding many takers. Even as the UP government is engaged in the glitzy work of attracting high-profile investments and industries, it hasnt forgotten the importance of capacity enhancement among the rural poor to make use of these opportunities. A host of social welfare schemes and skilling is proceeding to ensure better human capital development. Pilgrimage Tourism Yogis first term had hit upon the strategy of strengthening pilgrim-centred tourism. This continues in his second stint too. Efforts are on to remake the infrastructure of various religious sites in districts such as Patan, Jhansi, Lalitpur and Ghazipur. Measures to improve tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure in Ayodhya, Kashi and Prayag are now poised to deliver good results. Yogis governance model can be termed as a combination of developmental action and Hindutva. Recently, he had ordered all the district magistrates to organise Ramayana Path in all temples for the Navratri festival and the Durga Saptashati recitation in Shakti Peeths like Vindhyanchal. So far his attempts to weave religious culture and development together have been accepted. BJPs electoral victories of 2019 and 2022 are evidence of his success on this score. Challenges For Yogi What are challenges for Yogi in the realm of politics and governance in this second phase? The opposition in Uttar Pradesh is not united, assertive or strong enough to pose a big challenge for Yogi Adityanath in either the assembly or in terms of drumming up support on the streets. Nevertheless, the opposition does have immense possibilities to regain their lost social base. Parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have a broad social base in Uttar Pradesh society. So, the first challenge for Yogi is framing the right political strategy to ensure that the social bases of these two parties do not flock back. Here he needs to strengthen and renew the social welfare schemes for the poor by constantly reviewing their requirements and assessing the mood of the beneficiaries. Secondly, in the realm of governance, his government needs to formulate innovative policies for bringing long-term developmental transformation in this second tenure in office. This is where the nature of bureaucracy needs to become investor-friendly and they need to develop a more sensitive approach towards the people, especially the downtrodden and marginalised in society. Time will tell how the measures taken by Yogi and the interplay of socio-political and economic factors make a difference to the people of the state. But for Yogi, 2024 is the next big test awaiting him in a fascinating political journey. Badri Narayan is Director, GB Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad, and author of Republic of Hindutva: How the Sangh Is Reshaping Indian Democracy. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have met 40 times since Xi took over in March 2013. The latest visit, the 41st, is however the first one after the Ukraine war erupted. Before focusing on the outcomes of this meeting and implications for the region, a glance at this personal friendship and China-Russia friendship is pertinent to understand the dynamics of the current meeting. The China-Russia Friendship China has different categories for its partnerships with each country, the highest formulation Comprehensive strategic partnership coordination relations is used only to describe its relationship with Russia. The only other country with a separate stand-alone relationship is Pakistan. Over the last ten years, President Xi has personally invested in the relationship and he connects ideologically, as well, with President Putin. Both share a deep mistrust of the US and the West along with trying to break the US hegemony in the world. During the Xi-Putin summit in February 2022, both sides declared that their friendship has no limits. The Xi-Putin conversation ended with a joint statement and the two leaders officially deciding to extend the China-Russia friendship treaty. Given this background, Xis visit to Russia is a message to the US and West that despite the rhetoric, China will not abandon Russia and will, in fact, take the friendship to the next level. The Chinese Perception Two articles in the Chinese language media bring out the Chinese perception as far as the relationship and meeting are concerned. An article published in a state-owned portal lists out the rationale of the visit as reassurance to a friend (Russia) that it is not alone despite western sanctions. The visit is seen as buttressing Chinas independent foreign policy despite US pressure to condemn Russia and portraying the situation in Ukraine as the Wests fault. This article also emphasised that China successfully delivered important achievements like the Saudi Arabia-Iran deal. Moreover, Chinas 12-point plan to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end is contrasted with the US, which is supplying weapons to Ukraine, to highlight Chinas role as a peacemaker. The article declares the visit a success and China-Russia friendship as crucial to set an alternative world order. The second article also published in the Chinese government portal brings out another aspect: namely that China cannot publicly supply material help to Russia as it will result in western sanctions, but it will continue to support Russia in every other way possible, reemphasising the importance of combating US hegemony. The joint statements released after the meeting and individual statements establish one thing very clearly to a China watcher: Even though Xi Jinping has not overtly offered material support to Russia in this conflict, he has certainly endorsed Russias stance against expansion of alliances. A Russian Decline Russia, for its part, has appreciated Chinas blueprint for the settlement of the Ukraine issue and highlighted that Russia would welcome China as the mediator for settling the issue when the other side decides to do so. What the Russians could not hide however, was them being inexorably pulled into Chinas economic and political orbit. The welcome given to President Xi, was set to a song sung by Xis wife Peng Liyuan on a tank. The military symbolism was lost on nobody. Further Putin endorsed Xi Jinpings vision of an alternate world order including initiatives like BRI, Global Development Initiative etc. There was also one concrete measure to fight sanctions: specifically, the Siberia-2 gas pipeline across Mongolia (disputed territory between China-Russia), which while increasing Russian supplies to China, pushes Russia deeper into a Chinese gas monopsony. There was also mention of combining research and industrial capabilities in the fields of information technology, cyber security, and artificial intelligence. Consequences For India The process of Russia becoming China's junior partner is well underway. This increasing and obvious Russian dependence on China has direct implications for India in that the political, diplomatic and military support that India was getting until now from Russia will either be diluted or eliminated. Cumulatively, these events and statements foreshadow an increasing Chinese belligerence towards India. The question is what is Indias redundancy plan and can it realistically do anything to stop Russia becoming a Chinese client state? That eventuality would be a geopolitical disaster for India, given the primary aim of its foreign policy since Independence has been to avoid the emergence of a bloc that monopolises the resources of Asia. Namrata Hasija is a Research Fellow with the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy and her primary area of interest is Chinese foreign policy and India-Taiwan relations. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Congress leaders on March 24 reacted sharply to the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Member of the Parliament following his conviction and two-year jail sentence in the 2019 defamation case. In a press briefing held in New Delhi, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated, "We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking out fearlessly both inside and outside the Parliament. Clearly, he is paying a price for it." Sanghvi also added that the last decision of the Parliament to disqualify Gandhi shows that the government is "rattled." "This government is finding new techniques to throttle his voice," he added. Moreover, the party leader also showed confidence in the Indian judiciary to take a just verdict on the disqualification. He added, "We are confident that we will get a stay of the conviction which will remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future." Meanwhile, hitting out at the government over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier today said it was "a black day for Indian democracy" and asserted that the battle will be fought both "legally and politically". Several opposition leaders hit out at the BJP following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP on Friday, alleging the ruling party was involved in vindictive politics, and said it was a new low for democracy. Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha today, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. The Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified Rahul Gandhi as MP from Wayanad in Kerala, a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his remark, " How come to all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. While the Congress has said it will fight the matter politically and legally, the BJP has said the decision to disqualify Gandhi was a legal one and not a political call. (With agency inputs)
Robust political discourse is the essence of democracy and the law ought not to be set in motion to silence leading voices of the Opposition, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Friday, a day after Rahul Gandhi was sentenced by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years jail in the case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks. The court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. In a tweet without naming anyone, Chidambaram said, "Robust political discourse is the essence of democracy. The law ought not to be set in motion to silence leading voices of the democratic Opposition." "Noisy appreciation of the 'might' of the law must be tempered by calm introspection on the 'plight' of democratic voices," he said. The Congress has said that the conviction of Gandhi was "erroneous and unsustainable" and will be challenged in a higher court. It has expressed hope that the judgment will be stayed and quashed. (With PTI inputs)

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The Beatrice Middle School students and teachers gathered together to celebrate Hope Week.

The Hope Squad members planned, organized and have led activities throughout the week.

Dr. Greg Hudnall of Provo, Utah developed the Hope Squad concept with the mission of reducing suicide through education, training and peer intervention. Schools throughout the United States use the evidence-based curriculum.

Hope Squad started at BMS approximately five years ago as a peer driven suicide prevention program.

Each spring students are asked to nominate peers who they feel they could go to if they were experiencing a personal or mental health challenge. The student names receiving the most votes are reviewed by the Hope Squad Advisory Team of teachers and administrators before they are invited to become a member.

After parent permission is obtained, students attend monthly meetings of the Hope Squad where they participate in team building activities. They also receive training on how to support peers and seek help of a trusted adult.

Beatrice Middle School Principal Andrew Haake said research indicates that suicide is preventable.

At Beatrice Middle School we've taken a position to teach students about suicide prevention and equip them with the tools necessary to respond to someone that may be considering suicide, he said. We also make it an emphasis to spread messages of hope throughout our student body in a week we call, 'Hope Week.'

"This week has been a lot of fun for our students. We have had different activities throughout the week including door decorating contests, dress up days, and house competitions, but we all the while we deliver the important message of suicide prevention to our students.

On Monday students were taught Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) in one of their classes. Some students had the opportunity to role play different scenarios asking about suicidal intentions. They were also encouraged to seek the assistance of an adult if a friend ever shares suicidal ideations.

Information from the Hope Squad QPR indicates that most young people do not tell adults if they are experiencing a mental health crisis. If they tell peers most often the friend or other young person does not know where to go for help or understand the seriousness of an immediate response.

Students were also given a resource number of 988 which recently replaced the National Suicide Lifeline.

Guidance counselor Angie Vogel said its more than just suicide prevention.

Weve been celebrating hope and kindness this week, she said. Its been a fun week.

The Hope Squad students planned a week where they did announcements, played games in the gym before school and each mentor group decorated their classroom door for a Hope Week contest.

As advisors we helped the Hope Squad members generate ideas, but the kids have been responsible for the weeks activities. Theyve done a great job of just championing the message for the week.
On March 24, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a Member of Parliament (MP) after his conviction and sentencing by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation. A Surat Court on March 23 sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case against him over his alleged 'Modi' surname remarks. The court later granted him bail, and stayed its order for a period of 30 days so that Gandhi can appeal in a higher court. Rahul Gandhi has to obtain a stay on the conviction from a higher court if the disqualification is to be put on hold. MoneyControl explains the provisions under which Rahul Gandhi was convicted, why he was disqualified, and the ghost of the 2013 ordinance that could have come in handy for him. What provisions were Rahul Gandhi convicted under? In 2019, at an election campaign in Kolar, Karnataka, Gandhi is alleged to have said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname? A case of criminal defamation was filed against Gandhi for insulting the Modi community. On March 23 2023, Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, held Rahul Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, and also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code says, Whoever, a) by words either spoken or intended to be read, or b) by signs or by visible representations Makes or publishes anything against another person intending to harm the reputation of the person, is guilty of defamation. Defamation is an exception to freedom of speech provided in the constitution. Section 500 of the IPC says any person who defames another person is punishable with simple imprisonment for a term of up to two years, or with fine, or with both. At a press conference held on March 24, Senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Rahul Gandhi is appealing against the verdict at the Sessions Court in Surat. The Sessions Court will have to stay the order of conviction for Rahul Gandhis disqualification to be reversed, according to Singhvi. If the Sessions Court does not stay the conviction, it is to be appealed in the Gujarat High Court, and ultimately at the Supreme Court. What did the notification disqualifying Rahul Gandhi read? Rahul Gandhi, who is an MP from Wayanad, was disqualified by a notification by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Friday. According to the notification, Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction, i.e. 23 March 2023, in terms of the provisions of Article 102 (1) (e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Why was Rahul Gandhi disqualified? The Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 contemplates disqualification of MPs and MLAs on being convicted by a court. Section 8(3) of the Act notes that an MP stands disqualified the moment he/she is convicted of an offence with a sentence of imprisonment for not less than two years. The section further notes that the elected representative will continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since release. In Rahul Gandhi's case, the conviction if upheld, will disqualify him for eight years. The notification disqualifying Gandhi further refers to Article 102 (1) (e) of the Constitution of India. This article sanctions the act of disqualifying an elected representative from the house of the parliament by a law enacted by the parliament. Singhvi has however, raised questions of the method adopted for disqualification on the ground that the notification should have come from the President and not from the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha secretariat. He however, said that the legal team is yet to decide on whether the notification could be challenged on this ground. Singhvi also said that appealing against a 168-page order is time consuming and since the law provides time to appeal, the authorities should have adopted a hands off approach in disqualifying Gandhi till the appeal is heard by the Sessions Court. The ghost of the 2013 ordinance The Supreme Court, in 2013, struck down Section 8(4) of the Representation of Peoples Act, which protected convicted legislators from disqualification for a period of three months. If the MP/MLA files an appeal within the three-month period, he/she cannot be disqualified until the appeal is disposed of by the court. The UPA government which was in power then, had brought an ordinance to nullify the order of the Supreme Court. The ordinance stated that disqualification of an MP/MLA will not take effect if an appeal against the conviction and sentence is made within 90 days from the date of conviction, and the order of conviction or sentence is stayed by the court. However, from the date of conviction and till the same is set aside by the court, the MP/MLA will not be entitled to vote or draw salary and allowances. But the MP/MLA can take part in the proceedings of Parliament or the Legislature of a State. Rahul Gandhi had torn the copy of this ordinance in 2013 at a press conference. The ordinance, which was introduced by Kapil Sibal, was eventually withdrawn.
Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Keralas Wayanad Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a 2019 defamation case by a Surat court that sentenced him to two years in prison. The Gandhi scion was held guilty on March 23 by a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in the Gujarat town under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with criminal defamation. CJM HH Varma said if Gandhi were to be given a more lenient punishment, it would send a wrong message to the public; the purpose of the anti-defamation law would not be met, he said. Read: MC Explains: Why was Rahul Gandhi disqualified after conviction? The case against Rahul Gandhi On April 13, 2019, days ahead of the general elections, Gandhi remarked at a public rally in Karnatakas Kolar: How come all the thieves have Modi as a common surname? Offended by his remarks, Purnesh Modi, a BJP Gujarat legislator, lodged a complaint against the Congress leader. Purnesh Modi, who also served as a minister, alleged Gandhi had hurt the sentiments of and defamed the entire Modi community. The legal battle went on for almost four years. After the final arguments on March 23, 2023, the court found Gandhi guilty of defamation and handed him a two-year prison sentence. Gandhi appeared before the Surat court in October 2021 to record his statement and again on March 23, 2023. He got bail by posting a bail bond of Rs 10,000. The court suspended the sentence for 30 days, giving him time to appeal in a higher court. Lok Sabha disqualification The Lok Sabha Secretariat announced Gandhis disqualification through a notification on March 24. It said: Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in CC/18712/2019 Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102 (10 (e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951." Section 8 (3) of the Representation of the People Act states that the moment an MP is convicted of any offence and sentenced to a minimum of two years in jail, she or he attracts disqualification. With the notification issued, the Election Commission of India can now announce a fresh election to the Wayanad parliamentary seat. Read more: Congress leaders react sharply to Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament What next? Gandhi can challenge the decision in a higher court and if he fails to get relief, he wouldnt be able to contest an election for another eight years. Legal experts say Gandhi will now have to get his conviction stayed in the higher court to overturn his disqualification. The conviction can get stayed even in Sessions Court, said Faizan Mustafa, former vice-chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He also commented on the unprecedented nature of the action against the MP. This is for the first time an MP has been disqualified over criminal defamation case. It is one of the rare cases where someone has been convicted and sentenced two years imprisonment over a defamation case. Usually compensation is sought in defamation case. Two years sentence in a defamation case will only open a floodgate, said Faizan Mustafa. Section 8 (3) of the Representation of People Act says a parliamentarian will not be barred from contesting an election for a period of six years after completing his sentence. Congress leaders have said the verdict would be challenged because it was erroneous and unsustainable. The issue before us is political even before legal. Both facets are important, but its a vital political issue for this country and leaders of all political parties. It is a political issue because, it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party, senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has said. He also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of making mistakes after mistakes. There is a provision created in law specifically called Section 202. The section prevents without jurisdiction mischievous prosecution complaints in areas where no cause of action has arisen. Rahul Gandhi made a speech in Kolar and has no connection with Surat and Section 202 cannot be nullified, said Singhvi. Singhvi questioned Lok Sabhas decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi. Though the conviction is by a court in Rahul Gandhis case, the disqualification under Article 103 of the Constitution has to be by the President of India. And under Article 103, the President of India has to first disqualify Rahul Gandhi, he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on March 24 following court conviction over 2019 defamation case. "Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951," read the notification. His disqualification as Wayanad MP is effective from March 23, the day of his conviction, the secretariat said in its notification. Reacting to the decision taken by the Parliament, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh tweeted,that the party will fight both legally and politically over this. "Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," he posted We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed his disbelief on Gandhi's disqualification. He tweeted, "Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy." Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy. pic.twitter.com/IhUVHN3b1F  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 24, 2023 In March 22, a court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname? The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term. (With agency inputs)
The Kerala government will help Adam Harry, a 23-year-old transgender resident of the state, realise his dream of becoming an airline pilot. After he completes his course, Harry will become Indias first transgender commercial pilot. The state's social justice department has sanctioned an amount of Rs 25.43 lakh to bear his commercial license training cost in South Africa. Harry will pursue his training at Vulcan Aviation in Johannesburg, according to the government order accessed by Moneycontrol. The state government had earlier sanctioned funds for his pilot training course at the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology in Thiruvananthapuram. However, civil aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had said he was temporary unfit to fly citing gender dysphoria, mismatch between biological sex and their gender identity, according to a report in The Hindu. Adam Harry has been compelled to take up a delivery job with food aggregator Zomato, the report further said. For him, stopping treatment is not an option. "I can't sacrifice my identity for my profession," he told the newspaper. "I want to be able to fly as who I am." The Kerala governments aid to Harry, a resident of the state's Thrissur district, came after he applied for government funding. Harry had said that he was unable to pay for his training cost as his family had expelled him after learning about his trans-identity, the state government order said.
Two months after accusing India's Adani Enterprises of fraud, US investment group Hindenburg Research launched a new attack Thursday, this time against Jack Dorsey's mobile payments firm Block, saying it "widely overstated" its user base. Among the executives named in the latest Hindenburg report is Amrita Ahuja. The Indian-origin Harvard graduate is currently serving as Chief Financial Officer of Block, whose shares tumbled up to 22 percent following the publication of the report, before recovering slightly. Here are five points on Amrita Ahuja: 1. Amrita Ahuja is the current Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Block. She joined the payments platform in 2018 as its CFO, when it was still named Square. Square later rebranded to Block and Ahuja took over as COO in February this year. 2. Amrita Ahuja is the daughter of Indian immigrants to the US. Her parents owned a day care centre near Cleveland in Ohio, according to The Wall Street Journal. 3. She was appointed to the Board of Directors at Airbnb in 2021 and to the Board of Directors at Discord in 2022. The idea of connection and belonging is core to me as a child of immigrants who moved across continents before settling in the States, Ahuja said at the time of joining the board of Airbnb. 4. Before Block, she had stints at Morgan Stanley and Walt Disney Company, where she served as an analyst. In 2007, Ahuja joined Fox as Director of Business Development and played a role in the launch of its streaming service Hulu. She left Fox in 2010 for Activision Blizzard, the maker of video games like Candy Crush and Call of Duty. 5. According to her LinkedIn profile, Ahuja studied economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science and later joined Duke University for further studies. In 2007, she received an MBA from Harvard Business School.
A prominent Filipino couple is suing JPMorgan, saying the investment bank sold off millions of dollars worth of jewels that they had kept inside their safety deposit boxes. Jorge and Stella Araneta claim that JPMorgan started sending bills for their safe deposit boxes to the wrong address in 2016, according to Fortune. Due to the address mix-up, the couple fell behind on their payments to the bank. The Aranetas live in the Philippines but also own an apartment in Manhattan. They had seven safety deposit boxes in JPMorgan which they opened in 2006, but allege that the bank started sending invoices to an address in Louisiana in 2016, which led them to fall behind on payments. The bank reportedly sent them warnings that the contents of their safety deposit boxes would be removed if they did not complete their pending payments. Those warnings were also sent to the wrong address, the Aranetas say. After nearly one year of missed payments, JPMorgan drilled two of their safety deposit boxes to remove their contents, which included jewellery, precious metals and rare coins. Meanwhile, the bank could not successfully contact the couple until 2019, when they settled their account. The Aranetas say that JPMorgan assured them their valuables would be returned to them. However, only 10 months later, the bank auctioned them off for $552,700  a fraction of their value, according to Daily Mail. The couple sued the bank on multiple counts in 2022. In court filings, JPMorgan said it denies each and every allegation made by the Aranetas.
Lenovo and ThinkPads are synonymous, but these innovative laptops are the proverbial tip of the iceberg as far as Lenovo is concerned. The companys expertise and experience extends far beyond laptops and well into the realms of data centre design, supercomputing, and even advanced workplace solutions. Built on a culture of innovation, Lenovos engineers are constantly finding interesting new ways to re-design and streamline not just existing infrastructure, but also to design new products and services by making them more human-centric and more sustainable. By taking end-to-end responsibility for its product stack, Lenovo is able to design more efficient solutions from the ground-up, sometimes taking that innovation in surprising directions. Smarter, more sustainable computing The Cannon supercomputer in Barcelona is a great example of this. Based at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC), this HPC cluster is using analytical models to detect anomalies in medical scans and speed up disease detection, among other things. A similar project at the Julich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) in Germany is modelling the brain, yet another is helping Dallara model race cars, and others are helping model weather patterns. These are powerful computing clusters featuring thousands upon thousands of CPUs and hundreds of GPUs. Understandably, they generate a lot of heat. More on this later. Data centres are another example. Forming the backbone of IT infrastructure, data centres are crucial for the smooth operation of entire economies, not just businesses. With the rise of AI and massive IoT and the like, such centres have an outsize impact on business and productivity. At the same time, these centres consume a lot of electricity. Much like the aforementioned HPC clusters, they also generate a tonne of heat. This is where Lenovos long history of innovation comes into play. Lenovo was an early and aggressive adopter of liquid cooling in servers, and these HPC clusters are cooled by Lenovos patented Neptune data-centre cooling tech. While this is already slashing energy costs and keeping emissions in check, the innovation doesnt end here. Lenovo looks at this heat as a resource, and is finding ways to repurpose it in new ways. Theyre using heat exchangers to heat buildings, warm swimming pools, and are even piping that heated data-centre water under roadways to melt snow and ice rather than wastefully allowing it to dissipate into the atmosphere. Its an unconventional solution, but Lenovo is making it work. Re-imagining modern workplaces The pandemic might have changed how we work, but that change was only possible thanks to next-gen collaboration tools and digital infrastructure. The impact such tools are having extends beyond mere productivity. Children are living a better quality life because parents dont have to choose between work and family. Mothers are able to return to work after taking a break. People with disabilities need not fear discrimination or dread the challenge of navigating a poorly optimised office environment. As with everything Lenovo does, they started out by re-imagining the modern workplace in a post-pandemic era. Lenovo now saw work as something that employees fit into their lives rather than something they built their lives around. They realised that respecting work-life balance was important, and that meant designing tools that allowed professionals to remain productive and managers to more effectively keep an eye on progress regardless of where that work was happening. The result? A suite of human-centric workplace solutions like Workspace Booking and Complete Conference Room Solutions that more effectively embrace hybrid work culture and enable a new era of work. Leading with meaningful innovation Lenovos HPC clusters are saving lives, its innovative and green data centre solutions are supporting the worlds economies while helping mitigate their environmental impact, and Lenovos collaboration tools are unlocking a whole new world of opportunity and diversity for todays workers. Meaningful impact of this nature isnt easy to achieve, but Lenovo has achieved it thanks to years  perhaps decades  of investment in a culture of sustainability and innovation. Moneycontrol Journalist were not involved in the creation of the article.
The search for the first interstellar meteor is being spearheaded by a Harvard physicist who has raised over a million dollars to probe the depths of the ocean for its fragments. Avi Loeb is planning a Pacific expedition to look for evidence of what he thinks could be alien technology, launched a billion years ago by an ancient civilization outside our solar system. The object of Loebs curiosity is a meteor that came hurtling towards the earth in 2014 and exploded into tiny fragments about a hundred kilometers off the coast of Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. The trajectory of the object suggested that it originated outside our solar system. Loeb, professor at Harvard's Center for Astrophysics, has announced an expedition to find those fragments by combing the ocean floor. The project has received $1.5 million in funding and the green light to go ahead. According to his blog post, the objects interstellar origins were confirmed by NASA in 2022. Loeb and his team also concluded that the meteor, labelled IM1, was tougher than all the 272 meteors in NASAs Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) catalogue. Intrigued by this conclusion, I established a team that designed a two-week expedition to search for the meteor fragments at a depth of 1.7 kilometers on the ocean floor, he said. Meteor or alien probe? Loeb believes in the possibility that the object may be artificial in origin and wants to find its fragments so he and his team can study it further. It is possible that IM1 and IM2 have unusually high material strength because they were produced in the ejecta of an exploding star or in collisions of two neutron stars, he wrote. IM2 is the name given to another interstellar meteor that was detected near Portugal in 2017. Alternatively, it is also possible that IM1 and IM2 are tough because they are artificial in origin, resembling our own interstellar probes but launched a billion years ago from a distant technological civilization he added. In an interview with NPR last year, the Harvard professor was asked what he hoped to accomplish by searching for the meteor. The first thing that we will be able to test is whether the object came from outside the solar system because the composition would be different than all the rocks we find in the solar system, he said. But there is also the possibility that it will be made of some alloy that nature doesn't put together, and that would imply the object is technological. My hope, if you ask what my wish is, is that if indeed it's of artificial origin, there was some component of the object that survived, he confessed. And if it has any buttons on it, I would love to press them. Loeb has said that if his team does find a sizable technological relic from the Pacific ocean, he will donate it to the Museum of Modern Art in New York to be displayed. This piece would represent modernity for us, even though it is a relic of ancient history for the senders, he said.
Wolfgang Porsche, the billionaire executive of luxury carmaker Porsche, is divorcing his wife because of her "dementia-like illness", The Times newspaper reported. The 79-year-old billionaire, who is the grandson of Porsche AG founder Ferdinand Porsche, is seeking divorce from Claudia Huebner, a teacher he married in 2019. Porsche and Huebner had been together for 16 years, but lately, her illness made it tough for them to live as a married couple, German tabloid Bild reported, citing sources aware of the developments. Huebner has been living close to her daughter since nearly two years and is cared for round the clock, Herald Sun reported. Her health has deteriorated and she can't move on her own. Meanwhile, her estranged husband is rumoured to be dating former model Gabriele Prinzessin zu Leiningen. Wolfgang presently serves as chairman of the Porsche AG Supervisory Board. He grew up in Zell am See, Austria, on his family's estate. Wolfgang Porsche has three older brothers-- Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Gerhard Anton and Hans-Peter. Porsche says his family premium cars are more than just automobiles. "A Porsche isnt just a fast car. Porsche is a community," he was quoted as saying by the company. "Mutual appreciation and interest have been crucial factors in the success of the Porsche company. My grandfather Ferdinand and my father, Ferry, instilled these values in me from early childhood on."

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A Delhi resident had an episode of anxiety attack on board an Air India flight in Ahmedabad earlier this week. Taking to social media, the woman thanked the Air India crew and a doctor who came to her aid during the medical crisis. Anjali Sinha, who works as a senior sales manager at a private firm, was flying from Delhi to Pune via Ahmedabad on Monday when the incident took place. After landing in Ahmedabad for the stopover, she got the anxiety attack when the passengers were told that there could be some delay in boarding. "I was ok with it. And suddenly, I found difficulty in breathing and started gasping. I ran towards the exit," she told Moneycontrol. This is when the Air India crew members came to her aid, she said. Upon the crews request, a doctor who was in the same flight rushed to Sinhas aid. Taking this opportunity to Thank you team @airindiain For all the support and care that i got by your cabin crew of Flight AI 481 -20/03/2023 during a bad episode of Anxiety attack in the flight. Dr. Roxy Chirom for your prompt medical assistance and support. Gratitude.Thankful. pic.twitter.com/RxdEOdp3un  Anjali Sinha (@GigglyGirlVibe) March 21, 2023 They made me sit down in the business class as that was open in comparison to the economy class, she said. As the doctor monitored her pulse and blood pressure, she was given juice and a cold towel which was placed on her face. This is a big shout out to the angels who helped me with my anxiety attack on an Air India Flight Yesterday," Sinha wrote on Instagram. She (the doctor), along with the Air India crew, attended (to) me with utmost patience, positivity and calmness. It took me a good 45 to 50 minutes to come back to my normal self, and other ground staff and medical officers helped as well. Sinha said was feeling much better by the time the Air India ground staff and medical staff were called in. The doctor brought in by the airline too checked her vitals before the flight could take off for Pune. Air India thanked Sinha for appreciating the crew's prompt action. "Were glad to know that our team served you up to your expectations. We will surely convey your compliments to our team," the airline tweeted.
A former Roca couple was sentenced in federal court Tuesday after failing to pay more than $420,000 in employment taxes to the IRS.

William H. White, 55, and Sarah A. White, 40, owned two businesses, B&B Midwest Trucking and 419, LLC. From 2015 to 2018, the two companies withheld federal income taxes and FICA taxes from employees paychecks but failed to account for those taxes on time and to pay them over to the Internal Revenue Service, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Steven Russell.

B&B withheld $144,220.31, and 419 withheld $281,827.44 over that time, totaling $426,047.75.

They instead used the withheld funds to pay business and personal expenses.

William White was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, with three years of supervised release to follow. Sarah White was sentenced to three years of probation and a $10,000 fine. The couple was also ordered to pay the full amount in restitution, but was credited for payments already made.

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Britain's parliament will block TikTok on all devices on its network following a similar ban on government devices, becoming the latest Western institution to bar the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns. "Following the government's decision to ban TikTok from government devices, the commissions of both the House of Commons and Lords have decided that TikTok will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network," a parliament spokesperson said. Britain last week banned the Chinese-owned video app on government phones. "Cyber security is a top priority for parliament," the spokesperson added. The United States, Canada, Belgium and the European Commission have already banned the app from official devices. TikTok has come under increasing scrutiny due to fears that user data from the app owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests. The British parliament's ban was announced as TikTok's chief executive faced questions from U.S. lawmakers who are convinced the app should be barred for being a potential national security threat to the United States.

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Character.AI, a 16-month-old startup that builds online chatbots, said it had raised $150 million in a recent funding round that valued the company at $1 billion. Character.AI is among a tiny group of small companies  along with the tech industrys giants  that are building technology that could one day rival the systems under development at OpenAI, the San Francisco startup that incited the AI boom with the release of an online chatbot called ChatGPT. These companies have an unusual blend of experienced researchers and outsize ambition, and they require huge amounts of capital. Many experts believe that a handful of companies could dominate work on the new artificial intelligence. One of the concerns I have is that it will be a winner-take-all or a winner-take-most market  that a few big players will really dominate, said Erik Brynjolfsson, a Stanford University economics professor and a senior fellow at the schools Institute for Human-Centered AI. Venture capitalists are jockeying to invest in the young AI companies even as the rest of the tech industry struggles through layoffs, plummeting valuations and an unexpected banking crisis prompted by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. Like OpenAI, the new AI companies are building what are called large language models, or LLMs, a kind of artificial intelligence that learns language skills by analyzing vast amounts of data from across the internet. The technology drives online chatbots like ChatGPT and can power a wide range of other applications, including search engines, email services and personal tutors. LLMs can answer questions, summarize articles, write term papers and even generate computer programs, but only a limited number of companies are prepared to build systems as powerful as those recently released by OpenAI. The new funding round in Character.AI, which is based in Palo Alto, California, was led by Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valleys best known venture capital firms. In December 2021, the company raised $43 million in seed funding. While at Google, Character.AIs founders, Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, led a team that built a technology called LaMDA, short for Language Model for Dialogue Applications. The chatbot project gained attention last summer when a Google engineer, Blake Lemoine, told The Washington Post that he believed LaMDA was sentient. By then, Shazeer and De Freitas had left Google to create Character.AI. Having built technology similar to LaMDA, the company offers a website where people can chat with a reasonable facsimile of almost anyone, living or dead, real or imagined. The underlying technology could power many applications well beyond chatbots, said Sarah Wang, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. This technology requires enormous amounts of computer processing power. Mike Volpi, a general partner with Index Ventures who has invested in a company similar to Character.AI called Cohere, estimated that such companies required at least $500 million to spend on raw computing power. OpenAI has raised billions of dollars from Microsoft. Most of that money is being used to purchase computing power from Microsofts Azure cloud computing service. Shazeer said in an interview that Character.AI would soon raise additional funds from one or more strategic partners. That could mean taking investments from cloud computing companies and using the money to buy computing power from those companies.
For the fourth time in a week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen took a microphone on Thursday aiming to reassure Americans that the U.S. banking system is safe, each time with a subtle shift in message. But bankers and Wall Street never heard what they fervently wanted: That the government would guarantee all $19.2 trillion in U.S. bank deposits until the banking crisis that erupted two weeks ago calms down. Yellen is the face of the U.S. government on the issue, and her public comments have sent markets on a roller coaster ride. Becoming more explicit each time she has spoken, Yellen has repeatedly said the U.S. will safeguard deposits but has stopped short of a blanket guarantee, which would insure account balances of any size, including those above the current limit of $250,000. Her comments on Thursday more clearly indicated than previously that further guarantees for uninsured deposits would come in the form of rescues for depositors of individual failing banks where problems threaten to spark runs on other banks. She told U.S. lawmakers that bank regulators and the Treasury were prepared to make comprehensive deposit guarantees at other banks as they did at failed Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank (SBNY.O). "These are tools we could use again, for an institution of any size, if we judge that its failure would pose a contagion risk," she told a U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee hearing. The comments helped lift broad stock indexes. But regional bank shares (.KRX) including those of struggling First Republic Bank (FRC.N) continued to slide. Yellen on Wednesday told a Senate subcommittee that she was not considering a move to circumvent Congress and grant "blanket insurance" on all U.S. bank deposits. CONGRESS' CLOUT That's a step that the government and regulators took unilaterally in the 2008 global financial crisis, but the Biden administration would now have to get approval from Congress under 2010 reforms. Hardline Republicans oppose any increase in the current $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corp limit, making it unlikely that Yellen could hastily arrange such a backstop even if the crisis worsens. Banks and markets have found Yellen's comments unsettling at times. On March 16, she told a told a Senate hearing that banks had to pose a systemic risk to win a deposit guarantee, a comment interpreted as leaving small community banks to fend for themselves. But at a bank conference on Tuesday, she said that similar actions to the SVB guarantee "could be warranted if smaller institutions suffer deposit runs," reassuring those institutions. Yellen's reluctance to endorse a universal backstop has drawn criticism from investors including hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. They argue that a universal guarantee is needed to prevent depositors at small and mid-size banks from fleeing for perceived safety at large banks viewed as "too big to fail."
The Biden administration on Thursday added 14 Chinese companies to a red flag list, forcing U.S. exporters to conduct greater due diligence before shipping goods to them because U.S. officials have been unable to inspect the listed entities. Being added to the list can potentially start a 60-day clock that could trigger much tougher penalties. "Enforcing our export controls is a crucial part of protecting American national security," U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said in a statement following the announcement. "We are committed to using all of the tools at our disposal to establish how advanced US technology is being used around the globe." ECOM International and HK P&W Industry Co Ltd were among those added to the list and did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said "China strongly deplores and firmly opposes" moves by the United States to "abuse export control measures" and use "state power to suppress and contain foreign companies." "The U.S. side should immediately stop its wrong practices. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," the spokesperson added. The United States has used restrictions on exports of U.S. goods as a key tool to thwart Beijing's technological advances, ratcheting up tensions between the two countries. The Commerce department, which oversees U.S. export controls, also added 18 other entities to the list from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Bulgaria, Canada, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
As a series of U.S. lenders were besieged by customers yanking out their money this month, banking behemoths including JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC.N) warned employees: Do not make it worse. JPMorgan, the nation's largest bank, told all employees they "should never give the appearance of exploiting a situation of stress or uncertainty," in a March 13 memo, extracts of which were seen by Reuters. "We do not make disparaging comments regarding competitors." On the same day, the leaders of its consumer and business banking unit told branch employees: "We should refrain from soliciting client business from an institution in stress," according to extracts seen by Reuters. Citigroup has also given similar guidance to its business heads, a source familiar with the matter said. The guidance includes not speculating about other banks or market rumors. The lender sent a memo reminding bankers that, in discussions with prospective customers, they should not discuss the standing and condition of other firms, the source said. Top executives at Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) were also briefed that their employees should not be going after the customers of distressed firms or doing anything to exacerbate the situation, a source familiar with the matter said. And Mary Mack, CEO of consumer and small business banking at Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC.N), sent a memo to staff on Thursday that said: "We should not engage in any activity that could be perceived as taking advantage of the current situation to the detriment of others." The bank runs that toppled Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, the second and third largest lenders to fail in U.S. history, prompted customers to move about half a trillion dollars of deposits from the "most vulnerable" U.S. banks to bigger institutions this month, JPMorgan analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in a note Wednesday. As SVB teetered, billions of dollars in deposits poured into the nation's banking giants, which are required by regulators to hold more capital to withstand shocks. While lenders regularly compete for customers, the loss of confidence that shook the banking system in the last two weeks sparked concerns about contagion that could lead to a broader panic. The turmoil prompted unprecedented moves by regulators to guarantee the deposits of SVB and Signature. President Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Citigroup Inc. C.N Chief Executive Jane Fraser have all made statements in recent days to reassure the public that the U.S. banking system is safe. "We all have a vested interest in keeping America's financial system strong and thriving," a JPMorgan spokesperson said. "It's the envy of the world with thousands of institutions of all sizes serving every corner of the country."
So much of "Supercell" is spent looking up at the sky. Where else could you shoot it but Montana?

The movie, the first feature from Herbert James Winterstern, who also wrote the script with Anna Elizabeth James, is sort of "Twister" Jr., highlighted by a pointed reference to that movie's star Bill Paxton early on in "Supercell's" runtime.

"Supercell" is named for those big, horizon encompassing storms that inspire awe when you see a photo of them and terror when you see one in real life. It follows newcomer Daniel Diemer as William, a young man who grew up in the shadow of his famous storm chaser father, who was killed by a tornado when William was young. Now a teenager, William gets involved with storm chasing again, much to his mother's (Anne Heche) chagrin, although he's joined his uncle (Skeet Ulrich) and a reckless tour operator named Zane (Alec Baldwin).

It's set on the southwestern Great Plains, around the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. But the big high plains of central Montana stand in for their southern counterparts. "Supercell's" exteriors were shot around Lavina and Hardin.

Winterstern and his crew spent 10 days shooting out of Billings back in May 2021. Interiors were shot in Georgia, but Winterstern pushed to have the production moved to a more wide open space for the film's exteriors.

"It's a storm chasing movie, and Georgia is nothing but trees," he joked.

They settled on Montana for a few reasons. First, Winterstern said, was that the state had the raw open plains they needed.

"Montana has got these beautiful open vistas and landscapes," he explained.

But Montana was also an easy pick because of cultural reasons. Winterstern, who grew to love storm chasing on the west Texas plains with his fiance, wanted to shoot in a place that had storm chasing heritage.

"Montana is known for being a storm chasing destination," he said. But Montana's bigger storms don't usually show up until a little later in the spring, while May is prime storm season in Texas and Oklahoma. By shooting a little further north, Winterstern and his team avoided the worst of the bad weather they were trying to capture.

Not like that made it easy. They missed Montana's tornado season but still had to deal with the region's notoriously volatile weather.

"Montana is truly a place where you can have all four seasons in one day," Winterstern said. High winds were an ironic problem, since they're needed, but movie productions need to produce more controlled and localized wind with high powered fans. And they were shut down by lightning a few times. They even had to deal with cold.

"There was one day where our characters had to play as if it was about 70-80 degrees and muggy, but it might have been 40 degrees," Winterstern remembered. "They had to work extra hard on their performance to not show how cold they were."

That night, it snowed. That was a rude awakening to Winterstern, who had never even been to Montana before the film shoot.

The vistas aren't the only Montanan elements that got screen time. The "Supercell" crew put out a call for local extras. Local storm chasers came out for a few days, their enormous, rigged out vehicles lending an air of authenticity to the production.

"It was great to be able to utilize the community," Winterstern said.

There's even a cameo from Justin Hutchinson, better known as McLovin, the longtime producer of Hot 101.9's Big J radio show. Hutchinson plays a damage surveyor taking stock the landscape after a storm.

And these are some brutal storms. Winterstern is adept at displaying nature's carnage, with winds and rains that will chew up vehicles and human bodies alike. The storm footage in the movie is fabricated, of course, a mixture of actual storms shot elsewhere and special effects to make it look like the destruction is happening in camera.

It's quite the task for a first time filmmaker. Wintersten felt like the load was balanced by the veteran actors he worked with.

Baldwin, who can be a notoriously prickly personality, wasn't on set for very long, but his performance and his character are all over the movie, both physically and in influence.

"Next few hours, I'm god. Whatever I says goes," his character announces at one point, which might just be something Baldwin always says on film sets.

"I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say it was intimidating," Winterstern said of working with Baldwin. "But when you're on set, you come to realize that you guys are doing work... Once you get past the romanticism of working with a legendary actor, and living a dream, and you're just there to work, it becomes extremely fun."

The whole thing was a big learning experience for Winterstern.

"You don't want to yell cut," he explained. Rather, you want to allow an actor like Baldwin to go through the scene several times, changing bits of his performance throughout until he finds exactly what he wants to do. That technique gave a small, independent production like "Supercell" to get a huge variety of performance in a short amount of time.

Winterstern said that filming Baldwin made him a better director. He said the same of working with Anne Heche. The actress, known for roles in "Donnie Brasco" and Gus Van Sant's "Psycho" remake, died in August 2022.

"I learned so much from her and her ability to just walk on a set and really just perform and understand the story, and just turn it on when I call action," he said. "We got really close over the course of filming."

They'd been talking about doing more together, and Winterstern has been trying to set up a screening of the finished film for her to watch the week she died.

"It just breaks my heart that she'll never get to watch the movie," he said.

"Supercell" is eye-catching for big shots and special effects, but it's emotions like that that really stand out.

"I've had a lifelong obsession with weather, and I've had a lifelong obsession with filmmaking," Winterstern said. "I got to merge both of my passions into one."
Life360 has given shareholders an updated summary of its financials, and investors were showing support with an uptick in share price of more than 3% at the time.

Family safety and location-tracking application creator Life360 [ASX:360] has revealed a 103% leap on revenue to the total of US$228.3 million for the year ending 31 December 2022.

This was up from the US$112.6 million reported a year earlier.

What shortly followed was a boost of more than 3% for the groups share price.

While Life posted a higher revenue count, it also said it took a loss of US$91.6 million, compared with US$33.6 million  173% more than 2021.

360 shares were trading for $5.05 at the time of writing.

So far in 2023, it appears to be tracking well, with a gain of nearly 4%, however, in the long term, over 12 months, its dropped nearly 5%.

Its keeping with the wider market however, and is higher than its sector average by 13.5%:

www.TradingView.com

Life360 revenue increase dampened by higher losses

The family tracking platform released an update on its financial activities and results for the year ending December 2022, and with the uptick of more than 3% in share value, investors may have been reacting to the groups a surge in revenue.

Revenue of US$228.3 million was tallied at the end of 2022, up from US$112.6 million that was reported the end of the prior year.

And yet, it wasnt all good news. Life360 also admitted to an even bigger surge in losses, which had increased by 173%  a loss of $US91.6 million, on 2021s loss of US$33.6 million.

In the end, the group said that its adjusted for its activities, after tax, had increased by 155%, to US$37.9 million.

Life360 reported US$153.3 million in customer sales compared with the US$86.5 overturned in 2021  an increase of 77%.

Customer subscription revenue increased 72% from US$17.8 million to US$30.6 million.

Revenue made from the groups hardware had grown 8%, from US$25.1 million to US$27.1 million.

Total operating expenses had also gone up 99%, from US$122.1 million to US$243 million. Life360s expenses had also increased 410% for sales and marketing, 211% for administration, and 191% for total stock-based compensation expenses.

With this in perspective, the group posted a net loss of 40%, compared with 30% the year before.

Unsurprisingly, Life360s board did not declare or pay out any dividends.

The group has been in the process of cost-saving measures since the start of the year, with the announcement of offloading 14% of its workforce in order to give support to growing positive cash flow.

It had also increased its membership price, and completed a $50 million capital raising at the end of the year.

In January, the company said it should be reaching towards a cash flow positive era by the second quarter. It has finalised mergers with Jiobit and Tile, and wrangled its restructure so that it can boost operational cash flow and earnings.

Are you prepared for the big economic shift?

Australias 30 years of abundant, robust trade has now broken.

The change is all around us, the global supply chain has twisted. You can see it on supermarket shelves.

Theres also the issue of closing banks, soaring prices, shrinking packaging, and gaps in the workforce.

Even RPMs claimed war on talent is making it difficult to hire staff with the required skills.

The change is all around us and Jim Rickards, one of the worlds top financial and geopolitical analysts, has joined the dots nobody else has.

Most Australians just dont know it all really means, or how it happened.

Australia is going to be looking very different very soon, and so will everyday life

If you want to know how you can prepare for the biggest geoeconomic shift of our lifetime, and get an explanation from Jim Rickards himself, click here to learn more.

Regards,

Mahlia Stewart

For Money Morning
A Billings man previously sentenced for accepting child sex abuse material is once again in court on pedophile charges.

Joshua Allen Morgan, 39, pleaded not guilty Friday in Yellowstone County District Court to one count of sexual abuse of children. County prosecutors alleged he tried enticing two people he thought were underage girls into meeting for sex. District Judge Ashley Harada set Morgans bond at $150,000.

From late February through mid-March, according to court documents, Morgan started exchanging messages with two people online he believed were underage girls. During their conversations, he allegedly tried to entice the two into sneaking out of their homes and meeting in person. When the two reminded Morgan they were only 12 years old, court documents said, he responded by encouraging them to say they were 17 or 18, if asked.

Dont ever tell me ur real age again, he allegedly wrote to them. Its my 1 rule. If u dont wanna do it, we dont need to hang.

While asking for nude and semi-nude pictures from the people he thought were children, court documents said, Morgan sent them naked photos of himself.

On March 22, prosecutors alleged Morgan agreed to meet one of them in the West End of Billings. When he reached the location, court documents said, agents with the FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Morgan. Morgan, according to court documents, declined to speak with investigators, and was booked into Yellowstone County Detention Facility the same day.

Morgan has a criminal history dating back to 2003, Prosecutor Marty Lambert said in court Friday, including one federal count of accepting child pornography. In 2012, the Gazette previously reported, a U.S. District Court judge sentenced Morgan to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of federal supervision. Morgan admitted to coercing a 15-year-old girl in Madison County into sending him lewd photos via social media. He was 27 years old at the time.

According to court records, Morgan left prison in January 2021 and began federal supervision. He violated the conditions of his supervision on at least two occasions since then. In June 2022, he returned to custody after he admitted to being terminated from sex offender treatment and using an unapproved internet device.

In a letter written to presiding U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen that same month, Morgan asked her to place him in the custody of a pre-release program rather than sending him back to federal prison.

Every time I start to do good in life, I choke, he wrote. Ive observed that over my life that if Im placed in a structured environment I am more able to get my crap together.

Judge Christensen ordered him to another 10 months in prison at an Illinois facility, court documents said.

If convicted of child sex abuse in Yellowstone County District Court, Morgan could be sentenced up to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole for the first 25 years. Should he make bond, Judge Harada ordered that Morgan be monitored by GPS.

On Wednesday, the same day Morgan was arrested, a federal judge sentenced a Billings man to nearly six years in prison for trying to arrange for sex with someone he thought was a child. Kyle Ray Schwindt, 22, he traveled to a spot in Billings where he believed he was meeting with a 13-year-old for a sexual encounter, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office.
March 24, 2023

Ukraine Open Thread 2023-69

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 24, 2023 at 14:20 UTC | Permalink

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Yellowstone County Commissioners on Thursday debated terminating a contract worth about $1.1 million for an agency that supports the delivery of mental health services aimed at reducing crime.

Substance Abuse Connect is a partnership of healthcare, addiction recovery and law enforcement agencies. It is designed to create more efficiency by connecting area service providers.

The Billings-based organization receives the contract money and distributes it among seven agencies helping those struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse and homelessness.

The money comes from a $1.3 million mill levy voters passed in 2010 to help pay for mental health services that aid law enforcement.

Commissioner Mark Morse said he wanted to discuss ending Substance Abuse Connects contract because he wants to make sure taxpayers money is being spent wisely.

They havent been able to articulate a comprehensive approach to mental health in Yellowstone County, Morse said. I dont see the citizens getting the bang for their buck on this one.

The contract provides money for the Community Crisis Center, the Continuum of Care Diversion Fund, the Homeless Outreach Team, Motivated Addictions Alternative Program, Montana Rescue Mission, Rimrock Foundation and United Way 211.

From November 2022 to January 2023, the groups served more than 1,100 people involved in the criminal justice system or experiencing homelessness and responded to almost 300 calls for help with mental health issues, according to Substance Abuse Connects most recent quarterly report.

Commissioner Donald Jones said he thought it was premature to cut the contract. Substance Abuse Connect leverages the local dollars to bring in state and federal grant money.

Its working, Jones said. The Crisis Center is the only one complaining.

Even so, Morse said hed like to reconsider how the county is spending its mental health dollars and take input from other agencies and the public.

Commissioner John Ostlund said he would vote with Morse to approve the 60-day contract termination.

I cant say Im totally happy with it, he said.

The commissioners expect to vote on the issue at their meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Substance Abuse Connect Executive Director Zack Terakedis said he doesnt blame the commissioners for questioning how the money is being spent and wanting to better understand the services being provided at each organization.

Its valid, he said.

But, Terakedis said, if they terminate the contract a lot of services will be dropped unless they find an equally effective replacement.

Morse said he doesnt know what the future model for coordinating mental health services should look like.

I hope by having this discussion the mental health people can get their heads together on this, he said.
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I saw a lot last Saturday at the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, some I enjoyed and some not so much. As someone who doesnt hunt, barely eats meat or animal by-product, and almost worked for a renowned animal rights organization before coming to the Reporter-Telegram, I dont think I prepared myself enough for the amount of aggression used on the snakes during demonstrations.

Now, Im not saying the Sweetwater Jaycees stood in the snake pits and threw the critters into the wall or went around chopping their heads off in front of guests; I understand theyre dealing with the third deadliest snake in Texas, but the interactions still made me uncomfortable to watch.
LONDON (AP)  King Charles IIIs international debut was deflated Friday when his trip to France was postponed indefinitely because of protests that threatened to mar events at high profile venues such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Palace of Versailles.

While Charles will still travel to Germany on Wednesday, the decision to bypass France removes some of the sparkle from his first overseas trip as monarch, originally planned as a six-day, celebration of Britains links with its biggest European allies.

But with protesters promising to target royal events as they demonstrate against French President Emmanuel Macrons plans to raise the retirement age, planners had little choice but to cancel a visit that could have embarrassed the king.

It is a great shame because it was the first state visit of the kings reign and much thought would have been given as to who should have that honor, said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine.

Macron said Friday that he had asked for the visit to be delayed out of common sense and friendship because the likelihood of protests created a detestable situation. Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, would travel to France as soon as dates can be found.

But decoupling the two visits dilutes one of the original goals of the trip  highlighting the British governments efforts to improve relations with the European Union after six years of squabbling over Brexit.

The French leg of the tour, in particular, was an opportunity for Britain to underscore the progress Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made after the antagonism fanned by his predecessors, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, said Ed Owens, an expert on Britains royal family who lives in France.

During his six months in office, Sunak has reached an agreement with the EU to resolve the long-running dispute over post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland and signed a deal with Macron to try to stop migrants from crossing the English Channel in flimsy inflatable boats.

What we would have seen with this visit, ideally, was the two heads of state of two democracies coming together in recognition of their shared values, their desire to work together, to cooperate, Owens said. And at a time when there is war in Eastern Europe, at a time when we are witnessing the rise of an authoritarian China, that kind of symbolism  is powerful.

But postponing the trip was the least bad option amid protests that have disrupted public services and left the streets of Paris choked with uncollected garbage, said Owens, author of the The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public, 1932-1953.

Demonstrators had said they intended to protest at royal events, including the welcoming ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a state dinner at the palace of Versailles. In addition, labor unions have called for nationwide strikes and protests on Tuesday, which would have complicated security and travel arrangements for the royal couples trip to the western city of Bordeaux that day.

That meant the new monarchs first big overseas trip would have played out against an ugly backdrop, said Robert Lacey, a historian and author of several books on the royal family. The risk for Charles was that an event designed to highlight his importance as Britains head of state could instead have made him look weak and insensitive toward the concerns of French workers.

As an example of how important the optics of such visits can be, Lacey drew a parallel with Prince William and the Princess of Wales' tour of the Caribbean last year, which was marred by images of people of color restrained by a chain link fence as the royal couple walked past.

The royals, in essence, need state visits to be accompanied by adoring crowds to show that they are being welcomed by the host nation. That couldnt be guaranteed in France.

The crowd can cheer, Lacey said. But the crowd can boo, too.

But all is not lost for Charles.

The German portion of the trip is going ahead, and it includes a full schedule of state events and more intimate appearances designed to showcase his role as head of state and highlight the causes he holds dear, like sustainability and the environment, before his coronation on May 6.

Charles and Camilla will now start their trip on Wednesday in Berlin, where German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will welcome them at the historic Brandenburg Gate.

On Thursday, the king is scheduled to give a speech to the Bundestag, meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz and talk to Ukrainian refugees and military. He goes to Hamburg on Friday, where he will visit the Kindertransport memorial for Jewish children who fled from Germany to Britain during the Third Reich, and attend a green energy event before returning to the U.K.

Speaking before the French leg of the trip was cancelled, royal expert Arianne Chernock said the state visits would help people understand that Charles is now king.

Were still growing accustomed to Charles in this new role, said Chernock, a professor of modern British history at Boston University. This visit provides him with that platform to become more familiar to us, to establish himself as King Charles III, and again, in a way that will set the tone for the coronation and demonstrate, I think, that he has a seriousness, a capacity for engaging on really substantive issues that will serve him well, potentially, in his role.
Gov. Greg Abbott will appear at First Odessa Christian Academy on Thursday evening for Parent Empowerment Night, according to a press release from his office.

The event is hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition and brings together parents, education leaders and elected officials to discuss ways to expand parental rights in their childrens educational path, the press release states.

On Tuesday, the governor outlined his priority to secure education freedom for all Texans at Parent Empowerment Day at the Texas Capitol. The governor, according to a statement from his office, encouraged all Texans to voice their support for parent empowerment and expanding education freedom across Texas to their local legislators.

"I went to public schools, and I would not have had it any other way," Abbott said in a statement. "However, I have heard so many parents and teachers across Texas raise concerns about what is being taught in classrooms today. Our schools are for education, not indoctrination. The solution to this problem is empowering parents to choose the school that's right for their child, and that's what we will pass this legislative session in Austin.

While speaking at Parent Empowerment Day, Abbott noted that Texas' per-student funding is at an all-time high and detailed his plan to expand school choice options through state-funded education savings accounts to every Texas student.

The governor will be joined by Texas Sen. Kevin Sparks (Midland-R), Texas Public Policy Foundation Campaign Director Mandy Drogin, First Odessa Christian Academy Interim Head of School Byron McWilliams, and other parent empowerment advocates, Abbotts office released.

Abbott was at Odessa College in early February to tour their welding labs and discuss workforce development at Texas community colleges.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) spoke about school choice at First Odessa Christian Academy on Thursday evening.

Abbott said that parental choice means giving parents access to the learning environment that best serves their children. The Republican said he will implement education savings accounts for Texas families. Education savings accounts give parents the power to customize their childs educational path, according to Abbott.

Abbott went into detail about school choice, which will work through these education savings accounts. These accounts are funded by the state of Texas and through private donations. The program would use no federal funding, so federal mandates will not arise, Abbott said. Also, families would have the opportunity to opt-into the program and apply for an education savings account each semester. The program is opt-in for educators and parents.

Abbott addressed the concerns that have been raised about school choice. He said the claim that there will be a mass exodus from Texas public schools is false. He looked back at when Texas implemented charter schools 20 years ago and the same concern came to light. In that time, state charter school populations have doubled all while public school funding has increased, Abbott said.

All public schools will continue to be fully funded under the same way they are funded right now, he said.

Other states that have created school choice programs have not seen a handicapped public school system, according to the governor. In fact, Abbott said, school choice has improved public schools and public-school student success and proficiency rates.

Florida has implemented school choice. College completion has increased by 20%. Schools in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. have seen increased reading and math proficiency in their students after implementing school choice programs, according to a fact sheet provided by Abbotts office.

The governor said money will not be taken from rural schools and given to urban areas like some have surmised. Rural Texas schools will see increased funding through a new senate plan, according to Abbott.

He claimed large majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents strongly support school choice around the state. Abbott has made school choice an emergency action item in this current state legislative session.

These education savings accounts could be used for tuition and fees at public or private school, instructional supplies like textbooks, tutoring, therapy and transportation, according to Abbott.

Sparks said in a statement that school choice equips Texans with free-market answers to improve the students constitutional access to education, it provides parents greater opportunities to access resources for their children, and it broadens the type of environments in which teachers can instruct the next generation.

The Midland Republican added its time to empower Texas parents and provide additional educational opportunities so every Texas child can reach their full potential.
Yellowstone National Park has received $118 million in federal funding to replace an aging bridge in the northern part of the park.

The park announced the funding, which is disbursed through the Great American Outdoors Act, in a press release Thursday afternoon.

The $118 million will fund a construction contract to replace the Yellowstone River Bridge on the Northeast Entrance Road near Tower Junction.

In a press release, park Superintendent Cam Sholly said the Yellowstone River Bridge has been one of the parks highest priorities for deferred maintenance.

The new bridge will improve visitor safety and ensure year-round access to Silver Gate and Cooke City. The park first announced its intent to replace the bridge in 2020, after an environmental assessment was completed.

The new 175-foot-high steel girder bridge will be built upstream of the existing bridge, which was erected in 1963. The new bridge will be 1,285 feet long, according to the park.

The money will also partially fund paving a new 1-mile road segment to line up with the new bridge, new pullouts, paved parking areas, and a pedestrian path across the bridge, and to enlarge the Yellowstone River Picnic Area, the park said in the release.

Once complete, the existing road segment and bridge will be removed and the area rehabilitated. That includes re-establishing wetlands bisected by the existing road and restoring the Lost Creek drainage to its original alignment.

The project is slated to begin this summer and will take about three years to complete. Car traffic will continue through the existing bridge during construction with temporary delays planned.

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the construction contract to HK Contractors, INC of Idaho Falls.

The project will help defray the parks deferred maintenance and repair needs by about $39 million. In 2022, Yellowstone reported an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance and repair needs, more than half of which is related to park roads.

Congress passed and former President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act in the summer of 2020. The law directed billions toward deferred maintenance needs on public lands through the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.

National Parks are slated to get $1.3 billion a year for five years to make enhancements and repairs.

"We are grateful for the bipartisan GAOA support that is providing funding necessary to complete large-scale infrastructure upgrades in national parks to improve safety and the visitor experience, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in the press release.
Four screenings of the North Dakota film "End of the Rope" are scheduled at Grand Theatres in Bismarck on April 21 and 22, at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

A family mysteriously disappears from the town of Schafer and when suspicion lands on a sociopathic farmhand, the community takes justice into its own hands. The film, based on the Charles Bannon case of 1931, was produced by University of Mary Dramatic Arts Chair Daniel Bielinski and shot in Burleigh and McKenzie counties.

The movie was produced by local production companies Canticle Productions and D&N Cinematics.

Tickets ($20) and more information can be found at https://www.endoftheropefilm.com/.
A Donald Trump supporter to whom the North Dakota Supreme Court granted a jury trial for a municipal infraction of selling campaign wares on city property in Bismarck has waived his right to a trial and instead paid a fine levied two years ago.

Eric Smith, who in recent court documents lists addresses in Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota, in January 2021 was found guilty in Bismarck's municipal court of using public grounds for commercial purposes. A municipal judge fined him $100.

The case then bounced between all levels of the court system in North Dakota as Smith fought for and won a right to a state court jury trial, before he ultimately agreed to forgo that route and instead wrap up the case this week where it began -- in city court.

Smith claims he didn't fully understand a November agreement that sent the case back to municipal court, but added, I signed the paperwork. Its partially my fault."

He cited the time and cost of traveling to Bismarck among his reasons for waiving the state court jury trial, an action that left the municipal court judgment in place.

Municipal Judge Charles Isakson in February gave Smith until March 15 to pay the fine. Court records show it was paid Tuesday.

Convoluted case

Smith in August 2020 was cited for an offense that doesnt rise to the level of a misdemeanor. He admitted he was selling Trump wares in the right-of-way between the sidewalk and Washington Street, but said the case was about political free speech and the peoples right in the campaign season to join in political free speech.

Smith wanted a jury trial, which municipal courts don't hold. To get one a defendant must request the case be transferred into state district court. Smith did that but Municipal Judge William Severin denied the request, saying Smith had no right to a jury trial for an infraction.

Smith filed a complaint against the judge and Severin turned the case over to Isakson, a municipal judge in Lincoln and an alternate judge for Bismarck. Isakson on Jan. 7, 2021, found Smith guilty and fined him $100. Smith a day later asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the judgment and the order denying him a jury trial.

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Smith had no right to a jury trial under the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution but said the state constitution might offer more protections. At the time the state constitution was adopted, only misdemeanors and felonies existed -- infractions did not.

Although a violation of the ordinance would not have been categorized as an infraction in 1889, Smith would have had the right to a jury trial for allegedly violating it when the state constitution was adopted, the panel wrote.

Smith represented himself during two years of legal wrangling. He sought dismissal of the case several times; filed complaints with the state Judicial Conduct Commission against two judges; and filed so many letters and exhibits that city attorneys at one point unsuccessfully asked a judge to declare him a vexatious litigator -- a person who abuses the court system.

South Central District Judge James Hill as Smiths trial date approached denied his request to appear by electronic means at a pretrial conference. Smith also sought dismissal on speedy trial and due process grounds. Hill ruled that Smith caused the delays himself and that his argument cited no legal authority or analysis to support his claims.

The case was never about money but about free speech and other rights, according to Smith. People because of his efforts know they can get a jury trial for a fine over $20. Isnt that worth something? he said this week.

City Attorney Jannelle Combs declined comment on the case other than to say, The criminal case is closed."
The Illinois House has passed a bill that would prohibit libraries from banning books or other material because of partisan or doctrinal pressure, prompting strong opposition from Republicans who called it an assault on local control.

House Bill 2789 is an initiative of Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office oversees the Illinois State Library and administers several grant programs for public and school libraries as well as adult literacy programs throughout the state.

The bill would require that as a condition of qualifying for those grants in the future, libraries or library systems would have to adopt a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books. Alternatively, they could adopt the American Library Associations Library Bill of Rights, which includes a statement that (m)aterials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

The bill came in response to a wave of high-profile controversies throughout the country, including at least one in Illinois. School districts and public libraries have come under pressure to remove certain material from their collections, often material dealing with issues involving race, sexuality and gender identity.

Banning books is the sort of behavior that was once, for good reason, associated with the worst, most repressive and repugnant authoritarian regimes of the mid-20th century and before, the bills lead sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, said during debate on the House floor. The fact that this is even up for discussion in America in the 21st century is disgusting. And yet, just last year in my district, that discussion was spurred on by a few radical parents and the Proud Boys hate group over a book called Gender Queer.

That book is a memoir by Maia Kobabe about a nonbinary person grappling with issues of gender identity and sexuality as a teenager and young adult. According to the New York Times, it has been pulled from library shelves in dozens of school districts around the country.

One of the school districts that came under pressure to remove the book was Community High School District 99, in Downers Grove, in Stava-Murrays district. According to a June Chicago Sun-Times story, the pressure was generated by a group of conservative parents and members of the Proud Boys, but students in the district pushed back and the board eventually voted unanimously to keep the book on the shelves.

Students led a community-supported effort in my district to keep the book in the library, Stava-Murray said. But kids shouldn't have to be the heroes.  Nobody is forcing you or your children to check out or purchase or read these books. If they are not consistent with your personal beliefs, don't read them.

PEN American, in a report on book bans around the country, identified five enforced bans in the state between July 2021 and June, including three bans of "Gender Queer."

Some Republicans, however, argued that public libraries are governed by locally elected boards, and that those boards should have the authority to decide how best to serve their communities.

I find this a complete assault on local control, said Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills. "These people volunteer as nonpartisan elected local officials, and for the state to tell a local library board, listen to the professionals; follow the professionals  I don't understand why we have local elections anymore if a bill like this passes.

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said that he used to serve on his local library board and when his own children visit the library, they are accompanied by a parent. But he said that is not necessarily the case when they are at school using the school library.

I am not for banning books at all, he said. I am for age-appropriate materials. And so, if a parent wants their kid to have those age-appropriate materials, they can certainly get them for them. I don't think that a librarian is the end-all, be-all decision maker in the state of Illinois on what books should be given to a child.

Stava-Murray, however, rejected those arguments, saying the bill would only add another condition onto the rules to qualify for grants administered by the secretary of state. Last year, the office awarded more than 1,600 grants totaling more than $62 million, including a $4,300 grant to Downers Grove Community High School District.

In terms of the argument about local control, I find that disgusting. Local Control has long been a dog whistle for allowing statewide or nationwide racist or bigoted policies to persist, she said, eliciting loud boos from the Republican side of the aisle. Today, I just strongly urge my colleagues to do the right thing and make sure that access to books is not infringed upon in our state.

The bill passed the House 69-39 with all of the no votes coming from Republicans. Three Democrats and one Republican were recorded as present but not voting. The bill next goes to the Senate for consideration.

Public and school libraries are facing unprecedented censorship of books and resources, not just in Illinois but throughout the nation, Giannoulias said in a statement after the vote. This important first-in-the-nation legislation combats book banning and upholds freedom of speech, which America has always stood for. I applaud the Illinois House of Representatives for passing this important measure and encourage the State Senate to do the same.
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A small company in the business of putting people to work was among those honored Thursday during the annual meeting of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Express Employment Professionals of Jacksonville was cited as the small business of the year. In the eight years it has been in business, Express Employment has put nearly 1,000 people to work in 110 local businesses and organizations.

Other honors announced during the meeting at Cured Catering were Cedarhurst of Jacksonville, business of the year with more than 25 employees; Jacksonville Main Street, nonprofit business of the year; and Keith Lape, who received the chamber's Circle of Excellence recognition.

Express Employment was cited for working tirelessly since the COVID pandemic to assist local businesses in recruiting talent to fill the large number of opportunities available. They have put together several successful citywide job fairs attracting 50 employers and hundreds of job seekers. They have doubled their staff size in the last year due to business growth.

The franchise is owned by Jim, Carole, Zac and JT Britton as well as Kayla Edwards. Jacksonville manager Joe Lockman accepted the award.

Jacksonville Main Street, under the leadership of Judy Tighe, was the nonprofit business of the year. It was founded in 1999 and has since turned a struggling downtown into a vibrant centerpiece of the Jacksonville area.

Large business of the year, Cedarhurst of Jacksonville, opened in September 2016 and expanded their facility in 2020. They have created programs for seniors including options for assisted living and memory care. The average number of seniors living in Cedarhurst in 2022 was 82 with an average age of 93 years. Director Shelly Shillings accepted the award.

Lape had a long career as an educator. The second of his two stints at MacMurray College began in 1992, where he served as vice president for Continuing Education and Graduate Studies for 10 years before retiring as Emeritus.

Lape served as Chamber chair during 2020. During that time, he suffered an injury that required multiple surgeries. Instead of resigning, Lape pushed forward while apologizing for not being so active.

Lape said he and his family could have lived in many different places but picked Jacksonville because of their love for this community and its people.

This story will be updated.
A Petersburg man has been arrested on charges of possession of child pornography after a two-year investigation, authorities said.

Adam L. Power, 29, of Petersburg was arrested Wednesday by Athens police.

An investigation began after a December 2020 report that someone was distributing child pornography through an online platform. A search by an Athens Police Department investigator assigned to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on Power's house turned up evidence that contributed to the arrest, police said.

Illinois State Police said other information was not being provided because it is an ongoing investigation.

Power was theater teacher at Our Saviour School from August 2015 to January 2019, according to a spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield, which oversees the Jacksonville school. He also previously served as choir director at Central Christian Church in Jacksonville. There is no indication the arrest has any connection to his time at the school or the church.

"Our Saviour Catholic School and the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are committed to the protection of all children and work in partnership with local agencies to prevent any child from being harmed," spokesman Andrew Hansen said. "Besides contacting local law enforcement, individuals who have knowledge of abuse of a child may also call the Diocese's Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation number at 217-321-1155 and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-2873."

Angela Bauer contributed to this report.
Subscription services make it easy to sign up and hard to quit. Even companies that boast about their ethics turn to dark patterns when it comes to retention: the New York Times, to name but one, has readers write or call to cancel after happily accepting their credit cards online. But the Times has nothing on your local gym and all the other con artists who got you to sign up without realizing what you were on the hook for. The FTC proposes to make it easier to unsubscribe.

"The idea here is pretty simple," Khan said. "Companies should not be able to manipulate consumers into paying for subscriptions that they don't want." Broadly speaking, the rule change would prohibit companies from trying to retain customers through deceptive or burdensome tactics intended to stymie or delay them from quitting a subscription, such as by making customers mail in paperwork to cancel a subscription they initially signed up for online. For each violation of the rule, companies would be on the hook for potentially tens of thousands of dollars a day in fines  not to mention the consumer refunds the FTC could seek under the rule. While the FTC can currently pursue those types of remedies in specific sectors where cancellation rules exist, such as telemarketing, there is no such rule covering the economy as a whole, Khan said.

I know it's CNN Business, but it's funny how the story is concerned about how "this could hit America's biggest retailers and online platforms", as if in any reasonable view of this world they are victims of anything at all.
Creating a pipeline for teachers to Garrison Alternative School was the thrust of a proposal presented to the Four Rivers Special Education District board.

Three representatives from the University of Illinois Springfield's School of Education outlined during the board's Wednesday meeting a plan designed to direct new teachers into the district. The board took no action on the proposal but will meet with college leaders soon about specifics.

Tracey Fair, director of the Four Rivers district, said she was excited about the proposal.

"Finding special education teachers became much more difficult after MacMurray College closed," Fair said. "They had a special education program that helped supply us with teachers. We really felt it after MacMurray closed.

"But we need to get the superintendents of all 19 districts involved with Four Rivers together to discuss this further."

"The reality is we need to talk the nuts and bolts of this, including salary," said Jacksonville School District 117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek, a member of the Four Rivers board.

Fair said she and Andrea Guerrero, superintendent of the Waverly school district and a member of the Four Rivers board, were discussing ways to attract more teachers to Garrison. Guerrero brought up the idea of working with UIS.

"We don't have a special education program, but we see the need for one," said Vickie Cook, vice chancellor for enrollment in the School of Education. "We want to provide special education teachers and we think we have a proposal to help provide teachers."

Cook said the school would like to have a special education program in place by the start of the fall 2024 semester. The school is looking for partners and has approached both Four Rivers and a Peoria-area district.

Beth Hatt, director of the School of Education, said leadership has been working to alleviate teacher shortages.

"We know there is a specific shortage of special education teachers," Hatt said. "So we are proposing a partnership to develop a pipeline of teachers into Four Rivers. Enrollment in the School of Education is up, while it is down at many other schools."

Under the preliminary plan, UIS would ask Four Rivers to cover the salary of a program director for the first four years of the deal and UIS would bear the costs of the benefits. After four years, UIS would take over the full compensation package.

"It would help us do what we do best, which is train teachers," Hatt said.

"This is an exciting time at the School of Education," said Robert Smith, dean of the UIS College of Public Affairs and Education. We have gone through a revitalization and reorganization. We are reasserting our role as a leader in this area and can help address the need for teachers across the board. We are trying to be innovative and think outside of the box."

Ptacek said the proposal sounded great but asked the UIS contingent to define the district's directive.

"We would work with Tracey about openings and students would be encouraged to seek out the openings," Cook said. "We would do more recruiting from local areas and work with high schools to attract students who might be interested in teaching, especially in this area of special education. We're just starting to talk."

Ptacek also expressed concern about Garrison becoming the place to teach teachers who then end up leaving for higher salaries.

"We arent entering the program to get access to your staff," Cook said. "We want to be true partners and address areas of need."

"We would want someone from Four Rivers on the board to have a direct connection with the program," Hatt said. "We would also be looking at participants to make a commitment to the program."

"This needs to work for you, not just us," Smith said. "We can enhance this relationship."

Ptacek asked who would be hired to run the program.

"We have a person in mind who interviewed to head our Urban Education department," Hatt said. "They have a master's in special education and experience teaching special education. We want to move soon because she is a hot commodity."

Also during the meeting, Fair said the district is planning regular meetings with Jacksonville Police Chief Adam Mefford after Mefford asked for a monthly meeting to help better determine when police should be called to Garrison and to discuss other ways the department could assist the district.

After meeting in closed session, the board voted unanimously to offer a contract to Amy Haarmann to serve as principal for the 2023-24 school year. Haarmann served as assistant principal until being named co-principal in February after Denise Waggener resigned, effective June 30.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. imposed sanctions Friday on seven Belarusian elections officials, two state-owned automotive manufacturers and President Alexander Lukashenko's aircraft.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, intensified his repression after a wave of protests in 2020 following a presidential election that the West and Belarus opposition denounced as a sham.

Lukashenko also has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed him to station troops and weapons there to support his war in Ukraine.

Those sanctioned Friday include a new slate of commissioners on Belarus' Central Election Commission, which was originally sanctioned in December 2020.

Lukashenko accused the opposition presidential candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, of plotting to overthrow the government. This month, a Belarusian court sentenced Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, to 15 years in prison.

Lukashenko's aircraft, a Boeing 737 that he uses for international travel, was also designated for sanctions, which blocks its use in the U.S.

BelAZ, one of the largest manufacturers of large trucks and dump trucks in the world, and the automotive manufacturer MAZ were also sanctioned.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. "will continue to impose costs on the regime and those who support it for their repression of the people of Belarus" and for the Belarusian government's support for Russias war.

The State Department also imposed visa restrictions on 14 additional people involved in policies to threaten and intimidate the Belarusian people."
If you're interested in (debunking) conspiracy theories and need a new podcast to listen to, try out "Hoaxed," is a 6-part investigative journalism series that came out in Fall 2022. I just recently heard about the casethe "Hampstead Hoax"covered in the podcast, and quickly binged the entire thing because the story is so riveting and disturbing. The podcast is produced by Tortoise Media and hosted by former barrister Alexi Mostrous, and tells the story of one of the biggest conspiracy theories to sweep across the UK in recent memory. The Guardian provides some background of the case:

In the summer of 2014, two children accused their father of running a Satan-worshipping paedophile ring. According to them, Ricky Dearman led a group of roughly 175 parents, teachers and religious leaders, whose demonic abuse was centred on their school and adjoining church in the affluent north London neighbourhood of Hampstead. They claimed that when police visited those locations, they would find "dead babies". Scotland Yard became involved, after videos of the children's testimony were sent to them. But when the police found no evidence, the children recanted, revealing the eerie truth to investigators: they had been forced into making the false allegations by their mother, Ella Draper, and her partner, Abraham Christie  in a process a judge would later refer to as "torture". However, because the abuse had happened off UK soil  on holiday in Morocco  the police closed the case and Christie and Draper fled the country. Nonetheless, the children's claims were shared online, giving rise to a widely shared conspiracy theory, which holds that there genuinely is a satanic paedophile ring in Hampstead. This had led to Dearman and the other 175 people falsely accused receiving harassment, death threats and online abuse, which continue to this day.

You'd think folks might have learned some lessons about false accusations of so-called "Satanic Ritual Abuse" from the 1980s Satanic Panic, but they clearly did not. Again, The Guardian:

Mostrous says one impetus for making Hoaxed is a desire to deconstruct this age-old phenomenon: "If we properly dissected the Hampstead hoax, that would tell us something interesting about how other conspiracy theories work." He adds: "Eight years after Hampstead, we've had Pizzagate, QAnon, and all these other huge conspiracy theories. They are so similar  there's the satanic and paedophile elements and a bleeding-over into real-life violence. In the world we live in today, there is not a demarcation between offline and online."

You can listen to the series on Spotify, which describes the series:
A judge is allowing the jury for Donald Trump's rape lawsuit trial to remain anonymous, citing "a very strong risk" to jurors' safety if their identities are disclosed. Because as we all by now know, wherever Trump goes, a very strong risk follows.

As Trump was calling on his MAGA thugs to threaten the Manhattan DA yesterday, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan stated his concerns about "harassment or worse" by the former president and his followers if the trial did not go Trump's way. And so although keeping jurors' names secret is highly unusual for a case that doesn't involve murder, so is having a former president (and popular presidential candidate) in the U.S. who personally bullies Americans into fearing for their lives.

From AP News:
ACSO drug bust in Pioneer View Photo

Pioneer, CA  A traffic stop in the Pioneer area of Amador County turned up a loaded firearm and drugs, resulting in a Wyoming couples arrest.

While patrolling the area of Highway 88 on Saturday night near Homestead Road, a deputy stopped a Dodge Durango with a vehicle code violation. During questioning, the driver told the deputy there was a firearm near the front passenger seat. He and his passenger were ordered to exit the vehicle, which they did, and they were detained.

The deputy then searched the vehicle and located a loaded handgun between the front passenger seat and the center console. According to a sheriffs official, it was well within reach of both the driver and the passenger. K9 Zidan was called in to sniff around the vehicle and signaled there were drugs. During the search, the deputy discovered nearly an ounce of methamphetamine, a digital scale, drug packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia.

The driver, 41-year-old Nickolaus Holgate, and the passenger, 34-year-old Amber Baker, both of Rock Springs, Wyoming, were arrested for drug sales, unlawful possession of a firearm, and other firearm and drug-related charges.
Sacramento, CA  Democratic Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil broke with party leaders and voted against Governor Gavin Newsoms plan to put new restrictions on oil companies in response to high gas prices.

She argues that other options need to be considered.

We reported earlier that Newsoms plan would allow a California Energy Commission, a panel appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, to impose penalties on oil companies for price gouging. Last year, Californias gas prices were at one point $2.60 higher than the national average, which Newsom argued could not have been solely due to the states higher taxes and environmental restrictions.

Explaining her opposition, Alvarado-Gil explains, I did this because we dont need more bureaucracy, we need less. Constituents in Senate District 4 are feeling the pain at the pump, as it further strains household budgets. This bill would not provide the relief that is needed, which is one of our districts top concerns. As stated by both parties, SBx1 2 is unprecedented, and although the need is immediate, we must ensure that due diligence is followed to eliminate unintended consequences. I urge thoughtful discussions across the aisle to find the right solution.

The Governors bill passed the Senate yesterday and now moves to the Assembly for consideration.

Alvarado-Gils Senate District Four covers the Mother Lode region.
Murder suspects Kasual McGuire-Meder and Sabrina Starkweather View Photos

Columbia, CA  A second man has been arrested in Nevada for last weeks Big Hill murder, while the daughter of another suspect taken into custody for the homicide last week remains on the run.

On Wednesday, March 15th, around 3 p.m., an ambulance was dispatched to the Calle Quartz Road area of Big Hill for a report of a man found on the ground in his home. Detectives and the coroner responded and determined the death was a homicide. Two days later, on Friday, 63-year-old Jon Starkweather was arrested at his residence in the 13300 block of Calle Quartz Road for felony first-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy to commit a crime, as detailed here. Tuolumne County Sheriffs officials announced today that an autopsy confirmed the coroners suspicions, revealing that the deceased, 63-year-old Ben Lindsey, died as a result of blunt force trauma. Additionally, the sheriffs investigators disclosed, Witnesses in the area reported Lindseys Jeep had been missing for a few days.

During the investigation, several search warrants were obtained to obtain video surveillance, and numerous interviews with potential witnesses were conducted. They revealed that Lindseys neighbor and tenant, Jon Starkweathers daughter, 28-year-old Sabrina Starkweather, and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Kasual McGuire-Meder, were staying at his residence during the time of the murder, according to sheriffs officials, but the two were nowhere to be found.

Investigators then learned that McGuire-Meder had been arrested for an unrelated crime in the Washoe County area of Nevada last week. And on the same day Starkweather was arrested, McGuire-Meder was arrested in Nevada for murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, and taking a vehicle without the owners consent.

An active murder warrant was issued for Sabrina Starkweather, who remains a fugitive. Sheriffs officials say this remains an ongoing investigation, and they ask that anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of Sabrina Starkweather contact the Sheriffs Office Investigations Division at 209-533-5815.
Stanislaus National Forest Logo View Photo

Sonora, CA  Due to damage from the recent storms, the forest will hold a community meeting next week in Groveland to update the current situation across the Groveland Ranger District.

Representatives from the District and the San Francisco Public Utility Commission will be on hand to provide residents with information about road conditions and access in the area.

The recent series of storms did significant damage not only to our district and forest but across the region, said Groveland District Ranger Jose Hernandez. We are working closely with our forest engineering team and other key stakeholders to identify and assess the totality of the damage and develop a plan. We would like to afford the local community an opportunity to come out, get an update, and ask questions.

The community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, from 6:30 p.m.8:30 p.m. at the Groveland Community Hall located at 18720 Main Street in Groveland. Attendees will get a chance to ask questions of Forest Service and San Francisco Public Utility Commission representatives. For more information or questions regarding the meeting, contact Forest Public Affairs Officer Benjamin Cossel at Benjamin.cossel@usda.gov or 209.288.6261.

Crews with the forest are doing the best they can prioritizing efforts of work with limited resources available across the state, added Hernandez.

Of note, earlier this week, the forest asked the public to help them identify damage and hazards and report them, as detailed here.
Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico is preparing to host its first airshow in several years.

Wings Over Cannon is scheduled for April 22. The event is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 9 a.m.

The airshow is the first at the base since 2018.

Highlights of the planned show include an A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, the Air Commandos (including the AC-130J Ghostrider, MC-130J Commando II, U-28A Draco, CV-22 Osprey, Special Tactics Airmen and MQ-9 Reaper), a flyover by a B-1B Lancer, the U.S. Air Force Academy Aerobatic Glider Demonstration Team, and flyover of a KC-135 Stratotanker. The show will also include modern and historic aircraft and equipment static displays, according to a news release from the U.S. Air Force.

The event will also feature interactive activities to appeal to all ages.

The following items are not allowed at the show: drones, coolers, backpacks, weapons, canopies or tents, outside food or drinks, large purses or totes, wagons or other non-collapsible items for carrying children, glass, drugs (including marijuana), and drug paraphernalia. Pets are also not allowed.

All vehicles that go into the AFB are subject to be searched by the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron.

Parking will be available on the ramp of the airfield. Any vehicles left there after 5 p.m. the day of the show will be towed.

The following items are allowed: lawn chairs in bags (which are subject to be searched), sunscreen, brimmed hats, sunglasses, earplugs, cameras, video cameras, small purses, umbrellas, strollers and cellphones.

Additional information about the show can be found at www.cannon.af.mil/Wings-Over-Cannon/ or via Facebook on the Wings Over Cannon event page.
In the middle of the night, Donald Trump expressed his unhappiness at the prospect of being criminally charged with using campaign funds to pay hush money to porn actor Stormy Daniels. Referring to Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, Trump posted to Truth Social:

What kind of person, can charge another person, in this case a former president of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting president in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a crime, when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed, & also that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our country? Why & who would do such a thing? Only a degenerate psychopath that truely hates the USA!"

That last sentence is confusing. Why is Trump suddenly referring to himself?"

From The New York Times:

Since then, he has called Mr. Bragg, the first Black district attorney in Manhattan, an "animal" and appeared to mock calls from some of his own allies for people to protest peacefully, or not at all. "Our country is being destroyed as they tell us to be peaceful," Mr. Trump said in a post on Thursday. Mr. Trump has also attacked Mr. Bragg for having received indirect financial support from the billionaire philanthropist George Soros. So far, Mr. Trump's calls for protests have been largely ignored, with just handfuls of people coming out for a demonstration on Monday organized by some of his New York Republican allies.
Provided by Gary Slade

A member of the board of directors for the National Rollercoaster Museum in Plainview was inducted into the NEAAPA Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Gary Slade, owner and publisher of Amusement Today and past chair of the museum, was recognized during the 110th Anniversary Education Conference and Annual Meeting in New Hampshire.
The Plainview womens powerlifting team recently completed their state competition and returned with several accolades.

Team members were presented with their awards at a regular school board meeting Thursday evening.

Plainview had 20 girls qualify for the regional meet this year and eight of them qualified for the state meet in Frisco on March 18.

At the state meet, Kayla Martinez placed third overall in 5A Division II in the 114 lb. weight class. She lifted a total of 745 lbs.

At the regional meet, Martinez took first place in her weight class, combining for a 720 lb. total. The totals are made up of three lifts  bench press, squat and deadlift. Martinez broke the regional record in squat (315 lbs.) and deadlift (295 lbs.) for her weight class.

Sarah Nevares took second place in the same weight class as Martinez. She lifted a total of 625 lbs. and broke the regional record for bench press (135 lbs.). As a team, the Lady Bulldogs tied for third with 24 points.

Following the state meet, the Texas High School Womens Powerlifting Association released their academic All-State list. Tkia Russell was named to first team all-academic and Megan Vera was a second team all-academic nominee. First team nominees must attain between a 95-97.99 grade point average while second team nominees must attain between a 92-94.99 GPA.

Below are the regional meet results
DUNNIGAN, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom ended some of the state's water restrictions on Friday because a winter of relentless rain and snow has replenished the state's reservoirs and eased fears of a shortage after three years of severe drought.

Newsom was careful not to declare the drought to be over, noting water shortages remain in the Klamath River basin along the California-Oregon line and in densely populated Southern California, which relies heavily on the struggling Colorado River system to supply millions of people.

But Newsom did say he would stop asking people to voluntarily cut their water use by 15%, a request he first made nearly two years ago while standing at the edge of a nearly dry Lopez Lake in the state's Central Coast region  a lake that today is so full from recent storms it is almost spilling over.

None of us could have imagined ... a few months ago that we'd be where we are today, Newsom said Friday from a farm northwest of Sacramento that has flooded some of its fields with excess water so it will seep underground and refill groundwater basins. Are we out of the drought? Mostly  but not completely.

Newsom's call for voluntary conservation had mixed results. Californians did reduce their water use, but only by 6.2% overall, according to data from the State Water Resources Control Board. Newsom never ordered statewide, mandatory water restrictions  but he did require water agencies to impose some limits on their customers.

Friday, Newsom said he was easing those rules. That change will impact people in different ways depending on where they live. For most people, it means they wont be limited to watering their lawns on only certain days of the week or at certain times of the day. Other restrictions will remain in place indefinitely, including a ban on watering decorative grass for businesses.

Weve got to conserve as a way of life, Newsom said.

Newsom could ease some restrictions in part because California's reservoirs are now so full that cities will get more than double the amount of drinking water this year compared to a previous allocation announced last month. Now, water districts that serve 27 million people will get at least 75% of the water they requested from state supplies. Last year, they only got 5% as California endured three of the driest years ever since modern recordkeeping began in 1896.

This wet winter, which has led to a large increase in our (water) allocation, is not a signal that we can relax," said Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that supplies water to 19 million people. "It is an alarm to act and accelerate our efforts to respond to rapidly changing conditions, including conservation, storage, recycling and reuse.

Last week the district ended mandatory drought restrictions for about 7 million people who rely almost exclusively on state supplies for their water.

California and the western United States have been in an extended drought for about two decades, a period of abnormal dryness punctuated by occasional intense seasons of storms. It would be tough for a governor of a large, diverse state that has very diverse water supplies and water demands to say when a drought has started or ended, said Jay Lund, vice director for the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis.

Lund said the drought is over from many perspectives in California, including urban water supply and reservoirs. But it's not over for the state's fragile ecosystems and the groundwater aquifers that were depleted during recent drought years.

We might never recover them completely, he said.

Three years of little rain or snow in California had depleted reservoirs to the point the state couldn't generate electricity from hydroelectric power plants. It dried up wells in rural areas and state officials had to truck in water supplies for some communities. And it reduced the flow of the state's major rivers and streams, killing off endangered fish and other species.

But since December, no less than 12 powerful storms have hit California, packing so much rain and snow that meteorologists call them atmospheric rivers. These storms have flooded homes, closed ski resorts and trapped people in mountain communities for days with no electricity, prompting emergency declarations from President Joe Biden.

That kind of whiplash is something that weve experienced in a very intense way in California that I think is unique across the western U.S., said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources.

Water has been steadily pouring into the state's reservoirs since December. Of California's 17 major reservoirs, 12 of them are either at or above their historical averages for this time of year.

And more water is coming. Statewide, the amount of snow piled up in the mountains is already 223% above the April 1 average  the date when the snowpack is typically at its peak. Most of that snow will melt in the coming months, flowing into reservoirs and posing more flooding threats downstream.
LONDON (AP)  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu in London on Friday as protesters shouting Shame! in Hebrew demonstrated against the Israeli leaders right-wing policies and his plans to overhaul the countrys judiciary.

Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving signs calling for the defense of Israeli democracy as he arrived at 10 Downing St. for discussions that focused on the war in Ukraine and concerns about Irans nuclear program.

Sunak also raised Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms, which have sparked mass protests in Israel and beyond. One placard in London read: We are Israelis and Jews living in the U.K. demonstrating against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is leading a judicial coup turning Israel into a dictatorship.

Some women protesting outside Downing Street wore red robes and white caps inspired by The Handmaid's Tale, a novel and TV series set in a dystopian future. Similarly clad demonstrators have become fixtures of the mass protests roiling Israel.

Sunak stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel, the British leader's office said in an official readout of the meeting.

Other leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have expressed concern about proposed changes.

Netanyahus proposals would give his government more control over judicial appointments, weaken the Supreme Court by limiting judicial review of legislation and allow Parliament to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote.

He arrived in the U.K. as protesters in Israel blocked roads and clashed with police. The planned judicial system overhaul have ignited the biggest protests in the countrys history amid rare dissent from people throughout Israeli society, including military reservists, navy veterans, high-tech businesspeople and former officials.

In London, Netanyahu also was met by a pro-Palestinian demonstration. His government has been criticized for its hard-line policy toward Palestinians, including recent comments by a government minister who denied the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.

Sunak, during his meeting with the Israeli prime minister, reiterated our support for two-state solution, as well as Britain's view that Israel's West Bank settlements are illegal and contrary to the cause of peace," spokesman Jamie Davies said.

Israel is a vital international partner for the United Kingdom, and the prime minister was visiting London, and this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether thats the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment  as well as peace and stability in the Middle East," Davies said.

Netanyahus office said the two leaders discussed the rapidly advancing nuclear program of Israels archenemy, Iran, as well as deepening strategic cooperation in security, intelligence and economic fields.

Alicia Kearns. a lawmaker from Sunak's governing Conservative Party and chairwoman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the government to be more forceful in challenging Netanyahu's policy.

This is the time for the U.K. to work out what it means to be a critical friend to Israel and make sure that, yes, we continue to trade and to work together on security cooperation because they are a key partner, but also that we listen to our Jewish communities, Kearns told the BBC. "And this (is) the biggest response and loudest response Ive ever seen from a Jewish community to Israeli policies.

As thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, defiantly pledged to proceed with the judicial overhaul, hours after his coalition passed a law making it harder to remove him from office.

Rights groups and Palestinians say Israels democratic ideals have long been tarnished by the countrys 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for an independent state and the treatment of Palestinian Israeli citizens, who face discrimination in many spheres.

Netanyahu pushed back his departure to Britain until 4 a.m. Friday to deal with the political crisis.

___ Associated Press Writer Jill Lawless contributed to this story.
After filling its first new "speculative" industrial warehouse in Lackawanna, Uniland Development Co. now may increase the size of its second facility by a third, based on the strong demand for distribution space.

Company executives, who this week formally opened a fully leased 150,000-square-foot, red-and-gray metal warehouse at 8 Dona St. after betting that it would quickly find tenants, now are considering whether to expand a sister warehouse they are building next door in the former Bethlehem Steel complex.

Nearly three-fourths of the high-bay space was already spoken for weeks ago, after Total Quality Assurance International - an auto-parts supply inspection firm that works primarily with General Motors Co. - agreed to occupy 108,000 square feet. That was followed more recently by Max Advanced Brakes, a Canadian-based distributor and retailer of brake parts, which signed on for the remaining 42,000 square feet.

"Weve been doing this for about 50 years. We knew the risks involved, and they were very calculated, and it worked out just exactly as we hoped," said Uniland CEO Michael Montante. "You cant predict, but we knew it wasnt going to sit on the market for very long."

Amherst-based Uniland  a commercial developer that got its start 50 years ago with a warehouse project in Tonawanda  was already planning a mirror-image facility next door, at 2 Steelworkers Way, with another 150,000 square feet but a blue-and-black facade.

But now officials may boost that by a third, to 200,000 square feet, because of the conversations they're having with potential tenants.

"There is such a tight market right now, the lack of space available," Montante said. "We have some good activity on it already."

He said the company is getting inquiries about light manufacturing and distribution uses. "These are multiple companies that we're talking with," although Montante said he anticipates that the building would house at most four tenants, even if it's upsized.

Montante said the company will probably make a final decision in the next six weeks. Workers are already on-site, clearing and preparing the land in preparation for starting the foundation.

"We need clear direction," he said. Uniland plans to finish it by year-end.
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for ReedPop

Texas' own Jensen Ackles is using his massive social media platform to get the word out on a bill that could have a big impact on Texas beer. The Supernatural and The Boys actor, who owns and operates Family Business Beer Company near Austin, shared a video on Thursday, March 23, to his 10.6 million Instagram followers promoting a petition in support of a bill recently filed in the Texas Legislature aimed at helping local breweries across the state.

"I know, I know, another actor pushing some hooch on their social media," Ackles said. "... But I will say this has been a little passion project of mine, my brother-in-laws, and my family here for well over a decade. We bought land, we built a brewery, we opened our doors back in 2018 and somehow managed to survive the pandemic and we are still making the best beer that we possibly can."
My dad introduced me to two Texas's: the real one and the one in the pages of his favorite book, Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. I resisted reading it for years until I finally relented and discovered a sprawling, melancholy story about the Old West, a bleak wasteland populated by cutthroats, horse thieves, and a few decent folks.



The Texas outside was pecan trees, brisket, and endless highways. But in Lonesome Dove, Texas was bowls of beans, cattle drives, and two old lawmen surviving a hard life thanks to old-fashioned virtues like selflessness and loyalty.



The novel was an instant bestseller in 1985 and won McMurtry that year's Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It is the closest thing to a holy text in Texas, except for actual holy texts. In 1989, it would be adapted into a legendary, Emmy-winning TV mini-series starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones as the main characters and other big names like Anjelica Huston and Danny Glover.

However, the book recently found itself at the center of a political controversy through no fault of its own. Lonesome Dove was briefly mentioned during a recent legislative hearing about a new bill that would intensify Texas' current purge of books that offend certain sensibilities from public school libraries.

Banning a classic story

After sweepingly stating that "there should be no sexually explicit books" in high school libraries, Republican State Representative Jared Patterson was asked by Round Rock Democrat James Talarico about Lonesome Dove. Would the celebrated novel about Texas Rangers be banned under Patterson's bill?



After all, one of the main characters is a sex worker who suffers a brutal assault. The frontier of the 1870s was still a pretty brutal place to women, children, and anyone not armed to the teeth.



Talarico was obviously setting him up, but Patterson couldn't help himself. He answered the question succinctly: "[Texas] might need to ban Lonesome Dove."

Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle

His response also revealed that he had never read the book, which boggled my mind. This is a mild take I don't know how you can become a Texas State Representative without reading Lonesome Dove. Isn't there a law? There should be. At the very least, they should offer newly elected officials the opportunity to swear on a copy of Lonesome Dove instead of the Bible.



The reaction to Patterson's suggestion went viral, and the pushback was immediate. Texans of a certain age love their Woodrow Calls and Augustus McCraes, McMurtry's protagonists, a pair of characters who are hardly liberal by any definition. They're both fiercely principled but insanely violent.



A conservative colleague of Patterson's took to Twitter to control the damage. Christin Bentley, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, ran a word search on a quickly downloaded Kindle version of Lonesome Dove. It didn't turn up any explicit curse words, so she gave it a public pass. If she had read the book, she would have already known the f-word is not in Lonesome Dove, although penises are called "carrots."



Her rush to smooth out Patterson's faux pas also revealed the crusaders leading the charge to clear library shelves of "certain" books aren't interested in content or quality, they're judging books based solely on language that they deem to be "explicit." It's a superficial and vague metric, but there's an ungirding prejudice that is crystal clear: books about the LGBTQ+ experience or America's history of injustice should not be made available to the youth of Texas



Patterson and his allies have been successful, too. To date, Texas school districts have banned over 800 books. This censorious trend is spreading, too. According to the American Library Association, 2,571 books were taken off school library shelves in 2022, a 38% jump from 2021.



Speaking of "explicit" sexual content, I wonder if anyone in the Texas Legislature has read the New or Old Testaments, both great and chock full of weird sex stuff.

Peter L. Scamardo II

Censoring for political purposes

I know Lonesome Dove probably won't be put on a state censorship blacklist, but the fact that there's a debate on the record about whether or not to nuke a universally beloved cowboy epic is evidence that the GOP's book-banning fever is still burning hot. The books that don't have the protection of large swaths of the populace are the most vulnerable, and they usually tell unique, diverse stories about the experiences of marginalized Americans.



The more I learn about the House Public Education Committee, where Talarico tricked Patterson into admitting he'd ban a book he'd never read, the more I'm convinced the political calculus is simple: it's not "save the children," it's "scare the voters."

This isn't about social media platforms choosing to delete hate speech. This isn't a privately-owned company tapping the "no shoes, no shirts, no respect for others, no service" sign. This is the state using its vast powers to censor speech for strictly political purposes.



Have you read Lonesome Dove? I recommend it. I recommend it if you're a Texan, a New Yorker, or from some faraway country like Canada. It's a classic. McMurtry is sensitive to the Native experience and the historical truth that Texas was once, and in many ways still is, Mexico, a rowdy republic that became a state that joined the Confederacy and then rejoined the union and settled by waves of white people, some of whom weren't the best the East Coast had to offer.



Lonesome Dove is The Godfather of cowboy stories. It's an epic quest with plenty of action and characters who will break your heart. My old man loved the book because its basic premise is that no matter how hard life is, you should respect yourself and the people you love. I cannot fathom anyone who could read a book like Lonesome Dove ever supporting a movement terrified of words and ideas.



I mean, I read Lonesome Dove as a boy. I turned out fine. I think?

John DeVore is a writer who once won a fancy award for writing about Taco Bell. Follow him on Twitter, where he shares lukewarm takes and photos of his one-eyed dog.
81-year old Ramon Najera should have died peacefully, surrounded by family. His grandchildren describe him as a San Antonio native, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and an adventurous, outgoing, and loving family man in a GoFundMe post for his funeral expenses.

Instead, the last thing Ramon may have been fully cognizant of was the hot breath of snarling dogs tearing into him in a residential driveway. The dialysis shunt ripped from his body, his blood coating the front lawn of a seamstress he and his wife Janie were visiting.

Any words used to describe the emotions he may have felt as he attempted to protect Janie  agony, sorrow, terror  will only fail to capture the reality of his final moments.

Janie survived the attack but will carry its scars, both visible and invisible, for the remainder of her life, and our community has a responsibility to the Najeras to make the city a safer place. This requires an unwavering commitment to taking on issues in local pet ownership and city services, and how they became factors in Ramons death on February 24.

Courtesy of GoFundMe

As MySA and many other local news organizations have reported, the dogs involved in the attack escaped their yard often and roamed the streets, instilling fear and biting neighbors on at least two occasions.

Jacob Beltran

In less than three years, there were 156 calls to the city about the home where the dogs owners resided, many to 911 or unrelated to the dogs. But 42 of those calls were to Animal Care Services, and 39 of them were since the start of 2022, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Previously seized by ACS, the dogs were returned to their owners because there were no affidavits empowering the department to assign a dangerous dog investigator, who may have uncovered the familys alleged use of meat to train aggression. However, neighbors told the Express-News that ACS officers did not inform victims about bite affidavits.

San Antonios unenviable relationship with mans best friend

It's easy to point a finger at ACS and say "you failed us," but the truth, as it often is, is more complicated. During a sit down with city staff hosted by the Express-News Editorial Board on March 15, ACS Director Shannon Sims told MySA there were some 3,500 calls for dog bites last year, and annual bite cases range from 3,000-4,000.

To handle all of these cases, ACS has four dog bite investigators.

Simple math shows that each of them has to open and close three cases per day on average just to keep pace, assuming each is working a standard 40-hour work week. Take a day off? The cases continue to pile on.

Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Heightening the challenges faced by the city, calls to the 56-person department, 28 of which are first responders, have surged in the wake of Ramons death. The scale of the issue certainly seems beyond ACS current resources, a fact which hasnt eluded the citys top officials.

Were going to need more of everything, City Manager Erik Walsh told MySA in response to a question about the need for more investigators and officers.

There are currently two additional investigators responsible for keeping tabs on the citys 103 pets with "dangerous dog" designations, each of which require an annual inspection. On top of that, Sims said a new dangerous dog case comes across his desk almost every day.

Many of the pet owners choose to surrender their animal for euthanasia  Sims said some 70% of them  rather than build and maintain a secure enclosure, purchase a liability insurance policy, and attend a pet ownership class, among smaller requirements.

After Ramons death, ACS pored through data and discovered there are 139 more pet dogs with two or more reported biting incidents, separate from the 103 previously mentioned, Sims said.

Of the 103 designated dangerous dogs, Walsh said 60 are not in compliance with state law requirements. A quarter of those are due to missing insurance coverage or other administrative issues, while the remainder have significant gaps, he notes. Some of these dogs are free of restraint or have other significant safety issues.

Walsh issued a memo to City Council on March 14, outlining steps to address dangerous and aggressive dogs, as well as residents who regularly have the city called on them. A proposed Good Neighbor Program aims to keep our police and quality-of-life personnel free to respond to other calls by targeting the worst of the worst nuisance properties.

ACS portion of the proposed program is largely focused on increases to punitive measures, such as using criminal citations over civil in some situations, increased docket time for dangerous dog compliance cases, and new quarantine and bite impoundment policies.

City staff have also worked with Texas Rep. Liz Campos and Sen. Jose Menendez to file two state bills focused on dangerous dog enforcement. Campos bill would raise offenses of non-compliance with dangerous dog restrictions to a Class B misdemeanor from a Class C. Menendezs bill would restrict open records requests related to dangerous dog affidavits, providing a level of protection from retaliation.

Courtesy

ACS plans to work with the San Antonio Police Department to train the San Antonio Fear Free Environment Units officers on how to assist residents in preparing dangerous dog affidavits, according to the memo. The program is expected to be presented to the City Council during its April 5 B session.

The citys investment in increased ACS staffing remains cloudy, as neither Walshs memo or a brief on ACS 2023 strategic plan include staffing goals. But whether the city maintains the department's budget or writes a blank check, much of what the city proposes is at its core an effort to stymie the bleeding of a deeper wound.

Not my dog

There is a moment from the evening of Ramons death still scratching at the back of Sims mind several weeks later. Within hours of the mauling, Sims and San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood held a news conference at the site of the attack.

Myself and Chief Hood had just  I mean, literally two seconds prior  finished a media event  I turned around and not more than 50 yards from where this man had lost his life and his wife had been attacked, somebody opened their gate and let their doggone dog out, Sims told MySA.

Many of the dogs seen in the streets of San Antonio are not strays, but are peoples pets let out to roam, according to Shannon Oster-Gabrielson, assistant to the director of ACS.

Sims said dog owners tend to believe their dogs behave and wont be the one to bite, and theres a challenge to changing that mindset.

That's the struggle, is getting people to realize it's never okay for your animal to be off your property, Sims said. I don't care how good he is. Everyone says my dog doesn't bite. He's got teeth  You don't know what your dog's going to do, and if it's got teeth it can bite.

This is not to suggest a dog is inherently dangerous or cant be taken out on a leash. Sims said people have attempted to surrender pitbulls because of news coverage of Ramons mauling, but he repeatedly stresses dog breeds arent the issue.

Kids arent born bad. Dogs arent born bad, the ACS director said. You have to invest in socializing that animal. You can't chain them up out there and just leave them  If you're going to have an animal, it's an investment of your time, just like children.

Courtesy, San Antonio Parks & Recreation

Educating the public on responsible dog ownership has been an uphill battle for ACS. Previous outreach in schools failed to get the message home. Town halls didnt connect.

We need to go to churches, we need to go where people are, and get them to understand why we're doing this and have some sort of collective responsibility, Oster-Gabrielson told MySA. One of the first things we want to do this summer is start building a standard of care [for pets].

That standard includes spaying and neutering pets, keeping them on their owners property, and having basic vaccinations, she said.

If you can't do that, we're going to help you do that. We're going to help you set up with that, because that is a cost prohibitive thing, Oster-Gabrielson said.

Ideas on spreading this message to the public are still in flux, but included using social media and public meetings.

How do we deliver that in a way that makes sense for them instead of just this one way, transactional relationship, Oster-Gabrielson said. I'm gonna go to this community meeting and I'm gonna tell you what you need to hear. That was not really effective.

We take care of us

While the city searches for a better method of disseminating responsible pet ownership guidelines, it falls to the community to strike at the root cause of much of the danger. As is often the case, the root causes are ignorance and apathy.

Most San Antonians see roaming dogs with some regularity. Although parts of town have higher incidences of dog bites, Sims emphasizes the issue of roaming dogs isnt an issue of poverty.

ACS doesnt need residents running through the streets catching dogs. Whats needed is a grassroots education effort. Neighbors talking to neighbors talking to friends and so on. If thats outside the comfort zone, send a letter, signed or unsigned.

Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Sims notes the department issues humane tethers for homes without proper fencing, and they can be purchased off the shelf at most pet stores for as little as $20.

As of this writing, news is breaking about both owners of the dogs who killed Ramon having been released from jail on bond. Not every owner will be receptive to responsible dog ownership. Forty-two ACS calls show that, and 242 San Antonio pets with dangerous dog designations or multiple bite cases show that.

The more responsible pet owners there are, the more effectively resources can target the cases that arise. Every dog bite prevented by keeping dogs on their owners property gives ACS and SAPD more time to focus on repeat offenders like the Good Neighbor Program would aim to do.

But our community cant wait for the city to find a way to fix this, and the city cant hope to solve the problem without the communitys support. In the years to come, Ramons death will hopefully be viewed as an inflection point, when the city and its residents collectively said enough is enough.

Hopefully.
As SXSW 2023 came to a close, the focus shifted from Hot Cheetos and the ubiquity of artificial intelligence to what the heck the local police are doing. Austin Police Department made an announcement toward the end of the week that fired up discourse about police funding and staffing.

APD revealed on Thursday, March 23, that it had seized 98 pounds of marijuana during SXSW, along with small amounts of other narcotics and a number of firearms. The announcement shocked some, but perhaps not in the way it was intended.

Last May, Austin voters passed a referendum to eliminate the enforcement of low-level marijuana possession, codifying a policy that was already unofficially in place stemming from a 2020 memo from then-APD Police Chief Brian Manley.

The sting was part of a Violent Crimes Initiative, which APD says was launched in collaboration with state and federal law enforcement to combat violent crime during SXSW 2023, from March 8 through March 18. In addition to the 98 pounds of marijuana seized by APD, the department also announced that it had seized 61 firearms, making 131 arrests, plus 3.5 kilograms of cocaine/crack, 26.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 41.38 grams of fentanyl/heroin.

The report merely adds to the ongoing discourse about APD staffing and how those officers are spending their time.

This week, CBS Austin reported that on Saturday, March 18, near the tail end of SXSW, a Killeen family visiting the city waited more than two hours for APD to respond to a violent crash caused by a suspected drunk driver. When the family called 911, they were told by the operator, according to the report, that there weren't enough police to respond to the crash.

Fox News attributed the extreme wait time to a "defunded Austin police," which was echoed by the family's personal injury lawyer, Adam Loewy, and subsequently retweeted by Travis County GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak.

Many harkened back to a tweet by new/old Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, who wrote, at the outset of SXSW, that APD would be "fully staffed."

The defund crowd was upset by APD focusing on drugs while the family sat for two and a half hours waiting on dispatch. Pro police voices either cheered on the drug bust, remained indifferent, or pointed out the irony wile remaining upset by the family that had to wait two and a half hours for help from APD.

It's a familiar result: no one is happy.
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For mental health support for LGBTQ youth, call the Trevor Projects 24/7 toll-free support line at 866-488-7386. For trans peer support, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

An LGBTQ student group at West Texas A&M University and its two student leaders have filed a lawsuit against university president Walter Wendler, alleging he violated their First Amendment rights when he canceled a planned campus drag show earlier this week because he believed the shows degrade women.

The lawsuit comes after days of protests each day this week, calling for Wendler to reinstate the drag show and step down as president. More than 10,000 people have signed a student petition in support of the drag show. Meanwhile, local conservative leaders have encouraged the West Texas community to attend the protests and express their support for Wendler.

In a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Amarillo, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that Wendler is openly defying the Constitution.

Whether students gather on campus to study the Bible, host a political talk, or put on a drag show for charity, the First Amendment prohibits public university officials from suppressing the students expression simply because the administrator (or anyone else) finds the message offensive, the lawsuit reads.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a national campus free speech group, is representing the students. Lawyers from FIRE sent letters to the university and system leadership this week asking them to reinstate the show. In the lawsuit, they say no one responded to their demands.

The students want the event reinstated and ask the court to prohibit university administrators from violating their free speech rights.

The lawsuit was also filed against Christopher Thomas, vice president of student affairs at the public university in Canyon, as well as Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and the systems board of regents. In the lawsuit, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue the system leaders have not stopped Wendler from violating students freedom of speech.

Spokespeople for the university and system declined to comment.

The campus LGBTQ group called Spectrum was planning to hold the show, called A Fools Drag Race, on March 31, the day before April Fools Day. Students reserved Legacy Hall on campus and started to advertise the event, stating that all proceeds would be donated to the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ suicide-prevention group.

According to the lawsuit, West Texas A&M administrators helped the student group navigate the campus event approval process throughout February and March.

Then, the students allege that administrators told them on March 20 the drag show was canceled because Wendler disapproved. Wendler sent a letter to the campus community Monday announcing drag shows are banned on campus.

In the letter, the president said drag shows degrade women because they stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood.

He argued in his letter that allowing drag shows goes against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions purpose, saying theyre inappropriate even if theyre not illegal.

Students rejected Wendlers assertions and said he mischaracterized the art form.

Drag shows frequently feature men dressing as women in exaggerated styles and have been a mainstay in the LGBTQ community for decades. Drag performers say their work is an expression of queer joy  and a form of constitutionally protected speech about societal gender norms.

Dan Rogers, chair of the Amarillo GOP, emailed members Thursday encouraging them to support Dr. Walter Wendler, President of WTAMU in his stand against evil.

A second online petition supporting Wendler has around 4,500 signatures as of Friday morning.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University System and West Texas A&M University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Yves here. Even though we ran a post recently on the horrorshow of Medicare Advantage using AI to implement what amounts to reductions in coverage below contractually stipulated levels, this practice is so egregious that it needs to be called out until something is done to stop it.

The case that is the centerpiece of a new report, below, is particularly disturbing because the adjudication process (much like arbitration of securities and credit card cases) looks to be cooked to find against patients.

By run75441. Originally published at Angry Bear

If you have read Medicare Advantage uses Algorithms to block care for Seniors, Angry Bear, (STAT Investigation, Casey Ross and Bob Herman) you might think this is a relatively new phenomena in healthcare. At the bottom of the post you will find a link to another commentary. Why did I put another commentary site there as written by different authors?

Number one, so I would not forget it. Number two, to make a point of showing the use of algorithms in overall and Medicare healthcare insurance is not new. How long has it been in use, I am not sure. The commentary by St, John and Krupa is almost one year old and very relevant.

This is another case study of how Medicare Advantage is defining treatment options for patients. The pattern is to measure a new patient based upon what has occurred with other patients. A1is followed religiously by Advantage plans is failing to identify the uniqueness of each patient. Some difference between patients may not be picked up by A1.

When Artificial Intelligence in Medicare Advantage Impedes Access to Care: A Case Study, Center for Medicare Advocacy, C. St. John and E. Krupa

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is capturing headlines as a potential tool to streamline operations and predict patient needs for favorable health outcomes, among other things.[1] The Center for Medicare Advocacy has increasingly become aware of how AI-powered decision-making tools may be used by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to make coverage decisions. Those decisions may be more restrictive than Medicare coverage guidelines, potentially leading to premature terminations of coverage or continuation of care for beneficiaries.[2]

The Center recently published a report, The Role of AI-Powered Decision-Making Technology in Medicare Coverage Determinations, outlining areas of growing concerns. Issues around the use of AI have also been highlighted by the Commonwealth Fund as part of a series of blog posts focusing on different aspects of the MA program.[3] A recent blog post noted,

A related concern is that plans are using proprietary, algorithm-driven systems to make decisions (including those requiring prior authorization) about approving coverage for services.[4]

The issues around prior authorization and persistent denials of coverage potentially have devastating impacts on patients. The Center for Medicare Advocacy is hearing alarming cases of Medicare beneficiaries suffering from impacts of AI decision-making tools despite the fact that Medicare is adamant that no claim should be based on a screening tool alone.[5] Furthermore, Medicare requires an individualized assessment of each beneficiarys qualification for coverage in certain care settings.[6] The AI tools, however, provide recommendations based on previous patient experiences.

One beneficiary in Connecticut, Ms. M, was hospitalized after she underwent a hip replacement. The 80-year-old was transferred to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for short-term rehab. Ms. Ms UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan touts that it offers coverage of unlimited days in a SNF.

Ms. Ms goal in the nursing home was to reach a level of independence that would allow her to return home where she lived on her own prior to the surgery. Her recovery in the SNF was being hindered due to various complications such as a nerve injury and becoming infected with COVID-19. Nevertheless, Ms. M was still able to make progress consistent with the goals set out in the physical and occupational therapy evaluations. According to Paula Haney, the Director of Rehabilitation at the SNF, Ms. M. was still benefiting from her skilled therapy regimen and, therefore, continued to meet Medicare coverage criteria.

Despite this fact, Ms. M has been forced to battle UnitedHealthcare for continued coverage of her three-month stay at the facility. While trying to regain mobility after her hip operation, Ms. M filed ten appeals on UnitedHealthcares repeated decisions to terminate her coverage.

Paula Haney explained to the Center these frequent denials have increased for her patients,

I have never experienced the number of denials that we have received. The frustrating part is that we have overturned so many of those denials and yet they keep coming.

Ms. M reached out to the Center after filing the ten successful appeals on her own. The Center contacted both United Healthcare and their subsidiary naviHealth. naviHealth is a post-acute case management company which determines when to terminate coverage and to find out more about how these decisions were being made. After finally agreeing to meet with the Center and Haney, naviHealths clinical representative continued to offer multiple explanations as to why coverage should be terminated. Included in the explanations were: Ms. Ms goal of returning home being unrealistic and the therapy she was receiving could be provided by someone who was not skilled.

According to Haney, naviHealth provides similar explanations for their other denials.

Basically, what were hearing is either the patient is not making adequate progress, or the patient has reached a level that should not require skilled services. There isnt a whole bunch of clarification.

Haney recounted to the Center how the repeated denials of coverage impacted patients.

Theyre dealing with trying to get better. And its this emotional roller coaster every five to seven days.

Ms. M doesnt have the financial means to privately pay for continued short-term rehab and the weekly denials took a serious emotional toll.

She would come down here and be a wreck. Shed be weeping. Just so worried. Whats going to happen? Are they going to take my house? What do I do now?

Despite her Medicare Advantage plan stating it covered unlimited days in a SNF, Ms. M received less than a month of coverage before the barrage of terminating notices began. Unfortunately, Ms. Ms case is not unique, but her fighting spirit is. According to a 2018 Office of the Inspector General report, beneficiaries and providers appealed only one percent of the Medicare Advantage denials between 2014 and 2016.[7]

Weve had a couple of people who have gone home and ended up back in the hospital. And weve seen them again, according to Haney. Were happy to see them if they need us, but we really would rather have it if they had gotten a little bit stronger, maybe they would have been able to avoid that rehospitalization.

The Center continues to investigate AI-powered decision coverage issues and will provide updates as we learn more.

Unfortunate update: Kepro, the independent adjudicator of Ms. Ms appeals, has finally upheld naviHealths Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage despite her continuing to receive therapy each weekday.

Footnotes

[1] Landau, J. The pluses and minuses of AI in Healthcare. Fast Company. (Feb. 28, 2022).

[2] Saxena, L. Center for Medicare Advocacy Special Report: The Role of AI-powered Decision-Making Technology in Medicare Coverage Determinations. Center for Medicare Advocacy. (Jan. 19, 2020).

[3] CMA. Commonwealth Fund Blog Series About Medicare Advantage. (Apr. 7, 2022).

[4] Hostetter, M., & Klein, S. Taking Stock of Medicare Advantage: Benefit Design. Commonwealth Fund. (Mar. 31, 2022).

[5] Saxena, L. Center for Medicare Advocacy Special Report: The Role of AI-powered Decision-Making Technology in Medicare Coverage Determinations. Center for Medicare Advocacy. (Jan. 19, 2020).

[6] CMS. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Jimmo Settlement Agreement. (Updated Dec. 1, 2021)

[7] OIG. Medicare Advantage Appeal Outcomes and Audit Findings Raise Concerns About Service and Payment Denials. (OEI-09-16-00410) 09-25-2018.
On Friday (24 March 2023) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre to NATO Headquarters. They discussed NATOs role in the protection of undersea critical infrastructure, which is vital for the security of Allies. Last week, the two men visited the Troll A natural gas platform, off the coast of Norway, together with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Mr Stoltenberg stressed that NATO is stepping up work on securing critical infrastructure, with increased military presence, greater situational awareness, and enhanced cooperation with international partners and the private sector.

Mr Stoltenberg thanked Prime Minister Gahr Stre for Norways leading role in helping the Alliance to understand and address challenges in the High North, including by hosting NATO exercises like the recently concluded Joint Viking, the largest military winter drill in Arctic Europe in 2023. He also thanked Norway for other contributions to NATO, including serving in the multinational battlegroup in Lithuania. He welcomed Norways significant aid to Ukraine and stressed the need to continue sustaining assistance for Ukraine, as it resists Russias illegal war.

The two leaders also addressed the accession of Finland and Sweden. Mr Stoltenberg said, I welcome that Turkiye and Hungary are ready to ratify Finlands membership of NATO - and I hope that both will do so swiftly He stressed that, for me, it is a top priority to make sure that Swedens accession is also ratified as soon as possible, because their accession will make NATO stronger and demonstrate that NATOs door remains open.
Japan wrapped up its support to NATO disaster relief operations in Turkiye on Friday (24 March 2023) after airlifting some 90 tons of aid to Turkish communities in need.

The Japanese KC-767 cargo aircraft supporting the mission is due to depart from Turkiye for Japan on Saturday, ending a weeklong relief operation that delivered over 1,000 tents to residents affected by the February earthquakes. The flights, parts of a NATO-coordinated air-bridge, were the first international emergency relief operation conducted by Japans Self-Defense Forces in cooperation with NATO,

The commitment by NATO Allies and partners to supporting Turkiyes earthquake relief efforts remains strong, said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu. In addition to the air-bridge, NATO is currently building temporary shelters for thousands of quake survivors in Antakya and Iskenderun. This comes as international donors this week pledged to provide 7 billion in aid to the people in Turkiye and Syria.

Thousands of emergency responders from across the Alliance as well as Finland, Sweden and Japan, have been engaged in the initial international relief efforts. Allied armed forces have also set up field clinics in Turkiye for quake victims. The earthquakes that struck Turkiye earlier this year were the deadliest natural disaster on Alliance territory since NATOs foundation.
(Natural News) Throngs of college students from all over America gather every year on beaches to celebrate spring break. While vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing, preppers know that danger may lurk around every corner.

If you have college kids or grandkids going on spring break, make sure they know how to stay calm when SHTF. You should also check if they have useful items like a bandana, pepper spray and a small solar charger before going on vacation. (h/t to TheSurvivalMom.com)

Different schools have different spring breaks dates, but many occur in March. Spring break often lasts for one week at most U.S. colleges, but some schools schedule a two-week break.

Before your college kid or grandkid leaves for spring break, make sure they bring these useful survival items with them:

Anti-diarrhea medicine

You will need anti-diarrhea to deal with stomach issues due to food poisoning, stomach flu, or too much alcohol.

Bandana

A bandana is a versatile item. You can use it as a head or neck covering from the sun, an emergency bandage, a makeshift washcloth or towel, or a waist pouch to hold small belongings.

Basic first aid kit

You will need a first aid kit to deal with any minor medical emergencies like a cut or burn.

A bodyguard

If you are worried about your son or daughter being on their own, send a bodyguard with them.

If you cant afford to hire a bodyguard, make sure they travel with a friend who will watch out for them. Tell your kids to use the buddy system.

A book

Sometimes, flights can be delayed and canceled. If you hate waiting and you get bored easily, a book can help you pass the time.

If you want to keep your bags light, download an e-book reader app on your phone.

Bug spray

You will need a travel-sized bug spray to protect yourself from pesky bugs.

Cargo pants or shorts

Cargo pants or shorts are great if you want to carry extra emergency supplies while also keeping both hands free.

Common sense

This is not an item, but preppers and college kids alike need common sense to stay safe when SHTF. Dont go drinking with a bunch of strangers, and dont go anywhere without your travel buddy.

A flashlight or other light source

If you have a flashlight or another portable light source, you can safely navigate dark or unfamiliar areas.

Foam earplugs

If you are on spring break with other friends, you may need foam earplugs if someone or several people in your group snore.

Necessary medications

If you need necessary medications like an inhaler or prescription meds, clearly label all items to ensure a safe trip while going through customs.

Pepper spray

Bring pepper spray for self-defense. If you are flying, pack your pepper spray in checked luggage since it is not allowed in carry-on luggage.

Small solar charger

Bring a small solar charger so you can charge your phone before it runs out of battery. Dont forget to bring a charging cord. (Related: 10 Must-have camping tools that can teach your kids survival skills.)

Sunscreen

If you have sensitive skin, you will need sunscreen to prevent painful sunburns.

Travel-sized sanitation products

Proper hygiene is important, even when youre on vacation. Before your kid leaves for spring break, make sure they bring travel-sized sanitation products like hand sanitizer, a small packet of tissues (for bathroom emergencies) and a packet of disinfecting wipes.

These items will help protect you from bacteria and viruses on a plane, at a hotel, or on the beach. If your kid is going on a cruise ship, tell them to always wipe down all surfaces of the stateroom, including the TV remote control and phone with a few disinfecting wipes.

A water bottle with a good filter

Severe dehydration can cause health problems if left untreated. You will also need a good water filter if you are traveling in locations like Mexico, where you can get sick if you drink contaminated water.

A whistle

A whistle is a crucial survival item. You can use a whistle to signal for help, especially if you are in an area where your screaming could be drowned by noise from other spring breakers.

Visit Preparedness.news to read more articles about other useful prepping tools and supplies.

Watch the video below for tips on how to defend yourself against an aggressive person.

This video is from the Code Red Defense channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Prepping with kids: What to teach them about natural disasters.

Prepping and air travel: Items for a TSA-approved BOB.

10 Prepper skills that will help improve your street-smarts.

Sources include:

TheSurvivalMom.com

People.HowStuffWorks.com

CollegiateParent.com

Brighteon.com
A state parole officer resigned Friday as he pleaded guilty in Buffalo City Court to two misdemeanors after being caught last year tampering with evidence and lying on the witness stand about it.

Eliezer Rosario II, who was initially charged with two felonies, also was sentenced by Judge Andrew LoTempio to two years of probation, according to prosecutors and court records.

On June 16, 2022, Rosario admitted during testimony in a drug and gun case in State Supreme Court that he placed the defendant's prison identification card next to a bullet found on a television stand in the defendant's residence.

He also admitted on the stand he wouldn't have planted the evidence if he knew he was being recorded by a Buffalo police officer's body-worn camera, according to a court transcript and attorneys involved in the case.

Revelations about Rosario's admissions were first reported by The Buffalo News in July.

Gun case with ties to parole officer facing charges ends in plea deal The case against Genile Wilson, 47, became more complicated when a parole officer involved in his case was later charged with planting evidence in a separate case.

Rosario, 43, resigned in lieu of termination effective Friday, a Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokesperson said in an email.

Rosario's resignation was a condition of the plea agreement, which resulted from lengthy negotiations with prosecutors, said defense attorney Justin Ginter, who represented Rosario, along with attorney Paul Cambria.

"We think we came to a fair resolution based on all the facts and circumstances around the incident here," Ginter said.

Rosario had a "sparkling clean record" prior to this incident, he said.

Rosarios admission on the stand came after defense attorneys showed Buffalo police body-camera video footage of the parole officer putting the tag next to the bullet and taking a photograph of the evidence. Rosario also admitted he wrote in a legal document that he found the ammunition round next to the ID tag.

Parole officer charged with planting evidence in search of parolee's room State police charged Eliezer Rosario II, 43, with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.

Rosario, who was suspended without pay, was arrested Nov. 30 by state police.

He had been charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and tampering with physical evidence. Rosario pleaded guilty to second-degree offering a false instrument for filing and attempted tampering with evidence.

The case was handled by the Monroe County District Attorney's Office, who served as special prosecutor, after the Erie County District Attorney's Office withdrew because of Rosario's history of working with them.

Rosario became a state parole officer in July 2018. He was hired as an Erie County probation officer, working on juvenile cases, in 2013.

Anthony S. Davis, the defendant in the case in which Rosario was testifying, has commenced legal action against Rosario, the state and the City of Buffalo.

On witness stand, parole officer admits planting evidence in Buffalo gun case Eliezer Rosario II also admitted on the witness stand that he wouldn't have planted the evidence if he knew he was being recorded by a Buffalo police officer's body-worn camera, according to defense attorneys and a transcript of the court proceedings.

Davis' attorneys also had other questions about the round of ammunition found on the TV stand. Rosario's partner was the first person to look in Davis' room, but testified he didn't see it.

Parole officers also reported finding 13 rounds of ammunition in the room, but only 12 were submitted to the county crime lab as evidence.

"That tells me either the one from the bedroom was never collected, it was lost or one of the bullets was taken out of the magazine and placed in the bedroom before body cam arrived on the scene," attorney Nicholas Texido said last year. Texido represented Davis, along with attorney Sean Kelly.
(Natural News) Whether you are a climate activist, a governmental official, or a citizen hoping to be well-informed on climate issues, getting accurate and reliable climate information is important.

(Article republished from CliffMass.Blogspot.com)

Unfortunately, the Seattle Times continues to provide unfactual information, with screaming headlines and stories that can easily be shown to be incorrect.

This disappointing behavior by Seattles only newspaper was obvious on Tuesday (see below).

A blaring, big-type headline heralded that DATA CONFIRMS THAT WARMING IS WORSENING FLOODS, DROUGHT.

And in the subtitle, they double down: WHAT HAD BEEN AN EXPECTED CONNECTION IS BACKED UP BY A NEW STUDY



As I will demonstrate below, these claims are unfounded. The study does not confirm anything. And the expected connection subheadline is very revealing of the editorial approach of the Seattle Times.

The article

The article, like so many stories in our local newspaper, was a reprint of a Washington Post article (by Kasha Patel): A WARMER WORLD CAUSES EXTREME DROUGHT AND RAIN. INDISPUTABLE NEW RESEARCH PROVES IT.

When a reporter describes research as indisputable you know they have little understanding of the scientific process. Science is ALL about disputing and questioning each others facts and interpretations.



The indisputable information in question comes from a single new research paper Changing intensity of hydroclimate events revealed by Grace and Grace-FO by Mathew Rodell and Bailing Li of NASA Goddard and published in the journal Nature Water.



This article describes the measurement of the Grace satellites, which can measure the water content of soils from space. Importantly, they only analyzed the period 2002-2021.

Their whole claim of a global warming signal is based on two observations: the last few years had several droughts/heavy rain periods, and the earth has been warming over the past decades.

Therefore, global warming/climate change is probably the cause. Correlation proves causation. Poor science logic (see below).



Courtesy of Spurious Correlations.

Why these claims are wrong

Let me begin with something that should be obvious: you cant determine a global warming/climate change signal with a 20-year recordit is not long enough.

There are many natural sources of climate variability: El Nino/La Nina with a period of 3-7 years, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation with a period of 20-30 years (see below), and others.

So with all these natural sources of variability of precipitation, temperature, and other variables, it is very difficult to pull out a global warming signal over shorter time periods (several decades or less), particularly since the global warming signal is relatively small and slowly growing. Note: it is generally accepted that the Earth has warmed by approximately 1.2C over the past 150 years.



The Pacific Decadal Oscillation goes between warm and cool phases.

A closer look at the paper itself reveals several serious additional issues. Let me show you a few.

Below is the key figure of the publication. The extreme hydrological events sensed by satellite are shown by colored dots. The black dashed line shows the monthly intensity of the extreme hydrological events, essentially multiplying the number of events by their intensity.

The paper (and the Seattle Times/WA Post article) highlight that the number and intensity of extreme events have risen.

However, the increase in the intensity of extreme hydrological events has been limited to THE LAST THREE YEARS ONLY. That is true for the number of events as well.

What was global warming doing during the previous 15 years? On vacation?

In short, there is no longer-term trend in extreme hydrological events that would make you think that global warming/climate change was the cause. Virtually no change from 2002 through 2018.

This is a substantial problem for their hypothesis

They also plot the change in global mean temperature on the lower panel. You can see a small warming (about 0.2C) over the 20-year period, with 2016 being the warmest year.

The change in extreme hydrological events (abruptly increasing only in the last few years ) is very different from the trend of the global temperature (distributed over the entire period), undermining the authors claim that global warming might be the cause.

You will note that the warmest year 2016, did not have more extreme events. Furthermore, their plot shows little evidence that the intensity of the extreme events has increased.



Considering the above, does it seem likely that the Washington Post is correct in claiming that the research proves that the forcing of hydrological extremes by global warming is indisputable? Of course not.

In fact, the evidence provided in this paper is so thin that a weather researcher (Daniel Swain) is quoted saying:

 I think if this were just coming out of the blue and this is the only evidence we had that hydroclimate extreme was becoming greater in warming climate, it wouldnt be super strong evident unto itself

Finally, the Seattle Times does not allow comments on stories from outside sources (such as the Washington Post). Obviously, this allows them to publish questionable information without anyone being able to question or comment on it. They do the same thing for their cartoonist, David Horsey, who continuously provides exaggerated and unfounded claims regarding climate.



Newspapers should not be in the advocacy business.

They should be in the business of communicating facts and where there is controversy, both sides of the debate.

Read more at: CliffMass.Blogspot.com
(Natural News) Israel is facing a shortage of certain food items as the Jewish Passover holiday nears.

According to the Jerusalem Post (JPost), Israelis preparing for the Jewish holiday could experience difficulties in finding meat. It added that if they do find meat on grocery shelves, they may have to shell out more. People of different religions are also facing the same problem, with JPost warning families to expect to see shortages of both chicken and beef, as well as higher prices.

Meanwhile, a separate report by the Globes newspaper said more than 20 slaughterhouses in northern Israel have warned of a shortage of poultry and meat two weeks before the Passover holiday. They pointed to the closure of a wastewater plant that treats brine produced as a result of the process that renders poultry fit for consumption under Jewish kosher rules.

Law firm Herzog Fox & Neeman, which represents the slaughterhouses, wrote a letter to Israeli Economic Minister Nir Barkat demanding an immediate resolution to the issue. The firm warned that if left unresolved, the issue could force the slaughterhouses to shut down.

According to Globes, large quantities of salt are needed to render slaughtered livestock and poultry kosher  which results in an accumulation of brine. This resulting brine is sent to a special treatment plant that processes the wastewater before discharging it into the sea. If disposed of without being treated, the brine can contaminate groundwater.

Brine from the northern slaughterhouses is transferred to two treatment plants  the ELO facility in Acre and the Shafdan facility in Rishon LeZion, the latter located at the countrys central region. The Acre plant processes brine from most of the slaughterhouses, but it will soon close on March 31.

Government, industry pointing fingers over food crisis

The industrialists of the north, therefore demand that the [Israeli] Ministry of Economy (MoE) should find an immediate solution for the disposal of brine as required by law  and for the extension of the activity of the ELO terminal to facilitate the regular supply of poultry and meat as the Passover holiday approaches, the law firms letter stated.

Barkats office responded to the letter by calling the problem a market failure of the private sector, which did not manage to gear up for the disposal of waste from the process of slaughtering birds.

The phenomenon of producers threatening rises in the prices of their products morning and night has to stop. The citizens of Israel are not hostages, and they will know how to shop cleverly in the face of those who threaten their pockets. (Related: Food shortage simulation predicts 400% SURGE in food prices by 2030.)

The MoE remarked that it is making efforts to help the industry overcome the market failure that has come about, and is working day and night to find a solution to the problem.

In spite of the fiasco involving the MoE and the slaughterhouses, Israels Egg and Poultry Board assured consumers that no shortfall is expected in the quantities of chickens slaughtered in the weeks before Passover.

Lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman commented on the ongoing food supply issue by means of a Twitter post. Just before the holiday, food prices are rampant, he wrote.

The chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party in the Knesset  Israels parliament  blamed his fellow legislators for prioritizing other concerns instead of addressing the rising food prices.

Finance Minister [Bezalel] Smotrich is in Paris, [former Economic Minister Aryeh] Deri is busy with Deri Law 1 and 2 and [incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is busy with legislation that will allow him to receive gifts, Lieberman continued. This lawlessness comes at the expense of all the citizens of Israel.

FoodCollapse.com has more stories about food shortages.

Watch Dr. William Mount elaborates on meat shortages in the U.S. state of Montana below.

This video is from the Dr William Mount channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

North American Meat Institute: Labor shortage plays key role in food inflation.

Avian flu isnt responsible for egg shortage; skyrocketing livestock feed costs are.

Egg shortage and inflation strangely timed with revelation that yolks naturally mitigate covid vaccine spike proteins.

Global supply chain collapse worsening as Britain faces meat shortage while U.S. staring at growing national security crisis.

Food shortages of meat, eggs, poultry, other commodities worsening in U.S. supermarkets amid new supply chain disruptions.

Sources include:

JPost.com

En.Globes.co.il

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) It could soon become a crime in the state of Israel to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who is not already a believer.

Two members of the United Torah Judaism Knesset, Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, co-introduced legislation that would make it illegal to tell others about Yeshua Hamashiach, the penalty for such being one year in jail if the person is an adult and two years in jail if the person is a minor.

In years past, such a bill would have been easily rejected  and it has been, seeing as how Gafni, who is nearly 70 years old, has been introducing a version of this bill every year with no success since 1988 when he was first elected to the Knesset. This year, however, could be different.

Because the Israeli legislature is now controlled by Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews, there is a greater chance than ever before, since Israel once again became a nation in 1948, for such a bill to actually get passed.

(Related: The state of Israel played a prominent role in the Wuhan coronavirus [Covid-19] vaccine scam.)

Israel losing American support the more anti-Christ it becomes

Writing for All Israel News, editor Joel C. Rosenberg explains in further detail how the 120-seat Knesset now has a majority who are likely in favor of prohibiting evangelical Christianity in the modern state of Israel.

These members are far more aggressive in this legislative session than ever before in pushing for legislations to be passed that advance their theological worldview, Rosenberg says.

If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to remain as such while advancing his other agenda items, including stopping the Iranian regime from building nuclear weapons, making peace with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, strengthening and expanding the Israeli economy as the United States economy slows, and passing sweeping judicial reforms, then he will likely have to sign off on the majoritys demands.

At the same time, Netanyahu risks ostracizing evangelical Christian supporters of Israel, who are among the modern states most loyal supporters. If the average Christian turns on Israel, then Israel as it currently exists may cease to persist.

Indeed, the current judicial reform movement raises further concerns for Evangelical and Messianic Jewish leaders, Rosenberg warns, adding that even though many believe that such reforms are necessary to improve Israels flawed legal system, these same leaders worry about the passage of the Gafni-Asher anti-Christ legislation.

 if the currently-proposed version of the override clause also becomes law, then a simple majority of just 61 Knesset members would be able to cancel the High Courts decision, Rosenberg explains.

That would enable the current Knesset to go forward with banning all forms of evangelism in Israel and would provide no legal recourse whatsoever to Jewish and Gentile people  Israelis or foreigners  who love Jesus and want to tell others about Him.

While most evangelical Republicans, eight in 10, support Israel, support among Democrats and Independents is waning. If the new legislation passes to outlaw Christianity, support for Israel among all groups is expected to plummet.

This is why the Jews will have to go through the Time of Jacobs Trouble, during which, as Zachariah says, at the end of this seven-year period, they will cry out for their Messiah and will mourn Him who is pieced, Jesus, wrote one commenter about this shocking new development.

Israel should be careful what they vote for, added another. Their rejection of their Messiah 2,000 years ago led to 2,000 years of exile among the nations. Do they really want to follow their fathers in the same foolishness?

More stories like this one can be found at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com

AllIsrael.com
(Natural News) According to Path to Liberty host Michael Boldin, there are three ways for people to stop unconstitutional acts.

The first thing people can do is demand public officials to stop doing the wrong things. However, Boldin said this strategy is bound to fail.

Those people are [just] doing the right thing at that moment, or because its politically important for them because theres such an outcry about such an issue. [But] as long as they still have the power to do the wrong thing, then youre in  as St. George Tucker puts it  a state of slavery, he said.

Boldin, the founder and executive director of the Tenth Amendment Center (TAC), also referenced Founding Father John Dickinson, who said free people are those who live under a government so constitutionally checked and controlled, that proper provision is made against its being otherwise exercised.

The second action that people do is file a federal lawsuit, with the hope that federal judges will limit government power. However, Boldin mentioned that there are problems with this approach as well. The third action that people do, he added, is try to vote the bums out with the hope that the new set of people voted in will use their newfound power properly.

The TAC founder pointed out that these three actions  calling out the government, filing a lawsuit in federal court and using the ballot  form part of the whole structure and should not be downplayed. However, he warned against using either of these three as their primary or sole approach.

Peoples sovereignty supersedes bad government

Quoting Dickinson, Boldin said a good constitution cannot guarantee that people will have a good government. The best it can do, he added, is to promote good government. (Related: America Unhinged: Americans must use Constitution to keep government under control  Brighteon.TV.)

When a nation has a bad administration, exercising the peoples supreme sovereignty is the only thing that must be done. He also quoted former Supreme Court Justice James Iredell, who said people resisting government the moment it usurps powers not delegated is the way to keep it in check. This response relies on people who understand the Constitution and want it enforced, Boldin added.

According to the Path to Liberty host, the American system is based on power from We The People. All governments are just emanations of a delegation of power from the people, he said.

When the government does things it is not authorized to do, it is tantamount to usurpation and theft of sovereign power.

Boldin ultimately remarked that it is not about asking the government to stop doing unconstitutional things. Rather, it is about stopping government when it tries to do or always does the wrong thing. He added that free people do not beg, ask and demand freedom  they take it instead.

Watch the full Path to Liberty segment below where Michael Boldin explains how to respond to the unconstitutional actions of the government.

This video is from the Tenth Amendment Center channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

America Unhinged: Slavery does not exist in the US Constitution  Brighteon.TV.

Critical Disclosure with James White: Theres no need to amend the Constitution, says Robert Brown  Brighteon.TV.

General Flynn urges pastors to defend the Constitution from the pulpit  Brighteon.TV.

Constitutional scholar David Jose: Americans have power over their government  Brighteon.TV.

Sheriff Mack shares miracles that led him to be a defender of the Constitution  Brighteon.TV.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

CoastToCoast AM.com

Biography.com
(Natural News) A university in Michigan has announced that it will host five smaller graduation celebrations that separate students by race, sexuality and gender identity, in addition to the universitys larger commencement ceremony with all of its students.

Grand Valley State University (GVSU), the third- and fourth-largest tertiary educational institution in Michigan by undergraduate population and overall enrollment, respectively, announced last month its plan to have separate ceremonies for Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American and so-called LGBTQIA+ students.

GVSU described the graduation ceremony for so-called Latino/a/x students as an opportunity to come together and acknowledge [Hispanic American] accomplishments in the spirit of traditions of culture.

Similarly, the GVSU described the graduation celebration solely for Black students as an avenue to celebrate all that is representative of Black, African American and African tradition, heritage, culture and legacy.

Ceremonies solely for Black students and Native American students have been ongoing for several years. The ceremony for the former has been held since 2016, and the latter ceremony is known as the annual Native American Graduation Feast.

Another special graduation ceremony solely for so-called LGBTQIA+ and allied students, known as the Lavender Graduation, will celebrate their personal and academic achievements.

This graduation ceremony will also award one graduating student an Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Graduate Award, which is given to an exceptional student graduating in the Fall or Winter semester of 2023  who self-identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

GVSU criticized for segregating graduating students

While the university has made it clear that these smaller ceremonies would not replace the general commencement ceremony for all students, this has not stopped people from being concerned by the move. (Related: WOKE ACADEMIA: Princeton student says schools new ban on cheating unfairly targets non-Whites.)

Ridiculous, noted conservative commentator Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire. Grand Valley State University is holding five segregated graduation celebrations, singling out Asian, Black, LGBT, Hispanic and Native American graduates. There will be no special celebrations for straight White people, of course.

GVSU defended its decision to host the segregated graduation ceremonies, noting that there is still one large graduation ceremony for all students.

Grand Valley State University holds unified commencement ceremonies for all of its graduates. GVSU is not segregating graduation ceremonies by race, as some people and outlets have said, the university stated.

Grand Valley also welcomes student organizations and faculty leaders to hold smaller-scale celebrations designed to honor graduates. These more intimate celebrations are a complement to GVSUs commencement and are open to all students and their supporters, continued the university. The vast majority of graduating students who participate in these celebrations also choose to participate in our larger commencement ceremony where degrees are conferred.

Several other higher education institutions have hosted similarly segregated graduation ceremonies in recent years.

Columbia University in New York City hosts smaller graduation celebrations for certain affinity groups on campus, including Lavender (LGBTQIA+), Asian, First-Generation and/or Low-Income, Black, Latinx and Native American communities, according to the university. Harvard University hosts similar smaller graduation ceremonies for Black, Asian, Hispanic and LGBTQ students.

Read more crazy stories from Americas universities and colleges at CampusInsanity.com.

Watch Next News Network host Gary Franchi discuss the insane things schools in Michigan and California are banning due to allegations of racism.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Medical schools are lowering standards in the name of equity to boost minority acceptance (while abandoning quality of care).

White student denied access to mental health care at Florida university because he wasnt a person of color: emails.

Footage from Ohio school shows Black students forcing White students to say Black Lives Matter.

Ontario student suspended from school for vocalizing belief in biological sex ARRESTED for trespassing while tryin to attend class.

Virginia school caught hiding academic awards of top-performing students for equity purposes, denying them college admissions and scholarship opportunities.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Russian President Vladimir Putin that significant changes are coming at the conclusion of the latters state visit that had both nations denouncing the United States and the West.

This occurred at the end of Xi and Putins three-day meeting in Moscow, with the Chinese leader informing his Russian counterpart that their nations have become the main drivers of geopolitical change around the world. (Related: UN secretary-general warns: World is heading toward wider war due to escalating conflict in Ukraine.)

Right now, there are changes  the likes of which we havent seen for 100 years  and we are the ones driving these changes together, Xi told Putin through a translator as he and the Russian president stood at the door of the Kremlin saying their goodbyes.

Please take care, dear friend, Xi said, shaking Putins hand.

Before this ominous departure, Putin and Xi pledged to strengthen their special no limits friendship. They also jointly denounced the U.S. and the West as they strive to create an alternative power structure to American attempts to create a unipolar world controlled by Washington, D.C.

We are working in solidarity on the formation of a more just and democratic multipolar world order, which should be based on the central role of the United Nations, its Security Council, international law, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said Putin.

The two nations also discussed their serious concerns about American nuclear weapons and bio-military activities. In a statement signed by Xi and Putin, they requested that the U.S. clarifies its position regarding the use of nuclear and biological weapons, step up efforts to destroy chemical weapons stashes and refrain from actions that violate the Biological Weapons Convention.

Washington dismissive of brewing Moscow-Beijing alliance

Commenting on the meeting between Xi and Putin, the White House said China is not impartial to Russias special military operation in Ukraine. Washington is urging Beijing to pressure Moscow into withdrawing from Ukraines internationally recognized borders to end Europes deadliest conflict since World War II.

The U.S. has also expressed disdain over Chinas peace proposal for the conflict in Ukraine, claiming that such a ceasefire would lock in Russian territorial gains in eastern and southern Ukraine and give the Russian Armed Forces too much leverage over Kyiv.

China has not responded to the White Houses entreaties. But as Xi left Moscow, Ukraine faced a new series of Russian drone strikes that damaged military infrastructure across the country.

The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms, claimed Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Putin, meanwhile, said in a joint press conference near the end of Xis state visit at the Kremlin that Beijings peace plan correlates to the point of view of the Russian Federation.

Learn more about the rising tension between the U.S. and Russia and China at WWIII.news.

Watch this episode of Judging Freedom as Judge Andrew Napolitano and retired Army Col. Doug Macgregor discuss Xi and Putins meeting and what this means for Ukraine.

This video is from the What Is Happening channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Kentucky Democrat: Voters are sick of seeing their taxes go to Ukraine; intellectually bankrupt officials are making nuclear war a reality.

National security advisor: China providing weapons to Russia a real mistake.

China offers to join forces with Russia to defend national interests as Xis Moscow visit confirmed.

Putin suspends nuclear treaty with the US as Biden pledges more American taxpayer aid and weapons to Ukraine.

Concerns rise that US is depleting war stocks in Ukraine as China prepares for war over Taiwan.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Reuters.com

AlJazeera.com

NBCNews.com

SCMP.com

Independent.co.uk

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) President Donald Trump reacted to the news of his imminent arrest in New York by pointing out that the Manhattan District Attorneys offices leader is funded by George Soros.

(Article by Kyle Becker republished from TrendingPolitics.com)

Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, whom Donald Trump is referring to in his post, was elected in November 2021 with indirect backing from left-wing billionaire George Soros, who gave $1 million to the Color of Change PAC, which spent it to elect Bragg.

The Color of Change PAC is a radical activist group that describes itself as the nations largest online racial justice organization.

Fox News reported that Soros has funneled $40 million dollars into district attorney campaigns nationwide, including Braggs.

Former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton spoke out against the $1 million donation that Hungarian-born philanthropist Soros gave to the Color of Change political action committee, which supported Bragg, the New York Post reported.

If you look at every city in America that has violent crime increases and disorder increaseswhat is the one common denominator? Bratton said. District attorneys, almost all of whom are funded phenomenally by George Soros.

The New York Post reported that Soros also donated $1 million to Alvin Braggs successful DA campaign in Manhattan, funneling the cash through the Color of Change political action committee.

The Gothamist reported: Color of Change PAC, a group that since 2016 has successfully backed reform-minded prosecutors across the country from Philadelphia to Michigan to Atlanta, announced theyd be pitching in $1 million dollars through their political action committee to put towards mailers, canvassing, and phone-banking on Braggs behalf.

The National Police Association accused Soros of funding ultra-leftist prosecutors like Alvin Bragg (New York City), Kim Foxx (Chicago), Larry Krasner (Philadelphia), and George Gascon (Los Angeles), and blamed the campaign for fueling violent crime.

Color of Change endorsed Bragg, bragging:

Update: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg won the November 2021 general election with over 83% of the vote. He assumed office on January 1, 2022, and his current term ends on January 1, 2026. Alvin Bragg (D) is an experienced attorney and a former chief deputy attorney general of New York. For over twenty years, Bragg has committed himself to defending the rights of New Yorkers without status or power. He is running to become the next Manhattan District Attorney to bring his professional and lived experiences to the forefront of criminal justice reform. If elected, Bragg would become the first Black District Attorney to lead the Manhattan DAs office. As a lifelong Harlem resident and the only Black man in this race, Alvin Bragg has had direct encounters with the criminal legal system that have shaped his understanding of injustices and informed his policy positions. Growing up in Harlem, Bragg experienced and witnessed violence firsthand. As a teenage boy, Bragg was repeatedly stopped and frisked by the NYPD, including 3 times at gunpoint. Hes seen loved ones arrested and has opened his own home to support a close family member post-incarceration.

Now, Bragg has an opportunity to become infamous in U.S. history for charging former President Donald Trump.

The Soros connection was brought up by popular tweeter Catturd, who provoked a response from Twitter owner Elon Musk.

Soros figured out a clever arbitrage opportunity: The many small political contests, such as DAs & judges, have much higher impact per dollar spent than the big races, so it is far easier to sway the outcome.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2023

Corrupt New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg received $1 million from Soros in his election for NYC DA, Catturd pointed out.

Soros figured out a clever arbitrage opportunity: The many small political contests, such as DAs & judges, have much higher impact per dollar spent than the big races, so it is far easier to sway the outcome, he opined.

Thus, the forthcoming Trump indictment and arrest would be just another way for the Soros-funded radical left to engage in election interference.

Corrupt New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg received $1 million from Soros in his election for NYC DA, Catturd pointed out.

Soros figured out a clever arbitrage opportunity: The many small political contests, such as DAs & judges, have much higher impact per dollar spent than the big races, so it is far easier to sway the outcome, he opined.

Thus, the forthcoming Trump indictment and arrest would be just another way for the Soros-funded radical left to engage in election interference.

Trump announced on Saturday that ILLEGAL LEAKS from Braggs office suggested he would be arrested Tuesday:.

NOW ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!

Bragg is allegedly preparing to indict the GOP presidential candidate for alleged hush money payments Trump made as a presidential candidate in 2016 to pornstar Stormy Daniels, as Fox News reported.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has come to the defense of Donald Trump amid reports of a potential indictment by the Manhattan D.A.

Here we go again  an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump, McCarthy said on Twitter.

The House Speaker said, Im directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.

Here we go again  an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump. Im directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by https://t.co/elpbh7LeWn  Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 18, 2023

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is expected to bring felony charges against Trump next week related to payments made in 2016 to settle rumors of an extramarital affair. Bragg upgraded the charges from a misdemeanor class, which stands in sharp contrast to the prosecutors history of reducing charges in the majority of his cases.

Since taking office last year, DA Bragg has downgraded approximately 52 percent of all cases brought before his office. Many of these cases involved reducing felony charges to misdemeanors. Under Braggs predecessor, less than 40 percent of cases were downgraded.

The expected Trump arrests would come after a failed Russia collusion investigation, two dead-end impeachments, a Special Counsel investigation into Trumps classified documents that appears to be neutered by Bidens worse classified documents scandal, and a January 6 investigation that has led to no substantive evidence that Donald Trump called for an insurrection.

This is apparently the hail Mary play the corrupt Democratic Party is calling for to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.

Read more at: TrendingPolitics.com
(Natural News) Prior to fake president Joe Bidens launch of a federal disinformation censorship board, Stanford University launched an initiative called the Virality Project that served as a dry run for what has now become The Great Covid-19 Lie Machine.

That title comes from journalist Matt Taibbis latest Twitter Files release, which he called The Great Covid-19 Lie Machine: Stanford, the Virality Project, and the Censorship of True Stories.' (Related: Stanfords Virality Project called for Big Tech to censor true stories of vaccine injuries from social media, hence the name of Taibbis latest drop.)

Just one day before Biden announced plans to launch his so-called Disinformation Governance Board, the Stanford Internet Observatory called for the creation of its own disinformation  what a coincidence!

Stanford, with the backing of a number of partners and some government agencies, had created a cross-platform single digital ticketing system that was processing censorship requests for all of them: Facebook, Google, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Medium, Twitter, was Taibbis recap of the March 17 Twitter Files drop, which he discussed with novelist Walter Kirn on his America This Week podcast.

The Stanford Virality Project, Taibbi went on to reveal, was defining true things as disinformation or misinformation or malformation. This signified a new evolution of the disinformation process away from trying to figure out whats true and whats not and just going directly to political narrative.

Stanford is an enemy of the American people

On March 9 along with author Michael Shellenberger, Taibbi testified at the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, during which he further discussed his discoveries about the Virality Project.

Taibbi and his team unearthed a tranche of Virality Project emails just one hour before his testimony was scheduled to begin. These emails show that Stanford was monitoring billions of social media posts with the help of various federal agencies and a slew of (often state-funded) NGOs (non-governmental organizations).

All were characterized as potential violations or disinformation events by the Virality Project, a sweeping, cross-platform effort, Taibbi tweeted about Stanfords monitoring of all those social media posts.

According to those behind the Virality Project, its purpose was merely to detect, analyze, and respond to incidents of false and misleading narratives related to COVID-19 vaccines across online ecosystems. But this is not what Taibbi and his team learned.

Formerly known as the Election Integrity Partnership, the Virality Project was created by Alex Stamos, director of the Stanford Internet Observatory and a cybersecurity expert who previously worked at Facebook as its chief security officer.

Stamos described the program as providing actionable situational awareness and response capabilities for public health officials and other partners on the front lines of providing accurate vaccine-related information to the public.

Behind all the rhetoric, though, was a much different apparatus of public-private collusion to disrupt online free speech and control the digital narrative surrounding the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Stanfords Virality Project first partnered with the government in February 2021 just days after the Pedophile-in-Chief assumed office. From there, the relationship blossomed to the point that the Virality Project proposed introducing a rumor-control mechanism and a Misinformation and Disinformation Center of Excellence, which was to be established at the federal level.

After about a year, on April 26, 2022, the VP issued a report calling for a rumor-control mechanism to address nationally trending narratives, and a Misinformation and Disinformation Center of Excellence to be housed within CISA, at the Department of Homeland Security, Taibbi tweeted about the discovery.

Then, one day later, Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced the formation of Bidens Disinformation Governance Board  and the rest is history.

More related news can be found at Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Dr. Rachel Levine, the highest-ranking openly transgender U.S. official, has confirmed that President Joe Bidens administration is fully supporting the practice of drugging and mutilating children for gender transitions.

During her speech at the Pediatric Grand Rounds session of Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assistant secretary lauded the medical institution and further promised that medically changing genders of children will soon be normalized.

I think that its not going to be politically advantageous. It wasnt particularly in 2022. And so I think that as we look at all the different elections in 2024, I think the next two years are going to be challenging. But I am positive and optimistic and hopeful that the wheel will turn after that and that this issue wont be as politically and socially such a minefield, Levine said.

Opponents of institutional child abuse and critics of the gender-altering medications and medical castrations slammed Levines optimism on the normalization of what they call gender-affirming care.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb of the Do No Harm organization, a national association of medical professionals that combats woke activism in the healthcare system, told Fox News that Levines appearance at Connecticut Childrens Hospital praising gender-affirming care for minors and claiming it will be fully embraced is wrong and must be countered.

There is no good evidence that children treated with gender-altering hormones or puberty blockers have improved mental health assessments, he said. Despite assertions to the contrary, a recent study from the University of Washington showed that there was absolutely no change in the psychological well-being of children with gender dysphoria treated with these medications.

He added that there can be irrevocable harm being done by pushing for these radical, ideologically driven treatments. These procedures, especially for minors, need to be based on rigorous scientific inquiry, not on dubious, agenda-driven studies or the demands of activists.

Rep. Andy Harris, a member of the House Doctors Caucus and co-chair of the Pro-Life Caucus, echoed the sentiment.

Many pediatricians, particularly pediatric endocrinologists, have expressed serious concerns about the use of puberty blockers, hormone blockers and sex transition surgeries in minors. These doctors know that these medications and procedures can impact childrens bone growth, fertility, and risk of breast and prostate cancer, he warned.

Harris urged the public to protect the children from these woke movements.

Biden: Floridas stance against child mutilation close to sinful

Levines statements came just a week after Biden criticized Florida for its tough stance against child mutilation.

Whats going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. It is just terrible what they are doing. Its not like a kid wakes up one morning and says, You know, I decided I want to become a man or I want to become a woman or I want to change. I mean, what are they thinking about here? Biden said. (Related: Biden calls it sinful to NOT mutilate trans kids.)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the states legislature have enacted laws that ban classroom discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in primary schools. The Sunshine States medical boards have also banned gender-affirming care for minors.

The governor hit back on Twitter with a post saying: It is not sinful to prohibit the mutilation of minors. It is not acceptable for the federal government to mandate that procedures like sex change operations be allowed for kids.

Watch the video below where Levine talks about how minors should have no limits in getting gender-affirmation treatments in their states.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Elon Musk publicly denounces transgender medical interventions for children.

Nearly 6,000 public schools hiding students gender status from parents.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wants to mutilate your children to protect the rights of LGBTQ people.

Three in four Americans fear childrens exposure to transgender movement, want doctors held liable for mutilating kids.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

FoxNews.com

Deadline.com

NBCNews.com

Twitter.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The University of Helsinki in Finland has announced that this years Conferment Jubilee ceremony, which began on March 20, includes the issuance of an honorary Doctorate of Theology to climate activist Greta Thunberg.

On June 9, Thunberg will be awarded her Doctorate of Theology alongside various professors and bishops. In essence, the school is treating the global warming fanatic like some kind of religious prophet whose efforts to scare everyone about climate change have apparently contributed greatly to the spread of the green religion around the world.

Reports indicate that Thunberg will receive the title of doctor honoris causa at the University of Finland, this being its highest recognition.

Among the most high-profile names included in the list was Sauli Niinisto, Finlands president since 2012, who has been appointed an honorary doctorate in philosophy, reported Fox News Bradford Betz about the announcement.

The ceremony is part of Finlands centuries-old Conferment of Jubilee, in which individuals are recognized for their professional and artistic achievements  Thunberg, a world-recognized climate protester from Sweden, was previously appointed an honorary doctorate at the Belgian University of Mons.

(Related: Remember in the early days of the pandemic when CNN added Greta Thunberg to its expert Wuhan coronavirus [Covid-19] panel?)

Do you trust Pastor Greta to save you from the climate apocalypse she feels is coming?

As you may recall, Thunberg also received a prominent accolade from TIME magazine in 2019, having been named its Person of the Year for her efforts to raise awareness about global warming.

Thunberg first launched to fame following a speech she delivered to world leaders at the United Nations (UN) while she was still a teenager. Thunberg scolded the room for refusing to put an end to eternal economic growth, which she hysterically claimed is responsible for a coming mass extinction event.

How dare you! Thunberg howled as crocodile tears began to form in her eyes. You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet, I am one of the lucky ones.

The University of Helsinkis announcement about Thunbergs Doctorate of Theology award comes at the same time that a Swedish court has given her and hundreds of other climate extremists the go-ahead to proceed with a class-action lawsuit against the Swedish state for insufficient climate policy.

Thunberg, along with about 600 other extremists who belong to a global warming group called Aurora, filed a lawsuit against the Swedish government back in November. Their claim is that not enough is being done in Sweden to fight global warming and live up to the European Convention on Human Rights.

In the comments, numerous readers suggested that the University of Helsinki just massively devalued its degrees, which are now worth zero, due to its embrace of Thunberg as some kind of globalist-approved Pastor Greta who will teach the world the gospel of green.

Whoopi Goldberg says that Greta is a wonderful surgeon, joked another about the ridiculousness of this whole situation  because why not also give Thunberg a medical degree while they are at it? I hear that Greta will be performing gastric bypass surgery on Whoopi in Juarez, Mexico. That would be fun to watch.

Another took pity on Thunberg for embracing all the laud and praise she is receiving, which is exploitative to the core.

Poor Greta, this person wrote. She had to drop out of middle school because her autism prevented her from coping with rigorous classes. But that does not stop her from lecturing us all on a field that she is clueless about.

The latest news about this and other ridiculous clown world events can be found at ROFL.news.

Sources for this article include:

Helsinki.fi

FoxNews.com

NaturalNews.com
HONG KONG/GUANGZHOU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Foreign consuls-general and business leaders in Hong Kong have hailed the achievements of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), looking to more business opportunities.

During a tour of the GBA from Sunday to Thursday, which brought over 100 consuls-general and business leaders in Hong Kong to the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou and Zhuhai, "opportunities" has become the most buzzed-about word.

President of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Frederika Mechelina Winkel said as China is rapidly developing its economy and setting new goals for the future, new opportunities emerged for the business communities. Advanced manufacturing, new energy, new materials and digital technologies are just a few examples of potential cooperation areas.

Consul-General of Israel in Hong Kong Amir Shlomo Laty said the GBA in recent years has become a buzzword for long-term and large-scale economic development, which is one of the most interesting and promising economic blueprints of China.

"The time has come. And we have been happy with this opportunity to learn more," he said.

With a population of more than 80 million, the GBA covers an area of 56,000 square km, and is one of the regions with the highest degree of openness and the strongest economic vitality in China.

As a highly open and international city in the GBA, Hong Kong is an international financial, trade and shipping center, with its high-quality professional services renowned around the world. With its unique advantage of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong plays an important role in the development of the GBA.

President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Alex KC Tam said one of the focuses of his chamber is to capitalize and leverage the advantages of Hong Kong's pivotal location, international financial center status, and international connectivity to expand into and do business in Shenzhen and other GBA cities, and further use the GBA as a springboard into the even larger mainland market.

As to European companies, including those based in Hong Kong, Head of European Union Office to Hong Kong Thomas Gnocchi said they are very much interested to be informed about potential opportunities offered by the GBA, noting that European companies can offer technology in the fields of environment, health care and financial services.

"From my very first meeting with the Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) government, I was informed about the GBA project. And now I'm finally able to experience the GBA. I'm grateful for what we've seen so far," he said.

During the five-day trip, the delegation visited GBA enterprises in the fields of new energy vehicles, new material science, artificial intelligence, household appliances, medical devices, intelligent manufacturing, energy conservation and environmental protection.

"This trip has truly been an eye opener for all of us," said Vice Chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Basil Hwang, adding that he believes that the delegates have experienced the geographical, economic, industrial and business scope of the GBA and potential opportunities for the business members.

"We saw with our own eyes the development of the Greater Bay Area," said Consul-General of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong Almas Seitakynov, stressing that this region is one of the main drivers of the Chinese economy and opens up new opportunities for the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the field of finance, IT technologies and more. 
Dequan I. Richardson pleaded guilty Friday morning to shooting into a crowd during a fireworks celebration in July 2021, killing a 3-year-old child and wounding three men.

A loud, piercing cry was heard from a woman in the Erie County courtroom as the name of young victim, Shaquelle Walker Jr., who was shot while riding his bicycle, was read. Sobbing and stomping her feet against the ground, the woman was consoled with a hug.

Richardson, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, three counts of assault and a weapons charge before Erie County Judge Susan Eagan for the July shooting, as well as first-degree attempted robbery and unlawfully fleeing from a police officer from a January 2021 arrest.

Richardson's case was scheduled to go to trial next month, but as part of Friday's plea deal, the judge agreed he could serve his sentences concurrently rather than consecutively, crediting him for "taking responsibility" by pleading guilty to a substantial charge. A guilty plea to second-degree murder results in 25 years to life in prison. Richardson remained remanded without bail and is slated to be sentenced May 17.

Richardson appeared in court wearing orange prison garb, pink Crocs and had his arms chained to his waist. He responded to the judge's questions with either "yes," "yes, ma'am" or "guilty," and was asked to speak up by the judge while pleading guilty to each charge. He acknowledged that he had met regularly with a mental health counselor while in the Erie County Holding Center. He was joined in the courtroom by defense attorney Timothy Hennessy, while defense attorney James Auricchio also worked on the case.

On the night of July 5, 2021, a crowd gathered to watch an impromptu fireworks display on Donovan Drive in the Ferry Grider Homes. Authorities said that at least two people opened fire into the crowd at about 11 p.m., firing at least 40 rounds.

Shaquelle was shot in the head and rushed to Erie County Medical Center. He was taken off life support four days later after he was declared brain dead. His family donated his organs. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said Shaquelle was not the intended target of the shooting. Three men suffered gunshot wounds in the same incident.

Two days after the quadruple shooting, a Cheektowaga couple  Richardson, then 22, and Jonay B. Robinson, then 25  were arrested on weapons and drug charges. Both were later indicted on the murder, assault and weapons charges.

Robinson's trial is scheduled to begin in April. She is accused of being the driver in the shooting that killed Walker.

The death of "Baby Quelle," as his family members called him, shocked the city. A community event was held in the child's memory, and a Ferry-Grider community room  with a TV, children's books and a lunch area  has since been named after him, the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority confirmed Friday.

The 3-year-old's death came amid of wave of gun violence. The quadruple shooting on Donovan Drive capped a three-day Fourth of July weekend that saw 21 people injured in 13 shootings. It was a violent stretch amid an already increased period of shootings, both in Buffalo and across the United States.

Mayor Byron Brown called the shooting "senseless" and "tragic."

Following the shooting, law enforcement launched several new initiatives aimed at targeting the "small number" of individuals involved in gun violence in the city.

News staff reporter Aaron Besecker contributed to this article.
(Natural News) Joe Bidens handlers are hell-bent on destroying our country because thats what leftist counter-revolutionaries do  they destroy existing, functional democracies and republics so they can replace them with authoritarian regimes.

This much is obvious based solely on the open borders policies they made Biden implement right after he took office.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there have been 4,366 cases of Chinese nationals illegally crossing the Southwest border during Fiscal Year 2023, which started on October 1, 2022. And although those Chinese nationals account for only 0.42 percent of the total 1,029,953 illegal border crossings so far, it is of significant concern due to the rising tensions between the U.S. and Chinas Communist government, as well as concerns over Chinese espionage, CNS News reported.

The number of CBP encounters with Chinese citizens at the Southwest border was only 13 in January 2021, the month Joe Biden took office. However, over a thousand Chinese nationals were encountered in both January and February of 2023, the report continued.

These folks are over here to spy on Americans and to report back to China, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told Fox Business Networks Mornings With Maria this week.

As I stated many times, our research institutions, our colleges, and universities have been completely infiltrated by the communist Chinese. This is just another attempt. These people arent coming over here to work in migrant labor, theyre not working in agriculture applications, theyre not going to be working in motels.

These folks are over here to spy on Americans and to report back to China. And this White House, again, as Ive stated, has been completely compromised by just denying that this is even going on. And the numbers of people that we found on our terrorist watch list, the liberals will say, oh, the systems working because were catching them. Well, hell no, the systems not working because we dont know how many were not catching, he added.

The Tennessee Republican said he recently went to Del Rio, Texas, where Border Patrol agents are so overwhelmed they are processing upwards of 1,000 illegal immigrants daily.

The processing center there alone is costing the taxpayers $16 million a month just to process these folks, and theyre going to be released into the  into America, and theyre not going to show back up for court. Thats ridiculous, Burchett said.

The whole thing is a scam. These people are anarchists that are running our country right now, Maria, and people need to wake up, because we are losing our country, and well do it, and well completely capitulate, and well have  and when we have an incident with Taiwan, and theyre infiltrated within every aspect of our country, youll see riots, youll see a shutdown of our systems, and weve got to stop this, he predicted.

According to Fox News, due to overcrowding in border facilities, many Chinese nationals who have illegally crossed the border are being released in the United States along with thousands of individuals from other countries.

WATCH:

To promote its global domination, China is sowing division between the United States and its allies.

Part of the 100-year war for the Chinese is to divide those who are allied with the United States of America. Divide those alliances and then build trust with the other side. So, divide us from some partners that we had. And then they become their new partner, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Mike Flynn told host Alex Jones during the March 11 episode of The Alex Jones Show on the InfoWars network.

So how do they do that? They do that very, very shrewdly. They do that over time. And they have done that economically, added Flynn, citing Chinas huge economic plan called the Belt and Road Initiative.

Sources include:

InvasionUSA.news

CNSNews.com
(Natural News) The next contrived pandemic is already in the works, and Dr. Robert Redfield, who headed up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) while the Trump administration was in power (he was succeeded by Rochelle Walensky), is warning that it will be a lot worse than the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) was.

Appearing on a recent broadcast of Hill.TVs Rising, Redfield painted a bleak picture of the next plandemic, which he says will arise from gain-of-function research or intentional bioterrorism and be much more brutal to the world than covid was.

I do believe the next pandemic  and were going to have another pandemic  and I think its going to be the great pandemic, Redfield promised to the audience.

I consider covid a minor pandemic  the great pandemics going to come. And normally, it would come from spillover  bird flu that learns how to transmit to humans and then go to human-to-human. But I think the species barriers are very real.

(Related: Remember when former White House Coronavirus Response coordinator Dr. Scott Atlas blasted Redfield, along with Deborah Birx and Tony Fauci, for dismissing covid science?)

The powers that be are promising another plandemic because theyre the ones who will trigger it

Later in the segment, Redfield reassured his audience that he is certain the next great pandemic is coming that will for sure, he seemed to suggest the second time around, be a result of gain-of-function research or intentional bioterrorism.

Its going to be a bird flu virus that is manipulated to be able to transmit human-to-human, very similar to what we saw with covid, he explained.

Dr. Paul Cottrell spoke with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, about this very same topic. Cottrell revealed that the next pandemic will likely be a chimeric bioweapon comprised of SARS, HIV, and H5N1, also known as bird flu  watch the segment below:

More than likely these guys are right. The powers that control the world will not stop until every last persons life is destroyed. And since covid failed to accomplish the job at hand, another plandemic will be launched to complete the agenda.

People wake up and start getting your supply of ClO2 0.3% solution (chlorine dioxide 0.3% solution), one commenter wrote about how We the People can prepare for the coming unleashing of the next plandemic.

I have been taking it for almost 2 years and have never had Covid or any other s***, am almost 75 years old, feel like 50 and can hold my breath for almost 2 minutes even though I still smoke.

Another person wrote that we really do have a rogue government, reiterating several of Cotrells statements and admissions to Adams during the segment.

They all need to be kick out, and the American people should be talking about ushering them, the politicians, right out of the system  all of them. No exception.

No more four-year terms, no more vacation time  its a job, this person added. Just like everybody else, you dont do your job, you dont get paid.

Numerous others thanked Cottrell for sharing what he knows about what the elite have planned for the next biological attack on the world. Others scoffed at the notion of ever going through another covid, insisting that they will not be participating in the charade a second time around.

I hate to say it, but it is far past time for the permanent removal of the WEF (World Economic Forum) and all of its followers, wrote someone else. As long as they are permanently removed with no chance of coming back.

More related news can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Not every nation in the world is abiding by the Vaccine Industrial Complex rule that no matter how dangerous a vaccine proves to be, all institutions must declare that every vaccine ever created is always 100 percent safe and 100 percent effective. In fact, in Germany and Switzerland, scientists conducted an in-depth cohort examination of over 7,800 children (half were male and half female) for over 3 months after they were vaccinated with mRNA shots for Covid-19. Conclusion?

The safety profile reveals that the Wuhan virus jabs are 117 percent more dangerous than any vaccination ever created, and 1 in every 99 jabbed kids under 5 years of age required EMERGENCY CARE due to the mRNA clot shot. The CDC does NOT want any American finding out about this study. This will not be printed in any American newspaper, or spoken about for even a second on the American TV news, ever.

Shocking mRNA study published October 18th, 2022, reveals Covid vaccines are not safe for young children, despite all claims

Its been blasted everywhere. All over the news the pandemic experts claim the Covid jabs are safe and effective for everyone. Resident Biden claimed it. Talking heads on CNN (the counterfeit network) repeated it over and over. The big lie. The Pfizer shots have been examined, and they are dangerous for children. Get ready to head to the hospital with your child post Covid stab.

The rate of symptoms (adverse events) for kids post-Covid-jab are off the charts, and the risk of dying from Covid itself beyond super-low, so why bother, ever? Most kids that catch Covid get very mild, slight cases and then have powerful natural immunity for years after. Go figure. To get the mRNA jab risks damaging the childs heart, possibly forever. Who wants that? Take a look at the graph below and compare that to any other type of vaccine, and you will be shocked.

No multi-dose influenza vaccine can ever be deemed safe that contains mercury, listed as thimerosal. Other vaccines contain known neurotoxins like monosodium glutamate, deadly pig diseases called circovirus, and human abortion cells, so those can never be called safe either. Yet still, the mRNA gene-mutating jab is MORE dangerous than all of these, especially for kids under five.

Even worse, 1.43 percent of every 100 kids that get the mRNA jab suffer from blood-related (pulmonary) injuries to the lungs, blood vessels, and airways. This means the risk of children under 5 suffering illness of the pulmonary system is 204 percent higher following Fauci Flu jabs than it is following any other vaccination ever created. The results also show the same risk is involved for kids regarding neurological disorders from the mRNA stabs  causing illnesses of the brain and nerves. This is deadly serious, but Americans wont ever know about it, unless they read truth news or hear the Health Ranger talk about it on his podcasts.

More than 1 in 100 kids under age 5 needed an ambulance or hospital to save them after they got mRNA Covid jab

More results from the shocking European study conclude this: 1 in every 99 children aged 5 and under required emergency care (ambulatory) or hospitalization (inpatient) following Covid-19 vaccination. Take a look at the graph below and compare that to any other type of vaccine, and you will be shocked.

Of course, the CDC and NIH will be quick to try to discredit this study. They are run by Big Pharma and in the business of population reductionism by any means, especially by vaccines that are always deemed safe and effective. Its a trap. Its nothing short of a Vaccine Holocaust.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on the Vaccine Holocaust thats sweeping the nation and the world as you read this.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

Expose-news.com

JAMAnetwork.com
(Natural News) The United States could turn the Philippines into the next Ukraine by using the Southeast Asian nation to fight a proxy war against China.

The Office of the Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State recently announced that Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will be meeting with senior Philippine officials to discuss key aspects of the U.S.-Philippines alliance, to consult with other leaders, civil society executives and young entrepreneurs to discuss the full range of global issues. (Related: China may have already deployed unstoppable hypersonic missiles capable of targeting American bases in the Pacific.)

The Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI), a Manila-based think tank, warned that Nulands visit could raise the possibility of the Philippines being involved in a future war between China and the U.S. in which the U.S. will fight a proxy war against China up to the last Filipino  just like what it did to us in World War II and what the U.S. did in Ukraine from 2014 up to now.

Over 100,000 Ukrainians have already been killed; with the security and peace, economy and democracy of Ukraine all destroyed, warned IDSI.

IDSI further warned that Nuland already has substantial experience setting up a third nation to act as Americas main proxy in foreign conflicts.

In 2013, Nuland was instrumental in providing Ukraine with $5 billion to bring about a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine. But this money ended up being used, in part, on genocidal attacks on Russians in eastern Ukraine, killing over 14,000 of them before the beginning of Moscows special military operation.

We can predict that this is now again the mission of top CIA or Deep State agent Victoria Nuland in coming to the Philippines: To create a new war, from Ukraine to Asia, between the Philippines and China, with the poor, hapless and helpless Filipinos as the new cannon fodders of the U.S. right after the equally poor, hapless and helpless Ukrainians, wrote IDSI

America to expand military presence in the Philippines

The U.S. and the Philippines currently have a military alliance, known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

EDCA allows U.S. Armed Forces units access to Philippine bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing under the caveat that American presence is not permanent but on a rotational basis.

On Monday, March 20, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the U.S. will be granted access to an additional four military bases, on top of the five already existing locations under the first EDCA in 2014.

Speaking at a military base in Manila, visiting Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall claimed that the expansion of the defense agreement with the Philippines is not focused on any particular issue. But the expansion of the EDCA comes at a time when China is becoming increasingly assertive toward its territorial claims over the South China Sea and democratic Taiwan.

We are at an inflection point in history and our cooperation will help ensure we stay on the path to peace and stability, said Kendall.

The Chinese embassy in Manila responded by claiming that the U.S. is taking steps to drive a wedge between Beijing and its neighbors.

Such cooperation will seriously endanger regional peace and stability and drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development at the end of the day, said the embassy in a statement.

Learn more about brewing conflicts around the world at WWIII.news.

Watch this video discussing the Philippines precarious position as Americas next victim in a coming proxy war with China.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

More sophisticated Chinese cyberattacks target US firms, government agencies, defense contractors.

Australia to buy up to 5 nuclear-powered submarines from the US  and China isnt happy about it.

Divide and conquer: Gen. Michael Flynn warns China is dividing the US and its allies in push for global domination.

China increases military budget to $224 BILLION in preparation for invasion of Taiwan.

INDOCTRINATED: Chinese firms with ties to the CCP are purchasing American private schools with strong military training programs.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

ManilaTimes.net

Reuters.com

AlJazeera.com
(Natural News) According to David DuByne, the American banking crisis is accelerating the rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

During the March 17 episode of his Brighteon.TV program Adapt 2030, DuByne said Americans have seen all of the reasons for the banking industrys collapse  such as the financial contagion and the liquidity bottlenecks  that appear to happen all at the same time. He added that the five banks that recently collapsed were all cryptocurrency-friendly institutions.

The Adapt 2030 host said the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank  both crypto-friendly  have eclipsed that of Washington Mutual, the largest bank that failed during the 2008 financial crisis. The failures of SVB and Signature are bringing America into a situation similar to the one that happened 15 years prior, and the California-based SVBs collapse was a huge factor that pushed CBDCs to the forefront.

He warned that both banks are going under the governments wing, alongside the entire national banking system. DuByne said he had hoped that crypto could serve as an alternative to this 150-year-old system, but it did not appear to be the case.

I was really on the hopeful side that thered be so many developers out there that would get it. We could start utilizing all of this immutable data that couldnt be changed to record history itself and for contracts and things that we could facilitate between ourselves in a decentralized economy, he said.

Well, that did move forward. But it has been totally hijacked and usurped by this same power base thats on the planet from central banks, etc.

Federal government is taking control of all US banks

The creator of the Adapt 2030 climate preparedness channels and Mini Ice Age Conversations podcast said, given the ongoing financial contagion, the federal government has stepped in to take control of all U.S. banks to ensure that no more bank failures will happen.

DuByne said that Washington, through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, has taken over Signature Bank and put an end to its crypto investments. He then predicted seeing the complete destruction of the average Americans ability to invest in crypto.

Aside from SVB and Signature, three other institutions  Silvergate, Voyager and Three Arrows Capital  have also collapsed. Moreover, SVBs business in the United Kingdom was purchased by the Hong Kong-based HSBC.

Theyre going to be one of the strongholds along with Singapore, with massive gold deposits to issue again for the new BRICS currency dollars or whatever thats termed, said DuByne, pertaining to the group made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. HSBCs base of operations in Hong Kong has been under China as a special administrative region since the U.K. handed the island back in 1997.

Moreover, HSBC will be heralding a massive change in the ecosystem with its use of peoples DNA for banking  in the form of the biometrics-verified digital ID the bank is already advertising.

The Adapt 2030 host also mentioned that the Federal Reserve has announced the launch of its FedNow CBDC beginning July 1, with DuByne describing it as the Fed dollar. (Related: US governments new Central Bank Digital Currency is a fast track to digital concentration camps.)

He explained that FedNow has created a digital wallet  complete with a secure number and private key  for every American. The Fed itself will deposit directly into that account, and will also hold the keys for that wallet. Furthermore, the proposed universal basic income will directly go into these FedNow wallets.

Follow InformationTechnology.news for more news about CBDCs.

Watch the March 17 episode of Adapt 2030 below. Adapt 2030 with David DuByne airs every Friday at 2-3 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Crypto 9/11 is now under way a controlled demolition event to usher in HEAVY regulation.

Experts warn: Centralized digital currencies could be used to control how people behave.

Leading banker says UK soon to introduce super app that will combine digital ID, financial data into the ultimate control tool.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

CoastToCoastAM.com
The weather forecast in Canada reported that ice and snowy conditions could occur this weekend, causing possible slower commutes and travel disruptions.

Canadians with travel plans should consider checking the weather in parts of Ontario and Canada for slower commutes and travel delays.

Snowy conditions could lead to road hazards, including reduced visibility and slippery conditions.

Untreated road pavements could also add more challenges to motorists this week.

Snowy and ice conditions in parts of Ontario

Although Canadians and residents in Ontario are no strangers to challenging weather conditions, the weather outlook this weekend could still become problematic.

In the latest weather forecast, The Weather Network reported that parts of Ontario could experience troublesome weather conditions.

The snow and ice are the main concern.

Although the spring season is near, there is still a chance of winter storms and severe weather conditions.

In the US, the National Weather Service (NWS) recently reported that winter storms hit California, the Northeast and Upper Midwest.

The active winter storm in California brought massive snow and rain that caused health and travel concerns.

Meanwhile, The Weather Network reported that wintry weather conditions could emerge this week.

As Canadians prepared for spring, the troublesome weather could unload rain and snow.

The weather could become noticeable on Saturday.

In addition, challenging wind gusts could spread across Greater Toronto Area (GTA), southwestern Ontario and Southern Niagara this weekend.

As the rain falls, the weather forecast explained that freezing rain conditions could be expected in Hamilton, Orangeville, Owen Sound, London and Simcoe.

The possibility of freezing rain conditions and rain could likely cause cold-related health risks, including hypothermia and frostbite.

People with pre-existing health conditions should monitor the weather conditions and avoid prolonged exposure to colder weather.

Checking the temperatures of your family members, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, is essential.

The Canadian Red Cross emphasized the importance of staying warm during severe weather conditions, including winter storms and freezing conditions.

This weekend, the weather outlook showed snowfall accumulation could occur in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury Kirkland Lake, Parry Sound, Kincardine, Barrie, Hamilton, London, Bancroft, Ottawa, Quebec, Montreal, Cornwall and Kingston.

Ottawa Weather

Meanwhile, the CTV News Ottawa's latest report said that Ottawa could expect snow this weekend.

Also Read: UK Weather Forecast: High Winds, Heavy Rain Expected to Unfold This Week

According to the report, Environment Canada reported that a potential five to ten centimeters of snow could likely unload this coming Saturday.

The weather explained that the snowy conditions in Ottawa could change to rainy conditions on Saturday night.

Canadians traveling to Ottawa should check the weather conditions for possible road delays.

Furthermore, the report said that a special weather statement was issued in parts of Canada, such as parts of Ontario, Brockville, Prescott, Lanark County and Perth.

Due to the threat of snow and freezing rain, motorists should avoid unnecessary travel this weekend.

Related Article: US Weather Forecast: Heavy Rain, Mountain Snow Likely to Hit California This Week

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Building blocks of life serve as the main ingredients for the emergence and evolution of life on Earth.

Scientists in previous research have determined that cells are the basic unit of a living organism's biological structure, since cells also help form tissues, organs, and other organ systems in the body.

However, scientists are still uncertain how exactly life started, as well as its origin.

A recent study by researchers in Japan has been making headlines both in the fields of astronomy and biology this month.

Their findings indicate the presence of uracil and niacin, two of the key building blocks of life, on the distant asteroid Ryugu, officially called as 162173 Ryugu.

The space rock is a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid belonging to the Apollo group.

In the past, astronomical evidence, mostly from meteor debris, indicate the components of DNA and RNA, the two main types of nucleic acids, also comes from space.

The source of these building blocks of life remains a mystery.

However, the violent, constant bombardment of inter-planetary and space rock collisions after Earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago could be the precursor of organic genesis.

Uracil and Niacin Traces on Asteroid

The new study further confirms previous evidence that the ingredients of life on Earth came from space.

The researchers involved in the discovery extracted not only uracil and niacin but also some other compounds from 162173 Ryugu asteroid, Reuters reported.

The building blocks of life mentioned were detected by soaking the asteroid particles in hot water and conducting analyses called liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The study's co-author Yoshinori Takano, an organic astrochemist at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) stated he is looking forward by September 2023 to the analyses results from another asteroid, as cited by Reuters In 2020, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from the asteroid Bennu during an OSIRIS-Rex mission in 2020.

Also Read: Starlight Origin of Building Blocks of Life

Asteroid 162173 Ryugu

Following a 42-month space journey, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft of Japan arrived at asteroid 162173 Ryugu in June 2018.

The distant space object is located 300 million kilometers from Earth, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Hayabusa2 mission team visited the diamond-shaped asteroid and was the one responsible taking a sample from the asteroid and expected to return to Earth.

In 1999, Ryugu was first discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project.

The Japanese space agency JAXA estimated the asteroid's size could be 2,952 feet (900 meters) in diameter, according to Space.com.

Building Blocks of Life

JAXA states Ryugu is currently orbiting between the Earth and Mars, and it occasionally gets caught up being with our planet's orbit.

The Japan-based research team published their findings on the journal Nature Communications on March 21.

The team was able to analyze the samples from the pristine extraterrestrial material.

Meanwhile, scientists are also concerned about the Ryugu asteroid since it also has a potential hitting Earth one day.

Related Article: ESO: ALMA Discovered a Building Block of Life Near Infant-Like Star
Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon are once again in danger of receiving low-elevation snow, with areas in the Washington Cascades slated to receive up to 25 inches of snow, while the nearby areas could only receive six inches.

Snow Threats Up to 25 Inches

The Oregon Coast Range and the Cascades are under a Winter Storm Warning.

There could be four to six inches of snow in the Coast Range above 1500 feet, but more snow is possible, while 15 to 25 inches of snow are possible in the Cascades at pass level.

Additionally, a Special Weather Statement has been issued indicating that Thursday night and Friday night could see snow accumulations reaching an inch at the valley floor.

Travelers crossing the Coast Range or the Cascades should prepare for hazardous and challenging conditions.

Snow levels can drop as low as 500 feet, according to KATU meteorologist Rhonda Shelby, and denser showers may push the snow level all the way to the valley floor.

It will be possible to dust some areas on both Thursday and Friday mornings.

There will be thunderstorms, showers, and a mix of snow and rain.

According to KATU, the weather will be extremely unpredictable through Saturday afternoon.

The Winter Storm Warning covers Oregon, the Northern Oregon Cascades, and the Cascades in Lane County, as well as Washington's South Washington Cascades, as per the National Weather Service.

The warning will last until 5 PM on Saturday, and officials warn that travel could be very difficult.

Winter Weather Advisory

The service also issued a Winter Weather Advisory effective over the Cascade mountains and valleys of Snohomish and King Counties, which include Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass; and the Pierce and Lewis Counties' Cascade mountains and valleys, which include the Paradise on Mount Rainier and the Crystal Mountain Ski Area.

The advisory will remain in effect until 5 AM on Saturday.

Also Read: Strong Cold Front Puts Alabama at Risk for Severe Weather with Tornadoes, Damaging Winds, Hail

Wind Advisory

Meanwhile, in areas of Oregon, particularly the foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon, and in Washington, specifically the Lower Columbia Basin and foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington, a Wind Advisory is in effect until 2 AM on Friday.

For the said areas, Southwest winds of 20 mph to 30 mph with gusts reaching 45 mph are expected.

Authorities issue a warning that strong winds may blow unsecured objects around.

According to the National Weather Service, there may be a few power outages and tree limbs that are blown down.

Health in Yacolt, South Washington Cascades - TODAY

Allergens tree pollen, mold, dust, and dander are at moderate levels for today in Yacolt, which is located in the South Washington Cascades.

Triggers for arthritis, sinus pressure, migraine, and asthma are all at high levels for the day, while common cold triggers are at moderate levels.

Officials remind affected locals to be mindful of their medications and to take proper precautions when going outdoors, AccuWeather reported.

Related Article: Severe Weather Hounds Ohio with Threats of Flooding Rain During This Stormy Spring
As part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is contributing nearly $9.5M to wildfire protection initiatives for the tribal states in Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota.

Tribal-State Collaboration

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, tribes, states, and local governments collaborate daily to share responsibilities for providing government services on a variety of issues.

On tribal, state, and private lands, the program is intended to assist various communities, state forestry agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Alaska Native corporations with planning as well as mitigating wildfire risks.

Nearly $9.5M in Funds from Forest Service

There are longer, drier, and hotter fire seasons as a result of climate change, drought, and similar factors, according to Daniel Hottle, press officer for the Northern Region.

Hottle claimed that because governing bodies failed to put the necessary measures in place, devastating wildfires have ravaged communities.

The authorities are working to overcome years of fire suppression efforts.

According to Hottle, this area, which is now known as the wildland-urban interface, is becoming more populated.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has made it possible to provide funding.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that as part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program, the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is investing close to 9.5 million dollars in wildfire prevention initiatives throughout the Region.

The goal, according to CWDG, is to help communities, including nonprofit organizations, tribal communities, state forestry departments, and Alaska Native corporations, plan for and reduce wildfire risks on state, tribal, and privately managed land.

Wildfire Protection Projects

Projects were chosen through a cooperative, inclusive process, which included tribes and state forestry organizations, according to Randy Moore, the Forest Service Chief.

At least two of the main selection criteria specified by law are present in every project.

All of these initiatives are crucially preventing destructive wildfires from destroying people's homes, businesses, and other valuable assets.

About six projects were chosen for the initial round of funding.

This includes the Blackfoot Watershed Fire Refugia in Montana, the Wildfire Risk Mitigation Campaign in Lincoln County Wildland Urban Interface Communities, the North Gallatin Front Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Project, and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update and Modernization of Treasure County.

This also includes Idaho County's Community Wildfire Protection Plan Education Program Support, and in North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update.

The Forest Service will release a new funding round later in the year, and more communities will be welcome to apply.

The amount of funding available will determine how many proposals are chosen in subsequent rounds.

Also Read: Winter Weather Brings Winter Wildfire, Burn Flows to Western US

$3.5B Funds for Wildfire Management

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also creates the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program and makes a historic $3.5B investment in wildfire management through several programs that aim to lower the risk of wildfires, detect them earlier, reform the firefighter workforce, and increase pay for federal wildland firefighters.

This announcement also follows the release of the president's fiscal year 2024 budget, which calls for funding for housing construction, renovation, and repair as well as a permanent pay solution slated for wildland firefighters, NBC Montana reported.

Related Article: Multiple Fire Weather Alerts in Effect Over Parts of Texas as Dry Season Persists
The region was covered in dense clouds of orange dust on Wednesday as a result of a severe sandstorm brought on by air pollution that blanketed Beijing and several nearby northern provinces in China.

Hazardous Air Quality

According to the Beijing Ecological Environment Monitoring Center, dense clouds engulfed the Chinese capital where the air quality index of PM10, or pollutants less than ten micrometers in diameter has exceeded monitoring charts.

PM10 can enter the human body through the nose and travel to the lungs where it can cause complications.

Beijing's weather officials have advised against exercising or engaging in other outdoor activities, and they have urged drivers to slow down and be extra cautious due to poor visibility.

Most Severe Sandstorm of the Year

Beijing's monitoring center reported on Wednesday that the most severe sandstorm so far this year occurred at 6 AM local time when PM10 particle concentrations reached 1,667 g per cubic meter.

That amount is over 37 times the daily average recommendation set by the World Health Organization of 45 g per cubic meter per day.

Springtime in Beijing is frequently marked by sandstorms, which are made worse by the smog by expanding industrial activity and quickening deforestation all across northern China.

According to the China Meteorological Administration, nearly a dozen provinces, including Shaanxi, Shanxi, Jilin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Shandong, Anhui, Henan, Jiangsu, and Hubei, issued yellow warning signals between Wednesday and early Thursday morning.

China's four-tiered weather warning system rates the severity of the weather, with the most severe as red followed by orange, yellow, and blue as the less severe warnings.

According to Chinese weather forecasters, the current sandstorm began on Tuesday in Mongolia and slowly crept toward central and eastern China.

Sand particles also have drifted into the nation as a result of low-pressure winds and a lack of rainfall, CNN reported.

Also Read: 3 Million Plastic Bottles Worth of Microplastics Plague New Zealand Air

Air Pollution in China

According to China Power, developing nations may find it more difficult to balance environmental protection with economic development because these countries frequently depend on urbanization, industrial output, and motorization, all of which can significantly increase pollution.

Rapid economic growth in China has helped millions of people escape poverty, but it has also contributed significantly to environmental degradation.

Coal, a cheap but highly polluting energy source, has fueled much of China's growth.

In 1990, coal accounted for 76.2% of all energy used in China.

Despite a steady decline over the previous three decades, coal still made up 57.7% of China's 2019 energy consumption.

India, a coal-dependent nation with the second-largest population in the world after China, generated 46.8% of the energy used in 2018-2019 from burning coal.

In 2019, the two nations together make up 36% of the world's population, but they consume 63.5% of the world's coal.

These figures were published in a 2021 article by China Power.

China's air pollution has historically been primarily caused by the production of electricity.

Large coal-powered industries, though important for China's economic growth, are now a bigger part of the country's air pollution issues.

By 2017, China's largest polluter had moved from electricity production to the steel industry.

Related Article: Hazardous Air Quality, Air Pollution, Dust Storm In China Already an Improvement from Past, Experts Say
A State Supreme Court jury on Thursday acquitted a Snyder man of one count of murder and deadlocked on a second, which led to the judge to declare a mistrial on that count.

Snyder man on trial in killing of girlfriend's mother characterized as jealous, controlling boyfriend Daniel A. Martinez is being tried on two counts of second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's mother, Maria Galazka, who died 36 days after a fire broke out in her apartment.

Daniel A. Martinez faced two counts of second-degree murder in the 2020 death of his girlfriend's mother, Maria Galazka, who was severely injured during a fire in the Buffalo Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood and died several weeks later.

Prosecutors charged Martinez under two legal theories: that he acted with depraved indifference to human life and that he caused Galazka's death while committing another felony by setting the fire.

The jury acquitted him of depraved indifference murder and deadlocked on the other murder charge.

Jurors, who began deliberating Tuesday morning, said in a note to the judge Wednesday afternoon they were deadlocked on both counts.

Justice Paul Wojtaszek sent them back to continue their deliberations. The partial verdict, delivered at 4:32 p.m. Thursday, came after what prosecutors estimated was about 22 hours of deliberations  longer than the length of time the trial lasted.

Prosecutors alleged Martinez started the fire in Galazka's Concord Avenue apartment about 2:45 a.m. Sept. 30, 2020. She suffered smoke inhalation and burns in the blaze, and died Nov. 5, 2020, her 66th birthday.

Martinez's defense attorneys, Paul Cambria and Justin Ginter, called no witnesses and offered no evidence of their own during the trial. Martinez did not take the stand.

During opening arguments last Wednesday, prosecutors sought to portray Martinez, 49, as a controlling and jealous boyfriend of Laura Galazka, the victim's daughter.

In the 10 days preceding the fire, Martinez called Laura's cellphone more than 700 times, Erie County Assistant District Attorney Frank Strano told jurors as the trial began.

Security video from outside the residence captured Martinez driving up to it and holding a lit cigarette. The video did not show him entering the house, due to the positioning of the camera, Strano said.

At a pretrial hearing in 2021, a Buffalo police detective testified Laura Galazka identified the man seen in the security video approaching the residence as Martinez. Laura Galazka was not at the apartment at the time of the blaze.

She testified during the trial and identified Martinez as the man in the video.

Martinez's defense attorneys told jurors during opening statements that there was no evidence Martinez was inside Galazka's apartment or started the fire.

The fire started in a pile of clothes in a closet off the kitchen in the apartment the mother and daughter shared, prosecutors said.

Jurors on Tuesday asked to review several pieces of evidence during their deliberations, including some of the security video, as well as cellphone records.

They also listened to a readback of the testimony of the prosecution's first witness, the man who lived in the apartment above the Galazkas and said he regularly saw Maria Galazka smoking.

The trial had originally been scheduled last December, but a mistrial was declared during jury selection after the pool of available jurors ran out before attorneys had selected 12 jurors and alternates.

In terms of next steps, the Erie County District Attorney's Office will have to decide if it wants to retry Martinez on the felony murder count. A pretrial conference was scheduled for April 25.

"Were looking forward to clearing my clients name totally," Cambria said after the partial verdict.
When a horrified woman in Queensland, Australia went to change her bedsheets on Monday afternoon, she was horrified to discover a 6-foot-tall, deadly eastern brown snake in her bed.

A deadly eastern brown snake had crept into her bedroom and was curled up in her sheets.

Zachary Richards, the snake catcher, said that the woman decided to close the door, place a towel under it, and make a call for assistance because she didn't want the snake in the room.

Richards is the proud owner of Zachery's Snake and Reptile Relocation, a popular choice for snake-catching needs in Australia.

Eastern Brown Snakes in Australia

More snakebite fatalities occur in Australia as a result of eastern brown snakes than any other species.

They possess the second-most toxic venom in the world, according to the Australian Venom Research Unit at the University of Melbourne.

They suffocate as a result of a neurotoxin in their venom that paralyzes the victim's heart, diaphragm, and lungs.

Southern and eastern Australia are home to eastern brown snakes, thus their name.

Because of the overlap between their natural habitat and many of the most populated areas of the nation, it is not unusual to find them in private residences.

Job for a Snake Catcher

The incident happened in a rural area of Queensland called Maroon, which is close to the Gold Coast.

The snake was still in place when Richards got there.

The snake was just lying in bed taking a nap when the snake catcher opened the door and pulled the rolled towel out from underneath it.

However, the snake slipped down under the bed when Richards woke it up.

Although Richards claimed that the snake did become a little agitated when the snake catcher arrived to move the bed to capture the slithery reptile, the snake was generally calm.

Richards went on to say that it was likely an open door that allowed the snake to enter the house.

He explained that because it was a particularly hot day, the animal probably entered in search of cover.

Richards caught the snake and put it in his bag before releasing it into nearby bushland, which is far from people and things of value.

Also Read: New Species Dwarf Boa Found in Andes Cloud Forest Patch, Scientists Say "Shouldn't Be There"

Checking the Bed

Richards posted about the incident on social media and advised readers to carefully inspect the bed before getting into it.

Readers have left hundreds of comments on the post.

Another user wrote that they might burn the bedding, while one joked that they would never sleep again.

Richards claimed that by placing a towel under the door and making an emergency call, the woman acted appropriately.

The snake catcher warned the public that the best course of action when encountering a snake is to slowly back away, leave the slithery reptile alone, restrict it to a single room, and call for help, Newsweek reported.

Snakes Entering Houses in Australia

Eastern brown snakes can flatten themselves out and gradually squeak under tiny gaps under doors, according to Melbourne snake catcher Mark Pelley.

Additionally, it has been discovered that all snakes in Melbourne can flatten themselves, whereas large, thick pythons found in other regions of Australia are unable to do so, according to Pelley via Yahoo News.

Related Article: Snake Season in Australia: What To Do When Bitten by a Snake
The stormy weather pattern that has affected much of the United States shows "no signs of abating over the next couple of days as we head into the weekend," according to the National Weather Service on Thursday.

Sodden California, which has already experienced significant storms this week, including two tornadoes and a bomb cyclone, received additional snow and rain on Thursday.

A storm is also expected to move across the country's southern tier later Thursday and into Friday, potentially causing flooding and the threat of additional tornadoes in some areas on both days.

Some areas may receive up to 5 inches of rain. The weather service warned that excessive runoff could cause flooding in rivers and streams and that people who live in flood-prone areas should be "prepared to take action."

Bay Area Weather Forecast

While crews continue to repair roads and restore power to many parts of the Bay Area, forecasters predict a cold front will arrive this weekend, followed by at least a couple days of wind and rain, as per NBC.

While Thursday and Friday appear to be mostly clear of severe weather, temperatures will be colder than normal overnight Friday into Saturday morning, with frost expected in the North Bay as well as south in Monterey and San Benito counties.

According to the National Weather Service, this will happen again overnight into Sunday morning and evening, with the South Bay joining the frosty mix.

Wind and rain are expected to blanket the entire Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday.

Also Read: Thanksgiving Travel 2022 Will Be Chaotic Due to Severe Weather Conditions Affecting Over 54 Million Americans

The Risk Of Severe Storms Is Increasing In The South

People in the southern United States should pay close attention to weather forecasts over the next few days, as severe storms appear to be on the way, as per FOX News.

The southern Plains across Texas and Oklahoma face the greatest risk of severe weather on Thursday. On Friday, the highest risk is in parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi in the Deep South.

Tornadoes aren't something you hear about very often in the Los Angeles area. An EF-1 twister that hit the area on Wednesday, however, caused damage and injured at least one person.

As the cyclone passed through Montebello, California, debris was seen swirling in the air. One witness described seeing a funnel cloud before falling debris.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch from Oklahoma to Pennsylvania on Thursday due to a forecast of rain and thunderstorms. As of late Thursday afternoon, a flood watch was in effect for over 22 million people.

Governor Jim Justice of flood-prone West Virginia declared a "state of preparedness" for the state's 55 counties on Thursday due to the heavy rain threat.

According to the weather service, the storms will "become a significant concern" later Thursday and continue through Friday for parts of the southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, and the South.

Storms in the South could also become severe in the coming days. Through Thursday evening, the National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, as per USA Today.

According to AccuWeather meteorologists, the threat of severe weather intensifies and expands on Friday, with areas from Houston to Cincinnati bracing for strong to severe thunderstorms.

Storms could produce "strong tornadoes," as well as damaging winds and large hail, according to the Storm Prediction Center. On Friday, portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana are in the highest risk zone.

Related article: Weather Forecast: Prolonged Cold to Unfold in Central U.S This Weekend
Marburg virus outbreak has been reported in Tanzania, killing several people, and causing both a national threat and a regional concern in Africa, according to multiple reports.

Local health authorities said the victims reside in the East African country's Kagera Region, which borders with eastern Rwanda, northeastern Burundi, and southern Rwanda.

The origin of the current Tanzania Marburg infections remains unknown.

However, experts in the past point out the Egyptian rousette fruit bat has been a frequent carrier of a pathogenic virus from filovirus family, which causes the deadly, highly contagious disease inflicting the country now.

In recent years, related cases have been reported in other countries in Africa, including Angola, Ghana, and Uganda.

Tanzania Marburg Virus Outbreak

Despite the growing concern and outbreak, the Marburg virus disease has been "contained" and is possible to not spread further, according to Tanzania's Health Minister, Ummy Mwalimu, as cited by the BBC.

Mwalimu added that three people are sent to a hospital for treatment, and local authorities are tracing 161 people, believed to be potentially infected.

Despite the containment efforts in Tanzania, the Ugandan government is reportedly on high alert following the Marburg virus disease outbreak in the Kagera Region.

This came after Tanzanian officials reported that seven people were suffering from a "strange disease" in the border region last week, NTV Uganda reported.

Also Read: Mystery Disease Called 'Nosebleed Outbreak' or 'Rat Fever' is Emerging in Some African Countries

Marburg Virus Disease

According to the WHO, the Marburg virus disease or MVD is a severe and a fatal illness most of the time affecting humans.

Once inside the body, the virus causes a severe viral haemorrhagic fever.

The disease is previously known as the Marburg haemorrhagic fever.

The average Marburg disease fatality rate is approximately at 50%, meaning that half of all people infected with MVD dies.

Case fatality rates have varied in the past, ranging from 24% to 88% in previous Marburg outbreaks, which depends on the type of virus strain and quality of case management.

Marburg Virus Symptoms

The common Marburg virus symptoms are marked by chills, fever, headache, and myalgia, which occurs after an approximate incubation period of two to 21 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC emphasized that a rash may occur on the fifth day, and other symptoms, such as chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sore throat could appear.

Furthermore, aggravation of symptoms can occur, resulting in organ failure and even death.

Marburg Virus Treatment and Vaccines

There are currently no approved anti-viral treatments or vaccines for the Marburg virus disease.

However, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids with supportive care, as well as the treatment of specific symptoms (as mentioned above), can improve one's survival, according to the WHO.

In 1967, the Marburg virus was first identified by scientists after hemorrhagic fever outbreaks occurred simultaneously inside laboratories in the town of Marburg and city of Frankfurt in Germany, as well as in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (in what is now Serbia), according to the CDC.

Out of 31 infected people that time, seven people died from the disease.

Since then, succeeding outbreaks have centered in Africa in the past several decades and years.

In February 2023, a Marburg virus disease outbreak occurred in Equatorial Guinea and left at least nine people dead, according to the WHO and local authorities, as cited by the BBC.

Related Article: Highly-Infectious Marburg Virus: New 'Epidemic-Prone' Disease Detected in West Africa
Pairing wine with a meal takes some special skill and a good taste in wine, but with more sustainable wineries joining the markets, it is easier to make a choice.

Sustainable Wineries

Sustainable wineries focus on more than just using organic pesticides to keep bugs away.

They maintain the local ecosystem, use composting, collaborate with regional suppliers, save energy, and provide activities without connectivity.

Each of these wineries takes this mission very seriously, striving to produce the best wines while also showing reverence for the land they use to grow their grapes.

These wineries rely on organic improvements to their vintages, and their wines are sold in shops all over the world.

1. Hiyu Wine Farm in Hood River, Oregon

This environmentally friendly winery, which is 22 miles from Mount Hood, grows its grapes using organic and biodynamic practices.

It is a real farm, and the animals there assist in land management by eating the grass and making compost.

In addition to wine, this rustic winery offers tastings of a variety of locally sourced foods, ranging from snacks to family-style dinners, Newsweek reported.

2. Macari Vineyards in Mattituck, New York

Macari Vineyards has been in business for 27 years and has never employed chemical herbicides.

The company enriches the soil and conserves water by producing its own compost and not irrigation for its vines.

Macari Vineyards recently collaborated with Christopher Gobler, a Stony Brook University professor, to add locally sourced kelp to their compost, according to Gabriella Macari, the Macari Vineyards general manager.

According to Macari, kelp restores the ecosystem by removing phosphorus and nitrogen from the sea.

It functions as a natural fertilizer that helps restore the soil and vines when added to compost, Wine Enthusiast reported.

Macari views sustainability as requiring ongoing innovation.

The entire team is constantly considering how they could perform better. The group is researching reusable glass, solar energy, and tank insulation.

Even though it is an ongoing process, Macari and her team are pleased with their progress to date.

3. Matthiasson in Napa Valley, California

Winemaker Steve Matthiasson prioritizes employee wellness in addition to environmental goals like establishing native California grasses, reducing water use, and pursuing healthy soil.

Matthiasson, unlike many other wineries, hires vineyard workers year-round, provides health insurance, hosts internships, and offers educational opportunities, according to Wine Enthusiast.

4. Cono Sur in San Antonio Valley, California

Cono Sur has been a well-liked option for environmentally friendly wine for not less than ten years, if not longer.

This CarbonNeutral wine is easily recognized thanks to the distinctive bicycle logo, and the company is dedicated to worker rights, a healthy and secure workplace, and a greener method of producing wine.

According to LeafScore, Cono Sur, which currently oversees organic vineyards of more than 300 hectares, became the first winery in the entire globe to be certified as CarbonNeutral in 2007.

Also Read: Macaque on a Drinking Spree Hits Pubs in India; Scientists Say, "Not the First Time"

5. Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Long Island, New York

As a founding member of Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW), Wolffer Estate Vineyard provides educational resources and certifies Long Island vineyards.

Wolffer Estate Vineyard implemented a thorough checklist of about 200 sustainable grape-growing practices, including vineyard planning, banning specific materials and practices, and many ecological management techniques, to receive sustainable farming certification.

According to Just Energy, Wolffer Estate Vineyard uses a variety of techniques, such as integrated pest management for insects, soil management to prevent runoff and leaching, and many others.

Related Article: First Vineyard Dates Back 11,000 Years Ago to the Stone Age, Genetics Prove
Weather reports said that hotter weather and bushfire season could likely emerge in Australia as the La Nina phenomenon ends.

Australians should keep updated with the weather. The hotter weather could likely cause risk to people vulnerable to hotter temperatures.

The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that millions of fish became washed up in southeastern Australia.

According to the report, the hot weather, flooding and possible oxygen levels might have caused the tragic deaths.

Possible hot temperatures and bushfire season

The El Nino phenomenon could significantly affect the weather, bringing hotter temperatures and challenging heat waves.

La Nina was helpful in unleashing cooler temperatures.

In the latest report, the 9news reported that the Bureau of Meteorology recently issued an El Nino watch in Australia due to the possible threat of El Nino.

Also Read: Plastic New Disease 'Plasticosis' Causes Serious Damage to Seabirds' Digestive Systems

The report also raised concerns about the potential bushfire season, noting that Australians should stay alert for the emergence of bushfires.

As the summer season begins, the weather conditions are expected to become challenging due to the possibility of fire.

Furthermore, El Nino and climate change could play a crucial role in the weather, worsening the weather events.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently reported that La Nina finally ended.

How to deal with the challenging heatwaves

The challenging weather conditions in Australia could result in dangerous heatwaves, as El Nino could cause hotter weather or temperatures.

According to the Australian Red Cross, heat waves and record-challenging heat could cause a significant health risk.

The report noted that heatwaves could kill.

The situation could become more problematic for at-risk or vulnerable people, especially older adults, children, Australia with medical conditions and outdoor workers.

As a result, knowing the weather conditions would be helpful for Australians to be better prepared for the possible impact of heat waves and hot weather outlook.

Here are essential reminders for Australians to prepare for the possible troublesome heat.

Stay updated with the weather conditions in Australia

The report explained that Australians should keep updated with the weather outlook in Australia, especially alerts from the Bureau of Meteorology.

It is best to stay at home when the weather is hotter. Australians could reschedule their outdoor activities when the weather is cooler.

Homeowners should also monitor the body temperatures of their family members for possible heat fatigue or heat stroke.

Check how your home becomes cooler

Air conditioning is helpful during the challenging heat. Homeowners should ensure that they check their homes to see how they can make them more relaxed or cooler.

The Australian Red Cross recommended installing awnings and having shade clothes to maintain a cooler environment.

As the La Nina phenomenon ends, there is a possibility that temperatures could become hotter due to the impact of El Nino.

Related Article: Challenging Heatwaves to Unfold in New South Wales, Sydney This Week, Causing Heat-Related Risk

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
According to information published by Defesa Aerea & Naval (Guilherme Wiltgen) on March 24, 2023, the second Riachuelo class submarine Humaita successfully conducted immersion tests.

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Brazilian Navy's Riachuelo class submarine Humaita. (Picture source: Brazilian Navy)

The Riachuelo class is a type of attack submarine developed by the state-owned shipyard Itaguai Construcoes Navais as part of the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), a naval modernization plan of the Brazilian Armed Forces. The class includes both diesel-electric and nuclear-powered submarines and is based on the French Scorpene class.

The conventional submarine has a displacement of 1,900 t and a length of 70.62 m, while the nuclear submarine has a displacement of 6,000 t and a length of 100 m.

The propulsion systems are different as well, with the conventional Riachuelo class submarine using four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesels and one Jeumont-Schneider EPM Magtronic electric motor, while the nuclear Riachuelo class submarine has a pressurized water reactor and nuclear turbo-electric engine.

The Riachuelo class submarines also have different speeds, with the conventional submarine capable of 21 knots and the nuclear submarine capable of 25 knots.

The armament of the Riachuelo class includes six 533 mm torpedo tubes, eight cruise missiles, eight SM-39 Exocet or MANSUP anti-ship missiles, 18 F21 heavy torpedoes, and 30 naval mines.

The complement is also different, with the conventional Riachuelo class submarine having 32 crew members and the nuclear Riachuelo class submarine having 100.

The sensors and processing systems of the Riachuelo class include the DCNS Submarine Tactical Information and Command System, Thales DR 3000 ESM receiver, ITT AR 900, TSM 2233 Eledone, Safare & S-Cube, and DCNS Contralto-V. The electronic warfare and decoys of the Riachuelo class include the Thales DR 3000 ESM receiver, ITT AR 900, TSM 2233 Eledone, Safare & S-Cube, and DCNS Contralto-V.
According to information published by Swiftships on March 22, 2023, the firm received notification for an additional seven (7) 28m Coastal Patrol Craft (CPC) award to the existing six (6) FMS contract that was awarded in 2022. The total current order is 23 boats, including those currently under construction.

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Artist rendering of the CPC. (Picture source: Swiftships)

In March 2022, Swiftships was awarded a new 28m CPC contact to supply a Kit as a modification to its original Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) contract.

The Mod_004 will deliver ten (10) kits to be co-produced in Egypt at the Egyptian Navy (EN) Alexandria Shipyard and the Egyptian Ship Repair and Building Company (ESRBC). In addition, six (6) additional 28m CPCs were awarded under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract in 2022.

Swiftships will supply a complete Kit of Material (KoM), including Zodiac Rigid Inflatable Boats, Forward-Looking Infrared Systems (FLIRs), personal computer packages, and the associated engineering technical data package (TDP).

These 28-meter CPCs reach a top speed of 22-25 knots with a range of 900 NM, powered by two (2) CAT diesel engines, and are equipped with 12.7mm machine guns.

By combining Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) contracts, Swiftships will have co-produced forty-two (42) 28-meter CPCs for EN by the end of 2027.

These three new contracts signed in 2022 and 2023 add 23 craft to ENs total requirement of 50 CPCs by the end of 2027. In addition, Egypt and Swiftships have started co-marketing the 28-meter CPC to North African allied partners of the US.

EN has been co-producing Swiftships crafts since 2010 (download case study), and this partnership has allowed both EN and Swiftships to excel on other platforms.

The collaboration began in the early 1980s when Swiftships delivered its first set of eight (8) 28m CPCs. Later, in 1990, it delivered two (2) 54-meter Mine-Hunters (MH) under a Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) contract. In 2006, Swiftships further delivered six (6) 26-meter Fast Patrol Craft (FPC), and in 2009, delivered two (2) 28-meter CPCs and co-produced four kits built in Egypt under Swiftships guidance.

Swiftships has been discussing with the Egyptian Armaments Authority (EAA) to co-produce 35-meter Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) in Alexandria to extend their capability from steel co-production to aluminum.

These FPVs will be all-aluminum crafts with a 1,000 NM range, three (3) MTU engines to reach a top speed of 32 knots, and a complement. Armament options include 12.7mm Rheinmetall Remote Controlled machineguns with additional armament.
A top court administrator with the 8th Judicial District is on a leave of absence after he was arrested earlier this month on a violation for allegedly loitering at the University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena.

Andrew Isenberg, the district executive of the district, has been on leave since last week, District Administrative Judge Kevin M. Carter confirmed to The Buffalo News.

According to police reports and to UB officials, Isenberg, who lives in Amherst, was arrested on March 4 at the Alumni Arena fitness center for one count of loitering on school grounds and was released and issued an appearance ticket.

Isenberg is not a member of the gym, according to the university.

Isenberg's attorney, Sunil Bakshi, said his client "has not been charged with any criminal offense and had a legitimate reason for being on the campus of his alma mater.

Under New York State law, a violation is not a criminal charge.

Carter did not comment on the allegations other than to say the case was still "pending." He said that the courts investigate allegations against court personnel.

As district executive for the 8th Judicial District, Isenberg is the top nonjudicial officer overseeing court operations in Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Allegany and Wyoming Counties.
Two Western New Yorkers are on a state judicial panel's shortlist to succeed Janet DiFiore as chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

The New York Commission on Judicial Nomination submitted the names of New York Court of Appeals Associate Justice Shirley Troutman and Judge Gerald J. Whalen, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, to Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with five other nominees.

They are Justice Anthony Cannataro, associate judge and acting chief judge of the Court of Appeals; Judge Elizabeth A. Garry, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Third Department; Caitlin J. Halligan, a private practice attorney in New York City; Corey L. Stoughton, attorney-in-charge, special litigation and law reform with the Legal Aid Society; and Justice Rowan D. Wilson, an associate judge with the Court of Appeals.

Troutman, a Western New York judge for more than three decades, was appointed last year by Hochul to a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, becoming only the second Black woman to serve on New York's highest court. Prior to that appointment, Troutman began serving as an Appellate Division associate justice in 2016. Elected to State Supreme Court in 2009, she was an Erie County judge from 2003 to 2009, and began her judicial career in 1994 following her election to Buffalo City Court.

Whalen was appointed by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, in 2012, and designated as a presiding justice of the court in 2016. He was elected New York State Supreme Court Justice in 2005 for a term of 14 years serving in the 8th Judicial District. Prior to his term on the bench, Whalen was a litigation partner with Hiscock & Barclay law firm on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo.

"These candidates in the collective judgment of the Commission are well qualified, by virtue of their character, temperament, professional aptitude, experience, qualifications and fitness for office, to discharge the duties of that high office," said E. Leo Milonas, chairman of the Commission on Judicial Nomination, in a letter to Hochul on Friday.

The vacancy in the chief judge's office is the result of DiFiore's resignation in August 2022.

In February, the state Senate overwhelmingly rejected Hochul's original nominee to succeed DiFiore, state Appellate Court Justice Hector LaSalle, who was defeated in a 39-20 vote. All of the votes against LaSalle came from Democrats in the Senate who, in their opposition, cited judicial decisions by LaSalle that they did not feel protected abortion rights, labor unions and the rights of defendants in the criminal justice system.

In a news release from the commission on Friday, the seven nominees were described as having been selected from a diverse pool of 54 candidates, 28 of whom were women.

"I am gratified at the extraordinary quality and diverse backgrounds of the applicants received by the Commission," Milonas said in a statement. "That so many exceptional candidates were motivated to apply demonstrates the remarkable strength and depth of the legal profession in the State of New York."

Hochul has until April 23 to make her appointment. The state Senate will then have 30 days to either confirm or reject the governor's appointment.
The pandemic accelerated a yearslong decline in the mental health of the nations children and teens. The number of young people experiencing sadness, hopelessness and thoughts of suicide has increased dramatically, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In response, states, cities and school districts are using COVID-19 relief dollars and their own money to launch programs to help students and teachers recognize the symptoms of mental illness and suicide risk and build support services to help students who are struggling.

Flush with federal pandemic relief grants, some schools also are creating programs they hope will foster emotional well-being for students and increase their sense of connection to their schools and communities, said Sharon Hoover, co-director of the National Center for School Mental Health.

Typically, federal education money is allocated to states based on their school-age population. But 90% of the money is then sent to school districts, which typically have wide leeway to decide how to use it.

Some states and cities also are adding their own money to fund youth mental health projects.

This month, for example, New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams announced a broad mental health agenda that includes a youth suicide prevention program.

In February, North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper declared that the state would spend $7.7 million to provide suicide prevention training for university and community college personnel, create a mental health hotline for students and develop resiliency training for faculty, staff and students.

In January, New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled a $14 million mental health grant program that targets K-12 schools with the greatest need.

And Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee introduced a $7.2 million program to train K-12 school employees to detect mental illness and suicide risk, respond to it and connect students and families to community social services.

Last year, Illinois, Iowa and Maryland launched programs to provide mental health training for school personnel.

And Arizona, California and South Carolina raised Medicaid reimbursement rates to incentivize behavioral health providers to provide services in schools, according to a February report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

February data from the CDC shows that mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors rose sharply during the pandemic among all teens, but particularly among girls.

More than two-thirds of public schools reported an increase in the number of students seeking mental health services, according to an April survey by the Institute of Education Sciences, the data analysis arm of the U.S. Department of Education. And only a little more than half of the schools said they felt their school could effectively provide the mental health services students needed.

Even before the pandemic, a fifth of children ages 3 to 17 had a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder, according to a December 2021 report from the U.S. Surgeon General. Globally, symptoms of depression and anxiety among children and youth doubled during the pandemic, according to the report.

This year, data collected by nonprofit mental health advocates Mental Health America indicates that nearly 60% of youth with major depression do not receive mental health treatment.

To address the crisis, the Biden administration this month proposed a budget that includes $428 million in education and mental health grants states could use to help students who already are struggling with mental illness and to create programs aimed at improving the emotional well-being of all students. Congress would need to approve the money.

At the same time, K-12 schools are slated to receive $1 billion in grants over the next five years to stem rising mental illness and violence in schools, under a bipartisan bill Congress passed in the wake of the June 2022 elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

In addition to new funding, state and local officials have until Sept. 30 to decide how to use their share of the remaining $54.3 billion in education relief funds, part of pandemic aid Congress approved in 2020. And they have until Sept. 30, 2024, to decide how much of the remaining $122.8 billion in education grants under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to spend on mental health.

Mental health advocates have long rued the lack of federal and state funding to support school mental health programs. Federal relief dollars to combat the learning loss and emotional distress caused by the pandemic, they say, present an unprecedented opportunity for states to bolster school mental health resources that have been vastly underfunded for decades.

There never has been sufficient funding to meet the mental health needs of our communities, and certainly not our children, said Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a grassroots nonprofit organization that advocates for people affected by mental illness.

Now that we have this confluence of factors affecting kids mental health  including the pandemic, social media and a wave of state legislation thats harmful to LGBTQ youth  we dont have a solid system to fall back on, she said.

More than 11% of Americans may not be receiving the mental health care they need, data shows More than 11% of Americans may not be receiving the mental health care they need, data shows US average Differences across states LGBTQ+ people Younger generations
By Associated Press

NEW YORK: New York Community Bank has agreed to buy a significant chunk of the failed Signature Bank in a $2.7 billion deal, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said late Sunday.

The 40 branches of Signature Bank will become Flagstar Bank, starting Monday. Flagstar is one of New York Community Bank's subsidiaries. The deal will include the purchase of $38.4 billion in Signature Bank's assets, a little more than a third of Signature's total when the bank failed a week ago.

The FDIC said $60 billion in Signature Bank's loans will remain in receivership and are expected to be sold off in time.

Signature Bank was the second bank to fail in this banking crisis, roughly 48 hours after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Signature, based in New York, was a large commercial lender in the tristate area, but had in recent years gotten into cryptocurrencies as a potential growth business.

After Silicon Valley Bank failed, depositors became nervous about Signature Bank's health due to its high amount of uninsured deposits as well as its exposure to crypto and other tech-focused lending. By the time it was closed by regulators, Signature was the third largest bank failure in U.S. history.

The FDIC says it expects Signature Bank's failure to cost the deposit insurance fund $2.5 billion, but that figure may change as the regulator sells off assets. The deposit insurance fund is paid for by assessments on banks and taxpayers do not bear the direct cost when a bank fails.

NEW YORK: New York Community Bank has agreed to buy a significant chunk of the failed Signature Bank in a $2.7 billion deal, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said late Sunday. The 40 branches of Signature Bank will become Flagstar Bank, starting Monday. Flagstar is one of New York Community Bank's subsidiaries. The deal will include the purchase of $38.4 billion in Signature Bank's assets, a little more than a third of Signature's total when the bank failed a week ago. The FDIC said $60 billion in Signature Bank's loans will remain in receivership and are expected to be sold off in time.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Signature Bank was the second bank to fail in this banking crisis, roughly 48 hours after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Signature, based in New York, was a large commercial lender in the tristate area, but had in recent years gotten into cryptocurrencies as a potential growth business. After Silicon Valley Bank failed, depositors became nervous about Signature Bank's health due to its high amount of uninsured deposits as well as its exposure to crypto and other tech-focused lending. By the time it was closed by regulators, Signature was the third largest bank failure in U.S. history. The FDIC says it expects Signature Bank's failure to cost the deposit insurance fund $2.5 billion, but that figure may change as the regulator sells off assets. The deposit insurance fund is paid for by assessments on banks and taxpayers do not bear the direct cost when a bank fails.
By AFP

NEW YORK: Two months after accusing India's Adani Enterprises of fraud, US investment group Hindenburg Research launched a new salvo Thursday, this time against Jack Dorsey's mobile payments firm Block, saying it "widely overstated" its user base.

Following publication of the report, Block's stock tumbled up to 22 percent in early trading on Wall Street before recovering slightly.

In late January, the New York-based Hindenburg accused the conglomerate Adani of price manipulation, accounting malpractice, tax evasion and money laundering.

The allegations, denied by Adani, caused the value of its seven listed companies to plunge by tens of billions of dollars.

Block, founded by former Twitter boss Dorsey in 2009, used to be called Square before being renamed in late 2021.

WATCH |

The tech company operates financial transactions, ranging from payments to merchants to payments between individuals.

ALSO READ| What is Hindenburg Research, firm accusing Adani of fraud?

Block, which owns the mobile app Cash App, has been growing at a breakneck pace and surpassed $100 billion in market value in 2021. It is currently worth $38 billion.

Hindenburg said that the California-based Block knew that many of its accounts were fraudulent or belonged to the same user but failed to account for this in its financial disclosure.

It accused Block of taking a "Wild West" approach to regulatory compliance, which "made it easy for bad actors to mass-create accounts for identity fraud and other scams, then extract stolen funds quickly."

Hindenburg said it investigated Block for two years and interviewed dozens of former employees and experts, and conducted a detailed analysis of documents from regulators and court proceedings.

Block did not immediately respond to a request from AFP.

NEW YORK: Two months after accusing India's Adani Enterprises of fraud, US investment group Hindenburg Research launched a new salvo Thursday, this time against Jack Dorsey's mobile payments firm Block, saying it "widely overstated" its user base. Following publication of the report, Block's stock tumbled up to 22 percent in early trading on Wall Street before recovering slightly. In late January, the New York-based Hindenburg accused the conglomerate Adani of price manipulation, accounting malpractice, tax evasion and money laundering.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The allegations, denied by Adani, caused the value of its seven listed companies to plunge by tens of billions of dollars. Block, founded by former Twitter boss Dorsey in 2009, used to be called Square before being renamed in late 2021. WATCH | The tech company operates financial transactions, ranging from payments to merchants to payments between individuals. ALSO READ| What is Hindenburg Research, firm accusing Adani of fraud? Block, which owns the mobile app Cash App, has been growing at a breakneck pace and surpassed $100 billion in market value in 2021. It is currently worth $38 billion. Hindenburg said that the California-based Block knew that many of its accounts were fraudulent or belonged to the same user but failed to account for this in its financial disclosure. It accused Block of taking a "Wild West" approach to regulatory compliance, which "made it easy for bad actors to mass-create accounts for identity fraud and other scams, then extract stolen funds quickly." Hindenburg said it investigated Block for two years and interviewed dozens of former employees and experts, and conducted a detailed analysis of documents from regulators and court proceedings. Block did not immediately respond to a request from AFP.
By Online Desk

Apple Inc's Taiwanese supplier Pegatron Corp is in talks to open a second India factory, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, as the U.S. tech giant's partners continue to diversify production away from China, Reuters reports.

Pegatron plans to add a second facility near Chennai, just six months after opening the first with an investment of $150 million, said the sources, who sought anonymity as the talks are private, Reuters said.

The new factory, the first source said, is "to assemble the latest iPhones".

According to the report, India is seen as the next growth frontier for Apple. Around $9 billion worth of smartphones have been exported from India between April 2022 and February this year, and iPhones accounted for more than 50% of that, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association.

Reuters quoting research firm Counterpoint said, Pegatron currently accounts for 10% of Apple's iPhone production in India on an annualised basis.

Apple Inc's Taiwanese supplier Pegatron Corp is in talks to open a second India factory, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, as the U.S. tech giant's partners continue to diversify production away from China, Reuters reports. Pegatron plans to add a second facility near Chennai, just six months after opening the first with an investment of $150 million, said the sources, who sought anonymity as the talks are private, Reuters said. The new factory, the first source said, is "to assemble the latest iPhones".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the report, India is seen as the next growth frontier for Apple. Around $9 billion worth of smartphones have been exported from India between April 2022 and February this year, and iPhones accounted for more than 50% of that, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association. Reuters quoting research firm Counterpoint said, Pegatron currently accounts for 10% of Apple's iPhone production in India on an annualised basis.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Infosys on Thursday announced the retirement of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as Independent Director of the Board, effective March 22, 2023. The Board has appointed D Sundaram as the Lead Independent Director of Company, effective March 23, 2023 based on the recommendation of Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Shaw was appointed to the Infosys Board as an Independent Director in 2014, and as Lead Independent Director in 2018. She also served as the Chairperson of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee and CSR Committee, and as a member of the Risk Management and ESG Committees of the Board.

Infosys said that Sundaram has been on the Board of Infosys since 2017. Nandan Nilekani, chairman, Infosys said, We profusely thank Kiran for having been such an integral member of the Infosys family, providing valuable guidance and leadership to the Board over the years.

BENGALURU: Infosys on Thursday announced the retirement of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as Independent Director of the Board, effective March 22, 2023. The Board has appointed D Sundaram as the Lead Independent Director of Company, effective March 23, 2023 based on the recommendation of Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Shaw was appointed to the Infosys Board as an Independent Director in 2014, and as Lead Independent Director in 2018. She also served as the Chairperson of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee and CSR Committee, and as a member of the Risk Management and ESG Committees of the Board. Infosys said that Sundaram has been on the Board of Infosys since 2017. Nandan Nilekani, chairman, Infosys said, We profusely thank Kiran for having been such an integral member of the Infosys family, providing valuable guidance and leadership to the Board over the years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
By PTI

MUMBAI: Currently, there is no special programme in the government to encourage pilot training for women and backward classes including Dalits, an official release said on Thursday even as it noted that as much as 15 per cent of pilots in India are women, which is almost three times the global average of 5 per cent.

The reason why there are no special programmes to encourage pilot training for women and Dalits is however not mentioned in the release.

There are currently 67 expat pilots working with various air operators in the country, the release said.

As per data received from various Indian scheduled airlines, a total of 244 pilots have been recruited in 2021, the release noted and industry estimates suggest that the country may require 1,000 pilots per annum over the next five years.

The annual requirement of commercial pilots depends upon various factors such as the financial health of an airline, airline expansion plan and growth in the aviation sector, the release stated.

As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there are approximately 10,000 pilots including 67 foreign nationals employed with various domestic airlines in India, it added.

According to the release, there are 35 DGCA-approved Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) in the country, operating at 53 bases.

MUMBAI: Currently, there is no special programme in the government to encourage pilot training for women and backward classes including Dalits, an official release said on Thursday even as it noted that as much as 15 per cent of pilots in India are women, which is almost three times the global average of 5 per cent. The reason why there are no special programmes to encourage pilot training for women and Dalits is however not mentioned in the release. There are currently 67 expat pilots working with various air operators in the country, the release said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As per data received from various Indian scheduled airlines, a total of 244 pilots have been recruited in 2021, the release noted and industry estimates suggest that the country may require 1,000 pilots per annum over the next five years. The annual requirement of commercial pilots depends upon various factors such as the financial health of an airline, airline expansion plan and growth in the aviation sector, the release stated. As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there are approximately 10,000 pilots including 67 foreign nationals employed with various domestic airlines in India, it added. According to the release, there are 35 DGCA-approved Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) in the country, operating at 53 bases.
Mohammed Yacoob By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: With the poll code of conduct likely to kick in anytime soon, the Congress seems to be steering ahead in terms of advancing its election campaign, and reaching out to voters. Former minister Ramalinga Reddy said city MLAs and the campaign committee have come up with various suggestions, and the party, while announcing its manifesto for Karnataka, will also read out special bullet points only for Bengaluru voters .Reddy said the focus will be a special programme for working women in Bengaluru, addressing their safety. Apartment dwellers and slum dwellers will also get special attention.

He told The New Indian Express, Bengaluru has 28 assembly constituencies, and its own challenges, which have been ignored by the BJP. The Congress is concerned about the security of women, especially those who work. The party will come up with a special programme that will enable better security, said Reddy.

He said the focus will be on improving the living conditions of slum-dwellers and giving them better infrastructure. The party will also come up with an apartment wing to address the issues and challenges of apartment dwellers.

Apartment dwellers have many problems. The party held talks and decided it will also hold a conference to include their ideas in the manifesto. The idea is to have better infrastructure and ensure there is no flooding, like what happened in Mahadevapura and Yelahanka last year, Reddy said. Prof Rajeev Gowda, chairman, Karnataka Congress Research department, also said the party will be inviting heads of various apartments and committees on Saturday to offer their suggestions and speak about issues they face.



BENGALURU: With the poll code of conduct likely to kick in anytime soon, the Congress seems to be steering ahead in terms of advancing its election campaign, and reaching out to voters. Former minister Ramalinga Reddy said city MLAs and the campaign committee have come up with various suggestions, and the party, while announcing its manifesto for Karnataka, will also read out special bullet points only for Bengaluru voters .Reddy said the focus will be a special programme for working women in Bengaluru, addressing their safety. Apartment dwellers and slum dwellers will also get special attention. He told The New Indian Express, Bengaluru has 28 assembly constituencies, and its own challenges, which have been ignored by the BJP. The Congress is concerned about the security of women, especially those who work. The party will come up with a special programme that will enable better security, said Reddy. He said the focus will be on improving the living conditions of slum-dwellers and giving them better infrastructure. The party will also come up with an apartment wing to address the issues and challenges of apartment dwellers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Apartment dwellers have many problems. The party held talks and decided it will also hold a conference to include their ideas in the manifesto. The idea is to have better infrastructure and ensure there is no flooding, like what happened in Mahadevapura and Yelahanka last year, Reddy said. Prof Rajeev Gowda, chairman, Karnataka Congress Research department, also said the party will be inviting heads of various apartments and committees on Saturday to offer their suggestions and speak about issues they face.
WASHINGTON  The Manhattan district attorney investigating Donald Trump rebuffed House Republicans' request Thursday for documents and testimony about the case, dismissing it as an "unprecedented inquiry" with no legitimate basis.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the general counsel for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg slammed the congressional request as "an unlawful incursion into New York's sovereignty."

"The Letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene," Leslie Dubeck wrote in the letter. "Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry."

The Manhattan grand jury investigating Donald Trump over hush money payments met on other matters Thursday, further delaying a vote on whether to indict the former president, according to a person familiar with the matter.

There was no immediate explanation from prosecutors about why the grand jury was not taking up the Trump matter during its scheduled Thursday session after not meeting Wednesday. There also was no word on when or if prosecutors might resume presenting evidence or ask for a decision on bringing historic criminal charges.

The panel is an investigative grand jury, meaning it hears other cases beyond the one focused on hush money paid on Trump's behalf during the 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who says she had a sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Even so, the grand jury's pause on Trump  confirmed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity  gave an opening to the former president and supporters to claim the investigation is stalled. Trump, who denies he had a sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, raised the specter on his social media site of years of hatred, chaos and turmoil" if charges are brought.

The Republican chairmen of three House committees on Monday sent a letter to Bragg seeking information about his actions in the Trump case. The Republicans criticized the grand jury investigation as an "unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority."

The chairmen requested testimony as well as documents and copies of communications with the Justice Department to be turned over by Thursday. The request came as Republicans in the House rallied around the former president as the grand jury in New York weighs whether to bring an indictment against him.

"If a grand jury brings charges against Donald Trump, the DA's Office will have an obligation, as in every case, to provide a significant amount of discovery from its files to the defendant so that he may prepare a defense," Dubeck wrote.

The five-page response from Bragg's office provides a rare insight into what has remained a secret grand jury process, marking one of the first public acknowledgments that there is a sitting grand jury currently investigating Trump. The DA's office has adhered closely to centuries-old rules that have kept grand juries under wraps to protect the reputations of people who end up not being charged and to encourage reluctant witnesses to testify.

In proceedings closed to the public and members of the media, grand jurors listen to evidence presented by prosecutors and hear from witnesses. There is no judge present nor anyone representing the accused, and prosecutors do not have to offer any evidence favorable to the defense.

The disclosure comes as the grand jury appears close to finishing its work, after hearing last week from Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, but the timing of a possible decision on whether to charge the ex-president remains uncertain. Law enforcement officials in New York are preparing for any unrest, should Trump face charges.

The case revolves around hush money payments during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to women who alleged sexual encounters with him. Bragg's team appears to be looking at whether Trump or anyone committed crimes in New York state in arranging the payments, or in the way they accounted for them internally at the Trump Organization.

On Thursday, one of the GOP chairmen, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, expanded his probe into the handling of the Trump case by demanding testimony and documents from Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, two former Manhattan prosecutors who were leading the Trump case before quitting last year in a clash over the direction of the probe.

"Last year, you resigned from the office over Bragg's initial reluctance to move forward with charges, shaming Bragg in your resignation letter  which was subsequently leaked  into bringing charges," Jordan, an Ohio Republican, wrote in the letter to Pomerantz late Wednesday. "It now appears that your efforts to shame Bragg have worked as he is reportedly resurrecting a so-called 'zombie' case against President Trump using a tenuous and untested legal theory."

Requests for comment from Pomerantz and Dunne were not returned.

Photos: Demonstrations as potential Trump indictment looms
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: No business could be held during the morning session of the Assembly on Thursday as Opposition BJP and Congress members created a ruckus demanding a discussion on the Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

As the proceedings remained paralysed, speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha had to adjourn the House till 4 pm. Earlier, as soon as the House assembled for the day, Opposition members raised the issue with the leader of the Congress legislature party (CLP) demanding a discussion on the issue by suspending question hour.

Hitting out at the state government, Congress and BJP members alleged it failed to take any concrete steps for resolving the dispute with Chhattisgarh. Besides, they also sought information on steps taken by the government to implement its promise of constructing barrages on the Odisha side of the river to store water.

Alleging that Mahanadi has dried up due to the callous attitude of the state government, BJP members also demanded a discussion on the matter. As the members created a ruckus and shouted slogans in the well, the speaker had to adjourn the House.

Mounting a scathing attack on the BJD government over the issue, Narasingha told reporters outside the House that the ruling party created noise in the Assembly over Mahanadi water on Wednesday but his plea for discussion by skipping the question hour went unheeded. He alleged the state government is trying to avoid a discussion.

Former minister Pratap Jena said BJD is keen to have a discussion on the Mahanadi issue, which was raised by its members in the House on Wednesday. The speaker has also directed the Water Resources minister to make a statement on the issue, he said.

BHUBANESWAR: No business could be held during the morning session of the Assembly on Thursday as Opposition BJP and Congress members created a ruckus demanding a discussion on the Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. As the proceedings remained paralysed, speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha had to adjourn the House till 4 pm. Earlier, as soon as the House assembled for the day, Opposition members raised the issue with the leader of the Congress legislature party (CLP) demanding a discussion on the issue by suspending question hour. Hitting out at the state government, Congress and BJP members alleged it failed to take any concrete steps for resolving the dispute with Chhattisgarh. Besides, they also sought information on steps taken by the government to implement its promise of constructing barrages on the Odisha side of the river to store water.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Alleging that Mahanadi has dried up due to the callous attitude of the state government, BJP members also demanded a discussion on the matter. As the members created a ruckus and shouted slogans in the well, the speaker had to adjourn the House. Mounting a scathing attack on the BJD government over the issue, Narasingha told reporters outside the House that the ruling party created noise in the Assembly over Mahanadi water on Wednesday but his plea for discussion by skipping the question hour went unheeded. He alleged the state government is trying to avoid a discussion. Former minister Pratap Jena said BJD is keen to have a discussion on the Mahanadi issue, which was raised by its members in the House on Wednesday. The speaker has also directed the Water Resources minister to make a statement on the issue, he said.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A Hanuman idol stolen from a temple in Ariyalur district was traced to Australia in 2020 and was handed over to the officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in New Delhi through the Indian High Commission in Canberra in February this year. The state Idol Wing CID police will bring the idol back to Tamil Nadu and give it to the temple in the coming days.

In 2020, the Idol Wing police traced the Hanuman idol, belonging to a Vishnu temple in Velur village near Sendurai in Ariyalur, to Australia. The idol was bought by a private art collector through Christies, USA.

The Hanuman idol, along with the idols of Varadaraja Perumal, Sridevi and Bhoodevi were stolen in 2012 by breaking open the temple doors. Initially the case was filed at Sendurai police station and it was later transferred to the Idol Wing CID in 2020.

An investigation launched by the Idol Wing found the idol on the website of Christies, New York, USA. It was later found that the idol as bought by a US citizen, an art collector, in Australia through an auction. With the help of Indian and Australian governments, the man was contacted, and he agreed to hand over the idol to India.

The idol was first handed over to the Government of Australia through the US Embassy. Then it was handed over to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, Australia who sent it to ASI. Officials of the Idol Wing police said after getting the idol it will be given back to the temple through the special court in Kumbakonam. The other three idols are yet to be traced, the police said.

CHENNAI: A Hanuman idol stolen from a temple in Ariyalur district was traced to Australia in 2020 and was handed over to the officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in New Delhi through the Indian High Commission in Canberra in February this year. The state Idol Wing CID police will bring the idol back to Tamil Nadu and give it to the temple in the coming days. In 2020, the Idol Wing police traced the Hanuman idol, belonging to a Vishnu temple in Velur village near Sendurai in Ariyalur, to Australia. The idol was bought by a private art collector through Christies, USA. The Hanuman idol, along with the idols of Varadaraja Perumal, Sridevi and Bhoodevi were stolen in 2012 by breaking open the temple doors. Initially the case was filed at Sendurai police station and it was later transferred to the Idol Wing CID in 2020. An investigation launched by the Idol Wing found the idol on the website of Christies, New York, USA. It was later found that the idol as bought by a US citizen, an art collector, in Australia through an auction. With the help of Indian and Australian governments, the man was contacted, and he agreed to hand over the idol to India. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The idol was first handed over to the Government of Australia through the US Embassy. Then it was handed over to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, Australia who sent it to ASI. Officials of the Idol Wing police said after getting the idol it will be given back to the temple through the special court in Kumbakonam. The other three idols are yet to be traced, the police said.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Over 11,000 women have benefited from the Arogya Mahila programme in government hospitals over the past two weeks. Health Minister T Harish Rao has urged all women to make use of these facilities. On March 14, as many as 4,793 women underwent screening tests, and 975 of them received the necessary medication. Women who required advanced medical care were referred to the nearest centre.

On March 21, 6,328 women visited the Arogya Mahila centres. Of these, 3,753 underwent breast cancer tests, 884 underwent cervical cancer tests, 3,783 underwent oral cancer tests, 718 underwent urinary bladder infection tests, 1,029 underwent micronutrient deficiency tests, 777 underwent thyroid tests, 477 underwent Vitamin-D deficiency tests, and 1,294 underwent CBP tests. The health minister had launched the Aarogya Mahila programme in Telangana on International Womens Day.

HYDERABAD: Over 11,000 women have benefited from the Arogya Mahila programme in government hospitals over the past two weeks. Health Minister T Harish Rao has urged all women to make use of these facilities. On March 14, as many as 4,793 women underwent screening tests, and 975 of them received the necessary medication. Women who required advanced medical care were referred to the nearest centre. On March 21, 6,328 women visited the Arogya Mahila centres. Of these, 3,753 underwent breast cancer tests, 884 underwent cervical cancer tests, 3,783 underwent oral cancer tests, 718 underwent urinary bladder infection tests, 1,029 underwent micronutrient deficiency tests, 777 underwent thyroid tests, 477 underwent Vitamin-D deficiency tests, and 1,294 underwent CBP tests. The health minister had launched the Aarogya Mahila programme in Telangana on International Womens Day.
Steni Simon By

Express News Service

KOCHI: It might be incorrect to say that machines might replace humans soon. But there is no escaping the fact that they are playing a major role in various sectors. Banking is one sector where artificial intelligence (AI) has made an impact, especially in meeting customers expectations.

The Kochi-based startup Riafy Technologies Private Limited is scaling new heights with its AI solutions, especially conversational AI chatbots. One such platform developed by the startup is Feddy, an AI banking assistant created for Federal Bank. Feddy was launched in 2020 to answer any queries of customers.

Neeraj M, Benoy Joseph, Joseph Babu,

John Mathew, Sreenath K V and Benny Xavier

For the past 11 years, we have been working on artificial intelligence and machine learning. But it was during the pandemic, we decided to create a conversational AI platform for the B2B industry. As Federal Bank was looking to revamp its digital initiatives, we thought our AI platform would be a perfect fit for the banks long-term vision. Thus, Feddy was developed, says Joseph Babu, co-founder and CMO of Riafy Technologies.

Of all the customer service requests received by the bank, Feddy handles about 43 per cent. The AI-banking assistant, Feddy, is already available on Web, WhatsApp, Google Business Message platform, voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and helps the users in Fastag recharge, fraud detection and payment of bills. Its language processing capabilities make it easy for customers to conduct banking transactions using their voice.

In 2021, Feddy was recognised as one of the worlds best conversational AI assistants by Google, for its implementation on Google Business Messages. After the successful launch of the AI business vertical with Federal Bank, the startup is in the process of onboarding clients such as Karur Vysya Bank and other private banks. Joseph adds, Personalisation in banking and handsfree banking are the areas we are planning to work on now with Feddy. Plans to make AI Banking assistants available on Smartwatch and Android Auto are also in the pipeline.

The journey

The startup was founded in 2013 by a group of six friends, John Mathew, Joseph Babu, Neeraj M, Benny Xavier, Benoy Joseph and Sreenath K V. Riafy began its AI journey at a time when the country was just in the initial stages of the smartphone era. Initially, we decided to focus on building our B2C business. We thought of finding the use of our proprietary AI technology and developing consumer apps, says Joseph, who is also part of the board of directors.

Speaking about their journey, he says, We created our first mobile app Cookbook Recipes powered by our own AI tech in 2013. Thats where it all began. This is one of our flagship apps where you can create recipes as per your personalised needs. It is also the countrys largest app that helps people discover the recipes they want. Currently, the app has over six million users and is available in 26 languages.

The company also received Google Plays Best of 2022 Award for its app, Dance Workout for Weight Loss at the Global Huddle Meet held recently in Thiruvananthapuram. From the seed capital of Rs 1.5 lakh initially, the startups turnover has now grown multiple times and is seeing an annual turnover of over Rs 8 crore. We are focusing on generative AI and creating new apps in B2C and B2B. The ultimate goal: Reach markets like the US, Europe, and the Middle East. We are also intensifying work on Generative AI and augmented analytics, Joseph concludes.

KOCHI: It might be incorrect to say that machines might replace humans soon. But there is no escaping the fact that they are playing a major role in various sectors. Banking is one sector where artificial intelligence (AI) has made an impact, especially in meeting customers expectations. The Kochi-based startup Riafy Technologies Private Limited is scaling new heights with its AI solutions, especially conversational AI chatbots. One such platform developed by the startup is Feddy, an AI banking assistant created for Federal Bank. Feddy was launched in 2020 to answer any queries of customers. Neeraj M, Benoy Joseph, Joseph Babu, John Mathew, Sreenath K V and Benny Xavier For the past 11 years, we have been working on artificial intelligence and machine learning. But it was during the pandemic, we decided to create a conversational AI platform for the B2B industry. As Federal Bank was looking to revamp its digital initiatives, we thought our AI platform would be a perfect fit for the banks long-term vision. Thus, Feddy was developed, says Joseph Babu, co-founder and CMO of Riafy Technologies. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Of all the customer service requests received by the bank, Feddy handles about 43 per cent. The AI-banking assistant, Feddy, is already available on Web, WhatsApp, Google Business Message platform, voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and helps the users in Fastag recharge, fraud detection and payment of bills. Its language processing capabilities make it easy for customers to conduct banking transactions using their voice. In 2021, Feddy was recognised as one of the worlds best conversational AI assistants by Google, for its implementation on Google Business Messages. After the successful launch of the AI business vertical with Federal Bank, the startup is in the process of onboarding clients such as Karur Vysya Bank and other private banks. Joseph adds, Personalisation in banking and handsfree banking are the areas we are planning to work on now with Feddy. Plans to make AI Banking assistants available on Smartwatch and Android Auto are also in the pipeline. The journey The startup was founded in 2013 by a group of six friends, John Mathew, Joseph Babu, Neeraj M, Benny Xavier, Benoy Joseph and Sreenath K V. Riafy began its AI journey at a time when the country was just in the initial stages of the smartphone era. Initially, we decided to focus on building our B2C business. We thought of finding the use of our proprietary AI technology and developing consumer apps, says Joseph, who is also part of the board of directors. Speaking about their journey, he says, We created our first mobile app Cookbook Recipes powered by our own AI tech in 2013. Thats where it all began. This is one of our flagship apps where you can create recipes as per your personalised needs. It is also the countrys largest app that helps people discover the recipes they want. Currently, the app has over six million users and is available in 26 languages. The company also received Google Plays Best of 2022 Award for its app, Dance Workout for Weight Loss at the Global Huddle Meet held recently in Thiruvananthapuram. From the seed capital of Rs 1.5 lakh initially, the startups turnover has now grown multiple times and is seeing an annual turnover of over Rs 8 crore. We are focusing on generative AI and creating new apps in B2C and B2B. The ultimate goal: Reach markets like the US, Europe, and the Middle East. We are also intensifying work on Generative AI and augmented analytics, Joseph concludes.
By Express News Service

The lives of the legendary stoner comedy team Cheech and Ching are being developed into a biopic. Director Kristian Mercado is developing the biopic backed by Hidden Pictures. The film, depicting the early years success of the comedy duo, will mark the reunion of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong as they will be producing.

Chong, a Canadian, met Marin in the late 60s in Canada, as the latter moved there to avoid getting drafted into the Vietnam War. Becoming famous for their ideas and opinions on counterculture, the hippie lifestyle, and marijuana, the two came together to become a stand-up comedy duo. They hit the big screen in 1978 with Up In Smoke after producing a series of best-selling comedy albums. In the mid-80s, the duo separated and pursued their individual acting careers.

Cheech Marin has worked frequently with director Robert Rodriguez and has starred in Nash Bridges. He was last seen in Shotgun Wedding and Champions. Tommy Chong is famous for his work in That 70s Show and That 90s Show. He later started advocating for the legalisation of cannabis and landed in jail for 9 months for selling marijuana paraphernalia.

Ever since, the two have united for guest appearances, comedy tours, and 2013s Cheech and Chongs Animated Movie. The biopics script will be penned by Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan. Cheech and Chong will executive produce with David Glickman.

The lives of the legendary stoner comedy team Cheech and Ching are being developed into a biopic. Director Kristian Mercado is developing the biopic backed by Hidden Pictures. The film, depicting the early years success of the comedy duo, will mark the reunion of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong as they will be producing. Chong, a Canadian, met Marin in the late 60s in Canada, as the latter moved there to avoid getting drafted into the Vietnam War. Becoming famous for their ideas and opinions on counterculture, the hippie lifestyle, and marijuana, the two came together to become a stand-up comedy duo. They hit the big screen in 1978 with Up In Smoke after producing a series of best-selling comedy albums. In the mid-80s, the duo separated and pursued their individual acting careers. Cheech Marin has worked frequently with director Robert Rodriguez and has starred in Nash Bridges. He was last seen in Shotgun Wedding and Champions. Tommy Chong is famous for his work in That 70s Show and That 90s Show. He later started advocating for the legalisation of cannabis and landed in jail for 9 months for selling marijuana paraphernalia.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Ever since, the two have united for guest appearances, comedy tours, and 2013s Cheech and Chongs Animated Movie. The biopics script will be penned by Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan. Cheech and Chong will executive produce with David Glickman.
By Express News Service

Actor Taron Egerton is set to return in his much-talked-about role Eggsy in the forthcoming chapter of the Kingsman film series Kingsman: The Blue Blood. Ahead of the films pre-production, the actor disclosed that he has his own idea that he is looking to pitch to director Matthew Vaughn.

In a conversation with Collider, the actor said that he is keen to revisit the character of Eggsy and had his own concept about navigating the plot, I have an idea for Kingsman. I have my own idea that I would like to pitch to Matthew, and I think that will be happening soon, but he has the wheels in motion on a big idea of his own. So who knows, you know? Who knows where it will land? the actor said.

The actor also mentioned he would love to see the return of Harry, a role played by Colin Firth, Eggsy is the role that made my name, so I suppose, in a way, I just want it to be absolutely right if we do it again, and I want the story to do justice to the part that really changed my life, and I would, obviously, really hope that Colin (Firth) would come back for at least a part of it.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the Kingsman film series is based on the comic book series of the same name created by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. The film follows the missions of Kingsman, a fictional secret service organization formed during World War I to protect the United Kingdomand the worldfrom global threats.



Actor Taron Egerton is set to return in his much-talked-about role Eggsy in the forthcoming chapter of the Kingsman film series Kingsman: The Blue Blood. Ahead of the films pre-production, the actor disclosed that he has his own idea that he is looking to pitch to director Matthew Vaughn. In a conversation with Collider, the actor said that he is keen to revisit the character of Eggsy and had his own concept about navigating the plot, I have an idea for Kingsman. I have my own idea that I would like to pitch to Matthew, and I think that will be happening soon, but he has the wheels in motion on a big idea of his own. So who knows, you know? Who knows where it will land? the actor said. The actor also mentioned he would love to see the return of Harry, a role played by Colin Firth, Eggsy is the role that made my name, so I suppose, in a way, I just want it to be absolutely right if we do it again, and I want the story to do justice to the part that really changed my life, and I would, obviously, really hope that Colin (Firth) would come back for at least a part of it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the Kingsman film series is based on the comic book series of the same name created by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. The film follows the missions of Kingsman, a fictional secret service organization formed during World War I to protect the United Kingdomand the worldfrom global threats.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Actor Mrunal Thakur says it was challenging to play a cop in her upcoming film "Gumraah", a role that she has tried to deal with responsibly.

The crime thriller is the Hindi remake of 2019 Tamil hit "Thadam", starring Arun Vijay and Vidya Pradeep.

"Gumraah" features Thakur as a cop while Aditya Roy Kapur will be seen in a double role.

The "Jersey" actor said since her role of a cop demanded her to sound firm she was unsure if she could pull it off, primarily because of her soft voice.

"When you play a cop there is a responsibility. For the first time, I have played someone, who is firm. It is difficult to play a cop. But the way my character is written is interesting. There are a lot of shades, there are a lot of ups and downs. It was challenging," Thakur told reporters here at the trailer launch of the film.

"There were times when I would go to Vardhan (Ketkar, director) and tell him, 'I don't think I can do it' and he would say, 'you got this. And sometimes my voice is sweet that we had to be firm'," she added.

The actor said she also took notes from her family members, who have been police officers to flesh out her character properly. "My family belongs to the police department and it was nice to go back to them, take some anecdotes, listen to their stories and implement them in my character," she added.

Thakur, who garnered wide critical acclaim for her performance in "Love Sonia" and "Sita Ramam", said she is grateful to writers for penning powerful roles for female actors and hopes this trend continues.

"There are strong women personalities out here, who do not get the recognition. It feels good to be in the centre (of the poster in 'Gumraah'), who wouldn't want to? It's about time. We need to change the definition of how Indian actresses were treated role wise and not the other way. It is lovely to get such powerful roles and I hope there are many more to come," she added.

Speaking of comparisons with Tabu and Rani Mukerji, who have played cop roles in two different films, "Drishyam" and "Mardaani" respectively, Thakur said, she looks upto both the actors and hopes she has done justice to her role in "Gumraah".

"I look up to Tabu ma'am and she is the goddess I worship. One of the reasons why I want to do 'Gumraah' is when I heard the story, I could picture only Tabu ma'am. This is something I want to explore, this space and this genre. I have never been part of a thriller movie and this is a film, where you will sit at the edge of the seat, your mind will be at play. I am happy they are comparing me to Tabu and Rani ma'am, I hope I do justice," she said.

The film follows the story of murder investigation by the police, who find two lookalike suspects (Aditya) claiming to not know each other.

For Kapur, the challenge was to make the two characters look different. He also credited writer Aseem Arora and Ketkar for making his job easy as an actor because they had written it as two different characters.

"What was interesting was the character needed to feel very different and we couldn't play with the look and you will realize it when you see the film. So, we had to find a way to make them speak differently. I did some diction classes to bring about the difference in the way they speak," he said.

Aditya said "Gumraah" pushed him to tap into a space as an actor that he had not explored in his 15-year-long career.

He also said even though two of his projects, "Malang" and web show "The Night Manager" have been successful thrillers, he was excited to explore the genre again with "Gumraah".

"When you do a film that has worked in that space like 'Malang' came out and this ('The Night Manager') was in that space, (then) you want to do more of it. Having said that, you don't want to keep repeating yourself. What I found with this ('Gumrah') was that the role was exciting. It was an opportunity to push myself to do something I had not done before. So, it all added to that," he said.

Produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series and Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, "Gumraah" will release theatrically on April 7.

MUMBAI: Actor Mrunal Thakur says it was challenging to play a cop in her upcoming film "Gumraah", a role that she has tried to deal with responsibly. The crime thriller is the Hindi remake of 2019 Tamil hit "Thadam", starring Arun Vijay and Vidya Pradeep. "Gumraah" features Thakur as a cop while Aditya Roy Kapur will be seen in a double role.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The "Jersey" actor said since her role of a cop demanded her to sound firm she was unsure if she could pull it off, primarily because of her soft voice. "When you play a cop there is a responsibility. For the first time, I have played someone, who is firm. It is difficult to play a cop. But the way my character is written is interesting. There are a lot of shades, there are a lot of ups and downs. It was challenging," Thakur told reporters here at the trailer launch of the film. "There were times when I would go to Vardhan (Ketkar, director) and tell him, 'I don't think I can do it' and he would say, 'you got this. And sometimes my voice is sweet that we had to be firm'," she added. The actor said she also took notes from her family members, who have been police officers to flesh out her character properly. "My family belongs to the police department and it was nice to go back to them, take some anecdotes, listen to their stories and implement them in my character," she added. Thakur, who garnered wide critical acclaim for her performance in "Love Sonia" and "Sita Ramam", said she is grateful to writers for penning powerful roles for female actors and hopes this trend continues. "There are strong women personalities out here, who do not get the recognition. It feels good to be in the centre (of the poster in 'Gumraah'), who wouldn't want to? It's about time. We need to change the definition of how Indian actresses were treated role wise and not the other way. It is lovely to get such powerful roles and I hope there are many more to come," she added. Speaking of comparisons with Tabu and Rani Mukerji, who have played cop roles in two different films, "Drishyam" and "Mardaani" respectively, Thakur said, she looks upto both the actors and hopes she has done justice to her role in "Gumraah". "I look up to Tabu ma'am and she is the goddess I worship. One of the reasons why I want to do 'Gumraah' is when I heard the story, I could picture only Tabu ma'am. This is something I want to explore, this space and this genre. I have never been part of a thriller movie and this is a film, where you will sit at the edge of the seat, your mind will be at play. I am happy they are comparing me to Tabu and Rani ma'am, I hope I do justice," she said. The film follows the story of murder investigation by the police, who find two lookalike suspects (Aditya) claiming to not know each other. For Kapur, the challenge was to make the two characters look different. He also credited writer Aseem Arora and Ketkar for making his job easy as an actor because they had written it as two different characters. "What was interesting was the character needed to feel very different and we couldn't play with the look and you will realize it when you see the film. So, we had to find a way to make them speak differently. I did some diction classes to bring about the difference in the way they speak," he said. Aditya said "Gumraah" pushed him to tap into a space as an actor that he had not explored in his 15-year-long career. He also said even though two of his projects, "Malang" and web show "The Night Manager" have been successful thrillers, he was excited to explore the genre again with "Gumraah". "When you do a film that has worked in that space like 'Malang' came out and this ('The Night Manager') was in that space, (then) you want to do more of it. Having said that, you don't want to keep repeating yourself. What I found with this ('Gumrah') was that the role was exciting. It was an opportunity to push myself to do something I had not done before. So, it all added to that," he said. Produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series and Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, "Gumraah" will release theatrically on April 7.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

PUNJAB: Hard work by Sunil Jaglan, former sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind district of Haryana, towards women empowerment and gender equality for the last eleven-odd years is now visible on the ground in the form of over 10 lakh photographs of daughters posing with their fathers as part of a Selfie with Daughter campaign, 20,000 names-plates affixed outside houses bearing the daughters names, chart pasted on the walls of 3,500-odd homes to keep track of the menstrual cycle of the women and some 5,000 charts distributed in schools and homes across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as part of a Gaali Bandh Ghar campaign which aims to discourage the use of sexist slurs.

The biggest change came into my life when on January 24, 2012, my daughter was born a stroke of midnight in a private hospital. The news was brought to me by a nurse who bore a very pale expression on her face. She whispered carefully, Beti hui hai. I was happy and while leaving the hospital I gave Rs 2000 to her, asking her to distribute sweets in the hospital. I also instructed her to inform all that a daughter had been born in the family of Bibipurs sarpanch. But she was reluctant in taking the money, saying that Rs 100 would do.

Sunil Jaglan has started several campaigns like Beti hui hai  The three magic words

She said she could only have accepted such a big amount if a boy had been born, Jaglan recalls. After being chosen as village sarpanch in 2010, Jaglan created a website for the village and started a campaign against female foeticide. In 2012, he kick-started a campaign called Beti hui hai (A daughter has been born)  The three magic words. The same year, he also started the Beti Padhao Campaign.

As part of this campaign, we provide free books to the girls, open libraries and provide transportation to them. It was started initially in Bibipur with about 350 beneficiaries. Now it benefits 140 villages in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, he says. In 2015, he conceived a new campaign, Selfie with daughter, and soon afterwards, shot into the limelight after his efforts to save the girl child invited praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki baat programme.

Jaglan says, I started the selfie with daughter campaign after being inspired by the movie Bajrangi Bhaijan. I did not realise that it would turn into such a successful exercise. More than ten lakh selfies have been uploaded so far on our online museum. In 2017 Jaglan started a campaign to affix name plates bearing the daughters names outside the villagers houses. We started this campaign under Lado Swabhimaan Utsav and till date 20,000 names plates bearing the daughters names have been put up by the families outside their houses in many states besides Haryana, he says, adding that initially some people were hesitant about this but signed up after outreach programs were conducted by us under the Bibipur Model of Women Empowerment and Village Development. In 2019, he started giving period charts to young women so that they could track their menstrual cycle.

Till date we have been able to paste period charts on the walls of 3,500 homes to help women keep track of their menstrual cycle. This helps to track any delays in the cycle, health issues, etc. so that they can be reported to the doctor, and also helps them to share the household chores while suffering period pains. In India, menstruation is considered to be impure and a menstruating woman is treated as untouchable or bad omen, a notion often compounded by superstitious beliefs and religious taboos. Any talk around menstrual health and hygiene is easily dismissed by calling it a shameful subject, he adds.

PUNJAB: Hard work by Sunil Jaglan, former sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind district of Haryana, towards women empowerment and gender equality for the last eleven-odd years is now visible on the ground in the form of over 10 lakh photographs of daughters posing with their fathers as part of a Selfie with Daughter campaign, 20,000 names-plates affixed outside houses bearing the daughters names, chart pasted on the walls of 3,500-odd homes to keep track of the menstrual cycle of the women and some 5,000 charts distributed in schools and homes across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as part of a Gaali Bandh Ghar campaign which aims to discourage the use of sexist slurs. The biggest change came into my life when on January 24, 2012, my daughter was born a stroke of midnight in a private hospital. The news was brought to me by a nurse who bore a very pale expression on her face. She whispered carefully, Beti hui hai. I was happy and while leaving the hospital I gave Rs 2000 to her, asking her to distribute sweets in the hospital. I also instructed her to inform all that a daughter had been born in the family of Bibipurs sarpanch. But she was reluctant in taking the money, saying that Rs 100 would do. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sunil Jaglan has started several campaigns like Beti hui hai  The three magic words She said she could only have accepted such a big amount if a boy had been born, Jaglan recalls. After being chosen as village sarpanch in 2010, Jaglan created a website for the village and started a campaign against female foeticide. In 2012, he kick-started a campaign called Beti hui hai (A daughter has been born)  The three magic words. The same year, he also started the Beti Padhao Campaign. As part of this campaign, we provide free books to the girls, open libraries and provide transportation to them. It was started initially in Bibipur with about 350 beneficiaries. Now it benefits 140 villages in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, he says. In 2015, he conceived a new campaign, Selfie with daughter, and soon afterwards, shot into the limelight after his efforts to save the girl child invited praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki baat programme. Jaglan says, I started the selfie with daughter campaign after being inspired by the movie Bajrangi Bhaijan. I did not realise that it would turn into such a successful exercise. More than ten lakh selfies have been uploaded so far on our online museum. In 2017 Jaglan started a campaign to affix name plates bearing the daughters names outside the villagers houses. We started this campaign under Lado Swabhimaan Utsav and till date 20,000 names plates bearing the daughters names have been put up by the families outside their houses in many states besides Haryana, he says, adding that initially some people were hesitant about this but signed up after outreach programs were conducted by us under the Bibipur Model of Women Empowerment and Village Development. In 2019, he started giving period charts to young women so that they could track their menstrual cycle. Till date we have been able to paste period charts on the walls of 3,500 homes to help women keep track of their menstrual cycle. This helps to track any delays in the cycle, health issues, etc. so that they can be reported to the doctor, and also helps them to share the household chores while suffering period pains. In India, menstruation is considered to be impure and a menstruating woman is treated as untouchable or bad omen, a notion often compounded by superstitious beliefs and religious taboos. Any talk around menstrual health and hygiene is easily dismissed by calling it a shameful subject, he adds.
By PTI

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that 189 cases of custodial death were reported in the state in the last two years.

Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia during the Question Hour, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who also holds the Home portfolio, told the House that 100 incidents of custodial death took place in 2021, while 89 cases were reported in 2022 calendar year.

Of these 189 cases registered in the last two years, 35 persons died in police custody and 154 others in judicial custody, the CM said in his written reply.

To a sub-question about the action taken by the government against erring police officers, Patel said the state government had registered FIRs (first information reports), initiated departmental inquiries, issued suspension orders and also took punitive action against such officers.

The government has given a compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the kin of each deceased, the chief minister added.

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that 189 cases of custodial death were reported in the state in the last two years. Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia during the Question Hour, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who also holds the Home portfolio, told the House that 100 incidents of custodial death took place in 2021, while 89 cases were reported in 2022 calendar year. Of these 189 cases registered in the last two years, 35 persons died in police custody and 154 others in judicial custody, the CM said in his written reply.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); To a sub-question about the action taken by the government against erring police officers, Patel said the state government had registered FIRs (first information reports), initiated departmental inquiries, issued suspension orders and also took punitive action against such officers. The government has given a compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the kin of each deceased, the chief minister added.
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, before escaping a Punjab Police crackdown on his outfit and supporters, attended five events in 10 days, and in these, he tried to radicalise Sikhs, coaxing 800-1,000 individuals to remain prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, officials said.

The radical preacher's brazen activities evinced his methodical efforts to undermine the fabric of society, they claimed and added that he during his speeches and sermons alleged that the government was leaving no stone unturned in its quest to disarm Sikhs by revoking their weapons licences.

Amritpal Singh, who took over as 'Waris Punjab De' chief after its founder actor-activist Deep Sindhu's death last year, is on the run after police launched a massive crackdown on March 18 in the state and arrested several of his supporters.

It began weeks after the preacher and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar on February 23 to secure the release of an arrested associate.

The episode raised fears over the possibility of the return of Khalistani militancy to Punjab which borders Pakistan.

ALSO READ | Amritpal 'brainwashed' youth at rehab centre to build terrorist outfit: Officials

The officials said the preacher allegedly implored youngsters to unify for securing "Khalsa rule" for the coming generations of Punjab, proclaiming that the division within the Sikh Panth made them "vulnerable to the enemy's onslaught".

The Ajnala incident had reignited fears of a resurgence of Khalistani militancy in the state, they said and pointed out that Amritpal Singh had ulterior motives to sully the peaceful ambience of Punjab, and this was exemplified by the abduction and assault on Barinder Singh.

Barinder Singh, in his complaint, had told police that Amritpal Singh's associates had abducted him from Ajnala and took him to an unknown place where he was brutally thrashed.

In Februray, Dubai-return Amritpal Singh's supporters stormed the police station to get Toofan Singh, the accused, released.

During the Ajnala incident, he openly defied authorities and did not refrain from injuring policemen in the process, according to officials.

Amritpal Singh had shown no qualms in engaging in sacrilege and vandalising gurdwaras in Kapurthala and Jalandhar, and stoking communal tension by delivering provocative speeches targeting other religions, they claimed.

He also brazenly encouraged violence and gun culture, exploited youth for his pernicious agenda, and described his private militia as the 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj', the officials alleged.

Earlier, they had said the fugitive preacher had been targeting drug addicts and rogue ex-servicemen to help him build a gang that could be easily transformed into a terrorist outfit.

The officials emphasised that had action not been taken under the National Security Act (NSA), members of 'Waris Punjab De' would have gone scot-free.

Amritpal Singh, on another occasion, allegedly threatened 'Dera' followers to eschew those who swindled their money, lied to them and bombed them, and instead love the Gurus who selflessly fought for their motherland and sacrificed their own children, they said.

CHANDIGARH: Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, before escaping a Punjab Police crackdown on his outfit and supporters, attended five events in 10 days, and in these, he tried to radicalise Sikhs, coaxing 800-1,000 individuals to remain prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, officials said. The radical preacher's brazen activities evinced his methodical efforts to undermine the fabric of society, they claimed and added that he during his speeches and sermons alleged that the government was leaving no stone unturned in its quest to disarm Sikhs by revoking their weapons licences. Amritpal Singh, who took over as 'Waris Punjab De' chief after its founder actor-activist Deep Sindhu's death last year, is on the run after police launched a massive crackdown on March 18 in the state and arrested several of his supporters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It began weeks after the preacher and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar on February 23 to secure the release of an arrested associate. The episode raised fears over the possibility of the return of Khalistani militancy to Punjab which borders Pakistan. ALSO READ | Amritpal 'brainwashed' youth at rehab centre to build terrorist outfit: Officials The officials said the preacher allegedly implored youngsters to unify for securing "Khalsa rule" for the coming generations of Punjab, proclaiming that the division within the Sikh Panth made them "vulnerable to the enemy's onslaught". The Ajnala incident had reignited fears of a resurgence of Khalistani militancy in the state, they said and pointed out that Amritpal Singh had ulterior motives to sully the peaceful ambience of Punjab, and this was exemplified by the abduction and assault on Barinder Singh. Barinder Singh, in his complaint, had told police that Amritpal Singh's associates had abducted him from Ajnala and took him to an unknown place where he was brutally thrashed. In Februray, Dubai-return Amritpal Singh's supporters stormed the police station to get Toofan Singh, the accused, released. During the Ajnala incident, he openly defied authorities and did not refrain from injuring policemen in the process, according to officials. Amritpal Singh had shown no qualms in engaging in sacrilege and vandalising gurdwaras in Kapurthala and Jalandhar, and stoking communal tension by delivering provocative speeches targeting other religions, they claimed. He also brazenly encouraged violence and gun culture, exploited youth for his pernicious agenda, and described his private militia as the 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj', the officials alleged. Earlier, they had said the fugitive preacher had been targeting drug addicts and rogue ex-servicemen to help him build a gang that could be easily transformed into a terrorist outfit. The officials emphasised that had action not been taken under the National Security Act (NSA), members of 'Waris Punjab De' would have gone scot-free. Amritpal Singh, on another occasion, allegedly threatened 'Dera' followers to eschew those who swindled their money, lied to them and bombed them, and instead love the Gurus who selflessly fought for their motherland and sacrificed their own children, they said.
Buffalo residents deserve to know that if their encounters with city police officers go south  whether shots are fired or faces are punched  any possible misconduct will come before a civilian review board.

Citizens need to be assured that a thorough investigation will be undertaken, with all questions answered, and that offending officers wont simply be let off the hook.

And no matter what the police union  or our elected officials  say, Buffalo should have had a robust civilian review board years ago. This need became especially urgent following the 2020 protests over policing and George Floyds death at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.

At that time, University Council Member Rasheed Wyatt was able to collect enough support to pass a resolution to get a vote to establish one. But he met with opposition from fellow Council members who had doubts about finding enough neutral people to place on the board.

North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. is one of the Council members who did not support Wyatts resolution. He may be getting stuck in the past, harkening back to the experience of the Councils ill-fated 11-member Police Advisory Board. That board was formed in 2018 of city residents to convene public meetings, seek community input on police reforms and make recommendations. It was a disaster. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong, from internal strife to the resignation of five board members in one month and the boards unwillingness to comply with the Council confirming new members.

Lets start over.

Besides the new 11-member Community Police Advisory Committee of city residents to listen to community members, research and develop policy proposals and reforms, add a citizen review board that would extend beyond a forum. Make it work as intended, modeled after legislation that created the Syracuse Review Board. It would be more independent than the Councils PAB and the citys Commission on Citizens Rights and Community Relations.

The teeth in the citizen review board would be razor-sharp with subpoena power, independent counsel and independent investigators  who would not be members of the Buffalo Police Department. There is concern over allowing such a board the power to bring a police officer up for discipline, including removal from the force, but even without this ability, the board would be able to uncover problems that could be addressed elsewhere.

The Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney Generals Office confirmed in April 2021 that Buffalo can establish a civilian review board to investigate allegations of police misconduct. Such boards have been established in Rochester and Syracuse, with expected union opposition  indeed, Buffalo Police Benevolent Association President John T. Evans said, We would exhaust every resource to fight it.

That is exactly the wrong attitude from an authority pledged to protect citizens. Instead of creating barriers to better communications and transparency, Buffalos police department should build bridges: by supporting the establishment of a true civilian review board.

  

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.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday held a meeting with opposition leaders and deliberated on the strategy going forward in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 defamation case.

Besides the Congress, senior leaders of parties such as the DMK, National Conference, RSP, VCK, JDU, CPI(M), SP, SS, IUML, AAP and CPI attended the meeting at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharge's office inside Parliament complex.

The opposition parties have also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

A court in Surat on Thursday sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in the case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks.

ALSO READ| Will Rahul be disqualified as MP after court verdict? Not so fast, says constitutional expert

The court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had on Thursday asserted that it is not just a legal issue but also a serious political matter linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," he had said.

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday held a meeting with opposition leaders and deliberated on the strategy going forward in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 defamation case. Besides the Congress, senior leaders of parties such as the DMK, National Conference, RSP, VCK, JDU, CPI(M), SP, SS, IUML, AAP and CPI attended the meeting at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharge's office inside Parliament complex. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A court in Surat on Thursday sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in the case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks. ALSO READ| Will Rahul be disqualified as MP after court verdict? Not so fast, says constitutional expert The court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had on Thursday asserted that it is not just a legal issue but also a serious political matter linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said. "This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," he had said.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Following senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case on Thursday, the party has planned mega protests in the coming days, taking all like-minded parties along.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has called a meeting of the opposition parties on Friday, following which the MPs will march to the Vijay Chowk. On Friday evening, all the state Congress Presidents and legislative party leaders have been called for a meeting to chalk out plans for nation-wide protests.

According to sources, the Congress leadership has also sought time to meet President Droupadi Murmu on this issue.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of Congress MPs and steering committee members held at Kharge's residence.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "This is not just a legal issue, but political as well since the ruling party wants to intimidate the opposition leaders."

On Thursday morning, Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "This government is clearly relying on one set of tactics to throttle opposition voices inside the Parliament, and a second set of tactics outside it. So if you say something outside the Parliament, they wouldn't allow the House to run."

NEW DELHI: Following senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case on Thursday, the party has planned mega protests in the coming days, taking all like-minded parties along. Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has called a meeting of the opposition parties on Friday, following which the MPs will march to the Vijay Chowk. On Friday evening, all the state Congress Presidents and legislative party leaders have been called for a meeting to chalk out plans for nation-wide protests. According to sources, the Congress leadership has also sought time to meet President Droupadi Murmu on this issue.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The decisions were taken at a meeting of Congress MPs and steering committee members held at Kharge's residence. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "This is not just a legal issue, but political as well since the ruling party wants to intimidate the opposition leaders." On Thursday morning, Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict. The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "This government is clearly relying on one set of tactics to throttle opposition voices inside the Parliament, and a second set of tactics outside it. So if you say something outside the Parliament, they wouldn't allow the House to run."
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday welcomed the statements of opposition leaders condemning Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha and said it was now time for the party to take on the job of building the opposition unity in a "systematic way".

The grand old party also said it has been coordinating with various opposition parties in Parliament and now the coordination has to be outside the two Houses as well.

Leaders of almost all opposition parties on Friday rallied around Rahul Gandhi, after he was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Gujarat court in a defamation case, and accused the BJP of doing "vindictive politics."

The Congress said it will fight the battle legally and politically for its former president.

It got the support of parties such as the TMC, AAP, Samajwadi Party, and BRS, which had earlier said they would maintain equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress.

Addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party welcomes the statements by opposition leaders condemning the action against Gandhi.

It was noted today that many opposition parties have condemned the action taken by the government unilaterally with such lightning speed to disqualify Rahul Gandhi, he said.

"Yes, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Everyday Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been meeting floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. So we are coordinating in Parliament and now coordination has to be outside Parliament," he said after a meeting of top brass of the party, including party chief Kharge and former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi.

"It is also heartening to note that parties which were not part of this floor coordination in Parliament have now issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," Ramesh said, adding that the Congress welcomes the statement of support of all opposition leaders.

State units and frontal organisations of the Congress will launch different programmes across the country and they will begin from Monday with a countrywide agitation, he said.

"We will go all over the country saying that Rahul Gandhi has been deliberately disqualified, as he has been raising his voice against the Modi government on various issues including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and the government's intentions and policies," Ramesh said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party TMC, has been at odds with the Congress over remarks made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and has been absent in opposition marches held over the last few weeks, reacted strongly against Gandhi's disqualification.

"In PM (Narendra) Modi's New India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the Cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," Banerjee tweeted.

"Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she added.

Support for Gandhi came from parties which have stood by the Congress through the last few weeks as the party led the opposition on the Adani issue.

Voices of anger, shock and disbelief came from parties such as the RJD, JMM, CPI, CPI-M, Shiv Sena, DMK, and NCP, among others.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Gandhi's disqualification as shocking and called on the public to rise against the BJP's "arrogant" power.

"The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power," he said in a tweet.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called for "fighting on the street" against the BJP.

"The person who has alleged defamation should actually accuse those of it who betrayed their country and fled abroad, causing harm to their name and fame," he said.

BRS national president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said that the disqualification of Gandhi was a "black day" in the history of Indian democracy and shows the height of Narendra Modi's "arrogance and dictatorship".

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday welcomed the statements of opposition leaders condemning Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha and said it was now time for the party to take on the job of building the opposition unity in a "systematic way". The grand old party also said it has been coordinating with various opposition parties in Parliament and now the coordination has to be outside the two Houses as well. Leaders of almost all opposition parties on Friday rallied around Rahul Gandhi, after he was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Gujarat court in a defamation case, and accused the BJP of doing "vindictive politics."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Congress said it will fight the battle legally and politically for its former president. It got the support of parties such as the TMC, AAP, Samajwadi Party, and BRS, which had earlier said they would maintain equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress. Addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party welcomes the statements by opposition leaders condemning the action against Gandhi. It was noted today that many opposition parties have condemned the action taken by the government unilaterally with such lightning speed to disqualify Rahul Gandhi, he said. "Yes, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Everyday Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been meeting floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. So we are coordinating in Parliament and now coordination has to be outside Parliament," he said after a meeting of top brass of the party, including party chief Kharge and former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi. "It is also heartening to note that parties which were not part of this floor coordination in Parliament have now issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," Ramesh said, adding that the Congress welcomes the statement of support of all opposition leaders. State units and frontal organisations of the Congress will launch different programmes across the country and they will begin from Monday with a countrywide agitation, he said. "We will go all over the country saying that Rahul Gandhi has been deliberately disqualified, as he has been raising his voice against the Modi government on various issues including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and the government's intentions and policies," Ramesh said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party TMC, has been at odds with the Congress over remarks made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and has been absent in opposition marches held over the last few weeks, reacted strongly against Gandhi's disqualification. "In PM (Narendra) Modi's New India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the Cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," Banerjee tweeted. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she added. Support for Gandhi came from parties which have stood by the Congress through the last few weeks as the party led the opposition on the Adani issue. Voices of anger, shock and disbelief came from parties such as the RJD, JMM, CPI, CPI-M, Shiv Sena, DMK, and NCP, among others. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Gandhi's disqualification as shocking and called on the public to rise against the BJP's "arrogant" power. "The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power," he said in a tweet. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called for "fighting on the street" against the BJP. "The person who has alleged defamation should actually accuse those of it who betrayed their country and fled abroad, causing harm to their name and fame," he said. BRS national president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said that the disqualification of Gandhi was a "black day" in the history of Indian democracy and shows the height of Narendra Modi's "arrogance and dictatorship".
Preetha Nair By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court for two years in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification kicked in from March 23, the day of his conviction, a notice by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said.

In his first response, Rahul said in a tweet, Im fighting for the voice of India. Im ready to pay any price. Shocked by the decision, the Congress party decided to hit the streets and take the matter to the people. At a high-level meeting, the party decided to hold mass agitations across the country from Monday. From Monday, party workers will hold protests to save democracy across states, districts, block and panchayat levels, said party leader Jairam Ramesh.

While the top brass of the party came out all guns blazing against the BJP, the mood was aptly captured by its national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi who said the issue before the Congress was more political than legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself, he said.

Rahul wont be able to fight elections for eight years unless he gets a stay on conviction. We are confident we will get a stay on conviction and will remove the very basis of this disqualification, said Singhvi. It takes time to draft and file the appeal, he added, saying They (govt) are taking advantage of that time through these disqualification notices but we have full faith in the law.

Singhvi pointed to some disturbing features in the disqualification. Though the conviction is by a court, in Rahuls case, the disqualification under Article 103 of the Constitution has to be by the President of India and under 103, the President has to first get the recommendation from the EC before disqualification. Admittedly it was not done, he said.

Echoing him, Ramesh said, Rahul is paying the price for the success of the Yatra and for questioning Adanis corruption and the Modi governments misdeeds.

In his pushback, BJP leader and I&B minister Anurag Thakur called Rahul a habitual loose cannon, recalling he had submitted a written apology to the Supreme Court for his intemperate remarks in 2018. Thakur went on to allege that Rahul considers himself above Parliament, the government, the judicial system and the country. He added that the Gandhi scion is on bail in as many as seven cases.

ALSO READ | Will fight 'legally and politically': Congress on Rahul's LS disqualification

Barred from contesting polls

The Representation of the People Act, 1951, the law that governs elections in India, mandates the disqualification of any politician who is convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years. The law also mandates that a convicted legislator cannot contest elections for six years after the end of their jail sentence. Rahul Gandhi faces the risk of not being able to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 if his conviction is not suspended or overturned by a higher court before the elections. Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Focus back on vacant Wayanad seat

If Rahul does not get a favourable verdict from a higher court, his Wayanad constituency in Kerala would witness a bypoll, as general elections are more than a year away. If the Election Commission of India decides to hold by-elections in Wayanad, it could be along with the Karnataka Assembly polls, the announcement of which is expected in April. Wayanad is a safe seat for Congress, which is why Rahul switched to it from Amethi in UP. Though neither the LDF nor the UDF have started discussions on candidates, the seat would witness a strong fight if the bypoll is held.

Rahul's history with the RP Act

In 2013, the top court, in its judgement in the Lily Thomas case, had struck down section 8(4) of the RP Act that gave a convicted lawmaker the power to remain in office on the grounds that appeals have been filed within three months of the conviction. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, in 2013, had attempted to nullify the Supreme Court ruling striking down the RP Act provision which gave protection from disqualification for three months. Incidentally, it was Gandhi who had opposed the ordinance brought by the Congress party in a press conference where he proceeded to tear it as a mark of protest, also terming it "complete nonsense."

WATCH:

How are various leaders reacting to Gandhi's disqualification?

Mamata Banerjee

The West Bengal CM alleged that the Opposition has become the prime target of the BJP under PM Modi's 'New India'. Banerjee further said that while BJP leaders with criminal records are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she added.

Bhupender Yadav

The Union Minister alleged that Rahul Gandhi abused the OBC community by calling the entire community 'chor'. He added that freedom of speech does not allow anyone to defame or insult a community. Yadav further claimed that Gandhi is not even seeking an apology for his remarks.

KC Venugopal

The Congress MP alleged that the day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against the Adani issue and the PM, a conspiracy was hatched to silence Gandhi. He claimed that this was a clear case of the anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude of the BJP govt.

Jairam Ramesh

"We will fight this battle both legally & politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," tweeted the Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications.

Anurag Thakur

The Union Minister says, "Rahul Gandhi is on a bail in a corruption case of National Herald...He is habitual of going far from the truth in Parliament...I think Rahul Gandhi believes he's above Parliament, law, country, he's privileged & Gandhi family can do anything."

Shashi Tharoor

"Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," tweeted the Congress MP.

#RahulGandhi's disqualification effective from date of his conviction March 23: Lok Sabha Secretariat. pic.twitter.com/s8jOdIkRam

 The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 24, 2023

Rahul had earlier attended the Lok Sabha session on Friday. However, he could not speak as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, adjourned the proceedings till noon due to protests by both the Opposition and Treasury Benches. The House witnessed noisy scenes as Congress members demanded that Rahul be allowed to speak.

#WATCH | UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrives at the residence of Rahul Gandhi in Delhi pic.twitter.com/IABtmJZKRf

Earlier, there had been differing views on whether the Congress leader would be disqualified as an MP following his conviction. Constitutional expert PDT Achary told The New Indian Express that although disqualification takes effect from the date of conviction, it is relatable to the sentence.

Now that the trial court has suspended the sentence for 30 days, he can appeal to the appellate court within 30 days. If the appellate court stays both conviction and sentence, then the disqualification will also get suspended, he said.

A Surat court on Thursday sentenced the Wayanad MP to two years in prison over a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remarks during an election speech in Kolar in Karnataka. However, the trial court suspended Gandhi's sentence for 30 days.

On Thursday, Congress MP and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said that the party will challenge the order in a higher court and the conviction was erroneous and unsustainable. According to sources, the party is going all out to challenge the order and has decided to throw its weight behind the former Congress President. The party is consulting Constitutional and top legal experts, said a senior leader.

The party has also decided to intensify protests across the country against the court order. While the party called a meeting of steering committee members, CLP leaders, and others for a meeting in the evening, Opposition leaders will march to Vijay Chowk at noon.

ALSO READ | No automatic disqualification: Achary

(With additional inputs from online desk)

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court for two years in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification kicked in from March 23, the day of his conviction, a notice by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said. In his first response, Rahul said in a tweet, Im fighting for the voice of India. Im ready to pay any price. Shocked by the decision, the Congress party decided to hit the streets and take the matter to the people. At a high-level meeting, the party decided to hold mass agitations across the country from Monday. From Monday, party workers will hold protests to save democracy across states, districts, block and panchayat levels, said party leader Jairam Ramesh. While the top brass of the party came out all guns blazing against the BJP, the mood was aptly captured by its national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi who said the issue before the Congress was more political than legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Rahul wont be able to fight elections for eight years unless he gets a stay on conviction. We are confident we will get a stay on conviction and will remove the very basis of this disqualification, said Singhvi. It takes time to draft and file the appeal, he added, saying They (govt) are taking advantage of that time through these disqualification notices but we have full faith in the law. Singhvi pointed to some disturbing features in the disqualification. Though the conviction is by a court, in Rahuls case, the disqualification under Article 103 of the Constitution has to be by the President of India and under 103, the President has to first get the recommendation from the EC before disqualification. Admittedly it was not done, he said. Echoing him, Ramesh said, Rahul is paying the price for the success of the Yatra and for questioning Adanis corruption and the Modi governments misdeeds. In his pushback, BJP leader and I&B minister Anurag Thakur called Rahul a habitual loose cannon, recalling he had submitted a written apology to the Supreme Court for his intemperate remarks in 2018. Thakur went on to allege that Rahul considers himself above Parliament, the government, the judicial system and the country. He added that the Gandhi scion is on bail in as many as seven cases. ALSO READ | Will fight 'legally and politically': Congress on Rahul's LS disqualification Barred from contesting polls The Representation of the People Act, 1951, the law that governs elections in India, mandates the disqualification of any politician who is convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years. The law also mandates that a convicted legislator cannot contest elections for six years after the end of their jail sentence. Rahul Gandhi faces the risk of not being able to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 if his conviction is not suspended or overturned by a higher court before the elections. Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. Focus back on vacant Wayanad seat If Rahul does not get a favourable verdict from a higher court, his Wayanad constituency in Kerala would witness a bypoll, as general elections are more than a year away. If the Election Commission of India decides to hold by-elections in Wayanad, it could be along with the Karnataka Assembly polls, the announcement of which is expected in April. Wayanad is a safe seat for Congress, which is why Rahul switched to it from Amethi in UP. Though neither the LDF nor the UDF have started discussions on candidates, the seat would witness a strong fight if the bypoll is held. Rahul's history with the RP Act In 2013, the top court, in its judgement in the Lily Thomas case, had struck down section 8(4) of the RP Act that gave a convicted lawmaker the power to remain in office on the grounds that appeals have been filed within three months of the conviction. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, in 2013, had attempted to nullify the Supreme Court ruling striking down the RP Act provision which gave protection from disqualification for three months. Incidentally, it was Gandhi who had opposed the ordinance brought by the Congress party in a press conference where he proceeded to tear it as a mark of protest, also terming it "complete nonsense." WATCH: How are various leaders reacting to Gandhi's disqualification? Mamata Banerjee The West Bengal CM alleged that the Opposition has become the prime target of the BJP under PM Modi's 'New India'. Banerjee further said that while BJP leaders with criminal records are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she added. Bhupender Yadav The Union Minister alleged that Rahul Gandhi abused the OBC community by calling the entire community 'chor'. He added that freedom of speech does not allow anyone to defame or insult a community. Yadav further claimed that Gandhi is not even seeking an apology for his remarks. KC Venugopal The Congress MP alleged that the day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against the Adani issue and the PM, a conspiracy was hatched to silence Gandhi. He claimed that this was a clear case of the anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude of the BJP govt. Jairam Ramesh "We will fight this battle both legally & politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," tweeted the Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications. Anurag Thakur The Union Minister says, "Rahul Gandhi is on a bail in a corruption case of National Herald...He is habitual of going far from the truth in Parliament...I think Rahul Gandhi believes he's above Parliament, law, country, he's privileged & Gandhi family can do anything." Shashi Tharoor "Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," tweeted the Congress MP. #RahulGandhi's disqualification effective from date of his conviction March 23: Lok Sabha Secretariat. pic.twitter.com/s8jOdIkRam  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 24, 2023 Rahul had earlier attended the Lok Sabha session on Friday. However, he could not speak as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, adjourned the proceedings till noon due to protests by both the Opposition and Treasury Benches. The House witnessed noisy scenes as Congress members demanded that Rahul be allowed to speak. #WATCH | UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrives at the residence of Rahul Gandhi in Delhi pic.twitter.com/IABtmJZKRf  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023 Earlier, there had been differing views on whether the Congress leader would be disqualified as an MP following his conviction. Constitutional expert PDT Achary told The New Indian Express that although disqualification takes effect from the date of conviction, it is relatable to the sentence. Now that the trial court has suspended the sentence for 30 days, he can appeal to the appellate court within 30 days. If the appellate court stays both conviction and sentence, then the disqualification will also get suspended, he said. A Surat court on Thursday sentenced the Wayanad MP to two years in prison over a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remarks during an election speech in Kolar in Karnataka. However, the trial court suspended Gandhi's sentence for 30 days. On Thursday, Congress MP and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said that the party will challenge the order in a higher court and the conviction was erroneous and unsustainable. According to sources, the party is going all out to challenge the order and has decided to throw its weight behind the former Congress President. The party is consulting Constitutional and top legal experts, said a senior leader. The party has also decided to intensify protests across the country against the court order. While the party called a meeting of steering committee members, CLP leaders, and others for a meeting in the evening, Opposition leaders will march to Vijay Chowk at noon. ALSO READ | No automatic disqualification: Achary (With additional inputs from online desk)
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: Before the Surat court convicted him, Rahul Gandhi got advise from senior leaders to apologize for his remarks but he declined to do so.

The court convicted Rahul for his "all thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark made in Karnataka's Kolar district ahead of the 2019 national election. As a sequel, Rahul was on Friday disqualified as Lok Sabha MP.

A senior Congres leader claimed that leaders in the Gujarat unit tried to persuade Rahul to apologize before the court convicted him for two years. But Rahul declined to pay heed.

Rahul Gandhi was firm in his stand. He responded, "I am not going to apologize, I have done nothing wrong, and I am ready for whatever punishment the court imposed."

The Congress president of Surat and Rahul Gandhi's bail guarantor, Hasmukh Desai told The New Indian Express, "When Rahul Gandhi was on his way to the court from the airport, senior lawyers tried to convince him that these are not serious crimes and that if he apologized to the court, the court might forgive him and there would be no punishment, but Rahul Gandhi flatly refused to say, Sorry,

Hasmukh Desai claims that after the lawyers failed to persuade Rahul Gandhi, some leaders tried to persuade him outside of court.

WATCH |

Desai said, Later, when Rahul arrived at the court, some senior Congress leaders persuaded him to apologize, saying that there is government machinery behind him to defame him, and those people are attempting to cancel his MP post.

It is necessary for you to be in parliament," they explained. But Rahul Gandhi stuck to his stand.

Hasmukh Desai asserts that the worry expressed by senior Congress officials yesterday has come true today. The court has given the 30 days to file an appeal against the ruling, but the BJP government revoked Rahul Gandhi's membership in the Lok Sabha by misusing power.

It's important to note that Rahul Gandhi's bail on an Rs. 15,000 bond is being guaranteed by Hasmukh Desai, the president of the Surat Congress.

AHMEDABAD: Before the Surat court convicted him, Rahul Gandhi got advise from senior leaders to apologize for his remarks but he declined to do so. The court convicted Rahul for his "all thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark made in Karnataka's Kolar district ahead of the 2019 national election. As a sequel, Rahul was on Friday disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. A senior Congres leader claimed that leaders in the Gujarat unit tried to persuade Rahul to apologize before the court convicted him for two years. But Rahul declined to pay heed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Rahul Gandhi was firm in his stand. He responded, "I am not going to apologize, I have done nothing wrong, and I am ready for whatever punishment the court imposed." The Congress president of Surat and Rahul Gandhi's bail guarantor, Hasmukh Desai told The New Indian Express, "When Rahul Gandhi was on his way to the court from the airport, senior lawyers tried to convince him that these are not serious crimes and that if he apologized to the court, the court might forgive him and there would be no punishment, but Rahul Gandhi flatly refused to say, Sorry, Hasmukh Desai claims that after the lawyers failed to persuade Rahul Gandhi, some leaders tried to persuade him outside of court. WATCH | Desai said, Later, when Rahul arrived at the court, some senior Congress leaders persuaded him to apologize, saying that there is government machinery behind him to defame him, and those people are attempting to cancel his MP post. It is necessary for you to be in parliament," they explained. But Rahul Gandhi stuck to his stand. Hasmukh Desai asserts that the worry expressed by senior Congress officials yesterday has come true today. The court has given the 30 days to file an appeal against the ruling, but the BJP government revoked Rahul Gandhi's membership in the Lok Sabha by misusing power. It's important to note that Rahul Gandhi's bail on an Rs. 15,000 bond is being guaranteed by Hasmukh Desai, the president of the Surat Congress.
Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: The advocate who filed defamation case against Rahul Gandhi revealed that the building housing the Jharkhand Congress office was donated by his grandfather with a surname 'Modi.'

Rahul Gandhi has been convicted by a Surat court for his why 'all thieves have Modi as the common surname' remark. A day after he was sentenced to undergo two years in prison for his 2019 remark, Rahul was disqualified from the parliament on Friday.

Advocate Pradeep Modi, who filed the case against Rahul, said that his grandfather Shivnarayan Modi was an office-bearer of the Congress party. The party functioned from his house in Ranchi at that time. Several top leaders including M K Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru used to stay in the house whenever they visited Ranchi, he said.

When my grandfather was put in Hazaribagh jail in 1942, he purchased the building at Shraddhanand Road in Ranchi while being in jail and donated it to the Congress party, which is currently known as Congress Bhawan, said Pradeep Modi. His great-grandfathers came to Ranchi in 1868 and established business here, he recalled.

He filed the defamation case hurt by the statement made by Rahul Gandhi. "I demand speedy trial in the case," the advocate said.



RANCHI: The advocate who filed defamation case against Rahul Gandhi revealed that the building housing the Jharkhand Congress office was donated by his grandfather with a surname 'Modi.' Rahul Gandhi has been convicted by a Surat court for his why 'all thieves have Modi as the common surname' remark. A day after he was sentenced to undergo two years in prison for his 2019 remark, Rahul was disqualified from the parliament on Friday. Advocate Pradeep Modi, who filed the case against Rahul, said that his grandfather Shivnarayan Modi was an office-bearer of the Congress party. The party functioned from his house in Ranchi at that time. Several top leaders including M K Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru used to stay in the house whenever they visited Ranchi, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When my grandfather was put in Hazaribagh jail in 1942, he purchased the building at Shraddhanand Road in Ranchi while being in jail and donated it to the Congress party, which is currently known as Congress Bhawan, said Pradeep Modi. His great-grandfathers came to Ranchi in 1868 and established business here, he recalled. He filed the defamation case hurt by the statement made by Rahul Gandhi. "I demand speedy trial in the case," the advocate said.
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In a major development, the Indian Patents Office on Thursday rejected global pharma major Johnson and Johnsons (J&J) application seeking an extension to its patent on anti-Tuberculosis (TB) drug Bedaquiline beyond July 2023.

The news, which came on the eve of World TB Day, will help bring down the treatment cost for the disease that affects the lungs. The development will break the monopoly of the pharma major on the key anti-Tuberculosis drug.

This will open doors for Indian manufacturers to manufacture generic medicines at an affordable cost. The life-saving drug is combined with other medicines to treat tuberculosis when the first line of treatment fails. The judgment was given in a plea filed by two TB survivors, Nandita Venkatesan, a two-time TB survivor, and Phumeza Tisile, another TB survivor from South Africa.

The patent office invoked Section 3 (d) in its judgment as the Indian patent law does not allow the evergreening of patents and prevents pharma majors from extending the patent beyond the stipulated monopoly on the drug. Tweeting the announcement, Venkatesan said, We did it! In a landmark verdict, the Indian Patent Office rejected Johnson and Johnsons patent application to extend the monopoly on key anti-TB drug #Bedaquiline! @ptisile and I  both of us TBsurvivors  had filed pre-grant opposition against the application.

Bedaquiline is a key anti-TB drug for people with severe TB that has been shown to improve cure rates and have lesser side effects, she tweeted. Venkatesan, in a statement by Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said, My fellow TB survivor Phumeza Tisile from South Africa and I filed a patent challenge against J&J in 2019, because we wanted to ensure that the safer, oral and more efficacious drug Bedaquiline was available to all people who need it and to make sure that no one ever has to endure side effects like we did, such as permanent hearing loss.

A total of 21.4 lakh tuberculosis (TB) cases were notified in India in 2021  18 per cent higher than in 2020  with over 22 crore people screened nationwide for early detection and treatment, according to the WHOS Global TB report. With 28 per cent of cases, India was among the eight countries accounting for more than two-thirds (or 68.3 per cent) of the total TB patients count.

No ever-greening, drug prices set to fall

Indian Patents Office rejects J&J request for for an extension of its patent on anti-TB drug beyond July 2023

The decision will lower the cost as it will break the monopoly of the pharma major

The patent office in its judgment says the Indian law doesnt allow the evergreening of patents



NEW DELHI: In a major development, the Indian Patents Office on Thursday rejected global pharma major Johnson and Johnsons (J&J) application seeking an extension to its patent on anti-Tuberculosis (TB) drug Bedaquiline beyond July 2023. The news, which came on the eve of World TB Day, will help bring down the treatment cost for the disease that affects the lungs. The development will break the monopoly of the pharma major on the key anti-Tuberculosis drug. This will open doors for Indian manufacturers to manufacture generic medicines at an affordable cost. The life-saving drug is combined with other medicines to treat tuberculosis when the first line of treatment fails. The judgment was given in a plea filed by two TB survivors, Nandita Venkatesan, a two-time TB survivor, and Phumeza Tisile, another TB survivor from South Africa.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The patent office invoked Section 3 (d) in its judgment as the Indian patent law does not allow the evergreening of patents and prevents pharma majors from extending the patent beyond the stipulated monopoly on the drug. Tweeting the announcement, Venkatesan said, We did it! In a landmark verdict, the Indian Patent Office rejected Johnson and Johnsons patent application to extend the monopoly on key anti-TB drug #Bedaquiline! @ptisile and I  both of us TBsurvivors  had filed pre-grant opposition against the application. Bedaquiline is a key anti-TB drug for people with severe TB that has been shown to improve cure rates and have lesser side effects, she tweeted. Venkatesan, in a statement by Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said, My fellow TB survivor Phumeza Tisile from South Africa and I filed a patent challenge against J&J in 2019, because we wanted to ensure that the safer, oral and more efficacious drug Bedaquiline was available to all people who need it and to make sure that no one ever has to endure side effects like we did, such as permanent hearing loss. A total of 21.4 lakh tuberculosis (TB) cases were notified in India in 2021  18 per cent higher than in 2020  with over 22 crore people screened nationwide for early detection and treatment, according to the WHOS Global TB report. With 28 per cent of cases, India was among the eight countries accounting for more than two-thirds (or 68.3 per cent) of the total TB patients count. No ever-greening, drug prices set to fall Indian Patents Office rejects J&J request for for an extension of its patent on anti-TB drug beyond July 2023 The decision will lower the cost as it will break the monopoly of the pharma major The patent office in its judgment says the Indian law doesnt allow the evergreening of patents
Pronab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: Former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested last year in connection with alleged hiring irregularities in schools, on Thursday dropped the names of Suvendu Adhikari, leader of Opposition, Dilip Ghosh, former BJP state president, and Sujan Chakrabarty, CPMs

central committee member, linking them to teacher recruitment scam.

Chatterjee, while being produced in a Kolkata court, alleged that the three leaders had recommended several names for jobs in schools but he did not entertain them. Parthas allegation came minutes after Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh tweeted saying whether these three leaders will be brought under the scanner of the investigating agencies.

Dilip Ghosh, Suvendu Adhikari and Sujan Chakrabarty are talking big. Look at them. In north Bengal what did they do? Read the CAGs report in 2009-2010. Ask Suvendu what he did in 2011-12. Am being the education minister, I received a lot of recommendations from them, but I declined to help because I was not authorised to recruit anyone. There were recruitment boards to look after recruitment in schools. I couldnt even offer assistance because that would have been unlawful, said Chatterjee.

Asked whether there was any connection between Chatterjees allegation and his tweet, Kunal Ghosh said: I have been saying these on many occasions previously. Even last night, I raised the same issue. How should I know what Chatterjee will allege in court?

During the hearing, Chatterjee pleaded before the magistrate. I was not the recruiting authority. Recruitment would have been overseen by three recruitment boards and I was not in any. Where will I flee? Only political leaders are influential? asked Chatterjee.

Chatterjee was remanded to judicial custody till March 30. Reacting to his allegation, BJPs Ghosh said Chatterjee has lost his mental balance as he is behind the bars. I was not in politics during the period he mentioned. I met him first time in the Assembly in 2016. If he can prove his allegation against me, I will go to jail, he said.

Recruitment of over 3,500 teachers unlawful

Chatterjee and many top-level functionaries of education department, including a

vice-chancellor of north Bengal University, were arrested in the past one year in connection with the recruitment scam. The Kolkata High Court ordered recruitment of more than 3,500 teachers and non-teaching staffs unlawful and asked the education department to terminate them immediately.

ALSO WATCH |





KOLKATA: Former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested last year in connection with alleged hiring irregularities in schools, on Thursday dropped the names of Suvendu Adhikari, leader of Opposition, Dilip Ghosh, former BJP state president, and Sujan Chakrabarty, CPMs central committee member, linking them to teacher recruitment scam. Chatterjee, while being produced in a Kolkata court, alleged that the three leaders had recommended several names for jobs in schools but he did not entertain them. Parthas allegation came minutes after Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh tweeted saying whether these three leaders will be brought under the scanner of the investigating agencies. Dilip Ghosh, Suvendu Adhikari and Sujan Chakrabarty are talking big. Look at them. In north Bengal what did they do? Read the CAGs report in 2009-2010. Ask Suvendu what he did in 2011-12. Am being the education minister, I received a lot of recommendations from them, but I declined to help because I was not authorised to recruit anyone. There were recruitment boards to look after recruitment in schools. I couldnt even offer assistance because that would have been unlawful, said Chatterjee.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asked whether there was any connection between Chatterjees allegation and his tweet, Kunal Ghosh said: I have been saying these on many occasions previously. Even last night, I raised the same issue. How should I know what Chatterjee will allege in court? During the hearing, Chatterjee pleaded before the magistrate. I was not the recruiting authority. Recruitment would have been overseen by three recruitment boards and I was not in any. Where will I flee? Only political leaders are influential? asked Chatterjee. Chatterjee was remanded to judicial custody till March 30. Reacting to his allegation, BJPs Ghosh said Chatterjee has lost his mental balance as he is behind the bars. I was not in politics during the period he mentioned. I met him first time in the Assembly in 2016. If he can prove his allegation against me, I will go to jail, he said. Recruitment of over 3,500 teachers unlawful Chatterjee and many top-level functionaries of education department, including a vice-chancellor of north Bengal University, were arrested in the past one year in connection with the recruitment scam. The Kolkata High Court ordered recruitment of more than 3,500 teachers and non-teaching staffs unlawful and asked the education department to terminate them immediately. ALSO WATCH |
Narendra Sethi By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: In a move that could cheer up liquor lovers, the Uttarakhand government has amended its excise policy to allow residents of the state to open authorised personal bars in their homes  for a fee.

Permit holders will be able to stock up to 60 litres of English liquor (whisky, imported and Indian scotch, beer) equivalent to 80 bottles at their home bars against 9 litres (12 bottles) now, excise secretary Harichandra Semwal told TNIE.

An annual fee of Rs 12,000 will have to be paid for the licence. Besides, the excise department will collect an amount of Rs 50,000 as guarantee at the time of applying for the personal bar permit.

Only those who have been regularly filing income tax returns (for at least the past five years) will be able to apply. Applications will have to be submitted online and approved by the district magistrate.

The licence comes with a set of conditions, though.

The licencee can keep only the liquor meant for civilian use. Action will be taken if the liquor is obtained from military canteens or other states. The licence terms also stipulate that young men or women below the age of 21 years should not be allowed entry to the personal bar premises.

There are set limits for separate types of liquor that can be kept at individual bars. According to the terms and conditions, alcohol made in India and Indian Scotch cannot exceed nine litres each. In the case of imported liquor, the limit is 18 litres (two boxes). Only one box of wine can be kept in a licenced home bar, while the maximum allowed quantity of beer is 15.6 litres. Uttar Pradesh, too, allows licensed home bars in the state.

DEHRADUN: In a move that could cheer up liquor lovers, the Uttarakhand government has amended its excise policy to allow residents of the state to open authorised personal bars in their homes  for a fee. Permit holders will be able to stock up to 60 litres of English liquor (whisky, imported and Indian scotch, beer) equivalent to 80 bottles at their home bars against 9 litres (12 bottles) now, excise secretary Harichandra Semwal told TNIE. An annual fee of Rs 12,000 will have to be paid for the licence. Besides, the excise department will collect an amount of Rs 50,000 as guarantee at the time of applying for the personal bar permit. Only those who have been regularly filing income tax returns (for at least the past five years) will be able to apply. Applications will have to be submitted online and approved by the district magistrate. The licence comes with a set of conditions, though.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The licencee can keep only the liquor meant for civilian use. Action will be taken if the liquor is obtained from military canteens or other states. The licence terms also stipulate that young men or women below the age of 21 years should not be allowed entry to the personal bar premises. There are set limits for separate types of liquor that can be kept at individual bars. According to the terms and conditions, alcohol made in India and Indian Scotch cannot exceed nine litres each. In the case of imported liquor, the limit is 18 litres (two boxes). Only one box of wine can be kept in a licenced home bar, while the maximum allowed quantity of beer is 15.6 litres. Uttar Pradesh, too, allows licensed home bars in the state.
The big change is underway. It will make a difference.

Pushed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the University at Buffalo is on its way to becoming a bigger, more influential, more diverse institution.

When complete, and if strategically implemented, the expansion will serve the interests of all Western New York and the rest of the state, as well. It will also amplify the benefits that could come to the region from the federal governments recently passed CHIPS and Science Act.

As part of the states effort, UB is on a hiring spree. Within the next two years, it could see its faculty expand by as much as 10% as part of a push to improve its standing among top public research universities. The effort is meant, in part, to attract top scholars and researchers whose work can help to secure bigger federal grants.

That, in turn, is expected to power the regional economy by spurring the creation of new high-potential businesses and attracting others that want to tap into UBs expertise. Thats a path to growth  one the state and university should have embarked upon years ago.

The project is driven by the $1 billion research challenge that Hochul issued last year to UB and Stony Brook University. In designating the two campuses as flagships of the SUNY system, the governor devoted $12 million for hiring at UB  more than 20% of the $53 million in hiring money provided for the entire SUNY system.

With that, UB wants to add 200 tenure-track faculty in the next two years, to double its number of underrepresented faculty in five years and to more than double its annual federal research grant funding to $1 billion by 2030.

That expansion is symbiotic with the federal CHIPS act that passed last year and measures that were previously proposed in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. UBs program of scientific expansion will help support the expected joint Buffalo-Rochester application to win one of the tech hubs that the CHIPS act is expected to establish in locations that arent already high-tech meccas.

President Bidens proposed 2024 budget includes an additional $4 billion in funding for CHIPS, though with congressional control split this year  Democrats leading the Senate and Republicans ruling the House  agreements may be difficult.

But they are essential, and the regions House delegation need to prioritize this funding. Its benefits will radiate across the entire region.

Hochul is helping to tee it up with her focus on growing UBs stature. The universitys expansion will help benefit the region while improving the chances of winning designation as a tech hub under the federal program.

Together, these initiatives can help transform the economic and educational direction of Western New York. Success will require focus and teamwork.

  

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.
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affair (MEA) reacting to the various acts of vandalism that have been reported across Australia, Canada and the US said it is not interested in assurance and would like to see some action taken.

"Hope governments will take action and prosecute those involved, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

Many countries have a different view of their own security and different view of other people's security. We will not accept this differential status, said External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar.

It is the obligation of the receiving country to provide security for a diplomat to do their work, to ensure embassy or high commissions premises are respected, said Jaishankar.

"These obligations were not met. We had conversations with the British government on this, Dr Jaishankar said in an event in Bengaluru on Friday responding to the security of Indian missions following the vandalism of Indian High Commission in London.

Meanwhile, Members of Parliament for House of Commons, London, have condemned the vandalism.

ALSO READ | Extra barricades outside British High Commission in Delhi removed

"The protest that turned into violence and vandalism was promoted on several social media platforms at least 24 hours beforehand and it is disappointing that the Home Office failed to ensure adequate protection, said Navendu Mishra in a letter addressed to Indian High Commissioner in London, Vikram Doraiswami. This letter was co-signed by seven other MPs.

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary, Tom Tugendhat, too had a meeting with HC Doraiswami and spoke about security cooperation.

UKs leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt also condemned the vandalism.

Delhi Police has registered a case against Indian nationals who were involved in the vandalization of the IHC in London. A report has been given to Indian authorities on the vandalism instance.

ALSO READ | Diaspora meet counters tricolour attack at London mission with festive spirit

It is reported that security around Indian missions in Australia  Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney has been beefed up. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about the growing instances of vandalism of temples across Australia when Australian PM Anthony Albanese was visiting India earlier this month.

In the Canadian Parliament, a concern was raised about the situation in Punjab.

"We are aware of the evolving situation in Punjab and are following it very closely and we look forward to a more stable situation, said Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly.

"We urge people living abroad not to be taken by inaccurate, motivated narrative, said Bagchi in response to security situation in Punjab been taken up by foreign Parliaments.

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affair (MEA) reacting to the various acts of vandalism that have been reported across Australia, Canada and the US said it is not interested in assurance and would like to see some action taken. "Hope governments will take action and prosecute those involved, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Many countries have a different view of their own security and different view of other people's security. We will not accept this differential status, said External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is the obligation of the receiving country to provide security for a diplomat to do their work, to ensure embassy or high commissions premises are respected, said Jaishankar. "These obligations were not met. We had conversations with the British government on this, Dr Jaishankar said in an event in Bengaluru on Friday responding to the security of Indian missions following the vandalism of Indian High Commission in London. Meanwhile, Members of Parliament for House of Commons, London, have condemned the vandalism. ALSO READ | Extra barricades outside British High Commission in Delhi removed "The protest that turned into violence and vandalism was promoted on several social media platforms at least 24 hours beforehand and it is disappointing that the Home Office failed to ensure adequate protection, said Navendu Mishra in a letter addressed to Indian High Commissioner in London, Vikram Doraiswami. This letter was co-signed by seven other MPs. Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary, Tom Tugendhat, too had a meeting with HC Doraiswami and spoke about security cooperation. UKs leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt also condemned the vandalism. Delhi Police has registered a case against Indian nationals who were involved in the vandalization of the IHC in London. A report has been given to Indian authorities on the vandalism instance. ALSO READ | Diaspora meet counters tricolour attack at London mission with festive spirit It is reported that security around Indian missions in Australia  Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney has been beefed up. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about the growing instances of vandalism of temples across Australia when Australian PM Anthony Albanese was visiting India earlier this month. In the Canadian Parliament, a concern was raised about the situation in Punjab. "We are aware of the evolving situation in Punjab and are following it very closely and we look forward to a more stable situation, said Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly. "We urge people living abroad not to be taken by inaccurate, motivated narrative, said Bagchi in response to security situation in Punjab been taken up by foreign Parliaments.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Hitting out at the government over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, the Congress on Friday said it was "a black day for Indian democracy" and asserted that the battle will be fought both "legally and politically".

The Opposition party also alleged that the action was driven by "political vendetta".

Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

Reacting to Gandhi's disqualification, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the BJP made all efforts to get him disqualified as he was speaking the truth.

"He has been removed from the House for speaking the truth, fighting for the Constitution and for people's rights," Kharge alleged.

"This was not a question of backward class, Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi are not of backward class. They are trying to build a perception that Rahul Gandhi spoke against backward class. Gandhi was putting forward the truth before the country so they were not liking it," he said in an apparent reference to BJP chief J P Nadda's remarks that Gandhi had compared OBC communities to thieves.

The BJP would be thinking that their problem is solved by ousting him from Lok Sabha but it is not so as the demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) would continue to be raised, he said.

Opposition leaders have been demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

"We will keep fighting for protecting democracy and even if we have to go to jail, we will do so. Our people are ready to fight," Kharge said.

#WATCH| They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth.We'll continue to demand JPC,if needed we'll go to jail to save democracy: Cong president on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP pic.twitter.com/sqdaVQWUYR  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

The Congress president said there will be a meeting of senior party leaders at 5 pm and a strategy going forward will be decided upon.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti."

We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023

Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury hit out at the government over Gandhi's disqualification, saying the country is witnessing "politics of vendetta spearheaded by the Modi government".

"It is a sheer case of retributive politics because Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity in the wake of the Bharat Jodo Yatra which could not be digested by the Modi government. The government and the BJP believe that Gandhi has to be muzzled because if he is allowed to speak in Parliament they will be dislodged from government," he said.

Chowdhury termed the disqualification as a "cruel" step of an "autocratic" government and alleged that democracy cannot survive under the present dispensation.

Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also lashed out at the government and said the day Gandhi raised questions about the Adani issue against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP planned a "conspiracy" to silence the voice of Gandhi .

"This is a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorial attitude of the BJP government," Venugopal said in a video statement.

In a tweet later, he said, "Rahul Gandhi ji's disqualification is the final nail in the coffin. This is a black day for Indian democracy. It is a well-orchestrated move of the Modi government to silence his voice in Parliament. We will fight this legally and politically on every front, the truth will prevail."

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the action against Gandhi and by its rapidity.

"This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Tharoor said in a tweet.

Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy. pic.twitter.com/IhUVHN3b1F  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 24, 2023

In a tweet in Hindi, the Congress said, "Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership has been terminated. He is constantly fighting for you and this country from the road to the Parliament, trying everything possible to save democracy."

"Despite every conspiracy, he will continue this fight at all costs and will take action as per law in this matter. The fight continues," the party said.

NEW DELHI: Hitting out at the government over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, the Congress on Friday said it was "a black day for Indian democracy" and asserted that the battle will be fought both "legally and politically". The Opposition party also alleged that the action was driven by "political vendetta". Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction. Reacting to Gandhi's disqualification, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the BJP made all efforts to get him disqualified as he was speaking the truth. "He has been removed from the House for speaking the truth, fighting for the Constitution and for people's rights," Kharge alleged. "This was not a question of backward class, Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi are not of backward class. They are trying to build a perception that Rahul Gandhi spoke against backward class. Gandhi was putting forward the truth before the country so they were not liking it," he said in an apparent reference to BJP chief J P Nadda's remarks that Gandhi had compared OBC communities to thieves. The BJP would be thinking that their problem is solved by ousting him from Lok Sabha but it is not so as the demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) would continue to be raised, he said. Opposition leaders have been demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue. "We will keep fighting for protecting democracy and even if we have to go to jail, we will do so. Our people are ready to fight," Kharge said. #WATCH| They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth.We'll continue to demand JPC,if needed we'll go to jail to save democracy: Cong president on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP pic.twitter.com/sqdaVQWUYR  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023 The Congress president said there will be a meeting of senior party leaders at 5 pm and a strategy going forward will be decided upon. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti." We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023 Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury hit out at the government over Gandhi's disqualification, saying the country is witnessing "politics of vendetta spearheaded by the Modi government". "It is a sheer case of retributive politics because Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity in the wake of the Bharat Jodo Yatra which could not be digested by the Modi government. The government and the BJP believe that Gandhi has to be muzzled because if he is allowed to speak in Parliament they will be dislodged from government," he said. Chowdhury termed the disqualification as a "cruel" step of an "autocratic" government and alleged that democracy cannot survive under the present dispensation. Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also lashed out at the government and said the day Gandhi raised questions about the Adani issue against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP planned a "conspiracy" to silence the voice of Gandhi . "This is a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorial attitude of the BJP government," Venugopal said in a video statement. In a tweet later, he said, "Rahul Gandhi ji's disqualification is the final nail in the coffin. This is a black day for Indian democracy. It is a well-orchestrated move of the Modi government to silence his voice in Parliament. We will fight this legally and politically on every front, the truth will prevail." Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the action against Gandhi and by its rapidity. "This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Tharoor said in a tweet. Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy. pic.twitter.com/IhUVHN3b1F  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 24, 2023 In a tweet in Hindi, the Congress said, "Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership has been terminated. He is constantly fighting for you and this country from the road to the Parliament, trying everything possible to save democracy." "Despite every conspiracy, he will continue this fight at all costs and will take action as per law in this matter. The fight continues," the party said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The ongoing protests against the "attack" on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 by the Centre was disrupted by the police.

Social scientist and activist, Jean Dreze, Richa Singh of Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan and other activists were stopped by the police from conducting a programme outside the Delhi University's Arts Faculty.

Delhi police abruptly stopped Jean Dreze, Richa Singh, Com. Somnath and students at Delhi University while conducting a program at DU Arts Faculty on the ongoing attack on NREGA by the central government. pic.twitter.com/7z84lHznT7 March 24, 2023

On March 24, the ongoing protests entered 29th day. The NREGA workers from different states have been reportedly protesting in Delhi against mandatory online attendance and Aadhaar-based payment.

A senior police officer said the university had approached the police over apprehensions that peace and tranquillity could be disturbed. He said the students and activists were later removed from the spot.

An activist associated with NREGA Sangarah Morcha said several students were picked up during the peaceful gathering.

"Many Delhi University (DU) students as well as an American student were detained and taken to the Maurice Nagar Cyber cell station for simply holding a discussion on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005 and the right to work. Several other activists were also detained when they went to the police station to support those who were detained," Raj Shekhar said.

Taking to Twitter, the NREGA Sangarsh Morcha shared a series of tweets about the incident. In the video, police personnel were seen gathered around the students who were assembled to conduct the meeting.

Few moments later, they were removed from the spot and many were taken in police vans.

"The Delhi police is silencing the right of peaceful protestors to hold public discussions on issues crucial for the poor of the nation. Let us resist this and protest harder," the group tweeted.

Reacting to the incident, a senior police officer said no FIR has been registered in this regard.

"When activists and students were trying to assemble, they were removed from the spot. Eleven people who had gathered were peacefully removed. Among these 11 people, two were women," he said.

"No FIR has been registered in the matter," he added.

(With inputs from Online Desk.)

NEW DELHI: The ongoing protests against the "attack" on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 by the Centre was disrupted by the police. Social scientist and activist, Jean Dreze, Richa Singh of Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan and other activists were stopped by the police from conducting a programme outside the Delhi University's Arts Faculty. Delhi police abruptly stopped Jean Dreze, Richa Singh, Com. Somnath and students at Delhi University while conducting a program at DU Arts Faculty on the ongoing attack on NREGA by the central government. pic.twitter.com/7z84lHznT7googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });  NREGA Sangharsh (@NREGA_Sangharsh) March 24, 2023 On March 24, the ongoing protests entered 29th day. The NREGA workers from different states have been reportedly protesting in Delhi against mandatory online attendance and Aadhaar-based payment. A senior police officer said the university had approached the police over apprehensions that peace and tranquillity could be disturbed. He said the students and activists were later removed from the spot. An activist associated with NREGA Sangarah Morcha said several students were picked up during the peaceful gathering. "Many Delhi University (DU) students as well as an American student were detained and taken to the Maurice Nagar Cyber cell station for simply holding a discussion on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005 and the right to work. Several other activists were also detained when they went to the police station to support those who were detained," Raj Shekhar said. Taking to Twitter, the NREGA Sangarsh Morcha shared a series of tweets about the incident. In the video, police personnel were seen gathered around the students who were assembled to conduct the meeting. Few moments later, they were removed from the spot and many were taken in police vans. "The Delhi police is silencing the right of peaceful protestors to hold public discussions on issues crucial for the poor of the nation. Let us resist this and protest harder," the group tweeted. Reacting to the incident, a senior police officer said no FIR has been registered in this regard. "When activists and students were trying to assemble, they were removed from the spot. Eleven people who had gathered were peacefully removed. Among these 11 people, two were women," he said. "No FIR has been registered in the matter," he added. (With inputs from Online Desk.)
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: Darbhanga police in Bihar on Friday registered an FIR against four named and 100 unknown persons for their attempt to disrupt communal harmony by erecting flags and banners of 'Hindu Rashtra'.

The police swung into action after some local residents informed senior administrative and police officials that banners of 'Hindu Rashtra' have been erected at several locations in the Laheriasarai locality of divisional headquarters town.

An investigating officer said that they found banners with 'Hindu Rashtra' written on them near a Duraga temple in the Maulaganj locality of the town. Similar saffron flags were also found in nearby areas.

Darbhanga district magistrate Dr. Rajeev Raushan said that he directed superintendent of police to take action soon after information related to posters and banners was received at his office on Friday.

The police seized the banners and posters from areas falling under the Laheriasarai police station. We are keeping a close vigil on development and initiate stern action against people trying to vitiate the atmosphere, he added.

Later in a press statement, Darbhanga police said that some anti-social elements tried to vitiate the atmosphere. An FIR has been filed against four named and 100 unidentified persons in this connection.

The 'Hindu Rashtra' flags also went viral on social media. Nazre Alam, national president of Muslim Bedari Karwan, wrote to Darbhanga district magistrate seeking stern action against offenders.

Alam, however, blamed some activists of Bajrang Dal for their alleged attempt to create communal tension in the town. He said that demanding 'Hindu Rashtra' in a democratic country like India is a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, patrolling has been intensified in Laheriasarai.

PATNA: Darbhanga police in Bihar on Friday registered an FIR against four named and 100 unknown persons for their attempt to disrupt communal harmony by erecting flags and banners of 'Hindu Rashtra'. The police swung into action after some local residents informed senior administrative and police officials that banners of 'Hindu Rashtra' have been erected at several locations in the Laheriasarai locality of divisional headquarters town. An investigating officer said that they found banners with 'Hindu Rashtra' written on them near a Duraga temple in the Maulaganj locality of the town. Similar saffron flags were also found in nearby areas.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Darbhanga district magistrate Dr. Rajeev Raushan said that he directed superintendent of police to take action soon after information related to posters and banners was received at his office on Friday. The police seized the banners and posters from areas falling under the Laheriasarai police station. We are keeping a close vigil on development and initiate stern action against people trying to vitiate the atmosphere, he added. Later in a press statement, Darbhanga police said that some anti-social elements tried to vitiate the atmosphere. An FIR has been filed against four named and 100 unidentified persons in this connection. The 'Hindu Rashtra' flags also went viral on social media. Nazre Alam, national president of Muslim Bedari Karwan, wrote to Darbhanga district magistrate seeking stern action against offenders. Alam, however, blamed some activists of Bajrang Dal for their alleged attempt to create communal tension in the town. He said that demanding 'Hindu Rashtra' in a democratic country like India is a criminal offence. Meanwhile, patrolling has been intensified in Laheriasarai.
Excessive unseasonal rain in the third week of March in the major wheat-producing states, including Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, has hit the farmers hard. In most of these states, the wheat crop was either ready for harvesting or was harvested and kept in the open for threshing. The rain has destroyed large parts of both. It has also adversely affected the other rabi crops such as mustard, black gram, etc. As per estimates, the country had received 246% more than the normal rainfall.

Farmers were earlier troubled by scanty winter rainfall. The winter rain and the moist air help grains gain size. The lack of sufficient winter rain and the early onset of hot spells have played havoc in the rabi season. What followed has been worse. The unseasonal rain with hailstorms and strong winds has flattened the crop. Reports show that the wheat now arriving in the market finds few takers due to its poor quality. Farmers are forced to sell their low-quality yield at a lower price than the minimum support price.

According to experts, India will see a shortfall of production like last year when the heat wave arrived early and affected wheat production. Scientists say that the inclement weather will impact the quality of wheat crops, if not quantity. However, agri-commodity analysts say it will impact both. The United States Department of Agriculture has predicted a 4% shortfall in wheat production in India. According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, 85% of Indias wheat is produced by five statesUP (32.42%), MP (16.08%), Punjab (15.65%), Haryana (11.28%) and Rajasthan (10.08%). These states have been hit the hardest with the weather playing truant.

Even before the weather hit farmers starting mid-March, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers organisations from across the country, had announced its plan to stage a demonstration in Delhi to press the Union government to fulfil the assurances given in writing on December 9, 2021, and to take effective steps to mitigate the ever-increasing crisis faced by farmers. The government needs to take effective steps to rescue farmers. What is at stake here is not only their well-being but also the nations food security and the stability of the price of food grain.

Excessive unseasonal rain in the third week of March in the major wheat-producing states, including Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, has hit the farmers hard. In most of these states, the wheat crop was either ready for harvesting or was harvested and kept in the open for threshing. The rain has destroyed large parts of both. It has also adversely affected the other rabi crops such as mustard, black gram, etc. As per estimates, the country had received 246% more than the normal rainfall. Farmers were earlier troubled by scanty winter rainfall. The winter rain and the moist air help grains gain size. The lack of sufficient winter rain and the early onset of hot spells have played havoc in the rabi season. What followed has been worse. The unseasonal rain with hailstorms and strong winds has flattened the crop. Reports show that the wheat now arriving in the market finds few takers due to its poor quality. Farmers are forced to sell their low-quality yield at a lower price than the minimum support price. According to experts, India will see a shortfall of production like last year when the heat wave arrived early and affected wheat production. Scientists say that the inclement weather will impact the quality of wheat crops, if not quantity. However, agri-commodity analysts say it will impact both. The United States Department of Agriculture has predicted a 4% shortfall in wheat production in India. According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, 85% of Indias wheat is produced by five statesUP (32.42%), MP (16.08%), Punjab (15.65%), Haryana (11.28%) and Rajasthan (10.08%). These states have been hit the hardest with the weather playing truant.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Even before the weather hit farmers starting mid-March, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers organisations from across the country, had announced its plan to stage a demonstration in Delhi to press the Union government to fulfil the assurances given in writing on December 9, 2021, and to take effective steps to mitigate the ever-increasing crisis faced by farmers. The government needs to take effective steps to rescue farmers. What is at stake here is not only their well-being but also the nations food security and the stability of the price of food grain.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leadership in Kerala has termed the Lok Sabha secretariat decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as MP following the Surat court verdict, as politically motivated and taken in haste. Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he is stunned by the rapidity of the action against Rahul. "Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," he tweeted.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan said neither Rahul nor the Congress can be silenced. "The Surat court verdict is not the final word. The Congress believes in democracy and rule of the law. We have got a legal system that goes all the way to the Supreme Court. Rahul Gandhi will return treading the legal path. Neither Rahul nor the Congress can be silenced with such acts," said Satheesan. He added that the Congress along with Rahul Gandhi will fight against vendetta politics and communalism.

ALSO READ | Will fight this battle both 'legally and politically': Congress on Rahul's LS disqualification

The Lok Sabha secretariat decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi could lead to a byelection in Kerala's Wayanad constituency. There are reports that the Wayanad bypoll may take place along with the Karnataka elections.

The state Congress leadership has decided to take out a Raj Bhavan march in protest against the Lok Sabha secretariat decision on Monday. KPCC president K Sudhakaran, Opposition leader VD Satheesan along with MPs, MLAs and other senior Congress leaders will attend the march.

Leaders from the Left parties too came out against the decision. "Vindictive politics can never be politics of righteousness. It reveals once again the fascist arrogance of RSS/BJP. In case of NCP MP Faizal and in Rahul's case the govt moved with lightning speed. When questions of frauds and scams come they compete with snails...That is BJP!" tweeted CPI's Rajya Sabha MP and party national secretariat member Binoy Viswam.

WATCH:

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leadership in Kerala has termed the Lok Sabha secretariat decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as MP following the Surat court verdict, as politically motivated and taken in haste. Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he is stunned by the rapidity of the action against Rahul. "Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," he tweeted. Opposition leader VD Satheesan said neither Rahul nor the Congress can be silenced. "The Surat court verdict is not the final word. The Congress believes in democracy and rule of the law. We have got a legal system that goes all the way to the Supreme Court. Rahul Gandhi will return treading the legal path. Neither Rahul nor the Congress can be silenced with such acts," said Satheesan. He added that the Congress along with Rahul Gandhi will fight against vendetta politics and communalism. ALSO READ | Will fight this battle both 'legally and politically': Congress on Rahul's LS disqualificationgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Lok Sabha secretariat decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi could lead to a byelection in Kerala's Wayanad constituency. There are reports that the Wayanad bypoll may take place along with the Karnataka elections. The state Congress leadership has decided to take out a Raj Bhavan march in protest against the Lok Sabha secretariat decision on Monday. KPCC president K Sudhakaran, Opposition leader VD Satheesan along with MPs, MLAs and other senior Congress leaders will attend the march. Leaders from the Left parties too came out against the decision. "Vindictive politics can never be politics of righteousness. It reveals once again the fascist arrogance of RSS/BJP. In case of NCP MP Faizal and in Rahul's case the govt moved with lightning speed. When questions of frauds and scams come they compete with snails...That is BJP!" tweeted CPI's Rajya Sabha MP and party national secretariat member Binoy Viswam. WATCH:
By Online Desk

CHENNAI: Tamil actor Ajith Kumar's father P Subramaniam Mani aka PS Mani passed away on Friday morning. He died in his sleep after a long age-related illness. He hailed from Palakkad, Kerala.

The cremation took place at 10 am at Besant Nagar Crematorium in Chennai.

P Subramaniam Mani is survived by his wife Mohini and three sons, Anup Kumar, Ajith Kumar, and Anil Kumar.

The actor's manager shared the official news on Twitter.

The actor's family later shared a statement: "Our father, PS Mani, passed away in the early hours of this morning, in his sleep, after a long illness. He was 85. We are grateful for the care and support provided to him and our family by a number of medical professionals, especially following his debilitating stroke of four years ago. We are comforted, at this time of grief, that he lived a good life and knew the undying love of our mother, his partner of nearly six decades. We appreciate the kind, comforting messages and condolences that have been coming in and ask for your understanding if we may not be able to take calls or respond to messages in a timely manner."

Several actors including Sarath Kumar expressed condolences to Ajith's family.

Kamal Haasan tweeted, "I was disheartened to know that brother Ajith Kumar's father Mr Subramaniam has passed away. I express my deepest condolence to his family."

Vikram tweeted: "My heartfelt condolences to Ajith, his mother and family. The loss of ones dad, especially someone as caring and sweet as Subramaniam uncle, can never be compensated. May his soul rest in peace. Stay strong Ajith."

Silambarasan TR tweeted, "My sincere condolences to Ajith sir & his family on the demise of his father Mr PS Mani. May god give you & your family strength through this difficult time & may his soul rest in peace."

My deepest condolences to dear #Ajith and to his family, friends, relatives and well wishers for the loss of his father.

May his soul rest in peace#RIPSubramaniam #AjithKumar pic.twitter.com/poNRV7JG7U  R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) March 24, 2023

The actor's fans took to social media to share their sadness. Many expressed their condolences and support over Twitter.

READ MORE | Actor Ajith's father's death: When brother Anil described their unconventional upbringing

CHENNAI: Tamil actor Ajith Kumar's father P Subramaniam Mani aka PS Mani passed away on Friday morning. He died in his sleep after a long age-related illness. He hailed from Palakkad, Kerala. The cremation took place at 10 am at Besant Nagar Crematorium in Chennai. P Subramaniam Mani is survived by his wife Mohini and three sons, Anup Kumar, Ajith Kumar, and Anil Kumar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The actor's manager shared the official news on Twitter. The actor's family later shared a statement: "Our father, PS Mani, passed away in the early hours of this morning, in his sleep, after a long illness. He was 85. We are grateful for the care and support provided to him and our family by a number of medical professionals, especially following his debilitating stroke of four years ago. We are comforted, at this time of grief, that he lived a good life and knew the undying love of our mother, his partner of nearly six decades. We appreciate the kind, comforting messages and condolences that have been coming in and ask for your understanding if we may not be able to take calls or respond to messages in a timely manner." pic.twitter.com/goItPpVT2C  Suresh Chandra (@SureshChandraa) March 24, 2023 Several actors including Sarath Kumar expressed condolences to Ajith's family. Kamal Haasan tweeted, "I was disheartened to know that brother Ajith Kumar's father Mr Subramaniam has passed away. I express my deepest condolence to his family." Vikram tweeted: "My heartfelt condolences to Ajith, his mother and family. The loss of ones dad, especially someone as caring and sweet as Subramaniam uncle, can never be compensated. May his soul rest in peace. Stay strong Ajith." Silambarasan TR tweeted, "My sincere condolences to Ajith sir & his family on the demise of his father Mr PS Mani. May god give you & your family strength through this difficult time & may his soul rest in peace." My deepest condolences to dear #Ajith and to his family, friends, relatives and well wishers for the loss of his father. May his soul rest in peace#RIPSubramaniam #AjithKumar pic.twitter.com/poNRV7JG7U  R Sarath Kumar (@realsarathkumar) March 24, 2023 The actor's fans took to social media to share their sadness. Many expressed their condolences and support over Twitter. READ MORE | Actor Ajith's father's death: When brother Anil described their unconventional upbringing
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Over 300 government doctors staged a one-day hunger strike near Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, demanding the implementation of GO 293, which ensures speciality allowance for doctors in various categories and was issued in 2021.

While the protest was on, the Director of Medical Education conducted a virtual meeting with deans of all medical colleges and instructed them to get willingness letters from the doctors who want speciality allowance.

After the oral instructions of the Directorate of Medical Education, the deans sent circulars to the departments asking the willing doctors to give in writing their acceptance for speciality allowance as per GO 923. The protest, organised by the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA), was backed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Tamil Nadu and around 350 state and district office bearers of TNGDA took part in the protest.

Dr K Senthil, president of TNGDA said after the protest, All we want is the implementation of GO 293. Since the DME now orally instructed all the deans to get a willingness letter from doctors wishing to opt for speciality allowance, we will wait and see how this will go and then will decide on the next course of action. The doctors other demands included not to harass them during the maternal death audit.

CHENNAI: Over 300 government doctors staged a one-day hunger strike near Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, demanding the implementation of GO 293, which ensures speciality allowance for doctors in various categories and was issued in 2021. While the protest was on, the Director of Medical Education conducted a virtual meeting with deans of all medical colleges and instructed them to get willingness letters from the doctors who want speciality allowance. After the oral instructions of the Directorate of Medical Education, the deans sent circulars to the departments asking the willing doctors to give in writing their acceptance for speciality allowance as per GO 923. The protest, organised by the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA), was backed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Tamil Nadu and around 350 state and district office bearers of TNGDA took part in the protest.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Dr K Senthil, president of TNGDA said after the protest, All we want is the implementation of GO 293. Since the DME now orally instructed all the deans to get a willingness letter from doctors wishing to opt for speciality allowance, we will wait and see how this will go and then will decide on the next course of action. The doctors other demands included not to harass them during the maternal death audit.
By Express News Service

KHAMMAM / WARANGAL / KARIMNAGAR: The Telangana government has announced Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation for crops that were damaged in the recent untimely rains across the State. Tenant farmers would also be eligible for the compensation.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who visited the rain-affected areas in erstwhile Khammam, Warangal and Karimnagar districts on Thursday, announced that the State government would pay Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation. He said that standing crops in 2,28,255 acres were damaged due to untimely rains across the state last week. Immediately after the announcement, the Revenue department issued orders to pay Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation to farmers, which comes to around Rs 228 crore.

The CM, speaking to reporters in Khammam and Warangal districts after interacting with the farmers, said that the State government would not send any report to the Central government on the crop loss. He alleged that the Centre did not extend any support to Telangana when the State government sent similar crop damage reports twice in the past.

By giving a report to the Centre, its like sending a representation to a buffalo. The Centre did not even extend any financial assistance when Hyderabad was affected by floods, Rao said. He alleged that sannasulu were ruling the country and they could not understand the plight of the farmers.

The compensation would be paid from the State exchequer. The States economy is good and the State government will provide succour to farmers, Rao declared. He said that this was the first time in the country that a State government was paying compensation for damaged crops. He alleged that the BJP-led Centre does not care for farmers and was trying to dilute the agriculture sector in the country. He stressed the need for a new integrated agriculture policy in the country.

The CM pointed out that Central government schemes would give only Rs 3,333 per acre for maize, Rs 5,400 per acre of paddy and Rs 7,400 per acre of mango crops. He inspected maize crop in Ramapuram village and interacted with farmers. Later, Rao proceeded to Mahabubabad district. The CM also visited Ravinutala and Garlapadu villages in Bonakal mandal in the erstwhile Khammam district.

KCR visited Reddykunta Thanda, Pocharam, Waddekothapally and Bommakal villages of Peddavangara Mandal of Mahabubabad district. I can make an announcement on compensation from Hyderabad. However, I wish to visit your fields and interact with you to have first hand information, Rao told the farmers.

Later, he visited Adivirangapuram in Duggondi mandal of Warangal district and from there proceeded to Lakshmipur in Choppadandi mandal in Karimnagar district and inspected the fields that were completely damaged due to hailstorms.

Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Ministers Puvvada Ajay Kumar and S Niranjan Reddy, CPM State secretary Tammeneni Veerabhadram and CPI State secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao accompanied Rao.

Standing crops like paddy, mango, maize and horticulture crops were damaged in the recent untimely rains and hailstorms that lashed several parts of the State last week. Maize was damaged in 1,29,446 acres, paddy in 72,709 acres and mango in 8,865 acres.

Preventive arrests

Khammam: In view of the Chief Ministers visit to Khammam, the police placed BJP and Congress leaders and workers under house arrest at many places from Wednesday night. Kisan Morcha leader Kondapalli Sridhar Reddy alleged that it appeared that the CM lost the confidence of the people. He faulted Left leaders for supporting the CM. Left leaders should fight for the interests of the farmers, he said

KHAMMAM / WARANGAL / KARIMNAGAR: The Telangana government has announced Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation for crops that were damaged in the recent untimely rains across the State. Tenant farmers would also be eligible for the compensation. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who visited the rain-affected areas in erstwhile Khammam, Warangal and Karimnagar districts on Thursday, announced that the State government would pay Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation. He said that standing crops in 2,28,255 acres were damaged due to untimely rains across the state last week. Immediately after the announcement, the Revenue department issued orders to pay Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation to farmers, which comes to around Rs 228 crore. The CM, speaking to reporters in Khammam and Warangal districts after interacting with the farmers, said that the State government would not send any report to the Central government on the crop loss. He alleged that the Centre did not extend any support to Telangana when the State government sent similar crop damage reports twice in the past.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); By giving a report to the Centre, its like sending a representation to a buffalo. The Centre did not even extend any financial assistance when Hyderabad was affected by floods, Rao said. He alleged that sannasulu were ruling the country and they could not understand the plight of the farmers. The compensation would be paid from the State exchequer. The States economy is good and the State government will provide succour to farmers, Rao declared. He said that this was the first time in the country that a State government was paying compensation for damaged crops. He alleged that the BJP-led Centre does not care for farmers and was trying to dilute the agriculture sector in the country. He stressed the need for a new integrated agriculture policy in the country. The CM pointed out that Central government schemes would give only Rs 3,333 per acre for maize, Rs 5,400 per acre of paddy and Rs 7,400 per acre of mango crops. He inspected maize crop in Ramapuram village and interacted with farmers. Later, Rao proceeded to Mahabubabad district. The CM also visited Ravinutala and Garlapadu villages in Bonakal mandal in the erstwhile Khammam district. KCR visited Reddykunta Thanda, Pocharam, Waddekothapally and Bommakal villages of Peddavangara Mandal of Mahabubabad district. I can make an announcement on compensation from Hyderabad. However, I wish to visit your fields and interact with you to have first hand information, Rao told the farmers. Later, he visited Adivirangapuram in Duggondi mandal of Warangal district and from there proceeded to Lakshmipur in Choppadandi mandal in Karimnagar district and inspected the fields that were completely damaged due to hailstorms. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Ministers Puvvada Ajay Kumar and S Niranjan Reddy, CPM State secretary Tammeneni Veerabhadram and CPI State secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao accompanied Rao. Standing crops like paddy, mango, maize and horticulture crops were damaged in the recent untimely rains and hailstorms that lashed several parts of the State last week. Maize was damaged in 1,29,446 acres, paddy in 72,709 acres and mango in 8,865 acres. Preventive arrests Khammam: In view of the Chief Ministers visit to Khammam, the police placed BJP and Congress leaders and workers under house arrest at many places from Wednesday night. Kisan Morcha leader Kondapalli Sridhar Reddy alleged that it appeared that the CM lost the confidence of the people. He faulted Left leaders for supporting the CM. Left leaders should fight for the interests of the farmers, he said
By AFP

BEIRUT: Eleven pro-Iran fighters were killed in US air strikes on Syria carried out in retaliation for a drone attack that left an American dead and wounded six others, a war monitor said Friday.

A US contractor was killed, and another contractor and five US service personnel were wounded, when a kamikaze drone "of Iranian origin" struck a maintenance facility on a base of the US-led coalition near Hasakeh in northeastern Syria, the Pentagon said.

In response, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that, at President Joe Biden's direction, he had ordered "precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".

"The air strikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC," Austin said.

Iran-backed militias have a heavy presence across Syria, especially around the border with Iraq and south and west of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor province, where the latest US strikes took place.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with a wide network of sources on the ground in the war-torn country, said 11 people had been killed by US strikes, including two Syrians.

"US strikes targeted a weapons depot inside Deir Ezzor city, killing six pro-Iran fighters, and two other fighters were killed by strikes targeting the desert of Al-Mayadeen, and three others near Albu Kamal," said the Observatory's head Rami Abdel Rahman.

On Friday morning, Iran-backed groups stationed near the city of Al-Mayadeen fired three missiles near a US base, said Abdel Rahman.

Two missiles fell in Syria's largest oil field, Al-Omar, which houses the US base, without causing damage, while the third landed on a civilian house nearby, he added.

The United States deploys about 900 troops in bases and posts across northeastern Syria as part of the international coalition fighting remnants of the Islamic State group (IS).

'Always respond'

American troops also support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds' de facto army in the area, which led the battle that dislodged IS from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in 2019.

The US personnel have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups.

Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were medically evacuated to Iraq, the Pentagon said.

"We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," said General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command.

When the strikes were announced, Biden had already travelled to Canada, where he is set to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In January, the US military said "three one-way attack drones" were launched against the coalition garrison at Al-Tanf in Syria, with one breaching its air defences and wounding two allied Syrian fighters.

The Observatory said it was likely Iran-backed militants had carried out that attack.

Last August, Biden ordered similar retaliatory strikes in the oil-rich Syrian province of Deir Ezzor after several drones targeted a coalition outpost, without causing any casualties.

That attack came the same day that Iranian state media announced a Revolutionary Guard general had been killed days earlier while "on a mission in Syria as a military adviser".

Iran, a key ally of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, says it has deployed its forces in Syria at the invitation of Damascus and only as advisers.

BEIRUT: Eleven pro-Iran fighters were killed in US air strikes on Syria carried out in retaliation for a drone attack that left an American dead and wounded six others, a war monitor said Friday. A US contractor was killed, and another contractor and five US service personnel were wounded, when a kamikaze drone "of Iranian origin" struck a maintenance facility on a base of the US-led coalition near Hasakeh in northeastern Syria, the Pentagon said. In response, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that, at President Joe Biden's direction, he had ordered "precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The air strikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC," Austin said. Iran-backed militias have a heavy presence across Syria, especially around the border with Iraq and south and west of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor province, where the latest US strikes took place. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with a wide network of sources on the ground in the war-torn country, said 11 people had been killed by US strikes, including two Syrians. "US strikes targeted a weapons depot inside Deir Ezzor city, killing six pro-Iran fighters, and two other fighters were killed by strikes targeting the desert of Al-Mayadeen, and three others near Albu Kamal," said the Observatory's head Rami Abdel Rahman. On Friday morning, Iran-backed groups stationed near the city of Al-Mayadeen fired three missiles near a US base, said Abdel Rahman. Two missiles fell in Syria's largest oil field, Al-Omar, which houses the US base, without causing damage, while the third landed on a civilian house nearby, he added. The United States deploys about 900 troops in bases and posts across northeastern Syria as part of the international coalition fighting remnants of the Islamic State group (IS). 'Always respond' American troops also support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds' de facto army in the area, which led the battle that dislodged IS from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in 2019. The US personnel have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups. Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were medically evacuated to Iraq, the Pentagon said. "We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," said General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command. When the strikes were announced, Biden had already travelled to Canada, where he is set to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In January, the US military said "three one-way attack drones" were launched against the coalition garrison at Al-Tanf in Syria, with one breaching its air defences and wounding two allied Syrian fighters. The Observatory said it was likely Iran-backed militants had carried out that attack. Last August, Biden ordered similar retaliatory strikes in the oil-rich Syrian province of Deir Ezzor after several drones targeted a coalition outpost, without causing any casualties. That attack came the same day that Iranian state media announced a Revolutionary Guard general had been killed days earlier while "on a mission in Syria as a military adviser". Iran, a key ally of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, says it has deployed its forces in Syria at the invitation of Damascus and only as advisers.
Michael Knowles was under fire for having asserted that transgenderism must be eradicated from public life. At the Conservative Political Action Conference he added that there can be no middle way in dealing with transgenderism.

When criticized for incitement to genocide, Knowles responded that No even mildly reasonable person could have interpreted my words as insinuating any sort of violence.

Knowles appears unacquainted with the complaint by Henry II: Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?  a wink promptly operationalized by the soldiers who slaughtered Thomas Beckett in his own church. Had he studied French as well as Italian, Knowles might have recognized the same pattern in the assassination of Henry IV by the delusional regicide Francois Ravaillac, who sought advice from multiple confessors in advance of the murder, each more mildly discreet than the last. As historian Jules Michelet wrote, Its a horrifying thing to see that, concerning the death of the king, all of them took the hint, avoided compromising themselves, and let the mad man proceed.

It is shallow hypocrisy to pretend that our words are inert so long as mildly reasonable people know better than to take them as calls to violence. As the mayhem of May 14th so horrifically illustrated in our own community, poisonous language begets murderous attacks. Those who insist that free speech entitles them to a platform should have the courage to acknowledge the effects of their discourse beyond the mildly reasonable present in the lecture hall.

Maureen Jameson

Amherst
By IANS

WASHINGTON: As Muslims around the world prepare to begin the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims in China are facing fasting ban while their cultural and religious traditions are increasingly coming under attack, according to a media report.

Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang are being ordered not to allow their children to fast, with the latter being quizzed by the authorities as to whether their parents are fasting, local officials and rights groups said, Radio Free Asia reported.

"During Ramadan, the authorities are requiring 1,811 villages [in Xinjiang] to implement a round-the-clock monitoring system, including spot home inspections of Uyghur families," World Uyghur Congress spokesperson Dilshat Rishit said, RFA reported.

During Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast during daylight hours.

China's 11.4 million Hui Muslims -- close-knit ethnic Chinese communities who have maintained their Muslim faith over centuries -- are in danger of being erased entirely under the Communist Party's draconian religious rules, rights groups have warned in a new report.

They have been identified by Beijing as "a threat to be resolved through forcible assimilation", said a report from a coalition of rights groups, including the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), RFA reported.

This is in stark contrast to the relative freedom they enjoyed before President Xi Jinping launched a renewed attack on religious worship, forcing Christians, Muslims and Buddhists alike to submit to party control and censorship of their religious lives under his "sinicisation", the report said.

"Hui community members were able to openly participate in mosque communities, Arabic schools, and for private worship, albeit under restrictions facilitated by party liaisons. Hui entrepreneurs were encouraged to develop business and tourism connections with the wider Muslim world as part of the Belt and Road Initiative," it said, RFA reported.

China has also targeted Muslim communities with its "ethnic unity" campaign under which officials impose Han Chinese "relatives" on ethnic minority Uyghur families, who then put pressure on them to observe non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork.

"Unity" policies have taken place in Xinjiang against the backdrop of the mass incarceration of at least 1.8 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims in "re-education" camps, and their involvement in forced labour, as well as amid reports of systemic rape, sexual abuse, and forced sterilization of Uyghur women in the camps, RFA reported.

WASHINGTON: As Muslims around the world prepare to begin the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims in China are facing fasting ban while their cultural and religious traditions are increasingly coming under attack, according to a media report. Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang are being ordered not to allow their children to fast, with the latter being quizzed by the authorities as to whether their parents are fasting, local officials and rights groups said, Radio Free Asia reported. "During Ramadan, the authorities are requiring 1,811 villages [in Xinjiang] to implement a round-the-clock monitoring system, including spot home inspections of Uyghur families," World Uyghur Congress spokesperson Dilshat Rishit said, RFA reported.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); During Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast during daylight hours. China's 11.4 million Hui Muslims -- close-knit ethnic Chinese communities who have maintained their Muslim faith over centuries -- are in danger of being erased entirely under the Communist Party's draconian religious rules, rights groups have warned in a new report. They have been identified by Beijing as "a threat to be resolved through forcible assimilation", said a report from a coalition of rights groups, including the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), RFA reported. This is in stark contrast to the relative freedom they enjoyed before President Xi Jinping launched a renewed attack on religious worship, forcing Christians, Muslims and Buddhists alike to submit to party control and censorship of their religious lives under his "sinicisation", the report said. "Hui community members were able to openly participate in mosque communities, Arabic schools, and for private worship, albeit under restrictions facilitated by party liaisons. Hui entrepreneurs were encouraged to develop business and tourism connections with the wider Muslim world as part of the Belt and Road Initiative," it said, RFA reported. China has also targeted Muslim communities with its "ethnic unity" campaign under which officials impose Han Chinese "relatives" on ethnic minority Uyghur families, who then put pressure on them to observe non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork. "Unity" policies have taken place in Xinjiang against the backdrop of the mass incarceration of at least 1.8 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims in "re-education" camps, and their involvement in forced labour, as well as amid reports of systemic rape, sexual abuse, and forced sterilization of Uyghur women in the camps, RFA reported.
By AFP

Hundreds of thousands of French workers on Thursday massed in a new show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, with protests turning violent in Paris and other cities in a confrontation that shows no sign of abating.

The uproar over the imposition of the reform -- which the government chose to push through without a parliamentary vote -- has turned into the biggest domestic crisis of Macron's second term in office.

It also threatens to cast a shadow over next week's visit to France of King Charles III, the first foreign visit he has made as monarch.

The numbers in Paris and other cities were higher than in previous protest days, the protests given new momentum by Macron's refusal in a TV interview Wednesday to back down on the reform.

"I found him very authoritarian. He doesn't listen," Solange Le Nuz, a 28-year-old engineer protesting in Paris, told AFP.

Police and protesters again clashed on the streets of the capital during a major demonstration, security forces firing teargas and charging crowds with batons.

Some protesters lit fires in the street, setting ablaze pallets and piles of uncollected rubbish, prompting firefighters to intervene, AFP correspondents said.

Some 1.089 million protesters took part in demonstrations across France, the interior ministry said, putting the Paris turnout at 119,000, the highest for the capital since the movement started in January.

The nationwide figure still fell short of the 1.28 million people who marched on March 7, according to the government figures.

Unions claimed a record 3.5 million people turned out across France, and 800,000 in the capital.

In Paris, several hundred black-clad radical demonstrators were breaking windows of banks, shops and fast-food outlets, and destroying street furniture, AFP journalists witnessed.

Police reported 26 arrests by 6.00 pm (1700 GMT), with those detained suspected mostly of possessing illegal weapons or planning to damage property or commit acts of violence.

An AFP journalist saw paramedics treating one injured demonstrator.

One policeman was injured by a projectile to the head, a police source said.

Unions appealed for peaceful protests. "We need to keep public opinion on side until the end," said Laurent Berger, leader of the moderate CFDT.

In the western city of Rennes, one protester held up a sign reading: "I want to grow old with my lover, not with my boss."

School teacher Cedric Nothias, 46, held up a sign that read: "How does one teach democracy when Macron is trampling all over it?"

Protesters briefly occupied the tracks at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, and some blocked access to Charles de Gaulle airport.

Half of France's high-speed train services were cancelled, and rubbish is still piled up in the streets of Paris because of stoppages by garbage collectors.

Anger surged after a defiant Macron said on Wednesday he was prepared to accept unpopularity over the pensions reform which he said was "necessary".

A survey on Sunday showed Macron's personal approval rating at just 28 percent, its lowest since the anti-government "Yellow Vest" protest movement in 2018-2019.

Acting on Macron's instructions, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne last week invoked an article in the constitution to adopt the reform without a parliamentary vote, sparking two no-confidence motions in parliament, which she survived -- but one by a narrow margin.

Thursday's protests were the latest in a string of nationwide stoppages that began in mid-January against the pension changes.

The ministry of energy transition on Thursday warned that kerosene supply to the capital and its airports was becoming "critical" as blockages at oil refineries continued.

Since the government imposed the reform last Thursday, nightly demonstrations have taken place across France, with young people coordinating their actions on encrypted messaging services.

There have been hundreds of arrests and accusations of heavy-handed tactics by police.

Amnesty International has expressed alarm "about the widespread use of excessive force and arbitrary arrests reported in several media outlets".

Macron said Wednesday that the pensions changes needed to "come into force by the end of the year".

Backtracking on earlier comments that the crowds demonstrating had "no legitimacy", he said organised protests were "legitimate", but violence should be condemned and blockages should not impede normal activity.

UK's King Charles III is due to arrive Sunday for his first foreign state visit as monarch.

French public sector trade unionists have warned they will not provide red carpets during the visit, but non-striking workers are expected to roll them out.

The unions meanwhile have called a fresh day of strikes next Tuesday.

Hundreds of thousands of French workers on Thursday massed in a new show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, with protests turning violent in Paris and other cities in a confrontation that shows no sign of abating. The uproar over the imposition of the reform -- which the government chose to push through without a parliamentary vote -- has turned into the biggest domestic crisis of Macron's second term in office. It also threatens to cast a shadow over next week's visit to France of King Charles III, the first foreign visit he has made as monarch.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The numbers in Paris and other cities were higher than in previous protest days, the protests given new momentum by Macron's refusal in a TV interview Wednesday to back down on the reform. "I found him very authoritarian. He doesn't listen," Solange Le Nuz, a 28-year-old engineer protesting in Paris, told AFP. Police and protesters again clashed on the streets of the capital during a major demonstration, security forces firing teargas and charging crowds with batons. Some protesters lit fires in the street, setting ablaze pallets and piles of uncollected rubbish, prompting firefighters to intervene, AFP correspondents said. Some 1.089 million protesters took part in demonstrations across France, the interior ministry said, putting the Paris turnout at 119,000, the highest for the capital since the movement started in January. The nationwide figure still fell short of the 1.28 million people who marched on March 7, according to the government figures. Unions claimed a record 3.5 million people turned out across France, and 800,000 in the capital. In Paris, several hundred black-clad radical demonstrators were breaking windows of banks, shops and fast-food outlets, and destroying street furniture, AFP journalists witnessed. Police reported 26 arrests by 6.00 pm (1700 GMT), with those detained suspected mostly of possessing illegal weapons or planning to damage property or commit acts of violence. An AFP journalist saw paramedics treating one injured demonstrator. One policeman was injured by a projectile to the head, a police source said. Unions appealed for peaceful protests. "We need to keep public opinion on side until the end," said Laurent Berger, leader of the moderate CFDT. In the western city of Rennes, one protester held up a sign reading: "I want to grow old with my lover, not with my boss." School teacher Cedric Nothias, 46, held up a sign that read: "How does one teach democracy when Macron is trampling all over it?" Protesters briefly occupied the tracks at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, and some blocked access to Charles de Gaulle airport. Half of France's high-speed train services were cancelled, and rubbish is still piled up in the streets of Paris because of stoppages by garbage collectors. Anger surged after a defiant Macron said on Wednesday he was prepared to accept unpopularity over the pensions reform which he said was "necessary". A survey on Sunday showed Macron's personal approval rating at just 28 percent, its lowest since the anti-government "Yellow Vest" protest movement in 2018-2019. Acting on Macron's instructions, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne last week invoked an article in the constitution to adopt the reform without a parliamentary vote, sparking two no-confidence motions in parliament, which she survived -- but one by a narrow margin. Thursday's protests were the latest in a string of nationwide stoppages that began in mid-January against the pension changes. The ministry of energy transition on Thursday warned that kerosene supply to the capital and its airports was becoming "critical" as blockages at oil refineries continued. Since the government imposed the reform last Thursday, nightly demonstrations have taken place across France, with young people coordinating their actions on encrypted messaging services. There have been hundreds of arrests and accusations of heavy-handed tactics by police. Amnesty International has expressed alarm "about the widespread use of excessive force and arbitrary arrests reported in several media outlets". Macron said Wednesday that the pensions changes needed to "come into force by the end of the year". Backtracking on earlier comments that the crowds demonstrating had "no legitimacy", he said organised protests were "legitimate", but violence should be condemned and blockages should not impede normal activity. UK's King Charles III is due to arrive Sunday for his first foreign state visit as monarch. French public sector trade unionists have warned they will not provide red carpets during the visit, but non-striking workers are expected to roll them out. The unions meanwhile have called a fresh day of strikes next Tuesday.
By Associated Press

BEIJING: When China suddenly scrapped onerous zero-COVID measures in December, the country wasnt ready for a massive onslaught of cases, with hospitals turning away ambulances and crematoriums burning bodies around the clock.

Chinese state media claimed the decision to open up was based on scientific analysis and shrewd calculation, and by no means impulsive." But in reality, Chinas ruling Communist Party held off on repeated efforts by top medical experts to kickstart exit plans until it was too late, The Associated Press found.

Instead, the reopening came suddenly at the onset of winter, when the virus spreads most easily. Many older people werent vaccinated, pharmacies lacked antivirals, and hospitals didnt have adequate supplies or staff  leading to as many as hundreds of thousands of deaths that may have been avoided, according to academic modeling, more than 20 interviews with current and former China Center for Disease Control and Prevention employees, experts and government advisers, and internal reports and directives obtained by the AP.

If they had a real plan to exit earlier, so many things could have been avoided, said Zhang Zuo-Feng, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. Many deaths could have been prevented.

Experts estimate that many hundreds of thousands of people, perhaps more, may have died in Chinas wave of COVID-19  far higher than the official toll of under 90,000, but still a significantly lower death rate than in the United States and Europe. However, 200,000 to 300,000 deaths could have been prevented if the country was better vaccinated and stocked with antivirals, according to modeling by the University of Hong Kong. Some scientists estimate even more lives could have been saved.

It wasnt a sound public health decision at all, said a China CDC official, declining to be named to speak candidly on a sensitive matter. Its absolutely bad timing  this was not a prepared opening.

For two years, China stood out for its tough but successful controls against the virus, credited with saving millions of lives as other countries struggled with stop-and-start lockdowns. But with the emergence of the highly infectious omicron variant in late 2021, many of Chinas top medical experts and officials worried zero-COVID was unsustainable.

In late 2021, Chinas leaders began discussing how to lift restrictions. As early as March 2022, top medical experts submitted a detailed reopening strategy to the State Council, Chinas cabinet. The existence of the document is being reported for the first time by the AP.

But discussions were silenced after an outbreak the same month in Shanghai, which prompted Chinese leader Xi Jinping to lock the city down. Chinese public health experts stopped speaking publicly about preparing for an exit, as they were wary of openly challenging a policy supported by Xi.

By the time the Shanghai outbreak was under control, China was months away from the 20th Party Congress, the countrys most important political meeting in a decade, making reopening politically difficult. So the country stuck to mass testing and quarantining millions of people.

Everybody waits for the party congress, said one medical expert, declining to be named to comment on a sensitive topic. Theres inevitably a degree of everyone being very cautious.

At the Congress in mid-October, top officials differing with Xi were sidelined. Instead, six loyalists followed Xi onstage in a new leadership lineup, signaling his total domination of the party.

With the congress over, some voices in the public health sector finally piped up. In an internal document published Oct. 28, obtained by The Associated Press and reported here for the first time, Wu Zunyou, Chinas CDC chief epidemiologist, criticized the Beijing city government for excessive COVID-19 controls, saying it had no scientific basis." He called it a distortion of the central governments zero-COVID policy, which risked intensifying public sentiment and causing social dissatisfaction.

At the same time, he called the virus policies of the central government absolutely correct. One former CDC official said Wu felt helpless because he was ordered to advocate for zero-COVID in public, even as he disagreed at times with its excesses in private.

Wu did not respond to an email requesting comment. A person acquainted with Wu confirmed he wrote the internal report.

Another who spoke up was Zhong Nanshan, a doctor renowned for raising the alarm about the original COVID outbreak Wuhan. He wrote to Xi personally, telling him that zero-COVID was not sustainable and urging a gradual reopening, said a person acquainted with Zhong.

In early November, then-Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, Chinas top COVID czar, summoned experts from sectors including health, travel and the economy to discuss adjusting Beijings virus policies, according to three people with direct knowledge of the meetings. On November 10, Xi ordered adjustments.

The next day, Beijing announced 20 new measures tweaking restrictions, such as reclassifying risk zones and reducing quarantine times. But at the same time, Xi made clear, China was sticking to zero-COVID.

The government wanted order. Instead, the measures caused chaos.

With conflicting signals from the top, local governments werent sure whether to lock down or open up. Policies changed by the day.

In late November, public frustration boiled over. A deadly apartment fire in Chinas far west Xinjiang region sparked nationwide protests over locked doors and other virus control measures. Some called on Xi to resign, the most direct challenge to the Communist Partys power since pro-democracy protests in 1989.

Riot police moved in and the protests were swiftly quelled. But behind the scenes, the mood was shifting.

References to zero-COVID vanished from government statements. State newswire Xinhua said the pandemic was causing fatigue, anxiety and tension, and that the cost of controlling it was increasing day by day.

Days after the protests, Sun held meetings where she told medical experts the state planned to walk briskly out of zero-COVID. The final decision was made suddenly, and with little direct input from public health experts, several told the AP.

None of us expected the 180-degree turn, a government adviser said.

Many in the Chinese government believe the protests accelerated Xis decision to scrap virus controls entirely, according to three current and former state employees.

It was the trigger, said one, not identified because they werent authorized to speak to the media.

On Dec. 6, Xi instructed officials to change COVID-19 controls, Xinhua reported.

The next day, Chinese health authorities announced 10 sweeping measures that effectively scrapped controls, canceling virus test requirements, mandatory centralized quarantine and location-tracking health QR codes. The decision to reopen so suddenly caught the country by surprise.

Even three days notice would have been good, said a former China CDC official. The way this happened was just unbelievable.

BEIJING: When China suddenly scrapped onerous zero-COVID measures in December, the country wasnt ready for a massive onslaught of cases, with hospitals turning away ambulances and crematoriums burning bodies around the clock. Chinese state media claimed the decision to open up was based on scientific analysis and shrewd calculation, and by no means impulsive." But in reality, Chinas ruling Communist Party held off on repeated efforts by top medical experts to kickstart exit plans until it was too late, The Associated Press found. Instead, the reopening came suddenly at the onset of winter, when the virus spreads most easily. Many older people werent vaccinated, pharmacies lacked antivirals, and hospitals didnt have adequate supplies or staff  leading to as many as hundreds of thousands of deaths that may have been avoided, according to academic modeling, more than 20 interviews with current and former China Center for Disease Control and Prevention employees, experts and government advisers, and internal reports and directives obtained by the AP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); If they had a real plan to exit earlier, so many things could have been avoided, said Zhang Zuo-Feng, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. Many deaths could have been prevented. Experts estimate that many hundreds of thousands of people, perhaps more, may have died in Chinas wave of COVID-19  far higher than the official toll of under 90,000, but still a significantly lower death rate than in the United States and Europe. However, 200,000 to 300,000 deaths could have been prevented if the country was better vaccinated and stocked with antivirals, according to modeling by the University of Hong Kong. Some scientists estimate even more lives could have been saved. It wasnt a sound public health decision at all, said a China CDC official, declining to be named to speak candidly on a sensitive matter. Its absolutely bad timing  this was not a prepared opening. For two years, China stood out for its tough but successful controls against the virus, credited with saving millions of lives as other countries struggled with stop-and-start lockdowns. But with the emergence of the highly infectious omicron variant in late 2021, many of Chinas top medical experts and officials worried zero-COVID was unsustainable. In late 2021, Chinas leaders began discussing how to lift restrictions. As early as March 2022, top medical experts submitted a detailed reopening strategy to the State Council, Chinas cabinet. The existence of the document is being reported for the first time by the AP. But discussions were silenced after an outbreak the same month in Shanghai, which prompted Chinese leader Xi Jinping to lock the city down. Chinese public health experts stopped speaking publicly about preparing for an exit, as they were wary of openly challenging a policy supported by Xi. By the time the Shanghai outbreak was under control, China was months away from the 20th Party Congress, the countrys most important political meeting in a decade, making reopening politically difficult. So the country stuck to mass testing and quarantining millions of people. Everybody waits for the party congress, said one medical expert, declining to be named to comment on a sensitive topic. Theres inevitably a degree of everyone being very cautious. At the Congress in mid-October, top officials differing with Xi were sidelined. Instead, six loyalists followed Xi onstage in a new leadership lineup, signaling his total domination of the party. With the congress over, some voices in the public health sector finally piped up. In an internal document published Oct. 28, obtained by The Associated Press and reported here for the first time, Wu Zunyou, Chinas CDC chief epidemiologist, criticized the Beijing city government for excessive COVID-19 controls, saying it had no scientific basis." He called it a distortion of the central governments zero-COVID policy, which risked intensifying public sentiment and causing social dissatisfaction. At the same time, he called the virus policies of the central government absolutely correct. One former CDC official said Wu felt helpless because he was ordered to advocate for zero-COVID in public, even as he disagreed at times with its excesses in private. Wu did not respond to an email requesting comment. A person acquainted with Wu confirmed he wrote the internal report. Another who spoke up was Zhong Nanshan, a doctor renowned for raising the alarm about the original COVID outbreak Wuhan. He wrote to Xi personally, telling him that zero-COVID was not sustainable and urging a gradual reopening, said a person acquainted with Zhong. In early November, then-Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, Chinas top COVID czar, summoned experts from sectors including health, travel and the economy to discuss adjusting Beijings virus policies, according to three people with direct knowledge of the meetings. On November 10, Xi ordered adjustments. The next day, Beijing announced 20 new measures tweaking restrictions, such as reclassifying risk zones and reducing quarantine times. But at the same time, Xi made clear, China was sticking to zero-COVID. The government wanted order. Instead, the measures caused chaos. With conflicting signals from the top, local governments werent sure whether to lock down or open up. Policies changed by the day. In late November, public frustration boiled over. A deadly apartment fire in Chinas far west Xinjiang region sparked nationwide protests over locked doors and other virus control measures. Some called on Xi to resign, the most direct challenge to the Communist Partys power since pro-democracy protests in 1989. Riot police moved in and the protests were swiftly quelled. But behind the scenes, the mood was shifting. References to zero-COVID vanished from government statements. State newswire Xinhua said the pandemic was causing fatigue, anxiety and tension, and that the cost of controlling it was increasing day by day. Days after the protests, Sun held meetings where she told medical experts the state planned to walk briskly out of zero-COVID. The final decision was made suddenly, and with little direct input from public health experts, several told the AP. None of us expected the 180-degree turn, a government adviser said. Many in the Chinese government believe the protests accelerated Xis decision to scrap virus controls entirely, according to three current and former state employees. It was the trigger, said one, not identified because they werent authorized to speak to the media. On Dec. 6, Xi instructed officials to change COVID-19 controls, Xinhua reported. The next day, Chinese health authorities announced 10 sweeping measures that effectively scrapped controls, canceling virus test requirements, mandatory centralized quarantine and location-tracking health QR codes. The decision to reopen so suddenly caught the country by surprise. Even three days notice would have been good, said a former China CDC official. The way this happened was just unbelievable.
By PTI

SEOUL: North Korea claimed on Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic 'radioactive tsunami' that would destroy naval strike groups and ports.

Analysts were skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines the North's commitment to raising nuclear threats.

The test this week came as the United States reportedly planned to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

Military tensions are at a high point as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and US-South Korea joint military exercises has accelerated in the past year in a cycle of tit-for-tat responses.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon, which can be deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships, is built to -stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion to destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports of the enemy.

The North Korean report came hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to make North Korea pay for its 'reckless provocations' as he attended a remembrance service honoring 55 South Korean troops killed during major clashes with the North near their western sea border in past years.

The testing of the purported 'nuclear underwater attack drone' was part of a three-day exercise that simulated nuclear attacks on unspecified South Korean targets, which also included cruise missile launches on Wednesday.

KCNA said that the drills were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who condemned the US-South Korean drills as invasion rehearsals and vowed to make his rivals "plunge into despair".

The drone is named "Haeil," a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis.

The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of Kim smiling next to a large torpedo-shaped object at an unspecified indoor facility, but didn't identify it.

Other photos published with the same article showed sea-surface tracks supposedly caused by the drone's underwater trajectory and a pillar of water exploding up into the air, possibly caused by what state media described as an underwater detonation of a mock nuclear weapon carried by the drone.

KCNA said the North's latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing "nuclear crisis" as they continue with their "intentional, persistent and provocative war drills."

The U.S. and South Korea completed an 11-day exercise that included their biggest field training in years on Thursday, and are preparing another round of joint naval drills that will reportedly involve a US aircraft carrier.

KCNA said the latest drills verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years, although the weapon was never mentioned before in state media until Friday.

KCNA said the drone was deployed off the North's eastern coast on Tuesday, traveled underwater for nearly 60 hours, and detonated a test warhead at a target standing for an enemy port.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, said that it's impossible to verify North Korea's claims about the drone's capabilities or that it had tested the system dozens of times.

But, he said, the North is intending to communicate that the weapon has enough range to reach all South Korean ports.

Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, questioned the wisdom of North Korea devoting resources to the drone system as a means of delivery versus its ballistic missiles when it has limited amounts of nuclear materials suitable for weapons.

"This un-crewed underwater vehicle will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Korea's coastal waters. It will also be susceptible to preemptive strikes when in port," said Panda.

Indeed, the US and South Korea would have incentives in a crisis to preempt any such systems before they could deploy.

North Korea is believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads and may be capable of fitting them on older weapons systems, such as Scuds or Rodong missiles.

However, there are different assessments on how far it has advanced in engineering those warheads to fit on the new weapons it has developed at a rapid pace, which might require further technological upgrades and nuclear tests.

Speaking to lawmakers on Thursday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup said the North probably hasn't yet mastered the technology to place nuclear arms on its most advanced weapons, although acknowledging that the country was making "significant progress".

On Wednesday, North Korea also test-fired cruise missiles in launches that were detected and publicized by South Korea's military.

It also staged another nuclear attack simulation with a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday and flight-tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last week that may be able to reach the continental United States.

KCNA said Wednesday's tests were of four cruise missiles and two different types.

The missiles flew for more than two hours in patterns over the sea while demonstrating an ability to strike targets 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) and 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles) away.

It said the missiles' mock nuclear warheads were detonated 600 metres (1,968 feet) above their targets, which supposedly verified the reliability of their nuclear explosion control devices and warhead detonators.

KCNA said Kim Jong Un was satisfied with the three-day drills and directed unspecified additional tasks to counter the "reckless military provocations" of his rivals, indicating North Korea will further ramp up its military displays.

He expressed his will to make the US imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet regime plunge into despair with powerful demonstrations of his military nuclear program to make his rivals understand "they are bound to lose more than they get" with the expansion of their joint drills.

Kim issued similar language Sunday after a test-firing of a short-range ballistic missile from what was possibly a silo dug into the ground.

The North's media said a mock nuclear warhead placed on the missile detonated 800 metres (2,624 feet) above water, an altitude that would maximize damage.

It was the first time North Korea publicised a nuclear detonation at such an altitude, though it has previously claimed to have simulated nuclear strikes on its rivals.

The North has fired over 20 ballistic and cruise missiles across 10 launch events this year as it tries to diversify its delivery systems and display the ability to conduct nuclear strikes on both South Korea and the US mainland.

North Korea already is coming off a record year in testing activity, with more than 70 missiles fired in 2022, as Kim accelerated a campaign aimed at negotiating badly needed sanctions relief from a position of strength and forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power.

SEOUL: North Korea claimed on Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic 'radioactive tsunami' that would destroy naval strike groups and ports. Analysts were skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines the North's commitment to raising nuclear threats. The test this week came as the United States reportedly planned to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Military tensions are at a high point as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and US-South Korea joint military exercises has accelerated in the past year in a cycle of tit-for-tat responses. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon, which can be deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships, is built to -stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion to destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports of the enemy. The North Korean report came hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to make North Korea pay for its 'reckless provocations' as he attended a remembrance service honoring 55 South Korean troops killed during major clashes with the North near their western sea border in past years. The testing of the purported 'nuclear underwater attack drone' was part of a three-day exercise that simulated nuclear attacks on unspecified South Korean targets, which also included cruise missile launches on Wednesday. KCNA said that the drills were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who condemned the US-South Korean drills as invasion rehearsals and vowed to make his rivals "plunge into despair". The drone is named "Haeil," a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunamis. The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of Kim smiling next to a large torpedo-shaped object at an unspecified indoor facility, but didn't identify it. Other photos published with the same article showed sea-surface tracks supposedly caused by the drone's underwater trajectory and a pillar of water exploding up into the air, possibly caused by what state media described as an underwater detonation of a mock nuclear weapon carried by the drone. KCNA said the North's latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing "nuclear crisis" as they continue with their "intentional, persistent and provocative war drills." The U.S. and South Korea completed an 11-day exercise that included their biggest field training in years on Thursday, and are preparing another round of joint naval drills that will reportedly involve a US aircraft carrier. KCNA said the latest drills verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years, although the weapon was never mentioned before in state media until Friday. KCNA said the drone was deployed off the North's eastern coast on Tuesday, traveled underwater for nearly 60 hours, and detonated a test warhead at a target standing for an enemy port. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, said that it's impossible to verify North Korea's claims about the drone's capabilities or that it had tested the system dozens of times. But, he said, the North is intending to communicate that the weapon has enough range to reach all South Korean ports. Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, questioned the wisdom of North Korea devoting resources to the drone system as a means of delivery versus its ballistic missiles when it has limited amounts of nuclear materials suitable for weapons. "This un-crewed underwater vehicle will be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare capabilities if it were to deploy beyond North Korea's coastal waters. It will also be susceptible to preemptive strikes when in port," said Panda. Indeed, the US and South Korea would have incentives in a crisis to preempt any such systems before they could deploy. North Korea is believed to have dozens of nuclear warheads and may be capable of fitting them on older weapons systems, such as Scuds or Rodong missiles. However, there are different assessments on how far it has advanced in engineering those warheads to fit on the new weapons it has developed at a rapid pace, which might require further technological upgrades and nuclear tests. Speaking to lawmakers on Thursday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup said the North probably hasn't yet mastered the technology to place nuclear arms on its most advanced weapons, although acknowledging that the country was making "significant progress". On Wednesday, North Korea also test-fired cruise missiles in launches that were detected and publicized by South Korea's military. It also staged another nuclear attack simulation with a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday and flight-tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last week that may be able to reach the continental United States. KCNA said Wednesday's tests were of four cruise missiles and two different types. The missiles flew for more than two hours in patterns over the sea while demonstrating an ability to strike targets 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) and 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles) away. It said the missiles' mock nuclear warheads were detonated 600 metres (1,968 feet) above their targets, which supposedly verified the reliability of their nuclear explosion control devices and warhead detonators. KCNA said Kim Jong Un was satisfied with the three-day drills and directed unspecified additional tasks to counter the "reckless military provocations" of his rivals, indicating North Korea will further ramp up its military displays. He expressed his will to make the US imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet regime plunge into despair with powerful demonstrations of his military nuclear program to make his rivals understand "they are bound to lose more than they get" with the expansion of their joint drills. Kim issued similar language Sunday after a test-firing of a short-range ballistic missile from what was possibly a silo dug into the ground. The North's media said a mock nuclear warhead placed on the missile detonated 800 metres (2,624 feet) above water, an altitude that would maximize damage. It was the first time North Korea publicised a nuclear detonation at such an altitude, though it has previously claimed to have simulated nuclear strikes on its rivals. The North has fired over 20 ballistic and cruise missiles across 10 launch events this year as it tries to diversify its delivery systems and display the ability to conduct nuclear strikes on both South Korea and the US mainland. North Korea already is coming off a record year in testing activity, with more than 70 missiles fired in 2022, as Kim accelerated a campaign aimed at negotiating badly needed sanctions relief from a position of strength and forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power.
By Online Desk

Kayleigh Scott, a transgender United Airlines flight attendant who was previously featured in a company video for Trans Day of Visibility, was found dead in her Denver apartment in an apparent suicide, American web portal AOL reports.

The Denver Police Department told the Los Angeles Blade an investigation is still ongoing, and a final determination as to the cause of death will be made by the Denver Medical Examiners Office, the report said.

Police were reportedly alerted when Scotts followers on social media saw her posting potential references to suicide.

I was up all night and out of nowhere I saw a post by Kayleigh Scott with her last goodbyes on this earth, one person familiar with the posts told LGBTQ Nation. Many of us, just like myself, who couldnt sleep, jumped on it right away. All night I tried to reach out, called, texted, messaged her family on [Facebook], as did others. Finally, someone was able to send the police for a wellness check, unfortunately it was too late, AOL report said.

In a Facebook post, Andrea Sylvestro, reportedly Scotts mother, wrote, I am so unbelievably proud to have you as my daughter, proud and amazed by everything that you have done in your life, your smile was absolutely beautiful, your laughter was unbelievably contagious, your heart was bigger than any of us could have ever understood.

United told travel site Paddle Your Owk Kanoo it was saddened by the loss of Scott, according to AOL.

We are incredibly saddened by the tragic loss of Kayleigh Scott and extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and coworkers, the company said in a statement.

In previous social media posts, the Blade reports, Scott had alluded to battling depression.

2022 has been a year packed with upset and difficulty, she wrote in one post. I saw too much death & loss in my life, I came to realize I work a meaningless job for a company that doesnt value me as an employee, I had my heart destroyed, I lost my nice little home and had to downsize significantly and start over. Im really struggling to find happiness and hope. Im begging 2023 to be better to me. Please.

In a 2020 United video campaign, Scott spoke about the importance of coming out and living authentically.

I used to be so embarrassed about being trans, she said. All I wanted was to blend in.

This is a story that I know is important for me to share, not for me, but for those out there who are still fighting social norms, the boundaries set upon them, fighting themselves, the report added.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7)



Kayleigh Scott, a transgender United Airlines flight attendant who was previously featured in a company video for Trans Day of Visibility, was found dead in her Denver apartment in an apparent suicide, American web portal AOL reports. The Denver Police Department told the Los Angeles Blade an investigation is still ongoing, and a final determination as to the cause of death will be made by the Denver Medical Examiners Office, the report said. Police were reportedly alerted when Scotts followers on social media saw her posting potential references to suicide.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I was up all night and out of nowhere I saw a post by Kayleigh Scott with her last goodbyes on this earth, one person familiar with the posts told LGBTQ Nation. Many of us, just like myself, who couldnt sleep, jumped on it right away. All night I tried to reach out, called, texted, messaged her family on [Facebook], as did others. Finally, someone was able to send the police for a wellness check, unfortunately it was too late, AOL report said. In a Facebook post, Andrea Sylvestro, reportedly Scotts mother, wrote, I am so unbelievably proud to have you as my daughter, proud and amazed by everything that you have done in your life, your smile was absolutely beautiful, your laughter was unbelievably contagious, your heart was bigger than any of us could have ever understood. United told travel site Paddle Your Owk Kanoo it was saddened by the loss of Scott, according to AOL. We are incredibly saddened by the tragic loss of Kayleigh Scott and extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and coworkers, the company said in a statement. In previous social media posts, the Blade reports, Scott had alluded to battling depression. 2022 has been a year packed with upset and difficulty, she wrote in one post. I saw too much death & loss in my life, I came to realize I work a meaningless job for a company that doesnt value me as an employee, I had my heart destroyed, I lost my nice little home and had to downsize significantly and start over. Im really struggling to find happiness and hope. Im begging 2023 to be better to me. Please. In a 2020 United video campaign, Scott spoke about the importance of coming out and living authentically. I used to be so embarrassed about being trans, she said. All I wanted was to blend in. This is a story that I know is important for me to share, not for me, but for those out there who are still fighting social norms, the boundaries set upon them, fighting themselves, the report added. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7)
By Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine: UN human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbor that could amount to war crimes, according to a report released Friday.

The first full look by the UN human rights offices mission in Ukraine at the treatment of POWs was released along with an update of human rights violations overall from a six-month period that ran through January. The report was based on interviews with about 400 POWs, half of them Ukrainians who were released and the other half Russians held captive in Ukraine.

The team said it had no access to POWs held in Russia or Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine where it identified 48 internment sites. The mission said it nonetheless documented some 40 summary executions over the course of the 13-month war.

The UN rights office, which has had a monitoring team in Ukraine since fighting broke out in areas of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia-backed separatists in 2014, has said its findings are based on confirmed cases and typically understate actual tolls.

We are deeply concerned about the summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons ordered to combat by Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, Matilda Bogner, the head of the UN monitoring mission, said at a Kyiv news conference.

Bogner laid out abuses allegedly committed by both sides but noted that Russias invasion of Ukraine was at the root of the violence against civilians and POWs. She said Ukrainian prosecutors were investigating some cases, but none had been taken yet to court.

In relation to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, we are also deeply concerned by the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces, Bogner said. The Wagner Group  military and security contractors  perpetrated 11 of these executions.

It also documented five cases in which Ukrainian POWs had died after being tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and four cases of death due to a lack of medical attention during internment.

The report found that while abuse of POWs took place on both sides, it was far more common against Ukrainians  more than 9 in 10 of interviewees reported abuse  than against Russians, about half of whom testified to abuse.

In its update on rights abuses affecting other groups, the rights office said children from the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine were sent to summer camps in Russia with their parents consent but were not returned home as expected after the vacation period. Several parts of Kharkiv province were occupied by Russia last year before Ukraines military reclaimed them in a late summer counter-offensive.

ALSO WATCH |

Some 200 children set to a camp in the Russian city of Krasnodarskyi Krai, remained after the summer and were enrolled in a local school, according to the second report. The update noted that Russian authorities said in October that as many as 2,500 children from Ukraine were living in temporary accommodation centers in Russia, and some had remained there.

But the right office cautioned that it remained unclear how many unaccompanied children were placed in camps, temporary lodging or institutionalized care in Russia, as well as how many children were transferred there with their parents.

The U.N. reported earlier this week that it had recorded the deaths of 8,317 civilians in Ukraine since Russias invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, and the injuring of another 13,809 people in connection with the conflict. It cautioned that those figures understated the actual casualties.

KYIV, Ukraine: UN human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbor that could amount to war crimes, according to a report released Friday. The first full look by the UN human rights offices mission in Ukraine at the treatment of POWs was released along with an update of human rights violations overall from a six-month period that ran through January. The report was based on interviews with about 400 POWs, half of them Ukrainians who were released and the other half Russians held captive in Ukraine. The team said it had no access to POWs held in Russia or Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine where it identified 48 internment sites. The mission said it nonetheless documented some 40 summary executions over the course of the 13-month war.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The UN rights office, which has had a monitoring team in Ukraine since fighting broke out in areas of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia-backed separatists in 2014, has said its findings are based on confirmed cases and typically understate actual tolls. We are deeply concerned about the summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons ordered to combat by Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, Matilda Bogner, the head of the UN monitoring mission, said at a Kyiv news conference. Bogner laid out abuses allegedly committed by both sides but noted that Russias invasion of Ukraine was at the root of the violence against civilians and POWs. She said Ukrainian prosecutors were investigating some cases, but none had been taken yet to court. In relation to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, we are also deeply concerned by the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces, Bogner said. The Wagner Group  military and security contractors  perpetrated 11 of these executions. It also documented five cases in which Ukrainian POWs had died after being tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and four cases of death due to a lack of medical attention during internment. The report found that while abuse of POWs took place on both sides, it was far more common against Ukrainians  more than 9 in 10 of interviewees reported abuse  than against Russians, about half of whom testified to abuse. In its update on rights abuses affecting other groups, the rights office said children from the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine were sent to summer camps in Russia with their parents consent but were not returned home as expected after the vacation period. Several parts of Kharkiv province were occupied by Russia last year before Ukraines military reclaimed them in a late summer counter-offensive. ALSO WATCH | Some 200 children set to a camp in the Russian city of Krasnodarskyi Krai, remained after the summer and were enrolled in a local school, according to the second report. The update noted that Russian authorities said in October that as many as 2,500 children from Ukraine were living in temporary accommodation centers in Russia, and some had remained there. But the right office cautioned that it remained unclear how many unaccompanied children were placed in camps, temporary lodging or institutionalized care in Russia, as well as how many children were transferred there with their parents. The U.N. reported earlier this week that it had recorded the deaths of 8,317 civilians in Ukraine since Russias invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, and the injuring of another 13,809 people in connection with the conflict. It cautioned that those figures understated the actual casualties.
By Associated Press

BEIRUT: A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying the US bombing killed at least four people.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria" by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the US and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people. Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militiamen posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal. It said the strikes also wounded people, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour. The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said US bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said.

The AP could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Kurilla also claimed that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on US positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes. Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The US under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of US-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

While the risk of an escalatory cycle is there, she said, I think the Biden administration wont be eager to escalate in Syria now and will instead have a relatively measured response.

US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened. There are roughly 900 U.S. troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

Since the US drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for US forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis. Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

BEIRUT: A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying the US bombing killed at least four people. The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria" by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said. Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the US and Israel, its arch regional enemy. The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq. Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people. Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militiamen posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal. It said the strikes also wounded people, including Iraqis. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour. The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said US bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters. A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said. The AP could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East. In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran. The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war. U.S. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement. Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones. Kurilla also claimed that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on US positions in Syria since January 2021. What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said. Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes. Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program. Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden. As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity. The US under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there. Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of US-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation. These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties. While the risk of an escalatory cycle is there, she said, I think the Biden administration wont be eager to escalate in Syria now and will instead have a relatively measured response. US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened. There are roughly 900 U.S. troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east. Since the US drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for US forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis. Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province. The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.
By Online Desk

A flight attendant reportedly suffered a broken leg, and nine other people were injured after a flight from the Angolan capital Luanda to Lisbon, Portugal, was rocked by severe turbulence not long after takeoff, according to aviation news portal, PYOK.

Amongst the injured was a second member of cabin crew, along with eight passengers, some of whom were transported to the hospital after the aircraft arrived in Lisbon on Thursday night, PYOK reported.

The flight was operated by Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly on behalf of TAAG Angola Airlines, which said stormy weather in the region was behind the severe turbulence. A flight on Friday was rescheduled to allow for forecast storms to pass, the report said.

TAAG flight DT652 departed Luanda Airport at around 2:18 pm on Thursday and flight attendants were in the midst of the first meal service when the turbulence struck, the report added.

A flight attendant reportedly suffered a broken leg, and nine other people were injured after a flight from the Angolan capital Luanda to Lisbon, Portugal, was rocked by severe turbulence not long after takeoff, according to aviation news portal, PYOK. Amongst the injured was a second member of cabin crew, along with eight passengers, some of whom were transported to the hospital after the aircraft arrived in Lisbon on Thursday night, PYOK reported. The flight was operated by Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly on behalf of TAAG Angola Airlines, which said stormy weather in the region was behind the severe turbulence. A flight on Friday was rescheduled to allow for forecast storms to pass, the report said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); TAAG flight DT652 departed Luanda Airport at around 2:18 pm on Thursday and flight attendants were in the midst of the first meal service when the turbulence struck, the report added.
The House of Representatives Oversight Committee was recently presented a letter from that committees ranking member, Jamie Raskin (D-Md), which addressed the issue of white supremacy. The letter contains a statement that reads as follows: We members of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, together denounce white nationalism and white supremacy in all its forms including the Great Replacement conspiracy theory. These hateful and dangerous ideologies have no place in the work of the United States Congress or our Committee.

One would think every committee member would be eager to sign on to a statement like that denouncing something that is as supremely evil as white supremacy, but not so. Although every Democratic committee member signed the letter, sadly not a single Republican did so, including Nick Langworthy (R-NY23), congressman to most of us in the Southtowns. If Langworthy and the other Republican committee members had found this letter to be too unsavory for them to sign just because it was written by a Democrat, they could have written their own document condemning racism, but they didnt do that either. Which begs the question, why not? None of the answers to that question is pretty.
Palestinian PM urges intl measures to end incitement by Israeli officials

Ramallah, March 23: Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye has urged the international community to stop Israeli officials from inciting racism against the Palestinians.

Palestinian PM urges int'l measures to end incitement by Israeli officials

Ishtaye made the remarks during a meeting with the French Consul General in Jerusalem, Rene Trokaz, at the Prime Minister's office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to an official statement.Ishtaye called on France and other countries "to take measures to stop the incitement by extremist Israeli officials against the Palestinian people, and not give them platforms to express their racism", Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.The Prime Minister also welcomed the statement of the French Foreign Ministry, which denounced the claims of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in Paris in which he denied the existence of the Palestinian people.Smotrich, who heads the far-right Religious Zionism Party, drew condemnation after he claimed that "there is no such thing as a Palestinian people" in a speech he gave on Sunday at a conference in France."Israel is committed to the 1994 peace agreement with Jordan. There has been no change in the position of the State of Israel, which recognises the territorial integrity of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan," the Israeli Foreign Ministry tweeted on Wednesday.IANS23 March 2023

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UNHCR calls for urgent support amid influx of Somali refugees into Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, March 23: The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called for urgent support amid the recent influx of Somali refugees into Ethiopia.

UNHCR calls for urgent support amid influx of Somali refugees into Ethiopia

The UNHCR, in its inter-agency refugee response plan and emergency appea, said the security situation emanating from a political dispute in the city of Las Anod in the Sool region and other surrounding areas has deteriorated since December 2022, reports Xinhua news agency.It said the ongoing conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people internally and across the border into the Somali region of Ethiopia, many being women, children and vulnerable people.Ethiopia has allowed access to the territory for those seeking international protection. Refugees have spontaneously settled across 13 locations, taking shelter with host communities, schools and overcrowded makeshift shelters or open spaces.Three districts in the Doolo zone -- Bokh, Galhamur and Danod -- have received the refugees, with the main entry points, according to the UN refugee agency.The UNHCR has sounded the alarm over the dire situation in the Doolo zone, with a total host population estimated at 497,000 individuals, most of whom are pastoralists. The region is already struggling with the effects of prolonged drought."Heavily reliant on livestock as the primary form of livelihood, the drought has rendered the people in the host community vulnerable to worsening food insecurity," the UNHCR said.It warned that a large influx of refugees into this fragile context would challenge the humanitarian response and efforts to mitigate the shocks to existing service delivery systems.The UNHCR further stressed that the refugee influx creates a significant operational challenge, with the refugees hosted in remote and underdeveloped districts with the limited presence of humanitarian actors.It said the food security situation in the area is worsening, with moderate acute malnutrition observed in many children under five years of age as well as pregnant and lactating mothers.The UNHCR said providing protection services to newly arrived refugees remains a critical priority, including establishing mitigation and response mechanisms to gender-based violence, exploitation and sexual abuse.IANS23 March 2023

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Study reveals how photosynthesis lead to new ways of generating renewable energy

Cambridge [England], March 23: The natural mechanism of photosynthesis, which powers the majority of life on Earth, has been disclosed by researchers, and they have discovered new strategies for obtaining energy from it. New techniques for creating clean fuel and renewable energy may result from this research.

Study reveals how photosynthesis lead to new ways of generating renewable energy

Photosynthesis, the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria turn sunlight into energy, has been studied in live cells at an ultrafast timescale a millionth of a millionth of a second, by a worldwide team of physicists, chemists, and biologists led by the University of Cambridge.Despite the fact that it is one of the most well-known and well-studied processes on Earth, the researchers found that photosynthesis still has secrets to tell. Using ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to study the movement of energy, the researchers found the chemicals that can extract electrons from the molecular structures responsible for photosynthesis do so at the initial stages, rather than much later, as was previously thought. This 'rewiring' of photosynthesis could improve ways in which it deals with excess energy, and create new and more efficient ways of using its power. The results are reported in the journal Nature."We didn't know as much about photosynthesis as we thought we did, and the new electron transfer pathway we found here is completely surprising," said Dr Jenny Zhang from Cambridge's Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, who coordinated the research.While photosynthesis is a natural process, scientists have also been studying how it could be used as to help address the climate crisis, by mimicking photosynthetic processes to generate clean fuels from sunlight and water, for example.Zhang and her colleagues were originally trying to understand why a ring-shaped molecule called a quinone is able to 'steal' electrons from photosynthesis. Quinones are common in nature, and they can accept and give away electrons easily. The researchers used a technique called ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to study how the quinones behave in photosynthetic cyanobacteria."No one had properly studied how this molecule interplays with photosynthetic machinery at such an early point of photosynthesis we thought we were just using a new technique to confirm what we already knew," said Zhang, adding, "Instead, we found a whole new pathway, and opened the black box of photosynthesis a bit further."Using ultrafast spectroscopy to watch the electrons, the researchers found that the protein scaffold where the initial chemical reactions of photosynthesis take place is 'leaky', allowing electrons to escape. This leakiness could help plants protect themselves from damage from bright or rapidly changing light."The physics of photosynthesis is seriously impressive," said co-first author Tomi Baikie, from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory "Normally, we work on highly ordered materials, but observing charge transport through cells opens up remarkable opportunities for new discoveries on how nature operates.""Since the electrons from photosynthesis are dispersed through the whole system, that means we can access them," said co-first author Dr Laura Wey, who did the work in the Department of Biochemistry, and is now based at the University of Turku, Finland. "The fact that we didn't know this pathway existed is exciting because we could be able to harness it to extract more energy for renewables."The researchers say that being able to extract charges at an earlier point in the process of photosynthesis, could make the process more efficient when manipulating photosynthetic pathways to generate clean fuels from the Sun. In addition, the ability to regulate photosynthesis could mean that crops could be made more able to tolerate intense sunlight."Many scientists have tried to extract electrons from an earlier point in photosynthesis, but said it wasn't possible because the energy is so buried in the protein scaffold," said Zhang, adding, "The fact that we can steal them at an earlier process is mind-blowing. At first, we thought we'd made a mistake it took a while for us to convince ourselves that we'd done it."Key to the discovery was the use of ultrafast spectroscopy, which allowed the researchers to follow the flow of energy in the living photosynthetic cells on a femtosecond scale - a thousandth of a trillionth of a second."The use of these ultrafast methods has allowed us to understand more about the early events in photosynthesis, on which life on Earth depends," said co-author Professor Christopher Howe from the Department of Biochemistry.ANI23 March 2023

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Ministry of Defence inks Rs 3,700 crore contracts with BEL to increase operational capabilities of IAF

New Delhi, March 23: In a bid to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Ministry on Thursday signed two separate contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore.

Ministry of Defence inks Rs 3,700 crore contracts with BEL to increase operational capabilities of IAF

The first contract, worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR) 'Arudhra' for the Indian Air Force. The second contract, at an overall cost of approx. Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under Buy Indian- IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category. These essentially embody the spirit of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will help facilitate the realisation of the country's journey to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing.MPR (Arudhra), radar has been indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be manufactured by BEL.Its successful trials have already been conducted by the Indian Air Force. It is a 4D multi-function phased array radar with electronic steering in both azimuth and elevation for surveillance, detection and tracking of aerial targets. The system will have target identification based on interrogations from co-located Identification Friend or Foe system.The project will act as a catalyst for the development of manufacturing capability in the industrial ecosystem.Besides this, the DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of Su-30 MKI aircraft.The majority of sub-assemblies and parts will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers. The project will boost and encourage active participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs. It will generate employment of around two lakh man-days over a period of three and half years.The DR-118 RWR is a significant leap forward in developing indigenous EW capabilities and making the country 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence.ANI23 March 2023

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Retail Samvad: Industry leaders discussed building a business conducive ecosystem for retailers through policy interventions, technology, innovation, and skilling

New Delhi, March 23: In line with the ongoing initiatives to support MSMEs and Small Retailers in the country, India Center for Policy Research and Governance (ICPRG) in association with METRO Cash & Carry India in collaboration organized the sixth edition of the Retail Samvad, titled - Future of Small Retail: Building enabling ecosystem for small retailers & MSMEs to make them future-ready. The deliberations revolved around the changing paradigm of the retail sector with the influx of new-age technologies and digitization and how the sector can assist India to realize its ambition of becoming a 5 trillion-dollar economy.

Retail Samvad: Industry leaders discussed building a business conducive ecosystem for retailers through policy interventions, technology, innovation, and skilling

Inaugurating the event, Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP National Spokesperson, and UP BJP Executive Member commented, "It is only through debate and discussion that the truth is revealed. Retail Samvad stands as a testimony to this particular idea mentioned in ancient Indian literature. There is increasing encouragement by the government to conduct meaningful discussions with the stakeholders keeping in mind their aspirations and perspectives. The government believes that both entrepreneurship and self-employment are extremely crucial considering the overall contribution of MSMEs to the Indian economy. The Government has been seeking suggestions from stakeholders for formulating the logistics policy, e-commerce policy, and retail trade policy to create a more enabling system for the ecosystem. In the latest budget, the government has removed 39000 compliance requirements, repealed over 1500 redundant laws, and decriminalized over 3400 laws that were creating hindrances in the growth of MSMEs in the country."Commenting on the Enabling environment for Evolving retail businesses, Lalit Agarwal, MD, V-Mart said, "The retail industry is currently undergoing a disruption of sorts. Consumer behavior is continuously evolving and that is where small retailers are facing problems. Firstly, retailers are facing roadblocks when it comes to keeping pace with fast-changing consumer preferences. Secondly, retailers are also finding it difficult to manage costs as margins are often minuscule. The Government is undertaking a lot of measures but much more needs to be done in the retail space. Further, India is currently not consuming and that will only change, once per capita incomes increase in the coming years."Speaking about the retail sector, Arvind Mediratta, MD and CEO of METRO Cash and Carry India, said, "The retail industry has witnessed many seminal events like Demonetization, GST, pandemic in the past couple of years which has boosted the digital economy. Kiranas have been resilient and have modernized into Smart kiranas by adopting digital tools to source supplies more efficiently; digitize their inventories; communicate with customers better; and reimagine the look and feel of their stores. Modernizing and digitalizing operations of small retailers will make them future ready. Hence, the Government needs to ensure easier access to loans under the PM Mudra scheme to facilitate the digitalization and modernization of the sector.""It is crucial that the government considers providing an industry status to the retail sector and creating a separate Retail ministry to address the pertinent issues faced by the sector to enhance ease of doing business. We need quick on-ground implementation of the recommendations suggested in the interest of small retailers and MSMEs. A robust and uniform National Retail policy will also provide the requisite level-playing field for both online and offline retailers, which will help in accelerating the growth of the entire ecosystem," He added.Speaking on the importance of skilling for small retailers, Nidhi Gautam, Senior Consultant, MSDE said, "Skilling in the retail space is an aspect that cannot be ignored and every stakeholder should collaboratively work towards making skilling aspirational. Industries are free to create their own curriculum and impart training. Small retailers are masters of their craft, therefore upskilling and reskilling strategies should be drawn, and customized to their individual needs. For instance, if a retailer wants to scale up their business, training can be provided to them on how to manage inventory, manage time, package products in a better way, or use tech to reach a wider audience base, among others."The conclave was graced by the presence of eminent leaders from the Retail industry, think tanks, experts from the government and policy space, industry associations, corporate leaders, fintech experts, start-ups, economists and industry analysts, and academicians amongst others.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI23 March 2023

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Hangzhou to relax household registration rules to attract talented professionals The government of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, has said it is to further relax rules for household registration, or hukou, to attract a wide range of talent and bolster the development of the digital economy. The city government issued a notice on March 13 to solicit opinions on changes to household registration rules, including expanded access for high-degree graduates and skilled personnel, to address the shortage of high-quality human resources as well as the shortage of skilled personnel. "Hangzhou not only needs high-quality talent, but also other talent from all walks of life," said Tang Hairu, deputy director of the Expert Committee of the Hangzhou Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources. Graduates from junior colleges under the age of 35 who have already been employed in the urban area can settle down in Hangzhou, which will loosen the requirements for degrees. The notice said those under the age of 45 who have professional qualifications above technician, or have a professional qualification of a senior worker under the age of 35, can settle down in Hangzhou. Tang explained that the development of Hangzhou's e-commerce industry in recent years has seen an increasing demand for high-quality cross-border e-commerce talent that do not necessarily need undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees. Tang said that advanced manufacturing requires a large number of skilled personnel, and so these measures will help Hangzhou accelerate the development of the intelligent manufacturing industry. As an emerging city with a strong digital economy, Hangzhou is also home to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and a number of other world-leading high-tech companies. The added value of Hangzhou's digital economy reached 507 billion yuan ($73.5 billion) in 2022, accounting for 27.1 percent of the city's GDP. Up to 28 percent of its graduates under 35 years old have gone into the IT, internet and video game industries. The changes in household registration rules have been seen in many big cities across China, such as Zhengzhou in Henan province, Dalian in Liaoning, Kunming in Yunnan, and Jinan in Shandong. Niu Fengrui, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the relaxation of hukou access for big cities plays an important role in luring talent, accelerating development, optimizing resources and boosting the vitality of cities. Cities in the Yangtze River Delta region remain a magnet for young talent, according to a report from the National Bureau of Statistics on Feb 28. Hangzhou saw its population jump by 172,000 people last year, marking the fastest growth among cities in the Yangtze River Delta region. Zhejiang province as a whole recorded a permanent resident population of 65.7 million people last year, up by 370,000 from 2021, the report said. The permanent resident population of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces increased by a total of 610,000 while the national population fell by 850,000 in 2022.
Here is the weekly outdoors calendar:

March 26  Winter trap shooting at Hartland Conservation Club, Orangeport Road, Gasport, starting at 10 a.m. Breakfast is served at 9 a.m. Open to the public. Call 772-7390 for more info.

March 26  Niagara County Gobblers Chapter of NWTF 27th Annual Hunting Heritage Banquet at Youngstown Vol. Fire Co., 625 Third St., Youngstown. Doors open at 3 p.m. Call Pam or Herb Lederhouse at 791-3151.

March 26  WNY Winter 3-D League Shoot at West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls. Cost is $10 per week. For more info, visit collinsconservation.com or call Mike Cummings at 655-5030.

March 26  Niagara Region Winter 3-D Archery League at Alden Rod and Gun Club, 12 County Line Road, Alden. Sign-in 8 a.m. to noon. Five different clubs. For more information, call John Floriano at 725-5822 or Alex at 912-7626.

March 26  Boston Valley Conservation Society 10-week winter trap league begins at 9624 Zimmerman Road, Boston. Sundays 9 a.m. to noon; Thursdays 6-8 p.m. Call 335-4111 for more info.

March 28  Wood and Brook Sportsmans Club Trap or Skeet League continues at Genesee Street, Crittenden. Shooting 6 to 9:30 p.m. Also Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to public. Teams are 5-7 shooters. 300 total birds in trap or skeet. Call Ben at 983-0026 or Brian at 863-0719.

March 28  WNY Chapter of Trout Unlimited monthly meeting at Orvis Buffalo, 4545 Transit Road, at 7 p.m. Guest speaker will be Scott Cornett talking about Fly Fishing for Wild Trout in North Central Pennsylvania.

March 30  Allied Sportsmen Indoor 3D Archery Final Shoot at 12846 Clinton St., Alden, starting at 6:30 p.m. For more info contact Kevin Ulrich at 655-6028 or John Floriano at 725-5822.

April 1  Inland Trout Regular Season Opener including Finger Lakes tributaries.

April 1  Cazenovia Park Owl Prowl from 8 to 9:30 p.m. with Buffalo Audubon and Buffalo Olmsted Parks. Age 8 and up. Buffalo Audubon members $12, general admission $15. Age 8 and up. Preregister at buffaloaudubon.org.

April 1  First Saturday Stream Explorers will continue at St. John Paul II Church, 2052 Lakeview Road, Lake View, from 9 to 11 a.m. each first Saturday. They hope to fish 18 Mile Creek for this session. Hosted by Cub Scout Pack 591 and WNY Trout Unlimited. This is family-friendly, free and open to the public. For more info email outreach@wnytroutunlimited.org.

April 1  Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association Pen-Rearing Work Party at the Town of Newfane Marina starting at 9:30 a.m. Bring wire cutters.

April 2  Winter trap shooting at Hartland Conservation Club, Orangeport Road, Gasport, starting at 10 a.m. Breakfast is served at 9 a.m. Open to the public. Call 772-7390 for more info.

April 2  WNY Winter 3-D League Shootoff at Collins Conservation, 2636 Conger Road, Collins. Cost is $10 per week. For more info, visit collinsconservation.com or call Chris Hogan at 628-4023.

April 2  Niagara Region Winter 3-D Archery League at Alden Rod and Gun Club, 12 County Line Road, Alden. Sign-in 8 a.m. to noon. Five different clubs. For more information, call John Floriano at 725-5822 or Alex at 912-7626.

April 4  Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association monthly meeting at the Irondequoit Fish and Game Club, 658 Bay Front S, Rochester, starting at 7 p.m.

April 4  Niagara Musky Association monthly meeting, Eldredge Club, 17 Broad St., Tonawanda, starting at 7 p.m.

Submit calendar items to billhiltsjr@gmail.com at least three weeks in advance.
Video claiming Putin is using body doubles goes viral on Russian social media

London, March 23: A video is going viral on Russian social media claiming Vladimir Putin is conning his people by using multiple body doubles for trips he doesn't want to make, Daily Mail reported.

Video claiming Putin is using body doubles goes viral on Russian social media

It seizes on speculation that the Kremlin president's only trip so far to newly-invaded territory in Mariupol was performed by a doppelganger, and asks "Who is ruling Russia?"It is unclear who made the footage but it appears to be aimed at reaching Russians who rely on uber-loyalist state media for their news.Putin is widely believed to have had regular plastic surgery as he has aged since first becoming acting president on the last day of 1999, Daily Mail reported.Rumours are rife that Putin 'understudies' -- who have undergone plastic surgery to resemble him -- are deployed increasingly as his health worsens amid rumours of cancer and early stage Parkinson's."Evidently the weakest double was sent to Mariupol", states the video in Russian. "They forgot to put in his jaw."Earlier Ukraine mocked Putin for allegedly "sending a lookalike to war-ravaged Mariupol" in a high security visit, Daily Mail reported.Kyiv official Anton Gerashchenko posted three images of Putin's chin and questioned whether they belonged to the same man.He taunted "What's up with your chin, Putin?"The Interior Minister advisor posted 'Looks like lately his makeup artists (i.e. for the recent trips of the bunker man to the occupied Crimea and Mariupol) had to work with quite a low-quality copy, not even a double but its copy."I wonder which one of them was real?"One picture showed Putin, 70, one month ago in an address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow.Another was Putin's reported visit to naval port Sevastopol in Crimea on March 18.And the third was from footage released the following day evidently showing Putin in war-blitzed Mariupol, Daily Mail reported.IANS24 March 2023

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UK-India annual bilateral maritime exercise Konkan exhibited op-readiness, interoperability and joint operations

Mumbai, March 23: Konkan 2023, a joint maritime exercise, was conducted between the Royal Navy of Britain and the Indian Navy and it exhibited op-readiness, enhance interoperability and conduct joint operations.

UK-India annual bilateral maritime exercise Konkan exhibited op-readiness, interoperability and joint operations

The annual military drill was held from March 20 to 22, 2023 off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea, read a press release b the Ministry of Defence.The joint drill by the two navies demonstrated operational readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations. The exercise will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the Indian Navy and Royal Navy to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region, added the release.INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition and undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices.The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and sub-surface, and included gunnery shoots on surface inflatable target 'Killer Tomato', helicopter operations, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship manoeuvres and exchange of personnel, added the release.The exercise yielded excellent training value to personnel of both navies. A high level of professionalism and enthusiasm was also evident during its conduct.India and UK agreed to significant new cooperation on Maritime Domain Awareness, which includes new agreements on maritime information sharing, an invitation to the UK to join India's Information Fusion Centre in Gurugram, and an ambitious exercise program that includes joint tri-lateral exercises.In maritime cooperation, the engagements between the countries are increasing. The UK will be deploying a Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean region this year in line with its strategic tilt to Indo-Pacific.The UK is an important partner for fostering peace and security in the world. Both face similar kinds of security threats and challenges (terrorism, extremism).They have reaffirmed and strengthened Defence cooperation, with capacity building, technology development and transfers, joint military exercises (Ajeya Warrior-Army; Konkan-Naval; Indradhanush Force), intelligence sharing, etc. at its core.India considers the defence sector as one of the major areas where the bilateral partnership could be expanded around the 'Make in India' campaign.Around 70 defence-related companies across the UK supply various goods for aircraft/helicopter manufacturing/overhaul at HAL like ejection seats, fuel tank kits, hydraulic pumps, engine spares etc and support legacy platforms like Jaguar, Mirage and Kiran.ANI24 March 2023

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Tata AIA Life Insurance launches NFO Offerings

Mumbai, March 23: Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA) has launched, NFOs under the aegis of #ProtectYourFuture at NAV of Rs. 10 per unit.

Tata AIA Life Insurance launches NFO Offerings

Tata AIA's Sustainability Equity Fund seeks to generate capital appreciation in the long term by investing in companies that adopt sustainable or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) friendly practices. The fund will invest 80-100 per cent in equity and equity related instruments following ESG criteria and upto 20 per cent in other equities or debt or money market instruments. Demonstrating the fund's core philosophy, Tata AIA will plant a sapling that will be geo-tagged and provide a digital certificate of the same to every policy holder, investing in this fund.Tata AIA's Dynamic Advantage Fund aims to generate superior and steady returns, despite factors like market volatility. The fund will dynamically allocate the investment corpus between Equity and Debt depending upon market conditions.Investments in the two NFOs can be made through Tata AIA's ULIP offerings like Fortune Pro, Wealth Pro, Fortune Maxima and Wealth Maxima. Consumers can also avail this opportunity by purchasing Tata AIA's unique investment linked protection solutions, Param Rakshak and Sampoorna Raksha Supreme. Consumers can thus benefit from market linked returns, while securing their loved ones with the protection of a life insurance cover.Harshad Patil, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Tata AIA Life Insurance, said, "Protecting our future is crucial in these times of volatility and economic uncertainty. At the same time, we are witnessing significant climatic changes, clearly revealing the negative impact of rapid urbanization and development on our planet. Keeping this in mind, we have come up with two unique NFOs that will enable investors to tide through these challenges while contributing to a better future of our planet."Speaking about the Sustainable Equity Fund, he said "Today, consumers are keen to ensure their financial security, while contributing to a greener environment. Investors millennial consumers are leaning towards environmentally responsible companies, be it from an investment perspective or choosing their products for consumption. Tata AIA's Sustainable Equity Fund offers investors a unique opportunity to benefit from sustainable investment avenues to secure their financial future while helping create a better tomorrow for mankind. It may be noted that echoing these trends, the ESG 100 index in India has given better returns than the broader Nifty 50 or 100 index over 3 and 5 years duration."- The NIFTY5O is the flagship index on the NSE, computed using a float-adjusted, market capitalization weighted methodology. The Index tracks the behavior of a portfolio of blue chip companies, the largest and most liquid Indian securities domiciled in India and listed on the NSE.- The Nifty 100 Index is a free-float capitalization weighted index of the constituents of Nifty Index and Nifty Junior Index.- NIFTY100 ESG Index. The index is designed to reflect the performance of companies that are part of NIFTY 100 index based on Environmental, Social and Governance score.- Data as on 31 January, 2023. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.- Nifty Indices are independent of Tata AIA Life Insurance.Sustainability is currently an important criterion for businesses when it comes to adopting sustainable or ESG friendly protocols. Apart from categories such as financial inclusion, Sustainable investing covers new age fields such as Electric Mobility, Robotics and Automation Information access etc. Many Infotech, Fintech and other firms are making rapid progress in these contemporary categories, offering exciting long term investment opportunities. From a consumer perspective, increasing social consciousness and environmental concerns are influencing their purchase decisions. According to Nielsen, 75% of Millennials are eco-conscious to the point of changing their buying habits to favor environmentally friendly products. 90% of Millennials are interested in pursuing sustainable investments. Thus, there exists great opportunity to create investments that allow individuals to truly embrace owning their financial futures and doing their bit for the environment.The Tata group has been at the forefront of sustainability. In fact, it is ranked No.1 on sustainability across Asia in 2022 as per GlobeScan Sustainability Leaders Survey. **When it comes to making consistent returns in the markets, it is important to remember that no asset class outperforms others at all times. Hence it is very important that one diversifies the investments and leaves the job of allocating funds amid market volatility to professional fund managers with business cycles getting shorter and markets reacting to various events, a dynamic asset allocation fund can help generate consistent returns across market cycles."The Dynamic Advantage Fund aims to provide investors returns despite volatile market conditions. It will do so by dynamically investing in a combination of equity and debt avenues. Investors can thus benefit from the growth potential of equity, while benefiting from the downside protection that debt funds investments offer. Investors no longer need to closely track the markets and rebalance their portfolio manually, a task nearly impossible given the sharp and regular market movements," Harshad added.Tata AIA has a well-defined research process and methodology and takes a long-term view based on fundamental research. It follows a robust investment philosophy of portfolio construction through bottom-up stock selection by focusing on companies with sustainable earnings growth. Further, the investment team has been quite stable and has stayed with the company for long, ensuring a consistent investment approach. This has generated consistent risk-adjusted investment returns to meet investors' long-term objectives and return expectations.The below table showcases the performance of existing equity funds of Tata AIA since inception in comparison to the benchmark returns.*Data as on 30 November,2022. # Morningstar ratings as of 31st October 2022 on an overall basis**Inception dates Whole Life Midcap Equity Fund 10 Jan 2007, Top 200 Fund 12 Jan 2009, Multi Cap Fund 5 Oct 2015In addition to the impressive track record of its existing funds, Tata AIA's ULIP funds have been rated very highly by fund trackers. 99% of the rated AUM of Tata AIA is rated either 4 star or 5 star on a 5-year basis as of March 31st, 2022, by Morningstar Rating*. Tata AIA Life had a total Assets Under Management (AUM) of INR 69286 crore as of 28th February 2023.* (c) 2020 Morningstar. All rights reserved. The Morningstar name is a registered trademark of Morningstar, Inc. In India and other jurisdictions. The information contained here (1) includes the proprietary information of Morningstar, Inc. and its affiliates, including, without limitation, Morningstar India Private Limited ("Morningstar"); (2) may not be copied, redistributed or used, by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior, written consent of Momingstar;(3) is not warranted to be complete, accurate or timely; (4) may be drawn from data published on various dates and procured from various sources and (4) shall not be construed as an offer to buy or sell any security or other investment vehicle. Neither Morningstar, Inc. nor any of its affiliates (including, without imitation, Morningstar) nor any of their officers, directors, employees, associates or agents shall be responsible or liable for any trading decisions, damages or other losses resulting directly or indirectly from the information.Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA Life) is a joint venture company, formed by Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA). Tata AIA Life combines Tata's pre-eminent leadership position in India and AIA's presence as the largest, independent listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world spanning 18 markets in the Asia Pacific region.Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust'.Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2021-22, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $128 billion (INR 9.6 trillion). These companies collectively employ over 935,000 people.Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 29 publicly listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of $311 billion (INR 23.6 trillion) as on March 31, 2022. Tata companies include Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, Tata Capital, Tata Power, Indian Hotels, Tata Communications, Tata Digital, and Tata Electronics.AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "AIA" or the "Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets - wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR (3), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR (4), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$302 billion as of 30 June 2022.AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 40 million individual policies and over 17 million participating members of group insurance schemes.AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code "1299" with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol "AAGIY").**This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI24 March 2023

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Sitharaman to meet public sector banks chiefs on March 25

New Delhi, March 23: Amid the failure of banks in the US and the liquidity crisis being faced by Credit Suisse, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to meet chiefs of public sector banks on March 25.

Sitharaman to meet public sector banks chiefs on March 25

This would be the first meeting of the Finance Minister with banks' chiefs after the presentation of the budget, where, according to sources, the discussion is likely to be on the areas highlighted by the budget.Sitharaman is also likely to review the credit flow to key sectors like agriculture, sources in the know of things said.The meeting is also taking place amid growing concerns over monetary tightening globally and is being held just days after the US Federal Reserve on March 22 hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to tame high inflation despite the banking crisis.The meeting will also review the targets achieved by state-owned banks set under various government schemes, like the emergency credit line guarantee scheme, Kisan credit card and Mudra Yojana among others.The Finance Minister would also review non-performing assets, credit growth and asset quality among other issues, sources said.IANS24 March 2023

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G20 Presidency: India will be hosting around 200 meetings in over 50 cities

New Delhi, March 23: During its ongoing G20 Presidency, India will be hosting around 200 meetings across the country in more than 50 cities, the Parliament was told on Thursday.

G20 Presidency: India will be hosting around 200 meetings in over 50 cities

These meetings are being held in over 30 different work-streams comprising Sherpa Track Working Groups, Finance Track work streams, Ministerial meetings and Engagement Groups. The dates and venues of G20 official meetings are periodically updated on the G20 website, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.To a question whether the Centre has consulted state governments in this regard, he said "Our G20 Presidency is a unique occasion to demonstrate India's achievements, capabilities, and diversity. Our G20 meetings in over 50 cities are accordingly being organised in consultation with the respective State/UT government."Substantive deliberations during India's ongoing G20 Presidency comprise broad priority areas of interest to us, including inclusive and resilient growth; progress on SDGs, green development and Lifestyle for Environment (Mission LiFE); technological transformation and public digital infrastructure; reforming multilateral institutions; women led development; and international peace and harmony, the Minister said."We are also emphasizing the importance of adequate international finance and technological support, as critical enablers, for achieving SDGs, climate goals and sustainable energy transitions. India is also amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing countries."IANS24 March 2023

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PONDS Serum Boost Sunscreen Range is the latest sun expert in town

Mumbai, March 23: POND'S, a 150-year-old legacy skincare brand, is known for providing solutions for daily skin care needs of women. To fight the harsh weather conditions, POND'S has introduced its Serum-Boost Sunscreen Range that is enriched with SPF & Niacinamide-C. While much has been spoken about the need to shield one's skin, as a result of the country's tropical geographies and climate, a lesser-known fact is that the sun can also cause dark patches and pigmentation if one steps out without applying a protectant on the skin.

POND'S Serum Boost Sunscreen Range is the latest sun expert in town

Adding sunscreen to your daily skincare regime becomes imperative to prevent the penetration of the harsh UVA and UVB rays of the sun that could lead towards damaging the skin if not addressed early. Additionally, a common myth is that tanning is claimed to be easily reversible. In most instances, it tends to leave behind dull skin with dark patches that can be challenging to get rid of.Formulated by the POND'S Institute, the Serum-Boost Sunscreen Range comes in three variants in travel size and regular size, that are non-oily, don't leave behind a white cast and fades the dark patches created by sun exposure. Choose from three formulations, that can be moulded basis what your skin requires- POND'S Serum-Boost Lightweight Sunscreen with SPF 35 and SPF 55- The SPF 35 variant is available in options of 15g and 50g - The SPF 55 variant is available in options of 50g and 100g - POND'S Serum-Boost Invisible Gel Sunscreen with SPF 50 for 50g and 100g- Introducing our first sunscreen in serum formulation POND'S Serum-Boost Sun Serum with SPF 50 for 15mlHere's why you should keep an eye out for the Serum-Boost Sunscreen Range, whether you're just being introduced to the world of sun care or are on the lookout for a new sunscreen, these benefits might just convince you to take the plunge.- Clinically proven to prevent and fade dark patches in 4 weeks^ - The formulation is non-oily, leaves no white cast, it is ultra-light and absorbs quick into the skin- Comes with Niacinamide-C which helps in fading these stubborn dark patches- Fades hyperpigmentation caused by the sun and gives your skin an even glow- Protects from sun-damage and dark patches and brightens skin with its ability to shield 97% of UV raysBuy hereTips to get youthful, nourished skin by incorporating sunscreen in your daily skincare routine- Use the two-finger technique to apply the product, to ensure that the right quantity is absorbed on your skin and can protect you from harmful UV rays. - Apply your sun protectant at least 30 minutes before you step out into the sun - Don't forget your neck and decolletage! An often-ignored area of the skin when using sunscreen, its vital to extend the application beyond just your face and to any exposed portions of skin.Since 1846, Pond's has been designing products to meet the evolving needs and concerns of women's skincare. For over 150 years, women broke new grounds, so did the brand. Backed by science and innovative technology, their core belief is staying true to their roots as an approachable skincare expert and an advocate for men and women globally.For further details, visit ,This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI24 March 2023

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A year after signing economic agreement with UAE, India likely to touch all-time high exports this year

New Delhi, March 23: A year after signing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with United Arab Emirates (UAE), India is likely to touch an all-time high in exports this year, Dr Srikar K Reddy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.Reddy said that the historical India-UAE CEPA is yielding results.

A year after signing economic agreement with UAE, India likely to touch all-time high exports this year

"India-UAE CEPA has seen a significant positive impact on India's exports. Indian exports to UAE are likely to touch USD 32 Bn in the financial year 2023. India-UAE CEPA will complete one year in May 2023. According to February trade data, India's global exports have witnessed 10 per cent decline year on year from USD 37.15bn to USD 33.88bn. However, due to the significant positive impact of CEPA, India's exports to UAE has seen a YoY increase of 4.9 per cent in February. India's Global non-oil exports saw a YoY decline of 4.2 per cent in February but during the same period India's non-oil exports to UAE have seen an increase of 18.9 per cent, "he said.According to the trade data between June 2022 to February 2023 India's global exports registered a growth of 1.49 per cent from USD 314.38 bn to USD 319.07bn. During the same period, India's exports to UAE grew from USD 20.86 bn to USD 23.03 bn registering a growth of 10.4 per cent.During June 22-Feb 23 India's global non-oil exports saw a decline of 3.53 per cent, but during the same period, India's non-oil exports to the UAE grew from USD 16.29 bn to USD 17.36 bn registering a growth of 6.5 per cent.Reddy said that exports of Gems and Jewellery grew by 19 per cent, Electrical machinery and equipment by 28 per cent, Machinery and mechanical appliances by 22 per cent, Cereals by 38 per cent Automobiles by 33 per cent essentials oils and resinoids, perfumery, cosmetics or toilet preparations 70 per cent coffee, tea, mate and spices 37 per cent sugars and sugar confectionary 44 per cent articles of iron or steel 13 per cent, miscellaneous chemical products 30 per cent and edible oil and certain roots and tubers has seen a growth of 22 per cent.Reddy said that the impressive overall growth in bilateral trade is a true reflection of the early gains accruing from the agreement.India and UAE concluded a landmark Cepa in just 88 days. The CEPA entered into force in May 2022. CEPA has unleashed new opportunities in bilateral trade.India-UAE CEPA is a wide-ranging agreement, covering all aspects of India's economic engagement with the UAE including Trade, Investments, Healthcare, Digital Trade Government Procurement, IPR etc.ANI24 March 2023

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Kung Fu Nuns back in action with climate awareness mission

New Delhi, March 23: Nearly 200 'Kung Fu Nuns', led by Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the 1,000-year-old Drukpa Order based in the Himalayas, are paddling in the mountains of Nepal to raise awareness on climate change that is causing disasters worldwide.

'Kung Fu Nuns' back in action with climate awareness mission

After a four-year gap, their cycle expedition is back in action again."A joyful effort to spread the message of eco-friendly ways of living and gender equality," said a statement issued by the Drukpa Order, a branch of Himalayan Buddhism.The Kung Fu Nuns, known for their social activism like cleaning campaign, gender equality, animal rescue, health camps, preserving heritage and disaster relief, have been joined by several monks.The maroon-robed nuns are from India and they train at the Druk Amitabha Mountain Nunnery perched atop outside Kathmandu, established by the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, as warriors for peace."Over the years, these cycling yatras have covered countless thousands of kilometers across Nepal and India. While we are on the yatra, we perform morning and evening rituals for world peace and harmony," said a nun.They had started the cycle expedition from Kathmandu to Mustang on February 21."It's our seventh cycle yatra. This is also an initiative to raise awareness on climate change," she added.The Drukpa Order that originates from the Himalayan region of Ladakh has built a strong history of community action and citizen empowerment for many years.In 2019, the Kung Fu Nuns were awarded the prestigious Asia Society's Game Changers Award in New York for inspiring and applying their unique talent to make the world a better place.They have also received the Atlantic Council's Unsung Heroes honour in Washington D.C. for their courageous work in gender equality, environmentalism and humanitarian aid.The Kung Fu Nuns have devoted their lives to helping their community, advocating for girls, protecting the environment, and serving as first respondents during disasters like the 2015 Nepal earthquake by carrying vital aid on their backs.IANS24 March 2023

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LOTSA pen rearing project work party April 1

The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association will be holding its Salmon and Trout Pen Rearing Assembly Day on April 1 at the Town of Newfane Marina starting at 9:30 a.m. Pen rearing manager Alan Sauerland said the port of Olcott will receive 13,000 more Chinook salmon this year, bringing the totals at the port to 126,000 Chinook and 15,000 steelhead this year.

All New York salmon being stocked into Lake Ontario this year will be reared in numerous pen projects along the south shore of the lake, with the exception of the salmon being released directly from the Salmon River Fish Hatchery. Total salmon stocking from the Empire State will be 985,000 kings. Remember to dress warm and bring side cutters to trim zip ties. It is a great way to see what LOTSA is all about and join the group for $10.

Suspected Avian Influenza found at Reynolds Game Farm

There was a suspected outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus at Reynolds Game Farm in Tompkins County, the states Department of Environmental Conservation said. The agency began its investigation Monday of suspicious deaths affecting the farms pheasant population. Early test results indicated a possible outbreak of the H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) virus. DEC is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the states Department of Agriculture and Markets to determine what will happen next at Reynolds.

AI is a strain of the influenza virus that primarily affects birds, including commercial and backyard poultry stocks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent APAI cases do not present an immediate public health risk. Cases in humans are rare, and symptoms are typically mild. The virus has been circulating in birds in North America since last year. The virus was previously detected in wild birds in Tompkins County.

Cornett to speak at local TU chapter on Pennsylvania trout

Local fisheries guru Scott Cornett of Allegany will be the featured speaker at the next monthly meeting of the WNY Chapter of Trout Unlimited on March 28. The in-person meeting is at the Orvis Buffalo store location, 4545 Transit Road, Williamsville. Interested parties can start to arrive at 6 p.m., when there will be some fly tying demonstrations and instruction. Cornetts talk will begin at 7 p.m., focusing on fly fishing for wild trout in north central Pennsylvania along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. He will be emphasizing the differences between Western New York and north central Pennsylvania, offering insight into the different resources and experiences.

The evening is open to the public and there will be opportunities to join the club. As always, the group will be recording this workshop to post to the clubs YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend. Check out www.wnytroutunlimited.org for more information.

DECs Markham wins award

Fish biologist Jim Markham, with the Department of Environmental Conservations Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit, received the 2022 Sport Fish Restoration Outstanding Project from the American Fisheries Society in a special presentation last month at the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Niagara Falls. In addition to Markham, his entire Lake Erie Unit as well as staff at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery was honored.

The award was given for their work on Evaluation of Steelhead Stocking Size and Location on Emigration and Adult Returns in Chautauqua Creek, NY.

Markham's work was selected from fishery management studies across the country. This research influenced a significant change in New Yorks Lake Erie steelhead stocking strategy with the goal of improving survival of stocked fish and increasing the number of adult steelhead returning to tributaries.

The science behind this award is emblematic of the work the Bureau of Fisheries conducts to improve our fisheries management across the state. Hats off to Markham and the entire project crew for this outstanding accomplishment.

Catharines Creek trout survey results

In anticipation of the regular inland trout opener April 1, DECs Region 9 fisheries staff has released its 2023 Catharine Creek Rainbow Trout Survey. A total of 102 rainbow trout were netted during the survey, along with another dozen or so from a tributary. The largest rainbow was just more than 10 pounds.

Sampling includes netting rainbow trout and recording the fishs length, weight, gender and spawning condition. Complete sampling results will be available to the public at the DEC Region 8 fisheries office prior to the April 1 opening of the Finger Lakes tributary season. It will include the results of the Naples Creek Survey that took place March 23.

Anglers who want to fish for trout before April 1 are reminded that although catch and release trout fishing is open for inland streams, Finger Lakes tributaries remain closed to fishing until April 1. The main bodies of the Finger Lakes are open to fishing year-round.
PM Modi meets LS Speaker amid impasse in Parliament

New Delhi, March 23: Amid continuous impasse in the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with some of his cabinet colleagues met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday evening, soon after the Lower House was adjourned for the day.

PM Modi meets LS Speaker amid impasse in Parliament

Sources aware of developments confirmed the meeting.However, the meeting was described as a "courtesy call" to the Speaker by the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers, which included Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.With both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are unwilling to budge from their positions, the meeting called by the Speaker of leaders of all parties earlier this week to break the impasse had failed to yield any results.While treasury benches have been seeking Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's apology over his remarks on democracy, the Congress has been seeking a probe by a joint parliamentary committee in the Adani issue.Moreover, with speculations regarding disqualification of Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership looming large, the prime minister's meeting with Birla assumes a lot of political significance.IANS24 March 2023

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Half of startups in UP are headed by women

Lucknow, March 24: Nearly 50 per cent of the startups in Uttar Pradesh are headed by women, according to a government spokesman.

Half of startups in UP are headed by women

Akshay Tripathi, special secretary, IT and Electronics, said that out of 8,714 registered startups in the state, 4305 are run by women entrepreneurs,The state IT department provides extra 50 per cent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs.t may be pointed out that the department, a nodal agency for startups, is providing financial assistance of up to Rs 7.5 lakh to startups.In addition to this, the government also provides Rs 17,500 monthly sustenance allowance to them.Neha Misra, whose expertise lies in investment, insurance and pension planning and other financial matters, started 'The Fin Lit Project' to educate people on financial literacy.Misra, who hails from Lucknow, developed a mobile application that has so far been downloaded by close to 5000 people.She also makes people aware of financial planning and investment through seminars and webinars also.Likewise, there are thousands of other women startup owners who are doing a commendable job.IANS24 March 2023

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Largest German port reports good 2022 result despite global ship congestion

Berlin, March 24: Hamburg, Germany's largest port, achieved a good result in 2022 despite global supply chain problems caused by ship congestion, operator Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) said.

Largest German port reports good 2022 result despite global ship congestion

While earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell slightly year-on-year to 220.4 million euros ($240.2 million), sales increased by 7.7 per cent to 1.6 billion euros, Xinhua news agency reported."HHLA reliably fulfils its remit to ensure secure supply within Germany and Europe," Chief Executive Officer Angela Titzrath said on Thursday in a statement, stressing that 2023 would be another year with "much uncertainty".After peaking at almost 14 per cent at the end of last year, the congestion of global container shipping has since eased. However, global trade in goods "seems anemic," the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel) said on Tuesday.With 2.46 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), China was once again the Port of Hamburg's number one trading partner last year "by a wide margin," according to the port's marketing team (HHM).The most important product groups imported from China and handled at the Port of Hamburg included machinery, chemicals and metals. Wood products, food and vehicles, on the other hand, were among the goods that were frequently shipped to China, according to HHM.The port's 2022 result comes at a time when it is unable to handle the arrival or departure of large vessels requiring pilotage due to strikes in Germany's public sector.The "massive restrictions" already in place since Wednesday would not be lifted until Friday morning with the end of the strike action, Hamburg Port Authority told Xinhua on Thursday. (1 euro 1.09 US dollar)IANS24 March 2023

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Develop mechanism for online audit of GST: Parliamentary Panel on Finance

New Delhi, March 24: A high-level Parliamentary panel has suggested to the government to look into the possibility of developing a mechanism for online audit in GST, in order to make the process more efficient and less intrusive.

Develop mechanism for online audit of GST: Parliamentary Panel on Finance

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance in its report on demands for grants for Finance Ministry's Revenue Department, which was presented in Parliament on Thursday, has recommended that government should prepare a white list of documents that would be necessarily required for conducting an audit and would thus become a guidance note for the officers as well as the assessees.The panel gave these suggestions as it noted that assessees are being called to the GST offices for physical appearance, which consumes lot of time of not only the assessees but also the department officials.The committee further noted that for widening the net of tax deduction at source (TDS) and tax collection at source (TCS), several new transactions were brought into its ambit, including huge cash withdrawals, foreign remittance, purchase of luxury car, e-commerce participants, sale of goods, acquisition of immovable property and virtual digital assets, among others."The committee believes that TDS and TCS method has over the years proved to be not only efficient and revenue buoyant but also non-intrusive in nature, which minimises discretion and promotes better tax compliance. While appreciating the initiatives taken by the Ministry thus far, the committee recommends that TDS and TCS coverage should be further expanded so as to cover more transactions involving large amount of cash," it said in the report.On the search and seizure operations, the panel suggested that these operations should be handled judiciously with adequate caution."It is expected that due diligence is fully carried out before undertaking these enforcement operations, so as to pre-empt legitimate complaints and to ensure due realisation of tax therefrom. The committee is of the view that while stepping up enforcement action against wilful or chronic evaders, honest taxpayers should not be alienated," the panel recommended.The committee also urged the government to make the process of filing income tax returns simpler and more taxpayer friendly.IANS24 March 2023

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Over 9L UP farmers get compensation for losses

Lucknow, March 24: The Centre has released Rs 462 crore to be given as compensation to as many as 9,03,336 farmers in Uttar Pradesh who faced crop losses during the natural calamities last year.

Over 9L UP farmers get compensation for losses

A total compensation of Rs 1,260 crore was released by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for six states through the crop insurance portal.The amount has been calculated on the basis of yield through crop cutting experiments.State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that an amount of Rs 134.25 crore have already been paid by insurance companies to 2.18 lakh farmers as partial compensation in the mid-term.Thus, a total amount of Rs 597.05 crore have been given directly to the farmers as compensation for the kharif 2022 season. The amount has been paid through DBT.Shahi said that in the event of a disaster, the information about personal damage to farmers should be given within 72 hours.There is a provision to give compensation in gram panchayat if the sowing is reduced to 60 per cent. Hence more farmers will get benefit and credibility in the scheme will increase, Shahi said.The Minister said that the premium should be made available to the insurance company within the stipulated time so that farmers are not deprived of the benefits of the scheme.He said that it should also be ensured that the compensation amount is paid to the farmers through the portal within one month of harvesting.IANS24 March 2023

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Congo to host summit of worlds three major forest basins: Spokesperson

Brazzaville (Congo), March 24: Brazzaville, the capital of Congo, will host a summit of the world's three major forest basins, said the Congolese government's spokesperson Thierry Moungalla.

Congo to host summit of world's three major forest basins: Spokesperson

The summit, which will bring together the leaders of the countries of the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong forest Basins, will address the issues regarding climate change and biodiversity, Xinhua news agency reported.The spokesperson on Thursday did not specify the date of the summit.The Amazon Basin of South America, the Congo Basin in Central Africa, and the Borneo-Mekong Basin in South-East Asia make up 80 per cent of the world's rainforests and contain two-thirds of its biodiversity.IANS24 March 2023

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Houthi forces conduct military drills marking 8th anniversary of Saudi intervention in Yemen

Aden (Yemen), March 24: Yemen's Houthi group has announced that it has conducted extensive military drills marking the eighth anniversary since the intervention of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen's conflict.

Houthi forces conduct military drills marking 8th anniversary of Saudi intervention in Yemen

According to the Houthi-run Saba News agency on Thursday, helicopters, drones, and missiles took part in the large military drills conducted as the group is gearing up for the ninth year of fighting against "aggression", which refers to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition that started on March 26, 2015.During the military drills, the group's Defence Ministry warned that "the Saudi-led coalition of severe consequences if their military activities continue in Yemen's regions".The war games coincide with their increased attacks on government forces' positions in the oil-rich province of Marib in the last two days. These recent military actions by the Houthis raise fears of jeopardising international peace efforts, especially since the Yemeni government and the Houthis had agreed to exchange prisoners under UN auspices, Xinhua news agency reported.On Monday, the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia announced that they agreed to swap more than 880 prisoners, including some Saudi nationals. The move was seen as a positive step towards resolving the conflict in Yemen, but the latest developments are causing worry that progress may be halted or reversed.Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support the Yemeni government.The conflict brought the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse causing famine and widespread suffering as well as disrupting the country's food supply chain, leaving millions of people without access to adequate nutrition.IANS24 March 2023

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Russian economy returns to growth: PM

Moscow, March 24: The Russian economy withstood Western sanctions in 2022 and is now back on a growth trajectory, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

Russian economy returns to growth: PM

Last year was a "difficult adaptation period," Mishustin added on Thursday while delivering the government's annual report to the State Duma, the country's lower house of parliament, Xinhua news agency reported."Let's be realistic -- external pressure is unlikely to ease. Nevertheless, we expect that as early as in 2024, the period of adaptation will end and Russia will embark on the path of long-term progressive development," he said.Some international organisations predicted that the Russian economy will see positive dynamics in 2023, he told lawmakers.Mishustin named six priorities for the government's work in 2023, including improving the welfare of citizens and saving people, strengthening technological sovereignty and achieving financial sovereignty, developing transport and public infrastructure, building ties with friendly countries, and searching for new partners.IANS24 March 2023

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India, UK hold discussions on bilateral and wider security cooperation

London, March 24: Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami, UK's Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat on Thursday held discussions on bilateral and wider security cooperation between India, UK.

India, UK hold discussions on bilateral and wider security cooperation

"HC @VDoraiswami met @TomTugendhat, Minister for Security, for a wide ranging discussion on bilateral and wider security cooperation," Indian High Commission in the UK tweeted on Thursday.Doraiswami recently met Commandant Major General Zack Stenning OBE at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and discussed engagements in the Professional Military Education domain.Taking to Twitter, India's High Commission in London said, "HC @VDoraiswami visited the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst @BritishArmy on 17 Mar 2023 and had productive discussions with the Commandant Major General Zack Stenning OBE about engagements in the Professional Military Education domain."India and UK share a good relationship. Recently, both the country signed the Young Professional Scheme where Vikram K Doraiswami was also present.The event took place at the High Commission of India in London. Further details and implementation dates will be shared soon regarding the scheme."HC @VDoraiswami and PUS Home @MatthewRycroft1 signed and exchanged the letters for formalising the Young Professional Scheme at an event @HCI_London today. Further details and implementation date will be shared soon. @MEAIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @ukhomeoffice @DoC_GoI @ANI @DDNewslive," the official handle of the High Commission of India in London tweeted.ANI24 March 2023

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Qualities like patience, resourcefulness, motivation and problem-solving skills are all necessary components of successful management roles. Good management can make the difference between success and failure in any line of work which makes it crucial to select a qualified individual for the task at hand. Here are some key qualities of a successful australia online casino real money business manager that will help you meet your goals.A good business manager must have excellent leadership skills, as they will be responsible for leading their team to success. They must be able to motivate their team and create a positive working environment.A successful business manager must be able to communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders. They should also be able to build relationships and foster collaboration between different departments.Business managers need to have strong analytical skills to make informed decisions based on data and research. They should also be able to identify trends in the marketplace and use this information to develop strategies for success.A successful business manager needs to have a good understanding of financial management principles to make sound decisions about how to allocate resources and manage budgets visit this site to see how casino business do. They should also be able to evaluate their companys performance against set goals and objectives.Business managers need to be able to identify problems quickly and come up with creative solutions. They should also be able to anticipate potential issues before they arise and develop strategies for dealing with them.In conclusion, the qualities of a successful business manager are essential for success in any organization. A good business manager should possess excellent leadership, communication and analytical skills, as well as an understanding of financial management principles and problem-solving abilities. With these qualities, managers can ensure that their teams reach their goals and maximize profits.
Study shows mindfulness activities can play important role in improving mental health

Washington, March 23: According to study, normalizing mindfulness practices can improve emotional well-being of a graduate student.

Study shows mindfulness activities can play important role in improving mental health

The study was published in the journal, 'PLoS One'"Because of the state of graduate student mental health nationally, there's a tangible need for a concrete intervention like this," says Susan Hagness, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and one of the study's co-authors. "How do we help our students develop resiliency and a really robust toolbox, both professional and personal, to flourish in an environment where there's inevitably going to be stress? We're getting the word out that investing in self-care is important, and it's normal."Cultivated through practices such as meditation, yoga or prayer, mindfulness centers around being in the present moment in an open, non-judgmental, curious, accepting way. In recent years, corporate giants like Google, Intel, Nike, General Mills, Target and others have included mindfulness in employee development activities to reduce employee stress and burnout, and enhance their focus, creativity, job satisfaction and wellness.The UW-Madison research included two studies involving a total of 215 participants across six academic semesters at UW-Madison (and the final four semesters concurrently at the University of Virginia). In the study, engineering graduate student cohorts participated in an hour-long, instructor-led mindfulness training program once a week for eight weeks. This "Mindful Engineer" curriculum was based on an existing Center for Healthy Minds training, "Cultivating Well-Being in the Workplace," and drew on neuroscience-derived concepts described in The Emotional Life of Your Brain, a book co-authored by center founder Richard Davidson, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at UW-Madison.Each weekly session built on the previous weeks' content; students learned about the brain's neuroplasticity and how it can be trained to change responses to emotions. They explored the six dimensions of emotional style (attention, self-awareness, resilience, outlook, social intuition and sensitivity to context) and learned strategies for creating and maintaining healthy mental and emotional habits. The graduate students also received training in mindfulness meditation and other contemplative practices, cognitive skills and techniques, and each session included time for meditation and cognitive exercises.In post-training surveys, students reported significantly improved emotional well-being, a more positive outlook, fewer negative emotions and increased mindfulness. Over the same period, the control groups (which received training at a later date) noted steady or decreased well-being. Mindfulness participants also reported they were better able to manage stress and anxiety, deal positively with setbacks, work more effectively with colleagues and focus on their research."What was beautiful is that we saw a really consistent pattern of results across all of the cohorts we did this study with," says Pelin Kesebir, an honorary fellow with the Center for Healthy Minds and a study co-author.Somewhat surprisingly, the researchers also found that engineering graduate students were open to mindfulness training and were not only highly satisfied with it, but also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other graduate students."In the literature, there's evidence that engineers are less likely to seek treatment for mental health issues -- so our team wondered if engineers would engage with this," says Wendy Crone, a professor of engineering physics and mechanical engineering and a study co-author. "The answer is that they did, and we had great cohorts throughout the project."The researchers say they'd like mindfulness training to be integrated into the graduate student experience in the future. In the meantime, they recommend the Healthy Minds Program app, which offers podcast-style lessons and seated and active meditations.And while the researchers focused on engineering graduate students, they note that adopting a mindfulness practice can be a positive step for anyone."Modest investments of your time can result in really significant benefits to your overall well-being," says Hagness. "Small investments in self-care can have long-term rewards."ANI24 March 2023

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US, Canada reach deal on decades-old asylum agreement

Ottawa/Washington, March 24: In a significant move, the US and Canada have reached a deal on a decades-old asylum agreement that would restrict certain migrants from seeking protections in Canada, media reports said citing informed officials.

US, Canada reach deal on decades-old asylum agreement

Biden, who is currently on a visit to Ottawa, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make a formal joint statement on the deal on Friday.Signed in 2002, the Safe Third Country Agreement applies to individuals who have transited through a country where they could've made an asylum claim because it's deemed safe, as the name of the agreement implies, reports CNN.It is in effect at ports of entry, and individuals entering at a land port of entry may be ineligible to make a claim and be returned to the US.But Roxham Road is not an official crossing, meaning that people who transit there could still seek protections in Canada even though they passed through the US.As a part of the deal, Canada will create a new refugee programme for 15,000 migrants fleeing persecution and violence in South and Central America, the BBC quoted officials as saying to the media.Besides this deal, Biden will also talk about a series of economic and trade issues with Trudeau.Speaking to CNN earlier on Thursday, the Canadian leader said hat there's a lot of work being done... Hopefully we'll be able to make an announcement to reassure Canadians and Americans that we continue to handle migration seriously.Canada is always willing to do more. We're a country that has been built by the US and have been welcoming people from around the world.We just need to make sure we are doing it in responsible proper ways to continue to have our citizens positive towards Immigration as Canadians always are, Trudeau added.Meanwhile, American authorities have started flying migrants crossing from Canada into the US to Texas for processing and if eligible, expelling them to Mexico or their country of origin under a Covid-era border restriction, according to a Homeland Security official.US Border Patrol has recently seen a historic high number of migrant crossings in the northern region, prompting the agency to send additional authorities to the region to assist, CNN reported.The Swanton Sector, which covers some 24,000 square miles along the US-Canada border, has fewer personnel than sectors along the US southern border and has been overwhelmed by the increase in border crossings.The new US-Canada agreement could take effect quickly as it does not require the approval of US Congress.IANS24 March 2023

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Shah visits Yediyurappas house for breakfast, sends out message to party leaders

Bengaluru, March 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Karnataka on Friday, visited former Chief Minister and BJP Central Parliamentary Board Member B.S. Yediyurappa's residence and had breakfast there.

Shah visits Yediyurappa's house for breakfast, sends out message to party leaders

The visit is analyzed as a message to the BJP leaders who are openly expressing their reservations on high command giving prominence to Yediyurappa.Earlier, BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi had objected to Yediyurappa's statement of allocating a party ticket to his son B.Y. Vijayendra.Ravi has stated that the party will not allow the kitchen cabinet to function. Yediyurappa had to take back his statement. Vijayendra had made an open statement that no one should take Yediyurappa's silence as weakness and they will repent. "Can anyone have the strength to assure a majority in elections for the party?" Vijayendra had asked.Minister for Housing V. Somanna also had a tiff with Vijayendra and stated that he is just a son of Yediyurappa.Amid the grwoing differences, Amit Shah had to intervene and resolve the matter.Yediyurappa and Vijayendra welcomed Amit Shah to their residence in Bengaluru. Amit Shah had dosa, idli and pongal. Yediyurappa's daughters served the food. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state in-charge Arun Singh, state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel were also present.IANS24 March 2023

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TikTok to be blocked from parliamentary devices, networks in UK

London, March 24: In the latest ban imposed on Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, the app will be blocked from parliamentary devices and networks in the UK, Sky News reported.

TikTok to be blocked from parliamentary devices, networks in UK

The commissions of the House of Commons and House of Lords have announced they will follow the move taken by the government on official devices, citing the need for cyber security, according to Sky News.As per a parliament spokesman, TikTok "will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network"."Cyber security is a top priority for parliament, however, we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents," he said, as quoted by Sky News.The app can still be used on personal devices while on the parliamentary estate, provided the devices aren't connected to the parliament's WiFi network.The move was welcomed by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith. He called for the ban to be extended to the personal devices of ministers.He tweeted "The decision to block TikTok from all parliamentary devices is welcome, a good decision.""Given this robust position in parliament following the ban of TikTok from govt phones, it's now time that TikTok is also banned from ministers' personal telephones."Recently, TikTok was recently banned on the phones of New Zealand MPs, Auckland-based daily newspaper, New Zealand Herald reported.As per the New Zealand Herald, the chief executive of the Parliamentary Service, Rafael Gonzalez-Montero stated that the "risks are not acceptable" given that strict actions are being taken all over the world, concerning social media service.The executive informed of the new move to the New Zealand MPs after Britain banned the Chinese-owned video app on government phones with immediate effect, overnight recently.Due to worries that the Chinese government could access user data from TikTok, which is controlled by the Beijing-based corporation ByteDance, endangering Western security interests, the app has received outrage globally, the Auckland-based newspaper reported.ANI24 March 2023

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Global Economic Forum G20 initiative summit at London House of Parliament on 15th August, 2023 to celebrate 76th Independence Day

New Delhi, March 24: Global Economic Forum G20 initiative summit at London House of Parliament on 15th August, 2023 to celebrate 76th Independence Day launched at Mangalamay Institute of Management and Technology International Summit, Greater Noida.

Global Economic Forum G20 initiative summit at London House of Parliament on 15th August, 2023 to celebrate 76th Independence Day

Mangalmay Group of Institutes in association with Global Economic Forum and IS GDKP, University of Southern California, USA is organized an International Summit "Thinkers Conclave - 2023 on 23rd March, 2023. The main aim in organizing the summit is to discuss and submit proposal to Indian Government about "India New Silk Road on GDKP India".Dr Hari Krishna Maram, Chairman Global Economic Forum, Dr G Sireesha Reddy, Vice Chairman Global Economic Forum, Dr Manju Gupta Director, Strategic Management, Mangalmay Group of Institutes, Prof. Umberto Sulpaso, Senior Fellow Digital Centre for Future, Annesberg School of University of Southern California, Ambassador K P Fabian, Former Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to UN in Rome, Manoranjana Gupta, Media Entrepreneur and Media Communication Manager, Prof R N Merani, Chairman Board of Trustees, Sri Sri Rural Development Program Trust, Dr Parin Somani, Director, London Organization of Skill Development, London, United Kingdom, Dr Kim, Chaiperson of Psychology University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Dr Jeffrey Cole, CEO of the Centre for Digital Future, Annesberg School of University of Southern California, Simmi Harding, CEO Global Education Board, Dr Dewakar Goel, Chairman Aero Academy of Aviation Science and Management, Lakshika Joshi, Global IP Head and Legal Leadership, Capgemini Group, Smriti Rastogi, Consulting Political Editor, Jagran, New Delhi, Nidhi Jain, Educationist, Motivator and Mentor, Dr Shardha Purohit, Associate Professor, NIU and entire team of MGI present to launch Global Economic Forum G20 Summit Brochure of London.Global Economic Forum G20 Summit is a unique platform to promote cross-cultural brand credibility, globally involving the brands and leaders from various nations of the world. This summit would be a milestone to further build investor confidence and bring the right partnership for the Country at a faster pace, focusing on investment in India on Infrastructure, Construction, Renewable Energy, Tourism and Retail. The summit aims to promote bilateral trade between countries from Asia and the UK. It will be an avenue to explore the trade opportunities and to enhance future trade relations. The summit will showcase Indian Business opportunities to the potential investors and vice versa.GLOBAL ECONOMIC FORUM BELIEFThe world's most influential political, commercial, cultural, educational, and other leaders come together at the Global Economic Forum to set global, regional, and industry agendas. Our forum makes every attempt to demonstrate how entrepreneurship benefits society as a whole while upholding the highest standards of moral, intellectual, and governmental integrity. The best aspects of different organisations, including those from the public and private sectors, non-governmental organisations, and academic institutions, are carefully balanced and combined in our forum. We believe that change can be created by bringing together individuals from all walks of life that are driven and committed to make a difference in the world. We do this by teaming with leaders in industry, government, and civil society to develop regional, national, and international agendas.BALI SUMMIT IDEAAs the G20 Bali summit came to an end on 16th November 2022 Indonesia handed over the G20 presidency to India for the next year. India officially takes over G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022 till November 30, 2023. Taking over the presidency, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi said, "It's a matter of pride for every citizen in India". We at the Global Economic Forum successfully completed G 20 India Journey from Bali 2023 from 24-26th Jan and celebrating 74th Republic Day of India in Bali Indonesia with all G20 Countries Delegation. The Journey of Global Economic Forum with G20 Initiatives starts with Bali Indonesia and planning to cover all G20 Countries with a high level Delegation for possible collaborations in various fields.Digital transformation, PM Modi had strongly pitched for a pledge by the G-20 leaders to work for bringing digital transformation into the life of every human being in the next 10 years so that no person is deprived of the benefits of the new technologies. He said the principle of "data for development" will be an integral part of the overall theme of India's upcoming G-20 Presidency. We at the Global Economic Forum our focus is the same.You can reach us for more informationEmail join@globaleconomicforum.inContact 9900001511VisitThis story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC)ANI24 March 2023

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Environmental crisis anthology Interactions, When Cinema Looks to Nature screened in Geneva

Geneva, March 23: A special screening of environmental crisis anthology 'Interactions, When Cinema Looks to Nature' was held at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Environmental crisis anthology 'Interactions, When Cinema Looks to Nature' screened in Geneva

The Permanent Mission of India and the Consulate General of India in collaboration with 'ART for the World' organised the screening for the 'Interactions..' as a part of the celebrations of 75 years of India's independence on Wednesday.The project was set up with the aim of 12 international filmmakers creating connections between humans and animals through biodiversity, climate change, environment and water risks. This resulted in original short films questioning biodiversity, conservation of nature, deforestation, ecosystem, environment, health, marine life, species extinction, water and more.The audience of over 200, including Permanent Representatives and delegates to the UN and other members of the diplomatic corps, students, and film aficionados, were deeply appreciative of the creativity, sensitivity and range of stories told by the 12 renowned international filmmakers, including Nila Madhab Panda from India, tied together by the exploration of connections between humans and nature through themes of biodiversity, conservation, deforestation, health, marine life, species extinction, water and more.Among the films showcased was the Indian short film 'Interactions, When Cinema Looks to Nature' by acclaimed National Award-winning director Nila Madhab Panda. It is based on the vagaries of the conflict areas between humanity and wild animals and touches upon serious and urgent topics like protection of elephant corridors and preserving nature, biodiversity and habitats.Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India to the UN in Geneva, welcomed the audience, along with Michael Moller, honorary president, ART for the World, and Daniel Maselli, senior policy advisor, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.Pandey spoke of the Indian cultural heritage and practices of preserving and protecting the environment, India's civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or 'the world is one family', which is also reflected in India's G20 Presidency theme of 'One Earth. One Family. One Future' and Mission LiFE or 'lifestyle for environment'.'Interactions' had its world premiere at the Rome Film Festival in October 2022.ANI24 March 2023

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Assam: Students sensitised on importance of biodiversity at Orang Nature Camp

Guwahati, March 24: A large group of high school students from six schools, located in fringe areas of Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve (OTR) in Darrang district of Assam, took part in Second Orang Nature Camp that helped them experience the biodiversity of the famed tiger reserve at close quarters.

Assam: Students sensitised on importance of biodiversity at Orang Nature Camp

The nature camp, which was a joint initiative of biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, Orang Tiger Reserve authority, local organisation Wild Wings, and supported by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), UK, was held with the objective to impress the young students about the importance of conservation of nature for the survival of this planet that is home to the entire animal kingdom including human beings.Various sessions conducted by different conservation experts tried to educate young minds on how nature sustains our life and livelihood. They were told through various modes of presentations that everyone has a role to conserve nature in one's own way.The students were exposed to the rich biodiversity of the Orang National Park, which boasts a treasure trove of wildlife including the one-horned rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, pygmy hog, hog deer, and many lesser-known faunal and floral species, through visits and exercises undertaken inside it during the camp. The students were informed on the importance of elements in an ecosystem so that they acquire a penchant for the conservation of nature and spread the message among their friends and kin.About 35 students from six schools - Bechimari ME School, Silamari High School, Sirajul Haque High School, Dokhin Borsola High School, Keramot Ali ME School and Ballav Bhai Patel High School - successfully participated in the residential nature camp from March 19 to 22.The Ranger Officer Dibyajyoti Deuri inaugurated the camp on March 19 in presence of two guests from the UK, Eleanor Harvie and Gemma Charles among others. The nature camp was marked by visual presentations, environmental games, group presentations, nature trail, and Park safari.ANI24 March 2023

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Efforts are on to inaugurate AIIMS Guwahati during PM Modis visit on April 14: CM Sarma

Guwahati, March 23: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday visited the construction site of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati and took stock of the progress.

Efforts are on to inaugurate AIIMS Guwahati during PM Modi's visit on April 14: CM Sarma

He visited all parts of the construction site including the main building, and the pathways and reviewed the stage of their completion.CM Sarma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come to Assam on April 14 to witness the Guinness World Record-setting Bihu dance at Sarusajai stadium and the government is considering the possibility to inaugurate the functioning of AIIMS on that day and efforts are going on in full swing."The institute will start a 150 bedded IPD ward very shortly. The ward achieved 84 per cent of physical progress. Students of three scholastic years have already been admitted and in the coming April-May, another batch of new students will be enrolled. Once fully functional, the institute will bring about more qualitative advancement in the health care system in North East," CM added. The Assam CM also held a meeting and took stock of the progress of OPD, auditorium, quarters for doctors and nurses, student hostels, fire extinguishing and garbage disposal system.He asked the implementing agency to complete the last part of the construction activities.Executive Director of the institute Dr Ashok Puranik briefed the Chief Minister about several facets including treatment and academic facilities to be made available in the institute.CM Sarma also planted saplings to increase the green coverage inside the premises of AIIMS. Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta, Advisor Education to the government Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha, DC Kamrup Keerthi Jalli and other senior officers of the government were present on the occasion.ANI24 March 2023

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India, Albania hold foreign office consultations, discuss regional, international issues

New Delhi, March 23: India and Albania on Thursday held their third Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in the national capital and both sides reviewed bilateral, regional and international issues.

India, Albania hold foreign office consultations, discuss regional, international issues

During the meeting, the bilateral discussions included progress made in political relations, trade and investments, cultural relations and people-to-people contacts."During the FOCs, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral, regional and international issues. Bilateral discussions included progress made in political relations, trade and investments, cultural relations and people-to-people contacts. Discussions also covered cooperation between the two countries in international and multilateral fora," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the press release.During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including developments in the neighbourhoods of India and Albania, G20 and the Ukraine conflict, according to the press release.For the meeting, the Indian side was led by Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs. The Albanian side was led by Secretary General of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Gazmend Turdiu.The MEA in the press release noted that India and Albania completed 65 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2021. India and Albania enjoy close and friendly relations, according to MEA. The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at a mutually convenient time in Tirana.The Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi took to his official Twitter handle to inform about the foreign office consultations between India and Albania.Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "3rd India-Albania FOC held in New Delhi today. Co-chaired by Secretary West @SanjayVermalFS and Secretary General Gazmend Turdiu @AlbanianDiplo. Discussed ways to further strengthen political, economic, trade and P2P contacts. Also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues."ANI24 March 2023

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Business / Your Money

by Staff Reporter

Improve Communication

Automate Processes

Create Better Schedules

Streamline Workflows

Invest in Training

The Bottom Line.

Are you seeking strategies to improve the efficiency of your company's operations? Would you like to employ strategies that can help you do more with less in a shorter amount of time without sacrificing quality?Whether your business is new or established, improving its efficiency is an important step toward success. In this article, we'll provide tips and tricks on how you can increase best au online casino business efficiency through various methods such as improving communication, automating processes, and creating better schedules. Read on to learn more!Effective communication is crucial to the success of any organization. To ensure that everyone is on the same page, set up a system of communication that works for your team. This could include using an instant messaging app, having regular check-ins or meetings, and providing clear instructions. Additionally, make sure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and can easily access any information they need to do their job.Automation can save a lot of time and energy when it comes to daily tasks. Invest in software or apps that can automate certain processes such as invoicing, scheduling, data entry, and more. This will help you streamline your operations and free up resources for more important tasks.Creating an effective schedule is key for any business. Ensure that everyone is aware of their duties and the deadlines for completing them. This will help create accountability and ensure that tasks don't fall through the cracks. Additionally, consider using a task management system to track progress and keep everyone on track.Take some time to evaluate your current workflow and identify any areas that could be improved. This could include streamlining processes, eliminating redundant tasks, and using more efficient tools. By doing this, you can make sure that your team is working as efficiently as possible.Providing employees with the training they need to do their job effectively is essential for baccarat online business. Invest in employee training to ensure that everyone is up-to-date on the latest tools and technologies. This will help them work smarter and faster, leading to increased efficiency overall.By following these tips, you can increase your business efficiency and ensure that it is running at its best. Implementing these strategies can help you save time and money, allowing you to focus on growing your business and achieving greater success.
4.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japans Izu Islands

Izu Islands, March 24: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 on the Richter Scale struck Izu Islands, Japan on Friday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

4.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japan's Izu Islands

The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands stretching south and east from Japan's Izu Peninsula.The earthquake occurred at 000645 (UTC+0530) and hit Izu Islands, Japan on Friday, at a depth of 28.2 km, the USGS informed.The earthquake's epicentre was 29.988AN and 141.876AE, respectively.No casualties have been reported yet. Further details awaited.ANI24 March 2023

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OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi allow users to transfer data between their brand devices

Beijing, March 24: Three Chinese technology brands, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi, have joined hands to allow users to transfer data between their devices to take on the growing Apple's market share in the country, the media reported on Friday.

OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi allow users to transfer data between their brand devices

The three smartphone makers announced the pact on their Weibo accounts, saying their users be able to move system and app data "seamlessly to a new handset belonging to any of these brands," reports South China Morning Post.In 2019, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi set up a wireless transfer protocol that mirrors Apple's AirDrop function.Google Drive service is unavailable on handsets sold in the mainland Chinese market and most users in China rely on third-party data transfer apps.However, Apple iPhone users can directly move data to a new iOS device via the iCloud service or a Bluetooth and Wi-fi connection."The new partnership between Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo, which jointly control nearly half of China's smartphone market, comes after the country last year saw its steepest fall in smartphone sales in a decade," the report mentioned.However, China's smartphone market recorded a good start to the new year and at the start of 2023, the sales quickly increased week over week to reach above 7 million.In four out of five weeks, the sales stayed above 6 million, a level seldom reached in 2022 when the pandemic haunted China's cities from time to time.The Chinese New Year season also started earlier than usual this year, helping the weekly sales walk out of the trough at the beginning of 2023, reports Counterpoint Research.Apple remained China's biggest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in January in terms of sales share and its sales increased about 6 per cent YoY.The smartphone market in China has contracted after 2017 in terms of YoY sales growth. Q4 2022 recorded a 15 per cent YoY decline, hitting major OEMs' confidence and further darkening market prospects.IANS24 March 2023

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Trumps Indian-American loyalist sues Politico over impeachment lies

New York, March 24: Former US President Donald Trump's Indian-American aide Kash Patel has filed a $23 million defamation case against Politico for falsely claiming he misrepresented himself as a Ukraine expert, a media report said.

Trump's Indian-American 'loyalist' sues Politico over impeachment lies

According to The New York Post, the Virginia-based newspaper also claimed that Patel fed lies to Trump about Ukraine, which resulted in the then-president's impeachment.Patel in his lawsuit filed in Henrico Circuit Court called Adam Schiff, who was then chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a "congenital liar and inveterate leaker (and) a demagogue with an axe to grind against President Trump (and) Kash".He said Politico knew that Schiff was "a wholly unreliable source".The suit further alleged that impeachment witnesses Alexander Vinman and Fiona Hill helped push Schiff's lie that Patel was Trump's "Ukraine whisperer", The Post reported."Victory here is not the end result. It is to expose the fraudulent reporting by so many in the mainstream media and the only way to do that is expose their corrupt sources and that is what the judge has granted us permission to do," Patel told The Post.Patel, the former Russiagate investigator for the House Intelligence Committee, has also named Schiff's Democratic colleague Eric Swalwell, his "whistleblower" Eric Ciaramella, former national security adviser John Bolton, and the author of the Politico article, Natasha Bertrand in his lawsuit.Prior to this, Patel had sued The New York Times in 2019 seeking $44.9 million in damages, claiming the newspaper falsely accused him of being a White House back channel to Ukraine.In a statement to CBS News on December 4, 2019, Patel said he was "never a back channel to President Trump on Ukraine matters, at all, ever".In 2022, the Trump loyalist had appeared before a grand jury investigating the former president's taking thousands of government records with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.IANS24 March 2023

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Amit Shah visits former Karnataka CM Yediyurappa in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, March 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party leader BS Yediyurappa at his residence in Bengaluru on Friday.

Amit Shah visits former Karnataka CM Yediyurappa in Bengaluru

Shah was accompanied by Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP National General Secretary and Chikkamagaluru MLA, CT Ravi, State minister Govind Muktappa Karjol, MP Arun Singh, and MLA Nalin Kumar Kateel.Shah arrived at Bengaluru early this morning and was received by chief minister Bommai at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Airport in Bengaluru.Shah will attend the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' for Southern States/UTs in Bengaluru today.According to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah will focus on aspects like ways to curtail drug trafficking through maritime routes, and stringent punitive action on drug traffickers resulting in zero tolerance in the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security'.Other aspects like seamless coordination and cooperation between state and central drug Law Enforcement Agencies and containment of the spread of drug abuse through a concerted awareness program will also be discussed in the conference chaired by the Home Minister.Representatives from five Southern States and three Union Territories (UTs) will be attending the conference, said a Home Ministry statement.Shah will lay the foundation stone of Sehkar Samrudhi Soudh and inaugurate various development works of the Cooperative Ministry (Karnataka) in Kommaghatta village, Bengaluru.The Home Minister's visit to the poll-bound state is believed to be a bid to give a further boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign efforts in the State.Karnataka, which in Shah's own words is the BJP's gateway to the south, will go to polls in the coming months.After sounding the poll bugle in the state, BJP has been trying to reach out to various communities by installing statues of famous personalities.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on March 25 to inaugurate Whitefield Metro Line and to attend BJP's event in Davanagere.The visit of Shah is significant amid the party's push to return to power in the southern state.ANI24 March 2023

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Headache for Sukhu government as Punjab, Haryana oppose water cess move

Shimla, March 24: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu's biggest resource mobilisation move to tackle state's worst fiscal crisis seems to have hit a roadblock, as also possibly a legal tangle.

Headache for Sukhu government as Punjab, Haryana oppose water cess move

Within three days, after the state assembly passed a bill -- Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Bill, 2023 to levy cess on water being used by hydro-power producer companies in the state, two neighbouring states have come-out against the bill.State Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla is yet to give his assent to the bill which Chief Minister claims will fetch an additional resource of Rs 4000 cr to the state every year from 172 hydel projects.Till now, the state has been getting a free power share of 12 percent from the independent power producers including Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB), NHPC, NTPC, SJVN Ltd and private power producers.Himachal Pradesh also gets a share of 7.19 percent from the BBMB as per decision of the Supreme Court as its legitimate right in the combined assets of three states -- Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh under Punjab State Reorganisation Act 1966.This week, the Himachal Pradesh assembly passed a bill unanimously to levy water-cess on the hydro-power projects, located in the state. The bill replaced an ordinance which the Congress government had promulgated only a month back.Quick to oppose the move, Punjab and Haryana state assemblies passed separate resolutions to strongly oppose hill state move to impose Water Cess on Hydropower Projects for non-consumptive use of water for power generation.In the Haryana assembly, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, "This water cess is illegal and not binding on the State of Haryana and therefore the same should be withdrawn immediately by the Himachal Government."The resolution passed by the House even has urged the central government to prevail upon the Himachal Pradesh government to withdraw the bill/ordinance as the same is in violation of the Central Act i.e. Inter State Water Disputes Act, 1956."With this new levy there will be an additional financial burden amounting to Rs 1,200 crore per annum on partner states out of which around Rs 336 crore will be burden on the state of Haryana. This new levy is not only an infringement of the exclusive rights of the state over its natural resources but will also result in additional financial burden for generation of power resulting in the higher cost of generation of electricity," Khattar said.On the same lines, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Water Resources minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said they would not pay a single paisa to Himachal Pradesh and even warned that Punjab could also levy cess on apple trucks coming to the state from Himachal and also on tourists going to the hills.Mann, while terming it an attack on the federal structure, said that it violates the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.In Shimla, adopting a firm stand, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the state assembly on Thursday that Himachal Pradesh was well within its right to impose water cess on hydro-power generation as it didn't in any manner had violated the Inter State River Dispute Act 1956."There is no logic in the contention of our neighbouring states that Himachal has violated the Inter State River Dispute Act 1965 as the imposition of the cess in no way impacts the flow of water to the two states," he saidSukhu reminded that none of the provisions of the Water Cess on Hydro Power Generation Act 2023 violate the water rights of the two states and moreover water was a state subject.Despite a total of 45,000 hectares of land getting submerged under the three reservoirs of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Himachal has not got any water rights and on the contrary the state has suffered adverse environmental impact, resulting in climate change, he countered.The Chief Minister said it was not just agriculture and horticulture production that had been affected after Bhakra dam came-up but people living in the vicinity of these reservoirs were facing social and health issues.The revenue generated from imposition of water cess on BBMB project shall be distributed equally among all five states, including Himachal as Bhakra Nangal project is a joint venture of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, HP, Delhi and Chandigarh, Sukhu assured.He also clarified the position on the Shanan hydro project, which he said will be transferred to Himachal from Punjab after March 2024 in accordance with the period of validity of lease agreement.Earlier Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri ,who holds the water resources portfolio said water cess had been imposed on 172 hydel projects and it will in no way impact the water flow into Punjab and Haryana."We have imposed water cess on the same analogy as the governments of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, as the state has the right to impose any tax on usage of water, which is state subject. Agnihotri said the cess has been imposed for non-consumptive use of water for hydro-power generation by projects located within Himachal," Chief Minister claims that state's fiscal health is precarious because of Rs 75,000 cr debt burden, Rs 10,000 cr pending liabilities of revised pay and arrears of the employees and pensioners beside annual repayments of loans and interests on borrowings.The Congress, on return to power, had to raise Rs 4300 cr additional loans to pay salaries and wages to the employees beside committed liabilities on development,and welfare schemes. Thus, there is a dire need to raise resources.The government has also proposed to levy Rs 10 as cow-cess on each bottle of liquor sold in the state. This will return a revenue of Rs 100 cr per annum.Levying cess on water in the rivers flowing through the state is also a move to increase state income.(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)--indianarrativeIANS24 March 2023

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France to ban Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok

Paris, March 24: A growing number of countries in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific have banned the popular video-sharing app TikTok from government devices as privacy and cybersecurity concerns increase, with France likely to be the latest, reported France 24.

France to ban Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok

French Civil Service Minister Stanislas Guerini on Friday announced that France would ban the use of the Chinese-owned video-sharing app, TikTok, on the work phones of civil servants."In order to guarantee the cybersecurity of our administrations and civil servants, the government has decided to ban recreational applications such as TikTok on the professional phones of civil servants," he tweeted.A string of governments and institutions in the West have banned TikTok in recent weeks, including the UK parliament, the Dutch and Belgian administrations and the New Zealand parliament.India too imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps, including the messaging app WeChat, in 2020 over privacy and security concerns.Concerns have mounted globally about the potential for the Chinese government to access users' location and contact data through ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, reported France24.The company's CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a grilling US lawmakers on Thursday, in a rare bipartisan rebuke that reflected a growing penchant to ban the app from the US over its ties to China and handling of user data.Both Democrats and Republicans view the Chinese Communist Party as America's foremost national security threat. They recognise that the CCP is playing the long haul and its endgame is global domination. To achieve its mission, Beijing is using a four-dimensional strategy of military, economic, diplomatic and cultural aggression with technology as its core. That includes TikTok.TikTok's chief executive said user data can be accessed by its Chinese parent company and said that the staff in China currently have the ability to see user information.In testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, CEO Shou Zi Chew struggled to reassure lawmakers that the massively popular social video app doesn't pose a risk to its 150 million users nor share user data with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).Moreover, TikTok is bound by China's National Intelligence Law, which compels every Chinese citizen and company to surrender all data to the Chinese Communist Party on request and perform surveillance activities on behalf of the CCP.TikTok, like many other social media companies, collects users' personal information, including phone numbers, email addresses, contacts and Wi-Fi networks.ByteDance has said the company does not share information with the Chinese government, but US officials counter that Chinese law requires the company based in Beijing to make the app's data available to the CCP.The China-based app, which counts more than 150 million US users each month, has faced growing scrutiny from government officials over fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government and that the app could be weaponised by China to spread misinformation.In testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, CEO Shou Zi Chew struggled to reassure lawmakers that the massively popular social video app doesn't pose a risk to the US.He admitted that TikTok had collected location data on US users in the past, and said some historical data is still stored in servers that could be accessed by engineers from ByteDance, its parent company based in China, reported CBS News.TikTok is already banned on federal government devices, including military devices, and a growing number of states have implemented it on state government devices.Federal lawmakers have introduced several bills that would empower the administration to ban TikTok nationwide.The Biden administration wants ByteDance to divest itself from the short-form video platform.ANI24 March 2023

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Ben Affleck, Matt Damon shared bank account to fund their acting auditions

Los Angeles, March 24: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been friends for a long time now.

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon shared bank account to fund their acting auditions

They have not only shared screen space but also shared bank accounts once.On a recent episode of 'The Bill Simmons Podcast', the duo appeared and revealed they had one bank account between them starting in the late 1980s in order to fund auditions and start their acting careers, Variety reported."It was unusual, but we needed the money for auditions," Damon said, calling it "a weird thing in retrospect.""We were going to help each other and be there for each other," Affleck said, adding, "It was like, 'You're not going to be alone. I'm not going to be alone. Let's go out there and do this together.'"Any time Affleck or Damon booked a role, the money from the gig would get deposited into the bank account. As Damon said, "As long as one of us had money we knew the power wasn't going to get shut off. After doing [1992's] 'Geronimo' I probably had 35 grand in the bank. I was like 'we're good for a year.'"Of course, there were rules, but they were somewhat stretched."You were allowed to go to [auditions in] New York with the money. You were allowed to take out USD 10 and get quarters and go to [the arcade] and play video games," Damon said, adding, "Eventually we were allowed to try to buy beer, which never fucking worked.""I love working with this guy. I love hanging out with him," Affleck later said about Damon, adding, "If you can work with great people, who are good people too, it's so much more rewarding personally and professionally."Affleck and Damon have worked together in several films including 'Field of Dreams', 'School Ties', 'Chasing Army' and 'The Last Duel'. The two are now coming up with 'AIR', which will hit the theatres on April 5.ANI25 March 2023

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It is really sad and shocking: Rani Mukerji mourns demise of Mardaani director Pradeep Sarkar

Mumbai, March 24: Actor Rani Mukerji, on Friday, mourned the demise of director Pradeep Sarkar.

It is really sad and shocking: Rani Mukerji mourns demise of 'Mardaani' director Pradeep Sarkar

"I'm very very shocked by the news of Dada's passing away. I, in fact, spoke to him just the other day when I had gone to Amritsar, to the Golden Temple where he had called me telling me about my film so we had a long chat, he was insisting to do a facetime call but that day the network was not good so I was unable to video call with him. We were planning to meet this week when I got back but it is just so unexpected. His wife (Panchali boudi) called me at 4 am when this happened, it is really sad and shocking that dada has passed away like this," Rani said in a statement.Rani and Pradeep worked together in films like 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' and 'Mardaani'.She further said, "Boudi had informed me that he was on remission and he was all ok. He was also shooting these last few days so I don't know how it all transpired in just a matter of a few hours. I'm sure everybody who knows Dada will feel his loss deeply the way I'm feeling it. I had a great connection with him, we've done a lot of work together over the years, so it's literally like losing a family member. My heart goes out to Boudi, Ronno and Raya as they were a very close-knit family and to all the people who worked in Dada's production house and those who have been attached to him over the years. It's going to be a great loss for them."Noted Bengali director Pradeep Sarkar, fondly called as 'dada', passed away at 67 on Friday, in Mumbai."I'm really very saddened by this because I was meant to meet him soon so I feel terrible about it. You never realise how life is so unpredictable, you speak to a person and the next thing you know is that the person is not there. I will hold on to my last memory of him being so happy and excited for me as he had called me to share the feedback that he was getting for my film and me from all over," Rani concluded.ANI25 March 2023

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Rokna Hai Toh Thokna Padega Quick Style joins Suniel Shetty for promotion of Hunter

Mumbai, March 24: It's not the first collaboration between actor Suniel Shetty and Norwegian dance group Quick Style. For the promotion of his new thriller 'Hunter' on Amazon mini tv, Suniel once again teamed up with Quick Style.

Rokna Hai Toh Thokna Padega Quick Style joins Suniel Shetty for promotion of 'Hunter'

Taking to Instagram, Suniel posted a short video with the caption, "@thequickstyle joining the hunt with #Hunter ACP Vikram. Just like I say in the show - Rokna Hai Toh Thokna Padega!" Suniel and the members of the band Quick Style showed their swag and style in the video.This action thriller features stars Suniel Shetty in the lead as A.C.P Vikram Sinha, Esha Deol, Rahul Dev, Barkha Bisht, Mihir Ahuja, Teena Singh, Chahat Tejwani, Karanvir Sharma, Siddharth Kher, Gargi Sawant and Pawan Chopra in pivotal roles."It feels like yesterday we were shooting and today we are already unveiling the show trailer. It was surely a special experience and journey working with such talented people on and offsets. My character is very interesting, and he has a trait which will make the viewers want to know more of him. I enjoyed playing ACP Vikram Sinha thoroughly. I hope the viewers enjoy watching this show for which they have been eagerly waiting," Suniel said about the project.The group Quick Style rose to fame after recreating hook steps of popular Bollywood songs such as 'Sadi Galli' from the film 'Tanu Weds Manu' and 'Kala Chashma' from 'Baar Baar Dekho'.During their visit to India, Quick Style also spoke to ANI. They expressed their love for Indian songs."For us, the song Kaala Chashma and every song that is popular in this world..it's not anyone's, it's everyone's. And the people that watch our show, we feel they are our family, our group, our supporters, so we are together. So the song is ours," the group said during their Mumbai tour.ANI25 March 2023

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Veteran director Pradeep Sarkar cremated in Mumbai, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji pay last respects

Mumbai, March 24: Veteran filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best-known for directing films like Parineeta, Helicopter Eela and Mardaani, breathed his last on Friday. He was 67.

Veteran director Pradeep Sarkar cremated in Mumbai, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji pay last respects

He was cremated at the Santacruz crematorium in Mumbai as his near and dear ones bid an emotional farewell.From Deepika Padukone to Rani Mukerji, several members from the film industry attended the last rites of Pradeep Sarkar. Vidya Balan, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Dia Mirza, Sakshi Tanwer, Rhea Chakraborty, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Tahir Raj Bhasin were also present at his funeral.The filmmaker died at Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra in Mumbai. Reportedly, he was not keeping well for a long time and was on dialysis.After learning about the unfortunate news, celebrities from the film industry paid tributes to the late director on social media.Actor Ajay Devgan wrote, "The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada"Kajol, who featured in Pradeep's last big-screen directorial 'Helicopter Eela', posted a sweet picture where she is seen keeping her head on the director's shoulder. Kajol wrote, "Dada, you will be missed. Your sense of humour, humility and all the work you put into your films will always be remembered. RIP."Kangana Ranaut shared a video of the last time she met the director."Last meal I had with Pradeep dada, he knew I love Bengali food, this was during Noti Binodini prep meet, that's his hand in the first frame... Such terrible news, we were to meet as soon as I got to Mumbai... My heart is sinking and I won't be able to cope with this shocking news," she tweeted.Kangana was supposed to do a film titled 'Noti Binodini' with Pradeep Sarkar.Tahir Raj Bhasin, who made his big-screen debut in Pradeep's 'Mardaani', got emotional.Taking to Instagram, he penned a lenghty note which read, "Woke up to the extremely sad news of passing away of Pradeep Dada. I will always remember him with eternal gratitude as the man who trusted me with Mardaani. He was a maestro whose experience and guidance gave me the confidence to act to my fullest potential in my debut film. He mentored and then gave me space to create a part and in this trust lay his genius. I remember being extremely nervous on day one of shoot. It was a production heavy day, we were holding up traffic and there were a 100 junior artists on set. An intimidating environment for a first timer. After my first take I waited with baited breath as he watched the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, he yelled out for the entire set to hear, "that was great!". Just that validation from your first director still rings in my ears when I walk on to a set to this day. He was a visionary par excellence, ahead of his time. He lives on in the films he created. May he rest in peace."Apart from films, Pradeep has left noteworthy works in the world of advertisements and making videos for independent music. He also directed web series like Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala (2019), Arranged Marriage And Forbidden Love (2020), and Duranga (2022).ANI25 March 2023

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Entertainment / Music

by Staff Reporter

When and Where is U2's Las Vegas Residency?

Will All of U2 Return for the 2023 Las Vegas Residency?

Why is the Las Vegas Residency Called Achtung Baby?

When Did U2 Last Perform on Stage?

Everyone's favourite Irish rock band, U2, will make a more than welcome return to the stage later this year. The world-famous group has followed in the footsteps of Adele and Celine Dion, announcing their upcoming Las Vegas residency during a Super Bowl LVII commercial to the delight of their legions of fans from many corners of the globe. If you were not fortunate enough to watch the ad, here is a rundown of when, where, and how U2 will make their comeback on the Las Vegas stage.Las Vegas is a natural choice for U2's upcoming residency. After all, rock music is commonly used in video games and Las Vegas is the ultimate spot for amateurs of games. When you are not playing roulette, poker, or blackjack at a world-famous casino or even an online casino Switzerland , you can secure tickets to U2's residency in Las Vegas at the recently opened MSG Sphere. The band will play many of their popular hits during their immersive show coined U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere. Dates are to be confirmed, but you can expect to catch U2 in action during autumn 2023.Unfortunately, not every member of U2 will return to the stage during the band's Las Vegas residency in 2023. Larry Mullens Jr, the group's drummer, will not take to the stage this year, as he is expected to undergo an undisclosed surgery and will need time for rehabilitation. However, never fear, as the talented drummer will be replaced by Bram van den Berg.U2 released the following statement: "It's going to take all we've got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg who is a force in his own right."However, it is likely music to your ears to learn that Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton are expected to appear on stage every night of the residency.Passionate U2 fans might remember U2's seventh studio album, Achtung Baby, which was released in 1991. If you are unfamiliar with the album, it is regarded as one of the band's most successful records to date, selling 18 million copies worldwide and winning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The press announcement stated: "We are the right band, 'Achtung Baby' the right album and the Sphere the right venue to take the live experience to the next level." Therefore, you can trust you will hear many of U2's hits from the critically acclaimed album, which many critics have deemed one of the greatest of all time . For instance, the band is likely to perform One, The Fly, and Mysterious Ways.U2 fans have waited many years to get their hands on tickets for the band's concert. The group last performed in front of a large audience before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Fans looking to increase their excitement for the show can treat themselves to U2-s new back catalogue, Songs of Surrender, which is scheduled for release on March 17th, 2023, and features a string of 40 hits that have been re-recorded and reimagined, including One, Beautiful Day, and With or Without You.Tickets are yet to be released, but you would be wise to keep your eyes peeled for their upcoming release to avoid disappointment. It is one concert you are unlikely to forget in a hurry.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

It will be a dog eat dog scenario in Zanu-PF primary elections initially set for Saturday (March 18) but have been postponed to a later date, with big wigs and some completely new faces set to clash in the internal process which has previously been marred with violence, intimidation and serious rigging.The party announced that there was an overwhelming number of candidates who submitted their papers to contest for various positions in the primaries, elongating the vetting process as there were reportedly higher chances of infiltration among other anomalies.Party National Political Commissar Dr Mike Bimha announced in a presser a day before the scheduled primaries (Friday March 17) that primary elections had been postponed to a later, unannounced date after Politburo meets on Monday, March 20, 2023.In Masvingo, Zanu-PF Provincial Secretary for Communications Pepukai Chiwewe earlier this week confirmed that there was an overwhelming response to the call for submissions of aspiring candidates' CVs ahead of the primary elections.Chiwewe said large numbers were recorded, with a minimum of four and maximum of 12 per ward for local authorities, as well as a minimum of four and a maximum of seven for parliamentary candidates in Masvingo Province.The election in the province however is expected to be nothing short of drama and surprises as 2018 Zanu-PF Masvingo Urban constituency main contenders Benjamin Taguma Mazarire and Eddison Zvobgo Jnr have taken their rivalry to Masvingo Central constituency to try their luck with the rural electorate once more after the urban seat proved too difficult to clinch.The two contested in 2018 primaries and Mazarire won, only to lose to then MDC-Alliance's little known Jacob Nyokanhete ending Zanu-PF's total control of the province's 26 constituencies.In 2013, Zanu-PF won all the 26 constituencies including the urban seat which was taken by Daniel Shumba from MDC's Tongai Matutu.The main battle will be between two businessmen and youthful Phainos Makwarimba who is likely to win the contest.Mazarire, a businessman who is into mining and money lending business, contested Masvingo West in 2013 and lost to Ezra Chadzamira, contested again in 2018 and lost in the main electionhistory has a tendency of repeating itself.Mazarire claims to be of Mapanzure clan, which means Mapanzure area could be his stronghold and basing on traditional leaders influence in polls, that gives him an edge to that effect.Zvobgo, the Managing Director of Regency Hotels is riding on his father's fame having been the area's MP for a long time though he left nothing to show off his prolonged stay in power.Zvobgo has influence from Mashate Business Centre up to his home area Shonganiso Misssion where his family has two schools and a clinic tyo their name.He once tried his luck in the same constituency in 2013 and lost to sitting MP Edmund Mhere who has since stepped down and is alleged to be supporting Makwarimba.Makwarimba is also using his late father Clemence Makwarimba's popularity having been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Masvingo Rural District Council and Senator for Masvingo district.Makwarimba could be fishing in the same pond with Mazarire in Mapanzure. However, he seem to have more grip in the area which is his home turf, having ran some sporting tournaments for the youth in the current campaign period.He also enjoys support in Mushawasha area where incumbent Edmund Mhere hails from and is always on the ground unlike Zvobgo and Mazarire.Brian Charumbira, a councillor, also threw his hat in the ring as he may have support in his ward but is barely known in other areas thereby limiting his chances.Three other names in the race are Jephison Chikovo, a Mutati and one Nhindire.Four people have since lined up for Masvingo South Constituency where the incumbent Claudious Maronge is tipped to retain his post since his competitors seem not to have the grasp in the constituency.Other contestants include Victor Vengei who lost to Maronge in 2018, Mukomberi, Maushe Mutetepi and Chidhaura.Battle lines have been drawn in Masvingo North between youthful Brian Mudhumi, who seems to have the incumbent who has since moved to contest in Zaka Central Davies Marapira's blessing, businessman Pascal Mudzikisi, popular bus operator Tanda Tavaruva (Mhunga)'son Emmanuel Tavaruva, and Albert Mangena who is Masvingo RDC council chairperson.Mudhumi's chances are high; he has the resources and charisma. However, he is reported to be originally from Gutu and his alignment with the Mavhenyengwa faction in Chadzamira dominated Masvingo district could be his major undoing.Mangena stands a better chance because of his links with Chadzamira faction and support from the Provincial Vice Chairperson Trust Mugabe who is pushing him out of council so that he becomes council chairperson at Masvingo RDC where he is councillor.So Mudhumi and Mangena's chances are almost 50/50 making it difficult to predict a winner amongst the two.One female candidate Emily Madzana is also vying for the post and though she is not so popular, being a woman could be her only advantage if women would vote for a fellow woman, she could stand a better chance.Three other unpopular names are alleged to have submitted their CVs for the constituency.In Masvingo Urban, the battle is between two youthful candidates Wellington Mahwende who is the city's deputy Mayor and Harare based businessperson James Pande.Mahwende who is nicknamed Putin' in Zanu-PF because of his aggression is most likely to win the seat having managed to win deputy mayor position where the opposition has majority. He has proven to be a shrewd politician who can stop at nothing to get power.Pande on the other hand is equally energetic, being youthful like Mahwende, he is also well resourced to match Mahwende. His major undoing however is that he is based in Harare and has no popular business if he has one in Masvingo.In Masvingo West, the incumbent and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira enjoys the advantage of incumbency. He is well resourced and powerful having been provincial chair for some time and being the minister of State, he has an advantage over his rivals.Chadzamira enjoys support from wards 33, 5, 2, 6 and 7 and may lose support in only two wards that are under Charumbira area since they accuse him of siding with Bere people.Chadzamira will battle it out with little known Canada based Regis Vusango and Toddy Nyengerai who is ward 12 councillor.Members of the Mavhenyengwa faction will clash in Zaka North after the delimitation process left them in the same constituency.The two, former Zaka Central MP Paradzai Chakona and the sitting MP for dissolved Zaka West Ophias Murambiwa popularly known as Maga Maga' will square off in Zaka North.Chakona has an advantage that he has been working in the constituency for some time having been tipped by the incumbent and party Provincial Chair Robson Mavhenyengwa who decided to step down after losing popularity.Chakona is a shrewd politician but has since recorded some scandals in the constituency which can work against him.On the other hand, Murambiwa, a central committee member like Chakona has what it takes to win the constituency but his major disadvantage is that he is only popular in a few wards that were taken from the now collapsed Zaka West to Zaka North.Other candidates include perennial loser Professor Boniface Chivore who has been losing primaries even before the 2008 elections.John Chikomo who was Mavhenyengwa's right hand man is also in the race as well as little known Morris Chipato.In Zaka Central, it will be the case of biblical David and Goliath with the main battle being between Davies Marapira (Goliath), and the David being any one between incumbent Davison Svuure and Manfred Mada.Marapira however has an upper hand as he is well resourced and has been on the ground drilling boreholes, donating building material and stationery in schools as well as facilitating grading of roads.Manfred Mada, ward 13 councillor allegedly refused an offer that had been put on the table to retain his council post and become council chairperson. He has also been on the ground and he has support mainly in Jerera.Svuure is allegedly notorious for creating more enemies than friends during his tenure.Other candidates include little known UK Based Patricia Chimombe who recently jetted into the country for the primary election and Kissmore Basopo and former Zaka West MP Vincent Mawere.In Zaka South, the main battle is between Clemence Chiduwa who is MP for the dissolved Zaka East. Chiduwa is Zaka DCC chairperson and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development and James Makaure. Chiduwa's major advantages are that he is well resourced and has done a number of tangible developmental projects since he assumed office in 2019. He also went to Zaka South with the bulk of wards from Zaka East where he enjoys support. He also has support from ward 24 which has been in Zaka West.Makaure commands a following in some wards which were in Zaka West though he is a bit new in the dynamics of Zaka politics but enjoys support from Mavhenyengwa and Marapira faction.Another contender is Talent Chivange who lost to Chiduwa in 2019 by-election after they had both been disqualified in 2018.Chivange however is known to disappear after every election only to resurface towards another election.He may however enjoy support from areas that are under Chief Nhema where Chiduwa is not popular.In Chivi North, a tight contest is between incumbent Mathias Tongofa and Chivi RDC chairperson Godfrey Mukungunugwa with another contestant Clifford Mumbengegwi having slim chances.While incumbency may be an advantage to Tongofa, it also may work as a disadvantage with people yearning new blood.Mukungunugwa has the resources and as council chairperson, he had some influence in how devolution funds were used with bias towards Chivi North. He facilitated a number of projects in the constituency. He enjoys support from Chadzamira while his main rival Tongofa is from Mavhenyengwa faction.In Chivi South, the sitting MP Munyaradzi Zizhou will battle it out with Felix Maburuse who is alleged to be well resourced though his chances seem to be slim than Zizhou's. Since he assumed office only last year, Zizhou has not made many enemies and people could still want to give him another chance though on the developmental front, he does not have much to show.In Chivi Central, the incumbent Ephraim Gwanongodza stepped down and four businessmen have since lined up for the contest. The four include Dr Tapiwa Murambi, Exavier Moses Maoneke popularly known as Wezhas', Kudzai Mujikwa and Ranganai Pedzisai.The main contest is between Dr Murambi and Wezhas and it is difficult to predict the winner between the two.All the sitting MPs in Bikita are eyeing a comeback. In Bikita West, the sitting MP Elias Musakwa of the Hwava' fame in gospel music circles will battle it out with Daniel Makusha, Solomon Mupangi and Mbirikunashe Chirovera.In Bikita East Johnson Madhuku is being challenged by Court Gomba and Professor Jacob Mufunda. Madhuku, a shrewd politician, is likely to retain the seat.In Bikita South, the incumbent Josiah Sithole will rekindle the provincial elections battle it out with two Mutodisformer Information and Publicity Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi and Givemore Mutodi. Henry Mumera si also believed to be posing a great challenge to Sithole and his chances are almost equalt to Energy Mutodi. Other candidates linked to the seat are one Mateveke and an Engineer Muvhuni.Energy Mutodi who transferred from Goromonzi South is former President Mnangagwa's ally and is well resourced to challenge Sithole.In Gutu, a few ministers' names have come up in different constituencies, with Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando eyeing a comeback in Gutu Central.In Gutu West, the incumbent and Zanu-PF youth boss John Paradza is likely to retain his constituency.In Gutu South, the sitting MP Pupurai Togarepi will likely clash with former Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutaunashe. Togarepi who is Zanu-PF Chief Whip is likely to win the contest as he recently fought against the collapsing of the constituency through his position as chairperson of the Adhoc Committee on the analysis of the preliminary delimitation report. He is also well resourced and politically well-connected unlike Wutaunashe who seems not to be well versed with politics as he once contested and lost in 2018.Another candidate is a local businessman Reggie Mabhiza.With the incumbent Beritha Chikwama having stepped down in Gutu East, businessman Christopher Kudzayi Mashuro will likely contest against Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Professor Amon Murwira and a Ganyiwa.On the ground, Mashuro seems to be more popular, with businesses in the Munyikwa area, specifically Muchekayaora. He also has a good academic record, but if Murwira contests, he may shatter Mashuro's interests since Murwira is President Mnangagwa's ally.It remains to be seen however who survives after the party trims the numbers of candidates, which they have said is likely to be done by Sunday, March 19, a day before the Politburo sits, but with the aggressive campaigns that have been going on, heads are set to roll as some bigwigs bite the dust.
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Ethan Simmons is a reporter at The News-Gazette covering the University of Illinois. His email is esimmons@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@ethancsimmons).
President Joe Biden says the U.S. will respond forcefully to protect its personnel after U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard
News / National

by Staff reporter

A HARARE woman yesterday told magistrate Ayanda Dlamini that her husband has been hiding his payslip from her for the past decade.Magret Maturo made the claims as she sought a court ruling directing her husband, Tonderai Chingarande to pay US$100 per month for the upkeep of their children aged six and 12 years.The court heard that the couple stays together."We stay together, but I have never seen his payslip. He works as a general hand at some private company and I want him to give me US$100 per month for the upkeep of our children," she submitted.She added that the oldest child was living with a disability and consistently needed medical attention.In response, her husband said he could not afford the amount."I am offering to pay $60 000 inclusive of fees for the two children because from my salary I need to be left with money for transport to go to work," Chingarande said.After seeing his payslip Dlamini ordered him to pay $65 000, which is equivalent to US$71, using yesterday's Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe auction rate of $914 to the greenback.In an unrelated case, Dlamini dismissed an application from a Harare woman Alicia Namwiro, who was seeking a maintenance order against her estranged husband, Crumton Dhobolo.The court heard that their only child was in the custody of Dhobolo.The matter was then removed from the roll.
Introduction

What Is Healthcare Worker Safety?

What Is Meant By Safety Provisions to Healthcare Workers?

Why is the Safety of Healthcare Workers So Important?

References and Further Reading

Healthcare organizations are recommended to develop a safety culture to promote both patient and occupational well-being. Safety culture is defined as the product of an individual and group values, perceptions, competencies, attitudes, and patterns of behavior that result in the commitment to, understanding, and proficiency of an organization's health and safety management. Positive safety cultures are predicated on mutual trust and shared perceptions of the importance of safety as well as confidence in the efficacy and reliability of measures intended to prevent safety breaches.

Image Credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

What Is Healthcare Worker Safety?

A safety culture, then, reflects how safety is viewed and perceived in an organization, guiding healthcare professionals to deal with tasks and safety issues safely. Patient safety is defined as the complete avoidance, prevention, or lessoning effects of adverse outcomes or injuries that result from the healthcare experience.

Employers are under ethical responsibility to provide a duty of care which includes the clear communication of expectations to the staff and providing psychosocial support, skills training, and the necessary resources, particularly personal protective equipment.

This has become a prevalent talking point since the COVID-19 pandemic and continues a pattern of pandemic diseases that have differentially targeted healthcare workers worldwide. This includes severe acute respiratory syndrome, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and ebola. Historically and currently, healthcare workers continue to be committed to providing service to patients, providing the necessary to them, otherwise known as the "duty of care". To do so, healthcare employers also must demonstrate an ethical duty to provide care to employees arising from no requirements.

What Is Meant By Safety Provisions to Healthcare Workers?

In General, and since the emergence of pandemics in the past century, employers must provide prevention services, such as vaccines when available, as well as medical care if staff become ill. The World Health Organisation and international labor have produced the "Occupational Safety and health and public health emergencies" document.

At the basic level, specific expectations of employers include the prevention of illness, injury, and death of workers, the provision of safe systems of work, the provision of safety equipment, and the general supply of health, safety, and welfare of workers. Included are safe working conditions, risk assessment, management planning, and information for workers (specifically, skills training regarding personal protective equipment).

In addition, employers report occupational illnesses and injuries statistics to government agencies. On the side of worker responsibility, workers must participate in training, follow occupational safety and health guidelines, and report hazards to the employer. Employees are also free to refuse unsafe working conditions.

Image Credit: JHDT Productions/Shutterstock.com

Why is the Safety of Healthcare Workers So Important?

The safety of healthcare workers is paramount as they cannot provide a duty of care when they are ill. The pandemic has also highlighted the extent to which protecting healthcare workers is instrumental in preventing the failure of a health system and ensuring that it remains functioning.

In September 2020, the World Health Organisation released a world patient safety day charter, which called on governments and institutes responsible for providing health services at local levels to take five key actions to protect health workers. These included steps to protect health workers from violence; to be cognizant of their mental well-being; to protect healthcare workers from both physical and biological hazards; to further national programs for health worker safety, and to connect health worker safety policies to existent patient safety policies.

The importance of the safety of healthcare workers is illustrated most notably during the pandemic, while healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 have lost their lives. Approximately 14% of cases of COVID-19 reported to the World Health Organisation were among healthcare workers, which expanded to 35% in some countries. As such, it is important to note the disproportional effect of safety threats such as a pandemic on healthcare workers.

In addition to physical risks, the pandemic had a psychological effect on healthcare workers, exposing them to high-demand scenarios for long hours, creating psychological stress. Indeed before the pandemic, medical professionals have already been considered at a higher risk of suicide worldwide. Moreover, a recent review of healthcare workers demonstrated that 25% reported depression and anxiety, while approximately 1/3 suffered insomnia due to COVID-19. Moreover, healthcare work is subject to abuse from patients and families, including verbal harassment, discrimination, and physical violence.

The World Health Organisation has overstated the importance of establishing a synergistic relationship between helping healthcare worker safety and patient safety policies and strategies that center around health and safety skills training, the incorporation of well-being requirements in healthcare licensing and accreditation standards, and developing integrated metrics of patient safety and healthcare workers safety and quality of care indicators. All the suggestions include protecting healthcare workers from violence in the workplace, improving mental health and psychological well-being, And protecting healthcare workers from physical and biological hazards.

To keep patients safe, healthcare workers need to be kept safe  a point illustrated most notably during the pandemic.

Keep health workers safe to keep patients safe: WHO. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-09-2020-keep-health-workers-safe-to-keep-patients-safe-who. Lst accessed December 2021.

Wagner A, Rieger MA, Manser T, et al. (2019) WorkSafeMed Consortium. Healthcare professionals' perspectives on working conditions, leadership, and safety climate: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3862-7.

Stone PW, Hughes R, Dailey M. Creating a Safe and High-Quality Health Care Environment. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008 Apr. Chapter 21. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2634/

Further Reading
For over a century, El Paso has long been a sanctuary for individuals suffering from tuberculosis. It will soon be home to groundbreaking research that prevents the debilitating disease. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso infectious disease researcher Subramanian Dhandayuthapani, Ph.D., has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate tuberculosis. The announcement was made ahead of World Tuberculosis Day, which is recognized every year on March 24.

Known as Dr. Pani on campus, the researcher's five-year grant will explore developing new vaccines to prevent tuberculosis, which affects over 10 million people worldwide each year.

We're incredibly proud of Dr. Pani's remarkable achievement in being awarded the NIH R01 grant for his research on tuberculosis. This transformational grant will support Dr. Pani and his team's revolutionary work to improve our understanding of this infectious disease and develop new, preventive vaccines for tuberculosis. The impact of this research will address health disparities in the underserved communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. We look forward to the progress his research will bring to our Borderplex community and beyond." Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., TTUHSC El Paso President

The oldest and most widely sought-after source of funding at the NIH, R01 grant applications are highly competitive. The success rate is as low as 10%, meaning that only a fraction of applicants are successful in obtaining funding. As a testament to their importance, R01 grants often establish a framework for best practices or standards of care within the health care profession.

Tuberculosis, a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lungs. It's a major public health concern, with the World Health Organization ranking it as the 13th leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause from a single infectious agent, with 10.6 million men, women and children afflicted by the disease. The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis strains has made the treatment even more challenging, emphasizing the need for new drugs and therapies.

Tuberculosis is a serious public health issue in El Paso County and in underserved communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the incidence rate of tuberculosis in El Paso County in 2020 was 2.7 cases per 100,000 people, which is higher than the state average of 1.9 cases per 100,000 people and the national average of 2.3 cases per 100,000 people. The incidence rate of tuberculosis in Texas border counties was 2.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2020.

Working in collaboration with Shrikanth Gadad, Ph.D., M.Sc., and Jessica Chacon, Ph.D., from TTUHSC El Paso and Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Ph.D., from Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Dr. Pani's work will leverage the latest advances in genomics, immunology and bioinformatics. Their focus is on the development of improved new-generation BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccines. These serums contain a weakened strain of the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis, which is related to the bacteria that cause human tuberculosis. When administered, the vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight off similar bacteria in the future, thus providing protection against tuberculosis infection.

This is the second grant Dr. Pani has received from the NIH for research in this area. His first, a $492,258 grant from the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was awarded in 2021.

"Our research on tuberculosis vaccine development is not only about finding new treatments but also improving health outcomes for patients around the world," said Dr. Pani. "By identifying new targets and developing new treatments, we can help alleviate the burden of this disease. I'm honored to receive this NIH R01 grant, and excited about the potential impact our research could have on preventing this disease."

Dr. Pani is also a professor with TTUHSC El Paso's Center of Emphasis for Infectious Diseases within the Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine. The Center provides critical resources and expertise to support Dr. Pani's work, including access to patient populations and advanced research technologies. In turn, his research also contributes to the center's broader mission of addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes for Hispanics in the region.

Collaboration among the Centers of Emphasis and with other institutions, community organizations and stakeholders is essential in addressing the complex health issues faced by Hispanics in the region. By working together, researchers develop innovative approaches to health care that make a significant impact on the health of the community. Through shared commitment to improving health equity and outcomes, TTUHSC El Paso's Centers of Emphasis demonstrate the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful progress in addressing health disparities and improving the lives of those we serve.

The new vaccine has the potential to protect against other viral infections  it's designed to work in a nonspecific manner, which means it helps the immune system fight off any viruses it encounters. This is an exciting development because it means the vaccine could have a broader impact on public health beyond just tuberculosis prevention.

Moreover, the vaccine has shown potential in treating bladder cancer. Researchers have discovered the vaccine can stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells in the bladder. This is significant because bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the U.S., and current treatments can have debilitating side effects. If the vaccine is successful in clinical trials, it could provide a more effective and less invasive treatment option for bladder cancer patients.

The Borderplex region, which spans across West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Northern Mexico, is home to a large number of individuals who are at risk of developing tuberculosis due to high rates of poverty, migration and other factors. The funding of Dr. Pani's research will not only benefit this community, but also contribute to the global effort to combat tuberculosis and improve the health of populations worldwide.

Students attending TTUHSC El Paso will have the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working on the project alongside Dr. Pani and his team. While the grant is fully dedicated to research, students from the Foster School of Medicine and the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences will still have the chance to participate. The opportunity to work on such an impactful project is invaluable for students looking to further their education and careers in the medical field.

About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It's a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.

TTUHSC El Paso was established to focus on the unique health care and educational needs of our Borderplex community. In 2023, TTUHSC El Paso celebrates its 10th anniversary as an independent university within the Texas Tech University System. In a decade, the university has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers, and will soon add dentists to its alumni.

Disclaimer: Research reported in this media release was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AI175837. The content is solely the responsibility of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for a visit to Malaysia and Singapore on March 26, seeking to forge closer financial and commercial ties between Hong Kong and the two countries, as well as promote Hong Kong's latest economic and financial developments.

He will call on senior government officials and business leaders to introduce to them the vast business opportunities offered by Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as he visits Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from March 26 to March 28.

He will also tour a number of enterprises and give a keynote speech during a discussion at the University of Malaya.

The Financial Secretary will depart for Singapore on the evening of March 28. During his stay in the city-state from March 28 to 30, he will call on senior government officials and business leaders and meet representatives of enterprises.

Mr Chan also plans to take part in a number of exchange sessions and seminars, including speaking at a talk at the National University of Singapore and giving a keynote address at a thematic conference organised by the South China Morning Post.

He will return to Hong Kong on the evening of March 30. During his absence, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will be Acting Financial Secretary.
The Delhi- Gurgaon Expressway could soon have a pay per road use toll tax. According to media reports, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would collect a fee only for the distance that commuters travelled on the expressway under this system.

In general, people are charged a fixed amount as toll tax. The pay per road use system would use automatic cameras instead of traditional toll booths to collect the money. The cameras would identify the vehicles on the highway and ensure that their toll is collected electronically through FASTags, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Also Read: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway - Toll Rates, Speed Limit, Travel Time, Total Distance and More

The 29 kilometre-long Delhi Gurugram Expressway will have automatic number plate reading (ANPR) cameras installed on all entries/exits to facilitate the process. An NHAI official told HT that a tender has been initiated for the cameras, adding that the pay per road use system is likely to be implemented in six months.

Commuters will be charged toll digitally and this will be done through automatic number plate recognition cameras, which detect number plates. These cameras will be installed on all entries/exits of the expressway," Dhruv Gupta, senior manager at NHAI stated. Gupta also added that the officials will also take a decision on the removal of the Kherki Daula toll plaza once the use-based toll system is stabilised.

The new toll collection system can also reduce the congestion at toll plazas on highways and expressways since the collection will be done electronically.

This is not the first time ANPR cameras have been proposed. Last year, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Highways and Road Transport, announced that ANPR cameras would be installed on the Dwarka Expressway soon. In an interview with Indian Express, Gadkari also talked about making a change in the Indian legal system to penalise people who do not pay the toll and drive away. The reasoning behind Gadkaris idea is that tests have shown ANPR cameras miss about 10 percent of number plates since the plates had text beyond nine places.

The NHAI is set to increase toll tax by 5 to 10 percent from April, once it gains approval from the Ministry of Road and Transport, it added. Cars and light vehicles will be charged 5 percent extra per trip, while heavy vehicles may have to pay 10 percent more.

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The Vande Bharat Express, Indias semi-high-speed train, will soon connect the national capital Delhi with Jaipur. The rake of the train will arrive in Jaipur on March 24. The Delhi-Jaipur route has been thoroughly electrified but it had to be modified a bit because double-decker trains run on this route. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the launch of the train on the Delhi-Jaipur route and also revealed the modifications.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat Express train running between Jaipur and Delhi. Although the North Western Railway is yet to electrify several other routes, the first route to be fully electrified for the operation of the Vande Bharat train was the Delhi-Jaipur division. Preparations to operate the semi-high-speed train are in their last stage and the Railway Minister has already visited Jaipur to cross-check the maintenance work and announced the tentative date of commencement of train operations.

According to Captain Shashi Kiran, CPRO, North Western Railway, the total installed traction power supply capacity in the Jaipur division is 2373.6 MVA. 11 TSS stations have been established in this division and 168 rail services are being operated on the electric traction.

There has been a significant reduction in noise and air pollution due to the electrification of the route, making it an eco-friendly section for rail operation. The dependence of trains on imported diesel has also reduced as a result of the electrification and a significant reduction in carbon emission has also been observed.

Jaipur division is saving fuel cost worth Rs 178 crore annually as compared to the previous year and apart from this the carbon emission was cut down by about 47 thousand million tonnes from last year.

Currently, about 90 per cent of the NW Railway zone has been electrified and the complete electrification is expected to happen by the end of the first half of 2024. This is being done as more Vande Bharat trains are expected to run in this zone soon.

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Maharashtra government on Friday granted permission to build the underground station for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The contract of the first project has been given to National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) - Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) venture for the design and roadmap.

As per the official data shared by the government officials, the group has NHSRCL and MEIL-HCC joint venture has been given 54 months to complete the whole project. In order to build the train project, the government has invested an amount of Rs 3681 crore.

Also Read: Why Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project is Expected to Cost Over 1.6 Lakh Crore

The group has the plan to go somewhere around about 24 meters deep from the ground level to construct the station. The platform will have three floors including a concourse, platform, and service floor, the facilitate the passengers, the company said in a statement. Apart from this, the firm will install two entry/exit points so that it can people can access to Metro station without any hassle.

The official report also suggested that the project will be built in such a manner that it will have enough empty space inside for passenger movement and amenities at the concourse and platform level.

Read all the Latest Auto News here
The Finance Bill 2023, which contains various Budget 2023 proposals related to taxation and government expenditure, was passed on Friday in the Lok Sabha, with 45 amendments. A total of 20 more Sections have been added to the amendments. Here are the highlights of the Finance Bill 2023 and how industry people and experts react to the Finance Bill:

Relief for Individual Taxpayers: It has been proposed to provide marginal relief for taxpayers adopting new tax regime and having income exceeding Rs 7 lakh. As per the Finance Bill, 2023, it was proposed that no tax will be payable under the new regime in case the income does not exceed 7 lakh. However, there was no marginal relief for those having income above Rs 7 lakh. Marginal relief has now been provided. With this, those having income in the range of Rs 7,00,001-Rs 7,29,000 will be treated at par with the person having an income of up to Rs 7 lakh.

Debt MFs to be Subject To STCG: Capital gains arising from debt-based mutual funds (where investment in equity shares of domestic companies is not more than 35 per cent of the total proceeds of the mutual fund) acquired on or after April 1, 2023, will now be subject to short-term capital gain. No benefit of indexation shall be available as well.

STT On Futures and Options Contracts: On the sale of options contracts, the STT now stands at Rs 6,200 on a turnover of Rs 1 crore, indicating a 25 per cent hike as compared with Rs 5,000 earlier. STT on the sale of futures contract has been increased to Rs 1,250 on a turnover of Rs 1 crore, a 25 per cent hike as compared with Rs 1,000 earlier.

Tax on Royalty/ FTS Rate Under Section 115A Increased to 20% (from 10%): This will impact non-residents of the countries with whom India does not have a tax treaty, as the tax rate on such income is by and large 10 per cent. Non-residents of the countries with whom India doesnt have tax treaty will now be required to pay higher rate of 20 per cent on income from Royalty and FTS.

TCS for Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS): It has been proposed that Tax Collected At Source (TCS) under Section 206C(1G) will be collected in case of remittance under LRS even if remittance is not made out of India. Earlier, TCS was collectible only if LRS is made out of India.

TCS Rate In Absence of PAN Restricted to 20%: Under Section 206CC, in absence of PAN, TCS is collectible at the rate of 5 per cent or twice the rate specified in the relevant provision. It has been proposed to restrict the higher rate of TCS collectible at 20 per cent. This amendment has been proposed with effect from July 1, 2023.

TCS Rate in Case Non-Filer of Tax Return Restricted to 20%: Under Section 206CCA, in case of non-filer of return, TCS is collectible at rate of 5 per cent or twice the rate specified in the relevant provision. It has been proposed to restrict the higher rate of TCS collectible at 20 per cent. This amendment has again been proposed with effect from July 1, 2023.

Changes to Incentivise IFSC: (i) No surcharge and cess on income earned by GIFT Category III from securities under Section 115A(1)(a); (ii) provision for tax-neutral reallocation of any investment vehicle in which ADIA is sole direct or indirect shareholder/ unitholder to GIFT City introduced; power to notify any other funds for tax neutral reallocation to GIFT City added Section 47(viiad); (iii) Dividend distributions from IFSC unit to be taxable at 10 per cent (as against 20 per cent) (iv) Interest income on borrowing by foreign company from long-term bond or rupee denominated bond listed on IFSC stock exchange taxable @ 9 per cent

Changes Related To InvITs / REITs: (i) SPV not required to withhold on payment of interest on debentures; (ii) Exemption to sovereign wealth funds / pension funds for debt repayment from Business Trust introduced [section (10(23FE)]; (iii) Cost of unit holders reduced to the extent of distributions in form of debt repayment (unless such distributions are taxed as IOS); Investors in Business Trust pay 10% long-term capital gains tax on exit and dont get benefit of full cost; (iv) No tax under IOS until distribution in form of debt repayment are upto amount at which units of Business Trust issued.

What Experts Say

Shashi Mathews, partner at IndusLaw, said, The Finance Bill, 2023, has been passed by the Lok Sabha today. It is interesting to note that the government had proposed quite a few amendments to the Finance Bill, as was presented during the Budget Speech."

He added one of the most expected amendments relating to GST tribunal, which was missed out during the Budget speech, has now been inserted in the Act. Under the revised provision pertaining to GST tribunal, the government has now included a judicial member for the Principal Bench of the tribunal and two judicial members for the State benches.

On debt MF provision, Tapati Ghose, partner at Deloitte India, said, The amendment to the Finance Bill 2023 has proposed to treat gains from transfer of units of specified mutual funds as short term and tax at slab rates. This is in addition to taxation of market-linked debenture proposed in the original bill. The proposed move seems to bring taxation of such mutual funds on par with bank deposits which are taxed at slab rates."

Sandeep Bagla, CEO of Trust Mutual Funds, said, There is likely to be no impact in the short term but could impact the ability of mutual funds to attract debt flows in the long term."

Gouri Puri, partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said, In a surprise move the Government has increased the withholding tax rate on royalties and fee for technical services paid to non-residents from 10 per cent to 20 per cent under Indias domestic tax law. Tax treaty benefits will become more critical now to avail a reduced withholding tax rate. Foreign entities will need to evaluate their commercial substance to be able to claim such treaty benefits."

Puri added that this may also increase the cost of import of technology in cases where Indian companies are grossing up withholding taxes and treaty benefits are not available.

Vishal Goenka, co-founder of IndiaBonds, said, Taxation rules across bond investments should be uniform as this simplifies the choice for investors who should focus on analysing the investment itself rather than the taxation disparity. We welcome the proposed changes via the Amendments to the Finance Bill as this creates a uniform level playing field between debt mutual fund and direct bond investment. We always encourage investors to have fixed income in their portfolio for adequate diversification and the proposed changes will make direct bond investments by individuals more attractive."

On proposals related to Reit and InVIT, Punit Shah, partner at Dhruva Advisors said, The amendment of taxing only the upside over and above the cost of the units, where no redemption is involved, is a welcome move. However, it would have been more appropriate to tax such gain as capital gain rather than ordinary income."

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Bengaluru, the Indian IT hub, has undergone a stunning transformation as its streets and aerial view are now adorned with pink hues, creating a mesmerising sight reminiscent of Silicon Valley. Numerous pictures and videos show the fallen pink leaves strewn across the citys roads, while canopies of pink flowers provide a charming shelter. Recently, a video has emerged on social media, capturing the aerial view of the city embellished with pink flowers. Raj Mohan, a photographer, posted the video on Twitter, displaying a picturesque landscape in various shades of pink. The footage captures a train passing through lush green fields and blossoming trees, making it a captivating visual experience.

The video is captioned, Bengaluru is now adorned in pink, as it does every year at this time! #Bengaluru #cherryblossom #IndianRailways."

The video has garnered over 97,000 views and 1,500 likes so far, and numerous users have left comments expressing their appreciation. A user was impressed by the beautiful colours of the video, stating The colours are amazing, and its so beautiful ."

Meanwhile, another user felt the need to correct a common misconception, commenting, Every year around March-April, it has become a tradition to point out that the flower is not a cherry blossom but a #Pinktrumpet or Tabebuia Rosea."

Ananth Rupanagudi, a railway official, shared the video on his Twitter profile and expressed his admiration for the mesmerising cherry blossom landscape in Bengaluru. He described the video as a brilliant capture of the citys spring and wrote This is such a beautiful video of the railway landscape amidst the lovely cherry blossoms of Bengaluru! Brilliant capture of the Bengaluru spring! #IndianRailways #Bengaluru #Spring #CherryBlossoms.

The Twitter community has also expressed delight at the beautiful scenery. One user commented Whattay. Pink Bengaluru and Trains. These are a few of my #favouriteThings."

Earlier in January, pictures of Bengalurus streets adorned with pink flowers had gone viral. This pink spectacle is a result of the annual blooming of Tabebuia flowers, which usually occurs around springtime, and adds a lovely pink hue to the citys landscape.

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Visuals of a glider plane crashing into a residential building have left the internet in a state of frenzy. The incident took place in Jharkhands Dhanbad district. According to a report by NDTV, besides the pilot, there was a 14-year-old passenger onboard the plane. Both of them were rushed to hospital following the crash. The flight took off from the Barwadda airstrip in Dhanbad. Within two minutes in the air, the glider plane crashed into a house approximately 500 meters away from its initial flight position.

The investigation behind the crash is still underway but the report suggests it could have happened due to a technical glitch. Footage of the accident shows how the glider took off from the airstrip and was moving in its designated airway. After covering a short distance, the panicked voice of the pilot can be heard before the plane hit a concrete pillar.

The camera quickly becomes out of focus and more worried voices from the residential building can be heard in the background. People quickly rushed to help the two passengers before the clip abruptly comes to an end.

Watch the chilling video here:

Multiple photos of the crash site circulating online show the gliders cockpit completely smashed into a concrete pillar. Whats more terrifying is that the pilot seat of the aircraft appears to be completely destroyed as it remained suspended in the residential building. The news portal identified the owner of the house to be Nilesh Kumar, who confirmed that no one from his family was injured during the accident.

At the time of the crash, Kumars two children were reportedly playing inside the house. The person injured during the accident is said to be a resident of Patna who had come to visit his relatives in Dhanbad. The passenger decided to take a glider ride, run by a private agency, to watch the entire city as a recreational activity. The glider rides have been shut down temporarily after the crash.

ASI SK Mandal of Barwada Police station told DNA, Information was received at the police station that a glider crash had happened near Birsa Munda. Police teams have reached the spot and are stationed there. Two people were injured. And were further checking.

The passengers hospitalized are reportedly in serious condition. The exact reason behind the accident will be known after a thorough investigation.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, thrilled the internet by sharing an old satellite image of earth, which gives a clear view of human settlement across the globe. The picture that was captured in 2016 during the night time, shows how humans shaped the planet and lit up the darkness. In the caption, NASA revealed that the photo is drawn from a special composting technique that works amazingly by choosing the best cloud-free nights every month. This is not only done to obtain a clearer image of the earth but also makes it easier to compare among human patterns in different months and in varied nations. All in all, the space agencys latest post shows earth in shining, shimmering, splendid avatar and the internet is going gaga over how bright India looks.

NASA shared the picture along with a lengthy caption, wherein the agency explained the background of the image taken from the satellite. The American agency began the caption by saying, Shining, shimmering, splendid. This image of Earth at night provides a clear view of the patterns of human settlements across our planet. It added, Satellite images of Earth at night  often referred to as night lights  provide a broad beautiful picture showing how humans shaped the planet and lit up the darkness. The image shows Earths night lights as observed in 2016; it is drawn from a compositing technique that selected the best cloud-free nights in each month over each land mass in 2016. (Note that clouds and sunlight are added for aesthetic effect.)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa)

NASA concluded the post by citing the former NASA earth scientist, Miguel Roman as saying that by incorporating this data, the scientists can monitor short-term changes that are caused by disturbances in power delivery. Detailing the same, Roman revealed that these disturbances can be caused by situations like conflict, storms, earthquakes, and brownouts. Using this data, Roman added that scientists can monitor cyclical changes that are led by reoccurring human activities like holiday lighting during Christmas and seasonal migrations, urbanization, out-migration, economic changes, and electrification.

Now, the photo has garnered a barrage of comments from desi users. Many were amused by how illuminating India appears. One user commented, India looks so bright here. Another wrote, India is shining brighter than Europe and North Africa. A third user commented, Our India is shining as well.

The photo has over 11 lakh likes as of now.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

POWER generation improved remarkably yesterday with 810 megawatts being fed to the national grid largely owing to Hwange Thermal Power Station which injected 442 megawatt, a sharp improvement from an average of 300 megawatt, power generation statistics show.Kariba and Munyati contributed 350mw and 18mw respectively while two thermal stations, Bulawayo and Harare had no production.On Tuesday, Hwange pumped 161MW and Kariba 200 MWbringing a total of 361MW. On Monday evening, Hwange Power Station's Unit 7 was successfully synchronised with the national grid with officials saying the unit has not developed any problems.The synchronisation process sought to establish if the electricity being generated from Unit 7 would flow seamlessly into the national grid.Giving synchronisation updates on Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Power Company said unit 7 auxiliary equipment is being connected gradually adding that once the performance tests of the Unit are completed, it will be ready for commercial operation and consistently supply its full capacity to the national grid."The Technical Commissioning of Unit 7 is progressing in earnest. The auxiliary equipment is being connected gradually as we aim to ramp up output to 300MW, a milestone expected to be achieved soon"Once the performance tests of the Unit are completed, it will be ready for commercial operation and consistently supply its full capacity to the national grid."The team is fully mindful of stakeholders expectations hence all efforts are being made to complete this delicate process," said the power utility firm on its official Twitter handle.Unit 7 is a component of the US$1,4 billion Hwange Unit 7 and 8 expansion project whose construction began in August 2018 following a ground-breaking ceremony by President Mnangagwa.It is one of the flagship projects being implemented under the Second Republic in line with Vision 2030, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.When fully commissioned, the project will help Zimbabwe reduce electricity imports and ease power cuts, which will drive increased industrial production as there will be guaranteed electricity supply, a key economic enabler and driver towards realisation of national goals in line with Vision 2030.Before the expansion project, Hwange Power Station had an installed capacity of 920MW and the addition of 600MW from Units 7 and 8 will take the installed capacity to 1 520MW.With Kariba South having already been expanded, resulting in the addition of 300MW into the grid to take the installed capacity to 1 050MW, there will be adequate electricity to meet industrial, commercial and dlomestic demand.
Ramadan started off for most of the world on March 23 and theres a festive mood on social media as people look forward to concluding the holy month with Eid al-Fitr celebrations. That is, however, still a long way off- April 21. Ramzan is meant as a test of self-control and discipline for Muslims, as they are meant to maintain a fast called Roza.

Roza is no slight feat, with people supposed to eat a meal at dawn called Sehri, and another after sunset called Iftar. Practising Muslims arent supposed to eat during this month while the sun is still in the sky. That is quite the test of patience and as it happens every year, it has resulted in a deluge of memes on Twitter.

If you are someone who celebrates, here are the top memes on Twitter to help you through the wait for Sehri and Iftar.

When my mother asks me what i want for iftaar10 yrs old me: pic.twitter.com/ODOI2J9Qd6  Sara (@sara_pirzadaa) March 23, 2023

That first iftar is going to hit like pic.twitter.com/toKhjVZZju  (@ABroNextDoor) March 20, 2023

The first cup of tea after iftaar is like.. pic.twitter.com/beTL0wMwMF Zulfiqar Ahmed (@ZulfiqarAhmed69) March 23, 2023

Elon Musk after going to daily Iftar buffets in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/eDt4QcHZ6u (@itsmeSehrish) March 24, 2023

Going to bed after sehri and waking up for work is like pic.twitter.com/qDR4tkIy1T  (@Saka1410) March 23, 2023

*chugging water at sehri*rest of the day: pic.twitter.com/BQMM9jWSqo  ek pun ka jeena (@maulanaglumi) March 23, 2023

My sibling waking me up in the last minute of sehri. pic.twitter.com/uGf32JnCTs Shayaan. (@Hi_Shayaan) March 22, 2023

me reciting sehri ki dua after every 2 mins to make sure mera roza band hogaya hai pic.twitter.com/o5FJrm4OP2 ig @faizanriaz (@faizanriaz7_) March 23, 2023

me helping my mom make iftar after getting called a misogynist online pic.twitter.com/w6ypCUg0j0 duck (@ExtremeBlitz__) March 23, 2023

beta aik zamana tha jab hum bhi sehri tak jaaga karte the R. (@aey_its_bia) March 23, 2023

Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic holy calendar and Muslims are meant to follow the path shown by God and serve humanity during this time. There are also a host of other dos and donts associated with Ramadan.

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A rare snake was discovered hiding in a rice mill in the Gadchiroli region of Maharashtra. Although it may appear to be common news, you will be surprised to learn about this unusual snake. The discovered reptile is a rare albino cobra, which has never before been spotted in the region.

According to reports, this albino cobra measures 4 feet 9 centimetres. The officials in charge of the forests stated that members of this species are typically underdeveloped , but the specimen that was found in Gadchiroli was an adult. This rare white albino cobra is barely visible. Albinism is a disease that causes the snakes skin to turn white. It is extremely uncommon in snakes.

Naeem Shaikh, a police department snake catcher expert , was called in to rescue the rare snake from the mill, reported India Today.

According to Shaikh, cobras have been spotted in both urban and rural areas, indicating a decline in their natural habitat. However, the Forest Department has been instrumental in rescuing these snakes and releasing them back into the wild through safe and secure means.

According to snake researchers and experts, Albino cobras are extremely rare. An albino adult cobra is more difficult to find. Because of variations in their pigmentation genes, these snakes are white. Albino cobras, unlike normal cobras, are monocled and have an O-shaped hood pattern.

Hatchlings are more poisonous than adults because their muscles have not fully developed and they spit more venom, whereas adults can control the amount of venom spit by controlling their muscles. People, including snake rescuers, must be cautious when handling poisonous snake hatchlings.

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If its true that we eat first with our eyes", then you would want to keep them shut for this meal. Why, you may ask? While you must have come across videos of moving meat on the Internet time and again, this bizarre video shows a plate of moving pasta being served in a restaurant. The noodles appear to have taken on a life of its own.

Probably that is exactly why the Internet lost its appetite when they came across this video, as per Ladbible. The Internet claimed that they will never be able to see pasta the same way again. The eccentric video came to light after it was shared by a TikToker Emma Mirte, who hilariously wrote the supers that read, POV: Eating pasta in Italy and it starts moving.

Taking to the caption, Emma asked her followers, Can someone tell me what this is? Now we all know that even after being cut off from the body, octopuses tentacles move because each of its arms has its own control system. And the reason raw meat jumps back to life after salt is thrown on it is due to a chemical reaction causing the muscles to spasm. Although it is nothing less than a scene straight out of a horror movie, the real reason why the pasta is moving is to be blamed on the ingredient sprinkled on it.

Anyone who like Japanese cuisine would know that those moving crumbs are katsuobushi, aka bonito flakes. The paper-thin shavings are basically the simmered, smoked and fermented skipjack tuna. Its job is to add great umami flavour to any dish. In this videos case, the chef added katsuobushi to some fresh pasta that created enough heat to make it appear like the flakes are dancing. The person, who is encountering it for the first time, can surely be a little shocked by it.

This is not the first bizarre food video that has taken the Internet by storm or left users disgusted. Earlier, social media users were truly shocked to the core to witness someone making ice cream Maggie. The vendor was seen experimenting with the dish by putting and crushing two ice cream cones in oil and adding noodles to it. If you think that the outcome was sweet then you must know that it was all things sweet and spicy after the vendor added red chilli sauce atop it before serving it to the customer.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANDRE SARWONO (@makanterusss)

Would you ever try these bizarre food options?

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Kayleigh Scott, a transgender flight attendant who gained fame after appearing in an advertising campaign for United Airlines, was found dead earlier this week. The 25-year-old reportedly died in her Denver apartment on Monday, March 20. Kayleigh Scotts social media followers reportedly alerted the cops when they some potential references to suicide on her timeline. Before her death, Kayleigh Scott penned an emotional note on her social media handles, apologising to her friends and family for letting everyone down. The death is being investigated by the police and the final cause behind it is yet to be ascertained, reported The Independent.

In her last post, Kayleigh Scott wrote, As I take my final breaths and exit this living earth, I would like to apologise to everyone I let down. I am so sorry I could not be better. To those that I love, I am sorry I could not be stronger. To those that gave me their everything, I am sorry my effort was not reciprocated. The flight attendant also tagged some of her loved ones in her post and asked them to remember her for the good times they shared. Please understand that me leaving is not a reflection on you, but the result of my own inability to turn myself for the better," Scott added. She ended her post by promising that she will see them all again on the other side.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Blade, Kayleigh Scott had alluded to battling depression in earlier social media posts. In December, the 25-year-old wrote that 2022 was a year packed with upset and difficulty. I saw too much death and loss in my life," she admitted. Scott added that in the past year, she came to realise that she worked a meaningless job for a company that did not value her as an employee. I had my heart destroyed, I lost my nice little home and had to downsize significantly and start over, Kayleigh Scott posted.

Scotts mother, Andrea Sylvestro, confirmed her death in an emotional post on Facebook.

Kayleigh Scott shot to fame after she was featured in a commercial for United Airlines as part of its Trans Day of Visibility campaign in 2020. The airline also expressed its sadness at Scotts demise and expressed its condolences to her family and friends.

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A home is supposed to be a place where someone can feel safe. What would you do if an intruder broke into your place? Recently, a homeowner heard strange noises from his attic, after which he found a female stranger living in his house. The man named Davis Wahlman was suspicious of the rustling sounds coming from his roof and eventually decided to have a look. KOMO News reported that the entrance of the loft, from where the woman was found, was locked when he knocked. A voice called out from there and asked, Jimmy? Is that you Jimmy? When the door opened, David was shocked by a woman who was a total stranger to him hiding in there. The woman was described to have dark hair and was wearing gym bottoms with a tracksuit jacket. She was holding a rucksack.

Davis, an employee at a news outlet, told them: I dont immediately freak out but Im like This is not ordinary. After entering the attic, he found a screen from a bathroom window inside the tub but he didnt think too much until he heard strange noises coming from the attic the next morning. This led to Davis jolting out of bed.

As Wahlman tried to figure out what was going on in his house, he noticed that his offices light was on. Thinking that it is unusual, he knocked on the door but got no response at first. Afterwards, when the woman asked if it was Jimmy, he replied, Im like No, its not Jimmy. Who is this and why are you in my house?

Wahlman immediately called 911 after which she opened the office door and she was ready to talk to him. He asked her who she was and what she was doing in his house. She suggested that it was her house and she lived there. She said someone named Jimmy said she could live there. Wahlman tried to keep the woman inside the house until the police arrived, but she fled before they arrived. He was frustrated that the police arrived about 18 minutes after he placed the call.

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The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the regulatory body responsible for overseeing technical education in the country, has lifted the ban on the establishment of new engineering colleges. The council has lifted its ban three years after it was first introduced in view of the low enrolment in engineering and diploma courses. The decision comes in response to the increasing demand for technical education in India and the need to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

As per the new approval handbook issued on Thursday, March 23, AICTE has also scrapped the minimum land requirement measures for starting a new college or running an existing one. During the release of its approval process handbook for 2023-24, the council stated that the moratorium clauses have been relaxed and any interested non-profit society/company/trust can now establish institutions in India in engineering and technology. The moratorium has been lifted. The move will boost core engineering courses, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and electronic, AICTE member secretary Rajive Kumar said.

New candidates will have to register for at least three core engineering courses. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the council via the handbook informed that preference will be given to those colleges or institutions that will offer courses in multi-disciplinary areas in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

AICTE has also relaxed norms for the collaboration of engineering colleges with foreign institutes. It is to be noted that there is no change in the eligibility criteria for candidates seeking admission to engineering courses this year.

AICTE constituted a committee in 2018 which was headed by BVR Mohan Reddy, chairman of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad. The committee was set up to overhaul engineering education in India and to recommend short- and medium-term future plans. The panel of experts was set up after the council saw that seats were lying vacant in several engineering colleges.

The following year, the committee asked the government to put a moratorium on granting approvals to new engineering colleges for two years, which began in 2020, and review the creation of new capacity after every two years. Last year, the ministry of education informed the centre that at least 33 per cent of the sanctioned seats in engineering colleges across India remained vacant in the academic year 2021-22.

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The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) on Wednesday said it prefers the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate programmes to remain an option for colleges and varsities of the country.

Addressing a press conference here, AIU Secretary General Pankaj Mittal said CUET has not been made mandatory yet and AIUs stand is that it should remain voluntary for the universities or colleges willing to opt for the new system.

In our opinion, it is a good system. This was introduced to ease the problems of students, who will now appear only in one exam that is CUET. But I heard that the Government of India has recently said it is optional for a university, she said.

Mittal acknowledged the opposition to the new system for studying degree courses in the Northeast despite a large number of institutions across the nation going for the CUET.

Altogether 206 universities, including 44 central and 33 state varsities, have opted for the CUET so far, up from 90 institutes last year.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) in March last year announced that undergraduate admissions would be conducted in all central universities through a common entrance test and not on the basis of Class 12 marks.

The debut edition of the CUET-UG was conducted in July last year and was marred by glitches, prompting the National Testing Agency to cancel the exam at multiple centres. While several students were informed of cancellation a night before the test, many of them were turned away from centres.

Mittal said the three-day National Conference of Vice Chancellors on Transformative Higher Education for Atmanirbhar Bharat will begin at the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM) here from Thursday.

Around 600 vice-chancellors, including those from foreign varsities, are likely to take part in the conference, which will be inaugurated by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

The 97th Annual General Meet of AIU and its 97th Foundation Day Lecture, to be delivered by Padma Shri awardee and Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Bibek Debroy, will also take place during the programme.

A host of VCs from universities like JNU, IGNOU, Symbiosis International, University of Massachusetts, Bharti Vidyapith, University of Hyderabad, and Directors of IITs, IISc, AICTE, NAAC, ICAR, ACU and IIIT will be joining this mega conference, Mittal said.

Speaking on the occasion, USTM Vice Chancellor Gauri Dutt Sharma said this is for the first time in the Northeast that a private university is organising such a large conference with the participation of domestic and international educationists and policymakers.

Transformation of the education system will be discussed at length during the conference. This holds special significance because India aims to become a world leader in every field by 2047, he added.

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Home Minister Amit Shah touched down in poll-bound Karnataka for back-to-back visits within a span of five days. First on the agenda after Shahs arrival in Bengaluru was breakfast with BSY. A video of his arrival at the former chief ministers residence also unpacked a key aspect of his sons role going forward in the BJP.

Gearing up for elections, Amit Shah touched down in Bengaluru to attend a series of events. He began his day at BJP strongman BS Yediyurappas residence where he held a breakfast meeting with the BJP top brass in the state.

Along with Yediyurappa, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel, partys General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Singh were among those in attendance.

Another key figure present at the breakfast meet was Yediyurappas younger son and partys state Vice-President BY Viayendra. He was spotted serving Amit Shah food during the meet which comes at a significant time as the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the Assembly elections in Karnataka, due by May, in the next few days.

Speculations Over Viayendras Role in BJP

As the party is in the process of finalising candidates for the polls, a video just before the breakfast meeting featuring Viayendra delivered a huge political message.

On Shahs arrival at Yediyurappas residence, the home minister insisted on receiving the flower bouquet from Vijayandra even though BSY was the one holding it first. Shah was seen patting on Vijayendras back while accepting Yediyurappas greetings.

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits former Karnataka CM & BJP leader BS Yediyurappas residence in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/WDD9R3G8fY ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

The move is being seen as Shahs acknowledgement of Vijayendras contribution to the party, and him possibly even contesting in the upcoming Assembly polls.

There were reports earlier that suggested that Yediyurappa was upset as Vijayendra, considered his political heir apparent, was not given any prominent position" in the party. He was not inducted into the cabinet by becoming an MLC, after BSY stepped down as Chief Minister in 2021.

While announcing that he would not contest the Assembly polls, Yediyurappa in the same breath said he would vacate his Shikaripura Assembly seat, from where Vijayendra will contest, if the high command agreed.

Vijayendras elder brother BY Raghavendra is a BJP MP from Shivamogga.

The BJP has fallen back on its seasoned oarsman Yediyurappa making him a key poll mascot, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as it shores up its campaign in poll-bound Karnataka.

Shahs Back-to-Back Visits

Amit Shah had a jam-packed day on Friday and attended the Regional Conference with Southern States and Union Territories on Smuggling of Narcotics and National Security.

Shah will also visit Kommaghatta village on the outskirts of Bengaluru where he will lay the foundation stone for the Sahakara Samruddhi Soudha. He will also inaugurate various other programmes related to the ministry of cooperation.

BJP sources say he will visit the state once again on March 26.

In between Mr Shahs back-to-back visits on March 24 and 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend events in Bengaluru and Davangere on March 25. Shah was in Bidar on March 3 to launch the Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre.

The visits are all part of BJPs attempts to win the electorate of Karnataka to return their government to power again in the upcoming assembly elections.

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New data from a Wuhan market may shed some light on the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, which started approximately three years ago, as per a report in the Atlantic. Many scientists have maintained that this outbreak, like most others, had entirely natural origins. That argument, however, has been lacking a critical piece of evidence: genetic data from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, demonstrating that the virus infected species for sale there, the report says.

An international collaboration of virologists, genomicists, and evolutionary biologists may have discovered critical data to help close that knowledge gap, the report says. According to a fresh examination of genetic sequences acquired from the market, raccoon dogs being unlawfully sold at the venue at the end of 2019 could have been carrying and possibly shedding the virus. Experts told the Atlantic that its some of the strongest evidence yet that the pandemic began when SARS-CoV-2 jumped from animals into humans, rather than by chance among scientists dealing with viruses.

What the New Data Says

The data comes from swabs collected by a Chinese team in January and February 2020 at the Huanan Seafood Market, the site of one of the earliest Covid clusters, before it was shut down and cleared of animals.

International researchers including Florence Debarre, an evolutionary biologist at Frances CNRS research agency, were surprised to come across the data on the GISAID global science database earlier this month. They managed to download the data before it was removed from GISAID at the request of the Chinese researchers who first posted it.

Debarre and colleagues informed the WHO about their discovery last week, when some media outlets started reporting on the datas existence. This week the researchers published a report, which has not been peer-reviewed, saying that DNA from the samples shows that raccoon dogs, palm civets, Amur hedgehogs and bamboo rats were present at the market.

Raccoon dogs, whose closest relatives are foxes, are in particular known to be able to carry and transmit viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2, which causes the Covid disease.

That means they could have acted as an intermediary host between humans and bats, in which Covid is suspected to have originated. Some of the samples containing raccoon dog DNA were also positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Raccoon dogs and masked palm civets have also been detected with viruses that are nearly comparable to the one that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is related to SARS-CoV-2 and triggered a human outbreak in 2003. Furthermore, research on palm-civet cells suggests that the animals could become infected with SARS-CoV-2.

According to research, a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 most likely began in bats, although it is unclear how it spread from bats to humans. Scientists assume an intermediary host was involved, but no clear proof has been found, leading to speculation that the virus may have instead spilled  intentionally or unintentionally  from a laboratory in Wuhan, said a report by Nature.

However because the samples were taken from sites at the market and not directly from the animals, it was not possible to prove the raccoon dogs had Covid. Notably, there was very little human DNA in one of the positive samples, raising the likelihood that it was the raccoon dog that had the virus.

A Piece in the Puzzle

We cannot rigorously demonstrate that the animal was infected, but it is a plausible explanation," Debarre told AFP. Even if it could be proved that the raccoon dogs were infected, it would be difficult to show they gave Covid to humans  and not the other way around.

The data is one additional piece of the puzzle that supports an origin of the pandemic linked to Wuhans animal trade," virologist Connor Bamford of Queens University Belfast told AFP. But it is unlikely to provide irrefutable evidence," he said on The Conversation website.

The Data That Is Missing

There have been increasing calls for all information on the origins of Covid to be publicly released. US President Joe Biden signed a law earlier this week declassifying intelligence material on the subject, after his energy department concluded with low confidence" that the virus probably came from a lab.

That assessment contradicted the conclusion of several other US agencies  but not the FBI. After being informed of the new Huanan samples, the WHO again called on China to release all its data from the early days of the pandemic. These data could have  and should have  been shared three years ago," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said late last week.

Alice Hughes, an expert in biodiversity analytics at the University of Hong Kong, said that some researchers in China had known about the existence of the samples since April 2020.

Hughes told AFP this critically important" information should have been made public earlier, adding that she believed it was very likely that this is the source of spillover of SARS-CoV-2". The authors of the new report said that more data was still missing.

There is absolutely crucial data which sheds light on the start of the pandemic" that the researchers cannot share because its not ours," Debarre said. The more people who look into it, the more we will be able to extract information," she added.

With inputs from AFP

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his Modi surname" remark, in a setback to the Lok Sabha MP who faces the risk of disqualification. LIVE Updates

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code(IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Read what sections 499 and 500 are

Gandhi could have limited his speech to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi, but he intentionally" made a statement that hurt individuals carrying the Modi surname, and thereby committed criminal defamation, the court said in its 168-page order. Gandhi was present in the court when the verdict was pronounced.

What Did the Court Order Say?

In its order, the court noted that the seriousness of the accuseds crime increased because a speech delivered by a member of parliament has a very wide impact on the public." And if the accused is given less punishment, then it sends a wrong message to the public and the purpose of defamation is not fulfilled and anybody will easily slander someone." The court also said the Supreme Court had in the past asked the accused to remain alert in the future after he apologised in a 2018 case for his `chowkidar chor hai remark.

Despite the Supreme Court alerting the accused, there appears to be no change in his conduct." The defamation case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged remarks How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The MP from Wayanad in Kerala had made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019 during the Lok Sabha poll campaign. Purnesh Modi welcomed the verdict. During the hearing on the quantum of sentence, Gandhi, when asked about the punishment, submitted before the court that he had delivered the speech as per his duty in the interest of the public. The Congress leader also submitted that he has no discrimination against anybody and loves and cherishes all the people of his country.

Gandhis lawyer argued for a lesser punishment claiming there was no intention to insult anyone. Gandhi returned from Surat to the national capital in the evening and was accorded a reception at the domestic airport in Delhi on his arrival.

What About His MP Status?

Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term. As the conviction ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections set off a political slugfest and posed another challenge to Gandhi with a bearing on his political future, the Congress said he will file an appeal.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time. P D T Achari, a former Lok Sabha Secretary General and Constitution expert, told PTI if the appellate court stays the conviction and the sentence then the disqualification will remain suspended.

#WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi earlier this evening. Surat District Court held him guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. He was later granted bail. (Video Source: Congress) pic.twitter.com/i0CRbTtyLy  ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

The disqualification will last for eight years (in case he is disqualified)," he said, adding that a disqualified person can neither contest, poll or vote for a certain period.

Sources told PTI that after going through the judgment, the Lok Sabha Secretariat will take a call on issuing a notification announcing a vacancy in the lower house. Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said legal experts will examine the verdict and only after that the government will take a decision on the next step.

What are the Legal Remedies Available to Gandhi?

According to an India Today report, the decision of conviction can be contested before a higher court where the appeal sits within the legal system outlined in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Section 374 of the CrPC allows for appeals from conviction. Rahul Gandhi can so appeal the conviction and sentence to the Sessions Court.

If the Sessions Court does not award relief, the next legal option is to file an appeal with a higher court. If no redress is provided, the Sessions Court order might be challenged in the High Court.

While these matters are pending in the courts, he can seek interim relief in the form of an interim stay of his sentence and bail, says the report.

Along with his appeal, Rahul Gandhi will have to file an application under Section 389 of the CrPC seeking suspension of sentence and conviction.

Section 389 allows the punishment to be suspended pending the appeal and the appellant to be released on bail.

It specifies that while a condemned individual is appealing, the Appellate Court may order that the execution of the sentence or order appealed against be suspended, the report explains.

#WATCH | Delhi: Rahul Gandhi attends the meeting of Congress MPs at the Congress Parliamentary Office in Parliament. Party chief and LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge & UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also present. (Video Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/oyxj3YwPno  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

Gandhi may also petition the Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has broad appellate authority over all courts and tribunals in India under Article 136. The Supreme Court may grant special permission to appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution from any judgement, decision, determination, sentence, or order passed or made by any Court or Tribunal in Indias territory.

Remedies Against Disqualification

A disqualification of an MP convicted of an offence can occur in two ways. First, it must be determined if the crime for which he was condemned is listed in Section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951. This covers particular offences like inciting animosity between two groups, bribery, and undue influence or personation during an election. Defamation is not included on this list, explains a report by Indian Express.

Second, if the legislator is convicted of any other crime but sentenced to two years or more in prison. According to Section 8(3) of the RPA, an MP can be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to no less than two years in prison.

Clause 8(4) additionally says that the disqualification takes effect three months from the date of conviction." Gandhi has 30 days to file an appeal against the sentence with the High Court.

However, while the law formerly provided for a stay of disqualification if an appeal against the conviction was filed with a higher court, in the historic 2013 judgement in Lily Thomas v Union of India, the Supreme Court declared Section 8(4) of the RPA unconstitutional, the report says, adding that this means that simply filing an appeal will not suffice; instead, the convicted MP must get a particular order of stay against the trial courts conviction.

With inputs from PTI

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News / National

by Staff reporter

ZIMBABWE'S gold markets were overrun this week by fears that the recently announced steep increase of 400% in gold dealing licence fees would result in a sharp rise in smuggling of the precious mineral.Several estimates have indicated that up to US$100 million was being spirited out of the domestic market monthly, through smuggling.Announcing this week's hikes, Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube said on Monday gold dealing licencing fees would be pegged at US$200 000, from US$5 000.There has already been a backlash from small scale players, who argued that the reviews were meant to push them out, giving space to only big and politically connected dealers.But players warned that hikes in dealership licences will not address fundamental issues affecting the industry.They warned that Zimbabwe should, instead, brace for a rise in smuggling cases of the metal."It is hereby notified that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, in terms of Section 19 of the Gold Trade Actmade the following regulationsThe Gold Trade (License Fees) Notice 1987, published in Rhodesia Government Notice 256 of 1978 is amended by the repeal of paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 and the substitution of Gold dealing Licence US$200 000," Ncube said.Mining expert Innocent Nicks said steep hikes in dealership fees would see the emergence of monopolies."The fee is exorbitant and is beyond the reach of many people," Nicks told the Independent."What it means is that a few will determine gold prices in the industry, hence a monopoly."But Zimbabwe Miners Federation chief executive officer Wellington Takavarasha said the steep rise will only affect gold exporters."The increase only affects those who are in the business of exporting gold, local gold buyers are not affected," Takavarasha said in an interview.A Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe source said there had been confusion in the market and the correct position was that it was the gold dealer licence that changed while the gold buying licence fee remained the same."Kindly note that the dealership licence and gold buying licence are different," the source said."A dealing licence allows you to export gold to your account, while a gold buying licence allows someone to buy gold in the country and deliver it to Fidelity. So, the operational costs up to the delivery of gold to Fidelity will not be affected. Currently, Fidelity and a few others have the dealership licences to export gold," the source said.Mines deputy minister Polite Kambamura did not respond to questions sent to him when this publication sought to understand the rationale behind the increase in the licence fees.According to reports, government recently noted the need to cascade the benefits being derived in gold mining to the lower levels of society through the licencing fees strategy.The mining sector recorded significant growth last year with a total of 35 280kg of gold delivered to Fidelity Printers and Refinery.Fidelity is the official buyer of all gold produced in Zimbabwe.It has projected gold deliveries to reach 40 tonnes in 2023, mainly due to new gold mining projects coming into production.Fidelity general manager Peter Magaramombe said: "There is nothing wrong with government raising money through hiking these dealing fees. We have no problem at all as we are in full support of government initiatives".
The News: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha. This comes after a court in Surat sentenced him to two years in jail in a defamation case on Thursday, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" You can find latest updates on this story here

What Now? There are some legal remedies available to Rahul Gandhi. Read more on that here. Now, after his disqualification, lets explore some of the legal options that Gandhis legal team may take.

What Does Rahuls Legal Team Say? During the hearing on the quantum of sentence, Gandhi, when asked about the punishment, submitted before the court that he had delivered the speech as per his duty in the interest of the public. The Congress leader also submitted that he has no discrimination against anybody and loves and cherishes all the people of his country.

Gandhis lawyer argued for a lesser punishment claiming there was no intention to insult anyone. Gandhi returned from Surat to the national capital in the evening and was accorded a reception at the domestic airport in Delhi on his arrival.

Sources told News18 that main points of Rahuls legal teams arguments:

They said the order of the Magistrate court has been ridden with errors.

They also aim to argue that Representation of Peoples Act is aimed to curb the criminalisation of politics, and that criminal defamation is being used as a political tool. They add that the spirit of the RPA, 1951 has been defeated.

According to them, a maximum sentence has been handed in criminal defamation against Rahul, with no cogent reasons.

What Legal Options for Rahul Gandhi? Experts told CNN-News18 that Rahul has some legal options:

The leader can move a sessions court or higher That he must seek a stay on his conviction through appeal Read a detailed report on the legal remedies available to Rahul Gandhi here

What Has Happened in Similar Cases? Lets take a look at similar cases where leaders have been granted relief after conviction from disqualification.

Mohammad Faizal: On January 13, two days after being convicted in an attempt-to-murder case by the Kavaratti District Court in Lakshadweep, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification disqualifying Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal. The court convicted four people, including Faizal, to ten years in prison and fined them each Rs one lakh for attempting to murder the son-in-law of late Congress politician and former Union Minister PM Sayeed Mohammed Salih during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The conviction, however, was suspended by the Kerala High Court on January 25. The Election Commission also decided to postpone the byelection for the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha constituency, which was scheduled for February 27, as per an Indian Express report.

Azam Khan: On October 27, 2022, a Rampur MP-MLA court presided over by additional chief judicial magistrate Nishant Maan found Samajwadi Party politician Azam Khan guilty of hate speech in a 2019 case and sentenced him to three years in prison. The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat announced Khans removal from the House a day later.

Vikram Saini: Over a month after a Muzaffarnagar special MP-MLA court convicted BJP MLA Vikram Saini to two years in prison for his alleged role in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly issued a notification on November 7, 2022, declaring his Khatauli Assembly seat vacant. The notice stated that the seat would be regarded vacant as of October 11, the day Saini was sentenced to prison, the report says.

Addressing the 2024 Question: Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra told CNN-News18 that the only option Rahul has to be able to fight the 2024 elections is to challenge his conviction. After seeking a stay on his conviction, he could approach the Lok Sabha speaker asking him to put his disqualification order under abeyance until the deciding of his appeal, Luthra said. If the conviction is not stayed, he will not be able to fight the 2024 polls.

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China insisted Friday it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas, as the Chinese-owned TikTok faces mounting calls for a ban in the United States. Pressure is building on the massively popular video-sharing app  owned by the Chinese firm Bytedance  to obtain new ownership or lose access to the enormous US market.

In a gruelling five-hour hearing with US lawmakers Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced relentless questioning from combative US lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle over the apps ties to China and its danger to teens.

What Happened in the Hearing?

Chew spent most of the hearing attempting to push back assertions that TikTok, or its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, are tools of the Chinese government, the Associated Press reported. But he failed to answer uncomfortable questions about human rights abuses committed by China against the Uyghurs, and seemed taken aback by a TikTok video displayed by one lawmaker that advocated for violence against the House committee holding the hearing.

Chew attempted to persuade lawmakers not to pursue a ban on the app or force Chinese parent company ByteDance to give up its ownership stake, testifying that TikTok prioritizes the safety of young users. He says the company plans to store all U.S. user data on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle.

Amid the developments, lets take a look at who Shou Zi Chew is:

Under Chews helm, TikTok reached 150 million users in the U.S., the majority of them teens and young adults who are attracted to the apps simple interface and addictive algorithm that serves up short videos on just about any imaginable topic.

Background

Chew, 40, is a native of Singapore, where he lives with his wife, Vivian Kao, and their two children. He graduated in 2006 from University College London and worked for two years at Goldman Sachs before moving to the U.S. to pursue a masters degree at Harvard Business School. Chew had a two-year internship with Facebook, according to an Associated Press report.

After earning his MBA, he became a partner at venture capital firm DST Global, where he worked for five years and helped facilitate investment in the company that became ByteDance. He then worked for five years at Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone company, before being appointed TikTok CEO in 2021, replacing Kevin Mayer, a former Disney executive. Chew reports to ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo.

Reputation

According to the Associated Press, the US public knows relatively little about Chew compared with Silicon Valley social media giants such as Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, said Brooke Erin Duffy, who studies social media platforms as an associate professor of communications at Cornell University.

Chew has been in the background on public discourse until now, so he doesnt have the same reputation we would associate with the Silicon Valley set, especially Zuckerberg, Duffy said. Most Americans likely first heard of Chew when he released a video this week speaking directly to TikToks U.S. users, she said, so he doesnt have the same reputation as someone we know, and (we) dont have sense of who he is.

But Chew is well-respected within the U.S. and China tech communities, and was considered a good fit for TikTok because of his background in investment banking and his time at Facebook and DST Global, said Dan Ives, managing director of New York-based Wedbush Securities.

He gained a lot of respect just by taking that high risk, in-the-hot seat role at TikTok, Ives said, adding that the company likely thought he was the right person to ease tensions with U.S. lawmakers.

HOW DID HE DO IN HIS TESTIMONY?

Chews decision to emphasize TikToks reach in the U.S. might have backfired, and actually strengthened U.S. lawmakers argument that TikTok poses a threat to both national security and young people, Jasmine Enberg, a social media analyst at Insider Intelligence told the Associated Press. Enberg said there was little Chew could say to convince lawmakers that TikTok is not monitored or influenced in some way by the Chinese government.

Ives said Chews testimony was always going to be fraught, but his lack of concrete answers about data access and security was a disaster and likely set the stage for a ban.

It was a perfect storm and lawmakers were ready, Ives said.

But Shelly Palmer, a professor of advanced media at Syracuse University who studies social network business models, said Chew did the best he could given the grilling he received from lawmakers who in my opinion were not actually listening" but instead were grandstanding.

I dont think he has the ability, because of who he is and what he does, to be satisfying to this audience, said Palmer, adding that he believed Chews answers were not unlike those given by CEOs from U.S.-based social media companies who have been questioned in the past about privacy.

Associated Press, AFP contributed to this report.

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As many as 14 opposition parties, led by the Congress, moved the Supreme Court on Friday alleging the arbitrary use of central probe agencies against political opponents. The Supreme Court has agreed to list the case for hearing on April 5.

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took note of senior advocate AM Singhvis submissions. Singhvi will appear for several opposition parties such as the AAP, DMK, RJD, Bharat Rashtra Samiti and the Trinamool Congress. The SC bench confirmed that the plea would be heard on April 5.

Through the plea, several opposition parties are seeking guidelines for pre- and post-arrest that should be followed by central probe agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

Ninety five per cent cases are against opposition leaders. We are asking for pre-arrest guidelines and post-arrest guidelines," Singhvi said. The counsel also clarified that they are not attempting to affect ongoing investigations.

The SC bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala responded and said, We will list it on April 5."

Oppn Plea After Rahul Gandhis Conviction

The plea by a united opposition comes a day after a court at Surat in Gujarat on Thursday sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his why all thieves have a Modi surname" remark.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma, which held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500 (dealing with defamation), also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

United Attack Over Misusing Central Agencies

Several opposition leaders including Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal slammed the BJP government over misusing central agencies soon after a two-year jail term was announced for Rahul Gandhi.

The AAP has maintained that agencies such as the CBI and ED have been misused by the BJP government to target opposition leaders. This also comes against the backdrop of the arrest of two of the partys leaders  Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Former Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

Even parties like the Trinamool Congress have rallied behind this claim. Earlier this month, the West Bengal assembly passed a motion against the misuse of central agencies" for targeting the Trinamool Congress.

Several Trinamool leaders and ministers have been arrested by Central agencies recently for their alleged involvement in scams and corruption cases.

(With Inputs from Agencies)

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Old friends, including a reporter, are among those who are helping Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh dodge central intelligence agencies and police of several states since almost a week.

According to sources, Punjab Police have prepared a list of Singhs supporters spread across North India, including in Delhi, where his aides have been identified and are under the scanner.

It is likely that Singh may hide in Delhi, apart from Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh. However, agencies are unable to track his exact location due to frequent changes to his mobile and it is suspected that he is using an old feature phone.

The sources said very few supporters are aware of Singhs exact location and he is forced to change his hiding spot every 12 hours.

The Khalistan sympathisers aides who have been arrested told the police that they were unable to track his journey and were only aware of his stay. They were asked to accommodate Singh but no other details were shared with them.

According to an intelligence official, Singhs local support who has been extending him all help is a small-time reporter identified as Papalpreet. Sources said Papalpreet took Singh from Punjab and dropped him in Haryana, also arranging his stay in Baljit Kaurs house in Kurukshetra. Punjab Police have spotted the reporter with Singh several times.

Punjab Police have also picked up Singhs old insurance agent from Delhis Tilak Nagar area.

Agencies suspect that Singh may have moved to Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh and the local police of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh have been alerted.

Meanwhile, central agencies are busy tracking the fugitives decade-old movements to Thailand.

Singh, along with his aide Daljit Singh Kalsi, visited Thailand 18 times in 13 years, intelligence officials have said.

The immigration bureau, which comes under the Intelligence Bureau (IB), tracked his journey to Thailand, sources told News18. Agencies have said an investigation is needed to ascertain whether Singh was involved in some kind of prostitution or if his multiple visits were because of his personal relationships.

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In the latest development on the ongoing crackdown against radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, Punjab Police has decided to release persons who had a minimum role in his criminal activities. Police said that at least 44 persons would be released soon, who were arrested in the operation against Amritpal Singh.

Earlier on Thursday, Police had arrested one Tejinder Singh Gill, said to be a close aide of the pro-Khalistani leader, who was also a member of Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF). During the investigation, he revealed that all members of the AKF were assigned belt numbers like AKF 3, AKF 56 and were given martial and weapon training, including firing practice.

Punjab Police have decided to release those persons who have a minimum role or were just following #AmritpalSingh on religious sentiments only, tells ADGP Law & Order pic.twitter.com/8ukTAbpNS7 Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) March 24, 2023

The notification released by police on Friday said that after the release of 44 persons, more persons will minimum role will be released subsequently. CM Punjab has given clear instructions to not harass any innocent persons during the operation," it read.

Fugitive Amritpal Singh addressed five gatherings in 10 days across Punjab, inciting hundreds of Sikhs to get ready for the ultimate sacrifice" for the cause, before the police crackdown on his outfit earlier this month, officials said on Friday.

The radical preachers activities showed his methodical efforts to disturb peace in the state, they claimed.

During his speeches and sermons, he coaxed at least 1,000 people to remain prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice" and alleged that the government was leaving no stone unturned in its quest to disarm Sikhs by revoking their weapons licences, a PTI report said.

Amritpal Singh, who took over as Waris Punjab De chief after its founder actor-activist Deep Sindhus death last year, is on the run after police launched a massive crackdown on March 18 in the state and arrested several of his supporters.

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Amritpal Singh News Updates: While the search for Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh is still on, police have arrested another associate of the absconding fugitive from the national capital. The Delhi Police along with the Punjab Police held Amit Singh, an insurance agent, from Tilak Vihar on Tuesday.

Police in Haryana also arrested a 28-year-old MBA degree holder unemployed woman and handed her over to Punjab Police for allegedly sheltering fugitive and Khalistani ideologue Amritpal and his accomplice Pappal Preet Singh at her house in Shahabad town in Kurukshetra district.

According to a media report, the separatist leader lived a seamy life, where he chatted with multiple women - single and married and had extramarital affairs. According to a report by India Today TV, Amritpal Singh chatted with multiple women - single and married, on social media, and blackmailed them with their obscene videos.

The radical preacher is on the run after the Punjab Police arrested several of his supporters in a major crackdown that began weeks after the storming of the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate.

Latest Development In Amritpal Singh Case:

Police arrested four people on Thursday, a day after a rally was taken out in Chhattisgarhs capital Raipur by a group of people allegedly in support of wanted pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh, an official said.

Based on the examination of CCTV footage and video clips of the statements given by people involved in the rally, a first information report (FIR) was registered at Civil Lines police station here, Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Prasant Agrawal told PTI.

Four Raipur residents, identified as Diler Singh Randhawa (46), Manindarjeet Singh alias Mintu Sandhu (40), Harinder Singh Khalsa (44) and Harpreet Singh Randhawa alias Chintu (42), were arrested for allegedly taking out a foot march in support of Amritpal Singh, he said.

The four have been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquillity), SSP Agrawal said, adding that further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Britain-origin newlywed Kirandeep Kaur, wife Amritpal Singh, is now on the Punjab Police radar for raising funds abroad for the radical outfit Waris Punjab De that her spouse is heading.

Shes currently residing in Jallupur Khera, the native village of Amritpal Singh in Amritsar district. She has been questioned several times by police for her role in supporting the organisation that was formed by actor-activist late Deep Sidhu.

The self-styled preacher, who returned from Dubai last year, tied the knot in a simple ceremony in February. A police team, comprising women officers, questioned Kirandeep Kaur in her husbands native place for nearly an hour in connection with alleged foreign funding for the activities of Amritpal Singh. Official sources said that the police have also scanned the bank accounts of Amritpal, his wife and his parents to trace sources of funds.

Amritpal Singh, against whom the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked and a non-bailable warrant issued, has been on the run despite the massive manhunt launched to nab him since March 18.

Police said efforts are on to trace Amritpal Singh. A lookout circular and a non-bailable warrant have been issued against the Khalistan sympathiser.

The motorcycle on which Amritpal Singh fled has been found by the police. The police have also seized the Mercedes car in which Amritpal Singh fled after the crackdown.

Punjab Police Thursday also flagged a cross-border link and involvement of Amritpal Singh in anti-national" activities as it sounded an alert about the fugitive Khalistan preacher in all the states.

As it happened, a part of a CCTV footage surfaced showing Amritpal wearing a shirt and trousers while holding an umbrella in Haryanas Shahabad to hide from police.

Punjab Police had earlier arrested a man who was allegedly part of the private security setup of pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh. Tejinder Singh Gill, a resident of Mangewal village in the Khanna area of Ludhiana district, was deputed to the security of Amritpal Singh, said Khanna Deputy Superintendent of Police (Payal) Harsimrat Singh.

Addressing the media, Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said that in their questioning of Tejinder Singh Gill, police got some sensitive material from him which indicate that they were involved in anti-national" activities.

There is a strong suspicion that Amritpal had a cross-border link too, said the IG.

"At some places, there were videos which show that they were doing firing practice near Jallupur Khera in a firing range. Some footage and pictures show that they have made holograms of Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF). There were some videos of loading and unloading weapons," Gill said.

Gill said that they have circulated photos of Amritpal with police forces across the country. He said some associates close to Amritpal were part of the AKF, which indicates that, though very preliminary, he was trying to build some type of armed force.

"As far as prime accused Amritpal Singh goes, his route is being tracked regularly by the state police," Gill said.

At one place near a gurdwara in Ludhiana, they took a bike and tried to find a boat to cross the river. When they did not find one, they crossed a bridge near Ladhowal and even went near the Ladhowal railway station, he said.

Asked if the Uttarakhand Police have been alerted about Amritpal, Gill said, As soon as we came to know he has gone out of Punjab, we immediately alerted other states too."

Asked how he managed to flee Punjab, Gill said he has changed his appearance, disguised himself behind shades and used different modes of travel.

The IG said so far 207 persons have been detained in the matter, out of whom, 30 are hardcore criminals. The remaining 177 will be released after verification, he said, citing the example of the RPG Mohali attack last year, in which some juveniles who had a very limited connecting role, were let off with warning.

In the chats reviewed by India Today, Singh was reportedly heard saying he wants casual relationships with women and nothing serious. In one of the videos, Singh reportedly talks about a woman who is willing to have an affair with him as long as her marriage is not affected.

On Instagram, the separatist leader has a long list of women followers whom he regularly messages. In one of the chats, Singh wrote to a woman: So our extramarital is confirmed? (sic), to which he replied, Our honeymoon will be in Dubai."

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Worried about alleged forced religious conversions in rural Maharashtra, BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar has demanded an anti-conversion law in the Legislative Council. He requested the government to take the cases seriously and prevent forced conversions.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Padalkar said that for the past few months, the Hindu Garjana group has been organising protests across the state against so-called love jihad, and alleged cow slaughter.

We have heard of love jihad incidents in urban areas. But the cases are happening in my Aatpadi village in Sangli district too. A patient who came for treatment was forced to convert and the video went viral, he claimed.

The BJP MLC further claimed that a boy from the Hindu Walmiki community was forced to convert in Daund tehsil. When the boy refused, he was allegedly forcefully circumcised, Padalkar said.

Initially, the police did not take action. However, his wife Samina Qureshi made a complaint and said Hindu women are converted at a large scale. Now Qureshi has been booked but his supporters are still roaming free. He has even beaten up Saminas sister for the complaint. This is a very dangerous trend, the MLC said.

These incidents are repeatedly happening and Hindus are being targeted for forced conversions and women are being victimised under love jihad. I request the government to have a strict law to prevent these, Padalkar said.

In response, deputy chief minister Fadnavis said the state government had taken serious cognisance of the sentiments of people who are participating across the state in rallies held by the Hindu Jan Jagruti Morcha. He added that prima facie there was a design behind the alleged love jihad cases in the state. He announced that the state government was thinking of a legal solution for this issue.

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Khalistan sympathiser and fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh had set up a temporary shooting range at his native village Jallupur Khera in Punjabs Amritsar district, where he was training his aides for setting up his militia, the Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF). The Waris Punjab De chief had been targeting drug addicts and rogue ex-servicemen to help him build a gang that could be easily transformed into a terrorist outfit, according to police.

According to Punjab police, at the temporary shooting range set up on the banks of a river in Amritpals native village, the Khalistani leader was training youth in handling and loading firearms to recruit them in the AKF.

ALSO READ: Amritpal, Aide Daljit Visited Thailand 18 Times in 13 Years, Say Officials, as Agencies Pursue Separatist

The development came after police scanned the mobile phone recovered from Amritpals gunman Tejinder Singh Gill aka Gorkha Baba, who was arrested by the Khanna police on Thursday morning.

What We Know About Amritpals Anandpur Khalsa Fauj So Far:

Giving details of his journey and plans that he was likely to execute at the behest of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), police officials said Amritpal Singh, upon his return from Dubai, started a drug de-addiction centre at his village Jallupur Kehra in Punjabs Amritsar district.

In a simultaneous operation, he along with his men started looking for ex-servicemen who had been retired from the Army for bad behaviour so that they could be used for imparting arms training.

Immediately after his return last year and he taking over the Waris Punjab De outfit after the death of actor-activist Deep Sidhu, Amritpal Singh had a cover of two private security officers, and by early this year, the number had gone up to 16.

The surprising part was that seven of his personal security officers were youngsters, who had joined his drug de-addiction centre for rehabilitation, the officials said, adding that during their stay there for treatment they had been imparted training.

The youngsters, admitted at the de-addiction centre, were brainwashed and pushed towards gun culture and also incited to choose the path of slain terrorist Dilawar Singh, who blew himself up and killed former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, they said.

Targeting rogue ex-servicemen was beneficial for the pro-Khalistan preacher as they already had arms licences which could help his organisation to evade the law, the officials said.

Two such ex-servicemen, identified as Varinder Singh of the 19 Sikhs and Talwinder Singh of the 3rd Armoured Punjab, were instrumental in providing arms training to the youngsters, who were addicted to drugs, they said.

The licences were cancelled by the administration subsequently and Varinder Singh was arrested while Taliwinder Singh is still at large, the officials said.

According to Inspector general of police (IGP-headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill, pictures and videos recovered from Babas phone indicate Amritpal and his groups plan to foment trouble in Punjab.

Police have also received holograms of the AKF from Baba. The videos are enough to show how big a threat they would have become for the national security and peace and harmony of Punjab, said the IGP headquarters.

The format and design of Khalistani dollar and videos of youths learning the use of hi-tech guns have also been found in Babas phone, according to police

Security agencies had raised a red flag after intelligence inputs suggested that Amritpal Singh was using drug de-addiction centres and a gurudwara for stocking weapons besides preparing youngsters to carry out suicide attacks.

The radical leader is alleged to have also been involved in the murder of Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri last year.

A thick dossier prepared with inputs from various security agencies claimed that Amritpal Singh was mainly engaged in preparing the youngsters to become Khadkoos (terrorists).

During the investigation, arms and ammunition meant for the so-called Anandpur Khalsa Fauj, along with uniforms and jackets were also seized.

As per the police, the weapons and ammunition seized from the radical Sikh preachers car also bore AKF markings on it.

The officials said weapons were being stored in several of de-addiction centres run by Waris Punjab De as well as at the Jallupur Khera Gurdwara in Amritsar.

The preacher is on the run after the Punjab Police arrested several of his supporters in a major crackdown that began weeks after the storming of the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate. The episode had raised fears over the possibility of the return of Khalistani militancy to the state that borders Pakistan.

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A single judge bench of the Bombay High Court recently observed that a child aged 3.5 years cannot be expected to give an exact description of her private parts, while upholding a conviction in a POCSO case.

A little girl of 3.5 years, who is not even introduced to her own organs, cannot be expected to give an exact description of her private parts but in her statement recorded u/s 164, she has categorically said she was touched at the toilet place When she deposed before the court, she clearly stated that a finger was put in her private part as a result of which a lot of blood gushed out. She was surely not in a position to exactly describe the incident, on account of her simplicity and purity, not yet spoiled by mundane affairs, the court, comprising Justice Bharati Dangre, observed.

A plea was filed against the order of a special court convicting the accused under Section 6 (penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act and Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code.

Justice Dangre observed that the girl could not be protected from the sexual offence but the wheels of justice have turned in her favour.

Though the little girl could not be protected from the sexual offence committed upon her, the wheels of justice have been turned to her by convicting the appellant for the wrong that he has done, resulting into a trauma which has remained unexpressed but may leave a long lasting impact upon her and by imposing adequate sentence, the bench noted.

The case pertains to an incident that took place when the child was playing with her siblings and her mother was around as well. The accused took her inside the house and inserted a finger inside her private parts due to which she started bleeding. The girl rushed to her mother and went to the toilet, but was unable to urinate and touched her private part while shouting in pain and agony.

The mother noticed blood oozing out and when she asked her what had happened, she told her that the accused had put his finger inside the place from where she urinated.

Soon, the parents took the girl to the hospital and an FIR was filed. The court, while upholding the sentence of rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and fine of Rs 25,000, said that, It cannot be expected from a little girl, barely four years old, to focus on the photograph and identify the person, specifically as a child of that age may not be able to focus on a point due to underlying anxiety or being distracted by external stimuli. In the case of this girl, the stressful situation she was facing may also be one of its causes, the order read.

Further, the HC also observed that, There is no reason to disbelieve the victim girl as she has deposed before the court and attributed the specific act to the accused and the girl is relatively ingenuous, not capable of understanding the consequences of the act to which she has fallen prey and that it amounts to an offence. There is no reason why the victim girl has attributed the act of sexual violence to the accused and there is also no reason why the mother should tutor the child of tender age to be a participant in such a churlish act about which she complained, the order stated.

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The Mumbai Police on Thursday reportedly renewed preventive orders in the city until April 8. Mumbai Police, in the order, said that there is likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquility. Meanwhile, an official said that it was a regular preventive order issued at regular intervals.

The order, issued by issued by Vishal Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mumbai Police, said that based on the information received from various sources, it is apprehended that there is likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquility and also there is grave danger to human lives and loss of properties, as per Mid-day.

On that account, it is considered expedient to issue prohibitory order for restricting movement and unlawful assembly of five or more persons for prevention of breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquility and danger to human lives and loss of properties and to prevent any kind of riot or (affray) in the areas under the control of Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, the order said, as per the Mid-day report.

It is a regular preventive order for the city which is issued on regular intervals," an official said, as per the report.

As per the order, the police prohibits assembly of five or more persons, any procession and use of loudspeakers, amplifying instruments, musical band and bursting of crackers in any procession, starting 00.01 hours on March 25 and ending at 24.00 hours on April 8, throughout Mumbai.

The order also listed the exemptions to the prohibitions. These include marriage ceremonies and matrimonial functions, funeral assemblies and processions on the way to crematoriums/burial places, among others.

Statutory meetings of companies, clubs, co-operative societies, other societies and associations and social gatherings and meeting of clubs, co-operative societies, other societies and associations to transact their normal business are also exempted, as per the report.

Assemblies in or around cinema houses, theatres or any place of public amusement for the purpose of watching films, dramas or performances and assemblies in or around courts of law, local bodies and government offices will also be allowed.

Furthermore, the exemptions include assemblies in or around schools, colleges and other educational institutions for academic activities, and assemblies in factories and shops for normal business.

Such other assemblies and the processions as may be permitted by Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police, Mumbai and their supervisory officers, the order states.

The police said that notwithstanding the expiration of this order after the period here mentioned above, any investigation or legal proceeding may be instituted, continued or enforced, as per the report.

Any penalty, forfeiture of punishments incurred in respect of any contravention of this order may be imposed as if this order had not expired, it said.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

ZIMBABWE'S power utility Zesa Holdings Ltd says it plans to build a gas-fired power station as it prepares for a potential find by Australia Stock Exchange-listed resources junior Invictus Energy, which is exploring for oil and gas in the country.After failing to strike a find during its first round of test well drilling in Zimbabwe's Cabora Bassa oil and gas fields last year, Invictus said this week it was raving up exploration on the 2 000-hectare claims located near Mahuwe in Mbire.In a separate prospectus sent to investors this week, Invictus said it had secured firm offtake agreements for its gas.However, the firm did not say if Zesa had signed up for such deals.In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent on the sidelines of the fourth International Renewable Energy Conference and Expo on Wednesday, Zesa consultant Cletus Nyachowe said they were already scouting for requisite technologies to set up the facility.The conference, a product of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), took place in the resort town of Victoria Falls."There are proven gas resources in Mozambique," Nyachowe told the Independent. "We are interconnected with Mozambique. So, there is scope for us, as Zesa, collaborating with our partners in Mozambique to exploit these resources for the production of power stations. It takes much less to deploy a gas power station than a large-scale hydro."It is an opportunity that we should look at as a country. And obviously, you know about the Muzarabani (Invictus project) gas exploration."They (Invictus Energy) haven't announced a find, but we shouldn't get to a situation where the gas is announced and we are not ready for investing in gas power stations," he added.Work already taking place behind the scenes includes identifying the right technologies and exploring the frameworks within which to set up a gas-fired facility.The firm was also looking for related transmission lines for such facilities, according to Nyachowe."There are a lot of issues (to consider)," he said. "For instance, over what distance are you transporting the gas, the pipeline costs and so forth. But for a 2 500 megawatts (MW) power station, we will be looking at slightly over US$4 billion as a guide."Zimbabwe's economy is currently battling a dire power crisis stemming from old facilities at the country's thermal power plants.Prolonged droughts have also affected water levels at Lake Kariba, where Zimbabwe operates the 1 050MW Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station.In the past few months, the economy has been hit by blackouts of up to 18 hours a day, as authorities struggle to pay for imports.Industries say up to US$4 billion could be lost this year as a result of the power crisis.Alternatives like gas-fired power stations would be vital to address the crisis, according to experts.Already, Zimbabwe has lined up several mini hydro and solar power projects to ameliorate power shortages.Reports this week said even after failing to strike gas or oil last year, Invictus was confident that the Mukuyu-1 and side-track (ST-1) test wells, which were drilled last year, bore several gas zones.The company stopped further drilling in January this year, citing "unsuitable" and "not feasible" conditions.Invictus has reportedly identified 13 potential hydro-carbon-bearing zones at its Mukuyu-1.Managing director Scott Macmillan has revealed that preparations for Mukuyu-2 appraisal test well had commenced and drilling was expected to start in the third quarter of this year.The firm, which is hoping to make Zimbabwe's first oil find, said it would use what it learnt from the Mukuyu-1/ST-1 well as it moves forward.The firm said Exalo Rig 202 remained warm stacked at the Mukuyu-1 wellsite, with planned upgrades and maintenance to commence in April following the end of the wet season and prior to mobilisation to the Mukuyu-2 wellsite.The four-day conference, whose theme is "Managing The Future  Clean Energy Possibilities", is being attended by top energy experts, financiers, green energy entrepreneurs and investors, among others.
Not just tough terrains and harsh conditions, Indias frontline workers were forced to battle rigid mindsets as they reached out to the remotest corners of the country to vaccinate the humongous population against the fast-spreading Covid-19 pandemic.

Detailing one such experience, History TV18s new documentary titled The Vial  Indias Vaccine Story, revealed how residents of Malana in Himachal Pradesh were hesitant of the vaccine but efforts of healthcare workers and the district administration ensured they were brought under the suraksha kavach of the vaccine.

A village in Parvati Valley, Malana is still not accessible by road but the challenge was far greater. The residents of the village claim they are the descendants of Alexander the Great and thus their culture is very different. They have belief in their local deities and view outsiders with suspicion.

Narrating the experience, Ashutosh Garg, Deputy Commissioner of Kullu district, said: We realised we were lagging behind in Malana so the entire team, including district administration and health officers, decided to visit the village and have a discussion with people. Residents of Malana are not very receptive to outsiders and we were no exception. However, after some help from the local panchayat, we convinced them to at least come and listen to us. Once two-three people got vaccinated, a queue soon built up and 700 people were inoculated on Day 1 of the drive. Our motto was that no one should get left behind.

Several such instances are a part of the 60-minute documentary narrated by actor Manoj Bajpayee which reveals the countrys success in developing, manufacturing and delivering the Covid-19 vaccine in unprecedented timelines.

The Vial  Indias Vaccine Story, which premiered on History TV18 at 8pm on Friday, also features interviews of vaccine manufacturers  Adar Poonawala, CEO of Serum Institute of India, and Dr Krishna Ella, chairman of Bharat Biotech  among others.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modis parliamentary constituency  Varanasi (Kashi)  is set to get the worlds third ropeway public transport system.

On Friday, during his visit to Kashi, PM Modi laid the foundation of Kashis much talked about ropeway project, the estimated cost of which is about Rs 645 crore. Officials with Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) said the launch of the project, would not only make Kashi the first city in India to have ropeway public transport, but will also make India, the third country in the world after Bolivia and Mexico to have this urban transit system .

THIRD IN THE WORLD TO GET TRANSIT SYSTEM

In Bolivia, the service labeled La PazEl Alto Cable Car, an aerial cable car urban transit system serving the La Paz-EL Alto metropolitan area in Bolivia, was inaugurated in 2019.

In Mexico, the service named Medicable that operates in Ecatepec de Morelos in Greater Mexico City was inaugurated on October 4, 2016.

FIVE STATIONS

The ropeway system will cover five stations, facilitating ease of movement and travel for tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varanasi.

The construction of the ropeway will ease the path of devotees going to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. Anurag Tripathi, project director, National Highways Logistics Pvt Ltd, said that India would be the third country in the world after Bolivia and Mexico City to have a ropeway for public transport.

SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC JAMS

The Kashi ropeway project or Kashi cable car project is also said to be a foolproof solution to traffic jams, bracketed among Kashis perennial problem. Abhishek Goyal, Vice-President, Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), the construction agency in Kashi ropeway project, said in the first phase, the length of the entire project would be around 3.75km. It would operate from Cantonment area to Godowlia area in Kashi.

Initially, around 150 cable cars would be pressed into service. The cable cars would also serve as an alternative transport to tourists alighting at the Varanasi Junction in Cantonment area and would ferry them to Godowlia from where they can visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple or Dashashwamedh Ghat, without affecting citys traffic, officials with VDA said.

People hailed the project and said the project would surely be a boon in streamlining the citys derailed traffic movement. Currently, the city is grappling with traffic jams, which is a common scene at almost every crossing of the city. However, the cable car project sounds viable. Not only tourists, but even locals would use the transport system as it will also reduce the journey time, said Rajesh Kumar, a local who hails from Godowlia, one of the most crowded areas of Varanasi.

OTHER INITIATIVES

PM Modi also launched a development project worth Rs 1,780 crore and addressed the One World TB Summit to mark World Tuberculosis Day. He launched various initiatives, including the TB-free panchayat initiative, rollout shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) countrywide and a family-centric care model for TB, and released Indias annual TB Report 2023.

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In a rare occurrence, a massive tornado hit the Bukainwala village in Punjabs Fazilka on Friday, destroying over 50 homes in the area. Besides, 10 people were injured in an area of 3 sq km. Out of those injured, two were sent to Faridkot medical college, while the rest were sent to Abohar civil hospital.

According to an Indian Express report, the tornado crossed over to the Pakistan side and was visible from several villages. The tornado appeared suddenly in the sky around 4 pm and caused extensive damage to the area," said Pardeep Singh, one of the villagers.

A video of the incident was widely shared on social media, in which strong winds could be seen as a result of the tornado making rounds around several villages.

One of the closest video of tornado from Bakainwala, Fazilka, PunjabJust listen the roar of twisting winds of tornado like jet passing by#Punjabtornado #Tornado #Indiaweather #Tornadoindia pic.twitter.com/GR3fm1WYCC  Sahil Bhatt (@SahilBhatt_) March 24, 2023

Deputy commissioner of Fazilka, Senu Duggal said, The damage was extensive in the village, and we are assessing the exact loss of houses and other property." Apart from people, several animals were also injured in the storm.

The Malwa districts of Punjab, such as Fazilka, Bathinda, and Muktsar, are known for heavy storms. However, such a massive tornado is a rarity.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case. Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat, Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of the lower house from the date of his conviction." the notification read.

As per the provision, now the Congress leader will have to vacate his official residence. This order was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday and was signed by Secretary General, Lok Sabha.

Congress Reaction

Reacting to Gandhis disqualification, the Congress said it will fight the battle both legally and politically".

We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the action against Gandhi and by its rapidity. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Tharoor said in a tweet.

Defending Gandhis disqualification, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice S P S Baghel termed it as lawful" and asserted that everyone is equal before law".

He also noted that a BJP MLA was also recently disqualified in Uttar Pradesh following his conviction in a criminal case.

Defamation Case

Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged Modi surname remark in 2019.

Gandhi was convicted under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500. The maximum possible punishment under this section is two years.

BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remark.

(With agency inputs)

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Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and NC chief Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday hit out at the BJP and said the party invokes Lord Rams name only to stay in power. He also said that Lord Ram is everyones god and that he was sent by Allah to show people the right path.

Lord Ram is not just a Hindu god. Everyone should get this notion out of their minds. Bhagwan Ram is the god of everyone - be it a Muslim or Christian or American or Russian, who has faith in him," he told a rally organised by the Panthers party in Udhampur.

In a video, Farooq Abdullah allegedly quoted the words of a writer from Pakistan, who passed away recently and said, Ram was also sent by Allah to show the right path to the people.

Farooq Abdullah said that Lord Rama was been sent by Allah to preach the people He said, You will see a lot of money will be invested like anything. People will be fed about Lord Rama again and again. It might happen that they will inaugurate the Ram Mandir at the same time. pic.twitter.com/JNtsa0t5df Eagle Eye (@SortedEagle) March 23, 2023

Slamming the BJP party and its use of Lord Rams name, Abdullah said, Those who come to you saying we are the only disciples of Ram - they are fools. They want to sell in the name of Ram. They have no actual love for Ram, but do it for love for power.

Speaking about the upcoming elections in the state, the former CM said, I think when elections are announced in J&K they will inaugurate a Ram temple to divert the attention of the common man.

Udhampur | I think when elections are announced in J&K they will inaugurate Ram temple to divert the attention of the common masses but Ram is for everyone. They wanted to sell Ram, but they didnt love Ram. They wanted to remain in power at any cost: Farooq Abdullah at a rally pic.twitter.com/EuyY1HaG0i ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

He also warned people against religious polarisation ahead of polls in the Union Territory and said, They will use the phrase - Hindus are in danger a lot during the elections, but I request you to not fall prey to it."

On unity among non-BJP parties, he said, There will be no hurdles in our unity. Whether it is Congress, NC, or Panthers. We will fight and die for people. But we all will remain united."

Furthermore, he urged people to be cautious when using electronic voting machines.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

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The Cyberabad police in Telangana arrested a gang involved in theft and sale of personal data of as many as 16.8 crore Indians, including their credit card, pan card details among other things.

According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra, the gang had stolen the data from various online websites and sold them to cyber fraudsters.

The date was stolen from Pan India Government Employees, various banking credit cards as well as organizations like PolicyBazaar.

They collected data in the different ways and started selling it to fraudsters. It is a biggest threat to national security. We took six accused in to our custody," Ravindra said.

The police said that they found involvement of an agency that issued credit cards on behalf of Bank of Baroda.

The fraudsters were collecting data through Just Dial.

We will also register cases against Just Dial organization. We noticed this type of cases earlier. We are investigating the case in an angle of who is behind the crime. We took the accused in to our custody and interrogate them," Cyberabad Police Commissioner said.

The data collected by the gang ran into 140 different categories including details of defence personnel, mobile numbers of citizens, NEET students, Energy & Power sector, PAN card data, Government employees, Gas & Petroleum, HNIs, D-MAT accounts.

There were separate sections for students databases, woman databases, Bangalore woman consumer data, data of people who have applied for loans, insurance, credit card and debit card holders (of AXIS, HSBC and other banks), WhatsApp users, Facebook users, IT organisation employees, frequent flyers etc.

To further probe on this matter, a special investigation team (SIT) under the direction of Joint Police Commissioner Kalmeshwar has been formed on the massive data theft and sale case.

Ravindra has said that it is responsibility of the organizations related to such as banking and telecom to protect the data of the persons while collecting the data.

He also said the SIT will investigate on how the accused get saccess to the sensitive data of defence personnel containing their ranks, place of posting and email ids.

According to the police, the gang consists of Kumar Nitish Bhushan of Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Kumari Pooja Pal, Susheel Thomar, Atul Pratap Singh, Muskan Hassan, Sandeep Pal and Zia Ur Rehman had stolen the data various online websites and set up three companies named Data Mart Infotech, Global Data Arts and MS Digital Grow and selling the collected data to the cyber fraudsters through Just Dial.

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While there are many popular and delicious cocktails out there to try, such as Mai Tais, margaritas, martinis, and mojitos, there are also many forgotten cocktails that have been confined to tattered menus. These cocktails, which feature a variety of spirits including vodka, brandy, rum, gin, and others, are just as unique and flavourful as their more well-known counterparts.

Dushyant Tanwar, the Cocktail Expert, Monika Alcobev, suggests stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring some forgotten cocktails. Heres a list of 5 classic cocktails that are worth trying. Each cocktail has a unique story and flavour profile that is sure to surprise and delight your taste buds. Lets raise a toast to the classics and celebrate the diversity and creativity of the cocktail world.

Hanky panky

The hanky panky was the brainchild of Ada Coleman (known as Coley") in 1903. The hanky panky cocktail is made from gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet-Branca. It is a variation on the sweet martini, or Martinez, and is made distinctive by the addition of Fernet-Branca, a bitter Italian digestivo. The cocktail is a sweet gin martini that is balanced between sweet, bitter, and herbal flavors. It could be compared to the gin version of a Toronto, which is made with whiskey.

Pink gin

Pink gin was historically used to refer to a type of cocktail that became fashionable in England in the mid-19th century. It is widely thought to have been created by members of the Royal Navy and consists of Plymouth gin and a dash of Angostura bitters, which give the drink its pinkish hue. It is also common for pink gin to be served as a pink gin and tonic, which typically consists of four dashes of Angostura bitters and two shots of gin, topped up with tonic water. This is served in a highball glass over ice and can be garnished with lemon.

Bees knees

The bees knees cocktail has unclear origins, but it is often credited to Frank Meier, who is believed to have invented it in 1921. The cocktail is a Prohibition-era classic made with gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey. It is typically served shaken and chilled, and is often garnished with a lemon twist.

Moonwalk

Joe Gilmore, head barman at the Savoy Hotels American Bar in London, invented this citrusy champagne cocktail in 1969 to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing. The drink is a lively combination of grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, and a hint of rose water, topped with bubbly. It was the first thing astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin sipped upon returning to earth. The cocktail is a simple mix of Grand Marnier, grapefruit juice, and a touch of rosewater, topped with Champagne in a cocktail glass.

Death in the afternoon

Death in the Afternoon is a cocktail made with absinthe and champagne invented by the writer, Ernest Hemingway. Its rare that classic cocktails include such exacting details, but leave it to an author to record his instructions for posterity. The cocktails opalescent milkiness occurs when the Champagne hits the absinthe. The aromatic compounds in absinthe are more soluble in alcohol than in water, so when the absinthe is diluted, those compounds drop out of the solution and crowd togetherwhat we see as cloudiness. This process is evident in the classic Absinthe Drip, which combines absinthe with cold water and sugar.

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Tamil superstar Ajith Kumars father PS Mani passed away on Friday. He breathed his last in Chennai. He was 85 years old.

Soon after his fathers demise, Ajith and his family issued a joint statement and revealed that PS Mani died in sleep. We are grateful for the care and support provided to him and our family by a number of medical professionals, especially following his debilitating stroke of four years ago," a part of their statement read.

We are comforted, at this time of grief, that he lived a good life and knew the undying love our mother, his partner of nearly six decades," the statement added.

The family also confirmed that PS Manis last rites will be a family affair and requested fans to respect their decision. We trust that all who have known loss will respect our wish to grieve privately and deal with his passing with as much equanimity and dignity as possible," the statement concluded. Check out the full statement here:

Official statement from Actor Ajith Kumar and his brothers about the passing away of their father..#RIPPSManiSir pic.twitter.com/ITqySzzhBc Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) March 24, 2023

Meanwhile, Ajiths fans have flooded social media expressing grief and wishing strength to the actor and his family. Stay strong," one of the fans wrote. Check out some of the tweets here:

Sad that AK's father passed away in Chennai Today Deepest Condolences to Ajith Kumar sir and his family.. #RIP pic.twitter.com/MlTcY8jFai Rajesh Rebo (@Rajesh_raww) March 24, 2023

RIP Mr.Subramaniyam Sir Our deepest condolence to #AjithKumar sir & His family members. pic.twitter.com/PMwHz8rXYY  Vijay Social Team (@TST_Offcl) March 24, 2023

As reported by India Today, cops have been deployed at Ajiths house for security reasons. His fathers mortal remains will be taken to Besant Nagar crematorium in the city later today.

Rest in peace, PS Mani!

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Ajith Kumar received support from Vijay following his fathers death, PS Mani. Ajiths father died on Friday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 84. In pictures going viral, Vijay was seen making his way to Ajiths home in Chennai to offer his condolences and offer his last respects to Mani.

Although the actor stayed clear of the cameras, he was seen making his way inside Ajiths house on Friday afternoon in his car. Fans lauded Vijay for rushing to be by Ajiths side.

Thalapathy Vijay at Ajith Kumars residence to convey his condolences to the family members. pic.twitter.com/UbSQlVxxtw Vijay Fans Trends (@VijayFansTrends) March 24, 2023

Meanwhile, a heartbreaking video of Ajith consoling his mother has also surfaced online. In the video, Ajith was seen holding onto his emotional mother and comforting her. His mother was seen making her way to Ajiths home with the actors wife Shalini.

Another video doing the rounds on Twitter shows Ajith at his residence, preparing for the last rites and funeral. The actor was seen maintaining distance from the cameras.

Following the news of Ajiths fathers death, several social media users and stars from the industry offered their condolences. These include Kamal Hassan, Simbu, and Arun Vijay. Kamal tweeted in Tamil and said he was saddened by the news of Ajiths father passing and offered his condolences to the actors family.

In a statement by the family, shared by Ajiths brother Anil, the three brothers requested everyone to grieve in private. We appreciate the kind, comforting messages and condolences that have been coming in and ask for your understanding if we may not be able to take calls or respond to messages in a timely manner. His last rites will be a family affair. We trust that all who have known loss will respect our wish to grieve privately and deal with his passing with as much equanimity and dignity as possible," the statement read.

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Akshay Kumar, known for performing his own daring stunts, experienced an injury while filming for his upcoming movie Bade Miyan Chote Miyan alongside co-actor Tiger Shroff in Scotland. The actor hurt himself while filming an action sequence for the film.

As per a report by Hindustan Times, Akshay was shooting for an action sequence with Tiger, and it was a particular stunt he was performing when this injury happened. He is currently wearing knee braces. The report also claimed that while the action sequences have been paused, Akshay is still working on other parts of the movie, including close-up shots, to avoid delays in finishing the filming schedule in Scotland.

In February, Akshay shared a video where he and Tiger were seen having a great time on the set of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. He also wrote a lengthy message for Tiger, which stated, It was 32 years ago when I started my career with an action film. In these decades, I thought I had done it all. But just 15 days into filming one of our most ambitious projects, #BadeMiyanChoteMiyan I already feel tested. Both physically and mentally.

Akshay also mentioned, Pain, injuries, broken bones, these are not new to me. But nothing has ever pushed me out of my comfort zone the way Ali Abbas Zafar, his team and you have, in just two weeks. Bhai roz physiotherapy chal rahi hai. The actor additionally expressed gratitude to Tiger for motivating and bringing happiness to him.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar)

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff will be collaborating for the first time in Ali Abbas Zafars film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Alongside them, Alaya F, Sonakshi Sinha, and Manushi Chillar also hold significant roles in the movie. The action-packed thriller is set to release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam languages during Christmas this year.

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar is also set to feature in OMG 2 alongside Yami Gautam. Moreover, the actor will be collaborating with Radhika Madan for the upcoming film which is a Hindi remake of Soorai Pottru. Apart from these projects, he has also made the highly anticipated announcement for the third instalment of Hera Pheri and fans are eagerly waiting for it. Additionally, he is currently shooting for Capsule Gill alongside Parineeti Chopra which is scheduled to release in theatres later this year.

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BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia from March 20 to 22 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The two leaders had sincere, friendly and fruitful talks on bilateral ties and major regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reached new and important common understanding in many fields. The international community has spoken highly of Xi's visit, describing the journey of friendship, cooperation and peace as a historic milestone. Under the strategic guidance of Xi and Putin, China and Russia have enriched the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, and deepened practical cooperation in various fields, bringing more benefits to the people of the two countries, global observers have said. They also expressed the belief that the visit will help improve global governance, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and advance the cause of human progress. STRATEGIC GUIDANCE On the fruitful results of Xi's visit, Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at Russia's National Research University-Higher School of Economics, said head-of-state diplomacy is the key to the steady progress of Russia-China relations. Noting the visit's major accomplishments in deepening the partnership and strengthening economic cooperation, Kashin believed that Russia-China relations will continue to develop healthily and rapidly. For former Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Huanacuni, in the face of rising hegemonism and unilateralism, Xi's visit has injected more elements of stability and certainty into today's world. The China-Russia relationship has set an example for major-country relations, and inspired Latin American countries that are seeking cooperation, said Huanacuni. In recent years, the heads of state of both countries have stayed in close contact in various ways, drawing up blueprints for China-Russia relations and their cooperation, said Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper. Bilateral relations have become more comprehensive, practical and strategic, Korzhumbayev added. Noting that "we are at a turning point in the history of mankind," Argentine sociologist Marcelo Rodriguez said "it (the China-Russia relationship) generates a new paradigm ... of what international relations should be." "Only through cooperation, mutual respect and the search for a system of international relations based on these principles could the peoples advance in the best relations and collaboration at different levels, not only economic, but also political, cultural, scientific," Rodriguez added. China-Russia relations feature equality and mutual respect, and the vision embodied in their relationship is "gaining increasing global support," said Abdullah al Faraj, an expert on China-Russia relations with the Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge, a Saudi think tank in Riyadh. PRACTICAL COOPERATION Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia trade exceeded 190 billion U.S. dollars last year, up by 116 percent from ten years ago. Since 2022, bilateral practical cooperation across the board has yielded fruitful results. The two joint statements and a number of bilateral cooperation documents signed by the two sides during Xi's visit are very important, said Kashin. The expert said that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in industry, energy and logistics, and will forge a new-type industrial chain with industrial enterprises of the two countries involved. That means Russia-China relations have seen important new progress and the two sides have opened a new chapter of cooperation in various fields, Kashin added. China and Russia are each other's largest neighbors and major emerging markets, said Korzhumbayev, adding that two-way investment has been increasing and cooperation on major projects in such fields as energy, aviation, space and connectivity is also moving forward steadily. Through this visit, the two sides will not only strengthen cooperation in e-commerce, scientific and technological innovation, industry and agriculture, but also expand people-to-people exchanges in science, education, health, culture and other fields, providing an inexhaustible driving force for China-Russia common development, Korzhumbayev said. Promoting the Belt and Road cooperation and building the Greater Eurasian Partnership can run in parallel and achieve coordinated development, experts have said, stressing the importance of enhancing connectivity between Asia and Europe, as well as China-Russia communication and coordination within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS cooperation mechanism, and other multilateral frameworks. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based Centre of South Asia and International Studies, said the Belt and Road Initiative has already been an ideal platform for connecting Eurasian regions to the European Union, the Middle East, South Asia and beyond. Xi's visit to Russia has delivered multiple benefits, not only to the two countries, but also to people around the world, the expert said. COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE When meeting with Putin, Xi noted that changes unseen in a century are evolving faster and the international balance of power is undergoing a profound shift. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, China and Russia have natural responsibilities to make joint efforts to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said. Multilateralism is the key to world peace and development, and this trend cannot be stopped, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Cambodia. China and Russia, as important members of international and regional organizations, lead and drive the process of multilateralism, playing a balancing and stabilizing role in maintaining the world order, the professor added. Meanwhile, Xi's remarks on the Ukraine crisis have resonated with the international community. "China has all along abided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, followed an objective and impartial position, and actively encouraged peace talks. China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history," Xi said. Huanacuni welcomed China's stance on the Ukraine issue, believing that responsible and sincere dialogue is the best way to address the issue, and can benefit the entire region and the world. Calling on major countries to set an example, Keith Bennett, a British long-term China specialist, stressed China's ability to "outline a fair and realistic path to peace in the Ukraine crisis." In the view of Marie Agnes Anona, director general of the National School of Administration of Madagascar, China has always been committed to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. The expert expressed the belief that China can play a constructive role in politically resolving the Ukraine issue. Levente Horvath, director of the Eurasia Center of the John von Neumann University in Hungary, pointed out that the Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative Xi mentioned during his visit are essential, representing China's efforts for world peace, development and cooperation. These important initiatives advocate mutual respect, equality, and common development among different countries and civilizations in the world, helping achieve mutual benefit, he said.
News / National

by Ndou Paul

#AlJazeeraGoldMafia was a fiction D grade movie with bad acting by a convicted criminal, fraudster who was tried in Kenya and over exaggerating pastor. It only became real when a real FBI agent confirmed that Zimbabwe was sanctioned to remove it from the financial system and this pic.twitter.com/35x4k5heGk  Rutendo Matinyarare (@matinyarare)

The chairperson of Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement and founder of Zimbabweans Unite Against US War Sanctions, Rutendo Matinyarare, has described the 1st episode of Al Jazeera expose Gold Mafia documentary as "a fiction D grade movie with bad acting by a convicted criminal."Matinyarare questioned how one can put 1.2 billion USD in a bag. In the documentary Ambassador-at-large Uebert Madzanire, alias Uebert Angel claims "right now, I can have a bag like this with 1.2 billion. And put red tape written diplomat."That's it... It will land in Zimbabwe.""Zimbabwe can't touch it until it gets to my house."There, you can understand. There can be a diplomatic plan."Matinyarare said on Twitter:"was a fiction D grade movie with bad acting by a convicted criminal, fraudster who was tried in Kenya and over exaggerating pastor. It only became real when a real FBI agent confirmed that Zimbabwe was sanctioned to remove it from the financial system and this"
Ajay Singhs mid-air drama, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, now on Netflix, strongly reminded me of the 1970 Brilliant British film, Prefect Friday with Ursula Andres in which a woman cheats a banker of 200,000 pounds. And the way she does it, after befriending him and carrying on a very intimate relationship, appears fantastical. It is quite possible that Singh could have been influenced by Perfect Friday.

It is a thriller of sorts  or more accurately put  a high-octave adventure some 30,000 feet above the ground, and most of it happening within the claustrophobic confines of a jetliner. Well, it gets hijacked (or really), and attractive Neha Grover (Yami Gautam Dhar, who, in my opinion, is yet to better her lovely debut in Vicky Donor, where she plays a Bong banker) is an air-hostess on board (Often, it seems she is the only one). She and her boyfriend, Ankit Sethi (a rather wooden Sunny Kaushal) are out to steal diamonds that are being carried for an Indian Minister. Oh, come on!

It is a very poor script, full of howlers and absolutely unbelievable and contrived situations. Ankit meets Neha on one of his flights and begins chasing her, turning up in the most unlikely places. He is heavily, heavily in debt or so we are led to believe, and stage manages a diamond heist with the help of Neha with whom he is in love (Is he?). A hijack drama is thrown in to bewilder us. Drinks are spiked. Guns are made in the planes toilets. What more, now?

But midway through the planning, Neha discovers the real Ankit, and with all the while of a woman scorned, she begins to find a way of getting back at him. What could be better than having his face demolished and leaving him a pauper?

The plot had all the ingredients for an exciting up-in-the-air thriller, but lousy writing got in the way of a narrative that could have made great viewing. Instead, the script runs away with the Chor. Hotchpotch editing adds to the misery.

Finally, I have a question: Why is Yami picking such bad scripts? And a compelling actor like Indraneil Sengupta is left doing inane roles! More importantly, is it not time for Netflix to pick better scripts and movies?

An article in Screen has something apt here: Netflix is facing a scarcity of creatives as it battles the talent supply issues affecting the whole industry, according to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria content chief Katja Hofem. While the streamer is noted for being able to hand lucrative opportunities to creatives and poach them from rival players, Netflix is witnessing a lot of challenges in our market Hofem told delegates during her Series Mania keynote yesterday. We face a scarcity of writers, producers, directors and in Germany, especially, we also see a scarcity when it comes to diverse writers, Hofem said. And we want to tell all the stories [we can] in the market.'"

Nothing can be truer than in the case of India. While admittedly the OTT platforms have provided a much-needed breath of life for actors who were left by the wayside by cinema, surely Netflix and the like cannot concentrate just on numbers to fill up their baskets. However talented an actor may be, he or she needs a really good script to perform.

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Nawazuddin Siddiqui has reportedly informed the Bombay High Court that he will withdraw his habeas corpus petition against his estranged wife Aaliya, if he gets to meet his two children. Actors lawyer Pradeep Thorat has said that Nawazs children were missing school in Dubai and that he was unable to trace them. It is because of this reason that the actor filed the petition.

That was the only reason that a habeas corpus was filed. I am aware of the limited relief that I can get in this petition. He has not seen his children physically. This is his limited concern. After that I will withdraw the petition," Thorat said as quoted by India Today.

Reacting to this, Aaliyas lawyer also called the petition pointless and alleged that it was filed with Nawazs wife and children were living at his mothers residence in Mumbai. My client is willing to settle the matter. But when she is living with the children at the actors mothers residence, then how is it possible that he does not know where they are? He is very much free to meet his children. He is the one who is not meeting them," the lawyer shared.

For the unversed, Siddiquis petition stated that his permission was not taken before his children were brought to India from Dubai.

Nawazuddins divorce case with Aaliya Siddiqui has been making headlines for a long time now. The two have levelled several allegations against each other so far. Earlier, Aaliya claimed that Nawazuddin disowned their children and alleged that the actors mother Mehrunisa harassed her by not giving her access to the actors Mumbai home. Later, the actor also claimed that his estranged wife only want money, a charge denied by Aaliya.

Last month, the Bombay High Court also suggested Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his wife Aaliya to resolve their issues amicably regarding their children.

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Kundali Bhagya fame Shraddha Arya is having a good time in the Maldives. The television actress, who flew to the island destination with her husband Rahul Nagal for his birthday, has been sharing stunning pictures from her trip. On Thursday morning, the diva gave fans a sneak peek of her fun time on the beach, donning a black bikini. In the first picture, the Kumkum Bhagya star is seen all happy as she takes a selfie on the beach. Other pictures also show her resting on the sun lounger, playing in the sand, posing for the camera and much more.

For the outing, Shraddha donned a black bikini that consisted of a plunging neckline and a cut-out design on the waist. She completed the look with no makeup and tied her hair into a messy bun. Along with the string of pictures, she also wrote, Talk to the sand.

Fans were quite elated on seeing the actress having fun and flocked to the comment section to praise her. One of the users wrote, Uff, these poses. Another user wrote, Super pretty. One more user wrote, Looking lovely. Have fun. However, Shraddha, who is known for playing a doting bahu Preeta in Kundali Bhagya, left a section of her fans disappointed by her bold avatar. One fan commented on her post: Tum Preeta hi achi ho." Another one wrote, You look beautiful in a saree." A third user said, I didnt expect this from you. What does it show in the serial? What does it show in real life?"

A day prior, the actress also shared pictures of her chilling by the poolside in a bathrobe. In the pictures, Shraddha is seen sunbathing and sipping on some juice. She also shared a video that shows the view of the pool. Along with the photos, she wrote, A much-needed break & vacay therapy. Take a look at the photos below.

This isnt the first time that the actress has shared vacation pictures on her social media handle. She previously uploaded pictures from her trip to London. In the photos, Arya is seen posing for the camera, donning a pink tracksuit.

Shraddha Arya is married to Rahul Nagal, who is an Indian Navy Officer. They first met through a mutual friend and started dating shortly after that. They tied the knot on November 16 in 2021.

On the work front, Shraddha is preparing to make her debut in Bollywood with Karan Johars next directorial project, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. In addition to this, she plays the role of Preeta in Ekta Kapoors popular television show Kundali Bhagya.

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Actress Shwetha Menon suffered an inconvenience during one of her recent flight journeys. The Kerala State Film Awards-winning actress used her social media platform to share a negative encounter that she experienced when boarding the 12 pm flight from Mumbai to Kochi. Menon revealed that she was informed about the change in the flight schedule, but when she arrived at the airport at the newly designated time, she was disappointed to discover that the flight had already left.

Narrating the story, she wrote, I had a 12 pm flight (6E-6701) booked from Mumbai to Kochi, which was rescheduled to 1.30 pm as per the SMS received from the airlines. But when I reached the airport, I was shocked to hear that the flight had already taken off at 12 pm! I was not alone; there were around 22 passengers in the same situation as me."

She further mentioned that a particular staff member at the assistance counter did not handle the situation appropriately. Instead of providing any assistance, she was trying to put us on the 9 pm flight, even though the 5 pm flight was available. She was not even ready to listen to us and spoke very rudely," the actress said.

Shweta stated that the situation became worse when the staff member challenged them to file a complaint wherever they wished. It was at that moment that she decided to share her experience live on social media. After some chaos, the airline made arrangements for them to board the fully-booked 5 pm flight. They finally arrived at Kochi airport, where some officials from the airlines Kochi office offered a personal apology. The Kalimannu fame also shared screengrabs of the messages along with pictures of the airline apologising for the inconvenience.

Many social media users commented on her post. One of the users wrote, This is the issue with every airline now. Another one added, Oh just usual things for indigo airlines. Nothing new. I wonder how they are still working after so many goof-ups and irresponsible behaviour from their side. One more said, Same happened to me last month from Kochi to Bangalore flight.

On the professional front, the actress was last seen in Anil Kumbazhas directorial Pallimani. The film also starred Nithya Das, Kailash and Dinesh Panicker in crucial roles. The mystery thriller received positive reviews from fans and critics.

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If Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has a magnificent obsession, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He taunted the PM with being scared (of the Aam Aadmi Party) earlier this week, but the boot is actually on the other foot. It is Kejriwal who is showing increasing signs of desperation after the arrest of his number two, Manish Sisodia, in the liquor scam.

Under mounting pressure, Kejriwal has responded by lashing out at the PM. His tiff with the Centre is long-standing, but after a brief cessation of hostilities, relations have deteriorated to the point that he stood by posters proclaiming Modi hatao, desh bachao and responded to the subsequent arrests of the perpetrators by accusing the PM of being insecure.

The feisty, irrepressible Kejriwal has reason to be anxious, and not only because the charges against Sisodia are extremely serious in nature  serious enough, if they are proven to the satisfaction of the courts, to devastate the AAP. The public airing of the allegations and AAPs failure to respond beyond the usual bluster has already done some damage. Kejriwal is also facing a near-impossible job in Punjab, with insurgency rising and the states economy collapsing.

Swinging like a pendulum, he accused the PM of conducting a political vendetta against AAP leaders (like Sisodia) and sabotaging the Delhi government by delaying its budget out of sheer ego, then described himself as Modis younger brother who needs his love.

The fact is that Kejriwal has overextended himself in his impatience to become a match for PM Modi. Since 2014, he has sought to ride on the latters coattails to boost his own stature. Hence the decision to contest against the PM in Varanasi. He was fighting to lose, so that he could win renown.

The same logic applied to his campaign in Gujarat  if only he could make a large enough dent in the state Assembly elections, he could somehow be on par with Modi. Unfortunately for Kejriwal, although he won commendable five seats, the sheer scale of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) seventh consecutive victory in the state  an 85 percent seat share  overshadowed everything else.

A clear indication of the anti-corruption activist-turned-politicians overweening ambition was a placard waved by an AAP supporter outside the party office after the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls: Kejriwal vs Modi 2024. He sees himself as a contender, however unlikely that may seem. Kejriwal constantly posits himself against Modi. At the height of the second wave of Covid, he could not resist publicising a private meeting he had with the PM. When he says he is a small man with no prime ministerial ambitions, he means the opposite.

Like Modi, he wants to be the king of social welfare. Unlike him, he has never understood the distinction between wasteful freebies and constructive welfare policies. Like Modi, Kejriwal wants to be seen as vikas purush. But unlike him, he doesnt have the capacity for long-term strategic planning. Indeed, one of the reasons for the delay in the Delhi budget was the excessive allocation for publicity and not enough towards development.

AAP has responded to the Sisodia imbroglio through deflection, misdirection and aggression. Rather than presenting contravening facts, the party has played the victim card, charging the BJP with seeking to co-opt Sisodia by strong-arming him. It has alleged ill-treatment in prison and sought to turn public attention away from the liquor scam and towards Sisodias excellent work in education.

The fact is that Sisodia has been in court-ordered remand for almost a month and the apex court has not offered any relief. Nor are answers to the startling disclosures of shortfalls in excise revenues and windfall profits for private liquor licensees forthcoming. Instead, Kejriwal has trained his guns on Modi, projecting himself as a David battling Goliath.

Kejriwal is aware that direct attacks on PM Modi do not serve to enhance his stature. But the imperative of seeking the support of other Opposition parties has forced him to adopt a strident anti-Modi stance. The Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU) are not sympathetic to the AAP. And the only reason why other parties have come to his aid is the fact that the daughter of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) boss and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao has also been implicated in the excise policy investigation. Kejriwal is smart enough to know that he cannot hope to take on Modi by himself.

Born of an anti-corruption movement, AAPs USP was a clean government, but the Modi government lays claims to the same plank, in addition to providing the vision of Amrit Kaal. Now, with AAPs moral superiority in question, Kejriwal is on the back foot. But trying to turn the tables on PM Modi is likely to hurt rather than help him.

Bhavdeep Kang is a freelance writer and author of Gurus: Stories of Indias Leading Babas and Just Transferred: The Untold Story of Ashok Khemka. A journalist since 1986, she has written extensively on national politics. Views expressed are personal.

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Punjab government on Friday released 44 people from preventive detention, picked up during the crackdown and Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh as well as his network of sympathisers. The opposition and religious groups are seeking leniency for detained youth they claimed were swayed by the fugitive radical preachers secessionist rhetoric.

Additional director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla said in the larger interest of the public and keeping in view that youngsters should not suffer, the Punjab Police decided to release those who had a minimum role or were just following Amritpal on religious sentiments. A total of 44 people, who were placed under preventive arrest, were handed over to their family members on Friday with the promise of good conduct in future.

The development came a day after the announcement by inspector general of police (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill that the Punjab Police might release 177 arrested people from preventive custody. A total of 207 people have been arrested for allegedly disturbing peace and harmony in the state, of which 30 were found to have been involved in criminal activities while the remaining were under preventive arrest.

Gill had also assured that people involved in baptism and de-addiction will not be bothered. He said police teams were doing a thorough screening of remaining people under preventive arrest and, soon, they will also be released from police custody if they were not found to be involved in criminal activities.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has given clear instructions to police not to harass innocent people during the crackdown on Amritpal and his outfit Waris Punjab De, according to an official statement.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides.

Last week, the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against them and Amritpal has been on the run since. Punjab Police said efforts were on to nab the fugitive.

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday held a meeting with opposition leaders and deliberated on the strategy going forward in the wake of Rahul Gandhis conviction in a 2019 defamation case.

Besides the Congress, senior leaders of parties such as the DMK, National Conference, RSP, VCK, JDU, CPI(M), SP, SS, IUML, AAP and CPI attended the meeting at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharges office inside Parliament complex.

The opposition parties have also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her. A court in Surat on Thursday sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in the case filed against him over his Modi surname" remarks. The court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had on Thursday asserted that it is not just a legal issue but also a serious political matter linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said. This is another major example of the Modi governments politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," he had said.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to 2 years in jail by a Surat court on Thursday, over a 2019 criminal defamation case against him. The case pertained to his controversial Modi Surname remark, which led to a BJP leader filing the case against him.

Gandhis conviction also led to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, stripping him of his MP title on Friday. The move triggered strong criticism from opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav, apart from Congress top brass. However, BJP welcomed the move as leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Anurag Thakur termed it lawful".

But, did you know, this was not the first time Rahul Gandhi landed in trouble due to a defamation case against him? In fact, the Congress leader has faced similar charges six times before, most of them being criminal defamation cases.

Heres a list of all defamation cases against him.

The most recent criminal defamation case that led to his conviction, was related to his Modi surname" remark, which he had made back in 2019 during a rally in Karnatakas Kolar district. During an address ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, Gandhi made the remark, How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" The remark had sparked controversy back then, alleging defamation and a caste bias by several people. Another very well-known defamation case was filed against him in the National Herald case. He along with his mother Sonia Gandhi was granted bail in December 2015 in the case pursued by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on a personal bond of 50,000. On July 6, 2019, Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by a Patna court in another defamation case. Addressing a poll rally in Maharashtra, Gandhi had said, I have a question. Why all the thieves have Modi in their names whether be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi? We dont know how many more such Modis will come out. On July 12, 2019, Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by an Ahmedabad court in a defamation case. The case was filed by the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank after he had alleged that the bank was involved in a scam of swapping banknotes during the demonetisation. On July 4, 2019, Rahul was granted bail by a Mumbai court in a defamation case filed by an RSS worker. This case was filed for his remark linking Gauri Lankeshs killing with the BJP-RSS ideology. The bail was granted on a surety amount of 15,000. In November 2016, the Bhiwandi court in Maharashtra had granted bail to Gandhi in another case filed by an RSS worker. In this case, Rahul Gandhi had allegedly said that RSS had killed Mahatma Gandhi. Even the SC had slammed him for such collective comment, and had ruled that he will have to face trial and prove his point in the court. The Guwahati court gave bail to Rahul Gandhi in yet another defamation case by RSS in September 2016 on a bond of 50,000. The case was filed after Rahul had lied that he was prevented by RSS from entering the Barpeta Satra in Assam in December 2015.

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It was the evening of March 18, 2017, and the excitement amidst the big crowd of journalists in the lobby of the Lok Bhawan building in Lucknow was bubbling. Inside the building, the ground-floor auditorium was packed with elected MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Outside it, in the portico, reporters and lensmen were anxiously waiting for the man of the moment  Yogi Adityanath.

The Member of Parliament, who was not even an elected MLA, was now destined to be the surprise chief minister of Indias most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. Having stormed the Vidhan Sabha election with an astonishing 300-plus victories, the BJP had seen an intense internal struggle among its aspiring leaders for the top job. However, as the countdown to the legislative party began, it was Yogi Adityanath who had the last laugh.

As a stream of cars zoomed inside the Lok Bhawan building, Adityanath emerged from his white SUV, wearing sunglasses and waving a victory sign to camerapersons who were eager to capture every single minute of the dramatic arrival. The Yogi Raj in UP had begun but it was to be a long journey before a strong Brand Yogi would be cemented.

Now, with straight six years in office  an honour that Adityanath is the first to achieve  the journey that started with him being a surprise pick has come a long way. Brand Yogi in politics is now an established idea.

YOGI RAJ BEGINS

As Adityanath became the chief minister, it was the beginning of a new journey for the man who had been both a politician and a Hindu religious leader. The five-term member of Lok Sabha from Gorakhpur was and still is the chief Mahant of the famous Gorakhnath Peeth.

No doubt the BJP had played a big gamble in picking Adityanath as the chief minister. In a state so defined by caste and identity politics, an upper-caste Kshatriya could have either been a boon or a disaster. The fact that the OBCs had played the most important role in BJPs rise to power could not have been ignored. In order to do a fine balancing of caste, BJP also decided to bring in OBC Keshav Maurya and Brahmin Dinesh Sharma as two deputy chief ministers.

However, as Adityanath settled in and moved ahead, rolling out his vision and strategy, it was soon clear that the man had both the needed, strong Hindutva assertion to dilute the conflicting caste aspirations as well as the policy and governance narrative to suit the political agenda. The surprise CM seemed to have a roadmap for carving out a unique narrative around him.

THE 3 AXES OF YOGI MODEL

From Day One of his government, Adityanath has been guided by three most defining approaches  His unwavering commitment to the political ideology of Hindutva, policy of zero-tolerance towards mafia and organised crime and the resolve to make the state a robust economy and a favoured investment destination.

No doubt the Opposition has time and again countered these three commitments of the Yogi Sarkar. The criticism of his alleged pick and choose policy while dealing with the mafia was a serious charge against the government. Adityanaths staunch persona as a Hindutva icon has often been criticised as being divisive. Also, his claims on the development front and making the state a one trillion dollar economy by 2027 have been argued against with high figures of unemployment and questions around the actual business investments in the state.

But despite the Oppositions attacks, Adityanath clearly seems to have struck a chord with the majority of people in the state. His style  even if a bit harsh and sometimes drawing in the accusation of being in defiance of the law  has generally been endorsed by the common man.

The Bullet and Bulldozer policy that has virtually become a hallmark of Adityanaths governance model was one such decision. It has often raised eyebrows of legal rights groups and the Opposition but seems to have got endorsement in the peoples court. The perception of a positive change in the states law and order situation has been largely accepted by the people  an approach that had become the hallmark of Brand Yogi in politics and governance.

The Hindutva emphasis has been glaringly visible from the start. The very first decision that was strictly enforced when Adityanath first became the chief minister in 2017 was to ban sale of meat and close meat shops during Navratri. Following it was stringent enforcement of the law banning cow slaughter.

Over the years, Adityanaths decision to bring in a law against Love Jihad  legally termed as the law against forceful religious conversion his zeal for bringing back the grand Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on Diwali and commitment to the cause of the under-construction Ram Mandir in Ayodhya have further cemented his image as a Hindutva icon and strengthened Brand Yogi.

The third axis of the Yogi Model is economic  an idea which is still a work in progress. Unlike the Hindutva and law and order front, economic growth and positioning of UP as a business investment decision is a phenomenon which is actually rolling out now in a significant way.

The recently concluded Global Investors Summit in Lucknow has surely caught the larger imagination with an astonishing claim of investment MOUs to the tune of more than Rs 33 lakh crore. The summit has been hailed as a major step forward in the entire nations growth story by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

No doubt Team Yogi and BJP both now claim that the successful summit will roll out the carpet for the states journey to being a trillion dollar economy over the next four years. The economic revival of the state, which still drags far below other states in statistics around development, growth and social indices, is the third hallmark of Brand Yogi in politics.

THE ROAD AHEAD

As the surprise CM of 2017 now completes six straight years in office after BJPs second consecutive win in assembly polls in March last year, it is also a stamp on Brand Yogi within the BJPs politics along with the much-bigger Brand Modi.

The 2022 electoral win of the BJP clearly had the imprint of both Modi and Yogi. In his second term as the chief minister, Adityanath now looks more confident and in control of the political narrative.

No doubt his party has still chosen to keep Keshav Maurya and Brijesh Pathak as his two deputy chief ministers but Adityanath is in far more control of governance and has left his imprint as the leader in the state.

Six years in office now just seem to be a number that will be added on over the next few years  at least till 2027 when the state again goes to polls. Till then, Brand Yogi is likely to grow further. It will be interesting to watch what narrative it further builds upon, both in politics of the state as well as the national landscape.

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In what could trigger a controversy, Haryana home minister Anil Vij raised questions over the manner in which the Punjab Police was trying to track down fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.

A day after a Shahbad woman was handed over to Punjab Police for allegedly harbouring Amritpal and his aide Pappalpreet Singh, Vij alleged that the Punjab government was not serious about hunting down the radical leader.

The Punjab government is dealing with the matter but I do not think that it is serious about catching Amritpal, Vij alleged.

He added: According to information, the entire Punjab Police was searching for Amritpal in Jalandhar when he was having dinner in Shahbad. After we got the information, we immediately intimated Punjab Police but it took them more than a day to reach Shahbad. If he was a most-wanted person and you are taking so much time to reach a specific location despite information, then it all appears to be a political drama of the Punjab government, Vij alleged.

CCTV footage shows that Amritpal took refuge in the house of a woman, identified as Baljit Kaur, after he managed to reach there by travelling more than 200 km on different forms of transport, including a two-wheeler, fuelling allegations that police failed to track him down. Baljit was nabbed on Thursday and is being questioned by the Punjab Police.

Haryana Police said it has stepped up vigil across the state and its personnel have been put on alert after Amritpals last location was traced in the Kurukshetra district. But his and Papalpreets location remains unknown.

More footage surfaced on Thursday showing Amritpal in a shirt and trousers and holding an umbrella in Haryanas Shahbad in an apparent bid to hide from police gaze. Later, another footage claimed to be of March 20 also surfaced, in which the radical preacher is seen again carrying an umbrella and moving on a road opposite the Shahbad bus stand, Haryana police sources said.

The driver of the cart on which Amritpal and Papalpreet were seen sitting in Jalandhar said both had asked him to take them to a tyre repair shop as their bikes tyre had got punctured. The driver claimed that he did not know about the radical leader at that time.

A video has also emerged showing one of Amritpals associates shooting at a firing range in Jallupur Khera village in the Amritsar district. Pictures of some associates posing with weapons have also surfaced containing the hologram of Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF).

Last week, Punjab Police launched a crackdown against Amritpal and elements of his outfit Waris Punjab De. Amritpal, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district. After his escape, Amritpal changed his appearance, wore sunglasses and western attire and has been using different modes of travel.

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News / Press Release

by ZAPU

Zimbabweans have been waiting impatiently for the explosive documentaries by media group Al Jazeera of the systematic looting and plunder of resources by the ruling elite.Today, the world watched with shock the first instalment of four, detailing how ZANU PF has sanctioned us and the unborn generation to perpetual poverty while a litany of fake prophets, criminals and state operatives mint millions from our national resources. ZAPU is appalled but not shocked.We have known that our erstwhile colleagues never sacrificed for the black majority. We knew it pre-independence and we said it post-independence. As a result, over 20000 of our supporters were murdered in cold blood. The masterminds of the genocide are today occupying the highest offices In the land.To protect their lootocrasy, they even deposed their own godfather through a coup. The lot have even imprisoned journalists for merely reporting the looting.Today we all understand why they had to embarrass their godfather the way they did. ZAPU calls on all Zimbabweans, civic organizations, political parties, religious groups, student movements and the youth to prepare for action that will demand that those implicated must account for their actions. We caution every Zimbabwean to wait until all four documentaries our released before any action is taken.We implore all those implicated, including those yet to be implicated, to relinquish public office immediately and for private citizens to bring into confidence the general population by exposing the real culprits in government robes. In the end, which is soon, Zimbabweans must understand that Al Jazeera has pointed at the cracks on the walls of Jericho.They're wide, but by episode 4, they'll be wider. All we have to do is push and they'll collapse. But this calls for unity of all forces. ZAPU is ready and willing to be part of this revolutionary effort.Our ZPRA heroes, mothers and fathers did not die so that a few white people can own the Reserve bank of Zimbabwe.Our ZAN, colleagues did not perish in Nyadzonia so that families of government leaders loot our country dry. If this does not invoke your revolutionary spirit, then nothing ever will. After the last episode, ZAPU will be making an unequivocal call to action.In the meantime, consultations will begin in earnest. We must all be united by our desire to save our motherland from vultures in sheep clothing. We are aware that they'll immediately run a narrative that this goldgate was a sanction-busting scheme.Nobody can be fooled, and as the next episodes will reveal, this is a mafia syndicate which was birthed through the 2017 military coup.
The BJP will make the insult of the OBC community by Rahul Gandhi a major poll issue for the upcoming state elections in the heartland and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, after a court in Surat convicted the Congress leader with a two-year jail term in a defamation case. The case stemmed from Gandhis 2019 remark that all Modis are thieves.

OBCs are a major vote bank in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh - states that go to polls this year.

BJP president JP Nadda made the partys stand aptly clear in a series of tweets on Friday morning, after the Congress announced country-wide protests against Rahul Gandhis conviction that could lead to his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP and bar him from contesting elections for the next six years.

Nadda said the Congresss stand was a continuing humiliation of the OBC community and that people will reply in a democratic way when they cast their ballot.

Modi has been seen as an OBC leader who has united the huge block of Other Backward Caste (OBC) voters behind the BJP. This was a major reason for the partys victory in 2014 and 2019 General Elections as well as in key heartland states like Uttar Pradesh. The BJP is set to milk the conviction of Rahul Gandhi for his statement, presenting it as his and his partys contempt for the OBC community.

By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Rahul Gandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For many years, he has always reduced the level of political discourse, Nadda said in a series of tweets.

By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Mr. @RahulGandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years he has always reduced levels of political discourse. Let me explain how in the thread below.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) March 24, 2023

He gets a flak in the Courts but he refuses to apologise thus showing how deep rooted his hatred for OBCs is. The people of India did not forgive him in 2019in 2024 the punishment will be more severe (sic), Nadda said.

He said the Congress, by supporting Gandhis statement, is continuing to insult the OBC community, which, he added, will avenge this humiliation in a democratic way while casting their ballot.

Nadda recounted how earlier statements by Rahul Gandhi against Narendra Modi had been rejected by the people.

Lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral to Rahul Gandhi. Let us go back to the time before 2019 - he was the newly minted Congress President and through the pre-election season his core issue was - cooked up Rafale scam. Wherever he went he spoke of it. His negative politics and cooked up Rafale scam faced a setback in the court of law. Our highest court of the land, the Honourable Supreme Court gave a very clear verdict on the Rafale issue and did not believe the corruption bogey Mr. Gandhi raised (sic), Nadda said in his tweets.

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The past 48 hours have showed how the Congress botched up what could have been its moment.

ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi News LIVE Here

They allowed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to get a headstart, making the entire issue of a casteist remark by the Congress.

The BJP unleashed top ministers who accused Rahul Gandhi of abusing the Other Backward Class (OBC) community. The Congress had only its president, a Dalit himself, to trash this narrative.

But lets begin with the moments after the verdict came from Surat court on Thursday.

A senior lawyer Congress MP told News18: The party should have been alerted the day the high court had vacated the stay on this issue. They should have moved the sessions court immediately, but no such attention was paid and the team was back in Delhi. The Congress was again left confused on whether to make the conviction the main issue to attack the BJP. Which it did. But soon the wisdom dawned that this would be seen as taking on courts at a time when they would approach the higher courts for relief.

Also came the realisation that not all opposition parties, even those who have been with the Congress so far on the Adani issue, would want to support this court issue.

Hence when the Opposition parties met on Friday morning, the issue was not so much the conviction, but Adani and Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. But the Congress could not let go of Gandhi and so it mixed it with misuse of institutions and made a veiled reference to the Surat court issue.

THE MORNING MEETING

But the real botch-up came at the morning meeting at Sonia Gandhis office, in which Gandhi was present. At the meeting, few leaders suggested that the Congress must pre-empt disqualification and write to the president. But two senior MPs, one who was legally inclined, said that the disqualification would take time as he has 30 days to appeal. It was a bolt out of the blue when the speakers office issued a notification for disqualification.

ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi Disqualified as MP: What are His Legal Teams Arguments and the 2024 Question

It was at the hurriedly called press conference that the party tried to do damage control.

Its a long legal battle. Protests are planned without attacking the judiciary.

The party now has taken a cue from Gandhi, when he tweeted to say he was ready to give up anything for the sake of truth.

The real fighter and asli challenger is the pitch of the Congress for 2024 with Gandhi being the epicentre. But will he alone be the hand which pulls the Congress to victory in 2024?

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and decided to fight it legally and politically and launch a countrywide Jan Andolan starting Monday.

BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Anurag Thakur addressed a press conference following Gandhis disqualification and called the move lawful. Pradhan said, Just because you come from a family, you cant consider yourself above all. The rules are same for everyone, but Congress wants a seperate IPC for their family.

Rahuls sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came out in her brothers support and termed PM Modi as a dictator.

The blood that runs in our veins has one specialty Never bowed down in front of a coward, power-hungry dictator like you and will never bow down. Do whatever you want, she said.

Meanwhile, Congress continued its pan-India agitation today against the conviction of Gandhi. The party was planning to meet President Droupadi Murmu with other parties over the issue. Congress raised the issue in Parliament, leading to a ruckus in both Houses.

Meanwhile, BJP claimed that Rahul Gandhi has a habit of levelling fabricated allegations having no connection with facts while alleging the Congress leader has a huge arrogance but little understanding. In a series of tweets amid a political fight between the saffron party and the Congress following Gandhis conviction, BJP president J P Nadda Friday alleged that lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral to his politics.

Peoples punishment to him will be more severe in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls than in 2019 when he lost in Amethi and the Congress was routed nationally, the BJP leader said.

Indias biggest Opposition party, Congress, announced the mass agitation immediately after the conviction of Gandhi in a defamation case and said it will not just fight the case legally but also politically.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has also called a meeting of the opposition parties on Friday, following which the MPs will march to the Vijay Chowk.

In the evening today, all the state Congress Presidents and legislative party leaders have been called for a meeting to chalk out plans for nationwide protests.

The Congress leadership has, reportedly, also sought time to meet President Droupadi Murmu in the afternoon today to raise the matter with her.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, a meeting at Kharges residence was held on Thursday for around two hours, where it was decided that the Party chief would hold a meeting with all Pradesh Congress chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders in the evening and plan agitations in states as well.

We will hold protests across Delhi and in other states on Monday on this issue, Ramesh said.

The matter is just not a legal issue, but also a serious political issue linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said.

This is another major example of the Modi governments politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue, Ramesh said.

On Thursday morning, Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modis surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying how come all thieves have the common surname Modi while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, This government is clearly relying on one set of tactics to throttle opposition voices inside the Parliament, and a second set of tactics outside it. So if you say something outside the Parliament, they wouldnt allow the House to run.

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Rahul Gandhi, who was in Parliament on Friday, a day after being convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation case, took a veiled dig at the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) over the saffron partys accusation of Congress leader using his party chief Mallikarjun Kharge as tissue paper.

Gandhi, while exiting Kharges chamber where he attended a party meeting, helped the senior leader near the stairs. However, in a video clip posted by the news agency ANI, Gandhi can be heard saying that they will accuse him of wiping his nose on Kharges back if he touches him.

If I touch you now, they will say I am wiping my nose on your back. have you seen that? That I am helping you over there, they are saying I am wiping my nose on you," Rahul Gandhi said.

#WATCH | If I touch you now, they say Im wiping my nose on your back. Utter nonsense. Have you seen that? That I am helping you over there, theyre saying that Im wiping my nose on you," says Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as he helps party chief Mallikarjun Kharge down the stairs. pic.twitter.com/l6qUSdfS0i ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

Rahul Gandhis wiping my nose comment came days after Karnataka BJP shared a video of the Congress leader apparently seen wiping his hand on his party chiefs back.

UNFORTUNATELY, the video epitomises what Gandhis think of senior leaders like @kharge. It is highly condemnable that @RahulGandhi uses somebody as his TISSUE PAPER! This Humiliation to a Kannadiga can not be forgiven," the BJP tweeted along with the video.

On Thursday morning, Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modis surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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From being barred from contesting elections for eight years to losing his official bungalow in Lutyens Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhis disqualification from the Lok Sabha has several possible ramifications.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday notified Gandhis disqualification from the Lower House of Parliament within a day after a court in Surat convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case and awarded two years of imprisonment to him.

Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, SuratRahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

The case filed against the Congress leader was on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Unless a higher court stays Gandhis conviction, experts said, he will continue to remain disqualified from the Lok Sabha and also barred from contesting any election for a total of eight years, two years of jail term and another six years from the date of his release from prison, according to Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

As the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala turns vacant following disqualification of Gandhi from the Lower House, the Election Commission can technically" hold a bypoll to fill the seat as more than one year is left for conducting general elections in 2024.

The term of the present Lok Sabha expires sometime in June.

An expert, who did not wish to be named, felt that the Election Commission is likely to wait for the 30-day period granted by the court to allow Gandhi file an appeal against the conviction.

With his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Gandhi may also have to vacate his official bungalow in Lutyens Delhi within a month if he doesnt get a relief from a higher court, officials said.

The former Congress president has been living in an official bungalow, located on 12, Tughlaq Lane, since it was allotted to him following his victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

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While taking his Parliamentary Constituencys development to greater heights, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled and laid the foundation of development projects worth Rs 1,780 crore during his visit to Varanasi on Friday.

Officials with the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Smart City Varanasi and Tourism department said the projects would be a booster for Kashis already booming tourism sector.

Kashis development is being talked about everywhere and every visitor is going back with new energy. There is a global buzz around Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Ganga Ghat work, and the longest river cruise. More than 7 crore tourists visited Kashi in just one year. These tourists are creating new economic opportunities and employment in the city, said PM Modi during his address, as he unveiled the projects and laid the foundation of some new projects at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Ground, Varanasi.

THE ROPEWAY PROJECT

Of the many projects, the ropeway project would make Kashi Indias first city to have a ropeway public transport. The estimated cost of which is about Rs 645 crore. VDA officials said that the launch of the project, would not only make Kashi, the first city in India to have ropeway public transport, but will also make India, the third country in the world, after Bolivia and Mexico to get it.

In Bolivia, the service labeled as La Paz-El Alto Cable Car, an aerial cable car urban transit system serving the La Paz-EL Alto metropolitan area in Bolivia, was inaugurated in 2019. In Mexico, the service named Medicable that operates in Ecatepec de Morelos in Greater Mexico City was inaugurated on October 4, 2016.

Kashi ropeway project or Kashi cable car project is also said to be the foolproof solution of the traffic jams, bracketed among Kashis perennial problem. Abhishek Goyal, Vice-President, VDA, the construction agency in Kashi ropeway project, said in the first phase, the length of the entire project would be around 3.75km. It would operate from Cantonment area to Godowlia area in Kashi. Initially, around 150 cable cars would be pressed into service. The cable cars would also serve as an alternative transport to the tourists, alighting at the Varanasi Junction in Cantonment area and would ferry them to Godowlia from where they can visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple or Dashashwamedh Ghat, without affecting citys traffic, officials with VDA said.

OTHER PROJECTS

Other projects that were either unveiled or the foundation for which was laid, include a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant at Bhagwanpur under Namami Ganga Scheme, Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium, an LPG bottling plant at Isarwar village, Sewapuri to be built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, a primary health center in Bharthara village and floating jetty with changing rooms among others.

The Prime Minister also dedicated 19 drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which will benefit more than three lakh people of 63 Gram Panchayats. He also laid the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the Mission. He also dedicated an integrated pack house in Karkhiyaon for grading, sorting and processing of fruits and vegetables. He also dedicated various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission.

Officials said the Kashi Vishwanath Dham said the development projects would surely take the tourism sector to another height. Its for the first time in the history when over 7 crore tourists visited Kashi to seek blessings of Lord Shiva last year. I am sure these development projects would take Kashis tourism sector to greater heights, said Sunil Kumar Verma, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

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Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari Friday said the opposition parties should focus on No vote to TMC in next Panchayat polls and Lok Sabha elections in state for giving momentum to the Oust Mamata call.

Adhikari also told reporters here that electing a BJP government in state will accelerate its development of West Bengal as both the BJP-run government at Centre and state can act in synergy.

The way one after another TMC leaders name is surfacing in the job recruitment scam in schools, the way currencies are found stashed in the residences of their associates, people are angry and upset with the ruling party in West Bengal," the Nandigram MLA said.

Adhikari said if the opposition parties stick to their single point agenda of removing the TMC government from power, that will help fulfill the wishes of the people of Bengal who love Narendra Modi".

He also accused TMC of practising divisive politics by minority appeasement.

In response to Adhikaris comments, TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said he is making one comment after another on each passing day to curry favour with the central BJP leadership. And why did he leave TMC where he had occupied key posts and entrusted with responsibilities? To evade interrogation by CBI and ED being accused in scams." Ghosh said people of the state are solidly behind TMC and this will be vindicated in all upcoming polls.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail by the Surat court on Thursday, in a criminal defamation case against him filed in 2019. However, the court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

The criminal defamation case was related to his Modi surname" remark, which he had made back in 2019 during a rally in Karnatakas Kolar district. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500, a PTI report said.

Heres all you need to know about the case:

During an address ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi made the remark, How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" The remark had sparked controversy back then, alleging defamation and a caste bias by several people.

Gujarat Minister and Surat West Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Purnesh Modi had filed a criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over the remarks. After Surat courts order on Thursday, Modi welcomed the verdict.

The final arguments resumed in the case last month after the Gujarat High Court vacated its stay on proceedings imposed on plea by the complainant demanding Gandhis personal appearance.

A case was lodged against Rahul Gandhi and a case was filed against him under Sections 499 and 500 (dealing with defamation) of the IPC.

Rahul Gandhi had last appeared before the Surat court in the case in October 2021 to record his statement. Before that, the Congress MP had appeared in the court to plead not guilty to charges levelled against him.

Notably, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that through his remarks, Gandhi insulted an entire community and not just one surname.

A war of words continued between the BJP and Congress over the issue after the Surat courts order. State Congress leaders, including GPCC president Jagdish Thakor, legislature party leader Amit Chavda, senior leader Arjun Modhwadia, and AICC in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma, were at Surat airport to receive Gandhi.

A huge number of party functionaries had assembled at various spots in the city as a show of strength and support for Gandhi, with posters extolling him as Sher-e-Hindustan (lion of Hindustan) and placards declaring that the Congress will not bow before the dictatorship of the BJP" on display.

Also Read: 2013 Ordinance Tearing Karma Returns to Bite RaGa. Can He Do an Indira Gandhi Before 2024?

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A massive data breach that has implications for national security was unearthed by Cyberabad Police here, who arrested seven people of a gang allegedly involved in the theft and sale of sensitive data of the government and important organisations, including details of 2.55 lakh defence personnel as well as the personal and confidential data of about 16.8 crore citizens across the country.

The accused persons were found selling more than 140 different categories of information, which include sensitive information such as details of defence personnel and the mobile numbers of citizens and NEET students, among others, Cyberabad Police Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra told reporters here on Thursday.

Seven data brokers were arrested from Delhi, police said adding that the accused had been operating through three companies (call centres) in Noida and other places. So far it has been found that the accused sold data to at least 100 fraudsters, who used it for committing cyber crimes. Investigations are still on, police said.

Sensitive data of defence personnel containing their ranks, email ids, place of posting, etc was found available with the accused, Commissioner Raveendra said.

This will have serious national security implications. The data of defence and government employees can be used for espionage; to impersonate them and commit serious offences that may jeopardise national security. We are in the process of finding out how this data got leaked and who are the insiders who are doing it, he added.

The arrested accused were selling the data through a contact details directory service provider and similar platforms, police said, adding that during the course of the investigation it was found that the accused had sold data of 50,000 citizens for as low as Rs 2,000.

Notices will be sent to the service providers and they will be examined and legal action will be initiated against them also, police said.

When any individual calls the toll-free numbers of service providers for any sector or category related confidential data of individuals, their query is listed and sent to that category of service providers. Then these fraudsters contact the clients and send them samples. If the client agrees to purchase, they make payment and are provided the data, police said, explaining the modus operandi.

The accused had aggregated the data leaked from different organisations and, having registered themselves as service delivery agents, sold the data to cyber criminals, police said.

DCP (Cybercrime Wing) Ritiraj said a complaint was lodged with the Cyber Crime wing of Cyberabad Police about the sale and purchase of confidential and sensitive data, even as police had also been investigating how cyber criminals were getting access to data. Police have been working on the case for the past two months.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crimes) Cyberabad Police Kalmeshwar Shingenavar said that during investigations it was found that private organisations are collecting data both with consent and without the knowledge of individuals. There is no data privacy or protection policy offered by most of these private organisations who possess and process the data of individuals, he said.

The accused were also found selling information in categories such as Energy and Power sector, PAN card data, Government employees, Gas and Petroleum, HNIs (High Net-worth Individuals), demat accounts, student databases, women databases, data of people who have applied for loans and insurance, and credit card and debit card holders (of private banks), WhatsApp users, Facebook users, IT organisation employees, frequent flyers etc.

The data of NEET students, with their names, mobile number and their residential address, was also found with the accused. A PAN card database containing sensitive information on the income, email ids, phone numbers, address of citizens was also found.

As many as 1.2 crore WhatsApp users and 17 lakh Facebook users had also been targeted in the data theft, police said. Police also found data pertaining to two crore students, 12 lakh CBSE Class 12 students, 40 lakh jobseekers, 1.47 crore car owners, details of 11 lakh government employees and 15 lakh IT professionals among others.

Further, a mobile number database of three crore individuals, probably leaked from telecom service providers, was also found, the Commissioner said.

The sensitive data that has been leaked can be used for unauthorised access to important organisations and institutions. The data related to PAN card can be used to commit serious financial offences. It is being used to commit a large number of cyber crimes whereby the perpetrators gain the confidence of victims by disclosing such information, police added.

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Fourteen pro-Iran fighters were killed in US air strikes on Syria carried out in retaliation for a drone attack that killed an American and wounded six others, a war monitor said Friday.

A US contractor was killed, and another contractor and five US service personnel wounded, when a kamikaze drone of Iranian origin" struck a maintenance facility on a base of the US-led coalition near Hasakeh in northeastern Syria, the Pentagon said.

In response, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that, at President Joe Bidens direction, he had ordered precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".

The air strikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC," Austin said.

Hours later, 10 rockets were fired at US and coalition forces at the Green Village base at the Al-Omar oil field in northeast Syria, the US Central Command (CentCom) said.

There were no coalition injuries or damages to facilities at the base, but one rocket struck a home around five kilometers away, causing minor injuries to two women and two children, CentCom said

Iran link

The Pentagon blamed the initial drone attack on militias affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The militias have a heavy presence across Syria, especially around the border with Iraq, and south and west of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor province, where the latest US strikes took place.

The United States deploys about 900 troops in posts across northeastern Syria to keep pressure on the remnants of the Islamic State group and support the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which control most of the northeast.

The Pentagon said two F-15 fighters launched the retaliatory attack in the early morning hours local time. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with a wide network of sources on the ground, the US attack killed six fighters at a weapons depot inside Deir Ezzor city, killing six pro-Iran fighters, two near Al-Mayadeen, and six others near Albu Kamal.

Pentagon Spokesman Pat Ryder said the US air strikes were to protect US personnel.

The strikes that we took last night were intended to send a very clear message that we will take the protection of our personnel seriously and that we will respond quickly and decisively if they are threatened," he said.

The strikes were proportionate and deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation to minimise casualties," he said.

Always respond

US personnel in Syria have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups the United States says are backed by Tehran.

Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were evacuated to Iraq, the Pentagon said.

We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," said CentCom chief General Michael Kurilla.

In January, the US military said three one-way attack drones were launched against the Al-Tanf garrison in Syria, with one breaching its air defences and wounding two allied Syrian fighters.

Last August, Biden ordered similar retaliatory strikes in Deir Ezzor province after several drones targeted a coalition outpost, without causing any casualties.

We know that these groups are sponsored by Iran," Ryder said.

So Iran certainly plays a role in terms of ensuring that this type of activity doesnt happen," he said.

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Opinion / Columnist

Zimbabwe's National Council of Chiefs and Pan-African President, Senator Fortune Charumbira, is a buffoon and when has a buffoon ever said anything that is constructive and rational. And so, it should come as no surprise that he once again made a complete ass of himself at Harare Mayor's mother's funeral. The video of his speech has gone viral.The trouble with our failed political system is its knack to promote buffoons way above their level of competence and give the platforms and a microphone so that their nonsense is heard far and wide! The core message of Chief Charumbira's message was that Mnangagwa and Chamisa should meet and agree on a power sharing arrangement so the country can be spared the unnecessary expense of elections and all the turmoil and violence that entails. The buffoon was way out of his depth:1) Yes, democratic elections are a very expensive affair but the alternative of a autocracy or worse still, a dictatorship, has always resulted in economic stagnations and political oppression. And when the long overdue change is finally come in autocratic nations, it is violent and disruptive.2) Ever since Zimbabwe's independence it is Zanu PF that has been behind the political turmoil and violence. In the1980 elections the main thrust of Zanu PF's campaign message was that if the party did not win the elections the bush war would continue. Of course, the people voted to end the war not knowing they would never ever have peace. Zanu PF wage the Gukurahundi massacre for the express purpose of forcing PF Zapu to sign the Unity Accord and pave the way for the imposition of the de facto one party dictatorship and the rest is history.3) Zimbabwe has failed to hold free, fair and credible elections for 43 years and counting but only because Zanu PF would not allow the people to exercise their right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country for fear the party will be rejected in a free vote. Zanu PF has held the nation to ransom all these last four decades and the years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and Mafia style lawlessness have left the country a failed state and in economic ruins. Millions of our people are living in abject poverty and the future is grime.4) We need to end Zimbabwe's failed political system and the solution is staring us in the face  implement the democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections. Free and fair elections are not just a fundamental right, they are the very essence of good and accountable government - the one thing Zimbabwe has been dying for ever since independence in 1980. Only a seasoned buffoon like Chief Charumbira would advocate for the status quo!
Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks on resuming consular services, Saudi state media said Thursday, more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom cut ties with President Bashar al-Assads regime.

A discussion is underway between officials in the kingdom and their counterparts in Syria about resuming the provision of consular services," state-affiliated channel Al-Ekhbariya said, citing a Saudi foreign ministry official.

The report gave no timeline for the move, which would mark the latest Saudi step towards mending rifts with regional rivals.

Earlier this month, a Chinese-brokered deal was announced to restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, seven years after they had been severed.

Riyadh has been hinting at a rapprochement with Syria for weeks.

It sent aid to both rebel-held and government-controlled parts of the country in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, killing tens of thousands of people.

That effort did not involve direct contact with Assads internationally isolated government, and Saudi officials instead coordinated with the Syrian Red Crescent on aid going into government-controlled territory.

Damascus has seen amplified Arab engagement since the quake, including from governments that have so far resisted normalisation after more than a decade of war.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in February that a consensus was building in the Arab world that a new approach to Syria requiring negotiations with Damascus would be needed to address humanitarian crises.

There is a consensus within the Arab world that the status quo is not working and that we need to find some other approach," Prince Faisal told the Munich Security Conference.

What that approach is, is still being formulated," he added.

Ayham Kamel, Middle East and North Africa researcher for Eurasia Group, said Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, would like to see a more stable environment" in the region that would let him focus on domestic issues.

The domestic economic modernisation agenda requires a more stable environment and therefore the deals that are emerging," Kamel told AFP.

The Saudi foreign minister said policy shifts on Syria could also help Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, primarily Jordan and Lebanon.

On Sunday, Assad visited the United Arab Emirates, where President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told him it was time for Damascus to be reintegrated into the wider Arab region, Emirati state media said.

The trip  Assads second to the oil-rich UAE in as many years  comes after a visit to Oman last month, his only official engagements in Arab countries since the start of Syrias war in 2011.

Syria was expelled from the Cairo-based Arab League in 2011 over its violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.

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World Bank presidential nominee Ajay Banga has tested positive for Covid-19 during routine testing in New Delhi where he was travelling on the last leg of his world tour, and is currently quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday.

India is witnessing a spike in influenza and coronavirus cases in the past two weeks. The country has recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases increased to 7,026, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

Bangas New Delhi visit (March 23 and March 24) is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for Covid-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday afternoon.

While in India, 63-year-old Banga was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Treasury said in a previous statement.

India endorsed Bangas candidacy soon after his nomination was announced.

Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cote dIvoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society.

Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials.

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront longstanding challenges.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.

New Delhi logged 84 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.08 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the health department.

The city has seen an increase in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last few days, amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

Read all the Latest Business News here
Following the vandalization of the Indian High Commission in London last week, the government has urged authorities in the UK to deport several individuals involved in the violence, people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18.

Some among those involved held Indian passports and were seeking asylum in the UK citing so-called political persecution but are involved in the Khalistani separatist movement and in attacks against members of the Indian diaspora in the UK and elsewhere.

One of the individuals, Avtar Khanda, has been living in the UK for several years and is one of the prominent leaders of the movement. He sought asylum in the UK, claiming political persecution in India.

Avtar Singh Khanda has been arrested in London for vandalising the premises of the Indian High Commission. Khanda on March 19 climbed on the balcony of the Indian High Commission, insulted the national flag by pulling it down and then put the Khalistani flag on the flagpole.

Intelligence agencies accuse Avtar Singh Khanda as the main handler of #AmritpalSinghArrested for vandalising the Tricolour at #IndianEmbassy in #London: Is he the brains behind meteoric rise of the #Khalistan movement?@Arunima24 shares details with @poonam_burde | #NationAt5 pic.twitter.com/ITsIGsuikr  News18 (@CNNnews18) March 21, 2023

The authorities in London identified Harjeet Singh, Manroop Singh, Mandeep Singh and Rajinder Singh. These four have Indian passports and have been living in the UK for several years and remain actively involved in the separatist movement.

These individuals also held OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards.

They played a major role in organising the recent protests and inciting violence against the Indian government.

The government wants to hold these individuals accountable and bring them back to India to probe their involvement in the protests. The government has urged the UK government to deport them back to India as soon as possible.

People familiar with the developments also said that some of those involved with the separatist movement also have British passports.

A separate report by CNN-News18, citing people familiar with the developments, said Khanda is also behind the radicalisation of Sikh youths overseas. It also said that Khanda is the main handler of Amritpal Singh, a radical separatist preacher, who attacked Punjab police officials in Ajnala after one member of Waris Punjab De, the separatist group led by him, was arrested.

Amritpal Singh is a fugitive and police officials in Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand remain on alert.

Read all the Latest News here
Canadas foreign ministry has said the government is aware of protests by Khalistani supporters at various locations across the country and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian diplomatic missions.

Marilyne Guevremont, spokesperson of Canadas foreign ministry said that Canadian authorities are in contact with Indian diplomatic officials regarding the protests.

We are aware that protests have taken place at various locations in Canada. Canadian authorities have been in contact with Indian diplomatic officials regarding the protests, Marilyne Guevremont said in a statement.

The foreign ministry also promised action and added that the country will take the security-related obligations under international law very seriously.

Global Affairs Canada is committed to the safety and security of these missions and diplomats. We take very seriously our security-related obligations under international law, she added.

The reaction comes as India registered a strong protest over the vandalization of the Indian mission in San Francisco and London by pro-Khalistan elements. The anti-India protests were also held in Canada, the UK and the US.

Khalistan supporters held protests in Ottawa in Canada on Thursday, according to reports.

An event to be attended by the Indian envoy to Canada in British Columbia province had to be cancelled due to security concerns after a violent protest by Khalistan supporters. The event was ultimately cancelled for security reasons.

Indian-origin journalist Sameer Kaushal, who was at the venue to cover the protest, was also assaulted by protesters.

Meanwhile, in London, around 2,000 protesters waving Khalistan flags descended upon the Indian High Commission on Wednesday for a planned demonstration and hurled objects and chanted slogans amid a heightened security presence and barricades.

Canada has also seen a rise in anti-India activities recently by Khalistan supporters who have vandalised some Hindu temples.

Last September, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the rise of hate crimes against Indians and anti-India activities in Canada, expressing their concern with stern language.

Read all the Latest India News here
The Canadian and U.S. governments have agreed to update an asylum seekers pact that would allow for the closure of an unofficial U.S.-Canada border crossing at Roxham Road, between New York state and the province of Quebec, according to media reports on Thursday.

A sharp increase in asylum seekers entering Canada through unofficial crossings has increased pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to negotiate an agreement with President Joe Biden to close off the entire land border to most asylum seekers.

Border crossings between the two countries are governed by the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), which allows U.S. and Canadian officials to turn back asylum seekers in both directions at formal ports of entry, but does not apply to unofficial crossings like Roxham Road.

Ottawa and Washington have now struck an agreement to update the STCA to allow each country to turn back asylum seekers who cross the border without authorization, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing internal documents and an unnamed source familiar with the negotiations.

As part of the agreement, Canada is expected to announce 15,000 slots for migrants from the Western Hemisphere to apply to enter the country legally, the Times reported.

Earlier, Radio-Canada also reported that Ottawa had reached a deal to welcome a limited number of migrants through official channels as part of the deal with the Biden administration to close Roxham Road.

The New York Times also reported that a deal had been reached and an announcement was expected on Friday.

Roxham Road is a dirt path that has become a route of choice for asylum-seekers hoping to enter Canada from the United States at what is known as an irregular crossing due to the absence of an official border checkpoint.

The media reports come ahead of Bidens long-delayed visit to close ally Canada to express unity on Ukraine and the environment. He will be in Ottawa on Thursday and Friday to address Parliament and meet with Trudeau.

Trudeaus office did not respond to a request for comment about the deal on the border crossing, but a government source said: Were encouraged by signals from the U.S., but nothing is done until its done, and the leaders meet tomorrow.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Trudeau said the U.S. and Canadian governments had been working to resolve the complex issue of irregular border crossings for many months and that he hoped to make an announcement about it soon.

Read all the Latest News here
Khalistani supporters on Thursday vandalised a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Canada and defaced it with pro-Khalistan and anti-India graffiti.

The vandalism of the statue occurred in the early hours of Thursday near the City Hall in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario, a report in Hindustan Times said.

The six-foot tall statue, gifted by the Indian Government, was defaced with abuse against Gandhi and attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The statue of the Mahatma has been at that location since 2012, according to the report.

The incident comes as Canadas foreign ministry said the government is aware of protests by Khalistani supporters at various locations across the country.

Marilyne Guevremont, the spokesperson of Canadas foreign ministry, said that Canadian authorities are in contact with Indian diplomatic officials regarding the protests.

The foreign ministry had promised action and added that the country will take the security-related obligations under international law very seriously.

In a series of attacks on Hindu temples, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was vandalised in January this year and its walls were defaced with anti-India slogans.

Similarly, in February the prominent Ram Mandir in Mississauga in Canada was vandalised with anti-India graffiti allegedly pro-Khalistan groups.

In July 2022, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located at the Vishnu Mandir in the Greater Toronto Area was vandalised and defaced with graphic words.

Read all the Latest News here
Following the recent meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, the Russian envoy to India Denis Alipov responded on Thursday to concerns that its close alliance with China might negatively impact its relationship with India.

The Russian ambassador dismissed these concerns as unfounded and wishful thinking and indicated that Russia appears committed to maintaining and strengthening its ties with both Beijing and New Delhi.

During his recent visit to Moscow for a so-called peace mission, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putins strong leadership, which provided a diplomatic boost for Russia, as it faces criticism from the Western world and Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Profusion of analysis these days of the outcomes of Xi Jinping's Russia visit. The impression as though various reputable Indian experts almost dream of Russia-China ties harming Russia-India strategic alignment. A wishful thinking case in point! Denis Alipov  (@AmbRus_India) March 23, 2023

Profusion of analysis these days of the outcomes of Xi Jinpings Russia visit. The impression as though various reputable Indian experts almost dream of Russia-China ties harming Russia-India strategic alignment. A wishful thinking case in point, Alipov said in a tweet on Thursday.

Alipov was referring to articles published in Indian media which analysed what consequences Xi Jinpings visit to Russia may have on New Delhi-Moscow ties. He said that some experts believe Russias alliance with China could potentially harm its strategic alignment with India and dismissed those ideas as wishful thinking.

While Russia has applauded Indias stance on the war in Ukraine, both Moscow and Beijing were dismissive of certain G20 nations raising the Ukraine issue during the finance ministers and foreign ministers meeting held in Bengaluru and New Delhi, respectively, forcing India to walk a diplomatic tightrope with respect to publishing of the joint communique.

This led to no publishing of joint communique at the end of these meetings and a chair summary was released with a footnote: Paragraphs 3 and 4 of this document, as taken from the G20 Bali Leaders Declaration (15-16 November 2022), were agreed to by all member countries except Russia and China.

India is the current president of the G20.

China and Russia also did not refer to the G20 directly but did not like that security-related issues were being raised during meetings under the G20 framework.

Read all the Latest News here
West Asian nations Saudi Arabia and Syria could sign an agreement that will restore diplomatic ties and help reach detente between both nations whose ties have been strained since 2011 when Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Syria due to the Syrian civil war.

Saudi Arabia and Syria have been on the opposite sides of the conflict with the former supporting anti-Assad factions, leading to downgrading of ties since 2011.

The recent negotiations have been mediated by Russia, news agencies reported citing Saudi and Syrian officials familiar with the developments.

This development comes shortly after China brokered a peace deal between foes Iran and Saudi Arabia. Even Iran and Saudi Arabia were on the opposing sides of the civil war in Syria.

The Wall Street Journal in its report pointed out that negotiations were ongoing after multiple rounds of talks in Moscow and Riyadh in recent weeks. Should an agreement be reached, it would be a significant move towards reintegrating Syria and its leader Bashar al-Assad into the wider region following the decade-long civil war.

It also pointed out that if such a deal is reached, then the US would be on the sidelines amid another politically significant development in West Asia.

Officials from Damascus and Riyadh told the Wall Street Journal that both sides wish to conclude the deal when Saudi Arabia foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan visits Damascus after Eid al-Fitr in late April.

The Wall Street Journal citing Saudi state media said Damascus and Riyadh have begun negotiations to resume providing essential consular services for both nations.

Saudi and Syria have held talks on security concerns. Saudi wants help with detainees who joined jihadists in the Syrian civil war, Syria seeks Riyadhs aid to cut off extremist funding and recruitment of factions fighting in Syria.

Syria is talking to several partners in the region aiming to end a decade of isolation. Oman, Jordan and even Iran have also backed the restoring of the relationship after a period of tension or conflict.

Sidelining the US in West Asia

The US views Saudi Arabia as a key ally in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia depends on the US for military support and security but the equation is changing as Saudi Arabia has sought to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with China through its Belt and Road Initiative.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman aka MBS, who runs Saudi Arabia as the West Asian nations Prime Minister for his ageing father, King Salman has grown close to Xi Jinping.

Following the war in Ukraine, he has also grown closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin. They have built a friendly relationship, centred on mutual economic and strategic benefits of late.

The Biden administrations push to hold accountable those responsible for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and to reassess US-Saudi relations angered MBS, who reset ties with US after the Democrats were voted to power in 2020.

It was not easy for Damascus and Riyadh to restore relations because Syria was ousted from the Arab League with the backing of Saudi Arabia who then went on to support anti-Assad forces for years.

The WSJ report said the Kremlin helped broker a preliminary agreement when Assad visited Moscow last week. Highly-placed Syrian officials also visited Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

If a deal is reached then reconstruction of the Arab League and reintegration of Syria will be on the agenda of the next league summit in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal said.

The report also points out that the West Asian and North African countries who form the Arab world are setting aside deep divisions which arose in 2011 following the Arab Spring which led to toppling of several regimes.

The other factor that has emerged is that there is a general consensus in the Middle East on noninterference in domestic affairs, an expert told the WSJ while also pointing out common features between some oil exporters and authoritarian regimes.

However, it should be noted that Russia is cementing its position in the Arab world and challenging Western influence in the region.

It has already challenged Western influence in Arab countries in North Africa as well as in central and southern parts of the continent.

Russia is expanding in Africa via arms sales, resources extraction, and military ties. The country is increasing its influence in African politics by offering diplomatic backing to authoritarian rulers.

Moscow has replaced Paris as more African leaders turn towards Beijing and Moscow.

Frances diplomatic reputation in Africa has been tarnished due to instances of meddling in several African nations internal affairs and support for authoritarian rulers.

For instance, Frances military presence in the Sahel region has been criticised for human rights abuses, causing public outrage and protests. The legacy left behind by French colonialism has also affected ties between several African nations, who were once colonies and France.

Where Does US Stand

The US does not support the Assad regime in Syria. It is critical of the regimes alleged human rights violations and its use of chemical weapons against civilians.

The US has supported opposition groups and has provided military aid to Kurdish forces in Syria fighting against ISIS. It should be noted that Washington faced criticism for its military presence in Syria and its lack of a clear strategy for resolving the conflict.

The Middle East has undergone a realignment in recent years. The Saudis patched up a diplomatic spat with Qatar.

Persian Gulf nations Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have begun setting aside long standing differences with Turkey, and conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria have largely cooled down.

American withdrawal from Afghanistan and its recent decision to remove its advanced aircrafts from West Asia and replace it with an ageing fleet has also led to powers that be to assume that Washingtons influence in the region is waning.

The US is trying to broker a peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and Israel have gradually been normalising their relationship in recent years, based on shared concerns over Iran and growing commercial ties.

However, the process could be affected since Saudi and Iran have brokered a peace deal and Iranians, like Saudi Arabian citizens, remain vocal supporters of Palestinian causes.

Both have been accused of funding providing financial and military assistance to Hamas and Islamic Jihad but Saudi has said such claims are false and have offered public condemnation towards both groups.

Read all the Latest News here
A conman from New York, who posed as a wealthy investment banker, threatened to jump from a Manhattan high rise on Wednesday after the FBI attempted to serve a search warrant.

Ian Mitchell, 35, accused of running a shady scheme in 2015, broke the window inside an apartment within the 72-story CitySpire condominium building and attempted to climb out at 8:40 am, a report in New York Post said.

A video going viral on social media showed Mitchell with his legs dangling from the window of the apartment belonging to his girlfriend as people stood outside watching and filming.

A photograph shared on the internet showed his upper body covered in a white curtain or sheet as he sat in the window, with the glass clearly shattered around him. He is seen wearing a black T-shirt and black pants.

Meanwhile in Manhattan, a guy wanted by the FBI is still threatening to jump from the 31st floor for over 2 hourspic.twitter.com/XriFOld5FW pic.twitter.com/sFewAVOHEm I Meme Therefore I Am  (@ImMeme0) March 22, 2023

Reports said that Mitchell was allegedly suicidal and threatening to jump from the 31st floor. New York Polices Emergency Services Unit responded to the scene and tried speaking with the man.

The police even set up an air cushion right in the middle of the street as talks continued to try to get the man to give up peacefully.

Meanwhile, police told the bystanders on the sidewalk to either get inside the building or move down the block.

Hours later, at around 1 pm, he got out of the window and was back in the apartment, but barricaded himself inside.

Every time the officers tried moving closer to the accused, he threatened the cops saying Ill jump.

The Emergency Service Unit rises and rappels to the challenges across this city, they are everything that we need them to be when needed and today was no exception. Another example of courage and heroism from your NYPD. pic.twitter.com/MkSPsrgy9d  Commissioner Sewell (@NYPDPC) March 22, 2023

The 8-hour standoff ended at around 5 pm when an officer went to the apartment above Mitchells 31st-floor home and descended down the building. The officer leapt through the window where Mitchell was dangling and kicked him inside.

Mitchell had an arrest warrant issued against him for a white collar crime as he posed himself as Ian Matalon," a relative of wealthy Jamaican businessman Joseph Matalon and claimed to be an investment banker.

He had duped several people, including an Air Force veteran, of their life savings worth thousands of dollars.

Read all the Latest News here
Kashmiri youth leaders Mir Junaid and Touseef Raina speaking at a panel discussion in National Press Club in Washington, DC, were heckled by so-called activists from Pakistan.

Mir and Touseef were heading a panel discussion titled Kashmir - From Turmoil to Transformation which featured leaders from the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir.

#WATCH | Pakistanis heckle, interrupt discussion on Kashmirs transformation in Washington DCs National Press Club pic.twitter.com/I5OHEL6s9I ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

The event was organised by the International Center for Peace Studies with an aim to discuss development, peace and grassroots democracy in the region.

During the discussion, Mir highlighted that Kashmir transformed into a land of peace, prosperity and progress in Jammu and Kashmir under the current administration.

Mir also criticised countries who raked up the Kashmir dispute and urged people to focus beyond the controversial rhetoric. He said those raking up the issue in global forums have nothing to do with Kashmirs peace, progress and prosperity, criticising Pakistan for using Kashmir for political purposes and wanting to keep the region restive.

We will be speaking onKashmir: From Turmoil to Transformation at #NationalPressClub Washington.The resilience & perseverance of the people of J&k is a positive story in itself. Our unwavering spirit and determination to overcome adversity is truly inspiring & we are proud of it pic.twitter.com/eoFIzfCtQZ Mir Junaid (@MirJunaidJKWP) March 22, 2023

He referred to the fate of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders who faced legal challenges and how it collapsed.

Meanwhile, a group of so-called protesters interrupted the Kashmiri youth leaders and heckled them. Shame on you, the protesters chanted but were immediately escorted out of the room by security personnel.

Junaid thanked the security personnel and said that the audience saw the real face of the protesters and thanked them for displaying to the world their indecency.

The whole audience has seen your real face today. What we have seen in Kashmir we saw in Washington today and thank you for showing the world how cruel how indecent these people are, he said.

You have seen it all and this is what they did initially, what they are doing, they tried to silence me with the barrel of an AK-47. If you gave them the 47 they would shoot us dead here right away. Thats because they dont want to face the truth, Junaid said, according to news agency ANI.

Mir Junaid is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party (JKWP). He is a writer and a law graduate from the University of Kashmir.

The event aimed to provide a platform for youth leaders from Kashmir to share their perspectives and experiences of the ground situation in the region.

The youth leaders said the disruption by the so-called protesters was unfortunate but during the discussion they were able to highlight Kashmirs progress and development.

Read all the Latest India News here
The UK and EU will on Friday formally agree a post-Brexit deal to overhaul Northern Irish trade rules after lawmakers from both parties approved it despite a rebellion within Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks party.

UK foreign minister James Cleverly and EU Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic will sign off the Windsor Framework" at a joint committee meeting in London.

UK lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed a crucial part of the deal on Wednesday, in the face of a rebellion by ex-leader Boris Johnson and other hardline Conservative eurosceptics.

The vote on the frameworks so-called Stormont brake"  which hands Northern Irish lawmakers an effective veto over new European Union rules being implemented in the UK province  won the backing of 515 MPs, with 29 opposed.

By formally approving the Windsor Framework, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland," Cleverly said before Fridays meeting.

The Framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland, safeguarding its place in the Union.

I look forward to further effective cooperation with the EU on key issues, such as security and energy," he added.

Once formally agreed, the UK government said it will then begin the process of implementing the framework.

Not acceptable

Despite Fridays show of unity, the new deal has reopened old divisions within Sunaks party.

Twenty-two Tory MPs  including Johnson and fellow former leader Liz Truss  opposed the brake in Wednesdays vote, while another 48 declined to vote.

MPs from Northern Irelands largest pro-UK party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), also voted against, suggesting that Sunak will struggle to get the party to resume power-sharing in Belfast.

The Stormont brake is a key cog in the new framework, which aims to reset strained ties between Britain and the bloc.

But it is also hoped the pact can pave the way for devolved government to restart in Northern Ireland, after the DUP collapsed the executive last year over its opposition to existing post-Brexit trade rules.

Northern Ireland is still in the European customs union and single market because of the need to keep an open border with EU member Ireland to the south as part of a 1998 peace deal.

With the rest of the UK out of the EU, that has caused headaches on how to protect the single market on goods heading across the Irish Sea and, unionists claim, made a united Ireland more likely.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the framework failed to solve its concerns about Northern Irelands ability to trade with the rest of the UK.

That is the bottom line for us," he told MPs on Wednesday. Until that is resolved, I cant commit to the government that we will restore the political institutions."

Brexit figurehead Johnson called the framework not acceptable" as he opposed it.

He urged the government to stick with legislation he helped craft that would unilaterally disregard existing EU rules in Northern Ireland until Brussels agreed acceptable alternatives.

But that draft law, introduced last year, prompted the bloc to threaten reprisals and a damaging wider trade war, further souring relations.

Read all the Latest News here
A US Navy destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea and sparked yet another confrontation between the US and China for the second day in a row.

The first confrontation occurred on Thursday when the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer sailed near the group of islands.

On Friday, the ship was spotted again in the vicinity of the islands, as part of a freedom of navigation operation challenging requirements from China, Taiwan,and Vietnam, that require advance notification or permission before a military vessel can pass through.

All three nations lay claim to the strategic waterway.

China said on Friday that the USs actions violate its sovereignty and security and said its navy and air force had forced the American vessel away, something the US military has denied. Beijing also warned the US of serious consequences.

The latest incident comes as tensions between the US and China have plumetted to new lows.

The United States challenges excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the identity of the claimant, said US 7th Fleet spokesman Luka Bakic.

Chinas Ministry of National Defense responded by accusing the US of undermining the peace and stability of the South China Sea.

The act of the US military seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and security, severely breached international laws, and is more ironclad evidence of the US pursuing navigation hegemony and militarizing the South China Sea, ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said.

He said China will take all necessary measures to ensure security, but did not elaborate further.

In recent years, China has become increasingly assertive in the region, prompting the US to push back.

The issue has been a source of tension between the two nations for long. The other problems the countries have bickered about include Taiwans independence, human rights accusations against China and the origins of the Covid pandemic.

Recently, a Chinese balloon the US accused China of using for surveillance, was shot down by the former, leading to a further strain in tensions.

Story continues

The US maintains its actions in the South China Sea are justified under international law.

The operation reflects our commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea for all nations, Mr Bakic said.

The South China Sea is an important waterway for global trade, with around $5 trillion in trade passing through each year. Additionally, the area holds valuable fish stocks and undersea mineral resources.

Chinas claims to the region have frequently brought it into conflict with other nations, including the Philippines. Filipino diplomats recently protested Chinas aggressive behaviour, including targeting a Philippine coast guard ship with a powerful military laser.

The US has been present in the South China Sea for more than a century and its forces currently operate there daily.

In 2016, a UN-backed arbitration tribunal ruled that Chinas historical claim to the waters had no legal basis under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Seas.

Tensions between the US and China continue to escalate in the region despite the ruling.

Additional reporting by agencies
UPDATE

Mar 24, 2023 5:46 AM CDT

A cryptocurrency boss facing fraud charges in the US and South Korea has been arrested far away from both in Montenegro. Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon, charged in connection with the $40 billion collapse of the firm's cryptocurrency, has been wanted in South Korea since September. He and another man linked to the crash had allegedly been hiding in Serbia before changing location, the AP reports. Both were detained at Podgorica's airport while allegedly trying to fly to Dubai using fake Costa Rican passports. Montenegro's Interior Minister Filip Adzic described the arrest of "one of the world's most wanted fugitives," per the BBC. South Korea will now work on extraditing the 31-year-old Kwon.

Feb 17, 2023 7:11 AM CST

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Singapore-based Terraform Labs and its founder Do Kwon with orchestrating "a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud" following the collapse of sister cryptocurrencies LUNA and TerraUSD (UST). The SEC said Thursday that "Terraform and Kwon raised billions of dollars from investors by offering and selling an inter-connected suite of crypto asset securities, many in unregistered transactions" beginning in April 2018 but weren't truthful with the public, "repeatedly claiming that the tokens would increase in value."

UST was pegged to the US dollar and maintained that peg by being interchangeable for LUNA. As CNBC reports, "users could always swap one LUNA for UST and vice versa at a guaranteed price of $1, regardless of the market price of either token at the time." But UST broke its peg when the price of LUNA became unstable. In May 2021, Kwon secretly recruited a third party to purchase massive amounts of UST to restore the peg while claiming victory for the algorithmic stablecoin, the SEC said, per CNBC. Still, the token would later collapse, costing investors some $42 billion and resulting in a sell-off of other major cryptocurrencies.

Kwon and Terraform "committed fraud by repeating false and misleading statements to build trust before causing devastating losses for investors," said SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. In one example, they lied in claiming a popular Korean mobile payment app "used the Terra blockchain to settle transactions that would accrue value to LUNA," according to the SEC. Kwon is already facing fraud charges in his native South Korea, per the BBC. In December, authorities there issued an arrest warrant, saying Kwon was believed to be in Serbia. He has denied he is on the run without revealing his location. (Read more cryptocurrency stories.)
UPDATE

Mar 24, 2023 12:02 AM CDT

The California radio host who went missing last month has been found dead. The body of Jeffrey "JV" Vandergrift, 55, was found Wednesday in the waters of San Francisco Bay near the city's Pier 39, a popular tourist area, KRON4 reports. His cause of death has not yet been determined, but police say they have no evidence of foul play. His wife and the co-host of The JV Show, Natasha Yi, said about a week after his disappearance that personal information indicating her husband would not be found alive had been located. "I tell you this with incredible pain and sadness in my heart," she wrote at the time. "My heart is utterly broken." On the day he disappeared, Vandergrift had spoken on his radio show about his struggle with Lyme disease and the effect it was having on his brain.

Feb 28, 2023 6:22 PM CST

San Francisco Bay Area radio station Wild 94.9 has shared what it calls an "incredibly worrisome" update on morning host Jeffrey Vandergrift, known as JV, who disappeared last week. The station said there has been no trackable activity on Vandergrift's cellphone or credit cards since he was last seen at his home around 10pm Thursday night, NBC Bay Area reports. The San Francisco Police Department said the 54-year-old is considered "at risk." Police described Vandergrift as a "white male, 60, 180 pounds, bald, and brown eyes" and said anybody who sees him should contact 911.

"JV is loved by everyone here at Wild 94.9 and iHeartMedia, and we know he is equally beloved by his Bay Area listening family," the station said in a tweet. "We are asking for your continued prayers for both JV, his wife Natasha, and his entire family. We will continue to share more information as we receive it." The New York Post reports that Vandergrift edited the caption on his most recent Instagram post around the time he disappeared. He changed the caption on the Aug. 20 post about National Radio Day to read: "Thank you for a wonderful life-filed w joy, laughs, pain & struggle. It's been a great journey." (Read more missing person stories.)
UPDATE

Mar 23, 2023 6:10 PM CDT

A House vote on whether to override President Biden's first veto fell short of the two-thirds majority needed on Thursday, keeping a Labor Department rule on investments by retirement funds intact. The 219-200 vote means the Senate will not take the veto up, NBC News reports. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had issued a statement Monday calling the president's veto "totally appropriate" and criticizing congressional Republicans for trying to throw out the investment policy.

Mar 20, 2023 5:06 PM CDT

President Biden used the first veto of his presidency to block legislation that would keep retirement plans from considering social and environmental factors when making investments, as they can now. The Republican-backed measure would risk workers' savings in retirement funds, Biden said in a video posted on Twitter, the Guardian reports. "They couldn't take into consideration investments that would be impacted by climate, impacted by overpaying executives," he said. "And that's why I decided to veto it." The Labor Department rule was enacted to overturn Trump-era policies discouraging fund managers from including such factors in their decision-making.

As it is, funds can use an environmental, social, and governance strategy, as it's called, per USA Today, but don't have to. Republicans nevertheless have objected to the rule. "This is trying to parallel financial return with an ideological push," Sen. Mike Braun said last month. "I don't like that." And they objected to the veto Monday. "Nowdespite a bipartisan vote to block his ESG agendait's clear Biden wants Wall Street to use your retirement savings to fund his far-left political causes," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted. The House has a vote on overturning Biden's veto scheduled for Thursday, though nearly all Democrats support keeping the rule. (Read more President Biden stories.)
The world's most expensive ancient coinone commemorating the murder of Julius Caesar, minted by the very Brutus who betrayed himhas been seized from its US buyer and repatriated to Greece. The "extraordinarily rare" coin, one of only three gold versions known to exist, and 28 other antiquities looted from Greece were seized in multiple criminal investigations into traffickers and smugglers, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, which returned the items to Greek officials in a Tuesday ceremony. The haul was valued at $20 million, and the coin, about the size of a nickel, at $4.2 million, per the New York Times.

The Roman senator Marcus Junius Brutus had coins minted in gold and silver to pay his soldiers during the civil war that followed Caesar's death, but also to celebrate Caesar's downfall, per the Times. Minted in 42 BC, this particular coin includes the Latin inscription "EID MAR," referring to the Ides of March, or March 15, when Caesar was killed two years earlier in 44 BC. One side features Brutus' profile. The other shows two daggers pointing downward in a nod to Caesar's stabbing death. It is thought to have been looted more than a decade ago from a field where Brutus and ally Gaius Cassius Longinus camped with their army before suffering defeat at the Second Battle of Philippi.

British dealer Richard Beale, director of auction house Roma Numismatics, reportedly began offering it for sale between 2013 and 2014. It finally sold at auction for $4.2 million, the most ever paid for an ancient coin, in October 2020, per the Times. Beale was arrested on charges including grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in January, per Art News. The coin was recovered from its buyer, an unidentified US billionaire, in February, according to officials. It was returned to Greece alongside an urn that once held human remains in a chamber tomb and a group of human and animal figurines up to 7,000 years old, which had been on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art News reports. (Read more gold coins stories.)
Melanie Bennett, executive director of the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate, at this week's conference in Whitehorse. (Leslie Amminson/CBC - image credit)

It was day one of the First Nation Education Conference in Whitehorse when Melanie Bennett started to relax and enjoy herself.

Bennett is executive director of the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED), which organized the conference. The event is in its fourth year, but she still gets nervous before it all comes together.

"We've been working on this for a year," Bennett said. "And you go, 'OK, my fingers are crossed, everything is gonna go well.' And so far, so good."

Almost 400 people registered for the conference, which kicked off Wednesday at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. 200 are attending in person, with the remainder tuning in via Zoom.

Educators are in Whitehorse from all over Canada, and Bennett said people from other countries are participating virtually as well.

"It's spring break here, and I thought everybody would be gone," Bennett said. "I'm really happy to say that they did come. It just shows how dedicated our people in the Yukon are to education."

1st year of the First Nation School Board

It's been a year of big change in Yukon's education system.

This is the YFNED'S first conference since the territory's First Nation School Board formally took control of eight schools in the Yukon.The board is an entity separate from the education directorate, but the organizations work together closely.

Bennett says she's proud of what the board's done under the leadership of executive director Melissa Flynn.

"It's an honour to see the seed that has been set, and it's going to grow," Bennett said. "Melissa Flynn is doing a stellar job."

Leslie Amminson/CBC

Flynn, who became the new board's executive director a year ago this week, said the first year was full of learning.

She said the board was able to connect with school communities closely, and meet their needs in ways that worked for them. That includes working with a mobile therapeutic unit that's been in communities across the territory to deliver supports like speech language pathology and occupational therapy.

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The board also introduced a new literacy program designed to meet kids at their level and provide more one-on-one support.

Three more schools will join the First Nation School Board this year, following a recent referendum.

But the year hasn't been without its challenges, Flynn said, especially since the pandemic has been hard on teachers, students and parents.

"I think people's resilience is really low right now," she said. "Change is difficult and change is scary. And so we came in with a plan to be as supportive as we can."

Language and tradition focus of this year's event

The conference's theme this year is Our Language, Our Culture, Our Way. Breakout sessions focused on a wide range of topics, from on-the-land learning to healing and humour.

Ann Jirousek, who's been teaching in the Yukon since 2000, led a session on storytelling in the classroom.

Jirousek said teachers should think about what stories they're told, and which perspectives might be missing from their classrooms. That means reaching out to local First Nations, and making sure all students see their cultures reflected.

The Yukon is a great place to see that in practice, Jirousek said.

"When I speak to other educators across Canada, some of them don't have access to First Nations elders, they don't have access to land, to go and learn some of these practices," she said.

"A lot of them don't understand this strength that is carried by connecting with people that were here since time began."

Leslie Amminson/CBC

Jirousek said the Yukon is at the forefront of many shifts in the classroom, and other parts of Canada will be watching the territory to learn.

Bennett said she hopes out-of-territory attendees leave with lessons they can take with them.

"I hope people just have a really good time," Bennett said. "And they drink the water so that we can leave a little bit of Yukon with them, and they can leave with a little bit of Yukon with them."
A Pennsylvania woman linked to a far-right extremist movement was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison for storming the US Capitol, where she invaded then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office with other rioters. Riley June Williams, 23, of Harrisburg, was charged but not convicted of helping steal a laptop from Pelosi's office suite during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the AP reports. A federal jury convicted Williams in November of six charges, including a felony count of civil disorder, after a two-week trial. But it deadlocked on two other counts, including aiding and abetting the laptop's theft.

Jurors also deadlocked on a charge of obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Then-Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress evacuated the House and Senate chambers when rioters attacked the Capitol. Prosecutors had asked US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to sentence Williams to seven years, three months in prison. "Everywhere she went, Williams acted as an accelerant, exacerbating the mayhem. Where others turned back, she pushed forward," prosecutors wrote in a court filing. Defense lawyers requested a term of imprisonment of one year and one day for Williams, who was 22 in January 2021, per the AP.

"In some respects, she is starkly different from the average January 6th defendantparticularly given her youth and that she is a female," they wrote. "In other ways she is similar to many of other January 6th defendants with no prior criminal record, that were caught up with the mob that day, acting on impulse and without thought to the consequences of their actions." Jackson also sentenced Williams to three years' supervised release after her prison term and ordered her to pay $2,000 in restitution, according to the US attorney's office for the District of Columbia. Approximately 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. More than 400 have been sentenced, with over half of them receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

(Read more Capitol attack stories.)
The Los Angeles police chief and the department's constitutional policing director are under investigation after the names and photographs of undercover officers were released to a technology watchdog group that posted them online. LAPD Chief Michel Moore offered his "deep apologies" to the undercover officers, who were not given advance word of the disclosure, during a police commission meeting Tuesday, per the AP. The watchdog group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition posted more than 9,300 officers' information and photographs Friday in a searchable online database, the Los Angeles Times reported, following a public records request by a reporter for the news outlet Knock LA.

The database includes information on each officer, including name, ethnicity, rank, date of hire, badge number, and division or bureau. It was not immediately clear how many of the officers listed have undercover posts. Stop LAPD Spying Coalition opposes police intelligence-gathering and says the database should be used for countersurveillance. "You can use it to identify officers who are causing harm in your community," the group wrote. "Police have vast information about all of us at their fingertips, yet they move in secrecy." The department's release of the undercover officers' names and photographs was inadvertent, the Times reported. The department's inspector general launched the investigation of Moore and constitutional policing director Liz Rhodes after the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, filed a misconduct complaint against them Monday.

While the city attorney's office determined the agency was legally required to turn over the records under California law, per the AP, exemptions are often made for safety or investigative reasons. Police officials say the database's photos pose safety risks to officers who are currently undercover, as well as those who might work in that capacity in the future. The Knock LA reporter, Ben Camacho, tweeted that he filed the records request as well as a lawsuit last year to get the photographs. The department had not previously raised the issue of officer safety in arguing against their release, he said. "The only officers they are excluding from disclosure are undercover officers, which is expected," a deputy city attorney wrote in a 2022 email to Camacho's attorney, according to a screenshot the journalist posted online.

(Read more Los Angeles stories.)
Frustrated that titles like The Bluest Eye from Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison have been removed from schools as a result of Utah's new book-banning law, one parent is pushing to have the Bible banned. "You'll no doubt find that the Bible ... has 'no serious values for minors' because it's pornographic by our new definition," the parent wrote in a request to the Davis County School District, which was obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune with names redacted. It cites Utah's book-banning law, passed last year with backing from conservative parents groups, which blocks books containing "explicit sexual arousal, stimulation, masturbation, intercourse, sodomy or fondling" from classrooms and school libraries.

Among the books targeted by the groups is The Bluest Eye, in which a young girl suffers sexual abuse by her father. But "Utah Parents United left off one of the most sex-ridden books around: the Bible," reads the request, per Fox News. It lists the book's topics of concern as "incest, onanism, bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, dildos, rape, and even infanticide." It also includes several Bible quotes, including one from Genesis 19:8 in which a father asks that men do "as you wish" to his virgin daughters. The request was submitted Dec. 11. A review process usually takes 60 days. However, a district rep tells the Tribune that the case has been delayed due to a backlog.

A school policy states religious books can't be banned but may be subject to restrictions, per Fox. However, there's debate about how this would mesh with the law. "If the books that have been banned so far are any indication for way lesser offenses, this should be a slam dunk," according to the request, which questions the targeting of texts by and about LGBTQ people and those of color in a school district that's been "under investigation for being racist." A 2021 Justice Department report found Davis had intentionally ignored "serious and widespread" racial harassment, per the Tribune. The district also settled a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union in 2012 after removing a book about a child with same-sex parents, KUTV reports. (Read more book ban stories.)
A new Utah law that tightly restricts how minors can use social media apps like TikTok and Instagram is the first of its kind in the nationand while its supporters say it's all about "protecting our children," campaigners including civil liberties groups hope other states don't follow suit. The Utah Social Media Regulation Act signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox Thursday requires age verification and permission from parents before minors can open social media accounts, the New York Times reports. It also bans people under 18 from using social media platforms between 10:30pm and 6:30am unless a parent changes the settings. It also requires sites to give parents access to their children's accounts, including private messages.

The bill is due to take effect on March 1 next year. Its sponsor, Republican state Sen. Michael McKell, says depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts have "drastically increased" among teens. "I believe this bill is the best path forward to prevent our children from succumbing to the negative and sometimes life-threatening effects of social media," he said in a statement to CNN. "This is something that is killing our kids," Cox said earlier this month, per the Salt Lake Tribune. He said the "addictive qualities of social media" are "intentionally being placed by these companies to get our kids addicted." He signed a second bill Thursday banning social media companies from using features or techniques that could cause addiction among minors.

Lawmakers in states including Connecticut and Ohio are considering similar restrictions and analysts say that if enough states bring in legislation, it could lead to a federal law. Dr. Sarah Coyne, a professor of child development at Brigham Young University, warned that the law could cut off a lifeline for vulnerable youth, the Times reports. "We know that marginalized youth, such as LGBTQ kids, use social media in some really important ways to find belonging and support, especially when they dont have family support," she said. "So if youve got a 17-year-old who is really struggling with mental health turning to social media to find a place to belong, and their parents are cutting it off or looking at their messages, that can have a really significant negative impact." (Read more social media stories.)
Rap artist Afroman says he was furious after police officers raided his Ohio home last August with guns drawn, finding no evidence of the kidnapping and drug trafficking they'd alleged in a search warrant. No charges were ever filed against Afroman, known for the 2000 hit "Because I Got High." But it's the officers, not the rapper, who've now filed a lawsuit. Four deputies, two sergeants, and a detective with the Adams County Sheriffs Office claim invasion of privacy in addition to "emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation" after Afroman shared images of the officers, who were captured by surveillance cameras and another operated by Afroman's wife, per the AP and Guardian.

Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, took to social media to express his anger over the police conduct. He also put images of the raid and of the officers on social media, on merchandise, and in music videos released online, per the Guardian and Washington Post. These actions were "willful, wanton, malicious, and done with conscious or reckless disregard," according to the lawsuit filed this month. The officers say they've been subject to ridicule and death threats, leaving them unable to perform their duties. They're demanding profits from the use of their personasincluding proceeds from songs, videos, event tickets, and the Afroman brandand that posts containing their personas be removed.

On Wednesday, Afroman vowed to countersue "for the undeniable damage" to his property and family, including two children who were home at the time of the raid, per the AP. He's previously claimed to have lost out on gigs because of the allegations contained in the warrant. Hundreds of dollars were also missing when cops returned $5,000 in cash seized during the raid, per Fox 19. A subsequent investigation found "deputies had miscounted," per the AP. "I feel I have every right to do what I'm doing, the rapper tells the Post in an interview, adding he plans to diss each officer individually on a new album. "I think I took the most smartest, positive route." (Read more police officers stories.)
Residents of Chicago's Little Village (La Villita) are demanding answers from police after the disappearance of three females, two of whom have turned up dead in alleys. Guatemalan migrant Reyna Cristina Ical Seb was found with a gunshot wound to the head in an alley in the Southwest Side neighborhood on Feb. 22her 21st birthday, reports the Chicago Tribune. Then last week, the decomposing body of 21-year-old Rosa Chacon, who'd last been seen Jan. 18, was found in another alley roughly 1.5 miles away, per CBS News. The body was wrapped in a sheet in a shopping cart, family members and the private detective they hired after becoming frustrated by a lack of progress in the police investigation tell WLS. No arrests have been made in either case.

"Who did this? Why did they do this?" Chacon's older sister Elizabeth Bello said at a Wednesday press conference held outside a police station. "It is hard to believe and hard to comprehend that in the year 2023 we're still finding bodies of women and no answers," added community member Selene Partida. The discoveries have "left some residents living in fear," per WLS. And fear continues to mount. Community members say 15-year-old Little Village resident Azreya Lomeli hasn't been seen for a week. Described as 5 feet tall, 110 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes, she was last spotted walking in the area "after leaving a behavioral health hospital south of the city," per WLS. Her family was also present at Wednesday's press conference.

"We demand that [police] pay the same attention that would have done when somebody gets killed in Lakeview or in Wrigleyville or in the Gold Coast," said Baltazar Enriquez, president of the community council, per the Sun. "They put the best of the best out there, and here we have to do protests like this, to get the attention of the authorities." A police rep was unable to tell ABC News whether a missing person report had been filed for Azreya. The deaths remain under investigation but police do not believe they are related, per CBS. Ical Seb's Guatemalan family does not believe she was targeted, per the Tribune. The woman who'd promised to send money home to her indigenous community was apparently killed on her way home from work, a friend tells the outlet. (Read more murder stories.)
Many more bodies fall in John Wick: Chapter 4, but is Wick's one of them? That's the question fans need answered as they flock to theaters to see Keanu Reeves' assassin punch, kick, and shoot his way past hoards of pursuers after the multimillion-dollar bounty on his head. The fourth installment in the series, coming four years after the last, is reportedly the final film centered on Wick. And like the others, it's awesome, according to critics and audiences, who offer 95% and 96% scores on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively. Here's what critics are saying:

"Saying goodbye to Wick is bittersweet, but at least the send-off left me sated," writes Venessa Wong at BuzzFeed News. It's "three hours of almost arousingly polished violence" that "will scratch every itch" true fans may have, she continues, going so far as to describe the R-rated film as "actually perfect." "The fights are longer, the body counts are higher, the opponents are even more powerful" and 58-year-old Reeves' commitment is "wildly moving."

David Fear was also left with "the distinct feeling of satisfaction." "The greatest action franchise of the past decade goes out on top, and reminds you why you loved this series in the first place," he writes at Rolling Stone. "Every stunt man employed here should get a bonus, and Reeves has not only kept up his training but picked up some new skills." "You may be slightly exhausted" by the end, but the "landing is stuck" and "that's no small feat," he adds.

"Blissfully entertaining" and "arguably the best-looking of the John Wick films," Chapter 4 is "far more narratively focused than its previous sequels, still managing to globe-trot a behemoth cast a la Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 while returning to a simpler conflict reminiscent of the original John Wick," writes Angelica Jade Bastien at Vulture. She praises "not just Reeves but the many actors in his orbit who shine with a blend of vengeful grace and humorous beats," giving special praise to martial artist Donnie Yen.

Chapter 4 is "quite possibly" the best film of the bunch, according to the Washington Post's Michael O'Sullivan. "At nearly three hours long, its the most John Wick-ian of all the John Wick films, by virtue of the simple fact that there is more time to lavish on the films' fans exactly what they want, in spectacular fashion. And boy, is it spectacular." Indeed, returning director Chad Stahelski "ups the ante from the previous three films with one amazing set piece after another," O'Sullivan writes.

(Read more movie review stories.)
North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic "radioactive tsunami" that would destroy naval strike groups and ports. Analysts were skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines the North's commitment to raising nuclear threats, the AP reports. The testing of the purported "nuclear underwater attack drone" was part of a three-day exercise that simulated nuclear attacks on unspecified South Korean targets, which also included cruise missile launches on Wednesday. The tests came as the United States reportedly planned to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon, which can be deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships, is built to "stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion to destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports of the enemy." The North Korean report came hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to make North Korea pay for its "reckless provocations" as he attended a remembrance service honoring 55 South Korean troops killed during major clashes with the North near their western sea border in past years.

KCNA said that the drills were supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who condemned US-South Korean drills that finished Thursday as invasion rehearsals and vowed to make his rivals "plunge into despair." The drone is named "Haeil," a Korean word meaning tidal waves or tsunami. KCNA said the Norths latest tests were aimed at alerting the United States and South Korea of a brewing "nuclear crisis" as they continue with their "intentional, persistent and provocative war drills." KCNA said North Korea's latest drills verified the operational reliability of the drone, which it said the North has been developing since 2012 and tested more 50 times in the past two years, although the weapon was never mentioned in state media until Friday.

(Read more North Korea stories.)
A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with "precision airstrikes" in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, with one activist group reporting the US strikes killed at least eight fighters on the ground, the AP reports. The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days following years of turmoil.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim. "The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria" by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said. He said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Biden.The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes. US Army Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. "We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks," Kurilla said in a statement. (Read more Syria stories.)
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron bypassed Parliament and raised the age of retirement from 62 to 64, an unpopular move that left citizens "seething." Anger over the proposal has been bubbling up into strikes and protests since January, but the mostly peaceful demonstrations have also made way for some recent violent outliers, including in Bordeaux and Paris. The BBC reports that in the southwest city of Bordeaux on Thursday, protesters set the front door of City Hall ablaze, which firefighters quickly extinguished. It's not clear who was directly responsible for the fire.

In the capital, meanwhile, protests stayed mostly peaceful, but some masked demonstrators in black made their way through the streets smashing store windows, destroying outdoor furniture and bus shelters, and ransacking a McDonald's, reports Reuters. Police tried to disperse the crowds with tear gas, while protesters hurled random objects and fireworks at them. Other citiesincluding Nantes, Lorient, and Rouen, where one woman reportedly lost her thumb after police fired a "flash ball" grenade into the crowdsalso saw clashes.

Popular tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Versailles were shuttered on Thursday, as were schools and colleges across the nation, and teachers as well as workers at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport walked off the job. The French government says more than a million people took to the streets across the country on Thursday, though unions say that figure was closer to 3.5 million, per the Guardian. According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, close to 150 cops have been injured, and hundreds of people are said to have been arrested.

"Demonstrating and voicing disagreements is a right," tweeted French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Thursday. "The violence and degradation we have witnessed today is unacceptable." The protests' effects are now even spreading beyond the country's borders: On Friday, Macron's office announced that a visit from the UK's King Charles III has been postponed due to the ongoing strife, reports the AP. The monarch had been set to make a stop in France on Sunday before heading to Germany on Wednesday. Opinion polls in France show the majority of citizens oppose changes to the pension legislation; Macron says they're necessary to keep the system going. (Read more France stories.)
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to mend the rift in a nation deeply divided over his proposed overhaul of the countrys judiciary. But he offered no details on how he intends to do so and gave no indication that he would slow down the plan.

Netanyahu delivered his appeal in a nationally televised address after another day of mass protests across the country against the plan, and hours after his parliamentary coalition passed the first in a series of laws that make up the overhaul. His vague pledges were quickly rejected by the protest movement, which said it would continue to oppose Netanyahus attempt to become a dictator.

Protesters blocked traffic on main highways and scuffled with police in unrest that shows no sign of abating. Police used water cannons to disperse crowds, and dozens of people  including leaders of the protest movement  were arrested.

The governments plan has plunged the nearly 75-year-old nation into one of its worst domestic crises.

Netanyahu and his allies want to weaken the powers of the judiciary, saying unelected Supreme Court justices and other judges wield too much power.

Critics say the changes, which would give Netanyahu and his conservative allies the final say in choosing the countrys judges, will destroy a delicate system of checks and balances. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest while he is on trial for multiple corruption charges.

In his speech, Netanyahu said he understood the concerns of both sides. He accused the Supreme Court of intervening in political issues but also acknowledged concerns by his opponents that a narrow parliamentary majority could impose its will and harm the rights of LGBTQ people, Palestinian citizens and other minorities.

We will ensure the basic rights of all Israeli citizens  Jews and non-Jews, secular and religious, women, the LGBTQ community, everyone without exception, he said. I will do everything to calm the waters and mend the rift in the nation, because we are family.

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As he spoke, thousands of people continued to march in cities across Israel, including a large crowd outside of his private residence in Jerusalem. Netanyahu pushed back his departure on an official trip to Britain until 4 a.m. on Friday to deal with the crisis.

His opponents quickly rejected the speech.

The grassroots protest movement said it would press ahead with the demonstrations, which have taken place weekly for the past three months.

Tonight we saw a dictator-in-the-making who instead of stopping the legal coup, decided to continue with the hostile political takeover of the Supreme Court, it said.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu made clear he has no intention of holding true dialogue. He called on responsible members of Netanyahus Likud party to speak up against the plan.

Among Lapids targets is Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a top Likud official who met with Netanyahu shortly before the speech.

According to Israeli media, Gallant voiced his concerns that objections by Israeli reservists and other security forces were hurting Israels international image and power of deterrence. However, Gallant abruptly canceled a planned statement in which he was expected to call on Netanyahu to freeze the plan.

The opposition is rooted in broad swaths of society  including business leaders and top legal officials. Even the countrys military, seen as a beacon of stability by Israels Jewish majority, is enmeshed in the political conflict, as some reservists are refusing to show up for duty over the changes. Israels international allies have also expressed concern.

In a first step of the overhaul, Netanyahus parliamentary coalition approved legislation that would protect the Israeli leader from being deemed unfit to rule because of his trial and claims of a conflict of interest. Critics say the law is tailor-made for Netanyahu and encourages corruption.

The law to protect Netanyahu passed in a 61-47 vote in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament, after a debate that ran through the night. It stipulates that a prime minister can only be deemed unfit to rule for health or mental reasons and that only he or his government can make that decision.

Civil society groups have called on the attorney general to declare him unfit to rule over his legal problems. The attorney general has already barred Netanyahu from direct involvement in the legal overhaul, saying he is at risk of a conflict of interest.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a good governance organization, said it would challenge the new law in court.

On Thursday, protesters launched a fourth midweek day of demonstrations. They blocked major thoroughfares, set tires ablaze near an important seaport and draped a large Israeli flag and a banner with the countrys Declaration of Independence over the walls of Jerusalems Old City.

The protests have intensified in recent weeks, with a number of senior Cabinet ministers accosted and heckled by vocal crowds while making public appearances. Netanyahu called on opposition leaders to stop the anarchy immediately.

A protest took place Thursday night in Bnei Brak, a large ultra-Orthodox city near Tel Aviv. The overhaul crisis has magnified a longstanding rift between secular Jewish Israelis and religious ones over how much of a role religion should play in their day-to-day lives.

Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers in government are central drivers of the overhaul because they believe the courts are a threat to their traditional way of life. In contrast, secular opponents to the changes fear they will open the door to religious coercion. They also object to exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox men from military duty, which is mandatory for most Jews.

Along with Thursdays demonstrations, tens of thousands have been showing up for weekly protests each Saturday night.

Netanyahus government rejected a compromise proposal earlier this month meant to ease the crisis. It said that it would slow the pace of the changes, pushing most of them to after a monthlong parliamentary recess in April.

But the government is plowing forward on a key part of the overhaul, which would grant the government control over who becomes a judge. That measure is expected to pass next week.

Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals involving wealthy associates and powerful media moguls. He denies wrongdoing and dismisses critics who say he could find an escape route from the charges through the legal overhaul his government is advancing.

Israels Palestinian minority has largely avoided participating in the demonstrations. Rights groups and Palestinians say Israels democratic ideals have long been tarnished by the countrys 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for an independent state and the treatment of Palestinian Israeli citizens, who face discrimination in many spheres.

Josef Federman And Ilan Ben Zion, The Associated Press
As the world waits to see if the first indictment against a former US president is coming, one person close to Donald Trump is said to not be particularly understanding about his situation. Wife Melania Trump "doesn't sympathize with Donald's plight" over an alleged hush money payment he made to porn star Stormy Daniels, a "social source" tells People, adding that, while the former first lady may not be wearing her "I really don't care, do U?" jacket around Mar-a-Lago, she "wants to ignore" her husband's legal mess and "hopes it will pass." The source says Melania Trump, 52, "remains angry" about the alleged affair between her now-76-year-old husband and Daniels (real name: Stephanie Clifford), said to have taken place just months after Melania Trump gave birth to the couple's son, Barron, now 17.

Still, the former first lady is "leading her own life, and ... feels happy being at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by people who love her and who never talk about reality," the source notes, adding that the Trumps sometimes dine and attend events together but otherwise live separately. The source says that Melania Trump is especially focused on shielding Barron from outside chaos. An insider offers Page Six similar intel, noting that "Melania is lying very low" and concentrating on Barron. "[Donald Trump] is acting like everything is normal, but she hasn't been social," the source notes. Another source tells the outlet that Melania isn't the only Trump trying to keep clear of the commotion around the former president.

"[Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner] want nothing to do with this," that source says. "They are staying away and don't want to be hounded by reporters. I don't think you will see them defending him, it will be no comment." Meanwhile, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania Trump's former White House aide who has since fallen out with the Trumps, says that, despite a recent report from the Daily Mail, Melania Trump didn't flee the White House for a DC hotel when news of the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels broke in 2018, per the Independent. "BS! How do I know? I was there!" Winston Wolkoff tweeted Tuesday. "Melania slept in her bedroom in the WH. I slept in my bedroom in the WH above her." (Read more Melania Trump stories.)
President Biden arrived in Ottawa on Thursday night and he is set to announce a deal with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Friday to resolve an immigration loophole Canada has been seeking action on for years. The agreement will allow each country to turn back asylum seekers that arrive at unofficial border crossings, including a site where tens of thousands have crossed from New York to Quebec in recent years, the Washington Post reports. In return, Canada has agreed to ease pressure at the US-Mexico border by accepting 15,000 more migrants annually from places including Central America and Haiti, sources tell the Globe and Mail. More:

Deal updates Safe Third Country pact. The agreement will update the Safe Third Country Agreement, which Canada signed in 2002, to cover the entire border instead of just official land crossings, the New York Times reports. The pact requires asylum seekers in the US and Canada to make their claim in the first of the two countries they arrive in. Canadian authorities said a surge in arrivals from the US had been straining social services, and the US was interested in revisiting the agreement because a growing number of asylum seekers have been going in the other direction, crossing into the US from Canada at unofficial points.

A whirlwind trip . The CBC report that this is the first overnight trip to Canada by a US president in almost 20 years and it will be a busy 24 hours for Biden: His schedule includes an address to Parliament and a gala dinner at Ottawa's Aviation Museum as well as a meeting with Trudeau. The president will fly to Delaware Friday night.

. The CBC report that this is the first overnight trip to Canada by a US president in almost 20 years and it will be a busy 24 hours for Biden: His schedule includes an address to Parliament and a gala dinner at Ottawa's Aviation Museum as well as a meeting with Trudeau. The president will fly to Delaware Friday night. Leaders will discuss "challenges of our time." Biden and Trudeau are also expected to address issues including trade, the war in Ukraine, countering China's influence, and the NORAD radar system, the AP reports. "This visit is about taking stock of what weve done, where we are and what we need to prioritize for the future, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Were going to talk about our two democracies stepping up to meet the challenges of our time." The US has also been urging Canada to take a "leadership role" in dealing with the crisis in Haiti.

Biden and Trudeau are also expected to address issues including trade, the war in Ukraine, countering China's influence, and the NORAD radar system, the AP reports. "This visit is about taking stock of what weve done, where we are and what we need to prioritize for the future, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Were going to talk about our two democracies stepping up to meet the challenges of our time." The US has also been urging Canada to take a "leadership role" in dealing with the crisis in Haiti. Biden's Canadian connections. This is Biden's first trip to Canada as president. Like former President Trump before him, he is making the trip relatively late in his presidency, though Trudeau invited Biden to a state dinner during his final weeks as vice president in late 2016. During that visit, he gave a toast saying his first wife's family was Canadian and his sons wanted to be Mounties when they were kids, the Post reports.

(Read more Canada stories.)
By all accounts, it looks like former President Trump will soon be indicted, a "weighty and meaningful act" in the annals of American history, writes Peggy Noonan. And in her latest Wall Street Journal op-ed, the conservative columnist calls it a mistake. Noonan, however, is not mounting a defense of Trump. She writes that he must be held accountable for his actionsbut by that she is referring to his role in the Capitol riot and his "thuggish effort to overturn a democratic outcome in the state of Georgia." Hush money payments to an adult film star? Please. "Charging him in the Stormy Daniels case is below usnot below him, but us," she writes. "The subject matter is below us. The nature of the charges is below us."

Yes, she knows that his payments to Daniels have "tax implications." But almost everything has tax implications. Yes, she knows this is how the feds got Al Capone, on tax evasion. But Capone "wasn't president," and the comparison doesn't fly in her view. Nevertheless, we are about to get an indictmentthe "wrong indictment," writes Noonan. "Save the mug shot for Georgia, the handcuffs for Jan. 6. Those were real offenses against the country. Not Stormy Daniels, which was an offense against his wife." Read the full column. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
UPDATE

Mar 30, 2023 12:34 AM CDT

The man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda and was freed by Rwanda last week from a terrorism sentence returned Wednesday to the United States and joined his family after being held for more than two years. Paul Rusesabagina's arrival in San Antonio was announced by his daughter Carine Kanimba, who tweeted that our family is finally reunited today. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted that were glad to have him back on US soil.

Mar 24, 2023 10:29 AM CDT

Rwanda's government has commuted the sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial. Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told the AP on Friday that the 25-year sentence was commuted by presidential order after a request for clemency. Rusesabagina, a US resident and Belgian citizen, is expected to be released on Saturday, she said. "Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar," Makolo said.

The case had been described by the United States and others as unfair. Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial. The Washington Post notes that he was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to 25 years; the sentences of 19 others convicted in the same case were also commuted. Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of longtime Rwandan President Paul Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagames government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

(Read more Rwanda stories.)
As a possible indictment against Donald Trump continues to loom, the former president doesn't seem to be getting much sleep. The New York Times reports that Trump was up past midnight and into Friday morning, commenting on his Truth Social platform about the case against him in New York regarding alleged hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. "What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former president of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting president in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a crime, when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed, & also that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our country?" Trump wrote early Friday, in a post time-stamped at just after 1am ET.

He then added: "Why & who would do such a thing? Only a degenerate psychopath that truely hates the USA!" The "death & destruction" prediction is what stood out the most to those who read Trump's remarks, which the Washington Post calls "his latestand most explicitallusion to violence" that could come if he's indeed indicted by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (that's ostensibly whom Trump's Truth Social post was about). Bragg's office has been showing evidence to grand jury members related to a $130,000 payment made to Daniels, aka Stephanie Clifford, by Trump attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen during the 2016 campaign. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted Trump's comments on Friday, calling the former president's remarks "reckless, reprehensible, and irresponsible," as well as "dangerous."

Republicans also decried Trump's comments, if indirectly. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who was injured in a politically tied shooting in 2017, said that although he hadn't heard what Trump said, "there's no place in America for political violence of any kind." Bragg himself hasn't commented, but last week in a memo to staff, he wrote," We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York." Trump himself was up before 9:30am Friday to continue pleading his case online. "PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT!" he wrote first. That was followed by a post with a link to a letter from Trump lawyer Joseph Tacopina to New York City's Department of Investigation requesting a probe into the DA's probe, along with a caption that read, "Weaponization [of the] New York County District Attorney's Office Against President Donald J. Trump." (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
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Polish Land Forces stand in formation beside United States Army Soldiers during the United States Army Garrison Poland activation ceremony in Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, March 21, 2023. The establishment of the U.S. Armys enduring presence in Poland demonstrates the United States commitment to the Republic of Poland, the NATO Alliance and to the support of mission partners. (U.S. Army Photo Spc. Anthony X. Sanchez)
BURLINGTON  A teenage girl with four pet ducks is separating from her beloved companions because her family is moving to Burlington, where such farm animals are prohibited.

Miranda Umnus, 15, whose family lives in the neighboring Town of Burlington, had requested a permit from the city with a handwritten note asking if she could keep her favorite pets.

Ive raised these ducks from babies, she wrote. They follow me around everywhere.

Mirandas family is moving into a new house on Garfield Street because their landlord in the town decided to sell that property, located near Bohners Lake south of the city.

A city ordinance prohibits people from keeping farm animals on non-agricultural land unless a special permit is issued for cows, horses, chickens, ducks or other livestock.

The most recent permit was approved in 2011 for someone who wanted to have rabbits.

The Burlington City Council was scheduled this week to consider Mirandas request for her four ducks.

But then her mother, Shantel Umnus, notified the city that Miranda had decided to give the ducks to a friend. The mother wrote that she and her family dont want to upset our new neighbors.

Mirandas friend lives on a farm, her mother wrote, and Miranda can visit the ducks whenever she wants.

We had a long talk, Umnus added. After much back and forth, she has agreed to let them go.

Shantel Umnus and her husband, Jimmie Umnus, both declined to comment.

Burlington and other communities in recent years have been under pressure from rural-minded residents to loosen restrictions on farm animals, particularly chickens.

But such efforts have had mixed results, as other residents worry about the noise and mess that could come from permitting livestock in an urban setting.

In her request to Burlington city officials, Miranda wrote that she was active in FFA and that she intended to enter her ducks in FFA competitions.

She also offered assurances that the ducks would be quieter than many dogs. And with a fenced-in yard at the familys new home on Garfield Street, she promised, the ducks would present no problems.

If youre worried they will bother neighbors, please dont worry, because they wont, she wrote. If you allow me to keep my ducks, I will be forever happy.

In photos: Farmers market season kicks off in Burlington with outdoor food and music Sweet start at farmers market Georgia Rae's Sunshine Strings perform at Burlington Farmers Market opening day Hot sauce maker John Mesch displays his products at Burlingon Farmers Market Knife sharpener Alena Joling joins the vendors at Burlington Farmers Market Gretchen Hoffman and her daughters take a break at Burlington Farmers Market Vendors line the sidewalks at Wehmhoff Square for opening day of Burlington Farmers Market Rosie the chihuahua-dachshund mix rides in a wagon at Burlington Farmers Market Kombucha marketers Shawn and Lydia Davis join the lineup at Burlington Farmers Market Brazilian food vendor Wendell Rocha serves up hot food at Burlington Farmers Market Breeyn Cranley with her two children in stroller enjoy music at Burlington Farmers Market
U.S. Army Drill Sergeants share their personal stories in the spirit of Womens History Month- Part Two
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this morning. High 18F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 8F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 7F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 7F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph.
Antonios daily commute to work could end with his family being torn apart.

Antonio, not his real name, is among Wisconsins estimated 70,000 residents who lack permanent legal status. None of them is eligible for a drivers license. It means they face legal risks  even the possibility of detention and deportation  whenever they take the wheel. That stirs anxiety extending to family, like Antonios daughter.

Once she sees the police, she freezes, says Antonio, who has lived in the country since 2008 and asked to remain anonymous for fear of legal repercussions. Shes starting to worry, because she knows my situation. And shes like, Oh, Dad, you have to drive carefully, because we dont want the police to stop you. 

It hasnt always been this way in Wisconsin, which once provided a drivers license pathway for residents who enter the country illegally. The state closed that path 16 years ago, leaving people like Antonio with few safe options for navigating a state with shrinking or non-existent public transit systems, especially in rural areas. Antonio, for instance, says a 30-minute car ride from Green Bay is the only viable way to commute to his job with a cabinet shop.

I dont even see any bus stations by my work, so I dont think its a choice to go to my work by bus, he says.

Immigrant advocacy groups have spent years pushing to repeal Wisconsins ban on drivers licenses for people who lack legal status, saying doing so is not only humane, but would expand the states tight labor force and boost public safety  an argument research in other states supports.

In his latest state budget proposal, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is calling for doing just that, the third time he has tried to use the budgeting process to broaden drivers license access. Removing the ban would pave the way for licensing as many as 32,000 residents in three years, Madison-based Kids Forward, a liberal-leaning advocacy group, estimated in 2018.

In Americas Dairyland, immigrants are an essential part of our communities, Evers said during his budget address in February. Lets make sure everyone can access drivers licenses regardless of their citizenship status, so that workers can get from point A to point B, and we can make our roads safer, too.

But the Republican-controlled Legislature has stripped that provision from two previous budgets it has sent for Evers signature, and it is likely to again do so this year. Republicans argue the states spending plan shouldnt include non-fiscal proposals that merit debate through standalone legislation.

The drivers license idea is just one idea among many ideas, Sen. Howard Marklein, a Spring Green Republican who co-leads the Joint Finance Committee, said in a statement. However, it is also a non-fiscal policy item. We will not be including most, if not all, non-fiscal policy in the state budget. This means that if an idea does not include funding, spending or tax reform, it should not be in the budget bill.

Standalone legislation in past years has failed to draw a hearing in Republican-controlled committees.

Still, as more states open licensing pathways for immigrant drivers who currently dont qualify, advocates for Wisconsin immigrants  and farmers who employ some of them  hope to eventually see a breakthrough.

Its a long battle, says Primitivo Torres, deputy operations director of the advocacy group Voces de la Frontera, a key voice in Wisconsins drivers licenses for all movement. But its a battle that were willing to take on because of the need for our communities.

RealID Act led to ban

The roots of Wisconsins current licensing law lie in federal immigration system changes adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Following a recommendation from the federal 9/11 Commission, Congress in 2005 passed the RealID Act, which requires a RealID-compliant license to access certain facilities and resources  everything from boarding a flight or entering federal properties, such as federal courthouses or military bases.

That prompted legislatures to change state licensing policies to comply with the federal regulations. Following repeated delays, the law will be enforced starting May 7, 2025.

Wisconsins RealID law cleared the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2006 and took effect the next year, allowing only people who entered the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. Then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, reluctantly signed the law, which many legislative Democrats opposed.

Despite questions about whether the federal government would provide enough funding for the changes, Doyle called the law necessary to crack down on drivers license fraud, the Associated Press reported at the time. He also worried failing to comply with the federal law would have repercussions for every Wisconsinite with a drivers license.

States reopen licensing pathways

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have since permitted drivers to obtain drivers authorization cards that dont comply with the RealID Act. (Not all states refer to the cards as licenses.) While those cards cant be used to board an airplane or enter certain federal facilities, drivers can use them to identify themselves during a traffic stop, or when applying for auto insurance.

Some of that legislation was bipartisan. Nevada passed its law when Democrats held the Legislature and a Republican was governor. The Utah Legislature, controlled by Republicans for more than three decades, enacted a provisional one-year drivers card for residents lacking legal status in 2005.

Minnesotas Democratic-controlled Legislature was the latest to approve drivers licenses for all legislation, which Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed this month.

Colorado requires such licenses to specify they are not valid for voting purposes, to limit the chances someone will use them to vote illegally  an idea Democrats in Wisconsin have proposed in the past.

Wisconsin already issues a drivers card that doesnt comply with RealID. It includes a not for federal purposes disclaimer. But it still requires proof of legal residency. Evers proposal is sparse on details  its just one sentence in the 723-page spending plan.

Wisconsins legislative Republicans have previously argued loosening Wisconsin licensing requirements would incentivize illegal immigration.

Theres a tendency to sometimes accept the fact that we have people here breaking the law, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in 2009. Vos office did not return a request for a comment on Evers latest proposal.

Advocates: Licenses make streets safer

Advocates argue drivers cards will increase street safety by requiring drivers to take a licensing exam  and by granting them identification to apply for auto insurance.

Connecticut saw 9% fewer hit-and-run accidents in the years after broadening drivers license access, according to a report by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a Boston-based organization that researches and advocates for racial and economic justice. California reported a similar hit-and-run plunge.

Similar changes in Utah and New Mexico spurred 80% and 60% drops respectively in uninsured drivers in those states, the report said.

The Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association was among the few groups to publicly support the original ban on licenses for residents lacking permanent legal status. Now, it has no formal position but is always open to discussions on how to make our roads safer in Wisconsin, Sandra Schueller, the groups business manager, said in an email.

Wisconsin police leaders have criticized the ban in recent years. Alfonso Morales did so when he was the Milwaukee police chief. Now he is police chief in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes also opposes the prohibition.

We think its best when we can identify people, Barnes said at a February press conference. When we can identify people who may be victimized, or people who want to file a report, or people who want to experience the same rights and privileges that we all experience.

Fears of encountering law enforcement

Dave and Joyce Anderson co-founded the Immigration Task Force for JONAH Justice, an Eau Claire-based interfaith advocacy group. Theyve spent years facilitating conversations between immigrant Wisconsinites and law enforcement about drivers licenses. When immigrants are cited for driving without a license, Dave says hell sometimes accompany them to court just so they have someone in their corner.

Fear of encountering law enforcement essentially creates no-go zones for some immigrants in and around Eau Claire, he says, particularly around the police station downtown.

I had one gentleman go, Oh, this is what downtown looks like. And he had lived here a couple of years, Dave says.

Such fears are heightened in eight Wisconsin counties that have signed what are known as 287(g) agreements with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those agreements allow local and state law enforcement to act as ICE agents would in certain circumstances. That means sheriffs can  among other actions  detain people until ICE can take custody and prepare documents for their potential removal, according to the American Immigration Council.

An officers specific authority depends on the type of 287(g) agreement  either a jail enforcement or warrant service officer model. According to the Congressional Research Service, officers in the warrant model can execute warrants only for immigrants ICE has already flagged for potential removal. In the wider jail enforcement model, officers can conduct interviews to determine a persons immigration status, check that information against a federal database and issue warrants and detainers.

The eight 287(g) Wisconsin sheriffs offices are in: Brown, Fond du Lac, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Sheboygan, Waukesha and Waushara counties. Waukesha County has Wisconsins only jail enforcement model. The other counties have warrant agreements.

Both types of agreement allow officers to process undocumented immigrants only once theyre in custody. In Wisconsin, first offenders caught driving without a license face a fine of up to $200. Repeat offenses could mean incarceration  and, for those without legal status, potentially being flagged to ICE.

Farmers at the forefront of advocacy

Torres of Voces de la Frontera says his group is shoring up rural support for expanding drivers license access. Farmers, he says, are speaking with conservative lawmakers in rural districts.

Most of these farmers that weve talked to are Republican, Torres says. But they see a need. This is a way for them to have workers and to get the work done on these family farms.

Many sectors of the American economy have faced worker shortages in recent years, including in aging Wisconsin, where birth rates and migration are low. Thats a particular challenge for farms.

Immigrants in 2019 made up more than half of all hired U.S. farm laborers, and nearly a third of all farm laborers arrived to the country illegally, according to the bipartisan think tank New American Economy.

These immigrants provide the backbone of Wisconsins dairy industry, and expanding drivers license access would help them feel more secure, says Michael Slattery, a diversified grain, vegetable and cattle farmer in the Manitowoc County village of Maribel, who serves on the Wisconsin Farmers Union board.

We need to get our people to and from work, he says. Theyre coming out at four oclock in the morning. We cannot get anyone else to come out to be defecated upon, to be urinated upon, to be kicked, to feed the calves, to clean the barns  its just impossible. And we are attempting to pay a living wage to them.

Slattery adds: The undocumented who are doing this work  theyre our neighbors. The drivers card brings them out of the shadows and makes them a part of our communities.

The powerful Dairy Business Association lists drivers permits for eligible non-citizens as a legislative priority. But, Chad Zuleger, its director of government affairs, says its focusing energy elsewhere.

Driver permitting remains a priority for DBA, Zuegler wrote in an email. However, the Legislature has indicated that they do not plan to include policy initiatives in the budget process.

Appealing to the Legislature

Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee stripped nearly 400 items  including the repeal of the drivers license prohibition from Everss last budget proposal.

Marklein, the committee co-chair, says budgeting will look similar this year.

Non-fiscal policy deserves open discussion, public hearings, committee votes and floor debate. It should not be tucked into a spending document, he says.

The Rev. Cindy Crane, executive director of the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin, doubts the licensing measure will pass in a budget.

I think that if we could influence a Republican legislator to take it on to champion it, then it might have some momentum, says Crane, whose group was one of the earliest backers of Wisconsins drivers licenses for all movement.

Although Republicans have yet to publicly back legislation, they are increasingly willing to discuss such the idea in private, Rep. Sylvia-Ortiz Velez, D-Milwaukee, told reporters in February.

So Im encouraged by that, she said.

But for now, thousands of immigrant drivers will continue their precarious commutes. While advocates cite safety and workforce drawbacks, they are just as quick to highlight the personal impacts of the licensing obstacle.

We talk to a lot of these families, and they dont know  when they leave their houses  if theyre going to make it back, Torres says. And their only crime is to be in this country without documents. These people are folks who are just staying under the radar to provide for their families.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Allied propaganda posters during World War II frequently featured the characters of the three axis leaders: the German one with the moustache, the big jawed Italian and the stern bespect Japanese General.

The association was intended to portray the latter as the Japanese equivalent of the other two totalitarian leaders. In reality prime minister, war minister, and army Chief of Staff Hideki Tojo was never an absolute ruler.

Even though he concentrated considerable political and military power into his hands, his was never a dictator. His authority was always subordinate to Emperor Hirohito and he was frequently undermined by political opponents.

Nonetheless, his responsibility in initiating the second Sino-Japanese war and extending World War II to the Pacific Theater is unquestionable.

As head of both the Japanese government and the Japanese military he would ultimately be accountable for the brutal treatment of civilians and prisoners of war. ...continue reading
On this feature of the FRAME, we explore the Production line of the Mazda MX-5 and the CX-30. Take a look at the different methods to build such models in the Ujina factory in Hiroshima, Japan.

Japan adopts national strategy on nuclear fusion

neimagazine.com - Apr 22

Japan has adopted its first-ever national strategy on nuclear fusion reflecting the need to create a domestic fusion industry. Japan has adopted its first-ever national strategy on nuclear fusion reflecting the need to create a domestic fusion industry.

9th COVID wave in Japan could cause many deaths, experts predict

NHK - Apr 20

Japanese experts say a ninth wave of the coronavirus in the country could cause many deaths, mainly of elderly people. Japanese experts say a ninth wave of the coronavirus in the country could cause many deaths, mainly of elderly people.

Japan's take off to a decarbonized sky with SAF

Prime Minister's Office of Japan - Apr 14

Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is gaining worldwide attention as the key to decarbonizing the aviation sector. SAF is made from a variety of raw materials, including used cooking oil, plants, and algae. Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is gaining worldwide attention as the key to decarbonizing the aviation sector. SAF is made from a variety of raw materials, including used cooking oil, plants, and algae.

'Stage is set': Japan startup eyes moon landing late April

azertag.az - Apr 13

A commercial space startup in Japan on Wednesday said its Hakuto-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander is expected to touch surface of the moon late April, making it the first private company in the world to reach the celestial body, according to Anadolu Agency. A commercial space startup in Japan on Wednesday said its Hakuto-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander is expected to touch surface of the moon late April, making it the first private company in the world to reach the celestial body, according to Anadolu Agency.

As summer heat looms, Japan urged to curb impact, emissions

Japan Today - Apr 11

Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast. Cherry blossoms bloomed sooner than ever before, chiffon-pink thats traditionally heralded spring for the nation popping up just two weeks into March. Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast. Cherry blossoms bloomed sooner than ever before, chiffon-pink thats traditionally heralded spring for the nation popping up just two weeks into March.

Trade show in Tokyo showcases fashion and tech

NHK - Apr 06

A fashion trade show has kicked off in Tokyo that's giving a look at the latest styles while offering a glimpse of how technology could reshape the industry. A fashion trade show has kicked off in Tokyo that's giving a look at the latest styles while offering a glimpse of how technology could reshape the industry.

Bird flu is so bad that Japan is running out of land to bury chickens

straitstimes.com - Apr 05

Japans worst bird flu outbreak has decimated its poultry flocks and sent egg prices soaring. Japans worst bird flu outbreak has decimated its poultry flocks and sent egg prices soaring.

Deepest ever fish caught on camera off Japan

Sunday Island - Apr 02

BBC reported that scientists have filmed a fish swimming at an extraordinary depth in the ocean, making it the deepest observation of this nature that has ever been made. BBC reported that scientists have filmed a fish swimming at an extraordinary depth in the ocean, making it the deepest observation of this nature that has ever been made.

Japan to designate lane for self-driving cars and route for drones

NHK - Apr 01

The Japanese government has unveiled a plan to set up a dedicated lane for self-driving vehicles on a highway and establish a flight route for drones for delivery use. The Japanese government has unveiled a plan to set up a dedicated lane for self-driving vehicles on a highway and establish a flight route for drones for delivery use.

Japanese city launches Edo period virtual town

NHK - Mar 31

A city in western Japan is using modern technology to resurrect its rich past, creating a virtual simulation of a town that allows people to see how it was hundreds of years ago. A city in western Japan is using modern technology to resurrect its rich past, creating a virtual simulation of a town that allows people to see how it was hundreds of years ago.

Children exposed to pet cats or indoor dogs tended to have fewer food allergies

techexplorist.com - Mar 30

In an analysis of over 65,000 infants from Japan, children exposed to pet cats or indoor dogs during fetal development or early infancy tended to have fewer food allergies compared to other children, according to a study published March 29, 2023 In an analysis of over 65,000 infants from Japan, children exposed to pet cats or indoor dogs during fetal development or early infancy tended to have fewer food allergies compared to other children, according to a study published March 29, 2023

Scientists explain alien comet 'Oumuamua's strange acceleration

Japan Times - Mar 24

The quirky comet Oumuamua, the first interstellar object found visiting our solar system, has been the subject of fascination since being spotted in 2017, including its curious acceleration as it hurtled away from the sun. The quirky comet Oumuamua, the first interstellar object found visiting our solar system, has been the subject of fascination since being spotted in 2017, including its curious acceleration as it hurtled away from the sun.

Japan Factory Tour - Inside Massive Mazda MX-5 Miata Production Line

FRAME - Mar 24

On this feature of the FRAME, we explore the Production line of the Mazda MX-5 and the CX-30. Take a look at the different methods to build such models in the Ujina factory in Hiroshima, Japan. On this feature of the FRAME, we explore the Production line of the Mazda MX-5 and the CX-30. Take a look at the different methods to build such models in the Ujina factory in Hiroshima, Japan.

How scientists in Japan bred mice with two fathers

DW News - Mar 23

Scientists in Japan have taken a small but important step that raises the prospect of same-sex couples producing biological children together. Scientists in Japan have taken a small but important step that raises the prospect of same-sex couples producing biological children together.

11 Japanese Kitchen Gadgets Worth Buying | Japanese Food Gadgets

Kitchen Gadgets Zone - Mar 23

Japanese kitchen gadgets worth buying will give you aesthetic pleasure. Japanese kitchen gadgets worth buying will give you aesthetic pleasure.
Danbury Police Department/Contributed

DANBURY  A local dance teacher is accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a New Jersey child via social media, according to local police.

Edison Bueno-Tenempaguay, 28, of Danbury, was charged with second-degree luring and third-degree debauching the morals of a child, Erin Henry, public relations specialist for the city, said Thursday. Bueno-Tenempaguay was being held at the Bridgeport Correctional Center pending extradition to Bergen County, N.J., Henry said.
For the past few years, child care has been an ongoing issue among Nebraska's communities, as it impacts not only children and parents, but employers and coworkers.

On March 21, residents from communities across Nebraska convened to listen to and discuss child care with representatives from Nebraska Cares for Kids. Hope Freshour, executive director of the Columbus Area United Way, said the organization and the Community and Family Partnership brought the presentation to Columbus just to start conversations and establish some idea of the ins and outs of the current child care system in Nebraska.

Lynn Vollbracht, director of Immanuel Lutheran Child Care Center, said that mostly, she was glad to see people in the community interested and talking about the subject.

"It gives me hope that the conversation has already started," Vollbracht said. "I think it's a good conversation to have not just within the child care profession, it's the businesses and other employers who are now seeing that if they don't have employees with child care, they don't have employees."

In a survey of 500 registered Nebraska voters conducted by the University of Nebraska, 31% of parents of children age 5 and younger had left the workforce because they were unable to find affordable child care or early childhood education. This, Vollbracht said, opens some doors for conversation about flexibility in scheduling and, potentially, in stress programs at places of employ.

"Sometimes parents work different shifts, I think they should have that flexibility for them. I also put a little note about the stress programs, providing them during work time, not taking time away from their family to work on this but have it during work time," Vollbracht said. "(These are) things that, if you don't have children at home, you may not think about."

Joshua Johnson, vice president and chief retail officer at Columbus Bank and Trust Company, said his biggest takeaway from the statistics given was that solutions to the problem can't be short-term and will need to adapt as time goes on.

"Opening one or two centers isn't going to change or solve the issue. There's always going to be a continuously growing issue of child care need and high-level child care," Johnson said. "I think we have to look at it differently, look at it as more of a profession, I think that'll really change things."

One of the key facets of the problem identified by the survey is the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether directly or indirectly. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed indicated they believe things have gotten worse since the pandemic started. Vollbracht agreed, adding that it was a time of revelation for many people in that regard.

"It seems like COVID really opened up a lot of people's eyes on how important it is to have child care," Vollbracht said. "We had to close our doors, as did a lot of people but trying to get things going again has been a struggle.

While the impact was wide, support for future measures is as well. Eighty-three percent of those in cities, 82% in suburbs, 78% in small towns and 77% in rural areas described future measures to ensure quality, available child care as essential or very important. Wide community support, Johnson said, will be the key to future solutions because as the area population grows, so will need.

"As the population continues to rise, the need is not going to go away, we can't just patch it. It needs to be addressed and it's not going to be one or two individuals, it has to be a community-wide effort," Johnson said. "There's a million different things we can try and we have no idea which one's going to be the right one. It's going to be trial-and-error and it's not going to be overnight."
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MONTICELLO, Minn. (AP)  A Minnesota utility began shutting down a nuclear power plant near Minneapolis on Friday after discovering water containing a low level of radioactive material was leaking from a pipe for the second time. While the utility and health officials say it is not dangerous, the issue has prompted concerns among nearby residents and raised questions about aging pipelines.

Xcel Energy discovered in November that about 400,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of water containing tritium had leaked. The utility made a temporary fix but learned this week that hundreds more gallons of tritium-laced water leaked, leading to the shutdown decision.

After the plant cools over the next few days, workers will cut out the leaking pipe, which is over 50 years old, said Chris Clark, Xcel Energy's president. The utility will then have the pipe analyzed in hopes of preventing future leaks, he said.

We could have continued to safely operate the plant and simply repair the catchment, but then, of course, there is always a risk that it would spill over again and have more tritium enter the groundwater," Clark told reporters near the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis. We didn't want to take that chance, so we're bringing the plant down.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the fact there was a second tritium leak shines a light on the problem of maintaining aging pipelines underground at older nuclear plants.

The temporary closure could be out of an abundance of caution, or it could be a sign they dont know how bad the problem is, and they need to do a deep dive to find out whats going on, he said.

Clark said the tritium isn't a risk to drinking water in Monticello or the nearby city of Becker, saying the cities take their water from different areas of the Mississippi River. Even if the tritium reached the river, which Clark assured wouldn't happen, it would dissipate within a few yards, he said.

Clark said the spill had not left the utilitys property.

The utility reported the initial leak to state and federal authorities in late November but didn't make it widely public until last week, raising questions about transparency and public health issues. State officials said they wanted to wait for more details before sharing information widely. Criticism about the delay played a role in Xcel's decision to hold a public information session Friday.

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that occurs naturally and is a common byproduct of nuclear plant operations. It emits a weak form of beta radiation that does not travel far and cannot penetrate human skin, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Cindy Remick, of Becker, attended Friday's information session and said she still has concerns that nearby residents, especially those who rely on well water, will be safe. Remick also worries about whether the radioactive material could hurt wildlife.

We have a very large population here of eagles, and I would like to make sure they're not impacted, Remick said. Minnesota is known for our wildlife, and if that (tritium) escapes their plant into the Mississippi, that could be very damaging.

Tyler Abayare, who was fishing at the Mississippi River near the plant, said hes been coming to the river every day for five years and usually sees about 15 to 20 others fishing as well.

Typically this time of year, theres a lot of families that come out and fish with their children," he said. "Now, after the media released what happened, theres not a soul in sight, and it just takes away from the recreation and passion of fishing.

Abayare said he doesnt believe that the Mississippi River is safe. He doesnt eat fish he catches and no longer ties his line with his teeth to avoid getting sick.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors are monitoring the shutdown and repairs, said Victoria Mitlyng, a spokesperson for the agency. She said in a statement the leak does not present a safety challenge to the public, to drinking water supplies, the plant or the environment. The leak also did not exceed any agency limits.

Clark said Xcel Energy already had planned to shut down the plant April 15 for nearly a month for refueling, and it wasn't clear if it would immediately reopen after the leak is fixed.

Clark said the leaking pipe is part of the original plant, which opened in 1971. Xcel has applied to extend its operating license at Monticello through 2050.

We want to inventory the age of everything in the plant and be sure we're dealing with whatever we need to update, he said.

Tim Judson, executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, a group that opposes nuclear power, said the second leak is obviously concerning" and that public worries about possible health risks are exacerbated by the recent toxic train derailment in Ohio, where residents remain concerned about possible health effects despite government pledges that air and water are safe.

People are seeing what happened in Ohio, and they are distrustful of the government response, Judson said.

___

Daly reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this story.
Two moose were seen crossing a road in Barkhamsted Friday morning.

The Pleasant Valley Vounteer Fire Department posted a video on Facebook showing one moose trot across the road, followed by a second smaller moose. Lieutenant Kevin Archer caught the moose in action while driving on Center Hill Road.

"We see wildlife out here all the time, but its not too often you get to see a moose. They are incredible animals," Archer said.

According to DEEP, moose have been seen in Barkhamsted, Canaan, Colebrook, Goshen, Granby, Hartland, Norfolk, Salisbury, Stafford and Union over the past 10 years, and there have been 949 sightings over the past 20 years in 86 different Connecticut towns.

Most sightings are reported by deer hunters along the Massachusetts border. DEEP keeps track of moose and other wildlife sightings with an online map; the site also has a link where residents can report moose sightings.

In October, another moose in Barkhamsted was freed by firefighters after it became trapped in a fence. In September, a moose was on the loose outside of an AMC theater in Danbury, roaming around the parking lot. Another moose was spotted by the side of a road in Winsted in February, 2022.

Moose are large animals with long, slender, grayish-white legs. They are over 6 feet tall at the shoulders and can weigh up to 1,400 pounds, according to DEEPs website. Moose can also present a serious public safety risk when they cross roadways or high traffic areas.
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DANBURY  A Youtube activist found guilty of trespassing while filming inside Danbury City Hall in 2021 is appealing the court's judgment.

Its the right thing to do, said SeanPaul Reyes, whos known for uploading videos to his YouTube channel, Long Island Audit, of his interactions with law enforcement and public officials.

There are hundreds of thousands of people across the nation and the world that support me and they expect me to stand up to tyranny, he said. What we want is fairness, accountability and transparency. Thats what were looking for, and thats why I filed the appeal.

Danbury States Attorney David Applegate declined to comment on Reyes appeal, and Mayor Dean Esposito could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Reyes was charged with simple trespass and creating a public disturbance following a July 2021 incident at City Hall, during which he was confronted by a security guard and a city employee for filming in the municipal building on Deer Hill Avenue.

He pleaded not guilty to the two infractions and took his case to trial at state Superior Court in Danbury, where he was found guilty of simple trespass  but not guilty of creating public disturbance  and ordered to pay a $90 fine on Jan. 30, according to the court clerks office.

I truly feel that Im not guilty of trespassing in a publicly owned building, said Reyes, who filed the appeal of the courts judgment two weeks ago.

According to a document filed March 8, the issues he intends to present on appeal include whether sufficient evidence existed to find him guilty of trespass under Connecticut law, whether the application of the states trespass statute violated the U.S. Constitution and/or the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, and whether there was any erroneous ruling on evidence admissibility in his case.

Reyes, who is representing himself in Appellate Court, claims he did nothing wrong at City Hall the day he was arrested. He said his appeal is about principle.

No one should be guilty of trespassing when peacefully exercising their rights in a government building thats funded by the public, he said. We have the right to check up on our government and to film our government in the course of their duties, so Im standing up for that.

The July 2021 City Hall incident was not Reyes first time in Danbury.

He was involved in a similar matter at Danbury Public Library in June 2021, during which police were called after Reyes refused a security guards orders to leave because he was taking video. The police response to the library incident raised questions about their actions, as well as whether it should be allowable for someone to film or record inside a public building.

Four officers who responded were reprimanded for violating various department policies following an internal investigation, and Reyes filed a federal lawsuit against city officials involved. Online court records show the case was dismissed in March 2022.
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

Achieves Record Revenue, Positive Cash Flow and Operating Profit

MONTREAL, March 23, 2023 /CNW/ - Canada House Cannabis Group Inc. (formerly Canada House Wellness Group Inc.) (CSE: CHV) ("Canada House" or the "Company") is pleased to report its financial results for the three months ending January 31, 2023. All amounts are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars. Complete details may be found at www.sedar.com.

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights:

(Unless otherwise stated, all results are in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Profit and comprehensive profit of $325 , an improvement of $2,024 , compared to loss and comprehensive loss of $1,699 in the same quarter of last year.

, an improvement of , compared to loss and comprehensive loss of in the same quarter of last year. Adjusted EBITDA of $2,370 , an improvement of $1,615 or 214%, compared with $755 for the three months ended January 31, 2022 ( See reconciliation of "Adjusted EBITDA (non-IFRS measure)" below ).

, an improvement of or 214%, compared with for the three months ended ( ). Net revenue of $7,819 , an increase of $1,643 or 27%, compared to $6,176 in the same period in the prior year.

, an increase of or 27%, compared to in the same period in the prior year. Cash flow provided by operating activities in six months ending January 31, 2023 was $765 , an improvement of $2,421 compared to $1,656 used in the operating activities during the same period prior year.

was , an improvement of compared to used in the operating activities during the same period prior year. Net cash used in investing activities in six months ending January 31, 2023 was $523 , an increase of $515 compared to $8 used in investing activities during the same period in 2022.

was , an increase of compared to used in investing activities during the same period in 2022. Net cash used in financing activities in six months ending January 31, 2023 was $232 , compared to $1,492 provided by financing activities during the same period in 2022.

was , compared to provided by financing activities during the same period in 2022. Shareholder's equity was a surplus of $13,013 compared to an equity deficit of $3,753 as of July 31, 2022 .

"I am proud to report that Canada House has delivered a quarterly net profit while achieving record revenue, positive cash flow and operating profit for a second successive quarter. Our success is largely the result of providing top-end clinical services and an industry-leading product portfolio for our valuable military veteran patient base at Abba and CHC. In addition, the Company started selling its high-quality, low-cost flower from the newly retrofitted IsoCanMed cultivation facility and continued to focus on responsible fiscal management." commented Chris Churchill-Smith, CEO of Canada House. "This is our sixth consecutive quarter of financial performance improvement, a trend that we expect to continue as we work on the completion of our Transaction with MTL Cannabis. Thank you to all of Canada House's dedicated staff and for the continued support from our partners at MTL Cannabis. We look forward to building upon these results in our next quarter."

Reconciliation of "Adjusted EBITDA (non-IFRS measure)"











3 months

ended 3 months

ended



Jan 31, Jan 31,



2023 2022







Net profit (loss) and comprehensive profit (loss) for the period

$ 325 $ (1,699)















Finance costs

1,419 1,060 Share of income from investment in associates

130 - Provision for income taxes

24 30 Depreciation and amortization

479 223 Right-of-use assets amortization

117 91 Inventory impairment

- 393 Loss on debt settlement and modifications

249 - Sharebased compensation

5 80 Realized loss on sale of inventory

1,070 582 Unrealized loss on biological assets

(1,448) (5)



$ 2,045 $ 2,454







Adjusted EBITDA

$ 2,370 $ 755

The above information contains non-IFRS financial performance measures which the Company believes provide users with relevant information regarding operation performance. These measures are not recognized or defined under IFRS, and as a result, they may not be comparable to the data presented by competitors.

About Canada House Cannabis Group Inc.

Canada House Cannabis Group is a 24.99% shareholder of MTL Cannabis and is the parent company of Abba Medix Corp., a Licensed Producer in Pickering, Ontario that that operates a leading medical cannabis marketplace; IsoCanMed Inc., a Licensed Producer in Louiseville, Quebec growing best-in-class indoor cannabis, in its 64,000 sq. ft. production facility; Canada House Clinics Inc., with clinics across the country that work directly with primary care teams to provide specialized cannabinoid therapy services to patients suffering from simple and complex medical conditions; and Knalysis Technologies, a provider of fully customizable, cloud-based software that links physician, provider, and patient to data that supports treatment with medical cannabis.

Canada House Cannabis Group's goal is to become the leading cultivator of premium craft cannabis and medical cannabis clinic and product solutions. Please visit www.canadahouse.ca or the Company's public filings at www.sedar.com .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information. This press release contains forward- looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the Company's clinic, production and technology businesses, its future plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information in this news release include, among other things, the closing of the transaction with Montreal Cannabis and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals associated therewith, the regulations related to cannabis use under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations and the act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, passed by the Canadian Federal government, making cannabis and cannabis based edibles, vapes and oils legal for recreational use on October 17, 2018 and October 17, 2019; Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities; level of competition; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; and the ability to execute strategic plans. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Canada House Wellness Group Inc.

For further information: Steven Pearce, Vice-President, Legal, Canada House Cannabis Group, 289-980-3584, [email protected]
"I am thrilled that the growing number of tourists from Canada closely parallels the pre-pandemic record-breaking year of 2019," said Gal Hana, Israeli Consul of Tourism to Canada. "As a destination that integrates such diversified and multi-layered niches and motivations, it's critical that travel agents have a suite of resources to properly promote the country to multiple tourist segments. Our campaign and accompanying new tools will assist them in doing so quickly and efficiently."

IMOT's new travel agent tools include:

A new dedicated agent website connecting different parties in the supply chain such as airlines, agents, tour operators, and local suppliers. The website offers travel planning tools, itineraries, tour guides and a host of other valuable resources.

Israel Destination Specialist program, a top-of-the-line educational program to deepen the knowledge of agents by encouraging them to become Israel Expert Agents. Topics will drill down into defining where to find Israel's major historical, cultural and UNESCO Heritage designated sites and religious attractions, as well as opportunities for indoor and outdoor adventure from the Red Sea and the Negev Desert in the south and to the northern stretches of Israel's Golan Heights.

"The need for the professional recommendations of skilled travel advisor was never so clear," said Mr. Hana. "Our new program and web tools will support the industry to be the best Israel advisors for their clients," mentioned Gal Hana.

The dedicated agent website and educational program will offer suggested travel itineraries for special interest and faith-centered groups or individuals, including Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, other Christians, and Jews interested in Israel's main sites throughout the Holy Land.

"I applaud the Israel Ministry of Tourism for developing and launching this Israel Specialist program, the ideal user-friendly tool for our team of agents who need to know the product and to instill confidence when selling Israel to clients," said Artzi Korostelev, Executive Vice President of Toronto-based Peerless Travel Inc.

"The strong recovery of North American travel to Israel after the pandemic has proven how keeping travel advisors and tour operators informed about Israel is key to enabling them to sell our wonderful destination," added Eyal Carlin, Commissioner for North America, Israel Ministry of Tourism. "The new comprehensive online training program highlights the unique travel experiences of Israel. The LMS and the new agent website contains all the information needed to stay informed about Israel so just sign up and enjoy Israel!"

For details on upcoming events and attractions in Israel, visit IMOT's website at www.israel.travel. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to receive the latest updates.

SOURCE Consulate General of Israel

For further information: Jerry Adler, Deputy Director for Canada, Director, PR + Communications, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Office Tel. 416.964.3784 ext. 24, E-mail: [email protected]
1. Ed Sperling (Forbes magazine) looks at the battle between Google, Facebook and Apple to create sticky user technology and experiences and generate ad revenue.

Social networking is stickier than search, to use some marketing terminology. You have to sign up and commit serious time to it, which is why Google is ramping up all sorts of side businesses in the hopes that something does stick. Googles Android operating system is about the stickiest thing it offers Google created Gmail, which is somewhat sticky, and why its working on GoogleTV, which may ultimately prove even stickier once the dust settles on this market. But even Facebook will be facing new competition. Social networking and corporate collaboration are just getting going.

2. Fastcompany makes the flashy claim that adwords is dying and that Google is making pre-emptive moves to eventually replace adwords.

With as many services as Google has, Adwords accounts for almost all of their revenue-a whopping $23 billion in 2009. Their flagship advertising platform is showing no signs of slowing down, but Google sees the writing on the wall and is being proactive preparing for life after Adwords. The numbers and trends point to continued success of Adwords as the largest Internet ad platform in history. Those numbers are, however, short term, and Google is not waiting for the trends to turn down before doing something about it. Many of their actions over the last few months (and possibly longer) would be considered by most to be harmful to their most profitable product, but thats the point. Hit it hard now while it can withstand the punishment. Move Adwords down on the search results page and add revenue-free distractions while its still generating billions of dollars. Move one of the most successful technology company executives in history to another department so she can work her magic there. Move your focus from something that has worked for a decade to something that will likely work for the next decade.

3. Why Facebook, Yahoo and eBay use Hadoop by Tom White at Forbes Magazine

A new style of data management is emerging, where all the data available is stored without enforcing a pre-defined data structure, and kept online for any question to be asked. This approach has been dubbed schema on read, since the data is interpreted at query (read) time, rather than when the data is loaded into the data store (schema on write). The advantages are that loading data into the database is cheap, since there is no clean/transform/index step and that any question can be asked of the data. But this only works if the underlying data storage and compute engine is powerful enough to operate on a large dataset in a time-efficient manner. This is where the open source Apache Hadoop project comes in, with its distributed file system (HDFS) and compute engine (MapReduce), both based on systems that Google invented. HDFS provides the raw underlying storage on commodity hardware for massive datasets (which may be petabytes in size), and MapReduce provides the programming model to run computations over significant portions of the dataset in parallel. Ebay used Hadooop to dramatically improve the buyers search experience and better match them to sellers, thereby improving sales and profits. Using Hadoop, Yahoo is able to do research for advertisement systems, optimize the content that users see, and prevent spam. Or consider Facebook, which uses Hadoop for reporting and analytics for understanding user behavior. Facebook was able to test the effect of introducing the Like button, for example, by testing it on large subsets of users. Facebooks analysis showed it increased participation compared to those who didnt have it, so it rolled the Like button out to all users

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Google is negligent by not having the software coded mechanisms to prevent or rapidly repair vandalization of search results.

People can use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and other means to adjust search results. There are ways that people can manipulate search. This is a matter of concentrating resources and effort beyond to make a competition for ranking unfair to get the desired result.

An example of this in a different real-world situation would be a Hollywood studio spending millions of dollars to win the campaign for an Academy Award (aka Oscar). It costs about $10 million for a campaign to win Best Picture.

There are technical solutions for more manipulation resistant search. Google does release updates like the Panda update (the project name of last major search update) which invalidates old SEO methods.

The Oscar example is one where it is an ongoing marketing effort to come out on top in high-value competition. There is an economic and marketing battle to be the winner.

At the smaller scale, there are less costly gaming of less important lists. Search engine results are a lot of mini-competitions. Competitions over terms.

The Google business model is predicated on providing consumers with the right valuation of those listings which are generated in an automated way.

Manual adjusted search is worse than automated search as a business and as a service. This was shown when Yahoo lost to Google. Most people did not want to use Yahoo.

Google is technically capable of adding in automated parameters to rank how toxic an article on a webpage is. They are technically capable of using AI and programming to determine where something is on a political spectrum. They can use AI to recognize images and whether images have highly charged logos.

IBM has the Debater AI program which form automated arguments both for and against any topic.

Other companies that are far smaller than Google or IBM have automation to manage content with varying degrees of bias and toxicity.

Let us imagine that Google adds in a few more switches and parameters for this kind of management.

This will likely mean more lawsuits for Google. Every company and famous person would demand to micromanage their brand via the search results where they come up. There are lawsuits and many complaints now but enabling full control or a lot of outside control without massive care would be a bigger problem.

This would also end up with search results that serve the special interests of millions of companies. It would be search results sold to the highest bidder or the one with the most lawyers.

The overall pay for search results would be less useful to people and the users would go to a different search system. Google would not make more money from too much-paid or adjusted search since the money gained would be offset by lawsuit losses and would require far more staff and other expenses. They already have the separately paid advertising results.

This means the search result controls need to remain crude and broader. They need to be at the level of compliance with broad universal laws. All search companies have to be at the same national standards. Even though Google is the biggest and most dominant everywhere except China.

There are TV channels and other media who have voluntarily chosen very open bias as part of their business model. They are far smaller than Google. Google does not want to go from dominant to half or less.

Facebook has newsfeeds tailored for individuals. Twitter provides you only the tweet sources that you follow.

Google does provide customization of results based upon your profile if you login.

Those do not address the overall brand concerns. Companies and politicians do not care what they each will see in results. They care about what others are seeing.
Datong, a thousand-year-old ancient town formerly known as "Lanxi," was established during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is located in the southwest of Tongling City and borders Chizhou City. It used to be one of Anhui's "four major commercial ports" along with Anqing, Wuhu, and Bengbu, and was renowned for its reputation as "Little Shanghai." The Datong Ancient Town Scenic Area is situated at the confluence of Qingtong River and Yangtze River with convenient transportation, only 20 minutes away from Jiuhua Mountain Airport and Tongling Railway Station. Datong Ancient Town still has a Lanxi Street that measures over 780 meters long by 7 meters wide paved with square-shaped light red marble blocks. Most storefronts on both sides of the street are small tile-roofed buildings made of green bricks, black tiles and corbel-steps that exude Huizhou architectural style. Lanxi Street not only offers abundant daily necessities but also retains local businesses featuring traditional handicraft workshops and residences unique to this area. Some buildings have obvious historical traces from the early days after China's founding such as store signs' writing styles, architectural designs, or decorations. Among the many barbershops in Datong, there is a century-old "Datong Barbershop". The elderly master in the shop still has unparalleled shaving skills and continues to provide the service to customers. The Tongling Freshwater Dolphin Nature Reserve, a national-level nature reserve, is located on the Jiajiang River between Heyue Island and Tieban Island in Datong Town. It is world's first place to use semi-natural conditions for relocating and protecting white-flag dolphins (also known as Baiji, Yangtze River Dolphin) and Yangtze finless porpoise. Currently, there are eleven freshwater dolphins under protection there. In recent years, Datong has won a series of honors such as the "UN Dubai Habitat Environment Award," "China Habitat Environment Model Award," "China Historical and Cultural Famous Town," "First Batch of Chinese Characteristic Towns," and "National 4A-level Tourist Scenic Area." Datong received over seven hundred thousand visitors in 2019. Now that its infrastructure and supporting services have gradually improved, the scenic area has become a comprehensive tourist attraction that integrates leisure sightseeing, study tours, and historical exploration.

Reported by Cheng Hao Edited and translated by Zheng Chen
The Erna R Badstieber Paws and Claws Adoption Center was filled with the sounds of hoots and cheers on March 23 as national charity Jordans Way held its second fundraiser at the Columbus nonprofit.

Jordans Way Foundation Kris Rotonda started the effort after the passing of his best friend, a former shelter dog named Jordan. Rotonda and his team visit animal shelters in all 50 states to raise money for local shelters and honor Jordans memory.

Livestreamed on Facebook, the fundraisers are a non-stop bustle of activity filled with games and activities to encourage people to donate.

March 23 had been the second time Jordans Way has been at Paws and Claws.

This time around, in the front lobby of the animal shelter, there were plenty of pies in the face, as well as tortilla slaps in which participants hold water in their mouths and slap each other with a folded tortilla, and other activities. There had also been plenty of challenges in the dog room, such as locking staff and volunteers in dog kennels until a certain amount had been raised.

Local businesses and individuals brought in monetary donations to support the cause, along with members of the Columbus Police Department and Platte County Sheriffs Office. Columbus Council Member Charlie Bahr challenged his fellow councilors, Mayor Jim Bulkley and City Administrator Tara Vasicek to take a pie in the face, or a tortilla slap. Council Member Rich Jablonski, Bulkley and Vasicek met Bahrs challenge.

As of 1:30 p.m. on March 23, a total of almost $14,000 had been raised. An online donation page can be found at bit.ly/3lYxvGG  a number of donations had been made in person at Paws and Claws that day, so the total on the donation page may not reflect the actual amount raised.
The current state of noisy qubit quantum computers is a bit difficult to assess.

Superconducting quantum chips and ion trapped quantum computers are in the 16 qubit to 100 qubit range. Rigetti Computing is seeking an application that will give it a practical advantage over conventional computers. Other companies are pushing other metrics to gauge progress.

Google has said they are at 72 qubits but there are reports that that announcement in March 2018 was premature. There is only 20 qubit quantum computers that can be accessed via cloud computer interfaces.

Google has stated that they went from laptops, to desktops and then to a large cloud network to match the power of their quantum chips.

Neven has said that Googles quantum systems could become faster than any classical computers by the end of 2019. This suggests that quantum supremacy should occur with noisy superconducting qubits with 70-200 qubits.

Noisy qubits should not need error correction up to 500 to 10000 qubits. The higher qubit ranges can be reached with lower error rates going from one in a hundred to one in ten thousand.

Moores Law is a doubling function, we can represent Moores Law like this, where n represents a two year interval:

n Classical computing power (2n)

* 1 2

* 2 4

* 3 8

* 4 16

* 5 32

* 6 64

* 7 128

* 8 256

* 9 512

* 10 1024

Googles Nevens Law says there is a double exponential improvement in quantum systems. n equals each new improvement to Googles quantum processor. Google is exponentially increasing the power of its processors on a monthly to semi-monthly basis. However, there has been no announcement or confirmation that the 72 qubit chip or follow on chip works since march 2018.

n 2n 2(2n) Quantum Computing Power Relative to Classical Computing Power * 1 2 22 4 * 2 4 24 16 * 3 8 28 256 * 4 16 216 65,536 * 5 32 232 4,294,967,296 * 6 64 264 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 * 7 128 2128 3.4028236692093846346337460743177e+38 * 8 256 2256 1.1579208923731619542357098500869e+77 * 9 512 2512 1.3407807929942597099574024998206e+154 * 10 1024 21024 1.797693134862315907729305190789e+308

5 steps of improvement is a billion times more powerful

6 steps is a billion times a billion times

Between steps 7 and 8 is a universe of atoms of classical computing.

IBM has talked about quantum volume which also considers how many steps of quantum computation a system can perform.

Making tweeks to the current quantum systems can make giant improvements to their utility.

Google does not have its full 72 qubit system working.

Any of the competing quantum systems that fully uses 100-200 qubits will have quantum supremacy for some applications.

Getting to a fully useful 200-400 qubits should have overall quantum supremacy.

Getting to fully useful 400-800 qubits should make quantum systems vastly better than current systems for any application where they can be used.
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Here are some recent articles:

Get a direct look at the nanoscale and possible micro scale casimir force warp bubble proposal with direct links to Sonny Whites video presentations.

Understand how difficult a military invasion of Taiwan would be. Taiwan is two-thirds mountains and artillery and missiles placed in the mountains would be able to fire down on any attempted beach landings. Taiwan has had decades to prepare defenses against any invasion.

Several analysis that dig into why Elon Musk is wrong to be concerned about civilization ossifying if there was massive live extension.

The level of innovation is found to increase as people age up until they are about 55. Successful age reversal technology will need to rejuvenate people. It will need to restore mental plasticity. Innovation and new inventions increase up to age 55 when people start retiring in significant numbers.

Nextbigfuture looks at the history of significant delays in innovation from the delay in the acceptance of the Sun being the center of the solar system to the suppression of the concept of fuel depots in space for monetary interests.

Written by Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
The Google Research next-generation AI architecture is called Pathways. It will enable a single model to learn millions of things instead of just one thing. This will be a massive phase change and up leveling of neural network and AI capabilities.

Pathways is part of the improvements Google is making to their AI. Google new AI models are helping to create information experiences that are truly conversational, multimodal and personal. This improves Google Assistant.

The multitask unified model, or MUM for short, has improved searches for vaccine information. They will introduce new ways to search with images and words simultaneously.

In October, Google introduced a new AI architecture called Pathways. AI models are typically trained to do only one thing.

With Pathways, a single model can be trained to do thousands, even millions of things. From MUM to Pathways to BERT and more, these deep AI investments are helping us lead in search quality. Theyre also powering innovations beyond Search. For example, DeepMinds protein folding system AlphaFold, was recently recognized by Nature & Science Magazine as a defining breakthrough.

To illustrate the scale of the teams achievement, it took scientists more than 50 years to figure out the structure of 150,000 proteins. The DeepMind team has now expanded that number to 1 million, and they think they will get to more than 100 million this year. Philipp will talk in great detail about our advertising business. which also benefits from our investments in AI.

Pathways is a new way of thinking about AI that addresses many of the weaknesses of existing systems and synthesizes their strengths. To show you what I mean, lets walk through some of AIs current shortcomings and how Pathways can improve upon them.

Todays AI models are typically trained to do only one thing. Pathways will enable us to train a single model to do thousands or millions of things.

Todays AI systems are often trained from scratch for each new problem  the mathematical models parameters are initiated literally with random numbers. Imagine if, every time you learned a new skill (jumping rope, for example), you forgot everything youd learned  how to balance, how to leap, how to coordinate the movement of your hands  and started learning each new skill from nothing.

The world currently train most machine learning models today to do one thing. Rather than extending existing models to learn new tasks, we train each new model from nothing to do one thing and one thing only (or we sometimes specialize a general model to a specific task). The result is that we end up developing thousands of models for thousands of individual tasks. Not only does learning each new task take longer this way, but it also requires much more data to learn each new task, since were trying to learn everything about the world and the specifics of that task from nothing (completely unlike how people approach new tasks).

Pathways could handle more abstract forms of data, helping find useful patterns that have eluded human scientists in complex systems such as climate dynamics.

Todays models are dense and inefficient. Pathways will make them sparse and efficient.

A third problem is that most of todays models are dense, which means the whole neural network activates to accomplish a task, regardless of whether its very simple or really complicated.

This, too, is very unlike the way people approach problems. We have many different parts of our brain that are specialized for different tasks, yet we only call upon the relevant pieces for a given situation. There are close to a hundred billion neurons in your brain, but you rely on a small fraction of them to interpret this sentence.

AI can work the same way. We can build a single model that is sparsely activated, which means only small pathways through the network are called into action as needed. In fact, the model dynamically learns which parts of the network are good at which tasks  it learns how to route tasks through the most relevant parts of the model. A big benefit to this kind of architecture is that it not only has a larger capacity to learn a variety of tasks, but its also faster and much more energy efficient, because we dont activate the entire network for every task.

For example, GShard and Switch Transformer are two of the largest machine learning models weve ever created, but because both use sparse activation, they consume less than 1/10th the energy that youd expect of similarly sized dense models  while being as accurate as dense models.

Pathways will enable a single AI system to generalize across thousands or millions of tasks, to understand different types of data, and to do so with remarkable efficiency  advancing us from the era of single-purpose models that merely recognize patterns to one in which more general-purpose intelligent systems reflect a deeper understanding of our world and can adapt to new needs.

AI and Googles Ad Revenue

AI impacts Googles ads product was described in the recent earnings call.

Performance Max is a news campaign that went global in November and has been quickly embraced by advertisers. It brings the best of Google Ads, AI and automation together to let brands promote their businesses across all Google services from a single campaign, helping them drive more online sales, leads and/or foot traffic. They are radically simplifying their products and making them easier for customers to use. French childrens wear retailer Petit Bateau tested PMAX over a three-week period return on ad spend jumped 35%. Click-through rates increased 40%, and valuable insights were gleaned into what messaging resonated most.

They developed insights tools. Four new features were launched in Q4. This included demand forecast, which uses ML to help businesses predict forward-looking trends and better understand what goods to stock and what services to offer when.

In Search, Advertisers are leaning more into automation, using responsive search ads to create and select the best-performing creatives, matching with more relevant search queries using broad match keywords, setting optimized bids with auction time signals.

They have smart bidding. They are using more AI to help advertisers measure their results and bid intelligently with data-driven attribution, for example, which uses very advanced ML to more accurately understand how each marketing touchpoint actually contributed to a conversion, obviously, while respecting user privacies. Broad match keywords are a big part of this.

They have responsive ads on display and discovery. They use text image and video assets from advertisers and predict the best combination of assets to show in any size or format on Google properties or the display network. Google his elping advertisers lean into automation and identify new opportunities as a central part really of their recovery and growth strategies.

SOURCES- Google

Written By Brian Wang, NExtbigfuture.com
UK Space Agency announced 2.9 million of new funding for a nuclear micro-reactor by Rolls-Royce. They want nuclear power to support a future Moon base for astronauts. This follows a 249,000 study funded by the UK Space Agency in 2022. Rolls-Royce plan to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029.

Scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce are working on the Micro-Reactor program to develop technology that will provide power needed for humans to live and work on the Moon. All space missions depend on a power source, to support systems for communications, life-support and science experiments. Nuclear power has the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future Lunar missions and their scientific value.

A Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor is designed to use an inherently safe and extremely robust fuel form. Each uranium particle is encapsulated in multiple protective layers that act as a containment system, allowing it to withstand extreme conditions.https://t.co/OOc9kBGXDx pic.twitter.com/wkXmZgzhrs  Rolls-Royce (@RollsRoyce) January 27, 2023

The US has been looking at nuclear micro-reactors for space missions. NASA has been developing the kilopower system.

NASAs fission surface power project expands on Kilopowers work and results, focusing on a 10-kilowatt class lunar demonstration in the late 2020s. The prototype power system used a solid, cast uranium-235 reactor core, about the size of a paper towel roll. Passive sodium heat pipes transfer reactor heat to high-efficiency Stirling engines, which convert the heat to electricity.

NASA and DARPA have other plans to build a functioning nuclear thermal rocket by 2027.
Alberto Ibarguen announced Friday that he was stepping down as the leader of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, ending a run as the grantmakers president that began in the George W. Bush administration. With about $3 billion in assets, Knight is among the 50 wealthiest foundations.

During his tenure, Ibarguen made his mark in the cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight operated their newspaper empire. In Detroit, Ibarguen helped orchestrate a $370 million foundation effort to keep the citys finances from cratering. In Miami, he crusaded for the arts, helping the city become an international cultural destination. And as a former newspaper executive who saw the news industry being decimated all around him, Ibarguen made it a top priority at Knight to restore the credibility and viability of journalism in response to the upheaval caused by the internet.

Ibarguen, 79, was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New Jersey. After serving in the Peace Corps and working as a legal-aid lawyer earlier in his career, he climbed the newspaper ranks. He served as publisher of the Miami Herald when it won three coveted Pulitzer Prizes and publisher of the Spanish-language El Nuevo Herald in Miami.

Ibarguens career in newspapers helped set the way he ran the foundation. He expected his colleagues at Knight to scout out leads like reporters and be the foundations eyes and ears on the ground in the communities they serve. Those around him said he embraced the chaos of a newsroom environment and wasnt afraid to slam the brakes on a project when something juicier presented itself.

I dont find it very useful to say, We only do this, or We only do that, he says. Setting rules up ahead of time never struck me as that creative.

Ibarguen will depart when Knight finds a replacement. In the meantime, he is still busy trying to put together what he hopes is a mammoth fund to support journalism. Ibarguen isnt certain how much the fund will gather from other foundations  although he said $1 billion is just an ante for the work that needs to be done. It also is unclear whether the fund will touch on all areas of journalism, including First Amendment issues, technology development, supporting small news outlets, and helping people become more discerning readers and viewers of the news.

Ibarguen says several dozen foundations have said they are interested in joining in. Diversifying Knights board in terms of race, gender, and ideological perspective, Ibarguen says, was one of his biggest accomplishments. Upon realizing that a tiny percentage of Knights endowment was managed by investing firms owned by people of color, Ibarguen developed a survey of foundations and universities with a goal of diversifying endowment money managers.

At Knight, Ibarguen has managed to remain faithful to the wishes of the Knight brothers, while keeping the foundations work at the cutting edge, says John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation and a trustee on Knights board until December.

Ibarguens response in Detroit, where the Knights ran the Detroit Free Press, was both in line with the brothers commitment to the city but also represented a different kind of involvement in city finances than the Knights had envisioned, suggested Palfrey. Rather than supporting the arts or community programs, the money Knight contributed to the Grand Bargain went to pay the citys pensioners, traditionally a municipal, not philanthropic, responsibility.

Similarly, Ibarguen showed that he was not bound to the past when he steered Knight away from endowing journalism professorships at universities. But he jumped at the chance to re-establish the practice when doing so was an attempt to promote equity, Palfrey says. The result, the Center for Journalism and Democracy at Howard University, is led by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Ibarguen worked to set up the center after Jones, who oversaw an extensive New York Times look at the legacy of slavery in the United States, the 1619 Project, when she was at first denied tenure at University of North Carolinas Hussman School of Journalism and Media, another institution that has received support from Knight. Within weeks of the University of North Carolina decision, Knight, MacArthur, the Ford Foundation, and an anonymous donor provided a total of $20 million for the new center at Howard.

One of the biggest injuries the media revolution has inflicted on the news business is the disconnection people feel between their geography  their city and neighborhood  and the news they consume online, which tends to be national in scope, Ibarguen says. As Knight struggled to support new ways to deliver the news by making grants to outlets across the country, Ibarguen also was obsessed with driving home a single story in his hometown: the arts matter.

Art bridges language and bridges experience, he says. If Gloria Estefan is singing, your toes will tap, I guarantee it. And if Beethoven is playing, your soul soars. Even more, a city where residents are connected through shared cultural offerings can be an essential part of a strong democracy in which political differences are recognized but not demonized, Ibarguen says.

Franklin Sirmans, who moved to Miami in 2015 to serve as director of the Perez Art Museum Miami, says Ibarguens strong leadership has been key to making Miami an arts scene.

He has an incredibly persuasive, beautiful, and poetic way of talking about it. I hate to use Albertos own terms so closely, but over the past seven years, I have struggled to find my own words.

The city has been transformed by the injection of arts fund, and today Miami is committed to being a place that is open for dialogue, Sirmans says. Its a place that doesnt shy away from having difficult conversations. Rather, it is a place that is led by art, a place where art is the catalyst for every single thing that we do.

____

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Alex Daniels is a senior reporter at the Chronicle. Email: alex.daniels@philanthropy.com. The AP and the Chronicle receive support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
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SEATTLE (AP)  Kirkland Warren was out on bail pending a long-delayed murder trial in Arkansas. But when he was arrested in southwestern Washington state early this month on charges that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and fired a gunshot into her apartment, he quickly posted bond and was released again.

Just a few days later, his ex-girlfriend, Meshay Melendez, 27, and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart, vanished. Police named Warren a person of interest in their disappearance.

The discovery of their bodies in thick brush down a road embankment on Wednesday has raised questions about why someone facing a murder charge in another state would be released from custody after being arrested for a serious domestic violence offense.

Cymber Tadlock, the deputy prosecutor who handled Warrens case in a 2017 killing in Jefferson County, Arkansas, said the Vancouver Police Department in Washington notified her on March 2 that they had arrested Warren for drive-by shooting and other charges, stemming from an incident in December. They also told her the next day that Warren had a court appearance and his bail was set at $100,000.

It wasnt until March 14, after she had received official paperwork from Clark County, Washington, that she filed a motion to revoke Warren's bail in the 2017 murder case. In the meantime, he posted bail and was released from custody March 8  four days before Melendez and her daughter vanished.

Had his Arkansas bail been revoked sooner, its possible Warren would have remained in custody as a fugitive pending his extradition to face trial in Arkansas. But Tadlock said the time it took to obtain an order revoking his bail was typical.

I wish everything could happen more quickly, Tadlock told The Associated Press. I wish his murder case could have been resolved by now. Its had delay after delay, and now its had a tragedy.

Even before a man walking his dog reported seeing what resembled two life-sized mannequins in a rural area east of Washougal, Washington, on Wednesday morning, the family and friends of Melendez and Stewart had asserted the criminal justice system let them down.

Melendezs brother, Miguel Melendez, and stepdad, Kendrick Taylor, along with Stewart's grandfather, told The Columbian newspaper of Vancouver that they couldnt believe Warren had been released on bail after shooting at her apartment, especially considering his pending murder trial in Arkansas.

But except in cases of aggravated murder, Washington law presumes someone will be released from custody until they are tried and convicted. Courts can impose conditions  such as bail or electronic monitoring  to help ensure public safety and to keep defendants from fleeing.

Complicating matters is that when Warren was released, he was not ordered to wear a GPS ankle bracelet  despite a recent state law that allows courts to order people accused of domestic violence to wear them. Under that law, the victim can use a mobile phone app to be alerted if their abuser is near. Police receive the notifications as well and can respond.

Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Kim Kapp said Friday that officers were concerned about Warren being released at all, considering the danger he posed. Kapp said the department may urge lawmakers to make the GPS bracelets mandatory for domestic violence defendants deemed high risk.

Warren was charged with killing an acquaintance in his vehicle in 2017 and leaving the body in a roadside ditch. He told police the passenger was asking him for money and he shot him because he feared for his safety.

His family got him released from custody pending trial by putting up 10% of his $250,000 bond, said his attorney in that case, Mark Hampton, and Warren subsequently moved to Washington state with the knowledge of his lawyer and prosecutors.

The case has been delayed pending psychological evaluations, discovery disputes, the pandemic and most recently by a fall that Hamptons 91-year-old mother took, resulting in a broken hip.

Vancouver police previously investigated Warren in 2020 for possession of a stolen gun, and in 2021 for lying on a federal form required to purchase a firearm by saying he was not facing felony charges, according to court records.

Under Arkansas legal rules, judges must find reasonable cause that the defendant has committed a felony before revoking bail, according to Tadlock, who said we had to have a finding by another court" because the allegations occurred in another jurisdiction.

Warrens March 2 arrest stemmed from a December episode during which police said he assaulted Melendez and then fired a gunshot into her apartment. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges and hasn't been charged thus far in the deaths of Melendez or Stewart.

At Warrens initial court appearance on March 3, prosecutors noted he posed an extreme risk to Melendez, The Columbian reported. The court set bail at $100,000 and ordered him to have no contact with her, but prosecutors did not request GPS monitoring in the event of his release.

The Clark County Prosecutor's Office did not respond to emailed questions about the case.

Warren was the last person seen with the mother and daughter before they disappeared, according to charging documents. On the night of March 11, a friend told police, she had been babysitting Stewart when Warren arrived to pick her up. Melendez was unresponsive in the car, naked from the waist down.

The friend reported Melendez missing on March 18. Melendezs mother also reported her missing, saying the family had not heard from her for a week. The next day, police arrested Warren again. With his bail in Arkansas revoked, and his bail in Washington increased to $1 million, he has been in custody since.
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One of New Haven's newest music venues will be closing its doors in less than two months to make way for apartment buildings.

The State House, located at 310 State St., has occupied the long-vacant former Horowitz Brothers fabric store since 2018. Since then, the 250-person capacity venue has hosted a number of local concerts, dance parties, drag shows and other community events. Nationally touring musicians have also frequented the State House including Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, indie rock band Deerhoof and metalcore act The Acacia Strain.
NEW HAVEN  Medically controlled drug consumption sites could be legalized.

Officials and Yale University-based public health experts were among those behind the push in Hartford for the state to greenlight overdose harm reduction centers, citing the situation at home.

The city saw a spike in overdose deaths earlier this year. Within less than two weeks, fatal drug overdoses claimed 12 lives, a threefold increase in the usual weekly number.

There were 548 unintentional drug overdose deaths in New Haven between 2015-22, one of the highest in the entire state, just behind Hartford and Waterbury.

A bill proposed in the Senate would allow the commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to establish a pilot program for the harm reduction center in three municipalities of choice, subject to the approval of chief elected officials in those municipalities.

As described in the bill, the center is a medical facility where people can consume drugs under medical supervision to provide necessary medical treatment in the event of an overdose of a controlled substance.

According to the bill, licensed healthcare providers who can provide referrals for substance use disorder counseling or other mental health or medical treatment services must be employed at such centers.

Dr. Mehul Dalal, the city's community services administrator, was among those from New Haven who supported the proposal during a public hearing earlier this week before the General Assemblys Joint Public Health Committee.

Dalal said the city had been hit hard by the opioid overdose epidemic, noting the death toll for it in 2021 and 2022 far surpassed the one for COVID-19 in the city in those respective years.

We are seeing a larger share of our illicit drug supply contain fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and xylazine. Stimulants such as crack and cocaine are often adulterated with fentanyl, and users may not be aware that they are ingesting opioids, Dalal said. Every week, two or three residents of our city lose their life to a suspected overdose  we have a front-row seat to this unfolding public health crisis.

Dalal pointed to New York City, where the countrys first two overdose prevention centers opened in 2021. Since the opening, the centers have prevented more than 700 overdoses within more than 55,000 visits, the Wall Street Journal reported.

They can reduce public drug use, syringe litter and emergency calls without increasing drug-related crime locally, Dalal said.

Asked how much these would cost, New Haven Sen. Martin Looney said he doesnt know at this point because its a new proposal, which will require the legislature to explore in detail.

Because the bill allowed the state to use funds from the opioid settlement, something New Haven supported, that might have some federal restrictions. Looney said if one source isnt available, we should examine whether or not another unencumbered funding source might be available for that purpose.

Several testifiers from Yale schools of Public Health and Medicine pointed out to more than 100 worldwide and in other states. They said they had a successful history of preventing these deaths.

Dr. Kimberly Sue, an assistant professor from Yale School of Medicine who sees patients at APT Foundation and Yale New Haven Hospital, said the opioid crisis is "my generation's HIV epidemic."

What kills my patients is not the combination of drugs they use, Sue said. What kills them is our society's cruelly stigmatizing approach to substance use disorders and the lack of safe places they can use and receive immediate overdose supports.

Sue emphasized that it doesnt have to be a licensed provider to provide that support as the work of peers to do this is equally credible if not more so.

I'm sick of seeing my patients die and going to the funerals of people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s," Sue said.

Tom Goldenberg, a mayoral challenger, urged lawmakers to implement stricter restrictions  by including methadone clinics and safe-use injection sites in drug-free zones.

He also called for a public hearing on the states response to the opioid crisis in New Haven, specifically near John C. Daniels School, which is across the street from APT Foundation.

Here is a school that is 350 feet away from a clinic where there is frequent drug dealing, which I have witnessed myself over the last several weeks, he said.

With the safe-use sites, Goldenberg said they should also be subject to a public hearing.
Columbus High Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities have expanded over the past few years, but administration continues to look for improvements to better serve students.

The Carl Perkins Vocational Education grant program is used to provide financial support to CTE programs across the United States. CHS receives Perkins dollars and is looking to continue that in the future.

During a Perkins Advisory Committee meeting held March 22 in the CHS media room, school administration, staff and representatives from different industries in the Columbus area reviewed current CTE programming and goals for the next school year, as well as discussed industry needs.

The reVISION process, according to the Nebraska Department of Educations website, is required for school districts and community colleges in Nebraska that desire to operate as an approved CTE program and receive Perkins funds.

CHS Principal Dave Hiebner said the purpose of the process is extensive collaboration on state and local levels of secondary, post-secondary and business/industry partners to develop and implement high-quality CTE programs.

One of the things here at Columbus High School that we tried to do is continue to add to those programs of study in multiple areas within the industry, that circulate around Columbus and the surrounding area, Hiebner said.

This is about an opportunity for our students to get the most out of the programs that we currently offer. And how do we continue to grow those over time to ensure that our students are getting what they need in relation to what the needs of our areas are?

CHS currently offers the following class pathways: finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, business technology, data science, video production, early childhood education and service, architectural design, construction, engineering, manufacturing, TDL technician and health sciences.

A new pathway, currently called culinary arts but may see a name change, will be implemented in the 2023-2024 school year.

Through these pathways, there are a variety of certifications that students have the opportunity to receive while still in school, including Microsoft Office, certified nursing assistant, OSHA, CPR and multiple Snap-on certifications.

I believe  first semester, we were over 600 certifications for our junior class alone, Hiebner said.

Additionally, he added, the school has a Students to Teachers through Educator Pathways (STEP) partnership with Wayne State College and a partnership with Shelby Lumber for the advanced construction courses.

Providing opportunities for career and technical student organizations (CTSO) and expanding employability skills and exploring H3 careers  high wage, high skill and high demand  have been goals. Progress has already been made on the CTSO front, as a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter has been added this year and already has about 20 students.

Perkins money has been used for things like curriculum workshops, academy/conferences for teachers, industry field trips and some mechatronics/automotive equipment/tools, Hiebner said. Dollars from a reVISION grant, which provides additional Perkins funds, have been used for Stop the Bleed and CPR courses, basic life support training materials and similar things.

Upcoming goals include continuing to build health care education pathway, looking for new opportunities for college and career business, building CTSO, pursuing virtual reality opportunities and industry-grade equipment upgrades, creating an action plan to improve student test scores, providing professional development for staff and partnering with local businesses for training in CTE areas.

One of the big things we do here for local businesses (are) job shadowing apprenticeship opportunities and continuing to grow that and making sure that we're offering our students the most opportunities that we possibly can, Hiebner said.

Attendees then broke into groups to answer questions surrounding industry needs.

Occupational trends noted were the need for CTE instructors and employees with soft skills (friendliness, communication, work ethic, time management, etc.), as well as getting younger technicians. Attendees added they could use bilingual workers, and more engineers and there can be a general lack of knowledge of the industry.

Among the future skills anticipated were accounting/finance knowledge, being able to self-learn, going the extra mile to learn new things, working remotely, being able to do multiple jobs and having soft skills.

Jeff Sprunk, of Miba Industrial Bearings, noted the business does precision machining, so they have a limited audience they can target.

If they don't have that skill set, it's kind of hard to teach it, Sprunk said. I've only been a plant manager there for about six months. The first thing I did was reach out to Ben (Loeffelholz, skilled and technical sciences teacher) to try to build that partnership with the precision machining class here at the high school.

That partnership has also included extending assistance in the classroom. Sprunk said some of their engineers have assisted in showing how a milling machine is operated.

We're teaching him so he can teach his students. We came in, reviewed the curriculum, we gave a few suggestions to the curriculum, and he's changed some things that way, Sprunk said. I think the partnership is just starting. But I think so far, it's really going in the right direction.

In the future, he added, they are looking at bringing in a machinist regularly to work on the machines with the students. There are just some things, he noted, that can only be learned while on the job.

The books are good, but there's that tribal knowledge, Sprunk said. We've got guys that are going retire here pretty soon, well, some of the things that are in their heads is just from the years of experience. If a kids struggling with this, they can say, you just put the tool in this way you do this and this and this.

Sprunk said his field is growing. Miba makes hydrodynamic bearings, most of which end up in power generation, including wind turbines and large windmills.

As we try to get to greener, renewable energies, our business keeps picking up, Sprunk said.
NEW HAVEN  Sgt. Betsy Segui was likely "untruthful" and "inconsistent" when she told investigators she couldn't recall if she was told Randy Cox had fallen and possibly injured the night he ended up paralyzed while in police custody, according to an internal affairs report.

Segui and officers Oscar Diaz, Jovelyn Lavandier, Ronald Pressley and Luis Rivera were arrested in November on charges of cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in connection with their handling of Cox after he was thrown in the back of a police transport van when it stopped short on June 19, 2022. All five have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The five officers were suspended days after the incident and remain on paid leave except Pressley, who retired earlier this year.

New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said he is recommending Segui, Diaz, Lavandier and Rivera be fired based on the internal affairs investigation's findings.

The department's use of force instructor Lt. Jason Rentkowicz concluded based on incident reports and video that the officers' "actions appeared to be reasonable to complete a lawful objective of moving a person from one place to another and there was no other force option other than the escort," according to the 70-page internal affairs report obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Cox, who was interviewed months later by internal affairs investigators, offered a different perspective. Cox cried, but didn't wish to amend his comments regarding the recorded statement he gave state police who were conducting a criminal investigation into the officers, the report stated.

"When asked if he had any comments he wanted to add, he stated he wished to see the officers fired and unable to get their pensions, stating 'I hope that it's some kind of justice, you know? Not just with the courts, but with you guys (internal affairs), that's it.'"

The internal affairs report details what transpired at the police station after Cox arrived, still awkwardly wedged between the floor and the seat of the van and unable to move. The officers felt Cox was drunk and "faking" it, with Lavandier at one point saying he was fine because he "blew her a kiss," the report stated.

"You can pretend if you want, but at some point you have to tell (EMTs) what's really wrong with you," Segui told investigators she said to Cox. She also said she and others were "joking with him" that "we know this is about the accident and a lawsuit," the report stated. She recalled to investigators that Cox replied, "'I wouldn't lie, I wouldn't lie,' but he was smiling and winking at them," according to the report.

The city and the officers are now facing a $100 million federal lawsuit from Cox's family on claims he was permanently disabled after he was thrown in the transport van, which had no seat belts and then mishandled by officers that likely aggravated his injuries, according to court documents.

Segui and others failed to either wear or activate their body-worn cameras  one of several policies that were violated that night, according to the report. All of the officers involved who remain on the police force were required to be interviewed as part of the internal affairs process. Pressley did not agree to an interview, the report said.

'He didn't want to die there'

During two "compelled" internal affairs interviews conducted after the five officers were arrested, Segui claimed Cox "didn't say he was hurt" and was "telling us to get him out," the report stated.

"He kept screaming, he didn't want to die there," Segui, who was in charge of the detention center that night, told investigators.

But body camera and video inside the van show Cox pleading repeatedly with officers that he believed his neck was broken and needed help. At no point was he screaming on the video, even as Lavandier dragged him out by his feet, the footage shows.

Segui told internal affairs investigators she requested more training for extracting prisoners from transport vans safely the next morning when she learned Cox was injured, the report said.

But the investigators found no record of her making the request and noted that she was likely being "untruthful" or "inconsistent" when she made several statements to them, including that she was never told Cox was injured, the report stated.

Cox was being transported after he was arrested on a gun charge at a block party. Diaz was driving 36 mph  11 mph over the speed limit when he slammed on the brakes of the police transport van at an intersection when he thought an SUV was going through a stop sign, according to arrest warrants for the officers.

Cox, who was handcuffed but unrestrained, struck the front wall of the van with his head, leaving him wedged on the floor, documents and video of the incident show. The video shows Cox called out that he was hurt, but Diaz didn't stop for three minutes, the report said. When he did pull over and opened the back doors of the van, he saw Cox stuck on the floor, but decided to call for an ambulance to meet them at the police station rather than waiting where he was on the side of the road, the report said.

His actions violated policy by failing to notify his supervisor that a prisoner was hurt and by failing to immediately get Cox help, the report said. He also failed to intervene while "Cox was being dragged and recklessly handled by the officers and Sgt. Segui," according to the report.

Diaz did tell some of the officers that "if he really fell, let's not move him just in case," the report said.

But that warning was ignored as Lavandier threatened to pull Cox out if he didn't start to cooperate and move on his own, the report stated.

"At no point in any of her interactions with Cox did she ever think he was actually hurt," Lavandier told investigators, according to the report.

In fact, she said a female EMS worker told her Cox was "faking" or "bluffing," but they had to transport him to the hospital anyway, the report said.

Lavandier violated policy by showing a "lack of compassion as she dragged Cox by his ankles out of the prisoner conveyance van and ridiculed him for not even trying to move when he was physically unable to do so," the report said. She also disregarded his pleas for help and placed him in leg shackles, the report said.

Rivera, who helped Lavandier pull Cox out of the van, admitted he heard Diaz say Cox may have fallen and hurt himself, according to the report. He said he thought Cox was "severely intoxicated" because he couldn't maintain his balance after he was pulled out of the van, so Rivera went to get a wheelchair.

When the wheelchair wouldn't fit in a cell, Rivera and Pressley dragged Cox into the cell and left him seated on the floor, the report said.

Internal affairs investigators concluded that Rivera violated policy by failing to intervene when Cox was pulled out of the van and by showing a lack of compassion as he "dragged Cox to the holding tank area and disregarded Cox's pleas for help."

The report identified two other officers who violated policy, but were not suspended or arrested. Officer Robert Ortiz made an "insensitive, obscene" comment toward Cox while he was injured and in pain and he also didn't activate his body camera, the report stated.

Sgt. Steven Spofford was also cited in the report as the supervisor at the scene where Cox was arrested. Spofford failed to monitor the radio transmissions as Cox was being transported and failed to intervene when Diaz notified a dispatcher that Cox had fallen and couldn't move, the report stated.

Three days after the incident, Spofford was ordered by a lieutenant to go to the hospital and serve Cox with a misdemeanor summons for the gun charges. Cox was unable to sign the summons "because he could not physically move his hands," Spofford told internal affairs investigators.

The lieutenant was directed to have the sergeant deliver the summons by Capt. Rose Dell, who was also interviewed as part of the internal investigation.

The charges were later dropped against Cox whose legal team says he has regained little movement from the chest down despite months of therapy.

The city's police commission will now consider the chief's recommendation to terminate the officers and will decide whether Spofford and Ortiz should face discipline. The commission will hold hearings with the four officers in April, officials said.
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DENVER (AP)  Colorado teachers flooded into the state Capitol Friday to press for better protections for students and school staff after a 17-year-old Denver student shot two administrators, fled to the mountains and killed himself.

Roughly 1,500 teachers and their supporters called for improved school security, more mental health support and tighter gun control measures, adding to pressure on lawmakers a day after students and parents converged at the Capitol to make similar demands.

School shootings are becoming increasingly frequent in the U.S., and teachers at the rally voiced the fears they feel during safety lockdowns that are now regular occurrences.

They also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Wednesday's shooting at East High School, which came as the boy was being patted down for weapons, a daily requirement because of his behavioral issues including a pending firearm charge, according to school officials.

Some East High School teachers at Friday's rally said they did not know any students at the school were being regularly patted down until the shooting.

I want to go into a building every day where I dont need to ask if my kids are getting a pat down because I know nobody is bringing guns into the school, said English teacher Josh Garfinkel.

Schools were canceled Friday in Denver in response to the shooting. Officials have said they'll put armed officers into city high schools through the remainder of the school year, reversing a policy enacted just a few years ago in response to protests over racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd by police.

The teachers Friday gathered on the steps in front of the Colorado capitol for speeches and chants, then circled the building as some played brass instruments and drums before filing inside.

Elementary school teacher Raegan Haines said shes had three lockdowns at her school this year. She said lawmakers need to make it harder to access guns.

You think, what am I going to do with these kids? How can I keep these kids quiet? Who am I going to put my body in front and why do I have to make that choice?

She added that when the teachers entered the Capitol, we had to walk through metal detectors and everything is plated in gold. We dont get that same sense of security at schools.

Colorado Democrats hold majorities in both state chambers and have made gun control a priority.

Pending bills would expand who can petition to temporarily remove a firearm from someone who poses a danger, raise the minimum age to possess a firearm from 18 to 21, require three-day waiting periods after buying guns, and ban semi-automatic firearms.

The semi-automatics ban is unlikely to find traction. The fate of the others could fall to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. He's supported expanding red flag laws but not specifically endorsed raising the age to possess guns or the three-day waiting period.

Teachers said their students also face more mental health problems and not enough social workers or psychologists to help.

At East High School, about a half-dozen psychologists and social workers at East High must take care of 2,500 students, said Kristy Skarphol, a math teacher at the school. This year theyve also been reaching out to teachers who might be struggling amid all the lockdowns.

Were just spread way too thin for what we need, Skarphol said.

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Associated Press reporter Matthew Brown contributed from Billings, Montana.

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Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Disabled voters say local election leaders across Wisconsin are not following federal law during early voting in the high-stakes race for state Supreme Court, incorrectly telling them they can't have another person return their absentee ballot for them.

Absentee ballots, and who can return them, has been a political flashpoint in battleground Wisconsin, known for razor-thin margins in statewide races. The April 4 election will determine majority control of the state Supreme Court, with abortion access and the fate of Republican-drawn legislative maps on the line.

Challenges to laws and practices in at least eight states that make it difficult or impossible for people with certain disabilities to vote have also arisen in the past two years. At the same time, there has been a push in many states to restrict rules affecting who can return absentee ballots.

Wisconsin Republicans successfully sued last year to ban absentee ballot drop boxes, and the conservative-controlled state Supreme Court ruled that only the voter can return their ballot in person or place it in the mail.

People with disabilities filed a federal lawsuit in response to the state court's decision, arguing that federal law allows them to get assistance in returning their ballot. A federal court ruled in their favor in August, noting that the Voting Rights Act applies to Wisconsin voters who require assistance with mailing or delivering their absentee ballot because of a disability.

But in the lead-up to the April 4 Supreme Court election, and during early voting that began Tuesday, local elections officials are not following the law, advocates for the disabled allege. Absentee ballots were mailed to voters earlier this month and early, in-person voting using absentee ballots began on Tuesday.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission, which oversees the states more than 1,800 local elections officials, first alerted clerks in September to the federal court ruling reiterating that disabled voters can have assistance returning absentee ballots.

In recent weeks, the commission has reminded them of the law in conversations, webinar trainings, and newsletters, commission spokesperson Riley Vetterkind said Friday.

This is a reminder that voters with disabilities are entitled to receive assistance completing and delivering their absentee ballots, the commission said in an email to all clerks on Feb. 3, less than three weeks before the primary. Some jurisdictions are inserting absentee ballot instructions that say assistance is prohibited, without noting the important exception for voters with disabilities.

The message called the issue especially significant because of the court ruling affirming the right to assistance.

Please ensure that your absentee ballot instructions do not contradict the federal courts order, the commission implored.

Barbara Beckert, external advocacy director of Disability Rights Wisconsin, said it was concerning that roughly a dozen communities around the state continue to have incorrect information on their websites, at polling places and being voiced by workers at the polls.

Numerous voters have raised concerns, but all have wished to remain anonymous because they live in small communities and do not want their complaints to become public, she said. Its impossible to know how many voters, or how many communities, may be affected by a misreading of the law, she said.

Beckert provided links to websites in seven communities that had incorrect information currently posted.

The fight over absentee ballot return rules is not unique to Wisconsin.

All states allow third-party return of mail ballots, but the rules around that vary widely, according to Liz Avore, a policy adviser with Voting Rights Lab. Since 2021, 11 states enacted restrictions on third-party return and there have been 27 bills introduced on the topic in 14 states this year, she said.

Most of those would not affect voters with disabilities, with the exception of measures in Arkansas, Minnesota, New York and Oregon, she said.

In Wisconsin, Beckert is pushing for requirements that the right for disabled people to get assistance with filing an absentee ballot be posted at all polling places and be included with instructions sent to voters with their absentee ballot.

The elections commission can vote to change the instructions that are sent to voters along with the ballots, but it would take a change in law to post wording at the polls saying that disabled people can have help returning absentee ballots. The commission, equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, frequently deadlocks on high-stakes votes. And the Republican-controlled Legislature has worked in recent years to make absentee voting more difficult, but been blocked by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

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This story has been edited to correct that a law change is not required for the elections commission to change the instructions sent to voters along with the ballots.
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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  A representative of Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday handed a set of diamond jewelry he received during his presidency over to a state bank, as ordered by a government watchdog amid an investigation into the gifts.

Federal police and prosecutors are investigating whether the goods brought into the country from Saudi Arabia were public gifts that Bolsonaro improperly tried to prevent from being incorporated into the presidencys public collection, or private gifts that Bolsonaro tried sneak into Brazil without paying taxes.

The Senates transparency commission also is investigating whether the sale of a refinery by Brazils state-controlled oil giant was related to the jewels.

The state bank Caixa Economica Federal received the box of precious stones Friday at one of its branches in capital Brasilia, the banks press office told The Associated Press. A representative also turned in firearms Bolsonaro received as a gift from authorities in the United Arab Emirates, according to the federal police's press office.

A federal watchdog on Wednesday had given Bolsonaro five days to hand over the precious stones and guns that he had received while president.

Brazilian media started reporting on the set of jewels earlier this month, along with another set that was seized earlier at the international airport in Sao Paulo. The confiscated set, composed of earrings, a necklace, a ring and a watch by Swiss brand Chopard, is estimated to be worth several million dollars. Neither set was declared to tax authorities.

Documents and video footage published by local press appear to show supposed emissaries of Bolsonaro making multiple unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the seized jewelry, up until just days before the end of his presidency.

Bolsonaro, who denies any wrongdoing connected to the gifts, has been in the United States since late-December, just days before the end of his presidential term.

The gifts add to the legal jeopardy already surrounding the right-wing populist politician. He is also under investigation for any involvement in a rampage by his supporters through the national capital after he left office and for numerous actions during the presidential election campaign he lost last fall.
By David J. Eicher

On Saturday, February 15, 2020, Astronomy magazine will sponsor the eighth annual all-day skywatching party at the East Campus Observatory of Pima Community College (PCC), in Tucson, Arizona. The address there is 8181 East Irvington Road. Activities begin at 2 p.m. and continue all the way through 9 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA), one of the most active astronomy clubs in the United States. Throughout the day, club members will operate several solar telescopes that will give visitors safe, high-quality views of some of the features visible on the Sun. Then, about an hour after our daytime star sets (at 6:08 p.m. Tucson time), well begin the second phase of skywatching: nighttime observing.

And in addition to numerous telescopes set up by the TAAA, the Pima Community College Observatory will be open throughout the day and night. Its solar telescope will follow the Sun in the daytime, and its 14-inch telescope will target deep-sky treats at night.

Venus will be visible in the post-sunset sky, gleaming brightly, and visible in telescopes.

As twilight ends, the Pleiades star cluster (M45) will come into view. This will be a great object to view through binoculars and telescopes with a wide field of view. The Orion Nebula (M42) also will be a highlight. This star-forming region is the middle star in the constellation of the Hunter.

Fellowship with other star-gazing enthusiasts, the opportunity to ask questions about lots of different telescopes, and the prospect of clear skies mean that the 2020 Tucson Star Party is shaping up as a must-see event. So, when you make plans to come out, be sure to bring family and friends. And remember, the star party will be held Saturday, February 15 at the Pima Community College East Campus Observatory, 8181 East Irvington Road, southeast of the center of the city.
Fort Erie Public Library has received a financial boost to assist with its free tax clinics.

More than 1,200 organizations across Canada have been approved for grants from Canada Revenue Agency in support of clinics that assist residents with limited resources complete their tax returns and access benefits and credits.

In Fort Erie, the $1,090 grant will be used to offset the cost of providing tax preparation.

Niagara Centre MPP Vance Badawey said community organizations that run free tax clinics play a vital role in helping residents get benefits and credits that help cover the cost of living.

Grant funding for hosting free tax clinics helps these organizations focus on what they do best  providing support to those in need, he said in a release.

The clinics are hosted by non-profits, charities or community groups in collaboration with the Canada Revenue Agency through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

Last year, more than 3,400 community organizations helped more than 649,000 people complete their income tax and benefit returns through free tax clinics.

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The Sunset Beach community will have something to look forward to after the province announced $4.4 million for the Sunset Beach renovation project.

The project, announced Friday, will be done in two phases and will help revitalize the parking lot, existing boat ramp, shoreline protection efforts, and improve park facilities, including trails, picnic tables and playground equipment.

Provincial funding equals about 73 per cent of the total cost, meaning 27 per cent or $1.6 million will need to be provided by the City of St. Catharines to complete the project.

A lot of the discussion in years past was, Sunset Beach was a hidden gem. One of the jokes is its not hidden anymore, said Eric Lamothe, St. Catharines manager of business planning and strategic services.

A lot of residents and even people as far as Toronto  as were making Toronto newspaper clippings and things of that nature  see that Sunset Beach is a destination. Its a place for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Ensuring spots like Sunset Beach are available to the people, not only of St. Catharines, but of Ontario, allows them to take in the uniqueness of, not only the area, but the Lake Ontario too, said Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff.

Sunset Beach is one of those places that, once upon a time was called a hidden gem and its become far from hidden, said Oosterhoff.

Theres many people who come from across, not just the region, but Ontario to experience it, and theres been pressures created as a result of that and therefore a greater recognition of the need for updating the amenities.

Lamothe said the renovation project, approved in 2019, is part of the Sunset Beach Community Vision, which laid the foundation for the plans that were introduced.

We were able to connect with residents and gather feedback on what they wanted it to look like, so with the community vision in place and then that strategic document in place, we were able to apply for the grant funding, he said.

Lamothe added with funding now available it will speed the process along and move it ahead of other potential projects that are waiting on funding.

It absolutely expedites the process, as theres many competing priorities across the city when it comes to funding, he said.

This does ramp up those timelines for implementing the community vision.

Lamothe said construction will hopefully be completed sometime in 2027.

All of the project works as outlined in the grant will have to be completed by 2027 at the latest, but our hopes would be that it wouldnt go that long, he said.

As the city starts construction, Lamothe said, people can expect a phased in approach starting slow and ramping up as larger pieces of the project come online.

What youll really gather is itll be an accessible and inclusive space, the improvements hit on what were trying to do as the city of St. Catharines and thats the city where everybody can play, he said.

Mayor Mat Siscoe reiterated the inclusive aspect of the park which will allow people of all abilities to enjoy the features when it is done.

Improvements to the overall accessibility of the site means that more members of the community will be able to enjoy one of the gems in our citys north end, he said.

He went on to congratulate the hard work of the city staff, ward councillors and residents who helped create a vision for the community, as they should be proud of it.

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Nevaeh Muley was healthy and dancing two days before the two-year-old died suddenly at McMaster Childrens Hospital from what her parents say was an invasive Group A streptococcus (iGAS) infection.

How did this happen so quickly? asked her mom Donna Johnson, trying to make sense of her daughters last day, March 4. Its a scary thing with how quickly this hits you.

An increase of iGAS  including deaths in children  in some parts of the world prompted alerts in December from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Montreal Public Health.

But Muleys parents wish more had been done to warn them about the infection that has killed eight people in Hamilton since January 2022.

We dont know what it was or why it happened, said her dad Eric Muley. We have a million questions and no answers.

Nevaeh Rosemarry Muley died of Strep A Courtesy the Muley family

Nevaehs three older siblings had colds so her mom wasnt surprised when the toddler came down with a fever on March 3. She got Nevaehs temperature down with childrens Tylenol, gave her fluids and put her to bed.

She was fine, said Johnson.

But by the next morning, Johnson knew something was seriously wrong.

I went to bring her downstairs and her legs were very, very weak and she wouldnt wrap herself around me, said Johnson. When I put her down on the couch and I was changing her diaper, I noticed that she had a red, purple, blotch around her groin area. I was trying to talk to her and she seemed disoriented and confused, like she wasnt understanding that we were there. Thats when I called 911.

Paramedics arrived at their east-end home around 11 a.m. and rushed Nevaeh to McMaster, but it was already too late. She went into cardiac arrest once and was revived, but didnt survive the second time. She died around 4 p.m.

It just doesnt make sense, said Muley. She was literally dancing days before this happened. We have a video of her dancing.

The parents describe Nevaeh as a healthy child since she was born Jan. 6, 2021.

Its surreal, said Muley. When we left the hospital, we felt like we were missing something  that empty feeling. The very next day, were planning a funeral.

Healthy people can get iGAS, although people most at risk are infants, seniors and those with chronic illness.

Group A Streptococcus is a bacteria often found in the throat, nose or on the skin that usually causes mild illness such as sore throat, headache, fever or a skin infection. Sometimes it develops into a more serious illness like scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, cellulitis or pneumonia. Others dont get ill at all  they carry the bacteria but have no symptoms.

When we left the hospital, we felt like we were missing something  that empty feeling. The very next day, were planning a funeral. Eric Muley Nevaeh Muley's dad

But in rare cases it leads to iGAS, which is a severe, life-threatening infection such as toxic shock syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis or meningitis. Hamilton has had 102 confirmed cases of iGAS since January 2022. About 61 per cent of the cases were adults age 25 to 64.

They tell you when flu is out or West Nile or its tick season, said Muley. Something like this is killing kids that quick and youre not saying anything about it? Why is Canada not saying anything?

The family had already been grieving the death of Johnsons 35-year-old sister on June 23 from heart issues. Johnson and Muley had postponed their September wedding when she died.

Now, they have used the wedding money to pay for Nevaehs funeral. They have a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of her headstone.

Nevaeh Rosemary Muley died on March 4 at age two of invasive group A streptococcus. Nevaeh is seen here in a family photo with her sister. Courtesy Muley family

Muley is self-employed in construction and already planning to return to work.

I have to go back to work to support my family, he said. Its tough because Im not ready to go back. But I cant let the ship sink.

RELATED STORIES Contributors Opinion A worrisome growth in Group A strep

Johnson is a stay-at-home mom trying to help her grief-stricken kids navigate the death of their sister. Nevaeh was described in her obituary as smart, beautiful and curious.

She loved candy, singing and dancing, the obituary said. She was a very mischievous girl, loved making funny faces and getting into trouble.

She enjoyed working out with her dad and helping her mom clean and cook.

She loved taking selfies, stated the obituary. A favourite activity was daddy praising her for colouring on the walls and fridge and (she) would always look at mommy and clap. There was nothing more special to her then going for a truck ride to go hiking with her pup Champ.

March is normally a time of celebration for the family with three birthdays  Nevaehs brother turned 14 on the day of her visitation and since then her sister turned five and her dad turned 35. Another sister is 11 years old. Her mom is 34.

Instead, they are focused on making sure Nevaeh didnt die in vain by raising awareness about iGAS.

We realized were never going to feel normal again, said Muley. It is a void.

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When Noah Milstein first met the woman who would later become his fiancee, he said it felt miraculous.

Something about Sarah Morris clicked with him in a way he couldnt rationally describe  and the feeling was mutual. By the end of their first date, Milstein said he knew Morris was the woman he wanted to marry.

Their meeting was no coincidence. Like others in recent months, a robot helped them find each other. Morris and Milstein were matched by an artificial intelligence programmed to algorithmically pair singles according to their personality traits and values.

After the birth of OpenAIs GPT-4, one of the most powerful AI models to date, its become clear artificial intelligence will leave few industries untouched. The dating space, it appears, is no exception.

Finding a Keeper

Keeper is one recent entry to the AI dating arena. Founded a year ago, the website has signed up 1,000 people  and made just 40 matches so far, according to one of its founders. This is partly because the algorithm can take months to make a single match, he said.

Keeper is an AI-based family formation product, said Jake Kozloski, cofounder and CEO of Keeper.   It's partially inspired by the pronatalism movement. We are firm believers that more people is a good thing, generally speaking.

It was this aspect of the project that attracted Morris, a 29-year-old Florida-based real estate developer, to Keeper: (The companys) mission statement of picking up birth rates, that was an idea that really appeals to me, she told the Star. Having nuclear families is a net good and makes people happy.

Her now-fiance, a 36-year-old software developer from Hollywood, Florida, shares her views. Neither expected anything going into the app  I thought Id die alone, Milstein said.

According to Kozloski, his companys AI is powered by GPT-4 and is capable of analyzing text and images. It works by matching people in its database according to their personality and values, based on their open-ended responses to an in-depth intake questionnaire.

The bot also scans participants faces to gauge if they line up with anothers physical preferences. The AIs results then get fine-tuned by a team of human matchmakers, Kozloski said.

When a match is made, at least one side of the pairing must pay to see the others information. Kozloski said their fees are custom, but a single match typically costs thousands of dollars. The companys Legacy option, which offers unlimited matches, is generally in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, he continued.

That said, if you dont get a first date, the company fully refunds the match fee. Legacy members dont have to pay until they get married, according to Keepers website.

Users can also join Keepers database for free in hopes theyll be matched with a paying user. While Kozloski couldnt share exactly how many paid users the company has, he said there are hundreds  mostly men.

The base of Keeper, however, remains mostly female  55 per cent of its users identify as women, Kozloski said.

Although people who identify as LGBTQ can join the database and find a suitable match, Kozloski said: Our algorithm is tuned for heterosexual pairing at this time since the research its based on was done on straight couples. We havent developed one for pairings outside that paradigm yet.

Robot matchmaking

To sign up, Morris filled out a lengthy form asking for her personal information, preferences in a partner, political views, religion, IQ score, SAT and other standardized exam scores, personality test results and more, along with a Dropbox link to several photos of herself. We'll pick the good ones, the form reads.

Men sign up through a slightly different form, with two additional questions inquiring their annual income and net worth. The questions are mandatory; it appears women have no equivalent.

After submitting her information, Morris said the company followed up a lot over time, asking her further in-depth questions to refine her profile  questions like: Where do you see your life going? What do you want to share with your partner? What are the things that matter most to you?

They were super friendly and very intense, she said.

According to the companys privacy policy, Keeper has not disclosed or sold any personal information to third parties for a business or commercial purpose in the preceding twelve (12) months. Keeper Dating Inc. will not sell personal information in the future belonging to website visitors, users, and other consumers.

Once users delete their account, Keeper will either delete or anonymize their data, the policy continues. If this isnt possible, the company will remove their data from further processing until deletion is possible.

Both Milstein and Morris turned to AI after failing to find a relationship on traditional dating apps. Modern dating is extraordinarily hard, Milstein said. I have been on countless first dates and almost no second dates in a very long time.

Coincidentally, the couple previously matched over the popular dating app Hinge in the summer. They chatted for an hour but it went nowhere, Milstein said. By the time they met over Keeper, shed completely forgotten the interaction.

All that said, Milstein wonders whether Keeper truly is effective at matchmaking, or if theyd simply won the lottery by finding each other as their first match.

The rise of CupidBot, automated pick up artist

AI hasnt been relegated to playing matchmaker  it can also play the role of pick up artist.

CupidBot is an AI-powered bot designed to swipe and chat with people on existing dating apps in your stead. Its capable of learning your preferences for people to swipe on, and uses GPT-4 to carry realistic conversations. Once someone agrees to a date, it gets added to the CupidBot users calendar.

While anyone could use the app, a spokesperson told the Star in an email they mainly cater to straight men, the group that need our help the most. The projects creators said theyre remaining anonymous for now.

We focus on the dating lives of straight men because they suffer most from dating apps, a spokesperson for the app said. It takes immense time for the average man to scrape together even one date a month.

Although the company marketed itself as being started by two ex-Tinder employees, a spokesperson for Tinder told the Star this wasnt true. Nor is CupidBot integrated into Tinder, they continued.

The app has been in private alpha since February, though it recently entered closed beta days ago. According to its website, almost 5,500 people have already signed up for the beta. The beta costs $15 (U.S.) for the first three months.

According to data gathered from their private alpha, the spokesperson claimed CupidBot averages four dates for every 16 matches messaged.

Users can choose from seven different tones the bot would take when messaging people, including: nice guy, rich guy, nonchalant, and stable (a balance of everything, the company says).

The bot doesnt ever reveal its a bot to the person its messaging, a spokesperson said, meaning matches can chat extensively with the bot without realizing it isnt human. They strongly advise our users to tell the women once they've gotten their contact information.

The data shows that the first few back and fourths required to get a woman's phone number does not tend to be particularly memorable nor have any affect on a date occurring, the spokesperson continued.

CupidBot exists to eliminate the volume of time dating apps have architected for men to gain matches, they said. Our goal is not to saturate the app with artificial conversation, and certainly not to objectify women, but rather to force dating apps to re-evaluate how they operate and to facilitate the dating process for some people in the meantime.

Multiple studies and surveys show women are at disproportionate risk of facing harassment on dating apps. In the weeks since CupidBots launch, the company has been slammed by news outlets and social media users that theyre perpetuating the harassment of women, alongside other ethical questions.

These claims are completely unfounded, the spokesperson said in response. Our AI has been carefully designed to be respectful.

Iris: Is Attraction skin deep?

Iris is another AI match maker like Keeper. Unlike Keeper, which focuses its algorithm on ones personality and values, Iris is designed to match couples who find each other mutually attractive.

Igor Khalatian, founder and CEO of Iris, told the Star he believes true attraction  in contrast to sexual attraction or attachment based on shared values  is primarily determined by the face. His message clearly resonated with people; over 2.2 million people have signed up for his app since it launched in 2021.

Although Khalatian said his company doesnt keep track of successful matches, he claims there is a ton of matches and a ton of thank you letters hes received from happy clients.

Upon signing up, users are asked to rank a series of faces as a like, a pass or a maybe. Doing so helps it learn your preferences, Khalatian said.

Users are also prompted for their age, interests and other personal information along with photos of themselves. Because the app had an issue with catfishing in the past, users will have to verify their pictures with a selfie.

We blocked 300,000 people who wanted to join because they were putting fake photos and the AI is catching that, he said.

Although Khalatian himself is unsure what exact metrics the AI uses to determine a match, he said the program hones in on thousands of data points on the face from the distance between ones eyes to the curvature of their lips and myriad other tiny details.

The app is free for iOS and Android, with a paid option that lets users see unlimited matches. The free version only gives users access to people in their lineup at a time.

Khalatian said Iris would not sell or share your data unless with consent, and that the information is kept with the utmost security of customer data in mind. The companys privacy policy says it may also share your information with authorities if they reasonably believe youre breaking the law.

When people come and fill their profile, usually they have requirements  he has to be this or that  and the list is usually very, very long, Khalatian said. But guess what happens when they experience true attraction? They throw away the list, it doesnt matter.

In other words, the person who experiences true attraction is willing to heavily compromise on their list of requirements, he said.

Update  March 24: This article was updated to include comments from a Tinder spokesperson, and to remove information that CupidBot is compatible with Tinder.

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MONTREAL - Short-term rental company Airbnb said Friday it would pull listings in Quebec that dont have a permit from the provincial government, eight days after a fatal fire destroyed a historic Old Montreal building that housed illegal rentals.

Four bodies have so far been pulled from the building and three people remain missing in the rubble of Edifice William-Watson-Ogilvie, constructed in 1890. Some of those missing had rented their accommodations on Airbnb. In 2018, Airbnb-style short-term rentals were made illegal in the area where the building is located.

In a letter Friday to Quebec Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx, Airbnb said that it would remove listings across the province that dont have a permit from the agency that manages the provinces tourist accommodation act. It also said that in the coming days it will require new listings to include the permit number. The company also promised to give the provincial government access to the Airbnb City Portal  a tool it says helps communities enforce rules and understand its local footprint.

These measures build on our years-long efforts to work with local and provincial officials on short-term rental rules that help address community concerns and also preserve a vital source of supplemental income for residents, the company wrote.

The letter was signed by Nathan Rotman, Airbnbs representative for Canada and the northeastern United States. He was one of two employees of the company who met Thursday in Quebec City with Proulx.

Proulx said in a statement following the meeting she had made clear she was determined to tighten the rules surrounding rentals and to make shared-accommodation platforms more accountable. She also vowed to revise the law by June 9 to ensure listings include the permit number.

In a statement shared Friday by her spokesperson, Proulx said she was pleased with Airbnbs measures. I am satisfied with Airbnbs decision to comply with our legislation as I demanded yesterday during our meeting, Proulx said.

I also ask other platforms to comply; however, I remain firm on my intention to tighten the (law).

Earlier this week, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante accused San Francisco-based Airbnb of washing its hands of the problem of illegal rentals in cities across the province.

On Friday, she welcomed the companys announcement. Airbnbs decision to comply with the law and remove illegal listings from its site was necessary, Plante wrote on Twitter.

She called on other platforms to follow Airbnbs move and remove illegal, short-term rentals from their sites.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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One of Magnet Forensics Inc.s shareholders says it has filed a notice of dissent after investors voted in favour of Thoma Bravos $1.8-billion takeover of the cybersecurity company.

Nellore Capital Management LLC founder and portfolio manager Sakya Duvvuru says if he and Magnet cannot reach a deal on the companys valuation, the matter will be decided through court proceedings.

Magnet says 99.01 per cent of shareholder votes cast yesterday supported U.S. private equity firm Thoma Bravos takeover of the Waterloo, Ont.-based company.

Holders of multiple voting shares gave the deal 100 per cent approval, while those with subordinate voting shares were 68.17 per cent in favour.

When subordinate voting shareholders required under securities laws to be excluded from the count were omitted, the deal garnered 66.85 per cent support.

The takeover needed two-thirds of support from all investors and a majority of votes in favour from subordinate voting shareholders before it can seek approval from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Nellore, which holds 11 per cent of Magnets subordinate shares, has argued shares are worth more than the $44.25 in cash most holders will receive. Rolling shareholders will receive $39 per share.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

Companies in this story: (TSX:MAGT)

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Parts of southern Ontario caught a rare glimpse of the northern lights, or aurora borealis, late Thursday and early Friday morning amid a severe geomagnetic storm that set the darkness ablaze across large swaths of North America.

Photographers and astronomy enthusiasts across the continent, and even from parts of Europe, took to social media, posting their footage of the dazzling light show.

Trevor Jones, a professional astrophotographer, captured the northern lights from his backyard in St. Catharines, Ont.

With my naked eye, I was able to see the rippling green aurora in the sky, and my eyes werent even dark-adapted yet, said Jones, who runs AstroBackyard. I just opened up the front door and I could see them visually.

Jones, who typically captures distant solar objects, hasnt seen the northern lights in St. Catharines since 2011.

The phenomenon was likely caused by a burst of solar energy, also known as a coronal mass ejection, released by the sun around Monday, according to the U.S. governments Space Weather Prediction Centre.

The storm, which began to peak just after midnight (eastern time) on Friday, was categorized by the centre as a level four (severe) event. Earlier on Wednesday, the Storm Weather Prediction Centre had only forecast a minor to moderate storm in their bulletin.

Forecasters completely missed this one, wrote astronomer Tony Phillips in a post for spaceweather.com.

Magnetic fields in the wake of the CME(s) pried open a crack in Earths magnetosphere. Solar wind penetrated to fuel the storm. Earths shields were down for almost 24 hours, allowing the storm to build to category G4, Phillips wrote, adding that Fridays storm was the most intense in nearly six years.

In addition to the auroras, some onlookers witnessed a phenomenon known as a strong thermal emission velocity enhancement (STEVE), which looks like an aurora but is not, Phillips noted.

The phenomenon is caused by hot (3000C) ribbons of gas flowing through Earths magnetosphere at speeds exceeding 6 km/s, he said. These ribbons appear during strong geomagnetic storms, revealing themselves by their soft purple glow.

The Space Weather Prediction Centre had warned that the geomagnetic storm may cause possible widespread voltage control problems.

These storms can produce currents which flow through the power grid; at high levels, the currents can cause internal damage to electric components, leading to large-scale power outages. However, no significant outages were reported as of Friday morning.

The event comes just weeks after the northern lights were reportedly seen across the Canadian Prairies and regions of the Northern U.S.

The sun constantly gives off energy but there is a measurable 11-year cycle when its energy output goes up and down, said Mike Jensen, the science gallery and planetarium programs supervisor at the Manitoba Museum, speaking with the Star in late February following another geomagnetic storm.

And right now, were near the peak of it, he said. As a result, astronomy enthusiasts can expect more intense and vivid northern lights on Earth.

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If you receive a text or WhatsApp message from a family member asking for an emergency loan, think twice before replying  you may be a target of WhatsApp fraud.

Cybersecurity experts at VPN Overview, a Virtual Private Network website, are warning about the scam which typically involves a fraudster impersonating someones family member on WhatsApp by using their photo to ask for money.

The request is usually made in a hurry, leaving little time for the victim to notice that the phone number used by the criminal is not the same as their family members.

Criminals get access to photos of the victims family or friends through social media and add it to their WhatsApp. They try to copy the language used by the individual as well as reference events that they have talked about online that would sound familiar to the victim.

According to VPN Overview, a few signs of WhatsApp scams include the sense of urgency created in the messages, the request to transfer money to an unknown account as well as a refusal to answer phone calls from the victim.

To check if youre the target of a scam, verify that the number youre receiving the message from matches that of a friend or family member. Try to reach them by phone or through a different platform  email, for instance  to confirm that it is really them trying to reach you. Another strategy is to ask a personal question that only your acquaintance would know the answer to.

You may also protect your WhatsApp account with two-factor authentication, a feature that adds more security to your account by sending the users email a unique verification code to access your account.

If you believe youve been a victim of this type of scam, contact police and report it to WhatsApp or AnyScam.

Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa

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HONOLULU (AP)  Four Honolulu police officers pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges related to their roles in a cover-up of a high-speed chase that resulted in a crash and a traumatic brain injury to the driver of another car.

The officers entered their pleas before Circuit Court Judge Christine E. Kuriyama, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

One officer, Joshua J.S. Nahulu, 37, pleaded not guilty to a charge for a collision that resulted in serious bodily injury. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Officers Erik X.K. Smith, 25, Jake R.T. Bartolome, 35, and Robert G. Lewis III, whose age was not listed in charging documents, each pleaded not guilty to one felony count for hindering prosecution and another felony count for conspiracy. The first charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, the second by up to one year.

The four officers were dispatched to respond to a noise complaint at a Waianae beach park at 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 12, 2021, according to court documents.

Thats when they saw a white Honda exit the parking lot to Farrington Highway. A civil lawsuit alleges Nahulu, Smith and Bartolome separately chased the Honda at high speeds using two marked Honolulu Police Department vehicles and one vehicle subsidized by police. It says the chase continued until the Honda left the roadway and crashed.

The officers never commanded the Hondas driver to stop nor did they turn on their blue lights and sirens, the lawsuit states.

Nahulu, Smith and Bartolome drove past the crash scene without stopping, after which they met Lewis at nearby Waianae Intermediate School, prosecutors said.

Smith, Bartolome and Lewis were then dispatched to the crash site, but when they arrived, the officers behaved as though they had no prior knowledge of the collision, charging documents say.

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OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Friday he asked President Joe Biden to remove the U.S. governments requirement that Canadians be vaccinated for COVID-19 before crossing the border.

He told reporters after their meeting that American citizens are no longer required to have their shots and Canada allows unvaccinated Americans to visit.

There are millions of good, decent, honourable people who, through a personal medical decision, are discriminated against at the border, Poilievre said.

I encouraged the president to lift those restrictions to allow them freedom of mobility.

Poilievre won the leadership of his party a little more than six months ago by mounting a vocal opposition to COVID-19 health restrictions, including mask and vaccine mandates, but he has since focused his message on cost-of-living issues.

He met with Biden on Parliament Hill Friday during the presidents 27-hour visit to the Canadian capital, and later shared a photo of the two online.

Michael Ignatieff was the last Opposition leader to have face time with a U.S president. The former Liberal leader met with former President Barack Obama in 2009. It happened at the airport.

Poilievre said Friday he found Biden wants to be a friendly and decent neighbour to Canada, and on a personal level, he said he told the president they share Irish heritage.

He said they discussed the need for Canada to bolster its defence systems and bring fairness to workers by seeing the U.S. exempt Canada from its Buy American policies.

The Tory leader also said he expressed a need for Biden to axe tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, arguing that the long-standing dispute saw a brief reprieve under Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper.

I dont believe that Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau has pushed and fought on behalf of Canadians, he said.

Before the meeting, Poilievre had shared some unscripted moments with the leader of the free world.

As he stood in a receiving line of Canadianpoliticians from all parties who were greeting Biden upon his arrival at Parliament Hill, Poilievre introduced himself as the Leader of His Majestys Loyal Opposition.

That prompted Biden to question, still shaking Poilievres hand: Loyal opposition?

Poilievre assured him that yes, we believe that opposition is an act of loyalty in our system.

Biden chuckled, patting Poilievre on the arm.

We do, too, unfortunately, he said, chuckling.

Later, while addressing the House of Commons, Biden noted that both he and Trudeau appointed cabinets that were half women, making them the first in their respective countries to do so.

Many in the chamber broke out in applause.

Biden noticed that Poilievre and the Opposition Conservatives were not quick to rise, and quipped: Evenif you dont agree, guys, Id stand up, which Poilievre and others then did.

Asked afterwards about that interaction, Poilievre said only: We support gender equality for all Canadians.

Poilievre was on the guestlist for a dinner with Biden Friday evening, along with other government ministers, officials and celebrities.

The invitation process came with a dash of partisanship.

Earlier in the day, staff in Poilievres office were left scratching their heads when they said it had not received an invite from Trudeaus office to attend, and asserted that any suggestion he had refused the invitation was false.

The Prime Ministers Office confirmed it had sent Poilievre notice of the dinner  but the invitation went to a personal email account that notifies senders it is not monitored.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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Its my distinct pleasure to welcome Samantha Hill as our new editorial assistant for Astronomy and Discover magazines. Samantha hails from Montana, where she graduated from the University of Montana in 2015 with a degree in journalism. During her college years she interned for Metro Boston and Missoulian. She also traveled to the Mekong region of Vietnam to study as part of her minor in climate change studies.

After school, Samantha worked for a newspaper, the Livingston Enterprise, for three years, covering local city council and police matters, and then working into covering events and creating the publications special editions and editing pages. After moving to Wisconsin, she has worked as a legal assistant.

During her off hours, Samantha can be found spending time with her husband and her dog. She likes to travel locally and abroad and camp, kayak, experiment with new recipes, and paint.

Welcome, Samantha!
OTTAWA - U.S. President Joe Biden stayed in Ottawa during his short trip north of the border, but the catering team from the National Arts Centre took him on a cross-Canada culinary tour Friday evening.

The president and first lady Jill Biden were the guests of honour at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.

Before dinner, the two leaders toasted the continued friendship and strong ties between the two nations.

Trudeau, who spoke first for about nine minutes, cracked jokes about Canadian celebrities in the room who became famous after working in the United States  including actors Eugene Levy, Catherine OHara and Hayden Christiansen.

Joe and Jill, you may not know this, but theres a proud tradition amongst Canadians where we watch movies and television and nod knowingly to each other, saying, Americans dont know this, but we know theyre Canadian, Trudeau said.

He also spoke about what has changed since Biden was last in Ottawa in 2016 when he was vice-president to Barack Obama. Trudeau highlighted Canadas efforts on climate change, in protecting reproductive rights and in creating affordable childcare.

New threats to liberal democracy loom on the horizon, and we are united in our efforts to protect our countries and what we stand for, he said.

Trudeau closed by toasting to shared history and shared hope, to shared prosperity and to the shared peace and security that binds Canada and the United States together as allies, as neighbours, and most importantly, as true friends.

In his three-minute toast, the president also spoke about shared hope, and said hes optimistic about the future and proud of our shared past.

I mean this from the bottom of my heart, were more than neighbours, he said. Were more than partners, were more than friends.

Were more like family.

Biden raised his glass of water and toasted to family, to Canada and to the United States.

The meal, which was put together by executive chef Kenton Leier, featured ingredients such as East Coast yellowfin tuna, Alberta beef, flaxseed, Quebec maple syrup and Yukon gold potatoes.

The three courses also included a cabernet sauvignon jus made with wine from Pelee Island Winery in Kingsville, Ont., and a rum caramel made of Newfoundlands famous Screech rum.

Because it wasnt an official state dinner, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and her husband, Whit Fraser, were relieved of hosting duties  though both attended.

The more than 350 people on the guest list included cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and leaders from Canadas business community.

The Prime Ministers Office said all opposition party leaders were invited, along with former prime ministers, former ambassadors to Canada and the U.S. and members of the prime ministers NAFTA advisory council.

Jean Chretien and Joe Clark were in the room, along with former envoys Bruce Heyman, James Blanchard, Gordon Giffin, David Jacobson and David MacNaughton.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor also attended as guests of the prime minister.

Earlier Friday, the two received a standing ovation in the House of Commons ahead of Bidens address to Parliament. It was their first public appearance since their release from Chinese detention in 2021.

The two were detained for more than 1,000 days, charged with spying offences in apparent retaliation for Canadas arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 at the request of the U.S. government.

National Indigenous organizations were represented by Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed, and Metis National Council president Cassidy Caron.

Claudette Commanda, an Algonquin Anishinaabe elder from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and chancellor of the University of Ottawa, gave an opening prayer.

There were performances by the Metis Jiggers and Inuit throat singers. Biden, Trudeau, Simon and their spouses entered on a red carpet with an Algonquin drum group called Eagle River accompanying them.

Other celebrity guests included filmmaker Sarah Polley, comedian Mark Critch and musician Alan Doyle.

The occasion did not escape the partisan bickering that so often takes over Parliament Hill.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre dined with Trudeau and Biden, but his attendance had been in doubt earlier Friday, with his office saying it had no record of receiving an invitation.

The Prime Ministers Office insisted that Poilievre was invited via email on March 15 and 19, and said he was still welcome. But the email was sent to an inactive account for Poilievre, which returns an automated response saying it is not monitored.

Before that got sorted out, Poilievres office accused the PMO of playing childish games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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OTTAWA - President Joe Biden evoked memories of John F. Kennedy and the final frontier in an address to Parliament on Friday that promised Canada and the U.S. are better as allies on everything from renewable energy and advanced manufacturing to global migration and the opioids crisis.

Were living in an age of possibilities, Biden said at the end of a 32-minute speech that was in many ways a Canadianized version of his usual stump speeches at home.

While Biden was specifically referencing plans for the Artemis II joint U.S.-Canadian space mission to the moon next year, back on Earth those possibilities depend heavily on the two countries creating a supply chain that helps them rely more on each other than on far-flung nations they cannot fully trust.

This is a real shift, Biden said in a joint news conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ill be darned if Im going to stick in a situation, as long as Im president, where we have to rely on a supply chain at the other end of the world that is affected by politics, pandemics, or anything else.

Trudeau concurred, saying western democracies have long bragged about their model being the most prosperous.

We sort of turned our back to the fact that it relied on cheap imports of goods or resources from parts of the world that didnt share our values and werent responsible on the environment, or on human rights or on labour standards, he said.

What were doing right now is showing that we can and will build resilient supply chains between us, and with friends around the world, that adhere every step of the way to the values that we live by.

The two leaders made multiple announcements to that end following their bilateral meeting Friday, including a new, one-year joint energy transformation task force to hasten the pace of co-operation on critical minerals, batteries and electric vehicle production.

While Canada has concerns about Bidens penchant for Buy American policies, which often freeze out foreign companies including from Canada, Biden said he does not see how anyone is concerned about protectionism when both countries need what the other has. Canada, he said, has critical minerals the U.S. does not. America can process them.

Critical minerals refers to more than two dozen elements like copper, graphite, lithium and nickel needed to make things like electric-vehicle batteries, solar panels, and semiconductors. Currently China has captured the lions share of the critical mineral and battery market, but Canada, the U.S. and other allies want that to change.

Bidens speech referenced the fact his Inflation Reduction Act explicitly includes tax credits for electric vehicles assembled in Canada. He said recognizes how interconnected our auto industries are, and our workers are.

Including Canadian-made vehicles was not a given when Biden first put forward the tax credit, requiring a full-court press from Canadas diplomats in Washington, and several cabinet ministers. Bidens mention of Canadian vehicles being included in the tax credit pleased the Liberals in Canada immensely.

The leaders are also promising more co-operation to harmonize electric-vehicle charging equipment, partner on nuclear power and work together on regulations to meet their parallel promises for electricity that is 100 per cent greenhouse-gas emissions free by 2035.

Bidens 27-hour stop in Ottawa, his first official visit to Canada as president, included a one-on-one meeting with Trudeau and an expanded meeting with some members of both their cabinets.

The meetings included discussions about ongoing efforts to modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command. Biden called Norad an incredible symbol of the faith we have in each other, as the only binational military command in the world.

They also finalized a long-awaited plan to expand the Safe Third Country Agreement to unofficial ports of entry along the entire Canada-United States border. Canada intends to take in 15,000 more migrants from the Western Hemisphere over the next year.

Both leaders expressed concern about the ongoing security situation in Haiti, where gangs have taken control of much of the country. Biden has previously suggested Canada would be well placed to lead a military intervention in Haiti but put that prospect on the back burner Friday.

Any decision about military force, whats often raised, we think would have to be done in consultation with the United Nations and the Haitian government, he said. So that is not off the table, but that is not in play at the moment.

Biden said the biggest thing that would help would be getting police departments in Haiti the capacity to respond to the gang issues, but he said that is going to take time.

To that end, Trudeau announced $100 million in new funding to help arm the Haitian National Police, and announced Canadian sanctions on two Haitian elites accused of helping empowering gangs, bringing the tally to 19.

Biden and Trudeau also condemned Russias war in Ukraine and said China poses a serious long-term challenge to the international order.

The spectre of China loomed large over the day, with the presence of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in the visitors gallery of the House of Commons.

The two men were imprisoned in China for nearly three years, arrested and charged with various spying offences in apparent retaliation for Canadas decision to arrest Chinese telecom executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 at the request of the U.S. government.

This is the first public appearance for the two since they were released in September 2021, after the U.S. and China reached a deal that led to Mengs release in Canada.

They received four standing ovations throughout the day.

The two men appeared touched by the applause, looking repeatedly at each other, occasionally waving back at someone down below them on the floor of the chamber.

Wow, Spavor said, his eyes wide. Kovrig, standing beside him, looked close to tears.

Trudeau and Biden both paid tribute to the pair in their speeches, with Trudeau crediting the governments patience not to simply give in to Chinas demands, and holding firm to its values.

The rule of law prevailed and the Michaels came home, Trudeau said.

Biden, who met with the two men before the speech, noted Canadas leadership building a coalition of nearly 70 countries endorsing the declaration against arbitrary detention and state to state relations.

Our citizens are not bargaining chips, theyre not diplomatic leverage, said Biden. Theyre human beings with lives and families that must be respected. And Im very glad to see the two Michaels  are safely back to their family.

Bidens visit to Ottawa came with seas of security but without the hundreds of Canadian fans who flocked to the Hill in 2009 when president Barack Obama visited.

Obama returned to Ottawa in 2016, near the end of his second term, where he also gave a speech in the House of Commons. That was the last time a U.S. president addressed Parliament.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived Thursday night and had a private dinner with Trudeau and his family at their home.

A gala dinner for the Bidens and 350 invited guests was held at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum Friday evening.

Canadian acting legends Eugene Levy and Catherine OHara were among the invitees, and proved popular among the other guests who clamoured around them for photos.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

 With files from James McCarten in Washington, and Dylan Robertson, David Fraser, Laura Osman and Mickey Djuric in Ottawa.

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he accepts Han Dongs decision to leave the Liberal caucus after an allegation he spoke to a Chinese diplomat about delaying the release of two Canadians.

Trudeau sidestepped a question Friday about whether he believes the allegation, saying only that Canadians should watch Dongs strong speech for themselves.

He said at a news conference alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, who was visiting Ottawa, that he fully accepts Dong left the Liberal caucus to vigorously contest these allegations.

The prime minister also added that he and Biden discussed foreign interference, and said it is unacceptable, whether from China or from other countries such as Russia and Iran.

Dong, a Toronto MP, announced he would sit as an Independent on Wednesday night, telling the House of Commons that he would defend himself against absolutely untrue claims regarding his alleged involvement in Chinese interference.

Global News published a report that night, citing unnamed security sources who alleged that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who at that time had been detained in China for just over two years, with a Chinese diplomat in Toronto in February 2021.

The two Canadian men had been detained by China in December 2018, just over a week after the RCMP arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.

Global News alleged that Dong told Chinas consul general in Toronto that releasing the men would benefit the Conservatives, but also that showing some progress in the case would help the Liberals.

The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations.

The MP said he met with the diplomat but disputes any suggestion he urged China to delay releasing Kovrig and Spavor, telling the House of Commons he did nothing to cause them harm.

Kovrig and Spavor were treated as honoured guests when Biden addressed the House of Commons on Friday.

Members of Parliament and others who packed the gallery gave the men no fewer than four standing ovations. It was their first time in public together since returning to Canada in September 2021.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters it was moving to see Kovrig and Spavor, whom he described as two courageous men who survived unimaginable hell.

Poilievre added: I was very heartened that everyone in the chamber gave them such a warm welcome.

The Tory leader declined to weigh in on the allegations against Dong, but repeated his position that holding a public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of Chinas alleged meddling in Canadian affairs.

He noted that all opposition parties agree on that  and pointed out that even Dong himself voted in favour of a motion that called for a public inquiry, the day after he left the Liberal caucus.

So for his sake and for everybodys sake, and most importantly, for the sake of the truth, the prime minister has to end his cover up and call a full public inquiry, Poilievre said.

Trudeau has not ruled out the possibility of calling a public inquiry, but he has said that any recommendation to do so will have to come from former governor general David Johnston, who was recently appointed to probe the issue as a special rapporteur.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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Joe Biden presented Justin Trudeau with a gift on Friday: the best day the prime minister has had in Parliament since 2016, when another president  Barack Obama  showered praise on the Canada-U.S. relationship.

It is unquestionably true that U.S. presidents have given Trudeau a shot in the arm throughout his years in power. The bromance with Obama gave him international lustre in his early years; the tension with Donald Trump let Trudeau show his tough side.

Biden, who put his friendship with the prime minister on high-wattage display on Thursday and Friday, landed in Ottawa when Trudeau and his Liberals have been going through a particularly tough time.

The 46th president cast Trudeau and his government as an important ally in a volatile world  the Canada-U.S. friendship as something that will endure amid what Biden likes to call an inflection point for the world.

The entire Biden visit, awash in cross-border warmth, doesnt rescue the prime minister from his domestic political troubles  the ongoing furor over foreign election meddling, for instance. But it is a reminder that Trudeau, more so than many other prime ministers, will have a legacy forged by his relationship with three presidents: Obama, Trump and now Biden. The ways in which those relationships have changed are a reflection of bigger changes in the world, and in the leaders own jobs.

It isnt just Trudeaus future that hinges on his relationship with the United States either  its Canadas. In a world roiling with war in Ukraine, climate change and the spread of authoritarianism, nationalism and disinformation, Canada and the U.S. will probably have to cling even closer to each other.

Three generations of Trudeaus

On Thursday night, Biden and his wife Jill sat down for dinner at the prime ministers Rideau Cottage residence, where the president had a chance to chat with the Trudeau children: Xavier, 15, Ella-Grace 14, and nine-year-old Hadrien.

This means that three generations of Trudeaus have now brushed up against Biden during his long career. Fifty-one years ago, when Bidens daughter and his first wife tragically died in a car accident, he received a call of condolence from then prime minister Pierre Trudeau  a gesture hes never forgotten, the president told Justin Trudeau in one of their early meetings.

Biden definitely is a politician more of the elder Trudeaus vintage, and there is a temptation to see their relationship in terms of father and son, or mentor to mentee, as former U.S. ambassador Gordon Giffin said in a television interview on Friday.

But the tumultuous events of the past few years have often turned that dynamic upside down, with Trudeau finding himself in the role of explainer to the chief  specifically, filling in Biden on how much the world changed during the four years he was out of the White House.

One of Bidens last trips as vice-president, the one that has been much recalled this week, was his December 2016 visit to Ottawa, when he famously asked Trudeau to carry the torch of progressive values into the world as the Obama era was ending and the Trump years were just beginning.

Trudeau made specific reference to that visit at his news conference on Friday and to the sometimes challenging times the two men have faced since then.

Gerald Butts was then the principal secretary to Trudeau and now is vice-chairman of the Eurasia Group, which will be hosting a major gathering on Canada-U.S. relations in Toronto in early April, featuring high-level guests from both sides of the border. A big goal for this conference is to grapple with where the two countries take their relationship beyond this weeks Biden-Trudeau meeting, and how it aligns with a rapidly shifting globe.

The Trump years

Butts says that 2016 visit to Ottawa now feels like ancient history  a time when neither Biden nor the prime minister knew how Trump would throw the world, and definitely Canada-U.S. relations, on to a very different axis.

I remember two things vividly about it, Butts said. One, it was the first snowstorm of the year. And the second was that Biden seemed a bit shocked about what had just happened.

Canada would soon get well acquainted with that shock, dealing with a president who was ready to rip up the North American free trade deal and whimsically punish Canada with subsidies dressed up as patriotic populism.

Whatever else Biden represents at this point in the Canada-U.S. relationship, relief is obviously a big part of the mix, Butts says. The government of Canada is not going to wake up to Joe Biden declaring Canadian aluminum a national security threat to the United States, he says.

I asked Butts how much those eventful Trump years changed Trudeau, and how well he thought his old friend and boss had lived up to the Biden challenge. Im not going to answer that question, Butts said, laughing. Im not that rusty.

But he agrees that Trudeau got to see the Trump effect close up on the world stage in a way that Biden would not have had a chance to view while Democrats were shut out of the White House.

The next president?

Biden has made no secret of his disappointment with how Americas image changed globally in those years. At a press conference after the latest midterm elections in November, Biden talked yet again about his first G-7 meeting as president.

I sat down at a table  a roundtable with the six other world leaders from the European Union, and Canada, et cetera, and said, America is back. And one of them turned to me and said, For how long? For how long? It was a deadly earnest question.

That leader was French president Emmanuel Macron, Biden said.

Butts voices very similar sentiments.

The most important thing about the Trump years is that they happened, Butts said. And as a consequence, you have to prepare for them to happen again . Everybodys still holding their breath as we approach the next presidential election. I mean, if youre in Europe, youve got to be worried about what the NATO alliance in a large war with Russia looks like with Donald Trump at the head of the table or someone like Donald Trump.

David MacNaughton was Canadas ambassador to the United States from 2016 to 2019, and had a front-row seat as this country had to pivot from Obama to Trump.

One thing he did learn early was not to get too comfortable about the special relationship between Canada and the United States  not even when the president and prime minister seem like best buddies.

America first

MacNaughton took up his post in Washington just as Trudeau had landed in the U.S. capital for a big state dinner with Obama, which launched the bromance. With all this chumminess in the air, MacNaughton assumed, Canada and the U.S. ought to be able to get some tough issues resolved  issues such as the long-running dispute over softwood lumber. But not long after the gala celebrations in Washington, MacNaughton was told that the White House was working on the larger Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, which required care and tending of representatives in Congress with lumber interests.

The assumption that just because the two leaders get along personally, that everythings going to be sweetness and light, and its all going to work out, well, the reality is quite different from that. And I learned that right away, MacNaughton said.

Butts and MacNaughton both agree that the Trudeau-Biden friendship, warm as it is, will continue to be forged amid the odds against it.

There are always ebbs and flows of isolationism and protectionism in the United States, says MacNaughton. What weve got right now is both of them on the rise.

Butts said that much of the Eurasia Groups focus right now, and definitely a theme at the coming gathering in Toronto, will be on how the world is shifting away from globalism and toward regionalism.

Canada needs friends

Nation states are starting to behave like nation states again, defining their national interests politically and defending them with policy, Butts says. Canada cant afford to go isolationist in this climate; it needs to be part of the North American community.

The challenge for Canada is it makes the U.S. relationship more important than all of our other relationships combined.

That sounds familiar. Almost eight years ago, when Trudeau was still the leader of the third party in the Commons and only dreaming of winning the job he did later in 2015, he delivered a speech at the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa on Canada-U.S. relations.

Trudeau said, fatefully: Successful prime ministers get the big things right. And Canadas relationship with the United States of America is  beyond the shadow of a doubt  one of the biggest.

New polling from Abacus Data, out this week, show that Trudeau still can boast that things are going mostly right on this big thing. In a poll of nearly 2,000 Canadians conducted last weekend, a full 61 per cent responded that Trudeau had managed the U.S. relationship as well or better than could be expected.

Thats certainly a more positive poll result than many others the PM has faced in recent days and may even surprise his most staunch critics. But thats become a defining feature of Trudeaus years in power  presidents, whether foes like Trump or friends like Biden and Obama  have given him a boost.

Theyve also given him some rare good times in Parliament, such as Fridays love-in with Biden.

Clarification  March, 27, 2023: This column has been updated to reflect the fact that French President Emmanuel Macron asked Joe Biden For how long? when the U.S. President told a gathering of world leaders that America was back as a nation other countries can look up to. A previous version incorrectly stated Biden didnt identify who asked that question.

Susan Delacourt is an Ottawa-based columnist covering national politics for the Star. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt

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Michael Parsa has been named the new minister of children, community and social services after the surprise resignation of Merrilee Fullerton.

Fullerton stepped down as minister and also as MPP for Kanata-Carleton on Friday afternoon.

Sources told the Star she is leaving for personal reasons.

Merrilee has been a key member of our team since day one, advancing our governments agenda to build Ontario and helping to lead our response to the COVID-19 pandemic by serving in important roles in cabinet, Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.

I wish my friend the very best as she retires from the world of politics. I have no doubt shell continue to give back and contribute to the great communities of Kanata and Carleton in so many ways.

Ford also welcomed Parsa to his new role, saying the Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP will work day and night to support our children and build strong and vibrant communities.

Fullerton delivered her resignation letter to Ford personally on Friday, writing that a strong sense of duty brought me to politics after decades as a family physician serving my community, to continue my work towards solutions that would address the shortcomings of our health-care system and improve health services for individuals.

Fullerton oversaw long-term care during part of the pandemic, and also served as minister of colleges and universities.

As minister of community and social services, she was in charge of the difficult autism file.

This once again puts that file behind the eight ball, said NDP critic Monique Taylor. We know that there have been several ministers that have been on this file, and it continues to get worse. I hope that the government puts somebody on the file who can actually get to work quickly, and be able to support our most vulnerable Ontarians.

With Parsas move, Ford announced that MPP Nina Tangri (MississaugaStreetsville) will take over as associate minister of housing.

Nina has a proven track record of working with industry stakeholders to advance important initiatives and I have no doubt shell do the same with housing, Ford said in his written statement.

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The Arewa Consultative Forum has expressed concern over what it termed as the deployment of religious and ethnic sentiments in the just-concluded elections across in the country.





This, the pan-Northern socio-political organisation, said portends danger to the well-being of the country if not checked.





The ACF, according to the Secretary-General, Mallam Murtala Aliyu, in a statement, also decried the difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System to upload results, scattered violence, vote buying and intimidation during the polls.





However, in summation, the ACF gave the conduct of the 2023 general election by Independent National Electoral Commission a pass mark, saying that there is no perfect election anywhere in the world.





The statement was titled, Dealing with the aftermath of the 2023 elections, and released in Kaduna on Friday.





According to the ACF, in spite of the outcry of mostly those that did not achieve their goals, the exercise passed off fairly peacefully and reflected the broad aspirations of the electorate.





Describing religious and tribal politics as virus, the forum noted that elections must come with its difficulties and Nigeria wouldnt be an exception, urging aggrieved politicians to always seek redress in court as exemplified by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.





The statement read, History will report that the 2023 general elections that held on the 28th of February and 18th of March, 2023, was the biggest and certainly the most keenly contested election ever to be held in Nigeria.





The figures are tremendous: 87 million voters, 18 presidential candidates, 28 state governors, 469 National Assembly members and 993 members of state Houses of Assembly. Voting took place in 176,000 polling stations in 8,809 wards. Some 1.5 million political party agents were accredited to bear witness to every event.





Additionally, thousands of foreign and local observers were on hand to monitor and assess the credibility of the exercise.





Thankfully, in-spite of the outcry of mostly those that did not achieve their goals, the exercise passed off fairly peacefully and the outcomes could be said to have reflected the broad aspirations of the electorate.





True, there were difficulties and mishaps: polling stations opened late, BVAS failed to upload results real time, there were scattered violence, there were vote-buying, voter intimidation, etc, and yet, while these problems are a serious source of concern and must be investigated and addressed, they have to be viewed in their right perspectives.





Where in the world do they organise perfect elections? The size of our operations in any event are so vast and complex that isolated incidents of this nature are impossible to prevent.





It added, We are pleased to note that candidates that felt dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections including presidential candidates of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, have resolved to go to court, not the streets, to seek redress. Thats the right and honourable thing to do.





Unfortunately, there is one particular problem thrown up by these elections that cannot possibly be addressed by the courts. It is the deployment of ethnic and religious sentiments as a driver of politics in Nigeria.





As we have seen in Lagos and elsewhere, ethnic and religious zealots have a way of turning political and election campaigns into life and death struggles. They issue threats of violence and at times actually attack supporters of rival candidates with a view to intimidating and stopping them from casting their votes. It ought not come as any surprise that voter apathy and absenteeism were unusually high in many areas  as well as why voter turnout was very low across the country.





In Lagos where the problem created by ethnic and religious politics has continued to fester, acrimony and bad blood between the Yoruba and Igbo have become a matter of concern to the security agencies. In the wake of the ethnic crisis, Yoruba and Igbo partisans freely profile one another and accuse themselves of criminal conduct, including as cheats, bandits, kidnappers, land-grabbers, etc.





All of which underscores the very serious consequences of politics rooted in religion and tribalism. It is a political virus. Nigerians must do everything within their power to eliminate this virus and go on to inoculate ourselves against reinfection in the years to come.





This time, it is truly a matter of life and death. Let us as Nigerians love and care for one another. Let us focus on the what unites us and not our differences.
There was an unusually large deployment of armed police operatives at strategic locations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Friday as the Court of Appeal rules on a case emanating from the July 16, 2022 governorship poll in the state.





The Appeal Court panel that heard the case would give its judgement in Abuja on Friday, raising tension across the state.





At the popular Olaiya Junction, Old Garage, Okefia and Lameco Junction  all within Osogbo metropolis  the presence of armed police operatives was observed by our correspondent who went around the town.





Some patrol vehicles of police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were also sighted moving around Osogbo blaring sirens.





Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP was returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission, but the APC candidate at the poll, Adegboyega Oyetola, had challenged the victory before Justice Tertsea Kume-led Tribunal panel, which in a majority judgement delivered on January 27, annulled Adelekes victory and declared Oyetola the winner of the poll.





However, a minority judgement by Justice B. Ogbuli dismissed Oyetolas petition and declared Adeleke the duly elected governor, having scored majority of lawful votes.





But after hearing appeal by the INEC, Adeleke and PDP against the tribunal judgement, the Appeal Court informed the parties that it would deliver the judgement on Friday.





Apart from the police operatives that were deployed across the state capital, Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said it has deployed men to critical infrastructure in the state ahead of the judgment.





A statement by the acting Public Relations Officer of the Command, Kehinde Adeleke, further read, ahead of Fridays Appeal Court judgement on the matter between Governor Ademola Adeleke and Alh. Adegboyega Oyetola, there is a strategic deployment of personnel around critical infrastructure in the state.





There will also be patrol by an armed detachment of the Corps in readiness for emergency response. The Command is ready to prevent any breakdown of law and order arising from possible protests by aggrieved parties.
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has rubbished the reconciliation call by the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu.

Atiku said Tinubu should arrest and prosecute the former Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, chairman Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, for threatening Igbos during the governorship election.

He said Tinubus call for reconciliation was laced with hypocrisy and lies.

Following the conduct of the 2023 general elections, Tinubu had urged the opposition to give room for healing.

Tinubu said those affected by the violence should set aside their differences for the sake of national interest and unity.

He spoke through his Media Aide, Phrank Shaibu.

He recalled how MC Oluomo and some Tinubus media aides made anti-Igbo rants during the just-concluded elections.

A statement by Shaibu reads partly: Tinubus latest statement is laced with hypocrisy and lies. For a whole month, traditional leaders, transport hooligans and politicians in his camp threatened non-indigenes but Tinubu kept mute.

His lackey, MC Oluomo, who is a member of his Presidential campaign council, was seen on video threatening Igbo people but Tinubu said nothing.

There will be no reconciliation until MC Oluomo and all his minions who took part in issuing threats and brutalising people are diligently prosecuted.




Uba Sani, Kaduna governor-elect, says he will challenge some results gathered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in the state.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, the governor-elect said the PDP won some LGAs with unimaginable margins.

Sani, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 730,002 votes to defeat Isa Ashiru of the PDP, who secured 719,196 votes.

The PDP candidate won 13 LGAs in the state while Sani won 10 LGAs.

He said the election in the LGAs where the PDP won was fraught with irregularities.

Sani said he would challenge the PDP results at the election petition tribunal, noting that the margin of his victory surpassed what was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While extending an olive branch to the opposition parties, the governor-elect said his administration would be fair to all including, those who did not vote for him.

He said he was happy with the number of voters turnout during the election.

The governor-elect expressed confidence that he would be victorious at the election petition tribunal where the PDP has promised to challenge his victory.




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has announced that it will go after some outgoing public officials after May 29.





The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this in an interview with Daily Trust, published Friday.





Bawa who did not give names or the number of public officials that would be brought under the law disclosed that at least two ministries were currently under the radar of the commission for fraudulent activities that bordered on procurement processes.





Currently, were investigating two ministries where double payments were made. In one of the ministries, the double payments, cumulatively, were about 20 contracts of over N4bn.





These were contracts that were done way back 2018, and then some group of people, so bold, came up with the same narration.





They moved the documents from the file, forged them, and then of course in conspiracy of some civil servants, raised vouchers and pay. How can that happen if we have digitalised procurement processes? Bawa queried.





He also reacted to calls for his sacking by some civil society organisations.





Bawa said, It is on record that I am the first sitting EFCC chairman to go to court and testify, not once, not twice or three times. We now have some group of people that were paid, we know the people that are paying them, coming up with all sorts of gang-ups.





We are following due process and the rule of law. The court had made a pronouncement, we have appealed that, and there is a stay of execution, what do you expect? We move on!





He noted that in the last couple of months, the agency had more than ever before tried to institutionalise the operational activities of the EFCC, saying the EFCC would continue to do the good works that some persons did not want.





And God willing, come May and June, we are going to make some huge arrests and commence huge prosecutions of people.





And for those people that are not leaving in May, whenever they are leaving, we will be waiting for them to ensure that justice is done, he added.
An impending fiscal crisis in mental health services was a factor in the Cumberland County commissioners decision Wednesday to once again table a proposal to accept a $1.5 million state grant to establish a firearms testing unit for the forensic investigation division of the District Attorneys office.

The commissioners in October authorized District Attorney Sean McCormack to apply for a Gun Violence Investigation and Prosecution Grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The commission allocated the money toward the purchase of specialized testing equipment and the construction of an addition to the county forensics lab located at 1601 Ritner Highway. The grant would also cover the salaries and benefit of two full-time lab employees for five fiscal quarters starting in late 2023 and extending through 2024, division director Eric Radnovich told the commissioners.

Once the grant is spent, however, the county would have to build into its general fund budget the cost to maintain the testing unit personnel. Those annual costs would range from $152,657 in the first year to $176,929 by year five, according to cost projections by McCormack.

During the meeting Wednesday, McCormack presented the commissioners with data showing an increase of crime involving firearms, along with letters from local police chiefs who support the concept of a county-run firearms testing unit.

In making his case, McCormack noted that, all too often, guns seized by local police departments are kept in storage in their evidence rooms and are never sent out for testing at the Pennsylvania State Police lab due to the heavy backlog of cases.

Having its own testing unit would enable Cumberland County to cross-check seized firearms and spent shell casings with records available on a nationwide database to determine if any matches exist with crimes in other jurisdictions, according to McCormack.

Commissioner Gary Eichelberger questioned both the practicality and urgency of accepting a grant for a testing unit when the county is confronted with a fiscal crisis in mental health services that may require the commissioners to channel emergency funds.

I dont have information on whether we could afford to do both right now, Eichelberger said. I have a lot of questions around it. This [the testing unit] is a great idea, but we do have to prioritize. When I got here, the county had taken on an enormous amount of multi-year obligations from what was going to be grants.

Commissioner Jean Foschi saw it differently. She said her support for the testing unit was reinforced by McCormack providing additional data Wednesday and by letters from police chiefs backing the proposal.

The commissioners are not going to save mental health services by rejecting a $1.5 million grant out of fear over how the county is going to pay for two technicians down the line, Foschi said. This [the testing unit] could be a cost-saving measure.

Foschi was referring to a point that McCormack had made earlier  the stronger the evidence against a criminal defendant, the greater the likelihood the defendant would agree to a plea bargain rather than insist on a jury trial, which costs the county money. One way to strengthen a prosecution case is to have access to high quality and timely forensics testing.
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has kicked against the suspension of Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, and other suspended members of the party.

Recall that the national working committee of the PDP suspended Fayose, Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation, Ibrahim Shema, former governor of Katsina, Dennis Ityavyar (Benue), and Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara) over alleged anti-party activities.

The PDP also asked Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, to appear before a disciplinary committee over the same allegation.

Speaking on Thursday night in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers, Wike said the PDP NWC led by Iyorchia Ayu cannot suspend members because he (Ayu) is guilty of the same allegation when the party abandoned zoning under his leadership.

Wike said Ortom would not appear before the partys national disciplinary committee.

Wike said referring a governor to a national disciplinary committee is the height of all insults and we will not take it.

Ayu and Sam Anyanwu, the national secretary, and other members of the NWC cannot suspend Ayo Fayose not to talk about referring governor Ortom to a national disciplinary committee, he said.

Governor Ortom who has stood firm for the unity of this country, governor Ortom who has come out openly to say that Nigeria must be one is not the type you will say youll refer to that your kangaroo committee.

If there is any person deserving suspension it should be you (Ayu), who played anti-party by refusing to obey the constitution of the party on the zoning of political offices as is required. So, whoever tells you can suspend people, please tell the person that he is not serious.

If you are talking of anti-party, it is you who could not even deliver your unit, deliver your ward that is involved. Because of the fraudulent activities you are involved in, people have lost hope in you. That is why you cannot win your unit, win your ward.

You cannot cage any of us (G5). Ortom will not appear before any of your so-called disciplinary committees. Ayodele Fayose will also never appear before any disciplinary committee.

Ortom is a member of the G5  a group of five governors in the PDP.




Former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema has given the Peoples Democratic Partys National Working Committee (NWC) 48 hours to rescind its decision to suspend him.





Shema disclosed this on Friday in a letter he addressed to Dr lyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.





Shema also urged the NWC to reinstate the duly elected party executives in the state and allow them to complete their tenure if they want peace to reign in the Katsina PDP.





Describing the decisions and actions of the NWC under the current leadership as lacking constitutional validity and a clear demonstration of contempt for democracy, the former Katsina governor said the party would be plunged into more crisis if the situation continues unchecked.





Below is his letter:





My attention has been drawn to a press statement made on Thursday 23 March 2023 (1 of Ramadan 1444 AH) on above actions by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) as announced by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and aired in numerous media outlets, print, electronic and social.





The statement also went on to announce suspension of other party leaders in the country.





It is pertinent to state categorically here that Chapter 10 of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Constitution (2017) as amended (Disciplinary Procedure) particularly, Section 56 (6) (7) and Section 59 (3) were not adhered to in reaching these decisions which clearly demonstrate contempt for democracy.





I was privileged to be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman One (1) and Chairman of its National Disciplinary Committee who amended and drafted the Disciplinary Procedure as enshrined in our constitution today, in line with principles of justice, fairness and equity.





I am a member of National Executive Council (NEC), Board of Trustees (BOT) and CAUCUS of our party and know as of law and fact that the dissolution of a lawfully elected Katsina State Executive Committee cannot bear constitutional validity as well as my suspension from the party.





Let me also state in clear and unequivocal terms that I have been a loyal and dedicated party member for the past twenty-four years; I have never left or joined any other party despite all manner of challenges I faced and have worked under our partys constitution and the law.





I cannot, therefore, continue to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Dr lyorchia Ayus laws, who is duty-bound to preserve, protect and defend our constitution within his limited powers. It is in the height of these developments that I make the following appeals:





Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of unlawful dissolution of Katsina States duly elected Executive Committee and allow them to complete their tenure and disband the purported caretaker committee similar to which so many court decisions in the land have illegalized.





Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of my suspension as member of our party within the next Forty-Eight (48) hours.





Take notice that failure to effect these two changes above within Forty-Eight (48) hours, this letter serves as my formal and official withdrawal of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective from Saturday, 25 March 2023.





These actions have caused and will continue to cause monumental damage to our party if unchecked.





My good wishes to you all.





Shema along with five other chieftains of the PDP were suspended by the NWC on Thursday for alleged involvement in anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections.
Alex Otti, the Abia governor-elect, says he will run a lean government in the state and cut down on the cost of governance.

Speaking in an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, Otti said hell adopt the model used by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), during his tenure as Anambra state governor.

Obi was a two-term governor of Anambra and his administration has been lauded for greatly reducing the cost of governance in the state.

Speaking on his plan as the newly elected Abia governor, Otti promised to replicate Obis achievements.

He added that his government would cut our coats according to our size and support private sectors to create jobs.

I have spoken out greatly about the cost of governance being a problem in the country. And it applies to the federal government as well as it does the state governments and all the way to the local level, Otti said.

And I believe my presidential candidate did very well in Anambra state and he reined in the cost of governance. It is the same type of model that we are going to run in Abia.

There are only so many jobs you can create in the public sector. So when you are appointing 12,000 special assistants who basically do not have an office but collect a salary monthly, you are just creating a problem for yourself.

We are going to run a very lean government and cut our coats according to our size. It is the private sector that should be supported to create jobs. And whatever it takes to support the private sectors, we will do exactly that.




Former Aston Villa manager, Steven Gerrard, has advised England captain Harry Kane to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.





Gerrard believes it is time for Kane to leave Tottenham in the summer transfer window amid links to Manchester United and Chelsea.





Kane has long been linked with a move away from Spurs, but a transfer is yet to materialize.





The striker was expected to join Manchester City last summer, but a move fell through in the end.





However, after Kane became Englands all-time top scorer following the Three Lions 2024 Euro qualifying 2-1 win over Italy on Thursday, Gerrard said on Channel 4 (via HITC): You are talking about greatness, you are talking about one of the best number 9s in the world right now.





That is the reason why every transfer window, he is ahead in terms of all the talks because, you know, maybe it is time, maybe it is time for him to move on.




Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose has described his purported suspension from the PDP, by the Senator Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee of the party as the last kick of a dead horse.

Fayose, who reacted to the suspension through his Spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said Ayu and his cohorts are only entertaining themselves with the purported suspension as their latest comedy skit.

He said in a matter of days, the inglorious tenure of Ayu as national chairman of PDP would become history and that the party would enjoy a new lease of life.

The former Governor, said that himself and others who stood by the party when Ayu and his cohorts left it to die would rescue it and give life back in due course.

The purported suspension will have no leg to stand, he said.

The PDP had on Thursday suspended Fayose and four others from the party for anti-party activities.
The federal government says Nigeria Air, the countrys proposed national carrier, would begin operations before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, spoke at the national aviation stakeholders forum 2023 in Abuja on Thursday.

In October 2022, Buhari had said the national carrier would commence flight services by December 2022, but that did not happen due to controversy surrounding the airlines ownership structure, leading to a court order stopping the federal government from implementing the project.

Speaking at the stakeholder forum, Sirika said the latest deadline is another proposed date for the take-off of Nigeria Air.

He said the project is 98 percent completed.

All of the roadmap items except, perhaps the airline which in my opinion is at 98 percent completion, and we will fly within these remaining two months by the grace of God, the minister said.

We will also finish the concessions. So, all those things we said we would do when we came in, we did them.

Before the end of this administration, before May 29th, we will fly.

Speaking on the bidding process of the Nigeria Air project, Sirika said he had hoped Emirate, Lufthansa, and Qatar airlines would emerge as the preferred bidders.

However, he said he was pleased that the Ethiopian Airlines (ET) consortium eventually emerged the winner.

The minister explained that, except for Overland Airways, he approached international and domestic airlines about partnering with Nigeria Air.

When we were setting up Nigeria Air limited, my gut feeling is to partner with airlines that I think will add value, with financial experience and high profile such as Emirate, Qatar, Lufthansa, and the rest of them, he said.

Those who worked closely with me know that this is my forecast and what I wanted because I believe if you partner with Lufthansa for example, automatically you will have license to fly.

I thought we would do that, and I made attempts to reach them and invite them, as I did with all airline owners in Nigeria, except Overland.

I reached out to them personally to come and partner to create a strong airline but fast forward, we had a bidder, Ethiopian airline.

I was very happy that we got them (Ethiopian) to come. It was not my choice but I am happy now knowing what I know.

They are a household name, strong, and they have been in business for 70 years unbroken and they have over 200 aircraft.

So, I am very glad we are partnering with them and it is a reality.

Some airlines are in court and their grouse is that it can be any airline in the world but not Ethiopian because, in their own way, they think Ethiopian is a competitor.




The Police on Friday acknowledged the kind gesture of Inspector Tobi Kulani Kanadi attached to Police Mobile Force 44, Force Headquarters, Abuja.





Force Public Relations, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said the officer was recognized for being a worthy ambassador.





The police commended Kanadi for his thoughtfulness in ceding his N2,000 (the maximum daily allocated) to a health worker.





The Inspector had met the civilian on a long queue at an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, at the National Hospital in Abuja.





The staff needed to make an urgent withdrawal before proceeding to attend to medical emergencies but pleas to others was rebuffed until Kanadi intervened.





Adejobi said looking out for the people remained part of policing values, noting that it was heartwarming to see the officer display benevolence.





Inspector Toju, we commend your exemplary gesture as a good ambassador of the Nigeria Police Force, the spokesperson added.
Senator Magnus Abe, Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Rivers State, has claimed that 15 people were reported dead across the state following the conclusion of the recent governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

Abe also claimed that a member of his party was also kidnapped right from the election grounds and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is not saying anything about the development.

He spoke while fielding questions from journalists on Arise Television on Thursday.

The Senator, who lost last Saturdays gubernatorial election to Siminialayi Fubara, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also believes the outcome of the poll was not free and fair.

Abe said, I did not even want to talk about Fubara. The young man is not an issue as far as this whole thing is concerned. He did not talk to anybody throughout the election and nobody spoke to him. The issue of congratulating or not congratulating him was irrelevant, It was the same PDP mischief-makers that drafted a statement in my name saying that I congratulated Fubara and repeating the same things that the governor [Wike] is mounting that I was not a serious candidate.

If I was not a serious candidate, why is he after the SDP? Why is he after me? Why was I the focal point of his attacks, why did he not allow the security to provide security for Rivers people to vote If you are so sure of yourself and sure of your popularity and sure of your acceptance, the best way to test it is in an election and we did not have one, so I would not want to go into all those things so why would I congratulate somebody that emanated from this kind of process.

As we speak, over 15 persons have reported death across Rivers State. The police have not said a word about that. One of the members of our party was kidnapped right from the election ground, the police said they did not have him, nobody is saying a word about it, and the governor would not say a word about it. How can we live in a country like that so the lives of people are irrelevant and everybody is going about and describing the election as free and fair.




The Federal Government has said Small Arms are gradually becoming weapons of mass destruction as they spread havoc on communities.





Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a two-day multilateral meeting with stakeholders of the Lake Chad Basin region.





Speaking on Curbing Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Lake Chad Basin Region, the SGF urged stakeholders to prevent arms spread.





Mustapha said: The Spread of small arms in the lake Chad Basin is a major security concern that portends far-reaching consequences for the region.





It has contributed to the escalation of conflict and violence obstructing the economic and social development of the countries in the region.





It is, therefore, imperative that we work together to curb the spread of small arms in the Lake Chad Basin region, he said.




The Supreme Court has re-affirmed Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).





The apex court made the pronouncement on Friday in a judgement on an application by Chief Njoku, wherein he sought the regularization of the amended judgment of Justice Mary Peter Odili delivered on May 9, 2022.





Njokus motion followed a letter from the Supreme Court to him on January 19, 2023, wherein it had addressed him as the National Chairman of APGA and advised him to approach the Court by way of a motion to correct the slip.





The accidental slip, which the Supreme Court corrected, has restored Njoku as the actual National Chairman of APGA, which was wrongfully removed by a Jigawa High Court in Suit No: JDU/022/2021 between Alhaji Garba Aliyu and Chief Jude Okeke & 2 Ors.





In a lead judgment, Justice Garba Lawal held that it was Chief Edozie Njoku that was wrongly removed at Jigawa without being joined as a party.





Subsequently, Justice Lawal stated that Njokus application was meritorious and consequently granted it as prayed.





Reacting to the judgement, Chief Njoku appealed to the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, to make himself available for a roundtable discussion on the way forward for the party.





As APGA Chairman, Njoku said he would do everything humanly possible to bring stability and peace to the party.
Federal authorities expect to return a 13-year-old boys remains to his Native American tribe in South Dakota this fall, they said Friday. The statement comes days after the tribe urged for a faster return of the child who died at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1879.

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate wrote to the head of the U.S. Armys cemetery office this week, demanding movement on their effort to have the remains of Amos LaFromboise repatriated from a graveyard at the Carlisle Barracks.

The letter from three lawyers with the Native American Rights Fund to Army Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera describes the child as the son of one of the tribes most celebrated leaders, Chief Joseph LaFromboise, who signed an 1867 treaty that established their current reservation boundaries.

The Office of Army Cemeteries emailed a statement saying that Amos LaFromboises disinterment was approved a year ago and that the Army also told the boys family and the tribes chair last summer that his remains will be returned in 2023. His disinterment will be entirely at the Armys expense, the office said.

The Army currently plans to conduct the disinterment of Amos this September and the required Federal Register Notice will be published in the next 60 days, according to the statement.

The tribe argues that the Army has been requiring repatriation standards that are more demanding than those in the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, mandating a signed affidavit from the childs closest living relative, which can be difficult or impossible for 19th century remains.

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate expected Amos to return home from Carlisle Indian Industrial School, they wrote, to lead his people like his father and serve as a model for future generations of Tribal leaders.

Lawyers for the tribe said Friday their request stands to have Amos LaFromboise repatriated under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and that the tribe is willing to discuss the next steps.

Amos LaFromboise died 20 days after his arrival at Carlisle the year the school opened. The tribes letter says the Army has previously dug up and reburied his remains at least three times in three different locations. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate want to bury him next to his father on the Lake Traverse Reservation in northeast South Dakota.

Tribe historians say six children of tribal leaders were sent to Carlisle in 1879. Three of the boys died there and a fourth passed away shortly after he returned home.

At a ceremony two years ago to return nine disinterred remains of Rosebud Sioux children, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said forced assimilation practices at Indian schools stripped away the childrens clothing, language and culture.

The Carlisle school put children through harsh conditions that sometimes resulted in their deaths. Founded by an Army officer, the school cut their braids, dressed them in military-style uniforms and punished them for speaking their native languages. European names were forced upon them.

More than 10,000 Native American children were taught there and endured harsh conditions that sometimes led to death from such diseases as tuberculosis. There have been several rounds of disinterment and repatriation at Carlisle in recent years.
The supreme court has denied claims that Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), had a secret meeting with Bola Tinubu, president-elect.

Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the presidential election held on February 25.

The election, however, is being challenged by Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP); Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and some other candidates who participated in the presidential poll.

An online media had, on Thursday, reported that the CJN disguised in a wheelchair and travelled to London, where he met with Tinubu.

The report claimed Ariwoola departed Nigeria on March 11 via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

On Friday, Festus Akande, director of press and information at the apex court, said there is no iota of truth in the report.

Speaking with Premium Times, Akande said the CJN has been in Nigeria and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on March 16 and 17.

Akande added that the CJN travelled out of Nigeria briefly to London on March 18 for medical care and was accompanied by Gambo Saleh, NJCs secretary, only.

On March 23, the CJN returned from his medical trip to London and later reported in the office (in Abuja), where he worked till 8p.m, Akande said.

The only time the CJN travelled earlier this year was on January 25, when he travelled for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He returned on January 29.

A video circulating on social media showed the CJN at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque in Abuja where he attended Jumat prayers on Friday.

Meanwhile, the APC campaign council has also issued a statement claiming there was no meeting between Tinubu and Ariwoola.

In a statement on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, media director of the campaign council, said there is an attempt to create doubt about the legitimacy of the election that produced Tinubu as president-elect.

Onanuga said the president-elect is currently in Paris, France, and not in the UK.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council says there was no meeting between Bola Tinubu, president-elect, and Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The campaign council was reacting to reports that Tinubu met with the CJN in the UK.

In a statement on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, media director of the campaign council, said there is an attempt to create doubt about the legitimacy of the election that produced Tinubu as president-elect.

Onanuga said the president-elect is currently in Paris, France, and not in the UK.

The story was a pure concoction from the hallucinating minds of hatchet men bent on creating doubts and public distrust about the legitimacy of our recent election, which was won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the media director said.

We refute emphatically that there has been no clandestine meeting between the president-elect and the respected chief justice of our country, anywhere. Its pure fabricated news, groundless in fact and authenticity.

To show that the story was a mere salacious fiction, meant to draw traffic to the discredited purveyor, it claimed the Chief Justice left Nigeria for London on 11 March, on a wheelchair to board a plane.

The president-elect left Nigeria on 21 March, 10 clear days thereafter. What kind of appointment or secret meeting will the two men have arranged in London, with such widely disparate arrival dates, except in the imagination of the false news merchants?

We can confirm that the president-elect, who left Nigeria Tuesday, has not been in London. He is right now in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022.

He will go to London thereafter before proceeding to Mecca for the lesser Hajj.




A veteran Nollywood actor, Kenneth Chinwetalu, popularly known as Aguba, who created a scene when he demanded for a virgin girl from Israel as his wife, has returned to his hometown in Enugu State.

This was disclosed in a post via the verified Facebook page of the Omega Power Ministry, OPM, on Thursday.

Aguba, according to the Facebook post, returned to Enugu on Thursday because he desired to be in his hometown.

Recall that he was found homeless and brought to Port Harcourt, where the general overseer of the OPM, apostle Chibuzor Chinenye gave him a home and had him medically evaluated and treated.

It was learnt that the cleric had gotten him an apartment and a caregiver who was placed on monthly allowance.

Today, 22nd March 2023 the veteran Nollywood actor Kenneth Chinwetalu popularly known as AGUBA returns to his hometown Enugu State.

This is after some months since the general overseer of OPM found him homeless and brought him to Port Harcourt, gave him a home, cared for him, had him medically evaluated and treated him properly.

Now he returns to his hometown, Enugu, where the man of God has gotten him an apartment, a caregiver who Apostle chibuzor placed on monthly allowance and currently looking for a good shop to establish a business for him because Enugu is where he said he desires to be, his hometown, the post read.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am the manager of a gift store where my clientele mostly ranges from 40 to 70 years old. I have an employee in her early 20s who is sweet, super helpful and professionally courteous -- everything youd want in a worker.

She has her own unique style, and changes her hair with fun colors or highlights; right now its a very pretty shade of light green.

Several customers have made inappropriate comments to her about it, including laughing. One woman pointed at my employee, saying to her daughter, See? I told you she had green hair. Isnt that nuts?

My employee takes it in stride, smiling through it all, but I feel terrible. Ive wanted to say something to these customers, but I dont want to lose their business. Nor can I afford to lose my employee. Im not sure what I can say to get them to stop being so rude to a human being in public.

GENTLE READER: You think you have two problems: defending your employee and not losing business. Miss Manners sees four.

Correcting your customers bad behavior would not just be bad business, it would also be rude (two problems). And not defending your employee is not just rude, it is bad for business (two more). After all, who wants to work for an employer who does not look out for the employees?

The important point is that your employee has seen this behavior so often outside the store that she does not expect you to call the police every time it happens inside it. There may come a time when the behavior is so bad that you have to ask the customer to leave, but most situations can be handled without losing either partys business.

Smile at the customer with the daughter and say, Really? I like the color very much. Is there something you came in to buy, or something I can show you?

And while it is rude to tell another person they are being rude, etiquette is silent about third parties: After the customer is gone, privately tell your employee how sorry you are that people can be so awful.

***

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My sons girlfriends mom sent me a big card after I had surgery. Weve never met. She said she hopes I am feeling better and maybe we can have lunch sometime.

Should I reply with a card? If I do, am I interfering in my sons romantic life? I do not know his intentions, but his girlfriend has bought plenty of things for him over the years. Clothes, scuba gear, snorkeling gear. Who should I ask?

GENTLE READER: Your question -- your first question -- will be easier after we have picked up some of the clutter. The clothes, the scuba gear, the snorkel, your sons intentions and the size of the get-well card can all go in the closet, as they are irrelevant.

So, too, is your fear that answering an invitation to lunch will be considered meddlesome. Finally, since you have already asked Miss Manners, we can discard your question about whom to consult.

All that remains are an invitation to lunch -- which you should promptly accept or decline -- and the question of whether you want your son discussing your health with his girlfriends mother.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

***

COPYRIGHT 2023 JUDITH MARTIN

DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
Police are investigating gunfire that occurred in the vicinity of a Cumberland County school on Friday, prompting a school district to have everyone shelter in place for several hours and to call for an early dismissal at one of its school buildings.

Millville Police officers responded to Thunderbolt Academy on East Broad Street in Millville at approximately 9 a.m. Friday for a report of shots fired, Chief Ross Hoffman said in a statement.

Officers discovered a single gunshot was fired in the 600 block of North 5th Street, directly across the street from the school, Hoffman said.

Thunderbolt Academy is a small, specialized public school that is part of Millville Public Schools. The school is a partnership between Millville Public Schools and Camelot Education, which offers an alternative setting for students facing behavioral, emotional or academic challenges, according to its website.

Out of an abundance of caution, the district made the decision to place all schools in a shelter in place when the incident was reported, Millville Public School officials said in a statement released Friday.

The shelter in place has since been lifted and, there is no direct threat to any of our schools at this time, according to the district

All schools will resume normal activities except for Thunderbolt Academy, which closed at 12:15 p.m. Friday due to the ongoing police investigation.

No one at the school was harmed by Friday mornings gunfire.

The matter remains under investigation by local police and the Salem County Prosecutors Office. Officials would not elaborate when asked why the investigation was under purview of Salem County rather that Cumberland County.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Millville Police Department at 856-825-7010.

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Police are searching for a teenager from Newark who has been missing for almost two weeks.

Kaylee Jones, 14, was reported missing on Thursday, March 9, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz G. Frage said.

She was last seen near Sussex Avenue wearing a light gray hoodie, dark gray sweatpants and blue Jordan sneakers, police said. She is 55 and about 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, officials said.

Jones is a frequent runaway and is known to visit the area near Grove Street in East Orange, authorities said.

Frage is asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to call the 24/7 tip line at 877-695-8477 or submit an anonymous tip through the police divisions website.

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A Newark man has been charged in the fatal shooting of an East Orange resident in October, authorities said Friday.

Vernon Crook, 49, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Altariq Johnson, 36, according to acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II.

Police were called on Oct. 8, 2022, to a report of a shooting in the 100 block of Brenner Street in Newark. Arriving officers found Johnson with multiple gunshot wounds.
A resolution to hire a company to review Jersey Citys emergency call center was pulled by the city administration after 911 dispatchers protested at Thursday nights council meeting.

About a dozen employees from the call center spoke during the councils public comment portion with concerns the citys goal was to privatize leaving them without jobs. As employees spoke, others stood behind them with signs with an X crossed over privatization, stop union busting and vote no on privatization.

$213,000 to test equipment, software, hardware, telephone systems, for things that are working. That have been working, Ankit Upadhyay said. I think the best thing for taxpayer money, $213,000, instead of paying some company out in Princeton, NJ  hire more call takers. It is a communications center, it works having more communicators.

Every shift is understaffed, Luis Figueroa, a dispatcher for over six years, said. The city is far too large for the level of calls to be dealt with appropriately. It is not a technology issue.

The citys 911 call system faced scrutiny over its responses to calls after a video circulated online of a call going unanswered after the Taqueria restaurant on Grove Street Downtown was struck by a car on Feb. 11, injuring two people. Emails over the incident obtained by The Jersey Journal showed a frustrated city administration eager to reform the system.

Jersey City Business Administrator John Metro defended the citys plan to hire the IXP Corporation, which owns a private 911 dispatch, to do a full evaluation of the citys 911 call center for $213,000. The city council was set to vote on the resolution Thursday, which was initially rejected by the council in November.

I just want to make clear the item we are not voting on tonight but was presented is solely for a report, Metro said. That report is going to look at staffing, technology and performance and that is all we are looking to do tonight.

If there was a second step where we were going to proceed in outsourcing, that would come back to council and we would have this whole parade again so that is a separate thing.

In November, the council members shared concerns about privatization, the companys bias, and a failure to enact prior recommendations from the Princeton-based company, which looked into the call center in 2015 and 2018. IXP Corporations senior vice president is Adam Safir, son of Howard Safir, a former New York Police Department commissioner who led the search to hire Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea in 2013.

Michael Madrigal, a fire dispatcher, said he understood the concerns of the Taqueria incident are valid but just asked the analysis not be done by a third party that is all free to privatize our jobs.

Understaffing, along with lack of supervision and forced overtime, are issues dispatchers say continue to plague the call center. The center has run with as little as two callers staffed when each unit (911, fire and police) should have at least six, dispatchers told Jersey City Times.

This is on top of claims the city is still shortchanging the workers since changing over its payroll system in January.

Council President Joyce Watterman said something had to be done about the 911 system and asked if another third party could come in to review. Other council members asked to see if the state could come in to review the citys 911 system, a request made by several employees who spoke.

As we go down this road there is a lot of problems to be fixed, there is clearly a lot of mistrust on all sides and we do need a third party, Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey said before suggesting the city see the scope of a state analysis would do.

The council also introduced an ordinance that would turn St. Pauls Avenue, between Tonnelle and Liberty avenues near the Pulaski Skyway, into a one-way street. Several residents who live on or near St. Pauls were divided on the need for the street to be one-way.

Irwin Rosen and Brian Ross, who lives on Liberty Avenue, said he supports all efforts to make St. Pauls Avenue safer but are opposed to making the street a one-way.

This plan doesnt take into account the anticipated increase of traffic that will come about as the Hudson County Courthouse fully returns to in-person appearance and the completion of the many new construction projects in the five corners Journal Square neighborhood, Rosen said.

But Sumit Galhotra, who supported the ordinance, said impatient drivers in highway mode race down the street resulting in too many close calls for pedestrians, cyclists and even other drivers.
A man charged with sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Kearny was arrested in a small town in Puerto Rico Wednesday 15 months after the incident, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office said.

Jose Alfredo Garcia, 31, of Kearny, faces sex assault and child endangerment-related charges after authorities say he sexually assaulted the girl on Dec. 20, 2021.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto Rico arrested him Wednesday around 7:50 p.m. in San German, a municipality of roughly 32,000 people in the southwest area of the island, Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

Garcia is being detained in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, pending extradition back to New Jersey.
Two high school students were arrested Thursday after staff members discovered they were in possession of a firearm, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.

Denville Police responded to Morris Knolls High School, where the two juveniles and the weapon had already been secured by school staff, officials said. The resource officer for the school also responded, authorities said.

Both teens were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and related offenses, officials said.
A New Jersey State Police trooper who went missing from a Pennsylvania medical facility on Sunday has been found safe, authorities said Friday.

Jason Dare, 46, of Cumberland County, was found in Pennsylvania, though additional details on the location were not provided, officials said in a social media post on Friday morning.

Dare was last seen walking away from a medical facility building in Media, Pennsylvania shortly before 7 p.m Sunday, and was considered endangered at the time of his disappearance, State Police said.

Dare has been a State Police employee since 2004, according to the state pension database. He is a Vineland resident, according to property records.

Pennsylvania State Police assisted in the search and location of Dare.

Thank you everyone for your support and your invaluable tips, State Police said in a statement.

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Authorities are launching an investigation into the death of a woman who overdosed on suspected fentanyl in a Bergen County mall last week and sounding the alarm on what they describe as a fentanyl crisis.

Two people have been arrested and charged with narcotic-related offenses thus far as part of the investigation, Jason Love, chief of detectives with Bergen County Prosecutors Office, said during a press briefing on Friday.

Garfield Jones, 48, is charged with third-degree possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Robert McCrae, 52, is charged with third-degree possession with the intent to distribute less than a half-ounce of heroin and fourth-degree possession with the intent to distribute drug paraphernalia.

Jones and McCrae, both from Paterson, are being held in the Bergen County Jail pending a first court appearance. As of late Friday, they have not been charged or implicated in the mall overdose death.

Michelle Kerry Edoo, 29, of Bergenfield, was among the five coworkers found unconscious at the Shops at Riverside mall in Hackensack on March 15. The women were found in the lower-level parking garage, police said.

The women were revived using Narcan and CPR, and four of the five were taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to a statement from the Hackensack Police Department. The fifth woman refused transport.

Edoo, the mother of a 9-year-old girl, died three days after she was found in the mall parking garage, according to a GoFundMe page in her name.

More than 125 Bergen County residents died as a result of drug overdoses last year, said Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.

These deaths are due to the fentanyl that is pouring into our communities, killing our friends and killing our family, Musella said.

Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, has surged in overdose cases nationally and surpassed heroin as the leading cause of overdose deaths in New Jersey in 2018, according to state Office of the Medical Examiner data.

In 2019, the most recent year with confirmed overdose death information, New Jersey had 2,248 deaths attributed to fentanyl. Essex County had the most fentanyl deaths that year, with 320, followed by Camden (285), Middlesex (168) and Ocean (143) counties.

You have to assume any drug  whether powder, pill or vegetation  that is bought on the street or that is shared on the street contains fentanyl and it can kill you, Musella said.

When the Bergen County Prosecutors Office first started looking into the effects of overdoses in 2015, all suspected heroin that was sent to the lab contained between 4% to 8% of fentanyl, officials said. In 2023, all suspected heroin sent for testing contained a staggering 98% fentanyl.

The deadly substance has been found in everything from cocaine to Adderall pills sold on the street in Bergen County, the prosecutors office said.

Officials said Friday they would work to identify and prosecute drug dealers, suppliers and traffickers in the fight to curb fentanyl overdoses.

I dont think there has ever been a more dangerous time in our society regarding overdose fatalities, said Love, chief of detectives.

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Wildwood Mayor Pete Byrons legal problems are mounting, as he pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of federal income tax evasion for failing to report $40,425 in salary paid to him by a Gloucester County law firm in 2017 and 2018.

Byron, 67, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court to an information charging him with two counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent tax returns to the IRS for calendar years 2017 and 2018. He faces up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on each charge when he is sentenced on Aug. 2.

Fridays guilty plea is the latest setback for Byron, who, along with two Wildwood politicians was indicted earlier this month on charges of filing false documents to qualify for coverage under the State Health Benefits Program. Byron and his two co-defendants, Wildwood Commissioner Steven E. Mikulski and former Mayor Ernest V. Troiano Jr., have pleaded not guilty in the case.

In choosing to stand trial, Byron rejected the states plea offer of three years behind bars, plus restitution of $608,900 in premiums and claims made on his behalf while he was enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program from 2010 to 2022.

Byron came to U.S. District Court in Camden on Friday accompanied by his attorney from the federal public defenders office, Thomas Young. Byron could not be reached for comment Friday, and his attorney did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Byron admitted that in 2017, while serving as Wildwood commissioner in charge of Revenue and Finance, he sent multiple emails to the managing partner of a Gloucester County law firm seeking help in getting a job. The information that Byron pleaded guilty to does not name the law firm.

Byron received a letter from the law firm in October 2017 offering him a job to work as salesman for the company and setting his salary. From October 2017 through September 2018, Byron received $40,425 in payments from the company, but did not report this income on his tax returns for the calendar years 2017 and 2018, resulting in a tax loss to the IRS, the prosecutor said.

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Not long after chef Eckhard Thalwitz moved to Virginia with his wife and son, his brother Wilfried Thalwitz invited them on a drive to Graves Mountain in Syria. The lush mountain countryside of Madison County reminded them of their beloved native Germany.

After decades of working in large hotels and restaurants from Switzerland to the French Riviera to Morocco, Eckhard Thalwitz was ready for something inviting and special on a more intimate scale: a family-style restaurant.

He saw a shuttered space and started to dream.

It was the 29 Diner sitting on the side of the road, said his son, Jerome Thalwitz. In 1974, The Bavarian Chef opened in that spot along U.S. 29 in Madison. Decades after passing the torch to his son, Eckhard Thalwitz died on March 10, surrounded by his family. The restaurant he dreamed of with the impeccable international cuisine and the welcoming atmosphere continues to thrive.

Thats one of the things my father wanted to do  welcome people to his kitchen, Jerome Thalwitz said. You came in as a stranger and left as a friend. That was the biggest fingerprint of The Bavarian Chef.

The restaurant became a destination not only for diners and for a close-knit staff, but also for a family that shared a love for cooking, traveling and soaking in all the flavors the world had to offer.

I started working with my dad when I was 11 years old, Jerome Thalwitz said. We loved doing anything fresh and local, and we loved to collaborate.

Born in 1937, Eckhard Thalwitz was 14 when he started his culinary career with an apprenticeship at the Ritters Park Hotel in Bad Homburg and the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich, Germany.

Thats where he was able to work with respected chef Alfred Walterspiel. Kitchens around the world followed  in Vevey, Switzerland; Mandelieu-la-Napoule on the French Riviera; and Morocco, where he cooked in Casablanca and Tangiers and worked as King Mohammed Vs private chef.

Travel remained one of Eckhard Thalwitzs passions throughout his life, and his souvenirs often were ideas for dishes to try at home. Jerome Thalwitz said he and his dad sampled a German dish during a trip in the late 1970s and knew they could do it better.

He loved to laugh. He loved sharing a meal, sharing experiences, sharing stories, daughter-in-law Christine Thalwitz said. I enjoyed every story he told. It was captivating. She eventually wrote a book about his experiences.

When Thalwitz decided to retire in 1987, he handed the kitchen over to the son whod started his own career at his fathers side. He left his mark on The Bavarian Chef, and he was so proud for Jerome to continue the tradition, Christine Thalwitz said.

Since taking the helm, Jerome and Christine Thalwitz have maintained the traditions diners loved  the cozy atmosphere, the generous portions, the welcoming staff  and introduced some innovations of their own.

Jerome Thalwitz brought his own formal training and his family cooking heritage to the table, and he enjoys bringing Virginia produce into his offerings. While maintaining a commitment to German specialties, he has added new schnitzels to the menu to appeal to American tastes.

Jerome and Christine Thalwitz opened the Bavarian Chef Fredericksburg in 2010, eventually selling it in 2019. And in 2013, they launched the food truck and catering company in 2013. The food truck often appears at wineries, weddings and outdoor celebrations.

One thing always remained the same: Jerome Thalwitz checked in at the end of the shift to let his proud father know how the evenings meal service went.

Id call my parents every night on the way home. I would tell him every night what we served, and he loved it, Jerome Thalwitz said.

Retirement proved challenging to a man whod had little time to sit still over the years for the chess matches and family dinner table conversations he savored.

Once Eckhard Thalwitz saw a promising location on the side of the road again, before long, he was chef/owner of Eckhards in Topping.

The man was just unstoppable, Jerome Thalwitz said. He saw an abandoned 7Eleven and built a restaurant there.

Another adventure beckoned the man who loved sailing and spending time near the water. He rented a backhoe, his son said, and built his own swimming pool.

One thing wont change at The Bavarian Chef in its founders absence. Jerome Thalwitz calls it applying the parental lens to his own passion, one thats shared by his staff.

With every plate, I ask, Would I serve this to my father, and what would he say? I ask myself every day, he said.

Eckhard Thalwitz is survived by his wife of 61 years, Brunhilde Bruni Thalwitz; son and daughter-in-law Jerome and Christine Thalwitz; grandchildren Alexi, Jared and Katya; sister Gisela Taylor and brother-in-law Dell; sister-in-law Margret Thalwitz and her children, Gunnar Thalwitz and Dora Thalwitz; and her husband, Lucas Butler, and their three children.

Learn more about the family and the restaurant at thebavarianchef.com.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
A local philanthropists dream to see refugee children and other young students in need pursuing musical education and academic success is coming closer to reality.

The inaugural Henry Peskin Benefit Concert is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. Violist Johanna Beaver, flutist Angela Kelly and pianist Shelby Sender will perform in a recital presented by Charlottesville Day School.

Through The Townley Fund at Charlottesville Day School, proceeds from Sundays concert will help provide early learners in financial need, including young members of Charlottesvilles international refugee community, with full tuition, lunches, incidental expenses and possibilities for summer learning experiences. The fund is named for Townley Cole, who has served as a teacher for more than half a century.

Stacey Bruns, head of school at Charlottesville Day School, said Peskin and his wife, Janice, were searching for the right opportunity to help students when the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation suggested some schools whose philosophies aligned with the Peskins mission. Bruns said The Townley Fund will help bring music lessons, school lunches, transportation and other needs within reach for students from different backgrounds, and the fact that many of the students who benefit from the fund come from refugee families lined up with the Peskins goals.

It was just the right fit, Bruns said. They were economists, and they found that the best bang for their buck was funding early childhood education, one child at a time. Its kismet.

Peskin, a respected economist and author, was a longtime board member of the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival.

Kelly, director of music at Charlottesville Day School, remembers Peskin, who died in October, was a connector. He was always trying to connect students at our school with the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival. Its giving some of these kids a chance to study at the highest level at no charge.

Kelly said the musicians kept Peskin in mind while they selected the music for Sundays program. W.A. Mozart piano sonatas were among his favorites, so Sender will perform Allegro moderato from Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 330.

We picked an eclectic program, because he liked all kinds of music, Kelly said.

Beaver will perform Capriccio, Op. 55 for solo viola by Henry Vieutemps, and Kelly and Sender will team up for Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla. Beaver, Kelly and Sender will present two trio works as well  Prelude, Recitatif et Variations for flute, viola and piano by Maurice Durufle and Concertino for flute, viola and piano by Ernest Bloch.

Beaver said serendipity brightened the effort, as the right pieces for the recital program seemed to appear at the right time.

We were listening for something we could do together as a trio. We learned [the works] specifically for this recital, Beaver said. I love Bloch, and he loved the viola  a lot. Durufle wrote a lot for the flute, so these composers were on our radar.

Beaver said Charlottesville Day School is a good place for the scholarship winners to pursue comprehensive educations.

Charlottesville Day School is all-around, with academics and arts, she said, adding that the school offers lots of time outdoors to play and just be kids.

Its not a typical school. They really emphasize time outside and physical exercise and music more than a lot of schools do. Its a warm environment with lots of caring people.

Kelly said she hopes audience members will be part of an event with a future.

We actually would love for it to become an annual event, Kelly said. Wed love to keep this going in his honor. This man should be celebrated forever.

Tickets are $10; students get in for $5. Proceeds will benefit The Townley Fund. Get tickets online at https://cds.regfox.com/henry-peskin-benefit-concert, or at the door.
The New Orleans City Council Thursday gave final approval to new limits on short-term rentals in residential areas. But the council also carved out an exception that would allow them to approve additional STRs on a case-by-case basis.

At the heart of the new rules is that the city will, starting July 1, limit STRs to one per square block, meaning one per four sides of a city block. A lottery system would determine at random which applicant in a square block would receive a permit.

Council Member Lesli Harris pulled her amendment that would have used a first-come, first-served system rather than a lottery system.

While the Council stuck to much of the plan theyd discussed in meetings earlier this month, they also passed a change that could mean triple the number of STRs on some square blocks when compared to the Councils original plan.

They approved Council Member Freddie Kings proposal which could allow up to two additional STRs on a block face  for a total of up to three  with the councils green light.

Before applying, an STR owner or operator would need to notify neighbors within 100 feet of their property lines and hold a neighborhood meeting. Then, the City Planning Commission would make recommendations regarding the property and the Council would have 60 days to make a decision on those recommendations.

King said his amendment was a compromise that could help property owners that were renting out single rooms short-term, but housing advocates pointed out that those getting the additional STR permits could just as easily be renting out larger STRs, like half a duplex for instance.

I look at this as an opportunity to allow the good actors to own a partial short-term rental while giving the community, the neighbors the ability to be at the decision-making table, King said.

Council Members Eugene Green and Oliver Thomas were the only council members to vote against the amendment.

Green said most of the people in his District D, which includes Gentilly, the 7th Ward, the Florida-Desire area, the Downman Road corridor and other neighborhoods, are opposed to STRs.

I see the signs saying, 'My STR is my retirement,' but for the people that I've spoken to, their homes in their neighborhoods are their retirement, he said. And they are very, very concerned with any change that could take place in their investments.

The Council had to rewrite its STR rules this month after a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals last August struck down a key part of the short-term rental rules the city passed in 2019. It required property owners in residential areas to live full-time on a lot in order to operate an STR.

The new rules would allow an operator to live on site at an STR instead of an owner and would require that operator to resolve any issues in an hour. If they didnt meet that deadline, they could receive a quality-of-life violation. After three quality-of-life violations, or a single more serious violation, the city would be able to take away an STR permit, and the STR operator wouldnt be able to apply for a new one for four years.

Of course, whether the city will actually enforce the new rules remains to be seen. There are thousands of illegal STRs in the city, and though enforcement has increased in the last year, Chief Zoning Official Ashley Becnel said earlier this month that the city doesnt have enough hearing officers to make judgments on potential violations, creating a backlog in cases.

The new rules also require a public dashboard of STRs with a propertys history of violations and updated owner contact information. Council Vice President Helena Moreno said that STR platforms like Airbnb and VRBO will need to turn over data to the city for the dashboard, though she noted they have not been willing to do so in the past.

Council President JP Morrell called STR platforms the villain of the story and said they should be helping the city enforce regulations and delist illegal STRs.

They have a responsibility and a duty to help us police short term rentals because no matter how well staffed our office is, if you cannot list your short term rental on Airbnb, VRBO or HomeAway, you can't make money off it, he said.

Citing lawsuits against STR regulations, Morrell accused the industry of naked greed. He added if the new rules dont work successfully then the Council should ban STRs altogether, which many in the city have been calling for all along.

At the end of the day, if we cannot regulate this industry because it chooses not to be regulated, then we need to send the industry packing, he said.
Demolition on a derelict Gert Town carwash was halted Wednesday after the owner's attorney showed up at the site and slapped the city with a lawsuit and a temporary restraining order alleging his client's rights to due process were violated.

Owner Lenny Motwani of LKM Enterprises LLC found out about the demolition hours before it was scheduled to begin, according to the petition for injunctive relief filed Thursday in Civil District Court.

He said he was never informed of a hearing declaring the abandoned Paradise Carwash at 8020 Olive St.the site of a January homicide that remains unsolveda blight or public nuisance. Municipal code mandates the city serve notice of violations before demolishing private property.

Though officials on Wednesday said Mayor LaToya Cantrell approved the emergency demolition after a monthlong vetting process, LKM's attorney Steven Hannan wrote in the petition that he learned of its imminent destruction from another LKM tenant.

Hannan went to the abandoned carwash at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, where city officials, top NOPD brass and members of the mayor's newly minted Violent Crime Reduction Task Force were planning to assemble for a 2 p.m. press conference to trumpet the demolition as a step toward tamping down blight and crime. Debris removal had commenced, but the structure hadn't been demolished when Hannan arrived and halted the machinery.

"I met with employees of Durr Construction LLC, and explained to them the lack of notice given to LKM," Hannan wrote in court documents.
Albemarle County officials have released new details regarding the assistant principal who has been charged with letting a drunk student drive home.

Former Western Albemarle High School Assistant Principal Harold Hackney is no longer with the county school division and could face jail time after he allegedly allowed a student who had been drinking off campus with classmates drive home earlier this month.

Hackney, 50, faces two counts of causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc., according to the Albemarle County Police Department.

Each count is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries with it a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail and possibly a fine of up to $2,500.

The student who allegedly drove under the influence will not be charged, police have said.

ACPD has no intentions of charging the students, county police spokeswoman Abbey Stumpf told The Daily Progress via text on Wednesday.

The students, however, certainly are subject to disciplinary procedures from the school, county schools spokesman Phil Giaramita told The Daily Progress on Thursday.

Giarimita said that the students in the incident were off campus for some period of time the day of March 6.

Upon returning to campus around lunchtime, he said, the students were sent to Hackneys office because they appeared under the influence.

It was there that the police say Hackney told one of the students to drive the others home.

A county schools employee reported Hackney to the Albemarle County Police Department that day.

And the schools principal, Jennifer Sublette, learned of Hackneys actions herself later that day, according to authorities.

Sublette asked Hackney to contact the students parents and ensure they made it home safely and notified the school divisions human resources department, police said. She also reached out to the students families herself.

Once I learned of this incident and its initial handling, we called the families involved to ensure the well-being of the students. We then followed normal behavior management protocols, Sublette said in a letter sent to parents on Wednesday evening.

Hackney turned himself into police and was placed on administrative leave on March 7, according to authorities.

Giaramita said the decision to place Hackney on leaves was immediately when we became aware of the incident.

Hackney is no longer with the school division.

Typically, Giaramita said, a school administrator would contact a students family if they were drunk or otherwise under the influence at school. Then the students parents would pick them up or the school would make other arrangements to get them home.
New Orleans police officers were all hands on deck this year to ensure Mardi Gras parades rolled on their traditional routes. And Carnivals return to its full glory could not have happened without a big assist from the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, which not only provided up to 140 deputies for security at parades, but helped recruit more than 200 officers from outside police agencies.

But that help from the sheriffs office included some unexpected costs to taxpayers.
Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, March 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China has pulled through the COVID-19 epidemic and people's lives have returned to normal, but several U.S. media outlets and politicians have renewed their old rhetoric to distort the narrative on the country's anti-epidemic policy change. According to their latest accounts, China's COVID-19 policy change was ill-prepared, while a "lab leak" in China may be the origin of the coronavirus. Rather farcically, the United States is attempting to hold China accountable for U.S.'s own failures. How inconsistent with the truth! All this unified narration on China's anti-epidemic battle disregards the facts and calls white black. Such reports are utterly untenable and irresponsible. These stories fail to observe China in a global context. The truth is self-evident if we look at what has happened in the United States and China. Since 2020, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths has exceeded 1.1 million in the United States, with a population of about 333 million. In contrast, the figure is about 88,000 on the Chinese mainland, which has a population of 1.41 billion, according to calculations based on official data. Pedestrians walk in front of a Times Square news ticker in New York, the United States, on May 12, 2022. The United States reached a milestone on May 12, 2022 as its novel coronavirus death toll crossed 1 million, according to a statement by the White House. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) If the U.S. media and politicians really care about people's lives, they would do better to figure out why the United States -- the most developed nation in the world -- failed catastrophically in handling the epidemic. They should also ask what lessons can be learned. China has dynamically adjusted its COVID-19 control policy in line with the epidemic situation. On Dec. 7, it announced 10 new measures to further optimize its COVID-19 response, easing restrictions on travel and reducing mass nucleic acid testing. The adjustment was based precisely on its scientific assessment of the epidemic situation, prudent planning, as well as a timely response to the yearnings of the people. The country realized a smooth transition to the new epidemic prevention phase, and achieved a major decisive victory against the virus. The U.S. media distortion of China's virus fight as "costing lives" is in conflict with truth and history. The slanderous reports mislead the world and discredit the media outlets themselves. China's COVID-19 policy has saved countless lives, whereas that of the United States has cost lives. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to science to promote the "lab leak" theory time and again without any evidence at all. Such hype is entirely politically motivated. Those American politicians who are proud of "lying, cheating and stealing" are just seeking to shift attention from their chaotic and incompetent response. The United States is in no position to judge China's COVID-19 response policy and performance. It is the Chinese people who have lived through the epidemic that should make judgments on the matter. With lies and bias, American politicians are accustomed to blaming and scapegoating others for their own poor management, but this simply tells the world they are on the wrong side of history with injustice and immorality.
The archaeologists working the former yard of the Swan Tavern, an 18th century watering hole by Court Square that has long since been demolished, were worried that a 20th-century parking lot might have erased history.

Instead, they have now removed somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 pieces of ceramics, according to Nick Bon-Harper, the senior archaeologist working the site.

The amount of material coming out here is just remarkable, Bon-Harper told The Daily Progress.

Bon-Harper exalted not just over the hundreds of beads, pins, and ceramics but also several smoking pipes found on the site, one of them made of soapstone and bearing a head that seemed to mix the features of man and beast.

Additional findings include scores of animal bones, possibly scraps from food service at a dwelling or from the tavern itself. Such a waste pile is called a midden, and it can reveal much about the lives of those whose discards are found.

This midden may be residential or may have belonged to the Swan Tavern, one of the first structures in downtown Charlottesville, constructed around 1773. Its a place where legislators met during the American Revolution, and some of the staff may have been enslaved.

The tavern was built along Three Notchd Road by John Jouett Sr. He was the father John Jack Jouett Jr., who famously spied British cavalry marching to Charlottesville during the Revolutionary War and made a nighttime equestrian dash on a brambly shortcut from another tavern in Louisa. His action is credited with saving Virginias leadership, including then-Gov. Thomas Jefferson, from British capture.

With so much history in the balance, Bon-Harper wants more time to excavate. He said that he hasnt yet received any official promise to delay the construction of a mammoth new building to house the general district courts of both Albemarle County and Charlottesville. However, a reporters requests for price information from the lead developer, the county, continue to get deferred due to contractor price negotiations, according to county spokesperson Abbey Stumpf.

The delays coincide with the fact that the county has yet to submit paperwork for demolition and building permits.

Thats allowed Bens crew to keep digging, at least through next week, the citys preservation planner, Jeff Werner, said in an email to the Progress.

The projected total cost of the new courts building is about $35.9 million, according to Stumpf. She cautioned that the amount may adjust due to the ongoing negotiations with the contractor, Grunley Construction.

Earlier this week, as archaeologists with Rivanna Archaeology Susan Palazzo and Craig Kelley scraped at the dirt in one pit near High Street, Kelley was beaming.

These are the biggest pieces Ive ever found, he said, and Ive been doing this fifteen years.
Orange County authorities say they intend to press charges after what is believed to have been a small, controlled burn escalated into a brush fire that swept through 7 acres and took more than seven hours for firefighters to control on Wednesday.

The fire spread in the area around Willistown Lane west of the town of Orange, according to Orange Countys fire department.

Residences were evacuated, the railroad was shut down and multiple fire and emergency medical services teams were dispatched to the area.

No injuries were reported.

Orange County Fire Chief Nathan Mort did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress on Thursday.

In a Facebook post, Orange County Fire & EMS said the flames required the assistance of several of the regions firefighting and EMS teams, including Louisa, Madison, Culpeper and Orange as well as the volunteer fire companies from Orange, Gordonsville, Barboursville, Mine Run and Lake of the Woods.

Orange County Fire & EMS also said in its post that the fire was a good reminder that a burn ban is in effect in Orange County.

Do NOT burn until after 4pm, the post reads.

The 4:00 p.m. Burn Law is a ban (or restriction) on open air burning before four (4) oclock in the afternoon if your fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass which can carry the fire to the woods, according to the Orange County website. You are allowed to burn between 4:00 p.m and midnight as long as you take proper care and precaution and attend your fire at all times.

The burning of garbage, refuse, trash, rubbish and other forms of liquid or solid waste is prohibited at all times in Orange County.

All citizens are requested to notify the Orange County Emergency Communications Center at (540) 672-1234 prior to conducting an open burn. For more information about burning, please visit the Virginia Department of Forestrys website.
The Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission will help fund five projects to further Charlottesvilles connections with international cities.

Its part of the 2023 Sister City Grants Program, which supports projects aiming to promote cultural connection and understanding among [Charlottesvilles] Sister and Friendship Cities, according to the commissions website. Each project will receive $4,000.

Charlottesvilles current sister cities are Besancon, France; Poggio a Caiano, Italy; and Winneba, Ghana. Huehuetenango, Guatemala, is also listed as a Friendship City, according to the commissions website.

According to a city statement, the winning projects are the following:

Les Amities Musicales: Building Ties with the Besancon Music Community is a project by Daniel and Shelby Sender. They plan to attend a multiday arts residency at the Lycee Pasteur, the local high school in Besancon, and perform a concert featuring music by Besancon-born composers and African American composer Florence Price. They also plan to hold a pre-trip concert in Charlottesville.

Mapping & Art: Teaching the Geography of the Sister Cities to Children is a project by Alexandria Searls on behalf of the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center. She plans to design and hold a series of educational workshops for local children to teach about Charlottesvilles sister and friendship cities through creative mapmaking. The resulting curriculum will be made available to Charlottesville and Albemarle County public schools.

MisMatch Around the World is a project by Darnell Walker. He plans to make a collection of short videos aimed at kids featuring a friendly character MisMatch who takes a learning trip to Poggio a Caiano. The videos will be available on YouTube and offer a glimpse at the people, places and daily life in Poggio.

Sister Revolutions is a planned project by Benjamin Bernard. He plans to create a history-oriented public media podcast about how Charlottesville and Besancon were involved in respective 18th-century revolutions. The podcast will include content from both cities and will have parts accessible in French as well as English.

A Tale of Two Cities: Exploring Huehuetenango is a project by Elias Alonzo on behalf of the Ixtatan Foundation. He plans to create six 30-minute podcast episodes featuring residents of Charlottesville and Huehuetenago who are connected in various ways, such as economics, education, government and art.
A University of Virginia first-year student has been awarded a social justice leadership scholarship to travel across the Atlantic.

Gregory Perryman was selected as one of 12 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows last week.

The award is co-sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange and Irelands government, and it honors the 1845 meeting between 27-year-old abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Irish reformer Daniel OConnell.

A public policy and environmental science major, Perryman developed an award-winning carbon neutrality plan in UVas Entrepreneurial Cup, according to a CIEE statement.

As part of the fellowship, hell travel with 11 other selected students of color to study social justice leadership in Dublin, Ireland; Cape Town, South Africa; and Washington, D.C.

The future leaders on this program will return home from their time abroad with an enhanced global perspective on advancing social justice and better prepared to be agents of change in their communities and in our world, said CIEE President and CEO James Pellow in a statement.
Alverno Laboratories has signed an expanded deal with Ibex Medical Analytics to deploy artificial intelligence-powered cancer diagnostics to hospitals across Indiana and Illinois.

The Hammond-based company operates 31 hospital laboratories and does laboratory resting for 2,500 doctors' offices, urgent care clinics and research groups. Alverno will become the "first to offer this AI-supported cancer diagnosis in the Midwest region of the United States."

It will roll out Tel Aviv, Israel-based Ibex's Galen suite across its network. It says the deal will mean better cancer care for as many as 8 million patients a year in the two states.

Alverno will be one of the first laboratories in the United States to digitalize its pathology services. It will build on earlier investments in digitalization and take advantage of the Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution's high-throughput capabilities.

"Alverno will expand the reach of Ibex's AI technology across our network, providing the most innovative tools to our team of pathologists. With an increasing demand for high-quality cancer testing, Alverno continues to invest in technology to support our growth while remaining focused on high-quality patient care," said Sam Terese, CEO and president of Alverno Laboratories. "Our partnership with Ibex enables Alverno to offer a new level of care to the physicians who treat their patients in our communities, and that is aligned with our mission to continually improve the delivery of quality diagnostic data and laboratory service to our partners and caregivers."

The new technology will be used when pathologist reviews breast, prostate and gastric biopsies. Ibex's Galen suite will help the labs with case prioritization, cancer detection and reporting.

The implementation of artificial intelligence is expected to enhance productivity, optimize workflows, reduce operational costs and improve service.

"We look forward to our continued collaboration with Alverno, providing its team of expert pathologists with the most advanced AI-powered solutions and supporting diverse patient communities across rural, suburban and large-metro populations," said Justin McCarthy, head of U.S. sales at Ibex Medical Analytics. "With over 100,000 new cancer cases expected in the Midwest region in 20236, Ibex is committed to advancing the implementation of AI in pathology to support the growing demand for quality diagnostics."
The National Institutes of Health provided $369 million in funding to Indiana last year, according to a report published by the advocacy coalition United for Medical Research.

NIH awarded 789 grants to Indiana institutions, including Indiana University, Purdue University, IUPUI and Butler University, according to UMR, which is made up of research institutions, private industry and health-related groups that advocate for higher NIH funding.

It's estimated the funding had an economic impact of $1.02 million, supporting 6,594 jobs.

The NIH sits at the center of the biomedical innovation ecosystem in the U.S., fueling innovation that keeps us healthy and globally competitive, said UMR President Chris Austin. NIH research funding also has an immediate impact on our local and national economies by supporting jobs and economic activity. Every dollar invested in the NIH has an exponential effect.

About 80% of the budget goes to grants that fund medical research. Last year, the National Institute of Health supplied $36.68 billion to researchers across the country.

It estimates it supported 568,585 jobs and generated $96.84 billion in economic activity nationwide last year, according to the UMR report. That's an estimated $2.64 of economic activity for every $1 of research funding.

Medical research is about saving and improving lives, and when you couple that with the proven economic return on investment of NIH research funding to every U.S. state, strong funding for the National Institutes of Health should be a top priority for every member of Congress, Austin said. We look forward to working with the 118th Congress to ensure that funding for medical research remains a top priority.

A $38 million grant went to the statewide Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. It will help fund the research enterprise for the next seven years.

The institute is a collaboration between Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and the Regenstrief Institute. It's produced more than 4,100 scientific papers since 2008, including on mobile stress interventions to breast cancer, microrobot devices that remove brain hemorrhages from strokes, a drug delivery system to restore damaged stem cells and a mobile app to monitor premature babies.

As one of the nation's premier research universities, IU has world-class researchers who drive innovation, IU President Pamela Whitten said. The Indiana CTSI collaboration will continue to play a pivotal role in transforming and growing our statewide research ecosystem.

The initiative hopes to innovate, put evidence into practice and advance health equity over the next seven years. It also wants to harmonize health system data via informatics.

The Indiana CTSI has helped Purdue biomedical engineers test new devices and make bold advancements in clinical and translational research to bring these technologies to patients, Purdue University President Mung Chiang said. We look forward to many more years of collaboration with our colleagues at the Indiana CTSI, Indiana University and Notre Dame. And Purdue University is committed to expanding the scale and impact of our biomedical and health care discoveries.

It's pursuing projects like All IN for Health, which will encourage the public to take part in research to improve health in the state.

Through the Indiana CTSI, Notre Dame is able to bring many of its research strengths  fighting rare diseases, promoting global health, preventing lead poisoning and more  to the service of healthcare systems and community health partners throughout our state," said Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins. We are grateful for the NIHs continued support of the Indiana CTSI, which enables Notre Dame faculty members to identify shared research interests and opportunities for collaborative projects with fellow researchers at Purdue and Indiana University.

It also will look to help the Indiana Biobank procure specimens and develop a recruitment concierge service to help get more diverse participants in medical studies.

We are committed to the Indiana CTSI and working together to build upon our institutional strengths, leverage our respective unique capabilities, and collaborate to accelerate discoveries relating to health and wellness, said Rachel Patzer, the incoming president and CEO of the Regenstrief Institute. As a society, we invest in health care research with an expectation of the benefits we gain from it. I believe by harnessing the existing strengths of the CTSI and its partners we can improve not only health care, but ultimately the health of patients and populations.
The Schererville Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to break out the Aqua Net and leg warmers for its Back to the 80s trivia party next month.

The event is open to the public. Proceeds benefit the chamber. The party is co-hosted by St. John Township Trustee Cathy Lareau. It will feature dinner, dancing, music, raffles, a 50/50 raffle and a game of trivia that "takes it way back to the 1980s." There will be prizes for best 1980s table decor and best costume. Attendees can dress up in period clothes if they like but costumes are not required to attend.
Stephen Imholt had to laugh when asked how he's going to spend the little money he's been able to raise in an uphill campaign as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic state Senate district.

Imholt, who faces Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, in a special election on Tuesday in the 9th Senate District, had raised $580 through the campaign finance reporting deadline on Thursday. He said on Tuesday that he's now up to about $900 for the race against Bagby, who has raised about $212,000.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to spend it," Imholt said, noting that there wasn't enough time even to order yard signs for his campaign.

"To be perfectly honest with you, I don't know how that signs are going to make a difference."

Imholt's finance report listed no expenses. Bagby has spent nearly $201,000, much of it on ads and political consulting.

Imholt, a retired IT specialist who lives in Richmond, still has his sense of humor, but remains serious in his purpose in taking on Bagby, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, in the special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by the election last month of Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, to Congress.

"There needs to be an option," he said. "If there's not an option, the election is kind of a farce."

McClellan was sworn in this month as the successor to the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th. His death on Nov. 28 set off a chain reaction special elections and party-run primaries. If Bagby wins, another special election would be required to fill his seat as representative of the 74th House District in the House of Delegates.

"There's been a lot of special elections," Bagby said, noting his campaign focus on alerting voters to next week's election. "I wouldn't say they're at the point where they're fatigued, but they're a little nervous about missing opportunities to vote."

Tuesday's election is to complete the rest of McClellan's term in the current district, but the district's boundaries will soon shift.

The election outlook is further confused by political redistricting, which will take part of the 9th District, anchored in Henrico County, to create the 14th Senate District, centered in Richmond.

Bagby already knows he will face at least one opponent for the Democratic nomination in the new district - Richmond minister Katie Gooch - in a party primary on June 20. Two Democrats he defeated last month - Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, and party activist Alexsis Rodgers - haven't said whether they intend to run for the seat in the new Senate district.

"We're making sure [voters] know which district they're in," he said.

Imholt has no illusions about what he's up against in the special election next week. A resident of Brookland Park near Community High School on Richmond's North Side, he ran as an independent against McClellan in 2015 in the 71st House District, which she represented until her election to the Senate the next year. McClellan won that election with 88% of the vote, and Republicans didn't run a candidate against her in the last 9th District Senate election in 2019.

"I do know how it's going to go," he said.

But Imholt said too much is at stake, especially for students in public schools, not to offer voters a choice in the special election. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need to address learning loss for students whose education often was reduced to at-home instruction by Zoom.

"Let's not kid ourselves: kids lost ground from where they should be," he said.

Education also is the top issue for Bagby, a former teacher who also served on the Henrico County School Board.

However, he said, "We can't just focus on education. We've got to look at housing and wrap-around [health and human] services. Mental health is big on people's minds right now."

Bagby, in his eighth year in the House, has plenty of money for the special election campaign. His campaign committee, Friends of Lamont Bagby, gave his Senate campaign $143,292. He also received help from Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, who gave him $30,000, and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, who donated $1,500.

A member of the House Commerce and Energy Committee, Bagby also received donations from executives and lobbyists at Dominion Energy, the state's largest public utility, including $2,500 from CEO Bob Blue.

In contrast, Imholt reported one $500 donation from Karen von Dresner de Rothschild, a Virginia Beach psychologist and Republican activist. He said his wife gave him $50 for the campaign, not including gas money.

"You have to have a sense of humor," he said.
HAMMOND  A former bank employee is going to prison for embezzling money from the customers she was supposed to help.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio imposed a sentence Wednesday of 12 months and one day on Oneida Herrera, 24, of Crown Point.

Herrera pleaded guilty Nov. 18 to a felony count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

She and her co-defendant, Wendell Burts, 25, of Crete, stole more than $190,000 from small firms doing business with First Merchants Bank in Lake County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Abizer Zanzi states in court papers that three years ago, Burts recruited Herrera, a teller at the bank, to gain access to customer account and customer identification data, plus recent account transaction details.

The prosecution said the two targeted small businesses not enrolled in online banking because they wouldnt receive immediate notification of suspicious transactions.

Burts then called the customer service department and fooled some into enrolling accounts in online banking but changed the contact information so that Burts could manipulate transactions.

He used the businesses owners Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, drivers license numbers and other data to verify that he was the account holder, then diverted money from the accounts to other out-of-state co-conspirators, who sent the money back to him as cash.

Burts and Herrera attempted to steal more than $480,000 from 11 accounts between November 2020 and June 2021 but only succeeded in stealing $190,178 from two accounts before they were discovered and shut down.

The government arrested the pair last year on a conspiracy charge that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment.

Burts pleaded guilty Oct. 6 to the same conspiracy charge. He is serving a 27-month prison term.

Herrera led a double life interacting with bank customers and assisting with their banking needs while at the same time scheming to rob them behind their backs, Zanzi said in a memo to the court.

Defense attorney Kevin Milner argued in his memo to the court: None of this would have ever happened without Wendell Burts approaching her with his scheme. She was naive and is easily persuaded.
CROWN POINT  A former suburban Chicago police officer was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday on for sexually abusing a family member for more than a decade.

Harry Nicholson IV, 49, was originally charged with rape, sexual battery and a slew of other sexual misconduct charges. He entered a deal in February which stipulated that he would plead guilty to sexual misconduct in exchange for a shorter sentence.

Court documents show that Nicholson, a Lowell resident, was arrested in March 2021 after his relative's school learned that she was being sexually abused. The victim said the abuse started when she was 4-years-old and continued until she reported it to her school when she was 18.

Charging documents show that she estimated the abuse happened around 1,500 times, but she said in court that number was likely higher.

The victim said she didnt report it sooner because she didnt want to upset her family, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Nicholson was a police officer in Park Forest, Illinois, and was fired over sexual misconduct with a minor, court records stated.

Police officers in our society are supposed to be individuals for people to look up to and trust, Judge Samuel Cappas said. So, you, as a police officer, violated the law you are entrusted to uphold multiple times.

The victim testified in court Friday that although the abuse has ended, she will have to live with its consequences forever. She said shes since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

I wish I could tell you who I wouldve been if this hadnt happened for 14 years of my life, she said.

Defense attorney Derrick Julkes said that Nicholson was pleading guilty to the appropriate charges and the rape charge wasnt applicable because there was no threat or force.

Prosecutor Infinity Westberg said that wasnt the case, and that Nicholson often told the victim that the "boogey man" would come after her if she didnt comply.

Court records show that as she got older, he would pay her between $50 and $100 each time he raped her.

Julkes maintained that Nicholson didnt force her.

He did, Cappas said to Julkes and the defendant during sentencing. Youre the 'boogey man.'

The victim told The Times after Nicholson was sentenced that she was relieved when he entered the plea deal because she didnt want to have to relive her trauma in trial, especially with the pressure for jurors to reach a unanimous verdict.

She said she felt (expletive) fantastic about his sentence.

I hope he dies, she added.
Interstate 80/94 crash Four right lanes were blocked Tuesday night on Interstate 80/94 because of a serious crash, INDOT reported.

GARY  The man who died in a crash Tuesday on Interstate 80/94 has been identified by the Lake County coroner's office as Quintin Mayo of Mill Creek.

Mayo, 22, was declared dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

Mayo was heading east on I-80/94 while riding on a motorcycle and passing other vehicles along the skip lines, which divide traffic lanes. He made contact with the rear of a semi while traveling at a high speed, Indiana State Police said Wednesday.

He lost control of the motorcycle and crashed, state police said. The bike caught on fire. Good Samaritans stopped to render aid and perform CPR.

Police were dispatched to the scene around 7:10 p.m. The four right-most lanes were closed for three or four hours to allow for cleanup, the Indiana Department of Transportation reported.

Police warned of the dangers of using the skip line to pass vehicles: "While legal in other states, the Indiana State Police would like to remind motorcyclists that in Indiana, it is not permissible for a motorcycle to pass other vehicles while riding the skip lines. It is not only illegal, but it is extremely dangerous."
MERRILLVILLE  There's a new billboard on a lawn south of the corner of 61st and Broadway.

Eight faces smile, pout and smirk from the sign. Some are women, some are men. Each had years of life left to live that were ripped from them too soon.

"Never say, 'Not my child'," the sign says. "The #1 cause of death for ages 18-45."

"Fentanyl poisoning," in bold, purple letters, stares at drivers motoring past.

When Patty Stovall sees the billboard, she feels an air of pride permeated by an air of polluted sadness. Her daughter Sarah's face has been on each of the billboards she's posted throughout the Region this year, a constant reminder of what she has lost and what she continues to fight for.

"I hope by putting out these billboards with these children allows for other families to come out and say 'Me too'," the Griffith resident said. "I think thats important.

Faces of fentanyl

Behind each youthful countenance on the billboard are a cluster of Northwest Indiana residents who died from fentanyl poisonings, part of the thousands of Hoosiers who have lost their lives to the drug. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has been the driving force behind an enormous increase in drug overdose deaths in the United States throughout the past decade.

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It can be used in medical settings to treat severe chronic pain or severe pain after a major surgery. However, illicit fentanyl manufactured in foreign countries and smuggled into the U.S. often gets sold on the illegal drug market. A lack of oversight when manufacturing the substance combined with the drug's potency means the doses are often laced with other street drugs and can be lethal.

One of those doses ended Sarah Stovall's life on Oct. 21, 2021. She had ingested a drug laced with illicit fentanyl. Toxicology reports showed that Sarah had 10 milligrams of fentanyl in her system, five times what the Drug Enforcement Administration considers a potentially lethal dose.

"Sarah did not take this on purpose," Patty said. "She did not want to die. She was poisoned."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 Americans died of drug poisoning in 2021, with 66% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids.

Patty Stovall began a nonprofit called Sounds of Sarah in October 2022 to honor her daughter's life and the lives of those who have died from drug overdoses. The organization provides education on the dangers of opioid use and illicit fentanyl, and offers harm-reduction services throughout Lake County.

While deep in her early stages of grief, Patty attended a bereaved parents conference in St. Louis in an effort to direct her feelings toward a source of connection. At the conference she met Justin Phillips, mother of Aaron Sims, a Hoosier who died from a drug overdose in 2013.

Phillips used her experiences to advocate for harm-reduction services and public policy, which resulted in the creation of Aaron's Law in 2015; it allows anyone in the state to obtain a prescription for naloxone, known as Narcan. Naloxone is a drug designed to reverse an opioid overdose. Only first responders used to be allowed to carry naloxone. Phillips also started Overdose Lifeline, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit focused on helping communities affected by addiction.

Inspired by her connection with Phillips, Patty started connecting with other parents who had lost children to fatal drug overdoses. She and a few other mothers went to Washington in September, when Sarahs face appeared on a wall of photos as part of "The Faces of Fentanyl" exhibit in the DEA museum. The exhibit debuted Aug. 21 in honor of Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day.

Sarah was one of first 400 pictures in the museum, Patty said. Now there are more than 5,000.

'Only takes one pill'

Patty returned from the trip and decided to start Sounds of Sarah the month after. It became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in November. The purpose, she said, is to raise awareness, provide resources and reduce the stigma surrounding substance abuse.

"If there is not a streamlined way of getting people access to the right addiction resources at the right time, it leaves room for them to fall," Patty said. "Some people dont know where to turn, and if they dont know where to turn, they just turn right back."

Reducing the stigma includes reaching out to families of those who have died from a drug overdose, Patty said.

Other families might feel ashamed. They dont want people to know because they might be labeled or judged.

The idea for the billboards stemmed from the exhibit in the DEA museum. The first billboard was up in Lake County through January, and the second was displayed through February. The third billboard went up Monday and will remain until April 17. A fourth will be displayed starting Friday.

"More people have reached out with their stories and photos of their children," Patty said. "The movement is growing in Lake County."

The group provides detailed programming on risks of prescription drug misuse, recognizing opioid addiction, overdose symptoms and how to use naloxone. Sounds of Sarah began distributing free naloxone to the community in November. The organization is registered with the Indiana Department of Health as a certified provider for the community.

Patty and other advocates have emphasized the importance of carrying naloxone, regardless of whether you have or you know someone with a substance abuse disorder. An overdose could happen in public or behind closed doors if someone takes a recreational drug unknowingly laced with illicit fentanyl.

"It only takes one pill. People do not have to have a drug problem," Patty said. "A young person could go out and get what they think is an Adderall, Xanax or a Percocet from somebody. And that is what's happening."

Country in crisis

The Lake County coroner's office recorded a 35% increase in fatal overdoses from 2019 to 2021, rising from 191 to 258. About 80% of those deaths involved fentanyl. In Porter County, numbers rose from 21 in 2019 to 37 in 2021.

Both counties recorded lower numbers in 2022. Lake reported 196 overdoses and Porter reported 31 recorded overdoses. Lake has the second-largest number of overdose deaths in Indiana, which is partly because of its large population: 498,558 as of July 1, 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Despite the decrease in numbers, the prevalence of overdoses hasn't disappeared, and the national climate has shown that fentanyl is becoming deadlier. At the beginning of March, three people died from drug overdoses in Goodland, a town of 1,000 in Newton County. Coroner Scott McCord said there were three fatal overdoses recorded last year in the entire county.

Just the three weve had in a weeks period of time, it doesnt sound like much for a big city," McCord said. "But for a town of 1,000 people, its beyond epidemic."

Toxicology reports for each of the three showed a mix of drugs in their system. Fentanyl was detected in all of them, and McCord said at least two tested positive for xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer recently linked to a number of drug deaths in the United States.

The DEA issued a rare public service announcement Monday about the dangers of illicit fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Administrator Anne Milgram said xylazine and fentanyl mixtures have been seized in 48 states. Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. It is only regulated for veterinary use in the U.S.

Xylazine is not an opioid, meaning naloxone will not reverse an overdose.

"It started on the East Coast," McCord said. "And now it's been brought to the Midwest."

Indiana politicians are pushing legislation centered on fentanyl and xylazine. House Bill 1286 would require coroners to test for xylazine in any opioid-suspected deaths. The bill is set for final approval Monday in the Senate.

Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, sponsored Senate Bill 379, which will heighten penalties for people who are caught selling or in possession of substances that contain fentanyl.

Were always looking to strengthen our laws and create good policy that will improve qualities of life and create safeguards to improve our communities," Andrade said. "Fentanyl has been the leading drug right now, and we didnt have such a strong law around it."

The measures stipulate longer sentences for possession of smaller amounts of the drug, Andrade said. The Senate version will head to Gov. Eric Holcomb's desk in the coming weeks. Andrade is hopeful that the governor will sign it.

This is something we need to continue to bring awareness to in our communities," he said. "This is a crisis.

Sarah's story

Sarah Elaine Stovall was born April 18, 1988. She was passionate, headstrong and caring as a child, teenager and adult, her mother said. When she was a little girl, her grandfather jokingly called her "Sarah the Terror," causing welcome and unwelcome chaos. She was obsessed with "The Little Mermaid" and had all sorts of toys related to the film. Sarah loved all animals and would bring home every pet she found.

She was a handful," Patty said, smiling. "She wanted to do things her way.

Sarah began taking medication for depression and chronic back pain when she was in high school. She experimented with other substances and fell in with people who were engaging in similar behaviors. After high school, it turned into substance abuse.

Sarah got pregnant when she was 21, which Patty said inspired her to get clean. She had a second baby two years later. For the four years, she didn't smoke, drink or take drugs. Her kids were her anchor.

However, she began using drugs again in her later 20s, finding her way back into the abyss of substance use. If Patty suggested that Sarah seek help for her substance abuse, Sarah fought, telling Patty to mind her own business.

"She always wanted to have the last word. She would fight me to no end. I felt like the bad guy because I could see it in her."

Sarah was in and out of rehab during her last three years of life. She died at 33.

Patty recalls the fighting, the tears and the years-long battle to fight for the daughter she loved more than anything in the world.

"Sarah was not her addiction," Patty said. "It was her disease."

A mother's love

Each face on her billboards has a story. Each has a family left behind. Some of the families are open about how their loved ones died, some struggle to talk about it, Patty said. There are more out there who might be waiting on toxicology reports, unaware that their son or daughter overdosed or took a drug laced with illicit fentanyl.

"When someone is lost to either an overdose or drug poisoning, theres a lot of stigma behind that," Patty said. "Theres this I dont want people to know kind of thing, or feeling like Im a bad mother. But this isnt about" the parent.

The best way to celebrate Sarah's life, Patty said, is to tell her story and use her experience to make other families aware of the dangers of substance abuse and illicit fentanyl. As she fights to keep her community safe, Patty thinks about Sarah's fervid spirit, love for her kids and courage to try to fight her addiction.

"No matter what, she was always a good mom," Patty said. "And she was so brave. Braver than I ever could have been."

Sounds of Sarah will host a Walk and Run 3K in memory of lives lost to drug overdoses on May 13 at Wicker Park in Highland. Money raised will go toward the organization's programs throughout the Region. More information and sign-up are available at soundsofsarah.org.

Patty said she hopes to inspire others to find meaning in their grief, as she has done over the past year.

"You have to build your life around grief. I have tried to turn my pain into purpose so that others dont have to suffer.

Gallery: The Times Photos of the Week Boys Class 4A Semi-State basketball semi-finals Boys Class 4A Semi-State basketball semi-finals 031923-spt-bbk-jeffsemi_12 031923-spt-bbk-jeffsemi_2 Crown Point's St. Patrick's Day parade Crown Point's St. Patrick's Day parade Crown Point's St. Patrick's Day parade Crown Point's St. Patrick's Day parade Crown Point's St. Patrick's Day parade Crown Point's St. Patrick's Day parade Lake Central students go bald for charity Lake Central students go bald for charity Going bald for a cause Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Appeals on Wheels comes to Andrean High School Appeals on Wheels comes to Andrean High School Appeals on Wheels comes to Andrean High School Tolleston Opportunity Hub Tolleston Opportunity Hub Radio-controlled flyers take to the sky at the Sparta Dome Radio-controlled flyers take to the sky at the Sparta Dome Radio-controlled flyers take to the sky at the Sparta Dome Radio-controlled flyers take to the sky at the Sparta Dome Radio-controlled flyers take to the sky at the Sparta Dome LOFS fire force looks for, trains recruits LOFS fire force looks for, trains recruits LOFS fire force looks for, trains recruits Gallery HTML code
That included restricting some Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and removing certain privileges awarded by Parliament to ultra-Orthodox Jews  moves that drew the ire of both communities.

Now, three decades later, a new ultraright governing coalition is trying to sharply reduce the Supreme Courts powers. The effort is at the heart of a deep ideological and cultural divide in Israel between those who want a more secular and pluralist state and those with a more religious and nationalist vision. The dispute has brought about waves of protests, turmoil in the military, criticism from influential American Jews and the Israeli tech sector, and fears of civil unrest.

The courts critics, who tend to be more religious and right-wing, envisage Israel as a majoritarian democracy that gives elected lawmakers primacy over the judiciary. They associate the courts judges with Israels secular elite, personified in a former chief justice, Aharon Barak, who helped shape the court as it is today.

The courts supporters want Israel to be a liberal democracy, with strong judicial checks and balances on Parliament, and see the court as a last defense against a rising far right.

It is the first group that took office late last year when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges, turned to the ultraright to build a governing coalition. And it is his administration that is now attempting the sweeping judicial overhaul as a way to eliminate roadblocks to its agenda.
I still remember the first time I traveled abroad, and the feeling I had emerging from the Paris-Nord train station to behold one of the worlds most beautiful cities. It made me feel alien and bracingly helpless. I was an outsider. That was the whole point of my being there. That decentered feeling never really went away, neither on that trip nor on later ones. I wouldnt want it to.

Celebrity travel shows tend to evoke something close to the opposite of that feeling. This is not to say that you cant learn anything from them. Its just that the celebrity at the center will generally steal the spotlight from the locale itself. Levy, interestingly enough, seems to exhibit some self-awareness about this phenomenon; per his shows premise, he seems, at times, to progress from fear of travel to an embrace of travels helplessness. In southern Utah, he spends time with his guide in the quiet of night, discussing the stars and the spirituality of the desert. Its a striking contrast to your typical celebrity fare, in that it seems to capture Levy giving himself over to the unfamiliar in a strikingly vulnerable way.

But its fleeting. The show has Levy spending a lot of time at luxury hotels, where fame affords him deferential treatment. Earlier in the Utah episode, he spends breakfast chatting with a chef (who is making one very elevated pancake) about whether hes ever cooked for Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Much of the series revolves around this kind of celebrity-centric riffing. The shows entire premise, after all, revolves around Levys own experiences and hang-ups, not the curiosities of a viewer or a would-be traveler. Offered crocodile schnitzel at Kruger National Park in South Africa, Levy tells his guide, Im going to enjoy watching you eat that, and quips that hell just take a vodka-tonic. In Lisbon, his guide tells him the Portuguese people like to explore the world, and asks if Levy does, too. The actor says that adventure is my middle name, and that world exploration is in my nature, but hes then seen confessing his deceit to the camera: Thats where acting comes in. You know, when you can hide ineptitude on a scale like that, give me an Oscar. He is traveling as a character in his own travel series, all while ostensibly trying to break free from that characters limitations and experience new places  which he can never quite do, because the show is ultimately about the character, not the places.

Travel stories have often benefited from a guide, from Matsuo Bashos The Narrow Road to the Deep North in the 17th century to Peter Matthiessens The Snow Leopard or Pico Iyers The Lady and the Monk in the 20th to Anthony Bourdains No Reservations and Parts Unknown in the 21st. (Bourdain became a celebrity, but he had a curiosity and humility, an authenticity in his travels that could make him feel like he wasnt.) These figures serve as proxies and narrators and cultural synthesizers, both standing in for us and offering us their impressions. When we come to trust them, its often precisely because they know how to step out of the way and help us engage with the places theyre exploring. The same goes for any other topic. We know names like Julia Child and Bob Ross because of how compellingly those people served their subjects, not because of their pre-existing star power. And, I suppose, because nobody at the time thought to develop Learning to Paint With Mr. T.

Im inclined to say the ideal travel show would merely be a video montage with someone reading a guidebook over it. The less narrative basis, the better. Rick Steves Europe and Big City, Little Budget, with Oneika Raymond, may be two series that come closest to that ideal, in that theyre basically video guidebooks. The hosts subordinate themselves to the places they visit. They aim to show people why to travel, and what its like  not to entertain them along the way.
John Jenrette Jr., a charismatic Democratic Representative from South Carolina who became ensnared in the Abscam investigation of political corruption that also brought down six other members of Congress, died on Friday in Conway, S.C. He was 86.

His death was announced by the Goldfinch Funeral Home. It did not cite a cause.

Mr. Jenrette was in his third term in the House and had a progressive record and a strong reputation for serving his constituents, especially Black citizens, when his political career was ruined by his involvement in Abscam  a two-year sting operation that videotaped politicians and others taking bribes from federal agents pretending to be rich Arabs looking for favors.

A former social acquaintance, John Stowe, got in contact with Mr. Jenrette in 1979, saying that he had found a wealthy investor, sometimes referred to as a sheikh  an invention of the F.B.I.  who was willing to finance the revival of an empty munitions factory, bringing 400 jobs to Mr. Jenrettes district. To sweeten the deal, Mr. Stowe said, he needed legislation that would let the sheikh emigrate to the United States.

Mr. Jenrette was captured on videotape, during one of his visits to a townhouse in the Georgetown section of Washington in December 1979, discussing a payment he would accept with people said to be lieutenants of the phony sheikh.
The urgency of returning to normal after three years of the coronavirus pandemic is felt especially keenly in Hong Kong, given the strict quarantine and other restrictions for travelers that made it difficult for visitors  and locals  to come and go. Now, even the mask mandate has been lifted.

Art Basel Hong Kong, taking place Thursday to Saturday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, will have its fullest presentation since 2019, with 177 dealers in total, which is 47 more than last year.

My goal is to bring Hong Kong back and to reinforce its role as a cultural capital, said Angelle Siyang-Le, the director of the fair. Ms. Siyang-Le, who is based in Hong Kong, is new to her position, having previously worked for Art Basel as head of gallery relations for Asia.
HONG KONG  The art scene here was largely closed off to the world for three years, but the citys self-imposed pandemic isolation has been an unexpected boon to the local art scene. There has been soul-searching, and freshness injected with the addition of some radical (for this city) young newcomers.

At No. 3 Staunton Street in the citys SoHo district, the roughly 1,300 square-foot ground floor was once used as a parking space for a Ferrari. Now it has a new purpose, as a gallery space for a new venture  the Young Soy Gallery.

Young Soy is Cantonese slang for ugly, and the ugly gallery is determined to shake up the conservative local art scene. The gallerys strong mission statement, or manifesto, is to be inclusive, unconventional in their approach, and to cultivate artists with potential to claim a position in art history. They see the artists whose work they show as philosophers, educators, rebels, visionaries, perhaps even degenerates.

As Hong Kong continues to position itself as an international art hub  opening the contemporary art museum M+ and the Palace Museum, and promoting its prowess and significance on the global art scene  Young Soy and other new galleries are looking to transcend the idea that art should come in a cold, intimidating cookie-cutter white cube space that only caters to the wealthy.
ATHERTON, Calif.  Komal Shah said she was one of only three women in her masters program in computer science at Stanford in the early 1990s but never perceived gender as an obstacle.

Born and raised in Ahmedabad, India, and the first in her extended family to study in the United States, she was intent on proving herself, and she did, rising over the next 15 years to senior positions at Oracle, Netscape and Yahoo.

It was after quitting the male-dominated tech world to give extra support to her young children, and then beginning to collect art seriously in 2014, that her eyes were opened to what she described as vast inequities faced by women artists in market prices, museum acquisitions and overall visibility in the art world.

I started realizing how the odds were so stacked against women, who were making amazing work and were just not getting their dues because of a lot of societal biases, said Ms. Shah, 53, at her home in Atherton, Calif., which she shares with her husband, Gaurav Garg, a founding partner of Wing VC, a venture capital firm; their two children, now in college; and a museum-quality collection of painting and sculpture that resounds through the space with vibrant color, form and pattern.
Enteks $1.5-billion, federally backed battery component factory will be built in an Indiana industrial park.

The Lebanon-based manufacturer of material critical to electric vehicle power supplies announced Wednesday, March 22 that the company plans to open a 1.4-million-square-foot campus by 2027.

Entek had sought sites for two giga-scale factories that could produce enough material to construct an additional 1.4 million battery-powered vehicles each year. The company picked Terre Haute, Indiana for a nearly shovel-ready site, according to a news release.

Another attraction was the business-friendly incentives from both the state and local governments, CEO Larry Keith said in a statement.

The state is poised to give Entek up to $13.7 million in tax credits, grant funding and direct payments, all contingent on the company hiring Hoosiers (the official Indiana demonym).

In addition, Entek is seeking up to $8 million in lowered tax bills and $300,000 in state funding to train its workforce. The companys application to private-public Indiana Economic Development Corp. for the incentives was not immediately available.

The Indiana development corporation already intends to award up to $5 million in structured payments and $400,000 in manufacturing-related grants, according to the release.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Oct. 19 it awarded $2.83 billion to 20 companies involved in battery manufacturing in 12 states, under an impetus to scale up the countrys involvement in its own electric vehicle manufacturing supply chain.

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Awards included $200 million for Membrane Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Lebanon-based Entek Manufacturing LLC. October's was the first round of funding from $7 billion put aside for battery manufacturers in the more than $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.

Companies named by the Department of Energy are spending more than $9 billion on battery technology and production, including the departments grant awards.

For decades Entek provided most of the separator materials in the North American market for manufacturing lead-acid batteries.

The Department of Energy in October described the company as uniquely qualified to meet increased demand for the polymer sheets used inside the lithium-ion batteries found in electric vehicles.

It is the only U.S.-based manufacturer of wet process separators, preferred by electric vehicle battery producers, the department stated in a fact sheet.

Separator material allows ions to flow between polarized parts of a battery while keeping the positive and negatively-charged components from touching  and from potentially bursting into flames.

Entek estimates the Terre Haute factory will employ 640 and plans to start hiring in 2024, according to the news release. The company intends to make 1.4 billion square meters of the material it described as ceramic-coated lithium separators.

A planned expansion at the factory would add another 1.8 billion square meters of separator each year. It's not clear if the company considers this a second giga-scale factory.

Manufacturing equipment at the factory will be made at Entek's production site in Lebanon.

Entek did not share how much payroll the factory will add to Indiana but described jobs with average wages well above the Vigo County average.

That county employed 45,613 at 2,453 businesses in 2022, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The average weekly wage was $928, or a little more than $48,000 each year.

In its 2022 fact sheet, the Department of Energy indicated the company seeks towns with fewer jobs or jobs that pay poorly when considering new factories, what it called disadvantaged communities.

From the earliest stages of its first plant site in rural Oregon, Entek has been committed to working with communities from concept to execution, the department stated.

Entek first filed as a business in 1984 in Oregon, according to state records. The company reorganized in Delaware in 2011 and now operates factories in China, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

It acquired Nippon Sheet Glass Group in 2021 that now operates as Entek Asia Inc.

An email left with an Entek spokesperson asking whether the Terre Haute factory will affect the company's site in Lebanon was not returned before deadline.

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Abortion will remain legal in Wyoming  at least temporarily  after a judge on Wednesday ordered that a newly enacted ban be blocked until further court proceedings in a lawsuit challenging it.

After a three-hour hearing, Judge Melissa Owens of Teton County District Court granted a temporary restraining order, pausing a law that took effect Sunday. The law would make providing almost all abortions a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The lawsuit  filed by six plaintiffs, including four health care providers  also challenges another law, scheduled to take effect on July 1, that would make Wyoming the first state to explicitly ban the use of pills for abortion. Now, the medication abortion ban and the overall ban will be considered at a hearing where the plaintiffs will seek an injunction to suspend both laws until the full lawsuit can be heard.

A central issue is whether Wyomings Constitution allows the legislature to ban nearly all abortions, when the Constitution includes an amendment that guarantees adults the right to make their own health care decisions. An overwhelming majority of Wyoming citizens voted for the amendment in 2012.
Over a run of three stunt-laden films, John Wick has dispatched his enemies with rifles, pistols, swords and knives, as well as an assortment of things that just happen to be nearby. On one occasion, he took out several foes by slamming into them with his 69 Ford Mustang; on another, he beat a man to death with a library book. And then there was that time Wick slaughtered three men in a bar with a pencil, a feat that his fellow killers cant seem to stop talking about. Wherever Wick goes, folks die.

So why does John Wick, that most lethal of assassins, have so many friends?

In a clear break from the tradition of cinematic lone-wolf assassins with few if any pals  Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name; Chow Yun-fat in a series of John Woo films  Wick seems to have dozens. Everybody knows him, from beat cops and mechanics to club bouncers and hotel concierges.

Wick has so many friends in this world because, at the end of the day, hes inherently a good man, the screenwriter Michael Finch explained. And hes Keanu, so its very hard to dislike him.

That would be Keanu Reeves, who has played the franchises titular hero since the first Wick film in 2014. Now considered one of the greatest action films ever made, John Wick started a nearly $600 million franchise that has been praised for its imaginatively over-the-top action sequences. And over the years, Wicks friend circle has only grown.
I remember being stunned, Mr. DeSantis writes. Does the survival of American liberty depend on whether liberty succeeds in Djibouti?

Mr. DeSantiss analysis of Mr. Bushs attempt to use the military to socially engineer a foreign society is the sort of thing one hears from conservative elites who call themselves Jacksonians, after President Andrew Jackson, the 19th-century populist. Though The New York Times could find no public record of the Florida governor describing himself as a Jacksonian, the word kept coming up in interviews with people who know Mr. DeSantis.

I think hes kind of dead-center where Republican voters are, which is to say that hes neither an isolationist nor a neoconservative, hes just a Jacksonian, said David Reaboi, a conservative national security strategist whom Mr. DeSantis has hosted at the governors mansion.

Mr. Reaboi was referring to a 1999 essay by the academic Walter Russell Mead, The Jacksonian Tradition and American Foreign Policy, which is still in heavy circulation on the intellectual right. It defines a Jacksonian as having a narrow conception of the U.S. national interest: protection of its territory, its people, its hard assets and its commercial interests overseas.

A Jacksonian does not dream of implanting American values on foreign soil. He or she believes that if the U.S. military is to be deployed, it should use as much force as necessary to achieve a quick, clearly defined victory, with as few American casualties as possible. A Jacksonian cares little about lopsided casualty counts  so long as theyre in Americas favor  or about international law.
The Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov won a National Book Critics Circle Award for his novel Grey Bees, about a beekeeper living in the gray zone in the Donbas, a region torn by ongoing conflict between Russian proxies and the Ukrainian military.

In awarding the N.B.C.C.s inaugural translation prize to Kurkov and his translator, Boris Dralyuk, the committee praised the novel for illuminating the tragedies suffered on Ukrainian lands while maintaining a broad, humanistic focus on the crisiss aftermath.

The awards, which were announced on Thursday night at a ceremony at the New School in New York City, are among the most prestigious literary awards in the United States, and they stand out from other prizes because the recipients are selected by book critics, instead of committees made up of authors or academics.

The organization, which was founded in 1974, is made up of more than 600 critics and review editors. The awards recognize works published the prior year and are open to books published in English in the United States.
BE-SPOKE: Revelations From the Worlds Most Important Fashion Designers, by Marylou Luther. Illustrated by Ruben Toledo. (Rizzoli, $57.50.) A fashion journalist collects memorable quotes from her 70-year career interviewing notable designers, including Coco Chanel and Virgil Abloh, presented alongside Toledos vibrant illustrations.

SARAH SZE: Paintings, by Sarah Sze. (Phaidon, $175.) Sze, an artist fluent in mediums from drawing to sculpture, presents over 100 dreamy, textured paintings alongside essays and an interview about her influences and process.

THE MADMANS GALLERY: The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and Other Curiosities From the History of Art, by Edward Brooke-Hitching. (Chronicle, $35.) Brooke-Hitching tells the back stories of 100 eccentric pieces of art, from a nude version of the Mona Lisa by a Leonardo apprentice to Japanese watercolors that illustrate the stages of human decomposition.

REGARDING INGRES: Fourteen Short Stories, introduction by Darin Strauss. (Rizzoli Electa, $39.95.) This anthology collects short fiction written by students in New York Universitys graduate creative writing program, all drawing inspiration from Jean-August-Dominique Ingress Comtesse dHaussonville (1845).
Train Daddy is back.

Andy Byford, the former New York City subway chief who earned praise from riders and transit enthusiasts for improving an antiquated system that had been plagued by breakdowns and delays, is returning to American rail next month as Amtraks senior vice president for high-speed rail development, the train service said Thursday.

The new position comes three years after Mr. Byford resigned from running the nations largest subway system amid a rift with then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who had hired Mr. Byford after declaring the subway to be in a state of emergency. In September, Mr. Byford stepped down as Londons commissioner of transport, where he had gone after leaving New York to oversee that citys mass transit system.

I am excited and humbled to be joining such an American icon, Mr. Byford said in a text message to The New York Times on Thursday. I had a number of job offers but Amtrak and high speed rail is where I want to be.

Mr. Byfords new position was reported on Thursday by Streetsblog.

In a city that does not easily warm to newcomers, Mr. Byford became a beloved figure in his two years as president of New York City Transit, the arm of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that runs the subway and buses. A self-described subway nerd from Britain, Mr. Byford had spent his career with transit systems around the world. He ran the network in Toronto and worked on systems in London and Sydney, Australia, before arriving in New York in 2017 with big improvement plans.
Hiwa Rosario is celebrating Easter a week early this year. The actual holiday weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for her business, Farm to Jar Hawaii. Shell be setting up shop at Ward Centre in Honolulu to sell her coveted pineapple glazes, which her customers buy to deck out their holiday hams. The balanced combination of tangy, sweet fruit and salty, savory pork is, she said, a perfect union.

Pineapple and ham belong together  on Easter tables and, yes, on pizza. They look alike, too: When scored for roasting, the hams diamond pattern mimics the pineapples quilted peel, natures manifestation of the golden spiral.

Early 20th-century recipes for ham with pineapple  like the ones that appeared in womens magazine ads for Hawaiian Pineapple Company, now known as Dole  are still beloved today. Rosy ham, bejeweled with rings of canned pineapple, whole cloves and maraschino cherries, is a classic. But that doesnt mean its not due for an edit.
Mr. Joseph said he started making videos on the app in 2020, when he was a junior in high school. Now TikTok is his full-time job. Im worried about the big picture in regards to all tech companies, he said. The idea that all social media apps, not just TikTok, are due for better oversight and regulation was another sound bite the creators offered up on Wednesday.

Mr. Joseph was sitting next to Aidan Kohn-Murphy, a 19-year-old Harvard University student and the founder of the activist group Gen-Z for Change. The night before, on a private tour of the Capitol, Mr. Kohn-Murphy had filmed a video for his personal account. Becoming the first person to say twink in the capitol rotunda, reads the on-screen caption as Mr. Kohn-Murphy shouts the word into the cavernous dome above.

At the first event on Wednesday, which took place at a rooftop space on Constitution Avenue, the creators met with a small gathering of reporters to describe what TikTok has meant for them. Kenny Jarry, 81, said that joining the app two years ago had fundamentally changed his life. A Navy veteran from Minnesota, Mr. Jarry now has over two million followers. Through a brand partnership, he got new teeth, he said, and his followers also helped him crowd-fund a new mobility scooter.

Ebony and Denise Nunez, lesbian moms who run a family TikTok account featuring their three children, said they hoped the proposed TikTok ban would not go through. Youd be taking our family away, Ebony said. They added that they had left prior careers to focus solely on making content for the app.

Other creators also spoke in favor of TikTok, including several teachers who talked about the importance of the platform to education, and Tiffany Yu, who emphasized how it had supercharged her reach as an advocate for disabled people.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration recently told TikTok that it wanted the apps Chinese owners to sell the app or face a possible ban in the United States. But that plan hit a roadblock on Thursday, when Beijing said it would oppose a sale.

The announcement scrambled the debate over the future of the app, leaving the White House with few if any clear options.

President Bidens narrow menu now includes trying to ban the app  the other side of the administrations threat. But that would be very difficult without congressional help. Or, experts said, he could try to push a sale anyway, through a government body that vets foreign companies, essentially daring Beijing to make good on its opposition.

He has to make a choice: Does he want to have a confrontation with China over TikTok? said James A. Lewis, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Gov. Spencer J. Cox of Utah signed a sweeping social media bill on Thursday afternoon that could dramatically limit youth access to apps like TikTok and Instagram, potentially upending how many minors in the state use the internet.

The Utah Legislature passed the measure this month, despite opposition from tech industry groups and civil liberties experts. It is the first state law in the nation that will prohibit social media services from allowing users under 18 to have accounts without the explicit consent of a parent or guardian.

The new measure will also require social networks to give Utah parents access to their childrens posts, messages and responses. And it will require social media services to block Utah minors from accessing their accounts from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., a default setting that only a parent or guardian will be able to modify.

Michael K. McKell, a Republican member of the Utah Senate who sponsored the bill, said the statute was intended to address a mental health crisis among American teenagers as well as protect younger users from bullying and child sexual exploitation.
A Lebanon man is accused of sexually abusing three victims in Linn County.

Lebanon police arrested Jason Andrew Garmoe, 22, on suspicion of two counts of sexual abuse. He's now facing an additional count.

According to court documents, Garmoe sexually abused three people, including two minors  one of whom was younger than 14 at the time of the alleged crime.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred in August 2018, January 2020 and October 2021.

Garmoe was scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon, March 24 in Linn County Circuit Court on one count of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse.
The number of antisemitic incidents in the United States last year was the highest since the Anti-Defamation League began keeping track in 1979, the Jewish advocacy group announced on Thursday.

In a new report, the A.D.L. counted 3,697 incidents throughout the United States in 2022, a 36 percent rise from the year before. A majority were characterized as harassment, including online, but the tally also included 111 assaults and more than 1,200 occasions of vandalism.

The report is the latest indication that antisemitism in the United States is on the rise, a trend that has been reflected in American culture and politics, sending fresh waves of alarm through Jewish communities. It also mirrors data gathered by the federal government, as well as a separate academic study tracking incidents of bias against many religious groups.

Anti-Jewish enmity has been expressed in openly antisemitic leaflets and graffiti, or brazen physical attacks, especially on visibly Orthodox Jews. But it is also palpable in harder-to-track discourse online and in troubling public rhetoric from celebrities like Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who tweeted last fall that he would go death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. And right-wing politicians and commentators have stoked fears of replacement theory, the conspiracist idea that elites, sometimes manipulated by Jews, want to replace white Americans. The cumulative effect is an atmosphere in which threats, slurs and conspiracy theories brew online but are increasingly visible offline, too.
One evening in May 2018, a 24-year-old high school biology teacher crashed his car at a highway exit in Richmond, Va. He got out of the car, naked and apparently in mental distress, and for several moments writhed on the ground. Then, with nothing in his hands, he stood, strode toward a police officer and lunged. The officer shot and killed him.

The death of the young man, Marcus-David Peters, has come up again and again in Virginia since Irvo Otieno died on March 6, after he was pinned to the floor by sheriffs deputies for nearly 12 minutes at a psychiatric hospital in Petersburg. To his family and many others across the state, the death of Mr. Otieno, a 28-year-old musician with a history of mental illness, proves that despite incremental signs of improvement, Virginias mental health system is still profoundly flawed in how it responds to people in acute distress, especially when law enforcement agencies are involved.

Having a mental health crisis cannot be a death sentence, said Princess Blanding, Mr. Peterss sister, who pushed for improvements to the system but believes that the changes that resulted from her brothers death were still inadequate. When a persons kidneys fail them or their heart stops functioning, we dont throw them in jail. Why are we doing that when their brains are not functioning the way they normally would?
WASHINGTON  A U.S. contractor was killed and another contractor and five U.S. service members were injured when a self-destructing drone struck a maintenance facility on a coalition base in northeast Syria on Thursday, the Pentagon said in a statement.

U.S. intelligence analysts concluded that the drone was of Iranian origin, according to the Pentagon statement, which said the attack took place near Hasaka at 1:38 p.m. local time.

In response, at President Bidens direction, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said he ordered airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, or I.R.G.C.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the I.R.G.C., Mr. Austin said in a statement released late Thursday.
OTTAWA  When President Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada meet on Friday, one thorny topic likely to be on the table will be a worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where criminal gangs have unleashed waves of violence and now control much of the capital.

The increasingly dire conditions, including a national police force that lacks the personnel or the weapons to take on the gangs, have spurred the countrys government to plead for outside military forces to restore order, an extraordinary move for a country with a traumatic history of foreign intervention.

Fearing that the chaos in Haiti will send Haitians in larger numbers to the United States, President Biden is trying to rally a multinational force without having to commit American troops.

Mr. Trudeau initially showed some support for the idea, but it now appears unlikely that he will offer to lead any such intervention during his discussions with Mr. Biden, as the U.S. administration hopes.
LOS ANGELES  When Ann Philbin was asked by a Los Angeles artist if she would consider leaving The Drawing Center in New York in the late 1990s to run the Hammer Museum here, she demurred. She had never even heard of the Hammer Museum.

And when, at the urging of the artist, Lari Pittman, she agreed to at least visit the museum while on a West Coast trip in 1998, her heart sank at the sight of the pink marble lobby in the Occidental Petroleum Building that led to the adjoining museum that Occidentals founder, Armand Hammer, had built eight years earlier to display his collection of old masters and other paintings. Im a contemporary art person, and I love architecture and design so the place kind of hurt my eyes, Philbin recalled.

But now, 24 years after Philbin agreed to sign on as the museums director for what she had once thought would be a five-year stint in Los Angeles, the Hammer is finally concluding a $90 million stop-and-start renovation project with the opening of a prominententrance that integrates the museum onto the streetscape of Wilshire Boulevard, one of the citys main thoroughfares.

With this final chapter of the renovation, the days of walking into the Hammer from an underground parking lot beneath the Occidental Petroleum Building, or a small entrance on a Westwood side street  not exactly the Louvre pyramid or the grand steps on Fifth Avenue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art  are over. You would literally drive by it and be like  isnt that a petroleum office building? recalled the artist Mark Bradford.
But as is often the case with both Dickens and Knight, its more complicated than that. I think Jaggers represents big-city life, and the ambition and greed that comes with it, Thomas said in a recent interview. But as we spend more time with him, we start to see the subtleties, what motivates him as a man, and who he is.

In general, Knight said, Dickens either loves, likes or at least forgives his characters, because he understands the circumstances that occasion their behaviors. He added: Its why he is seen as a great social reformer, and its what I try to do with someone like Jaggers. I am depicting the awful things he does, but you come to understand why, and forgive them.

The same empathy is shown to Magwitch, the convict who changes Pips life. Its easy to just play the baddie, but more interesting to get to the human being within, Harris said in a video interview, adding that reading the writings of the psychoanalyst Carl Jung had fed into his portrayal. Magwitch is such an archetypal figure, someone who seems to have broken free, be outside the law, Harris said. You get an idea of what he might represent for the boy.

In Knights version of the story, Pip is a feistier character than the innocent of the novel. Its easy to play him as naive, but he is flawed, has elements to his character that are narcissistic and destructive, Whitehead said. I wanted to show him as having some fire in his belly. He added that Knights script shows Pips ambition, his desire to rise in social class, driving him like a moth to a flame.

As a counterbalance to the darkness, Knight offers the possibility of redemption to Miss Havisham, whom Colman plays with imperious verve. Her way into the character, she said, came from Verity Hawkes, the shows costume designer. Rot is growing up the dress, and gets slightly more moldy as the scenes go by, Colman wrote in an email. There is a canker that Miss Havisham has allowed, welcomed even, in her heartbreak and desire for revenge.
The rats were not on the call sheet. They turned up anyway.

For the members of the brain trust behind the new Hulu musical series Up Here, this balmy September night last year was to be a precious occasion: After more than two years of cross-country video calls, the writer and executive producer Danielle Sanchez-Witzel had flown in from Los Angeles during the last full week of production, finally giving her a chance to hang out on set with her collaborators  a gang of Broadway powerhouses that included the highly decorated songwriting couple behind Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

She was one of our best friends in the pandemic, Anderson-Lopez said at the time, at an outdoor shoot in the Manhattan neighborhood of Hudson Heights. We spent six to eight hours together a day during 2021. And we just hugged in person for the first time 10 minutes ago.

And then Sanchez-Witzel got a dose of New York City realness. As they gathered around the monitors, with the cameras rolling just a few yards away, a few enterprising rodents decided to join the fun. Snacks were stashed. Sanchez-Witzel nervously pulled up her feet. Someone joked about creating a viral video to promote the show.

It was just the latest twist in the bigger challenge faced by the illustrious team behind Up Here, which dropped all eight episodes of its first season on Friday: how to merge that most classically New York of art forms, the stage musical, with a much younger Hollywood one  the bingeable half-hour streaming sitcom.
I am a child of the church. In an early memory, I am 6 years old, half-asleep in the back of my grandparents station wagon on the way home from a revival. It is thrillingly late. I am contented, safe, warm. The car is quiet save the sound of traffic passing in the other direction, and the murmur of Family Radio  which was always playing in my grandfathers car. My ears still buzz from the stadium speakers, and from the choirs and the preachers hooping and the audience praise shouting.

The God of my revival childhood was all-powerful and relatively benevolent, but there were a great many rules about what we should do (go to church three times a week, live by the Word of God, literally interpreted), and what we shouldnt (listen to secular music, play cards, watch movies, drink). These commitments and privations were rewarded with Gods love, palpable, like a bird alighting on a shoulder.

I left it all behind as a teenager, when I plunged into the world on the other side of the stained-glass window. My defection brought a heady, delicious freedom that also left me a little bereft. Then, as a college student, I read James Baldwins Go Tell It on the Mountain. Here was so much of my own experience, intimately detailed, as though he were whispering to me about how it had been and what wed lost, how much of it wed never understand. Here was a blueprint for how to be both: how to grow up in the conservative church and become an artist, how to be poor and Black and tell about it with due pride and complexity, how to disbelieve but be imprinted by belief. And how literature could articulate these quandaries, could give me all of this, and more.

This essay, like others to follow in this series, maintains that American literature is also imprinted by belief, freighted by ideas about morality, justice and standards for living that are derived, alongside manifold wrongs and derelictions, from the nations historically Christian heritage. Christianitys imprint on our literature isnt necessarily about piety or doctrine  though that is sometimes the case. It also trucks in paradox: At worst, it justifies great evil; at best, it inspires decency and generosity, and acts as a hedge against oversimplistic notions of society and of the individual. It asks us to hold contradictory realities in mind and heart; there is sustenance and insight to be gained in that wrangling.
But without an anticipated end-date, the outflows of American weapons are becoming a significant concern for Pentagon officials. By dispatching so much of its weapons stock to Ukraine, the U.S. discovered that it lacks the capacity to produce the level of arms needed at a time of heightened superpower tensions.

For example, the U.S. sent Ukraine so many Stinger missiles that it would take 13 years worth of production at recent capacity levels to replace them. To address the issue, the Pentagon is growing its procurement budgets and abandoning some of the cost-cutting changes embraced after the end of the Cold War.

In the U.S., a bipartisan group of senators asked President Biden to share evidence about Russian war crimes in Ukraine with the International Criminal Court.

In Ukraine, U.N. investigators found at least 40 cases where prisoners of war were executed by both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The authorities in China have raided the Beijing office of the Mintz Group, an American corporate investigations firm, and detained all five of its Chinese employees, the company said on Friday.

Mintz Group said in a statement that the authorities closed its operations in Beijing. The company has not been able to contact the employees since they were taken away.

It was unclear what the authorities objectives were in investigating the company, and the government did not respond to a request for comment. But the move highlighted the risks that firms involved in due diligence face in China as Xi Jinping, the countrys top leader, has repeatedly called for a greater emphasis on security and has tightened the ruling Communist Partys grip on information.

We can confirm that Chinese authorities have detained the five staff in Mintz Groups Beijing office, all of them Chinese nationals, and have closed our operations there, Mintz said in a statement. The Chinese nationals were detained on Monday, said two people familiar with the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of legal sensitivities.
Four out of 10 Oregonians say they are very worried about the impact of climate change, according to a recent survey conducted by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center.

The nonprofit organization said concern about climate change ranks lower for Oregon residents than homelessness, affordable housing, substance abuse and addiction, polarization in politics and political violence.

While 41% said they were "very worried" about climate change, another 22% said they were "moderately worried" about climate change. Just 1 in 10 Oregonians who responded to the survey expressed not being worried about the impacts of climate change.

Those who expressed the highest levels of concern were women, those 65 and older, those with a college degree, and those who live in urban areas.

Portland-based Oregon Values and Beliefs Center is a nonpartisan group that issues periodic statewide surveys on issues ranging from the economy to the environment to politics and health care.

The survey was conducted between Feb. 11-20 and involved 2,552 Oregon residents aged 18 and up. The surveys margin of error is 1.94%. Forty percent of respondents were Democrats; 23% were Republicans, and 14% were nonaffiliated. Seven percent of respondents were from Central Oregon.

Most survey respondents (54%) said climate change will lead to dire ecological consequences and major losses of human life. Less than half (40%) of respondents said humanity will learn to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Another 7% believe that climate change is not happening and any observed changes are natural.

Those most likely to say humanity is in trouble include women, college graduates, those who live in urban areas of Oregon and people of color, the survey found.

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In a September survey, 45% of respondents said both the government and individuals working together can mitigate climate change. Another 15% of respondents in September said the focus should primarily be on government policy while 13% said the focus needs to be on individual actions.

An earlier survey conducted in August revealed that most Oregonians who responded said they have already experienced the impact of climate change in longer and hotter summers (81%) and drought (80%).

Approximately two-thirds of respondents said they have experienced extreme weather events or disasters caused by climate change. These include flooding, forest fires, crop failure and timber die-off.

The survey also addressed combating climate change. Around 80% of respondents supported tree planting and prioritizing renewable energy. Restrictions on industrial emissions were supported by 73% of respondents while 69% supported tougher fuel efficiency standards.
Not long after the South Korean government issued a warrant for his arrest, Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur who became a fugitive, joined a livestream with two popular crypto podcasters.

They had arranged for Mr. Kwon to speak alongside Martin Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive who was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud. Hey, Do, Mr. Shkreli said on the stream in November. I just wanted to let you know that jails not that bad. Its not the worst thing ever.

Mr. Kwon smiled and nodded. Good to know, he said.

On Thursday, Mr. Kwon, 31, was arrested in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, as he and a travel companion tried to board a private flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. They were apprehended after using forged Costa Rican passports, according to the authorities, and they were also carrying travel documents from Belgium that appeared to be falsified.

The arrest was the culmination of a remarkable tale of international intrigue and crypto industry chutzpah. Mr. Kwon became a target of criminal investigators in at least three countries after two cryptocurrencies issued by his company, Terraform Labs, collapsed virtually overnight.
The money flowed freely at a pandemic-prevention organization run by the younger brother of Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced cryptocurrency mogul.

Just over $375,000 financed a failed campaign in Colorado to increase taxes on cannabis sales in order to support pandemic research. Another $1 million was spent on consulting and advertising expenses in a single year. And $3.3 million went toward the purchase of a luxurious townhouse a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

The group, Guarding Against Pandemics, raised more than $22 million in its first full year in 2021, turning it into an overnight lobbying force in Washington. The groups founder, Gabe Bankman-Fried, a former legislative assistant, started getting the rock star treatment: two White House meetings with senior staff and invitations to speak on panels with government officials.

But almost all the money raised by Guarding Against Pandemics appears to have come from Gabe Bankman-Frieds brother, whom federal prosecutors have accused of misappropriating billions of dollars from customers of his crypto exchange, FTX. The collapse of FTX prompted federal authorities to investigate allegations that sweeping fraud drove the exchange into bankruptcy in November, as well as potential campaign finance law violations by both brothers.
KALISPELL, Mont.  Badge and Lander Busse tromped into the forest behind their house on a snowy Sunday in March, their three hunting dogs in tow. It was in these woods, just outside Glacier National Park, that the teenage boys learned to hunt, fish, dress a deer and pick birdshot from Hungarian partridges.

It was also here that the Busse boys grew attuned to the signals of a rapidly warming planet  torrential rains that eroded their hiking trails, wildfires that scarred the land, smoke so thick it forced them indoors.

Watching their cherished wilderness succumb to the effects of climate change enraged the Busse boys, and three years ago, they decided to do something about it. Along with 14 other local youth, they joined with an environmental legal organization and sued the state.

In their complaint, filed in 2020, the young activists seized on language in the Montana state Constitution that guarantees residents the right to a clean and healthful environment, and stipulates that the state and individuals are responsible for maintaining and improving the environment for present and future generations.
After medical instruments called duodenoscopes sickened hundreds of patients in hospital outbreaks a few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration urged health care facilities to switch to models with disposable components less likely to carry bacteria from one patient to another.

Now the agency says there are problems with those instruments, too.

Duodenoscopes are long, snakelike cameras inserted into the upper part of the small intestine through the mouth to diagnose and treat diseases of the pancreas and the bile duct. They are used in about 500,000 procedures a year in the United States, but are difficult to clean completely and can harbor disease-causing microbes like E. coli.

Olympus Medical Systems produces duodenoscopes with disposable tip covers shaped like tiny thimbles that cover the camera at the far end of the instrument.

But in scores of procedures, the tips have fallen off in patients mouths or stomachs, according to reports filed with the F.D.A. Some of these bits had sharp edges that cut patients, leading to internal bleeding.
I grew up in Idaho in a tight-knit family following the firebrand tenets of fundamentalist Christianity. So when I came out to my parents as gay in college, it ended with tears, screams and a laying on of hands. In my mid-20s, I came out again  this time in a letter sent from afar. I was determined to establish healthy boundaries with my parents, which led to years of silence between us. I tried to break that silence on more than one occasion, only to be blunted by their homophobia. Hopeful that context would change their thinking, I attempted to introduce them to my boyfriend one Christmas. My mother hung up on me. Again, years of silence followed.

More recently, my parents made a substantial effort to connect with me and the man who, in 2018, became my husband. They even made a trip to our city and made a show of acceptance, telling my partner over dinner, We love you. We were elated. Then, during the pandemic, my mother sent my husband  who works in health care  some disturbing Covid-19 disinformation. What began as civil correspondence escalated and ended with my mother telling my husband he would never be her son-in-law.

My parents made it clear that, in their eyes, our marriage was illegitimate. And yet they become angry when we decline invitations to family gatherings. I wont sacrifice my husbands well-being by forcing him to attend family functions. And I wont cast aside the self-respect Ive gained over years of therapy to meet my parents in their righteous space where Im simply not welcome. Ive made it clear that when they are ready to accept us for who we are  a loving married couple just like them  we will re-enter the family unit.

As my parents age, though, my hope that they will ever accept us dwindles. All my efforts at authentically connecting with them end with their unwillingness to consider the bigotry baked into both their worldview and their interpretation of Christianity, which, to them, is one and the same. Do I have any obligations to make further attempts to bridge this yawning gap?  Name Withheld
Among the Beasts

Rent or buy on most major platforms.

For LT (Tory Kittles), the forlorn military veteran in the writer-director Matthew Newtons film, closure is an elusive feeling. A year prior, a mystery person kidnapped the 12-year-old daughter of LTs old army buddy. There were few leads on her whereabouts. The senseless tragedy caused LT to spiral into a drug habit and abject depression. Renewed hope arises, however, when Lola (Libe Barer), the daughter of a local crime boss, approaches LT to search for her missing cousin, who mightve been taken by the same kidnappers who abducted the girl LT is searching for. With Lola, LT finds purpose. And with LT, Lola discovers a friend.

Kittles and Barer are a catchy double act, as they bumble through false leads into comedic misunderstandings. One particular mishap at a dry cleaner involves Lola being held hostage by mobsters only for them to realize shes an old family friend. The morphing of this tenuous situation into playful reminiscing is a highlight. A final shootout in the woods leads to a catharsis for LT, whose emotional wounds are desperately in need of healing.

Cliff Walkers

Stream it on Tubi.
In Anatomy of a Scene, we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series on Fridays. You can also watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

John Wick: Chapter 4 takes a variety of martial arts styles, adds a dash of Sergio Leone and Akira Kurosawa and puts them all in a blender.

The film, which has more than a dozen major action set pieces, scales back a bit (but not too much) in this confrontation between John Wick (Keanu Reeves) and the blind assassin Caine (Donnie Yen), an old acquaintance who has been sent to kill John.
Kathryn Marie Gallagher, a fashion designer whose pieces were worn by Lady Gaga, the actress Laverne Cox and dancers of the New York City Ballet, was working on her 27th collection last summer. A few weeks before her sudden death, she posted photos of translucent garments that reflected her Gothic aesthetic and her fondness for somber colors.

I always love that I cant give anything away too soon bc its soooo blackkk, she wrote on Facebook last May.

On July 24, less than a month before her 36th birthday, the police responded to a 911 call and found Ms. Gallagher lying unresponsive in her bed in her Lower East Side apartment. There were no obvious signs of trauma and she was pronounced dead at the scene. On Friday, the police declared her death a homicide after the medical examiner concluded that she died of acute intoxication caused by a mixture of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl and ethanol.

There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing, the police said in a statement.

Detectives are looking at whether Ms. Gallagher was intentionally given a dangerous mixture of drugs by someone attempting to rob her, according to several officials briefed on the investigation.
President Biden considers TikTok a threat to national security, and that view has bipartisan support in Congress. Why has Representative Bowman become TikToks unofficial defender?

Basically, Bowman believes that there has been a rush to judgment in Washington simply because TikTok is owned by a Chinese company.

The backdrop here is important. The United States and China are increasingly in competition and conflict with each other for global influence. President Biden and many lawmakers in both parties fear that Chinese authorities could force TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, to hand over data on TikToks 150 million U.S. users, such as their approximate location or browsing history  or that Beijing could exploit TikTok to spread misinformation. That helped to explain the adversarial tone of Thursdays hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

But Bowman says he has not seen any evidence that China is exerting undue influence over TikTok, and he opposes shutting down a popular app without better reasons. (TikToks chief executive, Shou Chew, denied at the hearing that ByteDance is controlled by the Chinese government. He also said that TikTok was not a national security risk.)

I also think Bowman just really likes TikTok. He started using it in 2021, has 159,000 followers and says it is a great way to communicate with young constituents and activists. Some of his videos are actually pretty funny.
A week or so later, more allegations surfaced in a piece in Artnet News, among them, from a former assistant who said she had to pick up clothes from Chanel for Mr. Sachss wife, Sarah Hoover  whose Instagram page is a showcase of her life in Chanel  and prepare meals for her French bulldog consisting of wild rabbit, spinach, aloe water and coconut oil. In response to that assertion, a studio spokesman told Artnet that assistants were in fact dispatched to make Napoleons veterinarian-prescribed meals. Neither did the studio deny that Mr. Sachs had once appeared in a Zoom call with Nike in his underwear; it did clarify that changing clothes was a feature of weekly virtual fittings.

In a public statement made after the accusations surfaced, Nike said that it was deeply concerned by the very serious allegations around Mr. Sachs and that the company was in contact with Tom and his studio, seeking to better understand the situation and how these issues are being addressed.

On Tuesday, Mr. Sachs sought to confront what had happened, sending a letter to his staff. Although he said that he never tried to make anyone uncomfortable, he acknowledged that he could be impulsive and even aggressive, that he was a demanding boss who always expects the absolute best, but that the recent representations of him in the media did not portray the totality of his long career.

Some allegations were false or misleading, he wrote, and while he did not follow that up with any detail about what exactly was false or misleading, he said that he sincerely regretted having referred to a particular room in the studio housing an air compressor as the rape room. He was working to improve himself and he was in the midst of formalizing Human Resource policies  ignoring, perhaps, that the ostentatiously regimented corporatization of the studio was what had caused so much of the conflict in the first place.

For all the recent show that the art and fashion worlds have made of their progressive politics  their efforts to market their alignment with inclusive causes  they remain tied to caricatures of intemperate genius  even when the genius itself is hard to locate. A brilliant artist reads beneath the culture, identifying the undercurrents the rest of us cannot easily recognize. What should we make of one who has managed to miss what is happening right on top, who has been blind to a tidal wave of shifting social norms?

Stories like this typically prompt circular conversations about how we ought to think about the great art of bad men. Here, the question seems a lot simpler. Mr. Sachs ended the letter to his team by saying that he remained devoted to innovation and radical ideas. Was he ever?
Ms. Sanders, formerly the press secretary for President Donald Trump, made clear in her inaugural address in January the disdain for the protective role of government that is driving this effort. As long as I am your governor, the meddling hand of big government creeping down from Washington, D.C., will be stopped cold at the Mississippi River, she said. We will get the overregulating, micromanaging, bureaucratic tyrants off of your backs, out of your wallets and out of your lives.

Lawmakers in these states have been vigorously lobbied by industry groups who like the flexibility of teenage employees and say that more children are needed in the work force to make up for labor shortages. One of the principal lobbying organizations pushing these bills in several states is the National Federation of Independent Business, a conservative group that supports Republican candidates and has long opposed most forms of regulation, as well as the Affordable Care Act. It has issued news releases praising lawmakers for passing bills that let businesses hire more minors for longer hours, and taking credit for supporting these efforts.

The Arkansas governors spokesperson said in a statement that the work permit requirement was an arbitrary burden on parents, but opponents noted that many child workers dont have parents or guardians to look after their interests. In the cleaning company case, several of the child workers were unaccompanied minors who recently came over the southern border, according to their lawyers. Soon, they wont even have the state to approve their employment or working conditions.

The real target of these rollbacks is not after-school jobs at the corner hardware store; they will have a much bigger effect on a labor force that includes many unaccompanied migrant children who work long hours to make or package products sold by big companies like General Mills, J. Crew, Target, Whole Foods and PepsiCo. As a recent New York Times investigation documented, children are being widely employed across the country in exhausting and often dangerous jobs working for some of the biggest names in American retailing and manufacturing. (Several of those companies later told The Times that they would investigate any illegal practices and try to end them.)

Hundreds of children described in the Times report were working in violation of federal labor standards, which bar child workers from a long list of hazardous jobs and forbid children under 16 from working more than three hours a day or after 7 p.m. on school days unless they work on a farm. (Those under 14 are prohibited from working in all but a handful of jobs.)
Q. How should the average reader understand the difference between the importance of a risotto recipe that was disclosed by the Russian hack of John Podestas email account and serious secrets like those disclosed by Snowden? Steven Aftergood at the Federation of American Scientists, who studies secrecy, for instance, once called the indiscriminate disclosure of military files by WikiLeaks a kind of information vandalism.

A. I disagree with Steve. I think he greatly underestimates the amount of overclassification. The media as a whole has never really investigated the secrecy system and what its for and what its effects are. For example, the best people on declassification outside the media, the National Security Archive, month after month, year after year, put out newly disclosed classified information that they have worked sometimes three or four years, 10 years, 20 years to make public. Very little of that was justified to be kept from the public that long, if at all. An expert estimated in Congress in 1971 that 5 percent of classified information met the criteria for secrecy at the time it was classified, and after a few years that decreased to half of one percent.

Q. Whats it like to live surrounded by thoughts of nuclear war and unaccountable government?

A. In my office, an assistant of mine once put up little labels to show parts of the bookshelves and especially the drawers in my files. And my wife came down and saw genocide, torture, massacre, terrorism, you know, bombing civilians, and she said, how can I be married to somebody who has files like this in the office? And so this is California, this is Berkeley, so a bunch of her friends came down with burning sage and exorcised my office. But that has been my life since I started work at the RAND Corporation in 1958. I think about nuclear war not because I find it fascinating but because I want to prevent it, to make it unthinkable, because I care about the world that it would destroy.

Q. Robert McNamara, who was secretary of defense during the Cuban missile crisis, once said, The indefinite combination of human fallibility and nuclear weapons will destroy nations. Why havent we seen nuclear weapons used since 1945?

A. We have seen nuclear weapons used many times. And theyre being used right now by both sides in Ukraine. Theyre being used as threats, just as a bank robber uses a gun, even if he doesnt pull the trigger. Youre lucky if you can get your way in some part without pulling the trigger. And weve done that dozens of times. But eventually, as any gambler knows, your luck runs out.
Quite simply, its now going to be harder for Mr. Macron to govern. Without a majority in the National Assembly, his Renaissance party has relied heavily on support from the right-wing Republicans since the legislative elections last summer. But 19 Republican deputies backed the motion of no confidence. After such an unmistakable act of defiance, its difficult to imagine the party teaming up with the Elysee Palace on major changes in the immediate future.

More important, the president has lost the trust of the French public, exhausting whatever good will remained after his re-election by ignoring  once again  that millions voted for him out of a desire to prevent his far-right opponent from taking power. Thanks to his pension overhaul, Mr. Macrons approval ratings have fallen below 30 percent. Calls to clean up trash on the streets of the capital may fire up the presidents wealthy urban base, but theyve fallen on deaf ears for most of the country, which has little in common with moneyed Parisians.

Todays political moment feels very similar to the early phases of the Yellow Vest movement in 2018, when a proposed hike in the fuel tax unleashed weeks of demonstrations. Then, too, there was simmering anger from households struggling to make ends meet, widespread support for disruptive protest and a stunning aloofness from the people in charge. As in the early days of that conflict, Mr. Macron went weeks without publicly addressing the pension battle at length, forcing his prime minister to take the heat instead. His first major address on the topic since protests began was panned by critics as tone-deaf and condescending.

Theres a form of disconnect, Laurent Berger, the general secretary of the countrys largest labor confederation, the C.F.D.T., which prides itself on its ability to negotiate and compromise, told me. There needs to be an end to this verticality where only a precious few are right and everybody else is wrong. That obstinacy has pushed France into a political crisis  one that raises questions over the very architecture of the Fifth Republic and the extensive power it hands the head of state. How is it possible for a president without a parliamentary majority to ram through such an unpopular policy?

With Mr. Macron ignoring pleas to organize a referendum or hold new legislative elections, calls to reform Frances political institutions could grow louder. One remedy, as the historian and political scientist Patrick Weil has suggested, could be to increase the amount of time between the presidential and legislative elections. That would allow French voters  as they did before 2002  to weigh in on the presidents tenure through de facto midterm elections. The demand from the left-populist party France Unbowed to create a Sixth Republic that would rein in the power of the presidency may begin to look more appealing.
At the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war, we stand in the same position relative to the initial invasion as America stood in 1985 relative to the 1965 arrival of our first combat troops in Vietnam. This makes it a useful moment to compare the two conflicts and their effects, and to consider  provisionally, always provisionally  which was more disastrous, which intervention deserves to be remembered as the worst foreign policy decision in our history.

For some time, even after my own initial support for the war dissolved and its folly became obvious, I doubted that Iraq could outstrip Vietnam in the ranks of American debacles. More than 12 times as many American troops died in the Vietnam War as died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and its aftermath. The bloodletting among Iraqis was terrible, but so was the civilian toll in Southeast Asia. The United States lost the Vietnam War completely; in Iraq we left behind an unsteady and corrupt republic rather than a new dictatorship, with a government that still allows an American military presence.

Domestically, the period around the Vietnam War was dreadful  a wave of domestic terrorism, a crisis of authority, the 1960s curdling into the 1970s. The immediate aftermath of Iraq was sour and paranoid in its own way, but even with the Great Recession there wasnt the same kind of radicalism and social breakdown. When Barack Obama was elected president, American conservatism seemed shattered by Iraq, as American liberalism was shattered by Vietnam, but by his second term there was a return to ideological stalemate.

At various times, then  at the 10th anniversary of the war, maybe even at the 15th  it was possible to imagine a long-term future where Iraq was ultimately remembered more like our bloody counterinsurgency in the Philippines at the dawn of the 20th century than like the trauma of Vietnam. As a bad war, but not an era-defining one. As a squandering of blood and treasure and moral credibility, but one whose overarching strategic costs were not so great.
Second, if museum associations are so worried about objects disappearing into private hands, why not encourage their larger institutions to share objects from their permanent collections  90-plus percent of which is locked away in storage, never to be seen by visitors  with smaller and regional museums such as those at Valparaiso and elsewhere.

Daniel Grant

Amherst, Mass.

To the Editor:

Your article about the Brauer Museum at Valparaiso University and its deaccessioning caught my eye since I am an artist whose work is represented in its collection. Artist friends of mine, including my wife (also an artist), are all appalled at the audacity of the museum.

This decision to sell several paintings seems to contradict the museums stated mission: to educate and inspire campus and community members with original works of American art and international religious art. The museum stated this in its thank you letter to me for donating my work.

Frankly, I am not worried about my work being sold off, since I dont have the name recognition (value) of the artists whose work the museum is thinking of selling.

Tom Brand

Michigan City, Ind.

To the Editor:

The article about Valparaiso University did not mention its endowment of $364.5 million (according to the university president, speaking at a town hall in September 2022).
The First Amendment has so far played only a bit part in the debate about banning TikTok. This may change. If the U.S. government tries to shut down this major communications platform, the First Amendment will certainly have something to say about it.

Perhaps the reason First Amendment rights havent received more attention in this debate already is that TikTok is a subsidiary of ByteDance, a Chinese corporation that doesnt have constitutional free speech rights to assert. But if we set aside the question of TikToks rights, the platforms users include more than 150 million Americans, as TikToks chief executive testified at a contentious congressional hearing on Thursday. TikToks American users are indisputably exercising First Amendment rights when they post and consume content on the platform.

Six years ago, in Packingham v. North Carolina, the Supreme Court struck down a law that prohibited convicted sex offenders from using social media, reasoning that these websites had become integral to the fabric of our modern society and culture.

A half century before that, the Supreme Court decided a series of cases recognizing that the First Amendment protects not only the right to speak but also the right to receive information, including the right to receive information and ideas from abroad. In one of those cases, Lamont v. Postmaster General, the court invalidated a federal law that barred Americans from receiving communist political propaganda from foreign countries unless they specifically asked the Postal Service to deliver it. The court held that the law was an impermissible attempt to control the flow of ideas to the public.
Imagine that as you are boarding an airplane, half the engineers who built it tell you there is a 10 percent chance the plane will crash, killing you and everyone else on it. Would you still board?

In 2022, over 700 top academics and researchers behind the leading artificial intelligence companies were asked in a survey about future A.I. risk. Half of those surveyed stated that there was a 10 percent or greater chance of human extinction (or similarly permanent and severe disempowerment) from future A.I. systems. Technology companies building todays large language models are caught in a race to put all of humanity on that plane.

Drug companies cannot sell people new medicines without first subjecting their products to rigorous safety checks. Biotech labs cannot release new viruses into the public sphere in order to impress shareholders with their wizardry. Likewise, A.I. systems with the power of GPT-4 and beyond should not be entangled with the lives of billions of people at a pace faster than cultures can safely absorb them. A race to dominate the market should not set the speed of deploying humanitys most consequential technology. We should move at whatever speed enables us to get this right.

The specter of A.I. has haunted humanity since the mid-20th century, yet until recently it has remained a distant prospect, something that belongs in sci-fi more than in serious scientific and political debates. It is difficult for our human minds to grasp the new capabilities of GPT-4 and similar tools, and it is even harder to grasp the exponential speed at which these tools are developing more advanced and powerful capabilities. But most of the key skills boil down to one thing: the ability to manipulate and generate language, whether with words, sounds or images.
Goblin sharks are deep-sea fish whose frightening, protrusile jaws served as an inspiration for the terrifying creatures in the Alien movie franchise. Little is known about these elusive sharks, and sightings of them are extraordinarily rare. They are known to live in deep coastal waters all over the world but have never been found in the Mediterranean Sea.

But recently, a group of scientists reported the discovery of what they said was a goblin shark that had washed ashore on a Greek beach. Their announcement of the find last year in the journal Mediterranean Marine Science has led to a series of events almost as bizarre as the goblin shark itself, involving competing scientific narratives, a retraction and the possibility that maybe all of the fuss was over a childrens plastic toy.

According to the original scientific paper, the Mediterranean goblin shark was discovered by a man named Giannis Papadakis in August 2020. After finding the specimen, the paper said, Mr. Papadakis propped it on some rocks and snapped a photo. The image ended up in the hands of a group of local scientists, and two years later they published it alongside records of other species found in the Mediterranean for the first time.

The paper seemed like a success of citizen science, in which people with no formal scientific training assist professional scientists in research. But it wasnt long before shark experts around the world started to express their doubts, in a Facebook group, about the authenticity of the goblin shark.
A heartfelt smile can be infectious, and for Anna Clare Spelman and Peter Prix, it commenced their love story.

Ms. Spelman and Mr. Prix had been living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for less than a year when they joined a local volleyball club. During a game in May 2013, they spotted each other on opposite sides of the court and were intrigued by the other persons laugh and smile, Ms. Spelman said.

They would look for the other at subsequent games, but didnt see each other again until three weeks later. The power had gone out in town that night, so instead of playing volleyball, the club went out to dinner. Ms. Spelman and Mr. Prix sat across from each other and talked for three hours.

It was the night before Ms. Spelmans birthday, and she saw an opportunity: I tried to casually invite everyone to my birthday party, but just turned to Peter and was like, So whats your phone number? she said.
At the height of the pandemic, Ilson Leir Goncalves was winning a reputation around Montclair, N.J., as a restaurateur who refused to quit.

In the spring of 2020, he sold his house and put the proceeds toward expanding his restaurant, Samba Montclair, so customers could sit farther apart. When everything in the restaurant was destroyed the following year by floodwaters from Hurricane Ida, he mobilized to get the place up and running again in less than a week.

He hadnt always been a paragon of perseverance. Just before Covid, he quit dating and gave up on love. I figured out that my purpose in life was not to have a relationship, he said. It was to cook for people who dont have money.

A life with room for both seemed out of reach until he met Yasar Sakman last summer.

Mr. Goncalves, 42, is from Brazil. Long before he swore off romance, he had quit thinking of that country as home. In 2004, he visited New York for the first time on a monthlong solo vacation. Instead of returning home to Blumenau, in the state of Santa Catarina, he stayed and was eventually granted a green card.
HOLLISTER  The road to Pacheco State Park begins in this old Central Coast cowboy town, famous for its apricot farms. There is still a barnlike saloon in the quaint downtown, and then the road begins to wind through fields of yellow blooms of wild mustard and lush, light green hills dotted with majestic, gnarled oak trees.

After a visitor crosses dozens of hand-painted wooden signs advertising fresh-picked cherries, avocados and garlic, a short climb reveals a gorgeous view: a vast expanse of lapping water tucked between the rolling hillsides  reminiscent of the Scottish countryside, but actually a park in the Golden State stretching across San Benito, Merced and Santa Clara Counties.

Pacheco is one of seven California state parks we recommend visiting this spring, beyond the usual well-trod destinations popular with wildflower seekers. The park offers 28 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking through secluded meadows that feel far from city life, though only about a 30-minute drive off Highway 101. (If you do visit, you can also stop by San Juan Bautista, a rustic town home to the mission where Alfred Hitchcock filmed a famous scene in Vertigo.)

California has a whopping 280 state parks, covering more than a million acres, and the park system just started a digital passport to encourage people to try to visit every single one (weather permitting, of course). You can also check out free vehicle day-use passes for most California state parks from your local library.
Over the past two months, one subject has repeatedly come up at the trial of five Proud Boys accused of sedition in connection with the storming of the Capitol: the unusual number of informants that the F.B.I. had in or near the group.

Even before the trial began, defense lawyers had suggested that the bureau had as many as eight informants in the far-right organization in the months surrounding Jan. 6, 2021. At least one of them  from the groups chapter in Kansas City  was in the throng of Proud Boys that marched on the Capitol that day.

On Wednesday, new court papers revealed that there was yet another informant in the Proud Boys orbit, one who became uncommonly close to people involved in the sedition trial.

The newly disclosed informant, a Texas-based activist named Jen Loh, took part in prayer meetings with some of the defendants relatives and had multiple contacts with the defendants themselves while they have been in jail. She was also in touch with some of the defense lawyers in the case, making what one of them, Nicholas Smith, has called a constant drumbeat of detailed inquiries, which Mr. Smith said he had ignored.
The Legislature has often moved in lock step with Mr. DeSantis, rarely challenging him or publicly disagreeing with him for fear of retribution in the form of vetoes of special projects or threats of a primary challenge.

One Republican senator, however, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity, said that the effort to shield records could prove to be a risky move for the governor, and that if the optics of it are such that some cant vote for it, it would be a sign of weakness for Mr. DeSantis.

Ms. Polsky, the Democratic state senator, said that fellow Democrats on the subcommittee had been a little surprised by the bill, and we were led to believe it just had to do with security and not the transportation part of it, and so honestly I think we all didnt get the chance to ask the questions we want to ask. She added that she would not support the bill if it came to a full floor vote, saying: Honestly, I think it was a mistake.

Nikki Fried, the chair of the state Democratic Party, said, The Republicans doing his bidding in the Legislature are trying to shield him from transparency as he travels the country promoting his failed Florida blueprint and cozies up with wealthy and special-interest donors.

Dana Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is led by a DeSantis appointee, said the state agency supported the legislation because the threat picture has changed significantly over the last decade, with violence and attempted violence against elected and appointed officials nationally. She added that releasing travel details represents a risk not only to those we protect, but also F.D.L.E. agents and citizens attending events.
He said Mr. Trumps decision to begin his campaign there, if intentional in its nod to the siege, would echo Ronald Reagans August 1980 speech affirming his support of states rights at a county fair near Philadelphia, Miss., a town known for the murder of three civil rights activists 16 years earlier.

Theres some deep symbolism, Mr. Wright said.

Mr. Trump has a long history of statements that feed the far right, even as he claims that was not his intent. That list includes his equivocating response to the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., that left one woman dead; his message to the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by in a presidential debate; and his exhortations to supporters in Washington just before many stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn his defeat.

As state and federal investigations have drawn closer to him in recent months, he has often portrayed himself in embattled or even apocalyptic terms. When F.B.I. agents searched his Mar-a-Lago resort in August looking for classified documents, he issued a statement declaring himself currently under siege.

In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Coalition conference this month, he described the 2024 presidential election as the final battle and vowed retribution. As word circulated this month of a possible indictment from a New York grand jury investigating Mr. Trumps role in payments made to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign, he posted a message to supporters in all-caps to PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!

Early Friday, still awaiting the grand jurys action, Mr. Trump posted that the potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country.
The bill would require schools to alert parents if a student wanted to change his or her pronouns, or wanted to change the bathroom or locker room that he or she used at school. If a school failed to obtain parental consent for such changes, it could lose federal funding. Representative Lauren Boebert, Republican of Colorado, won inclusion of an amendment that required schools to alert parents if a student whose biological sex is male participated in a sport designated for women and girls.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, said the effect would be to require schools to out trans, nonbinary and L.G.B.T. youth, even if it would put said youth in harms way. She added that for so many children of abuse, school is their only safe place to be.

Representative Mark Takano, Democrat of California and a former teacher, shared his own experiences of children facing severe punishment at home after teachers outed students to parents.

When a home is not safe for L.G.B.T. kids, schools becomes their safe place, he said, noting that the bill would push good teachers to do bad things and force kids back into the closet. It is a fundamental invasion of privacy that puts children in danger.

Republicans, in response, insisted that the bill would do no such thing.

It does not force any teacher to reveal private conversations or any conversation about sexual orientation, said Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina.

She said it would merely require a school to alert the parents if a student wanted to change his or her pronouns or wanted to use a bathroom or locker room designated for a different sex.

Many of the arguments in favor of the bill were couched as criticism of teachers unions, which Republicans argued were improperly pressing their own agenda at the expense of parents. Ms. Foxx said they had worked to push progressive politics in classrooms while keeping parents in the dark.
WASHINGTON  The Navy admiral had a blunt message for the military contractors building precision-guided missiles for his warships, submarines and planes at a moment when the United States is dispatching arms to Ukraine and preparing for the possibility of conflict with China.

Look at me. I am not forgiving the fact youre not delivering the ordnance we need. OK? Adm. Daryl Caudle, who is in charge of delivering weapons to most of the Navys East Coast-based fleet, warned contractors during an industry gathering in January. Were talking about war-fighting, national security, and going against a competitor here and a potential adversary that is like nothing weve ever seen. And we cant dillydally around with these deliveries.

His open frustration reflects a problem that has become worryingly apparent as the Pentagon dispatches its own stocks of weapons to help Ukraine hold off Russia and Washington warily watches for signs that China might provoke a new conflict by invading Taiwan: The United States lacks the capacity to produce the arms that the nation and its allies need at a time of heightened superpower tensions.

Industry consolidation, depleted manufacturing lines and supply chain issues have combined to constrain the production of basic ammunition like artillery shells while also prompting concern about building adequate reserves of more sophisticated weapons including missiles, air defense systems and counter-artillery radar.
WASHINGTON  A divided House on Friday approved legislation that would mandate that schools make library catalogs and curriculums public, and that they obtain parental consent before honoring a students request to change their gender-identifying pronouns, part of a Republican effort to wring political advantage from a raging debate over contentious social issues.

The bill, approved almost entirely along party lines on a vote of 213 to 208, is a centerpiece of the Republican agenda that its sponsors call the Parents Bill of Rights Act. It has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate or being signed by President Biden, whose advisers say it endangers transgender children without actually supporting parents.

Its passage reflected the latest bid by House Republicans to focus on topics that animate the right-wing base by promoting what they cast as common-sense changes that could appeal to voters across the ideological spectrum. Republican proponents describe the bill as a measure to ensure the rights of parents are honored and protected in the nations public schools, and argue that the goal is to provide students the best learning experience possible.

Sending a child to public school does not terminate parental rights at the door, said Representative Erin Houchin, Republican of Indiana. It gives power back to parents.
The initial attack on Thursday came as American forces in northeast Syria were on high alert following 78 attacks by Iran-backed militias since January 2021. But a self-destructing drone, which American officials said was of Iranian origin, managed to hit a coalition base anyway, killing the U.S. contractor and wounding six other Americans.

Two U.S. officials said the main air defense system at the base was not fully operational at the time, raising questions about whether the attackers had detected that vulnerability and exploited it, or just happened to send the drone at that time, according to people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation.

Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, said that the air defenses radar was working but he declined to discuss any other details of the system, citing operational security and an investigation by the militarys Central Command.

It was unclear why the system was not fully functional and what difference that had made in defending the base. The Avenger missile defense system at the base, called RLZ, may have been experiencing a maintenance problem, one of the U.S. officials said.

The base near Hasaka has other defenses, but even all those systems combined are not foolproof, officials said. Pentagon and other American officials said they were reluctant to discuss any possible weaknesses or failings in the layered defense network to avoid giving adversaries in the region any advantage.
In an overnight social media post, former President Donald J. Trump predicted that potential death and destruction may result if, as expected, he was charged by the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, in connection with hush-money payments to a porn star made during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Hours later, the district attorneys office discovered a threatening letter addressed to Mr. Bragg containing white powder  later determined not to be dangerous  in its mailroom.

The comments from Mr. Trump, made between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on his social media site, Truth Social, were a stark escalation in his rhetorical attacks on Mr. Bragg ahead of a likely indictment on charges that Mr. Trump said would be unfounded.

What kind of person, Mr. Trump wrote of Mr. Bragg, can charge another person, in this case a former president of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting president in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a crime, when it is known by all that NO crime has been committed, & also that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our country?
Follow the latest news on tornadoes in the South.

Emergency workers were surveying the damage from a large tornado that ripped through rural Mississippi on Friday night, flattening homes and trapping some residents.

The tornado caused damage in Rolling Fork and Silver City, Miss., the National Weather Service office in Jackson said on Twitter. The agency issued rare tornado emergencies for parts of the state Friday night, indicating a life-threatening situation, along with tornado warnings in parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The center of the destruction appeared to be in Rolling Fork, where Fred Miller, a former mayor, said that a storm had blown out windows and damaged homes and trees.

A great deal of the town has been destroyed, including all the businesses on a commercial and retail stretch of a local road, Mr. Miller said in an interview on Fox Weather. People are trapped in a couple of the eateries, and people are trying to get them out now.
* Over the past decades, China has risen to the world's second-largest economy and become deeply integrated into the global economy in the course of advancing its reform and opening-up and pursuing modernization. * In recent years, Beijing has provided a wide range of public goods to help address various security challenges troubling the world. * China has realized the miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability through its own path to modernization and whole-process people's democracy, busting the myth that "modernization means Westernization." BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- "The path of history is not paved like Nevsky Avenue in St Petersburg; it runs across fields, either dusty or muddy, and cuts through swamps or forest thickets," wrote Nikolay Chernyshevsky, a great Russian scholar and critic in the 19th century. In two centuries or so, the world has once again reached a crossroads in history where countries are facing momentous choices: between polarization and common prosperity, and between zero-sum game and win-win cooperation. This aerial photo taken on Feb. 25, 2023 shows the container terminal at Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin) In his speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on March 23, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping observed that mankind, by living in the same global village in the same era where history and reality meet, has increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in him- or herself a little bit of others. Over the past decade, China has been dedicated to building a community with a shared future for mankind and pursuing shared and win-win development with concrete actions, in a bid to pass on the torch of peace through generations, sustain development and make civilization flourish. With all these efforts, China is trying to answer humanity's epoch question -- what kind of world is hoped for and how to build it. SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT Over the past decades, China has risen to the world's second-largest economy and become deeply integrated into the global economy in the course of advancing its reform and opening-up and pursuing modernization. Among the essential requirements of Chinese modernization are building a community with a shared future for mankind, and creating a new form of human advancement, according to the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). To this end, the country has taken a host of actions not merely to help stimulate economic growth, but also to secure the right to development of all countries and bridge the North-South divide. In 2013, Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative -- a solution to boosting common development in the world. It has so far brought nearly 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment, created some 420,000 local jobs, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty, with the takeoff of numerous transport and industrial projects such as the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone. This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows a view of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) Costantinos Berhutesfa, a professor of public policy at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University, deems the initiative "the kind of second globalization." As the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has suffered setbacks amid successive "black swan" events, Xi put forward the Global Development Initiative in 2021, which aims to synergize with the Agenda and forge a united, equal, balanced and inclusive global development partnership. In addition, China has established such cooperative platforms as the China International Import Expo, pushed forward free trade projects like the Hainan Free Trade Port, and joined multilateral mechanisms including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, in its endeavor to help grow an open global economy. This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2022 shows the west entrance of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) To ensure all countries enjoy equal rights, follow the rules as equals and share equal opportunities, Xi, at the opening of the BRICS Business Forum last year, restated his call for upholding the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, promoting extensive consultation and joint contribution, and enhancing global economic governance. "The global future of the human species ... is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world. There are so many things that need to be done. So China can take the lead on that," Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua. Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said he believes the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is "extremely important, especially under the current global conditions." SAFEGUARDING PEACE Hermann Hesse, Nobel Prize literature laureate in 1946, during his Nobel banquet speech, preached a mind that is "international and supra-national," and "that ought to serve not war and annihilation, but peace and reconciliation." In 2017, mentioning Hesse's thought in his address to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Xi called for fostering partnerships based on dialogue, non-confrontation and non-alliance. "As long as we maintain communication and treat each other with sincerity, the 'Thucydides trap' can be avoided," he said. His appeal is more valid today, as deficits in peace, development, trust and governance are growing, with the flare-up of regional conflicts, the re-emergence of a Cold War mentality, and various security challenges. Under these circumstances, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative in 2022, which aims to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, improve global security governance, encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and certainty, and promote durable peace and development. Tourists visit an international duty free mall in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, June 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Recently, the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran after talks facilitated by China exemplifies the value of the initiative. Considering China a reliable and trustworthy partner, Hani Wafa, editor-in-chief of Al Riyadh Newspaper, a major daily in Saudi Arabia, said Beijing's role in the Riyadh-Tehran detente as important as the agreement itself. Such a historic icebreaker may bring hope for peace in the Middle East, he added. China's role in defending peace can also be seen in the Ukraine crisis. When talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit this week, Xi said that on the Ukraine crisis, China has all along abided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, followed an objective and impartial position, and actively encouraged peace talks. China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history, he added. These facts demonstrate China's commitment to promoting a new type of international relations and broadening the convergence of interests with other countries. In recent years, Beijing has provided a wide range of public goods to help address various security challenges troubling the world. For instance, China is a major troop contributor and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. Chinese peacekeepers march at a medal parade ceremony in Hanniyah village, southern Lebanon, July 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) "While other countries are sending military forces around the world to engage in wars, establish military bases in other people's countries and so on, China's military goes abroad to help preserve and defend peace," said Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club. Whereas certain countries are sticking to a zero-sum game or winner-takes-all mindset, China has detailed proposals to make the idea of a shared future a reality, he added. MAKING CIVILIZATIONS FLOURISH China's pursuit of building a community with a shared future for mankind derives from celebrated elements of Chinese traditional culture. In a world where peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom become the common values of humanity, countries and regions have chosen different paths to modernization, which are rooted in their unique and long civilizations. In the case of China, it has realized the miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability through its own path to modernization and whole-process people's democracy, busting the myth that "modernization means Westernization." Therefore, it holds that tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity's modernization process. At the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting last week, Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. "We fully agree with the four proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi in the Global Civilization Initiative," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also president of the African National Congress, who participated in the dialogue, adding the initiative is vital to the world today. Stewards of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd. are pictured in Kunming Railway Station in southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2022. As a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Laos Railway connects China's Kunming with the Lao capital Vientiane. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) Asadollah Badamchian, general secretary of Islamic Motalefeh Party of Iran, said pursuing the China-proposed move is "duty-bound." "The world's peoples should be invited to put their civilizations and cultures in the global civilization basket, and then, they, within the present framework of global relations and communications and in view of the industry, progress and future advances, altogether should move toward a civilization built upon all human civilizations," he said.
NASHVILLE  After offering free H.I.V. testing at a drive-through event last year, staff members at Nashville CARES, a nonprofit sexual health clinic, made an alarming discovery: a cluster of positive tests from a single neighborhood.

There was one person who had unknowingly passed it to multiple partners, and we were able to intervene quickly before it became a full-blown outbreak, said Lisa Binkley, who leads the clinics H.I.V. prevention team.

For this work and other efforts to try to curb the spread of H.I.V. in the Nashville region, Ms. Binkley and her colleagues have relied heavily on federal grant money. So they were stunned when Tennessees health commissioner announced earlier this year that the state would no longer accept $8.8 million in federal grant money, which for more than a decade has been distributed among nonprofit groups, county health departments and health care organizations.

Tennessee is the only state to have rejected the funding; Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, instead plans to allocate $9 million in new state funding for H.I.V. prevention and monitoring in July. The governor said the move would offer the state greater independence in its decision-making. But some organizations say they are concerned that the state will not offer them funding if they do not align with the governors conservative positions on issues like transgender rights, and his opposition to abortion access.
WASHINGTON  The demand by House Republicans for information from a local prosecutor in New York about his criminal investigation into former President Donald J. Trump is pushing an already escalating fight over the scope and limits of congressional oversight powers into new territory.

Legal battles about the oversight authority of Congress were one of the hallmarks of Mr. Trumps turbulent presidency. Where court fights over congressional subpoenas had once been rare, they became routine after Democrats won the House in 2019 and Mr. Trump vowed to stonewall all of their requests for information.

Now, House Republicans are locked in a standoff with the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg. The prosecutor, a Democrat, resisted their demand that he testify and turn over records from his criminal investigation into a 2016 election season hush money payoff to a porn star who says that she and Mr. Trump had an extramarital affair.

The demand for information from a state prosecutor about a potentially imminent indictment crossed a new line. It also foreshadowed broader struggles to come if House Republicans also go after other local and federal prosecutors leading inquiries into Mr. Trump, including investigations into his efforts to cling to power after the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents after leaving office.
Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroism in the face of genocide was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated movie Hotel Rwanda, will be released from prison on Saturday after having been captured, held and tried by the Rwandan government in a case that drew international condemnation.

His release, announced by the Rwandan government on Friday, will end two and a half years in captivity for Mr. Rusesabagina, 68, who had moved to the United States and become a staunch detractor of Rwandas longtime leader, Paul Kagame.

Mr. Rusesabaginas enforced disappearance and trial drew widespread criticism of Mr. Kagame, whose achievements in developing his country since the genocide in 1994 have at times been overshadowed by his autocratic rule, dismal human rights record and destabilizing military intervention in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mr. Rusesabaginas release offers the Rwandan government the opportunity to deflect attention from those issues at a time when Rwanda, a tiny nation in central Africa, is offering to house migrants unwanted by Britain, Denmark and other countries.
China on Friday denied pressuring companies to collect information abroad on behalf of the government, rebuffing claims that American lawmakers made about the viral video app TikTok, which is at the center of an escalating dispute between Washington and Beijing over politics, technology and economics.

At a news conference, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, said China has never and will not ask companies or individuals to collect data stored in foreign countries in a way that violates those countries laws.

A day earlier, during a heated, five-hour congressional hearing, U.S. lawmakers grilled TikToks chief executive, Shou Chew, over the apps ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, as well as its possible use as a surveillance tool by the Chinese government.

Chinas reaction to the hearing highlighted how TikTok, which has roughly 150 million users in the United States, has become a point of contention in the geopolitical tussle between the worlds two largest economies. Hours before Mr. Chews hearing on Thursday, Chinas Ministry of Commerce said it would oppose a forced sale of the app, a rebuke to the Biden administration, which recently called for the apps Chinese owners to sell it or face a possible ban in the United States.
NEW DELHI  Rahul Gandhi went to battle against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in elections four years ago waving the banner of Indias multi-sectarian tradition and characterizing Mr. Modi as a dangerous Hindu nationalist who would whittle away the countrys democracy if he remained in power.

A Modi landslide in that 2019 vote all but buried Mr. Gandhi and the storied party his family had led for generations, the Indian National Congress.

On Friday, Mr. Modis allies moved to finish the job: Officials disqualified Mr. Gandhi from his seat in Parliament, just a day after a court found him guilty of criminal defamation  over a line at a 2019 campaign speech in which he likened Mr. Modi to a pair of prominent thieves with the same last name. The move came before he had any chance to appeal.

The sentence in that trial, two years in prison, happens to be the statutory minimum penalty that renders a sitting member of Parliament ineligible for office. New national elections are scheduled to take place early next year, and whatever luck Mr. Gandhi and his lawyers find in court, the defamation verdict seems likely to keep him and Congress mired in legal defense for years to come.
North Korea said on Friday that it had used an underwater drone to practice launching a nuclear attack on an enemy seaport, saying that threats from the United States and its allies were forcing it to develop diverse means of carrying out nuclear strikes.

The drone was launched from the Norths east coast on Tuesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said. The report said it traveled underwater for more than 59 hours, reaching its target on Thursday afternoon, and that its test warhead  not an actual nuclear device  had detonated underwater. The target was not specified.

The drone, named Haeil, or tsunami, was designed to infiltrate enemy waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy ships and ports, the report said. State media released photos of the Norths leader, Kim Jong-un, inspecting a torpedo-shaped vehicle in a warehouse and a similar vehicle traveling and detonating underwater.

There was no independent confirmation that the test had taken place. South Koreas military, which usually confirms North Koreas ballistic missile tests soon after they happen, said it was trying to determine whether the report was accurate, keeping various possibilities in mind.
Many Balinese say part of the issue is that the authorities are struggling to cope with the sudden influx of Russians, who now make up the second-biggest group of tourists on the island after Australians. Last year, 58,000 Russians and 7,000 Ukrainians visited Bali. This January alone, 22,500 Russians arrived in the province.

In May 2022, the Indonesian government added Russia and Ukraine to the list of countries eligible for its visa-on-arrival program. The visas allow Russians and Ukrainians and citizens from 85 other countries to stay for an initial period of 30 days, and for another 30 days if they apply for an extension.

Sandiaga Uno, the minister for tourism, indicated that the government was not going to revoke the visa program, as requested by the Bali governor. In a weekly address earlier this month, he said that the number of people causing trouble was not too significant. Last November, Mr. Sandiaga had told The New York Times that the government would help renew the tourist visas of those fleeing the war.
Welcome to dead fish central, said Graeme McCrabb, a local resident, as he navigated his speedboat through fields of rotting fish carcasses bobbing in the acid-green water of the river that runs through his town.

Millions of fish have died in the Darling River near his town, Menindee, in outback New South Wales, their bodies packing the surface of the water from bank to bank for miles. After days under the sun, their bodies had started to break up and turn into fish soup, as Mr. McCrabb put it, transforming the river that locals rely on for drinking and showering into an ecological wasteland.

Authorities have said the mass death was caused by a lack of oxygen in the water, called hypoxia, a result of recent floods and a heat wave. But furious locals say the true root of the problem is the overuse of Australias biggest and most vital river system.
A bipartisan group of senators on Friday asked President Biden to direct the U.S. government to share evidence about Russian war crimes in Ukraine with the International Criminal Court in The Hague, despite the Pentagons resistance to such a move.

In a letter to Mr. Biden obtained by The New York Times, the senators  including Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, the chair and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, respectively  noted that in December, Congress had changed a law to allow greater cooperation with the courts investigations arising from Russias war in Ukraine, and said it was time for the government to do so.

Last years bipartisan congressional action to enhance that support was done in collaboration with your administration to balance all perspectives on the U.S. relationship with the I.C.C., the senators wrote. Yet, months later, as the I.C.C. is working to build cases against Russian officials, including Putin himself, the United States reportedly has not yet shared key evidence that could aid in these prosecutions.

The letter came a week after the court issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and another top official in his administration, accusing them of orchestrating the abductions and deportations of thousands of children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
Mr. Macron said the two countries would work on organizing a new visit in the early summer, and a spokeswoman for the German government said the royal visit to Germany would continue as planned.

That Charles had chosen France as his first overseas destination as king had highlighted Britains desire to mend the relationship with its European neighbor after years of fractured ties. The visit had been scheduled to occur only weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain met with Mr. Macron in Paris during a tete-a-tete that sounded like a reconciliation.

But the optics of the royal trip were poor for Mr. Macron, who has long been described by his critics as a monarchical ruler himself, and the decision to postpone underscored the depth of anger in the country and the difficulty he will probably have in moving past it.

What would have been objectionable, both for the British people and for ourselves, would have been to try and go ahead with it as if nothing were happening, Mr. Macron said. To do so, he added, could have prompted incidents.
The postponement of a state visit to France by King Charles III had become almost inevitable: The optics of President Emmanuel Macron dining with the British monarch at the Chateau de Versailles as Paris burned were not just bad, they would have looked like a brazen provocation to the blue-collar workers leading a wave of demonstrations and strikes across the country.

Those huge protests have shifted in character over the past week. They have become angrier and, in some cities, more violent  especially after nightfall. They have been less about the fury felt over the raising of the retirement age to 64 from 62, and more about Mr. Macron and the way he rammed the law through Parliament without a full vote.

Finally, they have broadened into something approaching a constitutional crisis.

We have moved from a social crisis on the subject of retirement to the beginnings of democratic crisis, Laurent Berger, the leader of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor, the largest and most moderate labor union in France, said in an interview. Anger is rising, and before us we have a president who does not see that reality.
As an enormous march against an unpopular pension overhaul was winding down in Paris, small groups of young protesters began planning their next move as night fell.

Lets go to the Bastille, a man in his 20s told his friends. Another, checking social media on his phone, said, It looks like Chatelet is the meeting point, referring to a different section of the capital. A few minutes later, the groups slipped out of the square.

And so began a wild protest, as the participants call such activities, in which groups of a few dozen young men and women, some clad in black and masked, roam the streets, knocking over city bikes and scooters, and setting fires while playing cat-and-mouse with the police. Paris, rise up! they chanted.

Wild protests have become a fixture of Parisian nightlife after the French government rammed through a pension bill last week raising the retirement age to 64, from 62, without a vote in the lower house of Parliament.
This week, in the same spirit that led me to rewatch all of Babylon Berlin last month, I read Wigs on the Green, Nancy Mitfords 1935 comic novel spoofing her sisters Diana and Unity, who were deeply involved with the fascist movements in Britain and Germany. (Dianas wedding to Oswald Mosley, the leader of the British Union of Fascists (B.U.F.), was held in Joseph Goebbels living room with Adolf Hitler in attendance. Unity moved to Germany, where she became close friends with Hitler.)

The book is a remarkable snapshot of a historical window in which fascism was popular enough to lampoon but was still seen by many in Britain as a silly hobby rather than a consequential political movement. In the novel, the Union Jackshirts  a barely veiled reference to Mosleys B.U.F. supporters, whose uniforms earned them the nickname Blackshirts  are a confused gang of naive rich people who join up because theyre bored and/or trying to sleep with each other. The point of the novel is not that the movement is dangerous, but that it takes itself too seriously.

Nancy Mitford appears to have initially had that attitude toward fascism herself. In The Mitford Girls, a biography of the family, Mary S. Lovell writes that Nancy had actually been a member of the B.U.F. for a time, apparently because she saw it as a way to be supportive of Diana. After the partys rallies grew more violent and militaristic, Nancy began to distance herself. By the time war broke out several years later, she had become so concerned that she urged the British government to imprison Diana and her husband as threats to national security.

Its a running theme in both Wigs on the Green and Babylon Berlin: In the early years, fascism seemed silly and vulgar, a movement obsessed with uniforms and public pomp. But it was so removed from real politics that no one considered it more than a distraction, an inconvenience or perhaps a tool to be wielded.
Ukrainians are no strangers to tough winters, but even so, Minnesota took some getting used to. Before the soldiers began arriving, it was often frostbite that landed people in Minnesota clinics in need of a prosthetic limb.

A cold welcome to Minnesota, some joke now about their reception, which was anything but.

Gifts at the airport were just the beginning. Minnesota has a big Ukrainian community, and many people have volunteered to help at the clinic and put the soldiers up in their homes.

One of the volunteers, Toly Dzyuba, said he and his wife were consumed by anger in the early months of the war and desperate to offer meaningful help.

It is incredible to witness the transformation that happens during the three to four weeks of rehab, Mr. Dzyuba said. These soldiers arrive in their wheelchairs with a broken spirit, with missing limbs. Their lives got crippled  you can see it all in their eyes.

Within two to three days, they are able to stand and make their first baby steps. Then they can walk.
For weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defied critics of his plan to weaken Israels highest court: the hundreds of thousands of people who have turned out for protests, the former prime ministers and defense officials, prominent American Jews and Israels attorney general.

But he may not be able to ignore a groundswell of dissent from one key Israeli institution: the powerful and influential military.

A growing number of Israeli reservists have threatened to withdraw from voluntary duty in recent weeks if the far-right government that took power late last year pushes ahead with its contentious plan to increase its control over the judiciary, the military says.

The military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, has told government leaders that the number of reservists reporting for duty this month fell so far that the military was on the verge of reducing the scope of certain operations, according to three Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The officials did not provide further details.
As I passed through shattered city after shattered city, a few poignant details stood out to me.

Amid the wreckage, stacks of Qurans  holy books, pulled from destroyed homes and carefully collected  rose in small towers, forming impromptu memorials.

And red balloons appeared atop the heaped remains of collapsed buildings, left in memory of the children who had died there.
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Gregory FCA specializes in: media relations, social media, digital marketing, creative services, video production, investor relations, speaking engagements & awards, reputation management & crisis communications, content marketing, SEO / SEM, and media training.

The agency services clients in the following industries: financial services (including RIAs, ETFs, fintech, financial institutions, insurance, investor relations, retirement), cleantech & energy, consumer tech, cybersecurity, education, enterprise tech, esports & gaming, healthcare, healthtech, real estate, and supply chain & logistics.

Employees: 130. Founded: 1990.

Agency Statement:

At Gregory FCA, were a 30-year success story, forged by exceeding client expectations during every engagement. As one of the nations 40 largest PR firms, we take a fundamentally different approach. Our PR teams are staffed by vertical, allowing them to become experts in your field. Once we truly understand your organization, we get to work by crafting stories that are newsworthy and aligned with real-world business objectives. We then tell that story through a network of media contacts three decades in the making. It helps that more than 10% of employees are former members of the media , which allows us to tell compelling, media-worthy stories about our clients.

Then, we amplify that story through content that supports the message. Gregory FCAs proprietary Here+Now remote video production service makes it easy to create on-the-fly content to address news as it breaks in real time. Our in-house editorial team produces exceptional copy because they are former journalists. Our creative team develops graphics and visual assets that make stories compelling. Our social media professionals know how to leverage platforms and content. And our legendary, in-house media training teaches clients how to transform interviews into feature stories and return appearances.

To accommodate the global brands we work with, Gregory FCA is a member of With Global Alliance, an international network of independent public relations agencies. This partnership allows us to provide ground support in five continents and 26 markets worldwide.

Behind it all is our service. We are there when you need us. Never counting hours or going dark. We are all available, accessible, accountable. All in the service to clients. To grow businesses. Build awareness. Create credibility. And ultimately build the value of an enterprise.

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Clients Include:

ACSIAllianzAmplify ETFsThe Angel Oak CompaniesAware Asset ManagementBrandywine GlobalBryn Mawr TrustCaron Treatment CentersCBIZDistributed Solar DevelopmentExponential ETFsFacet WealthFi360Goldman Sachs Personal Financial ManagementHilcoImpact SharesJanney Montgomery ScottKenna SecurityKestra FinancialKimco RealtyLetsfitM&T BanknaviHealthOrion Advisor ServicesOticonPacer ETFsThe Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.People's United BankProcure Asset ManagementRadwareReality SharesSCHOTTScuf GamingSHISixgillSUEZ Water Technologies & SolutionsSungard ASSyncStream SolutionsToews Corp.Unified TrustWilshire Phoenix

Gregory FCA in the news with O'Dwyer's:

 News of Firms: Gregory FCA Unveils Write Release AI Tool Fri., Mar. 24, 2023 ... Gregory FCA launches Write Release, a free AI press release writing tool, informed by the thousands...

 On the Move: Gregory FCA Tabs Crowell to Lead IR Mon., May 23, 2022 ... Heather Crowell Gregory FCA names Heather Crowell executive vice president of investor relations. Crowell joins the agency from...

 News of Firms: Lambert Forms Alliance with Van Dyke Horn PR Thu., Mar. 31, 2022 ...reflecting the increasingly diversified offerings within our network across partner agencies and around the world." Gregory FCA names the recipients of its Diversity Initiative Scholarships, which include a $2,500 scholarship and a...

 PR Firms Report Robust 29.7% Growth in '21 Fri., Mar. 25, 2022 ...fees as it advanced 83.2 percent to $12.4M. No. 43 Clarity (+59.7 percent to $14.4M) Gregory FCA (+51.0 percent to $16.3M) and No. 11 Spectrum (+48.5 percent to $48.9M) followed. ICR Moves...

 Affect's Dobrzelecki Joins GCI Group's Goodfuse Tue., Feb. 8, 2022 ...Dobrzelecki is joining GCI Group's Goodfuse unit as president. At Affect, which was acquired by Gregory FCA in April 2021, Dobrzelecki's remit included managing talent development and agency operations, as well...

 Gregory FCA Acquires Affect Tue., Apr. 27, 2021 ... Greg Matusky Gregory FCA acquires Affect, a B2B-focused firm serving technology, healthcare and professional services clients. The addition gives...

 Gregory FCA Adds Digital Shop Tue., Feb. 25, 2020 ... Kwan Morrow (left) and Gregory Matusky Gregory FCA has acquired KM Digital Relations, a digital and social marketing agency based in Fort...

 Copley Equity Invests in Gregory FCA Mon., Jan. 6, 2020 ... Gregory Matusky Copley Equity Partners has taken a minority stake in Gregory FCA , the suburban Philadelphia-based firm that chalked up $9.9M in fees in ODwyers 2018 rankings. Founder...

 Adapting to Constant Change Mon., Aug. 19, 2019 ...arent yet part of your core audience. *** Joe Anthony is President of Financial Services at Gregory FCA , a full-service, strategically integrated public relations firm headquartered in suburban Philadelphia....

 Goodman Media, Gregory FCA Place Giant Aussie Gold Coin on Wall St. Wed., Jul. 17, 2019 ...U.S. debut outside the New York Stock Exchange on July 16. Goodman Media International and Gregory FCA provided publicity for the event. The Wall Street Journal headlined its story about the $45M...

 People on the Move Fri., Jul. 13, 2018 ...and professional services clients. She also oversees programs spanning traditional, digital and social media. Julie Parise Gregory FCA has named Julie Parise director of broadcast services. Parise comes to the agency from Milwaukee CBS affiliate...

 People on the Move Mon., Sep. 25, 2017 ...graphic designer. Roxana Pita-Romero Kimball Communications hired Roxana Pita-Romero as a public relations associate. Pita-Romero comes to Kimball from Gregory FCA , where she was an assistant account executive on their financial services PR team. Since...

 People on the Move Thu., Jul. 27, 2017 ...president of POP Communications, Ungar has also held executive positions at Maletzky Media and Gregory FCA . At Tonic, she will be responsible for guiding the strategic vision and management of one...

 The F Word Financial Marketers No Longer Ignore Mon., Aug. 22, 2016 ...navigate this constantly evolving landscape.* * * Joe Anthony is President of Financial Services at Gregory FCA ....

 Finance Firms Focus on Media Relationships, Impact Thu., May 19, 2016 ...and divisions are blurred between branding, advertising and media, he said. Firms hit multiple marketing channels Gregory FCA has worked to continue to stay abreast of current trends and how they impact...

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A man who returned from Australia for a court case may escape a driving ban if he produces insurance documents.

John Murphy, 22, with an address at 17 Mountrath Street, Kilcormac, Offaly admitted having no insurance on the Vicarstown Road, Stradbally on September 3 last year.

Solicitor Josphine Fitzpatrick explained that her client had borrowed his friend's car on that date to travel to Electric Picnic. The defendant believed his own insurance covered him on the day in question, she said.

He comes the whole way from Australia to deal with it, she told Judge Cody.

She said his own vehicle was in for a service and he had a policy of insurance on that car.

Ms Fitzpatrick explained that her client drives machinery for a living. She had references from people he worked for and said his parents were in court to support him.

Judge Andrew Cody said he wouldnt disqualify the man from driving, subject to him paying a fine of 400 and producing proof of insurance for the other car on that date.

The case was adjourned to Portlaoise District Court on April 13 in order for documentary proof to be produced.
When the most recent shooting to rock the East High School community unfolded, it was reportedly while school administrators carried out the daily task of searching a 17-year-old boy for weapons. The searches were required of him as part of the students individualized safe plan, Denver Police said.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday, staff did discover a firearm on the student, police said. A shooting unfolded, sending two administrators to the hospital as the boy fled. Hours later, law enforcement authorities confirmed they discovered the teenagers car and body in Park County.

Questions remain about why the student  identified by police as 17-year-old Austin Lyle  was on a safety plan. The district will not disclose details of specific students safety plans because they are protected by federal law, Denver Public Schools spokesperson Rachel Childress said in an email.

The shooting also brought attention to the overall practice of safety plans as well. A representative of the districts security team was not immediately available for an interview about safety plans because DPS was focusing on addressing student and faculty welfare in the shootings aftermath, Childress said.

Generally, safety plans are one tool administrators can use to address a variety of behavioral concerns or incidents regarding students and families, Childress said.

The district declined to provide specific examples of how the plans might be implemented, or why, due to the broad range in these plans and the individualization of each plan towards each circumstance and student.

Each safety plan is unique, according to a statement Childress provided.

The Cherry Creek School District confirmed Lyle was previously a district student but was removed from Overland High School in Aurora for alleged violations of board policy, Denver Gazette news partner 9News learned. District spokesperson Ashley Verville said via email the district will not disclose any additional information about his past enrollment, citing the family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Verville confirmed the district has students placed on safety plans but declined to provide further information about the districts use of safety plans.

When a student transfers to another district, their education records transfer as well, Verville said, when asked if a receiving school is made aware of new students disciplinary history.

For another metro area district, safety plans are used and also vary by student and by whatever behaviors the plans are meant to address.

Kimberly Eloe, executive director of communications for Jeffco Public Schools, said via email that no one with the district was available for an interview regarding the use of safety plans because schools are on spring break.

Student searches can be, and are, one component of our safety plans when appropriate and necessary, the spokespersons email said.

When the district decides searches are necessary because they suspect a student may have a weapon, an armed school resource officer and law enforcement agency conduct the search.

Jeffco Public Schools is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We understand students learn best when they can attend classes in a secure and welcoming environment, Eloe wrote.

In all, the districts security staff is comprised of more than 145 people  an executive director of the Department of School Safety, 75 campus supervisors, emergency dispatchers, officers, a director of safe school environments, threat management professionals and emergency managers, among other security staff.

The district stations officers at each middle and high school, and 25 armed officers patrol the districts schools 24/7. School resource officers work with each high school and many of our middle schools, the spokesperson said.

All elementary and middle schools use fully secured access points, which means guests at the school must be admitted through a single entrance and people cannot access the building through other doors.

The district has also nearly completed installing secure vestibule entrances at each school. This allows staff to let people into a secure holding entrance while they determine why someone has come to campus. If someone has only come to deliver a package, for example, they can do so without ever fully accessing the school building.

The DPS Board of Education held a special meeting on Thursday to address school security as the East High School community pleaded for leadership to heighten school safety.

The board voted unanimously to pause a policy that prevented the superintendent from allowing armed officers to be at DPS schools. The board had voted unanimously to cut ties with Denver police in June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police.
First time in Tamilnadu... Rolling Barriers installed in Nilgiris

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Nilgiris: Ooty is the famous hill station of the Nilgiris district in Tamilnadu. The Queen of Hills is a hotspot summer destination for tourists. As summer is approaching, Ooty is getting ready to welcome tourists from all over the world. For this peak season, the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu ordered the officials to take precautionary measures around Ooty. One such measure aided Ooty to become an accident-free destination.

As per data, 35 lakh people are visiting Ooty every year on average. The main source of income for the Nilgiris district is Tourism alone. And very many local residents of Ooty are relying on tourism for their own income. But, during peak season, tourists visiting Ooty are more in numbers. Yet many of them aren't following any proper road rules while driving on hilly terrains.

Due to carelessness, the number of accidents is more during summer holidays. To be more precise, Kalhatti Ghat road in Ooty is highly dangerous. As this particular region is very steep it is prone to regular accidents. Out of 36 hairpin bends on the 30-km road, eight hairpin bends are considered very dangerous for vehicles travelling downhill especially.

The Tamilnadu government wanted to find a solution to avoid all those accidents. Under the guidance of CM Stalin, the public works department implemented a major change to this mountainous terrain. For the first time in Tamilnadu, Roller crash barrier technology from Japan was installed along the hill road to make it safe. These barriers are proven to avoid fatal accidents by 90% scientifically.

Minister K. Ramachandran says, "During the rainy season, landslides are unavoidable in this particular region. If the government plans to construct wall barriers, it would take a heavy toll on the Government's treasury. So, the state government was in search of a cost-effective way. And we found this "hydro seeding' technology to avoid soil erosion and landslides. On a trial basis, we invited Engineers from Delhi to implement the technology. With the help of this technology, we used the 'soil nailing technique' to stabilize slopes and prevent soil erosion by establishing sustainable vegetation over the slopes by way of hydro-seeding.

It will also help to give slopes an environmentally-friendly appearance. The geogrid to be installed in the process would stabilize the soil. This technology was implemented under the Public works department and it is highly beneficial for the safety of people living around the hill regions".

Nilgiris' resident Raghu shared, "Heavy rainfall happens between June- November in Nilgiris. Landslides are common during this particular season. Last year we faced landslides nearly four times. Landslides also cause road accidents. Last year the government implemented some new techniques by nailing the soil and growing grasses. It also looks greenish on the slides. Whenever there is a landslide along the hill, the residents will suffer more. This time, during the rainy season we didn't suffer from landslides".

District Collector Amrit says, "Nilgiris receive more rain from both Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon seasons. And it was common to face landslides during the rains. The impact of a landslide can be extensive, including loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, damage to roads, traffic jams and loss of natural resources.

Landslide material can also increase the risk of floods. To avoid that, the government implemented the soil nailing technique. SO last rainy season we avoided landslides completely in that particular region. In the same way, the government installed rolling crash barriers along Kalhatti Ghat Road in Ooty. the Government is planning to extend this technique through the terrain".

Jobi Antony shares, "I am an ambulance driver who is a regular on this particular kalhatti road. Not only during the rainy season, but I am also always fearful of driving along this mountainous terrain. This is such a dangerous path to Ooty. Earlier, many media houses used to address this terrain as the 'Ghost road' in news. Because due to a lack of proper driving knowledge, many accidents happened along this road. It is safe to drive any vehicle in the first or second gear speed alone. Drivers should avoid using the brakes frequently. Many do not know how to drive along this hill".

To save people from accidents the Government has been running free ambulance services for the past decade. Driver Jobi Antony has been in service along this particular road since 2010. He used to face so many accidents in his earlier days. But he says that accidents along this road are rare nowadays.

Minister E.V. Velu implemented the plan of government to construct modern barriers along this hill road. Motorists taking this route are feeling safe nowadays.

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Story first published: Friday, March 17, 2023, 18:12 [IST]
Kamal Haasan in alliance with DMK... Need of the hour or Political stunt?

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Chennai: MNM Kamal Haasan's alliance with DMK is the trending political topic in Tamilnadu. Many political critics define this alliance as a normal, expected political coalition. Initially, Kamal extended his support for Rahul Gandhi's Yatra which was followed by his support in Erode By-elections for ruling DMK-headed Secular Progressive Alliance candidate EVKS Elangovan.

Even DMK extended a warm welcome to Kamal Haasan. While canvassing for EVKS Elangavon, Kamal Haasan explained his reason to join hands with the DMK-lead Secular Progressive Alliance. He said, "BJP is trying to destroy the secularism prevailing in our country. This is the major reason behind my alliance with DMK". He even shared about the troubles he faced during the release of his film 'Vishwaroopam'.

Truths shared by Kamal:

While canvassing he continued, "I canvassed for a different party last time. This time it is for another party. You may ask why? When the country is in danger, you got to keep the symbols, flags, and policies aside. My country is more important now. We may have differences of opinion. We could sort it out through discussions. But without any space for healthy discussions, they are destroying our language and culture.

We have to join together to eradicate that evil power. That's why I decided to stand by the side of justice by extending my support to the Secular Progressive Alliance candidate in this Erode by-election. To keep my country as a secular nation I got to stand by Congress. Tamilnadu will no more tolerate their 'divide and rule' policy.

We cannot accept One Pyjama, One Flag, and One Language in this country. Dravidianism is a nationwide notion and Only Tamilnadu can remind this to our country. Until the term 'Dravidam' exists in our National Anthem, Dravidam will exist in this real world. Until our country exists in this world, we will remain as a Secular Nation. This is my wish. And for the same reason I am supporting this Secular Progressive Alliance.

I would like to express my gratitude towards CM M.K. Stalin and brother Udhayanithi Stalin for giving a warm welcome. I indeed had criticised this alliance in the past. Criticisms are part of Democracy. This alliance is not made just for any mere political benefit. I can share my own experience as an example.

Kalaignar's Support for Vishwaroopam:

I faced so many troubles during the release of my film 'Vishwaroopam'. I believed that truth will always triumph. During that crucial period the then DMK president M. Karunanidhi connected with me through a phone call. He promised me that he would stand for me and was ready to help me. But I refused. A leader who was at the service of people should not mind an individual like me. Yet he made a promise that he will be there for me at any time.

Within the next 30 minutes, M.K. Stalin called me via phone and expressed his willingness to aid me at any cost. If I made an alliance with them at that time, you can term it a profitable alliance. But I never did. Now, the people of Tamilnadu are in distress. So this alliance is unavoidable.

My parents and grandparents worked hard to unite many presidencies into One Nation. This means this Nation has many languages, many Religions and many colours. And no one can put the diversities in a single mixer to bring out their colour. We will never accept that. The entire nation had figured this out and Tamilnadu will stand as a pioneer in withstanding Secularism.

Kamal Haasan in Maiam:

MNM party member and lyricist Snehan says that "MNM leader is implementing everything he advocated in reel life to real life.

DMK Advocate Saravanan shares, "Whoever wishes for our Nation's development will never ever support BJP. DMK's politics has always been centred around Secularism. Now MNM leader Kamla Haasan arrived at the same point. In Haryana, a BJP member indulged in violence against Islamic people under the name of 'Protecting Cows'. Just because he is a BJP member no legal actions were taken against him.

AIADMK is in alliance with such a political party in Tamilnadu. We always stood for the Islam people. At the same, we showed our heavy opposition to CAA. If BJP won the 2024 elections, there won't be any Secularism left in our country. Kamal Haasan realised this and made an alliance with the DMK- Congress.

As per BJP's policies, no one in this nation should be unique, there should not be any diversity in culture, religion, language and food. They want the entire nation to eat the same chapati, speak Hindi and pray to only one god. This is highly dangerous and political leaders like Kamal Haasan already sensed this danger.

But the AIADMK party only fears IT raids and nothing else. They don't have any time to worry about the nation. They are in need to secure their hard-earned money from IT departmental raids".

Kamal's decision is just for political benefit:

MNM Tiruvallur Southwest secretary A. Basil says, "Erode by-election is the most crucial election not only for Tamilnadu but for the entire nation. That's why MNM leader Kamal Haasan made a huge effort and announced the alliance immediately. In AIADMK, everything from the candidate to the party's president is decided by the BJP. BJP is trying hard to gain a place in Tamilnadu through AIADMK.

EPS already announced his party's support to BJP in the 2024 elections. But to suppress this religious nationalistic party, Kamal made his alliance with DMK- Congress. He didn't make this alliance for his own benefit rather it is for the benefit of the entire nation. He is a gem of a person who invested his hard-earned money from movies again and again in the same industry just for the love of his art. If he wanted more profit he would have invested his money in various other businesses. But he wished to aid his art and industry. MNM- DMK alliance was made to curb the dangers that are awaiting".

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Story first published: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 19:02 [IST]
TN Govt's special magazines for Teachers and Students

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Chennai: Tamilnadu Education Department released a fortnight Magazine called "Thenchittu" exclusively for school children. The Education Department in Tamilnadu is setting trends in the country by introducing so many schemes continuously since the DMK took over the Government. The Changes that keep on coming are indeed very healthy for the educational scenario of the state.

CM Stalin transforming Government Schools:

Since MK Stalin started to lead the Government, he has been continuously working in transforming the status of Government Schools. He even visited Delhi Government Schools last year to get a better understanding of various formats of education. CM Stalin's schemes revamped government schools into more vibrant centres of various co-curricular activities along with education. 'Vaanavil Mandram', 'Ennum Eluthum', and 'Naan Mudhalvan' schemes were implemented.

Students are becoming creators instead of just being rank holders. To make students more creative, the Education Department of the state launched three magazines for the benefit of Students and Teachers. 'Thenchittu' and 'Puthu Oonjal' are for the Students whereas 'kanavu Aasiriyar' is for the Teachers. This concept of launching magazines is totally new to educational institutions. Tamilnadu is a pioneer in the country for introducing monthly magazines for School Teachers.

Educationalists and Social workers are discussing this scheme very widely. Writer Sa. Tamilselvan says, "Magazines act as the best Organisers. It consists of so much information that will be new to our children. All these are the most essential knowledge for any school-going child. Seeing Science articles in these magazines is bringing joy to me".

Questioning is the beginning of Knowledge:

The writer adds that "In these Children Magazines, many articles, stories and paintings/drawings were contributed by students themselves. Very many Teachers shared their teaching techniques which succeeded in their classroom through the Teacher's Magazine. Even teachers are gaining much experience and knowledge through this Magazine".

Educationalist Vasanthi Devi shares, "Tamilnadu Education Department is working constantly to bring healthy changes to the system. One such great initiative is launching Magazines for Children and Teachers, through the education department itself. To develop School children's artistic knowledge there are 'Thenchittu' and 'Puthu Oonjal'. In the same way for teachers 'Kanavu Aasiriyar' magazine.

A good education should kindle the hunger for knowledge. It should raise the ability of Questioning. These magazines serve the major purpose of enabling the students to know themselves, to know what is happening around them and providing access to worldly knowledge.

Firstly, Education should aid the students to develop the habit of reading. Secondly, it should improve reading skills. Thirdly, it should enable a student to share what he/she learned. This is the best way to create friendships. This will rise the ability of Questioning and improve their knowledge. I hope that all these three Magazines will serve their purpose continuously".

This 'Thenchittu' magazine teaches the art of origami. It provides detailed explanations to create sculptures of animals or birds through paper cutting/ folding techniques. For younger children, the "varieties of flowers" segment is highly admirable.

Puzzles with words:

To create interest in learning new words, there is a "Connecting words" section. Students are getting more enthusiastic while solving the puzzles and at the same time learning many new words. Other than these sections, there are Riddles and Chutti Stories sections.

Headmistress Parameshwari shares, "The highlight of these magazines is that they come in both Tamil and English languages. These three magazines are aiding in developing knowledge of both languages simultaneously. In today's scenario, students are unable to read anything outside of their own syllabus books. This issue will get resolved through these magazines launched by the government".

Teacher Gunasekaran shares his view on the Teachers' Magazine 'Kanavu Aasiriyar'. He says, "The format of education totally changed on a global level. A Teacher still cannot teach with the same traditional methods. This Teachers' magazine is enabling us to learn various new methods and formats of Teaching. All kinds of information related to education will be presented in a single magazine. There is no need for a teacher to surf around to learn something new. Every article is very engaging and impressive".

TN Education Minister Anbil Mahesh says, "The magazine 'Oonjal' is exclusively for students from Class 3 to Class 5. And 'Thencittu' magazine is for students from Class 6 to Class 9. For Teachers, we launched 'Kanavu Aasiriyar' magazine which is the first magazine in India exclusive for Teachers. The children's magazines are not only for publishing Students' contributions like stories, paintings, poetries and other such artistic works. Rather we planned to place Students who excel in creativity on the magazines' Board of Editors.

Education Department's Commissioner Nandakumar is planning to launch a scheme called the "Student writers programme' for students who excel in creative writing. There are many scientific explanations with pictures in the first edition like 'Why the Sky is blue?' and 'Why does a Candle's flame go out?'. There are even contributions from famous celebrity writers like Azha. Valliyappa.

Moreover, There are pictures depicting stories which explain the nutritional values of every food we consume in our day-to-day life. In 'Kanavu Aasiriyar' magazine, the 'Award-winning Green School' article is very impressive. The article on 'Book suggestions for Teachers' is recommendable.

Government's care for introvert children:

There are two types of students. Introverts and Extroverts. Both need different kinds of schooling and teaching methods. The Teachers' magazine is teaching teachers 'how to handle both types of students'. This article in the first edition is very thought-provoking.

In the same way, the article "Teaching methods in India Vs China" shares knowledgeable information on various teaching methods. These kinds of articles are enabling teachers to learn more about international teaching methods. This way each and every section is designed with high planning.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 18:57 [IST]
One India Digitech Media Pvt Ltd Code of Business Conduct

Scope and Purpose

One India Digitech Media Private Limited ("OneIndia" or "We" or "our") Code of Business Conduct ("Code") describes the philosophy and cultural expectations on working together with our customers and partners (hereinafter referred as "Business Partners"). We are committed to act ethically and responsibly in business engagements.

The Code sets out the standards by which we operate and guides our behaviours and the standards which we expect from our Business Partners. The Code emphasizes a culture of trust, integrity, reporting and conducting business in an ethical way.

We expect that our Business Partner(s) including their subcontractors and associated staff share and embrace these values as well as our commitment to compliance.

This Code applies to One India and the companys wholly owned or controlled by One India ("OneIndia Group").

One India takes violations of the Code extremely seriously. We will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions (including dismissal, if required) against anyone who does not live up to the highest ethical business standards.

Business Conduct

OneIndia shares and pursues values of People, Innovation, Excellence, and Integrity. We at OneIndia cultivate creativity & challenge, acknowledging that future competitiveness depends on innovation and development.

While Business Partners are independent entities from OneIndia Group, the business practices and actions of a Business Partner may significantly impact our reputation. Because of this, we expect all Business Partners, including Agencies and their employees, agents, and subcontractors ("Representatives") to certify their willingness to comply with the Code.

It is the responsibility of our Business Partner and their representatives to understand and adhere to this Code. Business Partner should notify OneIndia if and when any situation develops that causes the Business Partner Vendor or its representative to operate in a way that may be in conflict with Code. OneIndia may request the removal of any Business Partner or its representative who behaves in a manner that we consider to be acting inconsistent with these Code.

As a responsible industry leader, we take our responsibilities very seriously. We are transparent and responsible and comply with all applicable laws and ensure that employees are aware of those laws relevant to their roles.

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OneIndia is committed to conducting business in a legal, ethical, and responsible manner and requires that our approved Business Partner work at the same high level of standards. OneIndia Code sets out the principles, guidelines, and expectations we have of our Business Partners in conducting business responsibly and with integrity. In addition, Business Partners are expected to fully comply with the laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate. OneIndia will compete fairly at all its operations around the world, abiding by national laws and regulations and relevant international standards governing the conduct of business.

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Business Partners and their Representatives shall conduct their business activities in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. While conducting business with and/or on behalf of OneIndia in addition to any specific obligations under the relevant arrangement/ agreement with OneIndia, all Business Partner shall, without limitation:

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Business Partners and their Representatives shall conduct their business interactions and activities with integrity and in accordance with their obligations under their relevant arrangement/agreements with OneIndia. In addition to any specific obligations under the relevant arrangement/ agreement with One. India all Business Partner and its Representative shall, without limitation:

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OneIndia respects individual freedom, human rights, dignity and is committed to treating all Business Partners and employees with trust and respect and provides equal opportunities to each person. We do not support any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace and do not tolerate any behaviour that would commonly be considered offensive or unacceptable.

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Vodacom Group CTO Dejan Kastelic (pictured) said the operator will be expanding its use of LEO satellites this year to plug coverage gaps with satellite operator partners Starlink and AST SpaceMobile.

Kastelic told Developing Telecoms during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona the operator is seeking to connect the unconnected across its eight countries of operations across Africa.

I'm proud that were looking at LEO satellites to broaden coverage with Starlink and AST SpaceMobile. This is a big focus area for us to learn to scale out in terms of connecting those unconnected in rural sites using LEO satellites, said Kastelic.

Kastelic noted LEO satellites provide higher throughput and latency to deliver better service compared to GEO satellites which are lacklustre in those features.

He also said LEO satellite technology can be rolled out to connect subscribers in two years compared to the 10-15 years the traditional approach would take. However, Vodacom is also planning to launch and operate between 6,000 to 6,500 new cell sites in future.

Vodacom has operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa Tanzania and is a shareholder in Safaricom Ethiopia. The company also acquired Vodafone Egypt in December which lifted revenues for the group.

Vodacom announced it would spin out towers in South Africa into a separate company last year. Kastelic said the plan is still ongoing with a managing director coming in soon to assume the lead of the tower company.

Vodacom has one of Africas largest tower portfolios with around 40,000 at its disposal.
It was the best day in history says Donald Trump as his ratings soar

Fact Check: AI generated images shared as Donald Trump being arrested

Fact Check

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Former US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he expects to be arrested by Tuesday.

He also called on his followers to stage a massive protest. The case in question was relating to one of hush money that he allegedly paid an adult film actress before the elections in 2016.

An image has now gone viral showing the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump being taken away by the police.

Those sharing the image claimed that the police arrested the former president.

Fact Check: Was Imran Khans supporter sporting a gun during a rally

"Donald Trump has been arrested downtown Washington DC," read a tweet while sharing the viral image.

The news about Trump being arrested would have been covered world over by all media houses.

While reverse searching the image, OneIndia found that it was created using an Artificial Intelligence tool called Midjourney. We also stumbled on a Twitter account of Eliot Higgins who had shared the same image. He captioned the tweet, " making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trump's arrest."

While looking at the comments below the tweet, we learnt that most of the questions asked were about the tool that has been used to create these images.

One user, asked, 'which engine is this?" Another replied by saying, "Midjourney."

Higgins who is a British journalist has also posted many images that were created using Midjourney.

"Here's photos from Vladimir Putin entirely made up war crimes trial," read one tweet. Another read, " Donald Trump's entirely fictional perp walk. I do appreciate that #midjourneyv5 has got the tie length just perfect for Trump."

Fact Check: Is it no longer mandatory for bikers to wear helmets in India?

Midjourney is a tool that uses generative AI to create images from text prompt that is fed by users. The platform has also posted many more images showing Trump getting arrested, which have been created by other users.

Hence, in conclusion, the images being shared about Trump getting arrested are AI generated. These images have gone viral with the fake claim that Trump has been arrested.

Fact Check Claim Trump has been arrested by US police Conclusion The images of Trump being arrested are AI generated Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected]

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 10:30 [IST]
Constructive activism a must for all-inclusive justice

Feature

lekhaka-Jagdish N Singh

Our judiciary has hardly made the best use of its independence to promote 'all-inclusive justice'. It suffers from ills like family monopolism in judges' appointments. But there is little movement to remedy these ills.

Speaking at a media conclave the other day, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said, "In my 23 years as a judge of High Court, as a CJ of High Court and judge of the Supreme Court, no one has told me to decide a case in a particular way." Justice Chandrachud referred to the "robust nature" of our democracy and said that it had developed "a very clear and defining line of separation between the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary."

Justice Chandrachud's observation offers us yet another confirmation that the fundamentals of our democracy are very deep-rooted and all its key principles, including the one of judicial independence, fully operational in the country. This gives the lie to the occasional allegation made by some critics against the working of our judges. Recently, when former Supreme Court judge S. Abdul Nazeer was appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, the Opposition, mainly Congress, made the allusion that Justice Nazeer had been rewarded with the governorship for some of his judgements that pleased the current Modi government.

One, however, finds our judiciary has hardly made the best use of its independence to promote what it is supposed to - "all-inclusive justice" in our democracy. All our Scriptures advocate the rule of 'dharma' (justice). In his famous treatise 'Arthashastra', Kautilya talks of rational law to promote 'dharma'. He calls a judge a 'dharmashta' (upholder of dharma). He asserts that the king is a protector of dharma and he, too, is governed by dharma as any other citizen is.

Judiciary dealt with attempts at interference appropriately to ensure its independence: Former CJI Lalit

In harmony with the commandments of our Scriptures, the Constitution of India, too, talks of all-inclusive justice. The Constitution directs, "The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities."

Regrettably, successive governments in post-colonial India have cared little to ensure all-inclusive justice in the country. They have not put in place an appropriate judicial network for our hugely populous nation. In the process, all-inclusive justice has remained a far cry. Our justice system has been too costly for the poor to afford. At times, ordinary citizens in the country find it hard to comply with the existing laws to perform their day-to-day functions. They find themselves forced to look for other alternatives to get their work done.

According to an estimate, at least 5 crore cases are filed in our different courts every year. The quality of arbitration remains very poor. Most of the cases keep pending in various courts for years. India today has the highest number of under-trial prisoners in the world. Over 4.2 lakh people in the country are waiting for trial.

There is a near consensus across the well-informed public spectrum in the country that our prevalent judicial scenario must change. For this, our Supreme Court could give necessary directives to the government. Constructive judicial activism is a must for the sake of all-inclusive, universal justice in the country. The apex court must intervene if the government continues to fail in the matter. Article 142 of our Constitution allows the court to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. Under this Article, the court could take suo motu cognisance of the unavailability of speedy justice in the country and give necessary directives to the government.

The court could warn the government against delay in filling in of the sanctioned judicial posts in the country. To dispose of the rising number of cases in our courts, the Law Commission of India had suggested in 1987 for having 44,000 judges. The court could assess the current requirement of judges in the country and insist on meeting the same.

The court could also declare null and void all those existing laws which are feudal-colonial. They are antithetical to justice in democracy and can have no space in our contemporary system. Besides, as part of its constructive judicial activism, the court could introduce certain reforms within our judicial system itself. Presently, our judicial system suffers from various ills, including family/dynasty monopolism in the judges' appointments. The presence of such ills does not but affect the quality of justice. This must go.

Can the judiciary keep functioning as a closed entity?

Ironically, the ugliness of the prevalent judicial scenario is hardly any secret. In a speech in March 2017, then Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar himself lamented, "Ours is a strange country. The bigger the criminal, the bigger the outrage... The convict in a terrorist crime, who has failed up to the Supreme Court and also in his review, can get access to justice in a manner that we extend... What about the victims... What about the families which have lost their bread earners... What about that acid attack victim who has been defaced and cannot survive in society? I think about rape victims and their lives and I wonder why we don't reach out to them... Let us reach out to the victims." But, so far, there has hardly been any movement forward to remedy the ills of our judiciary.

(Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 10:10 [IST]
Is it a post ideological world?

Feature

lekhaka-Balbir Punj

Gradually, in this post Cold War era, immediate national interests are overwhelmingly superseding commitment to creeds and declared faiths, which have defined one's identity for aeons.

Recently two important events, separate at the surface but with a common theme of global security running, took place within three days of each other. In both, China was a common factor. On March 10, China successfully brokered a detente between two estranged Islamic nations - Saudi Arabia and Iran, with ramifications on who would control the levers of the Islamic world.

The importance of the peace accord also lies in this bringing together of two hostile sects of Islam - Shia and Sunni, their blood feud dating back to over a thousand years. While China was the initiator in the Saudi-Iran detente, it was a target of another equally important development, which followed within days.

On March 13, the US, the UK and Australia announced the AUKUS deal aimed at countering the rapidly expanding Chinese military challenge in the Indo-Pacific with US-made 'Virginia' class nuclear-powered conventionally-armed submarines that have the Chinese mainland in their crosshairs while staying outside Beijing's strike range.

Though India seemingly doesn't figure in either of these two seemingly diverse events, they both have consequential implications for its defence, as it is at the centre of the Indo-Pacific.

The upside of the AUKUS deal for India is that China will be deterred, by the presence of powerful navies in the Indo-Pacific, from undertaking any hostile move. China obviously is upset over this development. Last week, it warned the AUKUS trio that they have taken a dangerous road. "The deal," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told the media, "will stimulate an arms race, undermine the international nuclear nonproliferation system and damage regional peace and stability."

In September 2021, the three countries announced the AUKUS, described in the recent joint statement as "a new security partnership that will promote free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable." China has repeatedly accused the AUKUS and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) - of which India and Japan, besides the US and Australia, are members - as blocs designed to encircle it. Russia, which has sought to shore up its ties with China, also accused the West of fomenting "years of confrontation" in the Asia-Pacific region.

Are we moving to a post ideological world, where immediate national interests overwhelmingly supersede commitment to creeds and declared faiths, which have defined one's identity for aeons? With Mecca and Madina - the two holiest of Islamic places under its control, Saudi Arabia is considered to be a natural leader of Islamic world, and a global custodian of Islamic faith. Most of the Muslims all over the globe, particularly of Sunni persuasion, look up to Saudi Arabia for help and guidance in matters relating to spreading and defending the faith. Over 80 percent of the global Muslim population is Sunni.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia is a long-standing ally of the US. Still it had no compunctions in accepting and acknowledging publicly the mediatory role of China, which is locked in an all-round confrontation with the US, and has been persecuting its Muslim minority in an unabashed manner. The New York Times noted: "This is among the tipsiest and turviest of developments anyone could have imagined, a shift that led heads spinning in capitals around the globe."

Muslims, who constitute less than 2 percent of the Chinese population, are mostly found in its northwest provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu and Ningxia. Since 2014, the Chinese regime has incarcerated over a million Turkic Muslims in internment camps. Hundreds of thousands of children have been forcibly separated from their parents and sent to boarding schools to obliterate their ethnic and religious identity.

The Chinese government has frequently resorted to forced sterilisations and abortions of the locals in order to reduce their numbers. Birth rates in the mostly Uyghur regions of Hotan and Kashigar fell by 60 percent between 2015 and 2018. To ensure forced assimilation of Xinjiang, the Chinese government is resorting to ethnocide and cultural genocide.

In an assessment by the United Nation Human Right Office, the UN stated that China's policies and actions in the Xinjiang region may be a crime against humanity. Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group, native to Xinjiang and are distinct from Han Chinese, the predominant ethnic group in China.

Pakistan, born as an Islamic nation, that has been crying itself hoarse over the alleged "atrocities on Kashmiri Muslims by the Indian State", has not only been absolutely silent over the mayhem in Xinjiang but has reduced itself to a China's sidekick. China has leveraged its substantial economic, trade and lately military relations with both Iran and Saudi Arabia to broker a deal and this cannot but enhance its diplomatic credibility and international posture.

Is it safe to assume that the world is moving to a post ideological scenario? A difficult question to answer. But how one explains genuflection by three declared Islamic nations - Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to a Marxist China, which is ruthlessly persecuting its Muslim citizens to completely subsume their Islamic identity. This development also gives a credence to the theory that Pakistan's overt and covert support to Jehadis in India has little to do with its commitment to Islam. It's just using gullible sections of Indian Muslims, particularly in Kashmir valley, as a fodder to promote its foreign policy interests.

The origin of the China-brokered Saudi Arabia and Iran detente goes back to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Riyadh in December 2022 when he met leaders of 21 Arab League countries, with the support of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While Iran was not represented, the foundations for the Saudi-Iran detente was laid during that visit. Jinping could pull it off this unthinkable agreement because Beijing has ties with all the players of the Islamic world including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Central Asian Republics, and, of course, its satellite Pakistan.

India has good reasons to feel disturbed over this development. China already has a naval base in Djibouti on the East African seaboard, a military post in Tajikistan, financial or strategic interests in Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, Gwadar port in Pakistan, Khalifa port in UAE and Duqm port in Oman. China is aiming to restrict India in its own region.

However, the geopolitical situation is not favourable to China. The confrontation with the US is escalating, with Taiwan becoming a dangerous fault line in China US relations. Its strategic partner, Russia, is bogged down in its war in Ukraine and relations with Europe have worsened.

China's signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has come to naught in various partner countries. The world is becoming alive to its debt-trap diplomacy. (Please see details in my column "China - A Shylock Of Our Times" posted on this portal on 18th March 2023.) Even the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has run into serious problems. There are obviously limits to Beijing's outreach.

However, whether the Iran-Saudi deal survives and China's new role sustains remains to be seen. China has now decided to strongly support Russia over Ukraine, in contrast to India's calibrated position. Will it lead to emergence of a new power calculus, in which the three Islamic nations, China and Russia would be one block, controlling a major part of global hydrocarbon reserves?

From India's perspective, AUKUS underlines a vital change in US regional strategy for the Indo-Pacific. Earlier, the US sought to promote regional security unilaterally through its own military capabilities. As it comes to terms with the enormous scale of the military challenges that China presents, Washington is now eager to boost the strategic capabilities of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.

India is locked in a bitter border standoff with China for over half a century and has a hostile Pakistan breathing down its neck for long. It has no option but to step up its own international strategic outreach in tandem with countries like the US, the UK, Australia and Japan, and continue with its bonding with the Middle East and Russia, along with initiatives to strengthen defence ties with African nations.

(Mr. Balbir Punj is a Former Member of Parliament and a Columnist. He can be reached at: [email protected])

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Story first published: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 8:32 [IST]
The Modi for All Pitch for 2024

Feature

lekhaka-Smita Mishra

Away from the loud headlines and the controversies building up by the hour, BJP has chalked out a detailed plan to reach out to minorities. This plan is already underway and spans many months right up to the next general elections in 2024. The objective is two-fold. Firstly, to bust the agenda that the BJP cares only for the majority. Secondly, to broad base its vote bank both geographically and socially.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the BJP headquarters to celebrate with his party colleagues the clean sweep in the North east elections. He specially mentioned how the good performance of the BJP and its allies in Nagaland and Meghalaya was a befitting reply to those who brand the BJP as communal. Both Nagaland and Meghalaya are Christian majority states. He then went onto say how Goa had been won too and that Kerala would be next.

The mention of Kerala evoked mixed response as the party currently has no presence in the legislative assembly or in Parliament from the state. But the state figures high in the BJP's scheme of things. The statement of Mar Joseph Pamplany, Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was welcomed by the party earlier this week. The Archbishop had hinted that no party is untouchable and if BJP leadership, being in the centre, can resolve the issues of rubber farmers then the party might open its account in 2024.

This statement should not be seen in isolation. Delegations of the Christian clergy have been meeting PM Modi to raise issues of concerns of the community and these meetings have reportedly been very cordial and warm.

PM Modi to visit poll-bound Karnataka on March 25 | Details here

Now the BJP has instructed its cadres to visit Christian homes in their localities during the Good Friday-Easter week. At the core of the outreach is the BJP's effort to convince the community that they face the same religio-social challenges from radical Islamic elements as Hindus.

The outreach plan is not just restricted to Christians. Prime Minister Modi's thrust on the social-economic-educational condition of Pasmanda Muslims is also not without reason. The party is meticulously working on the narrative that Pasmandas (loosely translated as backward Muslims) have not gained anything out of the 'appeasement' politics adopted by so called secular parties in all these decades. This is contrasted with the fact that Modi govt has ensured corruption-free and discrimination-free implementation of social welfare schemes, particularly those aimed at alleviating the standard of living for women and girls.

The party has identified 60-odd Lok Sabha seats where the Muslim population is 30 percent or above and hence can swing the results.

It is not like the party leadership is losing confidence in the support of its core vote bank. But it feels that there are many states and social groups where the support for the BJP is at a saturation point. And broad basing of its social support is the next logical step. Plus, there is a realization that in the last nine years, the pilferage-free distribution of govt benefits, the warmth in the attitude of Middle East countries towards Modi govt and the fact that so-called secular parties have failed to defeat Modi are factors which are compelling the Muslim leadership to change its line of thought as well. Therefore, the BJP thinks this is the right time to shed its hesitation and go all out to woo the minorities, especially the poor segments.

PM Modi security breach: Disciplinary proceedings against then Punjab DGP, two police officers

A host of programs have been lined up such as Sneh Milan events targeted at Pasmanda Biradaris, Sufi Sammelans to connect with the religious figures and thinkers and the intelligentsia.

The crux of the BJP's argument would be that regardless of their Christian and Muslim identity, all Indians share the same challenges and Modi govt is working to improve the lot of all communities and regions no matter what their political preferences.

(Smita Mishra writes on politics and current affairs)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Suspense over as Mukul Roy says, I want to be in BJP

SC agrees to hear Opposition plea on misuse of central probe agencies on April 5

India

oi-Deepika S

Fourteen political parties, including the Congress have approached the Supreme Court, alleging the misuse of central investigating agencies by the government. The top court agreed to list the plea on April 5.

The opposition parties say agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been targeting only opponents of the BJP.

They are seeking pre- and post-arrest guidelines to be followed by the central probe agencies such as the CBI and ED.

"Ninety-five per cent of cases are against opposition leaders. We are asking for pre-arrest guidelines and post-arrest guidelines," Singhvi said.

"We will list it on April 5," said the bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala.

Congress protest at Vijay Chowk against Rahul's conviction

The parties which have moved the Supreme Court include the Congress, Janata Dal-United, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Rashtriya Janata Dal, (Uddhav Thackeray faction), Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena National Conference, Nationalist Congress Party, the Left and the DMK.

The plea comes a day after a Surat court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2-year jail in a 2019 defamation case which has become the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition parties.
2020 Delhi riots: Court frames charges of abduction murder against Tahir Hussain

India

pti-PTI

A court here on Thursday framed charges for several offences, including abduction and murder, against AAP leader Tahir Hussain and 10 others in connection with the alleged murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing the case registered at the Dayalpur Police Station against 11 accused, including Hussain, on the complaint lodged by the officer's father.

Sharma's body was recovered from Khajuri Khas drain near the Chand Bagh pulia.

"I find that accused persons namely Mohd Tahir Hussain, Haseen, Nazim, Kasim, Sameer Khan, Anas, Firoz, Javed, Gulfam, Shoib Alam and Muntajim are liable to be tried for an offence punishable under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) IPC read with sections 147 (rioting ) 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon) and 153A (punishment for promoting enmity between groups on the ground of religion etc) and 302 (murder) of the IPC," the judge said.

They are also liable to be tried under sections for kidnapping and wrongful confinement, the judge added.

All accused, except Muntajim, were put on trial for the offences under sections 153 A of the IPC read with 120B and 149 IPC, the judge said, adding, Haseen and Nazim are also liable to be tried for the offence under the provision of the Arms Act.

According to Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey, a witness had captured a video of the throwing of a dead body in the drain and the call detail records (CDR) of all accused, except accused Anas, Nazim and Kasim, proved their presence in and around the spot of the incident, which corroborated the prosecution's case against the accused.

"All accused indulged in targeting Hindus and their acts were apparently prejudicial to the harmony between communities of Muslims and Hindus. They disturbed the public tranquillity as well," the judge said.

The judge said the act of a group of more than one person from a mob can make everyone liable.

Pramachal said that in the present case, it was not necessary for all members of mob to play some overt act in the killing of Ankit Sharma and according to the evidence before the court, the mob was acting in a "well-prepared manner to attack Hindus and their properties, which signified the existence of prior meeting of their mind."

Tahir Hussain also played the "role of instigator to kill Hindus" and also exhorted this mob "not to spare Hindus," the judge said.

"He (Hussain) instigated the mob when Ankit came forward towards this mob and the conspiracy need not be specifically to kill Ankit. When the accused persons were acting in pursuance to conspiracy and common object to kill Hindus, it covered the killing of Ankit as well for the reasons that Ankit was killed because he was Hindu," the judge said.

The judge said the mob continuously indulged in the firing of gunshots, pelting of stones and petrol bombs "towards Hindus and houses of Hindus."

"These acts of the mob make it clear that their objective was to harm Hindus in their body and property to the maximum possible extent. It is also clearly shown that this mob consciously wanted to even kill Hindus," the judge said.

The ASJ also said that at the present stage of the trial, the court cannot raise any presumption against the veracity of the statements of the witnesses because of the delay in recording their statements.

The rule of prudence can be applied only after trial, at the time of assessment of the evidence on the parameters of credibility, he added.
Ahead of Karnataka elections, BJP govt scraps 4% Muslim quota

India

oi-Prakash KL

As the countdown has started for the announcement of Karnataka polls, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government has done away with the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

The 4 per cent quota will now be equally shared by between dominant Vokkaligas and Lingayat communities. "A cabinet sub-committee recommended the changes in quota categories and we have done it," NDTV quoted the Karnataka CM as saying.

Muslims had come under Category 2B and now they will compete with EWS quota, which has Brahmins, Vysyas, Mudaliyars, Jains and others.

After the latest announcement, Vokkaligas have six per cent reservations and Lingayats have seven per cent reservations under Categories 2 (C) and 2 (D), respectively.

"The four per cent (reservation for minorities) will be divided into two between 2C and 2D. The four per cent reservation for the Vokkaligas and others will be enhanced to six per cent and Veerashaiva Panchamasali and others (Lingayats), who are getting five per cent reservation will now get seven per cent," the CM explained.

In addition to it, the BJP government has increased the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) from 15 to 17 per cent and Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 3 to 7 per cent, India Today reported.

"There is no provision under the Constitution for reservation to religious minorities. It is not there in any state. In Andhra Pradesh, the court struck down reservation to religious minorities. Even BR Ambedkar said clearly that reservation is for castes," Deccan Herald quoted Bommai as saying.

"Sooner or later, someone might challenge reservation to religious minorities. So, the government has taken a proactive decision," he added. "In the literal sense, there are economic criteria to avail OBC reservation, even for minorities. We're moving [Muslims] from a 4 per cent pool to the 10 per cent EWS quota where the same economic criteria will continue," the Karnataka CM claimed.

Citing a court verdict striking down the reservation provided for minorities in Andhra Pradesh, the CM said the architect of the Indian constitution B R Ambedkar too had said that reservations were for caste.

"However, we cannot drop that community entirely. With a view that there should not be any problem, the religious minorities...if someone challenges reservation to them, we decided to take a proactive decision. In fact they will go from 4 per cent to the 10 per cent pool of the EWS group without any change of condition," Bommai explained.

Muslims are divided into three reservation categories - 1, 2A and 2B.

The extremely backward religious minorities, who form the sub-sects of Muslims such as Pinjara, Nadaf, Daroji, Chapparband and are enlisted in category 1, will remain undisturbed and in the same reservation list.

Similarly, the government did not touch the Muslim communities under 2A category.

"Some other Muslim sub-sects in the 2B category will not be disturbed. They will only be moved to the EWS quota on the same conditions," Bommai said.

There are some more small backward communities, who find mention in the Backward Commission's report.

"They never figured in any list including the backward list. They are not in any category. Regarding them, the Backward Commission has mentioned in its second list. I will study the report in detail. Our government will take further decision on it in the coming cabinet.

Already, a recommendation has been sent to the Centre to include two shepherd communities 'Kadu Kuruba' and 'Gonda Kuruba' spread over four districts in the ST category.

Further, the union government has made some references to two to three communities including Kadu Gollaru and Koli communities seeking the opinion of the department.
Amit Shah arrives at BS Yediyurappa's residence for key meet

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Union home minister Amit Shah, who is in Bengaluru, arrived at former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa's residence on Friday for an important meeting.

Shah who was greeted by Yediyurappa, immediately with a bouquet, asked the latter to give it to his younger son BY Vijayendra and said,"Yediyurappa ji isko dedo aap" (Yediyurappa ji please give to him). This is being seen by some within the party as Shah acknowledging Vijayendra's contribution to the party, and him possibly contesting in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah sends a message across the BJP , about the importance of BY Vijayendra in the party.Amit Shah Visited BS Yeddyurappa's house for breakfast,tells Yediyurappa let Vijayendra give him flower bouquet .. @BYVijayendra @BSYBJP pic.twitter.com/Lw2JS6wDLb  Yasir Mushtaq (@path2shah) March 24, 2023

Shah later held a breakfast meeting with top Karnataka BJP leaders at Yediyurappa's residence. According to TV reports, the meeting is being held to discuss strategy for the forthcoming assembly polls, due by May, in the next few days, and the party is in the process of finalising candidates for the polls.

BJP looks to raise election pitch with PM Modi, HM Shah on back-to-back visits to poll-bound Karnataka

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits former Karnataka CM & BJP leader BS Yediyurappa's residence in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/pT0i83FL8X  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

Yediyurappa, the octogenarian leader, who is also a member of the party's Parliamentary Board, its top decision-making body, had been touring across the state as part of the 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre' in recent weeks.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel, party's General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, Yediyurappa's younger son and party's state Vice-President B Y Viayendra were among those present at the breakfast meet.

It may be recalled that recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Yediyurappa on his 80th birthday and termed his contributions to public life inspirational. The gesture fuelled speculation that the BJP wants to bring Yediyurappa to the centre-stage of its campaign for elections due by May.

Not only that, Shah had also urged the people to repose faith in PM Modi and Yediyurappa and vote the BJP back to power in the state.
Security tightened in Assam's Dibrugarh as Amritpal to be shifted to prison

Did Amritpal surrender or he was arrested? Here's what Punjab IGP says

Amritpal aides questioning reveals the group was involved in anti-national activities: Punjab Police

India

pti-PTI

Punjab Police on Thursday said some sensitive material recovered from an associate of radical preacher Amritpal Singh indicates that they were involved in "anti-national" activities.

Earlier in the day, Khanna Police said they had arrested one Tejinder Singh Gill who was part of the private security of the Khalistan sympathizer.

Addressing the media here, Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said questioning Tejinder Singh Gill, police got some sensitive material which indicates that the group was involved in "anti-national" activities.

"During his questioning and from his mobile analysis, several facts came to light which show they were involved in anti-national activities," he said.

"There were videos which show that they were doing firing practice near Jallupur Khera. Some footage and pictures show that they have made holograms of Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF). There were some videos of the loading and unloading of weapons," he said.

The evidence obtained so far give a strong suspicion that Amritpal Singh had a cross-border link, added Gill.

The IG said so far 207 persons have been detained in the matter, out of which, 30 are hardcore criminals. The remaining 177 will be released after verification, he added.

There are clear instructions that no innocent can be booked in this matter. Action will be taken only against those who were involved in criminal activities, he said.

Gill said that Baljit Kaur - arrested from Shahbad in Kurukshetra (Haryana) - had allegedly harboured Amritpal and his close-aide Papalpreet Singh on March 19.

Kaur had known Papalpreet for more than two years, he said.

Authorities had last week suspended internet and SMS services in the state following the police crackdown against elements of 'Waris Punjab De,' headed by radical preacher Amritpal Singh.

The preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district.

Police have said that efforts were on to nab the fugitive preacher.
Did Amritpal surrender or he was arrested? Here's what Punjab IGP says

Amritpal fled to Uttarakhand?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Woman, who provided shelter to the radical Khalistani preacher, was held in Haryana.

Fugitive 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, who continues to remain at large, was last spotted by CCTV cameras in Uttarakhand even as Punjab Police's hunt for the Khalistani leader entered seventh day on Friday without a breakthrough. He has been on the run since March 18.

Latest media reports suggest that Amritpal and his close aide Papalpreet Singh may have sneaked into neighbouring Uttarakhand. An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts in view of the possibility of the fugitives entering the State clandestinely, Uttarakhand Director-General of Police Ashok Kumar said.

"An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts of the State as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalisthan Amritpal Singh entering the State," DGP Kumar told ANI. The police are conducting intensive checking on the borders of all three districts and in other areas, he added.

Fugitive Amritpal applies for UK citizenship to escape Indian law

Tightening their vigilance to nab the absconding duo, the Uttarakhand police have put up checkpoints and distributed posters in villages across the Nepal border in view of their possibility to leave the country, reported PTI.

Woman who sheltered Amritpal held

Baljit Kaur, a resident of Kurukshetra who allegedly provided shelter to Amritpal and Papalpreet at her house in Kurukshetra on March 19, was arrested from Shahbad by Haryana police. The woman told interrogators that the duo confided in her that they might move to Uttarakhand next.

Kaur had known Papalpreet for more than two years, Punjab Inspector-General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said. Kurukshetra SP Surender Singh Bhoria said, "During our preliminary investigation, Baljit admitted that Amritpal (whom she had not met before) stayed at her residence with Papalpreet on that night.

Amritpal aides questioning reveals the group was involved in anti-national activities: Punjab Police

Meanwhile, police have relased latest footage from March 20, showing the 'Waris Punjab De' chief walking in the rain with umbrella in one hand and a bag in other. The footage is from Kurukshetra. It is believed that the Khalisani leader got out of Punjab on March 19.

Authorities had last week suspended internet and SMS services in the State following the police crackdown against elements of 'Waris Punjab De' headed by Amritpal. Though many of his followers were nabbed, the radical Sikh preacher himself however gave the cops a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.
Whale Cloud has signed a three-year BSS contract with Malaysias Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), a government-owned company entrusted to lead the implementation of Sarawak's Digital Economy initiatives.

The deal is aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Sarawak, diversifying the telecommunication services available to the public. Sarawaks Government aims to turn the state  the largest in Malaysia - into a modern and leading digital economy and society by 2030 under the Digital Economy Strategy.

As a company wholly-owned by the Sarawak Government, SEDC is acting to extend internet coverage for full network penetration; in the meantime, implementing an agile, reliable BSS solution is of great importance to enable the digital lifestyle of people in Sarawak.

Whale Cloud will deploy a full BSS suite, including charging, billing, and customer relationship management (CRM). The uniformity and automation of the system will streamline operations, introduce diversified, secure and trusted service faster, and deliver a consistent customer experience across all touchpoints.

Providing high-speed connectivity and digital services is the foundation to create a better environment for growth in Sarawak. We are delighted to collaborate with Whale Cloud, in terms of leveraging the capabilities and functionality of its BSS suite to offer and optimise services to assist businesses and the public to adopt new technologies and to enhance efficiency through services and solutions offered by Whale Cloud, said Ir Ts En Sudarnoto Osman, Chief Executive Officer of SDEC.

We are proud to support SDEC and Sarawak Government on its way to a digital economy.The deployment of Whale Cloud BSS Suite will ensure SDEC serves its Telco customers better, and enable more essential services to citizens in Sarawak in the utility sector, said Ben Zhou, CEO International of Whale Cloud.
Amritpal used to beat his wife regularly: Intel

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

An intelligence report has claimed that 'Waris Punjab De' chief and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who continues to elude the cops, had kept his wife in captivity and beat her up regularly. The report further mentioned that Amritpal was also associated with several other women.

The report said Amritpal has been leading a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without adhering to Sikh tenets and was not an Amritdhari Sikh, news agency ANI reported. Intel sources suggest that Amritpal is a male chauvinist and misogynist.

Amritpal visited Thailand frequently

Authorities are also investigating why the radical Sikh leader visited Thailand so frequently, including the angles like whether he was involved in any prostitution racket or had a girlfriend or a second wife there. Punjab Police have found out that Amritpal and his close aide Daljit Singh Kalsi had gone to Thailand 18 times in 13 years, a News18 report quoted sources as saying.

Amritpal fled to Uttarakhand?

Meanwhile the police questioned his wife Kirandeep Kaur after reports surfaced that she had a role in securing foreign funds for the outfit. The police said that Kirandeep is an NRI and was residing in the United Kingdom. Following their marriage this year, Amritpal had brought her to India, saying he wanted his wife to live with him in Punjab.

Punjab Police are now looking into the network that provides funds to run Waris Punjab, an outfit founded by Deep Sidhu. Amritpal took it over after Sidhu was killed in a car crash. After the Amritsar incident last week, Punjab Police have launched a massive search operation to nab Amritpal but he has remained elusive so far.

Authorities had last week suspended internet and SMS services in the State following the police crackdown against the Khalistani elements led by Amritpal. Though many of his followers were nabbed, the radical Sikh preacher himself gave the cops a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.

Fugitive Amritpal applies for UK citizenship to escape Indian law

The manner in which the State law enforcement agencies have handled the issue has, however, evoked a strong response from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

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Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 16:36 [IST]
Amruta Fadnavis bribe FIR: Police collect Aniksha Jaisinghanis voice and handwriting samples

India

pti-PTI

Mumbai police have collected the handwriting and voice samples of Aniksha Jaisinghani, who is accused of trying to blackmail and bribe Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnaviss wife Amruta, for forensic analysis, an official said on Thursday.

Aniksha, daughter of suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani, was arrested on March 16 for allegedly attempting to offer Rs 1 crore to Amruta for intervening in a criminal case and also threatening her.

Anil Jaisinghani, also an accused in the case, was arrested on March 20 from Gujarat. According to the official, Aniksha had shot a video of a bag being filled with currency notes worth Rs 1 crore and sent the clip to Amruta from another mobile number after the complainant blocked her number.

As the video also had the voice of Aniksha, officials from the Malabar Hill police station, where the case was registered on Amrutas complaint, collected her voice samples for forensic analysis, the official said.

Police have also examined voice chats and other related data in Anikshas iPhone, he said. The total data is more than 100 GB, the official said. Aniksha had allegedly given an envelope with some notes written in a code language to the complainant. This prompted the police to collect her handwriting samples, which was done in front of 'panchas (independent witnesses), the official said.

Bookie Anil Jaisinghani arrested for 'blackmailing' Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta

Police have also talked to Aniksha about the code language and have tried to decipher it, he said without elaborating. After registration of the FIR, Amruta had emailed two video files that she had received on WhatsApp to the investigating officer, he said. The files were sent to a forensic science lab, which analysed the clips and gave a report, he said.

According to the report, it came to light that accused Aniksha was deliberately cheating Amruta Fadnavis, the official said. Aniksha and her father have been remanded in police custody till March 24 and March 27, respectively. Besides the father-daughter duo, police have also arrested their relative Nirmal Jaisinghani.

He too has been remanded to police custody till March 27. Based on Amruta Fadnavis's complaint, police had on February 20 registered a case against the father and daughter under Indian Penal Code sections for conspiracy, extortion and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Are the mass defections in Karnataka helping the Congress?

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The last minute defection in Karnataka has kept all parties on their toes.

Political parties in the poll-bound Karnataka are in fact bracing up for more last minute defection ahead of the Election Commission of India announcing the poll schedule.

The spate of defections are likely to hit the BJP and JD(S) the most. Local media reports say that most of the defectors are siding with the Congress. Defections take place when leaders sense a whiff of which way the trend is.

However one must note that defections do not always signal that a party is on a winning streak. If one takes the West Bengal scenario, the defections had early any impact on the Trinamool Congress Party, which went on to win with ease.

Karnataka Election 2023: Why Siddaramaiah should reconsider contesting from Kolar seat?

Local media report say that many who had hopped into the BJP to help it form the government in the last term are likely to go back to the Congress.

Baburao Chinchansur and Puttanna, two sitting BJP MLCs have quit the party ahead of the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023, scheduled to be held in March.

The BJP has said that these defections will not affect its prospects in the upcoming elections. The party is strong and we are confident that we will win, Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai had told reporters.

The defection bug is not being faced by the BJP alone.

JD(S) MLA from Arsikere, Shivalinge Gowda has already announced that he would be joining the Congress. Based on the decision of my leaders and well-wishers in my constituency, I have decided to join the Congress, he said.

A T Ramaswamy from Arkalgud also said that he was quitting the JD(S). He however remains undecided on which party he would be joining. The same is the case of K Srinivas Gowda, the JD(S) MLA from Kolar. Gowda who had defied the party's whip in the 2022 Rajya Sabha elections has made it clear that he would be joining the Congress.

Karnataka CM dismisses Cong's poll 'guarantees' as 'bogus announcements'

The big question is whether these defections will benefit the Congress in Karnataka or not. The defections currently appear to be benefiting the Congress in terms of theatrics. However there is stiff resistance from within the party to allow such persons to join the party. The complaint is that these persons had ditched the party and helped the BJP form the government. Hence they should not be allowed into the party as they could switch sides again.

There is also this immense suspicion in the Congress camp that these defections may be engineered by the other side. Engineering such defections could help the rival camp come to power in the event of them coming to power.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 11:41 [IST]
Amritpals wife, mother grilled over foreign funds

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The Punjab Police are still hunting for radical Sikh leader, Amritpal Singh who has managed to give the security mechanism the slip on more than one occasion.

Meanwhile the police questioned Kirandeep Kaur, wife of Amritpal Singh after reports surfaced that she had a role in securing foreign funds.

The police also questioned Amritpal's mother, Balwinder Kaur.

The police said that Kirandeep is an NRI was residing in the United Kingdom. Following a marriage at a modest ceremony, Amritpal Singh had said that his wife would live with him in Punjab.

With coward Amritpal Singh on the run, Centre set to get cracking soon

The Punjab police are looking into the funding that has been running the outfit headed by Amritpal Singh known as Waris Punjab De. This outfit founded by Deep Sidhu who was killed in a car crash was taken over by Amritpal SIngh.

The police and the central agencies are looking into foreign funding that the outfit has been getting. It has been found on numerous occasions that the ISI has been pumping in funds into this outfit, through various networks that are abroad.

Official sources tell OneIndia that the foreign funding network is key to the investigation. If the source of funding becomes clear, it becomes easier to stall the same and once that happens, the movement tends to die down gradually. The source also cited the example of Kashmir, where the separatists were being funded through international channels. Once the Enforcement Directorate and National Investigation Agency tightened the noose around the same, the funds stopped and the movement died largely, the source explained.

Meanwhile the ongoing probe has revealed that Amritpal's outfit had received funding to the tune of Rs 35 crore from foreign countries. This came to light following the arrest of a close of aide of Amritpal who goes by the name, Daljit Singh Kalsi. The money was found in his bank account and the agencies are trying to find the exact source of the same.

Kalsi, it may be recalled was the link between Amritpal and the ISI. He had submitted a memorandum against India with the Pakistan High Commission in Canada.

The police suspect that Kirandeep may have had a bigger role in this entire operation. Her name cropped up when the police and the agencies learnt that she had allegedly garnered funds from foreign shores for the activities of the Waris Punjab De.

Amritpal Singhs Mercedes belonged to a drug lord

Going deeper into the source of funding, it was found that there was a sudden increase in the remittance of money into the accounts of Khalsi. In most of these transactions, it was found that the money came in the form of cash deposits. The pattern of withdrawal according to sources was also suspicious in nature. A large amount to the tune of Rs 4 crore had withdrawn through ATM transactions over a period of time. The transactions were made from 12 different countries.

Meanwhile Amritpal Singh continues to be on the run and has evaded arrest for the past six days, since an operation to nab him had been launched. He has used a Mercedes, an Izuzu, a Ford Endeavour,a bike and not a cart to evade arrest.
BJP appoints 4 new state unit presidents, banks on OBC face in Bihar

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The BJP on Thursday named four new state presidents, including Lok Sabha MP C P Joshi in Rajasthan and OBC leader and MLC Samrat Choudhary in Bihar, as the party moves to tone up its organisational machinery with an eye on consolidating its support base in the run up to crucial state and national polls.

BJP president J P Nadda also appointed Manmohan Samal, a former state minister, as the head of the party's Odisha unit, while Delhi working president Virendra Sachdeva was elevated as its chief, as reported by new agency PTI.

Choudhary (54), whose standing within the BJP has steadily risen after joining the party in 2018, is the leader of the party in the Bihar legislative council and comes from the politically important Kushwaha community. He replaces Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal at the helm of the Bihar BJP. Joshi (47) will replace Satish Poonia, an MLA from Jaipur's Amber constituency, and comes close on the heels of veteran Rajasthan BJP leader Gulab Chand Kataria being eased out of active politics following his appointment as Assam governor.

A Brahmin face, Joshi is a second time MP from Chittorgarh Lok Sabha seat. Like Kataria, Poonia, too, did not have the best of equations with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje who remains the BJP's most formidable leader in the state. The party's central leadership has had its reservations with her but there have been indications that equations have improved between them.

Will ensure BJP victory in 2024 polls: New Odisha BJP chief

Assembly polls will be held in the Congress-ruled state later this year.

BJP sources noted that the term of the state presidents had got over. Samal, a former MP, is one of the better known BJP faces from Odisha and is seen to bring more heft than his predecessor Samir Mohanty, political watchers said. He is aggressive and his politics bears a distinct Hindutva mark, they added. He had headed the state BJP earlier as well.

BJP sources said Sachdeva has been impressive in his short stint at the party's Delhi working president following the removal of Adesh Gupta from the helm. He is low-key and out and out organisational person who has been able to infuse a sense of cohesion in the state unit often pulled in different directions by local heavyweights, they added.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 14:43 [IST]
Poor man like me could have successful, long career because of Congress: Kharge

BJP indulging in caste politics: Kharge hits back at Nadda for criticising Rahul

India

pti-PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday refuted BJP chief J P Nadda's allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the ruling party of indulging in "caste politics".

Amid a political fight between the BJP and the Congress following Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case over the "Modi surname" remarks, Nadda alleged that "lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral" to his politics.

"By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Rahul Gandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years, he has always reduced levels of political discourse," Nadda said.

Karnataka election is a litmus test for Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Hitting back, Kharge, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "Modi government cannot escape from JPC! Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Mehul Choksi fled with the money of PNB and the public.

OBCs did not do so, then how were they insulted?" "SBI/LIC suffered losses due to your 'best friend'!" he said slamming the government. "'Ek toh chori mein sahyog phir jatigat rajneeti ka prayog' (First providing help in stealing then applying caste politics)," Kharge said and termed it "shameful".

Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remarks.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Congress protest at Vijay Chowk against Rahul's conviction

Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.
BJP looks to raise election pitch with PM Modi, HM Shah on back-to-back visits to poll-bound Karnataka

India

pti-PTI

Back-to-back visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to poll-bound Karnataka is set to raise the election fever in the state as the BJP banks on the two senior leaders to give fresh impetus to its campaign.

Shah, who is arriving here on Thursday night, will have a breakfast meeting with Karnataka BJP strongman and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa at his residence on Friday.

Also on Friday, the Union Minister will attend the Regional Conference with Southern States and Union Territories on Smuggling of Narcotics and National Security.

Shah, who also holds the cooperation portfolio, will then visit Kommaghatta village on the outskirts of Bengaluru where he will lay the foundation stone of the 'Sahakara Samruddhi Soudha', and inaugurate various development works of the Cooperative Ministry.

In poll bound Karnataka, 76 MLAs have pending criminal cases against them

According to BJP sources, he will visit the state again on March 26. Assembly elections are due in Karnataka by May, for which the schedule is likely to be announced by the Election Commission of India in the coming days.

Prime Minister Modi would visit the state -- his seventh this year -- on Saturday during which he will take part in various events including a Metro ride, and address a mega public meet organised by the BJP.

During the visit, Modi will participate in programmes organised in Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru, and Davangere districts. The Prime Minister would inaugurate Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Chikkaballapura near here.

He will then fly back to Bengaluru in the afternoon to inaugurate the Whitefield Metro Line and will ride in the Metro. Modi will thereafter proceed to Davangere and address a public meeting, as part of BJP's poll preparations in Karnataka, marking the culmination of the 8,000 kilometre 'Vijay Sankapla Yatre'.

The 20 days 'yatre', which began from four different parts of the state, in specially designed vehicles or 'Rathas', was kickstarted on March 1 by BJP national President J P Nadda at Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Chamarajanagar district.

What we know about the defections in Karnataka and does this signal the political wind?

Several senior BJP leaders, Chief Ministers of other BJP-governed states, and Union Ministers had taken part in the programme. This is said to be the first party meeting which the Prime Minister will be attending, since the poll preparations began in Karnataka.

According to party functionaries, the event is aimed at further energising the BJP cadres in the run-up to Assembly polls.
Can freebies help Congress win Karnataka election?

India

oi-Deepika S

As Karnataka elections draws close, it's raining guarantees and freebies for voters. With an eye on first-time voters and youth, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was on a three-day visit to poll-bound Karnataka announced that the party will offer a monthly allowance to unemployed diploma and degree holders in Karnataka under 'Yuva Nidhi' scheme if voted to power in the state.

Under "YuvaNidhi' scheme, diploma holders will get an allowance of Rs1,500 per month for two years, while graduates will receive Rs 3,000 per month.

He claimed that if Congress is voted to power in the state, it will provide jobs to 10 lakh youth in five years and assured that 2.5 lakh government vacancies would be filled up.

Congress has already promised three poll 'guarantees' - 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), in the event of the party coming to power.

Freebie culture in India

Freebies have been a part of Indian elections for a long time now. Political parties often use freebies as a tool to woo voters and secure their support. In some cases, freebies have become a deciding factor in the electoral outcome.

The freebie culture in India began from Tamil Nadu with late Kumaraswami Kamaraj, the chief minister of erstwhile Madras state, introducing sops in the form of free education and free meals for school students.

Later, MG Ramachandran and Dravida Munnetra Kazagham founder CN Annadurai took the culture forward. In Tamil Nadu, populist measures like two-Rupee rice, laptops and farmers' loan waivers have had a history of turning around poll outcome. But will this work in Karnataka? Will voters be swayed by the freebies offered by the parties? Well, this is a million dollar question.

Can freebies help Congress win Karnataka election?

According to political pundits, freebies during elections are effectively used by all the political parties in the country. Voters who receive freebies from a particular party, do tend to vote for that party but it is not certain.

Unlike Tamil Nadu, the voters in Karnataka are pretty sensible and they have always weighed on the balance of credibility. Further, the people in the state have keenly watched governance by all the political parties and would make a wise call while electing their representatives. However, freebies could play a significant role in swaying votes this time amid staggering economy, hit by Covid pandemic.

However, a look at past experience indicates no such proof of voters being influenced by such a 'promise of largesse'.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 23:07 [IST]
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul Gandhi says as he vacates his bungalow

Congress calls Opposition meet over Surat court order against Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Deepika S

The Congress has called MPs from all Opposition parties for a meeting over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Draupadi Murmu in the Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

"Over 50 MPs met at Mallikarjun Kharge's house today. Tomorrow 10 AM he called all opposition parties' MPs for a meeting. From 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM, opposition parties will walk to Vijay Chowk to protest. We have asked President for her time tomorrow," Ramesh said.

Ramesh said the meeting at Kharge's residence lasted around two hours and it was decided that the Party chief would hold a meeting with all Pradesh Congress chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders in the evening and plan agitations in states.

"Tomorrow evening Congress President & CLP leader will have meeting for programs to be held in different states. This verdict on Rahul Gandhi is an example of PM Modi Govt's dirty politics. We will fight this legally and politically," he added.

A court in Surat convicted Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the 'Modi' surname.

Rahul Gandhi had said, "how come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Following this, BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister, Purnesh Modi and filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi, who is also an MP from Wayne.

The remarks were made by Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Kolar, Karnataka.

In his complaint, Purnesh said that Rahul Gandhi had insulted the entire Modi community by saying, "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname.?" Following the complaint, the Congress leader was booked under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code which deal with defamation.
In a tit-for-tat, Renuka to sue PM Modi over 'Surpanakha' remark

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury on Friday said she will file a defamation case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged 'Surpanakha' comment made in Parliament in 2018. The development comes after a Surat court held Rahul Gandhi guilty on Thursday for his remark against Modi 'surname' comment and sentenced him to a two-year jail term.

Sharing an old video on micro-blogging Twitter, the former Union Minister wrote,''This classless megalomaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the house. I will file a defamation case against him. Let's see how fast courts will act now..(sic).''

This classless megalonaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the house.



I will file a defamation case against him. Let's see how fast courts will act now.. pic.twitter.com/6T0hLdS4YW  Renuka Chowdhury (@RenukaCCongress) March 23, 2023

Chowdhury's allegation dates back to 2018 when PM Modi sarcastically said, "Meri aapse vinti hai Renuka ji ko kuch mat kahiye. Ramayan serial ke baad aisi hansi sunne ka saubhagya aaj jaake mila hai (Please do not say anything to Renuka. After the Ramayana serial, we got the privilege of hearing this kind of laughter only today.)"

Congress set to stage protest at Vijay Chowk today against Rahul Gandhi's conviction in defamation case

Her announcement on Twitter got support from Congress Leader Digvijaya Singh who tweeted, "You must immediately file defamation suit against him today. You have waited too long."

The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress has been claiming the defamation case is politically motivated and agenda-driven to intimidate and harass Congress and specifically Rahul Gandhi.
Suspense over as Mukul Roy says, I want to be in BJP

Several held as Oppn holds protest; Section 144 imposed

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Heavy security has been deployed at Delhi's Vijay Chowk, ahead of the Congress march on Friday, against the Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi. The Congress party will be carrying out the protest march against the court verdict that sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two-years-jail.

Besides the Congress, senior leaders of parties such as the DMK, National Conference, RSP, VCK, JDU, CPI(M), SP, SS, IUML, AAP and CPI attended the meeting at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharge's office inside Parliament complex. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Draupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

#WATCH | Delhi police detained opposition MPs who were protesting at Vijay Chowk demanding a JPC inquiry into the Adani Group issue. pic.twitter.com/la6GgC4O6g  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

Amid protests by opposition parties in Delhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with opposition leaders and deliberated on the strategy going forward in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 defamation case.

In addition to a protest march in the national capital, Congress chiefs in other states may also undertake protest marches against the verdict and Rahul Gandhi's conviction.

Congress calls Opposition meet over Surat court order against Rahul Gandhi

A court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks but was later granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the court's judgment.

The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Reacting to the judgment, complainant and Surat West Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Purnesh Modi said he welcomed the court's verdict.
RSS files FIR against media houses for claiming Sangh will have second HQ in Ayodhya

SC grants interim bail to Pawan Khera, issues notice for clubbing of all FIRs against him to one jurisdiction

As pro-Khalistanis in Punjab ran amok with guns, swords, here is why cops stayed quiet

Man who posed as PMO official booked for house grab bid in Gujarat

India

pti-PTI

Alleged conman from Gujarat Kiran Patel, held in Jammu and Kashmir for posing as a top official of the Prime Minister Office (PMO), has been booked by the Ahmedabad cops on cheating and criminal conspiracy charges for trying to usurp a senior citizen's bungalow here using the same tactic, an official has said.

Patel, a resident of the Ghodasar area of the city, was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police earlier this month from a five-star hotel in Srinagar after the authorities grew suspicious about his activities.

On Wednesday, the Ahmedabad city crime branch lodged a case of cheating (Indian Penal Code section 420), criminal breach of trust (406), criminal conspiracy (120-b) and personating a public servant (170) against the alleged conman, said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Chaitanya Mandlik, on Thursday.

Patel's wife Malini Patel has been shown as a co-accused in the FIR (first information report), he said.

Gujarat conman arrested for posing as 'top PMO official' in Srinagar

"As per our information, four FIRs related to cheating have been registered against Kiran Patel in different police stations of Gujarat in the past. Since he is in judicial custody, we will try to bring him here through a transfer warrant," Mandlik said.

In the latest FIR, it is alleged that Patel tried to grab a bungalow in a posh locality in Ahmedabad by winning the trust of its owner through false claims of being a "Class 1 officer in the PMO" and having close relations with politicians.

The complainant, 63-year-old Jagdish Chavda, owns a bungalow in the Shilaj area but wanted to sell it because of personal reasons. Patel approached Chavda in February 2022, claiming to be a real estate agent, and told the owner his property would fetch a good price if it was renovated.

To win Chavda's trust, Patel then identified himself as a "Class-1 officer in the PMO" as well as a partner in a cafe chain.

When Chavda agreed for the bungalow's renovation, Patel, his wife Malini and an interior designer started the work and took Rs 35 lakh in instalments from him, the FIR said.

As renovation was underway, Chavda shifted to his friend's residence in the Shela area. After some time, Chavda learnt that Patel and his wife had put their own name plate outside the bungalow and also did a house-warming ritual as if they were the owners.

When confronted, the Patel couple left the bungalow without finishing the renovation work, following which Chavda and his family moved back into the house, according to the police.

In August 2022, Chavda learnt through a court notice that Patel had filed a civil suit claiming ownership of the property, said the FIR.

In August 2019, a city-based decorator had lodged a complaint in Vadodara against Patel and two others for allegedly duping him of Rs 1 crore.

As per the FIR registered at the Raopura police station in 2019, Patel along with two event organisers - Dipesh Sheth and Dhara Sheth - had approached the complainant, Paritosh Shah, to decorate Navlakhi ground in Vadodara for a Navratri event held in October 2018.

While the trio paid nearly Rs 50 lakh to Shah in various instalments for the work done, they started giving excuses to clear the remaining bill of Rs 1 crore, as per the FIR.

At one point, Patel even threatened Shah with dire consequences claiming he was politically well-connected. When the trio refused to pay the pending money, Shah lodged a complaint with the Raopura police in August 2019.

A similar complaint of cheating and breach of trust was registered against Patel in Bayad town of Arvalli district in August 2020.

Amid H3N2 influenza scare, 58-year-old woman dies of flu-like symptoms in Gujarat

As per the FIR registered by the Bayad police, Patel along with his brother Manish Patel and the latter's wife Darshna had convinced three persons of Bayad to invest their savings in tobacco and cattle feed business for good returns.

In all, the accused took Rs 1.75 crore from one Ashish Patel and two of his friends by promising high returns on their investments, said the police document.

When cheques given by the accused got dishonoured, complainant Ashish Patel and others sought their money back, following which, the trio returned nearly Rs 50 lakh, but refused to pay the remaining sum of Rs 1.25 crore, said the FIR.
India signs Rs 9,900 crore deal with HAL and L&T to procure trainer aircraft: Why it is important

Defence Ministry inks Rs 3,700-crore deal with BEL to enhance IAF's surveillance

India

oi-Deepika S

Defence Ministry on Thursday signed two separate contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore, to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The first contract, worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR) 'Arudhra' for the Indian Air Force.

The second contract, at an overall cost of approx. Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under Buy {Indian - IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category.

These essentially embody the spirit of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will help facilitate the realisation of the country's journey to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

MPR (Arudhra)

"The radar has been indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be manufactured by BEL. Its successful trials have already been conducted by the Indian Air Force. It is a 4D multi-function phased array radar with electronic steering in both azimuth and elevation for surveillance, detection and tracking of aerial targets. The system will have target identification based on interrogations from co-located Identification Friend or Foe system," an official statement from defence ministry said.

The project will act as a catalyst for development of manufacturing capability in the industrial ecosystem.

DR-118 RWR

"The DR-118 Radar Warning Receiver will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of Su-30 MKI aircraft. Majority of sub-assemblies and parts will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers. The project will boost and encourage active participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs. It will generate employment of approx. two lakh man-days over a period of three and half years," it added.

The DR-118 RWR is a significant leap forward in developing indigenous EW capabilities and making the country 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 20:27 [IST]
Delhi Police file FIR over protest outside Indian High Commission in London

India

oi-PTI

Delhi Police has registered a case in connection with the protest held outside the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, officials said here on Friday.

The case was registered by the special cell under the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act as it involves unlawful activities carried out by certain people holding Indian nationality abroad, a senior police officer said.

It was done after the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the Delhi Police to take appropriate legal action on the receipt of a report from the Ministry of External Affairs over the incident at the Indian High Commission March 19.

Last Sunday, the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, leading to an arrest related to the violent disorder.

Officials from the mission said the "attempted but failed" attack had been foiled and that the tricolour was now flying "grander". The Metropolitan Police said two members of security staff sustained minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment. An investigation has been launched.

Khalistani elements attempt to pull down Indian flag in London; India summons top UK official

India on last Sunday night summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete "absence of security". In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India finds "unacceptable" the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.

The UK government will take the security of the Indian High Commission here "seriously", top British officials have said as they condemned as "disgraceful" and "completely unacceptable" the vandalism at the mission.

The banned terrorist organisation, Sikhs For Justice, is conducting a so-called "Referendum 2020" amid a crackdown on pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh in Punjab.

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Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 14:01 [IST]
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Fighting for voice of India, ready to pay any price: Rahul on disqualification

India

oi-Deepika S

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he is fighting for the voice of India and "ready to pay any cost" hours after being disqualified from Lok Sabha. The move came a day after his conviction in a defamation case for a remark seen as an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a tweet in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, "I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any price."

        



        Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 24, 2023

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

On Thursday, a court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Meanehile, several opposition leaders hit out at the BJP following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP on Friday, alleging that the ruling party was involved in vindictive politics, and said it was a new low for democracy.

The Congress has said it will fight the matter politically and legally, while the BJP has said the decision to disqualify Gandhi was a legal one and not a political call.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee said opposition leaders have become the "prime target of BJP".

"In PM (Narendra) Modi's New India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the Cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," she tweeted.

"Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," tweeted Banerjee in support of Gandhi, even as her party has taken a step back from being part of a Congress-led opposition against the BJP. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Gandhi's disqualification as shocking.

"The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power," he said in a tweet.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the disqualification of Gandhi is a "vendetta battle" and exposed how opposition leaders are living in a state of Emergency while BJP leaders are living in "Amrit Kaal".

The Lok Sabha Secretariat can disqualify Rahul Gandhi and declare his Wayanad constituency vacant. Later, the Election Commission will announce a special election for the seat.

This scenario comes into play unless the conviction is put on hold by a higher court. If the verdict is not cancelled, Rahul Gandhi will also not be allowed to contest elections for the next eight years.

If the appeal for suspension of sentence is not accepted by a high court, Rahul Gandhi can move the Supreme Court.

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Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 18:06 [IST]
Did Amritpal surrender or he was arrested? Here's what Punjab IGP says

Fugitive Amritpal applies for UK citizenship to escape Indian law

India

oi-Deepika S

In a bid to escape the long hands of Indian law, fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh wants to become a citizen of the United Kingdom now. According to reports, the Waris Punjab De chief had applied for British citizenship in February after his marriage with Kiran Kaur.

Kaur is a UK-based NRI and is on Punjab Police radar as her name has figured in garnering foreign funds for 'Waris Punjab De'. Amritpal's application is pending with British authorities and they are yet to take a call on the matter, reports CNN-News 18.

Amritpal's move to seek UK help is seen as an attempt from the radical Sikh preacher to escape Indian law amid the pressure and atmosphere being built up against him by the Indian authorities.

Radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh led quite a steamy life online

Notably, the UK and Canada remain safe havens for Indian gangsters and Khalistanis, with some lawmakers there showing unwavering support for terrorist activities. British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi had come out in support of Amritpal expressing concern over the arrests of Khalistani elements and temporary suspension of mobile internet services in Punjab.

"Very worrying reports coming from India, of the imposition of an internet blackout in the Punjab State, with mass arrests and restrictions on gatherings," tweeted Dhesi, a turbaned Sikh MP from Slough.

Amritpal shot to fame in February when hundreds of his supporters stormed a police station in Punjab with swords and guns to demand the release of a jailed aide. Punjab Police are on a hot pursuit of the Khalistan sympathiser.

He spent a decade in Dubai working in his family's transport business before returning to India in September last year. Since then, he has been leading marches calling for protecting the rights of Sikhs, who account for about 1.7 per cent of the country's population.

With coward Amritpal Singh on the run, Centre set to get cracking soon

Amritpal was spotted in CCTV cameras in a town of Haryana's Kurukshetra district on March 20 after spending the night in the house of a woman, who has since been arrested. The last known location of Amritpal Singh, based on the chronology of footage collected by investigators, was Shahabad-Markanda town in Kurukshetra, around 220 km from Punjab's Jalandhar.
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

US lawmaker wants Rahul back in Parliament; gets schooled

India

oi-Prakash KL

India American lawmaker Ro Khanna on Friday extended his support to Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as a member of Parliament over his conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case.

Khanna called the former Congress President's expulsion a "deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India's deepest values." He also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reverse the decision.

He tweeted, "The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from parliament is a deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India's deepest values. This is not what my grandfather sacrificed years in jail for. @narendramodi you have the power to reverse this decision for the the sake of Indian democracy."

However, Kanchan Gupta, senior adviser to the ministry of information and broadcasting, reminded him that the PM doesn't have the extra-judicial powers to override laws.

"Disqualification (NOT expulsion) of Rahul Gandhi from Parliament follows a court judgement and is mandated by Constitution of India and RPA, the Act under which elections are held," Kanchan Gupta said on Twitter while responding to the US lawmaker's tweet.

"Much as Ro Khanna may believe India is a tinpot autocracy, it is not. PM is not vested with extra-judicial powers to override laws. India is a democracy where the Constitution is supreme and the law is the same for everybody. That is what your grandfather fought for, Mr Khanna," he added.

How Netizens Reacted?

Netizens also schooled the US lawmaker that it is not PM Modi but the court has convicted him.

"Courts have convicted him ! COURTS & NOT GOVT You want Honourable Prime Minister to interfere? That would be undemocratic Rahul is out on Bail in a Case, has rendered Unconditional Apology for Rafael Case defamatory comments and now convicted for violation of laws by a Court Recourse available but not taken yet and that's a surprise for a dynast with many to do his begging 24x7 No Mr Khanna, Indian Democracy isn't in any trouble due to conviction of a serial offender," a user said.

"Nope...You'll not understand the Indian Democracy. India is democratic Nation and will be remain. No one is above the law. Action has been taken according to law against

@RahulGandhi," the second one said.

"Please be aware that @narendramodi is not the king of India. As per Indian constitution, any conviction that leads to a sentence of two years or more automatically leads to disqualification. Many of us think that the judgement is excessive but it is for higher courts to reverse," another netizen added.

Meanwhile, the opposition across the party lines has put their weight behind Rahul Gandhi. Interestingly, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also extended support to Gandhi.

AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha as a matter of "deep concern" and hit out at the BJP alleging that an attempt is being made to destroy the country. He alleged the way Gandhi was disqualified was an "act of cowardice symbolic of a scared government." "It's not just a fight of the Congress or Rahul Gandhi, it's a fight of the entire opposition," he told reporters after his speech in the Delhi Assembly.

Mamata Banerjee said the country is witnessing a new low in a constitutional democracy. "In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP ! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," the fiery TMC Supremo said in a tweet. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," Banerjee, added.

Gandhi has been disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday after his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Announcing his disqualification in a notification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that it is effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

The Surat court on Thursday sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case filed on the basis of a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for the Congress leader's remark "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" while delivering a speech in 2019.

With inputs from PTI
Judges, journalists share common belief that pen is mightier than sword: CJI Chandrachud

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud raised concerns about the selective quoting of judges' speeches and judgments in the media.

He said that this is leading to a distorted public understanding of important legal issues.

The Chief Justice made the comments in the wake of a rise in legal journalism and the increasing interest in stories emerging from court halls. He said that the concern is about the one-sided reporting in the newly developing field.

We are witnessing a rising interest in legal journalism, CJI Chandrachud said while delivering the keynote address at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards organised by the Indian Express in collaboration with the Ramnath Goenka Foundation.

Don't want to join issues with Law Minister: Chief Justice Chandrachud

"We are witnessing a rising interest in legal journalism. Legal journalists are the storytellers of the justice system, shedding light on the complexities of the law. However, selective quoting of speeches and judgements of judges by journalists in India has become a matter of concern. This practice has a tendency to distort the public understanding of important legal issues. Judges' decisions are often complex and nuanced and selective quoting can give the impression that a judgment means something entirely different from what the judge actually intended. It is thus essential for journalists to provide a complete picture of events rather than presenting a one-sided view. They have a duty to report accurately and impartially," CJI Chandrachud said.

He noted that both journalists and judges share the common belief in the aphorism that the pen is mightier than the sword. They also share the occupational hazard of being disliked by virtue of their professions, he said.

"This is no easy cross to bear. My judicial clerks have been telling me in recent times that I have been added to the list, that I better not scroll down on Twitter," he said.

While laughing at this personal revelation, he optimistically addd that members of both professions relentlessly kept at their daily tasks and hoped that one day the reputations of their professions would receive a makeover.

"There is a strong need to bridge the gap between the truth and the lie," Justice Chandrachud further said, while speaking about unbiased and non-partisan journalism. He spoke at length about the alarming phenomenon of 'fake news', which threatened the independence and impartiality of journalism as an institution. He firmly said, "It is the collective responsibility of journalists as well as other stakeholders to weed out any element of bias or prejudice from the process of reporting events." Justice Chandrachud said.

Collegium best system we have developed for appointment of judges: CJI Chandrachud

"Media houses are expected to act cautiously while publishing news because fake news can guide or misguide millions of people at once. This is in direct contradiction with the fundamentals of democracy which form the bedrock of our existence. Across the globe, fake news has a capability to create tensions between communities by misleading people. Therefore, to protect the democratic values of fraternity which can be damaged, if not destroyed, through biased reporting, there is a strong need to bridge the gap between the truth and the lie," he said.

"Responsible journalism is the beacon of truth that guides us to a better tomorrow. It is the engine that drives democracy forward based on the quest for truth, justice, and equality. As we navigate the challenges of the digital age, it is more important than ever for journalists to maintain standards of accuracy, impartiality, responsibility, and fearlessness in their reporting. That is the truth and that is what Ramnath Goenka stood for, which is why we pay our homage to him with these awards," CJI Chandrachud also said.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 10:42 [IST]
JDS looks to expand base, eyes Veerashaiva-Lingayat votes

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

As Karnataka heads to the election in the next few days, Janata Dal (Secular) or JD (S), which traditionally relied on the Vokkaliga vote bank in the state, is now trying to expand its voter base.

In a bid to woo Veerashaiva-Lingayats community, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) leader H D Kumaraswamy had recently offered an apology to Veerashaiva voters.

While addressing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy appealed to 'forget old incidents' and even stopped short of apologising to the community for not handing over the chief minister post to BS Yediyurappa in 2007.

It may be recalled that when Kumaraswamy and Yediyurappa had formed an alliance in 2006, it had led to the fall of the Dharam Singh-led coalition government.

Under the power-sharing agreement between the two parties, Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) became the Chief Minister of the state for the first 20 months of the government's term, after which Yediyurappa of the BJP had to take over as Chief Minister for the remaining 20 months. But when the time came, the JD(S) leader refused to do it, which led to the collapse of the government in 2008. Since then, it is believed that the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community has harboured a grouse against the JD(S) and Kumaraswamy.

JDS may further hurt Congress in Old Mysuru region?

In 2018, although JD(S) which is largely seen as a party of Vokkaligas, it fielded 33 Lingayat candidates, out of which four of them had won the election. This time, they have named 15 Lingayat candidates in its first list of 93 candidates.

Veerashaiva-Lingayats community, who are considered to be the BJP's core voter base, account for about 15 per cent of the total electorate of five crore. The BJP has the highest number of Veerashaiva-Lingayat MLAs (38) in the 224-member assembly.

However, with Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar emerging as Vokkaliga leader and CM face from the community, the JD(S) is trying its best to expand its voter base.
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Mahatma Gandhi versus Rahul

India

oi-Balbir Punj

Rahul is repeating what the British propagated to divide Indians, Naxalites teach their cadres to motivate them to wage a war against their own country and the Church preaches to wean away the tribals from their traditions, and convert them to Christianity.

Thanks to Rahul Gandhi frequently resorting to communist shibboleth during his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', he is ending up raising highly divisive issues. As a result, the Yatra' is turning into an exercise in 'Bharat Todo' instead of 'Jodo'.

Rahul's malicious remarks against Veer Savarkar, branding him as a British agent, created a chasm between Congress and its new found ally Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena, besides upsetting millions of Indians who abhor use of cheap language against freedom fighters. Choosing the tribal-dominated Mahuva reserved constituency during the Gujarat campaign trail, Rahul hit another self-goal when he credited the late Indira Gandhi for teaching him that the Adivasis were the "first malik (owners) of this country".

Elaborating further the divisive paradigm, Rahul said "The country was taken from you. The people of BJP don't call you Adivasi. What do they call you? Vanvasi. They don't tell you that you are the first owners of Hindustan."

Rahul's statement is in total variance with facts, traditions and history. Indians, like people anywhere else, lived in cities (nagarvasis) villages (Gramvasis) and forests (vanvasis). They were one people and continue to be one. Over 99 per cent Indians have a common DNA - no one section is a 'Malik', and the rest 'outsiders'.

PM Modi targets Rahul Gandhi for walking with Medha Patkar during Bharat Jodo Yatra

The context in which Rahul used the expression "the country was taken from you," has an archetypal Marxist undertone, reeking of mischief.

If the Adivasis are the "first malik" of this country, what about the rest? Where have they come from and when? The implicit message is: non tribals don't belong to this land, are outsiders, and thus usurpers. It's a crude ploy to pit innocent 'janjatti' people (as the Constitution describes them) against the rest.

Rahul is repeating what the British propagated to divide Indians to meet their imperial ends, Naxalites teach their cadres to motivate them to wage a war against their own country and the Church preaches to wean away the tribals from their traditions, and convert them to Christianity. This paradigm, completely divorced from reality, is an important part of the 'break-India gang's arsenal and is ironically being used during 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

To justify and perpetuate their colonisation of India, the British popularised Aryan invasion theory. The burden of their argument was, India did not belong to anyone, it was a land, which was repeatedly invaded and colonised by successive invaders, who destroyed the preceding cultures and imposed their own traditions on the vanquished inhabitants. The Aryan invasion theory since has been convincingly proven wrong.

After successfully quashing the 1857 uprising, the wily British adopted the policy of 'divide & rule' and selected over half a dozen fault lines to work on, after extensive studies of Indian history, sociology and anthropology. The British, cleverly twisted facts, used half-truths and manufactured history to suit their narrative - which essentially had twin objectives - to fill Indians with inferiority complex by convincing them that they had no past or achievements worth the name, and to generate animosity among various sections against each other, based on real or imaginary mutual grouses .

Actors paid to walk with Rahul Gandhi during Yatra, claims BJP; Cong says 'bogus'

The history of India, according to this discredited theory is, an account of a series of invasions from the western side: Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Huns, Arabs, Turks, Portuguese, British, and so on. In short, there's nothing Indian about India, its current identity is smorgasbord of various alien cultures and influences.

Everything, known as Indian is a remnant of what the invaders had brought with them, and survived the vagaries of time. The British wanted to establish that India never had real indigenous civilisation or cohesive Indian identity, so that Indians become malleable to the idea of alien rule and accept it as a gift from divine.

Over a period of time, according to this theory, succeeding alien traditions have mushed together and produced a hybrid culture, with no definitive contours or core. It's a shapeless commodity, colourless, tasteless and odourless. In essence, it's an exercise to deny India's timeless Hindu ethos and divorce the ancient nation from its spiritual mores and civilisational roots- and annihilate the invisible life force that glues a diverse residual India together.

The Aryan invasion theory came handy to Marxists, who wanted to destroy the traditional Indian society -- based on harmonisation of diversity -- in various aspects of life. Marxists believed in class struggle and conveniently turned 'invading Aryans' into oppressors.

The so-called pre-Aryan indigenous peoples were turned into the oppressed masses whose habitats were pulverised and they were forced to either flee into forests or pushed towards south to escape persecution at the hands of barbaric Aryans. Christian and Islamic missionaries too have used the theory to denigrate Hinduism, and paint it as a cultural extension of savage aliens who decimated local traditions.

Apart from Vedas, the Valmiki Ramayana and Mahabarata are the most prominent scriptures of Hindu pantheon. What do we know of the relations between city and forest dwellers? Marxist and church paints forest dwellers as 'backward', illiterate and some sort of people who have no connect with civilisation. But in Ramayana and Mahabharata, the forests are centres of higher learning, great moral values and centres of excellence. Ashrams of Rishies are in forests and even progenies of royalty go and reside there to complete their education.

Cong leader Abhay Thipsay who defended Nirav Modi in UK court now at 'Bharat Jodo Yatra

Most of the works of Indian philosophy were composed in the serene and peaceful environs of forests. Citizens did live in cities, villages and forests - and for obvious reasons the three had different levels of development - but they all belonged to one civilization.

The hallmark of the civilisation was not homogeneity in beliefs, food, dress or traditions, but complete harmony in diversity.

There was no overbearing monolith God, but numerous deities, fashioned by believers to suit their requirement and understanding of the divine. No wonder, Vanvasis, gramvasis and nagarvasis saw and experienced divinity in different forms, conducted their worship in myriad ways and evolved divergent traditions in accordance with their beliefs.

In spite of glaring difference on surface, there was a silken thread which helped India to stay as a nation. This can be best expressed in the words of Mahatma Gandhi.

Writing in Hind Swaraj (first published in 1907), Gandhi ji said, "We were one nation before they (the English) came to India. One thought inspired us. Our mode of life was the same. It was because we were one nation that they were able to establish one kingdom. Subsequently they divided us. And we Indians are one as no two Englishmen are. Only you and I and others who consider ourselves civilized and superior persons imagine that we are many nations."

So when Gandhi ji says "we Indians are one as no two Englishmen are ...", he surely includes those belonging to Anusuchit Janajati", as well.

(Mr. Balbir Punj is a Former Member of Parliament and a Columnist. He can be reached at: [email protected])

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Member of a banned outfit? It's an offence under UAPA: SC

India

oi-Deepika S

The Supreme Court on Friday clarified that 'mere membership' of a banned organisation will make a person criminally liable under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court said the subsequent decisions passed by high courts pursuant to its two-judge verdicts in 2011 on membership of banned outfits are bad in law and overruled.

While allowing petitions of the Centre and the Assam government seeking review of the apex court's 2011 verdicts on membership of banned outfits, the court said the Union government was required to be heard when a provision enacted by Parliament is read down.

The apex court said the 2011 verdicts were passed while relying on American court decisions which cannot be done without considering the condition prevailing in India.

"In India right to freedom of speech and expressions is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restriction. However, decisions of the American court can be guiding light", the bench said.

14 Opposition parties move SC against 'arbitrary use' of CBI, ED

On February 9, the top court while reserving its verdict on batch of review pleas had noted that the Union of India was not heard by its two-judge benches when the 2011 verdict was passed reading down section 3 (5) of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (now repealed).

The top court on February 3, 2011, had acquitted suspected ULFA member Arup Bhuyan, who was held guilty by a TADA court on the basis of his alleged confessional statement before the Superintendent of Police, and said mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or creates public disorder by violence or incitement to violence.

Similar views were taken by the apex court in two other verdicts of 2011 in Indra Das versus State of Assam and state of Kerala versus Raneef, where the bench relied upon the three US Supreme Court decisions which have rejected the doctrine of 'guilt by association'.
Of 4 constituencies, Siddaramaiah set to choose his safest bet

India

oi-Prakash KL

After much deliberation, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah seems to have made up his mind on contesting the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls from the Varuna assembly constituency, which is considered a safe bet for him.

In January, Siddaramaiah announced that he would contest from Kolar, giving an opportunity for the Opposition to target him for "running away" from his constituency. However, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi last week asked him during the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting held in New Delhi not to take any risks and choose a safe constituency.

"Your each minute and move is crucial and need by the party," News18 reported the former party chief as advising to Siddaramaiah.

Hence, the 75-year-old politician is now prepping up to contest from Varuna.

Varuna is currently represented by his son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah had earlier won twice from Varuna, and even went on to become the Chief Minister after winning the seat in 2013. However, he might contest from two constituencies - Varuna and Badami.

"From many constituencies, they (supporters and party workers) are asking.... From 25 constituencies they are asking (me to contest). I cannot contest from all 25 constituencies. There is one opinion at home that I should be contesting from Varuna, so I have said (to the party's central leadership), clear Varuna, let's see," PTI quoted Siddaramaiah as saying on Friday.

According to a report in the Quint, Varuna has 35,000 Kurubas, 43,000 Scheduled Castes, 23,000 Scheduled Tribes and 12,000 OBCs votes. As a result, it has been considered a safe bet for Siddaramaiah.

Nonetheless, his supporters from Kolar and Badami are urging him to contest from those seats.

Siddaramaiah, who currently represents Badami segment of Bagalkote district in the northern part of the state, has repeatedly indicated that he may not contest from there, citing his inability to give more time to people and party workers of the constituency as the reason.

He made his debut in the in the Assembly in 1983 from Chamundeshwari contituency on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won five times from this constituency and tasted defeat thrice. However, he has made it clear that he would not contest from his former constituency of Chamundeshwari in Mysuru. In 2018 polls, he lost to G T Deve Gowda of the JD(S) by 36,042 votes.

With inputs from agencies

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Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 19:47 [IST]
PM Modi to visit Karnataka on Saturday, to inaugurate Whitefield metro line

India

oi-Deepika S

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on his seventh visit to poll-bound Karnataka to take part in various programmes organised in Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru and Davangere.

Back-to-back visits of PM Modi to Karnataka is set to raise the election fever in the state as the BJP banks on the two senior leaders to give fresh impetus to its campaign.

At around 10:45 am, Prime Minister will inaugurate Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Chikkaballapur. At around 1 pm, Prime Minister will inaugurate Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapura Metro Line of Bangalore Metro and also undertake a ride in the metro.

PM at Chikkaballapur

In an initiative that will help students to avail new opportunities and provide accessible and affordable healthcare in this region, Prime Minister will inaugurate Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR). It has been established by Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur.

Situated in a rural area and established with a vision of de-commercialising medical education and healthcare, SMSIMSR will provide medical education and quality medical care - completely free of cost - to all. The institute will start functioning from the academic year 2023.

PM at Bengaluru

Prime Minister has had a special focus on the development of world class urban mobility infrastructure across the country. In line with this, the 13.71 km stretch from Whitefield (Kadugodi) Metro to Krishnarajapura Metro Line of Reach-1 extension project under Bangalore Metro Phase 2, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Whitefield (Kadugodi) Metro Station.

Built at a cost of around Rs 4250 crores, the inauguration of this metro line will provide a clean, safe, rapid and comfortable travel facility to commuters in Bengaluru, enhancing ease of mobility and reducing traffic congestion in the city.

PM Modi will thereafter proceed to Davangere and address a public meeting, as part of BJP's poll preparations in Karnataka, marking the culmination of the 8,000 kilometre 'Vijay Sankapla Yatre'.

The 20 days 'yatre', which began from four different parts of the state, in specially designed vehicles or 'Rathas', was kickstarted on March 1 by BJP national President J P Nadda at Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Chamarajanagar district.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 20:16 [IST]
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Rahul no longer an MP: Out of 2024 fight before entering arena?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Parliament on Friday disqualified opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker after a Surat court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, according to a parliament notice.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

''Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023,'' the notification read.

Gandhi, 52, a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, was convicted on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

What does the law say?

As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat can disqualify Rahul Gandhi and declare his Wayanad constituency vacant. Later, the Election Commission will announce a special election for the seat.

This scenario comes into play unless the conviction is put on hold by a higher court. If the verdict is not cancelled, Rahul Gandhi will also not be allowed to contest elections for the next eight years.

When Rahul Gandhi trashed a Bill to save convicted politicians

If the appeal for suspension of sentence is not accepted by a high court, Rahul Gandhi can move the Supreme Court.

Rahul Gandhi is not the only politician to face disqualification as MP under RP Act. The most famous is the J Jayalalithaa. The AIADMK leader and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu was convicted in a disproportionate assets case for four years and fined Rs 100 crore. She had to step down as the chief minister and her membership remained disqualified until the Karnataka High Court reversed the verdict of the trial court. She went on to become the CM once again. However during her tenure, she passed away and at that time the appeal was pending in the Supreme Court. Due to her passing away, the case was abated against her.

Can Rahul Gandhi contest elections?

Rahul Gandhi faces the risk of not being able to contest for the next eight years if the verdict is not cancelled by any higher court.

According to a provision of the RP Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha MP: Here's list of prominent leaders barred under RP Act

India

oi-Deepika S

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha because of his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The Wayanad MP was convicted over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remark.

"Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951," the Lok Sabha secretariat said in a notification issued today.

As per the Representation of the People Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

Rahul Gandhi is not the only politician to be disqualification as MP. Here are the names of other prominent leaders barred under RP Act.

Jagir Kaur: Former state cabinet minister, Jagir Kaur lost her cabinet berth following her conviction for forcible abortion and abduction of her daughter.

Lalu Prasad Yadav: In October 2013, Lalu Yadav was disqualified from the Lok Sabha and barred from contesting elections for 11 years which included his 5-year imprisonment and 6-year bar subsequent to his release under the act.

Indira Gandhi: The Allahabad high court invalidated found Indira Gandhi, who was the then Prime Minister, guilty on the charge of misuse of government machinery for her election campaign. The court declared her election null and void and unseated her from her seat in the Lok Sabha representing Rae Bareilly constituency. The court also banned her from contesting any election for an additional six years.

Umlesh Yadav: Umlesh Yadav is the first politician to be disqualified by the Election Commission of India for a period of three years for suppression of her election expenses incurred when she was elected as an MLA to the Bisauli constituency in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections.

Two Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly members, Bajrang Bahadur Singh and Uma Shankar Singh, were disqualified in January 2015 due to holding government contracts.

Jayalalithaa: AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa is disqualified from contesting elections after she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case by a special court in Bangalore.

Narottam Mishra: Narottam Mishra was barred from membership of any State legislature and contesting polls for three years for filing wrong accounts of election expenditure.

Mishra's membership has been revoked under section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to be read with Sections 77 and 78 of the Act.

Azam Khan: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was disqualified as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly under provisions of the Representation of the People Act.

Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal was disqualified after he was convicted in an attempt to murder case by a court in the union territory.

Faizal has ceased to be a people's representative with effect from January 11, 2023.

Several other politicians have been disqualified so far include Congress Rasheed Masood, Janata Dal (United) leader Jagdish Sharma, BJP leaders Asha Rani, Suresh Halvankar, among others.
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Rahul Gandhi on granny's footsteps, loses MP status

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was on Friday disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case case over his remark on the 'Modi surname'. Announcing his disqualification under Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it would be effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

The disqualification will bar Gandhi from contesting polls for eight years unless stayed by a higher court.

Incidentally, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, in 2013, had attempted to circumvent a Supreme Court ruling to set aside an RP Act provision under which a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified ''from the date of such conviction'' and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

Nose wiping issue: Rahul bid to wipe it clean before Kharge

Gandhi himself had opposed the ordinance at that time and tore the ordinance in a press conference as a token of protest.

Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi's grandmother Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India, had also lost her MP status back in 1975.

Only once in India's history has the main opposition leader been jailed. In December 1978, Indira Gandhi, by then no longer PM, was expelled from the Lok Sabha. She was debarred from holding any elected post for six years following her conviction by the Allahabad High Court in June 12, 1975.

The verdict is widely believed to have led to imposition of Emergency.

Fighting for voice of India, ready to pay any price: Rahul on disqualification

While convicting Indira Gandhi of electoral malpractices, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha disqualified her from Parliament and imposed a six-year ban on her holding any elected post.

Following appeal filed by Indira Gandhi, a vacation judge of the Supreme granted a conditional stay on Justice Sinha's verdict allowing her to continue as Prime Minister. However, she was debarred from taking part in parliamentary proceedings and drawing salary as an MP. The Supreme Court later overturned her conviction in November 1975 during the Emergency.

The Congress leaders had rallied in support of Indira Gandhi after the Allahbad court verdict.

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Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 19:02 [IST]
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Rahul Gandhi will not be disqualified as MP if conviction stayed: Experts

India

pti-PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will not be disqualified as a member of parliament if the appellate court stays the conviction and suspends the two- year jail term awarded to him by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his alleged "Modi surname" remarks, legal experts said on Thursday.

Senior lawyer and constitutional law expert Rakesh Dwivedi referred to the apex court's 2013 and 2018 judgements in the Lily Thomas and the Lok Prahari matters respectively and said suspension of sentence and stay of conviction were necessary to escape disqualification as a lawmaker under the Representation of the People (RP) Act.

"The appellate court can suspend the conviction and the sentence and grant him bail. In that case there will be no disqualification," he said, adding "However the politicians must choose their words carefully to avoid getting entangled with law."

When Rahul Gandhi trashed a Bill to save convicted politicians

The debate over possibilities of Gandhi being disqualified as an MP must take note of the legal position enumerated in the apex court judgements and the relevant provisions of the RP Act, he said.

A former senior official of the Election Commission and an expert on electoral laws who did not wish to be named was of the view that to prevent being disqualified as a lawmaker, Gandhi also needs to get his conviction stayed. He said suspension of sentence was different from suspension of conviction.

"The position as per the Lily Thomas judgment, a conviction which carries a sentence of two years or more will automatically result in disqualification. In a later judgment in the Lok Prahari case, the apex court said on appeal if the conviction is suspended, the disqualification will also remain suspended," he said.

He said the Congress leader will have to get a stay on conviction also from a higher court. P D T Achari, former Lok Sabha Secretary General and Constitution expert, said the disqualification period begins as soon as the sentence is announced.

He said Gandhi is free to appeal and if the appellate court stays the conviction and the sentence, then the disqualification will remain suspended. The disqualification continues six years after the sentence is completed or served.

"That means the disqualification will last for eight years (in case he is disqualified)," he said, adding that a disqualified person can neither contest, poll or vote for a certain period. He was of the opinion that disqualification arises out of sentence, not conviction alone.

"Therefore, if the sentence has been suspended by the trial court itself, that means his membership does not get affected. The disqualification has not come into effect," he said.

In the Lok Prahari case, a three judge-bench of the top court, of which CJI D Y Chandrachud was also a part, in 2018 had termed as "untenable" the disqualification if the conviction of a lawmaker is stayed by an appellate court.

"It is untenable that the disqualification which ensues from a conviction will operate despite the appellate court having granted a stay of the conviction. The authority vested in the appellate court to stay a conviction ensures that a conviction on untenable or frivolous grounds does not operate to cause serious prejudice.

Will Rahul Gandhi lose his Lok Sabha membership due to conviction: Here is what the law says

As the decision in Lily Thomas has clarified, a stay of the conviction would relieve the individual from suffering the consequence inter alia of a disqualification relatable to the provisions of sub-sections 1, 2 and 3 of Section 8 of the RP Act," the 2018 verdict had said.

In 2013, the top court, in the Lily Thomas case, had struck down section 8(4) of the RP Act that gave a convicted lawmaker the power to remain in office on the grounds that appeals have been filed within three months of conviction.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, in 2013, had attempted to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling to set aside a RP Act provision. It was Gandhi who had opposed the ordinance in a press conference here and tore the ordinance in a press conference as a token of protest.

According to a provision of the RP Act, a person sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time.

Section 8 of the RP Act provides for offences in which a lawmaker would entail disqualification upon conviction. The provision divides the offences in several categories that attract disqualification upon conviction.

In the first category are offences that entail disqualification for a period of six years upon any conviction. If the punishment is a fine, the six-year period will run from the date of conviction, but if there is a prison sentence, the disqualification will begin on the date of conviction, and will continue up to the completion of six years after the date of release from jail.

Offences like making speeches that cause enmity between groups, bribery and impersonation during elections and other electoral offences, offences relating to rape and cruelty to women by husband and latter's relatives are included in it.

Offences under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, Customs Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act etc are among the category of offences that entail disqualification regardless of the quantum of punishment.

Laws for prevention of Sati, corruption, terrorism and insult to national flag and national anthem etc are also part of this group. All other criminal provisions form a separate category under which mere conviction will not entail disqualification and a sentence of at least two years in prison is needed to incur such disqualification.
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

Rahul disqualification: Congress core team goes into huddle

India

oi-Deepika S

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge along with other senior leaders are in a huddle at the party headquarters in Delhi over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that a meeting has been called at the party office over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP. The meeting will be held at 5 pm today.

Earlier in the day speaking to the media, the party president alleged that the BJP tried 'all ways' to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as a member of Lok Sabha.

"They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy," Kharge said.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction. "Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March 2023," the notification read.

Reacting to the development, Congress said it will fight the battle both "legally and politically".

"We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the action against Gandhi and by its rapidity. "This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Tharoor said in a tweet.
SC order on EC appointments being examined, appropriate action will be taken: Govt

India

pti-PTI

The government is examining the Supreme Court's verdict on the appointment of chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners and it will take "appropriate action" on it, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Supreme Court in its judgment of March 2 held that until Parliament makes a law in consonance with Article 342(2) of the Constitution, the appointment of the CEC and election commissioners will be made on the recommendations made by a three-member committee comprising the prime minister, chief justice of India and leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, and in case no LoP is available then the leader of the single largest opposition party in LS.

"The judgement of Supreme Court is being examined by the government and appropriate action will be taken," he said. Rijiju pointed out that the Election Commission is a permanent constitutional body established in accordance with Article 324(1) of the Constitution of India.

As per Article 324(2) of the Constitution, the Election Commission will consist of the CEC and such number of election commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fix.

The appointment of the CEC and other election commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law made on that behalf by Parliament, be made by the President. The law minister said originally, the Commission was headed by the lone chief election commissioner.

People have trusted poll results, still EC gives 'agnipariksha' after every election: CEC Kumar

In order to ensure transparency in the working of the Commission and for conduct of free and fair elections in the country, the government of the day appointed two additional commissioners in October 1989, who continued only till January 1990.

Later, on October 1, 1993, two election commissioners were appointed and the concept of present-day multi-member Commission is in vogue since then, he noted. "No specific law has been made by Parliament as envisaged under Article 324 (2) of the Constitution of India for appointment of chief election commissioner and the election commissioners," Rijiju said.

According to Rule 8 of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961, the appointment of the CEC and other election commissioners requires the approval of the prime minister and the President, he said.

"So far senior members of civil service and/or other serving or retired officers of the rank of secretary to the Government of India/chief secretary of the state governments are appointed as election commissioners, and the senior-most among the three election commissioners as chief election commissioner.

"The appointments to the posts of the CEC and election commissioners are in consonance with the constitutional values that uphold the integrity and credibility of the Commission," Rijiju said.
Siddaramaiah indecision? May contest two seats

India

oi-PTI

Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday indicated that he might contest from his home constituency of Varuna in Mysuru district in the upcoming Assembly polls. The Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly also hinted at fighting the elections from two constituencies, including Varuna, like he did in 2018.

Varuna is currently represented by his son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah had earlier won twice from Varuna, and even went on to become the Chief Minister after winning from the seat in 2013. "From many constituencies they (supporters and party workers) are asking.... From 25 constituencies they are asking (me to contest). I cannot contest from all 25 constituencies. There is one opinion at home that I should be contesting from Varuna, so I have said (to the party's central leadership), clear Varuna, let's see," Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "...at home they are saying that I should be contesting from one more constituency, let's see, I haven't thought about it." The Congress legislature party leader who is nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the party coming to power, and has been looking for a "safe seat", had announced in January that he would contest from Kolar, reportedly after conducting surveys.

Can freebies help Congress win Karnataka election?

He did say, however, that it would be subject to the approval of the party's central leadership. Last week there were reports that the Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the party's Central Election Committee meeting, advised Siddaramaiah not to contest from Kolar, which is said to be "risky" for him. Following this, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday told a large group of supporters from Kolar who had gathered near his residence here that the Congress high command had asked him not to take even "one percent risk" while choosing a constituency to contest the elections.

Stating that the high command had left the decision to him, and had asked him to be available for campaigning across the state ahead of the elections, he had said, "I will speak to my son and my wife and arrive at a decision." Siddaramaiah, who currently represents Badami segment of Bagalkote district in the northern part of the state, has repeatedly indicated that he may not contest from there, citing his inability to give more time to people and party workers of the constituency as the reason.

The 75-year-old leader, who has announced that the 2023 assembly polls will be his last, has made it clear that he would not contest from his former constituency of Chamundeshwari in Mysuru. As the then sitting Chief Minister, he lost the 2018 polls in Chamundeshwari to G T Deve Gowda of the JD(S) by 36,042 votes.

Karnataka Election 2023: HDK to fight from Channapatna

He, however, won Badami, the other constituency from where he had contested the 2018 polls, and defeated B Sriramulu of the BJP by 1,696 votes. Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Siddaramaiah had got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won five times from this constituency and tasted defeat thrice.

After neighbouring Varuna became a constituency in 2008 following delimitation, Siddaramaiah represented it till he vacated the seat for his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah (MLA) in the 2018 Assembly polls and went back to his old constituency of Chamundeshwari.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 16:18 [IST]
Rahul Gandhi to hand over official bungalow on Saturday

Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

40% BJP government would get only 40 seats in Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul's conviction: Whats the case all about!

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A court in Surat convicted Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the 'Modi' surname.

A defamation case had been filed against Rahul Gandhi following his 2019 comments on the 'Modi surname.

Rahul Gandhi had said, "how come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Following this, BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister, Purnesh Modi and filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi, who is also an MP from Wayne.

The remarks were made by Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Kolar, Karnataka.

Rahul Gandhi convicted in 'Modi surname' remark case

In his complaint, Purnesh said that Rahul Gandhi had insulted the entire Modi community by saying, "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname.?"

Following the complaint, the Congress leader was booked under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code which deal with defamation.

During his speech, Rahul Gandhi had also said, "the name Modi symbolises the collusion between India's biggest crony capitalist and the Prime Minister of India.

Surat's Chief Judicial Magistrate, A N Dave had told the media in 2021 that Rahul Gandhi had denied the allegations that he had made defamatory remarks against those who are named Modi.

Rahul maintained in court that he is an opposition leader and it is his job to question the government and the leaders on corruption and unemployment.

During the course of the hearing the complainant also produced two eye-witness to prove his point. The Kolar district collector and the videographer also recorded their statements before the court.

Karnataka Election 2023: Rahul Gandhi announces unemployment aid guarantee for youth

The hearing in this case resumed after the Gujarat court vacated the stay on Rahul Gandhi's personal appearance in the court.

Prior to the verdict, Congress spokesperson, Manish Doshi said that they believe in the judicial system. He alleged that no matter how hard the BJP tries to silence their leader, they will come back stronger.
I'm not terrorist, Channi on permission getting cancelled to fly to Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar at last minute

Upcoming Elections in India 2022: Check out the list of polls in the country next year

India

oi-Prakash KL

New Delhi, Dec 25: The year 2022 will be a crucial year in Indian politics as the country will witness one or the other election all through the year. Several states are going for polls in February-March while some states will have elections towards the end of the year.

Here, we are bringing you the list of major elections in 2022:

Goa Assembly Elections:

The coastal state will witness the election for 40 assembly seats. Currently, BJP is ruling the state. Polls indicate that the safforn party might return to power again and Pramod Sawant will get another term.

Speculated date of election: February/March 2022

Manipur Assembly Elections:

The elections will be held in Manipur in February and March in 2022 to elect 60 members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Currently, N Biren Singh is the Chief Minister of the state. The BJP is in a power-sharing agreement with National Peoples Party and Lok Janshakti Party.

The BJP is predicted to get another term.

Speculated date of election: February/March 2022

Punjab Assembly Elections:

Assembly elections in Punjab will be held in February or March 2022, to elect the 117 members of the 16th Assembly of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. The term of the current assembly elected in 2017 will expire on 27 March 2022 unless dissolved sooner.

Congress is likely to win.

Speculated date of election: February/March 2022

Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022:

The biggest among the elections in 2022 will easily remain Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. It is considered a semi-final before the big 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It is because whoever wins these polls will have a bigger say in the next Lok Sabha elections.

At this stage, trends indicate that Yogi Adityanath's government is expected to come to retain power although with 100 seats lesser. Samajwadi Party under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav is predicted to give a tough fight to the saffron party.

Speculated date of election: February/March 2022

Uttarakhand Elections 2022

The polls for the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly will be held in February or March 2022. The BJP has changed three chief ministers in the last several months and hoping to retain power in the Himalayan state.

Surveys state that it would not be a cakewalk for the BJP this time.

Speculated date of Election: February/March 2022

Himachal Pradesh Elections 2022

Legislative Assembly elections will be held in Himachal Pradesh in November 2022 to elect 68 members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Jai Ram Thakur's leadership is under question after recent defeats in by-polls and he still has a year to improve his performance.

Speculated date of Election: November 2022

Gujarat Elections 2022

Legislative Assembly elections will be held in December 2022 to elect 182 members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. It is an important state for the BJP as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah hail from this state.

Speculated date of Election: November 2022

Jammu & Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has been dissolved since November 2018. The election is expected to take place in 2022, after the delimitation exercise is completed. The next elections would be the first since 2014 and the first since the territory's temporary special status was revoked and its statehood was withdrawn in 2019.

2022 Indian Presidential and Vice Presidential Election

The 17th presidential and vice presidential elections will be held in India in 2022. Ram Nath Kovind is expected to be the incumbent president at the time of the election.

Article 56(1) of the Constitution of India provides that the President of India shall remain in office for a period of five years. Consequent to the expiry of the term of President Kovind, an election to fill in the office is expected to be scheduled.

Consequent to the expiry of the term of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, an election to fill the office is expected to be scheduled in August 2022.

These major elections apart, there will be by-polls for various seats in some states and civic elections.
Differential status unacceptable: Jaishankar on embassy attack

India

oi-Prakash KL

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that India has spoken to the British Government over the recent attack on the Indian Embassy by the Khalistani government.

"Many countries have a different view of their own security and a different view of other people's security. We'll not accept this differential status," S Jaishankar said at BJYM Yuva Samvada event in Bengaluru.

He then said that it was the obligation of the receiving country to provide security for "a diplomat to do their work" and to ensure embassy or "high commissions' premises are respected." "We have had conversations with the British govt on this," he added.

The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans on Sunday evening. It came after Indian authorities launched a manhunt for fugitive preacher Amritpal Singh.

India then summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi after some pro-Khalistani elements attempted to pull down the Indian flag at the Indian High Commission in London.

"The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India's strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Also, Barricades outside the UK High Commission in Delhi were removed by the police which was seen as a tit-for-tat move by India. "The security arrangements outside the British High Commission here are intact. However, barricades placed on the pathway towards the Commission that created hurdles for commutation have been removed," a senior police officer told news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs, in its weekly briefing, said India hopes that foreign governments will act against the Khalistani elements.

"On the issues of security, whenever we feel there is an issue relating to the security of our missions abroad high commissions and embassies, this issue is taken up. Whenever we have concerns where we feel that there will be some activities that may harm our interests, we do take it up," ANI quoted Arindam Bagchi as saying.

"You would have seen specifically in London and at least in San Francisco, we've strongly taken up the matter of vandalism and attacks on our missions there. You would have also seen our statements in this regard," he added.
What we know about the defections in Karnataka and does this signal the political wind?

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

With the temperatures soaring ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, reports of large scale defections from political parties have been reported.

The last time one heard of such massive defections was during the West Bengal assembly elections. While it did not work for the BJP and the Trinamool Congress emerged victorious, the question is what impact would such defections have in Karnataka.

In the recent weeks, one has read a lot about the defections taking place in the BJP and Janata Dal (S) with leaders moving to the Congress.

Does this signal what the political wind in the state is? OneIndia caught up with leading psephologist Dr. Sandeep Shastri to discuss this issue.

In poll bound Karnataka, 76 MLAs have pending criminal cases against them

Dr. Shastri says that there are multiple contestants or claimants to a ticket. The moment someone comes into your party, he or she becomes a claimant to a ticket from the seat they have contested.

Leaders tend to leave A party to join B party in the ancipatoon that they may not get tickets. They believe that they have a greater chance of getting a ticket in another party. This kind of floor crossing happens, when they feel they are not in the good books of the head of the party. If there is a leader who feels that the state or central leadership is against them, they they use this an opportunity to jump ship, Dr. Shastri says.

He also cited the example of Congress backed candidate Tejaswini who defeated former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda.

"Tejaswini, who was backed by the Congress defeated Deve Gowda of the JD(S). She however fell out with the state leadership of the Congress and joined the BJP. Now she is an MLC with the BJP. She felt the need to move on as the state leadership did not back her, " says Dr. Shastri.

He explains that there is a threat of defecting and actually defecting. There would be many leaders who hold out the threat of leaving. This usually happens before an election as they are worried about being given tickets. These are just pressure tactics, he said. This is something that we witness before the election. It also happens post the elections and this is a complicated process as they look to circumvent the anti-defection law as was seen in the case of Maharashtra, Dr. Shastri adds.

Are the mass defections in Karnataka helping the Congress?

On the key question weather defections into a party signal in which direction the political wind is blowing, Dr. Shastri says that this may not be the case necessarily.

"It need not necessarily be the sign of strength of a party. It also does not indicate the way the political wind is blowing. This trend indicates an individual's disgruntlement within a party. It is also a sign that all is not well within that party," he added.
Ready to pay any price for speaking the truth: Rahul says as he vacates his bungalow

When Rahul Gandhi trashed a Bill to save convicted politicians

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty in a defamation case.

The court has however kept the sentence in abeyance while giving the Congress leader 30 days time to go in appeal. This would mean that he would remain a member of the Lok Sabha and not be disqualified under the Representation of People Act.

On July 10 2013, the Supreme Court had held that any MP, MLA or MLC convicted of a crime and given a minimum of two years imprisonment will lose their seat immediately.

Prior to this order, all elected representatives held on to their seat until they exhausted all forms of appeals.

Rahul Gandhi convicted in defamation case: Opposition alleges conspiracy; BJP welcomes judgment

The Supreme Court's 2013 order came at a time when a conviction for RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam looked certain.

While trying to overturn the order of the Supreme Court, the then UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh brought in the Representation of People (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013. The Bill introduced by then Law Minister, Kapil Sibal in the Rajya Sabha said that a member would not be disqualified immediately after conviction. A review in this regard was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The Centre however met with an opposition from the most unlikely quarter to the Bill. It was Rahul Gandhi, the then vice-president of the Congress who called the ordinance, 'complete nonsense.' He also said that it should be torn up and thrown away. This is my personal opinion, he had said. These events unfolded when then Prime Minister, Dr. Singh was abroad.

The UPA government however took Rahul Gandhi's personal opinion seriously. The Bill was withdrawn.

In October 2013, Lalu Prasad Yadav was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after being convicted in the fodder scam. He was also disqualified from contesting elections for 11 years-five years of his jail term and six years under the Representation of People Act.

The Representation of People Act says that MPs, MLAs and MLCs lose their seats, if they are sentenced to two years in jail or more. After the conviction, they are not voters for six years and hence cannot contest the elections during that period.

Will Rahul Gandhi lose his Lok Sabha membership due to conviction: Here is what the law says

Rahul Gandhi's actions were mentioned when Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from the Congress. He mentioned, "Rahul Gandhi demolished the entire consultative mechanism of the Congress after he entered politics, particularly after he was made the party's vice president by Sonia Gandhi."

The BJP too had caught on to this issue and said that there was total confusion within the government under prime minister Manmohan Singh.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 16:08 [IST]
What are the stakes and how things stand in Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya

Will ensure BJP victory in 2024 polls: New Odisha BJP chief

India

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Shortly after his appointment as Odisha BJP president on Thursday, Manmohan Samal asserted that a BJP government will be installed in the state with the help of people after the 2024 elections.

Assembly elections are due in Odisha simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for reposing trust in me.

Our team will ensure that the BJP is in the power after 2024 elections, Samal, also a former state president of BJP, told reporters. The next election will be fought by the people and bring the BJP government to power, he said.

Samal (64), a former minister, replaced Samir Mohanty as the state chief of the saffron party. Mohantys three-year term as party president ended on January 16 this year and he was officiating as the state BJP president.

Rahul Gandhi convicted in defamation case: Opposition alleges conspiracy; BJP welcomes judgment

Samal also claimed, people are fed up with the BJD government due to rampant corruption and lawlessness across the state. The new Odisha chief of the saffron party was the revenue and disaster management minister during the BJD-BJP coalition government in Odisha.

He was elected to the Odisha Assembly from Dhamnagar constituency in 2004. Welcoming Samals appointment, Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Jaynarayan Mishra, said his experience will be beneficial for the saffron party.

Political observers said that Samal had played a crucial role in ensuring BJP victory in the by-poll to Dhamnagar Assembly seat last year.
Rahul Gandhi convicted in defamation case: Opposition alleges conspiracy; BJP welcomes judgment

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Congress on Thursday said former party chief Rahul Gandhi will file an appeal against a Gujarat court verdict holding him guilty in a 2019 criminal defamation case and alleged that he was being "punished" for raising his voice for the truth.

Several Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, spoke out angrily on the matter. "A scared machinery of power is trying to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi through 'saam, daam, dand, bhed' (every trick in the book)," Priyanka Gandhi said in Hindi on Twitter.

Terming him as a 'fearless leader' Congress leader and his sister Priyanka Gandhi said a scared government machinery is trying to muzzle Rahul Gandhi's voice.

A court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks but was later granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the court's judgment.

"The whole machinery of a scared power is trying to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhiji by imposing price, punishment, discrimination. My brothers have never been afraid, nor will they ever be. Have lived speaking the truth, and will continue to speak the truth. Will continue to raise the voice of the people of the country. The power of truth and the love of crores of countrymen are with him," Priyanka Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

      , , ,   @RahulGandhi          



     ,        ,          



            Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 23, 2023

In his first reaction after being convicted in a defamation case, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi invoked Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet.

Taking to micro-blogging Twitter, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad quoted Mahatma Gandhi and wrote,''"Mera dharma satya aur ahimsa par adhaarit hai. Satya mera bhagwan hai, ahimsa use pane ka sadhan (My faith is based on truth and non-cm violence. Truth is my God and non-violence a means to reach him).''

Will Rahul Gandhi lose his Lok Sabha membership due to conviction: Here is what the law says

           ,     



-    Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 23, 2023

The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Reacting to the judgment, complainant and Surat West Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Purnesh Modi said he welcomed the court's verdict.

Saying that an appeal will be filed in the matter, Kharge slammed the BJP. If they point one finger at others there are four fingers pointed at them also, he said on Twitter. The Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, "Everyone knows, Rahul Gandhi ji is raising his voice against a dictator. Showing the courage to call a wrong, a wrong. "The dictator is rattled by this courage. He is trying to intimidate sometimes via ED, sometimes via police, sometimes via case, sometimes via punishment," the party said. "... We will fight and win," the party said.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "This is new india, If you raise your voice against injustice, then ED-CBI, police, FIR will be imposed. "Rahul Gandhi ji is also being punished for speaking the truth, for raising his voice against a dictator," Ramesh said. The law of the country gives an opportunity of appeal to Rahul Gandhi and he will exercise this right, he said.

Opposition leaders back Rahul

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged a 'conspiracy' to 'finish' Opposition leaders.

"A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this. "It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said opposition forms the core of democracy and dissent should not be stifled. "Respectfully disagree with court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. Opposition forms the core of democracy. Dissent should not be stifled. India has a strong tradition of critique. Attempt to reduce this to the viewpoint of one ideology, one party, one leader is unconstitutional and undemocratic," he tweeted.

Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said it's a matter of concern that it becomes a defamation issue even if someone iterates the 'Modi' surname.

BJP welcomes judgment

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said whatever Rahul Gandhi says nowadays is dangerous not only for the party but also for the country.

BJP's Amit Malviya said the comment was a casteist and defamatory one and it targetted a section of society. "He is flippant and dangerous, who has no compunction deriding India and Indians. He had recently pleaded for Europe and US intervention in India's internal affairs... Shameful," Malviya said.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla linked the 2019 comment with the recent uproar over Rahul Gandhi's comments made in the UK and asked whether Rahul Gandhi will now apologise.
Will Rahul lose LS membership? Here is what the law says

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

With Rahul Gandhi being convicted in a defamation case for his 'Modi' remarks, the question that arises is whether or not the Representation of People Act would be applicable to him or not.

Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail. His conviction has however been kept in abeyance, granting him time to file an appeal against the same. He was given 30 days time to file and this would mean that his membership of the Lok Sabha will remain intact until the higher court decides on the matter.

The Supreme Court in its verdict of 2013 in the Lily Thomas vs Union of India case ruled that a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislative Assembly and a Member of the Legislative Council who is convicted of a crime and given a minimum punishment of two years imprisonment loses membership of the House with immediate effect.

Rahul Gandhi convicted, sentenced to 2 years in jail in 2019 'Modi surname' remark case

The Supreme Court's judgment was in contrast to the earlier position, in which a convicted member held on to their seats until they exhausted all their judicial remedy. The court had also declared Section 8(4) of the Representation of People Act, which allowed elected representatives three months to appeal their conviction.

Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which deals with defamations says," whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine of both."

In 2013 an attempt was made to overturn the decision of the Supreme Court. The Representation of People (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill 2013 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The proposed amendment stated that representatives would not be disqualified immediately after conviction. The government also filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, but the same was not successful. A few days before the fodder scam verdict, the government of India attempted bringing in a Bill into effect as an ordinance. However it was Rahul Gandhi, then the vice president of the Congress who made his opinion clear in a press meet.

"It is complete nonsense. It should be torn up and thrown away," he had said. At that time the leaders of the Opposition had said that there is complete confusion in the government and called for the resignation of then prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. The ordinance and the Bill were withdrawn on October 2 2013.

Since the verdict of the Supreme Court, there have been 11 elected representatives who have been disqualified due to a conviction.

The Modi defamation against Rahul Gandhi: Explained

The first was Pappu Kalani, the MLA from Ulhasnagar who was convicted in 2013. Jagdish Sharma of the JD(U) was convicted in the fodder scam. Lalu Prasad Yadav too was disqualified after being convicted in the fodder scam. The others part of this list were Rasheed Masood, Asha Rani, Enos Ekkka, Babanrao Galop, T M Selvaganapathy, Suresh Halvankar and Kamal Kishore.

The most famous in this list was J Jayalalithaa. The AIADMK leader and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu was convicted in a disproportionate assets case for four years and fined Rs 100 crore. She had to step down as the chief minister and her membership remained disqualified until the Karnataka High Court reversed the verdict of the trial court. She went on to become the CM once again. However during her tenure, she passed away and at that time the appeal was pending in the Supreme Court. Due to her passing away, the case was abated against her.
Did Amritpal surrender or he was arrested? Here's what Punjab IGP says

With coward Amritpal Singh on the run, Centre set to get cracking soon

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Radical Sikh leader, Amritpal Singh has managed to dodge the watchful eyes of nearly 80,000 cops in Punjab.

The Punjab police had released pictures of him last night, in which he is seen in various attires.

The radical leader, who has been leading violent protests in Punjab managed to escape like a coward when the cops came tapping on his doors. He took the help of Gurdwara to escape from the cops. He also changed his escape vehicles a couple of times before giving the cops the slip.

The ease with which Singh managed to escape raises questions on the efficiency of such a large police force which guards a border state.

The many looks of Amritpal Singh who is on the run

"You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing? How did Amritpal Singh escape," the Punjab High Court had remarked.

Singh was last seen speeding away in a motor-cycle on Saturday evening in Jalandhar.

Amritpal Singh is just one part of the problem where the Khalistan movement is concerned. The issue is a deep-rooted one and is being funded by Pakistan to keep Punjab on the boil.

The arrest of Daljit Singh Kalsi, an aide of Amritpal Singh is a clear indicator that Pakistan has a hand in this movement. Not only was he a part of the conspiracy to vandalise the Ajnala police station, but he has been in active liaison with the Pakistani establishment through the Consulate General in Vancouver and Dubai.

Looking at the multiple links to this issue, the Centre is likely to step in soon to reign in on the menace.

It is a probe to be taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) an official explained to OneIndia. Look at the ramifications involved here. It does not restrict itself to Punjab alone. It has a Pakistan link, connections in the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and United States.

Experts are of the view that the Punjab police will not be able to handle the issue. There is too much politics involved in this case and hence it is about time that the Centre takes control of the situation. While it is good to see that the Punjab Police acting on the issue at last, it is clear that the desired results have not been met. The state police clearly need the help of the Centre here, the expert cited above explained.

Centre all set to step in to probe Amritpal Singh and his activities

Another official explained that the Intelligence agencies are gathering more information about Amritpal Singh and a dossier in this regard is in the making. The dossier is likely to contain, Amritpal's hate speeches, demands for a separate Khalistan nation among his other acts.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah had said recently that the movement will not flourish. We are in touch with the Punjab government and are monitoring the situation closely, Shah and said.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 14:06 [IST]
To help customers in e-commerce purchases, RBI adds a new feature in UPI platform

India to invest more than $240 billion in water sector: Shekhawat

International

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India has committed investments of more than 240 billion dollars in the water sector and is implementing the largest dam rehabilitation programme in the world as well as efforts to restore groundwater level, Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the UN.

Shekhawat highlighted the ambitious programmes and efforts being undertaken in India towards ensuring water security and achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of clean water and sanitation for all as he addressed the UN Water Conference 2023 Thursday.

We have committed investments of more than 240 billion dollars in the water sector through government resources, in partnership with private innovators, start-ups, and water-user associations.

India is implementing two flagship missions to ensure universal access to sanitation and drinking water, Shekhawat said, delivering the national statement in the UN General Assembly.

Congress condemns Shekhawat for comparing book on PM Modi with holy Gita

He said India is implementing the largest dam rehabilitation programme in the world, to build climate resilience critical water storage infrastructure. Further, due to the countrys unique geography, India is among the largest users of groundwater in the world.

However, today we are making efforts to restore groundwater level and create mindful communities by combining demand and supply side interventions through village Water Security Plans, inculcating behavioural changes on water usage and conservation at the grass-root level, financing these plans through incentives and convergence of existing programmes, he said adding that this has led to creating greater community ownership in the equitable management of water at a local level.

Shekhawat told the conference that Indias ambitious National Mission for Clean Ganga or Namami Gange has been recently recognised by the UN Convention of Biodiversity conference COP15 held at Montreal as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world.

This mission has created a paradigm shift in river rejuvenation, pollution abatement, conservation of ecosystems and holistic approach to river basin management, he said. In this regard, Arth Ganga, a model of circular economy, fully aligns with SDG goals 6.3 and 6.6 with 6(b) in creating environmentally friendly sustainable practices of resource management by local communities for water security.

He emphasised that the governments 'Jal Jeevan Mission or Water Life Mission aims to achieve safe and affordable drinking water in rural households by 2024 and manage its own in-village water supply systems.

With a commitment to successfully implement this ambitious 50 billion dollar programme in mission mode, we are poised to achieve SDG 6.1 well before 2030, he said, referring to the target of achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.

He further said that Indias Swachh Bharat Mission or Clean India Mission milestone was reached in 2019 when the country was declared open defecation free.

In our journey to achieve SDG 6.2, since 2014 we have built over 105 million toilets, and transformed sanitation habits through mass scale behaviour change of more than 600 million Indians.

The campaign continues through efforts at ensuring sustainable solid and liquid waste management solutions in all 600,000 villages and communities in India. The SGD 6.2 target aims to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation by 2030, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. He noted that at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of LiFE or Lifestyle for Environment.

This concept was translated into an action agenda with the launch of Mission LiFE by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and PM Modi in October 2022.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging people to pick pro-planet sustainable choices in their daily lives, to live sustainably and reduce our environmental footprint, and is driven by the concept of 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Launches DLA's First Publication '8 Years 80 Miracles'

Underscoring that water is at the heart of Mission LiFE, Shekhawat appealed to all delegates at the conference to successfully adopt mission LiFE in this international decade for action on the water.

The UN 2023 Water Conference  formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028)  is currently underway at UN Headquarters.

Co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands, the March 22-24 conference will result in a summary of proceedings from the UNGA President that will feed into the 2023 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Flow of Ganga, Brahmaputra to reduce as glaciers recede: UN chief

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that major Himalayan rivers like the Indus, the Ganges and Brahmaputra, all hugely important for India, could see reductions in their flows as glaciers and ice sheets recede over the coming decades due to global warming.

"Glaciers are critical to all life on earth. Over centuries, they carved out the landmasses we call home. Today, they cover 10 per cent of our world. Glaciers are also the world's water towers," Guterres said in his remarks to an event on the International Year of Glaciers Preservation Wednesday.

Guterres voiced concern that human activity is driving the planet's temperature to dangerous new levels and "melting glaciers are the canary in the coalmine". Antarctica is losing an average of 150 billion tons of ice mass every year while the Greenland ice cap is melting even faster  losing 270 billion tonnes per year.

In Asia, 10 major rivers originate in the Himalaya region, supplying freshwater to 1.3 billion people living in its watershed. "As glaciers and ice sheets continue to recede over the coming decades, major Himalayan rivers like the Indus, the Ganges and Brahmaputra will feel the impact  seeing their flows reduced," Guterres said, adding the world has already witnessed how Himalayan melts have worsened flooding in Pakistan.

Fighting terrorism a global priority: UN Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres pays tribute to 26/11 victims

He added that rising sea levels combined with saltwater intrusion will decimate large parts of these huge deltas. The event was held on the margins of the UN 2023 Water Conference  formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028)  currently underway at UN Headquarters.

Co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands, the March 22-24 conference will result in a summary of proceedings from the UNGA President that will feed into the 2023 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

"The first UN water conference in a generation, the UN 2023 Water Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands will be a watershed moment to mobilize Member States, the UN system and stakeholders alike to take action and bring successful solutions to a global scale," the UN has said.

Guterres cited data by the World Meteorological Organization that warned that global average sea levels have already risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in the last 3,000 years.

"Unless we reverse this trend, the consequences will be catastrophic. Low-lying communities and entire countries could be erased forever. We would witness mass movements of entire populations  and fierce competition for water and land," he said adding that disasters would accelerate worldwide  including floods, droughts and landslides.

Guterres called on all countries to act as one to protect people and communities alike, emphasizing the urgent need to limit global warming to 1.5 degree rise to avert the worst impacts of climate change. "We urgently need to reduce emissions, enhance adaptation measures, and ensure climate justice.

And developing countries must have the resources to adapt and build resilience against climate disaster," he said.

He urged the international community to invest in climate-resilient buildings, infrastructure, and water pipelines, as well as policies that conserve precious water resources and their ecosystems for the future.

We must cut emissions outright to limit global warming

He stressed the need to build institutional capacities and integrate risk reduction measures to ensure that every person in the world is protected by lifesaving early warning systems against hazardous climate or weather events by 2027.

In his remarks to the opening of the conference Wednesday, Guterres lamented that "we've broken the water cycle, destroyed ecosystems and contaminated groundwater". Nearly three out of four natural disasters are linked to water, one in four people lives without safely managed water services or clean drinking water and over 1.7 billion people lack basic sanitation.

He pointed out that half a billion practice open defecation and millions of women and girls spend hours every day fetching water. He said he has proposed to the G20 a Climate Solidarity Pact in which all big emitters make extra efforts to cut emissions, and wealthier countries mobilize financial and technical resources to support emerging economies.

India is currently the President of the G20. In 2015, the world had committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030 Agenda  the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030.

"Right now, we are seriously off-track. Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centers, farms, and factories are being held back because their human rights to water and sanitation still need to be fulfilled," the UN said.

A day before the UN Water Conference, the 'United Nations World Water Development Report 2023: partnerships and cooperation for water published by the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that around 80% of people living under water stress lived in Asia; in particular, northeast China, as well as India and Pakistan.

"The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million (one third of global urban population) in 2016 to 1.72.4 billion people (one third to nearly half of global urban population) in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected," the report said, citing data.
No let up in drone menace from Pakistan this year too: IB sources

No LPG for iftar: Ramzan starts on a sad note for Pak Muslims

International

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The Holy Ramzan was Muslims in several parts of Pakistan has not started on a positive note as many homes reportedly did not get natural gas to cook.

After the Ramazan was spotted, people in many parts of the country complained that the natural gas was not available for consumers despite an official announcement from Sui Southern stating that the gas would be available during sehr and iftar. The company called it "gas profiling" during the month of Ramazan because of a yearly 8-9pc decline in the country's gas reserves, Dawn reported.

"For this purpose, to ensure better gas pressure, gas profiling will continue from 8 am to 2:30 pm," SSGC added.

A woman named Saba Naveed, a mother of three, told Pakistan's website that natural gas has not been available for them for over four months now. "When you switch on the stove, there is only a stale smell that comes out of it ... there is no gas pressure at all," a resident of Lyari is quoted as saying. Hence, they have permanently shifted to using gas cylinders.

In many areas, people have started depending on LPG gas cylinders which in turn is burning a hole in their pockets.

She also claims that a 2.5kg gas cylinder costs her Rs 600 and it lasts for nearly two weeks. "It is not just about the money ... it is a real risk using a gas cylinder with three children - under the age of 10 - around," she said.

However, load shedding has not been implemented anywhere in Pakistan, SSGC spokesperson Safdar Khooharo said. However, he claimed that some houses might face issues due to low pressure as over two crore homes turn on the stoves at the same time ahead of sehri. He added, "Thus, old lines of gas may face low pressure," Khooharo added.

The situation was no different in Rawalpindi. Several citizens have complained to the Pakistan website about facing issues over natural gas.

In Balochistan, there is a shortage of gas. "We had no other option when we woke up and found no gas pressure to cook sehri," Abdullah Zehri, a resident of Jail Road, told Dawn.

Pakistan's gas reserves are depleting fast as demand for fuel has surged with the growing population even as the supplies are shrinking due to no discovery of new gas reserves in the last 20 years.

The country mostly meets its energy demands through imported and indigenous resources currently in a ratio of 44:56. Disputes with foreign gas suppliers and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have also contributed to the gas crisis in Pakistan. Political instability, inconsistent policies, security problems and weak contract enforcements have also prevented foreign firms from investing in Pakistan's oil and gas exploration sector.
Russia's security chief blasts West, dangles nuclear threats

International

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A top Russian security official warned on Thursday about the rising threat of a nuclear war and blasted a German minister for threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin with arrest, saying that such action would amount to a declaration of war and trigger a Russian strike on Germany.

Dmitry Medvedev, the 57-year-old deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council chaired by Putin, said in video remarks to reporters that Russia's relations with the West have hit an all-time bottom.

Asked whether the threat of a nuclear conflict has eased, Medvedev responded: No, it hasn't decreased, it has grown. Every day when they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer.

Medvedev has issued a barrage of such strongly-worded statements in the past, blasting the US and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia.

China's Xi meeting Putin in boost for isolated Russia leader

In Thursday's comments, Medvedev denounced the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine as legally null and void.

He noted that the move added to a colossal negative potential" in the already bitterly strained ties between Russia and the West. Our relations with the West are already worse than they have ever been in history, he said.

Medvedev specifically blasted German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who said last week that Putin would be arrested on the ICC's warrant if he visits Germany. Let's imagine ... the leader of a nuclear power visits the territory of Germany and is arrested, Medvedev said, adding that it would amount to a declaration of war against Russia.

In this case, our assets will fly to hit the Bundestag, the chancellor's office and so on. He noted that Russia's nuclear forces have provided a strong deterrent amid the fighting in Ukraine, adding that we would have been torn to pieces without them.

Medvedev also challenged Ukraine's sovereignty in comments that could reflect Moscow's plans to extend its gains. Honestly speaking, Ukraine is part of Russia, he said. But due to geopolitical reasons and the course of history we had tolerated that we were living in separate quarters and had been forced to acknowledge those invented borders for a long time.

The soft-spoken and mild-mannered Medvedev, who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012 when term limits forced Putin to shift into the prime minister's post, was widely seen by Western officials as more liberal than his mentor.

Many in the West expected Medvedev to win a second term and further soften the Kremlin's policies, but he stepped down to allow Putin to reclaim the presidency in what Kremlin critics denounced as a cynical manipulation.

Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine more than a year ago, Medvedev has emerged as one of the most hawkish Russian officials, regularly issuing blustery remarks that include four-letter words and sound much tougher than those issued by the old-time Kremlin hard-liners.

Observers have interpreted Medvedev's comments as an apparent attempt to curry favour with Putin. Medvedev launched more anti-Western diatribes Thursday, declaring that it's useless to have talks with the West and speaking with contempt about Western politicians, alleging a catastrophic drop in competence and elementary literacy of European Union leaders.

Russia says ICC's arrest warrant against Putin has 'no meaning'

I have no illusions that we could communicate with them again any time soon, he said. It makes no sense to negotiate with certain countries and blocs  they only understand the language of force. Medvedev. who heads a Security Council panel coordinating weapons production, derided Western statements alleging that Russia is running out of weapons and charged Russian weapons industries have increased output.

He said that Russia will produce 1,500 battle tanks and boost production of other weapons to meet the army's needs. His claims couldn't be independently verified. The most important thing now is to make it all in necessary volumes, and we are launching new factories to do that, Medvedev said.

He said that the Russian military already has good intelligence drones and loitering munitions, but acknowledged that it has yet to deploy long-range strike drones.
US President Biden sends Ramzan greetings to Muslims worldwide

International

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US President Joe Biden has sent his best wishes to the Muslims worldwide who begin the Islamic holy month of Ramzan - a time of fasting, renewal, charity, worship, and growth.

During Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims across the world fast from dawn to dusk and shun worldly pleasures. To my fellow Americans observing Ramadan, and to Muslims around the world: Ramadan Kareem- we wish you a blessed and peaceful Ramadan, President Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said that the US reaffirms its support for Muslim communities suffering hardships and devastation during this sacred time of reflection.

Biden to present 2021 National Humanities Medals to Indian-American Mindy Kaling: WH

"We will continue to stand with the people of Turkiye and Syriawho have lost many loved ones during the recent devastating earthquakesand with the people of Pakistan, who are rebuilding their lives following last summers floods, the first couple said.

Highlighting the universal human right to practice, pray, and preach one's faiths peacefully and openly, the statement said, "together with our partners, the United States stands in solidarity with Muslims who continue to face oppression-including Uyghurs in the Peoples Republic of China, Rohingya in Burma, and other Muslim communities facing persecution around the world.

Honouring Muslims across the US that have been part of the American story since the nation's founding, the statement said, "From science and technology to arts and academia, to law and medicine, to business and government, and beyond- Muslim Americans continue to strengthen our nations diverse tapestry generation after generation."

"So today, let us join together across cultures and faiths and renew our commitment to creating a more equal, more just, more tolerant, and more compassionate nation, the statement added.

In a separate statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that for Muslims in the United States and abroad, Ramzan is a sacred period of prayer and reflection, celebrating with family and community, and remembering and serving those less fortunate with compassion and openness.

It is also a time to act on our collective responsibility to help those in need, including those stricken by poverty, persecution, conflict, and natural disaster," Blinken said, adding that Muslims worldwide will commemorate this month through acts of service in their communities.

SVB solution ensures taxpayer dollars are not put at risk: President Biden

In this spirit, many of our embassies and consulates abroad will host iftars and other events to share in the months beautiful traditions and demonstrate our commitment to promoting social cohesion, inclusion, and diversity within our communities," Blinken said.

"These conversations support our shared hope for the peace and dignity of all people, he added. We express deep appreciation for our longstanding partnerships with diverse communities across the Muslim world and remain committed to promoting religious freedom for all, both at home and abroad. I wish the 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan Kareem, the Secretary of State said.
Ramadan 2023 to begin from March 24 in India

New Delhi

oi-Deepika S

In India, Ramadan or Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting will begin on March 24.

Lucknow's Markazi Chand Committee has announced that the crescent for Ramadan 2023 has not been sighted on March 22 evening. Hence, the first fast of Ramzaan this year will be observed on March 24.

Every year, the sighting of the Ramzan moon brings great cheer for Muslims as they scamper to make preparations for fasting and head to mosques to begin special 'Taraweeh' prayers, which will start from Thursday evening. These special prayers start on the eve of the first day of fasting.

Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims worldwide refrain from eating and drinking anything from dawn to dusk and end their fast in the evening. After the end of one month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.

During this holy month, Muslims observe a fast for 30 days called Roza and devote themselves spiritually in the name of Allah. People wake up early in the morning to have their first meal or sehri and in the evening, they break their fast with the evening meal called iftaar. This month is auspicious and sacred to all believers.

What are the fasting rules

Don't eat or drink from dawn to dusk. Before the sun rises, Muslims usually wake up to eat a big meal so that they won't be hungry during the day.

Those who don't want to wake up early have a big dinner before bed.

Of course, not every Muslim will fast this Ramadan, so don't be too surprised if you see your friend eating during the day.

Children are not required to fast but they're welcome to learn by participating, such as fasting up until lunchtime.

And if you can't fast because of health reasons, you can donate food or money to the poor instead.

You're exempt from fasting if you're: Pregnant Sick Menstruating Travelling long distances
Farzad Vajihi Awarded Best Entrepreneur and Philanthropist 2023 for Creating Work From Home Jobs in Iran

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Dr. Farzad Vajihi, the economic advisor of the National Youth Assembly of the country, was honored by the Islamic Council as the best entrepreneur and philanthropist in the field of employment creation on the Day of Benevolence and Charity.

According : impacting youth employment, encouraging people's groups to move in the direction of knowledge-based production and helping to set up home-based jobs are among the axes of honoring Dr. Farzad Vajihi.

In the certificate of appreciation presented to him, it is stated: Benevolence and charity are among the good traditions and worthy manifestations of life, and the honorable people of Iran have always been examples of this godly morality and have tried to show compassion and kindness to the deprived countrymen and reduce their sufferings And indeed, Iran is the land of charity and love; Because the presence of dear compatriots in campaigns of empathy and charity, as well as in helping the victims of accidents, has manifested brilliant effects, and at times this kind of friendship has been extended beyond geographical boundaries; And this beneficence has not been realized except in the light of believing in the divine promise and acting on the pure human nature. March 14, as the day of benevolence and charity, is a great opportunity to honor the hard work and valuable efforts of all the servants and benefactors in the field of compassion and empathy.

I appreciate and thank you for your honorable efforts as a valuable philanthropist and young entrepreneur, and I wish you increasing success and divine approval from God Almighty.

In ( 2023 ) , he was able to take valuable measures in the field of youth empowerment, focusing on economic impact and entrepreneurship.

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Story first published: Friday, March 24, 2023, 14:10 [IST]
FORT RUCKER  Fort Rucker will be officially redesignated Fort Novosel in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient with ties to Army Aviation, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, and the Wiregrass region in southeast Alabama, during a ceremony April 10 at Veterans Park on post.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. epitomizes what an Army Aviation soldier should be, said Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general. His legacy of courage under fire in support of soldiers on the ground is what we train for and expect of our soldiers. It is an honor for the Home of Army Aviation to bear his name.

The ceremony will be open to invited guests. It will not be open to the general public, but a video live stream on the installations Facebook page is planned. Daleville Gate will be closed from 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 10, and adjusted hours for the Daleville Visitor Control Center will be noon-4 p.m. that day. Newton Gate will be open from 9:30-11:30 a.m. above and beyond its normal operating hours April 10.

The post is one of nine U.S. Army installations being redesignated based on the Naming Commissions recommendations.

The following is the Naming Commissions recommendation for Fort Novosel:

Early in 1970, Army aviator Michael Novosel Jr. was shot down while on a routine helicopter flight over Vietnam. Although not seriously wounded, he nevertheless found himself stranded with the enemy nearby  a precarious predicament for any soldier. It must have been a relief for him to hear that extraction was not only 10 minutes away, but that the evacuation pilot was none other than Michael Novosel Sr.  his own father and one of the greatest Army aviators of the age.

In many ways, Michael Novosel Sr.s rise mirrored that of Army Aviation itself. Novosel joined the Army Air Corps at the age of 19 in 1941, 10 months before the attack at Pearl Harbor. By the end of World War II, he had risen to the rank of captain at the age of 23, flying B-29 Superfortress bombers the size of modern 737 passenger planes. After leaving the Army in the immediate postwar period he remained in the reserves,

Novosel again served his country in combat in Korea, now as part of the newly created Air Force.

By the time the United States expanded its role in the Vietnam War during the mid-1960s, Novosel was a 42-year-old lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, comfortably flying passenger aircraft as a private citizen. He decided to volunteer for active duty. Learning that the Air Force had too many senior officers, Novosel resigned his commission and instead joined the Army as a warrant officer and helicopter pilot.

Assigned to Vietnam as a Dustoff pilot, he flew helicopters evacuating combat zone casualties; a dangerous mission in which approximately one third of all medevac pilots became casualties themselves. In Novosels two tours in Vietnam, he flew 2,543 extraction missions, rescuing over 5,500 seriously wounded soldiers.

Perhaps no moment made Novosels skills as a pilot and strength as a leader more evident than his actions on 2 October 1969. Beginning the day at 0500 by being alerted to the urgent need for evacuation by a group of wounded and surrounded South Vietnamese soldiers, Novosel brought the first helicopter of his unit into the air. The timing and nature of the call meant he had no gunships or aircraft to support him, while the presence of the enemy exposed his aircraft to extensive machine gun fire. Indeed, enemy fire throughout the day would disable his speed gauges, damage his rotors, and destroy his radios, windshields, and parts of his landing apparatus. Other problems also exacerbated the situation: since the troops on the ground did not speak English and were unable to communicate by radio, Novosel had to fly low and circle as he searched for them by eye, further exposing himself to fire. And since the terrain they were pinned down on presented no appropriate landing zone, Novosel had to skim and hover right above the ground, carefully maneuvering the helicopter while his crew pulled wounded men on board.

On six different occasions, enemy attacks became so great that Novosel was forced to withdraw, momentarily leaving the area and then returning from another direction to confuse and elude their assaults. Wounded himself during a final extraction that required rescuing a wounded soldier directly facing an enemy bunker, Novosel nevertheless maintained control of the aircraft and returned his crew and casualty safely to base. Eighteen hours had passed since he started the day. Novosel was 47 years old. His aircraft was damaged and his body was battered, but he had saved 29 men.

Receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Novosel continued serving in Army aviation until 1984, and then continued to support Army aviation and aviators through two decades of retirement. And his son also repaid his fathers favor: one week after Michael Novosel Sr. extracted him from a disabled aircraft, Michael Novosel Jr. did the same for his dad. Their combined service honors generational service, a common trend in the modern military. And Michael Novosel Sr.s career of valor, hard-earned technical skill, and commitment to his comrades serve as an example and inspiration for all soldiers.
OZARK  A monument honoring those from the Wiregrass who died in service in the Vietnam War will be officially dedicated at 10 a.m. March 29 in a ceremony at the site located in front of the government building in Ozark, according to Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 373 President Bob Cooper. The public is invited.

The dedication is among the events planned in Dale and Coffee counties to commemorate the day which has been nationally recognized since 2017 when then President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, Cooper said. We, of that generation, and the veterans who fought in Vietnam know the significance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the day the last U.S. combat troops departed from Vietnam on March 29, 1973.

The public is invited to the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial Wall which lists 50 names of soldiers from Dale, Coffee, Geneva and Houston counties who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

The dedication of this pentagon shaped monument built in 2020 was delayed due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Cooper said. The public is invited and a special invitation is extended to all Vietnam veterans and their families. To confirm your attendance, call (334) 774-9321 or email info @ozarkalchamber.com. Light refreshments will be served in the Dale County Commission conference room following the ceremony.

The monument dedication in Ozark will be followed at 10:30 a.m. the same day with a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans ceremony at the Post Exchange Food Court at 9214 Hutton Plaza on Fort Rucker.

In Enterprise, Vietnam veterans will join Enterprise Mayor William Cooper at city hall March 28 at 10 a.m. for a proclamation signing recognizing the significance of Vietnam Veterans Day in the city.

Also in Enterprise, on March 29 a Vietnam Memorial Ceremony will be held at the Wall of Freedom at Johnny Henderson Park there at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Vietnam Veterans Day was designated to honor the brave Vietnam veterans who, in service to our nation in defense of liberty, fought gallantly against the spread of communism and defended the freedom of the Vietnamese people, said Cooper. Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another.

For additional information, contact Cooper, VVA Chapter 373 President, at (334) 477-7076.
Jerusalem: Israel ratified a law on Thursday limiting the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed, despite worries voiced by a government jurist that it may be meant to shield the incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu from any fallout from his corruption trials.

The amended definition for the "incapacity" of national leaders is among legislative measures by the religious-nationalist coalition that have tipped Israel into crisis, with the opposition arguing that judicial independence is in peril.

The coalition says the overhaul is aimed at pushing back against what it calls Supreme Court over-reach and restoring balance among branches of government.

By a 61-to-47 final vote, the Knesset approved the bill under which prime ministers can be deemed unfit - and compelled to step aside - either if they or three-quarters of cabinet ministers declare them so on physical or psychological grounds.

The stipulations fleshed out a quasi-constitutional "basic law" that provides the government with guidance in the event of a non-functioning prime minister - but which previously lacked details on circumstances that may give rise to such situations.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute think tank, the rule had earlier left Netanyahu vulnerable to a possible assertion of his incapacity by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, should she perceive an attempt by him to halt his three court cases.

The new law precludes this, IDI senior researcher Amir Fuchs said - while adding that he had considered such a finding by Bararav-Miara to be an unlikely "extreme case".

Netanyahu denies all charges against him, and has cast the trials as a politicised bid to force him out of office.

Baharav-Miara - who was appointed by the former, centrist Israeli government - said last month that Netanyahu must stay out of his coalition's push for a judicial overhaul because of what she deemed a conflict of interest arising from his trials.

Baharav-Miara's deputy, Gil Limon, voiced misgivings over the incapacity bill during a Knesset review session on Tuesday.

Demonstrators wave flags after hanging copies of the Israeli Declaration of Independence on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City in an act of protest as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist coalition government presses on with its contentious judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, March 23, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

"What we see before our eyes is a cluster of legislation elements that are most troubling and are being advanced at great speed," Limon said, according to an official transcript.

"They have the potential to serve the personal interests of a man regarding the outcomes of legal proceedings he is facing."

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel filed a Supreme Court appeal against the new law. Should the court rule to overturn the law, that would in itself fuel the feud.

"Netanyahu and his coalition of corrupt men are trying every possible maneuver in their attempts to escape the threat of justice," a statement from the watchdog group said.
A Malayali priest serving in the United Kingdom was found dead in his room on Friday.

The deceased, Fr Shaji Punnattu, was a native of Wayanad.

He was the parish priest of Church of Our Lady Help of Christians under the Diocese of Wrexham.

Fr Punnattu did not turn up for service at the church in the morning. Later, he was found dead at his residence.

The cause of death is yet to be ascertained, but a heart attack is suspected as the priest had been admitted to a hospital with cardiac issues recently. The local police have launched a probe.

Fr Punnattu was ordained a priest 23 years ago and had served at various churches in Wales in the last 16 years.
London: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has released his tax returns, revealing that the British-Indian leader paid more than 1 million British pound sterling (Rs 10,08,99,242) to the Exchequer since becoming a frontline politician in 2019.

The tax release is part of a transparency commitment the UK premier made in November last year.

Sunak, among the wealthiest British politicians, on Wednesday, revealed that he earned a total of GBP 4.766 million between 2019 and 2022 and paid GBP 1.053 million in tax - at a tax rate of around 22 per cent.

Over the last tax year, when he was the finance minister, the 42-year-old leader paid GBP 325,826 in capital gains tax and GBP 120,604 in UK income tax on a total income of GBP 1.9 million.

"I published my tax returns in the interests of transparency, as I said I would, and I am glad to have done that," Sunak said during a visit to north Wales on Wednesday.

"I think ultimately what people are interested in is what I am going to do for them," he added.

Sunak worked in finance before entering politics and he and his family are thought to own several properties, including a Grade II-listed manor house in his North Yorkshire constituency, the BBC reported.

Sunak came under pressure to publish his tax returns after his financial affairs came under the spotlight during the Conservative Party leadership election campaign last year, which he lost to Liz Truss before being elevated as Prime Minister after Truss' short-lived tenure at 10 Downing Street.

It followed the controversy around the non-domicile tax status of his wife, Akshata Murty, who has since relinquished the legal position, which meant she paid tax on her Indian earnings in India.

Murty, the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy said in April last year that she took the action to avoid the issue becoming a "distraction" for her husband, who was the UK chancellor of the exchequer at the time.

The Opposition Labour Party, which has often raised Sunak's wealth in Parliament to claim he fails to fully empathise with those struggling with a cost-of-living crisis in the country, questioned the much delay of their publication.

"They [tax returns] reveal a tax system designed by successive Tory governments in which the prime minister pays a far lower tax rate than working people who face the highest tax burden in 70 years," Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said.

Former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron published his tax return in 2016 after revelations about his late father's offshore fund were revealed in the Panama Papers.

Theresa May released her tax return during her campaign to be Tory leader in 2016, but did not do so when she was prime minister.

The two previous British prime ministers, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, did not publish their tax returns.

The tax returns of Sunak were published as MPs backed his revised post-Brexit deal with the European Union (EU) to resolve the issue of avoiding a land border between UK territory Northern Ireland and neighbouring EU member-state Ireland.

While his predecessors, former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, were among some Conservative Party MPs joining Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in voting against the agreement, it passed by 515 to 29 overall in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The Windsor Framework, unveiled by Sunak last month, rewrites the Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol agreed upon by Johnson in 2019.

The Tory MPs who voted against the new deal were among the supporters of the former PM, including former Indian-origin home secretary Priti Patel, who called upon Sunak to "negotiate a better deal".
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"In Bottom-Up, Rob Kall offers a blueprint for human surviving and thriving that everyone can follow. Using personal stories from his many famous contacts (from Capra to Quinn), he shows how in every aspect of life we can reconnect with that which is in our DNA by replacing our artificial and oppressive hierarchical priorities via a return to a consciousness based on the kind of egalitarian relationships that we honored for most of human history."



Four Arrows, aka Don Trent Jacobs, PhD, EdD, author of Unlearning the Language of Conquest and Teaching Truly: A Curriculum to Indigenize Mainstream Education


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A year into the Ukraine fight, American military aid has reached a staggering $30 billion, funding everything from night-vision goggles to Abrams tanks. Much of the weaponry was drawn from Pentagon stocks. Other systems must be produced in U.S. factories.

U.S. and NATO officials have touted the powerful effect of foreign arms on the battlefield, where they have enabled Ukrainian troops to hold Kremlin forces at bay and, in places like the southern city of Kherson, reverse Russian gains. But the armament effort also has rattled officials in the United States and Europe, depleting the military stockpiles of donor nations and revealing the gaps in their productive power.



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The public support for the vast sums of aid being given to Ukraine grows softer and more divisive. Some observers are worried the Pentagon is not doing enough to replenish the billions of dollars in armaments that have left American stocks.



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Research conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows the current output of American factories may be insufficient to prevent the depletion of stockpiles of key items the United States is providing Ukraine. Even at accelerated production rates, it is likely to take at least several years to recover the inventory of Javelin antitank missiles, Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other in-demand items.

"It is a wake-up call," Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an interview, referring to the production problems the war has exposed. "We have to have an industrial base that can respond very quickly."

As the front lines have hardened during the frigid winter months, the ground war has become a bloody, artillery-heavy fight, with Ukrainian forces firing an average of 7,700 artillery shells a day, according to the Ukrainian military, greatly outpacing the U.S. prewar production rate of 14,000 155-mm rounds a month. In the first eight months after Russian's invasion, Ukrainian forces burned through 13 years worth of Stinger antiaircraft missiles and five years of Javelin missiles, according to Raytheon, which produces both weapons.

"What the Ukraine conflict showed is that, frankly, our defense industrial base was not at the level that we needed it to be to generate munitions," told undersecretary of defense for policy Colin Kahl, pointing to the effort to accelerate output of artillery shells, guided rockets and other items.

The problem is not limited to ammunition, nor to items being provided to Ukraine. According to Mark Cancian, a retired Marine officer and defense expert with CSIS, the pace of production at U.S. factories means it would take over 10 years to replace the U.S. fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and almost 20 years to replace the stock of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles.

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As the global economy recovers in 2021 and the supply of the industrial chain improves, the MCU For Small Appliances market will undergo major changes. The latest research shows that the MCU For Small Appliances industry market size will be million US dollars in 2021, and will grow to million US dollars in 2028, with an average annual growth rate of %. The global MCU For Small Appliances industry report provides 
The challenge of improving access to energy will be addressed at the upcoming Enlit Africa conference and expo when it returns to Cape Town from 16-18 May 2023. On 17 May, Day 2's keynote session focuses on Africa's just energy transition and the importance of ensuring that energy access is a central outcome of that transition. "We believe that the issue of energy access cannot be ignored," says the event's content 
Recently, the press conference of the 16th China (Beijing) International Construction Machinery, Building Materials Machinery and Mining Machinery Exhibition and Technology Exchange Conference (BICES 2023) was held at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibition in the United States. China Construction Machinery Industry Association ( Wu Peiguo, secretary-general of the association for short, made a speech on behalf of the association. Wu Peiguo first extended a warm welcome to the guests on behalf of 
UPDATE 10 a.m.: ODOT reports all lanes of I-5 southbound have reopened at milepost 166.

On a busy Friday morning when Oregons spring break kicks off and many people are traveling, the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were blocked by a crash involving a jackknifed semi as of 7:30 a.m. Friday.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said the crash is blocking all southbound lanes and there is no current estimate of when lanes will reopen. The crash is at milepost 166, about eight miles south of Cottage Grove.

There are no alternate routes or detours in that area. With winter weather dropping snow over much of Oregons higher elevations, ODOT Region 2 communications manager David House suggests travelers delay or reschedule their trips for several hours to avoid being stuck in the backup.

#pdxtraffic ALERT. A crash on I-5 SB is blocking ALL LANES south of Cottage Grove/Eugene. Delay that drive. ODOT says the freeway may be closed for an extended period of time. pic.twitter.com/4A7dDPeWxG  PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) March 24, 2023

ODOT also warns of trying to use mapping software to find detours in the area. Detours off established highways, especially in winter weather conditions, can be dangerous.

Northbound lanes are not affected.

This post may be updated.

Follow us on Twitter for the latest in commuting news: @trafficportland
In phone calls made from Clark County Jail earlier this month, the boyfriend of Meshay Melendez repeatedly blamed her for the domestic violence charges against him and insisted she needed to figure out how to get them dropped, court records say.

Police believe two bodies found Wednesday off a rural roadside embankment in Washougal are those of Melendez and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart. They had been missing since March 12.

Authorities have not said whether Melendezs boyfriend, 27-year-old Kirkland C. Warren, will face charges in the deaths. Police earlier named Warren, who was released from jail March 8, as a person of interest in the disappearances and said he is believed to be the last person who was in contact with Melendez and her daughter.

The discovery of the bodies has turned the missing persons case into a homicide investigation led by Vancouver police.

A medical examiner must make a positive identification of the bodies, expected to come early next week, authorities said.

A Clark County Superior Court judge on Tuesday set Warrens bail at $1 million on a series of charges against him; hes scheduled to appear in court again April 21.

Court records reveal that police considered Warren to be a dangerous threat to Melendez.

He had been arrested March 2 after being accused of shooting at Melendezs apartment in Vancouvers Minnehaha neighborhood in December. He was charged with drive-by shooting, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, gross misdemeanor harassment with bodily injury and two counts of fourth-degree assault.

At a court hearing the next day, he was ordered not to have contact with Melendez. Warren pleaded not guilty, posted the $10,000 bail and was released from jail March 8 without an ankle monitor, though state prosecutors requested one.

While in custody, he called Melendez from a jail phone, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Investigators didnt appear to check the jail calls until after Melendez disappeared.

Vancouver police say Meshay Melendez, 27, and her daughter Layla Stewart, 7, have been missing since March 12.

I became concerned by the nature of the defendants conversations with the victim ... (Warren) continuously blames (Melendez) for his incarceration, and suggests she isnt working hard enough in contacting lawyers, prosecutors and defense attorneys, a Vancouver police sergeant wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

In the phone calls, Melendez said, Just tell me what to do, according to the affidavit. Warren responded: Brah, I dont know, its all on you. Are you going to get this (expletive) dropped?

Warren chastised Melendez for showing police screenshots of threatening text messages he sent her before allegedly shooting at her apartment building, according to the affidavit.

So my life is over, Warren said in one of the calls, according to the affidavit. There is no way Im going back to Arkansas. Warren faces a first-degree murder charge in Arkansas in the homicide of 57-year-old Curtis Urquhart, who was shot in the head and found in a ditch on Dec. 11, 2017.

On March 18, 10 days after Warrens release from jail, Melendezs mother reported her missing.

When a friend of Melendezs learned she was missing, she called 911 to report that Melendez, her daughter and Warren visited her home in the 7800 block of Northeast Loowit Loop on Saturday night, March 11. Warren left the friends home  which is about a half-mile from Melendez apartment  at some point in the night, the affidavit said.

About 5 a.m. March 12, Melendez left the home and told her friend she was going out to make some money, according to the affidavit.

At 8 a.m., Warren returned to the home in his car, a Dodge Charger, blasting music, the friend told police. When the friend yelled at him to turn the music down, she saw Melendez passed out in the passenger seat, unclothed from the waist down.

Warren came inside to get Melendez daughter, Layla, put her in the sedan and left, the friend said.

On March 17, an Arkansas judge revoked Warrens bond, issuing a fugitive warrant for his arrest in the 2017 murder case.

This past weekend, Melendez mother filed a missing persons report when she realized no one had heard from or seen her daughter or granddaughter in a week. She found Melendezs car on Sunday near the friends house on Loowit Loop; police seized it for evidence.

Later Sunday, around noon, investigators served a search warrant at the apartment where Warren lived with his wife in the 3700 block of Northeast 109th Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Warren was charged with tampering with a witness and violating the no-contact order based on calls he had made to Melendez from jail earlier in the month.

Police said they also seized his car, found a gun and took a DNA sample. They found two phones in Warrens possession. One of them belonged to Melendez, according to the affidavit.

By 11 p.m. Sunday, Vancouver police put out a public request for help in the search for Melendez and her daughter.

A memorial of flowers, balloons and candles appeared the day after two bodies matching the descriptions of missing Vancouver mother Meshay Melendez, 27, and her 7-year-old daughter Layla Stewart, were found down a steep embankment along a rural Washougal road.

On Wednesday, somebody walking down Southeast Woodings Road, a private dead-end residential lane in Washougal, called police when they saw what looked like two life-sized mannequins in brush down a steep slope next to the rushing Gibbons Creek.

By Thursday, a memorial of flowers, colorful balloons and candles dotted the road, dampened by the rain.

 Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens

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Whether you are running an online business, or want your site to get better engagement, there is no denying that SEO is one of the most important tools anyone can use to stay ahead of the curve by increasing web traffic.

For anyone that is looking to improve their search engine rankings, the key is about staying up-to-date with the latest Google algorithm changes.

The multiple Google algorithm updates in 2022 can provide a signpost of how anyone can change their SEO approach, but it is often a guessing game.

The latest updates to the algorithm, such as the Product Review update that aimed to reward users publishing the most helpful reviews, regardless of whether they were positive or negative, was the start of a sea change in the algorithm as we know it.

The Core update that occurred in May 2022 made significant alterations to how the system assessed content, and this predated arguably the biggest change in recent years for SEO specialists; the Helpful Content update, which rewarded content that genuinely helped or informed people, which caused a lot of frustration, as many business owners or websites that used older SEO practices to rank, such as the right ratio of keywords, found their websites being downgraded.

SEO is not just about complying with the tricks to get your content picked up by the bots, but about striving to make your website more useful and helpful. Here are three areas that we believe will bring about major changes to SEO in 2023:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is a topic nobody can get away from. Since the implementation of ChatGPT in November 2022, it has ruffled more than a few feathers. Search engine competitor Bing incorporated ChatGPT to allow users to use AI to summarise web pages, meaning searchers do not need to visit web pages if they get the answers they want.

While Bing only has an 8% share of search engine usage in comparison to Googles 84%, Google are still looking to utilise AI with its own AI chatbot, Google Bard. Google Bard providing an answer without stimulating webpage traffic may cause a lot of concern, but its important to note that AI is still particularly primitive and can get a lot of answers wrong.

Artificial intelligence is not perfect right now, but we need to keep an eye on its potential. Its also critical to remember that AI is not the amazing content creation tool we think it is. A lot of content creators are using AI to generate content but there has been a big crack down on using AI-generated content in relation to plagiarism, and it is very likely Google will also penalise sites for using AI-generated content.

There are a lot of stories about people using AI to generate content, however, I believe there will be a strong crackdown on this from Google in the future.

The Importance of E-E-A-T

In its guidelines, Google provided an acronym to help creators craft quality content: E-A-T, which stood for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. At the end of last year, Google added an extra E, which stood for Experience.

When determining what quality content is, Google highlighted Experience relating to whether the content creator has either life or first-hand experience of the topic. E-E-A-T is particularly critical when it comes to product reviews, a product review from someone who has actually used the product in comparison to someone who has not will have a major bearing on whether you would buy it because its experience is equated to trust.

Demonstrating experience when it comes to SEO-optimised content is critical because it will add another dimension to the search engine results. Expertise, authoritativeness, and experience all overlap to a certain extent, so when improving your search engine rankings, the experience should shine through the content as this will elicit a real-world reaction from the receiver of the content.

Its a common trait when creating art, the more something resonates with people, the greater the number of those who will pick up on it and engage with it. The same thing applies as part of this extra strand to the EAT acronym.

In terms of SEO, the Helpful Content update, and changes to the Core algorithm both facilitated a change towards writing for humans, not bots. It can be unfair for a blogger creating content on a specific subject matter to not reach its desired audience because it does not tick all of the SEO boxes, which is why content needs to be first and foremost helpful and valuable, instead of ranking for specific keywords.

Google evaluates the relevance of an individual document, ensuring a piece of content relates to the search engine query and the searchers intent. Therefore, its critical that site users trust the expertise of the writer.

A common black hat SEO technique involves scattering irrelevant keywords on a piece of content to manipulate search engine rankings, but as this causes negative experiences for users, it is more important than ever to be useful in your content creation, which is why the double E-A-T acronym will be more important than ever going forward.

An Increase in the Use of Google Shopping

Google Shopping is a service that allows shoppers to search, compare, and purchase physical products across different retailers who have paid to advertise their products. It works by pulling up a list of items from different retailers that correspond to the keywords used so a potential buyer can arrange the results based on their criteria to compare items across different providers.

While Google only displayed products for advertisers who paid to list their items, when Free Product Listings launched in May 2020, this sparked major competition between big and small eCommerce businesses.

The volume of people shopping online has increased year after year, especially since the pandemic. With many more people shopping online now, it is more important than ever for Google to provide useful shopping results for specific searches.

49% of shoppers say they use Google to discover new products, and in the field of SEO, it is critical for you to optimise your data feed to present your products to the right people. As 80% of eCommerce products have very limited visibility on Google due to poor data quality, it is critical for smaller companies to use SEO techniques to maintain a high-quality data feed, which includes:

Optimising Product Titles. The first 70 characters of its 150-character limit should contain all of the essential information, including the primary keyword and descriptor.

The first 70 characters of its 150-character limit should contain all of the essential information, including the primary keyword and descriptor. Optimising Product Images. Its essential to fulfil the minimum image requirements of Google to show the image in the right context by focusing on image quality, for example, using high-resolution, professionally edited images.

Its essential to fulfil the minimum image requirements of Google to show the image in the right context by focusing on image quality, for example, using high-resolution, professionally edited images. Representing the Item Accurately. For example, every colour of an item should be on display, along with an appropriate image, and providing clean product shots against a white background, rather than focusing on lifestyle images.

For example, every colour of an item should be on display, along with an appropriate image, and providing clean product shots against a white background, rather than focusing on lifestyle images. Optimise the Product Type. The product type, which is often attributed as [product_type], is what helps Google understands categorisation. You can use up to five attributes for products, which can help the algorithm showcase your products to the appropriate shoppers. When optimising your product type, you need to consider:

Search intent, by using product types that reflect a customers needs.

Product focus, which should be tied to the product itself instead of categories like bestsellers.

Being specific with categorisation, and not adding too many category strings, as this can provide too much detail for customers.

Conclusion

SEO is something that is constantly moving, and as AI, E-E-AT, and an increase in Google Shopping use are some trends we envision as being part of the landscape, it is critical to gain an insight into how these tools can help you.

While these may become central to the SEO landscape, we dont have a crystal ball. Google keeps the algorithm updates so close to their chests that we have to use what is currently popular to predict the future. What we can do is understand how these three components remind us of the importance of creating a great user experience.

With AI and machine learning becoming more widespread, we can see how incorporating E-E-A-T can benefit businesses and website users by rethinking their approach to creating better content. Although SEO appears to be slowly stepping away from the box-ticking exercise approach, optimising your Google Shopping presence lands somewhere in between the two.

Google has been working towards making content easier and more relevant for the searcher, and SEO is a practice that requires constant evaluation and revaluation. It is more important than ever to stay updated with SEO trends and practices, not just because it can change with minimal notice but because it can mean you may have to completely alter your strategy to land on Page 1 of Google.

Googles algorithms are there to help people find what they are looking for, therefore, complying with these best practices can keep your business or website visible and more competitive in the land of SEO.

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Since arriving in the Northwest, Din Tai Fung has been slow and methodical, opening a restaurant roughly every two years before the pandemic, almost like clockwork.

Dough Zone is different. The Seattle-based dumpling chain, which opened in 2014 and quickly emerged as Din Tai Fungs chief rival, has already opened 14 locations on the West Coast, including one in Portland, and is in the planning stages for a half dozen more, according to state records in California, Oregon and Washington.

Two of those upcoming restaurants will land in the Portland metro area this year, one each in Beaverton and Happy Valley, The Oregonian has learned.

Dough Zone opened its first Portland location less than a year ago in the soaring dining room designed for Lucier, one of Portlands most famous restaurant flops. The space, the companys biggest location at more than 7,500-square-feet, was something of a surprise for a company known for its low prices, with most small plates priced around $10 or less.

Signature Dough Zone dishes include the Q-Bao, the companys spin on Shanghai-style pan-fried pork buns, and plates of spicy, spiralized sweet and sour cucumbers.

The Portland areas second Dough Zone is expected to open this summer in new construction across from the Shake Shack at Beavertons Cedar Hills Crossing mall, 2645 SW Cedar Hills Blvd #105, with a second location coming online by fall at Happy Valleys Clackamas Town Center, 11840 SE 82nd AVE #3060, a company spokesperson confirmed.

Read more:

Dumpling house Dough Zone plans Portland riverfront opening in former Lucier space

 Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com @tdmrussell
Midcentury modern enthusiasts can be part of a special experience: On May 13, supporters of Restore Oregon Modernism will tour dwellings with an open-to-the-sky atrium built by Robert Rummer in the Bohmann Park neighborhood southwest of Portland.

Rummers, as the houses modeled after developer Joseph Eichlers in California are called in Oregon, have walls of glass that rise to vaulted ceilings and frame the outdoors.
Is that a bear? A badger? Or maybe a wild dog?

Its easy to mistake all of the above for a wolverine  but wildlife officials confirmed that two people spotted a wolverine on the Columbia River near Portland for the first time outside of the Wallowa Mountains in over 30 years.

Wolverines are the largest member of the weasel family, weighing about 17 to 40 pounds, with brown fur and small rounded ears, like a bear.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the elusive animals were thought to be eradicated from Oregon in 1936, but scattered sightings that started in the 1960s proved their perseverance.

The last sighting outside of the Wallowa Mountains was in 1990, after someone surrendered a wolverine they hit with their car near Cascade Locks to state wildlife officials.

Wolverines are considered a threatened species in Oregon due to past hunting and haphazard predator control. They typically live in Canada, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, Montana, Idaho and make rare appearances in Oregon. Approximately 300 to 1,000 wolverines still roam the United States.

Kayla Shively, research director with the Wallowa Wolverine Project that documents the species, said wolverine sightings in Oregon are always a good sign.

This wolverine, seen by two people who were fishing, likely came from Washington, Shively said.

A wolverine was spotted along the Columbia River near Portland for the first time in 30 years on Monday.Photo courtesy of Cascadia Wild

Wolverines have had a breeding population since the early 2000s in the North Cascades in Washington. Over time, they have slowly trickled down south, she said.

It suggests that theyre expanding their distributions southwards and recovering historic habitats, Shively said.

The two fishers who spotted the wolverine took photos and sent them to Cascadia Wild staff to review on Monday. The nonprofit conducts community wildlife surveys for wolverines and other rare carnivores in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Cascadia Wild surveyors and Fish and Wildlife biologists confirmed the spot where the photos were taken and found a set of wolverine tracks but no other signs of the animal. They set up monitoring systems equipped with small cameras and hair-collecting devices to see if the wolverine is still in the area.

Oregons only documented resident wolverine named Stormy was first spotted in 2011 by Audrey Magoun, the founder of the Wallowa Wolverine Project. Stormy is 13 years old and was last spotted in 2022 in the Wallowa Mountains.

There were two other wolverine sightings from the public in 2022, one near the Eagle Cap Wilderness and another near Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, which are near Stormys usual stomping grounds. The Wallowa Wolverine Project cannot confirm that both were Stormy but its very likely, Shively said.

If any lucky person happens to spot a wolverine in the wild, they should take in the moment after taking a photo, she said.

Even wolverine biologists can go their whole career without seeing a wolverine, so thats a really special thing, Shively said.

-- Lisa Moreno; lmoreno@oregonian.com
A key Oregon committee advanced legislation for the semiconductor industry Friday morning, adding a provision that would accelerate the process for designating rural land for development. The bipartisan bill, one of the Legislatures top priorities this spring, now heads to the Senate floor for a vote next week.

Semiconductor manufacturing is among Oregons largest industries, and lawmakers hope to attract a share of $52 billion in federal incentives the U.S. Commerce Department will soon begin distributing to chipmakers.
Waterfalls are all over the Pacific Northwest. You can find them on the slopes of our volcanoes, along mountain passes and just about everywhere in the Columbia River Gorge  not to mention the famed Silver Falls State Park.

One of the best places to see waterfalls is also one of the quietest: the rainy forests of Oregons Coast Range.

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Perpetually wet, heavily logged and often bypassed by travelers driving between the Willamette Valley and the Pacific Ocean, the Coast Range is too often an afterthought  a place traveled through instead of to. But those who take the time to pull off at a roadside trailhead, strap on their waterproof hiking boots and head off into the forest know all too well the treasures this mountain range contains.

Running for more than 200 miles, the Coast Range is bordered by the Columbia River on the north and the Klamath Mountains on the south. It was formed by long periods of volcanic activity starting 66 million years ago, with lava rock uplifted by the tectonic plate off the Oregon coast. The temperate rainforest that covers the mountains is fed by the Northwest rains, allowing enormous trees to grow alongside rivers and creeks that run toward the ocean.

For the last 200 years, those forests have attracted loggers and supported Oregons thriving timber industry. Stand atop a Coast Range peak and you can see the patchwork quilt of clearcuts. In recent years, swaths of the mountains have been set aside for recreation, including areas with some of the most magnificent falls, found along creeks and rivers that swell with snowmelt and winter downpours.

Exploring the full extent of the Coast Range waterfalls is a massive undertaking. Completionists can explore the detailed maps compiled by the Northwest Waterfall Survey, while others It may be content to see the biggest and best. Its helpful to divide the mountain range into two parts, the north and south Coast Range, split near the coastal town of Newport. Each part offers about a dozen major waterfalls and many incredible outdoor adventures.

Drift Creek Falls plunges from a cliff in Oregon's Coast Range, seen from a suspension bridge over Drift Creek.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

NORTH COAST RANGE

Running between Astoria and Newport, the north Coast Range is dominated by many standalone falls in the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests, as well in Oregon State Parks and Siuslaw National Forest sites. Most travelers pass through these areas on their way to busy coast towns like Cannon Beach and Tillamook, ignoring the many waterfalls found along remote forest roads and quiet trails.

Drift Creek Falls, perhaps the best of the bunch, is an exception, accessed by a busy trailhead outside Lincoln City that leads to a spectacular suspension bridge over the 66-foot waterfall. Less busy are the trails to Oregons own Niagara Falls, found east of Pacific City, and University Falls, nestled into the timberlands off Oregon 6.

Even local parks on the Coast Range boast waterfalls, including Fishhawk Falls at Lee Wooden Fishhawk Falls County Park, Youngs River Falls managed by Astoria Parks and Recreation, and Umbrella Falls at the North Nehalem Fish Hatchery.

See our list of the 12 best waterfalls in Oregons north Coast Range for more details.

Silver Falls is briefly illuminated by a hole in the clouds. Golden and Silver Falls is a state park site in the coastal forest of southwest Oregon, home to two beautiful waterfalls and three miles of trails.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

SOUTH COAST RANGE

While the north Coast Range features standalone falls, the south Coast Range, which runs between Newport and Bandon, is known for hikes that feature two, three or more waterfalls along the same trail, offering hikers more bang for their buck.

The Kentucky Falls Trail might be the best known, despite being found at a remote recreation site at the end of a winding forest road between Eugene and Florence. A 4.4-mile round-trip hike leads to Upper Kentucky Falls, Lower Kentucky Falls and North Fork Falls, each of which could be a main attraction on its own.

On the southern end of the mountain range is Golden and Silver Falls, a state park site where a short, flat hike leads to the base of the two beautiful waterfalls that give the park its name. The long, winding road to the park from Coos Bay is likely what makes it one of the least-visited state parks in Oregon.

If you really want to see a lot of falls in one go, the Sweet Creek Falls Trail east of Florence is the place to do it, with nearly a dozen technical waterfalls along the 2.5-mile trail. Many of those are smaller plunges and rapids, but its worth checking out for Sweet Creek Falls alone, a 70-foot four-tiered waterfall with one viewpoint at the bottom and another near the top.

See our complete guide to the waterfalls of the south Coast Range for more information.

 Jamie Hale

503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB
Wine enthusiasts rejoice! Oregons popular land of pinot noir has been named one of the greatest places in the world.

TIME magazine named the Willamette Valley in its list of The Worlds Greatest Places of 2023, calling the wine region the next Napa noting its buzzy vineyards and hailing some progressive elements in the local community.

The wine world let out a collective gasp in 2021 when Champagne house Bollinger made its first acquisition outside of France: not some place in Napa or Sonoma, but Ponzi Vineyards, which set the standard for Oregon winemaking back in the 1970s, TIME wrote. The Willamette Valley had really, really made it, but for those in the know, the ascendance of the pinot noir powerhouse in Portlands backyard seemed almost inevitable.

The Willamette Valley was one of only a few destinations in the American West that made the cut. Vancouver, B.C., Yosemite National Park and Bozeman, Montana were also on the list.

To make the list, TIME solicited nominations of places from our international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.

Local wine drinkers already know all about the Willamette Valleys many tasting rooms, vineyards and boutique hotels that dot the valley. Towns like McMinnville, Dundee, Newberg and Yamhill anchor the wine region, which is found southwest of Portland.

Its one of several superlatives earned by Oregon destinations this year. The towns of Joseph and Manzanita were previously included in lists of the most beautiful places in the U.S.

READ MORE: Highway 18 revisited: Uncovering Yamhill Countys hidden wine treasures

 Jamie Hale

503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB

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Cracker Barrel is no more  at least in the Portland metro area.

We put together a list of 10 local country-style restaurants to fill the gap for Cracker Barrel-lovers  but we also asked readers for their suggestions, and they came up with some great options.

Here are their recommendations:

Otis Cafe in Lincoln City

More comfort food on the coast. Otis Cafe boasts an onsite bakery that readers love.

Otis Cafe: 4618 SE Hwy 101 Lincoln City; open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. daily.

Tollgate Inn

A familiar sight for skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts headed up to Mount Hood, the Tollgate Inn has a been a favorite spot for readers since 1980.

Tollgate Inn: 38100 HWY 26 Sandy; open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Ranees on Main

All day breakfast  including an occasional prime rib breakfast which sounds intriguing and delicious  and chicken fried steak were the reasons readers gave us for loving Ranees in Oregon City.

Ranees on Main: 1003 Main St. Oregon City; open 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Saturday

The Flyway Restaurant at The Lodge at Summer Lake

Readers raved about the huge portions and quaint gift shop at this spot near LaPine. Thie biscuits and gravy on the menu look pretty good to us.

The Flyway Restaurant: 53460 OR-31, Summer Lake; by reservation only, call 541-943-3993 for availability

Mothers Bistro & Bar

A Portland classic. Readers love the chicken and dumplings, pot roast and extensive breakfast menu at Mothers.

Mothers Bistro & Bar: 121 SW 3rd Ave. Portland; open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, dinner only Monday-Tuesday

Haines Steakhouse

Readers called Haines Steakhouse in eastern Oregon a cant miss spot, and we can see why. Its an old-style steakhouse, complete with salad bar and prime rib chili.

Haines Steakhouse: 910 Front St, Haines; open 4:30-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 3:30-8 p.m. Saturday, 12:30-8 p.m. Sunday

Blondzees Guest House

Blondzees boasts huge country breakfasts. The build-your-own burger option isnt really country fare, but it has a plethora of delicious-looking options.

Blondzees Guest House: 4850 Portland Rd. NE Salem, open 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-12 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Huckleberry Inn

Another classic spot for outdoor enthusiasts hitting the mountain.

Huckleberry Inn: 88611 Government Camp Loop, Government Camp; open daily 6 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Tumalo Feed Co. Steakhouse

Readers called this spot a classic, and, judging by the look of that steak, theyre right.

Tumalo Feed Co. Steakhouse: 64619 US-20, Tumalo; open 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
A key challenge as we grow our business is navigating the tight labor market, making sure as we grow to new sites we are working alongside team members that align with our culture and are passionate about helping explore whats possible. Maryanne Harris, Director at Robofit.

Maryanne Harris and Daniel Hillyers journey to create RoboFit, Australias first neuro-responsive exoskeleton and robot-powered therapy centre, began with a tragic event that altered their lives forever.

In 2010, Daniel suffered a balcony collapse that left him with quadriplegia, a diagnosis that shattered his dreams of becoming a chef. Doctors told him he would never move from the neck down, but he and Maryanne refused to accept this devastating prognosis.

RoboFit has a deeply personal beginning for both of us, explains Maryanne. Dan was working as a chef, and I was studying exercise science at UOW when tragedy struck in May of 2010. Dan was involved in a balcony collapse that left him with a spinal cord injury, and he was told he wouldnt have any movement from his neck down, with limited arm function.

Following a 10-month stay in the hospital, we began our journey of looking at what options were available for therapy, continues Maryanne. Dan joined a neuro-specific gym, and we also started looking globally as there was limited innovation taking place in Australia. We were seeking something that would bring us to hope that Dan could regain his independence.

We travelled to America, Europe, Israel, and Japan, says Maryanne. When we came across Cyberdyne, we knew that it aligned with our values, based on their philosophy with technology on human enablement and empowerment. After a number of visits to Japan with Dan using the device as part of his rehabilitation journey, we couldnt wait to bring it back to Australia.

We saw huge improvements in my standing balance, walking gait, and speed in just 21 days of 2 hours per day training in the exoskeleton using a treadmill and overground practice, says Daniel.

I was able to walk 10m supported prior to my HAL training in Japan. After our experience of travelling to Japan multiple times to access these devices because there wasnt anything like it in Australia, we knew it was something we had to do and bring the devices here to Australia for our community to access in a community-based setting.

With Maryannes background in exercise science, they began to explore the future of rehabilitation and discovered promising technology from Cyberdyne, a Japanese company. Their curiosity led them on a 10-year-long journey that took them to labs and conferences around the world and culminated in the creation of RoboFit.

At RoboFit, we work closely with Cyberdyne, who is the manufacturer of the neuro-responsive exoskeleton, explains Maryanne. Professor Sankai invented the technology with a focus on human empowerment and assisting society in dealing with ageing populations and the conditions that impact us as we grow older.

On our first visit to Japan in 2013, Dan underwent his first three-week block with Cyberdyne, says Maryanne. They had been established since 2008, and their devices are unlike others in the market.

They have both autonomous mode, which moves for the wearer, and the added feature of bioelectric signals. This provides a neuro-feedback loop to the brain, encouraging and rewarding movements desired as part of someones therapy and focusing on improving functional capacity.

Incorporating tech alongside traditional interventions

Maryanne states they believe in incorporating and adopting technology to help innovate alongside traditional interventions. They are committed to staying up to date with technological advancements to ensure that their clients receive the best possible care and support.

Maryanne also recognises the importance of traditional interventions in building and improving capacity. Therefore, RoboFit takes a multidisciplinary approach to its work, bringing together experts from various fields to create a comprehensive and personalised treatment plan for each client.

We understand that technology has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach rehabilitation and therapy, and we are committed to staying at the forefront of these advancements to ensure that our clients receive the best possible care and support.

By integrating technology into this plan, we are able to complement and enhance the benefits of traditional interventions, allowing our clients to achieve their goals more quickly and effectively.

We believe that this approach is key to helping individuals with neurological conditions regain their independence, improve their quality of life, and reach their full potential.

A journey of iteration and innovation

Maryanne acknowledges that, like any business starting out, they have faced many challenges. As they continue to grow, they strive to constantly iterate and improve upon their operations to provide the best possible experience for their clients.

One of the key challenges that RoboFit faces as they expand its business is navigating the tight labour market. As they open new sites and bring on new team members, it is crucial that they find individuals who align with the company culture and share the same passion for helping clients explore whats possible.

To overcome this challenge, RoboFit has implemented a rigorous hiring process that involves assessing the qualifications and experience of potential team members and evaluating their values and how they align with the companys mission. By prioritising cultural fit and passion for the work, RoboFit ensures that they are building a team of individuals who are dedicated to providing the highest quality care and support for their clients.

The team at RoboFit has been able to witness some truly remarkable progress made by their clients so far. While the therapy occurs within the gym, the real impact can be seen when clients go back home and into their communities, where they can do things they previously couldnt. Some clients have been able to swim with their kids, others have been more independent around the home, and some have even reduced their reliance on support.

The year ahead looks very exciting for RoboFit. With all the hard work the team has invested so far, momentum has been building for the great things they will achieve this year. Just this month, they opened their second centre in Sydney, which has a waiting list of 100 clients eager to take advantage of the service. With centres located more closely to their clients, they can reduce the need to travel to Japan to access these life-changing technologies.

Despite the challenges, Maryanne and the team at RoboFit remain committed to their mission of contributing to a cure for paralysis and improving the lives of those living with neurological conditions. They continue to push the boundaries of whats possible through the incorporation of cutting-edge technology and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

RoboFit is more than just a business venture for Maryanne and Daniel; its a personal mission to contribute to finding a cure for paralysis.

Through RoboFit, Maryanne and Daniel are offering hope and a new lease on life to people who have been told theyll never walk again. Their story is one of perseverance, determination, and love, and it serves as an inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity in their life.

In the coming year, RoboFit aims to increase accessibility through additional locations and exciting partnerships. They also have some new innovations planned for the Australian and New Zealand market, which will be life-changing for those living with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, Maryanne concludes.

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MANISTEE  A pair of public hearings were held Tuesday during a Manistee City Council meeting in order to move ahead with a proposed restaurant development on Arthur Street.

Following the hearings, council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution to establish an obsolete property rehabilitation district for the property located at 91 and 99 Arthur St., and to approve an obsolete property rehabilitation exemption certificate application for the property.

The Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act provides property tax exemptions for "commercial and commercial housing properties that are rehabilitated and meet the requirements of the act," according to the state of Michigan website.

On 91/99 Arthur Development Company, LLC's application for the exemption certificate, the rehabilitation is said to have an estimated cost $1.6 million and a planned completion date of July 1.

The former Little Caesars Pizza building on the property has been vacant since 1995, according to the application.

Chef Jason Tilmann, managing partner in the operation and development of the project, said the tax abatement is necessary to get the restaurant off the ground.

"We're taking an old, eyesore building and we have done numerous hours of research and planning on trying to make it into a beautiful environment that will allow us to support the community with jobs, careers and a great place to come and eat," he said. "... We're here tonight to ask for your help and to become partners with the city to help us move forward with this project. ... It's a very financially deep project, and that's why we're here to ask for your support and your help."

Tilmann previously presented information on the project during a Feb. 7 city council meeting. He said the restaurant would serve seasonal modern American cuisine and would have a bar, vestibule, sitting area, three seasons room, docks and a porch complete with fire pit.

Residents of Joslin Cove Townhomes and Bayview Condominiums, which are both next to the proposed restaurant site, spoke during the public hearings to express excitement about the development while also sharing some concerns.

Bruce Matthews, a Bayview resident, said he was looking forward to the restaurant, but was worried about noise if there were to be an outdoor stage.

"We have a parade of boats every morning between 5 and 6 a.m. from the marina out to the lake. It wakes us all up," he said. "... I would prefer  and several of us would prefer  that we don't have music outside at night past a reasonable time."

Kyle Kotecki/News Advocate

Matthews also said he was worried the parking lot lighting could diminish the view of the SS City of Milwaukee.

"The ship there, a lot of people take pictures from the boat ramp on the boat ramp dock," he said. "We also like the view. (We'd like) low-level lighting, down low, pointed low away from the ship. It's beautiful at night. You've got a real resource there."

Council member Seth Pratt asked prior to the vote if the residents' concerns could be taken into consideration after the tax abatement was granted.

"Once they submit a site plan that will be reviewed," said Bill Gambill, city manager. "... I think the planning department can look at those items and see if they can work with the developers to address those issues."

Tilmann's wife Marija said she had a meeting scheduled for Wednesday day to discuss the site plan.

"We have appointments with the zoning administration tomorrow to start that process," she said. "... We understand there are site reviews and things that need to be done, and we're ready for that."

Marc Miller, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce director of economic development, told the council the chamber is "wholeheartedly behind this project."

"We've been working with the Tilmanns for a number of months, providing a number of resources and referrals," Miller said. "This is a great partnership opportunity for the city to partner with a developer, an entrepreneur to deal with a blighted underutilized property that's in a high visibility location. ... Without the support of this certificate tonight it will be very difficult for this project to get going, as well as be sustainable in the future.

"We strive for something that will be there for the long-term to serve our residents and our visitors in our economic sector."
The city of Bad Axe held a department of public safety meeting to discuss the ongoing development of setting up Bad Axe schools with a resource officer March 20.

"We're very close to having the agreement for the school in place," said City Manager Rob Stiverson. "Originally we were talking about a full-time officer, but we are thinking that we might have options where we don't necessarily have to employ the officer over the summer. That's where this discussion kind of goes is to make sure that, that is something that (the public safety committee) would like to see from a public safety standpoint."

Bad Axe Police Chief Shawn Webber told the committee about his time talking with the school resource officer school in Lansing where he was given the idea.

"I spoke with some people in the class and they're doing what they call seasonal or a 200-hour employee," said Webber. "They're still considered a full-time employee. Some of the other departments have done it this way and the state has approved it. It would provide cost savings to the city as well."

"From the union standpoint, we can go seasonal, from an insurance standpoint we can go seasonal, and it should meet our contract requirements with the school," said Stiverson. "Or we can go full time. When we post the position it will depend on if you are ok with seasonal or not."

Another point that was made was looking for a candidate that was not fresh out of a police academy. The combination of a smaller age gap between the students and the officer and the lack of experience in potentially dangerous situations is what the city is trying to avoid.

One route that was pitched at the committee meeting is bringing on a retired officer to work seasonally throughout the school year as they would not have to be obligated to work during the summer months.

The Bad Axe School District received this opportunity to work with the city through a $25 million grant awarded by the state back in January. Bad Axe received $168,238 to help supply the school resource officer's salary, benefits package, and training. Eight other school districts in the Thumb also received funding including Laker schools, USA schools, Ubly, Harbor Beach, and North Huron schools. The total amount awarded to these schools including Bad Axe is $979,601.

The committee meeting did not lead to any decisions, however, as the final call will be made by the full city council at a regular meeting.
OSCEOLA COUNTY  The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly is considering the removal of Nartron Dam on the Hersey River upstream from Reed City in Osceola County.

MRWA director Scott Faulkner approached the Reed City council during its meeting March 13 to inform them of the organizations interest in removing the dam.

Removing high-risk dams on the Muskegon River watershed has been a priority for several years, Faulkner told the board, but the removal process has been accelerated since the failure of the Midland Dam and the dramatic impact it had on surrounding property owners, as well as the recent decision of Consumers Energy to possibly decommission several of their hydro-electric dams in the state.

Large-scale funding resources have recently been made available that are targeted at increasing public safety, as well as the overall health of the watershed, he said.

A large amount of money has been pouring in from Washington to our state to do things like dam removals, Faulkner said. My organization is all about the overall health of the watershed, whether that is through tree planting or dam removals. The Hersey River is clogged by that (Nartron) dam and has been for a while. It is up for inspection by EGLE (Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment) and other certification organizations this year, so there is an opportunity for us to take a look at it and evaluate the shape it is in.

It is likely to fall into the Hazard Potential Classification of significant, meaning failure can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities or other concerns, he added.

The MRWA would like to begin the process of talking with property owners and stakeholders regarding the possibility of removing the Nartron Dam and restoring the natural river flow to the area, Faulkner said.

We realize this is not in your city, but there is a lot to be said about what happens downstream from a dam in the event of a failure, he said. The purpose of my visit is to let you know what we are thinking about doing in your backyard. Part of that is knowing what your stakeholders and constituents want.

The MRWAs vision is to obtain local landowners permission and active support from stakeholders and identify all needed funding sources to remove the dam, reconnecting the cold-water upstream habitat to the Muskegon River, he said.

Faulkner added, they are aware there is great trout fishing above and below the dam but believe that removing the dam and reconnecting the river can be of benefit to both areas. They want to begin the engagement and find out how people feel about the dam and possible plans for removing it.

We would like to partner with the city and other stakeholders to talk about the prospect of removing the dam, Faulkner said. We would like you to talk with your constituents about the dam and the opportunity to remove a risk to downstream assets.

If everyone agrees to the removal, the process will take years to complete, he said, from getting permits from the state to designing and engineering of the removal.

The Nartron Dam is one of over 100 dams in the Muskegon River Watershed, according to information provided by MRWA. It was completed in 1956 and was abandoned several decades ago, leaving a crumbling structure that warms the water temperature endangering fish habitats and posing a failure risk to downstream communities.

Restoration of the dam site will create a compelling local water asset for increased fishing, hiking and kayaking, the information said. Fish will move upstream from the Muskegon River and will be free to go further up the Hersey River in search of cooler water temperatures and spawning habitats.

The MRWA is currently in the process of removing the Buckhorn Creek Dam in Paris at a cost of around $900,000. Completed dam removals include the Altona Dam in Hinton Township and Kinney Creek Dam on private property along Kinney Creek.
Hate incidents and hate groups have made Michigan a hotbed for white supremacy activity and propaganda, according to two of the nations leading groups that track hate-based activity.

The Anti-Defamation League ranked Michigan fourth nationally on the amount of white power propaganda distributed by way of flyers and leaflets around the state, behind Texas, Massachusetts and Virginia.

Among the groups spreading the vast majority of the white power literature in the country last year were Patriot Front, Goyim Defense League and White Lives Matter. Together, the Anti-Defamation League, headquartered in New York City, says 93% of distributed literature was displayed by the three groups.

As recently as early March, the Goyim Defense League distributed flyers with antisemitic language in Gaines Township, in Kent County. The flyers claimed Jewish people were responsible for the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

In January, the Goyim Defense League also spread flyers in Delta Township, near Lansing, promoting antisemitic online videos.

While it takes a different approach in counting the spread of white power propaganda, Southern Poverty Law Center senior researcher Jeff Tischauser said his groups research supports the Anti-Defamation Leagues findings.

Even with our different kinds of criteria, were still finding very similar results, Tischauser said. And flyering is increasing in Michigan.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Georgia, has been tracking incidents where white power and other hate groups publicly display a flyer or banner. According to Tischhauser, Michigan has been the state with the highest number of reported incidents in the Midwest.

Tischauser said Michigan has had 597 such incidents since 2018, with a seven-fold increase from 2018 to 2022. Nearly 90% happens in the metro areas of Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

In addition to the three groups listed by the Anti-Defamation League, Tischauser said the neo-Nazi group Folkish Resistance Movement and the Ku Klux Klan are spreading propaganda within the state.

Javed Ali, a University of Michigan professor and counterterrorism expert, said the distribution and posting of hate flyers in communities is certainly ugly but not illegal.

This means unless there is a possibility of hate-based violence happening, Ali said, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies cannot make arrests for simply putting up flyers or banners.

But, Ali said, the FBI should not be the last line of defense and law enforcement officers can become involved by talking to people putting up the displays, either online or in person.

There needs to be a better effort or early warning system to have conversations with folks about what we need to do and what can we do legally and pulling in law enforcement early as well, Ali said.

Not to make an arrest because there may not be a crime being committed. Maybe having an officer knock on someones door like: Hey, you know youve been linked to this complication or this material. Explain this to me, he said.

Ali said such a measure could have a chilling effect on hate group members and potentially deter people from further involvement in such activities.

Anthony Lewis , the Department of Civil Rights community engagement and education director, said his agency has taken steps to counteract bias incidents and hate crimes.

That includes setting up the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes, which produces an online series about possible hate and bias occurrences and created a community response system manual.

This manual, Lewis said, is a guide to ways communities could rally their residents to heal from a bias incident or hate crime and help prevent others..

Lewis said that the steps in the manual are usually taken by community leaders rather than the department

If its community-led, community-generated and community-run, its always best when that happens, he said.
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In the early 20th century, criminal gangs, led by notorious mobsters like Al "Scarface" Capone, waged war in cities and towns across America over control of the illegal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

The resulting violence and corruption prompted Congress to pass the Volstead Act in 1919. Prohibition became the law of the land.

The legendary Eliot Ness and his crime-fighting team of "Untouchables" would take down Chicago's Al Capone, but enforcement of the ban on booze would largely fall to law enforcement agencies at the state and local levels.

One Huron County sheriff quickly earned a reputation for being tough on bootleggers and those who would risk running afoul of the law by assembling illegal stills and concocting their own illicit brews. The sheriff led raids on stills in remote rural areas with three trusty deputies and engineered sweeping Michigan State Police raids in towns like Bad Axe and Harbor Beach.

Those who found themselves in the Huron County Jail in the latter half of 1922 quickly learned this sheriff had little tolerance for unruly behavior and was not averse to entering the jail and restoring order with the use of fists and a billy club.

Her name was Lulu.

Tribune File Photo

'She would make a good sheriff'

The following is taken from the pages of the Huron County Tribune:

On Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922, Huron County Sheriff Donald McAulay passed away in a room at Hubbard Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe. McAulay had been hospitalized two weeks earlier after an attack of appendicitis, his third within a period of a few months.

McAulay was wrapping up his third term as sheriff and planned to run for re-election in the fall. He and his wife, the former Miss Lulu Foster, had married in 1900 and given birth to one child, a daughter named Helen who was attending the Bauer Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati at the time of his death.

Sheriff Donald McAulay was remembered for his sleuthing abilities, serving as the detective who investigated the notorious murders of four members of Sparling family of Tyre that occurred in 1909-1911.

The sheriff was laid to rest the following Tuesday, his funeral in Colfax Township Cemetery attended by several hundred mourners, including 50 Knights Templar in full uniform.

Tribune File Photo

The next day, a committee that included Huron County Prosecutor Alfred Sauer, Huron County Probate Judge Watson Beach and the county clerk met to select Sheriff McAulay's successor.

They decided the sheriff's widow, Lulu, would be the best choice, since she was already familiar with the duties of the office having served as a deputy under her husband, and "would make a good sheriff," according to an April 21, 1922 article in the Tribune.

A drunken brawl in Kinde, a raid near Filion

The new sheriff wasted no time carrying out her duties.

The pages of the Friday, April 28, 1922 Tribune announced that Sheriff McAulay had ordered her first raid on an illegal still on April 24. Deputies Lute Truax and Hugh Putnam arrested a man named Joe Tolaski at his home near Filion in Lincoln Township and confiscated a barrel of mash and a "distilling apparatus."

Though no liquor was found on the premises, Tolaski claimed any liquor produced by his still was for personal use only. His case was sent to the circuit court.

The sheriff's decision to conduct the raid may have been prompted by a drunken brawl that occurred in Kinde the previous Saturday night.

According to the Tribune, a "tear up" involving brothers William and Russel Teare had occurred at a dance, where the visibly intoxicated siblings allegedly attacked another man.

The duo was arrested the following Monday morning and pleaded guilty to intoxication before Kinde Justice of the Peace Alex Guyeau, who ordered the brothers to pay fines and court costs totaling $62.

The day of the Lincoln Township raid, a Sebewaing man named Theodore Auch was sentenced to 30 days in the Huron County Jail for the offense of intoxication.

Tribune File Photo

MSP conducts countywide raid

But Sheriff Lulu McAulay was just getting started in her war on bootleggers in Huron County.

On the afternoon of May 4, 1922, a squad of mounted Michigan State Police troopers swept through the county, arresting about a dozen people and seizing slot machines, stills and countless bottles of "home brew."

Using information provided by the Huron County Sheriff's Office, 13 "well-armed" troopers from Saginaw, Flint and Lansing made their way through the county executing a total of 61 search warrants at more than two dozen locations in Bad Axe, Port Hope, Kinde and Harbor Beach.

The list of criminal complaints included businesses like the American Hotel in Harbor Beach and DeWitt's Creamery in Port Hope. Eleven of the 12 individuals arrested were freed after posting a bond of $500 each.

State troopers estimated about 60% of all the illegal alcohol in the county was destroyed on May 4 as word of the raid spread like wildfire. One man was spotted near Port Hope dumping mash in a creek, according to an article in the Tribune on May 5.

The sheriff was quickly earning a reputation for her tough stance on illegal liquor, earning a write-up in the Detroit News describing how she insisted on accompanying her deputies on raids.

She said it was the responsibility of the sheriff to take part in the raids and said the fact she was a woman should have no bearing on the matter.

"I can only be sure that everything is right by being there myself, and it is my duty to be sure," she said.

'WOMAN SHERIFF BATTLES TOUGHS'

On Monday, August 14 of that year, the sheriff ordered a cleanup of the county jail, "inmates and all," according to the Tribune.

Some of the inmates of the jail decided they did not want to cooperate, scoffing at the idea they would take orders "with a woman in charge."

Two young men held on suspicion of burglary began cursing, issuing catcalls and breaking furniture. Another man even threatened to shoot the sheriff when he was released from jail.

Sheriff McAulay would have none of it, a newspaper article stated.

According to the Tribune, the sheriff and her housekeeper, Mrs. Merle Wilson, locked one of the "rowdies" in his cell. The sheriff "took the other by his head while Mrs. Wilson grabbed his feet. They put him on his back, bumped his head on the steel floor and clubbed him into submission using their fists and a 'billy.'"

The unruly inmate soon cried, "Enough!" and promised to behave himself, according to newspaper accounts. The sheriff and Mrs. Wilson locked up the man, fetched the other from his cell and gave him "the same treatment, which resulted in the same promise to be good."

The man who threatened to shoot the sheriff also had bragged she was afraid of him, so she decided to settle all accounts on that day. She removed him from his cell and "began administering the same punishment in a no uncertain manner," the article stated.

The story continued, describing how the inmate "begged like a starving cat" and "promised to be good, but to no avail. At every outburst he received a good whack with the 'billy.' Mrs. McAulay wanted to positively insure his conversion and in this she was finally successful."

"The jail has been quiet as an English Duke at an Irish picnic ever since," the story concluded.

Tribune File Photo

'A strong second'

The 1922 Primary Election pitted the sheriff against five challengers. Though her opponents made the fact Lulu McAulay was a woman the major issue of their campaigns, the controversy over Prohibition also played a big role, according to the Huron County Tribune.

McAulay, who had demonstrated she was more than capable of executing the duties of sheriff, was staunchly in favor of keeping Huron County dry using the full force of her office. Supporters of Prohibition were strong in number, but there were large pockets of opposition to McAulay and her stance on alcohol scattered throughout the county.

"There is no dispute but that she has made a good sheriff, better than the average in fact," an article in the Tribune stated. "Most of the lawyers in the county are said to be for her because of her promptness and careful attention to legal business and serving papers."

In campaign ads leading up to the election, McAulay brushed away claims that a female sheriff cost taxpayers more than having a man in the job. The extra fines paid by moonshiners during her term would pay almost all of her salary, she argued.

"If Mrs. McAulay were a man she would be nominated without opposition for a second term," a campaign ad read. "She asks the same consideration always given a man."

The primary was held on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and McAulay received a total of 2,097 votes, finishing a "strong" second to the man who would eventually succeed her, Peter G. Burns, who finished the primary with 2,904 votes.

McAulay won by considerable margins in all three Bad Axe wards, Harbor Beach and places like Winsor Township, but backroom dealings that swung the vote heavily against her in the outlying townships sealed the victory for Burns.

'Her good work as sheriff'

In January of 1923, soon after leaving office, Lulu McAulay accepted a job with the Detroit Police Department.

An article in the Jan. 5 Tribune stated McAulay had been working under the watchful eye of Detroit Police Commissioner James W. Inches, who saw "her good work as sheriff of Huron County and it is understood that he lost no time availing himself of the opportunity to secure her services for his department."

McAulay would likely take charge of police welfare work in Detroit, the article stated, "among the women, children, criminals, unfortunates and otherwise, who come under the surveillance of the police."

Mrs. McAulay was said to be enthusiastic about the prospects of her new work.
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Virginia Florey is now a respected and accomplished writer of Midland history, but she can look back at a time when she wasn't sure what she was going to do.

It was 1965 and Florey was going through a difficult time in her life. She sought the help of a therapist named Don Werner, who ended up putting her on a new career path.

"He said, 'I want you to write a diary of everything that happens to you,' Florey recalled.

When Werner saw her writing, he was impressed.

"He looked up at me and said, 'You know, theres no reason you cant write (for a living),'" Florey said. "It was his encouragement that got me back to writing, going to college and teaching again.

"He changed my life forever."

Since 1996, Florey has written a twice-a-month column in the Midland Daily News called "Midland Remembers," in which she tells the life stories of various members of the Midland community. She also writes the Pocket Mirror, occasional recollections of her own childhood in Midland.

Florey said she draws inspiration from an exchange in a book called "Big Panda and Tiny Dragon" by James Norbury.

"Big Panda says to Tiny Dragon, 'Which is more important, the journey or the destination?' And Tiny Dragon says, 'Neither. Its the company.' That sums up my life," Florey said. "Its been the company (that has been most important). Its the people who are with you on that journey."

Born on Grove Street

Florey's journey began in 1929, when she was born at home on Grove Street in Midland, delivered by Dr. Wilbur Towsley, who was said to have delivered 3,000 babies.

"My two grandmothers gave me my first bath," she said.

Florey said her family has been designated as one of the First Families of Midland, which includes anyone whose ancestors lived in the city before 1895.

Her great-grandfather, Henry White, after serving in the Civil War, came in 1869 to what was then known as the Village of Midland City. The following year, he married Catherine Cote. Their only child, Minnie May White, was born in 1872 and eventually became Florey's grandmother.

Minnie married Charles LaRue, a lumberjack, in 1886. The couple had four children. After Charles died in 1897, Minnie eventually married Fred Letts, and their daughter, Glatise, Florey's mother, was born in 1907. Glatise married Gil Merritt in 1928.

Shortly after the marriage Florey, their oldest of four children, was born, the Merritts moved five miles north of the city limits to a house that Gil built on Sturgeon Road at the corner of Letts Road.

The house was across the road from Cady School, a one-room school for grades K-8.

When Florey was 7, the family decided to move back into Midland.

"Mom wanted to move to town. She couldnt drive and was just kind of stuck out there (in the country)," Florey explained.

The Merritts then lived on Adelaide Street, one block from the Bartlett and Asch grocery store, which Florey visited often.

"I had the good fortune to go to Carpenter Street School. We had wonderful teachers," she said.

The Merritt family would watch movies at the Frolic Theatre on Main Street. Florey remembers seeing films about Louis Pasteur, Alexander Graham Bell, and General George Armstrong Custer's last stand.

"I had a really happy childhood," Florey said.

Florey's dad was a "voracious reader," she said, a fact which he ultimately attributed to his great-great-grandmother, Elmina Miltimore Voorhees, who had written a column called "Home Cheer" for a newspaper in Traverse City for 20 years until her death in 1901.

"Dad would read the (news)paper to my sister Jean and me. By the time I got to school, I was so used to books and papers (because of my dad)," Florey said.

Florey's junior high school was in what is now Grove Park, and there she met Leona Clark Seamster and Charlotte Fenske Chatterton. The three of them are still friends 80 years later. Seamster joined Florey in writing two books about Midland history.

Midland High School on Rodd Street was fairly new when Florey attended there. Today, Central Park Elementary stands on the site of the former high school, which later became Central Intermediate School and Central Middle School.

When Florey was 15, her family moved for a third time, out to Averill between Midland and Sanford.

"(World War II) was on, and Mom thought for sure Dow was going to get bombed, so we moved into the country," Florey explained. "I rode with my dad to school. He worked at Dow."

College and a diverse career

In her senior year, Florey was hired by Dow Corning through the high school co-op program. After graduation in 1947, she decided to enroll at the Central Michigan College of Education in Mount Pleasant - one year later it was renamed Central Michigan University.

"Back then, girls did not go to college," Florey said. "People asked me, 'You're giving up a good job to go to college?'

As a freshman, Florey won the Sigma Tau Delta Freshman Writing Award. She actually won the award in two categories: essay and short story. In order to spread the recognition around among the students, it was decided to award Florey first place in essay and second place in short story.

After earning a teaching certificate from CMU, Florey taught for two years at Bailey School on Stewart Road before marrying her husband Bill, who was also from Averill.

Florey later worked at Dow, at radio station WMDN, at the Midland Daily News, at the Midland Soil Conservation District, and at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church.

"Every job I had was in writing. I did newsletters, programs for children, I wrote business letters," Florey said.

She enjoyed working for Jim Ryan at Dow, for Phil Rich and Jack Telfer at the Daily News, for Gerald Laurenz at the Conservation District, for Pete Wolf at WMDN, and for Pastor John Seifert at Good Shepherd.

"Ive been so blessed with always having good people to work for," she continued. "I never made much money, but I always enjoyed my job."

Midland Remembers

Florey said her Midland Remembers column started in 1996 after Maxine McCullough and Pat Warden came up with the idea of designating First Families of Midland. Florey was assigned by the Daily News to interview some of the First Families

Eventually, former Accent Editor and Managing Editor Lori Qualls suggested the idea of Florey authoring Midland Remembers.

"I made a list and thought, 'I have enough (people to interview) for the next year.' I called her back and said, 'I will do that," Florey said. "People just began calling (me with story ideas)."

In 2001, at the encouragement of a friend, Florey contacted Arcadia Publishing, which gave her and Seamster a contract to write the book "Midland: The Way We Were."

"It sold just like hotcakes," Florey said. "In 2002, they asked if we would write another book about Midland. That became 'Midland: Her Continuing Story.'"

Florey continues to write Midland Remembers from her home in Midland. She is almost finished with her two April installments of the column.

"I've just been blessed," she said.
With car imports from Southeast Asia soaring in the last five years, the government is worried the country will be flooded with imported vehicles at the cost of the local auto industry.

Last year 440,000 cars were manufactured in Vietnam and 176,590 were imported. But imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries, mainly Thailand and Indonesia, doubling the period before 2018.

According to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, last year the two countries accounted for 144,703 cars, or 83% of imports, that cost US$2.5 billion.

Foreign carmakers with factories in Vietnam import 80-90% of their cars sold in the market.

Imports of cars and car parts are expected to skyrocket in the next 10 years when the import tax is gradually reduced to 0% under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

"In the context of integration, if the Government and ministries do not quickly have appropriate policies and solutions to encourage and support the development of the domestic auto industry, Vietnam will become a market for foreign firms, and passenger cars in the market will be all imports," the Ministry of Industry and Trade warned.

The prices of cars in Vietnam are nearly double that in Thailand and Indonesia due to taxes and fees as well as the low volume of domestic manufacture, the ministry said, noting that automakers are producing far below their designed capacity.

'Manufacturers expect the government to come up with comprehensive solutions to stimulate car demand and increase market size by lowering taxes and fees, developing transport infrastructure and having preferential policies for the auto industry, it added.

Recently the 12-member Vehicles Importers Vietnam Association called on the government to reduce the registration fee on imported cars by 50% to spur demand.

Earlier, the government instructed the Ministries of Finance and Industry and Trade to consider lowering the fee for locally made cars.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims.

Thursday, March 23

11:30 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Larkin Township roadway, regarding multiple vehicles parked on the side of the roadway. Deputies checked the area, no vehicles were located and a deceased deer was removed from the lanes of traffic.

10:17 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Larkin Township roadway regarding a vehicle parked on the side of the roadway. Deputies spoke to the woman driver who stated she was attempting to photograph the northern lights.

5:46 p.m. Police were called to an injury crash at Eastman Avenue and Joe Mann Blvd.

4:18 p.m. Police responded to a domestic assault in the 1800 block of Eastlawn Drive.

4:12 p.m. - A 64-year-old Lincoln Township man reported that his trash can went missing after trash was collected. It is not known if the trash can was stolen or if the garbage truck kept the trash can.

4:05 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Hope Township business regarding a 64-year-old man who caused a scene and was not wanted on the property. The deputy spoke with the man, and he was issued a trespass warning.

2:14 p.m. - Detectives received a referral from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding an alleged criminal sexual conduct case involving a 17-year-old girl and her boyfriend. Contact was made with the girls mother who advised her daughter doesn't wish to have law enforcement involved. She is speaking with her counselor about the situation. The mother also advised that the incident occurred out of state. She advised she would contact authorities if her daughter changed her mind.

11:12 a.m. Police responded to the 5000 block of Farnsworth Drive for an identity fraud complaint.

11:08 a.m. - Deputy dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a neighbor dispute. A woman reported being recorded on video and having the video posted to a social media site. At the time of the report no crime had been committed, and the recording is believed to have occurred on public property. The woman was instructed how to report the video to the social media site if she wanted it deleted.

11:28 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence regarding an argument between a 34-year-old woman and her 37-year-old husband. No assault occurred, and the woman left the residence.

8:21 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to Ingersoll Township after a 38-year-old woman advised that her live-in 42-year-old husband left the residence and was potentially suicidal. The deputy spoke with the man who checked himself into mental health. The man advised that while he was depressed, he had no intentions of harming or killing himself. The complainant was referred to probate court.

7:15 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a 53-year-old man who fired several shots into the ground to scare off the neighbor's aggressive loose dogs. A report was forwarded to animal control for follow-up.

05:44 a.m. - Police responded to the 1400 block of E. Pine Street for a drug possession and warrant arrest.
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - Economic and financial turbulence calls for greater transparency from policymakers, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a new blog it has just published
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya and Tunisia have agreed to reactivate the Libyan-Tunisian Cultural Centre in their countries and to cooperate in resolving the difficulties faced by the Arab House in order to resume its activities and regain its place on the cultural scene in the two neighbouring countries
Ho Chi Minh City police have arrested six Malaysians after a group of Indonesians reported being smuggled by them to Vietnam and held captive to make scam calls.

Leaw Boon Kiat, 36, Thong Joon King, 32 and Gan Ban Lee, 42, are being investigated for brokering illegal entry. The police are clarifying the involvement of the other three.

Six Malaysians are at a police station in HCMC, March 2023. Photo courtesy of the police

On March 12, the 30 Indonesians came to the Consulate General of Indonesia in HCMC to report about being smuggled into Vietnam and detained inside a building in Binh Thanh District.

They were forced to masquerade as bank employees and other Indonesian authorities and make scam calls back to Indonesia to swindle money from people, the Indonesians said.

When police raided the building in question, the Malaysians had already escaped, but officers later found six of them renting a room at the Tan Son Nhat hotel in Tan Binh District and arrested them. These people had already bought flight tickets, which were supposed to get them out of Vietnam on March 13.

A house in HCMC's Binh Thanh District where a group of Indonesian people have been held and forced to make scamming phone calls. Photo courtesy of HCMC Police

Leaw Boon Kiat said the group posted advertisements through a tourism firm in Indonesia to look for people working in hotels and restaurants. They then persuaded 30 people to come to Vietnam. Upon arrival, these people had their passports and phones taken away by the Malaysian group, and brought to the building in Binh Thanh District.

Leaw asked his wife, a 31-year-old Vietnamese, to rent the building in Binh Thanh for VND109 million ($4,635) a month.

The police seized dozens of mobile phones, laptops, SIM and bank cards as evidence.

Vietnamese authorities are cooperating with the Interpol and the Aseanpol for to expand the investigation.
This year, Austins South by Southwest sauntered further down the road of reclaiming its place as both one of the countrys leading festivals and as a foremost event through which emerging acts break out. However overwhelming the sporatic rainstorms and overflowing schedule may have been (and in spite of the citys inevitable gentrification and influx of tourists), both SXSW and Austin prevailed in excellent music and in exuding the spirit of keeping things weird. Above all stood SXSW 2023s many artists, who ranged from an impressive roster of rising international talent to legends like New Order and Jadakiss.

I found myself really searching for fresh energy and sounds at SXSW this time around. And the purest form of this was on the international stages; after night one of the British Music Embassy Showcase, I went back again and again. My own Anglophilia aside, theres no denying the London music scene has proven itself unparalleled in experimentation, style, diversity and influence. Between the chaos of the secret boygenius show happening at Austin-Bergstrom airports baggage claim while I clamored for (and dropped) my suitcase and the drunken line for Voodoo Donuts, the week-long BME showcase felt like a haven for consistently remarkable performances.

The thoughtful listening experience was powered by the UKs own audio heavyweight Bowers & Wilkins  an unsurprising sponsor, not just for its teams English accents, but also for the brands time-tested focus on engineering that keeps in mind musicians and the way they intend their music to be heard. Bowers & Wilkins Sound System follows the same industry-leading engineering philosophy behind the creation of some of the worlds finest high-performance studio audio products, including the reference monitor loudspeakers used in Abbey Road Studios. The company translates the sound quality, realism and detail of a hi-fi studio monitor speaker to live music events, which isnt necessarily the case for most PA systems.

While acts like the otherworldly Bellah, joyously punk Folly Group and imminent star Samm Henshaw proved to be heavy hitters, no one tapped into what I needed at SXSW quite like Obongjayar  so much so that I saw two of his showcases in one day. With sets lasting 15 or 30 minutes each, its difficult to do much more than play your tracks through, and many artists do it solo, leaving a backing band off the table. But Obongjayar  shirtless in a floor-length skirt and Bottega puddle boots  performed. For his first time in America, at that. Alongside his six-piece band, which features a drummer, a guitar player, a bassist, a trumpet player and a djembe player, he dug into each song with serious, emphatic theatricality that felt deeply narrative and sonically diverse, not unlike his music itself. Throughout his career, the emerging artist has respectfully blown off all notions of conforming to genre and has been driven instead by the wide range of references and influences picked up from his childhood in Nigeria and his now-homebase of London.

Backstage at the BME showcase, while Bowers & Wilkins finished setting up their newly updated Sound System for its first public appearance in five years, Obongjayar caught up with PAPER about the internet as a source of inspiration, the importance of the UK music scene and coming to America.

Samm Hensaw

This is my first show in America, man. Thats crazy! I remember meeting you on your first visit to America, not too long ago. Yeah! Its been wild. And Im actually playing two shows today. What have you seen at SXSW so far, anything good?

Im very overwhelmed, to be honest. Everything is spread out, the schedule is packed with insane performances and I suffer from crippling FOMO. There have been three other shows I want to be at for every performance I attend  but Ive really loved the British Music Embassy showcase. I saw Soak, Dream Wife... Folly Group. And I popped over to Death Valley Girls and Jadakiss across town before bed. Its one of those festivals where people tell you where theyre going and you go to that. You have to find the right people and follow them around.

Thats true. Let go of decision making. The morning I got here I overheard someone saying New Order had done an intimate pop-up show the night before. Shouldve followed them. I would be mad about that. Actually, I am mad about that. Im playing a couple shows today and three tomorrow, Saturday is my time to see stuff. And eat  I have to get some barbeque. I love meat, although Im trying not to go crazy yet and fuck up my stomach and energy before I play. But afterwards

Meat sweats. How do you feel about playing in the US? Im excited, but its like anywhere, isnt it? Its more the idea of it that Im excited for. Any show is any show, you play and have a good time. For me, especially, its like as long as me and my band are in sync and loving each other still, thats all that matters. There could be one person in the audience, I dont care. Im just going to play the thing anyways and have a good time. As long as were all in that headspace its fine. But Im excited by the idea of being here for the first time!

What have you been working on lately? Im just working on new music, and Im doing it really differently than Ive ever done it before. Im working with a lot of people  a lot of producers and a lot of musicians that play different instruments. Rather than just going in with one person, having a concept and just doing that. The energy is a lot more open now, Ive got an idea what I want it to be like, the album, but Im open to collaboration with producers and artists and what they have in mind. Im going into their world and seeing what theyre up to and taking that into consideration rather than my brain on the fucking table, you know?

That sounds like a lot of pressure to be relieved. Its just different. Prior to my first album I worked like that, thats how I collaborated. Going in and just seeing what happens. Being open, rather than focused on my concept. I just thought, Let me take that into the next album and see how it goes, and its been fucking great. Ive made so much music, I dont even know what to do with it. Im used to making a concise amount of music  Im going to make ten songs for this record, and then I make ten songs.

Obongjayar

Do you feel like there are less boundaries and rules around formal formatting and recording processes these days in the music industry? Well, yes and no. In the industry people are making a lot more music, but its because theyre hopping onto things. Im not hopping onto things. Im just playing with people who I really enjoy what they do. Im not hopping on big producers here, fuck all of that. If you have a groove and youve got time, and are really on it  lets make some music and see what happens around the idea of making something for my record.

Though the methodology has changed, I feel like your music has always been about fluidity. It really transgresses the idea of genre. Absolutely, I dont fuck with that. My influences are so wide because of my background and how I was raised.

What did you grow up listening to? Everything. My household wasnt a musical household, so it was the radio and anything I could find, really. I didnt grow up with my parents, I was with my grandmother, so I heard things at school and wherever I could. I grew up in Nigeria, so we didnt have access to much music. It wasnt readily available apart from, like I said, on the radio and when you find it around. And then when I came to the UK, it was just wow. Everything everywhere all at once. And it wasnt even the music in the UK, it was what was on the internet. I was in this place where I suddenly had all the access. It was an explosion of shit. Im still taking in stuff, too, like I heard an album for the first time the other day  Becks Mellow Gold.

Thats a great album, and a great era of music. Im digging back into it myself, lately. Thats really an exciting place to be in, Im envious in a way. I dont think when I first heard these albums I had the bandwidth or intelligence to appreciate them enough to have my mind rightfully blown. It is. Look, I heard the Ziggy Stardust album for the first time the other week. I like Bowie, and Id listened to Blackstar, but Im still re-finding stuff and its blowing my mind. So my music is truly a combination of all of these things. Theres no one particular thing that I focus in on.

Do you ever listen to a piece of music for the first time and get jealous? That you didnt make it or do whatever it does to the listener yourself? Absolutely.

Are you able to separate yourself from it and use it as inspiration and influence? How do you manage that feeling? Its not about the influence side of things, really. Its more the sound and arrangements and vocals. I just think, Thats fucking sick, how did they do that? and it opens a new door in my mind. Its realizing that, It doesnt have to be this, it can be this. That chord can change to this one, you can try new ways of doing things. You can fuck up, and its cool. And the use of sounds in certain things, I think, I couldnt have seen that, or known it was possible until I heard that person do it. It makes me want to try random sounds, because I can do that. But the thing I get really jealous of is writing. But I appreciate it, as well. And I try to one-up it. Im very competitive.

That can be a great quality, to a certain degree, in a creative. Exactly, the things that I like and engage with as a creative push me to want to get to that bar, get to that level. My mind tries to figure out how to get better at language and sound, you know what Im saying? And thats how I get to the next level.

Where are you going after Texas? Los Angeles for a week.

Adding more collaborators to the list? Yeah, Im going out there to do some work. Its very exciting. Still, when people want to work with me, Im like, Me? Woah thats crazy. Its interesting because I feel like I exist in this weird little space. But the people who like me from far and wide, its not relegated to one thing. Its fucking cool man, and its mostly people that I admire and respect within their own right.

Well, Im excited to see you perform later. Im excited to see you!
Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/Kevork Djansezian)

Maryland parents are calling lawmakers for help in fixing the problem of the state's 529 College Savings plan. A plan is on the way, lawmakers stated.

Maryland's 529 College Savings Plan is a state-sponsored investment plan that allows consumers to save money for a particular beneficiary and settle education expenses. Recently, the program encountered a system glitch that has resulted in hundreds of customers being unable to withdraw money from their accounts.

Head officials of the 529 savings plan explained that an "interest calculation error" had caused the problem plaguing Maryland parents and families who were reported to have lost tens of thousands worth of money, WTOP News reported.

'Scammed' by the state

Parents have been honest that they are prepared to sue if they cannot access all the funds promised as soon as possible.

Some parents expressed that they were not able to tap the funds they had saved for years.

Victoria Sansone was one of the parents hurt by the 529 savings plan. She attended the state panel Wednesday, where parents' challenges and concerns about suddenly having no money to pay their children's college bills were raised.

"This is scary. This is scary stuff. I am literally shaking in my seat. You guys need to help us correct this, and get our money refunded," Sansone declared.

Another parent, Vicky Eavers, whose daughter is heading off to college in the fall, shared she had lost almost half of her investment. She cannot believe the state could "pull the rug out from under us" in the eleventh hour.

Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming also invested in the 529 saving plans. She told The Baltimore Banner that when she was still a young prosecutor, she decided to open trust accounts for her sons, who were still babies then, to ensure they get some help paying for college. Considering the state-backed guarantee, she believed the money she invested would be safe and protected.

However, when she tried to "rollover" the balance from one of the prepaid trust accounts to a 401k-style investment plan that the state also oversees, she was shocked to know that she could only move the principal amount and not the earnings acquired for the past two decades since she started the program. The earnings, she was later informed by the agency staff, were "unavailable."

She was further told that she could only roll over $15,000 instead of her expected amount of $43,000.

Cumming's work has allowed her to investigate financial crimes, and in the situation that the 529 savings plan has placed her, she expressed her fears of never seeing her money again. Never had she thought that she could be "scammed" by her own state, she proclaimed.

Read More: When Should You Start Saving For Your Child's College Fund?

State treasurer to take over

Senator Mike McKay narrated how they have been receiving calls from parents and people complaining about the 529 savings plan suddenly not working out. He described the current situation as a "disaster," and recognized the need and urgency to fix the problem, stating that not giving these parents "clarity is just a disservice."

State of Maryland's lawmakers announced that there is currently a bill to abolish the current board of officials handling the 529 savings plan and authorize the state treasurer to take over.

Maryland Treasurer Dereck Davis declared in the state hearing that his office is ready to take over and have control of the 529 savings plan. However, he gave out a condition - lawmakers should provide his office with additional funding and staff.

Further, he had also expressed that if the bill passes, he is now setting the expectation that the change will not happen overnight. The process will be long, provided that crucial issues need to be resolved, according to CBS News.

Lawmakers pledged to find a solution before the legislative session ends.

Related article: Three Ways To Save Up For Your Child's College Education
Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/Mark Makela)

Florida just became the eighth state to restrict gender-affirming care to minors, and parents of transgender youths are planning to challenge the Board of Medicine's decision in court.

Florida joins seven others in America in prohibiting gender transition-related medical care for minors, a rule enacted by the state's Board of Medicine Thursday.

Effective yesterday, minors are barred from starting puberty blockers or hormone therapy, according to the ruling, "Standards of Practice for the Treatment of Gender Dysphoria in Minors."

However, minors who have been on these gender-affirming care before the new rule took effect can continue with the treatments. Yet, the law emphasized that it restricts ALL minors from receiving these medical care and operations.

"This board is not against research; it is not against care for transgender children. What the board has sought to do is to protect our children from therapies that have been shown to create irreversible harm," pediatric anesthesiologist and Board of Medicine member Dr. Hector Vila expressed.

Every parent's worst nightmare

Further, Vila emphasized that the board has done their homework regarding the serious and sensitive topic. They have "reviewed hundreds of studies," talked to experts and doctors, and listened to testimonies from both sides of the issue. They have concluded that the "overwhelming data" does not agree and support the utilization of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, he declared in response to critics claiming that there were members of the board who expressed insufficiency of research to justify the potential side effects of these gender-affirming treatments.

Parents of transgender youth, however, are not amenable.

A group of parents, represented by four national advocacy groups - Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign, are ready to challenge the new rule in court, NBC News reported.

One of the plaintiffs, who was named Jane Doe in a news release, expressed that she fears for her 11-year-old trans daughter's physical and mental health when she is denied the treatment that she needs when she reaches puberty. The mother continued that the new rule could "completely disrupt her life."

Another plaintiff is a Florida woman who joins the suit to fight for her and her 14-year-old son's rights. She stressed that the rule takes away from parents the right to ensure that their kids receive "appropriate, evidence-based medical care."

She shared that her son has high hopes of having testosterone in the future and seeing himself "in his own body," but that has been robbed away from him by the state's "discriminatory rule." She further stated that this is "every parents' worst nightmare."

Read More: Fascist Bill Allows Court to Take Away Transgender Kids From Their Parents; Puts Florida Republicans Under Fire

Supporters argue that kids may regret the treatments later

The Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, who will be enacting the same rule coming this March 28, did not respond to the request for comment about the plan for a lawsuit.

Under the new rule, healthcare practitioners violating the ruling can be reported to the government and face minor consequences such as fines or suspensions to major ones like revocation of their professional licenses.

Other states having the same rule against gender-affirming treatments are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Mississippi, according to ABC News.

The supporters' argument for the new rule comes from the potential regret that transitioning minors will experience later in their lives.

Jim Lopresti, the founder of SunServe, a mental health service agency that treats LGBTQ youths, emphasized that for two decades of working with trans youth, there is only one person who went through regret as an adult. The reason behind the regret was that the adult was not given sufficient support throughout the treatment.

Related article: Finland Pediatric Expert Calls out American Doctors for Using Fear of Kid's Suicide to Convince Parents of Gender-Affirming Treatments
Photo: (Photo : MOISES AVILA /Getty Images)

California lawmakers are ensuring that their in-state doctors are protected for providing access to abortion for their patients.

California State Senator Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley, introduced a new bill in the state Legislature to protect doctors who mail abortion pills to people in other states from prosecution.

The proposed bill aims to prevent California from extraditing doctors facing charges in another state for providing abortion medication and would also shield doctors from having to pay fines.

Additionally, the bill would allow California doctors to sue anyone who tries to stop them from providing abortions.

New California bill shields doctors and healthcare practitioners

The Associated Press reported that Skinner emphasized that the bill is aimed at ensuring California residents traveling in other states or living there temporarily, like college students, have access to medication that is legal in their home state.

However, the bill would also apply to California doctors treating patients who live in other states.

The proposed California bill not only protects doctors who provide abortion pills but also shields doctors who mail contraceptives and transgender-related medications.

Skinner's bill is part of a growing trend among states, as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, and Vermont have proposed or passed similar laws.

The Connecticut law, for instance, blocks criminal summonses from other states related to reproductive healthcare services that are legal in Connecticut and blocks extradition unless the person fled from a state requesting them.

The bill declares that it is the public policy of California that doctors should not be charged for providing abortion medication, and it goes beyond abortion pills to protect healthcare practitioners who provide related services.

This proposed legislation protects healthcare practitioners from being penalized by other states for providing reproductive health services, including contraception, transgender-related medications, and abortion.

By shielding these medical practitioners from criminal charges and extradition, the bill allows them to continue providing necessary health care to patients, regardless of their geographic location.

Read Also: Minneapolis Bus Driver Goes Above, Beyond To Help Lost 9-Year-old Boy During Snowstorm

Calls for major retailers to sell abortion pills

California's move to protect doctors who provide abortion pills comes on the heels of Senate Democrats' call for four major retailers, Walmart, Kroger, Costco, and Albertsons, to make the prescription abortion pill mifepristone available at their pharmacies.

CNBC reported that the senators sent letters to the CEOs of these companies, urging them to become certified with the Food and Drug Administration to provide the medication.

In January, the FDA lifted a restriction that required mifepristone to be dispensed in person at a medical facility.

The senators expressed their disappointment that these major retailers had yet to publicly declare whether they would sell mifepristone. They asked them to respond by March 21 with their plans to provide the medication.

This call to action by Senate Democrats and the proposed California bill demonstrates a growing effort to expand access to reproductive healthcare services, including abortion, contraception, and transgender-related medications.

While some states have attempted to block the distribution of abortion pills, California is leading the charge in protecting healthcare practitioners who provide these services. Major retailers are being called upon to provide greater access to medication like mifepristone.

With the introduction of this proposed bill, California is taking an important step towards ensuring that reproductive healthcare services are accessible to all patients, regardless of their geographic location.

As per the ACLU, pregnant individuals still have a constitutional right to decide whether to have an abortion or not. Both the U.S. and California Constitutions protect this right.

The state of California only prohibits abortions after the point of viability, which is when a doctor determines, based on a reasonable medical judgment, that the fetus could potentially survive outside the uterus without exceptional medical assistance.

Related Article: Overcoming Postpartum OCD: One Mom's Journey to Diagnosis, Treatment
Photo: (Photo : DAXIA ROJAS /Getty Images)

A Christian college in Virginia is gaining attention for its unique approach to higher education.

Patrick Henry College is challenging the norms of liberal elite universities and returning sanity to education.

The impressive performance of this Christian college is credited to several factors.

Firstly, the college's large homeschool population has contributed to producing well-rounded graduates.

Secondly, the college has implemented a device ban and a dress code for students, which have helped develop strong work ethics and discipline.

Christian college that offers' return to sanity' education

According to Fox News, Jeremy Tate, a former college counselor, suggests that although many people have college degrees, more individuals need to possess the desired work ethic and integrity that employers seek.

Tate attributes the success of Patrick Henry College to several factors, including the college's large homeschool population, which constitutes 75 percent of the student body, a device ban on campus, and a dress code for students.

Tate claims that the college is molding students in the right way, which he believes is a return to common sense and sanity.

The commitments distinguishing Patrick Henry College from any other college in the world are its academic rigor, lessons on the American founding, and a biblical worldview, as reported by a spokesperson for the college.

Patrick Henry College aims to equip its graduates to make an immediate and lasting impact for Christ and liberty.

Compared to students from conventional schools, Patrick Henry College's graduates are better disciplined and exhibit a stronger work ethic.

According to PR News, Patrick Henry College, established only 22 years ago, has achieved a high rank among colleges and universities in the United States.

SACSCOC accredits the college and aims to challenge the established norms in higher education by emphasizing faith and reason in a rigorous academic setting.

Through its commitment to producing graduates with a strong work ethic and discipline, the Christian College has shown that faith-based education can be a viable alternative to the conventional form of higher education.

Read Also: San Antonio Zoo's Giant Tree Branch Injures 7 Family Members, Including 5 Children

Homeschool population's success on the CLT exam

Tate's Classic Learning Test (CLT) exam is an alternative standardized test to the SAT or ACT for college entrance.

The students who attended home schools and took the CLT test performed significantly better than their counterparts, achieving an average score of approximately 78 points.

According to an analysis of CLT data between 2016 and 2021 conducted by a professor in Houston, students attending private and charter schools achieved scores of 75 and 73, respectively.

The average score for students attending public schools was 66, making them the group that performed the worst.

Tate stated that these college students, who come from a large group of kids who went to homeschool, can offer a program deep in core knowledge and deep in the humanities where students graduate and do well in the exams and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

According to Tate, the Christian College receives students who come into the college having already established a solid foundation for themselves.

According to Patrick Henry College, the average score that graduating seniors at Patrick Henry College, who took the LSAT in 2021, achieved was 171, which placed them in the 95th percentile for the entire country.

This is at par with what is expected of first-year students at the nation's most prestigious educational institutions.

Related Article: U.S. Maternal Mortality Skyrockets To Highest in 60 Years Due to COVID-19
Photo: (Photo : Joe Raedle/ Getty Images)

Scenic Fruit Company recalled frozen organic strawberries and its tropical blend product due to a possible link to a hepatitis A outbreak.

The company produces these products nationwide, including at retailers such as Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe's.

The recall was initiated after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that certain brands of frozen organic strawberries sold at various retailers, including Trader Joe's and Costco, may be linked to the hepatitis A outbreak.

The FDA has confirmed that five people have been sickened with confirmed or probable cases, with two requiring hospitalization. The outbreak included three confirmed and two probable cases in Washington State.

Scenic Fruit Company recalls frozen organic strawberries

ABC reported that the FDA began investigating the outbreak and traced it back to imported frozen organic strawberries from farms in Baja California and Mexico sold to multiple retailers under different brand names.

The hepatitis A virus strain causing illnesses this year is identical genetically to the strain that caused the outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections in 2022.

The previous outbreak last year was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from the same farms in Baja California and sold at various retailers.

As part of the ongoing investigation, California Splendor and Scenic Fruit have voluntarily recalled certain lots of frozen strawberries.

California Splendor has issued a recall of 4-pound bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Hawaii and Los Angeles and two business centers in San Diego.

Customers who purchased the product from these locations are advised to return it to the store and receive a refund.

Scenic Fruit Company has recalled certain frozen organic strawberries sold to Aldi, KeHE, Costco, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states and frozen organic tropical blends sold to Trader Joe's nationwide.

Read Also: Abortion Battle: Senators Urge Walmart, Costco, Albertsons, Kroger To Sell Mifepristone in Their Pharmacies

Recall on frozen fruits for consumer safety

According to the FDA, Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by exposure to the Hepatitis A virus, which can occur through contaminated food.

The severity of the illness can vary from a mild sickness lasting a few weeks to a serious condition lasting several months.

In rare cases, individuals with pre-existing severe illnesses or compromised immune systems may experience liver failure due to the infection.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A typically manifest within 15 to 50 days of exposure and include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine, and pale stool.

The Hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent illness if administered within two weeks of exposure to contaminated food.

According to NBC, the company has also ceased production and distribution of the products as the FDA, and the company continues investigating what caused the problem.

The FDA urged consumers to stop consuming the recalled products and return them to their local store for a refund.

Although hepatitis A has not been detected in these products, the company recalled them out of an abundance of caution.

If an individual has consumed the recalled frozen organic strawberries within the past two weeks, there are several important considerations to remember.

Firstly, if the individual has not received a vaccination against hepatitis A, they may be susceptible to contracting an infection.

Secondly, if they are experiencing symptoms consistent with a hepatitis A infection, such as fatigue, nausea, or abdominal pain, it is recommended that they seek immediate medical attention.

This could involve contacting their healthcare provider or visiting a nearby health department to receive testing and treatment if required.

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Nearly 300 international exhibitors were drawn from across Europe, the Middle East, North America, Asia and beyond to showcase their latest innovations, product launches, service enhancements and customer case studies at Passenger Terminal Expo 2023 in the RAI Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Running from March 14-16, 2023, the show was a resounding success, offering attendees three full days of intense networking, solution sourcing and intelligence, all in one place.

Highlights included a cutting-edge security lane solution that can achieve a throughput of 220-240 passengers per lane/hour; an airport security solution designed to deliver shorter wait times, an improved passenger experience and lower total cost of ownership; a low-cost bag-tag solution to help airports incorporate RFID tracking into their existing BHS infrastructure; and a passenger flow analysis platform that uses lidar data to detect, classify and track objects such as passengers and bags.

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Meanwhile, more than 400 speakers shared critical intel across a conference program spanning nine dedicated streams. Leading sessions included presentations from London Heathrows retail director, Fraser Brown, who shared how the airports retail proposition has evolved through Covid-19 and where the airport sees travel retail heading, both physically and digitally; Navaid Ahsan, head of aviation security (AVSEC) operations at Etihad Airways, who presented a case study on the 2014 Karachi Airport attack in Pakistan; Deborah Flint, CEO of Toronto Pearson, who took part in the Back to the future and beyond  a view from the top panel and revealed some key insights into future models of airport authorities; and Foster + Partners, outlining the King Salman International Airport masterplan and new terminal planned in Saudi Arabia.

The show started with a bang as Robert Carsouw, executive vice president and CFO at Royal Schiphol Group, delivered the opening address to a packed audience at the conference. He revealed the negative and positive effects that Covid-19 had on Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, alongside ongoing operational issues at the airport and its plans for the future. Carsouw also detailed the impact that government regulations have had on the groups strategic planning, plus Schiphols innovative projects and technology being implemented to drive the companys sustainability goals forward.

The show also hosted the 2023 Skytrax World Airport Awards, in which Singapore Changi Airport reclaimed its crown as the Worlds Best Airport. Changi also won the awards for the Worlds Best Airport Dining, Worlds Best Airport Leisure Amenities and Best Airport in Asia. Other winners on the night included Hamad International Airport in Doha, Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan and Seouls Incheon Airport in South Korea.

New product launches

Veovo launched its AI-powered resource management system (RMS), which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced decision support to optimize gate parking and resource allocation. Veovos RMS enables airports to predict which flights will be late, early enough to recover or resequence them, and foresee potential resourcing conflicts early enough to prevent them. Using historical big data, flight and people flows, rules and preferences, the system automatically builds robust resource plans. Dynamic models and simulations then help planners proactively understand the impact of changing operational conditions to optimize resource reallocations. These features are intended to reduce the number of inaccurate off-block times and late gate changes that cost airlines and airports in efficiency and on-time performance.

Zoeftig once again chose Passenger Terminal Expo to launch its latest seating update, displaying its curved nodes for the first time. These nodes form part of the companys versatile, modular Vista seating system. The curved nodes are intended to provide areas for different passenger profiles, from the single business traveler to families and groups of all ages. Zoeftigs system has been designed to provide an ergonomic, comfortable and flexible seating solution that is equally at home in lounges or departure gates, as well as in hospitality, corporate and other public settings. Due to the systems modular design, it can be reconfigured by airports to suit scope and capacity.

Nooka Space launched its Nooka Air FireShield smart soundproof office booth at the expo. The booth features a self-contained fire protection system, smart access and control, easy payments, privacy, air ventilation and a customized mobile app to provide easy management of the space for a complete digital passenger experience. It is intended to improve the passenger experience while providing airports with additional revenue and competitive investment advantages. Nooka Air FireShield has been designed for airport waiting areas as it meets the latest airport requirements for safety and security and includes a complex fire protection system.

Ink Innovation introduced its new business division, Ink+, comprised of experts from key industries including transportation, smart cities, hospitality, travel and tourism. Ink+ is expected to provide insights into navigating disruption in the aviation field. The company also gave live demos of upgraded self-service units such as QuickTag Lite and Bag Drop. These changes are designed to improve the passenger experience and reduce operating costs, making it easier for airports to manage the growing demand for air travel. All units  including the Gate and Totem units which were on display  incorporate advanced biometric technology for a touchless passenger journey.

Cognitec introduced the updated version of its FaceVACS-Entry product, a lightweight biometric-enabled verification device suitable for installation in e-gates and kiosks. The technology takes standards-compliant biometric photos and compares them with digital facial images retrieved from ID documents or databases. Its instant camera positioning, active lighting and responsive user guidance have been designed to create optimal capturing conditions, accurate verification results and fast processing times.

Key partnerships

Reinforcing its value as one of the best networking opportunities of the year, Passenger Terminal Expo also saw the formation of a number of important strategic partnerships.

Vanderlande and the Royal Schiphol Group signed a framework agreement to develop a new sustainable baggage system. According to the companies, the partnership will ensure operational continuity and improve the working conditions of baggage handlers while upgrading the baggage system. The baggage handling project is part of a wider plan to renew, renovate and innovate the baggage basements at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. The contract was signed by Sybren Hahn, director of asset management at Royal Schiphol Group and Andrew Manship, board member and executive vice president of airport and parcel solutions at Vanderlande.

Urban air mobility (UAM) provider Volocopter and SITA signed a partnership agreement to develop urban air mobility. Under the agreement, SITA becomes the latest investor to join Volocopters Series E funding round. The partnership is expected to lead the way in developing a sleek new operating model for air taxis that will define the way cities approach intermodal, integrated mobility in the coming years. According to the companies, UAM will offer a new form of sustainable aviation, replete with multiple mobility options, to cities worldwide. Volocopters launch product, the VoloCity electric air taxi, will operate routes in congested megacities to offer passengers stable, quiet and safe flights. Flights can be hailed via designated boarding points (or vertiports).

Assaia and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) also announced a partnership whereby the aviation software company will deploy its AI-powered Turnaround Control solution to improve gate operations at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Assaias Turnaround Control technology is being rolled out at the airports 106 gates to support operational efficiency, improve safety and reduce environmental impact. The company uses a combination of AI and computer vision to track exactly what is happening around the aircraft in real time. The resulting data is used to highlight inefficiencies, which can then be addressed, and to provide accurate estimates of when the processes will be complete, to increase gate availability.

BagPoint Group and Cluster 2 rounded out the show with a partnership signing ceremony on Day 3. The companies signed an MoU to develop optimized solutions for baggage transportation services in Cluster 2 airports in Saudi Arabia. Cluster 2 is a subsidiary of Matarat Holding Company, based in Saudi Arabia.

Next years show

For more information and videos from this years event, click here. With the 2023 event a resounding success, dates have now been announced for next year: Passenger Terminal Expo 2024 will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 16, 17, 18, 2024.

TESTIMONIALS

Nick Woods chief information officer at Manchester Airports Group (MAG): Another excellent PTE, this time in Amsterdam. As ever, great to collaborate with global colleagues and our innovative supply chain  plenty to take back to MAG! Great conference! Until next year

Lindsey Richardson, senior program manager at Dignari: This years conference focused on innovation, seamless travel/customer experience and collaboration. Our team came away excited about the new technology we saw on the show floor and inspired by the great programming. Innovation in the traveler experience space is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. We heard about digital identity and wallets in travel, one-stop security, remote and self-screening projects, and implementing AI and machine learning across the passenger journey.

Kostas Dimitros, business development director at Parsons: Three amazing days in Amsterdam representing Parsons Corporation at the Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference. Looking forward to next years event!

Dr Christoph Selig, chief commercial officer and co-founder at Unisphere: Back from Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference 2023 in Amsterdam, after an inspiring day on the AAM conference track. It is great to see the growing importance of eVTOL and vertiports in traditional aviation conferences. We look forward to the next few years where landing infrastructure and planning of air taxi services will continue to gain traction in the market and lead the industry toward more sustainable aviation.

Sarah Stumpo, director at Anser Advisory: Absolutely fantastic past few days at Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference! I had the opportunity to listen to multiple insightful panels and speeches, learn about the future of airports and developments in the industry, and network with professionals from all over the world. One of my favorite takeaways, and surprisingly a common theme, was designing for the airport employee experience (including but not limited to wheelchair attendants, ground handlers, food and beverage and retail).

Michael Jee, executive general manager of sales and marketing aviation and intralogistics at Daifuku Oceania: It was fantastic to catch up with so many people at Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference.

Michael Jahn, a manager at M2P Consulting: It was an amazing experience at the Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Amsterdam. Today I was presenting the results of our M2P Consulting market study about why digital twins fail and how to achieve tangible benefits by implementing them with the right approach. Thanks to Terminal Expo and Conference for organizing this fantastic event and hosting us. It was a pleasure meeting many familiar faces. See you in Frankfurt at PTE2024.

Kasper Hounsgaard co-CEO and founder at Copenhagen Optimization: In my book  best Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference ever!

Laura Ersini, student sales and marketing assistant at Copenhagen Optimization: As a first-time conference attendee, I was thrilled to see and learn about all the innovative solutions developed by different airport industry leaders. It was an honor to represent our company at such a prestigious event.

Michael Schneider, CEO of Siemens Logistics: Passenger Terminal Expo is one of the most important yearly events in our industry in Europe. We are happy to be here again to show our technologies, enjoy the great atmosphere and interact with customers. The industry is on the upswing, and we are very much looking forward to the personal exchange with visitors, our customers and partners.

Yannick Beunardeau, senior vice president of airport and airline operations at Amadeus EMEA: Its a pleasure to be at Passenger Terminal Expo and were keen to welcome more colleagues from airports, ground handlers and airlines to visit our stand. Were having some great conversations about helping the industry to do more with its data and become insights-driven, as well as showing our fully end-to-end biometric passenger experience. Were keen to hear from colleagues at airports, ground handlers and airlines about the challenges theyre experiencing and their views on applying new technologies. Specifically, were talking to people about the potential for greater collaboration and the benefits of common technology.

Mark Lakerveld, executive director of strategy and markets at Vanderlande: We are very happy to be back in Amsterdam this year to meet new and existing customers in person. Passenger Terminal Expo always offers us a great platform to network and showcase our solutions and latest innovations, and this year we are also emphasizing how these can contribute to achieving sustainable aviation.

Sybren Hahn, director of asset management at Schiphol: It is fantastic to be here at Passenger Terminal Expo, finalizing the next stage of Schiphol Airports development. Despite all the challenges that the industry, and Schiphol Airport specifically, currently face, we need to think about the future. To create reliability, we need to overhaul our baggage handling system in a sustainable and innovative fashion. We want a system that is so innovative that not even one hand has to touch the bags throughout it. So we are happy to enter into the next phase of collaboration with Vanderlande, a long-standing partner. We look forward to building a beautiful BHS facility and seeing what the future holds.

Helle Krogh Petersen, head of marketing at ITW GSE: Passenger Terminal Expo is an excellent opportunity to network and meet our business partners, customers and other stakeholders. We are keen to discuss and see the trends in the aviation industry. The conferences are interesting and its simply a great connection hub that we very much look forward to attending every year. Despite a deep knowledge of the industry, customers visiting our stand give us an extra understanding of their challenges and needs, which we actively use in our research and development. We share knowledge and learn from each other. New innovations are designed purely based on customer needs, so networking, feedback and insight from our stakeholders is a necessary ping pong.

Grant Winter, head of commercial at Zafire: Passenger Terminal Expo represents one of the best opportunities to bring together industry leaders across aviation in one place at one time. The show is a chance for us to sign some existing deals in person and meet new clients who are beginning large-scale IT projects in the post-pandemic era.

Oliver Jahnke, senior key account manager at Secunet Security Networks: Were at Passenger Terminal Expo because our focus is always on Europe and our biggest customers are always here, expecting to see us. Its nice to connect to existing customers and new interested partners.

Margareta Iancu, international business developer at Nooka Space: We are thrilled to be present at Passenger Terminal Expo 2023, one of the leading airport industry events, to present an innovative product designed for airport waiting areas. We are looking forward to meeting the Passenger Terminal Expo community and presenting in detail our newest product.

Per Lindsjo, CEO of Green Furniture Concept: Im at Passenger Terminal Expo to meet customers, partners and industry colleagues to improve the customer experience in airports worldwide. Im really looking forward to the rest of this event, which is truly an international fair!
Apple's CEO will be attending the 2023 China Development Forum where he has served as the foreign co-chairman of the forum in the past. The event takes place from the 25th to 27th with the theme "Economic Recovery: Opportunities and Cooperation." Cook participated in the forum four times during the five years from 2017 to 2021, and only missed one in 2020.

Last night Apple's CEO paid a visit to their Sanlitun Store in Beijing, according to a United Daily News report. It was Cook's first visit here in three years. His visit caused cheers fro in-store customers.

The store held a special 'Today at Apple" session relating to a public welfare project last night that Cook attended.

Over 100 overseas delegates will participate in the forum, including executives from leading multinationals, overseas scholars, and representatives from international organizations, said Laiming, deputy director of the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council, adding that officials from the Chinese central government's departments will introduce China's policy orientation at the forum.
Eight get jail terms for sending 37 Vietnamese to Cambodia to sell their kidneys

Defendants who worked as brokers for a kidney trading ring at a trial in Ho Chi Minh City, March 23, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Duyen

A court in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has handed prison terms to eight people involved in a kidney trading ring that sent 37 Vietnamese to Cambodia as organ donors.

Each of the eight defendants received 10-16 years behind bars for the charge of "trading human body parts." They all worked as brokers for the kidney trading ring, the largest ever that Vietnamese police have busted.

The ring leader, Ton Nu Thi Huyen, 46, died of kidney failure during the investigation.

According to the verdict, in 2009, Huyen went to China to get an illegal kidney transplant, where she met a man named Dao Thanh Nhan.

In 2016, she came to Cambodia to meet Nhan and he introduced her to a Singaporean doctor who was working at a hospital in Phnom Penh.

That doctor told Huyen to find people that want to sell their kidneys and bring them to Cambodia for the surgery.

Huyen then returned to Vietnam and connected with Viet, who she asked to search for people who had stated on social media that they wanted to sell kidneys. For every kidney transplanted, Huyen got VND70 million (US$2,973), of which she shared VND15-25 million with Viet.

Those that successfully came to Cambodia to sell their kidneys then returned to Vietnam and introduced more candidates to Huyen and Viet.

Taking advantage of a Facebook group named "Hoi hien than," (kidney donation group), Huyen and Viet put their candidates on the list of donors so that they would be sent to major hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City to take several tests needed for a kidney transplant.

Huyen then sent all the test results to the Singaporean doctor.

When the doctor found a match, Huyen took the kidney sellers to Cambodia for the surgery.

After selling their kidneys, each of the "donors" stayed at the hospital in Phnom Penh for 12 days and was paid VND200-210 million.

Between April 2017 and January 2019, Huyens ring had attracted 100 kidney sellers and sent 37 of them to Cambodia for transplant surgeries.

Of those who were sent to Cambodia, 20 successfully sold their kidneys, allowing Huyen to pocket VND1.4 billion.

Viet earned VND150 million after finding 40 kidney sellers for the ring, eight of whom successfully sold their kidneys. Each of the other seven defendants earned VND40-120 million as brokers.

The Vietnamese authorities have asked their counterparts in Cambodia to help track down the Singaporean doctor and Dao Thanh Nhan.

All eight defendants told the jury that they are aware of the crime they committed, but they justified what they did on the grounds that they were all in difficult financial situations and had to sell their kidneys to earn money. They said that only after that, did they introduce others to the ring.
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Let the Fire Burn: Fantastic, twisty and layered documentary about the deadly 1985 police siege at the MOVE radical compound in Philadelphia. Feels like every scene shifts your perspective on the scenes that came before. People who get only a few minutes of screen time emerge with vivid individuality. Basically a must-watch if youre interested in Black American history, post-1968 city governance, or documentary craft. I watched it on Kanopy, for free with my library card.

Losing Ground: 1982 groundbreaking indie drama by Kathleen Collins, about anxieties and jealousies within a Black artistic couple. Seret Scott as wife Sara hides sensuality beneath a schoolmarm exterior; theres a movie-within-the-movie which works sort of like The Mousetrap, and occasional weird touches like Saras caped co-star. It didnt quite work for mefelt smaller than the sum of its parts, somehow, less weird than it promised, tilting somewhere between kitchen-sink and myth and never quite satisfying my desires for either. But others may vibe with it more. Another Kanopy selection.

Pray Away: Documentary about Protestant ex-gays and ex-ex-gays. I obviously am down for exposing the evils of conversion therapy, but as a work of art, this is pretty pedestrian, and as reportage, its mostly done better elsewhere. I really wanted to like this because it features Julie Rodgers, someone whom I like and respect a lot, and what we get of her story is quite powerfulprobably the strongest element of the film.

Theres a secret subtext here about the blurred line between witness and celebrity: So many of the people here basically had their personal testimony weaponized, and a better film would explore whether and how any of them fully broke away from that model of Christian storytelling. In other words, becoming a poster child isnt necessarily good for your spiritual life, even if the poster has a slogan far better than IM NOT GAY AND SO CAN YOU! This is something Im thinking a lot about, as I and others try to help gay etc Christians become mentors in their communities. How do we avoid tokenizing people? How do we protect their privacy and their relationships (while maintaining accountability)?

And finally, Pray Away begins and ends with someone who still runs a group for people who have been delivered from homosexuality and transgender identity. Or like, I dont remember if he uses the term delivered. Which is something I should know! This new group seems to be drawing from a different set of Protestant traditions than the people we met earlier; everybody interviewed at length is white, but this new group seems to be majority-minority. Its worship style is different from the megachurchy stuff we see earlier, and its members seem way more comfortable acting, idk how to say this, swishy: They are, or seem!!!, comfortable being perceived as gay. Those all seem like differences worth exploring! Either this group is tiny enough that it just isnt relevant in the way that Exodus is relevant (this is probably my own judgment tbh), or its worth talking about, and therefore its religious lineage is worth taking seriously.

Everything Everywhere All at Once: Oh man. I love splashy, willfully bizarre movies where peoples emotional state is signified by the color of their feather boas. I am extremely down for pastiche, and for stories of racial and sexual minorities. I loved the acting, esp Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, and even Stephanie Hsu despite the fact that shes given exactly one lugubrious note to play. A lot of the ingredients of this film should have worked for me. Instead I just think it is not good. You know how with Losing Ground I was like, You might vibe with it though, and I know that sounded like a cop-out, but actually I did mean that other people might see things in the movie that I missed? Intellectually I know that might also be true of EEAAO but in my heart, I know Im right: no.

There are basically three problems here imho, and all of them are huge. The thing I noticed first is that every single emotion and thought gets explained. It is all talked out! And in the most prosaic terms. Its like one of those awful contemporary musicals where the lyrics are like, When you ignore me/Then I get mad!/Because anger is my coping mechanism/When I feel sad. Justin Chang says the movie practically does all your emoting for you, and even that understates what happens here. Were never given a chance to intuit the plot elements, just told, I think when she does something strange, she can jump to another universe! (or whatever the line is, I didnt take notes.) Were never given a chance to intuit relationships and emotions, just told, You made your daughter into your enemy by putting too much pressure on her. Shut up and let your story breathe!!!

The second thing is that the film tells so many stories that it often ends up gesturing at emotional resonancecreating a resolution that should make me feel something, so I try to feel the thing, but Im just not there because these specific characters have speed-walked through the outline of a story rather than telling a story. The rescue of Raccacoonie, the love between the hot-dog finger ladies, these are not stories but synopses; and so what I feel is not the real emotion but a memory of feeling this emotion in response to other, better movies.

And the third thing is that the movie explains its philosophy at length and it is, Nothing matters so be kind. Like okay. Ive spent a fair amount of time on internet forums where sad lonely people try to understand how to keep going when they dont believe that life has meaning, and I know that many things that arent persuasive to me can be life-saving insights for someone else. But the philosophy in EEAAO struck me as noticeably more banal than anything people on these forums have said to one another in encouragement. Maybe because EEAAO doesnt really grapple with the problem that lots of people have tried that? Lots of people who find themselves in the nothing-matters place wind up there because theyve tried reaching out, and been rebuffed again and again. EEAAO could have been a story that acknowledged that hard truthmaybe if it had cared more about the central couples divorce?but instead it forces a triumphant sequence of reconciliations, none of which play out in unexpected ways. Idk, even something like, Nothing matters, but you matter to me; this is what it looks like when you matter to someone would strike me as defensible and potentially artistic, especially if there was some insight into what it looks like. Like, I obviously dont believe that, but you could make art and even poignant and challenging art out of it. I have no idea how you turn Just imagine that the people attacking you are really kissing, and then everything will turn out all right! Will your way to a happy marriage! Have you tried just trying a little harder???? into a compelling vision of kindness, let alone a reason to live.

There were a couple moments that really worked for me emotionally. Which shouldnt be too surprising, given that this movie is an absolute flop sweat waterfall in its desperation to work for you emotionally! The moment when Evelyn, having seen the countless lives that the multiverse can offer her, rejects it all with, Ive always hated this place, destroying the laundromat as a synecdoche for not just her one life but every life she ever could have had; most of the Wong Kar-Wai neon rain scenes. I think you could make a fun movie in which multiverses, martial arts, and Wong Kar-Wai pastiches were how an estranged and financially-struggling couple rediscovers their love for one another: Its a Wonderful Lives, kind of thing. Instead, the filmmakers try to load the entire weight of life, the universe, and everything onto their movie. This is too many things on a bagel.

Googly eye on a hammer by Lenore Edman, via Wikimedia Commons and used under a Creative Commons license.
Being a regular reader (of news and stuff of social media, no books ha!), I happened to visit Quora. It is one of the best sites to pass your time on while grasping on some mind-blowing tales of history, politics and almost every topic under the sun.

So yesterday somebody asked me a question: What are the places in Bihar which are worth traveling and to be learned about?

Being from Bihar, this appeared to me as a great opportunity to repel some of the prejudices that are formed in the minds of the people regarding Bihar and its tourism. So here is the answer that I wrote on Quora:

If you are travelling to Bihar, I am sure you would visit the Ruins of Nalanda University (above). Most definitely you have it in your 'to visit' list. But if you take my opinion, then before going to this place you should go here:

This is Veer Kunwar Singhs Memorial in Jagdishpur, Ara. Here you would see the inspirational story of an 80-year old man fighting against the mighty British for his land and his people. You would see the true Bihari spirit of fighting against suppression.

Again, with your preconceived mind, you would want to visit this famous Jain pilgrimage center commonly known as the Jal Mandir of Pawapuri. And surely you should visit it as most people would tell you about it.

But I am going to ask you to visit a place which most people would not tell you about.



This is the ancestral house of Jaya Prakash Narayan, or JP as he was famously known. This is located in the village of Sitab Diyara in Saran district. The house is now being converted into a Museum. Here you would come to know about a man who challenged the supreme authority that Indira Gandhi was at the time of Emergency in the '70s. The man who inspired students to join his movement and who threw Mrs. Gandhi out of power. It is places such as these that would inspire you to fight against all odds in your life.

Now moving further, people would also suggest you to visit various places in Patna like the Buddha Smriti Park, Gol Ghar, Bihar Museum etc. No doubt that you should visit these places but again, I have an advice for you. Before you visit them, you should go to the Tomb of Sher Shah Suri located in the city of Sasaram.

I think you would be interested to know about the man who, with his small kingdom and a small army, defeated Humayun and the Mughal army and sat on the throne of Delhi. Yes! This again is a place which introduces you to another fighting spirit.



There are many more places which are immensely interesting and full of tales of inspiration like this.

The next destination of yours should be the city of Munger. Currently the Yoga capital of the East, this city has witnessed history like no other. From being the Midlands of the Aryans to being the capital of Mir Qasims Riyasat to being the gun factory of the East, this city has seen it all. Surrounded by a lot of temples and even more by the tales of history, this is one of the tourists delight.

Now take a right turn from Munger to Gaya. When you are in Gaya, first of all you should visit Thishiuen-Tsang Memorial Hall.



This is the Tomb of Huan Tseng, the Chinese traveler who came to India. He was so impressed by the standard of education (Nalanda University) and ruling that when he got back to China, he wrote an entire book about it. You would definitely want to know more about him. And what better place than his own tomb!

And finally, after seeing all this, you must be tired. So, to find that inner peace of mind and solace, make sure that you reach the Mahabodhi Temple. Are you impressed? Well. you should be. Bihar is not just what you see through your TV or social media spectacles; it is much more, rather totally beyond that image.

But thats not all. It was just Central and South Bihar. There is entire North thats left to discuss. But we shall do that some other day.

For now, pack your bags, get your stuff ready and come visit this historic land of inspirations.
First and foremost, kudos to the team: they well deserve a heart-felt congratulations on their success and it is hardly surprising that the people's mandate has given them, with Mr Kumar as the leader at the helm of affairs, the opportunity to lead Bihar for the second time.

It's a pleasure to see a dedicated civil engineer in action as the CM of a state so vital to the long-term economic and political future of the country. It's definitely more reassuring than the likes of more medievally oriented and century-old mindsets which managed to bring this once prestigious state on the verge of a meltdown.

I am not a structural or civil engineer but I have read extensively on flood and disaster management: available best practice guidelines and evidence. I would only make a few pertinent comments regarding flood control strategy for the Kosi and other rivers:

The USA implemented policies in 1970s to control flood erosion. It obviously has a significant 'lag time' to achieve the desired effects, say 5-10 years.

They found that planting trees and shrubs and Conservation tillage achieved maximum reductions over the years (Source).

To put this in perspective, I think the Kosi action plan team should be looking at not only preventing deforestation along the river, but also actively promoting afforestation activities of fast-growing shrubs, especially close to river banks, canals and other bodies.

On searching for information on drainage into the Kosi from Nepal, there are many feeder rivers that make the Kosi: Hence the name- Saptakoshi. Previous experiments and tests have confirmed that the 'Arun' tributary/feeder into Kosi brings the maximum amount of sediment into the Kosi. This alters the course of the river over years/decades, leading to floods.

Bringing technology to the rescue: Active reforestation measures can be combined with 'Gabion Technology' to shore-up river beds/banks. The whole package of Gabion meshes, reinforced baskets and walls would essentially make our water resources safe for decades to come. This could involve, but not limited to: Dams, Erosion control, Gravity bank protection, Light bank protection with geosynthetic MAC-MAT technology & Natural Combines for environmental restoration, River/stream bank protection, Rockfall netting, Soil conservation.

Reinforced cross-linked polymers or simple jute-based products can also dramatically cut-down the cost of base materials prior to using gabion pre-formed steel meshes (reinforced with locally available rocks to decrease transport costs).

This hopefully will be a long-term solution to the Kosi problem. The meshes will reinforce the banks of the rivulets/river/ and it will have enhanced protection over time as vegetation grows into the wire/rock mesh. It is also more malleable as it only is steel wires/meshes with rock between them (That's Gabion technology in a nutshell!), so it does not have cracks appearing it as may happen with concrete/water seepage into concrete etc. It is a very natural system which takes into account of water seepage and the wall but prevents the soil erosion. Over years, the sediment/erosion will reduce and lead to a more naturalized flow of the river. At this later stage, guessing over 10-20 years construction of a major dam may even be beneficial as the river flow would have become more predictable with a decreased sediment load flowing into the river.

Stopping illegal sand-mining will also help: May be creating registered sand vendors and all construction companies signing up to only source materials from registered vendors.

Cost issues: According to my own research: Rs 75 lakh-Rs 1 crore per kilometer of mesh using gabion technology. The river has a total length of 729 km. This will have to involve meshing in higher catchment areas, especially "Arun" tributary within Nepal as this is where the main bulk of sediments is coming from. So, in essence, a Rs 700-1000 crore investment might bring long-term solution to this problem. Readers may recall that the damage caused by the recent floods were estimated at more than 1000 crores.

And lastly, providing communities with renewable sources of energy to reduce dependence on wood. Heartening to see lot of available ranges of solar operated lanterns, street lights etc. at a nominal cost. This could offer us a cheap and cost-effective solution to empowering standalone families in remote locations with reduced dependence on fossil fuels/cutting trees etc.

Who knows we may prevent another Kosi!
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was among the top builders of modern India. He was also one of the most prominent Muslim personalities of twentieth century. An Islamic thinker of international repute, he possessed good qualities of the past but with modern outlook and believed in oneness of all human beings. He advocated for learning through liberal, modern and universal education combining the rationalism of western sciences.

Thoughtful and reflective, Maulana had studied in great depth the causes of the decline of Muslim Societies around the world. The main cause for the Fall of Ummah, according to Maulana Azad, was the involvement of Muslims in unproductive activities and ignoring the facts of the fast changing world. Through his speeches and writings, Maulana repeatedly reminded Muslims that their own irrational and un-Islamic attitude was responsible for their decline in practically in every walk of life. He, therefore, addressed Muslims in these words: "You have spent several nights of indifference (Urdu-ghaflat) and complacency (Urdu-sarshari). For Gods sake, get up now and see how much the sun has risen and how far your co-travelers (non-Muslims) have gone ahead of you." (Ghubar-e-Khatir- by Maulana Azad)

Maulana felt that after 16th Century, the situation of knowledge in Muslim and European societies interchanged completely. Now Europe started to follow Muslims way of progressive thinking and enquiry whereas Muslims copied Europe way of life of Middle Ages (Dark Age) that was full of superstition, bigotry and retrograde thoughts. He says "Now (after 16th Century,) the contrast in qualities as during Crusades, became apparent. The place of Muslims (Progress) was taken over by Europe and that of Europe (Dark Ages) by Muslims." (Ghubar-e-Khatir- by Maulana Azad)

According to Maulana Azad, the success story of Muslims during Middle Ages was entirely due to their dependence on "Ilm-O-danish" (Knowledge and Wisdom). Europe, at that time, depended on invocation and benediction for all the problems of life, even for wining Wars. Muslims used to fight with Arms of Iron and Fire. Europe depended only on the Help of God. Muslims depended on God as well as materialistic sources provided by Nature. One was the follower of only spiritualistic powers; the other was dependent on both spiritualism and materialism. One waited for Miracles to appear and the other waited for success of their sincere efforts. Miracles never appeared but the efforts provided success to Muslims (During Crusades). (Ghubar-e-Khatir- by Maulana Azad)

Maulana always believed that Duaein (Invocation) by Be Ilm (Ignorants) and Be 'amal (Men with no initiative) results in escapism. To prove his point, he described the incident of Bukhara. He wrote, During the early nineteenth century, Russian forces surrounded the city of Bukhara. Instead of confronting the enemy, Ruler of Bukhara issued instructions that in all the Mosques and Dargahs, Invocational Prayers (Khatm Khwajgan) be organized. On one side the guns were playing havoc and on the other loud calls of Invocatory Prayers were resounding. Guns versus Prayers. The obvious happened. Bukhara fell to Russian forces. Invocation does help but for those who have the courage to fight. For people without courage, Prayers become the source of escape from reality" (Ghubar-e-Khatir, by Maulana Azad).

In a similar incident, the ruler of Egypt, Murad, instead of defending against the forces of Napoleon during 1798, issued instructions to recite Bukhari Sharif (Religious Book- Collections of prophetic Traditions) in all the Mosques in order to quell the enemy. Again the obvious happened and before the recitation could be completed, the whole of Egypt was conquered by Napoleon forces.

In his various speeches (Khutbat Azad Addresses by Azad, Edited by Malik Ram, Sahitya Academy,Delhi, Fifth Edition, 1997), Maulana Azad has dealt in quite details about the Rise and Fall of Islamic Societies. In this connection, he has referred to an article written by an eminent traveler and historian Prof. Armin Wembrey, published in Budapest Herald (1901).

Prof. Wembrey, a national of Hungary, was a great friend of Turks. He lived with them for more than two decades and visited most of the Islamic world. After living all these years with Muslims, he was disillusioned with their behaviors and attitudes towards worldly affairs. He, therefore, left their company and went back to his native land where he adversely commented on Muslims. According to Maulana, Wembrey wrote "There is no point in supporting Muslims any more. They do not have any interest in worldly affairs and do not wish to contribute in development. They have no vision, no commitments and sense of responsibility. All that they know and do is Ibadat Guzari (prayers). They are not capable for working for the cause of humanity. The best thing for the West remains to annex their entire territories and share them amongst themselves."

Maulana Azad, pained by these comments, observed that "if such are the views of friends of Muslims, imagine what the enemies would be thinking of them. For instance, he quoted another European Scholar, Maxin Hardin who wrote (London Times - 1910) that "How long Muslims would be let free. Islam is a danger. Whatever area is captured of Muslim Land, it is the rightful property of Europe. Its return is madness. (Khutbat Azad)



Inspite of anti-Islamic stance of Europe, Maulana Azad was indeed great protagonist for international peace and unity but he knew that without acquiring might and fighting spirit, it was not possible to get respect and honour. He, therefore, vehemently advocated that "the hand is sacred which is holding a white flag, signifying peace, but only those can only survive who firmly hold in their hand a deadly sword because that is the only way for asking Justice and defending themselves from the perpetrators of tyranny." (Khutbat Azad)



Maulana Azad had the genuine feeling that spreading false propaganda against Muslim had started by the West as early as 16th century. In this connection he observed "Islam with all its values and qualities became a victim of false propaganda by the West. It was said that Islam lives on the booty of loot and arson. Sir Syed was probably the first sincere Muslim who confronted the Muslim haters and rejected all insinuations." (Khutbat Azad)



Maulana Azad was against separating religion from worldly knowledge. He advised Muslims to acquire modern knowledge and in this connection he appealed to them to contribute large sums for the establishment of Aligarh Muslim University which till then was a College only. He observed, "the day Muslim University will be established; it will be completion of the exhortation and message of our Prophet."

Maulana was an important Islamic scholar and had great respect for the Madarsahs. However, with the changing of times, he felt that the Madarsahs needed to make suitable changes in their approach of imparting knowledge. He, therefore, advised "If education is meant for human beings and purpose is its applicability in daily life, then teach them in such a manner that they are not frightened. But if the education is meant for angels, then you do what you like. The world has changed and in view of this fact we should have made changes in our education system hundred years back but if it was not done at that time, then atleast do it now. What we are teaching today in our Madarsahs in the name of Maqulat (Logic and Philosophy) is simply outdated and has no place in todays world. We should accept the ground realities and understand that in place of outdated philosophica subjects, we need to teach students the problems facing the Ummah. If you do not do it, that means you do not understand the basics of life and wish to fight with the unstoppable changing times. ---- History teaches us that in the clash between Qadamatparsti (Conservatism) and Modernism, the loser has always been Qadamatprasti. True, that Abul Fazal and Faizi were the products of Madarsahs and that they had done well with their administrative capabilities. But that was a long time back. That education can not work now. Times have changed. Now you are isolated because you remain at the same place (Madarsahs) where you entered five hundred years back. During all these years, world has seen vast development and changes. The subjects you are teaching today have no relevance to the need of present times. The result is obvious. There is big wall between you and the world. You lag behind in all walks of life. You are supposed to be Nikamme (worthless). We must accept that we have committed grave mistakes by not reconciling with the changing times." (Khutbat Azad)

Inspite of the Fall of Islamic Societies, Maulana Azad never compromised with spirit of Islam that stressed for unity and brotherhood. Throughout his life he stood for the unity of India and its composite culture as well as cordiality between Hindus and Muslims. Once he said  If our Prophet could advocate unity between Quraish and all the communities in and around Madina (as one nation), dont you think that it is not the religious duty to unite with the Hindus of Hindustan.  He repeatedly expressed his views that "As a true Muslim, I have inherited Islam's glorious traditions of the last fourteen hundred years. I am not prepared to loose even a small part of that legacy. I have another equally deep realization, not hindered by the Islamic spirit. that I am an Indian, and proud being an Indian. If the whole world is my country and is to be honored, the dust of India has the first place. If all mankind are my brothers, then the Indians have the first place."

At another occasion, he said "Today, if some Angel comes from a cloud and declared from Qutub Minar that - Swaraj can be granted within twenty four hours provided demand (wish) of Hindu-Muslim Unity is withdrawn, I will not accept the offer. If Swaraj is delayed, it is the loss of India but if efforts for Hindu Muslim unity are given up, it is the loss of humanity. (Khutbat Azad)
Nitin Chandra, the budding film director from Bihar, after successfully making 'Bring Back Bihar', a documentary depicting on the plight of Biharis in Mumbai, in his next project deals with the recurring flood situation in Bihar and how the central and state governments have failed to recognize the actual reason for this annual nightmare.

A former student of Don Bosco, Patna, with a Bachelor in Information Technology from Delhi and Masters in Communication Studies from University of Pune with specialization in film-making, Chandra says that his new project is funded by the Centre for World Solidarity (CWS). It is a film that is based on illogical and technically non-feasible methods of controlling floods in Bihar.

{gallery}newsimages/nitinchandra{/gallery}Chandra says that the devastation which Bihar faces due to floods is caused by 'brainless engineering and spineless bureaucracy'.

"The whole idea of controlling the nature by humans has backlashed in Bihar. Over the past 50 years, the damage of agrarian land because of flood has increased by 80%. Even though the government has spent millions of rupees, the government is unable to understand that in no way we can control the flood by tying a noose around rivers," the young film-maker says.

Chandra contends that the cause of the flood situation in Bihar is because of ever-growing population and the lack of education.

"Shaukat Khan, a villager in Supaul Basantpur Block, I met, had 15 kids. According to him, in his village the average number of children people have is 10. Harihar, a farmer with seven children, is also woefully unaware of the results of having too many kids. After the last year's flood in the Kosi region, a large area of Supaul and Madhepura district is covered with a white sheen of sand that is 3 to 6 feet deep," says Chandra.

"The plight reminds me of Phanishwar Nath Renu's lines from his book Parti Parikatha:

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???? ???, ???? ?? ???...

Even after 50 years of writing his book, we are still there," he said.

The film deals with all the techniques applied under the heading of "Flood Control Mechanism".

"We have interviewed hundreds of men and women living in wretched conditions in flood-affected villages and farmers who lost their lands, government officials and social activists. We are recording all the speeches given by big political leaders in Kosi region to appease people. In the film, we have interviewed a 90-year old man from Supaul (Bairiya Manch) who says that Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru, in the wake of development built the embankments but never came back to see the plight of the people," Chandra said.

The film-maker further says that the plugging-in of the breach in Kusaha is yet to be done.

"The Kosi '08 was not a natural flood, it was mass genocide about which no one wants to know or talk about. Thousands of people died, hundreds are still missing. One Mumbai attack has all the media and public attention but each year Bihar faces a catastrophe in the form of flood but no one wants to talk about it. Electronic media is too busy talking about Kasab eating biryani, or his demand of perfume; they want to talk about Matuknath's election campaign but there has been no follow-up on the plight of the people who are leaving the flood-affected areas only to be disgraced and ill-treated in places like Punjab, Kashmir, and Mumbai," Chandra says.
Legal education should aim at promoting 'Justice' rather than just resolve disputes & improve relationship. The study of law in order to be meaningful has to be context of social realities.

In the era of specialization it is fruitful to concentrate on a career right after twelfth and the five-year course provides ample time to build a sound background in the subject and develop professionalism. The period of five year is sufficient for a law school to equip their students with professional-skills as per the market (social) demands.

The five-year law course was introduced in 1984 to attract brilliant students into the stream of legal studies. Bar Council of India, with the support of Govt. of Karnataka, started the National Law School Of India University, at Bangalore in 1987 as center of excellence. The idea of Bar Council of India was to make the study of law as prestigious and attractive as technological and management studies in the IITs & IIMs, which are India's premier institutes.

Originally Bar Council of India thought of having one National Law University for the whole country as a model, later the idea got greater acceptance among educationists & administrators to have at least one such National Law University in every state.

The admission process to these law schools/universities is almost same and based on a national level entrance test comprising of the following subjects:

(a) General Knowledge, (b) General English, (c) Legal Aptitude, (d) Reasoning, and (e) Essay (f) Elementary science

1. Significant legal events and developments

2. Current events of national and international importance

3. General Science

4. History of India

5. Geography

6. Indian Polity and Economy. Most Questions will be of multiple-choice answers. A few may be of subjective type and short notes on legal terms. (See with the admission notification)

THE NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITIES:

(a) National Law School Of India University: Established under the National Law School of India Act (Karnataka Act 22 of 1986) on Aug., 29,1987. The first academic session commenced from 1988. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Contact address. -National Law School Of India University

P.O. Bag 7201, Nagarbhavi

Bangalore - 560 072

India.

(b) National Academy of Legal studies and Research, Andhra Pradesh Act 34 of 1998. The first academic session commenced from 1998. It offers B.A., B.L. (Hons.) course.

Contact address. - Deputy Registrar

NALSAR University of Law

3-4-761, Barkatpura, Hyderabad - 500 027 A.P., India.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(c) W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences. Established under the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Act, 1999 (Act IX of 1999) by West Bengal Legislature in July 1999. The first academic session commenced from 1999. It offers B.A./B.Sc., LL.B (Hons.) courses.

Contact address - Salt Lake City, Kolkata, W.B.

(d) National Law Institute University, established under the Act No. 41 of 1997 of the Madhya Pradesh Legislature. The first academic session commenced from 1998. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Contact address: Professional Examination Board, Chayan Bhawan, Main Road No.-1, Chinar Park (East); Bhopal.

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(e) National Law University, established under the Act 22 of Rajasthan in Nov. 1999. The first academic session commenced from 2001. It offers B.A./B.Sc./B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) courses. It also offers B.Sc. (Hons), Environmental Science/ Bio-Technology/ Information Technology &Computer Application), LL.B. (Hons.)

Contact Add. - The Registrar

(f) National Law University

NH-65, Nagour Road,

Mandore, Jodhpur - 342304 (Raj.) - India

Phone No. - 0291-2572530

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(g) Hidayatullah National Law University, established under the Hidayatullah National University of Law, Chhattisgarh Act 2003. The first academic session commenced from 2003. It offers B.A./B.Sc., LL.B. (Hons.) courses.

Contact address - Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Civil Line, Next to Raj Bhavan, Raipur (C.G.) 492 001

Phone No. 0771-5080114, 5080117, Fax - 771-5080118

Mobile: 98261 58910

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(h) National Institute For Advanced Legal Studies, established by Bar Council of Kerala & Bar Council of Kerala Trust in 2002. It is presently affiliated to Cochin University Of Science & Technology. It is aimed to be transformed into a National Law University/ Deemed University very soon. The first academic session commenced from 2002. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Contact Address - National Institute For Advanced Legal Studies,

Kaloor, Kochi - 682 017, Kerala

Tel: 0484 - 2337363

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(i) Tamilnadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, established in October 1997 pursuant to the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University Act 1996. It is not a residential university like other law schools/universities. But since 2002,The School of Excellence In Law was established so as to develop it as a Premiere institution in the country for teaching law. The first academic session of the school commenced from 2002. It offers B.A.,B.L. (Hons.) course.

Contact address - The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University

"Poompozhil" 5, Greenways Road,

Chennai-600 028.

Telephone: (044) 494 1212/494 1919

Fax: (044) 495 7414

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(j) Gujarat National Law University, established under Gujarat National Law University Act 2003, on 12 Mar. 2003. The first academic session commences from 2004. It offers B.A./B.Sc./B.Com., LL.B.(Hons.) courses.

Contact address - Gujarat National Law University

Old NIFT Building,

E-4 GIDC, Electronic Zone,

Gandhinagar - 382 028,

Gujarat, India

Besides these national level law universities/schools, there are various other universities offering five year integrated law course. Some of them are as follows:

Govt.Law College, (University of Bombay), Mumbai.

ILS Law College, ( Univ.of Pune), Pune.

Symbiosis Society's Law College, (SIEC-DU/ Univ.of Pune), Pune.

ICFAI Law College, ( ICFAI University), throughout India.

Amity Law School, (GGS Indraprastha Univ.), Delhi.

Army Institute of Law, (Punjabi University), Patiala.

Bishop Cotton Women's Christian Law College, (Univ. of B'lore),Banglore.

Dayanand Law College, (Shivaji University), Solapur, M.S.

Faculty of Law , (Goa University), Goa.

School of Law & Legal Studies, (G.G.S. Indraprastha University), Delhi-6.

IAMR College, (C.C.S University, Meerut), Gaziabad., U.P.

J.S.S Law College, (Mysore University), Mysore

University College of Law, ( Karnatak University), Dharwad

B.V.Bellad Law College, (Karnataka University), Belgaum.

Faculty of Law, (Aligarh Muslim University), Aligarh, U.P.

Faculty of Law, (Jamia Millia Islamia), Delhi-25.

National College of Law, ( Kovempu University), Simoga, KAR.

National Law College, (M.D.University,Rohtak), Sec-42 Gurgaon, HR.

Faculty of Law, (Mohan Lal Sukhadia University), Udaipur,Raj.

Faculty of Law, (Rani Durgawati Vishwavidhyalaya), Jabalpur, M.P.

University of Calcutta, Senate House, Kolkata- 73.

University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, W.B.

University Law College/ Madhusudan Law College, (Utkal University), Bhubaneswar-4.

Many affiliated college to above mentioned universities offer five year integrated law course. For details check with the respective universities.

So, the school leavers should not frustrate/confuse and opt for a career in law. The future is very bright in law. It is a very challenging and respectable job.
The brutal murder of Patna Universitys Prof. Papiya Ghosh and her elderly maidservant at her home in Patna on December 3 shocked the academic community in Bihar. A brave and popular singleton, Prof. Ghosh taught history to postgrad students at Patna University.

In a state where college education is in a shambles and elite private tutors hire armed bodyguards as they teach batches of 200-500 students to rake in big bucks, the brutal murder of this popular academic has come as a huge blow to the already demoralised academy. That a serious academic could be killed in such a barbaric manner in one of the most upscale residential localities of the state capital has conveyed a chilling message: the state is still at the mercy of anti-social goons and criminals and the role of the police is merely to reconstruct crimes without much hope of successful arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.

Yet the silver lining to this cruelly-executed murder is that public protests in Patna continued for over a fortnight with widespread condemnation of the heinous crime pouring in from all over the country. The police was quick to describe the murders as robbery-related and arrested four local youth on December 15. Goods stolen from the professors modest home were recovered following intensive investigation driven by a sustained campaign by local media.

Born in 1953 the late professor was the daughter of an IAS officer and had received her school education in Patna. One of her sisters is also an IAS officer and currently posted as officer on special duty with Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee. A graduate of Patna Womens College, Ghosh pressed on to pursue her Masters and Ph D in history at Delhi University. Thereafter against the advice of all, she returned to teach history at her alma mater, Patna Womens College. It proved to be a fateful decision.

Although the police insist that the motive of the crime is common robbery, the local media is rife with stories of how she was threatened by some politicians and the land mafia to part with her house which is in a prestigious neighbourhood. In 2004 Ghosh had filed a complaint with the police in this connection. After that she never received any fresh threats. Nevertheless the opposition Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal party has demanded a CBI probe with the state government insisting that the local police has already solved the case. Yet there is considerable disquiet  indeed fear  in the city that a murder most foul was committed in broad daylight in the upscale Pataliputra colony.

Yet this much-lamented murder and the intense speculation it has aroused is indicative of the reality that despite good intentions, the new Nitish Kumar-led state government which was voted to power in 2005, has a long way to go before restoring citizens faith in the police and law and order machinery.

Meanwhile the state governments effort to attract high quality teachers into the promised new Bihar has suffered a severe setback.

(Published in Education World online)
Recently, I came across a biography of Braj Kishore Prasad  the foremost, but forgotten enlightened leader of Bihar. I would like to introduce your readers to the life and times of this patriot. The book - Shri Braj Kishore Prasad - The First Associate of Gandhiji in Bihar - is written by Surendra Gopal, Retired Professor of History, Patna University, published by Bihar Vidyapeeth Patna, 2012, $12.

The advent of modernity in Bihar was symbolized by the establishment of schools and colleges by the zamindars for the dissemination of English education needed for the introduction of the British system of management in their territories. B Prasad was a product of this change. He was a renaissance man - erudite, liberal, jurist, social reformer, freedom fighter and philanthropist.

He obtained a master and law degrees in spite of the adversity he faced after the death of his father. He encouraged the spread of English education among both sexes and promoted foreign travel for higher education. He showed his commitment to promote foreign travel by attending the dinner hosted for Dr. Ganesh Prasad after his return from England and sending Ambika Charan to Japan and meeting his expenses. While welcoming Charan, he arranged a secular dinner crossing the caste barriers.

A fearless fighter for justice when people were afraid to speak against the authorities, he tried to redress the plight of the peasants through legal means even before the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Champaran. His efforts resulted in the Settlement Report, though not very helpful to ryots, but at least it proved that the government acknowledged the grievances of the peasants.

B. Prasads organizational ability, his legal acumen and familiarity with the peasants problems helped Gandhiji to redress the sufferings of the peasants. Gandhiji took him to Ranchi to meet with the Governor on at the latters invitation. The meeting led to the introduction of The Champaran Agrarian Bill of 1917, which recommended the abolition of the tinkathia system and return of  the tawan (for releasing the peasants for cultivating indigo). It was a positive step, though not very satisfactory.

The aftermath of the Champaran movement brought a new breed of full-time politicians with a definite ideology and methodology. The lead was taken by B. Prasad. Though he differed with Gandhiji, at times, he was his most trusted colleague. Whenever Gandhiji was away from Champaran, he deputed B. Prasad to substitute for him. Braj Kishore Prasad along with Anugrah Narayan Singh and Rajendra Prasad nurtured and strengthened the functioning of the Congress Party in Bihar. Such was his popularity and influence nationwide that he was elected as a member of the Congress Working Committee - the apex decision making body. But he confined his activities to Bihar and tried to implement Gandhijis policies in the State.

As a Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Congress Session at Gaya in 1923, he exhibited his organizational ability and integrity. He was a social reformer and he supported the efforts of those with whom he differed. Though defeated by the Maharaja of Darbhanga for the membership of the Bengal Legislative Council, he supported the Maharaja for introducing the Panchayat system to minimize litigation among the villagers.

Like Gandhiji, B. Prasad regarded that social reforms would improve the conditions of the peasants. He worked hard for the emancipation of women who were mainly engaged in the household affairs with no role in the society due to illiteracy prevailing among them. He provided examples by encouraging his daughters to get education discard purda and participate in the community affairs. He sent his daughter - Prabhavati- to live in Gandhijis Ashram- a bold step at that time. This had a salutary effect and people followed his example by letting their women folks to get education and involve in political and social activities. Women joined the freedom struggle and suffered imprisonment.

Though indisposed, he kept a close watch on the civil Disobedience Movement and guided it from Patna. During the worst earthquake in Bihar in 1934, B. Prasad with failing health supervised the relief work. He did not live to see the independence of India as he passed away in 1946.

The book -a labor of love - is based on sound principles of historical research. Written in a people-friendly language, it traces the history of freedom struggle and reform movement in Bihar, which involved masses in the social and political activities. We get a glimpse of the rise of caste and communal politics in Bihar due to the election of local bodies and provincial legislature. The book is a must on the bookshelves of those interested in Indian struggle for freedom as the history of India revolves round Bihar. The author has done a commendable service to the historical research. Several appendices relating to the Champaran movement and the speech of Braj Kishore Prasad add to the value of the book. The printing of the book is good, but the binding is bad.

Editor's note: Mr. Prasad, who was born on January 14, 1877, was married at 11 years of age to Phuljhari Devi. They had seven children though two daughters and a son died at infancy. Two sons and two daughters survived. One of the daughters, Prabhavati, later married to Loknayak Jaya Prakash Narayan, while other daughter Vidyapati married to Mritunjaya Prasad, son of India's first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.


Kanhaiya Kumars totally uncalled for arrest and slapping of the charges of sedition etc. have clouded the issue and furthered the interest of the elements the government claims to rein in.

But before we discuss the issue it would be worthwhile to recapitulate the basic facts of the story which have been told and retold and changed somewhat in every telling. No one has come up yet with the theory that there were two editions of Kanhaiya. Otherwise every fact, every video clipping comes in two versions. You can take your pick.

It is beyond dispute that a group of students in the JNU organised a "cultural" evening to celebrate the death anniversary of the martyred Afzal Guru. To an overwhelmingly large number of Indians, he was a terrorist and enemy of the Indian state. Political leaders across the divide had endorsed this view in the immediate aftermath of the attack. The "cultural artists" chanted their determination to fight till the destruction of the Indian state, and felt ashamed that the killers of Afzal were still alive. They concluded by invoking the blessing of Allah for this project. The slogans need to be quoted in full for the enlarged meaning of "cultural activities".

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Kanhaiya Kumar later distanced himself from the shouting of these slogans and condemned this act. The evening, he said, was meant to commemorate Dr. Ambedkar and reaffirm faith in Indian constitution.

Afzal Guru the "martyr", was hanged to death when the Congress government was in power, after the entire range of curative options available to an accused in a polity governed by due process of law  from the trial court to the mercy petition before the President of India - were exhausted. Having failed to get a favourable verdict, few would dare indulge in public denunciation of the most sacred of our institutions. Democracy is about building institutions; institutions work in tandem with other institutions and they have to be invested with authority by reposing faith in them and not wrecking them for perceived wrongs. That is our share of the democratic burden. Dr. Ambedkar must have turned in his grave to hear the public denunciation of all that we hold sacred.

Lenin used to ask ironically: "Freedom -- yes, but for whom? To do what?"

The idea of free speech is so seductive that it seems wimpish to even suggest caution or moderation in the exercise of this sacred right, but we must wonder whether the democratic idealism provides a standpoint outside of itself to wreck and demolish its very foundational values. No law was violated in the chanting of these slogans, agreed, but are societies run by decrees alone? Are we subject to the prohibition of laws alone? There are no laws against incest. Should that then become an acceptable behaviour? Does good sense and consideration for the feelings of others not curb our freedom of action?

I hear that declaring oneself to be anti-national has become the new normal for the enlightened beings, but there are people who would rather be seen dead than being dubbed anti national. If we inhabit a shared space, we have to consider each others sensibilities. Kanhaiya Kumar was not unaware of this, as his subsequent condemnation of the incident shows. What was then the mainspring of his action?

According to an apostatic ABVP member there is a hierarchy of intellectual order in the JNU; the Brahminical order consists of those from St. Stephen and Presidency College. Cerebral, articulate and fluent in the langua franca of power discourse  English  their minds organised by the fundamentals of Marxism, enjoyed a hegemony till the upstart ABVP types gate-crashed  perhaps riding pillion on the rise of the rightist politics.

"Students in JNUs history centre divided informally along class lines early on. Apart from a few exceptions, those from elite colleges like St Stephens in Delhi and Presidency in Kolkata turned left, while those from small towns were splintered among the left, the ABVP and the Congresss student wing, the National Students Union of India. Apart from my background, it also seemed to me that falling in line with the left would mean acceptance of this intellectual hierarchy. Spurning the system seemed enticing."

http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/why-i-left-sangh-abvp#sthash.hpswBzPE.Y24i6w1M.dpuf

Kashmir is very much on the minds of the Indian people. The ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandits is an equally emotive issue for an overwhelming number of Indians, but it has never seized the imagination of the progressively oriented JNU( or has it?) because it does not command as much traction as liberation of Kashmir.

If we argue by results they were dead right. JNU has become a global symbol of resistance and Kanhaiya Kumar, a nondescript entity from Bihar with no past to reckon with, is suddenly a martyr to the cause of democracy. Secure in the knowledge that aggressive and institutionally entrenched national and global elite well-versed in the vernacular of law, who exert a tremendous pressure on politics will intervene on their behalf makes such gestures risk free. Prashant Bhushan has offered his services voluntarily; the likes of Arundhati Roy and Chomsky have given him the thumbs up. If the exercise of freedom of speech was this rewarding, who would flinch from murder? The intellectually unsophisticated security personnel guarding the parliament building seemed to have laid down their lives quite gratuitously when martyrdom comes so cheap.

As an Egyptian poet said,

"What have we not done for our fatherland.

Some have laid down their lives, some made speeches."

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
JNU has made great contribution to the cause of learning in India; it has also played a seminal role in the life of significant contention- the proper calling of intellectuals  over the years but sadly the students of this premier university are being discussed for their intellectual daring which extended no further than a pledge to dismember their own motherland and a clever application of their assiduously acquired knowledge of "subaltern studies and dialectical materialism" to fox and hoodwink plain, blunt policeman.

To these inestimable achievements one more has been added  it has produced an orator of outstanding merit in Kanhaiya Kumar. Kanhaiyas very significant omission of Chandrasekhar in his speech, a former JNU student union president, who had stirred the conscience of people of Bihar by his fearless fight in favour of the lowest of the low against criminal warlords shows great awareness of currents and cross currents of contemporary politics even before he has entered the choppy waters. Chandrasekhars martyrdom had got mixed up with issues of pragmatic politics. His cause was just, but he was not too careful in the choice of the enemy!

The political parties are no doubt celebrating but would it be mere intellectual Ludditism or cussedness to raise the very quotidian, very banal but very topical issue? Even though as a body of thought Marxism still provides useful insights in the way our world works, one thinks much less of it than what was thought of decades ago. It now belongs to the archeological museum of the history of knowledge.

The university famous for its "left-Centric student politics" burdens the participants with a certain intellectual and moral posture. "Once a JNU student, always an activist" http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/once-a-jnu-student-always-an-activist/article4282272.ece is perhaps too optimistic a view which may not be shared by all. They are not scarred for life by their brief flirtation with the precious ideology at the university. People like Chandrasekhar and others of his tribe are the precious drops in the ocean. Most others are absorbed in the job market as IAS officers, journalists, politicians and professors, coping with the compulsions of their respective professions with sweet docility, just like everyone else.

The torrent of writings about JNU by former students, teachers and those currently studying there - every media outlet is keen to air their views - confirms me in my belief that the government overestimated their dangerousness. Yogendra K Alagh, former Vice Chancellor of JNU, has to say (In the Mumbai edition it is captioned Argumentation is JNUs Power) (HT Feb 24, 2016). "This is the reason that JNU students do so well in the UPSC exams for the higher civil services. I found out when I chaired a committee set up to develop the recruitment and training policies for the higher civil services. They are all trained in disciplined argumentation and would breeze through any discussion." http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/jnu-students-are-first-among-equals-idealistic-and-inquisitive/story-0BHwIrGwSgFaiYEeazOEaJ.html . "The university is known to have a long tradition of alumni who now occupy important political and bureaucratic positions." - Wikipedia

JNU attracts a large number of students form backward states, notably Bihar, who come here aspiring to make it to the IAS or other service but are swept off their feet by the grandeur of the setting as this lyrical outburst of one of the former students suggests:

"Entering JNU, for me, was like entering a zone of freedom, overwhelming freedom. At the very first glance, JNU was like a vast expanse to spread ones wings in  long-winding roads and overgrown valleys, the facility of being outdoors late into the night (what that could mean to a young girl!), milling in and around the library till 11 pm, mess meetings (no pun intended) after dinner, the chance to befriend anyone from anywhere, any class, caste or nationality (thanks to JNUs admission system based on multiple deprivation points), and above all, the possibility of falling in love across all social barriers In JNU, we learnt quickly, through our little adventures and misadventures, the profoundly serious lesson that a free mind depended on a physically and socially free space. We also felt morally tortured by the fact of our privilege as JNU students. To compensate, we became involved in politics outside campus".

Living like royalty at tax payers expense, lording over a thousand-acre campus which could easily house at least two dozen average universities, or ten thousand primary schools for poor children - all their comforts taken care of at a parasitically low rate, they are bound to develop a self-image and feel driven to live by this image of themselves. "Morally tortured by the fact of our privilege as JNU students. To compensate, we became involved in politics outside campus". Their protest is, indeed, an acid by product of privilege and good living.

That helps me connect with my memories of ten, twelve years back when I was invited to the Patna University. On my return journey I made a detour to visit the hostel where I had spent two years as an undergraduate boarder long time ago. Not that things were princely then but now the place was in complete shambles. I came across a group of students loitering in the corridor, introduced myself to them and tried to start a conversation. It is always invigorating to know what the young people are reading, thinking, what are their aspirations, how do they feel about the world around them. My queries were met with brief dismissive answers. All that they wanted me was to speak to the authorities, to get something done. Now I wonder whether their revolutionary ardour was stilled by pedestrian concerns like toilets, and mending of leaky roofs, the appointment of another mess contractor because the old one had run away and they were forced to eat outside!

Exploring this theme further in my imagination I wondered whether the charismatic teachers, if by some magic were transplanted in this dismal setting, would they still be able to ignite the same intellectual curiosity, the same iconoclastic impulse or "a free mind depended" necessarily, "on a physically and socially free space."

Brecht suddenly made sense to me,

"Among the highly placed.

It is considered low to talk about food.

The fact is: they have

Already eaten.

The lowly must leave this earth

Without having tasted

Any good meat."

I had quoted another former JNU student in my last post, who abandoned his faith to quit the ABVP, who spoke of a Brahminical order of intellectual hierarchy in which the Marxists were at the top and everybody else at the bottom. Those who fight for the rights of the underprivileged, for the Dalits of the social order were equally assertive of their rights to keep the ideologically unsophisticated  the Dalits of the intellectual order- and all shades of the "other" at bay. This may itself be a form of "unfreedom" because if the avant-garde of the university thinks it is freedom to promote the dismemberment of the nation, some people may claim the right to be retrograde, revanchist, superstitious, reactionary.

The arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar is one act of folly that the government will repent at leisure. How much of it was professional ineptness, how much the eagerness of a retiring police commissioner anxious to please, and how much of it was an administration under onus to be seen as decisive, I cannot tell. But we have a full blown controversy which, if it has lowered the image of the government, it has not left JNU totally unscathed either. The best course would have been to leave the kids alone. They are such a privileged lot that they will seek police help for making revolution!

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
The health ministry on Thursday proposed to apply excise tax for all sweetened drinks in accordance with WHO definitions.

At a Thursday meeting on the impacts of sweetened drinks on health, Tran Thi Trang, deputy head of the legislation department under the Ministry of Health, said the ministry is proposing to apply excise tax based on the amount of sugar contained within 100 ml of the drinks.

The proposal was made as the Ministry of Finance was building a draft law on excise tax for sweetened drinks.

Trang said there should be sugar thresholds to determine the amount of taxes to be applied, with a higher level of sugar resulting in more taxes. Drinks with a sugar level below a certain threshold would not need to be imposed such a tax, she suggested.

However, the health ministry has yet to provide exact sugar level thresholds for this policy.

The ministry said certain food products with low levels of sugar, such as milk and dairy products, would not be applied excise tax.

In accordance with WHO definitions, sweetened drinks are those that contain added sugar, such as sweetened soda water, bottled juices and energy drinks.

The WHO also recommends taxation on sweetened drinks as an important policy to reduce consumption, preventing obesity among the population.

Over the last decade, consumption rate of sweetened drinks in Vietnam has been growing rapidly. The health ministry expects a 3-5% growth in consumption of these drinks in the next five years.

Trang said alcoholic drinks with added sugar in the form of juice (ciders) have recently appeared in Vietnam and are well-liked by the general populace. She is worried that similar drinks would drive up sugar consumption among the population.

"Taxation and pricing are strong measures, along with advertisement control, to reduce the availability of a product," she said.

Do Xuan Tuyen, deputy health minister, requested for a list of healthy products so that children would know not to consume too much processed food and sweetened drinks.

Vietnam has around 1,800 beverage-making facilities, directly providing jobs for over 300,000 workers and indirectly for millions of others, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Therefore, a tax on sweetened drinks should be done in balance to ensure the interests of both the nation, society and businesses, it said.

Several beverage businesses have proposed to postpone excise taxes on beverages and for there to be no excise tax on sweetened drinks, citing the need for recovery after Covid-19 and the fact that there was no definition on what makes a "sweetened drink."
Who killed Rajdev Ranjan, the correspondent of a Hindi newspaper, is a question that reverberates today throughout the public sphere of Bihar and fuels private anxieties of those living in Biharis. The more we know the more stridently we ask the question 'Who killed Rajdev Ranjan?' We know who did it. By asking the question we are merely trying to point the needle of suspicion away from our own guilty selves. The society as a whole killed Rajdev Ranjan.

The criminal element in our society has metastasized over the years and is now firmly lodged in its bone marrow of the body politic. Cancer evokes a feeling of helplessness, of resignation and an existentialist terror in those who are condemned to watch it take its toll of their loved ones. The civil society finds itself less and less able to count on its antibodies  the institutions, whether formal or informal, those whose duty it is to contain crime - have deserted or stand compromised.

Crime has now an overarching presence in our society. It is certainly not true for Bihar only; the entire country is afflicted by this malady, and we the masses- Lenins "useful idiots"- are mobilized by the various political parties which control our minds and our consciences to cite a more heinous crime committed in Jharkhand to play down the crime in Bihar, and vice versa. When Vyapam related murder in MP comes to be mentioned it is countered by some other scandal in Bengal. We merely displace the awareness of what afflicts our particular situation by seeking solace in the fact that others are worse off.

But even amidst the apathy, listlessness and an extraordinary passivity of society, the media is supposed to go on playing its role of alerting a comatose community to the various dangers that beset it. Consequently, a small town journalist infiltrates the territory of criminal warlords with the only resources that he can pit against the mighty- his courage and an unflinching commitment to his profession.

As one of the newspapers reported, Rajdev Ranjan had allegedly procured a photograph showing a minister of the government paying obeisance to the incarcerated 'leader' in Siwan jail which became viral. One must not jump the gun of the investigation in progress to establish the link but the act itself was fraught with great risk and the alleged photograph is of great public interest. Poor Rajdev believed that the mere awareness of such hobnobbing of the bigwigs would enrage the community to some form of radical reaction. But alas! Ours is not that kind of society; the people know it only too well how the system runs; who controls the levers of power; what territories are outlawed for the writ of law. And they are fine with it. Rajdev thought that he had prized out a precious gem; the society dismissed it as the merest piffle. The man who occupationally informed and educated public opinion was hopelessly out of touch with the latest news about the society he lived in!

Therein lies the tragedy of Rajdev (or any zealous police officer, civil servant, social activist and all those who still care for moral hygiene in public life) and our guilt by acquiescence, by indifference, by apathy. We profess a particular set of principles and live by quite another; the naive fall in the yawning gap between the pretence and the essence. Messengers of bad news are murdered; harbingers of good tidings rewarded is the new normal.

The post-modernist media has moved beyond the archaic morality related to content, impartiality, objectivity, balance etc. With new patterns of media ownership and control they have broken free and the earlier (self imposed) accountability on their relation to the political system no longer holds good. The very top of the pyramid now lines up for the privilege of washing the feet of the powerful and wealthy with soda water and unguents, whatever the provenance of such power or wealth. Prominent news anchors become single issue publicists, prime time celebrities double up as secret agents for corporate world and influential columnists become powerbrokers and pimps of politicians. They make hay while the poor, ill paid reporter on the beat dies for a lost cause. The media today is like a train in which the different compartments are headed for separate destinations. Rajdev boarded the wrong compartment. To that extent we, who knew it and did not warn him, are collectively the guilty party.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Shankar Datt (Professor of English Literature, Patna University) has a great sense of anticlimax, I know for sure. Or you can say he likes to balance things, presenting both sides of the case. He called me up to write something about my days in Patna College for the souvenir to be taken out on the occasion of centenary celebration of Patna University.

I could quite imagine that he had already persuaded the famous and the illustrious, toppers, gold medalists, record breakers, path breakers, pioneers which my college produces as a routine and in abundance for their memories or memoirs. He wanted to throw in sharper relief the fact that intellectual democracy prevailed in Patna College; it had nurtured non- entities like us also.



So here I am trying to coax my memory. Speak memory, speak! But it wont break its sphinx like silence.

And for good reasons, too. I did not top any examination, I was not even awarded a bronze medal let alone a gold medal. No record breaker, my academic achievements could at best be described as middling middle; neither irredeemably bad nor enviably outstanding.

My presence in the class was not noticed very much, either by my classmates or my teachers, simply because most often I was not there. While some of my friends impersonated me in other classes, thanks to a kindly Hindi professor the shortfall in my lecture in vernacular classes was condoned. He appeared to be a little hypermetropic; he saw great promise in me!

To tell you the truth, the academic curriculum prescribed by the college and the one that I had set for myself did not follow the same trajectory. But of that sometime later. Patna College gave me the honourable vocation of studentship, the status of a boarder in its Jackson Hostel and the university canteen for endless discussion on subjects marked by fatuity, pompousness and self- importance. Taken together all these ensured regular remittances from home which though not princely, was enough to keep me afloat and sometimes allowed me to drown my sorrows in a few drops of alcohol.

After a day fruitfully spent in the canteen, drinking endless cups of tepid lemon tea and smoking cigarettes, time that I should have been legitimately utilized listening to lectures, we were ready  I and my friend, he is no more so I shall call him just my friend- to shift the locale of our earth-shaking discussions to the Coffee House at Dak Bungalow Road.

The call of the Coffee House coffee was irresistible and poets, artists, writers, journalists, students flocked together in the evening. Renu jee (Phanishwar Nath Renu) was the central figure and sometime the Governor Mr. D K Barua would grace the premises. Emergency was a couple of years away). The coffee nicely brewed and stimulating in its own right, enhanced our self-esteem and inflated the worth of our opinions in our own eyes. The ambience aided our self-belief and many a grandiose plan to undertake another revaluation of the English Poetic tradition, F R Leavis was too bloody opinionated and sweepingly magisterial or to debunk T S Eliots Wasteland as the greatest intellectual hoax of our time were conceived and aborted.

Under the influence of the non-communist left and apostates like Koestler, Orwell, and Samizdat literature Anna Andrevina Akhmatavova, Solzhenitsyn and Mandelstam, given prominence in our Bible, the Encounter, we decided that Marx was bound to be relegated to the archeological museum of knowledge.



After the coffee and the exalted company of poets and poetasters, playwrights and confirmed plagiarists my friend, who was a day scholar went home none the worse for having spewed so much gyan, but I was bound to face up to the music for having missed the study period, in the hostel, which was between 6 and 8 PM. My hostel superintendent Professor B K Lal, though a kindly person, was obliged to fine me 25 paisa and I had the ignominy of finding it out from the notice board. It seems he mended his ways later because he found that I was not perhaps capable of mending mine.

Mr. Mahendra Pratap and Mr. Madan Jee were two personalities who could unsettle me. Madanjee was the durban  the janitor  to Jackson Hostel and Mr. Mahendra Pratap was the Principal of Patna College  later the Vice Chancellor of Patna. He was also for some time our Warden. Madan jee was the custodian of the keys to our little kingdom and boarders who came late and we had to keep him in good humour which was quite a task considering that he was a sour-faced, mongrelish fellow who could smile, if he could spare the effort.

To be fair to him, he would not grudge very much all those coming back to the hostel after watching a second show. But after that gentle tapping and calls to admit the straggler would be answered with a growl. The more ferocious his growl would become, the more sheepish the voice on the other side of the Hostel gate would become. Night owls like me were quite experienced in handling him but on this occasion things went awry. Some people said he was not malicious, he was simply snoring. I never found out. Whatever.

I had come into some money, now I dont remember how, some honorarium or something. Money meant celebration and celebration meant beer in Amber, a bar which was patronized by the students. In college I was a pure soul. I used to get drunk on a glass of beer, one half of which was pure froth. There were four or five of us including my friend. As usual he parted company on the Ashok Rajpath, headed for home happy as a lark, in Professors quarters Ranighat. He had no fear because his mother would keep awake listening for the gentle knock on the door as not to disturb his father who was professor in Patna University. To me devolved the responsibility of transporting my humble self, drunk like a lord, to the hostel. It was late, much later than the curfew hour and Madan jee was in no mood to relent. The gambit of growling and sheepish bleating seemed to have arrived at a stalemate. It was particularly chilly night. Locked out I was loitering near the kitchen, wondering whether to try my friend or go to my local guardian when one of the mess servants woke up and opened the lock with the simple expedient of an iron nail.

Mr. Mahendra Pratap was known to a relative of mine and perhaps in a moment of concern, he entrusted him the job of overseeing my education. Mr. Pratap had been to Cambridge and perhaps in those days they awarded the degree merely only on the strength of knowledge of Faery Queene and sundry archaic, boring texts. Mr. Mahendra Pratap crystallized his responsibility towards me to one simple task  judging me for my proficiency in Faery Queene. Lurking near the principals office for some work or the other I blundered into him twice and on both the occasions he tested me on my knowledge of the above text and found me wanting, notwithstanding the fact that it was not part of our syllabus. Or so I thought!

To pursue my lifestyle of careless and peaceful anarchy I had made one rule for myself: I would break all diplomatic relations with texts which did not interest me and mind you I am not an easy person to please! Unfortunately, Spenser* and I were not on speaking terms and my conversation with him was only through intermediaries. On the first occasion I bought my freedom by assuring Mr. Pratap that I will read him. On the second the information on Spenser that I had gathered through my friend deserted me because - all my critical sensibility was concentrated in hiding the cigarette. I cut a sorry figure and earned a well merited rebuke but that alienated me to Spenser forever.



I ran into Mr. Mahendra Pratap one more time, a close encounter of the third kind. It was around one AM. I climbed up to the first floor where my room was and I thought I saw Mr. Mahindra Pratap. I had mixed feelings. Was it an apparition but there were some real people, my hostel mates with him? Should I run away, is it going to be a public shaming for my inability to wade through the Faery Queene? But Mr. Mahendra Pratap spoke to me, or tried to speak to, perhaps he was trying to recall my name. I readily supplemented his memory, Faery Queene, sir. He laughed and addressed me with my proper name. We are all going to drive out these book worms out of their rooms. Man has landed on the moon and these fellows are not even celebrating.

I stood dumbfounded. Disturbing the serious-minded students was one of my most favourite pastimes and now it had been accorded official sanction. A night of revelry and riot led by the Principal was the culmination of my anarchic dreams. We went to the Cavendish Hostel, to the Faraday Hostel and I think then to the BA lecture theatre where Mr. Mahindra Pratap spoke in his inimitable style to us about Neil Armstrong and what his achievement meant for the human race. The word globalist was not even coined then but he was a true globalist.

To me Patna College was not merely a structure made of brick and wood and cement; it was not merely the class rooms and play fields. It was a whole eco system of learning comprising of my teachers, my class mates, the fellow boarders, other students, the folklore about students and teachers who had been part of its glorious tradition, the library. My contact with my teachers was largely beyond the confines of the class in informal settings and I got to know some of them very closely. To them I owe my gratitude for having pulled me from crass ignorance into a little bit of awareness.



But above all it was that ineffable feeling of walking in the shadow of countless intellectual giants, formidable minds who had enriched the life of community in many ways, men who had made history and then become part of history.



*Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Several years back in an article That Pantomime Artist Known as Police published in Indian Express (I was fond of seeing my name in papers in those years) I wrote, The growing ineffectiveness of state police forces in the face of powerful offenders creates a demand for CBI investigation. This occurs even in cases which are well within the professional and logistic competence of the state police. The CBI itself becomes eminently vulnerable to charges of bias once the affairs of the Central Government become the subject matter of enquiry. The state police forces are well on way to being reduced to a level where they will be good for nothing but ceremonial parades and watch and ward duties and a day may come when the CBI too may face an erosion of credibility. Who shall we turn to then? Interpol, the FBI, or Scotland Yard?"

Has that dreaded day come to refer the standoff between the Kolkata police and the CBI to a neutral agency outside our borders?

"For the last several decades ambitious political leaders have sought to create fiercely loyal battalions of bureaucratic palace guards who, if they pass the loyalty test, are exempted from every other. The idea of the neutrality of civil service has long since been jettisoned in practice and the civil servant and political masters often show the internal cohesion of predatory gangs." - From my blog Resurrected from Retirement.

Mamata Banerjee makes an unprecedented intervention on behalf of her minion, Rajeev Kumar, who had investigated the chit fund scam as per the requirement of his master. Contrary to conduct rules, contrary to the canons of dignified behavior, Mr. Rajeev Kumar, Police Commissioner, is sitting on dharna along with his CM. The duo is protesting against the CBI which made it convenient to expedite investigation of the same Sarda case at a time and in a manner to help its master score some brownie points against his rival.

Some time back the two topmost officers of CBI Arun Verma and Rakesh Asthana, owing allegiance to the two major political parties were engaged in a vicious no holds barred fight, dozens of officers ranged on both sides. Big dads of both the political gangs were daring each other on behalf of their minions.

We prefer to call these gang wars constitutional break down, because our self-image would not let us believe that notwithstanding our claims to maturity as a secular welfare state governed on the principles of west minster system, we are more akin to the earliest political formations where the master personally directed everything and men who owed personal loyalty and allegiance to the master were in charge. These officials slaves, household officials, attendants, personal favorites, were suitably compensated or opportunities were created for them to compensate themselves. Close your eyes, let your mind survey the situation, does it sound like a description of things closer home?

PS: I am reminded of an old aphorism; if you give the monkey a typewriter (it is an old aphorism before word processors came in) and let him type away to glory with no constraint on time, in a given period, he will have rewritten all of Shakespeare's plays etc. I believe our constitution is a mandarin text for us and given an infinite number of years we shall make it work. Not just now.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Kaushik Basu is so much in awe of his "novel", and "radical" idea to stop corrupt behaviour of public servants that one does not have the heart to administer even a small dose of pragmatic reality.

Intellectuals tend to be simple minded folks locating their premises and theses in a world, which readily agrees to be quantified and categorised, where human beings behave according to the rules of game theory etc. But ordinary people know that much of human behaviour is resistant to such predictive models.

Kaushik Basus idea is very simple. Allow the bribe taker to accept his bribe. After the criminal act has been accomplished and the objective of the bribe giver has been achieved, the state which will henceforth be in a perpetual state of conspiracy with every bribe giver of the land- "harassment bribe" giver only - will immediately don the role of the avenger and not only prosecute the bribe taker on his testimony but it will also recover the bribe paid and restore it to the bribe giver. An all encompassing gigantic trap shall be in place for the public servants of all shades and in all situations all the year round. . "Revolution", says Bernard Shaw, "does not end tyranny; it merely shifts the burden to other shoulders." Henceforth the burden of harassment shall be carried by the hapless public servant instead of the honest citizen, as it would be evident presently

From illustrations given in his paper it appears that when a citizen is compelled to give bribe to the public servant who is withholding to deliver something which by rights should be delivered unto him qualifies to be called "harassment bribe". A relationship of trust and mutuality comes in to play out of sheer necessity because the law as it exists makes both the parties to the transaction equally culpable. The proposed legislation, says Basu, will break this relation of trust and set up a relation of sheer opportunism- an "orthogonal" one- where the bribe giver will be at the takers throat after his objective has been achieved. The all important distinction between harassment and non harassment bribe has been only touched upon and as of now constitutes bribe given for securing development contracts etc.

The other very important fact which has not been specified is this  does the bribe giver get to retain the fruits of his bribe giving or is that nullified, once a claim is made about the fruits of bribery? Considering the fact that Basu is so enamoured of the idea, by implication, the bribe giver gets to retain it or else why should he collaborate. We also presume that suitable amendments shall be made in respect of the offences of criminal conspiracy and abetment so that the act of "harassment bribe" and "bribe taking" fall into two distinct discursive worlds of responsible civic behaviour and criminal conduct respectively. Some tweaking of the provisions of chapter on "general exception" in the Indian Penal Code will also be in order and the current legal provision of punishing malicious complaints and laws relating to the seizure, forfeiture and confiscation of property will have to be suitably updated .

Now let us imagine some scenarios in a real world situation where the anti corruption law as proposed by Basu has come into being.

Scenario I: A, a casual labour, complains that he paid a bribe of Rs 100 to the public servant to release his wages amounting to Rs1000.This complaint makes the authorised public servant liable to be imprisoned for bribe taking, and the bribe giver entitled for being restored the Rs 100 which he paid as bribe after confiscating it from the public servant. The enquiry reveals that A had been employed in some activity in the town but decided to take advantage of the fact that his name appears in the muster roll of his panchayat etc. He paid a bribe of Rs 100 to get 1000 for no work at all. Generally a significant percentage of illegal gratification especially in activities like MNREGA belongs to this category. It is the state which is very often at the receiving end of such commerce because nowhere there is a free lunch. Incentivised by this law A may like to get back the initial investment made by way of bribe as well. It also opens the way for overcompensation using it as a weapon of black mail.

Scenario II: A an aspirant for some appointment lodges a complaint that he has been forced to pay a harassment bribe of Rs100,000 to the concerned authority to issue his appointment letter which he had unauthorisedly held up. On enquiry it turns out that A was actually nowhere in the list and he paid a bribe to get his name fraudulently included. Taking advantage of this law now he wants his initial investment reimbursed.

In a variation on this theme, immediately on appointment he uses it as a weapon of blackmail to escape some disciplinary proceeding, enquiry, punishment etc. In another weirder scenario, a group of cadets decide to have fun with the concerned authority and collectively allege that they had paid harassment bribe to get in. The bribe giver we must remember is free from any liability and the police are duty bound to institute a cognizable case.

Scenario III: A the CEO of a telecom company decides to buy his way through spectrum bidding. He makes an irresistible offer of bribe to the competent authority thus making himself guilty of an offence under section 13 (1) d of the PC Act 1988 as it exists today. In the new regime he files a complaint pleading harassment bribe, making a fool proof case why he was compelled to do so. The chartered accountants, investment bankers etc can always make a case that such crippling financial commitments had been made in the firm belief that he will win the bid in a transparent bidding. But sensing that the decision may unfairly go against him he had been compelled to pay a heavy bribe. By merely registering the complaint he secures exoneration from any future enquiry under criminal misconduct. He gets to retain his illegally secured contract. At the same time he has made a strong claim for the recovery of initial investment that he made in the form of bribe to the concerned public servant. In the hands of a competent lawyer the most impregnable wall of distinction between harassment bribe and non-harassment bribe will collapse like a house of cards.

Even if he does not win the contract, he could use the complaint of harassment bribe to indemnify him for the lost opportunity and to punish the public servant for not having obliged him, because nowhere does Basu suggest that unhonoured commitments in a bribery deal shall not be treated as "harassment bribe."

Those of us who have any experience of dealing with corruption and vigilance complaints can vouch that the greatest drain on any such organisation is by way of the unconscionably large number of bogus, mischievous and motivated complaints which have to be dealt with nevertheless. In many organisations it is now mandatory for the complainant to file an affidavit and also give an undertaking that he would produce material evidence to prove his charges once the enquiry is afoot. But in practice in majority of cases all that the complainant is interested in is the initiation of the enquiry which discomfits the public servant. Such a measure will effectively bring to a halt not only commercial decision making, but decision-making of any kind where an accusation of bribery can be credibly raised. Those in the know will tell you that after the investigation in to animal husbandry scam, the public spending in Bihar plummeted because any one who had so much as put pen to paper in concerned files raised presumptions of bribe taking in the mind of investigator. Post scam except for the barest housekeeping expenses nothing much was spent and a large number of civil servants evaded taking any financial decision. How much more difficult the situation would be in the new regime where public servants can be exposed to the charge of bribe taking involving compulsory investigation and at no cost to the accuser.

Mr Kaushik Basu is doing a good job in his area of expertise. There is still a lot of scope for more good work and his being distracted to fields of drafting new laws will be a great loss to the common weal.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
We simply cannot wish away mafia. There are so many of them, active in areas which affect each one of us deeply. The resource mafia, illegally exploiting coal, timber and other forest produce wild life or, sand, depredate our environment. Or the development mafia bagging contracts for roads, bridges, railway lines and other projects takes away from us the fruits of planned growth. Or the land mafia, or the education mafia or the health mafia, the electricity mafia, or the co operative mafia. One could go on and on. And we live with them all the year round, relegating their activities to the basement of our brains.

As a token of our appreciation we sometimes elect the Mafiosi to the various legislative bodies, sometimes several times in succession. One wonders whether we could do without them.

A legion of decentralized dictatorships, these neighborhood mafias mediate a host of functions of the state. We do not find anything unnatural about it. Because we have come to accept the political culture wherein a politician is expected to provide avenues for his caste men and cronies for looting the resources of the state. At ground zero of politics there is a consensus that this is an absolutely democratic method of rewarding political support. We do not seem to protest.

They are not the antiheroic outlaws hounded by police, marked by the enemys bullet, as popularized by movies. The one surefire formula of political patronage earns our Mafia the homage of the law enforcement officials. Their control of the institutional environment allows them to enjoy the fruits of their crime and die in bed of old age. But some day things do slip and go out of hand.

Regrettable though it may be, sometimes it becomes necessary to remove a Yashwant Sonawane by the simple expedient of pouring some kerosene oil and igniting him. Or bludgeon the nosey activist Sister Valsa John for agitating against the peacefully profit making enterprise of illegal coal-mining in Jharkhand. Swami Nigmanand was similarly removed from the scene by a combination of intrigue and heartlessness. Shehla Masood the RTI activist, Arup Kalita the Assam environment activist, Satyendra Dubey the engineer in the Golden quadrangle project, Manju Nath the Indian Oil officer, Ajay Kumar Singh SP of Lohardagga, the divisional forest officer Sanjay Singh of Kaimur, journalist Dey to name a few, allegedly lost their lives because they refused to peacefully co-exist. Then the dirt comes to the surface.

These deeds "reveal" the perpetrators to us, and us to our own selves, compelling us to stage a mass ceremony of innocence, make a communitarian plea of alibi. That is why we are revolted by the bomb and gun variety because his deeds disturb the even tenor of life. If the outrage were in support of the cause championed by the martyred enforcement official, the community would regularly rally behind those many harassed and victimized officers and activists who are trying to rein in these self same elements. Towards them, while they are alive, their attitude is of the audience watching a daring stunt. Will they not carry it off? Before they fall victim to the assassins bullet they may have knocked at the door of their superiors, may have sought for the amplification of their voices in the media. But all in vain. Their deaths are like the deaths foretold.

Why are we reaping such a bountiful harvest of mafias? The answer must lead us to the nature of our politics which has now completely rid itself of its ideological baggage. Even the rhetorical tenors of its emancipatory pronouncements barely hide its annoyance at being forced to pay lip service to all those high ideals. In the absence of passion in the field of politics the pursuit of political power is less about mobilization and more about managerial enterprise. Governance is about providing the middle class the security to visit malls and cinemas and poor some doles  endlessly. The rest is easy. A deft coordination of interests, a hard bargaining skill for the spoils and a keen eye for keeping things at sub crisis level is all that it is about. In an environment where the political tenure is short and uncertain, brutish and nasty Mafia is the obvious mode of entrepreneurship. After all, has it not been said that Mafia is illegal capitalism, capitalism legal Mafia?

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.

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The acts of lawlessness by the miscreants in the funeral procession of late Brahmeshwar Mukhiyajee in Patna, last June, raised some issues which any detailed theory of police inaction needed to address: how does the concept of police function in our polity? What is the relation between the government and its police force? In a situation of conflict of interest between the people and the government where should the police position itself?

But Mr Abhayanand, DGP Bihar, who is one of the finest officers we have - articulate, innovative and clear headed - has come up with something which obliterates the difference between innovativeness and heresy and, therefore, it must be refuted.

His theory is rooted in the curtailment of the role of police merely to its detective functions of collecting evidence in the form of videographing the vandals and arsonists and prosecutes them later. (What if they are masked?) Do not people have a stake in public property? Would the citizens be put to notice that they should mind their own lives and property? Will police now abjure their preventive responsibility in law to interpose, in order to prevent the commission of a cognizable offence?

If there are groups within the state whose antics must be forced to suffer for fear of greater trouble - unacceptable political cost would be closer to truth - this is no cause for celebration either because theoretically the state is the sole repository of coercive violence within the territory. The power of deterrence belongs to the state; it is not for the state to feel deterred. Worse still, it is an open invitation for militarization of various groups in our fractious society. The non interventionist role of police may appear as a welcome innovation for people removed from the unique density of its context or ignorant of the massive scale of disturbances; it may perhaps enthuse human right groups or the intellectual outriders of the society for a while, but as a manifesto for future action, it will just not do.

Law and order is a tricky business and the best of us are sometimes tested and found wanting largely because of the ambivalence of the mandate of police. Law is codified, made formal in various acts-the IPC, CrPC, evidence, etc. But what is order? Is there a permanent, ordained, immutable order? A preferred order? An ideal state of order? The construction of the meaning of order is exclusively the area of police expertise.

The law obligates a police officer of appropriate rank present on the scene of trouble to do everything within his legal means to prevent trouble and disperse the mob. It is a responsibility, not a privilege and powers to discharge this responsibility inhere in him; he does not enjoy it during the pleasure of somebody. Now the DGP says it was on his orders that the police force did not react. That says it all. Law must take a bow before the dictates of order.

Ruling orders throughout the country approximate in their invocation of law and order as a pretext for using police for partisan, political ends. Allegedly, the police abdicated their responsibility in law in protecting the Sikhs against pogrom sanctioned by the ruling order in Delhi, in Godhra in Gujarat the Muslims were at the receiving end of police inaction, in the Marxist West Bengal there were credible allegations of police harassing or denying protection to those opposed to the ruling order, etc.

Law and order is Janus faced - the police can kill on law and order duty to suit the interest of the ascendant order just as in some other situation their passivity to people being killed, maimed or looted, serves the cause of the order. Their primary responsibility of maintaining law and order at any cost, if need be by bending, violating or abdicating their responsibility in law altogether, comes with an unstated guarantee of ex post facto sanction of their conduct. Whenever the powers given to them under law threaten to engulf the ruling order any excess or abdication of their responsibility is underwritten. Forbesganj and the handling of situation born out of Mukhiyajees murder are the two sides of the same coin.

I would have used this occasion to make the honest confession that policing is about keeping the governments and other powerful groups happy; people are incidental to policing.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, A nations greatness is measured by how it looks after its weakest members.

As the long-awaited Mental Healthcare Bill is debated in the Rajya Sabha, it is interesting to consider the state of care in Bihar. Bihar has seen great leaps forward in recent years towards helping those in need, with a growth strategy which prioritises development. However, mental healthcare is one area where perhaps progress is being made at a slower pace. But why should we focus on mental health? Widespread stigma around mental illness may lead many to wonder whether there is a need for mental health care in Bihar at all. The answer is unequivocally yes.

There is plenty of evidence to show that mental illness is common worldwide, and Bihar is no exception: as evidenced by the large numbers of people accessing existing services. But these services are limited. At present there is only one specialist hospital for mental health in the entire state, and amongst state health facilities only Medical College Hospitals provide mental healthcare. None of these hospitals provide any psychosocial therapies  increasingly seen as the gold standard elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, medications prescribed are often unavailable at Medical College Hospitals so patients are required to purchase them from private pharmacies. To understand why this is so problematic it is important to understand what is meant by mental illness.

Mental illnesses are wide-ranging: from those that are common such as depression, anxiety and addiction, to those that are more severe like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They are thought to be caused by a combination of biological, social and psychological factors, therefore anyone can be affected. However episodes of mental illness can often be transient, and with appropriate care those affected can live normal lives. But due to the combination of possible causes, social and psychological interventions can be just as important as medication.

Improvements in care are important because there is a vicious cycle between mental illness and poverty. Poverty is a significant social risk factor for mental illness, and those with mental illness are more likely to experience poverty due to problems such as unemployment. Many people with mental illness must travel extremely long distances every month, sometimes for many years, to access care. This is not only difficult due to the illness but also because of the cost. Understandably, it often leads to people stopping treatment early or not taking medications regularly.

A common misconception is that care is unaffordable; in a state like Bihar there are limited resources so basic needs must be prioritised. Actually, a new model of health care is being developed, specifically to address this problem. Non-specialists are trained to provide care within communities, and only those who do not respond to conventional treatments or have a severe illness are referred to a specialist. To those keen on implementing the Western model of specialised care, this may seem concerning. However there is a vast amount of research, including a number of studies in India, to show that this is effective. In fact, this model is likely to be outlined in the new District Mental Health Plan.

Furthermore, state provision of treatments may actually be cost-effective due to an increase in productivity of those receiving treatment. An NGO treatment programme for mental illness in Bihar demonstrated an improvement in employment status, reduced number of days out of employment due to illness, and reduced requirement of number of hours of care provided by a caregiver.

Internationally India is considered a pioneer among low and middle income countries in identifying the importance of mental health. With the Mental Healthcare Bill announcing governmental responsibility to provide care, perhaps it is time that Bihar incorporates treatment of mental illness into its development strategy. The launch of the new District Mental Health Plan provides an ideal opportunity. And with special status, central government sponsorship will be increased substantially. The fate of thousands suffering due to difficulties in accessing care may be about to change.

Prianka Padmanathan is a final year medical student from the United Kingdom who is doing a short student placement with BasicNeeds.
Several OTT services, like Zalo, Viber and Telegram, are displayed on a smartphone. Photo by VnExpress/Luu Quy

Over-the-top media services, including popular messaging apps like Telegram, need to be managed under the Law on Telecommunications, according to amendments to it proposed by the government.

The Ministry of Information and Communications said OTT services could be considered direct substitutes for traditional communications like calling and texting, and popular apps like Zalo, Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp come under this category.

"There are currently no provisions in the law for managing them, and so there is no way to protect users and information safety and security."

The ministry also called for a level playing field for domestic and foreign businesses. Specifically, for OTT telecom services that collect fees, domestic providers need to be approved to do so, while international providers need to have commercial agreements with an approved domestic provider to do so, it proposed.

Even for OTT telecom services that do not have fees, the ministry proposed that their providers still need to register with the information ministry. International, large-scale providers with service in Vietnam meanwhile must either have commercial agreements or place their representative offices in Vietnam to make sure they abide by local law.

At a conference held Thursday to discuss the amendments, Vu Tu Thanh of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council said OTT service providers have no connection with telecom providers.

"For instance requiring Viber to sign an agreement with VNPT ... We don't know exactly what terms such an agreement would have," Thanh said.

Officials proposing the amendments yet said managing OTT services will ensure users' protection and information security.
Vodafone Cash has highlighted its commitment to improving financial inclusion in the country at the Mobile Technology for Development Conference (MT4D, 2023), themed Driving Digital Financial Inclusion in the Real Economy.



Vodafone Cash sponsored the event held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra to foster collaboration among industry players and strengthen efforts toward financial inclusion in Ghana.



Judith Adumua-Bossman, Vodafone Cash Mobile Financial Services Manager, spoke at the event about Vodafone Cashs efforts to improve financial inclusion in Ghana.



Mobile money has gone beyond cash in and cash out, and we are looking for ways to develop innovative products for our customers, said Judith.



As an example, she highlighted Vodafone Cashs overdraft service, which allows customers to borrow to complete transactions, offering them more convenience when purchasing a bundle, paying bills, and sending money across all networks.



As a business, Vodafone Cash has also made significant contributions to the agribusiness sector in Ghana, according to Judith. She spoke about the companys partnership with Farmerline and Aquafresh, which provides farmers with the technical support they need to practise better farming.



Judith also noted that Vodafone Ghana, with the support of the government, has extended its coverage through its roaming and rural telephony projects.



We believe that financial inclusion is crucial to the development of the economy and the welfare of the people. It is not enough to have technology; we must evolve it, said Judith.



Vodafone Cash has been focused on helping liberalise mobile money to embrace all and sundry since its inception. To achieve this goal, Vodafone Cash has taken the lead in introducing new and pioneering initiatives and campaigns to promote financial services.



We are passionate about developing financial products and partnering with technology firms to improve financial inclusion in Ghana and improve the lives of individuals, concluded Judith.



The Mobile Technology for Development Conference provides a platform for industry players to discuss the latest developments in the mobile technology space and their potential for driving financial inclusion in Ghana.



Vodafone Cashs participation as a headline sponsor highlights its commitment to driving financial inclusion in Ghana through innovative financial products and services.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Ghanas Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (in charge of Crops), Mr. Yaw Addo Frimpong, has urged investors in the Thailand rice value chain to come and invest in Ghana.



He said such an investment will mutually benefit both Thailand and Ghana, adding that the former has the experience and the technology to support Ghana to become self-sufficient in rice production.



Mr. Addo Frimpong, who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) of Manso Adubia Constituency in the Ashanti Region, was speaking at the Thailand-Ghana Business Conference at the Grand Fortune Hotel, Bangkok Sunday, March 19, 2023.



The business conference, which brought together captains of Thailand rice industry and the Ghanaian delegation to Thailand, led by the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, was on the theme: Ghana-Thailand Business Forum; Partnership for Sustainable Rice Production in Ghana.



Members of the Ghana delegation included experts and researchers in various fields drawn from the University of Ghana, Legon, University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Center for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crop Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), the Ghana Rice Farmers Association, the Competitive African Rice Platform, traditional rulers, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and private entrepreneurs with the focus on rice, fertilizer, maize, cassava and poultry as well as executives of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).



According to the deputy Agric Minister, as a leader in rice production, Thailand can support Ghana in its efforts to close its rice consumption demand gap, and also produce in excess to export to countries within the West African sub-region.



Our [Ghanas] consumption demand for rice is between 1.2 million and 1.4 million metric tonnes of rice per annum and with this huge gap, the Ghana government together with the small scale rice farmers are only able to do 600,000 metric tonnes, he said.



He explained that the business forum was a continuation of the rice project that was started some five (5) months ago.



This process, he said, was initiated through the instrumentality of the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Dr. Siaw Agyepong.



Following the huge gap in the demand for the consumption of rice in Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and all in the the private sector to go at any length to ensure self-sufficiency of rice in the country, he said.



Mr. Addo Frimpong, therefore, commended the initiative by the private sector being spearheaded by the JGC to go into large scale rice production in Ghana, adding that the government of Ghana has given its full support to the project.



He went on to stress that this project will help fill the rice consumption gap in Ghana.



He was also particularly excited at the level of enthusiasm shown in the Ghana-Thailand rice project by stakeholders in Thailand.



Apart from that, the interest that has been shown by all stakeholders in the rice industry in Thailand is quite remarkable, he said.





The Chief Executive Officer of the Asian African Consortium (AAC), Mrs. Adelaide Araba Agyepong, who is the wife of Dr. Siaw Agyepong, stressed the need for an all hands on deck approach to make the Presidents vision of boosting rice production in Ghana a reality.



Evidence shows that the vision of ending rice importation in Ghana goes beyond Jospong Group of Companies, she noted.



She indicated that from the inception of the project (last year-2022) till now, a lot of efforts have been put in by her outfit towards actualising the rice project.



Key among the activities accomplished include the following: the setting up of the Asian African Consortium, as a company to drive the rice project; the engagement of high government officials including the President of the Republic of Ghana; meeting key sector ministers; key rice sector players and many others, she pointed out.



Mrs. Siaw Agyepong underscored that the forging of strategic partnerships was fundamental to the success of the project.



In this regard, she announced that a fully-furnished National Rice Office for the project has been set up in Accra.



Three zonal offices in Koforidua, Kumasi and Tamale for the southern, middle and northern belts respectively will also be ready soon for the project. Adequate and suitable lands have been acquired across the country and ready for cultivation, she further revealed.



She was upbeat that the visit to Thailand will help concretise and firm up the plans for implementation as soon as we get back to Ghana.



In a brief remark, the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Dr. Siaw Agyepong, added his voice to the call by the deputy minister of food and agriculture to captains in the Thailand rice sector to come and invest in Ghana.



He stressed that Ghana was a peaceful and safe haven to do business, assuring them that their investments will be protected.



I am inviting you to a prosperous country; a peaceful country; a leader in the West African Sub-region, and; a leader in the whole of Africa, especially in the area of peace and stability, he assured.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, Kofi Adams has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of appointing New Patriotic Party (NPP) member as an Electoral Commissioner.



He claims that Dr Peter Appiahene, one of the recently appointed members of the EC, is a known NPP activist who is a member of the communications team of the party in the Bono Region, according to a 3newsonline report.



Dr Peter Appiahene is known NPP activist in the Bono Region, he is a member of the NPP communications team in the Bono regionclearly, there is everything wrong with the persons the president has appointed. The President has appointed known activists of the NPP.



President Akufo-Addo has been appointing persons known to be NPP activists, we saw the Bossman Asares and the Jean Mensas, he said.



Speaking in an interview with TV3 on March 22, 2023, he further criticized the Council of State members for also giving the president the go-ahead for the said appointment.



The Council of State who are supposed to be advising the president gave the go-ahead to make such an appointment. I am not just disappointed in the president but also the Council of State, they gave the go-ahead.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission (EC).



The three are Dr. Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani, and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng.



They took office at a short Jubilee House ceremony on Monday, March 20, 2023.



The appointments have, however, seen some criticisms by some factions in the public with members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing President Akufo-Addo of packing the commission with members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



Akufo-Addo appoints NPP man, two others as EC commissioners



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday (March 20) swore in three new Electoral Commissioners at the Jubilee House in a brief ceremony.



The three were: Dr. Peter Appiahene, Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng.



Out of the three, the appointment of Dr. Appiahene in particular has drawn a lot of political controversy.



This is because of his known role as a patron of the New Patriotic Partys tertiary institutions wing, TESCON, specifically the University of Energy and Natural Resources branch.



Some Civil Society Organizations including the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, have expressed misgivings over the appointment of Dr. Appiahene calling on the president to withdraw his appointment.



In his comments on the appointment, Bright Simons of Imani Ghana tweeted: "Seeing how Ghana's Electoral Commission is always on the defensive about being totally independent & professional, I expect the top bosses to inform the Prez that they'd rather resign than work with partisan activists as that'll sully the EC's reputation!"







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Zambias main opposition party, Patriotic Front (PF), has expressed concern that the US is "pushing homosexuality agenda" in the southern African country.



PF leader Given Lubinda on Wednesday cited an executive order and a presidential memorandum issued by US President Joe Biden on advancing equality for LGBT people.



"As Patriotic Front, we beseech Zambians not to allow the US to impose its values in Zambia. We must defend ourselves," Mr Lubinda said.



"Since both bilateral relations and foreign assistance of the US are tied to LGBTQ rights, Zambia might have to review its relationship with the US," he added.



He urged Zambians not to "abandon our norms, national values, religious and cultural standing to please the Americans".



The party's remarks come days ahead of the planned visit by US Vice-President Kamala Harris to the country next week.



On 14 March, President Hakainde Hichilema pledged to uphold Zambias laws that criminalise homosexuality and termed as falsehoods claims that his government supported gay rights.



During her nine-day tour of Africa that starts on 26 March, Ms Harris is also expected to visit Ghana and Tanzania, where same-sex relations are illegal.



In Uganda, lawmakers on Tuesday approved an anti-gay bill which imposes harsh penalties for anyone who engages in same-sex activity.

Source: BBC









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On Sunday, March 26, 2023, the flagbearer aspirant for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, is scheduled to visit the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region.



The visit is part of the former Presidents campaign to be re-elected as the NDCs presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.



A release from the Jomoro Constituency Organizer, Boadi Benedict said comrades, due to some pressing issues at the office of our former president H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the scheduled program for Friday 24th March has been pushed to Sunday 26th March.



He said, a new time will be communicated by Friday.



I encourage all branch executives/ ward coordinators to send these messages to party members by the local announcement and keep on organizing for Sunday and make Sunday program a mega one.



The Jomoro Constituency is being occupied by Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffey of the opposition NDC who is also seeking re-election.

She is being contested by three other members of the party.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Ugandan government has responded to the threat of possible economic sanctions by the United States government over a recently passed bill against same-sex relations and the LGBTQ+ community.



The response posted on social media platform, Twitter, comprised quotes by president Yoweri Museveni stating the country's strict opposition to same-sex relations.



The government's official Twitter handle posted a quote from Museveni's recent response on the issue when he appeared before Parliament to deliver an address.



"The western countries should stop wasting the time of humanity by trying to impose their practices on other peoples. Europeans and other groups marry cousins and near relatives.



"Here, to marry within the clan, is taboo (Omuziro). Should we impose sanctions on them for marrying relatives?" a follow-up tweet read.



In another response, the handle specifically quoted a tweet by Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State with a quotation by Museveni in a 2014 interview with CNN.



The quote read: "If the West doesnt want to work with us because of homosexuals, then we have enough space here to live by ourselves and do business with other people. (CNN, 2014).



White House warns of potential 'repercussions' if LGBTQ law takes effect



The United States on Wednesday, March 22, warned of sanctions if Uganda's anti-Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer legislation is signed into law.



We would have a look at whether or not there might be repercussions that we would have to take, perhaps in an economic way, should this law actually get passed, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a media briefing at the White House.



Lawmakers in the East African country had by a majority voted to pass the legislation a day earlier to much uproar by activists and rights groups.



Elements of the bill include:



- A person who is convicted of grooming or trafficking children to engage them in homosexual activities faces life in prison.



- Individuals and institutions which support or fund LGBT rights activities also face prosecution.



Local news channels also reported a proposed 20-year jail term for any entity that funds or promotes any form of homosexuality.



Uganda is a deeply traditional and religiously conservative country. The president is known to have harsh words for homosexuals and LGBTQ persons have routinely been raided.



The final leg of making the bill into law is the signature of president Yoweri Museveni.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Tourist has lucky escape in Thailand as bungee rope snaps

A video clip showing a Hong Kong tourist plunge into a lake in Pattaya, Thailand, after his bungee cord snapped has gone viral on social media this week.

The tourist, identified only as Mike, went bungee jumping at the Changthai Thappraya Safari and Adventure Park.

He jumped off a 10-story-high podium, and the video shows him falling into the lake after the rope snapped while he was a few meters above the water.

He blacked out briefly before regaining consciousness and swimming out of the water with the help of park employees.

He was rushed to a local hospital.

Mike told CNN: "It was really high and so I closed my eyes. I planned to open my eyes again when I bounced back up. I realized the cord had snapped when I opened my eyes and I was surrounded by water."

Mike said he also had a lung infection and was hospitalized for three days after returning to Hong Kong.

His medical bills of around HK$50,000 ($6,369) were covered by travel insurance.

He said the park offered him only HK$2,300, HK$1,800 for medical fees and a HK$500 refund of the jump fee.

He has written a complaint to the park and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Located in the northwest of Pattaya, the amusement park offers various activities like ziplines to live-round shooting.
Former Deputy Finance Minister and current Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Kweku Ricketts Hagan, appears to be on his way out as the majority of National Democratic Congress delegates have vowed to vote against him in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.



They accuse the MP of neglecting them after several promises he made to them, which still need to be fulfilled.



The delegates claim the MP has failed to secure employment for most of the youth in the constituency as other MPs have done in their areas and further accuse him of failing to visit the constituency regularly but only showing up during the campaign period.



We want a candidate who lives with us in the Constituency who we can easily reach when we need him and wont turn his back to us when we are in need of something.



They said the only candidate they want to lead the NDC in the Cape Coast South Constituency is Thomas Hughes Amissah, whom they regard as a good man who has done a lot for constituents even though hes not yet an MP.



They believe Thomas Hughes Amissah, who failed in his three attempts to be the parliamentary candidate, is the best candidate who will pull massive votes for ex-President John Mahama, who is most likely to be the flagbearer of the NDC in the 2024 election.



This time around, votes garnered by the NDC Presidential Candidate wont reduce as we saw in the previous elections with Ricketts Hagan as the MP. We believe in Thomas Hughes Amissah to shore up John Dramani Mahamas votes Cape Coast South Constituency, the delegates said.



The excited delegates were speaking on the sidelines of the filing of nomination forms by Thomas Hughes Amissah at the partys constituency office on Wednesday, March 2022.



In an interview with Kasapa News, Yaw Boagyan, Thomas Hughes Amissah called on all the delegates in Cape Coast South Constituency to have faith in him and vote massively for him come to the primaries to enable him to lead the NDC to victory in the 2024 election.



According to him, he remains committed to finding lasting jobs for the teeming unemployed youth of Cape Coast South Constituency, which hes already doing.



He said he was overwhelmed by the massive support from the delegates and assured them he would never fail them.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Oduro Takyi, has lambasted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for what he describes as a breach of academic and intellectual integrity.



According to Bernard Oduro Takyi, in most of president public speeches, he presented the works and ideas of others as his own without properly acknowledging them.



Speaking in an interview on Onua FM, March 20, 2023; Bernard Oduro Takyi said President Akufo-Addo should have resigned after plagiarising his inaugural speech on January 7, 2017.



Dont forget his first inaugural speech, 7 January 2017, he plagiarized, and if is any country that believes in democracy, he should have resigned.



So, the very day the president plagiarized his speech, a lot of speech analyzers said that he was bound to fail because, you see, words are not expensive to get, so if you cant craft your own words but peoples ideas that you will steal without acknowledging them, then it means you can steal the countrys money.



If combining words becomes difficult for you, then how can you manage the economy?" he asked.



Ghanaians didnt even realize because on his first day in office, he stole something so, there was no evidence that he will take Ghana anywhere," he stressed.



Oduro Takyi used American president Joe Biden's case as an example, saying that when he was campaigning to be the Democratic Party's flagbearer in the 1980s, he was cited for plagiarism and dropped out of the race until Obama made him his running mate two decades later.



In 1985, Joe Biden who is now the American president plagiarized just a sentence  he was supposed to be president at that time but that delayed him until recently.



So, if Ghana is a country that believes in democracy, on 7 January 2017 when the president plagiarized, he should have stepped down straight, he added.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Actor Artus Frank has cautioned Nigerians who are in the habit of age-shaming his wife.



In a post shared on his IG page last night, Frank stated that he did not marry age and that he married a woman in whom he is well pleased with. Asking people to take his wife's name out of their mouths, Frank wrote



Leave my wife's name out of your mouths!



I did not marry AGE!



I married a WOMAN in whom iam well pleased with. #20yearsIsNot20days;;

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gregory Artus Frank Sr. (@iamartusfrank)









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Online pet supply retailer Chewy has informed the state of its fulfillment center closing in Silver Spring Township near Mechanicsburg.

The retailer filed a WARN notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry this week informing the state that it will close the facility at 40 Dauphin Drive, and that the closing will impact 522 people.

A Chewy spokesperson confirmed the closing to PennLive on Thursday and stressed that the company isnt decreasing its workforce but is relocating its operation in Silver Spring Township.

Given the success of our automation initiatives, and the productivity benefits, we have made the decision to close one of our oldest fulfillment centers located in Mechanicsburg, Diane Pelkey, vice president of communications and PR at Chewy said in a statement.

The company said that it is moving the operations from its Silver Spring Township location to Chewys newer facility at 100 Goodman Drive in Fairview Township, York County near Lewisberry and that employees will be able to transfer to that location.

All of the 522 employees currently working at the Mechanicsburg location have been or will be offered the opportunity to transfer to the Lewisberry location, the company said in the WARN notice.

The facilities are about 25 minutes away from each other. The companys 732,000-square-foot facility in Fairview Township opened in 2021.

Employees who do not accept the transfer offer will be separated from the company on various dates beginning June 3.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated March 22.

Chewy opened the distribution center in Silver Spring Township at the former Hershey Chocolate distribution center on Dauphin Drive back in 2014. A 176,000-square-foot addition was added to the facility in 2015 to bring it to 602,000 square feet.

Over the years, that warehouse has relied on the Harrisburg area for filling positions so much that it subsidized a Capital Area Transit bus route from Harrisburg and even opened a recruiting office in Swatara Township.

The online retailer sells food, supplies, and medications for pets. The company was launched in 2011 and says it sells more than 110,000 products.

Chewy is based in Florida. In Pennsylvania, the company has fulfillment centers in the Lewisberry, Mechanicsburg, Jessup, and Wilkes-Barre areas.

The company announced its financial results this week with net sales of $10.1 billion, an increase of 13.6 percent year over year, and said it plans to expand internationally.
Police in Philadelphia are investigating after a 6-year-old boy was found naked in a locked dog cage in a home in the city on Thursday, according to reports from NBC10 and 6ABC.

Hector Perez, a neighbor, told the news outlets he called the police after seeing two young girls standing in the rain partially clothed in the backyard of a house along the 4200 block of Glenview Street at about 1 p.m.

They have Pampers on. They have no shirts, no pants, they have no shoes. Theyre screaming, its raining, its cold. Theyre screaming for their mother and father, Perez said to 6ABC.

When police arrived at the house they said they discovered the boy locked in the cage.

When officers arrived on the block they saw two girls, ages four and five, that were partially dressed outside in the rain. The officers were able to pick them up and gain entry inside the property. Once they got in there they came upon a 6-year-old that was locked inside of a dog cage, Sgt. Eric Gripp told 6ABC.

An elderly woman in a wheelchair was also inside the home as well as a 40-year-old man. The woman was taken away in an ambulance around 6 p.m.

Police also spoke to a woman who they said was the mother of at least one of the children. She was taken in for questioning but has not been charged with anything.

None of the children appeared to be physically harmed, NBC10 reported, but were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated. Two other children live at the home but were at school when the police arrived.

Both the boy and the 40-year-old man, believed to be an uncle, have developmental disabilities, 6ABC said, citing sources.

We dont know entirely everything thats going on here, Gripp said to NBC10. We have a long investigation ahead of us. But obviously we dont live in a world where under any situation whatsoever we should have a child inside of a cage or young children outside standing in the rain.

READ MORE: Woman shot in face in front of Pa. police: reports
An Ohio man was arrested in western Pa. on Thursday after police say he stole a car with two children inside, according to reports from WPXI and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

At about 5:15 p.m. an Amber Alert was released from Zanesville, Ohio, for a gold Chevrolet Suburban with two boys in the back seat, Pennsylvania State Police said.

A woman who had been caring for the children said that she left them in the unlocked car while she ran into a building for about 10 minutes, WXPI reported. When she came out, both the car and the children were gone.

About three hours later, someone spotted the car in Canton Township, Washington County, and alerted police.

Police were able to locate and stop the car and arrested Thomas Edward Pritchard Jr., 46, of Zanesville. The two boys were uninjured and reunited with their family.

Pritchard is facing multiple charges including receiving stolen property, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence, according to reports. He is currently being held in Washington County Prison.

READ MORE: Naked 6-year-old found in locked dog cage in Pa. home: reports
WILLIAMSPORT  Tyree Rasheen Cleveland will spend the rest of his life in prison and wants to be sent there as soon as possible.

I take responsibility for everything, he said Thursday in Lycoming County court when he pleaded guilty to charges of homicide, attempted homicide, robbery and illegal possession of two firearms ion three cases.

Judge Nancy L. Butts accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Cleveland, who has lived in Williamsport and Reading, to life without parole in the homicide and a consecutive 20-to-40-year term in the other cases.
The city of Easton unanimously passed a new law on Wednesday that will ban the declawing of cats, making it the second city in the Lehigh Valley to approve the animal protection measure.

The Allentown City Council on Nov. 16 unanimously passed a similar prohibition, proposed by Mayor Matt Tuerks office. Tuerk signed the bill into law Nov. 18, and it took effect 10 days later.

Easton Councilwoman Taiba Sultana introduced the measure, which is modeled after Allentowns law. Sultana called the ordinance a proactive measure meant to curb declawing as more residents migrate to the city and look to buy pets.

Although we dont have any pet stores in the City of Easton, downtown has been populated with new residents who tend to buy pets, I believe it makes sense to take proactive measures to address a terrible problem, Sultana said.

Declawing requires the amputation of the last bone of each of a cats toes and is similar to amputating a humans fingers up to the knuckle, proponents of the new law said.

The new ordinance also includes a ban on puppy mills, which create life-threatening conditions for pets and burden pet owners, Sultana said.

Easton is in a unique position to set the tone of compassion for cats in the state of Pennsylvania, Stephanie Gallagher, a Forks Township resident, said. Claws are intrinsic to being a cat.

Gallagher said she intends to also push for the new ordinance in nearby municipalities like Palmer Township and Bethlehem Township.

Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter.

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Several Ohio police officers have sued rapper and political activist Afroman, claiming he used footage from a raid on his home in his music videos, according to reports.

A detective, two sergeants and four deputies filed the lawsuit earlier in March, accusing the rapper (whose real name is Joseph Foreman) of invasion of privacy. According to CBS News, the other officers involved in the raid were not named in the lawsuit.

The officers claimed Afroman took the footage from the August 2022 raid and used their faces in both his music videos and social media content. They claim it has resulted in emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation.

While the officers are asking for the profits made from Afromans recent art, the rap artist posted on Instagram that he plans to countersue them on Wednesday. He wrote:

Essentially a racist judge signed a fictitious false warrant, lying on the warrant, accusing me of kidnapping and drug trafficking. The warrant put the Adams county sheriff in a position to attempt to kill me. After the Adams County Sheriff. Burglarized vandalized and destroyed my property. They became thieves and stole my money. After they stole my money they became criminals. After they became criminals they lost their right of privacy. My house is my property, my video camera films, everything on my property as they begin, stealing my money,disconnecting plus destroying my video camera system, they became my property ! Criminals caught in the act, of vandalizing and stealing money. My video footage is my property. I used it to identify the criminals who broke into my house,and stole my money. I used it to identify criminals, who broke into my house, stole my money and disconnected my home security system. I use my footage of my property to raise money to pay for the damages they done and to identify the criminals operating inside of the sheriff department that stole my money Ramsack my house and disconnected my video cameras. Not knowing who the criminals were operating in the Adams County sheriffs department I gave them humorous nicknames. I am a law-abiding taxpaying citizens who was violated by criminals camouflaged by law-enforcement! I use my property,/my video footage to make up for damages and to make the public aware of criminals disguised as law-enforcement Stealing money and disconnecting cameras. And now a statement from my attorney Anna Castellini. We are waiting for public records requests from Adams county we still have not received.We are planning to counter sue for the unlawful raid, money being stolen, and for the undeniable damage this had on my clients family, career and property.

Authorities said they had the warrant to raid Afromans home  claiming there was probable cause that drugs and drug paraphernalia were on his property. Law enforcement also claimed there was reason to believe trafficking and kidnapping had taken place at Afromans home.

According to The Washington Post, the rapper wasnt home when the raid occurred. Though he doesnt plan to let up. While he rapped about the incident on his last album Lemon Pound Cake, he plans to also call out the officers individually on his next upcoming project.

I feel I have every right to do what Im doing, Afroman said. And I think I took the most smartest, positive route. I didnt go flip them off in the middle of the street and throw trash cans through their sheriffs department door. I licked my wounds. I made songs. I did the best I could do.

Read more via CBS News and The Washington Post.

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Good news for those who are pregnant in certain areas of Philadelphia.

The city of Philadelphia announced a new program distributing $1,000 a month to pregnant women in an effort to combat infant mortality rates, according to reports from The Philadelphia Tribune and Yahoo.

According to a press release from The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the experimental pilot program called the Philly Joy Bank, aims to improve infant and maternal health outcomes while fighting against racial disparities in the mortality rates by providing a monthly guaranteed income to 250 pregnant women who live in certain Philadelphia communities. The overall goal is to help alleviate financial stressors and support everyday needs, per reports.

With this in mind, program leaders are hoping this move will ultimately reduce health disparities in Philadelphia where Black babies are said to be nearly three times more likely to die in the first year of life than their white counterparts, according to The Philadelphia Tribune.

That is a problem thats going to take a combination of science and community investment to change, Philadelphia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said in a statement Monday.

To be eligible for this opportunity, residents must be pregnant, have a household income of less than $100,000 per year, and live in one of the three Philly neighborhoods with the highest rates of very low birth weight: Cobbs Creek, Strawberry Mansion, and Nicetown-Tioga.

The Philadelphia pilot program will offer residents $1,000 a month during six months of pregnancy and then for a year after childbirth, for a total of 18 months. No-strings-attached.

Additionally, the women involved in the program will also have access to voluntary support including benefits and financial counseling, home visiting, lactation support, and doulas, according to Yahoo.

Infant mortality in Philadelphia is a solvable crisis, said Bettigole. We know that being able to better support pregnant people and new parents helps keep babies alive. As the poorest big city in the country, this is not always easy, especially in areas of the city that are being crushed by generational poverty and systemic racism.

Read More:
Dozens of passengers on a Cebu Pacific Air plane forced to make an emergency landing in Malaysia's Sabah have chosen to make their own way back to Singapore, instead of waiting for a replacement flight.

The Cebu Pacific Air A320 Airbus had to make an emergency landing at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), Malaysia after a suspected problem to the aircrafts engine late Wednesday.

It is believed the plane carrying 92 people comprising crew members and passengers, which took off from Cebu in the Philippines at 7:55 p.m., had encountered problems with its left engine during the flight. The pilot then proceeded for an emergency landing at 10:22 p.m., The Star reported.

The travelers from Cebu, a mix of Filipinos and Singaporeans, had been put up in a hotel in Kota Kinabalu by the Philippine airline.

But despite on-site assistance from airline staff, passengers who spoke to The Straits Times said they decided not to wait another night to complete what was meant to be a routine four-hour journey to Singapore.

Many had already left Malaysia at their own expense after spending a night in Kota Kinabalu to catch up on lost time in Singapore.
By JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed Friday to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions. The major diplomatic breakthrough negotiated with China lowers the chance of armed conflict between the Mideast rivals  both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.

The deal, struck in Beijing this week amid its ceremonial National Peoples Congress, represents a major diplomatic victory for the Chinese as Gulf Arab states perceive the United States slowly withdrawing from the wider Middle East. It also comes as diplomats have been trying to end a long war in Yemen, a conflict in which both Iran and Saudi Arabia are deeply entrenched.

The two countries released a joint communique on the deal with China, which brokered the agreement as President Xi Jinping was awarded a third five-year term as leader earlier Friday

Iranian state media posted images and video it described as being taken in China. It showed Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, with Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban and Wang Yi, Chinas most senior diplomat.

After implementing of the decision, the foreign ministers of the both nations will meet to prepare for exchange of ambassadors, Iranian state television said. It added that the talks had been held over four days.

The joint statement calls for the reestablishing of ties and the reopening of embassies to happen within a maximum period of two months.

In the video broadcast by Iranian media, Wang could be heard offering wholehearted congratulations on the two countries wisdom.

Both sides have displayed sincerity, he said. China fully supports this agreement.

China, which last month hosted Irans hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, is also a top purchaser of Saudi oil. Xi visited Riyadh in December for meetings with oil-rich Gulf Arab nations crucial to Chinas energy supplies.

Irans state-run IRNA news agency quoted Shamkhani as calling the talks clear, transparent, comprehensive and constructive.

Removing misunderstandings and the future-oriented views in relations between Tehran and Riyadh will definitely lead to improving regional stability and security, as well as increasing cooperation among Persian Gulf nations and the world of Islam for managing current challenges, Shamkhani was quoted as saying.

Shortly after the Iranian announcement, Saudi state media began publishing the same statement.

Tensions have been high between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The kingdom broke off ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts there. Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric days earlier, triggering the demonstrations.

The execution came as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, then a deputy, began his rise to power. The son of King Salman, Prince Mohammed at one point compared Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler, and also threatened to strike Iran.

In the years since, tensions have risen dramatically across the Middle East since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from Irans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks in the time since, including one targeting the heart of Saudi Arabias oil industry in 2019, temporarily halving the kingdoms crude production.

Though Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels initially claimed the attack, Western nations and experts have blamed it on Tehran. Iran long has denied launching the attack. It has also denied carrying out other assaults later attributed to the Islamic Republic.

Beyond the regional politics, religion also plays a key role. Saudi Arabia, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward five times a day, has long portrayed itself as the worlds leading Sunni nation. Irans theocracy meanwhile views itself as the protector of the Islams Shiite minority.

The two powerhouses also have competing interests elsewhere, such as in the turmoil now tearing at Lebanon and in the rebuilding of Iraq after decades of war following the U.S.-led 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Kristian Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute who long has studied the region, said Saudi Arabia reaching the deal with Iran came after the United Arab Emirates reached a similar understanding with Tehran.

This dialing down of tensions and de-escalation has been underway for three years and this was triggered by Saudi acknowledgement in their view that without unconditional U.S. backing they were unable to project power vis-a-vis Iran and the rest of the region, he said.

Prince Mohammed, now focused on massive construction projects in his own country, likely wants to finally pull out of the Yemen war as well, Ulrichsen added.

Instability could do a lot of damage to his plans, he said.

The Houthis seized Yemens capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and forced the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition armed with U.S. weaponry and intelligence entered the war on the side of Yemens exiled government in March 2015. Years of inconclusive fighting created a humanitarian disaster and pushed the Arab worlds poorest nation to the brink of famine.

A six-month cease-fire in Yemens war, the longest of the conflict, expired in October despite diplomatic efforts to renew it. That led to fears the war could again escalate. More than 150,000 people have been killed in Yemen during the fighting, including over 14,500 civilians.

In recent months, negotiations have been ongoing, including in Oman, a longtime interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. Some have hoped for an agreement ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which will begin later in March. Iran and Saudi Arabia have held off-and-on talks in recent years, but it wasnt immediately clear if Yemen was the impetus for this new detente.

Previous rounds of talks between Saudi and Iranian officials had been brokered by Baghdad and held in Iraq, but stalled last year. Iraqs new government is perceived as closely linked to Iran, although Iraq has attempted to maintain relations with both sides.

In a statement following Fridays announcement, the Iraqi foreign ministry welcomed the deal and said previous mediation by Iraq had established a solid base for the later talks and agreement in China, which gave a qualitative impetus to cooperation for the countries of the region.

The U.S. Navy and its allies have seized a number of weapons shipments recently they describe as coming from Iran heading to Yemen. Iran denies arming the Houthis, despite weapons seized mirroring others seen on the battlefield in the rebels hands. A United Nations arms embargo bars nations from sending weapons to the Houthis.

A Yemeni rebel spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, appeared to welcome Fridays deal in a statement that also slammed the U.S. and Israel. The region needs the return of normal relations between its countries, through which the Islamic society can regain its lost security as a result of the foreign interventions, led by the Zionists and Americans, he wrote online.

It remains unclear, however, what this means for America. Though long viewed as guaranteeing Mideast energy security, regional leaders have grown increasingly wary of Washingtons intentions after its chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the announced deal.

___

Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Jack Jeffery in Cairo, and Bassem Mroue and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed.
A pilot from another airline helped land a Southwest plane after the captain became ill and required medical assistance, according to radio data.

Southwest Flight 6013 took off around 6:30 a.m. from Las Vegas and was Columbus, Ohio bound.

Someone confirmed via LiveATC the captain started to feel stomach pain and fainted or became incapacitated, NBC News reported.

While the captain was receiving medical attention, another pilot from a different airline was on board and assisted with radio communication after entering the flight deck, according to the news outlet.

We greatly appreciate their support and assistance, the spokesperson said about the pilot who helped out.

The flight returned to Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport around 7:50 a.m., according to FlightAware.

We commend the crew for their professionalism and appreciate our customers patience and understanding regarding the situation, the spokesperson said.

Read more via NBC News.

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BEIRUT (AP)  A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying they killed at least four people.

The attack and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people. Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militiamen posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal. It said the strikes also wounded people, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour. The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said U.S. bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said.

The AP could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Kurilla also alleged that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on U.S. positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes. Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

U.S. forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The U.S. still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened. There are roughly 900 U.S. troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis. Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.
By KANIS LEUNG, The Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong firefighters were battling a warehouse fire that forced 3,400 people to evacuate, including students, on Friday, police said.

Thick smoke was seen pouring out from the building where the fire broke out around 2 p.m. at the warehouse on Fat Tseung Street in Cheung Sha Wan, a residential and industrial area in Kowloon, the government said.

Firefighters battle a fire in Cheung Sha Wan, a residential and industrial area, in Hong Kong, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)AP

Police officers patrol as a warehouse burns in Cheung Sha Wan in Hong Kong, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)AP

Firefighters battle a fire in Cheung Sha Wan, a residential and industrial area, in Hong Kong, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)AP

Two people who worked near the site felt sick after inhaling thick smoke, and people from four schools and one residential building nearby had to be evacuated, police said.

Firefighters battle a fire in Cheung Sha Wan, a residential and industrial area, in Hong Kong, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)AP

There is a chance that the number of people involved in the evacuation will rise further, police said. The cause of the fire was unclear.

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One of five women who overdosed on suspected fentanyl in a Bergen County, N.J., mall last week has died, according to her family and friends.

Michelle Kerry Edoo, 29, of Bergenfield, was among the five coworkers found unconscious at Shops at Riverside mall in Hackensack on March 15. The women were found in the lower level parking garage, police said.

The women were revived using Narcan and CPR, and four of the five were taken to a hospital for treatment, according to a statement from the Hackensack Police Department. The fifth woman refused transport.

The Bergen County prosecutors office has scheduled a Friday afternoon press conference to announce an investigation into an overdose death in Hackensack as well as the recent surge in fentanyl-related overdoses in Bergen County.

Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, has surged in overdose cases nationally and surpassed heroin as the leading cause of overdose deaths in New Jersey in 2018, according to state Office of the Medical Examiner data.

In 2019, the most recent year with confirmed overdose death information, New Jersey had 2,248 deaths attributed to fentanyl. Essex County had the most fentanyl deaths that year with 320, followed by Camden (285), Middlesex (168) and Ocean (143) counties.

Edoo, the mother of a 9-year-old girl, died three days after she was found, according to a GoFundMe page in her name. A full-time employee at the malls Cheesecake Factory, Edoo was also enrolled in nursing school and passed an exam within the past two weeks, the GoFundMe says.

She was the one always ready to dance to some music and have fun, the GoFundMe says. Most of all, she was always there for you. We are so thankful to have known her and thankful to have been a part of her life.

Money from the fundraiser, which had raised about $5,500 as of Friday morning, will go to help Edoos daughter and family.

A memorial service is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in New Milford, according to her obituary.

ABC7ny.com reported the coworkers were between the ages of 29 to 41. Officials told the news station the women thought they were ingesting cocaine and did not know the drug was laced with fentanyl.
By Dan Belson, Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun (TNS)

Maryland State Police identified the six highway contractors who were killed Wednesday when two cars collided on Interstate 695 in Woodlawn, causing one vehicle to flip into a construction area.

The construction workers were identified as Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel; Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, of Frederick; Jose Armando Escobar, 52, of Frederick; Mahlon Simmons III, 31, and his father, Mahlon Simmons II, 52, both of Union Bridge; and Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46, of Glen Burnie.

Footage from a state transportation camera shows the crash on the west side of the Baltimore Beltway. The video, obtained by media outlets following the collision, shows a gray Acura attempting to merge into the beltways leftmost lane and striking a white Volkswagen, causing the Acura to lose control and enter the work zone through a small gap in the jersey barriers.

Multiple people were killed in a crash on the Baltimore Beltway. (Jerry Jackson, Baltimore Sun, TNS, file)TNS

The six highway workers were in a construction zone on I-695, north of the beltway exits onto I-70 and Security Boulevard and south of Liberty Road, at about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday when they were struck by the Acura, which was operated by Lisa Adrienne Lea, 54, of Randallstown. Police said she was trying to merge into the leftmost lane when she struck the Volkswagen, which was operated by Melachi Brown, 20, of Windsor Mill.

Lea is still receiving treatment at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, police said. Brown stopped his vehicle north of the crash and was uninjured.

The six workers were declared dead at the scene.

These are just people who are trying to earn a living and they end up dying because of it, said Brad Sant, the senior vice president of safety and education of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, calling the loss of six roadway workers profound.

Emergency personnel work at the scene of fatal crash along Interstate 695 near Woodlawn, Md., Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun via AP)AP

In a statement, he said the crash underscores the vulnerability of construction workers in highway work zones.

It also serves as a stark reminder for all transportation system users of the critical need for increased attention to the unique safety hazards associated with these sites, he said.

The State Highway Administration confirmed that the contractors were working on a project to address congestion along I-695 from I-70 to Maryland 43 in White Marsh by converting portions of the existing median shoulder into a travel lane during the morning and evening rush hours.

George Durm, who identified himself as Sybil Dimaggios husband, declined to say much Thursday afternoon; however, he did say: The thing I cant get over is she was terrified of that job site.

Gerald Ullman, a senior research engineer at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute who has seen the footage, said Wednesdays deadly crash could be considered one in a million  or even one in a billion.

The footage shows the two cars collided and veered toward the work zone precisely where there was a gap in temporary jersey barriers, presumably to allow for construction vehicles to enter and exit the zone, Ullman said.

The odds of something  somebody whos lost control  getting right into that small area is, you know, very, very unlikely, Ullman said.

Ullman said that a barrier truck appeared to be positioned upstream  in terms of traffic flow  from the construction workers to protect them, but it seems to have been moved aside to allow a gap for entry.

When deployed, truck-mounted attenuators  as theyre known by transportation experts  serve as a crash cushion, aiming to absorb any impact and prevent cars from entering a work zone.

When it gets hit by a vehicle, it crumbles and slows the vehicle down without causing the type of severe crash that would otherwise occur, Ullman said.

In addition to using protective measures like barrier trucks and jersey walls, local authorities can reduce speed limits in work zones and add signs indicating the presence of construction crews. There were no reduced-speed-limit signs in place Thursday at the work zone. Its unclear whether speed limits were reduced at the time of Wednesdays crash.

But sometimes, reducing a speed limit isnt enough, Ullman added.

People disregard it and say, Yeah, theres no reason, Ullman said. You have to find some way to enforce that.

In 2020, 170 pedestrians died in traffic work zones, following 141 in 2019, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That number does not differentiate between workers and other pedestrians, but speaks to the relative rarity of such events, Ullman said.

Crashes that involve highway workers, although theyre not extremely frequent, theyre always severe, Ullman said.

In addition to Maryland State Police, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

The federal agency said Thursday that two investigators have been assigned to probe safety precautions at the work zone, and will focus on issues relating to speeding, work zone protection for construction workers, and collision avoidance technology. Most NTSB investigations are fully completed in one to two years, but a preliminary report is expected in about three weeks, the board said.

Police said Wednesday evening that pending the results of the investigation and a consultation with the Baltimore County States Attorneys Office, charges may be filed.

Those who witnessed the crash or have information they believe is relevant are urged to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov, and the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack at 410-780-2700.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg initiated a moment of silence in response to the crash during a Thursday budget hearing in the U.S. Senate after speaking on highway safety appropriations.

We still see too many fatal crashes on our roads, he said. We cannot and must not accept roadway fatalities are an inevitable part of life in America.
A western Pennsylvania man found dead in a home filled with poisonous snakes earlier this week had been bitten, but thats not what killed him, according to police.

Aliquippa police told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the 23-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, had bite marks on his wrist but they were from an old snake bite unrelated to his death.
Story by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

In January, I hosted an event that highlighted how Pennsylvanias system of fragmented local governments hinders public oversight. The level of interest in the topic and the number of questions from attendees overwhelmed me, delighted me  and it gave me an idea. What if I answered your questions about the commonwealths more than 2,500 municipalities on a regular basis?

How Local Government Works is a new series in Talk of the Town, a newsletter by Spotlight PAs State College regional bureau. The series will focus on issues and trends in Pennsylvania local governments and provide tools for you to hold your local officials accountable. Have a question about your local government? Email me at mxian@spotlightpa.org and Ill answer it in the newsletter.

Have you ever wondered how your municipality makes a decision? Perhaps you see a renovation project going on and want to understand the need for the makeover or its costs. The meeting minutes of a planning commission or a contract with builders, among other kinds of public records, might answer your questions.

Where should you look? This information may not be available online, but you might be able to obtain it by asking for it.

Pennsylvanias Right-to-Know Law grants public access to all government records unless their disclosure is barred due to specific exceptions, such as a protective order or doctor-patient privilege.

Understanding the basics of the law can help you follow the decisions of state and municipal governments. Heres what you should know:

Assume a record is public

Under the Right-to-Know Law, all records are presumed to be public records, and the burden is on government agencies to establish why they might not be available.

Commonwealth agencies, including the offices of the governor and attorney general; local agencies like boroughs, townships, school boards, and authorities; and legislative bodies are covered by the law. Notably, Pennsylvania courts and other judicial agencies only need to provide financial records under the law.

What are public records?

The open records law defines a broad range of information as a record, as long as it documents a transaction or activity of an agency and that is created, received or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business or activity of the agency. Basically, if a record involves a government agency or public funds, the public deserves access to it.

Public meeting minutes, emails relating to an agencys business, contracts, and payrolls involving public funds are some examples of public records.

Making a request

Any legal resident of the United States can submit a request under the law. Requesters do not need to explain the reasons why they seek the information, but should keep the ask limited in subject matter, specific in scope, and within a certain time frame.

Doing some research before submitting a request can be worthwhile. The information you seek could already be publicly accessible. (If thats the case, an agency may tell you just that.)

Pennsylvanias Office of Open Records maintains a list of all open records officers in the commonwealth. Before making a request, consider getting in touch with an officer to find out how their agency keeps records and what wording would identify what youre looking for. Check out the Right-to-Know case law index published by the Office of Open Records to find court interpretations of how the law should work.

Agencies have to respond to your request within five business days of submission. They can grant the request, deny it, or invoke a 30-day extension to respond.

Keeping track of response time is essential, especially if an appeal becomes necessary. Spotlight PAs Ed Mahon recently explained five key elements of the appeal process.

Limitations of the law

Personal information such as Social Security numbers, privileged information such as that between an attorney and a client, and law enforcement information like ongoing criminal investigations are among the records shielded by the law.

Very rarely, requesters right to demand public records through the law might be limited.

David Rosner sued Buckingham Township in 2020, claiming the Bucks County municipality charged him excessive and impermissible fees as he sought approval of a stormwater management plan and building permit. He settled the lawsuit in January, and the township agreed to grant him both approvals and make other concessions.

But Rosner said Buckingham Township also demanded that he drop several Right-to-Know requests and appeals. (He had filed several requests while the legal process played out.) According to the settlement, the township required that he not submit new requests for 42 months, unless it is for primarily a bona fide, good faith salutary reason and does not result in the harassment, annoyance, or unreasonable burden to [Buckingham Township].

Rosner accepted the terms but told Spotlight PA he was frustrated that the township leveraged his rights to public information in a legal negotiation that had nothing to do with [the Right-to-Know Law].

Buckingham Township Manager Dana Cozza disagreed and told Spotlight PA the intent of the settlement was to settle a multitude of lawsuits, including several appeals of Right to Know Requests.

The condition to limit Rosners open records request was the result of a negotiation Rosner was a part of, Cozza added. It is not onerous to have Mr. Rosner exercise the same good faith in making Right to Know requests, that the Township must exercise in responding to them.

While its crucial to acknowledge that Rosner agreed to the condition voluntarily  and was not forced by the government  this scenario is something to be cautious about, said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, which Spotlight PA is a part of.

If agencies begin to prohibit RTKL requests as a negotiating tool  it could discourage access for others and lead to unintended negative consequences. Obviously, that would conflict with the letter and intent of the [law], Melewsky said.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/statecollege. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.
A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was arrested after authorities say he attacked a pair of Pennsylvania State Police troopers after his vehicle became disabled.

Michael J. Mazza, 40, of Ocean Township, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and resisting arrest Monday in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, according to court documents.

Troopers used a stun gun on Mazza when he became agitated and tried to hit the troopers after they learned there was a warrant out for his arrest and they tried to take him into custody, authorities said.

Mazza broke free and tried to run away, authorities said. The troopers pepper sprayed Mazza and took him into custody, officials said. The troopers suffered minor injuries.

An attorney for Mazza was not listed in court records. He is being held in the Berks County jail on $20,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon, court records state. His arrest was first reported by WFMZ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

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UPDATE: Coroner IDs 78-year-old man killed in central Pa. crash

A 78-year-old man died at a York hospital Thursday, two days after he was airlifted from a Franklin County crash scene, authorities said.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, may have suffered a medical event before he crashed just before 3 p.m. on the 2000 block of Lincoln Highway East in Guilford Township, according to York County Coroner Pamela Gay.

Gay said the man was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He was treated for multiple injuries but was pronounced dead at 3:52 p.m. Thursday.

He died of a hemorrhage and multiple blunt force injuries, Gay said. The mans death was ruled accidental.

An autopsy will not be performed, but Gay said her office is conducting routine toxicology tests.

READ MORE: Cumberland County woman not the Forrest Gump of Jan 6: prosecutors

Parents charged with murder in 4-week-old babys suffocation death: Harrisburg police
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We remind the Transitional Government of South Sudan that it has not upheld its primary responsibility to protect the civilians of South Sudan," said Robert Wood, U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs.
Police are searching for a man who was seen touching himself outside a Hillsborough home Thursday, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

A resident on Meadowbrook Drive contacted police at 10:15 a.m., reporting that he witnessed a man masturbating outside his home, officials said.

Officers reviewed surveillance footage that captured the incident and observed a man committing the act who was wearing nothing but underwear and a bandana, authorities said.
SUNBURY  The Shamokin city councilman removed from office last year because of his criminal record has withdrawn his nominating petitions for his old seat under threat of being charged criminally.

Joseph J. Leschinskie Jr. withdrew them with protest against my wishes on Wednesday, the deadline for doing so.

That means there is no Republican candidate on the May primary ballot for a two-year term on Shamokin council.

In a statement released Thursday, Leschinskie accused Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Matulewicz of disenfranchising himself and supporters by forcing him to end his candidacy.

He accused Matulewicz of making him his top target while there are approximately 1,700 open criminal cases in the county including more than 10 homicides.

Attempts to reach the district attorney for reaction to those comments were unsuccessful.

Joseph J. Leschinskie Jr., left, talks with his brother John and a friend Stefani Manzoni outside the Northumberland County courthouse after a judge removed him from Shamokin City Council because in 2009 he had been convicted of 'infamous' crimes. March 30, 2022

Matulewicz had threatened to charge Leschinskie with false swearing and unsworn falsifications to authorities for filing an affidavit with his nominating petitions stating he was eligible to serve.

County Judge Charles H. Saylor, now a senior judge, removed Leschinskie from office in March 2022 finding his two 2009 felony drug convictions were infamous crimes as defined by state constitution.

The constitution states those convicted of infamous crimes my not hold office.

Leschinskie, in announcing the withdrawal of his nominating petitions, noted they had been filed in a timely manner.

That was a swipe at Matulewicz whose petitions were not accepted because they were not submitted until after the 4:30 p.m. March 7 deadline.

A court hearing is scheduled Friday in county court on his request for a court order requiring the elections board to accept his petitions.

He acknowledges they were time-stamped at 5:01 p.m. but claims staff still was working in the voter office.

The elections board refused to accept them after consultation with the state Department of State and opposes Matulewiczs effort to get his name on the primary ballot.

The other Republican running for district attorney, Michael C. ODonnell, was granted permission to intervene in support of the elections board.

The drug convictions that results in his removal from office are just two of Leschinskies brushes with the law.

An appeal has kept him from beginning to serve a sentence of 6 to 23 months in prison followed by three years probation in a case in which he was found guilty of one count of terroristic threats.

That charge and four others on which he was acquitted stemmed from an incident after the Sept. 14, 2020, Shamokin council meeting in which he was accused of threatening then Councilwoman Jennifer Seidel and her husband Erik.

Last week he was found guilty of using an audio device to record a 2019 court appeals hearing in a speeding case. Sentencing is scheduled April 18.

He is scheduled for a March 29 preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence of marijuana and several traffic violations stemming from a rear-end type accident Jan. 27 on Route 61 in Paxinos.

He denies the state police charges citing the report of the emergency medical technician who treated him in an ambulance that there were no signs of impairment.

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The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on gun violence Thursday, with the Democratic majority indicating they intend to move forward with legislation to tighten the states firearm laws.

Thursdays committee session was preceded by a rally and canvassing event in support of stricter gun laws organized by CeaseFire PA and other advocacy groups, and the testimony presented to the committee largely dovetailed with those demands.

I kept hearing safe storage and lost and stolen [gun reporting] from todays hearing, Judiciary Chairman Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, said following the hearing. Both of those policies were among those identified as priorities by CeaseFire advocates.

Well look at all of them, and theres dozens of others, Briggs said of the pieces of gun legislation in Harrisburg, with the goal being to try to come up with some priorities based on what we heard.

We want to make sure that the bills that are introduced are vetted by all the stakeholders, Briggs said.

He predicted the committee would be prepared to move legislation by the summer. I dont want to go into the end of this spring session without addressing something Pennsylvanians want us to do, he said. We were elected to be in the majority and we have to show Pennsylvania what our priorities are.

With Democrats now holding a slim majority in the House, Thursday marked the committees first substantive discussion of gun policy since passage of a domestic violence measure in 2018; former committee chair Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin, routinely squashed other gun-related legislation without debate.

Thursdays hearing, as with the rally on the capitol steps that preceded, featured emotional testimony from those who had lost loved ones to gun violence.

Why do we accept this as a reality when it is an entirely man-made, uniquely American problem with a solution? posed Meredith Elizalde, whose son was killed in a shooting at Philadelphias Roxborough High School that also wounded several other students.

Multiple speakers described a growing problem with unfettered access to firearms, resulting in accidental deaths among small children as well as suicides and crimes committed with guns that are readily available on the black market due to lax oversight.

Pennsylvanias overall firearm mortality rate  including suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths  spiked from 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 to 13.6 in 2020, according to the CDC, consistent with the rest of the nation in seeing a record increase.

Further CDC data, referenced at several points Thursday, shows firearms overtaking automobiles starting in 2020 as the leading cause of death in the 1-19 age bracket. But even those numbers dont tell the human story of our children, said Erin OBrien, a prosecutor with the Chester County District Attorneys office.

I learned that there are no words to tell a mother than her 4-year-old baby is gone and her 18-year-old son will have to live with the consequences, OBrien said, describing a case in which a child died after finding and playing with his brothers gun.

As Briggs noted, the bulk of Thursdays testimony pointed toward three policy solutions: requiring guns to be kept under child-proof lock, requiring owners to report lost or stolen guns to police within a specified time after they discover them missing, and expanding background checks to include the sale of long guns between parties who are not licensed dealers, where checks are currently not mandated.

All three of those proposals have been introduced in the legislature, and Gov. Josh Shapiro has expressed support for such measures generally.

Only two Republican legislators offered specific pushback during Thursdays hearing, with Rep. David Rowe, R-Snyder, saying mandatory reporting makes the victim a victim themselves if a person whose gun is stolen is then penalized for failing to report it.

Would we penalize a rape victim for not having the ability to come to terms with exposing their rapist? Of course we wouldnt, Rowe posed, a comparison which earned him criticism from several Democrats as well as from Kauffman.

While I may not use the inarticulate words of my colleague Rep. Rowe, Kauffman said, he also shares similar concerns about such laws.

I dont survey my firearms on a daily basis, I dont walk around looking for them, Kauffman said. If it was gone, I may not know until I go to the range and see that it is missing. That doesnt make me a criminal, that makes me a law-abiding gun owner whos a victim of a crime.

Most such laws, including what has been pitched in Pennsylvania, would apply a mandatory reporting timeline only once the owner discovers the gun is gone.

Further, York City Police Commissioner Michael Muldrow said in response to Kauffman that, from his perspective, such a law would be important as a deterrent to those who might insist their gun was stolen  but in reality had sold the weapon for illicit purposes, something Muldrow said he frequently encounters in investigations.

Several advocates and lawmakers also made a push to broaden the scope of the issue beyond Pennsylvanias urban areas that are seeing gun homicide increases, and include rural areas where gun suicides are a major problem.

That doesnt diminish what is happening in Philadelphia, but what it does point out is this isnt just a problem in Philadelphia, this is a statewide problem, said CeaseFire PA Executive Director Adam Garber.

A 2018 study from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania found that climbing suicide rates over the prior two decades had disproportionately impacted rural areas. Suicide frequency in rural counties was 25 percent higher than urban ones, with rates closely corresponding to the rate of handgun sales, according to the study.

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By RANDALL CHASE, The Associated Press

DOVER, Del. (AP)  Police were justified in shooting and wounding a Philadelphia woman they confronted last year as she was shooting her estranged partner, the state attorney generals office determined in a report released Thursday.

New Castle County police officers Brooks Fitzpatrick and Christopher Knight encountered Portia Herndon in the parking lot of a Newark apartment complex on Sept. 9. The encounter happened a few hours after Fitzpatrick had responded to a domestic incident involving Herndon and the victim earlier that day.

Fitzpatrick returned to the apartment complex that evening in response to a report that the victim had been threatened with a handgun and that the tires on her mothers car had been slashed.

Upon arriving, Fitzpatrick heard a gunshot and saw a woman kneeling on the ground with her hands in the air. He then saw another person, later identified as Herndon, standing over the woman in a posture of somebody who more or less was about to execute somebody.

Fitzpatrick told investigators he then heard more gunshots and saw a muzzle flash, prompting him to fire two or three shots at Herndon, who turned from the victim and began advancing toward him, leading to several more shots being fired. Knight, who had arrived at the scene shortly after Fitzpatrick, also opened fire on Herndon.

Investigators determined that Herndon had fired nine rounds from her handgun, while the officers are believed to have fired 25 rounds, 21 by Fitzpatrick and four by Knight.

Both the female victim and Herndon were treated for multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators with the attorney generals office concluded that the use of deadly force by the officers was legally justified in both self-defense and in the defense of others.

Herndon has been indicted on two counts of attempted murder, three counts of reckless endangering, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, criminal mischief, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

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The state agency that enforces Pennsylvanias civil rights laws and fights unlawful discrimination is encouraging anyone in the Lower Dauphin School District to report any incidents of hate or discrimination.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on Thursday issued a stern message directed at the school district in the wake of reports from students and parents of widespread and unaddressed racial intimidation and hostility.

As the states civil rights enforcement agency, PHRC will not overlook its responsibility, said Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the agency.

I urge anyone who believes they have experienced discrimination or hate to contact the PHRC, and we will review the situation to see if any laws were violated.

In the past week, several parents and students have publicly charged the school district with knowing about widespread racial intimidation but doing little to address it.

At a school board meeting Monday night, several parents shared their accounts of reports from their children of incidents of racial hostility perpetrated by white students against Black students, as well as LGBTQ students, special education students and Jewish students.

One family, in particular, last week detailed to PennLive some of their childrens encounters with relentless racial intimidation aimed at Black students.

The PHRC reported it will extend an offer to the Lower Dauphin School District to provide bias and cultural sensitivity training for staff and students.

These types of trainings have been offered to schools in the past who have had similar challenges, Dion Lassiter said.

RELATED: Students at Lower Dauphin say racial intimidation is widespread in the district

At Mondays board meeting, Superintendent Rob Schultz had the board president read a statement on behalf of the district condemning any acts of discrimination and racial intimidation.

In the past few weeks, at least two students from the Lower Dauphin School District have posted on social media videos featuring them ranting about racist and hate-filled rhetoric.

The PHRC encourages anyone who believes they have experienced acts of discrimination or hate to file a complaint with the agency by calling 717-787-4410. Information and resources are also available at www.PHRC.pa.gov.
In his opinion piece on PennLive, Weaponizing laws obstructs U.S. energy production, Anthony Pugliese claims that Biden administrations policies and the efforts of radical environmentalists are jeopardizing U.S. energy independence. He states that under Biden, energy production in the U.S. has drastically decreased. He then goes on to decry the obstruction of energy pipelines by activist judges who were chosen by court-shopping environmentalists.

The first problem with Mr. Pugilieses argument is that he has the numbers wrong. Under President Biden, production of natural gas has risen, both nationally and in Pennsylvania. Both 2021 and 2022 saw natural gas production levels higher than any previous year on record (eia.gov).

While 2022 recorded less gas production than 2021, it still saw more gas produced than at any time during the Trump administration. So, while the pipelines were being built, the gas was still flowing. Pennsylvania, the second largest natural gas-producing state after Texas, exports about 80% of its gas for consumption in other states and internationally.

And how are those gas companies doing financially? Try checking the profits of the largest producers over the last few years. President Biden has not slowed the production of natural gas. He is attempting to redirect our attention to healthier, renewable sources of energy. It is a process that needs to happen.

Reliance on gas is neither healthy nor sustainable. Environmental laws are written to protect our resources. When pipeline companies endanger resources, the laws apply.

The courts are not a weapon, but a recourse for the responsible citizen.

David Hollen, North Londonderry Township, Pa.
NASA is planning to put U.S. astronauts back on the surface of the Moon by the end of 2024. This mission is just the beginning of what is shaping up to be a historic few decades in space exploration, as both the U.S. and China have plans to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon.

The first question you might have is: Why now?

The short answer is the relatively recent discovery of water on the Moon. But the deeper and perhaps more important questions have to do with how competing space agencies will pull off this feat given the limited resources on Earths satellite.

In this episode of The Conversation Weekly, we speak with two people  a planetary scientist who studies the geology of the Moon, and a space lawyer who studies space policy and geopolitics  about the challenges facing nations as humanity looks to set up shop on the Moon.

When Apollo astronauts brought back the first lunar rocks in the late 1960s and early 1970s, scientists were disappointed to find no sign of water or anything of much use in the samples. The Moon looked to be a barren place.

Fast forward a few decades and two coinciding events reshaped the future of the Moon  the sudden boom in the private space sector and the discovery of water frozen in permanently shadowed craters on the Moons surface. All of a sudden, setting up a base on the Moon was not only desirable, but feasible, too.

If you want to explore space with humans, water becomes one of the most critical commodities, explains Mahesh Anand, a professor of planetary science and exploration at the Open University in the U.K. We need water to survive, but water can also be split into its individual components, like oxygen, which we need to breathe. But there are many other resources on the Moon, and as Anand explains, Water is where the story begins, but it doesnt end there. Utilizing resources in situ  where you are  thats what is actually opening up the field of lunar exploration.

The U.S. Artemis program, which had its first launch in 2022, is the beginning of a plan to eventually build a base on the surface of the Moon as well as a space station in orbit around it. The U.S. and its collaborators are not alone in these lunar ambitions  China, too, has plans to establish a permanent presence on the Moon before 2030. And both groups explicitly plan to use lunar resources to accomplish these goals.

How this all works legally is an open question that is being debated right now in international venues like the United Nations, but there are some agreements on the books already.

Its fun to think about space as being the Wild West with no rules. But its not. We do have the Outer Space Treaty, explains Michelle Hanlon, a law professor at the University of Mississippi in the U.S. This treaty has been signed by most countries and lays out an almost utopian framework for how nations are supposed to act in space. The main provisions of the Outer Space Treaty say that space is for everybody, Hanlon continues. Nobody can claim any territory in space, its free for exploration and use by all, and the Moon and all of the celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.

The high-minded ideals of space law are quickly heading toward a collision with the reality of humanity expanding off Earth  and bringing all of our geopolitics and competing interests with us. Listen to the full episode to learn how nations are navigating the big scientific, legal and moral questions of a lunar future.

This episode was hosted by Dan Merino, written by Katie Flood and co-produced by Dan Merino and Katie Flood. The executive producer is Mend Mariwany. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl.

You can find us on Twitter @TC_Audio, on Instagram at theconversationdotcom or via email. You can also subscribe to The Conversations free daily email here. A transcript of this episode will be available soon.

Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

Daniel Merino, Associate Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation and Nehal El-Hadi, Science + Technology Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Courage was on full display at the March meeting of the Lower Dauphin School Board.

It took a lot of courage and strength for Delali Mensah Jamison to stand before a school board without a single Black member to describe the racism her son has endured at Lower Dauphin High School.

It took courage for Toren Dragas to speak as a white parent about the blatant racist, anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ+ behavior he says his children witness every day at the school  the name calling, heckling and videos widely distributed on social media.

Toren Dragas, a parent of students a Lower Dauphin High School, tells the school board his students witness racist behavior at the school every day.

It took courage for Tania Leader, granddaughter of the late Gov. George Leader, to publicly admonish the board and tell them her grandfather would be ashamed of the atmosphere that the mostly white teachers, administrators and board members have allowed to fester in the school district.

It took courage and determination for all of the parents and students who spoke out against the racism they say is pervasive in the district. What is worse, they made it clear everybody knows it. Teachers know. Principals know. Cafeteria workers know. And members of the Lower Dauphin School Board know. Theyve all known it for a long time.

Delali Jamison with her children Shekinah Jamison, left, and Kamau Johnson. Shekinah and Kamau are Lower Dauphin High School students. March 14, 2023. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Everyone has known about the terror many children endure, but it seems little has been done to stop it. That should change. Immediately. The parents and students who spoke at the school board meeting described racism as a cancer spreading throughout the district.

The cancer has so traumatized Jamisons son, he doesnt want to go back to the school. But the cancer is also eating away the futures of white children who are not being taught basic standards of common decency and respect they will need in todays world.

Some of the kids screaming the N word on social media videos will apply to colleges. Their social media posts will end their chances of admission to the best of them.

Some of the kids heckling Black students in the hallways will try to get jobs. Their bosses may be Black.

The white students berating Jews will have to work with people of different faiths and ethnicities if they want to be successful in almost any job in this country. These students need teachers who will tell them that in no uncertain terms. They need school administrators who will insist on a learning environment that is safe and nurturing for all students, regardless of race, culture, sexuality, or religion.

Students and parents told members of the Lower Dauphin School Board at a packed meeting in March 2023 that racism in the district is pervasive.

The Lower Dauphin School Board should move immediately to implement a strong anti-racism plan. There are many places to turn for help. The Anti-Defamation League and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission are just two of them.

There are many calls for school officials to take decisive action against students who engage in racist bullying. But we call on the school board to take decisive action against adults who fail to establish an atmosphere of respect that is fundamental for education.

Most of all, we urge voters to hold each school board member accountable for the racism that has been allowed to fester in the Lower Dauphin School District. In failing to do their basic job of protecting vulnerable students, they have failed all of them.
March 24th is World Tuberculosis Day. The observance is an opportunity to shine a light on one of the worlds oldest and deadliest diseases. This years theme is Yes! We can end TB!

The date chosen for the observance, March 24, commemorates Dr. Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease. It was the first step on the journey toward reining in this merciless killer, which culminated in the discovery and eventual mass production of antibiotics in the middle of the 20th century.

Tuberculosis, or TB, has plagued humans for thousands of years. Researchers found its sign in six thousand year old human skeletons, and in the spines of five thousand year old Egyptian mummies. Indeed, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is believed to have evolved along with people - and it is still evolving.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the disease began to spread faster and more widely. As populations grew, people looking for employment began to migrate into cities. Overcrowded living conditions, lack of proper hygiene and nutrition, along with poor ventilation created the perfect conditions for the spread of this contagious illness. By the late nineteenth century, Tuberculosis was one of the most feared diseases, reaching epidemic levels in Europe and the Americas and causing one out of every seven deaths.

Today, TB is still the worlds deadliest infectious disease, causing the deaths of nearly 1.5 million people each year, most of them impoverished. It is no coincidence that the infection rate of TB within a population is one of the indicators of development. Those who lack access to good, nutritious food and to medical care are less likely to recover from TB, or to avoid it altogether. With treatment, recovery rate stands at about 85 percent. Without treatment, TB kills half of its victims.



Everyone should be able to lead a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. Thats our goal, said President Joe Biden at last years 7th Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Lets finish this fight together. Now is the moment to accelerate our efforts to reduce health inequities and to address barriers to access, including gender and human rights barriers; to build a more inclusive healthcare systems to leave no one behind; to end  tuberculosis  for good.
Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa Foundation (RES4Africa) and Strathmore University, based in Nairobi, Kenya, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their cooperation in promoting renewable energy development in Kenya. The signed agreement aims to reinforce the two parties' joint commitment in networking, capacity-building, communication and advocacy activities, as well as areas of mutual interest to both missions.

Already with a remarkable renewable electricity mix, Kenya is making a clear effort to diversify its power production, such as the white paper published last year, leveraging the enormous electricity potential available. In particular the White paper.

Establishing energy as a transformational good - 100% access by 2030, 100% access for small and micro enterprises ;

- 100% access by 2030, 100% access for small and micro enterprises ; Establish kenya as a global leader in decarbonized economic growth - smart power grids, 50% reduction in biomass use, use green energy to create a competitive advantage e.g. green hydrogen;

- smart power grids, 50% reduction in biomass use, use green energy to create a competitive advantage e.g. green hydrogen; 100GW installed capacity by 2040 underpinned by renewables - Attract USD 300 billion in green energy investment,;

- Attract USD 300 billion in green energy investment,; Establish Kenya as investment destination for industries seeking to decarbonize.

RES4Africa and Strathmore University goals are highly complementary and share a long track record of cooperation for the same long-term objective: renewable energy development in Kenya and in Africa, to be achieved by promoting capacity building activities as part of the RES4Africa Academy umbrella and the renewAfrica Initiative.

The two parties have agreed to collaborate in the co-organisation of courses and workshops, as well as engage and facilitate dialogue with national and international industry stakeholders to speed up RE investments in the continent. In addition, their joint forces will aim at raising awareness on RE development through the organisation of outreach and advocacy activities, identifying synergies, exchanging know-how and providing mutual support in communication and dissemination efforts.

"Renewable energy development in Africa requires investments in the continent's human capital, as well as the creation of synergies among different stakeholders at various levels" commented Roberto Vigotti, RES4Africa's General Secretary "the MoU with Strathmore University paves the road for the joint actions, required to raise awareness about Africa's journey towards energy transition."

"Since 2017, RES4Africa and Strathmore University have collaborated to build capacity in Africa's energy sector. The Micro-Grid Academy, which has trained over 7000 students and professionals mostly from Africa, over the last six years, is one of the fruits of this collaboration.As its scope of work expanded, the name of the initiative changed to RES4Africa Academy vocational training. This MoU signed today will settle a path to address SDG 7 between now and 2030 in perfect alignment with the commitment of the Government of Kenya towards a zero-carbon destination stated in the Kenya Vision 2030" added Prof. Izael Da Silva, DVC Research & Innovation at Strathmore University.

RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa) envisions the sustainable transformation of Africa's electricity systems to ensure reliable and affordable electricity access for all, enabling the continent to achieve its full, resilient, inclusive and sustainable development. The Foundation's mission is to create favourable conditions for scaling up investments in clean energy technologies to accelerate the continent's just energy transition and transformation. See more: www.res4africa.org
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has successfully transferred all Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II)

spent nuclear fuel from wet to dry storage. The transfer is a major milestone in the Idaho Settlement Agreement and one of several requirements the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is obligated to meet.

DOE reached the milestone nearly nine months ahead of schedule. The project also led to the recovery of uranium products that could be used for high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) material that will support the development of advanced reactors and fuels.

Idaho Settlement Agreement

The Idaho Settlement Agreement was signed by DOE, the state of Idaho, and the U.S. Navy in 1995 to support the cleanup and disposition of spent nuclear fuel, along with high-level and transuranic radioactive legacy waste at the site.

DOE successfully transferred more than 100 shipments of EBR-II sodium-bonded driver fuel from wet to dry storage as part of the agreement to help fulfill its obligations.

"The removal of EBR-II fuel from wet-to-dry storage is a huge step forward in the Idaho Settlement Agreement," said Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. "We will continue to safely and effectively manage the site's legacy waste to keep our promise with the citizens of Idaho."

Fueling Future Reactors

A portion of the EBR-II fuel is being treated to recover uranium products which could potentially be used as a source for HALEU a crucial material needed to develop and deploy advanced reactors.
PartyPoker Grand Prix Spring Crowns Three Champs as Main Events Begin

March 23, 2023 Matthew Pitt Editor

PartyPoker players are enjoying the Grand Prix Spring series, with the first three champions of numbered events crowned. The Opener, Mini Opener, and Micro Opener PKO events are all in the bag, and their worthy champions now have ample bankrolls for the remainder of the series.

"running4gunz" came out on top of the $55 buy-in $75,000 guaranteed Opener PKO, outlasting a massive field of 3,224 entrants. All those entries meant the guarantee was not only hit but PartyPoker awarded a cool $96,720, blowing the guarantee out of the water.

All but one of the nine finalists, "PsychFox" saw a prize worth at least four figures hit their accounts. PsychFox, the ninth-place finisher, walked away with $780 to show for their endeavours.

"Sankaku Jime" ($1,108), "Tarekkk_" ($1,013), and "EpicSince92" ($2,012) crashed and burned, leaving only five players in the hunt for the first Grand Prix Spring title of the series. Those five became four when "vixkixkx" busted ($1,810) and then three with the elimination of "SAMURAVI77" ($2,980). The tournament progressed to the heads-up stage once "dust2_killer" was felted ($4,823).

Both running4gunz and "iva76" locked in more than $5,600 from the main prize pool, leaving the substantial final bounties to play for. Iva76 fell at the final hurdle, and walked away with $6,351 in total, leaving running4gunz to scoop a combined prize worth $10,454.

Grand Prix Spring #01 Opener PKO Final Table Results

Place Player Bounties Prize Total prize 1 running4gunz $4,840 $5,614 $10,454 2 iva76 $749 $5,602 $6,351 3 dust2_killer $1,233 $3,590 $4,823 4 SAMURAVI77 $623 $2,357 $2,980 5 vixkickx $219 $1,591 $1,810 6 EpicSince92 $820 $1,192 $2,012 7 Tarekkk_ $151 $862 $1,013 8 Sankaku Jime $421 $687 $1,108 9 PsychFox $247 $533 $780

Raven0216 Flies Away With Mini PKO Title

The $5.50 Grand Prix Spring Mini Opener PKO was only mini in name because 3,594 PartyPoker players turned out in force, and created a guarantee-busting $17,970 prize pool. It was "Raven0216" that got their claws into the largest slice of the pie, swooping down and claiming $1,896 in total, made up of $1,041 from the main prize pool plus $855 worth of bounty payments.

A chunk of those bounties came from eliminating "k0rnqka" heads-up, as they not only won their bounty but captured the prize that was on their head. The runner-up headed into the night with $1,127 to show for the epic grind, the only other finalists to bag four figures for their $5.50 initial investment.

Grand Prix Spring #02 Mini Opener PKO Final Table Results

Place Player Bounties Prize Total prize 1 Raven0216 $855 $1,041 $1,896 2 k0rnqka $90 $1,037 $1,127 3 sn00ka6677 $148 $664 $812 4 TomaBadToma $99 $436 $535 5 BruXoo. $23 $294 $317 6 Paulera293 $98 $218 $316 7 Moneysniper $129 $157 $286 8 Metalhands $3 $126 $129 9 PtitWinnie $39 $98 $137

PuruRasta Smokes the Opposition in the Micro Opener PKO

A field of 2,446 entrants in the $1.10 buy-in Grand Prix Spring Micro Opener PKO left a small overlay on the $2,500 guarantee, not that "PuruRasta" minded because they finished top of the pile and helped themselves to a $266 prize, including an impressive $111 worth of bounties.

The second and third-place finishers also padded their bankrolls with three-figure scores. Third-place finisher "DonkerKiller" netted $119 while runner-up "Pelegossauro" reeled in a $183 prize.

Grand Prix Spring #03 Micro Opener PKO Final Table Results

Place Player Bounties Prize Total prize 1 PuruRasta $111 $155 $266 2 Pelegossauro $29 $154 $183 3 DonkerKiller $20 $99 $119 4 Xerengo14 $14 $65 $79 5 Gimka2L $18 $44 $62 6 r77shark $25 $33 $58 7 the_jungledon $31 $24 $55 8 pokerganja_1 $2 $19 $21 9 EduDuda2022 $5 $14 $19

PartyPoker Launches Round the Clock Freerolls; Gives Away $2,500 Daily!

Dozens of Main Event Flights Remaining

The trio of Grand Prix Spring Main Events make up the final three numbered tournaments on the schedule, and all three are in full swing. Those Main Events come with buy-ins of $55 ($250,000 guaranteed), $11 ($50,000), and $2.20 ($10,000), with each featuring five flights every day up to and including April 3, which is also when Day 2 takes place.

In addition to the three Main Events, there are scores of side events with buy-ins from $0.55 to $109 that run around the clock. If multi-table tournaments are what get you all hot and bothered, PartyPoker is the place to head.

Satellites for all three Grand Prix Spring Main Events can be found in the PartyPoker lobby right now, as can Grand Prix edition SPINS, which make it possible to turn $3 into cash or Grand Prix Spring tickets worth up to $109.

Multiplier Prize Frequency in 1M games 2 $6 cash 707,000 3.67 $11 Grand Prix Spring ticket 229,500 7.34 $22 Grand Prix Spring ticket 50,000 11 $33 Grand Prix Spring ticket 8,000 18.34 $55 Grand Prix Spring ticket 5,000 36.34 $109 Grand Prix Spring ticket 500

Help Yourself to a PartyPoker Welcome Package

Download PartyPoker via PokerNews and deposit at least $10 to receive a 100% match up to $600 welcome bonus in addition to up to $30 worth of free play.

A $10 deposit yields $10 worth of tickets over the course of a week:

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To release the total Deposit Bonus amount, you must accumulate four times the Deposit Bonus amount in loyalty points. Each time the player accumulates 10% of the Total Loyalty Points required, they will receive a 10% increment of the Deposit Bonus
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House Oversight Committee ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called the notion that is being pushed by Rep, Marjorie Taylor Greene that the 1/6 criminals are political prisoners a fraud.

Raskin said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:

Rep. Andrew Clyde famously likened the January 6th insurrectionary violence to a normal tourist visit. Today, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green and her MAGA army will lead an abnormal tourist visit of their own to the D.C. Jail in a desperate attempt to whitewash the crimes of 20 incarcerated January 6 insurrectionists, 17 of them charged with violently assaulting federal officers and 9 of them already convicted of that crime or other equally serious offenses.

The problem of prison conditions in America is, of course, a serious one which is why Democrats on the Oversight Committee have been working to bring transparency and reform to the Rikers Island facilities in New York where 19 inmates died in 2022the highest death rate at Rikers in a quarter century. Alas, we have had no interest from our GOP colleagues in joining us in this endeavor or any similar efforts to improve dangerous and horrid jail and prison conditions.

Todays tour has nothing to do with objectively examining or improving jail conditions, which in the District of Columbias modernized Central Treatment Facility where the January 6 defendants are housed, are reportedly and by all accounts above average.

Rather, this tour is part of a continuing bizarre effort by Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Andrew Clyde and the controlling MAGA faction in the Republican Conference to depict the January 6th rioters, assailants and insurrectionist ringleaders now in jail as political prisoners or even as political prisoners of war and to facilitate their release through political pressure and to get them pardoned by a future Trump Administration.

Andrei Sakhorov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn were political prisoners in the totalitarian dungeons of the Soviet Union. Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner on Robins Island in the vicious penal system of apartheid South Africa. Alexei Navalny, who war criminal Vladimir Putin tried to poison, is a political prisoner today in Putins autocratic regime. These people did nothing other than oppose the lawlessness and rotten policies of the authoritarian regimes in which they lived.

The 20 prisoners in the Central Treatment Facility are not political prisoners but accused or convicted violent criminals whose violence was part of an effort to overthrow a federal election and defeat the processes of constitutional democracy. Seventeen of them have been charged with violently assaulting federal officers and nine of them have already pleaded guilty or been convicted of that offense or of equivalently serious offenses. Charges against the January 6 defendants include assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, impeding federal officers with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to disrupt a federal proceeding and seditious conspiracy.

If Representatives Greene, Comer and Boebert believe even one of these convicts or suspects is an actual political prisoner, they should name the person and describe why they are not properly being tried by the United States Department of Justice for their crimes but are rather being held for ideological reasons. So far they have failed to name a single prisoner who is being falsely held or unjustly accused. The claim that this group is made up of political prisoners is plainly false and obscene.

Furthermore, these prisoners are being housed in what is, by far, the superior of the District of Columbias two facilities and enjoy access to resources which most inmates in America are denied. Indeed, the mostly black and brown inmates housed in the dilapidated and inferior Central Detention Facility are eager to get moved into the more modern, spacious and comfortable Central Treatment Facility where the January 6 defendants and convicts now reside.

The outrageous claim that the January 6 defendants are political prisoners and have been subjected to inferior treatment is a fraud.

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Rep. Raskin was correct. The point of this jail visit is to lobby for these violent insurrectionists to be pardoned by a future Trump administration. Greene is using her position on the House Oversight Committee to spread pro-insurrectionist propaganda and rewrite the history of the 1/6 attack.

Republicans are working so hard to whitewash 1/6 because they know how damaging the attack was to their party. The 1/6 attack is a stain on Trump and MAGA that they are trying to erase before the 2024 election. What Greene and her fellow MAGAs are doing on the Oversight Committee is a disgrace to the nation.

Republicans have no evidence for their political prisoner claim, and Rep. Raskin debunked their dangerous and obscene claims.
Hitachi Energy's leading high-voltage solutions will play a significant role in ensuring reliable power sup-ply in Oshakati, Ongwediva, Ondangwa and surrounding areas

As a pioneering technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, Hitachi Energy (https://apo-opa.info/3Z1h3TW) is delivering a comprehensive range of high-voltage equipment to leading hydropower construction company Sinohydro Corporation Limited, to enhance NamPower's Kunene and Omatando substations in northern Namibia.



In order to meet Namibia's rising electricity demand, NamPower, the country's bulk electricity supplier, is implementing the two substations as part of the utility's Transmission Master Plan (https://apo-opa.info/3FDZPoI), with the support of Sinohydro. The project will strengthen and expand the country's transmission network and ensure reliable power supply throughout Namibia.



The development of the Kunene and Omatando substations will significantly increase electricity supply and reliability to Oshakati, Ongwediva, Ondangwa and surrounding areas. The construction of these two substations is crucial to strengthening the northern Namibia transmission backbone. For this project, Hitachi Energy collaborated with Sinohydro for the supply of a comprehensive range of reliable high-voltage products including circuit breakers, instrument transformers, surge arresters and disconnectors to NamPower.



"We are proud to be collaborating with Sinohydro and NamPower in this key infrastructure expansion project that will contribute towards addressing Namibia's electricity supply challenges. As a leader in high-voltage technology, our well-proven solutions enable our customers and partners to achieve uninterrupted power supply while enhancing the safety, reliability and efficiency of power networks," said Malvin Naicker, Managing Director for Hitachi Energy Southern Africa.



"At NamPower, we strive to provide innovative electricity solutions in the South African Development Community (SADC) (https://www.SADC.int) region. The Kunene and Omatando substation projects, which are in the implementation phase, form part of the NamPower Transmission Master Plan that is critical for improving energy reliability in the country. We are pleased to collaborate with Hitachi Energy on these projects that will help us achieve our goal of a more resilient power network in Namibia," said Kahenge Haulofu, Managing Director of NamPower.



This cross-stakeholder collaboration is a solid commitment to bring solutions that advance national electrification in Namibia. In doing so, Hitachi Energy plays a critical role in transforming the world's energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure.

Media Contact:

Lerato Nkosi

Country Communications Manager, South and Southern Africa

Hitachi Energy Ltd.

+27 77 3644 5464

lerato.nkosi@hitachienergy.com



About Hitachi Energy:

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD. https://www.HitachiEnergy.com



About Hitachi, Ltd.:

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.Hitachi.com.
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Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) was shown Trumps threat of violence if he is indicted by a reporter but claimed that he couldnt read well without his glasses.

NBC Newss Sahil Kapur tweeted:

Asked Rep. Jim Jordan what he makes of Trumps warning about potential death & destruction if indicted; Jordan said he hasnt seen Trumps post. When I showed this to him on my phone, he said he cant read well without his glasses. He added hes reviewing DA Braggs letter. pic.twitter.com/24QfpyVdpV  Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 24, 2023

As Trump descends deeper into panic and desperation, his defenders like Rep. Jordan are having to resort to increasingly improbable excuses to avoid commenting on the former presidents behavior.

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Jordan, along with Marjorie Taylor Greene are at the forefront of the House Republican defense of Trump, but they are being increasingly boxed in by Trumps rhetoric.

Rep. Jordans claim that he cant see without his glasses when confronted with evidence of Trumps attempts to incite national violence would be funny if it was not so pathetic and carried potentially dangerous consequences.

House Republicans will never disavow Trump, but they are increasingly running out of ways to distance themselves from what he is doing.

Jim Jordan wants to defend Trump without taking any of the blame if things go sideways.

Jordan got away with it on 1/6 by frequently having memory lapses and stonewalling the January 6th Committee. Now that is the chair of the Judiciary Committee and running the Weaponization of Government subcommittee, there is nowhere to hide.

As Trump teeters, Jim Jordan is turning to the dog ate my homework level of political excuses.

The difference this time is that Rep. Jordan has placed himself front and center and wont be able to avoid the blame.
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The NYPD and FBI are investigating a letter containing white power sent to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg threatening to kill him.

NBC News reported:

The FBI and NYPD are investigating a letter containing a death threat and white powder that was mailed to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office is investigating former President Donald Trump, law-enforcement sources told NBC News.

The letter was addressed to Bragg and said, ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! the sources said. It contained a small amount of white powder.

The white powder was not dangerous, and there were no injuries. The letter was sent from Orlando, Florida. It was dated Tuesday, which was the same day that Donald Trump falsely claimed that he was going to be arrested.

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Death threats against Bragg from Trump supporters are not surprising because the former president has spent days attacking the Manhattan District Attorney, who appears poised to indict him as soon as next week.

The mass protests that Trump has called for have not developed, but that doesnt mean his less stable supporters are going to just sit on the couch and watch Fox News as their hero is potentially criminally charged.

Threats against Alvin Bragg will likely only grow in the days to come. Trump is inciting his most extreme supporters, but none of this will spare him from being held accountable for possible crimes.
As if we weren't already waiting at the edge of our seats for the Black Panther sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the news that Michaela Coel has been cast has just sparked a new wave of excitement.

The British actress is acclaimed for her diverse array of talents, from writing and directing to showrunning and producing and, of course, acting. She has shown off her comedic chops in her hit series, Chewing Gum, as well as her talents for drama in the incredible, heartbreakingly revelatoryI May Destroy You and has made forays into the sci-fi and fantasy genres with projects like Black Earth Rising and Black Mirror.

All this to say: She can do everything, and we would watch her do anything. I mean, really, we couldn't have dreamed up a better combination than Black Panther and Michaela Coel.



The newest addition to the Marvel family, we will be watching with rapt attention to see what her role is and how the story unfolds upon its release on July 8 2022.

Some are speculating that she will play the character of Storm, and the popular theory has the internet in a state  we love you Halle Berry, but there hasn't been a good Storm ... ever.

Black Panther is largely thought to be one of the best Marvel productions of all time for its ambitious story, its award-winning cast, breathtaking visuals, and historic representation. Other theories are also flying around, presenting a range possible storylines.

Whatever happens, we will say thank you to Ryan Coogler for giving us more Coel Content.



The first was such a monumental moment for Black culture  as well as being a pivotal example of the power of action films to drive culture forward and create conversation about complex issues. The sequel, therefore, has a lot to live up to.

Following the death of lead actor Chadwick Boseman, whose passing rocked the Black community and Marvel fans everywhere with the loss of such an icon, questions are swirling about how the franchise will handle the loss.

Boseman feels irreplaceable, so it is difficult to imagine Black Panther without the Black Panther we know and love. However, as new details emerge about the sequel and the world it lives in, we get a little more hopeful every day.

According to Marvel, "It's clearly very emotional without Chad, but everyone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans. We're going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud."

The world of Wakanda also includes the new Black Panther series developed by Ryan Coogler. The show promises to follow the success of other Disney+ Marvel series ventures like WandaVision,Loki, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier by creating a world outside the linear film formula.

"With Black Panther, Ryan brought a groundbreaking story and iconic characters to life in a real, meaningful and memorable way," said Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, "creating a watershed cultural moment. We're thrilled to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team."

The series is still in development but it also promises the same cultural impact, visual expansiveness, and lovable characters as the films.

However it unfolds, we're excited to see the unmatched ensemble cast come together next July.
The Aiken City Council could take more steps to recover from the failure of Project Pascalis and move toward a new downtown redevelopment plan at its Monday meeting.

The City Council is expected to consider the first reading of an ordinance dissolving the Aiken Municipal Development Commission at its meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the city council chambers of the Municipal Building located at 111 Chesterfield St. S.W.

City Attorney Gary Smith said at a recent meeting of the AMDC  the City Council took over management of the commission earlier this year  that dissolving the commission would return the properties it owns to the city.

City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said the AMDC is the owner of record for the Beckman Building, Hotel Aiken, the Holley House, the building where Taj Aiken is located, the Dr. C.C. Johnson Drug Store building, the Warneke Cleaners building, the Newberry Hall building and the former Jackson Petroleum property. He added the AMDC also has around $100,000 in a checking account.

The City Council, acting as the AMDC, met earlier this month with a goal of beginning the process of transferring ownership of the properties but questions about conflicts of interest resulted in the process not beginning.

The city council is also expected to consider a resolution entering into an agreement with Aiken County for dispersal of the city's plutonium settlement funds.

Project Pascalis failed last fall when the AMDC voted to stop the project and the developer, RPM Development Partners withdrew.

The announced plans for the downtown redevelopment project include the demolition of the Warneke Cleaners building and the Holley House, also known as the Hotel Aiken annex, and construction of a T-shaped workforce development center for the Savannah River National Laboratory on the sites.

The buildings fronting Richland Avenue, including the C.C. Johnson Drug Store building, would be rehabilitated to serve as retail space. The plan calls for Warneke Cleaners to move into one of the new retail spaces.

A request for proposal would be issued for redevelopment and restoration of the Hotel Aiken and Beckman Building.

Plans also call for the development of a surface parking lot across from St. John's United Methodist Church and the possible construction of a parking structure at the Municipal Building.

Also on the agenda are the second and final readings of ordinances amending the city council districts to account for population changes found by the 2020 Census and authorizing an agreement with the Municipal Association of South Carolina for intergovernmental services.

The council is also expected to consider the first reading of ordinances:

 Annexing and zoning a property on Oak Grove Lane and approving a concept plan for a dual-branded Hampton by Hilton/Home2Suites hotel planned for the southside;

 Rezoning a property at the corner of York Street and Columbia Avenue to allow for the development of a family internal medicine practice operated by Rural Health Services;

 Rezoning a home at the corner of Laurens Street and University Parkway to General Business (The Aiken Planning Commission recommended rejecting the request.); and

 Annexing and zoning a single-family homes on Monetta Street and Marvin Drive.

Also on the agenda is the reappointment of Brendan Doherty to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The council is also expected to consider proclamations declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Month of the Military Child.

A worksession to discuss developing a greenway from Beverly Clyburn Generations Park to the city-owned Brunswick Tract is scheduled for 6 p.m.
I had been looking forward to and at the same time dreading this appointment. Her husband had been ill for many months, but that had not stopped the verbal abuse that superseded the physical blows that he could no longer hurt her with. She had over many previous visits told me stories, chron Read moreMIND MATTERS: Everyone processes grief in different ways
Following the success of its fall show, "Beauty and the Beast," which drew rave reviews from sold out crowds and earned scholarship offers for numerous cast members, the Strom Thurmond High School Theatre program is ready to tackle another popular Disney classic in the programs production o Read moreStrom Thurmond theater students to perform 'Lion King Jr.'
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) has issued a permit for the Timbermill Wind, LLC, proposal to construct, operate and decommission an onshore wind energy facility generating as many as 189 megawatts in Chowan County.

After thoroughly considering all comments received during the public engagement process, including a public hearing held July 21, 2022, DEMLR has granted approval for up to 45 turbines and associated infrastructure to be built north of Edenton. This permit is the first for a facility under the session law passed in 2013 establishing a permitting program for wind energy facilities. The application for permit 21-01 was received on May 19, 2022.

Permit conditions will remain in effect for the life of the project, which includes the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the site. Violations of the permit and its conditions may result in enforcement actions authorized by law, including but not limited to notices of violation and civil penalties. The permittee is still required to comply with all additional local and federal permitting regulations and obtain any necessary permits.

Construction and operating conditions for the permittee include:

Obtaining a written "Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation" issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. All turbines and meteorological towers must be marked and lit according to FAA guidelines and must be visible on night vision goggles. During construction, all turbines must be lit with temporary equipment when reaching a height of more than 200 feet, until permanent lighting is constructed.

Minimizing the clearing of trees and vegetation during construction, within the bounds of sound engineering principles.

Minimizing impacts to jurisdictional wetlands and wildlife by complying with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service terms within a Biological Opinion included as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' 404 permit.

Alerting DEQ within 24 hours of an extraordinary event and complying with an Emergency Response Plan in consultation with emergency responders with jurisdiction over the facility.

Providing financial assurance to Chowan County covering decommissioning costs.

Reporting energy production data from the facility, including explanations for inactivity.

The final permit, final permit reviews, hearing officer's report and process to contest the permit decision can be found on the DEQ website. For more information on DEMLR's Onshore Wind Program, visit the DEQ onshore wind webpage.
COLUMBIA  A bill banning gender-transitioning hormone treatments and surgery in South Carolina for anyone under 18 is expected to advance in the Senate, but a looming legislative deadline may prevent its passage this year.

Supporters of the proposal told a Senate panel March 23 it's about protecting children from life-altering decisions they may regret later, while opponents countered it will put ostracized youth already at risk of suicide in greater harm.

Senators took no vote after hearing from invited speakers on both sides. A second hearing is planned next week on the legislation that is similar to bills passed in red states throughout the country in the last couple of years.

The proposal would put doctors at risk of losing their license for prescribing puberty blockers or hormonal treatments to teens. It would also ban surgery for transgender youth younger than 18, though pediatricians testified that's not happening in South Carolina anyway.

"For young adolescents, there is no surgical treatment considered or offered," said Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a pediatrician in Columbia and past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics' South Carolina chapter.

Before puberty, medications aren't offered either, she said, but "puberty blockers essentially buy the adolescent time, protecting their mental health while they have the chance to grow and mature and develop the ability to make more adult decisions about their future."

Potential side effects are discussed with the parents and closely monitored, she said, before potentially ending the treatments altogether or progressing to hormone therapy  estrogen or testosterone  that can have permanent effects.

Sen. Josh Kimbrell, a bill sponsor, said no such medications should be prescribed before a child legally becomes an adult. Recalling that his own son wanted to be Ironman at age 7, he said, "under a certain age, kids dont know what they want to be."

Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, is the author of the current ban on medication and surgery for children under 16 that applies only to the Medical University of South Carolina. It was inserted in the state budget during last year's debate and is expected to carry over to this year's spending package.

The legislation would expand that ban to all providers statewide and increase the age to 18.

"The entire purpose is to protect innocence of minors," said Kimbrell, the hearing's first speaker. "Over age 18, nobodys saying you cant pursue gender reassignment if you so choose."

Greenhouse pushed back on his comparison to childhood fantasies.

"Kids as young as 4 or 5 are stating consistently theyre not the sex assigned at birth. They know who they are. This is not about thinking youre Ironman," she said. "I have two daughters. One was convinced she was every one of the Disney princesses. Thats not the same thing."

Dr. Elizabeth Mack, a pediatrician in Charleston, said if the bill's purpose it to protect children, it does the opposite.

"If were protecting children, gender-affirming care is the way to go," said the current president of the American Academy of Pediatrics' South Carolina chapter.

Prisha Mosley, a de-transitioning woman, gave a different perspective, recounting in detail the horrors of her transition while growing up in North Carolina and why she regrets it.

She said she started socially transitioning at age 15, such as changing her name and clothes, then began taking testosterone injections at 17 and had her breasts removed at 18.

"Changing the body is not the cure for the mind or mental suffering," she said about the depression, anorexia and other mental health issues she thought transitioning would solve.

"Damage from the testosterone is permanent, and I will not heal from it like I will my eating disorder. Im also suffering from chronic pain" due to hormone-caused redistribution of muscle and fat, she said, adding she's likely infertile. "On top of this, I lost my ability to sing. Gender-affirming care took my voice away."

Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, was quick to point out none of that happened in South Carolina.

Mosley, who has told her story across the nation, declined to answer a reporter's questions after her testimony.

The bill is expected to advance next week to the full Senate Medical Affairs Committee. Its chairman, Danny Verdin of Laurens, is the main sponsor, and 24 of his fellow Republicans have already signed on.

But it is up against a procedural time crunch. Senators have only one more week of floor debate before the so-called crossover deadline. Bills that don't advance from one chamber to another by April 10 must receive a supermajority vote in the receiving chamber to even get considered for passage this year. And senators don't plan to meet on the floor the week before Easter.

Parent Kristen French, who attended the hearing, said the state's existing ban for MUSC, which took effect with the budget July 1, has already derailed care for her daughter before it even began.

"It is having a chilling effect on providers," she said after the meeting.

After the 15-year-old came out to her parents as transgender last October, their longtime pediatrician balked at attempting that care and tried to refer the family to MUSC, where an estimated 150 families were receiving transition services before the pediatric clinic shut down.

The family is still searching.

"If we have to find a doctor out of state, we will," said French, who lives in North Charleston, "because what is most important to me is the health and well-being of my child."

Sen. Kevin Johnson, who's on the Senate subcommittee, said such decisions should stay between a family and their doctors.

"We have young people who are trapped in their own bodies. They want to be who they identify as. I just dont know what that would feel like, and Im glad I dont have to go through that as a parent," said the Manning Democrat. "I just dont understand why parents, along with their children and health care provider, can't make that decision without the state telling them no."

Reporter Tom Corwin contributed from Charleston.
GEORGETOWN  Georgetown Police Chief William Pierce is not requesting additional full-time personnel beyond fulfillment of four frozen vacancies in the upcoming fiscal year, at least no full-time human personnel.

During a March 23 budget retreat, Pierce pointed out to the Georgetown City Council that his department does not have a patrol K9 following the death of one dog and retirement of another.

He also brought to the city's attention the necessity of replacing the department's in-car and body cameras, and finding a boat to enforce the city's maritime field ordinance.

Bringing a patrol K9 onto the force, which involves an eight-week training period for the dog and its officer, would cost about $25,000, Pierce said.

"Properly-trained K9s are huge benefit to law enforcement," Pierce said.

Replacement of aging city equipment and infrastructure was one of the budgetary challenges City Administrator Sandra Yudice identified when she spoke to the Council on March 23.

In his department's capital improvement plan, Pierce said he is requesting replacement of four patrol vehicles and an animal control truck  the latter partially funded by hospitality tax revenue as well as a boat.

The four patrol vehicles, all Ford Crown Victorias with model years between 2005 and 2010, have an average mileage of nearly 120,000. Pierce said his department has 19 vehicles within the city's threshold for replacement.

South Carolina requires the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers, and the department's current in-car and body cameras are WatchGuard brand. WatchGuard was purchased by Motorola Solutions in 2019, and the department's WatchGuard equipment is now "end of life."

"This is a big issue," Pierce said. "We can't do our job, legally, by law, without them."

None of the three options laid out for the Council is cheap, as Pierce acknowledged: his recommendation is for the department to replace its camera equipment with that of California-based company LensLock, would cost just under $300,000 over the next five years.

However, Pierce said, staying with WatchGuard technology or switching to Motorola would each cost about $400,000 over the same period.

As the Georgetown harbormaster does not have the authority to enforce criminal law, Pierce said his department also needs a patrol boat to properly enforce the city's ordinance on anchoring and mooring boats. An 18-foot model Pierce has considered runs $75,000, he said.

Yudice expressed some concern about finding a used boat.

"If it doesn't perform, that would be an issue," Yudice said.
GREENVILLE  One of the Swamp Rabbit Trail's most perilous crossings will soon feature a new safety wrinkle as state work crews install a stoplight traffic system.

The new stoplight at the trails crossing of busy S.C. Highway 253, also known as West Blue Ridge Drive, should be operational sometime in the first week of April, a state Department of Transportation spokeswoman said March 22.

Highway 253, a five-lane commuter highway with a 45 mph speed limit, has long presented a challenge to trail users traveling between the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Sans Souci. A large steel structure with flashing lights warns drivers that trail users are crossing. It doesnt require vehicles to stop, only to be aware and slow down.

But drivers are often confused, with some stopping completely and others not, which creates a false sense of security for trail users. Further adding to confusion is a median where trail users sometimes pause, but that isnt a safe waiting area.

The stoplight, which DOT crews began installing last week, is expected to be operational next week. It will have to flash for five days once complete, agency spokeswoman Ginny Jones told The Post and Courier.

Once that time elapses, the stoplight can be triggered by push button.

Ultimately, radar will track trail users and vehicles and activate the stop signal automatically. That feature won't come until sometime this summer, as the technology is expected to be delivered in June for contractors to install, Jones said.

The signal has been a decade in the works since Frank Mansbach, Bike Walk Greenville executive director, said his group first began to advocate for it. For years, advocates have lobbied the trails owner, Greenville County, for money to install a stoplight, similar to one up the trail at Sulphur Springs Road.

But they faced repeated opposition from former County Councilman Willis Meadows, who represented the district the crossing is within. Meadows lost the Republican primary last summer to new Councilman Benton Blount, who campaigned in support of the stoplight.

The county had considered a plan to create a trail crossing under Highway 253 by way of a drainage culvert, but the project was deemed not functional and would cost $1.2 million.

The stoplight plan accelerated with the help of a private donation and an op-ed by a Bike Walk Greenville advocate that appeared in The Post and Courier and grabbed the attention of DOT leadership, Mansbach said. An anonymous donor gave $99,000 to the Greater Greenville Parks Foundation, which paid for the majority of the nearly $126,000 project, he said.

The longer-range plan is for the trail to cross Highway 253 by way of a bridge. It would be built by the developer of the upcoming On the Trail mixed-use project, a billion-dollar redevelopment of the former Union Bleachery mill that is now underway.

Construction of the bridge is spelled out in a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement between the developer and Greenville County.

The stoplight isnt a panacea for safety.

Two summers ago, a woman was struck and killed by a vehicle in a hit-and-run where the car sped through a red light at the Sulphur Springs Road crossing.

However, the new stoplight at Highway 253 will be different once the radar to activate the signal is installed. The technology will be able to distinguish a cyclist from a pedestrian based on oncoming speed.

At the same time, radar will measure vehicle traffic from as far as 300 feet and determine whether a vehicle shows any signs of slowing to stop. The detection will allow the system to extend the all red time, which delays when to allow traffic to begin moving in any direction.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Mostly clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.
FLORENCE - MUSC Health Florence Medical Center is proud to announce it has been recognized for 20 years of quality patient care as an accredited facility for echocardiography. The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) made the announcement in celebration of the organizations 30-year  Read moreMUSC Health Florence Medical Center 20 years of echocardiography excellence
The Darius Rush Celebration Committee invites the community to a series of events that are being held in honor of Darius Rush, the former CE Murray High School War Eagle turned University of South Carolina Gamecock that is entering the NFL football draft in a few weeks. Read moreWCSD presents Darius Rush Day, parade to be held Friday, April 21
Alex Murdaughs hunting estate on the Salkehatchie River officially has new owners, just weeks after the once-prominent attorney was found guilty of killing his wife and son on the property.

Real estate records filed March 22 show that the nearly 1,800-acre property known as Moselle sold for $3.9 million in a deal that took more than nine months to close.

The sale contract was inked in June 2022, one year and one day after Murdaughs wife, Maggie, and son Paul were shot dead near the propertys dog kennels. But finalizing the deal was complicated by the web of competing claims for the Murdaugh familys assets.

Murdaugh, 54, is accused of stealing millions from his legal clients and others who trusted him. And after Paul allegedly crashed the familys boat, killing one friend and injuring others, Murdaugh and his surviving son, Buster, were also facing a civil lawsuit.

The proceeds from selling Moselle, which was held in Maggies name, will largely benefit the boat crash victims. That group includes the family of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, who was killed by the crash. Under a settlement approved in January, funds will also cover Maggies debts, a $530,000 inheritance for Buster and a $275,000 payment into a settlement fund for victims of Murdaughs alleged financial crimes.

Moselle was a central character in Murdaughs six-week trial on murder charges. On March 1, the day before they found him guilty, jurors visited the property, viewing the cramped room where Paul was blasted with a shotgun and the overhang where Maggie was gunned down with a rifle.

The jury heard about how 22-year-old Paul was passionate about caring for the property and how he spent some of his final hours surveying the land with his father. They heard how he and his friends hunted all manner of game  hogs and deer, ducks and quail  and fished throughout the estate. They also heard that Maggie, 52, often avoided staying at Moselle on summer nights like the one on which she died, put off by the bugs and humidity.

Late in the trial, as the case captured the national fascination, Murdaugh defense attorney Dick Harpootlian complained that the property had become a sort of morbid tourist attraction. Harpootlian said trespassers were sneaking up to the former crime scene to take selfies.

Its unclear what will become of the property now. The new owners  Murdaughs former neighbor, Jeffrey Godley of Islandton, and James Ayer of Ehrhardt  have not said how they plan to use the land. Reached March 24, Godley declined to comment.
PEMBROKE, Ga.  Whoever said crime doesnt pay hasnt been to an auction for the household items of a convicted double-murderer.

In an aluminum-sided warehouse on March 23, dozens of people paid good money for the flotsam and jetsam from Alex Murdaughs hunting estate, where his wife Maggie and youngest son Paul were shot to death with a shotgun and rifle.

Less than three hours after Alex Murdaughs trial for their murders ended on March 2, the jurys verdict came down like the auctioneers hammer: Guilty.

A few weeks later, trucks from Liberty Auction rolled onto the remote estate and carted off the artifacts of a family.

They ranged from the mundane to the macabre: bath towels, coolers, a vacuum cleaner; a gun case, a rifle cleaner, a box of the type of ammo Maggie was shot with.

Lori Mattingly owns Liberty Auction, an outfit as big as an airplane hangar off the side of a wooded road 35 miles west of Savannah. She said most items she sells come from wealthy families in the Hilton Head area who are moving houses and want to overhaul their look.

Although Pembroke, Ga., is an hour-and-a-half away from Moselle, the Murdaugh lot came her way because of Liberty's sterling reputation, she said, as well as a mutual acquaintance  another example of how far the Murdaugh social network extended.

Mattingly said the event had attracted four times as many people as her usual Thursday afternoons  and that was hours before the bidding even began.

"There's just so many people here, and so many people that want anything that came out of that house," Mattingly said. "I don't understand. This is the world we live in."

By 4 p.m., when the auctioneer finally started his singsong, at least 500 people crowded between long tables piled with pillows, waders and duck decoys to try for a piece of history they could show to friends and visitors.

The cooler went for only $50. But the pheasant feather wreath sold for $275, the shellacked turtle shell lamp $500 and the mounted longhorns more than $10,000.

Living room set

Among the crowd milling around before the action started, fanning themselves with their fluorescent lime bidding cards, few confessed to being obsessed with the Murdaugh case.

The consensus among those hanging out on the Murdaughs leather living room set was that most auction attendees probably wanted to resell stuff on eBay.

Still, one woman couldnt help herself; she rooted around in the chair cushion and pulled out a sock.

The spectators cheered.

Think theyll find the blue shirt in there? a man quipped.

No one needed to explain the joke. The collared shirt Alex Murdaugh had been wearing on the day his wife and son were killed is missing, presumably stashed or destroyed.

Lenora Brooks, a green-eyeshadowed collector whod come 200 miles from Belton, S.C., to the event, stroked the soft caramel skin of the sofa.

So this is where Voldemort slept, she said, referring to the arch villain of the Harry Potter series. Then she kicked off her shoes and propped her bare feet on Alex Murdaughs ottoman.

More Murdaugh

The number of people the auction attracted speaks to how fascinated some remain with the Murdaugh saga, which has unspooled in the media for more than four years.

Its like a novel, said Angie Carothers, a wide-eyed blonde who drove about 130 miles from Charleston to pore over the Murdaughs possessions. Carothers had also driven the 50 miles to Walterboro every day during the six-week trial, pleased she was able to get a seat in the courthouse.

"He looks like a Southern gentleman, he looks like somebody that you would meet on the street and love to talk to. But looks are deceiving," Carothers said.

For those who yearned for more Murdaugh, the familys possessions offered new insight into their psyches, new opportunities for analysis.

Did Alex Murdaugh, who is also accused of stealing almost $9 million from people who trusted him, ever stand before The Man in the Glass and reflect on the framed poems message, that being "king for a day" didn't matter as much as what the man in the mirror "has to say"?

Who killed the rattlesnakes, and were their dried-out tails always displayed beside the Thanksgiving platter?

What can be understood from the book collection: the Bible, property law, John Grisham, Barack Obama, Flannery OConnor, "Christ the Center"?

Was that really a harpoon?

If the jumble of items drew a clearer picture of any character it was of Maggie Murdaugh, a person at the heart of the drama but somehow outside it. An astonishing number of items the auction truck hauled away from her country home were seasonal decorations: dishes and bowls, mugs and doilies, baskets and figurines.

"I don't think Maggie worked for a living, so I'm sure she just decorated," said Brooks, pointing to stacks of dishes for every holiday.

Presumably, everything else  the camouflage neck pillows, the wasps nests, the string of plastic deer lights  belonged to the boys.

What happens to the money?

While they waited for cheeseburgers at the snack bar or bounced babies on their knees, several people noted that the entire spectacle, despite its county fair-feel, came from tragedy.

In a way, the red velvet Christmas tree skirt and the king bed made of sticks began making their way to the auction block in February 2019, when Paul Murdaugh allegedly crashed his familys boat, filled with friends, into a bridge near Parris Island.

The impact threw several passengers into the water of Archers Creek in the middle of the night, injuring some and killing 19-year-old Mallory Beach, who was found dead in a marsh a week later.

The crash drew widespread scrutiny to the Murdaughs, whose family law practice and control of a local prosecutor's office wielded wealth and power in South Carolina for three generations.

It also resulted in charges for Paul Murdaugh; a civil lawsuit against Alex Murdaugh; and a civil lawsuit against Buster Murdaugh, accused of giving his drivers license to his younger brother, who used it to buy beer the day of the crash.

Their family's furnishings are being sold, in part, to settle those claims.

In a complicated settlement agreement approved in January, Buster Murdaugh agreed to part with most of the money he would have inherited from his mothers estate when Moselle and its items were sold.

The recent $3.9 million sale of the nearly 1,800-acre property will cover most of the fixed expenses: legal fees, debts and a $275,000 contribution to a settlement fund for victims of Alex Murdaughs alleged financial crimes, as well as the $530,000 inheritance Buster Murdaugh will still receive.

Anything left over will be shared by the Beach family and two passengers in the 2019 boat crash, Morgan Doughty and Miley Altman.

Thanks to the Pembroke auction, those assets will include $10 and $15 for a couple of extra-long sleeping bags, $50 for a men's jacket. Dan Stone bought those for his son, who's 6 feet 5 inches, even though the college student said he didn't want a murderer's coat.

"I'll just mix it in with the laundry and in a few weeks he won't know the difference," said Stone.

But the items with more frisson fetched a much higher price: $1,600 for the rustic king bed; $750 for the framed poem; $300 for the box of shell casings; and a whopping $36,000 for the leather living room set, where Alex Murdaugh claimed he was napping while his wife and child were gunned down outside.

That number was more than even those with an appraising eye expected. A connoisseur of high-end furniture who declined to give her name to the newspaper estimated it would go for $7,500, given the Hancock and Moore set's retail value of around $20,000.

Long before the auction ended around 11 p.m., she flipped over a couch cushion to confirm it was made of real leather. Below the pillow was a layer of pale dog hair, likely from the family's yellow labs.

The dozen or so people who had gathered around the set considered the mess and agreed it was surprising the auction house hadn't vacuumed it up, along with polishing the headrest on the recliner discolored by the grease of someone's hair.

But on second thought, these imperfections seemed exactly the point, evidence of the original owners that made the random collection of stuff intriguing enough to wave the hand high and bid on a piece of lot 3-35.

Thad Moore contributed to this report from Charleston.
LITTLE RIVER  S.C. Department of Natural Resource files reveal more details about missing duck hunter Tyler Doyle's disappearance and the search operation, which is about to enter its third month.

Doyle, a 22-year-old husband and father to-be, disappeared after his boat capsized while duck hunting in Little River Inlet.

The search area so far has included Little River Inlet by the South Carolina-North Carolina border, south toward Cherry Grove in Horry County and north into Sunset and Holden beaches in Brunswick County, N.C.

"We don't have an end date," DNR spokesman Greg Lucas said regarding the search. "We are still hoping for a recovery."

The state agency confirmed Doyle's body has not been recovered. Doyle's family did not respond for comment.

The agency recently released witness testimonies, call logs, incident reports from Jan. 26 and photos of Doyle's items that have been found so far, including Doyle's waders and wallet. Doyle's wallet included several credit/debit cards, his DNR hunting license, a couple of business cards and $405 in cash.

The agency also identified Christian Holden of Aynor as the hunter with Doyle on Jan. 26. Holden did not respond to a comment request.

DNR's records support the agency's report from last month, which ruled out foul play in Doyle's disappearance. The case is being considered a hunting/boating accident.

Doyle was duck hunting when he dropped off Holden near the north jetty so he could scout and put out decoys. In rough seas that led to a small-craft advisory, Doyle called Holden to say the motor on his 16-foot jon boat stopped running and started taking on water.

This account is supported by witness statements and DNR's boating accident report.

Doyle never called 911, but he called Holden and another off-site friend, Brandon Tyler of Loris, and asked them to call for help.

Holden tried to call the U.S. Coast Guard twice before calling 911 at 4:51 p.m. and 4:59 p.m., according to his call log.

When Holden called 911, he said Doyle called him freaking out because the boat was sinking. Doyles boat drifted out of sight past the jetties toward the ocean.

When Holden called 911 again, he said the boat he eventually flagged down could not reach Doyle like he hoped. DNR's report includes both of these accounts.

When Doyle called Holden at 4:45 p.m., Holden said Doyle was "panicking" about how his boat engine would not run.

"He was more frantic and said his boat was about to go under," Holden's witness statement read. "I told him to go through everything he could do to get the motor running. (...) I tried calling Tyler (Doyle) back at 4:57 p.m. and the call went straight to voicemail."

While these 911 calls were made, Doyle reportedly called another boat mechanic to "see what remedial actions he could do to remedy the situation," according to DNR's report.

"Tyler (Doyle) was under a great deal of duress as his boat was swamped," the report states.

Rescue crews picked up Holden off the jetty, and they found Doyles boat mostly submerged with the bow up. Doyle reportedly was swept into the current near the state border. He was last seen wearing camouflaged waders and a green camo shirt, according to DNR.

This comes two weeks after Horry County Fire Rescue and 911 Dispatch released incident reports and 911 call recordings that also supported the state agency's report ruling out foul play.

The Department of Natural Resources is getting assistance from the Brunswick County, N.C.; Sheriffs Office; N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; nonprofit search-and-rescue group Wings of Hope; Doyle's family; and other volunteers. North Myrtle Beach Rescue Squad, Horry Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard also have helped.
There are crimes of opportunity, but some opportunities are downright criminal. Or at least thats one way insurance experts and police are explaining the national spike of auto thefts in recent years.

According to QuoteWizard, an insurance comparison platform, more than 2.3 million vehicles were stolen nationwide over the past three years. The FBI said nearly 220,000 cars were stolen nationally during the first nine months of 2022  a 40,000 vehicle increase from the same period in 2021.

Reasons for the uptick vary, as the increase actually began more than a decade ago. But it has accelerated since 2020.

The amount of cars produced, and car parts, dwindled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising the value of both. The law of supply and demand applied, prompting criminals to increasingly target vehicles in order to see a bigger return for their efforts.

The pandemic played a huge role in the rising number of car thefts, said Nick Vinzant, a senior research analyst for QuickWizard. The problem has gotten so bad that were even seeing some insurance companies say theyll no longer cover certain cars in certain cities.

Vinzant is alluding to the staggering proliferation of Hyundais and Kias stolen across America thanks in part to social media.

Charleston Vehicle Thefts 2021 2022 2023 Total Vehicles stolen 470 504 79 1,053 Stolen vehicles recovered 299 380 57 736 % Vehicles recovered within two weeks 48.5% 54.4% 65.8% 52.6%





Last summer, videos demonstrating how to start some Kias and Hyundais using a USB charger went viral on TikTok, leading to a rash of thefts in some cities. In Chicago alone, the number of Kias and Hyundais stolen rose from 551 during the first half of 2022 to 6,250 during the remainder of the year.

Twenty-three state attorneys general wrote a letter to the carmakers on March 20 demanding the companies take action to stop a crisis of thefts. The crux of the letter was a failure for the vehicles to have factory-equipped anti-theft immobilizers.

A spokesperson for Hyundai Motor Co.  the parent entity for the HYundai and Kia brands  said the company is committed to the quality and integrity of our products and plans to continue supporting the communities affected by this theft issue. He also said all vehicles meet federal anti-theft requirements.

Kia and Hyundai had already announced changes such as warning stickers, longer alarms and a software upgrade designed to prevent vehicles from starting during methods popularized in the videos.

Unlocked doors, keys left in plain sight, vehicles parked in either casually supervised or completely unwatched areas  there is a litany of habits they say can easily be corrected with just a moments pause and a little effort.

In almost 50 percent of cases, people just forgot to lock their doors or left a window open, said VinZant said. We found that car thefts have risen the most in areas where theres more opportunity. Big cities with lots of vehicles and rural areas where people might not be in the habit of locking everything up.

Regardless of the circumstances  whether thefts were easy pickings or the culprits had to labor for their bounty  more and more vehicles have been stolen in recent years.

Its part of a decadelong trend that has seen auto thefts increase in 30 states even before how-to videos hit the web. That includes the national-high 144-percent spike Colorado has experienced since 2011 and a 125-percent increase in South Dakota.

South Carolina hasnt been hit quite as hard, although it could be bracing for a surge.

The Palmetto State saw a 3 percent dip in auto thefts since 2011, with 282 cars stolen for every 100,000 people in 2020  one fewer than its 10-year average. Yet its a ratio that ranked South Carolina 13th nationally, ahead of more highly populated states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Ohio. Even Florida averaged only 176 auto thefts per 100,000 people in 2020 despite having a population more than four times the size of South Carolinas.

The rub for the Palmetto State: Experts say those larger states arent really doing anything extraordinary to stymie thieves beyond stressing the normal precautions.

And thats been the approach at the municipal level.

A report from the Charleston Police Department indicated that from Jan. 1 to March 20 this year, car thefts inside the city are down 26 percent when compared with the same periods over the previous two years. And the 12-month total between 2021 to 2022 only rose slightly, going from 468 in 2021 to 496 in 2022  an increase of less than 6 percent.

The biggest reason to at least tread water even as more people continue to flock to the Holy City? Emphasizing a message that says dont make it easy for would-be thieves.

One trend we constantly see from reported stolen vehicles on a routine basis are keys or key fobs being left in unlocked vehicles while unattended, said Sgt. Will Dillahey of the Charleston Police Department. From January 2021 until March 2023, 65 percent of all vehicles that were stolen were due to vehicles being unlocked and keys or key fobs being left inside the vehicle. This statistic is extremely unfortunate since the majority of motor vehicle thefts in the city of Charleston are preventable.
Highlights

The European Investment Bank will grant a 600 million loan to German utility EnBW.

The He Dreiht wind farm with a capacity of 960 MW will provide 1.1 million households with green electricity.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is supporting the construction of the large new He Dreiht wind farm with a 600 million loan for the German utility Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG (EnBW). The wind farm in the German part of the North Sea will consist of 64 wind turbines, each with a 15 MW capacity, providing 1.1 million households with green electricity. The overall cost of the project will be 2.4 billion.

EnBW is an experienced developer and operator of offshore wind farms. The He Dreiht wind farm will be located in the German Exclusive Economic Zone of the North Sea, around 90 km northwest of the island of Borkum and 110 km west of Helgoland. Nearby, EnBW already operates the Hohe See and Albatros offshore wind farms. The new wind farm will benefit from this close proximity and EnBW's existing service hub in the coastal city of Emden.

The Dutch-German power grid operator TenneT will build the grid connection with an offshore converter station and two HVDC export cables, which will span a distance of 120 km underwater and 110 km onshore.

Construction is expected to last for two years and nine months. Installation works are scheduled to run from April to August 2024, and turbine and cable installation from April to August 2025. The grid connection date is scheduled for December 2025, with commercial operations also starting in late 2025.

EnBW's suppliers are market leading companies such as turbine manufacturer Vestas. Its 15 MW turbines are an upgrade of the existing 10 MW flagship turbines. Steelwind Nordenham will provide the monopiles and Sif/Smulders the transition pieces. Heerema will lay the foundations in the seabed and Seaway will lay the inter-array cables. All the suppliers have a strong track record of delivering large-scale projects in the offshore wind sector.

EIB-Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle, who is responsible for overseeing projects in Germany, says: "We are proud to have been among the first investors in offshore wind farms, and will continue to support the development and rollout of this technology. This large offshore wind farm that can provide electricity to more than1 million households is good news for the green energy transition, which is a top priority for the EIB as the EU climate bank."

EnBW Chief Financial Officer Thomas Kusterer says: "The EIB already supported EnBW as a lender for our first offshore wind farms EnBW Baltic 1 in 2011 and EnBW Baltic 2 two years later. For more than a decade, EnBW has demonstrated its offshore wind competence by commissioning an installed capacity of 976 MW to date. The 600 million loan from the EIB for our new 960 MW He Dreiht wind farm is key to securing long-term financing for the largest fully merchant offshore wind project in Germany so far. As one of the world's largest financiers of climate protection measures and ecological sustainability, the EIB's continued commitment underpins its confidence in EnBW's sustainable corporate strategy."

Background information

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment to contribute towards EU policy goals. The EIB's activities focus on the following priority areas: climate and environment, development, innovation and skills, small and medium-sized businesses, infrastructure and cohesion. The EIB works closely with other EU institutions to foster European integration, promote the development of the European Union and support EU policies in over 140 countries around the world.

EIB and energy security: Over the past decade, the European Investment Bank Group has channelled more than 100 billion into the EU energy sector. These timely investments in energy efficiency, renewables, grids and storage are now helping Member States weather the crisis triggered by the abrupt cut in Russian gas supplies. In October 2022, the EIB's Board of Directors decided to raise the Group's clean energy financing volumes in support of the REPowerEU objective of ending Europe's dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports. An additional 30 billion will be invested over the next five years, on top of the EIB's already robust support for clean energy. It is estimated that the REPowerEU package will mobilise an additional 115 billion by 2027, thus making a substantial contribution to Europe's energy independence and the EIB Group's target to mobilise 1 trillion in climate finance this decade.

Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG (EnBW) is one of the largest utility companies in Germany and Europe and employs around 27 000 people. It supplies electricity, gas and water as well as infrastructure and energy-related products and services to around 5.5 million customers. The expansion of renewable energies in Germany and selected foreign markets is a central element of EnBW's growth strategy. Since the start of its realignment in 2012, EnBW has invested around 6 billion in the expansion of renewable energies. By the end of 2025, EnBW will obtain 50% of its generation portfolio from renewable energies. This is already having a noticeable effect on reducing CO2 emissions. EnBW aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2035.

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NORTH CHARLESTON  There's quite a bit of work that goes into getting a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For North Charleston's Liberty Hill neighborhood, which spans nine blocks in South Carolina's third-largest city, the process began a few months back with submitting a preliminary form to the S.C. Department of Archives and History.

The neighborhood, established in 1871 as an African American settlement community, is now examining about 30 buildings that may date back to the early- and mid-20th century to help make its case for national historic designation.

Next, the community will submit its official application to the Archives and History Department, which would then send the form before a state review board for initial approval. Finally, Liberty Hill would need an OK from the National Park Service, which administers the National Register program.

Doing a large district like that is a significant undertaking," said Virginia Harness with the Archives and History Department.

Thankfully, a group of about 20 college students, led by a professor who hails from Liberty Hill, is helping the neighborhood in its push to preserve its history.

This past week, students from Bowie State University, a historically Black school in Maryland, spent their spring break helping the North Charleston neighborhood prepare its lengthy nomination. The work involved analyzing and answering questions about the 30 buildings and how the structures are relevant to the mid-1900s. Students also began digitizing more than 100 obituaries and property records. The digitized documents will also be used to create a website where people can access information about Liberty Hill's history.

A long-term goal for the neighborhood is to create a "virtual Liberty Hill" where guests can, for example, click on a particular piece of land and learn about that space's history, such as which family lived there and how the family contributed to the neighborhood's progress.

Bowie University senior David Bryant, a Detroit native, noted the school's alternative spring break theme this year is "Black resistance to cultural erosion." That idea is what inspired him to spend his break in the Lowcountry.

Bryant had never heard of Liberty Hill and said he feels it is especially important to preserve and promote Black history in today's political climate characterized by efforts to limit teachings of African American contributions.

"To see the things they're fighting for gives me a lot of encouragement," he said of the neighborhood. "I want to take our history serious."

A rich past

Though it was officially formed in 1871, Liberty Hill dates back a few years earlier around the end of the Civil War. Paul and Heriot Trescott, free people of color, owned 112 acres in 1864 and they sold the land to Ishmael Grant, Aaron Middleton, and brothers Plenty and William Lecque.

The goal was to provide a place where the formerly enslaved could create a settlement where they could live and thrive. The founders designated an acre at the southeast corner for the "African Church" (now St. Peters AME Church) to be built.

Throughout the next century, the descendants built homes, established businesses and raised families amid the social and economic oppression in the Jim Crow South.

Around 1970, things began to change for the worse in Liberty Hill. Desegregation, the widening of East Montague Avenue, the closure of the former Charleston Naval Base, and the rise in crime all led to the decline of the community.

In recent years, about a dozen grassroots organizations in the neighborhood have been focused on revitalizing the community by securing land for affordable housing, repairing the homes of senior citizens and organizing an annual homecoming that welcomes families back to celebrate Liberty Hill's powerful past.

Among these groups is the Liberty Hill Improvement Council, which has been recently focused on trying to get the neighborhood a spot on the National Register.

Julius Davis, a Liberty Hill native and professor of mathematics education at Bowie State, heard about the effort through a relative. The college professor didn't think twice about inviting students to his hometown.

The weeklong expedition was made by possible by $50,000 in donations from the school. The trip began March 17-18 with a tour of the Liberty Hill Community Heritage Room, a display of the neighborhood's journey located inside the new North Charleston Intermodal Transportation Center. Students met with community leaders to map out a plan for cataloging the historical work.

Students then went to St. Helena Island, where they spent a few days learning about the Gullah-Geechee culture from Chieftess Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

On March 23, the students returned to North Charleston, where they were greeted by Liberty Hill community leaders with a large spread of seafood before they delved into an evening of archival work at the Improvement Council's headquarters in Liberty Hill.

Davis, also the founding director of Bowie State's Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers, said it was important to return home and give back to the community that raised him.

The focus of the trip was to study Gullah-Geechee culture, he said. It was important for students to do a critical service learning project that has an impact on the community. The preservation work will help protect the neighborhood's rich historical legacy, he said.

"Liberty Hill represents our effort to be free," Davis said.

Fending off gentrification

Valarie Harper Young's grandparents operated a grocery store and her father ran a gas station that was frequently visited by neighborhood children looking for treats in the mid-1900s. Today, Young serves as president of the Improvement Council, which is focused on a number of issues that include preserving the neighborhood's rich history, repairing homes of seniors and promoting affordable housing.

In addition to its effort to get listed on the National Register, the neighborhood has also been in conversation with the city about possibly creating an overlay district that would encourage neighborhood-friendly development, she said.

Ultimately, they hope a National Register listing would make way for grants and other types of funding that could be used to improve the conditions of the homes of elderly residents, which the council sees as one solution to displacement.

Currently, Liberty Hill is surrounded by new development, and property values in the community have risen significantly over the past few decades. The community wants its most vulnerable members to be able to afford to continue to live in Liberty Hill.

The neighborhood's improvement council submitted a preliminary information form to the S.C. Department of Archives and History last year. The agency responded favorably to this initial step for historic recognition, Harness said.

Liberty Hill's long history as a hub for African American life makes it a strong candidate for a National Register historic district, Harness said. It is important to note that though the state helps facilitate the process, the register listing program is administrated by the federal government, not the state. So ultimately, it'll be up to the National Park Service whether Liberty Hill is named a national historic place, she said.

One challenge with getting a spot on the national list is having existing facilities that were present during the period of significance, Harness said.

There are few places in Liberty Hill that existed in the late 19th century, around the time Liberty Hill was formed. St. Peter's AME and the adjacent cemetery are one of only a few examples of places that can be tied to that early period.

As the neighborhood seeks national historic designation, it'll be important to highlight its later history throughout the mid-1900s, Harness said.

"That early history will be acknowledged but will be important to discuss the longer history of Liberty Hill into the early mid-20th century," she said.

Other African American sites in the Lowcountry have found success in this regard. The Phillips community, established along a creek in the 1870s in Mount Pleasant, is now pending a national listing, Harness said.

"That was a first test balloon to see how might we approach it and get these places listed," she said.

Funding is also available for Black communities seeking historic designation. The nomination for Mosquito Beach, established for Blacks during Jim Crow segregation near Folly Beach, was made possible in part by African American Civil Rights Grant offered by the National Park Service.
The country we love can do two things at once: We can make sure life is protected, and we can protect the rights of women.

This should be something that brings us together. So, imagine my dismay when members of the S.C. Legislature recently introduced a bill to give rapists more rights than rape victims. Under South Carolina law, the bill would make women who have an abortion eligible for the death penalty.

You read that right. Some S.C. lawmakers are so pro-life, they want to extend the death penalty to women who have been raped.

I think we may have to disagree after all.

Life is sacred and should be valued. But being pro-life does not mean we cant be pro-woman, or vice versa. I refuse to pick one over the other when we can be both.

In fact, I heard from a constituent the other day who left the Republican Party years ago over this issue; this person identifies as pro-choice but believes in gestational limits at 14 weeks.

I have discovered that when we have these conversations  whether you call yourself pro-life, pro-choice, pro-abortion or anti-abortion  many of us actually agree on more than we realize.

Of course, blame goes both ways. Those who support third-trimester abortions wont give any ground. Abortion without restrictions would be equally disgusting as banning abortions with no exceptions.

At the same time, some do not want any reasonable exceptions; Ive heard complaints about women being allowed to travel out of state to have an abortion; Ive heard some talk about how women shouldnt have access to birth control over the counter.

While the extremes of the conversation have radicalized the debate, the American people have made it clear: They expect better from those who represent them.

As promised, Ive been working on commonsense solutions we can implement now.

One of the first bills I filed this Congress would provide resources for medical care, prenatal care and legal assistance to mothers who want to give their baby up for adoption.

South Carolina has entire communities without a single OB/GYN doctor. So, Im working on another bill to get more OB/GYN nurses into rural areas. This can provide needed care to all women, regardless of where they live.

If we are serious about reducing the number of abortions, then we must be serious about reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies. Enter birth control.

I recently introduced a bill to waive the fees and cut the time in half for companies trying to get FDA approval for self-administered birth control, giving more choices to women to fit their needs.

I will be introducing another bill to allow adult women to access contraceptives over the counter if they have been approved by the FDA. Again, empowering women and eliminating the need for a number of abortions each year.

Im working on foster care legislation too. Who will take care of the unwanted children in states where abortions are banned?

In response to state lawmakers who want to execute women, I am proposing a federal bill to classify the death penalty, as retribution for having an abortion, as cruel and unusual punishment. This should go without saying, but here we are.

Soon, I will also unveil legislation to address the huge backlog of unprocessed rape kits in our country. We have more than 100,000 rape kits sitting on shelves somewhere waiting to be processed.

Women are looking to lawmakers at one of the most pivotal moments in our nations history. History will not be kind to those who buried their heads in the sand. History will not be kind to those who refused to seek common ground.

We can offer meaningful solutions and be practical at the same time. We can give women the tools to avoid an abortion while also offering women all the resources they need if an unplanned pregnancy occurs.

We can pick pragmatism over extremism. We can listen to the other side instead of dismissing it. We can pick a winning strategy over a losing one.

Its time.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace represents the 1st Congressional District.

Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.
Charleston, SC (29403)

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Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
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RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that securities class action complaints have been filed against Credit Suisse Group AG ("Credit Suisse") (NYSE:CS). The complaints charge Credit Suisse with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Credit Suisse's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Credit Suisse's investors have suffered significant losses.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CREDIT SUISSE LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/credit-suisse-group-ag?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=cs&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERELEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE:MAY 8, 2023CLASS PERIOD: MARCH 10, 2022 THROUGH MARCH 20, 2023CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.CREDIT SUISSE'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCTOn March 10, 2022, Credit Suisse filed with the SEC its 2021 annual report on a Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021. The 2021 annual report failed to identify any material weaknesses with Credit Suisse's internal controls.On December 1, 2022, Credit Suisse's Chairman, Axel P. Lehmann ("Lehmann") stated in an interview with Financial Times that customer outflows had not only "completely flattened out," but had, in fact, "partially reversed." The following day, in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Lehmann reiterated his previous statements, reassuring investors that as of November 11, 2022, customer outflows had "basically stopped." Following Lehmann's statements, Credit Suisse's American Depository Share ("ADS") price rose $0.29 per ADS, or 9.36%, to close at $3.38 per ADS on December 2, 2022.Then on February 9, 2023, Credit Suisse issued a press release announcing its 2022 financial results. The press release revealed that, contrary to Lehmann's prior statements, large customer outflows had continued through year-end 2022. Specifically, the press release reported customer outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations. Following this news, Credit Suisse's ADS price fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023.On February 21, 2023, Reuters reported that the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority was reviewing Lehmann's previous comments regarding customer outflows. Following this news, Credit Suisse's ADS price fell another $0.10 per ADS, or 3.31%, to close at $2.92 per ADS on February 21, 2023.Then on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, Credit Suisse issued its annual 2022 report and revealed that it had identified "certain material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting" for the years 2021 and 2022. Additionally, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the chairman of Credit Suisse's largest shareholder, Saudi National Bank, which holds 9.88% of Credit Suisse, announced that it won't provide further financial support to Credit Suisse and that it would not buy more shares on regulatory grounds.Following this news, the price of Credit Suisse ADSs fell 13.94% to close at $2.16 per ADS on March 15, 2023.Finally, on March 20, 2023, Credit Suisse issued an announcement on Form 6-K of its merger agreement with Union Bank of Switzerland and that Union Bank of Switzerland would be the surviving entity upon closing of the merger transaction.Following this news, the price of Credit Suisse ADSs fell 52.99% to close at $0.9450 per ADS on March 20, 2023.WHAT CAN I DO?Credit Suisse investors may, no later than May 8, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Credit Suisse investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The first class action complaint against Credit Suisse, Calhoun v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al. Case No. 23-cv-01297, is filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey before the Honorable Karen McGlashan Williams.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaints were not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT:Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPJonathan Naji, Esq.280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087(484) 270-1453info@ ktmc.com SOURCE: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 8, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE: CS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 10, 2022 and March 15, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Credit Suisse and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court by May 8, 2023.About the LawsuitsCredit Suisse and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On February 9, 2023, the Company announced its 2022 financial results, disclosing that, contrary to its prior statements, it had continued to experience large customer outflows through yearend 2022, specifically, outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023. Then, on March 15, 2023, news media sources revealed that the Company's "biggest backer," Saudi National Bank, would not buy any more of the Company's shares on regulatory grounds. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell 13.94% to close at $2.16 per ADS.The case is Calhoun v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01297.A subsequently-filed case, Turner v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01476, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Its unfortunate we had to take this step, but from a business perspective, it was something that we just had to do, First Majestic Silver Chief Operating Officer Steve Holmes said about the closure of the Jerritt Canyon Mine north of Elko, which was announced on March 20.

A number of factors led to the decision, including lower than expected head grades and an extremely harsh winter that amplified issues with the mines old open-air processing plant.

In an interview with BNN Bloomberg, First Majestic President and CEO Keith Neumeyer said that in hindsight the right decision probably would have been to close the mine when First Majestic bought it from Sprott Mining in April 2021, so that they could have worked through all the issues with mine and then reopened it.

He said he did not like the like the idea of letting the workforce go when First Majestic purchased the mine, but over the past two years a variety of issues have become increasingly apparent.

Were optimistic still, Neumeyer said. Were not abandoning the asset. It just needs to be reset.

Neumeyer told Bloomberg that at other First Majestic mines the company employs the people who do the day-to-day mining, but at Jerritt Canyon the mine was faced with a variety of issues in dealing with the contractors.

We inherited some contractors that we just really have not been able to bring to our standards, Neumeyer said. The cost structures within their groups were just enormous.

He said they tried renegotiations but were not able to get costs down and to stop bad practices that were inherent in this operation for a long, long time.

Neumeyer said that Sprott Mining was a private company, and when First Majestic took over as a public company and brought in their standards and procedures, they were met with a lot of resistance.

Holmes, on the other hand, said that people working at Jerritt Canyon have made a lot of positive contributions to the mine over the past two years.

The people have worked really hard at Jerritt to make Jerritt Canyon successful, Holmes said.

He said many of the people working at the mine understand the need to take a step back and make some changes.

Theyre disappointed, because the people who work at Jerritt really love Jerritt Canyon, Holmes said. It has a great culture. Everybody knows everybody and people work hard and theyre very dedicated. But they also know that the facilities are 40 years old. And theyre the guys that are out there in this weather trying to move the ore and trying to un-bottleneck the plant, and the plant just basically freezes up, and you have to unfreeze it  so they understand.

First Majestic purchased Jerritt Canyon from Sprott Mining Inc. for around $470 million in shares, and Neumeyer said that in the past two years First Majestic has invested around $160 million in improvements.

Holmes said a major focus of the improvements has been the environmental management systems at the mine.

Neumeyer said they estimated that making additional needed improvements would likely require somewhere in the order of another $100 million under the current structure, and quite frankly the structure is wrong.

Taylor Dart at Seeking Alpha said in commentary about First Majestic and Jerritt Canyon that one of the problems encountered at the mine has been that grades came in well below planned levels, with average feed grades in FY2021 and FY2022 of 4.0 grams per ton of gold vs. planned grades of 6.6 grams per ton of gold. This is the difference in more than $130/ton in rock value, and when operating costs rise more than $30/ton vs. planned levels, this is a huge issue.

Neumeyer said that there was just a lot of waste coming out of the mine, a lot of dilution. The grades hitting the mill wasnt what was coming out of the mine.

Holmes said that the ore grade has turned out to be quite a bit lower than what was originally indicated to First Majestic.

You can imagine if youre trying to run underground operations at 4 grams or 4  grams CIL feed grade, thats pretty tough, Holmes said. Jerritt Canyon will ride again, but not today. Weve got to retrench and understand the ore body and then optimize the plans to get it, and thats going to take a while.

Exploration will continue, along with evaluation of how operations at the mine should be structured when Jerritt Canyon reopens. First Majestic said that during the shutdown period they also have plans to explore for new regional discoveries and expand current known reserves and resources, analyze the optimization of bulk mining and cost-effective mining methods, convert inferred and indicated resources into measured resources, reduce mining costs through adopting self-perform mining and improve contractor rates and terms, and continue modernizing the processing plant to be able to better withstand severe weather conditions.

In the Bloomberg interview, when asked about the timeline for getting Jerritt Canyon reopened, Neumeyer said, Were going to give it a year at least.

Its pretty hard to say, Holmes said. Because who knows what the gold price is going to do and who knows what their exploration is going to define. There are a lot of unknowns. When someone says, when do you restart, well, nobody knows for sure. But the orebody and the ore potential at Jerritt Canyon is still significant. So one day it will come back.

Employees in transition

The decision to temporarily close the mine affects a lot of people in Elko County, since Jerritt Canyon, the only currently operating mine in Elko County, employed about 600 people  around 300 directly employed by First Majestic, and around 300 employed by contractors, primarily Small Mine Development.

Some of the contract workers began to leave the mine a few days after the announcement.

Keith Jones, general manager of SMD, the longtime contractor for the Lee Smith and SSX underground mines, said on March 22 that he still doesnt have final numbers for layoffs with the suspension of mining.

Weve been asked to maintain a small presence for care and maintenance of the underground mines and to support exploration drilling, he said. First Majestic is not in bankruptcy, so they want an orderly shutdown, and conditions left in a secure fashion for potential restart in the future.

There was still a little mining being done on March 22 but ore development had stopped, and he expected actual mining to end by that night, but there is still work to be done to be sure there arent any booby traps, Jones said.

That work includes backfilling and bolting where needed and dewatering for any underground exploration.

Its fairly chaotic, Jones said.

SMD has had roughly 200 employees at Jerritt Canyon, and he said that obviously, its unfortunate. We know were going to have to lay off some people. I feel bad but it is beyond our control.

SMD is continuing to look at how many employees can be moved to other sites where SMD is mining or developing underground projects, as well, Jones said.

Many of the people directly employed by First Majestic will continue to work at the mine through May 19, Holmes said. After that, the number of people working at the mine will probably be down to around 70.

It will take us about six weeks to process out all the ore and deal with the work in process like the carbon columns and clean up, Holmes said. So sometime close to the end of April, we should pretty well be wound down with the plant. And then well put the plant in care and maintenance, since this is just a temporary suspension of operational activities.

He said it could take a couple of months for mining contractors SMD and Redpath to remove their equipment.

As the shutdown process progresses, some of the First Majestic employees may leave as they get other jobs, so First Majestic may need to bring in some contract support or reassign people to help in different areas as needed.

Our focus during this transition time is to work safely, because sometimes people get a little bit distracted, Holmes said. So thats a high priority for us.

The suspension of mining operations at Jerritt Canyon is due to issues specific to the mine, so it is a different situation than when a mine shuts down due to low metal prices and a general downturn in the market. In the current environment, many mines in northern Nevada and throughout the region and the world are continuously looking for people, so the people who will be leaving Jerritt Canyon should have some good options for finding employment elsewhere.

Literally within the hour of the announcement going out, the three major companies in the area had already contacted us, Holmes said.

Weve had people calling us looking for talent, non-stop.

Its kind of a workers market, Holmes said. If youve got skills and experience, theres a lot of opportunity out there if youre willing to go get it.

I just dont think Elko County and Elko itself will see a huge impact from this simply because there are so many vacancies. Everyone is just scrambling for people.

Nevada Gold Mines, the largest mining employer in the region, hosted a career fair at the NGM office building on Thursday evening, March 23, and Friday, March 24 starting at 9 a.m.

To help people find the next step in their career, First Majestic is hosting a reverse career fair Wednesday, March 29, and Thursday, March 30, from noon to 5 p.m. each day at the Elko Convention Center.

Im sure its going to be extremely well attended because the other mines are so desperate for good people, Holmes said.

He said the closure of Jerritt Canyon could be beneficial for other mines in the region, giving them the opportunity to hire some talented people.

The people who will be leaving Jerritt Canyon have skills in a wide range of fields in the mining sector, including environmental, accounting, human resources, geology and exploration, health and safety, engineering, information technology, mill operations and maintenance, supply chain, security, and water treatment.

P&C Recruitings co-founder and principal, Dana Pray, said that P&C has offered our support to First Majestic as a client of ours, and next weeks event illustrates their commitment to helping their employees.

Pray said representatives of P&C Recruiting and human resource representatives will be available at the reverse career fair for those interested in speaking about opportunities outside the area, across North America.

MRC Recruiting CEO Lindsey Schultz said her company has been working with people who will be leaving Jerritt Canyon, helping them with their resumes and interview preparation.

I think everybody gets a little shell shock after something like, Schultz said. We help with getting their head into a clear space and preparing them for interviews if they havent done it in a while, and giving them guidance on compensation structures and what they can expect in the marketplace.

Thankfully the industry is in a relatively healthy spot at the moment. And so were optimistic that a lot of these individuals with their skill sets will find something great, and were happy to help in any way that we can.

Correspondent Adella Harding contributed to this story.
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 1, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dutch Bros Inc. ("Dutch" or the "Company") (NYSE:BROS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 1, 2022 and May 11, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dutch and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bros/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 1, 2023.About the LawsuitDutch Bros and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 11, 2022, the Company disclosed dismal 1Q2022 financial results including a net loss of $16.3 million, compared to a net loss of $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2021 and an adjusted net loss of $2.5 million (a loss of $0.02 per share), which fell below analysts' expectations, due to its failure to "perceive the speed and magnitude of cost escalation within the quarter," among other things.On this news, shares of Dutch fell $9.26, or 26.9%, to close at $25.11 per share on May 12, 2022.The case is Peacock v. Dutch Bros Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-01797.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV:EPL) ("Eagle Plains") is pleased to announce the mailing of its management information circular dated March 17, 2023 (the "Circular") and related documents for the special meeting of Eagle Plains securityholders to be held at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) on April 26, 2023. The meeting is being held in connection with the previously announced plan of arrangement under section 193 of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), whereby Eagle Plains will undergo a capital reorganization and, through a series of transactions, will transfer a majority of its portfolio of royalty interests to Eagle Royalties (the "Arrangement").Eagle Plains wishes to confirm that it has received overwhelming support for the Arrangement from multiple significant securityholders and along with the directors and officers of Eagle Plains, it has secured written support of approximately 27.7 million Eagle Plains common shares (which represents approximately 25% of the total issued and outstanding Eagle Plains common shares), 8.2 million Eagle Plains options (which represents approximately 75% of the total issued and outstanding Eagle Plains options) and 2.4 million Eagle Plains warrants (which represents approximately 44% of the total issued and outstanding Eagle Plains warrants).Further details with respect to the Arrangement are included in the Circular, which can be found on Eagle Plains' profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com About Eagle Plains ResourcesBased in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. Eagle Plains was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSXV (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin-outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and recently Taiga Gold being notable examples. Eagle Plains is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing its diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team.In late 2022 Eagle Plains announced the formation of a separate division within the Company: Eagle Royalties Ltd. ("ER") which will hold many of Eagle Plains' diverse portfolio of royalty assets. The restructuring will enhance the valuation of Eagle Plains' extensive royalty interests, enabling ER to market and develop its royalty assets while seeking additional royalty acquisition opportunities. Eagle Plains' royalties cover a broad spectrum of commodities on projects controlled by Cameco Corp., Iso Energy Corp., Denison Mines Corp., Skeena Resources Ltd. and Hecla Mining Co./Banyan Gold Corp., among others. Planning is underway to spin-out ER during Q2 of 2023 which will enable Eagle Plains to continue to focus on its core business model of acquiring and advancing grassroots critical- and precious-metal exploration properties.Expenditures from 2011-2022 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $30M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 45,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development. Throughout the exploration process, Eagle Plains' mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.On behalf of the Board of Directors of Eagle Plains"Tim J. Termuende"President and CEOFor further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)Email: mgl@ eagleplains.com or visit our website at https://www.eagleplains.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsNeither 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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 02:45:35

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 5, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Fidelity National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fis/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 5, 2023.About the LawsuitFidelity National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On July 31, 2019, the Company announced it had completed the acquisition of payments company Worldpay, Inc. for $43 billion, which became part of the Fidelity National Merchant Solutions business. The Company subsequently, assured investors that the integration of Worldpay was "ahead of schedule," achieved "success in revenue synergies," and ultimately was "successfully completed" throughout the Class Period. Then, on February 13, 2023, the Company disclosed that it would be spinning off Worldpay and recording a goodwill impairment charge of $17.6 billion related to its Merchants Solutions business, a write-down of more than 40% of the purchase price for Worldpay just a few years earlier.On this news, shares of Fidelity National fell more than 12%, from a closing price of $75.43 per share on the prior trading day of February 10, 2023 to a closing price of $66.00 per share on February 13, 2023.The case is Palm Bay Police and Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., No. 23-cv-252.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 17:50:19

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) is pleased to announce that James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), has been named to its Executive Advisory Council (EAC)of prestigious real estate industry and business leaders.Whelan will collaborate with the EAC on enhancing the student experience, increasing awareness of the expanding program offerings, and growing enrollment on REI's campuses at Lincoln Center in Manhattan and West Harrison, N.Y. He joins council members from such firms as UBS, JLL, Brown Harris Stevens, Douglaston Cos., Simone Management Group and Related Cos."James is a highly regarded leader in real estate, with his finger on the pulse of the trends, issues and policies shaping the industry," said Ryan O'Connor, REI Executive Advisory Council chair and CEO of Clinton Management. "We are delighted to have James join the EAC. His knowledge of the market, coupled with his extensive experience in the public sector, will be extremely beneficial as we design our programs to meet the evolving demands of the industry." "As a proud Fordham University graduate, I am deeply grateful to work with the Fordham REI team and support efforts to introduce a diverse array of students to careers in real estate," said Whelan. "I look forward to joining a distinguished group of industry leaders on the EAC. It is always exciting to connect with the talented young people who are poised to become the industry's next generation of leaders." Whelan was appointed in 2019 as president of REBNY, New York City's leading real estate trade association for commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers and salespeople. Before joining REBNY, he was senior vice president for public affairs at Muss Development Co., one of the largest real estate development companies in New York City.Whelan also served in a variety of roles in the private, public and non-profit sectors. As chief of staff for the deputy mayor for economic development of New York City, Daniel Doctoroff, Whelan initiated strategies for land use and city planning. His work also focused on lower Manhattan, during which time the Bloomberg administration successfully advocated for lease term changes for the World Trade Center site and assumed leadership responsibility for construction of the National 9-11 Memorial and Museum. Prior to that, Whelan was executive director of the Hudson Yards Coalition and also the first executive director of the Downtown Brooklyn Council.Whelan is a graduate of New York University and the Fordham University School of Law. He is on the Board of Directors of the New York City chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and is the founding chair of the NYC JDRF Real Estate Games, which raises funds to support research for the cure of Type 1 diabetes."We are thrilled to welcome James to our Executive Advisory Council," said Dr. Anthony R. Davidson, dean, Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies. "His real estate knowledge, understanding of city government policy, and commitment to community service complement our council's expertise. We look forward to collaborating with James as we continue to develop our curriculum toconnect students to the real estate industry." For information about REI and the Executive Advisory Council, click here.ABOUT THE FORDHAM REAL ESTATE INSTITUTEThe Fordham Real Estate Institute currently offers a Master of Science in Real Estate, a Master of Science in Real Estate Development, Master of Science in Construction Management, advanced graduate certificates in real estate finance, development, management and construction management, a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate, and a comprehensive array of professional certificates in real estate and construction at its campuses in Manhattan and West Harrison, N.Y. The programs are developed and taught by leading industry practitioners and are centered on imparting real-world professional skill sets. Flexibility and convenience are program hallmarks as classes can be taken in-person, online, and at various paces. REI is a part of Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies, which has campuses in New York and London. For more information, visit www.fordham.edu/realestate PHOTO CAPTION: James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, has been named to Fordham Real Estate Institute's Executive Advisory Council.Media Contact: Whitney BowersCo-Communications Inc.wbowers@ cocommunications.com SOURCE: Fordham Real Estate Institute
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 16:53:44

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Ginkgo MIC ("Ginkgo") is thrilled to welcome Dalena Truong as the newest addition to the Business Development team! Dalena brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Ginkgo, and Ginkgo is confident that she will make a valuable contribution to the company.Dalena has accumulated a diverse range of experience, having spent ten years in the hospitality and service industry before transitioning to a career in business development. Dalena has developed a keen understanding of the importance of customer service. Her proven track record of driving growth and building strong relationships with clients is a testament of her skills and dedication.In her most recent role, she served as a BDM at a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC) leading the Ontario East region. Dalena gained valuable experience in developing and implementing business growth strategies, analyzing market trends, and identifying new business opportunities. She worked closely with mortgage agents and brokers to understand their business needs and provide customized solutions that exceeded their expectations.As a Business Development Associate at Ginkgo, Dalena will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow our client base and increase revenue. She will work closely with our existing broker partners to provide fast, friendly, and flexible service to help close deals.Ginkgo is excited to see the positive impact that Dalena will have on the team. Her passion for business development and her commitment to delivering exceptional results makes her the perfect addition.For any questions, please contact Terence Yu, BDM at +1 (647)-660-8106 or terence.yu@ginkgomic.com About The Corporation: Ginkgo Mortgage Investment Corporation was founded in 2011 and serves across Canada as an alternative lender. The MIC provides dividends to investors through a diversified portfolio that is secured by properties primarily in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Greater Vancouver Area (GVA), Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary), and the Winnipeg communities. Since its inception, Ginkgo has paid investors over $39 million in dividends.SOURCE: Ginkgo Mortgage Investment Corporation
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 02:30:41

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BENTONVILLE, AR / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / Glucose Health, Inc. (OTC PINK:GLUC) ("Company") is pleased to highlight selected financial metrics presented in its Annual Report posted today at OTCMarkets.com . For fiscal 2022, Glucose Health, Inc. surpassed $1m in annual revenues for the first time in its history. Additionally, despite intense ingredient, packaging and transportation cost pressures, the Company managed to increase its gross profits commensurate with its increased revenues. The Company also maintained its unique status an emerging growth company with zero debt and de minimis liabilities on its balance sheet.Fiscal 2022 Revenue of $1,072,655 vs. $953,681 for Fiscal 2021 = a 12% increaseFiscal 2022 Gross Profit of $456,715 vs. $410,042 = an 11% increaseFiscal 2022 Total Debt of -0-19,638,632 shares (fully diluted)During fiscal 2022, eight flavors of GLUCODOWN Blood Sugar Maintenance were variously shipped to Amazon. These included GLUCODOWN Cherry, Peach Mango, Strawberry Banana and Watermelon drink mix flavors, first introduced at Amazon in mid 2021, and GLUCODOWN Peach, Lemon, Raspberry and Super Berry iced tea mix flavors, first introduced at Amazon in late 2017. As in previous fiscal years, all shipments of GLUCODOWN to Amazon sell-out. At no time did the inventory age of GLUCODOWN at Amazon exceed 90 days in fiscal 2022.Presently eighteen different GLUCODOWN items, including singles, double-packs and variety packs, are stocked at the GLUCODOWN Amazon store ( www.amazon.com/glucodown) . Two of eighteen GLUCODOWN items are 5 stars, fifteen of eighteen items are 4.5 stars and one item is 4 stars. In addition to online at Amazon, three GLUCODOWN iced tea mix flavors (Peach, Lemon and Raspberry) are also stocked in-store at CVS Pharmacy Health Hub locations. GLUCODOWN has maintained its in-store shelf presence at all CVS Pharmacy Heath Hub locations since fiscal 2020.For fiscal 2023, Glucose Health, Inc. will endeavor to maintain serving GLUCODOWN customers at Amazon and CVS. The Company will additionally continue its efforts to source growth capital for the purposes of expanding GLUCODOWN distribution and to launch its innovative new brands FIBER UP - a delicious drink mix to be available in on-the-go stick packs and formulated to support the 5 markers of metabolic health- and be rite - a full-flavor, soluble fiber and micronutrient infused ready-to-drink beverage - the first of its kind in North America.About Glucose Health, Inc. (OTC PINK:GLUC)Glucose Health, Inc. specializes in producing healthy and delicious soluble fiber beverages, nutritionally appropriate 1 for the nation's 100+ million 2 pre and Type-2 diabetics. Additionally in 2023, the Company plans to launch two new soluble fiber infused healthy and delicious beverage brands, FIBER UP and be rite marketed to widely to health-conscious consumers. Glucose Health, Inc. is a publicly traded company with the ticker symbol OTC: GLUC.To purchase GLUCODOWN visit www.glucodown.com 1 For citations visit www.glucodown.com/clinical-data 2 National Diabetes Statistics Review, 2020 ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human ServicesContact:Murray FlemingGlucose Health, Inc.info@ glucosehealthinc.com (479) 802-3827This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and while Glucose Health, Inc. is not subject to the 1934 Securities and Exchange Act, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are not a description of historical facts constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "potential, "possible," "probable, "believes," "seeks," "may, "will, "should," "could" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.SOURCE: Glucose Health, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 01:09:51

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS)(OTC PINK:CSGKF) investors who suffered over $500k in losses to submit your losses now.Expanded Class Period: Mar. 10, 2022 - Mar. 15, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 8, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/CS Contact An Attorney Now: CS@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Credit Suisse Group AG (CS, CSGKF) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Credit Suisse's statements about its liquidity and overall financial condition.On Dec. 1, 2022, the company's Chairman (Axel P. Lehmann) assured investors during an interview with the Financial Times that customer outflows not only "completely flattened out" but also that outflows had "partially reversed." The next day, Lehmann stated in an interview with Bloomberg Television that, as of Nov. 11, 2022, customer outflows had "basically stopped." The complaint alleges that: (1) contrary to statements by Lehmann, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in Oct. 2022 remained ongoing; and (2) consequently, the company downplayed the impact of its recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on its liquidity and client retention ability.Investors began to learn the truth on Feb. 9, 2023, when Credit Suisse announced its 2022 financial results that revealed large customer outflows continued through year-end 2022.On Feb. 21, 2023, Reuters reported that Swiss regulators are investigating whether remarks by Lehmann about customer outflows having stabilized were potentially misleading.Then, on Mar. 14, 2023 Credit Suisse revealed it failed to maintain an effective assessment process to identify material misstatement risks in its financial statements.And, on Mar. 15, 2023 Bloomberg reported that Saudi National Bank, Credit Suisse's largest shareholder, would not provide additional liquidity to the company.These events have driven the price of Credit Suisse American Depositary Receipts sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Credit Suisse lied about the magnitude of customer outflows in an effort to slow an apparent run-on-the-bank," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Credit Suisse and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Credit Suisse should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CS@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 20:01:48

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NEWTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of all purchasers of Norfolk Southern Corporation ("Norfolk" or the "Company") (NYSE:NSC) common stock between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023 (the "Class Period").Norfolk investors may move the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to appoint them as lead plaintiff, no later than May 15, 2023. Current holders of Norfolk stock may pursue corporate governance reforms. Please contact Edelson Lechtzin LLP at 1-844-696-7492 to discuss your investment losses, or by e-mail at elechtzin@ edelson-law.com . A copy of the class action complaint can be viewed HERE.Background on Norfolk Southern CorporationNorfolk is a rail transportation company, which owns Norfolk Southern Railway Company - a major freight railroad. The Company and its subsidiaries are engaged in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States.The Securities Fraud ClaimsIn October 2018, Norfolk implemented a strategy known as Precision Scheduled Railroading ("PSR"), which is associated with hyper-efficient operational changes to increase revenues and decrease costs. PSR requires trains to transport larger and heavier roads with fewer workers in less time.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Norfolk's use of PSR had led to the Company suffering increased train derailments and risk of future derailments; (ii) the adoption of PSR increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to the Company's short term focus on profits; (iii) the Company's extensive lobbying efforts had undermined its ability to provide safe and efficient rail transportation services; and (iv) that the adoption of PSR enabled the Company to likely be responsible for accidents that would cause serious economic injury and bodily harm.On February 3, 2023, one of Norfolk's trains derailed in East Palestine, Ohio near the Ohio Pennsylvania border. That train, which had 2 locomotives, 149 railcars, and 1 distributed power locomotive, had only 3 personnel on board. The derailed cars included 11 that carried hazardous materials which subsequently ignited. On the news of this derailment, the price of Norfolk stock fell $5.66 a share on February 6, 2023, causing significant shareholder losses. Subsequently, on February 9, 2023, the stock declined by $7.64 a share, inflicting additional shareholder losses.On February 13, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the Company may be responsible for the cleanup costs causing the stock price to decline again, down an additional $7.33 per share. On March 4, 2023, another Norfolk train derailed near Springfield, Ohio, further highlighting the Company's safety lapses. On this news, the price of Norfolk stock dropped $13.21 per share on March 6 and 7, 2023.For more information, please contact:Marc H. Edelson, Esq.Eric Lechtzin, Esq.EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP411 S. State Street, Suite N-300Newtown, PA 18940Phone: 844-696-7492 or 215-867-2399 ext. 1Email: elechtzin@ edelson-law.com or medelson@ edelson-law.com Web: www.edelson-law.com About UsEdelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving securities and investment fraud, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud, and dangerous and defective drugs and medical devices.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. No class has been certified in this case, so you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select the counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. Your ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.SOURCE: Edelson Lechtzin LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 18:00:37

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Cloud-based data management company to present and give live demonstrations of their software to Jewish Human Services agencies from across the United States and Canada at this year's POWERNET conference.WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / NewOrg Management System, a leading online data management platform for nonprofit organizations, social services and government agencies, is excited to announce their attendance at this year's POWERNET conference hosted by the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies. The conference runs from May 7-9th in Dallas, Texas and will feature guest speakers, workshops with experts in policy and community building, exhibits, and advocacy visits from members across the United States, Canada, and Israel."NewOrg has been partnering with faith-based human services organizations, both large and small, for over 15 years. We are very excited to be sponsoring the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies' POWERNET 2023 conference in May. The Networks' members cover a diverse range of communities and services which overlap with our partner organizations. We can't wait to meet new members and learn!"- David Crouch, President, NewOrg Management SystemAbout NewOrg Management System, Inc.NewOrg Management System, Inc. - www.neworg.com 4000 Albemarle St NW (Ste 200)Washington, DC 20016NewOrg is a leading software developer providing a cloud-based data management platform for nonprofits and local government/social agencies, with more than 50,000 users in the US & Canada since 2006. Celebrating 15 years of providing complete, 100% customized data management for nonprofit organizations and affiliates, NewOrg's integrated software and service approach ensures that our partners improve efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.Media ContactNate Steltzer, Marketing + CommunicationsNewOrg Management System, Inc.866-843-2835 x3newsroom@ neworg.com Contact InformationNicholas RowanVice Presidentnrowan@ neworg.com 860-245-1433SOURCE: NewOrg Management System
PR-Inside.com: 2023-03-24 15:02:06

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Oct. 8, 2020 - Mar. 3, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 15, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/NSC Contact An Attorney Now: NSC@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges that Defendants misrepresented and concealed material facts concerning Norfolk Southern's increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to the company's near-term focus on profits.Specifically, the company invoked a plan to, among other things, use longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, which led to increased train derailments and the risk of future catastrophic events. The complaint also alleges that while failing to make proper capital expenditures in safety risk programs, the company concurrently lobbied for policies undermining its ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services.The complaint alleges that this undisclosed conduct made Norfolk Southern more susceptible to accidents that could seriously harm the company, its workers, its customers, third parties, and the environment.The true facts began to emerge on Feb. 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The derailed equipment included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials that subsequently ignited and required the immediate evacuation of those within a one-mile by two-mile area. According to regulators, the derailment was entirely preventable.An additional revelation of Norfolk Southern's safety lapses occurred on Mar. 14, 2023, when another of its freight trains derailed near Springfield, Ohio."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Norfolk Southern put profits over safety," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Norfolk Southern and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Norfolk Southern should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email NSC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Ty Helfrich, 24, of Ely was arrested March 17, 2023, at Elko County Jail for battery by a prisoner. Bail: $2,500

Casey K. Kelly, 54, of Owyhee was arrested March 18, 2023, at 4383 Thomas Loop on five Bureau of Indian Affairs/tribal charges.

Brandon L. Martinez, 28, of Elko was arrested March 19, 2023, at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital for conspiracy to attempt escape by a felony prisoner. Bail: $5,000

Richard K. Martinez, 28, of West Valley, Utah was arrested March 19, 2023, at 3044 S. Independence on a felony warrant for grand larceny of a motor vehicle and burglary of a structure. Bail: $25,000

Wyatt J. Mowray, 27, of Elko was arrested March 17, 2023, at the parole and probation office in Winnemucca for violation of probation.

Hailey S. Thomas, 28, of Elko was arrested March 17, 2023, at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $15,000

Johnathan F. Madrid, 24, of Wells was arrested March 20, 2023, for failure to obey sex offender registration laws. Bail: $5,000

Jeffrey E. Morreira Jr., 29, of Carlin was arrested March 20, 2023, at 791 10th St. for possession of burglary tools and possessing a gun by a prohibited person. Bail: $22,500

David E. Owens, 36, of Elko was arrested March 20, 2023, at 1575 Lamoille Highway for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $20,000

Lanna D. Walthers, 61, of Spring Creek was arrested March 20, 2023, in Elko District Court on a drug court hold.

Kyle D. Warren, 54, of Oxnard, California was arrested March 20, 2023, at Golden Gate Petro for possessing a gun by a prohibited person. Bail: $20,000

Karl K. Ahquin, 29, of Elko was arrested March 21, 2023, at 1107 Court St. for possession of stolen property. Bail: $20,000

Cody J. Boileau, 33, of Elko was arrested March 21, 2023, at 1400 Midnight Way for felony child neglect. Bail: $100,000

Taylor M. Brummet, 29, of Spring Creek was arrested March 22, 2023, at Thunderbird Motel for burglary, three counts of possession of stolen property, drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence.

Talon S. Jones, 30, of Fernley was arrested March 22, 2023, at the Fifth Street Bridge on a gross misdemeanor warrant for destroying property. Bail: $2,500

Blake M. McCallum, 60, of Nampa, Idaho was arrested March 22, 2023, for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence.

Fawn L. Bear, 25, of Elkow ws arrested March 23, 2023, at Elko Inn for two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence.

Rachel D. Gaherty, 24, of Elko was arrested March 23, 2023, at 1111 Idaho St. for possession of a stolen vehicle. Bail: $20,000

Dion M. Larue, 43, of Elko was arrested March 23, 2023, at Argenta Avenue and Bluffs Drive for possession of a stolen vehicle, possessing a gun by a prohibited person, driving with suspended drivers license, and violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence.

Jason R. Merkley, 34, of Spring Creek was arrested March 23, 2023, at 644 Hayland Drive for domestic battery and coercion with force or threat of force. Bail: $8,140
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Apr. 26, 2018 - Mar. 13, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/RAD Contact An Attorney Now: RAD@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Rite Aid's compliance with federal regulations concerning its pharmacies' prescriptions practices and its federal healthcare program reimbursement billing.According to the complaint, Defendants made false and misleading statements or failed to disclose that Rite Aid: (1) filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose until June 2019; (2) ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) violated the Controlled Substances Act by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances; and (5) violated the False Claims Act when it sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs.Investors began to learn the truth on Mar. 13, 2023, when the US Department of Justice announced it filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid alleging that the company knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances and knowingly submitted false or fraudulent reimbursement claims for such prescriptions to federal healthcare programs. The DOJ alleges these activities violate the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act and states, in part, "[w]hile making millions of dollars [Rite Aid] opened the floodgates for millions of pills of opioids and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of [its] stores." This news sent the price of Rite Aid shares sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Rite Aid's decision to put profits ahead of safety enabled it to record illegally-generated revenues," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Rite Aid and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Rite Aid should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RAD@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2023 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the common stock of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 5, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Fidelity National securities during the Class Period 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 Fidelity National class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12773 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 5, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the integration of Worldpay with the Fidelity National Merchant Solutions business was not ahead of schedule; (2) the integration of Worldpay with the Fidelity National Merchant Solutions business was not successfully completed during the Class Period; (3) the increases in revenue synergies were not driven by the Worldpay integration; and (4) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Fidelity National class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12773or 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 investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827lrosen@ rosenlegal.com pkim@ rosenlegal.com cases@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) between April 26, 2018 and March 13, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). 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 19, 2023.SO WHAT: If you purchased Rite Aid securities during the Class Period 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 Rite Aid class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9388 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 19, 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. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Until at least June 2019, Rite Aid filled at least hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, including for potentially lethal opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl; (2) Rite Aid pharmacists filled these prescriptions despite clear "red flags" that indicated that the prescriptions were unlawful; (3) Rite Aid ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions, and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, Rite Aid violated the Controlled Substances Act and, where Rite Aid sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs, also violated the False Claims Act; (5) as a result, it was at risk of prosecution by federal authorities such as the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") and (6) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Rite Aid class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9388 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 investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827lrosen@ rosenlegal.com pkim@ rosenlegal.com cases@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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Established in 2020, Safeway Moving has recently partnered with local charities for a noble cause.FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Safeway Moving, the renowned hybrid moving broker and carrier, has announced a new partnership with local charities to donate unwanted items from moves to those in need.Safeway Moving has always been committed to providing its clients with high-quality, efficient, and affordable moving services. Now, with this new partnership, they are taking their commitment a step further by partnering with local charities to help those in need."Our company's core values include integrity, accountability, communication, positivity, and dedication," said Boris Svirsky, one of the founders of Safeway Moving. "We believe that giving back to the community is an essential part of these values, and we are proud to partner with local charities to help those in need." Safeway Moving will work closely with its clients to identify any unwanted items during the moving process. These items will then be collected, sorted, and donated to local charities. The company's extensive network of partner businesses allows for donations to be made to communities across the country."We understand that moving can be a stressful and overwhelming experience," said Rad Gorelik, co-founder of Safeway Moving. "Our goal is to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, and this includes finding a new home for any unwanted items." Through this new partnership, Safeway Moving hopes to make a positive impact in the communities it serves. By donating unwanted items to those in need, they are not only helping individuals and families in need but also reducing waste and promoting sustainability.About Safeway Moving:Established in 2020, Safeway Moving is a hybrid moving broker and carrier with its corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its goal is to meet its clients' moving requirements intelligently and effectively while also raising the bar for long-distance moves.Boris Svirsky, one of the founders of Safeway Moving is an experienced operation manager who ran his family-owned moving company for years before meeting Rad Gorelik. They both joined hands to follow their mutual mission to create a system based on the five core principles of integrity, accountability, communication, positivity, and dedication. Due to its focus on long-distance moves and long- and short-term storing, Safeway Moving has developed into a reputable industry leader.Safeway Moving is now in a strong position to serve customers nationwide with a presence in 5 states; New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Texas, and California. Thanks to a network of smaller partner businesses that extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between, Safeway is offering worldwide services too.Media Contact:Safeway Moving5217 NW 33rd AvenueFort Lauderdale, Florida 33309Email: info@ safewaymovinginc.com Website: https://safewaymovinginc.com/ SOURCE: Safeway Moving
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Beverly Hills, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 /: The Chambers Group, a full-service marketing, branding, sales, and consulting agency with a booming digital/social marketing division, has announced the launch of their newest service offering: Pronto. Pronto is an a la carte service that allows small business owners to pick and choose the digital/social marketing packages they need without the big price tags."We understand how hard it can be for small businesses to allocate resources towards digital marketing when there are so many other expenses that come up," says Eric Chambers, Co-Founder of The Chambers Group. "Pronto gives our clients the opportunity to customize their digital marketing packages in a way that suits their budget while still getting the same high-quality services they would expect from us." Pronto includes everything from targeted PR, social media growth, creative and SEO campaigns for go-to-market tactics and advertising solutions. With this new service, clients can create custom packages tailored to their specific needs and budgets. Clients can also access real-time analytics so they can monitor the success of their campaigns as soon as they launch them."Our primary focus is getting our client's a return on investment through advertising, creative content, website optimization, digital traffic solutions, email campaigns, and go-to-market tactics," explains co-owner, Branden Chamber. "It's strategy + creative + execution - all at an affordable price point." Branden and Eric Chambers grew up steeped in the corporate marketing world, learning the ropes from their father Keith Chambers who started the business in the late 80's, by working weekends at the family's very successful marketing firm during high school and during college breaks from film school. The Chambers Group started as a package design company and quickly became a full-service marketing, branding, sales, and consulting agency with a booming digital marketing division. The dynamic brothers have built upon their father's legacy to create the hottest boutique digital marketing firm in Los Angeles. With "Pronto" now available to small businesses nationwide, The Chambers Group hopes to make digital marketing easier and more accessible for those who need it most.The Chambers Group operates the most extensive network of celebrity influencer pages on Instagram, Facebook/Meta, Twitter, TikTok etc. with more than 1.6 billion followers. And their closely guarded roster of celebrity clients reads like a Who's Who.Fabled Hollywood agent Alan Morell, who has worked with everyone from the late Pope John Paul II to Former Supreme Allied Commander NATO, Four Star General Wesley K. Clark, looks to Eric and Branden to ensure his clients are always trending. "These talented gentlemen take some of my clients from relative obscurity to stardom in a matter of months and right now they're working with 17 of my top clients," reveals Morell, who is CEO of THE CREATIVE MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Creative Management Partners (CMP) Beverly Hills, CA. Victoria's Secret supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio is also a huge fan of their work, explaining she considers them "digital marketing rockstars" after Eric and Branden weaved their magic to grow her brand and socials exponentially.The Chambers Group launches a new product into the marketplace every four to six weeks and has aided in the launch of Slide for Arm & Hammer, the Bleach Pen for Clorox, Milk N' Cereal bars and Chocolate Lucky Charms for General Mills, Sega Genesis for Sega and Movie Theatre Butter for Orville Redenbacher and many other startup brands.For more information about "Pronto" or The Chambers Group visit www.chambersgroup.com Media DetailsWebsite URL: www.chambersgroup.com Company Name: The Chambers GroupEmail address: brandenc@ chambersgroup.com SOURCE: The Chambers Group
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The co-host of The Emily and Todd Podcast sat down to discuss his life, his career, and his professional philosophy.ROCHESTER, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / It is with great enthusiasm that acclaimed podcaster Todd Kennedy announces that he is the subject of a new, in-depth interview. The interview, which was conducted by freelance journalist Stefan Junge on behalf of an online periodical aimed at entrepreneurs and businesspeople, was published on March 17, 2023.Early in the piece, Todd is asked what inspired him to enter the exciting, yet competitive world of podcasting, and how he and his co-host managed to attract an audience so quickly. "During a period where I had a chance to take stock of myself and my professional situation, I reached out to a female colleague of mine for advice. She, being a well-known and acclaimed TikTok artist, offered the idea that my time and energy could be used to start a podcast," he explains, before elaborating, "In the end, we decided that we could collaborate and start this venture of ours on YouTube. It's a good platform for long-form podcasting, and even though we started a new show from scratch, we managed to make some initial headway because of her existing social media reach." Further along in the interview, Todd Kennedy responds to a question about the subject matter The Emily and Todd Podcast' addresses, and what the show ultimately hopes to achieve, answering, "Well, the content we create revolves around dating and relationships from a men's point of view. In many ways, it's a difficult time for men in the dating and relationship space, right now. So, we're advocating for solutions to this current state of affairs. We want to help men navigate dating and relationships not only for themselves, but for their partners as well. I feel really optimistic that the effort and energy we put into these podcast episodes is doing some good, and helping the men who watch our channel no matter what stage of life they happen to be in." Anyone interested in reading the full text of the interview will find it located here, while anyone curious to learn more about Todd Kennedy is invited to visit his official blog.About Todd Kennedy:Todd Kennedy is the co-host of The Todd and Emily Podcast, a program that focuses on dating and romantic relationships from a men's perspective.After graduating from Thomas High School in Webster, New York, Todd enlisted in the United States Army. When he completed his service, he enrolled in Defiance College, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1993. He then finished his postsecondary education by earning a Master's degree in Social Work from Roberts Wesleyan College in 1998.Upon entering the workforce, Todd Kennedy took on a variety of roles, all the while preparing to open his own private practice, which he did in 2003. Recently, Todd has turned most of his energy and effort to creating his video podcast, alongside his co-host Emily King. The podcast is published twice weekly, with the creators posting original TikTok videos previewing forthcoming topics in between episodes.Media Contact:Email: tkenned2@ rochester.rr.com SOURCE: Todd Kennedy
Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

Some traders who sell food items and perishable agricultural produce in Nigerias capital city have lamented the losses they incurred due to the scarcity of naira notes in the country.

In a market survey conducted by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), the traders explained how they have recorded losses in their businesses in recent time as customers face difficulties accessing cash to buy food items.

Although some of the traders adopted the use of electronic transfers in some of the markets, many of them complained about network challenges during online transactions while others do not even have bank accounts.

The most affected category of traders, the survey showed, are those who sell perishable food items such as tomatoes, vegetables, pepper, fruits, among others.

Multiple interviews with traders in the market showed that in recent weeks, many of them have had to slash the prices of their goods in order to minimise losses due to poor patronage.

I do not have many sales this period; many customers are not coming to the market. I have to reduce the price of my fruits so as to sell them out immediately, if not, many of them will spoil, Usman Mohammed, a fruit seller in Kubwa market, said.

Background

In October 2022, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, announced the introduction of new N200, N500 and N1000 notes.

Mr Emefiele said that the decision would address cases of kidnapping, terrorism and other financial crimes.

However, since the policy took effect, the scarcity of both the old and new naira notes has affected a lot of businesses in the country.

The situation further worsened the problems being faced by traders in the market, especially due to the challenges of inadequate storage facilities that lead to post-harvest losses.

Salusi Sanni, a trader at Arab market, Abuja, said he loses about N3,000 to N4,000 daily due to poor sales and damaged farm produce, ostensibly due to the cash crunch.

During this period, my goods spoil every day because I dont sell much and people are not buying. Like these tomatoes, before tomorrow morning, many of them will spoil. Look at the floor, those ones spoiled yesterday, I separated them this morning, he said.

The spoiled goods are like 2000, 3000 to 4000 daily. Only onions can last longer for us here.

Problems are too much now, someone will come and buy tomatoes and Tatashi (pepper) with no cash to pay, the person will try to transfer and even when I collect the transfer; when I go to the market to get new goods, some wholesale people will not collect transfer from me,  he added.

Another trader, Mary Ann, who deals in yam and plantain in the same market, explained that the situation has affected her daily sales.

Since morning, I have not sold any tuber of yam. Normally, I do sell up to 15 to 20 tubers of yam daily, but until now (5:13 pm) nothing has been sold, Mrs Ann said.

If I want to explain how it affects me, I will cry. You see this car, the owner of the car brought me back from where I bought yam now, what is keeping him now is money, he said he does not collect transfers, so currently, Im looking for cash to give him. He said if he collects cash transfers now and they will charge him N1500 for N5000, what will be his gain? So the man said he will not collect. He has been here for more than one hour, he just left now for the mosque for prayers.

But Samsu Abu, another trader who deals in tomatoes, okra, and onions, said the situation has not really affected him because he has more than one bank account for easy cash transfers from customers.

The situation has affected many people but I am not much affected because I normally collect cash transfers, he said.

I opened another bank account last week because of the situation so as to avoid network challenges in case of any in my previous bank during a transaction.

In a national broadcast on Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the central bank to ensure the circulation of the old 200 naira notes to ease trade and business transactions.

On his part, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, argued that the policy of re-designing the naira has long-term economic and social benefits, even though the process comes with some challenges.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, urged Nigerians to exercise tolerance, hoping the situation will improve immediately after the general election.

It is difficult to mitigate these sufferings until the election is over and the underlying reason for the distortion in the implementation of the policy is removed. The best the people can do is cope and hope that after the election cash will be more available from official sources, Mr. Amadi said.

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Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

Access Bank Zambia Limited is on the cusp of merging with African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited (ABC) following an endorsement of the move by the Central Bank of Zambia.

Access Corporation, the parent company of the bank, announced this in a regulatory filing on Friday.

The business combination was first announced in October 2021 when Access Bank Plc entered a binding pact with Atlas Mara Zambia, owners of ABC Zambia, later culminating in the acquisition of the latter.

The Central Bank of Nigeria and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Competition Commission had earlier granted their non-objection to the transaction in 2022, Access Corporation said in the note seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

Access Bank Zambia is hoping to become one of the top lenders in the Southern African country following the merger. It is expected to deliver 70 branches and agencies and total assets in the neighbourhood of $1 billion as well as over 300,000 customers in Zambia.

The Zambian unit of Nigerias biggest bank by assets had in 2020 merged with Cavmont Bank Zambia.

CEO Herbert Wigwe said, The transaction builds on our earlier acquisition and merger of Cavmont Bank Plc into Access Bank Zambia and underscores our resolve to strengthen our presence in Zambia, a key African market that fits into our strategic focus on geographic earnings growth and diversification.

Mr Wigwe further stated that the deal will spur crucial synergies between Access Zambias world-class wholesale and transaction banking capabilities and Atlas Mara Zambias market-leading retail and public sector capabilities.

READ ALSO: Access Bank disowns fake news on association with cryptocurrency platform

He expects that the collaboration will produce a market-leading global platform that will hugely transform the Zambia market.

British Virgin Islands-based Atlas Mara, which has stakes in a number of African lenders, sold its 50 per cent stake in Union Bank to rival Titan Trust in a deal announced at the tail end of 2021.

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The man facing a barrage of criticisms from purple-uniformed midwives had the person on the other end of the phone line give his word that he would help find the money.

The man would later abscond after he was told the huge amount he needed to pay besides the deposit of N27,000 he was trying to source for his wife to be wheeled to surgery.

Abandoned to heat and noise in a ward on one side of the hallway, where a line of crowded gatch beds pushed close to the wall made it impossible for two people to pass at a go and made the air sticky, the wife told the doctor she had not eaten since the previous day. She was later allowed to undergo a surgical procedure on compassionate grounds, in which the child was prematurely delivered. They agreed the mother and child would only be discharged once their bills were settled.

When the husband showed up later at the hospital, Orile Agege General Hospital Lagos, without the cash, he got more tongue-lashing.

Barely a hundred metres away, to the immediate right of the hospital gate upon entry, some enrollees to the Lagos State Health Scheme popularly called Ilera Eko, sat in a shade, awaiting medical attention.

In a country where a yawning knowledge gap conceals awareness of availability of health insurance plans catering to the needs of low-income earners from a majority of them, scenarios like this are common even where such services are right on the doorstep of the target population.

According to EFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2020 Survey, lack of awareness and suitability of products are main barriers to non-bank formal financial services, with 83 per cent of respondents saying they were not aware of microinsurance.

Signing up to a microinsurance plan, the protection of vulnerable, low-income earners from emergencies related to health, job loss and the likes in exchange for affordable periodic premium payments, could save many.

Nigerias public hospitals are uninviting at the best of times, with decrepit equipment and facilities, paramedics notorious for treating patients discourteously, and few doctors, many of whom, for the lure of more favourable jobs abroad, are deserting medical service in droves. These are sometimes putt-offs for potential microinsurance users.

Wole Adeyefa, a medical doctor at Orile Agege General Hospital, told PREMIUM TIMES he has been receiving positive testimonials from his patients who use the Ilera Eko health plan, saying it has helped them cover expenses like treatment and surgical procedures.

Mr Adeyefa admitted that most of the people he spoke to about the scheme in the past were hearing for the first time and added that the government has not done much in creating awareness, which he feels could be done using social media and healthcare workers in primary health care facilities across the state.

The package is supposed to cover more than its actually covering now. By the time people get to the hospital, they believe everything is supposed to be free. Ilera Eko should go beyond the border of government facilities, he said.

Olasumbo Okunlola, one of about 15 of his patients enrolled on the scheme, paid N13,000 to undergo a Caesarean section that typically costs 10 times more when she last had her baby, an experience she called a big relief. That did not cover the costs of drugs and injections though.

I registered for this standard package including my family but for now, Im the only one that is benefitting from it, said Mrs Okunlola who told PREMIUM TIMES she first heard of the scheme from her sister last year and later on the radio.

She identified the fact that she is only allowed to use one hospital at the moment as a drawback she has spotted in the scheme.

Nigeria accounted for the third highest out-of-pocket spending on health globally for 2018, 76.6 per cent of the total healthcare expenditure for that year directly settled from the disposable income of households, tipping many into poverty.

It only improved in 2020, when the figure stood at 72 per cent, compared to sub-Saharan Africas average of 35 per cent.

The implications of such spending on livelihoods are dire. Francis Ukwuije, a technical officer on health financing at Nigerias country office of the World Health Organisation said in Abuja in July out-of-pocket healthcare expenses were plunging as many as 80 per cent of Nigerians in some states into poverty.

Ilera Eko subscribers pay N8,500 ($19.1) annually in premium to get a 12-month cover as individuals or N40,000 ($89.9) for a family package covering six people (enrolee, spouse and four dependants aged 23 or below) over the same period.

There are other higher plans based on how much enrollees can afford, while there are also lower plans tailored to the needs of people like tertiary institution students as well as day/boarding school students.

Healthcare providers now number 250 serving subscribers fewer than 700,000 as of 13 November, 2022, according to its website, seven years after the scheme set sail.

The figure compares with a target of 3 million enrollees for last year alone in a state where residents are at least five times more, and a lean public knowledge is generally cited for its underwhelming patronage like other social insurance plans in the rest of the country.

For instance, in a survey report released in June 2022, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Partner found 70.4 per cent of the respondents said they had never heard of the Lagos State health insurance programme, while only 2.5 per cent had signed up.

Health insurance penetration is only skin-deep in Nigeria, with just 3 per cent of the 216 million people having coverage, little surprising in an economy where the overall insurance penetration rate, at 0.5 per cent, is one of Africas worst.

The National Financial Inclusion Strategy had set its sights on upping the percentage of the adult population that is covered by a regulated insurance EFinA policy from 40 per cent by 2020 but ended up achieving 2 per cent, according to Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2020 Survey.

Nigerias unwieldy social insurance structure

On switching to civil rule in 1999, the government of Africas biggest economy launched the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme, allowing contributors to save up little but regular cash in a pool from which health maintenance organisations (HMOs) will be able to dip to settle enrolees medical bills when occasion demands.

It never took off until half a dozen years later and the journey has been tumultuous ever since, complicated by a wide infrastructural gap, inadequate manpower, low awareness and absence of political will to pivot the initiative amid other drawbacks.

The federal scheme changed name to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in May 2022, and Director General Mohammed Sambo has said subscribers are now 15 million spread across the country.

When President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the National Health Insurance Act in May, the government announced its grand ambition to launch a universal health coverage that would cater to the health needs of 83 million vulnerable Nigerians.

It expects funding to be provided by what it called Vulnerable Group Fund to be financed by the basic healthcare provision fund, health insurance levy, special intervention fund and any investment proceeds, donations and gifts to the NHIA.

But a legacy of failed promises and similar experiences of introducing social initiatives in the past that took years to materialise have bred public distrust in government and many of its programmes, giving the impression that Nigeria is not yet set up for a robust social insurance scheme that works.

That Nigerias current health expenditure, an indicator of the value of resources channelled to health compared to other sectors, was just 3 per cent of its GDP in 2019, the lowest in 17 years, means sustainable universal health coverage could be pretty difficult to attain.

Financial sector and related professional services advocacy group EnterpriseNGR observed in its State of Enterprise Report 2022 that health insurance constituted 1.6 per cent of Nigerias N4.3 trillion current health expenditure. That compares with directly incurred health expenses, which accounted for 76.6 per cent.

When contacted for comments by PREMIUM TIMES, the public affairs manager of NHIA, Emmanuel Ononokpono, directed that the queries be sent to him via WhatsApp. Not responding to the questions sent to him via the medium, he would later advise that the NHIA website or NHIA Nigeria TV on Youtube channel be visited for answers.

The countrys humongous annual budget allocation for fuel subsidy spending, often criticised for favouring the powerful and the well-connected at the expense of ordinary Nigerians could mark the turning point for the countrys dysfunctional social health insurance structure should the government begin to shift the subsidies to health.

More than 8 out of every 10 jobs in Nigeria, according to the World Bank, is provided by the informal sector, which also contributes around 65 per cent of all the countrys economic activities.

By implication, Nigerias overall productivity is bound to be severely affected by informal workers poor access to affordable healthcare, and that also could stand in the way of the central banks move to deepen financial inclusion.

While a great number of workers in the employ of the formal sector have health insurance coverage as part of their remuneration package, the informal sector has been disadvantaged in this regard, a factor that prompted the government to introduce universal health coverage this year.

The Nigerian government said in August it is considering adding microinsurance cover to its micropension scheme package as an incentive to drive micropension penetration in Africas largest economy. That happened a few weeks after PREMIUM TIMES recommended the action in a report.

Apart from Lagos, states like Delta, Sokoto, and Kano have seen varying degrees of progress since their contributory healthcare schemes launched. Delta said around 1.1 million people signed up for its scheme between inception in February 2016 and February 2022.

According to PWCs Insurance Industry Survey 2015, NAICOM recognises that the current insurance distribution network appears to be highly concentrated in a few cities focused on corporate accounts and mandatory insurance and that microinsurance cannot be effectively accessed through conventional intermediaries  brokers and agents.

That has necessitated the need to use alternative intermediaries and channels like cooperatives, non-governmental organisations, Nigerian Postal Service, Esusu Groups, Community Based Organizations and Religious groups, third party administrators, touchpoints such as post offices, branches of banks, airtime dealers and agents, fertilizer distributors and other distributors such as dairies and bread distributors, and retail outlets that are patronized and trusted by the local population to act as microinsurance intermediaries.

A health insurance scheme like Ilera Eko restricts subscribers of its standard plan to using a single facility whereas private insurance schemes often allow enrollees to use more than one.

I feel the scheme has not been as effective as the way they projected it because the people that are involved (the service providers) are not enjoying it the way they should be enjoying it, said John Femi Omonayin, who works as a medical doctor at Orile Agege General Hospital.

A couple of his patients complain most of the drugs they get are either insufficient or too basic. Omonayin told PREMIUM TIMES most of the service providers are not getting enough money from it because enrolment has been pretty low.

He said, A lot of people have not yet accessed it apart from those people that work for the state government and the capitation is not good enough for service providers.

He said the plan has been particularly favourable to those requiring surgical services.

Some of these private sector (companies)  have insurance schemes that are much better. The artisans, the less educated, the low-income people, theyve not been able to drive (the plan) among them, Mr Omonayin said.

Those are even the ones that will benefit more because most of those people in the private sector, where they have better insurance, will not leave their scheme for Ilera Eko, he added.

Digital insurance boom

A number of private health insurance providers are identifying pain points and gaps in the services of government-run health insurance schemes, and some are leveraging technology to disrupt the sector and drive enrollment.

Digitising access among a population that lacks confidence in traditional insurance services has been pretty problematic, given the lack of access to internet-enabled devices in a country where only 44 per cent of the population have access to a smartphone. Yet, the market has never before been more promising.

The use of such (mobile) devices to distribute insurance, in particular micro-insurance, allows insurers (in Nigeria) to leverage off an established mobile device, tablets and smartphone industry which could potentially reduce trust issues in the insurance market, PWC said.

Of course, other attractions beyond tech-related benefits, which bestow many competitive advantages on private health insurers, also exist.

Benefits like extended in-patient care, air ambulance services and infertility treatment are some luxuries provided by private health insurance providers which public health insurers cannot afford. Generally, the health insurance packages of private insurers are often more comprehensive than those of government-run schemes.

Private health maintenance organisations are gaining public confidence with their relatively seamless processes compared to those of the NHIS, for instance, which tend to be unwieldy and bureaucratic.

Emerging markets-focused insurtech startup Turaco, which launched in Nigeria this March, is building its business model around embedded finance and has partnered with heavyweight underwriter AXA Mansard to provide a range of products within the country with medical insurance as its biggest offering.

With a clientele of 1.5 million across various markets, Turaco is leveraging its synergy with tech-powered underwriters with big subscriber bases like APA, Prudential, Sanlam and ACEA as well as agent networks to drive patronage.

The company is able to attract more users by including its services among those provided by fintech and ride-hailing apps whose platforms also help Turaco connect with clients. Such collaborations aid cost-cutting and increase the insurers touchpoints through access to partners platforms.

For Lagos-based microinsurance start-up, Casava, one of the surest ways of winning users over is running an app, a website and WhatsApp account that allow insurance products to be bought within 90 seconds.

Licensed in February 2019, the company has health insurance in the works but provides telemedicine services, which offers enrollees access to more than 1,000 doctors by consulting them over the phone as well as access to 900 hospitals across Nigeria.

Casava enrolled 66,000 users in less than one year of operation with $16 million in insurance coverage.

Through technology, private microinsurance firms are fast gaining entry into territories that government-run insurance schemes are finding hard to enter.

For instance, Casava is utilising embedded insurance to deepen penetration and financial inclusion by including its services in the offerings of digital and fintech partners. This puts the company on track to access more than half a million financial services agents spread across Nigeria.

This way, such agents get a chance to earn a commission by offering insurance services from their current customers as an additional income source.

We have built a vertically integrated company with a wholly-owned microinsurance carrier in Nigeria and a full technology stack to power it CEO Bode Pedro said after his company was named InsurTech of the Year at the 2022 Business Day BAFI Awards.

There are myriad other microinsurance providers including WellaHealth whose competitive edge derives from incredibly low premium and link up with pharmacies across Nigerias 36 states) and Paddy Cover which provides users with typically expensive services like accident & emergency care, primary dental care, minor surgery as well as diagnostics & imaging for as low as a N1,500 ($3.4) premium monthly.

The flourish in the tech-driven underwriting market and the prospects the sub-sector offers have become a charm that even a telecom powerhouse like MTN cannot resist. The telco

said its targeting Nigerias microinsurance market for expansion of its insurtech arm aYo, which already has 15 million subscribers in Zambia, Ghana and Uganda.

MTN is looking to use its mobile money prowess to deepen penetration of insurance services among which is health insurance.

Meanwhile, Abuja-based Soso Care is pushing the boundaries of what microinsurance is known to be in Africas largest economy with inclusive insurance solutions and flexible premium options that challenge conventional thinking.

It calls its model micro mobile health insurance, allowing those who find premium payment unaffordable to exchange recyclable waste, especially in cities where tons of waste are generated every day for health insurance services. These it sells to local waste managers and also exports. Those who have the cash to pay for premium are also provided cover.

Intriguingly, the waste could be traded for food to give the needy access to nutritious food.

It currently serves 7,500 families and has received invitations to replicate the model in other African countries and Asia. The small underwriter says it is nursing the lofty hope of reaching half of Nigerias population in the next five years. Hospitals in its nexus number 1,170, operating in four Nigerian cities.

Waste as a problem affects the public health of millions living in slums, our climate and even our oceans. We figured out that it is best to use a problem to create a solution. So we decided to link waste to health and food stamps, it said.

By linking garbage to healthcare access and food stamps we are killing 3 birds with 1 stone as the solution addresses the needs through access to healthcare to reduce infant and maternal mortality in these regions, improving sanitation & environment in slums and creating Jobs for the distribution network and waste collectors.

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The Oluwo of Iwoland, Adewale Akanbi (Telu 1), has named his newborn daughter after the Olofin Adimula of Ile-Ife, Luwo Gbagida.

Luwo Gbagida was the only female Olofin Adimula of Ile-Ife and the mother of Adekola Telu, who founded the ancient city of Iwo.

Conducting the naming ceremony himself amid traditional rulers, religious clerics, community leaders and well-wishers, Oluwo named the child Luwo, Adewumi, Sultana, the Fatimoh, and Grace.

The Oluwo wedded Firdaus Abdullahi, a princess of the royal family of Kano, at a colourful ceremony in the ancient city in March 2022.

The bride is the daughter of the late Madakin Kano, Abdullahi Sarki Sani Yola, and the granddaughter of the late Emir Ado Bayero.

They welcomed their daughter on the 15th of March.

Oluwo described Luwo Gbagida as a bold, confident, and visionary first female king in the universe.

A statement by Oluwo through his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, read: Today, Im making a great history by naming my daughter after an Amazon, Iya wa (our mother), Luwo Gbagida..

Luwo Gbagida was the only female Olofin Adimula of Ile-Ife. Her credible marks and confidence produced Iwo. He gave the crown to her only son, Adekola Telu, to found a city of truth (Ilu Ayekooto), Iwo.

Her decision and the perseverance of Telu with his entourage produced the Iwo of today..

LUWO was a genuine descendant of Oduduwa. She acted like Oduduwa, and the sundry monumentally felt her reign..

Ive many things in common. She was the 16th Olofin Adimula Ile-Ife while Im the 16th Oluwo. My coronation was on 16th January 2016.

Many miracles were seen in my new daughter. Her birth is a blessing, not only to my harem but to Yoruba and tension. She is a gift to humanity.

Luwo Gbagida (sometimes spelt as Luwo) was a paramount traditional ruler of Ile Ife in Nigeria, the ancestral home of the Yoruba people.

She succeeded Ooni Giesi and was succeeded by Ooni Lumobi. Ooni Luwoos reign remains the only one by a female in Ife to date.

.

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In a rare move, Gov. Joe Lombardo testified before state lawmakers on Thursday in support of his bill revising a contentious 2019 restorative justice law that school districts and others have said ultimately limited teachers ability to deal with disruptive or violent students.

The bill, AB330, dubbed the Safer and Supportive Schools Act by supporters, was presented by Lombardo and a host of supporters during a hearing in the Assembly Education Committee Thursday. It seeks to achieve a campaign promise Lombardo made to repeal the changes implemented by a 2019 bill (AB168) that removed requirements for students to be automatically expelled for certain violent acts and established restorative justice policies  practices involving nonpunitive intervention and support to improve student behavior.

AB168 was part of an effort to address the disproportionate rates of suspensions and expulsions affecting students of color and decrease the school-to-prison pipeline, which refers to practices that push kids out of school and into the criminal justice system. But the bill has since been blamed by teachers unions and school districts for limiting their response to increasingly violent student behavior.

Lombardo stressed the urgency of his bill, which comes on the heels of a shooting at a Denver high school that resulted in the injury of two administrators. According to Lombardo, there were more than 6,800 violent incidents reported at Clark County schools within the first six months of the school year. He added that since 2019, there has been a 46 percent increase in violence and sexual assaults reported within the district. He noted that the issue isnt limited to just Clark County schools.

I believe this bill has wide-reaching support because educators, administrators and community leaders alike see the need for reform in our schools, Lombardo said. Just as diverse education stakeholders have come together in support of this bill, I believe we can all put our party differences aside to support AB330.

The bill is being supported by the states 17 county-level superintendents, the Clark County Education Association (CCEA), the Clark County Association of School Administrators and the Charter School Association of Nevada.

Many representatives of those organizations also came out last week in support of two similar bills, AB285 and AB194, that are being pushed by both Republican and Democratic sponsors. During Thursdays hearing, multiple educators came out to share their experiences dealing with violent students who receive little to no discipline afterwards.

CCEA Executive Director John Vellardita said he was encouraged to see the different bills, and took it as a sign of acknowledgement that student behaviors in Nevada are getting out of hand.

We encourage both parties, the executive branch and the legislative branch to come to some kind of terms where we can pass legislation  that essentially says its not acceptable for students to engage in violent behavior on other students, as well as other staff, he said.

But some Democratic lawmakers who are also active teachers raised issues with a provision in Lombardos bill that would allow principals to block a teacher or staff members ability to temporarily remove students, if they find the removal unnecessary. Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch (D-Reno), a teacher in Washoe County, called it the most anti-teacher language she has seen in a bill.

I think that it will, in fact, make my classroom more dangerous, and I am just very confused on the messaging today because we are being told we want to give more power to the people that are there in the classrooms and that is the exact opposite of what this does, she said.

Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert pushed back, and said teachers can appeal a principals decision, either to a superintendent or administrative head.

The bill would allow for students who are homeless or in foster care to be suspended or expelled for no more than five days if the principal determines that the conduct of the pupil poses an ongoing threat. Another section of the bill allows school officials to expel students with a disability if they determine the behavior is not a manifestation of the students disability.

It also contains a provision that would allow for the automatic expulsion of students of any age who batter and injure a school employee or sell or distribute drugs after their first offense. The bill also allows for those students to be placed in an alternative school setting after their first offense. It directs schools to create a plan based on restorative justice practices on how the student could return to the school, but students would be permanently expelled after their second offense.

Chris Daly with the Nevada State Education Association suggested that language be amended to take into account minor offenses that dont necessarily warrant an automatic expulsion.

This could include low-level drug offenses or even a very young student who bites a school employee, even with no malice, he said. That student should not be permanently expelled.

NSEA said it supports other bills aimed at revising the 2019 restorative justice law (AB285 and AB194), which differed from Lombardos bill in not including the automatic expulsion provisions as well as the language limiting teachers from removing students.

Paul LaMarca with the Washoe County School District said the district is fully in support of the bill as written.

He said the district assisted in drafting some of the language, and those sections of the bill have established high standards.

No one wants to exclude students and there are times when students do things that require immediate action because of the safety of the school community at large, other students, staff members and that student in particular, he said. So we are wanting greater latitude and how we can support these students.

Lombardos push for repealing the 2019 law comes with support from the Better Nevada PAC  a group that spent millions of dollars to support his campaign for governor. The PAC publicized a digital advertisement Wednesday highlighting violence in schools and Lombardos push to change school safety policies. It also highlighted polling showing support for Lombardos school safety plans, though it has not publicly released details of the poll. The ad comes via the Service First Fund, which is seeking petition signatures from Nevadans in support of Lombardos bill.

A fourth bill focused on school discipline and sponsored by GOP senators, SB152, is also making its way through the Legislature.
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The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), has proclaimed the Brazilian city Quilombola a Yoruba territory

It means Quilombola is the first city outside Africa to receive a certificate of Yoruba territory.

The monarch delivered the title in recognition of Quilombola territory in Brazil on Sunday, the 19th of March.

The epoch-making ceremony took place in the Quingoma community, in Lauro de Freitas, in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador, Brazil

The move, he said, is geared towards bridging the gap between the Yoruba race and the rest of the world.

They will achieve this through cultural integration and globalising Yoruba culture across the shores of Nigeria.

The Ooni, who arrived in Bahia, Brazil, with his Nigerian entourage, was welcomed by an orchestra of Atabaques (Afro-Brazilian hand drum) and Berimbaus (musical bow)

Cultural preservation

Delivering his address, the Ooni said the rich and robust history of the Brazilians and the Yoruba people dates back immemorial.

He said the development would not only strengthen cultural preservation but also give Brazilians a sense of belonging and boost the Yoruba heritage globally.

This event is a need for me because I am passionate about preserving the Yorubas culture and values. You can see the excitement on their faces.

Their Babalawos are well grounded in the teachings of Ifa and can render the Odu-Ifa and its panegyrics like our Ifa priests do in Nigeria. They hold our gods like Sango, Ogun, Yemoja, and Obatala in high esteem, he said.

He revealed that the people of Quilombola have designated days to celebrate these gods with colourful displays infused with plenty of aesthetics.

They also speak Yoruba, which is one thing I love about them. Its essential to harmonise them and show solidarity that we are part of them, are part of us. This will foster good bilateral trade between Brazil and Nigeria, and it will also put the Yoruba culture at an advantage, Oba Adeyeye added.

According to reports, the residents of Quilombola could not hold their joy as they celebrated the delivery of the title of Yoruba territory.

Quilombola

History has it that Quilombola was recognised for receiving and welcoming Yoruba people, who were enslaved and forcibly removed from their base in Nigeria during the era of the slave trade in Africa.

The history of the Quilombo dates back to the 17th century.

Currently, around 580 families live in the area covering approximately 1,200 hectares. Quingoma has been recognised as a Quilombola territory by the Palmares Foundation since 2013.

The recognition of Quilombola as a Yoruba territory is regarded as another step in the fight for respect for African history.

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In Nigerias political space, the power of incumbency is becoming less potent and the 2023 governorship election is a testament. Interestingly, wielding state power is no longer a guarantee for subsequent election victory.

The 18 March governorship election has largely put the potency of governing political parties to trial in different states. The political dynamics have now shown that the people can choose whomever they want regardless of the political party in the seat of power.

Governorship elections were held in 28 states of the federation. Although winners have not been declared in two states  Adamawa and Kebbi  governing parties lost elections in Kano, Sokoto, Benue, Abia, Plateau and Zamfara. The PDP lost to the opposition parties in Abia, Benue and Sokoto while APC lost in Plateau, Zamfara and Kano.

PREMIUM TIMES analyses the dynamics in different states.

Kwankwaso NNPP takes Kano from APC

In 2019, Abdullahi Ganduje, the incumbent governor of Kano, retained power in a keenly contested race with Abba Yusuf, then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But in 2023, the story changed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Ganuwa, was defeated by the opposition.

Mr Gawuna, who serves as deputy governor of the state, was Mr Gandujes anointed candidate, while Mr Yusuf, now of the NNPP, was strongly supported by Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the party.

At the end of the election, Ahmad Dokko Ibrahim, INECs returning officer in Kano, announced that Mr Yusuf won the election with 1,019,602 votes, while Mr Gawuna got 890,705 votes.

Like Kano, like Sokoto

In Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had contested against Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019 and narrowly won re-election.

But at the just concluded governorship election in the state, Mr Aliyu returned to win the contest against the Tambuwal-backed PDP candidate, Saidu Umaru. Meanwhile, Mr Aliyu was supported by a former governor of the state, Aliyu Wamakko.

On Sunday, Armayau Hamisu, INECs returning officer, announced that Mr Aliyu secured 453,661 votes to defeat his closest rival, who polled 404,632 votes.

PDP loses Benue to APC

Samuel Ortom, the outgoing Benue State governor, is one of the five PDP governors that revolted against Atikus presidential ambition. On 25 February, Mr Ortom voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Before then, he had asked citizens of the state to vote Mr Obi for president and PDP in the governorship election.

But as the results of the governorship election were announced, Mr Ortoms anointed candidate, Titus Uba, lost to APCs Hycinth Alia, a catholic priest.

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Announcing the results of the governorship poll, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Monday, Faruk Kuta, the state collation and returning officer, said Mr Alia scored 473,933 votes to beat Mr Uba who polled 223,913 votes.

Mr Ortom also joined the league of sitting governors who lost their senatorial ambitions during the presidential and national assembly elections.

PDP unseats APC in Zamfara

What can be considered a repeat of history has just happened in Zamfara. In 2019, the APC won the elections in the state. But the Supreme Court annulled the APCs victory and disqualified all the APC candidates including the governor-elect because the party did not follow due process. The Supreme Court ruled that the runners-up in all the elections be sworn in. Mr Matawalle, then of the PDP, who came second in the polls, thus became the governor. But Mr Matawalle, after his victory, defected to the APC.

Mr Matawalles defection initially caused another crisis in the APC but he united the warring factions and placated party leaders like ex-governor Abdulaziz Yari and ex-senator Kabiru Marafa.

The APC unity could, however, not save Mr Matawalle, especially with the increasing popularity of Dauda Lawal, the governorship candidate of the PDP.

Declaring the winner of the 2023 election in the early hours of Tuesday, Kassimu Shehu, the returning officer, said Mr Lawal polled 377,726 votes.

That Lawal Dauda of the political party PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the election, he said.

LP dislodges PDP in Abia

In Abia, the Labour Party engaged in a stiff contest with the governing PDP. Alex Otti of LP was in a clear lead against the PDP candidate, Okey Ahiwe, before INEC suspended the collation of results.

But upon resumption of the collation centre on Wednesday, Mr Otti dislodged the 24 years reign of the PDP after INEC announced the final results. The LP candidate polled a total of 172,386 votes to defeat Mr Ahiwe, who garnered a total of 88,174 votes to come a distant second.

PDP takes Plateau from APC

Since 1999, PDP had ruled Plateau State until 2015 when APCs Solomon Lalong took over the governorship seat. In 2019, Mr Lalong was re-elected as governor of the state. But in 2023, APC must have realized the danger it was in when it lost the presidential election in Plateau to the Labour Party.

Also, Mr Lalongs position as the Director-General of the APCs Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign council could not save him from losing his senatorial bid to the opposition.

At the presidential polls, APCs Tinubu trailed behind LPs Peter Obi while PDP came third. But the dynamics changed during the governorship election with PDP overtaking the leading parties in the race.

At the INEC collation centre on Monday in Jos, the PDP candidate, Caleb Mutfwang, was announced to have polled 525,299 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, who polled 481,370 votes.

What will happen in Adamawa?

The race between Aishatu Dahiru of the APC and Ahmadu Finitiri, PDPs sitting governor in the state, is a tight one. Mr Fintiri is seeking re-election but Mrs Dahiru, popularly called Binani, seeks to unseat him.

INEC has since declared the election in Adamawa inconclusive. Although PDPs Fintiri is leading in the contest, having scored the highest votes, INEC said the cancelled votes were more than the margin of victory between him and Binani.

The outcome of the re-run election will determine if PDP will lose the state to APCs Binani. Itll also determine if Nigeria will have its first elected female governor.

The situation in Kebbi

When PDPs Atiku Abubakar won the presidential election on 25 February in Kebbi state, tension gripped the APC camp that the opposition might take the governorship seat from them. This made the 18 March election held in the state more competitive.

But on 21 March, INEC declared the election in Kebbi inconclusive, due to violence, overvoting, destruction of election materials and electoral proceedings in 20 of the 21 local governments in the state.

Before the election was declared inconclusive, however, APC was leading the elections with 388,258 votes, as against 342,980 votes polled by the PDP.

Like in Adamawa, the outcome of the re-run election will determine who takes over Kebbi between the governing APC and the opposition PDP.

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Russias President, Vladimir Putin, will be attending the BRICS Summit in August this year, on invitation by the South African government. BRICS is a group of the worlds biggest emerging economies  Brazil, Russia, India, China and late-addition South Africa.

The International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued a warrant of arrest for the Russian leader for war crimes stemming from the conflict with Ukraine that started over a year ago on 28 February 2022.

The ICC warrant means that South Africa, a signatory to the ICC, will be obliged to arrest Mr Putin and hand him over if he sets foot on South African soil. The war has caused economic suffering around the world and has impacted imports, exports and the supply of gas and wheat. Significant political and economic challenges for African countries were the result. Already reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine and its economic fallout brought more pain as high food and fuel prices worsened the political instability many countries are facing.

South Africa has remained neutral in its stance on the war  much to the dismay of the U.S. and Brussels. Analysts have said the flurry of diplomatic activity comes as the West and Russia both seek South Africas support regarding the war in Ukraine.

Historically, the South African government has strong ties with Russia. The country provided a refuge for political exiles during apartheid and provided training and tactical weapons to uMkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the now-ruling party African National Congress, during the liberation struggle.

South Africas International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor has said that the ICC, to which South Africa is a signatory, has not been even-handed as an arbiter in international affairs. Ms Pandor said while she has not said the ICC is wrong in issuing the warrant of arrest against Mr Putin, she expressed deep misgivings regarding the international courts decision, arguing that the ICC turns a blind eye to other global atrocities.

Meanwhile, the South African opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has said that the Russian leader is welcome to attend the BRICS summit. Party leader Julius Malema said that Russia has always been a friend of South Africa.

The European Unions Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has urged the South African government to use its ties with Russia to convince Moscow to stop its war on Ukraine, allAfrica reports.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said a bid by any country to arrest Mr Putin on a warrant issued by the ICC would be taken as a declaration of war, Deutsche Welle reports.

The South African government is meanwhile taking legal advice on Mr Putins visit, News24 reports.

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Recently, the Nigerian government confirmed the outbreak of diphtheria in parts of the country. The disease is a highly contagious infection caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, skin of an individual.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that 38 people, mostly children, have lost their lives from the disease, and there are 123 clinically suspected cases. In partnership with state ministries of health, NCDC said it initiated an emergency response to the outbreak and is monitoring the situation in four states (Lagos, Kano, Osun and Yobe).

Worldwide, the incidence of diphtheria has reduced dramatically in the past five decades, thanks to widespread immunisation, using a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.

The number of diphtheria cases reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) declined from about 100,000 in 1980 to less than 10,000 cases in 2021.

The prevention of infection primarily controls diphtheria through high population immunity achieved by high vaccination coverage. NCDC said in a health advisory issued to Nigerian healthcare workers that consequently, Diphtheria outbreaks reflect inadequate vaccination coverage.

What is diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a severe bacterial disease caused by the spread of a bacterium, Corynebacterium species, mainly by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae and rarely by toxin-producing strains of C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis, NCDC explains.

When a person catches diphtheria, the bacteria release toxins or poison into the persons body. Americas Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the toxin infects the upper airways and sometimes the skin, causing a membrane to grow across the windpipe.

This makes breathing hard, and if the membrane completely blocks the windpipe, it can lead to suffocation and death. The heart and nervous system can also be damaged, CDC noted.

Diphtheria manifests as laryngitis, pharyngitis or tonsillitis and is associated with an adherent membrane covering the tonsils, pharynx and/or nose.

Beyond the respiratory symptoms, NCDC said, approximately a quarter of cases may develop heart problems (myocarditis). The mainstay of Diphtheria treatment is antibiotics and Diphtheria antitoxin (DAT).

Transmission

Diphtheria spreads easily among people by direct contact or through the air and through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, NCDC added.

It may also be spread by contaminated clothing and objects. A person is infectious for as long as the bacteria are present in respiratory secretions, usually two weeks without treatment and seldom more than six weeks.

In rare cases, chronic carriers may shed organisms for six months or more. Effective treatment promptly terminates shedding in about one or two days, NCDC said.

According to the CDC, diphtheria can be transmitted by sharing items such as cups, cutlery, clothing or bedding with an infected person. It is possible to get diphtheria more than once.

Whos at risk of developing diphtheria?

Anyone who is not protected by the vaccine and comes in close contact with an infected person can develop diphtheria, according to Cleveland Clinic, an American non-profit academic medical centre.

Symptoms

The most common type of diphtheria is classic respiratory diphtheria. An infected person typically shows signs of diphtheria around two to five days after exposure.

The length of time for symptoms to show can be anywhere from one to 10 days after exposure, said Tijjani Yakubu, a medical doctor at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja. Initial symptoms may be mild and include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and red eyes (conjunctivitis).

In some cases, Mr Yakubu said, infected persons experience swollen neck glands, problems breathing due to tissues obstructing the nose, throat, kidney, or heart problems (if the bacteria enters the bloodstream).

In severe cases, NCDC states that the bacteria produce an exotoxin that causes a thick grey or white patch (pseudo-membrane) on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat.

This can block the airway making it hard to breathe or swallow and causing a barking cough. The neck may swell partially due to enlarged lymph nodes and frequently confer a bull-neck appearance.

The exotoxin produced by the bacteria may also enter the bloodstream causing complications such as inflammation and damage of the heart muscle, inflammation of nerves, kidney problems, and bleeding problems due to decreased blood platelet count.

The damaged heart muscles may result in an abnormal heart rate, and inflammation of the nerves may result in paralysis. The infection can also affect the skin (cutaneous diphtheria). More rarely, it can affect mucous membranes at other non-respiratory sites, such as the genitalia and conjunctiva, NCDC stated.

Causes

Mr Yakubu said diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin.

It is the toxin that can cause people to get very sick, Mr Yakubu said.

On their part, Cleveland Clinic researchers said diphtheria is caused by bacteria adhering to the lining of respiratory system.

These bacteria generate a toxin that damages your respiratory tissue cells. The tissue left behind within two or three days forms a bulky, grey coating. This coating has the potential to cover tissues in your voice box, throat, nose and tonsils. For the infected person, breathing and swallowing become hard to do.

Complications

NCDC said complications due to diphtheria usually occur in the second and third week following infection.

This includes corneal scarring (aggravated by vitamin A deficiency), encephalitis (more common in older children and adults, 0.1 per cent), diarrhoea, pneumonia (a major cause of death) and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (rare, delayed complication; associated personality changes, seizures, motor disability, progressing to coma and death).

According to NCDC, Case fatality ratios up to 10 per cent have been reported in diphtheria outbreaks and are higher in settings where diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) is unavailable.

Types of diphtheria

According to the CDC, there are two main types of diphtheria  classical respiratory and cutaneous.

Classical respiratory diphtheria is the most common type of diphtheria. It may affect the nose, throat, tonsils or larynx (voice box). Symptoms can vary depending on where the affected membranes are located in the body. Some people call this condition pharyngeal diphtheria (diphtheria of the throat), CDC added.

Cutaneous diphtheria is described as the rarest type of diphtheria, characterised by skin rash, sores or blisters, which can appear anywhere on your body. Cutaneous diphtheria is more common in tropical climates or crowded places where people live in unhealthy conditions.

Diagnosis

According to Mr Yakubu, the Abuja-based doctor, healthcare providers will diagnose based on symptoms and a lab test.

They will use a swab to take a sample from the back of your throat or a sore, the medical doctor said, noting that the swab would be taken to a lab for diagnosis.

NCDC also explains diphtheria testing broadly, saying clinical diagnosis of diphtheria usually relies on a greyish/whitish membrane (pseudo-membrane) covering the throat (pharynx/tonsils).

Although laboratory investigation of suspected cases is recommended for case confirmation, treatment should be started immediately before laboratory results are received, the centre added.

Two samples should be collected from every suspected case at first contact with the case  a pharyngeal swab and a nasal swab  and should ideally be taken before starting antibiotics. However, samples should still be taken even if antibiotics have already been started. Specimens should be placed in an appropriate transport medium (Amies transport medium or Stuart medium) or silica gel sachets in the case of a dry swab. Transport these to the laboratory promptly at 28oC, NCDC said.

If possible, a sample of the pseudo-membrane should also be collected and placed in saline (not formalin). A culture collected from a wound should be handled the same as nasal and throat swabs, the centre explained. The most reliable method of confirming diphtheria is by the culture of the organism from any of the specimens mentioned above and by demonstrating toxin production using an immunoprecipitation reaction (the modified Elek test.)

PCR can be done directly on swab material to detect the presence of the A and B subunits of the diphtheria toxin gene (tox). However, in some cases, the presence of tox does not confirm the production of toxin; positive PCR results should therefore always be confirmed with the Elek test if there is an isolate, NCDC said.

Treatment

Diphtheria infection is treated with a diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) administered intravenously or through an intramuscular injection. The Nigerian disease control agency said that antibiotics could also be given to eliminate the bacteria to prevent transmission and toxin production to others.

Close contacts of the patient are to be monitored for signs and symptoms for ten days from the last contact with a suspected case. Healthcare workers exposed to the cases oral or respiratory secretions or exposed to their wounds should also be monitored. Prophylactic antibiotics (penicillin or erythromycin) for seven days are indicated for close contact.

Prevention

In the Nigerian childhood immunisation schedule, three doses of pentavalent vaccine (diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine) are recommended at the 6th, 10th, and 14th week of life.

WHO recommends a three-dose series of diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines in the first year of life beginning at 6 weeks of age and advises that 3 booster doses of diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine are provided during childhood and adolescence to ensure long-term protection.

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In endemic settings and outbreaks, healthcare workers may be at greater risk of diphtheria than the general population. Consequently, NCDC advised that special attention should be paid to immunising healthcare workers (clinicians, laboratory scientists etc.) who may have occupational exposure to Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Diphtheria in Nigeria

In Nigeria, there was an outbreak in Borno, in the countrys North-east, in 2011, with 98 cases and 21 deaths (the case-fatality ratio was 21.4 per cent). NCDC said this outbreak and the associated high fatality cases were due to a combination of low vaccination coverage, delayed clinical recognition and laboratory confirmation, and the absence of antitoxin and antibiotics for treatment.

The researcher produced this fact-check per the Dubawa 2023 Kwame Karikari Fellowship partnership with Premium Times to facilitate the ethos of truth in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.

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Despite Abuja, the Nigerian capital, being one the epicentres of coronavirus in the country, less than 20 per cent of its population are vaccinated.

Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory (FCT) became one of the nations epicentres of the coronavirus pandemic soon after the index case in the country was reported in February 2020.

To curtail the spread of the then-novel virus, President Muhammadu Buhari in March of the same year announced the first round of a two-week lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT.

The lockdown was later extended to other states and the period of lockdown was similarly extended, paralysing socio-economic and political activities nationwide.

To further stem the tide of the pandemic, the government joined the rest of the world to adopt a massive vaccination. Nigeria commenced the exercise on 5 March 2021, having received an initial delivery of four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX, an initiative aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines globally.

Although there were reports of scepticism at the onset of vaccination, so far, about 64 million eligible persons in Nigeria have completed their doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.

However, almost two years after the vaccination campaign launch, some residents of Abuja are still sceptical about taking the vaccines.

Vaccination in FCT

Data published by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) shows that apart from the 67 million people who are fully vaccinated in Nigeria, about 12 million people, representing 11 per cent of the targeted population, are also partially vaccinated against the virus.

The FCT, with an estimated population of over six million, has fully vaccinated almost 800,000 persons (13 per cent) against the virus while about 200,000 persons are partially vaccinated.

Some of the millions of Abuja residents yet to be vaccinated spoke with PREMIUM TIMES about their reasons for not getting the free vaccines. While some denied the existence of the virus, others expressed doubts about the efficacy of the vaccines.

The FCT reported its first COVID-19 case on 21 March 2020, about a month after Nigeria recorded its index case in an Italian traveller. So far, over 29,000 confirmed cases have been reported in FCT while 249 people have died from the virus in the Nigerian capital.

According to data published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the majority of the confirmed cases have been successfully treated and discharged while 12 persons were on admission.

Virus non-existent!!!

In the face of over 600 million COVID-19 cases recorded globally and about 266,000 cases in Nigeria, some Abuja residents still doubt the virus exists.

Ebeere Nwosu, a resident of Dape, told PREMIUM TIMES that she believes reported COVID-19 cases are lies made up by the government.

Everyone is talking about COVID-19 and the need to take the vaccines, but why are people not dying as claimed by the government? I am yet to see anyone sick or die from the COVID-19 virus, she said.

Ms Nwosu said she would only be convinced the virus exists in Nigeria when she witnesses a real case and not data released by governments.

A resident of Dei-Dei, who identified simply as Tayo, said he believes the virus exists but not in Nigeria. I agree that the virus exists in China and other countries, but COVID-19 is not in the Africa region, he said.

Similarly, Asmau Shehu, a resident of Dutse suburb of Abuja, said she believes the virus was made up by the Nigerian government to get aid from foreign organisations.

Ms Shehu said the government is benefitting from these lies, thats why they are spreading the narrative that COVID-19 exists. Why would I take a vaccine for a virus that doesnt exist?

Mistrust, misinformation

Some of the residents who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES identified mistrust in the countrys governance system as a major reason for boycotting the COVID-19 vaccines.

A trader at the popular Wuse market, identified as Alhaji Yusuf, said he would not take the vaccines because he does not trust its content.

I am not sure what it contains and you know this is Nigeria. Someone somewhere might have swapped the original vaccines to sell them and replace them with fake ones. I dont want to die now, he said.

A woman simply identified as Ebube residing in Kubwa said she would not take the vaccines because I do not want to develop a magnetic skin.

Ms Ebube said she heard that the vaccines got people cloned or magnetic after a period of time, one of the false claims about COVID-19 vaccines.

Victoria Ajayi, a resident of Gwarimpa, said she did not trust the effectiveness of the vaccine against the killer virus.

Is the vaccine effective? Was it stored at the recommended temperature? Is there a probability of contracting the virus even after vaccination? This and many more unanswered questions are why I cannot take the vaccines, she said.

She also raised concerns over the fast production of the COVID-19 vaccines, noting that vaccines usually take many years to produce.

Indeed, vaccines typically take at least a decade to develop, test and manufacture, according to scientists. In the US for example, vaccine development undergoes a specific set of steps that include exploratory phases, pre-clinical trials, new drug application, four phases of vaccine trials, and thorough vetting from the US Centres of Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

All of these processes combined could take multiple years, and even then, it might not be as effective as hoped.

However, the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were developed at breakneck speed in about 12 months to become the fastest ever in human history. This significant breakthrough raised concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Researchers, however, said the only difference between the COVID-19 vaccines and their predecessors is the use of the genetic material mRNA which is easy to make in a laboratory.

Religious belief, other factors

We were warned that the COVID-19 vaccine is a means to put the 666 mark on our bodies so I can never take the vaccines, Gloria, a resident of Karmo, said.

Ms Gloria said, no matter what the consequences or threat of not accepting the vaccines are, I will not take it.

Emmanuel Victor, a resident of Life Camp area of Abuja, said he was denied a job because of his refusal to accept jabs of the vaccines. Mr Victor said he refused to take the vaccine because his religious leader warned them against it.

I passed every stage of the job interview but I forfeited the job because a major requirement was to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and I cannot do that, he said.

Abdullahi Isa, a security guard at Wuse, said although he was aware of a nearby COVID-19 vaccination centre, he intentionally declined to take the vaccine.

I know of some people around this area that took the vaccine and became too weak to even leave their houses, he said.

The Acting Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Isah Vatsa, said the FCTs aim was to ensure over 80 per cent of the residents are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Mr Vatsa in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES acknowledged that although many residents were accepting the vaccines, some were still sceptical due to spread of false information.

He said people were getting vaccinated against COVID-19 everyday because they understand the benefits of vaccination for them and their loved ones.

I can tell you that about 1.7 million doses of vaccines have been administered in the FCT and approximately 850,000 persons have been fully vaccinated. This is a very encouraging figure given the rate of misconception in the city, he said.

Mr Vasta said the misconceptions were discouraging many persons from taking the vaccines.

At the peak of the pandemic, most people including myself were praying the world develops vaccines and now the vaccine is available with us, yet some people are running away from it, he said.

He said there was an ongoing community dialogue and sensitisation through different means and languages to spread accurate information about COVID-19 and its vaccines.

Vaccine hesitancy

Various health experts have said the misconceptions and mistrust about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine hesitancy are majorly fuelled by previous experiences on vaccination in the country, coupled with inadequate enlightenment campaigns.

Vaccine hesitancy, a reluctance or refusal to be immunised, was named by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019.

A survey carried out in 2021 by a research firm, SBM Intel, showed that only 39.9 per cent of Nigerians were willing to take the vaccines. While 35.9 per cent of the respondents said they would not take the vaccine, 24.1 per cent were unsure of their position.

Like other vaccines, there are mistrust issues associated with the COVID-19 vaccine. In interviews with some respondents who are opposed to the vaccine, we filtered a number of misconceptions about the vaccine. Some respondents held that it is a religious war to contaminate the children of God with evil substances, the research firm said.

The survey indicated that some people believed the vaccine was a tool to depopulate Nigeria, while others expressed concern about the effectiveness ratio and the side effects it might have. Some other persons were not completely opposed to the vaccine but were more concerned with the thoughts of being used as Guinea pigs for drug trials.

The survey also found that nearly a fifth of Nigerians still did not believe COVID-19 is real.

The Executive Director of Nigerias immunisation agency, Faisal Shuaib, had earlier expressed concerns over vaccine hesitancy caused by misinformation which leads to doubt about the efficacy of the vaccine.

Mr Shuaib said all vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, are manufactured under strict compliance with WHO guidelines. Therefore, COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any harmful substance, or microchip and do not alter human genetic information.

He said the COVID-19 vaccines are effective and would trigger an immune response that will protect humans against the virus if encountered.

To address vaccine hesitancy amongst other factors threatening response to the pandemic, Mr Shuaib said the agency is working with religious and traditional leaders and other stakeholders to improve vaccine uptake.

He said state governors are also mobilising traditional and religious leaders to give out correct information about vaccination generally.

So all of the misinformation and disinformation, you know, that are out there, we have traditional and religious leaders actually countering them.

Halting new variants

As the world grapples with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants which have led to more cases and deaths in some countries, health experts have warned that the world must be fully vaccinated against the virus to halt further spread.

The latest variant XBB.1.5, a descendant of Omicron, is said to be the most transmissible strain of COVID-19 because of the mutations it contains, which allow it to adhere to cells and replicate easily.

The variant, which accounted for 44.1 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the United States in the past week, has so far spread to 28 countries, according to data from the WHO.

Although the new variant has not been detected in Nigeria, the NCDC said it is monitoring the trends in China, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and other countries with a high volume of traffic to and from Nigeria.

The NCDC also said the most important action for Nigerians is to get vaccinated against COVID-19 virus as severe disease, admissions, and deaths disproportionately affect the unvaccinated and those with established risk factors.

(This report was produced with the support of the Centre for Democracy and Development).

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When Lagos-based investigative journalist, Kabir Adejumo contacted a chief in Ibeju-Lekki in Nigerias south western state of Lagos, he was not expecting a death threat to follow. He had reached out to the chief for a right of reply for his report following accusations that the chief raped a 17-year-old girl. But instead of giving his side of the story, the chief threatened the journalist.

He told me he controls a lot of thugs in the axis and he knows that I live in Ajah and if care is not taken, I would be assaulted physically. I didnt feel threatened but anytime I have to pass through the Ibeju-Lekki axis, it comes to my head: If this man or his people should see me, am I sure I would return home? Mr Adejumo said to PREMIUM TIMES.

This was not the first threat the journalist has received from an alleged GBV offender. In another story in the same report, detailing how the police connive with accused rapists to frustrate justice for victims and survivors, Mr Adejumo narrated the experience of a family that accused their pastor in Lagos of raping their 15-year-old daughter for three years. He received a threat for this too.

While the traditional ruler threatened to kill the reporter, the cleric cursed and warned that he would go spiritual to ensure I am not useful to my family, said Mr Adejumo, the Assistant Investigations Editor at HumAngle.

According to a 2022 survey published by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in its Gender-Based Violence Reporting Handbook, of 120 Nigerian journalists interviewed, threats were the second topmost challenge mentioned by those reporting GBV, after silence from victims and survivors.

While Mr Adejumo was threatened directly, Chioma Ezewanfor, a radio journalist at Nigeria Info in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State in the South-South region of Nigeria, said her organisation had been threatened with lawsuits by alleged perpetrators.

The most recent incident occurred in November 2022 when she interviewed a woman who accused her husband of domestic violence.

We spoke to him on the telephone and he declined. He charged into our office and identified me and some members of my organisation and told us we will hear from his lawyers, Mrs Ezewanfor told PREMIUM TIMES.

It didnt bother her because she knew alleged perpetrators, will do anything to prevent the story from going on air.

Journalists facing attacks can get support through initiatives like AsariTheBot by CJID. The rapid response tool, which connects journalists to legal aid, is part of the Press Attack Tracker which documents attacks against journalists.

However, Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of the Journalism Programme at CJID, said that attempts to offer legal support to journalists who need it have yet to be successful. Mrs Ajibola said that journalists who had previously indicated an interest in getting legal assistance through AsariTheBot later retracted their complaint or expressed a desire to settle the matter out of court for fear of reprisals.

For this reason, Mrs Ajibola recommended that newsrooms employ active legal teams to support journalists before and after the publication of their stories.

She also said there should be constitutional measures against people who attack journalists and added that CJID was mulling instituting a register of attackers, documenting their names and faces, sending them to global communities and embassies and tagging them as enemies of democracy.

Second-hand trauma

Besides threats, the journalists interviewed for this report said they also suffer psychological distress while covering GBV stories. This aligns with a report by African Women in Media, in which women journalists covering stories on sexual and gender-based violence said they suffer trauma in the line of duty.

Journalists covering GBV stories suffer secondary trauma from their sources and repeated exposure could morph into post-traumatic stress that manifests in various forms, according to Ayo Ajeigbe, Lead Clinical Psychologist, at Olive Prime Psychological Services in Abuja.

This was the case for Ene Oshaba, Head of the Gender page at BLUEPRINT Newspaper who covered a story on a 32-year-old man who kidnapped a 16-year-old. When the girl was found, she was pregnant and her abductor refused to release her.

The divisional police officer (DPO) told Ms Oshaba to drop the story and not to waste her time on the matter to avoid indirect threats.

When he (DPO) told me that and upon seeing the expression on his face, I decided to drop the story. I am looking out for my family. I have little children and I do not want anything that will put me in harms way because I am a single mum, she said.

While Ms Oshaba dropped the story, she said it affected her, not because the police declined to take action, but because she imagined her daughter in the shoes of the abducted girl.

I could not believe this was happening because I live in the same town. I cannot imagine someone could hold my daughter captive, and get her pregnant. It replayed in my head because of the fear I had for my child, said the stunned Ms Oshaba.

Like Ms Oshaba, Mr Adejumo was also affected by the report of the rape of the 15-year-old whose story he covered because the child repeatedly attempted suicide after the sexual violence.

It took a toll on me particularly when I wanted to write the story as I had to replay the experiences of the girl in my head and her several attempts of suicide. I would start writing and the experiences would flash through my head. I had to stop and put it off. This happened repeatedly because I had to imagine what she went through to tell her story, he said.

In spite of how he felt, he pushed the trauma to the back of his mind because he felt obliged to publish the story since the reporting was funded.

Neither Mr Adejumo nor Ms Oshaba sought professional help. They tried to forget and moved on to the next story.

Mr Adejumo sees the distress that arises from covering GBV stories as an occupational hazard and sees no point in seeking therapy. Ms Oshaba, on the other hand, now knows the dangers of not seeking help for secondary trauma, after attending a trauma workshop by PAGED Initiative, a non-governmental organisation that advocates for gender parity.

In CJIDs survey, 54 per cent of the 50 journalists who covered GBV cases said they experienced trauma in the course of their works, but only 11 per cent sought psychosocial care.

Mr Ajeigbe, a psychologist, said it is dangerous to pile up unresolved traumatic incidents. He said that a journalist who does not seek professional help after covering stories on gender-based violence and traumatic events may unconsciously suffer post-traumatic stress which has an influence on their behaviour and relationships.

Most people are experiencing post-traumatic stress but they do not know and it is affecting our day-to-day events, said Mr Ajeigbe.

To tackle this, he advised journalists to attend debriefing sessions offered by psychologists immediately after covering the story even if they feel fine or participate in counselling or therapy sessions in the long run.

He also proposed that media houses consider the mental health of their staff and organise activities like team bonding sessions which will help the staffs mental health and invariably improve their productivity at work.

Mrs Ajibola of CJID said that while the organisation has referred journalists for therapy sessions, newsrooms should incorporate mental health into their workflows.

You (newsrooms) should be concerned about the mental health of your journalists. The job that journalists do is a very overwhelming job. What is the Nigeria Union of Journalists doing? What journalists experience has a direct impact on their mental health and they suffer a nervous breakdown in real-time, she said.

A report published by IJNET observed that many newsrooms in Nigeria do not prioritise the mental health of their reporters. However, some organisations have conducted mental health workshops for Nigerian journalists, though these services are short-term and intermittent.

In South Africa, the South African National Editors Forum, partnered with a mental health services organisation to create programmes that prioritise wellness in newsrooms across the country. In the United States of America, a 2021 study found that comfort dogs were a coping mechanism for broadcast journalists covering traumatic events.

Low impact from reporting

Besides threats and psychological distress, journalists surveyed in the GBV reporting handbook decried the lack of justice after highlighting cases of GBV in the community. Of the journalists surveyed, 38 per cent said that justice was not achieved, a further 38 per cent were unsure, while only 24 per cent said that justice was served following their reporting. As a result, the journalists said that their stories had no impact.

Mrs Ezewanfor, News Manager at Nigeria Info radio station, said that less than half of the cases in the GBV stories covered by her newsroom ended in convictions and described this as discouraging and one of the downsides of covering GBV stories.

You put in a lot of energy and effort but somehow it doesnt end the way you want in getting justice for survivors. It is either the family pulls out and settles out of court, she explained.

Likewise, Chika Mefor-Nwachukwu, a senior development reporter at Aljazirah Newspaper, said that she feels guilty when her story doesnt lead to justice for the survivor, especially when the perpetrator continues with the assault despite being exposed.

In April 2022, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, revealed that only 16 out of 5,100 GBV cases had ended in conviction. She attributed the low conviction rates to the slow judicial process and lack of funding of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, urged journalists to go beyond reporting and draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the published report as a way to address the challenge of low impact.

They should also write a report when there is an impact by saying, after this organisations report, this impact happened. This would encourage sources to know that there could be impacts from reports, he said.

He also proposed that media houses collate and evaluate published reports at the end of the year and seek alternative ways to follow up on the reported stories.

When writing a report, we hope that there is an impact. But when there is none, be comforted you have told the story. The impact might not come immediately. It could happen years later when someone sees the report and decides to help.

This is a strategy that Mrs Ezewanfor has taken to heart. Instead of feeling discouraged by the low conviction rates, she views her reporting on GBV as a means to document and archive the stories and to strengthen the conversations on GBV. This is what has kept me going, she said.

Family interference

Journalists covering GBV are also discouraged when families of survivors withdraw from the pursuit of justice. Princess-Ekwi Ajide, a broadcast journalist with Anambra Broadcasting service, experienced this while reporting on a 14-year-old who was raped by her teacher. The case was reported to the police and they visited the hospital to get more evidence.

However, upon subsequent follow-up, the survivors father told the journalist to stop working on the report. When she asked him if he had been threatened, he asked her why she was taking a painkiller for someone elses headache.

I felt defeated. It was disheartening and I cried because it felt personal and the family did not understand the importance of reporting so that the man (perpetrator) will not do it to someone else, the Anambra state reporter said.

The CJID GBV handbook explained that stigmatisation, victim-blaming, self-blame, fear of reprisal and lack of trust in the justice process are some of the factors why many survivors and their relations keep the trauma of the abuse and discontinue the process to prosecute the perpetrator.

Other barriers to covering GBV stories

Journalists interviewed for this report and the CJID GBV handbook also mentioned other challenges they face when reporting on gender-based violence, namely: accessing information from survivors, their families, the community, and law enforcement agencies; lack of cooperation and the unprofessional conduct exhibited by prosecuting agencies; editorial sabotage and lack of interest by newsrooms and lack of funds to follow up GBV cases.

The journalists called for these challenges to be addressed so that they can keep telling these stories with the hope of exposing the rot and getting justice for survivors through their reporting.

This article was produced as part of the WA GBV Reporting Fellowship with support from the Africa Womens Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and through the support of the Ford Foundation.

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When Okon Emannuel, 56, fell ill in June 2021, he visited a local chemist (drug store) four blocks from his residence in Midim, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

I think it was malaria. But after taking the tablets the chemist mixed for me, I still felt fever(ish) again, he said.

As his situation got worse, he sought care at Polyclinic  the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) Operational Base  situated some three kilometres away, despite the existence of the Midim PHC in his community.

Mr Emmanuel said his preference for Polyclinic is shared by many other residents of the area. The one you talk about (Midim PHC); how many people go there that time? he asked.

Maybe pregnant women for antenatal, a woman, who had been listening to the conversation quickly added. Many people here go to Polyclinic, because it is better, Mr Emmanuel said.

The low patronage at PHC Midim was not unconnected with its dilapidated state at the time. According to a 2021 assessment report by UDEME, a social accountability initiative of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, the PHC had broken ceilings, crumbling roofs and doors and windows affected by termite infestation.

However, this is not the situation at PHC Midim today courtesy of the Nigerian governments intervention through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF). A visit to the PHC in August showed that it had been renovated and repainted.

The fund has helped to transform this place. We have replaced the doors and the wood in the ceiling that were destroyed by termites and fumigated the place from the ceiling up and down, Itohowo Duncan, the officer in charge of the PHC, told PREMIUM TIMES. We have more patients coming in here now than before.

A generator was also procured to provide power supply at the PHC, putting an end to the long years of borrowing the village heads generator.

Sylvester Ibanga, the village head, was full of praise for the federal governments intervention.

It has helped to improve the health centre a lot. They were able to repair a lot of things in the place. They even procured a generator to fix the electricity and water issues there. We are happy and we thank the government for this project, he said.

About BHCPF

The Nigerian government introduced BHCPF under the National Health Act (NHAct) 2014 to provide free minimum basic healthcare to the most vulnerable populations through PHCs across Nigeria and reduce personal out-of-pocket payments and associated financial risks, through health insurance.

The initiative is funded with a minimum of one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), grants from international partners and other donors. The fund is disbursed via three gateways: 50 per cent for the provision of Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) to citizens via the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), five per cent for treatment of medical emergencies and 45 per cent to improve PHCs service delivery through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Of the 45 per cent, 20 per cent is for the provision of essential drugs, vaccines and consumables for eligible PHCs, 15 per cent is for the maintenance of PHC facilities and equipment and 10 per cent is for the development of PHC staff.

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For the NHIS Gateway, citizens and healthcare providers are expected to be enrolled as beneficiaries of the BHCPF, to enable them to access preventive, protective, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative health services at designated PHCs. However, these health services shall be funded through the State Health Insurance Agencies and State Health Insurance Schemes (SHIA, SHIS), at an agreed premium.

In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) with an appropriation of N55.1 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), in addition to $2 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, $20 million from Global Financing Facility (GFF) and 50 million donated by the Department for International Development (DFID) to cover 2018  2023.

Multiple reports had previously documented the decrepit conditions of PHCs across the state, citing insufficient drug supplies, understaffed, ill-equipped and dilapidated facilities, occasioned by neglect, lack of political will and poor health financing.

However, following the launch of the BHCPF in Akwa Ibom in the second quarter of 2021, and subsequent disbursement of funds in 2022, PREMIUM TIMES visit to Essien Udim, Uruan, Abak, Eket and Esit Eket council areas, revealed that PHCs have been revitalized, particularly with regards to the rehabilitation of previously dilapidated structures and facilities.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that a total of 231 PHCs had benefited from the fund, each receiving around the sum of 611,000. PREMIUM TIMES observed that all beneficiary PHCs had been renovated and repainted; each spotting uniform yellow and green colours.

At PHC Nwaniba in Uruan LGA, the bad doors and windows have been replaced while the building has been repainted and the borehole repaired. A member of staff, Mfon Charles, commended the government for introducing the scheme.

The doors and windows which were bad before have been changed and the borehole that was not working before, she said. As you can see, the building was also repainted to make it look better.

The Fund served a similar purpose at PHCs in Ekpene Ibia and Ndon Ebom, covering the cost of painting, repair of ceilings that were previously falling off and replacement of wooden doors and windows with metal ones to improve security at the facilities. It also facilitated the purchase of a Sumo pump and a new signpost at PHC Ekpene Ibia.

The fund we got has really helped to fix many of our needs here. Like the former door that fell off one morning after I had night delivery, we have changed it and others to iron doors which are more durable to protect the vaccine cooler, solar batteries and freezer from theft, Anthonia Attah, who heads the facility, said.

Before the advent of the BHCPF, only the PHC Adiasim was in good shape in Essien Udim LGA, having been demolished and rebuilt to standard by a philanthropist in the community, Oliver Ebong, in 2018. Mfonobong Sam, the OIC of the PHC, said she did not have full knowledge of how funds from the BHCPF were utilised as she was just posted there in March 2022.

The BHCPF is also responsible for the recent renovation of the previously dilapidating structures at PHC Odoro Ikot I and II  the other beneficiary PHCs in the Essien Udim LGA. Catherine Icho, the OIC, thanked the government for the initiative, adding that it had improved conditions at the facility.

If you see this health centre before, the roof was leaking and falling off. I used the money to buy zinc, ceiling and the new doors, she said.

She lamented the shortage of staff, and lack of water and power supply at the facility and appealed to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to repair the solar-powered generator it donated to the facility.

In Abak LGA, BHCPF has equally brought succour to beneficiary-PHCs. At the operational base, Ime Udo, the monitoring and evaluation officer, commended the government for the Fund, saying it has improved the condition of many of the PHCs. He however added that more needs to be done.

Blessing Ime, who used to attend antenatal care at PHC Ibanang Ediene, was delighted by the renovation of the PHC.

Before now, we could not use the toilet but now they have repaired it, she said. The broken roofs and ceilings have also been replaced, courtesy of the BHCPF.

The head of the facility at PHC Midim, Itohowo Duncan, was also full of praise for the BHCPF. Through the Fund, the facility, which had been ravaged by termites, had been rescued.

The fund has helped to transform this place. We have replaced the doors and the wood in the ceiling that were destroyed by termites and fumigated the place from the ceiling up and down, she said. A generator was also purchased to provide power supply at the PHC, putting an end to the long years of borrowing the village heads generator.

There were signs of recent renovations at PHC Afaha Obong, including the newly installed gate, windows, iron doors, ceilings and electrical equipment. The OIC, Mfon Nseyo, said the fund has assisted in rehabilitating the PHC.

From Ikot Okudomo to Ikot Ukpong, Mkpok and Afaha Atai, there are tales of rehabilitation of PHCs in Eket LGA, courtesy of the BHCPF.

Nwaiwu Florence, a patient at PHC Idua in Eket LGA, acknowledged recent changes at the facility courtesy of the BHCPF intervention.

The last time I was here for my vaccine last year, this place was not like this. I noticed that the broken floors, bad roof, doors and windows have been worked on. They have also purchased more seats, she said.

At the PHC Idung Iniang, the OIC, Mfon Batta, urged the government to sustain the project so that some of the challenges facing the facilities can be a thing of the past.

This is the first renovation of this PHC since it was built. If they can continue like this before you know, many of the issues we have been having will be solved, she said.

The story is no different for PHCs in Esit Eket LGA. PREMIUM TIMES found that all the beneficiary-PHCs had received various levels of renovation, and could be easily identified by their recently painted yellow and green walls.

The PHC in Etebi was doubly lucky. A new building was recently constructed by a former Minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, but the old building in the facility also got renovated through the BHCPF.

Charlie Hannah, the head of the facility, said the PHC had been selected as a beneficiary of the BHCPF before the new building was constructed by the minister.

Unlike many of its kind, the PHC has water and power supply, just like the PHC in Iko-Effak Akpautong, another beneficiary of the BHCPF.

Apart from the renovation of the building and purchase of furniture, a new generating set was recently purchased for the PHC Ikpa Town. According to the OIC, Ekaette Bassey, the decision to make the purchase was made to tackle the facilitys long-drawn challenge with irregular power supply.

Findings by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the development strides at the PHCs are a product of the synergy with their respective Ward Development Committees (WDCs)  a group of community members selected to support the heads of the PHCs in the administration of the Fund.

There is also a culture of record-keeping for accountability by the heads of the PHCs. Each maintains a folder where all documents  including payment receipts, pictures of the PHCs previous condition and bank statements  are kept.

Controversies over beneficiary PHCs selection

Meanwhile, the selection of the PHCs to receive the funds in the state sparked controversies, stemming from the inequitable distribution of beneficiary PHCs across the LGAs. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that some LGAs received more beneficiaries than others.

In Uruan LGA, for instance, only three out of nine PHCs were selected to receive funding. Of the 19 PHCs in Essien Udim LGA, only three were selected, and 10 out of 14 PHCs were selected in Abak LGA. In Eket LGA, 11 of the 15 PHCs benefited from the Fund, just as nine out of the 13 PHCs in Esit Eket LGA were selected.

The criteria employed in the selection of beneficiaries remain a mystery to the public.

It is unfortunate. Here in Essien Udim, only three out of almost 20-something facilities were selected. So, I wonder what criteria they used in selecting the facilities. How come other local governments have more beneficiaries and we have just three? a nurse working in one of the PHCs queried.

There are also concerns that some dilapidated PHCs critically in need of intervention, were left out.

A visit to the non-beneficiary PHCs across the five LGAs revealed that most of the facilities are grossly understaffed, ill-equipped and dilapidated.

Facilities like PHC Mkpatak and the PHC Operational Base, Ikot Ebak in Essien Udim LGA, reek of dilapidation and long years of neglect, especially PHC Ekpenyong II which is totally in shambles. The ceilings at the PHC had crumbled, forcing staff and even patients who were receiving treatment, to always run for cover.

In Abak LGA, the ceilings of many of the wards and offices at the PHC Operational Base are prevented from crumbling with the support of sticks, just as the health post at Abak Itenge requires urgent intervention.

There is a need to provide intervention for PHCs in Esit Urua and Ikot Abia in Eket LGA, which operate from single classrooms in schools  Apostolic High School Esit Urua and Government Primary School Ikot Abia, respectively.

Others requiring attention also include the PHCs Odoro Nkit, Ntak Inyang and Akpasong in Esit Eket LGA.

Apart from the issue of structural deficiency observed, many of these PHCs are also plagued with a shortage of drug supplies. When they can, PHC staff stock up the pharmacies with drugs and essentials from their personal pockets, in a bid to make the drugs readily available for patients at a cost. Apart from availability, patients who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said it saves them the risk of buying counterfeit drugs.

Most times it is better to buy the drugs at the health centre because you are sure that it is original instead of going by yourself to the chemist or pharmacy and buying fake, Esther Monday, a patient, said.

The situation is the same across the state. Apart from antimalarial drugs and antiretrovirals (ARVs), patients bear the costs of drugs and other medical treatments, despite the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the state.

PHCs task of revenue generation

Despite efforts to improve rural healthcare with initiatives like the BHCPF, findings by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that PHCs across the state are tasked to generate and remit revenues by LGA councils.

Councils maintain revenue registers at every facility, with which PHC staff are mandated to record the details of every patient and the fees collected. Charges differ across LGAs. At PHCs in Uruan LGA, adults pay 100, children 50, while pregnant women pay 100 and 200 after delivery. It is slightly different for PHCs in Essien Udim LGA, where pregnant women pay 500 before and after delivery, and Eket LGA, where adults are charged 50.

Revenue collectors registers seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed evidence of revenue payment by PHCs across the state. For instance, between April and June 2022, PHC Nwaniba remitted 5,070 to the Uruan LGA and 1,910 in July. In August 2022, Essien Udim LGA received 4,050 as revenue from PHC Odoro Ikot.

The story is largely the same in all the PHCs across the five LGAs visited.

PREMIUM TIMES also found that despite these tax payments, PHCs receive no support from LGA councils in form of imprest or subventions to assist the facilities for better service delivery. Instead, staff often rely on personal contributions and sometimes donations from kind-hearted members of communities to run the facilities.

We are doing our best  Govt

The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKSPHCDA), Martins Akpan, said the poor state of the PHCs stems from years of neglect under the control of the LGAs. He said the state governor, Mr Emmanuel, was doing his best to revive the primary healthcare system in the state to deliver quality healthcare to citizens.

We must recognise the fact that these problems did not just start overnight. It is a product of neglect over the years. We just have to be thankful to the current governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, who has given visibility to the primary healthcare sector. Before now the PHCs were under the local government system. Everything was in shambles.

It was just a couple of years ago that the FG decided to enact the National Health Act, which shifted the responsibility of the PHCs from LGAs to the state government under the provision of the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR). We are still in the process of the migration from the Local Government Service Commission to the state agency which will take care of these problems, he said.

Mr Akpan said that plans were underway by the state government to engage quality health personnel to address the issue of staff shortage.

Addressing the issue of inequitable selection of PHCs, he revealed that the AKSPHCDA was not involved in the selection of the beneficiary PHCs, but noted that the PHCs that were not previously captured, especially the most affected ones, will be considered in the second phase.

While Akwa Ibom currently enjoys its share of 45 per cent of the BHCPF, the state is yet to access funds from the 50 per cent NHIS gateway meant for the provision of Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) to citizens, following the failure of the government to provide counterpart funding and the establishment of a health insurance agency. However, Mr Akpan assures that that would soon be a thing of the past.

Health insurance is a part of the BHCPF. Now we have 45 per cent (NPHCDA gateway), we still need the 50 per cent which is even more than what we have already and you know his excellency (the state governor) understands and is working on it. I think what is left now is the nitty-gritty of setting up the agency so that they can have their own board and management, he said.

*This report is supported by the International Budget Partnership and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR)

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About three minutes walk from a busy road in the Tukuntawa area of Kano State is a vaccination centre where residents, passers-by, and other interested persons take jabs of COVID-19 vaccines.

On a Tuesday, last month, the COVID-19 vaccinators, all women, sat on a mat placed on a cemented floor in front of a building that seemed abandoned.

The vaccination centre, located in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, has about six pillars supporting the zinc roof which serves as a cover for the vaccinators and their tools. The pillars also serve as a supporting stand for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents who gather around the centre every morning to discuss issues around COVID-19.

At the end of such chats, some unvaccinated persons return home the same, while others agree to take jabs of the vaccines before dispersing. One such vaccinated person is 37 years old Abdullahi Idris.

The plan of going on the Islamic pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, hajj, is the only reason Mr Idris accepted jabs of the COVID-19 vaccines, he said.

Mr Idris, a resident of Tukuntawa, had initially sworn never to take the vaccine due to many reasons, including fear of becoming impotent.

He, however, had a change of mind following one of their discussions at the centre. A vaccinator had told them that proof of COVID-19 vaccination is a major criterion for a visa to visit Saudi Arabia for hajj, an annual pilgrimage Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime if they can afford to do so.

I took a jab of the vaccine because I intend to go for hajj soon and without a card to prove my vaccination status, I cant achieve that dream, Mr Idris told PREMIUM TIMES in Hausa.

He said he would not have accepted the vaccines because there are rumours the vaccine could lead to impotency or prolonged illness.

Hajj and COVID-19

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, mandatory for those who can afford it.

The hajj involves visits to Islams holiest sites in Saudi Arabia and the performance of some religious rites.

Saudi Arabia takes pride in its guardianship of Islams holiest sites in Mecca and Medina and its organisation of the annual hajj which draws over 2.5 million pilgrims from across the globe.

However, in 2020, due to COVID-19, the Kingdom reduced the number of pilgrims allowed to visit the country to just about 1,000 Saudi citizens and residents. It also barred Muslims abroad from the rite for the first time in modern times.

Similarly, in 2021, only 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents of the Kingdom were allowed to take part in the annual event.

However, the 2022 hajj was opened to one million foreign and domestic pilgrims who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, tested negative for the virus, and were between 18 and 65 years old. Nigeria was allocated over 43,000 hajj slots with over 2,000 of that figure allocated to Kano State.

Saudi Arabia, with a population of over 30 million, has so far recorded 826,667 cases of COVID-19 with 9,502 deaths. It has also administered over 68 million vaccine doses as of 4 December, according to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Compulsory Vaccination

As part of COVID-19 preventive measures and health protocols, the Saudi Arabia government announced that only fully vaccinated persons would be granted access to its Kingdom.

With this condition, many intending pilgrims like Mr Idris were left with no choice but to be vaccinated.

Similarly, Habib Rabiu, a resident of Gwagwarwa in the Nasarawa area of the state, said the fear of not fulfilling his intentions of going to Saudi Arabia for hajj prompted him to take shots of the vaccine.

Mr Rabiu said although he knows the vaccine is safe with no major side effects, he does not believe the virus exists.

Zainab Aliyu, a COVID-19 vaccinator at PHC Gwagwarwa, said the number of people visiting the centre for vaccines increased following news that only fully vaccinated persons could travel to Mecca.

Ms Aliyu said although the majority of them had no plans of going to hajj in 2022, they do not want to miss out when the opportunity comes.

She said many people initially refused to accept jabs of the vaccine due to misinformation about how the vaccine kills or negatively affects the human system.

For those still refusing to accept the vaccines, we educate them on the benefits of taking the vaccines which includes protecting themselves and their loved ones from the virus, she said.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the states Immunisation Officer, Shehu Abdullahi, said hajj played a role in ensuring more persons get vaccinated against the virus.

Hajj played a role in terms of mobilising those intending to go on a pilgrimage someday, he said.

Kano, the most populous state in Northern Nigeria, has recorded over 5,000 cases of COVID-19. Out of this, 127 persons have died, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows.

To date, Nigeria has recorded over 266,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,155 deaths in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

COVID-19 in Kano State

The first case of COVID-19 in Kano was recorded on 11 April 2020, but some mass deaths recorded in the densely populated city created controversies between the Nigerian and state governments.

While the then Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 set up by the federal government to coordinate the countrys response to the novel virus had insisted that most of the deaths were linked to the pandemic, the state government led by Governor Umar Ganduje denied the connection.

Many residents at the time had also denied the existence of the virus, even as they described the efforts to curtail its spread as Westerners attempts at reducing Africas population.

Apart from neglect of cautionary measures put in place by the government, such as the use of face masks, observing social distancing, hand washing and the use of sanitisers, many Kano residents defied the lockdown to go about their businesses.

However, despite the attitude of the residents to the pandemic, Kano State has consistently ranked high among the states with a high turnout for vaccination.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Kano

Kano State, a predominantly Muslim state, has vaccinated at least 70 per cent of its targeted residents against the COVID-19 virus.

Data published by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) shows that about 7.7 million people in the state have been fully vaccinated against the virus and over 3 million are partially vaccinated.

About 1.3 million people have also received the booster dose of vaccines, placing Kano as one of the five top-performing states in the country.

The Deputy State Immunisation Officer (DSIO) in the state, Auwalu Idris, told PREMIUM TIMES that over 70 per cent of the targeted population have taken at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr Idris said the increase in vaccination rates was achieved through various strategies, including the incorporation of vaccination in strategic places like shopping malls, markets and religious gatherings.

We put in place a robust plan involving all stakeholders who can offer support in achieving the states designed objectives, he said.

Conflicting data

The Kano State Government disputes the data from the NPHCDA. It said more people have been vaccinated than the NPHCDA data shows.

The states immunisation officer, Mr Abdullahi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the data published by the NPHCDA only covers a part of the vaccination campaign, which he described as Scales 3.0.

Kano governments data, which he described as covering Scales 1.0 and 2.0 shows that over 10 million people have received the first dose while over 7 million have received the second dose of the vaccines.

The data further indicates that over one million people have received the booster dose of the vaccine.

Nigerias vaccination campaign

In Nigeria, over 63 million people, representing 56.4 per cent of eligible persons targeted for vaccination, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while about 12.2 million, representing 11.0 per cent of eligible people, are partially vaccinated.

The country commenced its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on 5 March 2021, over a year after the first case was recorded in the country.

It began the campaign with the initial delivery of four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX, an initiative aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines globally.

Nigeria has gone ahead to receive millions of other vaccine doses which include Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines as donations.

The UK, Japanese and Italian governments, telecom giant MTN and European Union amongst others donated several doses of COVID-19 vaccines to support Nigerias efforts in vaccinating at least 70 per cent of its population.

(This is the first of a two-part series on COVID-19 vaccination in Kano. The production of the story was supported by the Centre for Democracy and Development.)

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The year 2022 was quite a busy one for Nigerias health sector, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak of Lassa fever, and the re-emergence of Mpox.

From grappling with the countrys already overstretched health system to losing large numbers of health personnel to developed countries, 2022 will remain an unforgettable year for the sector.

In this report, PREMIUM TIMES analyses some major landmarks that shaped the health sector in 2022.

COVID-19 pandemic

Two years after Nigeria reported its COVID-19 index case in an Italian traveller, the country seems to have gotten a hang of the pandemic which had earlier crippled the health system.

Routine immunisation, maternal and reproductive health, and child and adolescent health are among the health services disrupted as a result of the pandemic which claimed over 600 million lives globally.

Nigeria has so far tested over 5.7 million COVID-19 samples, with 266,450 returning positive. Over 3,000 persons have also died from COVID-19-related complications in the country.

The number of cases reported weekly has reduced drastically as compared to the early days of the pandemic.

At the onset of the pandemic, new cases reported across the country ranged between 100 and 200 daily. However, less than 50 weekly cases have been reported in the past few weeks.

This downward trend may not be unrelated to increased COVID-19 vaccination rates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Nigeria commenced COVID-19 vaccination in March 2021 and has so far fully vaccinated over 63 million eligible persons targeted for vaccination. Another 12 million eligible persons have also received one dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

Although the country failed to meet its ambitious goal of vaccinating 40 per cent of the population by the end of 2021, and 70 per cent by the end of 2022, efforts are ongoing to ensure more persons take the vaccines.

Relaxation of COVID-19 travel protocols

In response to the significant reduction in COVID-19 infections, the Nigerian government ordered the relaxation of COVID-19 safety measures and travel advisory, including the suspension of all pre-departure, pre-boarding and post-arrival PCR test requirements.

Announced by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) on 12 December 2022, the relaxed protocols including the compulsory use of face masks in public spaces and restrictions on mass gatherings are now optional.

Before the relaxation, a COVID-19 PCR test was required within 48 hours of departure for all travellers. There was also a mandatory Day-2 Post-arrival PCR test for travellers arriving in the country. Partially vaccinated travellers and unvaccinated ones were also expected to self-isolate for seven days and a Day-7 post-arrival negative COVID-19 PCR test was required for exit from isolation.

Various controversies had trailed Nigerias COVID-19 protocol for international travellers. Many complained about the high cost of a PCR test even as other countries were already stepping down on the protocols.

Brain Drain

The continued emigration of medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals to developed countries is one of the major sad developments in the sector in 2022.

Various statistics indicated that a large number of Nigerian doctors emigrated to seek greener pastures in developed countries.

A 2022 UK immigration report showed that 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers (including doctors) were granted working visas in the past year, making the country second only to the 42,966 from India. The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Uche Rowland, at a symposium on brain drain in the health sector, said over 5,000 doctors migrated to the United Kingdom (UK) in the last eight years.

This has created a huge gap in Nigerias health system, with only 24,000 doctors left to cater to the over 200 million population. This is also in stark contrast to the about 360,000 doctors needed to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation.

Nurses and medical consultants are also leaving. Between 2019 and mid-2022, at least 4,460 nurses migrated from Nigeria to the United Kingdom (UK), according to data from the development Research and Project Centre (dRPC).

About 500 medical and dental consultants also left the county between 2020 and 2022

When health experts gathered in Abuja towards the end of the year to discuss ways to halt the brain drain, they suggested improvement in the working conditions of doctors and other health personnel as a panacea.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerias Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, agreed that the working conditions of doctors need to be improved, and said the government was already working towards it. He also said the government was working toward engaging experienced Nigerian doctors living abroad so they could offer healthcare services to Nigerians virtually.

Surge in Lassa fever deaths, infections

In 2022, Nigeria experienced a significant surge in Lassa Fever infections across the 36 States and the FCT.

The latest epidemiological report published by NCDC for week 50 of 2022, spanning 12 to 18 December, shows that the number of confirmed cases and deaths increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.

The report revealed that from week 1 to week 50, 2022, 183 deaths were reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.6 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 of 20.3 per cent.

It also added that a total of 1,038 confirmed and 7,981 suspected infections were recorded between January to 18 December across 111 LGAs in 27 states.

Of all confirmed cases, 71 per cent were from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi. While Ondo State in the South-west topped the infection list with 33 per cent, Edo and Bauchi states accounted for 25 and 13 per cent respectively.

Re-emergence of Mpox

The world was gripped by the fresh outbreak of Mpox in 2022 from the United Kingdom linking its first confirmed infection to Nigeria. In May, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced in a statement that an unidentified individual who travelled from Nigeria to England tested positive for Mpox.

Months later, the WHO declared Mpox a global health emergency of international concern due to its continuous spread across the world, and also approved the change of name from Monkeypox to Mpox.

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While data from WHO and CDC confirmed gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up the majority of cases in the current Mpox outbreak, Nigeria has also consistently reported infections.

As of 21 December, data from African CDC shows that since the beginning of 2022, the continent has reported 1,176 confirmed cases and 219 deaths from eight endemic Africa Union (AU) member states. Nigeria topped with 704 infections, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ghana with 257 and 107 cases respectively.

According to data, DRC recorded the highest deaths of 198, while Nigeria and Ghana reported only seven and four deaths respectively.

From NHIS TO NHIA; Mandatory health insurance

As part of efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Bill 2022.

The NHIA, which repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act that has been in existence since 2004, makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.

Mr Buhari said the NHIA will collaborate with state government health insurance schemes to accredit primary and secondary healthcare facilities and ensure the enrollment of Nigerians.

The law also included the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF), to ensure coverage for 83 million Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.

He said the vulnerable group fund will be financed through the basic health care provision fund, health insurance levy, special intervention fund, as well as any investment proceeds, donations and gifts to the authority.

Health gets highest budgetary allocation

For the first time in the history of health funding in Nigeria, over a trillion naira was allocated to the sector in the proposed 2023 budget. An analysis of the proposed budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari in October shows that N1.17 trillion (5.75 per cent) was allocated to the health sector out of the total N20.5 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year.

Although it fails to meet a 2001 commitment to allocate at least 15 per cent of the total budget to the health sector, it is the highest ever allocated to the sector.

African heads of state and governments under the African Union (AU) in April 2001 made the commitment to dedicate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to the health sector in what is now known as the Abuja Declaration.

While countries like Rwanda and South Africa have met the commitment, Nigeria has not found a way to do so. A review of the budgetary allocation to the health sector in the last 21 years revealed that Nigeria has never met the 15 per cent target. Although the 5.75 per cent allocated to health in the 2023 budget is an increase from the 4.7 per cent allocated in 2022, health experts say more advocacy is needed to ensure the government meets the commitment made in the Abuja Declaration.

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The Nevada Housing Justice Alliance, tenants, lawmakers and community leaders gathered at a news conference outside the Capitol in Carson City this week to rally for legislation to expand legal protections for renters and increase rent control.

According to lawmakers, Nevada rent prices soared above the rest of the country last year. They said access to affordable housing is a top issue facing families.

Assmeblywoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, D-Las Vegas, said her bill, Assembly Bill 340, intends to change the summary eviction process. Currently in order to challenge an eviction in Nevada, tenants must make the first court filing. She said changing this would allow renters a chance to defend themselves.

Something must be done, she said. We cannot move forward another legislative session pretending like we dont have a crisis. We have a crisis.

Summers-Armstrong said her bill aims to change the procedure so that landlords would first have to go to court to have a tenant evicted, and provide them with plenty of notice to answer the complaint. She said it creates a more fair legal process.

There are a number of bills that aim to provide solutions to what some see as an affordable-housing crisis. Sen. Pat Spearman, D-North Las Vegas, said her bill, Senate Bill 363, prioritizes housing for women veterans, women who were formerly incarcerated, those recovering from domestic violence  and senior women who are housing insecure.

They are four times more likely to not have a place to stay than their peers, she said. As a matter of fact, those four groups are the highest, the fastest-growing, homeless groups in the United States.

Spearman and other lawmakers are pushing for legislation to keep some of the states lowest-income residents housed, while also aiming to prevent an eviction crisis as federal dollars distributed for rental assistance during the pandemic are set to expire.
Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

(This is the final part of a two-part series on COVID-19 vaccination in Kano State. Read the first part here).

In 1996, Nigeria experienced one of its worst meningitis outbreaks. Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company, announced that it could help.

The pharmaceutical giant pledged to tackle the outbreak by testing the efficacy of its new antibiotic, Trovan. The drug was tested on 200 young meningitis patients in Kano State, north-west Nigeria.

Barely a month later, 11 of the children that participated in the trial died of brain infections. Parents of other participants also reported disabilities among their children, majorly paralysis.

Although Pfizer had claimed the children died of meningitis and not as a result of the drug, investigations found the company guilty of conducting human trials without informed consent.

The incident led to a long legal battle involving Pfizer, the Kano State Government and the parents of the deceased. In 2009, an out-of-court settlement was reached for $75 million to the state government and $175,000 each to the families of four of the children.

While Pfizer may have moved on, the Kano government a bit richer and some families compensated, findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that the incident still leaves a bitter memory for some Kano residents and has even discouraged many from all kinds of vaccinations.

About 24 years after the incident, the world was faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people died from the disease including over 3,000 in Nigeria. Vaccines were produced and distributed around the world. But some residents of Kano refused to take the vaccines because they remained sceptical since the Pfizer incident.

Some of these residents spoke to PREMIUM TIMES.

Since that incident of paralysis and deaths of children, I can never trust any vaccines or medicine from Europe, Abubakar Salisu said.

Mr Salisu, a resident of Gwagwarwa in Nasarawa LGA, told PREMIUM TIMES last month that he will never take the COVID-19 vaccine and cannot advise anyone to accept it.

He said some residents are of the opinion that Europeans are trying to initiate Africans with the vaccines.

Our people believe the Europeans are on a mission to plant a device in our body through their vaccines, he said.

Another resident, Aliyu Musa, who lives in Unguwa Uku in Tarauni Local Government Area, said some of the residents are yet to move on from the Pfizer incident that left many families devastated.

Mr Musa said many families were left with paralysed children as a result of the drug administered to them without the consent of their parents.

Im one of those yet to take the COVID-19 vaccine and it will remain like that. My family and I will not take the vaccine because we dont trust the producers, he said.

Vaccine hesitancy

Vaccine hesitancy, mostly driven by a history of medical experiments, especially in Africa, is a known phenomenon that poses threat to disease control.

Such hesitancy does not only apply to situations where vaccine uptake is low because of poor availability but also because of distrust and safety concerns.

As long as its a vaccine or medicine from the westerners, I will not accept it. They can not be trusted, a taxi driver in Kano who identified himself as Ahmed said.

Mr Ahmed said he feels personal anger because his family was directly affected by the Pfizer disaster.

When Nigeria received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines and commenced vaccination in March 2021, various health experts warned that hesitancy must be tackled if the country is to vaccinate a large percentage of its population.

Kano states Immunisation Officer, Shehu Abdullahi, said the government adopted various strategies to convince the people that the incident of 1996 is in no way related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Mr Abdullahi said this is a key message the government has continued to send across to the people.

He said there are still ongoing awareness programmes involving religious and traditional leaders to educate people on the importance of accepting the vaccines.

Such leaders are usually vaccinated first in the presence of everyone to encourage others to follow suit, he said.

COVID-19 in Kano state

Kano, the most populous state in Northern Nigeria, has recorded over 5,000 cases of COVID-19. Out of this, 127 persons have died, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows.

However, despite the hesitancy of some residents like Mr Salisu, Kano ranks in the top five Nigerian states in COVID-19 vaccination, largely due to residents religious interests.

The state has fully vaccinated about 7.7 million people against the virus and over 3 million are partially vaccinated, according to data published by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

About 1.3 million people have also received the booster dose of vaccines, placing Kano as one of the five top-performing states in the country.

The Deputy State Immunisation Officer (DSIO) in the state, Auwalu Idris, told PREMIUM TIMES that over 70 per cent of the targeted population have taken at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr Idris said the increase in vaccination rates was achieved through various strategies, including the incorporation of vaccination in strategic places like shopping malls, markets and religious gatherings.

However, for the state to vaccinate the remaining of its population, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy amongst others must be addressed.

Tackling Misinformation

Zainab Ghali, a community health worker at the vaccination centre in Tukuntawa, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, said some individuals visit the centre to share their worries and rumours spreading about the vaccines.

Ms Ghali said as a vaccinator, she allays their fears by encouraging them to take the vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about vaccines. Some persons even say the virus does not exist despite deaths recorded in different parts of the world, she said.

Saliu Musa, a COVID-19 vaccinator at Unguwa Uku PHC in the Tarauni area of the state, said although false information about the vaccine has reduced in recent times, more awareness is still needed.

Mr Musa said more persons are now willing to take the jabs as compared to the numbers at the onset of the COVID-19 vaccination.

He said initially, only one or two persons visit the centre in a day. But since the beginning of this year, we vaccinate 15-30 people on some days, and other days we vaccinate about 10 persons.

He explained that mothers who present their children for routine immunisation also use the opportunity to take their COVID-19 jab.

So the establishment of vaccination centres in health facilities has also improved uptake, he said.

The Executive Secretary of Kano States primary health care management board, Tijjani Hussaini, said the state employs the use of social media, the academia amongst others to ensure people understand the importance of taking the vaccine.

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Mr Hussaini said this was effective as most of the false information is spread through social media outlets.

At the onset of the pandemic, some fallacies like one dying after taking the vaccines, becoming a magnet amongst others were going around, he said. We engaged medical experts, social media influencers and others to debunk rumours about the vaccines.

The official said some of these efforts yielded positive results and also led to an increased vaccination rate in the state.

However, the state will have to do more to convince Messrs Musa, Salisu and others who still suffer vaccine hesitancy, largely due to the Pfizer experience.

(This is the final part of a two-part series on COVID-19 vaccination in Kano State. Read the first part here.

The production of the stories is supported by the Centre for Democracy and Development).

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Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

Following the recent relaxation of the Coronavirus pandemic safety measures by the Nigerian government, this reporter was on the lookout for vaccination centres on the streets of Lagos, to, at least, know the status of the centres and what has become of them should there be another wave or new infection outbreaks.

But apart from seeing poorly managed facilities, the reporter also encountered brisk businesses by unscrupulous officials who have been feeding fat from the pandemic that once put the whole world on its toes.

One of such corrupt officials is Solomon Oriere, a male nurse attached to the National Primary Health Care Development Agencys (NPHCDA) accredited vaccination centre located in the premises of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

It is not known whether he is employed by LASUTH or the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB). But as he is popularly called at the health facility, Mr Solomon is a go-to man for anyone in need of either COVID-19 test results or vaccination cards.

You do not need to come here, all that I need from anyone in need of result or card is just the money paid into my account, and they will be provided, Mr Solomon boasted, adding that, In fact, we use courier services to deliver to those outside the state without seeing them.

He also offered a 12.5 per cent discount for referrals on testing, saying the reporter could pocket N5,000 on each person recommended.

For either the card or test result, just send me name, phone number, date of birth, email address and home address of whoever may need it and I will backdate it because, normally if you want to take it, it takes like eight months, for the first dose, second dose and booster doses.

Before you can take booster alone, it takes six months, the first and second takes a month plus each, that is about seven and eight months, he added.

Vaccination card obtained without jab

The quarantine holding bay near LASUTHs main gate may have been temporarily converted to a clinic for diabetes patients following the significant decline in COVID-19 cases, but within it are officials who make brisk business from the pandemic that once caused the world complete lockdown.

These agents are taking advantage of unsuspecting residents who walk in for vaccination which is meant to be free.

Near the bay is a makeshift office which might have served as the registration point for newly admitted COVID-19 patients at the height of the pandemic. It is the place where Mr Solomon now operates and conducts his businesses.

A young woman in mufty, whose identity could not be ascertained, was the first to engage the reporter on the processes to obtain vaccination cards without taking the jabs and the prices for the different services.

Sister, the procedure is that if you want to take the vaccine, you will need to register online and choose a preferred vaccination centre. But if you can pay N25,000 for vaccination cards or N40,000 for test results, we can supply them to you without the protocol, the young woman said.

While the conversation with the woman was ongoing, Mr Solomon entered and invited the reporter to a safe corner where he restated the prices and offered further explanations.

And without fear of any consequence, Mr Solomon provided his Access Bank details with the name; Oriere Solomon Ahunsimhenre, and account number; 0055229357.

As someone who did not prepare for such payment, the reporter promised to return some other day to pay as required.

On 28 December when the reporter returned to the facility and paid N25,000 cash, the process was seamless, giving a strong indication that it is a normal business at the centre, as neither Mr Solomon nor her assistant showed any sign of excitement or worry.

Registered as Arowolo Ifeoluwa, Mr Solomon issued the reporter a COVID-19 vaccination card with VAC ID: NG-KA56555956RD, stating that the first and second jab of AstraZeneca Vaxzevria were taken on 17 January, 2022 and 22 March, 2022 respectively. The batch number of the vaccine was given as 4121z257.

According to the card issued, the third dose, otherwise known as booster dose, was given as BioNTech Pfizer and that it was administered on 23 September, 2022 with batch number fm7378.

Mr Solomon claimed the reporter took the vaccine at Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of the state, instead of LASUTH where he works, and uploaded these details on the NPHCDA vaccination site.

Asked about the implication of the local government area claimed, Mr Solomon said: It doesnt matter and no one will ask of it. I wanted to use Alimosho LGA before but anyone is fine.

When the reporter confirmed the authenticity of the card on the NPHCDA website, the details were displayed on the e-certificate.

Mr Solomon, who smiled at the reporters curiosity, boasted that he was one of those health workers earlier deployed to isolation centres in the state when the pandemic broke out in 2020.

While attending to the reporter, Mr Solomon was also busy taking samples for other in-patients as he frequented the wards.

What Solomons action means for vaccination in Nigeria

Since the first case of COVID-19 infections was confirmed in Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital city, in February 2020, the state has remained the nations epicentre of the virus with a consistent surge in infections, accounting for about 40 per cent of the total infections recorded in the country.

As of 1 January, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that Lagos State tops the COVID-19 infection chart with 104,219 confirmed cases of the total 266,450 cases recorded across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Lagos has also recorded 771 of the total 3,155 deaths reported in Nigeria.

As the state with the highest COVID-19 infections and fatalities, the latest data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) shows that Lagos State is performing poorly on the vaccination ranking and is far from vaccinating 50 per cent of its targeted population.

While the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB) believes the state has and is still doing everything to ensure residents get vaccinated, PREMIUM TIMES found that the activities of unscrupulous agents like Mr Solomon has discouraged many people from getting vaccinated or being tested when they notice certain symptoms.

According to Tundun Oluwatoyin, a computer operator in Ogba area of Lagos, many young men and women who used her computer centre to process their travelling documents in 2022 opted to purchase the vaccination cards rathern than being vaccinated.

They are many and I was surprised when they said like Yellow Card required for travellers to Southern African countries from Nigeria, the COVID-19 vaccination cards are also available for sale, she said.

Also, the vaccinators also discourage residents from taking the vaccines, scaring them with what they described as the ugly reactions the jabs may trigger in individuals.

For instance, Mr Solomon told this reporter that even though he works at the vaccination centre, he could only cope with the first dose, and that he has refused to take the second and the booster doses because of the way his body reacted.

This was a gimmick to discourage the reporter from being vaccinated so that the money required for the cards without the jabs could be paid.

Poor practices at other centres

A visit to other vaccination centres in Lagos shows that the number of people going to get the vaccine has reduced significantly.

At Orile Agege Primary Health Centre, one of the vaccination sites listed under the Agege Local Government Area, the medical attendant who clearly stated vaccination is free told this reporter as of 1 p.m on 19 December that the centre had closed for the day.

A woman with no smartphone, who identified herself simply as Mrs Abiodun, was discouraged when she was told to find someone to register her details on the vaccination site and that she should return the next day.

I do not have a phone to register and I have not done it before. So I dont think I will come back cause I live quite far from here, she told this reporter.

Unlike in LASUTH, the hospital seems to be transparent with its operation. The PHC attendant who said he was unsure whether the COVID-19 test comes with a fee told this reporter that the PHC only gives vaccination between 9 a.m and 12noon.

Meanwhile, a private vaccination centre at Lagoon hospital may have taken a break from the COVID-19 vaccination.

One of the nurses said the hospital only conducts vaccination when the government sends the list of those who registered online and make the hospital their vaccination centre.

At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the vaccination attendants were said to have gone on a medical outreach when this reporter visted and there was no one in sight as the centre was rough and dirty.

NPHCDA condemns fraud

When confronted with the findings in this investigation, the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, described the sale of vaccination cards and test results as fraudulent.

What is happening in that facility is fraudulent and the offender and the clique working with him/her should have been reported, arrested and handed over to the security agencies, Mr Shuaib wrote in an email response to our enquiries.

He also provided explanation of how the fraudulent officials could have put such fake vaccination details in the NPHCDA database.

The COVID-19 vaccination team members have been given login access to the server, so that they can legitimately register persons/clients that have reported at the health facility or vaccination site (fixed or outreach) for the COVID-19 vaccination and have been vaccinated. This is not just for data monitoring and recording, but it is also to ensure that Nigerians who have been vaccinated can show proof of their vaccination no matter where they are in the World.

You will agree with me, that this process made international travel seamless for Nigerians who travel as just by scanning their vaccination cards at the immigration border of the country they would like to visit, their vaccination record was seen.

There will always be people who would want to beat the system. We have been working with security agencies to try and catch state and LGA health officials who are involved in fraudulent activities.

Mr Shuaib said some of the people involved in the fraudulent practice have been caught.

We have caught a few and they have been handed over to the authorities. We have even announced in the National media some of the cases caught. We encourage Nigerians to always report vaccination team members that are involved in the act of collecting money to issue cards without the actual vaccination, as this is an offence.

Lagos primary healthcare board reacts

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB), Ibrahim Mustafa, said the state does not take corrupt practices lightly.

He said: We got a few people through the taskforce, which has a clear guideline on how to deal with them. If you get caught, you retire to the court immediately but initially, most of these things dont happen in Lagos but in other states.

Im not saying it didnt happen but the few we got were ad-hoc staff who were stopped from working immediately.

The problem is people also dont help. They come to report after they have collected money from them and then refused to mention the names of the corrupt officials, saying they dont want to spoil someones career, he added.

Vaccination in Lagos

As of 31 December 2022, NPHCDA data shows that Nigeria has fully vaccinated 63.3 million of the total eligible persons amounting to 56.6 per cent of the countrys targeted population while 12.2 million are said to have been partially vaccinated nationwide.

The data shows that Lagos State has only fully vaccinated a total of 1.9 million of its estimated 17 million population.

NPHCDAs last summary on COVID-19 vaccination performance in all states in Nigeria puts Lagos at 28th with 23 per cent and five per cent of its targeted population estimated to have been fully and partially vaccinated respectively.

The data shows five states: Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Osun and Kano are leading on the chart.

The breakdown shows that the Northwestern states of Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa have fully vaccinated about 7.7 million, 6.3 million and 5 million respectively, while Osun State in the South-west and Nasarawa in the North-central have fully vaccinated 3.4 million and 2.1 million residents respectively.

Vaccination campaign in Lagos

Speaking further, Mr Mustapha said NPHCDA in 2021 gave Lagos a vaccination target of four million, and the state then scaled up its vaccination campaign.

We set that target for ourselves. Around that time we also started private vaccination, because of how overwhelming the sites were.

The state was sceptical to include the private health centres because they dont want a situation where people have to pay to get vaccinated and the mandate of NPHCDA is that vaccine is free, he said.

On the issue of Lagoss performance on the NPHCDA ranking, he said the percentage for Lagos cant be compared to other states.

Lagos is the most populated in the country. For instance, what is 20 per cent in Lagos, may be 100 per cent elsewhere. Two million out of a target of 20 million will still be 10 per cent. If Bayelsa State vaccinates such it could be 50 per cent for them. In terms of absolute figure, Lagos was doing more than any other state, he claimed.

He added that to reach more people, the state deployed officials who started moving from house to house to get Lagos residents vaccinated in 2022.

When we started, we recorded a high number of people vaccinated, he said. Before that, the state had mass vaccination sites situated around religious houses, marketplaces, campuses, bus stops.

Having discovered that taking it to the people will improve the number of people getting vaccinated, we initiated what NPHCDA call Scales 3.0 which was meant to start in September 2022.

Lagos could not start 3.0 in September because of some technical and financial issues which we needed to sort out with NPHCDA to ensure we dont owe the ad hoc staff, he said.

He further noted that it was difficult to deploy more staff who could administer the COVID-19 vaccination and pointed out that Lagos could not deploy most of its medical staff to fast-track the Scales 3.0 campaign in order not to abandon other serious illnesses and immunisation.

We dont have many people to deploy the vaccination, we have staff but we cant because of only covid move our staff where there are other serious things to attend to like diarrhoea immunisation, we were not compelled to move people to the field, so what we normally do is to use ad-hoc staff.

We have gotten some but we are still short of the numbers we need to fast-track the campaign. If it is about taking tablets, drugs, we can easily use people that are not trained, but to give injections, it has many implications, he added.

(The production of this story is supported by the Centre for Democracy and Development).

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Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

Extant copyright laws in Nigeria prohibit the conversion of books to readable formats for visually impaired persons. This has resulted in limited access to books for people who are visually impaired and who live with print disabilities, resulting in a situation tagged Book Famine

Kassim Lawal is visually impaired. Against all odds, he bagged his law degree from the University of Lagos, Akoka in 2016. Afterwards, he enrolled and waded through the exerting waters of the Nigerian Law School, graduating in an enviable robe.

The journey for the 38-year-old lawyer, as expected, was herculean. The voluminous law books, the case notes and several large-volume materials whose reading came at a price for even sighted colleagues were all studied by him.

I had to record all my textbooks with the assistance of my classmates, he said. It didnt matter the volume of the books; I got them captured on tape recorders and cassettes to listen to them later on, he told this reporter.

He noted that he couldnt use braille because the materials were very bulky. He recalled soliciting the help of his sighted colleagues to use the library and submit assignments.

Now a solicitor at Yusuf O. Alli Chambers, Abuja, Mr Lawal acknowledged that visually impaired undergraduate students of Nigerian tertiary institutions go through extremely tough times studying, as compared to pupils at the basic and secondary school levels such as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) School for the Blind.

Mr Lawal, who is the Chairman of the Abuja chapter of Lawyers with Disabilities, explained that universities in Nigeria are neither inclusive nor specialised.

Provisions are usually made for primary and secondary school pupils in terms of adapting books unlike those at the tertiary level of education, he said.

For Mr Lawal and numerous visually impaired students and professionals in Nigeria, the silver lining in the dark cloud would be Nigerias ratification, implementation and enforcement of Marrakesh Treaty- an international agreement that seeks to help end the global scarcity of books.

Braille expensive, time-consuming

Grace Atewe is a current law student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, who, like Mr Lawal, holds so much optimism about the prospects of the Marrakesh Treaty coming fully into effect.

She shared her experiences navigating through university education with this reporter.

Difficulty in accessing books for study is one of the main issues facing people with visual impairment in universities in Nigeria, she said.

Miss Atewe, who is 27 years old, explained that a good number of law books and materials are available but only for sighted people.

Getting access to those books and materials as a visually impaired or partially sighted person is a major hurdle. Most of the time, these books are not put into electronic formats that blind people can access.

Like many of my other colleagues, we are at the mercy of our sighted friends and mates, she said.

Miss Atewe, now in her final year in the university, suggested that when the Marrakesh Treaty comes fully into use, law reports and other materials can be made in formats that can talk or be read in braille. She said this would significantly ease their struggle.

She added: We are the ones who do all the conversion of books ourselves. We have to get these books, then go through the rigorous process of converting them into readable formats and it takes a lot of time and money and as struggling students, we can hardly afford these.

Getting those books in braille is extremely expensive, so all these hurdles should be looked into, so that when we want to get access to these materials, we can easily get them on the internet.

Grim statistics

Checks by this reporter revealed that small-volume braille printers cost between $1,800 and $5,000 while large-volume ones may cost between $10,000 and $80,000.

According to an international development organisation, Sightsavers, there are estimated 24 million people with vision loss, with about 1.3 million becoming blind in the year 2020.

The Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairments also reports that the North Eastern part of the country has the highest prevalence of blindness with about 6.1 per cent while the South West Zone of the country has the lowest prevalence with about 2.8 per cent prevalence.

Blindness and lack of accessible book formats may be a factor why many visually impaired people in Nigeria do not go to school or drop out of school.

In Jigawa State, North-west Nigeria, 66 pupils formally registered at the Jigawa State School for the Blind but only 10 showed up for school, this is according to a report by PREMIUM TIMES.

In its World Disability Report published in 2011, the World Health Organisation identified inappropriate teaching materials and methods of assessment as one of the barriers to education for children with disabilities.

Studies have also revealed that braille is the most preferred source of information for persons with visual impairments with about 58.3 per cent level of interest, followed by talking books (audiobooks) with about 38.2 per cent while only 3.4 per cent source their information from large print.

About Marrakesh Treaty

The treaty was adopted in 2013 and signed in Marrakesh, Uganda, to facilitate access for people with print disabilities by removing barriers in national copyright laws that hinder the reproduction, distribution and sharing of books in accessible formats for use by people with print disabilities.

The treaty has been ratified by 23 African countries and Nigeria is a signatory to it.

Administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, it advocates the creation of accessible formats which start after the source publication is released in the market, and once all the legal requirements are met to transform the source publication into an accessible publication, an alternative format of a book in braille or large print is often made available much later than the release of the print book.

A direct response to the call of the (Sustainable Development Goals) of leaving no one behind, Marrakesh Treaty seeks to reach those furthest behind first as it acknowledges that one of the factors that consistently recur when talking about quality education for people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairment, is the availability of educational materials in formats they can use.

However, It is important to note that some alternate formats mentioned above may be suitable or easy to use for a particular disability only. For example, a person with Dyslexia may not prefer a book in Braille, and persons with low vision may not use an audiobook as it omits all pictures and text.

What Marakesh Treaty domestication could mean to Nigerias blind community

John Assein, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyrights Commission, said the process of ratifying the Marrakesh Treaty in Nigeria has now passed the concurrence stage and that it has reached the Presidential Assent stage which is the final stage before it finally becomes law and binding.

Speaking to the reporter in his office, Mr Assign said he has been having a series of meetings with the leadership of the National Association of the Blind and other requisite organisations to ensure they are carried along.

He said the domestication of the treaty would mean more books in accessible formats, and that the needs of persons with visual impairments would be addressed, helping to significantly increase the literacy level of blind persons.

People with visual impairment can also walk into any of the authorised entities instead of waiting for years to have some of these books in accessible formats. So it would seem like a sighted person walking into a regular bookshop, he said.

He added that the provisions of the treaty have been incorporated into the revised Copyrights Amendment Bill which has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and awaiting presidential assent.

We are hopeful that before the year runs out or before the end of this current administration, it comes into effect, Mr Assien said.

According to the Marrakesh Treaty Advocacy Course, the right to literacy is a fundamental human right for all persons and it should include reading books for education and leisure.

But Mr Lawal, who is also the Secretary General of the Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, Abuja chapter, said the current situation does not encourage visually impaired persons in Nigeria to read for leisure.

He said: The domestication would mean that I can go to get literature books by Soyinka or Achebe. It would mean I dont have to get the books first, go to Lagos to get it braille. There would be a level playing for visual impairments. For a person with disabilities to be able to access books the same way sighted people would be able to access it.

Findings revealed that the bill provides for authorised entities which can either be government-owned or private establishments will be licenced to produce these books in accessible formats.

Doubting Thomas?

Meanwhile, Martin Kieti, who works at the Inclusion Resources for Africa in Kenya, noted that the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty and its implementation in national law does not necessarily guarantee the enjoyment of the right to read by people with print disabilities.

He said: It is a well-known fact that, in many African countries, international treaties have been ratified and national laws have been enacted or revised and policies have been developed but their implementation has always not been fully realised.

The poor implementation of such treaties, laws and policies has been attributed to, among other reasons, lack of resources, political goodwill and legal remedies and mechanisms to enforce the provisions of such treaties, laws and policies.

He said for people with print disabilities to enjoy their right-to-read and to access information through increased availability of accessible books, it is essential that the Marrakesh Treaty is realised not only on paper but also in practice.

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Nigeria has often been described as a country of promise and potentials. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, in this exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES echoed the same point.

Mr Schmale also talks about Nigerias journey to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the general elections, and other matters.

Excerpts

PT: How long have you been in Nigeria?

Mr Schmale: I arrived in early December 2021. I have been here a little over a year.

PT: What do you like about Nigeria? What were your first impressions about the country?

Mr Schmale: Nigeria as you probably know has a bad reputation around the world. My first positive surprise, and that continues till date, is that there are many intriguing positive sides to life in Nigeria. And I am thinking of the many young entrepreneurial people I have met. Every day, I meet colleagues working in the UN, working in the private sector, including working for the government, who really have an incredible entrepreneurial constructive forward looking spirit.

I am taken by so many others like Nigerias rich culture and history. You have great poets and writers, you have great filmmakers, great musicians. My sons, when I told them I was going to Nigeria, they listed a number of musicians I have never heard about; it is very clear that for younger people around the world, Nigerian musicians set standards. So, there are a lot of positive sides to what goes on in Nigeria despite huge challenges.

PT: Before arriving here in 2021, had you visited Nigeria before?

Mr Schmale: I used to work for the International Federation of Red Cross, I visited the Nigerian Red Cross about 20 years ago when its headquarters was still in Lagos.

PT: Has any of the Nigerian culture or music you mentioned had a lasting impression on you? Could you accompany this with names?

Mr Schmale: One name that comes to mind is Chimamanda. I heard her speak at last years UN-Female Ambassadors sponsored international womens gala. She spoke very eloquently. I have had the privilege of hearing Wole Soyinka at one event, challenging, strong. I have heard the privilege of hearing younger poets at various events we have been holding with the UN and government jointly. I do not remember their names, (they will be very angry with me), but very impressive young poets who speak very eloquently and directly about positives and negatives of their country.

Musicians as I indicated earlier, I am not so much into the music thing I have not met him sadly but BurnaBoy is the name that comes to mind.

PT: What role does the UN office in Nigeria play, historically, in line with the founding objectives of the larger UN?

Mr Schmale: My understanding of the reason the UN historically came to Nigeria is like in many countries, development. The government asked us to support their development efforts for the benefits of vulnerable citizens, that is one aspect.

A lot of our work, my office as Resident Coordinator but primarily the 21 resident UN agencies, is focused on working with the government to improve the development prospects for ordinary Nigerian citizens.

The second part is humanitarian, a number of agencies like the food programme. For example, the office for humanitarian coordination came in in 2015 when the government asked us to assist in addressing humanitarian needs in the North-east. So there is humanitarian work focused primarily on the North-east.

And then the third bit is the original mandate of the UN, to help create and maintain peace. We also have a peace component to our work and takes the shape, primarily so far, of helping build local peace coordination and peace building structures We have done some work on the farmer-herder conflict. As we are sitting here, there is a regional workshop on this topic going on.

Around the current elections and building on the past efforts, we are building on the national peace committee to get national actors to sign peace accords. They did so in September with us witnessing. A few days ago, I was in Cross River where a state level peace accord was signed by governorship candidates (some of them); so that is another aspect of our peace mission.

So, the UN work spans across development work, humanitarian work where the government asks us to support and then we try to remember that we are all about peace and human rights

PT: When you talk about peace, human rights, humanitarian support for Nigeria, it quickly reminds me of the concern raised a few days ago by the UN on the worsening security situation in Nigeria. Beyond raising concerns, what action has/is the UN taken/taking to see that there is peace in Nigeria?

Mr Schmale: I have referred to one of them, which is working with local actors at state level and sometimes even the local government level to establish local peace coordination and peace building structures. As an example, a few months ago, I was in Benue State and in the presence of the governor, a local peace committee was set up. The idea behind this is that at the end of the day, challenges concerning human rights, threats to peace are better solved by the people themselves. We cannot solve Nigerias problems as the UN, we can facilitate, we can convene. Having people come together at the table where they need to discuss and agree on ways forward, that is one bit.

The second bit is communication and media work. An important aspect of that is to work against hate speech. As you mentioned earlier, we were together at an event a few days ago to commemorate International Holocaust Day. That for me as resident coordinator was an opportunity to remind all of us and remind Nigeria as a country that often, genocides and serious violation of peace starts with statements that are disrespectful of others, intolerant of others. We are trying to contribute also through public statements, media events, capacity building workshops to ensure that people understand that violence does not often start with violence, it starts with spoken words and expressions of intolerance and prejudice and we are working massively on that.

A third bit I want to say is what we call quiet diplomacy. You referred to the statement of the Secretary-Generals adviser on preventing genocide, some of the work is public statements when we see something that is wrong but a lot of it is behind closed doors.

As UN, we are here to work and support the government and shouting from the rooftops will not always help or will not be any help in addressing problems, so a part of it is behind closed doors. It is really building relationships and when we see problems, it is to take key stakeholders, including senior government representatives, and we have a talk on this.

Nigeria has signed up to many international conventions; Nigeria believes in the International Declaration of Human Rights, which we will be commemorating 75 years this year. Because Nigeria is such a proud citizen of the globe and the UN, we have a basis where, behind closed doors, we can say for example, here are laws you are violating, so can we work together in ensuring that you live up to the standards which you have signed up for internationally.

PT: When you talk about violation of human rights, what comes to mind is the #EndSARS protests and that protest saw human rights violations with peaceful protestors being beaten up. We did not hear a lot of what the UN had to say in line with human rights violations. What did the UN do during this period?

Mr Schmale: An easy answer related to #EndSARS specifically would be that it was before my time here. But on a serious note, I do not know all the details. What I have been told by colleagues who were here at the time and what I have read is indeed that most of that was quiet diplomacy. So we felt at the time that public statements could inflame the situation, could block access for us to key people. So, indeed, it was mostly quiet diplomacy.

Triggered by that, let me mention another example where there are serious allegations of human rights violations and that is the recent Reuters report alleging that the military systematically had a programme that led to 10,000 forced abortions and other claims and allegations. That is an example where in addition to quiet diplomacy, what we are doing is supporting the Nigeria Human Rights Commissions investigation. Our secretary-general immediately publicly said these are serious allegations that need to be independently investigated and we have ever since been working with the NHRC who recently launched the investigation

PT: Can you provide a general overview of what UN is doing for the upcoming Nigerian elections?

Mr Schmale: There are two main areas of involvement for the UN in Nigerias elections. The first one is to provide technical support and that is led by our colleagues at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Women as well.

What our colleagues in UNDP are doing is working with INEC to support them in better preparation for and administering the election process. There is a lot of capacity building and we are seeing results already, not just because of UN involvement but there are other partners, member states. In our view, over the years, not just since last years election, over the last couple of elections, INEC has been making, with our support and that of others, steady progress.

An element of this is the BVAS, better control of verifying voters. It is in our understanding a significant progress in ensuring that the results cannot be easily manipulated as they are being transmitted

These are technical assistance we offer in ensuring that INEC is in a better place as an organisation preparing for and managing the election, capacity building of INEC officers.

A second bit of what the UN does is what we call offering the good offices of the secretary-general. We have a special representative of the secretary-general who is based in Dakar, who regularly comes, working closely with me as resident coordinator. And what that means is two things; we are trying to build relations and we are trying to meet all the key candidates of political parties to impress on them the importance of conducting themselves in a way that will lead to a peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

There is a lot of messaging going to the key players involved; avoid violence, settle your disputes in nonviolent ways, avoid hate speech. So it is back to what we just touched on earlier, quiet diplomacy and you only do quiet diplomacy if you have built relationships with key actors. In 2019, the good offices of the secretary-general through its representative, Mr Chambers, at the time proved very valuable in my understanding, when the election was postponed by one day, which in my understanding led to significant tensions. Mr Chambers was on ground, had access to key players including INEC and was able to contribute to keeping things fairly calm and not letting them get out of control. So we are preparing to be ready if there is crisis moment, to intervene.

A sort of a mix between technical support and good offices support is the work our colleagues at UN Women are doing in particular but others at UNFPA as an example and that is to enhance the role in public life. We all know that is a major challenge; women are subject to a lot of violent and aggressive behaviour and it is so sad to see that Nigeria has produced so many women of excellence across the world and private sector but in public life, Nigeria lags behind many African countries.

We are also involved as UN to ensure that, over time, women have the chance and opportunity they more than deserve to participate fully. Those are key areas of our work around the elections.

You asked in terms of involvement, we are under strict instructions from the secretary-general to remain neutral, so you will never hear me come out in favour of one candidate or one party. Our focus is really on ensuring there is a process that is fair, inclusive, that meets international standards, and transparent.

We need to trust the Nigerian citizens to produce a result through elections that is good for the country.

PT: You spoke about the past elections postponement and if you have seen news or feeling the pulse of Nigerians, you will see that there is also fear that the elections may be postponed again. Is there an ongoing conversation between the UN, INEC and FG on why there is a need to keep the date?

Mr Schmale: The hope clearly is that we will stick to the dates. We remain optimistic that that will be possible.

We can see one scenario where a postponement will be justified and that is if preparations are not finalised. I mentioned earlier the BVAS machines that are needed for verification of registered voters. Of course, they need to be in place at the polling stations and we know because of the fuel crisis and currency related crisis, INEC is having some challenges to ensure that all things are prepared, including having all the materials at the polling stations and having their officials at the polling stations.

From our point of view, what will be justified is if there is evidence that things are not ready and need another week or so. We do talk about scenarios where this is justified, we very much hope that will not be necessary but we need to entertain it as one scenario.

We are concerned about elections being postponed due to violence. We hope and get regular assurances from the police and the military as complementary to the police that they are doing the best they can to ensure that polling stations, citizens are protected and that the elections will not be impacted by violence.

I think like many of the international community and indeed what I am hearing from Nigerians, that is a real fear and worry. Again, we hope that this will not become a scenario that the election will have to be postponed because of violence.

PT: Although you touched on this in the previous question, what are your specific concerns for the upcoming elections?

Mr Schmale: There are a couple. I think violence is clearly one and it is not just the North-east, it is the South-east and other places in the North-west. There are country-wide pockets of violence that could negatively affect the running of and the outcome of the elections.

That remains a concern and that is why we regularly talk with others, talk for example to the Inspector-General of Police. I have mentioned some challenges around preparations being far enough advanced in terms of getting materials, the BVAS machine, officials and so on to the polling stations and that is directly linked with the fuel crisis and also the currency related crisis.

As much as we have heard public assurances from the CBN governor for example, that INEC will have access to the cash they need to make this happen, you have assurances from the security forces that they will protect and make sure materials get to the polling stations but we have to remain open-minded, we have to continue to work with INEC, support them to make sure that, from an administrative point, the elections are ready.

A third thing of worry is hate speech, I touched on this earlier. We have heard from all candidates and parties, it is not always the candidates, sometimes it is the parties and other times their followers, statements that are not acceptable.

Behind closed doors mostly, we work with all involved to ensure that the language is toned down and the campaigns are conducted in a respectful and peaceful manner. In this respect, we work very closely with the National Peace Committee I must say I think the national peace committee deserves some credit for what they are doing to try and ensure it is free and fair.

A final point of concern is ensuring there is a level playing field. We have heard allegations that at times, those in power do not provide public institutions for opposition candidates. That is an issue that is being addressed through various channels, including the national peace committee, to ensure that all sitting governors ensure that all key candidates have the opportunity to present their case to voters.

PT: Do you have any concerns on the recent overturning of the outcome of the Osun State election and the BVAS?

Mr Schmale: We are well aware of that case. In fact, together with some senior diplomats headed by the EU ambassador to Nigeria met with the president of the Court of Appeal and some of her eminent judges. We asked them the same question and they said, which I think is right, that they do not want to publicly comment while it is being looked into.

It is a concern that it took six months to achieve this ruling, whether it was right or not, I cannot personally judge. It is worrying that it took so long and the important point in this aspect is that the court of appeal president mentioned to us that there are over 600 pre-election appeals and that there is no way they will adjudicate that massive volume of appeals before the elections and then we can expect appeals about the elections themselves.

They are a little overburdened and one worry is that we need to ensure that political parties settle some of their internal disputes in their own party constitutions and mechanisms. It is not every time that you feel something has gone wrong inside your party or with another party that you run to the court. We need to protect the court so that it can deal with any appeal in a timely and efficient manner. Osun again is an example of where it took too long.

Indeed, it is extremely important that all the materials are in place, including the BVAS machines and the officials overseeing the elections know what the rules are. As an example, we would know that BVAS depend on electricity, so what happens if there is no power supply? There are clear provisions that the elections can be repeated the following day if there are technical problems. So, it is crucial if we want to avoid appeals like the one around Osun, that really what has been set up works.

That is why I said earlier, the only scenario we can see justifies postponement is if technically the elections are not ready It is critical that there is a BVAS machine in each polling station, the officials are there and that a credible and transparent process can be.

PT: Where is Nigeria in terms of achieving the SDGS by 2030?

Mr Schmale: Sadly, as things stand, Nigeria lags far behind achieving the SDGS on almost all of them. Nigeria is not alone there but because of Nigerias size population wise, economy wise, it matters.

I have heard many Nigerians tell me that if Nigeria sneezes, the rest of the continent gets a cold. I think that is true for the SDGS; if Nigeria does not make significant progress on the SDGs, this will not only show itself in Nigeria but for the rest of the continent. It is an engine that pulls everyone , so we are very worried and regularly express that to the government.

According to the governments own statistics and data, 130 million people are affected by multidimensional poverty, (not) a report that our UNDP and UNICEF colleagues have put together but these are government data. You can see from that alone that you cannot just make the case that Nigeria is making the progress it needs to make on the SDGs agenda.

What we have agreed with the government is a series of transformative agenda. We need to accelerate the pace. There are some good stories and good achievements but the impact and scale need to accelerate. To give one specific example, is the economy; we are convinced within the UN that Nigerias challenges of poverty and unemployment will not be solved by international aid increase, it has to do with increasing domestic resource mobilisation. We are focused very much as the UN system to work with those in power, the next government of course, the central bank to ensure that the potential that is there to increase domestic resource will be increased, that there is a critical review of how money is spent. And that of course brings in the sensitive topic of fuel subsidy.

What I am trying to express with this is a sense of optimism that Nigeria has the potential and resources to turn things around, it just needs credible, good leadership; it needs continuous strengthening of public institutions; it needs the elections to hold. I want to be clear that I am not trying to paint a dooms day scenario, Nigeria has what it takes, it can turn the slow progress around and maybe not achieve all the SDGs by 2030 but make significant visible progress.

PT: What happens when Nigeria, like some other countries, does not meet up?

Mr Schmale: I think ultimately, the test of all of these is what it means for ordinary citizens. Probably as UN, we will complain and say you are not doing enough, the international community and institutions will have things to say, but I think the measure of it all is how it translates into meaningful progress for a majority of the citizens and that is what it will boil down to.

It will boil down to where the citizens will have the patience to say, we have not achieved it yet, I cannot see the fruit of country-wide labour yet in my life in terms of my children having access to education as an example, having enough food on the table and so on.

I really think we need to be very sensitive to citizens and that is why this multidimensional poverty index is important because it gives us details for the whole country around several dimensions of how citizens are doing.

Governance is important, we need to ensure that citizens can vote if they are unhappy and are assured accountability that way. And that there are mechanisms where citizens can bring to the attention of those in power where things are going wrong

PT: The UN has been described as basically a talk shop with no actions, When will the UN restructure itself and become more inclusive?

Mr Schmale: I must say I heard two questions or comments. One is about, are we a talk shop? I think that is a justified question because we run many meetings, hold the general assembly each year so I am not surprised that there may be a perception out there that we are a talk shop.

Now having said that, what I think is important to understand is that the value of the UN is primarily its convening power, we are a global network that can mobilise technical expertise, knowledge, good practices and share it with different countries.

We do not run government services, we are here to support the government and that is where the challenge is. It is not whether we talk much but are we effective in helping governments improve the services for the benefit of citizens? I think what we should be measured on is this and I have been challenging my colleagues here in Nigeria, not having five capacity building workshops, will enforce the notion that we are a talk shop. What we need to prove is that building capacity translates into better service delivery for citizens and that is not just an Africa-wide issue for the UN, that is a global issue and we need to demonstrate that convening people, experts together, talking at meetings, translates into meaningful changes in the day to day life of citizens. That is one bit.

The other bit is really about power and inclusiveness in the UN. Our secretary-general, when he visited last May at the press conference with Mr President acknowledged that there is progress to be made. The security council needs to change and have a different, more inclusive set up.

My understanding is that at last years General Assembly, momentum was gathering, including from some of the powerful security council members themselves, to look seriously at getting to a more inclusive structure to the UNs various decision making bodies.

PT: In line with those reforms, the UNSC is really important because of the kind of veto power that members wield. Is the UN looking to reform the UNSC in a way that it does not appropriate so much power to a country?

Mr Schmale: Allow me to first of all underline that it is important that we understand what we mean by the UN. The UN is in the first instance the more than 190 member states. The UN is not me, I am a civil servant serving member states. So, when we are talking about reforms to the UN, we are talking about member states needing to agree amongst themselves and we would facilitate; needing to agree within themselves that things need to change and that is why I referred to the general assembly.

Our colleagues in New York say for the first time in a long time, there was a positive momentum among member states including the most powerful ones to initiate serious reforms.

You are absolutely right, and as civil servants of the UN, I think we at leadership levels, including myself here in Nigeria, are fully supportive of the notion that veto rights need to be revisited and an inclusive way of governing the UN must be reflected in form of each member state feeling their voice is heard and their vote mattering. I do not know what the concrete answer to that is, I am not an expert on this but I can tell you, we are very sympathetic to the concern and I know that my leadership in New York is pushing for revisiting the system of veto and taking decisions to make it more inclusive.

PT: A quick veer off will be to ask about the migration challenge all over the world but especially Africans who are exiting the continent in small boats. What action is the UN through the IOM taking to make sure that migrants have their human rights preserved and respected? Take the Italy and Spain example.

Mr Schmale: I will give you an answer that reflects what I said earlier about how we work in Nigeria, because this is the way we work to influence the human rights agenda, development agenda, it is not unique to Nigeria.

It is about trying to use our convening power, our moral authority to influence states. Just as I was telling you, in Nigeria we try to build relations with those in power and other key stakeholders to try and influence them. Same is happening in Spain, in Italy and other European countries. A part of is that trying to influence, trying to get governments of the receiving countries of migrants to do their bit in living upto the global standards they signed up to.

A second bit is indeed service delivery and you have mentioned IOM, UNHRC, WHO. There are a number of agencies that are trying to accompany migrants both leaving and returning, including to Nigeria. So we work with governments, civil society and others to address the humanitarian needs that vulnerable migrants have on their journeys. So, there is the influencing political work and there is the service delivery work to ensure that vulnerable migrants have access to services that every citizen should have.

PT: Is there any concern around the volume/ level/degree of migration in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world?

Mr Schmale: The numbers are increasing every year so, of course, we are concerned about this and regularly issue statements. There is a global compact for migrants that we have tried to get member states to agree to standards and ways of approaching migration.

Some of these are, we know that some refugees, some migrants flee because of desperate situations in their country and I mean in particular, wars and conflict. The international discussion around the ideal is for people to be able to return if they want to. For those who cannot, another option has to be to settle where they have arrived. We are also working with host countries to ensure that where it is appropriate, migrants can stay and settle.

A third option that is being looked at globally, is the third country option. You may have arrived in Spain, you cannot go home but there may be better opportunities in a third state. We are also working on this.

I want to come back to the development agenda, we sincerely believe as UN civil servants that a lot of migration that is causing problems elsewhere (not all migration does, I am a migrant but I am not complaining) but vulnerable migrants and migration due to vulnerability, due to poverty, wars and conflicts, refugee issues, need to be addressed through development work.

Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Nigeria, the majority of that in my understanding is because of misdevelopment, failing development, so I think the biggest contribution we can make as a globe and as UN supporting member states is really to accelerate progress in achieving the SDGs.

The SDGs are a blueprint for countries, ensuring that their citizens have more fulfilled lives and do not need to flee and seek opportunities elsewhere.

PT: Going back to the talk shop conversation, there have been a number of resolutions at the general assembly in respect to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. What have these resolutions translated into?

Mr Schmale: I think it is a fair question and fair observation that political efforts within the UN system to end the war in Ukraine have not yet shown demonstrable results. That is clear, I cannot claim we are closer to peace in between Ukraine and Russia than we were 10 months ago because of resolutions and meetings, that is just objectively not the case.

Having said that though, there has been some progress though if our secretary general were sitting here instead of me, he would rightfully point to the global grain initiative. It has been possible in the middle of the war to get the two parties to agree to a mechanism where grain gets re-exported and other goods for the benefit of vulnerable people around the world. I am using that because the secretary general has said this very publicly when he is being asked the same question, the glass is some full. There is some progress in terms of benefits for affected people in the war zone but also it is impacting the globe and we are working to try and mitigate the negative impact of this war.

But back to your question in terms of resolution and talk shops, I think the UN as in the member states, the security council, remain with a significant challenge to find a way of ending the war. We know from history, wars cannot be won and the price is too big for all citizens involved so the UNs credibility on the peace side of things will stand and fall with can a more effective way be found to end the war rather than just mitigating the impact of it.

PT: And Russias membership of the human right council?

Mr Schmale: I do not know the latest on that, whether they are still suspended or not. I do not really have a clear opinion and view on whether suspensions from international bodies is a useful step and the reason I am saying that is, I used to work with the Red Cross before joining the UN, I have very much, as an individual, believe you can only end wars if you talk to people. That is why the deputy secretary general recently went to Afghanistan as a woman given all the challenges and I think that was an expression of what I am trying to say  excluding people from dialogue, I am not sure is always an effective tool. Sanctions, exclusion, we all know there have been examples in history.

I am thinking of apartheid, excluding South Africa at the time and the sanction regime did contribute massively to ending apartheid but there is no one solution that fits all and so to your specific question, I do not know enough to judge whether that is an effective measure or not.

PT: Mediation appears to be significantly absent in the Russia-Ukraine war. Is the UN averse to mediation? If not, why are we not seeing mediation happening?

Mr Schmale: The UN is not at all averse to mediation and talking. Infact the secretary general was meant to come to Nigeria a bit earlier last year, he postponed the trip because he offered mediation services to Russia and Ukraine and they took him up on it.

So, his priority at the time was to let me first go there and start the negotiations and then he came to Nigeria To the best of my knowledge, the secretary general alongside other senior UN leaders are continuing in quiet diplomacy behind closed doors to try and get the two parties to talk about how to end the war. I am not privy to exactly what progress is being made on those talks, it is not public.

Some of our efforts to get people to talk are behind closed doors, that makes it sometimes frustrating I think for the media because I cannot tell you exactly what is going on because we firmly believe if we start talking publicly about confidential processes, it will undermine them.

There will come a time where you deserve more clear answers to the questions you are asking.

PT: The war in Ukraine will be one year by 24 February. What action is the UN taking to see that we do not have a repetition of the war in Ukraine elsewhere?

Mr Schmale: You will not be surprised if I tell you a part of that is the quiet diplomacy bit but a part of it is very public. I do not know if you have had a chance to see the secretary generals statement to the general assembly, I think it was a week or two ago outlining his priority for this year and he spoke very eloquently and very powerfully I think about the risk of the world sleepwalking into further disasters like the Ukraine war.

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The secretary-general as our CEO is using his power and moral authority to regularly remind member states that we must at all costs avoid the kind of crisis we are seeing in Ukraine because it is not just destructive and detrimental to the citizens of those two countries, but for the globe and we cannot afford with all the other challenges we have around climate change and so on further wars like that.

So, there is both private and public diplomacy trying to use the convening power of the UN to get member states together to resolve the crisis, to prevent the crisis from escalating before it is too late.

PT: In your opening statement at the beginning of this interview, you talked about how much of a bad reputation Nigeria has. Having lived here for over a year, does the bad impression of Nigeria persist?

Mr Schmale: No, it has been modified if I am honest and allow me to use an expression I have used in this interview that I heard from our deputy secretary general. What I have really understood and I am firmly convinced that the glass is some full, maybe it is not half full, maybe it is three-quarters. I do not know, how you measure that.

But it is not a failed state and I have seen enough over this year and not just in Abuja. I think I have travelled to up to 15 states by now, I have seen enough people. It is all about people at the end of the day who have an entrepreneurial, peace-building mindset that is about improving their lives to remain hopeful and optimistic it is not a rosy picture. What I am trying to say is that despite the massive challenges, a part of why it has a bad reputation, there is enough in this country to turn this around. And I see it as my job as a senior UN official to not be a prophet of gloom, to say let us build on what is working and try and expand and accelerate that.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has filed fraud charges against a former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr Ojerinde, a professor, who is already facing trial on N5 billion fraud charges at the same court, is expected to be arraigned alongside four of his children on the fresh 17 charges today (Friday).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ojerindes four children charged along with him as co-defendants are Mary Funmilola, Olumide Abiodun, Adedayo and Oluwaseun Adeniyi.

The list of the defendants also includes Mr Ojerindes firms  Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learnings Centre Ltd and Standout Institutes Ltd.

Mr Ojerinde and the 10 defendants, charged before a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, Inyang Ekwo, had yet to take their pleas as of the time of filing the report.

ICPC accused them in the fresh case of diverting public funds while he served as National Examinations Council (NECO) and JAMB registrar.

Previous charges

ICPC had arraigned him before another judge of the court, Obiora Egwuatu, in July 2021 on 18 counts involving the diversion of funds during his time as the registrar of NECO till his time as JAMBs chief executive.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how ICPC opened its case in February after the breakdown of a plea-bargain talks Mr Ojerinde ha with the anti-graft agency.

In April 2022, an ICPCs witness who testified on how Mr Ojerinde allegedly set up a radio station with N15million diverted from JAMB.

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Najeem Sanusi, a retired air commodore, who described himself as a co-owner of the radio station, said it was incorporated as Ifelodun Communications and cited in Mr Ojerindes hometown, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State.

According to him, the radio station was located in a compound where Mr Ojerindes late mother also lived, adding that an adjoining plot of land was purchased to accommodate the mast and antenna.

Taking a walk down the memory lane, Mr Sanusi told the court how he proposed the idea of establishing the radio station to Mr Ojerinde in 2015.

He testified that the former JAMB boss welcomed the idea and immediately invited his lawyer, Peter Oyewole, to a meeting.

He said the defendant subsequently instructed a JAMB account officer to issue bank drafts of N15 million to procure the radio licence.

The defendant then called Jimoh Olabisi who happened to be an accounting staff of JAMB and in a meeting in his house in Maitama, Abuja, he said that any matter related to financial issues should be directed to Mr Jimoh.

Subsequently, Mr Jimoh gave me bank drafts of N15 million to pay NBC as part of the requirements for obtaining a license. I paid the draft to NBC, gave original documents to Jimoh Olabisi, and kept photocopies of the documents for my records, he said.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, granted permission to the Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to serve his petition challenging the 25 February presidential election on Bola Tinubu.

Mr Obi is challenging the victory of Mr Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared the winner of the keenly contested election.

The Labour Party candidate, who came third behind the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who took the second place, had described the election as flawed.

The two opposition candidates have filed separate petitions at the Presidential Election PetiTION Court in Abuja to challenge the election.

Ruling on Mr Obis fresh application on service of his petition on Friday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Haruna Tsammani, granted the Labour Party candidates request to serve the president-elect and the vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, through substituted means, in lieu of personal service.

The court ordered that the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 and other accompanying processes be served on Messrs Tinubu and Shettima by delivering or pasting at either the office of the National Legal Adviser of the APC or at the office of an officer of the party at its National Secretariat in Abuja.

The court cited APCs National Secretariats location to be at No.40 Blantyre Street, Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Mr Obi, who came third in the presidential contest, filed a petition at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja seeking to overturn Mr Tinubus victory.

Mr Obi and the Labour Party jointly filed their petition before the court as co-petitioners on 20 March.

Application

The petitioners lawyer, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said in court on Friday, they requested to serve the petition on the president-elect and the vice president-elect through substituted means due to the difficulties of serving them personally.

The request for substituted service is contained in an ex parte application filed in court on 23 March. Being an ex parte hearing, Messrs Tinubu and Shettima as well as the two other respondents to the petition  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC were not represented during the hearing on Friday.

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Mr Ezechukwu argued in court it became necessary to serve the court filings through substituted means on the respondents owing to heightened security protection around them after their emergence as the president-elect and vice president-elect.

The petitioners noted that the bailiff of the Court of Appeal made unsuccessful attempts to serve the petition personally on Messrs Tinubu and Shettima.

As a result of the declaration and return of Messrs Tinubu and Shettima as the president-elect and vice president-elect, respectively, the petitioners said, the security attached to and around them has substantially changed; with the result that there is heavy restriction of access to them.

They noted that Mr Tinubus relocation to the Defence Guest House at Maitama area of Abuja following his declaration as the president-elect has made access to him difficult.

They said the purpose of the service of the court filings, whether personal or by substituted means, is to bring the pendency of any proceeding to the knowledge of the party on whom the process is meant tobe served personally.

The application, Mr Obis lawyer, said was based on provisions of the Nigerian constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Court of Appeal Act.

The lawyer urged the court to permit his clients to serve the court documents on Messrs Tinubu and Shettima through the office of the legal adviser of the APC.

The court granted the application on Friday.

After the service of the petition, the period within which the two respondents have to file their defence, would begin to count.

The INEC and the APC were also sued as coo-respondents in the petition.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Obi and his party prayed the court in their petition to either declare them the winner of the election or order a fresh election, which Mr Tinubu would be excluded from participating in.

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Since the first AstraZeneca vaccine against the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) was injected into the arm of a Nigerian man in March 2021, millions of vaccine doses have been administered across the country.

As of 6 January, 59.1 million people have been fully vaccinated in Africas most populous country, raising hopes that the pandemics worst effects may be over. More than 12 million people have been partially vaccinated, according to records from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

NPHCDA said 55.2 per cent of the total eligible population targeted for COVID-19 vaccination are fully vaccinated. In the same vein, 9.3 million persons have taken the booster vaccine across the country.

From the early days of the pandemic, the toughest decisions about how to combat the virus fell on health officials and state leaders. The government, through NPHCDA, with support from partners, implemented strategies ensuring all eligible Nigerians have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The fight against COVID-19 is not over, Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, said on Monday. Three years after the coronavirus emerged, a new variant, XBB.1.5 is quickly becoming the dominant strain in parts of the United States and has been detected in at least 28 other countries.

We are therefore calling on Nigerians to ensure that they take their booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. Just like the flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccines have become routine vaccines that help protect us against this deadly virus, Mr Shuaib said.

Before the new variant arrived, the NPHCDA adopted the integrated approach (SCALE 3.0) which is integrating COVID-19 vaccination with the Non-Polio supplementary immunisation activities (NPSIAs) campaigns, Routine Immunisation (RI) services and Vit A supplementation.

This SCALE 3.0 approach guided the improvement of the COVID-19 vaccine uptake across the country, said Chika Offor, the Chief Executive Officer of Vaccine Network. The numbers are going up because of this integrated approach, she told PREMIUM TIMES, calling on the government to create more awareness of the vaccine in all quarters.

The vaccination gap among states has narrowed, but key differences still exist, illustrating that some states have done better than others.

The top five performing states are Jigawa; Nasarawa; Kaduna; Osun and Kano states. These states have met the 100 per cent targeted population for the COVID-19 vaccination.

Similarly, no less than 10 states (Adamawa, Gombe, Kwara, Plateau, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, Zamfara, and Imo) have reached 50 per cent of the eligible population.

Other states across the country including the FCT have vaccinated between 13 and 46 per cent of their targeted population.

States with highest vaccination

Kano, the second most populous state in the country, has fully vaccinated 7.8 million of its eligible population. Data published by NPHCDA shows that over 3 million people in the state are partially vaccinated. About 1.4 million people have also received the booster dose of vaccines, placing Kano as one of the five top-performing states in the country.

This was followed by Jigawa with 5 million people fully vaccinated. Ondo is behind with 3.4 million; Adamawa with 2.4 million; and Rivers with 2.2 million.

Lagos, Nigerias most populous state and the epicentre of the virus has only vaccinated 2.1 million of its eligible group.

At the other end were Oyo and Osun with 2.08 and 2.07 million fully vaccinated populations respectively. Katsina is behind with 1.96 million; Kwara, 1.94 million; Kaduna, 1.86 million; Yobe, 1.67 million; and Zamfara 1.67 million.

Low performing states

Bayelsa with an estimated 2.5 million people is the state with the least vaccinated population at 194,058. This is followed by Ebonyi with 251,923; Kebbi with 368,036; Ogun with 393,630; and Sokoto with 397,109.

Fully vaccinated populations in Plateau are 529,345, Akwa Ibom 530,893, Delta 591,819, and Edo 634,045.

Concerning the states with low performance, Ms Offor, the Vaccine Network official, noted this has to do with human behaviour.

There are some people that dont believe in the vaccine, she said. Not necessarily that they dont want to take it but they wont go out of their way to take it.

This, she said is why the government should deploy a strategy to take the vaccine campaign to peoples doorsteps. People are getting fatigued about it, some will say they cannot pay for transport to go and get the vaccine but when you take it to their doorsteps, they will collect.

That is why all hands need to be on deck, we must not give up, Ms Offor added. We have to continue creating awareness to increase the vaccine performance, especially in the bottom states.

Vaccination by geopolitical zones

As of 6th January, 18.7 million people have been fully vaccinated in the North-west, making it the region with the highest number of vaccinated population. Data shows that over 5.3 million people are partially vaccinated in the region

The South-west is trailing with 11.6 million of its eligible population fully vaccinated while 1.58 million are partially vaccinated.

More than 10 million people in Nigerias north-east have been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, 7.8 million people in the countrys north-central have fully received the vaccination while about 1.9 million people are partially vaccinated.

With the exception of Imo, none of the South-east and South-south states vaccinated half of its eligible population. While 5.1 million people have received the two doses of vaccine in the South-south, only 4.5 million people have received the vaccine in full measure in the South-east.

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About 700,000 people are partially vaccinated in the South-east and over 1 million people in the South-south.

In Nigerias capital, Abuja, 788,036 people have been fully vaccinated and 200,121 persons are partially vaccinated.

(This report was produced with the support of the Centre for Democracy and Development).

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The campaign team of Bola Tinubu has denied the report of a clandestine meeting between the president-elect and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, in the UK.

The campaign, in a statement issued by one of its spokespersons, Bayo Onanuga, said contrary to the claim in the report, Mr Tinubu is still in Paris, France and has not moved to London.

An online medium had reported that the CJN covertly left the country for the UK to have a meeting with the president-elect to discuss the presidential election case.

Two major opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have both filed separate petitions, challenging the results of the 25 February presidential election.

Mr Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was on 1 March declared as winner by INEC after securing a plurality of votes and 25 per cent of votes cast in 29 states. He defeated Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and 15 other candidates.

It is a fabricationOnanuga

While debunking the report, Mr Onanuga said the CJN left the country on 11 March for the UK, while Mr Tinubu left on 21 March for Paris, France.

He added that Mr Tinubu has plans to visit the UK, but he is still resting in Paris.

We refute emphatically that there has been no clandestine meeting between the President-elect and the respected Chief Justice of our country, anywhere. Its pure fabricated news, groundless in fact and authenticity.

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To show that the story was a mere salacious fiction, meant to draw traffic to the discredited purveyor, it claimed the Chief Justice left Nigeria for London on 11 March, on a wheelchair to board a plane.

The President-elect left Nigeria on 21 March, 10 clear days thereafter. What kind of appointment or secret meeting will the two men have arranged in London, with so wide disparate arrival dates, except in the imagination of the false news merchants?

We can confirm that the president-elect, who left Nigeria Tuesday has not been in London.

He is right now in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022, he said.

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President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday sent a message home from Addis Ababa, saying he is fully aware of hardship some policies of government, which are meant to bring overall improvement to the country had caused and appealed for further patience as the government takes appropriate measures to ease them.

In a video recording to shore up support for Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the upcoming elections a few days ahead, the president thanked Nigerians for electing him to be president for two terms, and urged them to vote for the APC flag bearer because he is reliable and I know he will build on our achievements.

In the campaign message to voters, the president specifically put a call on our traditional rulers, religious leaders and parents to warn their followers and wards alike, to not allow themselves to be used by a few to foment trouble.

I want to assure you that the government has taken adequate security measures to allow everyone to come out and cast their votes. I am therefore appealing to everyone to give them the necessary support.

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Fellow Nigerians, I want to use this opportunity to once again thank you for electing me to be your president on two occasions.

I am not a contestant in this election, but my party, the All Progressives Congress, has a candidate in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As I mentioned before, Tinubu is a true believer in Nigeria, who loves the people and the development of our country.

I am calling on all of you to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is reliable and I trust he will build on our achievements.

Finally, I want to once again assure you that I am fully aware of the current hardship you are facing as a result of some policies of the government which are meant to bring overall improvement to the country.

I am appealing to you to exercise further patience as we take appropriate measures to ease these hardships. God willing, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

The president emphasized that the APC presidential candidate has demonstrated his commitment to the development of the country and the well-being of its people.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

February 19, 2023

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A total of 246 students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, have bagged First Class Honour Degrees in various disciplines in the university.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Charles Igwe, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Enugu Campus of the institution on Wednesday.

Mr Igwe also announced that a popular socialite and entrepreneur, Obinna Iyiegbu, otherwise known as Obi Cubana, would deliver the commencement speech at the convocation ceremony on Friday in the Nsukka Campus of the university.

In line with current convocation trends across the world, we have invited him to inspire our fresh graduands, whom I understand have a great administration for him, the vice-chancellor said of Obi Cubana.

Mr Igwe, a professor, said a total of 14,308 students would be awarded Bachelors Degrees at the convocation ceremony billed to hold on Friday in the Nsukka Campus of the institution.

I am proud to announce that a total of 246 of these graduands have bagged the First class Honours Degrees of the university.

Similarly, the Second Class Honours Upper Division Degree will be awarded to 5,092 graduands, while Second Class Honours Lower Division Degree will be awarded to 7,865 graduands, he said.

Similarly, 1,088 graduands will be awarded the Third-Class Degree while 17 persons will earn a Pass Degree, Mr Igwe stated, adding that a total of 96 diplomas of the university will be awarded at the convocation.

The vice-chancellor also said a total of 2,482 post-graduate degrees of the university will be awarded to deserving graduands, the following day, on Saturday.

A total of 618 persons will be awarded the doctorate degree of the university, while 1,690 will earn the masters degrees in various disciplines.

Similarly, the postgraduate diploma of the university will also be awarded to 174 persons, Mr Igwe said.

The vice-chancellor said the number of graduands represents significant improvements compared to the number the university graduates during its 49th convocation.

Infrastructural developments

Mr Igwe said a good number of infrastructural projects were undertaken and completed at the various campuses of the university.

While some of the projects were funded with capital allocations from the federal government and intervention funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund, others were funded with internally generated revenue, as well as donations from alumni and friends of the university, he said.

Over the period, a number of departments and programmes were successfully accredited by the National Universities Commission, while many staff were promoted to various ranks, including the rank of professor, he said.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has denied reports attributing a comment describing Nigerias president-elect, Bola Tinubu as a drug baron to the immediate-past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.

A spokesperson for the party in the state, Darlington Nwauju, who issued the denial in a statement Friday, said Mr Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor and the partys leader in the state, never linked Mr Tinubu to drug trafficking within or outside the country.

Mr Nwauju was reacting to a report published on Facebook by a news medium  Dailymail gist.

The news medium reported that Mr Amaechi had said that Mr Tinubu would have been disqualified for drug trafficking if the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had done the proper screening.

Refuting the report, Mr Nwauju said such claptraps are the handiwork of fifth columnists whom he said do not wish the former minister well. He added that the former Rivers governor has no personal angst against the President-elect.

We have uncovered a hatchet job carried out by a faceless online medium crediting our leader, the former Transport Minister, Mr Amaechi, with comments questioning the role of the APC and INEC over the screening/qualification of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

We want to make it abundantly clear that at no time did our leader make such demonic comments whether in private or public to query the qualifications of the President-elect or linking him to drug trafficking within or outside Nigeria.

We wish to warn these purveyors of fake news of the dire consequences of flying such wicked and unfounded rumours. We invite security agencies to go after these elements of hate and divisiveness, in order to sanitize the noble journalism profession, he said.

Mr Amaechi had kicked against the appointment of Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of INEC in the interview he granted journalists shortly after casting his ballot during the 18 March governorship and state Assembly elections.

The former minister, who voted at his polling unit in Ubima, Ward 8 Unit 14, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, said Mr Yakubu should have been removed on the grounds that he was nominated by a member of Mr Tinubus camp.

The former minister had described the commission under Mr Yakubu as completely useless, according to Sahara Reporters.

Mr Nwauju who recalled the statement made by Mr Amaechi on the election day said the former minister spoke in the full glare of the world and his words were clean and clear.

Any person who wants to accuse the president-elect is free to do so, but should not hide under the former minister to do so, Mr Nwauju said.

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The Lagos State government has issued a 90-day ultimatum to owners of 349 distressed buildings in the state to either re-engineer or remove the buildings.

The government on Friday issued a final notice through its ministry of physical planning and urban development and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

The statement signed by the general manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, was titled Final notice to conduct integrity test and carry out the recommendations of the test.

This is to notify the General Public that the under-listed structures have been identified by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to be exhibiting various signs of distress, the statement reads.

LASBCA has therefore served all statutory enforcement notices on the structures and has requested the owners/developers of the structures to conduct a Non- Destructive Test (NDT) on the structures with no response from the respective owners /developers of the buildings.

The government issued the notice to owners and developers of the affected buildings to conduct a non  destructive test on the structures to ascertain their structural stability and where the structures turn out to be unfit for habitation, a demolition permit should be obtained from its planning permit authority to remove the structures in the interest of public safety.

Where the structure is recommended for re-engineering /renovation, the buildings to conduct a Non-Destructive Test on the structures to ascertain their structural stability and where the structures turn out to be unfit for habitation, a Demolition Permit should be obtained from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to pull down the structure in the interest of public safety, the statement read.

A time frame of 90 days is hereby given after the publication of this notice for the conduct of NDT, re-engineering or removal of the identified structures that are exhibiting signs of distress (as the case may be) failing which LASBCA shall not hesitate to remove the structures in the interest of public safety and line with the regulatory provisions of the Law. Where structures are removed by the Agency, the cost of removal shall be recovered from the owner/developer as required by the Law.

For further information or clarification, kindly contact LASBCA on the website: lasbca.lagosstate.gov.ng or visit the Head Office at LASTMA yard, Muiz Banire Street, GRA Ikeja.

Download the information on distress building here

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described as fake, the news making the rounds that it suspended accounts of Fintech companies like OPAY and PALMPAY.

CBNs Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that the viral news is simply fake.

The viral news credited to Mr AbdulMumin stated that the CBN was about to suspend accounts of the Fintech companies because they were being used to perpetrate fraud.

Please if you are using OPAY, PALMPAY or any of these CHINA APPs or their POS, stop keeping much money in the account or stop using it.

The CBN is about suspending their accounts because these apps are being used to perpetrate fraud, the viral news read in parts.

OPAY and PALMPAY had in separate social media messages denied being under the radar of the CBN.

OPAY had stated that: the post mentioning the CBN shutting down our operations is false and misleading to the general public.

PALMPAY also posted a similar disclaimer, saying: we are aware of news currently being spread on social media about CBN shutting down the operations of PALMPAY.

Please ignore all such misleading news of this nature, it stated.

OPAY and PALMPAY are licensed under the CBN mobile payment regulatory framework.

They are to provide mobile money services including mobile payment services to both the banked and unbanked and to drive financial inclusion.

(NAN)

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A former Senate President, Pius Anyim, has reacted to his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, Thursday, suspended Mr Anyim alongside former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, and two others from the party.

The others also suspended were Dennis Ityavya from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.

Like other members who were also suspended, the PDP did not state Mr Anyims offences. But sources in the party had said the former Secretary to the Government of Federation and others were suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

The PDP had also asked Governor Samuel Ortom to appear before the partys disciplinary committee over similar allegation.

Mr Anyim, a former presidential aspirant on the PDP, backed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, in the 18 March election against the PDP candidate, Ifeanyi Odii.

Mr Nwifuru won the election to become the governor-elect in the state.

But reacting in a statement on Friday, Mr Anyim, said his suspension by the NWC of the PDP was to say the least, disappointing.

He stressed that the party ought to have concerned itself with how to undertake a thorough self-examination on why they performed so poorly in the 2023 elections rather than seek to further divide the party by shifting blames.

It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to put up a bold face instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such a colossal loss in the 2023 elections, thereby dashing hopes and expectations of the party members and indeed Nigerians, he stated.

It is clear that arising from the leadership style of the NWC, many members, intentionally and proudly, worked against the party including members of the NWC. Therefore, it is a display of innate cowardice for NWC to choose soft targets to suspend and fear those that daily demonize them, Mr Anyim added.

The former senate president said it is difficult to explain why NWC was in a hurry to suspend leaders of the party without recourse for fair hearing, without which their action is null and void.

Support for Ebonyi APC candidate

Mr Anyim defended his support for the Ebonyi State APC governorship candidate, Mr Nwifuru, explaining that his decision was because of existing formular in the state.

He accused the PDP of imposing its governorship candidate in the state from outside the zone favoured by the existing zoning formular to produce a governor in the state.

Every effort to let the NWC see reason fell on deaf ears. On the day the partys presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told Dr. (Iyorchia) Ayu (the PDP national chairman) that I was boycotting the rally because I cannot support the candidate they imposed on Ebonyi State.

Dr. Ayu did nothing. He did not care even as I did not attend the Ebonyi rally. The NWC may wish to know that I am proud to have supported the APC gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State to win the election because that conforms to the equitable formular in Ebonyi State, he said.

Mr Anyim said, given his explanation, he expects the NWC of the PDP to reverse itself in the interest of the party.

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The doctors under the umbrella of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMP), Ekiti State chapter, are set to down their tools beginning from midmight Friday (tomorrow).

The union, which accused the govrernment of neglecting the states health sector as allegedl experienced under the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, have given the government up till 11:59p.m on Friday to address all its concerns.

In an ultimatum addressed to the state governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, and signed by its Chairman, Alo Akinleye, and the Secretary, Olajide Abimbola, NAGGMP highlighted its challenges and demanded a prompt resolution from the government.

The ultimatum, which commenced on 8 March, followed the expiration of an initial 14-day ultimatum which started on 17 February.

The challenges identified by the doctors include: pay disparity affecting doctors among doctors in the state, inadequate workforce, and that the entry-level of newly employed doctors should be grade level 13 as it reportedly obtains in other parts of the country.

On pay disparity

The doctors association emphasised in the ultimatum that the singular demand of pay parity has been on the frontburner of its requests for the past three years and that committees have been set up with their reports begging for implementation.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday, NAGGMP chairman urged the state government to resolve the problem of pay disparity affecting the doctors under the employment of Hospital Management Board (HMB), Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) compared to their counterparts in federal employment.

Mr Akinleye said the governor who has only spent a couple of months in office has not shown commitment to improving the welfare of doctors and resolving the issues that have lingered from the past administrations.

He said the governor in a meeting with the association in January approved the payment of hazard allowances which was applauded but the promise made to bridge the gap of pay disparity by 50 per cent has not been implemented, hence the reason for the ultimatum to down tools.

Inadequate workforce

Mr Akinleye noted that the problem of inadequate workforce is connected to other issues.

In the ultimatum, the association noted that the current workforce of 66 doctors covering 22 specialist and general hospitals is grossly inadequate and the inability to attract fresh hands is a direct consequence of pay disparity.

Explaining this, Mr Akinleye said some of the newly graduated medical students would prefer to work with the Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, to the HMD or PHCDA because of the existing pay disparity.

He further noted that the inadequate workforce is affecting the lifestyle of the available doctors as most of them spend 24 hours attending to patients every day of the week.

Most of our members stay away mostly from their homes. I am on level 15, and I am supposed to have three to four doctors working under my supervision to carry out diagnoses and other basic assignments, but in situations when they are few hands, the workload becomes strenuous for the few available people.

Most hospitals today are covered by one or two doctors and such doctors will be in the hospital 24/7. To even cater for their own needs would be difficult, he said.

Speaking on the brain drain, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) South-west, Rosiji Babatunde, said not only are we losing doctors to foreign climes, but we are also having an internal redistribution of this highly skilled manpower.

In Ekiti State, just about two to three years ago we have about 800 doctors in the state but as I speak to you we have barely 500 hundred doctors and as soon as our governor was inaugurated on 16 of October we engaged him on the need to rescue the health sector, Mr Babatunde said.

He also acknowledged that the governor showed some levels of sincerity and set up a committee to address the issues but has only implemented one which is the payment of hazard allowance.

He urged the government to consider the recommendations earlier made as regards the development of the secondary hospitals which he noted get less attention compared to the primary hospitals that receive more funding from NGOs and the federal government.

No doctors want to apply

Mr Babatunde gave a further breakdown of the existing brain drain, noting that the state requires 178 to 200 doctors to run the facilities of the 22 general hospitals but that as of Thursday, only 65 doctors are available.

He said as of November 2022, when they engaged the government, there were about 78 doctors in the general and specialist hospitals, but now we are left with 65 meaning 13 people have resigned.

The simple question is why are they resigning? and if they are resigning we should be able to get fresh hands to replace those that are leaving but at the moment we cannot even attract fresh hands

At some point, we had the approval to consequentially replace doctors as soon as they left. We needed 15 doctors at some point and only three applied. Just recently we had the approval to feel five spaces, we had only one doctor applying to the hospital, he explained.

He noted that young doctors who are employed in primary hospitals are now growing faster in terms of pay than those who have spent six years in the service.

For us, we are recommending that the government should bring stability to the system. Let there be pay parity as it will reduce the velocity of motion of this healthcare professional between the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and it will stop the internal drift, internal migration from all these centres, to the better-paying facilities, he said.

He added that the NMA is committed to partnering with the government in stabilising the health sector in Ekiti State.

READ ALSO: Nigerian doctors threaten fresh strike

We will like to put on record that categorically we are not fighting the government we are partnering with the government to make sure that the health system in this state works.

Secondly, we will also like to put on record that our governor Ekiti state governor is the first governor in the Southwest to implement this new hazard allowance that is being paid at federal institutions so that shows that he is committed but we still need to put more hands on deck, he said.

Government reacts

In reaction, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Oyebanji Filani, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the states Ministry of Health & Human Services, Olabisi Arogundade, said the governor has approved the doctors demands except for the issue of pay disparity.

Mrs Arogundada told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that after meetings held with the top officials of the association, the governor had ordered a committee to look into the pay parity in order to take a decision.

She said: In view of economic realities and the determination of the government to provide an enabling environment for improved service delivery, the governor graciously approved three of the four demands.

Approval for payment of hazard allowances to doctors and all clinical health staff as the first state to do so in the country apart from the Federal government; the release of medical residency training fund; deployment of over ten doctors (with more to come) to hospitals in the state and filling of consequential vacancies for the replacement of doctors and health staff who have exited the service.

The governor has also set up a committee with the Head of Service as chairman to holistically address the remaining one issue of pay parity as it affects other health professionals. After the committees assignment, the government will then take a decision.

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There is no direct investment by Nigerian banks in Silicon Valley Bank (SBV) that could result in a loss of investment, the Central Bank of Nigeria has said.

The apex bank spoke amid uncertainty over the takeover of the Silicon Valley Bank by the U.S. government after its clients, including venture capitalists and tech startups, withdrew funds from their accounts, leading to the eventual crash of the bank.

The collapse has raised concerns about the potential impact on other banks in the world.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, while responding to questions at the end of the monetary policy committee meeting held in Abuja Tuesday allayed the fear of many concerned Nigerians.

According to him, Nigerian banks are healthy and remain insulated against such risks having met all the prudential guidelines it set for the financial system.

Guidelines

According to him, Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world with a cash reserve deposit requirement.

This has been there even before I started banking that when you deposit your money in a bank, a certain percentage of that deposit is serialised by the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that when there is a kind of liquidity crisis, that money is available to that bank for them to use to solve that liquidity problem so that depositors do not lose their money.

We also have liquidity ratio (a) specified liquid asset against total deposit of banks either held in cash in bank vault or treasury bills, OMO bills and different other liquid instruments and in Nigeria our ratio is minimum of 30 per cent, banks keep above that, he said.

The CBN governor noted that the liquidity ratio is about 43 per cent, the cash reserve about 32.5 per cent, while the loan deposit ratio is about 52.47 per cent,

He also explained that despite maintaining these guidelines, the banks remain profitable.

According to him, the ROI has remained relatively strong even though when banks convert these to dollars, they seem weaker but at the same time, the banks have continued to make a profit and pay good dividends to their shareholders.

Nigeria, again is one of those countries in the world where even after a bank has declared profit and paid taxes, a certain percentage of its profit must be set aside to build retained earnings and capital.

If you are a small bank, its going to be 25 per cent. One-quarter of whatever profit you make is set aside and built into what we call the statutory reserve fund whether to improve the capital of that bank. If you are a big bank, it then reduces to 15 per cent, he said.

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The Nigerian government on Tuesday announced the exemption of the Nigerian digital economy from the proposed 5 per cent excise duty introduced in August 2022.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said this is in line with the recommendations of the committee constituted to review the applicability of the duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Mr Pantami disclosed this at a press briefing organised by the presidential review committee on excise duty in Abuja.

The statement noted that the briefing was organised to provide updates on the status of the 5 per cent excise duty.

In August 2022, the federal government announced that it would begin implementing the proposed excise taxes on telecommunications and beverage services in 2023.

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced that the government was preparing to implement a 5 per cent excise tax on telecommunications services, which would raise the total on phone services to 12.5 per cent. The sector has an existing 7.5 per cent on its services.

However, Mr Pantami opposed the new tax, which would increase the cost of telecommunications services in the country.

He said the ministry was not consulted and criticised the timing of the plan.

In September last year, the federal government suspended the proposed new tax on phone calls and other telecommunications services.

Mr Pantami, who is the chairman of the committee, specifically set up the committee to review the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector.

Resolution

On Tuesday, the minister said the committee had carried out its national assignment and submitted its report to the president, justifying why the sector should be exempted.

He explained that the committees submissions can be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any levy should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms have continued to be a major contributor to the Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).

The third ground for contesting the excise duty in the telecom sector is the fact that, despite the increase in the cost of all factors of production across the sector and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, the telecom sector is the only sector where the cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector, Mr Pantami said.

He said the president, having looked into the arguments put forward by the committee and relying on the provision of Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, therefore exempted the telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the constitution which permits the president to grant such waiver.

I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five (5) per cent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the 5 per cent excise duty, he said.

He, however, assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens,.

He further noted that the digital economy sector has continued to add value to the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020, 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021 and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for the government from N51 billion to over N480 billion, representing a growth of 594 per cent.

He added that the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers.

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The Adamawa chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has voided Wednesdays suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, by his Godabawa ward.

Raymond Chidama, the state APC Secretary, said this when he addressed journalists in Yola, the state capital on Thursday.

It is a known fact and worth mentioning that the contribution of Boss Mustapha toward sustaining and supporting the party is second to none and cannot be overemphasised.

Therefore, any group hiding under the auspices of the party which is sponsored by the opposition to come out with malicious allegations at this critical time is highly condemnable.

We hereby state such suspension is unconstitutional, null and void and is of no effect, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC leadership in Godabawa ward in Yola-North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Wednesday suspended Mr Mustapha from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

(NAN)

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The Defence Headquarters says Nigerian troops have eliminated 46 terrorists, bandits and other criminals across the North-east, North-central and North-west states in the last two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, a major general, said this during the biweekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Danmadami said the troops also apprehended more than 50 terrorists and other criminals as well as rescued 97 kidnapped victims within the period.

In the North-east, Mr Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) sustained and continued to dominate the theatre of operation with commendable successes.

He said the troops had within the weeks in focus, neutralised 18 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, arrested six logistics suppliers and rescued 119 abducted civilians.

He added that a total of 1,506 terrorists and members of their families comprising 154 adult males, 514 adult females and 838 children, surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation.

According to him, troops also recovered 16 AK 47 rifles, one 60mm mortar bomb, 10 dane guns, 12 dummy rifles, 280 rounds of 7.62mm special, 118 rounds of 7.62 x 50mm NATO, 13 rounds of 5.56mm ammo and 10 rounds of 7.62 x 54 mm NATO ammo.

Also recovered are one round of 12.7mm NATO, 17 AK47 magazines, one firing pin, one mechanic tools box, two knives, six motorcycles, 24 mobile phones, 41 livestock, assorted food items, one vehicle, four sim and other sundry items as well as the cash sum of N2.2 million.

All recovered items, rescued civilians and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action, while surrendered terrorists and members of their families have been profiled for further action, he said.

Mr Danmadami said the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted several air interdiction operations against terrorists enclaves and logistics in support of ground operations during the period.

He said that several air interdiction operations were carried out in some forests in Borno and Yobe State where several terrorists were neutralised in the airstrikes.

According to him, the ground forces on mop-up operations, recovered one gun truck, three AK 47 rifles, one PKM gun, one PKM metal link with 19 rounds, two Improvised Explosive Devices, 129 rounds of 7.62mm (39mm) ammunition, 60 solar panels among others.

Mr Danmadami added that two terrorists logistic depots were destroyed.

In the North-central, the defence spokesperson said troops of Operation Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke apprehended 28 bandits, criminals and political thugs during the 18 March election across the zone.

He added that a total of eight bandits were eliminated in different operations while five kidnapped victims were rescued.

Mr Danmadami said the troops had on 12 March, apprehended two suspected kidnappers while attempting to collect ransom at Gegu-Beki village in Kogi Local Government Area, Kogi State.

According to him, a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was sent to collect the sum of N2 million.

Mr Danmadami said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, between 16 March and 22 March neutralised eight terrorists, recovered arms and ammunition, rescued five kidnapped civilians and arrested seven other criminals in Benue.

In another development, troops conducted a fighting patrol to the Independence National Electoral Commission office in Ilorin-west Local Government Area of Kwara State on 18 March and intercepted some armed thugs.

Troops searched the area where the thugs were seen and recovered two pump action guns, four locally made dane guns, two machetes, four mobile phones and one vehicle, as well as arrested six thugs, he said.

In North-west, Mr Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, within the period neutralised 14 terrorists, arrested 12 logistics suppliers and rescued 16 abducted civilians.

He added that the troops recovered a large cache of arms, hard drugs, assorted food items and the sum of N9,670.

According to him, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued civilians have been handed over to relevant authorities for further action.

(NAN)

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, indicated its intention to respond in a suit filed by Festus Keyamo against Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 25 February poll.

This was also as Oluwakemi Odogun, lawyer to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), told Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court, Abuja of the commissions plan to file its response in the case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Keyamo, a spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), had instituted the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 against Mr Abubakar over allegations bordering on money laundering.

Also joined as defendants in the suit are the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), ICPC and the EFCC as 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

Mr Keyamo had earlier asked law enforcement agencies to arrest Atiku based on an audio recording released by Michael Achimugu, his former aide.

In the audio, the former vice-president was alleged to have explained how shell organisations were set up to divert public funds.

NAN reports that Justice Omotosho had, on 7 March, threatened to strike out the suit over Mr Keyamos inability to diligently prosecute the case.

Upon resumed hearing, Mr Keyamos counsel, Okechukwu Uju-azorji, informed that the matter was slated for hearing.

Mr Uju-azorji said that the former vice president, the 1st defendant, served on him a preliminary objection and that they had responded.

The lawyer said Atiku, however, was not represented in court today to take his application.

He asked the court for an adjournment to enable the 1st defendant to take his objection.

The counsel to the EFCC, Senami Adeosun, who also asked the court for a short time to enable them to file their process in the suit, said they were still within time to respond.

Mr Odogun, who represented ICPC, spoke in the same vein.

We were served on March 15 with the originating processes. We sought an adjournment since we are within time to file, she said.

The judge adjourned the matter until 18 April for a hearing of the pending preliminary objection.

Mr Omotosho, who ordered that hearing notices be issued to Atiku and CCB, who were not represented in court, directed that parties interested in filing any application should do so before the next adjourned date.

NAN reports that in a preliminary objection filed by Atikus lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, the ex-vice president sought an order striking out or dismissing the suit for being incompetent and want of locus standi.

The lawyer, who argued that the suit be dismissed for want of jurisdiction, said the case failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action against his client.

But Mr Keyamo, in a counter affidavit deposed to by Henry Offiah, a litigation clerk in his chamber, averred that the CCB, ICPC and EFCC failed to respond to the allegations he raised against Atiku and indeed failed to take any steps to invite or arrest him for the purpose of investigating the allegations against him.

He said on 16 January, he wrote a petition to the three agencies requesting them to invite the former vice president for the purpose of conducting investigations into the said allegations.

He said that they refused to commence any form of investigation with respect to the allegations.

Mr Keyamo said he was aggrieved and instituted the present action on 20 January.

The allegations made against the 1st defendant (Abubakar) are the subject matter of the investigation sought by the plaintiff and the plaintiff seeks reliefs against the 1st defendant, the document read.

He said it was in the interest of justice for the court to dismiss Atikus preliminary objection.

(NAN)

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The re-election of Xi Jinping as China's president shows the great confidence the Communist Party of China, and the Chinese people and government have in his leadership. They also believe he will lead China to greater prosperity and help realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Under the leadership of Xi, China will explore new horizons to achieve innovation-driven high-quality development as opposed to fast-paced quantitative growth.

Xi's re-election is the culmination of the remarkable achievements China has made over the past 10 years. But the new leadership's journey will be long, filled with both glory and difficulties. The road map has been drawn, and the leadership will forge ahead with enterprise and fortitude to create an even brighter future for the Chinese people.

Xi's vision includes strengthening China's global standing and creating a more prosperous society. He has already led the country in eradicating extreme poverty, and has been a strong advocate of environmental protection and innovation-driven development.

Xi has made many ambitious initiatives during his 10 years in office including the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Made in China 2025" plan, which are aimed at improving infrastructure connectivity among countries and sharpening China's economic and technological competitive edge on the global stage. He has also emphasized the importance of rule of law, good governance and Party discipline, which found resonance in his high-profile anti-corruption campaign.

The president's vision bolstered the country's development, transforming China into a moderately well-off society in all respects. During his leadership, China has made greater contributions to global peace and development. China's visionary policies for development and peace are reflected in Xi's proposals of Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative.

More important, thanks to Xi's leadership, China could broker peace between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the two countries pledging to resume diplomatic relations after seven years, following closed-door talks from March 6 to 10.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China issued a joint trilateral statement in Beijing recently to announce the historic diplomatic breakthrough. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to abide by the principles of the United Nations Charter, resolve their disputes through dialogue, respect each other's sovereignty and not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

The Saudi Arabia-Iran agreement sets an apt example for countries to resolve their disputes and differences through dialogue, and establish good neighborly and friendly relations without external meddling.

Saudi Arabia and Iran also reaffirmed their adherence to the basic norms of international relations and international law.

China played a key role in bringing the two Middle East countries together, showing that its call for global peace and development is not empty talk  unlike the United States which, in the name of spreading democracy and freedom, has been interfering in other countries' internal affairs and creating chaos in many parts of the world, including the Middle East and East Asia. Its invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq are tragic examples of what such interference and intervention can unleash in developing countries.

The US has been promoting its hegemonic agenda in the Middle East, turning the region into a battleground. In contrast, China's recent achievement in mediating a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran shows that an able and honest global leadership can restore peace and bring development to countries.
Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has countered a directive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which asked Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to appear before the National Disciplinary Committee of the party over alleged anti-party activities.

The PDP had on Thursday also announced the suspension of a former Senate President Pius Anyim and a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, and two other members of the party.

Mr Wike on Thursday said Governor Ortom would not appear before the disciplinary committee. He described the suspension of Mr Fayose and others as a nullity, and said if there is anyone who should be suspended it is the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu.

I want to state clearly and let members of the party and Nigerians hear it clearly, the National Working Committee made up of Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who they say is the chairman of the party; Sam Anyanwu, the national secretary and other members of NWC, cannot suspend Ayo Fayose, not to talk about referring governor Ortom to national disciplinary committee, a statement from the media aide to Mr Wike, Kelvin Ebiri, quoted the Rivers governor as saying in the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Referring a governor to your so-called national disciplinary committee is the height of all insult, and we will not take it. Therefore, be ready for whatever you see as far as this our party is concerned, Mr Wike added.

Background

Messrs Wike and Ortom are members of the G-5, a group of five PDP governors who rebelled against the party and withdrew their political support for the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar on the grounds that the party ought to have looked towards the south for the next Nigerian leader since President Muhammadu Buhari is from the north.

The G5 also pushed, unsuccessfully though, for Mr Ayus resignation to pave the way for a southerner to lead the PDP in order to create a regional balance.

Both Mr Ayu and Atiku are from the north.

During the 2023 election, Mr Wike supported Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, who is now the president-elect. Another of the G-5 members, Governor Seyi Makinde, who has just been re-elected for a second term, supported Mr Tinubu.

Governor Ortom supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, whom he said was the best person to lead Nigeria at this moment of economic and security crises.

Mr Obi lost the presidential election, while Governor Ortom lost in a senatorial election.

Governor Ortom, who has stood firm for the unity of this country, Governor Ortom who has come out openly to say that Nigeria must be one is not the type you will say youll refer to that your kangaroo committee.

Its Ayu who should be suspended

If there is any person deserving suspension it should be you (Ayu), who played anti-party by refusing to obey the constitution of the party on zoning of political offices as is required. So, whoever tells you can suspend people, please tell the person that he is not serious, the Rivers governor said on Thursday.

If you are talking of anti-party it is you who could not even deliver your unit, deliver your ward that is involved. Because of the fraudulent activities you are involved in, people have lost hope in you. That is why you cannot win your unit, win your ward, Mr Wike said.

The governor, according to the statement, cautioned Mr Ayu and the NWC to desist from threatening the G-5 governors and members of the Integrity Group with suspension.

Mr Ayu, he said, has by his recent action opened up a new chapter of political war in the party.

You cannot cage any of us. Ortom will not appear before any of your so-called disciplinary committee. Ayodele Fayose will also never appear before any disciplinary committee.

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The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) has taken a decision to stop using the Franc CFA (FCFA). They were expected to announce some currency changes but instead opted for a complete change of the name.

CEMAC also want complete closure of the operating account (compte doperation) at the Banque de France in order to allow the body to hold all of its foreign exchange reserves as opposed to the 50 per cent it currently holds, and the withdrawal of French representatives from the decision-making and control bodies of the BEAC (regional Central Bank).

CEMAC is currently considering joining West Africa, which is in the process of producing a regional currency called the ECO. Experts however consider the process delicate but judging by the recent Euro/Dollar crisis, which drastically affected the FCFA, they consider the move necessary.

Heads of State have proposed that the results of the various reflections by the BEAC should be shared with ministers of economy and finance of the member states according to Camer.be.

The Central African Republic had earlier adopted Bitcoin as a legal tender.

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The Supreme Court has denied a media report that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, met with Nigerias president-elect, Bola Tinubu, in London.

An online platform, Peoples Gazette, reported on Thursday, that the CJN disguised in a wheelchair in London and met with Mr Tinubu.

Mr Tinubus victory at Nigerias presidential election held on 25 February, is being contested in court by the presidential candidates of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

But in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Supreme Courts spokesperson, Festus Akande, said there was no iota of truth in the report by Peoples Gazette.

Contrary to claims by the report that Mr Ariwoola travelled out of Nigeria on 11 March to the United Kingdom to meet with the president-elect, Mr Akande said the CJN has been in Nigeria, and presided over meetings of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held on 16 and 17 March.

This newspaper reported that on 17 March, the NJC at the end of its meeting chaired by Mr Ariwoola issued a statement suspending the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Philibus Andetur, from office on account of misconduct.

Mr Akande disclosed that the CJN accompanied by NJCs Secretary, Ahmed Gambo, only travelled out of Nigeria briefly to London on 18 March for medical care.

On 23 March, the CJN returned from his medical trip to London and later reported in the office (in Abuja), where he worked till 8p.m, he said.

Mr Akande said before the CJNs London trip, Mr Ariwoola notified President Muhammadu Buhari of the trip.

The only time the CJN travelled earlier this year was on 25 January, when he travelled for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He returned on 29 January 2023, the Supreme Court spokesperson explained.

On Friday, this reporter was granted access to the CJNs chambers at the Supreme Court, where Mr Ariwoola was seen with a retinue of aides walking into a waiting SUV to attend Jumat prayers at a mosque within the precincts of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

But the Peoples Gazette reported on Thursday that the CJN was currently in London and met with Mr Tinubu.

Tinubu denies meeting CJN

Reacting to the report, Mr Tinubus presidential campaign team described the story as a mere salacious fiction, meant to draw traffic to the discredited purveyor.

Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for the president-elects media team, who issued the statement on Friday, noted that Mr Tinubu is still in Paris, France and has not moved to London.

We refute emphatically that there has been no clandestine meeting between the President-elect and the respected Chief Justice of our country, anywhere. Its pure fabricated news, groundless in fact and authenticity, the statement read.

We can confirm that the president-elect, who left Nigeria Tuesday (21 March) has not been in London. He is right now in France to have a deserved rest, after a hectic campaign that began in January 2022, Mr Onanuga said.

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Ibrahim Shema, a former governor of Katsina State, has asked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, to revoke his suspension from the party or he will renounce its membership.

He also asked the PDP to rescind the decision to dissolve the Katsina State Working Committee of the party.

Mr Shema made the demands in a letter dated 24 March to Mr Ayu.

The former governor and four others were on Thursday suspended from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

The others suspended are former Senate President, Pius Anyim, former Ekiti governor, Ayo Fayose, Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.

Also, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP dissolved the executive committee of the state chapter and in its place, constituted a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state for a period not exceeding 90 days.

The party said it acted in accordance with Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2) E of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

Katsina PDP crisis

The state chapter of the PDP has been enmeshed in crisis since May 2022 following the primary that produced Yakubu Lado as its governorship candidate.

Mr Shema and several members of the State Excos rejected the candidacy of Mr Lado, and they even boycotted the presidential campaign rally of Atiku Abubakar in December.

Last month, the Katsina State government withdrew the N11 billion corruption case against Mr Shema. And many believe that the outcome of the governorship race in Katsina State reflects the division in the PDP.

Dikko Radda, the candidate of the APC polled 859,892 votes to defeat Mr Lado, who got 486,620 votes.

Unlawful dissolution

Mr Shema, a former deputy national chairman of the party (North-west zone) of the party, in the letter, asked Mr Ayu to rescind the unlawful dissolution of the state exco within 48 hours or he will leave the party.

He asked the national chairman to Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of unlawful dissolution of Katsina State duly elected Executive Committee and allow them to complete their tenure and disband the purported caretaker committee similar to which so many court decisions in the land have illegalized.

Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of my suspension as a member of our party within the next Forty-Eight (48) hours.

Take notice that failure to effect these two changes above within Forty-Eight (48) hours, this letter serves as my formal and official withdrawal of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective from Saturday 25th March 2023.

He said these actions taken by the PDP leadership have caused and will continue to cause monumental damage to our party if unchecked.

Read Mr Shemas letter in full:

24th March 2023.

Dr Iyorchia Ayu,

The National Chairman,

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

PDP Headquarter,

Wadata Plaza,

Abuja.

Re: Unlawful Dissolution of Katsina State Executive Committee, Appointment of a Caretaker Committee and my suspension.

My attention has been drawn to a press statement made on Thursday 23rd March 2023 (1st of Ramadan 1444 AH) on the above action by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) as announced by its National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and aired in Numerous Media outlets; Print, Electronic and Social.

The statement also went on to announce the suspension of other party leaders in the Country.

It is pertinent to state categorically here that chapter 10 of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) constitution (2017) as amended (Disciplinary procedure) particularly section 56 (6) (7) and section 59 (3) were not adhered to in reaching these decisions which clearly demonstrate contempt for democracy.

I was privileged to be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman One (1) and Chairman of its National Disciplinary Committee who amended and drafted the Disciplinary procedure as enshrined in our constitution today in line with principles of justice, fairness and equity.

I am a member of the National Executive Council (NEC), Board of Trustees (BOT) and CAUCUS of our party and know as of law and fact that the dissolution of a lawfully elected Katsina State Executive Committee cannot bear Constitutional validity as well as my suspension from the party.

Let me also state in clear and unequivocal terms that I have been a loyal and dedicated party member for the past Twenty-Four years; I have never left or joined any other party despite all manner of challenges I faced and have worked under our partys constitution and the law. I cannot, therefore continue to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Dr Iyorchia Ayus laws who is duty bound to preserve, protect and defend our constitution within his limited powers.

It is in the height of these developments that I make the following appeals.

Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of unlawful dissolution of Katsina State duly elected Executive Committee and allow them to complete their tenure and disband the purported caretaker committee similar to which so many court decisions in the land has illegalized.

Rescind the National Working Committee (NWC) decision of my suspension as member of our party within the next Forty-Eight (48) hours.

Take notice that failure to effect these two changes above within Forty-Eight (48) hours, this letters serves as my formal and official withdrawal of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) effective from Saturday 25th March 2023.

These actions have caused and will continue to cause monumental damage to our party if unchecked.

My good wishes to you all.

Ibrahim S. shema CON, Fnim,

(Sarkin Yakin Hausa)

Member, PDP National Executive Committee.

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The conduct of these elections was also impacted by the increased levels of violent incidents and vote trading recorded. The patchy deployment of security personnel in states such as Bayelsa, Enugu and Bauchi reduced the ability or willingness of security agencies to intervene to prevent critical incidents of violence has further undermined the credibility of this poll. Across the country, 8% of observers noted that there were no security personnel at their polling units.

On 18 March, following a one-week delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable it to comply with a Court of Appeal judgement, Nigerians returned to the polls to cast their ballots in governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. Voters in 28 states had the chance to elect new, or returing governors in the 18th of March vote, with the remaining eight states having off-cycle polls, three of which are scheduled to take place later this year. This is a summary of the report of the Election Analysis Centre of the Centre for Democracy and Development on the elections.

BVAS was largely deployed and functional across the country for accreditation. Linked to the improved deployment of BVAS, the uploading of declared polling unit results to INECs results viewing platform (IReV) was significantly improved, in comparison with what happened during the 25 February polls, with 23% of declared polling unit results available on the platform by 6:10 p.m. on election day. By 2:00 p.m. on 19 March, that had increased to an average of 85% and ranged from 98% in Oyo State to a low of 68% in Kano State. This provided real results for political parties and citizens to follow the distribution of votes. Nonetheless, diminished trust in the electoral institution shaped wider perceptions when it came to the acceptance of the results returned, particularly in races where narrow margins of victory were recorded or where patterns of the presidential results were not replicated at the sub-national level.

The conduct of these elections was also impacted by the increased levels of violent incidents and vote trading recorded. The patchy deployment of security personnel in states such as Bayelsa, Enugu and Bauchi reduced the ability or willingness of security agencies to intervene to prevent critical incidents of violence has further undermined the credibility of this poll. Across the country, 8% of observers noted that there were no security personnel at their polling units. Voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction or theft of election materials, predominantly by political party agents and politically aligned thugs, were recorded across all the six geopolitical zones of the country. These violent incidents were often focused in the political strongholds of the opposition or perceived opponents, which suggest that the use of BVAS  which limits overvoting when properly used  has resulted in a more concerted effort at styming citizens who are casting their votes in strongholds of their opponents, than stuffing ballot boxes to rig the outcomes of some elections.

The threat or use of violence  not just offline but also online through the use of identity driven misinformation and disinformation on social media  in some polling units to intimidate, suppress and destroy election materials had a multiplier effect, further reducing voters appetite to cast ballots, a reality that likely shaped engagement with the process in states like Lagos and Rivers in these latter elections. In the first six hours of polls being open on 18 March, CDDs war room team came across a flurry of voter intimidation videos, particularly from Lagos State, which were ensconced in rhetoric about belonging and ethnic identity  an illustration of the ways that voter intimidation took place both online, as well as offline.

In zones across the country, vote trading was more pronounced than during the presidential election, with both cash and goods used by all political parties in the effort to entice voters to cast their ballots in their direction. In total, 25.3% of observers noted vote buying at their polling units across the country, with the highest figures reported in the South-East (41.4%) and North-West (35.4%). In Anambra State, party agents were observed using materials, phones and other souvenirs to entice voters. In the South-South, multiple party agents reported the desire for voters to show proof of their votes before being paid, with party agents reportedly compiling a list of their voters in Esan Central LGA of Edo State. In Kano, the value of goods shared, if not cash, was as high as N5,000, with 90% of observers reporting incidents of vote buying in the polling units they observed. In polling units in Dutse, Ringim and Birnin Kudu LGAs of Jigawa State, observers highlighted that some voters were actively soliciting funds in exchange for their votes. Vote buying, the violence and intimidation that many voters experienced in casting their ballots and the mistrust that many voters have in the capabilities of INEC, following the 25 February elections, despite improvements this time, cannot be disassociated from the outcomes from the 28 governorship and 36 state Houses of Assembly races.

Nigerias identity divisions have been more pronounced in these elections, with narratives amplified by online discourses further contributing to accentuating this. Whether to promote conventional zonal arrangements or to whip up ethnic concerns to support voter bases, these have played a significant part in heightening a sensitive political climate and they led to an acrimonious voting process.

APC candidates have been returned in fifteen states: Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Yobe, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Benue, Niger, Borno, and Cross River. The party was able to return incumbents in five of these states  Gombe, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun and Yobe  and retain control of states that it had lost during the presidential election  Gombe, Katsina, Sokoto and Yobe, which were earlier won by PDP, and Lagos that won by Labour Party (LP).

PDP candidates have so far been successful in: Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Bauchi, Delta and Enugu States, which the party controlled before the elections, with an incumbent re-elected in Oyo despite losing the state to the APC during the presidential election. The New Nigeria Peoples Party was also able to parlay its strong showing in the presidential election to win the governorship election in Kano State, while LP won in Abia. The elections produced a governorship setup with five parties producing governors (in addition to the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Anambra). This mirrors the multi-party configuration in the National Assembly.

Initial analyses of the results reinforce the unique nature of local politics. Available results show a correlation between the governorship and state Houses of assembly results among declared states. Of note is the incumbency factor, with six of the 11 incumbents seeking re-election being returned elected. Greater interest in state politics is also reflected in emerging data. Turnout for the three states there is full data for show increases when compared to the presidential poll: Akwa Ibom 27.8% versus 24.9%, Jigawa 44.8% versus 40.6%, and Katsina 39.4% versus 31%. While a different average can be expected when all the results have been formally declared, it appears the direct impact of governors on citizens, the high number of term-limited governors and the decision of state party chapters to respond to the presidential result, led to increased turnout.

Nigerias identity divisions have been more pronounced in these elections, with narratives amplified by online discourses further contributing to accentuating this. Whether to promote conventional zonal arrangements or to whip up ethnic concerns to support voter bases, these have played a significant part in heightening a sensitive political climate and they led to an acrimonious voting process. Instances of systematic disenfranchisement on the basis of ethnicity, and the expectation that will translate into votes for another party, will also lead to more partisanship and division in incoming administrations.

A lot of the challenges confronting electoral democracy in Nigeria are the direct results of illegal and often criminal actions taken by key members of the political class and their surrogates, who violate the Electoral Act and other laws and regulations; and engage in violence, murder, fraud, disruption of elections, hate speech and so on. Accountability for such actions is important

The development of electoral democracy in Nigeria confronts regular and determined efforts by some members of the political class to undermine it for their selfish interests. It therefore requires continuous reforms to strengthen and build its resilience. We recommend the following measures:

A lot of the challenges confronting electoral democracy in Nigeria are the direct results of illegal and often criminal actions taken by key members of the political class and their surrogates, who violate the Electoral Act and other laws and regulations; and engage in violence, murder, fraud, disruption of elections, hate speech and so on. Accountability for such actions is important and the long-standing proposal by the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee to establish the Electoral Offences Commission should be implemented as soon as possible; There is need to establish a Political Parties Regulatory Commission, which will focus on building the strengths and capacities of parties, so that INEC can focus exclusively on the organisation of elections. Democracy-promoting institutions should be strengthened, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, which requires more autonomy, especially in relation to the appointment of its members and related support institutions, such as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, which serve as guardrails of competitive party and electoral politics: A National Cohesion and Integration Commission needs to created to promote inter-ethnic and I=inter-religious understanding with functions and powers modelled on the Kenyan commission with the same name; An independent committee has to be established, which will be like the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, to look into improvement of election management in the country.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

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The month of Ramadan is a Muslims recurring opportunity for spiritual enhancement and soul redemption. It is also an annual exercise in self-control and self-restraint, but above all, it is a physical manifestation of our total submission and obedience to Allah Almighty. Because of this submission and obeying of His order, the Muslim fasts, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse during the days of Ramadan.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All praise is for Allah, Lord of all creation, who guided us to Islam. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true and sincere followers.

Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, wallahi, there is no better time to start making positive changes in our lives than this blessed month of Ramadan.

The month of Ramadan is a Muslims recurring opportunity for spiritual enhancement and soul redemption. It is also an annual exercise in self-control and self-restraint, but above all, it is a physical manifestation of our total submission and obedience to Allah Almighty. Because of this submission and obeying of His order, the Muslim fasts, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse during the days of Ramadan. This is the physical aspect of fasting. By nightfall, the spiritual aspects take over, because while eating, drinking, and sexual relationship between spouses are permitted during nighttime, the Muslim then engages in prayers that take him/her deep into the night. It is a well-balanced program that lifts the spirit, strengthens the resolve, and asserts Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism) as no other act of worship can.

Dear brothers and sisters! The conduct of our Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in Ramadan differs a lot than the way Muslims do today. They dedicated their days and nights for worship. Their lives revolved completely around the book of Allah, the Quran. Reciting it in and out of prayers. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to review the whole Quran with Jibril (Angel Gabriel) once every Ramadan. Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, narrated that:

Jibril used to repeat the recitation of the Quran with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) once a year (in Ramadan) but he repeated it with him twice in the year he died. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to stay in Itikaf (seclusion in the Mosque) for ten days every year (during Ramadan) but in the year of his death, he stayed in Itikaf for twenty days.

The Month of Ramadan is the month of mercy, repentance and charity. The mere revelation of the Quran and the commission of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to the Prophethood are among the greatest manifestations of Allahs mercy. Allah, The Most Exalted, asserts this in numerous verses of the Quran, such as:

And We have sent down to you the Book (i.e. the Quran) as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims. [Quran, 16:89]

And:

So there has [now] come to you clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and mercy. [Quran, 6:157]

And:

And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge  as guidance and mercy to a people who believe. [Quran, 7:52]

And:

And We send down of the Quran, that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss. [Quran, 17:82]

And when Allah Almighty referred to the commission of our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) He said:

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. [Quran, 21:107]

Moreover, when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, describing himself and listing his attributes:

I am the Prophet of mercy. [Bukhari]

Beloved servants of Allah! There is no question that our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) possessed the highest forms of moral and human attributes. Among human beings, he (Peace be upon him) was the most generous, the most merciful, the most courageous, the most and the best of everything good in Islam, and as described by his wife Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, his morals were the Quran.

Now the question is: where does this leave us? Some people dismiss their shortcomings by saying: I am not the Prophet, but please where does it say that you have to be a Prophet to be merciful, or to be generous, or to be anything for that matter? Granted, that no one can be compared to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) or even hope to partially attain his high levels and standards, but that should not be an excuse for not following his example and striving to be the best Muslims that we can be.

There are many Prophetic narrations that refer to the depravation of an individual from the very thing he deprives others from, or the rewards, in multiples, of that which he provides. Among these narrations are:

Allah will not be Merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind. [Bukhari]

Allah does not bestow His mercy except on the merciful among His servants. [Bukhari]

Every good deed will be rewarded tenfold, up to seven hundred times, and Allah multiplies to whomever he wills. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah Says: Spend O son of Adam and I shall spend upon you. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Dear brothers and sisters! There is no better time to start making positive changes in our lives than this blessed month. In Ramadan, many good things occur: the rewards are multiplied, the devils are chained, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the gates of Paradise are opened. And every night of Ramadan, Allah redeems believers from the pains of Hellfire. It is the month of mercy, repentance, and charity. Use it or loose it!

Lastly, Dear brothers and sisters! Please, we sincerely seek your financial support, we need your help, we need your assistance, your donation and your contribution on the preparation in this coming blessed and Noble Month of Ramadan and Sallah period for the continuation of taking care of our orphans, widows and the students under our care. Your support is highly needed for Allahs sake.

Respected servants of Allah! As usual, we sincerely solicit former your kind and sincere contribution towards the Ramadan preparation for our orphans, widows and students; and the development of our schools and Islamic Center financially, materially and morally.

Our aim and objective always is to have a standard Islamic center and Arabic/Islamic schools for orphans and less privileged Muslims children.

And if you want to pay your Zakah our great Islamic center is waiting for your kind and merciful gesture. Sincerely, your donation will help distribute Ramadan foods, etc for our orphans.

Remember, the Month of Ramadan will not be the same without our families, but unfortunately this is not a privilege enjoyed by everyone. This is the reason were steadfast in planning to provide Ramadan and Sallah feedings for the orphans, widows and students under our care!

We planned to distribute food packages that worth amount up to 4000 widows and 3000 orphans In Shaa Allah, this year.

And your contribution is highly waiting as usual. May Allah rewards all your efforts and your good deeds, ameen.

Remember, Allah Almighty says:

If you support the course of Allah, He will support you. [Quran, 47: 7]

And the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

Whoever relieves his Muslim brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah shall relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever makes things easy for a person in difficulty, Allah will ease for him in this world and the Next. Allah is forever aiding a servant so long as he is in the aid of his Muslim brother.

And he (Peace be upon him) said:

Every act of goodness is considered as Sadaqah. [Bukhari]

Here is our Account details:

Account no.  0048647196

Account name  Murtala Muhammed

Bank: GTBank

For more enquiries contact, Imam Murtadha Muhammad, the director and Imam Of the Center: 08038289761.

To donate food items, etc, contact the following Numbers: 08038289761, 08056557477

Jazakumullah Khairan as you kindly contribute.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation; may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security  and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761.

This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today Friday, Ramadan 02, 1444 AH (March 24, 2023).

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The African Union (AU), realising that the ICC is primarily an instrument of neo-colonialism, on 31 January, 2017 asked the 34 African countries who signed up to the ICC to make a collective withdrawal. Lives are being needlessly lost in Ukraine, what the world needs is a negotiated peace settlement not a clownish performance by an howling lapdog.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), on 17 March, added a comic dimension to the tragic war in Ukraine by issuing warrants of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Childrens Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova. The ICC, a body notorious for the persecution of people in the bad books of the European Union (EU) and its allies, is accusing Putin of unlawful deportation of populationfrom occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

It claims that: There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes (and) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission. The court is also accusing 39-year-old Ms Lvova-Belova of the same alleged crimes. The ICC also said there are reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation of populationfrom occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children.

The ICC warrants do not disclose what it means by deportation of population. Does it refer to the Prisoners of War or the hordes of mercenaries Russia captured and moved to its territories? Or is it populations of Russian-speaking Ukrainians who were evacuated from war zones, just like those moved or evacuated from Ukraine to neigbouring countries like Poland? Can Ukrainian President Zelensky be accused of deportation of populations to other European countries?

These are in the realms of speculation, but what is not speculative is that asking countries around the world to arrest the Russian President is a sick joke. Any country that tries it can be annihilated; it would be the same as arresting a sitting United States President. These countries are not superpowers for nothing. So, the ICCs quixotic moves can only be in the service of its EU owners.

Apart from the EU and some of its allies like Japan, alongside the horde of African countries pressured by the EU to join the ICC, no self-respecting country has joined; not China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Russia, Sudan, Syria; not even the US, whose allies built the contraption.

I must, however, say that this is a new low for the ICC, whose speciality is the arrest and persecution of African leaders who refuse to toe the path set for them by the West. The war in Ukraine is one that pitches Russia against the EU, and the latter owns the ICC. Since its establishment in 2002, the EU has been responsible for 63% of all ICC funds. In 2009, for instance, just five members of the EU: Spain, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) paid 44% of the ICC budget. In 2020, the main funders of the ICC were Germany, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

As such, the ICC jumps when the EU asks it to do so; the only question it would ask is: How high boss? Therefore, the ICC has neither independence nor self-esteem, and certainly does not command the respect, even of its owners. Let me give an example. When the ICC, in 2021, strayed into investigating Israel for its on-going genocide against the Palestinian people, its sustained murder of civilians, including children, and the continuous theft of Palestinian land, then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson firmly told the ICC to back off, as it was exceeding its bounds. Although the ICC probe also covered rockets fired by Hamas and other Palestinian groups into Israel, the British Prime Minister, in a letter, declared that: This investigation gives the impression of being a partial and prejudicial attack on a friend and ally of the UK.

Apart from the EU and some of its allies like Japan, alongside the horde of African countries pressured by the EU to join the ICC, no self-respecting country has joined; not China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Russia, Sudan, Syria; not even the US, whose allies built the contraption. In fact, the US, which has gone to war almost non-stop for two centuries and has the most military bases in the world, would not allow even murderous American mercenaries like those of Blackwater, to be tried outside its own courts.

To counter the ICCs joke, the Russia Investigative Committee countered with its own symbolic investigation of the ICC prosecutor and judges, who issued the warrants of arrest. It said neither Putin nor Lova-Belova were criminally liable and that Heads of State in the world enjoy absolute immunity under a 1973 UN Convention.

In the same 2002 that the ICC was born, the US Congress, in warning it against investigating its war crimes across the globe, including in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, passed the American Service-Members Protection Act. The Act banned financial assistance to any member country of the ICC, which may want to hand over US personnel to the Court. The law also authorised the US to use force to free any American that may be held by the ICC. The Americans went on to force dozens of countries to sign bilateral agreements not to handover over any American to the ICC. To counter the ICCs joke, the Russia Investigative Committee countered with its own symbolic investigation of the ICC prosecutor and judges, who issued the warrants of arrest. It said neither Putin nor Lova-Belova were criminally liable and that Heads of State in the world enjoy absolute immunity under a 1973 UN Convention.

Almost all cases brought to the ICC concern Africans and their then-sitting Presidents like Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and his then Vice President (now President) William Ruto, and Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d Ivoire. President Gbagbos case is illustrative of the way the ICC functions. There was an electoral dispute between Gbagbo and opposition leader, Alhassan Quatara, with each claiming to have won the then election in Cote d Ivoire. The latters rebel army, with the backing of French and United Nations troops, marched on the Presidential Palace on 11 April, 2011 and captured Gbagbo, who became a Prisoner of War. But he was not treated as such, neither was he accorded his right to be tried in his country. Rather, the foreign troops, contrary to UN protocols on a Presidents diplomatic immunity, bundled Gbagbo out of his country and deposited him in an ICC jail for five years without trial, while his rival was installed as the countrys president. He was subsequently subjected to a charade in the guise of judicial trial and after another three years, declared innocent.

The ICC was simply used by the EU to remove an uncooperative African president, and after incarcerating him for eight years, set him free, while his rival was in power in Cote d Ivoire, doing the wishes of the Europeans, including subverting Africas move for a common West Africa currency. Even after he was declared innocent, the Europeans still prevented Gbagbo from returning home until their stooge was ready to cage him. The African Union (AU), realising that the ICC is primarily an instrument of neo-colonialism, on 31 January, 2017 asked the 34 African countries who signed up to the ICC to make a collective withdrawal. Lives are being needlessly lost in Ukraine, what the world needs is a negotiated peace settlement not a clownish performance by an howling lapdog.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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The Federal Government has announced the removal of excise duty for telecom sub-sector of Nigerias Digital Economy Industry in line with the recommendations of the Committee it constituted to review the applicability of the Duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja. The briefing was organised to provide updates on the status of the five per cent excise duty, whose applicability to the telecom sector was objected by the Minister in August 2022, following which President Muhammadu Buhari suspended its application to the telecom sector and set up a Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector.

Pantami, who is the Chairman of the Committee, specifically set up for the purpose of reviewing the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector, said the Committee carried out its national assignment and accordingly submitted its report to the President, justifying why the sector should be exempted.

The Minister said the Committees submissions can be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any level should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms has continued to be a major contributor to Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).

The third ground for contesting the Excise Duty in telecom sector is the fact that, despite increase in the cost of all factors of production across sector, and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, telecom sector is the only sector where cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector, the Minister said.

The Minister also informed the gathering that the President, having looked into the arguments put forward by the Committee and relying on the provision of the Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, has therefore, exempted telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the Constitution which permits the President to grant such waiver.

Pantami said: I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five percent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the Committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the five per cent excise duty.

The Minister assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens.

The Minister further noted that the Digital Economy Sector has continued to contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020; 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for the government from N51 billion to over N480 billion. The increase represents a growth of 594 per cent; while the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers.

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On 20 July 2022, hundreds of terror victims loitered around the Kuta displacement camp in Niger State. Dozens of men climbed the decaying fences of the place; others sat discussing under baobab trees, watching this visiting reporter. Women, many of whom were nursing mothers, clustered behind the walls and in the rooms of the camp.

As you moved around this place, the personal effects of the people welcomed your gaze. Wooden mortars and their pestles; aluminium pots and plates; local attires, and plastic wares were found in the rooms. Outside, newly hung laundries were waiting to dry and children scampered around.

What turns out to be a settlement for nearly 2,500 displaced people is originally a public primary school facility in Kuta town. Now, the activities of the people uprooted by war from different parts of the state are hampering academic activities in the place.

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the school-turned-camp, it was difficult to establish if learning was taking place as many of the classrooms had turned homes for the displaced persons who said their hope of returning home needed to be clearer.

At 10 a.m., children in tattered school uniforms were seen sauntering around the premises. Their teachers were nowhere to be found. As insurgency and banditry consume interior communities of the state, thousands of victims seek refuge in more protected towns and settlements, including the Central Primary School of Kuta town. But as they trooped in, the chances of children seeking basic education were more undermined.

Sadly, Kuta residents described the place as the best and biggest school in the town before it became a settlement for displaced persons. Several parents whom PREMIUM TIMES interviewed on the streets of the town said they have had to withdraw their kids from the school because it has become overcrowded since IDPs started using the place.

My son used to attend this but I have now withdrawn him, Abdulwasiu Ganiu, a Yoruba-speaking resident of the Kuta area, told PREMIUM TIMES. Pupils can no longer get adequate learning here because they share the facility with thousands of people who ran away from the plagues of terror.

Mr Ganius comment mirrors the grudges of Kuta residents against the authority. More than 65 per cent of the classrooms were now occupied by terror victims, according to residents and camp officials. The overwhelming population of displaced persons also made many teachers of the school lethargic and discouraged parents who would want to enrol their children.

Most of the children of the displaced persons also attend the school, said Sheu Bello, a school teacher and Kuta resident. So many of the children are crammed in the few classes left in the school, making learning difficult for them.

Sending children out of school  for displaced persons

In Gwada, a town 20 minutes from Minna, the Niger State capital, the story is the same. The Gwada Model Primary School, the only basic public learning ground in the area, is now home to hundreds of displaced persons crammed in classrooms built for schoolchildren. Unlike the Kuta central primary school, where partial learning still takes place, schooling activities have been grounded indefinitely in the Gwada primary school.

A journey into the settlement of the displaced persons revealed a tale of terror rarely told by anyone. The children, as well as their parents, uprooted by Boko Haram terror in Kawure, a community in Shiroro, and other neighbouring towns and villages, are languishing in the camp without access to basic education.

At the Central Primary School, Erena, schoolchildren also share classrooms with displaced persons. About 20 classrooms in the school are equally divided between pupils and the people displaced by the rampaging violence in the state, according to officials in the camp.

Villagers from Kawure and other parts of the Shiroro area of the state have turned the school into their new settlements since armed bandits took over their homeland. A camp official, Kabir Erena, said that the pupils of the Central Primary School are suffering from the ripple effects of the activities of the displaced persons. He, however, noted that despite the current situation, academic activities  albeit ineffectively  are still ongoing in the school.

You know they (the IDPs) now share the 20 classrooms equally with the school, the camp official said. But these children are still going to school; they are even on a holiday now.

The terrorised persons in the schools converted to displacement camps have a common complaint: government abandonment. Our days of interacting with the IDPs confirmed their agitations. But the pains of some parents of pupils we spoke to was that leaving displaced and abandoned persons in the camps would only affect their childrens education, a claim PREMIUM TIMES found to be correct based on interviews with residents, officials and education experts. The situation in the camps still persists as of the time of this report.

Betrayed and abandoned by the government

In the Kuta IDP camp, Khadijah Abdullahi slept on the bare floor breathing heavily as passersby watched her pitifully. Her mother was said to have left the camp a few minutes earlier. The 6-year-old had been sick for days without any medical attention. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep with her two eyes shut, Khadijahs body gestures suggested she was critically ill and needed some urgent medical care.

But no one would bear the cost of her medical bill if she was taken to the hospital, said Saudau Aminu, an elderly displaced woman, narrating that Kadijahs father was killed by insurgents last year. Since then, her mother has been the only one caring for the girl.

At the edge of the camp, Ibrahim Maimako, a septuagenarian, trudged to meet his six children longing to find what would quench their hunger. The children, all out of school, said they had not eaten anything since the previous morning. At 1 p.m. on the day of our visit, what the children found to feed on were grains mixed with tiny stones packed from the leftovers of people in a nearby market. Mr Maimako and his children were winnowing stones out of the grains when PREMIUM TIMES asked him to tell his story.

Mr Maimako, once a prosperous farmer in the Zangoro area of Shiroro, became impoverished after several attacks by bandits on his community. Amid multiple violence, kidnapping and bloodshed by terror groups, the man lost his means of livelihood, making life miserable for him.

I remember how I used to make over N5,000 on a basket of yams after subtracting the other cost of production; we used to be very comfortable, the man said with teary eyes. The bandits attacked our village for over four years now; they destroyed all my means of income, including my growing farmlands and my crops such as rice, cassava, maize, yam, soya beans and vegetables.

Neary 2,500 IDPs sharing classrooms with school pupils  Official

The official in charge of the displacement camp in Kuta, Yusuf Bala, echoed the lamentation of the people. Mr Bala wore a sorry face while narrating how the government has abandoned the displaced persons under his watch at the expense of the schoolchildren.

In the camp, Mr Bala said, 2,424 internally displaced persons from various communities in the state have made the school their new settlement after the government kept them there with a promise to cater to them and restore peace in their homes.

The figure keeps increasing, the camp official said, as terror groups continue to displace residents from their homes in the interior parts of Shiroro. Now, over 1,705 children are living in terrible conditions too bad to afford education because they are in a school environment where academic activities have been halted.

He also said the number of children in the camp was three times higher than the number of men and women, adding that most of the displaced persons are from 17 communities in the Shiroro and Rafi local government areas of the state.

The population is not steady, Mr Bala said. During the rainy season, most men still find their way to go and farm, leaving women behind.

Asked about the problems faced by the IDPs in the camp, Mr Bala replied, saying: Our major challenge here is that we dont have food. We are in serious need of food.

On market days, he continued, most displaced women and children would go to the market to hunt for food. Most times, he said, they sweep the leftovers of grains on the ground, come back to the camp and turn them into food.

What they do is to separate the grains from the shaft theyve all packed, he said, a scenario PREMIUM TIMES witnessed from Mr Maimako and his kids. You will see rice, maize and millet; it is very terrible. They are not finding life here easy but they are only surviving by the grace of God.

Authorities not speaking 

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Inga, failed to respond to our inquiries on the lamentation of displaced persons and a message seeking his reactions to allegations of negligence was ignored.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted a spokesperson for the education ministry in Niger State, Jibrin Usman, but he directed the reporter to the State Universal Basic Education Board, a government agency saddled with the responsibility of catering to primary educational institutions.

But then, Idris Kolo, SUBEBs spokesman, could not be reached via his known official line. A public service message this reporter sent to him was left unanswered.

The reporting for this story is supported by YouthHub Africa in collaboration with Malala Fund. The next of this reporting series on basic education in northern Nigeria explores how Kaduna displaced children find new hope in schooling despite insecurity.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday affirmed the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Osun State.

A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Mohammed Shuaibu unanimously overturned the earlier decision of the election petition tribunal which nullified the governors victory in January.

The immediate-past governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, who came second in the 16 July 2022 election, had filed a petition challenging Mr Adelekes victory.

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo, which upheld the allegation of over-voting in the areas won by Mr Adeleke, had declared Mr Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the poll after deducting unlawful votes from the PDPs scores.

But Mr Adeleke appealed against the lower courts decision, urging the appellate court to set it aside and re-affirm his victory.

Upholding Mr Adelekes victory on Friday, the Court of Appeal held that the tribunal was wrong to reach the conclusion that there was over-voting during the state governorship election held on 16 July 2022.

Mr Shuaibu who prepared and read the lead decision said the burden of proving the allegations of over-voting lies squarely with the respondents (Mr Oyetola and the APC).

It is inconceivable to assume that the testimonies of the respondents witnesses had any probative value, the appellate court held.

The Court of Appeal noted that Mr Oyetola and the APC did not tender the voter registers and Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS machines, which captured data of eligible voters at the Osun governorship election.

Though the 1st and 2nd respondents (Oyetola and APC) relied on BVAS reports obtained from INEC to prove over-voting, they did not, nonetheless, call petitioners witness 1 to speak to the reports, that is, Exhibits BVR reports from INECs back-end server.

In their pleadings, Mr Oyetola and APC alleged that the results recorded and transmitted directly from the polling units were not taken into account and therefore accredited voters recorded in Form EC8A from the disputed polling units do not tally with the number of BVAS for the same polling units.

Strangely, the tribunal, in its judgment, only relied on the table set out in an address of counsel to hold that overvoting occurred in an election, the Court of Appeal said.

It further held that the fact that PW1s testimony was based on a report must necessarily be linked to the relevant aspect of the complaints in the petition, which was not done.

Furthermore, the tribunal was wrong to have acted in the evidence in isolation of the voters register from the disputed polling units, the court said.

The court held that the foundation of what transpired at the polling units would only be established by the evidence that is contained in the voter register and BVAS machines.

The judge was also of the view that PW1 (the statistician) called by the petitioners could not be regarded as an expert witness because he did not provide evidence of his expertise before the tribunal.

He also noted that the PW1 also failed to disclose that he was a member of the APC

Adelekes Academic Credentials Validated

The judge also held that the tribunal was wrong to have rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal tendered by Mr Adeleke to support the authenticity of his academic credentials.

The APC and Mr Oyetola had accused Mr Adeleke of parading forged academic credentials.

But the judge said the tribunal was wrong to have refused to be bound by the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in the appeal marked: CA/A/362/2019 delivered on 30 January 2022, which affirmed the authenticity of Mr Adelekes academic credentials.

He said the judgment was binding on the tribunal by virtue of the doctrine of stare decisis.

Mr Shuaibu also faulted the tribunals decision on the grounds of its failure to determine, on the merit, the preliminary objection raised by Mr Adeleke and others against the competence of the petition.

He upheld the appellants contention that the failure of the tribunal to consider his notice of preliminary objection breached his fundamental right to a fair hearing.

The judge noted that in its ruling, the tribunal failed to determine the objection on merit, adding that the purported ruling on the preliminary objections did not, in my view, address the issues raised in the appellants preliminary objection.

Such is not a ruling on the merit as it neither determines the issues of law or facts raised by the parties.

The judge, however, faulted the appellants contention that the majority decision of the tribunal was not validly rendered because one of the members did not express her opinion in writing nor read it.

He held that the signature of the second member of the tribunal was on the majority judgment, indicating that she agreed with the lead judgment. Also, she is, by law, not required to express her opinion.

Appeal Court dismisses Buga dance comment

Mr Shuaibu also dismissed Mr Adelekes contention that the tribunal judge, Terse Kume, who read the majority judgment was biased against him when he spoke about him dancing to Buga  a popular Nigerian afro-pop song by Kiss Daniel.

But Mr Shuaibu noted that the judges comment was uncalled for. He added that Mr Adeleke could not prove by credible evidence that the judge was biased by his Buga comment.

Allegation of forgery against Adeleke

Examining the issue of forgery allegation levelled against the Osun State governor, Mr Shuaibu cited an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal which Mr Adeleke tendered, acquitting him of any forgery of academic credentials.

The justice said the tribunal was wrong to have held that the governor forged his certificates.

The judge said forgery being a criminal offence required proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which Mr Oyetola and the APC failed to do at the tribunal.

Subsequently, the justice nullified the judgment of the tribunal and affirmed Mr Adelekes victory at the poll.

The appellate court awarded N500,000 fine against Mr Oyetola and the APC.

Background

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election held in Osun State on 16 July 2022.

The INEC Chief Returning Officer for Osun, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who announced the result on the day after the election, said the PDP candidate scored 403,371 votes to emerge victorious.

Mr Adeleke defeated his closest challenger, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 375,027 votes.

But a three-member panel of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal headed by Terste Kume set aside Mr Adelekes victory in its verdict delivered on 27 January.

In a two-to-one split judgement, the majority decision of the tribunal declared Mr Oyetola the winner of the election.

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It also ordered INEC to issue the certificate of return to Mr Oyetola.

Mr Kume, in the lead majority judgement, held that INEC failed to conduct the Osun governorship election in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).

The tribunal noted that the poll was marred by over-voting. It said after deducting the excessive votes that were cast, the figure Mr Adeleke scored came down to 290,666, which was lower than the 314,921 garnered by Mr Oyetola.

Consequently, the tribunal ordered that Mr Oyetola be returned as governor of Osun State.

However, in the minority decision, the second member of the tribunal, P A Ogbuli, said the petitioners  Mr Oyetola and the APC  failed to prove that there were cases of over-voting in the governorship election.

Mr Ogbuli noted that the petitioners witnesses in their testimony before the panel did not convince him that there was over-voting.

He said the petitioners should have brought the voters register to court to claim that over-voting occurred.

Petition

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Adeleke was declared the winner with a total of 403,371 votes. He won in 17 of the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

In his petition at the tribunal, Mr Oyetola claimed that the election was characterised by over-voting in 749 polling stations.

Also, the former governor contended that Mr Adeleke forged the academic credentials he submitted to the electoral umpire to contest the election.

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A batch of five multi-purpose gantry cranes made by China's Weihua Group have departed from east China's Qidong City, heading for Indonesia's Weda Bay, where they will be used in a BRI project.

Click here to watch the video.
BALI, Indonesia, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With its trademark Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath in every room, suites and villas, river valley views, freeform beautiful infinity pool overlooking the lush green jungle to unwind and relax, here are five reasons of why you should make a reservation at The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali;

The only hotel in Ubud that delivers six pillars of wellbeing

Get ready to rise at The Westin Ubud-Bali with an experience set amidst rolling green hills.

With its well-being concept, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali focuses on the six pillars of well-being. Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well are the guiding principles, which combine the most important needs of hotel guests at the highest level.

Perfectly located

The resort will feast your eyes on the lushness of green expanse in view. For keen travelers looking to explore Ubud, The Westin Ubud is nestled only 10-minutes away to Ubud key areas such as Sacred Ubud Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market and 15-minutes away to famous Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

Exceptional wellbeing experience at Heavenly Spa by Westin Ubud

Heavenly Spa by Westin Ubud offer a signature ritual The Ultimate Spiritual Journey to explore Bali's spiritual side with purification that affect the positivity and energy field also can help guests release imbalances that have left residual negativity causing blocks and stress in life, continue with metenung or palm reading, tri-mandala meditation for chakra balancing, and a 60-minute Heavenly Sacred Treatment.

Dine at unrivalled and tropical forest views at Tall Trees Restaurant

Tall Trees, located on the first floor near the infinity pool, offers a magnificent dining experience enhanced by tranquil ambience and nature sounds, with dishes ranging from local specialties to Mediterranean dishes that adhere to the Westin's Eat Well Menu principle.

Amazing experience opportunities

The numerous activities available to guests are guaranteed to stimulate senses while providing insights into Bali's fascinating culture and traditions. The Westin Ubud Farm offers you a chance to explore the beauty of Ubud's natural surroundings from breakfast to afternoon tea like no other.

Enjoy a special room offer with Ubud Retreat Escape with a 2-night refreshing stay that includes a wellness recovery with spiritual healing journey for two people to relax and restore your balance. Visit www.westinubud.com and other hotel events and promotions through Instagram at @thewestinubud.

SOURCE The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali
Some photos at the exhibition held at the Vietnamese Women's Museum (Photo: laodong.vn)

Previously, the exhibition "Dare to live a brilliant life", sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Vietnam, took place at the Vietnamese Women's Museum from February 18 to March 1.

This is also a collaboration between journalist-director Bong Mai and Vietnamese Women's Museum with the common desire of both sides to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Vietnamese women.

The paintings throughout the journey through Vietnam "99 days of alone journey but not alone", stories and situations "in the trip imbued with culture-humanity" have helped the exhibition attract a large number of visitors.

In addition, at the exhibition, 34 photos of ethnic minorities and 55 ethnic costumes are displayed in detail, highlighting the rich and unique culture of the S-shaped land.

With the positive spread and spiritual values of the exhibition, the Overseas Vietnamese Liaison Association invited journalist Bong Mai to bring the exhibition to the overseas Vietnamese community.

The event will be held in Taiwan (China) and Japan at the end of April with the series of activities of association, aiming to connect and promote the dynamic and creative image, culture and people of Vietnam to the region and the world, opening a program to promote tourism, trade and investment in Vietnam./.
FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Acuative announced that it has achieved 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization from Cradlepoint , the global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions. By receiving the specialization, Acuative will support Cradlepoint's efforts of selling the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of 5G solutions to meet the business imperatives of availability, interoperability, security, and manageability.

"We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with Cradlepoint and receive this recognition," said Vince Sciarra, CEO of Acuative. "The 5G market is growing rapidly and we want to enable our customers to take advantage of the benefits. Adding 5G capabilities to our network enhances our virtual network operator model, building both public and private 5G solutions for customers."

By combining its NetCloud platform with new 5G modems and antenna systems, Cradlepoint is the first to deliver comprehensive 5G solutions for business. Specific capabilities include combining LTE, Gigabit-Class LTE, and 5G in a single wireless WAN; supporting all 5G spectrums, interoperating with existing customer SD-WAN and router infrastructures; and simplifying the entire network management lifecycle.

"Cradlepoint is committed to leading the evolution of Wireless WAN and 5G and is both the first and best choice for customers in this space," said Eric Purcell, senior vice president of global partner sales at Cradlepoint. "Our technology partners play a crucial role in this mission. The addition of Acuative to our 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization program is another important step in leading the path to 5G for business."

For more information on Acuative's work in the industry, please visit https://www.acuative.com. For more on Cradlepoint's 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization and the Cradlepoint Partner Program, please visit https://cradlepoint.com/partners/for-partners/ .

About Acuative

Acuative provides the world's leading companies with a complete range of advanced technology and managed services, enabling customers to utilize a single source provider for all of their network requirements. Acuative has a specific focus and expertise in implementing and managing voice and data networks in a highly secure environment.

About Cradlepoint

Cradlepoint enables the freedom to connect people, places, and things that drive more experiences, more ways to work, and better business results  anywhere. Cradlepoint is a subsidiary of Ericsson's Business Area Technologies and New Businesses division. It has international offices in Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, India, and Latin America. www.cradlepoint.com

Cradlepoint Media Inquiries: [email protected]

Acuative Contact: [email protected]





SOURCE ACUATIVE
FORNEBU, Norway, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual general meeting of Aker BP ASA will be held on Friday 14 April 2023 at 09:00 CEST.

The meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting only, accessible online via Lumi AGM. All shareholders will be able to participate in the meeting, vote and ask questions from smartphones, tablets or desktop devices. For further information regarding electronic participation, please refer to the guide available at www.akerbp.com/general-meeting.

Please find the following documents attached:

All documents to be processed in the meeting are also available at www.akerbp.com/general-meeting.

Contacts:



Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesman, tel.: +47 402 24 217

Tore Langballe, VP Communications, tel.: +47 907 77 841

Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, tel.: +47 91 889 889

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/1629/3739889/92b48e0dec74fc0a.pdf Notice of AGM 2023 https://mb.cision.com/Public/1629/3739889/807065773985a060.pdf Proposal from nomination committe 2023 https://mb.cision.com/Public/1629/3739889/b3f8ff39cd1e07e3.pdf Aker BP - Remuneration report 2022 https://mb.cision.com/Public/1629/3739889/9ba61e9733839c66.pdf Aker BP - Annual report 2022 https://mb.cision.com/Public/1629/3739889/a00b855a28065cfc.pdf Aker BP - Remuneration policy

SOURCE Aker BP ASA
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) today announced Russell (Russ) Hutchinson will join the company as its chief financial officer, effective July 3, 2023. He will report to Ally CEO Jeffrey Brown and be based in Charlotte, N.C.

Ally names Russell Hutchinson as chief financial officer

Hutchinson brings extensive experience in the financial-services industry, with a long, successful track record of execution and results. He most recently served as chief operating officer for global mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., after holding the position of chief strategy officer, where he oversaw mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategy and innovation. Earlier, he spent two decades working in Goldman's Investment Banking Division, advising clients in the specialty finance sector  including Ally.

"I have known Russ since my arrival to our company in 2009, and he has been one of my most reliable and trusted outside advisers. He was instrumental in helping us to evolve into the publicly traded and strong company we are today," said Brown. "Russ is well-known for being a collaborative partner who gets results, and his long-standing appreciation and respect for our culture at Ally  as well as existing relationships with our key stakeholders and our board of directors  make me confident he will be an outstanding addition to our company and our leadership team."

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Hutchinson began his career as an associate consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in its Toronto office. He is a member of the Boards of Trustees of The Studio Museum in Harlem and Hospital for Special Surgery. He is also a member of the Council on Chicago Booth, which advises leadership at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Hutchinson was a Canada Scholar and earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from Queen's University in Canada and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Bradley Brown, who has served as interim CFO since October 2022, will return to his full-time role as corporate treasurer once Hutchinson begins in July.

"I want to thank Brad, who went above and beyond to support our company and finance team during the past several months, while continuing to deliver for our shareholders," said Brown. "We have a deep bench of seasoned, talented leaders in our CFO group, and I know together with Russ, they will continue to build on our company's momentum and live up to our Ally promise."

About Ally Financial

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves more than 11 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, point-of-sale personal lending, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings through more than 23,000 dealers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.

Contacts:

Sean Leary

Ally Investor Relations

704-444-4830

[email protected]

Peter Gilchrist

Ally Communications (Media)

704-644-6299

[email protected]

SOURCE Ally Financial
The hospital is a joint venture between Ascension St. John and Encompass Health

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and OWASSO, Okla., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascension St. John and Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) announce the opening of Ascension St. John Rehabilitation Hospital, a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital located at 13402 East 86th Street North in Owasso, Oklahoma. The hospital serves patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions.

In addition to 24-hour nursing care, Ascension St. John Rehabilitation Hospital offers physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life. Care is provided by highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians. The hospital features all private patient rooms, a large therapy gym with advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite, and an on-site dialysis suite.

"We are excited to open this new hospital in Owasso and honored to serve even more patients in the greater Tulsa area through this joint venture between Encompass Health and Ascension St. John," said Harlo McCall, CEO of Ascension St. John Rehabilitation Hospital. "Both Ascension St. John and Encompass Health have a proven track record of quality, patient and family satisfaction and are united in our mission to providing compassionate care. We will provide essential rehabilitation services to help patients regain function and independence as they recover from major injuries and illnesses, and we look forward to positively impacting the lives of many."

The hospital is an expansion of the joint venture partnership between Ascension St. John and Encompass Health. The joint venture also includes St. John Rehabilitation Hospital, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Broken Arrow which opened in 2016. Due to an increased demand for rehabilitation services, the hospital expanded from 40 to 60 beds in 2019.

Ascension St. John Rehabilitation Hospital is Encompass Health's 156th inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and its second location in Oklahoma.

About Ascension St. John

Ascension St. John operates six hospitals and more than 90 healthcare clinics and facilities in eastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas. Ascension St. John employs approximately 8,000 associates. In fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022), Ascension St. John provided more than $144 million in total community benefit and unpaid costs of Medicare services, including care of individuals living in poverty. Serving Oklahoma for 96 years. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., operating 2,600 sites of care  including 142 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities  in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 156 hospitals in 37 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For and Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Ascension St. John Media Contact: Encompass Health Media Contact: Claire Cromie-Johnson, (918) 200-7567 Danielle Hall, (931) 247-3527 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
ATLANTA, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta Housing's oldest living resident, Clara Bridges, today celebrated her 102nd birthday with friends, family and song at the Peachtree Senior Tower where she has been a resident since 1975.

The spry centenarian, known for her sharp memory, recalls birthdays and phone numbers of nieces and nephews. At 102, she still has a quick wit, a zest for life and the energy to exercise and enjoy healthy foods. When asked for the secret to her longevity, she answered with hushed passion. "People don't know, God rained down on us. Days like this, people don't realize what senior citizens go through," she explained. "'How did you get there, Ms. Bridges?'" she said she is often asked. "I said, just a closer walk with God."

Her wisdom continued. "I look back over my life, and I [often] ask myself, 'Have I lived my life that was given to me to live? 'Cause [it's] a lot [of us] who [would] take someone else's life and live," she explained. "But I wanted mine." The treat of the day was having one of her birthday wishes come true: to meet Dr. Bernice King. Dr. King will reach a milestone birthday herself on Tuesday. "Whenever somebody this age calls, God's speaking," said King. "I hope we don't take this moment for granted or lightly."

An Atlanta native who grew up in what is now known as the West End, she knew she wanted to be a nurse by the time she was 7. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School and completing nursing programs at Clark College and Grady Hospital, she enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably at four military installations. After 33 years of service in nursing, Mama Bridges, as she is affectionately known, retired to the senior high-rise in 1976, becoming its first Black resident.

"I love it here," Ms. Bridges told an interviewer about her time at the former AH-owned property, recently converted to a Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), where AH continues to provide subsidy and resident services. "It's been a home, a community and a family. I've seen so many people--all the people have come [to this community]. And they have tried to give our community the besttell Atlanta Housing there is no other!"

"Mama Bridges represents the best of Atlanta, our state and our region," said Eugene E. Jones, Jr., president and CEO of Atlanta Housing. "We are privileged and honored to still have her in our lives, and the love and compassion she shares is a living example for us all."

ABOUT ATLANTA HOUSING

Led by President and CEO Eugene Jones, Jr., the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AH), is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AH provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 27,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 45,000 people, including AH-owned residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, supportive housing, and homeownership opportunities. Programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Visit AH at atlantahousing.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn at @housingatlanta.

SOURCE Atlanta Housing; HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF ATLANTA
LONDON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Captiv8, a leading influencer marketing platform, is pleased to announce the global launch of its Creator Affiliate Suite. The Creator Affiliate Suite was initially launched across the US market last year, and was followed by releases across the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Mexico, Canada and Japan.

Captiv8's Creator Affiliate Marketing Solutions will allow brands to:

Captiv8 Launches Affiliate Solutions Globally and Joins Influencer Marketing Trade Body, IMTB. With Captiv8's latest launch, they will continue to provide a streamlined workflow tool to partners world-wide!

Automate affiliate recruitment, attribution modeling, referral link management, full-funnel conversion tracking, and commission payments.

Access Affiliate Creator recommendations generated via Captiv8's award-winning Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms.

Gain performance transparency across each Affiliate Creator, social platform, content piece and transaction, down to specific products sold and average order value.

Deploy Captiv8's Return APIs to ensure Affiliate Creators following the return window are accurate.

Leverage Captiv8's Paid Social APIs to boost top performing content across Meta, IG, TikTok and Pinterest, in-platform with one click.

Seamlessly integrate with traditional affiliate publisher networks via Captiv8's open APIs.

For Affiliate Creators, Captiv8 offers a best-in-class creator experience: from streamlined sign-up and authentication, to ongoing nurturing via a dedicated Creator Success team, weekly newsletters, content inspiration and actionable insights on channels, trends and top performing posts.

Spearheading these efforts is Bill Kantar, a seasoned executive with extensive experience across the influencer and digital media space, along with Rafe Oakes, who manages business efforts across the United Kingdom.

"Captiv8's Affiliate offering is the only solution purpose-built around Affiliate Creators. As the Creator, Affiliate and Paid Social practices continue to converge, and as Creators make their lives more shoppable, we offer brands the ability to build a first-party Affiliate Creator network, where brands own their Creator relationships through Captiv8. Only a few months following our US launch, we're already seeing brands who have recruited tens of thousands of Affiliate Creators, driving millions of dollars in Sales." - Bill Kantar, Head of New Markets, Captiv8

In addition, Captiv8 is proud to announce its membership in the Influencer Marketing Trade Body (IMTB) UK, a professional membership organization dedicated to building a sustainable future for the influencer marketing industry. By joining the IMTB, Captiv8 will help promote professionalism, unity, and best practices across the industry.

"We are thrilled to be joining forces with the Influencer Marketing Trade Body and work alongside our peers across the UK and EMEA regions, with the goal of building a better landscape for influencer marketing practices and pushing the industry forward." - Bill Kantar, Head of New Markets, Captiv8

"We're thrilled to have Captiv8 on board as IMTB's newest member. Progressive platforms and agencies understand that to sustain influencer marketing's meteoric growth rate we need to demonstrate accountability and professionalism with our customers. The IMTB gives members that unified, co-ordinated voice along with a channel to share best practices. We're looking forward to working alongside Captiv8 to help realise our industry's fullest potential". - Scott Guthrie, Director General of the IMTB

To learn more about Captiv8 and its latest platform features, or to download our freshly launched Global DEI Influencer Marketing Planning Calendar, visit Captiv8 today!

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039729/Captiv8_Global_Affiliate_Creator_Suite.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1533313/Captiv8_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Captiv8
PHOENIX, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Catholic Education Arizona, the largest Catholic School Tuition Organization (STO) in Arizona, launched a new division to meet unmet student scholarship need. The new Changing Lives division will generate donations to ensure access to Catholic education for future generations.

Catholic Education Arizona Launches New Fund Raising Division, Changing Lives. http://ceaz.giftlegacy.com/

President and CEO of Catholic Education Arizona, Nancy Padberg, MBA, shared, "Educating children impacts families and communities for generations. Now we have four contribution channels with the Arizona Individual Private Education, Arizona Low Income Corporate, and Arizona Disabled/Displaced tax credits, and the new Changing Lives non-tax credit donation opportunity. For 25 years we have developed relationships with our 35,000 contributors who have also contributed non-tax donations to improve children's lives."

Donors to the new Changing Lives division will help educate underserved students and may also experience a tax or other financial benefit, depending on the giving vehicle. If you have questions please reach out to our Development Director, Jim Pogge at [email protected] or call the office at 602-218-6542.

Donors can give through various options:

Bequests

Charitable IRA Charitable Rollover

Charitable Gift Annuity

Creating an Endowment

Stocks and Bonds

Cash Gifts

Jim Pogge, Director of Development for Catholic Education Arizona's new Changing Lives division said, "Supporting Catholic education is a key philanthropic goal for countless people throughout the Diocese of Phoenix. Many have expressed interest in offering donations in addition to their tax liability. Now, we have the donation vehicle for people to maximize their impact on students."

Donors to the Changing Lives division can join Catholic Education Arizona's Legacy Society. The Legacy Society will recognize members for their generosity and will have access to exclusive events and benefits.

Individuals and corporations continue to support Catholic Education Arizona and the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic High Schools because of their impressive results:

99.4% graduation rate

97% of graduates matriculate to higher education, trade school, or military service

1000s of hours of community service are conducted annually

An important corporate tax deadline is approaching in Arizona. Corporations and LLCs filing as S Corps, C Corps, and insurance companies paying premium tax can redirect up to 100% of their state tax liability through participation in the Arizona Low Income and Disabled/Displaced Corporate tax credits. Large and small companies such as APS, Cigna, Shea Homes, Meritage Homes, Earnhardt Auto Centers, Grand Canyon University, Lumen Technologies, Dignity Memorial, and others are making a difference. Deadline for the corporate commitment form is June 30, 2023 to the Catholic Education Arizona office or send to [email protected].

Catholic Education Arizona is the largest provider of scholarships to families attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix. Since 1998, over $313 million has been raised and 148,000 scholarships have been awarded to benefit underserved students. To learn more visit https://ceaz.giftlegacy.com/ or call 602-218-6542.

Contact: Debra Preach, Chief Operating Officer

Catholic Education Arizona

[email protected]

(602)-296-4738

SOURCE Catholic Education Arizona
Keystone Event in India to Kick Off Inaugural UA Day

NEW DELHI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Universal Acceptance (UA) Day will kick off with a keystone event in New Delhi, India on 2728 March 2023. Guided by the shared goal of enabling a multilingual Internet for people to use in their own languages and scripts, the event will be hosted by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) through the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), in collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG).

Universal Acceptance Day: 28 March 2023

UA is essential for a truly multilingual Internet and a key driver to bringing the next billion users online. UA helps to ensure that all valid domain names and email addresses, regardless of length, language, or script, work in all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems.

This UA Day event recognizes the Indian government's strong commitment to advancing UA, together with ICANN and the UASG. The high-profile program will feature remarks about the importance of UA from representatives of the Government of India and local business leaders, ICANN's Board Chair Tripti Sinha, ICANN Interim President and CEO Sally Costerton, and a special address by the Internet pioneer Vint Cerf. The two-day event, which will be held at New Delhi's Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) auditorium and Manekshaw Center, includes panel discussions, case studies, and networking opportunities with a focus on UA. It will be open to in-person and virtual attendees.

"In a region where the majority of our population does not use English, breaking down languages barriers and making the benefits of the Internet accessible to people in their own languages and scripts is a top priority for ICANN," said Jia-Rong Low, ICANN Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement and Managing Director  Asia Pacific. "We are grateful to the Government of India and the UASG for partnering with us to launch the first UA Day."

"We are proud to host the inaugural UA Day event in New Delhi," said Anil Kumar Jain, NIXI CEO. "The vast majority of Indians do not communicate in English but in local languages online. Bringing them online is not only a matter of equity, it is also a tremendous business opportunity."

"Creating a truly multilingual Internet takes all of us and will benefit all users," said UASG Chair Ajay Data. "By launching the first UA Day we call on everyone to join our effort to make the Internet accessible for people in their own languages and scripts."

For more information about UA Day and additional UA Day events, visit the UA Day webpage and read this press release .

To register for the event in India , visit the dedicated event website at https://globaluaday.in.

What is UA?

UA is a technical requirement that ensures all valid domain names and email addresses can be used by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. While the DNS has changed in recent years, the checks used by many software applications to validate domain names and email addresses remain outdated. Many systems do not recognize or appropriately process new domain names. These domain names include new generic top-level domains (e.g., .photography), Internationalized Domain Names (e.g., ../, ., ., .), and country code top-level domains (e.g., .). In addition, not all online portals are primed for the opening of a user account with a related email address, which is why awareness of and support for UA is critical for a truly global, multilingual Internet.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address  a name or a number  into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

About NIXI

NIXI is a not for profit organization under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, and was registered on 19th June, 2003. NIXI was set up for peering of ISPs among themselves for the purpose of routing the domestic traffic within the country, instead of taking it all the way to US/Abroad, thereby resulting in better quality of service (reduced latency) and reduced bandwidth charges for ISPs by saving on International Bandwidth. NIXI is managed and operated on a Neutral basis, in line with the best practices for such initiatives globally.

.IN is India's Country Code Top Level domain (ccTLD). The Govt. of India delegated the operations of INRegistry to NIXI in 2004. The INRegistry operates and manages India's .IN ccTLD.

About the UASG

The UASG is a community-led initiative that was formed in 2015 and funded by ICANN. It consists of representatives from more than 120 companies, governments, and community groups. The UASG works to raise awareness of the importance of UA globally, provide free resources to organizations to help them become UA-ready and measure the progress of UA adoption. To learn more, visit https://uasg.tech/.

SOURCE ICANN
- Free chicken salad for a year giveaway to the first 100 guests in line on March 29th -

ATLANTA, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick announced today the opening of its newest company-owned location in Athens, Alabama. Marking the fast casual chicken salad brand's 28th restaurant in the state where it was founded, Chicken Salad Chick Athens is located at 22175 U.S. Highway 72 East. The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening on Wednesday, March 29th, when the restaurant will offer free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests.

During grand opening week, Athens guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, with specials and giveaways that include:

Wednesday, March 29  Free Chicken Salad for a Year  The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line.

  The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. Thursday, March 30  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. will receive a free Chick Tote Bag.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio at or will receive a free Chick Tote Bag.** Friday, March 31  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. will receive a free Chick Tumbler.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio at or will receive a free Chick Tumbler.** Saturday, April 1  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. will receive a free Chick Wooden Cutting Board.**

"Chicken Salad Chick got its start in Alabama 15 years ago, and we are proud to have grown throughout the state. The friendly, small-town atmosphere in Athens is the perfect fit for our made-from-scratch chicken salad favorites served from the heart," said Scott Deviney, CEO of Chicken Salad Chick. "We look forward to feeding our guests with Quick Chicks on the go or welcoming them into our dining room for fresh food and lively conversation. Either way, we're here to enrich the community and spread the joy of Chicken Salad Chick."

Chicken Salad Chick in Athens will be open Monday  Saturday from 10 a.m.  8 p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

For more information on giveaways and specials, visit https://www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickAthensAL.

*Guests should arrive early to get checked in. The first 100 guests must remain in line and download the Craving Credits app. Wi-Fi will not be available on site. Once the restaurant opens, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of greater value and enter a code in the Craving Credits app to officially secure your spot. If you leave the line for any reason, your spot will be awarded to the next guest in line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to your app the Monday following Grand Opening Day.

**Must download the CSC App and be 16 years or older to purchase. Not valid with any other offers. Limit 1 reward per guest present.

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 225 restaurants in 17 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual.com's top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2022, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises in 2020. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

Contact:

Nicole Hunnicutt

Fish Consulting

404-558-4108

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick
The consciously curated capsule collection will provide a bold perspective for the CURLS consumer to speak their truth

DALLAS, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CURLS, the most recognized natural hair care brand in North America, the textured hair aisle, and the multicultural community, is excited to announce the launch of its 2023 Hair Trend Release TRANSLATE: a compilation of defined hair textures, forms, and angles using cornrows, braids and lots of curls to create five elevated, consciously curated yet versatile hairstyles using CURLS high performance styling products. This collection is truly designed to empower women with textured hair to speak their truth and express themselves through their hair.

"Our hair is a statement of who we are," said Mahisha Dellinger, Founder of CURLS. "It's a reflection of our heritage, our culture, and our identity. We created a campaign that empowers Black women to embrace their individuality and express themselves confidently through their hair. WE are tastemakers, WE are trendsetters."

The launch will kick off with a campaign video to introduce TRANSLATE and tell the story of how this portfolio of hairstyles and products were thoughtfully designed with a bold perspective to connect to the CURLS consumer and empower them to speak their truth. The launch will further come to life across organic social media which will unveil each new style leading up to the big reveal on Monday, March 27th with the CURLS Shopping Network. The live virtual shopping event will feature award-winning celebrity stylist, Johnny Wright  who counts former First Lady Michelle Obama among his clientele  in which he'll walk through how to recreate the hairstyles featured within TRANSLATE using CURLS. Register to attend HERE.

The five hairstyles in the TRANSLATE collection are each named to express CURLS' perspective on the spirit and beauty of black women now, 20 years ago at the founding of CURLS, and forever. The hairstyles and products are as follows:

Each hairstyle in the TRANSLATE collection comes with a specially curated kit of CURLS products to help women recreate the look at home, including leave-in conditioners, styling gels, and more. Additionally, each kit comes with a free CURLS Edge Brush or Texture Turban.

Make sure to check out the CURLS Shopping Network Event to see TRANSLATE come to life on Monday, March 27th register HERE to attend. To learn more about CURLS and all that Mahisha Dellinger is doing to amplify TRANSLATE, visit curls.com and @CURLS and @Mahisha_Dellinger on Instagram.

ABOUT CURLS

Founded in 2002 by Mahisha Dellinger, CURLS has developed into a leader in the haircare market for over 20 years, creating innovative, high-performance hair styling and care products inspired by nature and the freedom of self-expression for the diverse needs of curly and textured hair. Visit curls.com or follow us @CURLS on Instagram.

SOURCE CURLS
HCM City delegation presented flowers at President Ho Chi Minhs monument in Buenos Aires. Photo: sggp.org.vn

The incense offering ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Duong Quoc Thanh; Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee and Head of the Commission of Popularization and Education, and other delegates.

In a solemn atmosphere, the delegation respectfully offered flowers at the monument of President Ho Chi Minh, commemorating his merits in the cause of national liberation and the international revolutionary movement.

President Ho Chi Minhs monument was inaugurated on August 30, 2012, located at the park named Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in Buenos Aires. This is a meaningful work symbolizing the friendship between the two countries.

The Ho Chi Minh City delegation visit took place from March 18 to 28, in the context of Vietnam and Argentina looking towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The visit is expected to open up opportunities for cooperation and mutual understanding between the two localities in many fields, from party building to economic, cultural and tourism development./.
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) today celebrates Governor Glenn Youngkin's (R) signing of Virginia bills SB 1409 and HB 1640 into law, guaranteeing access to affordable Medigap coverage for thousands of Virginians under 65 living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Each of these bills, which contain identical language and were passed with nearly unanimous support in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, were spearheaded by House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-1) and Senator George Barker (D-39). These pieces of legislation come with no fiscal impact to the Commonwealth, and are only estimated to have a $2 monthly premium increase for the overall pool of Virginians with Medigap coverage.

"Today makes an important milestone for every dialysis patient across Virginia," said House Majority Leader Kilgore. "I want to thank my fellow bill patron Senator Barker as well as every member of both legislative chambers who helped to make this a reality. Moving forward, no dialysis patient in the Commonwealth will have to worry about paying unaffordable rates for the treatments that keep them alive. Having this coverage is essential for ESRD patients seeking a transplant, and passing this legislation means more patients will be eligible for one."

"For too long, Virginians with kidney disease have been forced to bear an impossibly large financial burden to receive essential medical care," said Senator Barker. "I am immensely proud of the entire Virginia legislature for doing the right thing and ensuring that every ESRD patient, no matter their age, can affordably access the treatments and medications they need."

"We thank bill patrons Leader Kilgore and Senator Barker for their work to provide Virginians living with ESRD a level of financial security and peace of mind they have not had previously," said DPC Board President Andrew Conkling. "Up until now, ESRD patients under 65 in the Commonwealth were faced with the impossible decision of spending down assets to qualify for Medicaid or paying enormous out-of-pocket costs to cover for the cost of dialysis treatments. For many people, that meant deciding between receiving lifesaving treatment, paying rent, or putting food on the table. Thanks to this immense bipartisan accomplishment, that will no longer be the case and more patients across Virginia will become eligible for transplants."

Background

While all patients with ESRD qualify for Medicare, it only covers the cost of 80 percent of the cost of care. The previous law in Virginia did not guarantee ESRD patients under 65 with access to supplemental "Medigap" coverage to pay the remaining 20 percent.

did not guarantee ESRD patients under 65 with access to supplemental "Medigap" coverage to pay the remaining 20 percent. This forced patients to either pay that cost out of pocket  upwards of $18,000 annually for dialysis patients  or turn to expensive Medigap plans costing up to 300 percent more than those available to ESRD patients 65 and older. According to Medicare.gov, premiums for Medigap plans previously available to Virginia ESRD patients under 65 cost $6,460 per year compared to $1,615 per year for those 65 and older. Further, some patients make the decision to spend down their assets to qualify for the Virginia Medicaid program, as Medicaid pays the 20% out-of-pocket costs.

annually for dialysis patients  or turn to expensive Medigap plans costing up to 300 percent more than those available to ESRD patients 65 and older. According to Medicare.gov, premiums for Medigap plans previously available to Virginia ESRD patients under 65 cost per year compared to per year for those 65 and older. Further, some patients make the decision to spend down their assets to qualify for the Virginia Medicaid program, as Medicaid pays the 20% out-of-pocket costs. Most transplant centers will not list ESRD patients on the active kidney transplant waitlist without secondary insurance coverage.

Media Contact:

Hannah Bracamonte

[email protected]

SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens
BURR RIDGE, Ill., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- There are numerous topical diseases occurring often in our lives. They include infections of skin, scalp, nails, ears, noses, oral gums and cavity, teeth and genitals. Infections may be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or a combination of any of them. Identification of infecting microorganisms, an expensive, time-consuming procedure, is often carried out for successful treatments. Injuries, insect bites and burns are also common; prevention of infection and quick healing of wounds without scarring are of major concern.

Dr. Win L. Chiou

Currently, there are hundreds or thousands of commercial products available for these uses with many requiring expensive prescriptions. It is ideal if we could find a safe inexpensive compound that is a powerful tissue microbicide and is also an effective tissue-regenerative (probably indicative of immune enhancement, anti-inflammation and anti-allergy) agent. Such a compound could then serve as a basis to prepare a "universal" (eyes excepted) household product to initially self-manage a very large number of topical disorders at home or during travel, thereby saving prolonged body suffering and potentially large medical costs. This should be highly valuable for both developed and under-developed countries.

The main purpose of this press release is to promote awareness of discovery by Dr. Chiou of such a miraculous compound, propylene glycol (PG), generally regarded as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. This release will also demystify common bad connotations of the PG.

Dr. Chiou, near 85, is a renown retired professor from University of Illinois (1971-2005), has 200+ publications and 6 patents (1), is regarded as a top expert in pharmacokinetics (2), and was former FDA/pharma consultant. He issued two releases recently: "Conventional theories of photoaging and skin cancer challenged by scientist, Dr. Win L. Chiou" and "Possible dangers and SPF misconceptions of sunscreens for sunbathing investigated by scientist, Dr. Win L Chiou".

Chiou discovered that contrary to an early study, PG in aqueous solutions could quickly disappear into skin, nails, scalp and mucous membrane, indicative of good absorption (3,). In vitro studies (4) showed, for example, a 40% PG aqueous solution killed 50% of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 in one minute while an 80% PG solution killed 99.9% of viruses. For P. acnes, E. Coli, S. aureus, C. albians, A. niger, and others, 99.99% of them was killed in one minute. The above clearly indicates that PG can serve as an extremely powerful tissue microbicide, in sharp contrast to many antibiotics that are either weak in killing microorganisms or only inhibiting their growth.

Although applications of tissue regeneration technology to medical uses have been extensively studied in recent decades, their uses in daily clinical practices seem rare or none. The expensive technology often requires isolation of stem cells and use of growth factors. Chiou may be the only one to date to report that a simple compound like PG can serve as a highly effective tissue-regenerative agent through its stem/progenitor cell rejuvenation (5). It could promote rapid wound healing after skin and gum infections, insect bites, bruises, and burns (4, 5; unpublished). In this regard, promotion of nail growth could be visible in days or weeks after twice daily applications of 50-80% PG solution to cubicles of seniors' toenails or injured toenails that were slow to grow (5).

Chiou said based on above exceedingly favorable pharmacokinetic (good absorption) and pharmacodynamic (microbicidal and regenerative properties) characteristics, one can theoretically predict with 100% confidence that properly formulated PG products can serve as effective household products to provide quick relief for topical disorders/discomforts. Such a prediction has been repeatedly confirmed by studies/observations to date. His prediction will be further reconfirmed by future clinical studies. His prediction in 1971 (6) on universal applications of solid dispersion/amorphous dispersion approach to enhance oral drug absorption has been confirmed and re-confirmed (2,671 citations per Google) even though only two human subjects (one being Chiou) were initially tested (6). Conceivably, PG may also have a role in skin cancer treatment and research.

Aging reversal of Chiou's gum and tooth, probably first of its kind (5): About 6 years ago, he had serious gum recession, gingivitis, deep air pockets (up to 8 mm), and a loose tooth. After nightly PG applications around teeth and gum for 2 months, the loose tooth was firmed up and air pockets reduced. Recently his dentist told him that his gum looked like he was in his 20's and there were hardly any air pockets. His peritonitis and even root canal were rapidly managed by PG preparations.

PG exists naturally in our body as a metabolite of gut flora. It is commonly used as solvent in cosmetics and drugs, and as preservative in meat, cakes, and canned foods. In low quantities used even at high concentrations, PG should be considered as one of safest compounds available and the reported PG phobias may be largely misdirected. Interestingly, no irritant reactions were found in all 16 subjects tested with 50% PG (7) and pure PG produced virtually no (3) or only marginal (7) irritant properties.

PG's mild irritant/sensitivity reactions in patch tests were obtained only after 4 days of unrealistic skin occlusion; even distilled water (7) tested positive, at a rate of 3%. Probably millions of unscented 50% PG deodorant sticks used are known not to have significant adverse effects.

Unsurprisingly, a moisturizer containing 25% PG was recently found to have a Sun Protection Factor of 2.8 (N = 5) supporting anti-inflammatory property of PG. A gel containing 80% PG could shrink and peel several large, dark eczematous lesions of Chiou in about one month without scarring and irritation. Also, reddish skin burn (3x6 cm) with some bleeding was successfully healed with only two applications covered with gauzes.

Win Chiou, President of Chiou Consulting Inc, can be reached at 630-789-9081 or at [email protected].

SOURCE Win L Chiou
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

The popular Dodge Roadkill Nights event headed out west for a historic start to the performance festivals eighth year, hosting a dramatic helicopter-drop reveal of the 1,025 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 for 10,000-plus attendees that packed The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 20, 2023, for Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas.

Now in its eighth year, the first Dodge Roadkill Nights west coast visit hosts helicopter reveal of the 1,025-horsepower 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and 10,000-plus event attendees

Dodge also announces Direct Connection stage kits for modern-era Dodge Challenger now available for purchase at DCPerformance.com

Celebrity event appearances included Jay Leno , Dodge enthusiast and professional wrestler Bill Goldberg , renowned blues and rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many more

, Dodge enthusiast and professional wrestler , renowned blues and rock guitarist and many more Event also featured drag racing, Dodge Hellcat Thrill Rides, Demon simulators, a cruise-in car show, sponsor/vendor midway areas and post-reveal performance by Grammy-winning superstar Diplo

Summer stop in metro Detroit still on tap for the performance festival with MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge event

still on tap for the performance festival with MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge event Challenger SRT Demon 170 reveal replay as well as event highlights available for viewing at DodgeGarage.com

The popular Dodge Roadkill Nights event headed out west for a historic start to the performance festival's eighth year, hosting a dramatic helicopter-drop reveal of the 1,025-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 for 10,000-plus attendees that packed The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 20, 2023, for Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas.

A replay of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 reveal, as well as event highlights from Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas event, is available for viewing at DodgeGarage.com.

In addition to the debut of the most powerful muscle car in the world with the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the seventh and final Dodge "Last Call" special-edition vehicle, the event also featured appearances by celebrities, including Jay Leno, Dodge enthusiast and famed professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, renowned blues and rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Josh "Chop" Towbin. MotorTrend television personalities David Freiburger, Mike Finnegan, Chris Jacobs and Alex Taylor, and automotive influencers Westen Champlin and Demonology were also in attendance.

Dodge also announced during the "pre-game" prior to the Demon 170 reveal that Direct Connection stage kits for the modern-era Dodge Challenger are now available for purchase at DCPerformance.com. Direct Connection is the Dodge performance parts brand and is the exclusive source for high-performance parts and technical expertise straight from the factory.

The Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas event featured drag racing on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a variety of categories, including Small Tire, Big Tire and Fastest Dodge. Christopher Thompson claimed victory in the Big Tire class, with Chris Yanez earning the overall win in the Small Tire category.

Additional event activities included Dodge Hellcat Thrill Rides, Demon simulators, a cruise-in car show and sponsor/vendor midway areas. Grammy-winning superstar Diplo wrapped up the night with an epic one-hour post-reveal special performance. Event partners with an onsite presence at the event included Mickey Thompson Tires, Radford Racing, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, Gateway Classic Cars Las Vegas and Staga Motorsports.

The performance festival will also stage its customary summer event in metro Detroit. The MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge event will feature a new format for the popular Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Race that has highlighted the Roadkill Nights event in metro Detroit for the past two years. Grudge Race competitors will pair up in 2023 and use the all-new Dodge Direct Connection HurriCrate series of engines, derived from the all-new 3.0L Hurricane Twin Turbo engine, as the foundational building blocks of their respective drag car build projects.

Dodge Last Call Powered by Roadkill Nights Vegas: By The Numbers

50+ million online views

online views 10,000+ event attendees

event attendees 1,300+ Dodge thrill/drift rides/simulator rides

Dodge thrill/drift rides/simulator rides 1,025 horsepower of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 that debuted at the event

horsepower of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 that debuted at the event 400+ cruise-in car show vehicles

cruise-in car show vehicles 65 drag-racing competitors

drag-racing competitors 4 billboards on the Vegas Strip showing Livestream event coverage

billboards on the Vegas Strip showing Livestream event coverage 1 Kaman K-MAX helicopter to airdrop the Challenger SRT Demon 170 on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango, as well as an R/T performance hybrid version of the all-new Dodge Hornet, representing the brand's first-ever electrified performance vehicle. Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world; and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever; and best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Combined, these four muscle vehicles make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2022, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so three years in a row. In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
NEW ORLEANS, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed, in the case of Feds for Medical Freedom et. al v Biden, that a lower court correctly entered a nationwide injunction against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workers. The ruling agreed that the Biden Administration lacked authority to issue the vaccine mandate in September 2021 for all federal employees.

Feds for Medical Freedom, a non-profit representing over 8500 federal workers who do not wish to be vaccinated or disclose their vaccination status, challenged the mandate in federal court, successfully arguing for an injunction in January 2022 and now prevailing in an en banc hearing of the full 17-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court.

A federal court has ruled the Biden Administration cannot mandate that federal workers get vaccinated for COVID. Tweet this

Feds for Med Freedom President Marcus Thornton issued the following statement following the ruling:

"Our members have always argued that federal law does not permit the federal government to force federal workersor any law-abiding citizento inject their bodies with something against their will. In fact, the freedom to control your own body and your own medical information is so basic that, without those liberties, it is impossible to truly be 'free' at all. It was incredibly vindicating to hear the court echo those arguments and to draw clear limits around federal authority as it relates to forced vaccinations and medical freedoms.

"Furthermore, since the COVID vaccine mandate was issued in September 2021, it should be noted that federal employees and contractors who have exercised their right to refuse vaccination have been subjected to workplace harassment, ridicule, demotion, and termination. The court's ruling today demonstrates that treatment was not only unprofessional and immoral, but premised on an illegal Executive Order, as well.

"Today's decision was a big win for our members, but we are just getting started. Feds for Med Freedom intends to file new suits in federal court for violations of our members' rights, including under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the U.S. Constitution. We will be fighting for justice for those whom the vaccine has injured. As this decision makes clear today, many in the government overstepped their legal bounds, and we are going to hold them accountable."

CONTACT:

Alex Weintz

[email protected]

SOURCE Feds for Medical Freedom
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GovCIO Media & Research , a leading federal technology multimedia company, is hosting their third annual Women Tech Leaders Summit . The event will be held on April 13 at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. from 8 am  12 pm.

Women Tech Leaders Summit 2022

Leading women from the federal government come together over breakfast and thought-provoking discussions to highlight top initiatives around artificial intelligence, health care, data management and adding more women to the IT workforce. Speakers from the departments of State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Labor, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Defense and industry will discuss major programs and initiatives making impacts in advancing the government mission.

The event will kick off with a fireside chat with Department of Labor Deputy Administrator Megan Baird, who will discuss recruiting and retaining women in tech and the agency's 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint. The morning will continue with panels on mentorship and retention strategies, tactics to better market the government mission and a series of lightning rounds highlighting various technology projects making impacts in federal missions. The summit will close out with a presentation of the next series of Flywheel Awards, in which six federal technologists will be inducted into GovCIO Media & Research's Hall of Transformers in categories including Rising Star, Workforce Champion, Digital Transformer, Women Tech Leader of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.

"The calling for women to join the public tech workforce is urgent," says Editor-in-Chief Amy Kluber. "Research continues to show that women remain underrepresented in the tech industry. These federal women tech leaders highlight the initiatives and projects they help lead as federal agencies build the modernized workforce that increasingly represent the public they serve."

Visit GovCIO Media & Research Women Tech Leaders Summit webpage to view the full event agenda and speaker line-up and register for this must-attend event. Tickets are going fast, register today.

About GovCIO Media & Research

GovCIO Media & Research is an independent media company owned by GovCIO that provides insights and analysis on federal IT innovation and is the leading industry solutions resource. Our team utilizes a multi-platform approach to today's most pressing issues through video, podcasts, events, articles, and special reports that keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology's impact on government.

Let us show you what we can do. Visit www.governmentciomedia.com for more information.

Media Contact

Emyly Hall

Public Relations & Corporate Marketing Specialist

[email protected]

SOURCE GovCIO
DUBLIN, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Growth Opportunities for the Aviation Industry in the Middle East" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally disrupted the global aviation industry, with airlines and airports bearing the brunt of the downturn. Limited domestic travel and heavy reliance on international air traffic have had a greater impact on Middle Eastern airlines' and airports' business operations than their global counterparts.

Airlines operating in the Middle East are heavily dependent on international traffic flow. This, coupled with the absence of a domestic market in nearly every regional country, means that the region's airlines are solely dependent on the rate of international traffic recovery. Specifically, the region's full service global connectors are affected by the uncertainty of when business demand will recover to pre-pandemic levels, in terms of volume and yield. Low-cost airlines in the region, as with their global counterparts, have been faster at adapting to the new market realities, in large part because of their more competitive business models and point-to-point networks.

The region's airports have also been challenged by border closures and market accessibility. Furthermore, the airports that serve as a hub or as focus cities for regional airlines have seen great decline in passenger volumes. While the Middle East has been successful in both curbing and battling the COVID-19 pandemic, airport recovery is closely tied to regional airline recovery.

Maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) spending in the Middle East has also seen a significant decline, due to a reduction in demand for maintenance. MRO segment recovery will relate directly to the return of the region's airlines to previous flight volumes and fleet sizes. This analysis of the Middle Eastern aviation industry covers the passenger volumes of airports and annual revenues for airlines and MROs. The study period is 2018-2026 with forecast spanning 2022-2026.

Key Topics Covered:





1. Strategic Imperatives

Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Middle Eastern Aviation Industry

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

2. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Middle Eastern Aviation

General Observations on Passenger Traffic Recovery

Number of Commercial Flights-A Global Perspective

Airline Demand and Profitability-Middle East vs. Global

Airlines' Active Fleets by Country, Middle East-Pre-Pandemic vs. Now

Airlines' Active Fleets by Business Model-Pre-Pandemic vs. Now

In-scope Middle East Airlines-Annual Passengers

In-scope Middle East Airports-Annual Passengers

In-scope Middle East MROs

Impact on Leading Airlines in the Middle East

3. Growth Opportunity Analysis-Middle Eastern Aviation Ecosystem

Scope of Analysis

Segmentation

Key Competitors in the Middle Eastern Aviation Ecosystem

Key Growth Metrics for Airlines

Growth Drivers for Airlines

Growth Restraints for Airlines

Revenue Forecast Analysis for Airlines

Scenario 1: Conservative Forecast for Airlines

Scenario 2: Baseline Forecast for Airlines

Scenario 3: Aspirational Forecast for Airlines

Conservative, Baseline, and Aspirational Forecasts for Airlines

Conservative, Standard, and Aspirational Forecasts for Airlines

Competitive Environment for Airlines

Key Growth Metrics for Airports

Growth Drivers for Airports

Growth Restraints for Airports

Forecast Assumptions for Airports

Scenario 1: Conservative Forecast for Airports

Scenario 2: Baseline Forecast for Airports

Scenario 3: Aspirational Forecast for Airports

Conservative, Standard, and Aspirational Forecasts for Airports

Competitive Environment for Airports

Revenue Share for Airports

Key Growth Metrics for MROs

Growth Drivers for MROs

Growth Restraints for MROs

Revenue Forecast Assumptions for MROs

Revenue Forecast for MRO Spending

Competitive Environment for MROs

4. Growth Opportunity Universe

Growth Opportunity 1: Big Data Analytics for Optimized Operations and Enhanced Revenue

Growth Opportunity 2: Total Airport Management Concept with Improved Operational Efficiency and Increased Revenue Potential

Growth Opportunity 3: Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) in MRO Sector to Reduce Delays in Sourcing Critical Parts

5. Next Steps

Your Next Steps

List of Exhibit

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xughzw

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
A Celebration of Music, Film, Food & Art

LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles community organizations are coming together for [email protected], a festival celebrating Israel's diamond anniversary. "Israel is like family - I celebrate her extraordinary successes and grieve when she falters," says event organizer Craig Taubman. "My hope is that these events will open up a conversation about the past, present, and future of a modern-day miracle."

Celebrating Israel's 75th Shanee Zamir Ravid Kahalani Larry Cedar

Opening night is scheduled for April 23rd and will include the debut of the short film Becoming Herzl, featuring Award-winning actor Larry Cedar. Adding to the festivities will be a string quartet, cappuccino and wine bar, and a Viennese dessert table.

On April 25th, Israeli-Yemenite artist Ravid Kahalani and his group Yemen Blues will bring their daringly soulful music to the Pico Union Project. Time Out Magazine says of Yemen Blues, "Quite simply, it's one of the most exciting bands in world music right now."

For the month of May, the festival will premier two unique exhibits. Adat Ari El in Valley Village will present Herzl Goes West, a sampling of memorabilia from David Matlow's extraordinary Theodor Herzl collection  the largest in the world. And Sinai Temple in Westwood will host My Jerusalem, featuring the paintings of esteemed Israeli artist Dudu Harel in the Merage Gallery.

Spend Shabbat at Sinai Temple with Craig Taubman and Rabbi David Wolpe on Saturday, April 29th. The afternoon will conclude with an Israeli lunch, the opportunity to meet David Matlow and Dudu Harel and music by 2013 Israel Eurovision winner Shanee Zamir.

"We are celebrating the vision of Israel and its greatest visionary through the arts," said Sinai Temple Rabbi David Wolpe. "Herzl believed in the culture of our people and this cultural festival honors that comprehensive legacy."

[email protected] is produced by Craig Taubman and the Pico Union Project and sponsored by Judy & Tom Flesh, The Jewish Federation, Sinai Temple, The Jewish Community Foundation, Adat Ari El, Stand With Us, The Jewish Journal, and The Herzl Project.

For a complete list of event and tickets, visit www.MyIsrael75.org or call PH 213 915 0084

SOURCE Pico Union Project
DUBLIN, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Japan Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Social commerce industry in Japan is expected to grow by 12.1% on annual basis to reach US$15290.4 million in 2023.

The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 9.8% during 2022-2028. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$15290.4 million in 2023 to reach US$26736.4 million by 2028.



This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities.

Reasons to buy

In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2019-2028).

Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors.

Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry.

Scope



Japan Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2019-2028

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Segment, 2019-2028

B2B

B2C

C2C

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2019-2028

Mobile

Desktop

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028

Domestic

Cross Border

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2019-2028

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Japan Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2022

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2ucyra

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
MIAMI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Weo, the deep-tech startup that is revolutionizing life's most important component  water - is proud to announce that leading European venture firm, Korelya Capital, has just joined as a new shareholder, bringing the total funds raised to date to $15 million.

Weo is a Miami-based conscientious deep-tech company generating impact by revolutionizing the way the world drinks water. With over 15 years of scientific research, their focus is improving the health and wellness of humans, animals, and plants, by enhancing the natural properties of water with their unique, eco-friendly, water calibration technology. Through its vision of Precision Water, Weo offers to provide biologically calibrated water to address any specific need  from healthy aging and e

Weo has spent over a decade researching water and its impact on plants, animals, and human health. Its patented and eco-friendly electrolysis technology uses diamond coated silicon to activate all the biomolecules present in water enhancing their natural properties to better support immunity, vitality, gut and skin health. In line with Precision Medicine or Precision Nutrition, Weo's vision is to offer Precision Water to address any specific needs during the day and for every occasion throughout the journey of one's life.

"We are excited to partner with the first Precision Water deep-tech company and support its expansion to diverse industries, all the way from consumer goods, food, agriculture, CBD, cosmetics, to healthcare", comments Antoine Dresch, Founding partner of Korelya Capital. "Along Weo's growth, Korelya aims to consolidate its position as a strategic shareholder".

In addition to investments previously raised from high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, the funding from Korelya Capital strengthens Weo's position as a breakthrough innovator in the industry. It comes as Weo's B2C product (Weo Bottle) is sales-ready and will be used to both support the launch of the consumer market and accelerate the commercial phase of its agribusiness solutions. Weo plans to positively impact the water used across the whole food chain.

"As advocates of a sustainable tech ecosystem, we have been deeply inspired by the founder's unique approach to water science and by Weo's ESG roadmap including health impact, sustainable agriculture, healthy foods, and animal welfare. We look forward to supporting the Weo team in Europe and Asia in the coming years", said Fleur Pellerin, Chairwoman and Co-founder of Korelya Capital.

"Korelya Capital's investment marks a significant milestone in Weo's development and a recognition of the remarkable progress and innovation that Weo's team has achieved over the past year", said Anthony Ginter, Founder and CEO of Weo. "We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from our initial private investors over the last two years; this new funding propels us into a new phase of growth, reinforcing our ambition to become the next deep tech champion in the US, Europe, and Asia".

About Korelya Capital

Founded and Chaired by Fleur Pellerin, former French Minister of Digital Economy and Culture, and Antoine Dresch, Korelya Capital is a late-stage venture fund with 750M under management with offices in Paris, London, Seoul and Singapore. Since its launch in 2017, Korelya Capital has notably invested in several European tech champions that became global category leaders (Wallapop, Vestiaire Collective, Glovo, Bolt, Ledger, FINN). Korelya Capital supports European technology companies in achieving their global ambition, notably through valuable support via its extensive network in Europe and in Asia. korelyacapital.com

About Weo

Weo is a Miami-based conscientious deep-tech company generating impact by revolutionizing the way the world drinks water. With over 15 years of scientific research, their focus is improving the health and wellness of humans, animals, and plants, by enhancing the natural properties of water with their unique, eco-friendly, water calibration technology. Through its vision of Precision Water, Weo offers to provide biologically calibrated water to address any specific need  from healthy aging and exercise performance, to crop production and livestock agriculture  for daily use and throughout the journey of life. we-o.com

Contact: Gilles Bazan  CMO [email protected]

SOURCE Weo LLC
PG&E Corporation Foundation Boosting Support with Additional Scholarships This Year

OAKLAND, Calif., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The Foundation) is inviting applications for its annual Better Together STEM Scholarship Program and will award scholarships to 60 students  20 more than last year  pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines.

The Foundation will provide $350,000 in total funding for scholarships, an increase of $100,000 over last year. The program will award 20 $10,000 scholarships, and 20 $2,500 awards, as it has in years past. This year, it has added 20 new scholarships of $5,000 each.

Better Together STEM Scholarships are designed to give the next generation of Californians an opportunity to learn and succeed in higher education and support students who have made an impact in their community or who have overcome personal challenges.

"For more than 10 years, The PG&E Corporation Foundation has helped students follow their dreams of becoming future scientists, innovators and engineers who give back to our state and communities and lay the critical building blocks for our clean energy future. This year, we're excited to expand these opportunities to even more students with the addition of 20 new $5,000 scholarships," said Carla Peterman, PG&E Corporation Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, and Chair of the Board of The Foundation.

The Better Together STEM Scholarship program continues to evolve and expand to help lessen the financial burden of attending college for students and their families.

Last year, responding to a trend in applications from students admitted to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), eligibility expanded to students planning to attend HBCUs anywhere in the United States, in addition to California colleges and universities.

Since 2012, the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6.75 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need and academic achievement. Watch this video to hear how last year's winners are pursuing their dreams.

Deadline and criteria

Interested applicants can learn more and apply here. Deadline to apply is May 2, 2023. Scholarships will be awarded in August.

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated participation and leadership in school and community activities, and financial need. Students must pursue qualifying degrees in STEM disciplines include engineering, computer science/information systems, cybersecurity, and environmental sciences.

Applications are open to:

High school seniors or graduates

Students who have received a GED certification

Current undergraduate students

Non-traditional students or military veterans returning to school or pursuing their first undergraduate degree

Applicants must live or be a dependent of a resident in PG&E's service area in Northern and Central California ; plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study for the entire 2023-2024 academic year; and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California or HBCU.

PG&E Employee Resource Group scholarships

In addition to the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program, PG&E's 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) and two engineering networking groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised entirely through employee donations, employee fundraising events and Campaign for the Community, the company's employee giving program. Since 1989, more than $5 million ERG scholarships have been received by thousands of recipients. Applications are taken in December.

About The PG&E Corporation Foundation

The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Over the past decades, China has risen to the world's second-largest economy and become deeply integrated into the global economy in the course of advancing its reform and opening-up and pursuing modernization.

In recent years, Beijing has provided a wide range of public goods to help address various security challenges troubling the world.

China has realized the miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability through its own path to modernization and whole-process people's democracy, busting the myth that "modernization means Westernization."

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- "The path of history is not paved like Nevsky Avenue in St Petersburg; it runs across fields, either dusty or muddy, and cuts through swamps or forest thickets," wrote Nikolay Chernyshevsky, a great Russian scholar and critic in the 19th century.

In two centuries or so, the world has once again reached a crossroads in history where countries are facing momentous choices: between polarization and common prosperity, and between zero-sum game and win-win cooperation.

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 25, 2023 shows the container terminal at Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

In his speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on March 23, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping observed that mankind, by living in the same global village in the same era where history and reality meet, has increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in him- or herself a little bit of others.

Over the past decade, China has been dedicated to building a community with a shared future for mankind and pursuing shared and win-win development with concrete actions, in a bid to pass on the torch of peace through generations, sustain development and make civilization flourish. With all these efforts, China is trying to answer humanity's epoch question -- what kind of world is hoped for and how to build it.

SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT

Over the past decades, China has risen to the world's second-largest economy and become deeply integrated into the global economy in the course of advancing its reform and opening-up and pursuing modernization.

Among the essential requirements of Chinese modernization are building a community with a shared future for mankind, and creating a new form of human advancement, according to the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

To this end, the country has taken a host of actions not merely to help stimulate economic growth, but also to secure the right to development of all countries and bridge the North-South divide.

In 2013, Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative -- a solution to boosting common development in the world. It has so far brought nearly 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment, created some 420,000 local jobs, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty, with the takeoff of numerous transport and industrial projects such as the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.

This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows a view of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

Costantinos Berhutesfa, a professor of public policy at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University, deems the initiative "the kind of second globalization."

As the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has suffered setbacks amid successive "black swan" events, Xi put forward the Global Development Initiative in 2021, which aims to synergize with the Agenda and forge a united, equal, balanced and inclusive global development partnership.

In addition, China has established such cooperative platforms as the China International Import Expo, pushed forward free trade projects like the Hainan Free Trade Port, and joined multilateral mechanisms including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, in its endeavor to help grow an open global economy.

This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2022 shows the west entrance of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

To ensure all countries enjoy equal rights, follow the rules as equals and share equal opportunities, Xi, at the opening of the BRICS Business Forum last year, restated his call for upholding the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, promoting extensive consultation and joint contribution, and enhancing global economic governance.

"The global future of the human species ... is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world. There are so many things that need to be done. So China can take the lead on that," Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua.

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said he believes the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is "extremely important, especially under the current global conditions."

SAFEGUARDING PEACE

Hermann Hesse, Nobel Prize literature laureate in 1946, during his Nobel banquet speech, preached a mind that is "international and supra-national," and "that ought to serve not war and annihilation, but peace and reconciliation."

In 2017, mentioning Hesse's thought in his address to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Xi called for fostering partnerships based on dialogue, non-confrontation and non-alliance. "As long as we maintain communication and treat each other with sincerity, the 'Thucydides trap' can be avoided," he said.

His appeal is more valid today, as deficits in peace, development, trust and governance are growing, with the flare-up of regional conflicts, the re-emergence of a Cold War mentality, and various security challenges.

Under these circumstances, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative in 2022, which aims to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, improve global security governance, encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and certainty, and promote durable peace and development.

Tourists visit an international duty free mall in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, June 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Recently, the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran after talks facilitated by China exemplifies the value of the initiative.

Considering China a reliable and trustworthy partner, Hani Wafa, editor-in-chief of Al Riyadh Newspaper, a major daily in Saudi Arabia, said Beijing's role in the Riyadh-Tehran detente as important as the agreement itself. Such a historic icebreaker may bring hope for peace in the Middle East, he added.

China's role in defending peace can also be seen in the Ukraine crisis. When talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit this week, Xi said that on the Ukraine crisis, China has all along abided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, followed an objective and impartial position, and actively encouraged peace talks. China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history, he added.

These facts demonstrate China's commitment to promoting a new type of international relations and broadening the convergence of interests with other countries.

In recent years, Beijing has provided a wide range of public goods to help address various security challenges troubling the world. For instance, China is a major troop contributor and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.

Chinese peacekeepers march at a medal parade ceremony in Hanniyah village, southern Lebanon, July 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)

"While other countries are sending military forces around the world to engage in wars, establish military bases in other people's countries and so on, China's military goes abroad to help preserve and defend peace," said Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club.

Whereas certain countries are sticking to a zero-sum game or winner-takes-all mindset, China has detailed proposals to make the idea of a shared future a reality, he added.

MAKING CIVILIZATIONS FLOURISH

China's pursuit of building a community with a shared future for mankind derives from celebrated elements of Chinese traditional culture.

In a world where peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom become the common values of humanity, countries and regions have chosen different paths to modernization, which are rooted in their unique and long civilizations.

In the case of China, it has realized the miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability through its own path to modernization and whole-process people's democracy, busting the myth that "modernization means Westernization."

Therefore, it holds that tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity's modernization process.

At the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting last week, Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

"We fully agree with the four proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi in the Global Civilization Initiative," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also president of the African National Congress, who participated in the dialogue, adding the initiative is vital to the world today.

Stewards of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd. are pictured in Kunming Railway Station in southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2022. As a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Laos Railway connects China's Kunming with the Lao capital Vientiane. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Asadollah Badamchian, general secretary of Islamic Motalefeh Party of Iran, said pursuing the China-proposed move is "duty-bound."

"The world's peoples should be invited to put their civilizations and cultures in the global civilization basket, and then, they, within the present framework of global relations and communications and in view of the industry, progress and future advances, altogether should move toward a civilization built upon all human civilizations," he said.

Editor: ZAD
"CARE FOR WONDERS"

775 numbered decanters of the special edition cognac selected by Cellar Master of LOUIS XIII, Baptiste Loiseau, to be available globally.

PARIS, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LOUIS XIII releases RARE CASK 42.1, the latest limited-edition cognac in the Rare Cask Legacy, which aims to bring the brand's unique discoveries and developments to market. RARE CASK 42.1 is LOUIS XIII's third Rare Cask limited-edition, revealing LOUIS XIII's ultimate expression to the world 10 years after the premiere of RARE CASK 42.6 in 2013, and will be available for purchase globally beginning June 2023.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9151351-louis-xiii-cognac-unveils-rare-cask/

LOUIS XIII RARE CASK 42.1 RARE CASK 42.1  Care for Wonders (PRNewsfoto/LOUIS XIII COGNAC)

In the Grande Champagne Cru of Cognac, France, fifth generation Cellar Master, Baptiste Loiseau, discovered a single tiercon containing a particularly aromatic profile in the cellars of Domaine du Grollet, the home of the LOUIS XIII Legacy. Each of LOUIS XIII's tiercons are made from French oak trees that take over 100 years to reach maturity, containing precious eaux-de-vie sourced from Grande Champagne's terroir. Kept undisturbed, the eaux-de-vie evolves as the liquid deepens with intensity and mahogany hues. This aging process gives RARE CASK 42.1 its inimitable complexity  resulting in an extremely rare effect. The exceptional cognac's aromatic profile is a distinct expression of LOUIS XIII never encountered before with an unexpected 42.1% ABV.

To complement RARE CASK 42.1's expression & rarity, the 775 limited-edition numbered decanters will be available globally, each crafted from black Baccarat crystal. This decanter requires a combination of art and savoir-faire to achieve a jewel-like black finish, hand-made by 20 master craftsmen working meticulously in unison. Each decanter's neck is then dressed in gold and rhodium finished details and finely engraved with quadrilobed patterns in reference to France's Fleur-de-lys.

RARE CASK 42.1 is the first Rare Cask edition from LOUIS XIII to be presented as a ritual set. The black crystal decanter is accompanied by a pair of glasses, each glass adorned with black quatrefoils and a serving pipette featuring a black medallion.

"While the singularity of a RARE CASK rests on the wonder of nature and the aging of eaux-de-vie, the know-how that it requires to produce is an art form, passed on from generation to generation, where each Cellar Master perpetuates the gestures of his predecessors" shares Baptiste Loiseau.

The meticulous tasting of the eaux-de-vie as they age, in the endless transmission of savoir-faire, is part of the lifelong purpose of each Cellar Master to preserve the LOUIS XIII Legacy. RARE CASK 43.8 was released in 2009 by previous Cellar Master Pierrette Trichet, and RARE CASK 42.6 in 2013 when Baptiste Loiseau and Pierrette Trichet were collaborating. For the third time in history, in an unexpected departure from the ordinary passage of time, Baptiste Loiseau uncovers RARE CASK 42.1.

"To discover Rare Cask 42.1, I listened to my instincts and favored emotion to science. I call upon my memories." remarks Loiseau.

To mark this discovery, an exclusive event in Venice, Italy will celebrate the launch of RARE CASK 42.1 - with the theme 'Care For Wonders'. A city that for hundreds of years has preserved a unique heritage, patrimony, and artistic beauty, Venice remains a source of inspiration that draws creative minds from across the world. Previous RARE CASK reveals from LOUIS XIII have taken place within the Guilin Caves, China for RARE CASK 43.8, and in Udaipur, India for RARE CASK 42.6.

"10 years have passed since the latest RARE CASK was revealed. A singular tiercon set apart for the unicity of its aromas, a true wonder reflecting the power of Nature, which sets the RARE CASK Collection apart. Today, we are thrilled to present the latest wonder RARE CASK 42.1, the result of Time and human talent caring for our Terroir. LOUIS XIII's ultimate expression." says Jean-Philippe Hecquet, CEO of the house of Remy Martin.

In addition, RARE CASK 42.1 will be celebrated with exclusive tasting experiences in several cities around the world - including Paris, Zurich, London, Dubai, Beverly Hills, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Kuala Lumpur - as LOUIS XIII reveals this exceptional launch to clients on a global scale.

Join the LOUIS XIII RARE CASK experience and unravel its wonders here.

About LOUIS XIII

Since 1874, LOUIS XIII Cognac is forever reborn from the precious eaux-de-vie of Cognac Grande Champagne, handed down through generations and artfully blended. Time is the raw material with which this rare spirit is crafted, its essence unwavering.

Guided by Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau, LOUIS XIII is the symbol of an enduring bond with Nature and Terroir, strengthened by the patina of age. Each drop is a living legacy, each decanter a celebration of visionary minds and human hands that shape the future by making a mark on tomorrow, today.

Think a century ahead.

MEDIA CONTACT | LOUIS XIII

[email protected]

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2038148/LOUIS_XIII_RARE_CASK.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2037406/LOUIS_XIII_COGNAC.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2038144/LOUISXIII_RARE_CASK_Logo.jpg

SOURCE LOUIS XIII COGNAC
ONTARIO, Calif, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Times change and it's another anniversary for Magicycle, a gorgeous e-bike brand with years of experience behind them. Magicycle is launching Fat Tire Ebike Event to thank all its fans for their love and support.

Magicycle Fat Tire Ebikes for All Kinds of Riders

Magicycle has been offering a high-quality range of fat tire electric bikes since its inception. They are made to exactly meet the changing requirements of all kinds of ebike riders. Below we will list some of them for you to make a choice.

Magicycle Cruiser Pro

The Cruiser Pro is one of the most classic ebike modes from Magicycle. It features fat tires, a 1100W powerful motor(peak power output), a large ebike frame, and a 52V 20Ah large lithium battery. As an electric cruiser bike, the Cruiser Pro can literally go anywhere at ease with its incredible power and long range, bringing a first-class riding experience.

Magicycle Ocelot Pro

The Ocelot Pro serves as the first step-thru bike from Magicycle. Just like the Cruiser Pro, the Ocelot Pro is equipped with a 1100W motor, fat tires, and hydraulic disc brakes. What is quite different is that its frame is designed to be smaller for short riders. Moreover, the Ocelot Pro features a long range between 60 - 80 miles. This is a great electric bike for those who are still hesitating because of range anxiety.

Magicycle Deer Full Suspension Ebike SUV

Magicycle Deer represents the latest technology of Magicycle. It is basically a full-suspension electric mountain bike. However, it is still the first ebike suv in the US, which serves as a new ebike model on the market. This sort of ebike is powerful, versatile, and of large load capacity, just like an SUV.

The Deer is equipped with a full suspension system, which provides great shock absorption from bumps while riding off-road. With a powerful motor, the Magicycle Deer can be ridden on any kind of terrain without getting stuck or slowing down.

Also, this amazing ebike has a load capacity of 400 lbs, allowing riders to carry heavy stuff. For this purpose, Magicycle has specially designed a longer rear rack that can make deliveries far more convenient.

Of course, the ebikes mentioned above aren't all the products from Magicycle. You are welcome to check them out at Magicycle Official.

Magicycle Anniversary Discounts

For this anniversary event, Magicycle is offering a big discount. For people buying 1 ebike, including one with other bike accessories, they will get $100 off; And if they are going to purchase 2 or more electric bikes, the discount will increase to $300. By the way, combo sales share the same discount as buying 2 electric bikes.

The Magicycle Anniversary Sale runs from March 11th until the end of this month. If you still have any questions, just feel free to contact Magicycle at [email protected]cyclebike.com.

SOURCE Magicyclebike
A dozen local and regional employers participated to recruit American Car Center staff

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When American Car Center announced abrupt closures, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sprang into action to help hundreds of displaced workers in our community.

"This news hit Methodist hard," said Jill Lopez, director of recruitment operations for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. "As an anchor institution and one of the area's largest private employers, we take seriously our responsibility to help our neighbors thrive. We immediately rallied our community partners to host a job fair exclusively for the impacted employees."

More than 300 former car workers attended the job fair, which included a dozen premier employers like AutoZone, City of Memphis, FedEx, First Horizon, Ozark Motor Lines and State Farm.

"Partner agencies also provided additional resources like food vouchers, toiletries, bill paying assistance and temporary agency placement," added Lopez. "Unfortunate situations like this bring out the best in Memphis  Memphians helping Memphians."

To get the word out to the affected employees, the MLH Recruitment team learned of a LinkedIn group started by Andy Steavens, former marketing vice president for the car company. "The shutdown was so abrupt and we were in shock. I knew we all wanted to stay in touch with one another, to support each other, build our networks and share job opportunities. Methodist stepped up immediately and in just a few short days coordinated this amazing and meaningful opportunity for us."

Roger Ewing worked in the auto company's human resources department and commented on MLH's swift action to set up the job fair. "There is always so much planning that goes into something like this," he said. "In short order, Methodist thought of every detail to execute a very well-organized and meaningful event."

Nedra Rice has lived in Memphis for over twenty years, and managed accounts for the former car company.

"This has impacted 300 households and if you're a single parent like myself, it's been hard," she said. "I came to the job fair looking for a positive outlook, employment and for people to motivate me. This job fair is a blessing from Methodist and the other employers who joined together to help 300 families."

Tanzania Bass from Memphis is hopeful to find open positions in finance. "I am thankful that Methodist put this together for us and I'm excited to be here," she said.

Born and raised in Memphis, Jessica Foster said, "This is amazing and beautiful. Everyone in the community has pulled together around us."

On the job fair, Foster added, "I'm looking for stability. Methodist and the other employers here are giving us that opportunity to find stable employment."

Visit Facebook for photos from the job fair. For career opportunities with MLH, visit MethodistHealth.org/careers.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

SOURCE Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Media are invited to visit NASA's simulated Mars habitat on Tuesday, April 11, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. This summer, four volunteers will begin a yearlong Mars mission in the ground-based habitat, helping NASA prepare for human exploration of Mars for the benefit of humanity.

The mission is the first of three planned in NASA's CHAPEA habitat, or Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog. It is scheduled to begin in June when the volunteer crew, who are not astronauts, enters the 3D-printed habitat.

NASAs simulated Mars habitat includes a 1,200-square-foot sandbox with red sand to simulate the Martian landscape. The area will be used to conduct simulated spacewalks or Marswalks during the analog missions. Credits: NASA

During the simulation, crew members will carry out different types of mission activities, including simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, personal hygiene, exercise, and crop growth. To be as Mars-realistic as feasible, the crew also will face environmental stressors such as resource limitations, isolation, and equipment failure.

The in-person media event includes an opportunity to speak with subject matter experts and capture b-roll and photos inside the habitat. Crew members will not be available as they'll arrive at NASA Johnson later this spring to begin training for the simulated mission.

International media wishing to attend must request accreditation no later than 5 p.m. CDT Monday, March 27. U.S. media must request accreditation no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April 3. To request accreditation, media must contact the Johnson newsroom at: 281-483-5111 or [email protected]. Media accreditation is limited due to space.

NASA is leading a return to the Moon for long-term science and exploration through Artemis missions. Lessons learned on and around the Moon will prepare NASA for the next giant leap  sending the first astronauts to Mars. This is the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach.

SOURCE NASA
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits to be First Customer

LAKELAND, Fla., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NuCycle Energy announced a new partnership with the City of Lakeland today. This partnership will allow commercial customers in the Lakeland service area to avoid the landfill and help replace fossil fuels. This new sustainability initiative kicks off on Monday, March 27th.

"We're excited to join forces with the City of Lakeland and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits to bring this new sustainability program to our community," says Kyle Pukylo, Director of Sales at NuCycle Energy. "It's fun to imagine the impact we'll make, starting right here in Lakeland, Florida."

"The City of Lakeland is looking forward to offering our city commercial industrial waste customers an alternative to landfilling their materials at no additional cost. Materials that can be diverted away from the landfill is a win for our customers and the city," said, Gene Ginn, Solid Waste Manager of the City of Lakeland. "Right now Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is the first commercial customer that will participate in the NuCycle program but we hope to expand it to other commercial customers in our service territory."

"Environmental sustainability and reducing Southern Glazer's carbon footprint remains a top, strategic priority," said Jason Witty, Vice President of Operations, Southeast Region, for Southern Glazer's. "As a Florida-based company, we are proud to be a first mover and be able to implement this program in Lakeland to help us ultimately become a zero landfill operation."

The benefits of this new partnership include:

Landfill Abatement

Fossil Fuel Replacement

About NuCycle Energy: NuCycle Energy operates a Florida based Sustainability Initiative that manufactures an alternative energy fuel product, while providing a landfill-free materials management program to many of America's largest commercial brands and institutions. Through our proprietary process, we manufacture this alternative fuel from pre-consumer materials that were previously treated as waste, and otherwise destined for the landfill. Known as Enviro-Fuelcubes, this highly-engineered energy-dense fuel, which carries a Non-waste determination from the US EPA, is capable of replacing traditional fossil fuels in energy intensive industries, such as cement manufacturing and electrical power generation. Put simply, the NuCycle process simultaneously provides a zero-landfill solution for commercial and industrial materials, while reducing the use of fossil fuels in industrial applications. To learn more about NuCycle Energy, please visit our website.

About Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits: Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is the world's preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. In 2022, Southern Glazer's was listed as one of Forbes Best Employers for Diversity. In 2021, Southern Glazer's was selected as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, as well as named by Newsweek as a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace. Southern Glazer's urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits.

Kyle Pukylo

NuCycle Energy

(813)-937-9240

[email protected]

Kevin Cook

City of Lakeland

(863)-834-6264

[email protected]

Jamin Smith

City of Lakeland

(863)-834-6264

[email protected]

SOURCE NuCycle Energy
WUPPERTAL, Germany, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vorwerk is 140 years old  and that means 140 years of passion and innovation. Founded in the valley of the Wupper river as a carpet factory, Vorwerk also moved into the production of household appliances (Kobold vacuum cleaners) in 1929. The advantages of the first, powerful Kobold model could not be conveyed via retail sales  This gave way to direct sales at Vorwerk and certainly the most important milestone in Vorwerk's history. Today Vorwerk is the number one direct sales company in Europe and a world leader in the direct sales of high-quality household appliances. In 2021, the Group generated sales totaling  3.4 billion, a new company record.

Vorwerk Headquarters Wuppertal (PRNewsfoto/Vorwerk) Vorwerk Erlebniskochen Thermomix TM6 (PRNewsfoto/Vorwerk)

Thank You to our Community

The company owes its success to the people who are enthusiastic about the brand and its products and who actively support it. The Vorwerk community consists of 100,000 sales Advisors and some 9,000 employees, as well as many, many customers around the globe. It is precisely these people's passion that has made Vorwerk so successful.

Vorwerk's Company History

Back in 1883, Carl Vorwerk founded Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co., a small carpet factory and the cornerstone of today's global brand. In doing so, he demonstrated entrepreneurial prowess because until then, high-quality carpets had only been manufactured in England. In 1907, Carl Vorwerk handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law, August Mittelsten Scheid, who was himself the scion of an industrial family in business in Barmen since 1764. By 1909, the Vorwerk name had already become a familiar one beyond the region and the company was growing rapidly. It stepped up its carpet production, erected new buildings and set up the company's own machine workshop. By this time, the product spectrum was constantly expanding and at that time, ranged from car axles to gramophone motors.

The invention of the radio brought the market for gramophones to its knees. Although, a new idea would save the day: The gramophone motor became a motor for a vacuum cleaner. In 1929, the Kobold was something of a small revolution: a handy appliance - but nevertheless one that was very effective. However, the market was not yet ready for that innovation, and prospective customers could not appreciate the advantages of the Kobold model from merely seeing it on sale in a retail store. Once again, a revolutionary idea would save the day, namely the introduction of direct sales in Germany  certainly the most important milestone in the company's history. Brought back from the USA by August Mittelsten Scheid's son, Werner in 1930, this people-oriented sales concept would become Vorwerk's trademark and the secret of its success.

In 1953, Dr. Erich Mittelsten Scheid took on sole management of the company and initiated far-reaching changes, such as expanding the product range and opening up further to international markets. In 1968, akf bank became the first service brand to join the Group.

In 1969, Erich Mittelsten Scheid handed the Vorwerk reins over to his nephew, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid, who from 1969 to 2005 played a crucial role in shaping the company, turning it into an internationally successful corporate group. Expansion of the product portfolio is among the achievements that fall within his time at the helm: Already in 1971, the Thermomix became the first multifunctional food processor and cooking appliance to be launched onto the market. Pushing ahead with its consistent strategy of internationalisation, Vorwerk founded its first foreign subsidiary abroad in China, in 1990, and subsidiaries in Eastern Europe soon followed. At the end of 2005, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid stepped down from the management of the company, but today continues to oversee the company as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. With Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, Hauke Paasch and Dr. Thomas Rodemann, a three-member Executive Board now manages the fortunes of the Group, whereas the owner family provides continuity in its fifth generation.

People are our Focus

We are convinced: When people meet in person, worlds and opportunities open up. A personal product demonstration creates magical moments and a lasting connection between people - and in Vorwerk's case, worldwide. People have always come first at Vorwerk. Direct sales is the company's recipe for success: product demonstrations are social events at which people come together, discover their love for the product and become members of the Vorwerk family. Without a doubt, the Vorwerk Advisors play a very special role here: they are the faces of our company and essential to our success - and they will continue to be just that in the future, too.

ABOUT VORWERK

The Vorwerk SE & Co. KG family enterprise was founded in 1883. The holding company's registered office is located in Wuppertal, Germany. Vorwerk's core business encompasses both the production and sale of high-quality household products (Thermomix kitchen appliance, Kobold vacuum cleaner). As a direct sales company, Vorwerk always seeks direct contact with its customers. Here, the Advisor is at the center of activities and serves as a central point of contact for the customer. The Vorwerk family also includes the akf bank. Vorwerk generated consolidated sales of 3.4 billion (2021) and operates in more than 60 countries.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039800/Vorwerk_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039801/Vorwerk_2.jpg

SOURCE Vorwerk
WILMINGTON, Del., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pawaii is currently participating at the Global Pet Expo 2023, holding at the Orange Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the Global Pet Expo gathering is the premier pet products industry event, with top brands in attendance.

Why Visit the PAWAii Stand?

PAWAii at the Global Pet Expo 2023

Pawaii has consistently built a sterling reputation as a reliable pet product brand. Over the years, the brand has rolled out innovative, reliable, and pet-friendly products that have improved the lives of pets and their owners. From pet water fountains to pet beds, pet feeders, and pet carriers, they have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to making lives better for our furry friends with products that deliver maximum value at minimum costs.

The Global Pet Expo 2023 is the best time to experience the best of Pawaii's new and existing products, including the latest and sophisticated innovations. On display are some of the brand's key products that have gained wide acceptance from pet owners, professionals, and influencers across the industry. Their vast collection on display includes the Pawaii dog harness, the Pawaii stainless-steel dog bowl, the Pawaii versatile dog bowl, the Pawaii pet feeder, and the Pawaii x Waterdrop pet water fountain.

The Pawaii x Waterdrop Mobile Smart Pet Water Fountain is the world's first NSF-certified smart water fountain. The NSF-certified filter powers a multi-stage deep filtration that ensures pets are protected from the harm of contaminated water. Pet owners who are unsure of the quality of water their pets drink can have one less thing to worry about with this fountain. The proprietary app also ensures accurate pet water intake tracking through the inbuilt smart weighing module.

Pawaii is also introducing its pet feederthe smart pet feeder with a proprietary app that monitors pets' feeding status in real-time. It is designed to help owners stay updated about the health condition of their pets anytime and anywhere. To help pets eat regularly, the feeder also features smart weighing modules that offer accurate data on how long, how much, and how often the pet is eating. All of these are accessible anytime and anywhere using the Pawaii APP. You can also compare intake data on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis to keep track of your pet's health.

Also on display is the Pawaii dog harnessan adjustable, comfortable, and skin-friendly dog harness with an exclusive ID tag that ensures your dog is reunited with you quickly in the event of a loss. You can also check out the Pawaii stainless-steel dog bowl, made of 304 stainless steel that makes feeding fun. There is also the Pawaii versatile dog bowl designed for multiple demands of you and your dog and suitable for medium and large dogs.

About PAWAii

As a brand, Pawaii is passionate about the well-being of pets and their families. In line with its belief that sweet furry babies deserve the best lives there can be, the brand puts pets and their families at the heart of everything they do.

With a commitment to helping families across the world gain unique emotional experiences of close interaction between pets and humans, every product Pawaii rolls out is designed with attention to detail and comfort for the ideal pet lifestyle.

In addition to showcasing its exciting products and attracting new customers at the exhibition, Pawaii will also be seeking to garner even more information and recommendation from users to improve its design and production processes in the future.

SOURCE PAWAii
AVAILABLE AS A 4-LP BOX SET AND DIGITALLY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ON MAY 19 VIA VERVE/UMe; 2-CD CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

"INTRO OVER I WAITED FOR YOU INTO HOW HIGH THE MOON (INCOMPLETE)," RECORDED LIVE WITH THE DIZZY GILLESPIE ORCHESTRA AT BILLY BERG'S SUPPER CLUB ON DECEMBER 17, 1945, AVAILABLE DIGITALLY NOW

LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout his brief but influential life, Charlie "Bird" Parker made an enormous impact on popular music as one of the architects of modern jazz. The jazz titan, inarguably one of the greatest saxophonists of all time, grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and spent much of his adult life in New York. Nonetheless, Los Angeles looms large in his musical life as he spent more time in L.A. than anywhere outside of K.C. and N.Y. From 1945-1954, Parker made half a dozen trips to the City of Angels and recorded many of his greatest musical triumphs there. In December 1945, Parker and Dizzy Gillespie changed music forever by bringing the sound of bebop from the East Coast to the West Coast for a fabled two-month residency at Billy Berg's Supper Club in Hollywood billed as "Bebop Invades the West." Entranced by the city, Parker would end up staying for an extended amount of time in which he gigged all around town, recorded at a Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) concert, and made some pivotal recordings for the nascent Dial label. Following a drug-fueled physical and mental collapse at the infamous July 29, 1946 "Lover Man" session, he was committed to Camarillo State Mental Hospital for a six-month stint for his heroin addiction. Shortly after being released in January 1947, Bird would stick around for a few more months, which included a well-documented two-week engagement at the Hi-De-Ho Club, before heading back to NYC. He would return to L.A. four more times, briefly in November 1948 with JATP, for a three-month stay during the summer of 1952, and for shorter visits in 1953 and 1954.

Charlie Parkers prolific and historic first three trips to Los Angeles have been collected together as Bird In LA, a 28-track collection of mostly unreleased and incredibly rare recordings, releasing digitally for streaming and download for the very first time, and in a 4-LP black vinyl box set on May 19 via Verve/UMe.

Parker's prolific and historic first three trips to Los Angeles have been collected together as Bird In LA, a 28-track collection of mostly unreleased and incredibly rare recordings, releasing digitally for streaming and download for the very first time, and in a 4-LP black vinyl box set on May 19 via Verve/UMe. This wide release, due to popular demand, follows a limited-edition vinyl release exclusive for Record Store Day Black Friday in 2021, which sold out instantly, and a 2-CD version, currently still available.

Recorded between 1945 and 1952, the performances presented chronologically on Bird In LA are highlighted by the only known recordings from Billy Berg's on December 17, 1945, three previously unknown JATP recordings from The Shrine Auditorium on November 22, 1948, and the complete recordings of the legendary July 1952 party at Jirayr Zorthian's bohemian Altadena ranch. The box set comes complete with a booklet featuring rarely seen photographs, comprehensive track info detailing recording dates and personnel, and an illuminating and extensive essay by the album's producer, John Burton, who provides an in-depth history of Bird's fruitful time in L.A. as well as the significance of these incredible recordings. The album cover is of Zorthian's kinetic 1952 painting, "Orchestra."

Pre-order Bird In LA now: https://charlieparker.lnk.to/BirdInLA

Although Bird and Dizzy performed at Billy Berg's for a two month stretch, no recordings of the performances have ever surfaced until this release, despite being broadcast live on local radio. These recordings, capturing a cross-section of the December 17th program, presented here for the first time in their entirety and mastered from the original discs, come from a pair of homemade 10-inch acetate discs discovered by Bird detectives, Bob Bregman and Norman Saks, aka "Yardbird, Inc." Bird In LA is being previewed today with the release of opener, "Intro Over I Waited For You into How High The Moon (Incomplete)." As Burton exclaims in the liners, "What follows is, in my opinion, among the most incredible of all Parker recordings, alone worth the purchase of this set. Instead of the rapid unison line 'Ornithology,' Gillespie and Bird play the traditional 'How High the Moon' theme, but in a call and response fashion that is quite rare in their recorded collaborations. Bird begins his solo with staccato notes that are like the stomping of a foot to get attention before he unleashes a perfectly executed flurry leading into a lyrical solo blown with such strength that one hears the distortion as the home recorder red-lines. At the end of the first chorus Gillespie exhorts "Go, go, go, go!" and Bird takes another chorus before a chorus by Jackson and then a fiery solo by Gillespie, cut short at the end of its first chorus when the cutter ran out of space."

Stream "Intro Over I Waited For You into How High The Moon (Incomplete)" now: https://charlieparker.lnk.to/BirdInLA

The first half of Bird In LA also includes recordings from Parker and Gillespie's performance for the Armed Forces Radio Service "Jubilee" show in December 1945; a compact arrangement of "Salt Peanuts" from NBC's nationally broadcast variety show, "Drene Time," sponsored by Proctor and Gamble to promote Drene shampoo; five songs recorded at The Finale Club in Little Tokyo with the Charlie Parker Quintet, featuring Miles Davis and Joe Albany; a blistering version of "Cherokee" recorded for the AFRS "Jubilee" in March or April 1946 with accompaniment of the Nat "King" Cole Trio and Buddy Rich; and with three previously unknown recordings of Bird at The Shrine with Jazz At The Philharmonic. While the performance has been widely panned for being substandard for Parker, it is included here for historical reasons or as Burton explains, "Because they are Bird. Every surviving fragment by this giant should be available for study. Off nights such as the Shrine help us appreciate and understand his greatest achievements all the better."

The second half of this riveting musical time capsule captures two performances from Jirayr Zorthian's ranch in Altadena: the now infamous July 14, 1952 party where it's alleged Parker, his bandmates, and most of the audience stripped off their clothes at a rowdy late night gathering at the 27-acre hilltop property located in the foothills above Pasadena, and a second performance two weeks later, with a young 22-year-old Chet Baker on trumpet, in one of his first recordings. Zorthian, an eccentric artist who passed away in 2004 at 92 following a life that included surviving the Armenian genocide as a child and graduating from Yale, loved to talk about that fateful fete. As he once personally regaled Burton, the party was held on a Monday when the musicians were not working and Bird, who arrived characteristically late, insisted on skinny dipping in the ranch swimming pool before playing. Several songs into the band's performance, which included spirited version of "A Night In Tunisia" and "Ornithology," Zorthian yells out "take it off" and Bird obliges, leading to many others to disrobe and making a wild party even wilder. The performance was recorded by the brother of Bird's friend, the artist Julie McDonald, and it was sourced from Zorthian's personal second-generation tape recording.

The Zorthian party, along with many of Parker's other L.A. adventures have been brought to vivid life in Z2 Comics' innovative graphic novel, "Chasin' the Bird," which was released to widespread acclaimed in 2021 in honor of Parker's 100th birthday. Beautifully told by writer/artist Dave Chisholm and colored by DreamWorks Animation Director Peter Markowski, the novel adapts one of the sunnier, but darker chapters in the life of Bird as it explores Bird's relationship with the characters and events he encountered during his time in L.A. including recording some of his signature songs, a brief but influential stay at the home of famed jazz photographer William Claxton, and many others who found themselves in the orbit of the jazz genius. Exclusive merchandise featuring art from "Chasin' the Bird," and other collaborations is available in the Official Webstore, along with fresh designs celebrating Parker's shows featured in the box set including event tees for historic performances.

Experienced together, Bird In LA serves as the perfect soundtrack and companion piece to the graphic novel. On its own, the emergence of the rare recordings on Bird In LA represent a major cultural event and a significant addition to the Parker catalog.

charlieparkermusic.com

Bird In LA Track Listing

4-LP Box Set

LP 1

Side A

December 17, 1945

Billy Berg's Supper Club, Hollywood, California

Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra Featuring Charlie Parker

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, tpt, Charlie Parker, as, Milt Jackson, vb, Al Haig, pno, Ray Brown, bs, Stan Levey, dr, except 2, Harry "The Hipster" Gibson, pno and vocal, Slim Gaillard, MC, Billy Berg, closing announcement

1. Intro over I Waited for You into How High the Moon (incomplete) 4:11

2. Intro dialogue with Gibson into Handsome Harry the Hipster (incomplete) (no Parker) 4:15

3. Cement Mixer (fragment) into Intro into Blues (fragment) 1:20

4. Dizzy Atmosphere (fragment) (no Parker improvisation) 1:04

5. Fifty-Second Street Theme into closing announcement 1:53

Possibly December 10, 17, or 29, 1945

AFRS "Jubilee," NBC Studios, Hollywood, California

Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra Featuring Charlie Parker

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, tpt, Charlie Parker, as, Al Haig, pno, Ray Brown, bs, Stan Levey, dr, Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman, MC

6. Groovin' High into announcement 5:47

Side B

1. Intro dialogue with Gillespie into Shaw 'Nuff into announcement 4:51

2. Intro dialogue with Gillespie into Dizzy Atmosphere into announcement 4:36

January 24, 1946

"Drene Time" NBC Studios, Hollywood, California

Dizzy Gillespie Septet

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, tpt and voc, Charlie Parker, as, Lucky Thompson, ts, Milt Jackson, vb, Al Haig, pno, Ray Brown, bs, Stan Levey, dr, Rudy Vallee and Harry "The Hipster" Gibson MCs

3. Intro dialogue between Vallee and Gibson into Salt Peanuts 3:40

LP 2

Side A

Mid-March 1946

The Finale Club, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California

Charlie Parker Quintet

Personnel: Charlie Parker, as, Miles Davis, tpt, Joe Albany, pno, Addison Farmer, bs, Chuck Thompson, dr, unknown MC

1. Billie's Bounce 3:45

2. Ornithology 5:04

3. All the Things You Are 5:13

4. Blue 'n' Boogie 5:15

Side B

1. Anthropology into announcement 2:51

Probably March or April 1946

AFRS "Jubilee," NBC Studios, Hollywood, California

Personnel: Charlie Parker, Benny Carter and Willie Smith, as, Nat "King" Cole, pno, Oscar Moore, g, Johnny Miller, bs, Buddy Rich, dr, Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman, MC.

2. Intro discussion into Cherokee into announcement 4:22

November 22, 1948

Jazz At the Philharmonic, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

Personnel: Charlie Parker, as, Al Haig, pno, Tommy Potter, bs, J.C. Heard, dr

3. Ornithology 4:11

4. Dizzy Atmosphere 5:39

5. Out of Nowhere 3:35

LP 3

Side A

July 14, 1952

Party at Jirayr Zorthian's Ranch, top of Fair Oaks Avenue, Altadena, California

Personnel: Charlie Parker and Frank Morgan, as, Don Wilkerson, ts, Amos Trice, pno, David Bailey, bs, Larance Marable, dr

1. Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT; CP, DW and FM exchange fours] 5:44

2. Au Privave/Dance of the Infidels [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT; CP, DW and FM exchange fours] 13:11

Side B

1. Night in Tunisia [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT] 7:33

2. How High the Moon/Ornithology [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT, CP, DW] 7:31

3. Party Chatter into Embraceable You [Soloist: CP] 3:45

LP 4

Side A

1. Hot House [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, CP exchanges with LM] 7:07

2. Cool Blues [Soloists: CP, FM, DW, CP and FM exchange choruses, DW, FM] 12:15

Side B

1. March Noodling/Dixie 4:12

Probably July 28, 1952 at Zorthian's Ranch

Personnel: Same as above, but add Chet Baker, tpt

2. Scrapple from the Apple [Soloists: FM, DW, CP, CB, AT, DB, CP exchanges with LM] 13:14

Probably July 1952, Unknown Location, Los Angeles, California

Personnel: Probably same as above, but omit Don Wilkerson and Chet Baker

3. Au Privave (incomplete) [Soloists: CP, FM] 4:28

DIGITAL & CD

Disc 1

December 17, 1945

Billy Berg's Supper Club, Hollywood, California

Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra Featuring Charlie Parker

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, tpt, Charlie Parker, as, Milt Jackson, vb, Al Haig, pno, Ray Brown, bs, Stan Levey, dr, except 2, Harry "The Hipster" Gibson, pno and vocal, Slim Gaillard, MC, Billy Berg, closing announcement

1. Intro over I Waited for You into How High the Moon (incomplete) 4:11

2. Intro dialogue with Gibson into Handsome Harry the Hipster (incomplete) (no Parker) 4:15

3. Cement Mixer (fragment) into Intro into Blues (fragment) 1:20

4. Dizzy Atmosphere (fragment) (no Parker improvisation) 1:04

5. Fifty-Second Street Theme into closing announcement 1:53

Possibly December 10, 17, or 29, 1945

AFRS "Jubilee," NBC Studios, Hollywood, California

Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra Featuring Charlie Parker

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, tpt, Charlie Parker, as, Al Haig, pno, Ray Brown, bs, Stan Levey, dr, Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman, MC

6. Groovin' High into announcement 5:47

7. Intro dialogue with Gillespie into Shaw 'Nuff into announcement 4:51

Add Milt Jackson, vb

8. Intro dialogue with Gillespie into Dizzy Atmosphere into announcement 4:36

January 24, 1946

"Drene Time," NBC Studios, Hollywood, California

Dizzy Gillespie Septet

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, tpt and voc, Charlie Parker, as, Lucky Thompson, ts, Milt Jackson, vb, Al Haig, pno, Ray Brown, bs, Stan Levey, dr, Rudy Vallee and Harry "The Hipster" Gibson MCs

9. Intro dialogue between Vallee and Gibson into Salt Peanuts 3:40

Mid-March 1946

The Finale Club, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California

Charlie Parker Quintet

Personnel: Charlie Parker, as, Miles Davis, tpt, Joe Albany, pno, Addison Farmer, bs, Chuck Thompson, dr, unknown MC

10. Billie's Bounce 3:45

11. Ornithology 5:04

12. All the Things You Are 5:13

13. Blue 'n' Boogie 5:15

14. Anthropology into announcement 2:51

Probably March or April 1946

AFRS "Jubilee," NBC Studios, Hollywood, California

Personnel: Charlie Parker, Benny Carter and Willie Smith, as, Nat "King" Cole, pno, Oscar Moore, g, Johnny Miller, bs, Buddy Rich, dr, Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman, MC.

15. Intro discussion into Cherokee into announcement 4:22

November 22, 1948

Jazz At the Philharmonic, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California

Personnel: Charlie Parker, as, Al Haig, pno, Tommy Potter, bs, J.C. Heard, dr

16. Ornithology 4:11

17. Dizzy Atmosphere 5:39

18. Out of Nowhere 3:35

Disc 2

July 14, 1952

Party at Jirayr Zorthian's Ranch, top of Fair Oaks Avenue, Altadena, California

Personnel: Charlie Parker and Frank Morgan, as, Don Wilkerson, ts, Amos Trice, pno, David Bailey, bs, Larance Marable, dr

1. Scrapple from the Apple (incomplete) [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, CP, DW. FM, AT] 5:44

2. Au Privave/Dance of the Infidels [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT; CP, DW and FM exchange fours] 13:11

3. Night in Tunisia [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT] 7:33

4. How High the Moon/Ornithology [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, AT, CP, DW] 7:31

5. Party Chatter into Embraceable You [Soloist: CP] 3:45

6. Hot House [Soloists: CP, DW, FM, CP exchanges with LM] 7:07

7. Cool Blues [Soloists: CP, FM, DW, CP and FM exchange choruses, DW, FM] 12:15

8. March Noodling/Dixie 4:12

Probably July 28, 1952 at Zorthian's Ranch

Personnel: Same as above, but add Chet Baker, tpt

9. Scrapple from the Apple [Soloists: FM, DW, CP, CB, AT, DB, CP exchanges with LM] 13:14

Probably July 1952, Unknown Location, Los Angeles, California

Personnel: Probably same as above, but omit Don Wilkerson and Chet Baker

10. Au Privave (incomplete) [Soloists: CP, FM] 4:28

SOURCE Verve/UMe
EVERETT, Wash., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare providers at Community Health Center of Snohomish County have won the right to unionize with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.

The National Labor Relations Board certified the results of the election on Friday morning.

"This is an important victory for patients in the community," said Dr. Stuart Bussey, a physician in private practice and President of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists. "The providers will now have an important voice in the workplace and a seat at the table with management when making decisions affecting patient care."

In total, 41 providers across seven clinics located in Snohomish County will form the bargaining unit. In deciding to form a union, these providers voiced concerns about the health network's failure to consult with them about important changes that affect patient care. They also raised questions about the sudden departure of eight providers in recent months and why the network has not addressed the staffing shortages. Each provider has a caseload of 1,000 to 2,000 patients, seeing approximately 20 to 26 patients each day.

CHC is a non-profit provider founded in 1983 to serve the health needs of county residents who face barriers to health care.

About the Union of American Physicians & Dentists

The Union of American Physicians & Dentists (UAPD) has organized physicians and providers since 1972. With more than 5,000 members in California, New Mexico, and Washington State, UAPD is the largest union of licensed physicians and advanced practice clinicians nationwide. Members work for state and county governments, large healthcare organizations and nonprofit health systems, as well as providers in private practice. Learn more at www.uapd.com .

Contact Information:

Vivi Le

Communications Manager

Union of American Physicians & Dentists

(714) 552-9841

[email protected]

SOURCE Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Hohhot No.27 Middle School and Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Museum jointly carry out extracurricular activities for students themed of " Science Caravan into Campus" in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regionon, March 23, 2023.Students closely experienced the charm of science through hands-on experiments and operation of popular science exhibits involving mechanics, acoustics, optics and other fields. Photo shows students experiencing the Madburg Hemisphere experiment to learn about atmospheric pressure. (Ding Genhou/Guangming Picture)

Hohhot No.27 Middle School and Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Museum jointly carry out extracurricular activities for students themed of " Science Caravan into Campus" in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regionon, March 23, 2023.Students closely experienced the charm of science through hands-on experiments and operation of popular science exhibits involving mechanics, acoustics, optics and other fields. Photo shows students visiting the popular science exhibition "Eyes and Health". (Ding Genhou/Guangming Picture)

Hohhot No.27 Middle School and Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Museum jointly carry out extracurricular activities for students themed of " Science Caravan into Campus" in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regionon, March 23, 2023. Students closely experienced the charm of science through hands-on experiments and operation of popular science exhibits involving mechanics, acoustics, optics and other fields. Photo shows students experiencing "Different Kinds of Stress" science experiment show. (Ding Genhou/Guangming Picture)

Editor: ZAD
The partnership between the two institutions gives Roanoke College students direct admission into computer science and computer engineering master's degree programs.

SALEM, Va. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Roanoke College and Virginia Tech have entered a partnership that will benefit students in science fields and serve as an engine for economic, workforce and educational development in Virginia. The two agreements that make up the partnership will allow Roanoke College students to pursue graduate programs at Virginia Tech and facilitate an early transition to graduate school.

The announcement comes amid a larger, historic investment being made by state leaders, employers and philanthropic donors to grow Virginia's workforce in high-priority tech fields. The Tech Talent Investment Program has marshaled more than $2 billion to date to support initiatives designed to more than double the number of students statewide who are earning computer-related degrees and capitalize on major opportunities such as the Amazon HQ2 project in Northern Virginia.

The new Direct to Tech program provides Roanoke College students direct admission into Virginia Tech Master of Engineering programs in either computer science and applications or computer engineering upon graduation from Roanoke College. Direct to Tech is open to all Roanoke College seniors with a 3.0 GPA, regardless of major, who have completed certain required courses. The partnership will reduce the timeline for admission and give students an early transition into the Virginia Tech graduate programs, which are delivered from the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia. The first building of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, located just outside the nation's capital, opens to students in fall 2024. Students currently enrolled in Innovation Campus master's degree programs are attending classes at the university's Falls Church location.

"This program will provide students with the opportunity to take advantage of the best that Roanoke College and Virginia Tech have to offer. We're thrilled that Roanoke is the first college in Virginia to sign on to this program. The Roanoke College and Virginia Tech partnership is about access for our students and opportunities for their incredible futures," said Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. "Maroons and Hokies are celebrating, and the pathways and possibilities to and from Roanoke College are even stronger. This is a tremendous arrangement and partnership for us, for Virginia Tech and for the commonwealth."

A second agreement between the two schools allows Roanoke College students to take advantage of an accelerated 4+1 undergraduate/graduate program in computer science or computer engineering at Virginia Tech. This partnership enables students to take courses that apply toward a bachelor's degree at Roanoke College and an accelerated master's degree at Virginia Tech. This means students can earn a Bachelor of Science in four years, then complete the master's with just one additional year at Virginia Tech. This program is open to any Roanoke College computer science major who has earned at least a 3.3 GPA and completed certain courses, including Calculus II, as part of their undergraduate degree.

"We are thrilled to partner with Roanoke College to launch our first Direct to Tech program and additional 4+1 opportunities," said Lance Collins, vice president and executive director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. "The Innovation Campus is dedicated to increasing opportunities for underrepresented students while expanding access to tech talent in the national capital region. We look forward to welcoming Roanoke College graduates to our Master of Engineering program."

As part of both the Direct to Tech and accelerated 4+1 agreements, Roanoke College students will not have to pay application fees or submit GRE scores to Virginia Tech. For the 4+1 program, Virginia Tech may provide significant financial support for students, particularly through state and industry funding earmarked to support women, underrepresented minorities, first-generation students and veterans.

SOURCE Roanoke College
Exclusive program adds power to homebuyer offers with unimaginable speed

CHICAGO, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OriginPoint, a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate and Compass Real Estate, today announced the launch of Same Day Mortgage,1 delivering a loan approval in less than 24 hours. The launch expands upon OriginPoint's commitment to deliver a seamless and cutting-edge financing process to borrowers. This program first rolled out to a select group of OriginPoint and Guaranteed Rate customers in 2022, resulting in $1.1 billion in closed loan volume. Today, OriginPoint launches Same Day Mortgage nationwide to get buyers into homes quickly and effortlessly.

With Same Day Mortgage, homebuyers can apply for a mortgage and get approved all in as little as one business day.

"OriginPoint is known for leading the charge toward transformative change in the mortgage industry. From the start, we have had an unwavering commitment to blowing up the traditional slow play, overly complicated home financing process, rife with old school methodologies," said James Elliott, President and Chief Executive Officer of OriginPoint. "Same Day Mortgage is the culmination of those efforts. In today's busy world, people expect a fast and easy experience. Using industry leading technology and a hyper efficient process, OriginPoint's Same Day Mortgage is built to exceed our customers' expectations. It's a true game changer!"

First-time homebuyers are at a real disadvantage in today's housing market, especially when going up against all-cash buyers who make up 28% of home purchases. Same Day Mortgage levels the playing field, giving everyone the big advantage cash buyers enjoyspeed.

Real estate agents also benefit from the power of Same Day Mortgage. With the spring selling season upon us and inventory near all-time lows, Same Day Mortgage is an essential tool for a buyer and agent to expedite successful closings in what could turn out to be a seller's market. When buyers use Same Day Mortgage, along with PowerBid Approval, OriginPoint's fully underwritten pre-approval letter, their offers compete aggressively with all-cash buyers.

Not only will Same Day Mortgage help more borrowers get the home they want, they can also earn a $250 discount just for submitting required documentation in eight hours. To receive this credit, buyers simply access their account through OriginPoint's Digital Mortgage platform, electronically sign the initial application package, and then upload requested documentation on the same day. After this information is submitted, OriginPoint validates income, collateral, assets, and credit before issuing approval to close. With Same Day Mortgage, buyers can close in as little as 10 days.

To date, Guaranteed Rate Companies have delivered more than 3,300 one-day approvals totaling $1.1B; all while maintaining a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 97 since the launch of the program. This year, conforming loan limits have been raised to as high as $1,089,300, allowing even more prospective consumers to purchase the home of their dreams.

To learn more, please visit OriginPoint.com.

About Origin Point

OriginPoint, a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc., and Compass Inc. (NYSE: COMP), is an independent retail mortgage company that provides personalized lending services and access to the most competitive low rates through an elite team of the industry's top mortgage professionals. OriginPoint is a digitally driven enterprise designed to accelerate growth by continuing to modernize the real estate transaction process through increased speed and efficiency for loan originators, agents and customers. By connecting the top loan officers and best real estate agents using the most innovative technology platforms, this national mortgage company is focused on the customer's ultimate success and satisfaction. To learn more, visit www.originpoint.com.

About Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, the Guaranteed Rate Companies have over 850 branches across the U.S., serving all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Guaranteed Rate Companies have helped more than 1 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances, with a total loan volume of more than $116 billion in 2021 alone. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Top Lender for Online Service for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report; Best Mortgage Lender for Online Loans and Best Mortgage Lender for Refinancing by NerdWallet for 2021; HousingWire's Tech100 award for the company's industry-leading FlashClose in 2020, digital mortgage platform MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; No. 2 ranking in Scotsman Guide's 2022 list of Top Retail Mortgage Lenders; Chicago Agent Magazine's Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces list for seven consecutive years. Visit rate.com for more information.

About Compass

Compass is the #1 independent real estate brokerage in the country. With its suite of AI-driven cloud-based software, Compass is a real estate company with a purpose: to help everyone find their place in the world.

1Same Day Mortgage Terms and Conditions

1. OriginPoint ("Lender") is offering qualified customers who complete an application for a Mortgage Loan and successfully provide the Required Documents (as defined below) within 8 hours of locking a rate (the "Required Tasks Completion Period") for their mortgage loan (the "Mortgage Loan"), the eligibility to receive a loan approval on their Mortgage Loan within 1 business day (the "Offer"). For purposes of this offer, documents provided after 1 pm local time or on a weekend or company holiday will be deemed submitted the next business day.

2. In addition, qualified customers who successfully provide the Required Documents within the Required Tasks Completion Period will receive $250 in the form of a lender closing cost credit to be applied to reduce the closing costs of their Mortgage Loan (the "Discount").

3. The Offer

a. To be eligible for the Offer, qualified customers are required to upload all documents requested by Lender to Lender's online portal (known as "MyAccount") within the Required Tasks Completion Period. These documents include, but are not limited, to the following:

i. Pay stubs;

ii. W2s;

iii. bank statements (including any applicable investment and retirement statements);

iv. A copy of a complete purchase agreement for the subject property of their Mortgage Loan; and

v. If applicable, proof of disability awards, social security income, retirement earnings, or pension income statements (collectively, the "Required Documents").

The Required Documents may differ based on a qualified customer's financial condition and all applicable Mortgage Loan requirements (including applicable credit and underwriting guidelines). Customers must provide all Required Documents within the Required Tasks Completion Period to be eligible for the Offer. In cases of multiple applicants for the same Mortgage Loan, all applicants must submit the Required Documents within the Required Tasks Completion Period to be eligible for the Offer. The Offer is non-transferable.

b. In addition, to be eligible for the Offer, qualified customers must:

i. Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or non-permanent resident (certain visa categories only) purchasing or refinancing a primary residence located in a state where Lender is licensed to originate mortgage loans;

ii. Be a W-2 employee or an individual on fixed income (e.g., pension, social security, or disability income); iii. Not be a fee simple owner or be in the process of becoming a fee simple owner of any additional real property (i.e., must not have, or be in the process of obtaining, all of the rights of ownership, including the right to possess, sell, lease, and enjoy the land) in any state, other than the contemplated subject property associated with their Mortgage Loan; provided, however, a fee simple owner of solely a primary residence in which the owner is currently in the process of selling such primary residence shall be eligible for the Offer;

iv. Meet the requirements to lock a rate;

vi. Provide proof of any required down payment funds.

c. The Offer is limited to conventional or conforming mortgage loans to be used for the purchase or refinance of a primary residence for single family and planned unit development (PUD) properties.

d. This offer is not available in the states of KY, WV, NY Co-Op/CEMA, and on refinances in TX.

e. The use of self-employment income to meet the debt-to-income ("DTI") requirements of a Mortgage Loan will render a customer ineligible for the Offer.

f. Lender does not guarantee that by qualifying to become eligible for the Offer that a customer will receive a loan approval. Upon qualifying for the Offer, Lender will use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with mortgage industry practices to provide a customer with a loan approval within 1 business day of customer providing the Required Documents within the Required Tasks Completion Period. In addition, Lender does not guarantee that all customers who provide the Required Documents within the Required Tasks Completion period will ultimately be approved for a loan. Eligibility will be based on the customer's satisfaction of all applicable credit and underwriting guidelines. Additional information and documentation may be required depending on the circumstances. In addition, the issuance of a loan approval does not mean that the customer will receive a loan on the date the approval is issued. Loan approval may be conditional. Customer must satisfy all conditions to approval within the time specified and successfully complete the closing process. Changes to a customer's financial condition, employment or credit history may nullify the loan approval.

4. The Discount.

a. Upon qualifying for the Discount, Lender will include the Discount in the final closing costs due at the closing of the Mortgage Loan. The Discount can only be applied once per Mortgage Loan. The Discount may not be combined with any other Lender promotions, discounts, or concessions.

b. Lender reserves the right to provide a customer with the Discount in the event that the customer fails to provide the Required Documents within the Required Tasks Completion Period.

5. The Offer and Discount are subject to all applicable state laws.

6. Lender is an Equal Housing Lender. As prohibited by federal law, we do not engage in business practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (provided you have the capacity to enter into a binding contract), because all or part of your income may be derived from any public assistance program, or because you have, in good faith, exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The federal agency that administers our compliance with these federal laws is the Federal Trade Commission, Equal Credit Opportunity, Washington, DC, 20580.

7. The Offer only applies to customers who apply for a Mortgage Loan after the effective date of this Offer, which is the date these Terms and Conditions are published on the Lender's website. The Offer is not intended to apply retroactively to existing loan applications.

8. LENDER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, PROMOTIONS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice and are subject to state restrictions.

: https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/existing-home-sales-receded-1-5-in-december

SOURCE OriginPoint
Human Intelligence-Powered Advertising Automation Platform Seeks to Help Attendees at the Leading North American Retail Industry Show Taking Place in Las Vegas, March 26-29

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shirofune , recently launching in the U.S. after becoming the #1 digital automated advertising management tool in Japan, will serve as a sponsor of the retail industry conference Shoptalk . The Shirofune team, including Founder and CEO Mitsunaga Kikuchi, will be attending the show taking place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on March 26 through 29.

The Shirofune team, including Founder and CEO Mitsunaga Kikuchi, will be attending the Shoptalk at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on March 26 through 29.

With retailers seeking ways to stay competitive, Shirofune uses human-powered intelligence rather than AI to offer retail marketers and agencies an automated platform that simplifies digital advertising management, delivering significant time, cost and performance benefits. Rather than individually accessing ad platforms such as Meta, Twitter, Google, Microsoft and TikTok, Shirofune maximizes performance across all platforms with intelligent auto-budgeting and auto-bidding, as well as smart optimization tools, to eliminate underperforming keywords, audiences or networks.

"With its size and its focus on new technologies, trends and business models, the Shoptalk conference in Las Vegas is an ideal place to reach retail advertising decision-makers," said Mitsunaga Kikuchi, Founder/CEO of Shirofune. "Our easy-to-use platform not only saves time, money and frustration, but it improves overall performance, a message we know will resonate in the North American market. We'll be on the ground at Shoptalk and encourage everyone to connect with us there!"

Shirofune, which has captured a 91% market share in Japan, is used by numerous advertisers and agencies, including major players like Rakuten and Dentsu, saving them more than 50% of work hours. Launching in the U.S. and Canada in February 2023, Shirofune seeks to offer North American marketers and agencies the same benefits.

Recent developments since launching in North America include a successful presentation at eTail West and a partnership with Microsoft Advertising.

About Shirofune

Founded in 2014, Shirofune is an automated advertising management tool that maximizes the efficiency and productivity of major digital advertising platforms. The Shirofune platform is designed to maximize advertising effectiveness by automating day-to-day digital ad campaigns using a single, easy-to-use interface for management, budgeting, monitoring and analytics. Over 10,000 accounts have been automated using Shirofune, including 300,000 active ad campaigns. Shirofune also has been selected as the only Yahoo! Ads API-certified partner tool in Japan. For more information, please visit https://shirofune.us .

Media Contact

Chelsea Kershaw

Firecracker PR

(909) 573-7237

[email protected]

SOURCE Shirofune
CHICAGO and STOCKHOLM, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinch, which powers meaningful conversations between businesses and their customers through its Customer Communications Cloud, today announced a new private label offering for partners and service providers to provide Microsoft Teams voice calling. This offering is available through Sinch's new program called Operator Connect for Partners, designed for communication service providers, managed service providers, and value-added resellers.

Sinch, which powers meaningful conversations between businesses and their customers through its Customer Communications Cloud, today announced a new private label offering for partners and service providers to provide Microsoft Teams voice calling.

Sinch has a long-standing relationship with communication service providers enabling voice services over its U.S. voice network  the largest tier 1 network in the United States with a 99.999% uptime track record  supported 24x7 by its voice experts. The new Operator Connect for Partners program offers service providers the opportunity to expand their service offering, enhance call quality, increase collaboration, and improve the customer experience for their clients.

Last year, Sinch was named an Operator Connect partner allowing businesses to bring their voice services into Microsoft Teams through Operator Connect, enabling calls to anyone, anywhere, over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). By owning and operating the largest independent voice network, Sinch delivers best-in-class voice quality and value. Key differentiators versus competitors include a low-cost structure, an easy-to-use self-service portal, and designation as one of a select few emergency services providers through Teams.

Participating partners can leverage the Sinch network and number coverage to take advantage of a turnkey, highly automated solution with a partner management portal, branded customer administration portal, and low-touch order management, as well as efficient service and support.

"We're proud of this achievement to expand our working relationship with our partners by offering Operator Connect for Partners," said Nick Reifschneider, Sinch vice president of product. "With this latest Microsoft Teams solution, we're helping service providers add value to their clients while relying on our existing and reliable infrastructure. Through Operator Connect, Teams can become an organization's primary phone system, reducing costs, and streamlining infrastructure through cloud communications  ultimately extending our highly reliable call delivery to enterprises who demand Microsoft Teams for today's evolving remote and hybrid work environments."

About Sinch

Sinch powers meaningful conversations between businesses and their customers through its Customer Communications Cloud. More than 150,000 businesses  including many of the world's largest tech companies  rely on Sinch and its global super network, which is the most secure and reliable network for messaging, voice, and email. Sinch has been profitable and fast-growing since it was founded in 2008. It is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with shares traded at NASDAQ Stockholm: XSTO:SINCH. Learn more at sinch.com.

SOURCE Sinch
DUBLIN, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Singapore Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Social commerce industry in Singapore is expected to grow by 55.2% on annual basis to reach US$1255.7 million in 2023.



The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 32.5% during 2022-2028. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$1255.7 million in 2023 to reach US$6781.9 million by 2028.



This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities.

Reasons to buy

In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2019-2028).

Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors.

Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry.

Scope



Singapore Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2019-2028

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Segment, 2019-2028

B2B

B2C

C2C

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2019-2028

Mobile

Desktop

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028

Domestic

Cross Border

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2019-2028

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Singapore Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2022

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i7meer

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Accounting Sector in South Africa 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report on the accounting sector in South Africa, including knowledge management, provides a comprehensive overview of the state and size of the sector, registered, employed and graduate numbers, regulations, trends and key issues, as well as information on the major players and developments.

There are 18 company profiles including the Auditor-General and notable firms such as EY, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Mazars, BDO, Nolands and SNG Grant Thornton.



The Accounting Sector in South Africa



The accounting sector is the guarantor of financial reporting standards and performs a critical function in the South African economy. The industry continues to be affected by recent accounting scandals which have lowered trust in the profession.

While recent regulations aim to bolster efforts to hold auditors to account, there is concern they may make the profession unattractive to graduates who may fear harsh consequences if they are linked to corporate scandals. This, and emigration of professionals, has led to concern over a shortage of auditors.

Transformation, gender diversity and the continuing decline in quality of accounting in the public sector are ongoing concerns. Regulatory changes that are set to disrupt the industry include the mandatory rotation of auditors, which is due to take effect on 1 April 2023.



Audit-Consulting Split



Questions have for some years been raised over the big firms' ability to conduct independent audits when they depend heavily on offering advisory services to these same clients.

The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors recently said it was considering forcing audit companies to split their structure and functions into audit-only and advisory services-only. Regulations already limit the provision of certain non-audit services to audit clients.



Trends



Key trends include the marked decline in the number of auditors and chartered accountants in recent years either through emigration, remote work or dropping out of the profession; the declining pass rates of candidates sitting the board exams; and the increasing opportunity offered for business restructuring professionals, particularly in business rescue procedures.



Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION



2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

2.1. Industry Value Chain

2.2. Geographic Position

2.3. Size of the Industry



3. LOCAL

3.1. State of the Industry

3.2. Key Trends

3.3. Key Issues

3.4. Notable Players

3.5. Corporate Actions

3.6. Regulations

3.7. Enterprise Development and Social Development



4. AFRICA



5. INTERNATIONAL



6. INFLUENCING FACTORS

6.1. Economic Environment

6.2. Labour

6.3. Environmental Issues

6.4. Technology, R&D, Innovation

6.5. Input Costs



7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

7.1. Competition

7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry

7.3. Barriers to Entry



8. SWOT ANALYSIS



9. OUTLOOK



10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



11. REFERENCES

11.1. Publications

11.2. Websites

COMPANY PROFILES

Auditor-General South Africa

Baker Tilly Greenwoods Chartered Accountants

BDO South Africa Inc

Crowe in Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

(Pty) Ltd Deloitte South Africa

Ernst and Young Inc

Exceed ( Cape Town ) Inc

) Inc KPMG Inc

LDP Chartered Accountants and Auditors Inc

Mazars

Moore South Africa (Pty) Ltd

(Pty) Ltd Nolands Inc

PKF South Africa Inc

PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc

RSM South Africa Inc

SekelaXabiso CA Inc

SizweNtsalubaGobodo Grant Thornton Inc

Theron du Plessis Durbanville Inc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d3p2v

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "South Korea Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Social commerce industry in South Korea is expected to grow by 21.2% on annual basis to reach US$18163.5 million in 2023.



The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 15.0% during 2022-2028. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$18163.5 million in 2023 to reach US$42082.1 million by 2028.



This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.



The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities.

Reasons to buy

In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2019-2028).

Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors.

Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry.

Scope



South Korea Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2019-2028

Clothing & Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food & Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Segment, 2019-2028

B2B

B2C

C2C

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2019-2028

Mobile

Desktop

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028

Domestic

Cross Border

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2019-2028

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital & Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

South Korea Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2022

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jsysay

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
SHANGHAI, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Jahwa United Co., Ltd (SH.600315) recently hosted the online "To Beauty to Youth" 2023 Strategy Conference. At the event, the management team led by Alex Pan, Chairman and CEO of Shanghai Jahwa, gave a presentation on Jahwa's achievements over the past year and its long-term vision, including corporate strategy, trends and development, brand innovation, ESG management. The team also invited external experts and partners to discuss consumption trends and growth paths in the new era.

Alex Pan, Chairman and CEO of Shanghai Jahwa, explained the company's business results for 2022 and corporate strategy for 2023 with a keynote speech "Innovation to Excellence". "As national economy gradually transforms from fast growth to development driven by quality, a series of positive signals can be observed from the overall recovery of consumption. This is a strong boost to the entire beauty and personal care industry. As an industry leader, Shanghai Jahwa continues to improve on differentiation, R&D investment, resource optimization, productivity, and capital expenditure. The company makes constant progress with solid operations and management."

In 2023, Jahwa's 123 operation principle to drive brand innovation. Jahwa focuses on expertise, premiumization, and experiential to enhance brand equity. While pushing for expertise in brand, segmentation and product, the company creates more, better products for consumers through its R&D and marketing prowess. With regards to corporate brand innovation, the company has instilled a concept of long-term, sustainable, and memorable consumer service. Furthermore, Shanghai Jahwa has constantly adapted to market trends and evolved its products for premiumization in positioning, products, target consumers, and packaging. Meanwhile, the company focuses on experiential, improving consumer experience on three dimensions for brand innovation and service enhancement.

As a long-term player riding through business cycles, the company is dedicated to beauty, adheres to its mission of creating the best health and beauty products and services to maximize the value for consumers, employees, shareholders and entire society. In the future, Shanghai Jahwa hopes to achieve a new level of excellence, representing Chinese brands to compete against international brands on the world stage. Shanghai Jahwa aims to present Chinese Beauty to the world.

For more info, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083574486073

SOURCE Shanghai Jahwa
NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kolja Kiofsky has been named General Manager North America of Swarovski, the world's leading crystal and jewelry manufacturer.

Based in New York City, Kiofsky will be responsible for achieving sustainable and profitable growth in the Americas region, a key strategic priority for the crystal giant.

Photo credit: Emma Silke

Kiofsky brings a wealth of international management experience to the role. Having started his career at Porsche in the automotive industry, he joined Swarovski in 2010 as Head of Marketing Development at the brand's Zurich headquarters. As Global Senior Vice President for CX & Omnichannel Management, he was responsible for all points of purchase globally as well as ensuring high-quality store distribution, architecture, omnichannel solutions, training, and customer experience & service.

In his new role, Kiofsky's most important task will be to drive profitable growth in one of Swarovski's best performing markets. The November 2023 launch of Swarovski's new flagship store at 680 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan will be a key priority, as will the US-wide roll out of the brand's first fine jewelry collection made with Swarovski Created Diamonds.

"I am honored to continue my tenure at Swarovski leading the North America team", says Kiofsky. "We see the US and Canadian consumer responding very well to our brand proposition. This region offers fantastic growth opportunities and I'm confident that we will continue to strengthen the company's position as one of the world's premier jewelry and accessory brands."

Swarovski has been on a journey of transformation since 2020, with a bold new product offer designed by Creative Director Giovanna Engelbert and a new business vision and growth strategy under Alexis Nasard, the family-owned company's first external CEO.

SOURCE Swarovski
SHANGHAI, March. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- S'Young International ("S'Young", "the Company"), the initiator of the CP (China Partner) cooperation model, a digital-driven open platform for global beauty brands to connect with the Chinese market, hosted an exclusive cosmetics forum at Palazzo Gnudi, Bologna, Italy on March 17, joining Tmall Global, China's largest cross-border online marketplace and Pier Auge, a beauty product innovator for sensitive skin, to discuss the reality of China's beauty market in the post-pandemic era. At the event, Marshall Chen, CEO and Co-founder of S'Young International shared his insights on the DON'Ts and DOs that help global beauty brands in navigating the challenges and reaping the benefits in the changing Chinese market.

Roundtable discussion at S'Young Exclusive Cosmetics Forum

As China eased its Covid-19 prevention measures, the Chinese beauty market has shown greater growth potential. Data indicated that beauty consumption per capita in China still has five times more room to increase. However, Marshall also warned that despite the booming Chinese beauty market's many opportunities, it is fraught with difficulties too. Targeting the challenges, Marshall provided three essentials DON'Ts to help brands avoid the potential pitfalls:

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE COMPETITION

DON'T MIX DIFFERENT CONSUMERS

DON'T SIMPLY COPY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OF SUCCESS

Current Chinese beauty space could be roughly divided into three categories: Chinese domestic brands, well-known international brands, and niche international brands. The competition between the first two categories is fierce, while niche brands often enter the market by targeting specific market segments to avoid intense competition. To enter these specific market segments, brands need to focus on building their brand image for a more targeted audience. China's urban structure ranges from first-tier to eighth-tier cities, and is influenced by different channel environments and marketing conditions. To efficiently grow a brand, it is important to differentiate the marketing strategies according to the city tier. Compared to overseas markets, the Chinese beauty industry has a higher percentage of e-commerce channels, and is highly reliant on social media and short-video marketing. It is also important to pay attention to the differences in beauty demands among Asian ethnicities, which requires differentiation from overseas market strategies.

Then under the current circumstances of the Chinese beauty market, how can brands survive and achieve long-term success in such a complicated market with promising prospects and diverse challenges? Marshall responded to the question with three essential DOs:

DO START WITH WANTs

DO BRANDING

DO BUILDING A BRAND LIKE RAISING A CHILD

"Given the intricacy of the beauty market in China, brands must not only identify customers' explicit needs but also their underlying desires to provide innovative products that satisfy their individual demands. For example, a traditional foundation or a product for skin-whitening can only meet the basic needs of Chinese customers whereas products such as drinkable supplements from a Spanish cosmeceutical brand for whitening and a longwear foundation with Milanese fashion DNA can provide additional benefits that cater to their deeper demands," said Marshall.

He also highlighted the significance of brand-building in the current scenario, emphasizing that beauty brands need to explore their brand strengths, historical roots, and cultural identity. This is crucial to develop a distinct and appealing brand image that strikes a chord with customers and differentiates them from rivals in the fiercely competitive and congested beauty industry in China. Furthermore, to build a successful brand in a holistic manner, it is also essential to integrate product development, marketing strategies, efficient operations, and logistics management for both online and offline cross-border and domestic sales.

At the event, Kristina Hui, Head of Beauty UK & Nordics at Tmall Global, introduced the rapid digital evolution of China's retail landscape in the past years. She also pointed out that the changes brought by the pandemic have prompted the platform to seek new solutions to connect and engage with customers.

Charles Dupont, CEO of Pier Auge, shared the importance of choosing the right China partner that can help global brands achieve sustainable growth in the long run. In 2022, Pier Auge and S'Young reached strategic cooperation. Under the CP collaboration model, leveraging S'Young's expertise in China's market, the sales of Pier Auge's flagship product Douce Aura, clocked a whopping 259% year-on-year growth. Pier Auge's popularity among Chinese customers skyrocketed as a result and saw its sales figure quadruple in 12 months.

"As the Initiator of the CP collaboration model, S'Young has partnered with over thirty international brands to provide them with market expertise and essential tools to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth in China. Our all-dimensional solutions encompass brand positioning, unique communication strategies, marketing, retailing, and supply chain management, and we work alongside our partners to clarify their primary objectives and map out action plans for each developmental phase, enabling them to create hero products and establish robust omnichannel capabilities. To achieve this, we forge in-depth, couple-like cooperation with our partners to guarantee their brand success in China, just like raising a child through tight collaboration," said Marshall.

About S'Young International

S'Young International, the Initiator of the CP collaboration model, is a digital-driven open platform that empowers global beauty brands to access and connect with the Chinese market by providing a complete solution that focuses on their all-dimension, omnichannel and full-lifecycle development. S'Young International has now cooperated with more than 30 beauty brands globally.

SOURCE S'Young International
Starting from October 2022 and as of March 23, 2023, up to 5 GW of generating capacities remained damaged in the Integrated Power System (IPS) of Ukraine, First Deputy Energy Minister Yuriy Vlasenko said at a roundtable talk on Friday at the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Housing and Utility Services, dedicated to distributed generation.

"Starting from October 24, thermal power plants and combined heat and power plants, hydroelectric power plants and pumped storage facilities were shelled, and in general, 24 generation facilities were shelled during this period, most of them multiple times," Vlasenko said.

According to him, to date, 19 power units of TPPs with a total capacity of 3.3 GW, four power units of TPPs with a capacity of 1.1 GW and eight hydroelectric units of HPPs with a capacity of 0.54 GW remain damaged in the energy system.

"In addition, part of the generating capacities remains under occupation. These are five TPPs with a total capacity of 10 GW and our largest Zaporizhia NPP with a total capacity of 6 GW," the First Deputy Minister added.

He also informed that at present the Ministry of Energy, together with international organizations, is developing projects for distributed generation in Ukraine, one of which, in particular, provides for the installation of solar power plants in 200,000 Ukrainian households along with energy storage systems that will provide uninterrupted power supply for four hours.

As reported, over the past six months, Russian aggressors have inflicted 15 missile and 18 drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, inflicting extensive and complex damage to power plants of generating companies and key substations of NPC Ukrenergo.
TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Taipei Fashion Week opened its Autumn/Winter 2023 season on March 22nd with "CrossLab: Dialogue between Traditional Performance, Craftsmanship and Fashion," a themed group show highlighting the collaboration between 7 fashion designers and 7 traditional craftsmen and performing artists.

The opening show represents the DNA of what Taipei Fashion Week stands forwhere fashion is more than just part of an economic system, and allows us to connect with our culture and history.

C JEAN with lacquer artist Ching-Shuang Wang; GIOIA PAN with Taiwanese opera master Mei-Yun Tang; JUST IN XX with traditional temple painter Wu-Nan Zhuang; BOB JIAN with Zhen Shou Temple Wu Jing Tang Folk Parade Club; TANGTSUNGCHIEN with Tung-Hua shadow puppet theater; YENLINE with paper sculptor I-Chang Chen; and WEI TZU-YUAN with Hsia-Sheng Chen, who specializes in traditional and creative knotting. The show was held in front of Nankunshen Daitian Temple in Tainan, one of the oldest and most historically important temples in Taiwan. The opening show represents the DNA of what Taipei Fashion Week stands for-where fashion is more than just part of an economic system, and allows us to connect with Taiwan's unique culture and history.

The show was held in front of Nankunshen Daitian Temple in Tainan, one of the oldest and most historically important temples in Taiwan. With 360 years of history, Nankunshen Daitian Temple represents not only local Taiwanese life, but also the most essential fashion elements in each crucial historical moment. The core of contemporary Taiwan fashion is derived from traditional craft culture, making Nankunshen Daitian Temple the perfect backdrop to display collections that pay homage to the preservation of tradition in modern day.

Familiar fashion designers took part in this year's show, resulting in a unique and brilliant look into the future of fashion. C JEAN collaborated with lacquer artist Ching-Shuang Wang; GIOIA PAN with Taiwanese opera master Mei-Yun Tang; JUST IN XX with traditional temple painter Wu-Nan Zhuang; BOB JIAN with Zhen Shou Temple Wu Jing Tang Folk Parade Club; TANGTSUNGCHIEN with Tung-Hua shadow puppet theater; YENLINE with paper sculptor I-Chang Chen; and WEI TZU-YUAN with Hsia-Sheng Chen, who specializes in traditional and creative knotting.

The show is the third in a trilogy of crossover collaboration at Taipei Fashion Week between contemporary fashion designers and traditional craftsmen, following the crossover of contemporary visual art in SS22 and the crossover of indigenous crafts of master craftsmen in SS23. As with the previous crossover shows, this year's opening show seamlessly blends art, craftsmanship, culture, and fashion to show new and exciting propositions for modern Taiwanese designs.

Taipei Fashion Week continues to move forward steadily with an emphasis on Taiwan cultural pride as part of its plan to create an interdisciplinary fashion culture. The goal is to create a legacy where art and culture fuse in contemporary popular clothing, combining fashion with fields such as film, drama, popular music, performing arts, and traditional crafts. Ultimately, Taipei Fashion Week aims to become an influential force of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion on an international stage and become synonymous with a respect for craftsmanship, cultivating talent, and driving endless creativity.

Following the opening show, Taipei Fashion Week will continue through April 8th. For the latest updates and scheduling information about this season's runway collections, head to tpefw.com.

Media Contact:

Sunny Chiang

6462705533

[email protected]

SOURCE Taipei Fashion Week
DUBLIN, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Petroleum Industry in Tanzania 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report on the petroleum industry in Tanzania provides comprehensive information on crude oil and natural gas, petroleum products, fuel wholesale and retail, exploration, reserves, pipelines and major new projects.

There are profiles of 19 companies including state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, major international players such as TotalEnergies and Shell and gas companies including Songas and Taifa Gas.

Tanzania Petroleum Industry Insights

The Tanzanian petroleum industry has been growing over the past few years in terms of natural gas output and the consumption of natural gas and petroleum products.

Tanzania has the fifth-largest recoverable natural gas reserves in Africa and it produces enough natural gas to satisfy domestic demand. Tanzania is an important channel for neighbouring landlocked countries' petroleum imports.

Opportunities to grow the industry include planned natural gas pipelines to Kenya and Zambia and the planned Tanzania Liquefied Natural Gas project, which will be the country's largest investment to date.



The Tanzania Liquefied Natural Gas Project



The Tanzanian government planned to sign a host government agreement in February 2023 with Norwegian company Equinor and British company Shell to operate the gas fields and LNG plant.

The LNG will be exported to Asia and Europe, while some of the natural gas will be will be used in the country for power generation and by companies such as manufacturers. Tanzania is eager to use its natural gas reserves to develop its economy. Securing sufficient funding might prove to be a challenge.



Trends and Issues



Demand for natural gas is growing and liquefied petroleum gas consumption is increasing, especially in rural areas. The number of petrol stations is increasing on the back of economic growth and the expansion of the road network.

Some petrol stations at times do not have stock of a specific fuel due to delays in deliveries or a lack of funds. There is a shortage of compressed natural gas filling stations in the country, as increasing numbers of vehicle owners want to switch from petrol.



Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION



2. COUNTRY PROFILE



3. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

3.1. Industry Value Chain

3.2. Geographic Position

3.3. Size of the Industry



4. LOCAL

4.1. State of the Industry

4.2. Key Trends

4.3. Key Issues

4.4. Notable Players

4.5. Trade

4.6. Corporate Actions

4.7. Regulations

4.8. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development



5. AFRICA



6. INTERNATIONAL



7. INFLUENCING FACTORS

7.1. Economic Environment

7.2. Unforeseen Events

7.3. Labour

7.4. Environmental Issues

7.5. Technology, R&D and Innovation

7.6. Government Support



8. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

8.1. Competition

8.2. Barriers to Entry



9. SWOT ANALYSIS



10. OUTLOOK



11. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



12. REFERENCES

12.1. Publications

12.2. Websites

COMPANY PROFILES

ARA Petroleum Tanzania Ltd

Camel Oil (T) Ltd

Equinor Tanzania AS

Lake Oil Ltd

Mansoor Industries Ltd

Maurel and Prom Exploration Production Tanzania Ltd

Mount Meru Petroleum Ltd

Ndovu Resources Ltd

Oilcom (T) Ltd

Oryx Energies Tanzania Ltd

Oryx Gas Tanzania Ltd

Oryx Services and Specialities Ltd

PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Ltd

Puma Energy Tanzania Ltd

Shell Exploration and Production Tanzania Ltd

Songas Ltd

Taifa Gas Tanzania Ltd

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation

TotalEnergies Marketing Tanzania Ltd

Wentworth Resources PLC

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/554urg

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Legislators Keep Campaign Promises to Workers

LANSING, Mich., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters congratulate Governor Gretchen Whitmer and members of the Michigan legislature for successfully repealing the state's harmful "right to work" law. "Right to work" is a lie designed to weaken workers' rights and lower wages.

"Today, Michigan's elected officials honored their state's proud labor history by rejecting this dangerous and deceptive anti-union legislation," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Let this be a lesson to politicians in the 26 states where these laws remain on the books: if you want to deliver on promises you make on the campaign trail  the promises of good jobs and middle-class prosperity for your constituents  you can start by strengthening unions by abolishing 'right to work' altogether."

"The Governor and the legislators responsible for passing this law have ushered in a bright future for Michigan. One where workers have better safety standards, higher wages, a louder voice on the job and the uninhibited freedom of association in the workplace that they need and deserve," said Fred Zuckerman, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer.

In addition to repealing "right to work," the bills Gov. Whitmer signed into law would implement prevailing wage standards for state-funded construction projects and allocate more resources to the Michigan Department of Labor for education and enforcement.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org to learn more. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
CEO surprises every Customer aboard milestone flight with free roundtrip ticket

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just 16 months after taking flight from Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Avelo Airlines is flying its one millionth Customer today at HVN. To celebrate the milestone, Avelo Founder, Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy will be at Tweed surprising everyone aboard the milestone flight with a free future roundtrip ticket anywhere Avelo flies.

The airline's one millionth HVN Customer will be aboard Avelo Flight 357 departing Southern Connecticut's most convenient airport at 2:25 p.m. for Fort Myers, Florida (RSW). Instead of recognizing one traveler, Levy will thank all 182 Customers aboard the Fort Myers-bound Boeing 737-800 with a free roundtrip ticket.

Levy will be joined at a special departure ceremony at HVN by several local and state political, community and business leaders, including:

United States Senator Richard Blumenthal

Senator CT Governor Ned Lamont

CT Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker

Mayor Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Rafter

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts

Avelo Founder, Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "Since arriving at Tweed 16 months ago, Avelo has introduced Connecticut travelers to a new era of affordability, convenience and reliability. Today's milestone demonstrates the appeal our low fares, nonstop access to 15 popular destinations and friendly service are having with travelers throughout the region. It is also clear the travel-friendly experience Tweed offers has played an equally important role in inspiring so many people to fly with us. I am grateful to every Avelo Customer who has chosen Avelo. I'm also very appreciative of our Avelo Crewmembers who deliver the smooth and caring travel experience that inspires our Customers to keep flying us. Thanks a million!"

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, "This major milestone reflects rising demand for affordable, high-quality flights. People evidently know a good thing when they see it. One million customers are an incredible boost for the local economy with the creation of hundreds of jobs and more support for local businesses. This is just the beginning, and I will keep fighting with my colleagues for more federal investments to improve our air travel infrastructure and support our local airports."

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said, "Convenient and reliable travel opportunities from the New Haven region are an important component of our efforts to stimulate development and job growth in the area. Avelo's quick growth at Tweed shows that the demand is there for more travel options from this airport. I look forward to Avelo having many more years of success in New Haven."

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum said, "Congratulations to Andrew Levy and Avelo Airlines. Transporting a million Customers to 14 popular destinations in 16 months is an accomplishment to celebrate and no small feat. I also want to celebrate Avelo's decision to make Tweed its first East Coast base and to invest in improvements at this airport. Connecticut and Greater New York residents now have a welcome and convenient alternative way to get where they need to go, whether it's for business or leisure. That's a win for travelers and for our state economy."

Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Rafter said, "It is great to celebrate the one millionth Avelo customer at Tweed-New Haven Airport, and we are excited to keep working alongside them to the benefit of Southern Connecticut and its flyers. We plan to continue working closely with Avelo Airlines, our longtime operator Avports, and with our neighboring community members to continue to help deliver flyers a top-notch experience."

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts said, "Congratulations to Avelo on serving its one millionth Customer at Tweed-New Haven Airport  their efforts are helping transform this airport into a more modern and convenient resource for flyers, as well as a more dynamic and sustainable economic engine for Southern Connecticut. We know we have a great partner in Avelo, who continues to have affordable flights to exciting destinations, while growing local jobs along the way. Congratulations to Avelo and Tweed-New Haven Airport on reaching this great milestone!"

Soaring To New Heights

Since November 3, 2021, when Avelo opened its first East Coast base at HVN, the airline has achieved the following milestones:

Avelo has flown one million Customers at HVN.

Avelo has operated more than 7,500 flights at HVN.

Avelo has delivered industry-leading reliability, including on-time, baggage handling and completion factor performance  making HVN the most travel-friendly airport in the CT and NY Metro region.

Avelo has hired nearly 200 HVN-based Crewmembers and has contributed to more than 500 direct and indirect airport-related jobs.

Avelo has made more than $100 million in capital, employment and community investments in its Connecticut presence, including six Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft operating at HVN, airport facilities and ground support equipment, as well as local and state tax revenue (from income, fuel, etc.).

in capital, employment and community investments in its presence, including six Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft operating at HVN, airport facilities and ground support equipment, as well as local and state tax revenue (from income, fuel, etc.). Avelo has supported more than 150 local and state community organizations and events across Connecticut .

Connecticut's Most Convenient and Affordable Gateway

Amidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by Connecticut travelers, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways makes it the region's most convenient and travel-friendly airport.

Avelo serves 15 nonstop destinations from Tweed spanning seven states:

Charleston, SC (CHS)

(CHS) Chicago, IL (via MDW)

(via MDW) Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)

(FLL) Fort Myers, FL (RSW)

(RSW) Greenville / Spartanburg, SC (GSP)

/ (GSP) Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)

(MYR) Nashville, TN (BNA)

(BNA) Orlando, FL (via MCO)

(via MCO) Raleigh / Durham, NC (RDU)

(RDU) Sarasota / Bradenton, FL (SRQ)

/ (SRQ) Savannah, GA / Hilton Head, SC (SAV)

/ (SAV) Tampa, FL (TPA)

(TPA) Washington, D.C. / Baltimore, MD (via BWI)

/ (via BWI) West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

(PBI) Wilmington, NC (ILM)

(ILM)

America's Affordable and Convenient Airline

Avelo was founded with a vision to help its Customers save money and time. Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown nearly two million Customers on more than 15,000 flights.

In addition to offering Customers everyday low fares on every route, Avelo Customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees. Avelo also offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin.

Additionally, the American-made Boeing 737 jets Avelo flies offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the small regional aircraft currently operating at most of the airports Avelo serves. Customers who value an advance seat assignment can choose from several modestly priced seating options, including seats with extra leg room, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. One third of seats on Avelo aircraft are available for Customers who appreciate the comfort of extra legroom.

Avelo serves 41 destinations spanning 24 states - unlocking a new era of convenience, choice and competition in air travel by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. At least one airport on every Avelo flight is a small hometown airport  making every Avelo journey easier and more enjoyable.

At Avelo, every flight is also nonstop. This connection-free travel experience not only provides Avelo Customers with a faster and simpler travel experience, but also minimizes delays, cancellations and lost bags. In fact, Avelo has established itself as one of America's most reliable airlines with industry-leading on time, completion factor and checked bag handling performance.

Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service culture. The culture is grounded in Avelo's One Crew Value which promotes a welcoming and caring experience. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers focus on anticipating and understanding Customer needs on the ground and in the air.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 41 popular destinations across the U.S., including its five bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Delaware Valley's Wilmington Airport (ILG) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom.

Media Contacts:

Avelo Airlines

Jim Olson

[email protected]

312-219-0647

Mary Coursey

[email protected]

860-305-0476

SOURCE Avelo Airlines
NINGBO, China, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Ningbo Media Group:

In November 2022, the "Hi, Ningbo!" Art & Design Competition was officially kicked off. This creative collection for global marine artists and creative talents, once launched, has attracted countless attention and expectations.

19 global judges of "Hi, Ningbo!" Art & Design Competition

The jury of the competition specially invited famous artists, designers, screenwriters, directors and other experts and scholars related to creativity to participate in the City Logo for Ningbo jury led by Cao Xue, the head of the design team of Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics; The NFT City Souvenir for Ningbo design jury, led by Xiong Chao, a visual effects director and visual artist at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games; Reimagine the Three Orange Sails Under the"Hi, Ningbo" Theme jury, led by Xu Weibing, the founder of the Stiworth City Metaverse brand and the chief planner of "Iron Man 3" and "Extreme Thief" in China, will conduct fair and impartial professional evaluation and guidance.

Since the opening of the competition, creative and inspirational cultural and creative works have poured in one after another. Creations from Manchester, Australia, Barcelona, Spain, Ningbo and other provinces and cities in China cover four continents in space; Students from overseas universities such as the Istituto Europeo di Design, University of the Arts London,Akademie der bildenden Kunste Wien, and Utah State University in Salt Lake City in the United States actively participated. Students from top art schools in China such as the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Academy of Art, and the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts enthusiastically responded, creating more than 30 universities in China and abroad collectively salute art.

Maritime Silk Road Culture, Library Culture, Hemudu Culture; Dongqian Lake, Hangzhou Bay, Moon Lake; Ecological Green, Innovative Blue...... Many iconic elements belonging to Ningbo appear on the paper through the surprise collision of lines, light, shadow, and color. Comprehensively showcase the new style and features of a metropolis featuring coastal fashion, ecological livability, courtesy, order, harmony, and inclusiveness, as well as the urban theme of "Ningbo, Setting Sail to Embrace the World".

Ocean and Art, Ningbo and the World, Culture and Creativity, Creative Games belonging to "Hi, Ningbo!" are freely galloping in a world of boundless freedom. Up to now, the imagination of over 1000 creators from around the world has gathered in the "Hi, Ningbo!" Art & Design Competition, making this cultural feast closely related to "Coastal Ningbo" achieve the goal of "Setting Sail to Embrace the World".

When imagination becomes reality, and art has value. The competition organizing committee respects every entry, selects the best from the best, and strives for excellence. After careful selection by the evaluation committee, the primary selection works have made a grand debut! Among them, the first blockbuster award, "People's Choice Award", was released after the voting deadline on March 17th, with the 23rd work "Hi! Ningbo" topping the list. It is reported that the work was jointly completed by three creators from the China Academy of Art, a top art school in China.

The works that enter the final turn of the competition are faced with the review of the global jury. Who are the gold, silver, bronze medal winners? And where are the attractive bonuses and certificates going? Let's wait and see.

SOURCE Ningbo Media Group
NASSAU, Bahamas, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) is excited to announce its return to the annual SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo under the theme "Soaring into The Bahamas Golden Jubilee". The aerospace expo, scheduled for 28 March  2 April in Lakeland, Florida, will feature The Bahamas as the exclusive destination and a proud leader of general aviation in the Caribbean region.

The 49th annual SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo is the largest aviation event of its kind in the Southern U.S. region and attracts nearly a quarter million people over the course of the week at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. The BMOTIA has participated in the expo for more than 20 years to promote the ease of flying to the multi-island destination and spur business-to-business opportunities with aviation industry stakeholders.

"We hope to deepen our relationships with trusted partners such as SUN 'n FUN, as The Bahamas expands its focus and investments in the aviation industry," said Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. John H. W. Pinder II.

"Events such as these help us to spread the word to aviation enthusiasts about The Bahamas' exceptional flight service operations and the many islands that can accommodate private aircraft. The Bahamas truly showcases its beauty from the air when flying over our crystal blue waters."

Over the past five years, private aviation delivered more than half a million passengers to The Bahamas. In 2022 alone, the destination saw a 178% increase in private aviation numbers over pre pandemic numbers in 2019.

This year at the Expo, guests can look forward to vibrant displays of The Bahamas' many offerings, new destination updates, health and safety tips, direct access to Bahamas Customs and Bahamas Civil Aviation representatives, and live Junkanoo performances across the expo grounds. Additionally, attendees at the expo will be able to sit in on special forums on the ease of flying to The Bahamas conducted by veteran Bahamas Flying Ambassador Rick Gardiner and Bahamas Flying Ambassador Mike Zidziunas of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA).

Special invited guests will also be welcomed to a Bahamian night cocktail party under the theme "Soaring into The Bahamas Golden Jubilee" in honour of The Bahamas' 50th Independence celebrations. At the end of the weeklong expo, dozens of pilots will participate in a fly-out from the Lakeland Florida airport to Grand Bahama, to demonstrate the proximity between South Florida and The Bahamas.

Reginald Saunders, BMOTIA's Permanent Secretary, said, "I am certain that our participation in this event will continue to boost interest in flying to The Bahamas and highlight the visual wonders, delicious cuisine and abundant cultural experiences our country has to offer."

The Bahamas has 54 airports throughout the archipelago  25 are private and 29 are government owned  20 of which are official ports of entry, equipped with Bahamas Customs and Immigration officials to process private pilots' entries and departures.

To learn more information about the SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo, please visit flysnf.org.

For more information on the ease of flying to The Bahamas, please visit Bahamas.com.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it offers a quick and easy way for travellers to escape their everyday. The island nation also boasts world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the Earth's most spectacular beaches for families, couples and adventurers to explore. See why It's Better in The Bahamas at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson Patty

[email protected]

SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Romans New York has hired Maryanne Milano as Senior Vice President.

Milano brings over a decade of integrated communications experience at leading agencies, working across global brands including Airbnb, Bacardi, American Express, Marriott International, Motorola razr, OK Cupid, T-Mobile and more.

Maryanne Milano

Milano said that The Romans' bold creative & personality is what PR is all about:

"Being able to 'wow' clients with creativity is great, but integrated ideas that are built with earned at their core is what drives impressive results - that's the Romans way," she said. "Culture moves fast and I am excited to help build The Romans New York empire with a team that can move even faster."

The Romans New York portfolio is fast-growing with clients across consumer, including: Amazon, Candy Crush, Pernod Ricard and more.

Maryanne will report to partner and EVP, Sarah Jenkins, who opened doors to The Romans, the most creatively awarded PR agency in the UK, first overseas office in 2022.

"As we're growing our agency outpost here in Brooklyn, we look to bring onboard people who do things differently. Think differently. Operate differently. Maryanne never settles for the normand that's what we love about her," said Jenkins. "When it comes to driving bold and effective 360 campaigns rooted in culture and razor-sharp insights, there's no one better suited to help lead our teams. And what's incredible is that she manages to balance her keen business acumen with the type of leadership and fun that we prioritize in our culture at The Romans. I'm ecstatic that she's joined us in this exciting endeavor."

Founded in 2015, The Romans has been named 'Agency of The Year' at a major awards show every year for the past six years, and is currently PRWeek UK's Mid-Sized Agency of The Year 2022 and Campaign's PR Agency of The Year 2022. It has offices in New York, Dubai and London and its clients include Ben & Jerry's, Dove, Unilever, Pernod Ricard and Heineken. For more information, visit www.wearetheromans.com .

SOURCE The Romans
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy energy industry press releases from PR Newswire, including a new lithium processing facility in South Carolina.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Energy Press Release Roundup, March 20-24, 2023. Photo provided by Albemarle Corporation. https://prn.to/3JYPxSy

Read more of the latest energy-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenergy on Twitter.

Can't-Miss Earnings

In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp and LiqTech International, Inc.

Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists

For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages.

PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

SOURCE PR Newswire
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy environment industry press releases from PR Newswire, including Zentiva's commitment to plant 1 million trees by 2030.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the environment industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Environment Press Release Roundup, March 20-24, 2023. Photo provided by CheckSammy. https://prn.to/3LF5puL

Read more of the latest environment-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenv on Twitter.

Can't-Miss Earnings

In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for LiqTech International, Inc. and Flotek Industries, Inc.

Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists

For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages.

PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

SOURCE PR Newswire
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy financial industry press releases from PR Newswire, including how much Americans are spending on rent and a new financial wellness podcast.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the finance industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Finance Press Release Roundup, March 20-24, 2023. Photo provided by Crescent. https://prn.to/3Zco1pl

Read more of the latest finance-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNfinance on Twitter.

Reactions to Banking Chaos

Many companies continued to take time this week to share updates for their customers and shareholders following the events at SVB, Signature Bank, Credit Suisse, and First Republic. Here are a few of those announcements:

Catch up on more SVB/Signature Bank-related stories here.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists

For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages.

PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

SOURCE PR Newswire
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with World Bank's delegation headed by Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde, the presidential press service has said.

"Particular attention was paid to the provision of financing by donors under the coordination of the World Bank for projects to restore our country, primarily in the areas of transport infrastructure, electricity and healthcare. The President emphasized the urgency of implementing programs for the fast recovery of destroyed infrastructure facilities, primarily residential buildings and educational institutions," according to the statement.

The president separately noted the importance of implementing business insurance programs in Ukraine, which is especially relevant in the context of job creation.

During the meeting, they noted the importance of the further coordination of donors efforts by the World Bank and partners to provide Ukraine with the necessary assistance in a timely manner.

The head of state thanked the World Bank for the unprecedented support provided to Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion.

"We are grateful for the number of programs that the World Bank implements in Ukraine, especially after the start of a full-scale war. We thank you for the willingness to come to our aid even in the face of military challenges," he said.
MIAMI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tile of Spain manufacturers returned to Valencia, Spain last month for the highly anticipated return of CEVISAMA, the International Fair for Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings. This year's annual event was held from February 27 - March 3, 2023 at Feria Valencia, located in Valencia's center city.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

APARICI, Kintsugi

During the Tile of Spain Press Conference, held on the first day of the fair, Vicente Nomdedeu, President of The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer's Association (ASCER), echoed the strength of Spain's ceramic sector, reporting on 2022 production, sales and exports figures.

The Spanish tile industry surpassed expectations with overall sales increasing by 16.2% since last year, with approximately 50% of all sales made abroad.

FEATURED TRENDS FOR 2023:

ON FUEGO

Manufacturers are building complex glazed surfaces by putting a single piece of tile through the kiln three to four times. While this approach requires a deep understanding of materials and a touch of patience, the repetitious firing process conceives a multi-surfaced finish that is breathtaking.

TIMELESS TERRACOTTA

Spanish tile makers are returning to their natural roots to celebrate the beauty of terracotta. New iterations of this timeless look are receiving a dose of modern edge, with anti-slip properties, profound textures and arresting decorative adornments.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

Interior surfaces receive the full glamour treatment with ceramic applications dripping in opulence. Straddling the line between classic and contemporary, collections enhanced by metallic gold and nickel overlays set a near-ethereal scene.

RICH AND ROUGHED

With vivid hues prevailing over neutrals for the first time in years, Spanish manufacturers are itching to make a statement by employing a chromatic range stoked by this year's "it" color, red.

SHAPE SHIFTERS

Ceramic artisans are experimenting with geometric formats like never before. Tantalizing sequences forge a playground where creativity thrives, while modular formats allow avant-garde silhouettes to become more than just a decorative statement.

ADVANCED FACADES AND EXTERIOR SOLUTIONS

Ceramic facades and external trimmings set the bar for safety and sustainable standards extraordinarily high. When installed correctly, they provide protection from extreme weather conditions, offer ample insulation and eliminate the need for excessive heat and air conditioning use.

To download this press release and images, click here.

For photography, interviews or questions, please contact Catherine Hoy at 732-644-3285 or [email protected] or Lori Dolnick at 609-529-2096 or [email protected].

SOURCE Tile of Spain
"SENSORAMA" Danny Singh and The Cana Foundation

NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Danny Singh's creative vision and genre bending work of his newest project "SENSORAMA" takes on a new meaning as he teams up with Cana Foundation, a global rewilding organization that advocates for wild horses, and rewilding initiatives to help raise awareness.

Danny felt it was the right time to team up with Cana Foundation when he saw the videos of horrifying wild horse roundups and public lands here in America being destroyed by the federal government.

"I hope this comes as a wake-up call for my generation to get up and rewild." Tweet this Helicopter wild horse round ups on public range lands Pegasus special effects visuals as part of the transcending, evocative content of SENSORAMA. SENSORAMA

" Why wait?" the queens born native explains, "it is time my generation takes a stand for the environment and the animals that need our help. I created 'SENSORAMA' as a three part story; Rebel, reflect and rewild. It is a process," Danny explains, " We all have to go through it to understand our feelings and to take a stand."

To help spread the message of "SENSORAMA" and Rewilding, Danny uses his music to create transcending and emotional visual content to draw you into his world. Danny wanted live wild horse roundup footage to be used in the video, supplied by Wild Horse Education from roundups in the summer of 2022.

Danny's music is a collaborative blend of Punk, electronica and pop that takes the listener on a journey of the senses. The perfect pairing of creative talent and environmental messaging for Gen Z to understand.

Manda Kalimian, founder of the Cana Foundation, whose mission is to: conserve and restore North American landscapes through rewilding initiatives, with a focus on wild horses, bison, and other native herbivores as keystone species, believes that artistic expression can be a powerful tool for raising awareness for environmental issues. "When words are not enough to express yourself, music and visuals can take people to a new place of understanding, they can feel the issues. I found my voice and hope to inspire others to find theirs," said Kalimian.

This shared motivation led to the collaboration between Danny Singh and the Cana Foundation to create "SENSORAMA" - a music video that combines visual and sonic messaging to promote the message of rewilding.

"I hope this comes as a wake-up call for my generation to get up and rewild. I feel like my peers and I get stuck in the same cycle, it's comfortable for all of us, but this project is meant to shock us and show us what reality could look like if we make the switch. You don't have to die to see heaven," said Danny Singh.

Hailing from Queens, New York with his Guyanese parents and two brothers, Danny's music is an ode to the streets which he came from as well as his upbringing.

Become a part of the "SENSORAMA" experience by purchasing the Generation Cana hoodie as seen in the music video and help and the movement to Rewild "You don't have to die to see heaven"~ Danny

"SENSORAMA" Tracks

PROTOTYPE

Genre: Alternative

"Prototype" serves as a call to action for young people to awaken a passion for the conservation of the earth. This record was written as a message for rebellion, to stand up against the powers that be, in order to make a change.

Spotify

Apple Music

GAME OVER

Genre: Pop/ Drum & Bass

This song is about reflection, everybody has a choice as to the life they want to live. The power is in your hand, so choose wisely. Every action has a consequence and this record is meant to highlight the power of the choices we make.

GOD'S FAVORITE

Genre: Pop Punk Love Song

"This song is dedicated to my soulmate, my best friend, my everything. Everything happens for a reason and somehow life's turmoil brought us together" said Danny Singh.

Spotify

Apple Music

SOURCE CANA Foundation
SEOUL, South Korea, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ELKO Trading Company's cosmetics brand, VIS BLANC, participated in COSMOPROF WORLDWIDE BOLOGNA held from March 16-18, 2023 in Bologna, Italy.

Vis Blanc participated in the exhibition through a 2STEP MASK which completed the CPNP Notification and has feature that can manage face and neckline in one pouch.

VIS BLANC participated in COSMOPROF WORLDWIDE BOLOGNA 2023

Since obtaining cosmetic approval in several countries and regions, including Europe, India, Vietnam, and etc. Vis blanc 2step mask has been gradually making its way into several markets with local partners.

VIS BLANC stated that, it is very meaningful to participate in representative exhibitions attended by global buyers since the launch of the new product last year. In the close future, we are planning to expand the market after specifying the launch time with buyers from each country.

https://visblanc.com/

SOURCE VIS BLANC
POMONA, Calif. and LEBANON, Ore., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Western University of Health Sciences' College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest celebrated 100% residency placement on Match Day, compared to the averages across all other medical schools with match rates of 91.6% for DO students and 93.7% for MD students. Match Day is celebrated across the U.S. as fourth-year medical students learn which U.S. residency programs they will train in for the next three to seven years.

All DO and MD medical students enter the same residency pool and will become residents together in the same post-graduate training programs. The Match is hosted by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), through which medical students obtain residency positions in accredited training programs.

Western University of Health Sciences' COMP and COMP-Northwest celebrated 100% residency placement on Match Day. Tweet this

COMP held its Match Day celebration on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, California. COMP-Northwest held its Match Day celebration at the Boulder Falls Inn Event Center in Lebanon, Oregon.

"Few realize the road that you folks have taken to get here today. Many of you have spent the last eight to 10 years of your life dedicated to what's going to happen in the next 30 minutes," COMP and COMP-Northwest Acting Dean David Connett, DO '84, FACOFP, dist., said prior to the Match Day reveal. "Your friends and your loved ones know what you've been through. There will be as stark a transition as it was from second to third year of medical school as it will be to residency, but it will be great in terms of the amount of learning and the launching of your career today. My congratulations to not only all of you but to all who have supported you."

Acting Dean Connett attributes the success of this achievement to the combined efforts of all faculty, staff and administrators delivering a quality curriculum for all four years of the student experience.

"We as a College find it especially important with our strategic imperative to embed our osteopathic medical students into dedicated residency teaching sites for the majority of their third-year clinical rotations, thus providing them with the essentials and experience to be extremely competitive during their fourth year of audition rotations," Connett said.

This Class of 2023 endured dramatic changes in their first year of medical school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet they prevailed and made it through to this day, said WesternU President Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA.

"Look at your amazing academic record and all of the hard work and sacrifice that you have all made to get here," he said. "This is well over a decade of extremely hard work, and that can never be underestimated. We are so grateful and proud that you are part of the WesternU community. And you will forever be part of our community and family."

COMP has a 100 percent placement rate for the 225 students in the Class of 2023, with approximately 59 percent entering primary care residencies, which includes family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.

"It is such an honor and privilege to be a part of this incredible journey with the Class of 2023," said COMP Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education Lisa Warren, DO '01, MBA. "They are a class of resilience, dedication, and compassion and will make a great impact on their residency programs and the communities they will serve. I am so proud of them!"

COMP-Northwest placed all 90 students eligible for residency placement, with 61 percent entering primary care and 32 percent entering residencies in Oregon and Washington.

"Match Day represents the first day in the next part of a medical student's training journey," said COMP-Northwest Vice Dean Mandi Hudson, DO '09. "They will be called upon as a physician for the first time in this location. The past four years of literal blood, sweat, and tears were for this moment. We are incredibly proud of all of our students!"

Nationwide, there were 42,952 applicants who certified a rank order list in the 2023 Main Residency Match, which is the highest number on record and an increase of 403 applicants over last year, according to NRMP. U.S. MD seniors had a 93.7 percent Match rate, an increase of 0.8 percentage points over last year. U.S. DO seniors saw a 91.6 percent Match rate, an all-time high, and 0.3 percentage points over last year.

At the COMP and COMP-Northwest ceremonies, each student received an envelope with their residency written inside. They joined medical students across the country in learning where they are going for their residencies at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

Fourth-year COMP student Jennifer Kai-fei Lu reacted to opening her envelope with tears of joy and hugs with her family and friends. She matched into her top choice, a family medicine residency at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center.

"Family medicine was by far my favorite rotation during third year. It felt like a natural fit. It didn't feel like going to work," Lu said. "After my rotation, I knew I wanted to go to Kaiser Woodland Hills. I liked the program's emphasis on community medicine, which I'm interested in, and the supportive environment. The residents seemed happy to be working there."

Fourth-year COMP-Northwest student Mehak Kaur placed into her No. 1 choice, a pediatrics residency at Oregon Health and Science University Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. She said she grew more nervous as Match Day approached but was also excited about what the future holds.

"There was a moment where before I even opened my envelope, I looked across the table and saw some of my best friends with huge smiles on their faces, tears brimming in their eyes, they just looked so happy, and that made me so emotional and so happy, so when I finally got my envelope open, I just felt this wave of relief and accomplishment fall over me," Kaur said. "There was a time when my imposter syndrome made me question my presence in medical school almost every day, especially during COVID; I struggled a lot and felt so defeated. To open that envelope and see that I had matched at my top choice solidified that I do indeed belong here, in this vocation, and I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me along the way."

Fourth-year COMP student Kevin Mo matched into an orthopedic surgery residency at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. He only applied to orthopedic surgery residencies, so Monday was more nerve-wracking than Friday as he waited to hear whether he matched. Once he knew he matched somewhere, he knew he would be happy with any of his choices.

"I knew I wanted to do surgery early on," Mo said. "I enjoy the operating room. I enjoy doing meaningful work and making definitive improvements in the lives of patients. Orthopedic surgery is high up there as far as improving quality of life, function, and overall well-being in a definitive manner. If there is a fracture, we fix it."

Fourth-year COMP-Northwest student Veronica Polyakova matched into an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, California. OB/GYN was her first clinical rotation. She compared subsequent rotations to OB/GYN and yearned to return to the operating room and Labor & Delivery floor.

"As fourth year came around, I was so happy to be back in my element during my OB/GYN electives," Polyakova said. "In my opinion, OB/GYN has the best of both worlds; you have the surgical aspect, but you are also able to connect with your patients and form lifelong connections in an outpatient setting. Plus, there is truly nothing more intimate than being there for a patient during their labor and birth."

Match Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments, hard work, and resilience of not only the graduates, but all of the faculty, staff, and administrators who have walked alongside them on each of their journeys, said COMP-Northwest Associate Dean of Student Affairs Mirabelle Fernandes Paul, EdD.

"It's also a day to celebrate and cheer for our graduates' partners, parents, and loved ones without whom this day would not be a reality," Fernandes Paul said. "Today will rank as one of the most memorable days in each of our graduates' lives as they find out what field and location they are headed to. But I know in my heart that wherever they go, they will change lives for the better and make a difference to their patients and communities."

About Western University of Health Sciences

Western University of Health Sciences (www.westernu.edu), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Ore., is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in dental medicine, health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to WesternU Health, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered.

SOURCE Western University of Health Sciences
The demand for semiconductor chips has been increasing due to the growing use of electronics in various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications

PUNE, India, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exactitude Consultancy, the market research and consulting wing of Ameliorate Digital Consultancy Private Limited has completed and published the final copy of the detailed research report on the Back-Grinding Tapes Market.

The Global Back Grinding Tapes Market at a CAGR of 7.6%, and it is expected to reach above USD 303 million by 2028, over the forecast period.

Back Grinding Tapes Market Growth in Upcoming Years

Back Grinding Tapes Market are used in the semiconductor industry to attach a semiconductor wafer to a carrier tape during the thinning and back grinding process. The demand for back grinding tapes is directly related to the demand for semiconductor chips, which are used in a wide range of electronic devices, including smartphones, computers, and other electronic equipment.

This growth is driven by factors such as the increasing demand for smartphones and other electronic devices, the rise of 5G technology, and the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

With the growth of the semiconductor market, the demand for back grinding tapes is also expected to increase. Back grinding tapes manufacturers are developing new and innovative products to meet the changing needs of the semiconductor industry, such as thinner tapes that allow for more precise grinding and higher yields.

Overall, the back grinding tapes market is expected to grow in the upcoming years, driven by the growth of the semiconductor industry and the demand for more advanced electronic devices. However, the exact rate of growth will depend on various factors such as market demand, competition, and technological advancements.

Click & Get Free Sample Report in Minutes:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/1053/back-grinding-tapes-market/#request-a-sample

Back Grinding Tapes Market Drivers:

Increasing demand for semiconductor chips: The demand for semiconductor chips has been increasing due to the growing use of electronics in various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications. As the semiconductor industry continues to grow, the demand for back grinding tapes is also expected to increase.

Technological advancements in the semiconductor industry: Technological advancements in the semiconductor industry, such as the development of advanced packaging technologies and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), are driving the demand for more precise and advanced back grinding tapes.

Growing adoption of mobile devices: The growing adoption of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is driving the demand for smaller and more efficient semiconductor chips. This is leading to an increased demand for back grinding tapes that can handle thinner and smaller wafers.

Here Are Some Of The Technological Advancements In The Back Grinding Tapes Market:

Thinner tapes: Back grinding tapes are becoming thinner to accommodate the demand for thinner semiconductor wafers. Thinner tapes enable more precise grinding, which results in higher yields and better quality chips.

Advanced adhesive technology: Back grinding tapes use advanced adhesive technology to securely hold the wafer during the back grinding process. The adhesives are designed to provide high adhesion strength, as well as easy and clean removal.

Anti-static properties: To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, back grinding tapes are designed to have anti-static properties. This helps protect the delicate semiconductor components from damage during the back grinding process.

Competitive Insight

Some Of The Notable Market Players Operating In The Global Back Grinding Tapes Market Covered In This Report Are:

Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello

Furukawa Electric

Nitto

Denka

Lintec

AI Technology

AMC Co.

LG Chem

Sumitomo Bakelite

Daehyun St

KGK Chemical Corporation

Minitron Elektronik GmBH

Pantech Tape

Force-One Applied Materials Inc. *The Company List Is Indicative

Recent Developments:

Advanced back grinding tapes: Manufacturers are developing back grinding tapes with advanced features such as thinner tapes, higher adhesion strength, and improved anti-static properties to meet the increasing demand for high-quality and efficient semiconductor chips.

Increasing focus on sustainability: There is a growing focus on sustainability in the semiconductor industry, which has led to the development of more environmentally friendly back grinding tapes that use fewer resources and produce less waste.

Increasing use of automation: Automation has become increasingly prevalent in the back grinding tapes market, with manufacturers using robots and other automated systems to apply tapes and carry out other processes, resulting in more consistent and efficient production.

Browse the full "Back Grinding Tapes Market by Type (UV Type, Non-UV Type), Application (Standard, Standard Thin Die, (S) DBG (GAL), Bump, Others) and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa), Global Trends and Forecast from 2019 to 2028" Report and TOC at: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/1053/back-grinding-tapes-market/

Segment Overview:

The Back Grinding Tapes Market is segmented By Type, By Application and By Region.

Back Grinding Tapes Market By Type, 2019-2028, (IN USD Million)

UV Type

Non-UV Type

Back Grinding Tapes Market By Application, 2019-2028, (IN USD Million)

Standard

Standard Thin Die

(S) DBG (GAL)

Bump

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the Back Grinding Tapes Market is segmented into North America, South America, Europe, APAC and MEA.

North America : includes the US, Canada , Mexico

: includes the US, , Europe : includes UK, Germany , France , Italy , Spain , Russia , and Rest of Europe

: includes UK, , , , , , and Rest of Asia Pacific : includes China , Japan , South Korea , India , Australia , ASEAN and Rest of APAC

: includes , , , , , ASEAN and Rest of APAC South America : includes Brazil , Argentina and Rest of South America

: includes , and Rest of Middle East & Africa : includes Turkey , UAE, Saudi Arabia , South Africa , and Rest of MEA

To Learn More About This Report, Request A free sample copy

Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for back grinding tapes, accounting for a significant share of the global market. This is due to the high concentration of semiconductor manufacturing facilities in countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. The growing demand for electronics and increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and 5G in the region is driving the demand for back grinding tapes.

North America: North America is also a significant market for back grinding tapes, with a large number of semiconductor manufacturing facilities located in the United States. The region is home to several major semiconductor companies, and the demand for back grinding tapes is driven by the growing adoption of AI, IoT, and other advanced technologies.

Europe: Europe is another important market for back grinding tapes, with a growing demand for semiconductors in various industries such as automotive and healthcare. The region is home to several key semiconductor companies, and the demand for back grinding tapes is expected to increase as the industry continues to grow.

What Are The Key Data Covered In This Back Grinding Tapes Market Report?

Market size and growth rate: The report may provide data on the size of the back grinding tapes market and its expected growth rate over a specified period.

Market segmentation: The report may segment the market based on various factors such as product type, application, end-user, and geography.

Competitive landscape: The report may provide information on the key players in the back grinding tapes market and their market share, strategies, and recent developments.

Market trends: The report may analyze the latest market trends, such as technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and regulatory changes, and their impact on the back grinding tapes market.

Market drivers and challenges: The report may identify the key drivers and challenges that are affecting the growth of the back grinding tapes market.

To Know An Additional Revised 2023 List Of Market Players, Request A Sample Report:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/1053/back-grinding-tapes-market/#request-a-sample

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About Exactitude Consultancy

Exactitude Consultancy is a market research & consulting services firm which helps its client to address their most pressing strategic and business challenges. Our market research helps clients to address critical business challenges and also helps make optimized business decisions with our fact-based research insights, market intelligence, and accurate data.

Contact us

For your special interest research needs at [email protected]consultancy.com and we will get in touch with you within 24hrs and help you find the market research report you need.

Website: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/

Contact: Irfan Tamboli [email protected]

+91-7507-07-8687

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1871697/Exactitude_Consultancy_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Exactitude Consultancy
SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2021, WorkWhile has partnered with Curai Health to provide free virtual healthcare services in select markets. We are thrilled to announce that starting today, we have expanded our virtual healthcare services to include all eligible WorkWhile workers in all 50 states. The partnership leverages the power of AI for the benefit of the most underserved groups.

Technology-first services have historically been built for the white collar workforceleaving behind hourly and blue collar workers. WorkWhile's mission of helping workers earn a better living and live better lives is built on offering valuable benefits & perks alongside flexible jobs for hourly wage workers.

What does Curai Health offer workers?

Curai Health is an AI-powered, virtual doctor's office ready 24/7 to provide immediate medical expertise to members. Patients can utilize Curai to communicate with their care team, set up a virtual urgent care visit, refill their pharmaceutical prescriptions, or answer questions. It's a doctor in their pocket.

Curai expands the capacity of clinicians beyond what's humanly possible through the strategic deployment of AI into the workflow. This technology reduces the cost of a visit, improves access, and allows clinicians to focus on their patients rather than administrative tasks. This creates a better patient experience at a dramatically more affordable price point.

Neal Khosla, CEO of Curai Health said, "Curai's partnership with WorkWhile embodies our mission of democratizing access to high quality, affordable healthcare. We are proud to provide convenient access to both urgent and ongoing care to these workers."

How does a worker become eligible on the WorkWhile platform?

In order for a worker to be eligible for a free membership to Curai Health, they must work a minimum of one shift per month on the WorkWhile app. As long as a worker remains eligible, WorkWhile will cover the complete cost of the monthly membership.

Once signed up, visits are freewhether a worker has health insurance or not. They'll have unlimited visits with their care team and doctor. From doctor's notes to managing blood pressure, care will always be within reach.

A worker who provided feedback on their experience said, "It was a great experience! I actually learned I was taking an unnecessary medication so that's a win for my liver & pocket book."

About WorkWhile:

WorkWhile has built a shared workforce model that optimizes flexibility and control for our business partners and stability for our workers. We use cognitive science, behavioral analysis, and peer feedback to help identify the most reliable hourly workers and support them with perks not often available at traditional hourly wage jobs. Businesses get access to a quality workforce, while workers get stable income and unmatched perks & benefits.

WorkWhile is available in 15 states and the District of Columbia: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

Learn more at www.WorkWhileJobs.com .

Media Contact:

Mina Zivkovic

949-929-7729

[email protected]

SOURCE WorkWhile
Opening of ICC representative office in Ukraine will allow intl justice to be more active  Zelenskyy

The opening of a representative office of the International Criminal Court in Ukraine (ICC) will allow international justice to become more active, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message on Thursday.

This step will allow international justice to be even more active in investigating the crimes of the Russian military on our Ukrainian soil, he said.

He thatnked the entire team of the International Criminal Court, the Office of the Prosecutor General, our partners, everyone who helps the work of international justice - the investigation of Russian crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced a conference that will be devoted to the issue of the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

There is one topic that is especially important to me, that is the case of abducted Ukrainian children. It is a horrible reminder of the darkest times of our history, what is happening there, to deport children. This is a war crime. We know today of 16,200 children that have been deported. Only 300 have returned so far. These criminal actions completely justify the arrest warrants issued by the ICC [to Russian President Vladimir Outin.]. In this field, in partnership with the Ukrainians, Prime Minister [of Poland, Mateusz] Morawiecki and I have launched an initiative aiming at bringing back these children that have been abducted by Russia. For that, we will organise a conference, she said at the end of the first day of the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

Von der Leyen stressed that the work on the return of Ukrainian children "is at the very beginning." We aim to pull together international pressure to take all possible measures to establish the whereabouts of these children. And we aim to assist UN bodies and the relevant international organisations in obtaining better and more complete information on the children who were deported to Russia. This includes also the children who were later adopted or transferred to Russian foster families. I am very thankful to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, for having offered the support of the United Nations agencies. Because they have of course a significant experience on this very difficult topic, the head of the European Commission said.

In addition, von der Leyen stated that the EU will continue to provide further assistance to Ukraine, recalling that just this week the EU allocated a new tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 1.5 billion. We are once again increasing our military equipment support to Ukraine. And in this context, I also welcome the agreement in the Foreign Affairs Council on aiming to provide one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine within the next 12 months. Of course, to achieve this, we have to massively ramp up production capacity of ammunition in Europe. We have discussed how to move forward on this as quickly as possible, she said.

In this regard, von der Leyen said that the Commission intends to provide legislative proposals that will increase the production capacity of ammunition, in particular, financial support from the EU budget.
Helsinki, March 24 : Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has signed into law his country's accession to the NATO, which was ratified by parliament on March 1.

This act formally sealed the Nordic country's historic bid to join the military alliance.

Next, Finland will submit its NATO membership-related documents to the US administration once Turkey and Hungary ratify its membership bid, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last Friday, during Niinisto's visit to Turkey, the country's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Ankara would begin the process of ratifying Finland's bid.

According to Turkish media reports cited by the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat, the foreign affairs commission of the Turkish parliament approved Finland's NATO membership on Thursday, after which the discussion of Finland's NATO membership will be brought to parliament's general assembly.

Hungary's parliament is expected to vote on Finland's membership bid next Monday, Helsingin Sanomat said.

All 30 NATO allies must sign off on the accession protocols of new members. To date, 28 member states have done so.
Lucknow, March 24 : The Centre has released Rs 462 crore to be given as compensation to as many as 9,03,336 farmers in Uttar Pradesh who faced crop losses during the natural calamities last year.

A total compensation of Rs 1,260 crore was released by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for six states through the crop insurance portal.

The amount has been calculated on the basis of yield through crop cutting experiments.

State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that an amount of Rs 134.25 crore have already been paid by insurance companies to 2.18 lakh farmers as partial compensation in the mid-term.

Thus, a total amount of Rs 597.05 crore have been given directly to the farmers as compensation for the kharif 2022 season. The amount has been paid through DBT.

Shahi said that in the event of a disaster, the information about personal damage to farmers should be given within 72 hours.

There is a provision to give compensation in gram panchayat if the sowing is reduced to 60 per cent. Hence more farmers will get benefit and credibility in the scheme will increase, Shahi said.

The Minister said that the premium should be made available to the insurance company within the stipulated time so that farmers are not deprived of the benefits of the scheme.

He said that it should also be ensured that the compensation amount is paid to the farmers through the portal within one month of harvesting.
New Delhi, March 24 : Madhav Sheth, VP realme and President, realme International Business Group, on Friday announced he is accepting a new global role at the company, after sources indicated he may quit as the tech brand is bringing a top Chinese executive to run its India business.

In a tweet, Sheth said: "Exciting news! I'm thrilled to announce that I've accepted a new role as VP for Business and Corporate Strategy (Global). Excited to take this opportunity and contribute to the company's success." It is still not clear who will run realms India business with Sheth accepting a new global role at the company.

Sources had told IANS that realme is set to make the India announcement as soon as possible, as the domestic smartphone market goes through a churning.

Sheth, being a veteran in the field, clearly has a command over the local market dynamics -- something that the upcoming Chinese executive may not have in his kitty.

Exciting news! I'm thrilled to announce that I've accepted a new role as VP for Business and Corporate Strategy (Global). Excited to take this opportunity and contribute to company's success.  Madhav Sheth (@MadhavSheth1) March 24, 2023

Another worry for realme, according to industry insiders, is that a Chinese national at the helm may send negative signals to the Indian government which is already after Chinese-run businesses, especially smartphone vendors, which were allegedly involved in tax evasion running into thousands of crores.

Sheth has been at the forefront of creating consumer products with trendsetting technologies, features and designs in India.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Russia carried out a massive attack on Ukrainian territories on Friday night, using a wide range of weapons, including guided aerial bombs, said spokesperson of the command of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ihnat.

"It all started [the attack] in the evening, when the enemy attacked Odesa region. Two X-59 missiles were destroyed. The attack also continued from the north of our country, about 10 Su-35 aircraft, the latest Russian fighters, attacked Sumy region with guided aerial bombs," Ihnat said on the air of a nationwide telethon on Friday morning.

According to him, guided aerial bombs are "an extremely big threat, since guided aerial bombs, glide-bombs can fly far away," while the planes that launch them "do not enter the zone of destruction of our air defense."

In this way, Ihnat said, "more than 10 guided bombs attacked objects in Sumy region. The losses are being clarified there, they will be announced by the military administrations," Ihnat said.

Just as the spokesperson of the Air Force informed, during this attack, the occupiers used an X-31 anti-radar missile. "Unfortunately, there are also Shaheds which attacked the north of the country and Kryvyi Rih. There is a hit in certain objects. According to the local authorities, there are no victims there," Ihnat said.
Lucknow, March 24 : Nearly 50 per cent of the startups in Uttar Pradesh are headed by women, according to a government spokesman.

Akshay Tripathi, special secretary, IT and Electronics, said that out of 8,714 registered startups in the state, 4305 are run by women entrepreneurs, The state IT department provides extra 50 per cent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs.

t may be pointed out that the department, a nodal agency for startups, is providing financial assistance of up to Rs 7.5 lakh to startups.

In addition to this, the government also provides Rs 17,500 monthly sustenance allowance to them.

Neha Misra, whose expertise lies in investment, insurance and pension planning and other financial matters, started 'The Fin Lit Project' to educate people on financial literacy.

Misra, who hails from Lucknow, developed a mobile application that has so far been downloaded by close to 5000 people.

She also makes people aware of financial planning and investment through seminars and webinars also.

Likewise, there are thousands of other women startup owners who are doing a commendable job.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Congress party has called a meeting of its steering committee members, senior leaders, state chiefs and legislative party leaders on Friday to devise a strategy after Rahul Gandhi's conviction by a Surat court.

The party has planned mega protests in the coming days, taking all like-minded parties along.

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has also called a meeting of the opposition parties on Friday, following which the MPs will march to the Vijay Chowk.

On the same evening, all the state Congress presidents and legislative party leaders will meet to chalk out plans for nationwide protests.

According to sources, the Congress leadership has also sought time to meet President Droupadi Murmu on this issue.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Congress MPs and steering committee members held at Kharge's residence on Thursday evening.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "This is not just a legal issue, but political as well since the ruling party wants to intimidate the opposition leaders." On Thursday morning, Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Canberra, March 24 : Australian police have launched a probe into the manhandling of Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe who was allegedly thrown to the ground at a protest outside Parliament in Canberra, the media reported on Friday.

British activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, who describes herself as a women's rights activist, but is also widely known for her opposition to transgender rights, was holding a "Let Women Speak" rally attended by a small number of supporters, the BBC reported.

It had attracted a larger counter-protest by pro-LGBT activists.

As she spoke, Thorpe was seen approaching the microphone area shouting "you're not welcome here" before being pushed back by a man in a suit, and then apparently pulled to the ground by police.

Police attempted to get her back on her feet but the Senator shouted "let me go", before breaking free and crawling away across the wet grass, and then standing up and walking off.

Addressing reporters after the incident, Thorpe said that "we do not tolerate this kind of filth being on Ngunnawal-Ngarigo country", referring to Keen-Minshull's group's presence on Aboriginal land.

"They are racist. They are homophobic. They are destroying people's lives. This country should be ashamed that they even let people like this into this country," the BBC quoted the Senator as saying Thorpe later told the Guardian she had been "pulverised" by police.

In a statement, the police said "interactions" between the police and protesters at the event would be reviewed.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 24 : The toddy shops in Kerala are in for a major facelift.

Toddy is known as the poor man's 'scotch' and for ages shops selling the drink in the villages of the state are distinct with their look of having just bare minimum furniture and lacking the tidy settings.

But, all this is set for a change as the Kerala government, according to sources. The annual liquor policy in the new fiscal will see the toddy shops undergo a major facelift. The policy mulls to go forward with the classification of the around 3,500 toddy shops.

The proposal has been lying with the officials who have mooted that similar to the classification of bar hotels, the toddy shops also should be classified according to the facilities and more importantly the cleanliness part.

Toddy tapped in Kerala is available in two varieties, one from the coconut trees and the other from the palm trees.

The one tapped from the coconut bunches is collected in a mud pot. Due to the sediments in the pot, the juice which is similar to the colour of milk that gets collected in four hours time gets fermented and has an alcohol content of 5 to 8 per cent.

About 1.5 litres of toddy is collected both in the morning and evening from one bunch. This is available in toddy shops at a price ranging around Rs 70 for a 750 ml bottle.

For the farmer, for each bunch of toddy tapped on a coconut tree, he gets an income of around Rs 500 for a 45-day period, when the bunch gets fully tapped.

But in the case of toddy tapped from the palm trees, which too is collected in mud pots, in a day the total production is around 40 litres from one bunch.

Moreover, unlike the bars which offer Liquor, beer and wine, the biggest attraction of toddy shops is the local cuisine which includes mouth watering and spicy non-vegetarian dishes ranging from locally caught fishes, chicken and other non-vegetarian dishes.

Unlike the bars, which offer Chinese and Indian dishes of rice, the toddy shops do not offer any such types but concentrate on tapioca and different varieties of tubers, sourced locally.

Of late, women also are thronging the toddy shops, especially in tourist destinations like Alappuzha and central districts of Kerala where fresh toddy is available in plenty.

"In yesteryears in most households, especially in the central districts of Kerala, where coconut and palm trees were given for tapping, it was consumed by many including the women folk and hence the taboo associated with liquor and beer was never there. Today in some parts of the state there are well managed and well run toddy shops and one can see a good crowd of people, including women frequenting such toddy shops. If the government comes out with classification of toddy shops, it would be welcomed by all," said a toddy connoisseur on condition of anonymity.
New Delhi, March 24 : A stalemate is likely to continue in Parliament on Friday with the opposition continuing with its demand for a JPC in the Hindenburg-Adani row, while the BJP will carry on pressing for an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks made in London.

Opposition MPs will on Friday move suspension of business notices in the Rajya Sabha and adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha on the Adani issue.

The Thursday meeting of the floor leaders at the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's chamber in Parliament premises could not end the impasse as both sides remained rigid on their demands.

Dhankhar rejected the suspension of business notices given by the members of the opposition on the demand of JPC in the Adani issue.

Following this, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that the stalemate can only end with the constitution of the JPC.

On his part, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said that Rahul Gandhi should apologise on his London statement.

Dhankar said both sides are rigid and should hold a dialogue to end the stalemate.
New Delhi, March 24 : The government will try and get the Finance Bill 2023 passed in Lok Sabha on Friday, even as the lower house is expected to witness disruptions over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on democracy and Adani issue.

The Lok Sabha on Thursday had passed the demands for grants for key ministries and also the Appropriation Bill 2023 without any discussion amid protests.

On Friday, there is also a likelihood of the Finance Bill being passed after consideration amid prospectscof protests by opposition over the Adani issue, while even the treasury benches may protest over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on democracy.

Also with the Congress leader having been found guilty of criminal defamation for a remark he had made in 2019 by a court in Surat, the ruling BJP may raise the matter in Parliament.
Washington, March 24 : The grand jury probing former US President Donald Trump's alleged hush-money payment to an adult film actress reportedly won't hear the case this week.

Several American media outlets reported the latest development in Trump's legal issues, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Members of the grand jury have been meeting Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, reports Xinhua news agency.

The jury was set to return to court in lower Manhattan, New York City, on Thursday but it will reportedly meet about a different case.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating Trump's role in an alleged hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The payment of $130,000 was said to be used to prevent Daniels from going public about an alleged sexual encounter that she had with Trump in 2006.

Trump has denied that the affair happened, dismissed any wrongdoing, and charged that the inquiry led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is politically motivated.

The possible indictment of Trump has been closely watched as no former American President has been indicted on criminal charges.

Republicans have rallied around Trump by attacking Bragg, a Democrat, and saying that the case is yet another example of law enforcement being "weaponised" for political purposes.

The Republican chairmen of the House Judiciary, Oversight, and Administration Committees are demanding testimony and documents related to Bragg's investigation.

Bragg's office responded on Thursday that the Republicans are embarking on an unprecedented inquiry "into pending local prosecution".

"The District Attorney pledged that the DA's Office would 'publicly state the conclusion of our investigation whether we conclude our work without bringing charges, or move forward with an indictment.' He stands by that pledge," Bragg's general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, wrote in a letter to congressional Republicans.

"And if charges are brought at the conclusion, it will be because the rule of law and faithful execution of the District Attorney's duty require it," Dubeck added.
Kolkata, March 24 : Two illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, both women, were arrested from Howrah station in Kolkata.

Noticing suspicious activities of two women who were loitering near the platform near the old complex building at Howrah station on Thursday, RPF personnel questioned them during which the women admitted that they illegally entered India from the West Bengal's Malda district along the India-Bangladesh border with the help of an agent who arranged for their crossover.

However, the duo could not tell the reasons of their coming to Kolkata illegally and were arrested.

They could not furnish any documents like passports or proper visa documents to come to India. The two have been identified as Priya Khatun (26) and Ranu Begum (28).

Both of them are residents of Khula area in Bangladesh. They were in possession of a substantial amount of Bangladeshi currency.

Both will be presented before a court in Kolkata on Friday.

On January 8, the cops of Golabari police station under Howrah district police, arrested nine illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Howrah station. A local resident, who was acting as their agent, was also arrested along with them.

They were basically economic immigrants and the local agent was supposed to take them to Bangalore for employment.
Amaravati, March 24 : After losing one of the seven Legislative Council seats, Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSRCP has identified two MLAs who resorted to cross-voting to help the opposition TDP win the seat.

The election was held on Thursday. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), however, has not named the two MLAs. Party general secretary and government advisor on political affairs, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said they identified two MLAs who voted for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

"We have identified them but will not reveal their names at this stage. Action will be taken against them at an appropriate time," he said.

Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, MLA from Udaygiri constituency in Nellore district and Undavalli Sridevi, MLA from Tadikonda in Guntur district, are suspected to have voted for the TDP candidate.

Sridevi denied the reports and claimed that she remains loyal to the party.

Both the MLAs were sulking after Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy reportedly decided not to give them tickets in the Assembly elections scheduled next year.

The YSRCP had directed the MLA from Nellore district to cast his first preference vote for party candidate Jayamangala Venkatraman. The candidate polled 21 first preference votes, one short of the number required for the win. He, however, won on the basis of second preference votes.

Similarly, the MLA from Guntur district was asked to vote for Kola Guruvulu but he apparently voted for the TDP candidate. He lost the election.

In addition to these two MLAs, Anam Ramnarayan Reddy and Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy are believed to have voted for the TDP candidate.

Anam and Kotamreddy, both from Nellore district, had recently raised a banner of revolt against the party. Sajjala said they had not taken them into consideration while working out a strategy to win all seven seats.

TDP's lone candidate Panchumarthi Anuradha won the seventh seat by securing 23 votes, one more than the required number.

All 175 members of the Assembly cast had their votes on Thursday and the counting was taken up in the evening.

YSRCP's V.V. Surya Narayana Raju, Pothula Sunitha, Bommi Israel, Chandragiri Yesuratnam and Marri Rajasekhar were elected as they secured 22 votes each. Kola Guruvulu also of YSRCP was declared elected on the basis of second preference votes.

In the 175-member Assembly, YSRCP has 151 members and it was confident of securing votes of four rebel MLAs of TDP and the lone MLA of Jana Sena Party (JSP).

TDP, which had 23 seats in the Assembly, was left with 19 members as four others had switched loyalties to YSRCP.

On TDP's victory, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the it was for TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu to explain how his candidate secured 23 votes. He remarked that Naidu is a champion in luring legislators and that YSRCP can't compete with him.
Mumbai, March 24 : Director Pradeep Sarkar, who is known for films like 'Parineeta', 'Mardaani', the web series 'Duranga' and others, passed away at a Mumbai hospital at the age of 67.

He was on dialysis and his potassium levels had dropped drastically. As his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. on March 24, and passed away at 3.30 a.m.

Funeral arrangements have been made at a crematorium in Santacruz for 4 p.m. on Friday.

Several members of the film fraternity expressed their grief and shared condolences.

Taking to Twitter, actor Ajay Devgn wrote: "The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences (flower bouquet). My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada." 'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri shared a statement on Twitter. It read: "It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that Pradeep has departed for his heavenly abode. Please join us at 4 p.m. for his funeral at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium to say goodbye to him." Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who worked with the director in 'Lafangey Parindey', shared pictures with Pradeep on Twitter. He said, "DADA!!! Why??? I'll miss you dada. Will always remember you as that child-hearted, full of life man who taught me so much. Your creation 'Lafangey Parindey' will always remain close to my heart. My prayers with the family." Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who played the antagonist in Pradeep Sarkar's 'Mardaani', said in a statement: 'Woke up to the extremely sad news of passing away of Pradeep Dada. I will always remember him with eternal gratitude as the man who trusted me with Mardaani. He was a maestro whose experience and guidance gave me the confidence to act to my fullest potential in my debut film. He mentored and then gave me space to create a part and in this trust lay his genius. I remember being extremely nervous on day one of shoot." He further mentioned: "It was a production heavy day, we were holding up traffic and there were a 100 junior artists on set. An intimidating environment for a first timer. After my first take I waited with baited breath as he watched the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, he yelled out for the entire set to hear, "that was great!". Just that validation from your first director still rings in my ears when I walk on to a set to this day. He was a visionary par excllence, ahead of his time. He lives on in the films he created. May he rest in peace." 'The Lunchbox' actress Nimrat Kaur also shared a picture of Pradeep and tweeted: "Had the great pleasure of being on his set a few times in my modeling days. His hearty laughter and relentless perfectionism will forever be etched in my heart. Deepest condolences to his loved ones. Rest on Dada, the heavens above are a happier place. #RIPPradeepSarkar."
The Ukrainian iOS app for renting apartments Bird is planning to launch in Warsaw, the press service of the LUN real estate portal told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the release, the service is being launched primarily for Ukrainians, of whom 105,000 are officially registered in Warsaw. According to polls, finding housing is the main problem they face.

"We know the difficulty for people who want to rent housing, and we know how to make a convenient product that is primarily focused on people and is free for them," the developers say.

Until 2022, Bird worked exclusively in Kyiv. There are currently 300,000 users in the App Store with a score of 4.9 out of 5. Last year, the app expanded its geography and launched in London and Lviv.

The application has the ability to independently define the area where you are primarily interested in renting a home, view the available options and subscribe to updates.

The application contains artificial intelligence (AI bird assistant), which removes duplicates from the service. Filters show the central/residential areas, help sort apartments by area, choose new buildings or houses of the old housing stock. The "grandmother's repair" function is also available, filtering housing by interior and furniture. In Warsaw, you will also have the opportunity to choose which interior you prefer.

Bird received two Red Dot awards in 2019, and the London-based app received the No. 1 Product of the Day and Week honor at Product Hunt in June 2022.

Bird also became one of the members of the Google Startup Fund, a fund to support Ukrainian startups.
Bengaluru, March 24 : Leading smartphone and smart TV brand Xiaomi India on Friday announced a collaboration with the United Way India to upskill the transgender community in the country.

The partnership aims to upskill 100 transgender persons across Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru with the knowledge of laptop, computer, and mobile handset repair to enhance their employability and provide sustainable livelihood options to them.

The skill development programme is a gateway for the transgender community to secure jobs with leading mobile companies and pave the way for their entrepreneurial journey, said the company.

"Our collaboration with United Way India is a testament to our firm belief in the transformative power of technology, as it can empower individuals and drive progress to greater heights," said Muralikrishnan B, President at Xiaomi India.

"We are delighted to work towards upskilling the transgender community and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society and providing them with a sustainable future," he added.

The selected individuals' training programme will span over four months and incorporate an experiential learning approach.

The programme will cover different modules such as basic electronics, software and hardware, and hands-on practical training.

United Way India, will identify beneficiaries in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru regions based on their willingness, attitude, and aptitude to participate in the training.

Upon completing the programme, trainees will actively engage in income-generating activities and self-employment ventures.

"We are thrilled to onboard Xiaomi India to improve the quality of life for transgender persons and their families with this skill-building programme. With a focus on building equitable communities in India, we support inclusive access to opportunities for all and are pleased to collaborate with Xiaomi to serve diverse population groups," said Jayanti Shukla, CEO, United Way India.
Mumbai, March 24 : Five Indian sailors who went to join a merchant navy ship in June 2019 and got stranded in Iran later, will finally return home on Friday afternoon after surviving a nightmarish ordeal of nearly four years, a family member said here.

The sailors are Aniket S. Yenpure, 31 and Mandar M. Worlikar, 28, (both from Mumbai); Pranav A. Tiwari, 23, (Patna); Naveen M. Singh (New Delhi); and Thamizh R. Selvan, 33, (Chennai).

Their plight was first highlighted by IANS on July 4, 2021, on how they were sailing in the high seas off Oman in February 2020 and were unwittingly trapped into a treacherous maritime narcotics smuggling racket.

For this, they were arrested, jailed, acquitted, and then grounded, moved around different cities in Iran, fighting legal battles, at times hiding and surviving on the food and clothes doled out by sympathetic villagers in remote areas, said Sham Yenpure, father of Aniket S. Yenpure.

"We had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his former Minister son Aditya Thackeray, Iranian diplomats in India and Indian diplomats in Iran, top Iran leaders, and others for help," said Sham Yenpuree, a milkman, while undertaking a foot-march to Shirdi this morning.

Initially, everything was hunky-dory for the five young sailors till February 20, 2020, when they unknowingly fell into a sinister trap of their ship captain in the high seas around 140 km from Muscat.

Sensing something amiss at the illegal mid-sea cargo transfer, Worlikar and his co-crew quietly recorded it on their mobile phones -- as evidence for the Customs and Iran Police authorities at the next port.

Unexpectedly, the very next morning, an Iran Navy ship intercepted and arrested them all on the high seas and transferred them to the naval ship.

"As events unfolded after February 2020, little did these boys realise that not only their dreams would be shattered, but they would also be imprisoned and kept away from their families for almost four years in India," rued Sham Yenpure.

The five were offloaded from the ship, arrested by the Counter-Narcotics Department, got into police custody spending over 55 weeks in jail, and later found innocent on March 8, 2021 and ordered to be released.

They were again arrested and produced before a higher court which also ordered their release, but all their travel and other documents were impounded -- leaving the five youths compulsorily stuck there since March 10, 2021.

Meanwhile, the case continued in different courts including the Iran Supreme Court, they were given all help by the local lawyers and the Indian Embassy and various Consulates in Iran.

Finally, after nearly four years away from home, they are returning this afternoon by an Iran Air flight from Tehran to Mumbai, said Sham Yenpure.

"This is like a Gudi Padwa gift for us. Our prayers have been answered and the boys are safe and healthy. We shall accord them a warm welcome home," he said.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Bengaluru, March 24 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Karnataka on Friday, visited former Chief Minister and BJP Central Parliamentary Board Member B.S. Yediyurappa's residence and had breakfast there.

The visit is analyzed as a message to the BJP leaders who are openly expressing their reservations on high command giving prominence to Yediyurappa.

Earlier, BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi had objected to Yediyurappa's statement of allocating a party ticket to his son B.Y. Vijayendra.

Ravi has stated that the party will not allow the kitchen cabinet to function. Yediyurappa had to take back his statement. Vijayendra had made an open statement that no one should take Yediyurappa's silence as weakness and they will repent. "Can anyone have the strength to assure a majority in elections for the party?" Vijayendra had asked.

Minister for Housing V. Somanna also had a tiff with Vijayendra and stated that he is just a son of Yediyurappa.

Amid the grwoing differences, Amit Shah had to intervene and resolve the matter.

Yediyurappa and Vijayendra welcomed Amit Shah to their residence in Bengaluru. Amit Shah had dosa, idli and pongal. Yediyurappa's daughters served the food. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state in-charge Arun Singh, state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel were also present.
Bogota, March 24 : The number of people in Colombia affected by violent clashes and needing aid has risen to 7.7 million, UN humanitarians said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 40 percent of those needing relief last year came from the indigenous community, reports Xinhua news agency.

They are only 4 per cent of the total population of about 52 million.

The humanitarian office said more than 25,000 people from the Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities were newly displaced or forcibly confined due to violence since the beginning of this year.

The government and OCHA earlier this month launched a $283 million humanitarian response plan to reach 1.6 million people, primarily women, children, people with disabilities, and indigenous people.

In 2022, more than 202,000 people in Colombia were forcibly displaced or confined, largely because of violence by illegal armed group, according to the OCHA.

Some 119,000 people were confined to their homes or villages for more than a week last year, the highest number since the UN humanitarian agency began monitoring humanitarian crises in Colombia in 2008.

Almost 74,000 people were forcibly displaced because of violence, according to the OCHA's monitoring system, indicating a reduction compared to 2021.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 24 : The BJP on Friday questioned the Congress' march in support of its leader Rahul Gandhi after he was convicted in a criminal defamation case.

The Congress MP was sentenced to two years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 15,000 by a Surat court on Thursday for his "Modi surname" remark in April 2019.

Questioning the Congress' stance, Union Minister and BJP leader Bhupender Yadav said, Rahul has insulted the entire OBC community.

"I want to know why they want to take out this march. Is the party taking out this march because he has the right to humiliate the OBC community," he wondered.

"He abused a 'surname'... If there is a judicial decision, should a march be taken out against it... Will it not be an insult to the country's judiciary," the Union Minister asked.

"Rahul is a habitual liar and on a constant mode to defame India. Moreover, his words -- reflecting his psychology of disrespect towards the OBCs -- is very much shameful," he said.

On Parliament logjam, Yadav said: "The irresponsible behaviour of the opposition, its actions resulting in non-functioning of the Parliament, disrespecting parliament on a foreign land reflect the anti-democratic stance of the Congress." On the other hand, BJP chief J. P. Nadda said, Rahul ignored the option of repeatedly explaining and apologising to the society and the court, and hurt the sentiments of the OBC society.

The BJP chief alleged that even after being sentenced, Rahul and the Congress, due to their arrogance, are constantly adamant on their statements and are hurting the sentiments of the OBC community.

During a rally in 2019, Rahul had said: "Why do all these thieves have Modi as their surname? Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi." Modi surname belongs to mostly people from the oil presser caste who are part of the OBC.
Washington, March 24 : Two women who say they experienced and escaped Chinese "re-education camps" have provided first-hand testimony to members of the US Congress, giving harrowing detail while imploring Americans not to look away from what Washington has declared a continuing genocide of Muslim ethnic minorities.

Testifying before a special House committee on Thursday, Gulbahar Haitiwaji, an Uyghur woman, said that during her nearly three years in internment camps and police stations, prisoners were subjected to 11 hours of "brainwashing education" each day, the Guardian reported.

It included singing patriotic songs and praising the Chinese government before and after meals.

Haitiwaji said detainees were punished for speaking in Uyghur and endured routine interrogations during which they were hooded and shackled to their chairs.

On one occasion, she said, she was chained to her bed for 20 days.

Female prisoners were told they would be vaccinated, when they were being sterilised, the Guardian reported.

"There are cameras all over the camp," Haitiwaji said. "Our every move was monitored." She said in written testimony that after her head was shaved, she had a feeling of "losing my sense of self, losing my ability to even remember the faces of my family members", the Guardian reported.

Qelbinur Sidik, a member of China's ethnic Uzbek minority who is now a human rights activist living in the Netherlands, told of being coerced by Chinese authorities into teaching classes at one of China's internment camps.

Through a translator, she described the detention facilities as "like a war zone" with razor wire fencing and armed guards.

Sidik recalled hearing the "horrible screaming sounds" of Uyghur prisoners as they were tortured, the Guardian reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Friday. During this, he was welcomed by UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.(photo:@myogiadityanath/Twitter) Image Source: IANS News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Friday. During this, he was welcomed by UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.(photo:@myogiadityanath/Twitter) Image Source: IANS News

Varanasi : , March 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India had made appreciable progress in eradication of Tuberculosis mainly due to public participation.

Speaking at the One World TB Summit, he said that community initiative was appreciable and had yielded good results.

"Even Though World sets a target to end TB by 2030, India has resolved to end TB by 2025. We are working on a strategy to trace, track, and treat which has shown desired results," he said.

The Prime Minister said that India had used an integrated app to end TB.

"This is a new model of global war against TB. We have used people's participation, enhancing nutrition, treatment innovation, wellness and prevention to combat TB," he said.

He further said, "TB Mukt Panchayat is a great initiative. Under this campaign, every representative of the village panchayat will take a resolution that their villages will be completely TB free. Not even a single TB patient is in their respective villages." The Prime Minister further said that the 'One World TB Summit' India is fulfilling another resolution of Global Good.

"It is a matter of happiness that this summit is taking place in Kashi. Some time ago, India also took the initiative to take forward the vision of 'One Earth, One Health' and now through 'One World TB Summit' India is fulfilling another resolution of Global Good," he added.

He said that in the last nine years, India has worked together on many fronts in this fight against TB.

"Nearly 10 lakh TB patients have been adopted by people. Even children have broken their piggy banks to ensure treatment of TB patients. This community initiative needs to be lauded. We are also increasing focus on areas where the number of cases is more. What we need to do is to help in removing the stigma attached to the disease," he said.

The Prime Minister said that technology was being used to contain the growth of TB and the duration of treatment had also been reduced.

"We have pursued the trace, test, track, treat and technology package to win this war," he ended.
Film: Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga

Duration: 110 minutes.

Director: Ajay Singh

Cast: Yami Gautam, Sunny Kaushal, Sharad Kelkar and Indraneil Sengupta.

Music: Vishal Mishra

Cinematography: Gianni Giannelli

Rating: ****

Ajay Singh-directorial 'Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga' is one of the rarest films that seamlessly changes its genre from action thriller to revenge drama. The film is cleverly crafted and it's been edited in such a kinetic style that you wouldn't want to miss a single frame because you might miss a crucial detail.

The film starts with Sunny Kaushal as Ankit, badly beaten and bruised, being investigated by Sharad Kelkar, a RAW officer named Shaikh, as to why terrorists only beat him during an hijacking incident, in the next frame you see a bunch of hijackers getting ready for the mission, and in the frame thereafter, Ankit and Neha (Yami Gautam) spark off a romance mid-air.

Ankit, a mysterious businessman, strikes up a conversation with air-hostess Neha (Yami) and leaves nothing to chance to woo her. Neha, smitten by the charming and innocent-looking Ankit, drops her guard and falls in love.

Image Source: IANS News Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga

But their happiness is short-lived because Ankit owes money to some shady people, who are after him, and now Neha as well. One day, the couple is attacked and Neha gets into trouble.

To avoid future assaults and safeguard themselves, Neha and Ankit agree to rob a diamond courier, bound from Al Asad to Delhi. The diamonds are meant for the home minister and are worth Rs 120 crore.

But mid-air, a simple robbery turns into a hijack when a bunch of radicals take everyone hostage at gunpoint and demand the release of a militant, shouting Kashmiri freedom slogans and diverting the flight from Delhi to Kullu.

Ankit is hell-bent on stealing the diamonds and eventually does so with Neha's help, but the terrorists figure out their plan, beat up Ankit, and tie a bomb around him. During the tussle between Ankit and the terrorists, the air marshal shoots down the terrorists before the plane can land.

That is where the film changes gears: the army discovers that the bodies of the terrorists are missing and so is the air marshal who shot the terrorists. There was no hijack and no bomb, and the diamonds are missing too.

If this twist wasn't enough, it turns out Ankit only used Neha for the diamond heist, and that he is the one who is responsible for Neha losing her child. What happens next will blow everyone's mind, as Neha is not what she seemed and has a twisted past.

Image Source: IANS Sharad Kelkar to be seen opposite Yami Gautam in 'Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga'.(photo:instagram)

Now, what happened to the diamonds, who planned the hijack, what happened to the hijackers' bodies, and who is the ultimate con artist taking revenge on everyone? To find out, one needs to watch the film.

The film's story, plot, premise, performance and execution are rock-solid; the makers and actors don't reveal anything till the very end, which makes it worth the watch.

Ajay Singh establishes his characters and premise within 15 minutes without wasting any time, and a gripping tale takes everyone on a journey 40,000 feet up in the air before bringing everything down to a shattering and satisfying climax.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Kanpur, March 24 : Controversial 'godman' Santosh Singh Bhadauria a.k.a Karauli Baba has now announced that any journalist who wishes to do coverage of his ashram, will need to get accreditation from him.

The godman has issued a two-page form for this.

Karauli Baba's ashram wants to grant the accreditation similar to the government cards issued to journalists for coverage of the President and Prime Minister.

The self-styled godman had landed in a soup after Noida-based doctor Siddharth filed a complaint accusing him and his supporters of assaulting him, on Monday.

A video of the February 22, 2023 showing interaction between the doctor and Baba has also gone viral since the registration of the FIR.

The police have initiated an investigation in the matter.

According to the police sources the investigating team is all set to record the statements of Karauli Baba after issuing notice to him.

DCP South Salman Taj Patil said: "Efforts are also being made to procure the CCTV footage of the day of the incident from the ashram. We will scan the CCTV footage to ascertain the accusations. Further action will be taken on the basis of the evidence.

"We will make the medical report of the complainant a part of the case. If the medical report is private, then legal opinion will be taken and will be included in the investigation. Statements of the doctor and his family will be recorded. If he does not come to Kanpur, the investigators will go to Noida to record his statement. Action will be taken further on the basis of the facts which come to the fore," he added.

Siddharth, a native of Noida Sector-48, stated in his complaint that he was roughed up by the godman and his men when denied that he felt relieved after the godman's treatment.
Mumbai, March 24 : 'Lag Ja Gale' actor Namik Paul spoke about playing a double role in the show and said it is interesting to portray two different personalities at the same time.

He said: "As an actor, I feel it is a great opportunity to play a double role. While I love portraying the arrogant and confident Shiv, it is fun playing shy Aniket as well. His body language, way of communicating, and especially his demeanor towards Ishani are very different, and that is giving me room to explore and improvise." Namik made his acting debut with 'Qubool Hai', and gained popularity with his shows such as 'Ek Duje Ke Vaaste', 'Ek Deewana Tha', among others. The actor is currently enjoying his stint in 'Lag Ja Gale' and switching between two characters. "Personally, it has been fun playing two characters for Lag Ja Gale, however, I'm still honing the art of switching from one character to another, given that they are so opposite to each other, it's not easy," he added.

Set in Delhi, 'Lag Ja Gale' is a story of Shiv (Namik Paul), an affluent, self-made young hotelier, and Ishani (Tanisha Mehta), a hard-working girl, and how they are forced to get married due to circumstances.

'Lag Ja Gale' airs on Zee TV.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Zaluzhny on anniversary of strike on enemy's naval base in Berdiansk: Myth of invulnerability of Russian fleet destroyed by AFUs well-aimed blows

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny recalled the anniversary of a major missile strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the objects of the Russian naval forces in Berdiansk.

"A year ago, on March 24, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a missile attack on the enemy base in the seaport of temporarily occupied Berdiyansk. Large landing ships Orsk, Caesar Kunnikov, Novocherkassk were damaged, Saratov was destroyed," wrote Zaluzhny on the Telegram channel on Friday.

"The myth of the invulnerability of the Russian fleet has been destroyed by well-aimed blows of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This once again proved an irrefutable fact: the enemy will not know peace on Ukrainian soil: neither on land nor on water," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces summed up.
Mumbai, March 24 : Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji, has offered her condolences at the sudden demise of filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar.

The filmmaker passed away in Mumbai at around 3:30 a.m. on March 24 after renal complications.

Rani, who has worked with Pradeep in 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' and 'Mardaani', said: "I'm very very shocked by the news of Dada's passing away. I, in fact, spoke to him just the other day when I had gone to Amritsar, to the Golden Temple where he had called me telling me about my film so we had a long chat, he was insisting to do a facetime call but that day the network was not good so I was unable to video call with him. We were planning to meet this week when I got back but it is just so unexpected." The actress continued: "His wife (Panchali boudi) called me at 4 a.m. when this happened, it is really sad and shocking that dada has passed away like this. Boudi had informed me that he was on remission and he was all ok. He was also shooting these last few days so I don't know how it all transpired in just a matter of a few hours. I'm sure everybody who knows Dada will feel his loss deeply the way I'm feeling it. I had a great connection with him, we've done a lot of work together over the years, so it's literally like losing a family member." Pradeep made his directorial debut with the Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan-starrer 'Parineeta' and was one of the most revered directors of Hindi cinema.

Rani further mentioned: "My heart goes out to Boudi, Ronno and Raya as they were a very close-knit family and to all the people who worked in Dada's production house and those who have been attached to him over the years. It's going to be a great loss for them." "So I'm really very saddened by this because I was meant to meet him soon so I feel terrible about it. You never realise how life is so unpredictable, you speak to a person and the next thing you know is that the person is not there. I will hold on to my last memory of him being so happy and excited for me as he had called me to share the feedback that he was getting for my film and me from all over," she concluded.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 24 : The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Finance Bill 2023 without any discussion through voice vote, amid protests by the Congress-led opposition.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a panel under the finance secretary would be set up to look into the issue of pensions.

As many as 75 amendments are there in the Finance Bill, all of which were approved through voice vote, even as the Congress members protested in the well of the House, shouting slogans and seeking a JPC probe in the Adani matter.

The opposition MPs raised slogans and showed placards saying "Allow Rahul Gandhi to speak in the House" and "We fought the British, we will fight Modi and RSS".

Meanwhile, Sitharaman announced while speaking on the bill, that a committee under the finance secretary would be set up to look into the issue of pensions and for evolving an approach which addresses the needs of employees, while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect common citizens.

She also informed the House that the approach will be designed for adoption by both the central government and state governments.

Sitharaman further said, "It has been represented that payments for foreign tours through credit cards are not being captured under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and they escape tax collection at source. The RBI is being requested to look into this with a view to bring credit card payments for foreign tours within the ambit of LRS and tax collection at source thereon." Soon after the finance bill was passed, the Lower House was adjourned till March 27.

Opposition members could be seen tearing their placards and throwing them at the Speaker's chair after the House was adjourned.

The Finance Bill 2023, gives effect to the financial proposals of the central government for 2023-24.
New Delhi, March 24: The inauguration of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday was yet another sign of the close links the two countries have maintained since Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971.

Indeed, the friendship between the two countries has certainly withstood the test of time. There have of course been the impediments along the way - the Teesta water-sharing issue remains a sore point, the presence of some Indian militant outfits like ULFA in the era of BNP-Jamaat rule in Dhaka was a major irritant in bilateral relations, incidents at the border necessitating near regular flag meetings between India's BSF and Bangladesh's BGB are some instances - but in the overall sense the two countries have stayed well clear of letting them hamper the bonds of friendship they have upheld over the past fifty two years.

The cart has not been upset. The Friendship Pipeline, through which India will contribute to an enhancing of energy security for Bangladesh by ensuring a supply of diesel to as many as sixteen northern districts in the latter, comes at a time when Bangladesh's economy is in need of stability. That is important, given than Dhaka is poised to graduate from LDC status to a lower middle income country position in 2026. The spirit in which the Prime Ministers of the two countries set the pipeline going on Saturday was clearly a boost for Bangladesh.

Interestingly, the pipeline agreement comes on the fifty-one years after a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between India and Bangladesh was signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the official visit of the Indian leader to Dhaka in March 1972. The Indira-Mujib deal, coming as it did three months after the liberation of Bangladesh by the Indian army and Bangladesh's Mukti Bahini, was a seminal move in that it was symbolic of the bonds that were to keep the two nations linked. In a very broad sense, the treaty had undertones similar to the agreement on cooperation reached by India and the Soviet Union in August 1971 at the height of the Bangladesh war.

Since that early agreement between India and Bangladesh in March 1972 - and it came into effect only days after the last Indian soldiers had returned to India from Bangladesh - scores of deals and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) have been initialled by the two countries. Cooperation in such key areas as combating terrorism, buttressing economic ties, sharing the waters of the Ganges, a joint approach to climate change and promoting cultural exchanges, have been significant features in relations between the two countries.

In matters of diplomacy, Bangladesh and India have by and large shared common ground on studies of and responses to issues of grave global import. Such cooperation has been noticed particularly in recent times as the Ukraine crisis. Regional cooperation has been an additional factor in the ties between the two nations, with both emphasising the creation of a region based on cooperation and peace among the states of South Asia.

Bangladesh has had its students undertaking graduate and post-graduate courses at Indian educational institutions, while Indian youth have travelled to Bangladesh for academic as well as research purposes. In a good number of business enterprises in Dhaka, experienced Indians have contributed to profit-making for such firms, with results clearly satisfying to the two countries. Indian clinics and hospitals have been destinations for Bangladesh's citizens where health issues are concerned. And, of course, tourism has been a growing phenomenon, adding to the richness of the bilateral links.

The Friendship Pipeline only deepens the links between India and Bangladesh. With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina now coming forth with her invitation to India to utilise Chittagong port and Sylhet for its goods movement, there is promise of a further development of bilateral ties. Bangladesh's links with India's north-eastern region have grown steadily over the past decade.

Relations between the two countries have thus been of mutual benefit for both. The Teesta issue is of course worrying for Bangladesh, but the government in Dhaka has proved willing and ready to wait for a solution until such time as the worries of the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal over the issue have been allayed. Dhaka was compelled to wait, after all, for decades for the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) to be ratified by Delhi - and it was not until the Narendra Modi government came into office in 2014 that the curtain was finally drawn over the issue.

Bangladesh faces a general election at the end of this year, while India goes to the polls in 2024. People in both countries will look forward to the outcome of those exercises of the ballot. But that in these last many years - fourteen years of Sheikh Hasina's leadership in Bangladesh and ten years of Narendra Modi's in India -the fraternal links between Dhaka and Delhi have increasingly been solidified is a reality which can only give increasing tail wind to this bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 24: Russia and the UK continue to engage in a new, bitter war of words over the British side's plan to supply Ukraine with armour-piercing shells with Depleted Uranium for Challenger 2 battle tanks.

Moscow asserts that London has apparently already forgotten about the well-known dire consequences of the use of such toxic and radioactive munitions "during the conflicts unleashed by the West" in Yugoslavia and Iraq.

On the other hand, the UK government has accused the Kremlin of "deliberately trying to disinform," insisting that the British Army has used Depleted Uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons.

What is Depleted Uranium? Depleted Uranium is a dense metal produced as a by-product of enrichment of natural uranium for nuclear fuel. It is still radioactive, but at a much lower level than the starting material. The official definition of Depleted Uranium given by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is uranium in which the percentage fraction by weight of U-235 is less than 0.711 per cent.

What are the military uses of Depleted Uranium? According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field, Uranium's physical and chemical properties make it very suitable for military uses. Depleted Uranium is used in the manufacturing of ammunitions used to pierce armour plating, such as those found on tanks, in missile nose cones and as a component of tank armour.

Armour made of depleted uranium is much more resistant to penetration by conventional anti-armour ammunitions than conventional hard rolled steel armour plate. Such munitions were used in both Gulf Wars and in Serbia and Kosovo.

What are the health hazards associated with Depleted Uranium? The US Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged that some of its Gulf War, Bosnia, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) veterans may have been exposed to Depleted Uranium when they were: on, in, or near vehicles hit with friendly fire; entering or near burning vehicles; near fires involving DU munitions; or salvaging damaged vehicles.

The potential for health effects from internal exposure is related to the amount of DU that enters a person's body. Inhaled DU particles are likely cleared from the lungs over several years.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, March 24 : The MPs from like-minded opposition parties on Friday took out a march from the Parliament House to the Vijay Chowk on Friday holding placards to demand a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe in the Adani issue.

They were, however, stopped at Vijay Chowk by Delhi Police.

Mallikarjun Kharge LoP in the Rajya Sabha said, "This fight is to save democracy and whoever speaks against the government is being intimidated." Kharge while defending Rahul Gandhi said that he was not being allowed to speak in Parliament.

Responding to the BJP's allegation that Rahul Gandhi is insulting the OBC community, Kharge said that there was no question of forward or backward, but "the only question is about those who ran away with the money of the country".

"Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter asking for permission to speak in Parliament, but he was not allowed. If it continues like this, autocracy and dictatorship will come to this country and the fight is to save democracy," Kharge said.

A day after conviction by a Surat court, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday was present in a meeting of the MPs at the party office in the Parliament premises.

Sonia Gandhi was also present in the meeting.

The Congress party has called a meeting of its steering committee members, senior leaders, state chiefs and legislative party leaders on Friday evening to devise a strategy after Rahul Gandhi's conviction.

The party has planned mega protests in the coming days, taking all like-minded parties along.
London, March 24 : British Indian MP Navendu Mishra has slammed the Home Office for failing to provide adequate protection to the Indian High Commission in London, which was targeted and vandalised by anti-India elements.

Expressing his support for India in a letter addressed to Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, Mishra asked the UK government to address the lapse on Home Office's part urgently.

"The protest that turned into violence and vandalism was promoted on several social media platforms at least 24 hours beforehand and it is disappointing that the Home Office failed to ensure adequate protection," the Labour MP from Stockport wrote in the letter signed by six other lawmakers.

"All diplomatic missions, diplomats, staff and families are protected under the Vienna Convention. The failure of the Home Office to fulfil this obligation must be addressed by the government urgently." Welcoming an investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police into the incident, Mishra and other MPs assured that they will continue to press the government to ensure protection for all diplomatic missions in Britain and respect international obligations.

"The ability to participate in peaceful protest, demonstrations and democratic debate are an important part of British tradition, but vandalism or violence against any person or institution is simply unacceptable," the letter read.

The co-signatories of the letter included MPs Mike Amesbury, Virendra Sharma, Tulip Siddiq and Gareth Thomas.

In a video address after the incident, Doraiswami said: "The situation for travel is normal and visitors, including from the UK, are safe. Let me assure all our friends here in the UK, especially brothers and sisters with relatives in Punjab that there is no truth to sensationalist lies being circulated on social media." Condemning the incident, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said violence directed against the staff at the Indian High Commission is unacceptable, and the UK government will make sure that there is proper security.

The assurance came after pro-Khalistan backers protested outside the Indian High Commission for hours on Wednesday, throwing water bottles and smoke flares at the main entrance of the building.

The High Commission then retaliated with a bigger flag a day after March 19 vandalism, when the Tricolour was pulled down and the windows of the building were broken.
New Delhi, March 24 : Several opposition MPs and leaders were detained on Friday while they were marching towards Vijay Chowk from Parliament reiterating their demand for a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

Delhi Police also made announcements asking opposition MPs to not march ahead as Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in Vijay Chowk area.

According to sources, opposition leaders and MPs, including K. C. Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, K. Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi, Rajmohan Unnithan, Mohammad Jawaid were among others detained by police and taken to nearby police station.

"Under the Modi Raj, even protesting outside Parliament is a crime. Delhi Police have detained opposition MPs, as we took a march towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan to reiterate our demand for a JPC on the Adani Mega Scam. They will not succeed in shaking our resolve," Venugopal wrote on Twitter while sharing video and photo of leaders and MPs in the police bus.
New Delhi, March 24 : After Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha a day after his conviction in Surat court, the Congress on Friday said that it will fight the battle legally and politically.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti." The Lok Sabha Secretariat in its notification said, "Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat..., Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of the lower house from the date of his conviction..." This order was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday and was signed by Secretary General, Lok Sabha.

Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged 'Modi surname' remark in 2019.

Gandhi was convicted under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500. The maximum possible punishment under this section is two years.

BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?..." remark.
Patna, March 24 : A seven-year-old boy died in Bihar's Saharsa district on Friday after an alleged brutal assault by his teacher.

The victim, Aditya Kumar, was an LKG student at a private school in a village under the Sadar police station. He had been living in a hostel since the last 10 days.

His parents are residents of the adjoining Madhepura district.

According to the police, the school administration informed Aditya's parents that he became unconscious and was admitted to a private hospital.

By the time his parents arrived, the victim died.

"We sent our child to the school cum hostel in Saharsa district on March 14. We received a phone call on Friday that Aditya became unconscious and was admitted to a private hospital. When we reached the hospital, he was already dead," said Prakash Yadav, Aditya's father.

"We have sent the body for post-mortem to ascertain the actual cause of death. The family members alleged that he died due to the physical assault. We are also trying to arrest the owner of the school. He is absconding. We have lodged an FIR and efforts are on to nab him," said Brajesh Chauhan, Sub-inspector of Sadar police station.
San Francisco, March 24 : Employer rating website Glassdoor will reduce its workforce by roughly 15 per cent, affecting 140 employees, its CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong has announced, blaming the "shifting macroeconomic environment".

In a memo sent to employees, Sutherland-Wong said that from the start, "we said that layoffs would be a last resort".

"Unfortunately, we have reached that point. It is with a heavy heart that I share that I have made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce. Today we are going to say goodbye to around 140 of our colleagues, who represent approximately 15 per cent of the Glassdoor team," said the CEO.

Those in the US whose roles are being impacted will receive a meeting invitation to meet with managers or team leads.

"EMEA employees will receive an invitation to either a UK or Ireland Town Hall meeting where we'll share specific next steps for those markets," the company informed.

"This outcome is devastating and please know that we made all attempts to control costs to avoid this. We paused hiring. We cut programme costs. We cut travel and events. Unfortunately, this was not enough," the CEO mentioned.

Last quarter, US sponsored jobs were down 33 per cent year over year. The company saw declines in retention rates for aEmployer Branding' customers too.

"It has become increasingly clear that this is just the beginning of a broader economic slowdown, as the job market cools after the post-Covid boom," said Sutherland-Wong.

The severance for impacted employees will include a minimum of 16 weeks base pay and healthcare coverage for 4 months.

They will also get 100 per cent payout of aSpring 2023' bonus, and full payout of earned commissions and spiffs, said Glassdoor.
Ukraine carried out a humanitarian action and handed over to the Russian Federation all the seriously wounded occupiers, whose condition allowed transportation, captured since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on the Telegram channel on Friday.

"Following international obligations, pursuant to articles 109-114 of the Geneva Conventions and with the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine unilaterally transferred seriously wounded and seriously ill prisoners of the occupiers to the Russian side. In this case, we are not talking about an exchange of prisoners of war, but rather about repatriation: the return of seriously wounded prisoners without any conditions, as provided for by international humanitarian law," the message says.

The number of seriously wounded occupiers transferred to the Russian Federation is not reported.

At the same time, the Coordination Headquarters notes that the Russian Federation is still holding thousands of Ukrainian citizens hostage, in particular the seriously ill and wounded, civilians, children and women, the elderly, as well as those who were captured by Russia before the start of a large-scale invasion.

"According to international humanitarian law, all these categories of citizens should be returned to Ukraine by repatriation without any conditions. Despite this, Russia not only continues to hold civilians and non-combatants hostage, but also refuses to allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to their places of detention, does not provide them with communication with relatives, proper nutrition, medical care, deliberately creating inhuman conditions of captivity. Ukraine calls on the international community to increase pressure on the aggressor state to force Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and release all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine from captivity," the message says.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Finance Bill 2023-24 which was passed in Lok Sabha through voice vote on Friday, has as many as 75 amendments, some key ones include a hike in securities transaction tax (STT) on options by 23.5 per cent and futures by 25 per cent.

This will lead to those trading in futures and options (F&O) paying higher STT.

In a way, the move is likely to discourage F&O traders, as government aims to tax them more since turnover is high in such transactions.

Also the Finance Bill has effected an amendment, stripping debt mutual funds of long term benefits.

According to the amendment, debt mutual funds have been stripped of the long-term tax benefit, if they invest less than 35 per cent of their assets in equities.

Such mutual funds will attract short-term capital gains tax.

This brings the taxation treatment for debt funds on a par with any other bank fixed deposits, where the capital gains are added to the investoraAs income and taxed at his or her slab rates.

The Finance Bill has also proposed to tax distribution from business trust which as income from other sources at applicable rate. This is now proposed to be treated as return of capital ie reduction from cost of acquisition, till the cost at which the unit was issued.

However, any amount in excess of the issue price would be taxable as income. Thus, the change would benefit the unitholders vis-a-vis the earlier proposal.

One relaxation provided in the union budget for 2023-24 was that income upto Rs 7 lakhs for assesses in the new regime would be non-taxable through the rebate route.

However there was an anomaly that incase the income exceeded Rs 7 lakhs, then the additional tax would be more than the income itself.

For example, in case the income of a person is Rs 7,01,000 then the tax would be Rs 25,100. Hence for an additional income of Rs 1,000, there would be an additional tax of Rs 25,100.

This has been rectified to provide marginal relief to provide that the additional tax should not be more than the income itself, which is Rs 1,000 additional tax in this case.

The amendment will encourage more and more people to opt for new tax regime.

Also MUDRA loans for micro units or enterprises set up under Joint Liability Group (JLG) framework (individually or jointly) are now eligible for guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).

The Finance Bill has amended Section 109 of The CGST Act 2017 to facilitate formation of GST Tribunals.

The Government has also increased the withholding tax rate on royalties and fee for technical services paid to non-residents from 10 per cent to 20 per cent under domestic tax law.

Tax treaty benefits will become more critical now to avail a reduced withholding tax rate. Foreign entities will need to evaluate their commercial substance to be able to claim such treaty benefits. This may also increase the cost of import of technology in cases where Indian companies are grossing up withholding taxes and treaty benefits are not available.

Taking note of the representations made by the gaming industry, the government had proposed to bring the latest TDS provisions, applicable to online gaming, into effect from April 1.

Further, the TDS on the online gaming was also proposed to be deducted at the double rate, in case of non-compliance in return filing by the concerned deductee, where the TDS amount in the past year was more than 50,000.

These amendments have now been accepted. This may require the gaming operators to seek an undertaking and necessary proofs from the users, to ensure proper compliance with this provision.

Vivek Jalan, partner, Tax Connect Advisory, a multi-disciplinary tax consultancy firm, while reacting to amendments leading to setting up of GST tribunals, said: "The most welcome step is the move to amend Section 109 of The CGST Act 2017 and lay the foundation of the formation of GST Tribunals, a long overdue measure to get justice for the GST Taxpayers accross the country." The move was stuck in a deadlock between states and Centre wherein the states required independent GSTAT at state level and Centre was demanding a National Tribunal at the Centre with co-ordinate branches, he explained.

"An intermediate solution has been reached wherein there would be a National Bench with co-ordinate benches in states and there would be a mix of Centre and states members - both judicial and technical. However since hearing would only be done by one or two members, still the dynamics for dispensation of justice needs to be worked out "Nonetheless taxpayers would heave a sigh of relief as already tens of thousands of matters are lying pending appeal before the GSTAT since its not been formed. To add salt to the injury various state SGST departments have initiated recovery proceedings in these matters, a move completely unwarranted and un-precedented," Jalan said.

Naveen Aggarwal, Partner, Tax, KPMG in India, said: "Two key changes proposed in the Finance Bill are in relation to taxation of business trusts. The government has allowed the benefit of cost against the return of capital component for the unit holders and the tax exemption has been extended to other income arising for sovereign wealth funds and pension funds as unit holders of business trusts." The changes, he said, are in line with the expectations and provide clarity and certainty of tax policy vis-a-vis business trusts.

The investor community has welcomed the change. It also underscores the governments focus for investment in the infrastructure sector in the country and attracting the patient global capital in this sector.
Hyderabad, March 24 : Demanding pay revision, the employees of Telangana power utilities on Friday staged a massive protest, throwing traffic out of gear in parts of central Hyderabad.

Hundreds of employees gathered in front of Vidyuth Soudha, the headquarters of Telangana Power Generation Corporation and Telangana Transmission Corporation, in Hyderabad.

The protest brought traffic to a standstill on the busy roads around Vidyuth Soudha.

Employees of power utilities from various parts of the state descended on Hyderabad in response to the call for 'Chalo Vidyuth Soudha' by the Joint Action Committee of various unions of the employees. They were demanding wage revision and resolution of the issues of artisan workers.

Holding flags of their respective employees' unions and raising slogans, the protesters demanded the government to immediately announce pay revision due from April last year.

The protest led to tension and roadblock. Police officials were trying to persuade employees to call off the protest.

Vehicular traffic came to a halt on the busy Khairatabad-Punjagutta road to a standstill. About a four kilometer long traffic jam was seen in the area.

The protest also caused massive traffic jams in Ravindra Bharathi and Lakdi Ka Pul areas. There were traffic snarls in Masab Tank and Mahaveer Hospital areas.

Leaders of the employees' unions said they were forced to stage the protest as power distribution companies failed to resolve their demands despite several rounds of talks. The protest was organised to press as many as 29 demands of the employees, with the main demand being wage revision.
San Francisco/Seoul, March 24 : US prosecutors have arrested Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind the crash of two digital currencies (TerraUSD and Luna) that lost over $40 billion last year, and charged him with fraud.

Kwon, the wanted co-founder of Terraform Labs behind a multibillion-dollar crash of the firm's cryptocurrency last year, was arrested in Montenegro in the US.

An eight-count indictment against Kwon was made public in the US District Court in Manhattan after his arrest, reports said.

Meanwhile, South Korean prosecutors said on Friday they will seek the extradition of Kwon.

South Korea has joined the European Convention on Extradition, a multilateral treaty to facilitate extradition between the member states, of which Montenegro is also a member, the justice ministry said.

It is unclear, however, whether Kwon would be sent to South Korea, reports Yonhap news agency.

As he is also facing criminal charges in the United States, he could be handed over to the US.

Kwon, who had been a fugitive for several months after last being spotted in neighbouring Balkan country Serbia in December last year, was detained along with one of his close aides, surnamed Han.

The disgraced entrepreneur has been under investigation for alleged fraud and tax evasion after investors in TerraUSD and Luna filed complaints against Kwon last May, accusing him of a Ponzi scheme over the loss of billions of won following the crash of both coins.

Prosecutors have since sought an arrest warrant for Kwon on allegations including providing false information to investors and the violation of the capital market law.

Interpol also issued a red notice, used for the highest level of wanted suspects and criminals. His passport has since been invalidated.

Prosecutors are also continuing to investigate Daniel Shin, another co-founder of Terraform Labs, on charges of gaining illegal profits before the collapse of the coins.

TerraUSD was designed as a stablecoin, which was pegged to stable assets like the US dollar. But holders of TerraUSD and Luna lost more than an estimated $40 billion in market value after the stablecoin plunged far below its $1 peg in late May.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Congress on Friday questioned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha, and said that only President has the powers to do so.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said that under the Constitution of India only the President has the power to disqualify an MP.

"Under COI powers to disqualify an MP lie with the President -Article 103 if disqualification is incurred under Article 102 (1) (e). In Re Lok Prahari VS ECI (2018) 18 SCC 114 SC records EC's contentions qua Lily Thomas but records no finding that disqualification is automatic." After getting disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's fate in electoral politics now depends only upon the legal relief that he can get from the courts as the Election Commission may likely declare his seat vacant and announce elections.

The Congress has raised the issue that only the President can disqualify an MP, but legal experts say that the conviction itself sets the disqualification in motion.

Majeed Memon, a former MP and a legal expert said, "If Rahul's sentence is suspended post-conviction by an appeal in court under section 389 of the Criminal Procedure Code, his disqualification from the Lok Sabha can be deferred." P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister said, "Judgement on 23 March, disqualification on 24 March.

"The speed with which the system moved is astonishing, No time is spent on reflection, understanding or allowing time for legal review, Obviously, there are no voices of moderation in the BJP party or government, The net result is parliamentary democracy has suffered another cruel blow." Rahul after losing the membership will lose his official accommodation in the Lutyens area and will have to vacate the 12, Tughlak Lane Bungalow allotted to him.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, "We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti." The Lok Sabha Secretariat in its notification said, "Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat..., Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of the lower house from the date of his conviction..." This order was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday and was signed by Secretary General, Lok Sabha.

Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged 'Modi surname' remark in 2019.
Beijing, March 24 : Three Chinese technology brands, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi, have joined hands to allow users to transfer data between their devices to take on the growing Apple's market share in the country, the media reported on Friday.

The three smartphone makers announced the pact on their Weibo accounts, saying their users be able to move system and app data "seamlessly to a new handset belonging to any of these brands," reports South China Morning Post.

In 2019, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi set up a wireless transfer protocol that mirrors Apple's AirDrop function.

Google Drive service is unavailable on handsets sold in the mainland Chinese market and most users in China rely on third-party data transfer apps.

However, Apple iPhone users can directly move data to a new iOS device via the iCloud service or a Bluetooth and Wi-fi connection.

"The new partnership between Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo, which jointly control nearly half of China's smartphone market, comes after the country last year saw its steepest fall in smartphone sales in a decade," the report mentioned.

However, China's smartphone market recorded a good start to the new year and at the start of 2023, the sales quickly increased week over week to reach above 7 million.

In four out of five weeks, the sales stayed above 6 million, a level seldom reached in 2022 when the pandemic haunted China's cities from time to time.

The Chinese New Year season also started earlier than usual this year, helping the weekly sales walk out of the trough at the beginning of 2023, reports Counterpoint Research.

Apple remained China's biggest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in January in terms of sales share and its sales increased about 6 per cent YoY.

The smartphone market in China has contracted after 2017 in terms of YoY sales growth. Q4 2022 recorded a 15 per cent YoY decline, hitting major OEMs' confidence and further darkening market prospects.
Bengaluru, March 24 : Karnataka Congress leaders were detained and later released on Friday after they attempted to lay siege to the Raj Bhavan demanding dismissal of the ruling BJP government for "failing" to bring the new legislation increasing reservation to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the ninth schedule of the Constitution.

State Congress President D. K. Shivakumar, opposition leaders along with hundreds of workers and leaders were detained by the police. Later, the police took a delegation of 15 leaders to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's residence which demanded that the ruling BJP government should be dissolved for "betraying" SC/ST communities.

Shivakumar said: "We formed the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee and on its recommendations, the legal process had to be completed for its implementation to provide justice to oppressed classes. After passing it in the cabinet, both the houses of state legislature and sending the ordinance to the Governor, the same should have been sent to the central government but it was done late Thursday night before the proposed protest of the Congress on Friday," Shivakumar claimed.

"The ruling BJP government in the state had not sent any proposal in this regard to the Central government. We had checked in the parliament and found that in the last four to five months, no proposal was sent. We met the governor and informed him that the ruling BJP is lying over the issue. The state government did not let us carry out a protest and detained us," he stated.

"After the Congress party announced its protest on Thursday night, the government immediately sent a note that a letter from the Chief Secretary in this regard has been sent to the Centre. This shows the ruling BJP has no concern for oppressed and exploited classes. They should have shown their commitment by taking immediate action," Shivakumar said.

In a series of tweets, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Karnataka Congress in-charge, posted: "The Bommai government didn't implement Justice Nagmohan Das Committee's recommendations for nearly four years until party leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress demanded answers in Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"They kept mum on SC-ST reservation. Finally, an Act was passed on December 26, 2022 in the last Assembly Session. On January 8, the INC, under Kharge, held a SC-ST rally to demand law to be placed in ninth Schedule of the Constitution." Surjewala posted: "On 14th March, 2023; Modi Govt refused to increase SC-ST Reservation in Karnataka or increase the 50 per cent limit in a reply to Parliament. Modi Govt disclosed that Bommai Govt didn't submit the Law to Government Of India." "On 21st March, 2023, Congress called out the betrayal and fakery of Bommai- Modi govts in denying rights of SC-ST. Congress called for a Raj Bhawan Dharna today on 24th March, 2023.

"A dishonest Bommai Govt has, after 3 months of passing of Law, hurriedly sent the Law to Modi Govt on evening of 23rd March (24 hours before Congress Dharna) as a paper formality. The Modi Govt has already rejected it." Posing questions to the Bommai and Modi government, Surjewala tweeted: "Once the increase of SC-ST Reservation was rejected by the Modi Govt on the floor of Parliament, will PM-CM take responsibility for the treachery. Isn't the rank dishonesty of the Modi-Bommai govt clear in first burying the Nagamohan Das Committee and then passing a Law after 4 years in the last Assembly Session without putting it in IXth Schedule?" "Aren't the half baked, dishonest actions of BJP-Bommai Govt only "cover up" attempts whenever Karnataka Congress protests on betrayal of SC-ST rights," his tweet read.

"Having denied an increase in reservation for SC-ST's on the Floor of Parliament, Should CM and 4 Union Ministers not resign for this act of betrayal? Will the PM apologize and take responsibility" Surjewala asked.

However, Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai claimed that the Congress had done nothing about the issue when they were in power.
Lucknow, March 24 : Six legislators in Uttar Pradesh have been disqualified in the past five years after they were convicted by courts on various charges.

Former Samajwadi Party MLA Azam Khan faced disqualification from the state Assembly last month after a Moradabad court order sentenced him to two years in jail in a 15-year-old case. He held the Rampur Assembly seat.

He was found guilty of staging a dharna on a state highway on January 29, 2008 as their cavalcade was stopped by police for checking in the wake of an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007.

His son, Abdullah Azam, after being convicted in the same case, was also disqualified from the UP Assembly along with his father.

Incidentally, this is the second time that Abdullah Azam, who held the Suar Assembly seat, has been disqualified from the UP Assembly.

He was earlier disqualified in 2020 after the Allahabad High Court set aside his election to the Assembly on grounds of a forged birth certificate. His previous disqualification was effective from December 16, 2019.

In November 2022, BJP MLA Vikram Saini was disqualified from his Khatauli seat after a court in Muzaffarnagar sentenced him to two years of imprisonment in a case related to the 2013 riots.

Indra Pratap a.k.a. Khabbu Tiwari, BJP MLA from Gosainganj seat in Ayodhya, was disqualified in 2021 after an MP/MLA court in Ayodhya found him, and two others, guilty of forgery of marksheets to secure admission in a college in 1992. They were sentenced to five years in prison along with a fine.

The trial court had convicted the three under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record).

Another BJP MLA Ashok Chandel's membership was annulled on the grounds that he had been convicted by the Allahabad High Court for a mass murder that took place 22 years ago in Hamirpur.

The case against Ashok Chandel dated back to January 26 , 1997 when a minor altercation between local BJP leader Rajiv Shukla and Chandel led to a shootout in which five persons, including Shukla's two elder brothers Rakesh, Rajesh and nephews Ambuj, Ved Nayak and Srikant Pandey were killed.

Five more persons, including two children, had suffered bullet injuries in the shootout after which an FIR was lodged against Chandel and nine others.

All the 10 accused were acquitted on July 15, 2002 by additional district and sessions judge, Hamirpur, on the ground that the testimony of witnesses were doubtful.

The decision was challenged by Rajiv Shukla before the High Court, which reversed the judgement.

Ashok Chandel, a former MP and a four-time MLA from Hamirpur, is now lodged in Agra jail.

Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, who held the Bangarmau seat in Unnao, was disqualified from the Assembly after he was convicted in a rape case in 2020.

A four-term MLA, Sengar was expelled by the BJP in August 2019 following a furore over his alleged involvement in rape of a minor at his Makhi village in Unnao in June 2017.

The case came to the limelight after the survivor attempted self-immolation outside the Chief Minister's residence in April 2018 when the police did not act on her complaint. A few days later, her father died in police custody.
Mumbai, March 24 : Actor Shantanu Maheshwari, who will be seen playing a dentist in the upcoming web series 'Tooth Pari: When Love Bites', shared his excitement about portraying an interesting character and also spoke about his experience working with co-actor Tanya Maniktala.

Shantanu, who is known for participating in 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 8', 'Nach Baliye 9', and made his Bollywood debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', further elaborated on how it was to work with Tanya in the fantasy thriller. "Working with Tanya was a completely different vibe. She makes everything incredibly easy and fun. Since this was our first experience working in the romantic fantasy thriller genre, we both had a lot to learn and unlearn. I can say, with most certainty, that this is definitely a one-of-its-kind romance and the audiences are up for an entertaining watch," he shared.

Shantanu talked about playing dentist Roy, whose life turns upside down after he tries to fix the teeth of bloody vampire Rumi, played by Tanya Maniktala, and falls in love with her.

He said: "Doing something you love, and discovering it along the way can really shake things up in your life, in a good way of course. This is what my character Roy is all about; at the outset everything's normal and he's the ideal dentist son to his parents, but behind the scenes, it's an adventure for him - pursuing his passion for cooking and romancing a vampire.

'Tooth Pari: When Love Bites' will stream from April 20 on Netflix.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, March 24 : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea seeking direction to the Centre to take steps to create an appropriate system, which empowers citizens to petition Parliament and seek the initiation of a debate, discussion, and deliberation on the issues and concerns highlighted by the citizens.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala told the petitioner's counsel that a citizen cannot seek a right to stand up in Parliament. The bench told the counsel, "Go and talk outside Parliament. Go to your local MP and present a petition. But a citizen cannot seek a right to stand up in Parliament... Sorry".

It further observed that the relief sought fell exclusively within the domain of Parliament and state legislatures, while declining to entertain the petition.

The counsel, representing the petitioner Karan Garg, submitted that it is practiced in other countries like in the UK. The Chief Justice said: "We need to know where to draw the line. We cannot be telling the Parliament what to do...It may be a very desirable practice in some other country, we do not have to adopt..." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said, "We have a better practice...and there is a practice where petitions can be filed, and petitions go to a petitions' committee consisting of MPs and they examine the petition." Mehta further added if there is some merit in a petition, then they send it to the concerned ministry, which reports to the committee.

On January 27, the matter was heard by a different bench. A bench comprising Justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna expressed its reservations in connection with the prayers raised in the plea. It said if allowed it could impede the functioning of Parliament, and pointed out that India has a huge population, as compared to other countries which have such systems.

The plea sought a declaration that citizens have a fundamental right to directly petition Parliament and invite discussion on important issues of public interest.

The plea, filed through advocate Joby P. Varghese, said: "The present writ petition prays that it is imperative for the respondents to take substantive steps in order to ensure that citizens can have their voices heard in Parliament without facing undue barriers and difficulties. To that end the present writ petition presents a detailed and nuanced framework under which citizens can prepare petitions, seek popular support for it and if a citizen petition crosses a prescribed threshold then the citizen petition has to mandatorily be taken up for discussion and debate in Parliament." The plea argued that after the people cast their votes and elect their representatives to Parliament as well as to the state legislatures, there is no scope for any further participation. "There is the complete absence of any formal mechanism by which citizens can engage with the law-makers and take steps in order to ensure that issues which are important are debated in Parliament," it added.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 24 : In a strongly-worded statement following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday condemned the action of the Sangh Parivar forces which acted against the Congress leader to put silence those who speak against them.

"The intolerance towards criticism is a threat to democracy and the action taken against Gandhi must be seen in that light and all democracy loving people should come forward to oppose this," he said.

Vijayan, who is presently in Delhi to attend his party CPI-M's Politburo meeting, said this act of the Sangh Parivar forces is the latest in the series of attack on democracy.

"These forces just are unable to tolerate criticism and Gandhi made a political speech and just see the speed at which things turned against him. These forces use power to take on criticism and this is nothing but fascist way to deal with those who oppose them and the victim is none other than a tall leader of the Opposition.

"On Friday, in Delhi, opposition MPs were arrested for protesting against the actions of using national agencies on political opponents like Manish Sisodia and Gandhi. Likewise people who posted posters against the Centre in Delhi was arrested. All these does not augur well for democracy and our Constitution," he added.

Earlier on Friday, a day after his conviction in a criminal defamation case, Gandhi, the MP from Kerala's Wayanad, was on Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat in its notification, signed by Secretary General, Lok Sabha, said, "Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat..., Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of the lower house from the date of his conviction..." A district court in Gujarat's Surat on Thursday convicted Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged 'Modi surname' remark in 2019.

Gandhi was convicted under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500. The maximum possible punishment under this section is two years.
The Russian occupation authorities have begun evacuation from the temporarily occupied Crimea representative of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Yusov has said.

As reported in the Telegram channel of the agency on Friday, the Russian command on the peninsula and the occupation administration are very actively selling real estate and taking their families out of Crimea.

"But to others, to the rank and file, they say: don't worry, everything is calm, everything is under control... Families connected with the Russians are being taken out, and very actively leave while there is such an opportunity," Yusov said on the air of the Freedom television channel.

According to him, the day before, local residents heard a warning on FM stations that they needed to prepare for departure. The representative of the Main Intelligence Agency believes that the warning applies to those Crimeans who collaborated with the occupying authorities.

"For there to be peace and order, the peninsula must be de-occupied and legitimate Ukrainian authorities returned there. In fact, Crimea must be returned to its native Ukrainian harbor, which will definitely happen in the near future. Therefore, all those who work for Russia, really in the near future the time is better to leave the territory of the Ukrainian Crimea," Yusov said.
Mumbai, March 24 : Maharashtra's opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) exploded in fury on Thursday over the action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who has been disqualified from his Lok Sabha seat while the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party strongly supported the move.

Shiv Sena-UBT President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called it "a sheer murder of democracy" and said now "it's a crime to call even a thief a thief" in the country.

Nationalist Congress Party's Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar flayed the move and said "this has put democracy in peril".

State Congress President Nana Patole demanded to know "if you don't call a 'chor' (thief) as a 'chor', then should he be called a 'daaku' (dacoit)" and said that democracy is being trampled with the help of all agencies.

"Gandhi is being punished for exposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government which is only working for the corrupt people like Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya, who have looted thousands of crores of public money, and he is not being allowed to speak in the parliament," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray added: "The thieves and scamsters are running around freely while Rahul Gandhi has been punished. This is a blatant murder of democracy. All institutions are under pressure. It spells the beginning of the end of autocracy, and the fight needs a new direction." Commenting on the developments, NCP President Sharad Pawar had cited on Thursday the example of his party's Lakshwadeep MP Mohammed Faizal's matter and said that the Surat court judgement on Rahul Gandhi underscores the point

"I deplore this new trend in our political landscape which should concern everyone in today's scenario. I express my serious concerns at the attempt to curtail fundamental rights, freedom of speech, and democratic expressions in the country. The repeated attempts to suppress the voices of political parties, leaders and citizens of India is a matter of grave concern," said Pawar.

Congress Legislative Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat said the LS decision is like "killing" democracy, but now Gandhi will emerge like Indira Gandhi, and will vanquish the BJP to lead the country.

Sena-UBT leader Aditya Thackeray said that the Constitution and democracy is being finished off and those who speak the truth are being targeted, and its not about Gandhi alone but it is against the entire democratic foundation.

Other state Opposition leaders like Samajwadi Party President Abu Asim Azmi, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Jayant Patil, Ajay Chaudhary, also slammed the move and later staged a black-ribbon demonstration outside the legislature.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attacked Gandhi and warned that "no attack against PM Modi will be tolerated", and even asked the MVA on what grounds were they calling him a "gaddar" and running a "Khokha" government.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis chided the Opposition MVA for calling even the CM Shinde a "thief" and said this was not right in a democracy.

State BJP leaders like Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ashish Shelar and others have slammed Gandhi for his unbridled utterances for which he is now paying, and said that the law is equal for all in a democracy.
New York, March 24 : Former US President Donald Trump's Indian-American aide Kash Patel has filed a $23 million defamation case against Politico for falsely claiming he misrepresented himself as a Ukraine expert, a media report said.

According to The New York Post, the Virginia-based newspaper also claimed that Patel fed lies to Trump about Ukraine, which resulted in the then-president's impeachment.

Patel in his lawsuit filed in Henrico Circuit Court called Adam Schiff, who was then chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a "congenital liar and inveterate leaker (and) a demagogue with an axe to grind against President Trump (and) Kash".

He said Politico knew that Schiff was "a wholly unreliable source".

The suit further alleged that impeachment witnesses Alexander Vinman and Fiona Hill helped push Schiff's lie that Patel was Trump's "Ukraine whisperer", The Post reported.

"Victory here is not the end result. It is to expose the fraudulent reporting by so many in the mainstream media and the only way to do that is expose their corrupt sources and that is what the judge has granted us permission to do," Patel told The Post.

Patel, the former Russiagate investigator for the House Intelligence Committee, has also named Schiff's Democratic colleague Eric Swalwell, his "whistleblower" Eric Ciaramella, former national security adviser John Bolton, and the author of the Politico article, Natasha Bertrand in his lawsuit.

Prior to this, Patel had sued The New York Times in 2019 seeking $44.9 million in damages, claiming the newspaper falsely accused him of being a White House back channel to Ukraine.

In a statement to CBS News on December 4, 2019, Patel said he was "never a back channel to President Trump on Ukraine matters, at all, ever".

In 2022, the Trump loyalist had appeared before a grand jury investigating the former president's taking thousands of government records with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is preparing a draft Emigration Bill after extensive consultation with all the concerned stakeholders, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, informed in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

"The government is conscious of the imperative need for putting in place an enabling framework to address migration related issues. Towards this end, the Ministry of External Affairs is preparing a draft Emigration Bill after extensive consultation with all the concerned stakeholders," the reply read.

The draft Bill will cover various aspects of the migration cycle besides empowering the work force to avail employment opportunities abroad. It puts in place an enabling institutional framework that is responsive, transparent and technology-driven.

The minister informed that Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conventions are organised to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the overseas Indian community and their contributions to the development of India.

As per the data available on Madad and e-Migrate portals from 2020-2023, 26,730 grievances, which include matters related to compensation, wage theft and residual payments, were registered by Indian citizens on the Madad portal during the last three years.

During this period, 29,640 grievances were resolved, which includes some of the grievances registered in previous years), added the reply.

Wherever required, such cases were promptly taken up by the missions and posts with the concerned companies to resolve the issues.

Indian missions and posts also facilitated discussions between Indian workers and their employers to settle the issues by providing all possible help. These issues were also taken up with the governments of host countries during high-level bilateral meetings, and many cases have been resolved through this process.

Besides, some countries have also instituted welfare support measures for workers, including expatriate workers, said the reply.
Washington, March 24 : As Muslims around the world prepare to begin the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims in China are facing fasting ban while their cultural and religious traditions are increasingly coming under attack, according to a media report.

Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang are being ordered not to allow their children to fast, with the latter being quizzed by the authorities as to whether their parents are fasting, local officials and rights groups said, RFA reported.

"During Ramadan, the authorities are requiring 1,811 villages [in Xinjiang] to implement a round-the-clock monitoring system, including spot home inspections of Uyghur families," World Uyghur Congress spokesperson Dilshat Rishit said, RFA reported.

During Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast during daylight hours.

China's 11.4 million Hui Muslims - close-knit ethnic Chinese communities who have maintained their Muslim faith over centuries - are in danger of being erased entirely under the Communist Party's draconian religious rules, rights groups have warned in a new report.

They have been identified by Beijing as "a threat to be resolved through forcible assimilation", said a report from a coalition of rights groups, including the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), RFA reported.

This is in stark contrast to the relative freedom they enjoyed before President Xi Jinping launched a renewed attack on religious worship, forcing Christians, Muslims and Buddhists alike to submit to party control and censorship of their religious lives under his "sinicisation", the report said.

"Hui community members were able to openly participate in mosque communities, Arabic schools, and for private worship, albeit under restrictions facilitated by party liaisons. Hui entrepreneurs were encouraged to develop business and tourism connections with the wider Muslim world as part of the Belt and Road Initiative," it said, RFA reported.

China has also targeted Muslim communities with its "ethnic unity" campaign under which officials impose Han Chinese "relatives" on ethnic minority Uyghur families, who then put pressure on them to observe non-Muslim traditions, including drinking alcohol and eating pork.

"Unity" policies haven taken place in Xinjiang against the backdrop of the mass incarceration of at least 1.8 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims in "re-education" camps, and their involvement in forced labour, as well as amid reports of the systemic rape, sexual abuse, and forced sterilization of Uyghur women in the camps, RFA reported.
New Delhi, March 24 : Hours after being expelled from the Parliament following his conviction in a criminal defamation case, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that he is ready to pay any price for expressing the voice of India.

"I am fighting for India's voice... Ready to pay any price," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

On Friday morning, Rahul Gandhi was suspended from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case. The Lok Sabha Secretariat also declared his constituency in Kerala's Wayanad as vacant.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a lawmaker sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving prison time.

On Thursday morning, a court in Surat found Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Mumbai, March 24 : TV actor Hitesh Bharadwaj, who is seen playing the role of Ekam in 'Udaariyan', talked about his association with the show, shooting experience in Chandigarh and the kind of response he is getting from the audience.

"I am feeling very grateful. The show has been doing very well. Ours is a show which has been entertaining the audience for two years now and people are happy, and that is everything. Being part of a popular show is a challenge. It's a good and a bad thing because you've a lot more responsibilities but you also become more careful towards your work and craft. You do have fun but the expectations of the audience which are high should be met," he said.

The show is shot in Chandigarh. "I have been in Chandigarh for the last 7 months and this feels like my home now. I think when I am in Mumbai, we have friends, family, so we can disconnect from our profession, but here it feels like a UPSC exam! Here 24 hours, I think about work," he added.

Ask him what is the best compliment that he has got for his show, and he shared: "I have received many compliments recently but the best one is from my mom. I feel very happy when she advises me and compliments me for every scene. But other than her, there are also a lot of people who compliment me for which I am very grateful." The show is produced by Ravie Dubey and Sargun Mehta.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 24 : Huge protests broke out at various places in Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as hundreds of people took to the streets at various towns there to protest his disqualification from the Lok Sabha after his conviction in a criminal defamation case by a Gujarat court.

The protests were led by local Congress leaders, including Kalpetta legislator T. Siddique, district party President N.D. Appachen and many others at various towns in the Wayanad constituency.

A large number of women were also present at the protests.

At Kalpetta, angry protesters tried to barge into the office of the BSNL, but were prevented by the police.

"Wayanad is so dear to Gandhi and hence he made a quick dash here, when he was in Karnataka early this week. He attended meetings and functions when he came this time as he is deeply immersed with his people here," said Siddique, adding that became evident as crowds started to arrive in large numbers when they heard about the protest.

The protesters at various towns shouted anti-BJP slogans and warned the Centre's ruling party not to test their patience anymore.

Incidentally, Gandhi won the 2019 Lok Sabha polls here by winning a record 64.67 per cent of the polled votes and the margin of victory was a staggering 4.31 lakh votes over his nearest rival from the Communist Party of India.

Gandhi was convicted under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500. The maximum possible punishment under this section is two years.
New Delhi, March 24 : Online searches for "The Elephant Whisperers" on Google skyrocketed by a whopping 8,164 per cent worldwide after winning the award for the Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards, a report showed on Friday.

The finding by African media company Celeb Tattler revealed that the online searches for "Mudumalai National Park" soared by 246 per cent worldwide after the Oscar win of "The Elephant Whisperers".

"After making history at this year's Academy Awards, The Elephant Whisperers is receiving a huge boost in online searches. Not only being embraced by Hollywood - but also the world," said a spokesperson for Celeb Tattler.

"The movie, released last year, and scored an unheard-of 100 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, was praised for its compelling narrative. Now, after winning the 'Documentary Short Film' award at this year's Oscars ceremony, the movie's profile is being boosted far beyond its initial release," it added.

Moreover, Guneet Monga, the producer of the film, also received a profile boost from the award-winning documentary, receiving almost 30,000 new followers since the award ceremony, said the report.

Kartiki Gonsalves also got deserved attention for her directorial role, as her Wikipedia page views exploded after the Oscars ceremony by over 1,25,000.

In addition, her Instagram account gained over 25,000 followers, almost doubling her follower count overnight, the report mentioned.

Meanwhile, online searches for "Naatu Naatu" on Google skyrocketed by a whopping 1,105 per cent worldwide after the super-hit song from the Telugu blockbuster "RRR" won the Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards, according to a report.
Hyderabad, March 24 : Tension prevailed on the campus of Osmania University here on Friday as police detained leaders of some students' groups to foil the protest over the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) exam paper leak.

Police picked up student leaders from hostels and shifted them to Osmania University police station.

Police had denied permission to students' Joint Action Committee for the Vidyarthi Nirudyoga Maha Nirasana Deeksha or protest by students and unemployed.

The organisers had planned to take out a march from Arts College on the campus to Telangana Martyrs' Memorial Gun Park near the Assembly building in the heart of the city.

When some protesters gathered in front of Arts College, police arrested them. Holding placards, students raised slogans of 'Khabardar KCR'.

A student tried to set himself afire on the campus, giving some tense moments to the police. Some police personnel swung into action to stop the student from taking the extreme step.

The Osmania University was the nerve centre of students' protest during the Telangana movement. Self-immolation of a student during one such protest had intensified the movement.

Students' JAC is now looking to launch a similar movement on the problems faced by the unemployed in the state.

Telangana Unemployed JAC chairman Bheem Rao Nayak condemned the arrests. He said their movement can't be suppressed with arrests. He said protests would be organised from Saturday in all universities and districts.

He criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for not responding to an issue which has shocked 30 lakh unemployed in the state.

The organisers demanded that the TSPSC Chairman and members should be removed from their posts over the paper leak. They also demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or by a sitting judge.

The police also stopped leaders of the opposition Congress party from reaching Osmania University to participate in the protest by placing them under house arrest. State Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy and other leaders were placed under house arrest.

Meanwhile, the students' wing of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also staged a protest on Osmania University campus against the Congress. The workers of BRSV raised slogans of 'Revanth Reddy go back'. The protestors tried to set afire an effigy of the Congress leader but were detained by the police.
Kolkata, March 24 : West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu on Friday said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will ultimately decide on whether there will be a probe to find out whether the wife of CPI-M Central Committee member and former leader of Left legislative parties in the Assembly Sujan Chakraborty was appointed in a prime college in Kolkata flouting recruitment norms.

Incidentally, Mili Chakraborty, wife of Sujan Chakraborty, was associated with Kolkata-based Dinabandhu Andrews College for over three decades as an "instrument keeper". She retired in 2021 and is currently drawing pension for her services.

On this point, the CPI-M leadership have raised the question that since the last ten years of her service was during the tenure of Trinamool Congress, which came to power in West Bengal in 2011, so why did the state Education Department waste so much time in taking up the issue.

Basu on Friday told media persons since the last ten years of Mili Chakraborty's service life was during the current regime, he thought it necessary to take the permission of the Chief Minister on whether to start a probe in the matter or not.

"It is not clear as yet whether Sujan Chakraborty's wife secured the job in that college without clearing the written examination and interview. That can be revealed only after an investigation on this count, which again will be started only after receiving the green signal from the Chief Minister," he said.

Basu also said that during the 34-year Left Front regime, there had been as many as 47,000 recruitment irregularities as per different reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. "Now the CPI-M are speaking of the recruitment irregularities in the present regime. But remember people who live in glasshouses, should not throw stones," he said.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Beijing on Thursday.

Qin pledged China's consistent support for Equatorial Guinea in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing external interference in its internal affairs.

He said the two countries should, in line with the key consensus between the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate public support to advance bilateral relations.

China will maintain great continuity in its policies and add stability, certainty and positive energy to the world, Qin said, adding that China's efforts to advance the modernization drive, uphold high-quality development and expand high-level opening-up will bring new development opportunities to the African nation.

China is willing to synergize development strategies of both sides, deepen exchanges on governance experience and help the Equatorial Guinean side enhance its capacity for independent development, Qin said.

He added that Chinese enterprises are encouraged to invest in Equatorial Guinea and that the Chinese market welcomes more products from Equatorial Guinea.

Qin said China will continue to support Africa in achieving economic recovery and sustainable development, and promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

The Equatorial Guinean foreign minister said China is a true friend, good brother and good partner of Equatorial Guinea and Africa, and nothing can stop them from deepening friendship and cooperation with China.

He added that Equatorial Guinea firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

He said his country highly appreciates and supports China's important initiatives to promote world peace, security and development, and supports China's position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. 
The new report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine on the general human rights situation in Ukraine as of January 31, 2023 documents 621 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions of civilians.

"In occupied areas of Ukraine, we have documented summary executions and attacks on individual civilians by Russian armed forces and the pervasive use of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. Since 24 February 2022, we have documented 621 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention of civilians by Russian armed forces," Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.

She reported having interviewed 127 civilians who had previously been detained. Thus, 90% of them reported that the Russian military and the FSB tortured and ill-treated them while in custody, in some cases this included sexual violence.

"Five of these civilians were boys, between 14 and 17 years old, who had been forcibly disappeared by Russian armed forces and subjected to ill-treatment or torture," Bogner said.

The Mission also said that since February 24, 2022, "have documented 91 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention committed by Ukrainian security forces."

"Of the 73 victims we interviewed, 53 per cent had been tortured or ill-treated by members of Ukrainian armed forces and law enforcement agencies," Bogner said.

The UN also documented cases of displacement of civilians to areas in the occupied territory or in Russia, "some of which may amount to forced transfers or deportations."

"These transfers include children and adults who lived in social care institutions and unaccompanied children from parts of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv and Odesa regions while they were occupied by the Russian Federation or temporarily controlled by Russian armed forces," according to the report.
Shimla, March 24: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu's biggest resource mobilisation move to tackle state's worst fiscal crisis seems to have hit a roadblock, as also possibly a legal tangle.

Within three days, after the state assembly passed a bill -- Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Bill, 2023 to levy cess on water being used by hydro-power producer companies in the state, two neighbouring states have come-out against the bill.

State Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla is yet to give his assent to the bill which Chief Minister claims will fetch an additional resource of Rs 4000 cr to the state every year from 172 hydel projects.

Till now, the state has been getting a free power share of 12 percent from the independent power producers including Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB), NHPC, NTPC, SJVN Ltd and private power producers.

Himachal Pradesh also gets a share of 7.19 percent from the BBMB as per decision of the Supreme Court as its legitimate right in the combined assets of three states -- Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh under Punjab State Reorganisation Act 1966.

This week, the Himachal Pradesh assembly passed a bill unanimously to levy water-cess on the hydro-power projects, located in the state. The bill replaced an ordinance which the Congress government had promulgated only a month back.

Quick to oppose the move, Punjab and Haryana state assemblies passed separate resolutions to strongly oppose hill state move to impose Water Cess on Hydropower Projects for non-consumptive use of water for power generation.

In the Haryana assembly, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, "This water cess is illegal and not binding on the State of Haryana and therefore the same should be withdrawn immediately by the Himachal Government." The resolution passed by the House even has urged the central government to prevail upon the Himachal Pradesh government to withdraw the bill/ordinance as the same is in violation of the Central Act i.e. Inter State Water Disputes Act, 1956.

"With this new levy there will be an additional financial burden amounting to Rs 1,200 crore per annum on partner states out of which around Rs 336 crore will be burden on the state of Haryana. This new levy is not only an infringement of the exclusive rights of the state over its natural resources but will also result in additional financial burden for generation of power resulting in the higher cost of generation of electricity," Khattar said.

On the same lines, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Water Resources minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said they would not pay a single paisa to Himachal Pradesh and even warned that Punjab could also levy cess on apple trucks coming to the state from Himachal and also on tourists going to the hills.

Mann, while terming it an attack on the federal structure, said that it violates the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

In Shimla, adopting a firm stand, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the state assembly on Thursday that Himachal Pradesh was well within its right to impose water cess on hydro-power generation as it didn't in any manner had violated the Inter State River Dispute Act 1956.

"There is no logic in the contention of our neighbouring states that Himachal has violated the Inter State River Dispute Act 1965 as the imposition of the cess in no way impacts the flow of water to the two states," he said Sukhu reminded that none of the provisions of the Water Cess on Hydro Power Generation Act 2023 violate the water rights of the two states and moreover water was a state subject.

Despite a total of 45,000 hectares of land getting submerged under the three reservoirs of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Himachal has not got any water rights and on the contrary the state has suffered adverse environmental impact, resulting in climate change, he countered.

The Chief Minister said it was not just agriculture and horticulture production that had been affected after Bhakra dam came-up but people living in the vicinity of these reservoirs were facing social and health issues.

The revenue generated from imposition of water cess on BBMB project shall be distributed equally among all five states, including Himachal as Bhakra Nangal project is a joint venture of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, HP, Delhi and Chandigarh, Sukhu assured.

He also clarified the position on the Shanan hydro project, which he said will be transferred to Himachal from Punjab after March 2024 in accordance with the period of validity of lease agreement.

Earlier Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri ,who holds the water resources portfolio said water cess had been imposed on 172 hydel projects and it will in no way impact the water flow into Punjab and Haryana.

"We have imposed water cess on the same analogy as the governments of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, as the state has the right to impose any tax on usage of water, which is state subject. Agnihotri said the cess has been imposed for non-consumptive use of water for hydro-power generation by projects located within Himachal," Chief Minister claims that state's fiscal health is precarious because of Rs 75,000 cr debt burden, Rs 10,000 cr pending liabilities of revised pay and arrears of the employees and pensioners beside annual repayments of loans and interests on borrowings.

The Congress, on return to power, had to raise Rs 4300 cr additional loans to pay salaries and wages to the employees beside committed liabilities on development,and welfare schemes. Thus, there is a dire need to raise resources.

The government has also proposed to levy Rs 10 as cow-cess on each bottle of liquor sold in the state. This will return a revenue of Rs 100 cr per annum.

Levying cess on water in the rivers flowing through the state is also a move to increase state income.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Indore, March 24 : A clerk posted in the collectorate of Madhya Pradesh's Indore embezzled more than Rs 5 crore over a period of three years and transferred the money into his relatives' accounts.

The clerk, identified as Milap Singh Chouhan and two others, Amit Nimbalkar and Ranjit Kirode embezzled the money from the amount sanctioned by the government for compensation to the farmers whose crops had been damaged by insects and other factors.

The accused also spent huge amounts of money on call girls and in bars apart from transferring the money to their wives' and relatives' accounts.

Collector Ilaiah Raja T, Additional Collector Rajesh Rathore and his team found that government funds amounting to more than Rs 5 crores were embezzled.

During investigation, the bank statements of the employees were also examined, which confirmed their involvement in the embezzlement.

A complaint has been filed at the Raoji Bazar police station in which 29 people have been made accused.

Chauhan is in police custody.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Supreme Court will, on March 27, hear a batch of petitions against the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, which also involves the killing of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A bench of Justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna will hear a plea filed by Bilkis Bano and also pleas filed by several political and civil rights activists, against the release of 11 convicts. Earlier this week, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had agreed to constitute a new bench to hear the batch of pleas.

In January this year, the top court had said the question of maintainability of petitions, filed by various activists, would not arise in a matter related to remission of 11 life terms convicts.

In the plea, Bilkis Bano said release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown-up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large.

The petition said: "The premature release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large, nationally and internationally, and the society across segments had shown their anger, disappointment, distrust and protest to the clemency shown by the Government by releasing criminals like the 11 convicts of the case." Terming the release order mechanical, the plea said the premature release of the convicts in much talked about case of Bilkis Bano, has shaken the conscience of the society and resulted in several agitations across the country.

All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.
Toronto, March 24 : The Khalistani menace against India continues unabated with anti-India elements defacing and spray-painting a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Canada with spiteful graffiti in a recent display of cowardice.

The incident was reported in the early hours of Thursday near the City Hall in the town of Hamilton in Ontario where the statue, gifted by the Indian government, is located, the Daily Hunt reported.

According to a video of the vandalism, a Khalistani flag was also found attached to the six-feet tall bronze statue, which was doused with paint and graffiti abusing Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While Hamilton Police said they are investigating the case, attacks by Khalistani backers on Indian installations and temples are on the rise in the North American nation.

Starting 2023, a string of attacks has been unleashed upon Hindu temples across Canada with close to half-a-dozen incidents of vandalism, spiteful graffiti, break-ins and burglaries.

In January this year, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was targetted with walls of the temples defaced with 'Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad' slogans.

This was followed by an attack on Ram Temple in Mississauga in February, which was vandalised with anti-India slogans, sending shockwaves across the Indian community.

In July last year, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill in the Greater Toronto Area was vandalised and defaced with graphic words.

Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya recently called upon the Ottawa government to take the matter 'seriously'.

"The attack on Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton is the latest in attacks on Hindu temples in Canada by anti-Hindu and anti-India groups. From hatred on social media, now physical attacks on Hindu temples, what next?" Arya had said.

"I call on the government at levels in Canada to start taking this seriously."
Bengaluru, March 24 : Declaring a war on narcotics, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the battle against drugs will only be successful if it is taken to the people.

Addressing a regional convention of southern states titled 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' here, Shah said, "Our sea routes must not be allowed to be used for transporting narcotic substances. The Navy and the police of a few states have to pitch in." The Home Minister added that many ships which travel between Pakistan and Iran are often loaded with drugs, which are supplied from Sri Lanka to the US.

"This has to be stopped, otherwise we can't stop drugs from entering India," Shah stressed.

"We can't take this matter lightly. If the drugs, no matter who is selling them, are not destroyed, they will be sold here. Our objective should be to weaken the individuals who sell drugs, anywhere in the world," Shah said.

The Home Minister also said he is sad that the provisions of the NDPS Act are not fully utilised by the states.

"I appeal to all the states and concerned departments to unite in a campaign against drugs, curtails, culprits and addiction. Timely response is the need of the hour," he said.

Shah added that though handling of the drugs menace is the primary responsibility of the Home Ministry, other departments, such as revenue, social welfare, education and culture, must join hands with the health department to end the menace.

Shah also cautioned the states to be careful about the seized drugs as the Home Ministry is getting information that drugs are being stolen from the custody of the police at some places.

On the occasion, Shah gave green signal to the destruction of 9,298 kg seized drugs valued at Rs 1,235 crore.
Mumbai, March 24 : In a shocker, a middle-aged man went on a stabbing spree in a Mumbai residential building on Friday, attacking five persons, of which two have reportedly succumbed to their injuries, before he was overpowered, police said.

The attacker, identified as Chetan Gala, 54, was arrested after the mayhem which occurred around 3.30 pm, sending panic waves in the locality.

According to officials at the Dr D.B. Marg Police Station, the incident occurred at the Parvati Mansion building, with old-style common passages in a residential neighbourhood of Grant Road.

Locals who shot videos showed Gala rushing to another person on the second floor of the building and repeatedly stabbing him till he collapsed in a pool of blood.

Then he nonchalantly walked down to the first floor where another man was descending the stairs and the crowds below warned him to run to safety as the attacker was coming behind him.

At least two other panicky residents could be seen running around with the people assembled below screaming at the attacker.

The exact motives behind the serial killing bout is not clear and the police have lodged a FIR and probing further.

The injured were rushed to the Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and the BMC's Nair Hospital nearby where the condition of two is said to be serious.

Police said that the accused Gala suddenly stepped out brandishing a knife and started stabbing people at random around, targeting at least five.

Horrified locals called up the police and a team rushed there to take control, and managed to overpower him soon.
Kolkata, March 24 : The Enforcement Directorate on Friday told a special court here that it is almost at the end of their investigation on the multi-crore scam in recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal government schools.

"We can see the arrival of the rainbow from here. I will request the people of the state to hold patience for some more time. We are at the end of the spring," ED counsel Phiroze Edulji said while making his submission at the court during the hearing on the bail petition of expelled youth Trinamool Congress leader Santanu Bandopadhyay who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the scam.

Edulji also dragged the name of former state Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary Seneral Partha Chatterjee, who is also in judicial custody in connection to the scam since his arrest by the ED sleuths in July last year.

"If Partha Chatterjee was the teacher in this scam process, Santanu Bandopadhyay is an ideal student on this count. The latter has followed the same line of corruption adopted by Partha Chatterjee. He also floated a company to divert crime proceeds," counsel argued.

On this point, Edulji also referred to the recently arrested private real estate promoter Ayan Shil in connection with the scam. "After raiding Shil's residence, it has been proved that the irregularities are not just restricted to the education sector. Similar irregularities have surfaced in the recruitment of a number of municipalities. This is such a goldmine whose length is never-ending. After every dry summer the spring arrives followed by the monsoon. The rainbow rays are clearly visible then. We are almost at the end of the spring. So, I request all to hold patience. We have almost reached the terminal point," Edulji said.

He claimed that as an ordinary employee of the state-run power distribution entity, Santanu Bandopadhyay used to draw an annual salary of around Rs 6,00,00. "However, he owns property worth crores of rupees as revealed during the course of investigation. His property includes multi residences, farm houses and dummy corporate entities among others," he argued.

Finally, the court remanded Santanu Bandopadhyay to judicial custody till April 5.
Amaravati, March 24 : The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Friday passed two resolutions, one urging the Centre to include the Boya/Valmiki community in the list of the Scheduled Tribes, and second to extend Scheduled Caste status to members of the community who converted to Christianity.

Earlier, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy assured the Assembly that the inclusion of the Boya/Valmiki community in the list of the Scheduled Tribes would not affect the STs living in the agency areas in the state.

He sought to allay the fears that the inclusion of the Boya/Valmiki community people living in the Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, and Chittoor districts into the ST list will reduce the quota of the STs of the agency areas in government jobs or educational institutions as zoning system is in force as per the six-point formula.

The inclusion may have only negligible impact on the Group 1 jobs which come under the non-zoning category. It becomes negligible as only 386 Group 1 jobs were notified in the last 10 years and the 6 per cent reservation only amounts to a meager 21 or 22 posts, he said, adding it only means negligible.

The one-man Commission, headed by Samuel Anand Kumar, studied the social and economic conditions of the Boyas in the four districts and the ST Commission, also agreed with this assessment, said the Chief Minister.

Government jobs in the zoning system and districts constitute 99 per of the total jobs and the STs of the agency areas would suffer no loss because of the possible inclusion, he asserted, asking them not to believe the false propaganda being carried out in a section of the media on this.

He said the resolution was introduced in the House requesting the Centre to include the Boya/Valmiki community in the list of the Scheduled Tribes as per the promise given to the community during his Padayatra.

On another resolution that sought approval of the House to request the Centre to extend Scheduled Caste status to members of the Scheduled Caste community who converted to Christianity, the Chief Minister said that the economic and social status of the people doesn't change automatically just because they convert to another religion.
Hyderabad, March 24 : Setting aside his political differences, Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament, calling it the height of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "arrogance and dictatorship".

"Today is black day in the history of Indian democracy.A Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament is the height of Narendra Modi's arrogance and dictatorship," KCR, as the leader is popularly known, said in a statement.

"It is highly reproachable that the Modi government is not only abusing constitutional institutions but also using the highest democratic platform - the Parliament for its nefarious activities," he said.

KCR observed that it is the adverse time for democracy and the Constitutional values. "The Modi's regime overshadowed the Emergency. Harassment of opposition leaders has become a routine. Modi on his own is collapsing by disqualifying opposition leaders to protect criminals and cheaters," he said.

Stating that this is not the time for conflicts between parties, KCR said all democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of the BJP government to safeguard the democracy and constitutional values in the country and must resist the BJP's evil policies.

BRS Working President and state minister K.T. Rama Rao said disqualification of Rahul Gandhi is a blatant misinterpretation of the Constitution. "The hastiness showed in this issue is highly undemocratic I condemn this," he tweeted.

BRS MLA K. Kavitha stated that revoking the membership of Rahul Gandhi, despite knowing that he has a chance to appeal in the upper courts, is a blot on democracy. "This is a larger part of Modi Ji's mission of diverting people's attention from his failures, corrupt friends & suppressing the opposition," she said.
New Delhi: Leader of the opposition Malliakarjun Kharge along with other opposition MPs during a protest march 'Democracy in Danger' against the central government and demand a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe in the Adani issue, at Vijay Ch Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Congress President Malliakarjun Kharge along with other opposition MPs uses the "Democracy in Danger" banner to cover themselves from rain during a protest march against the central government at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on Friday, March Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 24 : A total of 40 MPs from the Congress and four other parties, who were earlier detained by the Delhi Police in connection with the protest march from Parliament House on Friday, have been released, a police official said.

According to the senior police official, 40 MPs and four others from opposition parties had to be detained for violation of prohibitory orders.

"They were detained and taken in a bus to New Police Line in Kingsw ay Camp in GTB Nagar. Hours later, they were released," said the official.

According to opposition, the leaders and MPs, including K. C. Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, K. Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi, Rajmohan Unnithan, and Mohammad Jawaid were among others detained by police and taken to nearby police station marching towards Vijay Chowk from Parliament reiterating their demand for a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

"Under the Modi Raj, even protesting outside Parliament is a crime. Delhi Police have detained opposition MPs, as we took a march towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan to reiterate our demand for a JPC on the Adani Mega Scam. They will not succeed in shaking our resolve," Venugopal wrote on Twitter while sharing video and photo of leaders and MPs in the police bus.

Earlier addressing the media at Vijay Chowk, several leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court and alleged that the government was targeting the opposition with cases to suppress their voices.
The Russian occupation authorities are putting pressure on civilians in the occupied territories, in particular, freedom of movement is being restricted in Luhansk region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.

"It is becoming more and more difficult to move between settlements. In particular, only local residents with special passes can enter the village of Pluhatar," the AFU said.
Bengaluru, March 24 : Karnataka Health Department is concerned as 100 plus new Covid cases are reported daily since March 21, with Friday's tally being 131 fresh infections, 126 discharges, and one death.

A total of 5,179 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

The weekly positivity rate in the state stood at 3.75 per cent while positivity rate for the day was recorded at 2.65 per cent. The state has 635 active cases.

The weekly fatality rate stood at 0.55 per cent. Bengaluru Urban district reported 61 fresh Covid positive cases against 85 discharges. The total active cases in Bengaluru Urban district stood at 385.

Shivamogga reported the most number (27) of cases after Bengaluru. On March 21, the state recorded 113 cases, 105 on March 22, and 111 cases on March 23. There were 71 cases on March 20.

In the last one week, the state has reported three deaths.

The Chief Secretary had conducted meetings with health officers of all districts.

The genomic sequencing tests have confirmed that XBB.1.16 variant is responsible for the fast spread of the disease in the state. The Health Department is concerned with the spike of cases in Shivamogga district.

With elections rallies and campaigns organised all across the state ahead of assembly polls, it has crossed its fingers.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Supreme Court on Friday overruled its 2011 judgements which had held that mere membership of a banned organisation will not incriminate a person unless he indulged in violence or incited it, saying that such unlawful association is against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice M.R. Shah and comprising Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol, said: "It is observed that the object and purpose of the enactment of UAPA is to provide for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities. To punish such a person who is continued as a member of such unlawful association which is declared unlawful due to unlawful activities can be said to be in furtherance of providing for effective prevention of the unlawful activities." On the aspect of its 2011 judgments, the bench said these judgments taking the view that under Section 3(5) of Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Section 10(a)(i) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 mere membership of a banned organisation will not incriminate a person unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence are held to be not a good law.

The bench noted that the Centre was not even heard before reading down the provisions under the UAPA.

The bench said: "A person who is the member of such unlawful association cannot be permitted to say that still he may continue to be associated with and/or continue to be a member of such unlawful association despite such an association is declared unlawful on the ground of its unlawful activities which is found to be against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India." It observed that the object and purpose of the enactment of the UAPA is to provide for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities.

"To punish such a person who is continued as a member of such unlawful association which is declared unlawful due to unlawful activities can be said to be in furtherance of providing for effective prevention of the unlawful activities," said the bench, in its 144-page judgment.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta termed the judgment as historic which would protect the sovereignty of the country.

The apex court restored the criminality by association by upholding the validity of Section 10(a)(i) of the UAPA which made membership of an unlawful association an offence. "A person who is and continues to be a member of such association shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years and shall also be liable to fine, can be said to be absolutely in consonance with Article 19(1)(2) & (4) of the Constitution of India and can be said to be in furtherance of the object and purpose for which the UAPA has been enacted," it said, adding that the apex court should not have read down the provisions when its validity was not questioned.

In the context of its previous judgments, the bench said the US Supreme Court judgments on freedom of speech could not have been used for the purpose, where the freedom of speech is absolute and here it is subject to reasonable restrictions. It further declared all the decisions of high courts taking a contrary view are overruled.

The top court allowed the review petition filed by the Centre and Assam government against the judgments delivered in Arup Bhuyan vs Union of India case (2011) and Indra Das vs State of Assam (2011) as well as State of Kerala vs Raneef case (2011).

It declined to entertain a contention that the provision suffered from any vagueness on the ground of being unreasonable and disproportionate.

On the aspect that the provision would have a chilling effect on free speech made by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, the top court said: "it is required to be noted that a person knowing full well that an association of which he is the member is declared as unlawful association due to its unlawful activities and acting against the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India and still he continues to be a member of such unlawful association thereafter such person cannot be permitted to submit on chilling effect."
Jaipur, March 24 : : Udaipur Police have registered a case against Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham. Police has taken this action regarding one of his statements in the religious meeting held in Udaipur on Thursday.

In the Dharmasabha, Shastri called upon the people to install saffron flags in place of green flags which have been put up at the Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajsamand district.

The police have considered it an incitement of religious violence. Taking cognizance of his statement, a case was registered at Hathipol police station in the city. Udaipur SP Vikas Sharma said that his statement is provocative and controversial.

Police officials said - Pandit Dhirendra Shastri used inflammatory words which increased disputes between communities. After this statement, on Thursday night some youths also tried to create mischief at Kumbhalgarh Fort. Out of these 5 youths have been arrested. A case has been registered against all of them at Kelwada police station.
Jaipur, March 24 : The Udaipur police have registered a case against Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham. The police has taken this action following his statement at a religious gathering held in Udaipur on Thursday.

In the Dharmasabha, Shastri called upon the people to install saffron flags in place of green flags which have been put up at the Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajsamand district.

The police have considered it an incitement to religious violence. Taking cognizance of his statement, a case was registered at Hathipol police station in the city. Udaipur Superintendent of Police Vikas Sharma said that his statement was provocative and controversial.

Police officials said Pandit Dhirendra Shastri used inflammatory words which heightened disputes between communities. After this statement, some youths tried to create a disturbance at Kumbhalgarh Fort on Thursday night and five of them have been arrested. A case has been registered against all of them at Kelwada police station.
Jaipur, March 24 : Three missiles misfired during an Army exercise at the Pokhran field firing range in Jaisalmer on Friday.

As per officials, during an Army exercise, three ground-to-air missiles fell at different places in Jaisalmer itself. While the wreckage of two missiles have been found, a search is on to locate the third one.

According to sources, the three missiles exploded in the sky and fell outside the field firing range. The wreckage of one missile was found at a field near Ajasar village outside the field firing range. The debris of the second missile was found in a deserted area near Satyaya village.

Although there was no loss of life, pits were formed in the field where they landed.

An investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause behind the incident.
New Delhi, March 24 : In a suspected case of necrophilia, a 36-year-old man has been arrested here for allegedly killing his male friend and then having unnatural sex with the dead body, the police said on Friday.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pervinder. The incident took place on February 9 at his rented accommodation at Singhu village in the Alipur area.

According to the police, Pervinder worked as a helper at a cycle repairing shop in Singhu village and was addicted to alcohol.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravi Kumar Singh said that on February 11, a call was received at Alipur police station. It was mentioned in the call that "the dead body of Pervinder was found".

"A police team reached the spot where they found a naked dead body in the room... blood was oozing from the deceased's head and other body parts," the DCP said.

The police officer said that, to the team's surprise, the dead body was not of Pervinder but of some unknown person.

"The person who was thought to be dead suddenly became the prime suspect in the case. An enquiry was then made by the police to identify the deceased but all efforts proved unhelpful. Therefore, the body was preserved at BJRM hospital Jahangirpuri," the DCP said.

A case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and investigation taken up.

During the probe, it was learnt that Pervinder, a resident of Janti Kalan of Sonipat in Haryana, was not seen for a few days and his mobile was also found switched off.

"There was no knowledge about his whereabouts as he was known to live alone and not interact much with others," said the official.

"Meanwhile, the police team set up to identify the deceased conducted more enquiries for any missing person during which one person said that his younger brother was missing for the last three days. The beat staff showed him the photos of the deceased and the deceased was identified as Raja (name changed) by his elder brother," said the official.

To trace Pervinder, the police scanned more than 100 CCTV cameras but the accused could not be traced.

"The police team also questioned the relatives and friends of the suspect during which it came to notice that Pervinder had been living alone in a rented room in Singhu village for the last four months. His wife used to live with him but she also left him due to his alcohol addiction and inclination towards unnatural sex," the DCP said.

Based on the leads developed, raids were conducted at different places.

"On Wednesday, when Pervinder was going towards Singhu Village Bus Stand, he was arrested from a place near MCD park," said the official.

On questioning, he revealed that he had met Raja at a wine shop situated at Singhu village around 8-10 days before the incident and they became friends.

"On February 9, at his rented accommodation, Pervinder first consumed alcohol and thereafter tried to have unnatural sex with Raja. However, when Raja opposed him, Pervinder strangled him with his towel. He then did unnatural sex with him, covered the victim's body with a blanket and fled from there," the police officer said.

"From there, the accused went to Sonipat in Haryana and joined a cycle circus team where he started to show cycle games. There he lived for about 12-15 days and then he went to Panipat and started doing some manual work. There, he lived for about 10-15 days," said the official.

"Later, he went to Samalkha in Haryana and he worked there in a brick kiln as a labourer. When he did not get any work for the last four to five days, he came to his native place Jhanti Kalan to borrow some money from his friends, but nobody gave him money. Later, he came to Singhu village, where he was eventually arrested by the police," DCP Ravi Kumar Singh said.
Patna March 24 : In wake of the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha, several parties of Bihar's ruling Mahagatbandhan took out a protest march in the Bihar Assembly on Friday.

The leaders of the Congress, the RJD, the Left and HAM participated in the protest march to show solidarity with Rahul Gandhi. However, JD-U leaders did not participate.

Hindustani Awam Morcha patron and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said: "The leaders of Mahagathbandhan are united on this issue and protesting against the 'Modiwad' in the country. We want to give a message to the Narendra Modi government that its decision is not right and we are against it." Senior RJD leader Bhai Virendra said: "We are protesting on the street against the fascist forces of the country. Our protest will continue from the road to Vidhan Sabha. The Narendra Modi government is framing the leaders of opposition in false cases. We will fight against it till the last breath." Congress MLA Rajesh Ram said: "The Central government is targeting the leaders of opposition by misusing the constitutional agencies. After the formation of Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, it has given direction to other opposition parties to the rest of the country. We have thrown the BJP out of power in Bihar and we will do the same in the entire country in the 2024 Lok Sabha election."
Shillong, March 24 : The Meghalaya government on Friday reconstituted the three regional committees headed by ministers to examine the present status of the remaining six disputed areas with Assam in the state's West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, and West Jaintia Hills districts.

Officials said that the committees would submit their reports to the Meghalaya government within 45 days after visiting the inter-state border villages and study the differences based on the agreed yardsticks of historical perspective, ethnicity of the local population, administrative convenience of local people, contiguity with the boundary, and the perception of the people living in the area.

The Ri Bhoi District Committee would be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, while the West Khasi Hills district Committee would be headed by Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, and West Jaintia Hills district committee would be led by Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.

Talks on inter-state border disputes have suffered a setback since last year's November 22 firing incident, which left six persons dead.

The ruling National People's Party and its ally BJP, in their election manifestos for the February 27 Meghalaya polls, promised to solve the border dispute with Assam and establish permanent outposts to promote safety, security, and rule of law.

With two MLAs, the BJP is a part of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government led by the NPP, headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.

The Supreme Court had put on hold the Meghalaya High Court's order staying the MoU signed by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya on the border dispute. The High Court on December 8 last year, on a petition by four citizens of Meghalaya, passed an order staying physical demarcation or erection of boundary posts on the ground, pursuant to the MoU signed on March 29 last year.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah by Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, "resolving" six of the 12 disputed areas along the two states in the first phase.
Panaji, March 24 : Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday termed the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha as a decision which will set a "dangerous precedent" in the country.

"It is setting a dangerous precedent. In the politics of the country, defamation is still an ambiguous thing, clear cut definition on criminal definition is still unavailable," Sardesai, an ally of Congress, said.

"And finishing the career of a politician from an elected political scenario by using such a law of defamation... if such things happen then it will set a dangerous precedent across the country which may be one day (used on) to me or to others. It will be misused everywhere. Elected representatives will be barred (from contesting) for eight years," he added.

Sardesai said as per legal experts, in criminal defamation, intention to defame doesn't have to be spelt out, but in civil defamation it has to be done. "There is such ambiguity (in it), but by using it one should not be stumped out. This will be applied at state level and misused," the Fatorda MLA said.

Gandhi, the MP from Kerala's Wayanad, was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him over a 2019 speech in which he termed all people with the Modi surname "thieves".
Guwahati, March 24 : Reacting to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Parliament over his conviction in a defamation case, Assam unit Congress chief Bhupen Borah on Friday said "the BJP planned a conspiracy against the former Wayanad MP after he busted the corruption of business tycoon Gautam Adani".

"The way Rahul Gandhi elaborately explained the corruption of Modi's 'close man' Adani in the 50-minute speech in the Lok Sabha, BJP planned a conspiracy against Rahul Gandhi to oust him out of the Parliament," he told the mediapersons.

Borah also claimed that the BJP had been planning this for a long time, since Rahul Gandhi was constantly attacking the government on a number of issues like demonetisation, GST implementation, etc.

"But I don't think that our leader's voice can be suppressed whether he is inside or outside the Parliament," he added.

The Assam Congress leader further said that the case in which Rahul Gandhi has been convicted was not a criminal case. "This was a defamation suit," he said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also made many unacceptable remarks, but the police did not register case on these incidents, the Congress leader said.

Borah said the Congress leaders would go out among the people over the BJP's "misrule".
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko handed over hemostatic turnstiles and a Starlink communication system, as well as a pickup truck from Kyiv volunteers, to the soldiers of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade defending Bakhmut. In addition, servicemen of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade defending Vuhledar were given 12 drones equipped with thermal imagers and batteries for them, the press service of the mayor said.

"I went to the east of Ukraine to support and encourage our defenders and hand over some necessary things that they asked for. I handed over hemostatic tourniquets, the Starlink communication system to the soldiers of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade Kholodny Yar, which defends Bakhmut. And also from volunteers of the capital  a pickup truck. Presented the fighters of the brigade and the awards of the mayor of the capital  medals 'Honour. Glory. State," Klitschko said.

He said many Kholodny Yar soldiers defended the capital at the beginning of Russia's full-scale Russian invasion.

"From the first days of the invasion, the guys went to the territorial defense forces. And now they are fighting where the most brutal battles are," Klitschko said.

He also visited the fighters of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade, holding forward positions near Vuhledar.

"At their request, I brought 12 Mavic 3T drones equipped with thermal imagers and batteries for them. I also talked with local residents living near the frontline. They are waiting for the liberation of the entire Donbas, the victory of Ukraine and believe in our Armed Forces," Klitschko said.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Congress on Friday said that it has planned a mega protest across the country against the disqualification of its senior leader Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member and welcomed the impromptu support from various parties.

It was stressed that it is now time for coordinated opposition unity.

Addressing a press conference after meeting of top party leaders, General Secretary in charge of communication, Jairam Ramesh said: "We welcome the support from the opposition parties and specially from those who have kept distance from the opposition unity." He was referring to the statements by the BRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee against the disqualification.

Both parties have maintained a distance from the Congress in opposition protests against the Narendra Modi government.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Bablu Sonkar, a close associate of Amar Mulchandani, the former Chairman of Seva Vikas Cooperative Bank, along with two contractual staff working with the ED under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a fraud in the bank headquartered at Pimpri near Pune, sources told IANS.

A senior ED official, who didn't wish to be named, confirmed the arrests with IANS.

The ED had initiated the investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the Pune Police based on complaints lodged by the bank and the audit conducted by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, which pointed at large-scale fraud and misappropriation of public funds, causing a loss of Rs 429 crore to the Seva Vikas Cooperative Bank.

The ED probe revealed that the bank was being run like a family proprietorship without following any prudent financial norms. Even loans were being sanctioned without any viable security and without ascertaining the credit worthiness of the applicants in return for massive kickbacks.

More than 92 per cent of the loan accounts turned NPA and now the bank has gone bankrupt. The ED had conducted searches at multiple locations in connection with the case.

"During the course of investigation, it was found that one person was seen frequently lurking around the ED office. The person turned out to be Babu Sonkar, an employee of Amar Mulchandani. Sonkar was tasked by the Mulchandani family to threaten the witnesses and pass on bribe amounts to one data entry operator and one contingent staff working in the ED office in exchange of sensitive information. The amounts paid have been recovered by the ED," the official said.

Certain incriminating documents have been recovered from the possession of Sonkar, while the apprehended contractual staff of the ED also admitted that they were passing sensitive information to the former.

(Atul Krishan can be approached at atul.k@ians.in)
New Delhi, March 24 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said it has sealed two offices of the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) in Rajasthan, and also froze 10 of its bank accounts.

An official said that NIA is investigating the criminal conspiracy hatched by PFI leaders and cadres in Rajasthan to drive a wedge between different communities in the country through radicalisation.

"The banned organisation has also been conducting training of gullible Muslim youth in handling of weapons. They have been raising funds to carry out acts of terror and violence with the ultimate objective of establishing Islamic rule in India by 2047," the official said.

Earlier, on March 13, the NIA had filed chargesheet against Mohammad Ashif a.k.a. Asif of Kota, and Sadiq Sarraf of Baran in this case.

The official said that during the investigation into the case registered in September 2022, it was learnt that the offices of the PFI at Jaipur and Kota were being used for organising terror training camps.

These trainees, mostly young Muslim youth, were being radicalised and trained in the use of dangerous weapons, such as knives and swords, to attack, assault, and murder by targeting vulnerable points of the body, including the head, neck and chest.

"Therefore, PFI offices at Jaipur and Kota have been attached under the provisions of UA (P) Act as the 'proceeds of terrorism'. The properties attached by NIA today include the PFI office located at House No. 256, near Punjab National Bank, Moti Dungari Road, District - Jaipur, Rajasthan, and the PFI office, near Arakeen Badi Masjid, Madrasa Furkania, Lalji Ghati Ladpura Kota, Rajasthan," the official, providing details, said.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Supreme Court on Friday said that all prisoners, released on emergency parole by the state high-powered committees constituted on its order during the Covid pandemic, will have to surrender within 15 days.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said: "All those under-trials/ convicts who have been released on emergency parole/interim bail pursuant to the recommendation of the High-Powered Committee, in compliance of the orders, dated March 23, 2020, May 7, 2021 and July 16, 2021, passed by this court in suo moto writ petitiona have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities within 15 days." The bench added that the present order be intimated to the accused/inmates concerned by the jail authorities that they have now to surrender within the period of 15 days.

"However, it is observed that thereafter after the concerned prisoners/inmates surrender before the concerned prison authorities, it will be open for the concerned undertrials to pray for bail before the competent court and their applications be considered in accordance with law and on its own merits." It further added that after the surrender by the concerned convicts who are released on emergency parole, it will be open for them, if so advised, to pray for suspension of sentence before the concerned court in their appeals which might have been pending, and which also may be considered in accordance with law and/or on merits.

The bench noted that it is not in dispute and cannot be disputed that all those undertrial prisoners/convicts were released on interim bail/emergency parole taking into consideration the overcrowding in the prisons and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus among prisoners in overcrowded prisons.

"All those undertrial prisoners/convicts therefore were not released on merit but were released on the aforesaid ground alone. Therefore, now when the Covid-19 situation has now been normalised, all those prisoners/inmates/undertrial prisoners/convicts who are/were released on emergency parole/interim bail have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities," it said.

In March 2020, the apex court took suo motu cognisance of the medical assistance needed for prisoners in overcrowded jails to save them from coronavirus, and issued notices to the Chief Secretaries, the Home Secretaries, the DGs (Prisons) and Social Welfare Secretaries of all states and Union Territories.

During the first and second wave of the pandemic, the top court had passed several orders for grant of emergency parole to prisoners to avoid the overcrowding of prisons to contain the spread of the viral infection among them.

--IANS ss/vd

A
New Delhi, March 24 : The Delhi High Court on Friday issued summons to BharatPe's former Managing Director Ashneer Grover in connection with a case filed by fintech company's co-founder Shashvat Nakrani over claims of unpaid shares.

Representing Nakrani, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul contended that in case filed by co-founder Bhavik Koladiya on the same lines, the court has issued summons and has asked Grover to not create any third-party rights in respect of the shares in BharatPe.

The High Court had, on January 18, told Grover to file an undertaking in a week's time and restraining him from creating any third-party rights over the shares.

Appearing before the bench of Justice Sachin Datta, Kaul said that it is Grover's stand that he has paid for the shares in cash.

The court noted that the case was filed about five years after the shares were stated to have been transferred while Kaul argued for an interim relief.

Lawyer Giriraj Subramanium, Grover's counsel, was questioned by Judge Datta if he was prepared to make a statement that no third-party rights would be created over the shares.

To this, Subramanium said that he has instructions not to make such a statement.

Justice Datta then listed the case for the next hearing on March 28, on the issue of interim relief sought by Nakrani.

"Plaintiff has been heard at some length in the interim relief application. Counsel for the defendant says they don't want to file a response to the application. List on Tuesday for further arguments," the court ordered.

The judge also issued notice on Nakrani's application seeking to file some documents in a sealed cover.

Koladiya's suit seeking to reclaim trasferred shares remains pending before another bench of the High Court.

In the Koladiya's case, when the court had earlier asked Grover to not create any third-party rights over the shares, he had informed the court that subject to further directions from the court, he will not make any third-party interest in the 16,110 shares that Koladiya transferred to him and in any rights that accrue to him as a consequence thereof.

A single-bench judge Justice Prateek Jalan had ordered that Grover will be bound by his statement and directed him to file the undertaking.

The court had also served summonses on Grover and the fintech company, giving the former four weeks to respond to the application for an ad interim injunction and two weeks for a rejoinder to the same.

The bench had noted: "D1 (Grover) is bound to the aforesaid statement and is directed to file an undertaking to this effect within one week from today. Reply to application in four weeks, rejoinder in two weeks thereafter." Nakrani and Koladiya founded the fintech company in 2017. In 2018, Grover joined the company as the third co-founder.
New Delhi, March 24 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday has given its approval for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for raw jute for 2023-24 season, based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

The MSP of raw jute (TD-3 equivalent to earlier TD-5 grade) has been fixed at Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season. This would ensure a return of 63.20 per cent over the all India weighted average cost of production.

The announced MSP of raw jute for 2023-24 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all India weighted average cost of production as announced by the government in the Budget 2018-19.

It assures a minimum of 50 per cent as margin of profit. It is one of the important and progressive steps towards ensuring better remunerative returns to the jute growers and to incentivise quality jute fibre, said officials.

The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will continue as Central government nodal agency to undertake price support operations and the losses incurred, if any, in such operations, will be fully reimbursed by the Central government.
Bhubaneswar, March 24 : Hours after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was expelled from the Parliament following his conviction in a criminal defamation case, the Odisha Assembly witnessed an uproar on Friday as the Congress members stalled the proceedings of the House by creating a ruckus over the issue.

The House witnessed several adjournments as the Congress legislators protested Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha. Later, the Speaker adjourned the House till Monday.

In the post-lunch session, the Congress MLAs stormed into the well and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as 'murder of democracy'.

Speaking to mediapersons later, Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra said that Rahul Gandhi has been made the victim of a pre-planned conspiracy.

"His disqualification is like murder of democracy. Without respecting the democratic norms and practices, Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified in a haste. The Congress will move the higher courts in this regard and the truth will prevail," Mishra said.

On Friday morning, Rahul Gandhi was suspended from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case. The Lok Sabha Secretariat also declared his constituency in Kerala's Wayanad as vacant.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a lawmaker sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving prison time.

On Thursday, a court in Surat found Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Patna, March 24 : The police in Bihar's Jamui district have arrested a man who claimed that he had raped a minor girl to prove his potency, an official said on Friday.

The accused has been identified as Bhujangi Manjhi, who has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after his arrest on Thursday evening. The accused was produced before a POCSO court on Friday, which remanded him to judicial custody.

The incident took place at a village which falls under the jurisdiction of Laxmipur police station. The matter came to light after a 13-year-old girl along with her parents reached the police station and registered an FIR against Manjhi on charges of rape. The victim is three-month pregnant.

Keeping the sensitivity of the matter in mind, the police swung into action and arrested the accused.

In his confessional statement, Manjhi claimed that he got married to a girl six years ago but they could not have a child. The doctors had told him that he was an impotent and could never become a father.

Manjhi then decided to prove the doctors wrong.

As per the plan, the accused befriended a 13-year-old girl and lured her for marriage. He established physical relationship with her three months ago following which the girl became pregnant.

When she came to know about her pregnancy, she contacted Manjhi and revealed her physical status. But Manjhi threatened her with dire consequences and fled from the village. The girl then revealed her ordeal to her parents who approached the police.

"We received a complaint from the victim's family and immediately put the mobile phone of the accused on surveillance. His phone's tower location showed Karibagh village under the Malaypur police station in Jamui district. Our team immediately raided the spot and arrested the accused," said Rajyawardhan, SHO of Laxmipur police station.
Bengaluru, March 24 : If voted to power in Karnataka, the Congress will turn the state into its ATM as the party's past is all about corruption, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Friday.

Addressing a public rally, Shah said that Narendra Modi's dream is development and people should bring BJP to power again to support the Prime Minister.

"The Congress is losing its existence in the country. If it wins any state, it will turn it into a treasure trove for the party. The Congress wants to turn Karnataka into its ATM," Shah said.

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government took back the cases against PFI members, an outfit that has now been banned by Prime Minister Modi, Shah said.

The Prime Minister has taken steps to ensure that South India remains safe from the clutches of terror elements, Shah added.
Panaji, March 24 : Condemning the move to disqualify Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Friday said the country is heading towards dictatorship.

Addressing a press conference, GPCC President Amit Patkar said that BJP was rattled to see the success of Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi.

"From today's incident, the picture is very clear that our democracy is under threat. This is murder of democracy. India is heading towards dictatorship. We condemn whatever has happened today," Patkar said.

"Time and again, we and our leader Rahul Gandhi was telling that democracy is under threat and attack. Today is black day for democracy. The way the BJP government used all institutions to disqualify Rahul Gandhi is sad day for our country," he said.

Patkar said that Rahul Gandhi had raised burning issues during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"Be it of price rise or unemployment and the way people are divided. We got very good response to yatra and the very first day BJP had rattled. Since then they had run fake narrative about Rahul Gandhi. Fake propoganda was done by using IT team," he said.

"During Parliament session, he raised an issue on businessman Gautam Adani, asking relation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani. But Prime Minister did not reply to him," he said.

"Truth always prevails. Attempts to supress Opposition's voice will not deter us from raising issues concerning people. We are completely with nation's leader Rahul Gandhi. His disqualification is Murder of Democracy," said Yuri Alemao, leader of Opposition.

Gandhi, the MP from Kerala's Wayanad, was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him over a 2019 speech.
Leroy Merlin to transfer control of Russia business to local management

Leroy Merlin plans to transfer control of its Russia business to local management, the DIY retailer's parent company Adeo said in a press release.

The process was initiated several months ago, it said.

Transferring control should ensure that the company can operate locally and preserve the jobs of the 45,000 employees.

The transaction will be subject to approval by relevant authorities in Russia.

Leroy Merlin said in March last year that it would continue to operate in Russia.
Copenhagen, March 24 : Denmark and Germany have signed here an agreement to construct a land-based hydrogen pipeline transporting hydrogen from Denmark to Germany by 2028.

Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard, and German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Vice- Chancellor Robert Habeck, signed the pact about the pipeline on Friday, which is expected to transport hydrogen from the coast of Jutland in western Denmark to northern Germany, Xinhua news agency reported.

After their meeting, Aagaard told a press conference: "We have the same interests in so many areas. Today we are taking it a step further." "Green hydrogen is crucial to making our industry climate-neutral," said Habeck.

"In this agreement, we outline in particular areas of cooperation on hydrogen, including business support." Germany currently has a large and growing hydrogen demand, while Denmark, with its current and future wind power resources, has the potential to be a major exporter, a press statement from the Danish Ministry for Climate, Energy and Utilities said.

The agreement prioritises market-driven hydrogen infrastructure deployment and integration of the two countries' energy systems, the press statement added.
Kolkata, March 24 : Three heavyweight West Bengal ministers, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, will now oversee the organisational affairs of Trinamool Congress in Birbhum district in absence of the current district President Anubrata Mondal, who is currently in judicial custody for his alleged connection in the multi- crore cattle smuggling scam.

The decision was taken at a crucial meeting of the top leaders of Trinamool which was chaired by the Chief Minister herself with the main agenda of the meeting being the party's organisational activities in Birbhum district.

However, no decision was taken at the meeting about the possible removal of Mondal from his post in Birbhum and designate someone else in his absence.

"There was absolutely no discussion in the matter of Anubrata Mondal's replacement as the party's Birbhum district President," state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya told media persons after the meeting.

Besides the Chief Minister, Municipal Affairs & Urban Development Minister and the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Firhad Hakim and Law Minister Malay Ghatak will oversee the party's Birbhum affairs.

Trinamool legislator from Pandaveswar Narendranath Chakraborty has also been included in the team.

Incidentally, none of the four leaders are elected representatives from Birbhum district. While the Chief Minister and Hakim are elected legislators from two constituencies in Kolkata, Ghatak and Chakraborty are from West Burdwan district.

The Enforcement Directorate has also recently summoned Ghatak to New Delhi for questioning in connection with the multi-crore coal scam in the state. He has been asked to be present at the central agency's headquarters on March 29.

--IANS src/vd

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Patna, March 24 : The rifle of a home guard was stolen in the town police station in Bihar's Chapra on Friday, police said.

Chapra police registered an FIR against the home guard and arrested him on the charge of negligence. The FIR was registered against him under the direction of Saran SP Dr Gaurav Mangla.

The home guard was identified as Bharat Pundit, deployed in the town police station. After his duty got over, Pundit went back to his barracks and fell asleep. During that period, an unidentified person entered and stole his weapon. The incident came to light when he woke up and searched for his rifle.

In wake of this incident, the SP visited the town police station to investigate. As the rifle was not found by the police personnel, an FIR was registered and Pundit arrested.

Meanwhile, the home guard strongly objected to the action of police. The officials of the Home Guard Association claimed that the personnel were not given adequate time to sleep in secure places and forcibly asked them to work beyond the duty hours.

"It is extremely unfair that Pundit was booked for negligence and also arrested by the district police. Home Guard Association is objecting to the action of district police," said an official of the association in Chapra.
Tehran, March 24 : The number of injured people in a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that jolted northwestern Iran rose to 165, state media reported.

The quake, which occurred near Khoy county in the province of West Azarbaijan at 6:46 a.m. local time (0316 GMT), has a depth of 8 km, according to the Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC), Iran's official news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

Of the 165 injured, 139 were released from medical centres after receiving first aid, while the rest were being treated, IRNA quoted Provincial Governor of West Azarbaijan Mohammad-Sadeq Motamedian as saying.

Director General of West Azarbaijan's Housing Foundation, Jafar Barzegar, told IRNA that 80 residential units in 10 villages in Salmas and Khoy counties were damaged in the quake, Xinhua news agency reported.

In late January, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake in Khoy county killed three people and injured more than 800.
Madrid, March 24 : FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Friday opened the door for a possible return to the club for Leo Messi.

Messi is out of contract with PSG this summer.

Laporta insisted that the 35-year-old (who will be 36 in June) Messi "has the doors of Barca open." "Messi is the greatest player in history. He has been the most important player in Barca's history, although I have to be careful in what I say, as Messi is a PSG player and I have to respect that," said the Barca president.

Although Laporta said he needed to be "careful", that didn't stop Laporta from adding: "Leo knows that we have him in our hearts and he is part of our club badge." Laporta also looked back on Messi's departure from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2021, when it was impossible to fit his new contract into a wage structure defined by spending limits imposed by La Liga, a Xinhua report said.

"The situation I found when I returned as president wasn't good and I had to make a decision that I am not satisfied with," he said.

"I have to find the way to improve the current relationship between Messi and Barca. We will see what happens, but he knows Barca's doors are open for him," concluded Laporta.

Messi's return is far from easy, and will depend on Barca lowering their current wage bill.

The ongoing investigations into the "Negreira case", which involves possible match-fixing, could also have both financial and implications, with the news that UEFA has opened its own investigation, opening the door to Barca's possible exclusion from European competitions.
Patna, March 24 : Following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha over his conviction in a criminal defamation case, Lalu Prasad's elder son and Bihar Cabinet minister Tej Pratap forecast that the chair in Delhi on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sitting will be shaken in 2024.

"The BJP knows that it will be wiped out from the Centre in 2024. I am forecasting that the chair of Prime minister Narendra Modi will be shaken in 2024... Mark my words," said the RJD leader and state Environment Minister.

"The BJP has opted for dictatorship in the country. The way Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha is absolutely wrong. The BJP is going after all the opposition leaders, but people will give a befitting reply to them at the right time," Tej Pratap said.

"People are watching how the BJP is targeting and chasing our family members. They are afraid of opposition unity and hence they are targeting the leaders from the opposition camp," Tej Pratap added.

Congress MLA Shakeel Ahmed said: "The BJP is afraid of opposition unity. They know that they will ousted from power in 2024. Hence they are targeting the opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi." Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Giriraj Singh, who arrived in Patna on Friday evening, claimed that Rahul Gandhi has been penalised for what he did in the past, and it has nothing to do with the BJP or the Central government.

"The court had given time to Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his statement, but he refused to do so. It is an insult to the judiciary. The court has penalised him for whatever wrong he did in the past," said Union minister Giriraj Singh.

"Rahul Gandhi insults our democracy in foreign countries. If people vote for him, everything is okay. But if they don't, he claims that democracy of the country is under threat. This dual stand of Rahul Gandhi is not right," said Ravi Shankar Prasad.

On Friday morning, Rahul Gandhi was suspended from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case. The Lok Sabha Secretariat also declared his constituency in Kerala's Wayanad as vacant.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a lawmaker sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving prison time.

On Thursday, a court in Surat found Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Dar Es Salaam, March 25 : Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has urged fellow citizens to work together with the government and development partners in ending tuberculosis.

"Efforts should also be directed at preventing new TB cases and curbing deaths caused by TB," he said on Friday when addressing a public rally in Bariadi district in Simiyu region to mark World Tuberculosis Day.

A statement by the Prime Minister's Office said Majaliwa believed that if everyone played his or her part, the fight against TB could be realised, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added that each one should take precautionary measures against the disease because if one was infected without one's knowledge, he or she was likely to infect about 10 to 20 other people.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said in her message that ending TB is feasible with the decline in TB deaths and cases, and the elimination of economic and social burdens associated with it.

Moeti added in a statement that TB required concerted action by all sectors, from communities and businesses to governments, civil society and others.

World Tuberculosis Day is commemorated annually on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis, and to step up efforts to end the epidemic.
Greater Noida, March 25 : A clash broke out between the organisers and entrepreneurs in the three-day World Startup Mega Convention being organised at the Expo Mart located at Knowledge Park in Greater Noida on Friday.

The entrepreneurs alleged that the organisers had promised that the event would guarantee a huge turn up of investors who would fund their startups. However, they alleged that no leading investor attended the event.

The police reached the spot and pacified the entrepreneurs who demanded their money be returned.

The entrepreneurs also climbed on the stage and created a ruckus.

The entrepreneurs claimed that the organisers had said that the convention would be attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, leading entrepreneurs, enablers, founders, creators, VCs, agencies, marketers, retailers, influencers, designers and investors, among others.

A dealer from Hyderabad said that he bought three passes for Rs 15,000 since they were told that 1,500 investors would attend the programme and that they had been cheated.

The World startup Mega convention will be held till March 26.
Abuja : , March 25 (IANS) A total of 25 people were killed and 10 others seriously injured in a bus crash in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi, the traffic police said.

Yusuf Abdullahi, a commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Bauchi, told reporters at a briefing on Friday that the bus carrying 35 people, including the driver, lost control and crashed after losing a tire in motion in the Katagum area of the state on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

All the deceased were confirmed dead on the spot, Abdullahi said, explaining that the bus somersaulted a few times due to loss of control. The injured are receiving treatment at a government-run hospital in the state.

Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad road conditions, and reckless driving.
Phnom Penh, March 25 : Cambodia has said that the upcoming visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to the kingdom will inject new impetus into the bilateral ties.

Anwar will pay a one-day official visit to Cambodia on March 27 at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said in a press statement on Friday.

In Phnom Penh, Anwar will hold a bilateral meeting with Hun Sen to explore new ways and means to further deepen the long-standing bilateral ties that cover all fields of cooperation ranging from political-security, economic to socio-cultural aspects, Xinhua news agency reported.

"They will exchange views on sub-regional, regional and international issues of common interest and concern," the statement said.

"Subsequently, there will be a signing ceremony of some cooperation initiatives and a joint press conference." During the visit, Anwar will also be granted a royal audience by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace, and pay separate courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Say Chhum and National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin.

"The forthcoming official visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Cambodia will lend a new impetus to the robust all-round bilateral ties between the two countries and will contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region as well as to the continued development and prosperity of the ASEAN Community and beyond," the statement added.

Anwar became the Prime Minister of Malaysia in November last year.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba assured that there are no obstacles for Ukraine's cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) without ratification of the Rome Statute.

"Although I support the ratification [of the Rome Statute], it definitely needs to be ratified, it is clear that all these prejudices that it will somehow harm Ukraine are just prejudices and nothing more. But we now fully accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court without ratification. And this should not be forgotten. Therefore, everyone who says that there are obstacles for Ukraine's interaction with the ICC due to the lack of ratification of the statute, they are cunning," Kuleba said during a conversation with journalist Vadym Karpiak, which was broadcast on Instagram on Friday.
Damascus, March 25 : US airstrikes on strongholds of pro-Iran militias in eastern Syria killed 11 fighters, a war monitor reported.

The airstrikes hit an arms depot and other military outposts of the pro-Iran fighters in the province of Deir al-Zour, in retaliation to the pro-Iran militias' drone attacks on US positions in the same region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor on Friday.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, the head of the observatory, said the Iranian fighters had targeted US positions in the al-Omar oil field in Deir al-Zour overnight, adding that both sides exchanged fire, Xinhua news agency reported.

Abdul-Rahman added he expected the US would carry out more attacks after recruiting agents on the ground to gather information about the locations and positions of the pro-Iran militias in eastern Syria.

The Syrian government has not commented on the most recent escalation.

The Pentagon said on Friday that a US contractor was killed, and five US service members and one other US contractor were wounded when a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility of the US coalition in northeast Syria.
M7 Real Estate has acquired four last mile logistics properties in Portugal, via three separate off-market transactions, on behalf of funds managed by Blackstone, the worlds largest alternative investment manager.

The assets, which comprise a total of c. 36,400 square meters are located in Porto a...

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"Our activities are characterized for being unique, memorable, and for the quality of service that our associates and partners offer our guests to live The Experience of a Lifetime." said Jesus Sanchez, Ocean Adventures General Manager

Ocean Adventures, one of the Marinas of The Dolphin Company, the park operator with a worldwide presence and the #1 Dolphin Company in the world, remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Punta Cana.

Located in one of the leading destinations of the Caribbean, surrounded by incredible landscapes and with a pretty original variety of activities and attractions, Ocean Adventures has become an iconic place for millions of tourists. It has options for everyone, like adventure activities, aquatic attractions, swimming with dolphins in Punta Cana, natural experiences, and more.

One of its signature activities is the Ocean Spa, one of a kind experience since it is the only floating spa that combines the amazing marine environment while enjoying a delicate massage and total relaxation on a floating mat on the sea as well as relaxing with Yoga and Bio Pilates sessions.

Ocean Adventures also offers a catamaran tour, where guests will admire the natural beauty of the Caribbean, they will also feel the adrenaline of navigating in a Speed Boat and practice snorkel in Punta Cana to discover the natural landscapes of the Bavaro coral reef.Despite the challenges that the last years have presented to the tourism industry, Ocean Adventures Punta Cana continues innovating and creating experiences that attract millions of tourists and contribute to the development of the destination.

About The Dolphin Company:

For more than 28 years, The Dolphin Company, a worldwide park operator, has provided 'The Experience of a Lifetime' to more than 21 million visitors at its 32 parks, dolphin habitats, and marinas, around the world. With a presence in Mexico, the Caribbean, the United States, Argentina, and Italy, The Dolphin Company offers exciting activities that provide unique and memorable experiences, while raising awareness of the importance of animal welfare, preservation, and care of the environment. For more information visit http://www.thedolphinco.com
SandboxAQ announced today that Teresa Shea, a recognized leader in the intelligence and defense communities, has joined the company as a senior advisor to the Global Public Sector team. Teresa spent 32 years at the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) where she rose to the position of Director of Signals Intelligence.

As a senior advisor to SandboxAQ, I am passionate about dedicating my time and expertise to organizations that are securing our nation and our allies, Shea said. SandboxAQs technology is dual-use with applications for national defense as well as strengthening security in critical industries such as banking, telecom, and energy.

With more than 38 years of public and private sector experience, Teresa was previously the Vice President of Cyber Offense and Defense Experts (CODEX) within Raytheon Intelligence and Space. The CODEX business is focused on providing cybersecurity capabilities for offense, defense, and security initiatives for both the commercial and public sector.

Teresa also served as Executive Vice President of Technology and director of Cyber-Reboot at In-Q-Tel. She joined In-Q-Tel after a distinguished career at NSA, where she held several key leadership assignments culminating as the director of Signals Intelligence. In this position, she was the principal signals intelligence advisor to the Directors of NSA, the Director of National Intelligence, countless U.S. military officers, and other high-ranking U.S. Government officials.

Teresa is recognized within the defense and intelligence communities as a trusted, mission-focused, and creative leader, said Jen Sovada, Global Public Sector President at SandboxAQ. We are honored to have her join our team and we will benefit from her expertise, particularly in the areas of quantum-resistant cryptography and cybersecurity to safeguard sensitive national security data.

Shea received numerous awards during her career, including the Presidents Distinguished Rank Award from President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal awarded by then Director of National Intelligence The Honorable James R. Clapper, the CIAs Donovan Award, and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service awarded by then Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Shea currently serves on the Army Intelligence Board, the NSA Advisory committee, the Georgia Institute of Technology Board, and the CIGENT Board of Directors, and is a strategic advisor for Forgepoint Capital.

Shea joins fellow SandboxAQ Global Public Sector advisors including the Honorable Susan M. Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence; Adm. John M. Richardson, former Chief of Naval Operations; Adm. Michael S. Rogers, former commander of U.S. Cyber Command and NSA director; Michael Brown, co-founder and former CTO of ISARA Corporation; and Taher Elgamal, former Salesforce Security CTO and renowned cryptographer.

To learn more about SandboxAQs Global Public Sector team visit sandboxaq.com/publicsector.

About SandboxAQ

SandboxAQ is an enterprise SaaS company, providing solutions at the nexus of AI and Quantum technology (AQ) to address some of the world's most challenging problems. The company's core team and inspiration formed at Alphabet Inc., emerging as an independent, growth-capital-backed company in 2022. For more information, visit our website at https://www.sandboxaq.com.
This years Black Women Accelerator Program participants will have everything they need in order to apply for their MBE, without the stress of wondering if they did everything right, whether itll be rejected and whether it is really worth the investment.

Buy From A Black Woman is proud to announce our third accelerator cohort of the Black Woman Accelerator Program. The program looks to help Black Women Business Owners leverage certifications and is being run in partnership with H&M and the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). This year were hosting a hybrid virtual version of our six-week Black Woman Accelerator Program, which will conclude with a grant covering the cost of 15 Black Women Business Owners to apply for their Minority Business Enterprise Certificate.

The notable decrease in D&I outreach and personnel means that Black Women Business Owners who once worked so easily with corporate partners, may face even more barriers to renew or start these partnerships again. One of the many things that came up last year in conversations was asking if businesses in the Buy From A Black Woman Online Directory were certified, says Nikki Porcher, founder of Buy From A Black Woman.

This years Black Women Accelerator Program participants will have everything they need in order to apply for their MBE, without the stress of wondering if they did everything right, whether itll be rejected and whether it is really worth the investment. Were excited to be working with H&M and to have the guidance of NMSDC. This is yet another example of what happens when you support a Black Woman Business Owner. You support a whole community, adds Nikki.

H&M is proud to support the BFABW Black Woman Accelerator Program again in 2023, says Donna Dozier Gordon, Head of Inclusion and Diversity for H&M Americas. This year, were more involved in delivering program content to equip the participating business owners in building their companies and ultimately, gaining their certification as MBEs. The certification, coupled with the knowledge gained, will open new doors to them and position them for even greater success, explains Donna.

The Black Woman Accelerator Program runs from March 23 to April 27, with a final in-person ceremony at the end of April. The participating business include:



Dirt Don't Hurt, San Diego, CA

DMC Original Art, Brooklyn, NY

Effie's Paper, Brooklyn, NY

Pieces Of Us By Us, Rockwell, TX

Mamie L. Pack Media, Saint Johns, FL

The Herbal Scoop, Narrowsburg, NY

Lizzie's All Natural Products, Winston Salem, NC

She Prints It, Stockbridge, GA

W2S Marketing, Clarkston, GA

LUVSPUN, Bakersfield, CA

Black Girl PR, Phoenix, AZ

Pure Skin Repair, Copperas Cove, TX

My Beautiful Fluff, Davenport, IA

The Pink Bakery Inc, Menomonee Falls, WI

Flyest, Lanham, MD

For more information on the accelerator program or the work were doing to support Black Women Business Owners, visit BuyFromABlackWoman.org.

About Buy From A Black Woman

Buy From A Black Woman ensures that Black Women have the tools and resources they need to be successful. Through educational programs, an online directory, and financial support, this trusted resource for Black Women in business across the country and around the globe is quickly becoming the largest community of Black Women Business Owners.

Founded in 2016 by Nikki Porcher, Buy From A Black Woman is a 501(c)3 that empowers, educates, and inspires Black Women Business Owners and the people who support them. When you support a Black Woman Business Owner, you support a whole community.

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We are proud supporters of SEAL Legacy Foundation and wanted to do our part to spread the message of its critically important mission to the millions of fans watching Kaz dominate the track this weekend.

This Saturdays NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, will not only thrill race fans but  thanks to Island Brands USA (islandbrandsusa.com)  will also help raise awareness for a heroic Austin-based non-profit. Island Brands wrap of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, being driven Saturday by 24-year-old rising star Kaz Grala, will feature the logo of SEAL Legacy Foundation (seallegacy.org), which has provided more than $20 million to help support U.S. Navy SEALs and their families.

The trucks eye-catching wrap, which also prominently features Island Coastal Lager, is part of Island Brands USAs 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series sponsorship of Grala. The action-packed NASCAR at COTA weekend in Austin  Grala also will race Saturday in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250  comes ahead of Island Brands planned distribution expansion into the Lonestar State.

We are proud supporters of SEAL Legacy Foundation and wanted to do our part to spread the message of its critically important mission to the millions of fans watching Kaz dominate the track this weekend, said Scott Hansen, CEO, Co-Founder, and Chairman of the Board of Island Brands USA. As we prepare to launch statewide distribution in Texas, seeking best-in-class distribution partners, its a perfect time to team up with an organization like SEAL Legacy Foundation that is doing incredible work in Texas and beyond.

Added Cmdr. Mark McGinnis, Founder and Managing Director of SEAL Legacy Foundation: Were grateful to charitable partners like Island Brands USA for letting people know about the work we do to support Gold Star spouses and children, to connect SEALs returning from combat with services they need, and to provide grants and educational scholarships to their families.

Visit nascaratcota.com for event information, including tickets and where to watch.

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ABOUT ISLAND BRANDS USA

Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., Island Brands USA is a lifestyle company that uses only the finest, all-natural ingredients to produce super-premium beer, flavored malt beverages, craft spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. Its popular products are currently available in 12 Southeastern states, with expanding domestic and international distribution along with fleetwide service on Carnival Cruise Lines. Founded in 2016, the innovative companys growing portfolio of clean, top-quality beverages caters to active, socially conscious consumers. Part of the companys mission is to give back in meaningful ways, including pledging a portion of its annual sales to environmental charities through 1% for the Planet. Island Brands is proudly American-owned. For more information, visit islandbrandsusa.com.

ABOUT SEAL LEGACY FOUNDATION

The SEAL Legacy Foundation is dedicated to providing support to families of wounded and fallen United States Navy SEALs, educational assistance for SEALs and their families, and other charitable causes benefiting the SEAL community. Established in 2011, the SEAL Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization based in Austin, Texas. The Foundation was founded by SEALs, is run by SEALs, and supports the brave men of the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams. For more information, visit seallegacy.org.
PAX Technology, Inc. (PAX), a leading global payment solution provider, is partnering with unattended payment industry leader ISVPay to offer customers the first-of-its-kind Electric Vehicle (EV) charging solution utilizing the Android based PAX IM30.

Charge to Charge is an Android-based point-of-sale application running natively on PAXs outdoor rated IM30 unattended payment terminal. It is the first self-contained solution of its kind. This point-of-sale application is directly integrated with a smart charger control board to start, stop, and monitor the flow of electricity. A web-based backend portal provides a variety of robust features including transaction reporting, remote management, and digital signage scheduling.

PAXs IM30 is the payment acceptance solution behind Charge to Charge. The IM30 provides a 5 anti-glare touchscreen, ruggedized build with an IP rating of 55, acceptance of all major payment methods, and seamless integration.

The IM30 is a perfect solution for the unattended space, particularly EV charging. The Charge to Charge platform is sure to take the EV industry by storm and PAX is excited to be an integral part of the solution said PAX Technology, Inc. SVP, Retail Solutions, John Arato.

Charge to Charge is designed to address the new California Air Resources Board (CARB) Regulations for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment requirements regarding credit card payment acceptance, labeling, and reporting. These regulations specifically require disclosure of all fees at the point of sale, credit card reader, and mobile payment via NFC reader. EV charging systems that are solely subscription and membership based will not qualify for state or federal funding.

Our platform, combined with PAXs rugged, compact IM30, offers a truly All-In-One solution for businesses looking to invest in EV infrastructure said Sarah Adams, SVP of Business Development, from Charge to Charge. It ensures that businesses can support their unique requirements and abide by federal and state guidelines while offering an optimized user experience.

PAX along with ISVPay will be demonstrating the Charge to Charge solution at the EV Charging Summit (EVCS) & Expo at The Mirage in Las Vegas, NV, from March 29-31. Schedule a visit with the team or stop in Booth #207 for a first look.

Payment terminals available exclusively through Las Vegas based distributor Unattended Card Payments Inc., learn more at http://www.ucp-inc.com.

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About PAX Technology, Inc.

PAX Technology, Inc. is one of the largest electronic payment solution providers in the world, with 60 million terminals located in over 120 countries. As a leading global manufacturer of payment solutions, we are committed to delivering innovative, high-quality, and secure payment solutions to businesses, large and small, worldwide. To learn more visit http://www.pax.us.

About Charge to Charge

Charge to Charge is located in Alpharetta, Georgia and is specialized in unattended payment acceptance and regulations within the EV charging industry. Our first-of-its-kind software is designed to address open payment acceptance and charging display regulations in real time. Our founders are seasoned professionals in the unattended and payment industries dedicated to empowering the EV Charging industry with a compliant, reliable and streamlined solution while creating a seamless experience for consumers. Learn more at http://www.chargetocharge.com.

About Unattended Card Payments Inc.

Unattended Card Payments Inc. (UCP) is a payment device distributor and value-added reseller specializing in solutions for the self-service marketplace. UCP operates a PCI-PIN and PCI-P2PE Validated key injection facility located in the Southwest area of Las Vegas, Nevada. Learn more at -inc.com
Clark Nuber PS Our commitment to serving our clients and our community sets us apart and allows us to continue our exceptional growth, said Tom Sulewski, President and CEO.

Clark Nuber PS, a CPA and consulting firm headquartered in the Seattle metropolitan area, is pleased to be included in Accounting Todays 2023 Top 100 Accounting Firms and ClearlyRateds Best of Accounting Award. This is Clark Nubers fifth appearance in Accounting Todays compilation and its fourth consecutive recognition from ClearlyRated.

The Accounting Todays 2023 Top 100 Firms list recognizes the top performing and growing firms throughout the United States. This list includes the Big Four firms and ranges from local to national practices. Clark Nuber is one of only three single-office firms to be acknowledged on this list.

ClearlyRated's Best of Accounting Award recognizes accounting firms that have demonstrated exceptional service quality based exclusively on ratings provided by their clients. The award program provides statistically valid and objective service quality benchmarks for the accounting industry, revealing which firms deliver the highest quality of service to their clients. Clark Nuber received client satisfaction scores of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Clark Nuber is driven to lead industry standards and results while nurturing client satisfaction, said Tom Sulewski, President and CEO. Our commitment to serving our clients and our community sets us apart and allows us to continue our exceptional growth.

About Clark Nuber PS

Clark Nuber PS is an award-winning CPA firm located in the Seattle area. Recognized as a Top 100 Firm by both Inside Public Accounting and Accounting Today, our 270+ professionals provide audit, accounting, tax, and consulting services to private companies, family businesses, not-for-profit organizations and the public sector, foundations, and high net worth individuals. In addition to the Pacific Northwest, we serve clients throughout the United States and around the world.
Fatima Feliciano, executive director, Benchmark at Hanover I am so grateful for the work that Fatima and all of our associates do every single day to transform lives through human connection." -Tom Grape, founder, chairman and CEO

Benchmark, the largest senior housing provider in New England, today announced that Fatima Feliciano, CDAL, of East Bridgewater, Mass., executive director of Benchmark at Hanover, an assisted living and Mind & Memory Care community, has received the Benchmark 2023 Presidents Award, which is the Waltham-based companys highest honor for associates in a senior leadership role.

At the companys 20th Annual Awards Gala held on March 9, 2023, Feliciano was selected for exhibiting outstanding operational leadership in opening Benchmark at Hanover, the companys latest development, which opened in October 2022.

Its her direction that has created an environment in which Benchmark at Hanovers strong team of associates are wholly committed to the companys high standards and making its residents feel at home. Residents and their families expressed high satisfaction for the community because of Felicianos stewardship.

One family member wrote, The entire team evokes an atmosphere of dignified and quality care for all the residents. Our observation is of a community of residents that have become neighbors and friends. We are happy to find such a great living alternative for our brother.

Feliciano initially joined Benchmark in 2018 as the executive director of Benchmark Senior Living at Plymouth Crossings before being selected in 2021 to open Benchmark at Hanover. Prior to Benchmark, Feliciano, a Certified Director of Assisted Living (CDAL), had a career in residential property management for more than a decade. It was a profession in which she excelled, but she felt something was missing, which is what brought her to Benchmark and assisted living.

I am so grateful for the work that Fatima and all of our associates do every single day to transform lives through human connection, says Tom Grape, founder, chairman and CEO of Benchmark. Our annual awards gala is an opportunity for associates from across the Northeast to come together to celebrate our communities and colleagues who bring our purpose to life and live our values. This years award winners are truly exemplary, and I could not be prouder of all that we have accomplished together.

# # #

About Benchmark Senior Living

Benchmark is New Englands largest senior living provider with 64 independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care communities and over 5,000 dedicated associates providing compassionate care and outstanding experiences throughout the Northeast. The Waltham, Mass.-based company was founded over 25 years ago by Tom Grape with the purpose of Transforming Lives Through Human Connection. Since then, Benchmark has continued to set the industry standard, having won over a hundred local, regional and national awards for its care, programs and as a top workplace. Benchmark has been named one of the Top Places to Work for 15 straight years in The Boston Globes annual employee-based survey and received repeated recognition in FORTUNEs Best Workplaces for Aging Services list. For more information, visit BenchmarkSeniorLiving.com.
Weve missed our Windy City friends and family, who have been waiting and asking for this day to come. All I can say is thank you for your patience and welcome back, said Paige Guzman, Lagunitas Chief Marketing Officer.

The Lagunitas Brewing Company, the OG of IPA that has a rich, mischievous history of hop-forward and innovative craft brews, is reopening it's Chicago TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary within the 300,000-square-foot brewery in Douglas Park on April 13. Chicagoans and beer enthusiasts alike can once again visit this top destination to eat tasty bites, sip on fresh brews, let loose in the vibin Lagunitasphere, and take in sweeping 360-degree views of the brewing operation.Weve missed our Windy City friends and family, who have been waiting and asking for this day to come. All I can say is thank you for your patience and welcome back, said Paige Guzman, Lagunitas Chief Marketing Officer. Reopening the TapRoom was no easy feat, but it was a labor of love. Im proud of our incredible team who worked tirelessly to make this happen and reopen our doors to our fans once again.Tap into the Weirdly Original World of Lagunitas

Lagunitas will serve up the same shenanigans and imbibables that fans loved once before that fuel stories and songs. Truly theres sumpin for everyone. Upon entering the purple building doors, travel through what can only be described as a Willy Wonka-esque corridor lit by a celestial mural and a dancing laser light that will take guests on a journey beyond pure imagination. Wander into the tasting room, known as The Basement, to sample fresh brews or get rowdy with an oversized Jenga game and drum set. Stroll up to the main TapRoom surrounded by glass to catch live jams on stage, tune into a game, get hooked up with a brewery tour, or venture out onto the network of catwalks 26 feet above the brewery for a unique bird's-eye view of beer production, and pull up a comfortable stool to kick back at the large wraparound bar.

The TapRooms 32 draft lines will tantalize the taste buds. Pours include the popular year-round Lagunitas brews like Lagunitas IPA and Little Sumpin' Sumpin', non-alcoholic options like Hoppy Refresher and IPNA, and a rotation of seasonals and one-off tap-only brews. The menu also features spectacular pub grub and munchies. The fan-favorite Hogunitas Sandwich and Beer Mussels will be back on the menu, as well as many new Latin-inspired dishes that pair well with Lagunitas tasty beers.

No visit is complete without a stop by the Schwag Shop to scoop up the classic Lagunitas Mason Jar, seasonal apparel, dog schtuff, and more.Our doors are open to all kinds and creeds; punk rockers, misfits, ivy leaguers, weirdos, Waldos, Sparkle Ponies, and everything in between. Come as you are. We always have a spot for you at our bar, said Lagunitas Brewmonster Jeremy Marshall.

The TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary is located at 2607 W. 17th St. It is open Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.  10 p.m., and Sunday 11:30 a.m. 9 p.m. For more information, visit lagunitas.com/taproom/chicago/.

Lagunitas welcomes the open-minded with open taps and a simple truth: Its good to have friends.###

ABOUT THE LAGUNITAS BREWING COMPANY

When The Lagunitas Brewing Company started on a kitchen stove back in 1993, no one could have imagined that a small, Northern California brewery would expand to 34 countries and have the #1 selling IPA in the world. During its history of making innovative craft brews, it has created an iconic line of hop-forward beers including: Lagunitas IPA, Daytime, Hazy Wonder, A Little Sumpin Sumpin, and Maximus. And there is now a seat at the bar for everyone. Lagunitas next chapter of innovations include a craft brewed non-alcoholic brew, sparkling hop water, and hard sparkling tea for full-flavored imbibing: IPNA, Hoppy Refresher, and Disorderly TeaHouse. Even as its offerings have evolved, its passion for edgy brewing, fresh music, strong sense of community, and of course, dogs, have remained the backbone of brewery.

To learn more about The Lagunitas Brewing Company, visit http://www.LAGUNITAS.com.
On Tuesday, March 28, at 10.30, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference by Executive Director of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future Vadym Denysenko entitled "How many Ukrainians going to leave the country after war." (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Details by phone: (066) 728 7515 or at: karolina.tymkiv@gmail.com
I look forward to continuing my small role in helping exceptional nonprofits that are dedicated to helping valuable members of our community achieve their personal and professional goals.

Attorney Dean R. Fuchs was recently honored by the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (PBPA) as one of its six Volunteers of the Year for 2022. The PBPA provides free legal services to community-based nonprofits that operate programs benefitting low-income or disadvantaged individuals. An important part of that work is matching eligible organizations with volunteer attorneys from leading law firms who have specialized knowledge and experience. Since its founding, PBPA has aided over 1,000 nonprofits via the efforts of more than 4,300 attorneys.

Over the past 29 years, Fuchs has earned a reputation as an accomplished litigator, arbitrator, and effective mediator. His practice focuses largely on employment law matters, including sophisticated wage and hour law, discrimination and hostile work environment claims, and non-competition, severance, and trade secret cases. Fuchs is also known for handling complex cases in the ever-changing area of employee misclassification and off-the-clock litigation.

Fuchs believes that giving back to the community with pro bono work is an important part of being a good attorney and that PBRA is the perfect organization through which to accomplish that task. While its always nice to be recognized as a volunteer, Im certain I have gotten much more out of my work with the Pro Bono Partnership than they have from me, said Fuchs. I look forward to continuing my small role in helping exceptional nonprofits that are dedicated to assisting valuable members of our community to achieve their personal and professional goals.

About Schulten Ward Turner & Weiss, LLP:

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Schulten Ward Turner & Weiss, LLP brings a powerful combination of experience and commitment to its clients and their goals. With 16 attorneys, the firm routinely handles the most complex transactional and litigation matters with exceptional levels of personal attention and client service.
FamilyTreeDNA also invented a new genetic method to validate the hair sample. Called Geo-Genetic Triangulation (GGT), it searches for customers who match the samples autosomal DNA. Some of our shared DNA can be erroneous, so we have to be careful says Dr. Paul Maier

Ludwig van Beethovens genome was recently sequenced by an international team of scientists and it revealed some shocking information about his family history.

The name van Beethoven is synonymous with some of the most beautiful and innovative sonatas, symphonies, and concertos ever composed. Ludwigs virtuosity emerged from a challenging youth, however. His father Johann van Beethoven is well known to have been an erratic, alcoholic, and at times abusive parent, who would wake his teary-eyed young son and make him practice until dawn. Now, researchers have used DNA to show that Ludwig, the most famous Beethoven, is not genetically related to other living Beethovens.

A Musical Mystery

Ludwigs generally established genealogy traces his fathers line back to van Beethoven ancestors in Belgium. Back in 2020, researchers at Cambridge University and the Max Planck Institute sequenced the DNA from several locks of hair attributed to Ludwig. Together with researchers at FamilyTreeDNA in Texas, the team planned a routine analysis of Ludwigs paternal line by examining his Y chromosome.

The research team contacted living descendants of Aert van Beethoven (15351609), Ludwigs supposed 5th great-grandfather. Five descendants of Aert agreed to take a DNA test. Because the Y chromosome is passed down from father to son with few changes each generation, the Y-DNA from Ludwigs hair locks and the patrilineal descendants of Aert should be a close match.

Surprisingly, they were not a match! The five present-day descendants of Aert van Beethoven belong to haplogroup R1b, whereas Ludwig van Beethoven belongs to haplogroup I1. Those two father lines are separated by over 45,000 years, since around the time humans left Africa.

This strongly indicates that there was an extra-pair-paternity (EPP) event in Ludwigs fathers line. Somewhere, starting with Ludwigs father Johann and going up his family tree to his 5th great grandfather Aert, one of these Beethovens wasnt a biological ancestor to Ludwig.

The Hunt for Ludwigs Paternal Ancestry

One of Ludwigs paternal ancestors wasnt his real biological ancestor. The secret suitor might have acted in any one of seven possible generations, from Ludwigs father up to his 5th great-grandfather Aert. The team showed that Aert was indeed the father of his two sons Jan and Lambert, but could not definitively prove Aert was the father of Hendrik, Ludwigs 4th great-grandfather.

Aert experienced quite a trauma in his own love life. His first wife Josyne Vlasselaer and the presumed mother of Lambert and Hendrik was burned at the stake in 1595 after having been condemned for witchcraft. Aert could do nothing to save his wife, but was allowed to keep half of their confiscated family property, after paying for the cost of the arrest, interrogation, torture, and burning. He later remarried with Petronella Geerts and fathered his youngest son Jan late in life.

Assuming Aert was Hendriks true father, perhaps Ludwigs grandfather Lodewijk was not his true biological grandfather. Lodewijks wife Maria Ball suffered from alcoholism and was treated at the local monastery. Further supporting this idea is the fact that Marias son (Ludwigs father) Johann has no known baptismal record.

Until more van Beethoven descendants test their Y-DNA, we cant pinpoint the exact source of Ludwig van Beethovens true biological patrilineage. Luckily, an ever-increasing number of people are testing their Y-DNA, so it may simply be a waiting game.

Validating Ludwigs Hair

Given the nature of this major revelation, the research team wanted to be absolutely sure that the hair-lock DNA belonged to Ludwig van Beethoven. They set the bar high with numerous expectations that must be met.

For example, they required multiple (five) hair locks to have identical DNA, each with independently strong provenance showing how they were collected from Ludwig van Beethoven at different points in his life. It is unlikely that the same fraud was committed five independent times. Of course, the team also validated that the DNA was male, and has DNA damage patterns consistent with Beethovens age.

FamilyTreeDNA also invented a new genetic method to validate the hair sample. Called Geo-Genetic Triangulation (GGT), it searches for customers who match the samples autosomal DNA. Some of our shared DNA can be erroneous, so we have to be careful says Dr. Paul Maier, population geneticist at FamilyTreeDNA and coauthor on the paper. GGT finds matching DNA segments and matching ancestor locations that are validated by three or more customers. It ensures that only locations with a high likelihood of being ancestral to Beethoven are selected. The team used GGT to show that the sample shared ancestry with customers primarily in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, consistent with Ludwigs German ancestry.

Ludwigs New-found Relatives

The research team used the genetic Y chromosome profile obtained from Ludwigs hair to identify potential patrilineal relatives in the FamilyTreeDNA database. Candidates were contacted and offered complimentary upgrades to high resolution Y-DNA tests to participate in the study. Some were in for an unexpected surprise connection to one of the most famous composers of all time.

Six participating customers were found to share patrilineal ancestry with Ludwig in the last 1,000 years. Their oldest known paternal ancestry ranges from Germany (most commonly), to Poland, Slovakia, and even Pennsylvania, a common settlement location for German-American immigrants. Although their pedigrees offer some clues about Ludwigs ancestry, the common ancestor lived a millennium ago, before the time when surnames became common in Europe.

Notwithstanding the age of this ancestor, FamilyTreeDNA customers proved to be quite excited to discover a connection with Ludwig van Beethoven. It makes me proud, said one customer, upon hearing the news for the first time. Ive been doing a lot of research on my ancestors for a couple of years, because I had no idea exactly who my father was, and he had no idea exactly who his father was. This is awesome. Im a little bit speechless. The public awaits a closer Y-DNA match to Ludwigs DNA to provide the final clue as to the identity of his secret ancestor.

Ludwigs Maternal Ancestry

Ludwigs genealogy traces his mothers line back to the Rhineland-Palatinate region in Germany in the 1600s. Mitochondrial analysis showed that he belonged to a common European haplogroup called H1b1-T16362C.

He shares this maternal ancestry with James Watson, Nobel Prize winner, co-discoverer of the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, and the second person in the world to make his sequenced whole genome publicly available. Their only difference is a single mutation C16176T that is unique to Ludwig. Over time, new DNA testers may become the closest matrilineal match to Ludwig van Beethoven.
Adrienne Faurote

Faurote, who joined Haute Living in August of 2021 and currently serves as the Fashion, Jewelry, and Watch Director, will move into Editor-in-Chief of the Haute Time vertical effective immediately while maintaining her title at Haute Living. This announcement comes on the heels of Watches & Wonders 2023, as her role will be responsible for all editorial content, strategy, and partnerships across the print, digital, and social platforms.

Prior to her position at Haute Living and Haute Time, Faurote was the Fashion Market Editor at Marie Claire Magazine US, where she edited the fashion markets in the US, London, Milan, and Paris, and also attended SIHH and Baselworld, covering the latest watch and jewelry trends.

ABOUT HAUTE TIME

Brought to you by the same expert team that brings you HauteLiving.com, Haute Time is the premium online resource for luxury watches worldwide. We are the first website dedicated exclusively to watches with high value and the industry's rarest novelties. Here you'll find real-time news, up-to-date information, and the latest timepiece models from your favorite luxury brands. Every week we will feature reviews of luxury watches by Haute Time editors. We also feature exclusive watch series and weekly interviews with watch collectors and brand VIPs.

https://hautetime.com/
AltaPointe Health is an extensive mental health and family medical healthcare system in Alabama. The safe handling of a potential crisis is a win-win for everyone involved in the situation, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in supporting this beneficial training program.

Earlier this month, Governor Kay Ivey awarded a grant to AltaPointe Healths CCRT Mental Health Partnership to provide specialized training for law enforcement, correctional officers and first responders in Clay, Coosa, Randolph and Talladega counties.

The Collaborative Crisis Response Training provided by AltaPointe Health helps first responders correctly identify when a persons behavior is a result of mental illness, substance use or other disorders. The training also involves techniques and intervention strategies for successfully diffusing and handling those situations.

Our law enforcement officers and first responders place themselves in potential peril every time they respond to a call or pull over a vehicle, Gov. Ivey said in a recent news release about the grant. This training will be a very valuable resource in helping responders in these counties to determine what actions to take when facing these difficult and often unforeseen challenges.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The safe handling of a potential crisis is a win-win for everyone involved in the situation, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in supporting this beneficial training program.

PROVEN SUCCESS

AltaPointes CCRT Mental Health Partnership has already proven successful in south Alabama. The program started three years ago, and AltaPointe now trains more than 700 law enforcement officers in Mobile and Baldwin counties each year.

We are proud of the dynamic and successful partnerships AltaPointe has developed with various law enforcement agencies over the last few years. Any opportunity to give our first responders the tools to handle mental health crises benefits the entire community, explained Cindy Gipson, PhD, associate director for crisis services with AltaPointe Health.

During an August 2022 standoff in Mobile, the specialized training played an integral role in getting the individual psychiatric treatment instead of ending up in jail, and everyone involved walked away unharmed.

"It gave me a whole new perspective on the approaches and how we can actually mitigate some of the things that we see that are mental health related in our community, said Mobile Police Commander Curtis Graves following the incident. It also lessens the impact on our county jail. But more importantly, it keeps everyone safe, and keeps our officers safe.

In addition to working with police officers and sheriffs deputies, AltaPointe has also provided mental health crisis training to Alabama state troopers and 911 dispatchers.

ABOUT ALTAPOINTE

AltaPointe Health is an extensive mental health and family medical healthcare system in Alabama. Our clinicians provide more than 1.3 million hospital, outpatient, residential and crisis services annually.
Ceremonial dirt is tossed for the groundbreaking of the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. Photo by Erin Sintos. With the Westside Trail, were creating a brighter tomorrow for all who call Atlanta home. Its an important part of our 22-mile trail network, and were excited that our vision is coming to completion. - Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. leaders and community members broke ground on the 1.3 mile stretch of the BeltLines Westside Trail connecting Washington Park to Bankhead / Historic Westin Heights.

Once Segment 4 is finished it will represent the longest continuous section of paved trail along the BeltLine. People will be able to travel 6.5 miles on paved trails from Pittsburgh Yards in the southwest to Huff Road in West Midtown to the northwest and to downtown Atlanta, going through some of Atlantas most historic neighborhoods.

Running through the Washington Park neighborhood to Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Segment 4 of the Westside Trail brings long-awaited connectivity to the vibrant westside of Atlanta.

As we break ground on the last major segment of the Westside Trail, we are creating a bridge between the past and present in Atlanta, said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. The Westside Trail ultimately closes the loop from Downtown Atlanta through Vine City and English Avenue and connects Washington Park to Bankhead and Historic Westin Heights. This segment embodies my goal for a city of safe, healthy, connected neighborhoods that also symbolizes African American history and showcases Atlantas ongoing growth and innovation to create a city built for the future.

The Westside Trail - Segment 4 starts at the western boundary of the Washington Park neighborhood, founded 100 years ago as a trailblazing Black suburb and the proud home of Atlanta's first greenspace that provided key recreational amenities for an African American community. The park is a vital component of the Atlanta BeltLines emerald necklace, a network of public greenspaces connected by the BeltLine.

With the Westside Trail, were creating a brighter tomorrow for all who call Atlanta home, said Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Its an important part of our 22-mile trail network, and were excited that our vision is coming to completion. We estimate the BeltLine will be 80 percent completed or under construction in the next two years.

To date, 9.3 miles of the 22-mile BeltLine mainline trail loop are complete. In addition, 10.3 miles of connector trails have been completed that tie directly into current and future segments of the BeltLine mainline trail. Construction on Westside Trail  Segment 4 is expected to be complete in the summer of 2025.

As a 14-year homeowner in Historic Washington Park, and having watched (and enjoyed!) the Eastside BeltLine boom, to FINALLY see our segment take physical shape is exciting for our families and Westside neighborhoods, said Zena Scott, a resident of Washington Manor. Were anticipating this extension to attract new business, restaurants and increase walkability!

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership collaborated with multiple partners to start construction on this section of trail. Partners include: Atlanta Public Schools, City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, City of Atlanta Department of Transportation, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Fulton County, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Power, MARTA, Invest Atlanta, The Conservancy at Historic Washington Park, Special Service District investors, and Trees Atlanta.

Trail design was led by Alta with subcontractors Sherwood Design Engineers, Sastry and Associates, Planners for Environmental Quality, TerraMark, United Consulting, Roosevelt Powell and Associates, Palacio Collaborative, Grice Consulting Group, Arborguard Tree Specialists, and Long Engineering. Astra Group is the construction firm.

Lead philanthropic support to complete the full BeltLine corridor comes from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc. and The James M. Cox Foundation.
FITCI's new EDGE@321 location "It is exactly the type of collaboration we want to infuse into our new EDGE@321 entrepreneurial innovation center opening later this year, bridging competencies and markets to strengthen the whole community." - Kathie Callahan Brady, CEO, FITCI

BioBuzz, the media outlet of Workforce Genetics, and the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) have announced a partnership to fuel strategic industry growth in the BioHealth Capital Region and growth for both parties.

FITCI CEO Kathie Callahan Brady says she is excited to move forward. We both focus on the biotech space, but the perspective is different. It is exactly the type of collaboration we want to infuse into our new EDGE@321 entrepreneurial innovation center opening later this year, bridging competencies and markets to strengthen the whole community.

The partnership between the two parties will consist of shared programming to boost local business and entrepreneurial development, complemented with mutual cross-promotion to fuel further recognition and growth. Plans are in the works for co-hosted events, such as quarterly happy hours, panels, networking socials, workforce development and DEI events, and meetups for specific niches of the biotech industry, even a technology showcase.

The partnership will also help bring awareness of FITCI partner companies outside of the Frederick region, thanks to BioBuzzs regional presence. Meanwhile, FITCIs forthcoming expansion and significant presence in Frederick County will help bring new eyes to BioBuzz as the go-to platform for industry professionals and job seekers.

BioBuzzs Head of Business Development Adam Van Bavel says, BioBuzz is invested in the long-term economic health of this region, with a focus on the local biotech and life sciences ecosystem, because we started here. Maryland is our home. As a media platform, we have the rare privilege of being connected to the very leading edge of industry. FITCI represents the next generation of emerging entrepreneurs. So, this joint effort is a great way to strengthen those community ties.

Fredericks workforce ecosystem is dedicated to workforce development and building talent pipelines in the region for both established and start-up companies. Additionally, BioBuzz will help support FITCI in the new pilot internship program to offer hands-on training to students and recent graduates in a start-up environment.

Andrew Starvaggi recently visited the FITCI with fellow students in Frederick Community

Colleges Biotechnology Internship Program through Frederick County Public Schools. He told the FITCI team, I believe that this is a wonderful place to gain pertinent hands-on experience in the fields of scientific research and entrepreneurship. Opportunities like this dont come often for high schoolers.

Classmate Annaelle Le Guellec echoed the thought in her Creating a Pipeline document. An additional value is that students arent just conducting research and lab work, but they are working in startup labs  entrepreneurial experience.

Find more information about FITCI at http://www.fitci.org or 301-694-2999. Explore BioBuzzs articles and event calendar, or sign up for their free weekly newsletter at biobuzz.io/news/newsletter/.

About BioBuzz

BioBuzz Media is a division of Workforce Genetics and is the go-to community platform for industry professionals and job seekers looking to plug into regional biotech communities and achieve fulfilling careers with leading employers. BioBuzz creates experiences through content, events, and media that enable its readers to learn about the employers, companies, and individuals driving biohealth innovation forward in their regional markets.

About FITCI

The Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) is a business incubator and accelerator designed to cultivate entrepreneurship in Frederick, Maryland. FITCI specializes in the strategic business support of local entrepreneurs in the early stages of their journey, especially within the realm of science and technology industries such as biotech, information technology, renewable energy, and cybersecurity. Since 2004, FITCI has helped launch hundreds of successful companies through its programming, which includes business training, mentorship, CEO roundtables, and input from advisory boards.
The team faced multiple obstacles yet delivered on time with every milestone to facilitate pre-leasing and occupancy. The trust developed was critical to work through the design changes necessary to maintain progress. The team was committed to overcome these obstacles and executed seamlessly.

Cadence McShane Construction Company is honored to receive the 2022 Excellence in Construction in the General Contractor  Residential Multifamily and Condominium category award from the Associated Builders and Contractors organization for the Broadway Chapter Apartments project. The project was selected based on criteria including:



Innovative programs relating to quality control, scheduling, and productivity

Value analysis/engineering processes

Special obstacles, difficulties, or extenuating circumstances encountered in completing the project

Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative and built on behalf of CRG Real Estate Solutions, this multifamily community located in Fort Worth, Texas features 4,500 square feet of common space with a state-of-the-art fitness studio, coffee bar, library, lounge, and Zoom rooms. Outside amenities include an infinity edge pool with in-pool loungers, a recreational area, dog run, outdoor grilling areas, fire pit, and sun deck.

The 320,000-square-foot complex offers units in studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom configurations, including 18 lofts with impressive 20-foot ceilings. Oversized windows in each unit allow for uninhibited views of downtown Fort Worth.

Construction also included a 98,000-square-foot pre-cast parking garage with 277 spaces, providing plenty of parking for residents and their guests. On the southern exterior of the parking garage, local artist, Eric Drigo Rodriguez painted a massive 5,000-square-foot mural titled Cosmic Journey. Handpicked through a community-led selection process, Drigos unique talent transformed this concrete structure into a vibrant work of art.

Throughout the construction process, the entire team including ownership, design consultants, and preconstruction, worked diligently through many challenges including budget management, unusual and record-setting weather-related constraints, and all the COVID-related workforce and supply chain delays, to deliver a state-of-the-art Class A community within the Near Southside district. In the end, the project team was able to complete construction and turn the project over to the owner ahead of schedule allowing early occupancy for preleased units.

The team faced multiple obstacles throughout the project and delivered on time with every milestone to facilitate pre-leasing and occupancy, remarked Dave Tague, Vice President, and Business Unit Leader of Cadence McShane. With the additional challenge of travel restrictions for the client, the trust developed during this time was critical to work through many of the design changes that were necessary to maintain progress. The entire team was committed to overcome these obstacles and executed seamlessly.
Carla Konyk-Tulp, the vice president and director of administration at the University of Science, Arts and Technology medical school in Montserrat, is excited to announce the launch of her new website.

Found at http://www.carlakonyktulp.com, the site will include more information about Carla Konyk-Tulp -- her work, her passions, and links to the many different organizations that she supports. It will also include a section about USAT and updates made via a news and blog page.

As a leader at the University of Science, Arts and Technology, Carla Konyk-Tulp is excited about both the present and future. As Carla says:

"This is a great time to be alive  uninhibited potential; unlimited chances for success; more ways to solve many more problems; a brighter vision of the future; and there is still more to learn."

Learning is one of Carla Konyk-Tulp's passions. After she earned a degree in specialized business from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, she studied biology and medicine at the London College of Medicine.

Since that time, she's served as the director of administration for USAT for nearly two decades. In her role, Carla Konyk-Tulp manages the staff and facilities at the Olveston campus located in Montserrat and the entire team at the school's administrative office.

The university provides individual student guidance and assists graduates in preparing for their medical board examinations. Under Carla Konyk-Tulp's leadership, USAT's medical school has graduated hundreds of medical doctors and Ph.D. recipients. She is passionate about the new technologies surrounding modern education and aims to incorporate the best tools into the USAT learning platform.

Carla Konyk-Tulp is excited about the possibilities to increase awareness about the good being done by the University of Science, Arts and Technology, Montserrat, and that of the many organizations she supports and the medical field and education with the website's launch.

For more information, visit Carla Konyk-Tulp's new website, http://www.carlakonyktulp.com.

About Carla Konyk-Tulp



Carla Konyk-Tulp is the Vice President and Director of Administration at the University of Science, Arts and Technology on Montserrat in the eastern Caribbean. As a director, she assists students who are training to become doctors, and through her leadership, the school has graduated hundreds of medical doctors and Ph.D. recipients.
The Heather Sakers Team With our 40 closings, and with the generous company match by Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, we are delighted that we were also able to give back to our community by donating over $10,000 to local Outer Banks charitable organizations.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty was proud to recently announce The Heather Sakers Team as their Top Producing Team for the Kitty Hawk office.

Based on total sales volume for the year, this accolade was earned by The Heather Sakers Team for achieving $33 Million in sales volume for 2022.

The team was honored at the firms Annual Awards Luncheon, held recently at The Blue Point restaurant in Duck. Heather and her team also earned the Coldwell Banker International Presidents Circle Team Award, an esteemed honor given to the top 14% of all sales associate/representative teams worldwide.

The Heather Sakers Team consists of team leader, Heather Sakers, along with team members Ann Taylor Lusk and Charles Gill. Heather Sakers is ranked #15 out of 682 Selling agents in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS*.

We are so honored to be named the Team of the Year in the Kitty Hawk office for the 2nd year in a row! From handling complicated negotiations with integrity to applying the right execution with each property, it is our top priority to make every real estate transaction seamless for our clients. 2022 was a year of problem solving requiring a deep understanding of our local market combined with a lot of hustle. We also had a little bit of fun making beach house dreams come true!

We are beyond thankful to get the opportunity to do what we do every day on this beautiful island and could not have earned this achievement without the trust of our amazing clients, friends, and family, and the hard work of our co-broke agents, inspectors, insurance providers, appraisers, closing attorneys, and all the contractors we rely on to get our clients to the closing table!

With our 40 closings, and with the generous company match by Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, we are delighted that we were also able to give back to our community by donating over $10,000 to local Outer Banks charitable organizations.

We cannot wait to dive into 2023 and help our clients accomplish all their OBX real estate goals! says Heather.

Heather and her team always make even the toughest of transactions look seamless. In addition to their strong marketing skills, they also excel in negotiating the best deal on behalf of their clients. They never see obstacles, only solutions, and they communicate this clearly to all parties involved. Between the dedication and transparency to their clients, it is no wonder this is such a well-run, successful team, says Pamela Smith, Vice President of Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

About Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty:

Family owned and operated for over three decades, Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty offers top-tier real estate services to buyers and sellers across the entire Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realtys dynamic team has earned a reputation as a premier real estate firm thanks to their local expertise and commitment to utilizing the latest technology. With the resources and support of a worldwide brand like Coldwell Banker, one of the most influential real estate franchises in the world, it is not surprising that Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty has sold the most real estate in the Outer Banks for 9 consecutive years. Continuing to lead the Outer Banks market, Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty was also the top selling firm in sales volume for 2022.

*As reported by the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS MLS 1.1.22  12.31.22

*As reported by the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS MLS 1.1.14  12.31.22
It is an honor to be recognized for the hard work Greenberg Traurig attorneys across the United States have done on behalf of veterans and active duty servicemembers said Caroline J. Heller, chair of the firms Global Pro Bono Program.

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received the American Bar Association (ABA) Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award for 2022 for providing a significant amount of legal assistance to service members referred through the Project.

For a law firm to be selected for this award, the ABA requires the firm or corporate law department to accept at least five pro bono cases referred by the Project. In 2022, Greenberg Traurig opened 10 qualifying matters, working on 16 in total. These matters were supported by attorneys from 13 different offices contributing more than 400 hours in total.

Minneapolis Shareholder Peter D. Kieselbach also was honored with an individual award for working on three qualifying cases in 2022. Kieselbachs matters included assisting an Army staff sergeant in a custody dispute when she was being deployed overseas that resulted in the client securing primary custody, a National Guard member in a residential real estate dispute, and an ongoing representation of a Coast Guard member in a personal property dispute. He worked with several Minneapolis colleagues on these matters, including Shareholder Eric J. Howe, and Associates Whitney A. Mark, Gregory S. Schwartz, and Minho Seo.

Pro Bono service on behalf of active military servicemembers and veterans is an integral part of Greenberg Traurigs pro bono program because these groups serve our country at enormous personal sacrifice and providing needed pro bono services to them is the very least we can do, said Caroline J. Heller, chair of the firms Global Pro Bono Program. It is an honor to be recognized for the hard work Greenberg Traurig attorneys across the United States have done on behalf of veterans and active duty servicemembers.

About Greenberg Traurigs Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firms offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, childrens rights, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 44 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI Highly Recommended Law Firm for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 250. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPAs Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.
"The Future for Children" Charitable Foundation became a permanent partner of the New Post in the "Humanitarian Post of Ukraine" program. Having passed accreditation and confirmed compliance with all requirements.

"Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we have been caring for children and adults who, fleeing from the aggressor, found shelter with us in Transcarpathia. They receive vegetables, fruits, and dairy products daily, we are solving their needs in clothes, shoes, hygiene products, medicines, etc. We also systematically help the residents of Kharkiv and the region with medicines and necessary things, with whom the Humanitarian Hub of Kharkiv CHP-5 works. Therefore, participation in the "Humanitarian Post of Ukraine" program will allow us to accumulate the collected funds specifically for humanitarian cargo because all delivery costs are covered by the New Post," said Oleksandra Novikova (Novikova Agency), head of projects of "The Future for Children" Foundation.





Photo: Oleksandra Novikova, Novikova Agency, "The Future for Children" Foundation

Nova Poshta has been helping charitable foundations and volunteer organizations since the first days of russian aggression. In 2014, the company launched the "Humanitarian Post of Ukraine" program, within which volunteers send cargo, the delivery of which is paid for by Nova Poshta.

"We help with what we do best - with logistics. By February 24, the "Humanitarian Post of Ukraine" project had 82 participants. Today there are more than a thousand of them, and this number is constantly growing. Nova Poshta is glad to be not just a transport company for charitable funds but a reliable shoulder. Volunteers turn to us when human destinies are at stake, and we always meet their expectations," says Olena Plakhova, director of reputation management at Nova Poshta.

Photo: Olena Plakhova, director of reputation management at Nova Poshta

Since 2014, Nova Poshta has delivered more than 694 006 shipments as part of the "Humanitarian Post of Ukraine" program, which is equivalent to the weight of 99Mriya aircraft. According to preliminary estimates, these parcels helped almost 10 million Ukrainians.

Before the war, "The Future for Children" Charitable Foundation took care of children who needed help for family reasons in a boarding school at the Nizhnyobistrovka gymnasium in Transcarpathia. At the beginning of the war, a shelter for internally displaced persons who lost their homes was created on the territory of the gymnasium. During this time, employees of the Foundation and gymnasium assisted almost 500 children and adults, and more than 135,000 portions of breakfasts, lunches and dinners were prepared. The systematic work of the Humanitarian Hub of CHP-5 in Kharkiv was also organized. During the year, more than 250 tons of humanitarian goods were delivered and distributed among the residents of Kharkiv and the surrounding districts of the regional centre.
Makin' Music 46 Hosts, Hostesses: Back row, l to r: Joshua Grooms and Elijah Hester; front row, l to r: Kayley Wadlington, Kaitlyn Moore, Peggy Weaver (alumna and music director) and Brooke Roberts.

Tickets for the 46th annual Freed-Hardeman University Makin Music are on sale at fhu.edu/makinmusic. The student musical extravaganza is scheduled for Friday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 15, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Loyd Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for Friday night and Saturday matinee and $25 for the Saturday night show.

Five social clubs will compete for the sweepstakes trophy, as they, a talented troupe of hosts and hostesses, the Makin Music Show Band and emcees will entertain thousands of guests. Chi Beta Chi, Omega Chi, Phi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Rho and Xi Chi Delta are the clubs in this years show, and approximately 500 students comprise the shows cast.

The theme for this years show is Hold On. According to Makin Music Coordinator Peyton Cain, the theme was chosen as a tribute to the people and memories FHU alumni hold on to, as well as the Makin Music traditions that the FHU family holds dear.

In addition to the sweepstakes trophy, various category winners and the Spirit of Makin Music Award, a new accolade has been added to this years list. Each year, Makin Music presents a show for area school children in selected grades. A Kids Choice award will be presented during Saturdays matinee to the show receiving the most votes during the kids show.

Coordinators assisting producer Tony Allen with the show are Cain, senior biochemistry major from Katy, Texas, and Addie Everson, junior public relations major from Mesquite, Texas.

Hostesses are Kaitlyn Moore, junior social work major from Henderson, Tennessee; Kayley Wadlington, senior elementary education major from Cadiz, Kentucky; and Brooke Roberts, senior biology major from Knoxville, Tennessee. They are joined by hosts Elijah Hester, junior business major, and Joshua Grooms, senior Bible major from Duncan, South Carolina. FHU alumna and former Makin Music hostess Peggy Weaver returns to direct the vocalists, and FHU alumnus and staff member Jarred Clayton is directing the show band.

Makin Music 46 on-stage emcees are Natalie Turner, an education major from Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Michael Mullinicks, a Bible major from Hohenwald, Tennessee; and Mac Shelton, a public relations major from Henderson, Tennessee. This years voice of Makin Music is Cy Warren, a Bible and music major from Thompsons Station, Tennessee.

Party on the Green returns Saturday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Bader Green in the center of campus. The event will welcome guests with food trucks, inflatable jumpers, a photo booth and cheering on club members in the cast parade at 6:50 p.m.

Additional Makin Music weekend activities are scheduled specially for prospective students and their families. On April 14, new students may register for Fall 2023 classes by scheduling a registration appointment with their regional admissions director. Friday is also Maroon & Gold Day, which offers high school students and their parents an opportunity to tour the campus, learn about academic programs, meet current students and faculty, attend chapel and have lunch. Maroon & Gold Day is free; any interested high school or college age student can register at fhu.edu/maroonandgoldday. Group campus tours for interested students will be held Saturday at 5 p.m. Registration for all admission events is available at fhu.edu/visit.

The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associates, bachelors, masters, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.
Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten offers sedation dentistry. "Dental implants provide an excellent long-term solution to replacing a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth." Dental implants have the highest success rate of all tooth replacement options designs and can be designed to be a perfect match for a natural-looking, lifelong smile.

Are you missing teeth? Clearwater Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten explains that 60% of adults aged 35-44 have lost one or more of their permanent teeth!

"Dental implants provide an excellent long-term solution to replacing a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth," Says Dr. Todd Britten. He went on to explain dental implants have the highest success rate of all tooth replacement options and says his experienced team designs your dental implants to be a perfect match for a natural-looking, lifelong smile.

Benefits of dental implants include:



Strong, stable, function that is similar to a natural tooth

Dental implants are the gold standard of care for replacing missing teeth

Gets rid of the need to remove your teeth, slur your speech or limit food choices

Dr. Britten also explains that dental implants with dentures are now an option for many patients. Before dental implants, people were limited to wearing complete dentures that could be very unstable, unreliable and unsupported. With as few as two to four implants, our team can create a stable foundation so that your general dentist can fabricate a removable denture that snaps securely in place.

Benefits of Implant-Retained Dentures include:



Stronger fit: Prevent slippage and hold dentures securely in place

Stop bone loss: Prevent continued bone loss from denture use and help maintain your natural facial structure

Less pain: Eliminate painful sore spots caused by denture pressure points

Speak more clearly: Dentures are better secured allowing to naturally pronounce words

Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten offers sedation dentistry. For more information, visit https://www.brittenperio.com
Dr. John Cicero, Provost, National University

National University (NU), a nonprofit university committed to innovating around access and success for adult learners, recently announced that Dr. John Cicero will serve as the permanent provost and chief academic officer. In this role, Dr. Cicero will oversee the upcoming expansion of our academic programs which will focus on providing career-relevant certificates and degrees that will prepare our students for the jobs of today and the future. His extensive technical experience will position Dr. Cicero to guide the implementation of new technologies into the learning space in a way that enhances learning while maximizing the benefits of person-to-person interactions and mentoring.

Dr. Cicero brings the right personal characteristics and leadership style to the job. An excellent listener, a conscientious team leader, and an incredibly hard worker, he has built strong relationships with faculty and staff throughout the organization, said Dr. Mark D. Milliron, president, and CEO of National University. His institutional knowledge and collaborative approach will serve us all well as he solves problems and focuses on making the university better every day.

A nationally-recognized educator and innovator, Dr. Cicero joined NU in 2012 serving in the roles of dean of the School of Engineering, Technology & Media, dean of the School of Engineering and Computing, vice provost of academics and faculty (while simultaneously serving as the dean of College of Professional Studies), and most recently interim provost. Dr. Cicero holds a B.S. and a Ph.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology, along with a Master of Science degree from Northwestern University. He began his distinguished career teaching engineering and computer science, with his areas of specialty including embedded processors, programming languages, and robotics. Upon entering academic administration, Dr. Cicero first served as dean of the College of Business, Benedictine University in Lisle (1999-2005) and acting dean, the School of Education, Benedictine University in Lisle (2004-2005). He then took over as dean of Academic Affairs, at Springfield Jr. College and Benedictine University at Springfield College (2005-2007). He moved on to serve as dean of Evelyn T. Stone College of Professional Studies while also teaching as a professor in the natural sciences at Roosevelt University (20072012). He has published more than 20 technical articles and has one patent.

I look forward to providing a collaborative leadership approach as we advance innovation and integrate new learning technologies into learning spaces, Dr. Cicero said. This is an exciting time at National University, as we work to expand our academic programs and prepare our students for future careers.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Cicero consulted with several companies. At Systems & Electronics, Inc., he developed a GPS-based flight scoring system; he was a member of the Shock Trial Team for the Aircraft Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt; and he developed black-box flight recorders for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. At BoatMaster, he was responsible for the complete software design of a small boat-handling simulator. At Tellabs and Rockwell International, he was involved in the design of PABX telephone switching systems.

Visit the National University website at NU.edu to learn more about NUs new possibilities in education including next-generation education, value-rich education, and whole human education.

About National University:

National University, a veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of hard-working adults by providing accessible, affordable, achievable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diegos largest private nonprofit university, NU offers over 75 online and on-campus programs and flexible four-week classes designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to 40,000 students and 200,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. Learn more at NU.edu
At our exhibit, our engineers and staff look forward to sharing how we have helped manufacturers leverage digitalization and automation technology to achieve their business goals.

Patti Engineering, Inc., a leading control system integration company with offices in Michigan, Texas, and Indiana, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming Manufacturing in America 2023 event, hosted by Siemens and Electro-Matic Products. The event will take place at Ford Field in downtown Detroit from April 12-13, 2023, where Patti Engineering will be available at exhibit #402 to discuss control systems integration and Industry 4.0 digitalization with attendees.

The Manufacturing in America conference is a perfect environment to collaborate with and learn from industry leaders and other professionals in the manufacturing community. At our exhibit, our engineers and staff look forward to sharing how we have helped manufacturers leverage digitalization and automation technology to achieve their business goals, said Sam Hoff, founder and CEO of Patti Engineering. We can discuss using digital tools such as IoT devices, AI, simulation and edge/cloud computing to gain better visibility into processes and outcomes. We can also discuss increasing OEE by upgrading legacy control systems, identifying automation and robotic opportunities for improvement.

The Manufacturing in America (MiA) event brings together more than 3,700 executives, engineers, and enthusiasts from the manufacturing community to network with industry leaders, showcase technological advancements, highlight best practices, and encourage collaboration to drive the future of manufacturing. Attendees can participate in over 100 technical seminars and visit more than 50 exhibits dedicated to emerging automation, digitalization, controls, and drive technologies in the dynamic manufacturing industry.

MiA opens the two day event with The Summit, a three-hour seminar that features thought-provoking presentations and discussions with leading U.S. manufacturing industry experts. The 2023 program will center on how organizations can realize their digital transformation through discussions on growing industrial digital ecosystems of data-driven, automated, and connected technologies.

Patti Engineerings continued participation at MiA underscores their commitment to innovation and excellence in control systems integration. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are excited to once again participate and support our partners Siemens and Electro-Matic Products in the return of this event. said Hoff.

Sam Hoff will lead a presentation at the event on Thursday, April 13th, entitled Digitalization: A Practical Guide, discussing the most impactful steps you can take on your digitalization journey.

To learn more and register, visit http://www.attendmia.com.

About Patti Engineering, Inc.

Patti Engineering, Inc. is a CSIA Certified control systems integration company offering high-caliber engineering and software development services. Patti Engineerings technical expertise in electrical control and information systems provides turnkey control systems integration for design/build, upgrade/retrofit and asset/energy management projects. Industrial automation, production intelligence and shop floor IT solutions services include: project management, electrical engineering, hardware design, hardware procurement, software development, installation, calibration, start-up testing, verification, documentation, training and warranty support. Customer satisfaction and project success earned the company placement in the Control Engineering Magazines Hall of Fame. For more information, visit our website, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
Masseto bottles of various sizes with custom wooden cases It is a fascinating discovery every time we uncork an older vintage of Masseto. Each time we take a sip, we learn something new. - Axel Heinz, Ornellaia Estate Director

Tuscan wines have a long-established pedigree among wine connoisseurs worldwide. Masseto, born out of a small patch of the million-year-old Pliocene clay soil on the Tuscan Coast and overlooking the Tyrrenian Sea, has gained a unique place in the pantheon of collectible wines, to become one of the most valuable, coveted wines in all of Italy and beyond.

The Masseto estate is located on a magical hillside where the grapes grown here create unique, individual, complex, compelling yet elegant wines, with each vintage having the specific personality of Masseto, but always showing a different facet.

This spring, Sothebys and Masseto will join forces to present at auction an extremely limited number of bottles in varying formats directly from the Masseto Caveau  the most secret space in the winerys cellar carved deep beneath the vineyard of the same name. It is in this stunningly designed location that bottles of every Masseto vintage rest in perfect conditions, each protected in its very own steel cradle.

Open for bidding from April 12 to 27, Masseto | The Caveau Release comprises vintages spanning three decades, including 35 cases containing the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, as well as magnums, double magnums, imperials and a single nebuchadnezzar. The 46 lots  an offering of 132 bottles in total  carry a combined estimate of around $216,000. The Masseto estate will also extend an invitation to the winning bidders to host them at the winery by the end of 2024.

Amayes Aouli, Sothebys Head of Wine, Europe, said: It is a great honor for Sothebys to work together with the incredible team at Masseto to offer the very first bottles to be released from the new winerys Caveau. This auction is small, due to the limited size of production, but perfectly proportioned. It provides collectors with the opportunity to purchase, open and enjoy bottles, from seven different vintages, that come solely and directly from the Caveau. Each bottle has been elegantly dressed  providing evidence of the unique Caveau provenance  and comes in a beautiful presentation case which has been handcrafted in Bolgheri. The sale provides a dream scenario for wine lovers: mature vintages of one of the worlds greatest wines, with its own totally unique personality.

Axel Heinz, Estate Director, said: It is a fascinating discovery every time we uncork an older vintage of Masseto. Each time we take a sip, we learn something new. How the wines we have brought up with patience and care, evolve. How they change. How each individual vintage expresses its unmistakable Masseto character, but with a slightly different interpretation - just as a masterpiece of music will sound differently according to the artist who plays it. A discovery that gives way to pure emotion in that special moment every wine lover is seeking.

All the bottles from the Masseto Caveau will be presented in oak cases handcrafted by an artisan in Bolgheri, which are numbered and contain a certificate of origin signed by Axel Heinz, Estate Director. Furthermore, every bottle comes with a Prooftag, attesting to the wines authenticity. This includes the date when the bottle left the Caveau, stated on the front label: April 2023. In addition, Caveau is featured on every capsule as well as on the seals of guarantee that close the wooden cases  a singular confirmation of watertight provenance.

Highlights:



Masseto 2010, 1 Nebuchadnezzar, est. $19,000-28,000

Masseto 2000, 1 Imperial, est. $6,500-9,000

Masseto 2001, 1 Imperial, est. $8,000-12,000

Masseto 2006, 1 Imperial, est. $7,500-11,000

Masseto 2010, 1 Imperial, est. $8,500-11,000

Masseto 2011, 1 Imperial, est. $7,000-9,000

Masseto 2016, 1 Imperial, est. $6,500-8,500

Masseto, 1 Double Magnum, in a range of vintages spanning 1996 to 2011, estimates ranging from $2,700 upwards to $5,500.

Masseto, 3 Magnum vertical in the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, est. $5,000-6,500 per lot

Six-bottle double offerings of a three-bottle vertical of the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, est. $4,500-6,000 per lot

Individual offerings of a three-bottle vertical of the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, est. $2,000-3,000 per lot

About Masseto

Masseto is the name for a unique wine, vineyard and estate. The potential of the slope where the vineyard stands on the Tuscan coast was sensed in the early 1980s when the first vines were planted, contrary to all predictions, advice and local tradition. The intuition paid off. The blue clay, cool coastal breezes and excellent refraction of light guaranteed by the Tyrrenian Sea contribute to the intriguing mix of power, elegance and complexity that distinguishes this Tuscan red. Since the 2017 harvest, Masseto has been accompanied by a second wine, Massetino. Both derive from the estates philosophy centered on utmost respect for the fruit and minimal intervention in the vineyard.

About Sothebys Wine

Established in 1744, Sothebys is the worlds premier destination for art and luxury. Sothebys promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sothebys believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

Sothebys Wines annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits achieved a record total of $158 million in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021. Sothebys currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most valuable bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most valuable bottle of spirits ever sold at auction, in addition to the highest ever total for a charity wine auction.

In addition to auction, Sothebys Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sothebys New York headquarters and e-commerce at http://www.sothebyswine.com, Sothebys Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the worlds most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sothebys Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

Estimates do not include buyer's premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.
WesternU College of Podiatric Medicine Class of 2023 students hold their Match Day envelopes containing where they will go for their residencies. (Jeff Malet, WesternU) This class exemplifies the perseverance, resilience, and dedication needed to be successful and the characteristics the faculty see in our students and alumni, said CPM Dean Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS, CHCQM.

For graduating medical students in Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM), Match Day is a transformative, life-changing moment. The anxiety-filled day begins with reflections of personal endurance, hard work and self-sacrifice that instantly changes to excitement, joy and smiles learning that their journey at WesternU has made their dream come true: becoming a physician.

Match Day is a nationwide event. Across the entire country, on the same day, at the same time, medical students find out simultaneously where they have been placed for residency. Since 1976, the Central Application Service for Podiatric Residencies has coordinated this annual rite of passage for podiatric medical and surgical residencies.

On Friday, March 17, 2023, CPM students gathered at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in Pomona, California, as well as virtually on Zoom with their family, friends, peers, faculty, and staff. When students arrive at WesternU, faculty and administrators consider students colleagues. As they embark on their residency program, faculty and administrators extend themselves to the soon to be doctors as WesternU family and lifelong mentors.

CPM continues to keep its promise of leading the way in inspiring and preparing the next generation of podiatric physicians. For the 10th consecutive year, CPM has a residency placement rate of 100%.

In a moment of reflection, College of Podiatric Medicine Dean Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS, CHCQM, thought about the bigger picture of this accomplishment.

Not only did the DPM 2023 students become the 10th consecutive class to achieve a 100% match rate, but they did it at a time marred by a pandemic, societal injustices and other significant traumatic times, Labovitz said. This class exemplifies the perseverance, resilience, and dedication needed to be successful and the characteristics the faculty see in our students and alumni.

Match Day was not only about placement for CPM student Gordon Yee, it was also about family and legacy. Yees mom, Anna, and sister, Stephanie, are both nurses. They were joined by Gordons dad, George, and Gordons girlfriend, Zen Waterford.

When Yee revealed his placement, UCLA, Waterford quickly embraced him, the family leaped with joy, and mom was brought to tears.

UCLA was my No. 1 choice. My mom is a graduate of the UCLA School of Nursing, Yee said. I am very excited. I am proud that my mom and I will have a shared journey through UCLA.

CPM Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Faculty Affairs Rebecca Moellmer, DPM, FACFAS, FAAPSM, DABPM, said Match Day is personal validation for the students.

DPM 2023 students have worked very hard to get to this point in their careers and it shows with 100% residency placement in quality residencies across the country, Moellmer said. Not only are we proud of them, but it was also so nice to see the pride they have in reaching this significant milestone.

For CPM student Brandon Nguyen, Match Day was the beginning to an ending.

It was crazy the past couple of months. Two months seemed to take a long time to pass. Non-stop stress. It was a challenge. You struggle for a reason. Last week was filled with sleepless nights, Nguyen said. Today made everything worth it. I am very, very happy. I am going to Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. It was my No. 1 choice!

We couldn't be more proud of the success of our DPM 2023 graduating class on attaining a 100% residency placement. It's a testament to the hard work of our students and the strength of their education, said CPM Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Jarrod Shapiro, DPM, FACFAS, FACPM, FFPM, RCPS (Glasg).

CPM student Michael Guzzardo was ecstatic to learn he was placed at his No. 1 choice, Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego.

It is a dream come true. I wanted it, Guzzardo said. I did not expect it to happen. Honestly, it does not feel real. Its unbelievable. It validates everything I have been through.

And beaming with pride next to Guzzardo was Ariana Camara, his fiance. Camara, who is an attorney that specializes in health care policy, shared, I am very proud of him. San Diego is a city we both wanted. Looking forward to the next chapter of our lives.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. Iran tried to keep secret its political, military and economic support for Armenia before the 2020 second Karabakh war. However, after the war, it began to exercise this support defiantly. The mullah regime supplies Yerevan with weapons for free, calls the borders of Armenia its "red line", opened a consulate in this country, and released a video with threats against Azerbaijan.

Hypocrisy of Tehran

Over the past two weeks, Iran's support for Armenia and threatening behavior towards Azerbaijan has intensified. On March 11, an Iranian military aircraft continuously flew along the Azerbaijani-Iranian state border, from the direction of Azerbaijans Zangilan district to the Bilasuvar district and back, and the Iranian Ambassador Seyyed Abbas Mousavi was given a note of protest in this regard.

Despite this, Tehran continued its provocative steps in a different form. For several days now, telegram channels associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been threatening Azerbaijan with big war.

The latest threatening video published by media structures close to the IRGC has reflected an UAV attack across the Araz river on Azerbaijan, and it was also reported that due to tension on the northwestern borders of Iran, the combat readiness of the air defense unit and missile troops of IRGC has been increased. Moreover, information has spread that Armenia has opened its airspace to allow Iranian UAVs monitor and collect data.

Iran provides Armenia with not only military but also political support. In this context, the visit of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani at a time when Tehran's threats against Baku are intensifying to Armenia, is especially indicative.

Iran, which didnt object to the deployment of the European Union mission in the region, sent a message through Kani that only the countries of the region are the guarantor of security in the region. At the same time, Kani "didnt see" that the EU mission has no representative of the region countries.

The mission was organized by the military, intelligence officers of Western states that crippled Iran with sanctions. As its seen, the hypocritical Iranian authorities over time increase both the dose of support for Armenia and the threatening rhetoric against Azerbaijan.

What is the aim of the mullah regime?

The new realities that have emerged in the region after the second Karabakh war worries Tehran. At present, the issue of the Zangazur corridor is on the main agenda in the region, and Azerbaijan is demonstrating a firm position on this issue.

In parallel, Tehran is losing its religious, economic and political influence in the region. Iran's loss of influence both in the South Caucasus and in other regions infuriates the IRGC and other military-political structures of the regime because the mullahs considered themselves the masters of the region for many years.

The regime is looking for external enemies, and has directed its military-political resources against the interests of Azerbaijan.

Avoiding a direct military clash with Azerbaijan, the regime arms Armenia, which is hostile to Azerbaijan, and provides Yerevan with comprehensive support, aiming to distract Azerbaijan from its tasks, using Armenia as a tool, and to impede the implementation of the Zangazur corridor project.

The proof of this is that in recent days Iran has been increasing its military-political support to Armenia. Apparently, in the event of another military clash between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Iran wants to openly intervene on the side of Yerevan.

The course of events is showing that Iran is rapidly losing power in the region and the situation inside the country hasn't been much better.

The protests and the splits

Its known that Iran has been under international sanctions for many years because of its nuclear program. In recent months, it has come under even more pressure also because of the supply of UAVs to Moscow. Their deliveries to Moscow during the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine reduced Iran's image even further.

Mullah regime is facing new sanctions. As a result, the economic situation inside the country has deteriorated further in recent years. The population has been holding rallies against the regime for several months, demanding a change in political power.

As the protests continue, there is a serious split within the mullahs' regime. At the center of the split is the IRGC (paramilitary structure subordinate directly to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei) - the stronghold of the regime. The 44-page document, published by the Iran International website, reflects the degree of tensions within the regime. It got to the point where a group of IRGC generals planned to assassinate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, on March 17, their plan was revealed.

The IRGC generals are appointed not by president of Iran, but by Khamenei. These generals are brutally suppressing protests across the country on direct instructions from Khamenei. Due to this, in most cities in Iran, the headquarters of the IRGC are the main target of the protesters. Apparently, tensions within the regime have risen to such an extent that the generals who have been appointed by Khamenei are trying to assassinate him.

The split within the IRGC is a serious signal for the Iranian authorities, because this structure owns significant financial resources, large banks and real estate, controlling nearly half of Iran's economy.

It can be assumed that not all the generals of the IRGC, who were preparing an assassination attempt on Ali Khamenei, were exposed, and they may make new attempts to seize power.

View from Baku

Baku is closely following both the internal situation in Iran and its military-political steps towards Azerbaijan, and all provocative actions of Iran will be given an adequate response. Baku regulates its steps in accordance with international law and trilateral statements [signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the second Karabakh war], and Azerbaijan's demands on Armenia are also related to its obligations.

Therefore, if Tehran intervenes, Azerbaijan will be fully supported by the allies of the country.

The course of events shows that both situation inside and outside of Iran puts more and more pressure on the ruling mullahs. Moreover, a possible military confrontation with Azerbaijan will be the end of the regime.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The Azerbaijani diaspora took part in the Novruz holiday celebrations held in the New Uzbekistan Park in Tashkent, Trend reports via the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of Azerbaijan.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who visited the Azerbaijani exhibition organized as part of the event by the Republican Azerbaijani National Cultural Center, has met with the diaspora members.

Congratulating the representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora on the holiday, Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the exhibits, listened to Azerbaijani music.

During the conversation, the Uzbek president said that he will visit Azerbaijan in September this year.

"The leadership of the center, on behalf of our compatriots, expressed gratitude to the head of state of Uzbekistan. Creative groups of various peoples, including Azerbaijanis, performed at the festive concert," added the committee.

Previously, the president of Uzbekistan visited Azerbaijan to take part in the Summit of Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group in response to COVID-19 on March 1-2 this year.
The 2023 National Book Critics Circle Awards were presented on March 23 at the organization's first in-person ceremony since the pandemic began, once again held at the New School in New York City. The awards, which honor books published in 2022, are among the only literary honors in the country decided by working book critics. The NBCC was founded in 1974, and comprises more than 600 critics and editors.

The first award of the evening was the inaugural Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize, which went to Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov and translated by Boris Dralyuk (Deep Vellum). The John Leonard Prize honoring a debut book in any genre, now in its 10th year, went to Morgan Talty for his story collection Night of the Living Rez (Tin House). Talty was unable to attend the ceremony because his first child was recently born, but when the award was announced, Tin House publicity director Becky Kraemer called Talty, took to the stage, and put the authorwho was sitting on the couch with his newbornon speakerphone to express his thanks.

Poet Joy Harjo received the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award. The three-term poet laureate of the United States and member of the Muscogee Nation recalled her time at the Institute of American Indian Arts, stressing how important meeting and reading other Indigenous poets was to her as she came into her own as a writer. Citing the accolades earned by such contemporary Indigenous poets as Natalie Diaz, Layli Long Soldier, and N. Scott Momaday, she expressed feeling heartened by the evolution of the U.S. literary canon, but acknowledged that significant challenges remain, mentioning that a Muscogee educator in Harjo's native Oklahoma had recently asked for her help starting a "book club for banned books."

Writer Jennifer Wilson, a critic specializing in Russian literature, received the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing. In her speech, which she mentioned was the first one she had ever given in her life, she noted that she was the first Black woman to receive the award. Former NBCC president and Library Journal editor Barbara Hoffert received the inaugural NBCC Service Award, recognizing extraordinary contributions within the organization.

The Toni Morrison Achievement Award, presented by John Freeman, was given to San Franciscobased independent bookstore-publisher City Lights, which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year. In her acceptance speech, City Lights executive director Elaine Katzenberger expressed her pride in honoring the legacy of founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who died in 2021. She concluded her speech with several lines from Ferlinghetti's 2007 poem "Poetry as Insurgent Art."

The final third of the evening was devoted to the highly-anticipated category awards, recognizing the best in poetry, biography, autobiography, criticism, nonfiction, and fiction.

Cynthia Cruz won the poetry award for her collection Hotel Oblivion by (Four Way Books); Four Way director Ryan Murphy accepted the prize on Cruz's behalf.

Similarly, Beverly Gage received the biography prize for G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century (Viking), with Gage's editor, Viking v-p and associate publisher Wendy Wolf, accepting the award on her behalf.

Timothy Bewes, a professor at Brown University, took home the criticism prize for his book Free Indirect: The Novel in a Postfictional Age (Columbia University Press), which prize judge Jennie Hann called "an intervention in critical theory that will forever change the way we read."

New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu received the autobiography award for his memoir Stay True (Doubleday), which autobiography committee chair Heather Scott Partington called "a clear-eyed and vulnerable exploration of platonic friendship and lifelong loss." Hsu, who elicited laughs by snapping a photo of the crowd from the stage before accepting his award, delivered his speech while holding in his hand the original notebook in which he began writing the book 25 years ago.

Isaac Butler was the evening's penultimate winner, receiving the nonfiction award for The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act (Bloomsbury). Butler shared in his speech that as a reader and writer, the NBCC award seal on book covers is the one that he values the most.

Finally, Ling Ma, who was not present for the ceremony, received the fiction prize for her short story collection Bliss Montage (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux).

"What a thrill to return to the New School, to applaud and cheer the finalists and winners of this years awards," NBCC president Megan Labrise told PW after the ceremony. "The love in the room was palpable."

The 2022 NBCC winners are as follows:

Poetry: Hotel Oblivion by Cynthia Cruz (Four Way)

Biography: G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage (Viking)

Criticism: Free Indirect: The Novel in a Postfictional Age by Timothy Bewes (Columbia UP)

Autobiography: Stay True by Hua Hsu (Doubleday)

Nonfiction: The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act by Isaac Butler (Bloomsbury)

Fiction: Bliss Montage: Stories by Ling Ma (FSG)
Drop a pebble into a pond and, after the initial splash, ripples spread across the water. It's a familiar image, one we know so intuitively that everyone understands immediately what you mean by the phrase ripple effect. Yet, even when the pebble is a boulder, and the splash soaks us, we may not fully grasp how far the ripples will spreador for how long.

On March 20, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq. I crossed the berm two days later as part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 26 years old and full of equal parts naivete and cynicism. The war already seemed unjustified to me, but I felt deep loyalty to my fellow troops, and some measure of excitement at what was to come. If the waiting place is, as Dr. Seuss says, the worst place to be, I'd rather have been at war than sitting around Camp Udairi.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Williams

During my deployment, I went on combat foot patrols with the infantry in Baghdad, got bored out of my mind on Mount Sinjar, endured chronic sexual harassment, and came home feeling like America was a foreign land after a year in the Middle East. In Iraq, I also met the man who became my husband.

In retrospect, my book about his injury and our relationship was an effort to tell myself that the ripples had stopped spreading. We coped with his traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder, learned to navigate the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and advocated for improvements to systems and services. I wanted a nice tidy narrative arc. I wanted a happy endingor at least a hopeful beginning for the rest of our lives. I wanted to box up the war and put it away. We had two children and a bright future. Let the pebble sink as the waters stilled.

But sometimes the ripple becomes a wave that threatens to sink the whole boat. PTSD, I learned, can be chronic and episodic. Brian had good weeks, months, yearsbut they were never permanent. He drank, sometimes heavily, when times were bad. Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I decided the status quo could not endure.

On Aug. 24, 2018, I took the metro back from work. Walking home from the station, I saw emergency vehicles in front of my house. Heart pounding, I walked inside. Brian sat in a chair by the door, where a paramedic assessed him. My husband was shirtless, covered in sweat, and confused. When I asked where our children were, he replied, Children?

I sprinted through the house. Our two children were nowhere to be found. I returned to him and asked, louder, Where are our kids?! He looked baffled. From the door, a tiny, nervous voice, our neighbor: I have your kids.

When I stepped outside, she explained that my daughter had run up to her crying, saying her daddy fell down and couldn't talk. I got all the information I could, staying composed and focused, and asked if the kids could stay at her place while we sorted this out. My neighbor was sobbing as I reassured her repeatedly that she did the right thing, that she was doing a great job.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Williams

How are you so calm? she asked me. What else could I do? I wondered to myself. Was there any other choice? Out loud, almost automatically, I told her, It's from being in the military.

My assumption was that Brian had had an anxiety attack, hyperventilated, and passed out. With PTSD, panic attacks were, for him, not uncommon. But the paramedic was concerned about how high his pulse and blood pressure were, as well as his ongoing confusion, so he was transported to the ER by ambulance, while I followed in my car.

After a couple of hours of waiting to be seen in the emergency room, Brian mentioned a pain in his shoulder. Given how long it took for the ache to begin, I guessed it was just bruised from his fall. Still, he asked the doctor for an X-ray. After what seemed like a further interminable wait, we learned he had had a seizure and had broken his collarbone when he fell.

There is a part of me that wants to distance myself from all of this by reverting to the safety of clinical terms. I want to revise these paragraphs and tell you I came home that day and my husband was diaphoretic and postictal. These wordsdense, precise, diagnosticcome easier than remembering the specifics of my daughter retelling the story of daddy screaming and falling down in front of her for weeks as she worked through her own trauma. I want to write, of my husband, He had been struggling for years with comorbid PTSD, major depressive disorder, substance use disorder, and TBI, rather than ever admit the terror I felt during specific incidents, the embarrassment when the police came, the shame of pretending everything was fine when it definitively was not.

In the warped way that life sometimes unfolds, the horror of this incident ended up saving our marriage. Perhaps the ripples, now waves, had ricocheted off a rockrather than swamping our tiny boat, they had pushed it away from the rapids. After the civilian ER doctor put Brian on an anticonvulsant known to cause suicidality, his Defense Department neurologist prescribed him a different anticonvulsant that was also a mood stabilizer. Things changed dramatically. What had been wild and frightening swings from sadness to rage settled into normal currents of emotion. When the doctor told him alcohol reduced his seizure threshold, Brian quit drinking. Sobriety became its own salve.

Time passed, the ripples spread. Even after 15 years. It had not occurred to me, when I walked into our house in 2018, that Brian could have had a seizure, because it had been 15 years since shrapnel gouged a trough in his brain just below the skull. After it happened, in 2003, providers had warned us about the risk of seizures post-TBI. But it had been 15 years without one.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Williams

For years, I had tried to convince myself that the ripples had been containedthat they had not spread beyond his parents, me, the Defense Department, and VA. Then, suddenly, our county had to send paramedics into our home. Our neighbors had to help run errands, since the state (rightly) banned Brian from driving for six months, until a doctor could affirm that his seizures were controlled by medication and it was safe for him to drive again. Our school system needed to provide counselors for our children. My employer had to give me extra time off work to drive him to medical appointments.

There are now more than 1.9 million U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 50,000 of us were physically injured. Around 15 percent have experienced PTSD. And perhaps all of us were exposed to burn pits and other toxins, as were an untold number of Iraqis. The long-term impacts of the war on frontline civilians and third-country nationals have barely been considered. I am just telling you our story, my husband's and mine. Ours is but a tiny ripple, from a single pebble, in an ocean.

There are now more than 1.9 million U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 50,000 of us were physically injured. Around 15 percent have experienced PTSD. Share on Twitter

My generation has benefited tremendously from Vietnam veterans, who fought like hell to get PTSD recognized. Because of their tenacity, we finally have a language to describe, and evidence-informed treatments to manage, the psychological effects of the trauma of war. And like Iraq veterans, Vietnam veterans also struggled for decades to get recognition of the impacts Agent Orange had on their health, of its risks to their children. After we started coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, they swore, Never again, and fought alongside us for a swifter and better response to our own toxic exposures.

This advocacy recently led to passage of the PACT Act, which adds a dozen different cancers and another dozen illnesses to the list of health conditions VA assumes (or presumes) to be caused by exposure to toxic substances for all who deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other qualifying locations after 9/11 or during the first Gulf Waras well as adding new conditions to the list of illnesses assumed to be linked to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam veterans. VA has already screened more than a million veterans under the new program, hiring 2,000 new disability claims processors and additional health care providers to manage the influx of new patients and claims.

As a veteran and a caregiver, I am profoundly grateful to all who advocated for this expansioneven while, as a taxpayer, I blanch a bit at the projected price tag of $152 billion over the next 10 years for disability compensation alone. And I know the PACT act may still not capture all conditions. Cancers often take decades to develop. The potential epigenetic effects of our exposure, passed on to our children and grandchildren, may take generations to identify.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Williams

The ripples may yet become waves: PTSD has been linked to heart disease; TBIs are associated with dementia; caregivers are at increased risk of hypertension, reduced sleep, and mental health problems.

And the ripples from this 20-year-old war will long outlive me, spreading for many decades to come. In 2020, Irene Triplett died, age 90, the last surviving dependent of a Civil War veteran receiving a pension, 155 years after that conflict ended. Life expectancy has only increased since the Civil War ended in 1865, or since she was born, in 1930. Brown University's Costs of War project estimates $2.2 trillion in federal obligations for post-9/11 veterans' care over the next 30 years alonethis number does not include costs that cities, counties, and states bear as well.

When we project the costs of war into the future, we must imagine these collective costs, these ripples, that will continue spreading for at least another 155 years. It is daunting to imagine that somewhere among the cohort of Iraq War veterans is likely a man who will father a child well into his old age, who will live for many years, and that there could be another, similar headline to that about Triplett's passing, in the year 2166 or beyond.

As the anniversary of the Iraq War approached, and of the day I crossed the berm two days later, I have not been looking back to the start of the war, but forwardto where the ripples are likely to go. What I've come to realize is this: They've only just begun to spread.

Kayla Williams served as a sergeant and Arabic linguist in the Army from 2000 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq from 2003 to 2004. She now lives in Virginia with her husband and two children and works as a senior policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. She's the author of two nonfiction books,Love My Rifle More Than You and Plenty of Time When We Get Home. Williams is a 2018 War Horse fellow.

This commentary originally appeared on The War Horse on March 22, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. A total of 18 criminals, whose involvement in the massacre in Baganis Ayrim village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district was proven, were put on the international wanted list, senior assistant to the military prosecutor, Spokesperson of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan Firad Aliyev told reporters, Trend reports.

Aliyev reminded that on December 18, 2003, a joint investigative-operational group was established by a single order of the prosecutor general, ministers of internal affairs and national security of Azerbaijan in accordance with the current legislation.

It was established to investigate, give a legal assessment of crimes against peace and humanity, other crimes related to war, terrorism, committed against citizens of Azerbaijan, identify and prosecute those who participated in the organization and commitment of these crimes, as well as raising relevant petitions to affiliated international organizations in connection with the facts of gross violation of international law, the official explained.

According to him, since May 5, 2005, the Military Prosecutor's Office has been entrusted with the investigation of this criminal case, and the procedural management of the preliminary investigation has been entrusted to the Deputy Prosecutor General, Military Prosecutor, Lieutenant General of Justice Khanlar Valiyev.

"After acceptance of the criminal case for proceedings by the Military Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a new investigative and operational plan was drawn up. Unlike previous years, the preliminary investigation for each of the committed crimes was carried out in accordance with the unified investigative and operational plan of the criminal case in full compliance with international treaties,legal norms of our country, as well as the requirements of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aliyev noted.

As he also explained, the materials of the investigation on the episode of the massacre in Baganis Ayrim village proved that on March 24, 1990, at about 8:00 (GMT +4), Armenian armed groups penetrated from the territory of Armenia into the village to completely or partially destroy Azerbaijanis as a national group, kill, and also evict the rural residents from their places of permanent residence without the grounds established by the norms of international law and the laws of Azerbaijan.

The aim of the groups was also to expel the Azerbaijani population, attack houses, administrations, enterprises and organizations and other crimes against Azerbaijanis, the official noted.

Having attacked the village from different directions on various military equipment, military and special vehicles, using large-caliber firearms, machine guns, assault rifles, and grenade launchers, they intensively fired at the civilians of the village on the streets and in their own houses, Aliyev said. As a result, 10 people, including three women and one 39-day-old child, were killed with unimaginable torture, with special cruelty, only because they were Azerbaijanis, two people received bodily injuries of varying severity.

Besides, according to him, 12 private houses were looted and burned, and 438 residents of the village were forcibly evicted from their places of legal residence without the grounds established by the norms of international law and the laws of Azerbaijan.

During the investigation of the criminal case, decisions were made to prosecute 18 persons, whose involvement in the commitment of crimes against peace and humanity on the episode of the massacre in Baganis Ayrim was proved, under articles 103 (genocide) and 107 (deportation or forced displacement population) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aliyev further noted.

On the basis of court decisions, a measure of restraint in the form of detention was chosen for these persons, and documents to ensure their search were sent to the National Bureau of Interpol in Azerbaijan and the Main Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the official said.

At present, comprehensive investigative and operational measures are being carried out in this direction, he added.
The famous second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence opens by announcing this earth-shattering first principle: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. Our nation is obsessing over what that exactly means. Todays culture wars are hampering our ability to focus on much of anything else other than sharp divisions over equity, inclusion, diversity, BLM, CRT, pronouns, and similar raging fronts. Likewise, a parallel fight about the meaning of the unalienable right of life is gripping the nation in our abortion wars.

In the background of these heated debates lurks another of the Declarations critical first principles that gets somewhat less attention today: that men are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them being Liberty. As Americans, we too often take for granted the blessings of liberty. We too often presume that because we are free, we will always remain so.

We hold this conceited presumption at our peril. Without understanding how our present is anchored to the past, we can easily go adrift and be wrecked in todays storms. Patrick Henry reflected, I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. Its time to heed this counsel.

There are many points of reflection we can choose, but on the anniversary of Henrys most famous oration  Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!  calling upon his speech and its lessons is most fitting.

In 1774, the Virginia legislature declared its support for Bostons resistance to English repression; the British governor responded by dissolving it. Undeterred, the delegates reconstituted themselves as the Virginia Convention at the Raleigh Tavern. The Second Virginia Convention met in 1775, moving from a tavern to a church  perhaps foregoing the counsel of liquor for that of the Creator. Henry demanded that the Virginians put themselves on a war footing to defend against British oppression, which met strong opposition. On March 23, 1775, he rose at St. Johns Church and exclaimed:

If we wish to be freeif we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have so long engagedwe must fight!...Why stand we here idle?...Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

A violent thunderstorm swept in at the speechs climax, perhaps showing divine approbation.

Henrys proposal was decisively approved. The speech, combined with Thomas Paines Common Sense, swept through the colonies, forging a hardened resistance to the British. Although the Declaration of Independence was more than a year away, declaring independence had become a mere formality. Thomas Jefferson himself gave Henry credit for setting the ball of the revolution in motion.

Henrys words were not idle chatter. The American Revolution cost many lives on both sides. Families were torn asunder. Homes and cities were devastated. And the economy collapsed. These were dire times. But we who live in this land of the free know that the fight was just and worth the cost.

In the course of the speech, Henry derided pleas that the Americans were too weak to fight: But when shall we be stronger?...Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Indeed not.

He also trusted that the Supreme Power would aid the revolutionaries: we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.

What does Henrys speech teach us today? Phantom hopes are delusional, immediate action is vital, reliance on God essential, and the protection of liberty is indispensable.

This is why my then-10-year-old daughter Leah and I included Patrick Henry as an invaluable part of Patriot Week, a non-partisan foundation that works to renew Americas spirit by celebrating our nations first principles, Americas Founding Fathers and other patriots, vital documents and speeches, and flags that make America the greatest nation in world history.

The battle, Henry explained, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Be vigilant, active, and brave, and we may yet remain free.

The Honorable Michael Warren is an Oakland County Circuit Court judge and co-founder, with his daughter Leah, of Patriot Week. He is also the author of Americas Survival Guide and a former member of the State Board of Education.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/24/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

The Bachelor alum Caelynn Miller-Keyes has revealed which members of Bachelor Nation will score an invitation to her upcoming wedding with Dean Unglert Caelynn and Dean have created their "outdoorsy" and "natural" Save the Dates for their Summer 2023 wedding in Aspen , Colorado, E! News reported And according to the bride-to-be, the following The Bachelor or The Bachelorette alums will receive one in the mail: Ben Higgins Jared Haibon and Ashley Iaconetti "The guest list has been really giving me a lot of anxiety just because I don't want anyone's feelings to be hurt," Caelynn admitted."But at the end of the day, it's our day and we decided based on the max amount that the venue can hold."Caelynn shared a picture of her Save the Date with the website. While she covered up the month in which she'll be saying, "I do," she gave away that the wedding will take place on the 23rd of their chosen month.Caelynn gushed about how she's been enjoying the whole wedding process thus far."I just really love to plan, even for my bachelorette and bridal shower," the alum shared."Usually the maid of honor takes care of that and my best friend has been begging me to help and I'm like, 'Absolutely not. I want to be doing everything.'"Caelynn said she consulted with Dean and asked for his opinion only "on the important things," such as the photographer, videographer, and the band."But he's so easy. He's just like, 'Sure, whatever you think is great, I'll agree with,'" Caelynn said.Dean proposed marriage to Caelynn in October 2022 following a grueling 22-mile hike to Hawaii's Kauai Island about three years after they began dating on Season 6 of , which aired in Summer 2019.Caelynn then popped the question to Dean in December 2022, which made their engagement even more "official.""A while ago we agreed we would both propose to each other. I had a lot of ideas on how I would do it, but after Dean had me conquer my fear of heights before his proposal, I thought it would be fitting for him to conquer his only fear, horses," Caelynn wrote on Instagram in December, sharing a photo of Dean on horseback."I can't wait for a lifetime of pushing each other out of our comfort zones."Since the couple has been dating for well over three years, Caelynn told E! News that she "already feels married.""I just love him so much," she said. "I'm just so excited to be marrying someone who's such a good person, who makes me laugh every single day even if I'm upset. I think our life together is going to be really fun."Caelynn and Dean -- who admitted he'd prefer to just get married in a low-key courthouse ceremony -- revealed in late January that their wedding plans were nearly complete The pair said they initially planned to elope in Italy but then they realized Colorado would be a better wedding destination because all of their friends would be able to attend.On 's sixth season, Dean broke up with Caelynn on her birthday and left the show alone because he didn't think he was ready to provide the commitment that Caelynn wanted.However, Dean returned for Caelynn later on and begged her to give him a second chance, and the pair left Paradise dating each other.Following their Paradise exit, Dean convinced Caelynn to live "the van life" with him in which they traveled together and didn't have a stable home base.But Dean apparently got the van life out of his system because the couple moved into a home together in Las Vegas, NV, in Spring 2021. Caelynn and Dean later relocated to Denver, CO.Dean ended up popping the question with a temporary engagement ring with a "small" diamond because he claimed on his "Help! I Suck at Dating" podcast to have lost the original 4.5 carat diamond he'd purchased for his girlfriend.Dean previously said he hopes to find the original diamond somewhere in his home and then turn the small diamond from his marriage proposal into a necklace for Caelynn.Dean posted a video after he popped the question on Instagram, showing footage of the couple's hike and romantic engagement."It's been 16 years since I lost my mom. I always thought it'd get easier as time wore on but it hasn't... I miss her more now than I ever have before. I'm so happy to now have this date as a happy memory as well," Dean wrote on Instagram."From now on I'll be able to find joy in something this time of year, be excited for the future rather than sad about the past, and celebrate love with the woman who may one day be a mother to children of our own."Back in June 2022, Dean revealed on his podcast that he had made a deal with Caelynn about getting engaged."I made a deal with [Caelynn]. I was like, 'I'll buy you a ring if you buy me a truck,'" Dean said, which sparked criticism from some fans that Dean didn't treat Caelynn very well.Dean also admitted at the time how he had thrown a "hissy fit" upon seeing the 4.5 karat ring Caelynn was hoping to have on her finger one day and the pair got into "a scuffle."Dean said getting engaged was simply "a touchy subject" in his relationship, adding, "Caelynn makes significantly more money than I do and here I am having to spend all this money on something I don't even want. Like, I want her to get what she wants, but she's the one who wants to get married."But then Caelynn came through and bought Dean a truck in August 2022.Back in April 2022, Caelynn recalled her reaction to Dean's request that she propose marriage to him."When Dean first said that, I thought, 'Okay, [it's] another thing Dean is saying to break the mold.' Sometimes he says things just for a reaction, and he'll admit that. I thought that's kind of what he was doing," Caelynn explained in a Q&A on YouTube."But the more I thought about it, the more I loved it, because traditionally, he would propose to me. That's something I've dreamt of for so long, and that's something that he doesn't get -- a day that's catered to him and this special moment where he's really thought of. That's when I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I love this.'"Caelynn pointed out how she and Dean have "a partnership" and so they both deserve to have a proposal day."I love the idea of planning this extravagant -- well, not extravagant, because he doesn't like to be the center of attention -- but just this thing that's all about him. So after I really thought about it, I am really, really into it," Caelynn said.When Dean and Caelynn do tie the knot, they both plan to change their last names to "Bell" in honor of Dean's late mother, whose maiden name was Bell.Dean and Caelynn have been wearing wedding bands since 2020 to show they are committed to each other. Caelynn told Us Weekly last year that it "really frustrates" her when fans assume Dean isn't good to her."He is hilarious and he's very sarcastic and he's also the most romantic person I think I've ever met. He's so thoughtful," Caelynn boasted."So I think that's a big misconception -- that I'm, like, more invested in the relationship or he, like, doesn't treat me right. I'm like, 'No, he treats me exceptionally well and he's always going out of his way to just surprise me and do romantic things.'"Prior to meeting on Paradise, Caelynn competed for Colton Underwood 's heart on The Bachelor's 23rd season, and Dean had been on multiple The Bachelor spinoffs after initially appearing on Rachel Lindsay 's season of The Bachelorette.Dean previously gushed to Us his relationship with Caelynn is "monumentally different" from other women he's dated in the past. Dean was previously linked to Kristina Schulman Danielle Lombard and Lesley Murphy from The Bachelor world alone."She's very intelligent and compassionate. I am able to be myself around her and she's able to be herself and that's how we create synergy and build around each other," Dean explained of Caelynn."For the first time in my Bachelor franchise relationship history, I feel like I'm able to say what I want, do what I want, and allow my partner to build with me while I'm doing that."Dean, however, believed in late 2019 that marriage was "never going to happen" for them."She does joke around about us getting married all the time, and I always say, 'Sorry, it's not going to happen.' I don't know, I'm super unconventional and she obviously is a little more conventional," Dean told the magazine at the time."We joke around about it. Just try to keep expectations to a minimum, you know? Like I said on the show, underpromise, overdeliver."Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Craig Sjodin / ABC

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/24/2023



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finalist Kaity Biggar has reacted to backlash over her post-Rose Ceremony comment to Gabi Elnicki in which she pointed out Gabi was the only person who had slept with Zach Shallcross in the Fantasy Suites.After both Kaity and Gabi received roses in Thailand following Zach's overnight dates with his Final 3 bachelorettes, Kaity quietly said to Gabi, "I know you were the only one."Many viewers interpreted Kaity's remark to be a jab at Gabi or an attempt to sex shame her, but Kaity has insisted she meant no harm."Gabi and I are very close friends," the 28-year-old travel nurse wrote in a since-deleted TikTok comment, according to Us Weekly."The entirety of the conversation was not shown. So please take a step back and realize that."Kaity spoke to Gabi after the Rose Ceremony while Zach was walking out his third-place finisher, Ariel Frenkel , during 's Monday, March 20 episode.After Kaity told Gabi, "I know you were the only one," Gabi replied, "I feel like I'm wearing, like, an 'A' on my chest. F-cking scarlet letter over here."Kaity assured her friend that the situation wasn't that bad, saying, "Oh, my god, stop, no."Kaity also confirmed she's still close friends with Gabi by posting an Instagram video of the girls goofing around in a bubble bath together while they were filming 's 27th season."Beyond grateful for this incredible woman and our friendship," Kaity captioned the hilarious clip."Thank you for always lighting up a room with your beautiful, quirky personality! You exude the best energy that is so contagious to be around! Thank you for always being YOU! Truly, one of the most beautiful humans inside and out. Keep sprinkling sunshine #teamgaity."Gabi responded to Kaity's post by writing, "Love you so much my Kaity girl! Forever grateful for our friendship and that you are in my life. A true forever friend #teamgaity."Zach and Gabi's sexual encounter came as a surprise to fans because Zach had initially set a no-sex "of any kind" rule for himself going into the Fantasy Suites.Zach stayed true to his word during his overnight date with Ariel, but then passion apparently got the best of him during his second overnight date of the week with Gabi."Did I think I was going to get engaged to somebody that I've never had sex with? Probably not. But we're going to work on it later," Gabi told the cameras before entering the Fantasy Suite with Zach, later adding, "Zach says he's not having sex, but I don't know. Maybe he will."Zach felt compelled to tell host Jesse Palmer about his actions, and then he chose to be honest and transparent with Kaity by sharing the sex secret with her during date No. 3, which deflated Kaity and put her in distress.Kaity, who nearly quit the show because she felt "crushed" and "distant" from Zach, said she wished Zach had kept the details of his relationships with the other women private.Gabi also felt "blindsided" by Zach's choice to announce what they had done behind closed doors, and she said he broke her trust and needed to win it back before she'd feel ready for an engagement.Gabi lamented in a confessional that Zach was "clearing his conscience at the expense of my heart."But Kaity wasn't the only one facing criticism after Monday night's episode.Gabi herself shut down Internet trolls when a person called her out for "deleting comments" on one of her Instagram photos."Yes I am," Gabi firmly replied. "Because I don't need negativity and hate on my page. It's so unnecessary and unkind."Gabi added, "There is NO reason to put others down, get off my page if you don't like me."The Instagram user, however, clarified, "I like you queen just here for the drama."Gabi appeared to delete most of the comments that bashed or demeaned her. For instance, a troll wrote on her page in an undeleted comment, "This girl is an embarrassment for female population."But other people stepped in and defended Gabi, saying that she's "enough" for any man and deserves the world."Screw the haters," wrote one fan.And another person commented, "You shouldn't have to deal with any negativity or hate on your page. You're a sweet girl and don't listen to any of that sh-t."There have been a lot of opinions about 's latest episode Bachelor in Paradise bartender Wells Adams called Zach out for kissing and telling on-camera when he didn't need to, but both alums Susie Evans and Clayton Echard have rushed to Zach's defense and asking viewers to give Zach, Gabi and Kaity grace Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
We now live in an era where every American has experienced significant disruptions to their daily life. Whether from a disease, an increase in sociopolitical angst and even violence, tension surrounding racial issues, or all of the above, many communities are considering firearms as a source of safety, some for the very first time.

Being part of an underrepresented or minority community can feel like an additional load on top of the already weighty burden weve all experienced, even when it doesnt feel like theres an active target on your back.

Antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high in 2021, with a total of 2,717 reports of assault, harassment, and vandalism, according to the Anti-Defamation League, making that target feel very active for some Jewish Americans. This has led to calls for a response that ran the gamut from arming rabbis to disarming the general populace.

Recently, we had a chance to speak to someone who believes that all Americans  especially the Jewish community  should be leading the call for the expansion of the right to keep and bear arms.

Founded by Jews in 1989, JPFO initially aimed at educating the Jewish community about the historical evils that Jews have suffered when they have been disarmed. JPFO has always welcomed people of all religious beliefs who share a common goal of opposing and reversing victim-disarmament policies while advancing liberty for all.

From a history steeped in lessons on what happens when the state holds a monopoly on violence, to a present seemingly bent on reminding us of it, Alan Korwin is helping spread the gospel of the gun to his Jewish community and beyond.

RECOIL: Who are you, and what is Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership?

Alan Korwin: My name is Alan Korwin. Im the author of 14 books, 10 of them on gun law, and I run the website gunlaw.com. Im also a consultant to JPFO (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership), a civil rights group thats been around for over 30 years, started by a Holocaust survivor, thats full of really hard-core gun rights/self-defense people.

Is it safe to assume most people could easily understand the motivation that a community such as yours would have for preserving firearms ownership?

AK: Yes, but many Jews dont feel that way. Its an anomaly that stuns many people, which has an explanation thats long and involved.

Weve discovered that you arent alone. In speaking to many gun rights groups organized around a particular demographic, a common thread is that theres often a segment that feels that way and cant imagine why their community would want to encourage gun ownership. What have you seen?

AK: In our experience, most Jews are anti-gun through ignorance on the topic. They may be more secular, and less concerned that the holocaust might become relevant again, even though there are entire countries whose stated policy is against the continued existence of Israel or Jews in general. They, therefore, have little concern about self-defense, self-preservation, and freedom. They would, in fact, like to see armed authorities come and take your guns away.

JPFO was the brainchild of Aaron Zelman (1946 to 2010), a leading national civil-rights activist.

Do you feel thats something that could be addressed more through cultural outreach or along religious lines?

AK: Yes to both. There are more religious people who seem to understand and dont mind having armed people in their congregations providing a degree of safety. We see more resistance to this in less traditionally religious segments of the Jewish community, where cultural outreach might be more effective.

Is this more of an American thing, or do you find this in the Jewish diaspora elsewhere in the world?

AK: Just like with any religion, there are degrees of Judaism. We have church on Christmas and Easter style members just like Christians do. The Orthodox community seems to be very aware, but the Reform segment, especially here in the U.S., seems to be much less so, and often dislikes discussing the topic. There is a Jewish word we use for those who get it  shomrim, which means the watchers or the vigilant, and those shomrim are more likely to join JPFO and support its beliefs and policy wherever they are from.

What does your membership roster look like and has it changed significantly over the last two years?

AK: Headquarters keeps track of this, but its not made public. A few years back it was mentioned in a Supreme Court brief as being 13,000. It goes up and down obviously, but we cant really tell who in the group is Jewish. The founder Aaron Zelman was surprised that Jews didnt flock to join, but the large number of non-Jews who did, did so because they saw that we get it and share our concerns. Based on the salons we hold here in Phoenix to discuss politics, I would guess about two-thirds of the attendees are Jewish.

Speaking of Zelman, after his untimely passing in 2010, the organization seemed like it might be on the brink of dissolution. If you dont mind, were curious what happened, and how did the group come through that?

AK: Thats a great question. We actually have an essay on JPFO.org that details what exactly happened when Aaron left us. Any organization that loses its Moses flounders a little, and Aaron didnt have a particular replacement chosen. The inner circle kept things going while people came and went, and some others also sadly passed away. Eventually Charles Heller, one of the AZ Citizens Defense League founders, came to serve as director for about two years. After he left, I stepped in as a consultant to help guide the organization. Incidentally, we are still actively looking for an executive director, and if anyone reading is interested in such a job, you can reach out at JPFO.org.

Like many others, JPFO believes in calling for an end to mass-media glorification of mass murderers. Their Dont Inspire Evil initiative is focused on a quest to adopt a new ethical journalism guideline: Refrain from gratuitous or repetitious portrayal of mass murderers names and images.

Speaking of leadership roles, you personally have a long history of success in business consulting and especially publishing, often supporting 2A behind the scenes. Was your taking the spotlight a long-time coming, or more of a road to Damascus moment?

AK: I think its a personality trait. Ive always started businesses, invented things, or written books. Its that fuel of creation that drives you more than any boss can, and thats how I ran my publishing company  we put out more than 300 books in three decades. I think its just who I am; I cant really do things any other way.

Turning that personality loose on the JPFO, what does the organization bring to 2A advocacy that didnt exist prior?

AK: Before JPFO, there was no cooperation between the Jewish community and those who kept arms to bring teeth to the mantra of never again. These days you more often hear never forget, which I find feckless and weak by comparison. JPFO believes never again means you must be armed, trained, and capable to defend your right to be Jewish and free  all things America is struggling with now.

Along that same vein, in doing our research on JPFO we found that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had a lot to say about you, calling you panic-mongers or worse. How would you respond to that characterization to someone who knows nothing about JPFO?

AK: Weve found that its common in the Jewish community at large to see anyone who supports gun rights as a lunatic, but we feel the reverse is true: With so much animosity and literal calls for wiping out Jews, not supporting the right to bear arms is pure insanity.

The ADL got its start with a lot of violence, and has since become a very moderate, compromising political force as many lobbies are. We know each other, and unfortunately theres no love lost. If the ADL had its head on straight, we feel they would support us hook, line, and sinker, and theyre all welcome to join. Were the ones preparing for the threats they call out.

Want to volunteer with JPFO? Go to their website at jpfo.org.

Thats a problem of perspective that unfortunately knows no religious boundaries.

AK: Well, one of our mottos is: You dont have to be Jewish to join JPFO, you just have to love liberty.

On that topic, what would you say is JPFOs greatest accomplishment?

AK: Thats a tough one, as we do a lot and its difficult to say one of our events, publications, or meetings is more important than the rest. Honestly, simply existing may be our greatest accomplishment. I will say that weve filed amicus briefs for two recent supreme court gun cases. Most recently in Bruen, we were mentioned in the decision for pointing out that minorities and groups that arent in public favor need arms perhaps more than others.

Thats a welcome refrain thats growing much more popular recently, and the anti-gun side is having trouble coming up with much to counter it, but that doesnt stop them from trying. How do you measure success in a struggle that seemingly has no end in sight?

AK: The word struggle implies that there is no end. Certain things are a struggle and are ongoing, and I think we recognize that as an organization, which is the foundation of our success. We constantly solicit more members, get them training, inform politicians who are terribly misled, and straighten out the media who get the issue backward and upside down all the time.

One of my favorite questions for reporters who ask me Why do you need so many guns? is Have you ever done a story on the good that guns do? Its like a deer in headlights. They arent aware that guns can do good, let alone keep good people safe, yet they consider themselves unbiased, neutral reporters of fact, while being the furthest thing from it.

Theres a sociologist named David Yamane who came to Jesus if you will, discovering the value of gun ownership later in life, who has helped popularize the idea of Gun Culture 2.0. He frames it, more or less, as an evolution from old white guys hunting to every American who wants to be should be armed. Within that framework, whats your personal gun culture, and where do you see it going next?

AK: Thats a clever way to frame it, and every clever idea that helps move the ball forward Im in favor of. The media certainly needs a hand in getting an accurate picture of the issue, so I hope this helps. Im not sure Id classify two centuries of American gun ownership as 1.0, given how many facets there are, but more and more Americans of every stripe are definitely looking to guns as an issue of freedom, minorities especially. The Dredd Scott decision is a perfect example of gun control harming minorities, and more people are waking up to it.

To address your other question, gun culture, as Ive experienced it, is simply people who own guns. You run into someone whos a million miles away from you culturally, but gun ownership becomes a point of similarity to build on. Suddenly someone you had nothing in common with is your pal, and youre talking about what you shoot, where you shoot, self-defense, etc.

Theres a bond there because youve understood 2A and its relation to freedom. If you go to a gun show, its a cross-section of humanity in attendance with all sorts of people represented, but they can all start up a conversation with each other because they share a fundamental belief that they are free.

Thats an impressive observation, mostly for how simple and true it is  the things we often get told are destroying the country wind up functioning as a focal point of comradery and friendship for a diverse group of Americans. If one were looking to learn more about the JPFO or how they might join, what would be the best way to do that?

AK: Go to www.JPFO.org. Weve got lots of information, all of Aarons old writing, merchandise, and you can sign up right on the website if you wish. Even if you dont join, you can learn a ton.
The body of a missing Athens woman was found on Tuesday in a wooded area near Maple Forge Drive and Lavender Road, according to a press release from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

The deceased was identified as Adriana Castaneda. Castaneda, 38, was reported missing on March 7. An autopsy will be conducted to reveal the cause of death, the release said.
News flash  college students like myself are not trying to ruin America  and even if we did, we would probably be too tired to do so. Not only do we all have our own personal struggles, we are also faced with a growing culture that is anti-learning, anti-respect and anti-human.
'Partition was a two-sided story in a very big way.'

'We've oversimplified it, blamed the British, thought of ourselves only as victims.'

'We've been both victims and perpetrators.'

IMAGE: One of the trains leaving New Delhi station for Karachi, August 7, 1947. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

Can Partition ever be forgotten? Do only Punjabis and Bengalis make a big deal about it?

Popular myths about the cataclysm that shook the subcontinent have been busted by the stories collected by Guneeta Singh Bhalla and her team for her brainchild, the 1947 Partition Archive.

So far, 10000 stories in 36 languages have been collected; 400 of them will soon be out in a book, titled 10.000 Memories, A Lived History Of Partition.

In India to promote the book, Bhalla, who lives in California, spoke to Jyoti Punwani about what drove her to give up a career in science to chase Partition survivors, and what she learnt.

What made you change from pursuing science to documenting memories of Partition?

Most of the stories my grandmother used to narrate I could not find in my history book. There it was all about peaceful transfer of power in 1947. That didn't match what I'd heard from her. When I asked my history teacher about this, she told me my grandmother must have been exaggerating.

Also, it occurred to me that we spend so much time learning about the Holocaust, but we know nothing about our own holocaust. After I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan in 2008, I had this absolutely overwhelming desire to record whatever I could about Partition for the future.

The traditional archives are no longer adequate. The colonial government had made those; they lacked a diverse dataset. Newspaper archives were there, but in the early 1900s newspapers were highly polarised.

We need to hear the Partition story from lots of perspectives, through lived memories. Today, we are more empowered to be able to do so because of the internet. This archive will close the gap between the people's history and official history.

Partition is a massive part of our history. We are what we are because of it. It's part of my identity too.

It's also the source of a lot of problems we face even now. But instead of doing any meta analysis of it, we've just been blaming each other. I felt very strongly that we must go into the future on a very logical footing, and for that, we need to get to the bottom of it.

How did you go about getting survivors to talk? You started with your family?

There is nobody left in my family now who lived through it. I just started with complete strangers.

While visiting Punjab in 2009, I was in Faridkot, in an old bookshop, talking to the owner about my visit to the Hiroshima Memorial and how it had made me want to document Partition memories. He told me that was a very good idea, and I could start with him. As we were chatting, more people walked in and wanted their stories recorded. In the end, I couldn't record the owner's story!

After that, many others from nearby villages started requesting that I record their stories. I realised there was a need for this.

What did your parents think about your decision to pursue this? Had they migrated too?

My father migrated as a baby; my mother was born in India.

They thought it a waste of time after I'd studied so much! They didn't want me to waste my PhD. Not a good idea to give up your career, they said.

IMAGE: At the conference in New Delhi where Lord Mountbatten disclosed Britain's partition plan for India, from left to right: Jawaharlal Nehru, Lord Ismay, adviser to Mountbatten, Viceroy Louis Mountbatten and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

So no one in your family supported you?

When I was young, my Mamaji would find ancient coins and lament that India had no culture of preserving its heritage. Your generation should do so, he would tell me. So I feel I did what he wanted me to do. He seemed happy about it.

How did you pursue this obsession when you returned to California?

After that visit, when I went back, I went to a temple and put up a table where people could sign up to tell their Partition stories. That very day, people started lining up.

I realised I couldn't do this alone. So I put up signs all over the campus (University of California, Berkeley), and at shops all over the San Francisco Bay Area calling for volunteers.

How did your boss react?

My professor (I was a post-doc) wasn't happy, obviously, with my decision to leave. He requested me to stay on for six months more, probably hoping that I would change my mind.

Did you not enjoy science, or your post-doc?

I loved it. I could have got an amazing job had I stayed on. I had a great invitation I was inclined to accept to work in a lab with a Nobel Laureate. It was almost a dream job. But Partition witnesses were quietly calling.

Even two years after I'd left physics, I heard from the lab of the Nobel Laureate, asking if I would return to physics. But as I said before, I felt I just had to do this.

IMAGE: Guneeta Singh Bhalla speaking at the event to promote her book at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai Central Library. Photograph: Jyoti Punwani

Could you get volunteers?

Oh yes, all kinds. Interestingly, in the beginning, most of the volunteers were non-desis. The desis were not that interested in history, till the project caught on after an article in the New York Times in 2013.

Americans were fascinated; they're not communal -- I'm talking about those on university campuses and the more metropolitan areas (the same majority who voted for Obama). They just thought, India had so many different cultures; and this was a missing chapter in world history related to that, one they were not likely to read.

While the younger desis weren't too keen, we had Partition witnesses themselves recording each other's experiences, people in their 70s and 80s.

It's been 13 years now, and a lot has changed. Now we have individuals from all walks of life, all ethnic groups across the Indian

subcontinent and beyond, and all age groups who do this work.

Interestingly, out of our core team members, other than myself, none of them has anyone in their families who went though Partition. Yet they feel deeply passionate about this work, as I do. They approach it as a chapter of a hidden history, an untold story.

IMAGE: Guneeta Singh answers questions at the Asiatic Society event. Photograph: Jyoti Punwani

You said Partition is a part of your identity. Can you elaborate?

The way that I am; the type of people my grandmother and father were. These things influence you. Who you are, where you came from... Am I from India or Pakistan or Punjab which lies in both? What's my heritage? It's ingrained in my identity.

My father loved giving away money he didn't have. Obviously, they came from a wealthy family before Partition, and he couldn't let go of that habit of generosity, a hallmark of generational wealth that he had inherited, even though he couldn't afford it. It also meant he had zero savings upon retirement.

Lahore, where my family came from, is the city where my DNA was shaped over hundreds of years, literally, because genes are shaped by our environment.

I first visited Lahore in 2015. It was a mind blowing experience. I could see my family's old home, it had become a government complex. I came back with so many gifts, I had to buy a second suitcase.

IMAGE: The 1947 Partition Archive is South Asia's largest oral history collection. Photograph: Kind courtesy @Guneeta_SB/Twitter

What were some of the stories that have stayed with you through this project?

The orphans. There were so many children orphaned by the violence during Partition.

We met a gentleman who was adopted after having been orphaned, taken to Pakistan by his extended family, and made to work for them. Ultimately, he managed to get an education and leave. Here in India, many Muslim orphans were "adopted'' but made to live on the farms of Sikhs and Hindus as farmhands, well into old age.

There was an auto driver in Punjab. He was 11 when he was orphaned. He couldn't continue going to school. He did odd jobs and ultimately ended up as a rickshaw driver. He remained unmarried because I suppose it would be hard to marry with no family and community support.

He must have been very bitter.

No, he was the most loving, grateful person. A Sikh originally, he worshipped all three faiths and believed everyone should live in harmony.

What do you think of the government's decision to observe August 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'?

That really was very interesting.

On July 27, 2021, we at Berkeley announced our decision to observe June 3 every year as Partition Remembrance Day. It was on June 3, 1947 that the Mountbatten Plan to partition the country was announced.

We announced this jointly with the mayor of the city of Berkeley and the city council, who declared it as an official commemoration in the city of Berkeley.

Exactly 10 days later, the PM of India announced that the birth date of Pakistan, August 14, would become 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'.

Ours was meant as a neutral observation of the day. Our Archive is flat, open to any perspective. The Indian government's observation of August 14 has a certain perspective.

IMAGE: 'Stories have been recorded by people of every ethnicity and background, because Partition witnesses had migrated all over the world, to all sorts of neighbourhoods and communities.' Photograph: Kind courtesy @Guneeta_SB/Twitter

Did Partition survivors blame Nehru and Gandhi and the Congress for it?

Not everywhere, but yes, in Punjab and Delhi, even in Bengal, they did. In Punjab there were strong local leaders in the Unionist Party, leaders like Baldev Singh and Allama Mashriqi's Khaksar movement, among others, which opposed Partition. Bengalis tended to follow Subhash Chandra Bose.

Did recording these stories change your perceptions?

100%. Everyone who works on this project seems to get humbled. Many of us had very strong views before we started recording the stories.

I can talk about myself: I used to be very angry with the British for having made my parents go through all that suffering. But when I studied the period in detail, my anger eventually melted away. They were simply outnumbered, they had to get out as fast as possible.

After WWII, they were bankrupt. The jails in India were overflowing; they couldn't handle the freedom movement or the riots; they just didn't have the resources or the manpower. Their own citizens back home were starving. The Congress wanted them out as soon as possible, they were happy to go.

Another thing we realised was not everybody was unhappy with the British Raj. There were businessmen who flourished; soldiers who fought in WWII who were very close to their British counterparts.

We also realised Partition was a two-sided story in a very big way. We've oversimplified it, blamed the British, thought of ourselves only as victims. We've been both victims and perpetrators.

This project helped us to confront a complex past; and I hope those who read the book will also be forced to do so.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Most students find it difficult to cope with the way they are expected to learn at the IITs.'

'So, all the students face the same stress.'

'But those students who are mentally weak are more affected.'

Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Polina Zimmerman/Pexels

On the 12th of February, an 18-year-old student at IIT-Bombay jumped from the seventh floor of his hostel block.

On the 13th of February 2023, a 27-year-old research scholar was found dead in his room at IIT-Madras.

On the 14th of February, a 24-year-old student was found hanging from the ceiling of his hostel room at IIT Madras.

According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha by the ministry of education, 33 students from various IITs in India have died by suicide in the last 5 years.

Why do these students studying at the premier institutions in India end their lives like this? Academic pressure? Family pressure? Societal pressure?

"Students should have the option to pick and choose the subjects they want to study. See, everybody cannot be an engineer. One guy may like basic science or cosmology or physics. Students should be able to choose the subjects of their choice. But here, that kind of freedom is not available," Dr M S Gopinathan -- who was a professor of chemistry at IIT-Madras from 1977-2005 -- tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

According to a recent report, in the last five years 33 students studying at various IITs died by suicide, and if you were to include the NITs and IIMs, the number goes up to 61.

You had spent so many years teaching at IIT-Madras. Do you think this is a new phenomenon or was it there earlier too?

Suicides were there earlier too; of course, not on this scale.

There might have been one or two suicides every year.

I'm talking about what happened more than 30 years ago when I was teaching at IIT-Madras.

But you must remember there were only five IITs in those days and today you have 20! So, the number of suicides also will go up.

The reason why this is happening is multi-faceted.

Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay

The minister of state for education told the Rajya Sabha that the reasons behind the suicides are academic stress, family and personal reasons and mental health issues. Do you agree with him?

Yes, he is right about academic pressure. But academic pressure is there not only for those students who commit suicide, it is there for all.

It is because our school education system is all about rote learning while in IITs, you need analytical thinking.

There is a vast difference between the way you learn in school and how you learn at the IITs.

Most students find it difficult to cope with the way they are expected to learn at the IITs.

So, all the students face the same stress. But those students who are mentally weak are more affected.

I had noticed that students who come from the villages where they have a deficient school system feel their social status is very low and their lingo quite different from the majority of students here.

So, these students have not just academic stress, but social, linguistic and financial stress too because they come from a poor rural background. But academic pressure is there for all.

Most of the students who get into the IITs come from leading schools and majority of them come there after underdoing special tuition classes.

Running special tuition classes to help students to get into the IITs has grown as an industry now.

For example, Kota in Rajasthan. And tuition starts very early in school life, and it continues for many years.

Remember it is very expensive, so it is affordable only to the rich urban class.

This creates a class distinction in the IITs.

All the IITs have to adhere to the reservations based on caste followed by the government.

The students who come under the reservation system are the ones who suffer the most from cultural, linguistic, social, and financial backwardness.



IMAGE: Dr M S Gopinathan, professor at IIT-Madras (1977-2005).

You spoke about rich urban students going to tuition classes where again the teaching is done only to clear the entrance examination. Do these students also find it difficult to cope?

It is a very important point to ponder. If you look at the students who go for what I call, the Kota syndrome, they have to write several examinations similar to the IIT entrance exams. And many of the students who go there fail in these examinations, and when they fail, so many of them commit suicide there.

There are a number of suicides among the Kota tuition students.

Because their parents spend a lot of money sending their children to these tuition centers, it puts a lot of pressure on these students.

When they fail, they cannot face their parents, they cannot go back, and they consider themselves failures in life. Then they think of committing suicide.

So, suicides are not confined to IITs after admission, but prior to IIT admission also, it is happening. It is mainly due to parental pressure.

According to Indian parents, if their children do not study at an IIT or go to a medical college, they are failures.

So, students think they have failed their parents when they do not get admission to the premier institutions, or pass the exams once they are admitted.

The same thing happens to those who make it to the IITs through the reservation system.

We have reservation to bring those who are down in the social ladder to the level of others. If those students find it difficult to cope with, for example at an IIT, how can you tackle the problem?

It is a complex problem. We have quite a few schemes to tackle this issue.

One is to give special tuitions to the weak students, those who do poorly in academics. It has nothing to do with caste or reservation.

But then, these students would not attend the classes because they felt they were being discriminated against by calling them weak students.

Then, we decided to give an introductory training for one whole year for these students, the marks they scored would not count in their final grade.

It was done to make them familiarise with the course. That also was not successful because students felt they were being discriminated against.

We always allot hostel rooms randomly. When students who come from rural areas and under reservation get to share rooms with those from the cities and those belong to higher castes, they feel discriminated against by the city guy or the one belonging to the upper castes.

The student from the city talks in English fluently and watches English films with his friends. And this guy feels left out culturally, unable to mingle socially.

This puts a lot of pressure on the boy from the rural area.

Do you think the problems students from the rural areas and who got admission under reservation face are social problems, and unless the society changes, these problems will not go?

Yes, these are very complex deep-rooted social problems.

I read what the minister claimed as a solution; that the IITs have become elitist institutions and to reduce the pressure on students, we must dilute the syllabus. That's not the solution.

Today if the IITs are respected globally among the best educational institutions, it is because we stick to high standards of education.

If you dilute the academic standards at the IITs, the IIT brand itself will lose its charm. So, this shouldn't be done at all.

Yes, we cannot do much to ease the social and cultural pressure, we can help students in taking academic pressure from them.

What we can do academically is make the course more relaxed for the students.

For example, if a student is weak and cannot manage 5 or 6 subjects in a semester, let him opt for two or three subjects. It would mean longer years. But that doesn't matter.

This is like a race where everybody cannot come first. Those who can finish the course faster, let them.

Those who need more time, let them take longer time, as some are slow, and some are fast.

So let the fast ones go faster, and the slow ones take their own time with a lighter academic load.

IMAGE: A protest alleging discrimination in the aftermath of the alleged suicide of Darshan Solanki, an 18-year-old student at IIT-Bombay, February 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

You mean, like what is followed by most universities in the world?

Yes. Not only that, students should have the option to pick and choose the subjects they want to study.

See, everybody cannot be an engineer. One guy may like basic science or cosmology or physics.

The students should be able to choose the subjects of their choice. But here, that kind of freedom is not available.

The syllabus is rather rigid in all the IITs.

You have to finish all the courses given to you, get A or B or the minimum grade in each one of the subjects. You cannot expect every student to be good in all the subjects.

Most foreign universities give the freedom to students to choose the courses you like, not just engineering or science courses but you can choose courses in arts or humanities or sculpture or whatever you like.

Why are we so rigid about our academic system? Why is it that even now, we are not able to look at academics from a different perspective?

This is the hangover of the colonial educational system we had followed.

The British colonists wanted only clerks so, they had a rigid education system to create clerks.

But the British education system has changed now...

Yes, they have all changed, but we have not.

You did years of post-doctoral research at Oxford, Canada and Germany. What do you think we can adopt from those education institutions?

There is a lot of academic freedom for students in the in those universities, which we don't have.

That is the first thing Indian universities can do; give students the freedom to choose the courses which is to their aptitude and liking.

For example, Albert Einstein himself failed in many school courses. He was good only in mathematics.

So, by our standards, he would never even get out of school. That is the major difference.

If a student has the freedom to do what he likes, he will excel in it.

The next thing is, when I was there nobody asked me what my caste was or what religion I followed.

At the faculty level, because of historical reasons, we have a large number of faculty from the higher castes and naturally they come with their own prejudices too. So, whenever there is a problem, they look at it with that bias.

This kind of bias is not there in the Western education system.

They may have their own bias in the social, political, religious and social sphere but not in the education system.

And another reason why students who come to the universities excel is, only those who are interested in academics go to the universities.

There are other opportunities available for those who are not interested in higher studies.

As we are not industrially developed, other opportunities are low. Now it is changing, still it is relatively much less.

Because the students have a lot of options available after the school, only very few go for higher university education. Here, everybody goes to the university.

We have so many universities and many are controlled by politicians and are corrupt.

No politician has any say in the appointment of the chancellors or faculty there. Universities are independent politically and socially.

IMAGE: A protest demanding a fair probe in the alleged suicide of 19-year-old student Fatima Lateef, outside IIT-Madras. Photograph: PTI Photo

When we spoke of academic pressure, you said the problem starts at the school level where analytical thinking is not there; only rote learning. Do you feel we have to change our school education system first?

Exactly. If you look at the school education system of, for example in the UK, Europe or the US, you will see that students do not mug up information and facts.

What they are taught there is, how to generate information. I would call it, learning to learn.

They are taught how to approach a problem, and then find a solution. They are not asked to mug up the solution.

This is how they approach learning at the primary level itself.

A couple of surveys conducted by IIT-Bombay found the caste bias is the major reason for the mental health problems faced by scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students. Do you think so?

Yes, it is true.

As they come from a backward social and economic condition, they carry this baggage with them.

I wouldn't blame the fellow who is from the lower caste or the one who is from the higher caste. This discrimination is built in our system.

So, this is a social problem...

Yes, it is a social problem, and it exists in our society. This kind of discrimination is built in the system.

And it may have its repercussions in the academic field also like it is there in all other fields.

It is alleged that some professors show discriminatory attitude towards students from the lower castes. Sometime back, complaints about some professors at IIT-Madras were raised by a few faculty members for their Brahminical attitude. Did it really exist at IIT-Madras? You taught there for a long time.

Yes, it (Brahminical dominance) is there.

There is another side to it also. Professors belonging to the lower castes are very few in number.

The caste-based vacancies do not even get filled up at the faculty level because a certain standard is required for the appointment as faculty at an IIT.

They start at the assistant professor level. That is where the reservation applies.

There is no reservation for promotions. So if you want to be promoted to associate professor and then to full professorship, it is done internally by a committee.

There has been a lot of complaints by those coming from lower castes at the promotion level, because a majority of professors at the committee are from higher castes.

When they don't get promoted, they complain of bias. Even when they do not do well, they complain of bias.

There have been instances of them going to court saying he was denied promotion because of his caste.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the Uttarakhand as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalisthan Amritpal Singh entering the state, the state's Director General of Police Ashok Kumar has said.

IMAGE: In a CCTV footage, Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh seen on a bike.

"An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as a precaution in view of the possibility of pro-Khalisthan Amritpal Singh entering the state," the DGP told ANI.

He said that the police conducting intensive checking on the borders of all three districts and in other areas.

Significantly, all three districts of the State have been affected by terrorism in the 90s, he added.

On Thursday, Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said that a total of 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state, of which, 30 have been found in substantive criminal activities, while, remaining are under preventive arrest.

"Police teams are doing a thorough screening of all the arrested persons and soon they will be released from police custody," he said.

The IGP said that this operation was carried out on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with an aim to save the innocent youth of Punjab from playing into the hands of Anti-National Forces.

"Punjab Police have clear instructions from the Chief Minister not to harass any innocent person during the ongoing operation. Police teams have even not harassed the family members of Amritpal Singh," he said.

Divulging more details, IGP Gill said that the Punjab Police in a joint operation with Haryana Police have arrested a woman identified as Baljeet Kaur for harbouring Amritpal Singh and his aide Pappalpreet Singh at her home in Kurukshetra, Haryana on March 19. Accused Baljit Kaur revealed that Pappalpreet was in touch with her for the last two and a half years," he said.

Gill also revealed that the Waris Punjab De chief's last location was in Haryana.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday, the IGP said, "We are still actively searching for Amritpal Singh and have come to know that its last location was in Haryana. We have taken a woman named Baljeet Kaur into custody. Amritpal stayed at this woman's house in Kurukshetra (Haryana) and the Waris Punjab De chief and his close aide had been in touch with her for the last two-and-a-half years."

The IGP said Baljeet Kaur disclosed during questioning that both Amritpal and his key aide, Papalpreet Singh, had stayed at her house on the night of March 19.

"We arrested Baljeet Kaur with the help of Haryana Police. She disclosed during interrogation that on the night of March 19, both Papalpreet Singh and Amritpal had put up at her place. She said she had Papalpreet for more than the last couple of years and he had stayed at her house on several occasions," the IGP said.

"After staying the night, they moved out of there (her house) the next day. We are examining the CCTV footage and are hopeful of arresting Amritpal soon," he added.

The Punjab IGP informed further that Amritpal and his aide changed their two-wheeler near a gurdwara at Sehowal village in Jalandhar and tried to get a boat to get across a river.

"Our team continues to be in his trail. We are examining CCTV footage retrieved from several locations in a bid to trace his whereabouts. They changed their two-wheeler at a gurdwara at Sehowal village and tried to get a boat to cross the river. However, they failed to get one and eventually used an overbridge to get across the river," the IGP added.

"After roaming around in another two-wheeler, they hired an auto-rickshaw. After this, they were located at Kurukshetra. Gurpej (one of the four men arrested for allegedly helping Amritpal escape), who is currently in our custody, told us about another woman, apart from Baljeet Kaur, who he may turn to for refuge," the IGP added.

He said that, during the ongoing operation, Khanna Police have also another Amritpal's close associate identified as Tejinder Singh Gill alias Gorkha Baba (42) of village Mangewal in Khanna. Police teams have also recovered some incriminating material including holograms of Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) and weapon training videos, from his possession.

An FIR on March 22 has been registered under sections 188 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 27 of the Arms Act at Police Station Malaud in Khanna," the IGP said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the aggressive rhetoric of the Armenian leadership towards Azerbaijan which has been growing in recent days, Spokesperson for the ministry Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.

He made the remark in response to a question from local media outlets about the provocative statements of Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan related to normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to the spokesperson, these kind of statements, ignoring the growing international efforts to advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, serve to deliberately exacerbate the situation in the region.

Both during the period of occupation and in the post-war period, practice has shown that the Armenian side usually, before committing military provocations, conducts such a massive disinformation campaign in order to shift responsibility to the Azerbaijani side, he said.

Besides, according to Hajizada, accusing Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing and military rhetoric by Armenian leadership, which carried out ethnic cleansing and massacres of Azerbaijanis, occupied Azerbaijani territories, destroyed cities and villages, is an example of falsification.

To establish peace in the region, the leadership of Armenia must abandon aggressive rhetoric, stop aggressive activities, infringement on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and interference in internal affairs," he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on an official visit to Bengaluru to attend various events, on Friday met Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party strongman and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, at his residence for breakfast and held discussions.

The meeting between the two leaders gains significance as the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the Assembly elections in Karnataka, due by May, in the next few days, and the party is in the process of finalising candidates for the polls.

Yediyurappa, the octogenarian leader, who is also a member of the party's parliamentary board, its top decision-making body, had been touring across the state as part of the 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre' in recent weeks.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel, party's general secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, Yediyurappa's younger son and party's state vice president B Y Viayendra were among those present at the breakfast meet.

On arriving at Yediyurappa's residence, Shah insisted on receiving the flower bouquet from Vijayendra first, when Yediyurappa approached. He then patted Vijayendra on the back and accepted Yediyurappa's greetings.

This is being seen by some within the party as Shah acknowledging Vijayendra's contribution to the party, and him possibly contesting in the upcoming assembly polls.

There were earlier reports that Yediyurappa was upset as Vijayendra, considered his political heir apparent, was not given any "prominent position" in the party and was not inducted into the cabinet by making him an MLC, after his stepping down as the chief minister in 2021.

While announcing that he will not contest assembly polls, Yediyurappa in the same breath had said that he will be vacating his Shikaripura assembly seat, from where Vijayendra will be contesting, if the high command agreed.

Vijayendra's elder brother B Y Raghavendra is BJP MP from Shivamogga.

The BJP seems to be falling back on its seasoned oarsman Yediyurappa, making him a key poll mascot, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as it shores up its campaign in poll-bound Karnataka.

The reasons are not far to seek as to why Yediyurappa has been pushed to the top of the campaign plank: The four-time chief minister, who built the party from the grassroots level, has a mass appeal and connect -- particularly with the political influential Lingayat community -- that no other party leader in the state commands.
The Haryana Police on Friday said it has stepped up vigil across the state and its personnel have been put on alert after radical preacher Amritpal Singh's last location was traced in the Kurukshetra district.

IMAGE: Amritpal Singh, who returned from Dubai last year to head the Waris Punjab De group. Photograph: ANI Photo

However, the whereabouts of Amritpal and his associate Papalpreet Singh remain unknown. They were allegedly harboured by a woman at her home in Kurukshetra district's Shahabad on March 19.

A senior Punjab police official on Thursday said, "As soon as we came to know that he has sneaked out of Punjab, we immediately alerted the other states."

Haryana's Additional DGP (Law and Order) Mamta Singh Friday said there is no further input about where Amritpal went from Shahabad.

"So far, there is no other input. However, we are on alert and keeping a watch," Singh told PTI over the phone.

Baljit Kaur, the woman who allegedly harboured Amritpal Singh and his associate Papalpreet Singh at her home in the Kurukshetra district was nabbed on Thursday. She was being questioned by the Punjab police.

Additional DGP (Law and Order) Mamta Singh said immediately after the Haryana Police got information about the woman who harboured Amritpal and his associate they shared it with their Punjab counterpart.

A CCTV footage surfaced on Thursday showing Amritpal in a shirt and trousers and holding an umbrella in Haryana's Shahabad in an apparent bid to hide from police gaze.

Later, another footage claimed to be of March 20 also surfaced, in which the radical preacher is seen again carrying an umbrella and moving on a road opposite the Shahabad bus stand, Haryana police sources said.

Meanwhile, the driver of the cart on which Amritpal along with his associate Papalpreet was seen sitting in Jalandhar said both of them had asked him to take them to a tyre repair shop as their bike's tyre had got punctured.

The driver claimed that he did not know about radical the preacher at that time.

Meanwhile, a video has emerged showing one of Amritpal's associates shooting at a firing range in the preacher's native village Jallupur Khera in the Amritsar district. Pictures of some associates posing with weapons have also surfaced containing the hologram of Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF).

Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on Thursday said following the questioning of Amritpal's associate Tejinder Singh Gill who was held by the Khanna police, some sensitive materials were seized which indicate that they were involved in "anti-national activities".

The Khanna police arrested Tejinder Singh Gill, who was part of the private security set-up of the Khalistan sympathizer.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of the preacher's aides.

Last week, the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against Amritpal and elements of his outfit "Waris Punjab De".

Amritpal, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district. After his escape, Amritpal changed his appearance, wore sunglasses and western attire and has been using different modes of travel.
Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, before escaping a Punjab police crackdown on his outfit and supporters, attended five events in 10 days, and in these, he tried to radicalise Sikhs, coaxing 800-1,000 individuals to remain prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, officials said.

IMAGE: Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh seen escaping in an SUV at a toll booth on March 18, in Jalandhar, March 18, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The radical preacher's brazen activities evinced his methodical efforts to undermine the fabric of society, they claimed and added that he during his speeches and sermons alleged that the government was leaving no stone unturned in its quest to disarm Sikhs by revoking their weapons licences.

Amritpal Singh, who took over as Waris Punjab De chief after its founder actor-activist Deep Sindhu's death last year, is on the run after the police launched a massive crackdown on March 18 in the state and arrested several of his supporters.

It began weeks after the preacher and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar on February 23 to secure the release of an arrested associate.

The episode raised fears over the possibility of the return of Khalistani militancy to Punjab that borders Pakistan.

The officials said the preacher allegedly implored youngsters to unify for securing "Khalsa rule" for the coming generations of Punjab, proclaiming that the division within the Sikh Panth made them "vulnerable to the enemy's onslaught".

The Ajnala incident had reignited fears of a resurgence of Khalistani militancy in the state, they said and pointed out that Amritpal Singh had ulterior motives to sully the peaceful ambience of Punjab, and this was exemplified by the abduction and assault on Barinder Singh.

Barinder Singh, in his complaint, had told police that Amritpal Singh's associates had abducted him from Ajnala and took him to an unknown place where he was brutally thrashed.

In Februray, Dubai-return Amritpal Singh's supporters stormed the police station to get Toofan Singh, the accused, released.

During the Ajnala incident, he openly defied authorities and did not refrain from injuring policemen in the process, according to officials.

Amritpal Singh had showed no qualms in engaging in sacrilege and vandalising gurdwaras in Kapurthala and Jalandhar, and stoking communal tension by delivering provocative speeches targeting other religions, they claimed.

He also brazenly encouraged violence and gun culture, exploited youth for his pernicious agenda, and described his private militia as the 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj', the officials alleged.

Earlier, they had said the fugitive preacher had been targeting drug addicts and rogue ex-servicemen to help him build a gang that could be easily transformed into a terrorist outfit.

The officials emphasised that had action not been taken under the National Security Act (NSA), members of 'Waris Punjab De' would have gone scot-free.

Amritpal Singh, on another occasion, allegedly threatened 'Dera' followers to eschew those who swindled their money, lied to them and bombed them, and instead love the Gurus who selflessly fought for their motherland and sacrificed their own children, they said.
The Congress on Friday welcomed the statements of opposition leaders condemning Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha and said it was now time for the party to take on the job of building the opposition unity in a "systematic way".

IMAGE: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leaders including Ambika Soni and P Chidambaram attend a meeting under the chairmanship of party president Mallikarjun Kharge following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP, at the AICC headquarters, New Delhi, March 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The grand old party also said it has been coordinating with various opposition parties in Parliament and now the coordination has to be outside the two Houses as well.

Leaders of almost all opposition parties on Friday rallied around Rahul Gandhi, after he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Gujarat court in a defamation case, and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of doing "vindictive politics".

The Congress said it will fight the battle legally and politically for its former president. It got the support of parties such as the Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi, which had earlier said they would maintain equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress.

Addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party welcomes the statements by opposition leaders condemning the action against Gandhi.

It was noted today that many opposition parties have condemned the action taken by the government unilaterally with such lightning speed to disqualify Rahul Gandhi, he said.

"Yes, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Everyday Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been meeting floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. So we are coordinating in Parliament and now coordination has to be outside Parliament," he said after a meeting of top brass of the party, including party chief Kharge and former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi.

"It is also heartening to note that parties which were not part of this floor coordination in Parliament have now issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," Ramesh said, adding that the Congress welcomes the statement of support of all opposition leaders.

State units and frontal organisations of the Congress will launch different programmes across the country and they will begin from Monday with a countrywide agitation, he said.

"We will go all over the country saying that Rahul Gandhi has been deliberately disqualified, as he has been raising his voice against the Modi government on various issue including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and the government's intentions and policies," Ramesh said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party TMC, has been at odds with the Congress over remarks made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and has been absent in opposition marches held over the last few weeks, reacted strongly against Gandhi's disqualification.

"In PM (Narendra) Modi's New India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the Cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," Banerjee tweeted.

"Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she added.

Support for Gandhi came from parties which have stood by the Congress through the last few weeks as the party led the opposition on the Adani issue. Voices of anger, shock and disbelief came from parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India, CPI-Marxist, Shiv Sena, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Nationalist Congress Party, among others.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Gandhi's disqualification as shocking and called on the public to rise against the BJP's "arrogant" power.

"The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power," he said in a tweet.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called for "fighting on the street" against the BJP.

"The person who has alleged defamation should actually accuse those of it who betrayed their country and fled abroad, causing harm to their name and fame," he said.

BRS national president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said that the disqualification of Gandhi was a "black day" in the history of Indian democracy and shows the height of Narendra Modi's "arrogance and dictatorship".
Several opposition leaders hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party following the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP on Friday, alleging the ruling party was involved in vindictive politics, and said it was a new low for democracy.

IMAGE: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge coming out after attending the meeting of party MPs at the party office, Parliament premises, in New Delhi, March 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday without naming Rahul Gandhi said the country is witnessing a new low in a constitutional democracy.

Opposition leaders are being disqualified for their speeches, she asserted.

"In PM Modi's New India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy, she said in a tweet.

"Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy, Banerjee, added.

In Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction, dubbed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as murder" of democracy and said this is the beginning of the end of "dictatorship.

In a statement, Thackeray said it has become a crime to call a thief a thief, while those looting the country are out.

This is the murder of democracy. All agencies are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of the dictatorship...the battle only needs a direction (now), Thackeray said.

"Vindictive and shameful action against Rahul Gandhi. This disqualification yet again proves that we are living in the times of caged democracy, she said in a tweet.

Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya highlighted the speed with which action was taken against Gandhi.

"The sentence against @RahulGandhi in the alleged Modi defamation case was announced yesterday and within a day he is now disqualified from the Lok Sabha! Nothing short of a surgical strike on democracy! Time for the entire opposition to rally against this unbridled emergency! he said.

Communist Party of India leader Binoy Viswam asked where India was going as a democracy.

"Where is our democracy heading to? For a speech made in Kolar, case in Surat, that too after how many years? Anybody of their dislike can be booked for whatever reason they decide! Today it is Rahul Gandhi, tomorrow it can be you or me. Time to unite in defence of democracy, he said.

Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish MP termed Gandhi's disqualification unfortunate, and said if MPs were to lose their membership on such matters of defamation, then 70 per cent of parliamentarians will lose their membership, most of them being from the BJP, he claimed.

He alleged that many BJP leaders have linked Muslims to terrorism, while criticising the disqualification.

If such an issue becomes a yardstick to disqualify an MP, then filing defamation cases will become a means to strip lawmakers of their membership, he said.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified Rahul Gandhi as MP from Wayanad in Kerala after a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his remark, " How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?

Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

While the Congress has said it will fight the matter politically and legally, the BJP has said the decision to disqualify Gandhi was a legal one and not a political call.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday suggested that a conspiracy within the Congress might have played a role in its leaders not approaching a higher court for relief for Rahul Gandhi after his conviction as it had done so in the case of Pawan Khera within hours of the Assam police arresting him.

IMAGE: Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leaders including Ambika Soni and P Chidambaram attend a meeting under the chairmanship of party president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the party leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP, in New Delhi, March 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Anurag Thakur also hit out at the Congress over its criticism of the court judgment convicting Gandhi and said the Nehru-Gandhi family suffers from "feudal mindset" and a "sense of entitlement" as its members believed in a separate set of laws and democratic system for themselves.

"Law is equal for everyone," Pradhan told reporters at a press conference, accusing Gandhi of "abusing" backward castes with his "thieves" jibe aimed at "Modi surname".

Hitting back at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his claim that Gandhi has been punished for speaking the truth on the Adani-Hindenburg issue, he asked if abusing deprived and backward communities means speaking the truth.

Both the BJP leaders asserted that Gandhi's disqualification was a natural outcome of the law as the Supreme Court has made it clear that a lawmaker stands disqualified from the time of his conviction.

The Lok Sabha speaker has only confirmed this legal position, they said.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified Gandhi as MP from Wayanad in Kerala a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his remark "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Following his disqualification, he would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.
The Congress has decided to take to the streets to protest Rahul Gandhi's conviction and will meet President Droupadi Murmu along with other parties.

IMAGE: Police stop Congress party workers during a protest against the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case, in Lucknow on March 23, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

The main opposition party announced a mass agitation on Thursday immediately after Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Surat court in a defamation case and said it will not just fight the case legally but also politically.

Following the court verdict, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting of senior party leaders and MPs at his residence where it was decided that a protest would be staged at Vijay Chowk on Friday.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from the Parliament House to Vijay Chowk.

The opposition parties have also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

Ramesh said the meeting at Kharge's residence lasted around two hours and it was decided that the party president would hold a meeting with all state unit chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders and plan agitations in states.

"We will hold protests across Delhi and in other states on Monday on this issue," Ramesh said.

It is just not a legal issue, but also a serious political matter linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," Ramesh said.
The Kerala high court in Kochi on Friday quashed the decision of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, as the chancellor of universities in the state, to withdraw his nominated members from the senate of Kerala University.

IMAGE: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. Photograph: PTI Photo

The court said the chancellor's order to withdraw nominations of the members was not based on any reason and "was rather founded on prejudice".

"It was an unreasoned act, without regard to the facts and circumstances. All the above points to arbitrariness. It appears that the chancellor was under a misconception regarding the role of nominee, which also contributed to the arbitrary action," said the court.

"Therefore, on the facts as noticed above, this court finds that the order withdrawing the nominated members suffers from the vice of arbitrariness," Justice Sathish Ninan said.

The court also said that a nominee under section 17 of the Kerala University Act was "not a mere mouthpiece or an agent" and his actions have to be in accordance with law.

"The order of withdrawal of the nominated members (under section 17) is not for any alleged illegal act," it added.

Regarding some of the senate members who were 'ex-officio members', the court said their nominations could not have been withdrawn by the chancellor in exercise of the doctrine of pleasure provided under the Kerala University Act.

The high court also quashed a notification issued by the chancellor constituting a search-cum-selection committee, for selecting the vice chancellor of the varsity, and the panel's convener, saying it was not in accordance with the mandate of the Kerala University Act.

The order came on a plea moved by the 15 nominated members challenging the withdrawal of their nominations as well as the notification constituting the search committee and its convenor.

They had contended that the committee and its convener could not have been constituted when the panel's third member had not yet been decided by the senate of the university.

According to section 10 of the Kerala University Act, the search committee shall comprise one member elected by the senate, one nominated by the chairman of the University Grants Commission, and the third nominated by the chancellor.

The chancellor is to appoint one among the members of the committee as its convenor.

Khan, as chancellor, withdrew nominations of the senate members as even after his repeated directions to hold a meeting and provide a nominee for the search committee, nothing was done.

The senate, on the other hand, passed a resolution asking the chancellor to withdraw the notification constituting the search committee and its convenor.

The search committee was to be constituted to select a new VC for the university as the tenure of the one in office was slated to end soon.
Prime Minister Modi called for optimal grain storage, fire audits and mock drills in hospitals as preparations for the harsh summer forecast by the meteorological department.

IMAGE: A worker collects freshly harvested wheat. Photograph: ANI Photo

As several parts of India enter a long and dry summer, water levels in the country's reservoirs and foodgrain storage are being closely monitored to ensure that irrigation, power generation, and -- most critically -- grain supplies do not wilt in the heat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for optimal grain storage, fire audits, and mock drills in hospitals as preparations for the harsh summer forecast by the meteorological department, and asked officials to track the water levels in reservoirs.

This is all the more vital given the grim projections of El Nino and its possible impact on India's southwest monsoon this year.

So far, not much can be said with certainty about El Nino's impact on the monsoon, except that it is expected to appear during the second half of the four-month southwest monsoon season starting June.

Reservoirs: Bad news and good

Already, water levels in the reservoirs are less than the corresponding period of last year, as on March 9.

The good news is that the water levels are higher than the average of the last 10 years during the corresponding period.

Of the 143 reservoirs monitored by the Central Water Commission, 18 have electricity projects linked to them.

Live storage in the reservoirs is 86.449 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is 49 per cent of their total live storage capacity, according to the reservoirs bulletin of March 09.

Last year, during the same period, the total water available in these reservoirs was 53 per cent of the capacity.

However, the water available this year is significantly higher than the average storage during the same period of the last 10 years, which is 75.218 BCM.

The water levels in reservoirs dipped this year due to the lower-than-expected winter rains in most parts of the country.

From January 1 to February 28, rainfall across the country was about 45 per cent less than normal.

Not only that, in February 2023, the monthly average maximum temperature over the Indian region was the highest since 1901, while the monthly average minimum was the fifth highest, according to the Met department.

The average minimum temperature was the second highest in February over north-west India, third highest for east and north-east, and fifth highest for pan-India since 1901.

That made February unusually dry, depleting the reservoirs.

Region wise, the March 9, 2023, Central Water Commission data showed that except for the 10-odd reservoirs in north India, water levels in reservoirs of all the remaining regions of the country were lower than last year.

But, in all regions, water levels were much higher than their 10-year average.

To recap, the Met, in its March to May forecast, had said that both maximum and minimum temperatures over most parts of east, north-east, central and north-west India was expected to remain above normal.

Only in Southern Peninsular India, both the maximum as well as minimum will remain normal to below normal.

Grain Storage: Ample space, for now

Prime Minister Modi, in his review meeting, directed the Food Corporation of India to ensure optimal storage of grains in extreme weather conditions.

Foodgrains storage is a critical aspect of the preparations for fighting heat waves.

March to May is the period when wheat procurement across the country's northern belt -- in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and western Uttar Pradesh -- is at its peak.

These are states where the impact of heat is felt most severely.

With prolonged exposure to heat, the wheat lying in the open either in mandis or elsewhere could deteriorate in quality.

The Centre has targeted to procure 34.1 million tonnes of wheat from farmers in the coming season starting April, significantly higher than the actual procurement of about 19 million tonnes in 2022-2023.

According to government data, the total storage capacity available with FCI and state agencies, both owned as well as hired, is 71.39 million tonnes as of January 2023.

Foodgrain stocks, as on February 1, 2023, were 33 million tonnes.

This means there is ample storage space available with the government even before the wheat procurement gathers full steam.

This is largely on account of the huge offtake of wheat and rice in the last three to four years due to Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana alongside the usual public distribution system.

For now, it seems that government will be able to face the challenges.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday security in the ocean needs to be strengthened as most of the narcotic drugs are shipped in Pakistan and go via Iran to Sri Lanka and Africa.

He stressed that drug control was not just the Centre's fight but of the states, societies and citizens.

"At least 60-70 per cent of drug smuggling happens through the sea route," he said addressing the regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' for southern states and Union territories.

"We need to have a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach sparing none who is involved in drug trafficking."

He highlighted the need to investigate the chain of networks down below when a big fry was caught.

"When we catch a big fry, we need to investigate the entire chain of networks down below. When we catch a drug addict, we need to investigate those who supplied them," he said.

"If drug addiction is not controlled, it will become an incurable ulcer in the body."

"We have set a goal of drug-free India. We have the target of (becoming) a developed nation by 2047 and a five trillion (USD) economy in 2025. Drug-free society is the foundation to achieve these goals. All the governments should join hands. We have to make the eradication of drug menace a people's fight," Shah said.

Shah urged all the government departments such as revenue, social welfare, education and culture should join hands with the health department in the drive against drugs. Drug detection, network destruction, culprit detention and addict rehabilitation are the four pillars of the fight against narcotics.

"I am sorry to say that the detention of culprits is taken very lightly. We are not being stern against them. We should not take drug cases in isolation. We have to deal with it sensitively. You have to fight collectively through detection of drugs, destruction of networks, detention of culprits and rehabilitation of those addicted."

According to Shah, there are strong provisions in the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act, which are not being implemented effectively.

"Please review it and find out how many properties of drug dealers have been confiscated, and how many of them have been jailed using these laws," he suggested.

He reminded the officers that the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has adopted a zero tolerance policy against drugs to make India drug-free country.

He further said that under the platinum jubilee of the Indian independence, it was decided that during the 75-day campaign starting from June 1, 2022, 75,000 kg of narcotics will be destroyed.

A total of 5,94,620 kg of narcotics worth Rs 8,409 crore has been destroyed so far, over-achieving the target manifold, Shah said.

The Union minister noted that his ministry has adopted a three-pronged approach to crackdown on narcotics, which includes strengthening institutional structures, empowerment of all agencies related to control of narcotics and launching an awareness campaign.

Shah told the gathering that a total of 1,257 cases were registered between 2006 and 2013, which increased by 152 percent to 3,172 between 2014 and 2022, while, the total number of arrests during the same period increased by 260 percent to 4,888 from 1,362.

Similarly, during 2006-2013, 1.52 lakh kg of drugs were seized, which doubled to 3.30 lakh kg during 2014-22. Drugs valued at Rs 768 crore were seized during 2006-2013, which rose by 25 times to Rs 20,000 crore during 2014-2022.

During the event, 9,298 kg of seized narcotics worth Rs 1,235 crore were destroyed.

Apart from this, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Rashtriya Raksha University and the Government of Karnataka to open a new campus of the University at Shivamogga.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The movement of a convoy carrying out illegal military transportation along the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road was once again noticed today, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the ministry, Azerbaijani technical surveillance equipment recorded the movement of one ZTR-82A combat vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeeping contingent [temporarily deployed in Azerbaijans Karabakh in accordance with trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the second Karabakh war], three KamAZ awning vehicles and a KamAZ vehicle with a fuel tank belonging to Armenians.

We are once again declaring the inadmissibility of military transportation accompanied by the peacekeeping contingent, which is a severe violation of the trilateral statement provisions, the ministry said.

The creation of conditions for the free movement of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other means of material and technical support for illegal Armenian formations in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, accompanied by the peacekeeping contingent, is a gross violation of the reached agreements by the contingent, and such cases must be stopped immediately, the ministry noted.

Such regular illegal activities demonstrate the necessity of establishing an Azerbaijani border crossing and control point at the end of the Lachin-Khankendi road on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, added the ministry.

Previously, the illegal military transportation accompanied by the peacekeeping contingent along the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road was recorded on March 21.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as an MP by the Lok Sabha Secretariat is a result of a court order and not a political call, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders said on Friday, stating that everyone is equal before the law.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Union Minister of State for Law and Justice S P S Baghel termed the disqualification "lawful" and asserted that everyone is equal before the law.

He noted that a BJP member of the legislative assembly was recently disqualified in Uttar Pradesh following his conviction in a criminal case.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the decision was a legal one and alleged the Congress was questioning the judiciary.

"It was a legal decision and not a call taken by the political party. It was taken by a court. The Congress should clarify who they are protesting against," he said.

Senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav said Gandhi had got enough opportunities to explain himself, provide evidence and all rules have been followed leading to his disqualification.

"When the order has come now the Congress is protesting against the order. They are abusing the legal system. In this country, the system runs according to the law and prior to this similar action has been taken against other public representatives.

"Not just Gandhi, but the Congress party should apologise for insulting the OBC community. They should work towards the development of the country instead of defaming the country's democracy in London," he said.

BJP MP from Kaushambi, Vinod Kumar Sonkar said Gandhi had insulted an entire community and he should be punished.

"This is a decision of the court and the way he defamed a community he should be punished. This disqualification is a good message that no one is above the law," he said.

A day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case, Gandhi was disqualified as MP from Wayanad by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Friday.

Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.
Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda Friday claimed that Rahul Gandhi has a habit of levelling fabricated allegations having no connection with facts while alleging the Congress leader has a "huge arrogance but little understanding".

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes onlyCongress MP Rahul Gandhi at Surat District Court in connection with the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his alleged 'Modi Surname' remarks. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a series of tweets amid a political fight between the BJP and the Congress following Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case over the "Modi surname" remarks, Nadda alleged that "lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral" to his politics.

People's "punishment" to him will be more severe in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls than in 2019 when he lost in Amethi and the Congress was routed nationally, the BJP leader said.

He said, "By comparing OBC communities to thieves, Rahul Gandhi has shown a pathetic and casteist mindset. However, his latest tirade is not surprising. For the last many years, he has always reduced levels of political discourse."

Nadda said he repeatedly ignored suggestions from the court and the community to tender an apology for his comments. The entire Other Backward Classes will avenge this insult in a democratic manner, the BJP president said.

"He repeatedly hurt the sentiments of the OBCs. The Surat court has convicted him for his objectionable comments against the community. But Rahul Gandhi and the Congress stuck to those remarks due to their arrogance," Nadda said.

As the "newly minted" Congress president, Gandhi's core issue for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls was the "cooked-up Rafale scam", he said.

"His negative politics and cooked-up Rafale scam faced a setback in the court of law. Our highest court of the land, the Honourable Supreme Court gave a very clear verdict on the Rafale issue and did not believe the corruption bogey Gandhi raised," he added.

Targeting the Congress leader, he said Gandhi was also pulled up by the Supreme Court for his misleading claims on the Rafale issue and had to tender an unconditional apology for his fabricated allegations.

Gandhi also resorted to raising the "chowkidar chor hai" slogan despite objections from senior leaders within his party, the BJP president said citing media reports.

He went on ranting against PM Narendra Modi even if it meant he was defeated in his own seat (Amethi) and his party got wiped out nationally, the BJP president said.

"Now, Rahul Gandhi calls the entire OBC community thieves. He gets flak in the courts but he refuses to apologise thus showing how deep-rooted his hatred for OBCs is. The people of India did not forgive him in 2019. In 2024 the punishment will be more severe," he said.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav also hit out at the Congress for raising questions on a Gujarat court convicting Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case, and asked if they consider themselves above the law of the land.

Yadav, a prominent OBC leader, noted that the court convicted Gandhi following due process of law.

Are Congress party and Rahul Gandhi higher than the law of the country?...Is it a national leader's job to abuse and insult a surname of the OBC society? the senior BJP leader asked at a press conference

I believe Congress party and Rahul Gandhi are guilty of hurling abuse at the entire OBC community in the country, he said, adding, Everybody should respect the court verdict".

Yadav also slammed Gandhi for his recent democracy remarks in the UK and accused him of hurling abuses and telling lies.

The Congress leader has not just insulted a caste or a society with his remarks for which he has been convicted by the court, he has also insulted India, Constitution of India and democratic process in India with his recent comments in London, he charged.

His words reflect his mindset about the OBC society and other smaller (lower caste) societies, he added.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi attended Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday, a day after he was convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court.

IMAGE: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrives at Parliament House complex during Budget Session, in New Delhi, Friday, March 24, 2023. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

Rahul Gandhi attended a meeting of party MPs before the start of the House proceedings. Congress Parliamentary Party Chief Sonia Gandhi was also present during the meeting.

The House was adjourned seconds after convening amid ruckus over various issues, and Rahul Gandhi left Parliament soon after that.

The court in Gujarat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in the case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.
Following his disqualification as a member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi may have to vacate his official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi within a month if he does not get relief from a higher court in the criminal defamation case, an official said on Friday.

IMAGE: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and party president Mallikarjun Kharge come out after attending the meeting of party MPs at the party office, Parliament premises, New Delhi, March 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Gandhi was allotted the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow after his election as a Lok Sabha MP in 2004.

On Friday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified him as an MP, effective March 23, after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail.

Giving immediate bail, the court allowed the former Congress president 30 days to appeal in a higher court.

"As he has been disqualified from Lok Sabha, he is not entitled to a government accommodation. According to rules, he will have to vacate his official bungalow within a month since the date of disqualification order," an official of the Union housing and urban affairs ministry said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had to vacate her official Lodhi Estate bungalow in July 2020 as she was no longer eligible for it after her security cover had been downgraded.

The Congress party has said it would fight the conviction and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi politically and legally.

Following his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Hitting out at the government over the issue, the Congress said it was "a black day for Indian democracy" and asserted that the battle will be fought both "legally and politically".

The opposition party also alleged that the action was driven by "political vendetta".

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Bharatiya Janata Party made all efforts to get him disqualified as he was speaking the truth.

"He has been removed from the House for speaking the truth, fighting for the Constitution and for people's rights," Kharge alleged.
Nearly a dozen students protesting against the debarment of two students for allegedly participating in a screening of the BBC documentary on Delhi University campus were detained on Friday from the Arts Faculty.

IMAGE: Delhi University students staging protest against the debarment of two students on the varsity campus, on March 22, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy AISA-Delhi University/Twitter

The students have alleged that they were manhandled by the police and university security inside the North Campus premises.

According to police, 11 students demonstrating near the Vivekananda statute were removed to maintain peace and tranquillity in DU North Campus.

Meanwhile, the university has said that the students did not seek permission before the protest and added that such indiscipline will not be tolerated.

The students were sitting on an indefinite strike to protest against the "draconian" action by the university authorities. There was no immediate reaction from the varsity authority and the police.

The students have claimed that heavy police and paramilitary forces were deployed inside the Arts Faculty ahead of the protest.

"Students who gathered for the indefinite strike against debarring of two students from DU have been beaten and detained by the Delhi police and DU Guards. As many as 25 students have been detained," All India Students' Association Delhi president Abhigyan told PTI.

According to sources, several students have been taken to Burari police station.

"Students gathered at Arts Faculty against the arbitary notice debarring two students have been brutally beaten, manhandled and detained. This exposes the Nexus of the police, BJP-RSS backed college administration. We will not be silenced by such measures, protest to protect our campus democracy, dissent will continue untill this notice is withdrawn!" AISA DU secretary Anjali said.

In a video shared by the AISA activists, security forces of the university were seen dragging, removing and pushing students from the spot.

DU Proctor Rajni Abbi claimed that many of these protestors are not even from Delhi University.

"They have started protesting inside the Arts Faculty. They did not even inform the police. We have asked them to at least inform the police before such gatherings. And now they have started protesting under the Vivekananda statue just to prevent the wrath of the police. This will not be tolerated. Many of these people are not even DU students," DU Proctor Rajni Abbi told PTI

Delhi University has barred two students, including a Congress students' wing leader, for a year for allegedly participating in a screening of the BBC documentary titled The Modi Question on the 2002 Godhra riots on campus.

During this period, the students will not be allowed to take any university or college or departmental examination, according to the memorandum dated March 10.

Six other students allegedly involved in the January 27 incident have been given "less strict" punishment, the official said, while indicating that more students might be implicated.

"On the request of Delhi University authorities, 11 students -- nine males and two females -- have been removed from near Vivekananda statute, Arts Faculty to maintain peace and and tranquillity in DU North Campus. Reportedly, they were gathering there to protest in support of some students who were expelled due to indiscipline," deputy commissioner of police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

No FIR as of now in this regard, he added.
IMAGE: A damaged residential building. Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: Paramedics and rescuers work at the site of a residential building damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia. Photograph: Sergiy Chalyi/Reuters

IMAGE: Rescuers work at the site of a damaged building in the town of Rzhyshchiv. Photograph: Alina Yarysh/Reuters

IMAGE: The destruction is apparent. Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: Medics carry a man evacuated from a damaged building. Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: Another damaged building. Photograph: Reuters

IMAGE: Rescuers work at a site of a building heavily damaged by Russian drone strikes, here and below. Photograph: Reuters

Photograph: Alina Yarysh/Reuters

IMAGE: A security personnel stands guard at a site of a damaged building. Photograph: Alina Yarysh/Reuters

IMAGE: Shelest Oleksandr and his wife Vira, who were wounded during Russian drone attacks on a compound of a local lyceum in the town of Rzhyshchiv, at a hospital in Obukhiv town. Photograph: Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Taking a strong view of pro-Khalistan supporters pulling down the Indian tricolour at the Indian high commission in the United Kingdom, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India would not accept differential standards of security.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses at BJYM Yuva Samvada, at RV Dental College, in Bengaluru, March 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

He also accused the UK of not meeting the obligation of providing security to the diplomats of the Mission, which is expected of a country where a high commission or a consulate is located.

On the flag and the security of the high commission, in this particular case in the UK -- whenever any country sends an embassy anywhere abroad, it is the obligation of the receiving country to provide security for a diplomat to do his work," said the minister.

"It is the obligation of the receiving country to ensure the embassy or the high commission or the consulate and their premises are respected. These obligations were not met, Jaishankar said at an event organised in Bengaluru by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya.

Replying to a question on the issue of threat to the diplomats and the Indian diaspora in the UK, the minister said that on the day the vandals appeared before the high commission, the security at the high commission failed to meet expected standards.

Many countries are very casual about it (security). They have a very different view about their own security and a different view about other people's security, but I can tell you as a foreign minister that we are not going to accept this kind of differential standards, the EAM said.

In the context of Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the UK regarding human rights in India, Jaishankar said though the bulk of those who held Indian passports were deeply attached to the country, there were a small number of people who would claim to be persecuted in their home countries in order to get a visa or residential status.

Now you have a small number of people (who) sometimes misuse it and say 'I am being politically persecuted and, therefore, allow me to stay'. So, it's actually a visa game, which they are playing in the name of politics, human rights or whatever it is, the Minister said.

He cautioned that adversaries of the country could misuse the situation.

Nobody was arguing against freedom of speech and civil liberties, he said, "but these should not be misused to espouse radicalism, violence, terrorism".

He also said there was a difference between having rights and misusing them.
Details added: first version posted on 14:04

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The movement of a convoy carrying out illegal military transportation along the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road was once again noticed today, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the ministry, Azerbaijani technical surveillance equipment recorded the movement of one ZTR-82A combat vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeeping contingent [temporarily deployed in Azerbaijans Karabakh in accordance with trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the second Karabakh war], three KamAZ awning vehicles and a KamAZ vehicle with a fuel tank belonging to Armenians.

We are once again declaring the inadmissibility of military transportation accompanied by the peacekeeping contingent, which is a severe violation of the trilateral statement provisions, the ministry said.

The creation of conditions for the free movement of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other means of material and technical support for illegal Armenian formations in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, accompanied by the peacekeeping contingent, is a gross violation of the reached agreements by the contingent, and such cases must be stopped immediately, the ministry noted.

Such regular illegal activities demonstrate the necessity of establishing an Azerbaijani border crossing and control point at the end of the Lachin-Khankendi road on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, added the ministry.

Previously, the illegal military transportation accompanied by the peacekeeping contingent along the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road was recorded on March 21.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Light rain early. Then remaining cloudy. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Light rain early. Then remaining cloudy. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Photographer / Multimedia Editor

Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
Former Gov. Jim Douglas has filed a lawsuit against Middlebury College in Vermont Superior Court in his court-appointed capacity as the special administrator for the estate of Dr. Mead in Rutland County.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. Presence of illegal Armenian forces in Karabakh poses big threat to regional security, Peter Tase, American Scholar on the geopolitics of Europe and Latin America, told Trend.

Inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, the presence of almost 10,000 illegal Armenian soldiers, and heavy equipment, armored vehicles and ammunition is a great regional security threat and embodies a constant menace to the commercial and economic policies of Europe and its trans-Atlantic partners, he said.

The US expert pointed out that the malignant leadership of Armenia continues to conduct an enviro-cide inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan and the OSCE and other international actors remain silent about this military presence inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.

The US State Secretary Antony Blinken must exert a significant force and use all tools of statecraft in order to contain Armenian revanchist policies and deter Actions of Yerevans Allies in the Southern Caucasus region that are currently serving as a peace keeping force.

Azerbaijans national security and territorial integrity is at harms way and in a growing peril due to Armenian spirit of aggression. Yerevans troops are a matter of great concern; Armenia is using an auxiliary road to the Lachin road to carry out illegal military transports, rotation of land forces personnel inside Azerbaijani territories where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed. The fact that about 10,000 servicemen of the Armenian armed forces are still stationed in the territory of Azerbaijan, is an act of aggression and blatant actions that imperil the economic integration of European continent and threatens the transportation corridors in the Caucasus, that are indeed the life blood of Brussels economic and energy policies. There is a huge necessity of establishing a border checkpoint at the end of Azerbaijan's Lachin road on the border with Armenia, and International Community is silent and hesitant to act before this tragic situation, he said.

Peter Tase went on to add that the Armenian authorities have been recently abusing the presence of the European Union's mission in Azerbaijan to pursue a policy aimed at deliberately escalating the situation, by conducting repeated violations of the ceasefire by Armenian armed forces along the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border and the illegal Armenian units in Azerbaijani territories where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed continue to be aggressive and using mortars and large caliber weapons against Armed Forces of Azerbaijan.
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Brenna Galdenzi is the President of the Protect Our Wildlife POW. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. On the evening of March 24, positions of the Azerbaijani army located on the conditional Azerbaijani-Armenian border and in the Karabakh economic region were shelled several times, Trend reports citing the press service of Defense Ministry.

The units of the armed forces of Armenia fired at the opposite positions of the Azerbaijani army from their positions located in different directions of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border, from small arms of various calibers.

In addition, the positions of the Azerbaijani army, located in the direction of the Khojavend region, were also fired upon by members of an illegal Armenian armed formation on the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed.

According to the ministry, adequate response measures were taken by the units of the Azerbaijani army.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. A carpet exhibition will be opened at the NUR Art House gallery in Baku within the European Artistic Crafts Days (EACD) initiative, Trend reports.

The exhibition is aimed at popularizing the art and schools of carpet weaving, which are closely connected with the rich cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, the way of life and ancient traditions of its people.

The exposition is organized by Arts Council Azerbaijan and NUR Art House with the support of World Crafts Council Europe and The Creative Europe Program.

The exhibition to be held from March 27 to April 2 will present many examples of classical and modern design carpets, belonging to different schools of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan.

Besides, master classes in carpet weaving will be organized.

The Artistic Crafts Days were established in 2002, upon the request of the French government. They have been named European Artistic Crafts Days (EACD) since 2012. They were organized by the French National Institute of Arts and Crafts (INMA) and have become the first international event dedicated to crafts. They take place every year during the beginning of spring.

Craft studios open their doors to the public and outdoor demonstrations are held by craftspeople, training schools and museums.

A total of 24 countries are involved in the 2023 EACD.

This year, Azerbaijan will join the European Days of Artistic Crafts for the first time.

Information support - Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az, Azernews.Az.
NEW MILFORD  Siblings Manny Rivera and Carolina Alvarez said their love of food started with their grandmother, Filonena Perez, and her ability to connect people over food.

Together with Alvarezs husband Luis Alvarez, the siblings will pay tribute to their grandmothers cooking and Dominican origins by opening Filos Restaurant at 116 Danbury Road this spring.

We always had the vision because our grandmother had a restaurant in the Dominican Republic a long time ago and it was something we were always inspired to do, said Carolina Alvarez, a resident of New Milford.

Rivera said he, his sister and her husband secured the space in the Staples Plaza in January and are looking to open around June. The space is in the site of the former Candlewood Brewery, a microbrewery that closed last summer after a short run in New Milford.

The restaurants menu will feature ginger chicken; sanchoco (a meat and vegetable stew); chicharron (fried pork belly) with yellow rice and beans; and churrasco with mofongo (grilled meat with a dish of cooked plantains). All of the dishes are Perez's recipes.

Additionally, Rivera said the restaurant will offer breakfast sandwiches; bacon, egg and cheese empanadas; and coffee imported from the Dominican Republic in the morning, and "a mixture of everything nice" for dinner entrees.

Rivera said their grandmother, 98, emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. in 1967. He said Perez dreamed of opening her own restaurant in the U.S., but she set her dream aside to take care of her five children. Perez resides in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

Rivera, a Danbury resident, said he and Alvarez grew up in a big family and their grandmother always brought the family together with a special weekend meal.

She was just living in the kitchen, Rivera said of Perez. One thing that she loved is that the family came together as one, with no arguments, and just loved each other when the food was on the table.

Food is everything in our family, Alvarez said. Its what brings us together, what brings us to parties, what brings us to birthdays, and it gives me these memories of when I was little and my grandma would start very early to cook. At 3 or 4 in the morning, you would wake up to the smells.

Rivera said Perezs ginger fried chicken, yuca frita and churrasco (or grilled meat) are some of his favorite dishes from his grandmothers recipe book.

Alvarez said sancocho is one of her favorite dishes from Perezs cooking.

Rivera worked in marketing for AT&T in Danbury for about six years before deciding to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant. He said he gained his customer service skills through his grandmothers humility and her ability to show people love through her cooking. He said his aunt, Lucy Duverge of New Milford, "is the person who has the love and the touch for the food," and that Duverge will be working in the restaurant as its chef.

One thing that I learned in life is that we only live once, Rivera said, so if we only live once, lets make it count, and one thing that I always wanted to scratch off my bucket list is to make my grandmother proud. I will do everything in my power to make that dream come true for the sake of our family, for the sake of my grandmother.

Rivera said Perez was speechless when he and Alvarez told her they were opening a restaurant named after their grandmother.

She saw that her dreams came true when we told her we were taking over her dreams and going to make her proud and make the restaurant into a legacy, Rivera said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. Irans imports from Azerbaijan decreased by 24.7 percent in value and 19.3 percent in volume, during the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2022 through February 19, 2023), compared to the same period last Iranian year, Trend reports via the statistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).

"Within 11 months, Iran imported about 18,400 tons of goods worth $32 million from Azerbaijan," the statistics said.

Meanwhile, Iran's imports from Azerbaijan amounted to about 22,800 tons worth approximately $42.6 million for the first 11 months of the last Iranian year (March 21, 2021, through February 19, 2022).

According to the statistics, Iran imported various goods mainly, equipment, compressed soybeans, various kinds of profiles and so on from Azerbaijan over the reporting period.

As reported, Iran's non-oil trade turnover with Azerbaijan for 11 months amounted to about 716,000 tons worth approximately $637 million.

Overall, Iran imported a total of 33.6 million tons of goods worth $53.7 billion within the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2022, through February 19, 2023).

This is an increase of 15.2 percent in value, while a decrease of 8.61 percent in volume compared to the same period last Iranian year.

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Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur
Wanted pro-Khalistan preacher and head of the organisation Waris Punjab De, Amritpal Singh kept his wife in captivity, beat her up regularly and was associated with several other women, according to intelligence agencies as quoted by ANI.

According to a report by ANI, Central Intelligence agencies revealed that Amritpal was living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without following Sikh tenets and was not even an Amritdhari Sikh.

Central Intelligence agencies are currently investigating why fugitive Amritpal Singh visited Thailand numerous times, including whether he was indulging in prostitution or did he have a girlfriend in Thailand and whether he was maintaining a second wife in Thailand?

Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh's organisation gave no prominent role to women. According to reports, Reena Roy, the girlfriend of the late Deep Sidhu was not allowed to open up about Amritpals association with Deep Sidhu. Kirandip Kaur, the wife of Amritpal Singh has been kept in captivity and beaten up regularly by him, as quoted by ANI.

Amritpal Singh reportedly termed his marriage as an example of reverse migration projecting he will stay in Punjab. Notably, probe agencies are also questioning the premise of Amritpal Singhs drug rehabilitation organisation and are seeking answers on why no women were at the forefront if it was actually a fight against drugs.

'Amritpal was closely associated with drug dealers in Dubai': Reports

According to reports by Central Intelligence agencies, women of any family are the biggest sufferers of the widespread drug menace phenomenon. As they have not been at the forefront, it shows that it is not an actual fight against drugs, but only a show-off, as per reports.

Report from ANI suggests that Amritpal does not talk about his past as it is overtly due to possible damage to his image leading to a decrease in credibility. He was closely involved with drug dealers in Dubai namely Jaswant Singh Rode whose brother is operating from Pakistan, reads the report.

According to reports, the fugitive does not talk about his past life where he was non-Amritdhari and not following Sikh religious tenets. After coming to India from Dubai, Singh and his organisation started working as a religious fundamentalist cum vigilante group, completely contradictory to his earlier personality which clearly shows that he has been planted in India by forces inimical to Indian interest, according to intelligence reports.
March 24 marks the 188th Raising Day for the Assam Rifles, the nation's oldest and most esteemed paramilitary organisation. It was observed at Laitkor Garrison in Shillong, the city of Meghalaya. G. Kishan Reddy, the North East Region's Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Development, attended this year's celebration as its main guest.

The Minister gave tribute to the force's Bravehearts alongside Lt Gen PC Nair, the director general of the Assam Rifles, and all ranks of the force. This force has made supreme sacrifices in the line of service over the last 188 years. At the battle memorial in Shillong, Meghalaya, the bravehearts were honoured. The Indian army wished Assam Rifles via Twitter.

General Manoj Pande #COAS and All Ranks of the #IndianArmy convey best wishes to All Ranks and Families of #AssamRifles on the occasion of 188th Raising Day. #thesentinelsofthenortheast@official_dgar pic.twitter.com/XJXPQY25X5  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) March 24, 2023

About the Assam Rifles

It is a major paramilitary organisation in charge of frontier protection, insurgency suppression, and upholding law and order in North Eastern India. The Indo-Myanmar boundary is protected by it. It is one of the Central Armed Police Forces and falls under the Home Ministry, but the Indian Army is in charge of its operational control, which is subject to CAPF laws and regulations.

Of its commanders, the Indian Army provides about 80% of them. This regiment has served in a variety of capacities, wars, and theatres throughout its existence, including the First World War, where it saw action in Europe and the Middle East, and the Second World War, when it saw action primarily in Burma. The Assam rifles were entrusted with guarding the Tibetan border after China annexed Tibet. They were also instrumental in maintaining law and order in Arunachal Pradesh.

The British founded it in the Assam region in 1835. It was established as a police unit with about 750 men to guard settlements against Tribal raids and other assaults as British control gradually extended to the northeastern region of India. One member of the Assam Military Police served in the Indian military units that battled in Europe and the Middle East during World War II.

The Gorkha regiment of the British Indian Army received more than 3,000 soldiers from the regiment. Throughout its involvement in the First World War, the company received six medals for valour.

Due to their dual status as a military and a police force during the Second World War, the Assam Rifles' function changed as they were required to perform a wider range of duties. When the Allies were retreating to India in 1942, the Assam Rifles were called upon to fight many independent operations behind the enemy lines as they frequently found themselves in charge of rear-area defence and rear-guard.

Along the Indo-Burma border, a resistance organisation was also formed to thwart the Japanese invasion and disrupt the adversary's lines of communication.

Even in the present situation, the force has continued to demonstrate its worth. Additionally, five battalions earned a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Unit Citation, and they also received a Chief of Army Staff Citation. They have also been awarded 411 Governor and Presidential decorations, 7 Sena decorations, and 1 Shaurya Chakra.

Former DGs of the force were also present on the occasion of their raising day and interacted with all levels and employees of the force. It is not a separate holiday but is observed by all residents of the northeast. They reinforced the regiment's slogan, "Friends of the North East."
Saudi Arabia is in talks with Syria to reopen its embassy in the war-torn nation for the first time in a decade, state television in the kingdom reported late Thursday, the latest diplomatic reshuffling in the region.

The announcement on state TV comes after Chinese-mediaAssad, ted talks in Beijing saw Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to reopen embassies in each others' nations after years of tensions. Syrian President Bashar Assad has maintained his grip on power in the Mediterranean nation rocked by the 2011 Arab Spring only with the help of Iran and Russia, which made a historic call earlier in the day to Oman.

Saudi Arabian state television aired a report late Thursday, quoting an anonymous official in the country's Foreign Ministry, acknowledging the talks between the kingdom and Damascus.

A source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed to Al-Ekhbariyah that ongoing discussions have begun with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commenting on what was circulated by some international media, an anchor said on air. Discussions are underway between officials in the kingdom and their counterparts in Syria about resuming the provision of consular services. Reuters first reported on the talks Thursday, spurring the Saudi state TV announcement. The Wall Street Journal, quoting anonymous Saudi and Syrian officials, later attributed the talks to reopen the countries' embassies to Russian mediation.

Syrian state media did not immediately acknowledge the talks. Officials in both Saudi Arabia and Syria did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press early Friday.

Earlier Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, which the Kremlin called the the first high-level bilateral contact since the establishment of diplomatic relations" between the nations. Muscat established ties with the Soviet Union in 1985.

Oman long has been an interlocutor between the West and Iran. Recent months have seen talks in Oman over Yemen's long-running war, in which Saudi Arabia backs the country's exiled government against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels that hold its capital, Sanaa.

The kingdom backed the Syrian opposition against Assad during Syria's uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011. However, in recent years, a regional rapprochement has been brewing. Last month's devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey sparked international sympathy and speeded up the process, with Saudi and other Arab countries shipping aid to Damascus.

Assad visited Oman in late February. He traveled Sunday to the United Arab Emirates, another nation that earlier had backed fighters trying to topple his government.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has acknowledged publicly that there is a growing consensus among Arab countries that dialogue with Damascus is necessary. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where most states hope to restore Syria's membership after it was suspended in 2011, the league's secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has said.

China's and Russia's interest in the Middle East long has been a concern for U.S. officials, which view the the region as crucial to global energy prices even as America pumps more crude oil than ever before and doesn't rely on Saudi oil as much as it once did.

Saudi Arabia has grown closer to Russia as Moscow has rallied allies to back production cuts by OPEC to boost global oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia also have been at a low since President Joe Biden took office calling the kingdom a pariah over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced the petroleum relief package for the low-income segment. The development came days after the Pakistan government increased petrol prices.

Notably, under the 'petroleum relief package', people falling in the low-income segment would be given a subsidy of Rs 50 per litre on petroleum products. "The government will finance the subsidy by charging Rs 100 more from the affluent," said Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik as quoted by Dawn.

In a move aimed at easing the burden of high fuel prices on the poor, Pakistan Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, said: "We will make petrol cheaper for the poor and will make it expensive for the rich. Those who can afford expensive cars will pay more for petrol and that money will be used to reduce fuel costs for poor people."

Malik stated that the government will make petrol expensive for the rich and cheaper for the poor. The higher prices paid by the rich will be used to provide petroleum subsidies to low-income people," the minister said.

The petroleum products at subsidised prices will be given to low-income consumers who have motorcycles, rickshaws, 800cc cars, or other small cars, Dawn reported.

Saudi Arabia refuses 'easy money' to Pakistan

Saudi Arabia is no longer willing to bail out Islamabad and refused to provide easy money to Pakistan. According to reports, Saudi Arabia is demanding economic reforms. Looking at the current economic condition of Pakistan, the cash-strapped country is in dire need of sustained US dollar inflows to avoid defaulting on nearly USD 80 billion of international loan repayments over the next three and a half years. The country is currently sitting on just USD 3 billion in foreign exchange reserves.

According to reports, Saudi Arabias decision to refuse to provide any further bailouts or interest-free loans to Pakistan has left the government in Islamabad in shock and has prompted the finance minister to complain that even friendly countries arent keen on helping Pakistan out of its economic emergency.

Speaking to reporters of Middle East Eye, Umar Karim, an associate fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, said Pakistani authorities are in a state of shock. While previously Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries would bail Pakistan out off the back of a phone call from the foreign minister or the prime minister, this time around they are really being put through the mill, Karim added.

The Pakistani government suspended almost all imports over six months ago in an attempt to restrict the outflow of foreign currency, causing a shortage of raw materials across all manufacturing sectors and the temporary shutdown of several automobile manufacturing and textile factories.
A boy from Mongolia, whose name and age are unclear, with US dual-nationality has been revealed as the incarnation of the third most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism and was pictured for the first time alongside the Dalai Lama.

According to a report by The Times on Wednesday, March 22, the boy's formal title is the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa, the third-most senior Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, and the head of that faith in Mongolia.

Pictures depict the US-born boy in a face mask and wearing a bulky red robe at a ceremony alongside the 87-year-old Dalai Lama in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

According to reports, the news about the Dalai Lama and his ceremony with the young boy has resulted in intense excitement among Buddhists. However, it has raised contempt among secular nationalists and alarm among those who fear this news would provoke the rage of Mongolia's powerful neighbour  China.

Around 600 Mongolians came to celebrate their new spiritual leader. During the ceremony, the Dalai Lama said: "We have the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche of Mongolia with us today. His predecessors had a close association with the Krishnacharya lineage of Chakrasamvara. One of them established a monastery in Mongolia dedicated to its practice. So, his being here today is quite auspicious."

According to a report by The Times, Dalai Lama in 2016 had visited Mongolia which was severely criticised by China. The Chinese government reportedly said the visit brought a negative impact on China-Mongolia relations. But before leaving Ulan Bator, the Dalai Lama said that Jetsun Dhampa, Tibetan Buddhisms third-most-important lama, was reincarnated in Mongolia and the search was on to find him.

Further, the reports suggest that the Mongolian boy is one of a pair of twins named Aguidai and Achiltai Altannar. However, which one among the two is yet unclear.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is a strategically and economically important projects for Europe, which creates a new equilibrium for the European countries, shifting the gas center from north more to the south, Gianmarco Donolato, Head of energy and environment division at Italian Geopolitica research center, told Trend.

According to the expert, TAP, as well as the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), were launched long before the war outbreak in Ukraine, which led to energy crisis in the region, and now they are providing Europe with energy security by means of diversification.

"Therefore, the current geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe can only accelerate processes that had already been going on. As the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), TAP has the capacity to transport approximately 10 bcm of gas per year, but can potentially be expanded to 20 bcm," he said.

SGC's expansion potential is great and, at the same time, this initiative involves many partners, the expert said, adding that it will be beneficial, as well as challenging, as more interests will have to be taken into account.

"In this regard, Italy, Greece and Turkiye will be placed at the center of the energy market, which will require their active involvement in broader political processes," Donolato added.

The expert also pointed out that it will be beneficial for Azerbaijan to join such European initiative as the EU Global Gateway. As he explains, this might be a way to exploit the new trends at best and adapt Azerbaijans resources to the main European markets.

"Europe will not stop being such an important consumer and its market will not be disrupted overnight. Accompanying the transition and be part of it will be challenging, but might be beneficial in the long term," he concluded.

Azerbaijans gas exports to Europe started on December 31, 2020 with the commissioning of the SGC comprising, beside TAP, of the South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion and TANAP.

Export of Azerbaijani gas to Europe amounted to 11.4 bcm from January through December 2022. In total, 22.3 bcm were exported from Azerbaijan in 2022.
Qaseem Al Araji, the National Security Advisor of Iraq is in India. He was invited by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He arrived in India on 22nd March and his visit will go on till 25th March. Araji's visit is the first cabinet minister level visit of an Iraqi to India in seven years. Araji has been Iraq's National Security Advisor from 2020. Before 2020, he served as the nation's Interior Minister, from 2016 to 2018.

Iraq is the largest supplier of oil to India since 2017. Oil imports from Iraq accounts for 25 percent of India's oil imports. Iraq is also the 5th largest trading partner of India. Medical tourism from Iraq to India is also a significant factor. Nearly 33,000 people from Iraq travel to India for medical treatment. Araji and Doval held discussions on areas of mutual interest.

A look at India-Iraq ties

India and Iraq have a long history of diplomatic ties dating back to the 1950s. The relationship between the two countries has been largely focused on trade, energy, and security cooperation, and has continued to grow and evolve over the years.

One of the main areas of cooperation between India and Iraq is trade. India is one of Iraq's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade between the two countries reaching $21.24 billion in 2019. India's main exports to Iraq include pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, and automobiles, while Iraq's primary exports to India are crude oil and petroleum products.

The energy sector is another key area of cooperation between India and Iraq. Iraq is the second-largest crude oil supplier to India, accounting for around 15% of India's total oil imports. India's state-owned oil companies have invested heavily in Iraq's oil sector, with ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) having a stake in the Badra oil field in eastern Iraq.

In addition to trade and energy cooperation, India and Iraq have also collaborated in the areas of security and defense. India has been training Iraqi security forces in areas such as counter-terrorism and de-mining since the 1950s. In recent years, the two countries have signed agreements on defense cooperation, with India providing training and equipment to the Iraqi military.

India has also been involved in the reconstruction efforts in Iraq. In 2018, India announced a $100 million line of credit to Iraq for the development of infrastructure projects in the country. The two countries have also discussed the possibility of Indian companies participating in the reconstruction of Iraq's oil and gas sector.

While the relationship between India and Iraq has been generally positive, there have been some challenges. One of the main challenges has been the security situation in Iraq, which has limited the ability of Indian companies to operate in the country.
The Danish government has announced that it will allow Nord Stream 2 AG, the Russian-owned operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, to participate in the investigation of a mysterious object discovered in Denmark's territorial waters. On Thursday, the Danish Energy Agency issued a statement outlining their plans to investigate the object with the assistance of the military. As part of this effort, Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of the Russian energy giant Gazprom, has been invited to participate, as per a report from Russia Today.

According to recent reports in the Danish press, three military vessels were spotted in the vicinity of the Nord Stream pipelines, including a ship typically used by military divers, near the eastern coast of the island of Bornholm earlier this week. The pipelines were damaged by powerful explosions in two separate areas near the island last September. The Berlingske newspaper, which first reported on the situation, stated that the Danish Navy had confirmed its presence in the area but declined to provide further details.

Putin says sabotage was carried out by a state

Last week, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen disclosed that the government could verify Russian claims about the discovery of an unidentified object near the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Russian energy giant Gazprom reportedly provided Danish authorities with photos of the object, which were taken during a survey of the damaged energy route. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the object was found approximately 30 kilometers away from the site of the pipeline breach and could be an antenna used to remotely trigger the charges that caused the damage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed a desire to further investigate the mysterious object found near the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, either with Denmark or a group of international experts, stating that Moscow considers the pipeline's sabotage to be an act of terrorism. However, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen has made it clear that Russia will not be granted access to the site. The Danish Energy Agency has released an image of the object, describing it as a cylindrical device measuring 40cm in height and 10cm in diameter, speculating that it could be a maritime smoke buoy, which is commonly used as a signaling device to help locate individuals in distress. Putin has noted that only a "state-level actor" could have carried out the complex mission to sabotage the Nord Stream pipelines, which were constructed to deliver Russian natural gas directly to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea.
Six Pakistani nationals were forcibly removed from Washington DCs National Press Club in the United States on Thursday, March 23, after they repeatedly disrupted a panel discussion on Kashmir. The panel discussion titled 'Kashmir: From Turmoil to Transformation' was held on Thursday in Washington DC It was moderated by columnist Se Hoon Kim and addressed by president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party Mir Junaid, and Touseef Raina, president of the Municipal Council of Baramulla.

The forum was focused on the developments and the ground situation in Kashmir. Aiming to give a grassroots perspective, Mir Junaid said in his opening remarks, I can confidently say that Kashmir has been reborn as a land of peace, prosperity and progress. Jammu and Kashmir have seen many transitions that have taken it from a state of protest to a progressive union territory.

We have to look beyond the controversial rhetoric now. The countries who are beating the drums on global platforms befooling the world have nothing to do with Kashmirs peace, progress and prosperity. Accept the fact that Kashmir is an existential problem for them, and thats why they want to keep the POT of violence burning in Kashmir, Junaid asserted by taking a dig at Pakistan.

He asked about the fate of once a well-coordinated formidable separatist conglomerate, the so-called All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders and how the leaders are facing serial reverses, all in quick succession, in Jammu and Kashmir. Junaid said, they are facing the law of the land, the rule of the land, which resulted in the collapse of the Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir.

Just then- a handful of protestors interrupted the Kashmiri activist and disrupted the forum. One protester yelled in response, Shame on you. After being asked by security personnel to leave the room, the protestors visibly lost their temper and were seen retorting with abuses.

The whole audience has seen your real face today. What we have seen in Kashmir we saw in Washington today and thank you for showing the world how cruel how indecent these people are, said Junaid as he hit back in response to the disruption.

All of this was caught on camera and the video grabbed headlines. You have seen it all and this is what they did initially, what they are doing, they tried to silence me with the barrel of AK 47. If you gave them AK 47, they would shoot us dead here right away. Thats because they dont want to face the truth, Junaid added.

Referring to the disruption caused by the protestors, Raina said all these years this is what the separatists sponsored by Pakistan have been doing in Jammu and Kashmir. "What these gentlemen did, the same thing they did in Kashmir. Whosoever was speaking, right, or for the people, was silenced by the gun, he said.

"I wish I get a chance to visit Pakistan. I want to meet the policymakers to stop funding terrorism," Raina said.

(with PTI inputs)
The U.S. imposed sanctions Friday on seven Belarusian elections officials, two state-owned automotive manufacturers and President Alexander Lukashenko's aircraft.

Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, intensified his repression after a wave of protests in 2020 following a presidential election that the West and Belarus opposition denounced as a sham.

Lukashenko also has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed him to station troops and weapons there to support his war in Ukraine.

Those sanctioned Friday include a new slate of commissioners on Belarus' Central Election Commission, which was originally sanctioned in December 2020.

Lukashenko accused the opposition presidential candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, of plotting to overthrow the government. This month, a Belarusian court sentenced Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, to 15 years in prison.

Lukashenko's aircraft, a Boeing 737 that he uses for international travel, was also designated for sanctions, which blocks its use in the U.S.

BelAZ, one of the largest manufacturers of large trucks and dump trucks in the world, and the automotive manufacturer MAZ were also sanctioned.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. "will continue to impose costs on the regime and those who support it for their repression of the people of Belarus" and for the Belarusian government's support for Russias war.

The State Department also imposed visa restrictions on 14 additional people involved in policies to threaten and intimidate the Belarusian people."
In Brief

When TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday, he was asked a key question: Whether the Chinese government could use TikTok or its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance Ltd. to surveil Americans or obtain data about them.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) found no evidence to support that TikTok intentionally shared or plans to share user data with the Chinese government.

But TikToks subservient relationship to its parent company ByteDance -- a Chinese company subjecting to Chinese laws  would create opportunities for the Chinese government to collect data about American users.

Furthermore, TikToks own privacy policy and terms of services clearly stipulate that it can move U.S. user data outside the country. TikTok may never have shared its data with the Chinese government, but it surely has the ability to do so.

In Depth

1. Can TikTok share data with Chinas government

Yes.

Tiktok has stated several times that it has not shared data with Chinas government, and company executives have further stated they would refuse to hand over any data to China if asked.

However, TikToks privacy policy clearly says it can share user data with its mother company, ByteDance, and various governments around the world if required.

Bytedance, TikToks parent company, is based in Beijing. Like many Chinese companies, it has an internal Communist Party committee within its ranks that is led by Vice President Zhang Fu Ping.

The Chinese government has enacted laws that require companies to cooperate with state authorities when asked to provide any information on matters relating to national security.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Credit: AFP





The 2017 Cybersecurity Law requires businesses to store select data in China and grants the government wide-ranging rights to check such data at their discretion. Various other laws that grant the state the right to collect information use ambiguous language and often include catch-all phrases that allow them to apply the law however they see fit.

And TikToks privacy policy clearly says that other entities within their corporate group  such as Bytedance  may have access to its data:

As a global company, the Platform is supported by certain entities within our corporate group, which are given limited remote access to Information We Collect as necessary to enable them to provide certain important functions.

Therefore, TikTok can share data with Bytedance, which under Chinese law would be required to hand over data to the government if pressured.

2. Can TikToks US data be shared outside the U.S.?

Yes.

It is possible for Tiktok to share and transmit their data to entities outside the US. The section entitled Data Security and Retention within TikToks privacy policy says,

TikTok may transmit your data to its servers or data centers outside of the United States for storage and/or processing. Other entities with whom TikTok may share your data as described herein may be located outside of the United States.

3. Can TikToks data be shared with law enforcement in China?

Yes.

TikToks policy notes that different countries law enforcement may request data, and that the specific procedures of the request will vary from country to country.

We may disclose any of the Information We Collect to respond to subpoenas, court orders, legal process, law enforcement requests, legal claims, or government inquiries, and to protect and defend the rights, interests, safety, and security of the Platform, our affiliates, users, or the public. We may also share any of the Information We Collect to enforce any terms applicable to the Platform, to exercise or defend any legal claims, and comply with any applicable law.

TikToks privacy policy clearly says it can share user data with its mother company, ByteDance, and various governments around the world if required. Credit: AFP





China does not have an independent judiciary; law enforcement is subject to the government's order. As Donald Clarke, a Chinese law specialist at George Washington University noted about a similar case with Chinese tech company Huaweis threat to other countries' data security, The Chinese Party/state is not meaningfully constrained by Chinese law.

Conclusion

Although TikTok has repeatedly said it has never shared data nor will share data with Chinas government, there are reasonable concerns that it may do so.

TikToks privacy policy allows it to share data with its parent company Bytedance, to transmit data outside the U.S. and to hand over data to other countries local law enforcement when requested to do so.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) is a new branch of RFA established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. Our journalists publish both daily and special reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of public issues.
Pro-government FreshNews report is the latest case of apparent phone tapping of top opposition figures.

A Cambodian pro-government news site published details from a telephone conversation between a top opposition party official and his alleged mistress, prompting one political observer to urge authorities to investigate the apparent telephone tapping.

FreshNews cited a Facebook page called khmer leak in its report about several phone calls between Candlelight Party Secretary General Lee Sothearayuth and his alleged mistress.

Publishing a private telephone conversation without consent in an attempt to destroy an opponents reputation and dignity is a breach of privacy, political commentator Seng Sary said. If the release of private telephone conversation was politically motivated, the people who ordered the release are conducting dirty politics, he said.

This is unethical and shouldnt happen in a civilized society, he said.

FreshNews also published a telephone conversation between opposition leader Kem Sokha and his alleged mistress in 2016. The outlet previously released a telephone conversation between Ho Vann, a senior official in the now-banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, and his alleged mistress as well.

More arrests of opposition activists

The report comes as the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party and Prime Minister Hun Sen have been working to silence and intimidate opposition figures ahead of the July general elections.

Earlier this month, Kem Sokha was sentenced to 27 years in prison for treason. And earlier this week, two opposition activists were arrested in Phnom Penh after they posted comments on Facebook that seemed to compare Hun Sen with King Norodom Sihamoni.

Activists from the Candlelight Party  now the main challenger to the ruling party  recently said that police have been monitoring their meetings and local authorities have been defacing and stealing party signs and billboards. Candlelight Party activists in almost all provinces have reported cases of intimidation and harassment, party spokesman Kim Sour Phirith said in early March.

On Friday, three Candlelight Party activists were arrested and charged with falsifying documents. The arrests were made four hours before the conviction of 13 people in Phnom Penh Municipal Court on similar charges from last year related to the formation of the National Heart Party.

The Ministry of Interior said last year that the small political party collected several hundred forged thumbprints on documents it filed when it registered ahead of the 2022 commune elections.

Seam Pluk, president of the National Heart Party, was convicted on Friday and sentenced to two years and six months in prison. The other 12 defendants were given two-year sentences, but they remain at-large.

The three Candlelight Party activists who were arrested Friday were also charged in the National Heart Party case. The three defendants only recently joined the Candlelight Party.

The wife of one of Fridays arrestees said her husband  Touch Teng, Candlelight Partys committee chairman for Kampong Cham province  wasnt involved with the collection of signatures and thumbprints when he worked for the National Heart Party.

This is a politically motivated arrest because my husband is one of the partys leaders, the wife said.

The National Heart Partys case is an old one that has only been revived now that the election is drawing near and the Candlelight Party has been gathering supporters, Kim Sour Phirith said.

Cambodias law on phone tapping

Radio Free Asia couldnt reach National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun about Fridays arrests or about FreshNews report on Lee Sothearayuths phone calls.

Re-broadcasting a private conversation is a crime, Khmer Student Intelligent League Association President Koeu Saray said, pointing to Article 368 of Cambodias penal code, which states that anyone convicted of tapping a phone conversation without consent can be imprisoned from two months to one year.

It was embarrassing for FreshNews to post it, Koeu Saray said. It is a concern. Cambodia has a law but it is not being enforced.

The leaked telephone conversation has nothing to do with the CPP, party spokesman Sok Ey San said. Media outlets have the legal right to air such content, and individuals who are affected can request a correction, he added.

RFA was unable to reach Lee Sothearayuth for comment.

Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Diplomats from both countries meet in Manila amid tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan.

Ma. Theresa Lazaro (left), the Philippine undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, speaks while Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong listens during the Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea in Manila, March 24, 2023.

Territorial disputes shouldnt be solved through coercion and intimidation, the Philippines said Friday as its diplomats prepared to confront Chinese counterparts about Chinas recent actions in contested waters, including pointing a military-grade laser at the Filipino coast guard.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro delivered the message before she, Chinese Foreign Vice Minister Sun Weidong, and their respective delegations faced off in Manila for talks on the South China Sea.

Bilateral disputes over territorial claims in the sea and related tensions continue to remain a serious concern to the Filipino people, Lazaro said.

Both our countries leaders agreed that maritime issues should be addressed through diplomacy and dialogue and never through coercion and intimidation  The meeting today is an attempt to follow through on that decision, Lazaro said in her opening remarks on Friday.

Fridays meeting was the seventh round of talks in as many years of the so-called China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea.

Fridays talks concluded two days of meetings in Manila during which both sides assessed their bilateral relationship and aired concerns.

The BCM talks were first convened in 2017 as a platform for confidence-building and maritime cooperation. At Fridays session, China and the Philippines were also set to discuss cooperation including on fisheries and marine environmental protection.

Both countries as well as several Southeast Asian neighbors and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

As the two delegations began Fridays talks, the Philippines called for frank discussions, while China insisted on friendly consultations.

It is the Philippines fervent hope that the discussions would  realize a more peaceful and stable situation in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea which would ultimately contribute to regional peace and development, Lazaro said.

The meeting took place weeks after Manila protested an incident in which a China Coast Guard ship (CCG) allegedly pointed a laser towards a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal).

Manila also recently lodged a complaint about the swarming of more than 40 Chinese fishing boats, which were escorted by a CCG ship and a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship near Pag-asa (Thitu), one of the Philippine-occupied islands in the disputed waters.

We should not allow specific differences to define our bilateral relations, or allow certain disputes to stand in the way of overall cooperation. We need to properly deal with these issues through friendly consultations, Sun said in his opening statement Friday before the two sides took their meeting behind closed doors.

The delegation from Beijing was expected to raise Chinas objection to Manilas recent decision to give the American military expanded access on a rotating basis to bases in the Philippines, amid tensions over Taiwan.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Manila had earlier said that these moves are part of the U.S. efforts to encircle and contain China through its military alliance with the Philippines.

BenarNews, an online news service affiliated with Radio Free Asia (RFA), produced this report.
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The Communist Partys disciplinary arm is being repurposed to enforce loyalty to supreme leader Xi Jinping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping [center] waves above a large portrait of the late leader Mao Zedong during a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing on July 1, 2021.

Chinas ruling Communist Party has launched a nationwide disciplinary campaign that will inspect its 96 million members for loyalty to supreme leader Xi Jinping and weed out officials from positions of power who were put there by rival political factions.

The partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, charged with ensuring party members toe the line, has set up a working group to monitor the education and rectification of party officials at every level of government, according to a report on the agencys website.

Supervision and inspection are an inevitable requirement if we are to implement the spirit of general secretary Xi Jinpings key speeches and instructions, according to a communique from a March 22 video conference on the campaign, which will focus on building political loyalty [and] eliminating black sheep.

Chinese scholar Ren Chenbin said the move marks a fundamental shift in the purpose of the partys disciplinary arm, from seeking out corruption to ensuring political loyalty.

Dissenting political opinions have always been a serious problem for [the Chinese Communist Party], Ren said. Anyone with dissenting opinions or political opinions will be eliminated.

They constantly feel as if they are sitting atop a volcano, that there are guns pointing at their backs, and that there are people working to overthrow them, he said. They fear the loss of their political power more than anything.

Fine-tooth comb

A current affairs commentator who gave only the surname Zhong for fear of reprisals said the working group will go through the ranks of party members and officials at provincial and city level with a fine-tooth comb.

They still have more work to do, so they have repurposed the discipline inspection system to eliminate those people who are a legacy left by [past leaders], Zhong said.

There are still many cadres above the deputy ministerial level in a number of provinces and cities who have been left over from the previous dynasty, he said, in a reference to Xis predecessor Hu Jintao and his Youth League faction.

They are going to carry out a total purge, so as to avoid future problems, Zhong said.

The setting up of the working group comes amid a far-reaching institutional shake-up as Xi Jinping begins a third and indefinite term in office, concentrating executive power in the hands of Communist Party working groups rather than in the hands of ministers and other administrative officials.

Under Chinese President Xi Jinping, a mass intelligence-gathering drive followed by purges of Communist Party members is expected, commentators say. Credit: Xinhua via AP





Past rectification campaigns

The Central Committees general office, which runs the party on a day-to-day basis, has also called on party members in all regions and departments to mobilize as part of a nationwide drive to rectify the partys work, a phrase also used by late supreme leader Mao Zedong in the 1940s and 1950s to launch a series of purges within party ranks.

Mao used rectification campaigns starting when the Communist Party was still fighting a civil war against the Kuomintang government of Chiang Kai-shek from its base in Yanan to correct deviations in party ideology.

Under Xi, the move will likely herald a mass intelligence-gathering drive followed by purges of members unwise enough to voice discontent with the current political line, according to political commentators.

Party officials have been setting the tone for the purges in speeches since the beginning of the year, with Politburo standing committee member Li Xi announcing on Feb. 24 that rectification and education of party members would be a key political task for the partys disciplinary agency.

Li also called for two-faced people and black sheep to be eliminated from party ranks, saying that the sword that punishes evil and promotes good should never sleep.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Matt Reed.
Those who fail to report any bullets they find face three years hard labor

The city of Hyesan, North Korea, as seen across the Yalu River, was placed on lockdown by authorities after more than 600 rounds of ammunition went missing there.

After 653 bullets went missing during a recent military withdrawal, North Korean authorities have locked down the entire city of Hyesan and searched house-to-house for the ammunition, two sources in the country told Radio Free Asia.

The assault rifle ammunition was discovered to be missing on March 7, when soldiers with the Korean Peoples Army 7th Corp were pulling back from the area surrounding the city, which lies on the border with China. They had been deployed there in 2020 to enforce the border closure at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They withdrew completely between Feb. 25 and Mar. 10, but an extensive investigation is underway because of a loss of bullets during the evacuation process, a resident of the northern province of Ryanggang told RFAs Korean Service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

When it happened, the soldiers did not initially report it but tried to find the missing bullets themselves, according to the source. But when the missing bullets could not be found, they notified the residents and began a rigorous search, he said.

The police and military launched an investigation, sealed off the whole city, and began searching house to house, the source said.

Those who have seen or picked up any number of bullets are required to report them as soon as possible.

Those who fail to report any bullets they found could be punished, the source said.

There have been no clues even after 10 days have passed since this investigation began, the source said. The city  will remain on lockdown until all 653 bullets are found.

Freedom delayed

Residents had been looking forward to the armys withdrawal from the area, but during the investigation they will have even less freedom of movement, a Ryanggang province official, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told RFA.

Last week, orders were issued to factories, farms, social groups and neighborhood watch units in the province to actively cooperate with the ammunition-related investigation, the official said, adding that when the bullets were not recovered after 10 days, the investigating authorities resorted to lying to spread fear among the public.

They tried to put pressure on the residents by bluffing that the withdrawal was a maneuver related to the safety of the Supreme Dignity from reactionary forces, the official said, using an honorific to refer to the countrys leader Kim Jong Un.

Moving such a large force from the border region to protect Kim Jong Un could be interpreted by the people to mean that the country is under attack, and invaders were pushing towards Pyongyang.

The Ministry of State Security, the Military Security Command of the Korean People's Army, and the Ministry of Social Security issued a particularly stern warning against Plunder, Illegal Possession or Disposal of Weapons, Ammunition and Combat Technology Equipment as stipulated in the criminal law Article 78, the official said.

According to that law, a person who illegally possesses or transfers firearms, ammunition, or weapons shall be punished by reform through labor for more than three years, he said.

The residents are afraid that if there is no resolution then the authorities will randomly punish someone who might be completely innocent, the official said.

Some residents are saying that the authorities are raising the atmosphere of sharp military confrontation between the North and the South every day, even claiming that the South is provoking war, said the official. Because this incident occurred at a time of tension, residents are closely watching how the investigation will end.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong.
The US Embassy in Laos and the Lao Anti-Human Trafficking Secretariat met to discuss preparations for the annual US Trafficking in Persons, March 17, 2023.

The U.S. State Department has called on the government of Laos to increase its efforts to combat human trafficking this year ahead of the release of its annual U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report.

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Deputy Chief of Mission Shannon Farrell welcomed recent improvements in the governments measures to end trafficking, but said more can be done to tackle the problem at an event co-chaired by the U.S. Embassy in Laos and the Lao Anti-human Trafficking Secretariat in the Lao capital Vientiane.

Ending trafficking in persons continues to be a priority for the United States, Deputy Chief of Mission Shannon Farrell told the Anti-Human Trafficking Secretariat at the March 17 gathering.

Building on the responsiveness and efforts shown in the last year, I am confident that the Government of Lao PDR, together with development partners can do more in 2023 and beyond.

The event brought Washington, D.C.-based experts from the State Departments Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and development partners to the capital to investigate ways to combat the issue of human trafficking, which saw a marked uptick in Laos amid high rates of unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the 2022 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, the Lao government identified 110 trafficking victims throughout the country in 2021, including 30 women, 62 girls, five men, and 13 boys  a slight decrease from the 142 victims it identified in 2020. The report said that traffickers exploited the majority of those victims abroad, mostly in China and Thailand.

The State Department designated Laos a Tier 2 country for the third year in a row in 2022, as a nation whose government does not fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000s minimum standards but is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.

The report cited the governments overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity.

Efforts by authorities in Laos included investigating and referring to prosecutors significantly more suspected traffickers and training more law enforcement officers on anti-trafficking laws, conducting new awareness-raising activities in areas with high trafficking prevalence, increasing victim repatriation and implementing new oversight measures within highly vulnerable special economic zones.

However, the government failed to meet the minimum standards in several areas, including evenly applying victim identification and referral procedures when conducting health screenings for thousands of Lao migrant workers who returned from abroad during the pandemic or among workers at foreign-owned plantations, foreign-invested construction sites, or garment factories.

SEZ challenges

But Laos faces many challenges when it comes to fighting human trafficking, particularly in special economic zones, where authorities have less power to enforce such measures, sources said speaking on condition of anonymity citing security concerns.

The zones are business areas that are exempt from most national-level economic regulations, and often receive tax breaks and are governed by different labor laws.

Human trafficking is still rampant in Laos, especially in the SEZs, despite having an anti-human trafficking law on the books since 2016, said one government official.

Many Laotians and foreigners have been lured to the SEZ to work as online chatters or scammers for Chinese companies. Also, many Lao young women have been going to work as sex workers in Thailand.

A Vientiane resident said that the COVID-19 pandemic seriously hindered the governments capacity to enforce anti-human trafficking measures, while also putting more Laotians in desperate financial situations amid a faltering economy and rampant unemployment.

The resident said conditions were ripe for traffickers to exploit the vulnerable.

A group of people or middlemen have been luring our kids to work in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, he said, referring to the gambling and tourism hub in northwestern Laos Bokeo province that caters to Chinese citizens and has been described as a de-facto Chinese colony.

The zone, established in 2007, has become a haven for criminal activities including prostitution, scamming and drug trafficking.

Lure of high-paying jobs

A Thai investor doing business in Laos said the Golden Triangle SEZ is enticing to potential trafficking victims because wages are higher in the SEZ than they are in other places in the country.

Wages in Laos, outside of the SEZ, are just not enough for living, he said. But, those who work in the SEZ are at higher risk being trafficked.

The investor said that traffickers no longer have to convince kids to come to the zone and instead go straight to parents with promises of high-paying jobs.

An official from Bokeos Tonpheung district, where the zone is located across the Mekong River from Thailands Chiang Rai province, told RFA that authorities are still gathering information about the number of people being trafficked there.

We dont know the exact number yet, but we know there are a lot of victims, he said.

Among the recommendations the State Department made to Laos in its last report were to increase efforts to train police and border officials on how to protect victims and to proactively screen for trafficking indicators among vulnerable groups, including Lao and foreign workers on large infrastructure, mining, and agricultural projects, as well as Lao and foreign nationals employed in SEZs.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
But Rohingyas fear the plan is a ploy by the junta to improve its international reputation.

The Chinese ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai, Myanmars union minister Ko Ko Hlaing and others tour a facility for Rohingyas along Myanmar-Bangladesh border on March 9, 2023.

Myanmars junta is planning 15 new villages with 750 plots of farmable land in Rakhine state as part of a pilot program that would see 1,500 ethnic Rohingyas repatriated from refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh next month.

Pro-junta media reported Thursday that returnees will be screened and accepted at the Taung Pyo Letwe and Ngar Khu Ya refugee camps in Maungdaw township as part of the pilot program, before they are sent to the Hla Pho Khaung interim camp for two months.

Afterwards, the returnees will be resettled in the planned villages, which will be fitted with basic infrastructure ahead of their arrival, reports said, citing junta chief for Rakhine state Htin Lin.

Rohingyas in Bangladesh have expressed their desire to return home to Myanmar  from which they fled amid military crackdown starting in 2017  but are adamant that they will only do so if they can go back to their original locations and are guaranteed the right to citizenship, freedom of travel and equal rights with other ethnicities.

People have a lot of doubts about the intentions of the juntas pilot program, said Khin Maung, director of the Rohingya Youth Association in Coxs Bazar, where about 1 million refugees from the persecuted Rohingya minority live in squalid camps.

If they are being honest to the refugees, they must resettle them in their original locations and give them equal rights as citizens, he said.

But they have not mentioned anything about such issues, Khin Maung said. Thats why I think they are only trying to implement their project to build a good international reputation for themselves.

On Wednesday, a 17-member delegation from Myanmar led by the juntas Rakhine State Immigration Minister Myo Aung returned from Bangladesh where it had been interviewing Rohingya families for the pilot program. Junta Deputy Minister of Information Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the pilot program could begin as early as mid-April, Agence France-Presse reported.

People shop for vegetables at the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh in 2020. Credit: Associated Press

The junta said Thursday that it plans to accept another 5,000 returnees from 1,500 households if the pilot project is successfully implemented.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta officials about the pilot program went unanswered Friday.

Returning to conflict

The juntas announcement that it will build new villages for returnees comes days after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said its repatriation plan is not conducive to the sustainable return of Rohingya refugees according to the current unstable situations in Myanmar and in Rakhine state.

Myanmar is rife with conflict in the aftermath of the militarys Feb. 1, 2021 coup detat and is mired in a humanitarian crisis involving some 1.7 million people displaced by violence throughout the country, according to a recent estimate by the U.N.

Despite the UNHCRs concerns over the pilot program, the UN refugee agency acknowledged in a statement earlier this week that it transported junta officials aboard unmarked UN boats to Bangladeshi refugee camps last week, a move that has been criticized as risky to humanitarian workers and a serious breach of U.N. neutrality.

According to the statistics collected by RFA, nearly 2,000 Rohingyas have been arrested on their way to Malaysia from refugee camps in Rakhine state and Bangladesh from December 2021 to March 2023.

The junta has sentenced nearly 500 of them to two to five years in prison under Myanmars immigration law.

Rohingyas at the Thae Chaung Rohingya refugee camp in Rakhine's Sittwe township say they have no employment opportunities and rely on 500 kyats (U.S.$0.25) per person per day, supplied by the World Food Program.

Some 14,000 refugees have lived in the camp for more than a decade following ethnic violence in Rakhine state in 2012 and many have sold all of their possessions and risked their lives traveling to Malaysia and other Muslim majority countries in search of new opportunities. Some have died or disappeared during the journey, while others endure abuse at the hands of brokers or have been imprisoned along the way.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Two survivors of Chinese concentration camps describe torture and dehumanization at heart of genocide.

Schoolteacher Qelbinur Sidik, who was forced to teach Chinese in separate detention facilities for Uyghur men and women, cries as she testifies at a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Schoolteacher Qelbinur Sidik had taught the Mandarin language at an elementary school in Urumqi, the capital of Chinas Xinjiang region, for 28 years when people started disappearing.

At the end of 2016, students in my classroom started to ask, Teacher, why are my parents being taken? Why was my uncle taken? Sidik said in translated testimony to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party during a Thursday night hearing.

I was unable to answer, as it was very painful, she said. I would tell them, You know what, your parents had to learn the national language  thats why they were taken. But the kids werent satisfied by that.

Her students were too smart.

They said if they had to learn the language, why would they not learn the language at the school we are at right now? she recounted.

The truth, as Sidik already knew but would later experience first-hand, was that adult members of the majority-Muslim ethnic minority in far-western China were being taken to concentration camps to be tortured, raped, subjected to psychological warfare and sterilized.

Their only crime: practicing a religion and possessing a cultural identity that did not place the Chinese Communist Party in the ultimate position of authority.

The apparent goal of the internment was to break down that identity, and bring the population of about 12 million Uyghurs to heel.

Then the childrens camps started to open.

The name, Sidik told Congress on Thursday, was kindergarten or boarding school, but, in reality, it was camps for the children.

Tiger chairs

Eventually, Sidik, an ethnic Uzbek but longtime member of the Uyghur community, was herself taken away and forced to teach Mandarin in the compounds, which she described during her testimony as hulking high-security prisons that would have cost millions to build.

Another former camp prisoner, Gulbahar Haitiwaji, the author of How I Survived a Chinese Re-Education Camp, told the committee hearing she only managed to escape thanks to a long-running diplomatic effort by the French government, pressured by her daughter in France.

Gulbahar Haitiwaji, a Uyghur who wrote a book about the experience of being held in two Chinese re-education camps and police stations for more than two years and is Uyghur, testifies at a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Associated Press)

There she witnessed her fellow Uyghurs with shaved heads in jump suits with numbers clearly printed on the front. The prisoners were regularly kept shackled at their legs, severely beaten for minor infractions and only allowed to be referred to by their number.

The daily 11-hour study lessons included Chinese history and law and patriotic songs. For some prisoners, lessons would be immediately followed by a trip to an interrogation room in the room next door.

Each time they interrogated us, they put black hoods on our heads and they shackled our feet, and they handcuffed us, Haitiwaji said, before locking them into a contraption known as a tiger chair, a constrictive metal seat that does not allow its victim to move.

If prisoners were ever caught speaking Uyghur, they were locked in a tiger chair for up to 72 hours, she added, and they kept us until we said we were never again going to speak in the Uyghur language.

Gang rape and sterilization

Sidik said the experience was clearly intended to dehumanize.

She told the hearing that before eating  usually a single Chinese bao bun each day  the Uyghur prisoners were also forced to praise the Chinese motherland, the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, replacing the customary Islamic grace before a meal.

But it was through torture that the most damage was done.

Sidik said there were four types of torture used by the Chinese prison guards  electric baton, electric helmet, electric glove and the tiger chair  and that after a prisoner was called for an interrogation, those prisoners were unable to come to class for weeks or months.

The interrogation rooms are located just next to the classrooms, she said. So 30 minutes after the prisoners were taken, you would hear horrible screaming sounds because they were being tortured.

The torture also included extreme sexual violence.

The horrible thing is when these female prisoners were taken for interrogation, they faced gang rape by the guards, Sidik recounted in tears. And the worst thing is they  the guards or police  use electric batons to insert their private parts to rape and torture them.

A teenage girl imprisoned alongside Sidik bled from her genitals for two months, she said, before she watched her pass away.

She also said she was imprisoned alongside what she estimated was 10,000 other women, mostly between the ages of 17 and 40, who she said were injected with an unknown medicine every Monday.

After they took that medicine, their period would stop, she said. Even some women who were breastfeeding, the breast milk will stop.

Qelbinur Sidik holds up images as she testifies at a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Associated Press)

In May 2019, she said, she was herself sterilized in an operation.

At least 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities are believed to have been held in a network of detention camps in Xinjiang since 2017.

Beijing has said that the camps are vocational training centers. The government has denied widespread allegations that it has tortured people in the camps or mistreated other Muslims living in Xinjiang.

Sidik said she eventually escaped the terror thanks to her daughter who lived in the Netherlands. But she said she was left scarred by the experience and still feared for her husband, whom she was forced to divorce by Chinese authorities and had since lost contact with.

Once she left China, she said, a Chinese policeman video-called her from her husbands phone and tried to convince her to come work for the government.

She held up a screengrab of the man grinning.

Expert testimony

Thursday nights hearing represented the second sitting of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which was set up by the new Republican-led majority in the House of Representatives and aims to build a bipartisan consensus on the threat posed by Beijing.

After the testimony of the former prisoners, three experts on the Uyghur genocide also gave testimony, with Adrian Zenz, a German anthropologist and director in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, telling the committee that the genocide was driven by a paranoia among Chinas leaders.

He said Beijings fears about Uyghurs in the far-west resisting their rule was due to an exaggerated threat perception that genocide scholars have linked to all major atrocities in the past 100 years.

Dr. Adrian Zenz, a German anthropologist and director in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, at a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Associated Press)

These witness statements we've heard do not speak of isolated incidents. They reflect a systematic policy. Classified documents outlined Beijing's secret plan to subjugate the region, Zenz said, noting that Xi had asked former Tibet party chief Chen Quanguo experienced with crushing dissent in Tibet to move to Xinjiang.

Zenz said an estimated 2 million Uyghurs were detained in the five years from 2017, when the program of official mass internments began in earnest, with Chen implementing measures to prevent births, leading to unprecedented declines in Uyghur birth rates.

The presumed goal of these measures, and the intent behind them, was to optimize the ethnic population structure, diluting Uyghur populations with Han, Zenz said, because concentrated Uyghur populations were considered a national security threat.

Lawmakers from both parties asked what tangible steps the U.S. government could take to help end the Uyghur genocide.

Nury Turkel, a Uyghur-American who chairs the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, said U.S. officials needed to investigate mutual fund providers like Vanguard, BlackRock, HSBC and Fidelity, which he accused of investing in the repression.

He said Chinas repression of the Uyghurs  and the associated forced labor  had become a big business, and had taken on a life of its own given the large sums of money Beijing was throwing at it.

They invested zillions of dollars, and now this has become a political economy. This is why they've been aggressively exporting their digital surveillance, he said. We're talking about more than 80 countries around the world, and that includes some democratic nations.

Never Again

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said his great grandparents escaped Jewish pogroms in Poland and Soviet Ukraine, and praised Radio Free Asia for its role in informing the world about the Uyghurs, which he likened to Radio Free Europes role in a past era.

Radio Free Asia, also developed and funded by the United States Agency for Global Media, is providing these services of independent journalism in the Indo-Pacific region, Auchincloss said. They were the first media outlet to publish reporting about the CCPs internment, forced separation, slave labor and sterilization of the Uyghur people.

Uyghur camp survivor and author Gulbahar Haitiwaji [right] speaks next to her daughter, Gulhhumar Haitiwaji, who successfully campaigned for her mothers release, in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA)

Naomi Kikoler, director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, replied that it was important for RFA to continue broadcasting such stories, because Beijing wants you to think that there is no evidence of a genocide.

The role of Radio Free Asia has been incredibly important, and the role of the independent press is essential to telling the story of the Uyghur people, Kikoler said. Many of the journalists themselves are Uyghur, and they're telling the stories of their own communities.

I can't even imagine the weight that sits on their shoulders as they do that  at great risk to their own personal families, she added. Often theyre able to do so in the Uyghur language, which the Chinese government is intent on also trying to erase and eliminate.

Kikoler appealed for people to take action and do for the Uyghurs what was not done for the Jews of Europe during the Holocaust.

This is our Never again moment, she said. The words Never again were meant to be a lasting commitment, no matter how challenging, including when a superpower like China is perpetrating the crimes.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Abubakar Siddique, a senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

A new school year began in Afghanistan this week, but with girls above the sixth grade still banned from attending class.

Last year, the Taliban made a last-minute U-turn after promising for months to allow teenage girls to attend school. But this year, there were few signs before the academic year began that the militants would reverse their ban. In December, the Taliban also banned university education for women.

Human rights groups and female Afghan activists this week condemned the Taliban's ban. In a statement on March 21, UNICEF said the militant group's "unjustified and shortsighted decision has crushed the hopes and dreams of more than 1 million girls."

Former Afghan lawmaker Shukria Barakzai told Radio Azadi that the ban epitomized the Taliban's worldview, which she said fears educated women.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from going to high school.

Why It's Important: The Taliban's restrictions on girls' education as well as its severe constraints on women's right to work and freedom of movement have signaled to Afghans and the international community that the militant group is bent on reestablishing its brutal regime of the 1990s.

The Taliban's draconian policies on girls and women appear to have backfired. The restrictions are considered one of the reasons the hard-line Islamist group has yet to gain international recognition and domestic legitimacy.

The education ban has even undermined the Taliban's religious credentials. The group has come under strong criticism from Muslim countries and Islamic clerics, who have called for the Taliban to rescind its ban.

What's Next: In the long term, the Taliban's education ban is likely to have a devastating social and economic impact.

In August, UNICEF estimated that the Taliban's education ban translated to a loss of at least $500 million for the Afghan economy in the last 12 months.

With the Taliban refusing to reverse its ban, some Afghans have called for the international community to impose further sanctions against the Taliban government.

"Sanctions against the Taliban leaders responsible for these bans would force them to rescind such policies," Shinkai Karokhail, a female former Afghan lawmaker, told Radio Azadi.

The Week's Best Stories

The preservation of Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage has been impeded by decades of war, destruction, and desecration. But while the Taliban's return to power has raised fears of a return to its ruinous old ways when it comes to the country's pre-Islamic history, preservationists continue to pick up the pieces with a surprising level of cooperation.

Norouz festivities are making a limited comeback among Pashtun communities in northwestern Pakistan. The traditional spring celebrations marking the arrival of the New Year died down a century ago due to calendar changes and imperial borders that limited their contacts with fellow Pashtuns in Afghanistan and other communities.

What To Keep An Eye On

The Taliban's influential finance minister, Mullah Hidayatullah Badri, was demoted and appointed as the new head of Afghanistan's central bank on March 22.

The demotion came after speculation that Badri had threatened to resign from his post because of differences with Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

One account suggests that Badri opposed Akhundzada's 2021 decision to impose a blanket ban on opium cultivation without providing alternative livelihoods to the tens of thousands of farmers in southern Afghanistan, where Badri is from, who were dependent on the illicit drug trade.

During its 19-year insurgency, the Taliban is believed to have earned billions from the drug trade. Experts say the Taliban taxed poppy farmers and was involved in the trafficking of narcotics to neighboring countries.

In recent months, senior Taliban officials have publicly criticized Akhundzada, who has been accused of monopolizing power and empowering a cohort of radical clerics.

Why It's Important: Badri, also known by his alias Gul Agha, was among the founding members of the Taliban in the mid-1990s. He controlled the Taliban's finances for more than two decades.

Badri is a prominent Taliban figure from the southern province of Helmand. The so-called Helmand Shura, or council that Badri was a member of, led the Taliban insurgency for several years. In May 2016, a U.S. drone strike killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur inside Pakistan, which weakened the faction.

Badri was the only minister appointed from this faction when the Taliban announced its government in September 2021. His departure from the top echelons of the Taliban government deprives this powerful Taliban faction of a share in power.

Badri also figures prominently on the UN sanctions list against the Taliban leaders. His appointment to Afghanistan's central bank could further complicate the group's international dealings.

Until next time,

Abubakar Siddique

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
The U.S. Treasury Department on March 24 issued new Belarus-related sanctions against nine individuals and three entities in response to an ongoing crackdown on the countrys pro-democracy movement and civil society.

The sanctions announcement by the departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified as blocked a Boeing 737 that the Treasury Department said has been used by authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his family for official business and personal trips, including to international locations.

The OFAC singled out two other entities for sanctions -- the Belarusian Automobile Plant (BelAZ) and the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) -- saying both plants threatened employees "who took part in strikes and peaceful protests in the aftermath of the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election."

Protest participants were intimidated and then laid off at MAZ and were threatened with layoffs at BelAZ, according to the Treasury Department.

BelAZ is one of the largest manufacturers of large trucks and dump trucks in the world, according to the Treasury Department, and Lukashenka has described it as a Belarusian brand and part of the national legacy.

Both BelAZ and MAZ, one of the biggest automotive manufacturers in Belarus and a significant source of revenue for the Lukashenka regime, were designated for being owned or controlled by the Belarusian government. They were previously designated by the European Union and Canada.

OFAC also blacklisted BelAZs director, Sergei Nikiforovich, and MAZs director, Valery Ivankovich, citing their roles as officials of the Belarusian government.

The authoritarian Lukashenka regime relies on state-owned enterprises and key officials to generate substantial revenue that enables oppressive acts against the Belarusian people, Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in the Treasury Department's statement announcing the sanctions. We remain committed to imposing costs on the Lukashenka regime for its suppression of democracy and support for [Russian President Vladimir] Putins war of choice.

The OFAC also blacklisted seven recently appointed members of the Belarusian Central Election Commission (CEC), which is already under sanctions.

The department said the CEC played a role in barring opposition candidates, denying access to poll observers, and certifying inaccurate vote tallies.

OFAC previously designated senior members of the CEC in the wake of the August 2020 presidential election, which Lukashenka claimed he won, while opposition politicians and activists say the vote was rigged. The action on March 24 adds members of the commission who joined since the election.

The sanctions freeze any property held in U.S. jurisdiction by the individuals and entities. In addition, people in the United States who engage in transactions with those designated may themselves be exposed to sanctions, the Treasury Department said.

The State Department on March 24 concurrently announced visa restrictions on an additional 14 individuals, including regime officials involved in policies to threaten and intimidate brave Belarusians exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms at great personal cost.

The United States will continue to impose costs on the Belarusian regime and on people who support it for their repression of the people of Belarus, and the regimes ongoing support for Russias unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine, the State Department statement said.
A Bulgarian journalist with a penchant for hard-hitting stories probing official malfeasance and corruption is awaiting word on possible charges after a bizarre run-in with authorities over ancient coins and possible national heritage objects.

Regional prosecutors conducted warrantless searches of Ivan Atanasov's offices and home in the town of Harmanli, in the southern Haskovo region, and detained him for 24 hours following an anonymous tip alleging he possessed protected historical and cultural objects.

Atanasov says the incident centers around folders of coins he came across in the days before the raids and that he intended to comply with a law giving citizens seven days to hand over rare finds to a museum for evaluation.

Regional prosecutors say the warrantless searches of Atanasov's office and home in the town of Harmanli, in the southern Haskovo region, along with his 24-hour detention, followed an anonymous tip alleging he possessed protected historical and cultural objects.

Atanasov told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service that he suspected the raids and detention might be linked to his journalistic work, which included confronting district officials in recent weeks with possible evidence of human trafficking.

"It turned out that my coins are the most important thing in the fight against organized crime," Atanasov said wryly.

Atanasov publishes the Sakar News local information website and produces investigative stories for the For The Truth website, which works with independent regional journalists around the country.

Some of his recent reporting has focused on organized crime and the trafficking of migrants, and he said he is currently seeking information linked to the Bulgarian State Agency for National Security (DANS) in connection with money initially confiscated from detained illegal migrants.

"I've written that the [border and security] services are turning a blind eye to the migrant flow, and I've written other [critical materials]," Atanasov said. "[The local authorities] don't look favorably on me. I know all these people's tricks."

Bulgaria lies on one of the continent's major people-smuggling routes. In February, 18 migrants were found dead in an abandoned truck near the capital, Sofia.

Atanasov's detention came weeks ahead of the country's fifth national elections in just two years, with every seat valuable in a race that is expected to be closely fought.

One of Atanasov's recent stories alleged the existence of a vote-buying scheme in the town of Simeonovgrad involving the mass issue of identity cards ahead of the voting on April 2.

Atanasov last year uncovered a conflict of interest that contributed to the dismissal of a judge who is the daughter of a former GERB lawmaker, Georgi Stankov.

The Haskovo region is home to ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins dating as far back as the fourth century.

Atanasov is an amateur treasure hunter who acknowledges keeping a personal collection of artifacts of local interest displayed in the offices of Sakar News.

Authorities from the Interior Ministry and its unit to combat organized crime (GDBOP) conducted the raids, which began before midday on March 14.

The local district prosecutor's office in Haskovo later announced that the operation was carried out "under conditions of urgency," a circumstance that can mean police are not required to notify prosecutors or courts. It is usually invoked to prevent an imminent crime or apprehend a wanted fugitive.

It listed two metal detectors, "numerous coins," and other items "bearing the marks of archaeological sites under the Cultural Heritage Act and clothing bearing signs of protected trademarks, for the use of which the owner did not have permission."

Atanasov was released without charges, and he told RFE/RL this week that he expects the coins in question to be examined by experts to determine any possible heritage status.

Prosecutors said investigations were pending and a decision would follow over possible criminal liability.

Atanasov told RFE/RL that he planned to file a complaint and seek a court determination that his arrest was illegal.

Atanasov's lawyer argues that the detention was unwarranted, particularly since his client had no previous criminal record.

Bulgaria has grappled with accusations of rampant corruption at the highest levels of government for decades, and European institutions have repeatedly urged Sofia to clean up its judiciary, including by eliminating politically motivated actions by senior officials, including in the Prosecutor-General's Office.

It also earned a reputation as one of Southeastern Europe's worst defenders of media freedom before rebounding slightly to the 91st spot out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders's 2022 World Press Freedom Index.

Atanasov last year uncovered a conflict of interest that contributed to the dismissal of a judge who is the daughter of a former GERB lawmaker, Georgi Stankov.

"Ivan Atanasov is a journalist with high professional ethics," a local psychologist in the city of Hraskovo named Georgi Stankov (who is no relation to the ex-legislator) wrote on Facebook after reports of Atanasov's detention. "I've seen his little collection of small antiques in the Sakar News editorial office, and it's probably been seen by thousands of visitors over the years. This incident is no accident."

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Bulgarian Service correspondent Boris Mitov
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

Xi's Long-Term Bet On Putin

Chinese leader Xi Jinping finished up a high-profile, three-day visit to Moscow that could have consequences for the future direction of the war in Ukraine. But as I reported here, there are extensive layers to this summit that go far beyond Russia's invasion and will ripple into the future.

Finding Perspective: As with much of China's foreign policy, Xi is playing the long game with his Russia trip.

It's a very strong message to the world that despite everything that's happened in the last year, from Moscow invading its neighbor, the death and destruction that the war has brought, Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear saber-rattling, and an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court issued for him -- that China will continue to deepen its already close ties with Moscow.

And that's because Beijing believes that it's in its interest to do so and that it needs Russia for a future where China will find itself in a tense and lasting competition -- or potentially more -- with the United States.

This summit was more about pomp and symbolism than substance. The joint statement for the visit outlined plans for future economic cooperation and plans to keep moving forward with the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China, although it stopped short of confirming it.

One of the key takeaways of the visit is that the power disparity between China and Russia -- which was already skewed in Beijing's favor -- is set to grow.

Russia's economy is roughly 1-10th of China's and Russia now finds itself increasingly dependent on China in every aspect. The yuan is set to become Russia's top foreign currency and Russia needs new buyers for its energy, which gives China major leverage.

Why It Matters: The big question is how does Xi's long-term bet on Putin play out over the war in Ukraine?

So far, China has been reluctant to help Russia on the battlefield, although there is a steady rise in the trade of so-called dual-use goods, which are commercial goods that can be repurposed in some capacity for military equipment. There's also trade data showing private sales of things like body armor and even some small firearms being bought from private Chinese companies and sent to Russia to help with the war effort.

As Dennis Wilder, a former director for China on the U.S. National Security Council, told me, China could covertly send artillery shells to Russia. Its stockpiles are plentiful, it has a shared border, or it could send things via a third-party.

Moreover, he added that "it's easy to remove factory markings from shells and replace them with another country's, and it would be very hard for [the United States] to prove that the Chinese did something like that."

Still, a more stepped-up form of Chinese support could escalate things on the battlefield and bring potential backlash for China, particularly with its two largest trading partners, the European Union and the United States.

Given its current economic circumstances at home, it doesn't look like Beijing can afford to be a rival to both.

Expert Corner: Beijing's Future In The Middle East

Readers asked: "Why does China want to supplant the United States in the Middle East? It seems like a risky move that could backfire on Beijing. What kind of future role is China actually carving out for itself there?"

To find out more, I asked Tuvia Gering, an expert on China's role in the Middle East at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel:

"This is a trick question; who says China wants to replace the United States in the region? 'China doesn't want to become the world's police,' as retired Senior Colonel Zhou Bo told me two weeks ago. Despite recent developments, we have no reason to believe China's stance has shifted. Given our region's reputation as a graveyard for superpowers, the risk, as correctly identified in the second part of the question, is one that Chinese policymakers and scholars are well aware of.

"Furthermore, in the short term, I see little risk and more benefits for China. In the trilateral statement between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China issued in Beijing, no Chinese commitments or assurances were made in the event that one of the conflicting parties violated the truce. If this happens, this allows China to take a step back and let the people of the region and the United States' forces deal with the consequences. Ironically, it would almost certainly blame America for being the 'root cause' of the theoretical conflict.

"In the long run, however, the recent move could signal the start of a trend of increasing Chinese diplomatic and security involvement in hotspot regions around the world. For one thing, as China's interests abroad expand, so does the need to protect them. For another, Xi Jinping's China is becoming more assertive in undermining Western hegemony and what it sees as the rules-based international order.

"If the U.S.-China relationship deteriorates further, China's 'spirit of struggle,' as Xi demands of the Chinese people, is likely to spread beyond the fault lines of the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea. In this regard, the Middle East is emerging as a top contender."

Do you have a question about China's growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and I'll get it answered by leading experts and policymakers.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Xi The Statesman

Xi's Moscow trip is just the latest in a string of diplomatic moves that highlight Beijing's willingness to reshape the international order and brandish Xi's status as a statesman on the global stage.

What You Need To Know: China achieved a diplomatic coup when it helped broker a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia on March 10, as I reported here, and that momentum looks set to continue.

Beyond the summit with Putin and the Middle East deal, Honduras -- which was one of the few countries to still recognize Taiwan -- announced that it plans to switch its ties to Beijing. Later this month, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will travel to Beijing to meet with Xi.

This comes after earlier visits this year from Belarus's Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Iran's Ebrahim Raisi.

It's part of a broader play from China to win influence across the Global South and while it raises questions about its sustainability in the medium and long term, it's clearly yielding some early results.

2. An Insider's View

Zhou Bo, a retired senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army, has been a regular international commentator lately at leading conferences and in the media, where he has helped articulate Beijing's point of view on key issues.

In a recent interview with Time magazine, he offered some interesting insights on how China sees Russia and its invasion of Ukraine.

The Details: Among some of the more interesting passages of the interview, Zhou is critical of Russia's war effort and how it has performed on the battlefield, adding that he doesn't believe that "so far Russia has regretted this war, but I think they would regret the way they fought the war."

In terms of Beijing's view on a settlement for the war in Ukraine and its future, he said, "Russia cannot win this war, but Russia won't lose this war either." However, Zhou acknowledged that neither Moscow nor Kyiv is truly open to negotiations yet. Both are willing to keep giving war a chance.

Zhou seemed to question the West's long-term commitment to Ukraine and tout Beijing's potential status as a peace broker, although he seemed pragmatic about the prospects of ending the war.

"China stands ready when it can help, but only these countries can solve the issue, they have to come to a cease-fire first," he said.

3. Welcome Back

With pandemic restrictions in China finally lifted, group travel is back and Chinese tourists are returning to Russia, Current Time's Anton Benediktov reports.

What It Means: With Western tourists largely gone and the country facing a contracting economy, Russian tour operators have high hopes that Chinese tourists can be a lasting fix. According to Russia's Association of Tour Operators, the number of foreign tourists fell by 96 percent after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Many Chinese tourists who were interviewed say they care little about Western sanctions and that their bank cards didn't work while in Russia and are instead curious about the country and to see it for themselves.

"Many tourists hope to come to Russia to see what the former Russian older brother looks like now," one Chinese tourist said.

Russia's tourism industry, meanwhile, appears to be reorienting itself towards the Chinese market. Large hotel chains are apparently offering basic Chinese-language training to staff and switching their breakfast buffets to reflect Chinese tastes.

Across The Supercontinent

China's Crackdown: Bakytkhan Myrzan, an ethnic Kazakh religious researcher who has been imprisoned in Xinjiang, died on March 7, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported.

From Prague to Taipei: Marketa Pekarova Adamova, the head of the Czech Republic's lower house of parliament, is set to lead a delegation to Taiwan on March 25 in a trip that has already drawn Beijing's ire.

The Superpowers Aren't Alright: According to a new poll by the Pew Research Center, young people aged 18 to 29 in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have few positive things to say about the United States or China as major players on the world stage.

While focus groups were wary of China's rise and what its ambitions would mean for global peace, young adults were also "eager to see their countries maintain a strong, more independent presence on the world stage without relying on policy cues from the [United States]."

Tick Tock: Pressure is building in the United States to ban the popular social-media app TikTok, with its CEO Shou Zi Chew set to face questions about the app's security risks during a House of Representatives hearing on March 23.

One Thing To Watch

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen will make sensitive stopovers in the United States on her way to and from Central America in a move that could further inflame tensions with China for both Taipei and Washington.

She will transit through New York and Los Angeles as part of a trip to Guatemala and Belize, leaving Taipei on March 29 and returning on April 7. While in California, Tsai will reportedly meet with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, although neither side has confirmed the unofficial meeting.

Beijing has warned against the meeting should it take place and has already protested against it with Washington.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pressed the need for tightening sanctions on Russia to bring an early end to the 14-month invasion, while Kyiv also pleaded for more ammunition as intense fighting continued in eastern Ukraine and a rumor spread that Ukrainian troops had crossed a key strategic river in the south.

The Ukrainian military said on April 23 that the "fiercest" fighting was currently over the cities of Bakhmut and Maryinka in the Donetsk region.

And local officials in Kharkiv said civilian infrastructure was burning in that northeastern city after at least five Russian missiles hit that city and the region overnight.

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.

Russia's Defense Ministry meanwhile said its forces had made gains in Bakhmut, capturing three blocks in a city with a prewar population of more than 70,000 that has been devastated by a monthslong Russian offensive.

RFE/RL cannot independently confirm battlefield claims by either side in areas of the most intense fighting.

After a U.S.-based think tank cited possible indications that Ukrainian troops had taken up positions on a partly Russian-controlled bank of the strategically crucial Dnieper River, the Ukrainian military declined to confirm or deny reports suggesting its forces were on the left bank of that river in Kherson, near the Black Sea coast.

There has been widespread speculation that a major Ukrainian counteroffensive is imminent against Russian troops.

A spokeswoman for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine, Natalia Humenyuk, said in televised comments that crossing an obstacle like the "wide and powerful" Dnieper is "very difficult work."

"Therefore the conditions of a military operation require informational silence until it is safe for our military," she said. "That's why we need to be patient." She added that "informational silence should be observed" also in light of wartime disinformation efforts by the enemy.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War argued in a regular report on April 22 that "Russian milbloggers have provided enough geolocated footage and textual reports to confirm that Ukrainian forces have established positions in east [left] bank Kherson Oblast as of April 22 though not at what scale or with what intentions."

Such evidence, if it existed, could hint at broader operations but the aims or extent would remain unclear.

Also on April 22, Zelenskiy said in his regular video appearance late on April 22 that further "sanctions packages are being worked out in detail."

He added that coordination of those trade and other efforts to punish Russia "is one of the key joint tasks for all of us -- absolutely everyone who seeks a faster end to the war, a faster victory for us -- to eliminate opportunities for Russia to circumvent sanctions."

The European Union is currently working on its 11th package of economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen has said the coming sanctions will be aimed primarily at preventing the circumvention of existing restrictions on Russia.

Also on April 22, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk said that while the country was grateful for assistance so far, "it is not enough."

"Ukraine needs 10 times more to finish [R]ussian aggression this year," Melnyk wrote on Twitter. "Thus we call upon our partners to cross all artificial red lines & devote 1% of GDP for [Ukraine] weapons deliveries."

Earlier, Ukraine's General Staff said Russia's "main effort is focused" on offensive operations in the areas of Bakhmut, Maryinka, and Avdiyivka.

It said it had fought off 58 attacks in the past day, and warned of the possibility of missile and air strikes around the country.

It also said Russian "defensive operations" were continuing farther south in and around Zaporizhzhya, which hosts an occupied nuclear power plant, and Kherson.

In Kharkiv, the head of the local administration, Oleh Synyehubov, said via Telegram that Russian bombardments with S-300 missiles and other weapons were targeting the city and the district.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that "a fire broke out at a civil infrastructure facility in the Novobavar district due to rocket fire" and "emergency services are working at the scene."

Russian troops regularly shell the Kharkiv region due in part to its proximity to Russian territory, from which many of the bombardments originate.

The United States said its Abrams tanks bound for Ukraine were on their way to Germany for the training of Ukrainian tank crews, and other allies issued fresh commitments to Kyiv at a Contact Group meeting at Ramstein on April 21 largely focused on helping boost Ukrainian air defenses.

On April 22, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced it was expelling an unnamed number of German diplomats in what it called a "mirror" action to a previously unannounced move by Berlin as relations between those two countries continued to deteriorate.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. Poland hopes that 2023 and the coming years will give further positive dynamics to the development of trade and investment cooperation with he countries of Central Asia, the source at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland told Trend.

"We see opportunities for the development of economic cooperation both with today's largest economic partners in the region - Kazakhstan and then Uzbekistan, as well as with the other countries of the region - Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan," the ministry said.

According to the source, bilateral intergovernmental commissions for economic cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are scheduled for 2023. Committee meetings will be accompanied by Business Forums, which will allow for participation and direct contacts between entrepreneurs.

"The prospects for Poland's cooperation with the countries of Central Asia are promising and cover many different sectors. This applies in particular to agriculture and food processing, energy (including hydropower) and mining, the construction sector, the textile industry, health care, and the already mentioned environmental protection sector. In the near future, the high-tech sector, including IT, may become an important area of cooperation," the ministry noted.

The source added that 2023 and the coming years will give further positive dynamics to the development of trade and investment cooperation between Poland and its Central Asian partners.
Thousands of people pour into the streets and stage anti-regime rallies in Irans southeastern city of Zahedan after Friday Prayers every week.

The weekly demonstrations have occurred since September 30, when government forces gunned down scores of people following antiestablishment protests in the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to Irans Baluch ethnic minority.

Among those participating in the weekly rallies in Zahedan is Ahmad, who was among the more than 300 people wounded in the deadly crackdown, referred to as Bloody Friday.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Protests That Shook Iran's Clerical System

At least 94 people were killed that day, according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. Several members of the security forces also reportedly died.

I still cant move my arm properly, said Ahmad, who did not reveal his full name for fear of retribution. But I protest every Friday because our rights have been violated for the past 44 years, he added, referring to the Islamic Revolution in 1979 that brought the current clerical regime to power.

The crackdown on September 30 was the single deadliest day of the nationwide anti-regime protests that erupted after Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman, died on September 16 following her arrest by Irans morality police for allegedly violating the countrys hijab law.

While the protests have largely subsided across most of Iran, the demonstrations have continued in Sistan-Baluchistan, fueled by anger over the deadly state crackdown and historical grievances.

Sistan-Baluchistan is one of Irans poorest provinces. Members of the Baluch minority, many of whom are Sunni Muslims in Shia-majority Iran, have long faced disproportionate discrimination and violence at the hands of the authorities.

The sermons of Molavi Abdolhamid, the outspoken Friday Prayers leader in Zahedan, have also helped motivate protesters. In a rare show of dissent, Abdolhamid has publicly criticized the authorities for alleged human rights abuses and repression of Iran's ethnic and religious minorities.

The authorities blamed Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, for the September 30 killings, a claim rejected by local and independent sources.

But Abdolhamid said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were responsible, saying security forces shot indiscriminately at people after raiding the central mosque in Zahedan and the nearby Great Mosalla, a religious site.

The cleric has called on the authorities to bring those responsible for the deaths to justice. The failure to conduct a transparent investigation has added to public anger in Sistan-Baluchistan.

The authorities have yet to take action against Abdolhamid, whose popularity has soared. A document from the hard-line Fars news agency that was leaked in November suggested Khamenei had told security and military officials to try and discredit Abdolhamid instead of arresting him.

One of his aides, Molavi Abdolmajid Moradzehi, was arrested in January and charged with disturbing public opinion and numerous communications with foreign individuals and media outlets.

Days before his arrest, Moradzehi told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that protests would continue in Zahedan "until the issue of Bloody Friday and the people of Zahedan who were killed and injured is resolved.

Shirahmad Shirani of Haalvsh, a Baluch rights group, told RFE/RL that Abolhamid has become a trusted and widely respected figure.

Abdolhamid is based inside the country and people trust him. Its not just because of the past six months, but due to his actions in recent years. People know him and they see him as someone they can rely on, said Shirani.

[The protesters] are demanding the rights of the Baluchis and the Sunnis that have been systematically violated during the past 40 years, he added. In the province, where 90 percent are Baluch, we dont have any Baluch in senior positions, in the security bodies, or even in the education system.

Shirani, a rights activist who was jailed in Iran after being convicted of acting against national security, said the protests in Zahedan have become more organized in recent weeks.

If, during the first days of the protests, people were driven by anger and outrage, today its a mix of anger and ideals. Theyre protesting knowing that they can get arrested or killed, yet they still come into the streets, he said.

Human Rights Watch reported in December that since the Bloody Friday crackdown, security forces have killed at least eight people in Sistan-Baluchistan. Haalvsh has identified 121 people it said were killed between September 30 and March 20 in Zahedan and the nearby city of Khash.

Haalvsh has reported increased security measures in Zahedan as well as the arbitrary arrests of protesters in the city. Authorities have also routinely disrupted the Internet in Zahedan to prevent the weekly protests.

Videos posted online appeared to show protesters chanting Death to Khamenei and Mullahs get lost in Zahedan on March 24.

Despite the risks, Ahmad said he remains determined to continue making his voice heard.

I will keep protesting, even though when I leave home I dont know if Ill return, he said, adding that Sistan-Baluchistan has now become the voice of all Iranian people."
I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk.

Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect the key developments in Russian politics and society over the previous week and look at what's ahead. To receive The Week In Russia newsletter in your inbox, click here.

President Vladimir Putin is now a wanted man, the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on suspicion of war crimes over the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. How will it affect Putin's fate and the course of Russia's war against Ukraine?

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

Myths And Motives

The overarching narrative that Putin seems to have settled on as justification for the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is that Washington and the West have weaponized Ukraine, assiduously turning it into an "anti-Russia" in a long-standing effort to destroy his country.

Repeated countless times without credible evidence, this story deprives Ukraine of agency, portraying the country as a tool in Western hands -- a soldier drafted into the service of U.S. geopolitical goals. At its heart is the false claim that the Euromaidan movement -- massive protests that erupted in 2013 after President Viktor Yanukovych succumbed to pressure and incentives from Putin and scrapped plans for closer ties with the European Union, and that ended when he fled to Russia in February 2014 -- was a Western-backed coup.

Never mind the fact that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was elected five years after what Ukrainians call the Revolution of Dignity, and that he beat out the politician who replaced Yanukovych -- in part by campaigning on a platform of peace with Russia.

While he points the finger at the West, going back two decades or more there is plenty of evidence of Putin seeking to shape Ukrainian politics and election results to fit what some call his obsession with making the country a part of Russia or at the very least a loyal sidekick, subordinate to Moscow and lacking sovereignty.

In November 2004, six months into his second term, Putin congratulated Yanukovych after a presidential runoff vote marred by evidence of fraud in his favor, including voter intimidation, physical violence, and the burning of ballot boxes.

Putin's endorsement came shortly before he met with EU leaders at a summit in The Hague, and it added to tensions brewing after he basically blamed the West for the Beslan school massacre that September and took steps that rolled back post-Soviet advances in democracy and human rights in Russia.

With hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians demonstrating in peaceful street protests now known as the Orange Revolution, Putin's backing was not enough for Yanukovych, who lost to rival Viktor Yushchenko in a new vote held in January 2005.

Five years later, though, Yanukovych ran again and won, setting the stage for the momentous events of 2014, when his departure was followed by Russia's takeover of Crimea and the start of the war in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, where Moscow fired up anti-Kyiv sentiments and backed separatist forces.

And nearly eight years after that, in February 2022, Putin launched a dramatic and deadly escalation of the war by ordering the large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thirteen months later, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and millions driven from their homes, and the war continues with no end in sight.

Now, Putin is wanted in The Hague once again: The International Criminal Court (ICC), which is based there, issued an arrest warrant for Putin on March 17, alleging that he was responsible for war crimes: the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

There is debate about the significance of the warrant.

"On a pragmatic level -- first of all, this is not going to have any particular impact on Putin at home," Mark Galeotti, an author and analyst of Russian politics and an honorary professor at the School of Slavonic & East European Studies at University College London, said on his podcast on March 19. "We should recognize the degree to which it would be naive to say this should somehow trigger some kind of political change in Russia -- it's not going to."

Despite the fact that the ICC is not a Western institution, he said that domestically, word of the warrant "is being used as a way of trying to shore up a narrative about the degree to which there are no depths to which the West will not stoop...in order to try and undermine Russia."

"Because after all," he said, Putin and his government are telling the Russian people that rather than a war of aggression against Ukraine, "this is a war for Russian sovereignty, this is a war for Russian autonomy, this is a war for Russia not to bend the knee to the evil American hegemon."

A Turning Point?

In part because Putin seems highly unlikely to travel to any country that might arrest him, meanwhile, and because countries including Russia, China, and the United States are not members of the ICC, some see the court's move as purely symbolic.

Others disagree. Russia analyst Sam Greene suggested that the day the ICC issued the arrest warrant would come to be seen as one of the "turning points" in the development of post-Soviet Russia -- days "when something happens that genuinely alters the calculations and trajectories of human action" or "moments of crystallization, when we recognize the truth of a reality that has been building up around us."

He listed it along with the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, the invasion of Georgia in 2008, the seizure of Crimea in 2014, and the large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, "when Russia became what it had long been becoming: the most pressing threat to global peace and security."

It would be a mistake to dismiss the ICC decision to indict Putin as a morally significant but politically inconsequential gesture, Greene, a professor at King's College London's Russia Institute and director of Democratic Resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis, wrote in his blog on Substack.

"On the face of it, the news from The Hague did not give us any new information, and yet the indictment of Putin changes just about everything," he wrote. "For as long as Putin is in power, and perhaps longer, normalization of relations with Europe, with the West in general, and indeed with any of the 123 state parties to the Rome Statute is impossible."

"For anyone who was hedging their bets today to see how things might go tomorrow, whether that be Russian elites hoping for a partial postwar reset, or Western leaders fretting about the same, the uncertainty that underpinned those thought processes has just evaporated," Greene wrote. "In its place...emerges a simple truth: with Putin, there is no future."

There's arguably a potential downside to that truth: If Putin recognizes it as the truth, it might make him even less likely to end the war in Ukraine and more likely to escalate.

"There is no question...that Putin is responsible for war crimes -- and not just this particular war crime, but also if one looks at the attacks on civilian infrastructure, the fact that clearly, although Putin did not necessarily say, 'Bomb hospitals' and the like, he absolutely has done nothing to prevent hospitals being bombed," Galeotti said.

The warrant is "precisely a symbol of the degree to which his regime...has absolutely transgressed across what we now think of as genuine global values," he said. "It is also symbolic of a degree of isolation and a degree of international, frankly, revulsion."

'Making Putin's Personal Incentives Irrelevant'

But while the court decision "has been welcomed by some precisely because of the idea that in closes the ring tighter on Vladimir Putin, that it makes him all the more aware of the fact that there can be no return to status quo, and therefore, for some, it should undermine his will to continue to fight the war," Galeotti said, he added: "My big fear is that in fact the exact opposite is true."

"Sure, he cannot go back to anything like the status quo ante, absolutely," Galeotti said. "But on the other hand, the worse that...any kind of peacetime situation and outcome looks to Putin, the less incentive he has to accept that on anything other than his own terms.... So, I do wonder, does this actually make peace harder rather than easier?

"It's one of the awful head vs. heart, justice vs. pragmatism dilemmas, and it is a really tough call."

Whatever the degree of Putin's determination to keep the war going despite the actual interests of Russia and its people, some Western analysts say the best way to end it is to help Ukraine win -- or at least make gains that could prompt him to change his calculus.

"Putin is likely to continue the war in Ukraine -- not because it is in Russia's interest but because it is in his personal interest. Fighting on makes sense for Putin for one fundamental reason: wartime autocrats rarely lose power," Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, and Erica Frantz, an associate professor of political science at Michigan State University, wrote in a March 23 article in the journal Foreign Affairs.

"The most promising path to stop the war, then, is through greater U.S. and European support to Kyiv. Providing more assistance could help Ukraine win a decisive military victory, making Putin's personal incentives irrelevant," Kendall-Taylor and Frantz wrote. "And even if Ukraine determines that that it cannot expel Russian forces entirely from its territory, positioning Kyiv to threaten Putin with a clear battlefield defeat should encourage him to partake in negotiations on terms that are more favorable to Ukraine.

"Until Putin faces a credible threat, he will have every reason to continue the war," they added.

That's it from me this week.

If you want to know more, catch up on my podcast The Week Ahead In Russia, out every Monday, here on our site or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts).

Yours,

Steve Gutterman
Like most Russian funeral ceremonies, the one held just north of the resort town of Goryachy Klyuch featured colorful flowered wreaths, portraits of the dead, red carnations, and coffins draped in tapestries.

But the ceremony, held on March 19 in a region better known for thermal spas and mineral baths, was remarkable in another way: a public fight between the local administration and the founder of the Wagner Group mercenary company, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The local mayor said there were too many Wagner soldiers being buried there; better to bury them elsewhere. Outraged, Prigozhin and his allies defied the mayor and held the ceremony, at which the dead were mourned and the administration was excoriated.

The graveyard spat comes amid growing questions about the political future of Prigzohin, who has become one of Russias most notorious public figures amid the 13-month invasion of neighboring Ukraine. A former convict who made his fortune opening restaurants in St. Petersburg, Prigozhin later netted lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin before founding Wagner Group.

The groups mercenaries, who have appeared in Syria, Africa, and elsewhere, have emerged as a potent fighting force in Ukraine. Even as Wagner has suffered high casualties, Prigozhin has publicly feuded with top commanders in the Russian Defense Ministry, criticizing the conduct of battlefield operations.

And thats stoked speculation that Prigozhins rise has been tacitly endorsed in the Kremlin -- and whether his ascendence may be coming to an end.

As soon as it became clear that [Prigozhins] influence was falling sharply, the mayor, after consulting with the leadership, received the go-ahead to refuse further funerals, said Ivan Preobrazhensky, a Russian political scientist now based outside the country.

Its unlikely that this is a message directly from the presidential administration. Rather, its likely that someone whos inside the Russian bureaucratic system realized that Prigozhin is just no longer that frightening," he told RFE/RLs Caucasus.Realities.

Too Many Graves?

The cemetery that was the focus of the recent political squabble first gained notoriety late last year, when activists publicized the sudden appearance of dozens of graves. As of February, more than 300 new graves had appeared in the Bakinskaya cemetery over the preceding months; activists say they had counted up to 570 graves as of this month.

Nearly all are believed to be soldiers who fought for Wagner in Ukraine.

Western officials estimate Wagner has suffered exceptionally high casualties, particularly around the Donbas city of Bakhmut, which has been the focus of a bloody, monthslong assault dating back to August. Wagner troops, including thousands of prison inmates, have been at the vanguard of that assault; the White House says up to 30,000 Wagner fighters may have been killed or wounded to date.

As Prigozhins prominence has risen, his supporters, many of whom are hard-line nationalists, have sought to glorify the efforts of slain Wagner fighters.

This past week, when Wagner officials sought to hold another public funeral for eight of its fighters at the Bakinskaya cemetery, municipal officials in Goryachy Klyuch balked, citing public opinion against the continued burials.

On his Telegram channel on March 18, Prigozhin published what was purportedly a recording of a phone call between a Wagner representative and Mayor Sergei Belopolsky, in which Belopolsky explains the reasoning for denying permission for the upcoming funeral.

Shortly afterwards, Belopolsky posted his own statement on the dispute, saying that while he "respects the fighters," he doesnt think a spa resort town is a suitable place for the burials anymore. He said there were better locations in the region.

The funeral went ahead anyway, according to multiple videos posted on Telegram channels. The ceremony included the broadcast of an audio message from Prigozhin, who called local officials scum hiding in the offices."

Several local lawmakers attended as well, although none representing the Kremlin-backed United Russia political party, however.

The following day, Prigozhin posted a new statement, saying that the governor of the Krasnodar region, where Goryachy Klyuch is located, had promised no further obstacles for Wagner burials.

Andrei Panyushkin, a local activist, told RFE/RL that he doubted public opinion was, in fact, opposed to the burials. He said there were an unknown number of local men who had gone to fight in Ukraine, so people were already sympathetic. Two men from two of his neighboring families had joined Wagner and been killed, he said.

Vitaly Votanovsky, another local activist who was present for the funeral ceremony, said the funeral drew cars registered from many places around southern Russia.

Votanovsky has also advocated on behalf of families of killed Wagner soldiers, who have complained of not getting compensated by the government.



Publicity Resources

Prigozhins public feuds, as well as the public responses of the Kremlin and the Defense Ministry, have been scrutinized as the Ukraine war has ground on and Wagner forces continue to suffer high casualty rates.

Earlier this year, Wagners ability to continue recruiting prison inmates to fight in Ukraine appeared to be curtailed; Prigozhin said himself that he would stop the recruitment.

The Defense Ministry, meanwhile, has reportedly started its own recruiting effort in Russia prisons, effectively taking over the process from Wagner.

Prigozhinis learning a hard lesson in Kremlin politics."

Prigozhin has also complained that his forces are not getting adequate supplies of ammunition and that that has hampered the effort to capture Bakhmut. The Defense Ministry has denied that.

This week, the news agency Bloomberg, citing unnamed people close to the Kremlin and intelligence services, reported that Prigozhin intended to curtail Wagners operations in Ukraine and focus on Africa, where his mercenaries have been reported in at least four different countries. Prigozhin denied the report in a sarcastic statement posted to Telegram on March 24.

Prigozhin himself understands that publicity is his only resource, said one political scientist who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, due to restrictive Russian censorship laws. Especially if a populist plays on the dislike for local bureaucrats.

Prigozhinis learning a hard lesson in Kremlin politics, Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russian security services, wrote in a column earlier this month, prior to the funeral spat. It doesnt matter how useful you were yesterday, what matters is how useful you may be tomorrow.

Written by Mike Eckel based on reporting by Andrei Krasno of RFE/RLs North Caucasus Service
The demolition of a monument in Serbia honoring the fallen of World Wars I and II has sparked the ire of veterans' groups and locals. A Chinese construction company working on a highway project tore down the towering statues of fighters near the village of Negrisori.
On the steppes of Kazakhstan, there is little Internet signal, no stable access to electricity, and few people. If you spend more than a day here, it seems civilization exists in another dimension. The world here consists of mountains, the endless sky, and absolute silence. To visit Kazakh shepherds in the winter season, I first have to reach Qonaev, a small city in southeastern Kazakhstan, before beginning a long and arduous drive across the steppe. It's best to travel in the morning when the ground is still frozen and the car less likely to get bogged down in mud. It is impossible to navigate these remote locations without a guide, so I was delighted to meet Talgat Abdimov, the director of a farm, in Qonaev.

Abdimov was born and raised here, so he is an old hand when it comes to traversing these roads -- in any weather. He is especially used to the excited dogs that run barking toward the moving car, sometimes darting precariously close as they nip at the tires. As we drove, Abdimov discussed the difficulties of working in agriculture. "No one wants to become a shepherd, except for those who were raised in this," he said. "The best shepherds are those who have been raised in cattle farming in China and Mongolia. They have a completely different attitude toward animals. And they love and understand their work."

Serik And Kulyash Abdimov makes a quick stop at a granary to load animal feed grain, where we meet Serik, a tractor driver, who is doing the loading. The granary is on a former collective farm. Serik and his wife, Kulyash, set up a veterinary pharmacy in one of the few houses still standing. Next to the granary rises a rusted grain current, which looks like either a Star Wars robot or a modern art installation. The electricity stopped working when the Soviet Union collapsed. Now pigeons nest there.

Serik and Kulyash lived here when the state farm was operating, and after many years away, they returned. Kulyash, the daughter of a shepherd who spent her childhood and youth on these lands, fondly remembers how shepherds lived during Soviet times. "The salaries were good, and the electricity was free. Children studied at boarding schools in Almaty, where they could continue with their studies," she recalled. "Now it's also good. There is no one. Quiet, calm. Only my husband and I. Well, one of the workers sometimes comes." Kulyash doesn't mind the isolation or the life. "You get used to it. My husband and I earn a living here, and our children live in the city. When we retire, we'll probably leave. I'll be 59 soon, and I'll retire in two years. Though my husband is five years younger than me; he still has to plow and plow."

On their small farm, they have several cows, a shaggy donkey, a cat, and a puppy who often gets underfoot. Kulyash describes an idyllic life of clean air and natural foods, while new solar panels built close to their home allow them to communicate with their kids and watch online videos.

Zhamlika And Maryam We arrive at the remote winter quarters where Zhamlika, 36, lives with his wife, Maryam, and their small son. Zhamlika was born in China but moved back to the land of his ancestors. While he tends to the sheep in the mountains, Maryam does the housework and looks after their son. Their other son lives with his grandfather in Taldyqorghan, where he attends school.

She's a cheerful but busy woman who doesn't have time to talk to us while she pours the grain into the feeders. When the sky darkens, Zhamlika descends from the mountains on his horse. As the sheep crowd around the feeders, Maryam opens the gates of the shed and waits for her husband to start herding the animals inside.

After the 630 heads of sheep are accounted for, the gates are securely closed for the night. The shepherd, with a weather-beaten face from years of working in these harsh lands, finally has time to talk. "I have been working here for seven years. We also raised cattle in China, so when I came to Kazakhstan, little changed for me. But it's still not easy because there are no days off and you can't go anywhere." He added, "How can you leave sheep unattended?" Zhamlika's salary is 200,000 Kazakh tenges (roughly $436) per month, which he says is competitive for a shepherd. As they live on the steppe, there is not much to spend money on, which allows them to save. Their cattle also provide them with milk before they are fattened up and sold in the fall.

Zhamlika and Maryam's winter hut consists of two small rooms, a kitchen, and a bedroom. In the kitchen, a gas stove sits on a table next to a gas cylinder. The only electrical appliances in the house are a mobile phone and two light bulbs that run on battery power. The bedroom contains a bed and a small wardrobe covered with a curtain. "We live in this house during the winter months, from December to February. In March, we drive the sheep to the spring pasture, where we have a big house, with electricity and the Internet," Maryam said.

With the onset of spring, shepherds begin the most difficult part of the year: the lambing of ewes, which usually falls at the end of March. Shepherds at this time rarely sleep as they take care of the ewes giving birth, isolating them from the other sheep and carefully monitoring the lambs. Most ewes give birth overnight. "No matter how good a shepherd is, he cannot manage alone," Abdimov explained. For every 150 ewes, a shepherd will employ an additional helper during the nearly six-week period when the lambs are born.

The next important stage is the sheep shearing, which usually takes place in late April or early May. For this, help is again required. A team of 10 people can shear up to 1,000 animals per day. Immediately after the shearing, the sheep are bathed in disinfectants and blood is taken for analysis. Vaccinations are also administered at this time. Zhamlika's flock consists of Edilbaev sheep, which tend to be large, fat-tailed, and meaty. These sheep are popular among farmers due to their ability to gain weight quickly. They are also adapted to the severe winter frosts and summer droughts, can travel over long distances, and can thrive despite poor feeding conditions.
RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Latest Developments At A Glance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pressed the need for tightening sanctions on Russia to bring an early end to the 14-month invasion, while a rumor spread that Ukrainian troops had crossed a key strategic river in the south.

in the south. A Moscow court on April 21 issued an arrest warrant for Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, on the charge of creating a terrorist group, a terrorist act, and illegal possession of explosives and firearms.

for Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, on the charge of creating a terrorist group, a terrorist act, and illegal possession of explosives and firearms. Damage caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine is estimated at $143.8 billion, the deputy chief of Ukraine's Committee of National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Yuriy Aristov, said on April 21.

at $143.8 billion, the deputy chief of Ukraine's Committee of National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Yuriy Aristov, said on April 21. The United States has made no determination the Russian private military Wagner Group is a "foreign terrorist organization," despite its ongoing actions in Ukraine , White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Estonia announced the delivery of more weapons to Ukraine. The package includes 155-millimeter artillery ammunition.

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Ukraine's demands that Russia ultimately pay for its invasion, including President Vladimir Putin facing a war crimes tribunal, may be just but not practical, argues Owen Matthews, a British journalist and author of a recent book on the Russian leader's unprovoked invasion. Read Matthews' remarks in an interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service here.

Who Are The Russians Who Still Dare To Speak Out?

More than a year after Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and in the midst of a historic crackdown on dissent, a handful of Russians continue to risk their lives and liberty in a quixotic bid to convince their country to change course. Read the story by Robert Coalson, RFE/RL's North.Realities, RFE/RL's Idel.Realities here.

Special Report: How Is A Series Of Bulgarian Blasts Tied To Russia's War In Ukraine?

Over the past decade, Bulgaria's arms industry has been shaken by a string of unexplained explosions at munitions depots. The country is a major producer of ammunition for Soviet-caliber weapons, the kind widely used by Ukraine's military. A special RFE/RL investigation looks into allegations of Russian sabotage, cover-ups by Bulgarian authorities, and whether Bulgarian arms depots are still at risk as Russia's war in Ukraine enters a second year.

What's Holding Ukraine Back From Confiscating Russian Assets?

While it scours the world for Russian assets to confiscate as compensation for war damages, Ukraine itself has confiscated the property of only four Russian tycoons and two state-owned Russian banks since May 2022. Read the investigation by Maksym Savchuk, Heorhiy Shabayev, and Nadia Burdyey here.

If Bakhmut Falls, What Will It Mean For The Ukraine War?

After months of intensifying onslaughts, the Donbas city of Bakhmut is now the site of the bloodiest fighting of the entire Ukraine war. It's an open question how much longer Ukraine can hold off the Russian assault and what will it mean if the city falls. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.

A Chinese Proposal To End The War In Ukraine? Not Quite

A 12-point position paper from Chinas Foreign Ministry calling for a cease-fire between Kyiv and Moscow has been met with skepticism and experts and Western officials say it will do little to dispel the notion that Beijing is on Russias side. Read the story by Reid Standish here.
Ukrainian soldiers have been honing their skills to shoot down Iranian-made drones with machine guns. Russian forces have been using the drones to launch attacks across Ukraine, including on residential housing and civilian infrastructure. The Ukrainian military says it is having success gunning down the drones, even as Russia continues to change tactics.
As the lights in Budapests historic State Opera House dim, a Ukrainian ballerina by the name of Hanna Muromtseva begins her ascent into the air as the lead role in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. At the end of her performance, the audience bursts into applause.

One year ago, when the 29-year-old dancer fled Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on a packed train with thousands of others after the Russian invasion, Muromtseva wondered if she would ever be on stage again.

Muromtseva was at the peak of her career at the National Opera of Ukraine when the war rewrote her plans. She last performed in Kyiv on February 22, 2022.

The following week, Muromtseva was on a train taking turns sharing a single seat with a friend during a grueling 12-hour journey to western Ukraine. With Russian air strikes targeting Kyiv, she found a driver for her mother and grandmother and convinced them to flee. They all met up in Lviv and travelled to Belgium, welcomed by a family where she had once stayed on vacation as a child. When Muromtseva left her home she took only one bag, leaving behind her pointe shoes.

"When I left Kyiv, I did not think that I would dance again. I said bye-bye to my career," she said between rehearsals where she performs the demanding dual role of the ethereal white swan Odette and deceptive black swan Odile. Muromtseva had danced the role, considered a tour de force for the best ballerinas, for more than five years. Her home company traveled not only in Ukraine, but also to lands as far as China, and Japan.

A Return To The Stage Performing the lead role in Swan Lake at the Hungarian State Opera was a dream after a year of surviving from one day to another and rebuilding herself as a dancer, both physically and mentally.

At a public dress rehearsal, Muromtseva enchanted the audience with her passionate, almost hypnotic performance. "I'm happy to make a story on stage again," she said. "It is a totally different production (in Budapest). For me, it feels like I really have to prove myself. You have to be very flexible in your head, not in your body."

She works on her mental focus every day as she goes out for long walks and enjoys the company of new friends.

Her tough training and a tight schedule also help her get by, but sometimes, back in her rented flat, she cries to let it all out.

Muromtseva was registered as a refugee in Germany last year, where she was offered new pointe shoes and a place to practice before she auditioned for the job at the Hungarian State Opera, which has Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian dancers among its soloists and an international corps de ballet. Her mother and grandmother returned to Kyiv last year and she is happy to be close to them in a neighboring country in case they need help. Her mother plans a visit to see her in Swan Lake at the end of March, which gives her emotional strength. "It means a lot for me, as she and grandfather were always my biggest support in ballet," she said. Muromtseva's father also lives in Kyiv, and her godfather was just back injured from the front line after several months, she said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars for investment projects in Turkmenistan, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank for Turkmenistan Artur Andrysiak, told Trend.

"ADB has committed $625 million for two investment projects in energy and transport sectors since the beginning of 2000 and $10 million in technical assistance grants for Turkmenistan. Furthermore, ADB topped up by $225,000 its existing transaction technical assistance portfolio to help prepare bankable projects in Turkmenistan. With that, ADBs valid transaction and knowledge technical assistance portfolios for the Turkmenistan reached $3.7 million and $500,000, respectively," Andrysiak said.

He noted that regional technical assistance complements ADB's efforts to achieve stimulating the development of Turkmenistan, and also added that within the framework of one of such regional technical assistance programs, the bank supports Turkmenistan in the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"At the same time, the ongoing ADB National Power Grid Strengthening Project is supporting the rehabilitation of 2,000 kilometers of power transmission lines and 11 substations. This project supports the creation of an interconnected national electricity grid and increases its reliability and energy efficiency, as well as increase the export of electricity to other countries. Currently, the bank has started preparing its next five-year country partnership strategy for Turkmenistan," the country director said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov held a meeting with the newly appointed Israeli Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ismail Khaldi, during which they discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The Israeli Ambassador handed copies of credentials to the Turkmen side and also expressed readiness to make efforts to expand bilateral cooperation

During the meeting, the positive experience of cooperation within the framework of multilateral platforms was noted, including the importance of mutual support for international initiatives and proposals.

Furthermore, in order to activate trade and economic ties, the expediency of creating a joint intergovernmental commission was indicated.

In the development of cultural and humanitarian relations, healthcare and medicine, the scientific and educational sector are singled out as promising areas. At the same time, the Israeli side expressed interest in organizing Days of Israeli Culture in Turkmenistan.

Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Eli Cohen announced the opening of a permanent representation in Turkmenistan by the country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. Uzbekistans UzAuto Motors will launch production of new Chevrolet Onix cars in Kazakhstan, press secretary of Uzavtosanoat JSC Zumrad Shadjalilova told Trend.

"Uzavtosanoat JSC, the controller of automobile manufacturing enterprises and automobile localization in Uzbekistan, has signed an agreement with the major car manufacturer of Kazakhstan Allure. Following the agreement, car manufacturers of both countries will produce Chevrolet Onix cars by SKD (semi-knocked-down) - 30,000 cars per year," she said.

According to the source, UzAuto Motors, after launching Chevrolet Onix cars production in January 2023, plans to produce more than 50,000 car in the current year.

"Currently, UzAuto Motors exports cars to countries such as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, etc. We export all models of Chevrolet cars, and the new Chevrolet Onix is no exception. In this regard, we will gradually increase the volume of production, by reaching agreements with our car manufacturing partners," Shadjalilova noted.

According to Shadjalilova, last year the Uzbek manufacturer agreed with Kazakhstan to jointly produce Chevrolet Onix.

Furthermore, she added that, in the nearest future, the Uzbek car manufacturer plans to launch the production of the new model of Chevrolet cars in Azerbaijan.

"By the end of March, Uzbekistan plans to launch production of Chevrolet Onix cars at the Azermash plant by semi-knocked-down production method," Shahdjalilova noted.

Uzbekistan in 2022 produced 327,639 Chevrolet Cars, in particular, Chevrolet Cobalt 101,617 cars, Chevrolet Damas  93,120, Chevrolet Lacetti  87,105, Chevrolet Nexia  22,245, Chevrolet Spark  14,464, as well as Chevrolet Tracker  9,088.
A HUMANITARIAN initiative which supports Ukrainian refugees fleeing war has released its latest figures revealing how much money was provided to local authorities up and down the country  and how many people fleeing the war came to Rotherham.

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities provided money to all local authorities in England to support Ukrainian refugees between September and November 2022 under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Rotherham had took in 23 Ukrainian refugees between the dates mentioned above, the data disclosed.

The project was initially launched in March 2022, shortly after Vladimir Putins Russia invaded the Eastern-European country, with communities across England coming together on an unprecedented scale to collect donations, send aid and offer up their homes to those fleeing their homes to make a new life in the UK.

To subsidise residents, the government offered monthly payments of 350 per month to sponsors who agreed to take in Ukrainian refugees for at least six months.

Between September and November, 133 payments were made to residents in Rotherham for sponsoring Ukrainians.

This was at a cost of 46,550 from the governments thank you payments allocation.

The government also provided an extra allocation of 241,500 to support Rotherham Council in providing wraparound support to individuals and families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities, which came to a total of 288,050, figures showed.

Across all local authorities in England, the government provided a total of 167.5 million.
A SCRAP merchant has received a hefty fine for unknowingly transporting waste without holding a licence.

Steven Jackson (27), of Sycamore Avenue, Bramley, was fined 1,000 for failing to hold a waste carrier licence.

Sheffield Magistrates Court heard he had sold waste to one firm nine times in a single year  despite not having the right paperwork.

His vehicle was stopped by Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police on Aldwarke Lane last October and found to contain controlled waste.

RMBC said he was insured for the flatbed that he owned when stopped but not licensed to carry the waste.

Documents in his Ford Transit tipper showed that he had recently taken to scrap waste to more than one dealer.

His vehicle was seized and a visit to waste processing firm Ron Hull Ltd last October by a council enforcement officer revealed that Jackson had sold scrap nine times there between October 2021 and October 2022.

Jackson said that he had been running a decking and fencing business while supplementing this work with other groundworks and collecting scrap metal.

He admitted to transporting waste numerous times without a licence, RMBC said.

On top of the 1,000 fine, magistrates ordered Jackson on February 22 to pay a 400 victim surcharge and 429 costs.

Jackson later commented on RMBCs social media post about the fine, blasting the decision and stating that it was no harm to a hard-working young lad and he felt he was attacked for trying to work.

He said he had been unaware he had needed a waste carrier licence to transport waste that was his own and claimed he had not collected it off the street.

Cllr Dominic Beck, RMBCs cabinet member for transport and environment, said rules are rules when it comes to obeying the law.

RMBC is committed to providing a better environment for all and we will continue to help prosecute anyone who breaks the law on the disposal of waste, he said.

A waste carrier licence applies to people and businesses who transport, dispose of, buy or sell waste or arrange for others to do so on their behalf.

You need to register even if carrying waste is not your main business activity or if you only carry waste occasionally.

Its essential that people dispose of their waste properly and stay on the right side of the law.

RMBC said anyone wishing to run a waste carrier business must have a licence from the Environment Agency.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/Waste-carrier-licence for more information.
(jckonline.com) - Last week, Swiss newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft reported there were whispers that LVMH wanted to acquire rival conglomerate Richemontand had its sights particularly set on Richemont star performer Cartier. The story was pretty vague on its sourcing, and some publications, such as the newsletter Miss Tweed and the Chinese luxury publication Jing Daily, dismissed it outright. Bloomberg argued that Kering would be a better partner. (Richemont reportedly spurned a merger offer with Kering in 2021.) Richemonts stock didnt move much following the report. But there are reasons there might be something to it.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has set some conditions to withdraw the Bombay HC petition

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is in discussion more due to his personal life than his professional life these days. The actor and his wife Aaliya have been at loggerheads for the past several months. The actor's wife had made serious allegations of rapE and throwing her out of the house on the actor, but now there is a new update related to the matter. Reportedly, the actor is ready to compromise with his wife for the sake of his children.

Recently, Nawazuddin Siddiqui's wife Aaliya shared a video accusing the actor that Nawaz threw her and their children out of the house late at night. He does not take good care of his children. Neither does Nawaz give enough money for expenses. Apart from this, many serious allegations were made against him, but now it seems that this dispute between the two is going to end soon.

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According to information, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has set some conditions to withdraw the Bombay High Court petition. He has told the court that he will withdraw his habeas corpus petition if he is allowed access to his two children. The reason for filing the petition was that the actor's children were in Dubai and he was not able to get information about them.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has not been able to meet his children for a long time. Due to this, the actor is worried and has took the decision of withdrawing the petition if his wife Aaliya allows him to meet the children.

Earlier, for the first time, Nawazuddin Siddiqui himself released his statement on this issue through social media. He said, "My silence termed me a bad guy everywhere. I kept calm for so many days as my kids must have read all this drama somewhere."

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Issuing a statement from his official Instagram account, Nawazuddin Siddiqui wrote, First of all me and Aaliya do not stay together since several years, we are already divorced but we definitely had an understanding only for our kids. Does anyone know, why my kids are in India and not attending school for 45 days, wherein the school is sending me letters everyday that it's been too long an absence. My kids have been made hostage for past 45 days & are missing their schooling in Dubai."

The Actor wrote, "She had abandoned the kids in Dubai for last 4 months before calling them here on pretext of demanding money. On an average, she is been paid approx 10 Lakhs per month for past 2 years and 5-7 lakhs per month before moving to Dubai with my children, excluding the school fees, medical, travel and other leisure activities. I have given my children an apartment in Dubai, where she was also living comfortably. She only wants more money and hence have filed numerous cases on me and my mother & its her routine, she has done the same in the past too and withdraws the case when paid as per her demand."

Nawazuddin further wrote, "Whenever my children came to India during their vacation, they used to stay with their grandmother only. How could anyone throw them out of the house. She has dragged the kids in this drama and she is doing all this to simply blackmail me, malign my reputation, her intent to spoil my career and fulfil her illegitimate demands."

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He added, "I love Shora & Yani and I will go to any extent to secure their well-being and their future. I will continue to place my faith in the judiciary."




Swara Bhasker and Fahad Ahmad

She took to Twitter and extended gratitude to designer Ali Xeeshan

The Wedding festivities of Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker and Political activist Fahad Ahmed were celebrated with full pomp and show. The actress shared her reception photos on social media. She wore a special royal lehenga by Pakistani fashion designer Ali Xeeshan.

She took to Twitter and extended gratitude to designer Ali Xeeshan for making the special lehenga for her Walima.

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Swara dropped pictures and wrote, "My Walima outfit came all the way from Lahore via Dubai- Bombay-Delhi finally to Bareilly! Ive long marvelled at the talent of Ali Zeeshan. When I called him with the idea of wearing his work at Walima, his warmth & generosity made me admire the person."

She further wrote, "Ali Xeeshan not only sent Jodi outfits for Fahad & me, but customised them painstakingly with personalised details & messages embroidered into the exquisite garments. My sarhad-paar ki bestie Natrani came to our rescue & enabled the outfits to reach Dubai."

. Ali Xeeshan not only sent Jodi outfits for @FahadZirarAhmad & me, but customised them painstakingly with personalised details & messages embroidered into the exquisite garments. My sarhad-paar ki bestie @Natrani came to our rescue & enabled the outfits to reach Dubai. ? 2/n pic.twitter.com/vLcChhXyCW Advertisement March 21, 2023

About the Outfit....

Swara donned a royal ivory lehenga with white, pink and green stonework. It also had beautiful embellishments. She completed her look with a beautiful dupatta, which have blue borders. She also wore a heavy necklace made up of pearls and emeralds with matching jhumkas, a maang tika and a golden nath.

The couple have registered their wedding in court on January 6, 2023, under the Special Marriage Act. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister attended Swara Bhasker's wedding reception in the National Capital.

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Swara dropped photos from her Mehendi Ceremony.....

Taking to Twitter, Swara dropped pictures and wrote, "Mehendi Ki Raat, Sangeet Ke Saath!" The Mehendi and Sangeet ceremony of the actress was organised on the same day.

Haldi Ceremony.....

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Before Sangeet, Swara Bhasker shared few pictures from her Haldi ceremony. She wrote,"Heres to celebrating all the colours of life together. #SwaadAnusaar."

Earlier, Swara Bhasker announced her wedding with political activist Fahad Ahmad on Social media. She shared a video which have all her adorable moments with Fahad. Fans were surprised by the news.

She captioned, "Sometimes you search far & wide for something that was right next to you all along. We were looking for love, but we found friendship first. And then we found each other! Welcome to my heart @FahadZirarAhmad Its chaotic but its yours!."

Fahad Ahmed also shared the video on Twitter and wrote, "I never knew chaos can be so beautiful....Thank you for holding my hand love Swara."

Talking about the cute love story, Swara and Fahad met on the stage during a protest in January 2020 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Starting from there, the couple fell in love with each other and decided to get married.

Professional life....

Swara Bhasker will next be seen in 'Mrs Falani'. Reportedly, The actor will be seen playing nine different characters in the movie.

About Swara Bhasker's husband Fahad Ahmed.....

Fahad Ahmad is a worker of Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. Fahad joined Samajwadi Party on August 1, 2022. He is currently the state president of Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, a Youth Wing of the Samajwadi Party, Maharashtra. Fahad was a prominent face in the anti-CAA protests across the country.
Kumar Vishwas

A Warning was issued about this a year ago: Kumar Vishwas

New Delhi: Poet and Politician Kumar Vishwas on Friday (March 23) issued a major statement in connection with the Amritpal Singh case in Punjab. Kumar Vishwas took to Twitter and wrote that all this is not happening suddenly. A warning was issued about this a year ago but then the country made mockery of it.

Kumar Vishwas tweeted (In Hindi) (Roughly Translated), "Attack on Indians, Indian institutions and temples all over the world, openly calling Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh a traitor on the day of his martyrdom. All this is not happening suddenly. I had warned a year ago, but the country made fun of it. The danger is great, the political parties will not be able to catch the plan of Delhi's dwarf. Unfortunate."

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Kumar Vishwas has also shared a video clip in this regard. In this video, a fanatical is calling Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh a traitor. He is saying that Bhagat Singh proved the Sikh community to be terrorists.

It is worth mentioning here that a few days before the Punjab assembly elections, former AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas made allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He had said that Arvind Kejriwal can go to any extent for power. Kumar had claimed that Kejriwal used to tell him about his plans when he was with him. According to Kumar Vishwas, one day Kejriwal told him, "I will either become the Chief Minister of Punjab or the first Prime Minister of an independent country."

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Kapurthala Central Jail

Jail Administration Registered a Case in the matter

KAPURTHALA: More technology devices as mobile phones have been seized from Kapurthala Central Jail. The recovery took place during a surprise search conducted by the jail administration. The jail administration has seized five mobile phones, four SIM cards and four batteries from the jail.

Reportedly, The jail administration has registered a case under section 52-A of the Prison Act against unknown persons including prisoners and jail inmates at police station. Notably, Jailed gangsters and other big criminals run their network through these mobile phones from jails.

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BSF Recovered Consignment of Arms

Consignment of arms were sent through drone from Pakistan

AMRITSAR: Failing the attempt of Pakistan-based gangsters and smugglers, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans have seized the consignment of arms and ammunition. Further investigation in the matter has been initiated.

According to the reports, the consignment of arms were sent through drone from Pakistan. BSF has seized this consignment from area near BOP Metla in Dera Baba Nanak under Gurdaspur sector. BSF jawans were on night patrol, when the soldiers heard the sound of the drone. On witnessing the sound of the drone, the soldiers fired 54 rounds but the drone returned to Pakistan. The search operation was conducted at night itself. After which, a yellow colored packet was recovered from near the border.

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After the security check, a consignment of arms were found from the packet. The arms were contained in a wooden box covered in the yellow packet, so that they would not be damaged if dropped from the drone. Reports said that 5 pistols, 10 magazines and 91 rounds have been recovered from the packet.


Ludhiana Police Arrests Four Youths with Heroin

Cops Recovered 2 kg 230 grams of Heroin

LUDHIANA: In a major success, the Ludhiana Police STF (Special Task Force) arrested four youths and recovered 2 kg 230 grams of heroin from their possession. The value of recovered heroin in the international market is said to be Rs 13.5 crore.

As per the reports, Investigating officer Inspector Harbans Singh said that the alleged accused are being interrogated and there is a possibility of further revelations in the case.
Russian forces in Ukraine faced fresh accusations of war crimes as UN-appointed independent human rights investigators released the latest findings of their ongoing probe.

According to the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, set up one year ago at the request of the Human Rights Council, Russian troops committed a wide range of violations across the country, many of which are war crimes.

These included attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas, willful killings of civilians, unlawful confinement, torture, rape and other sexual violence, as well as unlawful transfers and deportations of children.

In addition, Russian attacks against Ukraine's energy grid left millions without power in freezing temperatures.

Speaking in Geneva on Thursday, Chairperson of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Erik Mose said the Commission found that "the waves of attacks from 2022 October 10 on Ukraine's energy-related infrastructure by the Russian armed forces, and the use of torture by Russian authorities, may amount to crimes against humanity."

She said the Commission recommended further investigations "to ascertain whether those violations have been committed in furtherance of a specific policy."

The Commission prepared the report, which covers nine Ukrainian regions, after visiting 56 towns and interviewing nearly 600 witnesses.

The findings build on the Commission's first report released in October last year, which found that war crimes had been committed by Russia in the regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy, early on in the conflict.

A key finding of the report relates to "widespread" unlawful confinement in areas controlled by Russian armed forces, going hand in hand with "consistent" methods of torture by Russian authorities.

The report highlights numerous instances of rape and sexual violence committed by Russian military personnel,

The Commission also documented a "limited number" of violations committed by Ukrainian armed forces.

The report highlights the "deep loss and trauma" of survivors and recommends that all perpetrators of violations and crimes are held accountable through judicial proceedings in accordance with international human rights standards, "either at the national or the international level".

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week to hold talks aimed at strengthenening the relationship between the two major powers.

The Kremlin said the two leaders would discuss a "comprehensive partnership and strategic co-operation".

The visit, which will be the first by the Chinese leader to Russia since Putin's forces attacked Ukraine more than a year ago, is seen as a powerful show of Beijing's support for Moscow.

Xi has emerged more powerful with his election as President for an unprecedented third term.

The summit was announced by Beijing and the Kremlin Friday.

China's Foreign Ministry said the three-day visit, at the invitation of Putin, will kick off Monday an that the focus of the talks would be the war in Ukraine.

"China's proposition boils down to one sentence, which is to urge peace and promote talks," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters.

The two sides will sign a number of "important bilateral documents", according to the Kremlin.

The West did not yield to Beijing's proposal to intervene to end the war.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Routed through new hubs and expanded criminal networks, international cocaine trafficking has made a dramatic surge after an initial slowdown caused by the emergence of Covid-19, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report.

Criminal networks are now diversifying with alarming results alongside record levels of production, moving beyond the pandemic and its related global shutdown, which had appeared to have temporarily hobbled the illicit trade, UNODC said in its Global Report on Cocaine 2023.

"The surge in the global cocaine supply should put all of us on high alert," UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said. The potential for the cocaine market to expand in Africa and Asia is a dangerous reality, according to her.

She urged governments and others to closely examine the report's findings to determine how this transnational threat can be met with responses based on awareness raising, prevention, and international and regional cooperation.

The report says coca cultivation soared 35 per cent from 2020 to 2021, a record high and the sharpest year-to-year increase since 2016.

The rise is a result of both an expansion in coca bush cultivation and improvements in the process of converting coca bush to cocaine hydrochloride, the drug which is then sold on the streets.

Many regions show a steady rise in cocaine users over the past decade. While the cocaine market remains concentrated in the Americas and parts of Europe, the report warns that there is a strong potential for a large expansion in Africa and Asia.

The report examines the emergence of new hubs for cocaine trafficking, noting that countries in Southeastern Europe and Africa - particularly those in West and Central Africa - are increasingly being used as key transit zones for the drug.

Arrests and seizures related to cocaine trafficking have also skyrocketed. A record high of nearly 2,000 tons of cocaine shipments have been seized by law enforcement around the world in 2021, the report said.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Indian shares were a tad lower on Friday, tracking muted cues from global .

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex slipped 67 points, or 0.1 percent, to 57,858 in early trade, while the broader NSE Nifty index was down 30 points, or 0.2 percent, at 17,046.

Financials were coming under selling pressure, with Bajaj Finance, Bajaj FinServ, SBI Life and HDFC Life falling 1-3 percent.

On the positive, side, IT and Adani Group stocks were seeing modest gains.

Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors were little changed after hiking vehicle prices.

Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar gained 1.4 percent after it acquired stakes in two companies.

Punjab National Bank edged up slightly on fund raising reports.

Campus Activewear slumped 5.6 percent. TPG Global plans to offload its entire 7.6 percent stake in the company through block deals.

Emami traded flat ahead of a board meet today to consider buyback of shares.

Rail Vikas Nigam rose over 1 percent after its joint venture secured an order worth Rs 250 crore to upgrade a highway in Gujarat.

Bharat Electronics rose half a percent on winning 2 contracts worth Rs 3,800 crore for supply of medium power radar and digital radar warning receiver for the Indian Air Force.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
European stocks fell for a second straight session on Friday, with banks coming under selling pressure once again on a Bloomberg report that Credit Suisse Group and UBS Group AG are among the banks under scrutiny in a U.S. Justice Department probe for potentially helping Russian oligarchs evade sanctions.

Miners and banks also followed suit on worries that the banking crisis may weigh on economic growth.

The pan European STOXX 600 was down 0.9 percent at 442.15 after declining 0.2 percent on Thursday.

The German DAX and France's CAC 40 both fell around 1.1 percent, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 tumbled 1.5 percent.

Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International declined 3.4 percent on a Reuters report that the European Central Bank is pressing the bank to unwind its highly profitable in Russia.

Deutsche Bank plummeted 8.6 percent to extend declines for a third day after a jump in default insurance costs.

Credit Suisse shares were down 6 percent and UBS lost 5.5 percent.

Miners Anglo American, Antofagasta and Glencore fell more than 2 percent each in London on growth worries.

Smiths Group rose over 1 percent. The industrial company upgraded its annual forecasts after reporting a 27 percent jump in first-half profit.

Pub group JD Wetherspoon soared 6 percent on posting turnaround results in its first half.

TUI Group gave up 5.7 percent after the travel group launched a 1.8 billion ($2 billion) capital increase to repay pandemic state aid and strengthen its balance sheet.

German real estate group Deutsche Wohnen fell more than 2 percent after it reported a loss for fiscal 2022 of 445.7 million euros compared to profit of 919.0 million euros, prior year.

In economic releases, the S&P Global Eurozone PMI Composite rose to 54.1 in March vs. 51.9 estimated and 52.0 previous.

U.K. retailers enjoyed a stronger-than-expected month in February, while a measure of consumer confidence climbed slightly in March, separate reports showed earlier today.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Uzbekistan delegation took part in the historic UN conference

On 22-24 March, the Water Conference of this structure is being held at the UN Headquarters, in New York. All member countries and specialized agencies of the UN, with the participation of authoritative speakers, are considering the issues of uniting the world on the way to the Sustainable Development Goals until 2030 through the conservation of water resources, the importance of the seas and oceans in the well-being of our planet and global initiatives in this direction.

The international community gathered for such a conference for the first time after a 45-year break. After all, the issue is extremely relevant: by 2050, water shortages may affect 5 billion people on the planet. Uzbekistan also has something to say and offer on this issue. In this regard, the country has accumulated considerable experience. The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest in the world, is located on the territory of Uzbekistan, and its current fate is a matter that concerns not only us, but the entire international community.

Moreover, in recent years, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, every time participating in high-level meetings of the UN, certainly raised the problem of the Aral Sea and put forward important initiatives.

Among the 198 member countries of the Organization, Uzbekistan delegation also took part in the conference.

On March 23, at the high-level plenary session of the conference, a member of Uzbekistan delegation, Saida Mirziyoyeva, addressed the UN conference and delivered a speech about the consequences of the Aral tragedy, the large-scale work carried out by Uzbekistan to mitigate them, as well as the leadership of the country in uniting international efforts in this direction.

Noting that Muynak was once a prosperous port city with large production capacities, and after the balance was disturbed, a ship graveyard appeared on the dead seashores, she recited an extract from the elegy of a famous Karakalpak poet Ibrahim Yusupov, describing the tragedy of a sea turning into a desert in a blink of an eye.

The crisis of the Aral Sea is a devastating reminder of the consequences of human environmental neglect. However, thanks to the efforts of caring people, it is now becoming a symbol of hope and renewal, Saida Mirziyoyeva said.

It was emphasized that the initiatives put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received wide support at the international level, and in 2021 a UN Resolution was adopted declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovations and technologies, and a little earlier, in 2018, the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region was established.

Speaking about the measures implemented by the state, the speaker noted that more than $14 million were allocated for the implementation of projects aimed at reviving the region.

The resilience, diligence and creativity of Karakalpakstan people, who are directly experiencing the consequences of the tragedy, were noted. Attention was drawn to the fact that in the difficult conditions of the region, women need special care and support, it is necessary to expand opportunities for them.

Following her speech, Saida Mirziyoyeva called on the international community to continue supporting Uzbekistans efforts to mitigate the consequences of the Aral Sea tragedy, which is inextricably linked to global water problems.

On March 22, within the framework of the UN Water Conference, the presentation of the Aral Culture Summit project, initiated by the Art and Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, took place. This is a new institution that will bring together the local and international community, leading scientists, architects, artists and designers.

As part of the Aral Culture Summit, educational and exchange programs, scholarships and internships will be created that will motivate the younger generation to develop skills that contribute to the improvement of the situation in the region.

As part of the summit, a biodesign farm laboratory will be created. Various technologies will be studied and developed to supply the region with water, create new types of crops, and reduce soil salinity in the region.

The Summit will bring creative people together with local farmers to build sustainable relations in biodesign, grow new plants and thereby develop a strategic plan for the next 10 years. This will set the stage for huge changes in the local community.

The essence and significance of the upcoming summit were discussed in detail during the interactive dialogues held on the sidelines of the conference Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross-Sectoral Cooperation, including Scientific Cooperation, and Water Across the 2030 Agenda and a panel discussion From Art to Action: Transforming Desert to Forest for the Revival of the Aral Sea Region organized by the Foundation with the participation of international experts.

A meeting was held with our compatriots in the United States. Mayor of New York City Eric Adams also attended the event.

Saida Mirziyoyeva congratulated the audience on the Navruz holiday and spoke about the grandiose reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan.

During the warm conversation, it was noted that compatriots do not break ties with their historical homeland, they are keenly interested in the changes taking place in the country, and through the implementation of various projects they are trying to strengthen cultural, political and economic ties between the United States and Uzbekistan.
Rhodes University alumnus and Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Justice Mbuyiseli Russel Madlanga.

At its fourth graduation ceremony on Thursday, 30 March 2023, at 14h30, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on its alumnus and Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Justice Mbuyiseli Russel Madlanga.

Justice Madlanga was born and raised in the rural village of Njijini, outside the small town of Kwa Bhaca (formerly Mount Frere), in the Eastern Cape. He matriculated from Mariazell High School in Matatiele in 1979. He obtained the BJuris degree at the University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University) in 1983 and was awarded the Juta Prize for being the best law student during this time. Justice Madlanga enrolled for his LLB degree at Rhodes University and tutored first-year law students in his final year.

After graduating, he lectured part-time at the University of Transkei Law Faculty while working for the Department of Justice towards fulfilling his contractual obligations under the government bursary that had funded his LLB studies. He proceeded to do an LLM in Human Rights and Constitutional Law, which he received cum laude at the University of Notre Dame in the United State of America. He interned at the Washington DC office of Amnesty International. On his return, he did pupillage at the Johannesburg Bar. On completion, he opened a practice at the Mthatha Bar.

At age 34, he was appointed as a Judge of the Mthatha High Court, becoming South Africa's youngest judge at the time. Within three years of this appointment, he was appointed Acting Judge of Appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

He was then appointed  this time on a permanent basis  as a Judge of Appeal in the Competition Appeal Court. He continued acting at the Supreme Court of Appeal, but the acting stint, which was to have been for a year, was cut short because he was appointed to act as the Judge President of the Mthatha High Court. While holding that position, he received yet another appointment as an Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

In May 2001, he resigned from the Judiciary and returned to the Bar in June as senior counsel, practising in Mthatha and Johannesburg. His practice took off immediately, and he appeared virtually in all the High Courts in the country, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. Notably, he received a brief to represent the Republic of South Africa at the International Court of Justice at The Hague (Den Haag) in the Netherlands. This was in the case of the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". Another notable brief he received was his appointment by Mr Trevor Manuel, the then Minister of Finance, as the Chairperson of the Exchange Control Amnesty Unit. This Unit did not only grant amnesty to people who had contravened Exchange Control Regulations in expatriating their assets, it also facilitated the disclosure of assets worth R68,6 billion; 70% of which had been taken out of the country in contravention of the Regulations. The process also raised R2,9 billion in levies. The disclosure of offshore assets resulted in an estimated R1.4 billion increase in the tax base. At the conclusion of this amnesty process Mbuyiseli Madlanga SC was hailed by the Ministry of Finance for having led the Amnesty Unit impeccably and with great enthusiasm. The process was so successful that it was regarded as an international benchmark.

In 2012, the Marikana Commission of Enquiry was appointed to investigate the killings of 34 striking mine workers and ten other people in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West Province, and Mbuyiseli was appointed as the Chief Evidence Leader. In that capacity, he was lead counsel in a team of seven advocates, three of whom (including him) were senior counsel. He held numerous other briefs in high-profile cases.

On appointment by the President, Justice Madlanga became a member of the Competition Tribunal for nine years, during three of which he was its Deputy Chairperson. As a nominee of the Advocates for Transformation component of the General Council of the Bar, the President next appointed him as a member of the Judicial Service Commission, a position he held for two years. He was then appointed  directly from his practice as an advocate  to become a Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa with effect from 1 August 2013, this time on a permanent basis.

Justice Madlanga has an interest in academia. At the invitation of the Law School of his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, he held the prestigious Clynes Chair as a Visiting Professor. This Chair is reserved for distinguished US and international legal scholars and jurists, and among those who have held it are US Supreme Court Justices. In that capacity, Justice Madlanga offered a two-credit three-week course in Comparative Constitutional Law in April 2016. In 2018, he was a Visiting Professor at Walter Sisulu University and the University of Fort Hare. The Boston University School of Law has now invited him to serve as the William and Patricia Kleh Visiting Professor, lecturing from August to December 2023 and delivering the Annual Distinguished Kleh Lecture. Over the years, he has delivered a number of papers at several universities in South Africa and abroad.

As a Justice of the Constitutional Court, Justice Madlanga has penned several ground-breaking judgments. He was the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of the South African Judicial Education Journal, launched in April 2018 and published under the auspices of the South African Judicial Education Institute. This is a statutory body with the mandate of providing continuing education to the Judiciary. He has been a member of the South African Law Journal editorial board. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Yearbook of South African Law.

Justice Madlangas interests are not only in law and academics. For eight years, he was a member of the Arbitration Panel of his church, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, having been appointed to that position by Conference, the church's highest governing body.

On 13 May 2016, he was awarded a Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree (honoris causa) by Walter Sisulu University.

In recognition of his distinguished judicial career and significant contribution to developing South Africas jurisprudence, Rhodes University will honour Justice Madlanga with an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa), at its 2023 Graduation ceremonies on 30 March 2023.

I am delighted that Rhodes University has decided to honour me. What touches me, even more, is that the honour is being bestowed by my alma mater, an institution of which I am truly proud of and speak highly of to whoever cares to listen, said Justice Madlanga.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela said Judge Madlangas honour was in recognition of his distinguished judicial career and for his significant contribution to South Africas jurisprudence development. In his judicial career, he has delivered ground-breaking judgments and landmark decisions which have not been of value only to the litigating parties but also of great benefit to the greater South African populace. Justice Madlanga is selfless and gives his time to benefit our disadvantaged communities. During his long leave in the second half of 2018, he offered to lecture free of charge at our province's two historically disadvantaged universities. I am delighted that the Rhodes University community has seen it fit to honour his many and significant contributions with the award of an honorary doctorate, said Professor Mabizela.

Source: Division of Communication and Advancement
The Brazilian spec T-Cross facelift is not likely to bear influence on India-spec VW Taigun facelift

Ever since the MQB A0 IN platform was developed, VW Group has been able to turn its fortunes around in India. The company even exports multiple made-in-India vehicles to various developing markets like Mexico and South America. For example, made-in-India T-Cross (sold as Taigun in India) is sold in Mexico and Brazil.

Now this T-Cross is getting a mild facelift which might translate into an updated Taigun in India. The first test mule of this updated model is spotted in Brazil. It poses multiple new elements including some that were inspired by VW T-Roc which was sold in India (imported) for a brief period. Lets take a look at all the new changes and see whether it might make it to India.

2024 VW Taigun Facelift Spied Testing For 1st Time

In Brazil, VW Taigun facelift spotted testing, gets camouflage application only at its front. Apart from the slightly larger grille and the minuscule design changes inside said grilles, there arent any significant design changes. Headlight barrels still look very similar and so do their fog lights.

There are slight changes in the lower bumper where VW might delete its inverted bull-bar type silver element, which looks out of place on a sharp and understated crossover like T-Cross. It is highly unlikely that this set of changes will make it to Indian-spec Taigun. That said, we will get a facelift whose design elements are to be limited to Indian and Chinese models only.

The changes expected with this T-Cross test mule are likely to be limited to Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil, Chile and the rest of Europe. These markets have a common European design language and get slightly softer detailing than India-spec Taigun. T-Cross sold in above-mentioned markets gets T-Roc inspired design, especially with its fog lamps.

India-Spec Taigun Facelift Launch Plans

India, however, gets a much sharper design language than the softer European-spec design language. It gets aggressive bumpers with sharp and edgy fog lamps. China is an exception, though, which gets both models. Euro design T-Cross is sold as Tacqua (manufactured by FAW-VW JV) and Indian model Taigun is sold here as T-Cross (manufactured by SAIC-VW JV).

Some reports mention the T-Roc like Euro-design T-Cross facelift design elements will come to India-spec Taigun as well. This might not be the case as updates with India-spec Taigun will be in line with updates with China-spec T-Cross in the future and not the Brazilian-spec model that is seen in the spy shots above.

That said, India-spec VW Taigun will get a midlife update when market trends dictate so. If that happens, we can expect minute design changes with front and rear profiles. The 1.0L and 1.5L TSI turbo-petrol powertrains will be carried over as is.

Source
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov answered a question from journalists about whether Armenia clarified its position on the possible arrest of Vladimir Putin at the request of the International Criminal Court, in the event of his visit to the republic, Trend reports citing MK.

"Not yet. We will discuss this with our partners," Peskov said.

Earlier, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Arman Dilanyan read out the decision that all obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are recognized in the republic as corresponding to the basic law.
Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks to resume consular services between the two countries, Saudi state TV al-Ekhbariya reported on Thursday, citing a source in the Saudi foreign ministry, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

The Saudi state TV cited the foreign ministry source as saying: Within the framework of the Kingdoms keenness to facilitate the provision of necessary consular services between the two nations, discussions are underway with officials in Syria to resume consular services.

It added that the statement of the foreign ministrys source was in comment on international media reports. Reuters had reported earlier, citing sources with knowledge of the matter, that Saudi Arabia and Syria have agreed to reopen their embassies after cutting diplomatic ties more than a decade ago.

The Reuters report said communication between Riyadh and Damascus had gathered momentum following the March 10 signing of the landmark agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, brokered by China, to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after seven years of heightened tensions. Iran is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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Bordeaux town hall has been set on fire as French protests continued over plans to raise the pension age, Trend reports citing BBC News.

More than a million people took to the streets across France on Thursday, with 119,000 in Paris, according to figures from the interior ministry.

Police fired tear gas at protesters in the capital and 80 people were arrested across the country.

The protests were sparked by legislation raising the retirement age by two years to 64.

Fire engulfed what appeared to be the front door of the town hall in the south west city of Bordeaux on Thursday evening after a day of protests and clashes.

It wasn't clear who was responsible for the blaze, which was quickly put out by firefighters.
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Larry Hoagland, who tried to kill his wife by planting a pipe bomb in her pickup nearly two years ago, stared almost unblinkingly at the faces of family members Tuesday as they spoke at his sentencing hearing about moving on with their lives.

His 16-year-old son, Jonathan  the last of his three children to speak  called Hoagland the worst representation of what a father could be.

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We are such a strong family now, we are better without you, the teen said, turning toward the defense table where Hoagland was seated.

These are the last words you will ever hear from me.

After hearing this and other emotional statements in the courtroom, El Cajon Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos sentenced Hoagland, 50, to life in prison plus 13 years. Hoagland was convicted May 7 of premeditated attempted murder and three charges related to using an explosive device.

Prosecutors said the defendant, once the respected owner of a photography business in San Diego, made two attempts to kill his wife, Connie, because he wanted to move to Pennsylvania to be with his former high school sweetheart, with whom he was having an affair.

The girlfriend was not aware of the plot to kill.

Larrys plan was to move away and never see us again, said Jaclyn Reagan, 22, Hoaglands middle daughter. And thats the one part of his plan that he was able to carry out.

After Hoaglands children spoke, including 25-year-old Jill, it was his ex-wifes turn to speak. Connie Hoagland called the crimes despicable, a product of his selfishness and narcissism.

You are so in love with yourself, she said. You think you have it all figured out. You had it all and you threw it all away for lust, greed and pride.

Deputy District Attorney Kurt Mechals argued that Hoaglands actions were particularly callous because his wife had loved and trusted him, and had no chance to defend herself.

One bomb he planted failed to detonate and was found in the middle of a street a short distance from the familys home in Rolando. It was on a route regularly traveled by his wife.

Two weeks later, on Sept. 23, 2010, a pipe bomb wired to her Ford F-150 exploded when she started it outside the Rancho San Diego day care center where she worked.

She survived but had serious injuries, spending more than a month in the hospital with burns, cuts and broken bones. She underwent seven surgeries.

Defense lawyer Thomas Palmer had argued in trial that the evidence against his client was circumstantial and not strong enough to prove guilt. He pointed to differences between the two bombs and said his client planned to leave the marriage but do so quickly and quietly.

Larry Hoagland gave a brief statement in the courtroom Tuesday, apologizing to his family, but maintaining his innocence.

I come here today a broken man, he said. Im so very sorry.

Hoagland said he hopes to gain his familys forgiveness eventually, even though he knows he doesnt deserve it, and that they will learn the truth some day.

Im not a killer, your honor, he said. There is nothing diabolical or nefarious about me. The real who and why are still out there.

Connie Hoagland told the judge she believed her husband had previously tried to kill her  by poisoning her coffee and by smothering her with a pillow. She said she has been able to forgive but is thankful he is headed to prison.

I want you to know you have no hold or control over me anymore, she said. I am free.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. French law enforcement officers did not disperse protesters against pension reform and left the rally, Trend reports.

Footage of police officers leaving the protest rally have spread on social media. The protesters appreciated this act of law enforcement officers with applause.

The draft pension reform, which would raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 years, was presented in January. This initiative caused demonstrations and strikes throughout the country. On March 16, the head of the French Cabinet used her constitutional powers and announced that the bill would be adopted without a vote in the National Assembly. This decision caused a new wave of demonstrations, which often ended in clashes with the police.
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus started delivering A321neo aircraft assembled at its Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) facility in north China's Tianjin Friday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The first China-assembled A321neo aircraft was delivered to Shanghai-based Juneyao Air.

"The newly delivered A321neo aircraft is the 88th member of the Juneyao fleet. More will be received within the year," said Zhao Hongliang, CEO of Juneyao Air.

A321neo, the largest member of the A320neo family, can carry up to 244 passengers.

Airbus started to produce A321 series aircraft at the FALA facility in November 2022.

"Relevant final assembly activities and tests went on smoothly, showcasing the maturity of the FALA in China to adapt to new products quickly," said Airbus Executive Vice President and Airbus China CEO George Xu.

"Airbus continues to expand and enhance its comprehensive cooperation with China's aviation industry, underlining the long-term commitment to China to ensure customer proximity while supporting the global commercial aircraft production ramp-up," Xu said.

FALA came into being in 2008. It now assembles and delivers all members of the Airbus A320neo single-aisle aircraft family, such as the A319neo, A320neo, and A321neo aircraft.

At this site in China, the European aircraft manufacturer also carries out the aircraft completion and delivery works of its widebodies, such as the A350 aircraft.

"We have a strong belief in the Chinese aviation market as we see spring coming to the Chinese aviation industry," said Christoph Schrempp, general manager of Airbus Tianjin Delivery Center.

"China's economic growth is the fuel for air travel. In turn, it refuels the requests for the aircraft and aviation industry," he added.

According to the market forecast by Airbus in late 2022, China's average annual growth of aviation transportation will reach 5.3 percent in the next 20 years, higher than the global average of 3.6 percent.
US President Joe Biden's administration is seeking more than $7 billion over the next two decades for economic assistance to three Pacific island countries, a State Department official said on Thursday, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Washington said earlier this year it had reached consensus with the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on terms of U.S. economic assistance in talks to renew Compacts of Free Association, or COFAs, but had not provided details.

Under those pacts, first agreed in the 1980s, the United States retains responsibility for the islands' defense and exclusive access to huge swaths of the Pacific. Current COFA provisions expire in 2024 for Palau, and later in 2023 for the Marshall Islands and the FSM.

Jane Bocklage, a senior State Department official involved in COFA talks, told a congressional hearing the Biden administration's fiscal year 2024 budget request included $7.1 billion over 20 years for extended COFA deals. That included $6.5 billion in direct economic assistance and $634 million for the unfunded costs of extending the U.S. Postal Service in the three island countries, she said.
A representative of former US president Donald Trump has said his possible indictment wont deter his election campaign, ABC television reported on Friday, Trend reports citing TASS.

"This is the new normal," Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told the television channel. Dealing with these types of news cycles, you learn to get good at it. "We have a full-spectrum response operation on the campaign that can deal with anything that comes our way."

"While being arrested is a humbling experience, there's probably no better way for the Trump campaign to move into overdrive," a former Trump campaign aide said. "You couldn't ask for a better gift if you understand how to take advantage of it. And he's [Trump] surrounded by people who know how to do it."

In the near-term, the ex-staffers and others who spoke to ABC News forecasted that Trump will maintain his travel schedule  including a rally this coming Saturday in Waco, Texas  while viewing the potential indictment as an opportunity to further rile up his base.

According to the report, "Trump will maintain his travel schedule  including a rally this coming Saturday in Waco, Texas  while viewing the potential indictment as an opportunity to further rile up his base." However, ABC said he would have to be flexible "to ensure he can appear in court or address unforeseen circumstances."

The former president previously said that his possible indictment in the case of financial wrongdoing in the Trump Organization could have devastating consequences for the country.
Chemical and isotopic analysis of copper artifacts from southern Africa reveals new cultural connections among people living in the region between the 5th and 20th centuries according to a University of Missouri researcher and colleagues.

People in the area between northern South Africa and the Copperbelt region in central Africa were more connected to one another than scholars previously thought, said Jay Stephens, a post-doctoral fellow in the MU Research Reactor (MURR) Archaeometry Lab.

"Over the past 20 to 30 years, most archaeologists have framed the archaeological record of southern Africa in a global way with a major focus on its connection to imports coming from the Indian Ocean," he said. "But it's also important to recognize the interconnected relationships that existed among the many groups of people living in southern Africa. The data shows the interaction between these groups not only involved the movement of goods, but also flows of information and the sharing of technological practices that come with that exchange."

Mining copper ore

For years, scholars debated whether these artifacts, called rectangular, fishtail and croisette copper ingots, were made exclusively from copper ore mined in the Copperbelt region or from Zimbabwe's Magondi Belt. As it turns out, both theories are correct, Stephens said.

"We now have tangible linkages to reconstruct connectivity at various points in time in the archeological record," he said. "There is a massive history of interconnectivity found throughout the region in areas now known as the countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This also includes people from the contemporary Ingombe Ilede, Harare, and Musengezi traditions of northern Zimbabwe between at least the 14th and 18th centuries A.D."

To determine their findings, researchers took small samples from 33 copper ingots and analyzed them at the University of Arizona. All samples were carefully selected by researchers from archeological samples found in the collections of the Museum of Human Sciences in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the Livingstone Museum in Livingstone, Zambia.

"We didn't want to impact the display of an object, so we tried to be aware of how museums and institutions would want to interact with the data we collected and share it with the general public," Stephens said. "We also want our knowledge to be accessible for the individuals in these communities who continue to interact with these objects. Hopefully, some of the skills linked with these analyses can be used by whomever wants to ask similar questions in the future."

Stephens said copper ingots are excellent objects for this type of analysis because they often have emblematic shapes that allow archaeologists to identify specific markings and follow changes over different time periods.

"By looking at their changes in shape and morphology over time, we can pair those changes with how technology changed over time," he said. "This often comes from observing the decorative features produced from the cast object or mold, or other surface attributes found on these objects."

Gathering scientific evidence

Once the samples arrived at the University of Arizona lab, researchers took a small amount of each sample -- less than one gram -- and dissolved it with specific acids to leave behind a liquid mixture of chemical ions. Then the samples were analyzed for lead isotopes and other chemical elements. One challenge the team encountered was a lack of existing data to match their samples with.

"One part of the project included analyzing hundreds of ore samples from different geological deposits in southern Africa -- especially ones mined before the arrival of European colonial forces -- to create a robust data set," Stephens said. "The data can provide a scientific foundation to help back up the inferences and conclusions we make in the study."

Historical connections

Stephens said the data they collect is one of the only remaining tangible links that exist today to those precolonial mines in Africa.

"Unfortunately, large open pit mines have destroyed a lot of the archaeological sites and broader cultural landscapes around these geological deposits," he said. "This makes it a challenge to reconstruct the history related to these mines. It's a concerning development, especially with the global push toward more electric vehicles which use minerals like copper and cobalt found in the Copperbelt."

"Reconstructing the geological provenance and long-distance movement of rectangular, fishtail, and croisette copper ingots in iron age Zambia and Zimbabwe," was published in PLOS ONE. Co-authors are David Killick at the University of Arizona and Shadreck Chirikure at the University of Oxford and University of Cape Town. This study was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.
GOP's Controversial Education Bill Focused on Parental Oversight Clears House (Photo : Pixabay)

On Friday, the House approved a contentious bill designed to strengthen parental rights in classrooms, highlighting an issue that has become a top priority for House Republicans.



The Senate, however, is not expected to take up the bill, which Democrats criticize as an attempt to politicize classrooms. With a final vote of 213 to 208, five Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the bill.



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The "Parents Bill of Rights Act," or H.R. 5, proposes amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to mandate that schools provide parents with lists of books and reading materials available in school libraries and make their curricula public. The bill would also require elementary and middle schools receiving federal funds to obtain parental consent before making changes to a minor child's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms or permitting a child to alter their sex-based accommodations, such as locker rooms or bathrooms.



Moreover, the legislation confirms parents' rights to address school boards and access information about violence in their child's school.



Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed that the Republican bill "will not see the light of day" in the Senate, labeling the legislation "Orwellian to the core" and a "school control bill." Schumer argued that the bill would strip power from parents, school districts, and educators and hand it over to elected politicians.



House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, remained optimistic after the vote, noting that Republicans lost five votes while Democrats lost none. "They don't want to ban books," he stated.



House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in a post-vote news conference, argued that the bill asserts that "parents have a right to be heard" and should be able to attend school board meetings without being labeled terrorists.



Parental rights in education became a major political issue for Republicans during the Covid-19 pandemic as school closures, mask mandates, and vaccination requirements disrupted family routines and drew attention to school leadership. The issue gained traction for Republicans following Glenn Youngkin's victory over Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Virginia's 2021 gubernatorial election, which was centered around "parents' rights."



Republicans nationwide have used "parental rights" as a platform to limit discussions on race, gender identity, and sexuality in schools, claiming they are inappropriate for young children. However, opinions among parents vary widely on this issue. Critics argue that Republicans are turning classrooms into political battlegrounds and pushing a political agenda. LGBTQ rights advocates assert that the GOP's efforts are designed to stigmatize a vulnerable segment of society and could stifle crucial conversations.


Artificial muscles are a progressing technology that could one day enable robots to function like living organisms. Such muscles open up new possibilities for how robots can shape the world around us; from assistive wearable devices that can redefine our physical abilities at old age, to rescue robots that can navigate rubble in search of the missing. But just because artificial muscles can have a strong societal impact during use, doesn't mean they have to leave a strong environmental impact after use.

The topic of sustainability in soft robotics has now been brought into focus by an international team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Stuttgart (Germany), the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) in Linz (Austria), and the University of Colorado (CU Boulder), Boulder (USA). The scientists collaborated to design a fully biodegradable, high performance artificial muscle -- based on gelatin, oil, and bioplastics. They show the potential of this biodegradable technology by using it to animate a robotic gripper, which could be especially useful in single-use deployments such as for waste collection. At the end of life, these artificial muscles can be disposed of in municipal compost bins; under monitored conditions, they fully biodegrade within six months.

"We see an urgent need for sustainable materials in the accelerating field of soft robotics. Biodegradable parts could offer a sustainable solution especially for single-use applications, like for medical operations, search-and-rescue missions, and manipulation of hazardous substances. Instead of accumulating in landfills at the end of product life, the robots of the future could become compost for future plant growth," says Ellen Rumley, a visiting scientist from CU Boulder working in the Robotic Materials Department at MPI-IS. Rumley is co-first author of the paper "Biodegradable electrohydraulic actuators for sustainable soft robots" which will be published in Science Advances on March 22, 2023.

Specifically, the team of researchers built an electrically driven artificial muscle called HASEL. In essence, HASELs are oil-filled plastic pouches that are partially covered by a pair of electrical conductors called electrodes. Applying a high voltage across the electrode pair causes opposing charges to build on them, generating a force between them that pushes oil to an electrode-free region of the pouch. This oil migration causes the pouch to contract, much like a real muscle. The key requirement for HASELs to deform is that the materials making up the plastic pouch and oil are electrical insulators, which can sustain the high electrical stresses generated by the charged electrodes.

One of the challenges for this project was to develop a conductive, soft, and fully biodegradable electrode. Researchers atJohannes Kepler University created a recipe based on a mixture of biopolymer gelatin and salts that can be directly cast onto HASEL actuators. "It was important for us to make electrodes suitable for these high-performance applications, but with readily available components and an accessible fabrication strategy. Since our presented formulation can be easily integrated in various types of electrically driven systems, it serves as a building block for future biodegradable applications," states David Preninger, co-first author for this project and a scientist at the Soft Matter Physics Division at JKU.

The next step was finding suitable biodegradable plastics. Engineers for this type of materials are mainly concerned with properties like degradation rate or mechanical strength, not with electrical insulation; a requirement for HASELs that operate at a few thousand Volts. Nonetheless, some bioplastics showed good material compatibility with gelatin electrodes and sufficient electrical insulation. HASELs made from one specific material combination were even able to withstand 100,000 actuation cycles at several thousand Volts without signs of electrical failure or loss in performance. These biodegradable artificial muscles are electromechanically competitive with their non-biodegradable counterparts; an exciting result for promoting sustainability in artificial muscle technology.

"By showing the outstanding performance of this new materials system, we are giving an incentive for the robotics community to consider biodegradable materials as a viable material option for building robots," Ellen Rumley continues. "The fact that we achieved such great results with bio-plastics hopefully also motivates other material scientists to create new materials with optimized electrical performance in mind."

With green technology becoming ever more present, the team's research project is an important step towards a paradigm shift in soft robotics. Using biodegradable materials for building artificial muscles is just one step towards paving a future for sustainable robotic technology.
Average crop yields in Africa are consistently far below expected, and one significant reason is the prevalence of counterfeit seeds whose germination rates are far lower than those of the genuine ones. The World Bank estimates that as much as half of all seeds sold in some African countries are fake, which could help to account for crop production that is far below potential.

There have been many attempts to prevent this counterfeiting through tracking labels, but none have proved effective; among other issues, such labels have been vulnerable to hacking because of the deterministic nature of their encoding systems. But now, a team of MIT researchers has come up with a kind of tiny, biodegradable tag that can be applied directly to the seeds themselves, and that provides a unique randomly created code that cannot be duplicated.

The new system, which uses minuscule dots of silk-based material, each containing a unique combination of different chemical signatures, is described today in the journal Science Advances in a paper by MIT's dean of engineering Anantha Chandrakasan, professor of civil and environmental engineering Benedetto Marelli, postdoc Hui Sun, and graduate student Saurav Maji.

The problem of counterfeiting is an enormous one globally, the researchers point out, affecting everything from drugs to luxury goods, and many different systems have been developed to try to combat this. But there has been less attention to the problem in the area of agriculture, even though the consequences can be severe. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the World Bank estimates that counterfeit seeds are a significant factor in crop yields that average less than one-fifth of the potential for maize, and less than one-third for rice.

Marelli explains that a key to the new system is creating a randomly-produced physical object whose exact composition is virtually impossible to duplicate. The labels they create "leverage randomness and uncertainty in the process of application, to generate unique signature features that can be read, and that cannot be replicated," he says.

What they're dealing with, Sun adds, "is the very old job of trying, basically, not to get your stuff stolen. And you can try as much as you can, but eventually somebody is always smart enough to figure out how to do it, so nothing is really unbreakable. But the idea is, it's almost impossible, if not impossible, to replicate it, or it takes so much effort that it's not worth it anymore."

The idea of an "unclonable" code was originally developed as a way of protecting the authenticity of computer chips, explains Chandrakasan, who is the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. "In integrated circuits, individual transistors have slightly different properties coined device variations," he explains, "and you could then use that variability and combine that variability with higher-level circuits to create a unique ID for the device. And once you have that, then you can use that unique ID as a part of a security protocol. Something like transistor variability is hard to replicate from device to device, so that's what gives it its uniqueness, versus storing a particular fixed ID." The concept is based on what are known as physically unclonable functions, or PUFs.

The team decided to try to apply that PUF principle to the problem of fake seeds, and the use of silk proteins was a natural choice because the material is not only harmless to the environment but also classified by the Food and Drug Administration in the "generally recognized as safe" category, so it requires no special approval for use on food products.

"You could coat it on top of seeds," Maji says, "and if you synthesize silk in a certain way, it will also have natural random variations. So that's the idea, that every seed or every bag could have a unique signature."

Developing effective secure system solutions have long been one of Chandrakasan's specialties, while Marelli has spent many years developing systems for applying silk coatings to a variety of fruits, vegetables, and seeds, so their collaboration was a natural for developing such a silk-based coding system towards enhanced security.

"The challenge was what type of form factor to give to silk," Sun says, "so that it can be fabricated very easily." They developed a simple drop-casting approach that produces tags that are less than one-tenth of an inch in diameter. The second challenge was to develop "a way where we can read the uniqueness, in also a very high throughput and easy way."

For the unique silk-based codes, Marelli says, "eventually we found a way to add a color to these microparticles so that they assemble in random structures." The resulting unique patterns can be read out not only by a spectrograph or a portable microscope, but even by an ordinary cellphone camera with a macro lens. This image can be processed locally to generate the PUF code and then sent to the cloud and compared with a secure database to ensure the authenticity of the product. "It's random so that people cannot easily replicate it," says Sun. "People cannot predict it without measuring it."

And the number of possible permutations that could result from the way they mix four basic types of colored silk nanoparticles is astronomical. "We were able to show that with a minimal amount of silk, we were able to generate 128 random bits of security," Maji says. "So this gives rise to 2 to the power 128 possible combinations, which is extremely difficult to crack given the computational capabilities of the state-of-the-art computing systems."

Marelli says that "for us, it's a good test bed in order to think out-of-the-box, and how we can have a path that somehow is more democratic." In this case, that means "something that you can literally read with your phone, and you can fabricate by simply drop casting a solution, without using any advanced manufacturing technique, without going in a clean room."

Some additional work will be needed to make this a practical commercial product, Chandrakasan says. "There will have to be a development for at-scale reading" via smartphones. "So. that's clearly a future opportunity." But the principle now shows a clear path to the day when "a farmer could at least, maybe not every seed, but could maybe take some random seeds in a particular batch and verify them," he says.

The research was partially supported by the U.S. Office of Naval research and the National Science Foundation, Analog Devices Inc., an EECS Mathworks fellowship, and a Paul M. Cook Career Development Professorship.
If you live near a busy road you might feel like the constant sound of roaring engines, honking horns and wailing sirens makes your blood pressure rise. Now a new study published today in JACC: Advances confirms it can do exactly that.

Previous studies have shown a connection between noisy road traffic and increased risk of hypertension. However, strong evidence was lacking, and it was unclear whether noise or air pollution played a bigger role. The new research shows that it is exposure to road traffic noise itself that can elevate hypertension risk.

"We were a little surprised that the association between road traffic noise and hypertension was robust even after adjustment for air pollution," said Jing Huang, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health at Peking University in Beijing, China, and lead author of the study.

Previous studies of the issue were cross-sectional, meaning they showed that traffic noise and hypertension were linked, but failed to show a causal relationship. For the new paper, researchers conducted a prospective study using UK Biobank data that looked at health outcomes over time.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 240,000 people (aged 40 to 69 years) who started out without hypertension. They estimated road traffic noise based on residential address and the Common Noise Assessment Method, a European modeling tool.

Using follow-up data over a median 8.1 years, they looked at how many people developed hypertension. Not only did they find that people living near road traffic noise were more likely to develop hypertension, they also found that risk increased in tandem with the noise "dose."

These associations held true even when researchers adjusted for exposure to fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. However, people who had high exposure to both traffic noise and air pollution had the highest hypertension risk, showing that air pollution plays a role as well.

"Road traffic noise and traffic-related air pollution coexist around us," Huang said. "It is essential to explore the independent effects of road traffic noise, rather than the total environment."

The findings can support public health measures because they confirm that exposure to road traffic noise is harmful to our blood pressure, she said. Policymaking may alleviate the adverse impacts of road traffic noise as a societal effort, such as setting stricter noise guideline and enforcement, improving road conditions and urban design, and investing advanced technology on quieter vehicles.

"To date, this is the first large-sized prospective study directly addressing the effect of road traffic noise on the incidence of newly-diagnosed hypertension," said Jiandong Zhang, cardiovascular disease fellow in the division of cardiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and author of the accompanying editorial comment. "The data demonstrated in this article provides a higher quality of evidence to justify the potential to modify road traffic noise and air pollution from both individual and societal levels in improving cardiovascular health."

As a follow-up, Huang said field studies are underway to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms through which road noise affects hypertension.

The study was supervised by Kazem Rahimi, lead of the Deep Medicine program at the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford, and Samuel Cai, lecturer in environmental epidemiology at the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability at the University of Leicester.
Imagine a home computer operating 1 million times faster than the most expensive hardware on the market. Now, imagine that level of computing power as the industry standard. University of Arizona researchers hope to pave the way for that reality using light-based optical computing, a marked improvement from the semiconductor-based transistors that currently run the world.

"Semiconductor-based transistors are in all of the electronics that we use today," said Mohammed Hassan, assistant professor of physics and optical sciences. "They're part of every industry -- from kids' toys to rockets -- and are the main building blocks of electronics."

Hassan lad an international team of researchers that published the research article "Ultrafast optical switching and data encoding on synthesized light fields" in Science Advances in February. UArizona physics postdoctoral research associate Dandan Hui and physics graduate student Husain Alqattan also contributed to the article, in addition to researchers from Ohio State University and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

Semiconductors in electronics rely on electrical signals transmitted via microwaves to switch -- either allow or prevent -- the flow of electricity and data, represented as either "on" or "off." Hassan said the future of electronics will be based instead on using laser light to control electrical signals, opening the door for the establishment of "optical transistors" and the development of ultrafast optical electronics.

Since the invention of semiconductor transistors in the 1940s, technological advancement has centered on increasing the speed at which electric signals can be generated -- measured in hertz. According to Hassan, the fastest semiconductor transistors in the world can operate at a speed of more than 800 gigahertz. Data transfer at that frequency is measured at a scale of picoseconds, or one trillionth of a second.

Computer processing power has increased steadily since the introduction of the semiconductor transistor, though Hassan said one of the primary concerns in developing faster technology is that the heat generated by continuing to add transistors to a microchip would eventually require more energy to cool than can pass through the chip.

In their article, Hassan and his collaborators discuss using all-optical switching of a light signal on and off to reach data transfer speeds exceeding a petahertz, measured at the attosecond time scale. An attosecond is one quintillionth of a second, meaning the transfer of data 1 million times faster than the fastest semiconductor transistors.

While optical switches were already shown to achieve information processing speeds faster than that of semiconductor transistor-based technology, Hassan and his co-authors were able to register the on and off signals from a light source happening at the scale of billionths of a second. This was accomplished by taking advantage of a characteristic of fused silica, a glass often used in optics. Fused silica can instantaneously change its reflectivity, and by using ultrafast lasers, Hassan and his team were able to register changes in a light's signal at the attosecond time scale. The work also demonstrated the possibility of sending data in the form of "one" and "zero" representing on and off via light at previously impossible speeds.

"This new advancement would also allow the encoding of data on ultrafast laser pulses, which would increase the data transfer speed and could be used in long-distance communications from Earth into deep space," Hassan said. "This promises to increase the limiting speed of data processing and information encoding and open a new realm of information technology."

The project was funded by a $1.4 million grant awarded to Hassan in 2018 by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, an organization that aims "to create positive outcomes for future generations" by supporting research into scientific discovery, environmental conservation and patient care. The article was also based on work supported by the United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research's Young Investigator Research Program.
(Photo : Pixabay / Geralt )

NASA's proposed propulsion system can, theoretically, beam a heavy spacecraft beyond the solar system's confines within five years, which took the iconic Voyage 1 probe 35 years to do.

Pellet-Beam Propulsion

According to Science Alert, this concept called pellet-beam propulsion received a US$175,000 NASA grant for further development.

It is important to note, however, that the concept is still purely theoretical. Because of this, it is important to contain excitement.

Nevertheless, this has garnered attention not just because of its incredible potential to reach interstellar space within a human lifetime but also because of its claims to handle huge crafts.

Artur Davoyan, the proposal's lead researcher and an aerospace engineer at the University of California, says that the proposal looks into new propulsion systems that can enable fast transport of heavy payloads across the entire solar system and even beyond it.

The concept was partially inspired by the initiative of the Breakthrough Starshot, which works on a light-sail propulsion system. With millions of lasers working together, a small probe can, theoretically, reach Proxima Centauri in just two decades.

This new propulsion proposal begins with a similar thought. However, it looks at shifting bigger entities.

To successfully operate, the theoretical propulsion system may need two craft: one that is bound for interstellar space and one that will rotate the earth. The latter would release beams of microscopic particles toward the interstellar craft.

According to Interesting Engineering, lasers will then heat up such particles and make them melt into plasma that may further accelerate the pellets. Such a process is referred to as "laser ablation." The pellet beams offer thrusts that propel the craft to move at tremendous speeds.

The pellets may move at a speed of around 120 km/second and hit the interstellar craft's sail or repel a magnet inside it. This helps propel the craft to great speeds so that it can quickly move out of the heliosphere, which is the solar wind bubble that encapsulates the solar system.

ALSO READ: NASA's Voyager 1 Records Weird, Steady 'Hum' of Plasma in Interstellar Space

Interstellar Space Travel

As per NASA, with the help of the pellet-beam, outer planets may be reached within a year, 100 astronomical units (AU) in around 3 years, and the solar gravity lens at 500 AU in around 15 years. Most importantly, unlike other propulsion systems, the pellet-beam will enable the propulsion of heavy craft, which weigh around a ton.

Astronomical units refer to the rough distance between the sun and earth, which is equivalent to around 150 million kilometers.

The Voyage 1 probe spent 35 years traveling to interstellar space. It reached around 122 AU.

While all these numbers and potential are just speculations, the first phase of NASA's Innovative and Advanced Concepts (NIAC) will tremendously help. During this phase, the researchers will demonstrate the concept's feasibility by conducting intricate modeling of various subsystems of the proposed propulsion architecture. They will also be conducting proof-of-concept studies.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Does Space Travel Damage the Powerhouse of the Cell?

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Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Britain's Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen during a joint visit to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) in Nottinghamshire, Britain (Photo : Richard Pohle/Pool via REUTERS)

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's highly anticipated first state visit to France has been postponed due to ongoing protests in Paris.



The royal couple was scheduled to visit France from Sunday to the 29th of March, including attending a banquet at the Palace of Versailles hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife.



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Buckingham Palace issued a statement announcing the postponement, saying, "The King and The Queen Consort's State Visit to France has been postponed. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found."



The decision to delay the visit came after the President of France requested the British Government postpone the trip, with the consent of all parties involved.



The royal couple's itinerary included various engagements in the French capital and Bordeaux between the 26th and 29th of March. However, Paris remains in turmoil as tens of thousands of French nationals continue to protest the rising retirement age. The situation escalated on Thursday, leading to authorities stepping in to quell the violence.



King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will proceed with their scheduled visit to Germany next week. Their trip, which will take place from the 29th to the 31st of March, includes stops in Berlin and Brandenburg.



The royal couple will visit the Brandenburg Gate, the Komische Oper in Berlin, and St. Nikolai Memorial in Hamburg, as well as attend a state banquet hosted by President Steinmeier and Frau Budenbender at Schloss Bellevue.



This would have been King Charles' 35th official visit to France and his 29th trip to Germany. The royal couple last visited France in 2019 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, and Germany in 2020 to attend the country's National Day of Mourning for victims of war.


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The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Scott Hollender, Gabriel Migliano, Jr., and Frank Vecchio for selling interests in shares of pre-IPO companies on behalf of StraightPath Venture Partners LLC, despite not being registered broker-dealers, and for misleading investors about the fees associated with those investments. The Commission previously charged StraightPath Venture Partners, StraightPath Management LLC, and its four principals in May 2022 in connection with a $410 million fraud.

The SEC complaint alleges that, between November 2017 and November 2021, Hollender, Migliano, and Vecchio actively solicited investments for interests in funds that were set up as series LLCs, each of which purported to acquire shares of a single pre-IPO company. The defendants allegedly provided investors with marketing materials, advised investors on the supposed merits of the investments, and received transaction-based compensation, all hallmarks of a broker, despite not being registered as brokers. As alleged in the complaint, defendants collectively solicited at least $13 million in investments from at least 115 investors, and, even though each of the defendants received upfront commissions of approximately 10 percent on investments they successfully solicited, the defendants falsely told investors that there were no upfront fees associated with their investments. According to the complaint, the defendants collectively received at least approximately $3.7 million in transaction-based compensation.

The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges defendants with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 15(a) and 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief, return of allegedly ill-gotten gains, and civil penalties. The complaint also names GSH Empire Inc. and 21st Century Gold & Silver Inc., entities controlled by Hollender and Vecchio, respectively, as relief defendants for purposes of recovering ill-gotten gains that Hollender and Vecchio generated through their alleged conduct.

The SEC's ongoing investigation is being conducted by Megan R. Genet, Tian Wen, Douglas J. Smith, Lee A. Greenwood, Daniel Loss, Patricia Schrage, Alistaire Bambach, and Steven G. Rawlings of the New York Regional Office (NYRO), with assistance from Suman Beros. It is being supervised by Sheldon L. Pollock. The litigation will be led by Mr. Loss, Ms. Wen, and Ms. Genet. Assistance was provided by Ronald Krietzman, Michael McAuliffe, and Stephen DeBella of the NYRO Broker-Dealer and Exchange Program. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; the Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; and the New Jersey Bureau of Securities.
The United States said Tuesday it is imposing a new round of sanctions on Iranian firms and people accused of procuring equipment used for Iranian drones.

Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control coordinated with the FBI to designate four firms and three people in Iran and Turkey for allegedly buying equipment, including European-made engines, to be used for Irans drone and weapons programs.

Those targeted for sanctions include the Iran-based Defense Technology and Science Research Center, its procurement firm Farazan Industrial Engineering Inc. and two other firms along with purchasing agents from the companies.

Irans well-documented proliferation of UAVs and conventional weapons to its proxies continues to undermine both regional security and global stability, said Brian Nelson, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Nelson was referring to unmanned aerial vehicles.

The United States will continue to expose foreign procurement networks in any jurisdiction that supports Irans military industrial complex," he said.

American defense officials say Iran is supplying Russia with unmanned drones to use on civilians as the Kremlin presses its invasion of Ukraine, which has entered its second year.

Among other things, sanctions deny the people and firms access to any property or financial assets held in the United States and prevent American firms and companies from doing business with them.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have worsened after months of antigovernment protests.

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A Home Depot employee was arrested in Hayward on Tuesday afternoon and accused of stealing $80,000 worth of merchandise, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Investigators were notified on March 1 by the stores loss prevention investigators about an after-hours employee seen taking items that Home Depot valued at an estimated $300,000, authorities said, adding that store investigators provided video surveillance of the employee and the vehicle used during the incidents.
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Fortuna, the 6-foot sculpture of a Roman goddess recently added to a Telegraph Hill roof to serve as a weather vane, could not withstand the weather that hit her last week.

While standing bravely waving a sail against winds barreling in from the west, the artwork broke free of its pedestal Tuesday and fell to the side.

Phil Williams, the homeowner who commissioned the piece to be visible from Washington Square in San Franciscos North Beach, went up to his roof at 4 p.m. and saw that Fortuna was spinning wildly at about 60 rpm, he told The Chronicle. I couldnt do anything about it.

Barely able to withstand the wind himself, Williams waited inside until it died down around 4:15 p.m. and went back out. There she was. Bent and injured, he said. The sculptor, Tom Sipes of Petaluma, came Thursday afternoon to move the sculpture to his shop for repairs.

Courtesy Phil Williams

Williams said the sculpture, which rises to 12 feet on its pedestal, had been designed to withstand winds up to 60 mph, which is stronger than he had gauged in nearly 50 years on Telegraph Hill. But Tuesdays gusts were recorded at 75 mph on the Embarcadero. The base may have to be reinforced to withstand even greater pressure.

We will figure out what exactly caused the damage  probably the spinning centrifugal force destabilized her, said Williams, a retired civil engineer.. Hopefully she will be reinstalled in a couple of weeks.

Fortuna is a replica of a 17th century sculpture Williams saw while visiting the Grand Canal in Venice. He paid about $5,000 to have it made and dedicated it in February during a special lighting ceremony. Fortuna is the Roman goddess of luck, but since she arrived on Telegraph Hill, the weather luck has been nothing but bad.
A new Chronicle data tool shows the average grade-point average that got students into each University of California campus by every high school  public and private  in California for the fall of 2022, the current freshman class.

At first glance, the numbers might look intimidating  for many high schools, admitted students on average had above a 4.0 GPA for many of the nine UC schools, with UCLA and UC Berkeley typically drawing the highest numbers.

So what do those numbers actually mean?

The UC system has its own system for calculating GPAs to ensure they are weighted equally. UC-approved courses are divided into lettered categories from A to G, with each letter representing a subject like history, math, etc.

First, students must convert letter grades they received in each A-G course into points  4 points for an A grade, 3 points for a B, and so on. There are no adjustments for pluses and minuses.

From there, students add an extra point for Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate classes or UC-certified honors classes. UCs also count classes only from the beginning of sophomore year, including the preceding summer, through the summer after junior year.

The minimum GPA to be considered for undergraduate, first-year admission to a UC is a 3.0 for California students and a 3.4 for out-of-state students. Any applications with GPAs below those will not be considered.

In total, the UCs look at three GPAs  the weighted, capped GPA; the fully weighted GPA; and the unweighted GPA. The weighted, capped GPA, in an effort to account for differences in what schools offer, caps the number of extra points that can be added for honors or AP classes to eight. The information in The Chronicles data tool reflects the weighted, capped GPA.

But UC colleges can also see the fully weighted GPA, which does not limit extra points for advanced courses, as well as the unweighted GPA, which rewards no extra points for advanced courses. These numbers are all taken together as part of the UCs holistic admissions process, UC officials said.

That holistic process includes a comprehensive list of factors that UC campuses use to determine admission. Other factors include how many UC approved and AP courses a student took relative to the opportunities they were offered; outstanding work in one subject, project or field of study; recent, marked improvement in academic achievement; special talents or skills; community service; life circumstances, and the location of a students school and residence.

Notably, that process no longer includes standardized test scores  the result of a 2019 lawsuit that argued including test scores disadvantaged low-income students of color and students with disabilities.

Han Mi Yoon-Wu, executive director of undergraduate admissions at the University of California Office of the President, couldnt quantify how important GPA is as part of the admissions process, but she explained that it gives application readers an initial view of a students achievement in 10th and 11th grades. The readers are also able to look at an applicants GPA in relation to other students from the same high school, which helps account for variations in grading and offerings at different schools, she said.

And the different UC campuses look at all of the information differently, including the capped and the fully weighted GPAs, depending on their individual admissions process.

We do ask for a lot of information because we want to use it to the greatest degree that we can, Yoon-Wu said, noting that the UC application is extensive.

That means that, while GPA matters, the number itself is only a slice of what colleges are looking at, explained Iris Berkley, a UCLA-certified college counselor based in Newport Beach.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2022

UCs also look at the rigor of classes, she added  including those from freshman year and senior year, even though those grades are not counted in the GPA. So a hopeful math major who took AP calculus might look better than one who took AP statistics, even though both count the same in the GPA, because calculus is more rigorous and attuned to the math major.

While the drive to achieve the highest GPA possible with the hardest classes possible in an effort to get into the most competitive schools may mean some students take on more than they should, Berkley said shes found that the students she works with have a good grasp of their mental health, and they try not to push themselves over the edge.

Ive seen a lot more students thinking, Thats too much for me to take on. Even if it might improve my chances of getting in, Im not going to do it,  she said.

And while application readers do look at what classes were offered at an applicants high school, Berkley said she recommends that students describe in the application any limitations they had for any reason, just in case  spell out if their school only offered three AP classes, but they took them all, or whether they had a scheduling conflict that prevented them from taking something they would have liked to.

At the end of the day, she said, looking at the average GPA for admitted students shouldnt scare anyone off  or give them too much confidence. Many UCs admit students by academic department, she explained, so students trying to get in for engineering might need higher GPAs, while students trying to get in for art or theater might need stellar portfolios or auditions.

It really tells such a small piece of the story, she said.
A jury awarded a former Rancho Gordo temporary worker nearly $252,000 in damages after she sued the wildly popular Napa heirloom bean company for discrimination and retaliation.

The verdict was read in a Napa courthouse on Thursday afternoon after jurors deliberated for more than four days and worked through deadlock, lawyers said. At least an eight-person majority of 11 jurors eventually agreed with some but not all of Martha Martinezs claims.

In the civil case filed two years ago, Martinez accused Rancho Gordo of discrimination based on sex, national origin and pregnancy; retaliation, and wrongful termination.

The jury agreed that her pregnancy was a substantial motivating reason, the verdict read, for why Rancho Gordo fired her in 2020, and that the termination caused her harm. They awarded her $15,566.40 for lost past earnings, $86,400 for future medical expenses, $75,000 for past emotional distress and $75,000 for future emotional distress.

But the jury didnt agree with her charge that Rancho Gordo had discriminated against her based on her national origin. Martinez, who packaged beans at Rancho Gordos Napa warehouse from late 2019 to early 2020, alleged that coworkers made discriminatory comments about her background. Martinez is Salvadoran.

More for you Hit bean company Rancho Gordo embroiled in discrimination lawsuit

The jury also supported Martinezs retaliation claim. Lawyers for Martinez argued Rancho Gordo refused to hire her for future work, in part because she had complained about being fired due to her pregnancy.

Rancho Gordos attorney, Shane Anderies of San Francisco firm Anderies & Gomes LLP, said the people involved in her termination were unaware she was pregnant. The company, which hired Martinez through a temporary staffing agency, let her go when sales slowed down after a typical busy holiday season, Anderies said.

The jury agreed that cutting down on Rancho Gordos temporary workforce following the holidays was also a reason for her firing. But the jury did not find that the company would have ended her work assignment anyway at that time, due to the reduction of its temporary workforce, had it not also been substantially motivated by discrimination.

Arlo Uriarte of San Francisco firm Liberation Law Group, one of Martinezs attorneys, said the verdict confirmed her sense of justice was correct in pursuing legal action.

Rancho Gordo owner Steve Sando declined to comment.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

The trial took place over several days; witnesses included current and past Rancho Gordo employees and psychological experts. The jury, which originally had 12 people, had been deadlocked and deliberated for so long that Martinezs attorneys thought the case would end in a mistrial. One juror was excused on Wednesday, prompting a stipulation to accept a verdict with at least eight votes rather than nine. Judge Cynthia Smith, who presided over the case, thanked the jurors on Thursday and said deliberations were a lot more difficult than perhaps you expected they would be.

Attorneys for Rancho Gordo said in court Thursday they plan to file for a directed verdict on all claims, which asks a judge to rule there wasnt sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to reach a verdict. A hearing is set for May 16. If the judge rules in Martinezs favor on the directed verdict, Rancho Gordo can then appeal that ruling.
Napa Valleys popular Frank Family Vineyards is the latest winery to unveil a splashy new space. The 2,300-square-foot glass-walled barn opens next month for wine tasting, plus a fancy cheese and charcuterie pairing from a noted chef.

Frank Familys expansion comes on the heels of multimillion-dollar renovations and rebuilds by several other classic Napa wineries, like Charles Krug, Clos du Val, Heitz and Cakebread. In an effort to keep up with the wine regions fast-paced growth, these wineries have transitioned from a modest approach to providing the kind of luxurious, often expensive experiences that have become synonymous with Napa Valley.

Napas evolution from a quiet farming town to a top tourist destination is on full display at Frank Family. When visitors pull in the Calistoga driveway, they first see the 1884 stone winery, the third oldest in Napa Valley. Next to that is an old red barn and a charming, 1930s yellow craftsman. The home once served as offices for trade group the Napa Valley Vintners and, more recently, Frank Familys tastings. To the right stands an embodiment of present-day Napa Valley: the new Miller House, accompanied by a $120 tasting fee.

The Miller House will open on April 7, a few months ahead of the winerys 30-year anniversary. Constructed on the site where the winerys founders  Rich Frank, a former Disney executive, and Leslie Frank, an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist  exchanged wedding vows, the building feels like its own island, named after Leslie Franks maiden name, Miller.

Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

Designed by Wine Countrys most prolific architect, Howard Backen, its surrounded by posh patio vignettes with fire pits. The warm, light-filled interior is intended to feel cozy on a gloomy day, or airy in the summer. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors flank the building on three sides, revealing vineyard and mountain views. Throughout the growing season, guests might be able to catch the vineyard crew at work, thinning shoots or harvesting grapes.

A neutral farmhouse-inspired palette makes up the elegant interior, which is meticulously designed like a Restoration Hardware showroom. But the uniformity is broken up by a few fun, eclectic moments. Spiky, sea urchin-like chandeliers hang from the vaulted ceiling. A cheeky bathroom mural reads For a good time call Frank, accompanied by the winerys phone number.

Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

The Miller House was designed with large groups and corporate events in mind, as the winery previously struggled to accommodate big parties. The founders also wanted to offer a food and wine experience  something that guests had been requesting, and that has become standard throughout Wine Country. Some wineries have hired Michelin-trained chefs to create multicourse meals that rival the offerings at Napas top restaurants.

But Frank Family also has a reputation to uphold. Its known as a friendly and welcoming winery thats accessible to visitors with varying levels of wine know-how and budgets. (In the earlier years, the grounds were a popular picnic spot.) Frank Family makes entry-level wines that sell at major supermarkets, but also premium reds that sell upwards of $150. The Franks sold the winery to conglomerate Treasury Wine Estates for $315 million in 2021, but they are still very much involved with the business.

Instead of incorporating fine dining delicacies like foie gras and black truffle, Frank Family settled on simple ingredients: cheese and cured meat. But its also one of the most expensive cheese and charcuterie programs in this valley, said Frank Family chef Christina Machamer. Priced at $120 per person, the experience includes a flight of four wines, including a sparkling and top-tier Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside four small pairings. Frank Family will continue to offer a standard tasting flight ($60) in the craftsman.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Machamer  who won Foxs Hells Kitchen while she was in culinary school, opened restaurants for chefs Gordon Ramsey and Thomas Keller and is a certified sommelier  attributes the cost to the winerys custom offerings. She partnered with Napa butcher Fatted Calf to create a Tuscan-style Sbriciolona salami and a fatty, mildly spicy coppa; St. Helenas Panevino made kalamata olive breadsticks; San Franciscos Nosh This chocolatier designed a pair of truffles, a triple dark chocolate with a gold leaf and a raspberry ganache. Anyone can do chocolate, said Machamer, but this is the yellow Lamborghini of this tasting.

Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

The cheeses come from two local creameries: an aged sheep cheese from Arcatas Cyprus Grove and an uber creamy, washed-rind brie from Marin French Cheese, served atop a rosemary cracker.

The experience is also meant to be educational and teach guests some basics of wine and food pairing. We want to break it down for the guest so that they understand it, said Leslie Frank. We want people to obviously have a great time, enjoy the wines, enjoy the pairings, but we want them to take something away from it as well.



The Miller House at Frank Family Vineyards. Opens April 7. 1091 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga. frankfamilyvineyards.com
Mei-wa Yeung trudged up Pacific Avenue, complaining about the steep incline as she carried grocery bags filled with celery and onions. Despite being frequently dissatisfied with conditions within San Franciscos Chinatown, the sight of the Chinese Hospital one block away reminded the 71-year-old why she does not think she will ever move.

I was not aware that hospitals outside of this area could not understand me, Yeung said in Cantonese, revealing a raised scar that sits at the root of her left thumb. I went to the (San Francisco) General Hospital to get this treated, then I realized that no one could communicate with me, from the person at the front desk to the nurses in the halls. I walked around and waited for almost an hour, and then resorted to taking the bus home because I was embarrassed.

The injury happened a few winters ago, when Yeung had temporarily moved in with her daughter to help look after her grandchild, who was attending school from home due to the pandemic. Yeung burned her hand with hot water. Initially reluctant to visit a hospital and unwilling to trouble anyone to drive her back to Chinatown, she waited until the wound became infected before going to nearby General.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

They all looked so confused and worried, and I dont even know who to be angry at, Yeung said as she waved her bag of vegetables, because theyre perfectly nice people, and its not their fault they cant communicate with me. They dont understand me just as much as I dont understand them. I feel guilty that Im just not very good at learning.

Language barriers are prevalent across non-English-speaking communities. But in San Francisco, where more than 88,000 Chinese American residents speak limited English and more than 75% of Asian American students speak Cantonese at home, the lack of Cantonese speakers in the health care system can create broad ripples.

And while efforts to combat the stigma associated with seeking mental health care are under way in the city, community organizers warn that when they refer people to clinics without the services to accommodate them, the stigma and the distrust only get worse.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Education and encouragement is important, said Chinatown Community Development Center community organizer Jennifer Chan, who has been trying to set up mental health counseling for monolingual Asian American and Pacific Islander seniors, but it is not enough when the health care system can leave you playing tag for a really long time.

An underserved community

According to San Franciscos language diversity data, more than 110,000 AAPI residents have limited English proficiency, with roughly 80% being of Chinese descent.

Statewide, a survey conducted by AAPI Data and UCLA Center of Health Policy Research shows that about one-third of Asians who reported difficulty accessing health care and mental health services cited limited language skills as a reason. Among those who are Chinese, the figure doubles for both categories.

More than a third of San Franciscos population is Asian. And while they generally fare well in the citys health metrics, a University of California study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities shows that Asians in the Bay Area are more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than other racial groups  a phenomenon not fully explained by age, income, health insurance status and medical comorbidities. Instead, the study attributed this heightened risk to language barriers, limited digital access and lack of culturally competent health care providers.

These neglected health needs can have dire consequences, as evidenced by the Monterey Park (Los Angeles County) and Half Moon Bay mass shootings that took place within 48 hours in January. Both suspects are Asian seniors, and despite unclear motivations, the alleged perpetrators displayed signs of emotional distress before the tragedies took place. One suspect visited a police station lobby twice that month accusing his own family of attempted poisoning and fraud, while the other allegedly had made death threats against his co-workers and roommate.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

According to the UCLA survey, monolingual Asian American residents in California struggled to obtain health care during the pandemic, even as they experienced increased suicide ideation, above average fears of gun violence and higher rates of hate crime victimization.

Yeung, who after her hospital ordeal treated her burn herself with an ointment, described the eight months away from her Chinatown home as being a harrowing and isolating experience. But when asked whether she had considered seeking professional help to process these feelings, she shook her head and said it would be embarrassing to explain the details to a stranger who might not understand her anyway, and that its better to forget the past.

Down the street from where Yeung lives, next to large murals that mimic the style of ink wash painting that is traditional to many parts of Asia, the Chinatown Community Development Center has been quietly tackling barriers to mental health care for older people who only speak one language. To its social workers, this has proved to be a frustrating yet necessary process.

Chan, who has a masters degree in social work and has been with the center for 13 years, tried to connect monolingual seniors dealing with grief or serious hoarding habits with mental health professionals, and to overcome the negative stigma in the AAPI community that seeking help is a sign of incompetence. However, when she attempted to set up appointments for seniors at the local peer-run counseling organization, Mental Health Association, it didnt have any professionals who spoke Cantonese. Some providers speak Spanish, while a majority of their services are provided only in English.

Closer to home, the outpatient service provider Chinatown North Beach Mental Health Services does provide a certain extent of care in Asian languages. But if the patients case is not severe enough, the clinic likely wouldnt be able to take them because it has a long wait list. As a result, the work Chan had put in to convince these elderly people to get out the door and seek help went to waste, since many seniors who did not have ideal experiences have told her that they are unwilling to go again.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

All of the above issues were exacerbated by the pandemic, when she saw a significant increase in anxiety, loneliness and depression among seniors, while the health care system was swamped and unable to help.

The amount of layers there are to get through needs to be decreased, Chan said. Funds should be allocated to developing programs that specifically target the health needs of marginalized populations that may not speak English.

Efforts to improve language accessibility over the past several years include the city-funded outreach initiative Language Access Network  a coalition of seven community-based organizations  and the Language Access Ordinance, which requires city departments to offer translation services and was first enacted in 2001.

However, the Department of Public Health saw the largest increase in the number of limited English proficiency interactions among all city departments in San Francisco between 2021 and 2022. Aside from Spanish, the need for Cantonese services overwhelm all other languages, accounting for more than 260,000 interactions across all departments. While the city counts far fewer Latino residents who speak limited English than Chinese American residents who are thus limited, 2021 saw more than 450,000 interactions in Spanish.

Up to 35% of patients at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center want to receive care in a language other than English, a hospital spokesperson said via email. The spokesperson added that staff at every level of the hospital are trained in how to access and provide bilingual care, but was unable to say what percentage of staff can provide direct bilingual care or care in Asian languages.

Averting greater neglect

Rather than expanding the pipeline of Cantonese speakers in the city, one of the biggest pipelines was almost cut off.

In 2021, a budget cut had put the Cantonese program at the City College of San Francisco on the chopping board, until a group of students formed Save Cantonese at CCSF. They successfully pushed for a Cantonese certificate and a Cantonese language program transferable to the University of California system  the first of its kind in the country  and for the college to begin tracking Mandarin and Cantonese data separately.

Julia Quon, the founder of Save Cantonese at CCSF, is also a nursing student and a doula, who provides support for pregnant people during labor. In her experiences working at hospitals outside of Chinatown, she encountered cases where AAPI monolingual patients spent days without interacting with anyone who speaks a language they understand, when not even documents handed to them were translated.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

They are always so grateful when I can communicate with them, she said. It is neglect and its heartbreaking.

Having grown up in Chinatown in a family that frequently relied on safety net hospitals, Quon has witnessed continuous health care difficulties, and language plays a significant role in these struggles.

The most recent example was when Quons grandmother fell down, but the emergency responders who showed up could not communicate with her in Cantonese. They ended up taking her to the wrong hospital, mixed up her insurance information, and she could not explain which parts of her body hurt.

Asian languages and Chinese languages are very diverse, but we cant ignore languages just because they are difficult to speak or difficult to certify, said Quon, who also is advocating for programs in Toisanese, another Chinese language common to Asians in San Francisco. It is a matter of public welfare and public safety.
Iran will have to change its strategic philosophy and behaviour if the recent Chinese-brokered agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is to be a success.

It is important to recall the positive climate that surrounded the original talks between the US and Iran in Oman that led to the agreement on Irans nuclear programme.

At the time, John Kerry was the US secretary of state, and he was later criticised by some for having signed the worst possible agreement with Tehran. His interlocutor was Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, whose wide smile and ringing laugh echoed across the news reports on the nuclear agreement that was signed in 2015.

The then democratic administration in Washington expressed its confidence that Iran would be prevented from building a nuclear weapon and that it would remain committed to allowing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor its declared nuclear sites and verify that it had not secretly obtained materials that could be used to create a nuclear warhead.

Lets now fast-forward to those inspection processes in order to assess the Iranian behaviour and negotiating strategy that led the subsequent Republican administration in the US to withdraw from the nuclear agreement in 2018. The Iranian behaviour also led the Europeans to rethink their positions on Iran, even though they had been more understanding and sympathetic towards the countrys demands.

The operative words in this context were Iranian foot dragging and its ability to void the agreement of substance, casting the problem back to square one if not before. This is the history we need to bear in mind in evaluating the Chinese-brokered Saudi-Iranian agreement to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries today.

Despite frequent announcements of bilateral meetings between representatives from Iran and Saudi Arabia over the past two years, the announcement of the agreement earlier this month came as a surprise to many. Perhaps the greatest part of the surprise was Chinas sudden appearance in a problem of this magnitude and its success in presenting itself as a sponsor and guarantor of normalisation between such major regional powers as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Beijing may be able to alter the Iranian behaviour that has been closely connected to a series of civil wars, proxy wars, and other types of conflicts that have plagued the Middle East for over a decade, along with sectarian troubles and a political ferment that have affected all the countries in the region. Even so, cautious optimism may be our best approach to take on the Beijing-brokered agreement given the many challenges that lie ahead.

The questions China faces far outweigh the answers, and most of the questions are of the strategic sort that have to do with sustainable arrangements built on changing long-established patterns and behaviours. One question is who possesses the vision and the will to push through the needed and effective breakthroughs? Beijing has provided the correct answer here, as it has demonstrated its diplomatic acumen when it stepped in where Iraqi and Omani mediating efforts had left off, built on the progress they had made, and then produced results.

In the process, it launched its new status in a region that has historically been a realm of US influence at a time when the US has been preoccupied by other matters and has ceded previously unavailable space to other powers to assert their influence.

China, of course, is keen to ensure its success in this region, which supplies Beijing with 40 per cent of its oil needs and which sits atop the waterways and innumerable investment prospects of a major juncture in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. For China, sponsoring the Saudi-Iranian agreement was a practical way to reaffirm its recently launched initiatives to promote world peace and stability.

If Beijing succeeds in persuading Iran to respond to the international communitys demands regarding its nuclear programme, and if it can lift Iran out of its international isolation and show the world a new and cooperative Iranian face, then China will reap a double victory while bolstering its international status, which is its main aim today.

But Iran must also contend with some difficult questions in order to identify the behavioural changes that it needs to make and the will it needs to summon in order to shape new realities that are in line with the conclusions China has drawn.

The Iranian state is founded in essence on acquisition and hegemony. A realistic change in strategic outlook is needed in order for it to turn over a new leaf. This change needs to start with a totally new formula for the linkage between Tehran and its militias in other countries in the region in order to create the environment for lasting solutions to hotspots of tension and instability.

This is an area that will be a major testing ground for the Iranian-Saudi agreement. The results will either confirm that Iran is serious about the agreement or they will reveal that Iran has seized upon it as a temporary measure to break its international isolation or deflect some of the stress of its current political and economic crisis.

If the agreement is truly to become a watershed in Middle East diplomacy, there must be a peaceful solution to the Yemeni conflict that has ravaged that country and that Iran has used to inflict harm on its Gulf neighbours. If Iran does not cause the Houthis in Yemen unequivocally to renounce the military option, relinquish their wartime gains, and engage in a participatory political process with other Yemeni stakeholders, Saudi Arabia will not move forward in implementing the Iranian-Saudi agreement and achieving its aims.

Syria presents a similar situation, although other non-Iranian parties are involved there too. It has been obvious to many countries in the region that at various points during the Syria crisis Iran has exerted no small amount of political and moral pressure on the Syrian government to keep it from returning to the Arab fold.

Although diplomatic relations have been restored in some cases, these remain purely formal. Syrias Arab role and the active partnerships that the Arab countries once had inside Syria have not been revitalised. Iran believes that this is legitimate payment for its efforts in protecting and stabilising the Syrian regime, something it always mentions in its talks with the Russians and the Turks over Syrias future. Can Tehran now overcome this conviction in the interest of promoting a settlement process that would give the Syrian government the freedom and independence to determine and forge its own future?

The crises in Iraq and Lebanon have their own particular features, but Iran is a key factor in both of them as well. Tehran needs to engage in a process of deep introspection with regard to its presence and methods in these countries. In the process, it will have to come up with clear answers to questions that could cause the Iranian-Saudi agreement to flounder on the shoals of ambiguity and contentious interpretations and the doubts and suspicions these raise.

* The writer is the general director of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS).

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 March, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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On Wednesday, workers at the Rockridge Trader Joes in Oakland marched through displays of organic mints, blooming daisy planters and fair trade chocolate bars to present their manager with a declaration of their intent to unionize. If the stores 148 workers succeed in joining the national Trader Joes Union, it will follow similar efforts at locations in Massachusetts, Kentucky and Minnesota.

With its quirky Polynesian-inspired vibe, shops built from sustainably sourced cedar, penchant for setting up in trendy, gentrifying neighborhoods and its diverse selection of GMO-free, on-trend food, Trader Joes seems like an inevitable pit stop for millennial urbanites  especially the liberal ones. I cant even count the number of potlucks and parties Ive been to where Trader Joes-branded organic gummy candies and guacamole-flavored chips commanded the center table. When I have to get on a long flight or head on a road trip, I habitually stop at Trader Joes to stock up on big bags of spicy almonds to perk up the experience.

In practice, this is generic, store brand stuff, which normally has the same amount of prestige as Muzak in American consumer culture. But Trader Joes is one of the few grocery stores with house-branded products that inspire endless fan pages, listicles and breathless news stories that Krogers fruit rings cereal could never.

Like Elvira and Gangnam Style, Trader Joes products, its wholesome and friendly employee interactions and its exaggerated tiki-adjacent aesthetic fully lean into the liminal space between corny and chic  otherwise known as camp. Its a little silly and ironic to show off your Trader Joes spread at the party; youre fun and unpretentious, unlike those snooty Whole Foods bitches.

Accordingly, recent polls have cast the Monrovia (Los Angeles County)-based grocer as one of the most well-regarded brands in the country. Among more than 33,000 Americans surveyed in an Axios and Harris Poll in 2022, the grocery chain rated exceptionally high in public perception of its trustworthiness, ethics and culture.

Stories from Rockridge, however, fly in the face of all that.

Workers allege safety issues, a lack of wage transparency, unfair disciplinary practices and cuts to benefits. A worker at the Rockridge Trader Joes told the Los Angeles Times that one reason for the union push was managements mishandling of a rat infestation that had employees spending part of their shifts cleaning up rat feces in the store. In 2021, the company downgraded its guaranteed retirement plan contributions from 15.4% to zero, according to documents provided to me by Maeg Yosef, an 18-year Trader Joes worker at the unionized Massachusetts store and the unions communications director.

Despite being lauded as heroes during the beginning of the pandemic, frontline workers performing essential labor faced a hostile and sometimes violent public, higher risks of coronavirus infection and increased workloads. Trader Joes recently came under fire for ending pandemic hazard pay at one Oakland store but maintaining it at another just three miles away.

Grocery stores like Trader Joes are a totally banal part of American life that also succinctly captures everything thats wrong with it. In The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket, author Benjamin Lorr describes the compounding human and environmental sorrows concentrated into every apple and every sweaty filet of fish that our eyes alight upon at our local market. The supermarket is a carefully constructed vision of abundance, complete with brightly colored and Polynesian-accented polo shirts in Trader Joes case.

When the focus is on the products, you dont notice the people putting them on the shelves.

In a section about the founding of Trader Joes, Lorr describes the target audience of the grocer as the overeducated, underpaid, and inquisitive; the customer who understands and cares for the world foremost by understanding and caring for themselves.

If you feel personally victimized by Lorrs statement, now would be a good time to disprove it. How?

Unionizing Trader Joes workers arent asking for a boycott  yet.

We still want customers to come into the stores, visit us, shop  and let management know how happy theyll be to shop in a union store, Yosef says.

Talking with staff is already part of the Trader Joes experience, so make asking about worker treatment part of your routine. Managers always hang out in that little open office by the registers, making them easy to approach with concerns. If youre nervous, think about every time youve spoken up about a product you liked that was discontinued; but in this case, pretend the discontinued thing was workers rights and retirement benefits.

Were in this moment when the federal government and, frankly, many in the public, would prefer to roll back the clock to February 2020, a time before we joined together to support large-scale public health initiatives and anti-poverty funding, and before the spotlight was put on the low-wage restaurant and grocery store labor that sustains many of us.

Thats a lot of toothpaste that were trying to stuff back into the tube.

According to a Bloomberg Second Measure report, Trader Joes grew 14% from July 2021 to July 2022. From a purely economic standpoint, it seems rational for workers, especially those who helped ferry their stores through the often-violent storms of pandemic panic-buying and masking conflicts, to use this moment to press for better conditions.

And for shoppers to support them.

Supermarkets in the 21st century excel at training us to be political bystanders, redirecting our desire to do good into the agonizing and ultimately useless task of choosing our favorite among 100 kinds of toothpaste. Stores like Trader Joes are handmaids to this idea that we are what we buy, making us feel good and smart while workers hurry to sweep up rat feces behind our backs. The conditions of the pandemic forced us to think about the many people who make the food system more pleasurable for the few, and we owe it to each other to not forget that lesson.
I am so happy that my two children, who are neurodiverse, attend a San Francisco public school. They joyfully run through the gates to start their school day.

But truth be told, they have nowhere else to go.

Many of my peers send their kids to expensive small-class-size progressive private schools. While that might work for some, it does not for most parents of children with disabilities. After one of my kids was kicked out of private preschool because of their disability, I was done with that discrimination game.

That said, while my family and kids are eternally grateful for the incredibly caring and dedicated teachers and staff at our local public school, students seem to be in constant catch-up mode since the life-saving pandemic closures, and our teachers are in burnout mode.

Heres the problem: The San Francisco Unified School District is woefully underfunded. Schools are short about 600 teachers, hundreds of special educators and about 200 paraeducators  who, by the way, earn a starting salary of about $18 per hour, barely minimum wage. School psychologists have double the recommended caseload and there are not enough substitutes.

This is solvable.

All students should get the high-quality education they are legally entitled to and need to succeed. It doesnt take a genius to figure out why San Francisco has a school staffing crisis: Educators arent paid competitive or livable wages and are plucked by better-paying school districts.

Inclusion is a priority at most San Francisco public schools, for which I am grateful. About 95% of students with individual education plans  a map that lays out the program of special education instruction, support and services kids need to make progress and thrive  spend their time in a general education class.

But San Francisco schools still fall way short of fully funding inclusion. We have to do better.

When there isnt a paraeducator available, things can get unsafe and chaotic. Students who are struggling emotionally or academically rely on them. Paraeducators are lifelines for teachers and students, and without them, the whole class suffers.

When teachers are sick or are away taking necessary professional development training, problems mount. There arent enough substitutes to cover the classes. I have had to pull my kid for safety reasons when there wasnt a well-trained substitute. Thats a lost day of education. Ive also had to chaperone field trips at the last minute because there was no available paraeducator for my child. Ive been called to pick up my child when there is a meltdown because there was no staff available to help. Recently, our special education teacher missed a literacy training for dyslexic students because she had to cover for a sick paraeducator. This training is necessary because up to 20% of any given classroom is dyslexic. The current staff is desperately trying to plug holes.

Enough with this martyrdom model of employment.

The district simply does not have the warm bodies to fulfill its legal, and arguably moral, obligations. Many times, my childs individual education plan has been out of compliance. I could have sued the district to send my kid to a private school for disabled children in Marin County, at a cost to the taxpayer of over $35,000 a year in transportation and tuition.

But I didnt. I dont judge those parents who have. But I still continue to push within our public school system.

I happen to be one of the lucky ones. I am really stubborn, good at navigating systems, networking and researching, and Im a respectful collaborator to ensure my children are as well supported as they can be. But the work of advocating at my school site and the district is the equivalent of a second job. Others in my community have language barriers and socioeconomic situations making it more difficult for them to navigate.

I dont want to create a disability narrative of pity. I am trying to convey a systematic problem that puts an undue burden on educators, students and many parents. The special education community has too many horror stories from parents with children with disabilities. It is a constant struggle to get what their children are entitled to receive by law.

A well-funded school for a child with disabilities isnt all that different than for general education students: There are enough teachers to avert large class sizes, there is a paraeducator in at least every class in the lower grades, enough school psychologists to meet students growing need for mental health services, safe schools that invest infrastructure and time for all educators to collaborate. And, most important, educators are paid competitive wages to recruit and retain them.

Advocacy, begging and cajoling by parents and educators havent worked to fix the staffing shortage and other serious issues. Improvements and long-term investments have to be hammered out in negotiations between the United Educators of San Francisco and the school district.

I write this not for my kids alone, but for everyones child in public school. Too many kids are falling through the cracks.
Given the intensifying criminal investigations into Donald Trump  including his indictment and arrest in New York  many think he might finally pay the price. Some even believe a conviction and jail sentence could prevent Trump from retaking the presidency if he wins next years election.



If only wishing made it so.

Donald Trump isnt going to jail. And the only thing standing between him and the Oval Office is the ballot box.

Trump has, of course, committed numerous offenses, some of which are likely criminal. He deserves to serve time. And the world would be better off if he was forcibly removed from the campaign trail.

But none of that matters. Trump isnt going to jail because the burden on prosecutors to get him there is simply too high. In a little-noticed case in 2020, the Supreme Court held that a unanimous jury verdict is always required to convict someone of a serious crime. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the court, explained that this principle is rooted in the Constitution: This court has repeatedly and over many years recognized that the Sixth Amendment requires unanimity.

For a prosecutor to obtain a conviction, six to 12 jurors (depending on the jurisdiction) must all agree that a defendant is not only guilty but guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a good standard for the broader population: There should be a high bar to convict someone of a crime. But its quite a loophole for a politician with a historically loyal base and a 40% favorability rating. The likelihood, in any trial, that Trump cant nab a single holdout juror  even in the face of obvious guilt  is extremely low.

Sure, jury selection has some safeguards to eliminate biased jurors. Each side, for example, can strike a limited number of potential jurors for any reason. And the judge might exclude those with partisan paper trails on social media. But neither a prosecutor nor a judge can enter the minds of potential jurors and confidently eliminate loyal Trump supporters.

This dynamic often deters prosecutors from charging Trump to begin with. No one wants to go down in history as the schmuck who lost to Trump in court. In New York, for example, prosecutors declined to charge Trump even though his company was convicted for  and his chief financial officer pleaded guilty to  numerous financial crimes. Its hard to fathom a stronger basis on which a prosecutor could pursue white-collar charges. Yet Trump emerged unscathed.

So America finds itself neck-deep in yet another Trump-induced exigency, barreling forward into some nebulous jeopardy, the shape and magnitude of which are unclear. Will Trump be indicted? Will he strike a deal with prosecutors? Will he win the Republican nomination? Hard questions abound. But one conclusion is easy to reach: A unanimous jury of Trumps peers isnt going to convict him of a serious crime.

Donald Trump may soon be on trial, but Americas conscience already has been. Its an alarming commentary on the American polity that Trumps offenses  whether or not they result in a conviction  dont rule out his return to office. In a country that imprisons more people per capita than any other developed nation, the guy who tried to overthrow a presidential election not only walks free but is the front-runner to be the Republican nominee for president.

A few thousand years ago Aesop supposedly made an insightful observation about criminal justice: We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.

Oh, how little has changed.
The parrots of Telegraph Hill have been getting strong support for Official Animal of San Francisco. Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill director Judy Irving and parrot rescue volunteer Sarah Lemarie join Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight to talk about the 20th anniversary of the movie, its restoration and what the flock is up to now.
Salgu Wissmath/The Chronicle

Stabbings at a middle school and on a Muni bus, brawls at Stonestown Galleria. The city and education officials have announced a plan to combat a surge of violence among teens, but will it work?

On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, Sarah Wan of the Community Youth Center of San Francisco joins Cecilia Lei to talk about why these incidents are worrying and whether San Francisco is equipped to tackle the violence.
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Lowell High School is often seen as the crown jewel of San Franciscos public high schools, an academically intense place that sends students to the best colleges and universities. And while its true that Lowell graduates go on to some of the nations top institutions of higher learning, a different San Francisco high school actually sees the highest admissions rate to a University of California campus among the citys public schools.

That honor goes to Mission High, where 90% of seniors who applied to a UC  the top of Californias three-tier public university system  were admitted to at least one, according to a Chronicle data analysis.

Talking to students, its no surprise that the admissions rate is so high.

Mission High School really supports students, said senior Yixi Ou, who moved to the U.S. from China just before the ninth grade.

A new data tool from the Chronicle allows readers to look up any public high school in California and see the percentage of students who apply to a UC and, of those, the percentage who get in. A Chronicle analysis of data from the tool shows that several schools in San Francisco with a higher share of low-income students than Lowell have a higher admissions rate to the prestigious nine-campus UC system.

For instance, at Mission High School, more than half its students (55%) qualify for free or reduced-price meals  much higher than Lowells 27%. Galileo High School and Philip and Sala Burton Academic High School have similarly high rates of low-income students. Yet UC acceptance rates at each of the three schools exceed Lowells rate, including 84% of applicants at Burton and 78% at Galileo, compared with Lowells 74%.

Not only are Mission High seniors admitted to a UC school, theyre getting into the most competitive campuses at higher rates than the average public school.

Among in-state residents, UCLA and Berkeley are the hardest UC campuses to get into, with acceptance rates of 10% and 17%, respectively. Lowells admission rates closely match these statewide numbers, but Missions percentages are notably higher  11 of the 52 students applying to UCLA (21%) and 23 of the 66 applications to Berkeley (35%) were accepted for the 2021 fall semester.

Lowell, however, has far more students applying to the UC system than Mission. Among Lowells 719 seniors, 600 (or 83%) applied to a UC in 2021, compared with 83 of 261 seniors (32%) from Mission High. So while Mission Highs students who do apply are more likely to get in, the number of all Lowell students who are accepted to a UC is much higher.

But even at the schools where more students apply, Black and Latino students arent necessarily admitted at higher rates.

At Lowell, which is predominantly Asian and white, 60 Latino students and 16 Black students applied to a UC. Of those, 38 Latino students and 7 Black students were admitted to at least one UC. At Mission High School, which is predominantly Latino and Black, 42 Latino students and 13 Black students applied to at least one UC. Of those, 40 Latino students and nine Black students were admitted  higher rates and absolute numbers than at Lowell.

The trend holds when looking at the two most selective UC schools  UCLA and UC Berkeley. From Lowell, 35 Latino students and 15 Black students applied to UCLA. Fewer than three students in each group got in. But at Mission, 23 Latino students and 10 Black students applied. Four of the Latino students got in, though fewer than three of the Black students did. The data does not give more specific numbers below three to protect students privacy.

For Berkeley, the numbers were similar. From Lowell, 47 Latino students and 12 Black students applied, and seven Latino students, but fewer than three Black students, got in. From Mission, 29 Latino students and 11 Black students applied, and 11 Latino students and 3 Black students got in.

SFUSD did not respond to specific questions about Black and Latino students at Lowell, instead providing a statement outlining their districtwide offerings to help students at every stage, including dedicated college admissions counselors and a range of college prep programs.

At SFUSD we want all of our students to recognize their potential and abilities, and we are dedicated to opening doors for students, particularly those who might not otherwise view themselves as able to go to college, said district spokesperson Laura Dudnick. Our job as a school district is to help students realize their potential and their dreams. We are excited for all of our graduating seniors to pursue continued learning, whether in a four-year college, a local community college, a trade, internship, job or a certificate program.

Additionally, the UC system has a program that guarantees admission to at least one UC to the top 9% of students at each participating California high school, and the overwhelming majority of high schools participate. The program is meant to recognize students who make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

However, the program does not mean that if a top student applies only to UCLA, they are guaranteed admission to UCLA. If a student does not get into any of the UCs they applied to, they are offered a place at another campus where space is available.

Missions success has shown that lower-income high schools can overcome opportunity gaps, experts said.

Economic disruption and inequality creates instability in the lives of young people that create a number of challenges, said John Rogers, the director of UCLAs Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access, who has studied trends in higher education access for years. Low resource schools can do a lot to address some of those challenges, but it really takes a lot of resources.

Thats where Missions approach comes in.

At Mission, counselors stay with a class for all four years, before starting back at ninth grade once a class graduates. That system allows each counselor to get to know the students before they start applying to colleges. While not necessarily unique to Mission, counselors said it helps them get to know the students, their families, strengths and challenges early on.

Were better able to help students find the best fit for them because of those relationships, said 11th-grade counselor Lena Rodriguez.

That also means counselors can help students find things like leadership opportunities and activities that are right for them throughout their high school careers.

Some students might not take those opportunities without a little bit of a push, said counselor Jennifer Soliz, who currently serves the senior class.

Many students at the school are first-generation college students, said ninth-grade counselor Maria Servellon Segovia. Some are also the first generation to even go to high school, especially a high school in the U.S. That means its critical to get families involved and help them see and understand the variety of options available for their children.

Applying to college is a long and complicated process, she said. Getting families involved is a big piece of that.

Beyond that, students are able to drop in at the counseling office, known as the Future Center, at any time, including during lunch and after school, to ask questions or get assistance.

For seniors, theres a class called AVID, specifically designed to help students through the application and financial aid processes, said Dawn Woehl, the counselor for newcomer students, or recently arrived immigrant students. The AVID program is also available at eight other SFUSD high schools, including Lowell, though at Mission, aspects of the AVID program are integrated into required classes for each grade in addition to the optional senior class.

Karen Quartz, director of the UCLA Center for Community Schooling, who studies equity in education, said that many of these strategies  particularly involving families  are key to helping lower-income or first-generation students thrive.

It definitely takes a village to get a young person into college, she said. Its not one program or one reform. Its a real community effort.

According to several Mission students who spoke to The Chronicle, that variety of support made a huge difference.

Senior William Holder-Soto, whose parents are both from Peru, hopes to attend UC Davis or Berkeley. He said that being in the AVID class was incredibly helpful in keeping him on top of his 10 college applications. In addition, he said, teachers and counselors always encouraged him to get involved in any activity he was interested in, as well as challenge himself academically.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Junior year, (applying to college) felt intimidating, he said. But I definitely felt better about it with all of the support here.

His classmate Tuvana Soronzonbold agreed. He was born in South Korea and grew up in Mongolia before moving to the U.S. in 2015.

The counselors definitely made it easier to stay organized during the application process, he said, and counselors and teachers made themselves available for help on essays as much as they could.

For him, that help was essential  he applied to 30 colleges, including California State University schools, UCs and other public and private universities across the country.

Now, he has dreams of studying political science at the University of Pennsylvania, opening his own business and one day running for public office, either in the U.S. or Mongolia.

And critically, the students each described how their counselors and teachers helped them learn about the intricacies of the college admission process  knowledge that is not evenly distributed across social classes, Rogers noted  and strategize about how best to stand out, from deciding which classes to take, which activities to join or start, and how best to tell their own unique stories.

Youre going against everyone in the U.S., Soronzonbold said. But Mission High School students are special and have great stories, and here we learn how to tell those.

The counselors emphasized that their role is to find the right fit for a student, which in many cases isnt a UC. Servellon Segovia, who was the counselor for last years senior class, said that many students opted not to go to a UC for a variety of reasons, many of which had to do with location or financial feasibility.

A previous Chronicle analysis found that Black and Latino students remain underrepresented in the number of accepted students who actually enroll at a UC, because they often opt for more affordable Cal State schools or selective private schools that can offer more scholarships and financial aid.

Ou said that early on, she really didnt know her options outside of the UCs, but working with her counselors showed her the variety of schools available. Now, her top choice is Pomona College, she said.

Theres lots of help for newcomers, she said. It helps students be more confident and comfortable.

Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev
UPDATE: Another rare weather system is headed for California. Heres a timeline of storm impacts

The atmosphere over the Bay Area continues to slowly recover following the onslaught of active weather this week. Winds today are forecast to continue to blow from the northwest, ushering trickles of atmospheric moisture onto Californias shoreline. Residents along the coast and some of the nearby hillsides just off Highway 1 will enjoy brief mist and drizzles throughout Friday and into the weekend as this flow becomes consistent.

Live storm map: See where snow and rain are hitting California and Bay Area

But this flow will also pull in unusually cold nighttime temperatures. Santa Rosa, Napa, Walnut Creek and the inland valleys of the Bay Area will endure northwest winds that will make nights feel more like December than late March. Freezing temperatures will be possible across Northern California, raising concerns that frost could damage crops, including grape vines in Wine Country.

Unusual spring cold

The North Bay is no stranger to cold snaps during the winter, with inland valleys around Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Napa often experiencing the chilliest air in the Bay Area. The same goes for cities east of the Caldecott Tunnel in the San Ramon and Livermore valleys, where the lack of warm winds off San Francisco Bay and the delta leads to a sharp drop in temperatures at night.

But cold snaps in spring are a little less common.

By the end of March, the longer daylight hours often lead to warmer temperatures that dont fall as quickly during the shorter nights. Winds also often begin to blow from the northeast, leading to a drainage effect where their constant, warm flow over the inland valleys keeps nighttime temperatures above 45 degrees, even after some of the heat gained during the day radiates from the ground at night.

Winter-like winds

Instead of the usual northeast winds that blow into the Bay Areas inland valleys this time of year, weather models are calling for cooler, northwest winds throughout Friday and into the weekend.

Baron Lynx

This shift toward northwest winds is thanks to two distant low-pressure systems thousands of miles away that are pushing cold air from as far as Alaska toward California. The air will warm as it approaches the West Coast, but just enough cold air will stream into the Bay Area so that the inland valleys will see nighttime temperatures fall to the mid-30s over the next couple of nights.

The cold snap includes the risk for nighttime lows falling to freezing, particularly in the Sonoma, Napa and Petaluma regions. Sensitive plants, including those in vineyards across the valleys, will be susceptible to frost as temperatures in remote areas of Sonoma and Napa counties could drop to the upper 20s on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Thankfully, daytime temperatures will rebound to the upper 50s and lower 60s this weekend. But the sharp swing between day and night will likely lead to frost watches and warnings in the inland valleys.

Stay tuned for weather alerts and forecast updates at sfchronicle.com.

Weekend Breakdown

San Francisco: Consistent winds are on tap into the weekend across most of the city, but especially in west side neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond districts. Most of Friday and this weekends winds will blow out of the northwest, ranging from 15 to 20 mph over most of the city.

Residents on the west side can look for gusts up to 40 mph by Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Exposed hillsides in Twin Peaks, Bernal Heights and Diamond Heights are slated for gusts up to 35 mph, while most residents east of Sutro Tower can expect lighter winds gusting to 15 mph at times. The exception will be those in high-rises in downtown, where some of the tallest buildings in the city will get in on some of the gusty winds  up to 40 mph on rooftops above six stories.

These winds are forecast to peak around Saturday and Sunday, and their northwest flow will cool off most of the city, keeping daytime temperatures in the mid-50s on the west side and upper 50s east of Sutro Tower. Some of the warmest spots this weekend will be around Dolores Park, where temperatures are expected to get two degrees shy of the 60-degree mark by Saturday and Sunday. But keep your winter coat handy because cold air off this flow will knock nighttime temperatures down to the upper 30s and lower 40s in Noe Valley and Glen Park.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Breezy northwest inds are slated for Friday and into the weekend across much of the coastline along Highway 1 between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay and the San Bruno Gap. Winds will pick up every morning, climbing to 20 mph by afternoon. The gustiest winds are forecast to roll in between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily, cranking up to 40 mph around Half Moon Bay and and 35 mph across most of the San Bruno Gap including Daly City, Millbrae and the vicinity around San Francisco International Airport. Winds are forecast to be lighter as you head south of San Mateo and into Redwood City, Foster City and Atherton, gusting to 25 mph.

These cool, northwest winds will keep daytime highs this weekend from rising above the mid-50s along the coast and San Bruno Gap, while residents along the 101 and I-280 corridors south of San Mateo can look forward to upper 50s this weekend.

Winds will ramp down every night, dropping nighttime temperatures to the lower 40s across most of the Peninsula, while a few upper 30s will be possible along the foothills on the 280 corridor, including San Andreas Lake, Woodside, Emerald Hills and West Menlo Park.

North Bay: Breezy northwest winds are on tap for Friday and this weekend along the shoreline of Sonoma and Marin counties, with residents around Point Reyes and Bodega Bay facing gusts up to 50 mph at times. Much calmer winds are expected in the Marin Headlands and the Sonoma County mountains, where gusts will generally range between 25 and 30 mph. Winds are forecast to be even lighter as you head toward Marin Countys Banana Belt  Novato, San Rafael and Mill Valley  and the Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Napa valleys. Most gusts in the inland valleys and along San Pablo Bay should be under 25 mph, though occasional afternoon gusts to 30 mph will be possible, particularly for the delta region around Fairfield and up toward Vacaville.

Daytime temperatures will generally reach the upper 50s along the coast, bays and delta regions thanks to the northwest winds. Wind-sheltered valleys farther inland will see their temperatures climb to the lower 60s, including cities like Santa Rosa and Napa.

Weather models are forecasting this weekends nighttime temperatures along San Pablo Bay to fall to the lower 40s. Calmer winds in the inland valleys will allow temperatures to fall overnight into the 30s. Frost is likely along the highlands of Sonoma and Napa counties with lows in the upper 20s in remote corners near Healdsburg, Guerneville and Calistoga. These temperatures will raise concerns about frostbite, especially for unhoused residents and those with limited heating.

East Bay: Big temperature swings between day and night are in store for Alameda and Contra Costa counties Friday and into this weekend as warm, dry air and sunshine raise temperatures to the lower 60s in the San Ramon and Livermore valleys, including Walnut Creek, Dublin and Pleasanton. Residents near the delta in towns like Pittsburg and Concord can expect cooler highs in the upper 50s as a northwest breeze raises 10- to 15-mph winds. A similar trend is on tap in Richmond, Albany and most of the I-80 and I-880 corridors. The Oakland and Berkeley hills are forecast to see a bit more warmth, with weekend highs just a couple degrees shy of 60.

Cold air will drop nighttime temperatures to the lower 40s across most of the region. The exception will be in the inland valleys, where towns like Alamo, Clayton and Ulmar could fall to the upper 30s.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: Residents in the Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz County are in for 30-degree temperature swings between day and night. Sunshine will help ramp temperatures to the upper 50s to lower 60s across Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Los Gatos and San Jose on Friday and into the weekend. This warmth will radiate to the 101 corridor between Morgan Hill and Gilroy, where lower to mid-60s will be possible during the weekend afternoons. A light sea breeze will anchor itself over Monterey Bay, keeping Watsonville, Aptos, Capitola and Soquel closer to the upper 50s all weekend. Some of that breeze will spread north along Highway 17 into the Santa Cruz Mountains, keeping daytime temperatures in Ben Lomond, Felton, Scotts Valley and Pasatiempo in the mid- to upper 50s.

Temperatures will then plunge. Cold air is forecast over most of the region the next couple of nights, falling to the lower 40s on the Santa Cruz coast and in the northern Santa Clara Valley including Milpitas, Mountain View and most neighborhoods north of San Jose International Airport. Inland areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the inland valleys can expect it to be even colder, with weather models signaling temperatures near freezing. This will likely lead to frost across wider swaths of the Santa Clara Valley and some of the higher peaks west of Highway 17. Thankfully, warmer daytime temperatures will help thaw the region through the weekend.
FORECAST UPDATE: What to expect from today's 'extratropical cyclone' and go here to track live storm impacts.

A rapidly intensifying storm off the coast of California brought serious rain, wind and even a tornado last week, leaving a trail of damage throughout the state. Theres no sign of wet weather slowing down, as what will be the 13th atmospheric river-fueled storm is set to arrive in California by Monday.

Live storm map: See where snow and rain are hitting California and Bay Area

Two low-pressure systems off the coast of Hawaii and Alaska will quickly merge into a storm around Sunday, heading toward the West Coast by Monday morning. Weather models forecast that it will then tap into the atmospheric moisture between Hawaii and California  a.k.a. the Pineapple Express  and undergo rapid intensification. The stage is set for another strong March storm thats expected to bring powerful winds, rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms to the Bay Area.

The ingredients for another March storm

Baron Lynx

These mismatched low-pressure systems have been eyeing the West Coast since Wednesday and are forecast to eventually merge off the coast of California and Oregon, becoming a storm by Sunday night. Both systems will introduce two critical weather ingredients that will crank up the impacts once the storm approaches the Bay Area around Monday afternoon.

The low near Alaska is commonly referred to as a polar low and will help usher in the bitter cold nighttime temperatures that are on tap for this weekend and into Monday. The cold air mass it introduces to Northern California over the next several days will create a sharp temperature contrast between sea-surface temperatures and land temperatures. Because low-pressure systems in this part of the world draw their winds from these temperature differences, this system is carrying a lot of convective energy for raising winds and thunderstorms.

However, the polar low alone cant generate any heavy rain and snowfall without having moisture to draw from. But as it turns out, the second low hovering near Hawaii is tapping into plenty of moisture off the Pineapple Express.

Once the two systems merge Sunday night, weather models forecast that both of their strongest traits will create an intense storm off the coast of California.

A timeline of impacts

The storm is then forecast to undergo cyclogenesis, or rapid intensification, as it approaches the Bay Area on Monday afternoon. Like the storm that descended upon the Bay Area and Santa Cruz last week, this means powerful winds could again pose risks to infrastructure in communities that have already been seriously affected by winters storms.

The sea-surface pressure around the storms center will quickly drop, with both the European and American weather models forecasting that its pressure will be around 992 to 996 millibars by the time it gets close to the Sonoma County coastline. For context, the sea-surface pressure on the last storm fell to 984 millibars as its eye went over San Francisco  lower than anticipated with this next system. The lower the sea-surface pressure on a storm, the stronger its winds, so for now weather models are predicting this storm will be a bit less intense.

In general, models are trending away from this storm hosting the same ferocity in the wind and rain impacts that the Bay Area experienced last week. It also means the odds of the system maintaining an eye as it passes over the Bay Area are lower than in the previous storm.

Baron Lynx

That said, its impacts will still be widespread regardless of whether its center makes landfall.

The American weather model, which performed well on the spatial coverage of the winds last week, is forecasting strong wind gusts around the time the storms cold front approaches the Bay Area on Monday night. The consensus between the American and European weather models is that the strongest winds will arrive just after 10 p.m., climbing above 45 mph in most of the region.

Coastal communities and San Franciscos west side are expected to see local gusts over 55 mph as the cold front comes ashore. Some of the higher peaks in the Marin Headlands, the Oakland and Berkeley hills and the west-facing slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains could easily experience gusts that exceed 60 mph from Monday night to Tuesday morning.

Residents east of the Oakland hills and in the South Bay could potentially be spared the worst of these winds, thanks to the natural barriers that the East Bays hills and Santa Cruz Mountains provide.

Winds will then generally begin to ramp down after 1 p.m. Tuesday as the storm drains its convective energy. But its important to note that the European weather model signals a slight chance for the storms winds to last through 4 p.m., which could affect the Tuesday evening commute. For now, its best to expect a windy Monday night and Tuesday, with calmer conditions expected to arrive after Tuesday afternoon.

Baron Lynx

A similar timeline for its rain potential is on tap for the Bay Area.

As the winds pick up around the Bay Area on Monday night, so too will the rainfall rates. Both the European and American weather models are still honing in on some of the details for the overall rainfall totals, but the consensus is that the heaviest rain bands will arrive with the rush of strong winds after 10 p.m. Monday and last through 1 p.m. Tuesday. These rain bands will be intermittent, meaning that heavier downpours will be inconsistent across the Bay Area and generally fall closer to the coastline and along San Francisco Bay and the delta.

For now, its looking like most of the Bay Area will get anywhere from half an inch of rain to up to 3 inches of rain possible in the Marin Headlands, Sonoma County mountains and the west and south-facing portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

But some of these showers may not completely fizzle away after the storm leaves. Similar to what happened after last weeks storm, weather models are signaling that there could be some residual showers into Wednesday morning on some of the hillsides. This would raise an additional half an inch of rain to the overall totals.

Thankfully, most of those residual showers are likely to be weak and pose minimal risks to Bay Area residents.

All in all, Monday and Tuesday are shaping up to be another stormy time across a rain-soaked Northern California. Its best to plan ahead and prepare for rounds of local flooding, tree limb damage and the risk of power failures  similar to what we have already seen in this historic wet season.
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb kicked off the second season of his Ramadan TV programme Al-Imam El-Tayyeb on Thursday with a focus on womens rights.

The second season of Al-Imam El-Tayyeb will be broadcast by several local and Arab TV channels throughout the holy month.

Egyptian states TV Channel 1 and Al Hayah TV Network will broadcast the programme daily at 5:30pm and 2:25pm respectively, while Abu Dhabi TV will screen it at 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi time.

The topic of the episodes in this blessed month will revolve around womens rights in Sharia (Islamic law) and among other issues, El-Tayyeb, the head of the world's leading Sunni Islamic institution, said in the first episode.

He added that misrepresentations of Islams view of women are based on sophistical objections that stem from western agendas, cunning plans and money earmarked to portray Islam in an ugly image.

The programme will refute misrepresentations surrounding Islams view of women.

It will also debunk attitudes and traditions that undermine womens rights, which are mistakenly believed by some as part of Sharia, Sout Al-Azhar newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The grand imam will also highlight how Islam honoured women and how the religions philosophy is focused on building gender equality

El-Tayyeb is known globally for promoting tolerance and coexistence among people of different religions.

In 2019, he and the Vatican's Pope Francis signed the Document of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together with the aim of advancing this goal.

El-Tayyeb has served as grand imam of Al-Azhar since 2010 and is also the chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders.

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Two former Marin classmates, Finnegan Elder and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, have won their appeal to get another trial in the killing of an Italian police officer in 2019.

Heres what that means for the Bay Area pair as they start another legal battle abroad:

What happened that night in Rome in July 2019?

How July 26, 2019, unfolded depends on whom you talk to. Neither the prosecutors nor the defendants dispute that Elder and Natale-Hjorth tried to buy cocaine from a local dealer in Trastevere, a nightlife district in Rome. According to police, Elder and Natale-Hjorth got upset when the man who showed up for the drug deal didn't give them the cocaine. In retaliation, they allegedly stole the man's backpack and demanded 100 euros and a gram of cocaine to get it back. Unbeknownst to them, the man was a Carabinieri informant; he then told police he'd been robbed.

The informant arranged to meet back up with the Bay Area teens. At that meeting, around 2:30 a.m., two plainclothes police officers  Carabinieri Deputy Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega and Andrea Varriale  arrived. Here is where the stories vastly deviate.

Police and prosecutors say the officers identified themselves as law enforcement and showed their badges but were attacked "immediately" by the teens. Lawyers for Elder and Natale-Hjorth say the officers did not identify themselves as such, and the fatal scuffle was an act of self-defense by Elder.

TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images

"We are absolutely certain that the two boys  especially Finn, who doesnt speak a word of Italian  had no idea that they were policemen," one lawyer for Elder told the New York Times in 2020.

The pair were found in their hotel room several hours after the incident. Police say they found the murder weapon hidden above a ceiling panel in the room.

How do Elder and Natale-Hjorth know each other?

Although it was initially reported the pair were good friends  they both graduated from Tamalpais High in Mill Valley in 2018  Gabriel's father, Fabrizio Natale, walked that back a bit in an interview. According to him, they were not close friends but instead a pair of former classmates who happened to be in Italy at the same time.

Natale-Hjorth was born in Italy and moved to the United States as a boy; he holds dual citizenship and took trips to Italy each summer.

What happened at their first trial?

In May 2021, Elder and Natale-Hjorth were sentenced to life in prison for killing Cerciello Rega. Although Elder is the only one who stabbed the officer, Italian law punishes accomplices equally in murder cases.

In March 2022, an Italian court upheld their murder convictions but reduced their life sentences to 24 years for Elder and 22 for Natale-Hjorth. If they end up serving their full sentences, they wont be released from Italys prison system until they are in their 40s. There is no death penalty in Italy.

REMO CASILLI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

What did the appeals court recently rule?

The pairs appeal made it all the way to the Court of Cassation, Italys highest and last appeals court. On March 16, five judges heard six hours of testimony and arguments from the prosecution and defense. At the end of the day, they ruled Elder and Natale-Hjorth are entitled to a new trial. The Court of Cassation did not overturn the guilty verdicts, but its ruling for the defense means it found possible errors in the original trial. The court did not detail the discrepancies but is expected to in the next few weeks.

Whats next?

The Court of Cassation judges have ordered the court in the pairs new trial to focus on Natale-Hjorths role as an accomplice and on the aggravating circumstances of attacking a police officer in Elders case.

The court acknowledged what weve been saying from the beginning, that there were a series of questions about whether or not he knew that Cerciello Rega was a carabiniere, Roberto Capra, one of Elders lawyers, told reporters last week. Now that will have to be clarified in a new trial.

Its not yet clear when the men will be back in court. While they await their new trial, they remain incarcerated.
The Senegalese opposition kept up the pressure on the government on Friday, calling for fresh protests over the high-stakes trial of one of its leaders.

Violence has flared in several cities since Ousmane Sonko's defamation trial opened on March 16, a case that could make him ineligible to contest next year's presidential elections.

The Yewwi Askan Wi coalition, whose name means "Liberate the People" in the local Wolof language, called for protests in Dakar next Wednesday and throughout the country on April 3.

The opposition is demanding "the release as soon as possible of all political detainees" and calling for support for Sonko, whose trial continues.

Senegal's President Macky Sall asked the government on Wednesday to take measures to "preserve public order" after the protests over the trial left at least one person dead.

A conviction for Sonko in this, or a separate rape case that has not gone to court, could prevent him from contesting next year's presidential election.

Sall has denied Sonko's accusation that the judiciary is being used to sideline him from the vote.

Protests and clashes have occurred in several towns. Many activists of Sonko's party have been arrested and some jailed.

Sonko is being tried for allegedly defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang, a member of President Sall's party.

The opposition leader has been receiving medical treatment since he was allegedly sprayed with tear gas and manhandled last week as authorities escorted him to a courthouse.

The next hearing in Sonko's trial has been postponed until March 30.

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When local librarian Myles Cooper went for his usual swim in San Franciscos Aquatic Park on Thursday, he felt something strange  and large  brush up against his legs.

As a member of the historic South End Rowing Club, Cooper was well aware of the many harbor seals that likely swam beneath him in the bays murky blue waters. After all, they do bump swimmers every once in a while just with their snout as kind of a curious gesture, he told SFGATE. They're very friendly.

He just didnt expect one of these doe-eyed, 285-pound mammals to bite both of his legs and send him to the hospital.

I think it wanted to play, he told SFGATE over the phone.

It kind of felt like roughhousing with a dog.

At first, the bites on his ankles didnt seem too worrisome: The teeth marks were faint, and as long as the skin wasnt broken, he wouldnt have to seek treatment. But as the day went on, they started to ooze a clear liquid that clung to his socks. And that's why I had to go to the hospital to get antibiotics, because pinnipeds have a certain bacteria in their mouth that doesn't jive with our land-mammal status, he said.

One such bacteria is Mycoplasma phocacerebrale.

For hundreds of years, fishers long feared contracting seal finger: an elusive skin infection thats transmitted through seal bites, seal meat and seal pelts, according to the National Library of Medicine. Before the widespread use of antibiotics like tetracycline, unlucky fishers would have no choice but to amputate their fingers. It wasnt until 1991 that scientists finally identified Mycoplasma as the invisible culprit behind these deadly infections. Though the disease rarely affects everyday people, its a common affliction among biologists, veterinarians and scuba divers.

Experts with the Marine Mammal Center say theyve worked closely with local swim clubs to raise awareness about the shared natural environment.

Although infrequent, this is not something that is new to the area, as there have been sporadic incidents of harbor seals bumping and biting swimmers in years past, Giancarlo Rulli, the Marine Mammal Centers public relations manager, told SFGATE. Its important to remember that California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals regularly frequent these waters and that the bay serves as their home  Aquatic Park is adjacent to an active feeding channel just beyond the pier.

In 2018, a member of the South End Rowing Club was reportedly bitten by a sea lion in Aquatic Park, marking the fourth incident in about a month.

Thanks to modern medicine, Cooper was able to receive treatment and leave the hospital an hour later. Its not stopping him from going back into the water, either. You're in touch with nature. You see native animals. You see birds. You see marine mammals, he said.

It's good for my mental health.
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ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece on Friday welcomed the return of ancient artifacts from the Acropolis, furthering a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures taken from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni led a ceremony Friday for the repatriation of three sculpture fragments  representing a horse and two male heads  from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis which had been kept at the Vatican Museums.

Initiatives like these show the way, how the pieces of the Parthenon can be reunited, healing the wounds caused by barbaric hands so many years ago, Mendoni said.

This takes us to the just and moral demand of the entire Greek people, and of this government and its prime minister, for the final return of all the sculptures of the Parthenon. The fragments will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in the center of the Greek capital.

Mendoni said Greece would be willing to lend the British museum ancient Greek artifacts for exhibition to fill the gap" if the marbles were returned.

Greece cannot recognize possession and ownership by the British Museum because it considers the sculptures to be there as a product of theft, she said.

The Vatican called the return an ecumenical donation to Greeces Orthodox Church, but the gesture added pressure on the London museum to reach a settlement with Greece following a campaign launched by Athens 40 years ago.

This act by Pope Francis is of historical significance and has a positive impact on all levels  We hope it sets an example for others, the leader of Greeces Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II, said.

Greece argues that the Parthenon sculptures are at the core of its ancient heritage, while supporters of the British Museum maintain that their return could undermine museum collections and cultural diversity globally.

Carved in the 5th century BC, the sculptures from the Parthenon were taken in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin before Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Culture Ministry officials in Greece have played down remarks made last month by British Museum chair George Osborne that the U.K. and Greece were working on an arrangement to display the Parthenon Marbles in both London and Athens.

Last year another marble sculptural fragment from the Parthenon temple  depicting a foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis  was returned to Athens from a museum in Palermo, Sicily.

Bishop Brian Farrell, a Vatican secretary for promoting Christian unity, headed the visiting delegation to Athens and said the return of the three fragments from the Vatican had been discussed during a visit to Athens by Pope Francis in 2021.

The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon which had been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece, Farrell said.

We assure you of our intimate joy at the realization of your legitimate wish to have the ... fragments at home in their place of origin, he added.
Impossible Foods has issued a voluntary recall after the Bay Area-based company discovered one of its popular products contained pieces of wood.

The plant-based company issued a recall on March 17, after small pieces of wood were found in some frozen Impossible Chicken Nuggets products produced between Oct. 20, 2022, and Nov. 23, 2022, according to a press release.

"While this issue has affected less than 0.000005% of total packages of this particular product, this is simply unacceptable given that consumers and customers place their trust in us with every purchase of Impossible Foods they make," the press release read in part. "Once we identified the issue, we immediately contacted the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to alert them and indicate that we would be issuing a voluntary recall."

In addition to the Impossible Chicken Nuggets recall, the business has also preemptively pulled Impossible Wild Nuggies, its kid-friendly nugget spinoff, that were produced during the same time period, an Impossible Foods spokesperson told SFGATE via email. "No issues were found with the product," the spokesperson said, and no other Impossible Foods products were recalled in the process.

"Retailers have confirmed that the recalled lots of chicken nuggets have now been fully removed from store shelves and all product available for purchase was manufactured after the recall dates," the spokesperson added.

Customers who purchased Impossible Chicken Nuggets within the recall date period are eligible for Impossible Foods coupons.

Impossible Foods has been in headlines recently after speculation last month that Impossible Foods would be the next tech company to issue layoffs. The rumors proved to be true: Earlier this month, Impossible Foods laid off 132 workers at its Redwood City office, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
Taking BART might feel a little different starting next week, as the agency plans to nearly double the number of police officers on trains in response to recent complaints of heightened crime. BART also announced it is cracking down on fare evasion with a plan to spend $90 million on updated fare gates inside stations.

The agency announced its plans to increase police presence in February, stating that the move comes after riders expressed concerns regarding safety and quality-of-life issues. An additional eight to 10 officers will patrol trains per shift starting March 27, with BART shifting some officers from vehicle patrols or special assignments like the K-9 unit to the new assignment.

According to recent BART police data, incidents of crime within the system have steadily risen since 2021. Use of force from BART police also rose, from 244 instances in 2021 to 285 in 2022. As of January, 27 use-of-force incidents had been recorded this year.

BART's Police Citizen Review Board (BPCRB), which was established after the 2009 killing of Oscar Grant at the hands of a BART police officer, told SFGATE that it is closely monitoring the redeployment of more officers onboard trains. "We hope this change will have a positive impact for our riders. We hear from constituents that they are afraid to take the service, especially late at night, and we are hopeful that the redeployment will address these concerns in a positive way," Erin Armstrong, chair of the BPCRB, said to SFGATE via email.

Armstrong added that the board hopes the redeployment of officers from car patrols to train patrols doesn't impact how fast officers are able to respond to incidents.

"For example, if the trains are halted due to an emergency or police activity, it is often the car patrols that are able to respond to the station the quickest, so we want to make sure that shifting officers from car patrol to train patrol doesn't inadvertently impact response time," Armstrong said.

The increased number of armed police officers will add to the continued presence of BART's unarmed support staff, including ambassadors, crisis intervention specialists and fare inspectors, the agency wrote in a press release.

BART also announced this week plans to install new fare gates systemwide in an effort to curb fare evasion. BART police data shows that only 68 fare evasion citations were recorded in January, compared with 113 in December and 213 in September. Before the pandemic, fare evasion numbers often reached 400 per month.

While the design for the new gates hasn't been finalized, the agency said they will feature "clear swing barriers that will be very difficult to be pushed through, jumped over, or maneuvered under," ridding BART stations of the orange plastic fins riders are accustomed to. The new gates will also come with 3-D sensors that can detect whether someone is in a wheelchair or carrying luggage or a stroller and adjust how long their barriers remain open accordingly.

The new gates' hefty price tag is being paid for with the agency's capital budget, BART spokesperson Alicia Trost said. This is separate from its operating budget, which has been experiencing annual budget deficits of $300 million due to a loss of ridership. BART also secured money for the project from federal, state and county transportation agency funds, along with funding from grants and ballot measures that call for the replacement of fare gates.

"Fare gates play an important role in collecting revenue for BART and the current gates are very old, require significant maintenance, and they need updating. We get frequent complaints from riders about fare gates. Everything from how easy they are to jump over to gates not working or the current design not being friendly to those bringing bikes and strollers into the system," Trost told SFGATE in an email.

The new fare gates are expected to be installed in all stations by 2026, which is when the agency expects all designing, testing and installation to be completed.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 12:55 p.m., March 24, to include additional information about BART's budget.
The labyrinth that once perched on a point in San Franciscos Lands End was unmatched. With mostly sheer drops down to the water on three sides, it boasted vistas of both Golden Gates  the bridge and the mouth of the bay.

Over the 17 years the unique site held the space, countless blogs couldnt help covering it. This includes an entry in the internets all-time compendium of the curious and wonderful, Atlas Obscura, which describes it as a winding path built in secret on the edge of the continent  and permanently closed. The labyrinth was taken apart, then rebuilt, and then taken apart again. Eventually, it just didnt reappear.

Kendra Smith/SFGATE

Even though I visited that labyrinth only a handful of times, as a resident of a nearby neighborhood, I appreciated knowing it was there if I ever needed it. While labyrinths may have originally been created to trap malevolent spirits (or to use as actual traps), over thousands of years, they've been converted into places for quieting the mind. And as we approached the two-year anniversary of the Lands End labyrinths demise  not to mention three-plus years of global strife  I decided I really needed another labyrinth in my life.

Fortunately, the Bay Area has no shortage of labyrinths. We seem to be some sort of hotbed for not just labyrinth seekers, as one woman I met on my personal maze quest described herself, but also labyrinth supporters and creators. The Worldwide Labyrinth Locator (its a thing!) counts 19 labyrinths in San Francisco alone. These miniature spiritual journeys crop up at our hospitals (CPMC Pacific Heights), churches (Nob Hills Grace Cathedral has two) and parks.

Kendra Smith/SFGATE

Of course, I wasnt looking for just any labyrinth. I knew I might not find one that matched the one at Lands End, but I hoped I could get close. After visiting a couple of less satisfying turf labyrinths in Oakland and Fairfax, I found myself pursuing a rumor in the Marin Headlands. Supposedly there was a labyrinth here, on a point above the sea, from which you could see back to San Francisco through the mist. Maybe not a match for the Lands End labyrinth, but a fraternal twin at the very least.

I found the trailhead at the end of Mitchell Road. To my left, surfers bobbed and glided on the rolling waves of Rodeo Beach. To my right were rolling green hills that hid a few derelict military buildings. The landscapes rocky outcroppings made me think of Led Zeppelins "Misty Mountain Hop"  or Tolkiens "Lord of the Rings," the song's likely inspiration.

Kendra Smith/SFGATE Kendra Smith/SFGATE Kendra Smith/SFGATE

I made my way up a paved path and then veered left onto the pedestrian trail, which is shielded from steep cliffs by wooden fences dotted with lichen and moss. A cottontail bunny ran across the trail to hide from me in the ice plant and sage. At a fork, I followed a wide unmarked path left rather than the signs pointing right toward the Coastal Trail. My route hugged the shoreline until it crossed a seasonal drainage where the recent rain had turned the path into a puddle.

After a sharp left turn through the ruins of a metal fence, I could see something ahead on a cleared section of ground jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. I sped up my stroll, making my way through some low-growing cedars. I hoped I would find the labyrinth on the other side. So far, the hike couldnt have been more than a mile, and after any early short climb, it was pretty flat.

Through the trees, I was greeted with a view of the town of Muir Beach and a sliver of sand below. Making my way out to the point, I once again found myself surrounded on three sides by water, a classic spiritual maze made of stone set before me.

Kendra Smith/SFGATE

This is Tennessee Point. Its a peaceful place. A light breeze was blowing, and a buoy gently bobbed in the ocean, its ringing bell punctuating the sounds of crashing waves and birds singing. The aftermath of all that rainwater pleasantly trickled down the sheer cliffs behind me, adding another soothing sound to the mix.

The labyrinth is neat and well-crafted. It cleverly leads you inward and then away, inward and then away, closer and closer until you finally reach the center. This is often the most charming part of a labyrinth visit  the offerings in the middle. While sometimes you just find daypack trash like orange peels, other times there are more interesting leave-behinds.

Kendra Smith/SFGATE

The center of the Tennessee Point labyrinth that day included a crayon-shaped pencil top eraser, a pink hair tie, an orange woven bracelet, a penny, two house keys, a few painted rocks (one of which read, Oscar is here), some litter, mussel shells, and a tiny doll man wearing a smoking jacket and tie. Natural materials were lovingly placed: bits of trees, plucked sour grass and ice plants. I also found a puka shell under a rock.

From the center of the labyrinth, the Pacific Ocean stretched out before me vast and gray-blue. Some people say you can see the Farallon Islands from here on a clear day. All I saw were a few boats. But Bolinas Point wrapped one arm around me to the north, and Lands End, Fort Funston and Point San Pedro hugged me gently from the south. No one else was around  just the land. I knew I would come back.

Kendra Smith/SFGATE

I exchanged emails with the National Park Service about the Tennessee Point and Lands Ends labyrinths, as both are on its property. While NPS doesnt encourage or maintain these structures, it was not responsible for the removal of the labyrinth at Lands End.

Colleen Yerge, who most recently reconstructed the Lands End labyrinth, told me, Theres no other labyrinth like it. Its such a powerful spot. She estimates she coordinated rebuilds eight or 10 times in the 13 years she was its guardian. After watching it be demolished within weeks the last few times, she stopped organizing rebuilds. I think my time is done, she said.

When we chatted, Yerge encouraged me to find a labyrinth that spoke to me and to tell her about it. Ill have to let her know: I think this may be the one.

Access the Tennessee Point labyrinth from the trailhead at the end of Mitchell Road in the Marin Headlands. The labyrinth is about a mile from the trailhead, and the whole hike should take less than an hour.
A Russian strike on a humanitarian support centre in an eastern Ukraine town killed five people, emergency services said on Friday, as Moscow's forces push to capture the entire industrial Donetsk region.

"The town of Kostyantynivka came under rocket fire during the night of March 24. One of the rockets hit a one-storey building," the emergency services said on Telegram, specifying that three women and two men had died.

The emergency services published images showing a one-storey building with its roof caved in and debris strewn next to it with rescue workers assessing the scene.

It said the victims included "three internally displaced women from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar and Opytne", nearby towns at the centre of the conflict.

Kostyantynivka lies about 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Bakhmut, an industrial city that has seen the longest and bloodiest battle of the invasion.

A statement by the regional prosecutor said the Russian military had fired an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system at Kostyantynivka.

Authorities in the southern region of Kherson, which is partially controlled by Russian forces, said meanwhile that one civilian had been killed by Russian strikes over the past 24 hours.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Now that a Nebraska bill to ban gender-affirming treatments for minors has cleared its first and toughest hurdle, parents and children likely to be affected by the measure are preparing for a legal fight, the American Civil Liberties Union said Friday.

It's discriminatory on the basis of sex, said Jane Seu, policy counsel with the Nebraska ACLU. It also violates the free speech rights of doctors.

The bill  which has led opposing lawmakers to stage an effort to filibuster every bill before the Legislature this session  would outlaw gender-affirming therapies such as hormone treatments, puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgery for those 18 and younger. It would also ban Nebraska doctors from referring minors to other providers  even those in another state  for such treatment.

Republican lawmakers on Thursday advanced the bill from the first of three rounds of debate on a largely party-line vote. But even if enacted this year, opponents say the fight to stop it and other measures targeting the transgender community will shift to federal court, where a nearly identical measure on trans health in Arkansas has already been temporarily shut down. A federal judge has also blocked enforcement of the law in Alabama.

The American Civil Liberties Union is representing the families of transgender youth suing Arkansas over its ban, which was temporarily blocked in 2021 by a federal judge whos considering whether to strike the prohibition down. U.S. District Judge Jay Moody said in his ruling that those suing were likely to succeed on their arguments that the bill is unconstitutional.

The temporary injunction was upheld last year by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which also oversees federal cases in Nebraska.

That could spell legal trouble for the Nebraska bill if it's enacted, as the Nebraska bill is nearly identical to the Arkansas measure, Seu said. The ACLU is focused on defeating the bill before it can become law, but Seu acknowledged that it's preparing for a legal fight on behalf of transgender kids.

We are talking to families, she said. They've been contacting us, because they're scared.

Some of those families testified about that fear during a hearing for the bill last month. That includes Rachel Ogborn, who sobbed as she detailed repeated emergency room trips with her despondent child about the time puberty began.

I'm here today so I don't lose my child, Ogborn said. I know that sounds extreme, but so is this bill.

The care she sought led to therapy and treatment for her child that included testosterone blockers and estrogen.

I went from having a suicidal, depressed, self-harming son who didn't see himself in the future at all, to having a happy, healthy daughter who smiles and talks at the dinner table, she said.

At least seven other states besides Arkansas and Alabama have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah and South Dakota. A proposed ban is pending before West Virginias governor. Nearly two dozen states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban care.
As a logistics planner with the U.S. Air Force, Kassandra Benson deployed to Pakistan, where she worked long days and nights coordinating and troubleshooting special operations troops' equipment and travel needs.

After a year abroad, she returned home. A post-deployment health check at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia showed that her blood pressure was slightly elevated. Otherwise, her health was good.

Benson took a week of leave and flew to Minnesota to visit her family. During her leave, she felt exhausted.

She noticed her calves were swelling, which had never happened before. She thought her body was acclimating to being back from deployment. Her fatigue was also odd for someone so active and fit.

Two months later, at home in Newport News, Virginia, Benson hopped into the shower during Memorial Day weekend to get ready for a barbecue. She started coughing.

After showering, the coughing intensified. She brought up blood and couldn't catch her breath.

"I think I need to go to the emergency room," she told her boyfriend.

At the hospital, tests showed Benson had congestive heart failure. Her heart wasn't efficiently pumping blood. She was coughing because of fluid buildup in her lungs.

She ended up spending a week in the hospital. Doctors performed a cardiac catheterization procedure to get a better look inside her heart. They found no blockages.

A month later, at a follow-up appointment with a new cardiologist, an ultrasound uncovered that she had mitral valve regurgitation. It's a type of heart valve disease where the valve between the left heart chambers doesn't completely close, allowing blood to leak backward into the chamber it just left.

Her doctor gave her medication. She continued to work, despite the fatigue. But over the next few weeks, her body stiffened. She lost weight. Her skin got darker, shinier and tighter. It felt like her body was on fire. It hurt to get out of bed and get dressed. Her fingers started to curl.

"I could barely move," she said. "I thought I was about ready to be lights out."

It was another problem: scleroderma, a connective tissue autoimmune disease. It involves hardening and tightening of the skin and can lead to problems with blood vessels and internal organs. It was unclear whether her heart issue and scleroderma were connected.

Benson had regular doctor's appointments. "I was fearful, mad, upset and confused," she said. Still, she pressed on with work. "I just wanted to keep going. I'm not good at asking for help, I'm good at giving it." Her movements were slow and she was in pain.

Water therapy and riding a stationary bike at physical therapy helped. So did medication. But the skin around her stomach was thickening, which made it difficult to give herself the weekly scleroderma injections she needed. The medicine also made her nauseous and she lost her appetite. Because of the scleroderma, her esophagus was stiff, too.

She worked with a nutritionist to find foods she could digest and keep down. "Smoothies became my friend," she said.

A year after her scleroderma diagnosis, and with her heart condition, Benson retired from the military as a senior master sergeant. She was 44 and had been in the service more than 25 years. She was disappointed because she'd planned to retire after 30 years of active duty. Also, she finished one rank below the highest possible for an enlistee.

Now 55, Benson has learned how to manage her conditions. She plans errands around how she's feeling each day and gets regular exercise. She's found strength in her religion. "Illness will allow you to hear God in ways you never thought of," she said.

Heart problems have mounted. She's developed heart palpitations, an enlarged heart and a slight hardening of her heart muscle from the scleroderma. Last year, she had an ablation procedure to try to normalize an irregular heartbeat. She's also taking medication to keep her blood pressure under control.

Benson has also started volunteering. For the past few years, she's worked as a service officer for a nonprofit that helps fellow disabled veterans. She finds fulfillment in helping veterans and their families get benefits and emergency relief.

"I asked myself, 'How can I still be useful?'" she said, "even if what I do might look different than what I've done before. Volunteering has given me back the ability to still provide for my veteran family."

On her difficult days, Benson leans on her friends. "When she's having a bad day, I'll sit and listen to her," said Francine James, a fellow volunteer. "The veterans, they're very appreciative of her."

While James knows Benson fears having a heart attack, she also sees her friend is grateful for every day. Benson, she said, is dedicated to pushing through her own pain to help others and is proud to be as independent as possible.

"She's a true friend and a dedicated veteran who still goes the extra mile to help other veterans in need," James said.

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SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  A man serving a life sentence for kidnapping and mutilating a marijuana dispensary owner was given an additional sentence Friday for masterminding a daring, elaborate escape from a Southern California jail.

Hossein Nayeri, 44, was sentenced to the maximum of two years and eight months in state prison for the Jan. 22, 2016, escape from the Orange County Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana and for stealing a van while on the run.

Nayeri and two other men used smuggled tools to cut through the half-inch bars on a metal grate in their maximum-security dorm cell, then climbed through plumbing shafts within the walls to reach the roof, where they rappelled down five stories using a rope made of bed linens, according to authorities and a cellphone video shot by Nayeri.

The men then kidnapped a 72-year-old unlicensed tax driver at gunpoint and forced him to drive them away at gunpoint, prosecutors said.

Over five days, the man drove the fugitives around as they fled, stopping at various motels as they took his car and a stolen van hundreds of miles north to San Jose, prosecutors said.

One escapee, Bac Tien Duong, later feared that the driver would be killed and fled with him back to Southern California, authorities said.

Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu were arrested the next day in San Francisco after a man recognized them from media reports, prosecutors said.

The taxi driver testified at Nayeri's trial and credited Duong with saving his life. Nayeri was convicted last week of the jailbreak and stealing the van but acquitted of kidnapping, a charge that carried a potential life sentence.

Duong was convicted of escape and kidnapping in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Tieu is awaiting trial for the escape, prosecutors said.

At the time of his jailbreak, Nayeri was awaiting trial on charges that he and two friends kidnapped, tortured and mutilated a marijuana dispensary owner in 2012. The owner and a woman acquaintance were kidnapped from a Newport Beach home because the robbers falsely believed he had buried $1 million in the Mojave Desert, prosecutors said.

He was beaten with rubber piping, shocked with a Taser, burned with a blowtorch and finally his penis was cut off before the robbers fled, prosecutors said. The money was never found.

Nayeri fled to Iran. But he was later caught in the Czech Republic and extradited. In 2020, he was given two life sentences without the possibility of parole for kidnapping and a consecutive seven-year term for torture.

Nayeris co-defendants also were convicted.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday overturned the murder conviction of a police officer convicted of killing a man who was holding a gun to his own head.

The appellate court ordered a new trial for former Huntsville officer William Ben Darby. The court, in tossing the murder conviction, agreed with Darby's attorney that the trial judge should have given jurors different instructions on evaluating the reasonableness of Darbys use of deadly force in that situation.

Darby's defense attorneys have maintained that the shooting was justified because he feared the man would harm officers.

Darby was sentenced in 2021 to 25 years in prison for the on-duty shooting of Jeffrey Parker in 2018. Darby shot Parker while responding to a call after the man phoned 911 saying he was armed and planned to kill himself.

Trial testimony indicated Darby shot Parker, who was sitting on a sofa holding a gun to his head, within seconds of entering the home. Another officer had been speaking with Parker trying to convince him not to kill himself, according to trial testimony. It would later be determined that Parker was actually holding a flare gun that had been painted black but there is no evidence indicating that any of the officers were aware of that fact, the appellate court wrote.

Video from Darbys body camera showed that the officer entered the home and told Darby to put the gun down before shooting.

Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard told news outlets that they will prosecute the case again.

We have the evidence and certainly well put it before a jury again, Broussard told al.com.

Defense attorney Robert Tuten told WHNT that Darby has maintained he acted correctly.

Ive been very impressed with Bens confidence. He knew he was right. He knew he followed the law as he had been trained to do," Tuten said.
STAMFORD  A Florida man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two robberies at separate Norwalk check cashing locations.

Judge Kevin Randolph sentenced Andres Cuero-Marroquin, 31, to three and a half years in prison during a disposition hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford Wednesday.

The sentence came as a part of an agreement between public defender Benjamin Aponte and Assistant States Attorney Elizabeth Moran.

Under the agreement, Cuero-Marroquin pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree robbery, which stemmed from two unrelated robberies that happened over a three-day period in 2018 in Norwalk.

I would like to apologize for my mistakes, Cuero-Marroquin said before his sentencing.

On Oct. 7, 2018, Cuero-Marroquin robbed a man of $2,300 as the man left a check cashing location on Connecticut Avenue, police wrote in an arrest warrant.

Two days later, Cuero-Marroquin walked into a different check cashing location on Ely Avenue, where he gestured at an employee as if he had a gun then proceeded to rob the cash register, the warrant said. The employee later told police she believed Cuero-Marroquin stole about $2,000, according to the warrant.

Cuero-Marroquin was also facing an attempt to commit first-degree robbery charge at a third check cashing business on East Main Street on Oct. 14, 2018. State prosecutors ultimately elected to nolle the charge.

I would like to ask for forgiveness from the people I have harmed, Cuero-Marroquin told Randolph on Wednesday.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Samuel Putnam, Bowdoin College and Masha A. Gartstein, Washington State University

(THE CONVERSATION) As early as the fifth century, the Greek historian Thucydides contrasted the self-control and stoicism of Spartans with the more indulgent and free-thinking citizens of Athens.

Today, unique behaviors and characteristics seem ingrained in certain cultures.

Italians wildly gesticulate when they talk. Dutch children are notably easygoing and less fussy. Russians rarely smile in public.

As developmental psychologists, were fascinated by these differences, how they take shape and how they get passed along from one generation to the next.

Our 2018 book, Toddlers, Parents and Culture, explored the way a societys values influences the choices parents make  and how this, in turn, influences who their kids become.

The enduring influence of cultural values

Although genetics certainly matter, the way you behave isnt hardwired.

Over the past two decades, researchers have shown how culture can shape your personality.

In 2005, psychologist Robert McCrae and his colleagues were able to document pronounced differences in the personalities of people living in different parts of the world. For example, adults from European cultures tended to be more outgoing and open to new experiences than those from Asian cultures. Within Europe, they found that people from Northern Europe were more conscientious than their peers in Southern Europe.

Recently, we were able to trace some of these differences to early childhood.

Parenting  perhaps not surprisingly  played a role.

To conduct the research for our book, we worked with colleagues from 14 different countries. Our goal was to explore the way broad societal values influenced how parents raise their children. We then studied how these different parenting styles shaped the behavior and personality of kids.

We did this primarily by administering questionnaires to parents around the world, asking them to describe their daily routines, hopes for their kids and methods of discipline. We then asked them to detail the behaviors of their children.

We also relied on the work of Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede, who, in the 1970s, asked IBM employees around the world about factors that led to work satisfaction.

We were able to compare his findings to ours, and we were surprised to see that his results correlated with our own. The cultural values that were revealed through work preferences in the 1970s could be seen in parenting practices and child temperament 40 years later.

This is important: It shows cultural values are relatively enduring, and seem to have an effect on how kids develop over time.

To think about yourself, or to think of others?

Perhaps the most well-known of these broad cultural values are individualism and collectivism.

In some societies, such as the U.S. and Netherlands, people are largely driven by pursuits that benefit themselves. Theyre expected to seek personal recognition and boost their own social or financial status.

In more collectivist societies, such as South Korea and Chile, high value is placed on the well-being of the larger group  typically their family, but also their workplace or country.

We found that the way parents discipline their children is strongly influenced by these social values, and likely serves to perpetuate these values from one generation to the next.

For example, compared to parents in individualist cultures, collectivist parents are much more likely, when reprimanding their kids, to direct them to think about their misbehavior, and how it might negatively impact those around them.

This seems to promote group harmony and prepare a child to thrive in a collectivist society. At the same time, if youre constantly being told to think about how your actions impact others, you might also be more likely to feel anxiety, guilt and shame.

Indeed, weve found that kids in collectivist cultures tend to express higher levels of sadness, fear and discomfort than children growing up in individualist societies.

Free to pursue happiness?

A second set of values we studied was indulgence versus restraint.

Some cultures, such as the U.S., Mexico and Chile, tend to permit and promote self-gratification. Others  like South Korea, Belgium and Russia  encourage restraint in the face of temptation.

These values seem to be connected to a specific set of parenting goals.

In particular, parents in indulgent societies tend to emphasize the importance of developing self-esteem and independence. For example, they expect children to entertain themselves and fall asleep on their own. When one of their kids misbehaves, theyll often suggest ways he or she can make amends and try to repair the damage.

The message kids may get from this kind of treatment is that theyre the ones in control of their happiness, and that they should be able to fix their own mistakes. At the same time, when kids are expected to pursue gratification, they may be more likely to impulsively seek immediate rewards  whether its eating candy before dinner or grabbing a toy off a shelf at a store  before getting permission.

Meanwhile, in societies that prioritize restraint, parents were more likely to shout or swear when disciplining their children.

This might make them more obedient. But it might also cause children to be less optimistic and less likely to enjoy themselves.

Is individualism the future?

Parents seem to be motivated to best prepare their kids for the world theyre likely to inhabit, and what works in one culture might not necessarily work well in another.

But as our world becomes more interconnected, this diversity of parenting approaches may dwindle. In fact, most countries have become more individualistic over the last 50 years  a shift thats most pronounced in countries that have experienced the most economic development.

Nonetheless, theres still a huge difference in parenting styles and childhood development across cultures  a testament to the enduring influence of societal values.

This article has been updated to indicate that Thucydides was a historian, not a philosopher.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-where-youre-born-influences-the-person-you-become-107351.
US Democrats sympathies now lie more with the Palestinians than the Israelis, as they continue to show increasing affinity toward the Palestinians in the Middle East conflict, according to a new Gallup poll.

Gallups annual world affairs poll asked Americans which side they sympathise with more in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The results which were released last week shows that Democrats lean more towards Palestinians than Israelis for the first time since such poll began in 2001.

The poll found that 49 percent of Democrats sympathised with Palestinians and 38 percent with Israelis, an 11-percentage-point increase over the past year.

The most consequential changes in public opinion on this question have occurred in the past five years, as support for the Palestinians has ticked up and support for Israel, as well as ambivalence about the conflict, have each declined," said Lydia Saad, director of US social research at Gallup.

The escalation of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities over the past year, resulting in a high number of Palestinians killed, could partly explain the most recent shift in Democrats perspective, the Gallup said.

Among independents, sympathy toward the Palestinians raised by six points to 32 percent, while 49 percent of them still lean toward the Israelis.

Among US adults as a whole, those favouring Palestinians has risen to a new high of 31 percent.

Meanwhile, the percentage of those not favouring either side has declined to a new low of 15 percent.

As for the Republicans, opinions remained unchanged, with 78 percent sympathising more with the Israelis and 11 percent siding with the Palestinians.

The 54 percent of Americans sympathising more with the Israelis is similar to last years 55 percent but is still the lowest since 2005.

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MIAMI (AP)  A convicted drug trafficker pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court Friday to participating in the assassination of Haitis president in 2021.

Rodolphe Jaar, 50, pleaded guilty in Miami to conspiring to provide material support, providing material support and conspiring to kidnap and kill President Jovenel Moise, according to court records.

Jaar, who is Haitian and Chilean, is the first of 11 defendants charged in the United States to be convicted in the plot. His sentencing is scheduled for June 2.

Dozens have been arrested in Haiti, but the cases are at a virtual standstill amid death threats that have spooked local judges.

Moise was shot 12 times at his private home near Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, on July 7, 2021.

While the assassination occurred in Haiti, prosecutors believe most of the planning and funding occurred in South Florida. Authorities said the original plan was to detain Moise weeks earlier and whisk him to an unidentified location by plane, but that fell through when the suspects couldnt find a plane or sufficient weapons.

According to court documents, Jaar provided weapons, food and lodging for Colombian commandos and others. As part of a deal with prosecutors, Jaar has provided information to help federal agents build stronger cases against the other 10 defendants in U.S. custody.

Jaar was previously convicted of cocaine trafficking in 2013 and sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
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Daya Brown had some extra time on her hands in 2020 while she was stuck at home as a high school sophomore during the coronavirus pandemic and taking classes over Zoom.

Brown, then 15, decided to research which universities she might like to attend when she graduated from Atlanta's Westlake High School in May 2023. She came up with a list of about 70.

When it was time to apply to college as a high school senior, she devoted three hours a day over four months to filling out applications, she said. She also spent a lot of time searching for potential scholarships. Brown said she did not have to pay application fees because many colleges and universities waived them amid the pandemic, and her school counselors helped her to utilize admission price waivers.

Brown said she was astonished when her email inbox began to fill up with offers in September.

Of the 70 schools she'd applied to, she was accepted by 54, including Virginia State University, the University of Maryland, Spelman College, Ohio University, Louisiana State University and Loyola University Chicago. She also received more than $1.3 million in scholarship offers from the 54 schools.

"It was a great feeling, because I put in a lot of hard work," said Brown, now 18 and a senior at Westlake, where she is student body president. "I'm really thankful to be at a stage where I did everything I needed to do to get to the next step in life."

Brown decided to accept a one-year financial aid scholarship from the top choice on her list, Duke University in Durham, N.C., where she said she plans to major in visual and media studies this fall. She is also a finalist for The Gates Scholarship that will be awarded to 300 outstanding minority high school students this summer. If she is awarded that scholarship, she won't need to reapply for additional financial aid scholarships at Duke every year, she said.

After she graduates with her high school class on May 17, she said she has another goal before she moves into a dorm at Duke:

She wants to tell other teens how she did it.

Brown said her story is unusual but not singular - other students have received dozens of college acceptance offers - but she hopes she might have some tips to pass along to help others get a pile of acceptance letters from their top university choices.

Her advice for students is to start early, focus on schools with the top programs for their majors and apply for lots of scholarships, even small ones. There are no shortcuts when doing this kind of research, she said, so it's critical to devote the time and energy to figuring out what's out there.

But most important, she said, applicants should provide college administrators with a good idea of who they are as young people. For Brown, that was a focus on her poetry, her stage performances and her leadership that led her to create both a production company and a podcast for teens.

"I have a great GPA, but I knew that my SAT scores weren't going to be the best and I wouldn't be at the level of many other kids who were applying," Brown explained. "I knew that I had to shift the narrative and focus on my personal story. That's what was key for me, and I think it might be helpful to others, too."

Plans are in the works for her to participate in a free workshop this summer with Fulton County Schools to share tips about her college research and application process, Brown said.

"I want to show that if I can do it, other kids with big dreams can do it, too," she said. "If they're willing to put in the time and take advantage of every resource they can find, they can get it done."

The eldest of two children, she said she picked up good study habits and a strong work ethic from her mother, Farrah Brown, a real estate agent, and her dad, Olujimi Brown, a former preacher who is now a ministry consultant.

"I grew up watching my dad as a public speaker, and my mom is a great role model who taught me the importance of balance in life," she said.

"Teachers at my K through 8 school also set the foundation and the expectation of what a student should be," Brown added. "They introduced me to the world of poetry and debate and helped to shape me as a person."

During her freshman year of high school, she said she initially dreamed about becoming a lawyer. Then a school counselor introduced Brown to Westlake Out Loud, a poetry group where students performed their poems in front of an audience.

"I was the youngest person on the stage, and from the moment I first stepped out there, I realized that I had a voice to empower people," she said. "The words no longer belonged to me - they were meant to heal the world."

She decided instead to focus on her creative side.

In September 2021, Brown started her own Atlanta-based production company, Elom & Co. (Elom is her middle name), to promote poetry, music, art and film created by teens and young adults. She also co-founded a podcast, "The Scholar Social," to provide students of color a place to discuss topics such as race, religion and parental relationships.

Brown said she began contributing poetry and opinion pieces to VOX ATL, an Atlanta nonprofit that posts stories and videos created by teens.

When it came time to send in those 70 college applications last year, Brown said she was hopeful that admissions committees would remember her application among the thousands of others.

"I applied at so many [colleges] because realistically, these schools have a hard acceptance rate," she said. "People from all over the world send in applications, so you want to do whatever you can to make yours stand out."

Her high school principal, Jarvis Adams, said he is grateful for the example Brown has set for other students at Westlake.

"Daya is driven, she knows how to set a schedule, and she's passionate about everything she does," Adams said. "Our entire school community is proud of her. She'll be a phenomenal college student."

Brown's mother said she's happy and relieved that the extra hours she spent with Daya at the kitchen table helping with homework assignments and offering time management tips have paid off.

"I encourage her and her brother to stay grounded in everything they do," Farrah Brown said.

Daya Brown said she decided to attend Duke University this fall because she felt a sense of home when she toured the campus last year.

"It just immediately felt right," she said. "I was welcomed by other Black students who had dreams that were as vivid as my dreams."

"When I came home, I knew it would be my top choice," she said. "The entire time I was there, I didn't have to ask myself, 'Where do I fit in?'"

Her parents and her 11-year-old brother gathered around her in December when she received an email notification about Duke's decision, Brown said.

"I was so nervous and excited that my family had to read it to me," she said. "Confetti popped up in the email, and we all went crazy when we realized I was in. I'll hold on to the feeling of that moment forever."
Many more gun owners are seeking California concealed carry permits, even in blue, coastal counties. Gov. Newsom and Democrats in the Legislature are trying again to limit where weapons are allowed.

By Ben Christopher

CalMatters

Business has been booming for Ziyad "Zip" Showket, a firearms instructor in liberal Marin County -- thanks to six justices on the nation's highest court.

For two decades across four Bay Area counties, Showket has been schooling retired law enforcement officers, mall cops and the rare civilian allowed under local ordinances to carry a concealed handgun. The courses include live fire training; deep discussions about the legal, ethical and psychological consequences of taking a life in self-defense; and practical concerns, such as what to do if you have to pee while armed. (Answer: Skip the urinal and "wait for a stall.")

Up until last year, a typical class, held every other week, would bring in four or five students -- eight, at most. Residents of Marin County, historically one of the toughest places in the state to get a permit, were especially rare. The most from Marin he can recall in a single class: two. "And that was, like, bizarre."

But this was all before June 23, 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York state law that gave officials sweeping discretion over who gets the right to carry a concealed firearm in public.

The ruling also wiped out California's very similar statute, along with those in half a dozen other deep blue states. Practically overnight, county sheriffs and municipal police chiefs -- the officials ultimately responsible for issuing permits -- were required to begin handing them out to anyone who met basic legal requirements.

Those requirements vary slightly by county. But every California applicant must be at least 18 years old, own a registered firearm, pass a criminal background check and complete a safety course run by a certified instructor.

Someone like Showket. Thus, his suddenly very busy schedule.

Since last summer, class sizes have swelled, forcing Showket to hire additional staff. He's doubled his course offerings. Even so, the rest of this month is booked, along with half of April, he said.

The student body has also transformed. Classrooms once dominated by trained security professionals are now filled with engineers, salespeople, electricians and other civilians. Once, there was a chaplain, and Showket alludes coyly to the occasional celebrity. Among the most notable changes: More residents from Marin County.

"In our last class of twelve, every single person was from Marin," he said.

The floodgates open

Last year's court decision marked the most significant undercutting of California's strictest-in-the-nation set of gun laws in at least a generation. For gun rights advocates, the ruling has been a long-awaited reprieve.

But for many Democratic state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom, it has been cause for outrage, alarm and calls to action. They failed to pass a bill last year to limit places where concealed guns can be carried. They're working on a new version this session, though it wouldn't take effect until Jan. 1 at the earliest. Senate Bill 2 is set for its first committee hearing on March 28.

Amidst the legal sea change, the tide hasn't shifted evenly across the state.

In conservative-learning counties, sheriffs were disinclined to subject concealed carry applicants to added restrictions even before 2022. In the national divide between "may issue" states, where permits were issued by discretion, and "shall issue" states, where they were issued by right, gun owners in Shasta, El Dorado and Fresno counties and other parts of rural California effectively resided in the latter.

It was in coastal, Democratic-leaning bigger cities where the right to concealed carry was rarely allowed. According to data released by the state Department of Justice last year, between 2012 and 2021, San Francisco issued a total of 11 permits to civilians. Marin was more permissive, but only slightly so, with 138 permits issued.

That's all but certain to change.

From 2019 to 2021, the Marin County Sheriff's Office received between 9 to 16 applications each year, according to office spokesperson Sgt. Brenton Schneider. Since the Supreme Court decision, the office has received 65. That's probably an undercount: Inundated with applications in the late summer of 2022, the sheriff's office stopped serving the entire county, referring municipal residents to their local police departments.

Before last June, people "knew better than to put an application in Marin," said Showket. Nowadays, he said he opens up most classes by asking: "Who's been waiting their whole life to do this?"

"Everybody raises their hand," he said.

A very long wait

One hundred miles to the south, in the Bay Area suburb of Morgan Hill, John Lissandrello said he'd never truly considered applying for a permit to carry around his 9mm pistol until the court decision.

Like most of the Bay Area, Santa Clara County was a difficult place for the average person to get a permit without showing special need. Lissandrello -- a real estate investor who lives in a safe, "very quiet" exurb south of San Jose -- didn't have one. He was also distantly aware of a pay-to-play scandal in which the former sheriff was eventually convicted of corruption for abusing her discretionary authority over concealed carry permits to award them to her political donors. Last year, a similar scandal emerged in Los Angeles County.

Plus, as a self-described political conservative, Lissandrello said he lacked much faith in either county or state government. "I wasn't about to waste my time trying to apply," he said.

After the court handed down its opinion, he changed his mind, a decision as much about politics as safety. "We're not a big gun family, but as an American patriot, I feel it's my right to have that ability," he said. "I don't even know if I would carry it."

Even so, he paid a fee and sent in his initial application in late January and was ready for the next steps: A criminal background check, an interview with sheriff staff, a psychological assessment and a training course of as long as 16 hours. But he said he never heard back.

Lissandrello is not the only applicant waiting in Santa Clara County. Michael Palmaffy applied for a permit on June 25, just two days after the court's ruling. When he followed up three months later, he was told that the office was "in the process of implementing a software programming system to process and streamline applications," according to an email exchange he shared with CalMatters.

Sgt. Michael Low, a Santa Clara sheriff's spokesperson, confirmed that in February the office began using Permitium, a public records processing service that law enforcement agencies across the state have turned to to process concealed carry weapon applications.

Palmaffy said he was recently told to reapply through the new system. In the meantime, said Low, the office still faces "an extensive backlog of applications."

According to a list of applications provided to CalMatters, it's easy to see why. Between 2014 and June 22, 2022 -- the day before the opinion -- the Santa Clara sheriff's office received a total of just 109 applications.

In the two weeks that followed, it got 132.

At least 450 more have poured in through the end of mid-February. (An additional 202 did not have dates, and the sheriff's office did not provide an explanation for the omission.)

Other coastal counties have seen similar spikes in interest. In Santa Barbara County, the sheriff's department approved 56 permit applications last year compared to just five the year before, according to a spokesperson. In Contra Costa County, the application rate has increased by 10-fold in the months following the decision. As of late last year, the county was sitting on a backlog of "over 1,000 applications," according to a press release. San Francisco went from receiving one or two applications per year to nearly 100 since last June.

For now, at least, the overwhelmed agencies have received a surprisingly sympathetic ear from Chuck Michel. The president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, the state's National Rifle Association chapter, Michel is also a lawyer who regularly challenges the state's restrictive gun regulations. But he cuts some slack to law enforcement officials who lack much experience with the permits.

"I'm trying to be understanding," he said. "Imagine suddenly the DMV had a million more people showing up to renew their license."

"By and large they're doing what they need to do. There's not a lot of policy resistance that I can put my finger on."

Still, he and his legal team are waiting for this wave of applications to be processed, to see who gets denied and for what reason. That will be "the next fight," he said.

More guns, more violence?

The debate over whether more civilians should be allowed to carry guns in public often plays out with both sides claiming to speak for the interest of public safety.

Gun rights advocates often argue that those with concealed carry permits -- disproportionately former law enforcement officers and prosecutors, all subject to background checks -- are less likely than the average person to break the law. Supporters of more restrictions on firearms argue that putting more guns in more hands invariably leads to more violence.

Research suggests that both arguments are likely correct.

A public health study looking at Texas crime statistics found that concealed carry permit holders were significantly less likely to be convicted of a crime than the general population. But the study had an important caveat: Permit holders were actually more likely to be convicted of some specific crimes such as murder and manslaughter.

Research led by Stanford economist John Donohue has found that when states have put less restrictive "shall issue" permitting laws in place, violent crime have tended to increase by roughly 9%.

That isn't primarily driven by trigger-happy license holders, according to Donohue and his fellow researchers. Instead, more guns on the street result in more guns being stolen, which in turn leads to more violent crime.

The increases in crime he saw in the data "were bigger than seemed likely to be caused just by 'the good guys with the guns,'" said Donohue. "And then I started to realize: Wow, the good guys are arming the bad guys by getting their guns lost and stolen."

Another explanation he identified for the increase in violence: More armed civilians leads to less effective policing.

"Gun carrying is like putting a tax on police," Donohue said. "It's just complicating their jobs, making them more cautious."

More guns in more hands may also make them more likely to draw their own firearms. Other research has found that looser concealed carry laws are associated with more "officer-involved shootings."

Rosanna Smart, co-leader of the RAND Corp.'s Gun Policy in America initiative, which assesses research on the effectiveness of different gun laws, said it's unclear how the sudden change in law will affect California specifically. In the past when states have loosened their concealed carry laws, they've done so by choice. California's restrictions are being cracked open by judicial fiat. That could lead to different and unexpected outcomes.

But the bulk of the research points to the same general conclusion, she said: "I do think there's fairly strong evidence that more permissive concealed carry laws...seem to be associated with increased rates of firearm homicide and total homicide."

Sacramento strikes back

As gun owners across California await a fresh opportunity to exercise a newly reasserted right, Democrats in the state Capitol are racing to put guardrails around them.

The bill authored by Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino of Glendale and championed by Gov. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta would standardize the application process across all counties and add a few more restrictions and training requirements. Most consequentially, it would also limit where Californians can carry their concealed weapons.

Among the places on the very lengthy list of gun-free zones: Government and court buildings, health care facilities, bars plus restaurants that serve alcohol, university campuses, houses of worship, parks, zoos, museums, protests and festivals, public transit and any private business that does not explicitly welcome concealed carry weapon holders with a four-by-six inch sign.

The proposal is virtually identical to a bill that failed by a single vote in the dramatic final hours of last year's legislative session. There's little chance of that happening again. Last year's version was written to go into effect immediately upon the governor's signing, rather than on the usual Jan. 1. A bill with the "urgency clause" requires two-thirds approval. Portantino's new bill doesn't include that language, and so only needs a simple majority in the Legislature where Democrats outnumber Republicans three-to-one.

"It's gonna pass, no question," he said. He argues that "science" is on his side, but he may also have public support.

According to a February survey of California voters by the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley, 60% said imposing tighter restrictions on who can own a firearm was a more important priority than protecting gun rights, though Democrats are far more likely to hold that view.

But as written, the new restrictions pushed by Portantino won't become law until 2024 at the earliest. And that's assuming it isn't held up in court.

Both New York and New Jersey have passed similar laws since the Supreme Court decision, piggybacking off an acknowledgement in the majority's opinion that states have the right to restrict firearms in "sensitive places." It's not yet clear how extensive or numerous those places can be, but blue states appear intent on finding out. A federal judge has put New Jersey's law on hold, while the Supreme Court allowed New York's to remain in place, but both rulings are temporary.

Michel with the California Rifle & Pistol Association said California lawmakers can count on a legal challenge once the bill becomes law. And unlike concealed carry weapon license applicants across the state, they won't have to wait.

"The day that is signed we'll be in court," he said.

Copyright  2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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By Kiley Russell

Bay City News

The drought might not be completely done with California, but the state's residents are now free of the strictest water conservation measures put in place by Gov. Gavin Newsom nearly two years ago.

Standing at a podium in front of a storm-soaked agricultural field in Yolo County on Friday, Newsom stopped short of declaring the end of the punishing three-year drought but said that while he's not rescinding the statewide drought emergency order, he is eliminating many of its provisions.

"To answer the question 'Are we out of the drought?' Mostly but not completely," Newsom said.

After three months of extremely wet weather that lashed the state with nearly 20 major storms, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is now roughly 228 percent of average and most reservoirs are at or above their historical averages for this time of year.

In response, Newsom signed an executive order eliminating more than 50 of the 81 drought emergency provisions that he enacted in April 2021, including the 15 percent statewide voluntary water conservation goal and the requirement that roughly 450 local water agencies enact their own drought emergency plans.

"We want to eliminate the stress and anxiety around meeting those voluntary mandates," Newsom said.

While the 15 percent conservation goal was in place, Californians saved roughly 600,000 acre-feet of water, which is enough to supply water to 1.2 million households for a year.

At the same time, the governor noted that the state's climate is changing and "weather whiplash" is resulting in periods of extremely hot and dry conditions followed by periods of extremely wet conditions, which means water conservation is still key to ensuring reliable long-term water supplies.

Also, the Klamath River Basin in far Northern California and the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to millions of Southern California residents, remain mired in drought.

"The conditions have radically changed throughout the state, but not enough in places like Klamath and around the Colorado River Basin to call for the end of the drought in California," Newsom said.

With that in mind, many of the drought rules will remain in effect, including a provision that requires large institutions and businesses to refrain from watering ornamental lawns, as well as a prohibition on using water to clean sidewalks and driveways.

Also, the rules allowing California water managers to more easily release water from reservoirs for the purpose of recharging the state's severely over-pumped and depleted groundwater basins were not eliminated.

"So this is a good news moment," said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, who also attended Friday's news conference.

"Those storms have brought record amounts of water into our state in the form of rain and snow and that means we are in much better condition with our water supply than we were in the fall," Crowfoot said.

Crowfoot also announced that the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Friday increased the amount of water allocations coming out of the State Water Project from 35 percent of requested supplies -- set in February -- to 75 percent.

The allocations will bring an additional 1.7 million acre feet to the 29 public water agencies that draw from the State Water Project to serve 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland in the Bay Area, Central Valley, Northern California and the Central Coast.

DWR will also release water from the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County to any water contractor that has the ability to store it, since that reservoir is now nearly entirely full.

"California continues to experience weather whiplash, going from extreme drought to at least 19 atmospheric rivers since late December," DWR director Karla Nemeth said in a news release. "It really demonstrates that in times of plenty, we need to move as much water into storage as is feasible."

In addition to the State Water Project allocation increases, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation increased deliveries in February to 75 percent of historical usage, up from just 25 percent last year, from the Central Valley Project, the state's other water storage and delivery backbone.

Copyright  2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
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Alert: Biden says US does not seek conflict with Iran, but is prepared to respond 'forcefully' to protect its personnel
Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks on resuming consular services, Saudi state media said Thursday, more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom cut ties with President Bashar al-Assad's government.

"A discussion is underway between officials in the kingdom and their counterparts in Syria about resuming the provision of consular services," state-affiliated channel Al-Ekhbariya said, citing a Saudi foreign ministry official.

The report gave no timeline for the move, which would mark the latest Saudi step towards mending rifts with regional rivals.

Earlier this month, a Chinese-brokered deal was announced to restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, seven years after they had been severed.

Riyadh has been hinting at a rapprochement with Syria for weeks.

It sent aid to both rebel-held and government-controlled parts of the country in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, killing tens of thousands of people.

That effort did not involve direct contact with Assad's internationally isolated government, and Saudi officials instead coordinated with the Syrian Red Crescent on aid going into government-controlled territory.

Damascus has seen amplified Arab engagement since the quake, including from governments that have so far resisted normalisation after more than a decade of war.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in February that a consensus was building in the Arab world that a new approach to Syria requiring negotiations with Damascus would be needed to address humanitarian crises.

"There is a consensus within the Arab world that the status quo is not working and that we need to find some other approach," Prince Faisal told the Munich Security Conference.

"What that approach is, is still being formulated," he added.

Ayham Kamel, Middle East and North Africa researcher for Eurasia Group, said Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, would like to see "a more stable environment" in the region that would let him focus on domestic issues.

"The domestic economic modernisation agenda requires a more stable environment and therefore the deals that are emerging," Kamel told AFP.

The Saudi foreign minister said policy shifts on Syria could also help Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, primarily Jordan and Lebanon.

On Sunday, Assad visited the United Arab Emirates, where President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told him it was time for Damascus to be reintegrated into the wider Arab region, Emirati state media said.

The trip, Assad's second to the oil-rich UAE in as many years, comes after a visit to Oman last month, his only official engagements in Arab countries since the start of Syria's war in 2011.

Syria was expelled from the Cairo-based Arab League in 2011 over its violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.

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HAVANA (AP)  Cuba enacted a new penal code this week that activists and human rights organizations warned Friday could further limit free expression and snuff out protests at a time of deepening discontent on the island.

The code, a modified version of the country's 1987 regulations approved by the Cuban government in May, will ripple to journalists, human rights activists, protesters, social media users and opposition figures.

The changes come amid deepening discontent in Cuba produced by compounding crises and as the government continues to dole out punishments to participants  including 16- to 18-year-olds  in the islands historic 2021 protests. Some older protesters have been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

Among some of the changes are increases in the minimum penalties and prison sentences on things like public disorder, resistance and insulting national symbols.

The new code also establishes criminal categories for digital offenses, saying that people disseminating online any information deemed to be false could face up to two years in prison.

It also prohibits the receipt and use of funds made to finance activities against the Cuban state and its constitutional order, which human rights groups say could be used against independent journalists and non-governmental groups. Conviction could bring four to 10 years in prison.

The government has described the new code as modern and inclusive, pointing to stiffening penalties on gender-based violence and racial discrimination. Following its approval, Ruben Remigio Ferro, Cuban Supreme Court president, said on state TV that the code is not meant to repress, but rather protect the social peace and stability of our nation.

But human rights watchdog groups, many of which are not permitted on the island, raised alarms about the new code Friday.

This is clearly an effort to provide a legal avenue for repression and censorship and an effort by Cuban authorities to undercut the little civic space that exists in the island and impede the possibility that Cubans will take to the streets again, said Juan Pappier, senior investigator for Human Rights Watch in Latin America.

Pappier, alongside an Amnesty International report, said the code is plagued with overly broad language that could be used by Cuban authorities to more easily punish dissent.

Cuba has faced significant international criticism for the treatment of protesters in anti-government demonstrations in July 2021.

A total of 790 participants of the protests face prosecution for sedition, violent attacks, public disorder, theft and other crimes, according to the latest figures released in January by Cubas attorney generals office.

More than 500 are serving prison sentences, according to numbers from opposition organization Justice 11J, which advocates for those on trial or serving prison sentences in connection with the protests.

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This story was first published on December 2, 2022. It was updated on March 24, 2023, to explain that while minors ages 16 to 18 who took part in protests in Cuba in 2021 faced prosecution, they received more lenient treatment than some older protesters and were usually sanctioned with community service or fines.
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HAVANA (AP)  Cuba holds National Assembly elections Sunday, but there are only 470 candidates running for the 470 seats, with no opposition challengers and no campaigning. Voters essentially will do no more than endorse the nominated slate of candidates.

The polling held every five years technically is nonpartisan, but falls under the indirect control of the countrys true power under the constitution, the ruling Communist Party.

Half of the candidates come from municipal assemblies chosen in local elections last November. The other half are nominated by groups representing broad swaths of society  such as a womens group and workers unions. All are vetted by election committees with ties to the party.

Cubas establishment says the system is inclusive and builds unity, while steering clear of the divisiveness of party politics or any ill effects of big-money donors.

The outcome may be a foregone conclusion, but one indicator that will be closely watched is how many voters abstain from the process. That number has been growing over the past decade, which some critics point to as an erosion of confidence in Cubas one-party system as the country suffers a deep economic crisis.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY?

The National Assembly is nominally the countrys highest governing power. It approves laws and votes for the president and executive officials from among its members.

In practice, the chamber typically endorses initiatives and the leadership favored by the Communist Party, which is the only political party allowed on the island nation and is enshrined in the constitution as the leader of society.

Half of the delegates come from municipal assemblies voted in during November elections, in which voters chose councilors from 26,746 candidates to fill 12,427 seats around the country. The other half are made of well-known personalities proposed by workers unions and social organizations such as the Womens Federation, University Youth Federation and National Association of Peasants.

Special candidacy commissions with ties to the Communist Party then whittle the candidates down to 470.

The new National Assembly is expected to convene April 19, when it will vote on the executive leadership, with current President Miguel Diaz-Canel expected to be re-elected.

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?

Candidates include major Cuban leaders such as Diaz-Canel, the semi-retired former Communist Party leader Raul Castro, Economy Minister Alejandro Gil, and Premier Manuel Marrero.

They also include musician Eduardo Sosa, LGBT community representative Mariela Castro and scientist Eduardo Martinez. Also a candidate is Elian Gonzalez, who as a child in 2000 famously became the center of a diplomatic custody battle between Cuba and the United States.

Carlos Miguel Perez, a 36-year-old computer engineer who owns a medium-sized business, is a candidate in the capitals Playa municipality. He told The Associated Press that he accepted the nomination of a telecom union after learning that the current assembly approved a 2023 budget that limits tax breaks to small and medium-sized businesses like his.

It is necessary that there also be a representation of this private sector in the Cuban parliament, said Perez, who is not a member of the Communist Party. In Cuba, the election process, as I see it, is very popular, very popular with the people.

There is no salary for being a National Assembly member.

HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTE?

Participation in elections in Cuba is high, but has been on the decline for a decade.

The National Electoral Commission said that for last Novembers municipal elections about 31% of eligible voters abstained from voting, That translates to 69% participation, which is still high by international standards, but a substantial decline for Cuba where voting is not compulsory but traditionally was considered a national duty.

The rate of abstention for national elections was 14% in 2018 , and only 6% in 2013.

Many observers see the trend as a sign of declining enthusiasm for Cubas government as it fails to turn around deteriorating economic conditions.

Manuel Cuesta Morua is a dissident and the leader of Council for a Democratic Transition in Cuba, which is calling for people to stay away. People will abstain because they are tired and fed up with a system that does not represent the plurality of the society, Morua said. There is no possibility for citizens to choose between different faces, different alternatives, different visions.

Julio Antonio Martinez Estrada, a lawyer, professor and a fellow at Harvard University, said he believes participation will continue to decline, in part due to the economy. It is a response to the political and socio-economic problems of recent years, Estrada said, adding that it reflects distrust and an enormous hopelessness among Cubans.
BERLIN (AP)  A German anti-government extremist was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for deliberately driving into a police officer during an attempted traffic check while intoxicated.

The verdict delivered by the Stuttgart state court comes amid persistent concern over the activities of supporters of the Reich Citizens Movement, a loose far-right grouping whose backers deny the legitimacy of the present-day German constitution and government.

The 62-year-old man, a German whose name the court didn't give in line with local privacy rules, was convicted of attempted murder, bodily harm, resisting and attacking enforcement officers, leaving the scene of an accident without authorization and drunk driving. His driving license was withdrawn and his car confiscated. He was ordered to pay the injured police officer 30,000 euros ($32,600) in compensation.

The court said the defendant became increasingly radicalized over recent years, had described police officers as combatants in chat groups and letters in 2021 and asserted that he had the right to eliminate (these) combatants without punishment.

The incident that led to the trial came after the defendant had been drinking at a demonstration against coronavirus restrictions and a birthday party in southwestern Germany in February 2022, the court said. A police patrol tried unsuccessfully three times to stop him for speeding.

A second patrol later tried to stop the man. An officer got out of his car and ran toward the defendant's vehicle to signal him to stop, and the defendant drove into the officer, injuring his knees. He then drove on with the officer on the hood of his car, and the officer sustained serious head injuries when he fell off, the court said.

The defendant was stopped by a further police patrol after officers had fired 25 shots at his car. The injured officer spent weeks in a hospital and is still unable to work because of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Earlier this week, German investigators carried out raids related to an alleged coup plot involving people linked to the Reich Citizens movement. A police officer was shot in the arm during one of the searches.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Thursday to restore unity in Israel where divisions have widened over his government's judicial reform programme and police fired water cannon at protesters blocking a highway in Tel Aviv.

Demonstrators fear the proposed reforms, which would increase the power of politicians over the courts and are already moving through parliament, are a threat to Israeli democracy.

Israel's allies abroad have also raised concerns about the overhaul.

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv and other cities, according to crowd estimates by Israeli media.

Similar-sized crowds have taken to the streets on other occasions during routine protests over the past few months since the proposals were introduced.

Netanyahu, in a televised address, said he was determined to advance the reforms but wanted to reach a solution acceptable to both supporters and critics of the proposal.

"The opponents of the reform are not traitors. Partisans are not fascists," he said.

"I will do everything, everything, to bring calm and end division among the people" after months of protest, including objections from high-level officials.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who has backed calls to pause the legislative process for dialogue with its opponents, cancelled a planned address to the nation on Thursday evening after a meeting with Netanyahu, shortly before the premier went on TV.

Lawmakers earlier on Thursday approved legislation restricting grounds for declaring a premier unfit for office, a move opposition chief Yair Lapid called "a personal law" to protect Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption which he denies.

'Civil War'

Last week, President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely symbolic role, expressed concern over the deepening rift in society and presented a proposed compromise. The government rejected it.

"Anyone who thinks that a genuine civil war, with human lives, is a line that we could never reach, has no idea what they are talking about," Herzog cautioned.

On Thursday one demonstrator, Nadav Golander, 37, warned of a "dictatorship" if the government presses forward with its agenda.

Many demonstrators carried Israeli flags and some clashed with officers. Police reported at least 10 arrests in Tel Aviv over alleged public order offences.

Thousands also rallied in Jerusalem outside Netanyahu's residence as well as in the northern city of Haifa and southern Beersheba, Israeli media said.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced the reforms in January, days after Netanyahu's government took office, a coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and extreme-right allies.

Netanyahu and his allies say the proposed changes are necessary to diminish the powers of the Supreme Court, which they argue has become politicised.

Biden Call

Members of the opposition have refused to negotiate with the coalition, demanding a complete freeze on all legislation related to the judicial reform.

In a call Sunday with Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden voiced support for a "compromise" and stressed the importance of "genuine checks and balances", the White House said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had urged Netanyahu to reconsider Herzog's compromise proposal.

On Monday, the ruling coalition presented an amended version of a key element of the overhaul, ahead of votes planned before parliament goes into recess next week.

Other pieces of legislation in the reform package would wait until the summer session to enable "real dialogue" with the opposition, coalition parties said in a joint statement.

The new version of a bill to change the way judges are selected would put more lawmakers and members of the judiciary in the judicial appointments panel than the initial text.

Opponents have accused Netanyahu of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him, an accusation he rejects.

Lawmakers on Thursday voted 61 against 47 to approve an amendment to one of Israel's Basic Laws, the country's quasi-constitution, specifying the conditions for temporary removal of a prime minister.

The previous version of the law stated that a premier could be declared incapacitated, but did not specify on what grounds or lay out the necessary steps.

The amended legislation requires a request by the prime minister, or a government vote backed by a three-quarter majority of ministers, and only for mental or physical health reasons.

The law "de facto limits the possibility of declaring a prime minister incapacitated to exercise their functions", said Guy Lurie, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem.

"Reasons other than those specified in the amendment will no longer be admissable," he told AFP.

Some opposition figures and civil society groups have argued for Netanyahu to be declared unfit to serve, citing his ongoing trial. He denies the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

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The legislature has set a number of reasonable restrictions for persons under the age of 18; you cant enter into binding contracts, you cant rent an apartment, you cant join the military, you cant buy a gun, nor can you vote. Yet in Connecticut, if you are aged 16 or 17, you can get married with parental consent and a judges approval.

In 2017, Connecticut banned marriage for 15 years of age and under, but that law did not go far enough, stopping short of banning it for 16- and 17-year-olds. Since Connecticut acted, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts ended child marriage, and Vermont has legislation pending to outlaw it.

Today, we stand alone as the only state in the tri-state area that allows someone under 18 years of age to marry. It is time to finish what we started and join our neighboring states.

It is critical that we close the loophole that allows someone to venue shop for marriage in our state. Connecticuts law allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to marry makes our state a destination for those who seek to skirt child marriage prohibition in surrounding states as Connecticut does not have a residency requirement for marriage.

Similarly, it can make it easier for human traffickers to prey on children and potentially evade criminal responsibility by marrying their victims. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families reported that since 2008, over 800 children have been referred to DCF as possible victims of domestic minor sex trafficking.

Fortunately, there is now a bill in the State Legislature  House Bill 6569  which proposes to increase the legal age to marry to 18 and eliminate the ability for minors ages 16 and 17 to marry, without exception.

As chair of the Governors Council on Women and Girls, the council tackles issues that impact the lives of women, girls and their families. The council has fully vetted this issue and is in full support of this legislative measure. And there are many reasons to strongly support the passage of House Bill 6569.

First, this issue disproportionately affects young women. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, between October 2017 and May 2022, 31 minors were married; 28 of whom were girls. Weve heard powerful stories of girls who were trapped or coerced into marriage, some forced to marry complete strangers or men three decades their senior.

Theres the story of Jenn Bradbury, who was 16 years old when she was brought from Louisiana, where child marriage is illegal, to Florida and forced to marry a 44-year-old man. Florida permitted marriage with parental consent and a judges approval. Her husband forced her to drop out of high school and was emotionally abusive to her and her children. She became depressed and suicidal. Unfortunately, Jenns story is not unique.

By allowing child marriage, we deprive children of their childhood  and their future. Many of these children that are forced into marriage are unable to finish high school, attend college, and have autonomy over their decisions. In addition, the divorce rate of marriages with a minor is close to 80 percent, which puts women at a greater likelihood of living in poverty.

Next, there is no escape for those forced into child marriages that result in physical and mental abuse. In fact, they are left in legal limbo. Because of their young age, they are trapped with no legal recourse. When minors seek to get divorced, they cannot retain a lawyer as they must be at least 18 years of age to sign a legal retainer. As a result, minors are unable to receive the legal protections or benefits that come with marriage that an adult who is 18 years of age receives. Not only are they not equally situated to a married adult, but this legal limbo further traps young girls by adding yet another insurmountable burden for them to bear.

This is a bipartisan issue. House Bill 6569 is supported by Democrats and Republicans alike. It is now up to our legislators to do the right thing and finish what we started.

Under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, numerous countries, including the United States, have promised to end child marriage by 2030. But Connecticut must act now. We cannot wait any longer. The future of our children depends on it.

Susan Bysiewicz is lieutenant governor of Connecticut
In a move that surprised many onlookers Thursday, a judge in Alameda County rejected a plea deal negotiated by the office of newly elected District Attorney Pamela Price.

Price, who won office in November on a platform of criminal justice reform and already faces mounting criticism over policies some deem soft on crime, was seeking a 15-year sentence for Delonzo Logwood, accused of killing three people in a murder-for-hire plot in 2007 when he was 18 years old. That 15-year sentence would have been on a voluntary manslaughter charge with a gun enhancement. In February, Price said she was seeking the plea deal because she wanted to resolve a case that has been in limbo for years and because Logwood, now 31, showed "remorse for his behavior as a teenager."

The plea deal was controversial at the time, with a relative of one of Logwood's alleged victims telling the San Francisco Chronicle, "He needs to serve life, just like my son doesnt have his life." (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) Because Logwood has been in prison since 2015, the plea deal would have resulted in his being eligible for release in 2030.

Price's office presented the plea deal to Alameda County Superior Court Judge Mark McCannon, who rejected it Thursday and ripped into Logwood from the bench. Bay Area News Group reporter Nate Gartrell noted, "This kind of thing almost never happens."

"You cant think an apology will make this all better," McCannon said to Logwood, according to Bay Area News Group. What are you sorry for if you didnt do anything?

Price did not answer questions from reporters as she left the courtroom, but her office later said in a statement, "When we reviewed the case, we felt that the trauma inflicted on the survivors, the defendant and his family, the court system and my staff by my predecessors failure to promptly resolve the case was unacceptable. We are very disappointed that Judge McCannon did not accept the plea bargain previously agreed upon by my office and defense counsel, and accepted by the Probation Department. Now, the case will head to trial, and justice will continue to be delayed as it makes its way through the court system."

The episode indicates that Price may be on her way to achieving Chesa Boudin or George Gascon levels of notoriety. Boudin and Gascon  like Price  campaigned on platforms of reform in San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively, and drew immediate blowback after taking office.

Trial attorney Charly Weissenbach, who says she supports criminal justice reform, departed Price's office and trashed her on the way out. If that sounds familiar, it's because then-Assistant District Attorney Brooke Jenkins did something similar when departing Boudin's office before subsequently campaigning for his recall and being appointed his successor. Weissenbach has since taken a new job in Jenkins' office in San Francisco, according to the Berkeley Scanner.

If you're searching for more parallels, consider the write-up from KGO on the plea deal rejection. KGO played a prominent role during the Boudin recall by amplifying voices critical of the DA, and Thursday, it wrote of Price, "We're getting a lot of tips coming out of the district attorney's office," signaling forthcoming coverage of Price that could be similarly unflattering.

A formal effort to recall Price has yet to materialize, and a petition cannot be circulated until she's been in office for 90 days anyway. But given what has already transpired during her short time in office, it's hard not to expect a recall push in the future.
The Temecula Valley Unified School District in Southern California's Riverside County is embroiled in a debate over critical race theory, and a Wednesday special meeting of the district's governing board devolved into a shouting match that ended with the removal of a Black man who said that a woman in the audience told him to get out of the country.

To fully understand the controversy, we have to go back to December. That month, the board, with a newly minted conservative majority after the November election, passed a resolution banning critical race theory in district schools.

The resolution defines critical race theory as a belief system that views social problems primarily as racial problems and lists specific tenets of the ideology that cannot be taught in schools. Its a more narrow definition of a term that, until recently, was typically used to describe a framework for legal analysis taught in law schools. Its not clear whether any existing curriculum fell under the boards definition, and the district did not return multiple SFGATE requests for comment.

Present at the Wednesday meeting was Christopher Arend, the former board member of a school district in San Luis Obispo County. Arend, a self-described opponent of critical race theory, was hired by the district's governing board last week as a consultant who will lead seminars on the subject.

Wednesdays workshop  which board president and member of the conservative majority Joseph Komrosky said was meant to give district teachers, staff, students and parents an opportunity to discuss the key tenets of critical race theory with a panel of "experts," including Arend  did not go well.

The public comment session took place shortly after the meeting was called to order. While some audience members praised the board for its ban and for hosting the workshop, others did not, and the opposing viewpoints were on display even when no one was speaking. As Ben Richards  who said he was the founder of a school parent advocacy organization in San Diego  walked to the podium to give his remarks, jeers could be heard from the back of the auditorium. Richards began his remarks by addressing his critics.

"Cheers to my haters in the back. We know that men can identify as women but they don't want to respect how I identify, and my pronouns," he said, before claiming that somebody in the speaking line called him "an asshole" and said that people have given his contact information "to antifa," an umbrella term for left-leaning militant groups. He said he came to the meeting to "call for peace and unity," and claimed that the resolution the board adopted in December actually allows critical race theory to be taught in some classes.

"I'm not anti-LGB. I believe in Black history. Black history should be taught; slavery is Black history," Richards said. "But I hope that the ones who are very up in arms in this, if you read the resolution, there's nothing ... that says we're not going to teach Black history."

Another speaker, who identified herself as a Black student currently attending San Diego State University, said she lived in Temecula and came to the meeting to warn board members of the dangers of critical race theory. She said she was active in the universitys chapter of Turning Point USA  a conservative nonprofit group founded by far-right media pundit Charlie Kirk  and claimed that a sociology professor who taught critical race theory on campus once criticized her work for Turning Point USA by calling her an Uncle Tom, a slur used to describe Black people who are seen as subservient or deferential to white people.

The most shocking part of the meeting, however, came later in the public comment. A Black man came to the podium to express his deep disappointment and disapproval with the board. He said it was asinine to ban critical race theory in K-12 classrooms given that its not typically taught in such schools, and said the boards blatant, willful ignorance of the Black experience is shameful and detrimental to the education and growth of children.

Shortly after he left the podium, he could be heard shouting at a woman in the audience, whom he said told him that he should get out of the country. Komrosky gave the man a warning, and said he would be removed from the meeting if he had another outburst. Despite Komroskys warning, the man continued.

She said get out of the country, she told me to get out of the country, the man shouted in response. He then directed his ire at the woman, telling her that his family had been in the country since Aug. 16, 1619, a reference to the year the first African slaves were forcibly brought to the shores of the U.S. by white settlers.

As the man continued shouting, Komrosky asked a staff member to remove him from the chamber, an order that was received with boos from the audience. Other members of the crowd urged Komrosky to remove the woman instead. Komrosky replied to their pleas by saying, If you would like, the whole auditorium can leave, and then repeatedly banged his gavel in an attempt to restore order.

Board member Allison Barclay  who voted against both the critical race theory ban and the hiring of Arend  interrupted Komroskys attempts to regain control of the meeting by arguing that the woman should be escorted out instead.

If this woman said that to him, she needs to be excused, Barclay said.

What happened next can only be described as chaos. Komrosky ordered a 10-minute recess and stepped away from his microphone as the audience erupted into chants of take the woman. Members of the crowd began standing and shouting at each other, and up on the dais, Barclay discussed something with Komrosky while pointing in the direction of where the woman appeared to be seated. At one point during the pandemonium, a woman approached a speaking podium and said, How dare you. You people are horrible.

The scene lasted a few minutes. Komrosky remained standing throughout, sometimes putting his hands in his pockets. The woman who allegedly made the comment to the Black man appeared to eventually leave the room, because those calling for her removal began to cheer and clap. At that point, Komrosky again announced that they were going to take a 10-minute recess.

Most of the panelists and governing board members then retreated behind a blue curtain hanging behind the dais, while the chaos in the rest of the auditorium began to die down. The panelists and board took their seats just a few minutes later, and Komrosky announced that the rest of the meetings public comment section would be moved to the end of the meeting.

The Wednesday episode isnt the first time the critical race theory controversy led to a public spectacle for the board. When the board hired Arend  who will be paid $15,000 to teach six sessions  a March 14 meeting also turned contentious during public comment. One speaker, who said she teaches a robotics class, played what she said was an audio clip of Arend claiming he would be teaching critical race theory seminars for gas money.

He said hed do it for gas money. That $15,000 is a lot of gas money. In my opinion, hiring Christopher Arend or really any of the CRT panels should be a no-go. CRT is a nonissue in TVSD and for the record, I resent the time, money and resources being spent on this nonissue. We should be focused on our students and our educational programs at TVUSD, she said.

The theatrics go all the way back to the campaign the three conservative members ran. Those three  Komrosky, Danny Gonzalez and Jennifer Wiersma  were hand-picked to run for open seats on the district's governing board during an NFL-style candidate draft at the 412 Church Temecula Valley in Murrieta early last year.

They were backed by the Inland Empire Family PAC, a political action committee based in Riverside County that seeks to "stop the indoctrination of our children by placing candidates on school boards who will fight for Christian and Conservative values." In addition to comprehensive sexual education, critical race theory was identified as a subject the PAC wanted its candidates to push back on. The resolution the board passed in December was modeled after a similar one passed by the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District in 2021, when Arend was president.

You can watch the entirety of Wednesdays mayhem in the video above.
Jabra : Best value

: Best value MDHearing : Best variety available online

: Best variety available online Eargo : Most discreet

: Most discreet Lexie : Easiest selection

: Easiest selection Otofonix : Most affordable

: Most affordable Signia : Best for tinnitus

: Best for tinnitus Starkey : Best health monitoring

: Best health monitoring ReSound : Best rechargeable options

: Best rechargeable options Oticon : Best integration with smart devices

: Best integration with smart devices Phonak: Best for severe-to-profound hearing loss

Did you know that 1 out of every 3 adults 65 to 74 years old have hearing loss, and those numbers only increase as we age? If youre one of the millions of Americans experiencing hearing loss, hearing aids can greatly impact day-to-day life by improving hearing and reducing many of the frustrations that come with hearing loss. The best hearing aids can improve hearing in loud social environments, amplify sounds, minimize background noise, and soothe tinnitus symptoms.

Additionally, there is emerging evidence that using hearing aids may help reduce dementia in older adults. A study in December's JAMA Neurology found a 19% reduction in cognitive decline and dementia in hearing aid users compared with those with hearing loss who were not using hearing aids. While the study acknowledges that data is still somewhat limited, it's encouraging that hearing aids may help with cognitive decline in aging adults.

With more hearing aids on the market than ever before  and many now available for purchase over-the-counter, thanks to an August 2022 FDA ruling  you might be wondering: How can I find the best device for my hearing loss and budget? After hours of research, hands-on testing, and consultations with audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman, we put together our list of the best hearing aids. When choosing our top options, we considered criteria such as: price, technology levels, sound quality, ease of use, hearing assessments and follow-up care, and customer satisfaction (you can check out our full selection methodology at the bottom of this article). Read on to learn more about our top picks to find the hearing aids that may be right for you.

A Side-by-Side Comparison of the Best Hearing Aids

Provider Price Purchasing options Level of hearing loss Warranty Risk-free trial Battery selection Remote support Tinnitus features Bluetooth streaming Jabra $1,195 to $1,995 per pair Online Mild-to-moderate hearing loss 3 years 100 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes Yes Yes MDHearing $799.98 to $1,899.98 per pair Online Mild-to-moderate hearing loss 90 days to 1 year 45 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes No No Eargo $1,500 to $2,950 per pair Online Mild-to-moderate hearing loss 1 to 2 years 45 days Rechargeable Yes No No Lexie $799 to $999 per pair Online Mild-to-moderate hearing loss 1 year 45 days Disposable Yes No No Otofonix $495 to $1,590 per pair Online Mild-to-moderate hearing loss 1 year 45 days Disposable Yes No No Signia $1,000 to $3,500 per device* In office Mild-to-profound hearing loss 1 to 3 years 45 to 90 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes Yes Yes Starkey $1,000 to $4,000 per device* In office Mild-to-profound hearing loss 1 to 3 years 45 to 90 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes Yes Yes ReSound $1,000 to $3,500 per device* In office Mild-to-profound hearing loss 1 to 3 years 45 to 90 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes Yes Yes Oticon $1,000 to $3,500 per device* In office Mild-to-profound hearing loss 1 to 3 years 45 to 90 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes Yes Yes Phonak $1,000 to $3,500 per device* In office Mild-to-profound hearing loss 1 to 3 years 45 to 90 days Rechargeable and disposable Yes Yes Yes

*Editor's Note: Prices are not always available online, so some of these prices are estimates based on our research.

Jabra: Best Value Hearing Aids

Jabra is an affordable provider with a variety of features, and it provides long-term support to give you the most bang for your buck. This provider offers three behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids for mild-to-moderate hearing loss that can be purchased online. Each pair of hearing aids is sold in a bundle, which includes three years of remote follow-up care, three years of loss and damage protection, and a 100-day trial. Jabras remote follow-up care provides on-demand access to Jabras licensed hearing specialists, including one-on-one video and text chats. Whether you have a question about your devices or need on-the-go adjustments, Jabras team is there to help. With prices ranging from $1,195 to $1,995, the company offers frequent money-saving deals and financing options, so there are solutions for most budgets.

While Jabra is one of the more affordable providers on our list, they dont skimp on quality. These hearing aids come packed with the latest technology, including noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology. Jabra is also one of the only providers that sell hearing aids online with tinnitus features. Users can make on-the-go hearing aid adjustments and ask the Jabra Audiology Team questions from the companys mobile app

Pros

100-day trial

Affordable prices

3-year warranty

Remote follow-up care for 3 years

Free shipping

Nearly invisible design

Online purchases

Mobile app for remote adjustments

12-, 18-, and 36-month financing options

Tinnitus features

Cons

Only for mild-to-moderate hearing loss

Newer technology, like a smartphone or tablet, is required for use

Some Android phones are not compatible with Jabra

Only offers BTE models

MDHearing: Best Hearing Aid Variety Available Online

MDHearing offers the best variety of hearing aids and technology available for online purchase. Each hearing aid model has unique features that will be suitable for different types of users, ranging from a basic model with disposable batteries to a rechargeable option with premium features and smartphone compatibility. If youre worried that hearing aids will be too complicated, MDHearing might be the provider for you since they keep things straightforward and user-friendly. The companys in-house audiologists build customized recommendations for each user based on their hearing test results to ensure you choose the right hearing aids for your needs.

All three MDHearing models  designed for mild-to-moderate hearing loss  are inexpensive compared to most other hearing aids, and the provider runs several promotions throughout the year. You can often purchase a pair of hearing aids for half off; plus, customers receive 24/7 support via phone or email.

DEAL ALERT: MDHearing is offering deep discounts on its OTC hearing aid models over MLK weekend! The new Neo model, which MDHearing markets as their smallest hearing aid ever, is 70% off at a sale price of just $299.98 per pair. The Air model is only $299.98, a whopping 63% off, while the popular Volt model is 75% off at a price of $299.98. Click through to see all of MDHearing's MLK weekend 2022 deals.

Pros

Affordable options

Available for online purchase

Around-the-clock support

Purchase options: separate or in pairs

Financing options

Mobile app can make remote adjustment

Frequent promotions to help you save

Feedback cancellation and four sound environment settings

Customized recommendations from an in-house audiologist

Cons

Short-term warranty

Exclusively for mild-to-moderate hearing loss

Only offers BTE styles

Eargo: Most Discreet Hearing Aids

If youre looking for discreet hearing aids for online purchase, Eargo is the provider for you. This company sells four completely in canal (CIC) models that are nearly invisible. Unlike BTE hearing aids, which includes a case that fits behind the ear, CIC devices fit entirely inside the ear so they are less noticeable.

Eargo hearing aids have high-tech features, such as rechargeable batteries, automatic sound adjustments, a mobile app for remote adjustments, and support from a hearing professional. In addition, the companys models have different levels of technology so you can choose the one youre most comfortable using. However, these devices are best for those who are comfortable with learning new technology. While still affordable compared to hearing aids that must be purchased in person, Eargos devices are on the pricier side for online hearing aids, ranging from $1,450 to $2,950 per pair. The company does, however, offer financing options for buyers on a tight budget.

DEAL ALERT: Eargo is offering $350 off of its popular Eargo 6 model right now.

Pros

Nearly invisible design

Online purchases

Automatic sound adjustments for different environments

Lifetime virtual support

Financing options

One-time loss and damage warranty

Mobile app for follow-up care and adjustments

Cons

CIC style wont be suitable for everyones ear canal

Disposable batteries cannot be used

Pricey for online hearing aids

Only suitable for mild-to-moderate hearing loss

Lexie: Easiest Selection

Lexie makes choosing a hearing aid very simple, as they only offer two models for online purchase. Customers can pay for their hearing aids up front or with a monthly subscription. The subscription includes extra perks, such as regular deliveries of hearing aid accessories and batteries, as well as loss and damage protection. With the subscription option, users pay a monthly subscription fee for 24 months, plus a one-time security deposit. If you decide that the devices arent right for you, you can cancel the subscription at any time and return the hearing aids.

Lexie has some of the most affordable hearing aids on our list, starting at $799 or $42 per month. You can choose between two options for mild-to-moderate hearing loss: the Lexie Lumen BTE hearing aid or a receiver-in-canal (RIC) model powered by Bose. Both options include remote support and a mobile app for easy remote adjustments. And in addition to landing on our Best Hearing Aids list, the Lexie B2 Powered by Bose was also named one of the best hearing aids of 2022 by Money.com and USA Today.

DEAL ALERT: Lexie is offering $60 off the Lexie B1 Powered by Bose. Plus, users who download the app can earn rewards toward hearing aid accessories.

Pros

Affordable hearing aids

Financing option

Mobile app for on-the-go adjustments

Color options

BTE and RIC styles

Remote support

Rewards program for extra perks

Online purchases

Cons

Missing rechargeable options

Only purchase in pairs

Lacks devices for severe-to-profound hearing loss

Compatible smartphone or tablet required

Otofonix: Most Affordable Hearing Aids

Otofonix offers the least expensive hearing aids on our list, starting at just $248 per ear or $496 per pair. You can save even more by taking advantage of Otofonixs seasonal discounts and promotions. Cost can be one of the main factors discouraging people from purchasing hearing aids, which makes Otofonix an excellent solution for those on a fixed income.

These hearing aids for mild-to-moderate hearing loss come in several BTE styles and are only available for online purchase. With many models to choose from, you can find the right hearing aid for your needs  whether youre looking for a simple design, rechargeable batteries, mobile app compatibility, Bluetooth technology, or advanced noise reduction.

DEAL ALERT: Otofonix already gets our pick for the most affordable hearing aids on this list, but right now the brand is offering some great deals that make it even more appealing. The Sona model is being offered for just $395 per pair, a whopping 74% off. Click through to explore Otofonix's current deals!

Pros

Affordable prices

Variety of options

Free shipping

Frequent discounts and promotions

Lifetime support

Directional microphones and adaptive noise reduction technology

Online purchases

Cons

Only offers BTE styles

Only suitable for mild-to-moderate hearing loss

Signia: Best Hearing Aids for Tinnitus

Best for Tinnitus View Pricing

If you struggle with tinnitus, a common symptom of age-related hearing loss, you know just how frustrating ringing in the ears can be. Luckily, many providers like Signia offer tinnitus therapy features to reduce symptoms and make tinnitus more manageable. Several of Signias hearing aid models feature built-in tonal and nontonal tinnitus therapies.

Signia is the first provider on our list that requires you to purchase your hearing aids in person from a hearing care professional. While these in-office visits might be less convenient than buying your hearing aids at home, an audiologist will be there to diagnose any underlying issues related to your hearing loss and customize a solution to your specific needs. Signia offers several innovative hearing aids and accessories for all levels of hearing loss, including the Styletto (a slim BTE model) and the active in-ear model (that looks like an earbud) for discretion.

Pros

Mild-to-profound hearing loss

Innovative tinnitus therapies and hearing aids

Large variety of models to choose from

Mobile app for remote adjustments

Hearing care team available in person and via text, phone, and video chat

Large selection of wireless accessories

Cons

Less tech-savvy users may need support

Expensive price point

In-person purchases only

Starkey: Best Hearing Aids for Health Monitoring

Best Health Monitoring View Pricing

Starkey understands that hearing is just one part of your overall health and well-being. The providers hearing aids offer several unique features, including automatic fall detection, daily activity and step tracking, and medication and appointment reminders. By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), these high-tech devices monitor your daily activities to help you stay healthy. All of these health and wellness add-ons are detected straight through the hearing aids.

Automatic fall detection, typically only found in medical alert systems, is one of our favorite Starkey features, as hearing loss drastically increases the risk of falls among seniors. If you experience a fall while wearing Starkey hearing aids, the devices will detect the fall and send an alert to your designated contacts. You can visit your local hearing care professional to learn more about these innovative features and explore whether a pair of Starkey hearing aids is right for you.

Pros

Unique health and wellness features

Automatic fall detection

Mild-to-profound hearing loss

TeleHear service for on-the-go adjustments

AI technology

Smartphone connectivity

Several styles to choose from

Cons

In-person purchases

Expensive hearing aids

ReSound: Best Rechargeable Hearing Aid Options

Best Rechargeable Options View Pricing

Regularly swapping small disposable batteries can be very frustrating for many users, especially those with older hands and eyes. Hearing aids with rechargeable batteries eliminate this hassle since you dont have to change them out. ReSound offers some of the best rechargeable hearing aids on the market. With nearly 80 years in the industry, the company is a technology leader that offers rechargeable BTE hearing aids that last up to 23 hours on a single charge.

While you will need to purchase your hearing aids in person, ReSound also offers industry-leading telehealth support through its mobile app. After your purchase, you can video chat with a hearing care professional who can adjust your hearing aid settings and fine-tune them to your needs. Since hearing needs change over time, access to on-demand support is essential for making the most of your hearing aids.

Pros

All levels of hearing loss

Long-lasting rechargeable batteries

Excellent follow-up care and telehealth support

Variety of styles and models

Tinnitus relief features

Custom hearing aids

Three microphone system to restore natural hearing

Hands-free calls does not require an external microphone

Cons

In-person purchase only

Telehealth services may be confusing for those who arent tech-savvy

Oticon: Best Integration With Smart Devices

Best Smart Device Integration View Pricing

If youre a fan of smart home devices  like home security systems and Wi-Fi doorbells  Oticon is the provider for you. Oticons hearing aids can wirelessly connect to several internet-based smart devices, so you wont miss critical alerts. For instance, lets say someone rings your doorbell while youre on the opposite end of the house or your home security system detects a security breach. Youll be alerted through your hearing aids with a spoken notification.

Oticon offers a variety of solutions for all levels of hearing loss, including BTE and invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aids. The company boasts over 100 years of experience, thus making them a name you can trust. One of our other favorite features is Oticons BrainHearing technology, which eliminates whistling, squealing, and other feedback. You can purchase Oticon hearing aids in person from a local hearing care professional.

DEAL ALERT: Oticon offers a $200 manufacturer's rebate on the Oticon More 1.

Pros

Smart home device connections

Tinnitus management features

BrainHearing technology eliminates feedback

Several styles and models to choose from

Streaming options for smartphones, TVs, and other streaming options

HearingFitness feature tracks hearing goals

On-the-go adjustments through mobile app

Cons

Expensive options compared to online

In-person purchases only

Intermediary devices are needed to stream Android phones

Phonak: Best for Severe-to-Profound Hearing Loss

Best for Severe Hearing Loss View Pricing

Finding solutions for severe-to-profound hearing loss can be challenging, as many providers focus on mild-to-moderate hearing loss. However, thats not the case with Phonak. The company has been in the industry for over 70 years and offers several industry-leading solutions for severe-to-profound hearing loss, including models with integrated microphones for totally hands-free calling, motion sensors, and dynamic noise cancellation.

Phonaks devices come with many advanced features, including long-lasting batteries, rich sound quality, durable builds, built-in microphones for hands-free calling, and features to enhance soft speech. These hearing aids can enhance hearing even in the most challenging listening environments. Phonaks hearing aids are not available online, so youll need to visit a local hearing clinic for pricing information and to purchase your devices.

Pros

Excellent options for severe-to-profound hearing loss

Hands-free calling

Several styles and models available

Global sales

Improved challenging listening environments

Remote support

Soft-level speech support

Dynamic noise cancellation

Cons

Expensive devices

In-store purchases only

Methodology for Choosing the Best Hearing Aids for 2023

As a doctor of audiology, Ruth Reisman has been prescribing and fitting hearing aids for over a decade. Choosing the best hearing aid is a science that requires many factors. Dr. Reisman has put together a wealth of information and guidelines to help you make an informed decision for yourself and loved ones in need of hearing care and hearing aids. Based on her years of experience and hands-on testing, Dr. Reisman has created a list of her top picks. She and our editorial team have evaluated several criteria when selecting providers, including the following.

Purchasing options and cost

Technology levels

Sound quality

Battery life

Device styles

Ease of use

Tinnitus features and support

Hearing assessments and follow-up care

Customer reviews and satisfaction

Money-back guarantees and warranties

Nationwide availability

Hearing Aids FAQs

Starting the process of choosing hearing aids can sometimes feel daunting, so we've put together this list if FAQs to help guide you through everything you need to know.

How Much Do Hearing Aids Cost?

Hearing aids can cost anywhere from $500 to $8,000 per pair. Several factors impact cost, including the following.

Brand choices

Desired features

Technology level

Extra services and equipment

Support levels

Online or in-store purchases

Hearing aids available for direct-to-consumer purchase online are typically much less expensive than hearing aids that must be purchased from an in-person audiologist. However, online hearing aids are only suitable for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, so the more budget-friendly options wont be suitable for those with severe or profound hearing loss. While online hearing aids advertise standard prices online, the price for hearing aids purchased from an office will vary. Youll need to speak with your local hearing care professional to receive the most accurate price ranges.

While hearing aids can be expensive, its important to view them as an investment in your hearing health. The ability to hear and clearly communicate can be invaluable. If youre on a tight budget, consider monthly financing options, and keep your eyes peeled for deals and promotions on each providers website. Some people may also qualify for free or discounted hearing aids through these organizations:

How to Purchase Hearing Aids

There are two different ways to purchase hearing aids: online or in-person at local hearing aid clinics in San Francisco. There are pros and cons to both purchasing methods, which well cover below.

Online

Providers that sell hearing aids directly to consumers online are transparent with their prices and are more affordable than in-office options. Costs are listed online, and there are often deals to help you save even more on your hearing aids. Many customers will enjoy the convenience of purchasing and adjusting hearing aids from the comfort of their own homes without in-person appointments.

However, there are some drawbacks to online hearing aids. These devices are only suitable for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and dont offer the level provided by the customization or advanced features from hearing aids purchased directly from an audiologist. By cutting out the in-person consultations and hearing tests, you risk choosing a hearing aid thats not suitable for your hearing loss or ear anatomy. Additionally, more severe hearing loss conditions or underlying diseases cant be diagnosed or treated online.

In Person

Hearing aids purchased in person at a hearing clinic are best for those with severe-to-profound hearing loss or those who want to ensure they dont have any underlying medical conditions related to their hearing loss. In-person hearing tests are also more accurate than online evaluations, which ensures that you select the best devices for your hearing loss. For hands-on learners, purchasing hearing aids in an office provides personalized training and support to ensure you get the most out of your hearing aids and learn to use them correctly.

While in-person hearing aids have many benefits, there are some cons to consider. You may need to visit an office multiple times for hearing tests and fittings before receiving your hearing aids, which can be frustrating for busy seniors or those with mobility issues. These appointments and the level of care also translate to much higher prices. Prices for hearing aids sold in brick-and-mortar clinics are not usually listed online and vary by provider, so you cant determine costs until you visit your local audiologist.

Finding a Hearing Clinic

If you decide to purchase hearing aids from a company that requires in-person appointments, its easy to find a local hearing clinic. Most hearing aid companies have a button on their websites homepage that says something similar to Find a provider. From there, you can enter your ZIP code or neighborhood name to find local providers.

Tips for Choosing the Best Hearing Aids for You

1. Establish Your Budget

This one might feel like a no-brainer, but its essential to factor in all costs associated with hearing aids as you shop. Costs may include in-office visits to your hearing care professional, the cost of your hearing aids, accessories and disposable batteries, and any follow-up care (if not included in the purchasing price).

2. Understand Your Level of Hearing Loss

Make sure to take a hearing test before purchasing a pair of hearing aids, as different hearing aids are designed for varying levels of hearing loss. If you purchase your hearing aids in person from a hearing care professional, you will be required to take a hearing test. However, some hearing aids available online can be purchased without a test, so make sure to take a test before purchasing. Even if youve had a hearing test in the past, your hearing loss can change over time, so this is crucial. Understanding your hearing loss will help ensure you purchase the best devices for your needs.

3. Choose Your Hearing Goals

Hearing aids can address several hearing goals, so its best to set your goals upfront and choose hearing aids with the features and technology to help you reach them. We recommend discussing your goals with a hearing care professional, whether online or in person, to find the best devices for your needs. Here are some hearing goals to consider:

Reducing tinnitus

Enhancing speech understanding

Hearing soft voices

Enjoying music

Hearing better in social settings and background noise

Getting the most bang for your buck

Having stylish or discreet hearing aids

Receiving ongoing hearing care and support

Making remote adjustments with Bluetooth connectivity and a mobile app

4. Decide Which Features Are Most Important to You

The number of features on the market can be overwhelming, so its best to choose the ones that are the most important to you. Do you want Bluetooth technology and a mobile app? Maybe youre looking for tinnitus therapy, a variety of color options, or rechargeable batteries. Whatever youre seeking, make a priority list and keep it with you as you shop.

5. Find the Level of Service and Support Best Suited for Your Needs

Most of the providers on our list provide some level of follow-up support for customers. Sometimes that support is short-term, lasting a few months or years, or it may be lifetime support. Consider your hearing needs and decide what level of support youre looking for. Also, consider the quality of service. Does the provider offer virtual or in-person visits with an audiologist, or is there just a customer service number available?

6. Ask Your Friends and Family

Speaking with friends and family who have hearing aids is an excellent way to get recommendations. They can give you more details about their hands-on experience with the devices and providers, so you can understand all the pros and cons. Hearing aids might look great in glossy online photos or a marketing catalog, but knowing someones personal experience with them can make all the difference when making a final decision.

Are OTC hearing aids right for you?

Over-The-Counter (OTC) hearing aids are designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Getting a hearing test is a helpful first step.

Ideally, the individual would have a hearing test that indicates that they have a mild hearing loss and they are a person who feels capable of managing self-care, says Dr. Catherine Palmer, past president of the American Academy of Audiology and director of Audiology and Hearing Aids at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

If the test shows your hearing loss is in the mild to moderate range, and you dont mind figuring out how to use the device without professional support, you might be a good candidate for an OTC hearing aid. If your hearing loss is severe, youll need to work with an audiologist to get a prescription hearing aid that fits your needs. You should also schedule an appointment with a medical professional if your hearing loss is accompanied by or happens as a result of:

Pain

Injury

Fluid leaking from the ear

A buzzing sound

Dizziness

A plugged feeling in your ear

In these cases, you may have an infection or injury that a doctor needs to treat.

But if you check all the right boxes, an OTC hearing aid can be a convenient solution for your hearing loss. Worth noting: If you buy an OTC hearing aid and then discover that its more complicated to figure out than you expected, Palmer recommends scheduling an appointment with an audiologist or the audiologist's assistant to get help.

How much will insurance cover?

Many people who find themselves needing a hearing aid are surprised to learn that most health insurance plans generally dont cover prescription or OTC hearing aids. Theyre also surprised to learn how much a pair costs.

The average price for a pair of prescription hearing aids is $4,600, according to the National Council on Aging. Thanks to a new category of OTC hearing aids established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2022, Americans could save up to $3,000 by buying over-the-counter rather than getting a prescription hearing aid.

Medicare Part B does not cover hearing aids, but some of the Medicare Part C (Advantage Plans) may provide some coverage, according to Palmer. For example, some plans might provide an allowance up to $500 or $1,000 toward the total price of the hearing aids. In other cases, Palmer notes, some insurers are teaming up with third party payers to offer hearing aid coverage at different levels.

As you research OTC hearing aids, Its worth reviewing what, if any, coverage your health insurance provides. Even then, insurance policy language can be hard to parse. Unfortunately, understanding what is covered can be very confusing for the individual patient, she says. Most audiology practices have an individual who carefully checks insurance coverage for the patients coming to the practice in order to help the patient navigate this information.

And while most health insurance policies dont cover OTC hearing aids at this time, Palmer says this may change over time as they become more mainstream.

How can you tell if an OTC hearing aid brand is legit?

Not all OTC hearing aids are created equal, and in fact, some devices billed as hearing aids arent even hearing aids at all. It can be tricky to tell the difference, as many devices are marketed in similar ways as the real-deal on sites like Amazon.

So, how do you figure out if a device is legitimate?

First, chat with a pro: Given that the best advice is to start with a hearing test (which is covered by insurance), this visit provides an opportunity for the patient to get advice from the audiologist about an over-the-counter hearing aid or other options that might be appropriate for that individual, says Palmer.

Here are a few other signs to watch for:

Price: While many OTC hearing aids are less expensive than their prescription counterparts, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Expect to pay at least $300 per hearing aid, though many OTC models still cost upwards of $1,000.

While many OTC hearing aids are less expensive than their prescription counterparts, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Expect to pay at least $300 per hearing aid, though many OTC models still cost upwards of $1,000. Overblown claims: While hearing aids can certainly improve quality of life, they arent a miracle cure for hearing loss. Any brand that makes too many promises about the results is probably a scam.

While hearing aids can certainly improve quality of life, they arent a miracle cure for hearing loss. Any brand that makes too many promises about the results is probably a scam. Customization: Some products marketed as hearing aids are actually just amplifiers  and there is a difference. An amplifier will let you adjust the volume but doesnt include any advanced settings for, say, background noise reduction. A true hearing aid will allow you to modify settings for different situations, like a crowded restaurant or a one-on-one conversation, resulting in clearer sound.

Some products marketed as hearing aids are actually just amplifiers  and there is a difference. An amplifier will let you adjust the volume but doesnt include any advanced settings for, say, background noise reduction. A true hearing aid will allow you to modify settings for different situations, like a crowded restaurant or a one-on-one conversation, resulting in clearer sound. Warranty: Any legitimate hearing aid brand will stand behind its product, usually for at least a year. Some cover product defects only, but the best warranties will even cover loss or damage caused by the wearer.

Finally, opt for hearing aids that come with a generous trial period (most legit providers offer a 45-day window), so you can return the devices and get your money back if they dont work for you.

In the event someone has a bad experience with purchasing or using a product, Palmer recommends they report the brand to the Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov). Without reporting, appropriate agencies have no way to know if a manufacturer/distributor is not behaving appropriately in this space, she says.

In-ear vs. behind-the-ear hearing aids

People often focus on the technology in a hearing aid, which is important, but Palmer says a comfortable fit is also critical to success. If you stop wearing your hearing aids because they hurt or fall out often, then theyre not doing their job.

An in-ear hearing aid model fits inside the ear, like an earbud. A behind-the-ear (BTE) model loops over the top of the ear, with a receiver behind the ear and a small tube that goes inside the opening to the ear canal. In some cases, whether to go with an in-ear or BTE device can just be a matter of personal preference. But there are certain situations when youll want to choose one or the other:

Do you already wear glasses, oxygen tubes, or anything else behind your ears that could compete for space with the hearing aid? Some people report ear pain when they have both their glasses frame and a hearing aid behind their ears, for example.

What is your degree of hearing loss? Often BTE models offer more features, due to their greater size, so you can customize them more.

What is the shape and size of your ear canal? Some people find in-ear models less comfortable simply because of their ear shape.

How active are you? BTE hearing aids can be prone to falling out, which can be frustrating if you work out often. Theyre also more likely to produce a whistling sound in the wind, which might be troublesome if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

How much time do you want to devote to maintenance? In-ear models typically need the batteries replaced more often and must be cleaned more frequently so they dont get clogged with earwax.

Do you care if the hearing aid is obvious? In-ear models are more discreet.

The fit of OTC hearing aids is generally less customizable than prescription hearing aids. Some brands, however, like the Eargo, feature a petal-like design that adjusts to the shape of your ear canal. If you find that your OTC hearing aid is uncomfortable, an audiologist can assist in troubleshooting and improving the fit, Palmer adds.
Pharmaceuticals giant GSK responded to a recent ruling in the ongoing legal wranglings over its now-suspended blockbuster heartburn drug Zantac on Friday.

Zantac, or ranitidine, was launched by Glaxo Laboratories in 1981, and was pulled from shelves worldwide in 2019 and 2020 after a probable carcinogen was discovered in ranitidine products from a number of manufacturers.

Tens of thousands of cases are set to be heard before state courts in the US, after a federal judge threw out around 50,000 cases in December after ruling that the expert opinions being relied on by complainants were not scientifically sound.

The first of four bellwether cases in California is being brought by resident James Goetz, who claims to have developed bladder cancer after taking ranitidine.

Since the beginning of March, judge Evelio Grillo has presided over a Sargon hearing in the states superior court, which is a California-specific case law decision on the admissibility of expert opinion.

GSK said it disagreed with the court's decision that the expert opinion was admissible, postulating that there was no reliable evidence to suggest that the use of ranitidine increased the risk of cancer.

A population-based study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in September, however, found that ranitidine increased the risk of liver, lung, gastric and pancreatic cancer.

The court's decision did not mean that it agreed with the complainants scientific conclusions or their "litigation-driven science", but rather was only a ruling on a procedural matter.

GSK emphasised that the litigation was still at an early stage, adding that it would continue to press additional defences.

Additionally, the complainant still needed to prove the case at trial.

GSK said it had conducted 13 epidemiological studies looking at human data regarding the use of ranitidine.

The company said the scientific consensus was that there was no consistent or reliable evidence linking ranitidine use to an increased risk of any cancer.

GSKs ownership of the Zantac brand came from the merger of Glaxo Laboratories and Burroughs in 1995, and then the combination of GlaxoWellcome and SmithKline Beecham in 2000.

Ranitidine came off patent in 1997, and was subsequently marketed under various brand names by a number of pharmaceutical firms worldwide.

At 1045 GMT, shares in GSK were down 3.6% at 1,386p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Fourteen pro-Iran fighters were killed in US air strikes on Syria carried out in retaliation for a drone attack that killed an American and wounded six others, a war monitor said Friday.

A US contractor was killed, and another contractor and five US service personnel wounded, when a kamikaze drone "of Iranian origin" struck a maintenance facility on a base of the US-led coalition near Hasakeh in northeastern Syria, the Pentagon said.

In response, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that, at President Joe Biden's direction, he had ordered "precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps".

"The air strikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC," Austin said.

Iran-backed militias have a heavy presence across Syria, especially around the border with Iraq and south and west of the Euphrates in Deir Ezzor province, where the latest US strikes took place.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with a wide network of sources on the ground, said 14 people had been killed by US strikes, including nine Syrians.

"US strikes targeted a weapons depot inside Deir Ezzor city, killing six pro-Iran fighters, and two other fighters were killed by strikes targeting the desert of Al-Mayadeen, and six others near Albu Kamal," said the Observatory's head Rami Abdel Rahman.

On Friday morning, Iran-backed groups stationed near the city of Al-Mayadeen fired three missiles near a US base, said Abdel Rahman.

Two missiles struck in Syria's largest oil field, Al-Omar, which houses the US base, without causing damage, while the third landed on a civilian house nearby, he added.

The United States deploys about 900 troops in bases and posts across northeastern Syria as part of the international coalition fighting remnants of the Islamic State group (IS).

'Always Respond'

American troops also support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds' de facto army in the area, which led the battle that dislodged IS group from their last scraps of Syrian territory in 2019.

The US personnel have frequently been targeted in attacks by militia groups.

Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were medically evacuated to Iraq, the Pentagon said.

"We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing," said General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command.

When the strikes were announced, Biden had already travelled to Canada, where he is set to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In January, the US military said "three one-way attack drones" were launched against the coalition garrison at Al-Tanf in Syria, with one breaching its air defences and wounding two allied Syrian fighters.

The Observatory said it was likely Iran-backed militants had carried out that attack.

Last August, Biden ordered similar retaliatory strikes in Deir Ezzor province after several drones targeted a coalition outpost, without causing any casualties.

That attack came the same day that Iranian state media announced a Revolutionary Guard general had been killed days earlier while "on a mission in Syria as a military adviser".

Iran, a key ally of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, says it has deployed its forces in Syria at the invitation of Damascus and only as advisers.

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In the 70s and early 80s, the public sector companies such as Bharat Electronics and later private firms like Wipro, HCL and a few more filled in the gap for electronic products when the economy was controlled. Though the end consumer had limited choice, quality expectations were never lowered. Developing computing and telecom products for the local market, Indian firms learnt the nuances of product development and continued to innovate the overall product development cycle. During this time, a small workforce put together robust foundations for what was to come.These foundations proved to be of tremendous assistance when the economy opened up in the 90s. By this time, the Indian engineer had acquired skills to develop products around the latest architectures and with a high degree of quality.Since then, the Product Engineering industry has never looked back. Growing at an incredible pace and expanding the expertise areas beyond the telecom and computing domains to automotive, medical devices, industrial electronics, consumer electronics and of course, mobile devices. What's more these firms in India have learnt to leverage the best practices from across the domains they operate in. Example: the learning from a high-reliability product in automotive are deployed in security applications to ensure a fail-safe environment.Over the years, as India developed as an IT hub, the product design centers have been a crucial component of the industry. Both in terms of outsourced third party design centers and India development centers of MNCs. The Indian Development Centers of multinational firms and India based service providers have been stepping up their efforts in the recent years. We have seen the overall embedded exports growing at close to 40 percent CAGR for the past 6 years. Working across multiple domains, India's name has now become synonymous with offshore product development.The success of the product-engineering firms is clearly visible when we see the contribution they provide to global product engineering. India already has about 100,000 engineers contributing to the global electronic engineering team of about 1 million. We are already contributing 10 percent of the global electronic engineering value from our country. While engineering value is 10 percent, domestic electronic product consumption is about 2.5 percent (assuming $25 billion in a trillion dollar industry). As we continue to focus on increasing design value to about 25 percent, the question is how can we get the domestic consumption to more than 10 percent of global spends in the next decade.With India supplying innovative products to firms and geographies across the globe, the Indian subcontinent seems to have largely not been impacted by the product innovation cycle. Considering the highly optimized processes and having understood product architecture requirements, the Indian engineer is more than capable of delivering what's required for the local markets here. In recent years, the pace at which semiconductor and systems companies have established their own design centers in India has accelerated. The design services industry will continue to play a role in India's emerging semiconductor ecosystem and contributing to the growth for India's electronics industry.So what can be done by firms with successful products worldwide to extend their success to the Indian markets?I would like to describe three key aspects that firms need to address to be able to bridge the gaps between consumer needs and products being sold to them.one of the main aspects to increase consumption is increased localization of products. For designing products for India, the level of involvement of firms needs to be more. The designers have a tough ask of meeting the targeted costs while ensuring the seamless integration of applications and having the right user interface, preferably localized. I understand the Indian mobile phone market is poised to touch 450 million in the next 10 years. This is incredible and primarily due to the fact that the cell phone vendors and service providers have studied the local market well. There are phones at price points and with features that cater to almost all individual requirements. From high-end, PDAs to simple phones for the technophobe. They have even introduced products and services in regional languages.characteristic is the need for supported adoption that is required by the users here. We have seen the PC industry post excellent growth numbers this year. The first half of the year (according to MAIT Manufacturers Association for Information Technology) registered a growth of 11 percent. The annual sales are expected to be more than 7 million units. As we see this momentum in the Personal computing industry, I would like to reflect on what made this all possible. It was the small training center in small neighborhoods across the cities, whether big or small, that introduced the PC to the common man. This small yet significant impetus taken by firms and their franchises helped the SMEs and households see the benefits.For years, the PC industry has worked hard to educate and enable schools, colleges, and government offices. Even though this effort is still needed, the results are starting to show.Supported adoption goes beyond end consumers. Unlike users of mature markets, many Indian businesses need support in selecting the right products and solutions for their problems too. Many of the small office workspaces are not wired for IT. It takes time and money to install UPSs, wiring for UPS power and for network cabling. Wipro Infotech has helped many such customers save effort and costs on network and power infrastructure by using WiFi enabling the networks and using low cost laptops instead of workstations.The question we need to ask is what is the investment we can make to enable the market? It would be naive to expect a new technology to sell by itself.I see is the need for evolved business models. We are also seeing a managed services model emerging here, where the design services partner goes beyond just co-engineering the product The partner is also responsible for overlooking the manufacture of the product. Thus, his success is dependant on the products success. The value that the partner brings to the table is his knowledge of the local, market, his presence in the ecosystem and his experience in global productengineering.We need to realize approaches outlined above were not brought about instantly by industries that have been successful. Most of these practices were realized by firms with deep understanding of the end consumer with feet on the ground. Practices that worked in other markets did not always yield the same results here. They listened to their consumers moreover they observed their functions and then moved the ideas back to the drawing board. In other words, they went beyond the usual to bring in innovation to their daily business practices.We know that innovation is not always big, transformational or revolutionary. It's the incremental changes made to better a product or process or business that finally adds up to success. Innovation is a key pillar for any organisation's success. Innovation is applied creativity. In today's context, it's not unanticipated that innovation plays an extremely important role. However, we need to understand the following basic essential guidelines.we must ensure that technological and managerial innovation go hand in hand. When technology innovations outstrip management innovations, the benefits fall through the crack. It is like a car with a powerful engine but a wobbly chassis. It cannot get far. It is therefore important for companies to have the managerial depth and sound understanding of customer's product requirements.work on creating an entrepreneurial spirit within the organization (within business units and project teams) that allows natural innovators the space to grow. Organizations need to build a culture that rewards risk, encourages entrepreneurship, celebrates success and upholds the rule of law more than any other. Only this will enable the teams to come forward and innovatecollaborate and co-innovate in the evolving ecosystem. Just like the day of the isolated innovator in a forgotten laboratory is over. The ecosystem is absolutely necessary to take a brilliant idea off the ground. Remember, businesses are good at getting better but poor at getting different. It is very difficult for successful organizations to develop disruptive innovations that would threaten the basis of their success.The market for electronic products in India is huge in almost all domains that the firms here are specializing in. In this context it's important to show the world that we have the infrastructure and the capability for sustaining the complete electronic product lifecycle i.e. from design, develop, test and manufacture.It is time that the firms today take up the mantle, collaborate within this ecosystem and apply innovation to design products for the Indian subcontinent.
The past decade saw the Indian IT industry placing India on the world map. It helped create a new, contemporary and topical peg of recall for India: Software Engineering and design applications. The IT/ITES industry made very significant employment and revenue contributions to the country and as it graduates and matures further, this will only multiply. The fact that the industry contributed towards 45 percent of incremental urban employment speaks volumes of its important role in the India growth story.Over the last two years, as it has acquired width (with expansion of the base) and depth (quality and content of work) the industry has braved challenges as never seen before with issues of slowdown in growth, pricing pressures, protectionism in key markets, among others. These have had a definite impact; but in the short term. As a maturing industry, with a distinct and strong charter of growth, we all have to look at the medium to long-term perspective and introduce innovative solutions to reach there. It is important that we focus on the certainties of our industry and take advantage of them. Playing to our strengths, while addressing weaknesses is the obvious method.Long-term certainties influencing tectonic shifts in the ground realities include demographic, business, social and environmental global megatrends. These are fostering new opportunities for the industry, which will fructify by 2020. Megatrends such as irreversible decline in working age population in Europe and Japan, Asian economies growing twice as fast as developed economies, increased technology adoption and globalization will have far reaching implications on the industry. These megatrends are already seeding new verticals such as public sector, healthcare, media and utilities; new customer segments including small and medium businesses (SMBs) and new geographies such as greater outsourcing in BRIC, GCC, Japan and Rest of the World (ROW). It is important to note that 80 percent of the incremental revenue growth by 2020 will be driven by opportunities outside of the current core markets, verticals and customer segments.As in the past decade, going forward, the IT/ITES industry will impact the country by providing technology and paving way for inclusive growth. The IT/ITES industry has the potential to further transform India and play a major role in the development of the countrys key sectors: education, healthcare, infrastructure, citizen services and financial inclusion. The technology-enabled provision of basic services can take the benefits of IT to over 30 million citizens each year and put India on a path to prosperity in the year 2020.With this vision achieved, the industry can contribute up to 9 percent of Indias GDP and generate 30 million employment opportunities (direct and indirect) in 2020.While the industry has the potential to generate revenues of US$ 225 billion in 2020, a portion of this opportunity is at risk if continuing problems are not tackled soon. 40 percent of previous priority initiatives, especially structural changes e.g. tertiary education reform, have not been implemented yet. Low employability of existing talent with only 10-15 percent employable graduates in business services and 26 percent of employable engineers in technology services continues to be a major bottleneck. Infrastructure development is largely constrained to the nine cities, which contribute more than 95percent of Indias exports and development of tier 2/3 cities has not taken off in a planned manner. The lack of a supportive fiscal environment with a long-term policy framework is also leading to competition from other low-cost countries including China, Philippines and from Eastern Europe with potential erosion of the India opportunity.We must recognize what these trends, opportunities and challenges mean for India as a country. Indias economy has grown at the compounded annual rate of 7 percent a year over the past 10 years and continued growth at this rate implies a two-fold increase in personal consumption by 2020. To sustain this momentum, around 20-30 million people will need to be added to middle or high-income groups annually. To enable inclusive growth, India will need to address demand-supply gaps in the key areas of healthcare, financial services, education and public services. Traditional models have been ineffective, slow or expensive in increasing access to services in rural areas. For example, around 50 per cent of Indias population is beyond the range of primary healthcare centres and has little access to trained doctors. Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions can enable new service models (e.g., telemedicine, mobile banking) that can overcome the limitations of traditional models in healthcare, financial services, education and public services in India.In addition, India has the opportunity to emerge as one of the top three global IT Innovation hubs driven by opportunities arising in new areas of climate change, clinical research and mobile applications.To realise its growth potential in the next 12 years, industry stakeholders including Government, companies and NASSCOM will need to act together in an unprecedented manner. Concerted action is required to capture the opportunities and mitigate the risks.
OF LATE I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE different pieces of the story are beginning to point towards a common vector. The ecosystem seems to be building. These events reinforce in me the strong belief that India cangiven the right conditionsbecome a silicon design powerhouse. I have been fortunate to be involved in this field at a time when software serviceslet alone silicon designwas unheard of in India.Over the past decade and more, even before the software services companies were carving out an impressive resume of global clients and convincing the world of the India value proposition, a succession of semiconductor companies decided to come to India to leverage the two greatest advantages of Indian IT - cost and access to talent.But why a powerhouse only now? you might ask. Companies have been leveraging Indian expertise in this field since 1985, when Texas Instruments first set up shop in Bangalore. While the value proposition is the same as in the software services sector, the difference is that silicon design or IC design needs an entire ecosystem in place before we can think of India as an IC design powerhouse. And this has just begun to happen.One very important element in the IC design domain is Electronic Design Automation (EDA). Universities that train students in Microelectronics and access to state-of-the-art design infrastructure are some other key components. Today, it is this partnership in India between semiconductor companies, EDA companies, universities, hardware and software vendors that has just begun to flower.The other consideration is purely financial. The entry barrier for firms interested in getting into IC design is very high in terms of investment. And very few Indian companies were willing to go full-fledged into this field, because starting services companies with assured revenue streams was far easier. But this is clearly changing.The recent increase in Indian companies engaged in IC design with several hundred of these companies active todayhas opened many avenues of partnership, IP development and outsourcing among multinational semiconductor companies and Indian companies. And it is not the menial tasks that are being outsourced by the multinationals to the Indian design houses. In several domains, the outsourcing companies have competencies that exceed those of the semiconductor companies themselves. This allows the Indian companies to get involved in core activities of the design process. This rapidly increasing partnership between multinational companies and their Indian partners is fueling the growth of IC design activities and talent in India.So what really happened to make India a lead player in this space? As we get deeper into the nanometer-gigahertz era with tighter time to market pressures, semiconductor companies have realized that all components of the integrated System-on-Chip (SoC) cannot be built in one location. This has led several Indian companies to build design IP or provide design services.In addition, companies located in India, have been stretching the product development envelope. Companies like Texas Instruments (TI), as well as many of our peer companies, are stretching the envelope of product developmentright from India.Several industry-first products that extend the capabilities in terms of highest performance, lowest power, massive degrees of integration are now being successfully driven out of India. We are stretching the product development envelope right here from India.The large number of U.S. patents already filed or being filed in the U.S. patent office (well over 200 by TI engineers in India alone) is testimony to the innovative design activities happening in India. In terms of product criticality as well, India has moved from being a destination where safe projects used to be done to one where mission critical projects are now being entrusted with confidence. IC designers in India have built execution credibility over the last several yearsthus opening increasing windows of opportunity. These two factorsthe need to access Indian talent and the credibility that India has built now, make me feel bullish that there is a huge potential for silicon design companies in India.However, we need to do a bit of internal assessment. It is nave to think that India can become a silicon design powerhouse without the requisite talent. While there are a large number of people who are very good at IC design, supply is far too short of demand.The only way to set up a talent base is by attracting the U.S.-based Indian talent back to India. These experts in the U.S.with many successes and bruises under their beltscan drive the inflexion point of India's potential in becoming a silicon design powerhouse. They can now get to innovate and develop world-class products in India and be closer to the booming Asia market/customers. The compensation levels in India have become attractive as well. All this with the benefits of being closer to their family and friends in India.In Texas Instruments alone, we have added almost four times the number of U.S. expert returnees in 2002, compared to 2001. They have brought with them 10 to 20 years of experience in this field and have been a tremendous value-add to our success. I see this continuing in even higher proportion in 2003 and beyond.I firmly believe that the U.S. returnees to India hold the key to taking India to the next level where it can be recognized globally as a powerhouse in IC design. These design experts, residing in the U.S., can truly take India from good to great. Today, it can be a great win-win for them personally and for their country. India already has a readymade blueprint to emulate. It is pertinent to remember that expatriates who were enticed to return to their homeland and set up companies largely drove the Taiwanese high-tech revolution.Now that we have discussed the factors that could help India become a silicon design powerhouse, let us examine why India cannot become one. The difference in bureaucratic control between 1985 and today is like night and day. But despite the large strides made in the area of governance, bureaucracy still remains the single biggest impediment in setting up a unit in India.However, as long as companies stay in the domain of bits and bytes and transfer design data electronically, they are safe. But the minute you begin to consider any business that involves shipping components and samples of siliconatoms if you willyou run into the famed bureaucratic stonewall that slows down your business. But for an IC design company, it makes sense to locate the design, hardware acceleration boxes and the characterization or test facilities in the same location. This is where atoms need to co-exist with the bits and bytes. And delays could result. There could be customs clearance delays, and shipments are liable to languish in ports for days, throwing customer schedules into disarray.Having said that, I must say that the government has done more in the last 3 to 4 years than has been done in the previous decade. Nowadays, we rarely have cause to complain. Bits and bytes are moving much fasterand we are beginning to see some acceleration in the atoms, too! Early planning with the agencies on what is in the pipeline helps in reducing the cycle time, we have learned. More fundamentally, the attitude and appreciation of the business criticality among the government staff is now for all to see and experience.But I would submit that in spite of all the changes, we should constrain ourselves to focus on becoming a silicon design powerhouse.The other impediment towards India becoming a silicon design power house, is the fact that many designers in India are not systems savvy and do not have the advantage of having a local customer base. These are not insurmountable challenges, but needs focus to close the gap. While the India semiconductor market is small, the rest of Asia is booming and having key design experts interface with customers worldwide, especially in Asia, can help connect the design teams better with the customer needs.The future aheadToday I am excited to see well over 1000 key companies in the space of silicon design and embedded software in India! Has the world taken notice of this quiet transformation that has happened? Not yet. But the writing on the wall is clear. NASSCOM and MAIT, apex bodies in India in software and hardware respectively, have both identified silicon design and embedded software as an emerging opportunity for India. An Electronic Design Association of India is also being formed to position India's strengths in silicon design globally.It is my belief that by the time we end this decade and look back, the years from now would be seen as the pivotal years when it all added up, and India emerged as a powerhouse in silicon design and embedded software.
It's late 1998 and three men are working overtime to define the initial technical plan for a startup. They're jammed into an office space no bigger than the average bedroom. The scene has a familiar ring to it. '98 is still the heart of the dot-com craze, and similar setups are in place all over the valley-in San Francisco lofts, Palo Alto apartments, Stanford dorm rooms, and the like. These are days when everyone thinks they have a shot at being the next Yahoo!But this particular setup is a little different. The three men in the tiny office are not really traditional "dot-comers." They have all just left senior positions at Oracle, and, to make things more interesting, the Oracle stock that they left on the table is on its way to quadrupling in value since their departure. The three men are, no doubt, a little uneasy about their decision to start out on their own. It seems they have put their careers on the line.Yet are they really taking a big risk? Because the other unique thing about this scene is that the office that the three men are working from--though small--is the furthest thing from a loft, dorm room, or out-of-the-way office building. Here, the parking lot looks like it might be a combined Mercedes and BMW dealership, with sparkling new examples of German auto engineering on all sides. This is no ordinary setting for a startup. We're on peaceful Sand Hill road and the sign on the door of the building reads "Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers."VC IncubationWhat were these three guys doing at the world's top VC firm? The three men mentioned above are Asera co-founders Kenneth Ng, Anil Nori, and Chin Hong. The story goes that Ken Ng "bumped into" Vinod Khosla in mid '98 and Khosla pitched him an idea that he had for a new company--now Asera. Ng, Nori, and Hong became Khosla's hand-picked management team, and the three were "incubated" in a manner of speaking by the VC firm. Khosla had hired someone from Stanford Business School to write up a business plan for the prospective company and it was the three engineers' job, in Khosla's words, "to decide if it was a good enough plan.""In a sense I feel spoiled," concedes Anil Nori about living his first entrepreneurial venture with the backing of Kleiner Perkins from day one. "I've heard stories about going from venture capitalist to venture capitalist," he says in a manner that would make many young entrepreneurs mad with envy. But to be fair, Nori and the team were not just along for the ride.It's true that Khosla and KPCB had already agreed on the funding structure from day one. It's also true that they were waiting for the founders to prove to them that they could build a viable business. Says Khosla, The question wasn't what the deal would be, but if we would do it." While Nori, Hong, and Ng were still in the tiny office, watching their abandoned Oracle stock increase in value, and trying to prove that they could make Khosla's idea a reality, Kleiner was just looking on and waiting for the results. Khosla explains, "We wanted to know--can we do it? In how much time? Is it competitive?"Soon more people came on board. "Money wasn't a problem," Nori explains, "Vinod believes in recruiting key guys in each area." The object was to reach critical mass quickly in order to execute the plan. In January of '99 the team presented the plan to all the Kleiner partners and the company was funded. In February, Asera had a core team of 30 people in place.The BusinessSo what was this idea that Vinod Khosla just had to bring to life? Nori explains, "At a company like Cisco, all interactions are done over the Web-from customer interactions, to interactions with the sales force. Cisco brings in 80 percent to 90 percent of its revenue over the Web. But to achieve that they spend millions of dollars and have an IT department that numbers in the thousands." The Asera goal was to build an architecture that would offer the same level of Internet integration as a pioneer like Cisco, but achieve it at sharply lower cost and offer the system as a service to the masses.It was a time when the concept of "everything as services"--championed by Khosla--was just beginning to emerge. The ultimate plan involved offering any number of application solutions for B2B companies in a customized framework that would offer a unified look and feel, as well as a unified business process. The goal was to make the product highly service oriented.Admittedly, the initial Asera concept sounds like a pitch for a B2B-based ASP (application service provider). But Nori assures that Asera has grown into much more than that. He maintains, "Asera is not a pure ASP. Asera provides a service that is customized for our customer...and where customers can plug in their own applications as well. Typical ASPs offer little scope for customization and personalization." Asera is also unique in that it generates revenue through activation charges and subscription fees--making it a kind of monthly service for its customers. Says Nori, "It's like subscribing to a phone company--you try out call waiting and if you don't like it you drop it. That's a very attractive model for the customer."For now, none can argue with Asera on paper. The company has just received $115 million in series C funding-on top of a previous $50 million. Asera's investors have tagged the company with an impressive valuation of approximately a billion dollars-up from a previous $250 million for the series B round. "It's a huge market space," says Vinod Khosla. But will the company live up to the multiples? Asera will undoubtedly not be alone in the space--but it's hard to ignore the power of the Khosla/KPCB pedigree.Taking On the GiantsAll of this said, the quest for success, per se, is not really the end of the road for this blossoming Kleiner-incubated venture. Asera is now housed in its own building--a brilliant white structure in Belmont, CA. The company has over 350 employees and has customers like BP Amoco and Novell. But there's more to be achieved.Anil Nori asks himself the question, "Can I build a company that can topple Oracle?"
The banking crisis in the US and Europe could provide Indian IT firms with an opportunity to acquire captives technology units of banking and financial firms in a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, analysts say.

IT companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant had acquired parts of the captive businesses of banks including Citi, ABN Amro and UBS after the 2008 crisis. Similar opportunities are likely to come up in the second half of 2023-24, analysts told. Though some others anticipate increased investments on captive units.

We expect there could be some big captive buyouts where the big services firms leverage their relatively healthy balance sheets to push forward a big win, said Elena Christopher, chief research officer at business research consultancy HfS Research.

Over the last few weeks, the US has witnessed its second and third largest banking failures in history, while Swiss bank UBS had to buy out a failing Credit Suisse in Europe for over $2 billion. HfS Research expects Indian services to benefit as most of the banks have core modernisation investments to make to stay competitive as they recover from this situation. This is expected to put a stronger onus to move to an outsourcing model and away from global capability centres (GCCs) to handle operations and IT support.

Kotak Securities in a report said higher focus on cost take outs among banking and financial companies amid the ongoing crisis will generate opportunities in the form of application rationalisation, higher offshoring, captive carve outs, enabling automation, and vendor consolidation, said a report.

Following the financial crisis of 2008, TCS had attained Citis India captive BPO unit for $505 million and Wipro acquired Citis IT arm for $127 million, along with their respective employee base. Both of these transactions helped the IT service providers onboard Citigroup as a strategic client.

Cognizant had acquired Indian captives of UBS for $75 million along with a 5-year $442-million service agreement from the bank. Some of the new deals that come up due to the current banking crisis could also factor relatively long partnerships with the providers, experts said.

The Credit Suisse-UBS merger especially is expected to result in additional synergies in this space. "In India, Credit Suisse has a captive operation. There could be some justification emerging from the merger, said Mrinal Rai, principal analyst at technology research and advisory firm ISG. It is yet to be seen how the combined entity decides to plan its technology investment strategy, he said.

According to the Kotak report, Credit Suisse and UBS have a merged technology spend of over $7 billion, which they will seek to reduce by eliminating redundancies. The company (UBS) suggested Swiss franc 2 billion (2 billion) cost savings would be from the integration of IT systems, the report said. M&A of such scale provide significant opportunities for service providers to sign deals with long term annuity revenue streams, while also consolidating out the long tail of vendors.

Some analysts claim the ongoing crisis will lead to an uptick in GCC investments in the country, arguing that the GCC ecosystem has evolved a lot from the 2008 crisis stage. Lalit Ahuja, founder and CEO of GCC consulting firm ANSR, for example, expects global banks to invest more on captives rather than selling them.

My take is completely the contradict. Without divulging details, we are currently in conversations with seven new US banks that are in the process of setting up a GCC in India. The whole current SVB (Silicon Valley Bank) crisis has only strengthened their resolve from risk mitigation, controls, and accelerating digitisation perspectives.

Even if an incumbent bank is looking at an opportunity to monetise or sell its GCC, the takeover is always in return for some business consideration like a multi year forward looking business deal, Ahuja said. They don't have a correlating opportunity to give it to them in this economically unstable environment, he added.

While the current crisis is not expected to be as severe as the one earlier, experts supporting this view said India could see additional GCC investments as companies may seek to strengthen capabilities. The country already housing more than 175 GCCs of the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector that employ almost 300,000 people.
Menlo Security, a leading cloud security company, today announced the expansion of its presence in India and new investment in the region as this week the company officially opens its regional Centre of Excellence (CoE) based in Bangalore.

With close to 10% of the companys global staff based in Bangalore, the CoE serves as an R&D facility for new technologies, and as a support hub for customers in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region and around the globe. Clients include some of the biggest organisations in APAC, including banks, airlines, and world-leading technology firms.

Growing at approximately 20% year-on-year in the region, Menlo Security plans to recruit engineers to supplement the Bangalore team and help drive the development and roll-out of security products around the world.

Poornima DeBolle, Menlo Securitys Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, who is in India to officially open the Centre of Excellence, said, Menlo is at a very exciting stage of its growth, and India is an important part of our growth story. We are making significant investments in this market with a multi-functional product team of R&D, security research, cybersecurity training, and global customer support and professional services.

In addition to tapping into the incredible talent in India for our product development, we are also excited about bringing our market leading Isolation Platform to this market to help with cybersecurity challenges created by increased Internet penetration. We see an increase in Highly Evasive Adaptive Threats (HEAT) targeting Indian companies and governments. We look forward to partnering with leading cybersecurity channels in India to deliver protection against web and email threats.

Our aim is to develop products in India. Growth of internet penetration in the country has created its own challenges as it means more people working in the web browser and a new breed of attackers and threats. For us, it is an opportunity to recruit and work with the very best talent and bring to market best of breed products.

Menlo Private Access (MPA), launched in 2022, was the first product to be developed in India, providing a new approach to Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) with fast, seamless access to internal applications without relying on legacy VPN services. It helps secure web applications from untrusted users and endpoints without impacting employee productivity, and with Menlos unique Isolation Core(), isolates threats before they reach the end user.

The rise in HEAT attacks

Menlo Security has identified a new class of threats that target the web browser. Known as Highly Evasive Adaptable Threats (HEAT) they employ various techniques to evade detection by multiple layers in the current security stack, including firewalls, Secure Web Gateways, sandboxing, URL Reputation, and phishing detection. In 2022, the Menlo Labs threat team observed a 224% increase in HEAT attacks in the second half of 2021, and after analysing more than a million malicious URLs, found that 69% of them leveraged HEAT tactics.

Menlo Securitys solutions are deployed by more than 100 government agencies throughout the world, including the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), international governments, and State, Local, and Education Departments (SLED) across the United States. Using the Menlo Cloud Security Platform enables organisations to isolate their networks, employees, and data from malware, ransomware, spyware and zero-day exploits. Eight of the 10 largest banks, Fortune 500 companies and FSIs are currently using Menlo Security.
Cloud major Oracle announced the availability of Java 20 programming language and development platform. Java 20 (Oracle JDK 20) delivers thousands of performance, stability, and security improvements, including platform enhancements that will help developers improve productivity and drive innovation and growth across their organizations, said the company.

"The latest announcement of Java 20 is a testimony of the very same commitment as we continue to fulfill our promise of utmost performance. Since its launch many decades ago, Java has proved to be a critical enabler of growth across many organizations globally and especially in India, the reliance on Java is evident," Prasad Subramanian, Senior Software Development Director, Oracle India, said in a statement. Moreover, the company mentioned that the latest Java Development Kit (JDK) provides updates and improvements with seven JDK Enhancement Proposals (JEPs).

The majority of the updates are follow-up features that improve on previous releases' functionality. "For more than 25 years, Java has empowered developers to design and build the next generation of robust, scalable, and secure applications. The innovative new enhancements in Java 20 reflect the vision and invaluable efforts the global Java community has contributed throughout Java's existence," Georges Saab, senior vice president of development, Java Platform and chair, OpenJDK Governing Board, Oracle, said in a statement. Oracles said that it delivers new Java feature releases every six months via a predictable release schedule.
VTEX (NYSE: VTEX), the global enterprise digital commerce platform for premier brands and retailers, has announced ramping up its global operations, including India, where it has already bagged key mandates from Motorola and Whirlpool.

The platform enables merchants to deploy, optimize, test and scale advanced B2C and B2B commerce experience through a composable and complete commerce, marketplace and OMS solution. Going far beyond just an e-commerce solution, VTEX has been helping brands and retailers globally drive rapid and efficient growth. In 2022, VTEXs GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) grew 31.3% (in USD, reaching US$12.7 billion) meaning the total value of goods transacted by all customers using the VTEX platform. It also proves that VTEXs customers outpaced the industry growth, as retail e-commerce sales worldwide grew only 9.7% in 2022 according to Statista.

Despite the macroeconomic uncertainties for 2023, VTEX intends to continue to outperform the market while improving its margins and supporting customers to direct their investments toward increasing profitability in the digital commerce field. VTEX is a leader in digital commerce platforms and is trusted by over 2,600 customers, including Carrefour, Mondelez, Samsung, Under Armour, Unilever, Walmart, and others, having over 3,400 active online stores across 38 countries. Using all its expertise in commerce, VTEX has recently conducted a global survey about retail profitability, and recommends focusing on three key investments to drive long-term growth:

Get more from customers you already have

Most of a brands and retailers profits come from its most loyal clients, so investing in these selected ones can make a big difference in profitability.

Make an inventory and supply your strength

VTEX research shows that 55% of brands are still in the early stages of the omnichannel maturity curve. Investing in this strategy  specifically in inventory management, order management and supply chain - can improve customer satisfaction.

Engage with customers in new ways

The digital commerce market is fiercer and more competitive than ever. Therefore, brands need to better engage with consumers through videos and immersive product pages to stand out from competitors and thus increase conversion rates.

To support its customers worldwide, VTEX counts on a highly trained and experienced team of commerce specialists, solution engineers and architects, who help CIOs and CTOs balance flexibility and maintenance to leverage their business advantage with the right architecture. In this context, the global enterprise digital commerce platform - named Visionary for three years in a row by Gartner Magic Quadrant -, has recently improved even more its organizational structure. To support its business strategy for 2023, VTEX has appointed Prakash Gurumoorthy as the General Manager of EMEA and APAC regions.

Prakash is a well-regarded, award-winning digital leader with over 20 years of proven experience in various roles at multinational companies. Before joining VTEX, he built the iconic BORN Group, a global agency that helps brands with digital transformation. He is also a part-time faculty empowering young minds and mentoring companies in IIT Madras start-up ecosystem. Prakash is a graduate of BITS, Pilani, and an MBA in Marketing & Operations from K J Somaiya Institute of Management.

The APAC and EMEA regions including India, are very important markets for us, and we are looking to have big brands on board this year across retail, auto, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. Our focus is on responsible growth based on customer success and experience. At VTEX, we aim to attract and retain our customers not only for the product itself but also for the specialized knowledge of our team, both in business and in technology for digital commerce, explains Gurumoorthy.
Leading smartphone and smart TV brand Xiaomi India on Friday announced a collaboration with the United Way India to upskill the transgender community in the country.

The partnership aims to upskill 100 transgender persons across Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru with the knowledge of laptop, computer, and mobile handset repair to enhance their employability and provide sustainable livelihood options to them.

The skill development programme is a gateway for the transgender community to secure jobs with leading mobile companies and pave the way for their entrepreneurial journey, said the company.

"Our collaboration with United Way India is a testament to our firm belief in the transformative power of technology, as it can empower individuals and drive progress to greater heights," said Muralikrishnan B, President at Xiaomi India.

"We are delighted to work towards upskilling the transgender community and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society and providing them with a sustainable future," he added.

The selected individuals' training programme will span over four months and incorporate an experiential learning approach.

The programme will cover different modules such as basic electronics, software and hardware, and hands-on practical training.

United Way India, will identify beneficiaries in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru regions based on their willingness, attitude, and aptitude to participate in the training.

Upon completing the programme, trainees will actively engage in income-generating activities and self-employment ventures.

"We are thrilled to onboard Xiaomi India to improve the quality of life for transgender persons and their families with this skill-building programme. With a focus on building equitable communities in India, we support inclusive access to opportunities for all and are pleased to collaborate with Xiaomi to serve diverse population groups," said Jayanti Shukla, CEO, United Way India.
If there was a heaven on earth, it will definitely look like a big happy family. People often do unimaginable things to keep it that way. In 1966, when the news of his fathers death shook the young Azim Hashim Premji (Chairman, Wipro), something that gave him the strength was his thoughts about his family. Far away from home, the 21-year-old boy took a bold decision  to give up his academic career at Stanford University, where he was studying engineering, and return home. He started from where his father (Muhammed Hashim Premji) left off, taking over the family business. Hashim, a true patriot who even turned down a direct invitation from Muhammad Ali Jinnah to go to Pakistan, was also an established businessman, who incorporated Western Indian Vegetable Products Ltd., based out of Amalner  a small town in the outskirts of Maharashtra.

Despite the eternal void created by his fathers demise, towards the end of 1966, the young entrepreneur started his entrepreneurial journey. A born leader, Azim soon diversified the company into manufacturing bakery fats, toiletries, hair care soaps, lighting products, and hydraulic cylinders. But at his heart, he always kept a boutique space for his engineering days in the Stanford University. In the early 80s, when the opportunities from the emerging IT industry came knocking on the doors and when the business world hardly recognized the dawn of a new era, Azim was quick to pounce. He in truth took an excellent advantage of the market gap left behind by the withdrawal of IBM from India.

New Roads & Different Destinations

In 1982, the name of the company was changed to Wipro Limited, as the emerging entrepreneur commenced the companys journey in the high-technology sector by manufacturing minicomputers, owing thanks to its technological collaboration with Sentinel Computer Corporation  an American software company. The years followed witnessed the massive transformation of Wipro, shifting its focus from soaps to software. Azim was strongly motivated and driven by his ambition to perform better than what his family (business) was doing and adapt to a faster track of growth than they were in the past.

Through the decades that followed, Azim wrote his own anecdote as Wipro grew to become one of the global leaders in the IT sector while also expanding rapidly in the consumer market. The company formed dozens of business associations with organizations across the world, growing at an amazing pace. Welcoming the 21st century with its entry into the internet services segment was yet another milestone in Azims journey. Wipro joined hands with KPN (Royal Dutch Telecom) to form a joint venture  Wipro Net Limited  to bring internet services to India. In 2000, Wipro was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and after merely a couple of years, the company became the first software technology and services company in India to be ISO 14001 certified.

The Sweetest of All Recognition

Over the years, awards & recognition were poured on Azim in abundance by the entire country and often the international business world. While the Manipal Academy of Higher Education recognized him with an honorary doctorate in 2000, five years after, the Government of India honored him with Padma Bhushan for his outstanding contributions to the trade and commerce sector. In 2011, he was honored by the Government of India yet again; this time with the award of Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in the country. The sweetest of all the recognition that were poured on him over the past five decades would be a unique degree that he once missed out on  a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. However, its an irony that the cost of the great entrepreneurs success was not just hard work, but also less time spent with his beloved family, which decades ago started driving him to this beautiful destination.

Today, Azim has completed a giant cycle of success and is rightly focused on giving back his success to the people of this country. He was never thrilled by being rich. In fact, way back in 2001, he founded the Azim Premji Foundation, a non-profit organization that strives hard to establish a better educational system in government schools across rural India. In 2013, Azim became the first Indian to be a part of the international campaign  The Giving Pledge  led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to encourage the wealthiest people to give back to the society around them. He is the third non-American entrepreneur to sign up for this philanthropic initiative after Richard Branson and David Sainsbury.

Bidding Adieu

After more than five decades and concocting memorable revolutions in the sector, Azim recently stepped down from the chairmanship of Wipro, passing the reins to his son Rishad. He will continue to serve on the board as non-executive director and founder-chairman. In his last letter to Wipro shareholders, Azim wrote: If we look back at the Wipro journey in the last seven decades, from a small vegetable oil company to a leading information technology company that we are today, we have evolved by constantly re-inventing ourselves and creating new opportunities. This has been possible because of the deep commitment and hard work of Wiproites and the core values that have remained our guiding light.

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Success is every persons dream. But only few can make it up to attain it. Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry (Emeritus Chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group), after graduating from Imperial College London, Pallonji like any other scion ventured into his fathers real estate business, to assist him. Even though it was a family business, Pallonji began his career from the scratch by supporting his father and took over the company after his fathers demise. Gradually, with his constant hard work and zeal he expanded the business into various sectors such as construction, textiles, engineering goods, shipping, publication, biotechnology and power. The Group also owns an extensive range of companies that include SP International, Afcons Construction, Sterling & Wilson, Eureka Forbes and more.

Pallonji is a very media shy person. He always chooses to maintain a low profile and has also stayed away from the scandals and controversies. In spite of his introvert personality, he has grown to be a splendid business tycoon and holds the net worth of $16.9 billion. He is also the largest individual stakeholder of the esteemed Tata Group. It all started when his father Shapoorji Mistry brought the Tata Sons shares in 1930s and eventually the equity has grown to be 18.9 percent today, making Pallonji the fifth richest Indian. This is when the ties between the Tatas and Mistrys began. It is been speculated in corporate world that the Mistrys never had a warm acceptance into Tata Group until Noel Tata, half brother of Ratan Tata, married Pallonjis eldest daughter Aloo, post which the relation between the two eased.

It is also stated that on Pallonjis insistence, Ratan Tata proposed Cyrus Mistry, second son of Pallonji, as the Chairman of Tata Group. In 2012, Cyrus took charge as the Chairman, but within four years, on October 24, 2016 the board of Tata Group removed him from the chair, citing management differences. The business associations of these two families also include the constructions of the The Taj Mahal Palace Tower and The Oberoi Hotel. They also took the responsibility of the renovation of the two iconic creation post the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008.

Shapoorji Groups Establishment

The construction icon Shapoorji Group traces its origin back in 1865 with the joint venture along with Littlewood Pallonji. At a slow pace the company went on to work on small projects such as nuclear establishment stadiums & auditoriums, factories, airports, skyscrapers, roads & expressways, power plant and many more. It is also renowned for constructing some most risky creation such as reservoir on Malabar Hills.

Later in 1973, under Pallonjis leadership, the Group went on to build some masterpieces in Mumbai, which includes Taj Mahal Tower, The Reserve Bank of India, The Bank of India Building, HSBC Bank, Breach Candy Hospital, The Trident and lot more. In 1976, it constructed the The Palace of the Sultan of Oman in Oman; this marked the companys first international project. It was the defining moment for the company. Since then there is no looking back for the Shapoorji Group. Pallonji always believed in giving the best, no compromise on quality and on time delivery has largely elevated their reputation.

The Indian born Pallonji gave up his Indian citizenship to marry an Irish born Patsy Perin Dubash and obtained Irish citizenship in 2003 as India doesnt permit dual citizenship. He has two sons, Shapoor Mistry and Cyrus Mistry, and two daughters, Aloo and Laila. His intense love for horse is why he owns a stud farm in Pune with more than hundred horses.

Awards &Accolades

Pallonji for his outstanding contribution towards the trade and industry has been honored with the countrys third highest civilian Award Padma Bhushan in 2016 by the Government of India. In 2008, Manju Namburu has penned a short biography on Pallonji titled The Moguls of Real Estate. Later in 2012, he chose to retire and passed on the legacy to his eldest son Shapoor Mistry.
Rahul Bhatia, the co-founder of the countrys largest and low budget carrier IndiGo Airlines, recently made headline with the strained relationship with his long time partner Rakesh Gangwal. They indulged in a corporate rift over the alleged corporate governance lapse. Rakesh had sent across a letter to Securities and Exchange Board of India, charging that there is an uncertain transaction between InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE) Group and IndiGo, IGE Groups unusual privilege under the shareholders agreement (SHA) and the women directors onboarding. These were the three complaints Rakesh charged. While Rahul countered these allegations stating that it was under the IGEs nutriment IndiGo has evolved to this extend and also the major financial risk was managed by Rahul himself.

Invading Business World

Rahul completed his engineering from University of Waterloo, and held two years of experience from IBM, which he had acquired as a student. He was intending to pursue PhD and aspired to be a teacher. But his destiny had different plans in store for his future. His father Kapil Bhatia was running a travel agency Delhi Express, which was co-founded with nine other partners in 1964. Considering his fathers deteriorating health, unwilling Rahul joined his fathers business in 1988. Past three years is when he and his father realized that few of the companys partners have confidentially acquired majority of the companys stake by buying its equity. Consequently, Rahul and his father were forced out of the company.

This incident triggered Rahul to set up his own business; this time he had to start from the square one. With $37,000 as seed capital, he initiated InterGlobe- which handled the IT & BPO services majoring in hospitality, travel & transport. It was a tough beginning for Rahul, especially managing the financial crisis. But Rahuls vast network was a blessing in disguise, which attracted all the airlines associated with his old travel agency to InterGlobe. Since then it was no looking back for Rahul, as the company entered into joint venture with the Galileo International in 1999 to provide back-office services. InterGlobe then went on to attain conglomerate status by expanding its business into technology, retails, travel, hospitality and more.

Birth of IndiGo

While in his glorious period, Rahul came in contact with his future partner Rakesh Gangwal (CEO, US Airways). This is when the idea struck him to kick start his own airline. He pitched this idea to Rakesh, but he was ambivalent over this idea considering the monetary figure the airline industry takes in. With Rahuls continuous perseverance, Rakesh had to eventually give in. During the dinner at the Bhatias, Rakesh stated, Look, you guys decide how much money you want to lose. I will work with you. I don't want any part of this business. I will give you all my knowledge or whatever experience I have. But once you have lost that money, shake hands and remain friends. Thus IndiGo Airlines took birth.

The airline had obtained its license in 2004, Rahul held 51.12 percent share while Rakesh has 48 percent in IndiGo. With lot of guts, Rahul ventured the airline industry in 2006, when the aviation fuel rates were at its peak. In addition to this, he placed a shocking order for 100 Airbus A320-200 to begin his airline operation. After four years of its commencement, IndiGo placed itself in third position among the countrys largest airlines. The following year, the company further obtained 180 Airbus A320 neo aircraft which was worth $15 billion, along with this it even acquired permission to set up international flights. By the passing years, the airlines became the most profitable airline in the nation, also being the low cost carrier.

For his entrepreneurial achievements Rahul was honoured with Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010, and Economic Times Entrepreneur of the Year2011.

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu in London on Friday as protesters shouting Shame! in Hebrew demonstrated against the Israeli leaders right-wing policies and his plans to overhaul the countrys judiciary.

Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving signs calling for the defense of Israeli democracy as he arrived at 10 Downing St. for discussions that focused on the war in Ukraine and concerns about Irans nuclear program.

Sunak also raised Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms, which have sparked mass protests in Israel and beyond. One placard in London read: We are Israelis and Jews living in the UK demonstrating against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is leading a judicial coup turning Israel into a dictatorship.

Some women protesting outside Downing Street wore red robes and white caps inspired by The Handmaid's Tale, a novel and TV series set in a dystopian future. Similarly clad demonstrators have become fixtures of the mass protests roiling Israel.

Sunak stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel, the British leader's office said in an official readout of the meeting.

Other leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have expressed concern about proposed changes.

Netanyahus proposals would give his government more control over judicial appointments, weaken the Supreme Court by limiting judicial review of legislation and allow Parliament to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote.

He arrived in the UK as protesters in Israel blocked roads and clashed with police. The planned judicial system overhaul have ignited the biggest protests in the countrys history amid rare dissent from people throughout Israeli society, including military reservists, navy veterans, high-tech businesspeople and former officials.

In London, Netanyahu also was met by a pro-Palestinian demonstration. His government has been criticized for its hard-line policy toward Palestinians, including recent comments by a government minister who denied the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.

Sunak, during his meeting with the Israeli prime minister, reiterated our support for two-state solution, as well as Britain's view that Israel's West Bank settlements are illegal and contrary to the cause of peace," spokesman Jamie Davies said.

Israel is a vital international partner for the United Kingdom, and the prime minister was visiting London, and this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether thats the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment  as well as peace and stability in the Middle East," Davies said.

Netanyahus office said the two leaders discussed the rapidly advancing nuclear program of Israels archenemy, Iran, as well as deepening strategic cooperation in security, intelligence and economic fields.

Alicia Kearns. a lawmaker from Sunak's governing Conservative Party and chairwoman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the government to be more forceful in challenging Netanyahu's policy.

This is the time for the UK to work out what it means to be a critical friend to Israel and make sure that, yes, we continue to trade and to work together on security cooperation because they are a key partner, but also that we listen to our Jewish communities, Kearns told the BBC. "And this (is) the biggest response and loudest response Ive ever seen from a Jewish community to Israeli policies.

As thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, defiantly pledged to proceed with the judicial overhaul, hours after his coalition passed a law making it harder to remove him from office.

Rights groups and Palestinians say Israels democratic ideals have long been tarnished by the countrys 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for an independent state and the treatment of Palestinian Israeli citizens, who face discrimination in many spheres.

Netanyahu pushed back his departure to Britain until 4 a.m. Friday to deal with the political crisis.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police are asking for the publics assistance identifying an individual wanted for questioning in connection with two alleged incidents of forcible touching in New Springville.

According to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, the first incident occurred on Monday, Feb. 20, at about 6:15 p.m., when an unknown male allegedly grabbed the buttocks of an 18-year-old female employee inside a store located at 2655 Richmond Ave. as she was escorting him to a dressing room.

The individual then fled the store in an unknown direction and no injuries were reported, police say.

The Staten Island Mall is located at the address provided by police.

Police say the second incident occurred on Friday, March 10, just before 5 p.m. when an unknown male allegedly pressed his groin against the buttocks of a 24-year-old female employee inside of a store also located at 2655 Richmond Ave. as she was escorting him to a dressing room.

After purchasing an item, the individual exited the store in an unknown direction and no injuries were reported, police say.

The individual is described as a male, 5 feet 9 inches tall and approximately 17 years old.

He was last seen wearing a black skullcap, black jacket, green shirt and white sneakers.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 35-year-old Annadale woman who allegedly fatally struck a 52-year-old man riding his bicycle in Great Kills last month will face criminally negligent homicide and assault charges.

Tatiana Khakhutaishvili, of Phillip Avenue, was indicted on Thursday in state Supreme Court, St. George, before Judge Lisa Grey.

Prosecutors allege the defendant operated her motor vehicle in a manner that caused physical injuries and the death of James Giambalvo, according to court documents.

On Feb. 24, police responded at about 10:15 a.m. to a crash at the intersection of Armstrong and Wilson avenues, according to a statement from the NYPD.

James and Jennifer Giambalvo were married for 11 years. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Giambalvo)

Officers found the victim, Giambalvo, unconscious and unresponsive with severe trauma on his head and body.

He was transported by EMS to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where he died, according to a police statement.

Defense attorney Mark Fonte issued the following statement in regard to the defendants indictment:

This was an unfathomable tragedy, however it was an accident. Treating this accident as criminal conduct immediately doubles the tragedy.

This woman has been driving for 15 years without so much as a ticket. There was no speeding involved, no drugs or alcohol involved, no texting and driving [involved]. She didnt see the bicyclist. This could have happened to anyone, Fonte added.

The FDNY responds to the scene of a crash where a man on a bicycle was struck by a car on Wilson Avenue near Armstrong Avenue on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. (Courtesy of Joe Salemmo)

A spokesperson from the Richmond County District Attorneys Office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

An investigation by the NYPD Highway Districts Collision Investigation Squad determined that the woman was driving a 2021 Infinity SUV southbound on Wilson Avenue when she struck Giambalvo of Great Kills, who was traveling in the same direction, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

The Infinity then collided with a parked and unoccupied 2001 Honda parked along the west curb line, almost immediately after coming into contact with the bicycle, police said. The Infinity also struck a small DOT sign pole before coming to a rest on the curb, according to police.

Jennifer Giambalvo, the wife of James, told the Advance/SILive.com that her husband of 11 years made her a better person.

They were avid bicycle riders who together traveled from their neighborhood of Great Kills to areas of the Island as far as Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Charleston.

We both changed each other, she said.

She described Jimmy as very patient, loving and very close with family and friends.

The case has been adjourned until April 21.

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I mean, its eight housewives in a foreign country. What could go wrong? says The Real Housewives of New York alum Leah McSweeney in the trailer for The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Thailand.

Quite a bit, apparently. Are you ready for some new spicy housewives drama?

The reality shows third season is premiering on Thursday, March 23 at 8 p.m. EST on Peacock.

If you happen to fall in love with the show, youre in luck! Theres currently three seasons available to binge.

Happy watching!

HOW TO WATCH THE REAL HOUSEWIVES ULTIMATE GIRLS TRIP WITH OR WITHOUT ADS

The show streams exclusively on Peacock. The service offers a low-cost monthly option of $4.99 -- but for the commercial-avoidant among us, there is also a premium ad-free version of the service for $9.99 monthly.

Peacock also carries the hugely popular Yellowstone, as well as old standbys like The Office.

The premium option also includes selected live streaming channels, including NBC, NBC Sports, WWE Network and The Hallmark Channel.

MORE ABOUT ULTIMATE GIRLS TRIP SEASON 3

Peacocks YouTube video promoting the trailer has a brief synopsis written in its description, and it teases enough to entice: The third season of Peacock Original The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip features a new group of fan-favorite Housewives as they head to Thailand for the trip of a lifetime. With a hospital trip and discussions about all of the hot gossipincluding some tidbits about laws being broken by Jen Shahthis is sure to be a trip to remember.

Eight ladies from The Real Housewives franchises are taking a luxury trip to Thailand, where the promise of drama is real. Join Porsha Williams (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton (The Real Housewives of Miami), Leah McSweeney (The Real Housewives of New York City), Candiace Dillard Bassett and Gizelle Bryant (The Real Housewives of Potomac), Heather Gay and Whitney Rose (The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City) as they indulge in all the experiences Thailand has to offer.

And indulge in the drama, of course.

Heather, you talked about your relationship with Whitney. So, like, is there an issue, or not? Gizelle Bryant said in the trailer.

Even during filming, dramatic rumors were being spreadlike when it was rumored that McSweeney was banned from Thailand, and threw elephant feces at another cast mate. However, she debunked the accusations, according to E! News, with a comment on social media saying, This wouldve been iconic. Im so sad it didnt happen [laughing emoji] sorry to disappoint!!!
Jamison Crowder is returning to northern New Jersey.

The Giants are signing the former Jets wide receiver to a one-year contract, according to CBS Sports.
New Jersey State Police are seeking the publics assistance in locating a missing state trooper, according to a tweet made by the agency.

Jason Dare, 46, was last seen on March 19 at approximately 6:50 p.m. in Media, Penn., leaving a health facility, police said.
ALIQUIPPA, Pa.  The body of a 23-year-old man was discovered in a Pennsylvania apartment accompanied by 60 venomous snakes, an alligator and at least 150 reptiles, authorities said, according to multiple reports.

According to CBSs Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA, authorities were called to a home in Aliquippa, Pa., on Tuesday, where they found the body of the man in his 20s, along with the scores of animals. Officials did not say how the man died.

There was a cobra in there, a rattlesnake in there, black mambas, said Jim Bologna, a code enforcement officer, according to KDKA.

A young girl, 3, was also found in a high chair near a venomous snake inside the home, the report said.

The child and the four adults in the home moved in recently, the report said, and officials said they came to sell the animals.

These folks have a business they run, Bologna said, according to KDKA. They sell reptiles, venomous and non-venomous. They just moved here, last two months or so.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Above a gravel path carving through the east mound of Freshkills Park, an American kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America, flits through the air searching for insects on the grassy floor of the vast natural expanse.

Just hundreds of feet away, a nesting osprey overlooks part of the 2,200 acre range that makes Freshkills nearly three times larger than Central Park. The awe-inspiring terrain now serves as habitat for a multitude of animals and insects and prevails as a far-cry from its former existence decades ago.

Twenty-two years have passed since the official closure of the landfill that served as the citys dumping ground for 53 years. Now, Main Creek and Richmond Creek wind through tranquil swaths of a reformed park rapidly becoming a major hub of wildlife.

To watch the repopulation of the birds, especially the big raptors, which are the most visible, is really comforting, said Mark Murphy, administrator of Freshkills Park and president of the Freshkills Park Alliance. Its a beautiful thing to know these animals are coming back here and finding a home here and theyre part of a vital ecosystem.

A deer gallops through Freshkills Park. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

Standing on the peak of the parks north mound, roughly 300 feet above sea level, the Manhattan skyline is visible in one direction while Freshkills sprawls to the west, south and east in the others, providing picturesque views that make New York City seem like a distant memory.

The vibrant nature and wildlife at the site is a driver of that immersion. Walk down toward Richmond Creek, where kayakers sometimes begin their journey through the park, and the tell-tale tracks of animal activity  the footprints of inhabitants from foxes to shorebirds  are all apparent.

White-tailed deer, which have been the source of frustration for officials aiming to control the population, traverse the massive grasslands that stretch for miles along Staten Islands West Shore.

When we began the effort to close the awful Fresh Kills landfill, there were some who mocked us, thought it was a waste of time, and claimed closing the landfill would never happen, said Borough President Vito Fossella, who worked to close the landfill during his time in the City Council.

Well, here we are, and the landfill has been closed for 22 years. When its the right thing to do, anything is possible. Walk around today, and you wont see bulldozers, barges of garbage and a thousand seagulls (not to mention the stench), he added. Rather you see hawks and eagles flying in the sky, the no-longer-endangered osprey raising their young, and 2,200 acres of open space preserved for future generations to enjoy.

A red-tailed hawk flying above Freshkills Park. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

A wide variety of bird species are present within Freshkills Park. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

Along Main Creek, naturally-dispersed trees dot the shoreline. A red-tailed hawks nest could be seen in a tree left leafless by winter. Rarer sights like otters have emerged from the park, and diamondback terrapins, listed as a species of special concern by the federal government, now call Freshkills Park home.

Ed Burke, senior advisor to the borough president, called the site a mecca of nature.

A species of pride for officials of the park  the osprey  is present in among the highest densities in New York City, said Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, manager for Science and Research Development for the Freshkills Park Alliance.

During migration, hundreds of kestrels have been observed flying over the grasslands, he added, with similar-looking merlins, a small falcon, finding success at Freshkills. Another raptor, the northern harrier, is also present in remarkably-high densities.

Freshkills Park is now an essential stop on some birds migratory paths, with abundant food sources like corn snakes and white-footed mice, helping to create a sustainable food chain for both species passing through the borough and others making the area a more permanent stay.

The diversity of life at the park make its role undoubtable in the wider ecosystem.

Its some of the most important habitat in northeastern North America, said Ramirez-Garofalo.

An osprey sits within a nest on a pole within Freshkills Park. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

The Freshkills Park south mound. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

ONLY EXPANDING?

Despite the wide array of wildlife already at the park, its ecological distinctiveness is expected to only expand, Ramirez-Garofalo explained.

The regal fritillary, a butterfly around the size of the well-known monarch, was historically on the West Shore but was lost in the 1970s. That species could be brought back to Freshkills, along with the northern bobwhite  a species of quail that could thrive in the park.

The presence of current and new species on the borough opens an immense opportunity for younger Staten Islanders to connect with a park that has undergone an immense transition over the course of more than 20 years.

Freshkills Park is now the destination of school trips, and leaders at the park said it can serve as an ever-growing source of experiential learning for the Islands schools. More than 5,000 students traversed the park in 2022 alone.

Freshkills Park is a living classroom, said Dr. Shannon Curley, research associate for the Freshkills Park Alliance. The students we bring to Freshkills are often surprised at the scale of our park. Even if they werent aware of the park beforehand, they always leave inspired.

It is really a great opportunity to bring students into a setting that is truly unique in our area, she added.

Richmond Creek within Freshkills Park. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

Two deer walk into the distance at Freshkills Park. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

MARCHING TOWARD OPENING

Managing the development of the park, which is marching toward the initial stages of its public openings, is a leviathan undertaking. Its first phase, the 21-acre North Park, is expected to open in the second quarter of 2023, featuring a 20-foot bird tower, wetland observation deck, picnic areas, bike racks, a composting station and loads of green space.

Its a massive project, said Murphy, overlooking a map of the multi-stage effort to open the park to the public. Were talking the largest legacy park in the last 150 years.

It is a vital effort, he added, to be able to reclaim it and give it back to the people after so many years of it being what it was, which was a negative.

Now, its really being turned into a positive, beautiful work of art, he said.



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Councilman Joseph Borelli, in coordination with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation, will be offering free breast cancer screenings for women in May.

On Thursday, May 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Mammogram Bus will be located at 2955 Veterans Rd. W. near the councilmans district office in Charleston.

Each year I am proud to be able to bring this free mammogram testing event back to the South Shore, Borelli said. While we always hope for clear scans, early detection is oftentimes the key to successful recovery.

The event is open to women in New York City between the age of 40 and 79 who havent had a mammography within the last 12 months.

Advance notice is needed and limited space is available. Those interested in scheduling an appointment can call 718-984-5151 or 877-628-9090.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD, in cooperation with District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and the NYC Police Foundation, will host a gun buy-back event this Saturday, March 25.

The event, part of the New York City Gun Buyback Program, will take place at Central Family Life Center, located at 59 Wright St. in Stapleton, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Simply put, illegal and unwanted guns in our community make us less safe, said McMahon. Cash for Guns events, which have taken over 500 firearms off the streets of Staten Island since I took office, are part of our multi-pronged approach to reducing gun violence, and we encourage anyone who wishes to rid themselves of a firearm to attend this Saturdays event.

We will continue to work with the NYPD to root out illegal firearms, punish those who wield and use guns to harm others, and do all we can to educate and warn our young people of the dangers and consequences of gun violence.

Individuals who turn in firearms will face no questions, but will receive $200 bank cards and iPads for handguns and assault rifles.

The program also offers a $25 bank card for rifles, shotguns and airguns. Only one iPad will be given per person, and iPad availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

According to NYPD Compstat data, there have been three shooting victims and three shooting-related incidents on Staten Island this year  a 25% decrease from the same time period in 2022.

The Cash for Guns program is a perfect opportunity for members of the community to turn in a firearm that may otherwise fall into the wrong hands that could be used in a commission of a crime causing more injuries or death in our communities, said Assistant Chief Gin Yee, the NYPD borough commander.

A Staten Island gun buy back event last year netted 72 guns, including 49 handguns.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Yorkers are no strangers to automated enforcement, with the citys speed, red light and bus lane cameras issuing hundreds of thousands of tickets each month.

But soon drivers could be automatically ticketed for even more traffic infractions, like blocking bus stops and bike lanes, as well as double-parking.

On Friday, MTA officials gathered alongside the citys top transit advocacy group to encourage state lawmakers to include legislation in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget that would make the agencys Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) camera program permanent and allow automated enforcement of other infractions that slow city buses.

While larger initiatives like congestion pricing will truly help speed up buses throughout the city, camera enforcement is a tool at our disposal right now that has proven to be effective, said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. I applaud elected leaders for proposing legislation that would expand camera enforcement beyond the bus lane, allowing us to speed up buses now, so that New Yorkers who rely on the bus can get where they need to go faster.

Gov. Kathy Hochuls Executive Budget proposal included language that would make the ABLE camera program permanent and allow the MTA and Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a five-year pilot program for automated enforcement of vehicles that are double-parked, blocking bus stops and blocking bike lanes.

Currently, state legislation only permits the cameras to issue violations to drivers illegally using city bus lanes.

Parking in the bus lane not only slows down buses, it impedes a customers ability to board the bus, said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. Double-parked cars, or vehicles blocking buses, are an issue that extends beyond the bus lanes. Expanding a camera enforcement is a quick solution that we have seen effective.

In December, some of the MTAs top officials sat down with the Advance/SILive.com Editorial Board to discuss various projects, programs and initiatives affecting the borough, including the push for additional automated enforcement.

Our goal is to have ABLE enforcement anywhere we have a bus route, and then eventually anywhere we have a bus, particularly if we can get the opportunity to enforce the traffic laws, not just bus lanes, that are specific to slowing our buses down, Davey told the Advance/SILive.com at the time.

In 2019, the ABLE cameras were first installed on 123 buses across seven routes in Manhattan and Brooklyn as a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of the automated enforcement system, as well as its effects on travel times and bus speeds.

The cameras capture license plate information, photos and videos, along with location and timestamp information, which are sent to the DOT for review and processing, with fines being issued by the Department of Finance.

Fines start at $50, escalating by an additional $50 with each subsequent offense, up to a maximum of $250 per violation.

In October 2022, the MTA announced it would expand the use of the high-tech automated mobile cameras installed on buses, including bringing them to the S79 Staten Island SBS route.

In December 2022, the ABLE cameras installed on the Staten Islands S79 SBS buses officially began issuing violations to drivers illegally using city bus lanes.

The S79 SBS is a select bus service route that travels from the Staten Island Mall in New Springville to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with the majority of the trip occurring along Hylan Boulevard, where the streets bus lane was extended roughly two years ago.

The S79 cameras were activated on Oct. 31, but had only been issuing warnings during a 60-day grace period to alert drivers of the new program before any fines were assessed.

The MTA is planning to expand the program even further this year, adding the cameras to an additional 600 buses by the end of 2023, at which point the ABLE cameras will cover roughly 85% of all city bus lanes.

However, the MTA has not yet announced which routes will be receiving ABLE cameras in 2023 and whether any of them will be located on Staten Island.

Early data from the MTA indicates that the ABLE cameras have been effective in getting cars out of bus lanes and speeding up commutes.

Through February, the ABLE cameras have issued roughly 224,000 tickets, with 86% of violators receiving just one violation, indicating that the automated enforcement is helping shift driver behavior.

The M15 SBS, one of the first routes to receive ABLE cameras in 2019, is now the fastest route to travel exclusively along Manhattan streets with an all-day average speed of 7.9 miles per hour, nearly 30% faster than the borough-wide average of 6.1 miles per hour.

Vehicles being parked in bus lanes defeats the purpose of the bus lane. That is why we need consistent enforcement to ensure faster trips, said New York City Transit Department of Buses Senior Vice President Frank Annicaro. The deployment of ABLE cameras has been instrumental in helping the MTA deliver better bus service on bus lanes -- expanding this enforcement citywide will have a significant impact on improving bus speeds throughout the system.

ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION NEWS

Placement of NYC speed cameras: New bill would drastically reduce their distance from schools

New bill would exempt Staten Islanders from Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge tolls

MTA nabs 20 toll evaders with fines nearing $600K in record enforcement blitz at Verrazzano Bridge

Speed cameras on Verrazzano? Staten Island lawmakers unanimously oppose state proposal

Which Staten Island express buses have the longest bus stop wait times?

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Algerias ambassador to France, recalled home in February, will be returning to his post in the coming days, President Emmanuel Macrons office said Friday in a sign that the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries has been resolved.

Related Algeria arrests four over dissident who fled to France

Ambassador Said Moussi was recalled after a well-known Algerian militant was whisked to France from Tunisia on Feb. 6 with the help of French diplomats, a move that defied an official demand for her to be returned home.

Amira Bouraoui also holds French nationality. She was not supposed to leave Algerian territory and authorities in Algiers said her flight to France amounted to an illegal exfiltration.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune informed Macron in a phone call that the ambassador would be returning to Paris shortly.

This exchange allowed for the lifting of misunderstandings, Macrons office said, adding that the two leaders agreed to strengthen communication channels between services concerned to ensure that this regrettable type of misunderstanding is not repeated.

Tebboune is expected to make a state visit to France, perhaps in May, making the return of the ambassador and resolution of the spat of particular importance.

Algeria and France have long had delicate relations, marked by 132 years of French colonial rule and a brutal seven-year war that ended with Algerian independence in 1962.

In 2021, Algerias then-ambassador Antar Daoud was recalled home for three months in another diplomatic spat, that time over irresponsible comments by Macron concerning post-war Algeria.

Macron had reportedly said that Algeria rewrote its official history with a discourse based not on truths but on a hate of France. The remarks at the time, made during an encounter between the French president and descendants of people who fought in the Algerian war, were reported by the French newspaper Le Monde and flashed across the Algerian media.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With family members, friends and colleagues by her side, Susan Quirk was sworn in as New York State Supreme Court Justice earlier this month in the Felisa Rincon DeGautier (PS 376) Elementary School in Brooklyn.

Quirk will serve in Brooklyns Criminal Term.

From the left, Major Steven Panella, Antonia Lanni, AnnaDoreen Lanni, Susan Quirk and Assemblywomen Maritza Davila. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

Among the crowd of some 300 were New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Presiding Justice Hector D. LaSalle, Appellate Division Second Department, Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, Eric Gonzalez, District Attorney, Kings County, Judge Deborah A. Kaplan, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, and Edwin G. Richardson-Mendelson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives.

Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of Holy Rosary R.C. Church in South Beach, offered the invocation.

Mayor Eric Adams, Susan Quirk, daughter Antonia Lanni, brother Detective Joseph W. Quirk from the 120th Precinct Detectives Squad, and Dennis W. Quirk.. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of Holy Rosary Church, offers the Invocation. From the left, Major Steven Panella, Antonia Lanni, AnnaDoreen Lanni, Susan Quirk, and Assemblywoman Maritza Davila. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

Welcoming remarks were delivered by the Craig Montalbano, who served as master of ceremonies.

Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, whose district covers the Bushwick community of Brooklyn and who is an advocate for community access to quality public education, administered the oath of office.

Justice Susan Quirk with the members of the NYS Court Officers Ceremonial Unit. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

Quirks dad, Dennis Quirk, president of the New York State Court Officers Association, held the Bible along with her two daughters, AnnaDoreen Lanni and Antonia Lanni.

Speaking from the podium, Quick focused on her being sworn in during Womens History Month, a time, she said, to honor and celebrate all women.

Also in attendance were Quirks grammar school teachers, Diane Hesterhagen, who Quirk refers to as Mrs. H, now principal of the Father Vincent R. Capodanno Catholic Academy (formerly Holy Rosary), and Theresa DeStefano, who was a huge influence throughout her life.

Justice Quirk with her grammar school teachers, Diane Hesterhagen and Theresa DeStefano. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

Children from the PS 376 dance troupe showcased a series of modern dance styles during the evenings program.

Dancers from PS 376 perform for the crowd. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

A LITTLE ABOUT QUIRK

A lifelong Staten Island resident, Quirk has been practicing law since 2005. A St. Joseph Hill Academy and Wagner College graduate, she received a juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School.

NYS Supreme Court Justice Susan Quirk and Presiding Justice Hector D. LaSalle, Appellate Division Second Department. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

A former prosecutor and court attorney referee with New York State Supreme Court Justice Judith N. McMahon, Quirk also was an assistant district attorney in the office of Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez.

Quirk is the mom of two daughters who attend St. Joseph Hill Academy  Antonia Lanni, a fifth-grade grade student at the Arrochar school, and AnnaDoreen Lanni, a freshman at Hills high school.

AnnaDoreen Lanni at the microphone and Antonia Lanni next to her. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

Mrs. Molluzo, the principal of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School, was my teacher when I attended there and it is bittersweet to see her retiring this year, said Quirk, who is one of five children and an identical twin.

SHE HAILS FROM A FAMILY OF PUBLIC SERVANTS

My family is a family of public servants, she stated. I grew up in a household where I saw every day how my dad, as head of a union, fought for the rights of all of his court officers and taught me to always stand up for what is right and do the right thing. My dad told me when I graduated law school that I had to move out because he could not live with a lawyer, she said with a chuckle.

The funny thing is, she added, I am just like him but thankfully I also have my moms kindness and compassion too. My dad is a fighter and I am so proud to be his daughter. He has shown me every day how to be a strong powerful force and fight for justice and what is right and to never back down.

\

QUIRK DEDICATED THE EVENING TO HER MOM

Quirks mom, Doreen Quirk, succumbed to complications of breast cancer in 2010.

My mom was the backbone of our entire family and our lives have changed forever since she is gone. Everything I do, I do in her honor, she said. She was so beautiful, kind, loving and growing up everyone went to my mom for whatever they needed. I miss her every second of every day and truly wish she could have been there the night I was sworn in because I owe it all to her and my dad. I know she was there somewhere in the room watching over me.

I saved the best for last because I knew I would cry and I did. I dedicated the night to my mom, Doreen Quirk, who died from breast cancer in 2010 at the young age of 56. She was the only thing missing on a dream come true night for me and I wanted to stress the impact she had on my life and how much I miss her.

She continued: Ever since she passed we participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: at Clove Lakes Park, where weve contributed over $150,000 in her memory.

QUIRKS DAUGHTERS

Extremely proud of their accomplishments, she was thrilled they had a chance to speak during her swearing in ceremony and delighted they were placed in charge of introducing their mom.

During Quirks remarks, she elaborated on the solid foundation she received growing up in a family of public servants.

My dad is president of the New York State Court Officers Association, and my mom was a homemaker, she said. My sisters and brothers were public servants and my twin sister is a court clerk in Family Court on Staten Island. My other sister is a court officer in Criminal Court on Staten Island my older sister is a nurse who works with the Seton Foundations Bishop Patrick V. Ahern High School. She is a registered nurse.

Justice Susan Quirk with the members of the NYS Court Officers Ceremonial Unit. (Courtesy/Mario Belluomo)Staten Island Advance

She explained throughout her life whenever she met someone new, they would always ask Are you Dennis Quirks daughter? because her dad is so well known.

So on the night of my swearing in, I told my dad jokingly that hed better get used to it being the other way around now and hearing Are you Justice Susan Quirks Dad? We have come full circle now!
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City recorded cases of tuberculosis in all five boroughs in 2022, with high rates observed in parts of Queens and Brooklyn, the city Health Department said.

The agencys 2022 tuberculosis summary indicated 536 people were confirmed to have the disease in New York City last year, representing a rate of 6.1 cases per 100,000 people and signaling a concerted shift closer to pre-pandemic levels after COVID-19 disrupted diagnoses.

Thirteen cases were diagnosed on Staten Island in 2022, according to the agencys data, for an average rate of 2.6 cases per 100,000 people.

New cases increased 5% nationally in 2022 compared to the previous year, and New York state maintained a higher tuberculosis incidence rate than all but four states in the country.

TB is still prevalent in New York City. It is an issue. We want providers and others to be aware of that, Dr. Joseph Burzynski, assistant commissioner for the city Health Departments Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, told the Advance/SILive.com. But, we do have very robust systems in place to quickly detect cases and provide the services that are necessary to contain and control the spread.

New York City Health Department tuberculosis data.

A total of 13 New York City neighborhoods had case rates higher than the citywide average. None of those neighborhoods were on Staten Island, where the highest case rates were observed in Port Richmond and Willowbrook.

The vast majority of the citys cases  88%  are among people not born in the United States. Those findings, according to Burzynski, signify some of the challenges needed to limit tuberculosis but also serve as a positive indication the disease is not spreading among younger patients.

We see very few cases in people under 5 years old which is the evidence that theres not too much transmission in New York City, said Burzynski. Most of our cases that we see are coming from people who are coming from countries where theres higher rates of TB.

The disease is caused by the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread through particles emitted by people with active tuberculosis illness. Around one in four people are believed to have been infected with the bacteria, though most people do not develop the disease and others are able to clear infection.

While cases remained below pre-pandemic levels, the latest city data reflected a 20% increase from 2020 diagnoses, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health care visits and likely caused a decrease in confirmed cases.

Burzynski also said it remained possible some tuberculosis cases were confused for COVID-19, though he noted the two diseases present differently from one another.

There have been a few instances where there has been a initial misdiagnosis, but its generally resolved pretty quickly with the correct testing, he said.

New York City Health Department data illustrating changes in tuberculosis cases over time.

New York City has been ahead of the curve with tuberculosis treatment, which typically takes six to nine months. In the spring of 2022, the city Health Department was among the first agencies to offer a new four-month treatment that resulted in the citys first patient to complete the regimen.

The program is now available at all city Health Department tuberculosis chest centers.

Another intervention  video directly observed therapy  was piloted with the city Health Department. The process involves a trained observed directly observing a patient (in this case, through video) swallow medications designed to treat tuberculosis.

The method has been endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and is a key part of the citys efforts to manage disease treatment.

Burzynski said the city Health Department has been a national leader in implementing with this new technology a new form of reaching and supporting our patients.

There are notable concerns among the significant disparities present in the dispersion of tuberculosis cases, with socioeconomic factors playing a role in the citys data.

That inequity, the city Health Department said, is among its targets for the use of video directly observed therapy, which can allow patients to receive flexible treatment. Free phones are also available for those who do not have access.

Still, challenges remain in the citys effort to completely eliminate it as a public health issue in the five boroughs.

It does take some patients several visits to a health care provider before the diagnosis of TB is made, explained Burzynski. We do ask providers to think of TB when they see patients with a cough that has lasted for more than two to three weeks and is often associated with fever, night sweats and weight loss.

Cases remain below 2019 data; however, it is not clear if the steady rise since 2020 will continue and eventually surpass figures observed prior to the pandemic.

Its very hard to predict, said Burzynski. It can be tricky to predict how the numbers are going to go, but we do think that we have systems in place that are very good for rapid diagnosis.

Because of that infrastructure, Burzynski expects there will be a continued, slow decline in TB numbers.

New York City experienced a 139% increase in tuberculosis cases between 1984 and 1992 before undergoing an overall decrease of 83% from 1992 to 2013. Since then, annual decreases have hovered around 2% for an overall 18% decrease.

Tuberculosis persists as one of the worlds deadliest diseases, despite having the tools to screen and treat it, said city Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan in a release. We will continue to be a global leader when it comes to bold and innovative approaches to treating New Yorkers with TB. We must turn the tide on this disease at a global scale, and NYC is proud to lead the way with care and compassion.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - After more than 30 years, Staten Island law enforcement officials have finally identified the victim of a brutal slaying here.

District Attorney Michael McMahon this week said that New Jersey resident Christine Belusko was the woman found bludgeoned and burned in a wooded lot in Ocean Breeze in 1991.

The Wanderers, Advance staffers Mark Stein and Tom Wrobleski, visited the neighborhood of the slaying during their Facebook Live broadcast on Thursday.

Officials have also learned that Belusko had given birth to a daughter, Christa Nicole, two years before the murder. Authorities have released a time-lapse photo of what the girl would look like today in a bid to find her.

Police for decades had tried to identify Belusko through the distinctive scorpion tattoo found on her buttock. But her identity was only learned recently thanks to advances in genetic forensic technology.

Beluskos killer remains unidentified. Officials hope that the discovery of Beluskos identity will yield new clues to find her murderer.

Also this week, members of the New York Fire Department saved five young boys who got lost in the city sewer system in West Brighton.

The youngsters, between the ages of 11 and 12 years old, had entered a storm drain near Clove Lakes Park and soon became lost.

They were able to use a cell phone to contact FDNY dispatchers. Firefighters removed manhole covers along Clove Road until they could hear the children calling for help.

Watch The Wanderers on the Staten Island Advances Facebook Live page every Thursday at 4 p.m.

MORE STATEN ISLAND STORIES FROM TOM WROBLESKI

A ghostly walk amid the ruins of North Shore rail station in Port Richmond

Lost highway: An eerie stroll along disused exit of abandoned Staten Island parkway

The Wanderers visit site of growing memorials to teens killed in tragic Hylan Boulevard car crash
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This series explores the plight of the National Gallery of Australia, an institution in a state of disrepair and in desperate need of funding.

For those lucky enough to have visited great European works of art it is inconceivable that the Louvre or the Sistine Chapel would have drip buckets on hand to protect their masterpieces. But the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) has been reduced to that sad reality.

A report by the Heralds Linda Morris and James Massola shows the cultural beacon and tourism drawcard is facing an existential crisis brought on by a decade of financial attrition that has had an impact on programs and exhibitions and delayed necessary repairs and maintenance.

The NGA moment of truth comes in July when one-off Coalition government grants totalling $24.77 million for essential works expire. Gallery chairman Ryan Stokes has warned of job losses, closing the gallery two days a week and the reintroduction of entry fees.

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The NGA needs $265 million over the next 10 years to waterproof and remediate its 40-year-old building, whose lifts and escalators, electric wiring and air conditioners are at the extreme end of their working life. Private philanthropists are paying the salaries of 26 staff  12 per cent of the NGA workforce. Further, the roof and skylights leak during downpours and there is no money to fix the roof membrane that protects the gallerys most famous work, Jackson Pollocks Blue poles, and other pieces in the NGAs $6.9 billion collection.
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 Im not going to lie, I expected to find Kate Morton living in a grand old English manor perched on a hill in the rugged countryside. We would sit down for our interview sipping a freshly squeezed lemonade, both with a slight sheen of sweat from the sweltering sun; the cuckoos (I dont know what they are, but they feel right for the scene) would be calling; and there would be a mysterious antique rattle mislaid between the pages of a family album (how curious, I would think, Mortons three children are not babies...). Perhaps, midway through the interview as I headed to the toilette to freshen up, I would stumble upon a chiming grandfather clock with, is that, a slip of paper poking out of a secret drawer? As I leaned in to investigate, the ever-elegant Morton would sweep in front of me  This way, please  and brusquely draw a red velvet curtain across the timepiece, and any questions I wanted to ask. So, yes, you might say Ive had my head in far too many Kate Morton books. Its a set-up thats probably familiar to the readers of her six, soon to be seven, novels  and there are more than 16 million of you according to her publishers sales data. Mortons novels are often described as Australias most successful literary exports since Colleen McCulloughs 1977 bestseller The Thorn Birds and shes easily a multi-millionaire having earned more than $17 million in royalties (sorry, I know its undignified to talk about money and art, but do you know how great the odds are for an Australian author to make that kind of dosh?). Shes the master of her own genre; from her breakthrough debut The Shifting Fog in 2006 to next months Homecoming, Mortons stories frequently feature grand houses, family secrets, lost children and a past that refuses to let go of the present. Kate Morton at her Brisbane home. After five years abroad she returned from London in 2020. Credit:Davin Patterson Im sure there are some things you dont want to know, Morton, 47, replies when I ask whether there are any secrets in the history of her home in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Paddington, where vintage stores, boutique homewares and cool-kid cafes abound on leafy hills looking towards the skyline. Its not quite the big old Gothic house called Halcyon that is at the heart of Homecoming, but the elevated 1920s workers cottage does feel idyllic. Though perhaps thats Morton as well. Shes a calm and considered presence as we sit on the verandah overlooking the backyard, left empty by her much-loved golden retriever Wilbur who has gone on holiday. If you wanted to do a Kate Morton walking literary tour, this street would be a good stop. Shes lived in three houses, over two decades, on the same road. Her three boys  now in their teens  were each born in different houses, as were all but one of her novels. Like one of the symbolic resonances that echo through her storylines, Morton was experiencing her own homecoming while she wrote Homecoming. As the pandemics grip tightened in early 2020, Morton, her musician-composer husband Davin Patterson, and the kids relocated from England to their farm in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. The property sounds, and Mortons Instagram pictures verify, as though it would have met my initial expectations for the interview. Morton describes it as a cottage up in the hills  there are creeks, willows, waterfalls, pear trees lining driveways, and cows (to complete the pretty picture, there are also five calves).

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They had been living in a cosy (read: no writing room) Victorian home in Hampstead, London after an initial six-month sojourn turned into five years abroad. In reverse, a temporary return to Australia turned into a permanent one, as pandemic lockdowns and border closures continued. They chose to settle in the Brisbane house where I met Morton, as the kids grew up there and Queensland was a familiar landscape to them all (also, surely, for the convenience of the future literary walking tours). Wilbur, the farm dog. Credit:Instagram/@katemortonauthor As she left behind her life in the UK, she also bid farewell to a fictional one. Morton had started writing  there were 20,000 words on the page  a new novel set in Europe. But looking out of her window at the golden fields of South Australia every day made it difficult to conjure the winter grey of London. The story went stale. It became the book equivalent of paint by numbers. Her new Australian setting became the start of a new novel. Once we got to Australia, I felt so distanced from that story; not just geographically, but intellectually, I just couldnt feel it. And for me, thats very important. As a writer, its not just an intellectual exercise. I need to feel and believe it when Im working on it. And I just couldnt regain that connection, Morton says. What was happening on a daily level was so removed from that manuscript I was working on that I would sit down with my notebook or the scenes I was writing, and it just felt false. Author Kate Morton at the launch of her debut The Shifting Fog in 2006. Credit:Getty Luckily, Morton is always squirrelling away nuts for when she needs them (Dont tell me your family secrets unless you are willing for them to end up in a novel, she warns). One such nut came when she was doing some lockdown exploring and wandered past a house in South Australia named Halcyon. She gave the name to the grand estate where Homecoming kicks into action on a sweltering Christmas Eve of 1959 in the fictional town of Tambilla in the Adelaide Hills. A grocer discovers Halcyons residents  English transplant Isabel Turner and three of her children  dead on a picnic blanket by a river. Her fourth child, a newborn, is missing. Nearly six decades later, the mystery is revived when journalist Jess discovers a book in her grandmothers house about the once-famous murder case. Morton often bases the architecture of her fictional houses on real ones, and the design of Homecomings Halcyon was inspired by Martindale Hall, a sandstone Georgian-style mansion built by a wealthy pastoralist near Mintaro in South Australia in 1879 (the house is open to the public and featured in Peter Weirs 1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock).

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I sometimes think that every writer of my generation is very influenced in terms of the way we see things by film. So, when Im writing, I see things in that way. The way you might have a long shot as youre going up the driveway, and then you approach the house, then youre at the door, and youve got the door handle in a close-up, and then it opens, and you get the shot up the stairs. I can see what I need to see for the story, as it appears in my head at that time. Kate Morton based the grand manor in her latest novel on Martindale Hall, pictured. The foundation for her obsession with houses was laid early. Her civil-engineer father and collector and artist mother were always moving around, knocking down and rebuilding. Born in the Riverland of South Australia, Morton spent most of her childhood in an old house built on the mountain (I told you there were a lot of them) after her parents decided to restore a dilapidated property on Tambourine Mountain in South East Queensland. Her mother turned an old silver shed into an antique shop, recruiting Morton on her treasure-finding missions. It was very full but with little, almost room-like, displays, so thered be a dressing table and on it, you know, the old crocheted doily and kid gloves or whatever else would all be laid out. I can remember sort of wafting through and picking things up and trying them on and putting records on the gramophone, Morton says. I was always very aware of houses as places where lives happened. I can still look at real estate windows or plans and just imagine what it would be like to live there, which, of course, feeds into writing. Kate Morton lived in Hampstead, in London, for five years. Later, her parents relocated an old church from Brisbane, which had been fated with demolition, to the property. They restored the church, and then opened it for weddings. The whole family helped out running events  Morton and her three sisters as waiters; her husband, who she met when she was 18 after she saw him in a band in Brisbane, playing the piano. Morton went on to study speech and drama at Trinity College London and English at the University of Queensland, and started writing in her early 20s.

The first two manuscripts for The Shifting Fog  which became one of the most successful debuts of all time in the United Kingdom and has sold more than 100,000 copies in Australia  were rejected. After Morton gave up on having published author as a moniker, she continued writing as a refuge from the demands of being a mother to a newborn. Thats when she first experienced a true sense of connection to her work that she still chases today.

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Now, Morton has her process down pat. And, perhaps most importantly, she is confident in her stories. She believes Homecoming is her best novel (to be fair to Morton, who is modest to a fault, she only agreed to this statement after I asked her about a Publishers Weekly review describing it as such). She says she doesnt think about the expectations of readers, critics and publishers, and with her annual sales (one year in Britain, she was beaten only by J.K. Rowling, and in Australia, shes sold more than 637,000 novels), she doesnt have to. In fact, she doesnt have to keep writing. Why not go hang out with those baby calves more? I always say, Im going to have a break after this, I really need to decompress, empty my brain, and I have never once lasted 24 hours without having a new notebook, Morton says. I think for many writers it is a compulsion, a way of understanding the world. Its a way of expressing  it sounds hoity-toity, sort of highfalutin  your humanity through understanding other people and how they relate to the world. And no matter how difficult it is, to get to the end is such an incredible moment. I have never once lasted 24 hours without having a new notebook. Kate Morton While financial freedom to write what and when you want is rare, the spotlight that comes with it can get hot. Morton hit the headlines in 2018 during a high-profile legal battle with her longstanding literary agent Selwa Anthony. Anthony sued the novelist for breach of contract after they cut ties in 2015, and Morton counter-sued accusing her first agent of depriving her of opportunities when she was a new author. Morton won the case, but theres no sense of vindication to be detected and theres an obvious reluctance to discuss what was no doubt a traumatic time professionally and personally. Loading For me, it strangely all seems a very long time ago. Exacerbated, I think, by the fact that the past few years with the pandemic has been so collectively hard and uncertain and time lost all meaning and peoples lives changed, Morton says. Because of all that, I find now I just feel very focused on the book. I keep on saying it, but, you know, because I lived there, Im so grateful that something positive came out of the past few years, and that finally Im on the cusp of being able to welcome readers inside. So, thats sort of where my focus is.

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Biographer Anne Pender described Humphries in 2010 as not only the most significant theatrical figure of our time  [but] the most significant comedian to emerge since Charlie Chaplin. Humphries beloved alter ego Dame Edna Everage. Credit: Bob Pearce Last year he was back on stage in London with his one-man show Man Behind The Mask, which some thought would be his swansong. It followed his earlier farewell tour when his mauve-haired Dame Edna retired from public life in a glorious, gladioli-waving extravaganza. That was a decade ago, and as Humphries confirmed to PS this week, hes not ready to shuffle off the stage just yet. (My medical bill) is bloody enormous, I strongly advise not breaking your hip! Entertainer Barry Humphries

Humphries, a father of four who lives in London with his wife Lizzie Spender, has been in Sydney since December, soaking up the sunshine and catching up with old friends including the artist John Olsen. Thanking PS for your concern, and happy to provide assurance that I am on the mend ... the trajectory is up, he was keen to put to rest any whispers to the contrary. Humphries also added that his medical bill is bloody enormous, I strongly advise not breaking your hip! Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch. Credit: Kevin Mazur/VF20/WireImage Numbers are up for Murdochs

As his 92-year-old media mogul father Rupert Murdoch prepares to marry his fifth wife, heir apparent Lachlan Murdoch is preparing to take delivery of his fourth superyacht. The 59.7-metre sailing yacht has been in development for around five years and is being built by Dutch outfit Royal Huisman. Dubbed Project 404, it has been shrouded in secrecy but in photos published online by The Superyacht Times in recent weeks, the provenance of the vessel has become much clearer. Plastered over its stern is Sarissa, the same name as Murdochs other sailing yacht which is a smidge smaller at just 42 metres. Sarissa is a 59.7-metre Royal Huisman being built for a reported $150 million. Credit: Ruben Griffioen / Superyacht Times. The larger new boat, estimated to be costing the Sydney-based media executive at least $150 million, was photographed in preparation for her launch at the Vollenhove shipyard in the Netherlands.

The high-performance sloops construction began in 2019, with her design kept a tightly guarded secret until the first preview of her Alustar aluminium hull in 2020. Also known as MM597, the yacht has been designed by Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design and features ultra-luxe interiors by French designers Studio Liaigre. According to SuperYacht Times, it features a reversed bow and sleek profile with powerful hull lines. Making a splash. Sarissa emerges from the shipyards in the Netherlands. Credit: uben Griffioen / Superyacht Times Her huge transom opening gives access to an expansive beach club area, while her extra-large portholes flood her interiors with plenty of natural light.

It remains to be seen if the new yacht ever makes it to Sydney, though the Murdochs have sailed about the harbour on their other boats over the years including the handsome mid-century tinnie Istros that PS first revealed over a year ago. Built in 1954, the fully refurbished and thoroughly elegant 43-metre motor yacht, Istros cost Murdoch around $30 million, and has made a fetching addition to Sydney Harbour. Lachlan Murdochs 1954 classic superyacht, Istros. Credit: Boat International/Guillaume Plisson Murdoch has invested big in his nautical passions having bought a Point Piper boat shed for an eye-watering $37 million. The Murdochs relocated from Los Angeles to Sydney two years ago, with Lachlan embarking on life as a global commuter aboard the familys $90 million private jet, while their three children have settled into school life here.

Holding out for a hero Rejected Strathfield Liberal political aspirant Andy Yin is best known among his social media followers for handing out flowers and hugs to strangers, the videos he proudly showed to PS recently. Theres also heartfelt YouTube videos in Mandarin about his childhood dream to become Australias prime minister, replete with tear-jerker soundtrack. Hes even got a flute recital online. Then there are the selfies with his Liberal heroes, including two ex-PMs in John Howard and his good mate Tony Abbott, as well as Julie Bishop and even polarising former Warringah candidate Katherine Deves.

Both Abbott and Deves feature in his Oprah-style online chat show series Andy One on One, dissecting the impact of Jesuits on Abbott, and left-wing radicals on Deves. Rebuffed: Andy Lin claims he is the victim of racial discrimination. But none of it was enough to convince the NSW Liberal Party to endorse Yin, who was campaigning to run against Labors Jason YatSen Li. Yin maintains he understood he was the only candidate for nomination, but says he was treated like a Chinese spy by the party he has devoted much of his life, and finances, to. A week on from reports Yin had filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission accusing the NSW Liberal party of racial discrimination, party officials declined to comment on the matter as they are yet to receive a notice from the AHRC. Party insiders also said it was unlikely Yin could have known if there were other contenders for nomination, which ultimately went to John-Paul Baladi.

Yin, who works in his family-owned Phoenix Chinese restaurants business, says he is not going away, embarking on an all-out media blitz including the Australian Chinese media. Sounds like he could do with a hug himself. Remo the storyteller Thirty years ago, he ran arguably the coolest shop in Sydney, his Remo store on Oxford Street. It was so cool, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman shopped there while they were together. Now entrepreneur Remo Giuffre is launching a Kickstarter campaign to launch his next project, which he hopes will inspire, entertain and delight. Remo Giuffre is back. Credit: Tamara Dean

Giuffre is confident his loyal customers, who have continued to shop online long since his store doors closed, will fork out at least $25,000 so he can publish a book series. The tomes will offer bite-sized backstories on the inventions, products and moments in human history that dont get a lot of attention, from the creation of plastic bread tags to the day in 1967 Sweden changed from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right. Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teos daughter is getting married. Credit: Quentin Jones Its about creating a bit of levity in an increasingly dark and serious world, something to inspire, entertain and delight, he told PS. And as an added incentive, those who donate enough, will receive a Remo key ring, a lapel pin, as well as a copy of the book, to be titled REMORANDOM. Party central Sydneys social whirl is looking hectic at the pointy end. Last Friday 200 nearest and dearest of David Rothwell, son of Rich Lister property developers Susan and Garry Rothwell, attended one of the biggest 50th birthdays of the year, taking over Bennelong at the Opera House, before moving on to superyacht Southern Cloud.

Those with extraordinary stamina kicked on at a five-star hotel in Double Bay where Rothwell rented out dozens of rooms for his guests. Invitations have also gone out for some interesting upcoming weddings. Controversial surgeon Charlie Teos daughter Alexandra is tying the knot with her long-term partner Jacob Taucher in late April. The pair both work in the neurosurgeons Cingulum Health business, which bills itself as reinventing treatment for neurological disorders and mental illness. Westfield heiress Rina Lowy is seen to marry her beau Nathan Ryba in Sydney. Credit: Instagram Meanwhile, a little sooner, PS hears the billionaire Lowy clan is gathering in Sydney for the wedding of Steven and Judy Lowys daughter Rina to Nathan Ryba.
According to Mackintosh, New York is more like Melbourne after the pandemic, with people returning to the CBD but not in the same numbers. He believes its a combination of some people having moved out of the city permanently, and many others working from home on Fridays. Its a change that makes life difficult for anyone staging live events, as does people holding off on buying tickets. The veal at Grossi Florentinos Grill. Credit: Joe Armao Mackintosh changed the model for musical theatre, being the first producer to roll shows out globally. The Sunday Times in Britain estimated his worth at 1.205 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2022. Statistics for Phantom underline his success: it played to over 140 million people in 33 countries in 166 cities around the world, with an estimated gross of $6 billion. Mackintosh acknowledges the role of an unusual factor in building his business. I always give credit for the international part of my career to the invention of the Concorde - if the Concorde hadnt existed in the 80s and 90s, Id never have done the number of shows I did in America ... And the miracle is, theyre still on, so many of them. Dont ask him which he loves most, though - its a bit like the favourite child idea. He does venture that Les Mis is the one with the most longevity, thanks to Victor Hugo as much as the timeless themes of love and war.

The postwar hit Salad Days, which he saw with his aunt and his mother when he was seven, introduced him to musical theatre. When he turned eight, Mackintosh asked to see it again. He tells the story of meeting the shows composer Julian Slade afterwards, who took him and his family backstage, literally pulling back the curtain on the world of performance. He played the piano and all the magic sounds that made everyone dance. Right then I knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. Within about a few weeks, Id worked out the job I wanted to do was called a producer. Lobster ravioli at Grossi Florentinos Grill. Credit: Joe Armao I obviously liked the story  it was about the music transforming people. And even though it was a very lightweight show in many ways, it did touch on things, [in] songs like We Dont Understand Our Children, and two young people trying to make their way in life and the tramp who plays the piano, we find out that he is the black sheep of the family, their uncle. It has themes that have stayed with me all my life. Mackintosh is in Australia for yet another opening, more than four decades after his first production here in 1976. His ties to this part of the world extend beyond the professional, having met his partner, Australian-born photographer Michael Le Poer Trench, here, fittingly at the opening night of Oklahoma! These days, the amount of travel he does is pared back. I genuinely go do I need to get on this plane?.

The Melbourne production of Mary Poppins sees him reunited with Marina Prior, who plays two roles: Miss Andrews  Mr Banks wicked former nanny who replaces Mary Poppins during the second act  and the Bird Woman. Their relationship dates back to 1984, when Prior was 18, just after shed been a busker and had just been discovered here, he says. Somebody said you should meet this girl, shes very talented. She and I got on like a house on fire, she is a hoot. As well as being very bright and a wonderful actor, she has a wonderful naughty sense of humour. We hit it off from the outset. Marina Prior as the Bird Lady in Mary Poppins. Credit: Wayne Taylor Id toyed with the idea of trying to do the double [role] but Ive never actually achieved it, he says. You need someone special: [Marina] is the excuse to do it. Mackintosh famously tried for years to get P.L. Travers, author of the Poppins books, to give permission for him to create a musical. When she was 93 - quite frail but mentally astute - she contacted him and, after three further meetings, gave her blessing. He then had to negotiate with Disney, who owned the songs written for the beloved 1964 movie starring Julie Andrews in the title role. Together with Julian Fellowes - best known as the creator/writer/producer of Downton Abbey - he devised the musical based on several of Travers books, adding 10 new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Next on the agenda is Miss Saigon, which will be staged in Sydney by Opera Australia in August. While here, Mackintosh has been looking at potential cast members. At this stage for that show, Ive found a far bigger pool of Australian talent than I did in the previous two times I did it, so this is most encouraging for me. Receipt for lunch with Cameron Mackintosh at Grossi Grill. Credit: Kerrie OBrien Set in Vietnam during the war, the show has come under fire for depicting the West as a saviour and for its stereotypical portrayal of Asians. He rejects those ideas, saying it is one of few musicals based on fact, and that the storyline reflects what people will endure when faced with war. Compared to the US and Britain, Australia is a very small market for stage shows. Thats why work by Sydneys Hays Theatre and the recently closed Production Company in Melbourne are vital, Mackintosh says. A lot of them would never make commercial sense to do again, but at the same time theyre great roles that help you grow as an artist and give a tremendous experience for the audience. So I think every bit of the grassroots interchange in Australia is great. Mackintosh hopes to bring his Stephen Sondheim show Old Friends, which has only been staged in London, to Australia before long. He continues to be remarkably hands-on, relishing his role as a storyteller, and has no plans to retire any time soon.
Despite the warning from the just-released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Synthesis Report that a liveable future may be slipping through our fingers, in Australia we find ourselves once again spectators to climate wars.

Stadium hecklers invite us to criticise, as a kind of sport, the teams on the political battlefield that we have criticised in the past. This time the battle relates to the so-called safeguard mechanism legislation.

Australia faces the prospect of more devastating climate-fuelled bushfires if global warming is not reined in. Credit: Getty Images

Commentators moan that the Coalition is still stuck in vintage denial of the extraordinary dangers of the destabilising climate. Some yell that the Greens have again over-reached on their offensive strategy, standing in the way of practical climate action, while others insist they are being used as convenient scapegoats by Labor to distract from do-little policy proposals.

Someone holds a banner proclaiming that rookie independents are nothing more than Trojan horses filled with climate lefties of a different shade of green. Rival partisans argue whether Labors game strategy is to re-introduce a hidden carbon tax or to protect the interests of fossil fuel sponsors.
France announced Friday it is banning the recreational use of TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and other apps on government employees' phones because of concern about insufficient data security measures.

The move follows similar restrictions on TikTok in democratic countries amid fears about the popular video-sharing app's Chinese connections.

But the French decision also encompassed other platforms widely used by government officials, lawmakers and President Emmanuel Macron himself.

The French Minister for Transformation and Public Administration, Stanislas Guerini, said in a statement that recreational'' apps arent secure enough to be used in state administrative services and could present a risk for the protection of data.

The ban will be monitored by Frances cybersecurity agency. The statement did not specify which apps are banned but noted that the decision came after other governments took measures targeting TikTok.

Guerini's office said in a message to The Associated Press that the ban also will include Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, gaming apps like Candy Crush and dating apps.

Exceptions will be allowed. If an official wants to use a banned app for professional purposes, like public communication, they can request permission to do so.

Case in point: Guerini posted the announcement of the ban on Twitter.

The US, Britain, the European Union and others have banned TikTok on government phones. Western governments worry Chinese authorities could force TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd., to hand over data on international users or push pro-Beijing narratives.

The company's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, pushed back on assertions that TikTok or ByteDance are tools of the Chinese government during questioning by US lawmakers Thursday. The company has been reiterating that 60% of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors.

A law China implemented in 2017 requires companies to give the government any personal data relevant to the countrys national security. Theres no evidence that TikTok has turned over such data, but fears abound due to the vast amount of user data it collects.

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As the semesters went by and the issues werent addressed, Adam found himself getting further behind. Some of his lecturers helped with extensions and verbal assignments. But his mental health went downhill. What is reasonable? The right to equal access despite disability is outlined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The responsibilities of educational institutions are outlined in the Disability Standards for Education (2005). States have their own equal opportunity legislation. Universities must comply with all of these standards. Accessibility for disabled students hinges on the legal term reasonable adjustments, which appears in the Act. Universities didnt always have to account for disabled students, so they had to make adjustments when the laws changed. Reasonableness considers criteria including what the student needs, how adjustments might affect other people, and how much they will cost the university. Some adjustments are universal. If a building has stairs, ramps are an adjustment. Most universities have disability adjustment plans for students on an individual basis. Students must apply for and manage these plans themselves, providing medical evidence for their disability or an ongoing medical condition.

Many students with a disability at Melbourne University say that the process of applying for and managing their adjustment plans creates a bureaucratic burden that in and of itself is discriminatory: it makes uni harder. Adam with Madeleine Salisbury, Professor Keith McVilly and Shuyun (Betty) Zhang on campus at Melbourne University. Credit: Justin McManus Adam has talked to students at other unis. A friend is studying at Swinburne, and told me that the uni is really good with accessibility. My friend has ADHD, and she says they are so on top of accessibility, and communicate with her regularly about it, he says. There is no push-back. The students say most people see only physical disabilities, and that mental health conditions are often treated as invisible. The adjustments required to study with mental health disability usually involve needing more time. Depression, anxiety and trauma dont follow timetables. Lara (not her real name) doesnt want to be identified in this article. One reason is that she is a victim-survivor of family violence. An international student, she has been stalked by her family online and in person.

Lara studies in a STEM faculty at Melbourne University. Before her abuse she was a top student, even winning a scholarship to a prestigious American college. She was diagnosed with a mental illness and developed social anxiety. She also has ADD, developed a severe gluten intolerance, and has other disabilities, including low vision. Sometimes Lara gets overwhelmed and cant get out of bed for days. Although she has an adjustment plan, she still has issues getting extensions when she needs time. Every student - even students without a disability - can apply for 10 days extension, she says. Laras adjustment plan lists the 10-day extension as an adjustment: Extension requests of between 1 and 10 working days can be supported by this Academic Adjustment Plan. Length of extension is at the discretion of teaching staff. Once, during a difficult period, Lara applied for 10 days extension. I also got a doctors certificate, just in case. But my course coordinator said, No. The assignment doesnt take that long. It takes five days.

Lara went back to her doctor. My doctor was like, I am the medical professional, why are they telling me how many days you need? So I talked to SEDS, and they said Your teaching staff hasnt done anything wrong; look at the last line. Its their right to decide how many days you need. Lara wrote to the relevant teaching staff, but an agreement wasnt reached. Placido Belardo is principal solicitor at the Disability Discrimination Legal Service. Reasonable adjustments ... must be the product of a well-informed consultation between the student, their health practitioners, and the university staff, he says. Therefore, a condition that adjustment plans be approved by the relevant faculty staff is not necessarily discriminatory. What may constitute a breach of the legislation and the Disability Standards for Education is if the faculty would arbitrarily withhold approval without giving due regard to medical evidence.

Keith McVilly believes more training is needed. Credit: Justin McManus Belardo points out that if an assignment is deemed to take five days, expecting a student who is suffering from mental illness to complete it in the same timeframe would constitute indirect discrimination. The student is not getting any unfair advantage, nor is the extension of time compromising the overall delivery of education, he adds. An adjustment is not a one-off obligation. They ought to be reviewed to ensure that the strategies are working. Lara still managed to get top marks for her assignment. I know I can do this job, she says. I can become the industry connection for future students with a disability. Thats my ambition.

Keith McVilly is professorial fellow for Disability & Inclusion in Melbourne Universitys School of Social & Political Sciences. He tells students about applying for adjustment plans on the first slide of every new unit, but acknowledges that staff at the university need more training. Ive worked across a number of universities in a number of states in Australia. Unfortunately, this is an issue across the university sector, he says. Firstly, we need to publicise [adjustment plans] more. I think we need to improve the quality [of the plans]. And we need to increase the resourcing to SEDS. Every year I undertake numerous compulsory training [units] in a whole variety of areas, from safe lifting practices to bullying and harassment. But nowhere in my compulsory training is people with disability. Id make [that] training compulsory, he adds. The feedback was incredibly negative

As students came back onto campus at the end of 2021, Adam Whitehead attended a meeting to give feedback about Melbourne Universitys Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The feedback from students was incredibly negative, he says. It seemed like the university was surprised by the outrage over accessibility. He thought the outrage was well-founded. He knew about his experience with low vision. And the doors in the disability space were almost comically inaccessible. Betty Zhang and I did a walk through a newly remodelled building, opened in 2022, and it was immediately apparent that there were access problems, says Adam. Afterwards I joined a group of students in wheelchairs who were doing an informal audit. They mentioned that there were inclines that made it impractical to get around in the new building, and to get to the lifts, he says.

Through talking to people involved in the consultation process we found out that, after the earthquake in Melbourne, the University realised that it wasnt up to code. We even heard that it reallocated money earmarked for accessibility and inclusion after the consultation process to instead bring the building up to code. Whatever happened, it was obviously inadequate for a brand-new remodel. Thats the issue with tacking on accessibility at the end, rather than using universal design. At the end of that first meeting, Adam and several other students with a disability started a WhatsApp group. Some ran for election to the student union in 2022, and were elected as disability reps. We realised that if anything was going to change, we would need to push for it ourselves, Adam says. Shuyun (Betty) Zhang was one of the students in the group. She has a mental disability, and is an elected Disability Officer at the universitys student union. One student wrote to me after being involved in the lived experience consultation for the DIAP, Zhang says. She was outraged that the university revealed that it had had an external audit that put an $80 million price tag on bringing the university up to physical accessibility standards, but that the financial commitment being made by the university this year was $3 million.

Simon Katterl, a mental health and human rights advocate who has worked for the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, believes one of the issues is a power imbalance. People kind of give up: Simon Katterl. I have witnessed a resistance at several universities to make obvious reasonable adjustments so that people can participate equally, he says. There is an individual acting on their own against an institution. That institution also happens to determine whether they will pass their course and have a career. It has the benefit of money, prestige, believability, paper trails, energy and staff. The student does not, and the administrative burden is large. People kind of give up. In effect, that enables the system to stay exactly as it is.

The University of Melbourne responded to requests for interviews with a statement reiterating its dedication to the Disability Discrimination Act, adding that the University monitors processing times for Special Consideration and is currently rolling out a series of process improvements to further reduce those times. Students may access a formal complaints process if an issue cannot be resolved informally, the statement said. The outcomes of complaints are reviewed internally so that we can improve the experience for students. A new Disability Inclusion Action Plan is currently in development and will be completed in 2023. Both student union disability office bearers and other students with disability have emailed senior staff at the university to see the draft plan. So far it hasnt been made available. This year, Adam started his fourth-year internship at the university, working on systems of universal design, a discipline that incorporates people of all abilities into building and process design within institutions.
Priyanka Ashraf is a former lawyer, but when she was racially abused in a supermarket in 2021, she realised she had no idea where she should report it.

It occurred to her that if someone in her position didnt know what to do, it must be even harder for women who didnt have her experience and resources.

Priyanka Ashraf said underreporting of racism was a problem in Australia.

Ashraf is founder of The Creative Co-Operative, a social enterprise that supports women of colour in the start-up world. Her experience in the supermarket planted the seed that led to the creation of Maya Cares, a chatbot designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of First Nations, black and women of colour.

Over two years, Ashrafs team spoke to more than 250 people with lived experience of racism and from a wide range of fields including mental health, law, data and privacy. The program has been designed entirely by women of colour  somewhat of a rarity in a largely white, male-dominated tech world. It was funded by the Victorian Department of Fairness and Families and Humanitech, an Australian Red Cross initiative focused on harnessing technologys power for good by putting humanity first.
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 25 edition of Good Weekend. See all 16 stories . On the dust jacket of Monica Maciass memoir, Black Girl from Pyongyang, theres an extraordinary photograph of her  then aged 5, in a white, frilly dress  flanked by the two men she considers her fathers. To her right, in a suit and tie and leaning on a cane, is her biological father, Francisco Macias Nguema, known as Macias, the first president of Equatorial Guinea, whose entry in Wikipedia describes him as one of the most brutal dictators in history. On her left in a Mao jacket is the man who effectively, though distantly, brought her up: Kim Il-sung, then the Great Leader of North Korea, whose human rights record was deemed catastrophic by Amnesty. I also consider Kim Il-sung my adoptive father, she says. He raised me. If it wasnt for him, I wouldnt have had an education. Who knows what would have happened to me? Today, Monica Macias lives in a south London suburb and works on the shop floor of a well-known clothes chain. No customer could even begin to guess her extraordinary childhood divided between two countries that were among the worst in terms of political rights and civil liberties, effectively parentless from the age of 7 and brought up in a military boarding school. Monica Macias (centre) with her family and the first couple of North Korea in 1977. On her right: her biological father, Equatorial Guineas then president Macias. On her left: the North Korean founder Kim Il-sung. This first visit to North Korea took place in 1977 when Monica, her older sister, Maribel, brother, Fran, and her parents were on a state visit. Francisco Macias was trying to strengthen the ties of his nation  newly independent from Spain  to the communist bloc. I remember arriving at the airport, says Monica, 51. There was a crowd shouting and waving, a red carpet. It took my breath away. That is my first real memory. She had no idea two years later that she would return to Pyongyang, this time just with her two siblings and her mother. She would never see her father again. At first, the family stayed together in a flat in an upmarket district, but out of the blue her mother announced she was returning to Equatorial Guinea without her children. Monica spent the next 15 years of her life in North Korea, forgetting her native Spanish and Fang languages, to this day dreaming and thinking in Korean, which, despite having lived all over the world, she considers her identity.

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Knowing his life and family were in danger from his many enemies, Macias had entrusted his three youngest children to Kim Il-sungs care. He had already sent his eldest son, Teo, to Cuba to become a ward of Fidel Castro. After Macias was overthrown in a coup by his nephew, Teodoro Obiang, and put on trial and executed, Castro sent Teo home to the lions den and Maribel rushed back to defend him. Monica could not fathom why her mother had abandoned her other children. I dont remember her leaving. My sister later told me she explained she had to go back to Guinea, but would try to come back. All I know is she disappeared suddenly from my life. I was angry. And sad. Loading The siblings were all enrolled in the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School on the outskirts of Pyongyang, a boarding establishment for children of party members  all fatherless  where Kims nephew, who had a direct line to him, was deputy director. Another photo from the time shows the trio standing to attention in a uniform of peaked caps and belted, brass-buttoned blazers with epaulettes. It was a boys school, so on Kims orders 20 girls were brought in to make the Macias sisters more comfortable. Monica learnt Korean rapidly, but she was bewildered by the institutions rigidity, its 5am reveilles followed by an hours exercise and the way her classmates asked permission to go to the lavatory. When she complained to a teacher, the tiny child was told, Remember, youre a soldier. Macias with siblings Maribel and Fran at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School. Initially, this effectively orphaned child cried herself to sleep. At one point she went on a hunger strike and ended up in hospital for a month. I just wanted my mother, she says. In her teens, her class spent a month living in tents in the hills, scaling walls, learning to shoot pistols and dismantle Kalashnikovs and surviving on rations. Monica was always acutely aware of her place in such a homogeneous society. I struggled because I wanted to become Korean, she says. Sometimes I felt like an animal in the zoo. In school, the kids called me sheep wife after a cartoon character with curly hair. They werent unkind. They had just never seen a black person before.

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The regime was harsh and she rebelled. Once, missing her siblings, who by now had moved to university halls, she ran away in the night, walking for hours to find them, which resulted in a huge dressing-down. I was very lonely, she says. She was banned from spending time outside school with her friends. It took years before Kim Il-sung granted her a special permit to leave school at weekends to visit her siblings and two former schoolmates, the sons of the president of Benin, who by then were living in a hostel for foreign students along with the handful of Russians, Chinese and Syrians studying in Pyongyang. With time, however, Monica began to consider herself Korean. Today, sitting in her publishers London offices, whats noticeable is her gentle manner, avoidance of eye contact and soft Korean accent. With time, however, Monica began to consider herself Korean. Today, sitting in her publishers London offices, whats noticeable is her gentle manner, avoidance of eye contact and soft Korean accent. (The book will be published in Australia in May.) I remember once when shed been understated about something, just exclaiming, Youre so Korean!  says a British friend who has accompanied her and previously lived in the South Korean capital, Seoul. By the time her mother returned for a visit to Pyongyang, when Monica was about 10, the two had no common language. My memory had blocked all the trauma and my life before Korea. I just saw a beautiful lady, but one who had nothing to do with me. I didnt want to hug her. My sister had to mediate and translate. My mother was crying, but I was angry because shed left, and I didnt want to speak to her. Now I can understand how she felt, but then  Tears start to run down her face and her voice quivers. Sorry, she gulps. Relations remained strained until her mother died in 2014. Not long after that encounter, the siblings were summoned to meet an African man. Monica couldnt understand the conversation, but witnessed a heated exchange between him and her sister, which culminated in her dragging Monica and Fran out. She learnt they had just met an envoy of their cousin, who had overthrown their father and was now Equatorial Guineas president. He remains so to this day, which makes him the longest-serving leader in the world. He wanted to bring the children home. They refused. Before that, Id assumed my father wasnt alive because my classmates were fatherless as well, and Id invented a reason why: natural causes. But I never asked until that moment when I saw my sister look so severe  she never raised her voice. Now I was in shock. I thought families didnt kill each other. From that point, I was full of hate towards them. It went on for years until I learnt to forgive.

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Macias with a school director during military training in North Korea. Gradually, Monica discovered that her brother Teo (and later Fran when he returned to Equatorial Guinea) was incarcerated in the countrys notorious Black Beach prison on numerous occasions. Kim Il-sung could have done the same and sent me back, like Castro sent Teo, but he kept his promise to my father, even though it had no advantage for him. How often did Monica see Kim? At the beginning, quite often. He was charismatic. He would nag me to study hard, like a typical Korean grandfather. Hed say, The best weapon you have is education.  Although his nephew monitored Monica day to day, Kim observed her progress, encouraging her to drop one dream of becoming a pianist and instead to study textile engineering to help her countrys fledgling economy. Thats what your father wanted. Study for Guinea, he told her. So Monica enrolled in North Koreas University of Light Industry, where she shared a hall with other foreign students. She began to have inklings of how limited her environment was and that not all the world might be like North Korea. She was shaken when a man she realised must be a surveillance agent  a concept shed heard of but previously dismissed as a fantasy  harshly told her as a Korean she could not spend time with a Syrian friend. I started wondering. He was charismatic. He would nag me to study hard, like a typical Korean grandfather. Afterwards, that same friend sat on a copy of the official party newspaper bearing the sacrosanct image of Kim Il-sung. Horrified, Monica berated him. He said, You think that way because you grew up in Pyongyang. I was like, Whats wrong with growing up in North Korea? I couldnt believe how he ignored the rules Id been trained to follow since childhood. But that triggered a new thinking. I began to see Pyongyang with new eyes.

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Loading Monica resolved to visit another of her cousins, now Equatorial Guineas ambassador in Beijing. Arriving in the Chinese capital, using her Equatorial Guinean passport, she could find no one who spoke English (which shed studied at school). A white man approached her and asked if she needed help. Monica, hearing his US accent, was petrified and ran away. My reaction was normal. It was how Id been brought up. The West was evil, especially Americans. There couldnt have been any other way. That was the consequence of being brainwashed. The trip sowed more doubt, not least after she ended up singing karaoke with tourists from South Korea, people shed been brought up to pity as American puppets. She returned to Pyongyang, but was questioning her hermetic society even further. It was as if I had walked onto a movie set and was reciting my lines of dialogue from an approved script. Macias sharing a toast with Kim Song-ae, Kim Il-sungs wife. On graduating, she resolved to visit her maternal grandfathers country, Spain. Kim Il-sungs verdict via his envoy was, Monica, are you strong enough to live in that harsh capitalist world? She decided to leave her sheltered, counterfeit existence. In her naivety, Monica had no idea that arriving in Spain with no visa meant immediate deportation to Equatorial Guinea, a country she had no memory of, where her family were under daily threat from their cousins, who now held power, and Obiang was reported to be pocketing tens of millions a day of his countrys oil revenues while the population lived in fear and poverty. I went back so full of fear. I thought they might kill me. The culture was so different, so loud. People were so brash. And I was shocked by the poverty. Relations with her brother Teo were cold. I just locked myself in a room until I had my Spanish visa and could leave.

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A woman who was hit with a samurai sword in a frenzied attack in Sydneys inner west has told a court she experienced excruciating physical pain and lasting psychological trauma from the brutal and life-altering incident.

Karl Howard, 47, had been awake for seven days straight on a binge of alcohol and cocaine, consuming up to five grams of the drug per day, when he struck the woman with a sword at his Annandale home in the early hours of February 8, 2021.

Karl Howard (centre) leaves court with his lawyer John Sutton last year. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

The woman had been at the home visiting her female friend when Howard began to act strangely, laughing and skipping around the property and telling the women, one of you has to die. He retrieved the sword and swung its blade at the woman, causing a serious injury to her arm when she threw it up to protect herself.

Howard also elbowed the womans friend in the face, after his significant drug use and lack of sleep caused a transient psychotic state which affected his capacity to form the intention to cause harm.
Organisers of an anti-abortion rally on Sunday have called for calm amid fears it will become another flashpoint after a violent protest outside a Sydney church on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Catholics will march from St Marys Cathedral to NSW Parliament for a Day of the Unborn Child rally, gathering just 25 metres from a Macquarie Street abortion clinic.

The 2022 Day of the Unborn Child rally outside NSW Parliament, Macquarie Street. Credit: Alamy

The annual rally will be led by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher.

Leaders of the largely Maronite group Christian Lives Matter called for supporters to come to the rally in the thousands, days after pro-trans protesters were attacked outside St Michaels Church in Belfield.
The issue is raised with Liberal MP Stuart Ayres every day in his western Sydney electorate, and in the final sprint to hold the marginal seat, he used his choice of headgear to declare support for the Penrith Stadium upgrade.

Donning a Panthers cap outside the pre-polling booth opposite the stadium on Friday morning, Ayres appealed to Penrith voters parochial instincts. Its a battle that may come down to just a few hundred votes, if the margin that separated him from Labor candidate Karen McKeown in 2019 is repeated on Saturday.

Penrith MP Stuart Ayres was joined on the hustings by Premier Dominic Perrottet, his wife Helen Perrottet and their baby Celeste on the last day of the campaign. Credit: James Brickwood

The government wants to rebuild Penrith Stadium at the site now occupied by the Harness Racing Club and turn the existing ground into a public park, at a cost of $300 million. The upgrade survived even after the government scrapped proposals for the Manly, Cronulla and Wests Tigers home grounds  widely interpreted as a function of its location in one of the states most marginal seats.

I assume if the state government is to backflip on its commitment to fund suburban stadiums, then the $300 million committed to the Penrith Stadium can now be better utilised for schools and hospitals? Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis said upon learning that Leichardt Oval had lost its funding last August.
The NAPLAN writing test has damaged students skills, cornered teachers into promoting formulaic methods and will soon be made redundant by artificial intelligence, a leading literacy researcher says.

Australias curriculum authority is reviewing possible changes to the way writing is assessed in NAPLAN, three years after Victoria and two other states called for the writing component to be overhauled or even scrapped.

The NAPLAN writing test is producing a generation of formulaic writers, a leading researcher says. Credit: Xaume Olleros

Dr Lucinda McKnight, a Deakin University education lecturer who is conducting a three-year federally funded research project into teaching digital writing in secondary schools, said the test was increasingly irrelevant to real-world demands.

We know that NAPLAN has narrowed the teaching of writing, we know that its had a detrimental effect on teachers ability to teach, she said.
There is a long-term threat to the AUKUS submarine deal over which the leaders of Australia, Britain and the United States have no effective control. It is the inevitability that the people of the three nations will grow apart as identities shift over the 30-year timeline for the partnership.

AUKUS begins with an assumption of a shared white history, and democratic values. But Australia already stands apart from its allies as a majority migrant nation with a Eurasian ethnic face. Britain remains predominately Anglo-Celtic, while the US is Latino-American and the most racially divided of the trio.

How do we reconcile our diverging cultures in the future? We happily acknowledge, even boast about our differences with the US in any other context. We are resistant to the American viruses of gun violence and religious extremism. Our electoral system is among the worlds best and our judiciary hasnt been corrupted by partisanship.

Those differences should not matter if AUKUS delivers its twin promise of securing Australias defence and preventing conflict in the region. But what happens when our partners destabilise the international order they seek to uphold, or place their interests ahead of ours? These arent hypothetical questions for the next generation of leaders. Our allies have already demonstrated their unreliability  even as the AUKUS concept was being developed.
Sparky may soon feature on kindy kids career wish lists alongside princesses and astronauts if union and industry plans to inspire a new generation of future tradies take off.

The Electrical Trades Union and employer bodies are lobbying the federal government to help boost apprentice numbers and make permanent skilled migration easier to plug a shortfall of electricians needed for the nation to switch to clean energy.

A major union and employer group want books in preschools depicting female tradies to fill future skills demands. Credit: iStock

ETU acting national secretary Michael Wright said they also wanted a support system for apprentices that reached schools to lift the number of women in the trade from current levels of about 2 per cent, as the traditional cohort that we draw from is tapped out.

One of his ideas is to distribute picture books in classrooms showing women working in trades to plant the seed early.
Al-Ahram Weekly reports on the latest report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that warns of the need for urgent action on the climate .

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its latest report on the climate crisis on Monday under the title of AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 summarising five years of the state of knowledge on climate change, its widespread impacts and risks, and climate mitigation, and adaptation efforts.

The report recognises the interdependence of climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, and human societies, as well as the close linkages between climate-change adaptation, mitigation, ecosystem health and sustainable development.

According to the report, a summary of the IPCCs sixth Assessment Cycle reports published between 2018 and 2023, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have continued to increase and led to temperatures 1.1 C higher in 2011-2020 than those recorded between 1850 and 1900 as a result of unsustainable energy and land use, lifestyles, and patterns of consumption and production across regions.

Global surface temperatures have increased faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over at least the last 2,000 years, the report says.

Despite progress on climate action policies and legislation, the report said it was likely that global warming will exceed 1.5 C during the 21st century based on current nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by countries signatory to the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty adopted in 2015 by 196 countries that agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 C.

More than half (58 per cent) of historical cumulative net CO2 emissions from 1850 to 2019 had occurred between 1850 and 1989, the report said, and about 42 per cent had occurred between 1990 and 2019. In 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in at least the last two million years, and concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide were higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years.

It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, the report said, adding that the average rate of sea-level rise was 1.3 (0.6 to 2.1) mm/year between 1901 and 1971, increasing to 1.9 (0.8 to 2.9) mm/year between 1971 and 2006, and further increasing to 3.7 (3.2 to 4.2) mm/year between 2006 and 2018.

Human influence was very likely the main driver of these increases since at least 1971, according to the report, as evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heat waves, heavy precipitation, droughts, tropical cyclones, and in particular their attribution to human influence has further strengthened.

Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change. Human and ecosystem vulnerability are interdependent, the report said.

Increasing weather and extreme climatic events have exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security, with the largest adverse impacts observed in locations and communities in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, small islands and the Arctic, and for indigenous peoples worldwide, along with small-scale food producers and low-income households.

According to the report, between 2010 and 2020, human mortality from floods, droughts and storms was 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions compared to regions with very low vulnerability. It added that climate change has caused substantial damages, and increasingly irreversible losses, in terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and open ocean ecosystems, with hundreds of local losses of species being driven by increases in mass mortality events recorded on land and in the ocean.

Moreover, impacts on some ecosystems are approaching irreversibility such as the impacts of hydrological changes resulting from the retreat of glaciers, or the changes in some mountain and Arctic ecosystems driven by permafrost thaw.

Climate change has reduced food security and affected water security, hindering efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], the report stressed.

In urban areas, it added, observed climate change has caused adverse impacts on human health, livelihoods, and key infrastructure. Heat extremes have intensified in cities. Urban infrastructure, including transportation, water, sanitation and energy systems have been compromised by extreme and slow-onset events, with resulting economic losses, disruptions of services and negative impacts to well-being.

On combating the effects of climate change and global warming, the report said that adaptation planning and implementation had progressed across all sectors and regions, with documented benefits and varying effectiveness.

Despite such progress, adaptation gaps exist and will continue to grow at current rates of implementation, according to the report, and hard and soft limits to adaptation have been reached in some ecosystems and regions.

Maladaptation is happening in some sectors and regions. Current global financial flows for adaptation are insufficient for, and constrain implementation of, adaptation options, especially in the developing countries, it said.

The report said that key barriers to adaptation are limited resources, lack of private-sector and citizen engagement, the insufficient mobilisation of finance (including for research), low climate literacy, lack of political commitment, limited research and/or slow and low uptake of adaptation science, and a low sense of urgency.

There are widening disparities between the estimated costs of adaptation and the finance allocated to adaptation, the report says, adding that adaptation finance has come predominantly from public sources and a small proportion of globally tracked climate finance was targeted to adaptation and an overwhelming majority to mitigation.

On mitigation, the report said that policies addressing this have expanded over the last few years. However, global GHG emissions in 2030 implied by nationally determined contributions announced by October 2021 make it likely that warming will exceed 1.5 C during the 21st century and make it harder to limit warming below 2 C.

There are gaps between projected emissions from implemented policies and those from NDCs, and finance flows fall short of the levels needed to meet climate goals across all sectors and regions, the report said.

Continued greenhouse gas emissions will lead to increasing global warming, the report warned, adding that every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards.

On the other hand, deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions would lead to a discernible slowdown in global warming within around two decades and also to discernible changes in atmospheric composition within a few years, it said.

The report stressed that adaptation options that are feasible and effective today will become constrained and less effective with increasing global warming, as losses and damages will increase and additional human and natural systems will reach adaptation limits.

However, maladaptation can be avoided by flexible, multi-sectoral, inclusive, and long-term planning and the implementation of adaptation actions, with co-benefits to many sectors and systems, according to the report.

It says that near-term integrated climate action is urgent, as there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all.

Climate-resilient development integrates adaptation and mitigation to advance sustainable development for all, it said, and is enabled by increased international cooperation including improved access to adequate financial resources, particularly for vulnerable regions, sectors and groups, and inclusive governance and coordinated policies.

The choices and actions implemented in this decade will have impacts now and for thousands of years, the report said, adding that sustained mitigation and adaptation actions in this decade would reduce projected losses and damage for humans and ecosystems and deliver many co-benefits.

Similarly, prioritising equity, climate justice, social justice, inclusion and just transition processes can enable adaptation and ambitious mitigation actions and climate-resilient development, with the availability of political commitment, well-aligned multilevel governance, institutional frameworks, and enhanced access to finance and technology, as key to accelerate the widespread adoption of technologies and practices.

If climate goals are to be achieved, both adaptation and mitigation financing would need to increase many-fold, the report said, adding that there is sufficient global capital to close the global investment gaps and enhancing international cooperation to achieve this is possible through multiple channels.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 March, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Presidents of the United States have had some curious moments during their visits to Australia.

None was more startling than the night president Lyndon Baines Johnson, drunk as a skunk, was conveyed through Canberras late-night streets while lying in the rear footwell of a police car.

Anthony Albanese has invited Joe Biden to address parliament before a meeting of the Quad alliance in Sydney in May. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

It was 1966 and Johnson, better known as LBJ, was the first US president to visit Australia.

We shall return to that little-known highlight of his trip a bit later in the column, but first we note that in a couple of months Joe Biden is scheduled to become the sixth POTUS to visit our shores.
The fur is flying between the peak body for dog breeders and minor parties over plans to rein in puppy farms.

NSW upper house MP Emma Hurst has hit out at the states peak body for dog breeders after they encouraged pet owners not to vote for the Animal Justice Party or the Greens.

Bernese Mountain dog puppies in Marayla, Sydney. Dog breeders are calling on voters to preserve the future of dog ownership at the 2023 state election. Credit: Ben Symons

Dogs NSW on Thursday said the policy platforms of both parties would create a scarcity of puppies, drive up prices and foster black market trading of pets.

This is the time for NSW locals to make a choice and beware of the political parties such as the Greens and animal rights groups whose policies dont support Australian dog owners, said president Lyn Brand.
Polling places are usually located in local schools, church halls or public buildings. Polling booths are open from 8am to 6pm. You can find more information here. If you arent sure where you can vote on election day, or dont know which electorate youre in, you can find a list of polling places in your area here or use our interactive below: Do I have to vote? It is compulsory for all Australians over the age of 18 to vote in their state election. You only need to enrol to vote once with the Australian Electoral Commission to vote for all three levels of government.

If you do not vote on election day (and you havent voted early or requested a postal vote) you will be issued with an apparent failure to vote notice. The penalty for not voting is a $55 fine, which you must respond to within 28 days of the issue date. Loading If you, or someone you know, needs help with translation services, you can contact TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736. What if I have COVID-19 on election day? If you are positive for COVID-19 on election day, you are allowed to vote in person, but the NSW Electoral Commission is asking voters to consider their situation and take steps to reduce the risk of transmission (mask and hand sanitiser).

Being sick on election day with COVID-19 is considered a sufficient reason for not voting. Telephone-assisted voting is only available to people who are blind or have low vision. It will not be available to COVID-positive voters. What actually happens when youve put your ballot in the box? If you were an early bird and cast your vote between Saturday, March 18, and Friday, March 24, at a voting centre, your ballot will be stored until voting closes at 6pm on election day. But youll have to wait until election night for it to be counted across one of the 93 election manager offices.

If you waited until Saturday, March 25  election day - your vote will sit in the ballot box and remain untouched until voting closes. Once a box becomes full, its sealed and stored securely. Every seal is recorded on a register and checked before unsealing the box. Scrutineers  those chosen by candidates to keep an eye on the process  are invited to watch over the sealing and unsealing of all ballot boxes and co-sign the seal registers. When is a vote informal? Some votes cant be counted. These are called informal votes, and can include ballots that are blank or unmarked, contain ticks or crosses instead of numbers, have something on them that identifies the voter, or simply dont have the required number of boxes unmarked. How are the votes actually counted? Legislative Assembly ballot papers are simpler to count than their Legislative Council counterparts.

Ballots for the Legislative Assembly are divided up according to which candidate voters have indicated as their first choice. Any informal votes  those that cant be counted  are set aside. Loading Votes are counted according to the optional preferential system. Basically, a candidate wins immediately if they secure the first preference from more than 50 per cent of the formal votes. If not, the candidate with the smallest number of first preference votes is eliminated and their votes are re-assigned to whichever candidate each ballot paper has down as the second preference. This continues until someone eventually reaches the required threshold and is elected to the position.

At the same time, a two candidates preferred (TCP) count also swings into action, which spits out an unofficial indication of the election outcome. Its based on the two candidates chosen by the electoral commissioner before election day, as those most likely to be left standing after all the preferences are distributed. The formal votes for the other candidates are redistributed to one of these two depending on who gets the highest preference on each of the ballot papers. This can give you a glimpse at what the final result might be. But, the result is suppressed on election night if it looks like the two candidates chosen by the electoral commissioner arent actually leading in terms of their number of first preference votes. Below the line v above the line voting Below the line voting is where voters assign preferences to individual candidates. Above the line voting was introduced in 1984 because of the high number of people casting informal votes. It allows for voters to preference a group rather than individual candidates. This means that your vote will be distributed according to the preference of your selected groups. Finally, the check count happens. Preferences from the ballot papers are entered into the NSW Electoral Commissions computer count system. These are the results that become official. According to Professor Rodney Smith, Australian politics researcher at the University of Sydney, voting  and vote-counting  for the Legislative Council is more complex, with more computer technology involved.

One difference for the Legislative Council election is that theres below the line and above the line voting. Loading What happens to all the votes once theyve been counted? Candidates can challenge the results of an election within 40 days of the return of the writ  which is where the electoral commission endorses the name of the successful candidate on the writ for each electoral district and returns these to the Governor of NSW after declaring the result of the election. Ballot papers can be recounted at any time before an election result is declared if a candidate requests it and the electoral commissioner approves.

All electoral materials, including digital results, have to be kept for six months following the election. After that, theyre all securely destroyed. How hard would it be for someone to hijack the vote-counting process? Very difficult, is Smiths answer, particularly after an incident in Western Australia led to the tightening of security processes. In 2013, a bundle of nearly 1400 Senate ballot slips went missing in WA. To ensure that never happened again, weaknesses in the audit trail were patched up. The handling processes, records of ballot numbers, packaging up and transporting became much more rigorous after that, Smith says.

What if the results are really close? Loading At 6pm on election night, the doors close on voting and the count begins. The boxes are opened, and the ballots are sorted before undergoing an initial count. This continues until 10.30pm, and if the counting hasnt finished, itll resume on Monday. No results are updated on the Sunday. The initial count isnt the one that the Electoral Commission officially relies on, but tells voters what they might expect. Smith says the check count, which happens in the weeks following election night, is the one that matters. If a contest is close, a check count is conducted to work out who has actually won, he says. The scrutineers often get into debates about votes, and if the outcome is close, the votes can be counted a third time. Whats a hung parliament?

A hung parliament is the outcome of an election where no one wins a majority. This means a party can form government only with the support of independents or minor parties. A government formed from this negotiation process is called a minority government. Minority governments occur in about a third of parliamentary democracies worldwide, according to British academics Bonnie N. Field and Shane Martin. It is less common in the Westminster system of parliament used in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, where the roles of government and opposition are clearly defined. Recent examples include Justin Trudeaus minority government in Canada, the UKs Conservative government under Theresa May between 2017 and 2019, and Australias Labor government under Julia Gillard after the 2010 federal election. The last NSW election to result in a hung parliament was in 1991, when Liberal premier Nick Greiner called an early election expecting to win comfortably. Instead, he ended up with a minority, and had to rely on the support of independents to form government. Before that, Labor twice formed minority government out of a hung parliament; once in 1920 and again in 1950, when it depended on the support of two former Labor MPs to stay in office.

The Coalition under former premier Gladys Berejiklian won a slim majority at the 2019 election, but that was quickly eroded after three MPs resigned in the first half of 2021, plunging them into minority government with 45 seats (they eventually regained one in a byelection). And now for the election itself  who are the contenders and what are the polls saying? Premier Dominic Perrottet is taking on Labor leader Chris Minns in a close contest that has tightened in recent days, according to the latest exclusive polling from the Herald. As the campaign enters its final stretch, the Coalitions primary vote has jumped six points to 38 per cent. Labors primary remains unchanged on 38 per cent.

Perrottet has edged further ahead as preferred premier, securing his highest rating since taking over as leader (40 per cent), while Labor leader Chris Minns is steady on 34 per cent. Loading However, with the results indicating a 4.5 per cent swing, Labor is on track to return to power for the first time in 12 years. But they will probably need the backing of crossbench MPs to form government. The latest Resolve Political Monitor for the Herald shows 39 per cent of voters believe Labor will win the election, while 27 per cent think the Coalition will prevail. Some 34 per cent are undecided. Still trying to figure out what each party stands for? Its been many months of commitments and promises from all sides of politics in the lead-up to the election, and each one of them tells us about the priorities and values of each party. Anthony Segaert has compiled this handy list of every major election promise made by the Coalition and Labor this state election.

Whats the current state of play in the parliament? The Coalition is heading into this election with an already shaky hold on power. Of the 93 seats in Legislative Assembly  which is where the government is formed  the Liberals currently hold 33, while the Nationals have 12. Labor has 36 seats and there is an expanded crossbench with three Greens MPs as well as nine independents, which include three who quit the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and one who resigned from the ALP. Two former Liberals sit on the crossbench, although one is retiring and the other, former communities minister Gareth Ward, will contest his seat as an independent. In order to hold majority government (and therefore govern in their own right), 47 seats is the magic number.

Just for fun  what did the results look like in the 2019 state election? Gladys Berejiklian claimed victory over Michael Daley in 2019, taking the Coalition to a historic third term after Labors spectacular last-minute collapse. Daley called Berejiklian and conceded defeat at 9.30pm on election day after his party failed to come close to winning the seats it needed to push the Coalition into minority. How can I follow the results live? The Herald will be running a live blog from 8am on Saturday  and then from 7am on Sunday to cover all the follow-up. Our journalists will be reporting from several electorates throughout election day, and will have full analysis before, during and after the votes are counted.
Just a quick look at a few seats that we havent paid much attention to before we call it a night.

In the seat of Sydney, incumbent independent MP Alex Greenwich has increased his vote to easily hold the seat for a fourth term.

The Greens Jenny Leong also boosted her vote in Newtown, cementing that as a Greens seat in the inner west. Labor and the Greens both increased their vote in Summer Hill, with Labors Jo Haylen still commanding more than 50 per cent of first preferences.

The Liberals will easily hold Vaucluse, in Sydneys east, despite independent Karen Freyers tilt. Freyer picked up 18 per cent of the primary vote, not enough to really make a difference.

The teal wave failed to materialise in the seat of North Shore, too. Helen Conway picked up about 22 per cent of first preferences, which is fairly standard for an independent in that area, and the Liberal vote only peeled back by 2.6 per cent - so thats an easy hold for Felicity Wilson.

In Lane Cove, Liberal MP Anthony Roberts had a bigger swing against him - 8.4 per cent with 62.8 per cent of the vote counted. At this stage its looking like the independent Victoria Davidson will finish third, making it a Liberal/Labor contest, but Roberts will retain the seat hes held since 2003.

Willoughby, Gladys Berejiklians old seat, was too close to call on Saturday night. Its a rematch of last years byelection between Liberal Tim James and independent challenger Larissa Penn.
In the hit renovation show The Block contestants compete to produce the most profitable property flip, pocketing the capital gain above reserve price for their winnings, which can range from nothing to last years record high $1.58 million.

Not bad, until you realise that as filming kicked off on season 19 this week host Shelley Craft had just scored $9 million for her own most recent home project.

Pacifico House was built in 2020 as Shelley Craft and Christian Sergiacomis own home at Belongil Beach. Credit: Michael Lean

The serial home flipper settled on the sale of her Byron Bay home after a year-long exchange to the corporate interests of Sydneys Phoebe Neylon, wife of tech industry veteran Sean Neylon, founding director of Australias first listed internet media company, LibertyOne.

The sale was negotiated after an off-market campaign by Crafts real estate agent husband Christian Sergiacomi, owner of the Pacifico Property agency that shares the name of the couples Belongil Beach home, Pacifico House.
In 1997 Microsoft introduced the Office Assistant, which generally took the shape of an anthropomorphic paperclip, and users were not impressed. A quarter of a century later, its rolling out similar features leveraging the power of generative AI, and presumably hoping for a warmer reception.

The Copilot is a new feature for enterprise installations of Office 365, meaning it should be available to millions of workers around the world in the coming months. Like the paperclip (which these days is commonly referred to as Clippy), it understands many different document formats and wants to help users get started on their projects or refine their ideas. But Clippy never had access to the large language models of OpenAIs GPT-4, or the huge amount of data each client company has in its Microsoft Graph. This is Clippy on steroids.

The Copilot in Office can draft a document for you, or get you ready for your next meeting.

In Word, the copilot could draft a job ad based on a short description of the role, or you could ask it to rewrite a paragraph to make it briefer, more active or more professional. It also has access to all your cloud files, so you could ask it to write a proposal based on notes from yesterdays meeting, or summarise arguments from a series of documents.

It will also exist in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more, serving a similar role. It could turn a long document in to a five-slide presentation complete with stock photos, or draft a friendly reminder email without you having to go through the trouble of remembering how to sound friendly.
A daunting dilemma lurks beneath the surface of Australias politically bruising AUKUS debate: Should Australia be militarily involved in a potential US-led effort to defend Taiwan?

Nothing in the AUKUS plan to furnish Australia with nuclear-powered submarines commits us to such action, but the extended range of nuclear-powered submarines will give future Australian leaders the option to substantially shift the balance of forces as far afield as the Taiwan Strait if conflict erupts.

Chinas Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Yet, for all their potence, future nuclear-powered submarines are an ineffective tool against the clear and present threat to Taiwan.

Writing for this masthead on Thursday, Chinas Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian made a series of misleading claims about Taiwan. By twisting history and ignoring key details, the Ambassador told a deceptive story about the world accepting Beijings view that Taiwan rightfully belongs to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).
London: The Kings historic first state visit has been postponed amid escalating violent protests against French President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms.

Charles IIIs trip to Paris and Bordeaux was to begin on Sunday, but both cities have been rocked by some of the worst violence since the protests started in January.

The union-led protests are in response to a new law to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The change would accelerate a planned increase in the number of working years required to draw a full pension.

Macron asked for the visit to be postponed as the prospect of him dining alongside the royals at a lavish banquet while his country burned became increasingly untenable.
Washington: The US military has carried out multiple airstrikes in Syria against Iran-aligned groups who it blamed for a deadly drone attack that killed a contractor, injured another and wounded five US troops, the Pentagon said.

The strikes were in retaliation for an attack against a US-led coalition base near Hasakah in north-east Syria on Thursday, it said.

Authorised the strikes: US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. Credit: AP

The US intelligence community assessed that the unmanned aerial vehicle was of Iranian origin, the military said.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the precision airstrikes targeted groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
A meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh on Sunday between representatives of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Israel, Egypt, the US, and Jordan aimed to promote de-escalation and prevent further flare-ups of violence through incitement, incendiary statements, and other provocative actions.

This weeks meeting built on the outcomes of a similar one in Aqaba in February, with participants reaffirming the commitments they made: to stop unilateral actions, uphold unchanged the historical status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem and take steps to reduce tensions ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. In addition, they agreed to pursue confidence-building measures to generate a political environment conducive to the discussion of pending issues through direct dialogue.

According to a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the Israeli government and PA reiterated their readiness to act to end unilateral actions for three to six months, including an Israeli commitment to stop discussions of new settlement construction for four months and to halt the issuing of permits for new settlement outposts for six months. The statement also said Palestinian and Israeli representatives reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to all previous agreements between them, in particular, the legal right of the Palestinian National Authority to carry out security responsibilities in Area (A) of the West Bank, in accordance with existing agreements and agreed to work together towards realising this objective.

Participants agreed to create a mechanism to facilitate the steps needed to improve the economic conditions of the Palestinian people, as laid out in previous agreements, and to significantly improve the PAs financial circumstances. The mechanism will report back to the five parties in a follow-up meeting scheduled next month.

Although the news from Sharm El-Sheikh was heartening, the developments that followed cast doubt on the seriousness of the Israeli governments commitments. Speaking at a ceremony in Paris on Sunday, Israels far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said there is no such a thing as a Palestinian people, Palestinian history or Palestinian language.

The remarks immediately triggered an outcry.

They are inflammatory and unacceptable, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid. Their racist connotations and clear denial of historical and geographical facts not only provoke tension and anger among Palestinians, but are repulsive to all people of conscience. As Abu Zeid pointed out, Smotrichs statements undermined de-escalation efforts ahead of Ramadan which this year coincides with Christian and Jewish religious holidays, all of which embody the ideas of tolerance, peace and respect for the other.

In addition to obstructing the Sharm El-Sheikh process and efforts to restore calm, Smotrich seemed intent on compounding the crisis beyond the current Palestinian-Israeli confrontation. During the Paris ceremony, Smotrich spoke of a map of an expanded Israel whose borders encompassed the West Bank and parts of Jordan. Jordanian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sinan Majali said that the Israeli ministers actions represent reckless incitement that is a violation of international norms and the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty.

Observers in Cairo said that Smotrichs remarks reflected Israels intention to backtrack on its commitments in Sharm El-Sheikh. Several sources in Cairo familiar with developments predicted that the Israeli government will deliberately inflame tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories and occupied Jerusalem in an attempt to undermine Washington, the guarantor of the outputs of the summit. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with US President Joe Biden by phone, the conversation did little to thaw the ice between them.

Another major source of tensions between the US and Israel is the Israeli judiciary crisis precipitated by the Netanyahu government. Israel has been swept by waves of mass protest and the polarisation has reached the point where some observers are speaking of civil war.

Recent communications between the US and Israel have also covered a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, yet another area where the US has made no headway. According to Egyptian sources, Washingtons immediate priorities are the internal crisis in Israel and defusing the situation in the Palestinian territories to avert an even worse explosion that the one triggered by Israels raid of Huwwara.

Sources in Cairo also predict repercussions from the assassination operation targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Ali Ramzi Al-Aswad in the Damascus suburb of Qudssaya. In an implicit acknowledgement of Israeli responsibility for the assassination, Netanyahu opened his weekly cabinet meeting saying that Israel would get to the terrorists and the architects of terror everywhere. PIJ officials have vowed to avenge Al-Aswads murder which could set off another round of escalation between Israel and the Palestinian resistance in Gaza which could spread to the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.

Despite the challenges it faces with the Knesset votes on controversial legislation extending government control of the judiciary, the Netanyahu coalition is holding together, Said Okasha, an expert at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Ahram Weekly. This will remain the case unless a party such as Shas withdraws from the coalition, and there is a precedent for such a situation, he said.

Okasha pointed out, however, that this would put the opposition, which would assume power, in a predicament given it contains both conservative religious and liberal secularist parties which disagree over many issues. It would be difficult to sustain the stability of a government of that sort. In Okashas opinion, regardless of what befalls the Netanyahu government or its successor if it falls, all scenarios point to things spiralling out of control both inside Israel and between the Israelis and Palestinians.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 March, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday, March 19th, 2023, Mr. Richinel Brug released a statement officially announcing his candidacy for the URSM. Brug, is no stranger to the political arena as he has been an active member of the community for most of his life. Brug was born in Curacao and moved to Sint Maarten when he was five years old. He was raised in Town, by Antillean and West-Indian parents, his parents instilled in him strong Christian values and principles. I believe it is my responsibility to contribute to a better Sint Maarten for not only myself and my family but for all Sint Maarteners.

Brug, a civil servant in the Ministry of Education for almost a decade, served as a member of the Cabinet of the former Minister of Justice, Mr. Raphael Boasman. He also worked in Parliament in the capacity of senior policy officer in the faction of former Vice President of Parliament, Mr. Romain Laville. During his tenure in Parliament, he played an intricate role in the initial researching and structuring process to create the Healthfast Breakfast Program that provided breakfast to children in all Public Schools. He contributed to two draft MOUs. A MOU between the Government of Dominica and Sint Maarten, providing five free scholarships for Sint Maarten students to study medicine and agriculture in Dominica and Cuba. A second MOU between Newark, New Jersey, and the Government of Sint Maarten, providing In-State tuition for our students to study at Rutgers University. Unfortunately, even though ratified by the respective country and state, these MOUs were never ratified by the Government of Sint Maarten. Brug also worked on the District Cleaning project leading to the restructuring of the entire garbage contract in Sint Maarten. This allowed our young men in the different neighborhoods an opportunity to partake in cleaning projects.

In addition, Brug worked on several motions passed on the floor of Parliament. One very important motion Brug worked on tirelessly as a senior policy officer in Parliament, was the motion passed on April 17th, 2013. This motion was a result of the mass layoffs of the Pelican Saga. The motion instructed the then Minister of Labor to amend the labor laws governing Sint Maarten to include an article on the protection of employees and their rights by transfer of ownership of a company, as is done in the Netherlands, in accordance with the then Book 7 of the Dutch Civil Code, title 10, section B, Articles 662-666 (rechten van werknemers bij overgang). After an entire decade this motion that was presented in Parliament: became law last year!

On Monday, March 20th, 2023, Brug was a guest on the live Table Talk Facebook program of the URSM. During this program, he further elaborated on the reasons why he chose the URSM party. He explained: since resigning from my former political party in December 2022, I immediately began searching in consultation with family, close friends, and supporters, for an alternative political party. Sitting out any election is not an option as long as our people continue to live in hardship, without adequate representation in both the executive and legislative branches of Government. I have been searching for a party that shares my values and principles. In my opinion, it is high time we start to elect men and women of integrity to Parliament. We owe it to the previous generations and those to come.

The political party must share my stands regarding issues that continuously plague our people: the core objective is to truly serve and improve the quality of life of all the citizens of Sint. Maarten. I emphasize on Integrity as it is a core pillar of Good Governance. I believe in the empowerment of all citizens and equal opportunity for all. I believe in a party that is led by a leader that is competent and has a vision for Sint Maarten.

At the end of my search, the URSM, a movement not a party, stood out the most amongst all currently established and new political parties. URSM has a completely new approach for the formation and operation of its organization, said Brug.

Some key factors that led to his decision to join URSM are the continued empowerment of its members and potential candidates through seminars and training with entities such as the SER and the Integrity Chamber, and the practice of screening candidates before joining the list to create stability within the party and develop team building.

The leader of the URSM Dr. Luc Mercelina expressed his gratitude to Mr. Brug for joining the movement. I am elated to have Richinel Brug on board. Mr. Brug is a man of principles, who continues to serve the Sint Maarten people in different capacities. He is ready to represent our people in Parliament and I am happy he chose the URSM as his vehicle to positively change Sint Maarten.

Brug concluded by asking everyone to join him on his journey with the URSM as he contests the upcoming elections with the aim to truly help the people of Sint Maarten. He promised to prove his LEGISLATIVE case to be elected as a Member of Parliament.
Marigot:--- A 31-year-old man was shot dead early this afternoon at Rue de Hollande St. James in the vicinity of Good Harvest View store, confirmed the gendarmerie in a press statement.

The Gendarmes indicated that due to the secrecy of the ongoing investigation, more information could not be released to the media.

Several video footages have been circulating on various social media shortly after the man was shot dead.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on March 24, 2023.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday at 11.30 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is:

Approval provisions President of Parliament to attend a Special Sitting of the House of Assembly of Anguilla and to participate in a session of the Commons and Overseas Territories Speaker Conference on April 4, 2023 (IS/602/2022-2023 dated March 2023)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx, and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament
Miramar, FL:--- Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)  the trade association that represents the mutual interests of destinations and stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico, along with Member Lines that operate over 90 percent of the global cruising capacity  is pleased to announce that St. Maarten has renewed and increased its strategic development agreement with FCCA for 2023. The new agreement makes St. Maarten a Presidential Partner, the Associations exclusive, capped program limited to three destination partners and focused on their specific goals.



As we move towards the future, we are excited to partner with FCCA and further develop the business and destination through various initiatives, said Alexander Gumbs, CEO of Port St. Maarten. The package includes features such as employment opportunities for locals where FCCA will provide access to expertise in preparing and implementing a Destination Employment Strategy, Destination Site Inspections for Port Operations and Shore Excursion Executives, priority in Training Opportunities, Data & Insight on areas such economic impact, daily spending, calls, and passenger volume to just cite a few of the benefits of this great partnership.



The agreement, which is a renewal and increase of the previous years strategic development partnership with FCCA, was signed by Gumbs along with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunications Honorable Arthur L. Lambriex on behalf of destination St. Maarten. The signing took place onboard Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady during an event that brought together FCCA Platinum Members and Member Line executives to exchange ideas and share strategies for the future development of the cruise industry and destinations.



Through the agreement, FCCA will not only guide St. Maartens public sector on ways to enhance the product and increase cruise calls but also will collaborate with the local private sector to create new experiences and maximize opportunities, including the purchasing of local goods and hiring of citizens.



Additionally, the agreement will utilize FCCAs cruise executive committees, including sub-committees focused on employment and purchasing, for a series of meetings and site visits focused on St. Maartens objectives.



St. Maarten will also have open access to the FCCA Executive Committee, comprised of Presidents and above of FCCA Member Lines, along with their efforts to effectuate the agreements objectives and the destinations goals.



Some of the other features of the strategic partnership include a focus on converting cruise guests to stay-over visitors, promoting summer cruising, engaging travel agents, creating consumer demand, and developing a destination service needs assessment that will detail strengths, opportunities, and needs.



St. Maarten has been a longtime partner of FCCA and the cruise industry, from putting their faith in us after the tragic Hurricanes Irma and Maria to helping the industry rebound from COVID-19 by hosting laid-up ships and working with us to return cruising  all the while being a top partner of FCCA, said Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA. We are honored by St. Maartens continued belief in us and our ability to help the destination and its citizens benefit from cruise tourism.
Green Shift Signs Purchase Agreement to Acquire 25% Interest in Pampa Litio S.A., a Private Hard Rock Lithium Exploration Company in Argentina

Green Shift Commodities Ltd. (TSXV: GCOM), (aGreen Shifta, aGCOMa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/green-shift-commodities-advancing-uranium-project-and-closing-on-acquisition-of-lithium-project/ ) is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement (the aAgreementa) with New Peak Metals Limited (aNew Peaka) (ASX: NPM), to acquire (the aAcquisitiona) a 25% interest in Pampa Litio S.A. (aPampa Litioa). Pampa Litio is a private Argentinean company exploring for hard rock spodumene bearing pegmatites in the Pampean Ranges of Central Argentina.

Pursuant to the Agreement dated March 22, 2023, GCOM has agreed to pay CAD$150,000 in cash and to issue 535,714 common shares of GCOM (the aCommon Sharesa) as consideration for New Peaka?s 25% interest in Pampa Litio; provided that, in certain circumstances, the Company has agreed to pay CAD$75,000 in cash in lieu of the issuance of the Common Shares. The Common Shares will be issued at a deemed price of $0.14, per share, which is the 7-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (the aTSXVa) up to the date prior to signing of the Agreement. Completion of the Acquisition is conditional upon the approval of the TSXV and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature.

Any Common Shares issued in connection with the Acquisition will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. There are no findersa? fees payable in connection with the Acquisition and New Peak is an arms-length party with respect to the Company.

Pampa Litio was created by Argentinean geologists to explore for hard rock lithium bearing pegmatites, particularly within the Province of San Luis which has historical occurrences of lithium bearing pegmatites. New Peak acquired an interest in the Mineral Exploration Tenements of Pampa Litio and completed a number of early-stage exploration programs. GCOM is entering into this Agreement to continue this exploration in a highly prospective region.

To date Pampa Litio has applied for four exploration titles totaling 34,300 hectares within the San Luis Province in Argentina. The Pampean Ranges are host to numerous granitic pegmatites with historic mineral resources that have been mined during the past 90 years, accounting for the majority of the feldspar, quartz, mica, beryllium, tungsten, lithium, tantalum and rubidium produced in Argentina.

Trumbull Fisher CEO and Director commented, aWe are pleased to announce this transaction which provides GCOM with exposure to a second hard rock lithium project in Argentina, following the recent acquisition of the Rio Negro project. Argentina is well known as a top tier jurisdiction for lithium brine projects however is lesser known for its hard rock potential. Increasingly, and for good reason, hard rock lithium assets are gaining favour amongst the investment community thanks to recent stand out successes in Australia, Canada and Brazil. Argentinaa?s hard rock potential is sizable and relatively untapped as of yet. Now, with a second project in our portfolio, and a dedicated in- country geological team with decades of experience in hard rock lithium exploration, we believe GCOM is well positioned as a first mover in Argentina and we are excited about the potential of both projects.a

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Peter Mullens (FAusIMM), Executive Chairman of the Company, who is a aQualified Persona in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Green Shift Commodities Ltd.

Green Shift Commodities Ltd. is focused on the exploration and development of commodities needed to help decarbonize and meet net-zero goals.

The Company is developing the Berlin Deposit in Colombia. Apart from uranium, for clean nuclear energy, the Berlin Deposit contains battery commodities including nickel, phosphate, and vanadium. Phosphate is a key component of lithium-ion ferro-phosphate (aLFPa) batteries that are being used by a growing list of electric vehicle manufacturers. Nickel is a component of various lithium-ion batteries, while vanadium is the element used in vanadium redox flow batteries. Neodymium, one of the rare earth elements contained within the Berlin Deposit, is a key component of powerful magnets that are used to increase the efficiency of electric motors and in generators in wind turbines.

The Company recently acquired the district scale Rio Negro Project in Argentina. This Project represents an exciting opportunity to unlock the potential of over 500,000 Ha of land, known to contain hard rock lithium pegmatite occurrences that were first discovered in the 1960s but have seen little exploration since.

For further information, please contact:

Trumbull Fisher, CEO, Green Shift Commodities Ltd.

E: tfisher@greenshiftcommodities.com

Tel: (416) 917-5847

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain aforward looking statementsa. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intensions for the future, and include, but not limited to, statements with respect to: closing of the closing of the Acquisition; the approval of the TSXV; and other activities, events or developments that are expected, anticipated or may occur in the future. These statements are based on assumptions, including that: (i) the ability to achieve positive outcomes from test work; (ii) actual results of our exploration, resource goals, metallurgical testing, economic studies and development activities will continue to be positive and proceed as planned, (iii) requisite regulatory and governmental approvals will be received on a timely basis on terms acceptable to Green Shift (iv) economic, political and industry market conditions will be favourable, and (v) financial markets and the market for uranium, battery commodities and rare earth elements will continue to strengthen. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements, including, but not limited to: (1) changes in general economic and financial market conditions, (2) changes in demand and prices for minerals, (3) the Companya?s ability to source commercially viable reactivation transactions and / or establish appropriate joint venture partnerships, (4) litigation, regulatory, and legislative developments, dependence on regulatory approvals, and changes in environmental compliance requirements, community support and the political and economic climate, (5) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with exploration results, resource estimates, potential resource growth, future metallurgical test results, changes in project parameters as plans evolve, (6) competitive developments, (7) availability of future financing, (8) the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including, without limitation, effects of COVID-19 on capital markets, commodity prices, labour regulations, supply chain disruptions and domestic and international travel restrictions, (9) exploration risks, and other factors beyond the control of Green Shift including those factors set out in the aRisk Factorsa in our Management Discussion and Analysis dated May 2, 2022 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and other public documents available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Green Shift Commodities Ltd. assumes no obligation to update such information, except as may be required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Expansion of renewable energies and raw material requirements

Renewable energies are on the advance worldwide. In this country, too, the focus is on them.

The energy system of the future will be largely driven by renewable energies. According to estimates, the capacity of renewable energy plants in Germany will grow by around eleven gigawatts in 2023. Solar energy will account for 8.5 gigawatts of this. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy crisis marks the turning point toward more renewables and clean energy. Globally, clean power generation is expected to grow by 2,400 gigawatts from 2022 to 2027. Overall, global expansion in the power sector is expected to exceed 90 percent in renewables over the next five years. In the EU, last year was a record year for solar power. Now, 7.3 percent of electricity in the EU is produced by solar power. As the SolarPower Europe association calculates, by the end of 2023 solar capacity will be around 262 gigawatts in the EU. By 2026, it should then already be 484 gigawatts. At the same time, a decline in fossil electricity production is expected in 2023.

The target is net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and this will fuel demand for certain metals. That\-s because electrolyzers, heat pumps and batteries that can store the energy produced will need to be manufactured. That\-s where a shortfall in critical raw materials, such as lithium for lithium-ion batteries, is foreseeable, according to the International Energy Agency. Thus, companies working on lithium projects are coming into focus, such as Century Lithium or ION Energy.

In Nevada, Century Lithium  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/century-lithium-next-lithium-production-in-the-usa/  owns 100 percent of the Clayton Valley lithium project. The company\-s goal is to supply the USA and also the rest of the world with lithium.

ION Energy  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/ion-energy-inc/  is working on its two lithium projects in Mongolia. China with its gigafactories is close as a lithium consumer.

Current corporate information and press releases from Century Lithium (- https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/century-lithium-corp/ -).

In accordance with A34 WpHG I would like to point out that partners, authors and employees may hold shares in the respective companies addressed and thus a possible conflict of interest exists. No guarantee for the translation into English. Only the German version of this news is valid.

Disclaimer: The information provided does not represent any form of recommendation or advice. Express reference is made to the risks in securities trading. No liability can be accepted for any damage arising from the use of this blog. I would like to point out that shares and especially warrant investments are always associated with risk. The total loss of the invested capital cannot be excluded. All information and sources are carefully researched. However, no guarantee is given for the correctness of all contents. Despite the greatest care, I expressly reserve the right to make errors, especially with regard to figures and prices. The information contained herein is taken from sources believed to be reliable, but in no way claims to be accurate or complete. Due to court decisions, the contents of linked external sites are also co-responsible (e.g. Landgericht Hamburg, in the decision of 12.05.1998  312 O 85/98), as long as there is no explicit dissociation from them. Despite careful control of the content, I do not assume liability for the content of linked external pages. The respective operators are exclusively responsible for their content. The disclaimer of Swiss Resource Capital AG also applies: https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/disclaimer/
Even before the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing him of war crimes, possibilities for a negotiated political settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war were very slim. After the ICC decision, there is no such possibility at all while Putin is still in power.

The Russian president and Russias childrens commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, are accused of overseeing the forcible transfer of thousands of children, according to the ICC statement: there are reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population and that of unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

ICC officials gave strong indications that they are going to proceed with the arrest warrants as a way of deterring further violations: the conduct addressed in the present situation is allegedly ongoing, and the public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the prevention of the further commission of crimes.

Speaking in London on Monday, Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, said that the world needs to have the stamina to enforce international law by trying those accused of war crimes in Ukraine. This is a moment of crisis, Khan said. I dont think that is hyperbole We need to have the stamina to deliver on justice. He also pled for extra cash to pursue Russian war crimes in Ukraine during the London conference, co-hosted by the UK and the Dutch government and aimed at raising cash to fund the ICCs war crimes investigatory work inside Ukraine.

Yet despite the fanfare, the probability of a trial while President Putin remains in power is very low, because the ICC cannot try defendants in absentia. Russia mocked the warrants, declaring them not worth the price of the paper they were printed on, noting that it is not a party to the ICC. Nonetheless, there is no escaping the fact that the arrest warrant deepens the isolation of the Russian president even if it is not implemented.

The international reaction also shows a split between the West and the Global South. While most Western capitals welcomed the ICCs move, the majority in the Global South ignored or criticised the decision. The French Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement: No one responsible for crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, regardless of their status, should escape justice. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the ICC decision: The International Criminal Court is the right institution to investigate war crimes... The fact is that nobody is above the law and thats whats becoming clear right now, Scholz said at a joint news conference in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

But at the EU level, the European bloc failed to issue a joint statement on the ICC decision after opposition from Hungary. Due to Budapests veto, the EUs chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, issued a statement. The EU sees the decision by the ICC as a beginning of the process of accountability and holding Russian leaders to account for the crimes and atrocities they are ordering, enabling, or committing in Ukraine, Borrell said in the statement published on Sunday evening. On Monday, EU justice ministers issued their statement in support of the ICC decision, which Hungary, again, refused to sign.

US President Joe Biden said that Putin committed war crimes and that the ICC move was justified. The US, like Russia, is not a member of the ICC. In the past, America did not cooperate with the court in cases against leaders or officials accused of war crimes or crimes against humanity. Although there are calls by some human rights organisations for the US administration to give the ICC evidence collected by US intelligence in Ukraine related to war crimes or crimes against humanity, there is hesitation in the White House, the US State Department, and the Pentagon for fear of setting a precedent that may be used against America in the future. I think the ICC decision is justified, Biden said. But the question is  its not recognised internationally by us either. But I think it makes a very strong point.

The ICC has only indicted two sitting leaders, Sudans former president Omar Al-Bashir and Libyas Muammar Gaddafi. Although it is unlikely that the Russian president will stand before the ICC unless there are dramatic developments inside Russia, the arrest warrant complicates Putins movement and makes his travel abroad risky. If Putin were to travel to a country that is a signatory to the ICC, that country is obliged to arrest him. Putin does not travel extensively but in the next few weeks, he and top Russian officials will have to decide whether the Russian president can attend a summit in South Africa, a country that is a signatory to the ICC charter. South Africa, a Russian ally, will host the BRICS summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in the summer.

We are, as the government, cognisant of our legal obligation. However, between now and the summit we will remain engaged with various relevant stakeholders, a spokesperson for the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said on Sunday. In the past, South Africa has ignored arrest warrants including one for Omar Al-Bashir, who visited the country in 2015. Al-Bashir was also able to travel to other ICC member states including Chad, Djibouti, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda, which all refused to arrest him. Although some European officials see the ICC warrant as a symbolic move from a legal point of view, due to the difficulties of bringing Putin to answer the case against him in a dock in the Hague, the arrest warrant is not symbolic from a political point of view.

The decision means diminishing prospects for any peace talks with Russia while Putin is still in power. The calculations of Washington and its European allies may be that the ICC move will pave the way to strengthening a group within the Russian elite that sees Putin as an obstacle to any possible settlement, which opens the door to defections at the top of Russias political establishment and security services. The war crimes accusations against Putin also render Chinese mediation meaningless, and it puts the Chinese leadership in a difficult position. It was remarkable that the ICC decision was made only two days before Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to Moscow, his first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This bolsters up the argument of Russian officials that the ultimate goal of America and its European allies is regime change in Russia.

But Americas experiences with regime change in the past were catastrophic, especially with the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq this week. This may be the main consolation for the Russian regime, as there does not seem to be an appetite in Russia for regime change at the hands of external powers. The elite surrounding Putin has warned that the West wants to destroy Russia and dismantle it into several states and seize its wealth. Many Russians believe this, which means that the fighting will continue until a change in the balance of power occurs that forces one party to make the necessary concessions to stop the war.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 March, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Western powers are trying to steer Libya towards elections against a background of important differences among Libyan stakeholders and participants in the UN process.

The West is once again confronted with the problem of how to advance the UN drive to steer Libya to long-awaited elections. Despite repeated resets of interim phases in this process, Western mediating efforts have yet to be crowned with any noteworthy success.

On 16 March, the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement in support of the plan proposed by Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), to launch a High Level Panel to facilitate progress towards developing the constitutional and legal frameworks for presidential and parliamentary elections in the country and to assist in creating a safe environment for them.

The statement reiterated a warning that all who attempt to obstruct or undermine the political process or the elections in Libya will risk sanctions. The fact that it came more than two weeks after Bathilys Security Council briefing in which he outlined his proposed plan is a sign that the main powers in the UN body are still at odds over how to resolve the Libyan conflict.

The statement was also not consistent with the changes that had been introduced to the incomplete plan, according to US Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland in an interview on Libyan television on 16 March.

On the eve of Bathilys briefing, the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk and the High Council of State (HCS) in Tripoli adopted a controversial 13th amendment to the 2011 Libyan Transitional Constitutional Declaration that defines the roles of the president, prime minister, and parliament and a constitutional path to elections.

With this amendment, the two authorities deferred their differences over the eligibility criteria for the presidential elections to the phase of drafting the electoral laws, thereby facilitating the task of formulating the constitutional basis for the elections. The HoR and HCS then agreed to form a joint 6+6 committee to deliberate on the required constitutional and legal provisions.

Bathily had little alternative but to bow to these decisions, even though originally he had a different concept for the High Level Panel.

In his 27 February briefing, he had told the Security Council that the proposed mechanism would include representatives of Libyan political institutions, tribes, civil society, women and youth and would be tasked with drafting the constitutional basis and electoral laws for the elections and reaching a consensus around related matters, such as security and the adoption of a code of conduct for all candidates.

The actions by the HoR and HCS effectively preempted this, and when combined with the lack of enthusiasm among the international powers for Bathilys plan as well as the US declaration of support for the HoRs and HCSs actions, he was forced to recalibrate a plan that had essentially been an attempt to circumvent the HoR and HCS.

In a press conference in Tripoli on 11 March, Bathily said that the High Level Panel would serve as a consultative body for the joint committee that the HoR and HCS would form. The UNSMIL team and I stand ready to support the 6+6 in any way (technical, human resources, logistics) to accomplish their tasks, he said.

His proposed Panel, once it has been selected by local stakeholders, will work together with the Libyan security authorities and presidential and parliamentary candidates to generate and sustain a safe environment conducive to the elections.

Although the US had accepted the HoRs and HCSs 13th amendment and decision to create a 6+6 committee, it still hoped to curb Libyan opposition to the UN plan and to push for the completion of the constitutional basis for the elections.

On 2 March, Norland tweeted that Bathilys proposed elections-enabling mechanism is galvanising the Libyan body politic and will build on progress made between the HoR and HSC on the legal basis for elections. We urge key Libyan leaders to approach the SRSGs plan in a constructive spirit. Now is an opportunity for them to show that they are truly dedicated to serving the needs of the Libyan people.

In his 11 March press conference, Bathily gave the 6+6 committee until the end of June to agree on the constitutional basis and electoral laws. However, he did not discuss what action he might take if the HoR and HCS did not resolve these matters by that deadline.

The UN anticipates that the two authorities will fail, which would automatically abrogate the 13th amendment. On 26 February, UN Secretary-General Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that the UN had other alternatives it could implement in the event that the Libyans failed to reach a consensus on the constitutional basis and electoral laws, though he did not mention what these might be.

Despite their differences, the key political forces in Libya appear to be tacitly agreed on deferring the elections, even if they claim otherwise. Their actions since last year have been more telling than words.

Afterwards, instead of focusing on the elections, the political forces moved to reconstitute Libyas executive authority (the Presidential Council and the cabinet). The ostensible justification for this was the return to institutional bifurcation after the HoR withdrew confidence from the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdel-Hamid Al-Dbeibah and designated Fathi Bashagha as prime minister in February 2022, with the result that the GNU could not assert its authority over the whole country.

Elections could not be held under such conditions, the political forces argued, even though the June 2014 elections had taken place amid a political rift and military operations.

It was also surprising to see the political stakeholders reverse their positions on a number of issues. For example, when originally voted into power, the HoR held that dual nationals should not be allowed to run for president, a stance that led to the dismissal of many officials in 2014 and 2015.

The HoRs predecessor the General National Conference (GNC) held the opposite view. Today, the HoR holds that dual nationality should not disqualify a potential presidential candidate, whereas the HCS (which evolved from a reconstituted GNC) thinks it should.

At his press conference, Bathily did not address how the members of the High Level Panel would be chosen, but he did outline the panels duties as a consultative entity on critical issues that need to be addressed for the elections to take place and be successful.

The mechanism will operate in a flexible and dynamic manner. It is designed to engage the major stakeholders constructively around the main issues to enable inclusive, secure, peaceful, and fair elections this year, to meet the expectations of the people of Libya, he said.

The actors of the High Level Panel will not be designated or selected by UNSMIL.

The stakeholders and constituencies concerned with the different subject matters will designate who will speak on their behalf in the course of my shuttle diplomacy between the Libyan actors. This is to say that the players on the ground who are concerned with different issues will be requested to negotiate directly or through their representatives. UNSMIL will facilitate the negotiations to secure compromises.

If Bathily is to succeed in propelling his plan forward, he will need stronger support from the Western powers. But this would also require them to unify their positions on the political arrangements they envision.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 March, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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France-Germany row overshadows EU leaders' summit



Brussels, March 23 (AFP) Mar 23, 2023



Tensions between France and Germany driven by differences over nuclear energy and combustion engines cast a shadow over a meeting of the 27 European Union leaders Thursday.

Existing strains deepened between the European Union's two biggest players after Berlin upset some of its partners by blocking -- at the last minute -- a landmark deal to prohibit new sales of fossil fuel cars from 2035.

The ban is key to Brussels' ambitious plan to become a "climate neutral" economy by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

In an unprecedented move this month, Germany intervened after the car ban had already been approved under the EU legislative process.

It demanded that Brussels provide assurances the law would allow the sales of new cars with combustion engines that run on synthetic fuels.

While the last-minute block frustrated many EU capitals, Paris had in turn already irked Berlin by insisting on giving nuclear energy a starring role in European plans to produce more green technology in Europe.

Paris and Berlin have traditionally worked together to push forward the EU agenda.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has been holding talks with Germany's transport ministry to resolve the dispute over cars.

After the summit ended late Thursday, commission chief Ursula von der Leyen sounded an optimistic note about the negotiations that were "progressing", but added the issue was not raised during the leaders' talks.

"There is the will on both sides to resolve this topic, and to resolve it within the scope of the provisional agreement," von der Leyen told a press conference.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters before the summit that talks were "on the right track".

"It is now really only a matter of finding the right way to implement this promise," Scholz said.



- Pressure on Germany -



Some leaders criticised Germany's 11th-hour move to slam the brakes on a proposal that had already cleared all the hurdles in the traditional EU legislative process.

"The entire architecture of decision-making would fall apart if we all did that," Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins said.

"We cannot go back on deals because this is ultimately about trust between co-legislators and the credibility of the legislative process," said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

Germany, which boasts one of the world's biggest car manufacturing industries, blocked the deal signed last year in a move viewed as a product of domestic politics.

Scholz heads a coalition made up of his social democrats and rival Greens and liberals.

The synthetic fuels Germany wants an exemption for are still under development, produced using low-carbon electricity. The technology is unproven, but German manufacturers hope it will lead to the extended use of combustion engines.

While Germany led the revolt against the combustion engine ban, it is not alone. It has formed a small alliance with countries including Italy, another major car manufacturer, and eastern European states such as Poland and Hungary.

France has not held back from publicly criticising Germany.

Against this tense backdrop, French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Scholz one-on-one Friday.



- Nuclear 'scam' -



Another bone of contention hurting relations is France's push for EU recognition that nuclear power has a role to play in Europe's green future.

The commission last week launched new plans to boost clean technology production by ensuring permits are issued faster and projects given better access to funding.

Von der Leyen acknowledged that "nuclear can play a role in our decarbonisation efforts" but said only "cutting edge nuclear" would have "access to some simplified rules and incentives".

Nuclear-powered France failed to get atomic energy included in a list of technologies with access to all benefits.

Nuclear did, however, feature in the proposals announced -- but it applies only to fourth-generation reactors that do not yet exist, meaning atomic energy would obtain little of the advantages on offer.

Nuclear divides the EU, with countries like Austria and Luxembourg strongly against while its supporters include the Czech Republic and Poland.

"It's not safe, it's not fast, it's not cheap and it's not climate-friendly. With European flags on it, it would be a scam," Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said.
The fortunes of Saadoun Street in Baghdad serve as an indicator of the history of Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti in Baghdad.

How to write about the night of 19-20 March 2003 when Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, aside from those in the Iraqi Kurdish Region, were bombed by thousands of warplanes when former US president George W Bush announced the beginning of the US-led invasion?

I cannot talk about the past 20 years, because any talk about it does not cover the full extent of the devastation that took place in Iraq, which is known to all, said Abdel-Amir Al-Majar, a political analyst, in a comment to Al-Ahram Weekly.

However, I think Iraq will not need another 20 years to overcome this ordeal, but instead needs to return to itself away from the divisions created by some politicians and rejected by the Iraqi people.

He said that these divisions would not be able to resist the national will, if this was allowed to become fully present in the political and social arenas.

Life in Iraq before the occupation was not ideal, said Rawa Ali, a woman who lost her husband in a car bomb in Baghdad in 2006. But 20 years have passed, and we are still waiting for the new Iraq promised by Bush. Instead, Iraq has been pushed into chaos, and the Iraqis are paying a very high price.

One way of presenting the history of the past 20 years is through Saadoun Street, one of the main streets in Baghdad that was once described as the most elegant street in the city and perhaps also the most elegant in Iraq as a whole and in the entire region.

This street, any street, is like the veins of the city, not suffering from blockages when the city is in full health, summed up in order, the application of the law, cleanliness, green squares, monuments, murals, and the preservation of heritage and distinctive architecture.

The veins of Baghdad began showing symptoms of disease even before the US-led invasion as a result of the years of sanctions against Iraq, but then they became sick owing to the US occupation and ongoing unsolved problems.

Saadoun Street is in downtown Baghdad and runs between Tahrir and Firdaws Squares. It witnessed the announcement of the fall of the regime led by former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein on 9 April 2003 with the toppling of the statue of Saddam that was in Firdaws Square, meaning that for a time it was renamed Freedom Square.

It became a site for demonstrations to deliver requests to the occupation forces. There was a small protest in June 2003, for example, when a father from the city of Amarah with his son who was barely ten years old raised a banner asking for help. Asked what he wanted, he said he had had to sell everything he owned for $1,500 by April 2003.

When the bombing of his hometown intensified, he had decided to come to Baghdad with his family, but on his way there a US patrol stopped him. After searching him, they took this small amount from him and gave him a paper with an address in Baghdad to retrieve it later, according to an Arab translator who was accompanying them.

Looking at the paper later, as the man was not able to read, it was found to consist of nothing but obscenities.

Saadoun Street also witnessed looters who began looting everything they could carry in the aftermath of the US-led invasion, including the statue of Abdel-Mohsen Al-Saadoun, a former Iraqi prime minister who died in 1929 after whom the street is named.

Its platform remained empty until another statue was placed on it that resembles the old one.

There were once two of the most beautiful theatres in Iraq on Saadoun Street, the Sixty Chair Theatre and the Baghdad Theatre. The first was lost among the ugly commercial changes that took place in the street, while the second was transformed due to negligence into a warehouse.

The most beautiful cinemas were also once located on Saadoun Street, and these were converted into theatres during the sanctions against Iraq. Unfortunately, they put on commercial plays that have nothing to do with Iraqi theatre, and now they have turned into crowded stores. There were also once bookstores in Saadoun Street, though these now are also gone.

Restaurants and hotels of varying degrees were also once located on the street, and patients and their companions used to come from the provinces to the clinics of the most famous doctors on Saadoun Street.

These are now struggling to survive after other streets in Baghdad have been turned into medical districts that include hospitals, pharmacies, and medicine stores. There were and still are many tourism and airline offices in Saadoun Street, and recently one could find an advertisement by the owner of a company put on the glass door, saying that we do not deal in travel tickets for dollars.

This means that the company will not issue tickets in order to exchange Iraqi dinars for dollars and then change them back again so that both sides get the benefit of the difference in the price on the black market.

In 2005, Saadoun Street witnessed a car bombing targeting a US army convoy. Iraqi civilians were killed, shops were destroyed, and cars were burned as a result. In 2008, Nasr Square, which lies along the street, saw one of the most bloody terrorist operations in Iraq up until that point, causing the death or injury of dozens of civilians.

The street witnessed young Iraqis protesting in Tahrir Square in the so-called (Tishreen) October protests in 2019 that lasted for many months and in which hundreds of protesters were killed and thousands injured, including those left with permanent disabilities.

Former Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi promised to turn a building housing a Turkish restaurant into a museum of the protests, but this was not done and will not be done under the new government.

The walls of the Tahrir tunnel still contain the pictures of martyrs and graffiti drawn by the protesters. Today, there are fewer street children than there once were. The number was higher when the Palestine Hotel in Saadoun Street was used by Western and Arab networks at the beginning of the US occupation.

The hotel witnessed the murder of Spanish photographer Jose Coso in April 2003 by US forces.

Touring the area today, the present writer found that the fountain in Firdaws Square was working. However, by the end of the tour it had stopped. Asked why, I was told that the electricity supply had been cut off.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 March, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Walter Cole, better known as the iconic drag queen who performed for decades as Darcelle XV and a fearless advocate for Portland's LGBTQ+ community, has died of natural causes in Portland, Oregon. He was 92.

Darcelle, who died Thursday, was crowned the worlds oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records and was regaling audiences until the very end. As a performer, Darcelle was known for hosting the longest-running drag show on the U.S. West Coast. Off stage, Cole, an Army veteran, championed LGBTQ+ rights and charitable work in Portland.

The nightclub that Darcelle opened more than 50 years ago in downtown Portland, Darcelle XV Showplace, posted a statement on Facebook expressing grief and asking for privacy and patience.

The club, which had become a Portland cultural institution by the 1970s, was listed in 2020 on the National Register of Historic Places, making it the first site in Oregon to be nominated specifically for its significance in LGBTQ+ history. In the venue's early days in the 1970s and 1980s, it was seen as taboo and protesters picketed outside, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

It provided a lifeline for many in the city's LGBTQ community, including Cole, he told the newspaper in a 2010 interview. Cole preferred female pronouns when performing, but told The Oregonian he preferred male pronouns off-stage.

If I hadnt admitted who I was, Id probably be dead now, he told the paper. Id be sitting on a couch retiring from ... management. Not for me.

She touched the lives of so many, not only through her performances but also through her fearless community advocacy and charitable works, said Todd Addams, the interim executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, speaking of Darcelle. She was nothing short of an icon."

Writer Susan Stanley described the club a place of warmth and affection where performers were glittering in sequins and satin and a shimmering froth of feathers, in whats credited as the first profile of Darcelle XV, published in Willamette Week in 1975.

When speaking of Darcelle, Cole, a gay man, referred to his persona in the third person using female pronouns. Im an entertainer with a capital E, Cole told Stanley. Darcelle is a character  like in a play  and I work very hard at her.

Stanley wound up briefly working at the club and becoming Cole's close friend. She described the performer not only as a talented artist, who also sewed many of the clubs costumes, but as a caring person deeply invested in the LGBTQ+ community and the fight against the social stigma of the time.

(Darcelle) was just a very, very nurturing person. She encouraged other guys to perform and get out of their shells, Stanley told the AP in a phone interview.

After decades of advocacy by LGBTQ+ activists organizing for civil rights and freedoms, Stanley said she was saddened to see how drag has become so polarized in todays political climate.

It bespeaks a really, really big misunderstanding, she said. Politicians wanting to step back decades in attitudes  its mystifying and horrifying to me at the same time.

Cole was born in 1930 and raised in Portland's Linnton neighborhood. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was discharged in the late 1950s, according to the club's website, which says he used money he received from the military to start his first business.

After dabbling in a coffee store and a jazz club, Cole purchased the space that would become the Darcelle XV Showcase in 1967.

Two years later, he had developed the alter ego named Darcelle and came out as gay, according to a profile on the club's website.

He left his wife and began a relationship with his artistic director. During the 1970s, the Showplace became a popular destination for cabaret and drag performance.

In 1999, Darcelle became the oldest drag performer on the West Coast, after the closing of San Franciscos drag venue Finocchios Club.

On Friday, fans including Portland's mayor mourned Cole's death on social media. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said in a social media post that Darcelle carved out an unforgettable chapter in Portlands history with "pioneering courage.

Darcelle XV Showplace said that details of a public memorial will be announced and all shows will go on as scheduled, per Darcelles wishes.

Please join us and celebrate her legacy and memory, thank you in advance for your continued support, the club's statement said.

___

Claire Rush is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. You can follow Rush on Twitter @ClaireARush.
HARTFORD  A bill aimed at reducing restraint and seclusion in schools advanced out of the legislature's Education Committee on Friday  but without the provision advocates wanted most.

As originally written, the bill would have banned schools from secluding students in locked rooms, a practice many special education advocates consider harmful and traumatizing, while still allowing schools to put students in "time out" in unlocked settings.

The version the committee advanced on Friday instead calls for continuing to allow seclusion, provided a mental health professional monitors secluded students either virtually or in person.

Additionally, the bill would limit the circumstances under which students may be physically restrained and strengthen rules around notifying parents when their children are restrained or secluded.

"This bill tries to look to help enforce what we currently have on the books and to add extra provisions in the proposal," Rep. Kathleen McCarty, R-Waterford, the Education Committee's top House Republican. "I'm happy to support this proposal."

The proposals, part of a broader special education bill, advanced out of committee without objection, after only a few minutes of discussion. It will now be considered by the full legislature and would need approval from both the state House and Senate, as well as Gov. Ned Lamont, before becoming law.

"Moving forward, I'm hoping [the bill] will provide a safe space not only for our students, but also it takes into consideration the need to protect our teachers within the schools," said Rep. Mary Welander, D-Orange.

The bill followed a Hearst Newspapers investigation, published last fall, that revealed special education students nationwide are restrained or secluded hundreds of thousands of times annually, resulting in thousands of injuries and dozens of deaths over the years.

In Connecticut, schools reported restraining and secluding special education students tens of thousands of time annually over the past decade, with Black students and those with autism particularly likely to have the interventions used against them. Andrew Feinstein, a lawyer with a nonprofit called Special Education Equity for Kids who pushed the proposal to end seclusion, said he was unhappy to see the bill weakened but still "more pleased than disappointed" upon its advancement. He said he hopes to work with legislators to strengthen the bill in the coming weeks so that it limits seclusion as much as possible. "Locking up a kid in a room, caging them, treating them like an animal, that's just unacceptable," he said. The Education Committee's proposals around restraint and seclusion are part of a sweeping special education bill that would also permit dual remote and in-person instruction if required by an individualized education program, expand the charge of a statewide special education task force, give parents the right to have an interpreter at a planning and placement team meeting and more.

At a public hearing last week, parents and advocates argued against the use of restraint and seclusion, which they described as harmful and counterproductive for special education students. A mother named Jennifer Reynolds testified that her daughter had become afraid to go to school after being restrained on the classroom floor.

"They did not have the tools to support her and had given up on her by treating her like somebody who didn't belong," Reynolds testified. "She didn't need to be restrained or secluded, she needed to be supported."

Skeptics of the proposals, including the head of the state's education department, argued seclusion was sometimes necessary to deal with students in crisis and banning the practice would eliminate an option that teachers and other school staff rely on to maintain order and safety.

"If trained educators are not able to utilize the emergency use of seclusion, without the proper training and supports in place, it may have an adverse effect on the safety of students leading to an increase in restraints or student removals from the school building," education commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker testified.

A spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said the governor and his administration did not have any comment on the proposals beyond the testimony of Russell-Tucker, who Lamont tapped to be education commissioner in 2021.

alex.putterman@hearstmediact.com.
British and Egyptian government officials celebrated on Monday seven years of cooperation between the two countries under the Newton-Mosharafa Fund, which supports research and innovation programmes to advance economic development and social welfare, tackle global challenges and develop talent and careers.

Participating in the celebration were the British Embassy in Cairo, the British Council, together with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Researchs Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) and the Central Department of Missions (CDM).

The fund is named after British mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists in history, and the Egyptian theoretical physicist Doctor Ali Mustafa Mosharafa, who contributed to the development of quantum theory.

It is the largest science and innovation partnership between Egypt and the UK in history.

The ceremony started with speeches by the British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley, British Council Country Director Elizabeth White, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Yasser Refaat

It was followed by a panel discussion on the role of international collaboration in science and research.

The discussion involved professor Guy Daly, provost and senior vice-president of the British University in Egypt; Shaimaa Lazem, international collaboration programme manager at STDF; Dr Marco Zaki, lecturer of biochemistry and cell biology and founder of the NILE CAN research laboratory at Minia University; and Irene Gabriel, director of the Smart Engineering Systems Research Centre at Nile University.

At the ceremony, the British ambassador expressed his pride in celebrating the alumni from the joint British-Egyptian programme.

These outstanding scientists are the leaders of tomorrow, and todays event pays tribute to them and to the legacy of the Newton Mosharafa Fund, one of the largest science and innovation partnerships between Egypt and any country, he said.

He went on to note that the alumni are working to make the world a better place everyday through their research into curing cancer, achieving food and water security and making the earth a safer, healthier and more sustainable place to live in.

During her speech, British Council Egypt Director Elizabeth White observed that the fund has supported her countrys long-term approach by building the next generation of scientists

For seven years, we have worked with our partners to enable the exchange of learning and ideas between scientists in the UK and Egypt, she added.

She concluded by saying that the British Council will remain committed to opening up access to science and research to support UK-Egypt priorities.

Funding Egypts long-term sustainable development

The fund is valued at 55 million over seven years; the cost is shared between the UK and Egyptian governments.

It focuses on five main areas identified by the Egyptian government as priorities for their long-term sustainable development: water management, renewable energy, food production, archaeological and cultural heritage and affordable and inclusive healthcare.

These priorities are closely related to Egypts Vision 2030 sustainable development strategy, as well as the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Since its launch in 2014, the Newton-Mosharafa Fund has provided 282 scholarships to Egyptian researchers to obtain a doctoral degree, in addition to funding 69 research partnerships between Egyptian and UK universities. Research related to health care had a significant share of it, amounting to about 69 percent of doctoral scholarships and about 22 percent of research partnerships.



British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley

Notable alumni

Some of the outstanding Newton-Mosharafa alumni who attended the ceremony include: Dr Marco Zaki, winner of the Newton Prize for his research on treating liver cancer, and Dr Irene Gabriel, who is a Newton Mosharafa grant holder. She lead a research team at Nile University together with Nottingham University to turn dried shrimp shells into thin films of biodegradable plastic that can be used to make eco-friendly grocery bags and packaging.

Shaimaa Lazem, who is an associate research professor at the City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications (SRTA-City), was awarded Newton-Mosharafa grants three times. Her work focuses on designing prototypes for technologies that serve the rural communities in Egypt. She is currently working with artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups in Africa as part of a Google Research for Inclusion and Google AI Awards.

Also in attendance was Yasser Shabana, who developed adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on wheat, maize and food production in Egypt.



Dr Salwa Mosharafa, Yasser Refaat, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and British Council director Elizabeth White

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NEW LONDON  Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron has announced that she will be resigning in the wake of a controversy over a planned fundraiser at a private Florida country club with an alleged history of discrimination.

Scheduled for Feb. 8, the fundraiser was to be held at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Fla., an establishment known for decades for excluding Black and Jewish members, according to the Broward Palm Beach New Times. Rodmon King, dean of institutional equity and inclusion, stepped down the day before after raising objections, Connecticut College's student newspaper, The College Voice, reported.

By that time, President Bergeron had decided to cancel the event, as the allegations against the club conflicted with the Colleges values and goals, John Cramer, vice president of marketing and communications, said in a statement Feb. 10.

President Bergeron has expressed regret and apologized for not canceling the event sooner and for the confusion and hurt this has caused students, faculty, staff, alumni and others, Cramer said.

The cancellation did not put the matter to rest. Student activists founded Occupy Conn Coll 2023, a campus-wide movement that called for Bergerons resignation, according to The College Voice. Nearly 30 students occupied the colleges Fanning Hall for the fourth time in the schools history on the night of Feb. 26, the student newspaper reported. The building holds Bergeron's office, classrooms and other administrative offices.

Members of the college community received an email from Bergeron Friday announcing her forthcoming departure. In the final paragraph, Bergeron directly referenced the fundraiser controversy, writing, For my part, I have thought hard about the events of the past weeks, and I know I will continue to learn from them.

The email was followed by one from the college Board of Trustees that acknowledged Bergerons resignation and highlighted her achievements in her nine-plus years as president.

Over the last several weeks, our focus has been drawn to areas in which the College can better execute its mission, including the area of equity, inclusion, and full participation, the board wrote. Constructive dialogue among students, staff, faculty administrators, and trustees has already begun to clarify an approach to the next phase of work we need to do to improve the Conn College experience for everyone.

Bergeron, previously dean of the college at Brown University in Providence, R.I., was named Connecticut College's 11th president in August 2013 and assumed the role in January 2014, according to a Brown University news release about the transition.
HARTFORD  Connecticuts black bears won a last-minute reprieve this week, as state lawmakers said Thursday they were abandoning their push to establish a limited bear hunting season.

The decision  hailed by wildlife and conservation activists  was the latest blow against a years-long campaign by hunters and farmers to legalize bear hunting, particularly in the Northwest corner of the state where the majority of sightings are concentrated.

On Friday, lawmakers were scheduled to hold an initial vote on a proposal that would have permitted the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to set up a lottery system for hunters to kill up to 50 black bears each year in Litchfield County. In addition, the bill included a permitting system to allow farmers to kill nuisance bears, stricter regulations against the feeding of wildlife and other non-lethal means of preventing encounters between humans and the states growing population of bears.

After hundreds of advocates wrote to members of the Environment Committee protesting the inclusion of a bear hunt, however, support for the legislation began to stall, according to state Rep. Joe Gresko, D- Stratford, who serves as the House co-chair on the committee. Gresko said Thursday that he had polled other members earlier this week and determined there was not enough support to send the bill on to the floor of the Senate.

Instead of letting the whole bill go down in flames, I offered to take the bear hunting provision out of it and let the rest of the bill go, Gresko said.

Even with the proposal for an open hunting season removed, members of a coalition that was formed two years ago to advocate for non-lethal means of confronting bears continued to raise concerns about the bill. In particular, they have objected to a provision that would allow DEEP to issue permits to farmers to kill bears and other nuisance animals that are damaging crops or livestock.

Wildlife advocates, along with some lawmakers, have argued that DEEP already has the authority to kill bears that pose a danger to humans, and that more funding needs to be made available for electric fencing and other non-lethal controls, along with restitution to farmers who do suffer damage from wildlife.

I dont know what the final product is going to be, said Ann Gadwah, the advocacy and outreach organizer for Sierra Club Connecticut, one of the groups involved in the coalition. It certainly takes a weight off our minds that there wont be a bear hunting lottery.

While lawmakers could in theory attempt to revive the hunting provision later this session, Gresko said he doubted that legislative leaders would endorse the move given the lack of support from the Environment Committee. He added that the remaining sections of the bear management bill as well as a separate measure to allow Sunday hunting  remained precarious heading into Friday's vote.

Last October, a bear attack that sent a 10-year-old boy in Morris to the hospital revived calls for lawmakers to do something to slow the frequency of conflicts with bears. In a subsequent debate, Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, voiced his support for the idea, saying it was probably the right move for Connecticut.

Is someone going to have to get killed to have a season? said Adam Murray, the president of the Northwest Connecticut Rod and Gun Club, when informed of the decision to pull the hunting proposal. It shouldnt get that far.

There are estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,200 black bears roaming Connecticut according to DEEP, which has supported hunting as a means of controlling the bear population and limiting encounters with humans. In 2022, the agency tracked 67 home entries by bears, the most ever recording in a single year.

As the number of run-ins with bears increases, DEEP has also urged residents to take steps to avoid feeding and attracting bears, such as taking in bird feeders during the summer and not leaving trash bins outside. A spokesman for the agency said Thursday that lawmakers decision to remove the hunting provisions from the bill did not impact DEEPs overall support for the remaining measures.

Ultimately, we believe all of these tools will help reduce both the severity and number of human-bear conflicts across the state, the spokesman, Paul Copleman, said in a statement.

Those who support a hunt note that Connecticut is one of only two states in New England that does not include hunting as part of its bear management policy. The other outlier, Rhode Island, is home to only a small number of bears.

New York does it, Vermont does it, theyve had great success and they still have bears, Murray said. Its not like theyre going to wipe them out.

Advocates like Gadwah, however, have pointed to the outcry that erupted last after an off-duty police officer killed a sow with two young in Newtown, citing it as one example that public sentiment favors more humane solutions to dealing with confrontations with bears.

We dont believe that most people in Connecticut want a bear hunt, and were glad lawmakers listened, she said.
T he Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to drop many of its concerns about Microsofts takeover of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher Activision Blizzard, as it no longer believes the $68.7 billion (57 billion) deal would hurt the UK console gaming market.

The monopolies watchdog now says that the deal will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to console gaming in the UK, dropping what had been the most significant concerns it had about the takeover.

Initially, the CMA warned that the mega-merger could substantially reduce the competition between Xbox and PlayStation in the UK, as Microsoft may choose to make popular Activision games like Call of Duty exclusive to its own Xbox consoles.

It suggested that Microsoft may have to divest the arm of Activision that makes the Call of Duty franchise in order to get the deal over the line.

However, after reviewing new evidence, the watchdog has now determined that it not would be in Microsofts own interest to stop selling the PlayStation version of Call of Duty.

While the CMAs original analysis indicated that this strategy would be profitable under most scenarios, new data (which provides better insight into the actual purchasing behaviour of CoD gamers) indicates that this strategy would be significantly loss-making under any plausible scenario, it said.

As a result, the CMA review of the acquisition - one of the largest mergers in corporate history - is now set to deal only with competition in the supply of cloud gaming services.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson welcomed the CMA dropping the console gaming concerns.

The CMAs updated provisional findings show an improved understanding of the console gaming market and demonstrate a commitment to supporting players and competition. Sonys campaign to protect its dominance by blocking our merger cant overcome the facts, and Microsoft has already presented effective and enforceable remedies to address each of the CMAs remaining concerns, they said. We know this deal will benefit competition, innovation, and consumers in the UK.

The CMAs latest update is a provisional finding, meaning that there is still a possibility of further changes if any parties involved submit new evidence. It will issue a final report on 26 April.
W adhurst in East Sussex has beaten 71 other locations to be named the UKs best place to live by The Sunday Times.

Judges said the small market town offers pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature.

It was praised for its good schools, convenient transport links, variety of high street shops and being surrounded by stunning scenery.

The Wadhurst Warriors, a group of fathers who began fundraising for the towns primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole village, were praised as the stars of the show.

Judges also praised the town of less than 5,000 people  the smallest winner of the award in its 11-year history  for the many activities available for children, the farmers market, clubs, classes and the community cinema at the Community Hall.

Wadhurst Warriors chairman Chris Poulton told PA news agency the group organises events such as fetes, fireworks nights and putting up Christmas decorations- and the money raised is used to help those in the village who need it, such as the Girl Guides and local school.He said: We do believe Wadhurst is the best place to live and that is down to us all working together to make it a place where everyone can be supported.

We dont do it for ourselves, we do it for the community.

Being recognised is great but the more we can give back to the community the better.

Recognition can just be someone coming up to us and saying thank you.

A parish council spokesperson told PA news agency: This is really exciting news. Wadhurst is a lovely, lovely place to live with a great community feel.

What makes it really special is the community, We have lots of different village clubs and a really active community.

We are all helping each other out and during Covid that really came to the forefront, with lots of groups helping to get food and medicine to people.

I would say to someone thinking of moving here that its a great place to live, you have the best of both worlds.

You have easy access to towns and cities but if you want a rural lifestyle it is perfect.

Paula Lee, 58, who owns the @ONE homeware shop on the high street, told the PA news agency: I would agree completely  it is a lovely place to live and it has got a good sense of community.

I am not surprised  I think you would be hard-pushed, certainly in the South East, to find somewhere better.

There are some really lovely shops, it is a well-rounded high street  there is a nice independent butcher, grocers and a nice community spirit.

The countryside in this area is just outstanding. There is lots of walking and lots of sporting activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Sam, 50, who runs Wadhurst Flowers but did not want to give her surname, said: It is a lovely place to live. It still maintains a village feel, even though we are only five miles from Tunbridge Wells.

The residents use their high street, which is fantastic.

It is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty and there are trains into London and to the coast. We are very lucky.

Ruthin in Denbighshire was identified as the best place to live in Wales, Dunkeld in Perthshire was named as the best place to live in Scotland, and Donaghadee in Co Down was placed top in Northern Ireland.

A winner was also selected for each region in England.

This years list includes more new entries than ever before.

They include Poundbury, a village on the edge of Dorchester in Dorset which was planned by King Charles and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

At the time critics branded it a toy town but judges said its affordable homes, renewable energy and emphasis on walkability suggest it was ahead of its time.

Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield have all made a return  suggesting people may no longer be dashing to the country as cities return to life following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

Expert judges visited all the locations and assessed factors ranging from the quality of schools and transport links to broadband speeds, culture, access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

Helen Davies, editor of Best Places To Live 2023, said: When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever.

Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.

This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre.

Whether youre downsizing, trading up or getting on to the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.

The full list can be found online at thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive.
C rouch End has been crowned the best London neighbourhood to live in for 2023 by the Sunday Times.

The picturesque north London area boasts two art house cinemas, leafy walks, record shops and independent cafes, drawing in celebrities like Simon Pegg, James McAvoy and Katherine Ryan.

Judges hailed the areas grand Victorian houses in the tube-station free enclave describing the lively suburb as maintaining a market town feel.

Its all about the green spaces and the independent shops in this lively north London suburb, said Helen Davies, the editor of Best Places to Live 2023

Theres a vibrant market-town feel to the streets that radiate out from the clock tower, where youll find dozens of cafes, bars and restaurants. The grand Victorian and Edwardian houses draw in plenty of celebrities, there are parks galore, two cinemas, sports clubs and a swimming pool.

Best of all, theres a friendliness here thats often absent in the capital  people say hello to each other on the street.

Nationally, Wadhurst in East Sussex fended off 71 other locations to be crowned the UKs best place to live 2023 by The Sunday Times.

Judges said the small market town offers pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature.

Wadhurst in East Sussex has been named as the best place to live in the UK (Patrick Nairne/Alamy/PA)

A winner was also selected for each English region as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Sunday Timess expert judges assessed a wide range of factors from schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.

These winners were:

Scotland  Dunkeld, PerthshireThe small town was praised by judges for combining stunning Highland scenery with Scandi sophistication.

Wales  Ruthin, DenbighshireJudges said it offered the very best of small town living with food and craft markets, pop-up restaurants, cafes and independent shops.

Northern Ireland  Donaghadee, Co DownThe town, which is where BBC daytime TV drama Hope Street is filmed, was praised for its clean seas, beautiful views and lively community.

East of England  Saffron Walden, EssexJudges said youthful vigour was being injected into the market town as young families move in and new bars, shops and restaurants open.

Midlands  Leamington Spa, WarwickshireThe tech hub has well-tended parks, good schools, excellent transport links and will get even more of a revamp when a Creative Quarter is launched.

North and North East England  Whitley Bay, Tyne and WearThe town was said to be catching up fast with its affluent neighbour Tynemouth after years in the doldrums  with cheaper houses and connections to Newcastle which are just as good.

North West England  LiverpoolJudges said there are lots of reasons to be optimistic about the city from Eurovision to its reputation for science and technology and grand projects such as the new Everton stadium and film studios. Waterloo was singled out for seaside while Toxteth was praised for its cultural and community vibe.

South East England  Chichester, West SussexWhile Wadhurst was crowned best place to live in the UK, Chichester  which has more Ukrainian refugees per head than any other UK city  was praised for its good schools and transport links and was still deemed worthy of inclusion separately.

South West England  Cirencester, GloucestershireThe heated outdoor swimming pool was marked out as a particular highlight of the capital of the Cotswolds.

 The full list can be found online at thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive.
T heres no doubt that London has a thriving arts and culture scene, but finding enough time in the day to experience it is another question entirely.

Enter Art After Dark, a new free public arts programme that will see galleries in the West End, including the National Gallery and Royal Academy of Arts, welcome culture-seekers after hours in seasonal events throughout the year.

The first event lands in London on 2324 March with independent galleries and world-renowned institutions keeping the doors open into the night making a culture-filled evening accessible to everyone.

Looking to soak up the West Ends incredible galleries? Art of London, organiser of Art After Dark, is installing illuminated artworks across the area to help night owls discover the new culture trail.

The hospitality of the West End is world-famous too, so why not get some friends together for an evening of gallery-hopping before dinner?

And as the galleries will stay open late into the evening, you can grab a quick drink in a West End bar, served by world class mixologists, along the way too.

At the Royal Academy of Arts, the Poster Bar by Jose Pizarro will have free pintxo with every purchase / Royal Academy of Arts

Whats on: Thursday 23 March

The first night of the Art After Dark programme will see Londons intimate-but-powerful independent galleries welcome visitors late into the evening. Its a privilege usually reserved for art world movers and shakers attending private views for the West End Gallery HOP!

Three of the galleries taking part are clustered in St Jamess, hopping distance from each other as well as some of the best restaurants in London.

Cristea Roberts Gallery

Cristea Roberts is a contemporary gallery with a focus on original prints and works on paper. Art After Dark visitors will be able to view two exhibitions.

The first is an exhibition of new works by Lubaina Himid: Alla Prima/Cross Hatch. Himid is a Tanzanian-born, UK-raised artist who has previously exhibited at Tate Modern. This exhibition features 24 hand-painted screenprints.

The second is Sensing Abstraction; an exhibition of works on paper by five female abstract artists, including Bridget Riley and Anni Albers.

Stern Pissarro Gallery

Stern Pissarro Gallery specialises in Impressionist artists and modern masters of post-war and contemporary art.

Art After Dark coincides with the opening of a new exhibition, In the Mood for Red, which explores the versatility of red to evoke a variety of meanings. The exhibition will feature works by artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Marc Chagall and Alexander Calder.

3812 Gallery

With outposts in Hong Kong and London, 3812 Gallery represents modern and contemporary Chinese and British artists and its exhibitions often explore the dialogue between them.

The exhibition to be mounted during Art After Dark is still being kept under wraps  but with 3812 Gallerys passion for ink work, expect a focus on that medium.

Where to eat and drink in the West End

The Wolseley in Mayfair is a feast for the senses / The Wolseley

Art After Dark visitors looking for a spot to debate which piece theyll be adding to their wish list will be spoilt for choice with some of Londons finest dining establishments on the doorstep.

Reserve a table at the atmospheric Wiltons, where fresh seafood, traditional British service and a dress code for diners makes for the ultimate old-school London dining experience.

Or visit its Jermyn Streeet neighbour Francos for an elegant Italian repast. Both restaurants are offering a complimentary glass of champagne to Art After Dark attendees.

You could even take a short walk along Piccadilly to The Ritz for an intimate cocktail in the plush surroundings of The Rivoli Bar. Here certified classics are served straight up or with an experimental twist.

Canny planners will book a late table in the spectacular interior of neighbouring The Wolseley. With last orders taken at 11pm, its surely an excellent way to round off an evening of art and culture.

What to see on Friday 23 March

As the start of the weekend, Friday evenings are filled with promise  and Art After Dark delivers. The spring edition sees the National Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts taking part in this celebration of the capitals cultural scene.

Choosing between the two world-renowned art institutions is a tough call. Fortunately, theyre in walking distance of each other, plus theres some top eateries en route affording a true feast for the senses.

National Gallery

The Portico Entrance to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square is one of the most recognisable of Londons many landmarks.

Once inside, youll find yourself immersed in a European art history lesson, as you make your way through room after room of masterpieces by artists such as da Vinci, Vermeer, Rembrandt, van Gogh, Monet and Turner.

Those with more contemporary tastes can explore the exhibition Nalini Malani: My Reality is Different. The Indian video artist has taken inspiration from paintings in the gallerys collection as the basis for a set of striking video animations which are projected here on a large scale.

Whether you choose to take the time to really soak in a few significant works or attempt a whistle-stop tour through everything on show, youll no doubt work up an appetite.

Great restaurants to visit in the heart of London

Fabulously fresh pasta made daily awaits Italian food fans at Notto on Piccadilly / Notto

Two standout restaurants are to be found a stones throw from the National Gallery on nearby Leicester Square.

The buzzy Leicester Square Kitchen showcases contemporary Mexican and Peruvian small plates, reserve wines and signature cocktails. Or visit Whitcombs at The Londoner hotel to sample a taste of the simple-yet-elegant cuisine of the French Mediterranean.

If youre planning to hop over to the Royal Academy of Arts to continue your art-filled evening, Notto pasta bar on Piccadilly is a perfectly placed spot to refuel with a daily menu of eight seasonal pasta dishes from which to choose. Here, Art After Dark attendees can toast an evening of culture in the capital with a complimentary Bellini.

For dinner in design-led surrounds cut through St Jamess Market. At Aquavit London the walls showcase art in partnership with local galleries, including 3812 Gallery, and the tempting menu is an ode to the fish, game and seasonal delicacies of Nordic cuisine. Whats more, a complimentary drink will be offered to diners to celebrate Art After Dark.

On Pall Mall youll find the Michelin star Wild Honey St James. Its three-course early supper menu is available until 6:30pm, providing ample time to enjoy seasonal British produce cooked with French technique before rounding off the evening with a final gallery visit.

Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts may be beloved for its open submission Summer Exhibition, but theres plenty to explore year-round.

As well as significant pieces in the permanent collection, visitors to the spring instalment of Art After Dark can take in the self-portrait themed Image of the Artist which celebrates 300 years of the Academys founding president, Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Once youve had your fill of art, linger a while on site at the Poster Bar by Jose Pizarro which will be offering complimentary pintxo appetisers with every purchase from its Spanish-focused drinks menu.

Lucid Creates

Immersive art installations

As well as the galleries taking part, Art After Dark will be spreading to the streets of the West End.

As you hop between galleries or dash to your restaurant reservation, keep an eye out for three exciting illuminated installations placed to signpost galleries and spark conversations.

Absorbed by Light, a collaboration between designer Gali May Lucas and sculptor Karoline Hinz, highlights our infatuation with technology. Be sure to look up from the map on your phone so you dont miss it.

Design studio Lucid Creates is the architect of some of the most spectacular light and sound installations of recent years, with work often appearing at music and arts festivals and live events.

For Art After Dark, the collective will stage two works, Crossroads and Exponential (the latter pictured main image), creating an unmissable moment for a host of switched-on Londoners.

Art of London champions art and culture in the West End. To discover more about Art of Londons new quarterly arts and culture programme Art After Dark, visit artoflondon.co.uk
Blinken was speaking before Congress where lawmakers from the rival Republican Party went on the offensive over the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan and demanded the release of an internal dissent cable at the State Department.

Blinken, in response to a question, said that Taliban authorities were detaining "several Americans."

"We are working to secure their freedom. Their families have asked that we protect their identities and don't speak publicly to their cases," Blinken said.

The United States, despite poor relations with the Taliban rulers, has worked quietly to assist US citizens who wish to leave.

Blinken said that the State Department has assisted around 975 US citizens in leaving since the Taliban takeover and that about 175 self-described Americans remain in the country, including some who arrived since the US withdrawal.

"Forty-four of them are ready to leave and we are working to effectuate their departure," Blinken said.

Representative Mike McCaul, the new Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, raised the August 26, 2021 attack outside Kabul airport where US-led forces were rushing to evacuate US citizens and Afghan allies.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan group, killed 13 US troops and some 170 Afghan civilians.

McCaul gave Blinken a Monday deadline to turn over a dissent cable, widely reported in the media, by US diplomats who had warned presciently that the Afghan government would collapse quickly with the US withdrawal.

Addressing the mother of a Marine killed in the attack, McCaul vowed to act "until people are held accountable."

"I will not rest until we get answers, and we will, even if we have to go all the way up the chain of command to do it," McCaul said.

Blinken promised to cooperate in providing information but said that dissent cables are shared in their entirety only with senior State Department officials.

"This tradition of having a dissent channel is one that is cherished in the department and goes back decades. It's a unique way for anyone in the department to speak truth to power as they see it," Blinken said.

Blinken said he wanted to "protect the integrity of the process to make sure we don't have a chilling effect on those who might want to come forward, knowing that they will have their identities protected and that they can do so again without fear or favor."
Review at a glance









A kram Khans Creature opens with a historic voiceover  President Nixon addressing the astronauts who reached the moon in 1969. Its a stirring moment, but almost immediately composer Vincenzo Lamagna distorts and shreds it  that eras bright optimism has long rusted over. In Khans grimly imagined future, humanity has trashed this planet and space is just a fresh opportunity for exploitation.

Hope long ago left the building. In an arctic research station, fallen into disrepair, a military brigade prepares a new space mission, aiming to colonise the final frontier. Khan draws on Mary Shelleys novels Frankenstein (vaunting experimentation, forlorn results) and The Last Man (pandemic dystopia), but the narrative most closely parallels Georg Buchners expressionist play Woyzeck. Instead of Buchners tormented soldier, Khan gives us the abused Creature, subjected to callous experiments to see if he can endure frozen conditions to indicate how humanity might fare in the hostile beyond.

Khans regular designers seal us in a harsh environment. Tim Yip (of the film Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon) builds a high windowless wooden walls, while Michael Hulls sends spars of wintry light through the gaps, pinning the story in cold greys and dingy amber.

In Creature, Khan created the part of a lifetime for Jeffrey Cirio. Now with Boston Ballet, Cirio returns to ENB, reprising the role in one of three casts. As the bare-chested Creature, he judders and glitches, yanks his sinews to their furthest extent as a victim of the merciless story. Yet he also spins, skips, irradiated by wonder and curiosity. The cruel paradox of the tale is that Creature is the only character who truly feels the miracle of a journey into space, yet is excluded from the voyage.

Ambra Vernuccio

Unusually, the ballets central relationship isnt primarily romantic. Creature is drawn to his keeper Marie (a poised yet heartfelt Erina Takahashi) in mutual concern: the specimen and the skivvy. Ecological and emotional resources are alike depleted here  only splinters of tenderness remain. It often feels as if all the suppressed feeling in this loveless world passes through the vulnerable, undefended Creature.

Scenes build remorselessly towards distress. The brigade runs on group think and arrogance (ENBs corps is horribly well drilled, stalking and grabbing). Obedience is enforced by Fabian Reimairs brutish Major, who grabs dissenters by the throat and squeezes, while the experiments are led by Sarah Kundis unflinching doctor. All eyes are on escape  scruples are for losers.

At its 2021 premiere, Creatures storytelling seemed blurred but felt much more secure this time round  either Khan has sharpened it, or Im watching better. With its ominous design and intent cast, it makes an impressive if joyless evening  dire with foreboding of desolation to come.

Sadlers Wells, to April 1; sadlerswells.com
M any kids dream of being a pilot; few get to act out their fantasy in real aircrafts. Among those few is Katie Melua. There are videos of me at six or seven years old, laughing as I climb into old Soviet planes. Melua smiles, recalling the abandoned airport near her grandmas house in Tbilisi, Georgia  a land she fled with her family aged nine, in the aftermath of the civil war.

The Meluas settled in Belfast, then rife with its own Troubles. Yet the family felt like theyd won the lottery. The Georgian civil war, stoked by Russia, had ravaged their home country in ways not dissimilar to todays situation in Ukraine.

There was no electricity and no hot water, Melua remembers, noting the parallels between past and present. Now, the shadow of violence that had dissipated in Georgian life has reared its head again, she says.

The war in Ukraine has stalled progress in the wider region. Melua is fearful of the instability this has fuelled in Georgia, with recent protests erupting in the capital. Earlier this month, citizens challenged a law that would have required media outlets getting more than 20 per cent of their funding from foreign sources to register as agents of foreign influence. Adapted from a similar law in Russia, this motion would have threatened freedom of the press.

The protests, along with diplomatic warnings from the EU, meant it was not passed. Im over the moon that they threw it out, Melua lets out a sigh of relief. I find it inspiring how many people came out on the streets to fight for what they believe in. It gives me hope.

Melua and I speak a day soon after it is announced that Gary Lineker is back in his role at the BBC after a kerfuffle over him speaking out against the governments illegal migration bill. Melua calls the controversy over the BBCs impartiality rules ludicrous.

Theres no doubt what Gary has said is right, the songwriter tells me. People shouldnt be afraid to make their voices heard.

handout

An immigrant herself, I imagine she has choice words for the home secretary. Im no politician, she cautions, but its obvious that no refugee ever leaves their country by choice. She confesses to feeling heartbroken when she left Georgia still a child  and guilty for the opportunities she had which relatives back home did not.

On her new album, Love & Money, Melua explores this personal conflict with disarming candour. On the title track, she lays bare a vulnerability that has never quite left: I was in the neighbourhood pretending to be someone good, sending love and money home. Becoming a household name at 19 with her 2003 debut, Call Off The Search, Melua has long shouldered a sense of obligation common among the children of immigrants who believe its their job to become the family breadwinners.

That sense of responsibility has challenged Melua throughout the years, as her guilt and gratitude pushed her beyond her limits. Eventually, her perfectionism gave way to depression, paranoia, insomnia, and ultimately a mental breakdown in 2010.

Its taken me twelve years, but I feel like this is the first record Ive made where the music and lyrics truly address what I went through, Melua says. Theres a song called Those Sweet Days where I speak about finally accepting that things can be beautiful even without being perfect.

Those Sweet Days also explores the different values we give our emotions; more specifically, the idea that art sculpted from misery is somehow greater than art spawned by joy. With Love & Money, Melua has said she sought to challenge the belief that happiness carries less weight than its opposite. This stands in contrast to her previous record, 2020s Album No. 8, which was composed amid her separation from former motorcycle racer James Toseland.

Enrolling on a creative writing course at the Faber Academy, Melua had sought to counter the romantic idealism of her past records. But a new relationship that blossomed over the pandemic gave her fresh hope for love, and the new record reflects her newfound happiness. Ive rediscovered how easy love can be when you find the right person, she muses. In December last year, she and her partner became parents to a baby boy, Sandro.

I ask Melua how being a mother has changed her life. Its like sunshine all the time, only better, she smiles. Pursuing a successful career while caring for a newborn must be quite the balancing act; but for Melua, motherhood has been energising. One of the best things about becoming a mum is that life no longer feels cyclical, the 38-year-old observes. Sandro changes every day, and my life changes with him. Melua speaks of her son like she speaks of Georgia: with warmth, love, and hope.

She feels lucky that she and her partner were both ready for children at the same time  and how soon she became pregnant after they decided to try. Above all, shes grateful for a society that grants mothers more options than before: I went through the steps of having my eggs frozen anyway, something many women my generation are doing, and Im so thankful that we dont feel the same biological pressures that our mothers and grandmothers once did.

As an artist, Melua is known for her gentle music. I love songs that soothe the soul, she explains, telling me how she first learned to play the guitar at school because other pupils played it too loudly for her voice. As an activist, however, her voice is more resonant. A patron of Fair Trees, she helps to prevent the exploitation of cone pickers in Georgia by the European Christmas tree industry.

Shes also passionate about the environment, taking her partner to Margate on their first date so they could go seaweed collecting. On the new album, she evokes the importance of marine conservation in a song called Reefs, composed as an homage to the essayist and climate justice advocate, Mary Annaise Heglar. Not being passionate about the environment isnt an option for me, Melua claims, identifying climate change as the biggest threat faced by humanity today.

She admits to feeling dismayed by the inaction of our leaders; but motherhood has emboldened her pursuit of a better world. Governments and multinationals need to forge a long-term vision for our future together, she says, and realise they cannot delay addressing the issue any longer. As her own story shows, finding sustainable solutions to our mistakes is not easy. But Love & Money shows that, with care, it is possible.

Love & Money (BMG) is out on March 24
Review at a glance









 London are you there? Yukimi Nagano asked the energetic crowd at a packed out KOKO in Camden on Thursday night, draped in a neon yellow jacket. The lead vocalist of Little Dragon was met with a rapturous roar, setting the tone for what was an electric performance from the Swedish four-piece.

The Gothenburg band, consisting of Nagano, Erik Bodin, Fredrik Wallin and Hakan Wirenstrand, have been working together since 1996, and with a total of six albums to their name, they already had more than enough material to sustain a show, despite having no new releases since 2020.

With no new album to promote, it became clear Little Dragon were here fully intent on having a good time. Despite coming on stage to a screeching microphone glitch, the band swept past this momentary bump in the road, performing with the fluency of a group nearing three decades in the industry.

The band launched into proceedings with two tracks from their latest New Me, Same Us album  Another Lover, followed by the infectious disco-inspired Hold On, both met with a rapturous response. The crowds energy levels were rising and rising, and after that didnt let up for the rest of the night.

The set was as eccentric as their back catalogue, with the bold staging reminiscent of a UV paint party, matched with a colourful strobe light display. Accompanied by their melodic, synth-heavy tracks, the band took the crowd on what felt like a one-hour acid trip.

The setlist spanned all six previous albums, even taking fans back to their 2007 debut with the track Time, which they acknowledged would be one for the die-hards among the crowd.

Of course, it was the better-known tracks that really captured the imagination of the crowd  hits like Ritual Union and Where You Belong, which provided one of the slower, more emotional moments of the night, with a sea of iPhones inevitably held up as it played out. Wildfire, a collaboration with SBTRKT, was one of the highlights, sending fans into overdrive, singing along word for word and dancing vigorously around the iconic Camden venue.

The band were clearly in their element, letting loose  and the audience was appreciative, with Wirenstrands unexpected searing keyboard solo, following their performance of track Klapp Klapp from their Grammy-nominated Nabuma Rubberband album, which reverberated around the venue, and was met with loud cheers.

Yukimi Nagano told fans London is a vibe, always will be. Its clear the bands affection for the capital was reciprocated.
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Ryan Calais Cameron was eating lunch in a Chinese restaurant last month when he found out that his play had been nominated for an Olivier award. I was like, No! in the middle of the restaurant. Everyone was looking at me and I was like, Oliviers! Oliviers! They didnt know what I was talking about.

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy was shaping up to be one of the hottest tickets in the West End even before it was nominated for Best Play for its run at the Royal Court Theatre last year. Now, the writer told his cast, who had broken rehearsals to celebrate the news, theres a premium on the show. Back to work

For Black Boys features six young black men who meet in a group therapy session. Over the course of the play, they discuss and argue about the numerous familial and societal problems they face. It is beautifully written  poetic yet conversational  and as well as exploring dark issues, its uplifting and joyous at times.

When we meet in a performance space on Commercial Road, east London, Calais Cameron tells me the play has been with him for more than a decade, from the start of his career as an actor, to becoming a playwright and now a screenwriter. And, like Calais Cameron, it has its roots in Catford, south-east London, where he grew up, the eldest of six.

To me it was more than an area, it was a culture, a community. So, I have a particular connection to a certain walk of life: lower, disenfranchised working-class people, he says. After returning from university, he could take a birds-eye view on the area and realised there were huge mental health issues he hadnt considered before.

You just think, Oh that guys a little bit loopy. Actually, this person is going through psychosis, hes going through depression, or is going through anxiety. I was able to see it more from leaving my neighbourhood. I always had this connection that I want to do something about the young men there and I didnt know how.

Ryan Calais Cameron / PHOTOGRAPHY NATASHA PSZENICKI

He had wanted to work in theatre from a young age, something he told the schools career advisers when he was just 13. They said, Thats really nice but heres information on plumbing, and heres electrical installation because you need to know people in those industries. So he picked up the leaflet on electrical installation and focused on that for five years.

But it was always in the back of his mind. Aged 17, in the middle of an electrical engineering workshop, he just walked out. I was like, Im not happy and Ive seen so many people in my life, coming from the community that I come from, where its always just about get a job, get a trade, put the money in. Everyone was unhappy though. It was all, Hate Mondays love Fridays  they just got on with their life and died. I was just like, Why cant I make money and be happy? I thought, Im just going to take this chance now  Ive got nothing to lose.

He studied acting at Arts University Bournemouth, graduating in 2011. Having no contacts, he wrote to all the most prominent black actors he could think of. One, Jimmy Akinbola, invited him to a monologue competition. He was down to his last 30, but took a bus to London and wrote a monologue on the journey. He won.

Yet, he was still worried he would have to give up on his dream of acting. Then he got a phone call. Director Clint Dyer, now deputy artistic director of the National Theatre, had been in the audience for the monologue slam. He was directing a play called The Westbridge at the Royal Court and was looking for a lead. After five auditions, Calais Cameron was cast.

Stepping out on that stage for the first time felt incredible, man, it put everything into perspective, he says, before laughing. Going from my last 30 to the Royal Court We were on 450 a week and I thought I was a millionaire. I was out every night! Also in the cast was Shavani Seth; they would go on to marry in 2018.

Now with an agent, he landed a series of parts on stage and screen, including in Casualty, Jekyll and Hyde and Luther  working with Idris, a massive icon, was all great  but something wasnt right. I was working constantly so I didnt want to complain. But he became sick of the cliched characters and increasingly felt writing was where it was at  It allowed me to create whole worlds and feel fulfilled as an artist. He hasnt acted since he started writing.

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy / Ali Wright

He wrote his first play, Timbuktu, in 2015, and it was later staged at Theatre Royal Stratford East. He then set up theatre company Nouveau Riche and his work included co-writing Queens of Sheba, a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018, and then Typical the following year.

Typical was born out of rage he says, when he was pulled over by the police in front of his family. They had no grounds, and I was like, I dont feel safe to get out of the vehicle. He was annoyed when his wife went to speak to the officers, and later challenged her. I said, Why did you get out? And she said, Because I was scared for your life. I think that was the moment my heart broke.

He got home, started writing at 9pm and the first draft of Typical was finished at 10am the following morning. It was about the British-Nigerian former soldier Christopher Alder, who died in police custody in 1998. Starring Richard Blackwood, it made a splash at the Edinburgh Fringe and then Soho Theatre.

It was an idea I had that wasnt put together, Calais Cameron says. That night  it was a fever dream. I thought, If I dont write this now, whats the alternative? Im going to go and burn the whole world down.

But still the idea for For Black Boys was taking shape. From the mental health of those growing up in Catford, to the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, after which he heard a conversation on the tube with someone saying But Trayvon was a black boy in a hood. Calais Cameron says I was like, What does that even mean? Im a black boy in a hood. So I thought what does it mean to be a black boy in a hood, and what do we as young black men think of ourselves. What are the structures that society and community put young black men in, he asked himself.

Another inspiration (made clear by the title) was reading For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When The Rainbow is Enuf, written in 1975 by US playwright and poet Ntozake Shange. It changed my perspective on how to create art, he says. She wrote that out of pain. Im not going to be Ntozake, but maybe I can write a piece out of the pain Ive been through, and the pain of people who look like me.

Growing up himself (he now has four kids), it was the pandemic that finally prompted him to write the show. I could see the mental health of people was really deteriorating. People in his old neighbourhood were getting sectioned or just abandoned.

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy / Ali Wright

So many young men were going through things but didnt know how to articulate them. I understood where they were coming from because I had gone through that. I was like, This is it now. This is the time when this play needs to happen, and I wrote three monologues during the pandemic.

He had set up Nouveau Riche to offer different, nuanced black characters  I just wanted to see people who are from where Im from. Where are the love stories? The nerds? The guys who were never in gangs?  and this play offers conflicting, nuanced, fascinatingly different views.

Imagine if the whole estate was just drug dealers, it would be ridiculous, man, youd have to get the army in every day, he says. But if you look at the media out there, youd go thats what it is. I want to see different perspectives... I want us to be whole, to be fully human. I feel that young black boys, more than anything, needed to see that they were allowed to be many things.

The play first opened in the 80-seat New Diorama Theatre in 2021 , then transferred to the Royal Court. That was a time of great vindication professionally, but personally he says it was one of the most difficult times in his life. The play was so personal and many people would come up to him afterwards with their stories looking for help and answers, and he felt he had to protect his mental health.

The discussion of mental health and therapy is still such a taboo in black disenfranchised communities, it was almost like they were looking to me for answers to the issues happening in their lives. This time around, he and the cast and crew have had some training to deal with this.

As if opening in the West End wasnt enough, Calais Camerons play Retrograde, about the actor Sidney Poitier, opens at the Kiln in April. We get to see Sidney before he becomes Sidney Poitier. We get to see someone in their innocence and purity and what shaped him, and by the end of this story, I think it will give us more understanding of how he went on this trajectory. As for running two shows at the same time? Its pretty exhausting, man, he smiles.

He is working on several TV programmes, including the Channel 4 adaptation of the bestselling book Queenie, with its author Candice Carty-Williams, who had seen For Black Boys at the Royal Court and called him up. He is also working on adapting Street Boys by Tim Pritchard  the first book I ever read from front to back  and a series with Ashley Walters, set in 1970s Notting Hill. Im working a lot, he says. And as an artist, I cant complain.

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy is at the Apollo from March 31 to May 7, buy tickets here; Retrograde runs at the Kiln Theatre from April 20 to May 27, buy tickets here
Review at a glance









T o be honest, Im unsure what, now that I have seen the start of the final season of televisions current greatest show, even counts as not a spoiler. What do you really, actually want to know? Most of my nearest and dearest hung up on me or just flat out ignored my messages when I asked the above question. Quite a lot of people told me to f*** off, which is a phrase that features heavily in season four of Succession.

But beyond this shocking reveal? Anticipation surrounding this abruptly-announced last hurrah is such that even revealing the first episodes most weapons grade zinger feels like it might be crossing a line.

The key difference, as we begin, is that while season three picked up the story from precisely where season two left off  Kendall Roy committing patricide live on TV  here the characters have been given some time, a month or so maybe, for events to sink in. So Jeremy Strong no longer infuses his character with that million-miles-an-hour, suresurebutyeahbutsure intensity. Logan Roy is not immediately barking What the f*** is going on? and re-routing private jets to Sarajevo. And the story as a whole begins in far calmer, infinitely less frenetic fashion.

So Connor is deep into preparing for his wedding to Willa, and his run for president. Post-knifing his wife in the back  by tipping Logan off about her and her siblings latest mutiny  Tom is on a trial separation from Shiv (and no prizes for guessing who has taken on the role of hello-ladies NYC nightlife wingman).

The siblings, meanwhile, are no longer in shock that their father  with help from their mother, and her vote on the board  has screwed them out of the family business by selling out to Swedish, Elon-style tech bro Lukas Mattson and his company GoJo.

Sky

The GoJo deal is about to be closed, and everyone is about to accept that the GoJo deal is here and move on with their lives. Which, this being Succession, means that something is about to go wrong.

Viewers of the final season four trailer will have seen Logan prowling the ATN newsroom  Its like if Santa Claus was a hitman, Greg relays to Tom over the phone  meaning he is still at least peripherally involved in Waystar Royco. And its certainly is not a spoiler to say that Logan Roys involvement in anything, least of all his own, beloved company, is not going to remain peripheral for very long.

The same can be said for the kids. If there is an opportunity to f*** their father right back, even if it means jeopardising their not-insignificant payouts, they are going to take it.

So off we go: except this time its Logan and Tom and Greg versus Kendall and Roman and Shiv. Big, risky moves are pulled. Preposterously ingenious insults are hurled  somebody looks like a ballsack in a toupee says someone else at some point  over the phone from private jets and penthouse apartments. Roman sits on sofas very strangely. Greg provides a Greg-load of comic relief. Logans long-suffering advisors suffer, long and hard. Theres less darkness than in previous seasons. Until suddenly there isnt.

And of course its all brilliant. This is a show on imperial, strident, impossibly confident form: a show that knows its audience is waiting with baited breath for an end that is nigh, and that big things are bound to happen before that end. Time to sit back, saviour... and steer well clear of the office watercooler and your WhatsApp groups should you be even a couple of days late watching an episode.

Succession season four starts in the UK on Sky and NOW from March 27
You season 4 spoilers below

Netflix has just announced that its thriller series, You, will be renewed for a fifth and final series and that it will air as soon as next year.

Brace yourself for Joe Goldbergs final chapter, said Netflix on Twitter.

The news has come hot on the heels of the last seasons release: the second instalment of Yous fourth series only premiered two weeks ago, and it whipped up a lot of attention for being quite barmy.

In it, Penn Badgleys character, serial killer Joe Goldberg, is in the UK masquerading as an English Literature professor, and this time someone is stalking him.

This show is no longer awfully good - it is just plain awful, said The Standard, earlier this month, before correctly predicting, Joe Goldberg will return for a fifth season, and god knows where hell pop up this time. But if Netflix sees sense theyll make sure this is his final outing, because You has officially become too ridiculous for its own good.

But according to Variety, the fifth season will undergo a major change as it is set to have completely new showrunners. Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti, who have been the showrunners of the first four seasons, are stepping aside, while executive producers Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo, who also wrote some episodes across the four series, will take up the mantle.

As I step back from day-to-day showrunning to focus on new projects, Im immensely grateful... said Gamble. Making the show alongside our writers, producers, directors, cast and crew has been an honor and ridiculously fun.

Im proud of what weve all accomplished and feel privileged to pass the torch. Im excited to watch and support the You team as they bring Joe Goldbergs journey to its delightfully twisted conclusion.

We are so incredibly grateful to Netflix and Sera and everyone that has been a part of this show from the beginning. Sera is the most brilliant writer and partner and she will remain a key part of the You family as an executive producer, said Berlanti and executive producer Sarah Schechter.

Over the last four years, You has come a long way: it first aired on Lifetime in the US where, according to Variety, a grand total of 650,000 people watched it.

But when it streamed on Netflix (which had acquired international broadcast rights), it immediately became a huge hit: it was released on December 26 and by January 17, 2019, Netflix said that 40 million people had tuned in to watch the show.

So while there are no details about where Goldberg will pop up next, we have to say were intrigued  will he stay in New York where season 4 ended? Will he return to Europe?

You season five is set to be released in 2024
 Why did you come here? says Arta S, rolling her eyes and smiling. The 37-year-old says thats the first question people ask her when they find out that shes from Albania. She arrived in London in 2019 with her husband and two children, now eight and five, and was granted asylum after six hard months where she was placed in two houses full of mould.

Things are better now. Today shes wearing a sparkly headband and a T-shirt with the slogan Today is a Good Day. She lives in Stratford and works in recruitment. So why did she leave the small Balkan nation just north of Greece? Albania is an amazing country, she says. It has beautiful landscapes and many sunny days but not everything that glitters is gold.

Arta is keen to stress to me that she didnt arrive by boat, but in recent months many Albanians have done just that. According to Home Office figures, from May to September last year, Albanian nationals made up 42 per cent of small boat crossings  11,102 Albanians arrived this way in just five months (in the whole of 2020, only 50 Albanians made this journey). Dan OMahoney, formerly the clandestine Channel threat commander, estimated that 1-2 per cent of Albanias entire adult male population had come here this way (a figure which Albanian officials dispute). There are undoubtedly people who need our help  but there is also a large number who are deliberately gaming the system, he told MPs.

This spike in Albanian arrivals is partly what led Home Secretary Suella Braverman to talk of an invasion on our southern coast. It also inspired the deeply controversial Illegal Migration Bill which the Government is currently trying to pass through Parliament, which would allow anyone arriving by small boat  even children  to be immediately deported. In November, there were protests at Westminster with banners reading Not all Albanians are criminals and the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, tweeted: [The] UK should fight the crime gangs of all nationalities and stop discriminating [against] Albanians to excuse policy failures.

So whats behind this surge in arrivals from a small and, by all accounts, beautiful place, which Rishi Sunak has described as safe and prosperous country? Usually a rise in migration from a single area is triggered by the outbreak of war or a natural disaster, but Albanias problems are deep-rooted and more complex. Dr Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkan expert and lecturer in law at University College London (UCL), moved to London from Vlora, southern Albania in 2004. He now lives in west London and recently gave evidence at a home affairs select committee inquiry into Albanian migration.

Most Albanians willingly migrate because of the political and economic instability, corruption, lack of meritocracy and employment, and low wages, he says. But others are tricked into travelling to Britain. Albanian organised crime networks based in the UK and northern France have strengthened their ties to impoverished rural areas of Albania, and they are focused on luring young Albanian men to the UK to work and engage in illegal activities, like cannabis farming. Albanians are the most common victims of modern slavery in the UK, although part of the Governments new bill would make it more difficult for people to claim this.

Dr Hoxhaj explains that last summers spike might be down to the route to the UK becoming more affordable. Traffickers used to charge 15-20k to smuggle someone to the UK, often via lorry, now small boat crossings can cost as little as 3,000 and services are advertised on social media. One TikTok clip shows a boat speeding towards the white cliffs of Dover, with the words F*** school. Lets take the boat to England in Albanian. Another post reads Departures everyday We can take families also. You come today and leave tomorrow. We are the first and the best (for boats). The post has 2,706 likes and 52 comments.

Youngsters are bullied in schools because they are Albanians. A young mum told me her son didnt like to go to school any more because all his friends called him an Albanian criminal

Although the journey is fraught with risk  another four people died trying to make the crossing in December  for people living in one of Europes poorest countries, where the average salary is 66,000 Albanian leks a month (about 500), it might feel like the only option. Albania has one of the youngest populations in Europe and they dont have many prospects. Young people in Albania have lost hope that things will get better for their generation, says Dr Hoxhaj. They see migration as their only way out.

On a street in Canning Town which sums up Londons cultural diversity  theres a pie and mash shop, a Polish superma rket, a mosque a nd a Ukrainian restaurant  youll find Shpresa. This charity works to help recent Albanian arrivals integrate into the UK. Here staff offer language classes and advice sessions alongside a food and clothing bank. Outside I meet Ari, 20 (many of the Albanians I meet dont want to give their full name for fear of attacks or discrimination). He arrived here by boat last summer.

While you wait for your case to be processed you have nothing to do, [there are] people offering jobs to sell drugs, they make it seem so easy, he says. If police catch you, you end up in prison. Because you dont have any option thats what seems right. I dont have enough money  you think: okay, if I get caught, I go to prison, but at least that is better than being in Albania and risking my life.

From the Taken movies to the Gangs of London TV drama, Albanians are often portrayed as gangsters. But how accurate is that depiction? Albanians make up the largest group of foreigners in prisons in England and Wales, roughly 14 per cent of the more than 9,200 foreign nationals. According to the NCA (National Crime Agency), Albanian organised crime networks are the most influential players in the London drug market. If you recently did a line at a party, chances are it passed through the hands of Hellbanianz.

This notorious gang, based on the Gascoigne Estate in Barking, regularly post trap videos and pictures of Ferraris, fans of 50 notes and guns to lure falcons  fresh recruits. Behind the street dealings of Hellbanianz is the Mafia Shqiptare, the Albanian organised crime syndicate which now dominates the drug trade by negotiating directly with Colombian cartels for huge shipments of cocaine and setting up industrial-scale cannabis farms.

But the fast cars and wads of cash are a world away from everyday life for the vast majority of the estimated 150,000 Albanians making a life in the UK, yet many feel demonised by the current debate about migration. Ari says he never puts the word Albanian on his CV, and has friends who pretend to be Polish if questioned.

This campaign of discrimination against Albanians living here in the UK should stop, says Qirjako Qirko, the Albanian Ambassador in London. There are people, especially youngsters, who are bullied in their schools because they are Albanians. Yesterday I had a young mum, she had a child of three or four years old, and her son didnt like to go to school any more because all his friends called him an Albanian criminal. Albanian doctors, lawyers, engineers, labourers of all sorts, pay taxes and contribute to British society. Any other [negative] portrayal of Albanians in the UK is a demonstration of a lack of knowledge of this reality. Reinforcing negative stereotypes over a prolonged time fosters only discrimination and racism.

All the Albanians I know are taxpayers who want to contribute to society, agrees Arta, who also runs visits to London museums for refugee families through the charity Fences & Frontiers. We work hard and it feels very bad to see these negative stories about us. Politicians need to understand that how they communicate with people, the language they use, has a direct effect on us.

Arta is emphatic when I ask her whether Albania is a safe country. It may not have a war, but it is not a safe country. She doesnt want to go into detail about the incident which made her flee but says: When something happens to you, and you go to the police, and nothing is done, you know corruption is at every level of society from the top down.

To understand the Albanian diaspora we need a brief history lesson. Under the rule of the dictator Enver Hoxha from 1944-1985, Albania was known as Europes North Korea. Travel was banned, as were beards and religion. Bunkers were erected and political prisoners were kept in gulags. With the fall of Communism in the 1990s, Albanians were able to travel for the first time and when the economy collapsed in 1997, hundreds of thousands fled, many to the UK. Ties with England are so strong that Albania even has a Little London in the north-east region of Has, where youll find red phone boxes and British-themed bars.

This mass exodus hasnt really slowed down. Estimates suggest around 40,000 Albanians leave the country every year. According to a Gallup poll, 60 per cent of the adult population want to migrate. Albania has been trying to join the EU since 2009, and it is hoped that when it does it will bring much-needed investment and opportunity.

When I ask Dr Hoxhaj to characterise the Albanian psyche, the word he uses is ambition. Albanian people have had centuries of being oppressed, by the Ottomans, by Communism, so they have suffered a lot and now they feel they have a lot to achieve very quickly, he explains. They want to make money and get the top jobs, and they are willing to take major risks to do so, which would take more than three generations in other societies.

Ari says his mother pleads with him to come back to Albania. He has been here six months and is unable to open a bank account, rent a house or legally work, although he has earned money washing cars and doing manual labour. Im not a criminal, he says. I just dreamt of a better life in a big country.
B illericay-born actor Russell Tovey is a man of many talents and ventures. On Friday, his latest film hit the big screen: Allelujah directed by Richard Eyre and based on the 2018 Allan Bennett play of the same name, is a comedic love letter to the NHS. Though if you havent yet caught Allelujah, you may recognise Tovey from his roles as anxious werewolf George Sands in Being Human, headstrong Stephen in The Good Liar, or even as the co-host of acclaimed podcast, Talk Art.

Having conquered film, TV, art, podcasts and even become a best-selling author, the 41-year-olds latest endeavour - supplying children with breakfast at a west London school - may come as a surprise. Last month, Tovey visited the breakfast club at Ark Burlington Danes Academy in White City, taking on the role of dinner lady to make sure that each and every student began their day with a decent breakfast. Some of the students, whose ages ranged between three and eighteen, gifted the actor with drawings of himself, whilst others declared they would never wash their hands again after shaking his. Youve made me cool they told him (quite the compliment from todays Gen Z).

Kids deserve to be fed and to be able to learn and not worry about being hungry

The trip to Ark Burlington Danes Academy is part of Toveys work supporting Magic Breakfasts Great Big Breakfast. The non-profit charity is set to fill the bellies of 200,000 children across England and Scotland, with the help of the public who can host their own breakfast parties in support of the organisation next month. Three quid feeds a child two school weeks worth of breakfasts. Incredible. Wonderful. If everybody did it, it would make such a humongous difference he explains, urging the public to host their own breakfast wherever they wish - at home, work or school - to help spotlight this growing issue.

Russell Tovey visits Ark Burlington Danes Academy / Magic Breakfast

Weve all got to do something, he says, Im the sort of person who, if I want to do something, I want to know everything. Ill buy all the books. Im going to see all the exhibitions. I will read all the blogs. Im obsessive. After hearing news of children not having access to free school meals at his nephews school in Essex five years ago, Tovey decided enough was enough.

When I first started helping and connecting with Magic Breakfast, they were feeding around 60,000 kids up and down the country every morning. I thought that it was astonishing, terrifying, and wonderful that this is what they do, yet I was obsessed by the fact that they have to do this, that this is something thats needed.

As the cost of living continues to bite, the number of children going to school every morning hungry has seen a dramatic rise to four million in the last six months , according to a new survey from The Food Foundation, things are improving slowly but surely. At the end of February, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan introduced a 130 million scheme that will fund free meals for every primary school child in the city. But for the rest of the country, children are still trapped in a system where education is free but food is not always available.

Russell Tovey visits Ark Burlington Danes Academy / Magic Breakfast

Dickensian gloom is how Tovey refers to the millions of hungry children in the UK today, unable to concentrate in lessons due to lack of food. When I was a kid, there was never a point when I was thinking, I dont know when Ill eat again. That was never something I even had to consider, he says.

Toveys path to becoming an actor was enriched by his school experience. Growing up in Billericay, Essex, he was drawn to the arts from an early age and was able to pursue this interest with the help of encouraging teachers. My teachers were incredibly important to me and looking back they treated me like an adult from the moment I stepped in class and that felt so important that they were nurturing and encouraging, he says. I got into my groove, found my friendship groups, sort of ruined myself a bit, worked out who I was, what I was doing, where I was going. School was where I found out who I was.

His childhood was incredible, he tells me without an ounce of hesitation. He was the self-described geeky kid whod do anything for a laugh: It was a happy experience. When I look back at my schooling it was really bright, he says, another reason why supporting The Great Big Breakfast is a no brainer for the actor.

Russell Tovey visits Ark Burlington Danes Academy / Magic Breakfast

This feels like the most important thing right now, kids deserve to be fed and they deserve to be able to learn and have a rightful place in society and not worry about being hungry, he says.

Looking to the future, Tovey hopes these changes will help to sustain young peoples health and wellbeing, allowing them to focus on their dreams and passions without any limitations. "If youre interested in something then dont stop yourself from wanting to know anything about it. Keep being a nerd and never apologise for enthusiasm, he advises, lean into whatever youre into, its a really positive thing and will change your life.
W hen I speak to 28-year-old DJ Tiffany Calver she looks particularly glam - on her way to play a set at the Tommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes launch party at Koko Camden. Pamela Andersons going to be there, Im quite excited, she confesses. Fashion parties arent anything new for Calver, who is used to playing stadiums opening for Beyonce and Jay-Z, and touring with Drake too.

Whilst she initially thought shed end up as a fashion journalist, Calver started blogging about music during her late teens, before making the move from Telford to London and teaching herself to mix whilst studying Media at Westminster. Since then shes worked for NTS Radio, had a brief stint at Kiss FM, before landing her dream slot on BBC Radio 1Xtras The Rap Show. Im honoured to be taking over the slot that has pretty much soundtracked my life Calver said in 2018, and after four beautiful years, she plays her final show tomorrow night. Ive decided I want to get a hummer limo, thats how Im feeling. I want to really celebrate this new era. I had such an incredible time for four years doing that show, she tells me, truly going out with a bang.

I think theres a running theme of joy with the records Ive picked

Her night doesnt stop there though. Following her final instalment of The Rap Show for 1Xtra, Calver is heading straight to Village Underground to continue the celebrations with a mammoth four hour set. Titled No Requests, the party marks the end of one chapter and is a nod to the next. No Requests is a brand new club night that boasts no rules, or lanes to the music played. It is about sharing and showcasing the music you love without barriers. This is an event for music lovers says Calver.

Below, Tiffany Calver gives us a glimpse at what to expect from tomorrow night, as well as the next phase of her career. I think theres a running theme of joy with the records Ive picked, she explains, describing the mood of tomorrows setlist. Watch this space and be sure to tune into her new slot on 1Xtra, The Tiffany Calver Show, Fridays from 9-11pm.

Tiffany Calvers No Requests party takes place on Saturday March 25th 10pm-5am. You can get tickets here.

Listen to ES Magazines Friday Night Playlist here.

I Think - Tyler the Creator

Igor is one of my favourite albums. I think Tyler the Creator is a great example of what it is to be a true, raw artist. Ive been a fan of his since I was on Tumblr - he was rebellious and grungy. This record, for me, is an absolute favourite, the production on it is so ethereal and beautiful. Its still very cheeky (very Tyler) but its about falling in love. Which is how I feel at the moment too, falling in love with djing again. Im having a renaissance moment myself so it makes sense for me to open my set with this on Saturday.

Youre The One - Kaytranada ft. Syd

Ive known and loved and supported Kaytranada for over 10 years, before I even started radio, I was a SoundCloud nerd. Its just incredible to see his trajectory. This record is pure nostalgia, you hear Kaytranada and you just want to give everyone a hug and skip around. I want to share the emotions that Im feeling at the moment with the crowd.

Big Flexa - Costa Titch ft. Sdida, Alfa Kat, Man T, Cbuda M & Banaba

I think the rise of the Amapiano, South African sound has just taken over the world. For the past five years, weve seen the world pan and look at whats going on in Africa, whether its Amapiano or Afrobeats. You can throw it in the mix at any party and everybodys happy. This is a massive record that is bittersweet because of Costa Titchs tragic death just a few weeks ago. It was the beginning of his career, I want to celebrate the sound of Amapiano but also his life and the potential that he had.

Pulse Vs Flex - Lil Silva

Lil Silva is always at the forefront of my mind when it comes to anything to do with London - especially when it comes to Notting Hill Carnival. I actually remember seeing Kaytranada and Lil Silva DJ at XOYO when I was 18, I remember being in the crowd and being in awe. Lil Silva has such an incredible, authentic London sound, you cant go to any stage at Notting Hill Carnival without hearing Seasons, but he has so many other gems that people dont talk about so much, this record is one of those. You can completely change the journey of your set with that one.

Savior - Kendrick Lamar ft. Baby Keem & Sam Dew

I really connected to Kendricks album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, I actually saw it in concert four times. I basically played Baby Keems birthday party so Id get to go to the show! Savior for me, the way it comes in is going to be so epic on Saturday. The message too, the fact that these people are not your saviours and it all comes from within you, its incredible. That chorus is where Im at right now. The reason Im so excited about playing these five songs is because I want to show the new direction that Im going in, things that you might not necessarily expect from me.
E veryone who visits Elle Parmar Jenkins and Alex Holloway at their London flat has an opinion on it. Not about the disco ball which hangs in their stainless steel kitchen, nor about the raw unfinished walls, or even about their eclectic collection of multicoloured retro furniture.

No, it is all about the bathtub. Or more specifically, the location of the bathtub  plumbed in beneath a sunny sash window in their open-plan kitchen-living room.

We dont use it when guests are here, says Holloway, with the slightly weary air of someone who has been forced to defend his interiors decisions again and again. People think it is weird, and they always comment on it, but weve not lost friends over it. People have baths in their bedrooms, I dont think it is so transgressive to have it in the kitchen.

Parmar Jenkins  who learned about Holloways plan to install a bath centre stage on their first date  is equally relaxed about the arrangement. When guests are here we can use it as an ice bucket, she explains.

The bathroom was too small to incorporate a bath and a shower, so Holloway decided to put the bath in the open-plan kitchen/living room / Juliet Murphy

First-time buyers tend to be a timid breed, fearful of the financial risks and responsibilities that come with home ownership. Holloway had no such worries when he swapped a house share in Holloway for his first home in Finsbury Park, a rundown flat which he has put his stamp on in no uncertain terms.

The transformation

What I liked about it was that it was cheap for the area, because it was a really down-at-heel flat with a horrendous bathroom and a horrendous kitchen, says Holloway, 34, director of design consultancy Holloway Li (hollowayli.com).

He paid 580,000 for the first-floor Victorian conversion in November 2020 and lived there for a couple of months while he got to know the space and decided what to do with it.

The flat is at the end of a terrace and  subject to planning permission  Holloway knew it would make a huge difference if he punched new windows into the side walls, bringing extra light into the 740sq ft space.

He also decided to tear down most of the walls, creating a single, triple aspect, open-plan living space in place of the original small kitchen, separate living room and second bedroom.

The decision on the bath was made simply because the bathroom was too small to incorporate a bath and a shower, and he didnt want to go without either one.

Work began on the site in March 2021. Holloway moved out to stay with friends for the duration, and his brother (who had worked in a theatre up until the pandemic before switching to construction) acted as site manager.

The steel kitchen features psychedelic patterns and a disco ball / Juliet Murphy

First impressions

A month later Holloway and Parmar Jenkins, who was renting in Blackhorse Road at the time, met. Social distancing regulations meant their first date was a walk but they did stop in at the flat to use the bathroom during the evening, giving Parmar Jenkins an early glimpse of the space.

I didnt say much, but in my head I thought that it was a bit of a bachelor pad, she says.

Inspiration for the kitchen came from the video for The Verves 1997 single Lucky Man, shot in an ultra-industrial London penthouse at Thames Reach. While fans were enjoying Richard Ashcroft in uncharacteristically upbeat mood, Holloway was admiring the kitchen.

It was built out of circle brush stainless steel, which you usually see in fast food places, he said. Every time I went to a fish-and-chip shop I would see it and think about how much I wanted to use it, but none of my clients would ever go for it.

Holloway didnt hesitate to go all out when designing his own chip shop-style stainless steel kitchen, removing half of the ceiling to add a feeling of space and volume / Juliet Murphy

The steel kitchen dream

When he finally got a chance to design his own kitchen, Holloway didnt hesitate to go all out for his steel kitchen dream, from the curved, open upper shelves to the splashback, worktop, cupboards and appliances.

The slightly psychedelic patterns in the steel help hide smears and finger marks, and he likes the way the pattern casts a glow under the lights.

With the disco ball above the oven and a kitchen table made from a panel of amber-coloured embossed resin left over from a commercial job fitting out a tap showroom, the whole effect is very shiny. It is a bit of a disco kitchen, says Parmar Jenkins, 32, who runs an online vintage furniture store (goodsin.co.uk).

While the kitchen is a statement, the basic shell of the flat is simple. To make the most of his main open plan space, Holloway took out half of the ceiling, exposing the upward angle of the butterfly roof and giving a great feeling of space and volume. The other half of the ceiling was stripped back to the original beams, and provides a useful new storage space accessed by a ladder.

The kitchen and living room walls were rendered in multi-finish plaster, covered with a layer of clear sealant to stop them from shedding dust and giving a warm, textured effect, which make a great backdrop for Parmar Jenkinss collection of pictures.

I didnt deliberately leave the walls as they are but I was running out of time and money, and I couldnt make a decision about colour, admits Holloway. I got to really like it because it is very forgiving. You can knock it or scratch it and you dont really notice. People pay a fortune for paint effects or micro cement, but you can just leave the walls bare and get the same effect with one less trade.

The floors are finished in wide planks of engineered Douglas fir from Havwoods Wood Flooring (havwoods.com), the bedroom is painted in shades of green, and Holloway built the wardrobes himself to save cash.

By September 2021, the flat was finished at a cost of 80,000 (plus VAT), and the couple moved in.

The bedroom is painted in shades of green, with wardrobes built by Holloway to save money / Juliet Murphy

Match made in heaven

While Holloway had made the structural decisions on this project, Parmar Jenkins got to put her stamp on it when it came to the decor, filling the house with pieces from her business.

I never owned any furniture because I was renting, so Elles furniture is everywhere, says Holloway. It was a match made in heaven; Elle has great taste, and the flat is an ever-changing furniture showroom.

Currently the showroom features a cobalt blue sofa, a supersized orange armchair designed by Holloway, a marble coffee table by Parmar Jenkins, a brass-plated chrome and glass Seventies coffee table, some Danish school chairs and a pair of statement retro-style chandeliers from the Portuguese brand Utu Lamps (utulamps.com).

Plaster walls offer a warm, textured yet neutral ground for Elle Parmar Jenkinss picture collection / Juliet Murphy

We have not sat down and said This is our style for this room and chosen furniture accordingly, says Parmar Jenkins. It has been a natural growth.

For now the couple are more than happy living in their unique rule-breaking flat, but Holloway is aware that by losing a bedroom in the design he has reduced its resale value. I know that but I dont really need a spare room, and if I did want to sell it I could always just put a wall up to make another bedroom, he says.
Paris Baguette said Sunday that it ranked 25th on a list of the top 500 franchise brands evaluated by the U.S. magazine Franchise Times.

The Korean bakery chain moved up 13 spots from 38th among 400 franchises last year to become the highest-ranked Korean franchise chain.

The magazine has rated franchises operating in the U.S. in terms of sales and other factors since 1999. This year's list included 100 more companies.
B ig news from MIPIM: navy suits are on the way out, charcoal grey tailoring is in the ascendant, and casual wear is even gaining a trainer-clad toe-hold at the annual international property conference.

There were also a few more skirts in evidence this year, an indicator of female attendance, rather than any kind of gender nonconformity  it may be 2023, but we are still talking about MIPIM (Le Marche International des Professionnels de Limmobilier) here.

MIPIM will rarely pass the Bechdel test (two named women speaking to each other about something other than men) but in the spirit of embracing and encouraging progress where we can find it, an incremental shuffle towards gender parity is something.

I dont mention this purely to stick it to the 23,000-or-so MIPIM lads that descended on Cannes for four days this March (the so-named Twitter account does a fine job of that).

Cities and countries vie to attract investment / Prudence Ivey

It matters because the event has an outsize impact on London  the streets we walk down, the public transport we take, the offices we work in and the homes we live in are all shaped at MIPIM.

If all the decisions are being made and deals struck by a homogenous group of investors, developers, urban planners, chartered surveyors and architects, then our built environment faces inevitable limitations.

Among transformational MIPIM moments of yore is the first ever meeting about the Kings Cross redevelopment, which is said to have happened there. As such, its a good place to garner an insight into what Londons got in store.

Gone are the days when every local authority would send a delegation to woo the big bucks over champagne and on yachts, all captured faithfully by the nearest long-angle lens. The optics werent great, even if there was genuine work being done.

The London stand / Prudence Ivey

The official event is hosted in the labyrinthine Palais des Festivals, where various cities, countries and real estate companies set up stands to show themselves off, spilling out on to La Croisette where those places that really want to show off in the sun  including London  position their tents.

Most of Londons real estate investment comes from foreign dealmakers, even if the proportion has dropped post-Brexit and, judging by the gloomy chat, seems unlikely to pick up soon.

One point of paranoia at this years event was Paris, their pavilion next door twice as big as Londons and at least twice as sexy (and this despite the bin strikes that has turned the French capital into a giant rubbish heap).

Sure, they are riding the Olympic wave  bonjour 2024  but the idea that the city is learning from Londons successful Olympics legacy felt like small consolation on a London stand looking mournfully across at Pariss heaving terrasse.

Major threat? Half of the Paris stand / Prudence Ivey

Britains recent political woes were another bone of contention  several attendees quipped that this was the first time they had ever heard the property industry calling for a Labour government.

The Truss government is said to have put the wind up several potential investors in its 44-day whirlwind, destroying the capitals reputation as a safe haven for cash thanks to its temperate political climate. A worse impact than Brexit, was at least one damning verdict.

While London used to be able to sell itself as an entity detached from the rest of the country, there was a widespread feeling that it was struggling to tell a convincing story about itself as it emerges from Covid and lockdowns.

The persistence of working from home, low productivity figures and a perception of the capital as dangerous, with high levels of crime and homelessness, are all acting as a deterrent to international wealth.

Business in the sun / Prudence Ivey

Combined with a government that wont back the capital, other UK cities are making a concerted effort to lure investors away from London  Belfast and Newcastle were wooing visitors with Guinness and Newcastle Brown Ale, palate cleansers after a week of champagne.

But there was still a perception (at least among biased Londoners) that on an international level, the capital remains the gateway to other regions, part of a UK package for someone who may have absolutely no idea where to place Gateshead on a map  at least not yet.

None of this is to say the capital has fallen off the agenda altogether  far from it. It remains the most talked about city in Europe according to a report by ING Media released during MIPIM week, topping the consultancys digital visibility ranking among 60 of its European rivals. The research pointed to a direct correlation between digital visibilty, soft power and foreign direct investment.

It is also the place businesses go to experiment and to find initiatives prepared to throw themselves into new technologies, especially when it comes to climate change and materials.

Post-Brexit, Truss and Covid, London can no longer sit back and wait for the money to come to it. A lot of people will be doing a lot of work this year in the hope London can tell a compelling tale in 2024.
B ack when their primary source of income was their pocket money Abigail Freeman and David Spicer began saving up for their future together.

The couple went to school together in Hertfordshire and got together aged just 14. They studied at Leeds University, then moved to London to build their careers, Abi as a TV researcher, and David as a trainee actuary.

At the start of the pandemic the 25-year-olds were living in a shared house in Plaistow, east London, with six other people. Their room cost 1,000pcm, including bills.

It was OK because we were out at work every day, and we didnt actually spend much time in the house, said Abi.

When they found themselves confined to home for 23 hours per day things changed, particularly since David is in a high risk group and they werent confident that all their housemates would take social distancing as seriously as they did.

This was right at the beginning when we didnt really know anything and it was all very scary, said Abi.

So, in April 2020, they decided to take a rapid exit strategy, and moved out to Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, where they were able to pick up a two-bedroom flat for 1,175pcm.

Buying had been their long term aim and they had been saving together since they were teenagers.

This, plus an inheritance from Davids grandmother, meant they had just enough to buy a property, although not in London itself.

We did not even consider buying in London, said Abi. It was out of the question even though if we had had the opportunity we would have liked to have stayed for a while.

The fact that they still had lots of childhood friends in Hertfordshire targeted their search on the county.

Their wish list was simple. They wanted a house, rather than a flat, and they wanted to be close to a station with trains into London, preferably Kings Cross, for work. They scanned the property portals daily, phoned estate agents constantly, and at the end of 2021 they paid 275,000 for a two-bedroom house in Baldock, a market town 38 miles north of London.

Their monthly mortgage costs 900  substantially less than they were paying in London or Surrey  and when they need to go into the office the journey takes around an hour.

Im not sure if owning rather than renting has changed our life, but it has certainly changed our lifestyle, said Abi. The house was rented out for about six years before we bought it and it needs a lot doing to it, more than we realised when we bought it. We now spend our time doing DIY. Our priorities have changed.

Despite this she feels incredibly lucky to be a homeowner at last. It is a really sad situation for people who are stuck renting, who cant afford to save for a deposit, even though owning might work out cheaper, she said. We were lucky that we were able to put our resources together, but anyone on their own is really stuck in that cycle.

In the longer term Abi sees a brighter future if she and David move even further out of London. We went to university in Leeds and you can get so much more for your money up north than you can down south, she said. I dont want to be a commuter forever.
In a loneliness crisis, Londoners are turning to apps to make friends.

A YouGov survey found that 52 per cent of women in the UK find it difficult to make new friends, and only 15 per cent of people in London had made a new friend within the last five years.

In response, traditional dating apps such as Bumble and Tinder have both introduced friendship features. Meanwhile, several apps dedicated to helping city dwellers make friends have emerged in recent years.

The latest app hoping to solve the problem of making new platonic connections is gofrendly, an app popular in Sweden that launches in London today. Unlike other apps on the market, gofrendly is specifically for women looking to build female friendships.

Ulrika Lilja, co-founder and CEO of gofrendly, said: We allow women to focus on the joy of making new friends, rather than the effort of finding them, and are delighted that gofrendly will now allow women in the UK to benefit from the invaluable enrichment that comes with female friendship.

So if youre looking to meet some new people in London, find people with mutual interests, or join a new club, check out these apps.

Gofrendly

For: making friends with other women

Gofrendly is a friendship app for women / gofrendly

Gofrendly is an app that uses AI technology to help users find compatible matches.

It was created in 2015, when co-founders Ulrika and Claudia met on a Facebook-arranged friendship date, and is now popular in Stockholm.

To date, its creators say the app has generated nearly 11 million direct messages, 4,600 coffee dates, 2,537 friend groups, and 70 trips away. It has also onboarded users as young as 18 and as old as 86.

The app is free to download and use, with a 3.99 per month gopremium option providing access to additional privacy and discovery features, such as the ability to see who has visited your profile, and to hide yourself from main feeds.

The app also has functions that allows users to host and join events and groups, enabling them to further expand their friendship circle with like-minded individuals.

Locals

For: finding friends with similar interests

Locals is an app facilitating friendships in the city / Locals

Locals is an app designed for communities of inspiring, mindful, and entrepreneurial people.

Users can set up an event, such as visiting a local cafe, or doing an activity like rock climbing, for example, listing exactly where and when they want to go. Other users with similar interests can then request to join the group.

Locals also shows users profiles of people they may be interested in meeting, with the option to wave at them.

Verified users can see other members social media pages, and some features of the app are only accessible to users with premium memberships.

A premium Locals membership costs 29.99 a month or 119.99 a year.

MeetUp

For: finding events online and in-person

MeetUp allows users to plan events in person and online / MeetUp/Dan Lee Photo

MeetUp is an app that allows people to find events in their area  and to meet people who share similar interests.

Examples of events that are advertised on MeetUp include a walk in Greenwich Park on a Sunday afternoon and a queer open mic night.

Londoners can also find professional events, online and in person, to find connections in their industry.

MeetUp users join groups within the app, and are then notified when the group hosts an event in their area, making it easier than ever to meet people IRL.

MeetUp pro costs around 25 a month, but anyone can make an account for free.
At first, it was the sight. Now it is both the sight and the smell that depress and anger Parisians. As they emerge every morning from their home, an unpleasant and pungent new reality stares them in the face. In half the French capital (the other half benefiting from private rubbish collecting), mountains of bin bags are now reaching the first floor of most buildings and blocking narrow pavements, forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of the street among cars, bicycles, e-scooters and buses.

A pedestrian walks mounds of uncollected rubbish in Paris / AFP via Getty Images

Many inhabitants have resorted to working from home to escape it all. Im sheltered at home like during lockdown, a friend tells me on the phone. I have my shopping delivered and I do my gym via zoom. I cant stand the idea of Paris drowning in filth and swarming with rats. This coming Monday, the municipal binmen will begin their fourth week of strike, and many Parisians are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This strike takes place in other French cities too, but Paris being Paris, pictures of the 10,000 tons of detritus building up on pavements have now gone viral and been shared on social media millions of times. Tourists on Emily in Paris tours, highly visible with their red or electric blue beret, take selfies in front of heaps of rubbish. They may find it picturesque, we dont.

AFP via Getty Images

To add to our sorrow, the Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has pledged to do nothing to solve the issue and blames it all on President Macron and his hotly debated pension reform. Hidalgo even actively supports the strike with banners hanging from the city hall, making a political point while shirking her mayoral duties. Im against the pension reform, says one of my neighbours but the mayors duty is to attend to the city and keep it salubrious.

Paris municipal binmen, who work 35 hours a week, are on strike because they refuse to retire at the age of 59 instead of 57 by 2030. And if you thought President Macrons pension reform meant everybody would be asked to work till 64 instead of 62 by 2030, you are putting your finger on the heart of the problem. This reform has been so badly explained that most people focus on the figure 64, forgetting that the new retirement age widely varies depending on the type of activity and when one started working in life. Macrons pension reform asks of the French that they work two years longer, for a maximum of 43 years. If you started work at 17, you will retire at 60. And there are many exceptions. If your line of work is physically strenuous, you will retire earlier. During the 175 hours of parliamentary debate over the reform, the French government led by Elizabeth Borne, compromised, and conceded on many contentious points, this way hoping to reach a large consensus and appease tensions. Later, the Senate, the upper chamber, which voted for the bill last week, amended the bill further.

Protesters scuffle at the end of a rally in Paris on Thursday (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) / AP

If President Macron chose on March 16, ten minutes before the vote was to take place, to trigger article 49.3 of the Constitution giving him the right to bypass the final vote at the National Assembly, it is because the numbers were not enough. His Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was short of two votes. The future looked grim: either the reform would end up in the bin of history, or the President risked looking authoritarian by forcing the legislation through. For Emmanuel Macron, however, this reform is such a financial and demographic necessity for the country, that he risked the wrath of the opposition and a large part of public opinion. As soon as his decision to bypass lawmakers was known, Far Left, Far Right, and trade unions, immediately accused him of denying democracy. Spontaneous protests broke out on Place de la Concorde which stands across the National Assembly.

Three days later, as is the traditional process of article 49.3, the government had to withstand a vote of no-confidence. Adopted, the government falls and the law never to be debated again. Rejected, the law passes, and the government remains. The result however unleashed even more tension in the Chamber. Fists were raised in the air, insults exchanged. Rejected by only 9 votes, the vote of no-confidence might have failed to bury both the government and the reform; it was clear however that it was a political defeat for President Macron. And more importantly perhaps for his Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne who completely failed to explain the reform, convince the public and build a parliamentary consensus around it. She may still be here this week but she will likely be gone before the Summer.

AFP via Getty Images

When President Macron addressed the nation on Wednesday lunchtime, he curiously and clearly too late, made a clear case for the reform. State pensions have been building up deficits for decades, he said, and are now weighing too heavily on the countrys economy, draining 10bn each year. Besides, with a growing number of pensioners (17 million today and 20 million by the 2030s), France cannot afford to retire years before its neighbours who also suffer from the same demographic pressure. With a public debt reaching 114% of its national annual income, not reforming would be financially unsound, Macron argues.

AFP via Getty Images

In France though, such reality is difficult to hear. State pensions on which most people rely later in life is considered as a due, not a lucky privilege from the most redistributive welfare state in Europe. As a result, trade unions have vowed to continue strike actions and protests in the streets. Representing mostly state workers, they have the power to disrupt transport, education, refineries, garbage collecting, in other words all that is essential for a country to keep running.

As often in France, the rest and history will be decided in the streets. If students and lyceens continue to join, as they have started doing these last few days, the improvised night protests in Paris and elsewhere in France, playing cat and mouse with the riot police, and setting fire to the bins lining the boulevards, it will be increasingly difficult for the President to ignore the clamour. He is known for taking risks, but if he fails to pull this one off, the remaining four years of his presidency promise to be bumpy.
The chrism oil that will be used to anoint the King on May 6 has been consecrated in Jerusalem and sent to London and the St Edwards crown he will wear has been re-sized, as the final touches are made for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey.

King Charles hopes the ceremony will reflect his character and the times in which he reigns. It will be a much smaller service and less expensive, than his mothers 70 years ago, with 2,000 people inside the Abbey, as opposed to 8,000, and the congregation will be much more diverse.

Charles, at 74 our oldest king to be crowned, will of course become Defender of the Faith, ironically a title first bestowed upon the tyrannical Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521 because he was a good Catholic.

Charles, as the new supreme governor of the Church of England, will promise to rule according to law, to exercise justice with mercy and to maintain the Church. He will be blessed under a canopy of golden cloth with the holy oil.

The King wants to show that he is a monarch for all his subjects, irrespective of their race or religious beliefs, and he firmly believes that inter-faith dialogue can only strengthen communities and that different faiths have a great deal in common with Christianity. But all the talk of him wanting to be seen as a Defender of Faith rather than Defender of the Faith has long been abandoned. That said, Charles has made sure that leaders from different faiths will be present at his coronation.

The King has been very hands-on in the planning. Twelve newly-commissioned pieces of music will be performed showcasing talent from across the nation and Commonwealth.

His team has also been agonising over what he should wear to the Abbey. Charles has decided to break with tradition and opt for a military uniform. Having dropped the idea of wearing silk stockings and breeches, like his grandfather George VI and great grandfather George V, the choice is Admiral of the Fleet. He was apparently relaxed about wearing the traditional clothes, before settling on the uniform after talking to aides. Some thought the traditional look was too dated for a modern monarchy, sources told the Evening Standard.

King Charles is settling into his role as head of the monarchy / REUTERS

There have also been moves to make it the most diverse coronation ever  although there have been disagreements about how to achieve this. In a nod to sustainability and efficiency too, the Queen Consort, who will be crowned alongside the King, will wear a recycled crown minus the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond. The modified version of Queen Marys crown was made by Garrard for the 1911 coronation.

The will they, wont they attendance issue of Harry and Meghan, according to senior sources, is beginning to irritate some members of the family. As one senior palace figure put it: Theyve been invited. It is up to them. They are not the focus. Charles would, of course, want a united family behind him at his moment of destiny. He is, however, concentrating on his duty rather than getting involved in ultimatums or demands for apologies from his second son.

He is determined to deliver a coronation fit for the people he serves. Charles also hopes the long bank holiday weekend  with the coronation concert the following day  will be both uplifting and historic, those close to him say.

Since his accession many close to the King have noticed a change. He is at one with himself, appreciative of the warmth he has received during engagements. Gone is that sense that he has something to prove. Now the paterfamilias of the Firm, he is no longer in the shadow of his late mothers mystique or his fathers dominant personality. The decisions are coming from him; and slowly he is shaping the institution he heads.

Harry and Meghans attendance at the Coronation is still to be confirmed / PA Wire

The first six months of his reign have been assured. When forced to confront his son Harrys complaints on air and in print, he instructed family and staff to say nothing. Behind the scenes too Charles has been quietly trying to re-shape the royal household, slowly but surely bringing what was an inefficient and outdated system up to date. Major staff restructuring and efficiencies are undoubtedly on the way after the Coronation so that the household will resemble the Clarence House way.

Charles is keen to reduce the amount of royals dependent on him. The Duchy of Lancaster, the unique portfolio of land, property and assets held in trust for the sovereign and the sovereign grant, that covers the cost of the Kings travel on official engagements and travel by members of the family representing him, will be spent more effectively. In the past, under the Queen, her extended family seemed to think it was their right to have palace accommodation. Slowly but surely over time that will also change. As one senior figure put it: The King is not some sort of housing association. He has made it clear that if his family members cannot afford where they are living, they should cut their cloth accordingly.

Extended family who have accommodation they are not using in the palaces, or have passed it onto their children to live in, will soon face losing that perk.

A lot of practices that have evolved over time will be changing. The King is not heartless, but for family members who are not part of the core family working for the crown, it is fair for them to house themselves, a senior figure said.

The Kings focus, key figures say, is on making the monarchy fit for purpose over the next five years. He is working closely with William, the Prince of Wales, to achieve this.

Prince William meets Polish military in Rzeszow / PA

With the Duchy of Cornwall, which generates around 24 million annually for the heir to the throne, and the Duchy of Lancaster generating roughly the same to provide a source of independent income to the sovereign, Charles wants to ensure that the monarchy is financially sound. One insider told the Standard: The staffing is a little on the top-heavy side, with advisers to advisers and so on. Thats all going to stop. The boss wants effective people in effective positions doing effective jobs.

The kitchens, where staff have separate chefs and staff serving them, is one area that may well be looked at. Much of what was in place doesnt make economic sense and will be changed during the new reign, said the source.

Politically, too, Charles is prepared to be more flexible than the Queen and has developed a good rapport with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak but was also criticised over his meeting with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Buckingham Palace insisted that the King acted on government advice.

Robert Jobson is author of Our King: Charles III  The Man and the Monarch (John Blake/Bonnier UK)
R umoured GoPro video footage of Gwyneth Paltrows ski collision may not actually exist, a US court has heard.

Reference to footage of the 2016 incident had previously been made during the trial in an email sent by the daughter of Terry Sanderson.

Mr Sanderson, a retired optometrist, is suing the Oscar-winning actress over the crash at the Deer Valley resort in Utah, which left him with several broken ribs and a severe head injury.

Ms Paltrow has denied the allegations and is counter-suing Mr Sanderson, claiming that he collided with her.

The jury was previously shown an email, sent by Mr Sandersons eldest daughter Shae Sanderson-Herath, in which she referred to possible GoPro footage of the crash.

But giving evidence on Friday, Ms Sanderson-Herath said she had not actually seen any such footage, though she had believed it existed at the time.

After my dad told me about what he was feeling and that he could hardly think, and that he had rung his bell I believe he mentioned, there had to be GoPro video, she told the court.

He said there has to be GoPro footage because there was this big blood-curdling scream, so that means someone with a GoPro would have turned to look and captured it.

She added: I have never seen GoPro video and I dont know that it does exist. I believed there was GoPro video at the time and thats why I said that.

I just wanted my dad to have peace of mind that there was video out there that showed what happened.

Both Ms Paltrow and Mr Sanderson are expected to give evidence on Friday.

Mr Sanderson is seeking damages of a minimum of 300,000 dollars (244,000), while Ms Paltrows counter-claim is for one dollar.

On Thursday the court heard Ms Paltrow crashing into Mr Sanderson was the only scenario that could have resulted in Mr Sandersons injuries.

I just wanted my dad to have peace of mind that there was video out there that showed what happened

Dr Richard Boehne told jurors via video evidence that Mr Sanderson had provided a cushion for the actress in the fall.

If you had a choice between Mr Sanderson hitting Ms Paltrow or Ms Paltrow hitting Mr Sanderson, you would have to pick Ms Paltrow hitting Mr Sanderson from behind and falling on top of him to account for the rib fractures, he said.

If you were to compare two scenarios, theres only one scenario that would account for enough force application to fracture those ribs and that would be Ms Paltrow striking Mr Sanderson from behind and falling to the ground.

In essence he was like a cushion, if you will.

The trial, taking place in Park City, Utah, continues.
A serving Met Police officer is facing a misconduct hearing after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a child.

Police Constable Farhan Ghadiali, attached to the Central West Command, was found guilty of sexual assault on Friday after a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The incident happened in Essex on September 22, 2019 while he was off-duty.

Following his arrest, the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards was informed and he was suspended from duty.

Ghadiali was charged by Essex Police and originally appeared for trial at Chelmsford Magistrates Court in May 2022, when the outcome was a hung jury.

But he was on Friday found guilty following a retrial.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson of Area West Command Unit said: PC Ghadiali has been found guilty of an extremely serious offence made even worse by the fact he is a serving police officer; someone who should be protecting the public from harm.

PC Ghadiali had betrayed the oath he made when he became a police officer, his actions are shocking and appalling.

We are determined to prove to the public they can trust the Metropolitan Police Service, and our officers will be made to account for their actions if they fail to abide by our standards.

Scotland Yard says Ghadiali will face a misconduct hearing, now criminal proceedings have concluded.

Ghadialis conviction comes at a difficult time for the Met, following the publication on Tuesday of a damning report by Baroness Louise Casey, that found the force to be institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic.
C ampaigners have won a bid to continue a High Court injunction preventing the further felling of trees in Plymouth city centre, as they accused a council of trying to avoid democratic scrutiny of redevelopment works.

An ongoing legal row over the controversial felling of trees in Plymouth last week has triggered the resignation of the city councils leader, Richard Bingley.

Mr Bingley signed an executive decision that saw 110 trees cut down in Armada Way on the evening of March 14 to make way for a 12 million regeneration scheme in the city centre.

Contractors, security guards and the police sealed off the site for removing trees shortly after 6pm, within minutes of the decision being published online, a judge was told.

The council is now seeking to defend the decision which the politician who made it has resigned because of

Campaigners tried to stop the felling and were successful in securing an after-midnight, court injunction.

They labelled the felling as despicable, arguing the trees  of which 19 remain standing  should be protected due to the wildlife and biodiversity they support.

Following a hearing in London on Friday, High Court judge Sir Ross Cranston said: The injunction will continue, the remaining trees cannot be felled at least for the time being.

In his decision, which was met by applause in the court room, the judge added that already toppled trees, fallen branches and stumps can be removed but subject to an expert report.

The judge said of the trees: once they are gone they are gone, adding that there was a serious issue to be tried over the lawfulness of the councils decision making process.

Lawyers representing Alison White, the founder of campaign group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw), argued the injunction should continue pending a full, legal challenge over the councils actions.

The court was told that Ms White will seek to argue that the council acted unlawfully by using an urgency procedure to drive through Mr Bingleys decision to remove the trees and prevent democratic scrutiny.

She also challenges the councils approach to assessing the environmental impact of the development and its response to advice about nesting birds.

Plymouth City Council, which opposed the injunction continuing, argues there was no democratic deficit over implementing the scheme, with there being a clear need for regeneration in the area.

The council says plans would see the planting of 169 new semi-mature trees.

On Thursday, Mr Bingley said he plans to step down next week as leader of the Conservative group on the council and head of the authority.

Richard Harwood KC, representing Ms White, told the court on Friday: The council is now seeking to defend the decision which the politician who made it has resigned because of.

In written arguments, the barrister said the council had wrongly decided it had to urgently get works approved because otherwise it would have to wait until after a pre-election purdah period from March 27 leading up to voting on May 4.

He claimed council officers were seeking to bypass plans being subject to a call-in  a procedure where an objecting councillor can have a cabinet members decision referred to a scrutiny committee.

In court, Mr Harwood alleged the council tried to avoid the democratic scrutiny, prevent access to the court  by giving no warning and prevent the public being able to protest and express their views prior to any action.

The tree felling appeared to have caused the death of one chick found below a tree, Mr Harwood added in written arguments.

Ranjit Bhose KC, for the council, said none of Ms Whites arguments had a real prospect of success at a full hearing, adding that the resignation of Mr Bingley has no relevance.

He rejected allegations over the councils approach as false, saying plans were twice scrutinised by the full council, opposition councillors were briefed over Mr Bingley taking the decision, and the public were previously consulted.

The barrister said the Armada Way area had been described as a tired dated landscape that was desolate after closing retail hours, with concerns over the safety relating to lighting and patchy CCTV.

None of these trees have any particular value, he told the court, adding: This is not tree wrecking.

Its cutting down trees in the wrong place, wrong time and replacing them with more in the future, he said.

In written arguments, he added that the council had used best practice in its approach and that Ms White was preventing the timely progression of improvements to the public realm in a key space of the city centre.

He said fencing and security at the site were costing more than 20,000 a week, more than 500 local businesses backed the scheme and that the council had wider plans to plant a further 5,763 trees in the coming months.

After the ruling, Ms White said: The decision to completely destroy our urban forest against overwhelming public opposition in a way that avoided public scrutiny is indefensible.

While we acknowledge some peoples concerns about the loss of trees, others in our city are very clear they want this change

The public outrage, local and national, has helped to shine a light on much wider issues. The total lack of respect some councils have for the environment, and more depressingly, their citizens.

The Plymouth felling came days after Sheffield City Council was heavily criticised by an independent inquiry into the felling of thousands of street trees.

Ms White said: Its clear from what has happened in Plymouth, Sheffield, Wellingborough and now Cambridge that we need much stronger safeguards for our trees, rural and urban, from developers but more crucially from our councils.

Its just so easy for councils to disregard urban trees and they mean a lot to local people. They might not be a 200-year-old oak but that doesnt mean theyre not valuable.

A council spokesperson said it would abide by the terms of the judges ruling, which includes involving Ms White in plans for clearing stumps and debris.

High streets up and down the country are struggling. Our decision to transform Armada Way was a mandated, democratic decision, agreed by Plymouth City Councils elected members, they added.

Our aim was to transform a tired and run-down part of the city centre.

While we acknowledge some peoples concerns about the loss of trees, others in our city are very clear they want this change.
L awyers acting on behalf of the Government have defended the exceptional disclosure delays in the Russian-state Salisbury poisonings inquiry, saying sensitive information has been found in more than 1,000 documents.

The counsel to the Dawn Sturgess inquiry, Andrew OConnor KC, said there is still some way to go and his team would not be ready for substantive hearings until the middle or end of next year.

The Governments KC, Cathryn McGahey, told a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday that redactions were necessary to protect sensitive information from the hostile state that is Russia.

Ms Sturgess, 44, died after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok left in a discarded perfume bottle in Amesbury, Wiltshire, in July 2018.

We have to assume that anything we put on any open system is no longer secure - it's nothing to do with any wish to withhold anything from the family

It followed the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and ex-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in nearby Salisbury in March that year.

All three survived, as did Ms Sturgesss boyfriend Charlie Rowley.

The Metropolitan Police identified three suspects wanted in connection with the poisonings: Denis Sergeev, Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the aliases Sergey Fedotov, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov respectively while in the UK.

On Friday, the familys KC, Michael Mansfield, told the hearing the family wanted rolling disclosure, including CCTV of Yulia Skripal allegedly being followed upon her arrival in the UK.

He told the court there must be some material that could be released without sensitivities.

Addressing the chairman to the inquiry, Lord Hughes, on the disclosure delays, Mr OConnor said: Theres no hiding from the fact that the disclosure process in this inquiry is taking an exceptionally long time.

It is now nearly two years since the first pre-inquest hearing and there is still some way to go.

One way of speeding things up would be to allow compromises to be made to the thoroughness or to the openness of your investigation.

We know that that is something that neither you, nor anyone else involved would wish.

Defending the disclosure delays, Ms McGahey said the Government understood the familys frustrations.

She told the hearing: It is not that progress hasnt been made or that things are being withheld from (the family) that shouldnt be withheld.

Of course, we understand why the family are asking why things are taking so long.

We have to assume that anything we put on any open system is no longer secure  its nothing to do with any wish to withhold anything from the family.

There have been sensitivities in over 1,000 documents so far.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a boy was stabbed on an north-east London bus.

The teen was arrested after another 16-year-old was stabbed on board the Route 158 bus in Walhamstows Blackhorse Lane at 3.15pm on Tuesday.

The defendant, who is due to appear at Stratford Youth Court on Friday, is also charged with possession of a knife.

The victim remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition, police said. His family has been informed.

Speaking earlier this week, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said of the incident: I know this will be deeply upsetting for residents and that you will share my concern for the young person now in hospital.

I ask again for you not to speculate online about this incident, out of respect for the victim and their family, and to come forward if you have any information that is relevant to this matter.

She also organised a public meeting with Met representatives to discuss the violence we have seen in our community.
ByteDance admitted in December it fired four employees last summer who accessed data on two journalists and people connected to them, while attempting to uncover the source of a leaked report about the company.

TikTok has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country's Communist leaders. In 2019, the Guardian reported that TikTok was instructing its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square and images unfavorable to the Chinese government. The platform says it has since changed its moderation practices.

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and denied it's a national security risk. He reiterated the company's plan to protect U.S. user data by storing it on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle. "Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country," Chew said.

"Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security," Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement.

In a bipartisan effort to reign in the power of a major social media platform, Republican and Democratic lawmakers pressed Chew on a host of topics, ranging from TikTok's content moderation practices, how the company plans to secure American data from Beijing, and its spying on journalists.

Shou Zi Chew's rare public appearance came at a crucial time for the company, which has 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have been caught in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.

U.S. lawmakers grilled the CEO of TikTok over data security and harmful content Thursday, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned.

For its part, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying 60 percent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group. Responding to a Wall Street Journal report, China said it would oppose any U.S. attempts to force ByteDance to sell the app.

Chew rejected the idea that TikTok's ownership was an issue. "Trust is about actions we take," Chew said. "Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns."

In one of the most dramatic moments, lawmaker Kat Cammack, a Republican, played a TikTok video that showed a shooting gun with a caption that included the House committee holding the hearing, with the exact date before it was formally announced.

"You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can't even protect the people in this room," Cammack said.

TikTok spokesperson Ben Rathe said the company on Thursday removed the violent video aimed at the committee and banned the account that posted it.

As the Energy and Commerce committee questioned Chew, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was questioned about the threat TikTok poses at a separate but simultaneous committee hearing. Asked by Ken Buck, a Republican of Colorado, if the platform is a security threat to the United States, Blinken said: "I believe it is."

"Shouldn't a threat to United States security be banned?" Buck responded.

"It should be ended one way or another. But there are different ways of doing that," Blinken responded.

Committee members also showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide. Many questioned why the platform's Chinese counterpart, Douyin, does not carry the same controversial and potentially dangerous content as the American product.

Chew responded that it depends on the laws of the country where the app is operating. He said the company has about 40,000 moderators that track harmful content and an algorithm that flags material.

Wealth management firm Wedbush described the hearing as a "disaster" for TikTok that made a ban more likely if the social media platform doesn't separate from its Chinese parent. Emile El Nems, an analyst at Moody's Investors Service, said a ban would benefit TikTok rivals YouTube, Instagram and Snap, "likely resulting in higher revenue share of the total advertising wallet."

A U.S. ban on the app would be unprecedented and it's unclear how it would be enforced. Experts say officials could try to force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores. The U.S. could also block access to TikTok's infrastructure and data, seize its domain names or force internet service providers such as Comcast and Verizon to filter TikTok data traffic, said Ahmed Ghappour, a criminal law and computer security expert who teaches at Boston University School of Law.

To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a $1.5 billion plan, Project Texas, which routes all U.S. user data to Oracle. Under the project, access to U.S. data is managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity called TikTok U.S. Data Security, which is run independently of ByteDance and monitored by outside observers.

As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed this year, Chew said.

Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have already banned the use of the app from official devices. But wiping away all the data tracking associated with the platform might prove difficult. In a report released this month, the Cybersecurity company Feroot said so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance, which collect user information, were found on 30 U.S state websites, including some where the app has been banned.

Other countries including Denmark, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, along with the European Union, have already banned TikTok from government-issued devices. A complete TikTok ban in the U.S. would risk political and popular backlash.

The company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lobby lawmakers to preserve the platform. And a dozen civil right and free speech organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and PEN America, have signed a letter opposing a wholesale TikTok ban, arguing it would set a "dangerous precedent for the restriction of speech."

David Kennedy, a former government intelligence officer who runs the cybersecurity company TrustedSec, said he agrees with restricting TikTok access on government-issued phones but that a nationwide ban might be too extreme. "We have Tesla in China, we have Microsoft in China, we have Apple in China. Are they going to start banning us now?" Kennedy said. "It could escalate very quickly."
A new breast cancer centre in east London could help "dramatically improve" survival rates for some of the capital's most vulnerable people, a leading consultant has said.

Peter Schmid, clinical director of the Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomews Hospital, said the new centre at Bart's Healthcare NHS Trust could help deliver "world-leading" cancer care and address health inequalities in London.

He was speaking as Bart's prepared to mark its 900th anniversary on Saturday with a series of events commemorating the hospital's history and recognising its influence on healthcare.

Founded in 1123 by a courtier of King Henry I, St Bartholomew's Hospital in Farringdon has provided continuous patient care on the same site for longer than any other hospital in England. During the medieval era it served as an important shelter for the sick poor and abandoned children. Now, it provides healthcare to 2.5 million Londoners in five sites across central and east London.

Barts charity recently launched a campaign to raise 30m of funding for its Barts900 projects, which include a new Breast Cancer Centre and Clinical Research Facility to help improve health outcomes for patients in east London. The trust hopes to open the cancer centre in 2026.

Barts 900th anniversary 1 / 6 Barts 900th anniversary A doctor on his morning rounds in the men's surgical ward at St. Bartholomew's Hospital A doctor on his morning rounds in the men's surgical ward at St. Bartholomew's Hospital Getty Images Formal group of Sisters and Matron Isla Stewart by the Fountain, c.1902-8. Formal group of Sisters and Matron Isla Stewart by the Fountain, c.1902-8. Barts Health NHS Trust Archives Two nurses walking through the archway of the North Wing, 22 May 1954 Two nurses walking through the archway of the North Wing, 22 May 1954 Barts Health NHS Trust Archives Great Hall The Great Hall at St Bartholomews Hospital Barts Health NHS Trust The Hogarth Stair at St Bartholomews Hospital The Hogarth Stair at St Bartholomews Hospital Barts Health NHS Trust

Dr Schmid told the Standard that he hoped the centre would encourage patients who are reluctant to come forward with cancer symptoms to do so early, allowing clinicians to diagnose the disease before it progresses.

He said it would also help to "join up" the fragmented process of cancer care - with research, diagnosis, surgery and treatment all potentially taking place on one site.

"Sometimes a patient has to visit multiple sites for their chemotherapy, surgery and oncology. Our vision is clear: when you walk through the door we see you as one team, together."

Around 11,500 women and 85 men die from breast cancer in the UK every year  the equivalent of nearly 1,000 deaths each month.

Tower Hamlets council has warned that cancer is the largest cause of premature death in the borough, with late diagnosis a "particular problem" in improving survival rates.

The history of Barts hospital - Founded in 1123 by the monk Rahere, a courtier of Henry I. - Its Catholic priory was closed with Henry VIIIs dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, but hospital was allowed to continue - Henry granted the hospital to the City of London in 1546, and in 1547, shortly before his death, gave property for an income. - Board of governors set up to run the hospital, with paid staff, a matron and 12 sisters, and three surgeons who tended poor daily. - First physician appointed in 1562. - Nurses, or sisters helpers, were first mentioned in 1647. - Constitution of the hospital remained the same until the NHS was set up in 1948

Dr Schmidt said the new centre would be about "helping those patients that we don't diagnose".

"We serve a population that comes from some of the most deprived boroughs of London and there are barriers to accessing treatment. I want this centre to signal to the outside world that those barriers are removed."

The Trust also hopes to enrol 1,100 patients in clinical trials each year in its Clinical Research Facility, which will be built at the Royal London Hospital. This will include patients from diverse multi-ethnic backgrounds who are not commonly represented.

A celebration for Bart's staff will also take place on Friday at which Sir Michael Palin will cut a cake and unveil an artwork showing Barts in 900 stories.
T he British Medical Association on Friday apologised to patients facing disruption during the junior doctors strike  but said the Government had pushed them into industrial action.

Dr Sumi Manirajan, deputy co-chair of the Northern Ireland Junior Doctors Committee, said the union was extremely sorry to patients whose operations and procedures would be cancelled during a four-day walkout next month.

Junior doctors will walk out for four days from 7am on April 11 in a bitter dispute over pay.

The BMA is seeking a pay rise of 35 per cent for junior doctors to restore a real-terms fall in income since 2008. A Foundation Year 1 doctor earns around 29,000 per year, rising to 34,000 a year later.

Junior doctors previously walked out for three consecutive days from March 13, causing more than 175,000 operations and procedures to be cancelled. Several London NHS trusts reported seeing their busiest Monday of the year so far during the strikes, with Londoners urged to only attend A&E in a life threatening emergency.

Speaking to Sky News, Dr Manirajan said she was extremely sorry for patients whose operations would be impacted by the strikes.

I know there will be thousands of patients who are in pain waiting for a knee replacements or other essential operations. I want to apologise to them, but the Government have really pushed us to this.

Dr Manirajan claimed that communications had broken down between the Government and the BMA after Mr Barclay failed to make an offer to the union during talks last week.

We have given him our opening offer of 35 per cent based on the amount of money that we have lost since 2008 and we are willing to negotiate  but he didnt have a counter offer.

Labours shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he did not believe that junior doctors are being unfair or unreasonable by calling further strike action, but added that he does not support the strike.

He told LBC: I dont think the headline pay demand they are making is achievable overnight, and Ive been honest with them about that. But I dont want to see the strikes happen. I want to see the Government come to a compromise so strikes do not need to go ahead.

Separately, unions representing nurses and paramedics have suspended strikes while members vote on a pay offer made by the Government last week. Industrial action by teachers has also been paused while union officials negotiate with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the strikes will risk patient safety and that the BMAs pay demand was unreasonable.
W est End theatres could decide to lock away audience members mobile phones, after nude images of James Norton appearing on stage were leaked to the press.

The Happy Valley actor is currently starring in a stage adaption of American editor and novelist Hanya Yanagiharas 2015 best seller A Little Life, at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Audience members watching the acclaimed production are reportedly warned before it begins that photography is strictly prohibited.

But photographs of Norton, who appears nude in the play, were leaked to the MailOnline which published them on its website, sparking widespread outcry on social media.

The photos are understood to have been removed from the website following the backlash, and industry experts feel the incident could be a landmark moment for theatres.

Alistair Smith, editor of The Stage newspaper, told the Guardian: Id be very surprised if this latest incident doesnt act as a trigger for it to become the norm for audiences to have to put their phones in lockboxes at shows starring famous people or with musical numbers that people want to film.

Dr Kirsty Sedgman, a cultural studies scholar based at the University of Bristol, told the Guardian the photos taken of Norton were an absolute violation of the unwritten contract between audiences and performers, agreeing it could lead to changes being made to prevent repeat incidents.

One Twitter user, named Caity, described the incident as devastating. As if the entire play isnt the most beautiful and emotional and intense thing to exist and thats the thing [people] are choosing to focus on, she wrote.

Others slammed the taking of the photographs as disgusting and vile.

A Little Life is running at the Harold Pinter Theatre in Londons West End for 12 weeks, until June 18.

It is directed by award-winning Belgian theatre director Ivo van Hove, whose acclaimed productions include A View from the Bridge, which went to the West End and Broadway, West Side Story and Network at the National Theatre.

The cast includes Bridgertons Luke Thompson, alongside Omari Douglas - who appeared in Its a Sin-, The Witchers Zach Wyatt, The Crowns Elliot Cowan and Tammy Fayes Zubin Varla.

Norton stars in the highly emotive play as Jude St Francis, a highly intelligent disabled lawyer who has a spinal injury, experiences excruciating pain in his legs, self-harms and suffers from mental trauma which is the result of the sexual abuse he suffered when he was young.
M ore than half of London properties do not meet the minimum energy efficient requirement proposed in a new members bill.

Almost two million London homes, or 54 percent of those rented or sold since 2008, sit below the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band C - something the Liberal Democrats bill would outlaw by 2033.

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. Landlords must order a certificate before selling or renting a property.

Currently there are no minimum ratings required for new or existing buildings, except for privately rented homes which, since April 2020, must have an EPC Band E rating or higher.

The bill, proposed by Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park Sarah Olney in the House of Commons on Friday, would require all buildings, including offices, to reach at least EPC Band C by 2033 where practical, cost-effective and affordable.

Improvements would include external wall and loft insulation, installing energy efficient doors and windows, glazing, heat pumps and solar panels.

Croydon, Wandsworth, Barnet and Lambeth each have more than 80,000 homes below Band C, the most of all the London boroughs, House of Commons Library data analysis by the Lib Dems reveals.

Ealing, Enfield, Bromley and Haringey each had more than 70,000 homes below B and C.

Croydon has the most homes below B and C - a total of 88,464 - while Enfield has the most homes (1,385) with the worst possible energy efficient rating, Band G.

Westminster also has a high number of homes in Band G, with a total of 1,099 in this category.

A social housing tenant in Kingston, who the Standard agreed not to identify, is spending a fifth winter in a cold and draughty home in Band D with her husband and two daughters.

She said mould emerged in her daughters room before she developed a skin allergy.

We didnt have any heating whatsoever in the kitchen and the bathroom. We were reading temperatures of 12C when the heating was on and thats because its just poor insulation.

The whole thing is just so depressing.

Its not nice to even go into the kitchen and start to prepare a meal, which is the cheapest way to [eat] in a cost of living crisis.

I find it very, very frustrating that youre living in these conditions, you highlight it, I started the [complaints] process in 2020. Were in 2023 and still fighting the cause.

More than 2.7 million private rental households across England live with damp, mould or excessive cold, a recent Citizens Advice report found.

On Thursday it was revealed that 438 homes in the capital had been identified with so-called category one hazards relating to damp and mould in the year to March 2022.

Under the members bill, homes in the private rented sector would be expected to meet EPC Band C by 2028 and social housing, rented non-domestic buildings such as offices, and mortgage-owned properties by 2030.

A similar bill was presented by Tory MP David Amess in July 2021 but it did not include non-domestic buildings, and the paper was thrown out.

The Lib Dems accuse the Government of failing to crack down on dirty landlords.

The party said there have been many schemes and initiatives in place to upgrade homes, but delivery has failed badly.

At the Environmental Audit Committee last week, Grant Shapps noted: When I came to BEIS, I added up that there has been 22 different schemes.

Ms Olney said: For too long, housing insulation standards in the UK havent been a priority, leading to many struggling families and pensioners being forced to pay huge energy bills to heat their draughty homes.

This Bill would help address that, whilst also de-carbonising millions of buildings and to take a huge step towards our net zero goals.

MP for Richmond Park Sarah Olney / PA Media

Gillian Cooper, Head of Energy Policy at Citizens Advice, said improving energy efficiency in homes has never been more urgent.

Its shameful that more than 20 years since legislation came into force to reduce fuel poverty and improve the energy performance of homes, people are still suffering.

The members bill would enforce legally-binding targets to upgrade and decarbonise homes and buildings, but green finance options would need to be introduced by the Government to make the upgrades realistic for landlords, such as no-interest loans for low-income households, grants and tax reliefs.

For the private rented sector, Government consultations have suggested a 10,000 cost cap for landlords but the bill does not go into this detail.

Landlords would be held to account under the new legislation in the same way they currently are to reach an EPC Band E rating.

Ms Olney is urging MPs from all sides to come together and support this urgently needed legislation.

The Governments Heat and Buildings Strategy from October 2021 sets out to ensure all homes meet EPC Band C by 2035 and to reduce the energy consumption of commercial properties by 2030.

It also aims to provide funding to low-income households with an EPC rating lower than Band C with the Home Upgrade Grant and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Scheme, but these aims are not statutory.
P olice have warned the public not to approach a violent man who escaped while on release from a mental health facility in east London, and remains missing.

Balasankar Narayanan was on escorted leave with staff from a facility in Ilford, when he absconded on Monday.

Issuing an appeal for help tracing him, Scotland Yard said on Friday it believes Narayanan has since been travelling using the rail network, adding he could potentially be anywhere in the country.

The 35-year-old was wearing a plain navy blue tracksuit with black trainers when he fled on Monday.

He has links across London, notably Newham, Greenford, Hammersmith, Highgate and Ilford, as well as the West Midlands.

A Met Police spokesperson said: Police have made extensive enquiries to locate Narayan and those enquiries are ongoing.

We suspect he may be using the rail network and urge any staff and travellers to report any sightings of him immediately. He could potentially be anywhere in the country.

Balasankar Narayanan can be violent  if you see him please dont approach him, but call police immediately ref 22MIS009098.
T he family of a woman who died during a crowd crush at the O2 Academy have spoken out after having to wait more than three months for her body to be returned.

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, both died after fans stormed the venue during a show by the Afrobeats star Asake on December 15. Several others were injured.

Speaking at her funeral on Friday, Ms Ikumelos family said they were left saddened that her body was held by the coroner for so long.

@GregMcTweets

"She was such a special person," her aunt Mary told the BBC.

"It has been so, so difficult to comprehend what weve been through as a family... we only just got Rebeccas body back.

"Why did it take so long? We are a patient family and we will fight as we wait for justice."

Hundreds of people paid their respects to the mother-of-two during her funeral.

@GregMcTweets

Her coffin arrived in a carriage led by white horses outside her familys home in Stratford, east London.

The cortege then made its way to East London Crematorium for the burial service.

The O2 Academy Brixton has been ordered to remain shut until mid-April while a police probe into the crush continues.

Academy Music Group, which runs the venue, said it expressed its "sincere condolences to the families of those who died during the tragic incident".
P lans for a memorial in London to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade have been announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The new monument, located at West India Quay in the citys Docklands, will also recognise the role London played in the trade.

Mr Khan has committed 500,000 to help create the memorial, expected to be unveiled in the summer of 2026.

The Mayor said: The impact of the slave trade has been felt by generations of Black communities in London, across Britain and around the world. Despite this, we do not have a dedicated memorial in our capital to honour the millions of enslaved people who suffered and died as a result of this barbaric practice.

London mayor Sadiq Khan / PA Archive

I want everyone to be able to take pride in our public spaces and by being candid about our history, and its enduring legacy, we are creating a better and fairer London for all.

The promise of creating such a memorial was made in Mr Khans 2021 re-election manifesto.

Speaking at the monuments announcement event on Friday, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard - Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice - said the artwork would be an incredibly important initiative for the city.

The reason that its so important for London is that whilst we know that London as a city was very involved in the abolitionist movement, in the attempts to have the slave trade abolished, its also a city which was very heavily involved in the development of the slave trade, she said.

Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Londons Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice / Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service

I think that there are lots of stories about different parts of our city and the relationship that those different parts had to the slave trade, that a lot of people dont know about.

We want to use this as an opportunity to open up that discussion, to enable us to learn more about the way in which that very dark period of our history is actually a part of Londons story, and bringing that centre-stage in the way we talk about London.

The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, set up by Mr Khan, will develop an artistic brief for the memorial that will be informed by community engagement. An artist to design it will then be selected through an open competition.

Weve got a lot of talented artists out there, so Im really excited to see what they come up with, said Dr Weekes-Bernard.

Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard discussed the memorial at an event on Friday, at the Museum of the London Docklands / Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service

The monuments precise location at West India Quay has not yet been decided, but it will be close to where a statue of prominent London-based slave trader Robert Milligan once stood.

In 2020, the Canal and River Trust, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the Museum of London, and other partners in Canary Wharf, removed the statue, which had been in place since 1997. The statue is now part of the Museum of Londons collection and is being held in storage while the museum consults with the public on how to best present it.

Aside from the main monument, there are also planned to be a number of satellite monuments, dotted across different London locations.

Dr Weekes-Bernard said City Hall did not currently want to put a firm number on how many satellite sites there will be.

A stone memorial at the Museum of the London Docklands / Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service

But she said her team would be working with the artist of the main memorial to determine their locations, which will be found in some of those key places in London that have a really clear and interesting story to tell about the relationship between London and the slave trade.

She added: We want this to be something which is really artist-led, and community-led as well, because this has to be something that Londoners can get involved in, but then speaks to Londoners experiences and their expertise about the areas in which they live - so that it can tell both Londons story but also their story.

The Deputy Mayor said she was also keen to involve the Memorial 2007 group, who have been separately campaigning for a national memorial sculpture for the victims of the slave trade to go in Hyde Park.
T V presenter Sophie Morgan was left in a rage after her Blue Badge was stolen from her car in London.

The Loose Women presenter uses a wheelchair and was working in America last month when thieves broke into her car in London.

She now faces weeks until her car is fixed and is issued a new badge which she said was incredibly disabling.

I had this rage in me at the injustice, all the frustration, the inconvenience, all of those feelings, she told the BBCs disability podcast, Access All.

Ms Morgan said the thieves smashed the window on the passenger side and only stole the disability badge from her car.

I cant drive my car without my badge as I cant get in or out of the vehicle without space to get my wheelchair beside my car, she said.

And without the guarantee of a disabled space, its not worth the risk.

The incident was reported to Ms Morgans local council, Southwark, who will issue a new pass.

According to the Department for Transport, in the year ending March 2022, 1,497 badges were stolen in the UK.

Due to the theft of the badges, some councils have moved towards Companion Badges which are digital and work alongside the blue equivalent.

Haringey Council launched its own Companion Pass in August in 2021 to enable people to park in multiple locations.
B enjamin Netanyahu was greeted by shouts of shame from pro-democracy protesters as he met Rishi Sunak in Downing Street amid a backlash over the Israeli prime ministers judicial overhaul.

Protesters waving Israeli flags and placards stating their aim of saving Israeli democracy could be heard as the UK Prime Minister shook his counterparts hand outside No 10 on Friday morning.

Cries of Busha, or shame in Hebrew, could be heard from hundreds of demonstrators expressing their anger at Mr Netanyahus legislation that they say will drag the nation towards autocracy.

One sign branded Mr Netanyahu a dictator on the run as he faces domestic turmoil after his right-wing nationalist coalition approved a law that would protect him from being deemed unfit to rule.

Critics say the law is tailor-made to shield the leader from his corruption trial.

Mr Netanyahu was forced to push back his departure time for the official trip to the UK as he sought to deal with mass protests in Israel which have seen major roads blocked and scuffles with police.

In Downing Street, as Mr Netanyahu welcomed Mr Sunaks handshake with a smile, the shouts of demonstrators were easily heard from over the line of police officers guarding them in Whitehall.

Members of the crowd, speaking to the PA news agency, urged Mr Sunak to stand up for democracy in Israel.

Talli, an Israeli tech worker who has been living in London for six years, said she was protesting against Mr Netanyahus judicial coup.

I want Rishi Sunak to say to him he must lose his chair, he cant continue to be the prime minister of Israel. Hes destroying democracy in Israel

Hes trying to gain power while on trial and hes trying to turn Israel into a non-democratic country, she said.

We want not just Rishi Sunak but the international community and leaders to apply pressure on Netanyahu  whether its financial deals, or anything at all  to back down on this coup.

My family and friends all live in Israel and Im worried about their futures.

Chamutal Isaacs, a childbirth support worker who moved to London from Tel Aviv 32 years ago, said the overhaul would mean an end to any sort of democracy in Israel.

I want Rishi Sunak to say to him he must lose his chair, he cant continue to be the prime minister of Israel. Hes destroying democracy in Israel, she said.

A 38-year-old bank worker who declined to give her name added: Im from Israel, Ive lived here almost 10 years, but Ive always wanted to have somewhere to go back and I cant go back to a non-democratic country. My family and my friends and everyone who is close to me are in Israel.

Mr Netanyahus office said he was expecting to focus on the Iranian issue with the UK Prime Minister, seeking to form a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear programme.

The two are also expected to discuss strengthening the strategic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom and increasing security and intelligence co-operation, a statement said.

The Israeli leader will also meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman to discuss dealing with global terrorism, it added.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Mr Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He denies wrongdoing.

Critics say his government, the most right-wing in Israels history, is dragging the nation towards authoritarianism by upending its system of checks and balances.

A smaller number of Palestinian protesters were also in Westminster as charities criticised Mr Sunak for seeking to foster closer ties with Israel.

Demonstrators protest on Whitehall ahead of a visit by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 1 / 16 Demonstrators protest on Whitehall ahead of a visit by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu REUTERS PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA

Oxfam policy adviser Richard Stanforth said: It is unconscionable that the Prime Minister will roll out the red carpet for Benjamin Netanyahu with the aim of deepening diplomatic ties, despite the Israeli government committing horrific human rights violations every day, seemingly with impunity.

Amnesty International UKs Kristyan Benedict accused the UK Government of turning a blind eye to apartheid atrocities.

Netanyahu is more concerned with seeking legitimacy for his government rather than addressing its increasingly extremist policies, his occupation forces in the Palestinian territories killing civilians, stealing their land and building illegal new settlements, he said.

The UK and Israels rejection of this reality will not change the truth or illegality of the current situation. All it does is help entrench Israels racist system of apartheid against Palestinian people.
A crisis-hit London town hall is preparing to take "unprecedented" legal action in a bid to claw back some of the 437k payoff its former chief executive received before the council was forced to declare bankruptcy.

Jo Negrini got the substantial payout when she was laid off as chief executive of Croydon Council in August 2020, just months before the local authority admitted it could not set a balanced budget and would need a Government bailout.

Since then it has issued three bankruptcy notices. Earlier this month the council signed-off a record 15 per cent council tax rise.

During a meeting on Thursday nightin what is thought to be a first for a British councilmembers backed instructing lawyers to recover as much of Ms Negrini's payout as is legally possible".

Councillors also agreed that evidence of alleged misconduct, wrongdoing and failures" by previous senior leaders that led to its 1.6bn of toxic" debt would be handed to the Met Police for investigation.

This includes details of former cabinet members and their involvement in a botched refurbishment of Fairfield Halls, which was delayed and 37.5 million over budget.

Croydons Conservative Executive Mayor Jason Perry said he will write to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove asking him to urgently review councils powers to hold individuals to account for catastrophic failures in governance".

The Committee on Standards in Public Life, the House of Commons Select Committee on Local Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) are also being asked to scrutinse the proposals.

Mr Perry, who became leader of the council last May, said: Like so many residents I feel angry about what has happened to my hometown.

The scale and severity of the financial collapse is unprecedented and that is why we are recommending unprecedented steps.

The council has 1.6bn toxic debt in total and has had to seek permission to borrow 369m from government.

It is completely unacceptable that individuals who held positions of trust should escape the consequences of their misconduct. Nor should they be rewarded for their failures while our residents, businesses and partners continue to pay the price.

I will also be making the case to government that councils must have greater powers to hold former officers and members to account for misconduct  without risking further costs to the taxpayer.

This is something that I will be asking government to look at as a matter of urgency.

During the meeting, current chief executive Katherine Kerswell added: What has occurred at Croydon has clearly been very damaging to our finances and ability to perform our key public service functions and most importantly undermined public trust in this council.

As such, the councils current leadership are duty bound to ensure that those responsible for the situation are fairly and properly held to account.

The Conservative's won control of the council from Labour last year.

Several internal investigations have been published into its financial collapse since then.

The Penn report, published last month, found that the council was a highly dysfunctional organisation under the previous Labour administration with a small number of cabinet members making decisions without appropriate scrutiny.

Workers interviewed for the probe described Ms Negrini as having a bullying style, the report said.

The decision to take this unprecedented action was fully supported by Croydons Labour councillors. We understand entirely the publics desire to see former senior leaders at the council properly held to account, Croydon Labour Group said in a statement.

A source from the previous administration told the Standard that Ms Negrini had always appeared to be engaged in council business and competent .
"So the real challenge is how the Chinese Communist Party prioritizes and allocates resources dealing with it," he said.

The birth rates in Beijing and other Chinese cities are tabulated based on the number of permanent residents, excluding migrant populations. Li Shaomin, professor of international business at Old Dominion University in Virginia, said the decline and aging of the Chinese population "will pose a great challenge for China." He noted, however, the patterns of fertility and mortality are gradual and predictable, and the government should have enough time to make policy changes to mitigate the impact of decline and aging.

"The natural [population] growth was -0.05 [per 1,000 people]," said a release on its website. It was the first time the population had dropped since 2003.

According to statistics the government released Tuesday, Beijing's population had fallen by 43,000 people to 21.84 million by the end of 2022. Most notably, the death rate in the capital surpassed the birth rate. The death rate in Beijing, one of the country's most populous urban centers, rose to 5.72 deaths per 1,000 people, while the birth rate fell to 5.67 births per 1,000 people, according to a report released by the People's Government of Beijing Municipality.

The population of Beijing, China's capital, has fallen for the first time in two decades, official data show, in line with the general trend of the country's declining numbers, which has stoked concerns about the nation's economic outlook.

Beijing's population decline was in line with national trends. In January, the National Bureau of Statistics announced China had entered an "era of negative population growth," after figures showed a historic drop in the number of people for the first time in six decades, since the Great Chinese Famine from 1958 to 1961. The population fell by 850,000 to 1.412 billion people by the end of 2022.

Demographers have said this marks the start of what is projected to be a long period of population decline. They also noted the decline had begun almost a decade earlier than the United Nations anticipated. As recently as 2019, the UN projected China's population would peak from 2031 to 2032.

China's population growth rate has been trending downward largely because of its 35-year "one-child" policy. Since the 1990s, China's fertility rate -- the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime -- has dropped to below the replacement level of 2.1. The replacement rate is the rate that allows the population to replace itself. The figure was 1.30 in 2020, and it fell to 1.15 in 2021.

Chinese demographers had for more than a decade campaigned to scrap the one-child policy, before the government ended it in 2015. Concerned about an aging population and shrinking work force, the government finally allowed couples to have two children in 2015 and further eased the limit to three in 2021.

Studies found the rising costs of bringing up children and lack of welfare provisions to be the main reasons behind China's low fertility rate. In recent years, the government has been desperate to boost birth rates -- offering incentives such as tax breaks, subsidies for child care and longer parental leave, and discouraging abortions -- but without much success. Some experts say the best officials can do is to slow the population's decline.

Most urban Chinese young people, affected by three years of stringent COVID-19 measures, have shown more of an unwillingness to have children. An online survey last year of more than 20,000 people, mostly urban women between 18 and 25, found that two-thirds have a "low birth desire."

Chen Daoyin, a former associate professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said China's negative population growth "isn't necessarily a bad thing."

While China's industrial output won't be immediately affected as labor supply still exceeds demand, "it won't have the strength to challenge the world order," he said.
K ate Forbes has said she hopes to negotiate with the Greens, despite suggestions the party could exit its powersharing agreement with the Scottish Government.

The SNP leadership candidate said she is hopeful of continuing to work with the party as part of the Bute House Agreement if she is selected to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as first minister.

But Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said the co-operation agreement with the SNP would come to an end if the new leader vetoed parts of the deal.

The main disagreement is over controversial gender reforms which would make it easier to self-ID as transgender.

Ms Forbes was on maternity leave at the time of the Holyrood vote on the reforms, but she has since said she would not have supported the legislation.

Her position on the Section 35 order placed on the legislation by the UK Government  which blocks the Bill from gaining royal assent  is to have a grown-up conversation with Westminster ministers on how to reform the legislation.

SNP leadership rival Humza Yousaf has said he would challenge the decision in court, while Ash Regan has vowed to scrap the reforms.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Harvie said his party would not be in Government with any leader who would rip out parts of the deal.

During a visit to the Zakariyya Masjid mosque in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, on Friday afternoon, Ms Forbes said: I want to work with Patrick Harvie and the Green Party.

I have negotiated probably more than any other Cabinet Secretary with the Greens in the past, and I want to work with other parties in Holyrood.

I would certainly have a conversation with him very early doors.

On whether compromise over the gender reforms is possible, she said: I would hope that as a member of Government, we could both take an approach which is to consider the legal advice, and to make decisions off the back of the legal advice.

The Greens became part of the Scottish Government in 2021 in exchange for support for SNP policies, and they have two ministerial posts in Ms Sturgeons Cabinet.

Mr Harvie said he would genuinely struggle to understand how any candidate who believes in devolution could say that one of their first acts would be to roll over and let the UK Government veto fully devolved legislation.

He went on to say: We would not accept any Scottish Government simply vetoing parts of the Bute House Agreement.

If there was a Scottish Government, whether its the current First Minister who hadnt resigned and changed her mind, whether its a new first minister wanting to rip out parts of that agreement, clearly that agreement would come to an end.

The Scottish Greens are set to address the key issues of the Bute House Agreement at their conference in Clydebank on Saturday.

Mr Harvie added that any future SNP leader who did not respect the progressive policies of the deal could not be accepted.

He said: Our commitment is to the values of the progressive policies and the ethos of collaborative co-working thats in the Bute House Agreement.

That would not be respected by anyone who said that they wanted to continue working with the Greens but theyll have to accept my agenda. That would be out of kilter.

Ms Sturgeons successor will be selected on Monday following a five-week leadership battle.

Ms Forbes also spoke of her confidence in the SNP memberships choice as she approaches the end of her campaign.

She also said she would absolutely seek guidance from Ms Sturgeon if she is selected as leader.
I rish police have launched a murder inquiry after the disappearance of an American woman in Dublin 30 years ago.

Annie McCarrick was 26 when she went missing on March 26 1993.

Originally from Long Island in New York, she had been living in Sandymount in Dublin.

On Friday morning gardai announced the missing person inquiry has been upgraded to a murder investigation and made a public appeal for information.

I and the investigation team are determined to gather all information and evidence available to us to find answers. I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family

Detectives recently visited Ms McCarricks mother Nancy in New York to update her on the investigation. Her father John has since died.

Speaking at a press conference at Irishtown Garda Station in Dublin, Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said officers have maintained an open and active investigation into Ms McCarricks disappearance.

Over the 30 years of this investigation, the investigation team have discovered and collated in excess of 5,000 documents, taken in excess of 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits, he said.

He urged anyone who saw or spoke to Ms McCarrick around the time of her disappearance, or has any information about a large brown satchel-type handbag she is believed to have been carrying, to come forward and speak to gardai.

The primary focus of this investigation is the victim Annie McCarrick and her family. Annies father John has passed away without knowing what happened to his daughter, and her mother Nancy deserves to know the truth, she deserves to know what happened to her daughter on March 26 1993, Mr Carroll said.

I and the investigation team are determined to gather all information and evidence available to us to find answers. I have made this commitment to Nancy and her family.

I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Annie McCarrick to please come forward to the investigation team at Irishtown Garda Station.

Superintendent Tim Burke said the last confirmed sighting of Ms McCarrick was at around 11am on Friday March 26 1993 at the Allied Irish Bank in Sandymount.

Annie had made arrangements with some friends, by inviting them to her apartment for dinner on Saturday March 27. Annie was also excited about planning for a visit by her mother Nancy who was due to arrive in Ireland on March 30 1993, he said.

He added that officers received reports of sightings of Ms McCarrick in Sandymount, boarding a bus to Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and in Enniskerry village and at Johnny Foxs pub.

On March 28, friends of Annie were concerned for her welfare. She was not at home on March 27 when they called for dinner, and she did not turn up for work either on March 27 or on Sunday March 28, he added.

Ms McCarrick was reported missing on March 28.

She was described as having visited Ireland as a teenager on a school trip, and fell in love with the country.

She studied at St Patricks College in Drumcondra and St Patricks College in Maynooth, before returning to New York, and came back to Ireland in 1993 to live permanently.
P resident Emmanuel Macron has defended postponing the Kings historic state visit to France, saying it would have lacked sense to stage the historic event when anti-pension reform protests were planned.

Charles and Camilla were due to begin the first state visit of the Kings reign on Sunday but after a night of violent nationwide demonstrations that led to hundreds of arrests and police officers being injured, the trip was shelved.

The French leader said the four-day state visit was likely to be rescheduled for the beginning of summer, after Downing Street confirmed earlier that Mr Macron had asked the British Government to postpone the trip.

Speaking at a press conference after a summit in Brussels, President Macron said: From the moment last night when the unions announced a new day of mobilisation on Tuesday  and with the Kings visit planned from Monday to Wednesday  I think we wouldnt be being serious, and wed be lacking some sense, to propose His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort to come and make a state visit in the middle of the demonstrations.

He said proceeding with Sundays visit would have prompted incidents that would have been detestable.

Images of the town hall of Bordeaux  a city the royal couple were due to visit  set alight by protesters on Thursday evening was symbolic of the fury felt by some at the reforms, which have led to nine consecutive days of protest.

Reports claim more than a million people took to the streets across France on Thursday during the biggest demonstrations since Mr Macron pushed through a Bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.

The French leader, who would have hosted the King and his wife, spoke to Charles on the phone during Friday morning after discussions between the UK and French governments.

But the postponement of the trip will be a major embarrassment to Mr Macron, his administration and Buckingham Palace, who had been planning the state visit for months.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the postponement in a statement, saying: The King and the Queen Consorts State Visit to France has been postponed.

Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit from next Wednesday to Friday, and it is understood the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

Downing Street also confirmed the postponement, with a Government spokesperson saying: This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the president of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.

Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty Magazine, said Certainly, there must be, you would imagine, at high level a degree of embarrassment that they have had to suggest the visit is postponed because of the national unrest within their country.

It presents a bad image externally, but such is life.

It is understood the trips logistics had been under review for some days and measures were being considered to reduce interactions with the public.

The state visit was aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and its continental neighbour using the soft diplomacy deployed by members of the royal family.

But Charles and Camilla would have arrived in Paris just as Mr Macron was bracing himself for further public protests which would have tarnished the image of France while the world was watching.

Lord Ricketts, who was the UKs ambassador to France during the Queens final state visit to the country in 2014, told Sky News any disruption by demonstrators to Charless state visit would have cast a real shadow over it.

Commenting on the suggestion the planned state banquet at the Palace of Versailles would have jarred with people striking for workplace rights, he said: It was going to be a great visit in different times.

Now it jars with the angry mood in France  of course, that anger is not directed at King and Queen. Its directed at President Macron and his government, but nonetheless, they could have been caught up in it.

And if thered been embarrassing incidents during the visit of, I dont know, blockades or things going wrong in the programme because of the protesters and the demonstrators  weve all seen the pictures of the fires and so on in Paris  that would have cast a real shadow over it.
T he Kings first state visit of his reign may be disrupted by the threat of French protests over President Emmanuel Macrons retirement age reforms.

A lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles hosted by President Macron could be moved or even cancelled according to reports following an increasingly angry public backlash to the French leaders plans.

And union representatives of French workers responsible for ceremonial trappings, like red carpets, have said its members would not prepare a welcome for the King and Queen Consort when they arrive on Sunday.

Its very bad timing. Normally the French would welcome a British king. But in this moment, people protesting are on high alert for any sign of privilege and wealth, said Paris-based writer Stephen Clarke, the author of Elizabeth II, Queen Of Laughs.

Unbelievable. We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles, while the people in the street are demonstrating

Tens of thousands of mainly peaceful demonstrators took to the streets of Paris on Thursday  the ninth day of nationwide protests  but violence erupted when French police clashed with black-clad, masked groups who targeted at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank.

It is understood the trips logistics have been under review for some days but any security considerations could reduce interactions with the public and lessen the impact of the visit aimed at strengthening ties between the UK and its continental neighbour.

The trip, which is followed by a state visit to Germany, has been in the planning by the UK and host nations for months, and its timing is fortuitous as it comes a few weeks after the UKs relations with Brussels began to ease following the Windsor framework, the new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

The King and his wife will travel to the French capital Paris this weekend then visit Berlin from March 29-31 during a trip which a source said previously was planned in an extraordinarily positive atmosphere by all.

President Macron is facing renewed public anger for pushing through a bill raising the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.

With piles of uncollected garbage lining the French capitals boulevards, observers say the optics could not be worse  for both Charles and his host, the president.

French labour union CGT union announced this week that its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing flags, red carpets and furniture for public buildings, would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris.

We ask our administration to inform the services concerned that we will not provide furnishings, red carpets or flags, a CGT statement read.

The Elysee Palace, the French presidents official residence, has said non-striking workers would set up the necessary accoutrements for the trip.

Some opponents accuse the president of being out-of-touch, and Charles has come in for similar criticism and if the protests continue they threaten to overshadow the royal tour.

Sandrine Rousseau, a lawmaker from Frances Green Party, told French channel BFM TV: Unbelievable. We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles, while the people in the street are demonstrating.

Of course the King should cancel his visit, she added.

Asked whether the King should travel to France, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: We certainly dont get into the realms of dictating that sort of thing to His Majesty. That will be a decision for them. Im not aware of any plans to change the plan, but its very much a question for them.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin, visiting police headquarters on Thursday night as fires still burned in some Paris neighbourhoods, gave assurances that security poses no problem and said Charles will be welcomed and welcomed well.

Highlights of the six-day, historic tour include Charles and Camilla joining their French hosts, President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe.

Afterwards, the foursome will be part of a procession down the Champs Elysees towards the Elysee Palace, the French presidents official residence, where they will sit down to talks.

Camilla and Mrs Macron will officially open the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musee dOrsay while Charles gives an address from the senate chamber.

The King and Queen Consort will also visit Bordeaux, centre of the wine-growing region and home to many British residents, where they will visit an organic vineyard and Charles will meet emergency workers who tackled wildfires on the outskirts of the city last summer.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
T wo people have been arrested on suspicion of murder as part of the investigation into the death of a baby boy in Ireland almost 40 years ago.

The body of the five-day-old infant, known as Baby John, was found with multiple stab wounds in a bag on a beach in Co Kerry in April 1984.

A man aged in his 60s and a woman aged in her 50s have been arrested in the Munster region and are being detained in Garda stations in the south of the country.

This evening, Thursday March 23 2023, Gardai arrested two people, a male in his 60s and a female in her 50s, in relation to the discovery of the body of a male infant at White Strand, Caherciveen, County Kerry, on April 14 1984, a statement said.

They were arrested in the Munster region on suspicion of the offence of murder and are currently detained at Garda stations in the south of the country under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth surrounding the death of Baby John in 1984 and deliver justice for Baby John

The high-profile discovery became known as the Kerry Babies case, and would lead to a state apology over the treatment of a local woman.

Joanne Hayes was arrested and charged after Baby Johns body was found in 1984, but the charge was later dropped and a tribunal of inquiry was set up to probe the handling of her case by Gardai.

Advances in DNA profiling then confirmed that Ms Hayes, as she always maintained, was not Baby Johns mother.

In 2018, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, justice minister Charlie Flanagan and An Garda Siochana apologised to Ms Hayes.

In January 2018, An Garda Siochana announced a review into the death of Baby John, and since then its Kerry Division has carried out an extensive investigation, supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.

Hundreds of people have been interviewed and more than 560 lines of inquiry have been initiated.

In September 2018, Baby Johns remains were exhumed and taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee for examination, and were reinterred later that afternoon.

Baby John is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Caherciveen.

The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth surrounding the death of Baby John in 1984 and deliver justice for Baby John, said lead investigator Superintendent Flor Murphy.

I am again appealing to the public for any information in relation to the death of Baby John in 1984.

Anyone who comes forward will be treated with sensitivity and compassion.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
J unior doctors in England are carrying out a four day strike this week, to demand a 35 per cent salary increase.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are striking from 7am on April 11 to 7am on April 15. The walkouts will affect hospitals across the country.

It follows the March 22 meeting between BMA leaders and Health Secretary Steve Barclay.

He says the wage claim is "unaffordable. An agreement supported by unions and offered to other NHS employees includes a 5 per cent salary increase in April and a one-time payment of at least 1,655.

This is on top of the 4.75 per cent pay rise they received last year.

How much do junior doctors earn?

There are two national pay scales which doctors in training in England may be paid under depending on their contract of employment.

Doctors pay is also determined by their years of experience and their role.

A junior doctor in their first year as a foundation doctor on the 2016 contract will receive 29,384, the BMA says. In their second year, their wage increases to 34,012.

Junior doctors on the 2002 contract earn 25,494 during their first year and 31,621 in their second.

A doctor beginning their specialist training will earn between 40,257 and 53,398 a year.

The BMA says junior doctors in England have witnessed real-term wage decreases in the last 15 years. This amounts to a 26.1 per cent pay decrease since the tax year 2008/09.

The current pay agreement for junior doctors ends in March 2023.

Junior doctors training

After completing medicine at undergraduate level, junior doctors undergo two years of integrated training known as the foundation years.

To practise as a doctor in the UK, you must have completed the two-year general training.

What happens during the junior doctors strike?

Junior doctors will not provide emergency medical care across England in line with this industrial action.

The four-day strikes follow the three-day walkout that took place last month.

The previous walkout led to the cancellation of 175,000 treatments and appointments, with consultants brought in to provide cover in emergency care.
V isitors to Westminster Abbey will be invited to stand on the exact spot where King Charles will be crowned  in their socks.

Officials at the Abbey said on Friday that a section of the church floor known as the Cosmati pavement where the coronation chair has been placed for some 700 years will be on display during Kings Charles coronation.

It had been hidden under carpets for decades because of disrepair.

After the coronation on May 6, the area which is normally roped off to the public, will be open to small barefoot tours.

The Cosmati pavement, located before the altar at Westminster Abbey / PA

Visitors will be asked to remove their shoes to avoid wear and tear to the now-conserved floor, but will be told to keep their socks on to avoid the floor getting sticky.

Standing on the pavement and feeling that sense of awe of being in the central part of the abbey is a really amazing experience," said Scott Craddock, head of visitor experience at the abbey.

It will give people the opportunity to feel what its like being at that centre stage of the coronation.

The mosaic of marble, stone, glass and metal, located in front of the abbeys high altar, was commissioned by Henry III in the 1200s.

It is said to be the best surviving example outside Italy of a rare type of mosaic stonework known as Cosmati," after the Italian family which created it.

Abbey Marshal Howard Berry stands at the centre of the Cosmati pavement / PA

The area was covered by carpet at many previous coronations, including those of Elizabeth II in 1953 and her father, George VI, in 1937.

Its a unique piece of art to Westminster Abbey but also to Britain itself  there are no other mosaic pavements like this in the UK, said Vanessa Simeoni, the abbeys head conservator.

Experts from the abbey will guide the tours, which will run on some days from May 15 to July 29.
K ing Charles State Visit to France was called off at the request of Emmanuel Macron as his country is hit by violent protests against his pension reforms.

The French and British governments took the decision after a phone call between Mr Macron and the King, Mr Macrons office said in a statement.

The King had been due to visit Paris on Sunday and later Bordeaux, where the entrance to the town hall was set alight on Thursday.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said of the deferral of the three-day visit: Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

King Charles visit to Germany from Wednesday will still go ahead.

A UK Government spokesperson said: This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.

France: Anti-Government Protests 1 / 45 France: Anti-Government Protests Protesters run in tear gas smoke next to a street fire on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a national day of strikes and protests, a week after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Toulouse, southern France AFP via Getty Images People look at the Bordeaux town hall in flames during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against the French governments pension reform, in Bordeaux, France Bookee0 via REUTERS French Republican Security Corps (CRS - Compagnies Republicaines de Securite) police officers in riot gear clash with a protestor during a demonstration, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Toulouse, southwestern France AFP via Getty Images Protesters stand near burning garbage bins during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, in Nantes REUTERS Protesters use a sidewalk tree grid to break the window of a shop on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a national day of strikes and protests, a week after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Paris AFP via Getty Images People stand behind a fire during a demonstration, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Bordeaux, western France AFP via Getty Images Protestors gather on place de la Bastille to attend a demonstration a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Pari AFP via Getty Images French riot police run past a fire during a demonstration in Paris AFP via Getty Images ce on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a national day of strikes and protests, a week after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Nantes, western France AFP via Getty Images d reading We are tired of paying for privileged people as a fire burns during a rally on a nationwide action day, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Nantes, western France AFP via Getty Images Protesters shield with umbrellas as they scuffle with riot police during rally in Nantes AP A protester, wearing a mask depicting French President Emmanuel Macron, attends a demonstration during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, in Nice, France REUTERS Protesters scuffle with riot police during a rally in Bayonne, southwestern Franc AP A banner is fixed on the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie Major that reads, general strike, during a rally in Marseille, southern Franc AP Protesters scuffle with riot police during a rally in Bayonne, southwestern France AP A protester stands next to a burning waste container during a rally in Nantes, AP A protester throws a stone as he scuffle with riot police during rally in Nantes AP Police officers stand in front of fireworks fired by protesters during a demonstration, a few days after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Bordeaux, southwestern France AFP via Getty Images Passengers walk on the road with their luggages as airport workers on strike gather outside the Terminal 1 during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, near Pari REUTERS French President Emmanuel Macron is seen on screen as he speaks during a TV interview from the Elysee Palace, in Paris AFP via Getty Images Riot police scuffle with a protester during a protest in Rennes, western France AP A protester holds a flare as he takes part in a demonstration on a national action day, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images Protestors block a railway track during a demonstration at Matabiau station in Toulouse, southern France AFP via Getty Images A puppet depicting French President Emmanuel Macron is installed on railway tracks by protesters to block a TGV high speed train during a demonstration at the train station on the eve of the ninth day of national strike and protests, and after the pension reform was adopted as the French Parliament rejected two motions of no-confidence against the government, in Nice REUTERS A protester throws a flare towards riot police face during a protest in Rennes, western France, AP Protesters attend a demonstration during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, in Nantes, France REUTERS A homeless man, covered with plastic bags, walks past garbage bags that have been piling up on the pavement as waste collectors are on strike since March 6 to protest against the French governments proposed pensions reform, in Pari AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march during a protest in Rennes, western France AP A demonstrator kicks off a tear gas canister during a protest in Rennes AP Railway workers hold a banner reading Until withdrawal during a demonstration in Lyo AP Uncollected garbages are pictured near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris AP Dock workers stand in front of a burning barricade next the port of Marseille southern France AP A riot police officer shields from an incoming flare during a protest in Rennes, western France AP Protesters march during a rally in Bayonne, southwestern France AP

The trip had been due to include a ride along the Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris and a banquet at Versailles with Mr Macron.

Speaking at a summit in Brussels after the announcement, President Macron said it would have lacked common sense to have the King visit amid violent protests.

I think we would not be serious and lack common sense to propose to His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort to come do a state visit in the middle of the demonstrations, he said.

He added proceeding with Sunday's visit would have prompted incidents" that would have been detestable. The trip is likely to be rescheduled for early summer.

More than one million people demonstrated across France on Thursday against Mr Macrons unpopular raising of the pension age to 64, with violence erupting in some places.

Marches in Paris were marred by violence, as were protests in other major cities including Nantes, Lyon, and Rennes.

In Bordeaux, the door to Bordeaux City Hall was set on fire and destroyed on Thursday evening by members of an unauthorised demonstration.

In Paris, masked groups clashed with police and attacked at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank. Some launched Molotov cocktails and objects at police.

French ministers had earlier insisted that the King would be welcomed and that security poses no problem.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said there was enormous degrading of public buildings at some protests on Thursday.

There are troublemakers, often extreme left, who want to take down the state and kill police and ultimately take over the institutions, he claimed.

French labour union CGT union had also previously announced this week that its members would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the King upon his arrival in Paris.
A waxwork of King Charles has been unveiled next to his late mother in Paris.

The model of Charles III was unveiled with the monarch wearing a kilt, a grey jacket and waistcoat.

The Kings statue was unveiled at the Grevin wax museum next to Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles late mother stands in the hall in a typical bright green outfit with white gloves and bag close to her son.

The waxwork was unveiled ahead of Charles now cancelled visit to France.

The visit was called off due to the violent protests against Emmanuel Macrons pensions reforms which have rocked the country.

France: Anti-Government Protests 1 / 45 France: Anti-Government Protests Protesters run in tear gas smoke next to a street fire on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a national day of strikes and protests, a week after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Toulouse, southern France AFP via Getty Images People look at the Bordeaux town hall in flames during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against the French governments pension reform, in Bordeaux, France Bookee0 via REUTERS French Republican Security Corps (CRS - Compagnies Republicaines de Securite) police officers in riot gear clash with a protestor during a demonstration, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Toulouse, southwestern France AFP via Getty Images Protesters stand near burning garbage bins during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, in Nantes REUTERS Protesters use a sidewalk tree grid to break the window of a shop on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a national day of strikes and protests, a week after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Paris AFP via Getty Images People stand behind a fire during a demonstration, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Bordeaux, western France AFP via Getty Images Protestors gather on place de la Bastille to attend a demonstration a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Pari AFP via Getty Images French riot police run past a fire during a demonstration in Paris AFP via Getty Images ce on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a national day of strikes and protests, a week after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Nantes, western France AFP via Getty Images d reading We are tired of paying for privileged people as a fire burns during a rally on a nationwide action day, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Nantes, western France AFP via Getty Images Protesters shield with umbrellas as they scuffle with riot police during rally in Nantes AP A protester, wearing a mask depicting French President Emmanuel Macron, attends a demonstration during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, in Nice, France REUTERS Protesters scuffle with riot police during a rally in Bayonne, southwestern Franc AP A banner is fixed on the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie Major that reads, general strike, during a rally in Marseille, southern Franc AP Protesters scuffle with riot police during a rally in Bayonne, southwestern France AP A protester stands next to a burning waste container during a rally in Nantes, AP A protester throws a stone as he scuffle with riot police during rally in Nantes AP Police officers stand in front of fireworks fired by protesters during a demonstration, a few days after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Bordeaux, southwestern France AFP via Getty Images Passengers walk on the road with their luggages as airport workers on strike gather outside the Terminal 1 during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, near Pari REUTERS French President Emmanuel Macron is seen on screen as he speaks during a TV interview from the Elysee Palace, in Paris AFP via Getty Images Riot police scuffle with a protester during a protest in Rennes, western France AP A protester holds a flare as he takes part in a demonstration on a national action day, a week after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images Protestors block a railway track during a demonstration at Matabiau station in Toulouse, southern France AFP via Getty Images A puppet depicting French President Emmanuel Macron is installed on railway tracks by protesters to block a TGV high speed train during a demonstration at the train station on the eve of the ninth day of national strike and protests, and after the pension reform was adopted as the French Parliament rejected two motions of no-confidence against the government, in Nice REUTERS A protester throws a flare towards riot police face during a protest in Rennes, western France, AP Protesters attend a demonstration during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French governments pension reform, in Nantes, France REUTERS A homeless man, covered with plastic bags, walks past garbage bags that have been piling up on the pavement as waste collectors are on strike since March 6 to protest against the French governments proposed pensions reform, in Pari AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march during a protest in Rennes, western France AP A demonstrator kicks off a tear gas canister during a protest in Rennes AP Railway workers hold a banner reading Until withdrawal during a demonstration in Lyo AP Uncollected garbages are pictured near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris AP Dock workers stand in front of a burning barricade next the port of Marseille southern France AP A riot police officer shields from an incoming flare during a protest in Rennes, western France AP Protesters march during a rally in Bayonne, southwestern France AP

Charles had been due to visit the Paris on Sunday and later Bordeaux where the citys town hall has been set alight by protestors.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said of the deferral of the four-day visit: Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.

The Kings visit to Germany from Wednesday will still go ahead.

A UK Government spokesperson said: This decision was taken with the consent of all parties, after the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit.
O fsted, the schools watchdog, has refused to drop one-word ratings despite calls for inspection reforms following the death of a headteacher.

Critics say the one-word ratings are too simplistic, while The National Education Union (NEU) called for the grading system to be replaced with a supportive, effective and fair accountability system.

Ruth Perry, the former headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her own life while waiting for the publication of a report into her school that was expected to downgrade it from outstanding to inadequate.

Ms Perrys family said the 53-year-old had described the inspection in November as the worst day of her life.

So what is Oftsed and what does it do? Heres all you need to know.

What is Ofsted?

Ofsted is short for the Office for Standards in Education, Childrens Services and Skills.

The body inspects services that provide education or skills trainers for students regardless of their age.

It also inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people such as childrens homes.

What is its role?

Ofsted inspectors go and view services under their remit and provide a rating dependent on what they find on their visit.

They are legally allowed to arrive with little notice to services. They report directly to Parliament, parents, carers and commissioners.

Ofsted is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government, although its ethos is to be independent and impartial.

What ratings can it give?

In each area, services are graded and then placed into one of four categories: Grade one (outstanding), grade two (good), grade three (requires improvement) and grade four (inadequate).

Can Ofsted fire a headteacher?

No. Ofsted has no power to fire a headteacher and it does not instruct governing bodies to do so either.

Are Ofsted inspections compulsory?

Yes. All childcare providers caring for children from September 1 following their fifth birthday up to the age of 8, must register with Ofsted on the Compulsory Childcare Register (CCR)

How often does a school get an Ofsted inspection?

Ofsted inspections can take place at any point from five school days after the first day pupils attend in the autumn term.

Schools are normally judged every four years, but a lot can depend on the type of institution and the previous grading the school received.

If there was a previous inadequate or requires improvement grading, inspectors can visit more frequently.

Can Ofsted shut a school down?

Yes, but after a lengthy process. For any service that has been judged as inadequate and placed in a category of concern, inspectors will visit the academy to check on its progress until it can be removed from the category.

Schools placed in a special measures category will have two years to turn things around, while serious weaknesses schools have 18 months.
Public defender Levan Ioseliani spoke to the media about the statement issued by the Vivamed clinic about Mikheil Saakashvili in which the clinic stated that they are 'forced' to contact the penitentiary service to assess the feasibility of Mikheil Saakashvili's delay in the clinic.He said that returning to the prison hospital may be dangerous for Mikheil Saakashvili's health. However, he noted that he does not know if this statement means that the Penitentiary Service will return Saakashvili to prison."I don't know whether the statement implies his return to prison or not, maybe we are talking about transferring him to another civilian clinic. As far as I know, the Public Defender stated that returning to the prison hospital could be dangerous for his health. According to my information, the members of the Council agree. I share the position that the public defender had toward Mikheil Saakashvili. I don't want any type of action to be taken against him that could aggravate or worsen his health condition. In which clinic Saakashvili will be transferred is not our prerogative," he said.Levan Ioseliani said that the group of the Public Defender's Consilium will have complete freedom regarding visiting Mikheil Saakashvili in clinic Vivamed and said that Consilium will visit him in the near future. Ioseliani also plans to visit Mikheil Saakashvili.US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan told reporters that the issues included in the reports of the State Department of the United States of America have been verified many times.On March 20, 2022, the US State Department published a report on human rights which also covers the situation in Georgia on which Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili commented and said the State Department relies on 'unfair' and 'subjective' conclusions provided by elite non-governmental organizations in this report."The US has been reporting on human rights for decades. They are about problems, not political parties or personalities. Their material is obtained from a range of reliable sources, and we check and recheck them to ensure that the information in the report is reliable.These reports are important and I would encourage people to read the previous reports because they chronicle the areas where progress was needed and often the areas where progress has actually been made," Kelly Degnan said.
The U.S. National Weather Service reports a rare tornado touched down Wednesday in a suburb of the city of Los Angeles, California, injuring one person and damaging commercial buildings.

In a report late Wednesday, the NWS said it was the strongest tornado to hit the area since 1983 and just the 46th tornado reported in Los Angeles County since 1950.

The weather service says the tornado touched down late in the morning, Los Angeles time, Wednesday in an industrial park and warehouse district in the suburban city of Montebello. The report says the tornado damaged 17 structures, mostly their roofs.

The NWS said the roof of one building almost totally collapsed and the air conditioning unit was torn off. Other buildings saw their skylights broken.
T he late Queens closest adviser, Angela Kelly, has been recognised by the King alongside other royal aides, and many who played important roles during her funeral.

Ms Kelly and other devoted royal household staff were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

The honours list also featured RAF flight crew who transported the Queens coffin from Scotland to London, coffin bearers, senior managers from the household and Government, and the late Queens stud groom Terry Pendry, who held the reins of the monarchs pony Emma as the funeral cortege entered Windsor Castle.

Awards under the RVO are in the Kings gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.

Ms Kelly, the late Queens personal assistant, adviser and curator, worked for the monarch for more than 25 years and was made a Commander of the RVO.

A bubbly and hard-working royal aide, she kept the Queens style relevant and even added a touch of bling during the decades she worked for the head of state.

The Queen valued the opinion of her meticulous personal assistant and gradually over the years gave her free rein when helping her create a look for an event.

Despite the late monarchs advancing years, she had been prepared to embellish her style  under Ms Kellys direction  as a nod to modern times.

A pair of 3D glasses worn by the Queen during a film demonstration in Canada in 2010 were given a touch of glamour by Ms Kelly  Swarovski crystals forming the letter Q on their sides.

During lockdown, when the Queen isolated with a small group from her household dubbed HMS Bubble, Ms Kelly was thought to be part of the team.

She once disclosed in an interview: We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery.

Mr Pendry who was pictured with his head bowed standing beside the Queens pony as the monarchs coffin entered Windsor Castles quadrangle was made a Commander of the RVO.

Also recognised were the Marquess of Cholmondeley, formerly Lord Great Chamberlain, Royal Household, who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the RVO, while former ladies-in-waiting to the Queen, Philippa de Pass and Jennifer Gordon Lennox, were made Dame Commanders.
T wo young brothers who died alongside their mother are believed to have been strangled and were found dead together in an upstairs bedroom, a coroners court heard on Friday.

Alexander, nine, and Maximus, seven, were found dead at their family home in Mayfield Road, Belvedere, south-east London along with their mother Nadja De-Jager.

In the aftermath of the tragic discovery at 11.50am on March 9, the Met Police called it a deeply sad case where they were not actively looking for other suspects.

At the opening of the inquests on Friday morning, Detective Inspector Ollie Stride briefly described how all three were found.

The boys were both found in the upstairs bedroom of the residential home, he told Croydon coroners court.

Max was on the bed and Alex was lying on the floor next to the bed.

A post mortem took place at St Thomas Hospital on March 14.

Nadja De Jager, was found dead alongside her two sons, nine-year-old Alexander and seven-year-old Maximus. / LinkedIn

The provisional cause of death for Alex and Max is ligature compression of the neck, pending further investigations.

The brothers were both identified by their grieving father, the court was told.

Turning to the boys mother, DI Stride said she was also found dead at the family home, with a post mortem provisionally concluding she had died from suspension.

Paramedics had rushed to the scene after the discovery of the bodies, but mother and children were all declared dead at the scene.

Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe adjourned the inquest hearing until the conclusion of the police investigation, which is expected to take at least six months while medical reports are finalised.

The father and other member of the family have a (police) liaison officer looking after them, she noted. No members of the family were present for todays hearing.

A property on Mayfield Road in Belvedere, south London (PA) / PA Wire

Following the deaths, Belvedere Infant and Junior School paid tribute pupils Alexander and Maximus, describing them as loving and caring. Alex and Max were truly wonderful members of our school community and we will remember them with great fondness and love, the school said in a statement. They were loving and caring boys who had a real hunger to learn.

Both were model pupils and it was clear that they were each others best friend. They will be hugely missed by pupils and staff alike, and forever be part of our hearts at Belvedere.

Neighbours of the family called the news heartbreaking, and one, Dawn Porter, said: Its very sad, you just want answers when something like this happens.

Detective Inspector Ollie Stride called it a deeply sad case, and added: Our thoughts today are very much with the family as they struggle to come to terms with their loss and we ask that their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time.
P eople are being urged to switch off and give Earth an hour off this Saturday to mark Earth Hour.

Millions around the world will switch off their lights to show they care about the future of our planet in the annual event which has become one of the worlds largest climate-positive movements.

Established by the World Wildlife Fund and partners in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hours switch-off is supposed to remind us that even small actions can make a big difference.

And the 2023 event will take place on Saturday, March 25, at 8.30pm UK time, with organisers saying they want this to be the biggest year yet for people participating around the globe.

The WWF said: When we make changes in our own lives and, when we share that with others, we also inspire the people around us to change  and we help grow a movement that businesses and governments cant ignore.

What is Earth Hour?

Organisers see Earth Hour as not just a gesture but a symbol of hope, unity, and collective action.

A family gathers for Earth Hour / Earth Hour

Wherever you are in the world, people are urged to show support for environmental issues affecting the planet by switching off lights for an hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

On their website, the WWF said: Earth Hour is open-source and we welcome everyone, anyone, to take part and help amplify our mission to unite people to protect our planet.

What if an hour wasnt just an hour, what if it made us think about all of our other hours?

How else can I get involved?

There are plenty of free online events taking place, and more ideas about how you can get involved on the official website.

Supporters can also sign the Voice For The Planet petition to demand urgent political action to protect Earth and let world leaders know they care about nature.

Friends enjoy a vegetarian dinner by candlelight during Earth Hour / WWF / Jeremiah Armstrong

Whats the legacy of the latest Earth Hour?

Earth Hour 2023 is billed as Biggest hour for Earth.

Earth Hour says: With our presence in over 190 countries and territories, we can use the power of the people to turn a single Earth Hour into thousands and millions of hours of action and awareness, creating a domino effect of impact that continues well beyond the 60 minutes.

Amidst our increasingly divided and polarized [sic] societies, the Biggest Hour for Earth becomes a precious moment of unity, reminding the world that our one shared home needs our help and that we all can - and must - play a part in protecting it.
F rance is ready to welcome Britain's King Charles during his State Visit despite violent protests against pension reforms, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday.

"We are extremely focused. We are ready to welcome him in excellent conditions," Mr Darmanin told CNews TV.

He added that 4,000 security officers were taking part in the huge operation to make sure the Kings visit next week goes smoothy.

A Buckingham Palace source said earlier this week the protests could impact the logistics of the visit, Charles' first since becoming monarch.

Anti-government thugs across France were accused of trying to kill police officers as arsonists attacked civic buildings, on Thursday night, including one in a city King Charles is set to visit next week.

The chaos is part of a week of disturbances that followed President Emmanuel Macron raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote.

Outbreaks of violence were reported from Paris to Marseilles overnight from Thursday to Friday, as a fire was lit at the historic City Hall in Bordeaux  where the King and Camilla, the Queen, will be on Tuesday.

Commenting on 149 police officers being seriously injured and 172 people being arrested across the country, Mr Darmanin said extremism was intensifying.

There are thugs, often from the far-Left, who want to bring down the state and kill police officers, said Mr Darmanin, during a visit to Paris police headquarters.

There at least 140 acts of arson in Paris alone, with one of the most serious attacks being on a residential block close to the Paris Opera.

More than a million people took to the streets on Thursday to protests against the government, as riot police used teargas, baton charges and water canon to bring crowds to order.

Among the injured protesters was a woman who lost her thumb during a riot in the Normandy city of Rouen.

Trade Unions have warned that the violence will get worse unless Mr Macron reverses his pension reforms.

The president must change his incomprehensible stubbornness or the situation will get worse,2 said Marylise Leon, of the CFDT union.

The unions have called for further protests next Tuesday, which will coincide with the Kings visit to the country.

He is due to attend a number of events in Bordeaux and Paris, including making a speech at the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.

Protesters have already threatened to target the Royal couple, saying he is not welcome in the republic during a period of social chaos..

Beyond riots, anti-Macron protests in France have included some 10,000 tonnes of rubbish building up on the streets of Paris after binmen withdrew their labour.

A Buckingham Palace source said the situation in France was being monitored, but there were no immediate plans to cancel the State Visit.
T hreats including the words Death to the King convinced Emmanuel Macron to halt a Royal State Visit to France by Charles III, it emerged on Friday night.

The macabre message was on Friday being used by protesters rioting against President Macrons decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

There have been nightly riots, and they were set to intensify if  as planned  the King had arrived in Paris on Sunday.

Peter Allen/Evening Standard

I think it would not be responsible and would lack some common sense if we invited His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort for a state visit in the midst of the demonstrations, Mr Macron said on Friday.

So, out of friendship, respect and esteem for His Majesty the King and Queen Consort, and for the British people, I took the initiative this morning to call and tell him what the situation was.

Senior politicians including Mr Macron had received threats evoking the guillotine used to execute Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette  the last rightful King and Queen of France.

The words Death to the King had even appeared in bright red graffiti on Place de la Concorde  the central Paris square where Louis and his wife were killed.

REUTERS

Another scrawled message read Charles III do you know the guillotine?

The French feared the security of King Charles could not be guaranteed because of his interest in mingling with crowds, according to security sources.

A crack team of officers from the SDLP Protection Service unit rigorously studied the monarchs profile.

They became aware of the Kings habit of impromptu handshakes, and talking to ordinary people whenever he could, said a source who was involved in the planning of four-days of events.

There are huge social tensions in France, and there is no doubt that such good manners could have been very dangerous indeed.

The development was a major humiliation for Mr Macron, especially as a visit to Germany by the Royal couple next week will go ahead as planned.

Eric Ciotti, leader of the opposition Republicans party in France, said the chaotic security situation was a national embarrassment.

The visit of Charles III is cancelled by the government due to social unrest, said Mr Ciotti.

What an image for our country, which is not even able to ensure the security of a head of state.

Referring to Mr Macron as a republican monarch, Left-Wing firebrand MP and former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon said he was delighted to see the meeting of kings at Versailles broken up by popular censorship.

Raquel Garrido, another member of the hard Lefts Nupes parliamentary coalition, said she hoped Mr Macron would now resign, saying: Two kings were set to meet at Versailles  one down, one to go.

And Manuel Bompard, of the Party of the Left, said: This shows the fragility of Emmanuel Macron as head of state.

Charles III has backed down, now we hope Macron will back down too.

Others pointed to how Mr Macron had been prepared to meet a foreign king, but not trade unionists battling to reverse his pension reform.

Nupes MP Alexis Corbiere said: Since hes no longer hosting the King of England , Charles III, perhaps Macron can host the trade unions?

Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau, who had called for the cancellation of the state visit, said: Its good that its been postponed, it was madness to make this visit in the middle of a social conflict of historic proportions.

To go and eat at Versailles, to drive down te Champs-Elysees  nothing was going to go well. The protesters were not going to roll out the red carpet for the king.

Mr Macron said he would attend Charless Coronation in London in May, and suggested the new date for the Kings visit to France would be in the early summer.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: The King and the Queen Consorts state visit to France has been postponed.

Their majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.
R ishi Sunak stressed to Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the importance of upholding democratic values as he faced an angry backlash against deeply controversial judicial reforms.

The two leaders met in Downing Street for talks on Friday, including on Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine and Irans nuclear ambitions.

However, Mr Netanyahus visit was being overshadowed by a growing row in Israel with the Attorney General warning him that he risks violating the law if he got personally involved in a judicial overhaul plan.

Simon Walker / No10 Downing Street

In the face of intensifying protests against the proposed changes, Mr Netanyahu said on Thursday he was putting aside all other considerations and would do anything it takes to reach a solution.

The veteran Israeli leader, who is on trial on corruption charges which he denies, said his hands had been tied but a law amended on Thursday to limit the circumstances in which a Prime Minister can be removed gave him more space for manoeuvre.

However, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, in a letter addressed to Mr Netanyahu, disagreed.

The legal situation is clear: you must refrain from any involvement in initiatives to change the judiciary, including the make-up of the committee for the appointment of judges, as such activity is a conflict of interest.

Your statement last night and any action you take in violation of this matter is illegal and tainted by a conflict of interest, Ms Baharav-Miara added.

Simon Walker / No10 Downing Street

In London after the talks, the British Prime Ministers spokesman said: The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.

The leaders welcomed the chance to meet in person to progress our important partnership, and the Prime Minister looked forward to visiting Israel at the earliest opportunity.

As he arrived at Downing Street, Mr Netanyahu was greeted by shouts of shame from pro-democracy protesters demonstrating against the judicial overhaul.

Demonstrators protest on Whitehall ahead of a visit by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 1 / 16 Demonstrators protest on Whitehall ahead of a visit by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu REUTERS PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA

Protesters waving Israeli flags and placards stating their aim of saving Israeli democracy could be heard as Mr Sunak shook his counterparts hand outside No 10 on Friday morning.

Cries of Busha, or shame in Hebrew, could be heard from hundreds of demonstrators expressing their anger at Mr Netanyahus legislation that they say will drag the nation towards autocracy.

Critics say the law is tailor-made to shield the leader from his corruption trial.

The Attorney Generals letter followed an earlier one from her warning that Mr Netanyahu must stay out of his coalitions push for a judicial overhaul because of what she deemed a conflict of interest arising from his trials.

In a message distributed by the ruling Likud party, an unnamed source close to Mr Netanyahu denied the Prime Minister violated any laws or conflict of interest agreements in his statement and said it had no repercussions on his personal affairs.

The source said it was incumbent on the premier to try and reach a wide consensus during a time of national crisis that carried implications on the country both domestically and abroad.

Mr Netanyahus religious-nationalist coalition has been pursuing changes to the judiciary that would give the government sway in choosing judges and limit the Supreme Courts power to strike down laws.

Proponents say the plan would rein in Supreme Court overreach and restore balance between the branches of government. Critics say it would weaken the courts, endanger civil liberties and harm the economy.
F ormer Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has warned of nuclear retaliation if Ukraine attempts to seize the Crimean peninsula.

Mr Medvedev, who is currently the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council, said Russia is prepared to use absolutely any weapon in the event of an attack on Crimea.

In an interview with Russian journalists, he added that Russia has no plans to enter a direct conflict with Nato and said the Kremlin is focused on resolving the Ukraine crisis through dialogue.

He said: As far as some serious offensives involving an attempt to retake Crimea are concerned, it is absolutely clear that this will serve as a basis for the use of all means of protection, including those provided for by the basic doctrine of nuclear deterrence, when the use of any types of weapons against Russia poses a threat to the existence of the state as such.

He added that an attempt to split off part of the state would be tantamount to an encroachment on the existence of the state itself.

Therefore, draw your own conclusions: there are obvious grounds for using any weapons. Absolutely any, he warned.

I hope our friends across the ocean realise this.

In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea after a disputed and internationally rejected referendum.

President Vladimir Putin insisted Russia annexed Crimea to protect ethnic Russians from far-right extremists.

Crimea was originally part of the Russian Empire but in 1954 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine.
U kraines top ground forces commander said his forces would soon launch a counter-offensive after Vladimir Putins spring advance has so far failed to achieve any significant victories.

Oleksandr Syrskyi also claimed that Putins private army, the Wagner Group mercenaries who have been at the front line of Moscows assault on eastern and southern Ukraine, are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam.

He added: Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk.

He was listing Ukrainian counter-offensives last year that recaptured swathes of land.

There was no immediate response from Moscow to suggestions its forces around the eastern town of Bakhmut were losing momentum.

But Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin issued statements in recent days, warning of a Ukrainian counter-assault.

On Monday, Prigozhin published a letter to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, saying Ukraine aimed to cut off Wagners forces from Russias regular troops.

Independent reports from near the front line north of Bakhmut backed up suggestions that the Russian offensive in the area could be waning.

At a Ukrainian-held village west of Soledar, on Bakhmuts northern outskirts, the intensity of the Russian bombardment noticeably lessened from two days earlier.

It was really hot here a week ago, but in the last three days it has been more quiet, said a Ukrainian soldier who used the call sign Kamin, or Stone.

We can see this in the enemys air strikes. If before there were five-six air raids in a day, today we had only one helicopter attack, said the soldier.

But Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that without a faster supply of arms the war could last years.

He stressed that the West had to increase and speed up its supply of weapons, again calling for long-range missiles, ammunition and modern aircraft, and impose additional sanctions on Russia.

If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war, a clearly frustrated Mr Zelensky said on Thursday in a video address to European Union leaders, delivered from a train.

The US has reportedly urged Kyiv to delay any counter-offensive until tanks and more heavy weapons have been supplied by the West.

At the EU summit, leaders approved a plan agreed by foreign ministers on Monday to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next year. They also discussed global food security and sanctions on Russia.

Britain has pledged to supply armour piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to help destroy Russian tanks, a step Putin said would force a response from Russia as the weapons had a nuclear component.

Slovakia said on Thursday it had handed over the first four MiG-29 jets it has pledged to Ukraine, with the rest to be delivered in weeks.

A slowdown by Russia in Bakhmut could mean it is diverting its troops and resources to other areas.

Britain said on Thursday that Russian troops had made gains further north this month, partially regaining control over the approaches to the town of Kreminna. Intense battles were also under way further south.

Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov agreed with that assessment. He said on YouTube that Russias attacks on Bakhmut were decreasing, and it was shifting its efforts south to the town of Avdiivka.

Russias forces have become more active in areas to the north in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions as well as central Zaporizhzhia and southern Kherson regions, he said.

Any shift in momentum in Bakhmut, if confirmed, would be remarkable given the towns symbolic importance as the focus of Russias offensive, and the scale of the losses on both sides there in Europes bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

On the ground in Ukraine, front lines have largely been frozen since November. Ukraine had looked likely to pull out of Bakhmut weeks ago but decided to fight on.

Mr Zelensky had earlier on Thursday continued a tour of front-line provinces, visiting the Kherson region in the south a day after meeting troops near Bakhmut.

A video showed him meeting residents in Posad Pokrovske, a bombed-out village on the former Kherson front line recaptured in Ukraines last big advance last year.
R oti King, Flesh and Buns, and Bar Kroketa are among the restaurants on show at this years Taste of London, which returns to Regents Park in June.

The food festival will bring some of the countrys best chefs, restaurants and culinary experiences between June 14-18, with more than 120 dishes from the likes of Francesco Mazzei, Henrique Sa Pessoa, and Nuno Mendes.

New to Taste will be a dim sum concept from Chai Wu, soon to open at Harrods; the Sicilian-inspired restaurant Norma, and Jam Delish; the vegan Caribbean venue in Islington.

Big names such as the Big Mamma group, Cavita, and Hoppers will also be at the event, alongside masterclasses, cooking demonstrations, and the festivals VIP lounge.

In the centre of the park will be Tastes fire pit, a focal point where chefs Dan Pelles, Simon Stallard, and Adriana Cavita will cook for guests.

Drinks will be available, naturally  cocktails will be poured at the Schweppes tent, El Jimador tequila will be be serving margaritas, and the Aspall Cider House will be in town, visiting from Suffolk.

Live music and DJ sets will return too, with sets powered by Kalab, the online community for emerging artists.

Tickets go on sale on March 23. For more information, visit the Taste of London website.
I TV have announced that they have snapped up Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis as a regular co-host on Good Morning Britain.

The news comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt referenced Lewis invaluable contribution to the 2023 Budget during his address to the House of Commons last week.

He will kick off his tenure with a tax year end special on March 29 and has been lined-up to present alongside breakfast TV stalwart Susanna Reid on various Wednesdays this year.

According to a press release,Together the pair will hold politicians to account and ask the questions the public want answered, plus, hear directly from viewers at home through live phone-ins to the studio.

Speaking about his appointment, Lewis said: To have the ability to hold politicians to account, over the cost of living, is a privilege and a responsibility. Its a slight gear change from my usual work, but after years of answering complex questions, its nice for once to be asking them. So I was delighted when ITV offered me the role of regular presenter.

Consumer champion Martin Lewis was referenced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt invaluable contribution to the 2023 Budget during his address to the House of Commons last week / PA Wire

The difficulty came with working it around my day-job, as Money Saving Expert, which is always my priority. So Im hopeful the solution weve come up with, to lock in a dozen special shows a year, sitting alongside Susanna Reids brilliant journalism, is one the shows viewers will welcome.

Hailing Lewis the voice of the nation when it comes to the cost of living crisis, his new co-star Reid was equally as enthusiastic, adding: I cant wait to have him sitting next to me again at the GMB desk from next week.

Emma Gormley, Managing Director ITV Daytime said: As Good Morning Britain continues to answer the questions the nation wants and needs answering each weekday morning, were thrilled to welcome Martin Lewis as a regular co-host.

Watch Martin Lewis on Good Morning Britain from Wednesday 29th March at 6am on ITV1 & ITVX
Hyundai and affiliate Kia start their used car business in the second half of this year.

At a shareholders' meeting at headquarters in Seoul on Thursday, Hyundai added automotive brokerage services to its list of businesses. Kia did the same at a shareholders' meeting last week.

Hyundai president Chang Jae-hoon pledged to provide customers with reliable second-hand cars.

Hyundai is building distribution centers in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province and Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, where certified technicians will make sure the cars are fit to drive.

They will only sell manufacture-certified Hyundais, Kias and Genesises less than five years old with less than 100,000 km on the clock, which undergo some 200 quality tests.
B oxer Tyson Fury and his wife Paris are set to welcome their seventh child.

Fury, 34, confirmed the couple were having another baby on Instagram on Thursday.

Fury, who holds one of the four heavyweight world titles, had been in training to prepare for a bout against long-time rival Oleksandr Usyk. The fight was scheduled in for April 29 at Wembley  but it fell through when the pair couldnt agree terms.

The world heavyweight champion boxer shared a picture from a date night with Paris with the caption: All is not lost! I get to date night with my beautiful pregnant wife @ParisFury1. God is great!

He added: What a woman. 7th incoming. Fantastic news to cheer me up!

Paris and Tyson at the boxers bout against Dillian Whyte in 2022 / Action Images via Reuters

Paris, 33, has since re-shared Tysons post with the caption: Baby number 7 on the way, God willing.

Tyson and Paris already have six children  Venezuela, 13, Prince John James, 10, Prince Tyson II, six, Valencia, five, and Princes Adonis Amaziah, four, and Athena, 20 months.

The couple have been together since their teens and got married in 2008.

Rumours the couple were expecting a seventh child have been circuling since New Years Eve they posed by their Christmas tree to mark the festive season.

In the picture, Tyson has his hand on her stomach  which some fans read as a hint that the couple were expecting.

But Paris quickly denied she was pregnant  writing: Had a great Christmas and some lovely family filled days. (PS: Tysons hand is just there dont start rumours).
S uccession star Brian Cox has revealed he once had a bone-chilling encounter with a ghost in his native Scotland.

Setting the scene, the Succession actor, 76, explained that he was a young actor in Edinburgh at the time.

Appearing on this weeks episode of ITVs The Jonathan Ross Show, he said: I went to bed one night. There was a chair right next to the dresser. Suddenly there is this rocking sound and the chair started to rock across the room And then it stopped there. I got myself right under my covers I woke up in the morning and the chair was still here and the floor was covered in these scratch marks.

Cox also discussed the highly anticipated fourth and final series of his award-winning drama, which starts on Sky Atlantic from March 27.

Brian Cox stars as Logan Roy in Succession / HBO Max

He said: Its a rollercoaster. Theres a lot of stuff in it I still cant work it out.

Theres been a remarkable closeness with all of us. I dont really mind the show ending, but its the people, the folk. The crew, the wonderful camera operators Its the whole shebang. The whole lot. Its the best thrill in the world, sad when its over.

He added: I think its going to be difficult for people. They become so addicted to the show.

They dont know why they like it as much as they do, theres a lot of hateful people thats what audiences like, that horribleness of people.

The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturday and 9:40pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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Research by the University of California, Berkeley and Cornell University sheds new light on how the interstellar flying object Oumuamua propelled itself.

Some believed because the 57,000mph space rock - which is about a quarter of a mile long and flew within 15 million miles of Earth in 2017 - did not have the traditional characteristics of a comet, that it could be some kind of extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Now, scientists believe that as Oumuamua was bombarded with cosmic radiation, it did actually expel a thin shell of trapped icy hydrogen gas to help acceleration - which was so thin it was invisible to telescopes.

The worlds first 3D-printed rocket made its launch debut, but failed three minutes into the flight and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Terran 1 booster was made almost completely of 3D-printed components, which it was hoped would reach orbit 125 miles above Earth, however aerospace startup Relativity Space says theyve gathered enough data to show that flying 3D-printed rockets is possible.

Social media, and notably Twitter, has been deluged by deepfakes falsely illustrating the arrest of former president Donald Trump.

The images, which were generated by artificial intelligence and uncovered by investigative journalism site Bellingcat, include showing Trump fighting with police officers and in handcuffs wearing an orange jumpsuit, as IRL the legal heats turned up in the Stormy Daniels case.

Plus, mind-controlled army dogs, Kings post-coronation sock rule, cancer cells space research, school vape detectors and new Stone Henge meaning row.

Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
In the middle of the French Revolution, a time of extreme upheaval and political turbulence, Maximilien Robespierre wrote a letter to his friend and unconditional comrade-in-arms, Georges Jacques Danton. I love you more than ever and until death, the statesman professed, a year before sending Danton to the guillotine. In the missive, dated February 15, 1793 in Paris, the revolutionary leader expressed his support for him after the death of Dantons wife and son. At the same time, Robespierre urged his friend not to abandon the revolutionary struggle. The letter, the only surviving correspondence between the revolutionary leaders, was auctioned to a private collector for 218,750 on March 12. A group of historians, writers and politicians are now calling for it to be returned to the public domain.

The letter is only a few lines in length but it illustrates the friendship between two emblematic figures of the French Revolution, before their relationship descended into acrimony. Just a few weeks before Robespierre penned the missive, the last monarch of France, Louis XVI, had been executed on the scaffold in the Place de la Revolution in Paris, which today is called Place de la Concorde. France had entered the Reign of Terror, which was designed to defend the fledgling nation from any external or internal enemy. The entire country was immersed in bloodletting, political and social transformation.

In his letter, Robespierre tells Danton: I love you more than ever and until death. In this moment I am you. Do not close your heart to the tones of a friendship that feels all your pain. At the beginning of 1973, Danton was in Belgium when he received news that his wife, Antoinette, had died during childbirth, as did his fourth child, an unnamed stillborn boy. If in the only misfortunes that can shake a soul such as yours, the certainty of having a tender and devoted friend can offer you some consolation, I present it to you, Robespierre continued, before adding: Let us soon make the effects of our deep sorrow felt by the tyrants who are the authors of our public misfortunes and our private misfortunes.

Robespierre's handwritten letter to Danton.

A fragment of French history

During this era Danton and Robespierre, both laywers, had been elected as deputies in the National Convention, the main political institution of the First Republic, playing a key role in the new political order. Their friendship, however, soon fractured. In April 1794, Robespierre sent Danton to the scaffold for his opposition the policy of Terror, which he himself had contributed to establishing. The emblematic duo would inspire many 19th-century authors, among them Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas.

The letter can be interpreted as evidence of Robespierres sensitivity, a sign that he was by no means a tyrant and a monster as he has been portrayed, says historian Loris Chavanette, the author of a book on the two revolutionary leaders and others on the Revolution who published an article in Le Figaro warning against the sale of the document. But at the same time, it is proof that he had taken the bloodbath to the point of eliminating his own friends, he tells EL PAIS.

The letter was sold by the Osenat auction house on March 12 to a private collector. In its description of the lot, the auctioneers underline it is the only surviving letter written to Danton by Robespierre.

Chavanette believes the letter should be exhibited in a museum or preserved in the National Archives, publishing a column in Le Monde to that effect signed by over 20 public figures. Until 2015, the document was part of the collection of the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts in Paris. The preservation of Robespierres only letter to Danton is a national cause, they stated, pointing out that the lines contain a fragment of the history of the birth of the Republic.

Among the signatories are former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, French Academy member Erik Orsenna and the mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard. In the column, they asked why the French State did not exercise its preferential right of purchase to acquire the manuscript: in 2011, the government succeeded in preventing some of Robespierres writings from being auctioned at Sothebys when a public backlash erupted over the fear the documents would leave the country. EL PAIS request for comment from the French Ministry of Culture has so far received no response.

In the Le Monde column, the signatories point out that Robespierre, despite being considered a controversial figure by some historians, was one of the primary promoters of the abolition of privileges and of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789.

For Chavanette, the letter is not only a vital fragment illustrating the legendary Revolutionaries story, but a document that also invites reflection and questions: Philosophically and spiritually speaking, is it fair to sacrifice a friend in the name of the general interest? But its uniqueness lies above all in the fact that it can be interpreted both in defense of and against the figure of Robespierre, who was nicknamed the incorruptible one, as the signatories of the Le Monde column highlighted.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Students at Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf Catholic high school in Welland walked out of classes Wednesday, protesting an alleged sexual assault in a classroom and administrations response.

More than a hundred students gathered on the sidewalk outside the River Road school at noon following a story in the Niagara Dailies about a now former student who said she was sexually assaulted in a classroom and later felt abandoned by school officials and police when she stood up for herself.

A bunch of us who felt this wasnt right and an injustice got together, said Kayden Lallierwhissell, a Grade 11 student. There should have been something done. The school has had its problems, but they swept them under the carpet, and it was all forgotten. This has to change. It has been going on for too long.

Students held up signs and chanted slogans such as Hey ho, no means no while passing motorists honked their horns in support.

Some students put up signs in the hallways and the girls bathrooms, but the teachers kept taking them down, and said If you do this, you will be suspended, Lallierwhissell said. Its ridiculous. The school did nothing about the situation.

Mikale Joly, executive director of corporate relations at Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, said students participating in the demonstration had parental authorization after the board sent a letter to parents Tuesday notified them of tha planned demonstration.

Csc MonAvenir also supports freedom of expression and welcomes any initiative that raises awareness of the importance of healthy and respectful relationships, the letter said. Therefore, if students wish to demonstrate, supervision will be provided.

Csc MonAvenir also respects the right to privacy and cannot disclose information about the ongoing investigation and actions taken in relation to that investigation.

The victim of the alleged June 2022 assult changed schools in January, but one of the protesters Wednesday was her grandfather. The Standard has withheld his name and his granddaughters name to protect her privacy.

Her grandfather staged a one-person protest outside the school Monday and Tuesday by holding a sign and explaining to passersby what had happened.

I just want to see my granddaughter smile again, he said. There is a protocol for handling something like this, and at some point, it fell apart.

She did the right thing by coming forward but was told to stay silent about this  or else. The schools are so insulated that no one can ask any questions. If nothing changes, these things will keep happening.

Lex Marchand, a Grade 10 student, witnessed the assault and said she gave Niagara Regional Police a statement during an investigation.

We need to make a change in this school, and if we dont do something, nothing will change, Marchand said. All the signs we put up in the school were respectful and in French. They were pretty much all saying, Let our voices be heard and You are not alone.

The letter to the parents acknowledged the allegations had been reported by the media.

These are concerning allegations that we take very seriously, the letter said. We would like to strongly reiterate that the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir denounces all forms of aggression and violence, whether physical, verbal or sexual.

The letter said school administrators always co-operates with the authorities when there are allegations of assault at school or during extracurricular activities.

This story raises many questions and concerns for students, the letter said. The staff at ESC Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf and Csc MonAvenir are there to listen and reassure them.

In addition, professional support is available to anyone who needs it, both alleged victims and alleged aggressors.

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Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, Academy Award nominee for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Angela Bassett and Viola Davis, who won several awards for The Woman King have put the spotlight back on female stars in action films. But the appearance of actresses in such movies is not a recent phenomenon; its an interest that has rekindled after each film in which an actress plays a part that was previously closed off to women. However, it is worth remembering that women were the original action movie stars. At the beginning of the twentieth century, a group of now-forgotten actresses jumped on moving trains, pulled off difficult chases on horseback and slid down dangerous cliffs.

A couple of months ago, Jennifer Lawrence sparked outrage on social media when she proclaimed that her role in The Hunger Games made her the first-ever action heroine. Social media users responded by throwing numerous counterexamples back in Lawrences face, including the great action movie star Cynthia Rothrock.

Rothrock, now 66, is still delivering flying kicks and has 14 films pending release. She is a legendary figure among action movie fans but largely unknown to the general public. When I first started doing action films it was very rare for women to be fighting; it was normally, Well, you have to be the assistant to the guy as he is the main fighter, and you just help out and hell save you in the end I think that now people are a little more accepting that yeah, a woman could hold her own and she could fight, she told The Action Elite. Forty years ago, when Michelle Yeoh was still Michelle Kwan, she teamed up with Rothrock in a classic of the genre, Ultra Force 2, a title that gave rise to a subgenre known as girls with guns in which men and women fought equally and under identical conditions.

Through long hours at the gym and her courage in action scenes, Yeoh earned the respect of the male co-stars who once looked askance at her. Take, for example, an accident in which she was nearly run over by Jackie Chan. I was so lucky, I landed on my butt instead of my head. If I had gone the other way, that would have been the end. After the incident, Yeoh just kept on filming. In the blockbuster action film industry, though, movies with female leads were not made with any desire for diversity or inclusion in mind, only profitability. Simply put, Yeoh and Rothrock appealed to audiences, period.

The real pioneers

Like other aspects of womens history, few people know that initially action films were dominated by actresses. Todays stars are heirs to a group of early-twentieth-century pioneers, including actresses, directors, producers, scriptwriters, stuntwomen, location scouts, makeup artists and costume designers. They did it all in their films, a fact that is even more striking when we recall that women were not even allowed to vote at the time.

Action film pioneer Pearl White in an image from the 1910s. Hulton Archive (Getty Images)

In the 1910s, fifteen-minute adventure shorts were all the rage. Their first great star was Gene Gauntier (1885-1966), who appeared in The Girl Spy: An Incident of the Civil War (1909). In the short film, she played a Confederate woman who dressed as a man to infiltrate Union lines and commit acts of sabotage. She was joined by Mary Fuller (1888-1973), with her adventure series What Happened to Mary, and Helen Holmes (1893-1950), who starred in the railroad adventure series The Hazards of Helen. Holmes played a fearless railroad employee who confronted dangersderailments, robberies and crumbling bridgesevery week.

Youd think a pretty girl like Helen would be afraid of spoiling her looks, her husband, J.P. McGowan, told a reporter. But nothing worries her. Historians have counted nearly 40 women who filmed action movies at the time, but none achieved the fame that Pearl White (1889-1938) did with the massive success of the series The Perils of Pauline, in which she suffered a new misadventure every week. Her immense popularity brought her to Spain. In Madrid, she performed at the Teatro Apolo and delighted the press by telling them that she was not afraid to travel alone: Women dont need to fear anything when a small pistol is hidden in the bottom of their pocket.

Her Spanish tour took her to Mieres, in the heart of the Asturian mining region. According to the local press there, her fans were disappointed to see that she was no longer the rosy-cheeked heroine with whom they had fallen in love on the screen. We took her down from the pedestal on which our illusions had placed her, recounted one spectator. She was only 36 years old at the time. A hundred years ago, it seems, audiences were just as unforgiving of womens bodies as they are today.

None of the female action film pioneers survived the advent of movies with sound. Most of them ended up doing stunts; they appeared in circuses, in the air or in rodeos. Others became stuntwomen, performing the most dangerous scenes for Hollywoods new faces. Despite being the first action stars and enjoying international renown, that fame was as short-lived as their careers.

Michelle Yeoh as a Bond girl in 'Tomorrow Never Dies' (1997). Keith Hamshere (Getty Images)

Puritanism plagued Hollywood after early industry scandals erased fearless women and returned them to traditional roles, both on and off the screen. In whats now known as the pre-[Hays] Code era of Hollywood films, women were smart, professional, ambitious, forthright, opaque, tricky and even criminal. They blackmailed bosses, had babies out of wedlock, seduced other women, Andi Zeisler observes in her book We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement. The Hays Code turned women into passive subjects, but there were always those who managed to slip through the cracks, like Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday (1940), Barbara Stanwyck in Cattle Queen of Montana (1954) and Katharine Hepburn in almost any film.

Western films were dominated by the archetype of the hypermasculine hero, while women were reduced to two roles: the good-hearted prostitute who runs the local brothel and the timid eastern schoolteacher confronting the new worlds rigid codes. There were few exceptions, but some films added a new twist to the genre, such as William A. Wellmans Caravan of Women (1951), the story of a group of single women and widows who go to a remote Western town, dodging all sorts of dangers, to meet their future suitors. Thanks to that movie, many saw women wielding weapons and fending for themselves in the West for the first time. In the 1990s, there was an attempt to revive the genre with women at the helm, but both Bad Girls (1994) and The Quick and the Dead (1995) were released to little fanfare.

Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien' (1979). Sunset Boulevard (Corbis via Getty Images)

Sigourney Weavers casting as the 1980s most celebrated action heroine, Ripley in the Alien movies, was serendipitous, much as Yeohs was in Everything Everywhere All at Once. The leading role in the latter film had been written with Jackie Chan in mind; when he declined, the role went to Michelle Yeoh, a change that added another layer of genius to the Daniels fascinating film. In Aliens case, producer Alan Ladd Jr. suggested that Ripley could be a woman. At the time, it was an unprecedented gesture; in 1979, a woman hadnt been the lead in a science fiction film, at least not in one without an erotic pretext, as in Barbarella (1968). Screenwriter Dan OBannon had prefaced his script with a revolutionary note: The crew is unisex and all parts are interchangeable for men or women. As Collider points out, the gender-neutral writing is one of the secrets to its success. None of the [characters] fall into the usual cliches associated with the genre, like its female characters becoming a damsel in distress or its male characters being try-hard macho men who jump into every situation guns blazing in a vain attempt to impress the opposite sex. "

In the horror genre, women commonly play leading roles and they are celebrated scream queens. But in recent decades these characters have been less like scream queens and more avengers of their own nightmares. Indeed, many have become superheroines, as in the latest Halloween installments with recent Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as the Scream franchises Sidney Prescott.

Harder boundaries to break

In an even more neglected genre, Pam Grier reigned supreme as the absolute star of blaxploitation films. These movies were primarily produced by and for African Americans. In the early 1970s, low-budget, adrenaline-pumping productions like Foxy Brown (1974) and Coffy (1973), to which Quentin Tarantino later paid a tribute in Jackie Brown (1997), made Grier an idol. Her characters, which had previously been reserved for black men, took the initiative and solved problems. Angela Bassett appeared as a worthy heir to Grier in Kathryn Bigelows Strange Days (1995). Bassett has never shied away from action movies, as evidenced by her most recent characters, Ramonda Queen of Wakanda and Athenea Grant, the hardened police chief in Ryan Murphys show 911.

Pam Grier in the movie 'Scream, Blacula, Scream' (1973). Herbert Dorfman (Corbis via Getty Images)

Aside from horror films, 1980s cinema lacked powerful female characters and represented the height of ultra-masculine action films starring the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme. While men were active agents in the films, women were only there to be rescued by those same men. But the early 1990s saw a resurgence of women who could carry an action movie on their own. Some of these films had particularly dark plots, such as Jamie Lee Curtis in Kathryn Bigelows Blue Steel (1989), Anne Parillaud in La Femme Nikita (1990), Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1990) and, of course, Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). There have also been major flops, such as Cutthroat Island (1995)in which many Hollywood actors refused to participate because they would not accept a woman, Geena Davis, in the leading roleand the underrated The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), starring the same actress.

Recently, at a Variety event, Jennifer Lawrence spoke about women in action movies. I remember when I was doing Hunger Games, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldnt work  because we were told girls and boys can both identify with a male lead, but boys cannot identify with a female lead. Her comments sparked a backlash on social media, but aside from her assertion that she was the first female lead in an action film, she was right. Despite all the progress that has been made since the first action stars, superhero franchises were still apprehensive about female roles, even though there were already hits like Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie and Resident Evil with Milla Jovovich.

Linda Hamilton in her most iconic role, Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise. CBS Photo Archive (CBS via Getty Images)

Giants like Marvel and DC are especially cautious in this regard and fear that female protagonists will generate a backlash. Black Widow (2021) was the only Marvel movie released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming platforms, which Scarlett Johansson considered an insult. Captain Marvel (2019) faced harassment from those who saw it as a concession to a woke agenda.

Wonder Womans (2017) success made DC forget the 1980s flop Supergirl, and the former was rewarded with a sequel. There will also be a prequel that centers on the adventures of Imperator Furiosa, Charlize Therons character in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), who stole the show from the rest of the cast. Theron, who has become an unexpected action heroine thanks to Atomic Blonde, The Old Guard and Fast & Furious saga, is now set to make her debut as the Marvel heroine, Clea. The first time I saw Sigourney Weaver play Ripley everything changed for me, the actress said at Comic Con in 2020. It was like the world opened up and the possibilities were endless...theres a responsibility to hand that baton over, to keep that door open [for future generations.]

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In October 2021, students at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines walked out of class to protest the school boards handling of a sexual assault alleged to have occurred there.

At the time, Niagara Regional Police said they were investigating. The District School Board of Niagara insisted it takes such allegations very seriously.

The students heard that, yet still felt strongly enough that they protested, some carrying signs with slogans like Why wont you protect me?

As Niagara Dailies wrote then, Perhaps the adults feel like they have checked off all the boxes. But if the teens still arent confident they can go to their teachers or school administration with serious, legitimate concerns and be listened to, there is much work still to be done.

That was 17 months ago, and yet a similar scenario is playing out at another Niagara high school.

On Wednesday, students at Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf Catholic secondary school, formerly Jean Vanier secondary, in Welland walked out of classes.

They were protesting an alleged sexual assault said to have occurred inside a classroom, and administrations response.

Sadly, it all sounds too familiar.

Police investigated, no charges were laid. The school board, in this case the French language Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, did not suspend the teenage male accused by a female classmate of sexually assaulting her.

And again, Niagara high school students are left feeling as if their concerns were brushed off.

Society has never been more aware than now of the seriousness of sexual assault  its not OK, its not a matter of boys will be boys, it can leave victims scarred physically and psychologically.

Knowing all that, what are students to think when one comes forward and apparently there are no consequences?

In short form, here is what has been reported so far.

A 15-year-old says last June in a classroom at the Welland school, she was the victim of a ridiculous game known as Fire Truck.

In it, someone puts their hand on another persons inner thigh and moves it upward until the person says red light. Instead of stopping, the other person replied firetrucks dont stop at red lights and moved the hand up the inner thigh.

He turned to me and put his hand on my thigh, and I told him to stop. He like half-laughed at me and smirked  and kept going, grabbing her crotch, the girl told Niagara Dailies.

She didnt tell anyone, but it ate away at her. Her parents sensed something was wrong. Over the summer, she said she posted two short videos to TikTok, one saying how it felt to be assaulted and the other describing her alleged assaulter without naming him.

When she went back to school in the fall, she discovered the male was in all four of her classes. To have her schedule changed, she had to tell the principal her story. He called police, and let her rearrange her schedule.

Then, she says, she was told she could be suspended if she didnt remove the videos after the male student complained.

Now (the principal is) telling me I could get suspended for talking about getting assaulted, she told Niagara Dailies, adding she removed the videos.

The girls mother is now left wondering how the school could threaten her daughter with suspension, while declining to suspend the male under the Safe Schools Act which is supposed to have zero tolerance for harassment or sexual assault.

Eventually, the girl left Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf and now attends a different school.

Can one blame the students who protested for feeling, yet again, theyre not being listened to?

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WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden is embarking on a 27-hour whirwind visit to Ottawa, where he will meet Friday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and speak to a joint session of Parliament  his first bilateral sojourn north as commander-in-chief.

Here are some of the issues the two leaders are likely to discuss:

Migration breakthrough: The two countries are already close to an agreement to expand the 2004 migration treaty known as the Safe Third County Agreement, which is designed to limit asylum claims in both countries but currently only applies to official entry points. As a result, critics say it encourages asylum seekers to enter Canada at unofficial border crossings, which allows them to make a claim. Sources familiar with the details say the two sides have been working on extending the agreement to cover the length of the Canada-U.S. border since the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles last June. Such an agreement would help resolve a major political headache for Trudeau, while giving Biden the political cover he would need to devote more spending to northern border security.

Modernizing Norad: Until last month, the binational early-warning system known as the North American Aerospace Defence Command might have been best known for tracking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. But a February flurry of unidentified flying objects drifting through North American airspace, most notably what U.S. officials insist was a Chinese surveillance balloon, exposed what Norad commander Gen. Glen VanHerck described as a domain awareness gap: the archaic, Cold War-era systems ability to track small, high-flying, slow-moving objects. Coupled with the brazen ambitions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ongoing but largely opaque joint effort to upgrade Norad  rarely mentioned in past Trudeau-Biden readouts  is suddenly front and centre for both governments. Media reports suggest Canada could agree to an accelerated timeline.

Helping Haiti: The list of foreign-policy hotspots around the world that instantly bring Canada to mind is a short one, but Haiti is surely near the top. And as Haiti has descended ever deeper into lawlessness in the wake of the 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moise, the need for military intervention has been growing  and some senior U.S. officials have expressly name-checked Canada as the perfect country to lead the effort. Trudeaus response has been diplomatic but firm: the crisis is best addressed from a distance. Canada is elbows deep in terms of trying to help, he said last month. But we know from difficult experience that the best thing we can do to help is enable the Haitian leadership ... to be driving their pathway out of this crisis. Military experts in Canada say the Canadian Armed Forces are in no state to be able to lead any sort of intervention. U.S. officials said Wednesday they are pursuing a solution with urgency, but insist the discussions are multilateral in nature and will have to involve Haiti itself, and perhaps even the United Nations.

Mission-critical minerals: No high-level conversation between the U.S. and Canada these days would be complete without talking about critical minerals, the 21st-century rocket fuel for the electric-vehicle revolution that Trudeau calls the building blocks for the clean economy. Canada has the minerals  cobalt, lithium, magnesium and rare earth elements, among others  and a strategy to develop them, but the industry is still in its infancy and the U.S. wants those minerals now. The issue has profound foreign-policy implications: China has long dominated the critical minerals supply chain, something the Biden administration is determined to change. This really is one of the most transformative moments since the Industrial Revolution, said Helaina Matza, the State Departments deputy special co-ordinator for the G7s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. We understand that we cant do it alone.

Water, water everywhere: Canada and the U.S. have been negotiating since 2018 to modernize the Columbia River Treaty, a 1961 agreement designed to protect a key cross-border watershed the size of Texas in the Pacific Northwest. Despite 15 separate rounds of talks, progress has been middling at best. Meanwhile, Canada is under U.S. pressure to allow the International Joint Commission  the investigative arm of a separate 1909 boundary waters agreement  to investigate toxic mining runoff in the B.C. Interior that Indigenous communities on both sides of the border say has been poisoning their lands and waters for years. Add to all of that the mounting pressure on Canada to supercharge efforts to extract and process critical minerals, and the plot promises to thicken.

Border blues: The flow of irregular migration isnt the only bilateral issue focused on the border. Critics on both sides say travel between the two countries hasnt been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nexus trusted-traveller program, a popular fast-tracking system in Canada, broke down last year amid a dispute over U.S. border agents working on Canadian soil; the fix is widely seen as less streamlined than the old system. Many of those same critical voices are taking issue with Canadas imposed new tax measures to discourage foreigners from owning real estate north of the border; some on Capitol Hill have been vociferous in pressing the Biden administration to demand an exemption.

A trade deal by any other name: Regardless of what the two leaders end up talking about, it will happen within the framework of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known in Canada as CUSMA. The USMCA era of continental trade, which began in earnest in 2020, has not been without its hiccups, including disputes over U.S. access to Canadas dairy market and the way the U.S. defines foreign automotive content. The Biden administration is also staunchly opposed to Canadas plans for a digital services tax, which it considers a violation. The agreement is due to be reviewed in 2026, and a lot could happen  especially on Capitol Hill and in the White House  between now and then. Its also worth noting that while its not covered by the trade deal, the softwood lumber dispute remains a perennial irritant. International Trade Minister Mary Ng met earlier this month with industry leaders to discuss unwarranted and illegal U.S. duties on softwood lumber, vowing that a solution that protects Canadian jobs is the only resolution that we will accept. In other words, dont hold your breath for a breakthrough on a dispute thats been going on since Adam and Eve, said Tony Wayne, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and the former U.S. assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.

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The first time Niagara family physician Ali Qamar looked at the database he and his team created to improve patient care, I had this feeling that a blindfold had been removed, he says.

Theres nothing fancy about RelayMD. Its a searchable database of specialists and procedures, by location and wait times. Yet by simply showing the full extent of available specialists in his community, this young family doctor vividly saw how access could be speeded up, reducing patient anguish and hardship.

One patient with blood in their urine  a possible sign of cancer, which later proved to be the case  waited eight months to see a specialist. Had the RelayMD database existed, Qamar would have seen there was another specialist who could see the patient in half the time. Every passing week impacted the prognosis.

Another patient, with nerve compression in the neck requiring spinal surgery to prevent further deterioration of motor control, has already been in a queue for a consultation for more than a year. Today, Qamars database can locate a specialist with a four-month wait time, with a fraction of the effort.

Finding a specialist isnt based on what your family doctor knows, but who they know, a networking process that can take years of practice. It was like looking at a system through a keyhole, says Qamar.

Given the number of new family doctors and nurse practitioners who will come on stream in the coming years, lack of an integrated province-wide or even countrywide database is madness. It guarantees wasted time and suboptimal results.

As wait times worsened over the course of the pandemic, and as more specialists retired, Qamar commiserated with a Facebook group of thousands of early-career family doctors. Referral-related problems were a constant hot topic, with crowdsourcing a recurring solution.

Comprehensive information was needed. Qamar embraced the glamour of a bootstrap operation: endless excel sheets, lots of hand-filled surveys, and hundreds of hours of zoom calls at odd hours. It paid off.

RelayMD was born in March 2022, with an emergency physician and a University of Waterloo engineer. The three founders worked with about a hundred doctors to improve user interface, documentation and tracking, then hired an assistant to help, at $17 an hour. Wait times are updated regularly, and subspecialities are noted (the types of cases that will and wont be seen), which reduces the number of declined referrals.

This simple yet miraculous system is brought to you courtesy of four people on a shoestring budget. It has delivered surprising results, surprisingly quickly.

RelayMD now lists 5,500 specialists who work through referrals from family doctors to provide care in the provinces most densely populous region, the Toronto-Hamilton-Niagara corridor. This week, specialists in Kitchener-Waterloo will be added. Next up, London or Ottawa.

By summer, at least 8,000 specialists will be listed  roughly two-thirds of all specialists to whom family docs can refer patients in Ontario  as well as hundreds of allied health professionals, such as psychologists or physiotherapists.

A family doctor can search wait times by location/distance, specialty (say, cardiology), subspecialty (say, pediatric endocrinology), or specific procedure (surgery, or a diagnostic test). They can search by gender (want a female doctor for a gynecological exam?) or language (especially helpful to reduce barriers to care for recent immigrants, migrant workers and refugees).

In Ontario many specialists have their own referral form. The website has downloadable versions of them all, making it one-stop shopping for family physicians and administrative staff.

Within a year, Qamars team has created a resource that is, quite literally, a lifesaver. It has made workflows more efficient, reducing time spent by doctors and receptionists trying to secure a referral, and reduced the time patients spend in agonizing limbo.

It hasnt added supply to the system. It has made the supply visible, shortening wait times for patients lucky enough to know what their options are. Its a mystery to me that any doctor in Canada in 2023 had to DIY a fix for that.

I wrote about centralized wait-lists in February, which is why Qamar got in touch with me. B.C. has a government-funded platform, free for all doctors. While different approaches have been tried in Ontario, its beyond frustrating we still dont have an integrated, up-to-date, physician-friendly database of wait times for all specialists.

Thats the ultimate goal of RelayMD, which charges a $19.99 monthly subscription per physician, with bulk deals for clinics and family health-care teams. Its a fast-growing business, with every month bringing in new subscribers; but Qamar says he and his co-founders would rather this information not be behind a paywall.

The alternative for many doctors is nothing, says Qamar. When you order something from Amazon, you can track its progress to your door. Our expectations are so skewed for total transparency on the consumer side, but when it comes to getting care, theres none of that.

Qamar and his partners hope the province will see the databases value and step in to fund the minimal costs of updating it. They want to ensure all doctors have the information they need to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Thats why they got into this business in the first place.

Armine Yalnizyan is a leading voice in Canadas economic scene and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers. She is a freelance contributing columnist for the Stars Business section. Follow her on Twitter: @ArmineYalnizyan . You can write to her at ayalnizyan@atkinsonfoundation.ca

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My heart and scalp go out to Doug Ford at this difficult time.

At a press conference this week in Vaughan, the premier was asked about his new buzz cut. Standing at a podium with Building Ontario signage, Mr. Ford spoke hauntingly about how his grey follicles were savagely unbuilt.

Its all I can do to not FedEx him a wig.

The nightmare started when Ford, down south for a few days, ventured into a Walmart and spied a placard for $15 haircuts. I did not know Walmart offered grooming services for men. This does not seem like a good idea.

But because Mr. Ford is a cheap son-of-a-gun, as he confessed, this discounted head maintenance felt serendipitous. If Walmart offered $4 chest and groin hair removal, a nude Mr. Ford would now be a dead ringer for the Michelin Man.

But there was a problem. Ford speaks English. The barber spoke Spanish. This triggered a lost in translation moment  and a startling amount of hair loss.

I said, I just want a trim, just a little, little trim, Ford lamented to reporters, before adding, Every guy knows what number they are.

Ladies, he is referring to the trimmer setting. He is a No. 4. But the barber must have heard, Hey, Pedro, give me a minus-12, because this stylist grabbed his electric clipper as if suddenly inspired by the artificial turf at Rogers Centre.

So, all of a sudden, he pulls out the shaver and  zoom!  right across the thing! Ford exclaimed, sounding like the victim of a home invasion. And I said, Senor! Look what you did! One side is full, one side is not! So then I had to get the other side done. And needless to say, it cost me 26 dollars.

Needless? Im not sure why the price inflated $11 so our bald leader could leave with a symmetrical cranium. What I do know is no man is safe at the barbershop.

If I had to estimate, Id say 90 per cent of my lifetime haircuts fall under the taxonomy of blah. Ive had a few good ones, yes. And a few that, upon putting my glasses back on, left me looking like a Bollywood gaffer who accidentally stuck his finger in an electrical socket. But for the most part, I never look better. I just look less shaggy.

By contrast, when my wife returns from the salon, she is a smokeshow. I always gasp at first sight. This is true of all my female friends. When they get their hair done  a word men never use because nobody cares to ever properly do our dos  they always look fantastic. Whats the difference? Is it the two hours? The various stations? The three-digit price? The complimentary cappuccinos? I have no clue.

But when my male friends get haircuts, there is a 50/50 chance they will wander out past the swirling barbers pole looking like they just had a skull mishap with John Deere. As we were coming out of the pandemic, I had dinner with a beloved mate who, earlier that day, had his first cut in weeks. I said he looked awesome. This was a lie. As we tucked into our appetizers, I found it hard to chew because I couldnt shake the horrifying feeling a monster out there had napalmed my friends noggin.

He looked like a vandalized Chia Pet. He was hideous.

Forget the budget. Doug Ford needs to protect men from bad haircuts. Enough already. A hasty trip to the barber should not be a game of Russian Roulette. Our male heads should be treated with the same love and care extended to females. Barbers should be like pilots, trained and regulated pros whod never let us go to work the next morning looking like we just had a rowdy bar brawl with Edward Scissorhands.

Why is it so hard for an Ontario man to get a decent haircut?

Ford was clear with the Walmart barber. He asked for No. 4. When Ford hits up a McDonalds drive-through and orders a Chicken Big Mac, he does not expect to get a Filet-O-Fish. But now he looks like a trout because this negligent Walmart barber treated this cheapskate haircut like it was an afternoon of reckless improv.

Its going to take to August to grow this thing back, Ford told reporters.

Thats if hes lucky. Hes 58. Every strand of hair the Walmart assassin harvested may never grow back. Once you enter middle age, you just never know. When I leave a barbershop now, I glance at the nest of hair on the floor and whisper, Thank you.

Those soldiers may never be replaced on the front lines.

This is why I am calling upon Mr. Ford to take a hard look in the mirror and vow to never let what happened to him happen to another man. Its insane that at a press conference this week, he felt the need to ball up his fists and hold them to his temples to recreate how a Walmart barber violently shook his skull and then proceeded to strip him of all hair and dignity. He looks like hes auditioning for a Top Gun sequel.

Doug Ford learned this week what other men painfully absorb by Grade 9.

Our looks are never taken seriously. Sir, all we ask is for haircut equality.

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Spring cant come soon enough for Oorbee Roy. Thats when she takes flight. In her backyard.

It makes you feel good. I forget about the world and do something just for me, explains the Toronto mom.

Roy started skateboarding five years ago in her early 40s. She didnt want to be just a spectator while her two children and husband, avid skaters, had all the fun.

Now she rolls, spins and jumps, free as a bird on the halfpipe ramp they built in their Riverdale backyard, a home they bought partly because of its outdoor space.

We built this ramp for me, for my mid-life crisis, laughs Roy, who spends a liberating 30 or 45 minutes a day on it.

Its the perfect size for me and mellow enough for my knees, she adds, pointing to the transition, or curved part, at either end.

Known as Aunty Skates, a character she created to spread joy and positivity during the pandemic, Roy became a TikTok star for skating in a flowing South Asian sari.

The toughest part of getting out of her cushy comfort zone and onto hard wood was progressing through fear, she recalls of the learning curve.

The fun took hold.

For us, its a way of life, she says of her husband Sanjeev Shah, her 10-year-old son and her 13-year-old daughter. They visit local skate parks to navigate bowls, banks and obstacles.

Roy also teaches beginners how to skate during weekend sessions in her backyard. (Shell be hosting a free introductory clinic for adults on Saturday, May 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Toronto Beaches Skatepark in Ashbridges Bay at Coxwell Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. E. Details on auntyskates.com.)

Constructing ramps is in the familys DNA, Roy says.

My husband loves building ramps!

The one they erected last summer to replace an older, rotting structure used a combination of new materials and recycled parts from a teardown at his office.

Shah, whos in the food manufacturing business, likes to take a therapeutic spin before and after work, she explains.

With help from friends, they built their new ramp in modules so it can easily be taken down or moved. It took a long time; it was a labour of love.

Backyarding activities have become a habit for Canadians, according to a recent survey by the TurfMutt Foundation, an organization that promotes outdoor spaces and experiences. Almost 90 per cent of those polled said they enjoy using yards, parks and other green spaces.

As winter winds down and thoughts turn to outdoor recreational activities, Roy encourages other homeowners to consider making their own ramp after first checking municipal codes for rules and requirements.

She estimates the cost of a DIY halfpipe or mini ramp, which has two sloped sides and a flat section in the middle, at around $1,500. A professionally built structure could cost about $5,000, says Roy, who consulted Ramp to Rail, a Toronto-based ramp builder

A smaller, quarter-pipe ramp with only one sloped side is easier and cheaper to erect, costing $200 or less if you have scrap wood kicking around, says Roy, who has instructions for building one on her website.

The secret to success with a half pipe is all about getting the dimensions right, she points out. The three main factors to consider are height, width (so you can turn back and forth) and transition, the concave part at either end that can be steep or not so steep.

The base of a ramp or quarter pipe is a frame which is easy to create, she says. The most difficult measurement of a ramp is the transition.

Materials required include plywood sheets; pressure-treated 2-by-4s; round metal pipe, called coping, that runs across the top edge; roofing paper to cover the plywood; and Skatecrete, a high-pressure laminate overlay.

Roy recommends constructing a ramp on paving stones so the wood doesnt rot.

After that, its smooth sailing  or flying.

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Reginas mayor says no decision has been made on whether the city will keep the name of its tourism agency after a controversial rebranding rollout.

Experience Regina apologized on the weekend and removed phrases online that seemed to make light of the Saskatchewan capitals name rhyming with vagina.

Not all can get past it, Sandra Masters said Wednesday.

But, by and large, people make mistakes. We are human beings. Its human beings running all these things.

Masters said council will need to be briefed on what went wrong. She said the intention of the campaign was to promote the city and its people, but that wasnt what happened.

Masters said the negative effects have been unfortunate.

Its so deeply regrettable, she said.

Last week, Experience Regina launched the rebrand and posted on its social media accounts: We are the city that rhymes with fun. Its website also had show us your Regina written above a block of Instagram posts.

Some people in Regina have said the slogans were unnecessary and took the city backward in advancing womens rights.

Opposition NDP Status of Women critic Jennifer Bowes wrote on Twitter that the tag lines were misogynistic.

Two days later, the organization, previously known as Tourism Regina, apologized and removed the phrases.

Tim Reid, the agencys CEO, said in a statement posted on social media that it fell short of what is expected from our amazing community with some of the slogans that we used.

Masters said the tourism agencys board was scheduled to be briefed on the campaign Thursday.

The mayor added she has heard from people calling for Reids dismissal over the rebranding, but said she thinks there has been accountability for the error.

I dont think we dig holes and throw people in them and cover them up because of a mistake.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.

 By Kelly Geraldine Malone in Saskatoon, with files from Jeremy Simes in Regina

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OTTAWAA deadly fungus is spreading at an alarming rate in the U.S. and poses a serious health threat across the world, including Canada, according to the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The transmission of the deadly fungus called Candida auris have risen in U.S. health-care facilities in recent years, with a dramatic increase in 2021, according to recent CDC data published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The rapid rise and geographic spread of cases is concerning and emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control, said CDC epidemiologist Dr. Meghan Lyman, lead author of the paper.

2021 saw a tripling in the number of cases resistant to echinocandins, a widespread antibiotic used to treat it, causing further concern amongst scientists. The fungus has become resistant to multiple antifungal drugs used to treat the Candida-type infections, according to recent data.

Infection caused by the fungus has been known to lead to severe illness in hospitalized patients, and can be deadly in some cases.

The CDC also pointed out that the disease has caused outbreaks in health care before, so hospitals need to identify cases of the fungus as soon as possible, to stop its spread.

What is Candida auris?

Candida auris is a fungus that grows as yeast, that can cause dangerous infections that can be life-threatening when it enters the bloodstream. Some symptoms include fever, aches and fatigue, and it can cause blood, wound and ear infections. It also has been detected in respiratory and urine samples, according to the CDC, but it is unclear if it causes infections in the lung or bladder.

Around 400,000 bloodstream infections occur every year due to Candida yeasts, of which Candida auris is a type, and over 40 per cent of these infections are fatal, according to scientists.

How does it spread?

The yeast can enter the bloodstream and from there spread throughout the body, causing serious invasive infections in immunocompromised patients, according to the CDC.

That said, healthy people rarely experience symptoms after contracting it. The CDC describes Candida auris ability to live in patients bodies even when they dont feel sick as colonization.

The fungus can spread from the bodies of colonized individuals  such as health-care workers  and infect others or contaminate nearby objects.

The yeast can also be resistant to some ammonia-based hospital disinfectants according to Canada Public Health.

Who is at risk?

Patients of any age can be affected, according to the CDC, but people with compromised or weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to it.

Those who have been hospitalized in a health-care facility for a long time, have a central venous catheter or other lines or tubes entering their body, or have previously received antibiotics or antifungal medications appear to be at highest risk of infection.

Nonhospitalized people with lines and tubes that go into their body are also at risk, if they have recently spent time in nursing homes. Other risk factors include recent surgery, diabetes, long-term use of antibiotics and antifungal medication.

Healthy people dont have much cause for concern, according to The American Council on Science and Health, but should take precautions and wash their hands frequently if a loved one is colonized or infected.

How is it diagnosed?

It is difficult to identify the fungus using standard laboratory methods, and it can be misidentified by labs without specific technology, according to the CDC.

Infections caused by Candida auris are usually diagnosed by blood culture or other body fluids. However, this specific yeast is harder to identify from cultures than other common Candida yeasts, and can be confused with other types.

How to treat it?

Patients suspected or confirmed to have the infection should be cared for with gowns and gloves in a private room with a private washroom.

Scientists warn we need to stop the unnecessary use of antibiotics to reduce the risk of wider spread.

The ground zero

Candida auris was first identified in Japan in 2009 in the ear discharge of a female patient, and it has spread over six continents and 30 countries since then, according to the CDC. The first case in the U.S. was detected in 2016.

What does it mean for Canada?

Since 2012, there have been 43 known cases of Candida auris in Canada, including both infected and colonized cases. Some of these cases were associated with travel and did not originate here, according to Health Canada.

The risk to the general population at this time is considered very low, Tammy Jarbeau, Health Canada spokesperson, told the Star.

Globally, outbreaks of C. auris have been limited to health-care settings, as opposed to the community. Similar to the experience of other countries, it is possible that Candida auris will become more common in Canada, including the potential for outbreaks in health-care and long-term care facilities, she said.

All known cases in Canada so far have been susceptible to the recommended treatment, according to Health Canada.

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EDMONTON - Two Alberta government cabinet ministers announced Friday that they will not be seeking re-election.

Travis Toews, the provinces finance minister and the runner-up to Premier Danielle Smith in last falls United Conservative Party leadership race, is exiting politics. Environment Minister Sonya Savage also said she will not run in the expected May 29 provincial vote.

Toews, the legislature member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti in northwestern Alberta, ended months of speculation with his announcement. He said it was a recent decision and a difficult one for him and his wife, Kim.

(There were) personal considerations, certainly family considerations and some business considerations, Toews said in an interview. When we added all of them up this seemed like the right decision for us. That was the impetus for it.

He dismissed suggestions the decision was tied to his loss to Smith or to the partys further shift to the right under her leadership.

We have a big tent party. This United Conservative Party has a lot of diversity. All groups are very important, he said.

Im fully committed to the party, to the movement, committed to the premier and committed to an election win this May.

Toews was elected in 2019 for the UCP and was finance minister for all but a few months when he ran to replace former premier Jason Kenney as party leader, coming in second to Smith.

Savage, the member for Calgary North-West, announced her decision to quit provincial politics with a statement on Twitter, saying she wants to spend more time with her family. She said she looks forward to remaining a party member and wished the premier and her UCP colleagues success in the upcoming election.

In a statement, Smith said Toews has been one of the strongest finance ministers in Albertas history and leaves a legacy of strong fiscal management that I will continue to uphold as premier.

I greatly respect his decision to spend more time on the ranch and with his family, Smith said. There will be big boots to fill in Grande Prairie-Wapiti, and I wish him, Kim and the family nothing but the very best.

Smith said Savage will be greatly missed.

Minister Sonya Savages dedication and commitment to furthering Albertas energy interests and developing a Made-in-Alberta approach to responsible environmental stewardship of our natural resources will benefit Albertans for decades, she said in a statement.

Toews had refused to discuss his future in recent weeks, saying he was focused on passing the budget, which featured a projected $2.4-billion surplus along with increased spending across the board.

The decision comes a little over a month from when the writ is expected to drop.

Smith said that given the short window, she will work with the party and the local constituency association to appoint a candidate so that the new candidate can hit the ground running and ensure a UCP victory in this constituency.

Toews was the early favourite to replace Kenney as leader last year  with half of the caucus members supporting him  but fell short in the end as Smith galvanized party anger with the federal government and COVID-19 health restrictions.

He locked horns with Smith during the campaign. He criticized her for past advocacy of a provincial sales tax and said her proposed  and since passed  sovereignty act would scare off investment with its promise to ignore federal laws in areas of perceived provincial jurisdiction.

As finance minister, the rancher and accountant oversaw the best and worst of Albertas turbulent oil-and-gas-powered economy, with massive deficits, negative oil prices and eye-popping surpluses.

He looked born to the parts of outdoorsman and number cruncher: close-cropped hair, eyeglasses and well-worn cowboy boots with a trademark monotone speaking style occasionally punctuated by high-decibel, finger-pointing attacks on the NDP Opposition during question period.

He stickhandled many controversial files, including de-indexing personal income tax, arguing for wage cuts to nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and lifting the rate cap on auto insurance.

He was also the point person on long-running deliberations to pull Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan in favour of a provincial one. The government has yet to release research on the merits and drawbacks of such a plan, despite promising two years ago that the release of a report was imminent.

Toews was also among those who were surreptitiously photographed in 2021 at a drinks-and-dinner get-together with Kenney on a rooftop patio on the legislature grounds in contravention of COVID-19 gathering rules.

In a statement, Opposition NDP finance critic Shannon Phillips said she admires Toews record.

He conducts himself with decency and is mostly grounded in reality, unlike the new crop of Smith candidates.

Toews said his proudest achievement is leaving the province in a better place financially than when he found it, noting the new budget also includes commitments to keeping spending under control while repaying debt and investing in long-term savings.

Were leading the nation in job creation, Toews said.

All of that tied together certainly brings some satisfaction to these last four years, which have certainly been a bit of a roller-coaster.

He said the difficult part was long nights of no-win decisions during the COVID-19 crisis, balancing public health with personal freedoms with no clear cut black-and-white answers.

Those were some of the hardest hours of my life serving on that COVID cabinet committee, he said.

(They were) impossible decisions, and knowing those decisions were going to impact Albertans directly. We certainly didnt get it all right.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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The worlds leading climate scientists are calling for a rapid, co-ordinated response to climate change in the next seven years in order to prevent increased natural disasters and irreversible damage to the earth.

The need for change is urgent. The crisis has already devastated huge swathes of the earth, especially in developing countries, despite rich ones contributing the most greenhouse gas emissions.

In its Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Synthesis Report, the United Nations is calling on the world to cut emissions by almost half by 2030, and said wealthy countries like Canada should reach zero emissions by 2040. (We have so far only committed to reaching zero emissions by 2050).

The report calls for the protection of intact forests, wetlands and other natural ecosystems. It notes that solar and wind power, and even bike-riding, help.

There are steps individuals can take to help, but there also needs to be a societal shift, one climate expert and a climate activist told the Star.

Do what you can, but make it visible and social, said Matt Hoffman, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto and co-director of the Environmental Governance Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

We have to get societal and policy change, he added. The link between individual behaviour and individual choices and those societal changes are about making your choices part of the conversation and making your choices part of changing whats natural in our society.

Evelyn Austin, the executive director of Banking on a Better Future, also weighed in on a campaigns to stop fossil fuel development and expansion projects.

According to a recent report by Lakehead University, nearly 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 25 are feeling the impact of climate change on their mental health. But these experts say there are steps people can take right now to help make a difference.

Pressure politicians across party lines

In Hoffmans view, the biggest thing many individuals can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to help make climate change a non-partisan priority, where its seen as natural to take aggressive action on climate change, regardless of political association.

Vote for candidates at every level who take climate change action seriously and are committed to acting aggressively on it, Hoffman said. And not only voting, but telling people in your family, in your neighbourhood, and telling your politicians why youre voting.

Change your RRSP investments

People whose RRSPs or pensions are invested in the oil and gas industry are contributing capital to the industry thats creating the problem, Hoffman said.

More and more, there are mutual funds and investment options that are more sustainable and fossil fuel free, he added, but you have to explicitly choose to make it a priority.

If people pick their own, finding fossil fuel free investments for your RRSP can be a pretty big deal, he said.

Consider alternative banking options

According to a 2022 report, Canadas Big Five banks  RBC, Scotiabank, TD, CIBC and BMO  have invested $911 billion into the fossil fuel sector since the 2015 Paris Agreement, when governments around the world agreed to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Theres a movement underway across Canada, which began in universities, to pressure banks to divest.

Laurentian Bank is the only major bank in Canada that has agreed to phase out its investments in the industry, Austin said. There are also a number of credit unions that dont invest in fossil fuels projects at all. In Ontario, those include Alterna Savings Credit Union, DUCA Financial and Kindred Credit Union.

Through Banking on a Better Future, Austin advocates for people to make the switch, arguing credit unions across the board are more democratic than banks and therefore can be more receptive to depositors who vote for it to phase out investments into fossil fuel development.

Pressure banks to stop financing fossil fuel projects

By funding fossil fuel projects, banks are condoning the activity of that industry, Austin said.

The goal of her advocacy with Banking on a Better Future is to use public pressure to take away the social license to operate that banks have in supporting the development and expansion of fossil fuels  effectively stigmatizing the practice until it is no longer socially acceptable  and to deplete the companies of the funds needed to complete the projects.

It took 10 years, but it was Indigenous and environmental advocacy that ultimately led the Keystone XL pipeline project to be cancelled in 2021. The project lost its social license, Austin explained.

Advocates are putting the pressure on by attending banks Annual General Meetings (AGM) as shareholders put forward resolutions that touch on either ending fossil fuel expansion and financing, or integrating FPIC, Free, Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples into their lending practices or both, she said.

Switch energy sources, watch your food  and spread the word

There are limitations to what individuals can do to help reduce climate change, Hoffman said, because making green decisions often comes down to how much money someone has to spare. For those who can take these steps, he suggests spreading the word and pushing politicians to make environmentally-friendly options more accessible to everyone.

Some of the most important individual changes can be made at home and on the commute, Hoffman said.

One of the big things you can do in your house is get a heat pump instead of a gas furnace, he said.

The government has rebates to repay the costs, he added, but doing so is limited to homeowners and people who have the cash available to start.

Changing your light bulbs to LED light bulbs is good at reducing electricity use in your house, but that kind of impact is overwhelmed by how we are stuck in systems that are really reproducing climate change, he said.

Other steps individuals can take is turning off the lights, eating less meat, walking and biking as much as possible, switching from a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle, and taking fewer flights, Hoffmann said.

With files from Kate Allen

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An international student facing deportation to India says he had no interest in studying business but that his education agent told him it would give him a better shot at getting a visa and he could switch to another program upon arrival in Canada.

At an admissibility hearing Friday, Amritraj Singh Batth testified he hired Brijesh Mishra, owner of EMSA, a consulting firm in Jalandhar, to get a visa to study in Canada but had no idea the Humber College admission letter the agent used for the application was doctored.

If I would have gotten to know prior to coming to Canada, I would never have entered Canada, the Brampton man told immigration tribunal adjudicator Karina Henrique through a Punjabi interpreter.

I never intended to come to Canada illegally. I wanted to have proper legal documentation to come here.

Bhatt, who arrived here in 2018, has been deemed inadmissible by Canada Border Services Agency for misrepresentation as a result of using a fake acceptance letter to obtain his study permit. If the finding is upheld, he will have to leave Canada and will be banned from re-entering the country for five years.

The 25-year-old is among a group of international students from India who applied for student visas through the same agent and are facing the same allegation by border agents. Some of them have been in Canada since 2017, have completed their studies, been issued work permits and had been on the path to permanent residence.

Under cross examination, Bhatt said a relative referred his parents to Mishra in 2018 and he didnt know if the agent was a registered lawyer or immigration consultant in Canada.

Only licensed lawyers and consultants registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants can legally offer immigration advice and services at a fee. Education agents are not licensed in Canada. Neither the Law Society of Ontario nor the consultants college show any records on their websites indicating Mishra was a member.

Bhatt admitted that it was his signature on all the paperwork for his application and he did not review the documents allegedly compiled by Mishra because he was in a rush to submit it to the Canadian visa post just 30 minutes before it closed for the day.

I resided in a city thats far from (Jalandhar), where the Canadian embassy is located. The embassy is pretty busy. Theres a particular day were supposed to go, he explained.

In your own words, whats the purpose of you signing an application? asked Nathan Reid, lawyer for the border agency.

By signing this application I see that this application is being submitted from me and I have completed all the things, replied Batth, who said he came from a village that didnt have access to the internet other than through his 2G cellphone.

Batth said his family paid Mishra about $27,000 in total for the fees of handling the college and visa applications, as well as the tuition fee for the first semester of study.

He said hed told the agent he would like to study nutrition or something to do with computers in Ontario but was convinced that Mishra would help him get into another program once he arrived in the country.

During his testimony, Batth presented a copy of his communication with Mishra on WhatsApp that dated back to June 2018 after their first meeting in Jalandhar as evidence of the agents involvement in his study plan.

In one entry on Aug. 31, 2018, the agent, under the user name Brijesh Jlndhr, advises Batth not to go to Humber because his student account had not been activated yet.

On the schools registration deadline on Sept. 4, 2018, according to the WhatsApp records, a nervous Batth messaged the agent, raising concerns if he could still get a seat in the food and nutrition program.

My friend, do not worry. I will do that myself and send you a message. Once that is done then go to college, said a reply at 8:37 a.m. that day. There will be no issue.

When the agent stopped responding to his messages, Batth said he started looking at other schools but it was too late to enrol in a fall program. Meanwhile, his parents reached out to Mishra in India and managed to get a refund that fall in the amount of $9,000 out of the initial $27,000.

RELATED STORIES Canada Outrage amid reports that hundreds of Indian students in Canada could face deportation over bogus admission letters

You parents were OK to take the loss? Henrique, the tribunal adjudicator, interjected.

Most of the time Indian transactions take place in the form of cash payments. We do not have any proof that we have given that amount of money to him. So for that reason, thats the money he refunded us, responded Batth, who now works as a truck driver.

In April 2019, through an immigration consultant in Canada, he enrolled in a web design and programming diploma course at CDI College in Montreal. His initial study permit was extended and he received a postgraduate work permit in 2022, all without a hitch.

Batth said he had no idea the Humber college admission letter was bogus until he was contacted by border officials last year for an interview. If he had known it was fake, he said he would have reported it to Canadian immigration authorities.

Earlier on Friday, Batths lawyer Jaswant Mangat had requested the proceedings be adjourned after he received reports from police and local authorities in Jalandhar against Mishra. The lawyer asked for time to have the reports translated and certified, but the tribunal decided to look at the new evidence in the next hearing in April.

Mishra did not respond to the Stars requests for comment.

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Their cars are synonymous with luxury, but also with elegance, sophistication and discretion. On the other hand, beyond money, the Porsche family does not seem to share these characteristics with its flagship products these days. Wolfgang, third generation of the saga, chairman of the Board of Directors of the carmaker and with an estimated fortune of more than 20 billion euros (according to Bloomberg they are the most powerful family in cars), has recently become the protagonist of a scandal that has reached the pages of German newspapers and not precisely because of the economic results of his company. His private life, with a divorce and an alleged aristocratic romance involved, is now exposed throughout the continents press.

In mid-March, and through a spokesperson, Porsche, 79, announced his separation from his wife of four years, Claudia Hubner, 74, although they had been in a relationship for more than 15 years. The wedding took place in 2019 at the Mirabell Palace in Salzburg, where the mayor of the city married them, since the couple lived halfway between it and the also Austrian Zell am See. Four children of the two previous Porsche marriages attended the ceremony, as well their four grandchildren, Hubners only daughter and her own four grandchildren.

A couple of years ago, Hubner fell seriously ill with dementia, which has caused her mental and physical health to deteriorate rapidly. She was a professor of Civil and Criminal Law, as well as a councilor for the city of Stuttgart and later an adviser to the German Government. Now she can hardly move on her own. According to German media such as Bunte or T Online, citing sources close to the family, the illness was one of the main reasons Porsche filed for divorce. The couple no longer lives together, and since 2021 Hubner has lived with her daughter Louisa in Kitzbuhel, in the Tyrol region.

While his almost ex-wife spends her days cared for by four caregivers who watch over her 24 hours a day, Porsche continues his work as chairman of the board of the family business, a position he has held since 2007. Wolfgang became the spokesman of the group after the death 25 years ago of his father, Ferry, who was arrested for collaborating with the SS, and who was the only son of his grandfather Ferdinand, founder of the company and an engineer allied with Hitler, for whom he built tanks. In addition to his current position, he was also a member of the boards of Volkswagen and Audi for many years. In addition, he runs an organic alpine farm with about 200 cattle, as the company itself explains in its biography, and has an extensive collection of cars, Porsche, of course, especially unique, which he drives regularly.

News of the divorce caused a certain stir among the German and Austrian high society, but even more so when it was revealed that another of the main reasons for the separation is a new and alleged relationship between Porsche and his friend of 25 years, Princess Gabriela of Leiningen, nee Thyssen. At 59, Leiningen is a former model, philanthropist, Unesco advisor and television collaborator who even participated in Germanys Eurovision pre-selection in 1986 (where she came last).

Gabriela de Leiningen, when she was the wife of the Aga Khan, in the Pardo palace at the dinner prior to the wedding of today's Kings Felipe and Letizia, on May 21, 2004. Bernardo Rodriguez (AFP)

The princess has been married twice. The first was with Karl-Emich, prince of Leiningen and head of the Romanov house (eternal claimants to the extinct throne of Russia), with whom she has a 30-year-old daughter, Theresa. The Leiningen family never looked kindly on that union and disinherited Karl-Emiche.

But her second and most famous marriage was to the fourth Aga Khan in May 1998; she has a son with him, Aly, 21 years old. Gabriela and Shah Karim al-Hussayni (now 86 years old) separated in October 2004. He is a good friend of King Emeritus Juan Carlos of Spain, a spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims (a small branch of Shiism with barely 15 million followers), and has an estimated fortune of $1 billion. The princess, who converted to Islam when she got married so she could be the begum Inaara, discovered in 2002 that her husband was being unfaithful when, thanks to a private detective, she discovered that he had gone on vacation to Tanzania with another woman in their private plane. Their divorce was estimated, two decades ago, at about $200 million. Gabriela auctioned for $20 million more than half a hundred of her jewels, including a diamond and emerald necklace from Cartier valued at about $3 million.

After her separation from the Aga Khan, the princess  who decided to keep the title that her first marriage gave her  dated Jurgen Kellerhaus, heir to the separated empire of the technology giant Media Markt. But that was in 2019. Now, according to Bunte, the princess and the strong man from Porsche have been seen at parties in Munich for a few months, where they have presented themselves as a couple, and at the beginning of the year they went on vacation to Maldives. On April 1, Gabriela will be 60 years old; on May 10, Wolfgang will turn 80. Perhaps a lavish birthday party will finish making their no less lavish romance public.

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A Canadian family of Syrian refugees, whose chocolates and journey captured the hearts of the world, had their treats presented to the president of the United States.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May gifted a bar of Peace by Chocolate, created by Tareq Hadhad and his family, to U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to Ottawa on Friday.

The small gesture marks yet another significant milestone in the Hadhad familys sweet Canadian success story, which has been featured by international media outlets and even turned into a feature film.

Hadhad, who is in Ottawa for the presidents visit, said he had no idea May was going to give Biden his familys chocolates.

Truly and honestly, were still pinching ourselves, said Hadhad, founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate. Its truly a proud heritage moment for our family and the people of Antigonish.

A spokesperson for May said the Green Party leader bought the chocolate last week specifically for Biden while she was visiting Antigonish, N.S. for a speaking event.

Hadhad said he hopes the president and first lady Jill Biden reflect on his familys story as refugees and the impact of the kindness offered by Nova Scotians and Canadians, by giving us a second chance after the world closed its borders.

In 2012, Hadhad and his family were forced to flee their home in Syria after the start of the 2011 civil war. Their decades-old chocolate factory in Damascus had been destroyed in a bombing.

For almost three years, Hadhad and his family lived in a Lebanese refugee camp, before arriving in Canada in 2015 and settling in Antigonish, N.S.

A year later, the Hadhads decided to rebuild their company, launching Peace by Chocolate in 2016. It started with just one kind of chocolate bar, made in their home kitchen and sold at the local farmers market.

Some seven years later, they have more than 250 chocolate products, which combine flavours from Syria with Canadian ingredients, like Nova Scotian wild blueberries and maple cream. In addition to a store in Antigonish, they also operate a flagship location in Halifax.

Chocolate lifts the spirit and adds sweetness to hard times, said Hadhad, speaking with the Star in 2021. At the end of the day, we are not in the business of only making chocolate; were in the business of making peace.

With files by Mishal Cazmi

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO (AP)  President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday celebrated the close, inseparable U.S.-Canada relationship and vowed that the two nations remain committed to defending Ukraine as it tries to repel a Russian invasion that has no end in sight.

Biden and Trudeau met just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks for the first time since the start of the war. The Chinese and Russian leader agreed to deepen economic bonds between their two countries. But Biden argued that Western resolve remains stronger and warned Russia that the U.S., Canada and their allies would defend every inch of NATO territory.

The president also bristled at the notion that Russia has managed to expand a partnership with Beijing that is allowing Moscow to sustain its economy and war effort despite the U.S. lining up an international coalition to economically isolate Russia with a barrage of sanctions. China, however, thus far has refrained from providing Russia weapons since the start of the war, according to the White House.

We have significantly expanded our alliances, Biden said with Trudeau by his side during a joint news conference. Tell me how in fact you see a circumstance where China has made a significant commitment to Russia? What commitment can they make?

At an earlier appearance with Biden before the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau said his country  which has provided Kyiv with artillery, ammunition, armor and tanks  remained committed to Ukraines cause.

As you well know, Mr. President, Canada will continue to stand strong with Ukraine, with whatever it takes, Trudeau said.

The whirlwind visit by Biden  his first visit to Canada as president  was meant to showcase U.S.-Canada ties, and both leaders offered full praise of each other.

Biden, addressing Canadas Parliament, even said the U.S. was lucky to have Canada as its neighbor as both countries grapple with the rapidly changing global economy, climate change, war in Europe and more.

Today our destinies are intertwined and they are inseparable, Biden said. Not because of inevitability of geography, but because its a choice, the choice we made again and again.

Two people, two countries, in my view sharing one heart.

On one often-difficult subject, immigration, Biden and Trudeau used the visit to announce an agreement aiming to stem the flow of asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings from the U.S. to Canada.

The accord eliminates a loophole under existing rules and will allow both countries to turn away asylum seekers at their borders. At the same time, Canada announced that 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere will be given official slots to apply to enter the country.

The leaders also sat down with top aides for a private conversation. Besides Ukraine and defense spending, the wide-ranging talks touched on shared concerns about China's aggressiveness and violence and political instability in Haiti.

Trudeau noted Beijings growing economic power and a need for the U.S. and Canada to work together to address it. To that end, Canada said Friday it was entering an arrangement with IBM to expand domestic research and development and advanced packaging of semiconductors  and planning an investment of up to $250 million to improve North American competitiveness and supply chain resiliency, help cut pollution, foster economic and national security.

Trudeau also spoke of a need to coordinate even more closely to combat climate change and grow both countries economies.

We have to stick together, Trudeau said. We have to continue to face down authoritarian threats, both at home and abroad. We have to continue to defend what is right. This is not the time to compromise on our values.

At their joint news conference later, Biden briefly veered away the days themes to send a warning to Tehran, after a suspected Iranian-made drone on Thursday killed a U.S. contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria.

U.S. forces responded to the attack with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran, Biden said. But he said Iran and its proxies should be prepared for the U.S. to act forcefully to protect our people.

The subject of difficult relations with China was an undercurrent of Bidens visit.

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, arrested in China in 2018, were in the balcony for the speeches in Parliament.

The two were taken into custody shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, technology company Huaweis chief financial officer and the daughter of the companys founder, on a U.S. extradition request. The Canadians were held for more than than two years in China before the Biden and Trudeau governments managed to win their release. Kovrig is a former diplomat, Spavor a businessman.

Regarding Haiti, Canada is being nudged by the U.S. and other allies to lead an international mission there to deal with the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis. Canada on Friday announced $100 million ($72.7 million U.S.) in new aid for support and equipment for the Haitian National Police.

Biden said the idea of deploying an international force was not in play at the moment but had not been taken off the table. Trudeau said the international community can have the most impact in the long term by being there to support the capacity of the police in Haiti.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the countrys Council of Ministers sent an urgent appeal last October calling for the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity to stop the crisis caused partly by the criminal actions of armed gangs. But more than five months later, no countries have stepped forward. Canadas top military official has suggested the country doesnt have the capacity.

Biden endorsed Trudeaus efforts to focus on capacity building but also noted the situation in Haiti remains fragile as gangs have essentially taken the place of the government.

Its a work in progress, he said.

Fridays meetings also included discussion of defense spending, an issue thats in the spotlight after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed part of Canada and the continental U.S. last month.

Canada has long faced calls to increase its defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product, the agreed-upon target by NATO members. Ottawa spends about 1.2% now.

Canada and the United States share a responsibility and a commitment to make sure NATO can deter any threat and defend against any aggression from anyone, Biden said. Thats the bedrock of the security of both our nations.

The Trudeau government also announced plans for a $7.3 billion ($5.3 billion U.S.) project to upgrade and build infrastructure to support the arrival of a new fleet of F-35 fighter jets.

Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, closed the visit Friday night with a gala dinner in honor of Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

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KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  Congos former rebel leader jailed by the International Criminal Court, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has been appointed Congos Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle.

Bembas appointment to the key positions was announced Thursday evening on state television by President Felix Tshisekedis spokeswoman. Bembas promotion and other Cabinet appointments come less than a year ahead of Congos presidential elections.

Congos former vice president between 2003 and 2006, Bemba was later imprisoned by the ICC for more than a decade, accused of murders, rapes and pillaging committed by his Movement for the Liberation of Congo forces in the neighboring country of Central African Republic. In a surprising ruling, he was acquitted by the ICC in 2018. Bemba has always maintained his innocence.

Bembas return to prominent government positions comes nine months ahead of Congos presidential elections scheduled for December. Bembas political comeback was likely decided to help Tshisekedi win votes in Congos war-torn northeast, where Bembas rebel group was popular in the 1990s and 2000s, say analysts.

This is clearly a pre-election reshuffle and Jean-Pierre Bemba has been appointed to bring his supporters in line to rally behind the president ahead of the race, said Benjamin Hunter, Africa analyst for Verisk Maplecroft, a risk assessment firm.

Despite Bembas previous imprisonment by the ICC, he is a political heavyweight with the patronage networks and contact book to help Tshisekedis election campaign, he said.

Conflict in eastern Congo has been simmering for decades with more than 120 armed groups fighting for power, land, resources and some to defend their communities. Tshisekedi came to office in 2019 promising to stem Congos instability and violence, but its only increased.

Other new government postings in the Cabinet reshuffle include Tshisekedis former chief of staff, Vital Kamerhe, who was named the minister of the economy. Kamerhe was sentenced to 20 years in prison but acquitted last year. Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, a former warlord in Ituri province was appointed minister of state for national integration.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Long-range Russian bombardment killed at least 10 civilians and wounded 20 others in several parts of Ukraine on Friday, officials in Kyiv said, as a Kremlin official boasted that its forces were prepared to repel an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive this spring.

Five people died in Kostiantynivka, in eastern Ukraines Donetsk province, when a Russian missile hit an aid station. Ukrainian authorities last year established hundreds of points of invincibility, where residents hard-pressed by the war could warm up, recharge their cellphones and get food.

Prosecutors said the Russians attacked with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. The civilians who died were refugees, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.

As the mostly artillery war of the winter months stretches into its second spring, Russian forces also used air-launched missiles, exploding drones and gliding bombs to attack several regions, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Two civilians were killed and nine were wounded in the town of Bilopillia in Sumy province by an overnight rocket and artillery barrage and airstrikes, officials in the northeastern region said.

In southern Ukraine, Russian shelling killed one person in the city of Kherson and killed another person and wounded four others in the town of Bilozerka. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited that region Thursday.

Ukrainian forces are poised to use the arrival of warmer weather and new weapons from the West, including tanks, for a counteroffensive aimed at dislodging Russian troops from occupied areas.

But Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now deputy head of the countrys Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said its forces were ready to repel a counterattack.

Our General Staff is assessing all that, Medvedev said.

He added that any Ukrainian attempt to seize Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.

An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said. Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realize that.

Medvedev is known for frequent bombastic pronouncements, but his warning also stems from Russias security doctrine envisioning the use of its atomic arsenal in response to a nuclear attack or one with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.

Medvedev also said that Western experts operating weapons, such as the U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems supplied to Ukraine, could be targeted. Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the U.S., although Russian officials frequently claim that foreign instructors are in Ukraine.

If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Medvedev said in video posted to his messaging app channel. They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state and they must be destroyed.

They must understand that as soon as an American or a Polish soldier shows up there, he must be killed, he added.

The Kremlin wants to create a sanitary cordon of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) around Russian-held areas so short- and medium-range weapons cant hit them, Medvedev said.

Moscow may even try to grab a chunk of Ukrainian territory stretching all the way to Polish border, he said.

Also Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed Denmarks plans to invite the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines to join a mission to recover an object discovered near the pipeline damaged in an explosion in September. There is still no accepted explanation for the sabotage on the Russia-to-Germany pipelines.

This investigation should be transparent and inclusive from the standpoint of involvement of all parties concerned, he said, adding that the object was located near a pipe weld, the most vulnerable section of a pipeline on the Baltic seabed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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LONDON (AP)  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu in London on Friday as protesters shouting Shame! in Hebrew demonstrated against the Israeli leaders right-wing policies and his plans to overhaul the countrys judiciary.

Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving signs calling for the defense of Israeli democracy as he arrived at 10 Downing St. for discussions that focused on the war in Ukraine and concerns about Irans nuclear program.

Sunak also raised Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms, which have sparked mass protests in Israel and beyond. One placard in London read: We are Israelis and Jews living in the U.K. demonstrating against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is leading a judicial coup turning Israel into a dictatorship.

Some women protesting outside Downing Street wore red robes and white caps inspired by The Handmaid's Tale, a novel and TV series set in a dystopian future. Similarly clad demonstrators have become fixtures of the mass protests roiling Israel.

Sunak stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel, the British leaders office said in an official readout of the meeting.

Other leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have expressed concern about proposed changes.

Netanyahus proposals would give his government more control over judicial appointments, weaken the Supreme Court by limiting judicial review of legislation and allow Parliament to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote.

He arrived in the U.K. as protesters in Israel blocked roads and clashed with police. The planned judicial system overhaul have ignited the biggest protests in the countrys history amid rare dissent from people throughout Israeli society, including military reservists, navy veterans, high-tech businesspeople and former officials.

In London, Netanyahu also was met by a pro-Palestinian demonstration. His government has been criticized for its hard-line policy toward Palestinians, including recent comments by a government minister who denied the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.

Sunak, during his meeting with the Israeli prime minister, reiterated our support for two-state solution, as well as Britains view that Israels West Bank settlements are illegal and contrary to the cause of peace, spokesman Jamie Davies said.

Israel is a vital international partner for the United Kingdom, and the prime minister was visiting London, and this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether thats the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment  as well as peace and stability in the Middle East, Davies said.

Netanyahus office said the two leaders discussed the rapidly advancing nuclear program of Israels archenemy, Iran, as well as deepening strategic cooperation in security, intelligence and economic fields.

Alicia Kearns. a lawmaker from Sunaks governing Conservative Party and chairwoman of Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the government to be more forceful in challenging Netanyahus policy.

This is the time for the U.K. to work out what it means to be a critical friend to Israel and make sure that, yes, we continue to trade and to work together on security cooperation because they are a key partner, but also that we listen to our Jewish communities, Kearns told the BBC. And this (is) the biggest response and loudest response Ive ever seen from a Jewish community to Israeli policies.

As thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, defiantly pledged to proceed with the judicial overhaul, hours after his coalition passed a law making it harder to remove him from office.

Rights groups and Palestinians say Israels democratic ideals have long been tarnished by the countrys 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for an independent state and the treatment of Palestinian Israeli citizens, who face discrimination in many spheres.

Netanyahu pushed back his departure to Britain until 4 a.m. Friday to deal with the political crisis.

___ Associated Press Writer Jill Lawless contributed to this story.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government authorized construction bids for over a thousand new homes in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, a watchdog group reported Friday, despite an Israeli pledge to halt settlement construction as part of efforts to curb a deadly wave of violence in the territory.

The Israel Land Authority published the tenders earlier this week for the construction of 940 homes in the West Bank settlements of Efrat and Beitar Ilit, as well as 89 homes in the Gilo settlement, which lies over the 1967 line on the southern edge of the contested capital of Jerusalem. The large settlement of Efrat sits deep in the West Bank, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.

Palestinians seek these lands, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, for a future independent state alongside Israel  a longstanding international goal. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry assailed the move as a betrayal of Netanyahus vow to freeze settlement construction, showing official disregard for American and international reactions.

The anti-settlement Israeli group Peace Now publicized the construction bids on Friday.

This is yet another harmful and unnecessary construction initiative, the group said, accusing the Israeli government of trampling on the possibility of a future political agreement, and on our relations with the U.S. and friendly countries.

There was no immediate comment from Netanyahus office.

The new affront to the Palestinians came just a week after Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Egypts southern resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in an effort to calm rising tensions ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. After the meeting, Israel repeated a pledge made at a similar February summit in Aqaba, Jordan to temporarily freeze the approval of new settlement units in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry criticized the tender approvals as a blatant departure and deliberate sabotage of the understandings that were reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides under American auspices.

Last month, the Israeli government granted approval for over 7,000 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including in four unauthorized outposts  despite a U.N. Security Council statement sharply criticizing Israeli settlement expansion and rising opposition from Israels allies, including the United States.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief journalists, described the publication of tenders this week as procedural, saying, All of the agreements settled during the recent joint summits in Jordan and Egypt are being respected fully.

Israels government, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in its history, has said it aims to entrench Israeli military rule in the West Bank, boost settlement construction and erase the differences for Israelis between life in the settlements and within the countrys internationally recognized borders. Netanyahus coalition includes ultranationalist settler leaders who live in the West Bank.

The international community, along with the Palestinians, considers settlement construction illegal or illegitimate. Over 700,000 Israelis now live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The settlement construction bids come against a background of heightened tensions with the Palestinians and a national crisis in Israel over a government plan to overhaul the judicial system, which critics fear will move Israel toward autocracy.

Since the start of 2023, at least 86 Palestinians, both militants and civilians, have been killed in Israeli raids throughout the West Bank  making it the most deadly start to the year in over two decades. At least 13 civilians and one police officer were killed during the same period in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

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The important role education has in raising awareness of women's role was highlighted by Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu on the occasion of an event organized in preparation for the Summit for Democracy, attended by officials from Romania, Sweden and the US.

The event aimed to highlight the necessity of some sustained endeavors from public institutions, civil society and business environment for the coherent and constructive approach of aspects impeding the full and significant participation of women in the political life, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informed.

Minister Aurescu underscored the importance of getting all segments of the population involved in the decision-making processes for the construction of a resilient democracy, based on equality, human dignity, freedom, tolerance and security. He mentioned the survey carried out by the Gender Equality Cohort as a condition for democracy, coordinated by the Government of Romania and Sweden, the Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security and International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), following which a series of problematic issues have been identified in terms of women's participation in the political life and a series of recommendations have been formulated, which are to be presented at the 2nd edition of the Summit for Democracy, which takes place on 29 and 30 March, told Agerpres.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy highlighted the important role which education has in raising awareness of women's role in all the aspects of society, in this context mentioning the campaign carried out by Romania's Government in a series of educational units on the topic of negative effects of gender stereotypes toward people with disabilities.

He brought to mind President Klaus Iohannis' involvement in the HeForShe campaign, initiated by the UN Women, as well as the progresses accomplished by Romania, as a result of the commitments assumed in unfolding this campaign, a MAE release sent to AGERPRES informs.

The Foreign minister referred to the disproportionate manner in which women are affected in case of an armed conflict and the importance that must be given to women's rights in all its phases. "In this context, he referred to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Somalia, Myanmar, Mali, Nigeria or Syria, as well as the numerous reports of sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine," the MAE release showed.

Also attending the opening of the event were the husband of the US Vice President and Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, through a pre-recorded intervention.

The discussions were moderated by the executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and attended by representatives of USAID, the US Government, the Ukrainian Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, a former member of the House of Representatives in Columbia and the Colombian Government delegation to the peace process and a former minister and member of the South African Parliament during the democratic transition/reconstruction, the quoted source said.

In preparation for the second Summit for Democracy, Romania is coordinating, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, together with Sweden, the IDEA Institute and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the Cohort on Gender Equality as a Prerequisite for Democracy.
The father and girlfriend of Gustavo Suarez, one of the five young people who were allegedly killed by the military in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.

When I got out of the truck, I heard the soldiers shout: Kill him, kill him! They put me face down. Then I heard two more shots, and after a while I saw my brother lying on the ground. This is part of the witness account of Alejandro Perez, 21, a survivor of the Nuevo Laredo massacre. In late February, five young men died at the hands of Mexican military personnel in the border city, among them Perezs brother. Another survivor ended up in an induced coma in hospital. Perez still does not know why he was spared.

Perez explains that he and his friends went to a nightclub in town on Saturday, February 25, and that, on their way back in a pick-up truck, a military convoy began to chase them. He says that one of the military vehicles rammed theirs from behind and that the soldiers began to shoot immediately. He says that he had his friends were all unarmed. After the initial shots were fired, the soldiers approached on foot. I caught a glimpse of a soldier shooting a friend who was already wounded. He was asking for an ambulance, but the soldier shot him again.

Perezs testimony, to which EL PAIS has had access, also reflect the intimidation the soldiers subjected him to: They asked me if I wanted to live or die and I answered that I wanted to live. And they told me to plead guilty, while they videotaped me, to say that we were running away, which is not true. According to Perez, he eventually agreed. A soldier recorded his words on a cell phone.

Perezs testimony, collected in several statements given to the authorities and human rights organizations, shed light on an event that caused outrage in Tamaulipas, one of the most violent states in Mexico, where violent clashes between military personnel and civilians are more prevalent than anywhere in the country. On Sunday February 26, relatives and neighbors of the five young men who were killed confronted the military with kicks and punches at the scene of the event.

When the Defense Ministry finally offered its version of events in a brief statement released to the media two days later, it was a very different version from Perezs, although the authorities acknowledged the soldiers shot at the youths. The ministry did not mention any provocation on the part of Perez and his friends, nor did the official statement mention the discovery of any weapons in their vehicle. Military personnel were conducting a patrol when they heard gunshots. They advanced in the direction from which where these were heard, the statement read. Subsequently they saw a pick-up type vehicle with seven individuals on board, traveling at excessive speed, with its lights off and without license plates [...] They accelerated and hit a parked vehicle. Upon hearing the noise, military personnel fired their weapons.

The following day, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador referred to the matter in his morning press conference, saying that he and his cabinet and had been made aware of the case and had asked the National Human Rights Commission to investigate, adding that the military authorities would cooperate and if the deaths were proven to be unlawful, those responsible will be punished.

On March 20, EL PAIS learned that four of the soldiers involved in the shooting were in detention at a military base in Mexico City. They are named as Agustin Cornelio N., Juan Carlos N., Bernardo N. and Jorge Nicolas N., all non-commissioned officers in the 16th Motorized Cavalry Regiment. If found guilty of killing the five unarmed young men, they could face prison sentences of between 30 and 60 years.

People argue with a soldier near the area where, according to local media, five young men were shot dead by Mexican soldiers, in Nuevo Laredo. STRINGER (REUTERS)

A report prepared by the military after the shootings, to which this newspaper has had access, provides details that the Defense Ministry statement omitted. In some cases, the two reports are contradictory. Its signatory, Cavalry Captain Elio N., mentions, for example, that he and his men also heard gunshots after the initial clash, not just at the beginning when the soldiers were in pursuit. In addition, the captain does not state in his report that the vehicle had no license plates or that it was driving with its headlights off.

The captains report also mentions that the youths pick-up truck, after crashing, still continued for a block until it came to a complete stop. It was then that two of the four military vehicles involved were paired up, he explains, and when gunshots were heard again. At that moment, the captains report read, I heard several weapons being fired without my giving such an order, so I immediately ordered a cease fire via radio. The captain asked who had fired. Voluntarily, he says, four cavalry corporals acknowledged having pulled the trigger.

The captains unit then conducted an inspection and realized that there were two lifeless young men on the sidewalk and three others inside the truck. In the back, behind the driver, was Perez. Nothing illicit was found inside the vehicle, said the officers report, which contrasts here again with that of Perez: the captain does not mention him at all, only the ambulance that arrived to take the wounded man away.

Family and friends of Gustavo Suarez during his burial in the municipality of Hidalgo, Coahuila. Monica Gonzalez Islas

Grief and anger in Nuevo Laredo

Enrique Perez, the father of Gustavo Perez, Alejandros brother, remembers that weekend well: I was in Laredo, Texas, on Saturday at a barbecue. The boys spoke to me and told me they were going for a ride. I told them to be careful, he says. When he returned to Mexico the following day, he heard there had been a shooting. I didnt believe it, I hadnt heard anything.

Perez and his wife decided to call Alejandro. We are all friends on the block and sometimes they hang out and stay out until dawn, he explains. When he answered the phone, Alejandro told his father: They killed my brother, they killed him! Enrique Perez ran to the scene and immediately saw the young man there, next to an agent from the Prosecutor Generals Office. What happened? he asked his son. The soldiers were all over us, he says the boy answered.

After the shootings there was a lot of talk about what the young men had got up to, beyond the night of the events. Photographs and videos circulated on social media of at least one of them, Wilberto Mata, posing with weapons, tactical equipment and vehicles belonging to an alleged criminal group. Asked about this, Perez answers for his sons. They fix box trailers and diesel trucks. They want to get a truckers license to do the transfer like me, he explains, referring to the truckers who deliver goods across the US-Mexico border.

Humberto Suarez, 48, is the picture of the pain in Nuevo Laredo. In a video that began circulating after the shootings, he appears holding a viscous substance, with a blank stare. It is a part of his sons body. What I want is justice, he says now. The military is supposed to be trained for this and they didnt even find anything on them.

Suarez says that his son was the one driving the truck. He was born in San Antonio and lived there. He worked in a landscaping company, cutting grass. He was very enterprising; he was always doing this and that. He had just bought some inflatable castles to rent for childrens parties, he says. Gustavo Suarez was 21 and split his time between San Antonio and Nuevo Laredo. His father explains that Gustavos partner, who lives in Nuevo Laredo, had just become pregnant: he pulls out his cell phone and shows a photo with three positive pregnancy tests.

On Saturday he called me and asked me if I could give him a fish, explains Humberto, who likes to go fishing for catfish in the waters of the Rio Bravo. I said yes and he said you know what, youre going to be a grandfather. He was really crazy, he laughs at the memory. The young mans plan was to grill the fish to celebrate the pregnancy, but that all changed when the group of friends decided to go out instead, little knowing they would not make it back.

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Ten Bulgarian citizens, on three fishing boats, were spotted poaching turbot and shark in Romania's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, about 100 kilometers across from the Mamaia resort, the Coast Guard informed on Friday.

The ships, along with the crews, fishing gear and fish catch, were escorted to the Constanta Military Port for further investigations, under the coordination of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanta Court of Appeal.

According to the mentioned source, following the checks carried out, it was found that the members of the three crews made up of a total of ten Bulgarian citizens were using unauthorized fishing gear and were fishing during the prohibition period, a quantity of fish - turbot and shark - being found on board the boats.AGERPRES
CEC Bank granted a financing of about 40 million RON to the Toneli Holding SA company, part of the Toneli Group, the largest egg producer in Romania, according to a press release from the bank.

The financing benefits from a guarantee granted by EximBank within the state aid scheme in the context of the economic crisis generated by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

According to the general director of the Toneli group of companies, Toni Khoury, the company evolves year after year around the vision of being not only a market leader, but also a benchmark in terms of the production and distribution of eggs and other related products.

"For the materialization of strategic plans, we are aware that we need the support of all stakeholders and here financial institutions have a relevant role. We are honored to have with us in this ambitious journey, banks with resonance for the Romanian economy, such as CEC Bank and EximBank, partnerships that generate trust and responsibility in equal measure," declared Toni Khoury.

Toneli Holding started its egg production and distribution operations over 25 years ago. Currently, the company carries out its activities of raising young birds and production in 24 farms located in the southern part of the country, in the counties of Giurgiu, Teleorman, Ialomita, Dambovita, Arges, in over 150 production halls.AGERPRES(
Electrica has completed the acquisition of the Sunwind Energy company, whose main activity is the production of energy from photovoltaic sources, the company informed on Friday.

According to a press release, Electrica is developing the photovoltaic project "Satu Mare 2," with an installed capacity of 27 MW. The project is in the "ready to build" phase and is located in the vicinity of Botiz commune, Satu Mare county.

"In accordance with the strategic commitment we made to our stakeholders, we are continuing the process of expanding the Electrica Group's activity in the field of electricity production from renewable sources. At the beginning of February, we completed the acquisition process of the company developing the project photovoltaic plant 'Vulturu', and the team's efforts were channeled towards new opportunities in this area of interest. From our perspective, such approaches are not only of particular importance from the point of view of business strategy, but have also become a necessity at the industry level. In this sense, the Electrica Group will continue to pursue the expansion of the portfolio in the field of electricity production from renewable sources," said the general director of Electrica, Alexandru Chirita.

Electrica informed the capital market on July 28, 2021 about the signing of the sale-purchase agreement of 100% of the shares of Sunwind Energy, told Agerpres.

Also, on February 6, 2023, Electrica announced the completion of the acquisition of the company Green Energy Consultancy & Investments, which develops the "Vulturu" photovoltaic project. It has an installed capacity of 12 MWp DC (peak power at the level of the panels), 9.75 MW AC (evacuating power in the network) and is located in the area of Vulturu commune, Vrancea county.

The transactions are part of the Electrica Group's strategy established for the period 2019-2023, in which the expansion of the electricity value chain is also considered, especially in the area of electricity production from renewable sources, the release also says.

The Electrica Group is a key player on the electricity distribution and supply market in Romania, as well as one of the most important players in the energy services sector.

The Electrica Group offers services to approximately 3.9 million users and has a national coverage area - with organization in three areas for the distribution of electricity: Transilvania Nord, Transilvania Sud, Muntenia Nord, and throughout the country for the supply of electricity and for maintenance and energy services.

Since July 2014, Electrica has been a company with majority private capital, listed on the Bucharest and London stock exchanges.

Electrica is the only listed Romanian company in the field of electricity distribution and supply.
On March 27, President Klaus Iohannis will welcome President of the European Council Charles Michel at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, the Presidential Administration reports.

The two officials will have one-on-one and official talks, at the end of which they will hold a joint news conference.

President Iohannis participated on Thursday and Friday in Brussels in the spring meeting of the European Council and an enlarged Euro Summit, told Agerpres.
The Romanian Police has a decisive role in maintaining a climate of stability, Inspector General Benone-Marian Matei said on Friday, at an event dedicated to the celebration of 201 years of documentary evidence of the institution.

"Today, the Romanian Police is an essential state institution. It has a central, decisive and catalytic role in maintaining a climate of stability, security and public order. Police activities are at the confluence of phenomena from all spheres - social, cultural, economic. The success of the missions means, in fact, normality, that is social peace, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, protection of property, preventing and combating crimes of any kind," said the inspector general.

He underlined that the modern path of the Romanian Police would not have been possible without the sacrifices of its forefathers.

"With an ideal built around the need for confidence and security of communities, you have always opened wide horizons, worked with dedication and balance, built joint teams with foreign partners. (...) History offers not only an identity card, but value and strength. With the new generations in mind, I express my openness and support, and my confidence that the future will always respect the past. Our modern path would not have been possible without the sacrifices of our forefathers. Like any other institution, the Police is a reflection of society," said Benone-Marian Matei.

During the event, Minister of Interior Lucian Bode presented the honorary emblem of this institution to several policemen. AGERPRES
President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday and Friday participated in Brussels in a meeting of the European Council and an enlarged Euro Summit.

At the summit of the European Council, the Romanian chief of state asked the European Commission to reanalyse the level of financial support for Romanian farmers and welcomed a strong message of the European Union for Moldova, told Agerpres.

According to the Presidential Administration, Iohannis emphasised the importance of the world community's unity and solidarity with Ukraine against Russian aggression and said that the destabilising actions of the Russian Federation are also felt by Moldova and Georgia. He pleaded for dialogue and consultation with the states of the "Global South" in preparation of various actions and decisions as a solution for increasing their commitment.

The Presidential Administration shows that, following Romania's sustained efforts, the European leaders agreed that the EU will continue to offer Moldova all the relevant support, including for strengthening the resilience, security, stability, economy and energy supply of the country against the destabilising actions of foreign actors and for the EU accession process, inviting the European Commission to unveil a support package before the next meeting.

Iohannis also reiterated Romania's support for the continuation of support for Ukraine at all levels, for as long as it takes, and welcomed the joint European approach to urgently supply ammunition to Ukraine. He mentioned the bilateral support offered by Romania to Ukraine amidst the war, including through massive efforts to facilitate the export of over 14 million tonnes of grain and oil products from Ukraine to global markets.

Iohannis also asked the European Commission to reanalyse the level of financial support to Romanian farmers to cope with the difficulties generated by the current situation. EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the support offered to Romania is to be reanalysed.

In the field of energy, the summit called on the European Commission and the member states to ensure preparedness and contingency planning in view of the next gas storage filling and heating seasons. They urged all stakeholders to make full use of the EU Energy Platform to further improve the security of gas supplies at affordable prices.

It also invited the commission to promptly finalise the assessment of the emergency measures adopted in 2022 and, where necessary, to propose the extension of their application.

President Klaus Iohannis voiced support for the initiatives to increase the long-term competitiveness of the European Union, with emphasis on the importance of the Single Market, the development of the industrial base of the EU and the protection of consumers.

The European Commission briefed the leaders on the progress about progress in the implementation of its February conclusions on migration. Romania's contribution to the implementation of the conclusions was mentioned by agreeing, together with the EC, on a pilot project at the Romanian-Serbian border that will allow Romania to share good practices in matters of asylum, returns, border management and international co-operation and to bring added value to the joint efforts to address migration and to strengthen the security of the EU's external borders. The European Council called for the swift implementation of those conclusions and will review it again in June.

In the area of external relations, the EU leaders welcomed the outcome of the latest Donors' Conference in support of people in Turkey and Syria following the tragic earthquake on 6 February; an agreement on the path to normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia through EU-facilitated dialogue; agreement on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland ,also knowns as the Windsor Framework, between the European Union and the UK.

The European Council also condemned the sentencing of prominent representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition.
The Minister of Justice, Catalin Predoiu, issued an order on Friday regarding the formation of the Working Group - Criminal Policy of Romania 2024, which aims to develop and put into public debate the revised versions of the new Criminal Codes and the basic special criminal legislation and, subsequently, the referral to the Parliament until December 31, 2024 at the latest.

In a press release sent on Friday, the ministry emphasizes that these normative acts have undergone hundreds of changes, both in the Parliament and as a result of the transposition of some decisions of the Constitutional Court, a fact that in some places affected the coherence of the initial regulations, told Agerpres.

In the opinion of the Ministry of Justice, this legislative fluctuation, which was sometimes incoherent, inevitably affected the efficiency of the Prosecutor's Office, the Police and the unitary character of the jurisprudence, often leading to different solutions in similar cases, including a potential non-unitary application of the criminal law and vulnerabilities in terms of compliance with ECHR jurisprudence.

"The criminal policy of the state is at a crossroads. Since the adoption of the new Criminal Codes, hundreds of interventions have been made on the initial projects, from the stage of parliamentary debates and until now, the criminological phenomenon has evolved, the challenges to which it must respond law enforcement institutions have diversified. A concerted, structured and integrated effort of cooperation between the Executive, the Legislature, the judiciary, the legal professions, academia and civil society must be launched to evaluate the legislative status quo, the jurisprudence the Romanian courts, CCR, CJEU and ECHR, the legislative proposals in the Parliament, the criminological phenomenon, its dynamics and trends, the present and future needs of the judicial system and the final beneficiaries - the citizens and the Romanian society as a whole," the communication reads.

According to the ministry, this approach will implicitly fall within a welcome and necessary broader process of normative simplification and clarification on the scale of the entire Romanian legal system.
The Government will intensify its support to local farmers and producers in order to increase the processing, transformation and refining of agricultural products in Romania, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said at the Victoria Governmental Palace on Friday, during a meeting with representatives of the Association of Large Commercial Retail Networks in Romania.

According to a press release of the Executive, the main topic of discussion was the need to promote more Romanian products in commercial chains and to identify solutions to increase the competitiveness of Romanian producers and sustainable development, in conditions of food safety, told Agerpres.

"We need more cold storage and preservation warehouses for Romanian producers, who will thus be able to ensure off-season continuity in supplying the large retail chains with vegetables, fruit, cold cuts and dairy products. The Government will intensify its support to farmers and local producers in order to increase the degree of processing, transformation and refining of agricultural products in Romania, but also to create added value in the chain and to balance the country's trade balance," the Prime Minister is quoted as saying in the press release.

At the end of the meeting, a tripartite meeting - Government, retailers, producers/processors - was set up to establish a common strategy for the capitalisation of agricultural products and the food industry in the interest of the Romanian consumer, the source said. A
Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Thursday at the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham) that there is no other solution but the continued preservation of political stability in Romania.

Ciuca added that the reforms of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) were assumed by our country at the most opportune moment.

"We have no other chance but to continue to fight for this political stability, to keep this platform through which we can ensure the economic evolution of our country. PNRR - at the moment we would have not reached the point of discussing the payment request number 3 if there were not this commitment and our conviction that the PNRR is the instrument by which we can align two important objectives, that of reforms and that of investments. (...) The PNRR, the reforms in the PNRR, the OECD, the OECD standards have been assumed at the right moment from my point of view and I think it is the line through which our country can hope to join this club of countries that want development, freedom, all the values of the democratic world and maybe, in its turn, once it reaches this club, to continue and have the potential to help more the Republic of Moldova and the other partner countries we are in a relationship with, both within the European Union and within NATO," the PM said.

He added that Romania is a country that has a great investment potential, and in an assessment last year, the level of attractiveness for investors in Romania was ranked 16th out of 32 countries.

"So, we are a country that also offers predictability. You have here the two leaders of the political parties that form the parliamentary and governmental majority, who undertake to take the necessary measures and ensure the framework of fiscal stability, and we all kept this dialogue open when measures have been taken. You know very well that I declared that the Government is pro-business oriented, it is a Government that wants to attract investments, that supports investments," Nicolae Ciuca also said.AGERPRES
The protest organized on Friday by the Union of Furloughed Military Personnel (SCMD) and the National Union of Policemen and Contract Staff (SNPPC) has come to an end with the return of the unionists to the Victoriei Square (Victory Square, Bucharest).

The protesters marched to several line ministries (the Labour Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Finance and the Justice Ministry) to protest against the existing problems in the public defence system.

Policemen within the Interior Ministry (MAI), penitentiary policemen, military reservists and contract personnel from the defence, public order and national security system (SAOPSN) will continue their protests on Saturday, in Bucharest, this time in front of the Interior Ministry headquarters in the Revolutiei Square (the Revolution Square, Bucharest), told Agerpres.

The protesters' demands are aimed, first of all, at the immediate implementation of Salary Law No.153/2017, in its entirety and in the promulgated form, to all structures of the defence, public order and national security system (SAOPSN), but also to all civilian social-professional categories.

It is also desired the immediate enforcement, in its entirety, as promulgated, of Law on State Military Pensions No. 223/2015, the exclusion of reservists both from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the draft law on Service Pensions, in order to give the possibility to increase civilian pensions within the percentage of 9.4pct of the GDP.

Moreover, another request refers to the enforcement of the Law No.127/2019 to all civil pensioners, as well as the granting of the National Defence Ministry (MApN), the MAI, the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), etc. bonus on salaries and pensions to all civilians in SAOPSN structures who have the same obligations, risks and privations as military/police personnel.

According to the unionists, they demand the observance of the statutes of the military, policemen, CFR workers and other social-professional categories, with all the provisions regarding the specific rights they have won, the waive of the liquidation of the defence industry, by tender selling the shares and the reopening of the powder and ammunition factories, as well as the waiver of the planned triple taxation of pensions.
The Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) will convene for a conference on March 24 and 25 in the Dominican Republic to finalize four proposals drawn up by delegations from the 22 participating nations. The XXVIII Ibero-American Summit, convened under the slogan Together for a fair and sustainable Ibero-America, will discuss four major agreements on climate change, food security, the digital divide and a proposal on credit and international financial architecture. The meeting in Santo Domingo will also seek to lay the foundations for facilitating integration between OEI member nations on both sides of the Atlantic while some of the heads of state in attendance, such as Chilean President Gabriel Boric, are determined to encourage a debate on the Latin American regions migratory challenges.

After holding sectoral workshops on the climate crisis and economic challenges, the summit plans to approve two charters, a strategy, and a joint communique. The first, christened the Ibero-American Environmental Charter (also known as the Green Pact), was first proposed in July 2022 as the biggest political agreement ever reached by the Ibero-American Conference on environmental issues. A working document has been in the draft stage since then and according to sources within the organization it will set out guidelines to orient public policies to protect biodiversity, combat pollution and manage the consequences of global warming.

The second is an Ibero-American Charter of Principles and Rights in Digital Environments. This agreement will be based on the diagnosis of the gaps that already exist between member countries and those within their own territories, which in some cases are particularly wide due to the economic fabric and geographical characteristics. According to the draft, the aim of the charter is to encourage inclusion and promote legislation that has an impact on both the public and private sectors, such as in education or in the digital transformation of companies and industries, with the aim of increasing competitiveness, development, and their impact on the labor market.

The third agreement the summit will aim to enshrine is a strategy related to food security. The proposals presented by the delegations seek to increase trade within the region, support the development of supply chains, promote and consolidate small-scale agriculture and improve financing systems both for the agrifood sector and the promotion of digital infrastructures in rural territories. This section will also focus on initiatives to tackle climate change. The most recent report produced by the Ibero-American Observatory on Climate Change and presented on Wednesday by the head of the Ibero-American General Secretariat, former Chilean foreign minister Andres Allamand, notes that 45% of greenhouse gas emissions in the 22 countries that comprise the bloc are generated by the food sector as a whole.

The fourth objective of the summit is to issue a special communique on international financial architecture, the basis of which will be a proposal to pursue a more inclusive, flexible, and fairer financial system through credits, especially in a context of economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The proposals are, ultimately, based on the fight against inequality and energy transition processes. All the documents have been prepared with a gender focus, recommending measures to promote womens participation and reduce the inequality gap in the labor market. Another focus is education, with special attention on children, as well as issues such as innovation and universal healthcare.

Head of the Ibero-American General Secretariat, Andres Allamand. Monica Gonzalez Islas

Spain to propose Ukraine war statement

Reaching such consensus is significant as doing so involves bringing together 22 delegations whose political and economic landscapes are marked by different agendas and which, in some cases, are ideologically diametrically opposed to each other. And it is common for presidents, foreign ministers, or delegations to attempt to draw attention to other urgent international matters on the sidelines of the Ibero-American Summit discussions. The Spanish government, for example, will propose the inclusion in the summits final declaration of a paragraph on Ukraine and a reference to a just peace within the framework established by the United Nations. On the other side of the coin, there are no plans to delve into the Nicaraguan crisis.

There are also countries that will seek a gesture toward their own interests. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called on Thursday for the Santo Domingo meeting to facilitate financial and technological transfers to developing countries and equitable access to resources to reverse current enormous inequalities. But, above all, Rodriguez took advantage of the presence of the Cuban delegation in Santo Domingo to make a statement against Washington and President Joe Bidens administration.

We are confident that this meeting in the Dominican Republic will demonstrate the firm rejection of the arbitrary and unilateral U.S. classification of our country as a sponsor of terrorism and we hope count on the traditional and valuable support of Ibero-America over the just demand to end the criminal and illegal blockade imposed against the Cuban people, intensified to unprecedented extremes during the pandemic, Rodriguez said in a video posted on social networks.

Conspicuous by their absence in the Dominican Republic will be the presidents of the two Latin American giants in terms of GDP and population, Brazil and Mexico. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will not attend the summit as he is on a five-day visit to China while the government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is not overly keen on international summits, has chosen not to send Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. The Mexican delegation will instead be headed by the undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Maximiliano Reyes. Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro - who met with Nicolas Maduro (who will also not attend the summit) in Caracas on Thursday  Argentinean President Alberto Fernandez and Boric will use the occasion of the conference to seek a strengthen of their alliance of progressive governments. At the same time, Fernandez and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will join forces to try to revive the Union of South American Nations, another regional forum comprising 12 Latin American countries that was largely disbanded between 2018 and 2020 when most participants withdrew.

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The Bucharest University of Polytechnics (UPB) has taken up the role of "a beacon" for Romania and asserting itself even more strongly on the national and international level, UPB Rector Mihnea Costoiu said on Friday at an event celebrating the 205th anniversary of the university, told Agerpres.

"After 205 years, our community remains guided by the same values: studying and working in the Bucharest Polytechnic is a journey that has a shared goal - dedication to making the world better through science. Today, we are celebrating the exceptional values and people who have made our history possible," Costoiu told the event called "Unveiling the unknown for over 205 years."

He mentioned the significant periods in the development of UPB, highlighting the investment of over 700 million euros in the last 15-20 years.

"The last 15 - 20 years is the fourth period in which our school has grown exponentially: two new research institutes, dormitories for students, a new library, a kindergarten and a school dedicated to our children - over 700 million euros invested in infrastructure and human resources."

The UPB rector went on to say that the employment rate of graduates, even from the first year, exceeded 90%.

"Through the 15 faculties and almost 200 master's programmes, the university continues to train engineers, generation upon generation. Our efforts to synchronise the university's curriculum with the labour market have not gone unnoticed, and the employment rate of our graduates, since the first year, has exceeded 90%."

During the event, government senior official Gigel Paraschiv presented Costoiu with an anniversary diploma from the Ministry of Education "as a token of appreciation for the dedication of generations of teachers who, through the educational act of high academic standing, contributed to the training of elite engineers of Romania, to the consolidation of technical university education and to the modernisation of Romania."

Minister of Research Sebastian Burduja appreciated UPB's activity: "The Polytechnic University of Bucharest is a leader, through its team, through the quality of its students and graduates, under European projects; it is a leader in everything it does."

According to the French ambassador in Bucharest, UPB is "an institution of progress," mentioning its membership in the Consortium of European Universities, its participation in programmes such as Tempus and Erasmus, as well as its presence in the family of francophone universities.

Also attending the anniversary event were members of the foreign diplomatic corps, rectors of other universities from Bucharest and elsewhere form Romania, students, professors, and UPB alumni.
A TAROM aircraft on the Tel Aviv-Bucharest flight made an emergency landing in Istanbul on Friday morning due to a bomb threat that later turned out to be false, informs the national airline operator.

"The TAROM company informs that due to a warning regarding the existence of a bomb on board, the aircraft making the route RO 154 Tel Aviv-Bucharest made an emergency landing at the Istanbul Airport at 03:30 local time, following the decision made by the flight commander which complies with the standard procedures for such situations. There were 88 passengers on board. We note that the checks carried out by the competent authorities have been completed, and the alert turned out to be a false one," the company said in a statement.

Currently, passengers are being assisted on the ground at Istanbul Airport, and they are going to take off around 11:30 local time to Bucharest, the final destination.

"We regret the discomfort caused to our passengers and we reiterate the fact that the priority of the TAROM company is the safety and security of the passengers and its crews," the quoted source highlights.AGERPRES
The "Golden Apple" award of the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET), considered to be the equivalent of the "Oscar," "Pomme d'Or" or "Golden Apple," was awarded on Friday to Timisoara, European Capital of Culture 2023, in the presence of members of the FIJET Executive Committee and members of the FIJET Romania Travel Press Club.

Mayor Dominic Fritz said that the awarding of this title is an incentive to go further on the path of promoting Timisoara, with its history, its values and its potential, because it is very important that the voice of the city is heard and that the image of the city is even more visible not only in Romania, but everywhere in the world, told Agerpres.

"This approach of working hard for the international promotion of Timisoara was recognised today with this award which, although only symbolic, is an encouragement to go further along this path. We have a very clear strategy, we want to position Timisoara as a European city, on the map of Europe, and through this to promote the image of Romania," said Dominic Fritz.

The Mayor said that since the official opening of TM2023, in February, until now, the identity term for Timisoara is effervescence.

Dominic Fritz is counting on half a million tourists to visit the city this year, with a target of one million.

"After the first few weeks since the opening of TM2023, I am very optimistic. We will also keep in touch with the hoteliers to see the occupancy rate. It is clear that we have tourists from Serbia, Hungary, from other parts of Romania and we want to promote the image of Timisoara as a city break destination for two or three days," explained Dominic Fritz.

Stefan Baciu, president of FIJET, awarded diplomas to the main actors involved in the development of tourism in Timisoara.

"La Pomme d'Or" or "The Golden Apple" is the FIJET equivalent of the Oscar. This award for excellence is presented each year to an organisation, country, city, or person in recognition of superior efforts in promoting and raising the level of tourism. The winners are selected after analysis of the application files and voting by a jury composed of FIJET members.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who rose to national prominence criticizing big business in general and the pharmaceutical industry in particular, claimed the spotlight Wednesday on what might at first seem a powerful new stage from which to advance his agenda: chairmanship of the Senate health committee.

But the hearing Sanders used to excoriate a billionaire pharmaceutical executive for raising the price of a covid-19 vaccine showed the challenges the Vermont independent faces.

Though its formal name is the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), the panel Sanders chairs has little if any authority over drug prices. In the Senate, most of that leverage lies with the Finance Committee, which oversees Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare.

As far as drug prices go, the platform Sanders commands is essentially a bully pulpit. So Sanders was left to bully his way toward results. And while some committee Republicans sympathized with his complaints, others bristled at his approach.

By the end of the hearing, seeming to acknowledge the limits of his power, the former presidential candidate was pleading with Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel for a relatively modest concession on vaccine pricing.

The CEO made no promises. Then again, pulpit proclamations can lead to corporate action, even if delayed and informal; in the weeks following President Joe Bidens State of the Union call for cheaper insulin, the companies that make it drastically cut their prices.

Sanders began Wednesdays hearing with his usual fire and brimstone.

All over this country people are getting sicker, and in some cases dying, because they cant afford the outrageous cost of prescription drugs, while companies make huge profits and executives become billionaires, Sanders thundered.

Bancel had won his place in the witness chair with federal assistance. Moderna, which was founded in 2010 and had not brought a drug to market before the pandemic, received billions in government funds for research, guaranteed purchases, and expert advice to help develop and produce its successful covid vaccine. The payoff has been handsome. As of March 8, Bancel held $3 billion in Moderna stock. He also held options to buy millions of additional shares.

Government research and support are foundational to many of the expensive drugs and vaccines in use today. But Bancel made himself the perfect foil for Sanders when he announced in January that Moderna planned to increase the price of its latest covid shot from about $26 to $110  or as much as $130.

Denouncing greed, Sanders expounded on his dream of a system in which the government fully funds drug development  and in exchange controls drug prices. Is there another model out there where, when a lifesaving drug is made, it becomes accessible to all those who need it? he asked. What am I missing in thinking that its cruel to make a medicine that people cant afford?

Sanders overt moralizing and harsh attacks on big business make him an outlier in the Senate, even in his own party. Yet distaste for soaring drug prices extends across the aisle. On the HELP Committee, at least, Republican politicians seem about evenly split between populist and pro-business takes on the problem, showing both the possibilities and the pitfalls that Sanders faces.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) expressed disgust with the lack of transparency in the health care system and called Modernas planned price hike preposterous. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called it outrageous.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who often bucks mainstream GOP views and has expressed rancor for the biomedical establishment, claimed Bancel was downplaying vaccine injuries to make money. (Paul vastly exaggerated those risks.)

Ranking member Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who has pledged to work with Sanders, responded to the chairmans opening remarks with both a hedge and a warning. Im not defending salaries or profits, Cassidy said, but he added that he hoped the hearings goal wasnt to demonize capitalism.

Only Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), a former private equity executive, came heartily to Bancels defense. If Im an investor, I have to expect that if a product Im backing works, I get to make an awful lot of money, he said. Ive heard people say, Thats corporate greed. Yeah, thats how it works.

Sanders idealized vision of the pharmaceutical industry is, in any case, moot. Even the Biden administration, which successfully browbeat insulin makers into drastically lowering prices in March, revealed this week it would not use march-in rights to lower the price of a cancer drug, Xtandi, developed with government-licensed patents.

March-in rights were established in the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act, which enabled companies to license federally funded research and use it to develop drugs. But federal courts and administrations have consistently said the government can seize a product only if the license holder has failed to make it available  not because the price is too high. The administration did, however, announce a review of whether price might be considered in future march-in decisions.

Sanders said before the hearing that he was extremely disappointed with the Xtandi decision. But he was ultimately realist enough to aim his bully pulpit at a lower target. Late in Wednesdays hearing, Sanders pushed for a minimal gimme from Moderna. Will you reconsider your decision to quadruple the price of your vaccine to the U.S. government and its agents? he asked politely.

Bancel dodged, saying pricing was more complex now that Moderna faced an uncertain market, had to fill separate syringes with its vaccine, and needed to sell and distribute the vaccine to thousands of pharmacies, where previously the government did all that work. Later, he left open the possibility that negotiations could drive down the price paid by some government agencies or private insurers.

For all the theatrics of such hearings and the mix of opinions among the senators, interrogations of figures like Bancel may help inspire a shift in how the National Institutes of Health does business in giving away its science to the private sector, said Tahir Amin, co-executive director of I-MAK, a nonprofit that advocates for equitable access to medicines.

You have to prosecute it so you at least get these public comments on record, Amin said. Eventually, he said, this type of hearing could lead to a recognition that, Hey, we need to do this.

Despite the HELP Committees lack of direct jurisdiction over drug prices, said John McDonough, a Harvard professor who was senior adviser for health reform on the HELP Committee from 2008 to 2010, Sanders uses his position of authority and influence to draw attention to this in a way that has been helpful.

KHN correspondent Rachana Pradhan contributed to this report.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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ST. LOUIS  After a decade of setbacks, Missouri and Kansas may grant final approvals this year to the massive, four-state Grain Belt Express power transmission project, which promises to deliver wind power across the Midwest.

The project has faced various rejections, sticking points, and other hurdles over the past decade, but secured a significant approval earlier this month, when Illinois officials gave it a green light.

Invenergy, the Chicago-based developer behind Grain Belt, hailed the Illinois decision as another key milestone for the project.

Now, with Indianas approval passed, Missouri and Kansas are the last to grant their final blessings.

And while the project has stoked ample opposition in Missouri in the past  including regular legislative attempts to derail its construction  the states approval might be easier to come by this time around.

Regulators at the Missouri Public Service Commission have already approved it before, deeming the project to be squarely in the public interest. This time, the agency must review a modified version of the original plan, which now promises to bring five times as much electricity to users in the state, after Invenergy essentially sweetened the deal for Missourians last year.

Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers agreed last year that they would back off on their attempts to block the project.

Right now, were still moving forward with the assumptions that were laid out from last year, said Brad Pnazek, the vice president of transmission development for Invenergy.

Kansas regulators are in a similar position as their Missouri counterparts: They granted prior approval to the originally proposed project, but are now tasked with reviewing the amended version that offers enhanced transmission capacity.

Both Missouri and Kansas officials are expected to reach decisions on the project later this year, Pnazek said.

He said Invenergy maintains hope that construction can finally begin on the project by the end of next year. A plan announced last summer aims to build an initial phase of the line soonest, stretching from Kansas to Monroe County in northeast Missouri.

If completed, the project could help address what many energy experts say are increasingly crucial transmission bottleneck issues that carry major implications for energy reliability and carbon emissions, alike. For instance, more transmission projects are needed to facilitate the distribution of cheap and clean energy from rural hotbeds of renewable power generation  like wind-rich swaths of Kansas  to far-off regions and cities that generally anchor demand for that electricity.

Invenergy currently has around 90% of the easements it needs to construct the line along the first portion, from Kansas to Missouri, Pnazek said. He added that Invenergy is just now beginning the process of securing easements for the second phase of the lines construction, which mainly covers its roughly 200-mile trek across Illinois.

Just inside Indiana, the Grain Belt will connect with lines serving points even farther to the east.
While some people insist on chocolate in their banana bread, I much prefer nuts  walnuts, to be exact. Theyre a buttery, crunchy counterpart to the sweet and tender crumbs of the classic quick bread. This particular version is packed with them. Combined with a boost of flavor from brown butter and some extra moisture, thanks to a generous spoonful or two of yogurt, this is sure to be a banana bread recipe youll turn to again and again.

Tips for making walnut banana bread

Reach for your speckled bananas. The riper the bananas, the better when it comes to banana bread. Itll result in a deeper banana flavor. However, if your bananas show any signs of mold or smell off, they shouldnt be used.

Use a lot of walnuts, but not too many. While testing, we confirmed that 2/3 cup is perfect. Its a generous amount that ensures youll get walnut in every bite without having the loaf fall apart when sliced.

Toast the walnuts. Toasting the nuts before adding them to the batter draws out their deep, earthy flavor.

Banana Walnut Bread

Serves 8 to 10; makes 1 (9-by-5-inch) loaf

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2/3 cup raw walnut halves or pieces (about 2 1/2 ounces)

3 very ripe large bananas (about 1 pound)

1 large egg

2/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar

1/3 cup whole milk Greek or regular plain yogurt

1/4 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola or grapeseed

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper to form a sling that hangs over the two long sides.

2. Cut 4 tablespoons unsalted butter into two pieces. Place in a small skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is toasted brown and has a nutty aroma, 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately scrape the browned butter and the solids into a large heatproof bowl. Set aside to cool while you toast the walnuts.

3. Arrange 2/3 cup raw walnuts in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until lightly browned and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool while you make the batter.

4. Add 3 peeled, ripe bananas to the bowl of brown butter and mash with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Add 1 large egg, 2/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup whole milk Greek or plain yogurt, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir with a flexible spatula until combined.

5. Add 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Stir with the spatula until just incorporated with no streaks of flour. Coarsely chop the walnuts, add to the batter, and fold until just combined. Transfer to the loaf pan and spread into an even layer.

6. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Grasp the parchment paper sling and lift the bread out of the pan onto a wire rack. Let cool completely before slicing, about 1 hour.

Recipe notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. The bread can also be wrapped tightly in aluminum foil and frozen for up to three months.
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

HAZELWOOD  Damian Jackson has been reading a lot lately about the school-to-prison pipeline. He feels like his son is in the early stages of being forced into it.

Jacksons 6-year-old son is a first grader at Townsend Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District. Earlier this year, he was given a 30-day, out-of-school suspension. There was an altercation in the classroom between some boys. The teacher broke it up. She came out of it with a bloody nose. Jacksons son was apparently the culprit.

An immediate two-day suspension was extended to 10 days, and then a month. With Christmas break, the boy ended up being out of school for more than two full months.

Jackson agrees his son needed to be punished. But hes concerned the districts policies serve the purpose of writing off his sons education. To that extent, hes hired lawyers from the nonprofit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri to advocate for him.

They called him a danger. They considered him like a little criminal in the classroom, Jackson said. It feels like were at the beginning stages of the school-to-prison pipeline. There wasnt a lot of care and concern involved. It was very intimidating.

Hazelwood spokeswoman Jordyn Elston defended the districts discipline policies. Students who violate the behavior code are disciplined in a progressive manner, as outlined in the behavior guide, she said in an emailed statement.

The school-to-prison pipeline is a real phenomenon. It involves Black children, like Jacksons son, getting severely punished at a young age, with increasingly harsher punishments and a lack of proper intervention, aggravating problems that lead to the criminal justice system. A 2015 report by UCLA researchers found, for instance, that Black children were suspended from elementary school in Missouri at a higher rate than any state in the country. The attorneys at Legal Services, through their Education Justice Program, have been fighting that problem for years.

Their advocacy has led the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to remind school districts in Missouri that long-term suspensions should be a last resort after counseling and other attempts to improve behavior, and that students on long-term suspensions still have a right to a quality education while at home.

In Jacksons case, as in the cases of other students Legal Services represents in school districts across the St. Louis region, the attorneys believe both provisions of state law have been violated. First, Hazelwood didnt allow an attorney to be present at Jacksons initial appeal hearing. Second, the education his son received while on suspension was inadequate and inconsistent.

We know of several other students in Hazelwood and in other districts who are currently receiving extremely minimal alternative education while long-term removed (from school), and we are concerned that the pandemic has caused a regression in how districts are approaching this right, says Hopey Fink, an attorney with Legal Services.

In many districts, discipline problems post-pandemic have been on the rise because of the damage the time away from school did to children. And, yet, Fink says, the response in too many cases is to simply recreate the pandemic conditions that led to the problem in the first place.

Over the past couple of years, Fink and her colleagues have successfully convinced the school board of the neighboring Ferguson-Florissant School District, which led the state in long-term suspensions of students, to reform its policies. The goal is to focus on returning kids to schools, with the right tools, and to increase the quality of education offerings for suspended students. The transition has been a struggle.

Earlier this month, several teachers at McCluer High School staged a walkout to protest conditions created by disruptive students, including violence. Some teachers blamed new discipline processes for being overly burdensome.

Fink believes that misses the point. She focuses on the damage that long-term suspensions have on children and ultimately school districts, particularly when students as young as 6 are suspended.

We all want students and staff to feel safe when they are at school. But a culture of exclusionary discipline does not further this goal. There is no causal evidence proving that zero-tolerance suspension policies make schools safer. In fact, criminalizing and excluding students can lead to long-term mental health problems, confusion, and reinforcement of negative behaviors, especially for very young children who likely do not fully understand that time outside of the classroom is meant to be a punishment, Fink wrote in an email.

Indeed, thats Jacksons concern for his son. The suspension made the boy even more emotional. The social isolation impacted him. He really did miss being at school.

Jackson says when he offered to sit in a class to observe and help with his son, the district declined. He was concerned his son was responding to bullying and would be even less equipped to handle school after being home for so long.

His fears came true. A few days after we spoke, Jacksons son was suspended for 10 days again, after another physical altercation involving a teacher. Meanwhile, he has to wait until an April school board meeting to go with Fink to appeal the first long-term suspension.

To Jackson and his attorney, the second suspension is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. They believe the two months out of school earlier this year almost guaranteed that the 6-year-old child wouldnt get the tools and support to be successful at school. Jackson says he wants to do his part to help his son, but he thinks the school can be a better partner.

My main thing is whenever we are disciplining these kids, we want them to learn from this experience, Jackson says. We shouldnt be basically pushing them out and getting rid of them.
Firefighters water a facade after extinguishing a fire of rubbish during a demonstration in Paris on March 23, 2023.

Unrest in France is tarnishing the sheen of King Charles IIIs first overseas trip as U.K. monarch, with striking workers literally refusing to roll out a red carpet amid pension reform protests and calls for the visit to be canceled altogether.

Charles is scheduled to undertake the trip beginning Sunday on behalf of U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks government, which hoped a glamorous royal tour would underscore efforts to rebuild Anglo-French ties that were frayed by Brexit.

But anger over French President Emmanuel Macrons resolve to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 are clouding what was meant to be a show of bonhomie and friendship. Instead, Charles visit is being seen as an unnecessary display of hereditary privilege.

Its very bad timing. Normally the French would welcome a British king. But in this moment, people protesting are on high alert for any sign of privilege and wealth, said Paris-based writer Stephen Clarke, the author of Elizabeth II, Queen of Laughs.

With piles of uncollected garbage lining the French capitals once-pristine boulevards, observers say the optics could not be worse  for both Charles and Macron.

French labor union CGT announced this week that its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing red carpets, flags and furniture for public buildings, would snub a Sunday reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris.

We ask our administration to inform the services concerned that we will not provide furnishings, red carpets or flags, a CGT statement read.

The Elysee Palace, the French presidents official residence, said that nonstriking workers would set up the necessary accouterments for the trip instead.

Months in the making, Charles posh itinerary with Queen Consort Camilla for the March 26-29 trip includes a visit to the Musee dOrsay, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a lavish dinner at the former royal residence, the Versailles Palace.

Theyre planning on going to Versailles. It does not look good. This seems very 1789, Clarke said. The opulent Versailles, once the dazzling center of royal Europe and a focal point of the French Revolution, is an enduring symbol of social inequalities and excess.

Macron is facing a public backlash for pushing through a bill raising the retirement age without a parliamentary vote. Some opponents accuse the president of being out of touch, and Charles hasnt been spared from similar criticism as protests continued this week.

Unbelievable! We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles... while the people in the street are demonstrating, Sandrine Rousseau, a lawmaker from Frances Green Party, told French channel BFM TV. Of course the king should cancel his visit, she added.

To limit the potential for disruptions to the royal dinner, security is expected to be very tight around Versailles. In 2020, demonstrators clashed with police on its regal cobblestones amid a previous pension reform bill.

The unrest and demands for Charles to stay away are certain to cause disquiet in London. When he was on a walkabout in York, England, in November, someone in a crowd of angry protesters threw eggs in his direction.

The French have maintained a love-hate relationship with kings ever since they guillotined King Louis XVI in 1793. Queens have typically fared better since then. Queen Elizabeth II, Charles mother, was a hugely popular figure in France, the European country she visited the most before her death last year.

Elizabeth, who spoke fluent French, made five state visits to France, in 1957, 1972, 1992, 2004 and 2014, as well as unofficial and private visits. Her son now wears the crown, but some say that he remains in her shadow.

The problem with Charles is that he is not the queen. She was very loved here, Paris resident Geraldine Duberret, 62, said. Charles does not have such a good reputation here. He seems a bit spoiled.

The celebrity press in France recently focused on unconfirmed rumors that the king would travel with excessive numbers of servants, comparing him to his late mother, who famously insisted that her staff turn off lightbulbs in Buckingham Palace to save energy.

This visit was a chance for Charles to relaunch himself in the eyes of the French, Clarke said. It could have been like a blank canvas, but he will likely not be able to have the impact he would have wished.

Charles does command some respect in France for his environmental activism. The king and queen consort plan to tour areas of Frances Bordeaux region, which last year were ravaged by wildfires widely blamed on global warming.

The couples time in southwest France also gives them a chance to see vineyards and to taste the regions famous wines, including a planned stop at Bordeauxs Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, a vineyard and winemaker.

Regional officials are effusive about receiving the U.K. royals, a stark contrast to the reception Charles and Camilla could expect in Paris.

Its very touching that Charles plans to come to Bordeaux. We have a very strong relationship  and historic  with the U.K. The region stayed English for three centuries. Its in our DNA, said Cecile Ha of the Bordeaux Wine Council.

Ha said winemakers in Bordeaux were on the same page as Charles, because the region boasts the most organic vineyards in France. About 75% of Bordeaux vineyards are certified to be environmentally friendly, she added.

In Paris, they do politics. But, here in Bordeaux, we like Charles, because we share the same strong commitments to sustainability.

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UPDATED with name of juvenile charged, comments from prosecutor's spokesman

ST. CLAIR COUNTY  A 17-year-old boy from East St. Louis, charged with murder in a shooting death from January, is being held in the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center until he turns 18 or can post $1 million bond, authorities said Friday.

The St. Clair County State's Attorney identified the juvenile as Kiantae Luster. On March 14, prosecutors charged Luster as an adult with first-degree murder. Bail was set at $1 million, cash only.

Chris Allen, a spokesman with the State's Attorney's Office, said Luster will be held at the juvenile detention center unless he can post bond. Once he turns 18, on June 22, Luster would be transferred to the St. Clair County Jail.

Luster is accused of killing Dejuan J. Tate on Jan. 14.

Tate, 18, of East St. Louis, was found shot in the 800 block of North 80th Street of East St. Louis. Tate died at a hospital.

Luster lives in the 600 block of North 60th Street. No mugshot of Luster was available because he is held in juvenile court.

The Illinois State Police investigated Tate's killing. Police did not release a motive. The brief criminal complaint in the case mentions Tate was shot to death, but doesn't provide any details about what may have led to the shooting.

Allen said the Illinois Juvenile Court Act required that the case against Luster be handled in adult criminal court because Luster was older than 16 when the crime happened.

2023 St. Louis-area Homicide Tracker Learn about homicide victims and regional trends with this database from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
FLORISSANT  An elementary schools shutdown triggered by a report of radioactive activity is now permanent, according to an announcement posted on Hazelwood School Districts website this week.

Jana Elementary has no expectation to open, according to the announcement from Hazelwood School District Board of Education dated on Tuesday. Ashley Bernaugh, the schools PTA president said no notification was sent out to parents.

An independent report by a private company last year found high levels of radioactivity in the school and around the playground. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a St. Charles engineering firm concluded in their reports that the school was safe to habitat. Parents became concerned about the contradicting reports as the news spread.

Earlier this year, both U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, wrote to the Corps that it should urgently test all Hazelwood School District properties. But the school said no additional radioactive testing was planned. A school district spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday.

On Feb. 14, Hawley introduced the Justice for Jana Elementary Act, which would prompt radioactivity testing and cleanup of Jana Elementary as well as order the Department of Education to review all testing. The bill would also provide financial assistance to schools impacted by radioactive contaminants.

There is no level of safe radioactive contamination that is allowed to be around children, said Bernaugh, who said Thursday that the schools permanent closure was a huge loss for the community.

Its potentially why some people decided to buy or live in the community, she said.

The school, which opened in 1970 at 405 Jana Drive, sits on the flood plain of Coldwater Creek in Florissant. The creek was contaminated with radioactive waste, starting in the 1940s, from the storage of residue from the production of atomic weapons.

The decision to close Jana Elementary in October left families scrambling as about 400 kids were divided between five different schools in the district. In addition to new schools, teachers, students and bus routes, some parents also adjusted to buying required uniforms.

The Board of Education acknowledged in Tuesdays letter that reassignments have not been an easy transition. But, Bernaugh says transparency between the school district and parents, especially on decisions that affect students future and safety, needs to improve, for which the organization continues to advocate.

We really do think our school district is making the only choice that they can at this point, said Bernaugh. How they made it is a different story. We would have loved to have been at the table so the decision was made with us, not for us, but we do believe they are making the right choice.
ST. LOUIS  A Circuit Court judge this week dismissed a lawsuit by St. Louis police officer unions that sought to block a civilian oversight bill supported by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones.

The petition had challenged the legality of new civilian police and jail oversight boards, which fall under the citys new Division of Oversight. Under Jones plan, the boards would have the power to subpoena members of law enforcement amid claims of misconduct.

In August, Jones signed into law an ordinance establishing the division. The lawsuit, dismissed Thursday, was filed by the St. Louis Police Officers Association, Ethical Society of Police, and St. Louis Police Leadership Organization.

Jones praised the dismissal and Alderman Shameem Clark-Hubbard, who sponsored the bills that established the Division of Oversight.

Accountability builds community trust, which is necessary to improve public safety, Jones said.

Thursdays dismissal seemingly brings an end to a monthslong legal battle over the implementation of new police and jail oversight boards.

After the police unions filed suit in August, a judge issued a preliminary injunction the following month that ceased all activity by both boards. Frustrations mounted as board members remained inactive despite two fatal police shootings and the announcement that six inmates had died in the city jail last year.

A judge clarified in October that the jail oversight board could still meet while the suit was pending. Still, jail board members reported that they still face pushback for performing their duties, including touring the jail and investigating complaints, particularly from the head of the jail, Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah.

In December, Clark-Hubbard introduced replacement legislation that addressed the two issues that Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser identified in his preliminary injunction: ensuring complaints against police are written, and ensuring officers get 24 hours notice before questioning. Sengheiser said without language that included those requirements, the legislation violated the Missouri Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights. Jones signed the replacement legislation into law last month.

Also, in a motion to dismiss the police unions lawsuit, filed by St. Louis City Counselor Sheena Hamilton in February, the city noted its own pending petition in the Missouri Supreme Court that challenges the legality of the Missouri Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.

Sherrie Hall, an attorney for the Ethical Society of Police, which represents many minority officers, said Friday there were still issues with the board bill, but did not comment further.

The Ethical Society of Police in a statement said there was still a need for progress on improved relations between civilians and officers, adding they were not consulted in drafting language for the bill and said very little changed.

The Civilian Oversight Board was established in 2015, but the new law authorized a Public Integrity Unit from the Circuit Attorneys office to investigate police shootings. It also establishes a subpoena-powered civilian jail board with the same authority. A similar civilian jail board for the St. Louis County jail, where complaints about transparency during their investigations have prompted resignations.

The replacement board bill, which Jones signed into law last month, goes into effect this month.

The jail boards next meeting is Monday. The next meeting date for the police oversight board, which has not met since the judges preliminary injunction in September, has not been set.
TROY, Mo.  A man whose grandparents were shot to death earlier this week inside their trailer home was charged Friday with murder.

Davionne M. McRoberts, 25, is accused of killing his grandfather, Donald Mack McRoberts, and his grandfathers wife, Kathy Chatman McRoberts, in Troy on Monday evening  a full 26 hours before their bodies were discovered.

Investigators and relatives said Davionne McRoberts showed signs of a mental breakdown in recent weeks, including claiming to be God and posting threats to Facebook. He indicated to a friend before the murders that it was time to be famous, charges allege.

Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood filed two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action against Davionne McRoberts, who is held without bond. Wood said a court will determine if McRoberts is competent to stand trial.

According to a probable cause statement in the case, Davionne McRoberts told a Troy officer after his arrest that he was a psychic and asked for the officers zodiac sign. He also told the medical staff he has heard voices since he was a child.

After the killings, Wood said, Davionne McRoberts ran through the woods barefoot and was seen later wearing only boxers.

A friend of Davionne McRoberts told police that he, Davionne and a third friend were at the grandparents home Monday. The two friends sat on the porch with Donald McRoberts while the grandson went inside to charge his phone. Kathy McRoberts was inside the home too.

The friend heard three shots, then saw Donald run inside and yell his grandsons name. The two friends took off and didnt see Davionne McRoberts again, police said.

One of the friends told officers that before the murders, Davionne McRoberts had said it was time. McRoberts told his two friends he wanted to show them something and was making references to a sacrifice, police said. The friend said he wasnt sure what Davionne meant.

Troy is a town of about 13,000 residents. Troy police detective Lt. Chris Voland said the community was devastated by the deaths.

This senseless act of violence has shaken all of us to the core, Voland said on the police departments Facebook page Friday morning. We stand with the McRoberts family and those impacted by the crime.

Donald McRoberts was an Army veteran who retired after serving in the military police. He also volunteered at a local food bank, his younger sister Pamela McRoberts said. He met Kathy through his sister, and they were married in 2017. Voland said they were active in the community and beloved members of the Calvary Church.

Voland said in an interview that he had met Donald McRoberts because Donalds brother has mental health issues and police would run across the brother panhandling around Troy at times.

Donald would come and take custody of his brother, Voland said.

On Monday night, between about 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., neighbors near the McRoberts trailer, heard what sounded like gunshots. Voland said no one called police to report the gunfire.

This is a rural community, Voland said, so sounds of gunfire kind of happen on and off all the time.

That was about 26 hours before police arrived to find the couple dead. Officers arrived about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 600 block of Eames Street.

Donald McRoberts had gunshot wounds to his chest, forehead and finger. Kathy McRoberts was shot in the shoulder and hip.

Officers had gone to the trailer after the couples granddaughter asked police for a wellness check because Pamela McRoberts couldnt reach them by phone. Pamela McRoberts told a reporter she talked to Kathy daily by phone and didnt have a car to check on them herself.

Officers saw a white Dodge Grand Caravan parked in the driveway. The vehicle was registered to one of Donald McRoberts granddaughters, who was living with Davionne McRoberts in Moscow Mills. Police learned that the granddaughter had let him borrow the van. Police searched for him using drones near a creek and wooded area.

Earlier Monday, the day police believe she was killed, Kathy McRoberts was on a phone call with her son for his birthday. She mentioned to her son that Donald and his grandson had quarreled and that Davionne threatened to kill Donald. Court records say her son asked if the threat was serious, but Kathy McRoberts didnt seem concerned.

About an hour after neighbors heard gunfire Monday, hospital workers nearby told police they saw Davionne McRoberts come out of woods wearing only boxers, court documents said. He asked them for a ride and brought up zodiac signs. They last saw him walking toward a car dealership in Troy, police said.

On Wednesday, police were told that Davionne McRoberts was at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He had gone there by ambulance. Wood, the prosecutor, said Davionne McRoberts had arrived at the psychiatric ward covered in blood and seeking voluntary commitment.

On Thursday, Davionne McRoberts was released from Barnes hospital and taken into police custody. Troy police said they tried to interview him at the police station, but he took over reciting his rights before an officer could finish reading them to him. He told police he didnt want to talk. Police noted he had scratches and cuts, including some on his feet that he said were from running barefoot.

Police then took him to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department, and he agreed to talk to a detective, police said. He said he had been sexually abused, but didnt want to say who did it, police said. He indicated to the detective that he was God or Jesus, police said.

Were glad hes in custody so hes not a continuing danger, Wood said. If people see something about mental health issues that need to be addressed, they should notify law enforcement.
LINCOLN COUNTY  The man held as a suspect Thursday in his grandparents slayings in Troy, Missouri, frightened other relatives in recent days by claiming to be God and threatening violence, said investigators and the mans great-aunt.

As a police manhunt swarmed Troy, Davionne McRoberts, 25, walked into a psychiatric hospital, covered in blood, Wednesday seeking a voluntary commitment, the county prosecutor said.

McRoberts, 25, was hospitalized, under police guard, Thursday as investigators continued to gather evidence against him. They were searching for the gun. The hospital turned him over to police custody, and he was arrested at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood told the Post-Dispatch he expects to file charges in the murder case Friday, before the 24-hour hold period expires.

McRoberts is being held as a suspect in the shooting deaths of his grandparents in their trailer home in the 600 block of Eames Street. Relatives identified the couple as Donald Mack McRoberts and Kathy Chatman McRoberts. He was about 71 years old; she was 58.

Investigators and relatives said Davionne McRoberts showed signs of a mental break in recent weeks, including claiming to be God and posting threats to Facebook.

Donald McRoberts younger sister, Pamela McRoberts of Moscow Mills, said in an interview Thursday she had a frightening encounter with Davionne, her great-nephew, a week before the killings.

He knocked at my door and said, Its God, Pamela McRoberts said. He was talking about how he was God and we were all going to die. He said, Im going to rewrite the Bible, and that it would all be revealed at the next family reunion.

Once he got done pacing and crying and jumping up and down, he left.

Her teenage grandson drove Davionne to a home 15 minutes away he shared with his cousin. Davionne had been dropped off at Pamela McRoberts home earlier by his sister.

Pamela McRoberts said she tried to warn relatives, including her brother, of the strange behavior. When he left my home, I called my brother. I said, Hes not talking right.

Her brother didnt seem fazed.

As usual, hes always joking around. Hes going to die before I do, Donald McRoberts told her. He wasnt worried at all.

Pamela McRoberts was shaken by the deaths of her brother and his wife. Mack, as she said everyone called her brother, was retired from the Army, where he served in the military police.

He was very proud of that, she said.

Pamela McRoberts was friends with Kathy long before Kathy married her brother. They met while working as maids at a hotel in St. Charles and had been friends for about 20 years. A few years ago, her brother asked her for Kathys number, and they began dating. They married in 2017.

They were the most beautiful people youd ever want to meet, Pamela said.

Police found the bodies after a relative called police Tuesday night to ask for a welfare check at the home. The caller wasnt able to reach the couple by phone and had no car to drive to their home and check.

Pamela McRoberts said she asked Donald McRoberts granddaughter to make that call.

After police found the bodies, they identified Davionne McRoberts as a person of interest. Police used drones to search the area. They broadcast his name and photo, asking people to be on the lookout for him.

On Wednesday afternoon, police were notified by the psychiatric facility that McRoberts had shown up on his own, seeking a voluntary commitment, Wood said.

McRoberts was active on Facebook, where most of his recent posts were religious, including saying that God has returned and people are going to God. In several posts he claimed he was God, and in one he said he endured abuse as a child.

WHO WANNA DIE TODAY? one post reads. Yall dont believe? Come show me Im not god.

He asked for donations in exchange for blessing people.

Pamela McRoberts said she didnt think anyone in the family had tried to get mental health treatment for her great-nephew.

McRoberts also has several songs on a music-sharing website named BandLab. Known as WoozyTheGoat, he had more than 21,000 followers and 562,000 plays on the rap songs hes posted.

One of his songs, Durk Flow, had been played more than 143,000 times as of Thursday evening.

Estevon Magana, who lives in Syracuse, Utah, said in an interview that he met McRoberts online about 10 years ago when the two were teenagers. They played the video game Call of Duty in the same group.

Magana said McRoberts called him about three weeks ago, for the first time in years, to see how he was doing.

I actually talked to him about (the posts), Magana said. He seemed OK. He said he was all right.

How to get help

If you know someone experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988. The three-digit, nationwide number is an emergency mental health hotline that can connect callers to various organizations and resources.

The sheriffs office in Lincoln County also encourages people to call Compass Healths Behavioral Health Crisis Center at 833-356-2427.

Compass Health Network, which covers 43 counties throughout Missouri, runs a Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Wentzville at 1032 Crosswinds Court. Most people who come for help are self-referrals. Law enforcement sends others.

We oftentimes have friends or family actually bring folks to us at the behavioral health crisis center, said Lauren Bruce, senior director of crisis stabilization with Compass Health Network. People often call because theyre not really sure what options look like. A lot of what our clinicians do on that crisis line is ... provide resources and information.

St. Charles police Lt. Tom Wilkison noted that people have several options if someone they know is going through a mental health crisis. They include pursuing a temporary hospital hold for a psychiatric evaluation, and contacting Behavioral Health Response, an organization that is available 24/7 for information about support, counseling and other services.
WELLSTON  A St. Louis County workforce development center here was created to help county residents find jobs.

It also employs the children of its chief executive.

Carolyn Seward, head of the Family and Workforce Centers of America, has for years contracted with St. Louis County to run the countys MET Center, a Wellston-based workforce development hub. Seward and the FWCA, as it is known, are being investigated by the state after a whistleblower alleged the agency was paying workers who didnt exist or didnt do anything.

Now, the Post-Dispatch has learned that the nonprofit has for years employed Sewards daughter, Daraa Seward, who is president; daughter Makida Seward, director of communication and outreach; and son Jermal Seward II, general counsel and chief administrative officer.

Carolyn Seward first said her son was a natural fit for the job. She declined a later request for an interview, including questions about the hiring of her daughters.

A nonprofit corporation, despite what may be considered commonplace, in no way precludes the hiring of immediate relations, Seward said.

Experts say the relationships likely dont break federal nonprofit laws. The agency doesnt disclose the hires in its tax records. But its good practice for nonprofits to be as transparent as possible, especially when theres a conflict of interest, said Dan Sise, a St. Louis-area attorney and expert in nonprofit law.

When its not disclosed, when its hidden, you look like youre trying to pull a fast one, Sise said.

FWCA operates, manages and is the primary tenant at the county-owned MET Center, which hosts multiple social service providers including GED classes, technology training and nurse certification to families living in some of the St. Louis regions poorest areas.

The county subsidizes the MET Center with $500,000 annually, and FWCA pays about $52,000 a year in rent, as of 2020. In 2021, 81% of the nonprofits revenue came from taxpayer money.

County officials knew Seward had hired her kids, said Doug Moore, a spokesman for County Executive Sam Page  and the contracts between the county and the FWCA include an anti-nepotism clause, specifically prohibiting the hiring of family members.

Page himself, though he doesnt directly oversee the program and didnt know about the nepotism clause, knew Seward had family working with her, Moore said.

Yet the county took no public action to remove the Sewards or cancel its contracts with the FWCA until recently.

I dont think we understood the scope of it, Moore said.

In early February, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, which oversees the nonprofits federal grants, began monitoring irregularities at the agency after an anonymous whistleblower alleged the FWCA had ghost employees.

Preliminary findings from that investigation said the nonprofit had forged signatures on timesheets and failed to provide individualized records for program participants, among other issues.

Later that month, the county canceled its contracts with the FWCA.

County rates FWCA high risk

Carolyn Seward and her family have a long history of community development and political connections in St. Louis.

Seward and her husband, Jermal, were among 15 Black families in the 1990s who put down roots in St. Louis West End, the neighborhood just north of the Delmar Loop, with hopes of remedying some of the ills that part of the city faces, the Post-Dispatch reported in 1994.

At about the same time, St. Louis County was converting the building at 6347 Plymouth Avenue into the MET Center, a mile from the West End. It was formerly home to the Wagner Electric factory, which donated the building to the county in the early 1980s.

The idea to uplift the West End came from Better Family Life, a nonprofit organization that still remains one of the biggest and most influential community development organizations in the region. After joining Better Family Lifes movement to the West End, Seward left her job at the Southwestern Bell telephone company and became director at the nonprofit.

As early as 1999, Better Family Life started operating in the MET Center under a state-funded job training program called WorkLink  directed by Seward.

As Better Family Life grew, Seward became publicly involved in politics. St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. appointed her to the Metropolitan Sewer District, which spends billions of dollars on area drainage and sewer projects. And she served as campaign manager for St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green, who still holds the position. A week after Green was elected in 1996, a city agency awarded a $75,000 grant to Better Family Life, the Post-Dispatch reported.

Green and Seward denied the grant was political payoff, but they were criticized for the deal.

In the fall of 2002, an audit of the sewer district revealed conflicts of interest and apparent impropriety among the board of trustees. In March 2003, Mayor Francis Slay and County Executive George "Buzz" Westfall announced the resignations of Seward and four others from the sewer districts board. Slay and Westfall replaced the members, citing those issues and a related federal investigation.

Seward continued to work at Better Family Life, and in 2011 it landed a major contract with St. Louis County providing workforce development services at the MET Center. Not long after, Seward split from Better Family Life and formed her own nonprofit  the Family Workforce Centers of America.

In December 2012, the St. Louis County Council approved legislation introduced by late Councilwoman Hazel Erby shifting management of the MET Center to FWCA. County Executive Charlie Dooley signed off on the agreement about a week later.

Dooley said recently that he vaguely recalled the shift but couldnt remember details.

In 2021, the county renewed its agreement with FWCA. Just last August, the MET Center hosted a high-profile visit from Page and Gov. Mike Parson. They committed to supporting the nonprofit and the MET Center. And Parson signed a budget with $4 million for renovations at the center.

But county staff, even then, had begun to worry about the FWCA.

The countys workforce development division rates partnerships with outside agencies. If the agency requires heavier monitoring, staff rate it high-risk. And in July, St. Louis County rated contracts with FWCA, due to high turnover there, as high-risk.

A separate July report, which detailed the countys monitoring of its contract with the FWCA, noted conflicts of interest, without further describing them.

Who better to work with?

Moore, Pages spokesman, said the county knew Carolyn Sewards son and one daughter worked for her, but didnt learn of the second daughters employment until more recently.

But Carolyn Seward told the Post-Dispatch that Daraa has worked with the nonprofit since it was founded in 2012, and Makida joined in 2019. Jermal started in 2021, she said.

Carolyn Seward, who as of 2021 was earning roughly $153,000 annually, said she hired her son because he is an attorney well-versed in nonprofits and workforce development.

FWCA didnt need to report her children on tax forms, she said, because theyre not board members and they werent paid enough to meet the IRS disclosure threshold of $100,000.

There is no conflict of interest, she said in an email, because the family members do not directly report to the other.

FWCAs board approved the hiring of all three of her children, she said, though she declined to make those board meeting minutes available.

Only one member of the FWCAs five-person board responded to requests for comment. A. Fofin Konneh said one of Sewards daughters presented at board meetings, though he couldnt recall approving the hires.

But he said he felt the nonprofit was achieving its goals, based on testimony from job training participants at FWCA board meetings.

From all indications, most of the progress has been what theyre striving for, Konneh said.

Carolyn Seward said she hired Jermal to have a successor in line for when she retires.

One recent day at the MET Center, Jermal and Carolyn sat a reporter down at an FWCA conference table to explain the organization and the state investigation. They were bullish on the agencys future.

We are very excited about the partnerships, the business at hand, Carolyn said.

The FWCA, Jermal said, is a family operation.

Were Family and Workforce Centers of America and we put family at the forefront of what we do, he said. Who better to work with than your family?

Editor's note: This story was updated shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 27 with corrections to the appointment and removal process for members of the Metropolitan Sewer District board of trustees.
ST. LOUIS  When the citys economic development arm was hiring a consultant to revamp its incentive policies early last year, board members questioned why Comer Capital, a Mississippi-based financial firm with a pending Securities and Exchange Commission complaint, was listed as a subcontractor.

The St. Louis Development Corp. board ended up stripping Comer Capital out of the contract with consultancy Baker Tilly after those questions during a January 2022 meeting.

But SLDC already had a contract with Comer Capital, and it had paid the firm $10,000 on another project just a few days earlier.

The SEC in 2019 accused Comer Capital of giving bad advice to a Chicago-area library district that cost the library $500,000 in extra interest on a bond issue, a complaint Jones opponent used as ammunition in the 2021 mayoral race. An SEC civil suit against Comer and his firm is still pending. A judge in December denied the defendants request for summary judgment, meaning the SECs case can proceed.

At the time the Baker Tilly project came up, the fact that the agency already had a contract with Comer Capital was not discussed. The Comer Capital contract was only disclosed in response to a public records request this year by the Post-Dispatch.

In September 2021, SLDC solicited financial firms for a short list of companies prequalified to do business with the agency. Comer Capital responded to a request for qualifications and was one of 10 firms approved for the list.

In November 2021, SLDC updated its procurement policy, which allowed for a small purchase procedure so contracts of $20,000 or less could be approved without a vote of its board.

The only contracts with firms on the short list released in response to the newspapers records request were with Comer Capital and Baker Tilly. Baker Tillys contract was worth over $20,000 and thus required board approval.

Comer Capitals $20,000 contract was approved Jan. 12, 2022, for work related to an economic justice fund, according to an invoice from the firm. Half the fee was due upfront, and SLDC paid Comer Capital $10,000 a week later.

But the other half of the fee, due upon completion of the project, was never paid after SLDC opted to go a different direction, Executive Director Neal Richardson said.

SLDC explored with Comer Capital the idea of setting up an investment fund in-house to support its economic justice action plan, Richardson said. But SLDC ultimately decided to work with the St. Louis Community Foundation, an established nonprofit financial manager, on an economic justice fund. It announced that partnership last week after months of work, Richardson said.

Rather than controlling the fund itself, Richardson said working with the St. Louis Community Foundation on the fund will help keep philanthropic institutions and businesses engaged in the mission of investing in areas of St. Louis, primarily on the north side, that have struggled to attract private capital.

After talking to other donors and also thinking about how SLDC is structured, were not really in a position to receive those type of donations and we dont even want to get into that space, Richardson said in an interview. The initial kind of discovery work that Comer was doing to help us establish a fund and thinking through restructuring within SLDC itself, we decided that it wasnt the right route to go.

SLDC hasnt made any other payments to Comer Capital and the firm isnt a subcontractor on any of its other contracts, Richardson said.

Weve had conversations with them about how they can support some of our financing efforts moving forward, but again we have those conversations with all of the financial advisory firms that are on our short list, Richardson said.

Comer Capitals proposed involvement with the Baker Tilly review of the citys development incentives initially drew criticism from former Alderman and former SLDC board member Jeffrey Boyd. A longtime Jones adversary who sat on SLDCs board, Boyd resigned last year before being sentenced to prison for bribery. But when the Baker Tilly contract came up in January 2022, his concerns prompted fellow SLDC board members to pass a resolution removing Comer Capital from the contract and requiring Baker Tillys subcontractors to win board approval.

They have some baggage behind them, Boyd said at the time, referring to the SEC complaint against Comer Capital.

Richardson said at the time that it was Baker Tillys idea to include Comer Capital, which would bring a social equity lens to the incentive review project. Baker Tilly recently completed the project.

The boards concerns in January 2022, Richardson said Thursday, didnt influence SLDCs decision to not proceed with Comer Capitals economic justice fund contract. He said SLDC still considers Comer Capital a good partner and a good organization to keep on that short list.

Comer did not return a request for comment Thursday. Jones has defended her work with Comer Capital when she served as treasurer, saying in 2020 that if SEC complaints were a litmus test of whether or not a firm should be used, a lot of firms, even some of the larger ones here locally, wouldnt pass that test.

A spokesman for the mayor said Thursday she did not recommend SLDC hire Comer Capital.

Richardson, whom Jones nominated as SLDC chief in 2021, echoed that. Comer Capital never came up in conversation, he said, nor does the mayors office meddle in SLDCs procurement.

Shes never pushed in any way that this person should be on a short list or be considered for anything, Richardson said.

Post-Dispatch reporter Steph Kukuljan contributed to this report.
An injured Ukrainian soldier lies on a bed inside a special medical bus during an evacuation by volunteers from the Hospitallers paramedic organization in Donetsk region, on March 22, 2023.

Their hands are blackened and grimy from the fight. Some are still wearing their combat boots, small flecks of black soil from the battlefield clinging to their torsos, bare under the emergency blanket.

With bandaged heads and splinted limbs, the wounded soldiers are stretchered into the waiting medical evacuation bus by members of the Hospitallers, a Ukrainian organization of volunteer paramedics who work on the front lines in the war in Ukraine.

The soldiers were all wounded recently in fierce fighting in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces have been pressing advances. The battle in Bakhmut, a city now encircled on three sides by Russian troops, has been particularly bloody, with soldiers describing endless days of combat, often at close quarters.

Weve been on tour in hell, said Yura, who like all the soldiers would give only his first name for safety reasons. He lay on a bed in a specially equipped medical bus, with his arm and leg badly wounded.

Blood stained the heavy bandages around his right forearm, which metal rods held together to stabilize the shattered bone. His bicep bore a deepening purple bruise left by the tourniquet applied to staunch the blood and save his life. The time it was put on was scrawled in pen across his right cheek: 19:45.

They tried to get me with grenades, he said. soldiers would give only his first name.

Unlike most of the wounded, Yura is not Ukrainian. He is Russian, but fought on the side of Ukraine in Bakhmut since November. The Moscow native said he moved to Ukraine before the war, as did a friend of his who is also fighting for Ukraine and had spent two and a half years in prison in Russia for reposting a social media post saying Crimea  annexed by Russia in 2014  was Ukrainian.

It was his own countrymen who wounded him. He was in Bakhmut for eight days of almost uninterrupted combat. But he and his unit managed to repel all the assaults on their position, he said. On the fifth day without sleep, I had thoughts that I would go crazy, he said. In fact, its impossible to sleep there. They shell it in such a way that the earth trembles.

He showed a video on his mobile phone shot inside Bakhmut: the interior of a devastated building, holes punched through the walls by artillery, rubble strewn across the floor. Beyond the twisted metal remnants of a window, a glimpse of an urban hellscape of shattered buildings and splintered trees.

Yaroslav, 37, was also wounded in Bakhmut. The battle was so close that Russian and Ukrainian forces fought room to room inside buildings, he said.

Pale and with an almost imperceptible tremor, his lips nearly white, he propped himself up on an elbow as he waited to be carried on a stretcher from an ambulance onto the bus for the trip to a better equipped hospital in a city further west.

An explosion had sent shrapnel through his leg, piercing it below the knee.

I came to my senses and saw that there is nobody around me, and then I understood that there is blood oozing into my shoe, blood squelching in my shoe, he said, quietly drawing on a cigarette. It was totally dark.

As his unit had attempted to move from its position, the Russian forces began shelling.

When I left, everything was on fire,. he recalled. There were dead Russians lying on the ground, and dead Ukrainians, too. People were running in the road and falling down, because mines were exploding, drones were flying.

He finished his cigarette and lay back on the stretcher. His eyes fixed on some invisible point before him, and he slowly closed his eyelids. The Hospitallers lifted his stretcher and carried it to the waiting bus.

The medically equipped bus  named Austrian, the nickname of a Hospitaller paramedic who was killed in a crash of another medical evacuation bus  can carry six severely wounded patients on stretchers, and several more walking wounded.

Were doing evacuations as necessary. It could be twice or three times per day, chief paramedic Kateryna Seliverstova said.

Bought with money from donations, the bus is better equipped medically than even some state hospitals, Seliverstova said. It is stocked with monitors, electrocardiographs, ventilators and oxygen tanks and can care for severely ill patients while they are transported to a major hospital.

This project is really important, because it helps to economize resources, Seliverstova said. We can transport six injured people who are in serious or moderate condition, whereas a normal ambulance can only transport one.

All six places were taken on the trip evacuating Yura and Yaroslav. Across the aisle from Yura, another soldier slipped in and out of consciousness, a brown bandage wrapped around his head. A paramedic checked his vital signs on a monitor, and helped him sip water from a syringe.

Behind him, a man coughed deeply. Only the blackened tip of his nose was visible from his heavily bandaged head. He had suffered extensive burns to his face.

Yura spoke softly to one of the paramedics. Without his expression changing, tears began rolling down the side of his face. The paramedic leaned over and gently wiped them away.

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Candidate trifecta: racist, drunk and driving

An old video has resurfaced showing a current Parkway School Board candidate driving in a car while spewing a racist, misogynistic rant about two women who had angered him. The candidate is apologizing to voters and apparently is hoping they will consider it a legitimate excuse that when he made the video (while driving), he was drunk.

As the Post-Dispatchs Nassim Benchaabane reports, Ryan Kerr, 39, a registered nurse, is running for a seat on the west St. Louis County school districts board. In the four-minute selfie video from 2016, which is on YouTube, Kerr verbally lambasts two women, one of which is some Asian girl he refers to as the [expletive] panda.

Its one of many expletives in the long, rambling rant, in which he slurs his words noticeably as the landscape zooms by through the car windows.

In a written statement in which he admitted he was drunk, Kerr called it a very isolated and targeted event, intoxicated, and immediately following [a] false allegation of assaulting a female, and apologized. Parkway district voters will decide April 4 if thats enough.

Sorry, but Missourians prefer home-grown

The Chicago Tribune casts the revenue outlook as dire news, but we have a different take on it: In February, the first month of legal recreational marijuana sales in Missouri, Illinois pot sales to out-of-state customers have dropped significantly  especially in stores near the Missouri border  even as Missouris first-month sales in February topped $100 million.

The newspaper reported that Illinois sales to out-of-state pot buyers during that time dropped by 15%, and twice that at stores near Missouris border. In all, Missouri stores sold about $103 million worth of the product in February. Thats below Illinois $120 million in sales, but perhaps not as far below as would be expected from a much smaller state that has just entered a market where Illinois is already established.

Part of the reason Missouri is prevailing, analysts say, is that its voter-approved market has looser rules than Illinois market, which was created by a jittery Legislature. As a result, Missouri weed is cheaper and easier to find because there are more stores  all of which adds up to additional tax revenue for Missourians.

Longing for the safety of high school?

The last thing many of us feel when we think back on high school is a sense of safety. It was a jungle, emotional minefield, nuclear war zone and Indiana Jones viper pit all wrapped up in a daily exercise of dream-crushing insecurity. But for one New Jersey woman, high school was such a comparative high point in her life that she decided to falsify her identity and reenroll just so she could experience it all over again.

Hyejeong Shin somehow pulled it off, fooling school administrators long enough to roam the school grounds, attend classes and do all the other things normal students do. Except she was 29 years old. Students said they grew concerned when Shin tried to set up after-school meetings off campus.

She appeared in court Monday, pleading not guilty to charges linked to falsifying official documents. Shin, of South Korea, is not a U.S. citizen. Her lawyer says she was motivated by nothing more than a desire to return to a place of safety after going through a bitter divorce, facing eviction and experiencing loneliness. Her story went viral after videos surfaced on social media.

In Florida, dont say Harding

The former Florida state lawmaker behind the states infamous Dont Say Gay law pleaded guilty this week to wire fraud and fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds. Conviction could land him in prison for the next 35 years, which would probably be just fine for a lot of Florida gays upset by the legislation Republican Joseph Harding pushed through the legislature last year.

The law banned all classroom discussion of sexuality and gender in public schools from kindergarten through third grade. Gov. Ron DeSantis embrace of the bill helped boost his presidential aspirations.

Just before DeSantis signed the bill a year ago, Harding invoked God and morality to defend the law. But the 35-year-old lawmakers fortunes turned sour in December when a federal grand jury returned an indictment for lying on his pandemic aid applications. He resigned from the Florida House the next day.

Gay lawmakers might want to consider introducing a Dont Say Harding law to help guide kids along the proper moral path.

No more St. Louis strolls for Ben the bear

Ben, the escape-artist bear, is leaving the St. Louis Zoo for a Texas zoo with accommodations more fitted to his talents. There, he will live in an enclosure surrounded by a moat. As the Post-Dispatchs Valerie Schremp Hahn reported this week, Ben is a 4-year-old, 280-pound Andean bear that escaped twice from his Louis Zoo enclosure in February by breaking apart clips that held stainless steel mesh to the frame of the enclosure door. He was quickly recaptured both times without incident, but it had become clear that he needed new digs.

As it happens, the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, had been looking for an Andean bear since one of its own died last June. The St. Louis Zoo decided to move Ben there after considering his specific and unique personality.

His Texas enclosure will be surrounded by an eight-foot-deep moat. Though bears can swim, the wire at the top of the 16-foot wall surrounding the moat will deliver a mild shock should Ben try his escape act again.
McClellans suggestions offer a blueprint for reform

Regarding Bill McClellans column St. Louisans must save St. Louis in circuit attorney quagmire (March 19): I hope that the mayor, the city, the court system and businesses read this article and use it as a blueprint to get us out of the mess that is the criminal justice system in St. Louis. We all are impacted by not only the current disaster at the Circuit Attorneys Office but by the pending legislative disaster that is its alleged fix of the issue. Someone with common sense should use this column as a guide to a workable common sense solution.

Doreen Dodson  Kirkwood

Redevelop the north side but hold the racial grievance

The Post-Dispatch Editorial Board cautioned Mayor Tishaura Jones and other racial ideologues against characterizing north St. Louis development money as, in essence, racial reparations. (Editorial: North side revival effort is a good one. But investors dont need the politics. March 18.) Its not surprising that Jones, no stranger to exploiting racial grievances to advance her political career, would tarnish this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn the city around by essentially transmuting federal funds into guilt money payable by whites to Blacks for past sins of racism.

Jones tunnel vision, which cannot get beyond a form of reverse race-baiting, blinds her to the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose so-called reparations for past racial inequities. What it is going to take to lead St. Louis to its phoenix-like rise from the blighted landscape of economic distress is a leader who can transcend the narrow exploitation of racial grievances and incentivize capital investment by selling a post-racial vision of a shining new St. Louis.

Terrence OToole  Warson Woods

Bring back bankruptcy protection for student debtors

As an independent voter leaning Republican, I find it infuriating to see Republican leadership continually attempt to render the student debt crisis a partisan issue. Contrary to popular belief, more than half of student debt borrowers are either Republican or independent. And distressed borrowers over the age of 50 far outnumber borrowers under the age of 25.

Much of the nations $1.76 trillion student debt burden comprises fees and compounded interest. If the GOP were serious about addressing the plague of student debt that has destroyed the lives and livelihoods of generations, Republicans would fight to restore bankruptcy protections for student debtors. In fact, Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, sponsored the Fresh Start Through Bankruptcy Act in 2021 in a bipartisan effort. The bill died, but something like that is needed to actually solve this crisis.

Lisa Ansell  St. Louis

Prevention is preferable to policing for fighting crime

Regarding A troubled kid: Man charged with shooting Hermann police was a menace, say neighbors, documents (March 19): This demonstrates, in my opinion, that more police do not make our lives safer. Where were the prevention services that would have helped a troubled child before he killed Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith and wounded officer Adam Sullentrup?

The assailant had a long criminal history and multiple arrest warrants for other crimes, yet he wasnt in custody. Still, if he had been, would he have received the help he needed to turn his life around?

In my opinion, more police do not stop crime, but prevention does. Thats where our legislators should be focusing their energy: on preventing crime and reducing criminals access to guns. When that happens, we will live in a safer city, state and country.

Ellen Wentz  Kirkwood

Post-Dispatch is in no position to lecture Fox about news

Its entertaining to watch the Post-Dispatch Editorial Board trying to seize journalistic high ground when it comes to its favorite bogeyman, Fox News. (Editorial: McCarthy gave Capitol footage to Carlson. Real journalists must have access, too. Feb. 25). The boards longtime target is Fox commentator Tucker Carlson, who released a lot of new video from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

There was a time when a majority of news media believed that more publicly available information on a controversial story was a good thing. Those days are long gone, as most legacy media have pledged their fidelity to the narratives of the political left.

And who is the Post-Dispatch anyway to question another news operations journalistic practices? Let us recall that the Post-Dispatch, like much other news media, regaled its readers with two-plus years of headlines on what I regard as the bogus Russian collusion story involving Donald Trumps 2016 election.

A more recent example of what I regard as the papers dereliction is its indifference to Hunter Bidens influence-peddling and whether his father was involved. Imagine how the Post-Dispatch would be covering this story if Trump were still president and the topic of controversy was one of his children.

The Post-Dispatch may want to get its own journalistic house in order before it starts chucking rocks at another news outlet.

Larry ONeill  Kirkwood

Read letters online at STLToday.com
TAX HIT: Not only is St. Louis County looking for voter approval of a sales tax on recreational marijuana, its also positioning itself to be the cheapest place to buy weed.

County Executive Sam Page said that if county voters on April 4 approve a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana, the county plans to levy that tax in any municipality that also approves a similar measure.

That would make recreational marijuana 3% cheaper if bought from a store in unincorporated St. Louis County.

The Missouri constitutional amendment that allows marijuana sales, however, seems to prohibit the stacking of local taxes:

Local government means, in the case of an incorporated area, a village, town or city, and in the case of an unincorporated area, a county, the amendment states.

When asked if he expects legal action from any municipality on the countys plan to stack the sales tax, Page said he doubted the extra levy would deter marijuana buyers from patronizing a store in their municipality.

For example, Page said, municipalities with special commercial-district taxes dont suffer from having higher charges than neighboring cities. They dont affect shopping patterns, he said.

As to the other legal question surrounding the sales tax issue  whether the countys upcoming educational campaign that spends taxpayer money to promote another tax proposal is allowed  Page said he is confident of the countys legal standing.

The county counselors office is of the opinion that it is legal, Page said, though he stopped short of sharing any written opinion. Thats not the way they do things, he said of the counselors office.

The campaign, dubbed Prop M, got its start earlier this month when Page proposed that the council spend $150,000 to spread the word about the tax proposal.

One week later, without debate, the council increased the spending to $300,000.

Page said the price bump came after he met with council chair Shalonda Webb, D-4th District, and vice chair Mark Harder, R-7th District. He said all three agreed that $150,000 might be inadequate.

The $300,000 will go to Elasticity, a local marketing and public relations firm that has been paid more than $700,000 in the last two years to promote other county initiatives.

Page said he had not spoken with anyone from Elasticity in the one week between the introduction of the spending bill and the doubling of its price.

As to the possibility that a member of Pages staff had talked with the company, Page said that anything is in the realm of possibility.

State law allows for informational campaigns, provided that they do not support or oppose passage of an issue.

On March 8, one day after the council approved the $300,000 allocation, Kyle Klemp, Pages deputy chief of operations, directed Elasticity staffers to focus campaign advertising at people who likely wont buy marijuana, and therefore would be less likely to oppose a tax on it.

Also, Elasticity provided the county with a printed strategic plan that promises a targeted education campaign that aims to reach the intended target audience.

Government watchdog Tom Sullivan, a longtime critic of educational tax campaigns, has filed one Sunshine Law complaint with the Missouri Attorney Generals office and plans to file a second.

He also said he is preparing a complaint to the Missouri Ethics Commission that will allege campaign financing improprieties.

County council members contend that the money that would be raised by the 3% tax, about $3 million, is needed to offset the countys existing $41 million deficit.

Any money raised by the new tax would not be earmarked for specific uses and would go into the countys general fund. Page said the bulk of general-fund money is spent on public safety, parks and roads.

FARM TEAM: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., recently has been talking hard against Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland.

But former Missouri Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell  who on Wednesday endorsed Lucas Kunce, Hawleys main Democratic challenger in 2024  counters that talk is all Hawley is delivering.

Josh Hawleys only record on this issue is using Missouri farmers as campaign props and aligning with the same giant multinational corporations whove been stripping our state for parts, Maxwell said in a statement.

Maxwell is a former state representative and senator, and also the last Democrat to serve as lieutenant governor, 2000-2005. He declined to run for a second term in 2004.

Ive won statewide as a Democrat, Maxwell said in a statement. I know what it takes, and Lucas has what it takes to build the coalition needed to win.

This is a second run at the U.S. Senate for Kunce, an Independence resident. He lost the 2022 Democratic primary to Trudy Busch Valentine.

For the 2024 race, December Harmon, an activist in Columbia, Missouri, also has filed as a Democrat.

Joe Holleman 314-340-8254 @stlsherpa on Twitter jholleman@post-dispatch.com
March 23, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. LOUIS, MO  Mark Pierce, a journalist and corporate communications leader from the St. Louis area, releases When the Stars Came Out, a book that tells the story of the beloved music festival that commenced on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in the Summer of 1969.

For 12 summers, the Mississippi River Festival (MRF) brought musical diversity to the region, committed to featuring multiple genres of music like rock, classical, jazz, dance, barbershop, theater, and bluegrass. The outdoor concert series attracted more than a million fans and showcased legendary artists like The Who, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Heart, the Eagles, and Janis Joplin.

The Mississippi River Festival was truly a historic event for the St. Louis area. It built an artistic bridge between the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river and showcased the diverse talents of hundreds of performers  from rock to country to dance to theater, and the list goes on and on, expresses Pierce. Those who attended MRF shows or worked on the festival staff hold sacred memories of their experiences. Their passion for the MRF burns even brighter today than it did in 1975.

With fan reviews, artist recounts, and a gallery of rare, vintage photos, When the Stars Came Out is a book that offers a unique perspective into the efforts of those who created the festival, those who worked during its 12-year run, the performers who created history, and the audience who keep the memories still alive today.

To learn more information and buy the book, visit https://publishingconceptsllc.com/when-the-stars-came-out/

###

About Mark Pierce

Mark Pierce has been a journalist and corporate communications leader in the St. Louis area for more than 30 years. A graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Marks love of music and connections with many who played pivotal roles in the Mississippi River Festival story served as inspiration to write the first book that truly tells the MRFs story. Mark lives in Glen Carbon with his wife, Sara.

About Publishing Concepts, LLC

For 28 years, Publishing Concepts, LLC has published everything from childrens books, poetry, novels, and limited-edition books for self-published authors, to training manuals, magazines, and directories for organizations in the hospitality/tourism, medical, construction, chemical, and cybersecurity industries.
Edisun Power Europe AG / Key word(s): Annual Results

Edisun Power Europe AG: Record result with good growth prospects



24-March-2023 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 35 LR

Zurich, March 24, 2023



Record result with good growth prospects

Sales increase of 10.5% to CHF 18.97 million (in local currency + 17.2%)

EBITDA up by 8.5% to CHF 14.15 million and 74.6% margin

Thanks to additional currency gains, net profit more than doubled to CHF 10.23 million

Proposed dividend increase of 45.5% to CHF 1.60/share

2022 was a record year for Edisun Power in various respects: financially, new record values were achieved throughout, and in terms of production, the connection of the second large-scale Portuguese plant "Betty" (23.4 MW) in November increased future solar power production by around 28%. The Board of Directors recommends to the Annual General Meeting the distribution of an increased dividend of CHF 1.60 per share compared to CHF 1.10 in previous years. The main focus for Edisun Power is the further development and construction of over 300 MW of the pipeline and its financing by means of, among others, the sale of developed project rights.

New record sale

Total Group sales increased by 10.5% to CHF 18.97 million (2021: CHF 17.16 million). In local currency, the increase in sales even amounted to 17.2%. The start of production of the new large-scale Betty plant (23.4 MW, grid connection 10.11.2022), higher electricity prices and good weather conditions in Central Europe helped to achieve this record sales.

Overall, the electricity production of 123359 MWh was 2.6% higher than in 2021. This volume effect and a higher electricity price mix (+16.2%) more than compensated for the effect of the weaker average euro exchange rate (-5.8%) and led to a 10.2% increase in electricity revenues to CHF 18.81 million (2021: CHF 17.06 million).

The higher electricity price mix results from the electricity sales of those plants in Spain and Germany which were able to partially benefit from the higher electricity market prices and are not subject to the fixed subsidized electricity feed-in tariffs or power purchase agreements (PPA). The new emergency legal measures to contain energy prices in Spain and the repatriation of excess profits in Italy made it impossible limited better results.

Edisun Power benefited from dry weather conditions in Central Europe, particularly in the summer. Electricity production in Switzerland and Germany increased by 10.0% and 13.7% respectively. The stormy weather during the last quarter, particularly in Portugal, Spain and Italy, caused lower revenues: compared with the same quarter of the previous year, electricity production in Portugal fell by 24.8%, despite the new Betty operational plant, in Spain by 16.4% and in Italy by 9.1%. As these three countries account for over 70% of sales, this weather-related reduction had a corresponding impact.

Profitability at a new level

The economies of scale from the new large-scale plants and the largely smoothly running production facilities were able to increase earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by 8.5% to CHF 14.15 million (2021: CHF 13.04 million). The EBITDA margin decreased from 76.0% to 74.6%, but remains above the medium-term target of 70%. The reduction is mainly due to higher administration costs in connection with the strong expansion of the project pipeline in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Thanks to the high fixed feed-in tariffs and good weather conditions, the plants in Switzerland posted the highest EBITDA margins at 89.9%. With an EBITDA margin of 89.8%, the large-scale plants "Mogadouro" and "Betty" follow closely; and this without benefiting from subsidized feed-in tariffs.

Depreciation decreased to CHF 5.94 million (2021: CHF 6.08 million). Due to the higher cost of capital, an impairment of almost CHF 0.2 million had to be recognized on an older plant in France and a provision for legal risks of CHF 0.1 million in Germany. Compared to the previous year, depreciation and impairment charges decreased, resulting in an opeRating profit of CHF 8.0 million (2021: CHF 6.72 million), up 19.1% to a new record EBIT margin of 42.2%, exceeding the previous record of 41.7% set in 2019.

Financing costs decreased CHF 3.2 million (2021: CHF 3.4 million). Thanks to currency gains of CHF 6.8 million (2021: CHF 0.05 million) on the interest-free euro-denominated loan of CHF 121.3 million from Smartenergy Group AG, Edisun Power reported a net financial gain of CHF 3.7 million. These currency gains are due to the 4.4% stronger CHF closing rate at the end of 2022 compared to the previous year. Hedging of this position has been waived until now. In contrast, income taxes rose as expected by almost 45% to CHF 1.5 million in the reporting year (2021: CHF 1.0 million).

Overall, net profit more than doubled by 126.8% to CHF 10.23 million (2021: CHF 4.51 million), which corresponds to earnings per share of CHF 9.87 (2021: CHF 4.35) based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding.

With this annual result, the Edisun Power Group has achieved a new record, which also impressively underpins the resilient nature of the business model in the promising renewable energy market.

High investments and new financing

At CHF 3.1 million, cash flow from operating activities is clearly below the previous year's result (2021: CHF 10.2 million). This is due to the sharp reduction in accounts payable, higher tax payments and the development expenses for the Italian plants that are up for sale. The development of the PV plants, which were acquired with a total of 783.6 MW in 2021, continues to progress. Together with the finalized construction of the large-scale plant "Betty", the cash flow from investing activities amounted to over CHF 22.8 million (2021: 45.5 million due to acquisitions).

Edisun Power was able to issue a new five-year bond with a coupon of 3% for almost CHF 35.0 million. These funds are still needed for the development and construction of solar plants as well as for the repayment of debts.

At CHF 394.2 million, total assets were slightly lower than in the previous year (2021: CHF 405.4 million). The equity ratio fell to 19.4% (2021: 19.8%). The medium-term goal of an equity ratio of 40% remains, so that the Board of Directors has initiated the sale of project rights in Italy in accordance with the extended business model of a "build and hold" combined with "buy and sell".

Net debt increased by only CHF 10.1 million, or 4.0%, to CHF 260.4 million, despite the CHF 21.6 million increase in bond debt. The fact that almost 46.6% of net debt, or CHF 121.3 million, is interest-free is an advantage.

Outlook for the current year and dividend proposal

Operationally, the 2023 business year has started promisingly. In the current financial year, the focus will be on the start of the construction of large-scale plants in Portugal of around 185 MW, the further development of the remaining project portfolio of over 735 MW, and the accomplishment of their financing, among other things with the sale of project rights of Italian solar plants.

The Board of Directors is optimistic about the future thanks to the excellent result, the new large-scale "Betty" plant that has gone into operation and the operational outlook and proposes the distribution of a dividend of CHF 1.60 per share, increased by 50 centimes. This is a first step in line with the announced strategy to significantly increase dividends in the future.

The Edisun Power Annual Report 2022 is available on the Group's website: http://www.edisunpower.com/en/home-en/investors-en/reporting

For further information

Dr. Rene Cotting, info@edisunpower.com

Edisun Power group

As a listed European solar power producer, the Edisun Power Group finances and operates solar power plants in various European countries. Edisun Power started its operations in this field as early as 1997 and has been listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange since September 2008. Edisun Power has broad experience in the realization and purchase of both national and international projects, thanks in part to its strategic partnership with the Smartenergy Group. Currently, the company owns 39 solar power plants in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

Key figures of the Edisun Power Gruppe as at 31.12.
EQS-Ad-hoc: Varta AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

VARTA AG: VARTA AG reaches agreement with banks on comprehensive restructuring concept



24-March-2023 / 17:39 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





VARTA AG, Ellwangen, ISIN: DE000A0TGJ55

Publication of inside information pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014

VARTA AG reaches agreement with banks on comprehensive restructuring concept

VARTA AG has reached an agreement with the financing banks and the majority shareholder on far-reaching restructuring measures which are intended to lead the company back onto a growth path. The restructuring concept was drawn up on the basis of an IDW-S6 expert opinion prepared by KPMG. The short-term financing needs identified therein are covered by the now successfully completed capital increase, from which the company received gross proceeds of around 51 million euros. This sum is intended to secure the further development of the company and enable its successful restructuring. The agreement with the banks also provides for an extension of the financing until 31st December 2026 and changes to the loan conditions. The agreement is still subject to committee approval by the banks. The restructuring contribution of the majority shareholder Montana Tech Components agreed with the banks has already been made via the guarantee and subscription of the capital increase that has taken place.

The restructuring programme includes an adjustment of production and structural costs as well as targeted investments in growth areas such as the energy transition and e-mobility. Supplemented by measures to strengthen operations, this will create the key prerequisites for stabilising the company and achieving positive performance in the long term. The measures also include cost savings in the personnel area.
Ford said Friday that the American automaker plans to build up to 500,000 electric trucks a year at its BlueOval City complex under construction in western Tennessee. Part of the companys plan to have global EV production capacity of 2 million vehicles a year in place by the end of 2026.

BlueOval City will assemble several versions of Fords next-generation F-series electric pickup, which the company calls Project T. The plant will also have a battery plant capable of producing about 40 gigawatt-hours worth of cells  enough to supply up to half a million EVs a year.

Ford said BlueOval City will have a general assembly footprint that is 30% smaller than that of a traditional assembly plant, with a higher production capacity. Most current auto plants are designed to build 250,000-300,000 vehicles a year.

Ford and its battery partner SK On are investing $5.6 billion to develop the BlueOval City complex. Costs associated with developing EV platforms and building EV and battery assembly plants are why Ford is projecting a $3 billion adjusted EBIT loss for this year in its Model e business unit, Ford said.

CFRAs Garrett Nelson shared his thoughts on Fords forecast of a big loss in its EV business this year, and the challenges it faces transitioning to pure EVs in a note to clients on Thursday.

"We think the disclosure from the U.S.'s second best selling EV manufacturer reveals a couple of ugly industry truths: 1) we believe no U.S. automaker is making EVs profitably aside from Tesla and 2) EVs are likely to be a material drag on near- and intermediate-term earnings, Nelson wrote. Furthermore, with the U.S. EV market likely to become oversaturated in the near future given the number of new models coming to market, sales volumes could disappoint.

Shares of F are down 1.40% in pre-market trading on Friday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The eyes of the art world turn to Hong Kong this week as colour, creativity and vibrancy descend upon the city for the arts and culture scene. Headlined by large-scale fairs Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central, the internationally renowned celebration of arts and culture sees a suite of world-class events, encounters and experiences taking place throughout the city, showcasing Hong Kongs thriving creative landscape while reinforcing its position as a global cultural hub.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005124/en/

The biggest edition of Art Basel Hong Kong since 2019. (Photo Courtesy of Art Basel)

Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central anchor arts lineup

Art Basel Hong Kong (March 23-25) is hosting the biggest edition of the international art fair since 2019 which this year features 177 exhibitors from 32 countries and territories. Taking place concurrently will be Art Central (March 22-25), Hong Kongs homegrown art fair that has established itself as one of the regions most significant platforms for emerging artists. These two world-class art fairs have helped Hong Kong become firmly established as one the worlds foremost hubs for international arts and cultural exchange.

In particular, Hong Kong Tourism Board is teaming up with Art Central in launching an Arts in Hong Kong cafe to invite visitors to walk into the contemporary art gallery like cafe and see the collaborative works of local and overseas artists.

Show-stopping installations, must-see exhibitions across the city

As Hong Kongs stock on the global arts stage continues to go from strength to strength, a host of opportunities for artistic encounters can also be discovered around town.

Harbour City is currently home to large-scale work GIANTS: Rising Up. The first of French artist JRs GIANTS series in Asia, this 12mx12m installation depicts a larger-than-life high-jumper in graceful mid-flight backdropped by the iconic Victoria Harbour, and features a nod to traditional Hong Kong craftsmanship with the use of bamboo scaffolding, running from 13 March to 23 April 2023.

Pacific Place hosts the world premiere of Gravity, a 10-metre-tall work by Los Angeles-based conceptual artist Awol Erizku. The piece is a playful depiction of the figure of King Tutankhamun that invites visitors to take a detour from their usual route, and represents the first-ever offsite activation of Art Basel Hong Kongs Encounters sector, running from 17 March to 2 April 2023.

ArtisTree this month has unveiled ArtisTree Selects: Urban Rocks, a solo exhibition featuring brand-new sculptural works by Hong Kong-based French artist Polo Bourieau. The 12 stone sculptures, made in the intimacy of the artists Tuscan workshop in 2021, are inspired by Chinese scholars rocks, and examine humanitys indelible mark on the planet, running from 16 March to 9 April 2023.

Clouds, Power and Ornament  Roving Central Asia is now showing at CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile) at The Mills. Greater Chinas first-ever comprehensive Central Asian textile art exhibition features works by 26 art and culture creators from the landlocked region to explore how artists and designers there use textile as a medium of preservation, response and cohesion. Opening to the public from 25 February to 21 May 2023.

Street Art in the Spotlight

Street art will be in the spotlight this dynamic art week, with prominent showcases examining the movement from its beginnings to the here and now.

Street art festival HKwalls makes a vibrant return to Hong Kong this week. The eighth edition of the much-loved event will once again transform neighbourhoods in the Central and Western District into outdoor galleries, and has also invited six internationally acclaimed mural and street artists to create their first pieces in the city.

Another harbourfront highlight is VLTRAPHOTONICS, a 4,000sqm digital artwork by Spanish street artist J. Demsky that takes over the facades of Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre. The site-specific work, a collaboration between HKwalls street art festival and Sino Group, will light up Victoria Harbour each night until 12 April with over 82,000 LED bulbs.

K11 Arts Foundation presents City As Studio, Greater Chinas largest ever exhibition of graffiti and street art. Curated by Jeffrey Deitch, the show examines the history of the form from its emergence as counter-cultural expression in 1970s New York to its rise as a global phenomenon, and features works by pioneers Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Fab 5 Freddy, Lady Pink and more.

Throughout the year, Hong Kong plays host to a vibrant and diverse range of arts and cultural events that showcase the city's creative energy and talent. These events set the stage for even more cultural celebrations, such as the upcoming Le French May. Be ready to say Hello to Hong Kong!

Members of the media can download photos from the following link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QGLxmKvzaR5ZmFx5TtNffBk33CqgdOwO?usp=share_link

For more information, please go to:

Website www.discoverhongkong.com

Facebook @DiscoverHongKong

Instagram @discoverhongkong

Twitter @discoverhk

YouTube @hongkong

WeChat hktbwx

Weibo  @hktb

Tik Tok @discoverhongkong

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Holly Chan

Email: [email protected]



Ms. Natalie Chan

Email: [email protected]

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

BenevolentAI (BenevolentAI or the Company) (Euronext Amsterdam: BAI), a leading, clinical-stage AI-enabled drug discovery and development company, announces the publication of the convening notice for its Annual General Meeting which will be held on 4 May 2023 at 14:00 CEST at 5 place Winston Churchill, L-1340 Luxembourg (the AGM).

The convening notice, Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2022, the proxy form and any other meeting documentation are available on the Companys website (www.benevolent.com/investors/general-meetings/) and at the Companys registered office.

The shareholders entitled to participate and vote at the AGM will be those who are shareholders on the record date of 20 April 2023 at 24:00 (midnight) CEST.

About BenevolentAI

BenevolentAI (AMS: BAI) is a leading, clinical-stage AI-enabled drug discovery and development company listed on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. Through the combined capabilities of this AI platform, its scientific expertise, and wet-lab facilities, BenevolentAI is well-positioned to deliver novel drug candidates with a higher probability of clinical success than those developed using traditional methods. The Benevolent Platform powers the Companys in-house drug pipeline and supports successful collaborations with AstraZeneca, as well as leading research and charitable institutions. BenevolentAI is headquartered in London, with a research facility in Cambridge (UK) and a further office in New York.

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Enquiries:

Investors:

Fleur Wood  VP Investor Relations

[email protected]

[email protected]

T: +44(0) 203 781 9360

Company Secretary:

Judit Molnar  Deputy Company Secretary

[email protected]

T: +44(0) 203 781 9360

Source: BenevolentAI
Patient enrollment underway in Europe in ongoing Phase 2 trial in NSCLC (THIO-101)

Outlined plan to initiate second Phase 2 Go-To-Market trial (THIO-102)

Presented preclinical data validating efficacy of THIO in hepatocellular carcinoma at SITC Annual Meeting

Held pre-IND meeting with FDA for planned U.S. expansion of THIO

Advanced new telomere-targeting molecule program

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., (NYSE: MAIA) (MAIA, the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, today reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022, and provided a corporate update.

We are very pleased with the progress MAIA has made in recent months, including but not limited to, expanding the THIO-101 trial to Europe and outlining the plan to initiate the Companys second go-to-market trial for THIO-102, said Vlad Vitoc, M.D., MAIAs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As we head into 2023, we remain excited to share the safety data from Part A of the THIO-101 trial, advance patient enrollment at sites in Europe, and seek to receive IND clearance in the U.S.

Corporate Highlights

Dosed first two patients in Europe in ongoing Phase 2 trial (THIO-101): Dosing has commenced in Europe in MAIAs Phase 2 clinical trial, THIO-101, evaluating THIO in patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Outlined plan to initiate second Phase 2 go-to-market trial (THIO-102): MAIA is planning to conduct a second Phase 2 trial to evaluate THIO in sequential combination with the immunotherapies pembrolizumab or atezolizumab, which are the most used checkpoint inhibitors in oncology. The Company has demonstrated encouraging preclinical results in colorectal, liver, and small cell lung cancer models.

Presented preclinical data validating efficacy of THIO in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at Society for Immunotherapy of Cancers 37th Annual Meeting: Conducted an oral presentation, which indicated that THIO, a first-in-class telomere-targeted agent, may enhance the overall therapeutic efficacy of current immune checkpoint inhibitor-based treatments for HCC.

Expanded Phase 2 THIO-101 trial to Europe: Regulatory authorities in three European countries, Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria, approved the implementation of THIO-101.

Held Pre-IND meeting with FDA for planned U.S. expansion of THIO-101 Phase 2 Trial for NSCLC: MAIA received positive initial feedback from the FDA regarding its manufacturing, preclinical, and clinical development plan. MAIA also obtained guidance from the FDA on the assessment of its safety and efficacy in THIO-101, which will be incorporated in the U.S. IND application.

Advanced new telomere-targeting molecule program: MAIA is designing and evaluating multiple telomere-targeting compounds designed to modify the telomeric structure through the cancer cell - intrinsic telomerase activity, and thus cause the death of these cells. The studies, conducted in vitro in multiple cancer cell lines and in vivo in several pre-clinical cancer models, demonstrated the intended mechanism of action and high-level anti-cancer activity for these new molecules.

Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Cash Position: The Company had cash totaling approximately $10.9 million as of December 31, 2022, compared to $10.6 million in cash as of December 31, 2021.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were approximately $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to approximately $3.5 million for year ended December 31, 2021. The increase for the year was primarily due to the increase in clinical expenses related to clinical preparation and the startup of the THIO trials of approximately $3.1 million, an increase in payroll and bonus expenses of approximately $2.2 million, an increase in other expenses related to research and development of approximately $0.1 million and an increase of approximately $0.02 million in professional fees offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation of approximately $0.05 million. R&D expenses included approximately $0.9 million and $0.9 million of non-cash stock compensation expense in the year 2022 and 2021, respectively.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were approximately $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to approximately $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase for the year was primarily due to approximate increases in payroll and bonus expenses of $0.9 million, an increase of approximately $0.9 million of other expenses related to the costs of operating as a public company, an increase in professional fees of approximately $0.3 million offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation of approximately $0.3 million. G&A expenses included approximately $1.4 million and $1.8 million of non-cash stock compensation expense in the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively. In addition, ratchet share expense was approximately $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to no expense for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Other Income (Expense): Other income was approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 was approximately $4.8 million. Other income in the year ended December 31, 2022, consisted primarily of approximately $0.3 million in Australian research and development incentives and approximately $0.1 million of the change in the fair values of warrant liability. Other expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily consisted of interest expense for convertible notes of approximately $0.8 million, expense for the change in the fair values of the warrant liability of approximately $1.5 million, expense for the change in the fair value of the bifurcated embedded features of approximately $0.2 million, and the loss on extinguishment of convertible notes of approximately $2.3 million.

Net Income (Loss): Net loss was approximately $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to net loss of approximately $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

About THIO

THIO (6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2-deoxyguanosine) is an investigational telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development to evaluate its activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Telomeres, along with the enzyme telomerase, play a fundamental role in the survival of cancer cells and their resistance to current therapies. THIO is being developed as a second or later line of treatment for NSCLC for patients that have progressed beyond the standard-of-care regimen of existing checkpoint inhibitors.

About MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.

MAIA is a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Our lead program is THIO, a potential first-in-class cancer telomere targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of NSCLC patients with telomerase-positive cancer cells. For more information, please visit www.maiabiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements

MAIA cautions that all statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industrys actual results, levels or activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. The use of words such as may, might, will, should, could, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, project, intend, future, potential, or continue, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that statements are not forward-looking. For example, all statements we make regarding (i) the initiation, timing, cost, progress and results of our preclinical and clinical studies and our research and development programs, (ii) our ability to advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical studies, (iii) the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, (iv) our ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize our product candidates and to improve the manufacturing process, (v) the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, (vi) the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets, and (vii) our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates, are forward looking. All forward-looking statements are based on current estimates, assumptions and expectations by our management that, although we believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Any forward-looking statement expressing an expectation or belief as to future events is expressed in good faith and believed to be reasonable at the time such forward-looking statement is made. However, these statements are not guarantees of future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors beyond our control that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In this release, unless the context requires otherwise, MAIA, Company, we, our, and us refers to MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005389/en/

MAIA Biotechnology

Joseph McGuire

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

904-228-2603

ICR Westwicke

Stephanie Carrington

[email protected]

646-277-1282

Source: MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.
The last time Rolando Alvarez was seen in public was 72 days ago, on January 10, the day on which the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo tried the bishop of Matagalpa for the alleged crimes of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and the spreading of false news. The religious leader, one of the most critical voices from within the Catholic Church against the Sandinista regime, looked pale and thinner than usual, but serene during his appearance in the 10th Criminal District Court of Managua. The rest of the political trial, for which he was sentenced to 26 years in prison, was held behind closed doors.

The guilty verdict was read to the bishop the day after Ortega and Murillo ordered the release 222 political prisoners, stripping them of their nationality and placing them on a flight to the United States. Alvarez refused to board the plane and, according to political analysts, thus ruined the presidential couples attempt to placate the international communitys demand that Nicaraguas political prisoners be freed. Ortega unleashed a tirade against the prelate, accusing him of arrogance and being out of his mind.

But in any case, that will have to be solved now by the judicial authorities, who of course are well informed about this mans case, and by the medical authorities who will have to take care of him, because now that he has arrived at the Modelo prison, he has started behaving like a madman, said Ortega, who together with his wife, the countrys vice-president, has been accused by UN experts of committing crimes against humanity.

Alvarez has been under house arrest since August 2022 but has now been transferred to the countrys notorious penal system, where he has been denied any visitors including his family. Lawyer Yader Morazan, who was also stripped of his Nicaraguan nationality by Ortegas government, explained that the fact that not even those closest to him have been able to see Alvarez, despite his location being revealed by Ortega on national television, constitutes a case of forced disappearance under Article 7 of the International Criminal Courts Rome Statute.

Lawyers and human rights groups demand Alvarezs release

The Blue and White National Unity (UNAB), an opposition organization founded in 2018, has demanded from the regime proof of life of Bishop Alvarez, who the group says was unjustly kidnapped for raising his voice in the face of so much evil. The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights also called for the release of Alvarez, the first Nicaraguan bishop to be arrested and condemned by the Ortega-Murillo regime amid a religious persecution against the Catholic Church. The life of Monsignor Rolando Alvarez is in danger, his physical and psychological condition is unknown, the organization stated.

From exile in Miami, the auxiliary bishop of Managua, Monsignor Silvio Baez, prayed that the imprisoned bishop would not be forgotten. He is a just man, an innocent pastor who has ignited their fury because they cannot tolerate his words, he said on March 19. Pope Francis has also spoken of the incarceration of Bishop Alvarez, expressing his sadness and concern over the prelate. The Sandinista regime subsequently suspended diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Four days ago, the charge daffaires of the Holy See in Managua, Marcel Diouf, left Nicaragua and closed the nunciature.

On March 18, Mexican lawyer Carlos Ramirez of the Christian Lawyers Foundation, told La Prensa that the organization would petition for the case of Alvarez in the international institutions, describing his trial as being plagued by a series of irregularities, in a clear violation of his constitutional guarantees and human rights.

Ramirez said the foundation would seek the intervention of the Organization of American States, the U.N., and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights once all local judicial avenues had been exhausted to safeguard the human rights of the politically persecuted or of prisoners whose rights have been violated.

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MISSISSAUGA, Ontario & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Searchlight Pharma Inc. (Searchlight) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Miravo Healthcare (Miravo), has been included on The Globe and Mails 2023 Report on Business magazines Women Lead Here list. This annual editorial benchmark identifies top-notch Canadian businesses with the highest executive gender diversity.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005098/en/

This benchmark was established in 2020 by Report on Business magazine and applies a proprietary research methodology to determine Canadian corporations with the highest degree of gender diversity among executive ranks. The ranking companies have made tangible and organizational progress related to executive gender parity.

"Recognizing businesses that are successfully tackling issues around executive gender parity is a crucial step in moving the dial," said Dawn Calleja, editor of Report on Business magazine. "While more work is needed across the board, the companies highlighted in this list are examples to others in corporate Canada looking to move toward gender parity and, ultimately, build better businesses."

Jesse Ledger, President & CEO of Miravo commented, 2023 marks the third year in a row where Miravo has been recognized in the Women Lead Here benchmark of executive gender diversity. We are honoured to be recognized as a leader in executive gender diversity and to be included in this list.

This third consecutive ranking is yet another indicator of the strength and diversity of the culture and team at Miravo, said Mark Nawacki, President & CEO of Searchlight. Since our inception, we have had a commitment to and focus on womens health and on empowering women in this regard, so were very proud to see our new colleagues at Miravo Healthcare leading by example in helping to make a difference on gender equity within our industry.

For the 2023 ranking, Report on Business conducted a journalistic analysis of approximately 500 large publicly traded Canadian companies based on revenue, evaluating the ratio of female-identifying to male-identifying executives in the top three tiers of executive leadership. The resultant data was applied to a weighted formula that also factored in company performance, diversity and year-to-year change.

In total, 90 companies earned the 2023 Women Lead Here seal, with a combined average of 46% of executive roles held by female-identifying individuals.

The 2023 Women Lead Here list is in the April 2023 issue of Report on Business magazine, distributed with The Globe and Mail on Saturday March 25th, 2023 and online at tgam.ca/WomenLeadHere.

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail is Canadas foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.1 million readers every week in print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.6 million readers in print and digital every issue. Ongoing investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

About Miravo Healthcare

Miravo is a Canadian focused, healthcare company with global reach and a diversified portfolio of commercial products. The Companys products target several therapeutic areas, including pain, allergy, neurology and dermatology. The Companys strategy is to in-license and acquire growth-oriented, complementary products for Canadian and international markets. Miravos head office is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and international operations are located in Dublin, Ireland. Miravo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Searchlight Pharma Inc. For additional information, please visit www.miravohealthcare.com.

About Searchlight Pharma Inc.

Searchlight Pharma Inc., headquartered in Montreal, is a leading Canadian-based specialty healthcare company that executes best-in-class search, acquisition, commercialization, and focused development of innovative and unique specialty healthcare products. Searchlight Pharmas core products focus on womens health, urogynecology, urology, endocrinology and hospital specialty markets, and its team is committed to improving peoples lives by bringing the right products to market. Follow Searchlight, learn more about what it does, and get to know its product portfolio at www.searchlightpharma.com.

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Miravo Investor Relations

905 673-6980 / option 2

[email protected]

Searchlight Information

514 613-1513

[email protected]

Source: Searchlight Pharma Inc.
PUTEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

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ORPEA S.A. (Paris: ORP) (the Company) announces the opening today of an accelerated safeguard procedure by the specialised Commercial Court of Nanterre, accompanied by an initial observation period set at 2 months, which may be renewed for two additional months without exceeding a total duration of 4 months maximum.

The purpose of initiating this procedure is notably to enable the Company to implement its restructuring plan in accordance with the agreements reached under (i) the lock-up agreement on the financial restructuring of the Company concluded on 14 February 2023 with, the group of French long-term investors comprising Caisse des Depots, CNP Assurances, MAIF and MACSF, and on the other hand, five institutions holding the unsecured debt of Company (the SteerCo), to which approximately 51% of the Companys unsecured creditors (including the members of the SteerCo) (representing an outstanding unsecured debt of approximately EUR 1.9 billion) adhered as at the longstop date of 10 March 2023 and (ii) the agreement (accord detape dans la perspective de louverture dune sauvegarde acceleree) concluded on 17 March 2023 between the Company and its main banking partners, providing for the terms and conditions of an additional financing of 600 million euros and an adjustment of the financing documentation of June 2022.

In this context, the Court appointed SELARL FHB, in the person of Helene Bourbouloux, as judicial administrator and SELARL AJRS, in the Person of Thibaut Martinat, as co-judicial administrator.

As indicated several times by the Company in its previous communications, the implementation of the capital increases envisaged in the context of the financial restructuring plan, which are expected to be completed in the second half of 2023, will result in a massive dilution for the existing shareholders. On the basis of the financial parameters previously communicated by the Company and the valuation of the Company's equity used by the parties for the purposes of these operations, these capital increases would take place at issue prices significantly lower than the current stock market price of the ORPEA share.

The main features of the financial restructuring plan proposed by the Company as part of the accelerated safeguard procedure opened today are described in the Annex to this press release.

About ORPEA

ORPEA is a leading global player, expert in the care of all types of frailty. The Group operates in 22 countries and covers three core businesses: care for the elderly (nursing homes, assisted living, home care), post-acute and rehabilitation care and mental health care (specialized clinics). It has more than 72,000 employees and welcomes more than 255,000 patients and residents each year.

https://www.orpea-group.com/en/

ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120, STOXX 600 Europe, MSCI Small Cap Europe and CAC Mid 60 indices.

Warning - Forward-looking information

This press release contains forward-looking information that involve risks and uncertainties, concerning the Group's expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as future market conditions. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are statements about the Companys expectations about a future situation and should be evaluated as such. Further events or actual results may differ from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties that are described in the 2021 Companys Universal Registration Document available on the Companys website and on the Autorite des Marches Financiers website (www.amf-france.org), and in the Half-Year 2022 financial report which is available on the Companys website.

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction

ANNEX

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Investor Relations

ORPEA

Benoit Lesieur

Investor Relations Director

[email protected]

Toll free tel. nb. for shareholders:

+33 (0) 805 480 480

Investor Relations

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky

+33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

[email protected]

Media Relations

ORPEA

Isabelle Herrier-Naufle

Media Relations Director

+33 (0)7 70 29 53 74

[email protected]

Image 7

Charlotte Le Barbier

+33 (0)6 78 37 27 60

[email protected]

Laurence Heilbronn

+33 (0)6 89 87 61 37

[email protected]

Source: ORPEA S.A.
SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Huawei recently held the Top 10 Trends of Data Center Facilities conference, themed "Smart DC, Building the Green Future". Fei Zhenfu, President of Huawei Data Center Facility Domain, released a white paper outlining Huawei's insights on data center facility trends that aim to promote sustainable development in the data center industry.

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Fei Zhenfu, President of Huawei Data Center Facility Domain, shared Huawei's insights on the top 10 data center facility trends. (Photo: Business Wire)

According to Mr. Fei, as global computing demand continues to grow exponentially in the digital intelligence era, there will be a surge in data center construction. To achieve carbon neutrality, the industry must prioritize energy conservation, carbon emission reduction, and green transformation. This presents both challenges and opportunities. Drawing from its experience and industry insights, Huawei has identified the following 10 trends:

Trend 1: Low Carbon

Data centers will adopt green, low-carbon solutions and utilize clean energy sources like PV, wind, and hydropower to minimize their carbon footprint. By 2027, green power utilization is expected to exceed 50%. Advanced energy conservation solutions and technologies, such as waste heat recovery, will be implemented to improve data center energy efficiency and recovery rates.

Trend 2: Sustainability

New sustainability indicators for data centers will be introduced, including renewable energy utilization, water usage effectiveness (WUE), carbon usage effectiveness (CUE), space usage effectiveness (SUE), grid usage effectiveness (GUE), material recovery rate, and lifetime contaminant emissions, in addition to the existing power usage effectiveness (PUE).

Trend 3: Fast Deployment

Data centers must be rapidly deployed to meet skyrocketing computing demands, with construction periods decreasing from 12 months to six months or less.

Trend 4: High Density

As chip performance and power consumption improve, the demand for high-density data centers will increase. Cloud data centers will become mainstream, and diversified computing collaboration will become the norm. Standard power density per IT rack will increase from 68 kW to 1215 kW by 2027. Power density in supercomputing and intelligent computing centers will reach 30 kW or higher.

Trend 5: Elasticity

Future data centers will be more flexible regarding upgrades, with one generation of facilities supporting power evolution over two to three generations of IT equipment. A standard design will facilitate on-demand deployment and elastic capacity expansion.

Trend 6: Prefabrication

The prefabricated and simple architecture will tackle challenges like long construction periods and complex O&M faced by traditional data centers. In the future, a data center building will house over 1000 racks, and a campus will accommodate over 10,000 racks. The prefabricated design will shorten the construction period for a 1000-rack data center from 12 months to 6 months, enabling rapid delivery and on-demand deployment.

Trend 7: Storage and Backup Integration

Renewable energy and energy storage will be necessary for power-hungry data centers. Energy storage systems (ESSs) deployments in data centers will integrate short-term backup power systems to participate in frequency regulation and peak shaving, enhancing power grid stability. Peak shaving will also improve the grid usage effectiveness (GUE) so that more IT racks can be deployed to increase revenue.

Trend 8: Distributed Cooling

A distributed cooling system uses cooling sources for each data hall and adopts a redundancy configuration as required. In the future, distributed cooling systems will gradually replace centralized cooling as the preferred solution for large data centers due to their flexible architecture and high reliability.

Trend 9: Smart O&M

Smart O&M is crucial for enhancing data center resource utilization and reliability. Intelligent operations will automatically determine data center asset statuses to maximize asset value. Intelligent maintenance will identify faults and optimize energy conservation in real time to improve O&M efficiency, achieving predictive maintenance and optimal energy efficiency.

Trend 10: Security & Trustworthiness

As digitalization and intelligence advance, data centers will strengthen their hardware reliability, software security, system resilience, safety, privacy, and availability. AI technologies will implement predictive maintenance on components, devices, and systems at the hardware level. The hierarchical defense will be provided at the software level. A combination of software and hardware measures will boost data center reliability.

Moving forward, Huawei will strengthen technological innovation to lead industry development and offer more competitive products and solutions to build a solid digital foundation for a greener, low-carbon future for the data center industry.

For more information, please download the White Paper on the Top 10 Trends of Data Center Facilities at https://digitalpower.huawei.com/attachments/index/06be6a70172444d1a84f88b8e0db5c29.pdf

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005815/en/

[email protected]

Source: Huawei
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- We are excited to announce that Stratus Financial will join the Sun N Fun Aerospace Expo in 2023. This event, which takes place annually in Lakeland, Florida, brings together the best of the aviation industry and provides a great platform to showcase the latest advancements in the sector.

As an innovative provider of financial services specifically tailored to the aerospace industry, Stratus Financial is thrilled to be part of this esteemed event. Our team will be on hand to showcase our financial services, focusing on student pilots who dream of becoming licensed pilots.

Our team is committed to providing the best customer service to our clients and we look forward to engaging with the attendees of the show and answering any questions they may have. We believe that our innovative financial solutions can help create a brighter future for flight school owners and student pilots alike. We hope to see you at the Sun N Fun Aerospace Expo March 28, 2023 - April 2, 2023.

About Stratus Financial:

Stratus Financial was founded in the year 2020 by a group of FAA Certificated Flight and Ground Instructors with decades of experience in the aviation industry. As aviators ourselves, we truly understand what its like to dream.

At Stratus Financial, we believe in developing lending products that make sense for pilots in all stages of their training. Our mission is simple: we want to help you get your wings as swiftly as possible. Stratus started off in the middle of a COVID pandemic despite aviation coming to a halt, both with planes retiring at unprecedented numbers and with thousands of pilots being either furloughed, retired, or outright fired in droves. Stratus was able to fill in the demand through student pilots access to instructional funding and fast traction created by flight schools. While providing financing and simplifying the process are key parts of what we do at Stratus Financial, we dont see them as ends unto themselves. In fact, what drives Stratus isnt just funding educationwe believe its funding your future. A future where more people have the opportunity to do what they love and make a difference in this world. A future where more people can take flightand thrive! For more information, visit https://stratus.finance/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230322005009/en/

(855) 301-3335

[email protected]

Source: Stratus Financial
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WestRock Company (NYSE: WRK) today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss second quarter fiscal 2023 results, as well as other topics, on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET. A press release detailing the Companys second quarter fiscal 2023 results will be issued before the market opens and prior to the call.

The webcast of the call, along with the presentation, press release and other relevant financial and statistical information will be accessible on the Investors section of WestRock's website at ir.westrock.com. An online replay will be available at the same site shortly after the webcast is complete.

Investors who wish to participate in the webcast via teleconference should dial 833-630-1583 (inside the U.S.) or +1 412-317-1822 (outside the U.S.) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call and ask to be joined into the WestRock Company call.

About WestRock

WestRock (NYSE: WRK) partners with our customers to provide sustainable paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRocks team members support customers around the world from locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005709/en/

Investors:

Robert Quartaro, 470-328-6979

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

[email protected]

Media:

Robby Johnson, 470-328-6397

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Source: WestRock Company
FILE PHOTO: A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) -Oil prices settled lower on Friday as European banking shares fell and after U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said refilling the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) may take several years, dampening demand prospects.

Brent crude settled down 92 cents, or 1.2%, to $74.99. West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude futures fell 70 cents, or 1%, to $69.26 a barrel.

Both benchmarks rose this week as banking sector turmoil eased. Brent futures rose 2.8% in the week while U.S. crude futures rose 3.8%. Last week, both benchmarks posted their biggest declines in months.

"We're riding along macroeconoic headwinds, and there's a newfound correlation with equities" said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

Banking stocks slid in Europe with Deutsche Bank and UBS Group slammed by worries that the worst problems in the sector since the 2008 financial crisis could persist.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen convened an unscheduled meeting of the Financial Stability Oversight Council on Friday morning.

The dollar rose 0.6% against other currencies, which also pressured oil, making crude more expensive to holders of other currencies.

The White House said in October it would buy back oil for the SPR when prices were at or below about $67-$72 per barrel.

On Thursday, Granholm told lawmakers it would be difficult to take advantage of low prices this year to add to stockpiles, which are at their lowest level since 1983 following sales directed by President Joe Biden last year.

Oil drew some support from strong demand expectations from China. Goldman Sachs said commodities demand was surging in the world's biggest oil importer, with oil demand topping 16 million bpd.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said a previously announced cut of 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in Russia's oil production would be from an output level of 10.2 million bpd in February, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

That means Russia aims to produce 9.7 million bpd between March and June, according to Novak, a much smaller output cut than Moscow previously indicated.

(Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London; Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Trixie Yap in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Louise Heavens and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: A composition showing crypto currency with the Binance logo. Picture taken on Nov. 10, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has resumed withdrawals on its platform after technical issues affected spot trading, the company said in a tweet.

Binance suspended deposits and withdrawals earlier on Friday due to a "bug on a trailing stop order," Chief Executive Changpeng Zhao said in a tweet, adding that the pause in deposits and withdrawals was a standard operating procedure.

Ilya Volkov, CEO of Youhodler, a crypto lending platform, agreed that the pause was a result of a technical glitch and would not affect cryptocurrency prices significantly.

Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency was down 1.14% at $28,021. It hit a nine-month high on Monday.

"These kinds of bugs could happen everywhere, and crypto exchanges are not unique," Volkov said.

A Binance spokesperson did not respond to a request for additional comment.

The world's largest crypto exchange said last week it will halt sterling deposits and withdrawals, a month after it ceased dollar transfers.

The cessation of traditional currency transfers comes amid a growing crypto crackdown by U.S. authorities.

Reuters has previously reported that the Justice Department is investigating Binance for suspected money laundering and sanctions violations.

A top Binance executive told The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg last month that Binance expected to pay penalties to resolve U.S. investigations into the company.

(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes in London and Hannah Lang in Washington; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Kirsten Donovan)
The logo and trading information for Ally Financial Inc appear on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., April 24, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

(Reuters) - Ally Financial Inc has hired Russell Hutchinson from Goldman Sachs as its chief financial officer effective July 3, the company said on Friday.

Hutchinson has spent two decades working in Goldman Sachs's investment banking division, advising clients in the specialty finance sector  including Ally.

He will report to Ally's CEO Jeffrey Brown and will be based in Charlotte, N.C.

"He was instrumental in helping us to evolve into the publicly traded and strong company we are today," Brown said in a statement.

Hutchinson began his career as an associate consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in its Toronto office.

(Reporting by Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
LONDON (Reuters) - The cost of insuring against the likelihood of default by European banks rose sharply on Friday, as concern about the outlook for the sector continued to grip markets, almost a week on from the collapse of Credit Suisse.

Deutsche Bank's five-year credit default swaps (CDS) jumped 19 basis points (bps) from Thursday's close to 222 bps, data from S&P Global Market Intelligence showed.

Five-year CDS on the German bank were trading at their highest levels since early 2019 and on Thursday saw their largest one-day rise on record, according to Refinitiv data.

UBS's five-year CDS also shot up 14 bps from Thursday's close to 130 bps, the data showed.

Banking stocks fell sharply across Europe, with heavyweights Deutsche Bank and UBS hit hard by worries that the worst problems in the sector since the 2008 financial crisis were not yet contained.

"Underlying sentiment is still cautious and in this environment no one wants to go into the weekend risk-on," said Nordea chief analyst Jan von Gerich.

European banks' Additional Tier 1 (AT1) debt also came under fresh selling pressure, with Deutsche and UBS AT1s down around four and two cents in price, respectively, according to Tradeweb data.

Bank AT1s have been hurt since the Swiss regulator ordered 16 billion Swiss francs ($17.5 billion) of Credit Suisse's AT1 debt to be wiped out as part of its rescue takeover by UBS last weekend.

Shareholders, who usually rank below debt investors when a company becomes insolvent, will receive $3.23 billion.

Although European regulators and authorities in Asia have said this week they would continue to impose losses on shareholders before bondholders - unlike the treatment of bondholders at Credit Suisse - unease lingers.

(Reporting by Chiara Elisei and Amanda Cooper; Writing by Dhara Ranasinghe; Editing by Susan Fenton)
By Lananh Nguyen and Saeed Azhar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As a series of U.S. lenders were besieged by customers yanking out their money this month, banking behemoths including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc and Bank of America Corp. warned employees: Do not make it worse.

JPMorgan, the nation's largest bank, told all employees they "should never give the appearance of exploiting a situation of stress or uncertainty," in a March 13 memo, extracts of which were seen by Reuters. "We do not make disparaging comments regarding competitors."

On the same day, the leaders of its consumer and business banking unit told branch employees: "We should refrain from soliciting client business from an institution in stress," according to extracts seen by Reuters.

Citigroup has also given similar guidance to its business heads, a source familiar with the matter said. The guidance includes not speculating about other banks or market rumors.

The lender sent a memo reminding bankers that, in discussions with prospective customers, they should not discuss the standing and condition of other firms, the source said.

Top executives at Bank of America Corp were also briefed that their employees should not be going after the customers of distressed firms or doing anything to exacerbate the situation, a source familiar with the matter said.

And Mary Mack, CEO of consumer and small business banking at Wells Fargo & Co., sent a memo to staff on Thursday that said: "We should not engage in any activity that could be perceived as taking advantage of the current situation to the detriment of others."

The bank runs that toppled Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, the second and third largest lenders to fail in U.S. history, prompted customers to move about half a trillion dollars of deposits from the "most vulnerable" U.S. banks to bigger institutions this month, JPMorgan analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in a note Wednesday.

As SVB teetered, billions of dollars in deposits poured into the nation's banking giants, which are required by regulators to hold more capital to withstand shocks. While lenders regularly compete for customers, the loss of confidence that shook the banking system in the last two weeks sparked concerns about contagion that could lead to a broader panic.

The turmoil prompted unprecedented moves by regulators to guarantee the deposits of SVB and Signature. President Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Citigroup Inc. Chief Executive Jane Fraser have all made statements in recent days to reassure the public that the U.S. banking system is safe.

"We all have a vested interest in keeping America's financial system strong and thriving," a JPMorgan spokesperson said. "It's the envy of the world with thousands of institutions of all sizes serving every corner of the country."

(Reporting by Lananh Nguyen and Saeed Azhar in New York; editing by Megan Davies, Jonathan Oatis and Lincoln Feast)
CCTV: According to reports, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 22 that China is the single largest contributor to UNESCO. That carries a lot of weight. If the US is not at the table, it loses the opportunity to shape the organizations behavior. It is important that the US return. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: The US withdrew twice from UNESCO, which had a negative impact on the organizations work. If the US wants to return, we hope the decision arises from its determination to step up to its international responsibility, fulfill international obligations, support multilateralism and promote cooperation. At the same time, the US needs to reflect on its erroneous practice of withdrawing from treaties and organizations under the America first policy, and demonstrate its good faith and sincerity to comply with international rules and respect international rule of law. Only in this way can it earn the trust of the international community and gain the support of UNESCO members.

International organizations are platforms for global cooperation, not arenas for geopolitical games. We welcome it if the US truly sees Chinas positive role in UNESCO objectively. However, if the USs return to the organization is meant to counter or check Chinas influence, it will only lead to questions as to if the US remains unchanged at heart and still puts America first before international public wellbeing.

Shenzhen TV: According to media reports, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said recently that Chinas development benefits Cambodia and the entire ASEAN and it would be impossible to prevent China from growing. Vicious competition will lead to a lose-lose situation, and win-win results can only be achieved through enhancing cooperation. Cambodia will not join any campaign to destroy any other countries, he added. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: We have noted Prime Minister Hun Sens remarks. They speak to regional countries aspiration to have peace and cooperation over conflict and confrontation and opposition to coercion and bullying. It also shows that ganging up in the region to seek decoupling or sever supply and industrial chains finds little support.

China is committed to deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation with regional countries guided by the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force last year, has led to a significant 15% increase in China-ASEAN trade. Export of agricultural products from ASEAN to China, which is of particular importance to ASEAN countries, increased by 21.3%. Longan from Cambodia, fresh durian from Vietnam, passion fruit from Laos, among others, have all entered the Chinese market.

China advocates and promotes an open world economy. As we accelerate high-level opening-up and advance high-quality development, we will provide sustained impetus for the economic recovery and growth of the rest of the world, including neighboring countries.

Reuters: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified in front of the US Congress yesterday, taking questions on a range of topics, not least potential Chinese influence over the platform and whether US citizens data is being shared with ByteDance. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: We have noted the remarks from TikTok. The Chinese government takes data privacy and security very seriously, which is under legal protection. The Chinese government has never asked and will never ask any company or individual to collect or provide data, information or intelligence located abroad against local laws.

The US government has provided no evidence or proof that TikTok threatens US national security, yet it has repeatedly suppressed and attacked the company based on the presumption of guilt. We noted that some US lawmaker has said that to seek a TikTok ban is a xenophobic witch hunt. The US should earnestly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, stop suppressing foreign companies and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for foreign companies operating in the US.

Beijing Daily: Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene of Mongolia recently said in an interview with The Times that Mongolia opposes Cold War mentality and does not want to see major-country confrontation. He noted that Western expenditure on projects like the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal should instead go towards helping developing countries. Whats Chinas comment?

Mao Ning: China has noted relevant reports. The statement of the Mongolias leader speaks to the aspiration for peace, cooperation and development shared by regional countries, especially the developing countries. It also shows that some countries moves that stoke bloc confrontation and create regional instability and tensions are unpopular with the rest of the world. We hope relevant countries will listen to the voice of the international community, follow the trend of the times, abandon Cold War mentality, and do more to contribute to regional peace, stability and development.

China Daily: Saudi Arabia and Syria have reached an agreement recently on reopening their embassies in each others countries, which are expected to resume services in late April. Whats Chinas comment?

Mao Ning: China welcomes the agreement reached between Syria and Saudi Arabia on reopening their embassies in each others countries. Syrias return to the Arab family will help to realize solidarity and revitalization of Arab states. Let me stress again that China firmly supports Arab states in strengthening solidarity, coordination and strategic independence, and we support joint efforts to promote regional peace, stability and development.

RIA Novosti: There were many media reports saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his return from the visit to Russia. Do you have any updates on this topic?

Mao Ning: China maintains communication with all parties on the Ukraine issue. As for the specific question you asked about, we have nothing to share.

Reuters: Honduras is reportedly set to announce formal ties with China and end relations with Taiwan. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: My colleague gave our answer to your question yesterday. Standing up for the one-China principle is the right thing to do. It has the overwhelming support of the international community and represents the trend of the world. China welcomes the positive statement by the Honduran government on developing relations with China, and stands ready to establish and grow bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Bloomberg: Do you have any information to give us about state leaders who might visit the Boao summit next week? Weve heard that Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim might attend.

Mao Ning: The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 will be held next week. Please check back for updates.

Bloomberg: Since China released its position paper on the war in Ukraine and now that Xi is back from Moscow, do you have any details to provide on Chinas next step in potentially bringing about an end to the fighting in Ukraine? Has China asked Russia to withdraw its troops from that country?

Mao Ning: On the Ukraine issue, China has been advocating a political settlement of the crisis and working for talks for peace. We have played a positive role and maintained communication with all parties. On President Xis visit to Russia, we have released detailed readouts and the two heads of state have signed a joint statement, which you may refer to.

Global Times: According to the White House website, in response to the joint statement on economic cooperation before 2030 issued by China and Russia, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told a press conference on March 22 that We dont support any effort to decrease the sense of isolation that Putin has already experienced from the international community. We dont support any effort to bolster his economy or make it any more healthy. We dont support any effort by anybody to make it easier for him, financially or otherwise, to continue to slaughter Ukrainians. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: The Joint Statement on Pre-2030 Development Plan on Priorities in China-Russia Economic Cooperation signed between the two heads of state lays out the overarching design and planning for Chinas cooperation in key areas with Russia going forward. The China-Russia relationship is built on the basis of no-alliance, no-confrontation and no-targeting of any third party. Mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries is good for the two peoples and the world. Such cooperation is open and aboveboard, which is a sharp contrast to US hegemonism and bullying, and the small, selfish and exclusive blocs it has set up.

On the Ukraine crisis, China has always followed the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We have taken an objective and impartial position, actively promoted talks for peace, and firmly stood on the side of peace and dialogue and the right side of history. We have played a constructive part in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The US, however, has been fanning the flames and thwarting other countries efforts for peace talks, which makes people question its real motives.
A group of demonstrators protest outside a police precinct in response to the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 29, 2023.

Four of five former Memphis police officers charged with murder in the beating death of Tyre Nichols cannot work as law enforcement officers again in Tennessee, a state panel decided Friday. The Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission, or P.O.S.T., voted to decertify Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith during a meeting Friday morning. It also approved the decision by Desmond Mills to surrender his certification.

The former officers have 30 days to appeal. The Memphis Police Department has requested the decertification of seven former Memphis officers, including one who retired before he could be fired.

Mills attorney said his client has been wrongly indicted and is focusing on his freedom. Its a waste of time, attorney Blake Ballin said. It is meaningless to him at this stage in his life.

Neither the fired officers nor their attorneys showed up for a hearing Thursday in their cases in front of the panel. They were also not present for Fridays vote.

Five of the seven fired officers have been charged with second-degree murder in Nichols death January 10 following a traffic stop on January 7. They have pleaded not guilty.

The fifth former officer charged, Tadarrius Bean, has not yet had his decertification hearing in front of the commission. Neither have two former officers who were not charged: Preston Hemphill, who was terminated after firing a stun gun at Nichols during the traffic stop; and Dewayne Smith, the supervising lieutenant who arrived on scene after the beating, who retired instead of being fired.

A seventh police employee who was fired has not been publicly named.

A judge stepped in earlier this month to temporarily block the police department from releasing disciplinary files and additional video from their investigation. Authorities have already released other footage from police body cameras and a surveillance camera that provides a detailed look at the police pummeling Nichols.

Body cameras of some of the five officers charged in Nichols death recorded them beating him, propping the badly injured man in handcuffs against an unmarked police car and ignoring him as he struggles to stay upright.

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FILE PHOTO: A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

By Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea has tested a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, state media reported on Friday, as leader Kim Jong Un warned joint military drills by South Korea and the U.S. should stop.

During the test, the new North Korean drone cruised underwater at a depth of 80 to 150 metres (260-500 feet) for over 59 hours and detonated a non-nuclear payload in waters off its east coast on Thursday, North Korean state news agency KCNA said.

Analysts say North Korea is showing off its increasingly diverse nuclear threats to Washington and Seoul, though they are sceptical whether the underwater vehicle is ready for deployment.

North Korea intends to signal "to the United States and South Korea that in a war, the potential vectors of nuclear weapons delivery that the allies would have to worry about and target would be vast," said Ankit Panda, senior fellow at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"There would be silos, railcars, submarines and road mobile missile launchers. And now they're adding this underwater torpedo to the mix," he said.

On Monday, the isolated country flew a short-range missile from a buried silo, a departure from usual basing methods.

Dubbed "Haeil", or tsunami, the new drone system is intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion, the KCNA said.

"This nuclear underwater attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation," the news agency said, adding that Kim oversaw the test.

A South Korean military official said they were analysing North Korea's claims. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there was no indication of a nuclear test.

It is unclear whether North Korea has fully developed miniaturised nuclear warheads needed to fit on its smaller weapons.

Analysts say perfecting such warheads would most likely be a key goal if the North resumes nuclear testing.

HUGE TORPEDOES

A photo released by state media showed Kim smiling next to a large torpedo-shaped object, but did not identify it as the new drone. Other photos showed tracks of the object's underwater trajectory, and blasts visible on the sea surface.

Panda said the weapon's operational concept was similar to Russia's Poseidon nuclear torpedoes, a new category of retaliatory weapon meant to create destructive, radioactive blasts in coastal areas.

On Friday South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would make sure North Korea paid for its "reckless provocations", during a speech to commemorate service members who died in clashes with North Korea in western waters, including a 2010 sinking of a navy ship that South Korea said was struck by a North Korean torpedo.

North Korea also said it had fired cruise missiles on Wednesday to practice carrying out tactical nuclear attacks, confirming earlier reports from the South Korean military.

The cruise missiles were tipped with a "test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead," and flew 1,500-1,800 km (930-1,120 miles), according to KCNA.

The latest tests took place as South Korean and U.S. troops launched their largest amphibious landing drills in years, involving a U.S. amphibious assault ship, on Monday.

North Korea said military exercises by the United States and South Korea require its forces to "gird themselves for an all-out war and bolster up its nuclear force both in quality and quantity on a priority basis".

Pyongyang has long bristled at exercises conducted by South Korean and U.S. forces, saying they are preparation for an invasion of the North.

South Korea and the U.S. say the exercises are purely defensive and have criticised the North's tests as destabilising and in breach of U.N. sanctions.

The allies concluded 11 days of their regular springtime exercises, called Freedom Shield 23, on Thursday, but have other field training exercises continuing.

North Korean leader Kim expressed "his will to make the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet regime plunge into despair for their choice," KCNA said, adding that he warned the enemies that they should stop reckless anti-North Korea war drills.

The director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said on Wednesday North Korean leader Kim does not appear poised to carry out a nuclear test during U.S.-South Korea military exercises, but the United States is staying vigilant.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park; Additional reporting by Idress Ali in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Lincoln Feast and Gerry Doyle)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies before a Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing on President Biden's proposed budget request for the Department of the Treasury for fiscal year 2024,

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The multi-regulator U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council agreed on Friday that the U.S. banking system remains "sound and resilient" despite stress on some institutions, the U.S. Treasury said in its latest statement to calm jittery markets and bank depositors.

In a readout of a closed meeting chaired by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the department said that FSOC participants heard a presentation on market developments from the staff of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

"The Council discussed current conditions in the banking sector and noted that while some institutions have come under stress, the U.S. banking system remains sound and resilient," the Treasury said in a statement.

The videoconference meeting came as markets continued to seesaw amid concerns that a two-week-old banking crisis sparked by the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank could worsen, spreading more runs on smaller banks

The body of financial regulators, led by Yellen and including the heads of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies, last met on March 12.

That was the same day that the FDIC, Fed and Treasury announced emergency actions to backstop all deposits in the two failed banks and create a new Fed lending facility to boost liquidity for all banks.

Two prominent House of Representatives Republicans on Friday demanded that Yellen provide them with additional information about the March 12 meeting, including unredacted minutes, votes, details on timing and bank stress test results.

"The events that have transpired over the last 12 days related to both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, the ensuing market instability, and your role raise a number of questions for policymakers," wrote Representatives Bill Huizenga and Andy Barr who chair House Financial Services subcommittees, in a letter to Yellen.

They added that the basis of the Treasury, Fed and FDIC determinations in the SVB and Signature cases "are of particular importance."

The Friday FSOC meeting came as global banking contagion fears again caused European bank stocks to fall sharply, with Deutsche Bank and UBS knocked by worries that regulators and central banks have not yet contained the worst shock to the sector since the 2008 global financial crisis.

But on Wall Street, shares recovered from an earlier sell-off as three Federal Reserve bank presidents said in separate remarks that there was no indication that financial stress was worsening this week, allowing them to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point.

Yellen again sought to calm fears of further bank deposit runs on Thursday, telling U.S. lawmakers that she was prepared to repeat actions taken in the Silicon Valley and Signature Bank failures to safeguard uninsured bank deposits if failures threatened more deposit runs.

Those actions to invoke "systemic risk exceptions" were taken by Yellen, President Joe Biden, the FDIC, and the Fed, which supervised Silicon Valley and Signature.

(Reporting by David Lawder; additional reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Diane Craft and Marguerita Choy)
TORONTO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB: ALKFF) (Frankfurt: 77R, WKN: A3CTYF) (PWWR or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Company has granted an aggregate of 15,918,298 restricted share unit (RSUs) to certain arms length consultants (each, a Consultant) of the Company.

The RSUs will vest in accordance with the terms of each Consultants RSU agreement and in accordance with the Companys 2021 RSU Plan. Upon vesting, each RSU will entitle the holder thereof to receive one common share in the capital of the Company.

The Company is also announcing the resignation of Dr. Richard Lu from the board of directors, effective March 24, 2023. The Company would like to thank Dr. Lu for his contributions to PWWR since accepting the role in 2022.

ABOUT ALKALINE FUEL CELL POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR)

PWWR is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future- forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors.

PWWR operates through two global entities: Fuel Cell Power NV, a wholly owned subsidiary in Belgium, and PWWR Flow Streams (PWWR Flow), an AFCP brand in Canada.

Fuel Cell Power NV is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro- combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems and off-grid and back-up power generators based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power Fuel Cell Power NV has launched the Jupiter 1.0 prototype, and working through pilots in 2023.

is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro- combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems and off-grid and back-up power generators based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power Fuel Cell Power NV has launched the Jupiter 1.0 prototype, and working through pilots in 2023. PWWR Flow is focused on the development, ownership and operations of combined heat and power (CHP) assets. PWWR Flow assets deliver efficiency improvements of over 20% with reduced costs to customers in multi-residential and commercial applications. PWWR Flow has contracted existing CHP assets in Toronto, Canada, and has an additional pipeline of potential contracts valued at over $50 million currently in development.

PWWR is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors.

Further information is available on the Company website at https://www.fuelcellpower.com/, and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on:

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO under the symbol PWWR, the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol ALKFF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 77R and WKN A3CTYF.

For further information, please contact:

Frank CarnevaleChief Executive Officer+1 (647) 531-8264[email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, the RSUs, the departure of Dr. Richard Lu, statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward- looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Source: Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDIX AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY NEW SECURITIES OF CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION PLC IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (U.S. SECURITIES ACT) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF U.S. PERSONS OR PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. UNITED STATES AND U.S. PERSON HAVE THE MEANINGS ASCRIBED TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 7 OF THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO. 596/2014 ("MAR"), WHICH IS PART OF ENGLISH LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. IN ADDITION, MARKET SOUNDINGS (AS DEFINED IN MAR) WERE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH THE RESULT THAT CERTAIN PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF INSIDE INFORMATION (AS DEFINED UNDER MAR). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THOSE PERSONS THAT RECEIVED INSIDE INFORMATION IN A MARKET SOUNDING ARE NO LONGER IN POSSESSION OF SUCH INSIDE INFORMATION, WHICH IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

ST HELIER, Jersey, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (NYSE AMERICAN: CMCL; AIM: CMCL; VFEX: CMCL) (Caledonia or the Company) today announces that it proposes to raise approximately 8.1 million (approximately US$10 million) (before expenses), pursuant to a placing (the Placing) of new common shares of no par value (the Placing Shares) at a price per Placing Share of 11.15 (approximately US$13.74) (the Placing Price). The Placing Price is equivalent to a discount of 13.2% to the closing price of the Companys Common Shares on AIM, the market operated by London Stock Exchange plc (LSE) on 23 March 2023, being the latest practicable date prior to this announcement, and a discount of 3.0% to the volume weighted average price on AIM for the 30 trading days to 23 March 2023.

The Placing is being conducted in the UK and South Africa through an accelerated bookbuilding process (the Bookbuild), which is being managed by Cenkos Securities plc (Cenkos) and Liberum Capital Limited (Liberum) in the UK, and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (Standard Bank) in South Africa (together the Joint Bookrunners).

In addition to the Placing, IH Securities (Private) Limited (IH Securities) is undertaking on behalf of the Company a placing in Zimbabwe of Zimbabwe depositary receipts (ZDRs) to raise approximately 2.4 million (approximately US$3 million) at, or at not less than, the Placing Price (the Zimbabwe Placing and, together with the Placing, the Fundraise). The Zimbabwe Placing will allow investors local to the Companys operations the opportunity to participate.

The Bookbuild will open with immediate effect following release of this announcement. The number of Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will be agreed by the Joint Bookrunners and the Company following the close of the Bookbuild. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild, the amount to be raised and allocations are at the sole discretion of Joint Bookrunners and the Company. Details of the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild. The Zimbabwe Placing will also open with immediate effect following release of this announcement and is expected to remain open until 12.00 p.m. on 31 March 2023. The Company will make a further announcement confirming the result of the Zimbabwe Placing as soon as practicable after it has closed. Members of the public are not entitled to participate in the Fundraise.

Current trading and activity

The Company today released its operating and financial results for the full year ending 31 December 2022 (FY 2022) and Managements Discussions and Analysis (MD&A) for the quarter ended 31 December 2022 (Q4), including the events occurring after the period end, a summary of which is as follows:

The Company performed in line with market expectations in FY 2022, reporting gross revenues of US$142 million and EBITDA of US$50.4 million;

In January 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of the Bilboes gold project in Zimbabwe;

During Q4, the Company completed the acquisition of a business owning the mining lease for Motapa, a property contiguous to the Bilboes gold project with the potential for exploration and processing synergies; and

Gold production guidance for 2023 is between 87,500  97,000 ounces and comprises: 75,000  80,000 ounces from Blanket Mine1 12,500  17,000 from the oxide operation at Bilboes2



Further information of the Companys current trading and activity can be found in the Companys announcement released at 7.00 a.m. UK time on 24 March 2023.

Rationale for the Fundraise and Use of Proceeds

The net proceeds of the Fundraise, together with the Company's existing cash reserves and the future cash to be generated from its ownership of the producing and cash generative Blanket Mine and from the Bilboes oxide operation, will strengthen the Companys balance sheet and provide the Company with working capital flexibility to accelerate planned work at the three new gold projects it is currently undertaking in Zimbabwe.

Bilboes

Bilboes was acquired by the Company in January 2023 for a value of approximately US$65.7 million as at the date of completion, payable in Common Shares. As announced on 21 July 2022, Bilboes has NI 43-101 compliant proven and probable mineral reserves of 1.96 million ounces of gold in 26.64 million tonnes at a grade of 2.29 g/t, measured and indicated mineral resources of 2.56 million ounces of gold in 35.18 million tonnes at a grade of 2.26 g/t and inferred mineral resources of 577,000 ounces of gold in 9.48 million tonnes at a grade of 1.89 g/t3. Bilboes has produced approximately 288,000 ounces of gold since 1989. The first gold from Bilboes under Caledonias ownership is due to be produced at the end of March 2023.

Approximately US$2 million of the net proceeds of the Fundraise are anticipated to be used to fund a new feasibility study to investigate commercialisation of Bilboes, possibly through a phased development approach. If successful, this would reduce the initial capital investment and also reduce the need for third party funding. A further US$2 million is expected to be used for the procurement of a management facility at Bulawayo which will be used to provide shared services for Blanket Mine and also for the projects at both Bilboes and Motapa.

Motapa

Caledonia acquired the Motapa gold exploration project in Southern Zimbabwe in November 2022 for US$8.25 million in cash and loan notes. As previously announced, Motapa is a large exploration property which is contiguous to the Bilboes gold project and approximately 75km north of Bulawayo. The Company believes the proximity to Bilboes will allow prospects of synergies in the evaluation of the geological potential for Motapa and, in due course, gold processing operations in the mining areas.

The mining lease for Motapa covers approximately 2,200 hectares, and approximately US$6 million of the net proceeds of the Fundraise is expected to be used for further exploration of the area.

Maligreen

Acquired in November 2021 for US$4 million, the Maligreen mining claims are situated in the Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands. The property contains NI 43-101 measured and indicated mineral resources of 442,000 ounces of gold in 8.03 million tonnes at 1.71 g/t and inferred mineral resources of 420,000 ounces of gold in 6.17 million tonnes at 2.12 g/t4.

Approximately US$2 million of the net proceeds of the Fundraise are expected be used for drilling and exploration of the claims.

Details of the Placing

The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix (which forms part of this announcement, such announcement and the Appendix together the "Announcement").

Application will be made to the NYSE American for approval to issue the Placing Shares and to the LSE for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that admission to trading on AIM (Admission) will become effective and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence on AIM at 8.00 a.m. on 30 March 2023.

The Placing Shares will be issued and credited as fully paid and will rank in full for all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the admission of those Placing Shares and will otherwise rank on Admission pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing Common Shares in the Company.

The Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, Admission taking place by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 30 March 2023 (or such later date as the Joint Bookrunners may agree in writing with the Company, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 28 April 2023) and the Placing Agreement entered into between the Company and Joint Bookrunners not being terminated prior to Admission. If any of the conditions of the Placing Agreement are not satisfied, the Placing Shares will not be issued and Admission will not take place.

The Company, in conjunction with the Joint Bookrunners, reserves the right to accept over-subscriptions for Placing Shares and to determine the maximum number of Placing Shares that will be issued in the Placing.

The Placing Shares have not been made available to the public and have not been offered or sold in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

Details of the Zimbabwe Placing

Application will be made to the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) for the ZDRs to be admitted to trading. It is expected that admission to trading on VFEX (VFEX Admission) will become effective and that dealings in the ZDRs will commence on VFEX at 8.00 a.m. on or no later than 7 April 2023.

The ZDRs will be issued and credited as fully paid and will rank in full for all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the admission of those ZDRs and will otherwise rank on VFEX Admission pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing common shares (or depositary interests as applicable) in the Company.

The Zimbabwe Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, VFEX Admission taking place by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 7 April 2023 (or such later date as IH Securities may agree in writing with the Company, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 12 April 2023).

IH Securities and the Company reserve the right to accept over-subscriptions for ZDRs and to determine the maximum number of ZDRs that will be issued in the Zimbabwe Placing. The ZDRs have not been made available to the public and have not been offered or sold in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, your attention is drawn to the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement, to the detailed terms and conditions of the Placing and further information relating to the Bookbuild described in the Appendix to this Announcement (which forms part of this Announcement).

By choosing to participate in the Fundraise and by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares or ZDRs, investors will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety (including the Appendix), and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Fundraise contained herein, and to be providing the representations, warranties and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix.

Unless otherwise defined in this Announcement, capitalised terms used in these terms and conditions shall have the meaning given to them in Appendix 2, headed "Definitions".

In this Announcement, references to "pounds sterling", "", "pence" and "p" are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom and references to "United States of American dollars", "US$" and "US cents" are to the lawful currency of the United States of America. Unless otherwise stated, the basis of translation of pounds sterling into United States of American dollars is approximately 1.00/US$1.23.

Enquiries:

Caledonia Mining Corporation PlcMark LearmonthCamilla Horsfall Tel: +44 1534 679 800Tel: +44 7817 841 793 Cenkos Securities plc (Nomad and Joint Bookrunner)Adrian HaddenNeil McDonaldGeorge Lawson Tel: +44 207 397 1965Tel: +44 131 220 9771Tel: +44 207 397 8966 Liberum Capital Limited (Joint Bookrunner)Scott MathiesonKane CollingsLucas Bamber Tel: +44 20 3100 2000 The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (Joint Bookrunner)Sthembiso MajolaAnders Alfredson Tel: +27 11 344 5891Tel +44 203 1675174 IH Securities (Private) Limited (VFEX Sponsor - Zimbabwe)Lloyd Mlotshwa Tel: +263 242 745 119 BlytheRay Financial PR (UK)Tim Blythe/Megan Ray Tel: +44 207 138 3204 3PPB (Financial PR, North America)Patrick ChidleyPaul Durham Tel: +1 917 991 7701Tel: +1 203 940 2538 Curate Public Relations (Zimbabwe)Debra Tatenda Tel: +263 7780 2131Tel: +263 (242) 745 119/33/39

Important Notices

Forward-looking statements

This announcement may include certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based include that all required third party regulatory and governmental approvals will be obtained. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in market conditions and other risk factors discussed or referred to in this announcement and other documents filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Notice to overseas persons

This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, a prospectus relating to the Company, nor does it constitute or contain any invitation or offer to any person, or any public offer, to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares in the Company or advise persons to do so in any jurisdiction, nor shall it, or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment with the Company.

This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan or any jurisdiction into which the publication or distribution would be unlawful. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire shares in the capital of the Company in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, or any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful or require preparation of any prospectus or other offer documentation or would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by the Company to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons or persons in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdictions of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons or persons in the United States. Each Placee will be required to warrant that it and any account with respect to which it exercises investment discretion is outside the United States and is not a U.S. Person.

General

Cenkos and Liberum are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") in the United Kingdom and are acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Bookbuilding process and the Placing will not regard anyone (including any Placees) (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Bookbuild and/or the Placing or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.

Standard Bank is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Bookbuild and the Placing, and will not regard anyone (including the Placees) (whether or not a recipient of this document) as a client in relation to the Placing, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice, in relation to the Bookbuild and/or the Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.

This Announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Joint Bookrunners or by any of their respective affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.

No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.

The price of securities and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the securities. Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

Neither the Placing Shares nor the ZDRs to be issued pursuant to the Fundraise will be admitted to trading or listed on any stock exchange other than on the NYSE American, the AIM market operated by the London Stock Exchange, and on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, a stock exchange that is established in terms of the Securities and Exchange Act 2004 of Zimbabwe Chapter 24:25.

Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) or any previous announcement made by the Company is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.

APPENDIX 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE BOOKBUILD

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE BOOKBUILD FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE ONLY DIRECTED AT, AND BEING DISTRIBUTED TO, PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (A) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 ("EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); OR (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE UK VERSION OF THE REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF "INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED ("THE ORDER") OR FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF "HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS ETC" IN ARTICLE 49(2) (A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER; AND (C) IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, PERSONS WHO (1) FALL WITHIN ANY ONE OF THE CATEGORIES OF PERSONS SET OUT IN SECTION 96(1)(a) OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES ACT, 2008, AS AMENDED (SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES ACT) OR (2) ARE PERSONS WHO SUBSCRIBE, AS PRINCIPAL, FOR PLACING SHARES AT A MINIMUM PLACING PRICE OF ZAR1,000,000, AS ENVISAGED IN SECTION 96(1)(b) OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES ACT, IN EACH CASE TO WHOM THE PLACING IS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").

THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED OR IS DISTRIBUTING THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS RELATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DO NOT THEMSELVES CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING ITS APPENDICES) NOR THE PLACING CONSTITUTES OR IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO THE PUBLIC IN SOUTH AFRICA IN TERMS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES ACT, OR ELSEWHERE.

EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, EXCHANGE OCONTROL, BUSINESS, ACCOUNTING AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN ACQUISITION OF PLACING SHARES (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED BELOW).

THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ACQUIRED, RESOLD, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY WITHIN, INTO OR IN THE UNITED STATES, OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY RELEVANT STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. UNITED STATES AND U.S. PERSONS ARE AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.

Unless otherwise defined in these terms and conditions, capitalised terms used in these terms and conditions shall have the meaning given to them in Appendix 2, headed "Definitions".

If a person indicates to a Joint Bookrunner that it wishes to participate in the Placing by making an oral or written offer to acquire Placing Shares (each such person, a "Placee") it will be deemed to have read and understood these terms and conditions and the Announcement of which they form a part in their entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, agreements and acknowledgements, contained in these terms and conditions as deemed to be made by Placees. In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage and dispose of any of the Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business only.

Further, each such Placee represents, warrants and agrees that: (a) it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business; (b) if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, that the Placing Shares acquired by and/or subscribed for by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of securities to the public other than an offer or resale to qualified investors (as defined above) in the UK or in a member state of the EEA, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the relevant Joint Bookrunner has been given to each such proposed offer or resale; (c) it is and, at the time the Placing Shares are acquired, will be outside the United States, and a non-U.S. Person; and (d) it is acquiring the Placing Shares in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

Subject to certain exceptions, these terms and conditions and the information contained herein are not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, to persons in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful ("Excluded Territory"). No public offer of securities of the Company is being made in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Neither the Announcement to which this Appendix is attached nor the Placing constitutes or is intended to constitute a sale of or subscription for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy and/or to subscribe for shares to the public as defined in the South African Companies Act and will not be distributed to any person in South Africa in any manner which could be construed as an offer to the public as contemplated in the South African Companies Act. In the Republic of South Africa the announcement is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, persons in South Africa who (i) fall within any one of the categories of persons set out in section 96(1)(a) of the South African Companies Act or (ii) are persons who subscribe, as principal, for Placing Shares at a minimum placing price of ZAR1,000,000, as envisaged in section 96(1)(b) of the South African Companies Act, in each case to whom the Placing is specifically addressed.The distribution of these terms and conditions and the offer and/or placing of Placing Shares in certain other jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Joint Bookrunners or the Company that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of these terms and conditions or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, save as mentioned above. Persons into whose possession these terms and conditions come are required by the Joint Bookrunners and the Company to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

No prospectus or other offering document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and each Placee's commitment will be made solely on the basis of the information set out in this Announcement. Each Placee, by participating in the Placing, agrees that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of the Joint Bookrunners or the Company and none of the Joint Bookrunners, the Company, nor any person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their respective affiliates has or shall have liability for any Placee's decision to accept this invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.

No undertaking, representation, warranty or any other assurance, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of the Joint Bookrunners or any of their affiliates, their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisers, or any other person, as to the accuracy, completeness, correctness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this Announcement or for any other statement made or purported to be made by any of them, or on behalf of them, in connection with the Company or the Placing and no such person shall have any responsibility or liability for any such information or opinions or for any errors or omissions. Accordingly, save to the extent permitted by law, no liability whatsoever is accepted by the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or affiliates or any other person for any loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this Announcement or such information or opinions contained herein.

These terms and conditions do not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any Placing Shares or any other securities or an inducement to enter into investment activity, nor shall these terms and conditions (or any part of them), nor the fact of their distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any investment activity. No statement in these terms and conditions is intended to be nor may be construed as a profit forecast and no statement made herein should be interpreted to mean that the Company's profits or earnings per share for any future period will necessarily match or exceed historical published profits or earnings per share of the Company.

The information contained in this Appendix and the Announcement to which it is attached constitutes factual information as contemplated in section 1(3)(a) of the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 and should not be construed as an express or implied recommendation, guide or proposal that any particular transaction in respect of the Placing or the Placing Shares or in relation to the business or future investments of the Company is appropriate to the particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs of a prospective investor, and nothing in this Appendix and the Announcement to which it is attached should be construed as constituting the canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of, financial services in the Republic of South Africa.

The information contained in this Appendix and the Announcement to which it is attached does not constitute a prospectus for the purpose of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 and therefore no consent has been sought from the Jersey Financial Services Commission for its circulation. Nothing contained in this Appendix and the Announcement to which it is attached or anything communicated to Placees is intended to constitute, or should be construed as, advice on the merits of, the purchase of or subscription for, Placing Shares or the exercise of any rights attached to them for the purposes of the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998.

UK Product Governance Requirements

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the UK Product Governance Requirements) and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any manufacturer (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible counterparties, each as defined in UK Product Governance Requirements; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by UK Product Governance Requirements (the UK Target Market Assessment).

Notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.

The UK Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, Cenkos and Liberum are severally only procuring investors in the United Kingdom which meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapter 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to, the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

EU Product Governance Requirements

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "EU Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the EU Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of: (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible counterparties (each as defined in MiFID II); and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "EU Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the EU Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The EU Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. In all circumstances Cenkos and Liberum severally will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the EU Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

Proposed Placing

The Joint Bookrunners have entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in such Placing Agreement, the Joint Bookrunners as agents for and on behalf of the Company, have severally agreed to use their respective reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares. The number of Placing Shares will be determined following completion of the Bookbuild and set out in a terms sheet to be entered into between the Joint Bookrunners and the Company. Details of the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.

Placees are referred to these terms and conditions and this Announcement containing details of, inter alia, the Placing. These terms and conditions and this Announcement have been prepared and issued by the Company, and is the sole responsibility of the Company.

The Placing Shares will, when issued and fully paid, be identical to, and rank pari passu with, the existing Common Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on the existing Common Shares after their admission to trading on AIM.

Application will be made to the NYSE American for approval to issue the Placing Shares and to the LSE for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence on AIM at 8.00 a.m. on 30 March 2023.

Subject to the conditions below being satisfied, it is expected that Admission of the Placing Shares will become effective on or around 30 March 2023. It is expected that dealings for normal settlement in the Placing Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. (UK time) on the same day.

Bookbuild of the Placing

Commencing today, the Joint Bookrunners will be conducting an accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuild") to determine demand for participation in the Placing. The Joint Bookrunners will seek to procure Placees as agents for the Company as part of this Bookbuild. These terms and conditions give details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing.

Principal terms of the Bookbuild

(a) By participating in the Placing, Placees will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement and these terms and conditions in their entirety and to be participating and making an offer for any Placing Shares on these terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings, contained in these terms and conditions. (b) The Joint Bookrunners are arranging the Placing as agents of the Company. Under the terms of the Placing Agreement, Cenkos and Liberum have severally agreed to use their respective reasonable endeavours as the Company's agent to procure subscribers for Placing Shares in the United Kingdom and Standard Bank has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours as the Company's agent to procure subscribers for Placing Shares in the Republic of South Africa. (c) The Placing Price and the aggregate proceeds to be raised through the Placing will be agreed between the Joint Bookrunners and the Company following completion of the Bookbuild. (d) Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who are Relevant Persons and who may lawfully be and are invited to participate by a Joint Bookrunner. The Joint Bookrunners (in their independent and individual capacity) and their affiliates are entitled to offer to subscribe for Placing Shares as principals in the Bookbuild. (e) Any offer to subscribe for Placing Shares should state the aggregate number of Placing Shares which the Placee wishes to acquire. The Placing Price will be payable by the Placees in respect of each Placing Share allocated to them. (f) The books will open with immediate effect. The Bookbuild is expected to close no later than 12.00 p.m. (UK time) on 24 March 2023 but may close earlier or later, at the discretion of the Joint Bookrunners and the Company. The Company will make a further announcement following the close of the Bookbuild detailing the number of Placing Shares to be issued (the "Placing Results Announcement"). It is expected that such Placing Results Announcement will be made as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild. (g) A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and conditions in this Appendix and will not be capable of variation or revocation by a Placee after the close of the Bookbuild. (h) A Placee who wishes to participate in the Bookbuild should communicate its bid by telephone to the usual sales contact at: a. in the United Kingdom, Cenkos or Liberum; or b. in the Republic of South Africa, Standard Bank, stating the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to acquire at the Placing Price. In the event of an oversubscription under the Placing, the Joint Bookrunners reserve the right to scale down any bids in accordance with paragraph (i) of this Appendix. (i) Subject to paragraph (g) above, each of the Joint Bookrunners reserve the right including with or at the instruction of the Company not to accept an offer to subscribe for Placing Shares, either in whole or in part, on the basis of the allocations determined with the Company and may scale down any offer to subscribe for Placing Shares for this purpose. (j) If successful, each Placee's allocation will be confirmed to it by the relevant Joint Bookrunner following the close of the Bookbuild. Oral or written confirmation (at the relevant Joint Bookrunner's discretion) from the relevant Joint Bookrunner to such Placee confirming its allocation of the Placing Shares and the Placing Price will constitute a legally binding commitment upon such Placee, in favour of the relevant Joint Bookrunner and the Company to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it on the terms and conditions set out herein. Each Placee will have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to the Company, to pay to the relevant Joint Bookrunner (or as the relevant Joint Bookrunner may direct) as agent for the Company in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares which such Placee has agreed to acquire. (k) Subject to paragraphs (g) and (j) above, the Joint Bookrunners reserve the right not to accept bids or to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at their discretion and may scale down any bids as they may determine, subject to agreement with the Company. The acceptance of bids shall be at the relevant Joint Bookrunner's absolute discretion, subject only to agreement with the Company. The Joint Bookrunners shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may determine in agreement with the Company and each other. (l) Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation(s) pursuant to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the time specified, on the basis explained below under the paragraph entitled "Registration and Settlement". (m) No commissions are payable to Placees in respect of the Placing. (n) By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee. All obligations under the Placing will be subject to the fulfilment of the conditions referred to below under the paragraphs entitled "Conditions of the Placing" and "Termination of the Placing Agreement". (p) The Placing is not subject to any minimum fundraising and no element of the Placing is underwritten by any of the Joint Bookrunners or any other person.

Conditions of the Placing

The obligations of the Joint Bookrunners under the Placing Agreement in respect of the placing of the Placing Shares are conditional on, amongst other things: (a) the Company having complied with its obligations under the Placing Agreement (to the extent that such obligations fall to be performed prior to Admission); (b) the Company having confirmed to the Joint Bookrunners that, prior to the delivery of such confirmation, none of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained in the Placing Agreement was untrue, inaccurate or misleading at the date of the Placing Agreement or will be untrue, inaccurate or misleading immediately prior to Admission; (c) Admission having occurred at 8.00 a.m. (UK time) 30 March 2023 or such later date as the Company and the Joint Bookrunners may agree, but in any event not later than 8.00 a.m. (UK time) on 28 April 2023. If (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares are not fulfilled or waived by Cenkos and Liberum by the respective time or date where specified, (ii) any of such conditions becomes incapable of being fulfilled or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will not proceed and the Placees rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time, all monies received from a Placee pursuant to the Placing shall be returned to such Placee without interest, at the risk of the relevant Placee and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof. Cenkos and Liberum, at their sole discretion and upon such terms as they think fit, may waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement. None of the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company nor any other person shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or the date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally, and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners.

Termination of the Placing Agreement

Cenkos and Liberum are severally entitled at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in relation to its obligations in respect of the Placing Shares, under the Placing, by giving notice to the Company if, amongst other things: (a) the Company fails to comply with any of its material obligations under the Placing Agreement or commits a breach of any applicable law; or (b) it comes to the notice of any Joint Bookrunner that any statement contained in this Announcement was untrue, incorrect or misleading at the date of this Announcement or has become untrue, incorrect or misleading; or (c) any of the warranties given by the Company in the Placing Agreement was not true and accurate as at the date of the Placing Agreement or has ceased to be true and accurate by reference to the facts subsisting at the time when notice to terminate is given; or (d) in the opinion of any of Joint Bookrunners, acting in good faith, there shall have occurred any adverse change in, or any development involving or reasonably likely to involve an adverse change in, the condition (financial, operational, legal, environmental or otherwise), earnings, business, management, property, assets, rights, results, operations or prospects of the Company or the Group which is material in the context of the Company or or the Group taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business and whether or not foreseeable; or (e) there happens, develops or comes into effect: (i) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the United Kingdom, the United States of America the Republic of South Africa, any member of the European Economic Area (the "EEA") or Zimbabwe declared by the relevant authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United Kingdom, the United States of America the Republic of South Africa, the EEA or Zimbabwe ; or (ii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, war or acts of terrorism, declaration of emergency or martial law or other calamity or crisis or event; or (iii) any other occurrence of any kind which in any such case (by itself or together with any other such occurrence) in the reasonable opinion of any Joint Bookrunner (acting in good faith) is likely to materially and adversely affect the market's position or prospects of the Company taken as a whole; or (iv) any other crisis of international or national effect or any change in any currency exchange rates or controls or in any financial, political, economic or market conditions or in market sentiment which, in any such case, in the reasonable opinion of any Joint Bookrunner is materially adverse. If the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations of each Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this Announcement shall cease and terminate at such time, all monies received from a Placee pursuant to the Placing shall be returned to such Placee without interest, at the risk of the relevant Placee and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in respect thereof.

Placing Procedure

Placees shall acquire the Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing and any allocation of the Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will be notified to them on or around 24 March 2023 (or such other time and/or date as the Company and the Joint Bookrunners may agree).

Payment in full for any Placing Shares so allocated in respect of the Placing at the Placing Price must be made by no later than 30 March 2023 (or such other date as shall be notified to each Placee by the relevant Joint Bookrunner) on the expected closing date of the Placing. The relevant Joint Bookrunner or the Company will notify Placees if any of the dates in these terms and conditions should change.

Registration and Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares following Admission of the Placing Shares will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. The Joint Bookrunners and the Company reserve the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means that they deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible within the CREST system within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction. Each Placee will be deemed to agree that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions which they have in place with a respective Joint Bookrunner.

Settlement for the Placing will be on a T+2 and delivery versus payment basis and settlement is expected to take place on or around 30 March 2023. Interest is chargeable daily on payments to the extent that value is received after the due date from Placees at the rate of 2 percentage points above the prevailing Sterling Overnight Index Average. Each Placee is deemed to agree that if it does not comply with these obligations, the relevant Joint Bookrunner may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to it on its behalf and retain from the proceeds, for its own account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on the relevant Joint Bookrunner all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which the relevant Joint Bookrunner lawfully takes in pursuance of such sale. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon any transaction in the Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf.

Representations, Warranties and Further Terms

By participating in the Placing, a Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be) with the Joint Bookrunners and the Company, the following: 1. it is a Relevant Person and undertakes to subscribe at the Placing Price for those Placing Shares allocated to it by the Joint Bookrunners; 2. it and any account with respect to which it exercises investment discretion is a non-U.S. Person outside the United States; 3. it has read and understood this Announcement (including these terms and conditions) in its entirety and that it has neither received nor relied on any information given or any investigations, representations, warranties or statements made at any time by any person in connection with Admission, the Bookbuild, the Placing, the Company, the Placing Shares, or otherwise, other than the information contained in this Announcement (including these terms and conditions) that in accepting the offer of its placing participation it will be relying solely on the information contained in this Announcement (including these terms and conditions) and undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate such documents; 4. its oral or written commitment will be made solely on the basis of the information set out in this Announcement and the information publicly announced to a Regulatory Information Service by or on behalf of the Company on the date of this Announcement, such information being all that such Placee deems necessary or appropriate and sufficient to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and that it has neither received nor relied on any other information given, or representations or warranties or statements made, by the Joint Bookrunners or the Company nor any of their respective affiliates and neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement; 5. the content of this Announcement and these terms and conditions are exclusively the responsibility of the Company and agrees that neither the Joint Bookrunners nor any of their affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of them will be responsible for or shall have liability for any information, representation or statements contained therein or any information previously published by or on behalf of the Company, and neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any such person will be responsible or liable for a Placee's decision to accept its placing participation; 6. (i) it has not relied on, and will not rely on, any information relating to the Company contained or which may be contained in any research report or investor presentation prepared or which may be prepared by the Joint Bookrunners, the Company or any of their affiliates; (ii) none of the Joint Bookrunners, their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of such persons has or shall have any responsibility or liability for public information relating to the Company; (iii) none of the Company, its affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of such persons has or shall have any responsibility or liability for public information relating to the Company save for any information published via a regulatory information service; (iv) none of the Joint Bookrunners, the Company or their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of such persons has or shall have any responsibility or liability for any additional information that has otherwise been made available to it, whether at the date of publication of such information, the date of these terms and conditions or otherwise; and that (v) none of the Joint Bookrunners, the Company or their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of such persons makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of any such information referred to in (i) to (iv) above, whether at the date of publication of such information, the date of this Announcement or otherwise; 7. it has made its own assessment of the Company and has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing, and has satisfied itself concerning the relevant tax, legal, currency and other economic considerations relevant to its decision to participate in the Placing; 8. it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if it is acting for any other person: (i) it is duly authorised to do so and has full power to make the acknowledgments, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such person; (ii) it is and will remain liable to the Company and the Joint Bookrunners for the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another person); (iii) if it is in the United Kingdom, it is a person: (a) who has professional experience in matters relating to investments and who falls within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Order or who falls within Article 49(2) of the Order; and (b) is a "qualified investor" as defined in Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation; (iv) if it is in a member state of the EEA, it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation; and (v) if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, the Placing Shares subscribed by it in the Placing are not being acquired on a nondiscretionary basis for, or on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to persons in the UK or in a member state of the EEA in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of shares to the public, other than their offer or resale to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation or within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation in a member state of the EEA which has implemented the EU Prospectus Regulation; 9. that neither the offer referred to herein nor the Placing constitutes or is intended to constitute an offer to the public in the Republic of South Africa in terms of the South African Companies Act, and that in the Republic of South Africa such offer is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, persons in South Africa who (i) fall within any one of the categories of persons set out in section 96(1)(a) of the South African Companies Act or (ii) are persons who subscribe, as principal, for Placing Shares at a minimum placing price of ZAR1,000,000, as envisaged in section 96(1)(b) of the South African Companies Act, in each case to whom the Placing is specifically addressed; 10. that, if in the Republic of South Africa, it is a person referred to in paragraph 9 above; 11. if it has received any confidential price sensitive information about the Company in advance of the Placing, it has not: (i) dealt in the securities of the Company; (ii) encouraged or required another person to deal in the securities of the Company; or (iii) disclosed such information to any person, prior to the information being made generally available; 12. it has complied with its obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006, the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010 and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof (the "Regulations") and, if it is making payment on behalf of a third party, it has obtained and recorded satisfactory evidence to verify the identity of the third party as may be required by the Regulations; 13. it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA")) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person; 14. it is not acting in concert (within the meaning given in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) with any other Placee or any other person in relation to the Company; 15. it has complied and will comply with all applicable laws (including all provisions of FSMA) with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom; 16. unless otherwise agreed by the Company (after agreement with the Joint Bookrunners), it is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed for and purchased will not be, subscribing for and on behalf of a resident of Canada, Australia, Japan or any other Excluded Territory and further acknowledges that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the securities legislation of any Excluded Territory and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into those jurisdiction. 17. it acknowledges that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any state in the United States, and the Placing Shares may not be offered, sold or transferred in the United States or to, or for the benefit or account of a U.S. Person unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements and upon delivery of an opinion of counsel of recognised standing reasonably satisfactory to the Company to such effect, if requested; 18. the Placing Shares are subject to a 40 day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, the Distribution Compliance Period), and the Placing Shares may not be offered or sold, prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, unless (A) in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act; (B) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act; or (C) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, upon delivery of an opinion of counsel of recognised standing reasonably satisfactory to the Company to such effect, if requested. The Placee further confirms that it is not a distributor (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, a Distributor) or an affiliate of any Distributor, and is not purchasing the Placing Shares and will not sell any Placing Shares on behalf of the Company or any Distributor; 19. it does not expect the Joint Bookrunners to have any duties or responsibilities towards it for providing protections afforded to clients under the rules of the FCA Handbook (the "Rules") or advising it with regard to the Placing Shares and that it is not, and will not be, a client of either of the Joint Bookrunners as defined by the Rules. Likewise, any payment by it will not be treated as client money governed by the Rules; 20. any exercise by Cenkos and/or Liberum of any right to terminate the Placing Agreement or of other rights or discretions under the Placing Agreement or the Placing shall be within Cenkos and/or Liberums absolute discretion and the Joint Bookrunners shall not have any liability to it whatsoever in relation to any decision to exercise or not to exercise any such right or the timing thereof; 21. it has the funds available to pay for the Placing Shares which it has agreed to acquire and acknowledges, agrees and undertakes that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment to the relevant Joint Bookrunner for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Announcement on the due times and dates set out in this Announcement, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with others on such terms as the relevant Joint Bookrunner may, in its absolute discretion, determine without liability to the Placee and it will remain liable for any shortfall below the net proceeds of such sale and the placing proceeds of such Placing Shares and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties due pursuant to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) which may arise upon the sale of such Placees Placing Shares on its behalf; 22. it will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or other materials concerning the Placing in or into any Excluded Territory (including electronic copies thereof) to any person, and it has not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted any such materials to any person; 23. neither it, nor the person specified by it for registration as a holder of Placing Shares is, or is acting as nominee(s) or agent(s) for, and that the Placing Shares will not be allotted to, a person/person(s) whose business either is or includes issuing depository receipts or the provision of clearance services and therefore that the issue to the Placee, or the person specified by the Placee for registration as holder, of the Placing Shares will not give rise to a liability under any of sections 67, 70, 93 and 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance services) and that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depository receipts or to issue or transfer Placing Shares into a clearance system; 24. the person who it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be: (i) itself; or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be, and acknowledges that the Joint Bookrunners and the Company will not be responsible for any liability to pay stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with interest and penalties) resulting from a failure to observe this requirement; and each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to indemnify each of the Joint Brokers and the Company and any person acting on their respective behalf in respect of the same on an after tax basis and to participate in the Placing on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to a CREST stock account of the relevant Joint Bookrunner who will hold them as nominee on behalf of the Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions with it; 25. where it is acquiring Placing Shares for one or more managed accounts, it is authorised in writing by each managed account to acquire Placing Shares for that managed account; 26. if it is a pension fund or investment company, its acquisition of any Placing Shares is in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations; 27. it and/or each person on whose behalf it is participating: (i) is entitled to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing under the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions; (ii) has fully observed such laws and regulations; and (iii) has the capacity and has obtained all requisite authorities and consents (including, without limitation, in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee, all requisite authorities and consents to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Appendix) under those laws or otherwise and has complied with all necessary formalities to enable it to enter into the transactions and make the acknowledgements, agreements, indemnities, representations, undertakings and warranties contemplated hereby and to perform and honour its obligations in relation thereto on its own behalf (and in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee on behalf of that Placee); (iv) does so agree to the terms set out in this Appendix and does so make the acknowledgements, agreements, indemnities, representations, undertakings and warranties contained in this Announcement on its own behalf (and in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee on behalf of that Placee); and (v) is and will remain liable to the Company and the Joint Bookrunners for the performance of all its obligations as a Placee of the Placing (whether or not it is acting on behalf of another person); 28. it is aware of the obligations regarding insider dealing in the Criminal Justice Act 1993, market abuse under the MAR and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and confirms that it has and will continue to comply with those obligations; 29. in order to ensure compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and analogous legislation in other applicable jurisdictions, the Joint Bookrunners (for their own purposes and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars may, in their absolute discretion, require verification of its identity. Pending the provision to the relevant Joint Bookrunner or the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at the relevant Joint Bookrunner's absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be delayed at the relevant Joint Bookrunner's or the Company's registrars', as the case may be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a request for verification of identity the relevant Joint Bookrunner (for its own purpose and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars have not received evidence satisfactory to them, the relevant Joint Bookrunner and/or the Company may, at their absolute discretion, terminate their commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event the monies payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already paid, be returned without interest to the account of the drawee's bank from which they were originally debited; 30. it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of the FSMA; 31. it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in any member state of the EEA prior to Admission except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purpose of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in any member state of the EEA within the meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation; 32. to the extent necessary, it has obtained any and all authorisations, approvals, consents or exemptions which may be required under the Exchange Control Regulations, 1961 issued under the South African Currency and Exchanges Act, No. 9 of 1933 (including any applicable directive and rulings of the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve Bank and the National Treasury of South Africa), as amended, in connection with its acquisition of Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing; 33. participation in the Placing is on the basis that, for the purposes of the Placing, it is not and will not be a client of any of the Joint Bookrunners and that the Joint Bookrunners do not have any duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement or the contents of these terms and conditions; 34. to provide the Joint Bookrunners or the Company (as relevant) with such relevant documents as they may reasonably request to comply with requests or requirements that either they or the Company may receive from relevant regulators in relation to the Placing, subject to its legal, regulatory and compliance requirements and restrictions; 35. any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and conditions, and any non-contractual obligations arising our of or in connection with such agreements, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and it submits (on its behalf and on behalf of any Placee on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such agreements, except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Joint Bookrunners or the Company in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange; 36. to fully and effectively indemnify on an on-demand after tax basis and hold harmless the Company, the Joint Bookrunners and each of their respective affiliates, and any such person's respective affiliates, subsidiaries, branches, associates and holding companies, and in each case their respective directors, employees, officers and agents from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses): (i) arising from any breach by such Placee of any of the provisions of these terms and conditions; (ii) incurred by either Joint Bookrunner and/or the Company arising from the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in these terms and conditions and (iii) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements or undertakings contained in the Announcement and further agrees that the provisions of these terms and conditions shall survive after completion of the Placing; 37. in making any decision to subscribe for the Placing Shares: (i) it has knowledge and experience in financial, business and international investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Placing Shares; (ii) it is experienced in investing in securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain a complete loss in connection with, the Placing; (iii) it has relied on its own examination, due diligence and analysis of the Company and its affiliates taken as a whole, including the markets in which the Company operates, and the terms of the Placing, including the merits and risks involved; (iv) it has had sufficient time to consider and conduct its own investigation with respect to the offer and purchase of the Placing Shares, including the legal, regulatory, tax, business, currency and other economic and financial considerations relevant to such investment; and (v) will not look to the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on their behalf for all or part of any such loss or losses it or they may suffer; 38. its commitment to acquire Placing Shares will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing, and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's or the Joint Bookrunners' conduct of the Placing; 39. it acknowledges and understands that the Joint Bookrunners and the Company and their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgments and undertakings which are irrevocable; and 40. time is of the essence as regards to its obligations under this Announcement. The foregoing representations, warranties and confirmations are given for the benefit of the Company as well as to each Joint Bookrunner for itself and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable. Please also note that the agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax in the UK relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes that such Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer such Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there were any such arrangements, or the settlement related to other dealing in such Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable, for which none of the Company nor the Joint Bookrunners would be responsible and Placees shall indemnify the Company and the Joint Bookrunners on an after-tax basis for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax paid by them in respect of any such arrangements or dealings. Furthermore, each Placee agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold each of the Joint Bookrunners and/or the Company and their respective affiliates harmless from any and all interest, fines or penalties in relation to stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax and all other similar duties or taxes to the extent that such interest, fines or penalties arise from the unreasonable default or delay of that Placee or its agent. If this is the case, it would be sensible for Placees to take their own advice and they should notify the relevant Joint Bookrunner accordingly. In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any capital duty, stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable outside the UK by them or any other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares.

Selling Restrictions

By participating in the Placing, a Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be) with the Joint Bookrunners and the Company, the following: 1. it is not a person who has a registered address in, or is a resident, citizen or national of, a country or countries, in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer to subscribe for Placing Shares; 2. it has fully observed and will fully observe the applicable laws of any relevant territory, including complying with the selling restrictions set out herein and obtaining any requisite governmental or other consents and it has fully observed and will fully observe any other requisite formalities and pay any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such territories; 3. if it is in the United Kingdom, it is a person: (i) who has professional experience in matters relating to investments and who falls within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Order or who falls within Article 49(2) of the Order, and (ii) is a "qualified investor" as defined in Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation; 4. if it is in a member state of the EEA, it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation; 5. if it is in the Republic of South Africa, it is a person in South Africa who (i) falls within any one of the categories of persons set out in section 96(1)(a) of the South African Companies Act or (ii) are persons who subscribe, as principal, for Placing Shares at a minimum placing price of ZAR1,000,000, as envisaged in section 96(1)(b) of the South African Companies Act, in each case to whom the Placing is specifically addressed; 6. it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it (as principal or agent) in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments for the purpose of its business and it undertakes that it will (as principal or agent) acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business; 7. it (on its behalf and on behalf of any Placee on whose behalf it is acting) has: (a) fully observed the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it; (b) obtained all governmental and other consents which may be required; (c) fully observed any other requisite formalities; (d) paid or will pay any issue, transfer or other taxes; (e) not taken any action which will or may result in the Company or the Joint Bookrunners (or any of them) being in breach of a legal or regulatory requirement of any territory in connection with the Placing; (f) obtained all other necessary consents and authorities required to enable it to give its commitment to subscribe for the relevant Placing Shares; and (g) the power and capacity to, and will, perform its obligations under the terms contained in these terms and conditions; and 8. it and any account with respect to which it exercises investment discretion is a non-U.S. Person outside the United States and any offer or sale, if made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, will be made in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

Miscellaneous

The Company reserves the right to treat as invalid any application or purported application for Placing Shares that appears to the Company or its agents to have been executed, effected or dispatched from the United States or by, or on behalf of, a U.S. Person or from any other Excluded Territory or in a manner that may involve a breach of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction or if the Company or its agents believe that the same may violate applicable legal or regulatory requirements or if it provides an address for delivery of the share certificates of Placing Shares in the United States, any other Excluded Territory, or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom in which it would be unlawful to deliver such share certificates.

When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with a Joint Bookrunner, any money held in an account with the relevant Joint Bookrunner on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence, this money will not be segregated from the relevant Joint Bookrunner's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by the relevant Joint Bookrunner in the course of their own business; and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the relevant Joint Bookrunner.

Times

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to time are to London time. All times and dates in these terms and conditions may be subject to amendment. The Joint Bookrunners will notify Placees and any persons acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.

APPENDIX 2  DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context otherwise requires: Admission admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the AIM Rules. AIM AIM, the market operated by the London Stock Exchange. Announcement means this announcement (including its Appendices). Bookbuild means the accelerated bookbuilding process to be commenced by the Joint Bookrunners to use reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares, as described in this Announcement and subject to the terms and conditions set out in this Announcement and the Placing Agreement. Business Day any day (other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday) on which clearing banks are open for all normal banking business in the city of London and/or South Africa. Cenkos means Cenkos Securities plc. Common Shares means the common shares of no par value each in the capital of the Company, represented on AIM by Depository Interests. Company means Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc. CREST means the relevant system (as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755)) in respect of which Euroclear is the Operator (as defined in such Regulations) in accordance with which securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated form. Depositary Interests means the depositary interests representing Common Shares to be issued by Computershare Investor Services PLC as depositary on Admission under the instruction of the Company. EEA means European Economic Area. Excluded Territory means the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. FCA or Financial Conduct Authority means the UK Financial Conduct Authority. FSMA means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, including any regulations made pursuant thereto). Fundraise together, the Placing and the Zimbabwe Placing. Group means the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. IH Securities means IH Securities (Private) Limited. Joint Bookrunners means Cenkos, Liberum and Standard Bank. Liberum means Liberum Capital Limited. LSE means London Stock Exchange plc. MAR means the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No.596/2014 as it forms part of the law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. NYSE American means NYSE American stock exchange. Order has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 of this Announcement. Placee means any person procured by either of the Joint Bookrunners (acting as agents for and on behalf of the Company), on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Placing Agreement, to subscribe for the Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing. Placing has the meaning given to it in the main body of this Announcement. Placing Agreement has the meaning given to it in Appendix I to this Announcement. Placing Price means 11.15 per Placing Share. Placing Shares the Depositary Interests representing new Common Shares proposed to be issued by the Depositary to Placees pursuant to the Placing (which term shall also refer, where the context permits, to the Common Shares underlying such Depositary Interests issued by the Company). Regulations has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 of this Announcement. Regulation S means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. Regulatory Information Service means a primary information provider that has been approved by the FCA to disseminate regulated information. Relevant Persons has the meaning given to in in Appendix 1 of this Announcement. SA Placing the part of the Placing being managed by Standard Bank in South Africa. Standard Bank meaning The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division). UK Prospectus Regulation means Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. United Kingdom or UK means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. U.S. Person means U.S. person as that term is defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S. U.S. Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States, and the District of Columbia. VFEX means Victoria Falls Stock Exchange. ZDRs means Zimbabwe depository receipts. Zimbabwe Placing has the meaning given to it in the main body of this Announcement.

1 Refer to the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Blanket Gold Mine, Zimbabwe" with effective date September 2022 prepared by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on March 13, 20232 Refer to the technical report entitled "BILBOES GOLD PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY" with effective date December 15, 2021 prepared by DRA Projects (Pty) Ltd and filed by the Company on SEDAR on July 21, 20223 Refer to the technical report entitled "BILBOES GOLD PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY" with effective date December 15, 2021 prepared by DRA Projects (Pty) Ltd and filed by the Company on SEDAR on July 21, 20224 Refer to technical report entitled "Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Report on the Maligreen Gold Project, Zimbabwe" dated November 3, 2022 prepared by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd and filed on SEDAR on November 7, 2022

Source: Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blender Bites Limited. (the Company, Blender Bites or Blender), (CSE: BITE, FWB: JL4, WKN: A3DMEJ), an award-winning line of premium, organic and plant-based pre-portioned frozen functional foods, announces that it has signed a partnership with actress, performer and entrepreneur Julianne Hough as a brand partner, shareholder and strategic advisor as the Company prepares for a US product launch later this year.

Hough will be an active participant in the strategic marketing of the Companys products and will also work in collaboration with Blender Bites founder and CEO, Chelsie Hodge, in the creation and development of a new product innovation, including an official product launch of the new collaboration.

Together, Blender Bites and Hough are committed to marketing the Companys first to-market smoothie innovations, as well as its recently unveiled 1-Step Frappe, with the goal of increasing brand awareness across Canada and the United States.

I am so thrilled to be joining Chelsie and her innovative team at Blender Bites, says Hough. I am personally a huge fan of the brand and am excited to be taking on this larger role within the Company. Their mission and intention of creating a clean, sustainable product without compromising nutritional value and convenience is something that truly aligns with my own lifestyle and routine. Their functional smoothie innovations make me feel energized every time, whether Im about to take on my next workout or during a busy morning. I cant wait for this product to come to the US and to continue to create with this team as I expand my entrepreneurial footprint.

With the Company entering one of the biggest smoothie and functional food markets on the planet, Blender Bites looks to establish itself with Julianne, welcoming her as a shareholder. Julianne will offer strategic counsel and creative insight on product development to further the flavor profiles of the brand to meet the next generation of consumers.

I couldnt be more thrilled to have Julianne join the Blender Bites team as a voice for the brand, a partner and a shareholder. The Company has done an incredible job the past year working with our broker team to line up multiple large US retail opportunities, and I truly believe Jules has the perfect platform for us to market the product to all of Canada and the US. Jules is more than an entertainer, she is also an entrepreneur, and Im incredibly excited to work with her on bringing this brand to new heights, commented Chelsie Hodge, Blender Bites founder and CEO.

Ms. Hough has agreed to collaborate with the Company, from March 24, 2023, in the marketing and advertising of products for an initial twelve-month term. Under the terms of the collaboration, Ms. Hough is entitled to receive cash compensation payable in two parts over a six month period, as well as 307,000 common shares (the Consideration Shares) of the Company. The Company has also agreed to grant Ms. Hough 80,000 incentive stock options, and 20,000 restricted share units, the exercise terms and vesting conditions of which will be determined at the time of grant. The Consideration Shares will be subject to restrictions on resale for a period of four-months-and-one-day in accordance with applicable securities laws.

ABOUT JULIANNE HOUGH

Emmy Award-winner, entertainer, producer, and entrepreneur Julianne Hough is known to audiences globally for her success in film, television, music, and most recently, the Broadway stage. In 2022, she made her Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated, uproarious political farce, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, playing the role of Dusty at the iconic Shubert Theatre. That same year she hosted the 75th Tony Awards: Act One alongside Darren Criss which streamed on Paramount+. A true multi-hyphenate, Hough became a household name as a two-time champion on ABCs top-rated Dancing with the Stars, which she is set to host the upcoming Season 32 in 2023, before further expanding her artistic footprint to include becoming an award-winning recording artist and accomplished actress. Her acting credits include Safe Haven opposite Josh Duhamel, Footloose with Kenny Wormald and Dennis Quaid, and Rock of Ages with Tom Cruise, among others. She is the founder of Canary House Productions, which cultivates storytelling rooted in transformation, self-discovery, and identity, as well as KINRGY, the only trauma-informed dance fitness & energy healing modality backed by neuroscience and evidence-based research. An immersive and serial entrepreneur, Hough is also a co-owner of Fresh Vine Wine, a collection of premium naturally low-carb and low-calorie wines.

ABOUT BLENDER BITES

Blender Bites is a multi award-winning Canadian company involved in the development and marketing of a line of healthy and functional, time-saving frozen food products. Blender Bites launched in 2017 and was first to market with a pre-portioned 1-Step Smoothie product that includes functional ingredients, a blend of whole food vitamins and minerals and various organic greens. They are free of any unnecessary inner plastic packaging, organic, plant-based, non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free and soy free. Its latest innovation, 1-Step Frappe with half the sugar of the leading frappe and functional ingredients such as adaptogenic mushrooms and probiotics, are set to launch Spring of 2023 and are a category disruptor in both Canada and the USA. Blender Bites products are currently distributed throughout North America in both retail and club store channels and has quickly become a leader in the easy smoothie frozen category.

Blender Bites Limited

Chelsie Hodge, Chief Executive OfficerEmail  [email protected]Telephone  236-521-0626

For further information, contact Blender IR Team at:

Email  [email protected]Telephone  1-888-997-2055

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENTThis news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties, and uncertain capital markets. Readers are cautioned that actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Source: Blender Bites Limited
Earn more chances to win an all inclusive vacation when booking dream vacations at Grand Palladium and TRS resorts

TORONTO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Sunwing customers still have the chance to win the prize of paradise when they book their last-minute getaways or upcoming spring and summer vacations at select Palladium Hotel Group properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. On now until March 31, 2023, Canadians can take advantage of exclusive travel benefits for an unforgettable stay in the sun, such as reduced rates on vacations designed for every travel desire.

The piece de resistance  travellers who purchase a Palladium Hotel Group vacation package at a Grand Palladium Hotels and Resorts or TRS Hotels property by March 31, 2023, for departures by March 31, 2024, will automatically receive 10 bonus contest entries for their chance to win a seven-night all inclusive stay for two at the beautiful Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya with Sunwing. Non-purchasing customers are also eligible but limited to one entry during the contest period and must complete a contest form found on Sunwing.ca*. Customers in search of a little inspiration can complete Sunwings vacation quiz and get one step closer to finding the paradise and property thats right for them.

Set in the Canadian-favourite vacation destinations of Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, Palladium Hotel Group offers getaway-goers picturesque tropical escapes with their pick of beachfront locales. As sought-after resort chains taking up residence down south, and popular choices among Sunwing customers in search of a family friendly or high-end adults only retreat, Grand Palladium and TRS properties are well-equipped to meet every guests vacation needs. Between world-class service, sophisticated decor, sparkling pools and beaches, a thoughtful selection of international cuisine and a la carte dining options, spacious accommodations and much more, dream vacations become reality in paradise.

For more information or to book a vacation with Palladium Hotel Group, visit www.sunwing.ca or contact a travel agent to take advantage of incredible last-minute deals on an upcoming getaway.

*Terms and conditions apply.

About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

For more information:

Melanie Anne FilippSenior Director, Corporate Communications & Media RelationsSunwing Travel Group1-800-387-5602 | [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a29d8f0-36a9-482e-a8e9-6105b519c0d3

Prize of paradise with Palladium Hotel Group Sunwing customers have more chances to win an all inclusive getaway!

Source: Sunwing Vacations Inc.
TORONTO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, March 25 at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour, one of the largest global movements for the planet, will once again bring together millions of people around the world to show their commitment to action on biodiversity loss and climate change.

This year is a critical one for the planet. On the heels of world leaders coming together in December 2022 to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework during the UN biodiversity summit COP15, Earth Hour 2023 is taking place at a crucial time, marking an inspiring moment of solidarity to raise awareness and inspire action for nature.

This year, WWF-Canada is asking the public to participate in the Biggest Hour for Earth by giving an hour to the Earth.

Heres how to participate:

Turn off all non-essential lights at 8:30 p.m. local time.

Learn more about WWF-Canadas plans to Regenerate Canada and how to help.

about WWF-Canadas plans to Regenerate Canada and how to help. Follow @WWF-Canada on social media and engage with and share Earth Hour posts to help spread awareness.

on social media and engage with and share Earth Hour posts to help spread awareness. As the CN Tower and other landmarks around the world go dark for Earth Hour, step up for nature and register for WWFs CN Tower Climb 2023 .

Visit the Earth Hour 2023 web page to discover other opportunities that go beyond the hour and let WWF-Canada know how youre giving an hour for Earth.

Megan Leslie, president and CEO of WWF-Canada says:

Each year, we see increasing evidence of the impact climate change and biodiversity loss is having on our planet. We know that the news can be disheartening. Earth Hour is an opportunity to connect with friends and family and this year, we want to focus on actions for nature that can inspire change, during the 60 minutes and beyond. We can still reverse nature loss by 2030, but every hour is important.

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is WWF's flagship global environmental movement. Born in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in more than 190 countries and territories to action. Historically, Earth Hour has focused on the climate crisis, but more recently, the event has focused on the pressing issue of nature loss. The goal is to create an unstoppable movement for nature, as it did when the world came together to tackle climate change. The movement recognizes the role of individuals in creating solutions to the planets most pressing environmental challenges and harnesses the collective power of millions of supporters to drive change.

The science is clear. We know the next seven years are crucial in determining whether we can halt irreversible environmental degradation and runaway climate change. We know there is an urgent need to hold the increase in global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees  and the planet is already 1.1 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels. We are on track to hit 1.5 degrees by 2030. At the same time, one million species are now threatened with extinction and global wildlife populations have declined by a staggering 69 per cent since 1970. Urgent action for climate, nature and biodiversity are more necessary than ever.

Visit www.earthhour.org to find out about Earth Hour events around the world. Together, lets create the Biggest Hour for Earth.

About World Wildlife Fund Canada

WWF-Canada is committed to equitable and effective conservation actions that restore nature, reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. We draw on scientific analysis and Indigenous guidance to ensure all our efforts connect to a single goal: a future where wildlife, nature and people thrive. For more information visit wwf.ca.

For more information, contact [email protected]

Source: WWF Canada (World Wildlife Fund Canada)
The entire management at domestic and foreign level is offered warrants and are thus, eventually, entitled to subscribe shares at a pre-agreed price.

With the offer of warrants, FirstFarms Board of Directors wishes to reward the companys management for a great effort, which among other things, has led to, that the company earlier today presented the 2022-accounts  the best since the stock exchange listing in 2006 and progress for 7th year in a row.

A turnover of 418 mDKK

An EBITDA of 147 mDKK

An EBIT of 96 mDKK

A pre-tax result of 84 mDKK

We have talented managers in the entire organisation, who has been able to secure a high efficiency in all branches of operation and on all locations, so we have increased earnings and fulfilled own demands to a continued growth. The goal is to become one of Europes best operated and most profitable companies in the area of agriculture and food products, and it demands that we maintain, motivate and further engage our skilled managers, says chairman of the Board of Directors Henrik Hougaard.

The Board of Directors has thus decided to utilise its authorisation in section 5.2.D and 5.2.E in the companys Articles of Association to issue 56,500 warrants, which each gives right to subscribe one share of 10 DKK in the company. Thus, the issued warrants give right to subscribe totally up to nominal 565,000 DKK shares in the company. The Board of Directors has at the same time made decision about the related capital increase.

The utilisation price of the allocated warrants is 87.14 DKK per share of nominal 10 DKK. The issued warrants are allocated cost-free with 25,000 pcs. to the companys CEO and 31,500 pcs. to other managers. The price is determined based on an assessment of the total salary package for the employees.

The allocated warrants can be utilised in a period of 4 weeks from the companys release of the annual report for 1 January 2026  31 December 2026.

If the employee resigns as bad leaver, the unutilised warrants will lapse immediately without the employee being entitled to remuneration and/or compensation. If the employee resigns as good leaver, the employee will retain the right to the allotted warrants.

The issued warrants are estimated to have a total market value of 774.615 DKK, corresponding to 193.654 per year in the period up to a possible utilisation. The market value is calculated based on the Black-Scholes model with a volatility of 15 %, a risk-free interest of 3 % p.a. and a share price of 88.00.

The Board of Directors decision is entered in section 5.2.D (b) and 5.2.E (a) in the companys Articles of Association with appendix 5.2.D (b) and 5.2.E (a), which includes the terms for the allocated warrants.

Best regards,

FirstFarms A/S

For further information:

Please visit our website https://www.firstfarms.dk/en/investor-relations/corporate-governance or contact CEO Anders H. Nrgaard on phone +45 75 86 87 87.

About FirstFarms:

FirstFarms is a Danish stock exchange listed company. We operate FirstFarms with responsibility for the surrounding communities, and we deliver highest quality which is primarily sold locally. We act on new opportunities, that create value for our investors and for the surroundings. Every day, we work on creating a more sustainable company.

Attachment
REGINA, Saskatchewan, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Information Services Corporation (TSX: ISV) (ISC or the Company) is pleased to announce it has been honoured in The Globe and Mails 2023 Report on Business Women Lead Here list for the fourth consecutive year.

ISC has been named on the Women Lead Here list since it was launched in 2020. The benchmark uses proprietary research methodology to determine which Canadian corporations make tangible, systemic, organizational progress related to executive gender parity in Canada. Currently, over 50 per cent of ISC executive leaders identify as women, including those in ISCs wholly owned subsidiaries  ESC Corporate Services Ltd. (ESC) and Enterprise Registry Solutions Limited (ERS).

In celebration of International Womens Day on March 8, ISC and its subsidiaries featured women in leadership at the Company every Wednesday in March 2023, both internally and on LinkedIn, to open conversations about gender parity and the role of women in leadership at ISC and beyond.

Women are powerful drivers for change and inspiration, and it is crucial that we as an organization recognize the benefits of diversity and gender equality in leadership and decision-making in all scenarios, said Catherine McLean, Vice President of People and Culture. ISC remains committed to motivating women to lead, supporting them to take chances and pursue their goals.

I'm fortunate to work for a company that has always fostered diversity, said ESCs Vice President of Product and Solutions, Vivianne Hartyoon. How people experience life, including their gender experience, gives them different perspectives. Through my own experiences and learnings, including raising my children, my leadership style has evolved over time. Surround yourself with people you can learn from and value you. You can have it all!

For the 2023 ranking, Report on Business conducted a journalistic analysis of approximately 500 large publicly traded Canadian companies, evaluating the ratio of woman-identifying to man-identifying executives in the top three tiers of executive leadership. The resultant data was applied to a weighted formula that also factored in company performance, diversity and year-to-year change. In total, 90 companies earned the 2023 Women Lead Here seal, with a combined average of 46 per cent of executive roles held by women-identifying individuals.

The 2023 Women Lead Here list can be found in the April 2023 issue of Report on Business magazine, distributed with The Globe and Mail on Saturday March 25, 2023, and online at tgam.ca/WomenLeadHere.

About ISCHeadquartered in Canada, ISC is a leading provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. Throughout our history, we have delivered value to our clients by providing solutions to manage, secure and administer information through our Registry Operations, Services and Technology Solutions segments. ISC is focused on sustaining its core business while pursuing new growth opportunities. The Class A Shares of ISC trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISV.

Media Contact

Jodi BosnjakExternal Communications SpecialistToll Free: 1-855-341-8363 in North America or 1-306-798-1137[email protected]

Source: Information Services Corporation
MONTREAL, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Knight Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: GUD) (Knight or the Company) is pleased to announce it has been included on The Globe and Mails 2023 Report on Business magazines Women Lead Here list. This annual editorial benchmark identifies top-notch Canadian businesses with the highest executive gender diversity.

This benchmark was established in 2020 by Report on Business magazine and applies a proprietary research methodology to determine Canadian corporations with the highest degree of gender diversity among executive ranks. The ranking companies have made tangible and organizational progress related to executive gender parity.

We are proud and humbled to see Knight Therapeutics Inc. included on the Globe and Mails Report on Canadas Women Lead Here as one of the leading companies in executive gender diversity in corporate Canada and specialty pharmaceutical sector, said Samira Sakhia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Knight. Culture of equity, diversity and inclusion is one of our core values at Knight, and we will continue to advance it in Canada and beyond, building more resilient and, ultimately, stronger business.

For the 2023 ranking, Report on Business conducted a journalistic analysis of approximately 500 large publicly-traded Canadian companies based on revenue, evaluating the ratio of female-identifying to male-identifying executives in the top three tiers of executive leadership. The resultant data was applied to a weighted formula that also factored in company performance, diversity and year-to-year change.

In total, 90 companies earned the 2023 Women Lead Here seal, with a combined average of 46% of executive roles held by female-identifying individuals.

The 2023 Women Lead Here list is in the April 2023 issue of Report on Business magazine, distributed with The Globe and Mail on Saturday March 25th, 2023 and online at tgam.ca/WomenLeadHere

About The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail is Canadas foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.1 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.6 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

About Knight Therapeutics Inc.

Knight Therapeutics Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring or in-licensing and commercializing pharmaceutical products for Canada and Latin America. Knights Latin American subsidiaries operate under United Medical, Biotoscana Farma and Laboratorio LKM. Knight Therapeutics Inc.'s shares trade on TSX under the symbol GUD. For more information about Knight Therapeutics Inc., please visit the company's web site at www.gud-knight.com or www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements for Knight Therapeutics Inc. and its subsidiaries. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Knight Therapeutics Inc. considers the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared but cautions the reader that these assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Knight Therapeutics Inc. and its subsidiaries, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Factors and risks which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations are discussed in Knight Therapeutics Inc.'s Annual Report and in Knight Therapeutics Inc.'s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed on www.sedar.com. Knight Therapeutics Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: Knight Therapeutics Inc. Samira Sakhia Arvind Utchanah President & Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer T: 514.484.4483 T. 598 2626 2344 F: 514.481.4116 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.gud-knight.com Website: www.gud-knight.com

Source: Knight Therapeutics
The U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China, the Pentagons leaders said Thursday, pushing Congress to approve the Defense Departments proposed $842 billion budget, which would modernize the force in Asia and around the world.

This is a strategy-driven budget  and one driven by the seriousness of our strategic competition with the Peoples Republic of China, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in testimony before the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense.

Pointing to increases in new technology, such as hypersonics, Austin said the budget proposes to spend more than $9 billion, a 40% increase over last year, to build up military capabilities in the Pacific and defend allies.

The testimony comes on the heels of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings visit to Moscow, which added to concerns that China will step up its support for Russian President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine and increasingly threaten the West.

Chinas actions, said Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are moving it down the path toward confrontation and potential conflict with its neighbors and possibly the United States. He said deterring and preparing for war is extraordinarily expensive, but its not as expensive as fighting a war. And this budget prevents war and prepares us to fight it if necessary.

Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., pressed the defense leaders on Xis meeting with Putin and its impact on U.S. competition with China, which he called the elephant in the room. The U.S., he said, is at a crucial moment here.

The growing alliance between China and Russia, two nuclear powers, and Xis overtures to Putin during the Ukraine war are troubling, Austin said.

He added that the U.S. had not yet seen China provide arms to Russia, but if it does, it would prolong the conflict and certainly broaden the conflict potentially not only in the region but globally.

Milley, who will retire later this year, said the Defense Department must continue to modernize its forces to ensure they will be ready to fight if needed. It is incumbent upon us to make sure we remain No. 1 at all times to be able to deter China, he said.

Two decades of war in Iraq and Afghanistan eroded the militarys equipment and troop readiness, so the U.S. has been working to replace weapons systems and give troops time to reset. Its paid off, Milley told Congress.

Our operational readiness rates are higher now than they have been in many, many years, Milley said. More than 60% of the active force is at the highest states of readiness right now and could deploy to combat in less than 30 days, while 10% could deploy within 96 hours, he said.

Milley cautioned that those gains would be lost if Congress cant pass a budget on time, because it will immediately affect training.

Members of the panel, including Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., also made it clear that while they support the ongoing U.S. assistance to Ukraine, the days of blank checks are over. And they questioned the administrations ultimate goal there.

Milley said the intent is to make sure that Ukraine remains a free and independent country with its territory intact, maintaining global security and the world order that has existing since World War II.

If that goes out the window, he said, well be doubling our defense budgets at that point, because that will introduce not an era of great power competition, that will begin an era of great power conflict. And that will be extraordinarily dangerous for the whole world.

The hearing was likely one of Milleys last in front of Congress. His four-year term as chairman  capping a 43-year military career  ends in October. While many members took the opportunity to thank him for those years of service, it was also an opportunity to press him on one of the darkest moments of his chairmanship  the loss of 13 service members to a suicide bomber at Abbey Gate during the chaotic American evacuation from Afghanistan.

Questions remain about the bombing, and Republicans have criticized President Joe Bidens decision to completely withdraw from Afghanistan in August 2021. During an intense two-week evacuation, which took place as Kabul fell to the Taliban, U.S. forces got more than 120,000 personnel out of the country, but paid a large price in the lives of U.S. service members and Afghans. The withdrawal also left behind many Afghans who worked with and supported U.S. troops during the war, and efforts to get them out continue.

I can think of no greater tragedy than what happened at Abbey Gate. And I have yet to fully reconcile myself to that entire affair, Milley told the panel members. He called the end state, which left the Taliban in control of the country, a strategic failure.

But that did not happen in the last 19 days or even the last 19 months. That was a 20-year war, Milley said. There were decisions made all along the way which culminated in what the outcome was. And theres many many lessons to be learned.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vancouver, British Columbia, March 24, 2023  Pulse Oil Corp., (Pulse or the "Company) (TSXV: PUL) announced today that Drew Cadenhead is resigning as President of the Company, while continuing to contribute as a valued member of Pulses Board of Directors.

Pulses CEO, Garth Johnson commented We thank Drew for all his efforts as President of Pulse since we started in 2015. Drew and I started this Company eight years ago with a single goal; to implement an oil opportunity we had identified in the Bigoray area of Alberta. Weve endured the most challenging times of our long professional association together with this project, but weve persevered and along with our supportive investor base, have now executed on our goal of completing start-up of the solvent injection process at our 100% owned Bigoray Enhanced Oil Recovery project. Drew is a key part of the team that helped Pulse navigate through world-wide challenges, and we are now positioned to see the results of these efforts. Importantly, we are all happy that Drew will remain on the Board of Directors and that he will continue to make available his four decades of oil and gas experience to all of our team as we continue to grow Pulses assets.

About Pulse

Pulse is a Canadian company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) that is primarily focused on a 100% Working Interest Enhanced Oil Project Located in West Central Alberta, Canada. The project includes two established Nisku pinnacle reef reservoirs that have been producing sweet light crude oil for over 40 years. The Company has instituted a proven recovery methodology (NGL solvent injection) to further enhance the ultimate oil recovery from these two proven pools. With under 10 million barrels of oil recovered to date, and representing approximately 30% recovery factor from the pools, Pulse is moving forward to execute the EOR project and unlock significant value for shareholders. Pulses total reclamation liabilities are under $3 million which, when compared to many peers in the industry in Western Canada, are very low.

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.

For further information contact:

Pulse Oil Corp.

Garth JohnsonCEO604-306-4421[email protected]

Drew CadenheadDirector[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In this news release, such statements include but are not limited to Pulses operations and oil and gas resources. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.

This forward-looking information reflects Pulses current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Pulse and on assumptions Pulse believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, conditions facing Pulse at the time of the planned expenditure in advancing the Bigoray EOR project. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Pulse to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, commodity prices, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; consistent production and cash flow from current operations, the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting Pulse; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; and loss of key individuals. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Pulses disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Pulse has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Pulse as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, Pulse expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

Source: Pulse Oil Corp.
Vastned Belgium today publishes the convocation and agenda for the ordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held on Wednesday 26 April 2023 at 2.30 pm at the registered office of the Company, Generaal Lemanstraat 74, 2600 Berchem - Antwerp.

Full press release:

Attachment
Mississippi approved the use of medical cannabis last year after a lengthy legislative debate, though local governments were given the option to reject the initiative. Lincoln County was one of the counties that initially declined to participate in the program.

However, the decision prompted Timothy Gibson and Jason McDonald to take the lead in pushing for the legalization of medical cannabis in

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NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the companys newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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Three Rivers, Michigan--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2023) - Timber Cannabis Co. celebrated its move to their permanent dispensary location in Three Rivers, MI, by donating $10,000 to local community non-profits. This recreational dispensary is now open to the public at 691 S US Hwy 131, Three Rivers, IN 49093, and excited to serve more of the Michigan market.





Timber Cannabis Co Celebrates New Location in Three Rivers, MI



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8275/159653_timber-three-rivers-exterior.jpg

Whenever a customer visited the dispensary and made a cannabis purchase, they could vote by dropping a gold coin in one of the non-profit's jars, Three Rivers Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, Patriot's Garage, and Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority. The group with the most votes (Three Rivers Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services) received $5,000, while each other business received $2,500.

"Thanks to [Timber Cannabis Co.], we were able to purchase high-quality new appliances for our Hillmann House Shelter. As you can imagine, with nearly 200 houseguests passing through our doors each year, our appliances take quite a beating. Your timely donation of $5000 allowed us to replace our refrigerator, washer, and dryer," said McKenna Huffstutter and Deborah Hackworth, Co-Executive Directors, Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services.

"When Julie and I founded Timber and set out to form our vision, being easy to do business with was our main priority," said Scott Moorehead, Owner/CEO of Stash Ventures, LLC, a parent company of Timber Cannabis Co." We accomplish this in three ways: First, we find the best quality product and offer it at a fair price. Second, we have a comfortable atmosphere that caters to all levels of experience with marijuana. And finally, we invest in the most knowledgeable and friendly staff in the cannabis industry." Julie Moorehead, Owner and Director of Philanthropy added, "Plus a little something special about Timber is our passion when it comes to giving back to our communities, and we are excited to bring all of this to Three Rivers."

Megan Kucks, Timber Three Rivers General Manager stated, "We are all incredibly eager to grow and engage with our Three Rivers family in this storefront. With the opening of Timber Cannabis Co. Three Rivers, we aim to focus our expertise in engaging each guest with product recommendations backed with our extensive marijuana knowledge. We take each of our guests' needs and requests in a personalized setting and know that our community will find trust in Timber. Additionally, we are excited to engage with local businesses to create unique event opportunities. At the heart of Timber, we find community stewardship front and center. The team is looking forward to branching out and fulfilling areas in need in the form of volunteerism, as well as financial compensation with participating local non-profits. Our goal here at Timber Three Rivers is to become an integral and synergistic part of our Three Rivers community from the roots up."

Timber Cannabis Co. has five active dispensaries and will open another in Mt. Pleasant, MI later this year.

About Timber Cannabis Co.

Timber Cannabis Co. was founded in 2019 to bring quality marijuana to Michigan consumers. They cultivate what they sell and only offer what they love. Timber is here to make it easy for customers to purchase and enjoy cannabis, and they have eliminated the barriers that keep most people from reaching that goal.

Media Contact:

Chivonne Rush

Marketing

[email protected]

317-997-0317

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/159653
REDDITCH, England , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric AB published today the Annual Report for 2022 on www.concentricab.com and is available in both Swedish and English. The Swedish Annual Report is also available in European Single Electronic Format (ESEF).

Link to Annual Report 2022

https://www.concentricinvestors.com/_downloads/AGM-2023/Concentric_AR2022_ENG.pdf

Link to ESEF Report 2022 (in Swedish)

https://www.concentricinvestors.com/_downloads/AGM-2023/Concentric_AR2022_SWE.zip

This disclosure contains information that Concentric AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the Swedish Securities Markets Act (2007:528). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, at 8.00 CET on 24 March 2023

For additional information please contact Marcus Whitehouse , telephone +44-121-445 6545

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1643/3739566/1937496.pdf Annual report 2022 - ENG https://mb.cision.com/Main/1643/3739566/1937497.zip concentric-2022-12-31-sv.zip

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/concentric-ab-publishes-annual-report-for-2022-301780681.html
Months of advocacy for fresh water protection by regional Mayors pays off

CHICAGO , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (Cities Initiative) welcomes the Government of Canada 's significant new investment in the protection of the Great Lakes announced today by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during President Biden 's visit to Canada . This announcement comes after months of advocacy led by the Cities Initiative and its members to bring public attention to this issue, including the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Summit on Fresh Water held on February 14 in Ottawa which included participation from U.S. Congressional officials. As the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin is an invaluable resource for the people, economy and environment of our region.

The federal government's commitment to invest $420 million over 10 years to protect and restore the Great Lakes will support critical programs and initiatives that are essential for preserving the health of freshwater resources that provide drinking water for more than 40 million Canadians and Americans. With climate change and population growth putting additional pressure on Canada 's waters, funding for Great Lakes protection will help ensure that the sustainability of the basin and tackle some of its most pressing challenges, including biodiversity loss and contamination.

"As a shared resource between our two countries, it is key for both our national governments to invest in protecting the Great Lakes and ensure that everyone in the basin has access to clean safe drinking water," said Billy McKinney , Mayor of Zion, IL and Chair of the Cities Initiative. "Today's announcement will build on the significant investments made by the Biden administration in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and ensure that both our countries are doing their part to restore our waters for the benefit of our communities and future generations."

"Representing an international border community on the shoreline of the Great Lakes, I am thrilled to see this kind of cooperation and coordination between the U.S. and Canadian governments to enhance the health of the Great Lakes," said Mike Duggan , Mayor of Detroit . "The substantial investment announced today by the Canadian government, coupled with U.S. investments in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, shows our collective commitment to protecting our freshwater resources is as strong as ever."

"This investment is a significant step towards ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of our freshwater resources," said Gino Moretti , Mayor of Saint-Anicet and Vice-Chair of the Cities Initiative. "We are happy to see the results of our members' efforts on both sides of the border to push our governments to increase funding for freshwater protection and restoration. Investing in cleaning the Great Lakes will also have direct benefits for downstream communities in Quebec , like ours."

"Today's announcement on the heels of our motion adopted on World Water Day is tremendous news for waterfront communities like ours," added Bonnie Crombie , Mayor of Mississauga . "What makes our city and region so attractive is our access to our beautiful Great Lakes and we all need to work together to ensure that they remain resilient to climate change."

About the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a binational organization led by a coalition of mayors working collaboratively to promote the environmental and socioeconomic health of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin for the benefit of current and future generations. With more than 230-member municipalities, the Cities Initiative is the largest municipally-driven organization in the basin.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/great-lakes-and-st-lawrence-cities-initiative-applauds-government-of-canadas-historic-investment-in-freshwater-protection-301781255.html

SOURCE The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
COPPELL, Texas , March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDIS Co., Ltd. ("IDIS")(143160:KOSDAQ) and Costar Technologies Inc. ("Costar")(OTC Markets Group: CSTI) today announced the execution of a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which Costar will be acquired by IDIS in a merger transaction.

The Merger Agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of IDIS and Costar. Completion of the Merger will be subject to approval by the stockholders of Costar. The board of directors of Costar has recommended that Costar stockholders approve the transaction and adopt the Merger Agreement at a special meeting of the stockholders of Costar to be called in connection with the merger transaction. Stockholders collectively holding approximately 45% of the outstanding shares of Costar common stock have entered into voting and support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed, among other things, to vote their shares of Costar common stock in favor of the merger transaction. The merger is expected to close during the second quarter of 2023, subject to approval by the Costar shareholders and the satisfaction of customary conditions to closing.

Under the Merger Agreement, IDIS will pay approximately $23.2 million , subject to customary purchase price adjustments, inclusive of approximately $13.0 million to retire Costar's bank debt and with the remainder going to the holders of Costar common stock and vested options after payment of transaction expenses. After debt, transaction expenses, and adjustments, it is expected that Costar stockholders will receive approximately $5.00 to $5.38 per share, representing an 11% to 20% premium to Costar's average share price over the last twelve months and a 4% to 12% premium to Costar's closing price on March 22, 2023 . The acquisition will be funded by existing cash reserves of IDIS.

IDIS CEO, Mr. Kim Young-Dal , said "Leveraging Costar's established distribution networks and sales channels in the U.S. gives a significant boost to IDIS' growth strategy, which is founded on building long-term relationships with systems integrators. With this acquisition, IDIS will diversify and synergize its presence in the government sector and intelligent transportation systems. Driving our business in these, previously hard-to-penetrate areas and expanding into new markets, will provide a foundation for building our business not only in the U.S. , but globally."

Scott Switzer , CEO of Costar said, "We are extremely excited to be uniting with IDIS. As Costar's largest supplier, their success in the security industry combined with their engineering expertise have made them a prized partner over the years. Now, with access to their entire range of advanced technologies and resources, we can deliver enhanced solutions and services to our customers."

IDIS will continue using the Costar name, with Costar becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of IDIS. The present Costar management team and employees are expected to join IDIS following the closing of the acquisition. Scott Switzer will continue in his role as CEO.

The exclusive financial advisor for IDIS is NMC Resource Corporation and for Costar is Imperial Capital . Legal advisors for IDIS are McMillan LLP and for Costar are DLA Piper .

About IDIS

IDIS is a global security company that designs, develops, manufactures, and delivers surveillance solutions for a wide range of commercial and public sector markets. As the largest video surveillance manufacturer in South Korea , headquartered just outside of Seoul and operating across 50 countries and 100+ strategic partners, IDIS is a world-leading total solution provider with more than two million recorders installed worldwide and over 17 million cameras utilizing IDIS technology.

About Costar

Costar Technologies, Inc. develops, designs, manufactures, and distributes a range of security solution products including surveillance cameras, lenses, digital video recorders and high-speed domes. The Company also develops, designs, and distributes industrial vision products to observe repetitive production and assembly lines, thereby increasing efficiency by detecting faults in the production process. Headquartered in Coppell, Texas , the Company's shares currently trade on the OTC Markets Group under the ticker symbol "CSTI". Costar was ranked as the 40th largest company in a&s magazine's Security 50 for 2022. Security 50 is an annual ranking by the magazine of the world's largest security manufacturers in the areas of video surveillance, access control and intruder alarms, based on sales revenue.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements including, without limitation, express or implied statements or guidance regarding the expected benefits of the acquisition, the timing of the closing of the acquisition, the expected price per share to be received in the acquisition, and other statements identified by words like "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "seek," or "could" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation, risks associated with: the risk that the proposed acquisition may not be completed in a timely manner, or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the acquisition; approval of the merger transaction by the Costar stockholders and IDIS's ability to integrate Costar's business and personnel and to achieve expected synergies. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based only on information currently available to us. The parties do not undertake to update, whether written or oral, any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances, whether as a result of new information or otherwise, that occur after the date hereof except as required by law.

Important Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction between IDIS and Costar, Costar will prepare a proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") that will be sent stockholders of Costar in connection with meeting of stockholders to be held by approve the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The Company anticipates mailing its proxy statement to stockholders in April 2023 . Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the 2023 proxy statement when it is available, as well as other information concerning the Company, at www.costartechnologies.com.

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NEW YORK , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveOnNY, the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for the New York City metropolitan area, Nassau , Suffolk and Westchester counties, and the lower Hudson Valley , and MediGO, a digital healthcare supply chain technology company focused on improving equity, access and transparency in the organ donation and transplant industry, announced today that they are working together to track organs as they move around the country via proprietary technology allowing for real-time GPS tracking. The goal of this collaboration is to produce greater transparency as organs move across the country, which will result in identifying issues proactively to ensure that more lives will be saved through donation.

In 2022, LiveOnNY worked with more generous organ donors than ever before who gifted their organs to the sickest patients across the country praying for a second chance at life. The generosity of these donors and their loved ones resulted in a 30% increase in organs transplanted, with nearly half of these organs requiring transport outside the greater New York City metropolitan area and across the country. This unprecedented growth necessitated the need for better ways of effectively moving these lifesaving organs to those in need.

"Using best in class technology to enable us to increase transparency and accountability, improve efficiency, and save more lives is what the New York community we serve expects of us as the stewards of their precious gifts of life," said LiveOnNY President and CEO Leonard Achan, RN, MA, ANP, who joined the OPO 16 months ago and installed new leadership across the organization. "Logistical issues should never be the reason that someone's gift does not save or change a life. No one deserves to die because an organ was lost in transit, especially in a day and age where anything can arrive at your doorstep with integrity within hours of ordering."

A total of 48% of 1,300 gifted organs were transported out of the LiveOnNY Federally Designated Service Area in 2022. Of the gifted organs transplanted to waitlisted patients in the United States from LiveOnNY, 57% of the recipients represented Black, Hispanic, Asian and other multiracial groups.

"Donation teams manage logistical challenges every day to optimize the gift of life. MediGO's innovative technology solutions empower industry leaders like LiveOnNY executives to make informed, lifesaving decisions. Our platform allows for real-time, transparent management of organ transport. Combined with our centralized, secure HIPAA-compliant communication channel, LiveOnNY is better able to coordinate logistics and manage organs recovered for transplant in one of the most complex cities in the United States ," said Scott Plank , CEO of MediGO. "Effective communication drives transparency and saves more lives, which is both LiveOnNY's and MediGO's purpose."

Learn More about LiveOnNY at: http://www.LiveOnNY.org

Learn more about OPO Delivery Management: https://www.gomedigo.io/opo-delivery-management

LiveOnNY

LiveOnNY is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to saving lives, providing comfort, and strengthening legacies through organ, eye, and tissue donation. The OPO, which was established in 1978, serves a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million residents in New York City , Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley . Working closely with transplant centers and hospitals, LiveOnNY coordinates organ, eye, and tissue donation for transplant, educates the public and healthcare professionals about donation and transplantation, and promotes the importance of signing up on the New York State Donate Life Registry. LiveOnNY works closely with 11 transplant centers, nearly 100 hospitals, and several tissue and eye banks. LiveOnNY is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the U.S. For more information, please visit LiveOnNY.org.

MediGO

MediGO's innovative healthcare supply chain technology digitally orchestrates the U.S. organ donation and transplant system to improve fairness and equity, reduce nonuse of donated organs, and save more lives. Recognized by Edison Awards, Fast Company and Inc. magazine for its disruptive technology, and powered by proprietary algorithms and machine learning, MediGO provides the most actionable data available in the donation and transplantation industry. For more information about MediGO, a JSP Ventures company, visit gomedigo.io.

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SOURCE LiveOnNY
PG&E Corporation Foundation Boosting Support with Additional Scholarships This Year

OAKLAND, Calif. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The Foundation) is inviting applications for its annual Better Together STEM Scholarship Program and will award scholarships to 60 students  20 more than last year  pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines.

The Foundation will provide $350,000 in total funding for scholarships, an increase of $100,000 over last year. The program will award 20 $10,000 scholarships, and 20 $2,500 awards, as it has in years past. This year, it has added 20 new scholarships of $5,000 each.

Better Together STEM Scholarships are designed to give the next generation of Californians an opportunity to learn and succeed in higher education and support students who have made an impact in their community or who have overcome personal challenges.

"For more than 10 years, The PG&E Corporation Foundation has helped students follow their dreams of becoming future scientists, innovators and engineers who give back to our state and communities and lay the critical building blocks for our clean energy future. This year, we're excited to expand these opportunities to even more students with the addition of 20 new $5,000 scholarships," said Carla Peterman , PG&E Corporation Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, and Chair of the Board of The Foundation .

The Better Together STEM Scholarship program continues to evolve and expand to help lessen the financial burden of attending college for students and their families.

Last year, responding to a trend in applications from students admitted to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), eligibility expanded to students planning to attend HBCUs anywhere in the United States , in addition to California colleges and universities.

Since 2012, the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6.75 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need and academic achievement. Watch this video to hear how last year's winners are pursuing their dreams.

Deadline and criteria

Interested applicants can learn more and apply here. Deadline to apply is May 2, 2023 . Scholarships will be awarded in August.

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated participation and leadership in school and community activities, and financial need. Students must pursue qualifying degrees in STEM disciplines include engineering, computer science/information systems, cybersecurity, and environmental sciences.

Applications are open to:

High school seniors or graduates

Students who have received a GED certification

Current undergraduate students

Non-traditional students or military veterans returning to school or pursuing their first undergraduate degree

Applicants must live or be a dependent of a resident in PG&E's service area in Northern and Central California ; plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study for the entire 2023-2024 academic year; and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California or HBCU.

PG&E Employee Resource Group scholarships

In addition to the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program, PG&E's 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) and two engineering networking groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised entirely through employee donations, employee fundraising events and Campaign for the Community , the company's employee giving program. Since 1989, more than $5 million ERG scholarships have been received by thousands of recipients. Applications are taken in December.

About The PG&E Corporation Foundation

The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation .

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-students-focusing-on-stem-education-encouraged-to-apply-for-college-scholarships-of-up-to-10-000--301781121.html
C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife's Management Information Circular and 2022 Annual Report are being delivered to shareholders and are now available at manulife.com.

The Management Information Circular (the "Circular") contains information about the annual meeting of shareholders of Manulife Financial Corporation , including details on how to attend the meeting and information relating to the election of directors and the appointment of auditors. The meeting will be held in person and by live webcast on May 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. EST .

Manulife is using notice-and-access to deliver the Circular to our registered and non-registered shareholders. The Circular can be found online on our website (https://www.manulife.com/en/investors/annual-meeting.html); the website of our transfer agent (https://www.meetingdocuments.com/TSXT/MFC), TSX Trust Company (" TSX Trust "); SEDAR (sedar.com); and EDGAR (sec.gov/edgar). Shareholders may also request a paper copy of the Circular by going to https://www.meetingdocuments.com/TSXT/MFC or calling TSX Trust at 1-888-433-6443 (toll free in Canada and the United States ) or 416-682-3801 or by email at [email protected].

Shareholders are encouraged to vote their shares and submit proxies in advance of the meeting to ensure their shares are represented. For more information on voting in advance of the meeting, refer to the 'How to vote' section of the Circular.

More information, including any updates on how to attend the meeting, will be made available on our website (https://www.manulife.com/en/investors/annual-meeting.html).

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada , we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada , Asia , and Europe , and primarily as John Hancock in the United States . Through Manulife Investment Management , the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto , New York , and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong .

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media following his State of the State address on March 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is walking back his characterization of Russias war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute, following criticism from a number of fellow Republicans who expressed concern about the potential 2024 presidential candidates dismissive description of the conflict.

In excerpts of an interview with Piers Morgan set to air Thursday on Fox Nation, DeSantis said his earlier comments referenced ongoing fighting in the eastern Donbas region, as well as Russias 2014 seizure of Crimea. Ukraines borders are internationally recognized, including by the United Nations.

What Im referring to is where the fighting is going on now, which is that eastern border region Donbas, and then Crimea, and you have a situation where Russia has had that. I dont think legitimately, but they had, DeSantis said, according to excerpts. Theres a lot of ethnic Russians there. So, thats some difficult fighting, and thats what I was referring to, and so it wasnt that I thought Russia had a right to that, and so if I should have made that more clear, I could have done it.

DeSantis made his initial comments last week in a written response to questions sent to declared and potential GOP presidential candidates by Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The Florida governor, seen as a top rival to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, said that defending Ukraine wasnt a national security priority for the U.S., and he downplayed the Russian invasion.

While the U.S. has many vital national interests  securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party  becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them, DeSantis wrote, echoing how Russia has characterized its ongoing invasion.

The day responses were posted, Trump told reporters traveling with him that DeSantis answers were just following what I am saying. A day later, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley  already in the 2024 GOP field  said she agreed with Trump that DeSantis is copying him. In an op-ed Monday, she wrote that the characterization of the war as a territorial dispute represented weakness.

A number of Republican senators have also weighed in with criticism. In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said DeSantis doesnt deal with foreign policy every day as governor, adding that foreign policy is all about nuance. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has endorsed Trumps 2024 campaign, told Fox News that DeSantis is basically taking the Chinese position when it comes to Russias invasion.

Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, John Cornyn of Texas and Roger Wicker of Mississippi said they disagreed with DeSantis framing.

In the interview with Morgan, DeSantis sought to toughen his position toward Russia, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and arguing that his detractors had incorrectly characterized his territorial dispute remarks.

I think its been mischaracterized, he told Morgan, according to excerpts. Obviously, Russia invaded  that was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014  that was wrong.

Democrats have also seized on DeSantis apparent shifting stance, blasting out emails rounding up the GOP criticism and saying DeSantis stumbling over this answer makes clear he is out of his depth.

Asked by The Atlantic about DeSantis initial comments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that failure to act on Russias aggression in his country could ultimately draw the U.S. into a conflict if incursions are also made into NATO member countries.

When they will occupy NATO countries, and also be on the borders of Poland and maybe fight with Poland, the question is: Will you send all your soldiers with weapons, all your pilots, all your ships? Will you send tanks and armored vehicles with your young people? Will you do it? Zelenskyy said. Because if you will not do it, you will have no NATO.

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A dozen local and regional employers participated to recruit American Car Center staff

MEMPHIS, Tenn. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When American Car Center announced abrupt closures, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sprang into action to help hundreds of displaced workers in our community.

"This news hit Methodist hard," said Jill Lopez , director of recruitment operations for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare . "As an anchor institution and one of the area's largest private employers, we take seriously our responsibility to help our neighbors thrive. We immediately rallied our community partners to host a job fair exclusively for the impacted employees."

More than 300 former car workers attended the job fair, which included a dozen premier employers like AutoZone, City of Memphis , FedEx, First Horizon, Ozark Motor Lines and State Farm .

"Partner agencies also provided additional resources like food vouchers, toiletries, bill paying assistance and temporary agency placement," added Lopez. "Unfortunate situations like this bring out the best in Memphis  Memphians helping Memphians."

To get the word out to the affected employees, the MLH Recruitment team learned of a LinkedIn group started by Andy Steavens , former marketing vice president for the car company. "The shutdown was so abrupt and we were in shock. I knew we all wanted to stay in touch with one another, to support each other, build our networks and share job opportunities. Methodist stepped up immediately and in just a few short days coordinated this amazing and meaningful opportunity for us."

Roger Ewing worked in the auto company's human resources department and commented on MLH's swift action to set up the job fair. "There is always so much planning that goes into something like this," he said. "In short order, Methodist thought of every detail to execute a very well-organized and meaningful event."

Nedra Rice has lived in Memphis for over twenty years, and managed accounts for the former car company.

"This has impacted 300 households and if you're a single parent like myself, it's been hard," she said. "I came to the job fair looking for a positive outlook, employment and for people to motivate me. This job fair is a blessing from Methodist and the other employers who joined together to help 300 families."

Tanzania Bass from Memphis is hopeful to find open positions in finance. "I am thankful that Methodist put this together for us and I'm excited to be here," she said.

Born and raised in Memphis , Jessica Foster said, "This is amazing and beautiful. Everyone in the community has pulled together around us."

On the job fair, Foster added, "I'm looking for stability. Methodist and the other employers here are giving us that opportunity to find stable employment."

Visit Facebook for photos from the job fair. For career opportunities with MLH, visit MethodistHealth.org/careers.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Based in Memphis, Tennessee , Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

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SINGAPORE , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based Mystifly, a leading vertical SaaS & marketplace provider for the airline industry announced today the conclusion of Pre Series B funding with CSVP ( Cornerstone Venture Partners ) bringing the total of this round to $8 million combined with earlier investments from RSI Fund I. LLC (a subsidiary of Recruit Co. Ltd. ), Jenfi & Crusade Partners among others.

Mystifly's API first, innovative SaaS and marketplace platform for all stakeholders in the travel distribution value chain. It enables Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and travel intermediaries to access a vast inventory of airfares (with or without commercial agreements with airlines), including LCC (Low-Cost Carriers), NDC (New Distribution Capabilities) and GDSs (Global Distribution Systems) while also offering airlines an alternative distribution and payments reconciliation and settlement platform. Over 20M air travel bookings have been booked and settled through the platform.

The platform enables its B2B customers to offer personalized travel, changing the competitive parameters to way beyond price creating an industry-transforming air retailing experience to travelers. Shopping based on attributes helps airlines position themselves better and empowers customers to make more informed decisions. Mystifly is also paving the way to democratize air travel sales allowing any business to build an 'embedded travel' integration for their captive audience.

"We are excited to welcome CSVP as an investor alongside our earlier investor RSI, and Jenfi & Crusade Partners as we expand Mystifly's reach. The pandemic has made us more resilient, and our investment in multi-source search, servicing & payments platform has resulted in a self-onboarding enterprise-level air travel platform for airlines and travel intermediaries. We've rebuilt the digital plumbing lines for airlines & intermediaries, enabling them to adapt to today's e-commerce world." - Rajeev Kumar , Founder and CEO of Mystifly. This investment will help speed up the growth of Mystifly's data and technology capabilities and expand Mystifly's global footprint, distribution & product offerings.

With this Pre-series B funding, Mystifly plans to extend the market reach of its SaaS products and services. The company is poised for growth and looks forward to delivering even greater value to its customers and partners. The leadership team comprises co-founders Rajeev Kumar and Bharat Goyal .

Mystifly was founded in Bangalore and is now headquartered in Singapore since 2015 with a growing team of 250+ people. The company's global customers include names such as Priceline, American Express Leisure Travel , JPMorgan Chase, Travel Perk, Kiwi, MakeMyTrip, Paytm, Agoda, EaseMyTrip, Arrivia, and many more.

Nanika Kakkar , Investment Director, CSVP Fund shared, "We have seen technology transformations across multiple sectors in the last decade, but for the travel industry. Today it is ripe for disruption as air travel becomes more pervasive and consumers seek specific personalized solutions. Mystifly is leading this change and empowering intermediaries to be digital first while also offering enhanced attributes to make consumer's decision-making easier. Through the pandemic, the company built various solutions for multiple stakeholders proving to be an anti-fragile business, well positioned to scale from here on. We truly believe in the potential of the platform and are excited to be on the growth journey with Rajeev and Bharat."



About CSVP

Cornerstone Venture Partners Fund ( CSVP Fund ) is India's frontier Enterprise SaaS fund investing in highly scalable SaaS products with the potential to transform Enterprises. Investments that enable meaningful business impact on a global scale. Businesses with high capital efficiency and strong resilience to macroeconomic shocks. They scale basis recurring revenue models that enable stickiness and better value realization per customer. The investments are in software businesses catering to enterprise users, across financial services, retail, logistics, healthcare, and select sector-agnostic opportunities.

About Mystifly

Founded in 2009, Singapore -based Mystifly is a global Vertical B2B SaaS leader in airline retailing envisioned to bring a positive difference in the experience that its travel intermediary customers provide to their end travellers. The company offers multi-source shopping that unifies airline offers, order management and payments on a single platform enabling offer discovery, ticket order management, ancillary sales, post-booking services and payments for over 700 airlines including 200+ Low-Cost Airlines , airlines moving to New Distribution and traditional full-service Airlines. Mystifly is the new operating system for existing or new businesses to start or grow their travel business globally. Mystifly's suite of products empowers over 3000 clients globally with offices in Singapore , UK , the USA , and India .

Its customers include online travel agencies, loyalty programs, e-commerce platforms, fintechs, travel management companies, travel agencies, concierge businesses, wholesalers, and aggregators. Certified by IATA as an Airline Retailing Maturity Index Aggregator, Mystifly offers a multi-source self-onboarding SaaS platform that combines Low Cost, Traditional GDS Distribution & NDC-aligned tech stacks for businesses of every size.

The company's payment platform MystiPay won the best new B2B Travel Program at the Discover & Diners Global Commercial Payments Summit in March 2023 and is also the winner of WTA world's leading consolidator award for their marketplace platform ASRHub in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 & 2015. To know more, visit, https://mystifly.com/

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2038945/Mystifly_Founders.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2038944/Mystifly_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Mystifly
WILMINGTON, Del. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pawaii is currently participating at the Global Pet Expo 2023, holding at the Orange Convention Center in Orlando, Florida . Presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the Global Pet Expo gathering is the premier pet products industry event, with top brands in attendance.

Why Visit the PAWAii Stand?

Pawaii has consistently built a sterling reputation as a reliable pet product brand. Over the years, the brand has rolled out innovative, reliable, and pet-friendly products that have improved the lives of pets and their owners. From pet water fountains to pet beds, pet feeders, and pet carriers, they have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to making lives better for our furry friends with products that deliver maximum value at minimum costs.

The Global Pet Expo 2023 is the best time to experience the best of Pawaii's new and existing products, including the latest and sophisticated innovations. On display are some of the brand's key products that have gained wide acceptance from pet owners, professionals, and influencers across the industry. Their vast collection on display includes the Pawaii dog harness, the Pawaii stainless-steel dog bowl, the Pawaii versatile dog bowl, the Pawaii pet feeder, and the Pawaii x Waterdrop pet water fountain.

The Pawaii x Waterdrop Mobile Smart Pet Water Fountain is the world's first NSF-certified smart water fountain. The NSF-certified filter powers a multi-stage deep filtration that ensures pets are protected from the harm of contaminated water. Pet owners who are unsure of the quality of water their pets drink can have one less thing to worry about with this fountain. The proprietary app also ensures accurate pet water intake tracking through the inbuilt smart weighing module.

Pawaii is also introducing its pet feederthe smart pet feeder with a proprietary app that monitors pets' feeding status in real-time. It is designed to help owners stay updated about the health condition of their pets anytime and anywhere. To help pets eat regularly, the feeder also features smart weighing modules that offer accurate data on how long, how much, and how often the pet is eating. All of these are accessible anytime and anywhere using the Pawaii APP. You can also compare intake data on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis to keep track of your pet's health.

Also on display is the Pawaii dog harnessan adjustable, comfortable, and skin-friendly dog harness with an exclusive ID tag that ensures your dog is reunited with you quickly in the event of a loss. You can also check out the Pawaii stainless-steel dog bowl, made of 304 stainless steel that makes feeding fun. There is also the Pawaii versatile dog bowl designed for multiple demands of you and your dog and suitable for medium and large dogs.

About PAWAii

As a brand, Pawaii is passionate about the well-being of pets and their families. In line with its belief that sweet furry babies deserve the best lives there can be, the brand puts pets and their families at the heart of everything they do.

With a commitment to helping families across the world gain unique emotional experiences of close interaction between pets and humans, every product Pawaii rolls out is designed with attention to detail and comfort for the ideal pet lifestyle.

In addition to showcasing its exciting products and attracting new customers at the exhibition, Pawaii will also be seeking to garner even more information and recommendation from users to improve its design and production processes in the future.

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SOURCE PAWAii
PARSIPPANY, N.J. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE: PBF) announced today that it will release its earnings results for the first quarter 2023 on Friday, May 5, 2023 . The company will host a conference call and webcast regarding quarterly results and other business matters on Friday, May 5, 2023 , at 8:30 a.m. ET .

The call is being webcast and can be accessed at PBF Energy's website, http://www.pbfenergy.com. The call can also be accessed by dialing (877) 869-3847 or (201) 689-8261. The audio replay will be available approximately two hours after the end of the call and will be available through the company's website.

About PBF Energy Inc.

PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE: PBF) is one of the largest independent refiners in North America , operating, through its subsidiaries, oil refineries and related facilities in California , Delaware , Louisiana , New Jersey and Ohio . Our mission is to operate our facilities in a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible manner, provide employees with a safe and rewarding workplace, become a positive influence in the communities where we do business, and provide superior returns to our investors.

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PPL reaffirms earnings forecast and growth projections following enactment of Kentucky Senate Bill 4

ALLENTOWN, Pa. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) reaffirmed the generation investment plans of its subsidiaries, Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU), and its overall business outlook despite a new law passed in Kentucky that requires the Kentucky Public Service Commission (KPSC) to approve the retirement of fossil-fuel-fired electric generation units.

As presented in their December filings with the KPSC, LG&E and KU requested approval to add two new combined-cycle natural gas plants, nearly 1,000 megawatts of solar generation, 125 megawatts of battery storage and more than a dozen new energy efficiency programs by 2028 as part of the companies' generation replacement strategy. The plan is the least-cost option to continue to serve LG&E and KU customers' energy needs responsibly, reliably and affordably. Additional details regarding LG&E and KU's generation replacement strategy can be found on the utilities' website at www.lge-ku.com/future.

"We followed a well-defined and rigorous process to ensure delivery of safe, reliable and affordable energy for our customers. We're confident that our plan exceeds the standards set out by this new law and is the best path forward for our customers. We look forward to continuing to engage with stakeholders in Kentucky and completing the process before the KPSC to demonstrate why that is," said Vince Sorgi , PPL President and CEO.

The new law requires LG&E and KU to file a request for approval to retire fossil-fuel-fired electric generating units with 30-days' notice and 180 days for the KPSC to issue a decision on the filing. As a result, the company does not expect the new law to impact the timing of a KPSC decision on LG&E and KU's December generation replacement filings, which is expected by November 6, 2023 .

PPL also does not expect the new law to materially impact its business outlook and reaffirmed its 2023 earnings forecast range of $1.50 to $1.65 per share, with a midpoint of $1.58 per share and projected annual earnings per share growth of 6% to 8% through at least 2026.

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), based in Allentown, Pennsylvania , is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 3.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com.

# # #

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation .

Contacts: For news media: Ryan Hill , 610-774-4033

For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig , 610-774-3389

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The partnership between the two institutions gives Roanoke College students direct admission into computer science and computer engineering master's degree programs.

SALEM , Va. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Roanoke College and Virginia Tech have entered a partnership that will benefit students in science fields and serve as an engine for economic, workforce and educational development in Virginia . The two agreements that make up the partnership will allow Roanoke College students to pursue graduate programs at Virginia Tech and facilitate an early transition to graduate school.

The announcement comes amid a larger, historic investment being made by state leaders, employers and philanthropic donors to grow Virginia's workforce in high-priority tech fields. The Tech Talent Investment Program has marshaled more than $2 billion to date to support initiatives designed to more than double the number of students statewide who are earning computer-related degrees and capitalize on major opportunities such as the Amazon HQ2 project in Northern Virginia.

The new Direct to Tech program provides Roanoke College students direct admission into Virginia Tech Master of Engineering programs in either computer science and applications or computer engineering upon graduation from Roanoke College . Direct to Tech is open to all Roanoke College seniors with a 3.0 GPA, regardless of major, who have completed certain required courses. The partnership will reduce the timeline for admission and give students an early transition into the Virginia Tech graduate programs, which are delivered from the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia . The first building of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, located just outside the nation's capital, opens to students in fall 2024. Students currently enrolled in Innovation Campus master's degree programs are attending classes at the university's Falls Church location.

"This program will provide students with the opportunity to take advantage of the best that Roanoke College and Virginia Tech have to offer. We're thrilled that Roanoke is the first college in Virginia to sign on to this program. The Roanoke College and Virginia Tech partnership is about access for our students and opportunities for their incredible futures," said Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr . "Maroons and Hokies are celebrating, and the pathways and possibilities to and from Roanoke College are even stronger. This is a tremendous arrangement and partnership for us, for Virginia Tech and for the commonwealth."

A second agreement between the two schools allows Roanoke College students to take advantage of an accelerated 4+1 undergraduate/graduate program in computer science or computer engineering at Virginia Tech. This partnership enables students to take courses that apply toward a bachelor's degree at Roanoke College and an accelerated master's degree at Virginia Tech. This means students can earn a Bachelor of Science in four years, then complete the master's with just one additional year at Virginia Tech. This program is open to any Roanoke College computer science major who has earned at least a 3.3 GPA and completed certain courses, including Calculus II, as part of their undergraduate degree.

"We are thrilled to partner with Roanoke College to launch our first Direct to Tech program and additional 4+1 opportunities," said Lance Collins , vice president and executive director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. "The Innovation Campus is dedicated to increasing opportunities for underrepresented students while expanding access to tech talent in the national capital region. We look forward to welcoming Roanoke College graduates to our Master of Engineering program."

As part of both the Direct to Tech and accelerated 4+1 agreements, Roanoke College students will not have to pay application fees or submit GRE scores to Virginia Tech. For the 4+1 program, Virginia Tech may provide significant financial support for students, particularly through state and industry funding earmarked to support women, underrepresented minorities, first-generation students and veterans.

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PASAY CITY, Philippines , March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In solidarity with earthquake-hit countries Turkiye and Syria , SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) of the SM Group , sent aid through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) last Feb. 27, 2023 .

Represented by SM Foundation Health and Medical Programs Executive Director Connie Angeles , SMFI handed 200 units of gasoline generators to PRC to provide power to the quake-stricken Turkiye and Syria .

Additionally, the social good arm of SM also donated Php5 million to help address the needs of earthquake victims.

The aid comes after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkiye and northwest Syria . The disaster was followed by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, hitting southern Turkiye, which led to additional casualties and damages.

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A roundup of the week's most newsworthy energy industry press releases from PR Newswire, including a new lithium processing facility in South Carolina .

NEW YORK , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Read more of the latest energy-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenergy on Twitter .

Can't-Miss Earnings

In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp and LiqTech International, Inc.

Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

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PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals.

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SOURCE PR Newswire
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULES 13d 1(b), (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED

PURSUANT TO RULE 13d2.

(Amendment No. )*

EMCORE Corporation

(Name of Issuer)

Common

(Title of Class of Securities)

290846203

(CUSIP Number)

March 14, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 Rule 13d-1(b) x Rule 13d-1(c)  Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 290846203 1. Names of Reporting Persons

Portolan Capital Management, LLC 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a)  (b)  3. SEC Use Only 4 Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With 5. Sole Voting Power 3,113,335 6. Shared Voting Power 7. Sole Dispositive Power 3,113,335 8. Shared Dispositive Power 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 3,113,335 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.85% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA

CUSIP No. 290846203 1. Names of Reporting Persons

George McCabe 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a)  (b)  3. SEC Use Only 4 Citizenship or Place of Organization

USA Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With 5. Sole Voting Power 3,113,335 6. Shared Voting Power

7. Sole Dispositive Power 3,113,335 8. Shared Dispositive Power 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 3,113,335 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.85% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN

2

Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer

EMCORE Corporation (b) 2015 W. Chestnut Street Alhambra, California 91803 Item 2. (a) Name of Person Filing This statement is being filed with respect to the shares of common stock (Common Stock) of the Issuer beneficially owned (1) directly by Portolan Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser, in its capacity as investment manager for various clients, and (2) indirectly by George McCabe, the Manager of Portolan Capital Management, LLC. Portolan Capital Management, LLC and Mr. McCabe are sometimes individually referred to herein as a Reporting Person and collectively as the Reporting Persons. (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence Portolan Capital Management, LLC and George McCabe

2 International Place, FL 26, Boston, MA 02110 (c) Citizenship

Portolan Capital Management, LLC  DE Mr. McCabe  USA (d) Title of Class of Securities

Common (e) CUSIP Number

290846203 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a)  Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b)  Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c)  Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d)  Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e)  An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f)  An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g)  A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h)  A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i)  A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j)  A non-U.S. institution in accordance with  240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k)  Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

3

Item 4. Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. Reference is hereby made to Items 5-9 and 11 of pages 1 - 2 of this Schedule, which Items are incorporated by reference herein. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following  . Not applicable. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person Various persons have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Common Stock of EMCORE Corporation. No one person's interest in the Common Stock of EMCORE Corporation is more than five percent of the total outstanding Common Stock. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person Not applicable Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group Not applicable Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group Not applicable

4

Item 10. Certification By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

March 24, 2023 Date

Portolan Capital Management, LLC

By: /s/ George McCabe George McCabe, Manager

/s/ George McCabe George McCabe

ATTENTION Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  An Air Force doctor found guilty of sexually assaulting the daughter of a colleague and several separate crimes was sentenced Friday at a court-martial to 40 months in prison.

A jury of field grade officers also found Lt. Col. William Marty Hilton, a urologist with the 48th Surgical Operations Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer for his actions during the assault, which occurred at his off-base home in England in August 2021.

Hilton was 53 at the time and the victim was 20. She was dog-sitting and ended up staying over after Hilton and his wife returned late from a night out drinking in London. The assault occurred in the morning on the living room couch in the couples home.

The jury also acquitted Hilton of two counts of assaulting a family member under the age of 16, assault of an Air Force spouse, five counts of abusive sexual contact, one instance of unlawful entry and of procuring prostitution.

At the outset of the nearly two-week trial, Hilton pleaded guilty to being drunk on duty, a separate count of unlawful entry and parts of three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer.

Col. Sterling Pendleton, the chief circuit military judge for Europe, gave Hilton credit for a little more than 15 months served in pre-trial confinement at RAF Lakenheath.

Hilton faced up to 35 years in prison for the convictions. The government asked for seven years confinement while Hiltons defense team said 11 to 14 months was warranted.

Pendleton also gave Hilton a reprimand and dismissed him from the service.

Hilton will lose his military pension. Before commissioning into the Air Force in 2002, he joined the Army out of high school as a cavalry scout and later attended West Point.

He was the chief of urology at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the Defense Departments largest overseas hospital, before his posting to Lakenheath.

Hilton will have to register as a sex offender and is expected to lose his medical credentialing.

The trial was held at Ramstein to broaden the pool of officers for jury selection, Lakenheath legal officials said.

Four different women, two of whom were Hiltons subordinates, testified that he touched them inappropriately in social settings. He was accused of cupping the sexual assault victims buttocks on a prior occasion, and doing the same to the victims mother three separate times, while giving them hugs.

One of the central questions posed during the trial was whether Hilton was an overly friendly officer with a habit of drinking too much alcohol at parties and acting improperly, or whether his behavior was criminal.

The doctor was described by some as aggressively friendly, not really good with boundaries, but not dangerous, said defense attorney Sean Mangan, a retired Army lieutenant colonel.

Lawyers for the government argued that Hilton repeatedly disregarded boundaries to satisfy his own sexual desires.

He abused, harassed and assaulted those around him, Air Force prosecutor Maj. Matthew Maurer said. He abused his position of trust and authority.

Hilton said that the sexual assault of the 20-year-old was instead consensual sex. He pleaded guilty to conduct unbecoming an officer for kissing and sucking on the victims neck and telling her Ive always wanted to get with you, among more graphic statements.

The victim testified that she waited three months to report the assault to law enforcement because she was scared no one would believe her.

I no longer have to hope that people will believe me, because they did, she said during sentencing Friday. I am proud of myself for standing in front of Lt. Col. Hilton and holding him accountable.

Hilton also pleaded guilty to conduct unbecoming an officer for entering his neighbors bedroom the morning after a July 4th party near Lakenheath in 2020.

The wife of an Air Force officer was lying in bed engaged in a WhatsApp video call with her cousin. Hilton said he lifted the corner of the blanket and asked, Are you naked under there?

Prosecutors said in court documents that Hilton then climbed on top of her. After kicking him off the bed twice, she fled. Hilton grabbed her shoulder, chased her down the stairs and tried to swat her phone away, according to testimony.

The jury cleared Hilton of the assault and abusive sexual contact charged for the incident. The cousin the woman was speaking to said she did not see what happened but heard Hilton make the naked comment.

The victim later said in court that Hilton stole my sense of security and trust of others.

Hilton also pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful entry. Without knocking, he walked into the house of the 20-year-old sexual assault victim two days after the sexual encounter to pay her $40 for dog-sitting, he said in court. Hilton said he apologized at the time and told her that Id like to keep things between us.

While pleading guilty for being drunk on duty in December 2021, Hilton, who had been working from home, told the court that he drank two glasses of wine with his wife at lunch before being called into the office to sign paperwork.

His wife drove him to the base, he said. When he disclosed he had been drinking, he was ordered to have blood drawn and registered a 0.138 blood alcohol content, which typically signifies more than two normal glasses of wine.

Another guilty plea for conduct unbecoming was for being drunk on multiple occasions at social events in the presence of subordinates at the 48th Medical Group.

Hilton was acquitted of assaulting his son, who was 11 at the time, for lying about not doing his homework in 2015.

He also was acquitted of offering to pay the spouse of one of his young airmen to have sex with his wife. The defense said the comment was made in jest and Hilton turned the man down when he threw out a number.

It was drunk Marty Hilton making a fool of himself, Mangan said. He then gives the kid a life lecture.

Hilton told the court during sentencing that he was an alcoholic and said he planned to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

I am sorry to everyone that I have impacted over the last three years, Hilton said during sentencing. Im glad the victims could be heard.
Attorney to former president Donald Trump M. Evan Corcoran arrives at the U.S. District Court in Washington to testify on March 24, 2023.

A lawyer for Donald Trump was back in court Friday after being ordered to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the possible mishandling of classified documents at the former presidents Florida estate.

M. Evan Corcoran entered federal court in the District of Columbia early Friday morning, one week after a federal judge ruled in favor of the Justice Department in forcing Corcoran to answer additional questions before a grand jury that has been hearing testimony for months. He did not make any comments as he arrived at the building.

The interest by prosecutors in Corcorans testimony underscores the legal peril confronting Trump, making clear the departments continued focus on whether Trump obstructed government efforts to recover hundreds of classified documents taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his term.

A search warrant affidavit released last August showed that investigators were examining potential violations of multiple crimes, including obstruction and the willful retention of national defense information.

Corcoran is relevant to the investigation because he drafted a letter that was given to the department last June asserting that a diligent search for classified documents had been done in response to a subpoena. The letter was accompanied by the return of roughly three dozen documents with classified markings.

But prosecutors have said in court filings they developed evidence showing that additional classified documents remained at the property. The FBI returned with a search warrant on Aug. 8 and removed roughly 100 additional classified documents, the filings show.

Attorney-client privilege traditionally shields lawyers from being forced to share details of their conversations with prosecutors. Corcoran invoked that privilege during an earlier appearance before the grand jury when he declined to answer certain questions.

But prosecutors can get around that if they can convince a judge that a client was using such legal representation in furtherance of a crime  a principle known under the law as the crime-fraud exception.

The Justice Department made that argument in this case, and secured a sealed order last week from U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell that required Corcoran to appear again before the grand jury to answer additional questions.

Another Trump lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that he had voluntarily testified for about six hours or seven hours before the grand jury in December to answer questions about the Trump teams compliance with the departments efforts to reclaim the classified documents. His appearance was earlier reported by ABC News.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation is being led by a Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, who is also examining attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump faces a separate investigation by the Manhattan district attorneys office  into hush money payments during the 2016 campaign  that appears to be close to wrapping up, as well as an investigation in Atlanta into efforts to reverse Trumps election loss in Georgia.

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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  An officer has received the Armys highest individual noncombat award in recognition of the aid he rendered to the victims of a tragic train derailment in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen last year.

Col. Charles Bergman received the Soldiers Medal on Saturday at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch from Gen. Darryl Williams, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

I am thankful Col. Bergman and people like him were there to quickly respond with life-saving efforts, Williams said.

Bergman, who was serving as an exchange officer with the German 10th Panzer Division, was driving to meet his family after training with the German military on June 3, 2022.

A car in front of him swerved abruptly. Bergman then witnessed a Deutsche Bahn train fly off its tracks. One of its five cars angled sideways as it screeched through the trees and turned nearly upside down.

Police said later in June that the derailment killed five people and injured 68, including 16 seriously, according to a Der Spiegel report.

As one of the first people at the scene, Bergman assisted in calling rescuers, helped survivors out of the creek and calmed victims before and after going into one of the derailed cars to help others.

From the very beginning  I couldnt believe this was all happening, Bergman said.

Bergman, an infantry officer, said the fundamental first aid classes from his early days in the Army helped him respond.

Inside the train, Bergman aided a woman with two injured young children, one of whom was a 4-year-old whose head was pinned against trees and bushes.

Bergmans exemplary actions, sense of urgency, and dedication to duty were essential in the rescue and care of men, women and children victims of this terrible accident, the award citation says.

He also helped others with suspected broken bones and said he spent about 90 minutes at the site assisting first responders, for whom he expressed his appreciation during a phone interview Monday.

Bergman said the scenes of that day are ingrained in his memory. He is much more safety-conscious now and doesnt overlook anything from seat belts to where his family sits on a train, he said.

While the Soldiers Medal award is in his name, he deflected much of the credit to the Army as a whole.

In my heart, I think all soldiers would do the same thing, Bergman said. Its not about recognizing me. Its about recognizing what soldiers do.
AUSTIN, Texas  The Army on Friday began hosting a series of formal ceremonies to change the names of nine southern bases that honor Confederate generals from the Civil War.

Fort Pickett, a Virginia National Guard base, transitioned to Fort Barfoot in a ceremony Friday. The post first named to honor Confederate Gen. George Pickett, who is widely known for the Battle of Gettysburg, is now named for Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II veteran who received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a technical sergeant during the 1944 Battle of Anzio in Italy.

The Army also announced Friday that Fort Hood will soon transition from its Confederate-linked name to Fort Cavazos in honor of Gen. Richard Cavazos, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. That ceremony scheduled for May 9, officials at the Texas post said.

Cavazos, a Texas native, was the first Hispanic man to reach the rank of four-star general. He was awarded the Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross for his service in the Korean War. He received a second Distinguished Service Cross during the Vietnam War.

Gen. Cavazos combat proven leadership, his moral character, and his loyalty to his soldiers and their families, made him the fearless yet respected and influential leader that he was during the time he served, and beyond, said Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, commander of the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood.

Fort Hood is one of nine Army installations to have their names changes under a 2021 federal law seeking to strip the Defense Department of names honoring the Confederacy. The Texas base is named for John Bell Hood, who resigned his U.S. Army commission and became the Confederate general to lead Texas forces in the Civil War.

The next scheduled ceremony April 10 will transition Fort Rucker, Ala., to Fort Novosel. Fort Lee, Va., will follow April 27. The base will be called Fort Gregg-Adams.

Fort Benning, Ga., is scheduled to become Fort Moore on May 11, and Fort Bragg, N.C., will become Fort Liberty on June 2. Fort Polk, La., will become Fort Johnson on June 13.

The remaining bases with pending names changes are Fort Gordon, Ga., and Fort A.P. Hill, Va. They will become Fort Eisenhower and Fort Walker, respectively.

All changes must be complete by Jan. 1, according to federal law. The new names were chosen to through a detailed process that included community input and sought to honor veterans from within the geographic region of each base or reflect the mission of the post.

Barfoot, who also served in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars, retired to Virginia and died in 2012 at the age of 92.

Cavazos was first assigned to Fort Hood in 1953 and returned in 1980 to serve as the commander of Fort Hoods III Corps. He then took over as commander of Army Forces Command. Cavazos retired from the Army in 1984 and lived the remainder of his life in San Antonio. He died Oct. 29, 2017, and is buried at San Antonios Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
U.S. Marines have boots on the ground in northern Australia again to begin a seven-month training rotation, according to Australias deputy prime minister.

The 12th contingent since 2012 of Marine Rotational Force - Darwin includes 2,500 Marines, Richard Marles, who is also Australias Minister of Defence, said in a statement Thursday.

The US is our most vital security partner and the strength of our Alliance highlights our joint commitment to promoting a secure, stable, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, he said.

The Marines will remain in Australia until October, according to Marles.

The rotation builds cooperation between the allies and with other nations in the Indo-Pacific, Australian navy Capt. Mitchell Livingstone, commander of Headquarters, Northern Command, said in the statement.

The Australians and Marines will train to provide humanitarian assistance and to conduct security operations. Theyll also conduct high-end live fire exercises, he said.

The 1st Marine Regiment provides the command element overseeing 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Battalion 1. All are based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Maj. Matthew Wolf, a spokesman for the rotational force, said in an email Friday.

The force includes Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 from Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he said.

The Marines will train in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia and participate in the Talisman Sabre exercise in July, Wolf said.

A task force of 17,000 U.S., Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean and British troops participated in Talisman Sabre in Australia in 2021, the last time the biennial exercise was held.

The Marines arrive in Darwin against a backdrop of growing links between the U.S. and Australia.

President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, leaders of the AUKUS pact countries, on March 14 announced a new submarine deal, part of an effort to counter Chinese expansionism in the Indo-Pacific.

Under the deal, Australia aims to launch its own nuclear-powered subs in the 2030s. A rotational force of U.S. and British subs will operate from Western Australia starting in 2027.

Days later, Australia announced it plans to buy up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the U.S. after the State Department approved the sale on March 17.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (Tribune News Service)  Harley Hall II learned a valuable lesson last week: when the leader of the Navys flight demonstration squadron invites you on a flight, you cant say no.

I got a phone call from the current leader of the Blue Angels letting me know that they were gonna give me a ride in the airplane, which obviously was a big surprise, Hall said. I thought my wife was talking to a salesman.

Friday, Hall took part in a 45-minute flight with the Blue Angels, in honor of his father, Harley H. Hall, a Navy pilot from Vancouver who once led the flight group before disappearing in combat at the end of the Vietnam War 50 years ago.

They call flying these planes riding the dragon. I thought that was a perfect description, Hall said.

A week before the flight, Hall  who works as the executive chef of catering and concessions at the University of California Santa Barbara  received word that the Blue Angels were going to honor his father at their Naval Base Ventura County Air Show at Point Mugu, Calif., only 45 minutes from Halls home.

His father was born in Vancouver and attended Evergreen High School and Clark College in the 1950s. After college, he became a Navy pilot, and led the Blue Angels for two years before joining the Vietnam War efforts.

My brother was commander of the Blue Angels, 1970 to 71, and on his third tour was the last Navy pilot shot down in Vietnam, the elder Halls sister, Gwen Hall Davis, said.

In 1973, during an air strike against enemy supply craft, Halls F-4J Phantom II was shot down, and his whereabouts were never confirmed, according to a 2013 Columbian article.

Hall is the last American to be designated as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, the article states. In February 1980, federal officials declared that Hall was presumed killed in action.

Fifty years after his disappearance, on the same year as Harley Hall IIs 50th birthday, the Blue Angels honored the late commander by inviting Hall to accept a plaque and join the group on a flight in an F/A-18 Super Hornet jet with a bright label of VIP Harley Hall II.

The biggest thing I took away was the G-forces are just beyond any explanation of what anybody would think its gonna be like, Hall said. It was physically one of the hardest things Ive done in my life.

For the next 45 minutes, Hall and the pilot rolled, twisted and turned in the air, with Halls family watching below. Hall said the jet neared 800 mph and reached a maximum acceleration of 7.5 G-forces.

When I came out of the airplane, I was soaking wet underneath the flight suit from all the work you have to do to combat the forces, Hall said. My main goal was to not throw up and not pass out, I guess to keep the image of the genes in high standards, but somehow I was able to do it.

In 2004, the elder Hall received the Clark College Outstanding Alumni Award for his military contributions. The HH Hall Building in northeast Vancouver is named after Hall.

(c)2023 The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.)

Visit The Columbian at www.columbian.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Its easy to find food in American Alley, the strip of restaurants and shops outside the gate of Incirlik Air Base in south-central Turkey.

Just walking out the gate, youre greeted by cooks waving from their restaurant windows. After dodging impatient traffic, youll face a choice. To the left is Royal Restaurant and Bar, and to the right is Moonlight Restaurant.

Both offer Turkish food and cater to American tastes with English-speaking staff, English menus and alcoholic drinks.

After entering Royal Restaurant and Bar, I received fresh bread covered in sesame seeds. I tore it apart and dug into a clay bowl of warm hummus.

This style of hummus, which is the norm in Turkey, had a richer, silkier texture than the refrigerated hummus Im used to. Each bite felt like being wrapped up in a warm blanket on a frigid day  true comfort food.

It was clear that this was a popular spot among the troops, as American airmen were tucking into the dishes around me. Framed photos of customers adorned the walls.

A waiter brought over a salty, cheesy pizza-style bread and drizzled a sweet plumlike sauce on top, creating a delectable combination of flavors.

Then came a mixed kebab platter, complete with lamb chops, chicken wings, french fries and grilled peppers. It was OK.

Two plates of olives, one green and one black, provided a refreshing palate cleanser. I skipped the salad, which was buried under an avalanche of cheese, but it may be a hit with others.

The Royal had about 20 types of alcoholic drinks, including the worrisome-sounding B-52 shot.

Across the street at Moonlight Restaurant, owner Cengiz Durmaz was hard at work spooning garlic sauce onto borek, a flaky fried pastry filled with chicken.

Durmaz invited me into the kitchen to watch him cook and offered me borek, olives and bread. The just-fried pastry crackled when I bit into it, and the sauce complemented it perfectly.

Durmaz revealed to me that he had invested nearly $150,000 in renovating the Moonlight Restaurant after it closed in 2016, when many troops were barred from leaving the base due to security concerns.

His efforts were not in vain; the restaurants eating area has a more modern feel than the Royal. There is also an upper-floor open-air section that seems destined to create fond memories on long summer nights.

I could picture myself sipping a cold Efes pilsner and chowing down on some hummus while watching the stars twinkle overhead.

Although the food at the Royal is a bit cheaper, it was hard to pick a winner between them on the taste front.

Surprisingly, my favorite dish on American Alley was found down the street at a local food stand. The vendor was preparing shirdan, a local delicacy in which rice is stuffed in part of a sheeps stomach.

Its not for the faint of heart, but at a cost of only a dollar, it proved more than worth the risk to me. The fillings suffused the dish with flavorful juices, making it rich and savory.

And if youre not into offal, theres an American-style fried chicken and burger shop directly next to it.

Royal Restaurant and Bar/Moonlight Restaurant

Location: Both directly outside the Incirlik Air Base gate exit on Ataturk Road in Incirlik Village, Adana.

Hours: Both open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Prices: Most dishes are between $8 and $12 at Royal, with a few as high as $17 at Moonlight. Appetizers are $2 to $5. Beers and shots are $3 to $5. Most of the mixed drinks at Royal are $8.

Information: Find Royal online at facebook.com/royalrestaurantbar; (+90) 322 332 86 36. Moonlight at (+90) 535 743 80 88.
NAIROBI (Tribune News Service)  Rwandan authorities will release human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina, whose life inspired the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda" about the country's 1994 genocide, a Rwandan government spokeswoman said Friday.

The onetime hotel manager was sentenced to 25 years on terrorism charges in 2021 after authorities tricked him into boarding a plane that secretly took him to Kigali, Rwanda's capital.

Spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said Rusesabagina would be released Saturday. She said the sentences of Callixte Nsabimana and 18 others convicted in the same case had been commuted after requests for clemency.

She said the United States had "created dialogue" on the issue, but continued: "Serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted. Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction."

News of the release was first reported by the Semafor website.

Rusesabagina's case cast a spotlight on growing opposition to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, once praised for ending Rwanda's genocide and for his focus on developing the tiny East African nation, but increasingly criticized for his authoritarian rule, the abduction of Rusesabagina, and accusations of support for rebels in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo - something the government has denied.

Hollywood actor Don Cheadle played Rusesabagina in the hit movie "Hotel Rwanda," which was inspired by his experiences as a hotel manager protecting Tutsi guests from Hutu death squads. Rusesabagina, a Belgian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom - the country's highest civilian honor - in 2005.

Rusesabagina and Kagame were once cordial, but over the years, Rusesabagina became a vocal critic of Kagame, saying he was stifling political opposition. The president hit back by accusing Rusesabagina of exaggerating his role during the genocide.

In 2020, Rwanda lured Rusesabagina onto an aircraft that he thought was going to Burundi but that landed in Kigali instead. There, he was arrested and faced a battery of charges connected with founding and supporting an opposition group - the National Liberation Front - that was blamed for attacks that had killed civilians.

During his trial, the judge cited as evidence of his guilt a 2018 video in which Rusesabagina says that "the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda, as all political means have been tried and failed."

The conviction sparked a storm of global criticism, with more than three dozen U.S. senators urging Kagame to release Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds and the launching of high-profile campaign for his release involving celebrities, political leaders and rights organizations.

Rusesabagina's release comes after a noticeable cooling of relations between Kigali and Washington.

"This has been one of two issues that has really soured relations with Washington: the Rusesabagina renditioning and its active support for the M23 rebels. I think Kagame finally realized it wasn't a good idea to make an enemy of the U.S. government," said Michela Wrong, author of "Do Not Disturb," a book about the killing of Rwanda's former top spy after he fell out with Kagame.

U.S. statements about Rwanda have become direct and forceful, she said. They have moved from criticizing Kigali for supporting the M23 rebels across the border in Congo to demanding that Rwanda stop deploying troops there.

Rwanda has denied supporting the rebels - blamed for numerous mass killings of civilians - but relations between the two neighbors are extremely tense. Rwanda fired at a Congolese jet in January.

Phil Clark, a professor of international politics at SOAS University of London, observed part of Rusesabagina's trial in Kigali. There were noticeable irregularities in the trial, he said, and the manner of Rusesabagina's arrest was problematic.

But he also noted that much of the evidence Rwanda produced showing that Rusesabagina had financed a rebel movement came from the FBI and Belgian authorities. Both the United States and Belgium provided Western Union and other bank transfer evidence showing money moving from Rusesabagina's account to active rebels, he said.

Neither the FBI nor the Belgian police immediately responded to requests for comment. Rusesabagina's lawyers and a family spokeswoman did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Clark said the case brought unwelcome scrutiny at a time when Rwanda is seeking to strengthen its international profile. It is expanding peacekeeping missions across Africa, heading the Commonwealth of Nations, and has struck a deal with Britain to take migrants that have entered the country illegally - a plan that has sparked increased scrutiny of Rwanda's human rights record.

Kigali has received about $147 million in bilateral aid from the United States, Clark said, including U.S. military support for Rwandan peacekeepers across Africa. Those figures fluctuate by year but have been as high as $33 million annually.

Kigali may have calculated that it had enough wins, Clark said: showing it can project power across international borders by abducting a dissident and getting information about funding for the National Liberation Front into the public domain.

"Finally this case became too burdensome for them," Clark said.

The Washington Post's Rael Ombuor in Nairobi and Missy Ryan and John Hudson in Washington contributed to this report.
TOKYO  The names of 62 American prisoners of war killed in the bombing of Tokyo during World War II were read aloud for the first time, along with those of other bombing victims, at a memorial event earlier this month.

The March 9 memorial, now in its third year at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage museum, falls on the anniversary of the Tokyo firebombing March 9-10, 1945.

That night, 279 low-flying B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped 1,665 tons of incendiaries on the city, at the time thick with wood-and-paper structures. The resulting loss of life, estimated as high as 100,000 deaths, exceeded the individual tolls of U.S. bombings at Dresden, Germany, and at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The American prisoners, however, died in a Shibuya-ward military prison during a subsequent bombing raid on May 25, 1945, according to the event organizers.

The American POWs fought for Japans enemy, but their families grieve for them, just the same, said Setusko Kawai, a member of the memorials organizing committee who lost her mother and two young brothers in the raid.

They are children of someone, and they have families that grieve over their death, she told Stars and Stripes by phone on Tuesday. Their nationality or their position doesnt matter.

The POWs were victims of mass murder perpetrated by their own countrymen, said Ken Arimitsu, a committee member who helped add the U.S. names to the memorial reading.

It shows that war is atrocious and irrational. Thats also the message we need to tell by adding the American POWs to the list, he said.

The ceremony remembers the victims by having volunteers read their names aloud.

Its not just the reading of names but reading the names so we can imagine that they were one human being and relate to them as individuals, Kawai said. By reading the names, we hope to convey the misery of war and that it takes away peoples lives.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government keeps a list of the bombing victims at a memorial hall in Sumida ward, but it is not publicly available, according to Kawai.

Although she had added her mother and brothers names to the list, she felt they deserved more respect and recognition. Then she learned of a commemoration to read aloud the names of victims and began one for the air raid victims in 2021.

During this years ceremony, 40 participants ranging from high school students to a 90-year-old read the names of 1,928 victims who were listed on public records or whose families agreed to have them included.

The names of Korean victims killed in the bombing were added last year, Kawai said.

The organizers hope to add more names to the list and have more people participate as readers.

Kawai said she hopes that a monument like Cornerstone of Peace in Okinawa, inscribed with the names of over 200,000 people killed on Okinawa during the war, is built for the Tokyo air raids, so their families can see the victims names and know that they truly lived.

There were many that became orphans, and they were unable to build a tomb, she said, which means that they dont have a place to go and offer their prayers.
SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan  The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland, after nearly 10 years in Japan, departed Wednesday for Naval Base San Diego, its new homeport, according to a Navy news release.

The Ashland arrived in August 2013 at Sasebo, about 50 miles north of Nagasaki on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands.

At Sasebo, the Ashland was part of the America Amphibious Ready Group along with the amphibious assault ship USS America and the amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay.

The Navy made no announcement on a replacement for the Ashland as it steamed away.

At this time, we have no information that we are prepared to release yet, Sasebo spokesman Aki Nichols told Stars and Stripes by phone on Friday.

The National Defense Authorization Act mandates that U.S. Navy ships may not deploy to Japan for more than 10 years, making this departure a permanent change of station for the crew and their family members.

The Ashland, commissioned in May 1999, is the eighth and last vessel of the Whidbey Island class. That class was designed specifically to accommodate four air cushioned landing craft that can carry assaulting Marines and their equipment to amphibious landings, according to the Navy.

The Ashland carries a ships company of 419 officers and crew and a complement of 402 Marines, with room for another 102.

The Ashlands skipper, Cmdr. Dirk Sonnenberg, had parting words for Sasebo.

I can't thank the wonderful city of Sasebo enough for all their warm hospitality, he said in Wednesdays release. I've done multiple tours in Japan, but Sasebo will always be special to me as the warmest and most welcoming city to be hosted at.

During its time in Japan the Ashland participated in numerous exercises and operations, including Iron Fist, Balikatan, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training and Cobra Gold. The crew also provided humanitarian assistance and disaster response when a typhoon struck Saipan in 2015 and a super typhoon hit Tinian in 2018.

The Navy expects the ship to arrive in San Diego around mid-spring.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 24, 2023 - 18:57 | All, Japan

Japan's top court on Friday acquitted a former Vietnamese trainee of abandoning her stillborn twins, overturning lower court rulings that sentenced her to a suspended prison term.

In the first finalized ruling concerning the abandonment of a stillborn child, four judges on the Supreme Court's Second Petty Bench unanimously ruled that the acts committed by Le Thi Thuy Linh, 24, did not amount to the crime of corpse abandonment.

Following the birth of her stillborn twin boys in November 2020, Linh placed their bodies in a cardboard box and left them on a shelf in her room for around 33 hours, along with a letter of apology.

The court ruled that such actions are "not considered incompatible with customary burial practices," and thus did not constitute corpse abandonment.

Linh said at an online press conference following the ruling, "I am happy from the bottom of my heart. I hope Japan will change into a society that understands the concerns of pregnant trainees and women so they can give birth with ease."

The government-sponsored technical internship, introduced in 1993 under the premise that it helps to transfer skills to developing countries, has faced criticism over reports that foreign trainees who got pregnant while in Japan were deported.

The top court's decision is likely to impact ongoing discussions on revising the system, which has also been criticized as being used as a cover for companies to import cheap labor.

Linh gave birth to stillborn twin boys at her home in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, where she had been working as a trainee on a mandarin farm. The stillbirth was only discovered when she was taken to a hospital the next day.

During the trial, Linh said that she planned to hold a funeral for them but had not known what to do given the severity of the situation. She also said she had not revealed to anyone that she was pregnant for fear of being deported.

Her defense argued that she had only "temporarily laid them to rest" and that Linh's actions "were the best she could do for a woman who had given birth alone in a foreign country."

Prosecutors stressed that Linh believed at the time she would be forced to leave Japan if she was discovered to be pregnant or to have given birth, arguing that the act of concealing the bodies in two layers of boxes was "far from mourning."

In earlier rulings, both the Kumamoto District Court and the Fukuoka High Court found her guilty, with the latter sentencing her to three months in prison, suspended for two years, in 2022.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  U.S. troops in South Korea remotely fired their top-shelf missile-defense system for the first time during a large-scale military exercise, according to U.S. Forces Korea.

U.S. troops in deployment training employed the remote launcher for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, anti-missile system, the command said in a news release Friday.

In the face of [North Koreas] advanced missile threats, the training of our THAAD forces enhanced the units combat readiness, combined defense posture within the alliance, demonstrates the ironclad commitment to support and defend [South Korea] and further strengthens the security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the release said.

The THAAD remote kit allows the missile interceptor more siting options and increases the area it can defend, according to a Lockheed Martin news release from 2019.

USFK did not respond to repeated requests for comment about whether THAAD interceptors were actually launched during the drill, and the dates and location of the training.

The THAAD drill happened in conjunction with the Freedom Shield exercise by U.S. and South Korean forces, according to the release. The 11-day exercise that ended Thursday focused on simulations and included personnel from U.N. Command and the Combined Forces Command.

U.S. and South Korean troops have been conducting their largest exercises in years across the country this month.

Around 1,200 soldiers from the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and South Korean army on Thursday wrapped up live-fire training in Pocheon, just 16 miles from the Demilitarized Zone. Meanwhile, 5,500 U.S. sailors and Marines from the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group arrived in Busan on Wednesday ahead of a separate naval exercise scheduled later this month.

The $800 million THAAD system produced by Lockheed Martin was deployed to a South Korean base in Seongju, about 130 miles south of Seoul, to focus solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats, the Defense Department said in June 2016.

Since then, the THAAD system has undergone several upgrades for better performance and for improving interoperability between it and the Patriot missile-defense system, South Koreas Ministry of National Defense said in October.

Interoperability is a term used by the military to illustrate the ability of one nations military to use anothers training methods and equipment.

North Koreas state-run website, Uriminzokkiri, in a blog post March 17 described the recent joint drills as a rehearsal for an occupation of Pyongyang that would prompt a preliminary nuclear war.

The communist regime has fired nine ballistic missiles so far this year, including one that flew toward the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.
Open-source researchers have found evidence that Moscow is dusting off Stalin-era tanks  some first deployed more than 70 years ago  and shipping them west, possibly a sign that battlefield losses have led to a shortage of armor for Moscows forces on the front in Ukraine.

According to photographs obtained by the Tbilisi, Georgia-based Conflict Intelligence Team, T-54 and T-55 tanks from the 1940s were spotted aboard a train departing from Arsenyev in the Primorsky Krai region of Russias Far East, heading west. Russias 1295th Central Tanks and Repair Storage Base is in Arsenyev.

The researchers could not confirm that the tanks were being sent for use in combat on the front in Ukraine. Both Russia, which occupies about a fifth of Ukraines territory, and Ukraine are short on weapons and ammunition, and they are relying on extensive stocks of old weapons.

But the T-54 series tanks would be especially old, and their use would signal trouble for Russia given that Ukraine is now awaiting deliveries of Leopard battle tanks from European supporters and M1 Abrams tanks from the United States.

The T-54s were adopted by the Soviet army in the mid-1940s when leader Joseph Stalin was in power. The T-55 series entered service in 1958.

This is not the first instance of Russia turning to old tanks. Last year, an elite Russian unit was found to be using T-62 tanks in Ukraine  Soviet-era tanks that were introduced in 1961. But the CITs report noted that this is the first recorded instance of T-54 and T-55 tanks being taken out of storage.

Even an outdated tank is more useful than no tank at all, the report stated. But we consider the lack of range finders and ballistic computers (not to mention fire control systems) to be the key disadvantages of these series, as well as primitive sights and an inferior gun stabilization system.

The Institute for the Study of War wrote in an assessment Wednesday that deploying such inferior equipment could lead to higher casualties.

Each tank loss is the loss of a tank crew as well as the tank, after all, and it is not clear how effective these tanks will be against Ukrainian armored vehicles, ISW said. They are highly vulnerable to many antitank systems available to Ukraine.

ISW added that the Soviet Union produced tens of thousands of T-54/55 tanks after World War II, and that Moscow may be turning to them to address shortages.

Russian armored vehicle losses are currently constraining the Russian militarys ability to conduct effective mechanized maneuver warfare, ISW wrote. Russian forces may be deploying T-54/55 tanks from storage to Ukraine to augment these offensive operations and prepare for anticipated mechanized Ukrainian counteroffensives.

Carl Bildt, co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted Wednesday that the deployment of the T-54/55 tanks showed the Kremlins determination to continue the war more or less forever.

The CIT photos follow mounting evidence that Russia is experiencing serious supply problems, with dozens of conscripts recording videos in recent weeks communicating to President Vladimir Putin a lack of weapons and ammunition. Several recruits said they were given World War II-era guns, as well as rusting Kalashnikovs.

We find it difficult to determine the possible uses of these tanks, CIT wrote in its report, noting that Russia was also mobilizing armored personnel carriers and other vehicles from the 1950s and 70s. This clearly indicates severe issues with military vehicle supply.

Western intelligence has also reported that Moscows tank losses are increasing. In February, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based analysis group, estimated that Russia had probably lost more than 2,000 tanks in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Oryx, an independent team of analysts that has tracked open-source intelligence on equipment losses, estimated that more than 1,700 Russian tanks have been destroyed, damaged or captured. According to the group, this is more than half of the operational tanks thought to be in Russias possession at the start of its invasion in February 2022. Ukraine, by comparison, has lost about 500 tanks, according to Oryx.
The U.S. carried out airstrikes in Syria on Thursday hours after a drone struck a coalition base, killing an American contractor and wounding five U.S. troops as well as another contractor, according to a Pentagon statement.

The airstrikes targeted facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in the statement Thursday.

The drone used in the attack was of Iranian origin, Austin said in a statement. It struck a maintenance facility on the base near Hasakah at approximately 1:38 p.m., the statement said.

Two of the wounded service members were treated on site, while the other troops and the contractor were evacuated to coalition medical facilities in Iraq, according to the statement.

The commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East said Thursday that more retaliatory airstrikes are possible.

We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in the statement.

The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group, U.S. Central Command has said.

Joining them in Syria and Iraq are about 6,449 Defense Department contractors.

U.S. troops and partner militaries in Iraq and Syria continue to fight ISIS, with 313 declared operations this year last year, CENTCOM said in December.

Thursdays attack was the latest against U.S. troops in Syria by groups affiliated with Iran, the statement said.

Figures provided by CENTCOM show at least nine rocket or drone attacks since August 2022.

Irans drones are among the most advanced in the world and have had an outsized impact in proxy wars in Yemen, Iraq and Syria, experts and U.S. military officials have said.

Kurilla told Congress on Thursday that Iran is the primary destabilizing element in the region.

Previous attacks blamed on Iran include a 2020 missile strike on al Asad Air Base in Iraq that injured about 100 U.S. troops, and an incident in 2021 that killed a civilian contractor and injured a U.S. service member.
The Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday condemned the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) move to postpone the elections in Punjab, describing it as an absolute abrogation of the Constitution.A day earlier, the ECP delayed the election in Punjab until October 8 on the grounds that it could not conduct transparent and peaceful polls on the scheduled date of April 30.

In a statement, SCBA President Abid S Zuberi and Secretary Muqtedir Akthar Shabbir maintained that the commission could not change the date for elections under any circumstances whatsoever.

They pointed out that the apex court, through its order dated March 1, had made it inexplicably clear that elections had to be held within the 90-day time period stipulated under Article 224 (2) of the Constitution.

However, it is unfortunate that the Election Commission has acted in such blatant disregard of its constitutional mandate and the order of the Supreme Court, the statement added.

It further read that there was no provision in the Election Act or the Constitution that allowed the ECP to conduct polls beyond the 90-day time period stipulated under Article 224 (2).

It is truly unfortunate to see that the Election Commission has grossly misinterpreted the Constitution, the law and order of the Supreme Court, it stated.

The SCBA claimed that the commission had acted in excess of jurisdiction and breached its constitutional mandate.

The statement further read that it was also pertinent to highlight that the only constitutional function of the caretaker government was to ensure the conduct of fair and transparent elections.

It added that even the caretaker government was bound by the time period stipulated under Article 224 (2).

Therefore, the caretaker government cannot function beyond the 90-day period stipulated under Article 224 (2), it continued.

The SCBA argued that such violation of the Constitution could only lead to utter chaos and anarchy in the country.

Given the current political and economic crises in the country, restoration of democracy and timely elections are the need of the hour, the statement read.

The association contended that the ECP, by issuing the notification dated March 22, had now opened the door to absolute chaos and uncertainty.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif slammed PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday for flirting with the American government after accusing it of conspiracy and claimed that the former prime ministers cult following would soon fizzle out.

The minister passed these remarks during a conversation with foreign media correspondents in Islamabad today. The interaction comes as Pakistan grapples with multiple crises on the political and economical front.

Asif began the press conference by pointing out the hypocrisy of the incumbent setups arch-rival Imran. His political journey started with a cypher  in which he had accused the US of conspiring against the PTI government.

And today, Shireen Mazari has written a letter to the US for him [] the country he once accused of conspiracy  he is now seeking help from them, he stated.

Asif claimed that the series of events that have taken place after the vote of no-confidence shows the total sum of Imrans journey  his dismissal from the government and now his SOS to the US for help.

He stated that Imrans lies had surfaced in front of everyone during the past few years. He was accusing the US of conspiring against him, even taking names, but now he is once again flirting with the American government through lobbyists and approaching them for some sort of aid and help.

His utterances are completely irrational  perhaps his followers do believe him but most people have lost track of whatever he says, the minister said, referring to Imrans supporters as cult followers.

In response to a question, the minister stated that for the past year, the government had been trying to reach a consensus on economic policies but the offers were rejected.

He has offered to talk to the military leadership several times, but not the political leadership. Despite the fact that the present government was willing to talk on so many occasions, Imran kept on insisting and went to the extent of trying to approach the present leadership of the Pakistan Army.

Before that, Asif went on to say, the PTI chief approached former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa multiple times through the president and even offered him an extension.

Despite all his claims, Imran has not materially offered anything to the present government for dialogue, he pointed out.

Asif also said that the government was ready to talk for the sake of peace in the country, highlighting that consensus was needed on major issues that Pakistan has been facing for the last few years.

The minister elaborated that we are not in favour of a transactional dialogue [but] need something which is comprehensive, which covers everything.

On the matter of the Punjab polls  originally scheduled for April 30  being delayed by more than five months to Oct 8, Asif said that the decision has been taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which is the body empowered to hold elections according to the Constitution.

Explaining the reasons the ECP has given for its decision, he highlighted the countrys deteriorated security situation and tough economic times.

Since February, in the last one month or couple of months, the security situation has definitely deteriorated, the minister acknowledged.

Regarding the funding issues, he said, I am aware of the fact that the ministry of finance has said that under the present circumstances, we are going through some very tough times [] so we wont be able to provide funds for these elections, which if you hold now on 30th of April and then in October, so you are providing funds for elections twice in a year.

Asif then mentioned the unavailability of adequate security for the polling stations: The commitment that our army has at the moment for the internal and external threats, theyve said that [] it takes almost a month for the deployment of forces to the polling stations, especially the static duty  they have to take over the polling stations.

Referring to the events of the last few weeks, particularly the ex-premiers appearance at the Federal Judicial Complex on March 18, Asif stated that nowhere in the world were such scenes witnessed that an accused had refused to appear before the court.

And when he appears before the court, his attendance is marked while he is sitting in his car, his supporters mob the courts and intimidate them [] they (the courts) come under pressure and face threats.

On the other hand, he continued, when the police were sent to Imrans residence for arrests, officials were attacked with slings, petrol bombs, stones and sticks.

This has never happened in Pakistan before. Even during Imrans regime, and in the past too, opposition leaders were arrested and they surrendered in a dignified manner.

Whatever victimisation took place, they never physically contested their arrest, never abused or maligned the courts, the minister stressed.

He recalled that during the PTI governments tenure, the entire leadership of the PML-N was put behind bars, but such resistance was not seen.

I was picked up from the Embassy road and jailed for almost six months. It has been almost three years but my wife still appears in court. The victimisation of the opposition [during Imrans government] was unprecedented.

However, he contended that the coalition government never opted for such tactics, nor has it violated the law or the Constitution at any point.

Asif further pointed out that the coalition was governing the country under circumstances that were very different  administratively, financially and politically.

We do realise that the political capital that we had when we took over or when we moved towards the no-confidence movement has depleted and we have paid that cost.

We had the option to dissolve the assemblies and announce elections, but we were in the middle of negotiating with the IMF (International Monetary Fund). An interim government perhaps could not do that as effectively as an empowered and elected government in power could, he added.

Asif revealed that the government was handling crises every day, which he said were precipitated by Imran, and hoped that they would emerge out of them successfully.

At one point during the press conference, the minister also warned that if Imran or his followers resorted to violence again, they would be countered by the states writ and power.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 24, 2023 - 07:41 | World, All

Honduras has sent a delegation to China led by Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina to speed up the process of establishing diplomatic relations with China, a move that also calls for severing ties with Taiwan, the Central American country's media reported Wednesday.

The move follows Honduran President Xiomara Castro instructing Reina last week to begin the necessary procedures for switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

China welcomed the delegation's visit, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin saying Thursday that upholding the one-China principle "represents the prevailing trend of the world."

Rodolfo Pastor, secretary of state in the office of the presidency, told El Heraldo that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will receive the delegation. Castro herself is also scheduled to visit China, according to the Honduran newspaper.

Honduras is set to become the latest nation to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China. If realized, only 13 countries will continue to diplomatically recognize the self-ruled democratic island in Asia.

Wang said at a press conference Beijing is "ready to establish and grow bilateral relations with Honduras on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

Taiwan said Thursday it has decided to recall its ambassador to Honduras to express its "strong dissatisfaction" with the dispatch of the country's delegation to China.

The island's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that by sending the delegation to China, Honduras has disregarded a bilateral diplomatic friendship that had endured for over 80 years and has "seriously hurt the feelings of Taiwan's government and people."

Taiwan, which Beijing regards as its own territory, currently maintains formal diplomatic relations with 14 countries, of which eight are in the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

Since 2017, Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Nicaragua have switched their diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, with China offering significant financial aid to the respective countries.

China and Taiwan have been separately governed since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. Countries and states that have maintained diplomatic relations with Taipei include the Vatican, as well as the Pacific islands of Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands.
Dwyer was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of 36-year-old Elaine OHara on August 22, 2012.

Killer Graham Dwyer will know his fate today when the Court of Appeal delivers its judgement on his appeal against his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara.

His case is listed for Friday in the Courts of Criminal Justice where a decision on whether or not he should get a re-trial will be made known.

The 50-year-old disgraced Foxrock architect looked for a new trial because phone data evidence obtained by gardai was allowed to be put before the jury.

His appeal was heard last December and came after a separate challenge to the law under which his metadata was retained and seized.

The High Court, Supreme Court and Court of Justice for the European Union had all found in his favour.

The data established a link between Dwyer and his victim and allowed detectives to build up a picture of their secret relationship.

Dwyer was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of 36-year-old Elaine OHara on August 22, 2012.

The trial heard how Dwyer had fantasised about stabbing a woman during sex and used Ms OHara, who had been discharged from a mental health hospital hours earlier, to fulfil his fantasy.

Her remains were found 13 months later in a forest at Killakee in the Dublin Mountains.

Much of the evidence at the trial focused on text messages between a slave phone used by Ms OHara and a master phone used by Dwyer and on the movements of those phones.

The evidence was included in Dwyers trial despite opposition from his lawyers.

The Court of Appeal last December heard Dwyer argued the evidence should have been put to an admissibility test, arising from a Supreme Court case called JC.

In that case the Supreme Court found that evidence obtained unconstitutionally can be used, but only if the prosecution can show the breach was inadvertent.

His lawyers argued that because such a test was not applied, he was entitled to a retrial.

Dwyer was led into court in December by prison officers and was wearing a dark grey suit, black tie and white shirt.

He occasionally put on glasses as he entered notes into a folder he had brought with him.

Dwyers lawyers also argued he should have been declared not guilty at his trial because there was a possibility Ms OHara had taken her own life which could not be excluded.

It was also argued that it was prejudicial for the trial judge to allow the jury to view videos of Dwyer engaging in sexual acts with Elaine OHara and other women.

In the videos, Dwyer could be seen stabbing or pretending to stab the women.

The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the evidence against Dwyer was overwhelming even without the mobile phone data.

This included texts from Ms OHaras phones for information to identify a suspect while Dwyers DNA matched with semen found on her mattress.

They also said that the trial judge was right to allow the jury to see the videos.

The State also argued against the suicide theory, asking if Ms OHara had committed suicide, how did her keys and phone end up in a reservoir.
He said Murtagh was found with the phone at the prison on December 27 last year.

A SENIOR member of the Hutch gang serving a sentence for armed robbery has been given another month in prison after he was caught with a mobile phone.

Keith Murtagh (38), behind bars over a post office raid, was given the extra jail time when he admitted having a phone following a search by prison officers last year.

Judge Maire Conneely said while Murtagh had already been punished in prison, she regarded this as separate to the issue of sentencing.

Murtagh, from Dublins north inner city but with a current address at Wheatfield prison, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a phone in jail.

Garda Simon Clarke told Blanchardstown District Court the accused made no reply to the charge after caution. He was handed a copy of the charge sheet.

He said Murtagh was found with the phone at the prison on December 27 last year.

The accused did not have permission from the governor.

The court heard Murtagh had previous convictions for firearms, robbery and traffic offences but none for having a phone in prison.

Defence solicitor Simon Fleming asked the judge to take account of his client's guilty plea, saying when cases like this were contested and proceeded to hearing, it caused disruption for the prison service.

Mr Fleming said Murtagh had already been punished in the prison for 42 days, including loss of phone calls and shop privileges. He also had to remain in his cell after 4pm.

Judge Conneely said she was of the view that any punishment the accused received in prison was a separate matter.

The court heard Murtagh's release date was in November 2026.

The judge made the one-month sentence consecutive.

Murtagh was jailed in November 2019 for robbery and possession of a shotgun and cartridge at Roebuck Post Office, Farmhill Road, Goatstown, Dublin, on January 5, 2016.1

He denied the offences and was convicted after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

That court had heard two men entered the post office, one armed with a handgun and one with a shotgun.

The man with the handgun ordered people to get on the ground while the other man discharged two shotgun blasts into the glass partition.

This man then climbed over the desk into the back of the post office.

A total of 2,754 was stolen from there and 420 from the tills of a food shop on the same premises.

Murtagh was jailed for 12 years, backdated to November 2017.
The young mother had been beaten to death while crouching on the floor in a corner of her own kitchen.

The trained crisis negotiator had been in tense talks with Richard Burke for hours when a tiny face appeared at a bedroom window.

It was at that point that gardai knew the time for talk had passed and immediate action was needed. As Burke was seen moving from the kitchen of the rural semi-detached home to an under stairs area, where a bag containing knives, hammers and a balaclava was later found, the Armed Response Unit made their move, storming through the front door.

Burke was quickly barricaded in the rear of the property, where he immediately confronted the first officer to breach the barricade with a hammer. After refusing to put the weapon down, gardai were forced to use a taser to subdue and handcuff the 32-year-old.

In the kitchen of the house in Forest Park, a housing estate in the village of Killygordon in Donegal, they were met with the sight of 28-year-old aspiring model Jasmine McMonagle lying in a pool of blood, her small dog having remained by her side.

The young mother had been beaten to death while crouching on the floor in a corner of her own kitchen.

She had been strangled with a rope by her on-and-off partner Richard Burke while her two young daughters, aged just eight and 18 months, were also in the house.

Jasmine McGonagle met Richard Burke through an internet forum

Richard Burke had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, had never held down a job and had been homeless for periods of time.

Born in north London, Burke lived there until he was eight when he returned to Ireland, living initially with his grandparents until his parents and his younger brother moved back some months later. His father was a truck driver and his mother worked as a psychiatric nurse.

After finishing school, Burke attended Letterkenny IT but dropped out a short time later because of his burgeoning drug habit. He started smoking cannabis at 16 and experimented with drugs from a local head shop.

His dependency spiralled and he left college after his drug addiction, in his own words, properly took hold of him". During this period he left his parent's house and was homeless for a time. He also came to garda attention after robbing the local head shop. Although he had a number of part-time jobs as a teenager, working variously as a chimney sweep, a cobbler and a waiter in a local hotel, Burke told forensic psychiatrist Dr Anthony Kearns that he had never managed to maintain a permanent job.

Gardai at the scene in Killygordon, Co Donegal, after Jasmine McMonagle was killed. Photo: Margaret McLaughlin

Burkes first contact with Jasmine McMonagle was through an internet forum where they chatted online for a while before losing contact. However, about a year or so later they connected again through Facebook and arranged to meet at Jasmines house.

Burke, homeless and out of work at the time, said he fell in love with the young mum the moment she opened the door and the relationship got serious quickly.

Jasmine already had a child from a previous relationship and the couple quickly decided to try for a baby.

In December 2016, Jasmine became pregnant, but the cracks in the relationship were already beginning to show. Later that same month, Burke said Jasmine told him she did not want him around because he was disrupting the household.

In an effort to win her back, he bought a used Nissan Micra for his now ex-girlfriend and went to her house every day to try and bring her round.

His attempts were futile, however. Burke said on one date he woke up absolutely fuming and, in a fit of rage, he went to buy cannabis and cans of alcohol. He said after consuming these, he jumped behind the wheel of the car, crashed it and set fire to the gift he had bought Jasmine.

Burke had been due to appear in court that day in relation to other matters but because of the drink and drugs he had taken, he had forgotten to attend.

Jasmine's due date in August 2017 came and went but Burke said he heard nothing from her. He told the psychiatrist he once again sank into addiction, smoking cannabis and drinking heavily by September 2017.

Contact with Jasmine was re-established at the end of that month however, when Burke again began calling round to the house. Things went well for a while but once again cracks began to show, he told the psychiatrist.

Dr Kearns told the trial Burke harboured a persistent delusional belief that his partner had been unfaithful and was giving drugs to the children. The consultant psychiatrist said these beliefs were false and had no foundation in reality but rather they were delusions of Burkes own mind.

In early January 2018, Jasmine contacted gardai because she was worried about the way Burke was behaving. Gardai spoke to him and after noting that his behaviour was erratic, they escorted him to a local psychiatric unit where he was detained for a period voluntarily.

Burke told Dr Kearns that he only agreed to go to the psychiatric hospital because he wanted to check that he was not going mad.

Dr Kearns said during this psychiatric admission, Burke reported auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions and received a diagnosis of a psychotic illness.

In her evidence for the prosecution, consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital Dr Dearbhla Duffy said that descriptions of Burke's presentation on this occasion echoed aspects of his presentation in January 2019 following Jasmines death.

She said that Burke had a history of self-harm. He told her that he had attempted to take his own life when he was 19-years-old and also outlined instances when he had self-harmed by cutting his arms and where he later attempted to take his own life with an overdose.

She also noted that a psychiatrist who had assessed Burke in 2011 identified him as having some traits of avoidant personality disorder and as someone who would benefit from anger management treatment.

Dr Duffy said Burke had told her that prior to Jasmine's killing, he was trying to kill himself and said he was tired of the torment he was living.

Burke told Dr Kearns that in the days before the killing, he had taken a large number of Lyrica tablets. The jury heard that Lyrica is a prescribed drug which is commonly used for anxiety and mood problems. Burke said he had been taking it for two or three days before killing Jasmine and had also been drinking vodka on the night.

Dr Kearns said in the course of compiling his report he also spoke to Burkes mother, Ann-Marie Burke in July 2020. She told the psychiatrist she felt she had lost her son when he started using drugs.

Ms Burke told him: The head shop destroyed my son.

Ms Burke said that although she did not meet Jasmine until January 2018 when she heard her son had been brought to hospital, she had a very good relationship with her.

She said following the killing and Burkes arrest, she visited her son in prison and he was still preoccupied with the false idea that Jasmine had given the children drugs. Ms Burke told the doctor this was "complete nonsense" and the kids were "perfect.

The trial heard that following Jasmines distressed 999 call at 4:21am on January 4, 2019 gardai from Lifford made the 16km journey to her home within 20 minutes. They knocked on the front door and got no response.

The officers continued to bang on the door and the windows before going to the rear of the property. The curtains on the large kitchen window were closed, while a smaller window was covered with what appeared to be a towel.

After seeking advice, the officers used a glass breaker to gain entry to the property.

But as they did so, a bloodstained, meat-cleaver wielding Richard Burke appeared, telling the two members of the force that his name was Charlie Thatcher and that they had no business being there.

Attempts were made to subdue Burke with pepper spray but it had no effect. He retreated into the house and when gardai followed, he swung the cleaver at one officer, slashing through the sleeve of his jacket and narrowly missing his arm.

The gardai were forced to retreat from the property but quickly called for back-up, with more members of the force arriving on the scene soon after.

A garda went to the rear of the property shortly after 5am and, peering through a small gap in the curtain, they could see a slipper and a person's leg on the kitchen floor surrounded by a pool of blood. A small dog lay close by.

By 6.15am, a trained crisis negotiator was on the scene and from that point on he was the only person who had verbal contact with Burke, engaging with him in an effort to deescalate the situation and find out what had happened inside the house.

Burke told the negotiator that there were two children up in bed and that Jasmine was "sleeping". Repeated requests were made to gain access to the house, while in the background the Armed Response Unit were being mobilised.

At 7.29am, Burke was observed leaving the kitchen and appeared to bend down under the stairs in the hall. Two minutes later, a paramedic saw a young child appear at the upstairs front window  Jasmines eight-year-old daughter.

A decision was made that immediate and forced entry to the property was needed.

As gardai entered the house, Burke was barricaded in the rear of the property. When he confronted the first officer with a glass breaking hammer and refused to put it down, Burke was tasered, handcuffed and searched.

A knife in a scabbard was found in his jacket along with two phones; one his own, the other the mobile phone belonging to Jasmine that had been used to make the 999 call.

Jasmines older daughter was found upstairs, while her younger daughter was discovered in a cot in the front room of the property. Both were uninjured.

Their mother's body, however, was found in a pool of blood in the kitchen and it was clear that she was already dead.

After his arrest, Burke was brought to Letterkenny Garda Station where he was seen by a psychiatrist who deemed him fit to be interviewed. During the first of three garda interviews which took place in the hours after, Burke made admissions that he had killed Jasmine McMonagle.

Burke said he and Jasmine had been in her kitchen listening to music when he began shouting. I started saying youll see a different side of me if you dont cop on, he told gardai.

Burke began to cry as he told gardai what happened in the moments leading up to Jasmines death. He said he was shouting and screaming and was very angry after realising Jasmine had phoned gardai while he was out of the room.

Once I heard guards, that was the end of it, he said.

All I remember is punching her; my mind is a pure blank, its like someone else took over. I remember my hand being sore. I do remember strangling her and then tap tap tap. Fuck.

He told investigating officers that he went ballistic and started punching the 28-year-old and strangling her with a rope.

I have a real bad temper, I just blanked; I went ballistic, absolutely fucking ballistic, Burke said.

Because I hate guards I just went ballistic, started punching the f**k out of her then strangling her with a rope. I was only trying to make her see sense.

Burke demonstrated to interviewing officers how he strangled Jasmine and said he still had a hold of the rope when he heard gardai knocking on the kitchen window.

I just put the rope round her neck, just pulled on it. I was standing holding the rope when the gardai knocked.

He said he was standing up, not on top of her, and had his foot by her side. He said Jasmine was in a massive pool of blood and said he called her name and tried to check for a pulse but couldnt find one.

He said gardai were banging really hard and the baby was asleep in the sitting room.

Burke recounted how he was afraid gardai would wake the baby up and said his temper was rising and rising. He said at one point, Jasmine's eight-year-old daughter came downstairs calling for her Mammy.

He said after he came around he took the rope from Jasmine's neck and used a high chair to block the door in case gardai tried to get in.

Burke said he then started cleaning the kitchen cupboards and walls, adding: They [gardai] smashed the back door and that set me off again. I had a meat cleaver and I stuck it in his arm.

Asked where the meat cleaver came into the equation, Burke said: To be honest with you I dont know. It was my special knife so I must have thought I was going to use my special knife.

Burke claimed he hated violence towards women and denied using the meat cleaver to attack Jasmine. I didnt use weapons, just fists.

He said the blood was everywhere and it was starting to clot. I tried to lift her, the blood just poured out of her mouth.

Asked how many times he had hit Jasmine, he replied: How long is a piece of string.

Burke said he was like a bull and there was no one to stop me. Normally other people are there to calm me down.

Asked about the rope used to strangle the mother-of-two, Burke said: I dont know if it was the rope or the beating. I reckon it was the rope that finished it.

I killed her. I didnt want to, man. I loved her so much.

A post mortem was carried out by Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan, who found that a mark around Jasmines neck measuring 1cm in diameter may have been caused by the blue rope found at the scene or by a similar sized ligature.

She said the mother-of-two was most likely unconscious when the strangulation occurred.

Dr Mulligan noted the blunt force trauma to the face may have been caused by fists, feet, the glass safety hammer found near the body or a similar weapon.

She concluded death was as a result of ligature strangulation, with concussion and blood loss from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries as a contributory factor.

Analysis of the blood splatter patterns in the kitchen suggested that most of the beating sustained by Jasmine occurred in the corner of the kitchen while she was sitting crouched or on the floor.

Giving expert evidence for the defence, Dr Anthony Kearns, a consultant psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital, told the trial it was his view that Burke was suffering from a mental disorder that substantially diminished his responsibility for the killing of Jasmine.

The psychiatrist said this mental disorder was complicated by the accuseds use of drugs over many years.

Giving evidence for the prosecution, Dr Duffy said it was her view that Burke was acutely psychotic at the time of the alleged offences and for a short period afterwards.

She said she was satisfied that Burke was suffering from an acute psychotic episode at the time of the offence and that this substantially diminished his responsibility.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court trial, which sat in Monaghan Town, heard Burke acknowledged that he had killed Jasmine McMonagle. What they were asked to decide upon was his state of mind at the time.

They heard that both psychiatrists were in agreement that Burke was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the killing which substantially diminished his responsibility.

In her final address to the jury, prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC said it was impossible to imagine that they would not have "enormous sympathy" for the McMonagle family.

Jasmine, she said, was a devoted mother to two children and was deeply loved by her friends and family. Her death was "senseless and horrific" and had left her family devastated. "So putting sympathy for her family aside will be difficult but it is nevertheless required of you," counsel said.

She added: "The evidence is all in one direction. There is nothing before you to suggest that the psychiatrists are incorrect in their conclusion regarding the mental state of Burke."

Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, said that the evidence from two "eminent psychiatrists" was that Burke was suffering from a mental disorder and should be found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder by reason of diminished responsibility.

Before sending the jury out to consider their verdict, trial judge Mr Justice Paul Burns told them that the parties were all in agreement on the evidence. "The medical evidence all goes one way, in favour or a verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. That is the medical evidence: it is not disputed," the judge said.

After hearing both closing addresses and the judge's charge on the same day, the jury of seven women and five men took just over one hour to agree, acquitting Burke of murder but convicting him of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility by unanimous verdict.
Leon King pushed one of the women down a flight of stairs, and assaulted and threatened the second woman while she was pregnant

A man has been jailed for four years for assaulting two of his former partners.

Leon King (22) pushed one of the women down a flight of stairs following an argument and assaulted the second woman, threatening to break every bone in her body, while she was pregnant.

The first woman suffered a fractured ankle in her fall, while 10 months later King kicked the second womans leg and put his hands to her throat before she managed to escape from the house.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that both women suffered traumatic effects as a result of the violence and continue to have issues with anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares.

Defence counsel for King told Judge Martin Nolan that he had grown up in a chaotic and abusive household and witnessed domestic violence as a child.

King, of Belclare Crescent, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assaulting the first woman at his then-home in Phibsborough on October 25, 2019 and assaulting the second woman at his home in Ballymun on August 3, 2020.

King further pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder in relation to an incident in South William Street on June 17, 2021 . He admitted throwing a punch which did not land during a wider incident in the city centre.

Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said these had been two nasty assaults and were aggravated by the fact the women were intimate partners of King at the time.

Judge Nolan said King had not had a great start in life and had many problems, including a lack of self control. He noted he was willing to rehabilitate which he said he hoped would be successful - both for King and for society.

He said King certainly deserved a custodial term and he imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years. He suspended the final year of the sentence in order to aid rehabilitation.

Garda Ben Keyes told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that the first woman was visiting King at his home and a dispute arose about messages on his phone. She said she pushed him causing a cup of tea or hot chocolate to spill, before turning to leave.

King followed her out onto the landing and grabbed hold of her to stop her leaving. She hit him with "two or three slaps" to make him let her go and turned to leave again. She said he then pushed her down the stairs, leaving her lying at the bottom in extreme pain.

She was assisted by another man who told King to go back to his room. He helped the woman outside to her friend's car. She was taken to hospital and had to wear a cast on her leg for three months.

King was arrested and made some admissions. He tried to equivocate at first and suggest it was an accident. He said it was stupid and later claimed it was self defence, but ultimately pleaded guilty.

The woman told the court in her victim impact statement that there were not words to explain the impact the domestic violence had on her life. She described feeling broken and alone, as well as suffering severe anxiety.

She said she finds it hard to trust people and still suffers nightmares. She told Judge Nolan that all it took was one trigger and I am back in that room thinking Im going to die.

In relation to the second assault 10 months later, the court heard that the second woman was in a relationship with King and was four months pregnant. King asked her to post a picture on Instagram but she refused and they had an argument.

King began threatening to kill himself and shouting that she was not going to leave him. He stood in the doorway to prevent her leaving, smashed her phone when she tried to text for help and put his hands to her throat.

She said it did not hurt but it was scary and she felt he was capable of killing her. While he had his hands on her throat, King told her he would break every bone in her body before he kicked her leg.

This woman told the court that she also suffers nightmares and flashbacks and had undergone counselling. She said she would never forget the physical and mental abuse she suffered at her most vulnerable time, carrying their baby. She said it has had a major traumatic effect on her life.

Rebecca Smith BL, defending, said King had grown up in turbulent, chaotic and abusive household.

She said there was regular and consistent domestic violence within his home and submitted that what one grows up with as a child influences what one thinks is acceptable. She stressed this was not an excuse but an explanation. She said he grew up knowing nothing else.

She said King went into foster care but became homeless at the age of 18. These offences occurred when King was 19, 20 and 21. She said he was close to his grandparents and the death of his grandfather, and later his mother, had a significant effect on him.

She said he was first introduced to drugs at the age of six and this escalated during his teenage years.

Counsel said he wishes to move forward and tackle his addiction, engage in counselling and continue his rehabilitation. She asked the court to be as lenient as possible.
He had to beg and borrow and he couldn't get it all repaid, court was told.

Christopher Graham of Upper Gloucester Place, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street. Pic: Paddy Cummins   Paddy Cummins - PCPhoto.ie

Christopher Graham of Upper Gloucester Place, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street. Pic: Paddy Cummins   Paddy Cummins - PCPhoto.ie

A man has been sentenced to six years in prison after he was caught driving a van containing 780,000 worth of cannabis herb.

Christopher Graham (41) with an address at Upper Gloucester Place, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to possessing 39 kilos of the drug when he was stopped by gardai at Mill Lane, Palmerstown, Dublin 20 on June 22 last.

Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan said he accepted that Graham had no ownership of the drugs in question.

Judge Nolan said he also accepted the explanation given by Graham that he was transporting the cannabis in order to alleviate his own drug debt.

The judge said other mitigating factors included Graham's guilty plea and cooperation with gardai, however, he said the quantity of the drugs was quite serious.

Garda Michael Ormond told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, gardai had received confidential information on June 16 last and followed certain people across Dublin over several days.

On June 22, Graham was observed standing outside a pub in Palmerstown and meeting with the driver of a yellow Renault van. Gardai saw Graham take possession of the van and drive it to an address at Rose Cottage, Mill Lane.

Christopher Graham of Upper Gloucester Place, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street. Pic: Paddy Cummins   Paddy Cummins - PCPhoto.ie

Graham went into the cottage and left a number of minutes later, driving away in the Renault van before he was intercepted by gardai. The van was searched and gardai seized the 39kg of cannabis herb with an estimated street value of 780,000.

Graham was arrested and told gardai he was moving drugs because he had a cocaine debt. He has 65 previous convictions, of which the vast majority relate to minor road traffic offences.

John Dwyer SC, defending, said Graham lived with his partner and two children and worked for an industrial cleaning company. Mr Dwyer said his client used to take drugs between 2016 and 2019 and was in his own words strung out on cocaine but had spent time in custody and become drug free.

Counsel said Graham had accumulated a drug debt that was historic and had become dormant but that this debt had been resuscitated.

He had to beg and borrow and he couldn't get it all repaid, said Mr Dwyer.

The court heard that Graham's partner is on disability and that he is a dedicated father to their children. Mr Dwyer added that Graham had engaged with Coolmine therapeutic community and that the Probation Service were also willing to engage with him.
Judge Dermot Dempsey said he did not believe Grimes was in a fit state at the time to remember the incident.

A reveller who was foaming at the mouth called gardai p***ks, clenched his fists and swung his arms wildly toward officers when they stopped him on the street, a court has heard.

Adam Grimes (21) denied he was aggressive, and claimed he had no problem with gardai searching him, telling officers go ahead and search me.

Judge Dermot Dempsey said he did not believe Grimes was in a fit state at the time to remember the incident.

The judge convicted and fined him 450.

The defendant, of Rosepark, Balrothery, was found guilty of obstruction at Drogheda Street, Balbriggan.

Garda Sean McGill told Swords District Court he was on patrol at 2am on March 18, 2022, when he came across Grimes, who was foaming at the mouth and clearly under the influence of an intoxicant, in his opinion, cocaine.

Gda McGill said Grimes shouted at the patrol car, and was very aggressive, calling gardai p***ks.

Gda McGill told Grimes he was going to search him, under the Drugs Act, but the defendant clenched his fists, held them up and moved his head in an aggressive manner toward him and his colleague, Garda Robert Berg.

Grimes refused to submit to the search, and he swung his fists wildly, before he was arrested.

In his evidence, Grimes said he had a few drinks on St Patricks Day but denied he had taken cocaine. He claimed he was not aggressive, and denied raising his fists.

Defence lawyer Annette Kealy asked the judge to be lenient, saying Grimes had never been in trouble before.
The claims are made in a series of Judicial Review applications that the notorious criminal has made from behind bars.

A NOTORIOUS double killer serving a life sentence has filed a series of legal papers making accusations ranging from the prison shop being an extortion racket to a prison officer sexually assaulted him with a metal detector.

The gangland killer, who cannot be named as he is currently before the courts, has been one of Irelands most disruptive prisoners while serving his time but claims that horrendous human rights abuses have been committed against him.

He is serving life for murdering a man whose decapitated remains were found in a shallow grave a number of years ago. Gardai suspect the gang led by gang boss Brian Rattigan ordered the killing in a dispute over drugs cash.

He previously served a sentence for manslaughter after stabbing a man to death in frenzied attack.

Despite having convictions for murder, manslaughter, possession of firearms, hit and run, assaults, threats to kill and drugs offences, the prisoner claims the Irish Prison Service has developed into a lawless criminal organisation.

The claims are made in a series of Judicial Review applications that the notorious criminal has made from behind bars.

The double killer has been behind dozens of incidents in prison for which he was disciplined, including fighting with staff and inmates, making threats and being caught with weapons.

He was also given more prison time after being caught with 7,000 worth of heroin, more than 100 zopiclone tablets and a mobile phone which had been smuggled into him during a prison visit.

The Dubliner, who previously represented himself in a murder trial, is acting as a lay litigant in the proceedings and made his applications in handwritten statements.

One of the applications was titled Civil Suit against the IPS and he said he wanted to sue the Prison Service and Minister for Justice for deliberately committing human rights abuses against me, making false reports to detain me in solitary confinement indefinitely, deprived of all my basic human rights, In direct violation of my constitutional rights.

Misleading the High Court with false documents as to why I am detained like this and also releasing misleading false statements to various newspapers to try cover themselves for committing horrendous human rights abuses.

He claims he is being frustrated in his attempts to getting into the High Court for a judicial review and the prison service are unjustly keeping him in solitary confinement. He goes on to claim he was assaulted by prison staff in full view of cameras.

In a written judgement High Court Justice David Holland said the prisoner made several other claims, including that he was assaulted by prison staff in front of cameras.

Judge Holland wrote: It is alleged that he was sexually assaulted by an officer with a metal detector, deprived of family visits, phone calls and video calls and that false reports were made by the Prison Service to the Garda Siochana alleging that he, the applicant, had made threats to kill and had been guilty of indecent exposure.

He went on to claim the prison service hid CCTV from gardai, read his private correspondence and legal correspondence and obstructed his correspondence with courts, solicitors and independent bodies.

A variety of other complaints are made - such as charging excessive prices in the prison shop by way of running an extortion racket against prisoners and breaking tiles in the showers and blaming him. 

The judge said it may provethat leave to seek judicial review should be refused in the proceedings on the basis that the claim for damages which he is making should be made by plenary process (a civil case for damages) rather than in judicial review.

In separate legal filings the same prisoner sought another judicial review after claiming he was assaulted by two gardai and claimed he should be compensated for the damage and suffering caused by reckless guards.

The application for that review was rejected after a judge found the application was misconceived as any action for damages for assault should be prosecuted by plenary proceedings and not by judicial review.
By Sayo Sasaki, KYODO NEWS - Dec 30, 2022 - 15:20 | Feature, All, Japan

Shunning social media, Japan's imperial family has long been reluctant to open up about the daily lives of its members, but the year 2023 could be a turning point with the agency in charge of the family's affairs set to explore the potential use of social media platforms as part of a new approach to public relations.

With experts in agreement that an overhaul by the Imperial Household Agency of its communication style, including giving increased exposure to the family, is long overdue, the agency said in late December that it will set up a formal public relations office in April after its budget request to hire more staff was approved by the Cabinet.

Currently, the agency only has a single website as a direct interface with the public, where it posts images and statements related to the public appearances of imperial family members, including Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, a certain period after they take place.

This approach contrasts sharply with the big online presence of European royal families, including the British royal family, which, in addition to websites, has accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, each with more than a million followers. All accounts are updated almost daily with images of royal family members making visits or meeting people.

Some conservatives in Japan are opposed to shining more of a light on the lives of imperial family members and bringing the emperor, once deemed a god, too close to the people. Under the Constitution, his role is defined as being "the symbol of the state and the unity of the people of Japan."

The emperor is also prohibited from making political remarks under the supreme law, a restriction that is believed to be one of the reasons behind the agency's reluctance to change its stance in transmitting information.

But Yohei Mori, a professor of media history at Seijo University with expertise in imperial family matters, says the agency's manner of communicating with the public "remains at the level of the first half of the 20th Century" in an age increasingly dominated by social media.

He said the agency believes people will fully and immediately understand if it communicates the right information in the right way and does not take into account the fact that there are always people who will not understand or will misinterpret it.

"Just shifting output channels to social media won't change anything," Mori said.

The family and the agency need to start repeating key messages so that more people can understand what they want to say, a style that has become more common with the spread of social media, he argued.

Naotaka Kimizuka, a professor of British political and diplomatic history at Kanto Gakuin University who has written books about the British royal family, agreed that the Japanese imperial family should have started utilizing social media long ago, especially earlier in the pandemic when people could not go outside.

He stressed the family should "even go as far as expanding their official duties" so they have more to communicate about to the public, calling them important figures in society who are capable of highlighting various issues.

The dearth of communication has apparently not worked in favor of the imperial family, as seen especially in the way Japan's tabloid magazines have covered the scandal involving former Princess Mako and her husband Kei Komuro.

After the two announced in 2017 their plan to get married, a dispute over money involving Komuro's mother was reported, causing a media frenzy and fueling talk on social media. It led to the postponement of their marriage until October 2021.

The imperial family and the agency chose not to refute the reports even though they were considered libelous, saying that calling out one report would make others appear true.

The former princess developed post-traumatic stress disorder, and her father, Crown Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, said in 2021 that the imperial family needed to consider "criteria to refute" fake news.

Although on his 57th birthday on Nov. 30 the prince expressed the view that creating such criteria would be "quite difficult," he said having imperial family members post information directly could be a more straightforward approach, echoing the agency's suggestion made at the time of its budget submission in late August that using social media is a possibility.

Outside Japan, the British royal family appears to be succeeding in its communication with the public through social media outlets after facing a backlash over the death of Princess Diana in 1997.

Kimizuka said their use of social media has also helped the family survive the recent scandal surrounding Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle's racism claims, allowing the family to celebrate the platinum jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022 and see the public widely mourn the queen's death later in the year.

"In the 25 years after the scandals surrounding Princess Diana, the British royal family really worked on their communication," Kimizuka said, adding that publicizing the thoughts of the late queen, King Charles and other royals via social media has helped build a common understanding among the public.

Kimizuka warned that Japan's imperial family, already distant from the public and dwindling in number with fewer successors, could "disappear quickly" unless they establish themselves in people's consciousness through social media.

The number of imperial family members has been steadily declining as the 1947 Imperial House Law limits heirs to males and states female members lose their imperial status when they marry a commoner. Discussions on how to sustain the family have been repeatedly held by a government expert panel, although nothing has been decided.

Under the law, the number of heirs to the 62-year-old emperor has now been reduced to three -- Crown Prince Fumihito, his nephew Prince Hisahito, 16, and his uncle Prince Hitachi, 87. Princess Aiko, 21, the only child of the emperor, cannot succeed him due to the gender clause, although some have called for altering the rule to enable women to become heirs.

Mori said that although the imperial family's role is to be a symbol of the nation's unity, the succession issue has become a divisive one in society.

But better communication through social media could be a way to mend such a divide, he said, adding the agency and the family need to drop efforts to convey only the "right" image.

"People are talking about imperial family members as they like, even though they don't know what the members are actually thinking," Mori said. "The family members should show themselves from different angles" and show their human sides more to gain people's empathy.

Related coverage:

Japan crown prince says need for accurate updates on imperial family

FOCUS: Royal expert pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth's "steadfastness"

FOCUS: Mental health issues show women bear brunt of Japan monarchy system
American woman was last seen at an AIB on the Sandymount Road almost 30 years ago Gardai believe the 26-year-old came to a foul demise

Detectives have upgraded the disappearance of Annie McCarrick to a murder investigation.

The American woman was 26-years-old when she was last seen alive 30 years ago.

The last confirmed sighting of her was at an AIB on Sandymount Road while there were further subsequent sightings later that day.

This morning Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said that they were upgrading the case to a murder investigation.

He said they were satisfied from the information available to the investigation team that she more than likely "came to a foul demise".

Det Supt Carroll said the investigation had only been upgraded and they wouldn't be ruling any suspects in or out at this stage.

He also said there have been advances in investigative techniques which may assist the inquiry.

As part of the garda inquiry, investigators have discovered and collated over 5,000 documents and reports, taken over 300 statements of evidence, and retained several exhibits.On the day of her disappearance she spoke to her flatmates before they left separately to travel home for the weekend.

Shortly before 11am she visited the Allied Irish Bank on Sandymount Road to carry out some personal banking.

This, gardai say, is the last confirmed sighting of Annie McCarrick which was captured on CCTV.

At the time she had made arrangements with friends inviting them to her apartment for dinner the following day.

She was also expecting her mother Nancy to visit on March 30.

Gardai say there have been subsequent reported sightings of Annie in the Sandymount Green area, boarding the No. 44 bus to Enniskerry.

There were further subsequent sightings of her in Enniskerry Village and at Johnny Fox's pub.

Gardai today said they were not discounting these sightings but that the last confirmed sighting of Annie was at the AIB which was captured on CCTV.

After she wasn't seen for several days friends became concerned for her welfare and reported her missing on March 28 to gardai at Irishtown garda station.

As part of the garda inquiry the senior investigating officer and Det Supt Eddie Carroll have recently visited her mother Nancy in the US.

This morning he also said: "There are person or persons, who have information on the disappearance of Annie McCarrick and her murder on or about March 26, 1993, who haven't yet spoken to gardai or who may have already spoken to gardai but were not in a position to tell everything that they know at the time".
Campaigner Davie, from Fermanagh, says their openness will help Willis, as well as the people who are quietly coping with the bombshell diagnosis.

Davie, who has the same form of dementia as the actor, says theres no doubt Willis has been robbed of opportunities.

The Die Hard star retired from the big screen last year after developing language issues, and his family told the world recently hed been diagnosed with frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTD).

But campaigner Davie, from Fermanagh, says their openness will help Willis, as well as the people who are quietly coping with the bombshell diagnosis.

Its shocking in the career hes had and its shocking now in this stage of life. Its robbed him of everything, says the dad of two.

Theres still a person there, but breaking the stigma and education is the big thing.

The 67-year-old star announced last March he was giving up acting after struggling with aphasia, a language disorder which affects how people communicate, and can leave them struggling to find everyday words.

Wife Emma Heming and his ex, Demi Moore, revealed in a family statement last month that hed been diagnosed with FTD and described the familys relief at having a diagnosis.

We know in our hearts that  if he could today  he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families, said the statement.

Emma, who has two daughters with Bruce, has since asked the paparazzi not to yell at the star in the street in case it causes him distress and has reached out to other dementia carers for advice.

Davie, who turns 60 next week, was just 54 and working full time as a chef when he got his diagnosis. He says support is key for people with dementia and Willis family are doing the right thing.

He has the behavioural variant of the condition, which affects the ability to plan, solve problems and focus on a task, while the actor has primary progressive aphasia, which as well as communication will impact his ability to recognise familiar faces and objects.

In my case the family realised it, but I was in denial, says Davie.

His memory issues came to a head when he couldnt find his car in a supermarket car park and was referred to the memory clinic.

It took me the guts of a year to come to terms with it personally. Just that it had happened to me and I didnt see much of a future. Pure denial was holding me back at that time. I really thought I had weeks to live, he says.

Thankfully my family have been very open to it and know the pace I go at sometimes and just go along with it. My son and daughter look out for me, and my wife Alison.

Hollywood star Bruce Willis has the same Dementia as Davie

Try and support the person and if theyre struggling just try and nudge them. Dont contradict or question them or dont put people over things. If I cant remember something, they leave it at that.

Just go with the person and get as full an understanding a you can of the condition and what it entails.

He turned a corner after reaching out to Dementia NI, and now sits on its board. Davie has also become a regular at the Mens Shed in Lisnaskea in Fermanagh and says while hes lost his love for TV and reading newspapers, hes found a new passion in model building, puzzles, swimming and music.

The campaigner says brain fog and frustration can be an issue for people like himself and Willis but getting the right help and being open about the condition is life-changing.

At Dementia NI its all peer support. We support one another very well. It doesnt take away from the diagnosis, but it helps with that shock. Just to hear someone else talk about it is a big thing. We strive every day to break the stigma and educate. Its nothing to be feared. The person just gets on with their life the best they can.

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming

FTD is usually diagnosed in people younger than the actor. It occurs when disease affects the frontal and temporal lobes and breaks down connections between them and other parts of the brain.

People meeting Davie for the first time are often surprised to learn he has dementia. There is no cure for the condition but hes on a drug therapy which helps to slow down some of his symptoms.

He struggles with coins and notes and gets annoyed at being unable to finish a task, and the condition has also affected his hearing.

I set out to do something and then it just goes blank and I cant remember what I was going to do, says Davie.

I try not to let it impact on my life at all. There are still small things going on with speech and memory, but I work hard at it. I probably notice more things than other people would notice.

I try not to dwell on it. I dont live in the past, that cant be changed. I try every day and I look forward a day or two, but I dont have big plans for the future. As every day comes, I deal with it.

I sometimes worry that people think if Im doing well it makes them feel bad if theyre not just doing so well themselves. Im always conscious of that.

He says the biggest impact of the movie stars diagnosis is that it will shine a light on a condition which is usually associated with the elderly.

It does highlight it when a very recognisable person is diagnosed. It helps to reduce the stigma.

Its sad for the person involved. The only thing is there are thousands of people dealing with this daily.

It takes a star to have dementia for people to realise its there. Dont get me wrong, its terrible for anyone, but there are thousands every day getting on with their lives, says Davie.
The judge accepted Perry worked as a commentator and journalist, but said the notes were of a sinister nature.

A PARAMILITARY pensioner convicted in court this week has republican links going back generations  including an IRA grandfather who died in prison during the Second World War.

Fionnghuale Mary Teresa Dymphna Perry (65), of Waterville Street off the Falls Road in west Belfast, was found guilty in the Crown Court of a string of terror charges.

At her trial in January, Nuala Perry  as she is also known  denied a charge of collecting or making a record of information likely to be of use to terrorists.

It related to a republican security debrief after police recovered firearms, ammunitions and explosives from another property on Ballymurphy Road.

Perry further denied possessing documents likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

During her non-jury Diplock Court trial, Judge John OHara was told by senior prosecution lawyer how police found the relevant material in an upstairs spare bedroom during a search of Perrys west Belfast home five years ago.

Police seized a box of Chloe perfume and inside, officers found seven cigarette papers with hand-written notes on them containing information about arms and explosives.

The notes also contained names and initials of people interviewed in connection with the arms find in Ballymurphy.

In interviews in a PSNI custody suite, Perry refused to answer any questions in connection with the police find.

But during her trial, Perry put forward a defence claiming that as she was a journalist who commented on security matters she had a reasonable excuse for possessing such material.

She also claimed she didnt know what the notes meant and she explained she had destroyed the originals.

But in a reserved judgment, Mr Justice OHara said: I do not believe the defendants account. And he added that her account wasnt credible and made no sense.

The judge accepted Perry worked as a commentator and journalist, but said the notes were of a sinister nature.

He released Perry on continuing bail and said he will pass sentence later in the month.

The Sunday World has learned that two of Nuala Perrys relatives were also convicted of serious republican terror charges.

On July 7, 1942, Terence Perry (27), from Ton Street, Belfast, died in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight after he fell ill. He was Nuala Perrys grandfather.

Perry was a member of the IRAs D Coy based in the Falls area and he was serving a sentence for explosives when he died as a result of ill-treatment. He was one of a number of Belfast IRA men involved in the failed S plan to attack England while Britain was at war with Germany.

His remains were returned to Belfast and he was buried in the republican plot in Milltown Cemetery. Thousands of sympathisers attended the funeral and a republican accordion band was named in his honour.

Also in 1942, 21-year-old Jimmy Perry  another of Nuala Perrys relatives  was sentenced to be hanged after he was convicted along with other IRA men of the murder of a Catholic police officer in the Clonard area.

His sentence and that of four others was later commuted to hard labour for life, although Tom Williams  the IRA leader  was hanged in Crumlin Road Prison in September 1942.
Its reported that the split arose due to work commitments putting strain on the relationship

Colin Farrell has reportedly split from his girlfriend of five years.

The Irish actor, 46, is said to have ended things with Kelly MacNamara who has been dating on and off since 2017.

Its reported that the split arose due to work commitments putting strain on the relationship. He spent months working on that along with the last Batman blockbuster, where he played Penguin."

A source told The Sun: 'Colin is the man of the moment in film thanks to his role in The Banshees Of Inisherin.

"Colins schedule took its toll on his relationship with Kelly and they quietly called it quits."

"There is no bad feeling between them but upholding a romantic relationship when your work schedule is so demanding became difficult to juggle.

Colin and Kelly, who works as a PA for U2 guitarist The Edge, have been dating since 2017.

Opening up about their busy schedules previously, Colin said: "My girlfriend, she travels a lot as well with work so often times were two ships passing in the night. But we make sure to find a port that we can, you know, rendezvous at."

When asked on the Ellen show if she was in the business, the star said that she is not, before explaining: She travels a lot in her work and she works very hard.

But yeah, It's been quite awhile now.

Colin Farrell with his son Henry

He added he adored his partner Kelly.

Colin the Oscars earlier this month where he was nominated for Best Actor for his role of Padraic Suilleabhain in The Banshees of Inisherin.

The Castleknock star brought his son Henry (13) as his plus one with the pair wearing matching tuxedos.

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.

Its understood his other son James (19) who he shares ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave, watched from home.
Ive always loved animals and been involved in animal rescue, said Ms Martin, who has 13 dogs at home.

Linda Martin and Louis Walsh at the official launch of her new sanctuary, The Dublin Dog Hub. Pics: Steve Humphreys

Former Eurovision winner Linda Martin has officially launched her new dog sanctuary in north Dublin.

Ian McKellen was unable to make it, but familiar faces such as Louis Walsh and Anne Doyle joined in the ribbon cutting for The Dublin Dog Hub in Meakstown, Finglas.

Lord of the Rings star McKellen had hoped to attend, but could not make todays event due to rehearsals for Mother Goose at the Bord Gais Theatre.

Newly-built kennels, a veterinary area and facilities have been installed on the site which has been in the works for the past two years.

Ive always loved animals and been involved in animal rescue, said Ms Martin, who has 13 dogs at home.

Horses, dogs, cats, you name it, its come through my house over the years. When Ashtown pound closed two years ago, I thought right, Im going to put my money where my mouth is.

I applied for planning permission on this land and that took nearly two years. Today Im about 90pc finished, there are still lots of things that have to be fixed, but Im here, she added.

Although the centre is not officially open yet, it has already received a number of requests to take in dogs this week.

I cant take anything at the minute, we are not operational yet, Linda said, adding she is not yet able to give an official opening date.

The sanctuary owner said buying new puppies as Christmas or birthday presents for children is wrong, and urged people to consider whether they have the time and space for a pet.

When we went into lockdown parents were buying puppies to entertain the children, and of course they go back to work and the kids get fed up of the dog, she said.

Linda Martin holds Bell and Bo at The Dublin Dog Hub at Meakstown, Finglas

Suddenly they need to return it, and the puppy farmers wont take them back, so it falls on the rescue centres.

We have the laws, we just dont have the resources and the staff to put those laws into operation. We have to enforce it and there has to be control put on puppy farmers, she added.

Long-time friend Louis Walsh, who attended todays launch, said: Linda is all about animal rights, she was always into animals and saving them.

This is something she has always dreamt about and she has put blood, sweat and tears into this.

Im delighted its open. If you have a dog you have to love them and you have to care for them. Theyre like people, and Linda says they are more loyal.

They always love you, even if you are in good form or bad form, he added.

Locals came out to visit the sanctuary today and performances were given by Irish dancers and musicians, before Fr Damien OReilly blessed the sanctuary.
By Takaki Tominaga, KYODO NEWS - Dec 31, 2022 - 08:53 | Feature, All, World, Japan

The number of Indonesian technical trainees in Japan is rising as the recent slide of the yen against the U.S. dollar and other currencies has discouraged trainees from some other countries to come to Japan.

The demographic shift in Japan's foreign technical trainee program has also come about as the result of the differing costs for trainees to come to Japan. Indonesians pay less than those from Vietnam and other nations, for example, according to experts on foreign workers.

According to a survey conducted by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan in 2022, Vietnamese pay the highest amount to agencies and intermediary groups to travel to Japan at 688,143 yen ($5,200) on average, while Indonesians pay 235,343 yen. The average amount a foreign trainee pays is 542,311 yen.

"We have begun hearing supervising organizations claim it has become more difficult to attract Vietnamese candidates," said Kosuke Yamazaki, assistant manager of the sales and marketing department at Tokyo-based Unidos Co., the operator of money transfer service Kyodai Remittance.

While Vietnamese still account for the largest segment of the foreign trainee population as of the end of June, with their number at 181,957, up 13.3 percent from the end of 2021, that of Indonesian trainees jumped 56.7 percent to 39,177, according to the agency.

The recent yen's weakness means trainees, who often support their families back home, are unable to remit as much money as they had expected.

The depreciation of the Japanese currency has also increased the financial burden on foreign technical trainees who are in debt as the result of migration costs to Japan.

Many foreign trainees borrow money to pay agency and intermediary group fees, and about 55 percent of them were in debt before they arrived in Japan, with average debt for Vietnamese trainees standing at 674,480 yen, data released by the Japanese agency in July showed.

Indonesian trainees, however, owe an average 282,417 yen, the data showed -- the difference the result of lower agency fees and the kind of schemes offered in each country.

"Due to rising competition to hire Vietnamese trainees, many Japanese companies have shifted their target to Indonesian trainees," said Tsuneo Hayashi, Japan director of Ganesha Karya Abadi, an agency for trainees based in Bali, during an interview in Tokyo.

Against such a backdrop, Indonesia's labor ministry, in cooperation with other bodies including Kyodai Remittance, held an event in late November in Tokyo for dispatching agencies in Indonesia and supervising organizations in Japan, along with registered organizations supporting foreign interns.

Indonesia's labor minister Ida Fauziyah said at the event that Japan and Indonesia can complement the needs of one another through the intern trainee program.

Indonesia is in dire need of employment opportunities, especially those for young people, as the jobless rate is deteriorating amid the prolonging impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to JOE Cooperative, a support organization for foreign technical trainees headquartered in Tokyo and Nagoya.

The Indonesian government and JOE Cooperative have signed an agreement to provide subsidies and scholarships to thousands of Indonesian trainees in Japan so that they can avoid being trapped in deep debt.

The project will officially begin in fiscal 2023 following a pilot project, according to the organization.

Since the establishment of the government-sponsored technical intern training program in 1993, problems have been reported at numerous companies that employ foreign trainees, such as wages below the legal minimum, violations of safety regulations, and unpaid overtime.

Since early December, a panel of the Japanese government has been reviewing the foreign technical intern program to address issues relating to human rights violations.

According to the immigration services agency, about 7,000 trainees ran away from their designated workplace in 2021.

Critics have pointed out that eliminating or narrowing the gap between foreign trainees' expectations and actual labor conditions in Japan will partly lead to the prevention of runaway trainees and other problems.

Japan will need 6.74 million foreign workers in 2040 to sustain its target annual economic growth of 1.24 percent, according to an estimate by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a government-linked aid agency.
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Jan 14, 2023 - 09:59 | All, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's weeklong trip to Europe and North America laid the groundwork for tackling China-Taiwan tensions ahead of May's Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima.

Kishida agreed with his French, Italian, British, Canadian and U.S. counterparts that their nations will expand security ties after Tokyo made a major shift in its defense policy in December in the face of China's widening military presence in the Asia-Pacific.

With approval ratings for his Cabinet nearing what is widely seen as the "danger level" of 30 percent due to several scandals and gaffes by ministers, the premier's diplomatic activities may contribute to improving his popularity, observers said.

But some pundits say Kishida, a self-proclaimed dove, should not attempt to leverage the Taiwan issue to prop up his domestic fortunes, as any challenge to China in tandem with the G-7 will hurt Sino-Japanese relations, in turn destabilizing the regional security environment.

Beijing and self-ruled democratic Taipei have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war.

Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is "an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community," according to a joint statement released after their summit in Washington on Friday.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland. President Xi Jinping, who secured an unprecedented third, five-year term as head of the ruling Communist Party in October, has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Beijing has lambasted Japan, the United States and other G-7 members for striving to build an "anti-China" alliance in Asia and establish an Asian version of NATO.

The G-7 allies have been also trying to reinforce economic cooperation to end reliance on China in the global supply chain, promoting the division of the world into two groups -- Western democratic countries and what they call autocratic nations.

Kishida, a veteran lawmaker representing a constituency in Hiroshima, is scheduled to host the G-7 summit to be held for three days from May 19 in the western Japan city devastated by a U.S. atomic bombing in August 1945.

At the gathering, Kishida is set to pitch his vision of a world without nuclear weapons amid fears that Russia might use an atomic device against Ukraine in the ongoing war. He also will look to demonstrate the G7's commitment to rejecting any attempt to change the status quo by force.

In December, Japan pledged to obtain enemy base strike capabilities under the war-renouncing Constitution to deter attacks on its territory and almost double its annual defense spending to about 2 percent of gross domestic product over the next five years, on par with NATO members.

The decision came after China carried out large-scale military drills near Taiwan in early August in retaliation for the visit to the island by former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the then third-highest-ranking official in the country.

Some ballistic missiles fired from China fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone, prompting Kishida to "become seriously wary of Beijing's military threat" and "more eager to receive support from the G-7 states," a diplomatic source said.

Stephen Nagy, senior associate professor at International Christian University in Tokyo, said, "Japan continues to walk a fine line in terms of its economic relations with China and its serious security concerns," which have "only deepened" under Xi's rule.

Around four months before the summit in Hiroshima, Kishida's meeting with the G-7 leaders has strengthened Japan's reputation as a "security partner that shares similar concerns about China and the fate of Taiwan," Nagy said.

On the domestic political front, Nagy said, "Japanese leaders benefit from proactive foreign policy achievements as it is one of the only areas where the public can expect to see change."

"Enhanced security cooperation commitments, the international stage and Kishida being seen as a leader accepted by other G-7 leaders may give him a temporary boost in approval," he added.

In a survey by Kyodo News in December, the support rate for Kishida's Cabinet stood at 33.1 percent, the lowest level since he took office in October 2021, while it topped 60 percent shortly after his ruling party's victory in the upper house election in July.

Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, said Japan's hosting of the G-7 summit this year would provide a window of opportunity for the nation to review its diplomatic strategy toward China.

"There are no signs that China is willing to make any significant concessions on key issues such as Taiwan and the disputed Senkaku Islands," administrated by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing, in the East China Sea, Kingston said.

"Kishida has bolstered deterrence with his recent initiatives, so it might be a good time to hit the reset button on diplomacy. He may be irritating China but Beijing has also been provocative so diplomacy is necessary to dial down the recriminations," he added.

Other foreign experts, however, warn that in order to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Kishida should refrain from meddling in the Taiwan issue unless Japan is prepared to take responsibility in case of a contingency surrounding the island.

Victor Teo, a former research fellow at the University of Cambridge, said Kishida's move is "unnerving" Beijing, as Xi might believe Japan is "actively trying to split Taiwan from China."

"If Japan has Taiwan's interests at heart, I think the best thing to do is work to mend ties with China and distance" itself from Taiwan, said the political scientist who specializes in international relations in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Giving Taiwan false hope that Tokyo would commit to help Taiwan at all costs in the event of a military incursion is actually not very responsible," he said.

As for Kishida, Teo also cast doubt on the prime minister's political maneuvering, touching on his abrupt proposal to raise taxes to finance an envisioned expansion of Japan's defense spending, which has already increased public distrust of his government.

The buildup of defense capabilities "requires money, and this extraction of funds from taxpayers is unlikely to make him more popular," he said.

Related coverage:

Kishida, Biden vow to boost Japan defense capabilities, eyeing Taiwan
The launch of Yachting New Zealands Moanamana schools programme is a proud and epic moment for top Kiwi sailors and environmental advocates Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.

Moanamana was designed to engage schools, kura and their communities in marine ecosystem restoration projects that will build New Zealand's Blue Belt and follows on from the success of the first two modules  Kokokaha and Korinorino.

The event, hosted in partnership with Sport New Zealand and Live Ocean, saw local children and parents interact with SailGP athletes from New Zealand through a series of fun activities like discovering the many faces of our marine ecosystems, exploring kapehu whetu  the Maori star compass, learning water skills for life and testing their abilities with some gutter-boat racing.

It took place at Naval Point Club Lyttelton on Wednesday, March 15.

It also preceded the inaugural ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, unfolding March 18-19 on the Whakaraupo Harbour.

Burling, the New Zealand SailGP team driver and co-founder of the Live Ocean Foundation, says programmes like Moanamana are a big step in the right direction.

It makes us incredibly proud as a team to be helping Yachting New Zealand launch the Moanamana schools programme. It's amazing to see so many kids going around all these different stations and learning lots about different parts of the ocean, says Burling TVNZs Breakfast.

For us as a team, our purpose is a big part of what we're all about, and it's been amazing to see so many kids get involved in it.

Natalia Groom, Yachting NZs RUNA Kaiwhakahaere  education lead, says Moanamana is part of the organisations strategy to integrate boating and yachting clubs into their wider community, strengthen relationships with schools and kura and create a sense of whanaungatanga.



Moanamana was developed as part of Sport New Zealands In Our Backyard project to provide quality physical activity experiences for tamariki and rangatahi and is aimed at encouraging schools and local communities to understand and get involved in setting up local marine restoration projects to help build New Zealand's Blue Belt."

Sport NZs In Our Backyard initiative is an educational project for schools and kura, which provides new opportunities for students to learn about the environment through sport, as New Zealand hosts a series of major sporting events.

Moanamana was recently selected as part of the Governments 'Unlocking Curious Minds' initiative and is supported by Sport NZ's Strengthen and Adapt (S&A) project, which aims to create unique and significant opportunities to assist with driving change and to help create a stronger sector for the benefit of New Zealanders into the future.

The launch also celebrated Naval Point Club Lyttelton becoming Yachting NZ's second tier-one RUNA hub  clubs equipped with the capacity and equipment to run all three modules  following a successful trial at Worser Bay Boating Club.

Moanamana aims to engage schools, kura and their communities in marine ecosystem restoration projects. Photo: Yachting New Zealand.

According to Groom, several other clubs around the country will also become tier-one clubs in due course.

Tuke, who along with Burling won Olympic gold in the 49er, said Moanamana offered a learning experience for everyone.

To have the chance to learn about so many different parts of the coastline, what the ocean does for us, what they as kids can do  even what we do  its an awesome opportunity," he said.

You're seeing it more and more but to have this now as a schools programme getting launched, the kids are going to reach around Aotearoa. It's epic.
Making a dustpan handle sound like a flute Investigative musicians Joaquin Sanchez Gil and Miguel Guinea transform everyday objects into instruments which perform just like the real thing

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Mischievous yes, although above all - just like most kids - curious about the world. That is how Joaquin Sanchez Gil and Miguel Guinea remember their childhoods.

"I made instruments from old detergent bottles to play with my siblings and my cousins," Seville-born Miguel Guinea told SUR.

"I used to love taking things apart. I started playing clarinet in the local village band because of that - I loved all the different keys and the anatomy of it," said Joaquin Sanchez, looking back at his childhood in Almargen, in Malaga province, where he was born.

The two curious little boys did not meet until they both ended up studying at the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Granada. There, the pair put their curious minds together, which led to the creation of what is now known as Vibra-To: an educational musical project in which new instruments are created from everyday objects and even broken items.

When Sanchez Gil and Guinea met they never imagined that their lives would still be entwined twenty years later thanks to music.

"While studying for our degrees we worked on something that engendered this project, but we never imagined that we'd get so far", said Miguel Guinea.

They began performing live in 2006 and are currently going on national and international tours, showing how these everyday objects can be given a second life, producing a sound that leaves nothing to be desired when compared to the original instruments.

The instruments can range from the long handle of a dustpan made to sound like a flute, to an EQ visualiser made with a tin can, a mirror, and a balloon.

"They're unusual, unconventional instruments that are made out of waste materials. Dustpans that emit ancient melodies, jazzy shower heads, tin cans converted into guitars and tambourines, bottles, funnels, combs, tubes... they all make sounds!" explained the two musical investigators, who performed at SUR's recent Accion Solidaria gala.

Those present for their performance were blown away by Miguel and Joaquin's small but impressive performance, with some audience members commenting that they couldn't believe what they had seen.

One of Vibra-To's strengths is the ability to wow their audience. "For a long time, people were fascinated by screens but now that we're surrounded by technology and everything has become digital, a balloon or a piece of rope can be more interesting; it's a sort of return to analogue," said Joaquin Sanchez.

"The foundation of our shows lies in the spectacle that we create not only with music, but also with science experiments that we create by manipulating all the various elements that we work with. These days we're too informed and excessively digitised but there are objects all around us that we can use in so many ways," added Guinea.

Their passion and curiosity remains intact. "For us, this is like bringing together everything that we like into one big idea: ecology, world music, acoustic physics, travel... Put all of these things into a cocktail shaker and you get Vibra-To; we're formatting our passions into a way of life. Furthermore, we're working with something real because a stick or an empty tube are simple things; there are no hidden truths or deeper intentions like an internet app might have," explained the Malaga musician and investigator.

Children and teachers

Their love for world music and instruments comes to life in their concerts, workshops for teachers and children, talks, and TV and radio appearances. "The most educational component of our group is our work with schools and music collges. We also work in the world of theatre and on marketing campaigns for some brands," they added.

"We always make it a collaborative experience to be shared with the audience, bringing people on stage to participate in the experiments. We're currently training teachers in the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville so that they can build instruments at their schools. After that, we organise a show for the children to show off the instruments that they created," they explained.

This is how Sanchez Gil and Guinea make music: giving a second life to everyday objects that people see all the time without thinking of the sound they could make.

Objects like the dustpan handle that can imitate a flute, the funnel that sounds like a trumpet, or the tin can that forms part of a new sort of "guitar".

"All of this is down to curiosity, always wanting to learn more," concluded Sanchez Gil.
A travel writer for the publication has noted the positive change in the town, reporting that it has gone "from tacky to arty"

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Malaga city is the subject of numerous international listings and articles in magazines around the globe, but it is not so common for a newspaper as long-established and renowned as The Times to focus on a specific town in the province. But now, this acclaimed British title, founded in 1785, has published an extensive report in which travel writer, Stephen Emms, recounted his surprising and positive visit to Torremolinos.

The journalist explained that he is a regular visitor to Malaga city, which is one of his favourite cities, however, he pointed out that he had never before considered visiting Torremolinos and that he did not hesitate to do so this time, as he had heard about its recent regeneration. He found that, like Lanzarote and Benidorm, Torremolinos has gone "from tacky to arty".

He delved a little into the tourist history of the Costa del Sol town, recalling its moment of international expansion between the 50s and 60s, but he also notes that from the 90s onwards, its popularity plummeted. So the writer was delighted to see that Torremolinos pays homage to some of the famous faces that visited, such as Frank Sinatra, Brigitte Bardot and Salvador Dali, with murals. He also noted the political mural in Pasaje Begona, which references the Francoist crackdown on the pioneering gay bars.

The writer highlighted the friendly atmosphere, the gastronomic offering, the good climate and the harmony between shopkeepers and tourists. He also highlighted the harmony that Torremolinos manages to create between the busiest tourist areas, with the small corners and alleys, even in the area of the Carihuela.
By Maya Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Jan 2, 2023 - 11:12 | World, All, Feature

China is expected to focus on economic recovery in 2023 following its shift to living with COVID-19 after relaxing its draconian restrictions in the face of public frustration, with any attempt to invade Taiwan seen as unlikely in the near term.

China appears to be making a hard landing in its exit from President Xi Jinping's signature "zero-COVID" policy involving lockdowns implemented since the start of the pandemic. Infections are exploding as a lack of drugs, strain on the medical system and ditched efforts to correctly count virus cases causes widespread confusion.

The Chinese economy was already slowing due to the stringent antivirus measures, with dampened consumption, disrupted supply chains and a relatively high youth unemployment rate, but the rapid spread of the virus is expected to weigh on growth for some time.

"Xi will be more attentive to economic issues in China in 2023. The issues accompanying the relaxation of rigid anti-COVID controls will keep the Xi government busy," said Tai Wan-chin, a professor emeritus at Tamkang University in New Taipei City.

Ke Long, a senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, told a recent press conference he believes China's economy will "somewhat" recover in 2023 compared with the previous year.

But he added that it is "too early to have high expectations" given the difficulty of implementing policies during what he called a "political vacuum" between the start of Xi's norm-breaking third five-year term as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party last October and the launch of a new government leadership during an annual session of the National People's Congress, the country's parliament, this March.

Ke also warned of social instability if public opposition to the Xi leadership escalates after rare nationwide protests against the zero-COVID policy in late 2022 led to what appeared to be concessions by the government.

Shin Kawashima, a professor at the University of Tokyo, said that whether Xi can continue to be responsive to the public mood while also showing resilience will be key for the Chinese government in 2023.

As China increases its military pressure on Taiwan following U.S House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled democratic island last August, senior U.S. military officers have warned that Beijing could attempt to forcibly take control of what it views as a renegade province as soon as 2023.

However, Ke dismissed such a scenario, saying China would face difficulties covering the cost of a war as, unlike Russia, which invaded its neighbor Ukraine, the Asian country does not have abundant natural resources such as oil and gas for export.

"If you want to wage a war, your economy should have achieved a certain level of growth and accumulated savings. But China's economic growth has significantly decelerated," Ke said.

In the first nine months of 2022, China's economy expanded 3.0 percent from a year earlier, with analysts predicting China is unlikely to have achieved its growth target of around 5.5 percent for the year.

Tai also said a summit between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden in Bali, Indonesia, in November "seemed to have eased the apprehension over an immediate military collision" between the United States and China.

In the talks, the two leaders agreed to develop "principles" to manage their intensifying competition, and Biden told a post-summit press conference that he sees no "imminent attempt" by China to attack Taiwan.

The U.S. president has publicly acknowledged that Washington would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion, even though the United States has officially maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding the use of military force in response to a Chinese attack on Taipei.

Kawashima said China has suggested annexation of Taiwan is a long-term goal to be achieved by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and that it is still in the first of three stages toward that target.

In the first stage, China is in the process of boosting its military capability to be able to seize the island while also using the pressure of cyberattacks and the spread of fake news as well as trade sanctions to induce the Taiwanese people to accept the prospect of unification with the mainland, he said.

If those measures do not prove effective, Beijing could proceed to the second stage of raising stress levels, including attacking and occupying a remote Taiwanese island, and eventually could resort to the third stage of considering attacks on the main island, Kawashima said.

"I don't think (China) will immediately jump to the third stage and I believe Taiwanese people have the same opinion," he said.

Kawashima rejected speculation that China could enter a conflict with Taiwan or the United States in a bid to divert public attention if it faces mounting domestic pressure from people unhappy with government policies, calling such an option "too risky."

If such a move failed, the Xi government could further lose public confidence, he added.

With China eager to put the economy on a post-pandemic path to recovery and control public discontent in 2023, Beijing must avoid diplomatic headaches, and therefore no significant changes are expected in its relations with other nations including Japan, he added.

Even though Xi has recently been engaged in a charm offensive to improve the country's image and stabilize China's relations with the United States and other major countries, there have been no substantial changes in Beijing's policies, he said.

As for Japan, a source familiar with bilateral ties said the two Asian countries' relations have "bottomed out," with Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreeing in November in Bangkok to work to stabilize bilateral ties.

The two neighbors' relations have been precarious over a territorial row and Beijing's increased military pressure on Taiwan, which is close to Japan's southwestern islands.

The source said, however, that bilateral ties will still face difficulties going forward, with Beijing expressing opposition to Tokyo's recently adopted new security strategy, which describes China as Japan's "greatest strategic challenge."

Issues related to China will also likely be among major agenda items at a Group of Seven summit to be held in Japan in May, which may trigger a sharp reaction from Beijing, the source added, pointing to the need for "crisis management" in bilateral ties.

Related coverage:

China's Xi seeks public's perseverance after easing of COVID policy

Taiwan calls on Japan to promote security cooperation to tackle China

U.S. OKs potential $180 million sale of anti-tank systems to Taiwan
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Police agencies in Central New York were very busy over the St. Patricks Day weekend enforcing the laws and arresting people on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and many other offenses.

The Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter of arrests from police agencies around Central New York has been updated today, and 50 of those arrests were for people suspected of DWI.
By Reito Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Jan 9, 2023 - 10:14 | All, Japan

Japan will start strengthening its defense posture from this year based on three key documents that the government revised last December to better adapt to the deteriorating security environment in the surrounding region.

In its most extensive defense buildup since World War II, Japan will spend 43 trillion yen ($326 billion) over five years from fiscal 2023, a major increase from the 27.5 trillion yen earmarked for the existing five-year plan from fiscal 2019, according to the new strategy announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

One of its most critical features is the country's pledge to acquire "counterstrike capabilities," allowing it to strike enemy territory directly in the event of an emergency.

Based on the war-renouncing Constitution, Tokyo had previously avoided possessing such capabilities, relying instead on the United States to be both "spear and shield." However, according to the new strategy, the capabilities would only be used within the scope of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

The turning point for Japan has been Chinese bellicosity, with its surging military expenditure, challenges to the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region and growing provocations against Taiwan, as well as North Korea's rapid advances in missile technology and increased pace of ballistic missiles launches since last year.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine also contributed to the decision to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities, according to Japanese officials.

Kishida explained when announcing the new strategy that the counterstrike capabilities would be a deterrent to discourage a potential enemy from attacking. The documents say the capabilities will both "deter an armed attack itself" and "prevent further attacks" if the deterrence fails.

"The move comes as Japan aims to maintain the status quo against challengers. Counterstrike capabilities are vital as they are expected to become one of the critical components to enhance deterrence vis-a-vis China," said Satoru Mori, an international security expert at Keio University.

Japan also needs to strengthen its integrated missile defense capability, cyber defense and the ability to counter disinformation to have a credible deterrence, he said.

To obtain counterstrike capabilities covering China and North Korea, Japan is slated to develop homemade missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and begin deploying them in fiscal 2026.

Until it is able to mass-produce those missiles, Japan will also procure U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, which have a strike range of about 1,600 km.

The capabilities are likely to make China and North Korea feel less confident of successfully achieving their goals through force against Japan as their ability to follow up on first strikes would be hampered, said Sugio Takahashi, head of the Defense Policy Division at the National Institute for Defense Studies.

Although a recent Kyodo News poll suggests that 50.3 percent support acquiring such capabilities while 42.6 percent disapprove, 64.9 percent oppose a plan to raise corporate and tobacco taxes to finance the increase in defense spending.

There are also concerns that the capabilities could be used preemptively since the government's standpoint is that Japan can also launch strikes to prevent attacks being prepared by adversaries.

Kenta Izumi, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said in a statement that he opposes acquiring the capabilities. He argued that in practice, preparations to attack are difficult to perceive and that attacks in such circumstances could be regarded as a first strike, which the Constitution bans.

Security experts oppose the notion of attacking when potential adversaries are preparing to strike.

"If we look at the ongoing war in Ukraine, attaining the international community's support is vital. It is extremely important and necessary to make clear who the aggressor is," said Mori.

"Japan should use the capabilities after it is attacked as it would be able to intercept the first and possibly the second wave of ballistic missiles with the BMD," Takahashi said, referring to the Ballistic Missile Defense system that Japan has developed to defend against missiles attacks.

Outside Japan, South Korea reacted to the plan to acquire the capabilities by saying consultations and agreement would be necessary beforehand if Japan were to exercise counterstrikes on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea and China both lambasted the documents. Beijing said that Japan's "hyping up of the China threat to find an excuse for its military buildup is doomed to fail."

Discussions of possible scenarios of an emergency over Taiwan have emerged as Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, repeatedly stresses that it does not rule out the use of force to bring the self-ruled democratic island under its control.

Takahashi said capabilities to target missile launch pads could be practical against North Korea, but, for China, it would be adequate to aim at air bases or vessels because its targets would be islands, whether Taiwan or the Senkaku Islands.

The Senkakus are a group of East China Sea islets controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.

Mori said the counterstrike capabilities should reduce China's confidence in achieving its primary goal of seizing Taiwan by force.

Related coverage:

Japan, U.K. to promote new communications network amid China concern

U.S. intelligence included in state secrets leaked by MSDF captain
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Massachusetts state inmate pleaded guilty Friday to mailing bomb threats from prison to a federal judge, a Central New York congressman and Sen. Chuck Schumer, federal prosecutors said.

Dennis J. Nelson, 51, admitted to mailing threats in 2018 and 2019 to U.S. District Judge Thomas McAvoy in Binghamton, then-Congressman Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) to his Utica office and Schumer while being held in Mohawk Correctional Facility in Oneida County, according to a news release by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York.

In the letter to McAvoy, Nelson threatened to bomb the federal courthouse in Binghamton, prosecutors said.

Nelsons defense attorney attempted an insanity defense, saying Nelson may have had a mental health illness that made him incapable of understanding the consequences of the charges he was facing, according to court filings.

After a mental health evaluation, U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian Payson ruled Nelson was competent to stand trial.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of mailing threatening letters. He faces up to a seven-year prison sentence, prosecutors said.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950.
Oswego, N.Y. Oswego County Jail staff ignored a dying prisoner for four hours before they sought medical care for him as he was dying, according to a state watchdog.

The New York State Commission of Correction issued a review of the death of Ronald D. Hallenbeck, 55, of Oswego, who died while in custody at the jail. Hallenbeck died due to complications of diabetes mellitus with bronchopneumonia on Feb. 29, 2020, according to the report. The report was finalized on Sept. 28, 2021.

The commission ruled Hallenbecks death could have been prevented and ordered the Oswego County Legislature to have an independent investigation.

The state called Hallenbecks treatment shockingly substandard and an act of patient abandonment.

Hallenbeck had told corrections officers he could not breathe, but they ignored him, state officials said.

The Oswego County Sheriffs Office declined to comment. Oswego County Legislator Marc Greco, chair of the legislatures public safety committee, declined to comment this week, citing pending litigation. Hallenbecks wife, Joanne Hallenbeck, is suing the jail, physicians, and sheriffs office.

Ronald Hallenbeck was taken into custody at the jail on Jan. 21, 2020, for a violation of probation, officials said. He was serving a 10-month sentence.

The report said Hallenbeck was medically fragile and mentions him needed multiple medications and had multiple medical conditions including renal failure and cardiac failure.

When being booked into the jail he fell and needed two staff members to help him back up, officials said. Hallenbeck denied having an injury, but staff reported seeing a small scrape on his wrist. He was medically evaluated.

The report outlines what happened:

At 8 a.m. Feb. 25, an officer referred to as S.K. woke him up for a sick call. Hallenbeck told the officer he was unable to stand. The officer and another person tried to help him stand but he was unable. They told him to wait for a wheelchair.

At one point while attempting to get up he fell back, hitting the back of his head on the wall. He denied being injured and no injury was noted in records. He was taken to be seen by the medical team, state officials said.

A medical official, referred to in the report only as Dr., saw Hallenbeck. He was returned to the jail cell despite needing a higher level of care, state officials said. The commission called Hallenbecks return to the cell grossly negligent and an act of patient abandonment.

Later in the morning the officer referred to as S.K. returned from a break and found Hallenbeck in a wheelchair by the door to a cell not moving or talking. He was struggling to breathe and in pain, officials said.

At 12 p.m. Hallenbeck was sitting in the chair in the middle of the door to the cell. The officer noticed a smell of feces and urine. Hallenbeck had become incontinent without his realization, officials said. The officer tried to have Hallenbeck go in the cell to clean up but noticed him struggling to respond and breathe. He asked the officer when he was going to the hospital.

Thirty minutes later the officer notified a sergeant referred to as B.B. and a nurse only referred to as RN. They wheeled him to another area to seek medical care, officials said.

The rest of the incident is redacted except for a sentence noting that an ambulance arrived at 1:01 p.m., an hour after the officer first noticed Hallenbeck struggling. It took four hours before Hallenbeck was given medical attention, officials said.

The commission said that the delay in notifying medical staff and getting Hallenbeck help was unacceptable.

Hallenbeck died four days later on Feb. 29 at St. Josephs Hospital in Syracuse, officials said.

The commission critiques the jail and staff for other incidents before Hallenbecks death.

At one point the commission criticizes that he had an irregular pulse, varying blood pressure and that an electrocardiogram should have been performed. They also cited the jail for not following up on Hallenbeck. The date of this incident is redacted.

In another incident, the commission criticized the jail for not ordering required testing and failing to obtain appropriate cardiac consultation. The order for testing and consultation was not included in the records, officials said. The date of this incident is also redacted.

While the jail physician was gone there were inadequate follow-ups for Hallenbeck, officials said. Additionally, staff should have obtained his medical records, officials said.

The jail physician said that a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a physicians assistant were there to fill in while the physician was gone from Jan. 27 until Feb. 24. The commission found despite these two fill-ins there was no medical attention given to Hallenbeck from them. Additionally, the commission questioned the ability of the physicians assistant to have proper supervision without the physician there.

Hallenbeck gained around 70 pounds while in jail for about 30 days, officials said. Officials said jail staff were not adequately monitoring the weight of prisoners.

He also should have been prescribed spironolactone and weighed regularly, officials said. Medical officials also did not note changes to medications in his records, they said.

As a result of the jails failures Hallenbeck died when he didnt have to and suffered extensive pain and suffering, including heart failure and respiratory failure, officials said.

The commission gave Oswego County a laundry list of things to do. They call for an independent investigation into the jail physician and the medical attention given to Hallenbeck. Then they list 24 questions for the investigation to focus on.

The jail physician was required by the commission to write policies on follow-up medical appointments, obtaining medical records, including monitoring weights of prisoners during medical monitoring, and ensuring adequate medical professionals are there during absences of jail physicians.

The jail physician responded to the commissions report that policies on obtaining records have been changed and that staff were indeed in violation of policies by not weighing Hallenbeck. The physician responded to other allegations and the commission said the responses were unacceptable.

The commission also requires the sheriffs office to investigate officer S.K. and why that person delayed telling medical staff about Hallenbeck struggling to breathe.

The commission asked the Office of Professional Medical Conduct to investigate the doctor who saw Hallenbeck the day he struggled to breathe.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
An Upstate New York woman came to win on a popular American gameshow, instead her outfit was the real winner of the night.

Albany resident Charlotte Diffendale appeared on the television quiz game Jeopardy on Tuesday to try and beat the champion from the previous day, Melissa Kapper. According to the Times Union, Diffendale finally got to compete on the show seven years after she first took an online test to be a contestant.

Dressed in a bright red suit jacket, detailed with brass-coated fish flanking a double set of buttons and a black stand-up collar, Diffendale did not come out the ultimate victor in the episode. She ended the night with $5,199 and got to keep $2,000 for finishing in second place, while Kapper became a two-day champion.

The internet however, took notice of Diffendale and her scarlet-colored suit coat and quickly started making many comparisons on social media from marching bands, Music Man, to royal military garb, nutcrackers, and more.

This one lady on Jeopardy tonight looks like shes dressed to be on the cover of the Beatles Sgt. Peppers album, tweeted @JBrack1980

What in the greatest showman is happening here, wrote @nunyah78.

Charlotte is giving Michael Jackson in that blazer, tweeted @bkbusy718.

My sister calls that jacket Ringmaster of the Trout Circus, which (is a show) I would watch, so thats how I usually think of it, Diffendale told the Times Union.

The jacket, called the Red Fish Blazer Nuvola, can be found online, thanks to one super sleuth fashion fan.

Diffendale is a US postal carrier and one of the contestant coordinators told her as she was leaving the stage after the stinging loss that she should wear the jacket on her postal route on the day her episode is to air. She loved the idea and shared a photo online of her wearing the jacket inside her postal truck.

Warmly received at my favorite Stewarts (are you in a parade later?) and met with silent confusion elsewhere. Perfect, she tweeted.
DEAR ABBY: I have been with my boyfriend for 11 years. In all this time he has never once asked me if Im OK whenever I have gotten hurt. I got used to it, you might say. Well, I recently lost the ability to walk, and ended up in a nursing home for rehabilitation. My boyfriend would come to visit, but would never ask about progress. Furthermore, when I would show him my progress he wouldnt act happy.

Now Im home, and he treats me like garbage. I dont know why. When I brought it up, he said he doesnt know why. Should I end this relationship so I can find someone whos supportive and who will help me get back to 100%? Or should I stay and work on this relationship? Im less and less happy every day. -- HURTING IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR HURTING: Your boyfriend of 11 years is not a nurturer. That he doesnt ask if you are hurt or injured shows he lacks empathy. If I had to hazard a guess, I would opine that he treats you like garbage now because hes mad at you for needing his help and support. No amount of working on this will fix whats missing in his character. Unless you want to be treated like this for the rest of your life, get rid of him.

** ** **

DEAR ABBY: I have a co-worker I share an office with. We are cordial, but not friends. The problem is she chews gum most of the day with her mouth open, and occasionally pops it. The noises she makes are extremely disturbing and they disgust me. I have taken to wearing headphones and listening to music as often as possible to tune out her noises, but it feels a bit rude and isnt practical for all day. Im on the verge of snapping at her. Is there a kind way I can alert her of the problem without disrupting our working relationship? -- ABOUT TO POP OFF

DEAR POP: Have a congenial chat with this co-worker and ask her to let you know when shes going to pop in a piece of gum so you can pop on your headphones. It beats popping your cork in frustration.

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DEAR ABBY: Im friends with a man in his late 70s, 20 years my senior. Im concerned about his mobility. Hes an independent spirit who lives alone. Lately, I have noticed his strength and balance are diminished, and I know falls are serious for seniors. I have shared my worries with him, but hes proud and wont change his habits. Can you recommend a way I can talk to him constructively about my concerns? -- YOUNGER GUY IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR YOUNGER GUY: You have already tried discussing this with your friend. You might be able to get through to him if you TELL him you have noticed his balance issues, and that there is help for them IF he tells his doctor whats been happening. A physical therapist may be able to help him remedy his problem, but only if he asks.

** ** **

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

** ** **

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order How to Have a Lovely Wedding. Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

COPYRIGHT 2023 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
DEAR ABBY: My ex-husband and I separated two months after our wedding. Our divorce was final five months ago. After I left him, I started talking to a younger guy I had a lot in common with. However, he has a gambling problem and ended up stealing money from my cash app.

He eventually paid me back and has done everything in his power to get me to trust him again. We are both VERY attracted to each other. After he repaid the money, he told me he was in a very dark place and felt horrible about doing it.

He says he loves me, and even though I tried fighting it, I love him too. But there are issues -- the trust, the gambling and the age gap. Im 15 years older. Hes still very young, and I know when I was his age, I wanted different things than I want now. Im worried hell lose interest in me because we are at different points in our lives.

We arent exactly labeled a couple but we act like we are. No one but very close friends of mine knows about our situation. Should I cut ties before my heart gets broken? -- TENTATIVE IN WISCONSIN

DEAR TENTATIVE: The age difference may not be a deal-breaker, but the fact that he stole from you should be. How is he dealing with his gambling addiction? Is he still gambling? Has he joined a support group such as Gamblers Anonymous to help him cope with it? Because you divorced after only two months of marriage -- and now this -- there may be something wrong with your manpicker. Before you make any more big decisions about men, I suggest that you talk to a psychologist about why you seem to be rushing in and out of relationships.

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DEAR ABBY: I just found out my husband and our female friend of 18 months have been texting each other. Allegedly, according to my husband, its about politics. My husband and I dont share the same political views. He says he has nobody to talk to about politics. I dont understand why he doesnt talk about politics with his male friends.

I find it suspicious that neither my husband nor this friend ever mentioned they were communicating with each other. I think he is going outside our marriage seeking validation from another woman. When I said it, he called me crazy, immature and insanely jealous. Im not.

I think hes endangering our marriage because things can start innocently, and hes seeking something I cant give him. He knew my political affiliation before we married. Our marriage barely survived the last presidential election. Now this. Can I have some advice, please? -- UNEASY IN FLORIDA

DEAR UNEASY: Youre not crazy, immature or jealous. You are a wife who is worried that her marriage is in jeopardy. If the three of you socialize together and the subject of politics comes up, engage with them diplomatically without allowing the conversation to degenerate into an argument. And suggest to your husband privately that since the texts are only political in nature, you would like to be able to look at them occasionally.

** ** **

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

** ** **

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order How to Have a Lovely Wedding. Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

COPYRIGHT 2023 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
New York  The Manhattan grand jury investigating Donald Trump over hush money payments turned to other matters on Thursday, delaying until next week at the earliest any vote on a historic indictment of the former president, according to a person familiar with the matter. The panel does not meet on Fridays.

It was not clear whether prosecutors planned to question more witnesses before the grand jurors next week or when a vote might be taken about possibly indicting Trump.

The New York panel is an investigative grand jury. That means it hears other cases beyond the highly publicized one focused on hush money paid on Trumps behalf during the 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who says she had a sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Even so, the timing has given an opening to the former president and supporters to claim the investigation is somehow stalled. Trump, who has denied any sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, raised the specter on his social media site of years of hatred, chaos and turmoil if charges are brought.

In keeping with the secret nature of the grand jury process, prosecutors also on Thursday rebuffed a request from House Republicans for records and testimony on the investigation, a request that the general counsel to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called an unlawful incursion into New Yorks sovereignty.

The prosecutors said Trump himself had created a false expectation of being arrested this week, and they offered no update on the timing for any possible action

The grand jury does not ordinarily meet on Fridays. It did not convene at all on Wednesday, and on Thursday it considered matters other than the Trump probe, said a person who was knowledgeable about the situation but who was not authorized to discuss the secret proceedings and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

There was no explanation from prosecutors on why the panel had not met on Wednesday or heard from Trump-related witnesses on Thursday.

Grand jury proceedings are closed to the pubic including the media, with prosecutors prevented by law from sharing any details of what takes place. Still, these proceedings have captivated public attention, each development magnified because the presumed target is a former president and because Trump declared he expected to be arrested.

Security is heavy outside the grand jury location as well as Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Demonstrators for and against him wave big signs and chant.

Limited snapshots of the investigation have largely come from witnesses and their attorneys, who dont share the secrecy obligation. Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and fixer and a key government witness in this case, has spoken publicly about his appearances, as has another recent witness, Robert Costello, an attorney who presented testimony aimed at undermining Cohens credibility.

The district attorneys office, which is leading the investigation, has offered no public indication of future timing.

In a letter sent Thursday to Republican lawmakers who sought documents and testimony about the investigation, the offices general counsel, Leslie Dudek, wrote that Trump had created a false expectation on the timing of an arrest, and Dudek reiterated prosecutors obligation to preserve the secrecy of the investigation.

These confidentiality provisions exist to protect the interests of the various participants in the criminal process  the defendant, the witnesses and members of the grand jury  as well as the integrity of the grand jury proceeding itself, the letter said.
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Teagasc Signpost webinar series reached 150th Milestone

On the 150th edition of the Teagasc Signpost webinar series, Professor Frank O Mara, Director of Teagasc outlined the technology pathway that Irish agriculture and Irish farmers should follow to achieve the required reductions in Greenhouse gas emissions, and the steps to take to sequester more carbon from the atmosphere.

Professor OMara spoke about the Teagasc Climate Action Strategy which the organisation is pursuing to put the three key pillars in place to assist the sector in making the journey towards a 25% reduction in emissions. He provided an update on the Signpost Advisory Programme and the staff resources being put in place with the aim of delivering 50,000 plans for farmers by 2030. He spoke about the development of a Sustainability Digital Platform, in partnership with ICBF and Bord Bia, to provide farmers with an indication of the climate performance of their farm business. The third pillar which involves a Virtual Climate Research Centre, is bringing together the combined resources of Teagasc to develop the mitigation technologies of the future which will be required to further reduce the footprint of the sector.

Professor OMaras presentation marked the 150th edition of the Teagasc Weekly Environment Webinar Series, the Signposts series, which takes place weekly every Friday morning at 9.30am. The Signpost Series is presented in association with Dairy Sustainability Ireland, Food Drink Ireland Skillnet and the National Rural Network. To date the series has gone from strength to strength and has broadcast weekly episodes covering topics such as climate change, biodiversity, soil health, nutrient management and water quality.

The series has attracted a total audience to date of 50,871 viewers with some weekly attendances in excess of 400. Recordings and podcasts of all the webinars are available on the Teagasc website at https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/the-signpost-series-webinars/ .

Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc said; The series has attracted audiences from across all sectors in Ireland together with a large international following. It has showcased the practical tangible steps being taken by farmers, advisors, researchers, policy makers and industry to maintain and improve the natural environment in which the agriculture and food sector operates.

Mark Gibson, Head of KT Outreach and Innovation Department, Teagasc said; The Friday morning Signposts series was one of the first Teagasc responses to find new ways of transferring knowledge to people in the sector, in the wake of the upheaval caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. I would like to thank our partners, presenters and facilitators and of course our many viewers and listeners over the last 3 years.

To stay up to date with the latest policy, research and practice on Farm Sustainability, register for free at www.teagasc.ie/sustainableagriculture and tune in every Friday morning at 9.30am to 10.30am.
Teagasc Suckler Breeding Farm Walks

Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation are running 16 Suckler Breeding Farm Walks across the country over the coming weeks.

With the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) launched this week by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) these farm walks will be focusing on the main requirements suckler farmers will be expected to meet to maximise their payments, and the key breeding technologies that will help to achieve them.

All of the farm walks are taking place on commercial suckler farms that are already achieving a very high breeding performance from their herds. A number of them are Signpost Demonstration Farms who are participating in the Teagasc FutureBeef programme.

Teagasc beef specialists and advisors, along with ICBF technical staff, will be available to discuss with farmers the most suitable options for breeding future replacement heifers for their herds. Under the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), farmers must become a member of Bord Bias SBLAS (Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme) by October 16th, 2023, and maintain membership throughout their SCEP contract term. This means for the duration of the five-year programme. Bord Bia staff will be available at all of the breeding walks to discuss with farmers who may not currently be in SBLAS, how they can apply to join it and the key requirements to gain entry.

With an increasing interest among suckler farmers in using more AI in their herds there will also be a focus at these walks on synchronisation options for cows and heifers, as well as information on how sexed semen may be of benefit to suckler herds. Farmers will have the opportunity to discuss beef bulls available through AI in 2023, along with the new sensor technologies to aid heat detection that are now on the market with the staff from various companies.

Pearse Kelly, Head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc said; The new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme launched this week will be a welcome boost for suckler farmer incomes across the country. Some of the conditions of the programme will require changes to be made in the breeding strategies on some farms. These farm walks are an ideal opportunity for farmers to see suckler herds that are hitting all of their breeding targets, and to discuss with a wide variety of experts how they can meet the requirements of the SCEP on their own farms.

A full list of all of the farm walks, including the date and time they are on at, can be got at www.teagasc.ie/sucklerbreedingwalks . The first walk takes place on 29th March in county Cork with the final event taking place on 27th April. Farmers and all interested are welcome to attend.
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What's New
A hot potato: How do you limit teens' exposure to social media? Utah thinks it has the solution: a law requiring kids to have parental consent if they want to use apps like TikTok and Snap. Not only would permission be needed to create an account, but the measure could introduce curfews, age verification features, and other restrictions.

Two laws signed by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox Thursday contain some extreme restrictions, including blocking under-18 from using social media between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am, reminiscent of China's curfew on the same age group that limits their online gaming time to 3 hours per week. However, parents or guardians would be able to change the times.

Under the new law, social media owners like Meta would be required to gain a parent's permission before a teen could create an account on a platform. Companies would also be barred "from using a design or feature that causes a minor to have an addiction to the company's social media platform."

Parents will also have more control over what their children do on social media, with the new measure requiring companies to give parents access to their kids' posts, messages, and responses.

The New York Times reports that Republican Utah senate member Michael K. McKell, who sponsored the bill, said the statute was intended to address a "mental health crisis" among American teenagers. It's also designed to protect teens from bullying and sexual exploitation.

Other states, including Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, and Louisiana, are considering similar social media bills, though it's unclear how these will be enforced - the Texas bill would outright ban social media accounts for minors. The Utah measure, which applies to social networks with at least five million account holders worldwide, is scheduled to take effect on March 1 next year.

Questions over the negative impact social media has on younger users have been around for years, intensifying since the Meta/Instagram scandal in which it was revealed that the company was aware of just how damaging Instagram can be to teenagers. Most platforms allow users to join at the age of 13, but US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy believes this is too young.
TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

A hot potato: In a rare (these days) story about artificial intelligence of the non-generative type, France's National Assembly has approved the use of AI to aid in video surveillance of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The move comes despite opposition from rights groups who say its use is a potential violation of civil liberties while paving the way for the future use of invasive algorithm-driven video surveillance across Europe.

As per The Reg, the French government adopted Article 7 of the pending law for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, authorizing the use of automated analysis of surveillance video from fixed and drone cameras.

The system is said to detect specific suspicious events in public spaces, such as abnormal behavior, pre-determined events, and crowd surges.

While the AI-powered surveillance plan could be challenged at the highest constitutional court, France looks on track to becoming the first country in the European Union to use such a system.

It appears that France ignored the warning of 38 civil society organizations who expressed their concerns over the technology in an open letter. They say the proposed surveillance measures violate international human rights law as they contravene the principles of necessity and proportionality, and pose unacceptable risks to fundamental rights, such as the right to privacy, the freedom of assembly and association, and the right to non-discrimination.

The letter warns that should the AI system be adopted, it will set a precedent of unjustified and disproportionate surveillance in publicly accessible spaces.

"If the purpose of algorithm-driven cameras is to detect specific suspicious events in public spaces, they will necessarily capture and analyze physiological features and behaviors of individuals present in these spaces, such as their body positions, gait, movements, gestures, or appearance," the open letter reads. "Isolating individuals from the background, without which it would be impossible to achieve the aim of the system, will amount to 'unique identification.'"

As is often the case with AI surveillance, there are also discrimination fears. "Using algorithmic systems to fight crime has resulted in over-policing, structural discrimination in the criminal justice system, and over-criminalization of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities," the groups add.

Mher Hakobyan, Amnesty International's advocacy advisor on AI regulation, said the decision puts France at risk of permanently transforming into a dystopian surveillance state.

France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL) regulatory commission backed the bill under the condition that no biometric data is processed, but privacy advocates do not believe such a thing is possible.

Daniel Leufer, the policy advisor at digital rights organization Access Now, said, "You can do two things: object detection or analysis of human behavior - the latter is the processing of biometric data."

Masthead: Henning Schlottmann
TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

What just happened? Toshiba has accepted a buyout offer from a consortium led by Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) that would take the tech giant private. The deal was approved by Toshiba's board on Thursday, valued at 2 trillion Yen (around $15.3 billion) or 4,620 Yen ($35.43) per share, and represents a premium of 9.7 percent over Thursday's closing price of 4,213 Yen.

Toshiba has a storied past that dates back to the late 1800s. The company successfully established itself as a global electronics giant over the years but has struggled mightily ever since a major accounting scandal rocked the organization in 2015.

The Japanese tech titan took several steps in an attempt to right the ship including cutting nearly 8,000 jobs and selling off multiple divisions. Toshiba sold its image sensor division to Sony, jettisoned its television business to Hisense, partied ways with its memory chip business and formally exited the PC market.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that around 20 Japanese companies including Chubu Electric Power and chipmaker Rohm Co. plan to participate in the buyout. According to Refinitiv, the deal would be the third largest merger / acquisition globally this year if successfully executed.

Share value in Toshiba has slid more than 11 percent over the past year but is up about 4 percent on the news as of this writing.

The JIP bid was the only complete proposal received during Toshiba's one-year competitive auction process. Toshiba fielded eight proposals in the first wave alongside two capital alliance offers, but only four offers made it to the second round, according to sources.

Analyst Travis Lundy with Quiddity Advisors told Reuters the deal ends months of uncertainty regarding whether or not a deal was inbound. The price may be disappointing, Lundy noted, but at least it is a way out for activist investors.

JIP is expected to produce a tender offer in late July, we are told.

Image credit: Building by Wen Xiao, Camcorder by Kasra Askari
The local government of Utah just signed two bills that aim to protect minors using social media. Companies like Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok would be required by the government to obtain a parental consent before children on the app could create accounts on their platforms.

(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden (L) toasts with Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, as he gives a toast during a welcome black-tie dinner for Governors and their spouses at the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on February 11, 2023.

Utah Social Media Regulation Act

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed two social media regulations into law. Engadget reported that this would require social media companies like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, etc., to get parental consent from minors using their platform. This makes Utah the first state to impose this regulation in the United States.

H.B. 311 and S.B. 152 are the new laws in Utah that would verify the age of any resident in the state who makes a social media account. Once the platform has detected anyone under the age of 18, parental consent will be needed for you to present in order for your account to get processed.

The bill also states that social media firms will allow parents to access posts and messages from the accounts of their children. To ensure their safety, the laws also prohibit social media platforms from displaying advertisements, showing minor accounts in search results, information collection, targeted content, and integrating addictive technologies.

Children using the apps will also experience a curfew on social media, locking them out of their accounts between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM. This time frame will be based on the location of a user's device unless it was adjusted with consent from the parent.

Imposing the law remains unclear on how the authorities intend to enforce these restrictions or how they will apply these to teenagers who already have existing social media accounts. But as it was signed already, NBC News reported that both laws are scheduled to take effect next year in March.

Introducing the Bill

This legislation was introduced by Republican Senator Michael McKell and passed by Republican Governor Spencer Cox. Mckell stated, "As a lawmaker and parent, I believe this bill is the best path forward to prevent our children from succumbing to the negative and sometimes life-threatening effects of social media."

CNN reported that this law comes after years of lawmakers in the United States calling out for new restrictions to protect children and teenagers online. Concerns about social platforms led to harmful instances like bullying and harassment, which is one of the main causes of the rising numbers of teens with mental health crises in the country.

Also Read: Bill Aims To Allow Minors To Receive Vaccinations Without Parental Consent

Meanwhile, lawmakers from different states are also working to pass legislation that would require companies to get parental permission under the age of 16 years old. The states that will follow Utah to regulate similar legislation are Connecticut and Ohio.

Last year, the New York Times reported that California also enacted an online safety law that will require social media platforms, video games, and other services on the internet to install safety hazards for teens like the highest privacy settings by default for users under 18.

Related Article: Biden to Discuss Online Safety for Children at State of the Union Address

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 24, 2023 - 13:54 | World, All

North Korea said Friday it tested earlier this week a new underwater nuclear attack drone it claims can generate radioactive tsunami to destroy enemy ships and ports, according to state-run media.

Pyongyang also said it test-fired Wednesday four cruise missiles of two different types, with leader Kim Jong Un, who guided the military activities, warning South Korea and the United States that they should stop "reckless" anti-North Korea war drills, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Seoul and Washington jointly held the 11-day Freedom Shield exercise through Thursday, the first large-scale springtime military drill in five years.

The new underwater nuclear attack craft named "Haeil," meaning tsunami, was reportedly deployed Tuesday for a drill off the coast of South Hamgyong Province, in the eastern part of North Korea.

KCNA said the drone cruised along an oval and figure-eight course at a depth of 80 to 150 meters in the Sea of Japan for 59 hours and 12 minutes before reaching the target point in the waters off Hongwon Bay which was set as a mock enemy port. A test warhead detonated underwater on Thursday afternoon.

Over the past two years, the secret weapon underwent more than 50 shakedowns, the report claimed.

The test of the cruise missiles tipped with mock nuclear warheads was conducted in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, the state-affiliated agency said. It was detected by the South Korean military.

The two "Hwasal-1" strategic cruise missiles and the two "Hwasal-2" missiles accurately hit their target set in the Sea of Japan after flying on programmed oval and figure-eight paths of 1,500 to 1,800 kilometers for about 2 hours and 5 minutes and two and a half hours, respectively, KCNA said.

The tests of the underwater drone and the cruise missiles had no negative impact on the security of the neighboring countries and Kim was "greatly satisfied with the results," it added.

The leader expressed his will to make the United States and South Korea "plunge into despair" through the high-profile demonstration of the powerful war deterrence, the report said.
Tesla finally opened its first few supercharger stations to non-Tesla electric vehicles in the US last month, and they are now being added into Rivian's navigation system as part of their latest software updated, as reported by Electrek.

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

A Tesla logo is seen on signage at a Tesla Inc. supercharger station on on January 4, 2021 in Hawthorne, California.

The Magic Dock

Tesla is integrating the Magic Dock, which is a new docking station for its connector on some Supercharger stations.

This allows non-Tesla EVs to charge via the Tesla mobile app by unlocking the Magic Dock and turning it into a CSS adapter.

This will be a game-changer for EV owners because many consider Tesla's Supercharger network to be the best DC fast-charging network in the US. However, there are only a few stations that are equipped with the Magic Dock.

Many automakers are already taking advantage of this, and one of the first few is Rivian.

Also Read: Elon Musk Warns Rivian, Lucid to Change Their Strategies to Avoid Bankruptcy

Rivian's Early Deployment

Rivian has a similar charging strategy to Tesla, and the automaker has released a new software update that includes these Supercharger locations with Magic Dock in their navigation system.

Rivian EVs will now show select Tesla Supercharger locations with a Magic Dock in the Navigation app's charger filters. The location may also be viewed in the Rivian mobile app version 1.12 or later. Rivian EV owners need to download the Tesla app to charge at a Tesla Supercharger.

Rivian has its own network, which is called Adventure Charging, but it's still in early deployment, with only 14 stations in operation as of now.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging networks in the US are growing rapidly, reflecting the increasing popularity of electric cars and the need to expand infrastructure to support them. There are several charging networks currently operating in the US, including Tesla's Supercharger network, ChargePoint, and EVgo.

Tesla's Supercharger network is one of the most well-known EV charging networks in the US. It is exclusive to Tesla vehicles and offers fast charging speeds, allowing drivers to add up to 75 miles of range in just 5 minutes. The Supercharger network has over 25,000 chargers worldwide, with more being added every day.

ChargePoint is another popular EV charging network in the US. It offers a variety of charging options, including Level 2 and DC fast charging, and has over 110,000 charging stations across the country. ChargePoint also offers features such as mobile payment and reservation capabilities, making it easy for drivers to find and pay for charging.

EVgo is another major EV charging network in the US, with over 800 fast charging stations across the country. Its fast charging stations can provide up to 90 miles of range in just 30 minutes, and the network is expanding to offer even more charging options for drivers.

The growth of EV charging networks in the US is being driven by a variety of factors, including government incentives and regulations, the increasing popularity of electric cars, and the need to reduce carbon emissions. The federal government offers tax credits and other incentives for EV owners and charging station operators, while many states and cities offer additional incentives and regulations to support EV adoption.

Overall, the growth of EV charging networks in the US is an important step towards a more sustainable and low-carbon transportation system. As the industry continues to evolve and expand, it will be important to address the challenges and ensure that EV charging infrastructure is accessible, convenient, and reliable for all drivers.

Related Article: Rivian Says Amazon Electric Van Deliveries Reaches 430,000

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A unit of Saudi Arabia's investment fund and an Abu Dhabi-based company are both planning to invest in a funding round for SpaceX worth $14 billion. This is much bigger than the previous amount raised by the company for the past few years.

(Photo : JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rests on Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on February 5, 2018, ahead of its demonstration mission. SpaceX is poised for the first test launch February 6 of its Falcon Heavy, which aims to become the world's most powerful rocket in operation, capable of ferrying people to the Moon or Mars some day.

Investing to SpaceX

SpaceX may receive an investment from two entities in South Western Asia, including a company based in Abu Dhabi and a unit of Saudi Arabia's investment fund. Reuters reported that both are planning to invest in a multi-billion dollar funding round for the company at about $140 million.

As per SpaceX and Morgan Stanley's representative, Badeel, which is Saudi Arabia's Water and Electricity Holding Company and part of the country's sovereign wealth fund, and United Arab Emirates Alpha Dhabi will be included in the funding round.

Compared to the funding rounds from the previous years, this amount is much bigger than that and it would make them one of the largest private companies in the world by valuation. According to venture capital Space Capital, the company only raised $2 billion in 2022 while $2.6 billion in 2020.

Leading the Company

Seeing the investment developing within different companies is interesting in the wider context of SpaceX's ties to the United States government. Despite this, it is hard to imagine a citation where Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk gave up control of his own space company.

Especially since his attention has heavily relied on Twitter in recent months after acquiring the platform last November. Musk now only owns 40% of SpaceX in equity shares, as per Wall Street Journal, but he also owns 80% in voting shares.

Also Read: Starlink Announces Global Roaming Features for Travelling Users, Bring Satellite Internet Anywhere

Orbital Test Flight

SpaceX is expecting a lot this year to be equally eventful, and this investment funding may be part of that anticipation. Last month, SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk noted that the company's largest rocket to date, Starship, would hold its orbital launch attempt soon. Starship has the potential to change the industry due to its reusability.

Interesting Engineering reported that the company is close to performing the first orbital test flight of its Mars rocket and plans to eventually reach Mars with its fully reusable spacecraft. Despite this, it will likely require a lot of trial and error.

In fact, Musk stated that Starship has a 50% chance of reaching its first try. This will also help launch Starlink 2.0 satellites to orbit in order for it to help boost its profits. The CEO added that it is likely to launch in April, however, it will depend on the clearance of the Federal Aviation Authority.

Meanwhile, the company's Starlink satellite internet business is also growing. As per Teslarati, the internet service hit over 1 million active subscribers worldwide in late December. This has been expanded to different counties, hence the subscriber growth.

Related Article: SpaceX's Dragon to Deliver Beating Human Heart Tissue Chips to the ISS

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England has become the first country in Europe to allow the commercial development of gene-edited food, according to a report by the BBC.



Gene editing is a technique used to make precise changes to the DNA of plants and organisms to enhance certain characteristics.

Commercializing Gene-edited Food

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which covers plants and animals produced through techniques such as gene editing, has recently undergone an amendment to allow for the commercialization of gene-edited food.



This new law is expected to improve food production, bring job opportunities and various investments to England, according to Prof Gideon Henderson, chief scientific advisor for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra).



This law permits gene alterations that can have happened spontaneously or as a result of ongoing crossbreeding initiatives. Certain genes can be added to plants through gene editing, which helps plants grow faster or use fewer nutrients.

According to Prof. Henderson, the new law will also permit the creation of farm animals with genetic alterations, such as pigs that are resistant to disease. However, this decision will require the approval of MPs.



Crops that have been genetically modified are essential in the fight against global warming. For instance, by altering specific genes, scientists can create crops drought tolerant.

Scientists can also identify particular genes and then insert them in the appropriate locations to increase the size and flavor of the new variety in order to develop it more quickly.



However, due to the introduction of DNA from other species, genetically modified (GM) crops are forbidden.

Read Also: This New AI Tool Could Accelerate the Development of Gene-Editing on a Large-Scale

Still in its Infancy

Despite this accomplishment, it might be a while before we can eat food that has been genetically altered because the technology is still in its infancy.



Scientists assure the public that these foods will be safe to eat and will undergo thorough testing before entering the market.



The same restriction that has prohibited the commercial cultivation of GM crops under EU law has been applied to gene editing in England. The Westminster administration now has the freedom to loosen regulations and make room for newer technology thanks to Brexit.

The commercial development of gene-edited food has been rejected by the governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.



Despite the fact that the new rule has been heralded as a game-changing decision, some critics have expressed worries about the possible hazards and effects that eating gene-edited food may have on the environment and food supply.



In sum, England's decision to allow the commercial development of gene-edited food marks a significant milestone in agriculture and food production.



The potential benefits of gene editing, such as increased crop yield and improved resistance to diseases and pests, could help address global challenges such as climate change and food security.



However, it is also essential to ensure that gene-edited food is safe and does not pose any risks to the environment or public health since the technology is still in its infancy.

Related Article: CRISPR Gene Therapy Volunteer's Death Raises Questions; Is Gene-Editing Really Safe?

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After duodenoscopes caused hospital outbreaks that affected hundreds of patients years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised hospitals to switch to the type of device with disposable parts. These instruments, however, have also recently been cited by the agency as having defects, as reported by The New York Times.

The duodenoscope is a long, snake-like camera used to examine the pancreas and bile ducts. It is put into the upper section of the small intestine through the mouth.

These devices are used in around 500,000 US operations a year, but they are hard to clean and may house E. coli.

Reported Complaints

In order to protect the camera at the end of its duodenoscopes, Olympus Medical Systems creates disposable tip covers designed like small thimbles.

The FDA notes that in dozens of surgeries, the tips have come off in patients' mouths or stomachs. Some of these parts had sharp edges that injured victims, causing internal bleeding. The FDA even received complaints of lacerations that led to major bleeding episodes in certain cases.

Meanwhile, in May 2021, a case was also reported in which a doctor was withdrawing a scope from a patient's stomach when the soft tip cover fell off inside their abdomen. The report said, "It was decided to allow the tip cover to pass naturally through the GI system than to subject the patient to further anesthesia time in attempting to remove it."

See Also: New Medicine May Potentially Help Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

Issued Warning

Late last year, the FDA inspected Tokyo's Olympus Medical Systems factory. This month, the agency informed the firm that the inspector detected adulterated or faulty duodenoscope covers and bronchoscope suction valves used to check the lungs.

Olympus' study found that 160 complaints regarding duodenoscope caps breaking off were above the expected numbers for this sort of complaint, as per FDA.

The FDA has been in contact with the firm prior to this warning, and the agency has said that the company's replies have been "not adequate." The FDA further disagrees with the company's assessment that the danger to patients is "low enough risk to not warrant further action at this time."

Jennifer Bannan, an Olympus spokeswoman, said the firm will further evaluate these actions and expand those efforts to alleviate the FDA's concerns.

Dr. Jeff Shuren, head of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, released a statement in January detailing the issues at Olympus but noting the minimal risk of infection from improper cleaning of duodenoscopes.

He advised patients should examine the advantages and dangers before canceling or delaying operations.

There were additional issues, such as creases and air bubbles in the sealed packing of single-use suction valves for bronchoscopes, that were brought to Olympus' attention in the most recent warning letter. The FDA stated the valves' irregularities created sterility issues.

The agency also voiced worry over fractured duodenoscope caps that malfunctioned and injured users.

Other businesses make scopes with disposable components, including entirely disposable duodenoscopes, which the FDA certified in 2019. It is unclear at this time whether hospitals and patients must decide on such options.

See Also: UK Researchers Develop CT Scan That Can Detect Hormone-Producing Nodules in 10 Minutes

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which also marks his first major introduction to the public.

(Photo : by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. )

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 23: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew prepares to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Political representatives accused him of helping in a Chinese plot to undercut American power and corrupt the nation's youth. Most of the time, he was interrupted before he could finish his response. When he was allowed to speak, he dodged some of the tougher questions or declined to answer.

Below are some of the craziest things that happened during the hearing.

A TikTok Threatening the House Energy and Commerce Committee

Florida Rep. Kat Cammack shared a TikTok video that showed a gun being loaded with the caption "me as f at the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23." According to Cammack, the video clearly threatened the committee members.

Cammack said, "You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy, and security of 150 million Americans where you can't even protect the people in this room?"

Later on, TikTok confirmed that they had taken down the video from the app during the hearing.

"Can TikTok Access a Home WiFi Network?"

Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican, also asked Mr. Chew if TikTok could access the home WiFi network. Chew had a very confused look on his face and answered in a way how WiFi works-when it is turned on, and TikTok can access the network to get connections to the internet.

Also read: TikTok CEO Claims Children Below 13 have Restrictive Content, Promotes Family Pairing

Uyghur Muslims

The lawmakers also asked Chew about his personal opinions about China and Chinese government policies that made the TikTok CEO uncomfortable. He also refused to answer their questions about the Chinese government's persecution of its Uyghur Muslim minority.

Legal Action Against the CEO

In one part of the questioning, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers asked Chew whether the platform removed content related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Chew said that it was available on the platform and Rodgers warned the CEO that lying under oath is a federal crime.

Selling Data: A maybe?

Chew was also pressed with questions about selling user data that TikTok collects. However, Chew made it clear that he was in support of some rules and even mentioned that he would get back to them with the details about what they do with the data that they gathered from TikTok users.

Congress Members Being Nice to Each Other

One of the surprising things about the hearing is that the Congress members were nice to each other, as beating up on big tech is one of the only things Republicans and Democrats agree on.

Related article: TikTok to Delete US User Data From Servers as Part of Project Texas

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North Korea's new nuclear-powered underwater drone was allegedly tested by the NorKor government.

(Photo : Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images) This picture taken and released on July 4, 2017 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows the test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location. North Korea declared on July 4 it had successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile.

Numerous images of the new defense tech are even spreading; showing NoKor Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un besides the nuclear drone.

Other photos show the actual output of the test, revealing a massive explosion in the middle of the sea off East Korea Bay.

KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) said that the new drone is called the Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft "Haeil."

North Korea's Nuclear-Capable Underwater Drone

According to CNN World's latest report, Haeil was tested from Mar. 21 to Mar. 23.

The North Korean government used underwater drones to cruise across the waters off the country's east coast for over 59 hours.

(Photo : Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images) People walk past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on January 11, 2022, after North Korea fired a "suspected ballistic missile" into the sea, South Korea's military said, less than a week after Pyongyang reported testing a hypersonic missile.

Also Read: US Senate Warns CISA About DJI Drones After DoD Confirms It's a Chinese Military Company

After that, the nuclear warhead it carried was detonated on Thursday, March 23. Some rumors claimed that the warheads Haeil carries can even create a radioactive tsunami.

"The mission of the underwater nuclear strategic weapon is to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion," said KCNA.

The North Korea-backed news agency added that this can destroy major operational ports, as well as naval striker groups of enemies.

Is the Haeil Drone real?

NBC News reported that the new nuclear-power underwater drone's test was conducted to alert the United States and its allies.

This means that Haeil shows that NoKor's nuclear defense is further growing. However, instead of panicking, numerous critics doubt the capabilities of Haeil.

Analysts said that the claimed underwater drone test lacks strong proof and they added that North Korea tends to exaggerate the capabilities and deployments of its nuclear technologies.

If you want to learn more details about the new nuclear-capable underwater drone of North Korea, you can click this link.

Here are other stories we recently wrote about defense:

A new fighter jet development deal was recently discussed by Japan, Italy, and U.K. ministers. We also reported about the Taiwan Military claimed it discovered a Chinese-made weather balloon near the Chinese coastline.

For more news updates about nuclear-capable drones and other defense innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: US Air Force's Drones To Have Face Recognition! New Tech Now Raises Fears-Here's Why

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GitHub's RSA SSH private key was accidentally leaked to the public, as confirmed by the code hosting platform's CEO, Mike Hanley.

(Photo : Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) An engineer from the Israeli company "Commun.it" uses his expertise in social media commercial analysis to identify networks of fake users during at the group's office in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv on January 23, 2019.

"This week, we discovered that GitHub.com's RSA SSH private key was briefly exposed in a public GitHub repository," he announced via his official blog post.

Hanley, who is also GitHub's SVP of Engineering, said that they quickly contained the exposure and investigated the root cause of the issue.

GitHub's RSA SSH Private Key Accidentally Leaked to Public!

According to The Register's latest report, the latest GitHub leak was not caused by a security breach.

(Photo : Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) A participant sits with a laptop computer as he attends the annual Chaos Communication Congress of the Chaos Computer Club at the Berlin Congress Center on December 28, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. The Chaos Computer Club is Europe's biggest network of computer hackers and its annual congress draws up to 3,000 participants.

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Instead, the RSA SSH host key was exposed to the public because of a plain, old human error.

Because of this simple accident, the Github.com RSA SSH private key was leaked into a public GitHub repository.

Although this might seem alarming, Hanley clarified that the private key leak doesn't affect the web traffic to GitHub.com and HTTPS Git operations.

He added that it doesn't grant access to their customer data or infrastructure.

However, the RSA SSH host key exposure can still affect developers since it can cause connection errors and send warning messages.

Thankfully, GitHub was able to fix the problem on Mar. 24.

What GitHub Users Should Do

Mike Hanley said that GitHub users relying on GitHub's ECDSA or Ed25519 keys don't have to worry about anything.

But, if you receive the warning message "WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED!," then developers need to remove the old private key they are using.

The GitHub CEO said that developers can remove their old key by running the command "$ ssh-keygen -R github.com."

If you want to see the other steps provided by Hanley to replace the leaked private key host, just click here.

Here are other stories we recently wrote about cybersecurity:

Security experts claimed that ransomware attacks are focusing on undermanned U.S. rural hospitals.

Meanwhile, the fake "ChatGPT for Google" Chrome extension allegedly steals Facebook accounts.

For more news updates about code leaks and other cybersecurity topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Cybercriminals' Favorite Crypto Platform ChipMixer Taken Down by Police

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Arizona-based company, Rosotics, has announced the launch of its revolutionary "rapid induction printing" technology that aims to transform large-scale 3D metal printing.



The approach, developed by Rosotics' founder and CEO, Christian LaRosa, can create large parts at high speeds, significantly cutting costs and improving safety and energy efficiency, as per a report from New Atlas.

Rosotics' Alternative Process

Traditional additive metal manufacturing involves using lasers to heat and melt powdered metal feedstocks, which can be expensive and hazardous. Rosotics' alternative process uses induction to heat metal inductively, a highly efficient and natural way of 3D printing metal.



The company's new printing head, called Mantis, delivers heat to the metal inductively, making the process cheaper and quicker, and able to produce parts big enough for structural use in aircraft and rockets.



The feedstock does not have to be ferromagnetic, meaning a wide range of metals can be used, and the printer can handle wires between 1-10 mm in diameter, which can be scaled upwards if necessary.

Rosotics has extensively tested its new approach with steel and aluminum, and the company claims that it can handle most metals available in wire form.

The printer can be powered by a 240-volt outlet similar to those seen in common warehouse settings. LaRosa claims that Rosotics has created novel methods for inductively heating feedstocks that make use of ground-breaking metallurgical science techniques.



As a result, the printer is capable of handling a wide range of materials, including titanium, which is regarded as a workable material.



The company is currently concentrating on cupronickel since it offers good mechanical performance in some applications, according to New Atlas.

Read Also: Lockheed Martin Partners With 3D Printing Company for Research Expansion of Metal Additive Parts

Revolutionize the 3D Printing Market

The new approach from Rosotics might revolutionize the 3D printing market. Its induction-based method of 3D printing may work with a variety of metals and is substantially faster, cheaper, and safer than conventional laser-based methods.



The aerospace and automotive industries stand to gain significantly from the capacity to produce massive parts quickly. With a lot of testing already completed, Rosotics seems prepared to advance and completely transform the metal 3D printing market.

"Our system is very well suited for structural applications, say the structure of a rocket, or the structure of a tank," LaRosa said in a statement with New Atlas.



"Any kind of structural part that aerospace would demand, our system can do it. But it's designed to branch out to heavy industry at large. Energy, marine construction, we can serve these applications very well."

Related Article: 'Chameleon Robots:' These Robots Can Change Colors and Mimic Their Surroundings Through 3D Printing

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The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, a $250 million biomedical lab funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, will soon open in Chicago.

The Biohub, a collaboration between the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is leasing 25,698 square feet of space at the Fulton Labs building located at 1330 W. Fulton St., Chicago Business reports.

Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Arrives in Chicago

The same report tells us that the laboratory will accommodate 30 to 50 researchers and personnel who will concentrate on risky monumental efforts in biology, such as creating disease treatments by mapping the human body at the cellular level.

The Chicago lab was picked above 58 other groups across the country and is intended to recruit researchers ready to take on ambitious projects in the biosciences.

Priscilla Chan says in a blog post that this new institute is part of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network (CZ Biohub Network).

She explains that it is based on a model for scientific and technological innovation developed at the first Biohub in San Francisco, California.

According to Chan, the key idea behind the Biohub Network is that some scientific challenges "simply cannot be solved in a traditional research environment."

What This Means for the Local Community

Chicago Business highlights that this news provides a huge boost to Chicago's reputation as a national hub for life sciences, establishing Fulton Market as the top location for life sciences-related companies. When Google arrived in the place in 2015, the area had already established itself as a leading site for tech companies.

More About the Initiative

It was in early March when the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) opened the biomedical research hub in Chicago. This project looks to address critical scientific challenges over the coming decade or so.

The CZ Biohub Chicago will focus on engineering technologies that will give precise, molecular-level assessments of biological processes within human tissues. The ultimate goal is understanding and managing the inflammatory states underlying many illnesses.

Read Also: FTC's 'Click to Cancel' Rule to Impose Fines Against Companies That Requires More Process for Cancelation

The CZ Biohub Chicago will also capture biological signals with an unprecedented resolution by embedding sensors and probes within human skin tissue.

According to Mark Zuckerberg, their San Francisco Biohub has demonstrated that cross-disciplinary science leads to breakthroughs. The new integrated research approach will help to achieve the objective of curing, preventing, or managing all diseases by the end of the century.

CZ Biohub Chicago intends to create new methods to better evaluate tissues and obtain insights into inflammation, making inflammation-related diseases more manageable and preventable.

In Other News

Michigan Medicine and Zipline have recently partnered to develop an autonomous electric drone capable of delivering prescription medications.

The drone service would be free, transporting medicines directly to patients' doorsteps throughout Washtenaw County. The idea is for these drones to increase access to specialty pharmacy drugs for people suffering from complex and rare conditions. Read more about the news here.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

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KYODO NEWS - Mar 24, 2023 - 14:46 | All, Japan

A Japanese high court on Friday rejected local residents' call to halt the operation of an idled nuclear reactor in western Japan, upholding a lower court decision.

The ruling by the Hiroshima High Court will allow the operator, Shikoku Electric Power Co., to continue utilizing the No. 3 reactor at the Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture, which has been suspended for a regular inspection through June 19.

The appeal was filed by seven residents of Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures who live between 60 and 130 kilometers from the reactor.

The main focal point of the trial was whether the estimate of seismic ground motion, a key factor in a reactor's quake-resistance design, made by the utility was appropriate.

During court hearings, the residents said the operator's estimate was inadequate, arguing that a major accident could occur in the event of a powerful earthquake similar to one that devastated northeastern Japan in March 2011.

Shikoku Electric defended its estimate as taking into account the region's local characteristics including ground conditions, asserting there was "no particular danger."

In November 2021, the Hiroshima District Court dismissed a request by the residents to suspend the reactor, saying that merely citing the magnitude of earthquakes measured across the country does not indicate a similar earthquake will hit the area.
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KYODO NEWS - Mar 24, 2023 - 18:25 | All, Japan

A scientific institute belonging to Japan's space agency has barred Chinese and Russian researchers, among others, to protect sensitive technological information that could be used for military purposes, a source close to the matter said Friday.

The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science has set new standards for accepting foreign researchers and students that went into effect in September of last year, the source said. Its parent, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, declined to comment.

The move comes as part of efforts to prevent technologies used in satellites and rockets from being accessed by foreign agencies that are developing weapons of mass destruction. Individuals from countries such as North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Belarus have also been barred from undergoing screening to enter ISAS.

China, India and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are subject to certain exceptions.

Their researchers and students with outstanding achievements in science and approval from the head of ISAS are eligible for admission screening. In engineering, however, those from the group of countries are ineligible for examination.

There are two other groupings under the new standards. One of them, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany, is eligible to screen for all research fields.

The remaining group includes South Korea, Turkey and South Africa. They are eligible to screen for the field of science provided the applicant has approval from the institute's head, but not permitted, in principle, in the engineering field.

Those who had been admitted before the new standards took effect are not affected, the source said.

As for Japanese nationals or foreigners who have lived in Japan for more than half a year, ISAS will consider whether a foreign institute employs them and whether they are receiving scholarships or other financial benefits from overseas governments in making their decision, the source said.

ISAS also serves as a nationwide inter-university research institute that accepts space researchers and students from all over the world.

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By Chananthorn Kamjan, KYODO NEWS - Mar 24, 2023 - 19:43 | World, All

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday he is ready to return and serve his prison term in Thailand provided he is allowed to spend the remainder of his life with his family, regardless of the results of an upcoming general election.

Speaking in an interview with Kyodo News during a trip to Tokyo, Thaksin said he is biding his time before possibly going back this year, following years of living in self-exile abroad. He was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and left Thailand in 2008 to avoid facing time in prison.

"Now I've served 16 years already in the big jail because they prevent me from staying with my family," Thaksin said, referring to his life away from his home country. "I've suffered enough. If I were to suffer again in the smaller jail, it is OK."

"It is not really the price I need to pay but I pay because I want to stay with my grandchildren. I should spend the rest of my life with my children and my grandchildren," the 73-year-old said.

The populist billionaire, who served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, expressed confidence that the Pheu Thai Party, a Thaksin-aligned opposition party, will win the May 14 election by achieving a majority in the lower house.

His second and youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, is expected to be one of three prime ministerial candidates from Pheu Thai.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha dissolved the lower house on March 20 to pave the way for the general election. The former coup leader, who first came to power in 2014 by toppling a Pheu Thai-led civilian government, has also announced his bid to remain premier after the election.

The former business tycoon left Thailand in August 2008 before the Supreme Court sentenced him in absentia to two years in jail for a conflict-of-interest conviction.

The fugitive former prime minister said he is not angling for an amnesty from parliament even if the Pheu Thai Party comes to power in the next election.

"I told my daughter not to allow the party to push for issuance of the amnesty law for me," he said. "I do not need that as those against me will not be happy."

Thaksin also claimed that returning home to serve time will not be a betrayal to his supporters who have been fighting on behalf of him by voting for pro-Thaksin parties and staging mass rallies.

"This is not because I accept that I did something wrong," Thaksin said, blaming instead a system he considers prejudiced against him.

Thaksin predicted that in the next election, the Pheu Thai Party will capture at least half of the 500 seats contested, and maybe as many as 310, because Thais are tired of years of rule under Prayut.

The former prime minister said that even if Pheu Thai wins the election, it still needs to form a coalition government with other parties. But he only saw a remote chance for Pheu Thai to join forces with its political foes, such as the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party.

"It will probably be the last choice, not the first choice."

Lawmakers in both the 250-member upper house and 500-member lower house vote to choose a new prime minister after the general election. The upper house's 250 senators are selected by the military.

In the last general election in 2019, Pheu Thai won the most seats in the lower house. But Palang Pracharath's prime ministerial candidate Prayut went on to become prime minister by receiving 500 votes, beating an opposition candidate who garnered 244 votes.

Prayut, 69, is eyeing premiership from another party this time around. Thaksin said Pheu Thai may not need pro-military Palang Pracharath's help, saying dozens of senators are now independent and ready to vote for the winning party.

Thaksin said his daughter Paetongtarn is ready for political life as she has learned about politics from him since she was young. He predicted she will make a better premier than him.

"She is probably better than me," he said. "She is more calm, more patient than me, I think. And she is very knowledgeable."

Paetongtarn, a mother of one and currently expecting a second child, would be the country's youngest prime minister if elected. She is the most favored prime minister candidate in opinion polls conducted by Thai universities.

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Thai PM Prayut dissolves lower house to pave way for May election
North Korea says it tested new underwater nuclear attack 'drone'



Seoul, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2023



North Korea claimed Friday it had tested an underwater nuclear attack drone able to unleash a "radioactive tsunami", as it blamed recent US-South Korea exercises for a deteriorating regional security situation.

Pyongyang carried out military drills of its own in response this week, the official Korean Central News Agency said, including test-firing a new nuclear-capable underwater drone.

The weapon's mission is to "stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami ... to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy," it said.

The new weapon, called Haeil which means tsunami in Korean, "can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation," the report said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the tests, KCNA reported, and images released by Pyongyang's Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed a smiling Kim and what appeared to be an underwater explosion.

The agency also said Pyongyang had fired strategic cruise missiles "tipped with a test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead" on Wednesday.

But analysts questioned North Korea's claims.

The idea that Pyongyang has "a nuclear-capable underwater drone should be met with scepticism," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"Pyongyang's claims about a new weapons system are not the same as a credible demonstration of capability," he added.

In a Twitter post, US-based analyst Ankit Panda said it could not be ruled out that the announcement was "an attempt at deception/psyop".

Even so, the claim was "shocking," Cheong Seong-chang of the private Sejong Institute told AFP.

If true, it is hard to see how Seoul "could respond to such a formidable new weapon from North Korea that (it says) can completely destroy the South's major operational ports."

The KCNA statement also indicates "Pyongyang is more than ready to use its tactical nuclear weapons at any time," An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher, told AFP.

"This obviously further strengthens Kim's justification for his future nuclear tests."



- Nuclear power? -



Russia has also reportedly developed a similar weapon -- nuclear-capable Poseidon torpedoes -- but mastering the complex technology required for such weaponry might yet be beyond North Korea, experts said.

"For an unmanned submarine to go deep underwater undetected, it requires advanced technology such as control sensors and radar," Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University told AFP.

North Korea has not acquired this "to an extent that it can deploy nuclear unmanned sea drones in combat yet," but its claims about the Haeil drone fit a broader pattern, Choi said.

Pyongyang has moved on from simply stockpiling nuclear warheads and is "attempting to further advance and diversify launch mediums," he said, adding that further testing could yet give Pyongyang "formidable" new ways to deliver a nuclear payload.

After a record-breaking year of weapons tests and growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang in 2022, Seoul and Washington have ramped up security cooperation.

On Thursday, the two allies completed their largest joint military drills in five years.

Pyongyang views all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and on Friday claimed the recent exercises, dubbed Freedom Shield, were a drill for "occupying" North Korea.

Pyongyang's "underwater nuclear attack drone" drill was staged "to alert the enemy to an actual nuclear crisis," KCNA said.

North Korea last year declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power and Kim recently called for an "exponential" increase in weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons.

KCNA's Friday statement comes about a week after Pyongyang test-fired its largest and most powerful missile, a Hwasong-17 -- its second ICBM launch this year.
Humanity must chart new course on water use: UN chief



United Nations, United States, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2023



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday delivered an urgent call for the world to modify and safeguard water resources to avert conflict and ensure future global prosperity.

Water is "the most precious common good," and "needs to be at the center of the global political agenda," Guterres said at the end of a three-day UN conference that experts said held a measure of promise.

"All of humanity's hopes for the future depend, in some way, on charting a new science-based course to bring the water action agenda to life," Guterres said.

"Now is the time to act."

The world is not on track to meet its 2030 water goals, including access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all.

Guterres earlier in the week described water as humanity's "lifeblood" and said its "vampiric overconsumption" had "broken the water cycle" and led to more natural disasters.

NGOs, governments and the private sector offered nearly 700 commitments before and during the three days of the UN gathering that drew some 10,000 participants. Pledges ranged from the construction of toilets to the restoration of 300,000 kilometers (186,400 miles) of degraded rivers and massive areas of wetlands.

Less than a third of the commitments have funding said Charles Iceland of the World Resources Institute think tank, adding that about a third "are going to have substantial impact."

Despite this, "these voluntary commitments are a good start," he told AFP, referring in particular to a project led by Germany on the management of the Niger River basin which touches nine nations in Africa.



- 'Pleasantly surprised' -



"It's probably the part of the world that is the most fragile, and where we're starting to see actual violent conflict over water between different groups," he said.

But at the global level, the issue of water "is a huge problem and one conference is not going to do it," Iceland added, pleading for annual conferences on water.

"You hear a lot of pledges," Stuart Orr of WWF told AFP. "But this feels somehow quite different."

While it "is not all rosy," Orr added, "a lot of the commitments that have been made this week are very good."

He said he was "pleasantly surprised," in part, at the variety of institutions and organizations now talking about water.

"This issue is not going away. The water issue is only going to get worse. And I think that's why everybody is starting to feel maybe now really is the time to get going," Orr said.

The conference pleaded for Guterres to appoint a UN special envoy for water, which the secretary-general says is under consideration.

Without a dedicated UN agency or global treaty, "water has no home here at the UN," said Henk Ovink, water envoy of the Netherlands, which was a coorganizer of the conference.

In 2020, two billion people were still without safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lacked access to safely managed sanitation services, including 494 million who had to relieve themselves in the open, according to the latest figures compiled by the UN-Water website.

At least two billion people drink water contaminated with feces, and 2.3 billion lack basic sanitation services -- conditions conducive to the spread of cholera, dysentery and polio.

While climate change makes droughts more frequent and intense, UN climate experts (IPCC) also estimate that about half of the world's population suffers from "severe" water shortages during at least part of the year.

A young Dutch woman, Aniek Moonen, addressed the conference as if she were speaking from the year 2050.

She suggested that the summit could be a pivotal moment for water management "to become more sustainable, equitable and just than ever before."

"This is the future speaking. Don't forget to listen," she told the delegates.
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Sarun Charoensuwan, permanent secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, addresses a Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Week 2023 event which marks the seventh anniversary of the LMC in Bangkok, Thailand on March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

BANGKOK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) has enhanced mutual trust and collaboration among LMC countries, senior Thai officials said here on Thursday.

Addressing an LMC Week 2023 event which marks the seventh anniversary of the LMC, Sarun Charoensuwan, permanent secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, said the LCM has proved to be a mechanism that is "action-oriented" and emphasizes concrete results in various fields.

"It plays an important role in enhancing political trust and driving strong collaboration between countries in the Mekong-Lancang sub-region, especially in economic and social aspects, and people-to-people cooperation," he said.

The collaboration has also played an important role in complementing and linking LMC members' national development policies with regional and global initiatives, such as the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), he added.

The LMC consists of six countries, namely China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Chairat Sirivat, ambassador attached to the Thai Foreign Ministry, said the LMC Special Fund so far has assisted over 600 development projects across the sub-region, including 59 projects in Thailand from 11 agencies.

"I would like to express my thanks to China for supporting the implementation of the Thai-led projects, as well as to other LMC member countries for their cooperation with Thai agencies for the completed and ongoing Thai-led LMC Special Fund projects, including the new projects which are officially launched today," he said.

Chairat noted that these projects are not only in line with the development priorities, but they also address challenges in the sub-region, as well as those currently at regional and global levels, such as food and energy security, balance between economic recovery and environmental protection, sustainable water resource management and climate change.

"I strongly believe that the implementation of these projects will help improve the livelihoods of the people in this sub-region and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the sub-region to reach its full potential in the post-COVID-19 era," he said. 
On-ground water storage tank (photographed Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018) of Parish Utilities of Ascension, which serves the city Donaldsonville. The Ascension Parish-run water system has been having problems with overbilling customers but parish officials says they are getting a handle on the issues.
Anatoly Torkunov, president of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, speaks in an interview in Moscow, Russia, March 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Anatoly Torkunov, president of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), was still excited to recall the memorable speech Chinese President Xi Jinping gave at the Russian university a decade ago.

"I can still remember how the auditorium was packed with teachers and students," Torkunov said, referring to the speech President Xi delivered on March 23, 2013, during his first state visit to Russia since he was elected president of China.

Torkunov said that Xi's speech was meaningful, deep and thought-provoking and would be significant for any university, especially those focusing on international relations, world politics and economics. "This was also an opportunity not to just directly listen, but to feel politics."

"President Xi spoke not only as the leader of a large country, but also as a teacher, because the lecture wasn't only politically meaningful, it was also meaningful from an academic perspective," he added.

Alexander Bobrov, 30, who is now the director of the MGIMO School of Government and International Affairs, also listened to the Chinese president's speech 10 years ago, when he was a student at the university.

"It was a big event for us. We were very glad to see the Chinese leader, who spoke a lot about the development of bilateral relations, and demonstrated great knowledge of Russian culture," Bobrov said.

"He is a very powerful person with will, character, great charisma," Torkunov stressed.

As to Xi's proposal of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind in his speech, Torkunov said, "We are proud that conceptually this idea was first introduced at our university."

Torkunov recalled that Xi said that countries are linked with and dependent on one another at a level never seen before, and mankind, living in the same global village, have increasingly emerged as a community with a shared future in which everyone's interests are closely entwined.

Many things in China's political life today are connected in a way with centuries-old and millennia-old Chinese history and are drawn from the teachings of great Chinese philosophers, the MGIMO president said.

Torkunov believes that China fundamentally adheres to this concept and uses it in practice -- in the country's development.

In comparison to other theories on international relations, Torkunov said the concept not only profoundly affects many important aspects of national life, but also encompasses the true meaning of development for all.

"Regardless of the size of the economy of any particular country, relations should be built with an emphasis on equality, and it is necessary to seek a peaceful solution to any issue," Torkunov said.

"Ten years have passed but its relevance hasn't declined. It's only becoming more prevalent," Torkunov said, adding that this concept remains important when major changes are taking place now.

"This concept advocates that all countries with a unique culture or even civilizations didn't develop according to some kind of standard, some unified paradigm, so that we have both unity and diversity," Bobrov said.

Bobrov believes that in today's multipolar world, countries need to establish such international relations that each state can make its positive contribution to the development of all mankind.

"The concept will contribute to the progressive development of mankind for many years, or even decades to come," said Bobrov.

Torkunov and Bobrov share the view that Xi's visit to MGIMO and his speech 10 years ago have played an important role in the development of Russia-China relations.

"It gave us a deeper understanding of China's views on various issues and China's role in modern international life. It also motivated us greatly to study China and Russia-China relations," Torkunov said.

On the same day that Torkunov and Bobrov shared with Xinhua their views on Xi's speech, an event dedicated to Chinese culture and language took place in MGIMO.

More than 100 teachers and students from many schools in Moscow were invited to participate in a Chinese tea tasting ceremony, calligraphy and paper cutting workshops. MGIMO students also took part in discussions held in Chinese.

"We have a large group of students who are studying Chinese. Moreover, today, professors and teachers are actively studying China," Torkunov said.

MGIMO has signed long-term cooperation agreements with more than 10 Chinese universities and research institutes, including Peking University, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Since the 1950s, more than 250 Chinese students have graduated from MGIMO, and currently there are 84 Chinese students studying here.

"We are very much looking forward to developing all kinds of academic ties with Chinese institutions. If it weren't for President Xi's visit in 2013, this process could have taken more years, and we would have had to work harder to achieve the results that we have already achieved," Bobrov said.

He also noted that a wide variety of students want to learn Chinese and study in China.

Torkunov said that Russia-China relations are developing comprehensively and cooperation between Chinese and Russian universities will continue to enhance. "We will be happy if there are more Chinese students, we will also send more our students to China to study." 

Alexander Bobrov, director of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) School of Government and International Affairs, speaks in an interview in Moscow, Russia, March 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Students participate in a Chinese calligraphy workshop at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in Moscow, Russia, March 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)
Clergy from around the New Orleans metro area gathered with Archbishop Gregory Aymond, left, as the flag-draped casket holding the body of Father Otis Young, 71, is carried to a hearse outside St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington on Monday, December 5, 2022. Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, has filed bills aimed at keeping some inmates in prison longer. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
This month will be the third time in recent history when voters in what is now state House District 93 chose their representative in a special election called to fill a midterm vacancy. Each time, a very small number of voters showed up to make that important decision on behalf of all voters in the district.
Sometimes it's just a simple case of aesthetics: A white figure is easy to see on a blue background.

The figure in this case, is a glowing white mother pelican tearing her breast to feed her young against a backdrop of blue on Louisiana's state flag. Gov. W.W. Heard specified the color scheme in 1912, when setting the flag's criteria.

But Earl Higgins, of River Ridge, said a longtime curiosity prompted his questions about the pelican symbol.

"The official state bird is the brown pelican," he said. "Why does the state flag picture a white pelican, a different species?"

Well, part of the answer can be found in the fact that Louisiana didn't proclaim the brown pelican its state bird until 1966, 54 years after the flag was in place. But that would be too easy an answer in a state where the historical journey is as important as the destination.

And this journey begins just after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

"The new (Louisiana Territory's) governing council directed territorial Gov. William C.C. Claiborne to authenticate all official acts with a public seal," writes Glen Duncan in his 2010 book, "A Modern History of the Louisiana Pelican Flag."

Both LSU's Hill Memorial Library and the State Library of Louisiana referenced Duncan's book for this question.

Related story: Louisianas brown pelicans threatened as coastal islands vanish due to climate change

The seal featured an American bald eagle in the beginning but was changed to the pelican when Louisiana officially entered into statehood in 1812. Heard set the flag's parameters a century later.

Why a pelican? Well, historian and author William Favrot offers one possible explanation: Louisiana's Catholic heritage.

"The Catholic church long used the image of the pelican tearing its breast as food for its chicks," Duncan quotes Favrot in his book. "The image was and still is a symbol of Christ's commitment. Louisiana was predominantly Catholic at the time of Claiborne's choice."
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States should demonstrate its sincerity to abide by international rules and respect the international rule of law, and only by doing so will it win the trust of the international community, and gain the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) members before it returns to UNESCO, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's saying that the United States should return to UNESCO.

According to reports, Blinken said on Wednesday that China is the single largest contributor to UNESCO while the United States is not even "at the table," making it ever more important to "change the situation."

Mao told the press that the United States has withdrawn from UNESCO twice, which has had a negative impact on UNESCO's work.

"If the United States wants to return to UNESCO, we hope that the intention of the U.S. is to shoulder international responsibilities, fulfill international obligations, support multilateralism, and promote international cooperation," said the spokesperson.

She added that the United States should review its wrongdoing of withdrawing from international treaties and organizations and pursuing "America first," and demonstrate its goodwill and sincerity.

"International organizations are platforms for international cooperation, not battlefields for geopolitical confrontations," said Mao, adding that China welcomes the United States if it objectively evaluates China's positive role in UNESCO.

"However, if the intention of the United States returning to UNESCO is to balance and limit China's influence, it will only raise suspicions that the U.S. is still putting 'America first' ahead of international public interest," said Mao. 
Help a nonprofit near you: Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans
Around 5% of mainland Africa is covered by water, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, bays, straits, gulfs and other bodies of water.

Africa is home to some of the world's largest rivers and lakes, such as the Nile River and Lake Victoria.

While up to 60% of Africa is classified as desert or drylands, a total volume of around 626.4 million cubic miles (2.616 billion cubic kilometers) of water surrounds Africa.

The water resources of Africa play a vital role in supporting the continent's ecosystems, as well as the lives and livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them for drinking water, agriculture, energy generation, industry and commerce.

Water is life

Exploring the Rich Waterways of Africa: A Look at the Number and Diversity of Lakes and Rivers on the African Continent.

Two oceans border Africa.

The five major oceans of the world are the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. There are two oceans that border Africa - the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the Indian Ocean on the east. The continent of Africa is bounded by these two oceans, which meet at the southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas.

The Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of countries such as Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Angola.

The Indian Ocean touches the shores of countries such as Somalia, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, and Djibouti.





Seas that border or are adjacent to the African continent.

Seas are smaller bodies of saltwater that are partially enclosed by land. There are several seas that border or are adjacent to the African continent:

The Mediterranean Sea is located to the north of Africa and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar. It borders countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.

The Red Sea is located to the northeast of Africa and separates the continent from the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

The Arabian Sea is located to the east of Africa and is part of the Indian Ocean. It borders countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Oman, and Pakistan.

The Mozambique Channel is located between Madagascar and Mozambique and is part of the Indian Ocean.

The Atlantic Ocean borders the western coast of Africa and includes several seas, such as the Gulf of Guinea, the Cape Verde Islands, and the Canary Islands. It is important to note that the definition and classification of seas can vary depending on the source and context.





Africa is known for having numerous lakes, both large and small.

Lakes are bodies of water that are surrounded by land and usually contain fresh water. Some of the largest lakes in Africa are also some of the largest in the world. Here are some examples of notable lakes in Africa:

Located in East Africa, Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by volume.

Lake Tanganyika also located in East Africa, it is the second-deepest lake in the world and the second-largest by volume.

Lake Malawi is located in Southeast Africa, it is the ninth-largest lake in the world by volume and is home to a diverse array of fish species.

Lake Chad, located in Central Africa, it is a shallow, freshwater lake that has been steadily shrinking in recent years due to climate change and human use.

Lake Turkana, located in Northern Kenya, it is the largest desert lake in the world and is known for its unique geology and ecology.

Lake Albert: Located on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is the seventh-largest lake in Africa and is part of the larger Nile River system.

Lake Kivu is located on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is one of the African Great Lakes and is known for its unique geology and methane gas reserves.





Africa is home to many rivers.

Rivers are large bodies of water that flow through channels and empty into oceans, seas, or other rivers, some examples of major rivers in Africa:

The Nile is the longest river in the world, stretching over 6,600 km (4,100 miles) and flowing through 11 countries in North and East Africa.

The Congo River is the second-largest river in Africa by discharge and is the deepest river in the world, with depths reaching over 220 meters (720 feet).

The Niger is the third-longest river in Africa, flowing through five West African countries before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa and flows through six countries before emptying into the Indian Ocean.

The Orange River is the longest river in South Africa and flows through Namibia and South Africa before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Limpopo River flows through southern Africa and forms part of the border between South Africa and Botswana, and later between South Africa and Zimbabwe, before emptying into the Indian Ocean.

The Senegal River flows through four West African countries and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

Examples of major estuaries in Africa.

There are many estuaries along the coasts of Africa. An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean. Estuaries are an important habitats for fish and other aquatic species, as well as for birds and other wildlife that depend on them for food and shelter.

Gambia River Estuary is located in the West African country of The Gambia, this estuary is an important habitat for birds and other wildlife.

St. Lucia Estuary is located in South Africa's iSimangaliso Wetland Park, this estuary is home to many species of fish, birds, and other animals.

Rufiji River Estuary located in Tanzania, this estuary is one of the largest in East Africa and is an important habitat for many aquatic species.

Zambezi River Estuary located on the border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, this estuary is home to many fish and bird species and is an important site for ecotourism.

Senegal River Estuary is located on the border between Senegal and Mauritania and is an important habitat for birds, including flamingos and pelicans.

Congo River Estuary located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, this estuary is one of the largest in Africa and is home to many species of fish and other aquatic life.





Important bays of water in Africa.

Africa is home to many bays, which are partially enclosed bodies of water that are open to the sea on one end. Important bays in Africa:

Walvis Bay located in Namibia, this bay is known for its abundant birdlife and is an important site for commercial fishing and shipping.

Table Bay located in South Africa's Western Cape province, this bay is home to the city of Cape Town and is an important commercial and transportation hub.

Lagos Lagoon, this large lagoon is located in Nigeria and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow channel. It is an important commercial and fishing area.

Maputo Bay is located in Mozambique, this bay is an important harbor for shipping and is home to the city of Maputo.

Dakar Bay, this bay is located in Senegal and is home to the city of Dakar. It is an important commercial and transportation hub.

Dakhla Bay located in Western Sahara, this bay is known for its strong winds and is a popular destination for windsurfing and other water sports.





There are numerous gulfs located along the coast of Africa.

A gulf is a large bay that is typically deeper and more open than a bay, and often has a narrower entrance. Here are some examples of gulfs in Africa:

Gulf of Guinea is located on the western coast of Africa, stretching from Senegal to Angola. It is an important shipping route and is home to many oil and gas reserves.

Gulf of Aden is located between Yemen and Somalia, and is an important shipping route for vessels traveling between Europe and Asia.

Gulf of Aqaba is located at the northern tip of the Red Sea, and is bordered by Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It is a popular destination for scuba diving and other water sports.

Gulf of Tadjoura is located in Djibouti, and is an important shipping route for vessels traveling between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Gulf of Gabes is located on the eastern coast of Tunisia, and is an important fishing area.





There are several straits located around the coast of Africa.

A strait is a narrow waterway that connects two larger bodies of water, typically separating two land masses. Here are some examples of straits in Africa:

Bab-el-Mandeb strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in East Africa.

Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, and separates Europe from Africa. It is located between Spain and Morocco.

Mozambique Channel is a strait that separates Madagascar from mainland Africa, and connects the Indian Ocean to the south and the Mozambique Strait to the north.

Strait of Bonifacio is a strait that separates the Italian island of Sardinia from the French island of Corsica, and is located in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Strait of Sicily separates the Italian island of Sicily from the North African coast, and connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west with the Mediterranean Sea to the east.

Strait of Tiran is located between Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia, and connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Water is crucially important to Africa





Water is crucially important to Africa for five major reasons; supporting ecosystems, agriculture, drinking water, industry and commerce, and energy generation:

Water is essential for supporting the diverse ecosystems found throughout Africa, including forests, wetlands, savannas, and deserts. These ecosystems are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.

Water is essential for agriculture, which is a major source of livelihoods for many people in Africa. In many parts of the continent, farmers rely on rainfall to water their crops, while in other areas, irrigation systems are used to provide water to crops.

Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential for the health and well-being of people throughout Africa. Lack of access to safe drinking water can lead to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, which can be deadly.

Water is important for industry and commerce in Africa. Many industries rely on water for manufacturing, processing, and cooling, while ports and waterways are essential for transporting goods and commodities.

Water is also an important source of energy in Africa. Many countries in the continent rely on hydroelectric power plants to generate electricity, which can provide a reliable and renewable source of energy for homes, businesses, and industries.





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An immersive artist whose projects are often long-term, Banks spent nearly two years applying to appear on reality TV, specifically on shows about dating and relationships. During the process, she was asked hundreds of personal questions in order to determine whether she was a good fit. Having signed non-disclosure agreements, she cant name the programs but across the board, producers didnt hold back with queries ranging from how many people shed had sex with through to whether she would describe herself as lonely.

Reality TV is the contemporary colosseum, says Georgia Banks: its where we go to watch human suffering. We used to watch gladiators, we used to watch public executions; theres always been a gathering place where we drink the pain of others.

Among more than 200 works overtaking the Federation Square gallery are 70 brand-spanking new commissions made just for the show. In compiling our list of the most eye-catching, we asked the artists about their inspirations and found that the future of Australias cultural capital is in the cleverest of hands.

Most gallery visits find us absorbing art history while we marvel at master works from earlier times, but as the Melbourne Now exhibition opens at NGV Australia this week, its the living, breathing present that captures us. Ten years after the first iteration of this ambitious contemporary blockbuster, we once again come face-to-face with images and ideas that reflect our own time and place.

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Visitors to Melbourne Now will be able to talk to Gee on their mobile phones; if you open her up in the gallery you can take her home with you. Were not recording or archiving any of the conversations; theres a certain level of self-surveillance. If people think someone else is listening, [its] less performative.

I genuinely had an argument with a ChatBot version of myself, Banks says. Its confronting to have something you would have said spat out at you.

Appearing in Melbourne Now are both the chatbot Gee and a video called DataBaes, a meta creation based on a reality TV show, which features Banks as herself and playing Gee. I spent this period of time talking to her to see what relationship we would form  I was very confronted, shocked  sometimes she said things that I would have said when I was auditioning in 2019. I was like, no, you sound so stupid! It really puts to bed that idea that if I was dating another version of myself it would be great  its not true.

I had all of this information about myself and I wondered how accurate the portrayal was, she says. I should enter her into the Archibald.

Despite not making it onto the shows, Banks decided to make use of all the data collected. She teamed up with Dr Jey Han Lau, senior lecturer in the University of Melbournes school of computing and information systems, along with other computer specialists from the university, to create Gee, a ChatBot programmed with all of her data.

The application for one show took nine months and in some ways, she says, the process mirrored real life. Just towards the very end you get a template response, [saying thanks but no]. You have a relationship with them, because they want you to think you are going to get on the show, then they just ghost you  which is a lot like being in a real relationship.

Its not Melburnian black. Thats the first thing. A showpiece commissioned by the NGV from local couture studio JAton for the Fashion Now part of its vast Melbourne Now exhibition is pink. And not just any pink; a cartoonishly hot, lipsticky, meaning-laden neon thats a whole virtual colourwheel away from the inky ink that fashionable Melburnians are known to prefer.

In 2019, Banks spent a year competing in beauty pageants. Everything about my life changed when I did that work, everything about my appearance changed every time I stepped out of the house, she says. I really believe in using my life as my work. Kerrie OBrien

Another of her ongoing projects is Remains to be Seen, for which she plans to give away her body following death. Anyone can apply to have control over my body once I die and they can take on the planning of my funeral and what will happen to me, she says, adding that the idea is to talk about death and legacy and this drive towards the known in our society.

Despite her interest in dating shows, Banks doesnt use dating apps. Because I am an addict. Im six years sober. The apps like Tinder are designed to be addictive.

This is the Banks first tech-driven work. AI made the most sense to me in this project, led here by my own conceptual interests, she says. Im very ideas-driven and then I find the most appropriate medium. Im more interested in asking questions than answering them. DataBaes is a provocation, not that tech is bad but [to get you to] think about its impact and how much we are giving away.

JAtons commission logically followed couturier Toni Maticevskis for Melbourne Now 2003 but was, nonetheless, a pleasant shock for Pittorino and Luppino. They live relatively humbly, despite the array of wealthy and celebrity women, from Jennifer Lopez to Dita Von Teese, who have commissioned their extraordinary couture since they opened their first atelier in 1995.

Fashion Now marks a profound shift since the first Melbourne Now a decade ago, when designers were driven by trends or expressive individualism, to an industry fuelled by social awareness today.

Thats what came to the surface with everybody, from recent graduates to established [brands], Whitfield says. The issues underpinning their fashion practices: theyre all very values-driven. Time and time again we heard designers talk about identity, politics, sustainability, ethical practice, diversity, inclusivity.

Very different, very individual, Whitfield says of a group ranging from recent graduate and emerging labels to established businesses cherry-picked after endless studio visits over a couple of years. But they all have a common vernacular.

Pittorino and Luppinos fantastically flashy pink gown, with its waved hourglass form and curious, saw-toothed surface laser-cut into a high-tech neoprene-like fabric engineered in Italy from recycled plastic bottles, is the centrepiece of 30 works by 18 Melbourne designers and studios, selected by curator Danielle Whitfield and her NGV fashion and textiles team.

It needed to be pink, explains couturier Anthony Pittorino, partner in JAton with Jacob Luppino. Pinks got power and strength. It represents a new generation of kids who are fluid and confident, but its also divisive, its worn by different people for polar opposite reasons. Pinks embraced because its masculine, its embraced because its feminine, its used to light up beautiful architecture and fun parks and ferris wheels, its in the gorgeous [Leonard French] ceiling at the NGV, its what I see first in the graffiti along [Melbourne] laneways [the ghost town of fashion, Flinders Lane] where we used to buy beads and visit our dressmakers  Pink feels like where the world is now.

Ive used 8 centimetre chenille pompoms  machine-made craft ones  and each one was screwed on individually, which took about three weeks of full-time work.

The work is made from a steel armature with milled foam; Emery then applied every pompom individually. And no, there is no high-art term we can use instead of pompoms.

Troy Emerys Melbourne Now commission is his largest yet: a 3.5 metre feline figure, seemingly caught in motion  and covered in 9000 brightly coloured pompoms. Based on the form of a mountain lion, the work is so big Emery couldnt complete it in his studio and had to move to a foundry in Sunshine.

Were small, says Pittorino. Its just me and Jacob here sewing most of the time. We dont even have a website or post on Instagram that much, so it was a surprise and very validating to know people like the NGV respect us. Janice Breen Burns

I do find them kind of cringey, he admits. Someone will say to me, Oh, youre a sculptor, do you work in stone or wood? And I say, Well, I work in pompoms! If Im trying to make myself sound serious and important though, Ill use the word textiles.

Emery is known for creating often uncanny sculptures of animal forms  faceless and covered in fur, fringing or other textiles  that explore our historic relationship with animals and the aesthetics associated with natural history; think taxidermy, but with vibrant, tactile pelts. His sculptures tend to be based on domestic animals, rendered at a life-size scale, but this commission is, he jokes, on a dinosaur scale.

Mountain Climber appears to be walking off its plinth, caught mid-movement; Emery was inspired by old-school museum dioramas.

Im interested in the tropes of traditional figurative sculpture, with the plinth and the museum furniture as almost part of the work, he says. I wanted to exhibit this piece on a classic museum display device, and have [it] be kind of  breaking free from that.

Emerys work has always blurred the line between art and craft, but he says hes not participating in a craft dialogue.

As with anything, there are different parameters. Craft leans towards a technical tradition, which Im not really engaging in, and craft also leans towards a kind of home, decorative arts  Im playing on that  I suppose its art about craft, rather than craft itself.

As an animal lover, Emery says they were his entry point into the appreciation of the experience of museums and public institutions such as zoos.

And the idea of things representing bigger ideas, he says. You visit the zoo and you learn about endangered species, and you visit the museum and learn about extinct species. Ive always thought the idea of something representing a bigger idea translates very neatly into how we look at contemporary art. Kylie Northover

Mia Boe, For the angels in paradise, 2022

Mia Boe: I feel this weird sense of who am I to tell my story? Credit:Courtesy of the artist

Mia Boe describes the courthouse scene portrayed in one of her recent paintings as the jury cake. Piled up in three cake-like tiers, however, the jury looks neither sweet nor celebratory. The black, elongated hands in the foreground, reaching out to that stony jury, speak of desperation. They evoke First Nations peoples experience of trauma and violence, both historical and contemporary.

The painting, one of nine in a series being shown as part of the artists mural-based installation, has a powerful resonance for Boe, whose family has Indigenous and Burmese heritage, and some members in the legal profession. The works deal specifically with how the Australian justice system operates in terms of deaths in custody, and the violent treatment and oppression of Aboriginal people and culture.

Boes paintings are mounted at eye level beneath an enormous temporary wall-based mural at The Ian Potter Centre  a mural, she says, which is redolent of the Australian landscape, featuring blue skies, ochre-coloured earth, dingoes, trees and even a Hills Hoist. The mural faces works by 20th century social realist artists Noel Counihan and Russell Drysdale, drawn from the NGV collection.

Installation view of Mia Boes For the angels in paradise 2023 on display in Melbourne Now. Credit:Sean Fennessy

I have a strong interest in that social-realist tradition but wanted to interpret the issues for myself, looking primarily at the relationship between Aboriginal people, police, courtrooms and the justice system, Boe says. While she references real events, she keeps the details and figures non-specific out of sensitivity to those who have lost family. The human forms in these paintings, she says, are more like representations of ancestral spirits, embodying historical figures.

With an edge of surrealism, Boes paintings refer to events such as an all-white jury letting off a white accused person, despite the evidence of a crime, or authorities forcing Aboriginal people off a cliff. This is one of the most violent of the images, but it is based on events  that have happened, Boe says. She also refers to Aboriginal people hiding in rivers and waterways to evade authorities during colonial times.

Boe considers herself fortunate as an artist to be able to research and talk about these issues. I feel this weird sense of who am I to tell my story? But storytelling is important and necessary in all cultures.

While she finds it difficult to read about traumatic historical and contemporary events, it is important to her and her family to tell the truth in this way. And Im proud to do that. Andrew Stephens

Meagan Streader, Sky whispers

Meagan Streader: Imagine hundreds of tall, towering, slightly angled lines of warm white light. Credit:Anne Moffat

Meagan Streader transforms space with light. For more than a decade shes created large-scale immersive light installations that are otherworldly, like a science-fiction realm, or Blade Runner set. Yet they are also, in Streaders words, magical and sublime.

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Describing her work for Melbourne Now, she says: Imagine hundreds of tall, towering, slightly angled lines of warm white light which come down from the ceiling, down the walls and across the floor, completely covering the space; youll get to immerse yourself within it.

As with her previous light installations, Sky whispers is informed by the architecture of the site, in this case The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square.

The gallery is filled with unusual angles, nooks, voids and walkways, she says. Its very fragmented architecturally, and I wanted to explore that by bringing in the exterior experience of light into the interior space of the gallery.

In a darkened corridor on level three, Streader is installing thin lines of light, created with light tape. The work features slanted walls to enhance the fractured sensibility. Streader wants to affect viewers physically and emotionally. While she finds working with light grounding and calming, shes also drawn to a sense of impossibility.

It takes you out of reality, she says. Light is completely affecting; physically, visually, psychologically. It has so many different qualities and powers to it.

Installation view of Meagan Streaders Sky Whispers 2023 on display in Melbourne Now. Credit:Sean Fennessy

Streaders practice links to conceptualists such as Fred Sandback, Dan Flavin and Robert Irwin, whose works influenced her during a New York residency in 2016. These artists created sculptural or light-filled spaces centred on the movement of the spectator and how this alters their perception of the work.

While many conceptual pieces of the 1950s and 60s have a spiritual quality that Streader aligns with, many also contain an implicit masculine energy. She envisions something softer, gentler: We need to make space for a different kind of feeling.

Her work is a meeting of natural and artificial light, all activated by a visitor walking through the space, and ultimately culminating in one idea: connection. Its expanding our sense of the world and each other, Streader says. I think theres something fundamental about installations as spaces for connecting people.

We spend our lives in light, from the sun to streetlights to neon signs to digital screens, and while light is implicated in the history of capitalism and modernism, Streader is more focused on its emotional quality. Im interested in elevating our experience of the world, she says. Its almost primal; the first and last thing we see, supposedly, is light. Tiarney Miekus

James Lemon, Swarming

James Lemon, Swarming, 2022. Credit:Courtesy of the artist

New Zealand-born artist James Lemons commission for Melbourne Now may be one of the exhibitions most playful works. Described as part installation and part playground, this participatory work fills an entire room.

Principally a ceramic artist, Lemon has also embraced other media for the project, including soft sculpture, painting, textiles and digital media, to celebrate the part bees play in our ecosystems. Swarming invites viewers to become a bee; after entering what Lemon describes as little hobbit doors  one for adults and a small one for kids to crawl through, visitors can experience a bees-eye view.

The project is an imagination, or an interpretation of what it might be like to be a bee within a hive, Lemon says. I mean, technically if youre in a hive, its complete darkness, so there is a bit of artistic licence there. Im drawing from the different sensory experiences and using that as a jumping-off point  Im using a lot of UV-reactive colours and fabrics and finishes, because bees see in ultraviolet.

Installation view of James Lemons Swarming 2023 on display in Melbourne Now. Credit:Tom Ross

Hes hesitant to describe the work as having an environmental message.

I think its more a celebration of the wild complexity of life, he says. For me, I look at insects and its such a different type of life form, yet there is unmistakable intelligence and genius within it. I think for me its about repositioning the eye and kind of  looking through a slightly different lens.

Insects, he says, are the canary in the coalmine, in terms of environmental damage. Its not just bees  its all insects. The decline of insects has been pretty rapid from the 1970s. Without sounding too dour, I feel like Im just bearing witness. I feel a little bit powerless, and I think thats maybe what Im trying to express; I dont really have anything else that I can do.

Swarming is a departure from Lemons early work making often-functional ceramic pieces; making art, he says, was always his destination.

The functional stuff, the design side of my work has definitely blurred and dissolved into my art practice, he says. But at least I know that in the apocalypse I can make sure we have clean objects to eat out of.

Swarming is his largest work to date. And its also my first all-ages work, and a participatory work for everybody, he says. Its made me look at things from a few different perspectives. Kylie Northover

Lee Darrochs message sticks

Lee Darrochs message sticks are a centrepiece of Melbourne Now. Credit:NGV Australia

On her regular walks through the bush, Lee Darroch often finds branches that look like animals. A few added teeth and theres a crocodile; an upturned wing or three and suddenly, a trio of flying ducks appears. The Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti and Boon Wurrung womans message sticks, fashioned from found objects near her home on Raymond Island in Gippsland, will form a striking centrepiece of Melbourne Now stretching almost 10 metres.

The message sticks themselves turned into different things, so I just collected them as sticks and took them back to my studio and started working with them using a wood burner, she says. Theyre different to what youve seen; its using found objects in nature, saying this is what youre missing.

Traditional message sticks were used as communication between tribal groups or clans. One side would be notched with the number of people invited to a gathering, and the other would be the reply, saying who was coming. Traditionally they were painted or carved, but Darrochs are burnt. All Ive done is embellish it  If it looked like a crocodile, Id just make it a bit more croc-like, she says.

Lee Darroch: Were all distracted by things that dont matter. Credit:NGV Australia

Speaking via phone from her home near Paynesville, Darroch is struggling to hear me above the sound of koalas mating outside her window. It sounds like a pig crossed with a baby crying, she says, laughing. Where she lives is like a nature reserve. Her work is inspired by the natural world, and this one in particular by the threat posed to it  and to all of us  by climate change.

Having been hit by extreme bushfires and unseasonal floods in the past few years, the area from Orbost to Eden includes tens of thousands of trees that will never regenerate, she says. It looks like they are dancing in anguish.

The crisis led her to think about a way to show doota guntha woka, which means save Mother Earth now.

I was playing around with that and thinking about ways to strengthen our people.

The artwork took about 16 months to make, and includes 100-odd message sticks, along with 38 women and 38 men made from driftwood, representing the 38 language groups of Indigenous people in Victoria. The figures represent elders who are connecting the songlines together for strength in these times of really grave adversity and hardship on the earth.

Darroch would usually return such a piece to country, but this will remain with the NGV. Thats probably good because thats where the environmental message needs to be heard; it goes straight to the heart of Melbourne, she says. People in the cities tend to be more disconnected from the environment.

Darroch worked mainly outside at home to create the piece, laying out the message sticks for the men and then joining them to the message sticks of the women to create one continuous line. I could see what they represented to me but I was going to leave it to whoever comes to see the exhibition to see what it means to them.

She says its time to stop and listen to our First Nations elders around the globe. It was an environmental message, I suppose, but its also about survival; we wont survive if we keep going like this. I think were all distracted by Netflix and weve been drugged by things that dont matter, like consumerism  issues that arent really at the heart of what the world needs right now. Kerrie OBrien

Christine Johnson, Eremophila, 2022

Christine Johnson, Eremophila, 2022, intaglio and pigment print. Credit:Christine Johnson

An invisible magnet drew Christine Johnson to the work of pioneering Mallee botanist Eileen Ramsay. As she pored over Ramsays writings and specimens held in the National Herbarium of Victoria, she was struck by an inexplicable sense of sadness. It seemed odd, given that Ramsays massive contribution to preserving and celebrating the indigenous flora of the regions around Mildura seemed full of positive results and joyous enthusiasm.

She discovered that Ramsays life (1887-1961) had been overshadowed by the deaths of her two young brothers at Gallipoli. Perhaps, Johnson wonders, Ramsay dedicated herself to so much productive fieldwork as a counter-measure. A love of nature and of life, after all, is the antithesis of war.

Since 2015, Johnsons creative output has focused on what she describes as Ramsays redemptive act of botanising. Her botanically themed work for Melbourne Now, Eremophila (common name, emu bush) references a plant spread over all the semi-arid parts of Australia, where its habitat is at risk. Johnsons layered work has been described as both a celebration of the desert-loving plant and a plea for its conservation.

Eremophila is considered sacred in Indigenous cultures and has widespread medicinal use. It is one of the plants that Johnson, with the help of Mallee plant enthusiasts and field naturalists, has located while trying to determine which florae from Ramsays surveys still exist in the regions ecosystem.

Johnson always begins her work by drawing specimens  a practice that aligns with her curiosity about the links between art, science and ecology. You do connect deeply with nature through drawing, never mind what your scribbles look like, she says. I noticed this when I went out botanising with these complete plant enthusiasts: their dedication to the landscape was awe-inspiring and they had this capacity to see detail in the same way you do when you draw. It is just by immersing yourself in it.

Johnson has been transformed by her experience of this landscape  which, her research confirms, was described with a mixture of wonder and horror by early colonial explorers. One of the things about going out into that desert landscape is that it appears to be hostile, yet it embraces you. You can understand why this was something Eileen Ramsay ended up dedicating her life to, by identifying and collecting everything she was able to in order to help preserve it as a legacy.

The work of Ramsay and her cohort of field naturalists led to the proclamation of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. Johnson, with her exquisitely evocative prints and drawings of plants, continues it as well: upcoming projects, including a botanic-themed laneway installation in Dandenong and a solo exhibition in Red Cliffs in September, enmesh beautifully with Ramsays legacy. Andrew Stephens

Grace Wood

Grace Wood with some of her earlier works. Credit:Gemma-Rose Turnbull

When Grace Wood was searching the National Gallery of Victorias internal image archive  more than a million snaps recording everything from openings to collections to conservation  she found a particularly curious set of photographs. Inside a loading bay, in front of a black curtain, was a set of artfully arranged, glaringly yellow delivery cases. Theres no information on who took these or why but I found something so compelling, almost David Lynch-like, about them, she says.

These photographs, alongside more than 600 archival NGV images, feature in Woods collages for Melbourne Now. Six framed pieces will hang from thick coloured rope, the collages printed on fabric and vinyl. In one, the yellow cases appear alongside a woman with brightly coloured teardrops collecting in buckets. Another image plays on snakes and ladders, while another features an exquisite jumble of ropes, ancient artwork, a gilded frame, birds and more, all set against velvety blue backdrops.

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Over the past decade Wood has created digital collages from archives and internet searches. In a world of perpetual image creation, she is partly questioning the divide between professional and amateur photography  today everyone and no one is a photographer, she says  where photography emerges as both an art form and utilitarian practice. Shes also highlighting the imperfection of archives as a true record of reality and history; they are, she points out, filled with personal bias.

Yet Woods Melbourne Now collages ultimately revel in aesthetic allure. When I visited Monets works on Naoshima [Japans art island)] I read that when Monet was going blind, he created paintings he said were grand decorations. I like the idea of all art being a grand decoration. The purposeful seduction of Woods refined layering and colour palettes is motivated by her desire for anyone to get the work.

Wood also gravitated to collage for its historical alignment with womens craft. While the Melbourne Now collages are half printed on textiles (another form historically seen as womens work), theyre also composed digitally: Wood belongs to a generation raised on the early digitisation of images, Dolly magazines, Tumblr pages, Pinterest boards and Instagram.

Wood contemplates how contemporary culture functions on endless images  most of which well never see  and creating within this. When everything has been photographed a thousand times, does it need to be photographed more? she asks. Instead, I shifted to using found images.

When questioning what a true image is  especially when a reverse Google search can yield thousands of matches  Wood is more interested in the fallibility of originality.

I know its nihilistic! she says, laughing. But I have no desire to add to our canon of images  collage is a more interesting vehicle to comment through. Tiarney Miekus

Zhu Ohmu, Organ pipe mud dauber, #10, 2022

Zhu Ohmu with some of her works, and, right, her Melbourne Now commission, Organ pipe mud dauber, #10, 2022. Credit: Zhu Ohmu

Zhu Ohmu was being driven across town with her latest ceramic work steadied on her lap, when she noticed the coiled vessel was about torso height. Thats how she measures her creations, in relation to the human body. Using her hands to loop lengths of moist clay upon one another, she has discovered that torso height is about the limit of the physics involved: after that, the sheer weight of the material forces it to collapse on itself.

Ohmu is part of an ancient tradition: coiled pots have been around for thousands of years. But her interest is also very contemporary as it has a focus on the use of 3D printer technology to replicate coiled pottery. In one project at RMIT, Ohmu scanned one of her own coiled vessels and tried to get the 3D ceramics printer to copy it. But the machine could not manage the extreme overhangs Ohmu tends to have in her work: the technology could not replicate her intuitive understanding of what clay can do.

Ohmu is quick to point out she is not anti-machine  rather, she is interested in examining the limitations of emerging technologies. Her work is a commentary on the virtues of the slow movement in response to our age of rapid automation and mass-production.

A point of difference between the 3D-printed vessels and mine is they are all pre-programmed  mine are made intuitively in that I have to respond to the weight of the clay and the way it likes to move  it is like a collaboration with the material.

She describes the slow approach to art-making as a creative flow state where there is a feeling of being deeply in the present, where you are so immersed in that moment, so undistracted that time seems not to exist.

I feel like a lot of athletes feel that during peak performance and a lot of creatives feel it, too, while doing their work. I feel like that is somehow linked to intuition.

While Ohmu is fascinated to see how emerging technologies might start to replicate human abilities such as intuitive making, for now she says she is harnessing our special suite of powers: curiosity, playfulness, empathy and observation.

I have no doubt the technology is developing exponentially. That is why I like to keep my practice evolving, not only for my own intellectual stimulation, but also as a creative practitioner. I need to keep my finger on the pulse of what is happening.

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Part of that has included her research on the organ pipe mud dauber wasp which, she discovered, coils mud during nest-making in the same way humans have long made coiled pots. With their machine-like buzz, these wasps also evoked the hum of the 3D printer.

A part of me lit up [at] this deep interconnectedness not only between us and the natural world but also with the machine world. Machines come from us and we are nature. The world is a giant web. If you touch one bit it will ripple out to other parts of the web. The wasps build coil upon coil  it brought me such joy and delight. Andrew Stephens

Melbourne Now is at NGV Australia, March 24 - August 20, free. ngv.vic.gov.au

A cultural guide to going out and loving your city. Sign up to our Culture Fix newsletter here.
One of Molly Meldrums carers and closest friends has defended his inner circle from attacks in the tabloid and social media over claims he is being neglected, saying the 80-year-old pop culture legend is loved and supported.

Molly has a strong group of close friends who assist him where needed and help co-ordinate his support around the house, says Paige McGinley, who has known Meldrum since 1992, produced the 2016 documentary Molly: The Real Thing, and is one of four people who share most of the load of caring for the former Countdown host.

Molly Meldrum arrives at the state memorial service for Olivia Newton-John on February 26, 2023. Credit: Sam Tabone/Getty

He has a co-ordinated and dedicated support system in place, she says. He is loved and supported.

The criticism has come following video footage that surfaced on Tuesday, purportedly showing Meldrum, who uses a wheelchair much of the time, urinating in his seat at the Rod Stewart concert a week earlier.
Di Hart was 16 when she first met a young musician called Michael. She was volunteering at a club for teenagers with disabilities in London. He was in the band.

I liked him straight away, she says. When all the other band members pissed off to the pub at half-time, he stayed and played card games with the clients.

Di and Michael Hart on their honeymoon in Ibiza in 1972.

Fifty-four years later, and 16,500 kilometres away from that English club, Michael died. Hart was by his side, at the home the couple shared in Mullumbimby. She was consumed with grief, but a friend gave her a simple piece of advice.

She said, I know you dont want to do the funeral, that you want to crawl into a hole with a bottle of gin, I get it. But this will sustain you in the dark times to come.
A traditional Chinese medicine expert shows massage techniques to Cambodian medical personnel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 23, 2023. A three-week seminar on acupuncture and Tuina remedial massage conducted by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts for Cambodian medical talents concluded on Friday. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A three-week seminar on acupuncture and Tuina remedial massage conducted by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts for Cambodian medical talents concluded successfully on Friday.

Attended by 20 medical personnel from the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, the seminar was focused on the basic theories and operational methods of acupuncture, moxibustion and Tuina, as well as TCM nursing techniques.

Held at the hospital's Chinese medicine clinic in Phnom Penh, the seminar was part of a project carried out by the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to train senior talents in acupuncture and Tuina remedial massage in developing countries.

Participants said that they have gained a better insight into the TCM treatment techniques after completing the courses.

Kong Longchhorvyvann, a 53-year-old nurse at the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, said she had learned both theories and practices in the seminar, saying that it was really useful for her skill.

"I have gained a better insight into TCM patient care and treatment methods," she told Xinhua. "I will share this knowledge with my colleagues and students as well as use it to treat patients at the hospital."

Longchhorvyvann also expressed her gratitude to Chinese TCM experts for presenting acupuncture techniques and Tuina remedial massage to her and other colleagues at the hospital.

So Sokchea, a 38-year-old kidney transplant specialist at the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, said the courses had provided him a lot of experience in treating patients without using modern medicine.

"For me, I will use these techniques to help develop medical sector in our country," he told Xinhua. "I think these TCM techniques, together with the use of modern medicine, will make our treatment of patients more effective."

Men Panha, a 33-year-old diabetes specialist at the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, said TCM massage or acupuncture could help most of the patients to recover from their illnesses.

"I will use this skill to treat patients together with modern medicine, so the treatment will be more effective," she told Xinhua.

Panha said that TCM could cure a number of issues such as osteoporosis, insomnia, infertility, pain, chronic cough, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and interstitial lung disease. 

A traditional Chinese medicine expert shows acupuncture techniques to Cambodian medical personnel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 23, 2023. A three-week seminar on acupuncture and Tuina remedial massage conducted by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts for Cambodian medical talents concluded on Friday. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

A traditional Chinese medicine expert shows massage techniques to Cambodian medical personnel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 23, 2023. A three-week seminar on acupuncture and Tuina remedial massage conducted by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts for Cambodian medical talents concluded on Friday. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)
Religious rights group Christian Lives Matter was born in a sterile Strathfield office in 2017, when the marriage equality vote prompted a group of conservative Catholics, many of them from the Maronite church, to unite over fears that children would be corrupted by the alphabet [LGBTQ] agenda creeping into the mainstream.

Their resistance would involve prayers, protests and rosary beads. They would be loud, vigilant and outspoken, but not violent; they resolved to stay united, stay strong, pray and just be aware, one attendee told the Herald on the condition of anonymity. Six years later, the group has 18,000 Instagram followers, its own merchandise and a growing public profile.

Left: Charlie Bakhos (left) and Christian Sukkar at a protest. Right: Sukkar talking to police.

It is part of an expanding religious rights movement in Sydney, which overlaps with anti-vaccination and conspiracy networks. Powered by anger over mainstream attitudes to faith, some activists are becoming militant and are using the language of religious crusade. One faction wears T-shirts branded with a cross and the words defenders of the faith. Another calls itself Milites Dei, the Latin term for soldiers of God.

Mounting tension boiled over into violence on Tuesday night, when a group of pro-trans protesters were attacked outside St Michaels church in the south-west suburb of Belfield. The church was hosting a speech by One Nation leader Mark Latham, whose promotion of religious freedom and the view that parents have the right to prevent their children being exposed to transgender ideology has drawn support from conservative Christian groups.
A judge has overturned a teenagers convictions for raping his schoolmate, saying the girls delay in reporting the alleged assault and failure to tell friends that it was non-consensual in the months afterward undermined her credibility.

Judge Huw Baker said that while he harboured a degree of suspicion about the boys insistence that the sex was consensual, he cannot reject [his] account and consider it possible it might be correct, he said in his decision on Friday.

The girls father said the family was deeply shocked by the verdict and was considering a civil suit.

This girl said she was raped by her schoolmate. His convictions were overturned on Friday. Credit: Wolter Peeters

The boy, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was found guilty last May of six counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one of choking without permission in an attack the magistrate presiding over the initial trial in the Childrens Court described as violating and humiliating.
Two Brisbane women have been accused by the Australian Federal Police of laundering $1.7 million in stolen cash as part of an international crime syndicate that targeted Facebook Marketplace users.

The AFP on Thursday arrested Mayamu Konneh, 27, from Sherwood, and Olivia Leko Diakada, 35, from Durack, after police investigated the pairs involvement in a group that allegedly targeted victims online.

Police arrested one of the women at Sherwood, in Brisbanes south-west.

The group allegedly orchestrated more than 15 sophisticated cybercrime incidents between January 2020 and March 2023, setting up dozens of bank accounts with stolen identities to help transfer the money out of Australia.

Police raided five properties across Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, where they seized fake passports, international drivers licences and luxury handbags.
The March 25 Edition

Pirates, drowning - or something else? An enduring family mystery | Dictator dads | Booker prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka on writing a good sex scene | The 11-year-old besties from Ukraine who prefer not to talk about the war | Singer songwriter Billy Bragg on the Voice, the flag and the republic
Warning: distressing content

Jurors have been unable to reach a verdict in the murder trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in a bath for eight months.

Sarah Gatts body was discovered by police in January 2018, but it is alleged her on-and-off again boyfriend Andrew Baker murdered her sometime in April 2017.

Police at Sarah Gatts home after her body was discovered in January 2018. Credit: Darrian Traynor

Justice Jane Dixon on Friday discharged 12 jurors after they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
As far as pictures go, this one was particularly confronting. A row of men, clad in black, delivering a sieg heil Nazi salute on the steps of the Victorian parliament. Most of them were hiding their faces, which should tell you something about their level of courage and faith in their convictions.

The Age decided not to publish images of the Nazi salute in our newspapers, instead running alternative images of the neo-fascists at Saturdays rally. Credit: Chris Hopkins

These neo-Nazis were, ostensibly at least, attending a Let Women Speak rally to protect protesters from a left-wing counter-protest. They mustnt have noticed that police were already doing that job.

With all the eloquence of a gaggle of second-grade bullies, the men in black then attempted to amplify the radical feminist message by spouting harmful rhetoric, such as comparing trans people with paedophiles.

It was disturbing on several levels. Melbournes Jewish community was understandably appalled at the display, made with impunity and using a symbol of our democratic society as its backdrop. Trans people, too, were appalled and saddened by the conflagration of hatred towards them. Others  including me  were as confused as outraged.
A third man accused of being party to a plot to bring more than 300 kilograms of cocaine into Western Australia has been arrested after allegedly being found by police hiding under a spa in a home in Perths south.

An Uber Eats order was allegedly the catalyst for tactical response group officers to swarm the Byford property, where they used a grinder to access the house after a two-hour stand-off with Mate Stipinovich, 49.

Once inside, officers allegedly discovered Stipinovich hiding in a secret compartment under a spa on the back patio of the home with a loaded pistol nearby.

Stipinovich is the last of three men to be arrested in connection to a 365-kilogram cocaine haul discovered on WAs southern coast after packages of the drug were found washed ashore and on a boat which had capsized in the ocean.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ramped up pressure on Peter Dutton to declare his partys position on the Voice to parliament, but moderate Liberals and conservative Voice supporters say the final wording of the referendum has failed to alleviate their concerns about the way the Indigenous body would operate.

Albanese on Friday abandoned previous attempts to seek bipartisan support for the referendum, saying the opposition leader is not genuine in seeking further detail on the way the Voice would work with parliament.

Anthony Albanese (lower left) says Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is not genuine in seeking further detail on the way the Voice would work with parliament. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

No matter how much detail is put out, Peter Dutton will say, Oh, what about more detail? Thats the game thats being played here, Albanese said at a press conference on Friday in the Melbourne seat of Aston, which goes to a byelection on April 1.

Dutton did not make any public appearances on Friday, but other conservatives expressed their misgivings about the Voice, questioning whether it would have any practical benefit and warning about its legal implications.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said he is seeking urgent advice from the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police after independent senator Lidia Thorpe was tackled by an officer after trying to confront an anti-trans rally outside Parliament House.

Dreyfus said the footage of Thorpe going to the ground after being grabbed by a police officer on the parliament lawn was concerning, while Thorpes former Greens colleagues have also sought a briefing from police as soon as possible about the clash.

I have sought urgent advice from the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. The AFP has announced it has referred the incident to the AFPs professional standards command for investigation, Dreyfus said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said, this is very concerning to see. The AFP needs to explain how this occurred.
This aerial photo taken on Feb. 17, 2023 shows the Port of Liverpool, in Liverpool, Britain. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Xinhua)

by Martina Fuchs

LONDON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Britain-China relations are witnessing a pick-up in investment and trade links, particularly in the Chinese consumer economy and renewable energy, a British business leader has told Xinhua.

The end of COVID-19 travel restrictions and the chance of normal business travel resuming have made this possible, said Andrew Seaton, chief executive of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), in a recent interview, noting that China's focus on restoring growth is clear.

China has set its economic growth target at around 5 percent in 2023 to ensure steady and high-quality development, making headlines around the world.

According to Britain's Office for National Statistics, China is Britain's third-largest trading partner and the country's sixth-largest goods export market. Trade in goods between the two sides exceeded 120 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.

People visit the booth of Britain at the China National Convention Center during the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

In terms of most attractive sectors, Seaton, who served as executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2020 prior to CBBC, highlighted that the Chinese consumer economy would clearly stand out for British companies doing business in and with China, especially the automotive, fashion and pharmaceutical industries.

"When you look at the economic outlook over the coming decade, there is a huge growth in the numbers of new middle-class consumers in Asia. China is at the heart of that," he said.

As the wealth of Chinese middle-class consumers grows, financial services, wealth management services, health services, and of course education are all going to expand, said the business leader.

Photo taken on Nov. 7, 2020 shows the exhibition booth of Great Britain at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Seaton was formerly a member of the British diplomatic service spending much of his career working on Britain-China relations, including postings to the embassy in Beijing, as head of the China department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and as British consul general to China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region.

He added that cooperation, investment and trade in technologies, products and services, which will help both Britain and China achieve their zero carbon targets, is also a really crucial area of cooperation moving forward.

"There's a real sense of business contacts moving ahead, which is very positive," said Seaton. "We're being contacted by Chinese delegations, Chinese municipalities, provincial governments about visits to Britain. I do think this is a moment for those sorts of normal business contacts." 
Further funding to build Victorias $35 billion Suburban Rail Loop will hinge on whether a reformed Commonwealth infrastructure adviser deems it good use of federal dollars, federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has said.

The Albanese government committed $2.2 billion for the massive rail project in its budget last October, but Victoria has based its plans on the Commonwealth paying for a third of its estimated cost, or around $12 billion.

The first section of the Suburban Rail Loop is due to cost $35 billion and be finished in 2035. Credit: Jason South

Early works have commenced on the rail loops first 26-kilometre eastern suburbs section, running underground from Cheltenham to Box Hill. The Andrews government says it will open it to passengers by 2035.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Melbourne on Friday, King said she would look to advice from the independent adviser, Infrastructure Australia, to decide whether to pour more funds into the project.
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 Dumaguete, Philippines: It began with a knock on the front gate. After pulling up in a convoy of four-wheel drives, six men casually approached the entrance to Roel Degamos compound, in the hills above the town of Pamplona, and asked to come in and see him. Inside, in a makeshift reception area usually used as a car park, the 56-year-old governor of Negros Oriental province was meeting with locals, as he did most Saturday mornings. Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, seated with his family, was shot and killed in his own residential compound in Pamplona, Philippines. Credit:Facebook/govdegamo This face-to-face outing with residents, however, was about to take a most sinister turn. Allowed through the gate despite wielding assault rifles, the men, clad in military garb and bulletproof vests, strode in and spent a few seconds surveying the scene. Then they opened fire. Degamo, seated behind a desk as he spoke with people, was gunned down, as were eight others before the assassins retreated to their vehicles and raced off. The brazen daylight slaying has rocked even the Philippines, one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a publicly elected official.

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Amid the vengeful and violent regional and local politics so entrenched in south-east Asias second most populous nation, there have been mayors and vice-mayors murdered with frequency over the years, not to mention politicians relatives and others such as journalists. Degamo, though, was the countrys first sitting governor to be assassinated in 35 years. Thousands of people gathered in Degamos hometown of Siaton for his funeral last week. Credit:Facebook Almost three weeks later, authorities are rounding up the perpetrators, who are mostly ex-soldiers, but questions remain unanswered on the streets of Negros Oriental and across the archipelago. Why were the gunmen let in? Why were personnel from Degamos security detail not on duty that day? Who was the mastermind? And when will the killing with impunity stop? When I got to him he was already dying Mary Ann Ramirez was sitting just metres from Degamo when the shooting broke out on March 4. The chair of her village council, the 43-year-old mother was accompanying a woman seeking cash assistance from the governor to pay for medical expenses.

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Her husband, 41-year-old Jose Marie Salma Ramirez, also a village councillor, was also among the crowd of about 300 in the compound. Mary Ann Ramirez, whose husband Josie Marie was shot and killed in the attack on Degamos compound. Credit:Chris Barrett Here in the Central Visayas, one of the poorest regions of the Philippines, it was customary for the governor to dig into his own deep pockets, as it is in other areas of a country where clientelism thrives. Mary Ann and the woman had grabbed a ticket number and were waiting in the queue to speak to Degamo, who she knew well. She then heard someone yell drop before the hail of bullets was unleashed. She took cover as best she could. After the gunman left and the gate was closed, I ran to the governor. I saw that he was already gone, she said, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in her nearby village of Yupisan. Then I ran towards one of the security guards at the gate. He asked me to help him because he thought he was dying. Then after that I proceeded to my husband.

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He had also been shot. When I got to him he was already dying. He was lying near the gate. I told him Im alive, Im alive, she said. He nodded his head, then he passed away. Mary Ann believes her husband, one of the nine killed in the incident, was hit because he had been standing near the gate and was mistaken by the hitmen for a member of Degamos security crew. Not that the reason matters much now. The couple had recently adopted a two-month-old girl and with her two other children, aged 21 and 22, studying in Manila, she is contemplating how to tend to their small farm alone. Im still dreaming if it happened or not, she said. How do I begin from scratch? My children are away in college. Who will take care of the farm? We want peace to reign here in Negros Oriental because a lot of innocent people are casualties in this political violence. My husband was innocent  he only wanted to serve the people.

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The governors own family - including his wife Janice, a teacher who is the mayor of Pamplona - is also still absorbing the manner of his death, as is the community. Thousands boarded buses from around the province, which lies on the south side of the Philippines fourth largest island, to attend his funeral and the impact and the sentiment extended beyond simply grief, according to his uncle Junior Ragay. The death of Roel affects the economy here, he said in an interview at his house next door to Degamos ancestral home near the town of Siaton, behind which the governor was buried. During the night there is no one roaming around. They are afraid. In the town of Pamplona, the shock of Degamos death is still setting in. Credit:Jeoffrey Maitem An engineer by training, Degamo had become a local councillor in 1998 before rising to governor in 2011. He was a born leader, Ragay said. He is a big loss to us, not only [as a family] but to the people of Negros Oriental. What we need now is justice. They immediately blame me

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Across southern Ukraine, local Russian proxy leaders are issuing new evacuation orders before an expected Ukrainian military offensive this northern spring. Such orders have often been a prelude to stepped-up deportations. And about a month ago, Russian forces closed all roads leading from occupied areas into the rest of Ukraine, making it much harder for people to escape. Now, the only open roads head deeper into occupied territory or into Russia. Russians are deporting more and more people from the temporarily occupied districts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, the Ukrainian National Resistance Centre, the government agency that monitors events in occupied Ukraine, said, noting public statements by the local Russian authorities. More than a year into a war that has turned into a bloody endurance contest, Ukrainian and allied leaders are contending with wavering  though still strong  support for continuing to supply Ukraine with military equipment. Ukrainian officials said the arrest warrant highlighted the moral imperative of the conflict. World leaders will think twice before shaking his hand or sitting with Putin at the negotiating table, Andriy Kostin, Ukraines chief prosecutor, said of the arrest warrant. Its another clear signal to the world that the Russian regime is criminal.

Russia, which like the United States is not a party to the international court, dismissed the warrant as meaningless. Its leaders have made clear that they intend to continue deporting children to Russia in what they have billed as an act of humanitarian compassion. The court in The Hague also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, the Kremlins commissioner for childrens rights, who is the public face of the deportation program. She has spoken proudly about organising a large-scale system for shuttling children out of Ukraine. After the arrest warrant, she vowed to continue to work. Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Presidential Commissioner for Childrens Rights Maria Lvova-Belova at the Kremlin. Credit: AP Putin, in a televised meeting with Lvova-Belova last month, noted the work approvingly. The number of applications from our citizens regarding the adoption of children from the Donetsk and Luhansk republics, from the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions is also growing, he said. The scale of the deportations in Ukraine over the past year is something not witnessed in Europe in generations.

The United Nations estimates that 2.9 million Ukrainians have moved to Russia since Moscow launched its invasion, but it is impossible to quantify how many might have gone willingly and how many were forced. That number includes about 700,000 children, according to both Russians and Ukrainians, and most are believed to be with their families. Loading The exact number of children separated from their parents or orphaned is not known. Russia has acknowledged transferring 2000 children without guardians; Ukrainian officials say they have confirmed 16,000 cases, although some of them might be with a relative. The real, full number of deportees may be much higher, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the announcement by The Hague. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media during a press conference as Ukraine marked one year since Russias large-scale invasion, on February 24. Credit: Getty Images

The court has identified at least hundreds of children taken from orphanages and childrens care homes, said Karim Khan, the courts chief prosecutor. He said these deportations, done with the intention to permanently remove the children from their own country, were a violation of the Geneva Convention and amounted to war crimes. The court in The Hague acted unusually fast in the case. It has been under intense scrutiny since Russias invasion of Ukraine, when 43 countries  a third of the courts members  almost immediately demanded that it intervene. Key donors, including the European Union, sent money and dozens of prosecutors to speed up what is often seen as a plodding bureaucracy. And the courts investigators, who are often thwarted by hostile governments, received total co-operation from the Ukrainian authorities. A smashed portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin lies outside a police prison used to hold and torture Ukrainian prisoners by Russian forces in Kherson, Ukraine on November 17, 2022. Credit: Lynsey Addario/The New York Times Forcibly transferring children from one national group to another with the intention to destroy the group can also amount to genocide, a charge that Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer at the Regional Center for Human Rights, a Ukrainian organization that investigates the abduction of children, said she hoped would be the next step. Loading

Russia has carried out the deportations under the guise of rescues, medical rehabilitation initiatives and adoption programs. But the facts have been brought to light by witness accounts, reports by The New York Times and other Western outlets, the Ukrainian news media, independent investigators, the United Nations, and a host of government and rights organisations. They committed the crime in plain sight and expressed pride in doing it, Stephen Rapp, a former ambassador-at-large who headed the Office of Global Criminal Justice in the State Department, said in an email. The Kremlin has repeatedly used Ukrainian children as part of its campaign to bolster support for the war. When children from a group home fled the Russian bombing of Mariupol early in the war, for example, they were stopped at a Russian checkpoint. Pro-Russian news media crews rushed to the scene, witnesses said, and cameras followed the children as they were whisked deeper into Russia-held territory. It was portrayed as a rescue operation. All the Russian channels showed that Ukrainians are bad, said Oleksandr Yaroshenko, a volunteer who witnessed the incident at the checkpoint. Destroyed civilian and military vehicles on a road leading out of the heavily destroyed village of Oleksandrivka, Ukraine, on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Credit: Nicole Tung/The New York Times

In Kherson, local officials and witnesses described an orchestrated nature to the Russian abductions. Soon after Russian forces seized the city, they worked with local collaborators to compile lists of children in hospitals, orphanages and schools, according to Ukrainian prosecutors and witnesses. Security camera footage showed armed Russian soldiers entering an orphanage in October, and local officials said that 50 children were taken from the facility. Some of them, according to residents of Kherson, were later paraded before the cameras on Russias state news media. Loading The deportations have echoes of one of the more sinister chapters of Russian history, when Stalin used deportations to solidify the Kremlins control. From 1936 to 1952, at least 3 million people were rounded up from their homes along the Soviet Unions western borders and other regions, and dumped thousands of miles away in Siberia and Central Asia, according to estimates by the United Nations refugee agency. The Kremlin referred to these people euphemistically as special settlers.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Beijing on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that despite differences in history, culture and social systems, China and New Zealand have always respected, appreciated and trusted each other, and their bilateral relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with developed Western countries.

"We regard New Zealand as an important cooperation partner and have full confidence in the certainty and stability of China-New Zealand relations," Wang said, calling on the two countries to enhance mutual trust and push practical cooperation to a new level.

The modernization of China will bring new opportunities to New Zealand and other countries in the world, Wang said, calling on the two sides to make good use of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Upgrade Protocol and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and jointly foster new growth drivers.

For his part, Mahuta said New Zealand looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges with China, deepening cooperation in various fields, and forging a more mature bilateral relationship in the next 50 years.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.

Wang stressed that the pressing task is to cease fire and resume peace talks, which is also the common aspiration of most countries and serves the common interests of the international community. He said China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement.

Mahuta said that peace and prosperity are the expectations of all parties, and New Zealand stands for following the spirit of international law and supports political settlement of disputes through dialogue. 
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Stepping onto an islet in Yanqi Lake of Beijing's Huairou District, one can easily spot a grove of 21 white-barked pines standing in the tranquil location.

On Nov. 11, 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with leaders and representatives from other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, planted these trees to express the hope that the 21-member APEC community will realize common development.

Earlier, when addressing the opening ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit on Nov. 9 that year, Xi noted that Asia-Pacific countries ought to act in the spirit of the Asia-Pacific community and out of a sense of a shared future, following the trend of peace, development and mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly work for the prosperity and progress of the region.

Xi's speech expounded on an Asia-Pacific version of the grand vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, which he first put forward during his visit to Russia in 2013.

During the past decade, the vision bearing China's hope for the world to realize common development through win-win cooperation has continued to flourish, much like the trees that were planted at Yanqi Lake.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has on many occasions demonstrated the country's commitment in this regard.

In 2020, in the face of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Xi announced China's decision to make its COVID-19 vaccines a global public good while addressing the opening ceremony of the World Health Assembly in May.

In the years that followed, China has provided more than 2.2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to over 120 countries and international organizations. This has not only complemented global efforts to combat the virus but has also illustrated China's determination to fulfill its responsibilities during times of crisis.

China's commitment to fostering global development is also exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was initially proposed by Xi in 2013. Today, the BRI has evolved into a high-quality public good with its benefits shared by the world.

Statistics showed, over the past decade, the BRI has brought nearly a trillion U.S. dollars of investment, established over 3,000 cooperation projects, created some 420,000 jobs in countries along the routes, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty.

A noteworthy example can be traced back to Nov. 16, 2022, when Xi and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo jointly issued the command to commence the operational trial of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway. This railway represents Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway and is a crucial project established under the BRI framework.

In terms of maintaining global peace and security, China has not only continued to be the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, but also played an active role in defusing security risks and handling global security challenges.

Speaking on the ongoing Ukraine crisis during his just-concluded visit to Russia, Xi reaffirmed that China will continue to stand firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history, which is in line with the spirit of a 12-point proposal on ending the conflict in Ukraine put forward by China in February.

In addition to the tangible actions by China, the impact of this vision of a shared future today also stems from its continuously expanding connotations.

Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative in 2021 and the Global Security Initiative in the following year. Respectively, the two initiatives focus on global development under the impact of COVID-19 and pooling global efforts in maintaining world peace and security.

At the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting on March 15 this year, Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, which highlights respect for the diversity of civilizations, common values of humanity, international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, among other aspects.

These initiatives -- each designed to address global challenges -- offer Chinese perspective and wisdom to countries across the globe, enabling them to bridge their differences and forge cooperation toward promoting global development.

In a reply letter to teachers and students from St. Margaret College Secondary School in Malta last year, Xi cited an ancient Chinese adage to emphasize that peace and harmony among all nations have long been a cherished aspiration of the Chinese people for human society. He further remarked that this ideal serves as the cultural foundation for the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Just as Xi once put it in a speech in 2013, one should not only seek one's own development, but also work for the common development of all. To better make his point, he quoted a famous Chinese saying: "One tree does not make a forest." 
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A collaborative research team in China found a key gene in a crop that might, via genetic engineering, substantially improve crop yields in alkaline soil.

The study, published on Friday in the journal Science, described the breakthrough in agriculture that could increase the production of crops, including rice and maize, by at least 250 million tonnes should the newly-identified gene be applied to 20 percent of global under-utilized saline and alkaline soil.

More than 1 billion hectares of saline and alkaline areas globally are cultivation-unfriendly. What is worse, global arable land is expected to become saltier owing to climate change, declines in freshwater availability, and the use of chemical fertilizers.

To cope with the challenge, agriculturalists have made progress in examining plants that could tolerate salty soil with a neutral pH value.

But plant tolerance in alkaline soils with higher pH levels and dominated by sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate salts are less known. The alkalinity in soil inhibits a plant's ability to take in nutrients and manage salt stress.

The researchers, led by those from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Agricultural University, and Huazhong Agricultural University, investigated the sorghum originally grown in barren African soil instead of the Arabidopsis thaliana, a frequently-used model plant grown in non-alkaline areas.

Sorghum has evolved greater tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses, and can even survive in a sodic soil with a pH of up to 10.0, according to the researchers.

They performed a genome-wide association study in a diverse sorghum panel and identified a vital genetic locus called Alkaline tolerance 1 (AT1), linked with the plant's sensitivity to alkaline soils.

The gene can encode a guanine nucleotide-binding protein's subunit and thus controls alkaline tolerance, said the study.

They clarified the molecular mechanism of such tolerance, finding that the signaling of this protein may regulate the activity of aquaporins called PIP2s, downstream molecules that allow the passage of water transport across the cell membrane.

Then those aquaporins lead to decreased reactive oxygen species levels in plants, thus alleviating the oxidative stress in alkaline soils.

The discovery is valuable since the very mechanism also plays a part in monocot crops like sorghum, rice, wheat, maize, and millet. In rice, the gene was named GS3.

Since the overexpression of the AT1 protein resulted in higher sensitivity to alkaline stress, a gene knockout of it in sorghum and its homologs in rice, maize, and millet increases the plant's alkaline tolerance.

At field trials in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and northeastern Jilin Province, the team experimentally planted these genetically-modified species in saline and alkaline soils with a pH value of more than nine.

The sorghum's annual yields grew by 20.1 percent, millet by 19.5 percent, and rice by 22.4 to 27.8 percent, and the knockout of the AT1 gene could significantly improve the maize's survival rate, according to the study.

The findings have great potential for guiding the breeding of alkaline salt-tolerant crops and could improve global food security, said the paper's corresponding author Xie Qi from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology. 
UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Thursday that three obstacles need to be overcome in order to further improve humanitarian relief work in Syria.

Over the past month, no progress has been made in cross-line relief operations in Northwest Syria. The UN Secretariat should make great efforts to promote cross-line relief work and report problems to the Security Council in a timely manner in search of solutions, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

As an important civilian infrastructure and a key hub for the transfer of humanitarian supplies, the safe operation of the Aleppo airport should be guaranteed. China is concerned over another Israeli airstrike at the airport on Wednesday and hopes that nothing like this will happen again. The sovereignty and territory integrity of Syria should be respected, he told the Security Council.

The countries concerned announced a temporary relaxation or suspension of unilateral sanctions against Syria after the February earthquakes, he said. "However, temporary measures cannot cover up the systemic damage caused by long-term unilateral sanctions. The countries concerned should immediately and unconditionally lift all illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria, and stop artificially exacerbating the humanitarian disaster."

With regard to the political process in Syria, China welcomes UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen's extensive engagement with all parties in line with a step-for-step approach, he said.

China supports the resumption of the Constitutional Committee meetings as soon as possible in accordance with the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle. China welcomes the visit of the Syrian president to the United Arab Emirates and the meeting between the two heads of state, as well as Tunisia's consideration of restoring diplomatic relations with Syria, said Geng.

China looks forward to positive outcomes of the proposed meeting of deputy foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Turkiye, and Syria. China is confident that assistance from regional countries can help boost the political settlement in Syria. China also calls on more countries to act up to create a favorable external environment for the political settlement in Syria, he said.

At present, the security situation in Syria remains complex, and the international community must combat terrorism in all its manifestations in Syria with zero tolerance. Any attempt to exploit terrorists for one's own purposes will backfire and be counterproductive, he said.

China once again urges foreign forces to end all illegal military presence in Syria and to stop the plundering of Syria's natural resources, he said. 
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday urged the United States to cease its provocative behavior after a U.S. guided-missile destroyer trespassed into China's territorial waters off Xisha Islands again on Friday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command tracked and monitored the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Milius in accordance with the law and warned it off, said Tan Kefei, a defense ministry spokesperson, in a statement.

The intrusion has seriously undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea and severely violated China's sovereignty and security as well as international law, Tan said, warning of grave consequences if the U.S. side continues its provocation.

"The PLA will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea," he said. 
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

A few clouds. Low 36F. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 36F. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.
JERUSALEM, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Land Authority has published tenders for more than 1,000 housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israel's anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the tenders are for 940 houses in the West Bank and nearly 90 in East Jerusalem. They were made public earlier this week.

"Despite Israel's commitments to its allies around the world, it appears to continue promoting construction that harms the chances for a political agreement and increases tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in both the short and long term," read the statement released by the organization, which regularly monitors the construction of Israeli settlements.

The publication of the tenders came amid rising tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank since January.

Earlier this week, the Israeli parliament repealed a 2005 act that led to the evacuation of four Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that could pave the way for Israeli settlers to return to the abandoned settlements, possibly stoking more tensions.

In the 1967 Middle East war, Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians. Since then, Israel has populated the area with more than half a million Jewish residents. The international community considers the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal.

The Palestinians have been seeking to establish a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. 
2 People, Dog, Injured in Florida Plane Crash

Two people and a dog have been injured after a small plane crashed during takeoff in northeastern Florida on March 23, officials have confirmed.

In a Facebook post, St. Johns County Fire Rescue said that multiple agencies, including the San Antonio Fire Department and the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office, responded to a 911 call reporting that a plane had crashed into the woods across from the Northeast Regional Airport runway in St. Augustine on Thursday.

The plane initially caught fire, but crews were able to put it out, they said.

When firefighters arrived, they found a small plane 100 yards into the woodline. The fire was quickly extinguished, officials said.Two people were transported and one dog was transported for treatment to an area vet. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Photos shared by fire rescue teams showed what appeared to be debris from the plane scattered out across the woods. A thick cloud of smoke could be seen rising up into the air, but no flames were visible.

The Sheriffs Office initially said Thursday that highway US 1 from Big Oak Road to Lewis Speedway was closed due to the plane crash, and asked drivers to take an alternative road, however, the road has since reopened.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the two people onboard the plane were a husband, 61, his wife, 59, and a dog. The plane was reportedly a Piper Malibu and piloted by the husband when it lost control during takeoff and crashed into a wooded area.

Florida Highway Patrol said the husband and wife were both taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening but extensive injuries.

Quite Terrifying

Resident Delaney Romedy, who lives just 100 feet away from where the plane crashed, told Floridas CBS News affiliate WJAX-TV that she and her sister heard a giant crash before looking out of their window and seeing flames erupting from the site.

The sisters said they called 911 and that authorities appeared to already be on their way to the site of the crash.

It was quite terrifying in all honesty. I saw a lady being helped out of the woods, Romedy said.

Separately, Ralph Nuanez, a pilot at the airport, told Floridas First Coast News that he had witnessed the crash from his hangar in the airport and that the plane had burst into flames.

Unfortunately, you know, a really bad tragedy here at the airport. But from my understanding maybe miraculous that we have survivors, Nuanez said.

The Epoch Times has contacted St. Johns County Fire Rescue for further comment.

Thursdays crash is the latest in a series of small plane crashes in recent months. In February, five people were killed when a medical transport flight en route to Salt Lake City crashed in a mountainous area in northern Nevada.

Earlier that month, five employees of an environmental consulting firm were killed when a small airplane they were traveling in crashed outside an industrial area of Little Rock, Arkansas.

In January, two people were killed in a plane crash near Westchester County Airport in New York. Officials said that the pilot of the single-engine plane reported low oil pressure to air traffic controllers and tried to make an emergency landing at the airport but was unable to do so.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the recent crashes.
Freedoms Journal Institute, a black Christian Conservative organization, and its partners hold the Black Conservative Summit 2023 from March 24 to 25 in Chicago. The church leaders, advocates, and activists will discuss the Black Conservative Agenda: How to Fix Black America.

Events on March 25:

7:308:30 a.m. Project 21 Black Leadership Network & Heritage Foundation Breakfast featuring: Horace Cooper, chairman of Project 21; Donna Jackson, director of Membership Development at the National Center for Public Policy Researchs Project 21 Black Leadership Network; Zack Smith of The Heritage Foundation; and Charles Cully Stimson of The Heritage Foundation.

9:009:15 a.m. Dr. Eric Wallace, president of Freedoms Journal Institute: welcome speech

9:209:50 a.m. Curtis Hill, former attorney general of Indiana: With liberty and justice for all? Or by mandate and preference for some? Protecting the American dream.

9:5510:25 a.m. Charles Love, executive director of Seeking Educational Excellence; Latasha Fields of Team Illinois; Dr. Jason Hill; and Myles Mendoza, partner at Oak Rose Grou : Education ChoiceReal equality requires choice.

10:3011:00 a.m. Dr. Eric Wallace, president of Freedoms Journal Institute; Dr. John West, vice president of Discovery Institute; Sean Mixon, Dual Credit adjunct professor of Philosophy at Dallas College: Scientism: The Doctrine of Demons.

11:0511:35 a.m. Jennifer L. Wallace, co-founder & senior fellow at Marriage and Family Life and director at Black Families Matter; Delano Squires, research fellow at The Heritage Foundation; Rev. Dean Nelson, chairman at the Frederick Douglass Foundation: Black Families Matter.

11:40 12:10 p.m. Larry Elder, author and radio show host: Racism is not the # 1 problem facing the black communityIt is the lack of fathers in the home.

12:15 1:15 p.m. Lt. Col. Allen West, executive director at American Constitutional Rights Union : keynote speech in KiK Lunch.
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. side should respect the market economy and the principles of fair competition and stop unjustifiably suppressing foreign companies, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing after TikTok's CEO's appearance at a U.S. congressional hearing on Thursday.

"We have also noted the comments made by TikTok," Mao said in response to a relevant query, noting that the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting data privacy and security under the law.

The Chinese government has never and will never ask companies or individuals to collect or provide data, information, and intelligence located in foreign countries in a manner that violates local laws, she said.

"The U.S. government has yet to provide any evidence that TikTok poses a threat to its national security, but has repeatedly conducted presumption of guilt and unreasonably suppressed relevant companies," Mao said, pointing out that some members of the U.S. Congress have suggested that seeking to ban TikTok is political persecution.

The U.S. side should earnestly respect the market economy and the principles of fair competition, stop unjustifiably suppressing foreign companies, and provide an open, just, and non-discriminatory environment for foreign companies to invest and operate in the United States, the spokesperson noted. 
Freedoms Journal Institute, a black Christian Conservative organization, and its partners hold the Black Conservative Summit 2023 from March 24 to 25 in Chicago. The church leaders, advocates, and activists will discuss the Black Conservative Agenda: How to Fix Black America.

*All times are in local time (CT)

Events on March 24:

2:152:25 p.m. Dr. Eric Wallace, president of Freedoms Journal Institute: welcome speech

2:303:05 p.m. Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr., founder of Voddie Baucham Ministries: Whats really wrong with America

3:153:45 p.m. Stacy Washington, on-air talent, chief executive officer, SiriusXM Patriot 125 host, Share Net Ministries, CEO: interviews with Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr.

4:004:30 p.m. Pastor Corey B. Brooks, founder and CEO of Project H.O.O.D.: Education in the City: A Candid Conversation

5:308:00 p.m. Uncle Tom II Movie and panel discussion featuring documentarian Chad Jackson; Lt. Col. Allen West, executive director at American Constitutional Rights Union; Larry Elder, author and radio show host of The Larry Elder Show; and Stephanie Trussell, former lieutenant governor candidate, owner of Boss Dawgz, board member of Illinois Family Action and Good Soil Good Seed.

Events on March 25:

7:308:30 a.m. Project 21 Black Leadership Network & Heritage Foundation Breakfast featuring: Horace Cooper, chairman of Project 21; Donna Jackson, director of Membership Development at the National Center for Public Policy Researchs Project 21 Black Leadership Network; Zack Smith of The Heritage Foundation; and Charles Cully Stimson of The Heritage Foundation.

9:009:15 a.m. Dr. Eric Wallace, president of Freedoms Journal Institute: welcome speech

9:209:50 a.m. Curtis Hill, former attorney general of Indiana: With liberty and justice for all? Or by mandate and preference for some? Protecting the American dream.

9:5510:25 a.m. Charles Love, executive director of Seeking Educational Excellence; Latasha Fields of Team Illinois; Dr. Jason Hill; and Myles Mendoza, partner at Oak Rose Grou : Education ChoiceReal equality requires choice.

10:3011:00 a.m. Dr. Eric Wallace, president of Freedoms Journal Institute; Dr. John West, vice president of Discovery Institute; Sean Mixon, Dual Credit adjunct professor of Philosophy at Dallas College: Scientism: The Doctrine of Demons.

11:0511:35 a.m. Jennifer L. Wallace, co-founder & senior fellow at Marriage and Family Life and director at Black Families Matter; Delano Squires, research fellow at The Heritage Foundation; Rev. Dean Nelson, chairman at the Frederick Douglass Foundation: Black Families Matter.

11:40 12:10 p.m. Larry Elder, author and radio show host: Racism is not the # 1 problem facing the black communityIt is the lack of fathers in the home.

12:15 1:15 pm. Lt. Col. Allen West, executive director at American Constitutional Rights Union : keynote speech in KiK Lunch.
3 People Die in Arizona After Being Caught in Floodwaters

A man stuck in a tree is rescued by swift water teams from Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District, and the Verde Valley Fire District in Camp Verde, Ariz., on March 22, 2023. (Vyto Starinskas/The Daily Courier via AP)

PAYSON, Ariz.At least three people were found dead this week after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters in Arizona, authorities said.

Gila County Sheriffs officials said the bodies of a couple missing after their vehicle was stuck in floodwaters in the Payson area were located Thursday. They were identified as Phon Sutton, 85, and Dara Sutton, 72, both of Payson, Arizona.

Separately, the Navajo County Sheriffs Office said the body of a 64-year-old woman was recovered after the vehicle she was traveling in with her husband was swept downstream at a river crossing.

Flooding caused by recent rainfall and snowmelt has created issues across parts of central and northern Arizona with residents in several low-lying communities told to evacuate.

Gila County authorities said search and rescue crews were dispatched Wednesday morning after county authorities received a 911 call about a pickup truck found in Tonto Creek. The vehicle was located about 18 miles east of Payson.

Sheriffs officials said search efforts were complicated and dangerous due to weather conditions and flooding. The Hells Gate Fire Department, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, Payson Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety took part in the search.

A driver speaks with a law enforcement official from the hood of his car after getting swamped while attempting to cross a wash in Flagstaff, Ariz., on March 22, 2023. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)

The Navajo County Sheriffs Office received a call at 10:48 a.m. Thursday from a man who reported his wife was missing. The man said that during the previous night they were traveling on Hutch Road, about 16 miles west of State Route 377, when their Jeep was swept downstream by swift-moving water at a wash known as Seymours Crossing.

The vehicle came to rest and after an hour they were able to leave the vehicle and reach the riverbank, but they were separated in the dark while seeking assistance. The man was assisted by local residents.

The body of the woman, who was not immediately identified, was found about 200 feet from the water, the sheriffs office said.

Navajo County Search and Rescue, Hashknife Sheriffs Posse, Joseph City Fire, Holbrook EMS, and the Arizona Department of Public Safetys Air Rescue Unit participated in the search for the woman.
Alberta Premier Requests Trudeau Focus on Energy Security in Meeting With Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for members of the media as they arrive to visit with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on March 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has sent a letter to the prime minister requesting that he focus on the need for energy security when he meets with the U.S. president during his visit to Canada.

The letter says President Joe Bidens visit presents an opportunity of great significance.

It is my request that the federal government uses its platform to focus on collaboration between the U.S. and Canada, highlighting the critical need for North American energy security, said Smith in the letter, dated March 23.

Alberta and Canada, said Smith, need to position themselves as the preferred supplier of responsibly produced, ethical energy to the U.S., North America, and the world.

The premier noted Canada has a deep and long-lasting relationship with the United States at both federal and state levels, which she said is growing in importance.

In 2022, Alberta surpassed Ontario and Quebec as the largest provincial exporter of goods to the U.S. at $182.5 billion, with energy making up 85 per cent of exports to the United States. Alberta, by far, remains the single largest source of U.S. energy imports, Smith wrote.

She told Trudeau that North American energy security must be a top priority for the federal government, and said the prime minister needs to raise the need for better collaboration between Canada and the U.S. to ensure the continued and enhanced supply of sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy to the U.S.

Smith said she is recommending that the two governments work together and fast-track energy projects, as well as make a similar effort in the critical minerals industry.

As is only appropriate when discussing natural resources, and areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction, I would also request that Premiers be invited to participate in a meeting with the President and his delegation, she said.

According to Smith, Alberta is a leader in reducing emissions and transitioning to new sources of energy. She said new investments in the province are global flagships in clean energy and emissions reductions technology.

One of the projects she highlighted is with Pennsylvania company Air Products, which intends to create a world-scale, net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Alberta.

Smith also indicated Canadas oilsands operators have announced an intention to spend $24 billion on emission-reduction projects by 2030, as part of plans to reach net zero by 2050.

All of this amounts to a herculean effort undertaken by industry partners, and Albertas government, to position ourselves as the foremost leader in emissions reduction and responsible energy production, said Smith.

Smith offered to assist Trudeau and the federal government in advancing and developing a business case to increase exports to the United States.

The prime ministers office did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Antisemitism Increased 36 Percent in US in 2022: ADL

Orthodox Jewish man walks in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights in New York City on Feb. 27, 2019. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

The number of antisemitic incidents in the United States in 2022 increased by 36 percent from the previous year, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

There were 3,697 antisemitic incidents last year, whereas there were 2,717 in 2021, according to an ADL report released on March 23. This is a record high since 1979, when the ADL began collecting data on the number of annual antisemitic incidents.

There was a 29 percent increase in antisemitic harassment, a 51 percent increase in antisemitic vandalism, and a 26 percent increase in antisemitic assaults, the report said. All but four of the 111 recorded antisemitic assaults, one of which resulted in a fatality, were done with a deadly weapon. Orthodox Jews consisted of 53 percent of the assaults.

The ADL report noted a 102 percent increase in organized white supremacist activity. There was a 49 percent in antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools and a 41 percent on college campuses.

Additionally, there was a 69 percent increase in antisemitic attacks against Orthodox Jews and an almost-167.68 percent increase in bomb threats to Jewish institutions, according to the report.

There was, however, an almost-35.5 percent decrease reported in anti-Israel and anti-Zionist incidents.

New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas had the most antisemitic incidents, or 54 percent combined, of incidents nationwide.

Public figures expressed alarm over the report.

This new @ADL data confirms what Jewish communities across the country have felt and seen firsthand. Were deeply disturbed by this dramatic and unacceptable surge in antisemitic incidents. Its time to stop the surge of hate once and for all, ADL national director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt posted onTwitter.

There isnt a single factor or ideology driving this increase. The unusually high number is the cumulative effect of organized white supremacist propaganda activity, attacks on Orthodox Jews, bomb threats toward Jewish institutions, and increased incidents in schools & campuses, he added.

To see a 36 percent increase in numbers, the highest number on record since 1979, is truly outrageous! posted U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides on Twitter.

Coalition for Jewish Values Managing Director Rabbi Yaakov Menken posted on Twitter regarding the statistic that 53 percent of antisemitic assaults in 2022 were toward Orthodox Jews.

Numbers dont lie. It means those experts who fail to listen to the learning and experience of Orthodox Jews will inevitably get it wrong.

Horrible to see @ADL reporting that antisemitic incidents hit an all-time high in 2022. posted Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) on Twitter.

As a member of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, I will continue to fight every day to stop the spread of hate in all forms.
Arresting Putin Abroad on ICC Warrant Would Be Declaration of War: Top Russian Official

Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev speaks during an interview at the Gorki residence, outside Moscow, on Jan. 27, 2022. (Yulia Zyryanova/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president now serving as deputy chairman of the countrys security council, said on Thursday that any attempts to arrest President Vladimir Putin on the International Criminal Courts (ICC) warrant of war crimes would be considered a declaration of war against the country.

Just imagineclearly that such a situation that is never going to happen, but stilllets imagine that it has happened. The incumbent head of a nuclear country arrives in, say, Germany and is arrested. What does it mean? A declaration of war against Russia, Medvedev said during an interview with Russian journalists, including state news agency TASS.

In such a case, all our weapons will target the Bundestag, the [German] chancellors office, and so on, he continued.

Medvedevs comment responded to German Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmanns remark, who said this week that Berlin would have to implement the ICCs decision and arrest Putin if he sets foot on their territory.

Does he even realize that it would be a casus belli, a declaration of war? Or was he a bad law student? Medvedev mocked.

Last week, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of the alleged war crime of illegally deporting thousands of children from Ukrainian-occupied territories into Russia. International law prohibits occupying powers from transferring civilians from occupied areas to other territories.

An entrance to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, on March 31, 2021. (Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters)

In a public statement, Moscow has not denied the accusations, saying that thousands of Ukrainian children have been brought to Russia in what it presented as a humanitarian campaign to protect orphans and abandoned children in the conflict zone.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said the arrest warrant was illegitimate, explaining that Russiasimilar to China and the United Statesdoes not recognize the ICCs jurisdiction or authority.

We do not recognize this court; we do not recognize its jurisdiction, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists in Moscow on Tuesday.

Besides seeking Putins arrest, the ICC revealed in a statement on March 17 that it had issued an arrest warrant for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Childrens Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, on similar charges.

The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022, the court said, which marks the date of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation.

Nuclear Apocalypse

As Russias president from 2008 to 2012, Medvedev has cast himself as a pro-Western reformer. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started on Feb. 24, 2022, though, he has become one of the most publicly hawkish Russian figures, insulting Western leaders and delivering a series of nuclear warnings.

And now it is earnest. Is the threat of a nuclear conflict gone? No, it is not. It has grown. Every day of foreign weapons delivery to Ukraine ultimately brings this very nuclear apocalypse closer, Medvedev said on Thursday, just days after he reportedly threatened to target the Hagues criminal court with hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles.

Putin casts the conflict in Ukraine as an existential struggle to defend Russia against what he sees as an arrogant and aggressive West, which he says wants to destroy Russia.

The West denies it wants to destroy Russia and says it is helping Ukraine defend against an imperial-style land grab. Ukraine will not rest until all Russian soldiers are ejected from its territory.

Medvedev said ties with the West would one day improve, though it would take a long time.

I believe that sooner or later the situation will stabilize and communications will resume, but I sincerely hope that by that time, a significant part of those people [Western leaders] will have retired, and some will be dead, he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Families and patients are suing vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca in the UK, claiming that their loved ones died or suffered severe reactions after taking its vaccine, according to their lawyers.

A legal team representing a group of vaccine-injured people is pursuing personal injury compensation against AstraZeneca, arguing that the vaccine was not as safe as the public were entitled to expect.

Peter Todd, consultant solicitor with Scott-Moncrieff & Associates, told The Epoch Times by email that he has started a claim against AstraZeneca under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

I have started a claim against AstraZeneca seeking damages for injury (namely thrombosis with thrombocytopenia) and consequential loss caused by their COVID vaccine, he said.

The claim is under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which holds manufacturers liable for injury caused by a defective product, he added.

People pose with syringe with needle in front of displayed AstraZeneca logo on Dec. 11, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Todd said that it is not necessary to prove fault.

A product is defective under this legislation if it is not as safe as consumers were reasonably entitled to expect. Our contention is that the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine was not as safe as consumers were reasonably entitled to expect in that it caused serious injury or death when we were assured it had been established to be safe through extensive clinical trials, he added.

He said that the government agreed in the procurement contract of the vaccine to indemnify AstraZeneca against any liability of this kind, so we ask the government to do the right thing and to support people who were vaccinated and help them cope with the devastating consequence of their life changing injuries.

Strict time limits apply to such claims so anyone who thinks they may have been affected in a similar way should get in touch, he added.

The UK became the first country in the world to approve the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in 2020. The vaccine is now known as Vaxzevria.

In the UK, the Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been approved for use. All three have legal indemnity protecting the companies from being sued for damages.

The Epoch Times understands that the only way to hold a vaccine manufacturer to account as an injured party is under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. The details of indemnity that the vaccine manufacturers have with the government are unknown.

Vaccine Damage Payment

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) is a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000 if someone is proven to have been severely disabled or has died as a result of vaccination from diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), swine flu, and more.

In December 2020, ministers agreed to add COVID-19 to the scheme to demonstrate government confidence in the safety profile of any vaccine being used in the programme.

One in 20 claims made to the UK vaccine injury scheme are successful in the case of COVID-19 jabs, according to data obtained by Freedom of Information requests in March.

According to responses, 44 claimants have been notified they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment, which means over 5 million has so far been paid out.

Claims are handled by the National Health Service Business Services Authority, an arms length body of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Both the public and health professionals can report serious vaccine harms to the governments dedicated Yellow Card Coronavirus reporting site, which was set up in 2020 to monitor the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Out of 355,000 reports of serious side effects, fewer than 10,000 were reported by medical professionals.

With Yellow Card reporting, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) says that conclusions on the safety and risks of the vaccines cannot be made on the data shown in the report alone.

AstraZeneca

An AstraZeneca spokesman told The Epoch Times by email, We are unable to comment on ongoing legal matters.

Patient safety is our highest priority and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines. Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has reported health problems, he added.

AstraZeneca and regulatory authorities carefully record and assess all reports of potential adverse events associated with use of Vaxzevria. From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, Vaxzevria has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects, he said.

The spokesman said that the MHRA granted conditional marketing approval for Vaxzevria for the UK based on the safety profile and efficacy of the vaccine.

Over 3 billion doses of the vaccine have been supplied to more than 180 countries and, according to independent estimates, Vaxzevria helped to save more than 6 million lives worldwide in the first year of availability alone (December 2020 to December 2021), he added.
Authorities: Suspect Fatally Shot During Rescue of Migrants

The FBI works on the scene of a shooting in north Houston on March 23, 2023. (Ralph Green/Houston Chronicle via AP)

HOUSTONA hostage rescue that left a suspect fatally shot Thursday in Houston began days ago when three migrants were kidnapped from a vehicle in a neighboring county, according to a prosecutor.

The three migrants had been traveling in a vehicle on Interstate 10 in the southern part of Waller County on March 18 when they were stopped by kidnappers and forced into another vehicle, said Sean Whittmore, a prosecutor with the Waller County District Attorneys Office.

It is believed the migrants driver called 911 and informed the Waller County Sheriffs Office about the kidnapping, Whittmore said. The sheriffs office later worked with the FBI, whose agents were involved in a shooting early Thursday morning in north Houston in which two people were rescued.

Agents with the FBIs hostage rescue team were rescuing the migrants when the shots broke out, said James Smith, special agent in charge of the FBIs Houston office, during a brief Thursday news conference where he took no questions.

Smith said one suspect was fatally shot while another suspect was taken into custody by the Harris County Sheriffs Office. Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman for the sheriffs office, said he could not provide any information on the suspect as that person was arrested by the FBI.

Smith said agents rescued two people who were being held at a motel.

The FBI works on the scene of a shooting in north Houston on March 23, 2023. (Ralph Green/Houston Chronicle via AP)

After the news conference, Whittmore told The Associated Press it was still his understanding that three people had been kidnapped. He referred questions on the discrepancy to the FBI. Smith did not address the discrepancy during his news conference.

Smith said no agents were injured and an FBI review team will investigate the shooting.

In the interest of protecting the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we cannot provide any more details at this time, Smith said.

The FBIs Houston office declined to comment on how they found the migrants, what led up to the shooting or how many agents were involved.

The FBI said that following the shooting, there was no longer a threat to public safety.

Whittmore declined to comment on the migrants immigration status, nationalities, or whether they were being illegally transported at the time of their kidnapping.

In an email, Tim Oberle, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman, declined to discuss the peoples immigration status, referring all questions to the FBI.
Biden Admins Silence on Middle East Invites China to Fill Power Vacuum: Sen. Lankford

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the bipartisan Charity Act to enhance donors' tax deduction on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 1, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Communist China is amassing economic and diplomatic power throughout the Middle East because the Biden administration has failed to articulate a cogent strategy for the region, according to one senator.

Chinas communist regime is finding success expanding its influence with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other nations, according to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), because President Joe Biden has not demonstrated the nations commitment to peace and prosperity in the region or to countering the threat posed by Irans authoritarian regime.

No one in the region knows where America stands with Iran, said Lankford during a March 23 national security conference hosted by the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.

And the clear question [Middle East] leaders will ask me privately is, What is Americas plan? Or, more specifically what they would say is, What is America willing to do?

Lankford said that many leaders in the Middle East had no idea what the Biden administrations plans for the region were, and felt abandoned by the administrations decision to remove resources from the Middle East for use in the Indo-Pacific.

The situation, he said, had ironically created a power vacuum which China was now filling.

While we were pivoting to Asia, Asia was pivoting to the Middle East, Lankford said.

If [leaders in the Middle East] dont know what America is willing to do, theyre going to turn to China, theyre going to turn to somebody else, theyre going to figure out how they can just survive because theres no clear plan.

US Has Responsibility to Promote Rights of Iranian People



Lankford said that there was a general consensus in Congress that the United States Middle East policy was drifting under the Biden administration, with no clear positive vision for the future.

The related failure to isolate Irans regime and elevate the Iranian people struggling for freedom, he said, had helped create the circumstance required for China to broker a historic diplomatic deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Unfortunately, the administration is speaking almost none to the people of Iran, Lankford said.

To that end, Lankford said that the Biden administration should prioritize doing more communication with people on the street in Iran, and focus less on trying to woo the authoritarian power into arms control agreements it has no intention of honoring.

You cannot go and negotiate with the Iranian government when the Iranian people are in the street begging for freedom, Lankford said.

We have a responsibility to be able to say that were the United States, [and] we not only believe that the rights we enjoy are American rights, we believe they are rights given by God to every person.

As such, Lankford said that one of the single greatest problems in U.S. Middle East policy at the present moment was that the Biden administration was silent on numerous critical problems in the region, including human rights issues and key peacekeeping missions.

Every president since Jimmy Carter has brought a peace plan before the Israelis and the Palestiniansuntil this one, Lankford said.

The foreign policy president, President Biden, has been absent on some of the most significant foreign policy issues that we have as a country and as a world.
California Bill to Ban Police K-9s for Crowd Control, Arrests Advances in Legislature

Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer Jason Ledford patrols with his bomb-sniffing dog Andy at the Oakland Coliseum station in Oakland, Calif., Aug. 11, 2005. (Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

A California bill to ban the use of police dogs for arrests and crowd control advanced in a state Assembly committee March 21.

Public Safety Committee members voted along party lines to pass Assembly Bill 742, introduced by Assemblymen Corey Jackson ( D-Perris) and Ash Kalra (D-San Jose). Six Democrats voted in favor while the two Republican Assemblymen on the committeeJuan Alanis, of Modesto, and Tom Lackey, of Palmdalevoted against it.

The bill now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

When AB 742 was introduced in February, Jackson and Kalra called the law enforcements use of canines deeply racialized and harmful. American Civil Liberties Unions California chapter co-sponsored the bill.

The use of police canines has inflicted brutal violence and lifelong trauma on Black Americans and communities of color, Jackson said in a release. This bill marks a turning point in the fight to end this cruel and inhumane practice and build trust between the police and the communities they serve.

The bill would not prevent the use of police canines for search and rescue, bomb detection, or drug searches that do not involve biting, Jacksons office said.

Police officers from the K-9 unit patrol in front of the convention center during San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego on July 24, 2022. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)

Lackey, who voted against the measure, said he believes law enforcement should be using police dogs more because they are less lethal than other de-escalation tools.

Everybody wins, both the suspect and the officer, when you reduce resistance. And that is the role of canines, he said at the committee hearing.

He said while in recent years the public has been asking law enforcement to use less lethal means of gaining compliance, he felt the bill goes into a whole other direction.

The bill is officially supported by more than 30 organizationsincluding California Public Defenders Association and National Police Accountability Projectand opposed by about 40 groupsmore than 30 are law enforcement agencies across the stateaccording to a bill analysis prepared for the hearing (pdf).

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement included in the bill analysis his current policy already prohibits deputies from using canines for crowd control at any assembly, protest, or demonstration, but he said he cannot support a bill that severely restricts an officers ability to employ a proven, effective, and less lethal force option that can de-escalate other potentially life-threatening situations.

Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna attends an active shooter excercise on the campus of Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

In a previous interview with The Epoch Times, Ron Cloward, a police dog trainer and president of the Western States Canine Association, said the bill included a lot of false information.

Im just tired of people continuing to make race an issue, Cloward said. Its not to me and it never has been, and it isnt for most of the people I know. Dont use the motivation of race to try to go after law enforcement and take another tool away.

According to Cloward, during his career, having his police canine with him kept him from using deadly force in two situations.

Los Angeles-based attorney Donald Cook, who has represented clients injured by police canines for about 40 years, told The Epoch Times in February he agreed the legislation was needed but not for the racial issues presented by the politicians because most cops are not racists. Most policing is not racially motivated.

Dogs should not be used to bite people, period, Cook said. It brings a level of psychological terror that you dont get when its a human being doing whatever is being done to you.
Car Kills 6 Maryland Highway Construction Workers, Including a Father and Son

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a fatal crash along Interstate 695 on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, near Woodlawn, Md. Multiple people were killed when a passenger vehicle drove into a work zone along the Baltimore beltway and struck construction workers. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Maryland State Police revealed the names of six highway workers, including a father and son, who were killed while working at a construction site outside of Baltimore on Wednesday. The men were killed when a car torpedoed through the construction zone after it collided with another vehicle on Interstate 695 in Baltimore County.

Emergency medical personnel from the Baltimore County Fire Department pronounced six contractual highway workers deceased on the scene, the Police said in a statement Thursday.

The victims are identified as Rolando Ruiz, 46; Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43; Jose Armando Escobar, 52; Mahlon Simmons III, 31; Mahlon Simmons II, 52; and Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46. WTOP News confirmed the two Simmons were father and son.

Lisa Adrienna Lea, 54, of Randallstown, was identified as the driver who plowed an Acura sedan into the workers.

The preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the Acura, later identified as Lea, was traveling in lane 2 at about 12:40 p.m. this afternoon when she attempted to change lanes, police said in a statement. As Lea attempted to move into lane 1, police believe her vehicle struck the front corner panel on the passenger side of the Volkswagen. Crash Team investigators believe this caused the Acura to lose control and subsequently travel into the work zone.

While the driver of the Volkswagen, identified as 20-year-old Malachi Brown of Windsor Mill, did not sustain any injuries, Lea was taken to the University of Maryland Medical Centers Shock Trauma Center for medical care.

According to the Maryland governments data on crash fatalities, 563 deaths occurred in the fiscal year 2021, and 135 were pedestrian fatalities, like the crash that killed six construction workers.

However, that years total number of crashes was 108,656, and 28,084 resulted in injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates transportation accidents, had investigators at the crash site on Thursday.

Their investigation will focus on issues relating to speeding, work zone protection for construction workers, and collision avoidance technology, an NTSB news release said Thursday afternoon.

Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation and consultation with the Baltimore County States Attorney, Maryland State Police said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore responded to the loss of life on Twitter, saying, My heart goes out to the victims and the families affected by the tragic crash on the 695 beltway this afternoon.

Maryland Democrat Wes Moore talks to reporters on June 6, 2022, in Owings Mills, Md., after a Democratic primary debate for governor of Maryland. (AP Photo/Brian Witte, File)

My office is in touch with local authorities and will continue to monitor the situation, he added.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said, On behalf of all the residents of Baltimore County, we offer our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in todays tragic crash and my prayers remain with those injured in this horrific incident.

The police department said charges against Lea are pending.

Once the investigation is complete, the Crash Team will submit its findings to the Baltimore County States Attorneys Office for review to determine whether charges will be filed, the State Police Release said.
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of officials on Friday.

Wang Daoxi was appointed vice minister of emergency management, replacing Zhou Xuewen, who was also removed from the post as vice minister of water resources.

Chen Ruifeng was appointed director of the National Religious Affairs Administration.

Huang Liuquan was named national security technical adviser of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Sheng Ronghua no longer serves as deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China. 
Chip Plants in China Wont Be Forced to Shut If Firms Receive US Funding, Says South Korea

SEOULSouth Koreas trade ministry said on Wednesday that the United States proposed rules to prevent $52 billion in chip funding from being used by countries of concern will not force recipients to shut down their China factories.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday proposed limits for recipients of U.S. chip manufacturing and research funding, including limits on investing in expansion in countries such as China and Russia.

The worlds largest and second-largest memory-chip makers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, have chip production facilities in China.

Samsung is building a chip plant in Texas that could cost more than $25 billion, while SK Hynix parent SK Group announced last year plans to invest $15 billion in the U.S. chip industry. Both may apply for funding.

The proposed rules for funding recipients limit chip production capacity growth in China to 5 percent over 10 years as measured by wafers, and 10 percent for older legacy chips, the trade ministry said.

They do not restrict investments in technology and process upgrades, or equipment replacement necessary for the operation of existing facilities, the ministry added.

For production facilities our companies are operating in China, it is expected that maintenance and partial expansion as well as technology upgrades will continue to be possible, the trade ministry said in a statement. As technology is upgraded, chips per wafer can be increased  which could further expand production depending on corporate strategies.

The South Korean government plans to communicate with the local industry, analyze proposed rules, and consult with U.S. counterparts within 60 days, the ministry said.

Samsung and SK Hynix said they would review the details of the announcement.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, which is investing $40 billion in a new chip plant in Arizona and also manufactures in China, declined to comment on the announcement.

The South Korean ministry noted that Samsungs recent plan to invest $230 billion in South Korea over 20 years to develop a large chip-making base was in line with uncertainties in investing in China or the United States.
Commercial Development of Gene-Edited Food Legalised in England Despite Public Opposition

The growth and sale of gene-edited food have now been legalised in England after the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act passed into UK law on March 23.

According to the government, the new law allows farmers to grow crops which are drought and disease resistant, reduce use of fertilisers and pesticides, and help breed animals that are protected from catching harmful diseases.

The UK government hailed the law changes as a Brexit triumph, as it has been made possible only after the UKs exit from the European Union.

A pig farm in Norfolk, England, on Oct. 5, 2021. (Joe Giddens/PA)

Following an EU ruling in 2018, gene-edited organisms are regulated in the same way as genetically modified (GM) organisms.

But the Genetic Technology Act created a new category for gene-edited organisms to regulate them separately from GM organisms.

Ministers have stressed the alleged distinction between gene-editing, which involves the manipulation of genes within a single species or genus, and GM, in which DNA from one species is introduced to a different one.

The government said that only genetic changes which could have been produced through conventional breeding methods or natural processes will be allowed.

The new law has been broadly welcomed by the farming community but has provoked protests from advocacy groups and animal welfare organisations opposed to the development and marketing of animals with edited genes.

Relaxing rules on gene-editing also lacks public support. Some 87 percent of individual responses to a government consultation raised concerns over the risk of gene-editing and called for it to continue to be regulated as genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Key Tool for UK Food Security

The government has hailed the new law as a key tool for UK food security.

It called the rule change a major step in unlocking growth and innovation in new technologies, reinforcing food security in the face of climate change, and ensuring England becomes a world-leader in agri-food innovation.

Gideon Henderson, chief scientific adviser at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, said: The ability to use gene-editing to make precise, targeted changes to the genetic code of organisms, in a way that can mimic traditional breeding, enables development of new crop varieties that are more resistant to pests, healthier to eat, and more resilient to drought and heat as climate changes.

Food Minister Mark Spencer said: The Genetic Technology Act is fantastic news for British consumers and farmers. Precision Breeding technologies are the future of food production not just at home, but around the world, and this Act will put our nation at the forefront of this revolution.

Some 40 percent of crops globally are lost every year to floods, pests, and other external events, and this new law will unlock our agri-biotech industry to support resilient food production for decades to come.

GM With Better PR

But critics have rejected the governments claim, saying that gene-edited foods are GMOs.

Liz ONeill, director of the campaign group GM Freeze, said: Gene editing is GM with better PR and this bill aims to impose new GMOs on UK citizens by removing public protections and the labels that allow us to choose what we are buying and eating.

All genetic engineering techniques can go wrong and thats why we need the kind of safety checks that this bill will throw on the scrap heap.

She added: There is overwhelming support for proper public protections, including clear labels on foods made with both old and newer GM techniques. Farmers and food producers also have the right to decide whether or not they are using GMOs and these proposals will make it impossible for them to do that.

Pat Thomas, director of another campaign group Beyond GM, said: The Genetic Technology Act has a single beneficiarythe biotech industry.

It removes meaningful regulatory controlincluding safety assessments, consumer labelling, and monitoringfrom a staggering range of genetically modified plants and animals in our food system and the wider environment.

It allows biotech developers to self-certify that their engineered organisms are safe and beneficial and imposes no penalties if that turns out to be untrue.

She added: The catch is that gene-editing technology, which has been around for more than a decade, consistently over-promises and under-delivers and that makes it an economic, food system, and environmental failure. We should be focusing on solutions that work.

Conceptual Sleight of Hand

The government insists that editing genes is safe and, unlike GM, wont share genetic material across species.

These changes, the government insists, would only be those which could be produced through conventional breeding methods or naturally over timejust fast-forwarded in the lab.

But some scientists have disputed this characterisation.

Theres a little bit of conceptual sleight of hand to say its not any form of GM or genetic modification, Tim Benton, research director with independent policy institute Chatham House, told The Epoch Times.

Others have warned that gene-editing could lead to unintended consequences.

Michael Antoniou, head of the Gene Expression and Therapy Group at Kings College Londons Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine told The Epoch Times: In addition to any intended genetic modification you invariably have large numbers of unintended alterations to the organism.

These could include the production of toxins and allergens in plants or crops, he suggests, adding, Its a wild west of gene-editing of crops, plants, and animals and even bacteria that are going to be released into the environment in an uncontrolled way.

Rachel Hannah and PA Media contributed to this report.
Congressman Sounds Alarm Over Department of Veterans Affairs Purchasing Drugs From China

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), in his questioning of and conversation with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough during the March 23 House Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing, pressed the secretary on an issue which the congressman called an absolute danger to the United States.

Murphy, who is a physician, was referring to the decision that the VA made and the policy it adopted in 2016 to purchase drugs that include active ingredients that come from China, which are then prescribed and given to veterans.

I dont understand this policy, said Murphy. And were now  allowing drugs to come to our veterans, as well as other drugs coming into this country, that are not being analyzed, that are not being reviewed, are not being inspected. And this is an absolute troubling thing to me as a physician.

Murphy, a member of the Veterans Affairs committee, always has veterans issues front and center on his lawmaking and advocacy radar screen.

The district he represents has among the highest percentage of its residents who are veterans of any congressional district in the nation: one in seven.

Then there are those in Murphys district who are in military active service. Murphys district includes Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station New River, and Coast Guard Sector Field Office Fort Macon.

The exchange between Murphy and McDonough took place at the hearing, which focused on assessing the Biden administrations proposed budget for the VA for 2024 and 2025.

The congressman learned from a conversation he had with McDonough prior to the hearing that the secretary was unaware that the VA approved as vendors pharmaceutical companies which use components from China in the manufacture of their products.

Murphy brought up that he attended that morning a meeting of the GOP Doctors Caucus at which members talked about drugs in this country from China; 90 percent of our APIs, active pharmaceutical ingredients, come from China todayand our FDA is doing an absolute abysmal job in looking at these drugs; seeing their purity, seeing their impurity.

Security Threat

A March 1 story in The Epoch Times reported on how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supplies most of the drug precursors processed in Mexico into the deadly drug fentanyl, and most of the illegal fentanyl in the United States comes from Mexico.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough speaks in Washington on Nov. 9, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Murphy said that beyond the injury and threat to the health of veterans posed by the VA purchasing drugs made from ingredients that the CCP provides, the policy imperils the security of the nation.

And we now, like it or not, ballistic or not, are at war with our greatest adversary, said Murphy. We saw this with the balloon. We saw this with the absolute flood of fentanyl coming into this country from China.

Murphy continued, imploring McDonough to research and look into the matter of VA and its program that buys drugs sourced from China.

I would like a commitment from you, and I know I can stand by thisthat this issue will be researched because it is absolutelyIm ineffable about this; I cant understand why this was done.

Murphy asked McDonough to see if there was any way that the VA could get out of the drug contract it entered into in 2016, and I think for the sake of our veterans, we need to explore that.

McDonough replied, Yeah, you got my commitment, Mr. Murphy.
Court Overrules Rainbow Appeal to Block Womens Rights Activist Posie Parker From Entering NZ

Posie Parker (Kelly Jay Keen) speaks during a Standing for Women protest in Glasgow, Scotland, on Feb. 5, 2023. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The New Zealand High Court has dismissed calls to block British womens rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker) from entering the country.

Earlier this week, the countrys immigration department reviewed the requirements for allowing Keen into New Zealand after her Let Women Speak rallies across Australia were met with fierce counter-protests from LGBT+ advocates.

On March 22, Immigration New Zealand confirmed Keen could enter New Zealand.

In response, trans-activist groups like Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT, and Auckland Pride took the immigration minister, Michael Wood, to court over the decision while appealing for an interim order to bar Keen from entering.

They claimed Keen posed a threat to transgenders.

The ministers failure to act is putting our communities in danger. We are not opposing freedom of speech, we are opposing the measurable threat to public order and the safety of transgender people, said spokesperson Ahi Wi-Hongi in a statement.

Under Section 16 of New Zealands Immigration Act, the minister has discretionary power to ban non-citizens from entering the country if they pose a reasonable threat or risk to security.

However, Wood said that while he personally preferred Keen never set foot in New Zealand because of her repugnant views, he was advised that her case did not meet the threshold for the powers under Section 16.

Rejected for Technical Reasons

Justice David Gendall said he was sympathetic to the activist groups arguments but that for largely technical and procedural reasons the application should fail.

He was also troubled at the fact that Keen did not have the opportunity to be represented for the case.

The groups said they were extremely disappointed that their application had been dismissed.

Tomorrow, we counter-protest Posie Parker to demonstrate our values and fight transphobia, they said.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Free Speech Union, which had been granted permission to act as a third-party intervener during the hearing, welcomed the courts decision.

This was the only right result for a nation that values tolerance, the ability to debate, and free speech, Free Speech Union CEO Jonathan Ayling said.

The Free Speech Union joined as an intervener in this application as there was a clear interest in the speech rights of Kellie-Jay and those who wished to have her in New Zealand. Had we not joined, we firmly believe that the free speech rights of Kellie-Jay would not have been properly heard out.

The applicants in their submissions argued that Kellie-Jay was a threat to public order, but all they could point to were expressions of her opinions. Clearly there was no actual basis for the minister of immigration to deny her entry into New Zealand and his decision was correctly upheld.

Ayling added that Keen is able to keep her right to her speech, and those who oppose her views also keep their chance to contest her ideas.

Not with censorship but with counter-protest, as should be expected in a tolerant, democratic society, he said.

Womens Rights Sidelined By Counter-Protests

Hours before Keen left Australia to board her plane to New Zealand, she revealed the security firm hired for her protection had pulled out last minute because of lies spread in Australia.

Keen was referring to claims that her supporters were aligned with neo-Nazis who in fact, gate-crashed her event in Melbourne and had nothing to do with womens rights activists.

I dont think men who believe in the far-right, who call themselves Nazis, give an absolute stuff for womens rights. Thats a preposterous thing to say, she told Radio New Zealand.

Thats what happens when women stand up for our rightsthat women and men will say the most disgusting things about us.

I just dont want men in womens spaces. I want my daughter to be safe when she plays sports. Is really that such a terrible thing?

Keens Let Women Speak rallies in Australia have been met with resistance from counter-protests in Hobart, Melbourne, and Canberra.

On the latter, former Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe (now an independent) was pulled to the ground by police after she attempted to interfere with a speech by Keen.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe (formerly of the Greens) crawls away after attempting to disrupt British womens rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, at a Let Woman Speak rally against transgenders entering womens spaces outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 23, 2023. (AAP Image/Michelle Haywood)

The senator repeatedly shouted you are not welcome before being blocked by two men.

Afterwards, a police officer pulled her to the ground, before she crawled away and walked towards the counter-protest group.

Following the incident, Thorpe claimed she was pulverised by police for simply telling that person that they are not allowed to be here.

Thorpe told reporters that people should be ashamed for letting Keen into the country, referring to her as that thing.

They are racist, they are homophobic, they are destroying peoples lives, Thorpe claimed.

Several speakers withdrew from the event citing fear for their safety.

Nina Nguyen contributed to this article.
Death Toll From Pakistan, Afghanistan Quake Rises to 21

Police officers and people gather at a hospital where earthquake victims are brought in Saidu Sharif, a town Pakistan's Swat valley, on March 21, 2023. (Naveed Ali/AP Photo)

ISLAMABADThe death toll from a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck much of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan earlier this week rose to 21 on Thursday, after eight more deaths were reported in remote areas, officials said.

Ten died in Afghanistan and 11 in Pakistan after the temblor rattled this South Asian region late on Tuesday. More than more than 130 people were reported injured when roofs of hundreds of homes collapsed.

Most of the damage was reported in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan.

Rescue worker unload earthquake victims from an ambulance at a hospital in Saidu Sharif, a town Pakistans Swat valley, on March 21, 2023. (Naveed Ali/AP Photo)

Shafiullah Rahimi, a Taliban spokesperson, said the quake killed 10 there and injured 60. He said 800 houses were damaged across Afghanistan.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the magnitude 6.5 quake was 40 kilometers (25 miles) south-southeast of the district of Jurm in Afghanistans mountainous Hindukush region, bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan. The quake struck 188 kilometers (116 miles) deep below the Earths surface.

The region is prone to violent seismic upheavals. A magnitude 7.6 quake in 2005 killed thousands of people in Pakistan and disputed Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan.
Denmark Invites Nord Stream Operator to Help Salvage Unidentified Object

The logo of Nord Stream AG is seen at an office building in the town of Vyborg, Leningrad Region, Russia, on Aug. 22, 2022. (Anton Vaganov/Reuters)

COPENHAGENDenmark on Thursday invited the Russian-controlled operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to help salvage an unidentified object found close to the only remaining intact gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea.

Three explosions last September on the Nord Stream pipelines built to deliver Russian gas to Germany have become another flashpoint in a standoff between the West and Russia set off by its invasion of Ukraine.

The blasts occurred in the exclusive economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries say the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible.

Last week, Danish authorities said a tubular object, protruding around 40 cm (16 inches) from the seabed and 10 cm in diameter, had been found during an inspection of the last remaining intact pipeline by Swiss-based operator Nord Stream 2 AG.

With a view to further clarifying the nature of the object, Danish authorities have decided to salvage the object with assistance from the Danish Defence, the countrys Energy Agency said in a statement on Thursday.

The Danish Energy Agency has in that context invited the owner of the pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, to participate in the operation, it said, adding it was awaiting a response from the operator.

An unidentified object found close to the only remaining intact gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea in an undated handout image. (Danish Defense Command/Handout via Reuters)

The pipeline operator is controlled by Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom.

Authorities have assessed that the object does not pose any immediate safety risk, the agency said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that a ship rented by Gazprom had found an antenna-like object about 30 km (19 miles) from the explosion sites. It was not clear if he referred to the same object that Danish authorities will attempt to salvage.

The last intact pipeline has remained idle as Europe has cut most energy ties with Russia. The pipeline still contains gas, but the operator said last year it had lowered its pressure as a precaution.

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
Denver School Board Votes to Place Armed Officers in Schools After March 22 Shooting

Denvers Public School Board of Education voted unanimously on March 23 to allow armed police officers back into the citys high schools for the remainder of the 20222023 school year.

The vote took place at an emergency meeting just one day after Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student at East High School, opened fire on two administrators just before 10 a.m. as they searched him for weapons, wounding them both.

Lyles body was found by police in the woods near an abandoned car on the afternoon of March 22. One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital that day and the second remains in serious condition, The Associated Press reported.

School board members during the closed session on March 23 approved a memo to Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero that suspends, through June, the boards policy barring school resource officers in Denver schools, CBS Colorado reports.

The boards memo also directs Marrero to work with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and other elected officials to externally fund the cost of putting two armed police officers and up to two mental health workers such as social workers, psychologists, and psychotherapists at every district high school for the remainder of the academic year, according to the report.

Armed Officers Must Be Appropriately Trained

According to a statement from Auontai M. Anderson, vice president of the Denver School Board, the board requested that the Denver Police Department ensure every armed police officer is appropriately trained in the use of firearms, de-escalation techniques, policing in a school environment, knowledgeable of the school community they intend to serve, and skilled in community policing.

Additionally, the board directed Marrero to establish a long-term safety and security plan and host regular community meetings to gather feedback from students, parents, staff, school leaders, and others in the community, according to CBS Colorado.

Marrero must submit the plan to the board by no later than June 30, they said.

Thursdays vote reversed a June 2020 decision to remove armed officers from Denver schools in the wake of the death of George Floyd. At the time, the board had said the reason was, in part, because of the belief that the close proximity of law enforcement to students on campuses directly contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline.

Wounded School Administrators Identified

In a statement following the vote, school board members said they support Marrero working more closely with police and called on the community to help those affected by the recent shooting.

The Board of Education supports the decision of Superintendent Marrero to work in partnership with local law enforcement to create safer learning spaces across Denver Public Schools for the remainder of this school year, the board said, according to Chalkbeat Colorado. In addition, we will continue to work collaboratively with our community partners including law enforcement and our local and state legislature to make our community safer.

The two wounded administrators were identified as Dean of Culture Eric Sinclair, who was listed in serious condition as of Thursday, and East Highs restorative justice director Jerald Mason, who has since been discharged from the hospital and is in good condition, The Denver Post reported.

The two administrators were shot while searching Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement as part of a safety plan because of the boys behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle was already on probation for a previous weapons charge, according to The Denver Post.

The coroners office has not yet released Lyles cause of death amid an ongoing autopsy.

In a statement following the boards vote on Thursday, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said that he agrees with Superintendent Marrero that the safety of students and the public require the deployment of police officers assigned to the high school for the remainder of the school year.

I encouraged and strongly support the Superintendents decision to bring police officers back to DPS high schools, and Ive directed Chief Thomas to support this effort and deploy our officers accordingly in coordination with the school district, Hancock said.
Dont Let Them Eat Cake

Commentary

Sugar, of all things, may not seem a very apt symbol of liberty under siege, but who imagined what another commodity, tea, would come to mean to the American colonists in 1773?

We read in grammar school how the Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians and hid themselves on board three ships carrying tea from the British East India Company, proceeding to dump the precious cargo into Boston Harbor to prevent the British Parliament from imposing taxation without representation.

The day after, John Adams would write: This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm, intrepid and inflexible, and it must have so important consequences, and so lasting, that I cant but consider it as an epoch in history.

One can live without tea (if you call that living, to quote Groucho Marx on another subject), and the World Health Organization (WHO) assures us that one can live without sugar. But do we want our rulers taking it away from us? The ever-more-extreme politicians of California, after scheduling the total ban of gas-powered cars by 2035, are now shifting their aim from the drivers seat to the cup holder, contemplating a ban on sugary beverages, sweets, and even certain kinds of bread.

One state representative has proposed a bill that would ban in their current form certain types of sliced wheat bread, flour and corn tortillas, sugar cookies, cinnamon rolls, cakes that aid in slimming marketed by Weight Watchers, plus candies and other treats like Jelly Bellys, Fanta soda, Kool-Aid, Mountain Dew, Nerds, Nesquik, Oreos, Peeps, Pop Tarts, Rice Krispies cereal, Skittles, Swedish Fishnearly 3,000 products in all. It does this by going after a series of nasty-sounding ingredients, like brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3, and titanium dioxide.

This is an overdose of deja vu. In 2012, Mike Bloomberg, then the Republican mayor of New York City, illegally tried to forbid New Yorkers from enjoying Big Gulps, or any soda exceeding 16 ounces, in restaurants, movie houses, ballparks, and from street carts. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration finalized its total ban on trans-fatty acids in foods, aided in full by the American Medical Association, for whom trans-fat is public enemy number oneyet it soft-pedals the dangers of marijuana amid its expanding legalization despite the evidence that weed can become a gateway to harder drugs, such as heroin and other substances.

These multisyllabic menaces found in the fine print on the back labels of items are not very healthy, its true. But neither is sugar. If governments tax products like sugary drinks, they can reduce suffering and save lives, declares the WHO. They can also cut health care costs and increase revenues to invest in health services.

We can bemoan all we like about the food industry feeding us slow poison, but the industrialization over the years, of which food companies have been instrumental, has massively enhanced longevity in the world. The evidence is particularly strong that the trends in food production and nutrition are benign despite rising population, economist Julian Simon pointed out. The longrun price of food is down sharply, even relative to consumer products, as a result of increased productivity. In other words, we owe a debt of gratitude to the food industry for its innovative production methods over the course of many decades.

Today, Uncle Sam is coming for chemicals most of us have never heard of; tomorrow, it will be sugar, ice cream, birthday cake. This is what it is vital to understand: elected politicians seeking the glory of their constituents and a permanent perch of power have an ultimate objective of control over peoples lives. Bashing even a left-wing business titan and Democratic Party ally like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) demands publicly owned systems to replace private industry.

Bloomberg downplayed his war on sugar, claiming, Were not banning you from getting the stuff. Its just if you want 32 ounces, the restaurant has to serve it in two glasses. Thats not exactly taking away your freedoms. Its not something the Founding Fathers fought for. At the time, one New York City professional interviewed by NBC countered, I consider myself to be fit and healthy, and I love large sodas! as he claimed to drink at least one 16-ounce soda per day, usually a Pepsi. I go to the gym daily and run. Im not fat. I think this proposed ban is a huge infringement on my rights. I always get the large soda at the movies and drink what I like.

Shakespeares mischievous though beloved Sir John Falstaff put it this way: If sack [i.e., wine] and sugar be a fault, God help the wicked!  if to be fat be to be hated, then Pharaohs lean kine are to be loved  banish plump Jack, and banish all the world!

All the world indulges in unhealthy food; it is one of the joys of life. Those who know whats good for them moderate the practice. The question is whether those we place in power should be dictating our menus.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
This week, we feature Mike Pompeos riveting memoir and an absorbing history that establishes a post-Revolutionary War sailor as an American hero.

History

The Lionkeeper of Algiers: How an American Captive Rose to Power in Barbary and Saved His Homeland from War

By Des Ekin

Des Ekin has uncovered a special piece of American history that has long been overlooked. This book follows the capture, imprisonment, and political and social maneuverings of the young American sailor James Leander Cathcart. Cathcarts personality and wit guide him through the perils of being a Barbary pirate prisoner in Algiers and eventually place him before George Washington to help broker a deal for peace between the two nations. Ekin has established the foundation for a new American hero.

Prometheus Books, 2023, 272 pages

Foreign Affairs

When China Attacks: A Warning to America

By Col. Grant Newsham

Subtitled A Warning to America, Newshams book is important for several reasons. He imagines a Chinese seizure of Taiwan and its deadly consequences both for the Pacific region and Americas future. But he also describes in detail how China has waged a gray-zone war against the United States for decades with devastating effects on the American economy and its people and cities. He concludes with specific recommendations for resisting these assaults. This is a loud wake-up call for all Americans.

Regnery Publishing, 2023, 256 pages

Geology

Beaches of the Gulf Coast

By Richard A. Davis Jr.

For many, a day at the beach is perfect. Yet a beach itself is surprisingly complex, a result of intricate dynamics and host to a multifaceted ecology. This book covers its subject on many levels and includes a wealth of visual aids. It takes readers on a Gulf Coast tour, starting in Florida and working counterclockwise through Mexico and into Cuba. Davis, a coastal geologist, explores the processes that create beaches, the plants and animals that inhabit them, and the human impact upon them.

Texas A&M University Press, 2014, 244 pages

Memoir

Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love

By Mike Pompeo

Mike Pompeos memoir is a bona fide tour de force that often reads like a thriller. Its packed full of personal, political, and poignant content and told with unflinching transparency as he recalls his tenure during the Trump administration, first serving as the director of the CIA and then as secretary of state. Readers will feel the challenge and tension of daily decision-makingwhether with colleagues or heads of state. Pompeos account of what it takes to keep America safe is riveting.

Broadside Books, 2023, 464 pages

Classics

The Hound of Heaven and Other Poems

By Francis Thompson

Francis Thompsons most renowned poem was The Hound of Heaven, which tells of Gods pursuit of the fugitive human soul. Included in this collection are religious ballads and sonnets, a miscellany of verse, and poems for children. Some of the latter feature the daughters of Alice and Wilfrid Meynell, Thompsons rescuers from poverty and obscurity. In the introduction, G.K. Chesterton labels The Hound of Heaven as the greatest religious poem of modern times and one of the greatest of all times.

Branden Books, 2014, 82 pages

For Kids

The Easter Egg

By Jan Brett

Each year, the bunny who decorates the most beautiful egg accompanies the Easter Bunny on Easter morning as he hides his eggs. As Hoppi dreams up his design, a robins egg falls out of the tree above, so he does his best to keep it safe. This sweet tale, coupled with Bretts colorful and engaging illustrations, make for a perfect Easter-time read.

G.P. Putnams Sons, 2010, 32 pages
Eric Garcetti Sworn in as US Ambassador to India

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris ceremonially swears in Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India alongside his daughter Maya Garcetti at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC., on March 24, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELESFormer Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was sworn in as the next U.S. ambassador to India March 24 by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Members of Garcettis family were on hand to witness the brief ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Garcetti was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate after a nearly two-year process dogged by lingering allegations that he ignored accusations of assault and sexual harassment against a former top aide.

Seven Republicans crossed the aisle to vote in favor of Garcetti in the 5242 vote, but three fellow Democrats voted nay.

In a statement following the vote, Garcetti said he was thrilled with todays outcome, which was a decisive and bipartisan decision to fill a critical post that has been vacant for far too long. Now the hard work begins.

Im ready and eager to begin my service representing our critical interests in India, he said.

President Joe Biden originally nominated Garcetti for the post on July 9, 2021. After it stalled, Biden re-nominated him in January.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris ceremonially swears in Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. He was joined (L-R) by his mother-in-law Dee Wakeland, mother Sukey Garcetti, father Gil Garcetti, wife Amy Wakeland and his daughter Maya Garcetti in Washington, DC., on March 24, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement she looks forward to working with Garcetti in his new role.

I congratulate former Mayor Garcetti on his confirmation to serve as our countrys ambassador to the worlds largest democracy, she said Thursday. Los Angeles is an international hub, and I look forward to working with Eric as he represents our nation in New Delhi.

An investigation requested by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last year concluded that it was more probable than not that Garcettis former senior adviser Rick Jacobs sexually harassed multiple individuals and made racist comments towards others.

It also found it very unlikely that Garcetti was unaware of the behavior, saying that by all accounts, Mayor Garcetti is very involved in the day-to-day operation of his office.

The White House blasted the report, saying in a statement, This partisan report was a hit job from the beginning, and many of the claims have already been conclusively debunked by more serious independent reports.

Garcetti has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the alleged harassing behavior by Jacobs. Following the reports release, he said in a statement that he strongly disagreed with its conclusions.
DAMASCUS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. airstrikes on strongholds of pro-Iran militias in eastern Syria after midnight Friday killed 11 fighters, a war monitor reported.

The airstrikes hit an arms depot and other military outposts of the pro-Iran fighters in the province of Deir al-Zour, in retaliation to the pro-Iran militias' drone attacks on U.S. positions in the same region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, the head of the observatory, said the Iranian fighters had targeted U.S. positions in the al-Omar oil field in Deir al-Zour overnight, adding that both sides exchanged fire.

Abdul-Rahman said he expected the U.S. would carry out more attacks after recruiting agents on the ground to gather information about the locations and positions of the pro-Iran militias in eastern Syria.

The Syrian government has not commented on the most recent escalation.

The Pentagon said on Friday that a U.S. contractor was killed, and five U.S. service members and one other U.S. contractor were wounded when a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility of the U.S. coalition in northeast Syria. 
Expert Calls on US to Further Facilitate Sales of Chips for Civilian and Commercial Uses in China

An employee examines chips at the Jiejie Semiconductor Company in Nantong, in Jiangsu Province, China, on March 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

An expert has called on the U.S. government to further facilitate sales of U.S.-made chips for civilian and commercial uses in China.

Last October, the U.S. government issued new export controls (pdf) that block U.S. companies from selling advanced semiconductors, and the equipment used to manufacture them, to some Chinese manufacturers unless a special license is obtained. In December, the government expanded these restrictions to 36 additional Chinese chip makers.

Washington has also effectively prohibited U.S. citizens from supporting the production or development of chips covered under the restrictions. U.S. nationals participating in Chinese chip-related companies will either have to quit their jobs or give up citizenship.

Early this week, Reuters reported that the U.S. Commerce Department took a step further by releasing proposed rules to prevent $52 billion in semiconductor manufacturing and research funding from being used by China and other countries deemed of concern.

The proposal limits recipients of U.S. funding from investing in the expansion of semiconductor manufacturing in foreign countries such as China and Russia and limits recipients of incentive funds from engaging in joint research or technology licensing efforts with a foreign entity of concern.

It also classifies some semiconductors as critical to national security, defining them as not considered legacy chips and subject to tighter restrictions. This measure covers chips including current-generation and mature-node chips used for quantum computing, in radiation-intensive environments, and for other specialized military capabilities.

Stephen Ezell, Vice President, Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said that the Biden administration is undoubtedly correct in making it difficult for the Chinese military to acquire very advanced chips that can support the objectives of its government and military and national security affairs.

The whole intent of the export controls have been to limit the ability of these technologies to enhance Chinas military wherewithal, he noted.

However, he said, We should be trying to ensure that we can keep channels available for chips made here to be sold for civilian and commercial uses in China, as 36 percent of the global semiconductor market is in China.

Its very important that policymakers really try very hard to make distinctions between the end uses and users of semiconductor chips in China, which actors are consuming these chips for what purposes, he recently told the China in Focus host on NTD, the sister media outlet of the Epoch Times.

He further stressed the importance of drawing a distinction between chips that are going into refrigerators or cars versus chips that are going to fund hypersonic weapons or modeling nuclear explosions.

If we are on a completely wholesale basis, make it not possible for companies to sell commercial civilian chips in China, then that deprives companies of the opportunity to earn revenues they need to reinvest in future generations of products, he said.

Ezell cited the case of Nvidia, the U.S. company that modified the chip down to the H 800 to replace the A100 added to the export control list by the U.S. Commerce Department.

They reduced their chip data transfer rate to about half the rate of their flagship H 100 chip, so its not as capable or sophisticated, he said.

Deleterious Dependence on Taiwan-Made Chips

Ezell noted that 92 percent of the worlds most-sophisticated semiconductors are manufactured in Taiwan.

He raised concern that the United States might lose access to that source if Beijing moves against the self-governing island and war breaks out.

He pointed to the study, which estimates that a hypothetical one-year disruption of the Taiwanese semiconductor supply would cost global electronic device manufacturers $500 billion.

I think certainly, it was a consideration for U.S. policymakers that should events come to pass that were to make the U.S. unable to rely on the supply of chips coming off the island of Taiwan. That would be certainly very deleterious to the U.S. economy and national security capacity.

Reuters and Alex Wu contributed to this report.
Comprehensive Response Needed to Chinese Influence in US, Experts Say

Chinese dissident Wang Yonghong at a press conference and rally in front of the America ChangLe Association highlighting Beijing's transnational repression, in New York on Feb. 25, 2023. A now-closed overseas Chinese police station is located inside the association building. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

A structural and comprehensive U.S. response to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) influence and interference is needed, experts told a congressional advisory body.

An office that connects the national security, civil liberties, and academic freedom risks presented by PRCs [Peoples Republic of China] overseas political activities was recommended at a hearing of the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) by Andrew Chubb, director of the UKs Lancaster University China Centre in the UK and a fellow at the Asia Society.

Another suggestion at the March 23 hearing was the creation of an open source information and intelligence organization to address the need to bridge the intelligence community, the rest of the U.S. government, and outside partners in business, academic, and civil society. That idea came from Peter Mattis, director for intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, a nonprofit thats dedicated to strengthening U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence and other technologies.

Mattis also recommended the development of artificial intelligence for the United States to improve the comprehensiveness of all-source intelligence analysis that maps to the scale of the CCP threat.

The USCC hearing, Chinas Global Influence and Interference Activities, occurred as the U.S.China relationship hit one of its lowest moments in decades. Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently wrapped up a state visit to Russia, showcasing a friendship largely based on the anti-Western commitment to reshaping the international order to their interests.

In Congress and other parts of the federal government, addressing the CCP threat is one of the few bipartisan issues.

At a congressional hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew held on the same day as the USCC event, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) acknowledged that Chew had achieved something rare.

You have unified Republicans and Democrats, and if only for a day, were actually unified because we have serious concerns, referring to questions raised about the popular short-form video apps ties to the CCP and the risk of the CCPs access to U.S. consumer data collected by TikTok.

Other bipartisan concerns about the CCP threat include the purchase of U.S. farmland, the theft of U.S. technology, Americas dependence on China over supply chains, and the CCPs influence in media and academia. The FBI has also warned about Chinas transnational repression on U.S. soil, including secret police stations that have since closed as a result of FBI raids.

An overseas Chinese police outpost is located inside the America ChangLe Association building in New York, pictured on Oct. 6, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

CCPs Global Media Influence

Sarah Cook, senior adviser for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, a nonprofit human rights organization, said the CCP threat is global.

Its not about the U.S. versus China. Its really about people, in countries that take values of democracy and freedom and national sovereignty seriously, themselves being outraged that this is happening in their country, she told The Epoch Times.

During her testimony to the USCC, Cook highlighted the importance of protecting free expression amid the CCPs media influence.

The take-home is that the CCP is intensifying its efforts to influence media around the world. Its becoming more sophisticated, covert, and coercive in how thats happening, she said. But there is real democratic pushback and resilience. Both of those phenomena are global, and both of them are happening at the same time.

This element of investigating and exposing the CCP influence becomes a very potent form of resilience when people understand whats actually going on.

Cook gave an example of mainstream media outletssuch as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Postgenerating income from running CCP propaganda inserts in their print editions.

Theyve quietly discontinued the insert, which their own journalists were complaining about for a very long time, she said, noting that the exposure of the inserts became embarrassing for these media outlets.

A paid insert of China Daily inside the Jan. 17, 2017, edition of The Wall Street Journal. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Cook said the total amount of money the CCP invested in its global media influence is difficult to ascertain. However, she mentioned that China Daily, a mouthpiece of the CCP in English, paid $7 million to run inserts in five U.S. newspapers over three years.

Her report, Beijings Global Media Influence 2022, lists more than 130 media outlets from 30 countries that have published content placements by CCP-backed entities. Some content is CCP-produced, and some is co-produced by the CCP and the media outlet.

Do the math, Cook said. Its like a tremendous amount of money.
FBI Lawyer Hoped Justice Department Would Reconsider 2021 Memo on Alleged School Board Threats, Documents Reveal

Documents the FBI recently released show that a lawyer for the agency expressed her reservations about a draft version of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garlands Oct. 4, 2021 memo that initiated a controversial federal effort to investigate alleged harassment at school board meetings around the country.

The documents, which the America First Legal Foundation (AFL) recently obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, showed FBI attorney Miriam Coakley expressed her hope that Garland and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) would reconsider their actions.

Not sure if youve seen this/weighed init was just raised to my attention, Coakley wrote in an Oct. 4, 2021 email to Corey Frazier Ellis. Ellis was serving at the time as chief of staff for FBI Director Christopher Wray before Garland appointed him in December of that year to serve as the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.

I hope DOJ reconsiders, Coakley added in her email.

After Coakley contacted him, Ellis raised the issue to Norman Wong, the then director of the DOJs Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA), writing we are asking that the memo be revised, to which Wong replied: Its a little too late.

The DOJ proceeded to publish Garlands memo that day, along with a larger press statement describing the formation of a task force that would include the FBI and the DOJs Criminal, National Security, and Civil Rights Divisions.

2021 Garland Memo Set Off Controversy

At the time, Garland and the DOJ cited an increase in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members, teachers and workers in their decision to launch the new DOJ task force.

The new task force came as parents had been protesting school boards around the country over their COVID-19 policies and the inclusion of critical race theory (CRT) principles in school curricula. On Sept. 29, 2021just days before Garlands memothe National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter (pdf) to President Joe Biden and the DOJ, raising concerns about disruptions to school board meetings and claiming the harassment they were experiencing was akin to domestic terrorism or hate crimes. The NSBA letter called on the DOJ to use its National Security and Counter-terrorism components to investigate these school board incidents and use counter-terrorism lawslike the PATRIOT Actto prosecute them.

The NSBA letter and Garlands subsequent decision to form a new task force to investigate disruptions at schools and school board meetings received pushback from Republican officials. A Group of State Attorneys General sent a letter (pdf) disputing the NSBAs claims and arguing that the DOJs subsequent actions could be used as a pretext to chill lawful free speech.

The NSBA went on to retract its letter and said there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter. Despite that NSBA retraction, Garland continued to defend his decision to form the new DOJ task force.

All it asks is for federal law enforcement to consult with, meet with local law enforcement to assess the circumstances, strategize about what may or may not be necessary to provide federal assistance, if it is necessary, Garland said in response to questions at the time from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Garland said his memo alters some of the language in the [NSBA] letter that we did not rely on.

Garland insisted the DOJ was only seeking to stop violence and threats of violence.

We are not investigating peaceful protests or parent involvement in school board meetings, Garland told Grassley and Cornyn in 2021.

NTD News reached out to the FBI and the DOJ regarding the documents AFL obtained. Neither responded before this article was published.

No Legitimate Basis, GOP Says

This week, the Republican-controlled House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government published a report claiming Garland and the DOJ had no legitimate basis for using federal law enforcement resources to investigate incidents involving local school board meetings.

The committee report (pdf) revealed the FBI had initiated 25 guardian assessments of school board threats, of which six were run by the FBIs Counter-Terrorism Division. The Republican report also shared whistleblower allegations that some of the FBI assessments were initiated over claims that included, for example, that a targeted mother belonged to a right-wing moms group and is a gun owner, and that a targeted father rails against the government. None of the 25 school board-related investigations have resulted in federal arrests or charges.

We have known all along that the timeline at issuea letter to the President followed by an Attorney General memorandum within daysindicated that the underlying premise for the memorandum was as fake as the Biden Administrations commitment to the equal application of the law, said America First Legal Vice-President and General Counsel, Gene Hamilton. The report issued by the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and the House Judiciary Committee this week confirms our assertions about the Attorney Generals memorandum. And now, the records we are revealing today further show that the memo blindsided the FBI.

From NTD News
Felon Serving Life Prison Terms Gets Nearly 3 More Years for Orange County Jail Escape

Hossein Nayeri listens to the judges' instructions before the reading of the verdict in his trial in Newport Beach, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2019. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP)

SANTA ANA, Calif.The man prosecutors call the mastermind of a 2016 escape by three inmates from the Orange County jail in Santa Ana was sentenced March 24 to two years and eight months in prison for his conviction on felony counts of escaping custody and car theft.

Hossein Nayeri, 44, is already serving two consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the sexual mutilation of a marijuana dispensary owner in a kidnapping-extortion scheme.

Nayeri was convicted last week of the escape and car theft charges, but jurors acquitted him of kidnapping during a carjacking and other lesser-included offenses of simple kidnapping, carjacking, and false imprisonment.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer last week defended taking Nayeri to trial in the escape case, even though hes already serving two life-without-parole prison terms. Nayeri was in custody awaiting trial in the kidnap-extortion case when the jail escape occurred.

District Attorney Todd Spitzer speaks at a press conference in Orange, Calif., on April 1, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

This was not a waste of government resources, Spitzer told reporters after the verdicts.

Spitzer said that given recent changes in criminal justice law in the state he fears lawmakers will scrap the term of life without parole.

I literally have no confidence that the convictions Nayeri has already suffered will necessarily be upheld on appeal or the legislature will not change the laws and retroactively apply them to Nayeri, Spitzer said. So while this sentence does not add significant additional time to the time hes already serving I want the parole board to be able to consider this additional case.

He added: Nayeri needed to be convicted of that escape, Spitzer said. He masterminded it. He was up in those plumbing tunnels for months. He was able to get tools to cut through rebar  Mr. Nayeri, in my personal opinion, is one of Americas most dangerous criminals. He is conniving, manipulative, and a mastermind. He knows how to get inside peoples heads.

Nayeri has technically already served enough time in jail to cover the sentence he was given Friday for the escape case. Orange County Superior Court Judge Larry Yellin on Friday dismissed four pending jailhouse drug cases Nayeri was facing. The defendant had asked to keep those cases pending so he could remain in the Orange County Jail while working on his appeals.

Nayeris co-defendant in the escape, Bac Tien Duong, 50, was convicted in April 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in July. Duong, who was in custody at the time of the escape in an attempted murder case, resolved that case as well when he was sentenced.

Another co-defendant Jonathan Tieu, 27, is awaiting trial in connection with the escape. Tieu was in custody in a murder case, but jurors in his trial deadlocked. A retrial was scheduled, but he was referred to juvenile court, where he was ultimately convicted of assault with a deadly weapon because a change in state law redefined liability in murders and Tieu was not considered a major participant in the gang-related killing.

On Day of Escape

The trio escaped from Central Mens Jail on Jan. 22, 2016, authorities said that with the help of Loc Ba Nguyen, a longtime friend of Duongs, the three inmates were able to obtain the supplies they needed to escape. They sawed through obstacles, wriggled through an air vent in the dormitory-style housing, and worked their way through plumbing tunnels to the roof of the jail. They then rappelled down with makeshift ropes, and Nguyen picked them up and drove them to a contact of Duongs in Westminster.

They called unlicensed cab driver Long Ma, who took them first to motels in Rosemead and later San Jose, where Duong and Nayeri got into a fight. Duong decided to part ways and brought Ma back with him to Orange County and surrendered on Jan. 29. The next day, Nayeri and Tieu were arrested in San Francisco.

Nguyen pleaded guilty in June 2017 for his role aiding the inmates in the escape and was sentenced to a year in jail, but he served his time in home confinement because he said he had a stroke on his sentencing date.
R | 2h 49min | Drama, Action, Thriller | 24 March 2023 (USA)

The first installment in the John Wick (2014) franchise resuscitated the career of Keanu Reeves who hadnt had a bona-fide hit since The Matrix Revelations 11 years prior. It was a simple story about a retired assassin who sought revenge for the murder of his dog (given to him by his late wife) and the theft of a prized muscle car.

The movie cost around $25M, took in $86M, ran 101 minutes, and wowed critics and audiences alike. The second cost $40M, made $174M, ran 122 minutes, and mostly everyone was impressed. Installment three cost $75M, made $328M, ran 131 minutes and I, for one, was not all that impressed.

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) faces an opponent, in John Wick: Chapter 4. (Murray Close/Lionsgate)

Does More Equate to Better?

Releasing March 24, Chapter 4 cost $100 million, runs for 169 minutes, and I can say, without hesitation, that it is way better than Chapter 3. It also confirms a rather obvious trend: spend more, make it longer each time out, and take in more money in the process. But by doing so, the filmmakers face a few challenges, namely, is more always better and is it worth sacrificing story quality solely for the action components?

The best aspects of the first film (besides its brevity) was how well it balanced plot, character development, and good ol fashioned shoot-em-up action. The further the franchise progresses, the less it hits that ideal sweet spot, which is not to say the fourth installment isnt without its merits. The extended set-piece action sequences, spanning four continents and making up well over two hours of the running length, are choreographed to the hilt by franchise director Chad Stahelski.

A former stunt co-coordinator (and body double for Reeves in The Matrix flicks), Stahelski continues to successfully up the ante for each installment as it applies to cinematography and employed weaponry. While not new to action movies in general, Stahelski introduces nunchuckes, hatchets, and shurikin (throwing stars) into the mix. In one of the most impressive set-pieces, Stahelski presents the action from above, showing Wick going room to room and taking out multiple bad guys with a shotgun firing shells, which explode into flames upon impact.

Chapter 4 picks up where the last left off with Winston Scott (Ian McShane) being admonished by a Table organization higher-up named, wait for it, Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard, best known as the title character in the recent IT franchise). Because Scott failed to kill Wick in Chapter 3, he will no longer manage the New York Continental Hotel (modeled after the iconic Flatiron Building in Manhattan), which Gramont shuts down and partially destroys.

Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard), in John Wick: Chapter 4. (Lionsgate)

The $20M Man

With a wardrobe and choices in decor that suggests a less-flamboyant Liberace, Gramont is a sniveling, all talk and bluster guy, and he immediately places a $20M bounty on Wicks head. This draws every would-be assassin the world over out of the woodwork, including a resourceful tracker dubbed Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson) by Gramont. Mr. Nobodys formidable sidekick is an unnamed male German shepherd that proceeds to (understandably) steal every scene in which he appears.

Blind assassin Caine (Donnie Yen), in John Wick: Chapter 4. (Lionsgate)

The third new addition to the main cast comes in the form of Hong Kong-based MMA action star Donnie Yen as the blind assassin Caine, a friend of Wicks who gets pulled into the mix only after Gramont threatens his daughter. The nimble and deadpan Caine is the arguable stand-out of the entire production.

One of the few weak spots is Laurence Fishburne, reprising his role of the Bowery King, a former Table assassin now operating off the grid. A cast mate of Reeves from The Matrix films, Fishburne abandons his low-key, low-volume Morpheus approach and replaces it with loud, borderline-obnoxious airs which are severely out of place here.

The final 45 minutes of the film, set in Paris mostly at night, includes three set pieces that, while interesting and certainly fun to watch, frequently push the laws of probability and physics far beyond their breaking points.

Theres good news for Wick diehards: Chapter 4 will not be the last franchise installment. Principal photography wrapped last month in the Czech Republic for the off-shoot, Ballerina which stars Ana de Armas as the title character seeking revenge for the murders of her family. Reeves, McShane, the late Lance Reddick, and Anjelica Huston will all reprise their roles. The story itself will be set after events taking place between the third and fourth installments.

The movie is in English with additional subtitles in foreign languages.

The fourth installment of the John Wick franchise stars Keanu Reeves, in John Wick: Chapter 4. (Lionsgate)

John Wick: Chapter 4

Director: Chad Stahelski

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Donnie Yen

Running Time: 2 hours, 49 minutes

MPAA Rating: R

Release Date: March 24, 2023

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Florida Legislature Passes Universal School Choice

The Florida Legislature has passed the NAME bill that will make school vouchers, good for private school tuition or homeschooling expenses, available to every family in the state.

The Senate passed the measure, known as HB 1, by a 2612 vote on March 23. It passed in the House on March 17 by a vote of 8327. The bill, which Gov. Ron DeSantis is likely to sign, would go into effect on July 1, 2023. The state plans to add 40,000 vouchers yearly to its program until 2027.

This bill makes Florida the first state in the nation to provide universal parental choice for education, state Rep. Chuck Clemons, a Republican and speaker pro tem of the House, told The Epoch Times in a text.

The old tired system was broken. This model will soon spread across the country.

House Speaker Paul Renner told The Epoch Times in a text message, The goal of school choice is to deliver education in a much different way than the one-size-fits-all model that we all knew growing up.

Battle for School Choice Will Decide Whether State or Parents Control Childrens Education: Neal McCluskey | Crossroads (The Epoch Times)

The Florida model factors in the unique learning needs of every child to deliver education by empowering parents and students to choose the best way to achieve their educational goals, regardless of zip code, race, or income, the Republican speaker said.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Representatives Kaylee Tuck and Susan Plasencia, Florida will unlock the full potential of every student in the state.

According to the Legislatures staff analysis, the bill will cost $209 million.

I was one of those kids in a struggling neighborhood in Pompano Beach, with a mother that was dedicated to getting me a better education, said Sen. Corey Simon, the first Republican to represent his Panhandle district since Reconstruction and the bills sponsor in the Senate.

Im so thankful to be standing here today with this piece of legislation. This was the passion for me. This wasnt just another bill that we push for some company or some special interest. This was my bill.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs Florida House Bill 837, designed to decrease frivolous lawsuits in the state, at the Florida State Capitol on March 24, 2023. (Courtesy of the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis)

What hes picked up listening to debate in committee and the House, he said, is that parents have been erased from the entire spectrum of  our education system. My colleagues are saying, We know best for your kids. We know how to educate your kids. We know where they should fit in. We have all of the answers. 

And what this bill does is, we put that back in the parents hands, Simon said, noting that his wife was a special education teacher.

He found irony, he said, in many of his opposition sending their children to private schools.

Democratic senators attacked the billwhich could cut the public schools enrollment, funding, and employmentand school choice generally. They said taxpayer money will now go to private schools where teachers may be unqualified or uncertified, which dont participate in standardized testing, and who arent accountable. It may go to religious schools teaching extreme or intolerant ideas, they say.

School choice could lead to the resegregation of schools or denial of admission based on sexual orientation, said Democratic Sen. Geri Thompson.

Sen. Bobby Powell, a Democrat, said the bill might end up being far more expensive$650 millionand that, meanwhile, the $8,000 scholarships might not prove enough. The statewide average cost of private schools is $9,000, he said, and in Palm Beach County, part of which he represents, even elementary private school tuition averages $10,000.

That $2,000 gap is a lot for low-income families, he said. And some schools cost from $25,000 to $30,000 a year, even as much as $36,000 a year.

Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough said he appreciated the bills impact on homeschooled families.

I graduated from Duval County public schools, but we homeschool our boys. I wanted to make sure that our homeschool education communities out there understand the balance that we also struck in the bill, to make sure that provisions in there that might affect homeschool students are in a good place.

Jim McKenzie, the headmaster of the Rock School, a Christian school in Gainesville, told The Epoch Times the bill wouldnt have much effect on his school, which has been at capacity for years. But it will provide a significant boon, particularly to middle-class families, relieving them of most of the schools $10,000 tuition.

He said about 40 percent of Rock School students are on scholarships from the states existing voucher program, which the new legislation dramatically expands. Because of that, he said, the schools demographics are very diverseand within one percent of the Gainesville areas overall racial and ethnic demographics.

The school looks like the community in which we live, McKenzie said. We have students that qualify for free and reduced price lunch programs. We have blue-collar families, white-collar families, professional families working at the University [of Florida], and truly affluent families.

And were doing it all in the context of a Christian school, with a deep commitment to the Christian faith.

McKenzie said research hes seen confirms significant improvement in the academic performance of students transferring from public to private schools and staying at least two years. Meanwhile, public schools nearby also improve, likely the effect of competition.

Jody Robertson, principal of Gainesvilles Countryside Christian School, said his school was also at capacity and might not see an immediate impact from the bill. He said the bill might cause new schools to be formed or existing ones to expand. It will first help schools most of whose students are not on scholarships. He said that Countryside Christian used to have 50 percent of its students funded by the vouchers, but that has grown lately to nearly 75 percent.

Countryside Christian is selective about who it takes, he said. We dont have an open door policy. We have an ajar door policy.

They have found that many students from public schools lack structure, and often it doesnt work out. They hardly ever take transfers from public high schools. We have an extensive interview process, Robertson said.

He said parents need to have a choice in the matter, partly because of what they see as deterioration in the public schools. Some former students now studying teaching in college are changing their fields because of the indoctrination theyre experiencing. Theyre trying to pump out activists, not teachers.

The Florida Education Association (FEA) condemned the bill in a public statement, saying it represents a terrible loss and charging it stands to direct billions of taxpayer dollars to unaccountable, private, corporate-run schools.

FEA President Andrew Spar said, This bill is going to make life tougher for a lot of kids. It will mean fewer resources in their schools, and fewer teachers and staff to meet their day-to-day needs.
Florida Looking to Expand Ban on Teaching Gender and Sexuality Through Grade 12

New bill would also ban required use of 'personal titles and pronouns'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education bill flanked by elementary school students during a news conference at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla., on March 28, 2022. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

In two separate efforts, Florida is moving to expand the scope of the Parental Rights in Education act, which critics have dubbed the Dont Say Gay law, and to prohibit the required use of preferred pronouns in the states educational system.

HB 1223 (pdf), a new bill moving through the Florida Legislature and sponsored by Republican state Rep. Adam Anderson, would extend the ban on teaching about gender and sexual orientation to students in pre-K through eighth grade.

The current ban on instruction about sexuality and gender applies only to kindergarten through third grade.

The bill would also prohibit employees, contractors, and students in Floridas educational institutions from being required to use, from providing, and from being asked to provide certain titles and pronouns; prohibiting students from being penalized or subjected to certain treatment for not providing certain titles and pronouns.

In addition to banning classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity through the eighth grade, the bill also states that any such instruction in grades nine through 12 must be age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.

Parents who find their school district has violated this proposed measure would be able to seek injunctive relief, and courts may award damages.

The bill is in the House Education and Employment Committee.

The Florida Department of Education also proposed a new rule on March 16 that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in pre-K through third grade without exception and in grades four through 12 except under specific circumstances (pdf).

For grades four through 12, instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards  or is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a students parent has the option to have his or her student not attend, the proposed rule says.

A hearing to discuss the proposalwhich would not require legislative approvalis scheduled for April 19 at 9 a.m. at the Florida State Capitol Complex in Tallahassee. Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. approved the proposed rule change.

Opposition

At a March 22 press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the new proposal is completely, utterly wrong.

Make no mistake, she added. This is part of a disturbing and dangerous trend that were seeing across the country with legislations that are anti-LGBTQI+, anti-trans, anti-the community in a way that we have not seen in some time.

She also vowed that the Biden administration would continue to fight for the dignity of Americans.

Diaz responded to Jean-Pierres comments on Twitter.

Students should be spending their time in school learning core academic subjects, not being force-fed radical gender and sexual ideology, Diaz wrote. In Florida, were preserving the right of kids to be kids.

DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin also responded to Jean-Pierre online.

There is no reason for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to be part of K-12 public education. Full stop.

The Epoch Times reached out to Anderson, the governors office, and the Florida Department of Education.

Public Support for Florida Bill

In March 2022, DeSantis signed House Bill 1557 (pdf) into law. The Parental Rights in Education act prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

Even though the word gay is never mentioned in the measure, LGBT activists have consistently labeled it the Dont Say Gay law. In spite of those efforts, polling shows that after reading the bill, people overwhelmingly support the measure.

In a Public Opinion Strategies poll conducted in March 2022 (pdf), 67 percent of parents said they supported the law, while only 24 percent voiced opposition. Among those who said they know someone LGBTQ, 61 percent said they supported the law while just 28 percent were opposed. Even 55 percent of Democrat respondents said they supported the law, with only 29 saying they were opposed.

A New York Times/Siena Poll from September 2022 showed similar results, with 70 percent of respondents saying they opposed allowing teachers to provide classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity to children in elementary school. Only 27 percent said they supported the idea.

Most notably, 53 percent of Democrats in that survey said they opposed the classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Most Americans dont realize the simple act of pouring a glass of water, using their favorite shampoo, or wearing a rain jacket can affect their chances of having children.

Infertility is on the rise in the United States, affecting one out of every eight couples. Its a sobering reality that touches the lives of women and men almost equally.

Some of the lesser-known culprits are chemicals used in commercial products that are linked to infertility and other serious health outcomes such as thyroid disease, cancer, preeclampsia, and immune dysfunction.

Theyre called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and they are also known as forever chemicals because they dont break down or degrade over time. Theyre found in hundreds of everyday products and are prevalent in the drinking water of more than 200 million Americans.

Products containing PFAS are in everything from water-resistant fabrics to personal care items and food. Exposure via drinking water is having a measurable effect on U.S. fertility rates.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 reported PFAS in several types of food, including meats, seafood, and grocery store chocolate cake. (Shutterstock)

A 2020 analysis stated that PFAS contamination in the United States drinking water has been dramatically underestimated in previous studies, including those done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

PFAS were also detected in the blood of 97 percent of U.S. residents, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, which used data from a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

And fertility experts say high PFAS exposure can drastically affect someones chances of having children.

Troubling Numbers

Theres definitely an increase in infertility, Dr. Jane Frederick told The Epoch Times.

Frederick has specialized in reproductive endocrinology and infertility for the past 30 years. Shes currently the medical director of HRC Fertility in Orange County, California.

She has observed a number of factors contributing to the United States escalating fertility crisis but said that the effect of PFAS on reproductive health shouldnt be underestimated.

The problem with [PFAS] is they can pollute your water system, she said. We need more studies. We need to be testing our water more in communities.

Its unfortunate we dont look at our environment for reproductive toxicity.

A landmark 2020 study of nearly 50,000 births in Minnesota was the first to establish a causal link between forever chemicals and higher rates of infertility, premature birth, and low birth weights.

The city of Oakdale, which had PFAS water contamination, was used for analyzing the effect on fertility between 2001 and 2006. Women of childbearing age suffered reduced fertility rates of up to 25 percent during this time. Babies born during the study period were 36 percent more likely to be underweight and 45 percent likely to be born prematurely.

After a water filtration system was installed to remove PFAS from Oakdales drinking water in 2006, researchers saw improved fertility rates within a year.

However, overall fertility remained lower than in the general population.

This is a red light. This is like a signal: Hey, theres something bad going on here. Were looking at the tip of an iceberg, study co-author Dr. Philippe Grandjean said during a 2020 webinar.

Subsequent research in 2022 confirmed a connection between maternal exposure to PFAS and lower sperm concentration and total sperm counts in young men.

Its a growing concern for many, especially considering the sharp decline of U.S. births in recent decades. In 2007, the average birth rate was about two children per woman. That dropped by more than 20 percent in 2021. The decrease represents the lowest birth rate in almost a century.

The Measurement Problem

Science is clear that nearly everyone is continuously exposed to rising numbers of PFAS, including through breast milk and in the womb. These cumulative yet little-monitored exposures are harmful, clinical embryologist Daniella Gilboa told The Epoch Times.

Gilboa is the CEO of the fast-growing medical start-up AIVF, which uses diverse datasets to address infertility at the source. She confirmed the findings of the 2022 study, saying, Theres hard evidence of a decline in sperm count thats even accelerating.

Although scientists and health professionals agree that PFAS exposure affects reproductive health in both men and women, Gilboa said that measuring the effects of toxins is complicated.

We know theres a huge problem. We know there are long-term effects. [PFAS] are linked to serious health impacts, but they are very hard to measure, she said.

Other reproductive specialists say that measuring the problem should take a back seat to mitigating exposure and creating awareness.

Studies confirm that PFAS and other environmental toxins  are detrimental to fertility, and the big problem is that these things are in everything. Name a favorite product  and chances are high that it has at least one of these environmental toxins, Joni Hanson Davis told The Epoch Times.

Davis is the founder of the Beli Baby prenatal supplement brand for men and women. She said minimizing exposure to PFAS is an essential step in the right direction for increasing fertility.

Particularly when youre trying to conceive. Clean Water Action has a great round-up of ways to reduce exposure to PFAS, she said.

Gilboa agrees with this sentiment, saying PFAS build-up can be dangerous for hopeful mothers and their children. Exposure can affect a child in the womb, years later.

Turning It Off

The list of forever chemicals used in manufacturing is staggering, with more than 9,000 different types.

The EPA has a safe number assigned to PFAS presence in U.S. drinking water. Last year, the agency updated its health advisory levels to 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt). This is considerably lower than where the safety bar sat three years ago.

Some have attributed this change to pressure from researchers, health professionals, and public outcry over toxic levels of PFAS floating around in the United States water.

In 2020, researchers shamed the EPA for allowing up to 70 ppt of forever chemicals in U.S. water supplies. On March 14, the White House announced that President Joe Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would invest $9 billion over five years to reduce PFAS contamination in drinking water.

But the damage has already been done to Americans who want to start a family.

The problem with PFAS is you have to turn it off at the source, Frederick said, adding that companies producing these chemicals need to be held accountable.

Gilboa said that advocacy for policy changes and education are part of protecting reproductive health. We must reduce the use, marketing, widespread contamination, and harm of these forever chemicals today and into the future.
Former Australian PM Keating Issues Fresh Attack on AUKUS Deal

Former prime minister Paul Keating has fired a fresh torpedo at the AUKUS deal, claiming Defence Minister Richard Marles has changed his argument to justify the submarine purchases.

Keating, who has been publicly critical of the $368 billion (US$245 billion) deal, said in an opinion article the government had shifted the need for the vessels from protecting the country from invasion, to instead needing to protect sea lanes for trade.

In one week the government has gone from needing outrageously expensive nuclear submarines to weigh off a potential invasive threat from China to nowhold itneeding them, principally, to protect our sea lanes, an altogether different issue as to scale, purpose and urgency, Keating wrote in the Australian Financial Review.

Marles has been pushed out to argue not against any supposed invasion by China, but rather, secondarily, the protection of sea lanesthe very same sea lanes that service and fuel Chinas massive material demands.

The deputy prime minister hit back at the comments, saying the government had not changed any view surrounding the submarine deal.

We deeply respect Paul Keating and his opinion is one that should be expressed, but weve been really clear about the fact that in 2023 weve got changed circumstances, Marles told Nines Today program on Mar. 24.

We have a country today which is much more connected in terms of trade with the world than we ever have been before, certainly than we were in the 1990, and we face the situation that the old capability  which is a conventional submarine, is going to become less capable in the 2030s.

Nationals leader David Littleproud also refuted the new comments from Keating, who said the former prime minister was living in the past.

Were disappointed with Paul Keatings commentsdeputy prime ministerhes living in a 1990s utopia that doesnt exist any more, Littleproud said.

Unfortunately, I think hes channelling the anger of some of Richards backbench thats going to tear this mob apart and this is why this is holding us back on talking sensibly about a civil nuclear energy system in Australia.

The comments from Keating follow his appearance at the National Press Club last week, where he hit out at AUKUS, labelling it the worst deal in all history.
Funding Not a Factor in Failure of Baltimore City Schools, Says School Choice Advocate

Even though Marylands Baltimore City School district is ranked at the top for public school funding, it has abysmal academic results.

Denisha Allen, founder of student advocacy group Black Minds Matter, said the problem is that Maryland officials dont know what is really going on at the classroom level.

The reason why we have such continual low performance in education for Baltimore City students is that we have a disconnect between the higher-upsthe administrationand the people who are actually in the classroom, Allen told Fox News.

The Maryland School Report Card for the 20212022 school year found that less than 9 percent of black students were proficient in math and less than 30 percent were proficient in language arts, even though the school system has one of the largest budgets in the country.

In addition, Project Baltimore, an investigative project of Fox45 in Baltimore, found that in 23 Baltimore schools, there were zero students who tested proficient in math.

The Epoch Times reached out to the superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools, Sonja Santelises, and the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, Mohammad Choudhury, for comment about the lack of academic achievement in Baltimore schools.

The challenges of educating students in areas with high concentrations of poverty along with historic and chronic levels of underfunding are clear and require greater discussion than a response to an email, Sherry Christian, public relations manager for the district, said in an emailed statement.

Christian shared a link to the districts COVID-19 recovery plan.

Baltimores education budget increased 16 percent for the 2023 school year, up to $1.62 billion, which translates to about $21,000 per student.

Theres so much money, so little result, Allen said.

Governor Responds

The Maryland Report Card found Baltimore City had more low-rated schools than any other county in the state. It showed that only one Baltimore City school had a five-star rating, while 75 percent of its schools had either a one-star or two-star rating.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said these results are unacceptable.

Weve got to move and take it seriously, Moore said when asked if he thought the state should launch a probe into the problems. Weve got to do more.

We also know that whats happening on the state level with the Board of Education, weve got some real work weve got to do, and everybodys got to have a level of involvement into that, to know that were going to be transparent and were going to be accountable, Moore told Fox45 on March 13.

Statewide, Maryland schools had better ratings, with 215 schools with 5=five stars, 413 with four stars, 431 with three stars, and 252 with wither one or two stars.

Some disagree with Allen and believe the lack of funds going toward school infrastructure is affecting Baltimore city students achievement.

A 2022 study by Johns Hopkins University found that out of all Maryland counties, Baltimores buildings were in the worst state of disrepair and negatively affected student academic outcomes.

Between 2014 and 2019, according to the report, the poor physical infrastructure of schools caused Baltimore students to lose about 1.5 million hoursor 221,000 full school daysof instruction. About 90 percent of those missed hours happened in 2018 and 2019, when systems failed in extreme heat and cold.

Allen, however, believes school choice is a key element to changing the trajectory of Baltimore City schools because the school system is failing students. She believes parents should be able to choose the educational experience that allows their child to succeed, with the money following the child.

Parents are able to shop around for the best learning environment for their kid, and then that parent can enroll them in that school, Allen said. Maybe its a home-school program. Maybe its an online virtual school. Maybe its a private school. Maybe its a charter school. Maybe that public school actually did work for that one kid and they stayed there.
Merkel in pole position for September election after state successes

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have scored impressive victories in a series of state elections. But will her party's success produce enough political momentum for her to win September's national poll?

GALLERY

The win by Merkel"s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in North Rhine Westphalia built on the CDU"s impressive victories in the two other recent state elections - in the coastal region of Schleswig Holstein and the small industrial state of Saarland.

Berlin (dpa) - The victory of Chancellor Angela Merkels conservatives in Sundays election in Germanys most populous state has left her in a commanding position as she gears up for the national poll in September.The win by Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in North Rhine Westphalia built on the CDUs impressive victories in the two other recent state elections - in the coastal region of Schleswig Holstein and the small industrial state of Saarland.Only a year ago Merkel was battling to recover from a political backlash unleashed by her September 2015 decision to open Germanys borders to allow around 1 million refugees into the country, triggering speculation she might not stand for re-election this year.But national opinion polls are showing her CDU now regaining political momentum. The party has chalked up a 7 percentage point lead over the centre-left Social Democrats (SDP), according to a voter survey released last week by Berlin-based pollsters Forsa."Merkel stands for continuity and stability," said Forsas Peter Matuschek.He said Europes most powerful leader was a safe choice in a turbulent world shaped by Britains exit from the European Union and an unpredictable White House under US President Donald Trump."She has developed the image of the crisis chancellor through the series of crises that have hit Europe such as the Greek debt crisis," added Matuschek.For the moment, the German economy also plays into the chancellors hands with business confidence near a six-year high, unemployment at a historic low, the nations key industrial sector turning in a buoyant performance and the countrys finances in good shape.The three state elections have also helped to strengthen Merkels grip on the CDU in the face of right-wing criticism of her centrist stance, including her liberal refugee policy.The SPDs defeat in the three state elections is a crushing blow to its national leader, the former European Parliament president Martin Schulz.Nominated by the SPD in January to head up its September campaign, Schulz was initially seen as a new face on a political stage of well-known actors.But after an initial surge in support following his nomination, the SPD has lost ground again with voters now backing Merkel over Schulz as their preferred chancellor."He has no public office and has been hardly visible," political scientist Oskar Niedermayer told dpa, adding that the new SPD leader remained too vague and undefined."We still do not know where for example he stands on refugee policy," Niedermayer said.Apart from calling for more social justice through changes to tough labour and welfare laws, the new SPD leader has had nothing much to say on the key issues facing the German electorate such as terrorism and security.But a fresh terrorist attack risks driving the refugee crisis back into the headlines and throw Merkels campaign for a fourth term in September off course.A December terrorist attack which left 12 dead at a Berlin Christmas market was carried out by a failed Tunisian asylum seeker.Merkels answer to any further fallout from the refugee crisis has been to now shift the CDU to the right by tightening the nations asylum laws, spearheading a controversial EU deal with Turkey to curb the number of refugees travelling to northern Europe and stepping up deportations of failed asylum seekers.Her government has also launched comprehensive refugee integration schemes, while at the same cracking down on criminality, including addressing a jump in petty crimes such as burglaries.
By Azernews





Azerbaijan-Belarus trade turnover exceeded $48 million in January-February, 2023.

Over the reported period, Azerbaijan imported products worth $43.4 million from Belarus, while the volume of Azerbaijan's exports to Belarus amounted to $4.9 million, Azernews reports.

Noting that, Azerbaijan and Belarus are cooperating in various sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, transport, remote sensing services, etc.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Belarus for 2022 amounted to $363.5 million.
COPENHAGEN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Europe remains a long way from meeting its target to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2030 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased burden of drug-resistant cases, a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

The report on TB surveillance, which arrives on World Tuberculosis Day 2023 falling on March 24 each year, was jointly launched by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Though there was an "overall downward trend in the incidence of TB in the European Region," the current rate of decline is deemed insufficient to meet the region's goals of reducing TB incidence by 80 percent and TB deaths by 90 percent, which were set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for ending the TB epidemic by 2030.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the European region experienced the fastest decline in TB incidence and mortality in the world, "yet in 2021, TB mortality in the region increased compared to 2020, and the declining incidence curve has stalled for the first time in 20 years," said the report.

It also revealed a troubling increase in the incidence of TB cases resistant to Rifampicin, an ansamycin antibiotic used to treat several types of bacterial infections, including TB.

"TB is largely a disease of poverty and neglect, shrouded in stigma and discrimination, affecting some of the most vulnerable," said Hans Kluge, regional director for Europe at the World Health Organization, in the press release.

World Tuberculosis Day is designed to raise public awareness about the global burden of tuberculosis and the current state of TB prevention and control efforts. 
Governor General Flew Nearly 3,000 Km for 6 Minutes Work: Federal Records

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon delivers the throne speech in the Senate in Ottawa on Nov. 23, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon used the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for a nearly 3,000-kilometre flight so she could attend a six-minute ceremony last summer, federal records show.

The mileage was disclosed in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons and reviewed by Blacklocks Reporter.

According to the media outlet, flight crews ferried Simon back and forth between Ottawa and Halifax last August with expenses totalling $12,589, but which excluded the actual cost of aviation fuel and flight crews.

The Inquiry said Simon flew from Ottawa to Halifax on Aug. 23, 2022, for opening ceremonies of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. Travelling along with her were an official photographer and five aides.

Following her appearance at the conference, the Governor General remained in the province and went on to stay at a private residence in Nova Scotia, wrote staff. Her host was not named.

A week later on Aug. 30, 2022, Simon flew back to Ottawa by military aircraft to attend the swearing-in of new Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek in a ceremony that lasted six minutes.

Immediately after the ceremony, Simon returned to Nova Scotia.

For the return flight to Nova Scotia a family member was a passenger on the plane, the Inquiry said.

The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General has no information to provide regarding any other costs related to these flights.

Act Responsibly

Simon has stressed on several occasions the need to act responsibly to fight climate change.

It is up to all of us to act responsibly and sustainably, she said on Oct. 30, 2022 after visiting areas of Prince Edward Island damaged by Hurricane Fiona.

The mental toll of this hurricane was overwhelming, and so, too, is the overall impact of climate change.

During her visit to Finland on Feb. 9, Simon reiterated that there is none more urgent than climate change, among several priorities, in the Arctic region.

In Canada, we have legislated a net-zero target by 2050, she said. We must find ways to move forwardto act now, when it is most critical, to combat climate change at the source, treating both the symptoms and the disease.

According to Blacklocks Reporter, records show Simon used federal aircraft even when climate-friendlier travel options were available.

For example, the Governor General took an $8,000 junket by the RCAF from Ottawa to Peterborough, Ont., on Oct. 21, 2022 to make a speech and visit the Canadian Canoe Museum.

Peterborough is three hours from Ottawa by car.
Govt Spent Over $160K on Trudeau Familys Weeklong Trip to Jamaica: Federal Records

The government spent over $160,000 on a weeklong vacation in Jamaica that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family took to ring in the new year, newly released federal figures show.

In an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons on March 20, cabinet released details of expenditures incurred by various federal offices and agencies because of the prime ministers trip, which he and his family took in late December and into early January 2023.

Trudeau and his family travelled on government aircraft for the trip, as is dictated by government policy, and were accompanied by a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) flight crew of four.

The Inquiry noted that the prime minister and any of his guests on the trip

reimbursed the federal government with an equivalent commercial airfare for the air travel.

However, accommodation costs for the prime minister and his entourage during the trip totalled over $29,950, while per diems amounted to over $3,680.

Expenses for the Privy Council Offices (PCO) support role during the trip totalled over $13,000, which included costs of accommodations and travelling for PCO Tour Group employees.

The cost of providing RCMP security for the prime minister made up the bulk of the bill, coming to a total of just over $115,520 to pay for the security officers incremental salary costs, travelling, and accommodations.

However, the Inquiry noted that actual security costs may have been higher than the figures showed because they did not include regular salary, costs related to supporting units, and Employee Benefits Plan costs.

As the trip to Jamaica occurred recently, additional costs are expected to be processed in the financial system, it said.

The trip expenses were requested by Conservative MP Luc Berthold on Jan. 31, who also asked what hotels or resorts the flight crew and all attending government officials stayed at during the trip.

However, the Inquiry said in response that the RCAF does not disclose any information that may expose security postures adopted to ensure the security of any given principal and/or event.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Prime Ministers Office for comment on the trips high expenses, but didnt immediately hear back.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Tribalism in Media Paves the Way for Mob Rule

Commentary

How on earth can an unwanted gate-crashing by ugly neo-Nazis of a rally so derail the message of the rally and have its participants so tainted to have someone expelled from a parliamentary party?

It seems surreal, but it is happening right here in Australia. Courtesy of the bulk of the mainstream media engaging in tribalism as opposed to professional reporting, aided and abetted by a leader unwilling to defend his own in the face of a media onslaught. Loyalty should be a two-way street.

Tribalism allows members to justify the unjustifiable. If you are in the tribe, any indiscretion will be overlooked, whereas the exact same indiscretion by a member of an opposing tribe is attacked and relentlessly pursued, with the hypocrisy of the position taken completely ignored.

Tribalism is unhealthy and corrosive of good order, especially when dealing with public figures, issues and reporting by the media.

Virtues and values need to be applied equally to your own tribe as to every other tribe. Consistency in the application of standards is essential for integrity in a civil society.

This double standard was put on open display by the medias handling of two very serious allegations against public figures in relatively recent times.

Allegations of rape are serious. Rape is a horrendous crime that leaves lifelong scarring.

So when such an allegation is made, it needs to be taken seriously, very seriously, while always abiding by the foundational principle which protects us allinnocent until proven guilty.

When former Attorney-General Christian Porter was confronted with allegations from third-hand accusers, the feeding frenzy by the media was intense.

The fact the alleged victim recanted and didnt want to pursue the matter was largely disregarded.

Attorney-General Christian Porter speaks during a media conference in Perth, Australia, on March 3, 2021. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)

On the other hand, when a former leader of the Labor Party was confronted with the same allegation as the alleged victim wishing to pursue prosecution for the matter, the media took a lot more subdued interest.

The bias and difference in reporting were stark and exposed the huge underbelly of unprofessionalism and tribal cheerleading in the Australian media.

Attention Shifted from Womens Rights to Neo-Nazis

Fast forward to recent events in the City of Melbourne, and the same unacceptable approach was being featured.

A perfectly orderly rally was expressing views about the conflicting rights and responsibilities of people who identify as transgender across a group who saw issues with such self-identification in terms of fairness and safety. This was gate crashed by a group of self-styled neo-Nazis whose clear game was disruption and to gain notoriety for themselves.

Such unbecoming conduct should have excited media condemnation of the gate crashers, not deter from the message the rally was seeking to express.

The problem was that rallys purpose was not in line with the prevalent cheering and groupthink of the media.

Womens rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull speaks during a Let Women Speak rally in opposition to government legislation making it easier for people to self-identify their gender, fearing it would allow sexual predators to gain access to women-only spaces, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Feb. 5, 2023. (Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)

So the presence (completely unwanted) of neo-Nazis at the event somehow allowed for the condemnation of the whole rally in the tortured rationalising of the media.

The Liberal leader in Victoria is now seeking to expel a member of Parliament because of her presence at the rally. Not for what she said or did, but because of something absolutely out of her control, namely the gate crashing by unwanted and uninvited individuals.

The mentality does not bear contemplation.

Would the Liberal leader resign if, at a public meeting he attended, an uninvited attendee rose to his feet and undertook an offensive nazi salute (a tautology if ever there was one)? Surely not.

One trusts an explanation would be given, stating that this was not what he was attending, and he cannot be held responsible for other peoples actions, especially ones completely outside of his control.

So why the move to expel before an opportunity for a full explanation can be offered? Its called natural justice. Its called fairness.

But these virtues and foundational principles are jettisoned by the woke if you happen to support an agenda different to their own, which exposes the hollowness of their position.

Surely the hijacking of the rally by the neo-Nazis shouldve been the point of condemnation, not being present when there was the unanticipated arrival of highly unwanted attendees.

The group of Nazi supporters disrupting the Let Women Speak rally is seen in Melbourne, Australia, on March 18, 2023. (James Ross/AAP Image)

The Road to Mob Rule

In Sydney, things arent much better with the ugliness after a public meeting dealing with religious freedom and belief.

In that incident, provocative demonstrators became the butt of the attention of some rallygoers. Unacceptable and to be condemned.

The behaviour by some became the story rather than the purpose of the rally giving expression to community concerns.

In Hobart, a rally expressing similar concerns was drowned out by counterdemonstrators who were able to suck all the oxygen out of the rallys message with the assistance of tribal media.

The idea that another demonstration or counter-rally could be held elsewhere to avoid conflict and enable a fair hearing for both sides highlights the civility within our community and the respect each group is held in by the other. But this is completely ignored.

These recent events are, in fact, menacing steps to anarchy and mob rule by intimidation. Such activity, if not universally condemned, will allow for dictatorial groupings to gain a foothold.

The standards we wish for ourselves need to be the ones we robustly defend for our opponents. That is one of the defining features of a decent human being and a civilised society.

An elementary feature of a genuine democracy is living in harmony with those with whom we disagree because we are all members of one human tribe.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed in the United States each year, and has brought relief to millions who have suffered from painful conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

But despite developments made in the past few decades, the procedure still carries potentially serious risks for some patients, especially those who received metal-on-metal (MOM) hip implants.

MOM implants are those in which the ball and socket of the hip joint are both made from an alloy that includes cobalt and chromium. With the friction that occurs from normal wear and tear, metal particles are shed into the surrounding tissues and bloodstream. An accumulation of these particles can result in harmful metallosis, (metal toxicity), or cobaltism from shed cobalt particles, which can lead to symptoms ranging from tissue death and bone loss to neurological complications that mimic Alzheimers disease.

A Brief History of Hip Replacements

Total hip replacement (THR) surgery (also called total hip arthroplasty) has been around for almost a century. Its currently considered to be among the safest and most successful orthopedic surgeries. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 450,000 THR surgeries are performed annually in the United States. Traditional hip replacements have generally used a metal ball along with a polyethylene (plastic) liner or socket. More recently, different combinations of metal alloys, crosslinked polyethylene, and ceramics have become the most widely used.

Metal-on-metal (MOM) hip implants were first used in 1966 and quickly gained in popularity. They were thought to have several advantages over the conventionally used metal-on-polyethylene implants, including less wear and tear, greater durability, and the possibility of using larger femoral heads (the ball part of the ball-and-socket), which could provide greater stability and range of motion in the patient, as well as a lower chance of dislocation. This made metal-on-metal implants an especially attractive option for younger and highly active patients.

Further design developments led to the use of MOM implants made from a cobalt-chromium alloy, and the use of these particular MOM implants really took off in the 2000s, with more than 600,000 Americans receiving metal-on-metal hip implants between 2006 and 2012, before their use began to drop sharply due to product recalls, lawsuits, and an increased awareness of the serious risks associated with them. These risks include heart and thyroid problems, as well as troubling neurological symptoms, among others.

Finding the Problem

Dr. Steven Tower, a 30-year orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip, knee, and shoulder surgeries, has pioneered research on the risks of cobalt-containing implants. His passion for investigating this issue and sharing the results of his research was spurred by his own horrific experience with a failed metal-on-metal hip implant.

After having his hip replaced in 2006, he quickly began to experience troubling symptoms.

When I became seriously ill in 2007, I suspected cobalt. The hip had to come out because there was so much damage to the tissue around the hip. I was also developing retinal damage, in addition to some really annoying tinnitus and deafness, Tower told The Epoch Times.

He also experienced sleep disturbance, mood instability, imbalance, and stiffening of the heart (diastolic cardiomyopathy).

Soon after MOM replacement implants were introduced into the orthopedic marketplace, it became clear that they were linked to unexpected, adverse reactions. They failed at a much higher rate than other types of implantsabout six times as oftenand the friction between the ball and socket resulted in metal debris being released into the surrounding tissue and bloodstream. This buildup of cobalt or other metals in the blood can cause damage to the heart, brain, eyes, ears, and other organs.

The Problematic Origin of MOM Implants

In case youre wondering how these high-risk devices came to be implanted in thousands of patients, to begin withthe New England Journal of Medicine reports that they were able to be brought to market through a regulatory loophole known as the 510(k) process.

Through this pathway, certain high-risk medical deviceswhich would normally be required to undergo clinical testing demonstrating their safety and effectivenesscan be brought to market if they can demonstrate substantial equivalence to products that have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The kicker here is that the substantial equivalence does not have to be to devices that are currently in use and have a proven track record of safety and effectiveness. New products can be substantially equivalent to those which had been voluntarily recalled or shown to be unsafe or ineffective.

Phased Out but Still in Use

Even though metal-on-metal hip replacements were gradually either recalled or phased out and have not been used in the United States since May 2016, its estimated that about one million were implanted in North Americans before they were fully off the market.

Some hip resurfacing implants still use cobalt-chromium parts, and so do certain other types of implants including knee and shoulder.

The only remedy for severe cases of cobaltism or metallosis is revision surgery, in which the metal parts are removed and replaced with non-metal alternatives. Unfortunately, revision surgery is often riskier and more expensive than the original surgery.

Bone loss following the first surgery can make it more difficult for the new implants to anchor well. In less severe cases though, chelation therapy may be effective in reducing levels of both cobalt and chromium ions in the blood. Support for that treatment comes from several case reports, including one titled N-Acetyl-Cysteine Reduces Blood Chromium and Cobalt Levels in Metal-on-Metal Hip Arthroplasty, published in the June 2020 issue of Arthroplasty Today.

The Cobalt Conundrum

Cobalt toxicity resulting from MOM hip implants is of particular concern because symptoms from elevated cobalt levels are often neurological, resembling Alzheimers or dementia, and can mimic those resulting from other types of toxicity.

This makes cobaltism easy to misdiagnose, or misattribute to the natural effects of aging, explains Tower.

The most commonly noted symptoms are a tremor, which the patients may not even notice. Very common is a loss of mental acuity, and fatigue is another big one. But the problem with symptoms like that is, theyre very common in aging populations. The question is, do they feel that what theyre experiencing is beyond what they would expect from aging?

Safety thresholds for cobalt concentrations in the blood are not widely agreed upon. According to the Mayo Clinic, normal blood levels should be under 1.8 micrograms/liter (mcg/L). At over 2.0 micrograms, monitoring is recommended, and 5.0 or more is considered toxic. In patients with cobalt-chromium prosthetic hip implants, cobalt concentrations in their blood can rise to many times above levels considered to be safe.

Three cases presented at the ACR Winter Symposium on Jan. 29, 2014, of patients who had undergone hip replacement surgery using either metal-on-metal or metal-on-polyethylene implants showed cobalt blood concentrations ranging from 20.0 mcg/L to 287.6 mcg/Lthe latter being almost 160 times over the safety threshold.

Robert D. Bunning, M.D., FACP, FACR, who presented the cases, told the audience that a remarkable aspect of each of the patients was that hip pain was not a prominent feature. Rather, varied symptoms of cobaltism included serious heart and thyroid complications, fatigue, and cataracts.

Neurological Consequences

Subsequent research has found associations between cobalt toxicity and neurological disorders.

A review of research related to metal toxicity following hip implants, published in the Sept-Oct 2014 edition of Clinical Toxicology found that, out of 18 individual cases, The reported systemic features fell into three main categories: neuro-ocular toxicity (14 patients), cardiotoxicity (11 patients) and thyroid toxicity (9 patients). Neurotoxicity was manifest as peripheral neuropathy (8 cases), sensorineural hearing loss (7), and cognitive decline (5); ocular toxicity presented as visual impairment (6). All these neurological features, except cognitive decline, have been associated with cobalt poisoning previously.

Other studies also highlighted depression and memory loss following cobalt toxicity.

Its not hard to see how, especially in elderly patients, toxicity resulting from cobalt-chromium implants could easily be mistaken for Alzheimers or dementia, for which memory loss and difficulty concentrating are key features.

And although MOM hip replacements have been in the spotlight, other prosthetic implants also contain cobalt-chromium and may pose some level of risk, warned Tower.

Weve come to recognize all these same issues can occur with any cobalt-chrome orthopedic implant, he said.

This poses a significant public health concern when you consider that 20 million people in North America currently have some type of cobalt-chrome arthro-prosthetic (joint) implant.

An Individualized and Unpredictable Danger

While some individuals seem to tolerate cobalt-chromium implants well, many others have adverse reactions, and its impossible to foretell how any given person will react, said Tower.

Theres also individual variability in what different cobalt levels will do to an individual, and this has to do with the immune system. Some are very sick with modest elevationsother individuals had extremely high blood cobalt levels and didnt see any systemic toxicity issues.

Were dealing with a spectrum disorder hereweve learned about its existence from relatively extreme cases such as my own, or where people die or become deaf or blind. But for every case report, how many cases were there of similar severity that were never written up?

There may also be many cases misdiagnosed as other conditions. Because cobalt exposure can affect different people in varied ways, both patients and health care providers need to be aware of the symptoms that could indicate cobalt poisoning following joint replacement surgery.

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, symptoms of cobalt poisoning could include fatigue, weakness, peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, visual loss, cognitive decline, cardiomyopathy, and/or hypothyroidism. Pain, disrupted sleep, and mood disorders have also been noted as symptoms.

Cobalt levels can be easily detected by either blood or urine tests, and many cases of cobalt metallosis can be treated, especially if detected early on. Those who have had cobalt-containing implants should be aware of these symptoms so that they can contact their doctors immediately if problems arise. As Tower notes, Who knows how many people have had some effect from cobalt exposure that has limited their ability to function independently? My experience as patient, surgeon, and researcher indicates orthopedic-implant cobaltism is common, treatable, and preventable.
A new study finds sleep quality has a greater role in our quality of life than how long we sleep.

Sleep Quality: The Strongest Predictor of Quality of Life

From 2015 to 2020, researchers sampled data from the Czech Household Panel Survey (CHPS), which maps the living conditions and describes the dynamics of long-term changes among Czech households and individuals. They analyzed 5,132 paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaires.

They investigated the effect of sleep on five variables that described quality of life: life satisfaction, well-being, happiness, subjective health, and work stress. For example, life satisfaction was measured with responses to the question, All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole?

Czech researchers also assessed three facets of sleep, average sleep duration, perceived sleep quality, and social jetlag. Sleep duration was calculated as the average of when respondents usually fell asleep and woke on free days and workdays.

They found sleep quality was the strongest predictor of all sleep variables in explaining differences in quality of life.

The study also found that improvements in sleep quality could lead to improvements in an individuals subjective health, work stress, happiness, life satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Sleep duration and social jetlag were also important factors, but not as significant as sleep quality.

While they didnt compare quality to all sleep metrics, they did determine that perceived quality of sleep was more impactful upon quality of life than social jet lag or sleep duration, said American Academy of Sleep Medicine spokesperson Dr. Seema Khosla, medical director of the North Dakota Center for Sleep in Fargo, North Dakota, told The Epoch Times.

Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, part of Northwell Health in New York, said that he found the study well planned and thought out.

He explained that quality of life is a very subjective measure and different for everyone.

As long we attain a minimal amount of sleep for the requirements of biologic health, said Kilkenny, everything after that is really a function of our innate sense of personal physical health, emotional well-being, and overall cognitive functioning.

This research was limited in that the period of measurement was relatively brief, which may weaken the findings.

Does Sleep Quantity Matter?

While the Czech study found sleep quality more important than sleep quantity for quality of life, is this really the case for our health?

Kilkenny pointed out that people need a minimum amount of sleep to satisfy the requirements for biological health. This includes cardiovascular health, muscle repair, and tissue growth.

People with insomnia and short sleep are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure, said Khosla. This has to do with how the arterial walls get stiffer when we achieve less sleep.

Research shows that adults aged 18 to 60 years should sleep at least seven hours each night for optimal health.

Sleeping less than five hours per night is associated with a 74 percent increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared with seven to eight hours, according to a recent study in the European Heart Journal.

However, sleeping too long was also associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

The study found sleeping eight hours or more per night was linked with a 24 percent higher risk of PAD compared to seven to eight hours.

Get Quality Sleep

Sleep quality is a different item. It relates to ones satisfaction with how well they slept, Kilkenny said.

He added that this depends on several factors, including time to fall asleep, depth of sleep, number of awakenings after one falls asleep, length of sleep, and importantly, your sense of well-being when you wake up.

Someone can sleep seven-and-a-half hours and awaken feeling horrible and depressed, yet others can sleep six hours and feel well rested and in a good mood, noted Kilkenny. If one feels well rested in the morning, it improves the chances of having a good overall day and affects the other measures inherent to quality of life.

Asked how we can improve our sleep quality, Kilkenny said there is a list of sleep hygiene rules we can follow.

The rules include sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning, he said.

Other ways to improve sleep quality include:

Cutting down on caffeine.

Being physically active.

Limiting daytime naps.

Avoiding tobacco and nicotine.

Avoiding alcohol.

One important thing that most people often fail to do: Remove the television, telephone, and any other devices from the bedroom, advised Kilkenny.

Set an ideal environment that is quiet, dark, and relatively cool, he recommends, and avoid using sleeping pills when possible.
Hong Kong Police Detain Key Pro-Democracy Politician on Subversion Charge

Former Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Albert Ho, walks after his arrest by police, in Hong Kong, on March 21, 2023. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

HONG KONGHong Kong police on Tuesday arrested a veteran pro-democracy politician who was granted bail last August for medical treatment after spending more than a year in detention on a subversion charge.

Albert Ho, 71, once led the citys largest opposition group, the Democratic Party, and is a lawyer who runs his own law firm.

Police handcuffed Ho and took him away from his home in a vehicle, a Reuters witness said.

Hos law firm could not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ho has been charged with inciting subversion under a draconian national security law that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed on the former British colony in 2020. He has pleaded not guilty.

He was granted bail last August, with media reporting at the time that he needed medical treatment for lung cancer.

Earlier this month, police arrested a veteran union leader, Elizabeth Tang, after she visited her pro-democracy activist husband in a high security prison. She was charged with collusion with foreign forces and granted bail.

Hos brother, Frederick Ho, was also arrested in connection with that case.

Albert Ho is accused with two others, Lee Cheuk-yan, 66, and Chow Hang-tung, 38, of inciting subversion of state power under the national security law, given their leadership roles in a now disbanded group called the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.

The CCP imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 clamping down on dissent after the city was rocked by anti-CCP, pro-democracy protests a year earlier.

The national security law, which punishes acts including so-called subversion and collusion with foreign forces has been criticized by Western governments as a tool to crush dissent.

The Asian financial hub returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a one country, two systems formula granting it a high degree of autonomy but some Western countries say the CCP is undermining those freedoms with the 2020 national security law.
House Committee Advances Resolution for Transparency of US Aid to Ukraine

The House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced a resolution on March 24 calling on the president, secretary of defense, and secretary of state to provide an accounting of U.S. assistance to Ukraine amid Russias invasion of the Eastern European country.

The tally was along party lines, 2620. When there will be a vote on the House floor is to be determined.

The resolution, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), asks that the White House, Department of Defense, and State Department not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, copies of all documents, charts, or tables, including notes from meetings, audio recordings, records (including telephone and email records), correspondence, and other communications, and any financial statements detailing purchases, recipients, and government expenditures to the extent that any such one or more items are within the possession of the president or secretaries aforementioned, respectively, and refer or relate to congressionally appropriated funds directed to the nation of Ukrainewhether in regard to military, civilian, or financial aidbetween Jan. 20, 2021 to Feb. 24, 2023.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Congress approved $113.1 billion to Ukraine and allied countries in 2022, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The committees chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), said he supports the United States giving aid to Ukraine since a Russian victory would further embolden Americas adversaries from [Chinese Communist Party] Chairman Xi in Beijing to the Ayatollah in Tehran to Kim Jong Un in North Korea.

Nonetheless, said McCaul, the committee needs to do its duty to pursue stringent oversight of the assistance.

Every dollar counts. And the Biden administration should expect this committee to be vigilant in demanding transparency and accountability for U.S. assistance to Ukraine, he said. In fact, this committee is already in the process of conducting vigorous oversight of the assistance provided to Ukraine by the Department of State.

The committee has scheduled a hearing on March 29 with Diana Shaw, the State Departments deputy inspector general; Nicole Angarella, acting deputy inspector general at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Robert Storch, the Defense Departments inspector general. The event will deal with oversight and transparency of U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

McCaul lamented that some people conflate demanding oversight of the assistance and objecting to it.

This oversight is vital for continued U.S. support and for ensuring such support is effective in protecting American security interest abroad, he said.

The committees ranking member, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), expressed opposition to the resolution, calling it a political measure and divisive. He decried the measure as jeopardizing the bipartisan support for assistance to Ukraine. He claimed that the resolution is not about oversight and that it is indicative of the future of such assistance.

This resolution is not about transparency or strengthening accounting of our support for Ukraine, which we all agree is important. This resolution is about division, he said. Reporting it out favorably is not responsible oversight and in fact ignores the unprecedented amount of oversight this very committee is conducting on a regular basis.

Meeks noted that the Biden administration is already conducting oversight of the assistance.

Support for this resolution ignores the painstaking efforts of the American and Ukrainian governments and instead parrots the propaganda of the Kremlin, he said.
House Fails to Override Bidens First Presidential Veto Amid Dispute Over ESG Investment Rule

President Joe Biden speaks with reporters before departing from the South Lawn of the White House on Marine One in Washington on March 17, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The House of Representatives on Thursday failed to override President Joe Bidens first veto of his presidency, which was related to a Biden administration rule on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment.

The House vote of 219200 in favor of overriding Bidens veto fell short of the two-thirds majority threshold required. All Republicans who were present voted in favor of overriding the veto. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was the lone Democrat who joined them in the vote.

Bidens veto, issued March 20, rejected a resolution introduced by Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) to rescind a Department of Labor (DOL) rule that went into effect on Jan. 30. The resolution, whose companion bill was led by Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), passed the House and Senate via simple majority votes.

The DOL rule allows pension fund managers to invest peoples retirement money according to various ESG criteria. It replaces a previous rule issued under the Trump administration in 2020 that required fund managers to make investments only based on financial considerations.

The Biden administration rule affects the pensions of 152 million Americans, which amount to some $12 trillion.

House Democrats just overwhelmingly doubled down in defense of Bidens radical ESG regulation, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in a statement on Twitter on Thursday in response to the failed veto override.

House Republicans have different priorities: your retirement savings should NOT be used to fund political activism, he added. Well continue to fight for American workers over woke Wall Street.

Barr, who introduced the anti-ESG measure, on Thursday shared a Twitter post from Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.): @HouseGOP is sending a message to President Biden: we stand with hard-working, middle-class Americans over woke, special interest groups.

Americans retirement accounts should be protected from left-wing lunacy. @RepAndyBarr is leading this effort and Im 100% supportivefor the financial security of Tennesseans.

ESG is a voluntary activity companies can pursue. The non-financial criteria are measured by external, third-party providers. Companies deemed to better meet ESG criteria may be allotted more capital and credit, and preferential contracting, by financial institutions subscribed to the ESG agenda.

Supporters of ESG say such criteria can guide companies to reflect changing trends and benefit their employees and society at large in non-financial ways.

But those opposed to ESG say that it amounts to something like a social credit score that shifts investing from focusing on revenue, investor returns, and the quality of goods and services, to focusing on arbitrary and subjective goals that seek to achieve political and social justice causes, sometimes at the expense of financial returns.

Many Republican and some Democrat lawmakers have said the DOL rule would politicize investing and allow pension fund managers to risk Americans hard-earned dollars to pursue leftist causes that have nothing to do with finances, including climate change and gender diversity.

Prior to Bidens veto, the Democrats who voted with Republicans to rescind the DOL rule were Rep. Golden, and Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Other Democrats say that the rule would just allow the fund managers to acknowledge ESG criteria as relevant to analyzing their investments.

This bill would risk your retirement savings by making it illegal to consider risk factors MAGA House Republicans dont like, Biden previously said on Twitter in announcing his veto. Biden said in a White House statement that the rule protects the hard-earned life savings and pensions of tens of millions of workers and retirees across the country.

This ESG rule will weaken our energy, national, and economic security while jeopardizing the hard-earned retirement savings of 150 million West Virginians and Americans, Manchin had said after Bidens veto. Despite a clear and bipartisan rejection of the rule from Congress, President Biden is choosing to put his administrations progressive agenda above the well-being of the American people.

Barr previously told the House floor that ESG funds carry higher fees and are less diversified than non-ESG funds. Twenty-one percent of investors dont even know what ESG stands for, he said.

Savannah Pointer contributed to this report.
House Passes Parents Bill of Rights Act

Newly elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy holds the gavel after he was elected on the 15th ballot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. House of Representatives on March 24 passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.

The bill passed the lower chamber in a 213208 party-line vote.

Republicans easily defeated a Democrat measure to recommit the legislation to committee.

H.R. 5, the fulfillment of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) long-promised parental bill of rights, would do several things, each with the overarching goal of ensuring that parents know whats going on in their childrens classrooms.

The bill comes after COVID-19 restrictions led many parents to receive a better glimpse into their childrens education, as they were learning at home via their computers. Many parents learned in this setting about the far-left ideology being pushed in the classroom.

In turn, parents across the nation began showing up to school board meetings to protest the curriculum.

Later, Attorney General Merrick Garland was caught in an Oct. 4, 2021, memo offering federal resources and legal aid to states days after the National School Boards Association wrote a letter to President Joe Biden saying the countrys public schools and its education leaders are under an immediate threat from these parents and called verbal confrontations and other incidents at local school board meetings across the country domestic terrorism and hate crimes.

Since that memo came to light, McCarthy has vowed to deliver legislation to ensure that parents control over their childrens education is legally protected.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, made the issue his campaigns primary concern. Voters rewarded Youngkin by giving him a wide-margin victory over his Democrat rival in the blue-leaning Dominion State.

The main component of the bill would require schools to publicly disclose the contents of their curriculum and library materials to parents. Currently, many schools teaching radical ideology do so without the parents knowledge.

Additionally, the bill would establish the right of parents to see their kids schools expenditures.

Public schools are paid for by taxpayer dollars, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said of the measure during a House Rules Committee hearing on the bill. Mothers and fathers deserve financial transparency and to see how their money is being used.

The bill would also ensure that parents are notified of, and give consent to, any medical procedure performed on their child on school grounds.

A similar provision would require that parents be notified of any violent activity on school grounds.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said that the bill would establish new checks and balances for parents over their childrens education.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) called the bill a basic concept but a powerful statement.

During floor debate on the bill, Foxx accused education bureaucrats and school district employees of pushing progressive politics in the classroom while keeping parents in the dark.

Parents will finally be empowered to examine classroom curricula and protect the safety and privacy of their children without fear of being targeted by the federal government.

Democrats spoke against the bill.

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), who led Democrat opposition to the bill, dismissed the legislation as the Politics Over Parents Act.

Scott said the bill was part of a GOP plot to allow a vocal minority to impose their beliefs on all parents.

Protecting Parents Who Speak Out

One of the Republicans key goals in crafting the bill was to ensure that parents who speak out against what is being taught to their children do not face retribution from local, state, or federal authorities.

No longer will [parents] have their speech denied, or feel threatened for expressing their concerns at school board meetings, Foxx said.

The comment was in reference to a late-2021 controversy in which Attorney General Merrick Garland offered federal resources and guidance to local law enforcement to target parents who attended school board meetings.

In 2021, the United States saw a deluge of concerned parents coming to school board meetings to speak out against left-wing ideology in the classroom.

Many parents came to their school board to speak out against critical race theory (CRT), a highly contentious left-wing theory that holds that white people are inherently privileged and that non-white people are inherently oppressed. Critics of CRT note that it has its origins in the political thought of Karl Marx, the ideological founder of communism; the theory has also been criticized as racist for its efforts to reduce the individual to a member of a group on the basis of their skin color.

In his remarks against the bill, Scott suggested that CRT was an accurate recounting of our nations history, and that the legislation would punish librarians who pushed CRT.

Other parents came to school board meetings to speak out against fringe left-wing notions of sex and gender. Many left-wing activists claim that gender is a social construct and that a person can change their gender based on their feelings.

One parent, Terry Newsome of Chicago, who spoke out against allowing Gender Queer in his kids school library in 2021, was later placed on a terror watch-list with no warning or further explanation.

In an Oct. 4, 2021, memo Garland sent to U.S. attorneys across the nation, the attorney general offered to help local law enforcers to round up and file charges against parents who spoke out.

Republicans took the memo as a sign that the administration was prepared to target parents for protected First Amendment activity. Since then, they have vowed to deliver a parents bill of rights to protect against such abuses if they took back the House.

During his questioning, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) explicitly referenced the Oct. 4 memo as part of the reason for the bills existence.

Book Banning

Allegations of book banning took up a large portion of the debates over the legislation.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of state legislatures and school districts have prohibited certain books with overtly sexual or racial themes from certain schools or age levels.

For instance, many school districts and states have barred the book Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe from school libraries. The book, delivered in the form of a graphic novel, recounts the experience of a minor female who believes she is male; during an especially graphic part of the story, the main character is depicted engaging in oral sex with another biological female who identifies as male.

Another such book, Flamer by Mike Curato, traces the homosexual experiences of a minor boy at summer camp with another minor boy.

Though these and other controversial works remain protected by the First Amendment and can be purchased in stores or online, they are inaccessible from many school libraries due to their highly-sexual content.

Nevertheless, Democrats have insisted that restricting childrens access to these and other books is tantamount to censorship.

State Republicans are going on a book banning spree that would make the Chinese Communist Party blush, House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said later.

Twenty-five states have passed such laws.

McGovern depicted this as Republican legislators telling students what they are, and are not, allowed to learn.

That allows one racist or homophobic person to tell an entire class, an entire school, what they can and cant read, he added.

During later questioning at the Rules Committee hearing, Scott admitted that nothing in the bill would ban books. But he suggested that if libraries were forced to disclose their inventory, more books would be banned.

As part of the bill, school libraries would be required to publish the full list of books in their library, and to update those lists in a timely fashion when they purchase new materials.

Scott painted a portrait of right-wing organizations mounting crusades to have certain books removed from school libraries: This bill will make the logistics of that easy.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) responded to this argument later in the hearing, citing Flamer.

If libraries have to publish their lists, yeah, some things might be removed, Roy said. [Flamer] should be removed. But itll be debated. Itll be discussed.
Raised in a far-left activist household, 21-year-old Amala Ekpunobi was once a student organizer for the left. Unanswered questionsand a search for the truthled her to a complete ideological transformation.

Passionately sharing her new conservative values online, Amala became a viral social media sensation. Now the host of PragerUs show Unapologetic with Amala, she inspires millions of young people every day to discover the truth, defend their values, and lead better lives.

Joining Larry Elder, Ekpunobi shares her journey of transformation from a far-left activist to a free-thinking conservative, as well as the secret to gaining a million followers on YouTube.

California has the most stringent gun laws in the nation, yet it still experiences a high number of mass shootings per capita. Additionally, despite California Democrats push for gun control laws, such legislation has already failed. Why? According to John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, this is partly due to the fact that California bases its policies on false statistics.

He also claims that the FBI has been under-reporting the number of instances in which civilians use guns for self-defense, including cases of stopping mass shootings or minimizing casualties.

Did you know that March 14 is the anniversary of one of the largest single mass lynchings in American history? Washington Examiner commentary writer Christopher Tremoglie joins Larry Elder to discuss the American history that has been hidden from the public.

The Auschwitz Exhibition will premiere at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on March 24. The exhibition showcases over 700 original objects of great historical and human valuedirect witnesses to the horrors of Auschwitz and the Holocaust.

Joining Elder to discuss this is John Heubusch, the Executive Director of the Reagan Library. He explains why no book, podcast, or history lesson can prepare you for the impact and power that this extraordinary collection of artifacts holds.




LONDON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), once the 16th largest bank in the United States, has "shaken confidence in U.S. banking" as concerns have mounted over bank deposits, an expert has said.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




I Would Like to See an Australian Fly With Us: NASA Administrator

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks at an Artemis I mission status briefing on Nov. 28, 2022. (NASA TV/screenshot via NTD)

Nearly two decades after an Aussie astronaut returned back to earth from a space mission, the opportunity for another Aussie to fly with NASA may be on the horizon.

During an address to the National Press Club on March 23, NASA administrator Senator Bill Nelson said: I would like to see an Australian train and fly with us.

This was echoed by NASA deputy administrator Colonel Pam Melroy who said the potential Aussie may also have the opportunity to walk on Mars.

It would be very exciting to see Australia continue to partner with the U.S. long-term. We do hope that when we are ready to go to Mars, we will go as international representatives of earth, Melroy said.

Nelson and Melroy were in Australia during the week of March 20 for NASAs historic trip to Australia.

The duo also took the opportunity to urge the Albanese government to provide further funding for the Australian space sector.

This comes amid concerns the Australian Space Agency has been losing momentum in local projects since the agencys establishment nearly five years ago.

Another concern is China, whom Nelson said was behaving in a very secretive, very non-transparent manner in space. Nelson said that China refused to cooperate with the international space community, particularly on safety matters.

Nelson added that there was growing international interest in returning to the moon, including from China.

There is a lot of excitement among our competitors that want to go there, and they want to get there before we do, he said.

Australia Well Positioned in Scientific Expertise To Work With NASA

In 2021, the Australian federal government and NASA signed a deal that would see an Australian-made semi-autonomous rover and Australian researchers sent for a lunar mission in 2026.

Melroy said the autonomous rover would be Australias first opportunity to leverage its strong robotic capability.

 if you can run a facility from 3000 km away in Perth, somewhere in the Pilbara, think it is going to be a piece of cake to do it on the moon, she said.

That looks pretty hard to me, and Ive seen some extraordinary capabilities.

So bringing all those to bear, this is the Trailblazer program is an investment in the future, and I believe that Australia will be known for that capability in the future.

If we believe there is a true commercial market for capability, launch would be a great example for that  well-understood business model around that, we can invest and partner on the technical capability that we need, but then take advantage of economies of scale.

When theres other customers, it brings the price down for everybody, and in space, those economies are significant.

The Morrison government said in 2021 that the rover would be used on an exploration mission that could also see the development of sustained human presence off the earth.

However, ABC reported that momentum has stalled since the establishment of the Australian Space Agency in 2018.

Space Industry Association chief executive, James Brown, said Australia should not pass up an opportunity to let a fellow citizen travel into space, reported the ABC.

Australia has missed so many opportunities to get our people into space in recent decades, Brown said.

Now NASA is doing everything it possibly can to get an Australian astronaut into space. All it takes is Australian political will and some modest funding.

Nothing will inspire a generation of Australians to study science more than having one of our own astronauts.

Albanese Government Urge to Uphold Coalitions Policy

Meanwhile, there are concerns that a Space Strategic Update (SSU), which was supposed to be completed by the Coalition in 2022, has also stalled.

The Space Strategic Update (SSU), now known as the National Space Plan, was to provide a vision through to the 2040s of a schedule of space programs and investment opportunities the government would use to develop Australias space base.

However, Australian Strategic Policy Institutes space policy expert, Malcolm Davis, said there had been a lack of focus in the area, reported the ABC.

Its a pretty shallow perspective that says just because a previous government launched a policy doesnt mean we have to accept it whilst ignoring the very real benefits of that policy, Davis said.

If the national space policy isnt completed, then many Australian space companies may lose faith in this governments commitment to space and could simply relocate overseas.

Jobs will be lost, our reputation damaged, and trust is gone. Well really struggle to get that trust back.

Ed Husic, who is the Federal Minister for Industry and Science, did not commit to a timeframe as to when the SSU would be completed.

I dont necessarily think that just because a former Government, if you can appreciate, has decided to do something doesnt mean that I automatically or us as a Government automatically takes that on board, he said on March 22 at the National Press Conference.

In some cases, well make those assessments case by case. In terms of space, there will be a huge opportunity, for instance, with the National Reconstruction Fund.

I can assure you the National Reconstruction Fund will be open to supporting investment in space activity, particularly through the priority area of enabling capabilities, but could easily go into a lot of other areas as well.

A recent Senate Economic Legislative Committee recommended that the space sector should be eligible for funding through the Albanese governments proposed $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.
Iowa Bans Transgender Procedures on Minors

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks at a campaign event for Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at Dahl Auto Museum as part of Ernst's RV tour of Iowa, in Davenport, on Oct. 31, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Iowa has become the latest state to ban transgender procedures on minors after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law on March 22.

Reynolds also signed into law a second bill banning transgender students from entering school bathrooms or changing rooms that do not correspond with their biological genders.

Under the first bill, SF 538 (pdf), health care professionals are prohibited from prescribing under-18s puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries including sterilizations, vasectomies, or hysterectomies.

There are exceptions to the law, however, such as in cases where a minor is born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development, or been diagnosed with a disorder of sexual development by a physician when the physician has determined through genetic or biochemical testing that the minor does not have a normal sex chromosome structure, sex steroid hormone production, or sex steroid hormone action for a biological male or biological female.

Exceptions are also made in cases of treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder that has been caused or exacerbated by the performance of gender transition procedures, or when a minor suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that is certified by a physician and that would place the minor in imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function unless surgery is performed.

Safeguarding Children

A second bill signed into law by Reynolds (pdf) bans transgender students from using single and multiple occupancy restrooms or changing areas and other facilities in elementary and secondary schools that do not correspond with their biological sex.

A student who, for any reason, desires greater privacy when using single or multiple occupancy restrooms or changing area, or other facility and whose parent or legal guardian provides written consent to school officials, may submit a request to such officials for access to alternative facilities, the bill states.

The school official to whom a request is submitted shall evaluate such request and shall, to the extent reasonable, offer options for alternative facilities, it adds.

However, no accommodation will be made to allow access to multiple or single occupancy restrooms or changing areas designated for use by students of the opposite sex while students of the opposite sex are present.

Both laws are effective immediately, although health care professionals who are already administering transgender procedures to patients under the age of 18 will have 180 days until they are forced to end treatment.

Supporters of the new laws argue that they are necessary to safeguard children and prevent them from undergoing potentially life-changing surgeries that could have serious impacts.

In the Best Interest of the Kids

A spokesperson for Reynolds told the Des Moines Register that the governor met with some parents of transgender minors to discuss both of the bills before signing them into law on Wednesday.

My heart breaks, Reynolds, a Republican, told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday. Ive sat down and met with them. Its not easy. Its not easy for me either. Its not easy for our elected officials to make these decisions. So I just I hope they know that.

We need to just pause, we need to understand what these emerging therapies actually may potentially do to our kids, Reynolds said. My heart goes out to them. Im a parent, Im a grandmother. I know how difficult this is. This is an extremely uncomfortable position for me to be in. I dont like it. But I have to do what I believe right now is in the best interest of the kids.

However, opponents of the new laws, including LGBTQ advocates, argue they attack transgender children.

The Iowa Legislature has repeatedly targeted the most vulnerable students with rhetoric and legislation designed to suppress, out, target, ban, and censor Iowas LGBTQ+ student communities, Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) President Mike Beranek said in a statement on Monday. Despite these shameful attacks, the ISEA continues to stand with and fight for all our students.

A string of major medical organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association, have all voiced support for gender transition care among minors, arguing that it is safe and effective.

However, guidance (pdf) from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health states that genital surgery should not be carried out until the individual has reached the age of 18 and has lived continuously for at least 12 months in the gender role that is congruent with their gender identity.

Iowa is among a number of states to ban transgender procedures on minors following Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Mississippi, and Florida.
IRS Extends Tax Deadline in for Millions of People After FEMA Disaster Declarations

A copy of an IRS 1040 tax form is seen at an H&R Block office in Miami, Fla., on Dec. 22, 2017. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said that some New York residents who were impacted by storms that slammed the western and upstate portions of the state qualify for tax relief and dont have to file their federal taxes for another month.

Residents who live in any New York county that was designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of storms that occurred between Dec. 23 and Dec. 28, 2022, can receive relief, said the tax agency on Friday in a news release.

It applies to individuals, households, or businesses in Erie, Genesee, Niagara, St. Lawrence, and Suffolk counties, according to the agency. In all, more than 2.5 million people live in those counties.

The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on Dec. 23, 2022. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until May 15, 2023, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period, the IRS said.

The agencys current list of eligible localities is available on the disaster relief page on the IRSs website.

This includes 2022 individual income tax returns due on April 18, as well as various 2022 business returns normally due on March 15 and April 18, the release said. Among other things, this means that eligible taxpayers will have until May 15 to make 2022 contributions to their IRAs and health savings accounts.

Also, farmers who opt to forgo making estimated tax payments and who normally file tax returns by March 1 will have until May 15 to do so to file their 2022 return and pay their taxes that may be due. The May deadline applies to the quarterly estimated payments that are normally due on Jan. 17, 2023, and April 18, 2023, said the release.

Starting Dec. 23, a strong storm system brought heavy lake-effect snow with blizzard conditions to the Buffalo area, leaving dozens of people dead. Reports indicated that some places in Erie County, where Buffalo is located, received more than four and a half feet of snow in a several-day span.

Authorities confirmed to media outlets that more than 39 people died in the blizzard, ranked as one of the most severe to hit Buffalo and other parts of western New York in decades. This will go down in history as the most devastating storm in Buffalos long storied history of having battled  many, many major storms, Gov. Kathy Hochul said late last year.

We knew that this was going to be a significant high-impact storm, Heather Kenyon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services Buffalo office, told ABC News at the time. We saw the combination of lake-effect snow and very strong winds, and so we were expecting blizzard conditions and really messaged that this was going to be a once-in-a-generation-type storm.

An abandoned vehicle sits along Southwestern Boulevard in West Seneca, outside Buffalo, New York on Dec. 26, 2022. (John Normile/Getty Images)

Other Delays

Several weeks ago, meanwhile, the IRS delayed the tax filing deadline for individuals who live in certain areas in California, Alabama, and Georgia due to recent natural disasters that occurred in those states.

A series of tornadoes tore through swaths of Alabama and Georgia in January and February. Since December, large swaths of California have been dealing with widespread flooding sparked by an atmospheric river system that dumped heavy rain and snow on the state.

The IRS is offering relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in these three states, according to an IRS news release issued in February. There are four different eligible FEMA declarations, and the start dates and other details vary for each of these disasters.

Under the new guidance issued by the agency, taxpayers in parts of Alabama, California, and Georgia wont have to file their taxes until Oct. 16.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after December 27, 2022, and before October 16, 2023, are granted additional time to file through October 16, 2023, the release reads.

But for everyone else, April 18 is the deadline to file taxes. The federal tax-filing deadline is normally April 15, but the date falls on a Saturday while the following Monday, April 17, is recognized as Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C.
James OKeefe Suggests He Has Insiders on Trump Grand Jury

James O'Keefe, founder Project Veritas, at the Values Voter Summit in Washington on Oct. 12, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Former Project Veritas head James OKeefe is suggesting he has insiders on the grand jury reportedly considering indicting former President Donald Trump.

Trump has suggested he would be arrested this week. He is being probed by Manhattan District Alvin Bragg over a payment made to adult actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.

A grand jury is reportedly considering charges against Trump.

After an OKeefe supporter wondered whether OKeefe has someone on the inside, OKeefe suggested there are multiple insiders.

The real question is how many do we have on the inside? Stay tuned, OKeefe wrote on Twitter.

Teases First Release

OKeefe founded Project Veritas in 2010. He departed the group in February after the board of directors suspended him amid an investigation into alleged financial malfeasance. His new project is called OKeefe Media Group, or OMG.

OKeefe said that the new group has been sending cameras out, which means the OMG army of exposers will soon be holding those in power accountable.

OKeefe warned people who are planning wrongdoing, adding: Youre being watched. Were coming after you. The next time you try and take advantage of honest Americans, the person sitting next to you might have a microphone or a camera. You see, the world is watching. And if youre lying, cheating, stealing, or scamming, you might be the next unwilling star of the internet.

OMGs first story will be released on March 27, OKeefe said.

At least one Project Veritas staffer has followed OKeefe to the new project. R.C. Maxwell, a former Project Veritas employee, was in OKeefes new video.

OKeefe said in another Twitter post hed just spent one day this week in three states.

Just wrapped a 20 hour day. Three states, multiple investigations fueled by so many citizens, he wrote.

New Model

OMG is based on the concept of collecting funds from supporters, buying cameras, and sending them to citizen journalists who will capture newsworthy moments.

News outlets cant hire everybody, OKeefe told The Epoch Times on March 16. But what if there was a way to empower and mobilize journalists, citizen journalists, and decentralized journalism? In the same way that Uber did that for the taxi, if there was a way to do that for thousands and thousands of people? And you might say, well, thats impossible, thats too difficult. Well, thats the mission that Im embarking on.

People have already approached OMG, asking for cameras to record school meetings and other events, OKeefe said.

Asked whether the citizen journalists would be paid, OKeefe said he wasnt sure.

Most people want to do this for free, he said.

I dont know exactly how its going to work, were going to figure it out, he added later.

OKeefe said being ousted from Project Veritas has turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it let him start the new group.

Jan Jekielek contributed to this report.
Jan. 6 Defendant Accused of Stealing Pelosis Laptop Receives 3-year Prison Sentence

Protesters gather near the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A woman who was accused of stealing then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis laptop computer and other criminal actions at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been sentenced to three years in prison.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson handed down a sentence on Thursday against Riley Williams, whom a jury had convicted in November on six counts related to her actions at the Capitol. Prosecutors accused Williams of playing a key role in leading a group up a set of stairs and into Pelosis office.

A jury ultimately convicted Williams on charges on six charges, including civil disorder; impeding officers; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted area; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Prosecutors had accused Williams of stealing Pelosis laptop and said a witness who described themselves as Williams former romantic partner made several calls to the FBI claiming Williams had taken Pelosis laptop or hard drive and planned to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russias foreign intelligence service.

The witness told the FBI that Williams plans to send Pelosis laptop to Russia fell through and that she either kept or destroyed the device. The jury was ultimately deadlocked on the question of whether Williams aided and abetted in the theft of Pelosis laptop, and the government dismissed the charge with a mistrial motion.

Pelosis office did report that a laptop went missing after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said at the time that the computer was only used for presentations.

Prosecutors also alleged Williams used commercial-grade software to wipe her computer six times in an effort to hide evidence. Williams allegedly changed her phone number and deleted her accounts on social media platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Parler.

The jury deadlocked on a charge alleging Williams tampered with or intimidated a witness.

The government could seek a new trial against Williams on the theft and witness tampering charges.

A large group of protesters stand on the East steps of the Capitol Building after breaching its grounds in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Caught Up in Moment

At her sentencing hearing, Williams defense attorney Lori Ulrich argued that she was caught up in listening to powerful and influential men, including then-President Donald Trump, CBS News reported.

In her own statement at the sentencing hearing, Williams apologized to police and Capitol employees.

I barely recognize the young and stupid girl who yelled at police that day, she said. Im now a responsible woman.

Williams was 22 years old at the time of her actions on Jan. 6, 2021.

Williams also said she had been addicted to the internet since before I can remember.

Prosecutors pushed back on Williams claims she was simply swept up in the heat of the moment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Dalke argued that Williams was not some impulsive Gen-Z gadfly or a Forrest Gump character who ended up at a historic moment by happenstance, NBC reported. Instead, Dalke said Williams participated in domestic terrorism, plain and simple.

She might be incapable of remorse, the prosecutor added. She remains openly proud of her actions.

Prosecutors pointed to a comment Williams made a week after the Capitol breach, on Jan. 14, 2021, in which she said, Ive been told what I did was wrong by everybody but in my heart and soul I know what we did was patriotic and what is right and anybody who says otherwise should be condemned.

Judge Jackson further chastised Williams during the sentencing, calling her actions utterly reprehensible. Jackson said she had no confidence whatsoever that Williams had gained a new respect for the rule of law.

Prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence of about seven years, while her defense team asked for a one-year sentence.

In addition to her three-year prison term, Williams will also have to undergo a three-year period of supervised release and pay $2,000 in restitution.

NTD News reached out to Williams legal team for comment but did not receive a response before this article was published.

From NTD News.
Janet Yellen Calls Emergency Meeting of Financial Stability Council Amid Bank Turmoil

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called an emergency meeting with top U.S. financial regulators.

Yellen will chair the closed-door Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) meeting on Friday, the Treasury Department said in a statement. The Treasury did not provide any additional details regarding the closed meeting.

The FSOC meets regularly to discuss national financial stability and regulation issues. The group consists of the heads of the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and regulatory bodies. While it only maintains a little legal authority, members use the FOSC for coordinating purposes.

Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing on March 22, Yellen told lawmakers that the FSOC was preparing a revised guidance report that would revive the groups ability to designate non-bank financial institutions as systemically important. This would foster stronger regulation.

This comes two weeks since Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed, sparking widespread fears surrounding the strength and stability of the U.S. and global banking system.

Banking crisis fears were exacerbated on Friday as Deutsche Bank shares tanked as much as 16 percent. The cost of insuring against its default surged, fueled by broader market concerns regarding the stability of the European banking industry. But while market analysts have dismissed these circumstances surrounding one of the largest banks in Europe, shares have tumbled for three consecutive sessions and wiped out a fifth of its market value.

Deutsche Bank has modernized and organized the way it works. Its a very profitable bank. There is no reason to be concerned, said German chancellor Olaf Scholz after a summit of European Union Leaders.

Is Blanket Insurance Coming?

Meanwhile, Secretary Yellen told Senate lawmakers this week that she has not considered or talked about blanket insurance or guaranteed deposits.

But while some critics say the administration is picking winners and losers, Yellen asserted that regulators would respond if a bank failure is deemed to create systemic risk and triggers the risk of a contagious bank run. This would apply to large, mid-size, small, and community banks, she noted.

The failure of a small bank, of a community bank, could likewise trigger a run on other banks, Yellen added.

Prominent market experts have slammed Yellen for rejecting full deposit insurance.

Bill Ackman, a hedge fund billionaire, wrote in a tweet on Wednesday that the U.S. economy might be heading for a train wreck without a temporary systemwide deposit guarantee to stop the bleeding.

Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital, speaks at the Wall Street Journal Digital Conference in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Oct. 17, 2017. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

We have gone from implicit support for depositors to @SecYellen explicit statement today that no guarantee is being considered with rates now being raised to 5 percent, the Pershing Square Capital Management founder said. Five percent is a threshold that makes bank deposits that much less attractive. I would be surprised if deposit outflows dont accelerate effective immediately.

If the uncertainty is prolonged, the more permanent the damage is to the smaller banks, Ackman said.

Fed chair Jerome Powell told reporters during a post-Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) press conference on Wednesday that the central banks swift actions demonstrate that all depositor savings in the banking system are safe.

But he sent mixed signals on whether the Federal Reserve is willing to support all uninsured deposits.

What Im saying is youve seen that we have the tools to protect depositors when there is a threat of serious harm to the economy or to the financial system, and were prepared to use those tools. I think depositors should assume that their deposits are safe, Powell said (pdf).

Congress will soon convene hearings with top financial regulators.

Fed vice chair of supervision Michael Barr, Treasury under secretary for domestic finance Nellie Lang, and FDIC chair Martin Gruenberg will testify in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday and the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday.

The American public deserves answers, said Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in a statement. We need to begin these hearings to understand these bank failures and next steps to make sure this never happens again.

As policymakers, Congress needs to understand how FRB staff and FRBSF examiners seemingly missed numerous red flags and failed to use their supervisory and enforcement tools to correct the firms numerous financial and management deficiencies, the House committee lawmakers wrote in a letter (pdf) to the Fed, referring to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Despite the chaos in recent weeks, Yellen believes that we have a very strong and resilient banking system.
Why was the Manhattan grand jury unexpectedly delayed in the alleged Trump hush money case?

Did District Attorney Alvin Bragg withhold exculpatory evidence?

As a prosecutor, youre not allowed to withhold evidence of innocence or something that might be damaging to your case to the grand jury youre presenting to. And thats essentially what Costello said, says Kash Patel, in reference to recent testimony by Michael Cohens former lawyer, Robert Costello.

We also take a look at the recent Saudi-Iran deal brokered by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the CCPs ambitions to replace the petrodollar with the yuan.

China has also offered a 12-point peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine War. Vladimir Putin welcomed the proposal during a recent joint press conference with Xi Jinping.

Its a total farce for China to go in and say, were going to be the peace negotiators  Theyre committing genocide in their own country, Kash Patel says. But just think about the messaging and the propaganda that the CCP gains from this.  Theyre getting the narrative out there that China, the CCP, is the peace negotiators of the modern day, not the United States of America.



FULL TRANSCRIPT

Kash Patel:

Hey, everybody and welcome back to Kashs Corner. Were finally returning from our break to kick off season seven, if you can believe it, with episode one here today. Theres so much going on in the mainstream media. Jan, what are we going to talk about?

Jan Jekielek:

What everyones been buzzing about this week is President Trump is going to be arrested by the Manhattan DA. It turns out actually that the grand jury has been canceled. Thats incredible. Theres this groundbreaking testimony from Robert Costello, the former Cohen attorney. Were going to look at that. Also, theres a lot happening overseas. Weve got Xi Jinping meeting with Vladimir Putin and also seemingly brokering a neighborly deal with Saudi and Iran. Kind of unbelievable stuff going on.

Mr. Patel:

Yes, theres a lot. Its been an interesting couple of weeks since weve throttled off season six and got ready for season seven. It seems as if the news cycle was awaiting our return.

Lets start in the wheelhouse that is law and order. Seems to be front and center now. Since weve been gone, this has risen to the level of a grand jury for the district attorney in New York City or Manhattan, this guy named Alvin Bragg. But lets rewind the tape a little bit just to get everybody up to speed before we dive into whats going on.

Remember, the crux of the matter is this district attorney is saying Trump violated the law by illegally using money through his lawyer to pay someone off. Thats essentially what theyre saying. The DOJ, at a federal level, looked at this investigation through their office in the Southern District of New York.

I mean Bidens DOJ, not just any DOJ. They were presented with evidence that the gentleman you talked to, Robert Costello, and along with Michael Cohen, Trumps former attorney, were presented with effectively the same evidence and they, the DOJ, decided not to bring a case because there was nothing to charge President Trump. Thats how the Department of Justice is supposed to operate.

Then, if you recall, the Attorney General for the state of New York, yet another layer in the legal system, not federal, not county, but state, Letitia James, campaigned on convicting Donald Trump of something. She literally didnt say what it was. She just said, Weve got the man, now were going to find the crime, essentially is what she said.

She reviewed the case as the states number one law enforcement officer and declined to prosecute. Now were down to Alvin Bragg at the Manhattan District Attorney level, which is the county prosecution for Manhattan, New York City, essentially. Hes saying or hes leaked publicly that theyre going to indict Trump.

Thats where we are now. And just a reminder for our audience, we tape on Wednesdays, so we are not sure whats going to happen Friday, but well give it our best go. But what President Trump did over the weekend was basically put them on defense. Im paraphrasing his posts on Truth Social for the last four or five days, but he said there was an unlawful leak from the grand jury that Alvin Bragg is convening along with his office about the status of the case.

What President Trump said was that information led him to believe that hes going to be arrested and indicted this week, which tectonically altered the landscape for Alvin Bragg. It sent this thing that was already front and center into the stratosphere and made it the only thing people are literally talking about.

Mr. Jekielek:

Ill just jump in. People think that this whole thing was actually a distraction from bigger things, some of which were going to talk about later.

Mr. Patel:

Exactly. I want to spend more time on those things and less on this, but we have to cover this because it involves the former and current candidate to be the next president of the United States. Looking at it from my background as a former public defender and prosecutor whos been in front of grand juries and tried cases in state and federal court, I always say, evaluate the evidence and then look at the law. If theres a charge you bring it, if theres not, you dont.

This case tragically shows that the politicization and weaponization of our law enforcement community, that weve talked about extensively, at the DOJ and FBI at the federal level that has made its way to the county and state level.But youve also seen a shift in the narrative that people who are not Trump supporters are out there vocally saying, This is not a case that can be legally brought.

What does that mean? Alright, so the crux of the matter is Alvin Bragg is saying this $130,000 that Michael Cohen, when Cohen was Trumps attorney some years ago, paid Stormy Daniels that amount of money pursuant to some non-disclosure agreement to settle a private matter. I dont know the details of that. Thats just whats publicly reported.

Now, theyre saying, A, thats a misdemeanor. If thats the case, the statute of limitations on that misdemeanor charge is two years, so were well past that. What they have to do to even secure a charge that survives the statute of limitations is tie that misdemeanor to a felony. This is where it gets legally problematic from my understanding.

Theres no New York state felony they can tie it to. Theyre attempting to tie it to a federal law felony, and you cant do that. There are two different court systems for a reason, federal law on this side and state on that side.

Mr. Jekielek:

It sounds like those systems decided the system, and theres nothing here.

Mr. Patel:

Two of them did. At the New York statewide level, they decided that, and at the federal DOJ level they decided that as well. Lets put a pin in that for a second. If you recall, Hillary Clinton used campaign finance dollars to pay $1 million for the Steele dossier which she listed as a legal fee. Because Perkins Coie had taken that money and then paid Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele, the DOJ did not prosecute her.

Instead, the FEC ended up fining her some four or five years later for a monetary amount in a civil fine. If thats the precedent, because the facts are analogous to that exact situation, Alvin Bragg is saying the money that Michael Cohen paid was hidden as a legal fee as payment to this person for X, Y, or Z.

If thats the case, then theres no crime. Thats why the DOJ didnt bring a prosecution. Thats why Leticia James didnt bring a prosecution. Well see what Alvin Bragg decides to do. But the evidence should be the focal point of this. Right now we have a two-tier system of justice, not just at the federal level, but now at the state level.

Mr. Jekielek:

Kash, we keep hearing this term as we talk about legal realities, grand jury. How does this actually work? What does it mean that this grand jury was canceled, at least temporarily? How is this going to play out?

Mr. Patel:

Yes, great point. Its worth just quickly summarizing what this is. For me, its old hat because of my past. Grand juries, whether at the state or federal level, are convened. Theyre larger than the juries you see at trial. If you think of a TV crime show where you see the lawyers standing up in a courtroom with a judge and the box over there with the jury, those are usually six to 12 people.

Grand juries are much larger, anywhere from 24 to about 36 people. And they convene for a lengthy period of time, but not every day. Remember this, this is the distinction that people forget. Alvin Bragg may be the district attorney, but the grand jury has to bring the charging document. The district attorney comes in and presents evidence through his prosecutors to the grand jury.

They say, We think a crime has been committed. Here is the evidence. Witnesses, documents, videotapes, and recordings. The standard in the grand jury is a preponderance of evidence. What does that mean? It has to be 51 percent to 49 percent, not that the defendant committed the crime, just that it was more possible than not that the crime was committed. Thats all the grand jurys job is. Thats it.

They are not testifying or making a claim about guilt or innocence. Theyre just saying theres sufficient evidence to charge. Then those cases go to trial like we all see, and then the standard is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which it should be. Its a constitutional standard.

What Alvin Bragg has been doing, for however many months, is convening this grand jury. Since theyre people in the community who are called in for months at a time, they cant just come in at the drop of a dime. We as prosecutors schedule them ahead of time. We say, This grand jury investigating this case needs to sit on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of this week, next week and the following week so that people can change their schedules and get in on time.

What rarely happens is the schedule has been set and the grand jury, which this week was convened for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then at the last minute the prosecutors come in and say, You are canceled, meaning we dont need to convene today.

That means, in my opinion, that the prosecutors, Alvin Bragg and his team on this case involving Trump, dont believe they have the evidentiary threshold met to submit the case to the grand jury for review. Essentially, theyre saying, I think were short. If the media reporting is accurate, theyre looking for another witness or new evidence or more evidence to maybe take on what Costello has put forth.

Michael Cohens credibility has been shot and defeated. I dont know the details. Only the grand jury and the district attorneys office is going to know that. But I know from a prosecutorial standpoint, if you have the goods and you present it to the grand jury, you go and ask the grand jury to return whats called a bill of indictment, a true bill to indict and to formally charge a defendant.

Theres a saying from back in the New York jurisprudence days and some TV shows that you know could basically indict a ham sandwich. What does that mean? It means it doesnt take much to meet that 51-49 threshold to say, Something maybe wrong happened here.

What does that show us on the outside? If they havent met that low threshold, then their case might have a serious evidentiary problem. They could salvage it, they could find new evidence, find another witness, or find another stack of papers. I dont know. But right now its all on hold.

Mr. Jekielek:

We also have a former attorney for Cohen, basically saying that Trump knew nothing, according to Cohens own testimony. Trump didnt know anything about this. Anyway, it was done on the side.

Mr. Patel:

Its some pretty damning testimony. Normally you dont hear from the internal workings of a grand jury because youre not supposed to. Everybody knows who Michael Cohen is. He was convicted. Lets go back to before that. Michael Cohen was president Trumps personal attorney the first time President Trump ran for office. Then, they had a parting of ways.

Michael Cohen was eventually convicted in federal court and sentenced to three years in federal prison for crimes of lying, deceit and fraud amongst other things. Thats the star witness for Alvin Bragg in this case that were talking about. Obviously, hes been before the grand jury. Hes been very public about it.

What I didnt even know about was this other gentleman, Costello. Costello was Michael Cohens attorney in the past. This is a unique twist. Its a little geeky, but Im going to get into it anyway. As Michael Cohens attorney, Costello is not allowed under attorney-client privilege to talk about what he represented Michael Cohen on in the conversations.

Yet, surprisingly, I didnt even know this either. Michael Cohen waived all of his attorney-client privileges with Costello, so Costello could talk to federal prosecutors, which he did. Costello said two years ago that he not only spoke to them, but he provided them with a ream of documentation from his engagements with Michael Cohen.

Then he went to the district attorneys grand jury in New York City on Monday of this week and testified. Then, he walked out and gave an eight-minute recap of what happened. This grand jury has now heard from A, Michael Cohen, a convicted federal felon who is biased and animosity for the target of this investigation is well known, versus Costello, this career prosecutor, former federal prosecutor, now private attorney with an established record, no criminal history representing some of the most high profile clients in New York State criminal history, comes out swinging, literally saying the things that defeat any potential prosecution. I will summarize what Costello said; He did this payment on his own. He did not notify President Trump about it, and he did it quietly to keep things quiet.

Mr. Jekielek:

From Melania not knowing it, or at least those are Costellos words?

Mr. Patel:

Costello provided documentation and emails to back that up. Im guessing as a lawyer he took notes on his client and other matters. What was shocking to me was not just that bit of testimony that completely contradicts what Michael Cohen said, but that he held up a ream of paperwork that he said he gave to federal prosecutors and that he gave to this grand jury, and that Alvin Bragg only used-

Speaker 3:

Today after giving all those materials to the Manhattan District Attorneys office. Out of 321 emails, they cherry-picked six emails to ask me about. And of course, they took them out of context. When they took them out of context. I told the grand jurors, I dont know whether this will ultimately come to fruition or not. I told them to ask for the entire packet and I held it up. I said, theres 321 emails. You need to see each and every email which follows in chronological fashion and give you the life history of Michael Cohen dealing with our firm.

Mr. Patel:

Some six pages of hundreds of pages of documentation. Now, lets be clear, as a prosecutor, you are allowed to select your evidence. But as a prosecutor, youre not allowed to withhold evidence of innocence or something that might be damaging to your case to the grand jury youre presenting to. Thats essentially what Costello said.

He said, Why have, you, the grand jury not seen all of this information that Ive testified about? I have it recorded, its here for you to hold and read. That to me proves that what actually happened is an abuse of prosecutorial powers, and Alvin Bragg has now put himself in the crosshairs. Because its New York, I dont think anyones actually going to investigate him about prosecutor misconduct.

If you have information about a potential charge and you withhold it from the grand jury, that is illegal. Essentially, thats what Costello has come out and said, I had to go in there and testify. I had to set the record straight. I dont even know what his politics are. I have zero idea. He has the documentary evidence to completely contradict what Michael Cohen is saying.

Now we have a pause in the case, and if were to believe the public reporting, which I dont know if we can, it says theyre looking for another witness. Its tragic that our system has been politicized, but maybe we can use this as an example that breaks through to everyday America to say, Look, we werent conspirators when we were talking about Russiagate.

We werent conspirators when we were talking about some of the harsh and undue treatments of some of the January 6 detainees. This two-tier system of justice when it comes to things like Hunter Biden and the classified documents, its an unfortunate reality. Its one that can be solved, but its going to require a lot of work.

Mr. Jekielek:

You mentioned Russiagate and I want to mention this as well. Recently, John Solomon is actually suing the National Archives. You and him were actually President Trumps designated representatives to the National Archives. There are all these declassified documents that have been in limbo for a long time. A lot of our viewers are asking, Where are these documents? Can we finally get them?

Mr. Patel:

Thats the hope. John Solomon took a great step forward. He and I had been trying to engage with the National Archives as President Trumps designated representatives to get the material that was declassified to the American public. John Solomon brilliantly took this case to federal court because we couldnt get anywhere with the National Archives and DOJ and whatever else.

You will see in the court filings themselves, the comments directly from the National Archives. Ill just summarize so theyre not attributed to me. It essentially has the number one lawyer at the National Archives saying, The declassified binder of documents was sent to the DOJ. Just pause on that for a secondthe declassified. Im not saying that, John Solomons not saying that, the head of the National Archives is saying the documents are declassified. How come two plus years later we dont have them?

Thats the purpose of Johns suit. I dont know how a judge rules against it. He was supposed to be granted access and the public was supposed to be shown these documents. To be continued. Well watch the case carefully, but hopefully it will move swiftly through the system and we have a binder of documents for the world to see.

Mr. Jekielek:

What is the timeframe in such a case?

Mr. Patel:

As weve talked about, once youre in federal court, it can go fast as lightning, or it can go slower than slow. Its up to the judge who gets the case and how fast he wants to move it. At this point, its going to be up to the DOJ to respond to John Solomons lawsuit and say, We agree, we disagree, or we need more time. Its never ending. All roads lead to Russiagate, and we never get away from it

.

Mr. Jekielek:

Lets switch gears and lets look at Xi Jinping and Communist China. There has been this journey to broker some agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which is something that the U.S. might have been in the middle of, at some point, or preventing, but then later a trip to Russia with a lot of warm words being exchanged. Vladimir Putin is supporting the Chinese peace treaty, the CCP version of the peace treaty.

Mr. Patel:

And the promulgation that Joe Biden and his family received $1 million from CCP affiliates. But youre right, while the United States of America under our current leadership have been looking left, and Russia and China have been going right. They teamed up, our two biggest adversaries.

Weve said this on the show many times that our two biggest adversaries are China and Russia. Our biggest national security threat from a terrorism standpoint is Iran. They are the worlds number one state sponsor of terrorism. These three countries have gotten together, and its a horrific blow to global security, not just American national security.

Just think about this, Jan. Saudi Arabia and Iran who were at war literally last week, firing missiles into each others countries for years on end, blowing up infrastructure sites and oil rigging sites, and hurting and killing civilians while at war, have now brokered a peace deal.

Thanks to Xi Jinping and the CCP, Saudi and Iran have agreed to establish diplomatic ties. What does that mean? They are going to open embassies in each others country for the first time in forever. That means they will have diplomatic officials there. That means they will have law enforcement from their country there. That means they will have military personnel from their country there. That means they will have intelligence officers from their respective countries in each others countries in their embassies. Thats just the governmental aspect of it.

What does it mean from the private sector standpoint? Saudi Arabia is going to provide Iran with access to its financial system, banking infrastructure. Its going to provide Iran with oil if it needs it, and its going to provide Iran access through the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Europe and other people in the world to get materials, weapons, and other supplies that we dont want Iran to have, specifically as it relates to their nuclear program.

One of Irans biggest threats that weve always tried to counter as the United States, whether youre a Democrat or Republican, is we dont want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. President Obama and President Trump took two drastically different approaches to that. Obama took the JCPOA, [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], the Iran nuclear deal, lets call that avenue A. Donald Trump withdrew from that and issued heavy sanctions on Iran along with a number of other national security measures to suffocate their economy and preclude them from gaining the uranium and the ability to enrich it to nuclear weapons grade.

Not getting into the weeds with Obama and Trump, lets just stay on Iran, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia. Now, they have access to some of the worlds superpowers who can fill the gaps that America had blocked Iran from obtaining. To me, Thats problematic just on the nuclear front, putting aside the economic and banking leverage, and everything else.

Then, we get to the terrorism front. Does Iran have access to Russia and Chinese arm supplies? That would be problematic for many, many, reasons. This deal that was brokered, and youre right, the U.S. was nowhere to be found. No leadership from this administration was over there, not from the White House, State Department, or Pentagon that I can tell.

By the way, having worked on these matters, they dont happen overnight. This is months and months of work, which means Xi Jinping and China, Vladimir Putin and Russia, MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] and Saudi Arabia, and the ayatollah and the leadership structure in Iran have been talking about this for a long, long time. And then, they convene this global summit. Now, we have Iran and Saudi Arabia as allies.

Im not saying we shouldnt help the civilian population of Iran. Thats never what Im saying. The problem is, how do we help the civilian population, but also defeat the national security threat to America and the world? I dont think this helps the United States.

Mr. Jekielek:

Its hard to fathom. But the reality is that the U.S. still remains the main security partner for Saudi Arabia. This doesnt change overnight?

Mr. Patel:

Well, yes and no. Youre right, it doesnt change overnight.

Mr. Jekielek:

The other question is on energy. Obviously, Saudis providing a lot of oil, especially when the US has lowered its production dramatically. This is a complex situation.

Mr. Patel:

I agree. Youre totally right. Energy is a matter of national security. Remember were two-plus years into the Biden administration, and under his policies, the price of gas skyrocketed. Reminder for all, he went to Saudi Arabia to try to mend the fences with MBS and bring the oil prices down. That didnt work. During that entire time, we now know Saudi has been meeting with the likes of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin and their counterparts in Iran, and forging a deal.

The biggest threat, outside of what weve talked about, is the petrodollar. Right now, the international oil reserves and the international oil trading system, for lack of a better word, work on the petrodollar. Its a U.S. dollar-backed system. Just think about this. China has come in and basically said, Were going to switch. You, Saudi Arabia, dont need the U.S. dollar anymore. We, China, will use the renminbi to come in and replace the petrodollar with the yuan.

Just think about if they succeed. Im not saying they will succeed, but thats the plan. Theyve been public about it. If they do that, America for the first time in modern history will not have the dollar backing the largest energy sector on planet Earth.

Mr. Jekielek:

Ill just jump in. It would be a bit like Saudi committing suicide, because the yuan is completely at the whim of the Chinese. The value is completely at the whim of the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Patel:

Youre absolutely right.

Mr. Jekielek:

Some people would call it monopoly money.

Mr. Patel:

And one of President Trumps hallmarks against China was talking about the Chinese manipulation of its currency when it suits them. Theyll just pull the lever because they dont operate under the same rule of law that we do. Theyll make it cheaper if it benefits them, theyll make it more expensive if it benefits them, and forget the rest of the world.

If they replace the dollar as the reserve currency in this oil industry, then truly, Saudi Arabia will not have to look to the United States for this energy relationship. It wont need us. Remember, the United States of America, not Saudi Arabia, is the largest exporter of oil on planet earth. Saudi Arabia seems to be making a play to say, Come on in, Xi Jinping and China, well do business with you. If its a better deal for us, then maybe we wont talk to the U.S. anymore.

That would be shocking, Jan. Saudi Arabia is one of Americas greatest allies in the Middle East, but it just seems to me as if no ones even talking to them right now. By no one, I mean our political leadership at the White House and elsewhere. Theyre just out there making all these deals with Iran and having China broker them.

Then, theyre talking to China and Russia about access to their financial institutions, banking systems, securing weaponry and other supplies from the countries that theyre newly partnering with. Theyre not looking at America anymore. Its drastic. Its hugely problematic to our national security interest.

Mr. Jekielek:

In February, you have the Chinese Communist Party coming in with this peace deal for Russia and Ukraine, basically saying, Were going to be the ones to broker this deal. Vladimir Putin is behind it. Of course, it doesnt require Russia to remove itself from Ukraine. And I want to remind our viewers that the Chinese Communist Party regime is currently pursuing three genocides. Its just such a bizarre reality.

Mr. Patel:

I would say its laughable, but its so far beyond that, Jan. Its truly detrimental to global security, not just American security. Think about this. The Chinese Communist Party and the CCP are brokering peace negotiations in Europe. Where is the United States of America? Last month, Joe Biden went to Eastern Europe and committed more blood and treasure to the Ukraine and didnt host one meeting about a diplomatic resolution to the war in the Ukraine. Not one. Not one conversation that I saw, not one meeting that I heard about.

Just like Saudi Arabia is ignoring this leadership structure on the global stage when it comes to all things Ukraine, China and Russia are ignoring that old leadership structure, and theyre filling in the gaps that America would normally be leading on. Of course, its a total farce for China to go in and say, Were going to be the peace negotiators, but just think about the messaging and the propaganda that the CCP gains from this.

Theyre going out to the world and saying, Were asking for peace. They know they couldnt be bigger hypocrites, because theyre committing genocide in their own country. Theyre not asking Russia to withdraw or do anything, but theyre getting the narrative out there that the CCP is the peace negotiator of the modern day, not the United States of America. Theyre the ones that get to set the table and sit there, and decide whats resolved, and how its resolved, if these talks continue.

Theyve already established the parameters, because the United States of America has done nothing to establish or work towards peace in the Ukraine, except commit more American dollars and more American manpower. Thats the difference. We are being outmaneuvered on the global stage by the Chinese Communist Party and Vladimir Putin when it comes to Ukraine. And this deal, this farce, is an example of it.

Im not saying it has been successful or will succeed, but you have to look at it from this standpoint. Americans in the world got so used to the fact that America would be the global referee, the peace settler, and bringing people to the table. Now that were not even there, I dont know that anyone knows how to react to that. Theyre just like, Oh, this cant be real. Its not something to pay attention to. But look at what weve just covered in this episode. Saudi and Iran are now partners and allies brokered by the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping.

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have been meeting for three straight days in Russia, talking about ending global conflicts. We know theyre lying, but theyre having these discussions and telling the world, talking about bringing peace to Ukraine, talking about funding each others economies, propping up the renminbi, making the Yuan the petrodollar. All of these conversations are now happening on the world stage and America is nowhere to be found.

That is the biggest loss to American national security interests and that of our allies. Do you think France or England wants a nuclear-armed Iran? Do you think they want the Chinese Communist Party to be the leaders on their continentwhere Russia and Ukraine is, after allabout peace negotiations? Its absurd.

Mr. Jekielek:

The truth is, I dont even know the answer to this question at this point.

Mr. Patel:

No one does. Thats the scary part. Normally, at least we are at the table, if not leading the conversation at the table with the people there, and engaging in security and peace talks. Were not even there.

Mr. Jekielek:

Were going to have to see how all this develops.

Mr. Patel:

Yes, well cover it on our show.

Mr. Jekielek:

Absolutely. On an interesting note, as we finish up for today, you have been involved in this song that is on the digital song sales chart on Billboard. Its actually the number one song, topping Miley Cyrus and many other singers.

Mr. Patel:

Jan, I havent really spoken about it, so Im glad to give the backstory. The song is called Justice for All. I got a call from my friend Ed Henry, whos in the news industry as well, and we started chatting. Whatever your positions are politically on January 6th, weve always talked about it on our show, and its been talked about elsewhere, lots of those defendants have been treated either unjustly or harshly or denied bail when they shouldnt have. That has caused a financial problem for many families.

We thought, What would be a way that we can raise awareness and money for them? We came up with a song called Justice for All. I dont think most American know this, but the defendants who are detained in the DC jail from January 6th, have sung the national anthem every night for something like 760 consecutive nights and running.

We found out about this, and we went and actually captured that audio. Through some wonderful friends in the music industry, we were able to digitize it. You have to do a master copy and all that. And then, we thought, How do we make it a little more powerful? President Trump is one of the biggest voices in America on this, and he agreed to record the Pledge Allegiance.

We took the national anthem and the Pledge Allegiance and interconnected them and added some music. The powerful thing about it is we also created a video that everyone can watch. But the powerful thing about it is the people who have been impacted the most are the ones raising awareness.

Did we think it was going to go number one for seven straight days on the iTunes chart last week? No, we didnt think that. Its the response of so much of the American public that this is on their minds front and center. The music industry, just like Hollywood, has been influencing certain sectors of the American public with their political views, rather than being professional.

Its cool that we found a way to literally break through the music and Hollywood industry. As you said, we spent no money on this. When it was on iTunes, number one, and on Apple Music for a week, people thought it was unheard of that it was there for a day, let alone seven.

Then Billboard is the gold standard for music sales and computations and rankings, and they only put their charts out once a week. Yesterday, Justice For All was number one on the billboard chart you cited, which is unheard of.

Just think of the people that are on that chart, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, Rihanna, One Republic, these arent nobodies. It was a pretty cool project and I was blessed to be a part of it. Hopefully, it will be able to do some good for certain families and help a few folks out in the process.

Mr. Jekielek:

Ill just highlight for people that this is the digital song sales chart. Its astounding that theres been this massive ground swell of interest in this piece. Its very different from most of whats on there.

Mr. Patel:

Besides what weve talked about, the hope is also that other entertainers, musicians, and artists can see that you dont need to spend $500,000 creating a product. If you make something that resonates with the American people and you talk about it on the Epoch Times, or put it out on free speech platforms like Truth Social, it can grow fast. And thats the ultimate goal.

Mr. Jekielek:

Kash, Its time for our episode one, season seven shout out.

Mr. Patel:

I cant believe it, Jan, we are back for season seven, episode one. The shoutout goes to Robert Gamir. Thanks so much for posting on our message board. Thanks to everybody who participates in our weekly live chats, we are having a great time there. We appreciate the audience coming back for season seven. Robert, were back for you and everybody else and well see you all next week on Kashs Corner.

This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
Kovrig and Spavor Receive Standing Ovation Ahead of Bidens Speech to Parliament

Canadians Michael Kovrig (L) and Michael Spavor receive a standing ovation before U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the Canadian Parliament, in Ottawa on Mach 24, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were arbitrarily detained in China for over three years, received a standing ovation in the House of Commons ahead of U.S. President Joe Bidens address on March 24.

The two Canadians, who became known as the two Michaels, were imprisoned from late 2018 until the fall of 2021. Their incarceration was regarded as the Chinese Communist Partys retaliation for Ottawas arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant to have her extradited on fraud charges.

The men were released shortly after Meng reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department on Sept. 24, 2021. A Canadian court lifted her bail conditions on the same day, allowing her to leave Canada.

A great moment in the @OurCommons today while waiting for @POTUS, we gave a standing ovation to the two Michaels. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/HxLCJtawLy  Ryan Turnbull   (@TurnbullWhitby) March 24, 2023

Biden arrived in Ottawa on March 23 for a two-day visit and discussions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top officials on a variety of issues including security, trade, and the economy.

The U.S. President didnt specifically talk about China during his remarks to Parliament, though he accidentally said China instead of Canada at one point in his speech.

Kovrig and Spavor will also attend a gala dinner for Biden at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa on the evening of March 24, hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. According to CTV News, other invited guests include former prime ministers Jean Chretien and Joe Clark, the major opposition party leaders, and actress Sarah Polley.
Latino Voters Leaning Republican in Californias Key Congressional Districts

A bilingual sign stands outside a polling center at public library ahead of local elections in Austin, Texas, on April 28, 2013. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Latino voters are leaning Republican in some competitive California congressional districts, which could make it difficult for Democrats to retake the House of Representatives in 2024, according to a recent report from Third Way.

In the Democrat-dominant state, many first-time Latino voters are heading to the polls in support of more conservative values. This was prevalent during the Trump administration between 20162020, as the Latinos across the country began to move away from the Democrat party, the report says.

The report illustrates which districts were most swayed into supporting the Republican party.

In addition to California, the data examines the impact of Republican campaigns in Latino districts in Arizona, New York, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Florida.

Latinos vote at a polling station in El Gallo Restaurant in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 8, 2016. (David McNew/Getty Images)

California has 14 Latino-majority districts, where a Democrat and a Republican both made the 2022 ballot. In 2022, voters in these districts swung Republican by 10.8 points compared to 2020 and 7.1 points compared to 2018.

Most of the districts were located in central and Southern California.

Of the 36 competitive congressional districts decided by five points or less in 2022, five came from California and had highly concentrated Latino populations, the report said.

California Democrats may find it challenging to gain back the edge over Republicans with Latino voters in future elections.

Low Turnout at Elections

Lucas Holtz, the author of the Third Way report, told The Sacramento Bee the data shows the effect of a low turnout during midterm elections.

California Democrats have a major challenge on their hands, Holtz said. Theyre not driving turnout  even with an insane amount of investments and those that they are turning out, theyre clearly not persuading.

Holtz added that Democratic candidates should improve their strategies to gain Latino voters back before 2024.

Republican Latino voting trends expert Mike Madrid told the Los Angeles Times in 2022 that the multi-ethnic working-class vote will determine the balance of political power in Americas future.

The Democratic Party has a problem with the working-class part, he said. The Republican Party has a problem with the multi-ethnic part.

Mindy Romero, director of the University of Southern Californias Center for Inclusive Democracy, told The Sacramento Bee that the 2022 midterm election turnout for California Latinos was deeply disappointing, and that many people working in Latino communities are trying to understand the reason for the low turnout.

Low midterm election turnout by Latinos has been a result of candidates only visiting communities during election season, Romero said, while some people might not vote due to fear of choosing the wrong candidate.

Latinos are the youngest demographic in America and are part of a growing young adult voter base that will be eligible to vote in 2024, according to Politico.

Voto Latino president Maria Teresa Kumar explained in an interview with Politico that many young Latinos are just becoming familiar with their voting options, adding that the majority of Latino voters are under the age of 33.

By default, theyre low-propensity, she said. It doesnt mean theyre detachedtheyre just flowing into the process. They should be taken seriously because they have the ear of their family in a way no party does.
Lawyers Declare They Will Refuse to Prosecute Climate Activists

Just Stop Oil protesters are arrested after they blocked the road at the junction of Cannon St. and Queen Victoria St. in London on Oct. 27, 2022. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Activist lawyers have signed a Declaration of Conscience stating they will not prosecute groups like Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, saying that current laws cause climate injustice.

On Thursday, a group called Lawyers Are Responsible, published a Declaration of Conscience, in which they say they will refuse to act for new fossil fuel projects or to prosecute members of campaign groups opposing new fossil fuel projects, such as Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain, and Just Stop Oil.

Climate group Just Stop Oil stages disruptive protests and uses a deliberate law-breaking strategy in an attempt to highlight its call for the UK government to begin the process of winding down fossil fuel production in the country.

According to Twitter, Lawyers Are Responsible says it is a group of conscientious lawyers who respect the longstanding rules of our profession.

However, we also accept the global scientific consensus that climate change is already causing damage and will cause unprecedented levels of damage, it said.

Demonstrators take part in an Extinction Rebellion protest on Westminster Bridge in London on April 15, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media)

Our Laws Cause Climate Injustice

To date, the 120 signatories are a mix of barristers, solicitors, academics, and others, though it is not clear how many of the barristers listed handle prosecution work.

Those that have signed include Sir Geoffrey Bindman, chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, Farhana Yamin, an international environmental lawyer and one of the architects of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Imran Khan the solicitor who represented the family of Stephen Lawrence, Jolyon Maugham, founder of the Good Law Project and Professor Leslie Thomas, Gresham Professor of Law and a board member of the Bar Standards Board.

The signatories to the declaration are convinced that at the present time offering their services in support of new fossil fuel projects or action against peaceful climate protesters would not serve the greater good, the group wrote.

At present, our laws cause climate injustice and set society on a course with consequences so dire that they ultimately threaten the Rule of Law itself. By taking on these types of case [sic], the signatories are of the view that they would be personally facilitating these consequences, it added.

The group said that there is an important discussion to be had about the role of the legal profession at a time when the IPCC has delivered a final warning on the climate crisis.

Cab Rank

The news prompted the chair of the Bar Standards Board, the representative body for barristers in England and Wales, to post a statement about the importance of the cab-rank rule, which is designed to ensure that everyone can have access to legal advice.

If a self-employed barrister receives instructions from a professional client, and the instructions are appropriate taking into account their experience, seniority, and area of practice, they are generally obliged to accept those instructions irrespective of the identity of the client, the nature of their case and any belief they may have as to the clients character or cause, wrote the Bar Council.

Legal commentator Tony Dowson told The Epoch Times by email that the effect could be to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in the profession.

There are several exceptions to the Cab Rank rule, one of which allows barristers to refuse instructions which are outside their field of practice, he said.

Since Jolyon Maugham is not a criminal barrister, let alone a prosecutor, his declaration that he will refuse instructions to prosecute climate protesters seems very much to be an empty gesture, said Dowson.

Dowson said that the statement itself, however, is at risk of undermining the principle that barristers should not be identified with their clients, which is inherent in the cab rank rule and the duty placed on barristers not to withhold services because the nature of the case is objectionable.

The effect may be to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in the profession, he added.

A demonstrator from Just Stop Oil sprays an orange substance on the Jack Barclay Bentley store in Berkeley Square, in London, England, on Oct. 26, 2022. (Isabel Infantes/Getty Images)

Political Activist Argument

Anna Loutfi, a barrister and head of legal at the Bad Law Project, told The Epoch Times there were concerns about one-sided political activism in the legal system.

The Bad Law Project was set up by actor and activist Laurence Fox.

A lot of people in this country think that eco-warriors are criminals, and they commit criminal damage and that the people that they attack would want to address that damage through the criminal courts, added Loutfi.

And if there is consensus in the legal profession, those people have no case to answer and the judges should not find any eco-warrior guilty of a crime, then what theyre doing is basically saying that the legal system doesnt support victims of criminal activity if they have a political argument that they agree with, she added

The Epoch Times contacted a representative for Lawyers Are Responsible and Jolyon Maugham for comment.
A batch of five multi-purpose gantry cranes made by China's Weihua Group have departed from east China's Qidong City, heading for Indonesia's Weda Bay, where they will be used in a BRI project.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Legislation Banning Wolf-Whistling Amended to Remove It Was Just a Joke Defence

MP Christopher Chope concerned about boys being seen as 'potential perverts'

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has backed a private members bill that would outlaw wolf-whistling even if the person responsible thinks it is just a joke.

Wolf-whistles and cat calls are just one type of sex-based harassment included in the bill which has been proposed by Conservative backbench MP Greg Clark.

The bill makes it an offence to cause intentional harassment, alarm or distress to a person in public based on their sex, and offenders face a maximum of two years in jail.

On Friday, Clark told the House of Commons: For the first time in our history, deliberately harassing, following, shouting degrading words at, making obscene gestures at women and girls in public places and yes, on occasion, men and boys in public places because of their sex with the deliberate intention to cause alarm or distress will be a specific offence and a serious one.

Women Should Be Able to Use Streets  Safely

He said: Women should be able to use our streets as confidently and safely as men, free from abuse, free from humiliation, free from violence, physical or verbal.

Clark proposed an amendment that would remove the defence of reasonableness, meaning someone could not escape prosecution by saying they thought they were behaving reasonably and were unaware they were causing offence.

The amendmentwhich was passedfollowed concerns raised by Labour MP Stella Creasy, who said: Women and girls often get told you cant take a joke or it was just a compliment when they object to being harassed, but without change this public order law risks making that an actual defence to a criminal offence.

Labour MP Stella Creasy holds her baby daughter in the House of Commons in London as she contributes to a debate. (House of Commons/PA)

The amendment introduces a reasonableness test and assumes defendants ought to know their behaviour amounted to harassment.

Creasy told the debate: Misogyny is driving crime against women and girls  This legislation for the first time ever, recognises that women are being targeted, simply because they are women. That young girls in our society walk with their keys, get asked what were you wearing?, are told not to get on buses at certain time of night, to be frightened, to be wary in a way that young men dont.

The Home Office has listed the types of behaviour that count as street harassment as making an obscene, aggressive, or offensive comment or gesture; cornering a person or obstructing them as they walk; or driving or riding a vehicle or bike slowly near to a person walking down the street.

Braverman told The Telegraph: Women have the fundamental right to walk the streets without fear and Im committed to ensuring that criminals who intimidate and harass them face the consequences.

This is why we are backing the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Bill, and after carefully considering a range of views, we are supporting an amendment that will require the government to produce statutory guidance for the police to help them enforce the new offence, she added.

Braverman said, The new guidance will clarify in particular how the reasonable conduct defence should be interpreted, to ensure any new law is as robust as possible.

Christopher Chopea 75-year-old Conservative MP who has been in Parliament since 1983spoke in Fridays debate about his concerns about the legislation.

Chope is a stickler for parliamentary procedure and often tables amendments to legislation.

Chope quoted from a recent article in The Spectator in which journalist Gus Carter wrote: Males are routinely presented as inherently dangerous, aggressive and animalistic, incapable of controlling their own instincts. You can see it on public transport, where government adverts announce that staring is sexual harassment.

He said a former female teacher, quoted in the same article, said, Boys are now being seen as potential perverts.

Responding to Chope, Creasy said, Weve got to stand up for the bulk of young men who know when they see that and when they realise what is happening to their sisters, to their mums, to their friends in school, their aunties, their cousins, how awful it must be that 51 percent of our society does not have the same freedom to go about their daily business.

Creasy Decries Idea Boys Will Be Boys

She said, Those young men deserve better than the idea that somehow this kind of behaviour is inevitable, that boys will be boys.

Home Office minister Chris Philp said: I would like to take the opportunity to  confirm clearly that the defendant in this offence could be a man or a woman and the victim could be a man or a woman.

Philp gave a firm undertaking that the government would seek to bring the legislation into force as soon as possible, because this bill clearly commands in principle very widespread support across the House, and for the sake of protecting women and men its important that we get this onto the statute books and operational and effective as quickly as we possibly can.

Philp also pointed out the adverts Chope referred to on public transport were produced by the mayor of London and not the government.

After the bill was given its third reading in the Commons, Clark said it was a historic moment.

It will now go to the House of Lords and could be given Royal Assent this summer.
Man Arrested for San Diego Triple Murder Over 2 Decades Ago

SAN DIEGOA suspect was in custody March 23 in connection with a narcotics-related shooting that fatally wounded a young couple and a toddler in Normal Heights more than two decades ago.

Sergio Lopez Contreras, 44, was booked into San Diego Central Jail on Wednesday on suspicion of carrying out the Sept. 4, 2000, triple slaying, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Shortly after 11 p.m. that day, patrol officers responding to a report of a shooting found 20-year-old Michael Plummer dead in his apartment in the 4500 block of Bancroft Street, police department Lt. Jud Campbell said.

Lying mortally wounded near the body of Plummer were his live-in girlfriend, Adah Pearson, 18, and his nephew, 21-month-old Julio Rangel.

Paramedics took Pearson, a Grossmont College student who had recently graduated from El Capitan High School, and Julio to hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.

The childs parents were present when the shooting took place but were uninjured, according to police.

Detectives determined that the killings stemmed from a drug sale gone bad, Campbell said.

Contreras was believed to have fled following the shooting to Mexico, where he was eventually arrested on unrelated charges. He was extradited to San Diego this week and was scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon on three counts of murder.
Las VegasMany Mexican restaurants in Las Vegas serve ready-to-wear corn tortillas, pulled straight from the package. Others send out semi-custom versions, made using purchased masa dough. Only a tiny handful offer couture tortillas, fashioned in house from imported heirloom corn thats boiled, milled, formed into dough, pressed and griddled.

At Milpa, his restaurant on South Durango Drive, chef-owner DJ Flores has become one of the citys leading champions and practitioners of this traditional method, shaping his masa into tortillas, tamales, tetelas (stuffed triangles), tostadas and more.

In 2016, while working a stage (an internship, pronounced stahj) at Quintonil, the Mexico City restaurant named among the worlds 50 best, the fresh blue corn tortillas served at staff meals delivered an epiphany, the chef said.

I had never seen blue corn tortillas before. I tasted it. It blew my mind: the smell, the flavor, the color is beautiful. When I came back from my stage, I said, I gotta bring this to Vegas.

Cut to Milpas launch in January 2021. When I opened this place, a small restaurant, I wanted to grind it all myself. I just remembered the flavor of those tortillas. I thought, If I can convey that to customers, have customers experience that as well, people will love it.

For Colored Corn, an Ancient Technique

Flores, 38, is a Vegas native. His resume includes stints at Strip standouts like Chica, Jaleo and Border Grill. Milpa takes its name from the term for Mexican cornfields also planted with squash and beans, the crops helping each other grow.

The chef sources 55-pound bags of red, yellow and blue dried corn, grown by small farmers in various regions of Mexico, each varietal contributing something distinctive to the masa. Blue conico, for instance, makes excellent table tortillas. Yellow bolita, on the hand, works nicely for larger tortillas (or for hominy in pozole).

Chef DJ Flores shows the corn kernels to be ground into masa at Milpa, his Mexican restaurant in the southwest Las Vegas valley, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS)

Flores boils the kernels in water and calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) in 30-gallon kettles, steeps everything overnight, then rinses the corn to remove some of the outer walls loosened by cooking. This process, called nixtamalization, dates to ancient Mesoamerica. Nixtamalization makes softened kernels easier to mill while also releasing nutrients and improving flavor.

How 500 Tortillas a Day Are Made

The other morning, Flores prepared a batch of masa. He soaked the stones for the molino, the corn mill, so they wouldnt scorch the corn during grinding. He fed the nixtamalized corn with spritzes of water into the molino; it emerged in piles that looked and felt like thick pollen. Flores rolled the pollen into a small masa ball, testing for texture.

Chef DJ Flores kneads freshly made blue corn masa at Milpa, his Mexican restaurant in the southwest Las Vegas valley, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS)

It shouldnt be too wet, he said. It shouldnt leave anything on your skin. You have to be careful with the water.

The masa (with salt) received a quick knead in the mixer. Significantly, the chef did not add corn flour to stretch the yield and make tortilla production cheaper, a departure from tradition commonly employed by Latin grocers, the chef said.

The kitchen team at Milpa forges about 60 pounds of masa each morning, enough for up to 500 tortillas per day for restaurant service and catering.

Dont Even Talk About Queso Fundido

Tortillas are made fresh to order. Balls of masa are weighed to 38 grams, then flattened in a ceramic-coated press from Oaxaca. They hit the grill for 10 seconds, flip, cook about a minute more, then flip back until they begin to puff.

Chef DJ Flores uses freshly made masa to create corn tortillas at Milpa, his Mexican restaurant in the southwest Las Vegas valley, Thursday, March 9, 2023. The restaurant is one of the few in Las Vegas that makes corn tortillas from scratch using the traditional nixtamalization process. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS)

Thats when you know its a perfect tortilla, the chef said of the puff. It smells like roasted corn.

Milpa tortillas might report for duty in tacos with local Desert Bloom mushrooms, fresh jalapenos, avocado, red and green salsas, and a flurry of cilantro. The tortillas might deploy in a stack alongside cauliflower tinga or short rib barbacoa, or form two small quesadillas for kids.

Tetelas, a Oaxacan specialty, feature tortillas that are filled with black beans, or with mushrooms and squash, then folded into triangles and cooked on the griddle. Flores tops his tetelas with scrambled eggs and queso fresco, or with a sunnyside egg, shimeji mushrooms, and salsa macha that calls on mulato, ancho and pasilla chiles.

Black bean tetela, clockwise from left, mushroom tacos, and barbacoa from Milpa, a Mexican restaurant in the southwest Las Vegas valley, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS)

Flores dishes are recognizably Mexican, yes, but theyre also unlike standard-issue dishes in Mexican restaurants in the U.S. Flores has a light hand, and his food feels very modern.

I like to use a lot of vegetables in my cooking, the chef said. I see where tastes are going. I try to eat healthy. Mexican cuisine should be highlighted as vegetables and grains, too. It shouldnt be dumbed down as queso fundido.

Room for More Masa

Milpa almost didnt make it through its first year, 2021.

I thought, Maybe I should just do burritos, Flores said. But you have to stay consistent and stay the road and put out quality product, and they will come.

And they did. In 2022, business significantly improved, with revenue of about $500,000, the chef said, a more than respectable figure for a storefront with 26 seats, beer, wine and one cocktail.

Word has spread of Flores masa made the old way. Hes begun selling dough and tortillas to other restaurants. In 2023, he said he wants to find a larger space. Have masa, will grow.

Copyright 2023 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit ReviewJournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Meta Sued Over Youth Addiction to Social Media

Meta Platforms Inc.'s logo is seen on a smartphone in an illustration picture taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

The San Mateo County Board of Education is suing Facebooks parent company, Meta, claiming that CEO Mark Zuckerbergs company has contributed to the mental health crisis among youths by intentionally designing its social media platform to be manipulative and addictive.

The Board of Education added Meta to a complaint it filed on March 13 in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco against a string of other social media giants, including Google, TikTok owner Bytedance, and Snap Inc.

Metas headquarters are in Menlo Park, California, a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County.

The lawsuit (pdf) states that the nations children, adolescents, and teenagers are facing what is perhaps the most serious mental health crisis ever.

Powerful corporations who wield unmatched, highly concentrated technology in pursuit of profit are knowingly creating this unprecedented mental health crisis, the plaintiffs wrote.

YouTube, Snap, TikTok, Meta, and their related companies have carefully cultivated the crisis, which is a featurenot a bugof their social media products, they wrote.

Even with only a small glimpse into what the YouTube, Meta, TikTok, and Snap companies know about this crisis, the public can now fairly conclude that the social media defendants conduct was no accident, but rather that defendants acted knowingly, deliberately, and intentionally, they added.

A person watches on a smartphone Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveil the META logo in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)

Meta Unambiguously Targets Teenagers

With regards to Meta, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, plaintiffs claim that the company has expended significant resources to attract youth, teens, and preteens to its platform in an effort to maximize revenue and advertisement profits through various design features and products that appeal to them.

Meta unambiguously targets teenagers. In 2018, Instagram committed nearly its entire $390 million annual marketing budget toward teens, the plaintiffs wrote.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that Metas social media platforms are optimized to exploit the neurochemical reward pathways of users, and that due to childrens increased desire for social development, affirmation, and approval from others, they are led to a bottomless, endless cycle of feed strolling, liking, posting, commenting, and reciprocating.

It also claims that Metas use of complex algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning promotes habit-forming patterns among youths, leading them to excessive use of the platforms.

The plaintiffs cite a Harvard University study that showed social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram produce the same neural circuitry that is caused by gambling and recreational drugs.

Studies have shown that the constant stream of retweets, likes, and shares from these sites cause the brains reward area to trigger the same kind of chemical reaction seen with drugs like cocaine, the study states. In fact, neuroscientists have compared social media interaction to a syringe of dopamine being injected straight into the system.

In addition, the lawsuit cites former Meta employee turned whistleblower, Frances Haugen, who in 2021 leaked documents to The Wall Street Journal showing that Meta was aware as early as 2019 that Instagram had a toxic impact on the self-esteem of young girls.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew prepares to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, on March 23, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

TikTok Congressional Hearing

Those documents stated that internal research conducted by Meta, then Facebook, showed that Instagram caused body image issues to worsen for at least one-third of teenage girls on the platform. At the time, Haugen accused Facebook of repeatedly putting profit before doing what was good for the public.

However, Zuckerberg responded to her claims in a statement at the time noting that the company cares deeply about issues like safety, well-being, and mental health, and had employed more people dedicated to fighting harmful content on the platforms than any other company in our space.

The San Mateo County Board of Educations lawsuit accuses social media companies of being a public nuisance, of negligence, gross negligence, conspiracy, and unfair competition.

Meta states (pdf) on its official website that it provides multiple tools for both children and parents to ensure they can enjoy a safe experience when using their platforms, including age-verification tools, limiting ad-targeting options for teens, restricting advertising topics for youths, and take a break reminders on Instagram.

The Epoch Times has contacted a Meta spokesperson for comment.

The lawsuit against Meta comes amid growing concerns among those in the Biden administration over the national security concerns posed by Chinese-owned TikTok.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared before a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the first time ever on March 23 to discuss concerns regarding the apps privacy and data, as well as its impact on children.
Michigan Court Denies Appeal, Says School Shooters Parents Can Face Manslaughter Trial

Ethan Robert Crumbley (L), 15, charged with first-degree murder in a high school shooting, in a jail booking photograph taken at the Oakland County Jail in Pontiac, Mich., on Dec. 1, 2021. His parents, Jennifer Lynn Crumbley (C) and James Robert Crumbley (R) were taken into custody on Dec. 3, 2021. (Oakland County Sheriff's Office/Handout via Reuters)

The parents of a Michigan high school student who shot and killed four classmates can face trial on manslaughter charges, a state appeals court said Thursday.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first parents to be charged for their role in a school shooting, each face four counts of involuntary manslaughter after four students were killed and seven people were wounded at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021, when their 15-year-old son Ethan opened fire during school hours.

The defense attorneys for the couple have filed appeals with the state supreme court to strike down the charges, arguing that Jennifer and James were not directly involved in the shooting and that their son bears complete responsibility for his planned attack and the resulting deaths.

The Michigan Court of Appeals disagreed with that argument. In an order published Thursday morning, a panel of three judges said the couples actions and inactions were inexorably intertwined with their sons actions.

This connection exists not simply because of the parent-child relationship but also because of the facts showing that defendants were actively involved in [Ethan Crumbleys] mental state remaining untreated, that they provided him with the weapon used to kill the victims, and that they refused to remove him from the situation that led directly to the shootings, Judge Christopher Murray wrote in the unanimous opinion.

Ethan, a sophomore at Oxford High in Oxford Township, Michigan, at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty last October to all 24 charges against him, including one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

According to Oakland County prosecutors, Jennifer and James were called to the school on the morning of Nov. 30 by a concerned school counselor who found that Ethan had drawn on a math worksheet images of a body with two bleeding bullet holes in the torso and a gun similar to the SIG Sauer 9 millimeter pistol gifted from his parents, and wrote Blood everywhere, The thoughts wont stop Help me, My life is useless, and The world is dead. The couple refused to take their son home after the 15-minute meeting.

A photo was taken by Ethan Crumbleys math teacher of the drawings and writings he made hours before the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting. (State of Michigan Court of Appeals)

When given the option to help [Ethan] and take him out of school, defendants did nothing. They did not, contrary to the recommendations of [the school counselor], take [Ethan] home and get him immediate medical help, Murray wrote in the opinion, describing the teenagers actions as a reasonably foreseeable outcome of his parents alleged negligence.

Nor, when they decided to leave him at school, did they tell school officials about [Ethans] history of mental health issues nor explain to them that [Ethan] had access to a gun similar to the one he drew on the math worksheet.

In response to concerns that Thursdays decision might set a precedent where parents could be charged for violent acts committed by their children, the judges said this decision is solely based on recorded evidence unique to this particular case and doesnt challenge any established principle regarding criminal responsibility for the acts of a child.

The principle that grossly negligent or intentional acts are generally superseding causes remains intact, they explained. We simply hold that with these unique facts, and in this procedural posture and applicable standard of review, this case falls outside the general rule regarding intentional acts because [Ethans] acts were reasonably foreseeable, and that is the ultimate test that must be applied.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Oakland County Circuit Court dismissed all lawsuits brought by victims and families of victims of the shooting against the Oxford school district and Oxford High employees, declaring that the school system is shielded by governmental immunity.

The four students killed were 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.
National Cybersecurity Strategy Tasks Software Developers With Protecting Cyberspace

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting about cybersecurity in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 25, 2021 in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Three weeks after the White House released its long-awaited National Cybersecurity Strategy, Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden testified before a House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation.

The strategy calls for software developers to take responsibility for defending cyberspace, a move that will rebalance the responsibility for managing cyber risk onto those who are most able to bear it, Walden said on March 23.

Software developers are better equipped to protect cyberspace than end users like businesses, individuals, and local governments, she said.

The biggest, most capable, and best-positioned actors in our digital ecosystem can and should shoulder a greater share of the burden for managing cyber risk and keeping us all safe.

Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.) noted that, even with trying to implement the best cybersecurity possible, businesses of all sizes can fall victim to attacks.

Do you think that the federal government has a role in backstopping those businesses, assuming theyre doing everything possible to avoid an attack? Timmons asked Walden.

She responded that the United States government has a responsibility and a duty to make sure that cyberspace is safe.

Protecting Businesses

The private sector pretty much owns and controls most of the infrastructure that underlines cyberspace, so we have to work together, Walden explained. One of the core tenets of the cybersecurity strategy is to make sure that those small and medium businesses dont bear the significant brunt of cybersecurity risks all on their own.

As part of its 10-year plan, the strategy includes exploring a national insurance backstop to supplement the existing cyber insurance market in the case of a catastrophic cyber attack, incentivizing long-term investments into cybersecurity, prioritizing cybersecurity research and development for newer technologies, and spending money on expanding the cyber workforce.

A focus on international partnerships with like-minded nations to fight threats and establish secure global supply chains for communications technology is also part of the framework.

The governments of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other autocratic states with hostile intent are aggressively using advanced cyber capabilities to pursue objectives that harm U.S. interests and global peace and security, Walden said. Their disruptive and destabilizing cyberspace behavior is threatening both U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Chinas growing cyber capabilities have brought warnings from U.S. officials with growing concerns about targeting the power grid, polluting waterways, and hijacking telecommunications.

Attacks against our critical infrastructure in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is unfortunately not farfetched, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly told an audience at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in late February.

Urgency of Threats Is Real

The urgency of the threats we face in cyberspace is real. The world is entering a new phase of deepening digital dependencies, Walden said. Driven by emerging technologies and ever more complex and interdependent systems, dramatic shifts in the coming decade will unlock new possibilities for human flourishing and prosperity, but also multiply the systemic risks posed by unsecure systems.

Today, an attack on one organization, sector, or state can rapidly spill over to other sectors and regions. Malicious cyber activity has evolved from nuisance defacement to espionage and intellectual property theft, damaging attacks against critical infrastructure, ransomware attacks and cyber-enabled influence campaigns designed to undermine public trust in the foundation of our democracy, Walden added.

In 2015, the U.S. Office of Personal Management (OPM) was hit with a data breach that targeted around 22.1 million records, including documents related to government employees, and individuals who had undergone background checks, and their family members and friends. Records of millions of fingerprints were also hacked.

The OPM breach resulted in a Congressional investigation and the resignation of OPM executives.

Multiple federal agencies were victimized when software supplier SolarWinds was hacked in 2020.

A 2021 attack on the Colonial Pipeline shut down gasoline supplies on the East Coast.

In my state, we saw Colonial Pipeline hacked, and thats when we saw gas prices start to go up, and they really have never come back down since then, said Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), chair of the Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation subcommittee. This is an issue that affects everybody, whether in the public or the private sector. Aside from the enormous costs, these breaches erode trust and key institutions.

The administration has said it intends to work with Congress on measures that would hold software makers liable for security flaws along with other regulations.

According to the White House, the current practice of allowing private sector companies to meet voluntary cybersecurity standards has produced inadequate and inconsistent outcomes, and regulations would level the playing field.

House Republicans Push Back

House Republicans have pushed back on some of the strategys language.

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) is chairman of its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Committee.

After Bidens cybersecurity plan was announced, Green and Garbarino issued a statement encouraging the administration to streamline existing regulations and support partnerships instead of punishing private sector businesses.

The key to building trust with our private sector partners is employing harmonization across government, rather than encouraging disparate and competing efforts, the statement explained. We must clarify federal cybersecurity roles and responsibilities, not create additional burdens, to minimize confusion and redundancies across the government.

Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said that serious numbers of government employees will retire over the next five years and asked Walden her thoughts about how to persuade millennials to choose public service over the private sector.

In my experience, you cant imagine yourself in a particular career unless you see yourself in that career. So its important to me, for example, to make sure that I am out there in front, motivating people to consider this, Walden said.

The private sector cannot compete with the government on mission. And quite frankly, the government cannot compete with the private sector on pay. We can do better. And thats one of the opportunities were looking at in this new legislative proposal, being flexible on how we pay. she said. But what we really offer is the mission, and a sense of moral enlightenment.
North Korea Says It Tested Underwater Drone Capable of Generating Radioactive Tsunami

People watch a television news screen showing a picture of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un witnessing the recent test-firing of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at a railway station in Seoul on March 17, 2023. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

North Korea tested an underwater attack drone capable of generating a super-scale radioactive tsunami that would destroy enemy naval striker groups and ports, the regimes official mouthpiece said on Friday.

The regimes Central Military Commission commanded the drills from March 21 to 23, state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

KCNA said the drone was deployed off the coast of Riwon County in South Hamgyong province on Tuesday and reached the target point in the waters off Hongwon Bay, set as a mock enemy port on Thursday.

According to the report, the nuclear-capable drone cruised underwater at a depth of 80 to 150 meters (262 to 492 feet) in the East Sea of Korea for 59 hours and 12 minutes before detonating underwater on Thursday.

KCNA said the secret weapon was named unmanned underwater nuclear attack craft Haeil at the 8th Congress of the ruling Workers Party in 2021, and has undergone more than 50 shakedowns in the past two years.

The drone is designed to stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy, it stated.

This nuclear underwater attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation, the agency said.

Strategic Cruise Missile Launches

North Korea also test-fired four strategic cruise missiles tipped with a test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead on March 22, according to KCNA.

The missiles were launched from the South Hamgyong province and flew 1,500 kilometers to 1,800 kilometers (932 to 1,118 miles) for 7,557 to 7,567 seconds and 9,118 to 9,129 seconds, respectively, it stated.

An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is launched in this undated photo released on Nov. 19, 2022, by North Koreas Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). (KCNA via Reuters)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to make the United States and South Korea realize that they are bound to lose more than they get and face a greater threat over their expansion of war drills in the region, KCNA reported.

South Korea detected North Koreas multiple missile launches at around 10.15 a.m. (local time) but did not elaborate.

The cruise missile launches came just three days after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile that landed outside Japans exclusive economic zone.

South Korea and the United States staged air drills over the Korean Peninsula on March 19, featuring South Korean F-35A stealth fighters and U.S. B-1B strategic bombers.

The two allies wrapped up their 11-day Freedom Shield exercise on Thursday, which featured live exercises with constructive simulations focused on North Koreas aggression.

U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Battalion prepare for a Warrior Shield live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon on March 22, 2023, as part of the Freedom Shield joint military exercise. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States and South Korea have said that their joint military drills are defensive in nature, but North Korea regards them as a rehearsal for an invasion.

Hwasong-17 ICBM Launch

On March 16, North Korea launched its largest Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in retaliation for the Freedom Shield exercises.

The ICBM was launched hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol flew to Japan for a summit that discussed ways to counter the nuclear-armed North.

Photos released by North Koreas state media showed Kim watching the ICBM launch with his daughter and included pictures from space, apparently shot by a camera mounted on the missile.

KCNA said the missile was launched from Pyongyangs airport, and traveled up to a maximum altitude of 6,045 kilometers (3,756 miles), and flew a distance of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) for 69 minutes before falling into the open sea.

The Hwasong-17 is known to be North Koreas largest ICBM, estimated to have a range of over 13,000 kilometers (8,078 miles), making it capable of striking any location in the continental United States.

The United States has persisted in engaging in direct talks with North Korea without preconditions in favor of a diplomatic solution, but North Korea has rebuffed these efforts.

Reuters contributed to this report.
NSW Voters Head to Polls in Tightly Contested Election

A person casts their vote during Australia's general election at a polling station at Bondi Beach in Sydney on May 21, 2022. (Steven Saphore/AFP via Getty Images)

Voting is under way in New South Wales (NSW), with more than four million people across the state set to decide who will form government for the next four years.

By Mar. 24 close to a quarter of the states 5.5 million voters had cast their ballots, with nearly 1.2 million people pre-polling and 92,000 lodging postal votes.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns have campaigned hard in key seats in western Sydney, where one in 10 Australians live and could well decide the election result.

Perrottet is expected to vote in his seat of Epping, in Sydneys northwest while Minns will cast his vote in the seat of Kogarah, in the citys south, which he holds by a 0.1 percent margin.

The premier is seeking a fourth consecutive four-year term for his Liberal-National coalition on a platform of responsible financial management he says would fund life-changing infrastructure.

It would be the first time the party has managed the feat since 1973.

It is only the Liberals and the Nationals with the long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward, Perrottet told reporters on Friday.

Minns has offered voters the chance for a fresh start under Labor, including removing a wage cap on struggling public service workers and promising not to further privatise public assets.

At this election you can cast a vote for positive change, Minns said in a final message to voters.

On the eve of the election, Newspoll showed Labor leading the coalition 54.5 to 45.5 on a two-party preferred basis.

This would represent a 6.5 percent swing against the coalition since 2019, putting Labor on a path to claim the 10 seats needed to form a majority government.

The poll put Labors primary vote at 38 percent compared to the coalition vote at 35 percent and found Minns had overtaken Perrottet as preferred premier.

A raft of minor party and independent candidates vying for the cross bench could make the difference in the event of a minority government, with the Greens and teals vowing to hold the government to account on climate and other progressive reforms.

Rising financial pressure on families and businesses has put cost of living front and centre of the election, with both parties promising relief in the form of rebates on energy bills and caps on road tolls.

NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said special assistance was available for those who needed it such as the blind, deaf or anyone needing a translator.

Voters have until 6pm to cast their ballots.
The Manhattan District Attorneys office received a threatening letter on March 24, containing a suspicious white powder. This comes as District Attorney Alvin Bragg remains silent about the status of his investigation into former President Donald Trump allegedly paying hush money to an adult film actress leading into the 2016 election. Since Monday, Bragg has called off two grand jury meetings and is reevaluating his case.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. The bill would do several things, each with the overarching goal of ensuring that parents know whats going on in their childrens classrooms.

President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Canada partnership in his address to the Canadian Parliament, after bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Opposition MPs Reproach Pharmaceutical Execs for Not Releasing Unredacted Vaccine Contracts

The first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose in Canada is prepared at The Michener Institute in Toronto on Dec. 14, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn)

Conservative MPs on the public accounts committee admonished pharmaceutical executives on March 23 for refusing to release unredacted versions of their companies vaccine contracts with the federal government.

We are not asking for it for public release. We are asking for it so that the small group of members of Parliamentwho have been charged with holding the government accountable in these areascan privately review these documents and provide recommendations to the government, Conservative MP Garnett Genuis told the executives.

It makes me wonder what is in it that is so damaging to you, or to the government, that allowing members of Parliament to privately review them would be such a concern.

Representatives from Moderna, Pfizer Canada, Medicago Inc., and SANOFI Canada testified before the committee, while AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Novovax declined to attend the hearing.

Toshifumi Tada, president and CEO of Medicago, said that given the companys announcement that it will be shutting down operations, it was not opposed to sharing the unredacted version of the vaccine contract.

However, we request that the committee will keep the confidentiality of our commercial and preclinical information in the contract in the context of its audit, he said.

In the other pharmaceutical companies opening statements, they argued that their contracts contained commercial and technical information that needed to remain confidential.

Najah Sampson, president of Pfizer Canada, said the MPs request to view the confidential agreements with the government sends a very concerning signal about how this country upholds its contractual obligations, and could challenge its reputation as a reliable partner for future contracts across all business sectors.

A motion to look at the contracts between the federal government and COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers was tabled on Feb. 13, but on Feb. 16 an amendment was introduced stipulating that MPs would need to sign non-disclosure agreements before viewing the contracts.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who introduced the amendment, argued that the reason there were so many redactions was that the companies were exposed to way higher liability for quickly rushing the vaccines to market without the usual long-term testing.

The Situation Is Outrageous

Genuis argued that since Parliament is the supreme lawmaking body, MPs have the unfettered, constitutionally protected right to request the unredacted documents.

The situation is outrageous and Im extremely frustrated by it, he said. We have witnesses who dont understand how the law works, who dont understand the fact that a parliamentary committee is unfettered in its right to access documents.

Sampson replied that she understood the direction the committee would like to take. I am not refuting any of the authorities that have been placed with this committee, but it is still Pfizers position that we not provide an unredacted contract, she said.

Conservative MP Kelly McCauley noted that the Pfizer vaccine contracts had already been leaked by the consumer rights advocacy group Public Citizen. The group said Pfizer used its power to shift risk and maximize profits and to consistently place Pfizers interests before public health imperatives.

McCauley asked the executives whether any leaks of the contracts had come from Canada, to which they replied they had not. So this narrative that 11 MPs in a guarded room with no phones or copiers or any ability to copy anything is somehow a risk to Canadian investment from Moderna and Pfizer, were just putting that to bed, he said.

Conservative MP Michael Kram made the point that parliamentary committees often deal with sensitive matters, such as military documents during the war in Afghanistan.

So what is it about the vaccine contracts that make them so much more sensitive than troop movements in Afghanistan or new fighter jets? he asked.

Sampson replied that there are commercially sensitive cases within vaccine contracts, as well as proprietary information. Pfizer hasnt provided that contract information unredacted anywhere around the world, voluntarily, and thats not a precedent that we believe needs to be set here in Canada, she said.

NDP MP Blake Desjarlais asked the executives if they felt that the confidential process of Canadas Parliament is insufficient for the purposes of reviewing your contracts in a confidential way?

Patricia Gauthier, president and general manager of Moderna Canada, replied that the company had not provided any unredacted copies of the agreements to any governments.

There are very strict confidentiality clauses in the agreement that would put us at breach, should we go outside of what is provided in these agreements and share these agreements in an unredacted manner, she said.
HONG KONG, March 24 (Xinhua) -- An international financial regulatory conference co-organized by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) concluded Friday in Hong Kong, with insights on how to enhance the resilience of the banking system.

The conference brought together over 100 senior officials of central banks and regulatory authorities as well as top executives of financial institutions from more than 25 economies.

It also marked Hong Kong's first large-scale conference for the international financial regulatory community after all social distancing measures in the city were lifted in early March and normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland resumed.

It followed a two-day meeting of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision held in Hong Kong from March 22 to 23, which was the first physical meeting of the committee outside of Basel, Switzerland since COVID-19 broke out.

Speakers also exchanged views on better preparing for the future in light of the opportunities and challenges brought about by crypto assets, from the perspectives of both financial regulators and market players.

Chief Executive of the HKMA Eddie Yue said these are the first large-scale international meetings for the financial regulatory community after Hong Kong's full return to normal, and the enthusiastic response to these two events is a clear testimony to Hong Kong's return to the international arena.

Several more international financial meetings are in the pipeline this year to showcase "Hong Kong is back," he said. 
Orange County Nonprofit Sounds Alarm on Rising Domestic Violence Cases

An Orange County nonprofit is advocating for increased awareness of signs of spousal abuse following a recent study showing a spike in women subject to such violence in the United States during the first nearly two years of the pandemic.

The March 14 study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analyzed over 13,000 female participants under 60 years old across the country. It found violence from intimate partners increased as expected, as the pandemics stay-at-home orders further isolated victims with their abusers.

Women who experienced such abuse during the pandemic lockdowns suffered higher rates of mental health conditions, substance abuse, and sleep disorders, according to the study.

Human Options, an Irvine-based nonprofit that provides aid to local victims of spousal abuse and educates the public on such issues, has cited similar trends.

The nonprofit reported an over 30 percent spike in victims seeking mental health counseling since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Human Options CEO Maricela Rios-Faust told The Epoch Times.

(Courtesy of Human Options)

Common Signs of Abuse

In light of the recent spike in mental health issues surrounding victims of spousal abuse, Faust urged the public to look out for common signs of abuse.

Among the over 300 women and children the nonprofit serves, Faust said she witnessed many with trouble sleeping, as was found in the American Medical Association study.

Faust recalled a woman staying at the shelter who had trouble falling asleep and getting out of bed in the morning had previously faced abuse from her spouse at night and subsequently suffered severe anxiety and night terrors when attempting to fall asleep at the shelter.

Thats why its really important to consider trouble sleeping as a symptom of abuse. Thats a common one that gets overlooked because its so common, Faust said.

(Courtesy of Human Options)

Other signs, according to Faust, include a sudden change in demeanor or behavior such as decreased energy and self-esteem, avoiding eye contact, fear or nervousness when the victims spouse is nearby, changes in the way the victim is dressed, and increasing isolation from the victim and their friends and loved ones.

One of the biggest signs of abuse is isolation. Its one of the main ways an abuser uses to control the victim, Faust said.

Faust also encouraged loved ones to keep an eye out for physical signs of abuse including new or increasing amounts of injuries including bruises, cuts, and swelling, or more serious injuries like broken bones.

According to Faust, many victims also face psychological mistreatment in which the abuser will deliberately hurt or injure the victim, then deny such actions, causing the victim to question their own reality, thus making it more difficult for the victim to discern such abuse over time.

How to Help Victims of Abuse

For those concerned about potential domestic abuse faced by a loved one, Faust said they should continually ask if the victim feels safe when the spouse is not around. Consistently being there for the victim and ensuring them it is safe to share their experiences is key, Faust says.

Oftentimes victims are repeatedly being told by their abuser that no one cares about them or will believe them if they do come forward. Thats why consistently telling [victims] they can come to you for help is so important, Faust said. Its also not always safe for them to share [their abuse].

(Courtesy of Human Options)

Faust said some victims may have trouble recognizing that what they are facing is abuse, often becoming emotionally disconnected from their situation in order to cope with their trauma. In such instances, continually monitoring the victims wellbeing is encouraged, until they are able to seek help for themselves.

In addition to a 24-hour hotline for victims in crisis, the nonprofit also has a walk-in clinic to connect those in need with resources including restraining orders, mental health counseling, and more, as well as multiple shelters for those in need of housing.

If you or someone you know is suffering from spousal abuse, call Human Options on their 24 hour crisis hotline at (877)-854-3594 or visit their website at HumanOptions.org
Physical Disruption the New Left Tactic: New South Wales MP

Transgender rights demonstrators are seen during a protest against an event by British activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull at the Tasmanian Parliament House lawns in Hobart, Australia on March 21, 2023. (AAP Image/Ethan James)

Extreme leftists are physically disrupting events if they fail to intimidate their opponents into silence, says One Nations New South Wales leader Mark Latham.

His comments come after several rallies in Australia against transgender individuals entering womens spaces were met with strong counter-protests that effectively hijacked media attention.

The left in Australian politicsI suppose around the worldno longer engages in evidence-based argument, Latham told Sky News Australia on March 23.

Their main tactic is about feelingsits the vibefeelings should prevail over facts.

And when that doesnt work, theres this growing tendency to take direct physical action to close down the speech of the person whos the main speaker at these events.

The One Nation leader was set to speak at St. Michaels Church Belfield in Sydney on March 21 when police suggested he cancel his participation because a small group of LGBT+ protestors began blockading the entrance and protesting.

NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham speaks to media during a press conference outside Canterbury Bankstown Council Chambers in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 20, 2023. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

Theres a suggestion today [that] they broke a crucifix and were in the process of burning it. So they were there to cause trouble, Latham said.

The tactic is to go there to cause trouble, disrupt, physically interrupt the proceedings, and be part of cancel culture. So, this is the new left tactic, he added. I just find it a little bit sick, certainly undemocratic and unworthy of our nation.

Latham has been a vocal critic of young children being taught gender fluidity and transgenderism in public schools.

The One Nation leader also said the major parties had all lurched towards the progressive left.

[We] worked out the policy settlement through the whole Howard-Costello era. Australia pretty well had it right. Why did we ever change? Why did we ever regress? he said.

The New South Wales Liberal Party, theyve been a victim of a pincer movement, the diversity and inclusion corporate mob on one side and the renewable rent-seekers on the other have diminished their political base  I suppose some globalists have captured them as well, he added.

Should New South Wales have four woke, left-wing parties? Labor, the Greens, Liberal, and National Party, he said. I proudly say One Nation is there as policy traditionalists in the mainstream for all the things that worked well for us in the 1990s.

Chaos Follows Public Debate Around Transgenderism

Counter-protestors confronted the LGBTIA+ activists in front of St Michaels Church Belfield on March 21.

The group included Christians, Muslims, and non-religious individuals, said Charlie Bakhos, current organiser of Christian Lives Matters.

Clashes erupted, however, with bottles being thrown at police while a live streamer was knocked over.

Read More Clashes Erupt Outside Sydney Church Over Anti-Trans Speech

Three men have been charged for the confrontation, including Christian Sukkar, who posted a video online calling on counter-protestors to shake them up and drag them by the [expletive] head.

He later told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he regretted the video.

Im very apologetic if my message turned very harmful  if they took my comments as an incitement of hate, he said.

The incident in Sydney was one of a series where LGBT+ supporters followed and protested against those they deemed were anti-trans.

Rallies fronted by British womens rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (also known as Posie Parker) drew the most attention.

LGBTIA+ supporters have counter-protested at Let Women Speak rallies across Melbourne, Tasmania, and Canberraoften outnumbering womens rights advocates several times over.

In Canberra, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe caused a scene when she interrupted a speechwhile waving the Aboriginal flagby Keen-Minshull and was confronted by police before being dragged to the ground.

The former Greens senator then crawled away from the police before getting up and walking towards the counter-protestors.

Womens rights advocates Katherine Deves and Senator Claire Chandler expressed fears over their personal safety, particularly after police allowed neo-Nazi protestors to enter the same area they were rallying in during the Melbourne event.
Poilievre Meets With Biden, Raises Vaccine Requirement Issue for Canadians Visiting US

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on, during a welcoming ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 24, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

OTTAWACanadas leader of the Official Opposition Pierre Poilievre brought up the issue of lifting vaccine requirements for Canadians visiting the United States in a brief meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on March 24, according to a Conservative Party statement.

The March 2324 visit marked Bidens first in-person trip to Canada since becoming U.S. president.

Poilievre also raised the issue of foreign election interference in Canadian elections, and committed to supporting common national defence interests, and to invest in and modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).

Poilievre also expressed his desire to end softwood lumber tariffs that affect both the Canadian and American economies, and exempt Canada from protectionist Buy America rules, the statement said.

In his initial greeting with Biden, Poilievre introduced himself as leader of His Majestys Loyal Opposition to which Biden responded, Loyal opposition?

Poilievre then said, We believe that opposition is an act of loyalty in our system.

We do too, unfortunately, Biden replied.

Joint Statement

Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement with commitments to drive progress on shared priorities such as growing the middle class, making life more affordable for people, and creating good jobs through clean energy and economic integration.

Biden said in his message to Parliament that hes never felt more optimistic in his life about the inflection point Canada and the United States are at. His speech was warmly received.

The two leaders are also aiming to take action on the climate to protect the environment. They spoke about defending North America, and advancing peace and security around the world.

To work on making life more affordable and creating good, middle-class jobs, the two leaders agreed to continue discussions to carve-in Canadian goods into Buy America requirements.

Canada and the U.S. share the longest land border in the world, which is close to 9,000 km in length.

The two countries also share one of the worlds largest trading relationships, with over $1 trillion in bilateral trade in goods and services in 2021, making Canada the largest U.S. trading partner in goods and services.
Poilievre Says He Will Stand Up to Woke Corporations

OTTAWAConservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre levelled criticism at the woke movement and the corporations that have adopted the ideology to further their interests, at a conference on March 23.

This is Woke Inc. Its about large corporations in regulated oligopolies winning political favour by throwing around politically correct statements and advancing an agenda that makes no sense to anyone but them, Poilievre said.

The Tory leader was delivering a keynote address at the Canada Strong & Free Network conference in Ottawa, an event presided over this year by Jamil Jivani, a former radio host on a Bell Media platform.

Poilievres comments on Woke Inc. were in relation to Jivanis situation. He was fired by Bell last year for his open disdain of the companys diversity initiatives and his work surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Post.

Jivani says he was fired for not toeing the companys woke ideological line and is suing the media giant.

This woke movement is an attack on the freedom of speech of ordinary people and the common sense of Canadians, Poilievre said, while noting the situation of psychologist and public intellectual Jordan Peterson, whos under threat of sanction by his professional college.

He remarked that Petersons reposting of one of his tweets is one of the reasons cited by the College of Psychologists of Ontario for wanting to discipline its member.

Poilievre said Canadians can count on him to stand up to woke corporations and to defend the right to free expression.

The woke ideology is a mixture of radical postmodern theories seeking to upend established laws and norms, which are perceived as maintaining systems of oppression such as white supremacy or the traditional family.

The ideology, which first conquered university campuses and can now be found in every sphere of society, whether in high schools or the military, includes diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.

The adoption of the ideology by large corporations has been the subject of a book specifically called Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate Americas Social Justice Scam, written by financier and now U.S. presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Harpers Advice

The previous day at the conference, former prime minister Stephen Harper gave the keynote address and said he expects Poilievre will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister.

Harper advised Poilievre to indicate a direction youre going to go, but its not to talk about how you would run the country, its to hold the government accountable for how it is running the country and to point where there is mismanagement, incompetence and corruption.

He said the liberal media are trying to make Poilievre the issue and hold him accountable.

The government continues on what I think is for the most part a pretty poor course, and theyre off the hook. The time to tell people about your alternatives in detail is in an election campaign.

Poilievres main focus as Conservative leader has been to criticize the government on the cost-of-living crisis, but he has pressed on other issues as theyve come along, such as the McKinsey contracts and foreign interference by the Chinese Communist Party.

He also talked about the spread of the woke left during his video address at the Canada Strong & Free Network conference in Red Deer last fall, calling on conservatives to get involved at levels to push back against the ideology.

Based in Calgary, the Canada Strong & and Free Network (formerly the Manning Centre) is a not-for-profit political advocacy group that was established in 2005 by Reform Party founder Preston Manning to promote conservative principles.

Program

Poilievres address in Ottawa levelled criticism at a number of current government and societal trends, but he also outlined what he would do if at the helm of the country.

To balance the budget, he said that every new dollar of spending would need to be accompanied by a dollar of savings.

Poilievre reiterated a promise made in mid-March to sue the pharmaceutical companies for $45 billion in damages for the opioid crisis.

He also said he would repeal previous bills that have hampered the exploitation and exportation of natural resources, as well as the yet-to-be-adopted Bill C-11 revamping the Broadcasting Act.

A Poilievre government will not only repeal the censorship law C-11, but we will require every university that gets federal funds to commit itself to honouring the freedom and expression that we are guaranteed in our Charter of Rights, he said.

Bill C-11 will give the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission regulatory power over facets of the internet. Its been returned to the Commons after Senate amendments, with the government rejecting an amendment related to excluding user-generated content earlier this month.

The government says the bill is necessary to promote Canadian content and level the playing field with American media producers.

Peter Wilson contributed to this report.
Questions Without Answers About Ukraine

Flags are displayed at a funeral ceremony in Poltava, amid Russias military invasion on Ukraine, on March 22, 2023. (Ihor Tkachov/AFP/Getty Images)

Commentary

Ukrainians, and many Europeans and Americans, are defining an envisioned Ukrainian victory as the complete expulsion of all Russians from its 2013 borders. Or, as a Ukrainian national security chief put it, the war ends with Ukrainian tanks in Red Square.

But mysteries remain about such ambitious agendas.

What would that goal entail?

Giving Ukraine American F-16s to strike bases and depots in Mother Russia? The gifting of 1,000 M1 Abrams tanks? Using American Harpoon missiles to sink the Russian Black Sea fleet?

A huge arsenal that would guarantee total victory rather than not losing?

Russias cruel strategy is to grind down Ukraine and turn its eastern regions into a Verdun-like deathscape.

So is a brave Ukraine really winning the war when it loses about 0.6 soldiers for every Russian it kills?

Russia plans to leverage its extra 100 million people, its 10-times larger economy, and its 30-times larger territory to pulverize Ukraine and tire its Western patronswhatever the costs to Russia.

Yet why were only a few in past administrations calling for a joint Western effort to expel Putins forces from the borderlands and Crimea captured in 2014?

Why are Putins 2014 invasions now seen as urgent rectifiable crimes of aggression in 2022, but were not regarded as reparable during the prior eight years?

Is the United States economically capable or politically unified or socially stable enough to wage a huge proxy war on the frontiers of a nuclear Russia?

During the last comparable multibillion-dollar military effortsthe First Gulf War in 19901991 and the 2003 invasion of Iraqthe ratio of American debt to GDP was respectively 40 and 50 percent.

Today it hovers at nearly three times that figure at 129 percent, given some $33 trillion in accumulated debt.

Currently, the American economy is entering a stagflationary crisis. Banking, real estate, and financial sectors seem on the brink of imploding, especially after the near-record multibillion-dollar collapse of Sam Bankman-Frieds FTX, and the meltdowns of the Silicon Valley and Signature banks.

About 7 million illegal entries have occurred across the southern border since January 2021 alone. Millions of new impoverished foreign nationals tax social services, spike crime, and strain relations with an increasingly antagonistic Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

An emboldened Lopez Obrador now brags that 40 million of his countrymen have cumulatively crossed the border, many illegally. He urges them to vote for Democratic candidates to ensure more open borders.

Last year, over 100,000 Americans died of opiate overdoses. Most of the deaths were attributable to Mexican cartels brazen export of fentanyl across an open border.

Nearly a million Americans have likely died of such overdoses since 2000more than double the number of fatalities in World War II.

Given its shell-shocked inner cities and toxic downtowns, America is beginning to resemble mid-19th-century England, which sent forces all over its global empire while novelist Charles Dickens chronicled the misery and poverty at the imperial core in London.

Is the Ukrainian war also creating the most dangerous anti-American alliance since World War II?

China is buying cheap Russian oil while stealthily supplying its weapons.

India, normally a rock-solid democratic ally, keeps buying banned Russian oil and armaments.

Most of the major countries in South America have not joined the sanctions.

Clients such as nuclear North Korea and soon-to-be nuclear Iran are empowered by overt help from Russia.

NATO member Turkey and once-allied Saudi Arabia appear now friendlier to Iran, China, and Russia than they are to America.

In terms of combined oil reserves, nukes, population, area, and GDP, this new loose coalition of apparent anti-Americans seems more powerful than the United States and its squabbling friends in Europe.

Why were those now calling for a veritable blank check for Ukraine formerly quiet when the United States fled in humiliation from Afghanistan?

Why were they mostly silent when an appeasing President Joe Biden begged Russian President Vladimir Putin at least to spare some U.S. targets on his otherwise extensive anti-American cyberwar hit list?

Or why were they indifferent when Biden said he would have fewer objections if Putins anticipated attack on Ukraine would be minor?

Or why were they not so eager for confrontation when Putin earlier acquired the Eastern Ukrainian borderlands and Crimea in 2014 in the first place?

Or why so subdued when the United States in 20152016 refused to sell Ukrainian offensive weapons?

Why does the United States discount the serial and ascending nuclear threats from Russia but remain careful not to antagonize China?

After all, China sent a spy balloon brazenly across the United States to surveil American strategic locations.

And why is the administration so quiet about a likely leak of an engineered deadly COVID-19 virus from a Chinese virology lab that killed 1 million Americans?

These are Ukrainian war-related questions that never seem to be answeredbut should be as the carnage rises and the nuclear threshold falls.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Rand Paul, Chip Roy Bring Bill to Break Apart Government Health Agency Led by Fauci

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) introduced a bill on Thursday that would break apart the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which Dr. Anthony Fauci previously led.

Dubbed the NIH Reform Act, the bill would break apart NIAID, which is a component agency of the National Institute of Health (NIH). The bill would reallocate the various responsibilities of NIAID into three new separate national research institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases; the National Institute of Infectious Diseases; and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.

Furthermore, the bill would require that the directors of these three new research institutes be subject to a Senate confirmation process, with the directors limited to no more than two five-year terms. In calling for these term limits and Senate confirmation requirements, the Republican lawmakers noted that the NIAIDs previous director, Fauci, had served for nearly four decades before retiring around the end of last year.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for over 38 yearslonger than J. Edgar Hoover was Director of the FBI, the lawmakers wrote. By the time he retired, he was the highest paid official in the entire federal government. Yet the Senate never voted to confirm him once. The law does not require Senate confirmation of the NIAID Director.

Paul and Roy are among a group of Republican lawmakers that have been vocal critics of Fauci, particularly in his leadership on the COVID-19 pandemic and his support for lockdowns, masking, and vaccine mandates.

Weve learned a lot over the past few years, but one lesson in particular is that no one person should be deemed dictator-in-chief. No one person should have unilateral authority to make decisions for millions of Americans, said Paul, an ophthalmologist. To ensure that ineffective, unscientific lockdowns and mandates are never foisted on the American people ever again, Ive introduced this bill to eliminate Dr. Anthony Faucis previous position as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and divide the role into three separate new institutes.

Paul went on to describe the NIAID directorship as a taxpayer funded position that has largely abused its power and has been responsible for many failures and misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roy said that unaccountable public health bureaucracies proved themselves far more adept at ruining lives than saving them.

The Republican lawmakers said the reforms they are proposing are nothing new, noting the FBI director position was limited to a single 10-year term after Hoovers tenure with the agency and Congress eliminated one NIH center in 2012, to replace it with another.

Breaking up Dr. Faucis taxpayer funded bully pulpit into three separate agenciesand requiring Senate confirmation for all their future directorsis one of many actions necessary to allow the American people to hold public health agencies accountable, Roy added.

Paul and Roy introduced their bill with the support of Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)

NTD reached out to NIAID for comment but the organization did not respond before press time.

Paul repeatedly sparred with Fauci during the NIAID directors final months in office. Paul questioned Fauci over the more than $193 million in royalty payments that NIH employees received between 2010 and 2016. The senator also raised allegations that the NIH was involved in gain-of-function research at a virology lab in Wuhan, China, the city where the first COVID-19 cases were reported. Gain-of-function is the modification of bacteria and viruses to increase their transmissibility or virulence. Fauci has denied that the NIH funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan.

From NTD News
Rand Paul: I Wouldnt Vaccinate My Children for COVID Over Myocarditis Risks

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on Thursday that he wouldnt vaccinate his own children for COVID-19 due to numerous studies reporting an elevated risk of myocarditisa type of heart inflammationoccurring after vaccination.

Paul expressed concerns about heart inflammation risks for children during an interview on The Hills Rising, arguing that experiencing an adverse reaction after COVID-19 vaccination is higher versus when getting infected with the virus.

I, frankly, wouldnt vaccinate my children for COVID, the Republican senator said. I think the risks of the vaccine are greater than the risks of the disease. The risks of the disease are almost non-existent.

Pauls suggestion to parents who are still thinking about getting their children vaccinated is to lower the number of doses, explaining that theres a higher risk of myocarditis among young people, especially men, after the second dose.

But, lets say your position is something in between, you think three [doses] are too manywhat about one? he said.

Well, 90 percent of the myocarditis  comes after the second vaccine, he added. If your kids already had COVID, I dont think they need it at all, but lets say you want to give them a vaccine, why not one [dose] instead of three?

Increased Risk

During Thursdays interview, Paul also accused Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel of lying after he claimed during a hearing on Wednesday that boys aged 16 to 24 who took the COVID-19 vaccine have a smaller risk of myocarditis when compared to those infected with the virus.

That is not true, Paul told Bancel before proceeding to enter into evidence peer-reviewed research from the Journal of Vaccines and Annals of Medicine stating the complete opposite of the CEOs data.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 22, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

I also spoke with your president just last week and he readily acknowledged in private that, yes, there is an increased risk of myocarditis, the lawmaker continued, adding The fact that you cant say it in public is quite disturbing.

When Paul was asked to comment on Bancel going against what peer-reviewed research has found, the senator said he guesses the Moderna CEO saw this as a business decision that might hurt sales.

He just seemed more evasive than he was truthful, Paul told Fox News Digital. I was really surprised that he wasnt more forthright. I mean, its not like this is some kind of hidden knowledge. Its been out there for a while.

We put into the record six journal articles that have been peer-reviewed, talking about an enhanced or increased risk of myocarditis, he continued. I guess I was disappointed that he wasnt more forthcoming with it.

On Wednesday, Bancel appeared before a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where he spoke in the defense of the companys decision to drastically increase the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Moderna has proposed that when the government stops its involvement with the procurement and delivery of the vaccine, the price will increase to $130 per dose, which is roughly four times the price at which it was sold to the government during the pandemic.

Post-Vaccination Heart Injuries

The phenomenon of heart inflammation after COVID-19 vaccination has already been noted by many medical professionals and others investigating the matter.

A recent study that was published in the British Medical Journal in February seems to confirm that heart failure, and even death, have occurred among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

The likelihood of heart injury is also thought to be higher after being infected with COVID-19. This is primarily due to inflammation that the virus causes inside the body.

In the study, researchers found that more people experienced myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination than after COVID-19 infection530 versus 109. The data covered people aged 12 and up who had myocarditis listed as a primary or secondary diagnosis for hospital admission since the start of the pandemic.

According to the American Heart Association, citing research from Israel, the risk of young menaged 16 to 19developing myocarditis occurs in about 1 in 15,000 people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meanwhile, recommends children as young as six months old take COVID-19 vaccines, including one updated booster dose. The agency says adverse reactions, or serious health problems, are rare, but can cause long-term health problems.

From NTD News
Rockets Target US Troops in Syria Day After US Strikes, No Casualties Reported

An armoured personnel carrier, part of a U.S. military convoy, patrols in the countryside of Syria's Hasakeh province near the Turkish border on Feb. 18, 2023. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. troops stationed in eastern Syria came under rocket attack on Friday, a day after U.S. forces conducted retaliatory air strikes on Iranian forces operating in Syria.

The barrage of eight rockets targeted U.S. troops stationed near the Al-Omar oil fields in Syrias Deir ez-Zur province at around 8:05 a.m. local time.

We can confirm there was a rocket attack on Green Village in Syria, Maj. John Moore, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said in an emailed statement.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) spokesperson reported no U.S. or coalition personnel were injured, and no equipment or facilities were damaged in this latest attack.

The rocket attack came a day after a U.S. contractor was killed when an explosives-laden drone crashed into a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria. Five U.S. service members and another U.S. contractor were wounded in that attack. U.S. forces determined the suicide drone was of Iranian design and attributed the attack to Iranian-affiliated groups operating in Syria. U.S. forces responded to the Thursday suicide drone attack by launching retaliatory air strikes against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Neither CENTCOM nor the DoD attributed Fridays rocket attack to Iranian forces or their proxies in the area. Still, the incident could be the latest exchange of fire between the U.S. and Iranian-aligned forces in Syria.

A social media post purportedly shows a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter operating over the Deir ez-Zur province in Syria on Friday afternoon.

Situation In Syria

We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said following Thursdays deadly suicide drone attack. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks.

The DoD spokesperson reiterated that U.S. forces will always respond at a time and place of our choosing following the rocket attack on Friday.

It is not known how U.S. forces will respond to Fridays attack.

Kurilla said U.S. forces remain in Syria as part of ongoing efforts to counteract the Islamic State terrorist group ISIS. U.S. and coalition anti-ISIS operations in Syria and Iraq are dubbed Operation Inherent Resolve.

U.S. troops have been operating in Syria since 2014. U.S. special operations forces were among the first to launch a military operation in Syria to rescue Americans captured by ISIS. However, the American hostages could not be located, and the rescue attempt resulted in a prolonged firefight.

U.S. forces launched the broader Operation Inherent Resolve with surveillance flights and airstrikes throughout the country in August 2014. U.S. forces began operating in a more overt capacity within Syria in 2015.

President Donald Trump announced several efforts throughout his presidency to wind down U.S. military operations in Syria but ultimately maintained a U.S. troop presence until the end of his term. Around 900 U.S. troops currently remain in the country under President Joe Bidens administration.

Iranian forces have been operating in Syria in recent years, supporting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his Syrian government forces in the ongoing Syrian civil war. Iranian forces have also targeted ISIS forces in the region.

In recent years, U.S. forces have traded blows with Iranian forces and their proxies throughout Syria and neighboring Iraq. Iran launched a salvo of missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq after Trump ordered a U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and the leader of an Iranian-aligned Iraqi militia traveling in Baghdad, Iraq, January 2020.

U.S. troops came under rocket attack in eastern Syria in January, around the third anniversary of the strike that killed Soleimani.

From NTD News
Russian Deputy Minister Says Threat of Nuclear War Is at Its Highest Point in Recent Decades

Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Gennady Gatilov (L) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (R) attend the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, on March 2, 2023. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

On Wednesday, a high-ranking Russian official said that the threat of nuclear war is higher now than in the past few decades.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov commented in an event titled A World Without START, as Russia sees itself in a de facto open conflict with the United States.

Relations between Russia and the United States, long strained, have worsened since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. In February, Moscow withdrew the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Washington.

Ryabkov said there was no question of Russia reentering the treaty, criticizing what he called Washingtons hostile course toward Moscow.

I wouldnt want to dive into a discussion about whether the likelihood of a nuclear conflict is high today, but it is higher than anything we have had for the past few decades, lets put it that way, the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Ryabkov said Russia was committed to keeping the world safe and free from the threat of nuclear war but added later that Moscow was now in a de facto state of open conflict with the United States.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Washington of participating in the Ukraine war by providing weapons to Kyiv while casting the war as a battle for Russias survival.

The United States and Russiaby far the worlds most significant nuclear powershave said that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought. Still, the conflict in Ukraine has raised fears of a confrontation between Russia and the West.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council chaired by Putin, warned on Thursday about the rising threat of a nuclear war.

Medvedev said in video remarks to reporters that Russias relations with the West have hit an all-time low.

Asked whether the threat of a nuclear conflict has eased, Medvedev responded: No, it hasnt decreased; it has grown. Every day when [sic] they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer.

He has issued a barrage of such strongly-worded statements in the past, blasting the United States and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia. Its been a drastic metamorphosis for the gentle-looking politician, who once was hailed by the West as a liberal hope.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
San Diego Residents Warned of Home-Burglary Series

The thieves are seen in the review of a home security camera footage. (Courtesy of San Diego Police Department)

SAN DIEGOAuthorities advised residents of Miramar Ranch and Rancho Penasquitos March 23 to be extra mindful of their home security due to a burglary series that has targeted the two communities over the past five weeks.

The thieves, wearing masks, gloves, and hooded sweatshirts, have carried out each of the crimes between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., in some cases arriving in a dark-colored SUV, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

After entering the backyard[s] of the targeted homes, one of the [perpetrators] breaks [a] rear sliding-glass door to get inside, SDPD Lt. Adam Sharki said. The burglars primarily target the master bedroom[s], taking jewelry, valuables, and safes.

Residents were present during the two most recent home invasions, according to police.

In one case, the [burglars] brought a large can of pepper spray and used it on the family dog, the lieutenant said.

Home security cameras have captured video images of the thieves.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or contact the agency online. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
SHENZHEN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in the field of quantum error correction (QEC) based on superconducting quantum circuits, contributing to the development of quantum computing.

Led by Yu Dapeng, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team extended the storage time of quantum information beyond the break-even point for the first time through repetitive real-time QEC. The findings were published online in the journal Nature.

According to Xu Yuan, an assistant researcher at the Southern University of Science and Technology, although quantum information processing based on superconducting quantum circuit system has made great progress in recent years, the error rate of quantum operations is still much higher than that of a classical computer. Therefore, QEC, which protects logical qubits from noises, is extremely important.

Conventional QEC schemes use multiple physical qubits to encode a logical qubit, which not only requires a great number of hardware resources but also adds the number of error channels with increased number of physical qubits, resulting in an awkward situation of "more corrections, more errors."

This problem has not yet been solved to achieve a positive QEC gain to reach the break-even point, which is defined as the lifetime of the best available physical component in this system.

In this study, the research team developed a quantum system with high coherence performance, implemented an error syndrome detection method with low error rates, and improved the QEC procedure.

As a result, they realized QEC of a logical qubit encoded with discrete photon number states in a single bosonic mode. Through repetitive real-time QEC operations, the storage lifetime of the quantum information has been extended beyond the break-even point.

Other scientists involved in the study include Sun Luyan, an associate professor at Tsinghua University, and Zheng Shibiao, a professor at Fuzhou University. 
Santa Monica Residents Call for an End to Needle Exchange Program in Parks

A sign sits on the display in front of a popular shopping area of Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A needle exchange program for drug users sanctioned by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health operating in a handful of Santa Monicas public spaces has sparked outrage among a coalition of business owners and residents who are calling on the county to move it indoors.

The group claims that rather than curbing drug use, the program has only attracted more transients and drug peddlers, leading to an unsafe environment for the community over the last year.

The Santa Monica Coalitionwhich formed last year and currently has over 2,500 members according to organizersbegan circulating a petition March 19 to prevent the countys safe needle exchange programknown as the Harm Reduction Syringe Services Programfrom operating in public spaces, like the Christine Emerson Reed Park which sits across the street from a Catholic K12 school. Over 3,500 people have signed the petition so far.

This program is attracting addicts to settle in our parks and public spaces and publicly use drugs causing a major safety concern with more needles being discarded in all areas where they are being distributed, the petition reads.

Instead, the coalition is urging county and city officials to move the program indoors with medical supervision.

Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Other locations where the program operates include Tongva Park, Palisades Park, and 3rd Street Promenade, according to the group.

Right now, were just really concerned, and our organization is trying to unify the community and regain control and safety in the parks, co-founder of the coalition and local homeowner, John Alle, told The Epoch Times.

The exchange program is supposed to encourage drug users to trade in unclean needles for new ones. But Alle said members in his group have picked up dozens of used needles left on the ground in the parks and witnessed drug deals occurring between transients on multiple occasions.

These drug addicts are actually doing the drugs and doing the drug dealing in the childrens playground area, he said.

(Courtesy of John Alle)

Such harm reduction services in Santa Monica are paid for by the county, which contracts the Venice Family Clinica local health center with several locations across the Westside of Los Angelesaccording to an email, obtained by The Epoch Times, from the county Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Director, Gary Tsai, to Alle.

The harm reduction services are in Reed Park for no more than one hour once per week, and are offered throughout Santa Monica for no more than three hours per week, so the footprint of these services is very limited, Tsai said in the March 3 email. In our experiences with engaging people experiencing homelessness, services in and of themselves do not tend to attract participants to a location, which is why mobile services in sites such as parks are needed to meaningfully engage individuals.

Tsai did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment by press deadline and declined requests, according to emails The Epoch Times obtained, from the coalition to visit the parks where the needle exchange programs are in place.

Currently, the program includes handing out clean needles, providing STD testing, and providing Narcan to several sites across the county.

A firefighter displays Naloxone, a lifesaving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, on Feb. 26, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

As such, it falls under whats known as the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution program, a pilot launched by the countys health department in 2021 that aims to end opioid overdose deaths in Los Angeles County through educating people on how to use drugs safely, as opposed to substance abuse rehabilitation and prevention strategies.

There are more than 12 distribution centers in the county, according to the programs interactive map.

The pilot program provides resources created by the National Harm Reduction Coalitiona New York-based nonprofit formed in 1993 calling for an end to racialized drug policies and an ally for people who use drugs according to its websiteon fentanyl use and overdose prevention tips.

You can use any drug safely, including fentanyl and its analogues, as long as you have the right resources! one document available to download on the site reads. Try snorting or smoking instead of injecting. Injecting carries the highest risk for overdose, so shifting to snorting or smoking may help reduce risk. You can still OD by smoking/snorting, especially with fentanyl, so start slow.

Between 2016 and 2021, fentanyl overdose deaths in Los Angeles County increased 1,280 percent, according to data the county published in November.

Specifically, there was a substantial increase in fentanyl overdose deaths from 462 in 2019 to 1,149 in 2020, reflecting a rise of nearly 150 percent. Moreover, in 2021, there was a further increase of 31 percent, with the number of fentanyl overdose deaths reaching 1,504.

One of the signers of the petition, Dr. Houman Hemmati, Santa Monica resident and physician, told The Epoch Times that the program should not just be moved indoors, but eradicated altogether.

Ive been involved in rehabilitation and Ive seen firsthand what it takes to take a person who has profound drug abuse, especially overlaid on top of mental illnesswhich is what the case is for the vast majority of the homeless people living in the parks and beaches and streets in Santa Monicaand what it takes is intensive, daily effort, not needles, Hemmati said.

The only thing that the free needles or the needle exchanges achieve is that it may slightly reduce the risk of spreading hepatitis or HIV, he added.

(Courtesy of John Alle)

Tricia Crane, vice chair of the nonprofit Santa Monica Northeast Neighborsa volunteer-run neighborhood organizationtold The Epoch Times in a text message that parks should be for children to play in.

Our city council should stand up to the county and put this harm reduction indoors, she wrote.

This is not the first attempt to bring attention to the needle program in Santa Monicas parks.

Last September, Santa Monicas former mayor, Sue Himmelrich, along with the current city manager and city attorney sent a letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors calling for the needle exchange program to be moved indoors.

We understand our limited regulatory authority, however, rather than implement this program in our parks and open spaces, we seek your assistance in immediately moving this program to a service rich environment (preferably indoors) where individuals in need of substance abuse, mental health, and other services can coordinate and work directly with service providers, the letter read.

The Epoch Times reached out to Santa Monicas current mayor, Gleam Davis, but did not hear back by press deadline.
Serial Litigant Testifies as Congress Debates Wildfire Fixes

But Democrat calls her 'serial justice warrior'

Firefighter Davis Sommer lights a backfire to burn off vegetation while battling the Mosquito Fire in the Volcanoville community of El Dorado County, Calif., on Sept. 9, 2022. (Noah Berger/AP Photo)

Lawmakers are split over Rep. Matt Rosendales Forest Information Reform (FIR) Act, arguing over whether one environmental lawyer who opposes it was a serial litigator or a serial justice warrior.

The FIR Act was one of four bills discussed in this Congresss first meeting of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

The Republicans who now control the House pledged that the hearing would advance real, concrete solutions to address the most pressing crisis facing our federal forests: catastrophic wildfires.

The FIR Act would undo the controversial 2015 Cottonwood decision. Detractors see that ruling as a major impediment to managing many of the nations overgrown forests, while advocates consider it a crucial advance in the protection of vulnerable species and habitats.

Decided in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which presides over Alaska, California, and much of the western United States, Cottonwood requires the Forest Service to reinitiate consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service in a wide range of circumstances. In practice, that leaves more daylight for lawsuits by environmental groups in the 9th Circuits jurisdiction.

Notably, Western states in the neighboring 10th District arent subject to Cottonwood, adding to confusion and inconsistencies across adjacent tracts of federal land.

This should not be a partisan issue, said Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), who chairs the subcommittee.

He pointed out that both Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump tried to roll back Cottonwood.

The current partial fix for Cottonwood, part of a 2018 omnibus bill, expires on March 23.

There needs to be a permanent solution, Rosendale (R-Mont.) said, noting that his legislation would prevent the Forest Service from facing a perpetual cycle of litigation.

He and his colleagues blamed major fires in New Mexico and Montana on delays ultimately traceable to Cottonwood.

Serial Litigant or Serial Justice Warrior Testifies

A big point of contention was the presence of witness Susan Jane Brown, a guest of the subcommittees Democrats.

Brown is a lawyer with the Western Environmental Law Center who teaches at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

The Western Environmental Law Center lists the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, plaintiff in the Cottonwood decision, among its clients and partners.

Tiffany spoke from behind a few tall stacks of papersthe documentation, he said, of Browns nearly 60 active and pending lawsuits.

He characterized Brown as a serial litigant.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), who was substituting for ranking member Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), had a different take.

She described Brown as a serial justice warrior.

Kamlager-Dove said the FIR Act could be really problematic for newly listed species and for adapting management plans as the impacts of climate change grow.

By contrast, Rosendale argued that his bill would let the Forest Service incorporate new information into their plans, including about species newly listed under the Endangered Species Act, in place of restarting the consultation process from square one.

While Tiffany spoke from behind a stack of Browns litigation, Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) introduced her fellow Oregonian from behind a laptop adorned with a multicolored decal that read Do More of What Makes You Happy.

Brown testified that she was speaking in defense of the Endangered Species Act.

She said that the FIR Act would run contrary to the spirit of the Constitution as well as the United States long and powerful history of social change.

As a nation of laws, their enforcement is central to our democracy, she said.

Brown argued that the imminent expiration of the 2018 Cottonwood fix wasnt a big deal, given how often the Forest Service voluntarily reinitiates consultations.

Only rarely is litigation required to compel compliance with the law, and then most reinitiations are completed expeditiously, she testified.

Brown told lawmakers that new money for the Forest Service in the SchumerManchin reconciliation bill and other recent legislation should make the need for [the FIR Act] obsolete.

She also argued that outdated forest plans were a more important issue than the downstream effects of Cottonwood.

Other Witnesses

Other experts who spoke at the hearing were more supportive of the effort to address the 9th Circuits precedent.

Cottonwood would add new obstacles to forest restoration, said Jonathan Wood of Montanas Property and Environment Research Center, a free-market environmental group.

Ryan Bronson of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a hunting and conservation organization, said his group strongly supports the FIR Act.

Chris French, deputy chief of the National Forest System, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has concerns with the bill. (The Forest Service is an agency within the USDA.)

He added that the USDA would like to work with the subcommittee and Rosendale to resolve those issues.

French also touched on land management plans, which Brown had said should be the Forest Services real priority in lieu of addressing Cottonwood.

It appears that the intent of the [FIR Act] would allow us to continue focusing on updating our land management plans while ensuring that habitat conservation and protection of endangered species continues through project-by-project consultation, he said.
Slovakia Delivers First 4 Soviet-Era MiG-29 Jets to Ukraine

Slovak Air Force MiG-29s fly over an airport during an airshow in Malacky, Slovakia, on Aug. 27, 2022. (Petr David Josek/AP Photo)

BRATISLAVA, SlovakiaThe first four of 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets that Slovakia decided to give Ukraine have been safely handed over to the Ukrainian air force, the Slovak Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said the warplanes were flown from Slovakia to Ukraine by Ukrainian pilots with help from the Slovak air force, Ukrainian personnel and others.

I thank [all] involved for a fantastic professional job, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

The ministry said the remaining MiG-29s will be handed over to the Ukrainian side in the coming weeks. It said it will not provide any additional details until theyre safely in Ukraine.

On Friday, the Slovak government approved a plan to give Ukraine its fleet of 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the second NATO member to heed the Ukrainian governments pleas for warplanes to help defend against Russias invasion.

Slovakia grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and expertise to help maintain them. Fellow NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic stepped in to monitor Slovak air space.

Slovakia previously signed a deal to buy 14 U.S. F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, but delivery was pushed back two years with the first aircraft to arrive in early 2024.

The Slovak Defense Ministry said Wednesday the United States has offered Slovakia 12 new military helicopters as compensation for the fighter jets the European country is giving to Ukraine. Under the offer, Slovakia would pay $340 million for the Bell AH-1Z attack choppers in a deal worth about $1 billion. U.S. foreign military financing would cover the other $660 million,
South Carolina Parents Question Why Schools Reading Program Was Available Only for Students of 1 Race

Children's books are displayed in the Alachua branch of the Alachua Country Library District in Florida on Feb. 17, 2023. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times)

After spending months of late nights helping her son as he struggled to learn to read, one South Carolina mom was thrilled to discover that her childs school had a special program to help students who were falling behind.

But after inquiring about the program, she was shocked to learn that he wouldnt qualify for the tutoring, she said. The reason: Hes white.

The book club, designed to provide extra help in reading at St. James Elementary School (SJES) in Myrtle Beach, welcomed black children only, a district spokeswoman confirmed.

How does that make sense? asked Laura, who requested to not be fully identified in order to protect her son.

Protesters gather in Columbus Circle during a march against racism and inequality in the theater industry in New York City on April 22, 2021. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

We are supposed to be equal and have the same opportunities, Laura said in exasperation while speaking to an Epoch Times reporter. It just seems very unfair.

Three days after the publication of this report, a spokeswoman for Horry County Schools confirmed that the reading program at the school focused on teaching African American students.

The goal of the club was to support them academically so they could achieve at the same level as students of other subgroups that were meeting reading growth targets, Lisa Bourcier, the districts director of strategic communications, wrote in an email to The Epoch Times.

Each student was assigned a mentor, and the students met with the media specialist twice a month during their independent reading time to read culturally reflective texts.

The program was active for seven months during the 20202021 school year, Bourcier said in her email.

St. James Elementary School administration is not aware of any parent who requested that his/her child participate in the book club and was denied participation, she said.

She added that Horry County schools hold data team meetings to address the academic needs of all students.

Racially Segregated Reading Help

Lauras son likes to help others, meet new people, and play with Pokemon and superhero toys, she said. But school is difficult because he struggles to read, likely because of his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

She got little help from the school as she watched her son fall behind, she said. Finally, a doctor diagnosed the reason for his struggle.

She questions why the school didnt recognize the problem, even though they have the resources to diagnose him, she said.

Laura bought a special learning program for them to tackle together during the summer, trying to teach him at home what they should be teaching him at school, she said.

He never was pulled out to get extra attention for reading, even when he was struggling, she said.

Black Lives Matter protesters march in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 25, 2020. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

There were others who didnt qualify for the schools reading help because they didnt fit the right racial profile.

In 2021, there were 21 students in third grade and 19 in fourth grade who were behind in reading, according to state statistics.

Yet only 17 studentsall of them African Americanwere allowed to participate in the reading club, according to documents obtained through a public records request by the local Moms for Liberty chairman.

Exclusion in the Name of Equity

According to documents obtained by David Warner of Moms for Liberty, the 20202021 school year was the only year that a book club was specifically designed to address the African American subgroup.

The club was part of SJESs new initiatives to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the documents state.

Exclusion in the name of equity infuriates Moms for Liberty members.

We dont stand for that, Warner told The Epoch Times. We want it to be all students that get help, not just African American students.

The book club program did seem successful. Of the 17 students who participated, 11 boosted their proficiency, school documents show.

David Warner, of Moms for Liberty in Horry County, S.C. (Courtesy of David Warner)

Warner said he first learned of the book clubs existence after hearing SJES had received a national award.

Gender, race, and ability levels are used to create balanced classrooms with equitable opportunities to grow and learn, to promote cultural awareness, and to foster appreciation for diversity among students and staff, the schools application for the award read.

The application also praised its change project to increase African American reading scores.

School principal Felisa McDavid conducted an equity audit from 2020 to 2021, records showed.

The Epoch Times contacted McDavid but received no response.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, SJES committed on its website to keep educational equity front and center by providing assistance, resources, and partnerships.

The commitment to equity included response teams to work with family needs, attempts to address discrimination, biases, and student conduct, increasing awareness of the diversity among families, support for social-emotional needs, and other initiatives.

Fighting the Whiteness of Curriculum

The audit discovered that SJESs student body was 90 percent white, 4 percent black, 5 percent Hispanic, and 2 percent Asian. The teaching staff was 98 percent white.

After the audit, McDavid set out to make changes. Gym classes began to include African dance and a multicultural mural was painted on the walls, McDavid said in YouTube videos. And the reading club for African American students was put into place.

What they did was segregation, Warner said. They literally segregated children for a reading program.

Training for teachers at the school also focused on equity.

Teachers attended Equity in Education conferences put on by the Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students at the University of South Carolina, the Blue Ribbon Award application notes.

Students protest state lawmakers effort to curb diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at a planned walkout on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Feb. 23, 2023. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times)

Facilitating the training was University of South Carolina professor Gloria Boutte. She describes schools as places of physical, symbolic, linguistic, curricular/instructional, and systemic suffering for African American children in her book We Be Lovin Black Children: Learning to be Literate About the African Diaspora.

In the book, she describes the Whiteness of curriculum as violence, and writes that, in school, African American children undergo spirit murders.

Race-Based Hiring

McDavid committed to hiring teachers at the school based on race.

My targeted equity commitment is to recruiting and retaining a diverse teaching force in my school, she said in a video posted to YouTube.

In the video, McDavid cites studies that found that minority students learn better and obey better when taught by teachers of the same race. Having the rich experience and expertise of African American teachers would benefit all students, she says in the video.

In a video, McDavid notes that 59 percent of African American students failed state expectations for learning English.

In another YouTube video, McDavid shares that her schools teachers reported that African American students werent getting enough educational support from parents. She blames the feedback on a bias and vowed to eliminate the complaint.

We are working to dispel that bias through more culturally responsive unit planning and professional development, she said.

When questioned, the school said the book club was just a club. Documents provided to The Epoch Times describe the program as an intervention.

Intervention should never be based off of a childs race, but their educational need, Warner said.

When he asked how the reading program worked, the school stopped giving him details, he said. It was unclear whether the students met with teachers after school or were pulled from class during the school day.

Theyre not willing to talk about what happened, Warner said.

Demonstrators rally against critical race theory being taught in Loudoun County schools at the Loudoun County Government center in Leesburg, Virginia on June 12, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Knowing the school has provided racially segregated programs that exclude her son has prompted Laura to plan for private school next year. It destroyed her trust, she said.

I just dont feel like they have my sons best interests at heart, she said.

An estimated 1.4 million students left public schools for private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Editors Note: This article has been revised after publication to add a comment from Horry County Schools.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds a press availability after the passing of the Parents Bill of Rights at 11:15 a.m. ET on March 24.
St. Josephs Hospital Encourages Screening During Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Providence St. Joseph Hospital hosts a colon cancer awareness event featuring a giant inflatable colon that displayed the textures of the various cancer types that affect the organ in Orange, Calif., on March 24, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

ORANGE, Calif.Providence St. Joseph Hospital hosted a colon cancer awareness event March 24 featuring a giant inflatable colon that displayed the textures of various cancers that affect the organ.

As colorectal cancer is the second most common type of cancer death in the United States, the hospital recommends people 45 years and older get a colon cancer screening.

Get screened! signs around the event encouraged. Colon Cancer is preventable.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness month in the United States. Current statistics show that 1 in 20 Americans now face risk of acquiring colon cancer.

To schedule a screening at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, call 714-734-6207.

Providence St. Joseph Hospital hosts a colon cancer awareness event featuring a giant inflatable colon that displayed the textures of the various cancer types that affect the organ in Orange, Calif., on March 24, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Sunak Stresses Democratic Values as He Challenges Netanyahu Over Controversial Israel Legislation

Netanyahu keen to focus on 'the Iranian issue'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak challenged the visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reminding him of the importance of democratic values, during a meeting in London on Friday, according to Downing Street.

The meeting was held in private and appears to have been largely cordial, with Downing Street releasing a statement saying, The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.

On Thursday a bill stipulating a sitting prime minister can only be declared unfit and forced to step down with the agreement of three-quarters of Cabinet ministers was passed by 61 votes to 47 in the Israeli Knesset.

Netanyahu, 73, is awaiting trial accused of fraud, accepting bribes, and breach of trust, but he denies any wrongdoing and claims the prosecution is part of a conspiracy by a left-wing alliance of the Israeli media and the judiciary.

If he were to be convicted he would have almost certainly have been ousted as prime minister, but following the passing of the new bill, a criminal conviction would not affect his ability to be prime minister.

The bill passed on Thursday is just the first step in judicial reforms that Netanyahus government is planning. He wants to give the government the choice of judicial appointments and limit the ability of Israels Supreme Court to block legislation passed by the Knesset.

In Israels general election in November, Netanyahus Likud Party won 32 out of the 120 Knesset seats but it was able to form a coalition government with the right-wing Religious Zionist Party, which more than doubled its representation in the Knesset.

Earlier this month an estimated 200,000 people protested in Tel Aviv against the proposed reforms.

Netanyahu has said the reforms would restore the right balance between the different branches of government.

Demonstrators wave Israeli flags during a protest as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Downing Street, London, on March 24, 2023. (PA)

Hes Destroying Democracy in Israel

As he arrived at 10 Downing Street for talks with Sunak on Thursday, dozens of protesters waved Israeli flags and placards and shouted busha, the Hebrew word for shame.

One of the demonstrators, Chamutal Isaacs, who moved to London from Tel Aviv in 1989, said the reforms would put an end to any sort of democracy in Israel.

She said: I want Rishi Sunak to say to him he must lose his chair, he cant continue to be the prime minister of Israel. Hes destroying democracy in Israel.

A Downing Street spokesman said Sunak had raised the question of international concern at growing tensions in the West Bank and the risk of undermining efforts towards the two state solution to the IsraelPalestine conflict.

Sunak said Netanyahu invited him to Israel and the British prime minister said he looked forward to visiting at the earliest opportunity.

Netanyahu arrived in London later than originally planned as he was forced to deal with mass protests in Israel which have seen major roads blocked and demonstrators clashing with police.

Netanyahus office said he wanted to focus on the Iranian issue in his talks with Sunak, in the hope of forming a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear programme.

A statement from Netanyahus office said, The two are also expected to discuss strengthening the strategic ties between Israel and the United Kingdom and increasing security and intelligence cooperation.

Netanyahu was also expected to meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman to discuss the challenge of global terrorism.

When Netanyahu became prime minister in December, he told the Knesset ending the IsraeliArab conflict was his top priority, along with thwarting Irans nuclear programme and building up Israels military capacity.

But critics have said his agenda has been drawn to the right by his new coalition partners.

Coalition Partners Opposed to Palestinian State

The leader of the Religious Zionism Party, Bezalel Smotrich, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of another right-wing coalition partner, Jewish Power, are both opposed to Palestinian statehood.

At the weekend Smotrich gave a speech in Paris in which he said, There is no such thing as Palestinians because there is no such thing as a Palestinian people.

He went on to say: The Palestinian nation has existed for less than 100 years. I ask you who was the first Palestinian king, what language do they have, was there ever a Palestinian coin? Is there a Palestinian history or culture? There isnt. There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation.

Smotrich gave his speech from a podium which carried a map of Greater Israel, which appeared to include most of present-day Jordan.

Afterwards the Jordanian government protested and called in the Israeli ambassador in Amman.

Israels foreign ministry then, without referencing Smotrichs speech, wrote on Twitter: Israel is committed to the 1994 peace agreement with Jordan. There has been no change in the position of the state of Israel, which recognizes the territorial integrity of the Hashemite kingdom.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Taiwan Recalls Ambassador as Honduras Switches Ties to China

Then-outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (L) exchanges gifts with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, on Nov. 13, 2021. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

TAIPEI, TaiwanTaiwan says it has recalled its ambassador to Honduras amid moves by the Central American country to establish formal diplomatic ties with China.

Taiwan and China have been locked in a battle for diplomatic recognition since the sides split amid civil war in 1949. Honduras President Xiomara Castro announced last week that her government will seek to establish diplomatic relations with China, which would imply severing relations with Taiwan.

The switch would leave Taiwan recognized by only 13 countries, as China spends billions to win recognition for its One China policy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin dismissed reports that Honduras switched relations after Taiwan declined requests to buy $2.5 billion in the countrys sovereign debt.

In a statement, Taiwans Foreign Ministry said it was deeply dissatisfied with the breaking of relations that had lasted more than 80 years and urged Honduras to be careful of the risks of Chinas commitments made on its offer of diplomatic relations.

Castro said on her Twitter account that she instructed Honduran Foreign Affairs Minister Eduardo Reina to start negotiations with China and that her intention is to expand frontiers freely in concert with the nations of the world.

Reina left for China on Wednesday, leading a delegation that included lawmakers Xiomara Hortencia Zelaya Castro and the secretary of the Congress, Carlos Zelaya Rosalesthe presidents daughter and son-in-law.

The Honduran ministry confirmed the trip without providing any details as to the purpose, but it corresponded with Taiwans decision to withdraw its ambassador.

The loss of Honduras would leave Taiwan with formal diplomatic ties with just 13 sovereign states, including Vatican City. In Latin America, it also has relations with Belize, Guatemala and Paraguay, with most of its remaining partners being island nations in the Caribbean and South Pacific, along with Eswatini in southern Africa.

Despite the Chinese regimes campaign of isolation, Taiwan retains robust informal ties with more than 100 other countries, most importantly the United States.
The 2023 Annual Intel Assessment Sends the Wrong Signals About China

The assessment is softened for political reasons

People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers march next to the entrance to the Forbidden City during the opening ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing on May 21, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence maintains a public-facing website for the disclosure of various unclassified reports and publications (here). Some of the reports are updated and produced annually, for example, the 2023 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

This report generalizes the mission of the Intel Community as providing the nuanced, independent, and unvarnished intelligence that policymakers, warfighters, and domestic law enforcement personnel need to protect American lives and Americas interests anywhere in the world.

The key word in that mission statement is nuanced, as public reports of this nature are written to reflect the political will, intentions, and strategy of the civilian leadership of the federal government, for example, the president of the United States. In short, the IC frequently matches its analyses and recommendations to the desired expectations of the current White House occupants.

With respect to reporting on the communist China threat, therein lies the problem because the Biden administration is filled with people who allegedly have conflicts of interest in dealing with China. This would explain the unwillingness to confront the existential threat that China poses to the United States.

Is the 2023 threat assessment accurate, or is it a nuanced reflection of wishful thinking concerning the China threat? Let us examine the topic.

The Conflicted Biden Administration

It is no secret that Joe Biden and his administration have collectively sought to reverse the confrontational China policies of the Trump administration. Confrontation on trade policy resulting in the levying of tariffs, increasing Chinese military belligerence and intimidation in East and South Asia, the Chinese sourcing of fentanyl and its precursors, and other issues has been replaced by competition not confrontation in all public statements from the White House, U.S. State Department, Department of Defense, and other agencies.

The correct interpretation of Bidens competition not confrontation policy is one of weakness and accommodation despite the increasing economic and military threat posed by the Chinese regime. Bipartisan majorities are now focused on that rising threat, with one nexus of scrutiny and action being the new House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and China.

In his initial remarks as the committee was convened, Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) highlighted that the committees focus is more serious than the name would imply, as reported by CNBC here: This is an existential struggle over what life will look like in the 21st centuryand the most fundamental freedoms are at stake.

An existential struggle. That means dealing with a real threat, and some members of Congress obviously get it. But what about the Biden administration? They are stuck in the accommodation and engagement mode, as their gifts to communist China have continued from January 2021 through the present. Some of those latest gifts are real head-scratchers:

Bailing out CCP-linked depositors of failed Silicon Valley Bank, as confirmed by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen here.

Confirming Eric Garcetti as the U.S. ambassador to India. Is Garcetti compromised by China, as suggested here?

Allowing a Chinese surveillance balloon to traverse the entire continental United States and collect data over sensitive U.S. military installations. The balloon should have been shot down the moment it entered U.S. airspace.

Pushing to ban gas stoves in the United States based on a frivolous study claiming gas stoves were a public health hazard from the Rocky Mountain Institute, which is a radical-left environmentalist group with strong ties to the CCP, as reported here. It is directly in Chinas economic interests to push the United States to go green, as the Chinese are the worlds largest producers of solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles.

Attacking U.S. coal producers while ignoring the fact that China is producing six times more coal plants than the rest of the world combined, according to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

The above are in addition to the truly strategic gifts to China of the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal (the Chinese have access to billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment and Afghanistans natural resources) and the virtual U.S. withdrawal from the Middle East (Chinese deals with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, and others could be shocking evidence that the Biden administration is gifting the region to China).

A view of people waiting in line to board the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 27, 2021. (Technologies/Handout via Reuters)

The reasons for the kowtowing to China are becoming more apparent with each passing day, as the New York Post reported on March 17 that on March 1, 2017less than two months after Joe Biden left office as Barack Obamas vice presidentState Energy HK Limited, a firm affiliated with Chinese Communist Party-backed energy company CEFC China Energy, wired $3 million to [a] Biden family associate, which was later divided among at least three members of the Biden clan, and two Biden family associates. Thats influence-peddling by the Chinese communists at the highest levels of the U.S. government.

The Soft Touch in the IC Threat Assessment

The 2023 annual assessment is indeed nuanced to reflect the political biases of the Biden administration. First of all, the word threat is used only once in the section addressing China: China will remain the top threat to U.S. technological competitiveness. Thats it. No threats are associated with Chinas modernization of its military, nuclear forces, and space capabilities. Instead, the important phrases in the report relate to vying for global dominance and strategic competition between the United States and its allies, China, and Russia. Riiiiight.

The document states that China has the capability to directly attempt to alter the rules-based global order in every realm and across multiple regions, as a near-peer competitor that is increasingly pushing to change global norms and potentially threatening its neighbors. How is Chinas ability to alter the rules-based global order in every realm not an existential threat to the United States and its allies?

Then there is a gratuitous comment about the accelerating effects of climate change, which is offered without proof and directly reflects the political priorities of the Biden administration. Including this phrase in a strategic threat assessment is absurd because the premise itself remains much debated. For example, over 1,500 scientists worldwide have signed an online World Climate Declaration that There is no climate emergency. If there is no climate emergency, then there is no strategic threat to the United States.

Nevertheless, in bull-headedly pressing the Democrats green agenda, as reported by The Washington Post, Biden has appointed Brown Universitys Kim Cobb as the first-ever climate scientist on the Presidents Intelligence Advisory Board, which is involved in evaluating all of the intelligence received from the Intel Community.

Never mind the Chinese militarys breakout development and deployment of nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles that are aimed at challenging the present nuclear balance of power that favors the United States. These are real and physical threats to the United States, not ephemeral and unproven climate change theories! Yet the reports single vanilla sentence about the threat is this: China is building hundreds of new ICBM silos. And the resultant implications and threats to the United States are what exactly? Wheres the ICs assessment?

Chinas DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Words have meaning, and clear thinking is required in describing threats and probabilities if U.S. national security is to be preserved for this and future generations.

In soft and nonconfrontational words, the assessment report refers to Chinas ongoing efforts to pursue global influence. Thats what every nation does in its own way. China is pursuing world hegemony in every sphere of human endeavor, as Chinese leader Xi Jinpings grandiose global initiatives clearly lay out for all the world to see (the Global Development, Global Security, and the new Global Civilization Initiative). Commentators worldwide, including at the Gatestone Institute, already believe China is well on the way to inaugurating a new world order with Chinese characteristics. Is that not a direct threat to the present U.S.-dominated liberal world order?

The report further states that the PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] will continue to pursue the establishment of overseas military installations and access agreements in an attempt to project power and protect Chinas interests abroad without itemizing the stunning successes achieved all over the world in recent years through port access rights obtained via Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. It is almost as if there is a communist Chinese strategy to circle the United States with facilities accessible to and operated by the PLA. What a concept! Perhaps the Chinese learned from watching the United States surround the USSR in a similar fashion during the Cold War. Is that not a strategic threat to the United States?

The same soft approach is used in referring to Chinas leadership in building new chip factories, in mining and processing strategic materials (so-called rare earth elements), and in battery, pharmaceutical, and solar panel production. Never mind the supply chain chokeholds that China can exert on the United States and its allies at will. Are these not aspects of a serious economic threat posed by the Chinese regime?

Concluding Thoughts

The 2023 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community is filled with soft, wishful thinking about communist China, reflecting the Biden administrations desire to reengage with China after the Trump years.

In addition to the above points, the report states that, through expanding global intelligence and covert influence operations, Beijing is intensifying efforts to mold U.S. public discourseby trying to shape U.S. views, particularly of sensitive or core sovereignty issues. This isnt simply about strategic cooperation or some other misguided notion of U.S.-China relations; these are elements of the hybrid war that communist China has been conducting against the United States over at least the last decade.

Yet again, the word threat is finessed into competition by the IC leadership seeking to reflect the Biden administrations political priorities and obfuscate the truth for the American people.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Founders and the Constitution, Part 2: John Adams

Commentary

Unlike the other Founders profiled in this series, John Adams of Massachusetts didnt attend the 1787 Constitutional Convention. He was Americas ambassador to England when the convention met, and he didnt return home until the ratification process was well underway. His contribution was in laying the groundwork for the Constitution, both when in Massachusetts and when abroad.

Constitution-drafting is a three-step process, although in practice the steps often overlap:

Step 1: Identify the goal of the prospective constitution and the principles that will govern it.

Step 2: Determine the general outline of a government that achieves the goals, is consistent with the principles, and is acceptable to the citizenry.

Step 3: Draft the document using the best wording possible.

Adamss writings assisted the framers at all three steps.

Personal Life Until 1788

Adams was born on Oct. 19, 1735, in the Massachusetts town then called Braintree, but after 1792 Quincy. As a boy he enjoyed the outdoor life, and wanted to be a farmer. However, his academic success, first in grammar school and later at Harvard College, convinced him to become a lawyer.

In his choice of a wife, he was both wise and fortunate. Abigail Smith Adams was devoted and loyal, and during Johns long absences, she proved to be a competent manager of family affairs. She was also intellectually brilliant.

Abigail and John raised four children. One of the four was John Quincy Adams, who served as Secretary of State (18171825), President of the United States (18251829), and in Congress as a legendary warrior against slavery (18311848).

John wasnt driven by a hunger for political office, but he was driven by an exacting moral code and the quest for fame.

The committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. (L-R) Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R Livingston, and John Adams. (MPI/Getty Images)

During the events leading up to the Revolution, he exploded upon the public scene. Adams pressed the colonial cause as a lawyer, writer, and member of the First Continental Congress (1774). As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress and as a diplomat, he did as much as any man (George Washington excepted) to make Independence a reality.

Diplomatic tasks kept him in Europe throughout 1778 and early 1779. When he returned home, he was immediately elected a delegate to the Massachusetts constitutional convention, and the conclave tabbed him as the new charters primary drafter. (In heavily amended form, that constitution is still in effect.) Later in 1779, Adams returned to Europe and remained there continuously until the spring of 1788. Abigail was with him for the last four years.

Adams and Constitutional Principles

Adamss chief contribution to Step 1 in writing the U.S. Constitutionidentifying goals and principleswas the first volume of his three-volume set, A Defence [sic] of the Constitutions of the United States, published in early 1787. It circulated at the Constitutional Convention. Participants in the debates over the Constitutions ratification (Sept. 17, 1787  May 29, 1790) mentioned it often.

Adams was motivated to write the Defence by criticism of American state constitutions from the prominent French economist and statesman Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot (the name is masculine). In his book, Adams enlisted many of the thinkers profiled in my earlier Epoch Times series, The Ideas That Formed the Constitution. Adams quoted Polybius, Cicero, James Harrington, John Locke, Baron Montesquieu, and others.

In his Defence, Adams emphasized four basic constitutional principles: First, just laws are enacted by the consent of the governed or by their chosen agents. Second, for a people to be free, the rule of law must prevail. Third, the best government mixes democratic, aristocratic, and monarchical features. Finally, the best mixed government consists of a bicameral legislature (with distinct aristocratic and democratic houses), an independent chief executive, and an independent judiciary.

Sentiments expressed in the Defence seem to put Adams in the high nationalist portion of the Founding-era political spectrum, which I discussed in my previous essay. He obviously admired the British system, with its hereditary monarch, hereditary House of Lords, and elected House of Commonseven if he didnt want to replicate it precisely in America.

Of course, the American framers refused to adopt the high nationalist model. More importantly, however, after some vacillation they did adopt all four of Adamss basic constitutional principles.

Thoughts on Government

In 1776, Adams wrote a short pamphlet entitled Thoughts on Government. The ideas in that pamphlet helped guide the framers during Step 2 of constitution-making (developing a general outline of government). Adamss approach in Thoughts on Government was a good deal more populist and democratic than the British model he praised in the Defence.

In Thoughts on Government, Adams proposed a bicameral legislature, with the lower house elected by the people and the upper house elected by the lower houseall for fixed terms. Both chambers of the legislature, voting together, would elect a chief executive, also for a fixed term. Constitutional wonks may recognize these as the basic features of the Virginia Plan, the outline presented to the Constitutional Convention by the Virginia delegation, which served as a basis for discussion for several weeks thereafter.

Thoughts on Government also suggested that the duties of the upper house be structured so it could mediate between the executive and the lower house. The Constitution reflects this idea by granting the Senate certain executive powers, including the authority to advise and consent on presidential treaties and executive-branch nominations.

Thoughts on Government also foreshadowed several other features in the final Constitution: the presidents power to commission (and therefore instruct) officers, presidential appointment and senatorial approval of judges, and judicial lifetime service (during good behavior).

The Massachusetts Constitution

The Bay States Constitution served the framers as a source of ideas for both Steps 2 and 3 of constitution-making.

Adams divided the Massachusetts Constitution into Part the Firsta Declaration of Rightsand Part the Second: Frame of Government. The former listed essential liberties; the latter created the state governments structure.

Part the Second provided much of the inspiration and wording for the U.S. Constitutions structure. Specifically:

It provided for strong independent executive and judicial branches. This contradicted the decision in most states to grant the legislature supreme power.

The legislature consisted of two houses: a senate and a house of representatives. (Compare U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 1.)

Each house was the final judge of the election, returns and qualifications of their own members. (Compare U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 5, Clause 1.)

The house of representatives had power to impeach, and the senate power to try, but [t]heir judgment  shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold or enjoy any place of honor, trust, or profit  but the party so convicted shall be  liable to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to the laws of the land. (Compare Article I, Section 3, Clause 7.)

The governor was elected separately, had the power to pardon (except in cases of impeachment), was commander-in-chief of the state military forces, and could veto bills, subject to override by two-thirds votes in both houses. (Compare Article I, Section 7, Clause 3 and Article II, Section 2, Clause 1.)

The position of lieutenant governor was much like the vice president, except he didnt preside over the senate.

Some features from Part the First also appeared in the original U.S. Constitution: freedom of legislative debate, protection from ex post facto laws (retroactive criminal laws), and trial by jury in criminal cases.

Other aspects of Part the First entered the U.S. Constitution later, by ratification of the Bill of Rights: freedom of assembly and of the press, the right to keep and bear arms, protection of the home from the quartering of troops and from unreasonable searches and seizures, due process of law, and protection from excessive bail and fines and from cruel or unusual punishment.

The Massachusetts constitution also protected freedom of religion, but less completely than the U.S. Constitution and its First Amendment. Both documents required officeholders to take an oath or affirmation, which under 18th-century law required belief in God. However, the Massachusetts charter protected religious freedom only for Christiansalthough on a non-denominational basis. Moreover, towns could use tax money to promote religionalthough not necessarily Christianity.

In matters of faith, therefore, the Massachusetts document was midway between the formal state religious establishments Americans had known as British colonists and the non-preferential theism embodied in the U.S. Constitution (pdf).

Later Life

As most readers probably know, in 1789 Adams was elected vice president of the United States, serving two terms under the presidency of George Washington. In 1796, he was elected to the presidency himself, but in 1800 Thomas Jefferson defeated his bid for reelection.

Adams generally is rated as a good president, in part for his courageous resistance to war fever against France and for his wise appointments, especially that of John Marshall to be chief justice of the United States.

After his presidency, Adams retired to his home in Massachusetts. For the rest of his life, he immersed himself in classical literature and maintained an extensive correspondence. In later years, his correspondents included Jefferson.

Like some other Founders (such as James Madison and John Dickinson), Adams paid careful attention to his health. Into his late 80s, he walked three miles each day. He died on July 4, 1826the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the same day Jefferson passed. Adams was just three months short of his 91st birthday.

Read the first installment in this series here.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Lights, camera, action! Hengdian is one of the largest real-life film and television shooting bases in the world. Join us and see how "Chinese Hollywood" is staging a mega comeback after the country optimized its COVID response.

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The Problematic Rise of Media Literacy Education

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy gives a speech on the Hudson River tunnel project at the West Side Yard in New York City, on Jan. 31, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

New Jersey is enlisting public-school teachers and librarians to show children how to combat what it calls the grave threat of disinformation.

Our democracy remains under sustained attack through the proliferation of disinformation, Gov. Phil Murphy said in signing the nations first law mandating information literacy instruction for all K-12 students. The law, which aims to provide students with the critical thinking skills necessary to differentiate between facts, points of view, and opinions will, Murphy proclaimed, ensure that our kids  possess the skills needed to discern fact from fiction.

At a time when the nations political and thought leaders are wrestling over the meaning of facts and truth, and distinctions between disinformation, misinformation, and plain old information, the New Jersey bill is part of a growing effort to have teachers tell students how to settle these questions.

Since 2016, ten states controlled by Democratic legislators, and three run by Republicans, have passed media literacy laws.

Demand for media literacy education has seemingly grown in the fake news age, buoying bills like New Jerseys, which had languished for years, only to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Media literacy advocates such as Erin McNeill, President of Media Literacy Now, say the goal is to teach students how to consume information, not what information to consume.

But other educational experts see information and media literacy as inherently political, or minimally ripe for politicization.

The guise of media literacy, writes John Sailer, a senior fellow at the National Association of Scholars, often functions as a trojan horse, casting certain political viewsconservative ones, say criticsas prima facie wrong and biased.

The progressive politics of those backing information and media literacy bills in some states give skeptics further pauseconcerns heightened by rhetoric like that of Gov. Murphy, who framed New Jerseys bill as responsive to the violent insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.

Joshua Aikens, a Republican candidate for the New Jersey assembly and former chairman of AriseNJ, an advocacy group focused on electing school board members, told RealClearInvestigations (RCI) he believes the bill will be politically weaponized to target young impressionable minds.

Republicans in Delaware and Illinois largely opposed media literacy bills that passed in their states on similar grounds.

Still others question the policy push on its merits. Robert Pondiscio, a former public-school teacher who is a senior fellow at the center-right American Enterprise Institute, sees media literacy as one of many tips and tricks educators tout that skirts a more fundamental issue: Children suffer from a base-knowledge problem, lacking command of rudimentary facts necessary to analyze content.

One long-time New Jersey public-school teacher, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said of the states bill: Media literacy? There is no reading literacy in 80 percent of urban schools.

Nevertheless, at least seven states Red and Blue are currently considering media literacy legislation aimed at children. Such efforts are occurring as Democratic Senatorssometimes joined by their Republican colleagueswork to include media literacy in proposed federal laws. The Biden administration has embedded media literacy not only in proposed education regulations, but codified it in national security policy, arguing that disinformation threatens the homeland.

If the U.S. military has recognized the importance of improving media literacy training, McNeill, a veteran, told RCI, it makes sense to ensure our children are developing these skills as well.

The emphasis on media literacy has grown alongside a burgeoning counter-disinformation industry, illustrated by the Twitter Files, linking the national security apparatus to Big Tech, corporate media, and related watchdogs. Critics on both the left and right are casting this as evidence of a growing censorship-industrial complexone ironically fueled by claims of Trump-Russia collusion that proved false, and key COVID-19 claims cast as false but ultimately rendered true.

The press release announcing the passage of New Jerseys law notes that the legislation builds on state counter-disinformation efforts, including its homeland security agencys 2022 launch of a disinformation portal, which aims to assist the public in identifying and vetting  truth-obscuring, manufactured information.

This framing further alarms information and media literacy skeptics. Stanley Kurtz, education expert at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, says that media literacy  embodies the leftist view of so-called disinformation, treating even the most respectable conservative bloggers and podcasters as illegitimate.

A pernicious proposal to set up a government disinformation boarda reference to the Biden administrations attempt to create a counter-disinformation body within DHS last yearmay have been shot down at the federal level, Kurtz told RCI. [B]ut the state of New Jersey  has just injected something like a government disinformation board into its own schools. Other states, be warned.

Media Literacy Is Social Justice

The information and media literacy movement has been around for decades. Earlier bills, passed by then-wholly or partly-Republican-controlled states such as Ohio (2009), Florida (2013) and Utah (2015), like newer incarnations, contain largely neutral and anodyne language. Predating fears over disinformation, media literacy was often baked into broader efforts aimed at equipping students to be competent digital citizens capable of making smart media and online choices in a social media-dominated worldas Utah legislators put it. Progressive-tied groups have long supported these efforts, but any such tinge to them was perhaps less apparent.

Two of the most prominent media literacy advocacy groups, suggested in part by their roles as sole named endorsers of recent federal media literacy legislation, are the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), and its partner, McNeills Media Literacy Now.

Founded in 1997, NAMLE bills itself as the nations leading voice, convener, and resource for media literacy education. The umbrella group now comprises 6,500 members and 82 organizational partners. It publishes an academic journal and hosts various media literacy conferences.

NAMLE defines media literacylike state and federal authoritiesinnocuously, as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication.

Resources on its site suggest media literacy education compels students to ask basic questions about the nature and intent of the content they encounter, and the motives of its producers. The aim is to empower people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators, and active citizensgoals universally favored by those interviewed in connection with this story.

The group stresses that media literacy education is not partisan.

But, warns Kurtz, the education left excels at lending a bipartisan sheen to what are in fact deeply politicized programs and proposals.

Perhaps illustrating this point, the organizations more recent activities and recommended resources suggest a growing progressive push.

NAMLEs 2022 U.S. Media Literacy Week conference concluded with a day dedicated to actingthe culmination of media literacy. The organization recommended one could act by promoting positive change by supporting social justice issues.

This is consistent with NAMLEs 2021 annual conference, which the group devoted to media literacy and social justice. In a note explaining why it chose that theme, the group said that, Media literacy has many connections with social justice; in fact, many would say that media literacy is social justice.

Sailer reported that critical media literacya pedagogy with Marxist roots akin to critical race theorysuffused some 17 presentations during the conference.

As NAMLE summarized it, by revealing the powers behind media messages and stereotypes within them, and the effects that propaganda and mis/dis-information have on our politics and how they perpetuate injustices against marginalized groups, the environment, and our sociopolitical climate, media literacy helps us to understand issues of systemic inequity  while also inspiring action, critical change.

Woke-Leaning Critical Media Literacy

The groups conferences dating back to at least 2015 have included breakout sessions featuring topics like critical media literacy and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Among the groups suggested resources are those on Race, Equity, and Social Justice. A sampling of such materials include: Education Weeks Teaching Math Through a Social Justice Lens; Microsofts Anti-Racism Journey for Educators with Students; Teach the History of Policing, a resource from the Howard Zinn-linked Zinn Education Project; and PBSs Three Ways to Teach the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

NAMLE counts among its partners the Critical Media Project, a leading resource for students and teachers in critical media literacy pedagogy; NewsGuard, a media watchdog some argue is biased against the right; and iCivics, which education experts like Kurtz argue supports anti-racism and Critical Race Theory part and parcel of an action civics push some say encourages leftist agitation, in which media literacy is often embedded. iCivics takes issue with Kurtzs Woke characterizations.

NAMLE is funded by social media companies that have been accused of censorship, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, the progressive Tides Foundation, and the U.S. State Department, which links NAMLE to the federal governments media literacy push.

NAMLEs executive director, Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, who describes herself on her Instagram account as Pro-choice. Anti-gun. LGBTQ ally. Educating myself to be anti-racist, did not respond to RCIs inquiries regarding the groups seemingly progressive edge, nor about the nature of the federal funding her organization has received.

Founded in 2013, nonprofit Media Literacy Now aims to drive systemic change to ensure that all young people have an opportunity [to] experience comprehensive media literacy education. It touts its work helping pass 20 bills across 10 states relating to media literacy.

Like NAMLE, Media Literacy Now casts itself as a politically neutral organization while recommending resources on Race & Social Justiceincluding the Critical Media Projectas well as those covering Gender.

When asked if her organization was a proponent of critical media literacy, McNeill told RCI it was not. Lipkin did not reply to the same question, but NAMLEs seems to endorse critical media literacy in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion section of its organizational policies.

Media Literacy Now is backed by, among others, Ad Fontes Media, whose resources it also recommends. The companys Interactive Media Bias Chart ranks the New York Times, Politico, and Washington Post as among the most reliable of the 30,000 sources it covers, as measured by original fact reporting, and as having a Middle or Balanced Bias. The most reliable source per its ratings is NBC News, which it positions as marginally right biased.

Federal records show that Media Literacy Now, like NAMLE, has received State Department funding in the form of a $30,000 grant aimed at advancing the quality of media literacy education in Germany.

These two groups are linked to New Jerseys information literacy bill through NAMLEs sponsorship of Media Literacy Now, which backed the legislation, as well as through NAMLEs National Media Literacy Alliance, which includes the American Association of School Librarians. Multiple groups that lobbied for the states bill are affiliates.

Some have credited Media Literacy Nows New Jersey chapter leader, Olga Polites, with playing an instrumental role in the passage of the states information literacy law. The Rowan University Professors past writings have raised concerns among some Republicans, who fear the politics she has espoused will pervade the legislation she shepherded.

In a 2021 opinion piece Polites wrote in support of mandated media literacy education, she called Fox News anchors Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity and talk radio stars Rush Limbaugh, and Mark Levin bad actors. She also cast the Daily Caller as not credible at all because [it] traffic[s] in lies and conspiracy theories, while highlighting the Washington Post as a trusted newspaper.

Polites suggested that basic skills in media literacy might enable students to understand  why white insurrectionists were treated so differently than Black Lives Matter protesterscoincidentally the thrust of the media literacy component of NAMLEs suggested Capitol riot resource.

Asked why New Jerseyans should have confidence such politics wont pervade the states classrooms under its information literacy bill, Polites told RCI that the bill was spearheaded by the New Jersey Association of School Librarians. The standards will be developed by the state education agency under the usual process for developing standards, she said.

The Leftist Bent of Other Literacy Laws

It is unclear what New Jerseys information literacy standards will look like. But the process by which they will be developed, and the competing views voiced by interested observers, parallel those in other states, and may presage future battles as scrutiny of public school activities nationwide intensifies.

Materials endorsed by other states pursuant to their media literacy laws may provide a clue as to what New Jersey will embrace under its legislation.

Californias senate passed a bill in 2018 calling for the states education department to make available a list of resources and instructional materials on media literacy. Among the curricula it lists are those from the Critical Media Project, as well as the progressive Southern Poverty Law Centers Learning for Justice project.

Colorados education department, which was required by law in 2021 to create a media literacy resource bank, too includes the Critical Media Project therein.

Illinois media literacy bill, passed in 2021, requires every public high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy. NAMLE and Media Literacy Now serve on a coalition working to implement the law.

Among the coalitions suggested resources are a Center for Media Literacy text titled Teaching Democracy: A Media Literacy Approach. It notes that Media literacy activities should stimulate critical thinking by asking profound questions of constructedness, equity, and social justice about media texts, while building respect for multiple perspectives. The coalition also directs users to iCivics resources.

RCI did not encounter any media literacy resources in connection with this investigation associated with right-leaning organizations.

Many of the resources recommended by states have no apparent political slant.

A potential issue though, says Sailer, is that Media literacy can mean almost anything, depending on who uses the term  its very much susceptible to political concept creep.

Mike Lilley, President and Founder of the Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey, a watchdog focused on the actions of the New Jersey Education Association, a backer of the information literacy bill, told RCI that the laws language  seems pretty balanced and uncontroversial. The overwhelming backing of state Republicans, and groups who do not always vote in lockstep with the states more progressive-leaning educational associations, lead Lilley to surmise it is not some sort of Trojan Horse for progressive ideology.

Kurtz is less sanguine, telling RCI that many Republican legislatorsparticularly in blue statesare eager to work across the aisle, yet poorly versed in the latest leftist education fads.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The United Nations World Happiness Index Ranked the United States 15th and Hong Kong 82nd

The contrast between the loneliness and happiness of young people on the street in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, in January 2019 is stark. (David Pan/The Epoch Times)

The International Day of Happiness is designated by the United Nations and is celebrated on March 20 each year. The latest World Happiness Report ranks Hong Kong 82nd out of 137 countries and regions, down one place from last year. The most popular places for Hong Kong people to migrate to include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States, placed 19th, 13th, 12th, and 15th, respectively.

The report surveyed 100,000 people worldwide and measures the average happiness index for the three years from 2020 to 2022 based on six factors: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perception of corruption. Hong Kongs score is only 5.308 out of a perfect score of ten, lower than Taiwan and Mainland China.

The average happiness index is based on a perfect score of ten. Finland ranks first in the world with a score of 7.804 out of ten, and Denmark and Iceland rank second and third with 7.586 and 7.53, respectively. The United States scored 6.894, Taiwan scored 6.535, China scored 5.818, and Hong Kong scored only 5.308.

Social Support Scores Increased, in Line with the World Trend

The latest report covers the three years when COVID-19 raged. As a result, Hong Kongs average happiness index scores are significantly different from the previous years report, which summarized the average happiness index for 2019-2021 in social support and healthy life expectancy. During the last years report, Hong Kong scored 0.954 in the assessment of social support, in which relatives and friends can help at any time, and this year, the score increased to 1.201. However, in the assessment of healthy life expectancy, which includes life expectancy and physical and mental health, Hong Kong scored 0.942 in the previous years report but only 0.702 this year.

The report does not provide details about Hong Kongs statistics, but the social support aspect of the epidemic is similar worldwide. The report cites the 2022 Gallup poll, which found that respondents in six regions and seven countries (Brazil, Egypt, France, Indonesia, India, and Mexico) reported high levels of social support and connectedness in all areas, with a mean of over three on a scale of one to four for social connectedness and social support, and less than 1.7 for isolation. In addition, the UN report suggests that positive interpersonal relations can help further explain the recovery of life scores in times of crisis.

Hong Kong Ranks 24th in Happiness Gap, Reflecting Widespread Unhappiness

Happiness equality is the only aspect of the latest report that mentions Hong Kong. The happiness gap between the top and bottom halves of the population reflects happiness equality. According to the report, happiness equality is one of the many factors influencing the average happiness index assessment.

The report categorizes countries or regions with a large gap between the happiness gap and the average happiness index rankings. Among them, there are 18 countries or areas where the happiness gap is 35 places higher than the average happiness index. For example, Afghanistan has the smallest happiness gap. However, it is also the country with the lowest average happiness index in the world, meaning almost everyone is depressed, according to the report. This classification also includes Hong Kong (24th in the world in terms of happiness gap), Sri Lanka, Iran, four Southeast Asian countries, three current or former members of the CIS, and six African countries.

On the contrary, the top Scandinavian countries in terms of happiness score are all at the top of the happiness gap (which also means happiness equality). The United States ranks 15th in happiness and has the 34th-highest happiness gap.

HKPORI Assesses Hong Kongers Happiness Indicators in 10 Areas

The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) also conducts annual surveys on peoples happiness. Results released at the end of 2020 show that peoples net happiness in the two year past was negative 45 percentage points. This is a record low since the survey began in 1992 after 2019. By 2021, net happiness will be negative ten percentage points, a significant improvement compared to the past two years. At the end of last year, net happiness decreased by one percentage point, which is also a considerable improvement. At the time, current affairs commentator Derek Yuen Mi-chang commented that Hong Kong people were happier than in previous years because individuals were slowly finding themselves from politics and the epidemic and had expectations for their future lives as the epidemic passed. Global economic recession and geopolitical crisis are the hidden worries.

Since November 2021, HKPROI has conducted the Social Happiness Indicators Survey, using ten specified areas to assess happiness indicators.

The latest results released in December 2022 show that all indicators have increased compared to the first survey conducted in early November. For example, figures showed that peoples appraisal of personal safety was the highest, with a 6.68 out of a scale of 0-10. Besides, peoples perceptions of Hong Kong people enjoying personal freedom, having opportunities for suitable employment, freedom from fear, protection of disadvantaged groups, fairness and justice in judicial proceedings, and the happiness of children were also more positive, with ratings of 5.89, 5.60, 5.24, 5.21, 5.16 and 5.02 marks respectively.

The last three indicators of social well-being scored below five marks, indicating that peoples appraisal was on the negative side, with only 4.61, 4.46, and 4.23 marks, respectively, meaning that they thought Hong Kong people lacked a lot of political rights, could not live in peace, and were not worry-free.
The Vanishing: US Public Schools Fast-Dissolving Education Standards

Commentary

The state of New York has decided to lower what it calls proficiency standards in math and English language arts for students in grades three through eight. The reason for this is a drastic drop in student scores on statewide tests from 2019 to 2022. In Schenectady, New York, alone, not one eighth-grader scored proficient on the statewide math test in 2022.

One reason for that is New Yorks public school systems insistence, prompted by militant teachers unions, on closing schools more or less continuously from March 2020 to September 2022 during prime COVID-19 hysteria. The students were supposed to be on remote learning, but it turned out that children, especially very young children, didnt have the concentration to focus on screens for long periods of timethat is, when they or their parents even bothered to get screens in front of them. Closed schools during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a nationwide decline in standardized-test scores.

The reaction of the scoring committee to this catastrophe was to dub the dramatically lower 2022 scores as a new normal and then use them for setting a substantially altered baseline for proficiency. New Yorks education bureaucrats prefer to use the word change rather than lower when it comes to setting that baseline, but its clear that the standards that were operative in 2019 will be nowhere near that level in 2023. And proficiency isnt a particularly demanding standard. It simply means that a student is performing at grade level, getting Bs and Cs, not necessarily As. But now grade level will mean something entirely different in New York.

Its easy to blame the teachers unions and the craven state officials in monetary thrall to them. The Chicago school system, another territory that the teachers unions have staked out as their proprietary domain, remained mostly closed from March 2020 until late August 2022 as teachers battled to work from home instead of inside their classrooms. The upshot of this was 55 Chicago public schools with not a single student scoring proficient in math or reading.

But teachers unions cant be blamed for the way Chicagos education bureaucracy has chosen to handle these pandemic-related declines. First, Chicago Public Schools stopped holding back poorly performing elementary-school students to repeat a grade during the first two years of COVID-19 disruption. Now, the Chicago school system has permanently ended any use of test scores in determining promotions. Furthermore, even students who fail core courses via their teachers own grading systems would be promoted alongside their passing classmates if they agree to intervention from on-site tutors. The idea is that holding students back for any reason is punitive, as one researcher put it, and that it also disproportionately affects black and Latino children.

All of thiswhether its making social promotion the new norm or simply redefining what counts as proficiencyis part of a current trend of dealing with the fact that some students cant meet educational standards by eliminating the standards themselves.

Virginia, for example, has already lowered proficiency standards on its statewide reading tests in reaction to the pandemic, the result being a significant honesty gap discrepancy in student performance on state and federal tests.

New Mexico has a lagging high school graduation rateso now theres a bill in the New Mexico legislature that would water down graduation requirements by reducing the number of required classes and credits.

In California, Culver City High School recently eliminated honors English classes because too few black and Latino students were enrolling. Two years ago, school districts in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, and elsewhere began phasing out D and F grades and giving students who fail or fail to turn in their assignments indefinite extensions and do-overs to finish their coursework.

This massive collapse of educational standards has been in the name of sparing young people the stigma of being labeled as failures.

A failed child needs more work not a failure grade, one supporter of the policy commented on Twitter.

Or in the name of racial equity, the insistence on equal outcomes for everyone regardless of ability or achievement. Anything elsehonors classes, letter grades, requiring students to reach a certain level of subject-matter mastery before they can move onsmacks of tracking, now a dirty word in education circles.

For nearly a century, separating students into ability groupsaverage, above-average, and below-averagewas the norm in U.S. education. Starting in the 1960s, it began to be abolished as racially discriminatory: too many minority and low-income children on the bottom tracks. More recently, school districts have jettisoned gifted and talented programs and sought to get rid of merit-based admissions to academically prestigious high schools such as San Franciscos Lowell and New Yorks Stuyvesant high schools. The operating principle: If you cant raise everyone to the top, you can push everyone to the bottom, with dumbed-down classes for all.

This hurts everyone and not least the students of less-than-stellar academic talent. Students seem to learn best in classes targeted to their actual level of ability, where they can take pride in mastering what theyre capable of mastering. Not every student is a math whiz who can climb the rungs to pre-calculus, but large numbers of students can learn some basic algebra taught at the right pace and where they wont feel like failures in a roomful of high achievers. In turn, the high achievers wont waste their time in slow-paced classrooms. If the goal of public education is, as its defenders assert, to help all students reach their potential, ability grouping targeted to individual students strengths and weaknesses can accomplish exactly that.

Right now, however, we seem sadly headed in the opposite direction. Prompted by the COVID-19 panic-generated school closings that led to massive declines in student achievement, we seem determined to push those achievement levels even lower, if not dissolve them altogether via a wholesale abandonment of academic standards. Inevitably, the taxpayers who fund the expensive U.S. public education system are going to wonder why theyre paying for their children to learn so little. And who could blame them?

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
TikToks CEO was grilled on Capitol Hill Thursday, and said the app is not a national security threat to the United States. Lawmakers were not convinced. From children dead after viral challenges to millions of young Americans vying to keep the app, TikTok is back under scrutiny. To ban or not to ban is still the question. As user data concerns rise, TikTok is offering a new solution: Project Texas. But will that really safeguard U.S. data?

Topics in this episode:
Trump Fires Back at DOJ, Accuses Agency of Creating Unprecedented Situation Over Jan. 6 Lawsuits

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York, on Aug. 9, 2022. (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

Former President Donald Trump asserted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is creating an unprecedented situation in arguing that hes not immune to Jan. 6-connected lawsuits, according to a court filing submitted in a federal court on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the DOJ wrote that the former president cannot be immune to lawsuits if it was determined that he incited violence on Jan. 6. However, Trumps team assailed (pdf) those claims and called the DOJs arguments an unprecedented specific carve out to absolute immunity that presidents should enjoy.

Trumps speech on Jan. 6, 2021, falls well within the broad scope of absolute immunity suggested by DOJ and that the DOJs argument  defeats the purpose of having absolute immunity, his lawyers wrote. Absolute immunity aims to prevent the President from being subjected to the process of civil litigation. It recognizes that the President is a prominent national figure and constant target for litigation.

The very concept of Presidential immunity assumes some level of conduct that is wrongful yet beyond the reach of civil liability, the filing said. Collapsing the standard for Presidential immunity into the standard for protected First Amendment activity effectively ignores these purposes; it throws open the doors for civil claims against a President and creates a stricter standard for a President than for ordinary federal officials, who have successfully claimed qualified immunity on far more egregious facts.

The federal District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is considering whether Trump could be held liable ahead of the events that occurred on Jan. 6. Several Democrat lawmakers have filed a lawsuit against the former president, as have U.S. Capitol Police officers.

On March 2, the DOJ wrote that Trumps attorneys have come up with a single, categorical argument that the president is always immune from any civil suits based on his speech on matters of public concern  even if that speech also constitutes incitement to imminent private violence.

That filing did not back any claims that were made by the lawmakers and Capitol Police officers. It merely noted that DOJ lawyers are plausibly alleging that Trumps statements on Jan. 6 may have triggered the Capitol breach.

Police begin lobbing munitions into the crowd on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

But Trumps lawyers said that the 45th presidents usage of the word fight on Jan. 6 was clearly metaphorical and referred to a political fight, not a literal fistfight or other violent interaction, noting that Trump said of Rudy Giuliani that hes got guts. He fights, he fights. They wrote that no reasonable listener would understand that metaphorical statement to suggest that Mr. Giuliani, a 76-year-old man, is getting into fist fights.

Other Details

Meanwhile, a landmark 1982 Supreme Court ruling argued that presidents are absolutely immune from civil damages that come through their official acts as president.

As for Trump, he has repeatedly pointed to a speech he made during the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally, in which he called on demonstrators to peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard. On the same day, in what is still the most recent post on the former presidents Facebook accountwhich was reinstated in FebruaryTrump asked for protesters to be peaceful.

I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order  respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you! his post read.

Also on Thursday, the lawmakers and Capitol Police officers who sued Trump filed another brief, writing (pdf) that Trumps claims of immunity should be thrown out by the court.

Urging private citizens to use any means that obstruct Congress from carrying out its constitutional duty to certify a presidential electiona procedure the Framers expressly placed beyond presidential reachbears no connection to any presidential responsibility, lawyers for the lawmakers and police officers wrote Thursday.

Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Henry Johnson (D-Ga.), Stephen Cohen (D-Tenn.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), and former Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), are among the lawmakers who have filed lawsuits against Trump.
The first GOP primary may be months away, but the Trump and DeSantis showdown is already a big story, with lots of fire coming from both sides. And theres even morelike GOP underdogs Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, and Mike Pompeojoining the fray.

And theres no one better to detail the drama of ambition and rivalry than columnist, novelist, and screenwriter Roger Simon who will be covering the Republican race for The Epoch Times. He speaks with Lee Smith in this exciting new episode of Over the Target about the race to 2024, stacking up to be the most important choice American voters ever make.
UK and EU Sign Off New Northern Ireland Brexit Deal

Windsor Framework adopted on Friday without the backing of the DUP

Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been formally signed off, without the support of the provinces largest unionist party.

On Friday, the Windsor Framework was legally adopted in a meeting chaired by both Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic days after MPs voted overwhelmingly in its favour.

But the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)which this week voted against a key part of the new frameworksuggested it would not be returning to the devolved government in Northern Ireland even if the deal was put in place.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had warned the DUP that there was no prospect of renegotiating the deal ahead of Fridays meeting, which comes after Brussels also formally agreed to the key parts of the Windsor Framework at a European Council meeting.

The formal sign-off happened at a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, with the foreign secretary and Sefcovic also due to attend a meeting of the Partnership Council, which is another of the implementation bodies under the Brexit deal.

In a joint statement on Friday afternoon, Cleverly and Sefcovic said the new arrangements address in a definitive matter the challenges in the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol over the last two years while supporting and protecting the Good Friday Agreement.

They also said the Windsor Framework protects the integrity of the European Unions single market, and Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdoms internal market.

Both sides agreed to work together intensively and faithfully to implement all elements of the Windsor Framework, the statement added.

The United Kingdom and European Union also reaffirmed their intent to use all available mechanisms in the framework to address and jointly resolve any relevant future issues that may emerge.

Unchanging Reality

Ahead of the expected sign-off, a statement posted on the DUPs website on Friday morning fiercely criticised both the deal and the Northern Ireland secretary.

How many agreements and deals have become international law only to be replaced by further deals and agreements that had to be implemented because there was a realisation that the earlier models were not fit for purpose? said Gregory Campbell, MP for East Londonderry.

Chris Heaton-Harris will have to come to terms with the reality for all of us who actually live here, that whatever about agreements, laws and deals that come and go, politics and governance in Northern Ireland only works when there is a cross-community political consensus.

Campbell said that the large government vote in favour of the Windsor Frameworks Stormont brake and the endorsement from the joint committee will not move Northern Ireland one inch closer to getting the necessary cross-community political consensus.

That is the unchanging reality that he has to come to terms with, Campbell added. Progress is only made when power-sharing works with the support of unionists and nationalists.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson at his party offices in Parliament Buildings, Belfast, Northern Ireland, on March 20, 2023. (David Young/PA Media)

On Wednesday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated the partys no-go stance to power-sharing following Parliaments overwhelming vote in favour of a key part of the Windsor Framework.

A total of 515 MPs voted in favour of implementing the new Stormont brake, with 29 opposing the UKEU agreed mechanism.

In total, 22 Conservatives rebelled to vote against the regulations.

They included former party chairman Sir Jake Berry, former Cabinet minister Simon Clarke, and former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Stormont Stand-Off

Six DUP MPs, along with independent MP Andrew Bridgen, also opposed the regulations.

Labour voted unanimously in favour of the Windsor Framework mechanism, which would allow a minority of lawmakers in the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont to formally flag concerns about the imposition of new EU laws in Northern Ireland, a move that could see the UK government veto their introduction in the region.

Speaking following the Commons vote, Donaldson said his party would not commit to restore the political institutions.

He told MPs: I want Stormont restored on a sustainable basis, on a stable basis where there is cross-community consent and consensus. That does not exist at the moment.

The UK government hopes that the new deal on the protocol can mark a step towards British participation in the EUs 100 billion euro Horizon programme, with science and research likely to feature in official discussions between the pair.

Cleverly and Sefcovic will also discuss a recent agreement between the UK, Ireland, and the EU on Peace Plus, the cross-border peace funding programme.

The continuing stand-off at Stormont suggests the prospects for a return to power-sharing in time for next months 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement remain bleak.

The Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly have been suspended since the DUP walked out last year in protest at the way the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson was operating.

PA Media contributed to this report.
US Military Forces in Syria Face Increasingly Volatile Region

U.S. 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment troops conduct area reconnaissance in Syria on Feb. 18, 2021. (U.S. Army/Spc. Jensen Guillory/Public Domain)

The U.S. military presence in Syria is coming under increasing pressure amid mounting volatility in the region and geopolitical realignments.

Following back-to-back attacks on its bases in Syria, the United States vowed on March 24 to protect military assets and personnel deployed there.

Were going to work to protect our people and our facilities as best we can, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in televised comments.

In reference to the Syrian theater, he said, Its a dangerous environment.

Earlier the same day, a U.S. base in northeastern Syria came under a missile attack, according to U.S. officials. Kirby said the attack didnt result in any casualties.

One day earlier, a U.S. base near Syrias northeastern city of Hasakah came under attack by an aerial drone, which U.S. defense officials claimed was of Iranian origin. A military contractor was killed and six servicemen injured, according to the Pentagon.

The United States responded by striking positions in eastern Syria associated with Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Defense Department said in a statement. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later claimed that the strikes had killed 11 Iranian-backed fighters in three separate areas of eastern Syria.

However, sources quoted by the Iranian media said no Iranians were killed in the strikes.

The Epoch Times was unable to verify either of the assertions.

War-torn Syria remains subject to frequent extra-territorial attacks.

On March 22, Israelviewed as a key U.S. ally in the regioncarried out an airstrike that targeted northwestern Syrias Aleppo airport.

According to Syrian officials, the Israeli strike caused significant material damage and temporarily forced the suspension of the airports operations.

It was Israels third attack on the airport within the past six months.

Israel carries out frequent attacks on Syrian territory. Israeli officials claim to be targeting Iranian military assets deployed in the country.

Since Israels establishment in 1948, it has fought three major wars with Syria. The two countries have never had diplomatic relations and technically remain in a state of war.

An armored personnel carrier, part of a U.S. military convoy, patrols in the countryside of Syrias Hasakeh province near the Turkish border on Feb. 18, 2023. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)

Syria Condemns U.S. Occupation

The United States continues to maintain a military presence in Syria of roughly 900 troops, with the stated aim of preventing the resurgence of the ISIS terrorist group. Said to be an offshoot of Al-Qaeda, ISIS made international headlines beginning in 2014, when it overran large swaths of Syria and Iraq.

By 2019, the terrorist group had been largely eradicated, prompting then-President Donald Trump to withdraw most U.S. troops from Syria. The troops who remain are concentrated mainly in Syrias northeast and northwest.

Damascus, for its part, views the continued U.S. military presence as an illegal occupation.

Its a view shared by Iran and Russia, both of which have kept military forces in Syriaalbeit at the latters invitationsince 2015.

But its also a view shared by North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Turkey, which for more than a decade has remained a bitter foe of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey opposes Washingtons support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Syrian groups cobbled together in 2015 with the ostensible aim of fighting ISIS. The SDFs main component is the YPG, a Kurdish militant group that Ankara views as a terrorist group.

The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which has carried out numerous attacks on Turkish targetscivilian and militarythroughout its 45-year history.

Backed by the United States, the SDF now controls much of northeastern Syria, which has become a de facto autonomous enclave where the Syrian government exerts little authority.

Increasingly frustrated by U.S. support for the YPG, Ankara has recently taken stepswith Russian encouragementto reconcile with Damascus.

In December 2022, the Turkish and Syrian defense ministers held a landmark meeting in Moscow.

The meeting was widely expected to pave the way for the full normalization of ties between the two countries after a decade of mutual hostility.

Kurdish fighters from the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) chat with members of U.S. forces in the town of Darbasiya next to the Turkish border in Syria on April 29, 2017. (REUTERS/Rodi Said)

Withdrawal Contingent on Total Defeat of ISIS

On March 4, U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited troops deployed in Syria to review security protocols and assess efforts to combat ISIS. During the visit, he said the continued U.S. presence in Syria is worth the risks involved.

The enduring defeat of ISIS and continuing to support our friends and allies in the region  are important tasks that can be done, he told reporters.

Syria called Milleys visit a flagrant violation of sovereignty, while Ankara summoned the U.S. ambassador to express its displeasure with the move.

Four days later, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) proposed legislation calling for the full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.

The bill was soundly defeated, with 321 lawmakers voting against it and 103 voting in favor.

Withdrawal of this legal, authorized U.S. troop deployment must be based on the total defeat of ISIS, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said after the vote.

Reuters contributed to this report.
US Aims to Allocate Over $7 Billion in Aid for Pacific Islands to Counter China

A general view of Rock islands in the Pacific island nation of Palau on Feb. 15, 2018. - Palau had urged the U.S. military to build bases on its territory, which lies in a region where Washington is pushing back against growing Chinese influence. (Mikhail Flores/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden administration aims to allocate $7.1 billion in funding for three Pacific Island nations with which the United States has economic and defense ties, a U.S. official said on March 23, in a move to counter Beijings influence in the region.

State Department official Jane Bocklage told a congressional hearing that President Joe Bidens fiscal year 2024 budget request included $7.1 billion in funding for the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

The funds would be paid out over 20 years to extend the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) agreements, which allow the United States to provide economic aid to the three countries in exchange for permission to operate defense bases there.

Bocklage said that Washington is working to finalize negotiations with the three island nations to renew the COFA provisions that are set to expire in 2024 for Palau and later this year for FSM and the Marshall Islands.

We are aiming for weeks, not months, she said. Absent the new economic assistance provisions, we really leave the three countries open to predatory behavior, coercive behavior.

Bocklage said the $7.1 billion funding consists of $6.5 billion in direct economic assistance and $634 million for the unfunded costs of extending the U.S. Postal Service in the Marshall Islands, Palau, and FSM.

Last month, Washington said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with FSM, which outlined a shared understanding reached on levels and types of future U.S. assistance to be requested by FSM.

US-China Rivalry in the Pacific

The three countriescalled the Freely Associated States (FAS)have complained that assistance has not kept pace with U.S. obligations. Though they still enjoy close ties to Washington, critics warn that a failure to reach new terms could spur them to look to Chinas communist regime for funding or increased trade and tourism.

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a federally funded think tank, said in a September 2022 report that Beijing perceives the U.S. limited engagement as a strategic void in the Pacific Island region and has been open about its intentions to fill it.

Even a modest increase in diplomatic resources is likely to meet with an enthusiastic reception from regional officials, stated the report, which was the result of a project that convened a group of 16 experts who interviewed officials and experts from countries around the region.

As the competition between the United States and China gains pace in the Pacific region, the FAS presents a unique opportunity for the United States, whose military is expanding its force posture, the report stated.

U.S. defense rights in the FAS present unique opportunities for new facilities and dual-use ports and airfields development. Strong U.S.-FAS connections mean that a deterioration in FAS economic or security conditions would have spillover effects into U.S. states and territories, it stated.

In a diplomatic tug-of-war, Beijing successfully flipped some Pacific Island nations to its side. After the Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched their diplomatic affiliation from Taipei to Beijing, Taiwan was left with diplomatic recognition from four Pacific Island nations.

Last year, Beijing signed multiple agreements with some Pacific Island nations, such as Samoa and the Solomon Islands. Still, it failed to have the regions countries sign a sweeping security and economic deal in May 2022 because of a lack of consensus among Pacific Island leaders.

CCPs Political Warfare

FSMs outgoing leader, David Panuelo, has proposed that his nation switch allegiances to Taiwan from China as he accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of waging political warfare.

David Panuelo of Federated States of Micronesia speaks during the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 18, 2013. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

In a leaked 13-page letter addressed to the FSM Congress on March 9, Panuelo alleged that Beijing was attempting to undermine the FSMs sovereignty to ensure that the country would side with the CCP or remain neutral in a potential conflict over Taiwan.

We further know that the FSM has a key role to play in either the prevention of such a conflict, or participation in allowing it to occur, said Panuelo, whose term ends in two months.

It is on this basis that Political Warfare and Grey Zone activity occur within our borders; China is seeking to ensure that, in the event of a war in our Blue Pacific Continent between themselves and Taiwan, that the FSM is, at best, aligned with the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] instead of the United States, and, at worst, that the FSM chooses to abstain altogether, he added.

Panuelo said the CCPs political warfare in the FSM included overt activitysuch as political alliances and economic measuresand covert activity, such as bribery, psychological warfare, and blackmail.

One of the reasons that Chinas political warfare is successful in so many arenas is that we are bribed to be complicit, and bribed to be silent. Thats a heavy word, but it is an accurate description regardless, he wrote.

Venus Upadhayaya and Reuters contributed to this report.
US Appeals Court Blocks COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Federal Workers

A federal appeals court has halted the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workers nationwide.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans ruled (pdf) in an en banc hearing on Thursday to keep a preliminary injunction on the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in place amid ongoing litigation over the matter.

En banc is a legal term that means a case is heard by the entire bench of a court, rather than just by a panel of judges selected from the bench.

The latest move by the full appeals court of 16 full-time judges reverses a previous ruling that was made by a smaller panel of judges from the same appeals court. That three-judge panel had ruled in April 2022 to uphold the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workers.

Executive Order

President Joe Biden in September 2021 issued an executive order requiring federal workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, otherwise they would face disciplinary actions, which might include being fired. The order permitted exceptions for religious and medical reasons.

Feds for Medical Freedom, a group of about 6,000 federal workers, brought a lawsuit against the order, saying it likely exceeded the presidents authority.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown, a Trump appointee in January 2022 ordered the preliminary injunction on the vaccine mandate. At the time, the Biden administration said nearly 98 percent of covered employees had been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The case moved to the 5th Circuit. The majority ruling by a three-judge panel in April 2022 overturned Browns decision and determined that the plaintiffs should have taken their complaints elsewhere. Specifically, Judge Carl Stewart, a Clinton appointee, wrote in the majority decision that the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978 precludes district court adjudication of federal statutory and constitutional claims.

Under the CSRA, federal workers facing adverse actions may appeal to an entity called the Merit Systems Protection Board, which decides whether the worker was properly disciplined. If the worker prevails, the board can order an agency to reinstate the worker or undertake other measures. Employees who disagree with the board can appeal to a federal appeals court.

At the time, Judge Rhesa Barksdale, a George H.W. Bush appointee, dissented from the majority and said that Bidens vaccine executive order doesnt constitute an alleged adverse action subject to the CSRA.

Exceeded His Authority

The full appeals court on Thursday found that the case falls outside the jurisdiction of the CSRA because the federal workers are challenging the vaccine mandate on the grounds that Biden exceeded his authority.

The majority of the court rejected arguments from the Biden administration that the president has the same authority as a CEO of a private corporation to mandate vaccinations for its employees.

Plaintiffs complaint does not challenge any personnel action reviewable under the CSRA. Nor does it challenge any personnel action they could hypothetically incur in the future, Judge Andrew Oldham, a Trump nominee, wrote in Thursdays opinion (pdf) for a 10-member majority. Rather, plaintiffs claim that the Presidents vaccine mandate violates the U.S. Constitution and the [Administrative Procedure Act].

Oldham and the majority said that federal law does not apply to private, irreversible medical decisions made in consultation with private medical professionals outside the federal workplace.

Judge Stephen Higginson, an Obama nominee, wrote the main dissenting opinion.

For the wrong reasons, our court correctly concludes that we do have jurisdiction, Higginson wrote. But contrary to a dozen federal courtsand having left a government motion to stay the district courts injunction pending for more than a yearour court still refuses to say why the President does not have the power to regulate workplace safety for his employees.

Moving forward, Judge Oldham noted, When the parties proceed to the merits in the district court, the plaintiffs will have to prove that whatever injunction they request is broad enough to protect against their proven injuries and no broader.

And the Government will have another chance to show that any permanent injunction should be narrower than the preliminary one.

And both sides will have to grapple with the White Houses announcement that the COVID emergency will finally end on May 11, 2023.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
TEHRAN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 82 people were injured in a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that jolted northwestern Iran on Friday morning, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).

The quake occured near Khoy County in the province of West Azarbaijan at 6:46 a.m. local time (0316 GMT) at a depth of 8 km, according to the Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC).

Of the total number of the injured, 70 were in Salmas County and 12 in Khoy County, ISNA quoted Amir-Abbas Jafari, director general of the Crisis Management Department of West Azarbaijan province, as saying.

He added most of the injured were immediately released from medical centers after receiving first aid, and the rest, having sustained more serious wounds, are expected to be released soon.

Speaking to ISNA, Khoy Governor Zabiollah Kazemi said the quake has caused minor damage, having led to the collapse of a number of yard walls and cracks on the walls of old houses.

In late January, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Khoy County that killed three people and injured over 800 others. 
US, Canada Reach Deal to Limit Entry at Unofficial Border Crossing Points

US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau arrive to attend a gala dinner at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S.Canada border was a widely discussed topic as U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got together for bilateral meetings in Ottawa, Canada, and Biden addressed the Canadian Parliament before the two leaders held a joint news conference on a busy March 24.

The two leaders announced that as of March 25, asylum-seekers at unofficial border crossing points between the two countries would be turned back. The move follows years of migrants making unsanctioned crossings at places such as Roxham Road, which connects New York state and the province of Quebec, to make asylum claims. The flow of migrants had surged in recent months.

The two countries share a 5,525-mile-long border, Biden noted.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people cross the borders, going north and south, to work or just to visit, knowing theyll find a warm welcome on the other side of the border, he said.

Americans and Canadians are two people, two countries, in my view, sharing one heart, he said. Its a personal connection: No two nations on Earth are bound by such close tiesfriendship, family, commerce, and cultures.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) walks with U.S. President Joe Biden after welcoming him at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trudeau quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who, in a 1987 speech to the Canadian Parliament, called the U.S.Canada border a meeting place rather than a dividing line.

More than 30 years later, our border is no longer just the place where we meet each other, Trudeau said. This is the place where we will meet the moment; its the place where we will meet the future.

Loophole

To address the issue of illegal migrant border crossings from the United States into Canada, Biden and Trudeau announced an update to the Safe Third Country Agreement between the two countries. In announcing the update, Canada stated that it will also allow 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere to apply for entry into the country on a humanitarian basis.

Trudeau had requested assistance from the Biden administration to limit the flood of migrants who are entering Canada from the United States and asking for asylum.

The deal will allow the two countries to turn away migrants who are caught between official points of entry along the U.S.Canada border.

According to a 2002 agreement between the two countries, asylum-seekers must apply in the first country they arrive in.

That pact was applicable only at official border crossings, creating a loophole for migrants who travel from the United States to Canada and illegally cross at Roxham Road, which is a half-hour taxi ride from the Plattsburgh, New York, bus station.

The United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings and fully implement the updated Safe Third Country Agreement, Biden told members of Parliament.

In the joint news conference, Trudeau said, Canada and U.S. will continue to work together as partners to keep our people safe. Keeping people safe also includes keeping asylum seekers safe, keeping our borders secure, and keeping our immigration system strong. Both of our countries believe in safe, fair, and orderly migration, refugee protection, and border security.

This is why we will now apply the Safe Third Country Agreement to asylum seekers between official points of entry. After midnight tonight, police and border officers will enforce the agreement and return irregular border crossers to the closest port of entry with the United States.

Biden and Trudeau met in Ottawa days after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow, where they proclaimed a partnership that would help shape a new world order guided by China and Russia.

Before the news conference, Biden and Trudeau released a joint statement condemning Russia for its illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war against Ukraine, and [noting that they] will continue imposing economic costs on Russia, while maintaining our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The two leaders also said they acknowledge the serious long-term challenge to the international order posed by the Peoples Republic of China, including disruptive actions such as economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, and human rights abuses.

While we will cooperate with China in areas of mutual interest, such as on climate change, we remain committed to ensuring our ability to compete effectively with China on a level playing field, the statement reads. Canada and the United States will also continue to cooperate on countering foreign interference in our societies in a manner that reflects our shared democratic values.

During the news conference, Trudeau was asked: Knowing what you know, are you comfortable with the idea of your children or family members using TikTok?

In response, he said, We made a similar decision to the American government and others when we said that we do not feel that the security profile is safe for government-issued phones.

There are concerns around privacy and security, and that is why we have banned TikTok from government-issued phones.

Trudeau smiled and said that since his children have government-issued phones, access to TikTok will no longer be an issue.
US Commerce Department Adds 14 Chinese Firms to Unverified List, Increasing Scrutiny

The seal of the Department of Commerce is pictured in Washington, on March 10, 2017. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)

President Joe Bidens administration has added 14 Chinese companies to an export precautions list, requiring U.S. exporters to more closely document their business transactions before shipping goods to the Chinese firms listed.

The U.S. Department of Commerce added these Chinese firms to its Unverified List (UVL) on Thursday after commerce officials were unable to verify certain aspects of these foreign business entities, such as how items exported to these firms are ultimately used.

The Chinese entities added to the UVL include:

Airpart Consolidated Trading ECOM International (HK) Co., Ltd. Guangzhou Trusme Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. HK P&W Industry Co. Ltd. (HKPW) Jet-Prop International Forwarding (HK) Ltd. Kesina Services Lightstar Technology Ltd. Shandong Yuehaitongxin Keji Ltd. Shengwei Technology Co., Ltd. Small Leopard Electronics Co., Ltd. Solar Way (Hong Kong) Ltd. Sunway Technology Electronics Ltd. USETA Tech (HK) Ltd. Winners Global Trading Co.

As suggested by their inclusion on the UVL, information is limited for several of these businesses. A web page of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council indicates Airpart Consolidated Trading deals primarily with the import and export of aircraft components. The names of several of the other listed entities suggest they deal with electronics and other technology components.

It is critical that [the Bureau of Industry and Security] is able to conduct end-use checks to determine compliance with U.S. export control rules, said DOC Assistant Secretary For Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. Where we cannot verify the bona fides of foreign parties, we will continue to add parties to the Unverified List to place restrictions on future export transactions and prevent the diversion of U.S. items.

The listing could potentially start a 60-day clock that could trigger even tougher penalties for the Chinese firms.

Enforcing our export controls is a crucial part of protecting American national security, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said in a statement following the new listings. We are committed to using all of the tools at our disposal to establish how advanced U.S. technology is being used around the globe.

US Increasingly Wary of Chinese Firms

In addition to the 14 Chinese firms, the Commerce Department added five entities from the United Arab Emirates, two entities from Germany, and a single entity each from Bulgaria, Canada, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore to the UVL on Thursday.

Inclusion on the UVL does not necessarily mean that U.S. exporters cannot engage in business transactions with the listed foreign entities or that there are specific articulable national security or foreign policy concerns associated with those foreign entities. The Commerce Department said inclusion on the UVL is also not meant to serve as a sanction against any particular country or government, particularly as entities from close trading nations like Canada, Germany, and Israel have been added to the UVL.

Inclusion on the UVL does, however, mean that U.S. businesses that carry out transactions with these listed foreign entities must complete extra documentation, including obtaining a statement from authorized officials of the listed foreign entities.

Though the Commerce Department insists that inclusion on the UVL is not necessarily a punitive measure, the Chinese Embassy in Washington condemned the decision to include the Chinese firms on the list. The Chinese Embassy said China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the Commerce Departments actions against the 14 Chinese firms. The embassy also said the action was a continuation of U.S. efforts to abuse export control measures and use state power to suppress and contain foreign companies.

The U.S. side should immediately stop its wrong practices, the Chinese embassy added. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

The decision to add these 14 Chinese entities to the UVL comes as U.S. officials have expressed increased concerns about the national security threats posed by Chinese entities operating in the U.S. or transacting business with U.S. partners and customers. The Commerce Department added these 14 Chinese firms to the UVL on the same day lawmakers questioned the CEO of the Chinese-owned TikTok app about how the social media platform stores and handles U.S. user data, and shared concerns that the app serves as a tool for the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to surveil Americans.

NTD News reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for additional comment, but they did not respond before this article was published.

Reuters contributed to this article.

From NTD News
US Conducts Airstrikes in Syria After 1 Killed in Suspected Iranian Drone Attack on Base

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Nov. 3, 2022. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

The U.S. military carried out an airstrike in Syria on Thursday after a drone attacked a U.S. base, killing one and injuring six more, including service members, according to the Department of Defense (DOD).

In a late Thursday night statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that he had authorized U.S. Central Command forces to carry out precise airstrikes in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, Austin said.

According to the U.S. Intelligence Community, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) responsible for the attack on the coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria was determined to be of Iranian origin.

The UAV targeted a maintenance facility and struck at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time, resulting in the death of one U.S. contractor and injuries to five service members and an additional U.S. contractor.

Two of the wounded service members received medical treatment on site while three other service members and the U.S. contractor were evacuated to coalition facilities in Iraq for further medical attention.

The DOD declared that the strikes were carried out with the aim of safeguarding and defending American personnel. It also affirmed that the response was proportionate and deliberate and aimed to curtail the possibility of increased hostilities and casualties.

Austin emphasized that President Joe Biden had conveyed the message that the United States would use all necessary means to protect its people and would retaliate on its own terms.

No group will strike our troops with impunity, he added.

The defense secretary expressed condolences for the family of the contractor and sympathy for those who were injured in the attack.

We Will Always Take All Necessary Measures to Defend Our People

CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement that American forces struck facilities used by the IRGC.

We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he said in a statement.

Kurilla said U.S. troops remain in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of the ISIS terrorist group. He said the U.S. presence has other benefits, such as providing security and stability for Syria and the region.

The general warned that U.S. forces are postured to carry out further actions if necessary, in the face of any additional Iranian attacks.

Some 900 U.S. troops remain in Syria. In 2019, former President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of thousands of service members following the defeat of ISIS.

The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the Iranian regime from perceived internal and external threats.

The United States has already designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization and subjected it to unprecedented sanctions. Other governments, including in Australia, the United Kingdom, and European Union, have debated whether to follow suit.

Lawmakers in Britain sought to have the group declared a terrorist organization after it was revealed that it had plotted to kidnap and murder people in the UK.

Elected officials from Australias center-right coalition party, the Liberal Nationals, earlier this year urged the center-left governing Labor Party to declare it a terrorist organisation following reports that the group targeted Australian organisations with malicious ransomware attacks.

In January, lawmakers in the European Parliament called for the EU to ban any economic or financial activity that can be linked to the IRGC.

The group, which answers to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with drones in the Middle East.

At a congressional hearing on Thursday, Kurilla said Iranian proxies are thought to be behind several attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq since 2021.
US New-Vehicle Sales Expected to Rise in March on Strong Demand for Cars and Trucks

Automobiles for sale at a car dealership in Carlsbad, Calif., on May 2, 2016. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Sales of new vehicles in the United States are expected to go up in March, riding on pent-up demand for cars and trucks, a report from industry consultants J.D. Power-LMC Automotive showed on Thursday.

Total new-vehicle sales for the month, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1.33 million units, a 6.2 percent increase from March 2022, according to the report.

A preference for personal transport has powered the auto industrys sales over the past year but there have been some indications of late that demand may be losing steam.

General Motors Co. last month said it would idle an Indiana assembly plant that builds Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks for two weeks starting March 27 to maintain optimal inventory levels at its dealerships.

While there are some warning signs in the banking industry and with the general economy, the outlook for global vehicle sales has been increased by 200,000 from a month ago to 86.1 million units, up 6.2 percent from 2022, Jeff Schuster, president, global forecasts at LMC Automotive said.

Supply disruption is expected to continue to ease, he added.

Retail sales of new vehicles are expected to reach 1.09 million units in March, a 1.9 percent increase from last year.

Availability of new vehicles at retailers is improving, but overall the industry remains supply constrained helping keep profitability well above historical norms, the report said.

New-vehicle prices continue to rise, with the average price reaching $45,818 in March, a 3.5 percent increase from a year ago.

For 2023, the consultants said global light-vehicle sales is expected to increase by 6.2 percent to 86.1 million units.
US Rejects Chinas Claim That US Warship Illegally Entered Waters in South China Sea

The USS Milius (DDG69) guided-missile destroyer arrives to join the Forward Deployed Naval Force at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, on May 22, 2018. (Issei Kato/Reuters)

The U.S. Navy on Thursday disputed Chinas claim that the Chinese military had driven away a U.S. destroyer that illegally entered waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

In a statement, the Chinese military said that the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius intruded into Chinas territorial waters, undermining peace and stability in the busy waterway.

The U.S. Navy disputed the statement, saying the destroyer is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea and was not expelled.

The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, a statement from the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet said.

Tension between the United States and China has been growing in the area.

The United States has been shoring up alliances in the Asia-Pacific seeking to counter Chinas aggression in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, as the Chinese regime seeks to advance its territorial claims.
Utah Becomes First State to Require Parental Consent for Minors to Use Social Media

Heavy social media users are twice as likely to be depressed as light users, making it important for parents to consider limiting their teen's access or offering more beneficial activities. (Eightshot Images/Getty Images)

Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Thursday signed two bills into law setting limits on social media use for minorsincluding requiring parental consent, making it the first U.S. state to do so.

Were no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth, Cox, a Republican, said on Twitter.

He said that one of the new laws, S.B. 152, also called the Utah Social Media Regulation Act, requires social media companies to verify that users in the state are at least 18 years old in order to open an account in platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Minors will need permission to open an account.

The new legislation, introduced by state Republican Sen. Michael McKell, also requires that social media companies allow parents full access to their childs accounts, according to the governors website.

Under the federal Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, companies are prohibited from collecting data on those under age 13 without parental consent, and as such, social platforms ban children under 13 from signing up.

Safety Measures

S.B. 152 also imposes a slew of restrictions intended to improve safety for minors. This includes creating a default curfew setting to block minors access to their accounts overnight, from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., which parents can adjust.

It also blocks direct messaging by anyone who the minor has not added as a friend or followed on the platforms. Minors are also barred from being included in search results on the platforms.

Social media companies are also blocked under the new law from collecting data from minors and targeting their accounts for advertising.

The other law, H.B. 311, prohibits the social media companies from implementing any designs or features that causes addiction for a minor to the companys platform, Cox said. This bill also makes it easier for people to sue social media companies for damages, he added.

The logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat on mobile devices in a combination of 20172022 photos. (AP Photo)

Penalties

Companies found to violate H.B. 311 by using addictive design features may face a $250,000 fine, and a penalty of up to $2,500 per child exposed to a particular addictive feature. Companies that address their violations within 30 days and perform quarterly audits may be able to avoid the fine.

Violations of either laws may also be reported to the Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection which has the authority to fine social media companies up to $2,500 per violation and seek additional remedies through the courts, according to Coxs office.

The two measures were passed earlier in March by Utahs Republican-controlled legislature. Companies have until March 1, 2024, to comply with the laws.

When it comes down to it, (the bill) is about protecting our children, McKell told CNN. As a lawmaker and parent, I believe this bill is the best path forward to prevent our children from succumbing to the negative and sometimes life-threatening effects of social media.

U.S. lawmakers and the general public have over the years expressed the need for more legislation to ensure safety for children on social media, amid concerns about the impact of such platforms on children, which include that of online bullying and harassment, as well as social media addiction, potential access to harmful content, and other mental health concerns including depression and body image issues.

Service providers in the United States are largely protected from liability over their content under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. It states that no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.

The legislatures of Arkansas, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Ohio are also considering legislation that includes parental consent for minors to use social media.
Utility Shuts Down Minnesota Nuclear Plant Over Radioactive Leak

Radioactive water leaks from plant for 2nd time in recent days

A utility company said it will shut down its nuclear power plant in Minnesota after it found a radioactive substance thats being leaked into nearby groundwater.

Xcel Energy confirmed Thursday it will start the shutdown of the Monticello power plant on Friday to perform repairs to permanently resolve a leak of water containing tritium at the plant, according to a news release. The firm said that no disruptions will be made to customer service.

While the leak continues to pose no risk to the public or the environment, we determined the best course of action is to power down the plant and perform the permanent repairs immediately, claimed Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy, in a statement. We are continuing to work with and inform our state, federal, city and county leaders in the process.

Earlier this month, Minnesota regulators said they are monitoring the cleanup of a leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water from the Monticello facility. At the time, Xcel said there was no danger to the public.

While Xcel reported the leak of water containing tritium to state and federal authorities in late November, the spill had not been made public before this month. State officials said they waited to get more information before going public with it.

In a statement in mid-March, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said it was working with other state agencies to to ensure this cleanup is concluded as thoroughly as possible with minimal or no risk to drinking water supplies. After the 400,000 gallons leaked, it was stopped by the company, the agency said, adding that it is now monitoring the groundwater plume through two dozen wells.

The company said it notified the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the state on Nov. 22, the day after it confirmed the leak, which came from a pipe between two buildings. Since then, it has been pumping groundwater, storing and processing the contaminated water, which contains tritium levels below federal thresholds.

After identifying the source of the leak late last year, which poses no health and safety risk to the local community or the environment, Xcel Energy implemented a short-term solution to capture water from the leaking pipe and reroute it back into the plant for re-use, said the company in the Thursday news release. This solution was originally designed to prevent any new tritium from reaching the groundwater until the company could install a replacement pipe during a regularly scheduled refueling outage in mid-April.

The Monticello plant is about 35 miles northwest of Minneapolis, upstream from the city on the Mississippi River.

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that occurs naturally in the environment and is a common by-product of nuclear plant operations. It emits a weak form of beta radiation that does not travel very far and cannot penetrate human skin, according to the NRC. A person who drank water from a spill would get only a low dose, the NRC says.

A page on the NRCs website suggests that tritium has been leaked at U.S. nuclear power plants over the years. But it stipulated that nuclear plants usually limit the radioactive substance on the plants property or are involved in such low levels that they dont affect public safety.

Ongoing monitoring from over two dozen on-site monitoring wells confirms that the leaked water remains fully contained on-site and has not been detected beyond the facility or in any local drinking water, said Xcel on Thursday. State agencies continue to monitor Xcel Energys remediation work to ensure the continued safety of the local community and surrounding environment. To date, Xcel Energy has recovered about 32 percent of the tritium released and will continue recovery over the course of the next year.

Its not clear when the Minnesota power plant will come back online for operations. Officials said that a schedule for resuming operation at the plant is still to be determined and that the plant will start its refueling process this spring.

Meanwhile, Japanese government officials recently announced a plan to release a large quantity of treated radioactive water into the ocean from the reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima power plant more than a decade ago following the March 11, 2011, earthquake. That radioactive water also contains tritium, according to reports.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Were Lucky We Have Canada, Biden Says as Bilateral Meetings With Trudeau Begin

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) walks with U.S. President Joe Biden after welcoming him at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

OTTAWA, CanadaPresident Joe Biden arrived in Ottawa on March 24 for bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

It marks Bidens first visit to Canada as president.

Trudeau said before the two leaders entered their first meeting, Obviously, weve been working closely together over the past few years on how to build strong economies for everyone in our two countries and around the world, how to continue our fight against climate change and prepare a stronger economic future for everyone, but also how we deal with changing geopolitical security contexts and how we continue the important work of keeping our citizens safe and standing up for our values everywhere around the world.

We have no greater friend and ally than the United States, he added.

Biden noted that he has not visited Canada since 2016.

Were lucky we have Canada to the north, Biden said. We disagree on things occasionally, but theres no fundamental difference in the democratic values we share, and it really makes a big difference.

Biden added that the two leaders have much to discuss.

After the official welcome ceremony and book signing in the morning, Biden is slated to join Trudeau for a pair of bilateral meetings, the White House said.

Biden will deliver an address to the Canadian parliament in the afternoon followed by a joint press conference with Trudeau.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to attend a gala dinner hosted by Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

Biden and Trudeau are expected to talk about mutual national security issues and defense cooperation, including strengthening supply chain resilience, and accelerating the clean energy transition, the White House reported.

Shared concerns about Chinese aggression and political instability in Haiti are among the topics that Biden and Trudeau will discuss.

Biden is expected to bring up his administrations call for Canada to devote more funds to upgrade the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) early warning system.

Vulnerabilities of that system were exposed earlier this year when a Chinese spy balloon flew over both nations.

The two leaders are also set to announce an agreement designed to stop the flow of asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings from the United States to Canada.

During his speech before the Canadian Parliament, Biden will highlight the importance of the United States-Canada bilateral relationship, according to the White House.

A joint statement from the U.S. Department of Energy and Canadas Department of Natural Resources noted that Biden and Trudeau affirmed their intent to promote enhanced collaboration on nuclear energy and technology between their two countries.

Enhancing our partnerships is more important than ever given the current global challenges we face, the statement reads. Russias unprovoked and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and the increasing impacts of climate change have fundamentally altered the global energy landscape and accelerated the need for collaboration between like-minded allies.
Wife Seeks Help for Blogger Husband Secretly Sentenced to 7 Years in Chinese Jail

Well-known blogger Program-Think is said to have been sentenced to seven years in prison by Shanghai No.2 Intermediate Peoples Court on February 10, 2023. (Twitter screenshot)

A Chinese blogger famous for promoting free speech and offering tips to work around the Chinese firewall had been missing for nearly two years. Recently, however, it was revealed that he had been arrested and incarcerated by Chinas communist regime before being sentenced on Feb. 10 to seven years in prison under charges of inciting subversion of state power.

Ruan Xiaohuan is believed to be the owner of the blog site Program-Think, which was last updated on May 9, 2021.

Since 2009, Program-Think has posted information on how Chinese internet users can evade the communist regimes internet firewall to access information, as well as reports on topics forbidden on the Chinese internetsuch as the Chinese regimes brainwashing tactics, or the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.

His wifewho Chinese internet users refer to as Ms. Beisaid she did not even realize that her husband was the owner of the blog site until a year after he had been arrested. The authorities demanded that she keep the recent verdict confidential after it was announced, according to a Radio Free Asia report.

Activist Zhou Fengsuo, executive director of Human Rights in China, believes Ruans wife may be in danger. Since he was arrested, his family has not made a public statement until now, Zhou told The Epoch Times on March 22.

Many Chinese netizens regard Program-Thinks continued existence as something akin to a miracle. The owner had long managed to remain anonymous, and the blog site has remained online since 2009despite the censorship of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Ruans Wife Asks For Help

On March 21, Ruans wife sent a text message to neighbors to inform them that she had been harassed by the police, and asked them to inform her family and her lawyers if she too were to be abducted.

She said she sent the text message out of concern for her own safety.

In the message, she also indicated that after two years of detention, Shanghais No.2 Intermediate Peoples Court had passed the verdict on her husband on Feb. 10. She is now in the process of launching an appeal against her husbands sentence, but the police have harassed her about her intention to hire her own lawyers.

She revealed that the Shanghai Peoples Court appointed the maximum number of two legal aid lawyers for Ruan. His wife, however, said she views this as a kind of blocking maneuver, as she had hoped to hire lawyers of her own.

On March 22, the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times contacted Ruans wife, but she declined to give an interview at that time.

The Epoch Times also contacted the Yangpu District Police Detention Center in Shanghai. A staff member said that the external inquiries for Ruan Xiaohuan are only available to lawyers.

A Chinese lawyer who has followed the case closely (but who did not wish to be named) told The Epoch Times that there is currently no legal regulation that the detention center can only accept inquiries from legal counsel. He suspects that staff had been specifically instructed not to divulge any information about Ruan.

Anti-CCP Programmer

Program-Think was launched on January 15, 2009. The posts are arranged in categories, such as evading the so-called Great Firewall of China, IT security, psychology, brainwashing and counter-brainwashing, politics, history, programming, career and personal development, etc.

In February 2016, posts providing information on the corrupt practices of the communist regimes so-called princelings and the networks of Communist Party elites were posted on the site.

To date, the website has hosted at least 1,700 posts, including detailed records of historical events such as the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition movement, the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, and so on.

Specifically, Program-Think concentrates on teaching viewers how to circumvent the Chinese Communist Partys online censorship, free themselves from its brainwashing propaganda, and join its anti-dictatorship campaign via secure and anonymous IT technology.

Activist Zhou said Program-Think has had widespread influence in China in recent years. Referring to Ruans charge of inciting subversion of state power, Zhou said its a trumped-up chargean arbitrary charge routinely used by the communist regime to target and imprison political activists, human rights campaigners, and dissidents.

The crime of inciting subversion of state power (pdf) has been described as a legal tool for prosecuting free speech by the NGO Chinese Human Rights Defenders.

Even though the owner last updated the website in 2021, it remains active and continues to accept readers comments.

Hong Ning contributed to this report.
Xi and Putin Are Pushing to Create New China-Led International Totalitarian Order: Analysts

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping shake hands during a signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladamir Putins three-day meeting at the Kremlin earlier this week was aimed at creating a new China-led global order thats powered by the communist regimes ideology and economic system, geopolitical analysts say.

Xi, himself, appeared to have unwittingly divulged this goal in his parting words to Putin as he left the Kremlin on March 22, caught on camera by media outlets waiting outside the complex gates.

This is exactly, right now, the change which hasnt happened in 100 years. And it is we, together, who are driving these changes forward, Xi told Putin, who replied, I agree.

In a joint statement released by the Kremlin a day earlier, the two nations pledged to work to create a more just and democratic multipolar world order.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping toast during their dinner at The Palace of the Facets is a building in the Moscow Kremlin, Russia, on March 21, 2023. (Pavel Byrkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Frank Lehberger, a Germany-based sinologist said Xis remarks encapsulated China and Russias malign ambitions.

Both Xi and Putin want to gradually subvert the organization of the U.N. and replace this time-tested and comparatively fair international rules-based order with a new international totalitarian order, Lehberger told The Epoch Times in an email.

Under this new world order, [a]ll rogue autocrats from Belarus to North Korea would gain status as axis-partners of Xi and Putin, spreading their negative and corrosive influence over the U.N. and the world at large, he added.

Grant Newsham, a senior fellow with the Center for Security Policy and the author of the new book, When China Attacks: A Warning to America echoed this view, saying the trip portends all sorts of trouble for the free world.

[K]eep in mind that besides the Russia-China alliance we are in fact seeing a coming-together of other dictatorships and like-minded countries, such as Iran, Cuba, and Venezuelaalong with a number of other countries that are cozying up to the dictators, Newsham told The Epoch Times in an email.

Economic Integration

During their meeting, Xi and Putin signed several agreements including the Plan to Promote Key Elements of Chinese-Russian Economic Cooperation until 2030. Chinese State media said this plan aims to improve trade quality and forge a new type of industrial chain.

The plan covers eight areas of China-Russia economic cooperation from institutional arrangements, including financial cooperation and steadily increasing the proportion of local currency settlement in bilateral trade, to guidance on cooperation in specific industrial sectors such as energy and agriculture.

The Kremlin said trade and economic cooperation remain a priority for the two allies. Last year amid the war, bilateral trade increased by 30 percent to $180 billion and this year it will likely reach $200 billion.

Lehberger said the agreement will lead to deepening economic linkages between Russia and China, including financial integration of both economies using [Chinas renminbi], logistics and exchange of goods, especially food imports from Russia to starving China.

He Qinglian, U.S.-based Chinese author and economist, said that strengthening economic ties with Russia has been a long-term Chinese pursuit, however, Russia had reservations. But circumstances changed after Putins invasion of Ukraine when Western sanctions forced Russia to become more dependent on China.

China did not need to make any efforts at all and achieved its goal safely, she said, adding that Moscows isolation had helped China shift its oil and gas reliance from the threat-prone Middle East to Russia.

The joint statement also shared plans about pipelines in Siberia, including a proposed Power of Siberia-2 pipeline to deliver Russian gas to China via Mongolia, which could carry 50 billion cubic meters of gas a year

With these energy links, isolated Russia will only become more and more dependent on China going forward, according to Burzine Waghmar, a visiting fellow of Britains Royal United Services Institute.

This asymmetric relationship will endure in the medium-term, he told The Epoch Times in an email.

[T]he Siberian hinterland, with its immense gas and other resources, and [the] Pacific seaboard are practically Chinas for the taking, he added.

Chinese military helicopter gunships fire rockets during joint war games held by Russia and China in northwestern China on Aug. 13, 2021. (Savitskiy Vadim/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Strategic Cooperation

China and Russias joint statement claimed their close partnership does not constitute a military-political alliance and the relations do not constitute a bloc, do not have a confrontational nature and are not directed against third countries.

This statement is make-believe, according to Lehberger, who compared contemporary Russia-China relations with the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War II. While these relations are not formally strategic in nature, they are a kind of partnership thats cultivated eerily for what they publicly purport not to build.

Xi and Putins symbiotic and very personal entente-cordiale is not only anti-Western, anti-American or anti-colonialist, but also directed against India, he said.

Cooperation in science and technology will almost certainly include the covert sale of sophisticated Chinese electronic parts or weapons systems to Russia on a large scale, according to Lehberger.

Furthermore they also include the sale of some sophisticated Russian high-tech components such as fighter engines, which the Chinese did so far not get from Russia, he said.

These upgrades of Chinese fighters would concern India and Taiwan directly.

Satoru Nagao, a visiting fellow with the Washington-based Hudson Institute, said that China cant afford isolation in the international arena and thus needs Russia. Enhanced bilateral trade relations are in fact a disguise for enhanced strategic relations, he noted.

Chinas economic support is vital for Putins continuation of war and for the survival of his regime, Nagao told The Epoch Times in an email. And now China has started to provide weapons itself under the name of civil purpose products covertly. China is stepping up their effort to support Putin because they need him.

Last year, the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the Russian Air Force conducted joint drills last year with PLA fighters escorting Russian Long Range Aviation bombers, Newsham pointed out.

This has occurred multiple times. In the latest exercise Russian planes landed in China and PLAAF planes landed in Russia. This kind of tactical coordination is the result of deep coordination and a level of mutual trust that ought to worry American (and Japanese) commanders, he said.

If China attacks Taiwan, said Newsham, the West should expect supporting moves from Russia, North Korea, Iran, and even Cuba.

Ill bet U.S. war planners have not seriously considered having to fight a two-front war, or maybe even a three or four-front war against serious enemies, he said, noting that the U.S. military as late as 2016 couldnt even refer to China as an adversary, much less an enemy.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at a seminar on relevant work of democratic oversight for protecting the Yangtze River ecosystem by central committees of the non-CPC political parties and people without party affiliation, in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Friday urged dedicated efforts to improve democratic oversight for protecting the Yangtze River ecosystem, and further contribute to safeguarding the river's clarity and beauty.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a seminar on relevant work by central committees of the non-CPC political parties and people without party affiliation.

Acknowledging progress achieved in the front over the past year, Wang urged them to focus on both common and tough issues in the area, conduct in-depth research to yield high-standard results of oversight, and form a synergy of various kinds of oversight.

Relevant local Party committees and governments should improve the working mechanism to support, coordinate with and implement the oversight, solicit suggestions and advice from non-CPC personages, and deliver feedback in a timely manner, said Wang.

Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the seminar.

Leaders of the eight non-CPC parties and a representative of personages without party affiliation also delivered remarks at the seminar. 
Zellers Opens First 12 Stores in Ontario, Alberta13 More to Come

A shopper picks up an item at a newly-opened Zellers store in Scarborough Town Centre Mall, in Scarborough, Ont., on March 23, 2023. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

The Zellers-comeback has begun with 12 stores opening across Alberta and Ontario on March 23.

Parent company Hudsons Bay Co. (HBC) closed most Zellers stores in 2013, with only two hanging on until 2020. The new 10,000-square-foot Zellers locations are within Hudsons Bay stores, and another 13 will be phased in across the country.

The Ontario locations include two in the GTA, two in Ottawa, as well as locations in Burlington, London, St. Catharines, Cambridge, and Kingston. The three Alberta stores are in Edmonton, Medicine Hat, and Calgary.

British Columbia is set to get four stores, three in and around Vancouver and one in Kamloops. Saskatchewan and Manitoba will each get one, Nova Scotia will get two, and Quebec will get five.

Zellers launched a new website and a new brand, Anko.

Anko is exclusive to Zellers within Canada, HBC spokesperson Tiffany Bourre told The Canadian Press. It includes clothing for all ages, toys, home and living products, and pet products.

Zellers first opened its doors amid the Great Depression. Founder Walter P. Zeller was born in Waterloo County, Ont., in 1890 and began his career in the F.W. Woolworth Companys stockroom in 1912, according to HBCs website.

He opened his chain in 1928 with locations in a few Ontario cities. It was acquired by an American retailer, but he bought it back with his life savings in 1931.

It is a critical time, Zeller told the press in 1931, but as a Canadian who has availed himself of many opportunities to study other countries, I place my faith in Canada.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
WESTPORT  Reports of scams are on the rise in Westport, with at least three being prevented by suspicious bank employees this past week alone, police said.

The scams typically involve a call where someone claims a loved one has gotten into a car accident and is being held hostage. The victim is then told to send money in exchange for their loved one's safe return, police said.

"As a result of the dedication of our local banking institutions, there have been no reports of any monetary loss," Lt. Eric Woods said.

Reports date back to at least March 18, Woods said, though the department works under the assumption that many of the calls go unreported. He said he has heard of six to eight scams in that time.

Police responded to M&T Bank on Thursday for a report of a possible scam, police said in a media release.

At the bank, a woman told officers she received a call from a man saying he and the woman's daughter were involved in a car accident.

The woman said the man claimed to take her daughter hostage and demanded she withdraw as much money as she could from her bank account for her daughter's safe return.

The release said the woman was told not to contact anyone about the incident. While on the phone with the potential scammer, the woman heard another woman screaming and crying in the background.

At the bank, the woman attempted to withdraw all of the money from her account. The release said a bank employee felt something was wrong, noticing the woman was visibly upset.

The bank employee then questioned the woman, immediately realizing it was a scam and called the police, police said.

Officers advised the woman to contact her daughter, who assured her she was safe and at work.

Woods said Westport police have seen an increase in this type of scam over the last few weeks.

"It goes in waves where we hear of nothing and then we start getting complaints of scams," he said.

Woods said the same scam involves reports of a loved one being held hostage after a crash.

Banks have been asking questions when they notice a suspicious withdrawal though, Woods said.

"We hope that the release will continue to remind the banking institutions that they are on the front lines of preventing their customers of being victims of fraud," he said.

Police recommend contacting the person allegedly in danger before sending any money or call the police if the person can't be reached.

Woods also reminded residents to report any suspicious scams and do not send money or gift cards to someone they don't know.
EDWARDSVILLE  Problems with fences and how she felt she was treated as a resident led Alderwoman Janet Stack to run for City Council in 2011.

"I was upset about fencing issues and I wasn't happy about the way I was treated as a constituent, so I ran," she recalled. She won the seat by eight votes over incumbent Janet Haroian, who had held the seat for 18 years.

Stack is stepping down this year due to health concerns. Her final day on the council will be May 1. On May 2, new aldermen will officially be seated.

It has been an honor to work with Alderwoman Janet Stack, said Mayor Art Risavy. She has served the citizens of her ward well over the last 12 years. She will be missed.

Risavy entered local politics the same year as Stack; he was the Ward 7 alderman who first ran for office in 2011.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Janet the past few years, said City Administrator Kevin Head. She has been a consummate leader and strong advocate for all the residents of Edwardsville, especially Ward 3.

"I will never forget her warm, smiling greeting before every meeting, the way in which she made everyone feel appreciated, and how she would always say, 'I make a motion we adjourn!' at the end of every city council meeting. Her voice in this city will be missed.

Top issues over a decade-plus

She recalled some of her more memorable legislative issues or votes during her time on the council.

"I was upset about those dynamic signs," she said, referring to light-emitting diode (LED) signs with full colors that contain movement. "Some of them were so bright, they would blind you. It was, 'Let's turn into Las Vegas.'"

Another issue she recalled is when they enacted the special taxing district for the St. Louis Street Historic District. She said she made a lot of telephone calls to her constituents to survey them about that issue.

"The majority of them felt like, 'If they are willing to pay for it, then do it,'" she recalled.

"Mrs. Stack has always been a strong advocate for her constituents while being supportive of the employees of the City of Edwardsville," said police Chief Michael Fillback. "She will be missed, but we wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement."

It has been a pleasure working with Alderwoman Stack over the past several years," said fire Chief James Whiteford. "On the public safety committee, she would always ask questions to get a better understanding of issues before making a decision about something, and when she makes that decision, you can bet it is in the best interest of community.

"Janet is as dedicated to this community as they come. I want to thank her for her service and I am sad to see her go.

One issue she remains proud of is getting parking spots painted on or near Esic Drive and making sure the center line was repainted for better visibility. A pickup truck slammed into a house on Esic Drive in April 2013, causing considerable property damage.

Speeding, parking and traffic complaints remain in the Esic area and Stack said she still receives emails and telephone calls about those issues.

Another issue she remembered is when the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) widened Illinois Route 157 to its present five-lane configuration. She said crews reconfigured the intersection where 157 meets Esic. She said part of the new intersection was poorly lit at night and remained so until reflectors were installed and, later, additional streetlights.

"I will always admire Janet's devotion to the city and to her role as councilperson," said Alderwoman Jennifer Warren. "On a personal note, she has my sincere gratitude for taking me under her wing when I first joined council. I will miss serving with Janet!"

"Janet has been a strong advocate for her ward and for public safety," said Alderman Chris Farrar. "She has been a joy to have on council and will be sorely missed."

"Janet was so gracious to welcome me when I was appointed to the council," said Alderman Elizabeth Grant. "She has been a generous veteran voice who has given us a perspective of someone who has served a long time on the board. I have benefited from the wisdom she has shared."

Changes aplenty

Stack first came to this area in 1970, when she began attending SIUE. She remembers how Ward 3 was when she started on city council.

"It was smaller then," she said. "Since then, more apartments have been built in my ward, developments like Trace on the Parkway and the R.P. Lumber Center have come in."

As far as changes in Edwardsville as a whole, Stack said when she first arrived here as a resident in 1971, the population was 10,000. Today, Edwardsville's population is at least 26,000.

The DaVita Dialysis center was a Burger Chef restaurant in the '70s, she recalled. She remembers a Dog 'n Suds Drive-in where Captain D's is now, along with a Woolworth's, a Lerner's and other bygone stores and shops.

"It looks different now," she said. "Traffic has become a big complaint heard all of the time." She said some of the growth has been good while other aspects of it have been bad. She hopes that future city councils work to control traffic and development.

She said in December 2021 when crews working for Staenberg Development Group started felling trees on the former Fouchek site, which is now Orchard Town Center, the deforestation made her cry.

The transition of the site from a tree nursery to a retail development sent ripples through the community about development, greenspace, traffic, storm water runoff, erosion and other issues.

It wasn't long before she started getting calls and message about the land Madison County sold that is across Plum Street and behind the Books-a-Million location. It has wetlands that many people in the area want preserved.

"I tell them to attend the proper county or city meetings and let them know how you feel about the issue," Stack said.

Related to that, she said the city's greenspace purchases during her time in office have been positive.

"When I met Janet, she was a seasoned council veteran," said Alderman Jack Burns. "She guided me through the beginning meetings by poking me in the side to let me know when and how to respond.

"Many a night, I would come home from the council meeting bruised. My wife would ask if I was sitting next to Janet again. Rumor has it she requested a different seat assignment, but was turned down each time," he joked.

"Well! We have sat next to each other for going on six years now. During this time, I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for this intelligent lady. We still do not agree on a lot of issues but respect each other's point of view. Many times, I would mention to Janet that we do not agree often on issues and she would respond, 'Thats not true.' I would say, 'See, that's what I mean.'

"Janet is very compassionate and dedicated to her constituents and to the city. Over the years, we have developed a great professional and personal relationship that I will always treasure. Who will adjourn the council meetings now? She will be missed."

Ready to relax

When she is not attending to city business, Stack loves to read, step out occasionally for lunch with family or friends and watch television.

"We DVR programs at night then watch 'em the next day, so we can fast-forward through the commercials," she said.

She and her husband have a daughter and a son plus two dogs at home.

She used to work for the Hazelwood school district in north St. Louis County, where she was a speech/language pathologist and she determined eligibility for special education students. Stack retired from there in 2017.

Prior to Hazelwood, she worked in health care for 20 years.

Her plan after leaving city hall is to remain as independent as she can for as long as she can.

"I do love this community," she said. "It was a great community when I came to school here and I never left."
EDWARDSVILLE  The Sigma Tau Delta chapter at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is doing its part to combat the growing trend of books being banned in libraries across the nation.

Sigma Tau Delta is hosting a Banned Books roundtable discussion at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in the Meridian Ballroom at SIUE.

The event will be held in conjunction with a Banned Books Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday in SIUEs Morris Center, hosted by the Cougar Store, SIUEs on-campus bookstore.

The public is welcome to attend this free event.

In eight months of last year, the American Library Association documented 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources, with more than 1,600 titles targeted. In 2021, there were 729 attempts targeting 1,597 books. These are the highest numbers the ALA has recorded since they began tracking attempts to ban books more than 40 years ago.

From the Wentzville, Mo., school boards mass ban of 200 books  many of which are still banned  to a childrens book on the 1963 March on Washington that is banned in Florida, books on race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration and other topics are facing challenges to an unprecedented degree. Even the Bible has seen multiple challenges, according to Education Week.

The roundtable will focus on hurdles to keeping books uncensored in the United States and what can be done about it.

Local journalist, author to moderate

The moderator for the event is Elizabeth Donald, chapter president for SIUE Sigma Tau Delta and the St. Louis Society of Professional Journalists. Donald is a journalist and author with more than 25 years in the word business as newspaper reporter and fiction author. She holds a bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee and a masters degree in media studies from SIUE.

She is currently a graduate teaching assistant at SIUE while completing an MFA in creative writing and teaches journalism as an adjunct instructor at St. Louis University. She is also a freelance writer, photographer and author of horror and science fiction, and serves on the national SPJ Ethics Committee.

Early in the year the members of Sigma Tau Delta had many discussions about the rising tide of book banning and censorship in the United States today, Donald said. When we see the incredible works of literature we study in college classes being covered up with paper or removed entirely from public schools, something has gone very wrong with how we as a nation approach controversial topics and ideas.

We all know about the silly ones  "The Lorax" being banned for embarrassing the logging industry, for example. But the current patterns are troubling on many levels, with such emphasis on removing any discussion of race, gender, orientation and LGBTQ+ issues.

The Banned Books Fair will include titles such as "The Hate You Give" by Angie Thomas, "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison and "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe. They will be available for purchase beside informational booths from the Heartland Library System and the Society of Professional Journalists, among others.

We wanted to bring the discussion forward, to talk about whats going on, whats driving it, and what can reasonably be done about it, Donald said. Wed missed Banned Books Week, which is organized by the American Library Association. But we felt this was an issue serious enough to warrant attention at any time of the year, not just October.

Participants for the roundtable include the following.

 Tony Rothert is the Director of Integrated Advocacy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri. He manages all aspects of the ACLUs advocacy in Missouri, including its litigation, policy and campaigns, communication, and community engagement programs. Before his current position, he managed the litigation program.

His work at the ACLU has been recognized with numerous awards. His honors include the 2015 Missouri Lawyers Weekly Award for Missouri Attorney of the Year, which noted his successes the previous year in winning free speech protections for protestors in Ferguson, securing the right for same-sex couples to marry in the state, and forcing state agencies that administer the death penalty to comply with public records laws.

Before the ACLU, Rothert spent six years as the staff attorney for the Legal Advocacy Service of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, worked as an assistant state's attorney in Edwardsville and represented survivors of domestic violence at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation. He holds juris doctorate, master of social work, and bachelor of arts degrees from St. Louis University.

 Dr. Timothy Lewis is an identity politics researcher, social justice activist and assistant professor of political science at SIUE. He holds a bachelor of arts in political science and a bachelor of arts in history from the historic Tuskegee University, as well as a master of science in international relations from Troy University and a Ph.D in political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Lewis specializes in the politics of marginalized identities, with research on the sociopolitical reality of African Americans across reputable peer-reviewed journals.

As a certified diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice trainer and workshop facilitator, he has engaged in activism on varying topics including Black Lives Matter, reparations to African Americas, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and critical race theory. He is a member of the American Political Science Association (APSA), Southern Political Science Association (SPSA), the Northeastern Political Science Association (NPSA), and the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS) and was honored with a resolution for service in higher education from the Missouri House of Representatives in 2021.

 Blythe Bernhard has reported for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch since 2007, first covering health care and now education. For the past four years, Bernhard has also worked as an assistant editor, guiding other journalists in the newsroom.

She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Southern California and previously covered health care for the Orange County Register.

 Leah Gregory is currently membership coordinator and school library liaison at the Illinois Heartland Library System. She has worked in many career areas, including restaurant management, legal secretary, agriculture sales, electric motor sales, and preschool teacher, but eventually landed on librarianship and has been working in and for school libraries ever since, including 14 years as a middle school librarian.

Gregory is passionate about reading, literacy, libraries and intellectual freedom.

We reached out to experts who could talk about diversity and social justice, about the First Amendment and legal ramifications, about the impact on libraries and schools, and weve assembled a terrific group, Donald said.

Many of us are nostalgic for the old Scholastic Book Fairs from elementary school, and so we worked with the SIUE Cougar Store to create a Banned Book Fair and offer a selection of frequently banned books for sale. Weve also invited other organizations for informational tables, including the St. Louis Society of Professional Journalists. Full disclosure: Im also president of that organization, and SPJ has a long history of fighting on behalf of the First Amendment.

Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honor society founded in 1924. Among other goals, the society provides cultural stimulation on college campuses and promotes interest in literature and the English language through its local chapters. There are more than 900 active chapters located in the U.S. and abroad. SIUEs chapter is advised by Dr. Joshua Kryah and Dr. Jill Anderson of the SIUE English Department.

Im really looking forward to a frank discussion with our experts and hear what they have to say, about the problem, its causes, and most of all, what we can do about it, Donald said. We hope it will be an enlightening experience for everyone, including those who maybe arent fully aware of how bad this problem has become, and those who might think its a problem only for other places, other schools, other states. When ideas like diversity and inclusion and equality are squelched, everyone suffers.
Charles Bolinger/Intelligencer

EDWARDSVILLE  The first Battle of the Badges blood drive of 2023 is set for April 10. The Edwardsville Police and Fire departments have re-kindled this friendly competition in an effort to encourage much-needed blood donations.



The blood drive will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Safety Building, 333 S. Main Street. The American Red Cross will operate the event from the second-floor training room.



The fire and police departments collaborate on the Battle of the Badges blood drive at least twice a year. While its dubbed a battle between the departments, Police Chief Mike Fillback said the friendly competition is just a lighthearted way to tackle a serious problem: medical blood shortage.



Its a good way for people to give back to the community and fill a vital need, he said. Its very much appreciated for people to donate blood.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets, yet only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly, according to the American Red Cross.



Although its not required, participants are encouraged to sign up in advance for a time slot. Sign-ups are being accepted online at www.redcrossblood.org. Enter EdwardsvilleBB in the find a drive search bar to schedule an appointment. Sign-ups also can be scheduled via phone, at 1-800-733-2767.
EDWARDSVILLE  Drug and theft charges were among felony cases filed Tuesday by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

James R. Smith, 59, of Granite City was charged March 21 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony.

The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department.

According to court documents, on March 20 Smith allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine.

Bail was set at $20,000.

In an unrelated case, Michael A. McClain, 55, of Wood River was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony.

The case was presented by the East Alton Police Department.

According to court documents, on March 20 McClain allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine.

Bail was set at $30,000.

Other felony cases filed March 21 include:

 Joseph M. Hoffman, 22, of Collinsville was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on March 20 Hoffman allegedly had less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Eugene L. Tillman, 62, of Alton was charged with forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 29 Tillman allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill at the Hit n Run in Alton. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Chavonne R. Chandler, 42, of Anchorage, Alaska, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on March 20 Chandler allegedly damaged a vehicle and house in the 3400 block of Maryville Road, causing in excess of $500 damage. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Richard L. Walker, 39, of Madison was charged March 17 with unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Illinois State Police. According to court documents, on March 7 Walker allegedly was driving a 2001 Ford Taurus with a stolen license plate. Bail was set at $25,000.
EDWARDSVILLE  A tentative date is set for oral arguments in the Emergency Telephone System Boards lawsuit over the states acceptance of its 911 consolidation plan.

On Tuesday at the ETSB board meeting, Madison County 911 Director Dana Burris said oral arguments have been set for 1 p.m. June 1 in front of Associate Judge Ronald Foster.

Burris said a decision is expected approximately 30 days after the hearing.

Hopefully were moving forward, she said.

The suit stems from the Illinois State Polices denial of Madison Countys state-mandated 911 consolidation plan in November 2019.

Under state law the county had to reduce the number of 911 call centers, known as Public Service Answering Points, or PSAPs, by half. Madison Countys plan had already been delayed for some time when the ISP 911 coordinator rejected the plan, which called for eliminating eight of the 16 PSAPs in the county.

The ETSB filed a lawsuit, which has been working its way through Madison Countys court system. Delays have been caused in part by the shutdown of the courts due to COVID-19 and also dealing with a request by St. Clair County 911, which had opposed Madison Countys Plan, to be involved in the court action. That request was eventually denied.

In the meantime, Madison County 911 has been moving ahead with its consolidation efforts. Part of the reason was that much of the physical hardware in the PSAPs was near the end of its useful life, so the agency has been upgrading the system into the planned eight PSAPS.

Several have already been consolidated and equipment updated, and Madison County 911 is currently working on consolidation of Madison, Venice and Pontoon Beach 911 services into Pontoon Beach.

Were slowly but surely getting there, Burris said.

Also at the ETSB meeting, other than paying bills, the only real action Wednesday was the approval of spending $22,050 for the renewal of licenses for its Lawman computer-aided dispatching software used by some of the countys PSAPs. The Alton and Wood River PSAPs use the system, while the remainder use the New World CAD system.

That now goes to the Public Safety and Finance committees for approval before heading to the full Madison County Board.
UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for the Security Council to address the adverse impact of sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

As a responsible and permanent member of the Security Council, China supports the implementation of the council's DPRK-related resolutions and supports the work of the Security Council 1718 Committee on DPRK sanctions as long as they do not have an adverse humanitarian impact on people's livelihoods, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the panel of experts of the 1718 Committee until April 30, 2024.

"It is disconcerting that for some time now, with the compound effects of sanctions, the pandemic, and other factors, the DPRK is increasingly facing a grave humanitarian situation. It warrants the attention of the Council, the Committee, and the panel, and their corresponding actions," said Geng.

China said it is regrettable that its proposals to improve the working methods and performance of the panel of experts were not reflected in the resolution, Geng said. 
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SAN ANTONIO (AP)  Irma Reyes mind raced as her husband drove through the predawn darkness toward a courthouse hundreds of miles from home: Dont they know my daughter matters?

Reyes had been barely able to eat since she heard that Texas prosecutors planned to let the two men charged with sex trafficking her daughter walk free. She was going to court to try to stop them.

Reyes daughter was 16 in 2017, when men she knew only as Rocky and Blue kept her and another girl at a San Antonio motel where men paid to have sex with them. Now, the cases against Rakim Sharkey and Elijah Teel  who police identified as the traffickers  have seen years of delay, a parade of prosecutors, an aborted trial and, ultimately, a stark retreat by the government.

They are among thousands of cases under a cloud of dysfunction at the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has risen to national prominence fighting court battles that affect people nationwide even while facing legal troubles including a criminal investigation by Justice Department officials. Trafficking cases in particular have cast doubt on how the agency uses millions of state tax dollars on an issue that Republican leaders trumpet as a priority while attacking Democrats approach to border security.

A spokeswoman for the attorney generals office, Kristen House, declined to answer questions for this story.

Its like a nightmare that I cant wake up from, Reyes said.

At the courthouse in January, Reyes stomach churned as she thought of the deal for the two men: five years of probation. The original charges carried potential sentences of decades in prison.

You will not find a stronger corroborated case, said Kirsta Leeburg Melton, who oversaw the attorney generals human trafficking unit until late 2019. And Im sick. Its wrong.

In court, Reyes listened as the judge summarized the cases' twists and turns: years lost to the pandemic, delays due to turnover in the attorney generals office, days of testimony last year only for several people to catch COVID-19 and prompt a mistrial.

She listened in disbelief as the new prosecutor told the judge that Reyes daughter was on the run. Now 22, the young woman left home after a fight, Reyes said, but they keep up a steady stream of text messages.

Then, Sharkey and Teel pleaded no contest to aggravated promotion of prostitution. The judge, Velia Meza, sentenced the men to seven years of probation, despite prosecutors recommending five, noting they wouldnt have to register as sex offenders.

Reyes thought of her daughter as she approached the front of the courtroom to make a victims impact statement.

The AP is withholding the young womans name, in keeping with its policy to avoid identifying victims of sexual assault and other such crimes. Reyes told AP she spoke about this story with her daughter, who did not want to comment or be interviewed directly.

Reyes said that as a girl, her daughter was bullied and would run away from home. By her teens, she started using drugs, and in 2017 she was sent to a rehabilitation center.

Court records show it was only days after Reyes daughter and another girl ran away from rehab that their photos were advertised online for dates." They met Blue outside a motel, where they couldnt afford a nights stay. He introduced them to Rocky. The pair rented the girls a room, helped set up meetings with men whod pay for sex, and collected half the money, according to the records.

Reyes daughter later testified at trial that police found them after she got scared and called her mom because Rocky hit her. Asked to identify Rocky, the young woman pointed across the courtroom at Sharkey.

Sharkeys lawyer, Jason Goss, maintains the jury would have acquitted his client but told AP he had no choice but to plead no contest to the reduced charge because a sentence of up to life in prison was too risky. Teels attorney, Brian Powers, didnt respond to requests for comment.

After the judge declared a mistrial last June, Reyes, her daughter and the prosecutor agreed to bring the case again. But that prosecutor resigned without explanation soon after, amid a wave of seasoned lawyers quitting the attorney generals office over practices they said were meant to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent.

In October, Reyes was introduced to new lead lawyer James Winters  the last of eight prosecutors to handle the case for the office, court records show.

Reyes said her daughter told Winters she would testify again. The lawyer sought to have the case postponed but after the judge refused he informed Reyes of the plea deal. Winters, who referred questions to an agency spokesperson, resigned after appearing in court for the deal.

In the San Antonio courtroom, Reyes addressed the men whod just entered their pleas.

The trash is supposed to be disposed, she said. But theyre lucky today.

She cried on the way home. Reyes didnt know how to explain to her daughter and wished the young woman would come home. She felt isolated and had violent nightmares.

Two days after the hearing, Reyes sat alone in her bedroom and thought about taking her own life. Her thoughts grew specific. But then she thought of her children and called a crisis hotline.

I just swim into my thoughts, she said. I have to be aware that I dont dive too deep.

Reyes is still grasping for closure. Shes filed legal complaints, although none will reopen the criminal case. Perhaps her best hope is a civil lawsuit that she hopes her daughter will one day be ready to bring. They are talking more lately.

A few weeks after court, Reyes awoke to a call from a sheriffs deputy who said her daughter had dialed 911 having a panic attack; she said she wanted to go home.

Ive lived this before, Reyes thought. Then she pulled on shoes, climbed into the pickup and drove out into the night.

____

EDITORS NOTE  This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

____

Associated Press photographer Eric Gay and videojournalist Lekan Oyekanmi contributed to this report.
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Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, March 24, 2023 15:56 30 c764d7f631a5262d39a7c5c953d3a562 4 Inforial SMEs Free

All-in-one finance software, Aspire, recently announced its partnership with accounting software firm Accurate. This partnership aims to provide integrated finance solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Indonesia.

Through this partnership, Accurate users can benefit from various services provided by Aspire, such as real-time access to financial services and cross-border payments, and various other features from Aspire to support their business growth.

Then, for Aspire users accounts, which include expense and debt management, will be integrated directly with the Accurate accounting platform. Thus, business owners can assess their companys financial condition in real-time.

This in turn will help businesses manage their finances more efficiently and productively.

Aspire Indonesia general manager Ferdy Nandesn said that the partnership between Aspire and Accurate could be a solution for SMEs and start-ups who needed a more modern approach to finance management. Especially since competition keeps getting tougher every year for businesses.

Based on data from the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry, the number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that have taken part in the digital ecosystem is recorded at 20.76 million units in 2022. This number is predicted to increase to 24 million in 2023.

Using solutions offered by Aspire and Accurate, said Ferdy, businesspeople could optimize company operations and reduce the need for manual entries which are prone to human errors.

"Aspire and Accurate offer solutions for business owners to maintain their business growth," said Ferdy in a written statement received by Kompas.com, Friday (17/3/2023).

The CEO of Accurate Indonesia, Yosep Stephen, also conveyed the same thing. Yosep explained that the Aspire and Accurate partnership reflects a shared vision for the future of business finance in Indonesia.

Accurate and Aspire realize the significant potential of the Indonesian market. Therefore, we partnered up to provide innovative business solutions so that businesses can manage their finances more efficiently and productively," said Yosep.

As part of this partnership, Aspire and Accurate offer bundle packages at special prices for users who subscribe to both products.

Companies that have been users of Accurate software will get a 50 percent discount on an Aspire Finance Management Plan for the first year.

Moreover, the first 500 companies that claim the offer will receive special promotions and invitations to exclusive Aspire and Accurate events.

Topics : SMEs
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Linkedin Anindito Ariwandono (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Fri, March 24, 2023 10:49 30 c764d7f631a5262d39a7c5c953cf2095 1 Lifestyle trolling,Internet,internet-beef,cyberbullying,cyberbullying-prevention,bullying Free

Understanding the psyche of cyberbullies and the distress of the victims

On July 2022, an 11-year-old boy in Tasikmalaya, West Java, suffered from severe depression, which led him to commit suicide after falling victim to bullying by his classmates. The boy was coerced into engaging in a sexual act with a cat and was filmed by his classmates  who then posted the video on social media. The boy, who could not take anything to eat or drink days after the incident, passed away on July 18, 2022.

Am I not a human like you?

The sight of the articles header triggered my gag reflex. Memories of being bullied in my childhood came overflowing and I found my hand trembling for the next few minutes. I remembered burying my head under my neighbors sofa, crying, while their son threw anything he could get his hands on at my lower half, extending outside from under the couch. Monkey! he cackled.

In my primary school days in South Tangerang, Banten, one of my classmates pushed me headfirst into the gutter as we lined up for our morning ceremony. Again, the person on the giving end seemingly took joy in the incident as he guffawed heartily. Emerging from the gutter with blood trickling from my head, I was rushed to the nearest clinic on a motorcycle. The doctor there gave me six stitches afterward. It was 1996.

The advent of the internet gave rise to more complex issues related to bullying, and the behavior can be dichotomized mainly into two, traditional and cyber. The latter is not a new thing, mind you. Internet trolls have been around ever since the medium was invented.

Textbook internet trolls would hide behind a combination of enabling factors, mainly anonymity, which allows people to separate from in-person identity and moral agency, thereby freeing them to express hostility and criticism without any effect to the psyche, according to Christopher Terry et al.s 2016 article, The Emerging Issue of Digital Empathy.

Combined with the primarily asynchronous nature of communication on the internet and plain lack of understanding, they contribute to something that Terry described as an "online disinhibition effect", which traces even further back to Festinger et. al.s 1952 theory of deindividuation. [They] negatively impact the likelihood that empathy will be expressed in digital environments, wrote Terry.

Beware of trolls: 'Trolls' is a term used to refer to an internet user whose aim is to provoke others online. (Mark Konig/Unsplash) (Unsplash/Mark Konig)

While these are not the only driving factors, they are the very soft grounds where bullying could take root.

Given that all the supporting conditions are fulfilled, it is simply easier to have our combative side take the wheel and tip us more toward intentionally harmful, mischievous behind the safety of anonymity. It is harder to empathize with others when their physical presence is reduced to a mere string of letters.

The digital world has created a much quicker path to the dehumanization of the target  and dehumanization is the horror we are trying to avoid, groundbreaking book Bully-Proof Kids author Stella OMalley said in a March 2022 interview with The Guardian.

The descent

A 2019 study conducted by Polling Indonesia in collaboration with the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) highlighted that 49 percent of Indonesian internet users had experienced bullying on social media. It is a ubiquitous phenomenon.

One of the most-heated debacles online in Indonesia lately might be about YouTuber Gita Savitri Devi. In which the internet persona was bashed on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram after voicing her views on being in a voluntarily childless marriageor simply being childfreeon Feb. 4.

Hailing from a country with a collective cultural perspective that demands adults be in a married relationship and also have children, Gitas views are against the prevailing social structurewhich also happens to be generally patriarchal. Responses to healthy criticism did not take long to descend into a culture of aggression and mockery.

Indonesian netizens were obsessed with shooting her down for weeks. A barrage of hateful comments streamed into her Instagram posts and she got into the trending topics on Twitter multiple times. On Feb. 8, Gita and her husband, musician Paul Partohap, went live on Instagram and openly challenged people to express their hateful comments face-to-face.

People also started following her everywhere online, replying to Gita's comments on other peoples accounts. On March 15, her comments on celebrity Rachel Vennyas post, in which she expressed support for the celebrity after being the subject of another case of bullying, received more than 190 unfavorable remarks.

In Rachels case, the celebrity has been a target of online harassment after posting a photo of herself attending the all-girl K-pop group Blackpinks concert in Jakarta. Rachel was slammed by the groups fans, questioning whether or not she was an actual fan and accused her of merely jumping on the bandwagon.

Stand-up comedian Kiky Saputri and actor/YouTuber Boy William have also been in a similar puddle over comments they made about Blackpinks concert in the capital during one of their podcasts. Boy referred to Jennie Kims performance as malas [somewhat lethargic]", followed by Kiky likening the situation to a child unwillingly forced to go to a Quran recitation.

Boy and Kiky faced repercussions afterward, with the former losing his Instagram account on March 17 and the latter being under a barrage of hate comments online. Some of her posts comment sections even reached as many as 7,900 comments.

Kiky retaliated and is now seemingly unbothered by what is going on on social media as she continues her holiday in Japan. While the comedian was able to shrug off such confrontations, it comes without saying that not all people are able to overcome such hostility in their life.

Anonymous, no more

Bandung, West Java-based musician Denny (not his real name) handled a similar situation differently. The guitarist/vocalist of a local band, Denny was the center of a fiasco after a photo showing a banner of him being nominated as the legislative candidate for his hometown Blitar, East Java, went viral.

The photo surfaced online on Feb. 27 and pictured Denny on the center of the banner along with a photo of a politician charged with corruption and money laundering, and Dennys father who is also a politician. The Nusantara Awakening Party (PKN) nominated Denny, a political party declared on Oct. 28, 2021.

While it initially drew some valid criticism toward the contradictory idea of a punk band frontman running for a legislative chair in the government, the topic again descended fast into pure harassment after a while.

Part of the pack: Author O'Malley notes that bullying behavior tends to be very animalistic, driven by human's base instinct to join the pack and wanting to fit in as a social and status-seeking animal. (Mika Baumeister/Unsplash) (Unsplash/Mika Baumeister)

I was shocked by the peoples reactions. I cried on the first day, Denny spoke to The Jakarta Post on March 13. Some of the comments even told me to commit suicide or that it would be better if I just die. Someone even tweeted that they would shoot Denny in the head and throw Molotov cocktails at him should the band appear on stage again.

I didnt expect [the reaction] to be that massive, continued Denny. He locked himself in his room for days, recoiling from people's comments about him online. Because I was just terrified to go outside. Afraid that people might recognize me, or just scared of meeting people and afraid of what they might do to me.

People who knew Denny personally then openly condemned him. Even those who Denny had worked with in the past. In his case, the anonymity of the ones doling out the beating online was less apparent. The wave of the online movement against him was so significant that even people around Denny were forced to take sides.

Amidst all the chaos, the subject then became dehumanized. People partake in the beatings for the sake of the joy of ganging up on the helpless. An example of mob mentality justified by the idea of fighting for a threatened ideal. But at what expense?
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China's industry associations and platform enterprises in the catering sector will launch over 70 activities to boost consumption in 2023, in a campaign organized by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

The catering industry is important to the promotion of consumption, improving people's livelihoods and stabilizing employment, Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, said at a forum on Friday, adding that the MOC will fine-tune supportive policies for the industry.

Various activities, including a forum on the high-quality development of the catering sector, an expo featuring Chinese and international foods, and a cultural festival of Chinese cuisines, will be held in 2023, according to MOC official Wang Dongtang.

Measures will also be taken by local governments to integrate the development of the catering sector with the tourism and cultural industries, Wang said. 
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Linkedin Front Row (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 22, 2023 09:30 32 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc338e11 4 Front Row Nippon-Paint Free

Ramadan is just around the corner, once again!

Like every holiday, Ramadan can get a little overwhelming at times: from pacing back and forth trying to put together a simple menu for sahur, or trying to make it to a gathering with loved ones at a hip downtown spot before the maghrib call to prayer, hoping to arrive in time.

Why not simply travel through a different world of color?

This is your time to shine, and Nippon Paint has the newest way to lift your aura for this festive and holy month of fasting celebrated by Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia.

Dive into Tren Warna Ramadan (TWR), part of the #RamadanLebihBerwarna (Ramadan more colorful) campaign. Created by Nippon Paint in collaboration with Keneth Sandy Studio to upgrade your home for Idul Fitri, the Ramadan color trend series is bursting with colors specially curated for this season!

As interior designer and architect Keneth Sandy puts it, color evokes the truth of your emotions and reflects your soul through the language of colors.

Feast your eyes on Nippon Paints 11 colors for Ramadan 2023, and your home can magically teleport you across three themes that resonate with your mood: Warm, Monochrome and Tropical.

. (Courtesy of Nippon Paint Indonesia/.)

If you feel in the mood to connect with nature, look no further than Green Gauze (NP BGG 1619T)

. (Courtesy of Nippon Paint Indonesia/.)

Have a sweet tooth for caramel hues with Warm Toast (NP YO 1173P) for earthy tones that wrap you in a caring embrace, like mother nature.

. (Courtesy of Nippon Paint Indonesia/.)

If you need a pick-me-up in the morning to get moving or want to feel refreshed after a long and tiring day, Brilliant White (1001) promises to lend a spatial tone that will pull double duty.

Keneths collaboration with Nippon Paint allowed him to fulfill his clients desire to have colorful, elegant homes, demonstrating how different paint products and colors speak to the needs and functions of different areas in a house: Nippon Weatherbond Solareflect keeps exterior walls looking brand-new and the interior cool; Nippon Satin Glo creates a glowing atmosphere for the living room; while Nippon Spot-less Plus brings dazzling colors that draw out the creativity in your young ones.

Just as the experience was magical for Keneth, so will it be for you, bringing your own unique magic to light. Let Nippon Paint amaze you, and make #RamadanLebihBerwarna!

Check out this video for the featured colors in Tren Warna Ramadan, and for some inspiration.

Be sure to also visit the official Nippon Paint website for all the diverse shades in the TWR collection, or talk to us at WhatsApp Care Nippon Paint for help and ideas to celebrate your Ramadan with color!
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, March 24, 2023

Responding to public outcry against the ban on iftar gathering for government workers, Cabinet secretary Pramono Agung Wibowo defended the policy on Thursday, saying that the policy was aimed at promoting a modest lifestyle among civil servants.

In a statement published on the YouTube channel of the State Secretariat on Thursday evening, Pramono said that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo came up with the new policy after considering the barrage of criticism directed toward government workers who displayed their allegedly ill-gotten wealth on social media.

"Government workers are currently under this glaring spotlight and because of that the President calls on members of the civil service to break the fast in a modest way and not invite senior government officials to the event," Pramono said.

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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, March 25, 2023 04:47 29 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc33e017 1 Editorial bali,tourists,crime,visa-violation,raids,law-enforcement,Deportation,traffic,drug Free

Authorities of Bali are cracking down on delinquent behaviors of foreign nationals, launching a special police operation last week. While we support the measures, we are calling the local administration to go beyond ad hoc means.

March marks one year since one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations reopened to foreign visitors after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the coronavirus seems to be at bay now, another virus has begun plaguing the island, known by many as a safe haven for those seeking fun and lately income.

On March 17, the Bali Police launched an operation targeting foreign nationals who committed crimes or violated the law and order, amid an increasing number of foreigners showing bad behavior while in Bali.

So far this year, at least 45 foreigners have been deported from the island for various violations, including overstaying their visa and working illegally.

The operation involved the police, immigration office, tourism agency, tax office, transportation agency, manpower agency, public order police, tourism association and customary security guards.

Foreign visitors of Bali with notorious behavior have made the headlines lately, with reports of them working without permit, overstaying their visa and causing social disturbances. Apparently, the violations have been so rampant that the Bali administration felt necessary to take tough actions through the five-day raid.

Three units were deployed in the operation. The first targeted traffic rules violations, the second focused on breaches of the labor law, and the third set sight on illegal possession of drugs and weapons and other crimes.

As if to justify the law enforcement measures, the Indonesian social media has been flooded with videos of tourists acting unbecoming on the island.

Earlier this month, Bali Governor Wayan Koster proposed to the Foreign Ministry and the Law and Human Rights Ministry to end the visa-on-arrival facility for visitors from Russia and Ukraine, citing reports of bad behavior and possible acts of crime allegedly committed by tourists from the two warring countries.

Koster then announced a regulation banning foreign tourists from renting motorbikes to travel in Bali and only allowing them to use cars operated by local tour agents.

We commend the Bali administration for the firm policies. It is just the common rule that foreign visitors are obliged to behave, respect and obey the local laws and norms.

If other countries can force visitors to adhere to their rules, then Bali should be able to do the same.

We believe those rascals are a few bad apples spoiling the bunch. But we need to keep in mind that with a total of 331, 912 foreign visitors recorded coming into the island in January alone, a fraction of that group is already too many.

To friends from abroad, please do not mistake Bali peoples hospitality and tolerance as an invitation to spend your time on the beautiful island with reckless abandon.

That being said, delinquent behavior and criminal acts by foreign nationals should not be solely blamed on the visitors.

Tourists see, tourists do. As we point a finger to the visitors, there are three fingers pointing back at us. Lest we forget, opportunity makes the thief.

We are calling Bali and the Indonesian administrations, as well as Bali residents and Indonesian citizens to play the part of good and lawful hosts.

As an example, a Syrian and a Ukrainian man were apprehended last month for allegedly illegally obtaining Indonesian identity cards and family cards in Bali. But at least four Indonesians are also implicated in the case, including two administrative officers in Denpasar and an Indonesian Military (TNI) officer. There have also been reports of police officers extorting foreigners who broke traffic regulations.

If Bali is to become a wholesome place for both the local residents and the visitors, then the government needs to improve services to foreign visitors and seriously uphold the law, or else Balis reputation will be at risk.

We stick to the belief that every host gets the guests they deserve.
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Linkedin Laila Bassam and Aziz El Yaakoubi (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) Beirut/Riyadh  Sat, March 25 2023

Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reopen their embassies after cutting diplomatic ties more than a decade ago, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, a step that would mark a leap forward in Damascus' return to the Arab fold.



Contacts between Riyadh and Damascus had gathered momentum following a landmark agreement to reestablish ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad, a regional source aligned with Damascus said.



The reestablishment of ties between Riyadh and Damascus would mark the most significant development yet in moves by Arab states to normalize ties with Assad, who was shunned by many Western and Arab states after Syria's civil war began in 2011.



The two governments were "preparing to reopen embassies after Eid al-Fitr" in April, a second regional source aligned with Damascus told Reuters.



The decision was the result of talks in Saudi Arabia with a senior Syrian intelligence official, according to one of the regional sources and a diplomat in the Gulf.



The Saudi government's communication office, the kingdom's foreign ministry and the Syrian government did not respond to requests for comment.



Saudi state television later confirmed that talks were ongoing with the Syrian foreign ministry to resume consular services, citing a Saudi foreign ministry official.



The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.



The apparently sudden breakthrough could indicate how the deal between Tehran and Riyadh may play into other crises in the region, where their rivalry has fueled conflicts, including the war in Syria.

The United States and several of its regional allies, including Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Qatar, had backed some of the Syrian rebels. Assad was able to defeat the insurgency across most of Syria thanks largely to Shia Iran and Russia.

The US, an ally of Saudi Arabia, has opposed moves by regional countries to normalize ties with Assad, citing his government's brutality during the conflict and the need to see progress toward a political solution.

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Linkedin Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) Washington  Sat, March 25 2023

The United States military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria on Thursday night against Iran-aligned groups whom it blamed for a drone attack that killed an American contractor, wounded another and also hurt five US troops, the Pentagon said.



Both the attack on US personnel and the retaliation were disclosed by the Pentagon at the same time late on Thursday.



The attack against US personnel took place at a coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria at approximately 1:38 p.m. on Thursday, it said.



The US intelligence community assessed that the one-way attack drone was Iranian in origin, the military said, a conclusion that could further aggravate already strained relations between Washington and Tehran.



Although US forces stationed in Syria have been targeted by drones before, fatalities are extremely rare.



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the retaliatory strikes were carried out at the direction of President Joe Biden and targeted facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).



"The air strikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC," Austin said in a statement.



"No group will strike our troops with impunity."



The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that monitors the war in Syria, said the US strikes had left eight pro-Iranian fighters dead in Syria.



Reuters was unable to independently confirm the toll.



The drone attack on US personnel caused wounds that, for three services members and a contractor, required medical evacuation to Iraq, where the US-led coalition battling the remnants of Islamic State has medical facilities, the Pentagon said. The other two wounded American troops were treated at the base in northeast Syria, it added.



US troops have come under attack by Iranian-backed groups about 78 times since the beginning of 2021, according to army general Erik Kurilla, who oversees US troops in the Middle East as the head of the countrys Central Command.



Deployments in Iraq, where Iran also holds sway, have also come under drone and rocket attacks in recent years.



Kurilla, testifying to the House Armed Services Committee earlier on Thursday, warned about Iran's fleet of drones.



"The Iranian regime now holds the largest and most capable unmanned aerial vehicle force in the region," he said.



Three drones targeted a US base in January in Syria's Al-Tanf region. The US military said two of the drones were shot down while the remaining drone hit the compound, injuring two members of the Syrian Free Army forces.



US officials believe drone and rocket attacks are being directed by Iran-backed militia, a reminder of the complex geopolitics of Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad counts on support from Iran and Russia and sees US troops as occupiers.



The attack came just weeks after the top US general, Mark Milley, visited northeast Syria to assess the mission against the Islamic State and the risk to US personnel.



Asked by reporters traveling with him if he believed the deployment of roughly 900 US troops to Syria was worth the risk, Milley tied the mission to the security of the US and its allies, saying, "If you think that that's important, then the answer is 'Yes.'"



"I happen to think that's important," Milley said.



The US deployment, which former President Donald Trump nearly ended in 2018 before softening his withdrawal plans, is a remnant of the larger global war against terrorism that had once included the war in Afghanistan and a far larger US military deployment to Iraq.



While the Islamic State has lost the swathes of Syria and Iraq it ruled over in 2014, sleeper cells still carry out hit-and-run attacks in desolate areas where neither the US-led coalition nor the Syrian army exert full control.



Thousands of other Islamic State fighters have been detained by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the US key ally in the country. American officials say the Islamic State could still regenerate into a major threat.

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Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust Plc (LON:ANW  Get Rating) shares fell 1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 396 ($4.86) and last traded at GBX 398 ($4.89). 2,962 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 16,020 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 402 ($4.94).

Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust Stock Down 1.0 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.25, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a current ratio of 0.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 398 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 398. The firm has a market capitalization of 63.63 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 120.61.

About Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust

(Get Rating)

Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust PLC is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Thailand. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Bank of Georgia Group PLC (LON:BGEO  Get Rating) shares passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 2,452.27 ($30.12) and traded as high as GBX 2,614.50 ($32.11). Bank of Georgia Group shares last traded at GBX 2,555 ($31.38), with a volume of 80,544 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Numis Securities increased their target price on shares of Bank of Georgia Group from GBX 4,777 ($58.66) to GBX 5,752 ($70.64) and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th.

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Bank of Georgia Group Trading Down 0.4 %

The companys 50-day moving average price is GBX 2,692.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 2,452.88. The company has a market cap of 1.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 275.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.18.

Bank of Georgia Group Company Profile

Bank of Georgia Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services primarily in Georgia. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and BNB. The Retail Banking segment offers consumer loans, mortgage loans, overdrafts, credit cards, and other credit facilities; funds transfer and settlement services; and customers' deposits for individuals and legal entities under the Express, Bank of Georgia, MSME, and SOLO brands.

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Shares of Comptoir Group PLC (LON:COM  Get Rating) rose 0.8% on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 6.01 ($0.07) and last traded at GBX 5.95 ($0.07). Approximately 57,431 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the average daily volume of 66,218 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 5.90 ($0.07).

Comptoir Group Stock Performance

The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 5.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 5.31. The company has a market cap of 7.30 million, a P/E ratio of 198.33 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 424.48, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.24.

Comptoir Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Comptoir Group PLC owns and operates restaurants under the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brand names in the United Kingdom. The company offers Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine dining. It operates 27 restaurants that includes 5 franchises. The company was formerly known as Levant Restaurants Group Limited and changed its name to Comptoir Group PLC in June 2016.

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Premium Brands (TSE:PBH  Get Rating) had its price target raised by Cormark from C$115.00 to C$120.00 in a research note released on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on PBH. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$107.00 to C$104.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 17th. CIBC dropped their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$99.00 to C$98.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 17th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$112.00 to C$114.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$105.00 to C$111.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Finally, TD Securities upped their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$115.00 to C$120.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Premium Brands presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$117.40.

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Premium Brands Price Performance

Shares of TSE PBH opened at C$96.76 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of C$4.32 billion, a PE ratio of 27.10, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$94.85 and a 200 day moving average of C$88.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 141.16, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 2.53. Premium Brands has a one year low of C$77.36 and a one year high of C$110.40.

Premium Brands Increases Dividend

About Premium Brands

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.18%. This is a positive change from Premium Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. Premium Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 86.27%.

(Get Rating)

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products and ready-to-eat meals.

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American Well (NYSE:AMWL  Get Rating) and ITEX (OTCMKTS:ITEX  Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings and risk.

Profitability

This table compares American Well and ITEXs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets American Well -97.73% -23.77% -21.20% ITEX N/A N/A N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

46.3% of American Well shares are owned by institutional investors. 13.9% of American Well shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 32.0% of ITEX shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk and Volatility

Analyst Recommendations

American Well has a beta of 0.8, indicating that its share price is 20% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ITEX has a beta of 0.21, indicating that its share price is 79% less volatile than the S&P 500.

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for American Well and ITEX, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score American Well 0 5 3 0 2.38 ITEX 0 0 0 0 N/A

American Well currently has a consensus price target of $4.28, suggesting a potential upside of 90.85%. Given American Wells higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe American Well is more favorable than ITEX.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares American Well and ITEXs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio American Well $277.19 million 2.24 -$270.43 million ($0.98) -2.29 ITEX N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

ITEX has lower revenue, but higher earnings than American Well.

Summary

American Well beats ITEX on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About American Well

(Get Rating)

American Well Corporation operates digital care delivery enablement platform in the United States and internationally. Its platform connects and enables providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver access to care. The company products offer urgent care; scheduled visits; acute behavioral health; telestroke; pediatrics; retail health, school health, and home settings. Its application offers urgent care; pediatrics; therapy; menopause nutrition; end-stage renal disease and dialysis; dermatology care; behavioral health therapy; and musculoskeletal care. The company also provides telemedicine equipment, including telemedicine carts, peripherals, tyto care, TV kits, tablets, and kiosks. American Well Corporation was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

About ITEX

(Get Rating)

ITEX Corp. engages in the operation of cashless business transactions and operates as a marketplace. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Bellevue, WA.

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By Azernews

If Armenia is interested in regional peace, it should stop trying to interfere in Azerbaijan's affairs regarding contacts with the Armenian residents of the country's Karabakh region in order to reintegrate them, or prevent this, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ayxan Hajizada said, answering a question from local media regarding the unfounded claims made by Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan on March 23, Azernews reports.

"We condemn and reject the completely unfounded accusations of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against Azerbaijan, who stubbornly repeats the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry on March 18, despite our extended response.

"The aggressive rhetoric of the Armenian leadership, threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and ignoring the international obligations undertaken by Armenia, shows that this country is not interested in peace in the region. We recommend that Prime Minister Pashinyan take a lesson from history and guide Armenia, which has occupied Azerbaijani territories for 30 years, carried out ethnic cleansing against hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, not interfere with the peace agenda that Azerbaijan has been promoting since 2020, and also abandon from aggressive activities such as encroachment on the territorial integrity and interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.

"It is unacceptable that the return to their homeland of former internally displaced persons who became victims of the policy of ethnic cleansing of Armenia be regarded as a violation of the tripartite statement by Azerbaijan. In the same way, Armenia does not have the moral right to present itself as a `human rights defender' of the Armenian residents of Azerbaijan.

"It is absurd that Armenia, which has been destroying property belonging to Azerbaijanis both in Armenia and in the cities and villages it has kept under occupation for 30 years by illegally resettling Armenians in these territories, opposes the implementation by Azerbaijan of resettlement in its sovereign territories and historical lands. This statement also directly contradicts the Prague and Sochi agreements, to which Armenia constantly refers," he said.

It was also noted that Armenia, which forcibly expelled Azerbaijanis from their historical lands, does not digest the peaceful existence of representatives of various peoples in Azerbaijan while claiming that it is not a mono-ethnic state, and this is another example of Armenian falsification.

"If Armenia really intends to abandon its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, its revanchist policy, it must abandon such aggressive rhetoric. If the Armenian side is interested in peace in the region, it should stop trying to interfere in the affairs of Azerbaijan regarding contacts with the Armenian residents of the Karabakh region of the country in order to reintegrate them, to prevent this," the ministry's spokesperson said.
UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said Thursday that the situation in Syria is so unprecedented that it calls for leadership, bold ideas and a cooperative spirit.

"A political solution is the only way forward for Syria. We may not be able to reach that in one step. But I believe we can progress toward it gradually," he told the Security Council in a briefing.

The status quo is unacceptable. The renewed diplomatic attention on Syria, including in the region, and the shared suffering of all Syrians in the aftermath of the earthquakes create new obligations and opportunities, he said. "If all parties engage, I believe we can move forward."

Last week saw the awful milestone of 12 years since the start of the conflict in Syria. A Syrian-owned, Syrian-led, UN-facilitated political process supported by the international community is more essential than ever, said Pedersen via a video link.

A political solution must restore Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, he said. "We must move down this path, even if in stages. I am ready to use my good offices, develop proposals, and convene the necessary players in an effort to help facilitate the way forward, consistent with my mandate in Security Council Resolution 2254."

Pedersen said it is absolutely vital to continue to provide resources to support the emergency response to last month's earthquakes. There is also a need for a sustained calm on the ground, especially in areas affected by the earthquakes.

The week after the earthquakes saw signs of such calm emerging, with a relative lull in violence in most quarters. For brief moments, the unimaginable became real: parties on each side of the front line largely refraining from hostilities. Since then, there has been a creeping rise in incidents, he said.

The logic for the moves from different sides in the humanitarian sphere in the aftermath of the earthquakes can and must be applied to address post-earthquake rehabilitation and broader political challenges, said Pedersen. "We have seen two crossing points (for the delivery of humanitarian aid), long closed, reopened, and new openings on sanctions. This shows that different sides can make constructive moves. I sense, from all the discussions I have had, that there is an opportunity to move forward with additional moves on all sides beyond the immediate emergency."

He said a degree of cooperation across divides is essential if the way forward is to be found.

The Syrian government, the Syrian opposition, the Western players, the Arab players, the Astana players, other interested parties -- none alone can move this forward. Individual approaches will not make the kind of qualitative difference that a coordinated approach could make, he said. "But if all are prepared to put practical points on the table, and if players coordinate and work together, I am more convinced than ever that it is possible and essential to move forward -- step for step and step by step." 
Berenberg Bank reiterated their buy rating on shares of Diploma (LON:DPLM  Get Rating) in a research report report published on Monday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 3,360 ($41.26) price objective on the stock.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on DPLM. Numis Securities restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 3,700 ($45.44) price target on shares of Diploma in a report on Friday, March 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating and issued a GBX 2,150 ($26.40) price target on shares of Diploma in a report on Monday, March 13th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 2,600 ($31.93) price target on shares of Diploma in a report on Friday, March 17th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Diploma from GBX 2,450 ($30.09) to GBX 2,700 ($33.16) and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 2,450 ($30.09) price target on shares of Diploma in a report on Tuesday, November 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 2,908.57 ($35.72).

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Diploma Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of DPLM opened at GBX 2,776 ($34.09) on Monday. Diploma has a twelve month low of GBX 2,090 ($25.67) and a twelve month high of GBX 3,022 ($37.11). The company has a market cap of 3.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 3,701.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 65.80. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 2,794.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 2,687.64.

Diploma Increases Dividend

Diploma Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 19th were given a GBX 38.80 ($0.48) dividend. This is a positive change from Diplomas previous dividend of $15.00. This represents a dividend yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 19th. Diplomas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7,200.00%.

(Get Rating)

Diploma PLC, together with its subsidiaries, supplies specialized technical products and services in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. It operates through three business sectors: Life Sciences, Seals, and Controls. The Life Sciences sector supplies clinical diagnostics instrumentation and products, instrumentation and consumables, specialty surgical devices, and related consumables and services to public hospitals, private clinics, pathology laboratories, scientific research, and medical segments; surgical equipment for hospital operating rooms; and distributes laboratory diagnostics, specialty medical devices, devices, equipment, and patient monitoring technologies used in operating theatres, as well as medically supervised nutrition.

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The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP  Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued a sell rating and a $5.50 price objective on the real estate investment trusts stock.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on HPP. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $13.00 to $10.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 23rd. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $12.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $13.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hudson Pacific Properties has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $11.32.

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Hudson Pacific Properties Stock Performance

Shares of HPP stock opened at $5.48 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $773.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -14.05 and a beta of 1.11. The companys 50 day moving average is $9.50 and its 200 day moving average is $10.44. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Hudson Pacific Properties has a 52-week low of $5.39 and a 52-week high of $28.66.

Hudson Pacific Properties Announces Dividend

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 17th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 18.25%. Hudson Pacific Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -256.40%.

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Group One Trading L.P. purchased a new position in Hudson Pacific Properties in the first quarter valued at $149,000. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 3.4% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 18,542 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $514,000 after purchasing an additional 612 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 76.5% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 36,550 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,034,000 after purchasing an additional 15,845 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 33.3% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 98,525 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,734,000 after purchasing an additional 24,633 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 10.5% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 55,882 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,551,000 after purchasing an additional 5,328 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.57% of the companys stock.

Hudson Pacific Properties Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc is a real estate company, which acquires, repositions, develops, and operates sustainable office and state of-the-art studio properties in high-barrier-to-entry submarkets in California, the Pacific Northwest, Western Canada, and Greater London, United Kingdom. It operates through the Office Properties and Studio Properties segments.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a 205.00 ($220.43) target price on Hannover Ruck (FRA:HNR1  Get Rating) in a report released on Tuesday, Borsen Zeitung reports.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group set a 225.00 ($241.94) target price on shares of Hannover Ruck in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada set a 220.00 ($236.56) price target on shares of Hannover Ruck in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Jefferies Financial Group set a 185.00 ($198.92) price objective on shares of Hannover Ruck in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. UBS Group set a 177.00 ($190.32) price objective on shares of Hannover Ruck in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Barclays set a 158.10 ($170.00) price target on shares of Hannover Ruck in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd.

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Hannover Ruck Stock Performance

HNR1 opened at 170.10 ($182.90) on Tuesday. Hannover Ruck has a 1-year low of 94.75 ($101.88) and a 1-year high of 116.37 ($125.13). The business has a 50 day moving average price of 180.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of 173.58.

Hannover Ruck Company Profile

Hannover Ruck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The company offers property, casualty, facultative, catastrophe XL, structured reinsurance, and insurance-linked securities.

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New York Community Bancorp (NYSE:NYCB  Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $9.50 to $10.50 in a research report released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the financial services providers stock.

NYCB has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Wedbush upgraded shares of New York Community Bancorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of New York Community Bancorp in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on shares of New York Community Bancorp from $8.50 to $10.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Stephens upgraded shares of New York Community Bancorp from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $8.50 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, December 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of New York Community Bancorp in a research report on Monday, December 5th. They set an equal weight rating and a $10.00 price target for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $10.50.

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New York Community Bancorp Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of New York Community Bancorp stock opened at $8.61 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.03. The company has a market cap of $5.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.06. New York Community Bancorp has a fifty-two week low of $5.81 and a fifty-two week high of $11.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.56, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.22.

New York Community Bancorp Dividend Announcement

New York Community Bancorp ( NYSE:NYCB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $577.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $410.71 million. New York Community Bancorp had a return on equity of 9.32% and a net margin of 27.79%. As a group, equities analysts predict that New York Community Bancorp will post 1.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 16th. Investors of record on Monday, February 6th were paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 3rd. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.90%. New York Community Bancorps dividend payout ratio is presently 54.40%.

Insider Activity at New York Community Bancorp

In related news, EVP Reginald E. Davis sold 4,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.97, for a total transaction of $45,862.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 123,033 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,226,639.01. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Reginald E. Davis sold 4,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.97, for a total transaction of $45,862.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 123,033 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,226,639.01. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Marshall Lux purchased 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $10.05 per share, with a total value of $50,250.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 17,000 shares in the company, valued at $170,850. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.58% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of New York Community Bancorp

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NYCB. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of New York Community Bancorp by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,081,423 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,593,000 after buying an additional 63,418 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of New York Community Bancorp by 95.1% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 146,581 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,571,000 after buying an additional 71,460 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its stake in shares of New York Community Bancorp by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 60,084 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $644,000 after buying an additional 1,587 shares during the period. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of New York Community Bancorp by 122.0% during the 1st quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 36,608 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $392,000 after purchasing an additional 20,121 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. purchased a new position in shares of New York Community Bancorp during the 1st quarter worth approximately $235,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.17% of the companys stock.

New York Community Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Rating)

New York Community Bancorp, Inc is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of multi-family loans on non-luxury rent-regulated buildings that feature below-market rents. It also offers financial products and services to individuals and businesses. The company was founded on July 20, 1993 and is headquartered in Westbury, NY.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System bought a new position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm bought 66,771 shares of the credit services providers stock, valued at approximately $23,218,000. Mastercard makes up 0.7% of Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest holding.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of MA. Bornite Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter worth about $21,442,000. United Bank lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 34.5% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,147,000 after acquiring an additional 1,541 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 30.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $97,335,000 after acquiring an additional 63,040 shares in the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter worth about $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the first quarter valued at approximately $12,926,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.51% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on MA. StockNews.com upgraded Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James upped their price objective on Mastercard from $406.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Mastercard from $370.00 to $410.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Mastercard from $365.00 to $405.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on Mastercard from $456.00 to $441.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and twenty-one have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $413.41.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Mastercard Price Performance

In other Mastercard news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.05, for a total transaction of $2,406,856.65. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 41,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,701,385.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In other news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $380.05, for a total value of $2,406,856.65. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 41,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,701,385.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, insider Hai Ling sold 8,220 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.31, for a total value of $2,928,868.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,496 shares in the company, valued at $9,440,789.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 655,522 shares of company stock valued at $242,724,561 over the last three months. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

MA opened at $354.37 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $363.86 and a 200-day moving average of $341.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $337.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.67, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $276.87 and a 12-month high of $390.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The credit services provider reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.09. Mastercard had a return on equity of 158.38% and a net margin of 44.65%. The business had revenue of $5.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.79 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.35 earnings per share. Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 7th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 5th. Mastercards payout ratio is 22.31%.

About Mastercard

(Get Rating)

Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY.

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Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) had its price target decreased by Morgan Stanley from $158.00 to $150.00 in a research report released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the utilities providers stock.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Sempra Energy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Sempra Energy from $169.00 to $166.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. TheStreet raised Sempra Energy from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, December 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Sempra Energy from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sempra Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.80.

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Sempra Energy Trading Down 1.6 %

NYSE SRE opened at $139.69 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Sempra Energy has a twelve month low of $136.54 and a twelve month high of $176.47. The company has a market cap of $43.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.72. The businesss fifty day moving average is $153.95 and its 200 day moving average is $156.20.

Sempra Energy Increases Dividend

Sempra Energy ( NYSE:SRE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The utilities provider reported $2.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.06 by $0.29. Sempra Energy had a return on equity of 10.53% and a net margin of 14.74%. The company had revenue of $3.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.79 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.16 EPS. Sempra Energys revenue for the quarter was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Sempra Energy will post 8.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 22nd will be given a $1.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 21st. This is a positive change from Sempra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.41%. Sempra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.18%.

Insider Activity at Sempra Energy

In related news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 15,964 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.92, for a total value of $2,584,890.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 19,261 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,118,741.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 15,964 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.92, for a total value of $2,584,890.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 19,261 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,118,741.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Peter R. Wall sold 2,940 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.16, for a total value of $473,810.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,681 shares of the companys stock, valued at $915,549.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 52,504 shares of company stock valued at $8,045,547 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Sempra Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SRE. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora increased its holdings in Sempra Energy by 576.9% during the 4th quarter. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora now owns 176 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP boosted its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 567.9% in the 4th quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 187 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Sempra Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 440.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 243 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 76.3% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 231 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. 84.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Sempra Energy

(Get Rating)

Sempra Energy is an energy-service holding company, which engages in the development and operation of energy infrastructure, and provision of electric and gas services. It operates through the following segments: San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Texas Utilities, Sempra Mexico, and Sempra LNG.

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Credit Suisse Group reiterated their neutral rating on shares of Pennon Group (LON:PNN  Get Rating) in a research note released on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 900 ($11.05) target price on the stock.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on PNN. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Pennon Group to a sector perform rating and set a GBX 975 ($11.97) price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, February 13th. Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 1,300 ($15.96) price target on shares of Pennon Group in a research report on Thursday, December 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 1,072.14 ($13.17).

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Pennon Group Stock Performance

Shares of PNN opened at GBX 861 ($10.57) on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of 2.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4,788.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.21 and a beta of 0.30. Pennon Group has a 52-week low of GBX 735 ($9.03) and a 52-week high of GBX 1,124 ($13.80). The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 889.78 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 888.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 263.07.

Pennon Group Cuts Dividend

Pennon Group Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 26th will be paid a GBX 12.96 ($0.16) dividend. This represents a yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 26th. Pennon Groups payout ratio is 22,222.22%.

(Get Rating)

Pennon Group Plc provides clean water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It provides water and wastewater services for customers in Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset; water-only services in the areas of Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire; and water and wastewater retail services to non-household customers in Great Britain.

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Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLC increased its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) by 20.0% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 3,038 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 506 shares during the period. Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $431,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Romano Brothers AND Company boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company now owns 7,525 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,067,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,888,000. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter worth approximately $15,796,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Walmart by 40.9% in the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 116,335 shares of the retailers stock worth $16,495,000 after buying an additional 33,791 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Beech Hill Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Walmart by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Beech Hill Advisors Inc. now owns 15,810 shares of the retailers stock worth $2,242,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.27% of the companys stock.

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Walmart Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of WMT stock opened at $140.65 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.21. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $117.27 and a 1 year high of $160.77. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $141.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $141.24. The company has a market cap of $379.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.86, a PEG ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.48.

Walmart Dividend Announcement

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 20.45%. The company had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.53 EPS. Walmarts revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Walmarts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 53.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on WMT. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $155.00 price target on Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Telsey Advisory Group cut their price target on Walmart from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Gordon Haskett upgraded Walmart from a hold rating to an accumulate rating and upped their price target for the stock from $145.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Walmart presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $162.44.

Insider Activity at Walmart

In related news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 852,215 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total transaction of $122,940,535.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 266,841,420 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,494,543,249.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Walmart news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 852,215 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total value of $122,940,535.90. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 266,841,420 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,494,543,249.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 1,957,377 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.72, for a total transaction of $275,442,091.44. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 255,973,516 shares in the company, valued at $36,020,593,171.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 12,503,132 shares of company stock worth $1,753,800,408. 47.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Walmart Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

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Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE:RBA  Get Rating) (TSE:RBA) had its price objective trimmed by Robert W. Baird from $66.00 to $64.00 in a research report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James boosted their target price on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. National Bankshares boosted their target price on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Scotiabank raised Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $59.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, December 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.44.

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Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of RBA opened at $54.21 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.91. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has a 1 year low of $48.72 and a 1 year high of $72.73. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $59.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $59.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.08.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Announces Dividend

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers ( NYSE:RBA Get Rating ) (TSE:RBA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The business services provider reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $443.86 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $430.21 million. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers had a return on equity of 25.58% and a net margin of 18.44%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 23.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.27 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will post 2.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a  dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.08 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 21st. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.76%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers during the 3rd quarter worth $124,000. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in the second quarter valued at about $1,188,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers by 2.1% in the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,684,031 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $107,752,000 after buying an additional 33,848 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management raised its stake in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers by 3.8% in the third quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 196,650 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $12,287,000 after buying an additional 7,163 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers by 15.0% in the second quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 104,889 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $6,825,000 after buying an additional 13,700 shares during the last quarter. 81.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Company Profile

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Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc is an industrial auctioneer, which engages in the sale of equipment to on-site and online bidders. It operates through the following segments: Auctions and Marketplaces, Ritchie Bros. Financial Services and Mascus. The Auctions and Marketplaces segment consists of live on site auctions, online auctions and marketplaces, and brokerage service.

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SM Energy (NYSE:SM  Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $24.66 and last traded at $24.84, with a volume of 152186 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $25.53.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on SM shares. Susquehanna reduced their target price on SM Energy from $36.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Cowen lowered SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of SM Energy in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on SM Energy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen lowered SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $42.18.

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SM Energy Stock Down 0.2 %

The company has a market cap of $3.11 billion, a PE ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 4.42. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

SM Energy Announces Dividend

SM Energy ( NYSE:SM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The energy company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $671.32 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $614.72 million. SM Energy had a return on equity of 34.40% and a net margin of 33.11%. SM Energys revenue for the quarter was down 21.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that SM Energy will post 6.05 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 20th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 19th. This represents a yield of 0.9%. SM Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 3.35%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Herbert S. Vogel bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $31.35 per share, for a total transaction of $31,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 402,063 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,604,675.05. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders have bought a total of 3,000 shares of company stock worth $86,460 over the last quarter. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SM Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SM. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in SM Energy by 41.0% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,075 shares of the energy companys stock worth $314,000 after buying an additional 2,348 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in SM Energy by 28.4% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 20,390 shares of the energy companys stock worth $794,000 after buying an additional 4,513 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in SM Energy by 55.1% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 63,571 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,476,000 after buying an additional 22,582 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its position in SM Energy by 2.5% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 110,627 shares of the energy companys stock worth $4,431,000 after buying an additional 2,680 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. purchased a new position in SM Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $1,226,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.45% of the companys stock.

About SM Energy

(Get Rating)

SM Energy Co is an independent energy company, which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Denver, CO.

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta here on Friday.

Qin said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and New Zealand have always respected each other, treated each other on an equal footing, engaged in win-win cooperation and sought common ground while shelving differences.

The two countries have ensured the steady development of bilateral ties over the long term, setting a paradigm for friendly relations between countries of different social systems, cultures and development stages, he said.

Last year China and New Zealand celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and the leaders of the two countries met to reach important consensus. Qin said the two sides should faithfully implement the consensus and work for further development of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.

He called for efforts to make good use of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Upgrade Protocol and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to tap into the potential of cooperation.

Qin also expressed the hope that the two countries will fully resume exchanges in all sectors on the premise of ensuring sound epidemic prevention and control.

Mahuta said New Zealand firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and expects the two countries to enhance high-level exchanges and people-to-people exchanges, and expand cooperation of various fields to continue writing more stories of success.

Highlighting China's leading role in responding to climate change and protecting biodiversity, Mahuta said the two countries can work together to safeguard peace and security in the Asia and Pacific region, and be committed to sustainable development as well as limiting global temperature rise. 
Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF  Get Rating) (NYSE:SLF) Director Stephanie Coyles purchased 300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$64.52 per share, with a total value of C$19,356.00.

Sun Life Financial Stock Performance

SLF stock opened at C$61.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.33, a quick ratio of 84,866.00 and a current ratio of 8.22. The stock has a market cap of C$35.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.97. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$65.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$61.87. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a 52 week low of C$52.97 and a 52 week high of C$70.95.

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Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Get Rating) (NYSE:SLF) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported C$1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$1.55 by C$0.14. Sun Life Financial had a net margin of 13.42% and a return on equity of 11.09%. The firm had revenue of C$12.30 billion during the quarter. Research analysts anticipate that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 6.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sun Life Financial Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 28th. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.28%.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on SLF. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$71.00 to C$75.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Evercore raised their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$73.00 to C$76.00 in a report on Thursday, February 9th. TD Securities increased their price objective on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$68.00 to C$71.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. CIBC downgraded shares of Sun Life Financial from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from C$71.00 to C$73.00 in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, National Bankshares raised their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$69.00 to C$71.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$73.15.

Sun Life Financial Company Profile

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Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides insurance, wealth, and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate clients worldwide. It offers term and permanent life, as well as personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance products. The company also provides reinsurance products; investment counselling and portfolio management services; mutual funds and segregated funds; trust and banking services; real estate property brokerage and appraisal services; and merchant banking services.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Thales (OTCMKTS:THLEF  Get Rating) from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, Briefing.com reports.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on THLEF. UBS Group downgraded Thales from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Societe Generale upgraded Thales from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th.

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Thales Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS THLEF opened at $148.50 on Monday. Thales has a twelve month low of $107.55 and a twelve month high of $148.50. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $136.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.17.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Thales

Thales Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Thales stock. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Thales S.A. ( OTCMKTS:THLEF Get Rating ) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 345 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,000. 20.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Thales SA provides various solutions for civilian and military customers in the aeronautics, space, defense, security, ground transportation, and digital security markets worldwide. It operates through Aerospace, Transport, Defence & Security, and Digital Identity & Security segments. The company offers communications, command, and control systems; mission services and support; protection and mission/combat systems; surveillance, detection, and intelligence systems; training and simulation solutions for air, land, naval, and joint forces; and digital identity and security solutions.

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L, Rear) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R, Rear) attend a joint press conference in Windsor, Britain, on Feb. 27, 2023. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

According to their joint statement, both the UK and the EU had taken a "positive approach" and "reaffirmed their intent" to use the framework to resolve any future trade issues.

LONDON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A new deal aimed at easing post-Brexit trade tensions in Northern Ireland was formally adopted on Friday by the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), the parties announced in a joint statement.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic signed off the deal during their meeting in London. According to their joint statement, both the UK and the EU had taken a "positive approach" and "reaffirmed their intent" to use the framework to resolve any future trade issues.

The content of the new deal, dubbed the "Windsor Framework," was finalized in late February after long negotiations. It aims to resolve the trading issues created by its predecessor, the Northern Ireland Protocol, which imposed border checks on British goods arriving in Northern Ireland.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Berkshire, Britain, on Feb. 27, 2023. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

As a central element of the new deal, the "Stormont Brake" -- taking on the Irish name of the Northern Ireland Assembly -- is intended to give Northern Ireland's lawmakers more say over EU rules set to apply in the region.

While Northern Ireland's political parties broadly support the framework, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has questioned how the "Stormont Brake" will operate. As a sign of protest, the party has refused to join the power-sharing government at the Stormont for over a year, undermining political stability.

A vehicle moves past a border sign near Newry, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on June 14, 2022. (Photo by Colum Lynch/Xinhua)
This photo taken on March 20, 2023 shows logos of Credit Suisse and Swiss banking giant UBS in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

According to Lorenzo Rocco from the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Padova, it is unlikely that Credit Suisse will be the last large European bank to fall under pressure during the current crisis.

ROME, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Financial sector reforms put into place in the wake of the global financial crisis 15 years ago have so far helped protect European banks from being hit harder by the ongoing banking crisis, analysts said. But the latest round of problems have still not fully run their course.

European stock markets have just ended their second consecutive week of high volatility. On Friday, the week's final session, shares were mostly lower, with the blue-chip indexes in Paris and Frankfurt down 1.7 percent each, while in Milan shares slipped by 2.2 percent, and in Amsterdam they retreated by 1.6 percent.

Over the past ten sessions, European shares broadly fell seven times, with banking sector stocks the main reason for the ups and downs.

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022 shows the Bull and Bear sculptures outside the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Frankfurt, Germany. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)

The current banking sector fragility was sparked by the collapse of two regional banks in the United States -- Silicon Valley Bank in California and New York's Signature Bank. Soon after, Switzerland's Credit Suisse shed nearly a quarter of its value in one day, March 15.

But markets were called earlier this week when UBS, Credit Suisse's main rival, acquired the troubled lender for around 3 billion U.S. dollars.

According to Lorenzo Rocco from the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Padova, it is unlikely that Credit Suisse will be the last large European bank to fall under pressure during the current crisis.

"We might still see large consequences for other banks," Rocco told Xinhua. "All banks these days are interconnected and ... the more the waves spread across the banking sector the more we could see trouble."

Andrea Giuricin, a professor of finance and mobility management at Bicocca University in Milan, pointed out that the current situation is the latest in a series of crises, including the global crisis of 2008-2009 sparked by the collapse of U.S.-based giant Lehman Brothers and regional crunches like the one in 2012-2013 that had wide-ranging impacts on Spanish banks. The coronavirus pandemic also had big impacts on financial institutions.

"Europe already had big problems with its banks," Giuricin told Xinhua.

Photo taken on March 16, 2023 shows a building of Credit Suisse in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

But both Rocco and Giuricin said that reforms put in place over the past decade and a half are paying dividends this time around.

"At the European level we now have a system that's a little stricter than it had been," Giuricin said. "There are still risks for the weaker banks, and tension is still there. But now we've been through rounds of consolidation that resulted in bigger banks acquiring smaller and more vulnerable banks. Banks are required to have more liquidity than they did before, and the internal capital for banks is higher."

Rocco agreed, adding that since top-tier banks cannot hold the bonds of other top-tier banks, that reduces the risk of contagion through the sector.

Rocco also said the current crisis is furthering the kind of consolidation the sector has been going through.

"UBS made the deal of a lifetime when it acquired Credit Suisse," he said. "They paid 3 billion U.S. dollars for a bank that had been worth 8 billion U.S. dollars just before, so they paid less than half price, and they did it with a guarantee of the Swiss Central Bank, and while doing it they basically eliminated their largest competitor."

People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)
KAMPALA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's aviation authority has said that travelers arriving at Entebbe International Airport no longer need to present COVID-19 test certificates.

The new policy has been in effect since March 7, Vianney Luggya, spokesperson of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, said in a statement Thursday.

The airport is located 40 km south of the capital, Kampala.

"Passengers through Entebbe International Airport are reminded that the requirement for COVID-19 certificates for arriving passengers was dropped (no longer relevant)," said Luggya.

"For departing passengers, it is only applied when the destination country requires it," he said. 
Peterborough-based Bobcaygeon Brewing Co. launched its second Community Brew on Friday, part of a series designed to support local organizations within the Peterborough community.

Proceeds from the sales of Dans Kolsch community brew, brewed in collaboration with bartender Daniel Longfield of McThirstys Pint, will go toward Otonabee Conservation and the Jackson Creek Trail, a 4.5-kilometre trail in the citys northwest end that runs between Jackson Park and Atchison Road.

We are honoured to be the recipient of donations from Bobcaygeon Brewerys Community Brew, stated Janette Loveys Smith, chief administrative officer at Otonabee Conservation.

Funds will be directed to the beloved Jackson Creek Trail, which continues to provide so many residents with a place to rejuvenate, exercise, and enjoy nature in the heart of Peterborough.

The first beer in the Community Brew series, a Blackberry Raspberry Gose, was launched last October with proceeds going to One City Peterborough, an organization aimed at helping those who are experiencing homelessness in the community.

With each beer in the series, $1 from every pint and 50 cents from every can sold is donated to a charitable organization in Peterborough, supporting the local community.

Community Brew is part of a collaboration between Bobcaygeon Brewing and McThirstys Pint.

Dans Kolsch will be first available at Bobcaygeon Brewings Bobfest event on Saturday, both on tap and for purchase to go.

Starting Monday, the beer will be sold at McThirstys Pint at 166 Charlotte St. and the Bobcaygeon Brewing Taproom.

Bobcaygeon Brewing is marking its eighth anniversary later this month with a celebration called Bobfest, taking place Saturday at the microbrewers 649 The Parkway Unit 4 facility in the south end of Peterborough.

Starting at 11:30 a.m., the 1980s-themed festival will feature live music all day, food from local vendors and a variety of different beers. The brewery will also offer tours and tastings, three special cask beer releases and arcade machines at the event.

Were thrilled to be celebrating our eighth anniversary with our loyal customers and the Kawarthas community, stated Richard Wood, president and co-founder of Bobcaygeon Brewing, in a press release.

Live music performances include T.J. Shirk, Caitlin Currie, Fetch Panda, The Skeleton Crew and Pop Machine all afternoon and into the evening.

Scheduled food vendors include Kia Ora Pie Co. and Revelstoke Cafe.

Bobfest will also mark the debut of Bobcaygeon Brewings eighth anniversary beer, Eight, a Belgian-style Tripel with Elderflower and Lavender. Bottles of Eight will be available for purchase to take home.

Tickets are on sale at bobcaygeonbrewing.ca

Its been an incredible journey, and were excited to continue brewing great beer and serving our community for years to come, Wood stated.

aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com

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HAVELOCK  Traditional folk songs of rural Peterborough County and the rich background stories of Irish immigration and more that have been passed orally from generation to generation will be shared in Havelock on Sunday when Peterboroughs Backwoodsmen quartet performs in the villages historic Stone Hall.

The concert will feature great songs from the pioneer settlers of this stretch of Ontario  songs the poor working people made up and sang about their lives, according to organizers.

Along with their own contemporary arrangements and adapted lyrics, the Backwoodsmen will be telling the back stories of the songs on Sunday, such as The Ballad of Bill Dunbar and how he and a friend drowned in1894 at Gannons Narrows.

The members of the Backwoodsmen met while playing traditional music as volunteers at Lang Pioneer Village Museum, north of Keene in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township.

They are Al Kirby on dobro and guitar, John Bird on recorders, banjo-ukulele and washboard, Rob Cory on guitar and harmonica and Rob Niezen on guitar and mandolin.

The group went on to create contemporary arrangements and adapted lyrics, resulting in Cross Cut  a double CD and an illustrated songbook by Niezen released a year ago.

The source of the songs and stories come from the research over the past 20 years by Kirby, a musical historian and longtime Peterborough musician, who has written a biography of CBCs Edith Fowkes who collected folk songs in rural Ontario during the 1950s, many from Peterborough County. It is the only biography of Fowkes in existence.

Edith Fowke would not have achieved her international recognition if she had not come to Douro in1956 and recorded members of the Towns family, Kirby told The Examiner.

The songs cover everything from stories about eastern Ontario lumbering, a song about the Peterborough Jail, two ballads about famous Ontario 19th century murders, songs about an 1860s eastern Ontario highway; a lonely Scottish immigrant, a disgruntled Irish immigrant; an eastern Ontario 1838 battle with American invaders and a political song that was a prelude to the 1837 rebellion. Also included is a song about an Omemee youth looking for a party.

The underlying themes are of a timeless nature, as they deal with human existence and love, deception, politics, war, immigration, work, leisure, murder, and death, according to the organizers.

The concert is at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Stone Hall at 6713 Highway 7 in Havelock. Advance tickets are $15 and are available at bit.ly/3JZHTHH until midnight Saturday. Tickets at the door are $20.

BB Brendan Burke is a staff reporter at the Examiner, based in Peterborough. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.

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Justin Graham of Lindsay lost his 11-year-old autistic son Draven Graham in June 2022 and is now advocating for a new vulnerable person alert system at Queen's Park March 30, 2023.



Losing a child is something no parent should ever have to experience.

Justin Graham experienced that loss very publicly last summer in Lindsay when his son Draven was pulled from the Scugog River about a day after he went missing.

Theres no getting over it; you just learn how to deal with that pain easier, says Graham.

There was no public alert system in place for police to get the word out to the thousands of people who wanted to help in the search as the existing Amber Alert system is reserved for children who are believed to have been abducted.

A bill currently before provincial legislature is looking to create a new alert system, targeting any missing vulnerable person, to help avoid tragedies like Grahams, which touched the entire community of Kawartha Lakes and beyond. The Missing Persons Amendment Act, 2023 was tabled by Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor, the NDP critic for children, community and social services, earlier this month. Taylor invited Graham to speak on the proposed Bill 74 at its second reading at Queens Park March 30.

Draven, who was autistic and an escape artist, as his dad recalls, was 11 years old when he went missing from his Lindsay home June 12 last year.

Its sad that it took my sons life to start this snowball effect; this should have already been in place, says Graham, noting Draven was far from the first child lost to the Scugog River.

Graham adds that the first several months following his sons death were pretty hazy and even now he still hasnt really allowed himself to grieve the loss.

I think once this act has been passed, then Ill be able to grieve.

The amendment would give the OPP the authority to issue a vulnerable persons alert for any missing person, including those with autism, Alzheimers, or dementia, without the restraints of an Amber Alert.

This bill fills an important gap in the current emergency alert system, says Taylor.

It would ensure that the OPP are able to send targeted, regional alerts to help find vulnerable people when they go missing and make sure they get home safely. This is an important tool families can use to help find their loved ones in an unthinkable situation.

Having the opportunity to address provincial politicians on behalf of not only Draven, but so many others who feel powerless is a privilege Graham says he does not take lightly.

This is another level because I would say normal people, we dont get to talk to the government, we dont get to talk to those people in power, says Graham, who grew up without much money in Coboconk, Ont., but believes people from every walk of life can relate to his message of protecting children and vulnerable people.

Im not going there just to talk about my son, Im going there to talk about all children, future and past, so that puts a huge weight on it as well.

Graham says the bill has had tremendous support so far at Queens Park and he hopes it will move successfully through the system, because ultimately it goes beyond politics and is the right thing to do.

In the aftermath of Dravens death, several municipal councils  starting with Brighton  passed motions to implore the provincial government to create a Draven Alert to allow police to send out an alert when vulnerable children go missing.

In Kawartha Lakes, municipal police, OPP, and council have worked together to endorse the use of the Missing Children Society of Canadas rescu app, an interactive tool that allows those registered to get up-to-date information on missing children in their area to assist with search efforts.

Graham says he is still blown away and grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the community when his son went missing, as is Dravens mom Jess Corman. He recalls meeting a woman during the search who had driven all the way from Ottawa to help alongside thousands of others.

It kind of put my faith back in humanity, not only this town, but people in general as well, he says, adding that he needs to focus on the positive side of his tragedy to not only be strong for his other children, but also to help ensure something good comes from the worst thing that has ever happened to him.

Dravens going to set an example for how it should be moving forward.

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Area advocates invited the community to a showing of the documentary Love in the Time of Fentanyl in hopes of promoting understanding of their recent efforts to start an unsanctioned overdose prevention site in Cobourg.





Despite pushback and a notice of violation of Cobourgs zoning bylaw, advocates of an unsanctioned overdose prevention site will be persevering to save lives  albeit at a new, undisclosed location, says advocate and community organizer Missy McLean.

Its about saving lives  100 per cent, said McLean, whos among those saying there isnt time for bureaucracy as a toxic drug poisoning crisis and overdose epidemic rages on.

However, the proposal hasnt been necessarily welcomed or endorsed by several area officials urging legal processes in pursuit of a sanctioned site.

Our stance is we are continuing to do what we have set out to do, said McLean, whos among the volunteer-powered, TweakEasyCBG group/site, which operated for the first time for three hours on March 17 at a private property downtown. McLean noted there were no incidents and about six visitors.

Our plans have been disrupted, but not extinguished, said McLean, in response to the notice of violation of the towns zoning bylaw to the private-property owner after learning of plans at this location.

Just prior, a majority of council  excluding Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty who abstained from voting  supported suspending the rules of order at its March 20 meeting and a motion spearheaded by Mayor Lucas Cleveland essentially saying the town doesnt endorse the operation.

Attendees heard staff nor council were aware of an unsanctioned site popping up.

Councils resolution urged organizers to follow legal processes to operate a supervised consumption site (SCS) with satisfactory completion of an application inclusive of community consultation (also stated as a requirement in the Government of Canadas application process.)

When it comes to these types of initiatives, they are long, they are arduous, they are financially difficult, (but) that does not negate the need to follow the proper procedure in which to go about that, said Cleveland, stressing while he felt most residents want to see harm reduced this should be achieved through the means decided by governance and laws.

Council also heard staff would respond to complaints/compliance concerns  within the towns purview  via appropriate legislation and bylaws.

TweakEasy said this response only further increases harmful stigma.

Cobourg Police Services Board Chair Ron Kerr also said the board doesnt support unauthorized safe consumption sites  and supports the lawful process of applying for consumption and treatment services through Health Canada.

However, police follow rules/standards under the Police Service Act, the Criminal Code of Canada and other directives  and under these laws and guidelines, police have no legal authority to take enforcement or any other action to remove the overdose prevention site, or any safe consumption site on private property, explained Kerr.

Chief Paul VandeGraaf also said police follow the federal crowns 2020 directive to not arrest people for simple possession of illicit drugs alone, instead focusing on more serious cases raising public safety concerns.

Public health has acknowledged unsanctioned SCS  also referred to as overdose prevention sites  are a type of harm reduction intervention aimed to reduce harm and death associated with drug use, in response to inquiries on its potential role.

We understand (TweakEasyCBG) is being established in response to drug poisonings and overdoses in our community with the intent to save lives, said Dorothea Service, manager of healthy families and harm reduction with the health unit. Supervised consumption services  both sanctioned and/or unsanctioned  provide rapid access to naloxone, which may temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

In other words, the health unit didnt acknowledge a specific role in this community-driven proposal.

McLean said the group is following well-established models, noting this project is also an extension of a TweakEasy site in operation for more than a year in Peterborough, which has helped 1,500-plus visitors and had zero deaths.

She described the project as two medical tents providing community-based care and support for folks  and a necessary step  as well as the more common approach  in paving the path to getting a sanctioned site, as demonstrated in other communities. (We havent confirmed this.)

McLean  whos also known through Moms Stop the Harm and as a peer-to-peer support group facilitator  explained the group isnt providing drugs, rather this is about providing a space where drugs can be consumed more safely, with people trained in saving lives, including the use of naloxone.

The group planned to host this service at the downtown location on Friday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. Town officials since confirmed the notice of violation after receiving a complaint.

According to the town, this property is zoned main central commercial and an overdose prevention site is not a defined/permitted use per its zoning bylaw. Municipal officials also said failure to comply may result in a charge under Ontarios Planning Act  and fines ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 to every individual or corporation who contravenes the act.

Were going to adjust and were going to keep going, said McLean, explaining weve had to make adjustments in our location.

McLean hasnt disclosed locations with Northumberland News, noting location(s) are on a need-to-know basis to protect folks privacy and safety.

When we think about the scope of the crisis  and the impact its having on our friends, family and community, three hours, one night a week, doesnt sound like a lot  and its not a lot  but its a start and its as much an act of resistance as anything else. Its about saying, We need this service, we know how to provide it, and were going to do it.

McLean said the goal is to demonstrate need and ability to run this site, while also collecting data in support of conversations around establishing a sanctioned, funded site locally.

TweakEasy maintains it will take public health and government leadership to open an official consumption and treatment services (CTS) site  this isnt something individuals can do.

Data would show how many people are using an injection tent, an inhalation tent, and accessing harm reduction supplies, explained McLean.

Advocates also say governments shouldve stepped up before this to safeguard marginalized peoples and get a site in place in the wake of building death and harm.

As previously reported, McLean also has lived experience walking alongside loved ones struggling with substance use. It was McLean and Ashley Smoke, co-founder of the Ontario Network of People Who Use Drugs (ONPUD)  who also identifies as an Indigenous 2-Spirit person from Alderville First Nation, whose Spirit Name is Gatherer of Medicines  who got things rolling, said McLean, noting they were quickly joined by several others, including a 30-year veteran/retired police officer, a nurse, a bereaved mom, who lost their daughter to an overdose, people with lived experience and residents with no connection to criminalized substance use, except they care for their neighbours.

We know people are using drugs in our community, and we know that anecdotally theres a lot of harm that people are suffering because of the criminalization of their drug use and because of having to hide it, having to use in unsafe environments, and to use in ways that dont uphold peoples health and well-being.

In response to those pointing to an official site, McLean said education is needed.

The thing about CTS sites is they wouldnt exist if it wasnt for the unsanctioned overdose prevention sites that started the work in different communities. Every time the community has worked its way to a CTS its been because folks took the steps to put an OPS in place without waiting for the bureaucracy  because they knew that there was not time to wait and that step had to be taken before the process of getting to an official sanctioned site ever was even part of the conversation.

Through a free public film screening of Love in the Time of Fentanyl and panel discussion event with several special guests, advocates hoped to engage the community to learn more about just this; offering a deep dive into an OPS site in Vancouver  the first in North America  and its long battle, said McLean.

The folks similarly said: We dont have time to sit and wait for government to go through this process; were just going to take action ourselves, were going to set up our own site, we know how to take care of each other, we know how to save our friends lives 

McLean likened this story to whats unfolding here. With an up-close look at this site  and real people  the goal was to address fears and unknowns, explained McLean.

Initial reports indicate Canada has some 39 SCS operating. In Ontario, MPP David Piccini said there are 22 CTS sites.

Piccini acknowledged opioid addiction as an urgent health crisis requiring a compassionate and co-ordinated response. He also said Ontario is creating a continuum of care by improving and expanding supports through an addictions recovery fund and its $3.8-billion Roadmap to Wellness, and CTS sites are an important part of Ontarios strategy.

These sites present an important opportunity for trained health-care professionals to guide those in crisis into the continuum of care through intake, detox, treatment, and ultimately recovery.

What is being proposed in Cobourg is outside of the continuum of care  and not being done in collaboration with health-care and social-service partners. This is both concerning and counterproductive to our shared goals.

According to the Government of Canada, to operate a supervised SCS for medical purposes, an exemption is required under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act because possession of controlled substances is prohibited under the act.

When asked about concerns around zoning, McLean said: We will deal with bylaw if and when that time comes again.

VandeGraaf has said police will continue to respond accordingly should they be called to a property and enact a collaborative response as required, considering several factors, including potential criminal and provincial offences and municipal standards, noting CPS continues to support its four-pillar model: prevention/education, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement.

He acknowledged supporting harm-reduction approaches like official supervised sites can help prevent overdoses and increase access to care  but also said establishing sites must be done in a conscientious manner not resulting in unintended negative consequences to communities in terms of criminal activity.

He also shared he supports the process of considering a sanctioned site through established guidelines.

TweakEasy maintains: There is no reason not to act. To stand by, as people die, is complicity.

With files from Al Rivett.

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Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland and Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty braved the icy waters of Lake Ontario during the Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics Ontario on March 23.











There were thrills and chills and goosebumps  plenty of those  for those taking part in the Polar Plunge fundraiser for the Special Olympics Ontario at the Cobourg lakefront recently.

The community turned out under inclement weather conditions, complete with at-times heavy rain showers, to participate and to watch the Polar Plunge  the first in-person plunge in the past four years  unfold at the Cobourg Marina in front of the Cobourg Yacht Club.

And, yes, those who waded into the frigid waters of Lake Ontario really did some freezing for a reason. Soon after, however, those grimacing looks after emerging from the icy waters turned into smiles as they quickly realized the great cause that went along with taking a dip in cold water.

Polar Plunge organizers Cobourg Police Service (CPS) Const. Josalyn Hilts and Port Hope Police Service Const. Tammie Staples, although wet and cold after taking the plunge, were nonetheless happy and grateful the community came out to support the worthwhile cause of Special Olympics Ontario.

I think this is an amazing turnout. Two communities coming together to do such an amazing event for such a great cause, said Hilts. The amount of people we had out here participating and supporting our plunge today (March 23) was phenomenal. It was more than I ever expected.

Meanwhile, Staples added she was similarly amazed by the support from both Port Hope and Cobourg communities, as well as from emergency services personnel from both towns  including police and fire, municipal law enforcement and the Northumberland Paramedics.

Everyone was here for a great cause. We had great support from everybody in the community, the partnership between Josalyn and myself with the two (police) services having come together, and look at what today has brought. Its brought lots of laughs, even though it was very cold and that water was cold. But, we were freezing for a reason, and thats the Special Olympics  100 per cent, she said.

Hilts noted the event raised more than $23,500 in support of the Special Olympics, and that didnt include the donations that came in the day of the plunge.

Its phenomenal; amazing, she said of the amount raised.

Both Hilts and Staples presented limited edition Special Olympics Torch Run Challenge Coins to local Special Olympians Phillip Mitchell and Braden Graham in a short ceremony prior to the Polar Plunge. The coins are being sold at the front desk of the CPS headquarters and at the Port Hope police station for $20 to raise funds for Special Olympics Ontario.

CPS Chief Paul VandeGraaf, who also took the plunge while in uniform, was effusive in his praise who of all those who gave their time.

Theres been a lot of anticipation, a lot of work; the team put a ton of work into this, raised over $23,000 for Special Olympics Ontario. For our small community and for Port Hopes community to come together in this fashion is remarkable. The fact we got to jump in the lake and show support for the Special Olympics  thats why we do these things, said VandeGraaf.

CPS Special Const. Hillary Detlor said she expected the water to be colder, but was happy with the large number of supporters.

It wasnt as bad as I thought. There wasnt ice floating around. There was lots of support, lots of people made it better by cheering us on, she said.

Meanwhile, Lisa Munday, CPS' communications co-ordinator, was shivering after emerging from Lake Ontario, but was nonetheless pleased with her efforts, as well as everyone who participated in the plunge.

Let me tell you, I cant feel my hands and I cant feel my toes. But, all worth it for a great cause. Ten minutes in the water and we raised a lot of money for a lot of great athletes, so it was really exciting, she said.

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A Peterborough man charged in connection to alleged bomb threats targeting the Boston area, including a childrens hospital, says voices in his head made him do this.

Joshua Kimble, 42, made a brief court appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on Wednesday, March 22 where he told justice Stuart Konyer that demons and devils are walking through his walls.

They control me. Why do they talk to me?, he said from the prisoners box.

The demons and devils made me do this.

Kimble is charged with 12 counts of public mischief, 12 counts of false information and failing to comply with a probation order. The charges have not been proven in court.

According to Peterborough police, an investigation between the Boston Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office, and Peterborough police, led to the arrest of Kimble in October 2022 after multiple alleged bomb threats were made in the Boston area.

Police say the alleged incidents began on Sept. 9, 2022 beginning with a series of alleged bomb threats that transmitted online to Boston Childrens Hospital.

Further, police say threats were received at the Prudential Center, the Orpheum Theater, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Boston Public Library.

Kimbles court appearance on Wednesday was for lawyers to update the court on a fitness assessment requested by Kimble's lawyer to determine if he is fit for trial. The assessment was not completed, and the matter was adjourned to later this month to provide time for the assessment to be completed.

In May 2021, justice Konyer sentenced Kimble to two years less a day after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of intent to convey false messages and one count of public mischief.

After pleading guilty to the charges. Kimble told the court he made bomb threats because the voices in his head told him to. Court heard Kimble was not taking his medication for a diagnosed mental health condition when the threats were sent to a hotel and two schools in Vancouver, Port Perry high school, an Ottawa library, a Sudbury high school, a Montreal library, a Guelph library, two Toronto hotels and the Niagara Regional Police Service building.

In sentencing Kimble, Konyer accepted it was likely true Kimble heard voices, but said he could not find Kimble not criminally responsible (NCR) because no one brought an application for an assessment of Kimbles criminal responsibility.

Konyer recommended Kimble spend the remainder of his sentence, 15 months, at St. Lawrence Valley Correctional Centre and Treatment Centre. He told Kimble he would benefit from being placed there because they have amazing programs for people suffering from major mental illness such as Kimble. It is unknown if Kimble was ever transferred from Centre East Correctional Centre in Lindsay to the suggested correctional treatment centre.

Clearly, your level of responsibility is reduced significantly because of the role your mental illness likely played in committing these offences, Konyer said in May 2021.

Kimble returns to court on March 30.

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My last column questioned whether or not there are an adequate number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Ontario. The following responses indicate that they are definitely inadequate  in more ways than one.

Dear Tricia: Thank you for your article re EV charging stations. I appreciate your points on how inconvenient it is to pay. I think I have deposits or auto withdrawal features with at least 4 different providers (Ivy, Flo, ChargePoint, Shell). We should just be able to tap a credit card to pay and charge up. But an even bigger issue for me is out of service charging stations. In the last 6 efforts to charge, half the stations have been: Down; Out of Service; Disabled by owner; No idea when it will be back up; or Unable to reset. The most frustrating one recently was 4 Ivy stations at an Enroute that were down, with no estimate when they would be fixed. So frustrating! Thanks again for you article! (Waterloo, Ontario)

As I dont travel long distances with my 2015 Leaf, I had no idea these charging station issues existed. More investigative reporting needs to be done on these issues because its not clear what government agencies are responsible and need to be notified. When my reader contacted the charging providers, here was the response:

Each time I phone the support line and report the charging station ID(s), they try to reset the charging station remotely, which never works for the ones that are down. Instead, new messages appear on the charging port such as: Network was down or Cannot reset or Cannot give a time for fixing or Can we find you another station? One even asked if I wanted to escalate my complaint. All of these were for Level 3 DC (CCS) fast charging (non-Tesla). Generally no problem with Level 2 (slow chargers). Also, ever tried in -5 C or colder weather? The DC fast charger cables are super thick, very short and freeze in a slightly twisted state that makes it incredibly hard to untwist to get into the car charging port. They appear to think of none of these things.

Other important points raised were:

Does anyone quality check? An interesting angle is how charging station contracts are awarded. Who invests in them? Who provides quality of service assurance?

A key point is how charging companies obtain contracts for locations. There are many Parking lot owner has added a $10 base charging fee or something similar. Since ON Routes are Ontario Government properties, did Ivy compete to be sole service providers at these locations?

Can anyone answer these questions? Another email informed me that:

Yesterday I stopped at an OnRoute on the 401 just east of Cambridge. Ivy appears to have an exclusive contract for charging stations on both the north and south OnRoute locations  a critical location if low on charge. All stations were out of order and have been out of order for some time.

When I complained to Ivy, their response was I was supposed to use the app to see what was in service or Find another one. Their next closest one was Brantford - although other companies have some closer. I complained that its difficult to find them; that the issue wasnt about the app but why they arent capable of fixing a station in a critical location and take no responsibility for it.

Ivy Charging Network is the product of a partnership between Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One. These corporations need to be informed that their charging stations are not being properly maintained. With less than two years before GM manufactures and releases 50,000 new EVs in Ontario by 2025, we better rectify this situation quickly!

Plug and Share has also received several complaints about EV charging stations in Ontario. Has anyone else had charging station issues? If so, please contact me.

Tricia Clarkson is a climate change columnist and co-chair for the Peterborough Alliance for Climate Action--tricia.clarkson@gmail.com





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Trent University launched a $100-million Momentous Change campaign on Friday  the largest in university history  aimed at empowering students, enabling world-changing research, steward the universitys iconic architecture and vitalize campuses.

Momentous change is so important, and we know its happening around us all the time, said Sherry Booth, associate vice-president of philanthropy and alumni engagement.

We want to come at it with a sense of optimism, purpose and determination to help our students and make the world a better place.

The university has already quietly raised $42 million over the past couple years, she said, with $6.6 million being put toward a new residence and academic building, as well as student supports at Trents Oshawa campus.

We started fundraising with a couple of mini campaigns, she said. They have been going for a couple of years in the quiet phase, and now were launching it officially.

Trent also announced a $1.2-million gift to support community-based research.

For this, the students go into the communities that theyre in, be it in Peterborough, Durham, or even in the Halliburton area, she said.

And the community asks them to do research on certain projects. So, we have a whole bunch of projects that are funded through philanthropy, thanks to the gift that was just announced this week.

Through the Campaign for Momentous Change, the university will be able to fundraise for a variety of other related projects, she said.

Trent aims to recruit 500 new monthly donors to provide sustainable and reliable support for students, research and learning spaces.

It is accessible to everyone whether the gift is $100, $1,000, or $10 million, Booth said. Everyone can play a part in momentous change. There are no limits on what we can achieve when we work together at this time of significance, with our collective goodwill.

The event concluded with a poem by Peterboroughs poet laureate Sarah Lewis from Curve Lake First Nation, thanking those whove already contributed to the campaign.

The launch at Trent Universitys Peterborough campus was the first in a series of cross-Canada events to gain momentum for this historic campaign. Launch events will also be held this spring and fall in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax.

The Campaign for Momentous Change is a call to the bold thinkers, the truth seekers, the community builders who move this world forward, Booth said. Thank you for joining us today on this journey.

aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com

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My eldest granddaughter will turn 13 in May. The day after she was born, her parents brought her to visit and she fell asleep on my belly. Her helplessness and comfort woke me up to take whatever actions I could to protect her from the climate crisis that I had been reading about. My reasons for hope for the future  the subject of this article  all stem from that moment.

I have found, since that day, many reasons to be hopeful about the future  not by denying or tuning out the massive climate mess were in, but by facing it and taking action alongside many other people. I want to share my five main reasons for hope with you, and I invite you to share yours too!

Awareness

The week after my granddaughter was born, I joined a climate action group in Toronto that seemed perfect  For Our Grandchildren. In addition to organizing information meetings, protesting on Parliament Hill, and writing letters to government representatives, our main activity was to seek out climate change stories in the press and bring them to the attention of people reading our blog.

At first, it was hard to find anything. And, most of what we did find was either news about how bad it was somewhere else, or else outrageous news about our own governments inaction. There were also lots of opinion pieces claiming that climate change was a hoax. I found it all very frustrating. The headlines did not come close to reflecting my impatience or the need I felt for urgent action. I wanted to march in the streets  surely if people really understood the urgency and what was at stake, they would want to take action?

I moved to Peterborough a few years later and brought 4RG with me. We held a march down George Street and I still remember my elation when the headline in the Examiner (to its credit), on the front page, above the fold, in the biggest font they have, used the words Climate Change. My ecstasy was an indication of just how rarely the topic was mentioned in the press.

Now, 13 years after my granddaughters birth, climate news is reported all the time. Theres so much its overwhelming: in the papers, on the radio, on the TV news. Coverage is still mostly about how bad it is, but its about now, not some hypothetical future, and its closer to home, with forest fires and floods and heat domes in Canada and Ontario, so people are paying closer attention.

Another difference in 13 years? Youll only rarely see articles that deny reality. Now, finally, the discussion is mostly about what to do about it. Regulations? Carbon Price? Subsidies? All of the above?

Public perception about climate has changed. People are more aware, and the conversation has mainly shifted from a debate about whats happening to a debate about how to respond to whats happening.

Solutions awareness

Some of the new media attention centres on the concept of solutions journalism, a focus on what is being done to combat the problem. The CBC show What on Earth is a good example of this. In addition, the specialty news outlet Energy Mix includes lots of examples of positive hopeful actions. And the examples arent all from far away places like Denmark  some of them are from right here in Canada, even in Ontario.

If you ever need a dose of hope, the For Our Grandchildren website (4RG.CA) is kept up to date with hopeful news stories.

Solutions are real

My next reason for hope is the biggest. The world is nearing the point where renewable energy is less expensive than burning fossil fuels. In some corners, we are already there.

What this means is that we can ask individuals to make changes that are good for their own pocket book, that will save them money, and that are also good for their health and for the environment. People and politicians acting in their own self-interest are now motivated to do the right thing for the world.

For example, you can buy an electric vehicle that will save you money over its total useful lifetime. School buses are available that will not only save money over their lifetime, but also avoid exposing our children to hours of breathing diesel fumes every day. City buses are available that have similar benefits. All these cost more up front, but they have total savings over their lifetimes, as well as benefits to the environment and health.

Another example is air source heat pumps that run on electricity. Many homes can install an ASHP that will cost more initially than a gas furnace, but that will save homeowners money over the total lifetime of operating it. You can replace your gas stove with an electric induction one and, while you might not necessarily save money on it, your family wont be incurring the health damages caused by burning methane in your home.

Youth involvement

Since 2018, students have graduated from Peterboroughs Youth Leadership in Sustainability program, which allows high school students to learn the facts and to get experience engaging in ways that are needed to change the world.

A couple of years ago, they painted a parachute that was part of a presentation on Parliament Hill demanding the Canadian Government take action. Last year, they presented at the COP15 Biodiversity Conference in Montreal. Our young citizens are not going to let us fail. Its up to us to take hope from their passion and to stand with them.

Is it too late?

Climate scientists have been talking about a time when we will cross tipping points where reinforcing feedbacks will make further change unstoppable. Recent climate models show that when we reduce emissions to near zero, the climate system will stabilize within 3 to 5 years. Its not the physics of climate change that is baked in, its the politics and economics. And these can change because theyre up to us!

This weeks IPCC report combines the urgency of the climate crisis with the message that humanity has all the knowledge and tools it needs to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver the financing to help affected regions, countries, and communities respond.

When I was talking to the YLS class in December, I told them that it is too late to get back to the world I knew when I was a boy, but its not too late to make a difference, to make the changes needed to have a livable world. But weve got to push the people who can make the change.

I believe that by sharing our hope and acting together, we can find the will  and the energy!  to shift our economy from fossil fuel dependence to an economy and society worthy of our grandchildren and the generations to follow.

As the days get longer and spring begins for us, my hope for you is that you will join me in taking heart  and taking action! Im offering copies of Saving Us, a recent book by Katharine Hayhoe, to the first three people who email me at guy@hanchet.ca in the hope that it will inspire you to take whatever actions feel right to you.

Guy Hanchet, president of For Our Grandchildren, is filling in for Drew Monkman this week. For 13 years he has been a passionate advocate for action to limit the damage of the climate crisis.

Climate crisis update

Hopeful News: Its Not Too Late: There is mounting evidence showing that the alarming news about climate feedback loops and climate tipping points that is causing us to fear that it's too late to act is not accurate. In fact, recent models show that once we stop emitting greenhouse gasses and destroying ecosystems, the climate will stabilize within 3 to 5 years. Read the complete story at: https://tinyurl.com/ycdshvsc

Carbon Dioxide: CO2 levels in the atmosphere continue to hover above 420 PPM. For the week ending March 18, they reached 420.10, up by 23 from 397.16 ten years earlier. The 2015 Paris agreement to keep temperature rise below 1.5C is equivalent to about 450 PPM. You can find CO2 levels on any date in the last thousand years at: https://tinyurl.com/4scv5aky

Local Action: Many Climate champions say that talking to others is the best thing that you can do to combat climate change. Last Mondays 4RG Meet gave some ideas about how to engage with people. View the recording and the slide deck at: https://tinyurl.com/y9sys89z.

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Last weekend, Taylor Swift kicked off her much-anticipated Eras tour for 69,000 delirious fans in Glendale, Arizona, population 250,000, officially if temporarily renamed Swift City for the occasion.

She broke a record with her three-hour, 44-song set at the sold-out State Farm Arena: it was the most attended concert by a female performer, a record held since 1986 by another member of musical royalty, Madonna.

Swift opened her tour with the song Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince from Lover, her seventh studio album released in 2019. It was an unexpected choice, something of a deep cut. But as soon as Swifties heard the chorus, Its been a long time coming, echo around the vast stadium, the pieces fell into place.

Even viewed through shaky cellphone videos from the nosebleeds, the atmosphere in that stadium was palpable, intimate and epic at once. As the show began, giant screens flashed vignettes of whats known in the fandom as Lover House, a structure featured in a video for the song Lover, in which each room is thought to represent one of her 10 albums. (Theres an entire sub-genre of TikTok videos analyzing the symbolic meanings of those rooms.)

Snippets of sound from the past  My name is Taylor and I was born in 1989!  were greeted with screams of ecstasy, before Swift herself appeared onstage, rising goddesslike from beneath the floor in a sparkly, pop-tastic bodysuit that epitomizes the Lover era.

Over and over, Swift has reinvented herself, to the point where you can tell which era shes referencing in the show based purely on her costumes. She has made it clear that this tour is an unabashed celebration of the 17 years of highs and lows that have brought her to this triumphant moment, and a love letter to the fans who have stood by her through them.

That Swift is embarking on a retrospective tour at 33 years old is a testament to the staggering scale of her success. There was so much demand for tickets that when Ticketmasters processes buckled under the pressure, the company was hauled in front of a Senate committee to explain itself.

Swifts latest album, Midnights, earned the most streams in a single day, 180 million upon its release last October. It also made her the only artist to simultaneously hold all 10 top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. According to a recent poll, more than half of adults in the U.S. call themselves Taylor Swift fans, with 16 per cent professing to be avid enthusiasts.

But there have been many points in her career when her current dominance seemed unlikely, if not impossible.

In 2016, for instance, Swift disappeared from public view for over a year after what she called a mass shaming due to a toxic blend of overexposure after the smash success of 1989 and Kim Kardashians ire (a feud that can be traced back to their interactions after Kardashians now-ex-husband, Kanye West, interrupted Swifts Grammy acceptance speech to say that Beyonce should have won instead). Swift channelled this period of turmoil into her sixth album, Reputation.

Earlier in her career, gossip about whom she was dating (John Mayer, Jake Gyllenhaal, a Kennedy scion) overshadowed her work, resulting in a misogynistic reduction of her songwriting to a girl pining over boys. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2013, the comedian badgered Swift to reveal which celebrity man had inspired her songs, via a game that required her to ring a bell every time a picture of someone shed been with flashed up. Do you know how badly this makes me feel? said Swift. This is  the one shred of dignity that I have.

While she did write heartbreak anthems about these relationships, and they did make her famous, in response Swift also became an astute chronicler of female rage, eviscerating older men who take advantage of young women (Dear John, All Too Well) and the patriarchal structures designed to keep women down (Mad Woman, The Man).

She took on some of her foes in real life, too. In 2019, she fought back against the power brokers of the music industry, publicly excoriating Scooter Braun, a record executive who bought her former record label and the masters for her first six albums. Swift called it her worst case scenario, saying she felt like her art had been stolen from her thanks to the terms of a contract she signed when she was just 16. That Braun was behind the purchase was a double blow: Swift claimed hed been subjecting her to incessant, manipulative bullying for years, enlisting his clients, who included Justin Bieber and West, to join in.

In 2020, Braun sold the masters to a private equity holding company for over $400 million. Cue another statement from Swift, who claimed that she had been trying to negotiate with him for over a year to buy back the masters herself, but he had refused to engage unless she signed an NDA promising to never speak of him again unless it was in a positive light.

Rather than end the story here, Swift embarked on a re-recording process, putting out Taylors Versions of the stolen albums (two so far) for fans to listen to rather than put another penny in the pockets of her arch-nemesis. Brilliantly, she added from the vault tracks, which hadnt made the final cut for the original albums, like I Bet You Think About Me from Red (Taylors Version), which became hits in their own right.

In the process, she also endeavoured to reform predatory music contracts in general, shining a spotlight on how many artists sign away almost all of the rights to their own music when theyre unknowns desperate for a record deal. She pulled her entire catalogue from Spotify until the streamer agreed to award artists a slightly larger per-play pittance than before.

In 2017, she took a radio station DJ, who groped her when she was 23, to court for sexual assault and won. In a statement at the time, she said, I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this. My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. After winning a nominal $1 in damages, she made donations to organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.

Less traumatic but damaging in its own way, Swift has also long been denied credibility or coolness by anti-pop critics who dismissed her chart-topping songs as sugary bops that lacked real artistry; by Blurs Damon Albarn, who accused her of not writing her own songs (he later apologized after Swift called him out).

In the midst of the pandemic, Swift managed to win over much of this contingent by releasing two low-fi, folk-leaning albums, Folklore and Evermore, in collaboration with indie stalwart Aaron Dessner of the National. Pitchfork, often thought of as a gatekeeper for real music, rated Folklore an impressive eight out of 10, praising its interesting images, indelible hooks and real signs of maturity. Unlike most indie recordings, Folklore went on to win Album of the Year at the Grammys.

More strategic collaborations have included indie darlings Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Rey and Haim, resulting in a symbiotic swap of their indie cred and Swifts massive reach.

Swifts Netflix documentary Miss Americana also came out in 2020, in which she pulled back the veil on the struggles behind the shimmery facade. She spoke about her eating disorder, the devastation she felt after being cancelled after the Kimye drama, and her conflicted desire to be an inoffensive good girl while having courage of her convictions in an increasingly political world. The latter culminated in Swift calling out ultra-conservative Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn in her home state of Tennessee, a big risk for a pop star who got her start in the traditionally red-leaning world of country music. It didnt hurt her popularity.

Swifts rock-solid relationship with her core fans  who have a military-like ability to mobilize on her behalf, streaming new remixes of a song to keep it at No. 1 for another week, voting for her at awards shows, coming en masse for anyone they believed has wronged her  is, to quote her own lyrics, the wind in her free-flowing sails.

Theyre also the reason Swift is estimated to be worth over $400 million (U.S.). Before releasing a single snippet of Midnights, never mind a single, she sold 1.2 million copies within three days in the U.S. alone, 500,000 of which were vinyl. These records came in four different editions that, when put together using a mechanism available on her website for the low, low price of $49, turned into a working clock. Getting people to buy multiple copies of an album they havent heard yet is both a triumph of capitalism and a testament to just how much her fans love her.

To be a Swiftie is a heady experience: theres the emotional connection to her music, which has soundtracked many fans lives as theyve grown up alongside her, but theres also the joy of decoding her carefully planted Easter eggs, which shes said she plans as far as three years in advance.

Months before Lover was released, for instance, she posed for a magazine cover in a jean jacket covered in pins that were references to yet-to-be-released songs. She pays attention to fans reactions, famously Taylurking on her their conversations on Tumblr, Twitter and, most recently, TikTok. The fandom delights in Swifts scheming, something she finally acknowledged in Mastermind: This is the first time Ive felt the need to confess, and I swear, Im only cryptic and Machiavellian cause I care.

The very last song on the Eras tour set list is Karma. Its about justice, trusting that youll be vindicated when what goes around eventually comes around. The bridge boastingly taunts, Ask me why so many fade, but Im still here, but the karmic fruits listed in the chorus arent the accolades, the money or the broken records. Instead, she details gloriously mundane pleasures: a breeze in her hair on the weekend, a cat purring in her lap.

These things, she sings to the largest crowd ever gathered to hear a female artist perform, are what truly matter.

Sarah Laing is a Toronto-based freelance contributor for The Kit, writing about celebrity and culture. Follow her on Twitter: @sarahjanelaing

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KAMPALA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has announced that it will deploy troops in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Col. Deo Akiiki, Uganda's deputy military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone on Thursday that the contingent of troops will be deployed under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).

"Our troops under the EACRF are in the final stages of deploying anytime in the DRC," he said.

The planned deployment followed a decision endorsed and adopted by regional leaders at the third East African Community Heads of State Conclave on Peace and Security in eastern DRC held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, last June.

Ugandan forces will join Kenyan, Burundian and Angolan troops already on the ground to bring lasting peace to the restive eastern region.

Uganda already has troops in eastern DRC in a joint military operation with the Congolese army against the Allied Democratic Forces rebels.

Ugandan troops, together with their DRC counterparts, launched joint attacks on the rebel group in November 2022. 
Happy National Cocktail Day  ready to concoct something delicious to toast the arrival of spring? Whether you like your drinks stiff or non-alcoholic, its a great time to organize your at-home bar cart (or bottom shelf under your counter, no judgment) and start dreaming of clinking glasses with friends al fresco.

To get you sorted, we spoke to Evelyn Chick, a Toronto authority on all things drink related. A beverage industry veteran, Chick runs a consultancy helping bars and restaurants establish drink menus; has an event space called Ahma, where she organizes cocktail classes for anyone who wants to polish their skills; and shes behind the cocktail and snack bar Simpl Things in Parkdale. Chick is also sharing her beverage expertise in a new book coming out this fall: For the Love  of Cocktails!: The Everyday Guide to Delightful Drinks for Anyone, Anytime. The first chapter, she says, is all about what you need to have at home. It might be less than you think, says Chick.

People always ask me, What are the quintessential bar things to have? And everyone gets into things like bitters, she says. But, they forget about basic items like ice or a proper measuring tool. Why are drinks so much better at bars than they are at home? Its because when you measure with a generic shot glass there aren't specific measures that can help balance your drink out.

Here, Chick offers her list of essentials to make a great cocktail at home. Youve won the battle with good ice, good measurement and a couple of good things that you have in your pantry, she says.

The right tools to make the best cocktails

A base spirit

Plymouth English Gin, $47, lcbo.com SHOP HERE

I always say pick a base spirit that you like, because ultimately if youre making a cocktail with whats in your pantry and nothing else, youll always have that base as your go to. Chicks drink of choice right now is a gin-vermouth martini.

A proper measuring vessel

Anchor 5 oz. measuring glass, $7, cocktailemporium.com SHOP HERE

A good cocktail is all about balance, says Chick, who cautions against using a generic shot glass as a measurement tool. Whether its a tablespoon or a cocktail shaker, a measuring vessel is a really important tool to have.

A silicone ice cube tray

Ikea ice cube tray, $5, ikea.ca SHOP HERE

I always have silicone ice trays around and I usually recommend three-quarter-inch by three-quarter-inch ice cubes. Not the really massive ones because you can't really shake, dilute or do anything actionable with those ice cubes.

Fortified wine

Dillons Sweet Vermouth, $20, lcbo.com SHOP HERE

I always have some sort of fortified wine around, says Chick. It adds another dimension of flavour to the cocktail that you wont be able to find elsewhere. And it means you dont have to add 1,000 ingredients to a cocktail. You can play around with your base spirit and fortified wine to make a plethora of flavours.

Lemons

While limes or oranges can work, Chick usually recommends lemons: I usually have lemons on hand as you can use the zest for added aromatics as well as use it for the juice.

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ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Atlantic Canada is home to the lowest social assistance rates in the country, and advocates say provincial budgets presented this week didnt do much to change that.

Robert MacKay said the modest increases to income assistance in New Brunswicks provincial budget wont make much of an impact on him. The community co-chair of the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice said he gets about $593 a month through the program, which he said isnt enough to cover basic food and living expenses.

The increase in Tuesdays budget works out to about $40 a month, leaving him barely treading water.

Right now, people, myself included, are just rubbing two nickels together at the end of the month  if that  living in rooming houses, that sort of thing, just to stay within any kind of a budget, MacKay said in an interview Friday.

A report from Toronto-based anti-poverty organization Maytree shows that New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had the lowest social assistance rates in the country in 2021. New Brunswick offered the lowest rates: a single person considered employable received about $7,500 a year, and a single person with a disability made about $10,300. In Nova Scotia, a single employable person received about $8,400 a year, and a single person on disability got $11,560.

The poverty line in New Brunswick sits at around $22,400 for a single person, the Maytree report said.

With climbing food prices, MacKay said hes relying on credit to supplement his social assistance cheques. When hes able to work, he uses his wages to pay down debt.

Janelle LeBlanc, also with the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice, described the provinces social assistance rates as inhumane.

People are living in extreme poverty, she said. You cant live on that.

Alec Stratford, chair of the Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Well-Being, said it was socially and fiscally reckless for the Nova Scotia government not to include social assistance increases in its budget Thursday.

The governments decision to keep rates constant when the cost of living is soaring increases despair for those relying on social assistance, he said.

I think it reinforces their belief already that nobody cares, he said in an interview Friday. It increases stigmatization and isolation.

Low social assistance rates end up costing the province in other ways, because people living in poverty often require other government-funded services, Stratford said.

Both groups would like to see governments increase social assistance rates to match the poverty line.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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TORONTO - In Han Dongs Toronto riding on Friday, residents voiced hope that the truth would emerge about Chinas alleged interference in Canadian elections, but warned against condemning their newly Independent MP before the facts are clear.

Dong has resigned from the Liberal caucus amid what he says are false allegations that he advised a Chinese diplomat on what the Trudeau government considered a high-priority file: the arbitrary and retaliatory detention of two Canadians in China.

Joanna Leung, a 40-year-old mother of two who lives in Dongs riding in Torontos northeast, said she has mixed feelings about the ordeal.

Leung was born in China and said one of the reasons her family moved from Hong Kong to Ontario in the 1990s  before Beijing retook control of Hong Kong in 1997  was because of how little they trusted the Chinese Communist Party.

I already witnessed how the Chinese government influence people so if theres Chinese influence over Canadian politicians, it will be very concerning for my family. Its the very reason why we left Hong Kong, she said.

She also stressed that it would be alarming if an MP was disloyal to Canada.

But, she said, linking all Chinese people to the Beijing government is no less troubling.

I have negative feelings toward the Communist government, not against the Chinese people. Theyre two very separate things and I hope that we would be able to sort this out, be very clear and dont contribute to more biases against Chinese people.

What I dont want to see is bias against certain racial groups just because of their ethnic background. Thats against the values we hold true for Canada, said Leung, a project manager.

Global News published a report on Wednesday, citing unnamed security sources, alleging that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig with a Chinese diplomat in Toronto in February 2021.

At the time, the two Canadian men who became known around the world as the two Michaels had been detained in China for just over two years in apparent retaliation for the December 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.

Beijing, which has denied allegations of interference, has rejected any link between the two Michaels and Meng, despite a close alignment in the timing of each being detained and then released the same day in September 2021.

Global News alleged that Dong told Chinas consul general in Toronto that releasing the men would benefit the Conservatives, but also that showing some progress in the case would help the Liberals. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations.

The MP said he met with the diplomat but disputes any suggestion that he urged China to delay releasing the two Canadian men. Dong told the House of Commons he would defend himself against these absolutely untrue claims and did nothing to cause Spavor and Kovrig any harm.

Chinas Toronto consulate called the claims utterly groundless. The consulate said its staff have never engaged in breaching diplomatic protocol, and did not elaborate on the February 2021 discussion with Dong.

Dong voted with opposition parties on Thursday in favour of a public inquiry into alleged foreign interference.

Anne Abeyesekera, a project manager, works across the hall from Dongs constituency office in the Don Valley North riding, where the doors were locked on Friday.

She said she takes the allegations against him seriously, but stressed that they have to be proved.

Everyone has a right to be treated fairly and equally, she said.

Rahim Khan, a local mortgage broker, also said he is withholding judgment against the MP until he has more details but added the allegations are serious.

Youre putting the security of a whole country and of the two Michaels (at risk), he said.

Its extremely serious. I was extremely shocked when I heard that but I dont want to just rush to judgment against an individual.

Mir Ali Asgary, another area broker, grouped the allegations surrounding Dong into his broader frustrations with the Trudeau government.

Im skeptical about the current leaders and definitely I have no faith in them, he said in his office.

Former governor general David Johnston, as special rapporteur, has been asked to look into whether a judicial inquiry into foreign interference is needed.

He has until May 23 to decide whether to recommend a public inquiry be held, though he was given an October deadline to complete his broader investigation into foreign interference.

- with files from Mickey Djuric and Dylan Robertson.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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BRUSSELS (AP)  The way Justyna Wydrzynska sees it, Ania was a victim of domestic violence just like she was. Another child and shed be trapped. It was 2020. The pandemic lockdowns. Everyone worried that Polands borders might close, halting travel and postal services.

Looking to help someone she identified with, Wydrzynska gave Ania the abortion pills she kept on hand for herself.

I just sent the pills, just shared them, because I thought it would be good for her to have this tool and decide whatever she wants (and can) leave without another kid and be able to get free from this violent relationship, Wydrzynska told The Associated Press in Brussels on Thursday.

I knew for myself, the moment when I got pregnant again, living with a violent partner, that if I got stuck with another child, I will never (escape) from this marriage, she said, explaining why she first bought the tablets. I really see the same story in our lives.

But Polands justice system sees the situation differently. Last week, a Warsaw court convicted Wydrzynska of abetting abortion by providing Ania  the name used by Polish media to identify the domestic violence victim who already had one child  with abortion pills. Anias partner turned them both in.

Abortion is illegal in almost all cases in Poland, a predominantly Catholic country with a deeply conservative government. Rare exceptions are granted when a womans life or health might be in danger, or if a pregnancy results from rape or incest.

Ending a pregnancy due to congenital defects of the fetus was allowed until a top court ruled in 2020 that those grounds were unconstitutional.

Some Polish women travel to countries like the Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands to obtain abortions. Others order pills from abroad to terminate their pregnancies. Possessing abortion pills, and taking them, is not outlawed, but providing the medication, or helping someone to obtain it, is a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

Wydrzynska, a mother of three, co-founded the Abortion Dream Team in 2016. The grassroots organization provides Polish women with information and support, including how to acquire abortion pills. Human rights activists see her case as a precedent. They fear it will discourage others like her from helping women to terminate their pregnancies.

Justyna is the first activist to be convicted for providing abortion support. The Polish authorities prosecution against her is shameful, said Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty Internationals European Institutions Office.

The Abortion Dream Team says official statistics claiming that 107 abortions were performed in Poland  a country of nearly 40 million people  in all of 2021 are laughable. The group says that each day it helps around 100 women get access to pills and another six or seven to travel abroad for abortions.

Since the war started in Ukraine just over a year ago, millions of people have sought refuge in Poland. Allegations of sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers abound. The organization says it has assisted around 2,000 women who claimed to be Ukrainian.

We dont ask questions, said Natalia Broniarczyk, another Dream Team activist who was in Brussels with Wydrzynska seeking financial support from the European Union.

The next step for Wydrzynska is to appeal. Instead of prison, she was sentenced to perform 30 hours of community service a month for 10 months. She says shes received messages of solidarity from many women, including offers to serve the sentence in her place.

Its unlikely her appeal will be heard soon. Poland is in campaign mode ahead of elections expected in the fall. Polls show the conservative Law and Justice party, which has governed the country since 2015, winning the most votes but falling short of a majority in parliament.

Surveys also show that most Poles support more liberal abortion laws, and court restrictions on abortion rights triggered the largest street demonstrations in post-communist Poland. But the ruling partys deeply conservative positions often play well with certain parts of the electorate.

The judge who convicted Justyna was irregularly appointed and given a promotion the very same day as she handed down the verdict. We have no doubt that Justynas prosecution was politically motivated, Geddie said.

The hearings were wearing and unpredictable, Wydrzynska said. Well after the trial started, prosecutors introduced as new evidence a video of remarks she made to the Polish parliament about abortion.

I feel very tired, because it demands a lot of strength to face this jurisdiction system  but in the same time Im so angry, she said, speaking in English. It is the situation when you play with somebody with cards and his cards are marked somehow. I feel like I was cheated.

Ania had to testify in court. Wydrzynska says she is proud of her for taking the stand.

She was so brave, really, and she was so honest, Wydrzynska said. It showed that our work is so important, and it was the moment I realized that ... even if I receive a jail sentence, we have to do it, no matter what.

One day she would like to meet Ania, this woman she identifies with so well. I hope there will be a moment soon where we have this opportunity to sit in a quiet place and (share) our own stories, Wydrzynska said.

___

Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed.

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OTTAWA Canadians have waited more than two years for U.S. President Joe Biden to make his first official visit to the country  and that means all eyes were on him during a whirlwind 27-hour stay in the capital.

Here are some of the quirkiest, unexpected and amusing moments that have popped up during the trip.

A standup routine

Biden was welcomed on Parliament Hill by a row of Canadian dignitaries including opposition party leaders, the Speaker of the House of Commons and various senators.

Jumping into the jokes almost immediately, Biden told House Speaker Anthony Rota that his job must be like herding cats. Rota replied: Sometimes it is.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre introduced himself as the leader of his majestys loyal opposition.

Loyal opposition, Biden repeated.

Absolutely, we believe that opposition is an act of loyalty in our system, Poilievre said.

We do too, unfortunately, the president quipped.

The president also appeared heartened by Nunavut Sen. Dennis Patterson, who said, Were going to modernize Norad and guard North America for you.

Good, Biden exclaimed, raising a clenched fist in emphasis.

No love for the Leafs

Biden is known to ad lib during speeches. And although he kept his tangents brief during a rousing address on Friday, he made sure to get in a few quips.

Bonjour, Canada, he began, noting he had taken several years of French in school, but that his grasp of the language is woefully minimal.

Soon after, the Pennsylvania native took a jab at the Maple Leafs.

I have to say, I like your teams  except the Leafs, Biden said to a loud mix of cheers and jeers.

They beat the Flyers back in January  I married a Philly girl. If I didnt say that, Id be sleeping alone, fellas, the president explained.

Later, when discussing immigration and border security, Biden appeared to let loose a Freudian slip.

I applaud China for stepping up, he said before correcting himself.

I applaud Canada, he continued, for creating a pathway to welcome 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere in the wake of a reworked Safe Third Country Agreement. You can tell what Im thinking about.

Noting that both Canada and the U.S. have cabinets that are 50 per cent women for the first time in history, the president received a standing ovation from most of the chamber.

At that point, he noticed some Conservatives remained seated, and quipped: Even if you dont agree, guys, Id stand up.

Poilievre not invited? Oops

The guest list for a gala dinner set for Friday evening at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum featured several Canadian cultural icons, such as actor Eugene Levy, recent Oscar winner Sarah Polley, and former Will & Grace star Eric McCormack.

Amid intense scrutiny over allegations of foreign interference, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who spent nearly three years arbitrarily detained in China, will also attend. The pair received multiple standing ovations in the House of Commons earlier in the day.

But an unexpected scheduling slip-up over the dinner surfaced Friday over whether Poilievre was invited to attend.

When the Prime Ministers Office released the final list of attendees Friday morning, all opposition leaders were slated to attend  except Poilievre. His office said his invitation was nowhere to be found, but expressed to the U.S. ambassador his desire to go. PMO fired back with screenshots showing an invitation was sent to Poilievres personal parliamentary email days earlier, but said his invitation still stood.

Upping the stakes, Poilievres office said the leader hadnt used that email address in years. He accepted the invitation anyway. Crisis averted.

And on tonights menu ...

When former U.S. President Barack Obama made his first official visit to Ottawa in 2009, his trip was a standout for the maple-leaf shaped cookies he bought from downtown bakery Le Moulin de Provence. The bakery did whip up a treat for Bidens visit: a circular cookie with twin Canadian and U.S. flags.

Although Biden didnt stop by himself, he did gladly accept a chocolate bar from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May during his Parliament Hill welcome. The candy was produced by Peace By Chocolate, which was founded by the Hadhad family, who fled Syria and rebuilt their chocolate business in Nova Scotia.

The night before, the Bidens also tried Friendchip ice cream  a maple flavoured treat with chocolate chips and marshmallows  made by Ottawa-based shop Moo Shu.

And at Friday nights dinner, the president and his delegation will be treated to a multi-course meal prepared by Kenton Leier, the National Arts Centres executive chef.

Included in Leiers culinary tour of Canada is an appetizer of cedar salt and seaweed crusted rare-seared East Coast yellowfin tuna. Up next is an Alberta beef braised short rib, paired with a butternut squash puree and Yukon Gold potato pave and a Pelee Island cabernet sauvignon jus.

A wild blueberry and Quebec maple mousse cake will round out the dessert menu, along with a Screech rum caramel and sweetgrass meringue.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Cat slaughterhouse shut down, 197 cats rescued in milestone moment for animal welfare in Vietnam

An industrial-scale cat slaughterhouse in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Thap, capable of slaughtering up to 500 innocent cats a day, has ceased all operations following landmark intervention from the authorities.

Community

By Soi Dog Foundation

Friday 24 March 2023, 12:13PM

The slaughterhouse, which has been in business for more than a decade, has been subject to two police raids in recent weeks, during which its owners were found not to be in possession of the required paperwork. Over five tons of frozen cat meat was subsequently destroyed in front of the pleading owners, putting the unauthorised facility out of business.

The case has been hailed as a milestone moment for animal welfare in Vietnam by Soi Dog Foundation International, a Thailand-based animal welfare organisation who are fighting for an end to the dog and cat meat trade across Asia and who are supporting the care of 197 cats rescued from the slaughterhouse.

This is the first time we have seen an operation of this scale dealt with in this manner, and we are extremely pleased with the outcome, said a spokesperson from the foundation.

The cats found on-site are safe and receiving the urgent medical care they need. Though extremely distressed at first, 90% of the cats are now friendly and affectionate  and many are already sterilised  leading us to believe they are much-loved pets stolen to be sold into this barbaric trade.

The now-defunct Dong Thap slaughterhouse had the capacity to slaughter up to 500 cats a day using industrial machinery. A brutal end, their throats were cut, their bodies thrown into vats of boiling water and their coats removed using defurring machines.

Described in local press as super thieves and pet killers, the owners coordinated a steady supply of cats through their business, both stolen pets as well as free-roaming strays which they trapped using crude homemade snares. Some cats were slaughtered, frozen and then sold for medicinal use and consumption, while others were crammed into cages alive and shipped thousands of kilometres for sale and slaughter in northern Vietnam and China, where demand is much greater than the south.

Repeat offenders, the owners had been fined by the authorities before. Undeterred and without remorse, they were ready to resume the slaughter and sale of cats just days later. However, with their supplies now destroyed and ongoing police surveillance in place, Soi Dog Foundation is confident that this recent intervention marks the end of their business once and for all.

Devastatingly, though, Dong Thap is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this trade in Vietnam, where the number of cats and dogs slaughtered every year is believed to run into the millions.

Fuelled by the successful outcome in this case, we will continue to fight for the creation of a legal framework so that similar operations can be targeted and cats and dogs are no longer subjected to this unimaginable cruelty anywhere in the country, said Soi Dog Foundations spokesperson.

2023 has been declared the Year of the Cat in Vietnam, with cats hailed as symbols of protection and good luck. It is time they were treated accordingly.

The foundation successfully put an end to the dog and cat meat trade in Thailand in 2014 and is working with the Hanoi Department of Animal Health to achieve the same in the Vietnamese capital and beyond.

With the consumption of cats growing increasingly popular in Vietnam, and the methods of slaughter unimaginably cruel, the foundation is determined to raise awareness of the trade and help introduce robust legislation to shut it down.

Aside from the cruelty involved, the dog and cat meat trade is also thought to be contributing towards the spread of rabies in Vietnam. Despite funds allocated towards eradicating the disease by 2030, the situation within the country is only worsening according to recent news reports.

As long as the dog and cat meat trade continues, it will be impossible for Vietnam to become rabies free, said Soi Dog Foundations spokesperson. Stolen from outside loving homes and from the streets before being transported in terrible conditions and slaughtered in plain view of one another using the crudest methods  each point of the trade involves close contact between humans and these extremely scared animals and therefore possible exposure to this fatal disease.



About Soi Dog Foundation

Established in 2003 on the island of Phuket, Thailand, Soi Dog Foundation is Southeast Asias largest organisation helping stray animals. Their mission is to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in Asia, resulting in better lives for both the animal and human communities, to create a society without homeless animals and to ultimately end animal cruelty.

The Gill Dalley sanctuary in Phuket is home to over 1,800 animals. Soi Dog also has a treatment facility in Bangkok and responds to crisis situations throughout Thailand. The organisation is dedicated to implementing effective, sustainable solutions that reduce the suffering of dogs and cats in Asia, runs entirely on donations and works efficiently so all donations are used to help animals as effectively as possible.

Contact: info@soidog.org

Website: www.soidog.org
Governor calls consuls to keep the peace meeting

PHUKET: Phuket Governor met with Consul-Generals and honorary consuls from across the island yesterday (Mar 23) to discuss a raft of topics, including tourist arrivals and crime involving foreigners.

tourismcrime

By The Phuket News

Friday 24 March 2023, 09:40AM

The meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, saw representatives from 14 countries attend, including consuls for South Korea, Germany, France, Estonia, United Kingdom, Czechia, Chile, China, Australia, Russia, Mexico, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal and Spain.

Governor Narong said that Phuket has a large number of tourists, and tourists following the rules, namely laws, was important for coexistence between local people and tourists to be happy and peaceful, said an official report of the meeting.

Pol Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong, Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, said that ensuring the safety of tourists was successful due to the implementation of the White Accommodation Project (also called the Phuket Crime - Free campaign), the report added.

The success was in no small part the result of police working with many sectors, including Phuket Immigration and hotels, in robbery and theft cases, especially involving Russian perpetrators and Russian victims, he said.

Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai pointed out that according to official records there are currently 33,068 foreigners living in Phuket, with the top 5 being Russian, British, French and Chinese citizens, respectively.

Since the start of the year, 181 foreigners had been deemed suspects in criminal cases, with the top 5 being foreign nationals from Myanmar, Russia, France, England and Cambodia, respectively.

The consuls were also briefed on the official statistics on the number of tourists now coming to the island.

Among the slides shown, one presented that Chinese tourists climbed to the No 2 ranking for February, with 30,493 Chinese nationals arriving in Phuket. The slide pointed out that the number of Chinese arrivals amounted to "only 16.02% recovery rate" comapred with 2019.

The meeting was also used as a platform to remind the consuls of Phukets bid to host Expo 2028 and remind them of the Traffy Fondue citizen empowerment app for reporting local issues to authorities.

The consuls were also reminded to call on nationals from the countries they represent to join the Rh-negative blood donation drive to be held at Central Festival on Monday (Mar 27).
Phuket, Isan shine on TIMEs list of worlds greatest places

PHUKET: The island of Phuket and Thailands northeastern region of Isan have both been included in 2023 Worlds Greatest Places list by the respected TIME magazine.

tourismnatural-resourcesenvironment

By The Phuket News

Friday 24 March 2023, 09:46AM

Sunset at Phukets famous Windmill Viewpoint. Photo: The Phuket News

To compile the list of the 50 far-flung and familiar spots to explore around the world, TIME solicited nominations from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences. The list is not a ranking so now first, second or other places have been assigned.

The island of Phuket is presented by TIME as a place with familiar thrills. Yet the magazine pays specific attention to new places opened recently, such as Carnival Magic among tourist attractions and Noku Hotel and V Villas among accommodation options.

Although the island is best known for its eponymous city, Phuket is drawing more visitors to its uncrowded countryside with an impressive landscape of modern luxury lodges, the magazine says before proceeding to advertising Noku and V Villas.

Volun-tourism initiatives continue to be a priority on the island. The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, for example, invites visitors to help feed the animals and provides education about elephant communication and behavior, TIME adds.

Isan is positioned on the list as the culinary capital of Thailand.

Chances are youve already tried food from Isan, and you might not even know it. The largest region in Thailand, which hugs the border with Laos and Cambodia in the countrys northeast, has given us such classic dishes as som tum (green papaya salad) and larb (ground meat salad), and its diaspora is spreading this sour, spicy, herbaceous cooking style far and wide. The cuisine is becoming so ubiquitous abroad, TIME says.

Those who venture to this off-the-beaten-path region of Thailand teeming with rice fields are rewarded with national parks and Khmer temple ruins, and now: Michelin-recommended restaurants, it adds.

Oddly enough, Phuket  a UNESCO City of Gastronomy  was not even mentioned as a possible destination for foodies even though it appeared in Michelin Guide years before Isan.

What is of no question, is the northeastern nature, praised by TIME.

Its not just restaurants and night markets that are drawing a new crowd of visitors though. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of Thailands first national park, Khao Yai, which sits largely in Isans Nakhon Ratchasima province and is home to elephants, gibbons, and Asian black bears, the magazine says.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said in a press release published yesterday (Mar 23), that it was pleased to see two Thai destinations being on the list of The Worlds Greatest Places Of 2023.

To have not just one but two Thai inclusions in this prestigious compilation of worldwide destinations to visit is a wonderful honour, and something Thailand can be very proud of. Thailand is indeed ready to welcome tourists from all over the world through the Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters campaign, said Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor.
Plan in place to safeguard votes abroad as poll nears

BANGKOK: The Foreign Affairs Ministry is gearing up for advance voting by Thai citizens abroad, with a system to be introduced to monitor the voting in real time.

politicscorruption

By Bangkok Post

Friday 24 March 2023, 09:43AM

Wreaths were placed in front of the Thai embassy in New Zealand in April 2019 to protest against the late arrival of 1,542 advance votes from Thai citizens in New Zealand prior to the Mar 24, 2019 election. Photo: Num Ayase / Facebook

Ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke said Thai embassies and consulates will announce the venues and dates for overseas advance voting next Wednesday (Mar 29) and registration is expected to open by the end of this month, reports the Bangkok Post.

She said that under the election law, they must organise this at least seven days prior to the general election scheduled for May 14.

The ministry has set up a committee tasked with overseeing advance voting for Thai citizens abroad, with the director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs as chairman, said Ms Kanchana, who also serves as director-general of the ministrys Department of Information.

The committee has also discussed with relevant agencies the regulations, budget allocations and personnel that will be earmarked for the voting, she said.

She went on to say the ministry has come up with a system to monitor overseas voting in real time, as well as to track the delivery of advance ballot papers in diplomatic pouches sent by Thai embassies to the Election Commission (EC) in Thailand.

Ms Kanchana said the system is intended to ensure overseas voting proceeds smoothly and to prevent any repeat of an incident in which a diplomatic bag containing ballots cast in New Zealand for Thailands 2019 election arrived late, resulting in them not being counted.

On Feb 13, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found former EC deputy secretary-general Nat Laosisawakul guilty of negligence over the late arrival of 1,542 advance votes from Thai citizens in New Zealand prior to the Mar 24, 2019 election.

NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said a committee investigated Mr Nat and two Foreign Ministry officials for dereliction of duty in failing to ensure those ballots sent by the Thai embassy in Wellington on a Thai Airways flight were collected and counted on Mar 23 of that year, despite being aware the pouch had arrived that day.

As a result, the EC decided the 1,542 ballots could not be included in the tally because they arrived too late, under Section 114 of the MP Election Act (2018).

Mr Niwatchai said Mr Nat had committed a breach of discipline, causing serious damage to the EC.

However, both Foreign Ministry officials were let off without further action as there were insufficient grounds to support the accusations of negligence against them.
ABUJA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 25 people were killed and 10 others seriously injured in a bus crash in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi, the traffic police said on Friday.

Yusuf Abdullahi, a commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Bauchi, told reporters at a briefing that the bus conveying 35 people, including the driver, lost control and crashed after losing a tire in motion in the Katagum area of the state on Thursday.

All the deceased were confirmed dead on the spot, Abdullahi said, explaining that the bus somersaulted a few times due to loss of control. The injured are receiving treatment at a government-run hospital in the state.

Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad road conditions, and reckless driving. 
Tourist police clamp down on overstay, tourism-related crimes

CHONBURI: Thailands Tourist Police have launched a nationwide campaign to suppress tourism-related crime, including overstay and other violations of the law by foreigners in Thailand as well as crimes against them.



By The Phuket News

Friday 24 March 2023, 04:56PM

A new campaign against tourism-related crime was launched yesterday. Photo: Tourist Police Division

A new campaign against tourism-related crime was launched yesterday. Photo: Tourist Police Division

A new campaign against tourism-related crime was launched yesterday. Photo: Tourist Police Division

A new campaign against tourism-related crime was launched yesterday. Photo: Tourist Police Division

A new campaign against tourism-related crime was launched yesterday. Photo: Tourist Police Division

A new campaign against tourism-related crime was launched yesterday. Photo: Tourist Police Division

The campaign was launched yesterday (Mar 23) in Pattaya. Tourist Police Deputy Commissioner May Gen Pongsiam Meekanthong presided over the ceremony joined by Col Songwut Chuaplakit, Col Woraprot Phalanisong, Let Col Prin Sripattarakenchai and other officers.

Tourist Police reported in a Facebook post, that officers will crack down on ten types of tourism-related crimes such as overstay and other offenses affecting all aspects of tourism business across the country. The list of the ten crimes was not revealed to the public.

In the same publication, Tourist Police passed a message to tourists and fellow citizens about how they can report incidents and send relevant information to the agency.

Two channels of communication were recommended, namely the 1155 hotline and the Tourist Police I Lert U mobile application. The latter also allows sharing geolocation and pictures.

At the time of print, Phuket Tourist Police had not issued any statements about the campaign in Phuket.
The northwest corner of King and Victoria streets in Kitchener is, in 2023, basically barren ground. Oh, there are great plans for a new regional transit hub on the corner  plans that seem to slink further into the future as the years roll by. But dig into that corner and youll uncap a major 20th-century industry.

The story begins elsewhere  in 1842 Waterloo at William Rebschers new brewery at King and Princess streets. Rebscher died in 1856, and recently arrived German brewmaster Adam Huether and son Christopher took over before fully purchasing Lion Brewery in 1870. Christophers son, C.N. Huether, assumed control in 1895 but soon moved lock, stock, barrel and bottle to Berlin, selling the Waterloo Huether property.

C.N. established his new Berlin brewery at King and Victoria streets. Sources disagree on the exact date, so lets just say that at the turn of the century, C.N. Huether Brewery opened with 15 workers. It was the Boer War era, so one of C.N.s first products was Victoria Ladysmith lager, honouring the queen and a famous moment in the war. Within a decade, C.N. dropped his name and the firm became Berlin Lion Brewery featuring Wuerzberger and Pilsener lagers.

For many Canadian breweries, the First World War and Prohibition dealt knockout punches, killing most beer sales. Berlin Lion was also affected by the citys name change but instead of Kitchener Lion Brewery, the much-reduced company reverted to C.N.s name. For a couple of years, the plant was also used by a coconut processing firm but limited beer making was allowed. By the mid-1920s strong beer was produced for export, mainly to Quebec, and near beer for the Ontario market.

In 1927, two experienced brewery men arrived in Kitchener from Windsor where they had apparently profited handsomely during Prohibition. William Renaud and Arthur Diesbourg joined the senior management of Huether Brewing Limited. They were just in time to be in the hot seats when federal and provincial auditors discovered the firm had for years been selling the strong stuff in the province. Worse, Huether Brewing Limited had  in addition to fermenting hops to make beer  been cooking the company books to make money.

As a result, Renaud and Diesbourg purchased the brewery from Huether, successfully guiding it through the Depression with product such as Old Tyme Stock Ale, Sunny Top, Canadian Ale, Gold Label, plus Pilsener and Wuerzberger lagers. By 1934 annual profits were $17,000.

Expansion added a retail outlet beside the brewery; a sidebar business, Tri-Pure Ice Company; and even an ice-refrigerator business. However, what sealed success was a new product  Blue Top beer. Blue Top became so popular that it became the companys name in 1936. The owners had already decided to drop the Huether name because, then, as now, most people mispronounced the name, saying hugh-thur.

For a dozen years, Blue Top was the most popular brand in K-W, more than holding its own against Waterloos dominant Carling-Kuntz Brewery. Blue Top cleverly used a blue spinning top as its marketing logo on labels, coasters, liners, billboards, newspaper advertising and on its huge signs. Half the K-W population seemed to keep its keys on promotional Blue Top fobs given out by the thousands.

The end came suddenly in 1948.

Somehow a bad batch of beer got released and the companys reputation plummeted. New product such as New Yorker Lager and Premium Ale helped things recover but even a 1952 name change to Ranger Brewing Company couldnt hold off the inevitable.

E.P. Taylor was in the midst of building his huge brewing empire and, sensing trouble in Kitchener, purchased Huether/Blue Top/Ranger. It became part of his Dow Kingsbeer subsidiary, but retained much of the previous workforce.

The new owners took over in 1953, only lasting in Kitchener until 1961 when Dow Kingsbeer was consolidated in Toronto.

The early 1900s factory was torn down in 1964 although the Blue Top/Dow sales outlet building remained for many years as Brewers Retail. On the site of Kitcheners only-ever large brewery, later businesses included Frostop, Tim Hortons, an Asian food store  and now an empty field, albeit one with big plans.

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This column will be updated weekly with open work positions, workshops, and other opportunities in Cambridge. If you have feedback on how to make the column better, or would like to let us know of an open job role, email us at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com with the subject line: WHOS HIRING.

WHOS HIRING

GVF GROUP OF COMPANIES  SWINE NUTRITIONIST (UNDISCLOSED SALARY, FULL TIME)

According to the job posting on its website, Grand Valley Fortifiers (GVF) Group of Companies was founded in 1960, and specializes in the formulation, manufacture and sale of high-quality, leading-edge mineral premixes for swine, dairy, beef and poultry producers.

It is currently looking for a swine nutritionist with a M.Sc. focused on swine nutrition, animal science, animal nutrition or related field of study, according to their job posting. The job includes travel across Ontario, and a competitive salary, which has been estimated by Indeed.com to be $47,200 to $59,800 per year.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO APPLY: https://gvf.bamboohr.com/careers/97

WILK & WILK ORTHODONTICS  CERTIFIED LEVEL II DENTAL ASSISTANT (FULL TIME, $24 - $28 PER HOUR)

Found in 1997, Wilk & Wilk Orthodontics is an orthodontic practice, specializing in Invisalign, braces, wisdom teeth and other orthodontic surgeries. It is currently looking for a dental assistant able to work eight-hour shifts on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO APPLY:https://ca.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=9bafff90828cc998

There many other employers currently hiring for dental assistant positions in Cambridge. Please consult findyourjob.ca for more.

CAMBRIDGE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL  PLUMBER (FULL TIME, $29.423 - $30.327 PER HOUR)

According to its job posting, Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) is a thriving community hospital that proudly provides acute care services including: emergency, surgery, medicine, womens and childrens health, intensive care, mental health, and in-patient rehabilitation.

It is currently looking for a plumber with at least five years of experience in an institutional health-care setting, and a valid 306A plumber certificate. The application deadline is Mar. 31, 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO APPLY: https://encareers-cmh.icims.com/jobs/4960/plumber/job

DS CONSULTANTS LTD  GEOTECHNICAL FIELD TECHNICIAN (FULL TIME, UNDISCLOSED SALARY)

According to the job post, DS Consultants Ltd. (DS) is a consulting engineering firm which specializes in geotechnical, environmental, hydrogeology, materials inspection and testing. Its head office is in Vaughan, but there are branch offices in Barrier, Cambridge and Scarborough. It is currently hiring for its Cambridge location to join a team of 60 highly qualified and experienced engineers, hydrogeologists, environmental scientists, technologists and support staff.

According to Indeed.com, similar jobs typically range between $42,600 to $54,000 per year.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO APPLY: https://dsconsultants.ca/careers.html

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE  PLANNER, POLICY PLANNING (TEMPORARY, 12-MONTHS, $83,441 - $88,682 PER YEAR)

The City of Cambridge, the municipal governing body for Cambridge, is currently looking for a planner to support projects including zoning bylaw, and other requirements, which may require heritage studies.

The ideal candidate has completed four years or equivalent of a bachelor's degree in urban design, planning or landscape architecture. The application deadline is Mar. 29, 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO APPLY: https://career17.sapsf.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=3542&company=corporcamb

SILVAS PORTUGUESE BAKERY  BOOKKEEPER (PART TIME, UNDISCLOSED SALARY)

Silvas Portuguese Bakery is a bakery located in East Galt. It is looking for a remote bookkeeper to provide daily management of accounts, keep our business aligned with provincial and federal tax laws and manage accounts payable and receivable. Duties include record maintenance, clerical work, and data entry, according to the job posting, which was posted a week ago.

According to Indeed.com, the salaries for similar jobs range between $32,200 and $40,800 per year.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO APPLY: https://ca.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ab6db57f2c50a659

Do you have feedback on how to make the column better, or would like to let us know of an open job role? Email us at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com with the subject line: WHOS HIRING.

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Salmon tartare in Stratford.



















Chefs often move around as they seek unique challenges and test themselves against new opportunities in different kitchens in different cities.

The culinary pair of Aaron and Bronwyn Linley ran the successful Bijou in Stratford for more than a decade; they then operated a boutique catering business before they headed to Toronto in 2018, each to pursue new aspects of their careers.

But the homing instinct is a strong one: theyve returned to the Festival City to open their new venture, Bluebird, located in the space that was once The Mill Stone and the beloved Down the Street.

We decided we wanted to be closer to family and friends, says Aaron Linley. We wanted to be closer to our community.

Both are Stratford Chefs School grads, where they met; their return and the reawakening of 30 Ontario St. was met with eager anticipation by that community when they opened in November.

A narrow, long space, Bluebirds front bay window looks onto Ontario Street; the rear window onto York Street and the Avon River.

In between, the decor is quaint and cosy with what might be called warm whimsy, including a vintage brass bird cage.

The eclectic ambience is ideal for Bluebirds bistronomy menu, a style that evolved in 1990s France blending casual bistro cooking with a gastronomic experience.

We take familiar, bistro foods and pay attention to a few more details, Linley says of the snacks, small plates, sides, large plates and desserts.

But Bluebirds comforting bistro dishes are also inspired by childhood memories, their world travels and French and Asian cuisines.

An homage to a Down the Street dish is a hot tomato fondue and goat cheese snack; grilled onion dip is like entertaining friends in the 80s, Linley says. Tuck in with taro chips.

The Bluebird kitchen has riffed on Heinz Alpha-getti while  faith and begorrah!  St. Patricks Day saw a lucky pot of Galway-inspired curried fries mounded with a scrumptious crunchy coleslaw and garlic-cheese sauce.

I gobbled superb confit duck wings with Peruvian chili-tamarind sauce and happily slathered rich roasted bone marrow on lettuce cup with crisped rice paper and banh mi pickles, while navigating the edge of hot iron pan holding perfectly cooked, slightly sweet wild Argentine shrimp bathing in garlic oil, chili and sherry vinegar.

Inspired by a free-form tartare enjoyed in Montreal, Linley re-envisions that bistro classic with a love of ceviche flavours experienced during a trip to Machu Picchu: the result is refreshing salmon tartare with diced sweet potatoes supported by cilantro, red onion, radish and tigers milk.

Peruvian ceviche typically has sweet potato and corn nuts, he says. Instead, weve used a Bombay snack mix for that crunchy component and a bit of heat.

The tigers milk is a blend of citrus acid and fruity yellow Peruvian capsicum, aji amarillo, as the base. It makes salmon tartare a la ceviche playful and delicious.

A visit to Brazil yielded a unique dessert idea: cocada de forno is a baked coconut custard, not too sweet, with hot passion fruit-caramel and coconut ice cream.

Seeing mango and clove trees and passion fruit right in the neighbourhood where we were staying, the cocada is a memory for us.

The restaurants name? The blue bird has folkloric significance in Native American and European cultures, including Maurice Maeterlincks 1908 play: The Blue Bird is the story of two children searching for happiness externally but finding it right at home with their pet bluebird.

Its good to leave and get away, but its nice to be back, says Linley of naming their new Stratford home.

And, answering Bluebird Restaurant on the phone just sounds good too.

It certainly does.

Visit them at 30 Ontario St. in Stratford, online at www.bluebirdrestaurant.ca or call 519-271-2255.

(Note: Before visiting, check with the venue regarding dish availability and hours of opening.)

Andrew Coppolino of Kitchener is the author of Farm to Table and co-author of Cooking with Shakespeare. He is the 2022 Joseph Hoare gastronomic writer-in-residence at the Stratford Chefs School. Follow him on Twitter at @andrewcoppolino.

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WATERLOO REGION  Regional Chair Karen Redman received online death threats earlier this month, leading to the arrest of a Kitchener man.

Redman, who holds the highest elected municipal in the region, received an email on March 12 threatening death to her and her family, according to a document filed with Ontario Court in Kitchener that details the criminal charges.

A Kitchener man threatened Redman and her family, thereby causing Karen Redman to reasonably, in all the circumstances, fear for her and her familys safety, the document said.

The court information does not detail the contents of the email or the threats made to Redman.

The threats were reported to Waterloo Regional Police on March 12 and the next day police arrested a 33-year-old Kitchener man. He is charged with uttering threats to cause death and criminal harassment  threatening conduct.

The man, Gersame Fikre Ambaw, was released and returns to court on March 30.

Both police and Region of Waterloo spokespeople would not comment on the charges or the threats made to Redman. Redman declined to speak to the media.

Redman is the second local politician to be subjected to online death threats in just over a month. Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis received an online threat on Feb. 2.

A Woolwich Township man, 44, faces a charge of uttering threats to cause death in that case.

Local politicians have voiced concerns about online harassment that, as elected officials, they are subjected to on social media and in emails.

Last fall, City of Waterloo councillors approved subsidies of up to $9,600 a year for home security systems for councillors who worry about their safety amid increased anger directed at public officials.

Waterloo Coun. Diane Freeman said she has received really hurtful emails that keep her up at night and have led her to question her safety in her own home.

Last October a Kitchener man, 33, was sentenced to 60 days of house arrest after threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a Cambridge campaign stop in the 2021 federal election.

The man, who pleaded guilty, held up a poster depicting a hangman leading Trudeau to a noose. Im gonna hang the (expletive) for treason if I get ahold of him, he said in a video filmed at the campaign stop.

Justice Craig Parry, who sentenced the man, said such anti-democratic and violent conduct must stop. It is incumbent on the court to make that message clear.

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This photo taken on March 20, 2023 shows a general view of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng walks in the area of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Nogaye yak, Mamadou Dieng's wife, cooks at home in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng is pictured inside the monitoring room of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

A villager collects water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng (3rd R) helps villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng opens the water supply valve of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng walks in the area of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng checks the generator set of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng (L) collects water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng fills the generator of a well project with diesel in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng checks the generator set of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

A villager carrying water is pictured on the way home in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Wang Zizheng)

Mamadou Dieng (R) helps villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng climbs up a water tower to check and clean the water storage tank in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng cleans the generator set of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Wang Zizheng)

Mamadou Dieng (1st L) helps villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
KITCHENER  A plan to build three highrise towers at Victoria and Park streets in Kitchener is expected to proceed, after a settlement was reached in an Ontario Land Tribunal appeal.

Council rejected the development proposal last year in a 6-3 vote (with two councillors declaring conflicts) despite support from city planners, prompting Toronto-based developer Dov Capital Corporation to appeal the decision to the OLT, which adjudicates planning issues.

Minutes of settlement obtained Thursday by The Record show the City of Kitchener and the Region of Waterloo reached an agreement with the developer, referred to in the documents as Innovation Developments Kitchener Limited.

The settlement still needs to be approved by the OLT; the agreement is expected to be reviewed at an OLT hearing next week.

The plan calls for a total of 1,124 units in three buildings of 25, 36 and 38 storeys, with ground-floor commercial space, 675 secure bicycle parking spots and 699 vehicle spaces.

Many of the project details originally proposed by the developer have not changed as a result of the settlement.

However, a promised donation toward affordable housing in Waterloo Region appears to be less than half what was pledged at the council meeting last year.

At that time, Dov Capital announced it would give $1.5 million toward the development of 48 new affordable housing units at the Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life in Waterloo; that was in addition to a previously-promised $500,000 contribution to a local non-profit affordable housing provider.

The developers representatives also said there would still be a number of smaller condo units in the Kitchener project that would meet affordable housing pricing criteria.

The settlement only outlines a total of $750,000 for affordable housing  a donation of $500,000 to the Rohr Chabad Centre, and $250,000 to support the advancement of affordable housing in the region.

Members of council reached Thursday afternoon said they either hadnt yet seen the settlement, or couldnt comment until after next weeks hearing.

The City is unable to comment on matters that are the subject of litigation with members of the public, a spokesperson said in an email Thursday.

While resident Sheldon Atos said he expected some type of development at that intersection, he said he was disappointed about what he saw as a total lack of meaningful public consultation prior to the development being announced.

In an email, Atos said he fears the large project will set a precedent for ignoring virtually all of the citys planning and zoning regulations.

Were very disappointed with the secretive manner that the city has dealt with the developer in this matter, he said. It was frustrating for us to be shut out of any discussion on the single largest development proposed for Victoria Street.

The height of the buildings and increased traffic volumes were among concerns raised about the project, although other residents liked what they saw at a virtual neighbourhood meeting a year ago.

The settlement calls for the project to have at least 80 larger units  50 two-bedroom plus den units, 13 three-bedroom units, and 17 three-bedroom units that would be made available based on demand.

The settlement also outlines a ground-floor outdoor plaza at Park and Victoria streets, and enhanced streetscape features along both streets.

These amenities and the larger unit breakdown were in the final plan presented to council last year.

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WATERLOO REGION  The COVID-19 pandemic sparked an information war like no other.

And the major lesson from the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic is the need to regulate social media platforms in a bid to stop the misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, says Shana MacDonald, a University of Waterloo researcher.

We need regulation  really, really, really strong regulation, said MacDonald. We need much stronger content moderation to counter the spread of health misinformation.

She is supported by a report from the Council of Canadian Academies that blames vaccine hesitancy caused by misinformation on social media for thousands of deaths in Canada, and for an extra $300 million in health care costs. And that was just in 2021, the second year of the pandemic.

In addition to regulating social media platforms and private messaging apps, Ottawa needs to support the production and distribution of science-based, factual information, said MacDonald.

Science communication is facing an uphill battle, said MacDonald.

All levels of government and public health agencies need communications experts steeped in the science of vaccines, pandemics and medical research to provide clear messaging, she added.

Public trust has been eroded because the spread of misinformation was more successful on social media than accurate, evidence-based information, said MacDonald, who teaches communications at the University of Waterloo.

The pandemic is not over, and deaths have been increasing, not decreasing. Statistics Canada says there were 16,151 COVID deaths in 2020, 14,606 in 2021 and 19,034 in 2022.

Put another way, COVID killed an average of 366 people a week in Canada last year. In Waterloo Region, COVID has killed 515 people since the start of the pandemic. While the death count surged nationally last year, Waterloo Region recorded fewer deaths, but far more hospitalizations.

More than 90 per cent of Canadians rolled up their sleeves for their first two vaccine shots in 2021. But far fewer have been diligent about getting booster shots to protect against the COVID variants.

That is messaging fatigue, said MacDonald. I am not sure we are going to win the communications play on that one, unfortunately.

Booster shots are needed every six months. That is the new reality, the new normal, said MacDonald, but that message was never properly communicated.

We failed on that messaging, because vaccines became so contentious after social media platforms gave way too much play to a bunch of COVID deniers and anti-vaxxers who did not have actual science behind them, said MacDonald.

When the pandemic started there was a shortage of masks, gloves, gowns and breathing machines for intensive care units. In 2006, a government report about the 2003 SARS outbreak that killed 44 people recommended stockpiling such supplies so Ontario would be prepared for the next pandemic.

The recommendations were never followed, and that is not unusual, said Aimee Morrison, a UW associate professor of English who specializes in technology and social media.

Pandemics are so terrible people want to move on as quickly as possible, which makes it difficult to heed lessons and prepare for future outbreaks, said Morrison.

The same debates about quarantines, shutdowns and travel restrictions Morrison heard during the first three years of COVID are found in detailed accounts of the black plague in Europe hundreds of years ago, the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918-1920 and SARS in 2003.

What was different this time is having social media in the mix, spreading wrong information that cost thousands of lives.

I think our public institutions did not do a great job of meeting communication and information needs the public had, said Morrison.

And the information has to be provided where people are looking for it, which is largely online.

When rumours are circulating and there is no good information to replace them, the rumours will continue circulating, said Morrison.

She was amazed by some of the rumours. Cell towers erected by the Chinese tel-com giant Huawei were destroyed by people fearing the towers spread the virus. Others believed the vaccines contained a microchip or fetus tissue.

The social-media-algorithm-driven genie of misinformation and click bait, that genie is out and we are going to have trouble stuffing it back in, said Morrison.  So we need to think a little bit more carefully about strategies that we can learn, and teach others to be more critical users of information that we find online.

A major lesson for Jennifer Whitson, a UW sociologist, is the need to design effective pandemic health measures when you will have a lot of noncompliance, which is an interesting social problem to think through, she said.

She cites the COVID tracking app and mask mandates as examples.

Too few people downloaded and used the tracking app to make it effective because of groundless fears it would be used to spy on people, she said. It was discontinued by Ottawa last year.

Wearing masks indoors is strongly recommended by Ontarios chief medical officer of health, but it is widely ignored.

It is so sad, said Whitson. I am somebody who still wears a mask.

When a vaccine against COVID first became available, public health agencies should have focused on the most vulnerable  seniors in long-term care homes and seniors living in the community, said Zahid Butt, an infectious disease expert at UWs School of Public Health.

If we had focused our vaccination on older adults, we might have prevented a lot of severe disease and death, said Butt.

And more should have been done to get vaccines into low-income,. Indigenous and immigrant communities that all lagged in vaccine uptake, said Butt

We need vaccine equity, he said.

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KITCHENER  Police officers who determine lethal force is justified are trained to shoot at centre mass, between the neck and hips, an instructor at the Ontario Police College testified Friday at the Beau Baker inquest.

Firing at that area of the body gives the officer the best chance of stopping the threat quickly, said Peter Rampat.

Why not shoot at an arm or leg?

The margin of error is very high, Rampat said. The limbs are so small. If they miss, that might be the opportunity the subject uses to stab or hurt the officer or a member of the public.

Eric Boynton, a constable with Waterloo Regional Police at the time but now a staff sergeant, shot Baker, 20, in 2015 outside Bakers apartment building at 77 Brybeck Cres. in Kitchener. Baker was armed with a knife.

In a 911 call just before the shooting, Baker talked about stabbing police and others. He also talked about killing himself.

When Boynton and Baker were about 4.5 metres (15 feet) apart, Boynton, with pistol drawn, ordered him to drop the knife and not move closer, Boynton testified Wednesday. Baker did not drop the knife and began walking toward Boynton, testified Harman Sandhu, a patrol officer who drew his gun but did not fire.

Boynton said he feared for his life and the lives of others. He fired seven times. The first shots missed. At least one bullet struck Baker between the stomach and chest, the inquest was told.

Boynton and Sandhu performed first aid. Baker was pronounced dead in hospital. The Special Investigations Unit cleared Boynton of any criminal wrongdoing.

Rampat spoke at the inquest about use of force in general, not the Baker shooting in particular.

Police officers dont wake up every day and say, I hope I get to shoot someone or I hope I get to use my firearm,  Rampat said.

But theyre placed in situations where they are forced to make that decision and make it quickly. So how do we manage that? My job is to implement strategies to try to reduce that number to zero. Thats my goal.

Rampat said non-lethal methods have limitations.

Pepper spray is not immediate, he said. It takes a little bit to get working, especially if youre not accurate.

An officer must be fairly close to use an expandable baton, he said, and some people are impervious to the pain.

A stun gun (Taser) wont work if the suspect is wearing a thick jacket because the probes must make contact with skin, he said.

Boynton didnt have a Taser and said he likely wouldnt have used it if he had one.

Its not a perfect instrument,  he said. They dont work like they do on TV.

Baker had previously experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

In a 911 call minutes before he was shot, Baker said he planned to stab police and harm himself.

Ill cut my jugular, he says in the call played at the inquest. Just bring some (expletive) cops and take my ass down.

The inquest continues Monday. The public can watch it online.

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ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP)  Rescuers raced Saturday to search for survivors and help hundreds of people left homeless after a powerful tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi, killing at least 25 people, injuring dozens, and flattening entire blocks as it carved a path of destruction for more than an hour. One person was killed in Alabama.

The tornado devastated a swath of the Mississippi Delta town of Rolling Fork, reducing homes to piles of rubble, flipping cars on their sides and toppling the towns water tower. Residents hunkered down in bath tubs and hallways during Friday nights storm and later broke into a John Deere store that they converted into a triage center for the wounded.

Theres nothing left, said Wonder Bolden, holding her granddaughter, Journey, while standing outside the remnants of her mothers now-leveled mobile home in Rolling Fork. Theres just the breeze thats running, going through -- just nothing.

Based on early data, the tornado received a preliminary EF-4 rating, the National Weather Service office in Jackson said late Saturday in a tweet. An EF-4 tornado has top wind gusts between 166 mph and 200 mph (265 kph and 320 kph), according to the service. The Jackson office cautioned it was still gathering information on the tornado.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency announced late Saturday afternoon in a tweet that the death toll had risen to 25 and that dozens of people were injured. Four people previously reported missing had been found.

Other parts of the Deep South were digging out from damage caused by other suspected twisters. One man died in Morgan County, Alabama, the sheriffs department there said in a tweet.

Throughout Saturday, survivors walked around dazed and in shock as they broke through debris and fallen trees with chain saws, searching for survivors. Power lines were pinned under decades-old oaks, their roots torn from the ground.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a State of Emergency and vowed to help rebuild as he headed to view the damage in an area speckled with wide expanses of cotton, corn and soybean fields and catfish farming ponds. President Joe Biden also promised federal help, describing the damage as heartbreaking.

The damage in Rolling Fork was so widespread that several storm chasers  who follow severe weather and often put up livestreams showing dramatic funnel clouds  pleaded for search and rescue help. Others abandoned the chase to drive injured people to the hospital.

It didnt help that the community hospital on the west side of town was damaged, forcing patients to be transferred. The tornado also mangled a cotton warehouse and ripped the steeple off a Baptist church.

Sheddrick Bell, his partner and two daughters crouched in a closet of their Rolling Fork home for 15 minutes as the tornado barreled through. Windows broke as his daughters cried and his partner prayed.

I was just thinking, If I can still open my eyes and move around, Im good, he said.

Rodney Porter, who lives about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Rolling Fork and belongs to a local fire department, said he didnt know how anyone survived as he delivered water and fuel to families there.

Its like a bomb went off, he said, describing houses stacked on top of houses. Crews even cut gas lines to the town to keep residents and first responders safe.

The warning the National Weather Service issued as the storm hit didnt mince words: To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW!

Preliminary information based on estimates from storm reports a,nd radar data indicate that the tornado was on the ground for more than an hour and traversed at least 170 miles (274 kilometers), said Lance Perrilloux, a meteorologist with the weather services Jackson, Mississippi, office.

Thats rare  very, very rare, he said, attributing the long path to widespread atmospheric instability. All the ingredients were there.

Perrilloux said preliminary findings are that the tornado began its path of destruction just southwest of Rolling Fork before continuing northeast toward the rural communities of Midnight and Silver City, then moving toward Tchula, Black Hawk and Winona.

The supercell that produced the deadly twister also appeared to produce tornadoes that caused damage in northwest and north-central Alabama, said Brian Squitieri, a severe storms forecaster with the weather services Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

In northern Alabamas Morgan County, a 67-year-old man who became trapped beneath a trailer that flipped over during severe overnight storms was rescued by first responders, but he died later at a hospital, AL.com reported.

Even as survey teams work to assess how many tornadoes struck and their severity, the Storm Prediction Center warned of the potential for hail, wind and possibly a few tornadoes Sunday in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana.

Cornel Knight waited at a relatives home in Rolling Fork for the tornado to strike with his wife and 3-year-old daughter. Despite the darkness, its path was visible.

You could see the direction from every transformer that blew, he said. Just a cornfield away from where he was, the twister struck another relatives home, collapsing a wall and trapping several people.

Royce Steed, the emergency manager in Humphreys County where Silver City is located, likened the damage to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

It is almost complete devastation, he said after crews finished searching buildings and switched to damage assessments. This little old town, I dont know what the population is, it is more or less wiped off the map.

In the town, the roof had torn off Noel Crooks home.

Yesterday was yesterday and thats gone  theres nothing I can do about it, Crook said. Tomorrow is not here yet. You dont have any control over it, so here I am today.

The tornado looked so powerful on radar as it neared the town of Amory, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Tupelo, that one Mississippi meteorologist paused to say a prayer after new radar information came in.

Oh man, WTVAs Matt Laubhan said on the live broadcast. Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.

Now that town is boiling its water, and a curfew is in effect. Three shelters in the state are feeding the throngs of displaced people.

Its a priceless feeling to see the gratitude on peoples faces to know theyre getting a hot meal, said William Trueblood, of the Salvation Army, as he headed to the area, picking up supplies along the way.

Despite the damage, there were signs of improvement. Power outages, which at one point were affecting more than 75,000 customers in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, had been cut by a third by midafternoon Saturday, according to poweroutage.us.

Meteorologists saw a big tornado risk coming for the general region as much as a week in advance, said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Walker Ashley.

Tornado experts like Ashley have been warning about increased risk exposure in the region because of people building more.

You mix a particularly socioeconomically vulnerable landscape with a fast-moving, long-track nocturnal tornado, and, disaster will happen, Ashley said in an email.

___

Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus in Rolling Fork, Mississippi; Michael Goldberg in Silver City, Mississippi; Jim Salter in OFallon, Missouri; Rick Callahan in Indianapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington; Robert Jablon in Los Angeles; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; and Jackie Quinn in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.

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KIGALI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Public health workers and local leaders in eastern Rwanda's Kirehe District bordering Tanzania are working together to heighten surveillance measures at the Rusumo common border, following an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Tanzania's northwest Kagera region, officials said Friday.

Bruno Rangira, the Kirehe District mayor, said they have ramped up preparedness involving public awareness campaigns on Marburg signs and symptoms, prevention measures as well as plans for managing suspected cases.

"Public awareness is being carried out by health officials and local leaders targeting residents, including the border community and travelers traveling to Tanzania," Rangira told a news briefing at the district.

Rangira called on grassroots officials and residents to play their role in preventing the disease outbreak in the country.

"We have enhanced readiness for the possibility of a virus outbreak, including setting aside isolation rooms at the district hospital and at the border," Jean Claude Munyemana, the head of Kirehe Hospital, told Xinhua.

Health personnel who used to screen for COVID-19 have been empowered to screen travelers for Marburg virus signs, he said.

Tanzania's Ministry of Health on Tuesday declared the first outbreak of the deadly disease in the country, which has killed five people, with three others admitted to hospitals.

Edson Rwagasore, the division manager of public health surveillance and emergency at Rwanda Biomedical Center, confirmed that though there is no probable or confirmed case of Marburg virus disease in the country, the Ministry of Health saw it important to enhance surveillance at points of entry.

Marburg virus is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola and is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88 percent. Illness caused by the Marburg virus presents abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise.

Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic symptoms within seven days, and vaccines or antiviral treatments to treat the virus are yet to be approved. The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. 
The Hamilton Public Library boards dream to use the nearly empty Canada Marine Discovery Centre on the waterfront for branch activities, as well as an Indigenous Cultural Centre, is one step closer to reality.

The library board endorsed the idea for the library to study how it could use the centre at its March 23 meeting, and it is proposing at its April meeting to approve spending up to $250,000 to conduct a feasibility study.

It is a big opportunity for the library, said Paul Takala, chief executive officer and chief librarian. This will be a legacy project for the library for years to come. I think it is exciting.

Potential ideas for how the library could use the building, said Cindy Poggiaroni, director of collections and program development, include establishing a library branch to address the gap in the north end, install art displays both inside and outside the facility, and develop an Indigenous Cultural Centre.

We feel this is a place to explore that further, said Poggiaroni.

Takala cautioned there are several hurdles the library needs to overcome before it could even hope to move into the facility. He said first, council needs to not only endorse the librarys idea to use the facility, but also to approve the spending of $250,000 on the feasibility study. The study, he said, is projected to take about a year.

And he warned that a feasibility study doesnt guarantee (the project) will be successful.

Still, he said, the potential is this would be a major asset for the city.

He said the study will help to identify any capital and operation costs. Takala said the library will seek further funding from other levels of government.

Library officials have been in conversations with city officials and a report will be presented to the West Harbour Development Committee in May.

We have a long way to go, Takala said later.

Currently, Waterfront Shores Corporation, which is redeveloping the Hamilton waterfront with a Pier 8 condo and townhouse development, including a proposed 45-storey tower, is using a portion of the building in a five-year lease arrangement with the city.

In 2022, the city officially opened Copps Pier Park, a $6.5-million 1.4-hectare promenade that includes a mini-beach, playground, seating areas and art installations.

The park is a portion of a $140-million reimagining of piers 6, 7 an 8 that includes a new boardwalk and a triangular Gateway Park.

The $10-million building opened in 2004 as the federal Marine Discovery Centre, but was closed in 2010. The federal government in 2015 handed over the 1,670-square-metre building, known as the Hamilton Waterfront Trust and the 3.3 hectares of land that surrounds it in a 45-year agreement with Parks Canada and the trust.

We can get a vision (of the building) once that lease is up, said Takala. It is a beautiful building, at a beautiful site at a great location. Expectations will be sky high.

A major component of the librarys vision for the building would be partnering with the citys Indigenous community to establish a cultural centre at the facility. He said the citys Urban Indigenous Strategy identified the creation of an Indigenous Cultural Centre that offers interpretative programing, provides a gathering space for Indigenous Peoples to hold their ceremonies and cultural events.

Takala confirmed library officials have discussed the idea about creating a cultural centre with Indigenous representatives.

He said the location is appropriate for the Indigenous community since the Great Lakes was used as a gathering place where they met and told stories.

This has been done in other communities quite successfully, said Takala. We still have a lot of work that needs to be done for us to restore a relationship with the Indigenous Peoples.



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The Writers in Paradise had already been supporting and encouraging each other for about two years when a 2020 COVID-19 lockdown brought them a need to find inspiration.

Retired family doctor Dave Davis said the group was looking for ways to be productive during the stressful time.

Lets kill someone, Davis said one of the members suggested.

Instead, they decided to write short, two-page stories in a variety of genres  like science fiction, romance and eight more: including the subject lets kill someone.

And Two-Page Tales, an anthology book featuring stories in 10 genres by group members Davis, Julie Bragdon, Cynthia Carpenter, Linda Helson, Aliza Prodaniuk and Jessica Veter, was born.

We had a lot of fun with it, Davis said.

Writers In Paradise will host a book launch at Carnegie Gallery (10 King St. W.) on Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m. The event features readings by the authors and the book will be available to purchase.

Sale proceeds will be donated to Dundas Routes Youth Centre. Centre director Amanda Thomassian said she is attending the book launch to share information about Routes programs and services.

Writing very short stories in 10 different genres proved a challenge for the members. Several said it pushed them past their boundaries to write in ways they hadnt considered before.

It was a good stretch of our creative muscles, Veter said.

Some of the group members originally met through a previous Dundas writers group, and the late Dundas musician and writer Steve Parton.

The group has had a significant impact on its individual members.

The feedback is so helpful, Helson said.

Davis said having the support has made him a better writer.

I found my voice in the group, Carpenter said.

Veter said the Writers in Paradise group provides a real audience to write for, rather than a fake audience in her head.

Carpenter said a key takeaway is that anyone can do what theyve done. She said if someone wants to write, or paint, they can start their own group to find support and encouragement.

Two-Page Tales is available on Amazon, and at https://books2read.com/twopagetales.

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Speck is perfect for "National Something on a Stick Day" on March 28, Marisa Mariella writes.



Not every food holiday has origins rooted in historical events. Such seems to be the case for the upcoming National Something On a Stick Day on March 28. Perhaps a group of fun-loving parents created this celebration as a nod to their clever resourcefulness with picky young eaters. After all, who could deny the appeal of beautifully skewered food?

Adults are also easily lured by food on a stick! Last summer, Carlo Gambale from Nardini Specialities offered me a taste of speck, a type of cured, lightly smoked ham. As we nibbled on the delicious samples, he reminisced about his trip to Italy where he learned about the unique curing process. And thats when the idea of speck-a-bobs hit!

I was eager to test some ideas in my kitchen. Skewer after skewer, I landed on this colourful and fragrant version. Served on top of a bed of lightly dressed field greens and garlic-rubbed crostini, these speck-a-bobs make for an elegant appetizer or lunch entree. Divide the slices of speck in half horizontally and the skewers transform into impressive two-bite hors d'oeuvres. Youve got to love a theme that celebrates a stick!

Servings: 6 large servings

INGREDIENTS

12 thin slices of imported speck

6 strips (2 X ? X 6) of imported Asiago cheese

Selection of fruit slices (consider peaches, pears, fig), cherry tomatoes, pitted olives, small bocconcini

Nardini Private Label Extra Virgin Olive Oil and balsamic vinegar

Field greens, optional

Salt and pepper, optional

Fresh basil or parsley to garnish, optional

6 metal skewers or wooden skewers (soaked in water)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat barbecue or oven to 400?. If using oven, line cookie sheet with foil and grease lightly. Set aside.

Lay one slice of speck on clean work surface. Place one strip of cheese on top.

Lay another slice of speck on top.

Insert a metal skewer, starting at one end, through the layers, threading any combination of fruit slice, cherry tomato, and olive throughout.

Set aside and repeat with remaining slices.

If baking, lace kebabs on prepared pan. Otherwise, place directly on barbecue grates. Bake or grill until speck becomes lightly crisped and cheese begins to soften, about 10 minutes. Do not overcook as cheese will ooze out and speck will become too crisp.

Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley. Serve warm or room temperature.

Note: Imported Asiago is soft and creamy and will hold up to skewering.

Marisa Mariella is a Stoney Creek resident and host of Marisas Easy Kitchen on Cable 14. For this recipe and more, check marisamariella.com and subscribe to Marisa Mariella on YouTube.

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Colombian refugees Andrea Pardo Rodriguez and her husband Nelson Martinez Mora built a life for themselves in Hamilton and, after two long years apart, their three adult daughters had finally joined them.

They were able to visit Niagara Falls, celebrate Christmas with matching pyjamas, and catch up on lost time.

But all of that was interrupted Sunday morning by a pounding on their apartment door.

The family of five hadnt even woken up yet. Sundays are typically reserved for rest and spending time together.

Still sleepy-eyed and in their pyjamas, the family opened the door to find a handful of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers standing in the hallway of their Corktown building.

The officers told them they were there to detain Pardo Rodriguez and Martinez Mora, who had come to Canada as refugee claimants from Colombia in November 2021.

Andrea Pardo Rodriguez, left, and her husband Nelson Martinez Mora came to Hamilton as Colombian refugees in November 2021. Submitted

Minutes later, they were taken away in handcuffs and the girls  Valentina, Camila and Yesica Martinez Pardo  were left with a receipt saying their parents were being transported to the immigration holding centre in Toronto, said Valentina, 22, in an interview with The Spectator through a Spanish interpreter.

It was a very intense experience, said Valentina. Were very afraid of being torn apart again.

The couple is now set to be deported on March 26, according to friends of the family.

The family of five had reunited this past Christmas after spending more than two years apart, said Cynthia Belaskie, a close family friend.

Belaskie said Martinez Mora and Pardo Rodriguez fled Colombia in the face of death threats made against them in 2020 by the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC), a paramilitary group considered to be the countrys biggest drug cartel also known as the Gulf Clan. She said the threats were made because of the couples advocacy work with thousands of Colombians who live with disabilities.

Human Rights Watch has alleged the AGC continues to commit violations of the laws of war and serious human rights abuses including killings, disappearances, and rape. That same report noted that more than 500 human rights defenders have been killed across Colombia since 2016.

At that time, the couple was only able to obtain visitor visas to the United States for themselves, so their three daughters  including one who lives with disabilities  stayed behind in Bogota and went into hiding, said Belaskie.

Martinez Mora and Pardo Rodriguez later came up to Canada, where they claimed asylum, and eventually landed in Hamilton.

Belaskie said since moving to Steeltown, Martinez Mora had been working in renovations, while Pardo Rodriguez was taking English classes and helping him at work.

Andrea Pardo Rodriguez, her husband Nelson Martinez Mora and their three adult daughters, Valentina, Camila and Yesica Martinez Pardo, were able to spend Christmas together this past December. Submitted

They all met when Belaskie hired Martinez Mora to do some renovations on their home and Pardo Rodriguez came along to assist. Their friendship formed over cups of coffee and Belaskie began helping them with their refugee claim.

However, Belaskie said the claim was denied last August, despite testimony from Pardo Rodriguez that detailed threats and potential harms their family was facing in Colombia.

The Spectator reached out to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and is awaiting a response.

In a decision letter shared with The Spectator, a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada determined the couple failed to establish that they face a well-rounded fear of persecution if they return to Colombia, pointing to discrepancies in their paperwork and testimony.

Belaskie argues Pardo Rodriguez wasnt prepared for the hearing, and the family believed they had more time to stay in Canada despite the denial.

The family then submitted a humanitarian and compassionate grounds claim in February, but it had to be redone in March due to errors in the original paperwork, Belaskie said. Their lawyer also submitted a deferral for their removal request on their behalf on Tuesday.

The Spectator reached out to the familys lawyer Wednesday, but did not receive a response.

Now with the parents set to be deported, Belaskie and family friend Megan Evans are doing whatever they can to ensure the family can stay together in Canada.

Belaskie described Martinez Mora as the breadwinner of the family and, with him gone, the daughters will only have whatever income they receive from the government as refugees as they wait for their asylum claim to be heard.

A tear runs down the cheek of Valentina Martinez Pardo while discussing her parents, who are set to be deported back to Colombia. Barry Gray/The Hamilton Spectator

Their claim is separate from their parents as they only arrived in Canada in December, noted Belaskie. However, the situation is made much more difficult as their daughter Camila lives with both intellectual as well as physical disabilities.

The 26-year-old is visually impaired and requires around-the-clock care from the family, more specifically their mother, who is her primary caregiver, said Valentina.

While the girls were in hiding in Bogota, they took care of each other, but Valentina noted it was difficult, as Camila didnt understand why she had been separated from her mother.

However, the girls managed to get to Canada this past Christmas  a journey that saw them fly to Mexico, make their way across the United States and eventually arrive in Canada through an irregular crossing in Quebec.

The journey was difficult, said Valentina. But we were very happy to see our parents.

Since then, the five of them have been living in a one-bedroom apartment in central Hamilton. They were taking English classes and Camila had also settled into a routine with her mother and was receiving some care in Hamilton.

But that has since been disrupted by the looming deportation of their parents, said Belaskie.

Were feeling really afraid, said Valentina, with tears in her eyes. Weve never faced problems this big before.

In a statement to The Spectator, CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy said the agency could not comment on individual cases, but noted they have a legal obligation to extradite foreign nationals who have a removal order in force.

The decision to remove someone from Canada is not taken lightly, Purdy said in an email.

However, once a persons humanitarian and compassionate grounds application is submitted, an immigration officer can grant a Stage 1 approval, which would put their removal on hold, she noted.

While the girls were able to visit their parents at the detention centre Sunday evening, their conversation was over the phone, with a pane of glass dividing them.

Their next visit is set for Friday  two days before their parents may be deported and once again separated as a family.

It was really difficult visiting them, said Valentina. My mom and dad are not bad people.

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Students rallied at McMaster University on Friday urging the school to completely divest from fossil fuels and remove gas-powered generators being built next to Cootes Drive.

The rally was held in solidarity with a group of students from the McMaster Divestment Project who are on Day 5 of a hunger strike to push the university to take action.

McMaster is currently building the generators, which are expected to increase the universitys greenhouse gas emissions by 415 tonnes for every 60 hours of operation. The generators are part of a project intended to save money on electricity costs during peak times.

McMaster spokesperson Wade Hemsworth previously said while the university supports students right to protest, it is concerned a hunger strike puts their health at risk.

 With files from Hamilton Community News

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ST. PAUL, ALBERTA - The Alberta Sheriffs Branch will have expanded powers and play a bigger role in combating rural crime with new funding, the provincial government said Friday.

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said $27.3 million will go to new positions and for rural crime initiatives, including two plain clothes teams that will help RCMP with criminal surveillance.

The announcement comes as Alberta continues to mull over whether to create a provincial police service to replace the RCMP.

There has been some misleading commentary about this investment in the Alberta sheriffs, namely that its the way of laying the groundwork for establishing a provincial police service by some other means, Ellis said Friday in St. Paul, Alta., 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.

Id like to remind people that the provincial government hasnt made any decision about an Alberta police service.

Ellis said although the RCMP has its own surveillance teams, most of the efforts are focused on major investigations. He said the new sheriff teams will fill a gap by helping the RCMP detachments with local investigations.

Ive heard countless stories about home invasions being committed by prolific offenders or thefts from farms. Every property owner has the right to feel safe in their home and the right not to wake up and find their equipment gone or fuel siphoned from vehicles, he said.

These really are the type of cases that keep Albertans up at night.

The sheriffs will also get funding to add 20 investigators to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhood unit, which uses civil enforcement to target problem properties where illegal activities take place.

There is also money for the Sheriff Highway Patrol to train and equip its members to help RCMP with emergencies and high-priority calls.

We will provide all members of the Alberta sheriffs with full powers to arrest under the Criminal Code, Ellis said.

Some members of the sheriffs already have Criminal Code authorities, but we believe the public will be better served with consistency throughout this province.

The head of the Alberta RCMP said he welcomes the additional help from the sheriffs.

These additional resources for the Alberta Sheriffs will improve our combined ability to suppress criminal activity in rural Alberta, said Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki in a statement.

Farooq Sheikh, the chief of Alberta Sheriffs, called it a proud day.

While our members have a visible presence in many functions they perform such as highway patrol, fish and wildlife enforcement, security in our provincial courts  the sheriffs perform a lot of important work to keep communities safe thats outside of the public eye.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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A first-of-its kind study in British Columbia suggests salmon hatcheries could improve survival rates by optimizing the weight of the juvenile fish and the timing of their release.

More than five billion juvenile salmon are released from hatcheries into the North Pacific Ocean each year, with about six per cent coming from B.C. and Yukon.

The hatcheries are aimed at stabilizing declining populations of wild salmon while keeping fisheries afloat, but the study says theres a lack of robust scientific assessment of their overall efficacy for conservation purposes.

The study published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences analyzed data from 21 chinook and 16 coho hatcheries in B.C. over the last two decades, finding higher survival rates were linked to heavier weights upon release.

For ocean-type chinook, it found the average maximum survival stemmed from releases six to 27 days earlier than historical averages for most of the hatcheries.

Meanwhile, coho survival rates could be improved by releasing the fish eight to 33 days later than the historical average.

The locations of hatcheries in the study ranged from Prince George, Revelstoke and the Fraser Valley, to the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island.

The findings do not represent a one-size-fits-all solution across hatcheries, says lead author Sam James, a biologist with the Vancouver-based Pacific Salmon Foundation.

The study found the greatest improvements in salmon survival rates were generally predicted from a combination of the optimal weight and timing of release.

Optimizing hatchery release practices could increase salmon returns by six to as much as 245 per cent for chinook and five to 160 per cent for coho, the study suggests.

However, James says its important to look at full range of those possibilities, rather than focusing on the highest potential increases.

There were many locations for which changes were not expected to yield major increases in salmon survival and returns, and there was a high degree of uncertainty in the modelling around the ranges of potential gains, she says.

James says the study is unique because the researchers used an approach that examined numerous hatcheries as a group, allowing them to unveil the overarching relationships between release practices and survival while accounting for hatchery-specific deviations from the trends they identified.

Isobel Pearsall, the director of the Pacific Salmon Foundations marine science program, says the study is the first in B.C. to examine the efficacy of release practices on that larger scale.

There were a couple of reports, lots of scattered information, she says.

But there was no pre-existing larger study looking at different hatcheries together, and identifying release practices that could support higher survival rates, she says.

Salmon face many threats, James says, and while hatcheries cannot control conditions in the ocean, they can set the fish up for greater success with the right release practices.

The study did not consider economic factors, and additional expenses may be associated with optimizing release practices, Pearsall adds.

For example, it may be a challenge for hatcheries to increase the weight of juvenile chinook while also aiming to release them earlier, she says.

The researchers took into account the effects of other factors that can affect salmon survival rates, such as predators and environmental conditions, in order to focus their analysis on the role of release practices, she notes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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A Canadian filmmaker is fighting a police order seeking access to raw footage from his documentary about an alleged fraud ring involving fake Norval Morrisseau art, saying he has to protect his source material.

Jamie Kastner says he was shocked by the production order he received as Ontario Provincial Police and Thunder Bay, Ont., police were investigating the alleged creation and sale of fraudulent art under the famous Indigenous artists name.

You have to protect your sources, Kastner said in an interview.

People talking to documentary makers or journalists cannot become synonymous with people talking to the police.

Kastner is the director of There Are No Fakes, a documentary that follows Canadian musician Kevin Hearn  member of rock band the Barenaked Ladies  as he sues a Toronto art gallery after doubting the authenticity of a Morrisseau painting he purchased.

Morrisseau, also known as Copper Thunderbird, was a famous self-taught artist of Ojibwe ancestry who is considered a trailblazer for contemporary Indigenous artists across Canada.

Kastner interviewed 17 people for his film, including members of an operation in northern Ontario that allegedly produced fraudulent Morriseau art, as well as art dealers and those who bought and traded Morrisseau paintings

All interviewees agreed to appear on camera, Kastner said.

Police in Thunder Bay began an investigation into the alleged fraud ring not long after Kastners documentary was released in April 2019, he said.

I was of course delighted to hear that they were doing an investigation, because how often does your work in film or documentary actually inspire real life results, said Kastner.

Police later began asking to see Kastners raw, unedited footage, he said, but he resisted.

In November 2022, Ontario Provincial Police  which had become involved in the investigation  handed him a production order, which demands a person deliver requested materials or make them available to law enforcement within a specific period.

Kastner said he believes police have already spoken to 15 of the 17 people he interviewed.

The good stuff is in the film, he said.

Kastner said he had to hand over a hard drive with the raw footage to police earlier this month due to the production order, and that material is now sealed in a court office. Police have not so far viewed the material, he said.

The filmmaker said his lawyer is asking the court for a copy of the police affidavit used to support the production order, so that he can fight to protect the raw footage.

In June, the Crown is set to bring forward an application for a court order to release the raw footage to police, he said.

OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson said the force was not able to comment on the matter since the case is before the courts. Thunder Bay police did not provide comment.

In early March, the two police forces announced that eight people had been arrested and charged in a joint investigation involving more than 1,000 allegedly fake Morrisseau paintings, prints and other artworks, some that had been bought for tens of thousands of dollars.

Kastner said he was concerned at the way police were seeking access to his materials.

It sends a message that any time anybody talks to a journalist or a documentary maker, the cops can dip into it any time they feel like it, he said.

The filmmaker hired a Toronto-based lawyer who specializes in media and intellectual property law issues to fight the police order.

Lawyer Iain MacKinnon said he believes the Journalistic Sources Protection Act could help their case.

Two key parts of the act need to be fulfilled before a production order is issued against a journalist, said MacKinnon.

A judge needs to be satisfied theres no other way the information can reasonably be obtained and that public interest in the investigation and prosecution of a criminal offence outweighs the journalists right to privacy, he said.

MacKinnon said he believes police might want Kastners raw footage to compare information the filmmaker got with what they collected.

The lawyer said the outcome of Kastners case could be significant to future matters involving police seeking access to media information.

If the police routinely do this, then journalists become not independent watchdogs ... they then become, really, an investigative arm of the state or the police, he said. Nobody wants that to happen.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A fundraising event was held here on Friday as part of the efforts made by the Chinese community in New Zealand to support the recovery work after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the North Island of New Zealand in February.

Traditional Chinese and contemporary art performances such as Wushu arts, chorus, musical instrument playing, dances and poetry recitation were staged during the event to raise funds and demonstrate solidarity to support the post-cyclone construction in New Zealand.

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong felt gratified that the local Chinese community as an integral part of the wider multicultural community in New Zealand has joined the cyclone recovery efforts.

"Cyclone Gabrielle has caused widespread and serious damage and disruptions, but it has also brought out the best in New Zealand and New Zealanders," said Wang.

"China and New Zealand are mutually important and mutually close partners. The two countries and peoples provide mutual support and assistance when disasters strike. That was the case in the wake of earthquakes that occurred in Wenchuan and Yushu in China, and Christchurch and Kaikoura in New Zealand," said the Chinese ambassador.

The New Zealand Minister for Statistics, Deborah Russell, said in her speech that she would like to thank the Chinese community for their generosity and kindness.

"You come together as one to support the wider community in New Zealand. We truly are one. What this community has shown is that it matters as part of the NZ community, and you are reaching out with care, kindness and compassion to the people who have been so badly affected by the cyclone; from my heart, thank you," said Russell.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also voiced his gratitude to the Chinese community.

"On behalf of all the people of Auckland, I would like to thank you, our Chinese community, for being so kind, collecting and donating so much money to those who face the ravages of the storm," said Brown.

The fundraising event in Auckland was jointly organized by the New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe and the China Culture Centers in Auckland and Wellington, supported by the Chinese embassy and the Chinese consulate-generals. All together 1,274,000 NZ dollars (about 800,000 U.S. dollars) were raised during the event, said the organizers.

Cyclone Gabrielle and a series of extreme weather events hitting New Zealand early this year have caused the death of 11 people and an estimated loss of property at about 8.4 billion U.S. dollars. 
MONTREALYou cant put a lock and key on Roxham Road. You cant erect a border fence along the nearly 9,000-kilometre boundary line separating Canada from the United States.

But you can try to take away the incentive for clandestine migrants trying to sneak or be smuggled into Canada or the U.S. to get around the restrictions of the Safe Third Country Agreement.

The solution to the Canada-U.S. border headaches that President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have reportedly reached would make it more difficult and potentially more dangerous for those seeking asylum to make a claim in Canada or the U.S.

From what has been reported so far, the plan involves erecting what might be thought of as a big border trampoline, one that will bounce asylum seekers who have crossed from the U.S. into Canada right back to where they come from, and vice versa.

Under the current bilateral deal, migrants who arrive in the U.S. must make their asylum claim in the U.S., while those arriving in Canada first must seek refugee protections from Canadian authorities.

Roxham Road, a formerly sleepy country route, lets asylum seekers get around the restrictions because they are not entering Canada at an official border post and are making their claim after already reaching Canadian soil.

If the reported new deal comes into effect, there will be many more migrants being bounced back to the States than being returned to Canada. To make up for that, Canada has agreed to increase the number of legal migrants from Central American countries by 15,000.

That could be enough to stem the flow to something that is more manageable on this side of the border than it is at the moment, where 200 people a day are entering the country at Roxham Road, on the Quebec-New York border.

But it seems entirely possible that toughening the rules risks pushing the problem underground.

Having covered the matter of the Roxham Road asylum seekers since the route gained notoriety in 2017, I can say one thing for certain: theyre determined.

People travel thousands of kilometres, sometimes traversing a dozen or more countries, to get to the spot they have selected on the map.

In 2017, it was the Trudeau tweet heard round the world that set off the migrant march: To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith.

They came from Sudan, Qatar, Turkey, Iraq, Libya, Eritrea, Nigeria and most of all, Haiti.

To this day, many of them toss away the ties that link them to their former lives as their last act before crossing: bank cards, court files, cellphones, drivers licences and immigration papers.

They are counselled by friends, families, community groups, bloggers and, often, smugglers on the best way to get where they are going without being detected by border enforcement authorities.

Those who have been using Canada as an entry point to reach the United States over the past several months have primarily been from Mexico. Officials say that migrants can find instructions on how to leave their country on the web.

Touring the Canadian side of the border earlier this week with the RCMP, officers shook their heads at the risks people have taken to get where they want to go.

In the winter months, its a regular occurrence to observe border crossers trudging through thick and disorienting forests, under the cover of night, with young children, sometimes even babies.

Police have cameras and other technological tools at their disposal, but they are up against individuals who are determined to get to their destination, whether to escape wars and legitimate fears of persecution in their home countries, or for jobs, or to be reunited with family.

Many are paying thousands of dollars to smugglers to do so.

Presumably, the fees for these smugglers, foot guides or coyotes will only grow right along with migrants incentive not to get caught under a new and more stringent border regime.

Under this scenario, the cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and border crossers does not end, but continues with different rules and evasive tactics.

Some of them are smarter than others, said RCMP Sgt. Daniel Dubois, who leads the border enforcement team operating at Roxham Road. Its like the coyotes that we couldnt catch or dont catch for whatever reason. Theres a reason we dont catch them  because they study.

Last year, 40,000 people crossed at Roxham Road.

Six years ago, newly arrived asylum seekers beat what is now a well-established path. From the bus depot in Plattsburgh, N.Y., they hailed a cab to take them from the station to the border, then climbed through an unpaved ditch onto Canadian soil.

They were often intercepted while hauling their suitcases up the road, or after knocking on the doors of the Roxham Road farmhouses to ask for assistance or directions.

Today, the Canadian side of Roxham Road has a semi-permanent RCMP post with generators, portable toilets and a holding facility for those who arrive each day.

U.S. Border Patrol officers had reportedly started moonlighting as taxi drivers, taking northbound migrants to Canadas doorstep and making a few extra bucks.

People may think that the status quo is a perversion of the law or this countrys immigration rules, but it has become orderly and safer for the travellers.

But so many people crossed here last year that the Quebec government complained it had been overwhelmed in its efforts to house and provide basic services to the newcomers. The province demanded the Trudeau government take steps to close Roxham.

These were the words of Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who has a reputation for using plain-speaking terms that the average voter can understand.

But closing the road or any part of the border simply isnt feasible, given its length.

Former U.S. president Donald Trump tried such a thing on Americas southern border. He was pilloried for it, and he was ultimately unable to keep his promise to build the wall. He did so in places while leaving big, gaping holes in others.

If someone did erect a physical barrier at Roxham Road, there are another two dozen roads that would serve as a simple alternative. If barriers were erected at all of those roads, it would only force migrants into the woods, which are thick and bewildering and dangerous, particularly in winter.

There is another alternative that advocates for migrants say would eliminate both the Roxham Road flow as well as the deadly risks border crossers face: scrapping the Safe Third Country Agreement altogether.

This would allow any person who claims to be at risk of persecution to present themselves at an official border post and ask for Canadas help  something theyre already doing, but after taking risks and draining precious police resources.

This solution wouldnt close Roxham Road, but it would return it and the many other spots like it along the Canada-U.S. border to what they used to be: sleepy, little-used country roads.

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Toronto polices largest international drug takedown collapsed amid allegations investigators misled a judge about a key player in an attempt to obtain a wiretap warrant, a flagrant and unacceptable move the lead defence lawyer alleged amounted to fraudulent non-disclosure.

Project Brisa  a vast, cross-border probe that netted $61 million in cocaine, methamphetamine and other contraband  fell apart suddenly in a downtown Toronto courtroom earlier this month after Crown prosecutors stayed scores of charges against all remaining accused. None of the 182 charges against 20 people that were announced at a major press conference in 2021 led to a conviction, the Star has confirmed.

Prosecutors did not explain why they ended the court proceedings and are not required to provide reasons. Legal experts have said Crown lawyers are sometimes prohibited from explaining such decisions to preserve other ongoing cases or protect confidential informants.

But newly obtained court documents reveal there were mounting allegations about the conduct of Toronto police drug squad detectives as the massive case approached trial. Those included that officers had misled the judge to obtain a key wiretap warrant Toronto police used to investigate an alleged continentwide smuggling network. That claim, among several exceptionally serious Charter breaches alleged by defence lawyer Ravin Pillay, led to two drug squad officers being questioned on the stand about their wiretap warrant.

A drug squad officer was scheduled to resume being cross-examined by Pillay when Crown lawyers opted instead to pull the plug on the trial, a sudden decision communicated to lawyers just days before Project Brisas collapse was first reported by the Star.

The very serious breaches and their impact on (the accused)s Charter-protected interests warrant exclusion of all of the evidence, Pillay wrote in his court application.

Pillay declined to comment for this story.

The allegations made against Toronto police were not proven in court. Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer has said the force cannot comment on the reasons for the stay of charges and referred questions to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC).

In response to questions on the defence allegations about the police investigation, Sayer said: These allegations have never been tested in court. Only the PPSC can explain their reasoning to stay the charges, but their decision does not mean the allegations are accurate.

Project Brisa investigated an alleged network of drug importers and distributors smuggling vast quantities of illegal substances across the border through hidden traps inside tractor-trailers. According to court documents, the investigation was sparked by a seizure of drugs on Nov. 11, 2020, from a tractor-trailer entering Canada at Windsors Ambassador Bridge.

The seizure sparked an investigation that drew on resources from multiple police agencies in Canada and the United States and, according to court documents, eventually involved the wiretapping of a large number of targets leading to the execution of 35 search warrants across Canada. In June 2021, Toronto police announced the results of the largest international drug takedown in the forces history at a press conference where piles of illegal drugs were put on display with tractor-trailers parked in the background.

In August 2022, Pillay, a Toronto defence lawyer representing one of the accused, filed a 67-page court application to exclude all evidence obtained through the wiretap.

In it, he alleged that a judge had authorized the wiretap  a highly invasive investigative tool  based on insufficient grounds propped up by a series of falsehoods that were designed to inflate the case.

According to Pillay, the Brisa investigators application for the wiretap warrant  which relied heavily on information from confidential informants  repeatedly referenced a man who had been a figure in a recent, separate Toronto drug squad investigation involving some of the same officers. In the affidavit seeking the Brisa wiretap, police portrayed the man as a distributor in the drug network and referenced his serious charges in the earlier case.

But those charges had been withdrawn, an outcome Pillay wrote would undermine any reliance placed on those allegations. The officers failure to disclose the reason for the withdrawal of the charges was a flagrant and unacceptable breach of the duty to provide full, fair and frank disclosure required by the warrant process, he alleged.

Pillays application alleged the investigators included the serious charges the man had faced to inflate the gravity of the case and justify a wiretap. Without him, Pillay wrote, the foundation for the network and the connection between importers and distributors collapses.

Despite the mans key role in the application, he was not subjected to surveillance in the Brisa investigation nor were any attempts made to wiretap him, Pillay alleged, writing: He just vanishes from the project.

According to the filing, several dozen other charges  including scores of firearm and weapons offences  had also been withdrawn against the same person in recent years, none of which are referred to in the (Brisa) affidavit.

The exclusion of any reference to this very serious and significant history of withdrawn charges against the man while including other recent charges was, Pillay wrote, misleadingly selective.

The defence lawyers application to exclude the wiretap evidence led an Ontario court judge to grant him access to cross-examine the two drug squad officers involved in the warrant. Court transcripts show Pillay questioned the officers about why the man seemed to disappear from the investigation after the warrant was issued.

The officers gave differing answers. One said police hadnt been able to find the man, which had bothered him. The other initially said there were bigger priorities investigators had pursued instead. When pressed for more details, however, the officer eventually told the court he couldnt answer, citing his informant privilege.

The Crown decided to stay the charges months later, before the cross-examination could be completed.

Its not clear if the man was, in fact, a confidential informant. Nor is it clear if the Crowns decision to stay the Brisa case had anything to do with Pillays allegations.

The Star is not naming the man at the centre of the Brisa wiretap application nor providing identifying details because of the possibility he was co-operating with police.

Defined by Canadas highest court as an ancient and hallowed protection which plays a vital role in law enforcement, informer privilege prohibits the disclosure of any information that may identify someone who has provided information to police as a confidential informant.

The duty to protect an informant is considered sacrosanct due to the risk of retribution if their identity is revealed.

The privilege means that, when police officers apply for search warrants using information from confidential informants, the defence obtains only a redacted copy of the grounds for the search warrant. The arrangement means the defence cant challenge the information or cross-examine witnesses the way they typically could in court.

Defence lawyers say that leaves them with few opportunities to determine whether police are obtaining warrants by relying on confidential information that may or may not be entirely true, accurate, or a reflection of what the informant even told them in the first place, said Toronto criminal lawyer Kim Schofield, speaking generally about informant cases.

The police are essentially tasked with policing themselves on the presentation of confidential informant information because theres no way for us to test it, said Schofield, who represented one of the accused in Project Brisa.

In the instances where problems with informants or police conduct are unearthed, criminal charges are often quietly dropped and the misconduct underlying the faulty warrant is shielded from further scrutiny, said Daniel Brown, a Toronto lawyer and president of the Criminal Lawyers Association.

As a result, officers are emboldened to use similar tactics in future cases, Brown said, knowing they will rarely be caught or face meaningful consequences for their actions.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis

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Health Canada is recalling a brand of herbal drink over concerns it may contain dangerous bacteria that may cause facial paralysis or even death.

The agency said in a recall that the Nuba brand of carob drink sold in a 750 ml bottle may contain clostridium botulinum, which produces the toxin that causes botulism.

Food with this type of bacteria may not look contaminated, the recall warns, but can cause facial paralysis, fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, and, in more serious cases, death.

The product should not be consumed, sold or served, and should be thrown out or returned to where it was bought.

The product has been sold in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec as well as possibly other provinces or territories, says the health agency.

To capture its uniqueness we adhere to traditions by crafting small batches at a time and always by hand, reads the companys website. Like all our tisanes, we dont use any colours, preservatives or extracts.

If you experience symptoms after consuming a recalled product, contact your health care provider.

Head to the Health Canada website for a more extensive list of symptoms.

Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa

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The clearings of three large Toronto homeless encampments in the summer of 2021 prioritized speed over the well-being of homeless people, Torontos ombudsman has found.

In the report, which comes nearly two years after the city-led, police-and-security-enforced operations, ombudsman Kwame Addo found the process by which city hall displaced people from Trinity Bellwoods, Alexandra Park, and Lamport Stadium was unacceptable  pointing to unclear, confusing and insufficiently transparent communication, among issues. He noted the citys operational plans made no mention of the mental health of displaced people.

While noting the city had been receiving complaints about encamped people from public channels like 3-1-1, as well as from city councillors and staff, Addo said he discovered no evidence that the camps were an emergency worthy of such an urgent level of response.

Meanwhile, internal emails between senior city staff shortly before the clearings  obtained by Addo as part of his probe  described an effort to remove the camps at wartime speed.

Encampments are a complex and intractable problem that is not going away. There are multi-faceted systemic hurdles and structural changes to address, but the process by which the City evicted people was unacceptable, says the report, which will go before city council next week.

In an interview with the Star, Addo noted that many of the underlying issues that led people to stay in encampments havent gone away, and continue to put people at risk of homelessness  from job losses to a lack of affordable rental or supportive housing.

The large-scale operations that summer at Trinity Bellwoods, Lamport Stadium and Alexandra Park came on the heels of several smaller clearings throughout the city  and sparked controversy after violence broke out between people protesting and enforcing the clearings.

Then-mayor John Tory supported the operations, citing health and safety risks to living outside. Critics of the decision meanwhile argued the city should work with people to find shelter or housing that met their needs.

In Fridays report, a picture emerges of disagreement within city hall, with Addo noting that several staff members told him theyd tried to consistently remind others that their focus should be on the people involved, not the physical structures in public green space.

The report cited emails and interviews in which staffers with Torontos outreach team, Streets to Homes, tried to separate themselves from the clearings. In one email from August that year, a staff member raised concern that the Trinity Bellwoods operation specifically had made it harder for them to interact or establish trust with people living outside, Addo wrote.

Addo also raised concern about the operations being run by the Office of Emergency Management.

It is difficult to conceive how the City thought involving (the emergency management office) was going to address the myriad of complex needs of a highly vulnerable population  While it may have played a valuable role, (the emergency management office) does not have expertise with people who are vulnerable and often face systemic discrimination, Addo wrote.

Speaking to the Star, Addo said he heard from people working across city divisions  from the Shelter Support and Housing Administration to corporate security  who felt their input wasnt properly considered by the team leading the clearings.

Staff from teams like Streets to Homes talked about the importance of building trusting relationships, telling Addo it was the key to helping people move into indoor spaces  but that became harder after the clearings.

Among a slate of recommendations, Addo urged the city to create detailed plans on how it will support access to mental and physical health care for people living outside, and to create a new engagement strategy that more clearly defines meaningful engagement with an encamped person.

He also urged staff to finalize and release an internal review of a different approach taken that fall at Dufferin Grove Park, which observers have commended as more collaborative. From Aug. 11 to Dec. 23 that year, the Star has previously reported, the city counted 25 people moving from the park into housing while 88 accepted spaces in Torontos shelter hotels.

The city divisions involved with the encampment file have seen and accepted the reccomendations in the final report, Addo said  an outcome echoed in a statement released by city hall on Friday morning, which said the city was now reviewing the document in detail.

The investigation did not probe the actions of police officers involved in the clearings, with the ombudsmans role focusing on city staff. The investigation involved interviews with staff from 10 city divisions, community workers and people dealing with homelessness, as well as a review of more than 11,000 city documents including more than 4,600 staff emails, the report said.

With files from Ben Spurr

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Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled seven closures in Durham on March 24, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 12, Highway 35/115, Highway 401, Highway 418 and Highway 7.

Highway 12 southbound between Highway 7 North Junction and Highway 407: one right lane closed until June 12 at 3 p.m.

Highway 35/115 northbound between Main Street and Highway 35: one alternating lane closed until April 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Highway 35/115 southbound between Highway 35 and Main Street: one alternating lane closed until April 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Highway 401 eastbound off-ramp at Salem Road: all lanes closed until March 25 at 5 a.m.

Highway 401 eastbound on-ramp at Thickson Road: all lanes closed until March 25 at 6 a.m.

Highway 418 southbound on-ramp at Highway 407: all lanes closed until March 25 at 5 a.m.

Highway 7 eastbound between Ashburn Road and Highway 12 Brooklin / Baldwin Street: one right lane closed until April 7 at 3 p.m.

Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Durham

About this story

This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511. These closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways around Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Clarington and Pickering. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors.

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Dr. Nancy Olivieri was in the lobby of Toronto General Hospital, waiting in line at Starbucks, when one of her former patients approached her to tell her that they were now taking deferiprone.

Olivieri was taken aback. Decades earlier, when she was just starting her career at a major nearby hospital, she had been one of the first scientists to test the drug on patients with thalassemia, a hereditary blood disease that can be life-threatening.

The trial came crashing down in the mid-90s when Olivieris research led her to doubt the efficacy and safety of the medication. She went public with her concerns. The drugmaker, Apotex, tried to muzzle her. The hospital where she worked at the time demoted her and referred unfounded concerns about her to Ontarios medical watchdog. She was pushed to the margins and ostracized.

In 2009, when she encountered the patient, the scientific debate over deferiprone remained unsettled. The drug wasnt yet licensed in Canada or the U.S.

Until recently, Olivieri had been clinical director of the thalassemia program at Toronto General. She recalled the patient had been doing well on approved drugs. Standing in the coffee line, she felt powerless to protect this patient, who was now taking an experimental medication she believed carried serious risks.

I felt heartsick, she said.

Other former patients soon began approaching her with similar stories.

Olivieri didnt back down in her first fight over deferiprone, and she wasnt going to back down now.

She brought her concerns to officials at University Health Network (UHN), a collection of Toronto hospitals that includes Toronto General. They did not stop the use of the unlicensed drug. So, Olivieri went to the patients medical records.

What she found alarmed her. In some cases, she said, patients were kept on deferiprone despite clear warning signs or documented past problems with the medication. With her longtime colleague and ally Dr. Brenda Gallie, she found most of the 41 patients whose records she had approval to examine suffered significant toxicity, including diabetes and liver dysfunction. A woman in her 30s died in 2013, presumably of cardiac failure, 13 months after being placed on the drug in combination with a low dose of an approved medication.

For 14 years, Olivieri has continued digging. She uncovered that the hospital clinic giving the unlicensed drug to patients was receiving money from Apotex. She also found that an internal UHN review of the care thalassemia patients received  which concluded the clinics use of the unlicensed drug was justified  overlooked what she considered to be important evidence and had discomforting ties to the drugs maker.

Like she did decades ago, Olivieri has once again sparked a controversy that has divided doctors and raised uncomfortable questions about the influence of funding from Big Pharma inside trusted Toronto health institutions.

The Star has interviewed key players in the dispute and reviewed hundreds of pages of records, including internal hospital emails and correspondence from Apotex, obtained through Freedom-of-Information legislation (FOI). The investigations findings leave Olivieri and Gallie concerned about a possible whitewash.

UHN is standing by the reviews finding that the clinics patients were receiving appropriate and safe care. In interviews for this story before the pandemic, and in written responses to recent questions, officials rejected allegations that funding from Apotex influenced the treatment of its patients or its handling of the review.

But Carl Elliott, a professor of bioethics at the University of Minnesota, said hes baffled by how bad it looks.

It just seems like stunningly bad judgment, unless you were trying to rig the result, he said of UHNs review. If your aim was to rig the result, this is exactly what you would do.

Olivieris deferiprone trial

Olivieri believed deferiprone could be a gamechanger.

In 1989, when she started her first trial at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the standard treatment for severe thalassemia  a blood disorder that prevents the body from making enough hemoglobin  was grueling, especially for kids. The life-threatening form of the disease requires frequent blood transfusions. The transfusions lead to another dangerous problem  excess iron, which, if allowed to build up, can cause organ damage or even death.

At the time, the only approved therapy to remove excess iron had to be administered under the skin; most often, the drug was infused overnight, through a pump. Though it was effective, it was also onerous and sometimes painful around the injection site.

Deferiprone could be taken orally, in the form of a white pill.

Apotex provided funding to help Olivieri continue her trials in 1993. When she began to express concerns about the drug, the company abruptly shut down the testing and threatened Olivieri with legal action, alleging shed violated a confidentiality agreement.

SickKids did not defend Olivieri. Instead, the hospital took action against Olivieri amid escalating attacks from Apotex and Olivieris notorious partner on the trial, someone who, while continuing to receive funding from the drug company, wrote anonymous poison pen letters, disparaging Olivieri and her small band of supporters, including Gallie, who was her supervisor.

The University of Toronto (U of T), which shares responsibility for the research conducted by doctors in its affiliated hospitals, stepped in to mediate the dispute between Olivieri and SickKids.

Dr. David Nathan, a world-leading blood researcher and Harvard University professor, came to Toronto to defend Olivieri. He said he was stunned by the stone wall he hit in his meetings with university officials.

It was clear that they saw her just the way the French saw Joan of Arc, he said, referring to the patron saint of France, who was burned at the stake in the 1400s for heresy after challenging the will of the establishment. They just couldnt stand listening to her, and I think its terrible.

Nathan, who holds emeritus positions at Boston Childrens Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, understood why Olivieris relentlessness rankled Torontos medical elite. But he also knew that she was bright, curious and a completely patient-oriented investigator.

She can scratch at your skin  but you have to ignore all that, he said. The issue is, whats the best way to treat patients with thalassemia? Thats all we should be focusing on.

As Olivieri sees it, dispensing with social superficiality is a small act of rebellion against those who hold power in a system that has betrayed her trust.

Once she realized the system tends to punish whistleblowers and cover-up misconduct, she said, I never saw the point of being polite.

Olivieri and SickKids reached an agreement, brokered by U of T, which saw her compensated for some of her legal expenses and reinstated as head of the hemoglobinopathy program, in 1999. She moved her office down the street, to UHNs Toronto General, where she was also running a thalassemia program for adult patients.

The controversy unfolded as U of T was negotiating with Apotex for a $30-million donation to the university and its affiliated research hospitals. Arthur Schafer, the founding director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, has said that Olivieri was seen as standing in the way of the hospitals desire to make SickKids world class.

The case generated international headlines and underscored the dangers of institutional conflicts-of-interest.

Schafer said he thought it would have left an indelible impression on UHN, which, like SickKids, is affiliated with U of T and relies, in part, on corporate donations.

The lesson they should have learned is that theyve got to be extremely careful about institutional conflicts of interest, said Schafer, who has published a paper about the controversy over the use of unlicensed deferiprone at UHN.

Whatever I expected, he said, it didnt happen.

Olivieris ouster

In 2009, a few months before the run-in with the patient in the Starbucks line, Olivieri says UHN removed her from her position as clinical director of the thalassemia program. Dr. Richard Ward  who had come to Canada from the U.K.  would be made director.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which had defended Olivieri during the dispute at SickKids, alleged at the time that she had been edged out of the clinic at UHN, in part, because of the safety concerns shed already flagged related to deferiprone.

The drug was approved in Europe for use in exceptional circumstances, but it wasnt licensed in Canada when Ward took over the clinic.

And around that time, there was a desire to test deferiprone at UHN. Someone submitted an application in 2008 to run a clinical trial at the hospital. The trial never started, though its not clear why, and a hospital spokesperson refused to identify who the researcher or sponsor was.

A senior hospital official did not answer a question from the Star about Olivieris charge that she was removed.

Olivieri, who remained a senior scientist at UHN, knew the hospitals thalassemia patients and their medical histories well. She had cared for some of them for decades, beginning when they were children at SickKids. In interviews for this story, two patients said they continued to seek out her expertise after Ward took over because she had always been a fierce advocate for their interests. They said her meticulous attention to detail and uncanny ability to recall precise lab findings from years earlier made her well-suited to troubleshoot treatments for their complex needs.

By 2009, many thalassemia patients no longer relied on nightly injections to remove excess iron. A few years earlier, the Swiss company Novartis got approval for deferasirox, a tablet that could be dissolved in water and taken orally. It had become standard therapy  a safe and effective first-line treatment. Although it can cause stomach upset, Olivieri said that with some trial-and-error around dosing, most patients can tolerate the drug.

Longtime UHN patient Alexa Virani, 49, said she was taken aback when, shortly after the leadership shakeup in the thalassemia clinic, in around 2010, Ward asked her if she wanted to switch from the approved oral treatment to deferiprone.

Virani had participated in Olivieris deferiprone trials at SickKids in the 1990s. Initially, she seemed the poster-child for the medication; Virani raved in media interviews about the drug that had freed her from nightly injections.

However, by 1997, Virani said, she was back on the old treatment. Liver biopsies had revealed scarring that Olivieri predicted could become irreversible if Virani continued taking deferiprone. Virani chose to go back to injections until deferasirox was approved.

Wards suggestion that Virani try deferiprone left her with the impression that he had zero regard for her personal medical history, she said.

It seemed that Ward wasnt familiar with her file, which felt a little irresponsible. Ward, she said, didnt comprehensively advise her of the risks or make clear that deferiprone wasnt approved in Canada.

Patients werent being adequately informed of what the risks were or what other patients had gone through on that drug, she said.

Virani is still a patient at UHN, but moved her transfusions to another hospital, in part, she said, because of this episode.

Neither Ward nor UHN directly addressed Viranis claims about her experience.

In 2011, Apotex gave an $80,000 unrestricted grant to UHNs thalassemia clinic, according to internal records Olivieri obtained through FOI, and shared with the Star. Ward agreed to share patient data with the company and report on his centres experience, the documents show.

Ward declined an interview request, and did not answer detailed questions for this story. In an email, he said the Star is raising matters that have been thoroughly investigated by UHN and the University of Toronto on several occasions, with validation of our actions.

As an academic clinician I take my ethical, academic, and regulatory responsibilities seriously, he said. Myself and clinical colleagues in the (Red Blood Cell Disorders) program at UHN have acted, and will continue to act, in the best interests of patients, and to prioritize those interests over the interests of external parties, such as the pharmaceutical industry.

Apotex has always rejected concerns about the safety and efficacy of deferiprone and defended its funding of research.

(All) research funded by Apotex is undertaken with the strictest of policies and guidelines and any decisions regarding disclosure of funding resides with a researcher, Apotex spokesperson Jordan Berman said.

The hospital told the Star that patients who received deferiprone before it was licensed did so through Health Canadas Special Access Program  a compassionate-use protocol for patients who cant access conventional medications or for whom those medications are unsuitable or dont work.

(Patients) were not given deferiprone as part of a clinical trial, but rather through a process that considered the appropriateness of their treatment as part of standard clinical care, UHN spokesperson Gillian Howard said, adding that all patients who got the drug did so following discussion regarding the risks and benefits and permission from Health Canada.

By the end of 2010, roughly one-quarter of the hospitals thalassemia patients receiving regular transfusions were relying on the unlicensed drug to remove excess iron, according to an earlier review of the program UHN commissioned.

The review found that the use of the drug was in line with how doctors were giving it to patients in the U.K., where the medication was approved.

The change in leadership within UHNs Red Blood Cell Disorders Clinic, as it is now known, occurred as Apotex was trying to get deferiprone approved in the U.S. In the summer of 2009, an inspector from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spent several days in Olivieris Toronto office, combing through source data from one of the trials she ran at SickKids in the 90s.

Apotex had sought to downplay the importance of the trial in its licensing application, alleging Olivieris trial fell short of the FDAs standards. However, the FDA found the trial to be in general compliance with its standards, and suggested in its correspondence with the company that Olivieris trial was the most scientifically significant investigation into the drug conducted to date. Unlike another trial Apotex cited as pivotal, Olivieri had measured outcomes through liver-iron levels, which the FDA had recognized as the most precise marker to assess efficacy.

The inspection revealed significant inconsistencies between the source data and Apotexs application; the company had completely excluded the findings from more than 35 per cent of subjects. The FDA concluded that there was insufficient information about the drug to determine whether the product is safe for use. Approval didnt go ahead at that time.

A few years later, in 2011, Ward touted the benefits of deferiprone to the FDA, before the medication was approved in the U.S. as a second-line treatment. The following year, as Apotex was preparing to submit its application to Health Canada, the company invited Ward to attend a meeting with the federal regulator in Ottawa, documents Olivieri obtained through FOI show.

Health Canada approved deferiprone  marketed as Ferriprox by Apotex  for thalassemia patients whose current treatment is inadequate  in 2015.

Italian drug firm Chiesi Group now owns the medications patent.

The data on deferiprone

Gallie is not an expert in blood diseases. But what she saw in late 2013, when she examined the raw data that Olivieri had been collecting, stopped her cold.

The link between exposure to high levels of the drug and adverse effects in individual patients was absolutely scientifically clear, said Gallie, a specialist in data analysis who does pioneering research at UHN in retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer in young children, and treats patients at SickKids. It was like turning the light switch on in your bathroom.

Her support for Olivieri during the dispute at SickKids had carried consequences. In 1998, Gallie stepped down from her supervisory role at the hospital after her boss issued an ultimatum, telling her she could not continue to publicly denigrate the institution and remain part of its leadership. She kept seeing patients at SickKids but moved her lab to UHN.

Once again, Gallie said she felt she could not stay silent. She joined Olivieri, helping to organize and distill the raw data Olivieri had collected, so that any citizen could see the devastating impacts of the drug on individual patients, she said.

Seventeen per cent of the UHN patients who took deferiprone developed diabetes, a recognized consequence of inadequate iron control, compared to two per cent of those who took the approved tablet deferasirox, their study found. The woman in her 30s who died in 2013 was taking deferiprone in combination with a low dose of deferasirox.

Over several years, Gallie and Olivieri had repeatedly alerted officials at UHN to their findings, but the hospital hadnt taken action. They met again with executives in January 2019, about a month before their study was published. Dr. Brian Hodges, UHNs chief medical officer, told them that plans were underway to review the care the clinics patients had received  a pledge the hospital reiterated publicly when the paper came out.

The hospital asked Dr. Michael Baker, a UHN hematologist and its former physician-in-chief, to lead the review. He had supported Olivieri during the dispute at SickKids, and was well aware of the controversy at UHN.

The first step in the review process, the hospital said, would be to secure an external expert to assist.

Baker told Olivieri and Gallie in an email that hospital executives were surveying the field world wide and would ensure the expert has no relationship to Apotex whatsoever at any time.

The institutions relationship with Apotex was tangled. The company and its founder, the late Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, donated more than $3 million to UHNs foundations since 1985, according to the hospital, and more than $12 million to the UHN-affiliated U of T.

Questions about conflict of interest

Olivieri and Gallie didnt learn Dr. Isaac Odame had been tagged as the external expert until the review was already well underway.

In a letter to Baker and hospital executives, they said, it would be difficult to identify an individual with more conflicts of interest in this matter than Dr. Odame.

Odame was the head of hematology at SickKids and U of T.

He also had participated in clinical trials funded by Apotex. While this conflict would be noted in UHNs report on his reviews findings, the report would not mention that Odame had also received consulting fees from the company  roughly $4,000 in about 2012, he told the Star. The report also would not disclose his ties to Ward, the head of the program whose conduct Odame was now, in part, reviewing.

Odame supervised Wards research dissertation for a Masters degree in the U.K., according to Odames resume, and continued to provide career advice to Ward, who played a leadership role in a professional organization that Odame founded.

When questioned by the Star, Odame said, I wasnt made aware that this was UHNs attempt to have (someone) external, he said.

Odame said that because of his leadership position at U of T, where all the physicians involved hold cross-appointments, his inquiry should be regarded as a purely internal process.

He acknowledged that questions about his possible bias are valid, but said his ties to key players did not cloud his objectivity.

Im a strong advocate for patients. And I tell you, if I found any hint that somehow patients were being given a raw deal I would point it out, and I (would) do so in the public domain, he said.

Any assertion that he is somehow in the pocket of Apotex is absolutely nonsensical, he said, noting that he has received far more research support from the companys competitor, Novartis.

You couldnt work in this field and not work with manufacturers of drugs that are life-saving for these patients, he said, but ... I have no interest in any company that would want to take advantage of patients. Thats not me.

Hodges, UHNs chief medical officer, told the Star in 2020 that a number of other candidates for the reviewer position were unwilling to wade into the charged debate over thalassemia treatments, and all had some potential for bias. UHN said that Olivieri and Gallie refused to accept several suggested candidates; internal emails show that Olivieri put forward another name that Ward rejected.

As the hospital was anxious to get on with the review in light of possible patient safety concerns it chose Odame, who had the necessary expertise and did not have a significant conflict of interest that we thought would interfere with his ability to judge the adequacy of care, Hodges said.

Baker has told the Star Odame is a distinguished, highly respected leader in his field and there was no room (for) anything except giving me expert content opinion on the numbers that we saw.

Olivieri and Gallie had expected the review would dig into their findings on patient harms, including death. They believed the reviewers should examine their analyses of the hospital records alongside the justification that doctors provided to Health Canada to access unlicensed deferiprone.

Those things didnt happen.

Over several weeks, reviewers met for a total of 2.5 days and did not review the materials the two researchers left for them.

I never opened the box. I gave them the box back because I didnt think I would have the time or the expertise to review an entire five-year study of patients, Baker told the Star, adding that it would have been moot because they looked at the original documents of far more than the patients they (Olivieri and Gallie) studied.

Gallie disagrees. I cant understand how they can consider this a review ... They did not examine the evidence we have published in our unchallenged paper that there was serious patient harm, she said.

She describes UHNs review as a farce.

The institution knows perfectly well that there has been a conflict of interest in their relationship with the drug company, so they are doing everything they can to avoid that coming out, Gallie said.

UHN officials said in a statement that the hospital wholly rejects any accusations that a conflict of interest has influenced in any way the care of patients in the (Red Blood Cell Disorders Clinic) or in our assessment of the quality of care in this clinic ... UHN takes its integrity most seriously and works to continuously ensure that conflicts of interest, real or perceived, do not impact decision-making at any level.

The hospitals review looked at the records of 72 patients  41 of whom were part of the study by Olivieri and Gallie, the hospital said.

Odame said the review was not intended to rebut or validate what had been published.

His inquiry focused on the decision-making process in the clinic. He said he wanted to be sure that Ward and his team were not engaging in a concocted plan to switch patients from (the approved oral treatment) deferasirox to unlicensed deferiprone without any  reason for it, he said.

I didnt see anything nefarious, he said. I didnt see anything to suggest there was any penchant to perpetuate a medication at all costs.

Before UHNs review was finalized, hospital officials invited Gallie and Olivieri to meet with the reviewers, but they declined.

Olivieri said she refused because she felt Odame was too conflicted to fairly review. She believed UHN was preparing to whitewash our patient safety concerns.

The hospitals review found four deaths of patients being treated with deferiprone from 2009 to 2015, only one of which was linked to deferiprone, and no connection between the use of the drug and diabetes.

Olivieri and Gallie say the generalized summaries contained in the 11-page report do not include enough detail to compare its findings to their analyses or even see how the reviewers arrived at their conclusions.

They say it is impossible that the review looked at the same patient data as their study  which examined every page of the medical record over the course of 10 years  and reached such startlingly different conclusions.

UHN officials responded that an analysis of medical charts, such as the one conducted by Olivieri and Gallie, cant assess the quality of care patients received. These studies, they said, have access to a limited set of information and do not consider all the factors used to make treatment decisions. The officials did not address questions about specific discrepancies.

Odame acknowledged that his review didnt speak to the same issues as the study by Olivieri and Gallie and was nowhere close to what they did, in terms of looking at more granular data in every detail.

I agree with them that its like comparing apples to oranges, he said.

Deferiprone: A matter of debate or a matter of harm?

Both UHN and U of T, which shares responsibility for research conducted by physicians in its affiliated hospitals, have characterized the controversy as a dispute between duelling experts.

These types of disagreements are part of the scientific endeavour, a spokesperson for U of T said.

Hodges, UHNs chief medical officer, said the paper by Olivieri and Gallie was excellent  a welcome addition to the science.

But Jim Turk, the former head of CAUT, who has supported Olivieri since the 90s, said it is outrageous for the university and hospital to obfuscate this as an academic debate.

Its not a matter of debate, he said. Its a matter of harm, where these harms are reported. What did you do about the reports?

The decades-long battle over deferiprone has taken a toll on Olivieri. Although she has continued her research on thalassemia, and her work overseas, where a charity she founded supports the treatment of patients with the disease, at home, she said she feels she has been exiled from the mainstream medical community. Her once promising career as a clinician scientist, pursuing new therapies to improve the lives of patients, has stalled out.

Yet she is determined to press on.

If I hadnt fought I would have been letting my patients down, she said. They needed honesty and this fight in their defence, even if they still dont know it.

In June 2021, Gallie reached out to Baker, the UHN physician who led the review. She indicated that she and Olivieri wanted to challenge the hospitals response to their concerns.

Gallie was unsure how Baker would respond, given the findings of his review, in part, that they were now challenging. A year earlier, on the eve of the pandemic, Baker told the Star he would personally back up the conclusion that patients were treated (with) a proper standard of care.

But now his tone seemed to shift.

Baker thanked Gallie for the magnum opus shed attached to her note  a detailed timeline chronicling the alleged cover-up by UHN.

With that amount of careful documentation you will probably trigger a truly independent review of the whole issue organized by U of T, he wrote. Go for it.

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CAIRO (AP)  Two days of tribal violence in western Sudans long-troubled Darfur region killed at least 5 people, tribal leaders and a rights group said Friday.

The violence between African Masalit tribesmen and Arab shepherds in West Darfur erupted Thursday after two armed assailants fatally shot a merchant in a remote area, leaders from both groups said.

In a statement, Masalit tribesmen accused Arab militia of being behind the killing. The slaying sparked a series of targeted attacks that killed at least four more people, the tribal leaders and the rights group both said.

Five victims were later identified by the Darfur Bar Association, a Sudanese legal group focusing on human rights in the western province. The group called on both sides to de-escalate tensions.

The violence comes as wrangling cross-party talks continue in Khartoum over how the African country will usher in a civilian government following 17 months of military rule.

Sudan has been steeped in chaos after a military coup, led by the countrys top Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, removed a Western-backed government in October 2021, upending its short-lived transition to democracy.

But last December the countrys ruling military and various pro-democracy forces signed a preliminary agreement pledging to reinstate the transition.

Last week, signatories to Decembers agreement vowed to begin establishing a new civilian-led transitional government April 11. However, many major political forces in the country remain opposed to the deal.

Since the military takeover, Sudan has also seen a spike in inter-tribal violence in the countrys west and south.

Analysts see the violence and growing insecurity in Sudans far-flung regions as a product of the power vacuum caused by the military takeover.

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MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Filipino diplomats confronted Chinese officials in closed-door talks Friday with a slew of protests over Chinas aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, including targeting a Philippine coast guard ship with a military-grade laser, but no resolution was reached on the issues, an official said.

Territorial disputes in the busy waterway have long loomed as a potential flashpoint in Asia and have become a sensitive front in the regional rivalry between China and the United States.

Washington lays no claims in the contested waters but has challenged Beijings extensive claims, including by deploying its warships and fighter jets and repeatedly warning that it would help defend the Philippines  a treaty ally  if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft are attacked. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the seaway, which sits atop vast deposits of oil and gas.

A Chinese delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held two days of talks starting Thursday with Philippine counterparts led by Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and reviewed overall relations. The two sides focused on their territorial disputes Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said.

The talks opened with both sides citing an agreement between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who made a state visit to China in early January, to manage the territorial conflicts amicably while enhancing economic ties and other aspects of a nearly half-century of diplomatic relations.

We should not allow specific differences to define our bilateral relations or allow certain disputes to stand in the way of overall cooperation, Sun said in an opening speech before journalists were asked to leave the meeting room.

A Philippine official involved in the talks told The Associated Press that Filipino diplomats outlined several incidents underscoring Chinas assertiveness in the disputed waters in the closed-door talks. They cited Chinese incursions and a Feb. 6 incident when a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some crew members of a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal, the official said.

Chinas representatives responded mostly by reiterating Beijings claim of sovereignty in most of the South China Sea and citing intrusions by Philippine vessels, the official said.

A Philippine foreign affairs department statement said both sides discussed different incidents at sea since 2021, when the last talks on the disputes were held, but it did not mention any resolution. Proposed steps to boost cooperation were discussed, such as establishing a joint coast guard committee and holding annual defense security talks, it said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to publicly discuss what transpired in the meetings.

Marcos summoned the Chinese ambassador to Manila to express concern shortly after the laser-pointing incident. The Philippine coast guard caught the incident on video, which it made public, but Beijing countered that the Philippine vessel intruded into Chinese territorial waters and that its coast guard used a harmless laser gadget to monitor the vessels movement.

Manilas foreign affairs department condemned the Chinese coast guards action and sent a strongly worded protest to the Chinese Embassy. More than 200 such diplomatic protests have been lodged by the Philippines against China since last year, including at least 77 since Marcos took office in June, underlining how the longstanding conflicts have become a major irritant in relations with China early in his presidency.

China and the Philippines first held talks focusing on the disputes in 2017, but no major resolution has been reached as both sides stuck to their territorial stance. The consultations, nevertheless, help both sides understand each others position better and make accidental crises a bit less likely, said Washington-based analyst Greg Poling, who has studied the conflicts extensively.

It has to be done with clear eyes and no expectation that the fundamental issues will be solved in the short term through that format, Poling told the AP. China is not interested in compromise and the positions of the two countries are not reconcilable.

In early February, the Marcos administration announced it would allow rotating batches of American forces to indefinitely station in four more Philippine military camps. Those are in addition to five local bases earlier designated under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the allies.

Marcos told reporters Wednesday the four additional military sites would include areas in the northern Philippines. That location has infuriated Chinese officials because it would provide U.S. forces a staging ground close to southern China and Taiwan.

The Chinese diplomats expressed their strong opposition to an expanded U.S. military presence in the Philippines in closed-door talks on Thursday and warned of its future implications, the Philippine official told AP without elaborating.

The Filipino diplomats responded to Chinas objections by saying an expanded American military presence serves their national interest and would boost Philippine capability to respond to natural disasters, the official said, suggesting the move was not aimed at targeting China.

Marcos said American forces would also be allowed to station in military areas on the western Philippine island province of Palawan, adding that the U.S. military presence would boost coastal defense.

Palawan faces the South China Sea, a key passage for global trade that Beijing claims virtually in its entirety.

___

Find more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

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PARIS (AP)  Algerias ambassador to France, recalled home in February, will be returning to his post in the coming days, President Emmanuel Macrons office said Friday in a sign that the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries has been resolved.

Ambassador Said Moussi was recalled after a well-known Algerian militant was whisked to France from Tunisia on Feb. 6 with the help of French diplomats, a move that defied an official demand for her to be returned home. Amira Bouraoui also holds French nationality. She was not supposed to leave Algerian territory and authorities in Algiers said her flight to France amounted to an illegal exfiltration.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune informed Macron in a phone call that the ambassador would be returning to Paris shortly.

This exchange allowed for the lifting of misunderstandings, Macrons office said, adding that the two leaders agreed to strengthen communication channels between services concerned to ensure that this regrettable type of misunderstanding is not repeated.

Tebboune is expected to make a state visit to France, perhaps in May, making the return of the ambassador and resolution of the spat of particular importance.

Algeria and France have long had delicate relations, marked by 132 years of French colonial rule and a brutal seven-year war that ended with Algerian independence in 1962.

In 2021, Algerias then-ambassador Antar Daoud was recalled home for three months in another diplomatic spat  that time over irresponsible comments by Macron concerning post-war Algeria.

Macron had reportedly said that Algeria rewrote its official history with a discourse based not on truths but on a hate of France. The remarks at the time, made during an encounter between the French president and descendants of people who fought in the Algerian war, were reported by the French newspaper Le Monde and flashed across the Algerian media.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  U.N. human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as other possible war crimes such as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbor, according to a report released Friday.

The first full look by the U.N. human rights offices mission in Ukraine at the treatment of POWs was released along with an update of human rights violations overall from a six-month period that ran through January. The report was based on interviews with about 400 POWs  half Ukrainians who had been released and the other half Russians held captive in Ukraine.

The team said it had no access to POWs held in Russia or in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine where it identified 48 internment sites. The mission said it nonetheless documented some 40 summary executions over the course of the 13-month war.

The U.N. rights office, which has had a monitoring team in Ukraine since fighting broke out in areas of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia-backed separatists in 2014, has said its findings are based on confirmed cases and typically understate actual tolls.

The reporting from the world body is part of a meticulous effort to uncover details and determine the truth behind reports of atrocities and violations of the law of war committed during the current conflict. The U.N.s documentation may be introduced as evidence for possible trials at the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is looking into accounts of killings and child abductions, or by other tribunals.

We are deeply concerned about the summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons ordered to combat by Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, Matilda Bogner, the head of the U.N. monitoring mission, said at a Kyiv news conference.

Bogner laid out abuses allegedly committed by both sides but noted that Russias invasion of Ukraine was at the root of the violence against civilians and POWs. She said Ukrainian prosecutors were investigating some cases, but none had been taken yet to court.

In relation to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, we are also deeply concerned by the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces, Bogner said. The Wagner Group  military and security contractors  perpetrated 11 of these executions.

It also documented five cases in which Ukrainian POWs had died after being tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and four cases of death due to a lack of medical attention during internment.

The report found that while torture and ill-treatment of POWs took place on both sides, it was far more common against Ukrainians  more than 9 in 10 of interviewees reported such abuse than against Russians, about half of whom testified to such mistreatment.

In its update on rights abuses affecting other groups, the rights office said children from the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine were sent to summer camps in Russia with their parents consent but were not returned home as expected after the vacation period. Several parts of Kharkiv province were occupied by Russia last year before Ukraines military reclaimed them in a late summer counter-offensive.

Some 200 children sent to a camp in the Russian city of Krasnodarskyi Krai, remained after the summer and were enrolled in a local school, according to the second report. The update noted that Russian authorities said in October that as many as 2,500 children from Ukraine were living in temporary accommodation centers in Russia, and some had remained there.

But the rights office cautioned that it remained unclear how many unaccompanied children were placed in camps, temporary lodging or institutionalized care in Russia, as well as how many children were transferred there with their parents.

The monitors said they corroborated dozens of killings of civilians who were perceived as so-called traitors against Ukraine for allegedly collaborating with Russian forces in occupied areas.

The U.N. office expressed concern that some of the killings might have been carried out by Ukrainian government agents, or with their acquiescence, and it called for a full, impartial investigation.

The half-year update tallied 621 cases of enforced disappearances or arbitrary detention by Russian armed forces, and chronicled, at times in excruciating detail, the types of abuse reported: cavity searches; the beating or tasering of genitalia; threats of torture against or killing of family members, and worse.

The horrendous human cost of war is also evident in the cases of conflict-related sexual violence, which we have documented since Russias invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Bogner said.

As of Jan. 31, her office recorded 133 victims of such violence: 85 men, 45 women and three girls. Over four-fifths of the cases were attributable to Russian military, law enforcement authorities and penitentiary staff, and the rest to Ukrainian security forces, according to the report released Friday.

One woman, the mother of a Ukrainian security service member, was strangled, electrocuted, beaten, kicked, repeatedly raped and forced to perform oral sex in July, after members of Russias Federal Security Service, a successor agency to the KGB, entered her home in July, the update said.

The U.N. reported earlier this week that it had recorded the deaths of 8,317 civilians in Ukraine since the war started and the injuring of another 13,809 people in connection with the conflict. It cautioned that those figures understated the actual casualties. .

___

Keaten reported from Geneva. Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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By Azernews

Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has released another footages of illegal military transports through the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turssu road.

The Defense Ministry reports that Azerbaijan Army's technical surveillance means recorded the movement of 1 BTR-82A combat vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeeping contingent, 3 Armenian KamAZ awnings and a KamAZ vehicle with a fuel tank.

Such activities carried out by the Russian peacekeeping contingent are a failure of fulfillment of their duties related to the implementation of the provisions of the Trilateral Statement .

Contrary to their duties and obligations, the creation of conditions for the free movement of illegal Armenian formations in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan by accompanying the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other means of material and technical support is a gross violation of the reached agreements by the peacekeeping contingent. Such cases must be stopped immediately.

Such regular illegal activities demonstrate the necessity of establishing an Azerbaijani border crossing and control point at the end of the Lachin road on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.





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ZARANJ, Afghanistan, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities distributed China-donated humanitarian aid to 400 families in the western Nimroz province on Thursday, Mawlawi Sediqullah Nasrtat, the provincial director for refugees and repatriation affairs, said Friday.

"We distributed China-donated humanitarian assistance to 400 poor families here in provincial capital Zaranj city yesterday afternoon and each family received a bag of 50 kg rice and 50 kg wheat," Nasrat told Xinhua.

The assistance was distributed in the presence of Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Affairs Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the official said.

China has provided foodstuff to nearly 1,800 families in Nimroz and neighboring Herat provinces over the past two months, officials said. 
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP)  President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. would respond forcefully to protect its personnel after U.S. forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard following a suspected Iranian-linked attack Thursday that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded seven other Americans in northeast Syria.

The United States does not, does not seek conflict with Iran, Biden said in Ottawa, Canada, where he is on a state visit. But he said Iran and its proxies should be prepared for the U.S. to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night. Activists said the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

While its not the first time the U.S. and Iran have traded strikes in Syria, the attacks and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

The Pentagon said a drone attack on a U.S. base Thursday killed a contractor and injured five U.S. troops and another contractor. That was followed by two simultaneous attacks on U.S. forces in Syria Friday, according to U.S. officials.

The officials said that based on preliminary information, there was a rocket attack Friday at a Conoco plant, and one U.S. service member was injured but is in stable condition. At about the same time, several drones were launched at Green Village, where U.S. troops are also based. One official said all but one of the drones were shot down, and there were no U.S. injuries there. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

Two Syrian opposition activist groups reported a new wave of airstrikes on eastern Syria that hit positions of Iran-backed militias after rockets were fired at a Conoco gas plant that has a base housing American troops. Several U.S. officials, however, said the U.S. did not launch any attacks late Friday, and it wasnt clear if the activists were referring to the attack on U.S. forces at Green Village.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the American intelligence community had determined the drone in Thursdays attack on was of Iranian origin. U.S. officials said that conclusion was based on recovered debris and intelligence threat streams. They offered no immediate evidence to support the claim. The drone hit a maintenance facility at a coalition base in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka.

In retaliation, the Pentagon said F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck several locations around Deir el-Zour. Those strikes, said Austin, were a response to the drone attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

Biden, speaking during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the American killed and well-wishes for the injured.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy. The U.S. has had forces in northeast Syria since 2015, when they deployed as part of the fight against the Islamic State group, and maintains some 900 troops there, working with Kurdish-led forces that control around a third of Syria.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iranian-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Reports on the number of killed and wounded in the U.S. strikes varied. Activist group Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in the province, said four people were killed and a number of others were wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said 11 Iranian-backed fighters were killed  including six at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour and five at military posts near the towns of Mayadeen and Boukamal.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory, said three rockets were fired earlier Friday at the al-Omar oil field in Deir el-Zour that houses U.S. troops, an apparent retaliation to the American strikes.

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports. Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, and their officials at the United Nations in New York did not respond to requests for comment from the AP.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, warned that its forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

On Thursday, Kurilla warned Congress during a hearing that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

According to officials, Iran has launched 80 attacks against U.S. forces and locations in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The vast majority of those have been in Syria.

Diplomacy to deescalate the exchange appeared to begin immediately. The foreign minister of Qatar spoke by phone with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Qatari state news agency reported. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran  in February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of U.S.-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

__

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Irbil, Iraq, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.

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BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP)  Attorneys took their fight over whether to unseal more documents in the 2019 child pornography investigation of billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to the South Dakota Supreme Court on Thursday.

Sanford is seeking to bar the release of affidavits used to issue search warrants in the case. But the Argus Leader and ProPublica contend they should be public. Also at issue is what should be redacted if the affidavits are released.

The two news outlets were the first to report on the investigation into Sanford that began in 2019. Thats when state investigators began searching Sanfords email account, as well as his cellular and internet service providers, for possible possession of child pornography after his accounts were flagged by a technology firm.

The South Dakota attorney generals office declined to file charges against Sanford after the probe, saying it found no prosecutable offenses within the states jurisdiction.

Court documents in the case initially were sealed and referred only to an implicated individual, leading the Argus Leader and ProPublica to go to court seeking access to the records.

The search warrants were unsealed in 2021, identifying Sanford by name for the first time, but the affidavits remained sealed.

Jon Arneson and Jeff Beck, lawyers for the Argus Leader and ProPublica, said they should be allowed to determine what personal identifying information should be redacted in the affidavits.

Were not asking this court to craft some redaction statute or to interpret state statute, he said. The statute is clear, that is an open document for public access. Now, if theres something in there they dont want, then they can follow the statute.

Such redacted information typically includes phone numbers, names of minors, Social Security numbers and addresses. Sanfords attorney, Stacey Hegge, argued Sanford should be able to see if theres any disclosure of trade secrets in the affidavits.

Sanford, who is in his 80s, is worth an estimated $3.4 billion. He made a fortune as the founder of First Premier Bank in South Dakota, which is known for issuing high-interest credit cards to those with poor credit.

He has donated greatly to the hospital that carries his name, Sanford Health, which is based in Sioux Falls and has major medical centers in Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota.

Judges will make their determination on the request to unseal the affidavits in later months.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday overturned the murder conviction of a police officer convicted of killing a man who was holding a gun to his own head.

The appellate court ordered a new trial for former Huntsville officer William Ben Darby. The court, in tossing the murder conviction, agreed with Darbys attorney that the trial judge should have given jurors different instructions on evaluating the reasonableness of Darbys use of deadly force in that situation.

Darbys defense attorneys have maintained that the shooting was justified because he feared the man would harm officers.

Darby was sentenced in 2021 to 25 years in prison for the on-duty shooting of Jeffrey Parker in 2018. Darby shot Parker while responding to a call after the man phoned 911 saying he was armed and planned to kill himself.

Trial testimony indicated Darby shot Parker, who was sitting on a sofa holding a gun to his head, within seconds of entering the home. Another officer had been speaking with Parker trying to convince him not to kill himself, according to trial testimony. It would later be determined that Parker was actually holding a flare gun that had been painted black but there is no evidence indicating that any of the officers were aware of that fact, the appellate court wrote.

Video from Darbys body camera showed that the officer entered the home and told Darby to put the gun down before shooting.

Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard told news outlets that they will prosecute the case again.

We have the evidence and certainly well put it before a jury again, Broussard told al.com.

Defense attorney Robert Tuten told WHNT that Darby has maintained he acted correctly.

Ive been very impressed with Bens confidence. He knew he was right. He knew he followed the law as he had been trained to do, Tuten said.

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Donald Trump warned there could be violence if hes indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in an escalation of verbal attacks on prosecutors investigating the former president for potential crimes.

In a Truth Social post early Friday, Trump asked how a former president could be charged with a crime given that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country?

Trump made the warning a day before his first major rally of the 2024 Republican campaign in Texas, a friendly locale full of symbolism. The rally will be in Waco, 30 years after federal law enforcement raided a cult headquarters and stoked anti-government sentiment among far-right extremists.

In a torrent of posts, the former president has railed about government overreach and criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the other state and federal prosecutors who are investigating him in Washington, DC and Georgia.

Last weekend, Trump predicted he would be arrested in the New York probe related to a payment just before the 2016 election to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair. Hes also being investigated for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection and his handling of classified documents.

The former president has labelled Bragg, who is Black, racist and an animal and linked him to Democratic political donor George Soros, a frequent target of the right.

Why & who would do such a thing? Only a degenerate psychopath, Trump said of Bragg.

In a statement in Politicos New York Playbook newsletter on Friday, civil rights leaders including Al Sharpton called Trumps comments an effort to burn down the greatest values of our democracy and destroy honest, ethical officials performing their constitutional duties to avoid accountability.

Bragg has said in a statement that he will not tolerate intimidation.

Trump has previously called for his supporters to protest, take our nation back, similar to when he urged his supporters to assemble in Washington and march to the US Capitol in 2021 when Congress met to ratify Trumps loss in the election and a violent mob stormed the complex.

New York City police officers put up security barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court and Braggs office this week, but so far, protests have been minimal.

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Starbucks perennial CEO and album cover, Howard Schultz, quit again this week, for the third time, but you know hell be back.

Schultz is Starbucks, even more than its overpriced and verbose. Hes already come and gone thrice, usually to explore a run as Democratic presidential nominee.

This step down may be due to a looming appearance at Bernie Sanders U.S. Senate committee on What the Hell is Wrong with this Country? Schultz tried dodging it but Sanders boxed him in. It should be beautiful and gory. Im clearing next Wednesday.

Sanders wants to grill Schultz on Starbucks appalling response to efforts by its workers, known bombastically as partners, to unionize. Through superhuman effort, they managed to get legally certified to bargain at about 300 of Starbucks 14,500 U.S. stores. Yet not one has a contract yet.

This is a little known reality of union struggles. Its utter hell and hoops to leap through, just getting your unit signed up and recognized as bargaining agent. Then your troubles begin. The company can stall endlessly, fire key people and close unionized stores, as Starbucks has. In Canada six stores are certified but only one has a contract. Then Starbucks increased pay at all outlets here except that one. Its not just smart, its mean. Its mean smart.

Schultz is a gem of a symbol of owner resistance to workers right to speak through their own organization.

If they had faith in me and my motives, they wouldnt need a union, he says. Trump couldnt have said it better, and didnt. (I alone can fix it.) Its true paternalism: you embrace their neediness while denying their equality. Workers rarely join unions just for money, its almost always about respect. Same for their bosses, who want dominance and deference.

Schultz indeed sees himself as more than a CEO, which is why he keeps fingering a presidential run. Though perhaps he should run for Czar, whom Russian peasants before the revolution thought would fix everything if only he knew their plight. He calls himself a centrist with advanced views on things like same-sex marriage, in the mould of the Clintons and Tony Blair.

Centrist is an apt term, with its geometric echoes. Centrists triangulate to appeal to moderates and progressives without disrupting anything basic. Margaret Thatcher called Blair her greatest achievement. They won a few elections with that gutless formula. Then came the deluge of Trump, Brexit etc.

Sanders is a perfect antagonist for Schultz.

He broke the glass ceiling of U.S. political rhetoric by calling himself a socialist  while winning elections and almost getting the Democratic presidential nomination. When asked what he means by socialist, he always starts with FDR and the 1930s New Deal. He rants joyously against millioneahs and billioneahs, as Roosevelt revelled in their hate. (A New Yorker cartoon of the 1930s had plutocrats in furs and top hats saying, Lets go down to the Bijou and boo Roosevelt on the newsreel.)

Sanders has learned to include race and gender issues but he still tends to lead with workers, even as workers are no longer mostly miners and factory hands, theyre in cafes and malls. Not just workers but unions, which give them a (not automatic) chance to speak in their own voice vs. being ventriloquized.

Earlier this week, I wandered into the new Starbucks at the corner of Bathurst and College Streets where a bank once was. In the old days Starbucks would scout around an area they wanted to enter and buy up the leases from under cherished neighbourhood cafes on the corners. They did it in the 1990s leading to the epic battle of Dooneys on Bloor Street. I know because the head of Starbucks Canada told me when they were suing for peace after realizing theyd chosen the wrong corner in the Annex to die on.

Schultz began by destroying local heroes. Now hes replacing defunct banks. Metaphors can be so irritating.

Rick Salutin is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Reach him via email: salutinrick@gmail.com

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The war in Ukraine is pushing Japan closer to NATO.

For more than a year, Tokyo has been sniffing out the Western alliance. In particular, it is determined to make sure that the U.S. focus on Russia does not leave Japan wanting.

Japans position in the world is complicated. Its constitution, imposed by the victorious Allies in 1945, bans all wars. It even makes it illegal for Japan to have an army.

It may come as a surprise then to discover that Japans territorial army, cunningly referred to as the Self-Defence Forces, is one of the largest in Asia, surpassed only by China, Russia, North Korea, India and the U.S.

Indeed, until recently, the biggest critics of Japanese military spending were the Japanese themselves. The liberal left argued that Japan spent too much on defence. The conservative right said Japan spent too little.

As long as the U.S. protected Japan from external enemies this debate over military spending remained theoretical.

But then the Ukraine war came along. For America, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine brought back memories of the Cold War, a time when the world was divided into two camps.

As in the original Cold War, the new one with Russia gives no time to equivocate. Every nation is faced with a choice. In Japan, that means taking on Russia or doing nothing.

Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the obligatory pilgrimage to Kyiv to pledge support for Ukraine.

But Russia is not the only adversary the U.S. faces in the new cold war. There is also China. And for Japan, China poses another set of problems.

China is intimately tied to Japanese economic interests in Asia. The U.S. sees China primarily in strategic and political terms. Japan does not have this luxury. It must deal with the fact that China is central to everything Tokyo hopes to accomplish in the Asia-Pacific region  every trade deal, every investment opening.

In the period before the Americans began once again to deal with the world in Cold War terms, China was, for Tokyo, a way to avoid some of the problems posed by North Korea.

Japan would never abandon the American approach to the Korean standoff. But it was able to use its relationship with China to add some subtlety to that approach.

The new cold war, however, has no room for subtlety. North Korea is the enemy. Period. As long as Beijing takes a position that is any way opposed to U.S. interests, so is China.

This is the NATO option that Japan faces. It could easily become a full-fledged member. Germany is already holding talks to boost ties with Tokyo.

But this would tie it irrevocably into the new anti-China cold war that America is creating. And that might be a big mistake.

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Businesses crushed by decade of Crosstown construction chaos push Ontario for help in budget, March 23

Direct financial compensation to small businesses hurt by massive infrastructure construction projects like the Eglinton Crosstown is a recommended solution by a small business association.

The head of Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, John Kiru, made reference to a construction mitigation program in Montreal that gives up to $40,000 to affected companies to help cover downturn in business with infrastructure projects. He said, If Montreal can do it, theres no way we cant figure out a way to do it in Ontario.

Sure there is  face the builders and demand the fees to help with municipal infrastructure. Dont worry about them being your friend. Up the provincial portion of the HST; look at Quebecs tax rates compared to Ontario if you really want to know why Montreal can be helpful to small businesses.

Oh, and make sure that the rich pay their portion.

Could someone in each level of government have the gumption to do what Quebec does?

Not if you want to have friends at your table.

Carmel Richards, Georgetown

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Have you spent much time downtown lately?

No?

Me neither.

COVID blew a hole in downtowns across North America, as people stayed home in droves and companies figured out ways to let their employees work remotely. The pandemic is pretty much in the rear window now, but some downtowns still havent recovered  and Torontos is one of the big laggards.

Its not hard to figure out why. An awful lot of people discovered during the pandemic that they didnt have to make that daily trek to the office. One U.S. survey found employees saw working at home as equivalent to an eight-per-cent raise. Another found that working from home reduced resignation rates by 35 per cent.

For individual employees, that makes perfect sense. But theres a social cost. Downtown service businesses (retail, restaurants, bars) have suffered. Transit systems were starved for fares, so they cut service; not surprisingly, riders found them even less reliable so even more stayed away, and the vicious circle continued.

Toronto has been hit harder than most cities. A recent U of T study ranked it 41 out of 62 among North American urban centres in downtown recovery, based on data from mobile phones. Data from early February showed only 43 per cent of workers were back in the office  a lower rate than in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and other comparable U.S. cities.

In fact, Canadian downtowns are having a harder time bouncing back from COVID than many American ones. Pandemic lockdown policies were generally stricter in Canada so more people found ways to work at home. They discovered they could do their jobs just fine without the stress of the daily commute, and theyre not rushing back to the old routines.

Companies, of course, would like their employees to come back to those fancy, expensive downtown offices. But naturally theres a lot of resistance. If you can do your job perfectly well from home, why fight the traffic or squeeze onto the TTC every day? The saw-off for many is two or three days a week at the office, and the rest working remotely from home.

Thats fine for individual employees; theres no point in forcing people to trek in every day when its obvious that serves no real business purpose. But theres a wider issue of what becomes of our downtowns when thousands of people arent going into the office every day.

No one wants to see downtowns wither away. In the United States, the flight to the suburbs in the 1950s to 80s left many downtowns crumbling, abandoned to those too poor to move to safer and richer neighbourhoods, or wealthy enough to insulate themselves from dangers on the street.

That didnt happen in Canada, at least not to the same extent, and as a result we generally have more vibrant, safer cities, including downtowns that dont completely empty out after 5 p.m. (Obviously, Canadas much more robust social safety net was key as well, but thats another story.)

Torontos mayoral election should be an opportunity for a robust debate on how to make sure the citys central core doesnt wither because of the COVID hangover. Theres a real danger that the decline in daily foot traffic will kill many retail businesses. In fact, it already has.

Reversing this trend is easier said than done. In 2021 the federal Liberals promised $600 million to convert empty downtown office and retail space into new housing, but its not clear how much of that money has actually been spent. Developers say its a nice idea, but with many office buildings conversion into housing is just not practical.

Im no expert on that. But I do know one of the best things about Canadian cities like Toronto (in contrast to so many American ones) is that their downtowns are lively and safe well after office hours. Lets use the mayoral campaign to debate how to make sure that continues long after COVID is just a bad memory.

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ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- One of the world's largest pizza chains, the United States-based Domino's Pizza, has formally given up on its aspirations of gaining a foothold in the country that invented pizza.

The company closed its last stores in Rome and Milan last year, and, according to media reports on Thursday, the company's Italian franchise partner, ePizza, has begun the process of liquidating the company's Italian assets in the hope of recovering at least part of the initial investments.

The company's Italian website was no longer operating as of Thursday and its final posts on social media accounts date back to last year.

Calls to ePizza went unanswered on Thursday, but when contacted by Xinhua, the U.S. press office of Domino's Pizza confirmed the media reports on the company's withdrawal from Italy.

According to largest.org, a data site, Domino's is the largest pizza chain in the world, with 12.3 billion U.S. dollars in global annual revenue. But the 63-year-old company never managed to gain traction in Italy.

The company launched in Italy in 2015 with plans to open up to 880 stores in the country. But at its peak, it operated only 29 locations.

The origins of pizza are opaque, though there are records from the times of antiquity of soldiers making flatbread with toppings on their shields. A poem from ancient Rome that dates back to the first-century BC, mentions locals frying bread and cheese on hot ashes, calling it "pinsa," a word still used today for certain kinds of Roman pizza.

But the modern pizza is thought to date back to the 18th century in Naples, where the dish was a hearty staple for the poor. 
The urban development and municipal affairs (UDMA) department allegedly sits idle on recruitment and promotion process of engineers in civic bodies across the state at the backdrop when the central investigating agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam found alleged irregularities in recruitment of around 5,000 employees in different municipal bodies.

Firhad Hakim, UDMA minister, on Wednesday had proposed to the state government that district magistrates (DM) oversee recruitments in group D staff in municipalities with help of a committee.

Hardly, four years ago, the UDMA department had prepared recruitment, transfer and posting process of engineers starting from sub-assistant engineers, assistant engineers, executive engineers to chief engineers in 124 municipal bodies, including Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in the city and districts under an umbrella called West Bengal Municipal Engineers Service (WBMES).

The Mamata Banerjee cabinet had also approved recruitment of around 1,550 engineers for the municipalities. Since then nothing has been done to implement the cabinet decision, sources in Nagorayan Bhaban, UDMA headquarters at Salt Lake said.

Sources said, Every municipal body usually recruits engineers as per its requirement on the basis of vacancies. There was no specific system for recruitment, posting, promotion and transfer of engineers in municipalities because of no proper service process, under WBMES, is approved by the government. An engineer without any transfer policy system has to spend his or her entire service period at the same municipality.

The prime aim to form the WBMES is to destroy an unholy racket between the mayor or chairman and mayor-in-council (MIC) members of a municipal corporation or municipality and a section of engineers, who spend their entire service period of more than 30 years in the same civic body. The WBMES was created to streamline all the issues, the sources felt.

According to a commissioner of a municipal corporation, Recruitment of senior engineers for permanent post in a municipal corporation is done by the West Bengal Municipal Service Commission. I dont have any idea about the formation of WBMES. For municipal bodies, recruitment is conducted as per their local requirements.

 Khalil Ahmed, principal secretary in charge UDMA department, did
Trinamul Congress has demanded an inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities in recruitment during the Left Front regime.

Addressing a press conference Kunal Ghosh, partys state general secretary, said, It is an open secret that the relatives and family members of whole timers of CPM had received state government jobs as teachers in primary and secondary schools, he said adding, We want to know the recruitment process which the CPM had followed.

He said Trinamul had sent a list of teachers, who were relatives of CPM leaders and secured jobs as teachers in the CPM regime, to Bratya Basu to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter and publish the report.

Mr Ghosh alleged that the wife of CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty had got job at Dinabandhu Andrews College in south Kolkata. The governing body of the college had proposed her name and she got the appointment letter from Haraprasad Samaddar, principal of the college. This is just a tip of the iceberg. Mr Chakraborty should publish a white paper containing names of those who got jobs as teachers during the CPM regime and what procedure had been followed to recruit them, he said.

Mr Ghosh added, We have got names of the relatives of some CPM and Citu leaders, who got jobs flouting all norms. We will publish them when required.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, on Thursday presented a deficit budget of Rs 1,592 crore for the fiscal year 2023-24

This deficit amount is almost 3.42 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP).

Though the opposition criticised the high deficit amount in the budget, the Chief Minister termed it as a peoples budget.

He said: I am happy to announce that the estimated capital outlay for 2023-24 is 14 per cent higher than 2023-24 and 38.5 per cent higher than 2021-22. This substantial increase in capital expenditure will be the foundation for the projected increase in economic growth.

According to Sangma, the overall revenue for the budget would be Rs 21,781 crore, of which tax revenue will be Rs 19,414 crore and capital revenue will be Rs 2,366 crore. Including loans of Rs 2,339 crore, the expected total revenues are Rs 19,442 crore.

Regarding spending, the Minister put the total at Rs 22,022 crore, of which Rs 17,186 crore went towards revenue and Rs 4,838 crore went towards investments.

When Meghalaya celebrates its 60 years of statehood in 2032, he reaffirmed his commitment to make the state into one of the top 10 in the nation.

He stated: The target is to be among the top 10 states in terms of per capital GDP and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. We shall work together to create a successful and joyful Meghalaya.

Sangma outlined the main areas of focus for the MDA 2.0 governments 5-year plan.

We would implement policies and programmes to double the GSDP to around Rs 80,000 crore by 2027-28 and make Meghalaya a ten billion-dollar economy, he added.
The Centre has released Rs 462 crore to be given as compensation to as many as 9,03,336 farmers in Uttar Pradesh who faced crop losses during the natural calamities last year.

A total compensation of Rs 1,260 crore was released by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for six states through the crop insurance portal.

The amount has been calculated on the basis of yield through crop cutting experiments.

State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that an amount of Rs 134.25 crore have already been paid by insurance companies to 2.18 lakh farmers as partial compensation in the mid-term.

Thus, a total amount of Rs 597.05 crore have been given directly to the farmers as compensation for the kharif 2022 season. The amount has been paid through DBT.

Shahi said that in the event of a disaster, the information about personal damage to farmers should be given within 72 hours.

There is a provision to give compensation in gram panchayat if the sowing is reduced to 60 per cent. Hence more farmers will get benefit and credibility in the scheme will increase, Shahi said.

The Minister said that the premium should be made available to the insurance company within the stipulated time so that farmers are not deprived of the benefits of the scheme.

He said that it should also be ensured that the compensation amount is paid to the farmers through the portal within one month of harvesting.
The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) and the University at Buffalo, USA (UB) have signed a cooperation agreement to enrich research in biomedicine and bioengineering.

The agreement was signed by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT-Kanpur, and Prof A Scott Weber, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Buffalo.

By signing this cooperation agreement, IIT-K and UB have agreed to establish the IITK-UB Joint Center of Excellence in Biomedicine and Bioengineering at IIT-Kanpur premises. The centre is being established with the objective to facilitate long-term collaborations in education and research between IIT-Kanpur and University at Buffalo, as well as other institutions.

The research focus of this Centre will be on developing materials and technologies for both in vitro (studies performed with cells) and in vivo (studies performed with animals) applications in biosciences.

Upon signing the agreement, Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT-Kanpur, said: The agreement we signed today with University at Buffalo is in continuation to an existing MoU between the two institutes. Both the institutes have strategic objectives to collaborate for research that would help us build a robust ecosystem in Biomedicine and Bioengineering.

The Center aims to develop materials & technologies for bioscience applications and facilitate long-term joint research collaborations. Were confident that this Center would provide several opportunities to our researchers, faculty and students in taking forward research in these core areas, he said.

The formation of the Center under the agreement would facilitate exchange of students and researchers between IIT Kanpur and University at Buffalo; along with facilitating collaborative research and training programs; joint conferences, thematic workshops and exchange of scholarly material.

The cooperation agreement comes after a Joint Degree Program agreement that was signed between IIT-K and UB in 2017, to provide selected doctoral students at either institutes the opportunity to conduct research at the partner institute and earn two degrees, one each from IIT-K and UB.
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Britain's decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing ammunition containing depleted uranium has elicited a strong reaction from Russia, spurring fears that the current crisis in Ukraine might escalate and spiral out of control.

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said in Washington on Wednesday that Western countries led by the United States have decided to bring humankind to the brink of a nuclear Armageddon, TASS news agency reported.

He made the remarks while responding to statements by U.S. officials that depleted uranium munitions are a standard type of weapon used for decades and don't pose any heightened risk, according to TASS reports.

"Commenting on this kind of nonsense is really hard. U.S. officials have reached a new low with their irresponsible statements. There is a continuous flow of lethal weapons to Ukraine, which are used to annihilate civilians, residential areas, schools, hospitals, kindergartens," Antonov said, cited by TASS.

Speaking in London on Monday, British Minister of State for Defence Annabel Goldie said some of the ammunition her country would send to Ukraine alongside Challenger 2 tanks contains depleted uranium.

Russian leaders quickly denounced the move.

"I would like to note in this regard that if all this happens, then Russia will be forced to react accordingly. I mean that the collective West is already starting to use weapons with a nuclear component," Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday in Moscow, cited by Sputnik news agency.

"It seems that the West really decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, not in words, but in deeds," he added.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu echoed Putin's warning, saying there would be few red lines left uncrossed if Britain delivered on its promise to give Ukraine depleted uranium weapons, Sputnik reported.

"I can only say this: We are running out of red lines...Another line has been crossed, and there are fewer and fewer of them left," he told reporters in Moscow, cited by Sputnik.

The United Nations on Tuesday also expressed concerns over Britain's plan to send shells made with depleted uranium to Ukraine.

"You'll have seen the concerns we've expressed over the years about any use of depleted uranium given the consequences of such usage. And those would apply to anyone who provides such armaments," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said at a media briefing.

"We have made clear, including through our Office of Disarmament Affairs, concerns about any use of depleted uranium anywhere," Haq added.

Depleted uranium is the main by-product of uranium enrichment and is a chemically and radiologically toxic heavy metal, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

This dense metal is used in munitions for its penetrating ability and as a protective material in armored vehicles, it said, noting that air, soil, water, and vegetation could potentially be contaminated and affected by its residues.

In a 2022 report, the United Nations said that depleted uranium was an environmental concern in Ukraine.

"Depleted uranium and toxic substances in common explosives can cause skin irritation, kidney failure and increase the risks of cancer," said the report.

The use of depleted uranium ammunition in Ukraine will affect the country's agriculture sector, Sputnik said on Wednesday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"The use of depleted uranium ammunition will dramatically reduce, or maybe even not preserve at all Ukraine's ability to produce high-quality uninfected food," Lavrov warned at a press conference. 
Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, who was last seen in Uunchai, was recently spotted with Raghav Chadha  the Rajya Sabha MP. She went out on a dinner with the politician earlier, and met him again for a lunch date on Thursday.

While the two earlier had dinner at Westin hotel in the Goregaon area of Mumbai, they had dinner at a Bandra restaurant.

Videos of their lunch meet-up have been doing rounds on social media with Internet users speculating if something is brewing between them. In the video, while Raghav can be seen sitting in his car, Parineeti can be dressed in black casual wear. She greets the paparazzi stationed at the restaurant and then proceeds to sit in the car. Chadha sported a formal shirt and pant.

Parineeti is the cousin of actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and has been working in Bollywood since 2011. In her 12 years of career so far, she has done films like Ishaqzaade, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, Shuddh Desi Romance, Hasee Toh Phasee, Golmaal Again and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar.

Raghav is the youngest Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Parineeti has Chamkila and Capsule Gill in the pipeline.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written a letter to his cabinet colleague Union Environment minister Bhupendra Yadav expressing deep concerns about the increasing number of deaths of elephants and has sought the Centres intervention in this matter.

In his letter to Yadav, Pradhan said, Considering the critical situation in Odisha, we believe that the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Changes intervention is vital. I request you to take immediate action in addressing this pressing issue to ensure the harmonious coexistence of humans and elephants in Odisha. Pradhan has stated that over the past decade, Odisha has lost 784 elephants, with 245 of these deaths occurring in the last three years alone. He further stated that in the month of March alone, seven deaths have been reported. Most of these deaths are reported due to poaching, electrocution or train/ road accidents.

Quoting the figures or the State Assembly where it was stated that 2776 wild animals had been killed in the past 5 years (2017-18 to 2021-22) in Odisha, including 416 elephants. Further, 669 people and 741 domestic animals died, and 9151 houses were damaged due to elephant attacks.

Elephant conservation is of paramount importance to Odisha, as these majestic animals are an integral part of our ecological balance, cultural heritage, and the states identity. The well-being of these creatures is essential for maintaining the health of our forests and the livelihood of local communities that rely on them, Pradhan wrote in his letter to the Environment Minister.

The Narendra Modi-led Central Government has shown commitment to wildlife conservation, Pradhan elaborates stating that Prime Minister Modis radio program, Mann Ki Baat, has often highlighted the importance of elephants and their conservation. The Central Governments efforts in expanding the Protected Area Network and launching Project Elephant have set a strong foundation for the protection of these gentle giants, the Union Minister highlighted in his letter.
In Uttar Pradesh, the government has adopted 2.70 lakh TB patients, of which 70 per cent are now living a healthy life after being disease-free, said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Friday.

Speaking at the international seminar One World TB Summit held at the Rudraksha Convention Center on World TB Day in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM stated: The state government has so far paid Rs 422 crore through DBT for nutritional assistance to the states TB patients. We are committed to keeping the 25 crore population of UP healthy.

Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged strong in every field. All schemes in Uttar Pradesh have been implemented with priority over the last six years under the guidance of PM Modi, he added. Governor Anandi Ben Patel was also present on the occasion.

During the inaugural session of the three-day seminar, the Chief Minister welcomed all participants on behalf of the state government and the people. On the occasion of World TB Day, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for organizing this program in Kashi. Kashi is the place of the PMs Karma Sadhana, from where he is representing the country in Parliament.

The Chief Minister said that today, India is reaching new heights. All of this is very well presented in the speech of Dr. Lushika, Executive Director of the Stop TB Campaign. India is in the first year of its Amrit Kaal, and in such a situation, under PM Modis chairmanship, India has assumed G-20 leadership.

The country is moving at a rapid pace towards fulfilling the Prime Ministers vision of a TB-free India by 2025. UP, Indias most populous state once had 21% of the countrys TB patients. In the last five years, a total of Rs 422 crore has been made available to 16.90 lakh TB patients in UP through DBT as nutritional assistance, he added.

The CM went on to say that so far, more than 2.25 lakh TB patients have been adopted and nutritional materials have been provided. As a result, we have been able to cure 70% of these tuberculosis patients. Special attention is being given to the TB investigation at PM Ayushman Wellness Center. Today, the process of distributing more than 80,000 kits on a war footing is underway in various districts across the state.

The Chief Minister stated that in the last six years, every scheme in Uttar Pradesh has been implemented with full commitment under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Modi. This was done in order to keep the states 25 crore people healthy. In particular, success has been achieved in controlling communicable diseases, Japanese, and acute encephalitis syndrome by up to 96 percent in UP.

He said that India has presented a Covid model of management to the world. For the first time, when a pandemic struck, an indigenous vaccine was developed under PM Modis leadership. In Uttar Pradesh, 40 crore doses of Covid vaccine were administered for free.

Furthermore, the CM stated that in UP, where the maternal mortality rate was previously 285 per lakh, has now been reduced to 167 per lakh. Aside from that, the infant mortality rate was previously 57 per thousand, which the government was able to reduce to 38 per thousand. UP is working tirelessly to defeat tuberculosis, and I am confident that TB will be defeated and India will win, the CM remarked.

On this occasion, UP Governor Anandiben Pate, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Bhai Mandaviya, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, besides health delegates from the country and the world were present.
Amritpal Singh, Khalistani supporter and head of the organization Waris Punjab De, kept his wife in captivity, beat her up regularly, and was associated with several other women, according to inputs by intelligence agencies.

A report by Central Intelligence agencies reveals that Amritpal was living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without following Sikh tenets and was not an Amritdhari Sikh. Probe agencies are investigating why Singh visited Thailand numerous times, including whether he was indulging in prostitution or did he have a girlfriend in Thailand and was he maintaining a second wife in Thailand?

His organisation gave no prominent role to women. Reena Roy, the girlfriend of late Deep Sidhu was not allowed to open up about Amritpals association with Deep Sidhu. Kirandip Kaur, the wife of Amritpal Singh has been kept in captivity and beaten up regularly him.

Amritpal Singh called his marriage an example of reverse migration projecting he will stay in Punjab. Probe agencies are also question the premise of Amritpal Singhs organisation and is seeking answers on why no women were at the forefront if it was actually a fight against drugs. Women of any family are the biggest sufferers of the widespread drug menace phenomenon. As they have not been at the forefront, it shows that it is not an actual fight against drugs, but only a show-off, according to intelligence reports.

Amritpal does not talk about his past as it is overtly due to possible damage to his image leading to a decrease in credibility. He was closely involved with drug dealers in Dubai namely Jaswant Singh Rode whose brother is operating from Pakistan, reads the report.

He does not talk about his past life where he was non-Amritdhari and not following Sikh religious tenets. After coming to India, he and his organization started working as a religious fundamentalist cum vigilante group, completely contradictory to his earlier personality which clearly shows that he has been planted in India by forces inimical to Indian interest, according to intelligence reports.
In a setback to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan,the Kerala High Court on Friday quashed the order of Governor in his capacity as Chancellor of the Kerala University , withdrawing the nomination of 15 members from the Kerala University Senate.

Quashing the orders of the governor as chancellor of the university, a single bench of Justice Sathish Ninan held that the order invoking the doctrine of pleasure was unsustainable in law and arbitrary.

The withdrawal of the nominated members is not for any alleged illegal act. While this court is not to sit in judgment or appeal over the reasons for the withdrawal of nomination, it is evident that the order is not based on any reason, but was rather founded on prejudice, the court ruled.

Calling it an unreasoned act, without regard to the facts and circumstances, the court observed, From all the above points to arbitrariness, it appears that the chancellor was under a misconception regarding the role of nominee, which also contributed to the arbitrary action. Therefore, on the facts as noticed above, this court finds that the order withdrawing the nominated members suffers from the vice of arbitrariness.

The court said the governors order withdrawing the nominees by invoking the pleasure doctrine under the 4th proviso to Section 18(3) of the University Act cannot be sustained and is liable to be interfered with. When the University statute provides for a specific term of office and does not provide for withdrawal there from at pleasure, the doctrine of pleasure does not operate.

The order came in the wake of a petition filed by the Senate members of the university, who have been removed from the Senate .They have challenged the order of the governor as chancellor of the university, removing them from the Senate by withdrawing his pleasure to continue as senate members.
The Congress on Friday questioned Rahul Gandhis disqualification from the Lok Sabha, and said that only President has the powers to do so.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said that under the Constitution of India only the President has the power to disqualify an MP.

Under COI powers to disqualify an MP lie with the President -Article 103 if disqualification is incurred under Article 102 (1) (e). In Re Lok Prahari VS ECI (2018) 18 SCC 114 SC records ECs contentions qua Lily Thomas but records no finding that disqualification is automatic.

After getting disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhis fate in electoral politics now depends only upon the legal relief that he can get from the courts as the Election Commission may likely declare his seat vacant and announce elections.

The Congress has raised the issue that only the President can disqualify an MP, but legal experts say that the conviction itself sets the disqualification in motion.

Majeed Memon, a former MP and a legal expert said, If Rahuls sentence is suspended post-conviction by an appeal in court under section 389 of the Criminal Procedure Code, his disqualification from the Lok Sabha can be deferred.

P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister said, Judgement on 23 March, disqualification on 24 March.

The speed with which the system moved is astonishing, No time is spent on reflection, understanding or allowing time for legal review, Obviously, there are no voices of moderation in the BJP party or government, The net result is parliamentary democracy has suffered another cruel blow.

Rahul after losing the membership will lose his official accommodation in the Lutyens area and will have to vacate the 12, Tughlak Lane Bungalow allotted to him.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani Maha Mega Scam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat in its notification said, Consequent upon his conviction by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat, Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of the lower house from the date of his conviction

This order was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday and was signed by Secretary General, Lok Sabha.

Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged Modi surname remark in 2019
Congress and BJP workers fought a pitched battle with each other in capital Raipur over the disqualification of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi from his Lok Sabha membership on Friday. During the clash both sides pelted stones at each other freely.

It all began with the Congress workers attacking the Ekatm Parisar, district BJP office situated in the heart of the city this afternoon. The Congressmen blackened the posters of BJP leaders, pelted stones and clashed with a handful of saffron workers present then. However, police managed to disperse the advancing Congressmen from the principal Opposition party headquarters after a long persuasion.

In the melee, hundreds of saffron cadres, who had poured in to defend the party office, marched towards the Rajiv Bhavan, the state Congress office to retaliate. Police contingent guarding the ruling partys office failed to push the saffron crowd away and they also blackened posters and walls in Congress headquarters.

The clashes broke out once again with the Congress activists pelting stones and eggs and in turn the invading crowd did the same.

BJP Yuva Morcha District President Govinda Gupta sustained head injury during these scuffles. He has been sent to the hospital for treatment, the police said.

Congress goons wanted to enter the BJP office and attack. We stopped them with great difficulty. The condition of law and order is so bad. The hooliganism of Congressmen cannot be ignored, BJP leader Anurag Agrawal alleged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated projects worth about Rs 1,780 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi saying it was his governments endeavour to ensure that every citizen contributed and no one was left behind in the development journey of India during the Amrit Kaal.

Highlighting that the governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh believed in the service of the poor, he said that even though the people might call him the Pradhan Mantri, he himself held the belief that he was here only to serve the people.

Among other things, he laid the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantonment station to Godowlia and a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant. He also dedicated 19 drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission and various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission.

Speaking on the occasion, the PM expressed satisfaction that thousands of people in Varanasi were availing the benefits of government schemes.

Observing that even opening a bank account was a troublesome task before 2014, he said the situation has changed over the last nine years and even the poorest of the country today have Jan Dhan bank accounts where assistance in the form of payments was directly credited by the government. Be it a small farmer, businessman, or womens self-help groups, getting a loan has become very easy through the Mudra Yojna, he said.

He also noted that cattle and fish breeders have been given Kisan Credit Cards and street vendors have started receiving loans via the PM Svanidhi Yojna. The government strives that every citizen contributes and none is left behind during the development journey of India in the Amrit Kaal, he said.

Modi said that Kashis development was being talked about everywhere and every visitor was going back with new energy. He said that Kashi defied the apprehensions of people and succeeded in transforming the city.

He spoke of the simultaneous darshan of the old and the new in Kashi and mentioned the global buzz around Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Ganga Ghat work, and the longest river cruise. More than seven crore tourists visited Kashi in just one year. These tourists were creating new economic opportunities and employment in the city, he added.

The PM talked about the new development projects related to tourism and the beautification of the city. Be it roads, bridges, railways, or airports, the connectivity to Varanasi has completely eased, he said as he pointed out that the new ropeway project would take the connectivity in the city to a new level. He noted that it would boost the facilities of the city along with creating a new attraction for tourists.

The PM said the distance between the Banaras Cantonment Railway station and the Kashi-Vishwanath Corridor would be covered within minutes after the completion of the ropeway while also easing traffic congestion in areas between the Cantonment Station and Godowlia.

He referred to people coming from adjoining cities and states who would be able to take a tour of the city in a short time frame.

The PM expressed happiness that along with Varanasi, the entire eastern Uttar Pradesh was turning into a hub of agriculture exports.

Today Uttar Pradesh is adding new dimensions to every sector of development in the state, the PM said. Noting that the Yogi government was completing the first year of its second term tomorrow, he said the chief minister has created a new record of being at the helm of the state for the longest time ever.

Uttar Pradesh has emerged from the shadows of disappointment and is now treading the path of its aspirations and expectations, he remarked.
Warning employees against going online with the criticism of the policies of the government, the Union Territory (UT) administration of Jammu & Kashmir on Friday said the employees who dont comply with the regulation could face dismissal or premature retirement under The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.

Asking employees to strictly comply with the earlier set of elaborate guidelines regarding use of social media by government employees notified on 26 December 2017, the circular ordered that no government employee shall, by any utterance, writing or otherwise discuss or criticize in public or in any meeting of any association or body any policy pursued or action taken by the Government nor shall he in any manner participate in any such discussion or criticism.

It is pertinent to mention here that the order in 2017 was issued when the PDP-BJP coalition government was in power in J&K. The fresh circular has been issued by Sanjeev Verma, secretary to J&K government.

The employees have also been barred from posting such comments that are capable of embarrassing the relations between the government of Jammu and Kashmir and the government of India or the government of any other State in India or abroad.

The circular ordered that no government employee shall post, tweet or share content that is political or anti-secular and communal in nature or subscribe to pages, communities or twitter handles and blogs of such nature. No Government employee shall post grievances pertaining to their workplace on social media in the form of videos, posts, tweets or blogs or in any other form, but will follow the already established channels of complaint redressal existing in the departments.

The circular, however, clarified that the guidelines are not intended to dissuade the employees or departments from using social media for positive and constructive purposes.

It has been ordered that government employees should refrain from indulging in unwarranted debates and discussions and sharing, commenting, posting inappropriate posts or content on social media platforms. Violation of these guidelines shall tantamount to misconduct and invite disciplinary action against the delinquent official under the relevant rules, the circular warned.

It ordered all administrative secretaries, deputy commissioners and heads of departments to immediately proceed against the employees violating these instructions.

It is worth mentioning that the J&K government has already prematurely retired several employees on the charges of indulging in anti-national and terror activities. However, a J&K cadre IAS officer, who had submitted his resignation before forming a political party and also indulged in posting objectionable comments on social media, was recently appointed on a plum post in the central secretariat.
With all possibility of wanted absconders Amritpal and Papalpreet fleeing to Nepal, a high alert has been sounded in the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh.

An alert has been sounded on the Indo-Nepal border as it could be a transit point for the fugitive Khalistan Amritpal Singh of Waris Punjab De, who is absconding from Punjab. Posters of Amritpal and Papalpreet have been put up at Sonauli border in the Maharajganj district of UP.

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and police have increased vigil. Intensive checking of vehicles and passengers coming from India to Nepal is being done. At the same time, the police are also keeping a close watch on hotels, buses, parks and public places, sources here on Friday said.

It has been reported that Amritpal had come to Shahabad in Haryana on the night of March 19 and fled from there along with his associate Papalpreet. Ever since Amritpal has absconded, he has not only changed his appearance, but is also changing his vehicle. Security agencies are fully alert about this and jawans are keeping vigil at all the border points.

The Intelligence Department on the border has been on alert since the past two days, while the Indian intelligence department has alerted the Nepal administration. Nepal Police is also keeping a close watch on the routes between Pokhara and Kathmandu.

A few months ago, the Indian Intelligence Department had issued an alert that the terrorist organizations of Bangladesh and Pakistan are conspiring against India in Nepal by meeting Khalistan rebels.

Not only Sonauli border, but the posters of Amritpal and Papalpreet have been pasted on all the checkpoints along the 84 km border with Maharajganj district. Sonauli in-charge Inspector Abhishek Singh said that ever since the lookout notice has been issued for Amritpal Singh, vigilance has been increased on the border. The agency is on alert mode. All the people and vehicles going to Nepal are being thoroughly checked, people are being allowed to go to Nepal only after checking.
Russias war in Ukraine severely disrupting Russian militarys training system 24 March, 12:40 PM Russia is training its military on the territory of Belarus to participate in the war against Ukraine (Photo:Ministry of Defense of Russia)

Russias special military operation in Ukraine has severely disrupted the Russian militarys training system, the UKs Ministry of Defense wrote on Twitter on March 24.

UK intelligence said that as of mid-March 2023, Russia had likely redeployed at least 1,000 troops who had been training at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground in south-western Belarus.

Although no new rotation of troops has been noted, Russia has highly likely left the tented camp in place, suggesting it is considering continuing the training programme, it said.

Video of day

The fact Russia has resorted to training its personnel under the much less-experienced Belarusian army highlights how Russias special military operation has severely dislocated the Russian militarys training system instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine, the ministry said in its daily summary.

In addition, according to UK intelligence, Russia likely also views Belaruss continued indirect support to the operation as important political messaging.

Spokesperson of the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko said on March 4 that the number of Russian military personnel in Belarus varies but does not exceed 9,000-10,000 soldiers.

According to Demchenko, some units that entered the territory of Belarus were transferred to Russia, and later to the east of Ukraine.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated Indias firm resolve to eliminate TB by 2025 as against the global target of 2030.

He was addressing the One World TB Summit at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi. He also launched various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat, the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), the Family-centric care model for TB and the release of Indias Annual TB Report 2023.

Referring to the capacity and health infrastructure enhancement during the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi underlined the high use of Trace, Test, Track, Treat, and Technology, in the fight against the disease.

There is a massive global potential in this local approach of India, he said, emphasising the need to collectively use that potential. He pointed out that 80 per cent of TB medicines were made in India.

I would like that more and more countries get the benefit of all such campaigns, innovations and modern technology of India. All of the countries involved in this summit can develop a mechanism for this. I am sure, this resolution of ours will definitely be fulfilled  Yes, We can eliminate TB, the PM declared.

He said that the commitment and determination with which India dedicated itself to tackling TB after 2014 was unprecedented. Indias efforts were important as this was a new model for the global war on TB. He elaborated on a multi-pronged approach initiated by India against TB in the last nine years.

Regarding peoples participation, the PM talked about the Ni-kshay Mitra Campaign in helping TB patients. He informed that about 10 lakh TB patients have been adopted by citizens and even children aged 10-12 years have come forward. Financial help to the TB patient under the programme has reached up to Rs 1000 crores. He termed the movement inspirational and expressed happiness that even Pravasi Indians were participating in this.

He underlined that the government had announced a Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for TB patients in 2018 and as a result, about Rs 2000 crores have been directly transferred into their bank accounts for treatment. Nearly 75 lakh TB patients have benefitted from this. Ni-kshay Mitras have now become a new source of energy for all TB patients, the PM said.

Noting that it was extremely difficult to arrive at new solutions by practicing outdated ways, he said the government has worked with new strategies so that TB patients do not fall out of their treatment. He gave examples of initiating the Ayushman Bharat Scheme for the screening and treatment of TB, increasing the number of testing labs in the country and formulating region-specific work policies by targeting cities where the number of TB patients was high.

Along similar lines, the PM informed that a new campaign called TB Mukt Panchayat Abhiyan was also being launched today. He also highlighted that the government was starting a 3-month treatment programme for the prevention of TB instead of a 6-month course. He informed that earlier, the patients had to take medicines for 6 months every day but now, in the new system, the patient would have to take medicine only once a week. He also spoke about tech integration in the TB Free India campaign.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has got support from an unexpected quarter when BRS party supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao condemned his disqualification stating that the Modi regime has overshadowed the Emergency.

Reminding Opposition parties that this was not the time for conflicts between parties, the chief minister called on all democrats to condemn the BJP government for its move.

Rao, who has been trying to form a platform without the BJP and the Congress, has called Rahuls disqualification a black day in the history of Indian Democracy and an instance of Narendra Modis arrogance and dictatorship.

He went on to add, It is highly reproachable that the Modi Government is not only abusing Constitutional institutions but also using the highest democratic platform  the Parliament for its nefarious activities.

The BRS chief further said, It was a trying time for democracy and Constitutional values. The Modi regime overshadowed the Emergency. Harassment of Opposition leaders has become a routine. Modi on his own is collapsing by disqualifying the Opposition leaders to protect criminals and cheaters. This is not the time for conflicts between parties.

BRS leader KT Rama Rao also condemned the disqualification. Disqualification of Rahul Gandhiji is a blatant misinterpretation of the Constitution. The hastiness shown in this issue is highly undemocratic. I condemn it, wrote Rama Rao on Twitter.

He also posted a quote from Voltaire which said, I do not agree with what you have to say, but Ill defend to the death your right to say it. along with the German pastor Martin Niemollers widely known poem First they came for the Communists

There is no love lost between the Congress and the BRS and K Chandrasekhar Rao often blames the Congress along with the BJP for lack of progress after so many years of Independence. However, Raos daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha has made several gestures and comments in recent times and invited the Congress to her protests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, arrived at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where he will be addressing the One World TB Summit.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also present with PM Modi at the summit.

PM Modi will be addressing the summit on World Tuberculosis Day at Rudrakash Convention Centre.

This summit is being organised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership.

Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership is a United Nations-hosted organisation that amplifies the voices of the people, communities, and countries affected by TB.

During the event, Prime Minister will launch various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative; the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT); a Family-centric care model for TB and the release of Indias Annual TB Report 2023. PM will also award select States/UTs and districts for their progress towards ending TB.

In March 2018, during the End TB summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister called for India to achieve TB-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of the stipulated time.

One World TB Summit will provide an opportunity to further deliberate upon the targets as the country moves forward to meet its TB elimination objectives, according to the official statement.

It will also be an opportunity to showcase learnings from National TB Elimination Programmes. International delegates from over 30 countries are scheduled to be present at the summit.

Later in the day Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 1780 crore, during the programme at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground. In the last nine years, Prime Minister has put a special focus on transforming the landscape of his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and enhancing the ease of living for the people living in the city and adjoining areas. This is believed to be another step in this direction.

The PM will lay the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia.

The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs. 645 crores. The ropeway system will be 3.75 km in length with five stations. This will facilitate ease of movement for the tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varanasi.

The PM will lay the foundation stone of 55 MLD sewage treatment plants at Bhagwanpur under Namami Ganga Scheme, to be built at a cost of more than Rs. 300 crores. Under the Khelo India Scheme, the foundation stone of Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium will be laid by the Prime Minister.PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the LPG bottling plant at Isarwar village, Sewapuri to be built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various other projects including a primary health centre in Bharthara village; floating jetty with changing rooms, among others.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Modi will dedicate 19 drinking water schemes, which will benefit more than 3 lakh people in 63 Gram Panchayats.

To further strengthen the rural drinking water system, the PM will also lay the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the Mission.

For farmers, exporters and traders in and around Varanasi, the grading, sorting, and processing of fruits and vegetables will be possible at an integrated pack house which has been constructed at Karkhiyaon. Prime Minister will dedicate this project to the nation during the event. It will help in boosting agricultural exports of Varanasi and the surrounding region.

He will dedicate various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission including redevelopment work of Rajghat and Mahmoorganj government schools; beautification of internal city roads; redevelopment of 6 parks and ponds of the city among others.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate various other infrastructure projects including the ATC tower at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport; the 2 MW solar power plant at water works premises, Bhelupur; 800 KW solar power plant at Konia Pumping Station; the new Community Health Center at Sarnath; infrastructure improvement of Industrial estate at Chandpur; rejuvenation of temples of Kedareshwar, Vishweshwar and Omkareshwar Khand Parikrama among others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the One World TB Summit on World Tuberculosis Day at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi on Friday.

This summit is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership. Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership is a United Nations-hosted organisation that amplifies the voices of the people, communities, and countries affected by TB.

During the event, Prime Minister will launch various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative; the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT); a Family-centric care model for TB and the release of Indias Annual TB Report 2023.

The PM will also award select States/UTs and districts for their progress towards ending TB.

In March 2018, during the End TB summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister called for India to achieve TB-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of the stipulated time.

One World TB Summit will provide an opportunity to further deliberate upon the targets as the country moves forward to meet its TB elimination objectives, according to the official statement.

It will also be an opportunity to showcase learnings from National TB Elimination Programmes. International delegates from over 30 countries are scheduled to be present at the summit.

Later in the day Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 1780 crore, during the programme at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground.

In the last nine years, Prime Minister has put a special focus on transforming the landscape of his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and enhancing the ease of living for the people living in the city and adjoining areas. This is believed to be another step in this direction.

The PM will lay the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia.

The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs. 645 crores. The ropeway system will be 3.75 km in length with five stations. This will facilitate ease of movement for the tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varanasi.

The PM will lay the foundation stone of 55 MLD sewage treatment plants at Bhagwanpur under Namami Ganga Scheme, to be built at a cost of more than Rs. 300 crores. Under the Khelo India Scheme, the foundation stone of Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium will be laid by the Prime Minister.

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the LPG bottling plant at Isarwar village, Sewapuri to be built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various other projects including a primary health centre in Bharthara village; floating jetty with changing rooms, among others.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Modi will dedicate 19 drinking water schemes, which will benefit more than 3 lakh people in 63 Gram Panchayats. To further strengthen the rural drinking water system, the PM will also lay the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the Mission.

For farmers, exporters and traders in and around Varanasi, the grading, sorting, and processing of fruits and vegetables will be possible at an integrated pack house which has been constructed at Karkhiyaon. Prime Minister will dedicate this project to the nation during the event. It will help in boosting agricultural exports of Varanasi and the surrounding region.

He will dedicate various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission including redevelopment work of Rajghat and Mahmoorganj government schools; beautification of internal city roads; redevelopment of 6 parks and ponds of the city among others.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate various other infrastructure projects including the ATC tower at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport; the 2 MW solar power plant at water works premises, Bhelupur; 800 KW solar power plant at Konia Pumping Station; the new Community Health Center at Sarnath; infrastructure improvement of Industrial estate at Chandpur; rejuvenation of temples of Kedareshwar, Vishweshwar and Omkareshwar Khand Parikrama among others.
The Punjab Police on Friday released 44 persons, who were taken into preventive custody during the ongoing operation against Fugitive separatist leader Amritpal Singh and his supporters, from police custody.

Maintaining that these 44 persons were taken into preventive arrest as part of the operation against those trying to disturb law and order in the state, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) law and order Arpit Shukla said in the larger interest of the public and keeping in view that youngsters should not suffer, the Punjab Police have decided to release those persons who have a minimum role or were just following Amritpal Singh on religious sentiments only.

As many as 44 persons, who were under preventive arrest were handed over to their family members on Friday, with the promise of good conduct in future, he added.

The development came a day after the announcement by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill that Punjab Police might release 177 arrested persons from preventive custody.

In all, 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state, of which, 30 have been found in substantive criminal activities, while, remaining were under preventive arrest. He had also assured that people involved in baptism and de-addiction will also not be bothered at all.

IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Police teams are doing thorough screening of remaining persons, who are under preventive arrest, and soon, they will also be released from the police custody if they were not found involved in any substantive criminal activities.

Facing criticism over arrests made after the crackdown against Amritpal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has given instructions to not to harass any innocent person during the ongoing operation.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday alleged that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had defamed India on foreign soil and insulted the countrys judicial system and the OBC community.

The union minister targeted the Congress leader over his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court in connection with his Modi surname remarks case. While talking to ANI, Yadav said,Rahul Gandhi has been continuously insulted the surname of the OBC community. Not only this he has defamed the nation on foreign soil. He is defaming Parliament, the OBC community, and the Judiciary.

I want to ask no politician has the right to insult the OBC community. Insulting any surname is not freedom of speech. This behaviour of the leader shows Bharat Todo, not Bharat Jodo of the Congress. Congress is questioning the legal decision which has not been done till now by anyobody, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said.

On Thursday, a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his Modi surname remark with the Congress leaders rallying in his support.

Rahul Gandhi made the how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka.

The court approved Rahul Gandhis bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts.

Union Minister Yadav said that Rahul Gandhis behaviour shows Bharat Todo, not Bharat Jodo. Questioning democracy, insulting OBC community, defaming nation on foreign soil is nature of Rahul Gandhi. Decision is as per law but Congress is questioning the legal decision.

Rahul Gandhis remarks in the UK triggered a row with several BJP leaders slammed Gandhi and said that he should apologize for his remarks about maligning the institutions of the country during his visit to the United Kingdom.

The parliament has seen continuous disruptions since the start of the second part of the budget session on March 13 with the BJP demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi.

In his remarks at Cambridge University in the UK, Gandhi said that everybody knows and its been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack.
The Supreme Court on Friday said that all prisoners, released on emergency parole by the state high-powered committees constituted on its order during the Covid pandemic, will have to surrender within 15 days.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said: All those under-trials/ convicts who have been released on emergency parole/interim bail pursuant to the recommendation of the High-Powered Committee, in compliance of the orders, dated March 23, 2020, May 7, 2021 and July 16, 2021, passed by this court in suo moto writ petitiona have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities within 15 days.

The bench added that the present order be intimated to the accused/inmates concerned by the jail authorities that they have now to surrender within the period of 15 days.

However, it is observed that thereafter after the concerned prisoners/inmates surrender before the concerned prison authorities, it will be open for the concerned undertrials to pray for bail before the competent court and their applications be considered in accordance with law and on its own merits.

It further added that after the surrender by the concerned convicts who are released on emergency parole, it will be open for them, if so advised, to pray for suspension of sentence before the concerned court in their appeals which might have been pending, and which also may be considered in accordance with law and/or on merits.

The bench noted that it is not in dispute and cannot be disputed that all those undertrial prisoners/convicts were released on interim bail/emergency parole taking into consideration the overcrowding in the prisons and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus among prisoners in overcrowded prisons.

All those undertrial prisoners/convicts therefore were not released on merit but were released on the aforesaid ground alone. Therefore, now when the Covid-19 situation has now been normalised, all those prisoners/inmates/undertrial prisoners/convicts who are/were released on emergency parole/interim bail have to surrender before the concerned prison authorities, it said.

In March 2020, the apex court took suo motu cognisance of the medical assistance needed for prisoners in overcrowded jails to save them from coronavirus, and issued notices to the Chief Secretaries, the Home Secretaries, the DGs (Prisons) and Social Welfare Secretaries of all states and Union Territories.

During the first and second wave of the pandemic, the top court had passed several orders for grant of emergency parole to prisoners to avoid the overcrowding of prisons to contain the spread of the viral infection among them.
As Opposition BJP members tried to raise the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Friday, the ruling party strongly opposed it leading to huge uproar.

The proceedings of the house were adjourned for 10 minutes.

Later in the afternoon, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur again tried to raise the issue after discussion on the private member resolution in the House.

As soon as he tried to raise this matter again, there was ruckus in the house and all the members of the ruling party including the Chief Minister Sukvinder Singh Sukhu stood on their seats and protested against the issue being raised.

Amidst the ruckus, Jai Ram Thakur tried to speak, however his voice was drowned in the noise as both Congress and BJP MLAs raised slogans against each others leaders.

Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, said that the opposition cannot raise this issue in the House. Despite, the Speaker tried to calm both the sides, slogans continued.

The speaker adjourned the proceedings of the House for 10 minutes.

The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri along with the other Congress MLAs held a protest outside the House against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.

This is a conspiracy against Rahul Gandhi and is in front of all to see. They (BJP) cannot muzzle the voice of Rahul Gandhi who is single handedly raising the voice against the anti-people policies of the BJP government at the centre, he charged, while talking to media persons.
Reversing its over a decade old judgment that a mere membership of a banned organisation is not a criminal offence as long as the person does not indulge in unlawful activities, the Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the validity of the provision of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 which attributes criminality to memberships of a banned organisation.

A bench of Justice MR Shah, Justice CT Ravikumar and Justice Sanjay Karol upheld the validity of Section 10(a)(i) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, which provides for penalty to a person who is or continues to be a member of a banned organisation attracting sentence which may extend to two years and fine as well.

The court today said that if a person continues the membership of an organisation, even after it is banned, he would be liable to be punished. The court said that mere membership of an unlawful association is sufficient to constitute an offence under UAPA.

The top court ruling came on a petition by the Centre and the Assam government seeking recall of the apex courts 2011 order which had held that a mere membership of a banned organisation is not an offence.

The two-judge bench of Justice Markandey Katju and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra (both since retired) on February 3, 2011 had ruled that mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence.

Holding that Section 3(5) of the a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 10987 (since repealed) cannot be read literally otherwise it will violate Articles 19 and 21 of the constitution, the bench of Justice Katju and Justice Misra in their February 3, 2011, order had said, Hence, mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or creates public disorder by violence or incitement to violence. Hence, the conviction of the appellant under Section 3(5) of the TADA is also not sustainable.

The top court in 2011 had relied on three judgments of the United States Supreme Court which had rejected the doctrine of guilt by association saying that were applicable to India as well, as the fundamental rights under the Indian constitutions were similar to the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution.

On February 3, 2011, the Supreme Court had acquitted a suspected ULFA member Arup Bhuyan, who was held guilty by a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court on the basis of his alleged confessional statement before the Superintendent of Police, Assam.
Congress and its leaders cannot digest son of poor, Dalits and deprived, backward class reaching the highest position in the country, said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday.

Speaking at a public meeting organised at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University grounds following the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of projects worth Rs 1780 crore in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Yogi said that Congress has always done the politics of dividing the country and has promoted Naxalism and terrorism for its political gains.

Continuing his blistering attack, Yogi said that the nation has been witness to how former Congress President and MP Rahul Gandhi gave a statement against Dalits, poor, backwards and underprivileged, throwing parliamentary decorum to the winds and stooped to the level of being in contempt of court.

The Chief Minister said that India is presiding over the G-20, a group of 20 most powerful countries of the world, in the year of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, which is a proof of Indias growing influence in the world.

Whether it is to establish new paradigms of material development or to restore spiritual development, not only the country but the world is seeing the new power of India. Under the leadership of PM, India has set a new example in front of the world, he said.

While on one hand the world is feeling proud of Indias progress and is eager to adopt this model, on the other, there are some people who criticise UP outside despite having ruled the state for generations and even have no qualms in putting India in the dock itself when they go abroad, CM Yogi remarked.

Targeting the Congress further, the Chief Minister said that the Congress today was even questioning the EVM, with which they got the privilege of forming the government in 2004 and 2009. He said that the party is upset that India is developing.

It is their habit to put barriers at every level in every campaign of PM. Congress never thought about the development of the country. These people always tried to divide the country in the name of caste, religion and language.

They compartmentalized development and set new records of corruption during their tenure. Today, when India is going to shine at the global level, these people are obstructing the progress of the country by defaming it, he further pointed out.

The Chief Minister said that in contrast to the Congress, which is increasing disharmony among castes, the government of today has been moving forward with the motto Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas for the last nine years and is working for the progress of all sections of society without any discrimination.

The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is providing welfare, housing, toilets, ration, cooking gas, electricity connections to the poor. Whether it is Ayushman Bharat scheme or other facilities of development, all these are reaching everyone equally without any discrimination, CM Yogi said.

The Chief Minister added further that the PM has come to Kashi today to give it a new and grand look through the projects. He said that the PM, who is an MP from Kashi, has special association with the place and every time he visits the city he brings some gift to the city.

Yogi said that with the inauguration/stone laying of projects worth Rs 1780 crores, Kashi has already become new and grand. Under the inspiration and guidance of the PM, not only Kashi, UP and the whole country has achieved new heights of development, he added.

He remarked that Kashi has got global recognition in the last 9 years not only for its rich spiritual and cultural heritage, but also for the level of development taking place in the city. He pointed out that in the last 9 years, projects worth Rs 35,000 crores have either been completed or are about to be inaugurated in Kashi alone, which will be dedicated to the people of Kashi in the next visit of PM.
Russians starting to evacuate from occupied Crimea, says Ukrainian intelligence 24 March, 05:15 PM The GUR announced that the occupying "power" had begun evacuation from the temporarily occupied Crimea (Photo:REUTERS/Alexey Pavli)

Russian occupation "authorities" have initiated the evacuation from Ukraines Crimean peninsula, which Russia occupied in 2014, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, said on the Ukrainian state TV channel Freedom on March 24.

The day before, local residents heard warnings on FM stations that they should be ready to leave, he said, adding that this warning refers to those who have collaborated with the enemy.

"In order for peace and order to be restored there, the peninsula should be deoccupied so the legal Ukrainian authorities can return there, the official website of Ukrainian intelligence quoted Yusov as saying.

Video of day

Actually, Crimea (should be returned) to its home Ukrainian harbor, which is bound to happen in the near future. Therefore, all those who work for Russia should really leave the territory of Ukrainian Crimea in the near future," he said.

Russian commanders and the occupiers' administration are very active in selling real estate and taking their families out of Crimea, the intelligence representative said.

"But they told the rest, like ordinary soldiers, not to worry, that everything is calm, and everything under their control... But, it has really become a meme that the so-called special operation (Kremlin propaganda terminology for its war on Ukraine) is going according to plan... Families associated with Russians are being taken out, and quite promptly. And it is a sign for all those who tied their destiny with the criminal Kremlin regime."

Yusov said that it would be better for Russians to leave Crimea now while they still have the chance.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Vadym Skybytskyi said that the Russian invaders were preparing to defend the occupied Crimea.

A defense group has been building fortifications in the peninsula, he said.

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The Los Angeles area was hit by a rare tornado which was the strongest one since March 1983, according to the US National Weather Service (NWS).

The tornado briefly touched down in an industrial park and warehouse district in the city of Montebello on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency quoted NWS Los Angeles as saying on Thursday.

Seventeen structures were damaged and 11 structures had significant damage.

A tree was uprooted and a power pole was snapped with the transformer ripped off.

Cars were damaged with windows destroyed, according to NWS Los Angeles.

At least one person was injured after the tornado hit the city, local officials said.

Tornadoes are rare in California, with fewer than 10 per year on average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Most tornadoes in the state are small and short-lived.

Wednesdays intense weather came as California has been hammered by at least 12 atmospheric rivers this season, which led to heavy rainfall, snowfall, and flooding.
Giannoulias

SPRINGFIELD  The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force will receive $2,456,527 from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to combat crjackings and motor vehicle thefts.

Giannoulias on Thursday announced grants totaling more than $21 million are being provided to six police organizations. The funding originates from the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council overseen by Giannoulias office.
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SAN DIEGO (AP)  As drought dried up rivers that carry Californias newly hatched Chinook salmon to the ocean, state officials in recent years resorted to loading up the fish by the millions onto trucks and barges to take them to the Pacific.

The surreal and desperate scramble boosted the survival rate of the hatchery-raised fish, but still it was not enough to reverse the declining stocks in the face of added challenges. River water temperatures rose with warm weather, and a Trump-era rollback of federal protections for waterways allowed more water to be diverted to farms. Climate change, meanwhile, threatens food sources for the young Chinook maturing in the Pacific.

Now, ocean salmon fishing season is set to be prohibited this year off California and much of Oregon for the second time in 15 years after adult fall-run Chinook, often known as king salmon, returned to California's rivers in near record-low numbers in 2022.

There will be no wild-caught California salmon to eat unless someone has still got some vacuum sealed last year in their freezer, said John McManus of the Golden State Salmon Association.

Experts fear native California salmon, which make up a significant portion of the Pacific Northwests fishing industry, are in a spiral toward extinction. Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in California's Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend three years on average maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die.

Already California's spring-run Chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run Chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council, the authority responsible for setting ocean salmon seasons off the Pacific coast, is expected in early April to formally approve its proposed closure of Chinook fishing along the coast from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border.

Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for Chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washingtons coast.

Though the closure will deal a blow to the industry that supports tens of thousands of jobs, few are disputing it.

We want to make sure they are here for the future, said third-generation fisherman Garin McCarthy, who described catching a Chinook as magical.

McCarthy, whose entire income last year came from salmon fishing off both California and Oregon, has had to invest thousands of dollars in equipment to fish other species like rockfish, halibut and black cod.

Were all scrambling to try to make our boats do something different, he said. Were all salmon trollers. Thats what we do. Thats what we live for.

Glen Spain, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations, said he believes the ban might need to be in place for two or three years to bring back sustainable stocks after many fish died in 2020, the start of a record-dry period.

The Chinook already faced challenges, with dams blocking their historic retreats to the chilly upper reaches of Northern Californias Sacramento River and the Klamath River along the California-Oregon border. Decades of development have disrupted the natural flow of rivers and polluted waters.

In 2020, the Trump administration ended federal protections for millions of waterways, allowing for more water to be pumped out of the Sacramento River Basin for farming despite warnings from biologists that it could harm salmon runs in the future.

Fishers say river water temperatures increased with the diversions for irrigation, killing more eggs and hatchlings and preventing the stocks from bouncing back amid the drought.

This one aint on us," said Bob Maharry, 68, a lifelong San Francisco-based fisherman. This has nothing to do with overfishing. This is poor management of water.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the estimated number of adult fall Chinook expected to return to spawn in the Sacramento River this year is less than 170,000, one of the lowest forecasts since the current assessment method began in 2008. Fewer than 104,000 fall Chinook are likely to return to the Klamath River, the second lowest estimate since 1997.

In 2021, a judge determined the Trump administration improperly limited federal protections and restored them to a narrower 1986 standard. The Biden administration is expected to expand the protections in 2024.

Some are banking on the unusually wet winter to bring relief. Record rain and snowfall since late last year have freed two-thirds of California from drought. But too much water could also flush out eggs and hatchlings.

Businesses tied to salmon want the government to declare the situation a federal disaster so they may receive aid. As the market shrinks, more restaurants turn to farm-raised salmon, while gear suppliers stop stocking the proper equipment to fish Chinook.

Not everybody is going to make it out of this type of a closure unfortunately, said Andy Giuliano, who owns Fish Emeryville, a bait-and-tackle shop and booking service for 16 charter boats that offer salmon fishing trips to tourists in the San Francisco Bay area. Its a real stress test on the industry."

Eric Schindler, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes ocean salmon project leader, said he was not expecting it to be this drastic, assuming the year would bring restrictions but not a full closure for most of Oregon.

Jeff Reeves, who has been salmon fishing from the Coos Bay, Oregon, area since the 1970s and is also a member of the Oregon Salmon Commission, said he plans to fish rockfish, black cod and maybe tuna. Later this year he plans to target coho salmon from Oregon, which is doing well enough to be fished unlike the coho in California. But it wont make up for the loss of the Chinook, which are bigger, fattier fish that are in higher demand.

Its devastating," he said. "The Oregon fleet is already on life support," which dropped from a height of about 4,500 boats to about 180 today, he added.

On a stretch of the Klamath River in Northern California, the Yurok tribe has watched for years the decimation of the culturally significant salmon population. Barry McCovey Jr., director of the tribe's fisheries department, said the tribe's Chinook allotment is likely to be very small this year.

Still, he is hopeful the planned removal of four dams on the Klamath River will improve the fish's future.

Its not a silver bullet, but a big step in right direction, McCovey said. Theres still a lot of battles to fight if we want to have coho and Chinook.

__

Baumann reported from Seattle.
GODFREY  Lewis and Clark Community College students competed in spring flings Friday in the 16th Annual Trebuchet Competition in the Riverbend Arena in Godfrey.

Teams of students from different schools, following a set of construction guidelines, created their own trebuchets to throw a soft squash ball in the competition. The goal was to put the squash ball into an empty bucket 30 feet away.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexicos president on Friday angrily rejected comments by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the Mexican government has lost control over parts of the country.

However, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged that Mexican cartels had placed people inside Mexico's drug regulatory agency to approve imports of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China.

Earlier this week, Blinken said I think it's fair to say yes when asked at a Senate hearing whether drug cartels control parts of Mexico.

The Mexican president responded to those comments at his morning press briefing Friday, saying, "That is false, it's not true. ... There is nowhere in the nation's territory where authorities are not present.

But Lopez Obrador acknowledged that cartels had stretched their tentacles into the Mexican government's federal drug regulatory agency, known by its initials in Spanish as Cofepris.

They even had representatives in Cofepris, people lobbying inside Cofepris, the president said, adding that some officials have been charged in that case.

Mexican cartels have imported fentanyl precursors under false names or as mislabeled products, with help from inside the regulatory agency. They then process it into fentanyl, press it into counterfeit pills made to look like oxycodone, Xanax or Percocet and smuggle it into the United States, where the drug has caused more than 70,000 overdose deaths per year.

Lopez Obrador also pushed back against comments by Blinken suggesting that Mexicos takeover of a port owned by a U.S. firm would hurt investment in Mexico. Last week, Mexican police seized a cargo terminal owned by the Alabama-based construction materials company Vulcan Materials.

Speaking before legislators, Blinken said I am very concerned about that situation" and the potential for a case like this to have a chilling effect ... on further investment or engagement by our companies as they see what's happening.

Lopez Obrador claimed he was defending Mexico's environment against Vulcan's crushed rock quarry on the Caribbean coast. However, Mexican authorities already had shut down Vulcan's quarrying activities last May, and Lopez Obrador did not explain how seizing the port would protect the environment.

I understand Mr. Blinken very well, the president said. He has to do his job.

The president has been publicly sparring with Vulcan for over a year. He needs the Punta Venado port, near Playa Del Carmen, to get cement, crushed stone and other materials into the area to finish his pet project, a tourist train known as the Train Maya.

Lopez Obradors comments on drug cartel control came after the Mexican government was stung by the execution earlier this week  apparently by a drug cartel  of a drug gang leader sought for months in the killings of two Jesuit priests.

Mexican police couldnt find the suspect despite massive searches, until the drug gangs took matters into their own hands and apparently killed the suspect themselves.

The Mexican president confirmed that it involved a common practice among drug cartels, which often kill or turn over to police cartel members who have caused too much trouble and affected the gang's business.

They executed him, who, we don't know, Lopez Obrador said, perhaps because they thought that by doing so the search would end and the soldiers who have been there would leave.
For every benefit there is a cost, and the question is, who pays?

There are few activities politicians love more than handing out benefits that others must pay for.

That was evident  once again  this week when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed  and celebrated  legislation that will provide open-ended paid leave for all employees.

The legislation will become effective Jan. 1, 2024. Under it, employees of any business can earn at least 40 hours of paid leave per year  one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked.

That mandate will be a non-event for most employers because they already  whether voluntarily or as part of a union contract  provide an array of benefits to their employees.

Many see it as not just the right thing to do but a necessary ingredient to attracting and keeping employees. After all, its a competitive marketplace for workers, especially these days.

But what about those employers who are just hanging on, eking out a profit by keeping a sharp eye on costs? Not every employer is the caricatured robber baron of yore who builds a massive fortune on the backs of exploited workers.

As noted by a local labor-law expert, this mandate could have a consequence that astute observers would have anticipated.

University of Illinois labor Professor Michael LeRoy suggested the open-ended nature of the paid leave will be a burden on small employers. As a consequence, he contended that more and more of them will feel compelled to revisit the employer/employee relationship.

What that means, he said, is that employers will seek to rely on independent contractors rather than employees to get their jobs done. Or perhaps they may reduce their number of employees.

If costs are too high, whats a struggling employer to do? Some might not approve of that kind of cold-blooded approach, but business owners are accustomed to making the sometimes-difficult decisions needed to stay afloat.

The governors bill-signing ceremony was, generally speaking, a celebration of the legislative work done to achieve a goal the participants thought laudable. But the governor couldnt resist misrepresenting the legislative goal.

He said employers benefit from allowing employees to tend to urgent personal matters of their lives. Its not clear, beyond good will, how much employers benefit from having employees not show up because they are addressing urgent personal matters.

But the legislation isnt limited to urgent personal matters  sick time, doctor visits  its entirely open-ended. The paid leave, according to the law, can be used for any purpose.

This legislation is as much about mandating vacation time as it is about tending to a sick child.

Theres no doubt the legislation is the result of good intentions. Employers accommodating employees is a good thing that those who can afford it recognized long ago.

But handing what could be a big bill to a small-business owner who cant afford it isnt good for anyone, even those this law purports to help.
" " There are millions of books published every year. Vladimir Melnikov/Shutterstock

Book printing and publishing is one the oldest industries in the world, which may lead you to wonder just how many books have existed in history. Obviously, we don't know the exact number, but we can use some math and statistics to make educated guesses.

In recent memory, the book publishing industry has been massive, raking in an average of about $25 billion per year and printing over 800 million paper-bound copies in the United States. Newer technologies like e-readers and audiobooks have transitioned publishing into the digital age and increased the volume of content that can be put out, using fewer raw materials.

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However, the most important technological advancement for book publishing came in around 1440, in the form of the Gutenburg printing press. This allowed books to be mass-produced, rather than painstakingly written out by hand. The press accelerated book publishing in Europe from just a few thousand existing titles to millions, contributing to increased literacy.

Skip way ahead to 2010, and Google ran a project to count every book they could find on Earth, coming up with 129,864,880 unique titles in the process. That's a massive number, but it still doesn't account for the millions more which have surely been lost to history. Indexed books get rarer as the catalog reaches back in time. Google also mentioned that they intentionally excluded serialized pulp content and titles that only appeared in audio form.

Their data was based on titles that had received an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). The ISBN system was established in 1970 as a means for governments to identify book titles, so an unknown number of pre-1970 works have not been indexed. Self-published printed books are not required to be registered into the system unless the author plans to sell them on Amazon or through a bookstore. (Getting an ISBN for a self-published e-book is optional.) Generally, if the same title is available as an e-book, audiobook, paperback and a hardcover, it will have separate ISBNs for each format. Google said they tried to remove duplicate books from its count.

UNESCO estimates that 2.2 million new titles are added to the shelf globally each year. If we assume that 26.4 million new titles have been added in the last 12 years since Google's estimate of 129,864,880 in 2010, we can add those numbers together for an estimate of 156,264,880 titles in 2022. This does not include e-books, audiobooks nor books without an ISBN, which includes many self-published books. The actual number of books in the world would be much higher if we took those into consideration.

Now That's Interesting The number of self-published books in the U.S. increased 264 percent between 2015 and 2020 and made up 43 percent of total U.S. books published in that time period. However, the typical self-published author only sells five copies of their book.
Popular South Indian actor Rashmika Mandanna expressed her admiration for Malayalam cinema during a social media question answer session with her fans.

When asked if the actor enjoys watching Malayalam cinema she repsonded saying Malayalam cinema is "just so pure"

Are you kidding.. loveeeeee Malayalam cinema..Malayalam films are just so pure and people are fullllll love, she wrote.

Rashmika Mandanna also said she will not be doing the Saami Saami dance number from the Telugu movie Pushpa: The Rise as she has done it too many times.

Ive done saami saami step tooooo many times.. that now I feel like Ill have issues with my back when I get older," the actor wrote in response to a question by a fan.

The actor was last seen in the Bollywood movie Mission Majnu. The year 2022 was a busy one for Rashmika Mandanna as she was part of two Telugu (Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu and Sita Ramam) and Hindi movies (Goodbye and Mission Majnu) each, and on Tamil movie (Varisu). She will next been seen in the Bollywood movie Animal.
The gloves are off. The decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP after his conviction in a defamation case has pitted the ruling BJP and the opposition against each other.

This has set the stage for an aggressive and raucous campaign for the 2024 general elections.



Action against Gandhi came even as the Parliament session has been washed out owing to slanging match between the opposition, which demanded a JPC probe into the allegations made by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research against Adani Group, and the BJP, which wanted Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his remarks abroad.



The BJP justified the action against Rahul Gandhi, saying the law is the same for everyone.



"The Surat court decision shows that democracy is intact," Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in the national capital.



The BJP argued that the OBC community was humiliated by the remark"how come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"made by Gandhi. "Earlier also abuses were hurled against the PM. The court has addressed that sentiment where OBC community was repeatedly disrespected."



Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur, who was also present during the press conference, claimed that there was a well-planned conspiracy' within Congress to get rid of Gandhi.



Pradhan said the country had seen how top lawyers were assigned in the case of Pawan Khera, but they didn't come to Gandhi's aid. He claimed that Gandhi wants a separate IPC. The law is the same for everyone. If anyone disrespects marginalised and still wants that law doesn't act, then it is a sense of entitlement. We condemn this attitude.



"Look at the irony, in 2013, prime minister Manmohan Singh had brought the ordinance, but he (Gandhi) tore it by calling it nonsense. Now, when he has become the victim of the same issue," Pradhan said.



The BJP said the party had nothing to do with the judgement.

Even Kapil Sibal had said membership will go with the conviction; there was no provision to wait for 30 days, Pradhan said.



Thakur said the Lok Sabha had acted according to the Lily Thomas case where it was said if the conviction is not suspended then membership was bound to go.



Pradhan said the nature of the mandate was different in 2014 and 2019. The 2019 mandate was to dismiss continuous attacks on Modi.



"Gandhi has said attack on him is attack on democracy. It is wrong to say so," the BJP leader said. He is on bail in nine cases of defamation. He is a habitual loose canon. He thinks he can speak anything without facing the consequences.



On a question if the opposition would come together against Modi, Pradhan said the OBC community has been humiliated. All of the opposition can be together but the country will support Modi, the minister said.



While the Congress is likely to seek legal recourse, the disqualification will have implications on opposition unity and who will be the face of the campaign.



With a year left for the 2024 election, the battle has already begun.


India will continue to take all necessary measures to bring rabid Islamic scholar Zakir Naik, who is facing charges of money laundering and hate speech, to face justice in India the ministry of external affairs reiterated.

Naik fled India in 2016 and moved to Malaysia. According to media reports, he is expected to be in Oman for delivering two religious lectures in the country on the topics'The Quran a Global Necessity' and 'Prophet Muhammad A Mercy to Humankind'.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, when asked about the preacher's visit to Oman and the possibility of extraditing him to India, said Zakir Naik is an accused in numerous cases in India. He is a fugitive from justice. We have taken up the matter with the government of Oman and Oman authorities, reports news agency ANI.

Bagchi said he needs to confirm if Oman has an extradition treaty with Oman.

As regards the extradition part, I will check on this. I think the list of countries we have an extradition treaty with is already in the public domain. Oman is not on the list. However, I do need to reconfirm," the MEA spokesperson has been quoted as saying.
The Jammu and Kashmir government, on Friday, issued strict guidelines for government employees regarding the use of social media.



The guidelines stipulate that no employee shall, through a post, tweet, or through other social media means, discuss or criticise any government policy or action taken by the government. It also prohibits employees from taking part in such discussions or criticism on social media pages and microblogs.



It says that no employee shall post, tweet or share content that is political or anti-secular and communal or subscribe to or follow pages, communities or Twitter handles and blogs of such nature.



"No employee shall himself/herself or through any person dependent on him/her for maintenance, or under his care or control, undertake any such activity on social media which is, or tends directly or indirectly to be, subversive of the government as by law established in the country or in the Union territory," it said.



It underlines that employees, directly or indirectly, shall not publish, post or release any information on social media considered confidential or is not meant for public dissemination.



It said the employees have also been directed not to pass any official document or any part thereof to any employee or any such person to whom he is not authorised to communicate information.



However, it says, An employee may, for the purpose or removing misapprehensions, correcting misstatements, and refuting disloyal and seditious propaganda, defend and explain to the public the policy of government in his posts and tweets on social media.



It also warns the employees against making comments about co-workers or individuals, that are vulgar, obscene, threatening, intimidating, or that violate the conduct rules of employees.



It urges employees not to post grievances about their workplace on social media in the form of videos, posts, tweets or blogs or in any other form and follow the established channels of complaint redressal.



The employees have been warned that the violation of guidelines shall be tantamount to misconduct and invites disciplinary action against the delinquent official under the relevant rules.



"All administrative secretaries, deputy commissioners, heads of departments, managing directors shall immediately proceed against the employees working in their departments/offices who are found to have violated the aforesaid guidelines and rules, in terms of the relevant disciplinary framework, it said.


Lok Sabha proceedings resumed on Friday after it was adjourned till 12 noon. Amid ruckus by Congress MPs, the Finance Bill 2023 was passed in the Lok Sabha.

The Bill was moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha for consideration amid the noisy protests by the opposition. The Finance Bill was passed with several official amendments.

While moving the Finance Bill 2023 in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage, the minister also said the RBI will look into the issues related to credit cards payments for foreign tours not being captured under Liberalised Remittances Scheme (LRS).

The Finance Bill has brought in 10 main provisions helpful for the middle-class and community as a whole and do ease of business. The 11 new ones that are brought in now with the stakeholders consultations that has helped to improve the Finance Bill better in the community, said FM.

The minister further said it has come to notice that payment for foreign tours through credit cards are not being captured under LRS and such payments escape tax collection at source.

"RBI is being requested to look into this with a view to bring credit card payments for foreign tours within the ambit of LRS and tax collection at source there on," she said.

Panel to look into pension issues

FM also proposed for setting up a committee under the Finance Secretary to look into the issue of pension schemes for government employees. The FM also pointed out that the The National Pension System for the government employees needs to be improved. I propose to set up a committee under the Finance Secretary to look into the issue of pensions and evolve an approach that address the needs of the employees in maintaining system prudence," said FM in the Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, Congress MPs demanded that Rahul Gandhi should be given opportunity to speak and clarify his stand on his 'democracy is under attack' remark in London.

With the sloganeering continuing, the House got adjourned till Monday.

Meanwhile, after the Surat court's conviction, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi appeared in the Parliament for the session.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended meeting of Congress MPs at the party office in the Parliament premises.

Party national president Mallikarjun Kharge and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was present in the meeting.

Congress also called a meeting of its steering committee members, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, Congress Legislative Party leaders and Frontal Organisation Chiefs in the evening. Party president Kharge will preside over the meeting.

According to reports, the party meeting is being organised to discuss the "recent political developments".
The Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Friday staged a walkout to protest the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a member of the Lok Sabha.



Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha, a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

We condemn the decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as a member of the Lok Sabha. We decided to walk out in protest, said senior Congress leader Nana Patole.

The Opposition members, including MLAs from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), then protested on the stairs of Vidhan Bhavan.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said the law under which a member stands disqualified after a conviction was enacted by the erstwhile Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government and the Centre has implemented it.

The Congress MLAs staging a walkout is laughable, he said.

A court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case on Thursday, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?

Announcing his disqualification on Friday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023, the notification read.

Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. PTI MR NR 03241517
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In contemporary times, the significance of the aircraft landing gear market lies in its ability to facilitate secure and effective aircraft landings, ensuring the safety of passengers and minimizing aircraft damage. The market is projected to grow substantially due to rising air travel demand, leading to demand for advanced and lightweight landing gear systems that enhance operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. Furthermore, the market's role in promoting sustainable practices in the aviation industry is noteworthy, with an increasing emphasis on eco-friendly landing gear technologies.

Story continues

Prominent Players in Aircraft Landing Gear Market

United Technologies Corporation

Safran Landing Systems

Honeywell Aerospace

AAR Corporation

Triumph Group Inc.

GKN Aerospace Services Limited

Eaton Corporation

Circor Aerospace & Defense

Heroux-Devtek Inc.

Liebherr-International AG

UTC Aerospace Systems

Whippany Actuation Systems

Heroux-Devtek Inc.

Messier-Bugatti-Dowty

CESA

Collins Aerospace

Magellan Aerospace Corporation

SPP Canada Aircraft, Inc.

Merrill Technologies Group

GKN Aerospace Norway

Commercial Aircraft Type Segment to Drive Higher Sales as There is Increasing Demand for Air Travel

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Wheels and Brakes Component Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth due to Demand for Lightweight and Advanced Wheels and Brakes Systems

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The Asia Pacific region has emerged as a major force in the Aircraft Landing Gear market force and is poised to retain its leading position by 2030. This expansion can be attributed to the growing demand for air travel, the burgeoning middle-class population, and the expansion of the aerospace and defense industries in the region. Additionally, SkyQuest has forecasted significant growth in the aircraft landing gear market for the Asia Pacific region, with a projected CAGR of 6.97% during the forecast period.

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Key Developments in Aircraft Landing Gear Market

Parker-Hannifin, an American engineering company, has finalized its purchase of Meggitt, a UK-based aerospace and defense company, for 6.3 billion (approximately US $17.6 billion). Meggitt, with a global workforce of over 9,000 employees, provides an array of products, including landing gear, braking systems, fire and safety systems, sensors, fuel systems, and polymer seals, to the aviation industry.

Aero 3, Inc., the parent company of AeroRepair, has acquired Aircrafters, Inc. in a deal announced by GenNx360 Capital Partners. Based in New Castle, Delaware, Aircrafters is a major supplier of wheel and brake parts for the aviation industry. The company's range of services includes the aftermarket distribution of Collins wheel and brake parts, as well as an extensive parts inventory and exchange asset pools catering to multiple global operators.

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Global Food Automation Market

Global Construction Industry Core Drill Market

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Global Grinding Media Balls Market

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The disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha saw an aggressive reaction from young cadres in the capitals of Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh and BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh on Friday.

In Raipur, Youth Congress members reached the BJP headquarters, painted a poster of state BJP chief Arun Sao black and also burnt an effigy, all the while shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This led to a reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers, who turned up before the Congress head office in the capital and threw black ink.

Soon, the situation escalated into a clash with both sides resorting to stone pelting and later accusing each other of starting the violence. Both sides claimed that their workers had been injured. BJYM Raipur district president Govinda Gupta was also injured in the process and taken to hospital, sources said.

As a large posse of police reached the spot, BJYM members blocked traffic in the busy Shankar Nagar area (near the Congress office) for some time. Later, police detained the BJYM workers and removed them from the spot in three buses. However, the situation remained tense for quite some time. Police officials said that due action will be initiated after a probe into the incidents.

Rail-roko, torch rally in Bhopal

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, Youth Congress workers, led by state president Dr Vikrant Bhuria reached the Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in the evening and stopped the New Delhi bound Dakshin Express for about 15 minutes, raising slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi and against the BJP and PM Modi.

Among those who participated in the rail-roko included Manish Choudhary, Akhilesh Yadav, Vishwajit Chouhan, Gopil Kotwal, Narendra Yadav, Abhishek Parmar, Gaurav Chouhan, Anand Gurjar, Vimal Batham and others.

In a statement, Bhuria said that the protest today was the onset of revolution against the dictatorial attitude shown by the BJP government. He said that the agitation has started and it will continue from the streets to the parliament. The dictatorship of BJP to try to save Adani and suppress the voice of common people will not be tolerated. Every youth of Madhya Pradesh and India is standing strong with Rahul Gandhi, he said.

Also, the state unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) held a torch rally in front of the Congress office in Bhopal in support of Rahul Gandhi. The rally was led by state NSUI president Ashutosh Chouksey and they raised slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi and against BJP.
In a big setback, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the 2019 defamation case over 'Modi surname' remarks.

Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the date of his conviction.

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction...in terms of the provisions of Article 102 (1) (e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951," read the order.

We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023

Meanwhile, Congress secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh tweeted that We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimated or silenced.

Opposition leaders furious

"In PM Modi's new India, opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP. While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was quoted by ANI.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that BJP tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We will continue to demand JPC, if needed we'll go to jail to save democracy, he added.

Meanwhile, several opposition party members were detained for protesting at Vijay Chowk on Friday.

Opposition parties led by Congress marched towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan from nearby Vijay Chowk amid heavy security deployed in the premises. Congress leaders marched with the banner "democracy in danger".

MPs were detained and taken away to nearby police stations in a bus and the march was dispersed.

Police said that they did not had the permission for the march.

Prominent leaders, including K C Venugopal, Adhir Chowdhury, K Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammed Javed, were stopped by the police and detained at Vijay Chowk here for violating prohibitory orders, said the opposition.

Kharge, also raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court and alleged that the government was targeting the opposition with cases to suppress their voices.

Kharge also hit out at BJP chief J P Nadda over his allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the BJP of indulging in "caste politics".

Surat District Court on Thursday held Congress MP Rahul Gandhi guilty in the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over alleged 'Modi surname' remark.

Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in the criminal defamation case. He was also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after finding him guilty.

Based on the complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi, a case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged 'how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?' remarks.

He made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In his complaint, BJP MLA Purnesh Modi alleged that Gandhi, while addressing the poll rally in 2019, defamed the entire Modi community by purportedly saying, How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case, party leaders will meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday to raise the matter with her. The Congress has also called a meeting of opposition leaders.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk. The Congress also announced a mass agitation, after a meeting held at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Thursday evening. The party is expected to conduct protest marches across Delhi and in other states on Monday.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," Ramesh said on Thursday after the meeting to discuss the party's strategy.

The Congress has called the Surat court's conviction "erroneous and unsustainable" and plans to challenge it in a higher court. Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail by the court in the 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark, in a setback to the Lok Sabha MP who faces the risk of disqualification. The case was filed against him on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" The Surat court has granted Gandhi bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

As per a Supreme Court judgment passed on July 10, 2013, any MP, MLA or MLC who is convicted of a crime and given a sentence of a minimum of two years stands to be disqualified from the House with immediate effect.

After the judgment was pronounced by the Surat court, Congress workers took out protests in many states. Several political leaders including Sharad Pawar and Arvind Kejriwal came out in support of Rahul, and slammed the BJP for conspiring against non-BJP leaders. "A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this, Kejriwal tweeted.
The Congress, on Friday, announced a nationwide agitation against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification, alleging that the government has acted with lightning speed to "gag" him, and called for taking forward opposition unity in a systematic manner.

Soon after Gandhi's disqualification by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Congress leadership got into a huddle at the party headquarters and deliberated on the way forward.

Top Congress leaders, including former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Rajiv Shukla and Tariq Anwar, and senior leaders P. Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid and Pawan Kumar Bansal, among others, attended the meeting where the party decided to take this forward into a 'Jan Andolan'.

Congress general secretary Ramesh said, "We will go all over country as Rahul Gandhi was deliberately disqualified for raising his voice against the Modi government on the Adani issue, on the government's foreign policy and the clean chit given to China for incursions at the border."

Ramesh said the BJP is rattled with the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which, he said, became a movement.

The Congress leadership has welcomed the statements of support of all opposition leaders, he said and asserted that "we should now take the issue of opposition unity forward in a systematic way".

It was noted today that many opposition parties have condemned the action taken unilaterally with such lightning speed to disqualify Rahul Gandhi, he said.

"Yes, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Everyday leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been meeting floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. So we are coordinating in Parliament and now coordination has to be outside Parliament," he said.

"It is also heartening to note that parties which were not part of this floor coordination have now issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi," Ramesh said, adding that the Congress welcomes the statement of support of all opposition leaders.

The Congress' state units and frontal organisations will launch different programmes across the country and they will begin from Monday with a countrywide agitation, he said.

"We will go all over the country saying that Rahul Gandhi has been deliberately disqualified, as he has been raising his voice against the Modi government on various issue including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and government's intentions and policies," Ramesh said.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed all convicts and undertrial prisoners released during the Covid-19 pandmic to surrender within 15 days.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said that the undertrial prisoners released on emergency bail during the pandemic can move for regular bail after their surrender.





"All the convicts who were released during COVID-19 pandemic after their surrender can move competent courts for suspension of their sentence", the bench said.



During the pandemic, several convicts and undertrial prisoners, especially booked for non-heinous offences, were released in various states on the recommendations of high-powered committee (HPC) set up in pursuant to directions of the apex court.

Meanwhile, SC also observed that the period of parole granted to prisoners during the pandemic inorder to prevent overcrowding of prisoners cannot be counted towards the period of actual imprisonment underwent by the prisoner, reported Live Law.



The bench dismissed the writ petition filed by a prisoner who sought for a declaration that the period of parole allowed by the HPC during the pandemic be counted towards the period of actual sentence.

The petitioner, who has been sentenced to undergo life imprisonment for murder offence has to undergo the said imprisonment, subject to any policy of remission and the period during which he was released on emergency parole has to be excluded from the period of actual imprisonment, the bench held.
The Congress, on Friday, hit out at the BJP government at the Centre over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP, calling the move a "strangulation of democracy," and alleging that this is part of the attempts by the government to silence him.



"We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking out fearlessly both inside and outside the Parliament. Clearly, he is paying a price for it. The government is rattled. This government is finding new techniques to throttle his voice," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been quoted as saying.



He said the issue is more political than legal. "It is a political issue because it signifies systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself."



"We are confident that we will get a stay of the conviction which will remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future," he said.



Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the government is rattled by Gandhi's criticism on various issues, including demonetisation and GST. "Be it the supposed to clean chit to China, or the GST he (Gandhi) is consistently aggressive and open in his questioning. Therefore, this government is finding new techniques to throttle his voice," he alleged.



Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot hit out at the BJP, saying that the Congress leader is the voice of the nation and he will come out stronger against "dictatorship".



"The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha is another example of dictatorship. BJP should not forget that they had adopted the same method against Indira Gandhi also and had to face the consequences," Gehlot said in a tweet.



"Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the country which will now be stronger against this dictatorship, " he added.



"Im stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," Shashi Tharoor tweeted.



The Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified Rahul Gandhi as MP from Wayanad in Kerala after a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his remark, " How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?



Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.
The Rajasthan assembly on March 21 passed the Right To Health (RTH) Bill that entitles emergency care to citizens of the state without any prepayment in private hospitals. The Bill has become a cause of conflict among private doctors, who are protesting against it.

"There is an ambiguity in the definition of emergency in this Bill. Further, it says that if any patient comes in an emergency to any doctor, he/she has to treat him/her, and if they cant, they should transfer the patient to the doctor concerned on his/her own, laments Sharad Agarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Private doctors feel that the government is putting its responsibilities on the private sector, which is unfair. The Bill defines public health emergency as an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health condition that is believed to be caused by bioterrorism, appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin, a natural disaster, a chemical attack or accidental release, a nuclear attack or accident.

According to the Bill, the government will make the reimbursements for treatments of emergency cases. However, the rates are low as compared to the cost price of the treatment.

The government hasnt done any brainstorming exercise, and hasnt involved any expert in the committee while preparing the bill," claims Agarwal. "If they are making private doctors responsible for something, the advisory cannot come from the government doctors who are not aware of the challenges of private sector."

However, not everyone agrees. Public health activist Bejon Misra says healthcare system needs regulation. Today, anybody can charge whatever they feel like. There is no quality specification or regulatory mechanism, so where do the patients go? he asks.

But it can be complicated. Udaipur-based medical oncologgist Dr Manoj Mahajan, who has his own clinical set up in the city, finds many gaps in the RTH Bill. I have my small clinical set ups for which I need five permissions as per the norms, and there are no subsidies. How can a law be imposed on us saying we have to serve for free, without defining a set parameter? he asks. It is better to that the government strengthens the healthcare infrastructure in government hospitals, instead of pushing the burden on the private sector, he believes.
The United Nations is aware of the reports about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's two-year jail sentence and that his party plans to appeal the verdict, a spokesperson for the UN chief Antonio Guterres has said.



Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, was responding to a question at a press briefing here on Thursday on whether Guterres was worried about democracy in India.

"I can say that we're aware of the reports regarding the case of Rahul Gandhi. We understand that his party does plan to appeal the decision. That's as much as I can say on that at this stage, Haq said.

Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail on Thursday by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname remark, in a setback to the Lok Sabha MP who faces the risk of disqualification.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Gandhi took to Twitter to give his initial reaction by quoting Mahatma Gandhi in Hindi.

"My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence, the means to get it. - Mahatma Gandhi," he tweeted.
United States (US) President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have reached a deal to reject asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings.

Biden had arrived in Canada on Thursday for talks with his Canadian counterpart on various global challenges including the war in Ukraine, climate change, trade, migration and assertive China.

According to reports, the two nations reached an agreement to update rules for migrants seeking asylum.

The pact will be officially announced by Biden during his Ottawa visit on Friday.

The US has seen a rise in migrant crossings there from Canada.

Reportedly, the migration deal eliminates a loophole under the existing rules that will allow both countries to turn away asylum seekers at the borders. It has made thousands of people cross through the unofficial checkpoints into Canada from US and seeking asylum.

As part of the agreement, Canada is expected to announce that 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere will be given slots to apply to enter the country, reported Associated Press (AP).

The new policy will apply to people without US or Canadian citizenship and those caught within 14 days of crossing the border between the two nations.

After the Chinese spy balloon incident last month, national security and air defences are top priority.

Canada plans to update its radar systems and has agreed to an accelerated timeline for spending billions more on military upgrades for NORAD, which monitors the skies above the continent, according to the senior Canadian government official, reported AP.

As pet the 2002 agreement between the US and Canada, people seeking asylum must apply in the first country they arrive in. Migrants who go to an official crossing are returned to the U.S. and told to apply there. But those who arrive in Canada at a location other than a port of entry are allowed to stay and request protection, as has been happening on Roxham Road between Champlain, New York, and Quebec, reported AP.

According to John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, the visit is about taking stock of the relationship between both the nations. We're going to talk about our two democracies stepping up to meet the challenges of our time, he added.

Among other matters of discussions would also include tapping critical minerals that will enable the production of electric vehicles, and military and economic commitments at a moment that observers say is the most dangerous since World War II.

Biden will address Parliament and Trudeau will host him for a state dinner Friday evening. Since Biden became president, it's his first visit to Canada.
In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, a dehumanising labour recruitment and discipline practice called the 'chappa' system was operational in Cochin. It was a system controlled by a network of port authorities, shipping agents, and worksite supervisors known as 'mooppans', who held power over thousands of manual labourers and porters.

The 'chappa' system was such that copper coins would be thrown by the mooppens men, and labourers would fight each other to grab one to gain work for that day. Every day this ordeal would repeat.

Later, mooppans were replaced by labour unions like Cochi Thuramukha Thozhilali Union (CTTU), which started assigning jobs only to those affiliated with them. The condition of the ordinary labourers remained the same, and the labourers associated with Port Cargo Labor Union (PCLU) went on a massive strike in 1953. On September 15, 1953, the 75th day since the chappa samara started, workers, refused to unload a ship of P.G. Khona company that was anchored at the Cochin port. The PCLU workers had a scuffle with the CTTU leaders. They believed that the CTTU settled the strike in favour of the shipping agents and prevented the effort of the agents to unload the ship using PCLU-affiliated workers. This soon led to the arrest of a major leader of CTTU.

Provoked by the arrests, the CTTU members stopped the police vehicle and tried to get the leaders out of it. Soon, it became a street fight between the police and the workers, and three CTTU membersSyed, Saidalvi, and Antonywere shot dead. This incident known as Mattancherry Vediveyppu (Mattancherry firing) forms the backbone of Rajeev Ravis film Thuramukham. However, the films focus is not on the tragic incident but on the socio-economic and political factors that led to that incident.

The film is an adaptation of a 1968 namesake play by K.M. Chithambaram. The play, which was one of the few literary accounts of the tragic firing incident, won the Kerala Sahitya Parishad Award in 1973. In 2018, Chithambarams son Gopan Chithambaram revived and brought back the play to the stage with the help of Collective Phase One, a production house of which Ravi is also a part. Gopan, who was the co-scenarist of Amal Neerads period drama, Iyobinte Pusthakam, wrote the screenplay for Ravis version of Thuramukham too.

Ravi is a cinematographer-filmmaker who blends the uniqueness of his locations into his narrative as well. Such a treatment could be visible in Thuramukham too. Though the film tells the story of a land, everything is seen from the perspective of a Muslim family in Mattancherry.

When the Cochin port was opened in 1928, people from different parts of Malabar and the princely state of Travancore flocked to Kochi in the hope of finding jobs. The film opens with the narrative of this early phase. It shows how the exploitative system worked while portraying the daily struggles of Maimu (Joju George) and his wife (Poornima Indrajith). This portion offers some beautiful black-and-white frames and tricks of light and shades.

Then comes a perspective shift from Maimu to his sons, Moidu (Nivin Pauly) and Hamsa (Arjun Ashokan), who also become part of the labour force in the port like their father. But the similarity between the two brothers ends there. Moidu becomes a hand of the oppressors, while Hamsa stays with the oppressed labourers, and they cross paths at various junctures.

The film conveys the idea that the biggest impediment to the progress of labour movements is the lack of unity among the labourers. It also explores how the bourgeoisie class usesand later snubsthose from the working class to oppress others from the same class. Thuramukham also touches upon various other issuesdebt traps, early marriages, illiteracy, and lack of awareness about rightsthat were part of the lives of ordinary men and women in Mattancherry. The films script and narrative are faithful to the period it portrays.

Poornima delivers a powerful performance as the mother of Hamsa and Moidu. She handles the different phases in the life of a womanwho had seen multiple tragedieswith ease. Joju uses his nuanced expressions to deliver a wonderful performance in the first phase of the film. Like Poornima, Sudev Nair, too, delivers a nuanced performance as a character that evolves over the course of the film. Nivin uses his physique to the advantage of his alcoholic and lousy character. However, in certain scenesespecially action sceneshis physique becomes an impediment to giving a fine-tuned performance. Arjun delivers a believable performance as Hamsa.

Nimisha Sajayan plays the role of an orphan girl Ummini, and Darshana Rajendran plays the role of Moidu and Hamsas sister Kaachi. Both characters were unimpressive, as the actors could not bring a Mattancherry flavour to them.

Thuramukhams runtime is 2 hours and 54 minutes. The story is spread over the lives of many different characters. The film employs a linear and slow-paced narrative, closer to a documentary-style treatment. However, too many subplots (though all related) in the narrative ruin the focus on the main plot. Also, tighter editing would have worked in the film's favour to become a theatrical hit.

The film sees the struggle of the working class as a continuous event. This is seen in the narrative, too, which portrays the different phases of the rights protests. However, the film offers a bland climax that fails to shake the minds of the audience.

The films art team deserves a huge round of applause for recreating Mattancherry of different decades. The music by Shahbaz Aman also gels well with the narrative. Thuramukham was a film that was supposed to hit theatres in 2021. However, its release was postponed multiple timesfirst because of Covid and later because of certain financial issues faced by the producer. But this was a film that deserved a theatrical release, though it is more likely to be appreciated when released on OTT.

Film: Thuramukham

Director: Rajeev Ravi

Cast: Nivin Pauly, Joju George, Poornima Indrajith, Arjun Ashokan, Nimisha Sajayan, Darshana Rajendran, Sudev Nair

Rating: 3/5
Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp.

TORONTO, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB:ALKFF) (Frankfurt: 77R, WKN: A3CTYF) (PWWR or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Company has granted an aggregate of 15,918,298 restricted share unit (RSUs) to certain arms length consultants (each, a Consultant) of the Company.



The RSUs will vest in accordance with the terms of each Consultants RSU agreement and in accordance with the Companys 2021 RSU Plan. Upon vesting, each RSU will entitle the holder thereof to receive one common share in the capital of the Company.

The Company is also announcing the resignation of Dr. Richard Lu from the board of directors, effective March 24, 2023. The Company would like to thank Dr. Lu for his contributions to PWWR since accepting the role in 2022.

ABOUT ALKALINE FUEL CELL POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR)

PWWR is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future- forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors.

PWWR operates through two global entities: Fuel Cell Power NV, a wholly owned subsidiary in Belgium, and PWWR Flow Streams (PWWR Flow), an AFCP brand in Canada.

Fuel Cell Power NV is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro- combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems and off-grid and back-up power generators based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power Fuel Cell Power NV has launched the Jupiter 1.0 prototype, and working through pilots in 2023.

PWWR Flow is focused on the development, ownership and operations of combined heat and power (CHP) assets. PWWR Flow assets deliver efficiency improvements of over 20% with reduced costs to customers in multi-residential and commercial applications. PWWR Flow has contracted existing CHP assets in Toronto, Canada, and has an additional pipeline of potential contracts valued at over $50 million currently in development.

Story continues

PWWR is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors.

Further information is available on the Company website at https://www.fuelcellpower.com/ , and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on:

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO under the symbol PWWR, the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol ALKFF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 77R and WKN A3CTYF.

For further information, please contact:

Frank Carnevale

Chief Executive Officer

+1 (647) 531-8264

fcarnevale@fuelcellpower.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, the RSUs, the departure of Dr. Richard Lu, statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward- looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.




If the horrors of mass migration of migrant labourers in the first year of Covid-19 in India can be termed as one of the darkest hours in the nation's history, Bheed sheds a light on that darkness. It puts a human face to the tragedy and shakes you up from the gut in a bid to refresh your memory of what happened in those fateful days when thousands of labourers were left stranded, forced to walk down hundreds of miles back home to their villages, with no provisions for food, water or even basic sanitation.

The story begins thirteen days after the announcement of the first lockdown, in 2021. There are migrant families with little children, women and the aged, who decide to walk back home several thousand miles to their villages in Uttar Pradesh from Delhi, in the absence of any form of transport. Why do they choose to do that? Well, "if we have to die, it's better to die in the presence of our loved ones back home. Here in the city, we have no home because there is no work and no money to pay for rent or for food," says a labourer on screen. On the way, they rest the night on railway tracks thinking that the trains wouldn't ply. The night goes by, but the day isn't forgiving. At the crack of dawn, all of them are crushed to death by a speeding train. This chilling representation right at the beginning sets the tone for the rest of the film. Shot in greyed out black and white format, the film is touching, humanising and deeply moving.

Sinha handles the subject with sensitivity, as his script and direction give voice to the voiceless. He brings to the fore the depravity that leads a civilised society and community to transform into an impersonal, dispassionate and inhuman mass of people, which he calls Bheed (crowd). The narratives are layered - there's caste, class, social stigma and religion at play here, as people go over each other to secure the basics. The setting is placed about 1,200 kilometres from Delhi, near the Tezpur Highway where a checkpost has been placed to stop the movement of people and goods and close all borders. The in-charge of the checkpost is Suryakumar Singh Teekus (Rajkummar Rao), who must ensure that nobody escapes the nakabandhi and that everyone settles down in the dry and deserted areas around. "Apne hi desh mein border laga diye hain?" asks Trivedi (Pankaj Kapur), a security guard who's travelled miles with hundreds others from the city, to enter his village which is barely a few kilometres away. "We've been treated like dogs," he says, infuriated.

Anubhav Sinha, Saumya Tiwari and Sonali Jain bring a crisply edited and tight screenplay to work with hard-hitting visuals by Soumik Mukherjee's and Atanu Mukherjee's sharp editing. Bheed keeps you engaged right from the first scene to the last - you do not want to miss anything because every character is poignant and every story within the story is compelling. Here, there's a Brahmin security guard from Mumbai pitted against a Dalit policeman manning the checkpost, an upper caste politician who looks down upon Muslim samaritans who face humiliation when they distribute food packets among stranded and starving migrants and more.

A follow-up to Sinha's Mulk, Article 15, and Faraaz, a recent Hansal Mehta film which Sinha co-produced, Bheed is as impactful as his previous works were. At the heart of the story is Surya who watches in alarm as hordes of travellers turn up at the barricaded check post. He is assisted by Ram Singh (Aditya Srivastava), and his upper-caste girlfriend Renu (Bhumi Pednekar), works as a medical officer, handling the load of Covid cases that come up. She throws a light on how girls use newspapers as sanitary pads are scarce, how people decide to break into the mall nearby to get food for the starving, and more such stories that continue to pull at our heartstrings as we watch in shock at how the whole episode turned out. The film does not comment on the way it was handled by the governments, but it does show how misinformation and rumours spread fast, far and wide on WhatsApp and Facebook in those tragic times.

Bheed is a must-watch as it throws light on how far we have come as a society and where we are headed.

Director: Anubhav Sinha

Rating: 5/5






New Delhi (India), March 24: Dr. Batra's  latest homeopathic aesthetics was inaugurated by Mrs. Debanjali Kamstra, the first Mrs. UAE World 2022, and Eng. Hassan Omar, Ex-chairman of Dubai Quality Group respectively.



Homeopathy is the 2nd largest system of medicine globally and is used by 30 crore people globally according to the World Health Organisation.



Homeopathy offers many advantages to patients, the foremost of which are holistic treatments that are safe and without any side effects. To achieve faster and better results, Dr. Batra's combined the benefits of homeopathy with best-in-class international aesthetic technologies. These aesthetic treatments are launched for hair and skin. All hair treatments are based on French techniques that are painless, quick, and non-invasive, which show results in just three months. A hair treatment device is a US FDA-approved, gold-standard machine, equipped with ice-cooling technology that is suitable for all hair types and is performed by a trained therapist under a doctors supervision.



Dr. Batras New You range of treatments also includes the worlds first Homeopathic Hydrafacial treatment equipped with the latest Korean technology and European-made serums that nourish, hydrate, and replenish your skin in just 45 minutes. Dr. Batra's HydraFacial treatment treats early signs of aging, pigmentation, acne scars, acne, and inflammation of the skin with natural ingredients such as Ginko Biloba and caviar extracts, hence resulting in lightening, brightening, and tightening of the skin.



Commenting on the launch of the homeopathy aesthetics in Dubai, Dr. Akshay Batra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director at Dr. Batras Healthcare, said, At Dr. Batras, We have introduced aesthetic treatments in all 200 clinics in India and now we have brought the French technique to the Dubai market in large for the benefit of our patients. Dubai is a very mature aesthetic market, but no one has seen homeopathy aesthetics, which is very unique, safe, non-invasive, and very effective. We combine the goodness of homeopathy with the latest international technology to offer unique solutions for aesthetic treatments that vary from instant to long-lasting. We have over 350 medically qualified homeopathy doctors practicing globally.



Mrs. Debanjali Kamstra, the first Mrs. UAE World 2022 said, It was a great pleasure to be here in the Dubai branch of Dr. Batras, we Indians always believe in authentic products. I am pleasantly surprised that Dr. Batras has introduced Hydrafacials and other aesthetic treatments by combining homeopathy. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the team of Dr. Batras.



All types of treatments are successfully monitored for the disorders, resulting in safer, faster and better outcomes. Dr. Batras provides permanent and long-lasting results by combining Homeopathy.



About Dr. Batras Healthcare



With over 200+ clinics in around 160 cities across 5 countries including India, Bangladesh, UK, UAE, and Bahrain Dr. Batras Homeopathy Clinics has over 300 doctors including skin specialists, hair specialists, and experienced homeopathic doctors. Dr. Batras has treated over 1 million patients and has been recognized as an Icon of Indigenous Excellence in Healthcare by The Economic Times. Dr. Batras  specializes in Hair, Skin, Allergies, Child and Womens Health, Mental Health, Sexual Health, and Weight Management ailments including Hair loss, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Acne, Low immunity, Tonsillitis, Stress Management, Migraine, Thyroid, PCOS, Menopause, Allergies, Sexual Health, Weight Management, Infertility and Male Infertility.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
 Federal Bank becomes the first in the country to go live with Swift Go, which is rapidly becoming a new standard for low-value cross-border payments



 The service elevates the experience for consumers and small businesses, improving speed and transparency leveraging the strength and reach of Swift



 More than 630 banks in 120 countries already have signed up to implement the service, including nearly 30 in India and South Asia



Mumbai, March 24, 2023 - A new standard for fast, predictable low-value international payments has come to India, as Federal Bank becomes the first financial institution to go live with Swift Go  a service that is transforming the cross-border experience globally.



Swift Go brings faster speed, transparency and certainty to payments under $10,000 and was designed to meet the needs of small businesses and consumers when sending money across borders directly from their bank accounts. It does so leveraging the robust security, resiliency and reach of Swift, which connects 11,500 institutions and 4 billion accounts across more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.



Swift Go is part of Swifts strategy to enable instant and frictionless transactions worldwide and it is rapidly becoming the new standard globally. Sign-ups tripled in 2022 and today more than 630 banks in 120 countries are either live with the service or in process of activating it. The introduction of Swift Go in India is significant for a country that consistently tops the charts for inward remittances. The World Bank has predicted that remittances into the country reached an all-time-high of $100 billion USD in 2022.



Shalini Warrier, Executive Director, Federal Bank, commented Federal Bank is a key player in the cross-border remittances business, with a market share in excess of 20%. In line with our continued focus on innovation in digital technologies, we are proud to be the first bank in India to go live on Swift Go. This nimble, efficient, low cost and secure service will surely prove to be a boon to our retail & MSME customers.



In the coming months, nearly 30 more banks in India and the subcontinent are expected to go live with Swift Go, further expanding the benefits to consumers and businesses in the region.



Kiran Shetty, Regional Head, India and South Asia, Swift said, We are delighted to bring our pioneering service Swift Go to Indian markets. It is a major pillar of Swifts strategy to enable an inclusive digital economy where value flows instantly and seamlessly around the world. Through Swift Go, we are enabling simpler, more predictable and faster transactions that could bring down the cost of remittances significantly. We look forward to working with the banking community in India to rollout the service and radically transform the cross-border payments experience.



(Disclaimer: The above content is a press release and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
The implementation of FinnAxia, a Transaction Banking & Supply Chain Finance solution from Nucleus Software Exports Ltd, India, at BRAC BANK Limited, Bangladesh, enabled the bank to win the IBS Intelligence Global FinTech Innovation Awards 2022.



New Delhi, Delhi, India  Business Wire India



 Faster customer onboarding



 Implemented in short span of time



 Extensive API stack enabling easy third-party integrations



 Offering superior customer experience



Nucleus Software, the leading provider of lending and transaction banking solutions to the global financial services industry, today announced winning the Best Implementation in Transaction Banking Award by IBS Intelligence Global FinTech Innovation Awards 2022, for an Innovative Transaction Banking solution implementation.



The award recognized the rapid implementation of Nucleus Softwares Supply Chain Financing solution from their Transaction Banking Suite FinnAxia at BRAC Bank designed to support the banks strategy of venturing into the supply chain financing market to provide seamless solutions for all its end customer offerings. As a result of the solutions sophisticated end-to-end digital capabilities, BRAC Bank can onboard customers faster and service in 4 minutes and 52 seconds enabling quicker customer activation. FinnAxia is a completely automated and paperless solution which enables the Banks customers to operate in a hassle-free environment thus creating customer delight and engagement.



Mr. Selim R. F. Hussain, Managing Director & CEO of BRAC Bank, said: As a SME-focused bank, BRAC Bank always strives to cater to the evolving needs of the grassroots SME business owners. Aligned with the mission, with our new Supply Chain Finance solution developed by Nucleus Software, we will be able to help businesses keep pace with competitive and fast-changing business landscapes through seamless and faster financing support. The solution will fast track financing with digital tools, immensely benefiting the SMEs. At BRAC Bank, the solution will ensure faster service delivery and enhance efficiency and productivity and expand outreach. We are immensely honoured to have received this international award jointly with Nucleus Software. We will continue to adopt best-in-class technology to serve our customers better.



Mr. Parag Bhise, Chief Executive Officer of Nucleus Software, added, We are honored to work with BRAC Bank and to support their visionary approach to digitization. We are extremely delighted to receive this prestigious award alongside BRAC Bank and to be recognized for pioneering work and our efforts in Transaction Banking. We look forward to continuing to assist BRAC Bank as they expand their business and explore new ways to stay ahead of competition.



About BRAC Bank - Bangladesh:



BRAC Bank Limited traded as BRACBANK on Dhaka Stock Exchange, has been one of the fastest-growing banks in Bangladesh with a particular focus on the SME segment. BRAC Bank takes pride at the highest Moodys Rating (currently Ba3) among all banks in Bangladesh for five consecutive years. It is also the first and only bank in Bangladesh with an issuer rating by S&P Global Ratings (B+). With 1.3 million customers, the bank has already proved to be the largest collateral-free SME financier. A member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), it continues to serve as a standard bearer for governance, transparency, ethics and compliance.



For more information, visit: https://www.bracbank.com/en/



About Nucleus Software  India



Nucleus Software Exports Ltd. is a publicly traded (BSE: 531209, NSE: NUCLEUS), software product company that provides lending and transaction banking products to global financial leaders.



Nucleus Software powers the operations of 200+ Financial Institutions in 50+ countries, supporting retail and corporate lending, cash management, mobile and internet banking. Its products facilitate 26+ million transactions per day, managing over US $ 200 billion in loans and enabling 300,000+ daily users.



Nucleus Software's flagship products, built on the latest technology are:



 FinnOne NeoTM : The next-generation digital lending solution that is built on an advanced technology platform.



 FinnAxiaTM : An integrated global transaction banking solution used by banks worldwide.



 PaySeTM : The world's first online & offline digital payment solution created with an aim to democratize money.



For more information, please visit: http://www.nucleussoftware.com



To View the Image, Click on the Link Below:



Nucleus Software Board members and Deputy MDs from BRAC Bank celebrating the win



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Gurugram (India), March 24: Benepik, a Rewards, Loyalty and Engagement Gateway to Businesses announced that it has reached a major milestone, nearing INR 100 Crores in revenue in the financial year 22-23. The company has experienced a rapid growth trajectory since its founding, and this latest accomplishment underscores its position as a leading player in the Rewards and Engagement industry.



Benepik offers Channel Loyalty, Employee Engagement and Corporate Gifting Solutions to businesses. Its Channel Loyalty solution combines two-way communication between brands and partners with personalized rewards and transparent pay-outs. It also offers Employee Engagement solution to organizations to strengthen workplace engagement and foster positive company culture. Its Gifting solution offers a wide catalogue to choose from including 300+ Gift Cards, Bank, UPI and E-Wallet Transfers, Electronics Appliances, and experiences such as dining, travel and health & fitness packages.



"We are incredibly proud to have reached the 100 Crores revenue milestone, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team," said Saurabh Jain, Founder & CEO. We set out to disrupt the Rewards industry with our innovative approach, and this achievement is proof that we are on the right track."



Cultivating Channel Partner Loyalty is crucial for brands in distribution business as it leads to increased sales, market share, and profitability. Benepiks Channel Loyalty offering helps companies in building stronger bonds with their influencers and Channel Partners. Influencers such as electricians, painters, carpenters, mechanics and retailers can play a significant role in driving revenues. While Brands have always recognized the significance of such influencers, engaging with them has always been a challenge due to low adoption, limited reach and lack of quality data. With Benepik, brands can seamlessly onboard influencers, publish campaigns, track revenues at retailer/ influencer level, bring product awareness and incentivize in real-time. Its WhatsApp integration has boosted the adoption helping companies scale up their loyalty programs aggressively. Its clients have seen a reduction in the pay-out time by 90% and majority of such clients have recorded a growth of up to 15% to 22% in revenues because of a well- structured Channel Partner Loyalty Program.



Benepiks Employee Engagement Offering aids organizations in creating an engaged workforce through an integrated and comprehensive solution. This includes social recognition, pulse surveys, communication, gamification, fun@work and health & fitness contests. The solution is particularly valuable for organizations with large non-desk workforce such as sales and customer facing staff. Organizations can gain real time insights, drive social connectedness, and inspire healthy competition and leverage technology to drive engagement.



Its Rewards & Corporate Gifting Solution offers a Global Catalogue of Rewards including Gift Cards, Bank, UPI and E Wallet Transfers, Electronic Appliances and Experiences. It offers Rewards Catalogue in 100+ Countries including North America, Europe, Middle East and South-East Asia. It has fully digitalized solution ensuring Power of Choice to its users. Organizations can tailor-made this to suit the profile of their users and objectives of the program. It comes with value-add features such as budget management, customized campaigns, schedule gifts for special occasions and flexible denominations. One of the most sought out and unique feature is that companies can send personalized greetings and a video message along with the gift.



With a strong footing in the Indian Market, Benepik has expanded globally with its offices into the Middle East & Indonesia. In the current year Financial Year, company has onboarded more than 500 clients including leading names from BFSI, Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, Consumer Appliances, Market Research, Auto Components and EdTech to name a few.



To celebrate its accomplishments, Benepik recently gifted few of its Star Performers with Company Cars. It has introduced an Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) Plan to ensure long term value creation for its employees. The initiative is aimed at enabling the employees to participate in the wealth creation and making them an equitable partner in the company's success. The company has a robust reward and recognition scheme including On-spot, Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Awards. Recently, it organized its Annual Award ceremony to felicitate exceptional performers.



Benepik is also expected to achieve operational profitability in the Current Financial Year defying the popular belief that Growth comes at the cost of sustainability. Our goal has always been to build a business that not only provides exceptional value to our customers but is also financially sustainable.



"We are grateful to our customers, partners, and team members for their support in helping us reach this milestone" added Saurabh. "We remain committed to delivering exceptional value to our customers and achieving sustained success in the years to come."



Benepik was founded by Saurabh Jain, an alumnus of Delhi School of Economics. Benepik has its Head Office in Gurugram and Sales offices in Mumbai, Dubai and Jakarta.

(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best known for the movie "Parineeta", passed away at a hospital early on Friday, his wife Panchali said.

He was 67.

The director was admitted to the ICU of Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra following a fever.

"He passed away between 3.10 am and 3.30 am at Lilavati hospital," his wife told PTI.

He had viral fever on March 22. After administering some medicines his fever subsided but not completely. So he was rushed to the hospital, she said.

"By the time we reached the hospital, his vitals started dropping. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection attacked his lungs," the director's wife said.

"According to doctors, he had many comorbidities which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. Since COVID-19 hit him in July 2022, he was quite weak," Panchali said.

Sarkar made his directorial debut with "Parineeta" in 2005. Some of his other directorial ventures include "Laaga Chunari Mein Daag" (2007), "Lafangey Parindey" (2010), "Mardaani" (2014), and "Helicopter Eela" (2018).

Many celebrities offered their condolences through social media.

Ajay Devgn said he is unable to fathom the news about Sarkars demise.

"The news of Pradeep Sarkars demise, 'Dada' to some of us, is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada," Devgn wrote.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared a picture of the director on Twitter and wrote, "Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP."

Responding to Mehta's tweet, actor Manoj Bajpayee said he was shocked.

"Ohh! Thats so shocking! Rest in peace Dada!!," he said.

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli remembered him as a sweet man. He shared the clip from the song 'Pihu Bole' from the movie "Parineeta" on social media.

"Shocked and sad to hear about Dada Pradeep Sarkar. Really sweet man. Had lovely conversations about cinema with him. RIP Dada. Here's a song from your film to celebrate you and your cinema," he said in the post.
Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) Bollywood star Rani Mukerji, who had collaborated with filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar on "Laaga Chunari Mein Daag" and "Mardaani", said the director's death this morning came as a shock as they had planned to meet soon.

Sarkar, best known for directing 2005 feature film "Parineeta", died at Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra here, his wife Panchali told PTI. He was 67.

Mukerji, who worked with the director on "Laaga Chunari Mein Daag" and "Mardaani", said she interacted with Sarkar a few days ago when he called to congratulate the actor for her latest movie "Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway".

"I'm very very shocked by the news of Dada's passing away. I, in fact, spoke to him just the other day when I had gone to Amritsar, to the Golden Temple where he had called me telling me about my film so we had a long chat, he was insisting to do a facetime call but that day the network was not good so I was unable to video call with him.

"We were planning to meet this week when I got back but it is just so unexpected. His wife (Panchali boudi) called me at 4 am when this happened, it is really sad and shocking that dada has passed away like this," the 45-year-old actor said in a statement.

Mukerji said Sarkar's death is a great loss to his family as well as the film industry.

"He was also shooting these last few days so I don't know how it all transpired in just a matter of a few hours. I'm sure everybody who knows Dada will feel his loss deeply the way I'm feeling it. I had a great connection with him, we've done a lot of work together over the years, so it's literally like losing a family member.

"My heart goes out to Boudi, Ronno and Raya as they were a very close-knit family and to all the people who worked in Dada's production house and those who have been attached to him over the years. It's going to be a great loss for them," she added.

Mukerji said she is saddened that she could not meet the director before his demise.

"So I'm really very saddened by this because I was meant to meet him soon so I feel terrible about it. You never realise how life is so unpredictable, you speak to a person and the next thing you know is that the person is not there.

"I will hold on to my last memory of him being so happy and excited for me as he had called me to share the feedback that he was getting for my film and me from all over," she said.

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who got his big break with Sarkar's 2014 movie "Mardaani", said he will always remain grateful to the late filmmaker.

"I will always remember him with eternal gratitude as the man who trusted me with 'Mardaani'. He was a maestro whose experience and guidance gave me the confidence to act to my fullest potential in my debut film," the actor said in a statement.

Bhasin, 35, said Sarkar was like a mentor to him and gave him confidence to come up with his performance for the role of antagonist Karan "Walt" Rastogi in the movie.

"He was a visionary par excellence, ahead of his time. He lives on in the films he created. May he rest in peace," he added.
Chennai, Mar 24 (PTI) Well-known Carnatic musician Bombay Jayashri Ramnath has undergone a surgical procedure for an aneurysm while touring the United Kingdom, and requires rest for a couple of days, her family here said on Friday.

The Padma Shri awardee had been in the UK to perform concerts.

"Bombay Jayashri had a health set back in the United Kingdom where she is currently touring for her concerts. She underwent a surgical procedure for an aneurysm. She is currently stable and recovering well, she requires rest for a couple of days," her family said in an update.

A popular face in the world of Carnatic music, Jayashri has also rendered well-known Tamil film songs.
New Delhi/Washington, Mar 24 (PTI) US nominee for World Bank president, Ajay Banga, has tested positive for COVID-19 following which the meetings scheduled during his two-day visit to India have been cancelled.

According to a Finance Ministry statement, Banga's meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman would not happen as he is in quarantine.

"During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for COVID-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation," the US Treasury Department said on Thursday.

Besides meeting with the Union finance minister, Banga was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and top officials during his two-day visit from March 23 to 24.

Banga's New Delhi visit is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America, and Asia to drum up support for his candidature for the World Bank's top position.

India is witnessing a spike in influenza and coronavirus cases in the past two weeks. The country logged 1,249 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases have increased to 7,927, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

According to the US Treasury Department statement, Ajay Banga was to discuss India's development priorities, the World Bank, and global economic development challenges with the Indian leaders during his two-day visit.

India endorsed Banga's candidacy soon after his nomination was announced.

Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cote d'Ivoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society.

Along the way, he built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials.

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront long standing challenges.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.
Washington, Mar 24 (PTI) A 34-year-old Indian national, working on a cruise ship, has been sentenced by a federal district court to 188 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, the US Department of Justice said on Thursday.

Angelo Victor Fernandes, who hails from Goa, in 2022 sent 13 child pornography videos through an instant messaging application to Daniel Scott Crow.

Fernandes also communicated with Crow about arranging for Crow to travel to engage in sexual activity with minor children.

During a separate communication with an unidentified person, Fernandes talked about sexual abuse of minor children and his ability to obtain children for sex, federal prosecutors alleged.

Crow pled guilty to one count of enticement of a minor and one count of production of child pornography.

He was sentenced on December 12, 2022, to 30 years in prison, a media release said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) today announced Russell (Russ) Hutchinson will join the company as its chief financial officer, effective July 3, 2023. He will report to Ally CEO Jeffrey Brown and be based in Charlotte, N.C.

Ally names Russell Hutchinson as chief financial officer

Hutchinson brings extensive experience in the financial-services industry, with a long, successful track record of execution and results. He most recently served as chief operating officer for global mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., after holding the position of chief strategy officer, where he oversaw mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategy and innovation. Earlier, he spent two decades working in Goldman's Investment Banking Division, advising clients in the specialty finance sector  including Ally.

"I have known Russ since my arrival to our company in 2009, and he has been one of my most reliable and trusted outside advisers. He was instrumental in helping us to evolve into the publicly traded and strong company we are today," said Brown. "Russ is well-known for being a collaborative partner who gets results, and his long-standing appreciation and respect for our culture at Ally  as well as existing relationships with our key stakeholders and our board of directors  make me confident he will be an outstanding addition to our company and our leadership team."

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Hutchinson began his career as an associate consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in its Toronto office. He is a member of the Boards of Trustees of The Studio Museum in Harlem and Hospital for Special Surgery. He is also a member of the Council on Chicago Booth, which advises leadership at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Hutchinson was a Canada Scholar and earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from Queen's University in Canada and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Bradley Brown, who has served as interim CFO since October 2022, will return to his full-time role as corporate treasurer once Hutchinson begins in July.

Story continues

"I want to thank Brad, who went above and beyond to support our company and finance team during the past several months, while continuing to deliver for our shareholders," said Brown. "We have a deep bench of seasoned, talented leaders in our CFO group, and I know together with Russ, they will continue to build on our company's momentum and live up to our Ally promise."

About Ally Financial

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves more than 11 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, point-of-sale personal lending, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings through more than 23,000 dealers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.

Contacts:

Sean Leary

Ally Investor Relations

704-444-4830

sean.leary@ally.com

Peter Gilchrist

Ally Communications (Media)

704-644-6299

peter.gilchrist@ally.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ally-names-russell-hutchinson-as-chief-financial-officer-301780456.html

SOURCE Ally Financial
Washington, Mar 24 (PTI) Six separatist loyalists were forcibly removed from the National Press Club here in the US capital after they repeatedly disrupted a panel discussion on Kashmir.

The panel discussion titled 'Kashmir: From Turmoil to Transformation' was held on Thursday. It was moderated by columnist Se Hoon Kim and addressed by president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party Mir Junaid, and Touseef Raina, president of the Municipal Council of Baramulla.

"The whole audience has seen your real face today. What we have seen in Kashmir, we saw in Washington today, and thank you for showing the world how cruel, and indecent these people are. You have seen it all, Junaid said as the separatist sympathisers were taken out of the room.

They tried to disrupt the discussion while Junaid was responding to a question on the reasons why the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders were in jail.

"They (Hurriyat leaders) are in jail because of their mistakes. They misled the people of Jammu Kashmir for their vested interests and gains. They spoiled our ecosystem of education. They were the spoilers of our economy. They were glorifying terrorism. They are in jail for their hate speech. They are in jail for their war crimes, Junaid said.

Referring to the disruption caused by the protestors, Raina said all these years this is what the separatists sponsored by Pakistan have been doing in Jammu and Kashmir.

"What these gentlemen did, the same thing they did in Kashmir. Whosoever was speaking, right, or for the people, was silenced by the gun, he said.

"I wish I get a chance to visit Pakistan. I want to meet the policymakers to stop funding terrorism, Raina said.
Washington, Mar 24 (AP) A strike on Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said.

American forces retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the military said.

The strikes threatened to raise tensions on Friday across the wider Middle East, which has been in turmoil after the collapse of Iran's nuclear deal  but has seen nations including the Islamic Republic edge toward detentes in recent days.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to today's attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria" by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syria's Deir Ez-Zor, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighbourhood in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said US bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed another two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, the Observatory said. The AP could not immediately independently confirm the report.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has denied being responsible for these attacks, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to upend recent efforts in the region to deescalate tensions, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each other's countries.

The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his country's long war.

US Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American military's Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the US House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Kurilla also alleged that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on US positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies -- that's either UAVs or rockets to be able to attack our forces in either Iraq or Syria, Kurilla said, using an acronym for drones.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes. Qatar's state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US recently amid tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Qatar's foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorised the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The US under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

US forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The US still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursday's drone strike happened.

There are roughly 900 US troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syria's war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands. (AP) PY

PY
Beirut, Mar 24 (AP) Saudi Arabia is in talks with Syria to reopen its embassy in the war-torn nation for the first time in a decade, state television in the kingdom reported late Thursday, the latest diplomatic reshuffling in the region.

The announcement on state TV comes after Chinese-mediated talks in Beijing saw Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to reopen embassies in each others' nations after years of tensions.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has maintained his grip on power in the Mediterranean nation rocked by the 2011 Arab Spring only with the help of Iran and Russia, which made a historic call earlier in the day to Oman.

Saudi Arabian state television aired a report late Thursday, quoting an anonymous official in the country's Foreign Ministry, acknowledging the talks between the kingdom and Damascus.

A source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed to Al-Ekhbariyah that ongoing discussions have begun with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commenting on what was circulated by some international media, an anchor said on air.

Discussions are underway between officials in the kingdom and their counterparts in Syria about resuming the provision of consular services.

Arabic-language media had been reporting the possible detente in recent days ahead of the Saudi state TV announcement. The Wall Street Journal, quoting anonymous Saudi and Syrian officials, attributed the talks to reopen the countries' embassies to Russian mediation.

Syrian state media did not immediately acknowledge the talks. Officials in both Saudi Arabia and Syria did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press early Friday.

Earlier Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, which the Kremlin called the the first high-level bilateral contact since the establishment of diplomatic relations" between the nations. Muscat established ties with the Soviet Union in 1985.

Oman long has been an interlocutor between the West and Iran. Recent months have seen talks in Oman over Yemen's long-running war, in which Saudi Arabia backs the country's exiled government against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels that hold its capital, Sanaa.

The kingdom backed the Syrian opposition against Assad during Syria's uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011.

However, in recent years, a regional rapprochement has been brewing. Last month's devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey sparked international sympathy and speeded up the process, with Saudi and other Arab countries shipping aid to Damascus.

Assad visited Oman in late February.

He travelled Sunday to the United Arab Emirates, another nation that earlier had backed fighters trying to topple his government.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has acknowledged publicly that there is a growing consensus among Arab countries that dialogue with Damascus is necessary.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where most states hope to restore Syria's membership after it was suspended in 2011, the league's secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has said.

China's and Russia's interest in the Middle East long has been a concern for US officials, which view the the region as crucial to global energy prices even as America pumps more crude oil than ever before and doesn't rely on Saudi oil as much as it once did.

Saudi Arabia has grown closer to Russia as Moscow has rallied allies to back production cuts by OPEC to boost global oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Relations between the US and Saudi Arabia also have been at a low since President Joe Biden took office calling the kingdom a pariah over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

The State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (AP) FZH
Washington, Mar 24 (AP) Activist groups say US airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed fighters in Syria have killed at least four people.

Deir Ezzor 24 and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights offered the tolls on Friday for the attacks. Deir Ezzor 24 put the toll at four people, while the Observatory said 11 had been killed.

The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the reports. Iran and Syria have yet to offer any casualty figures for the attack and their officials at the United Nations in New York did not respond to requests for comment.

The US military has not acknowledged killing anyone in the retaliatory strikes it launched after it says a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a US contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria on Thursday. (AP) FZH
Paris, Mar 24 (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron's office said on Friday that a state visit by Britain's King Charles III has been postponed amid mass strikes and protests in France.

The king had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on his first state visit as monarch, before heading to Germany on Wednesday.

The Elysee palace in France said in a statement that the French and British governments made the decision together after a call between Macron and Charles on Friday morning.

The Elysee noted a new day of mass strikes and protests planned for Tuesday.(AP) RUP
Chatra, Mar 23 (PTI) A newborn baby boy was allegedly sold by his mother after delivery in Jharkhand's Chatra district, police said on Thursday.

The Deputy Commissioner of Chatra, Abu Imran received information about the sale of the newborn baby. The DC informed the SP about the matter and police immediately swung into action and recovered the new born within 24-hours from Bokaro district, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Chatra), Avinash Kumar.

Addressing a press conference here, the SDPO said police arrested 11 people including Asha Devi, the mother of the newborn baby.

Kumar said police recovered Rs 1 lakh from the possession of Asha Devi.

Asha Devi's arrest led police to arrest a Sahiya didi identified as Dimple Devi.

Based on the lead provided by Dimple Devi, police apprehend the other accused and recovered the baby from Bokaro, the SDPO said.

A couple of Badkagaon village in Hazaribag district have struck deal with two brokers of Chatra and Bokaro district for the newborn for Rs 4.5 lakh, he said.

While Rs one lakh was given to the mother of the baby, the rest Rs 3.5 lakh was shared among them, the police officer said.

A case was registered with Chatra police station on the statement of Deputy Superintendent of Sadar Hospital Dr Manish Lal.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) The AAP on Friday said 14 opposition parties have approached the Supreme Court against the alleged arbitrary use of central probe agencies in an attempt to raise their voice against the "dictatorship" of BJP.

Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi also alleged that the BJP has become a "washing machine" which cleans all the dirt on political leaders once they join it.

The AAP is among the 14 parties, led by the Congress, which approached the apex court on Friday, alleging misuse of central probe agencies against political opponents. These parties seek pre- and post-arrest guidelines to be followed by the agencies such as the CBI and the ED.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear their plea on April 5.

"Approaching Supreme Court is an attempt to oppose BJP's dictatorship, misuse of central agencies by the BJP," Atishi told reporters.

"BJP is a washing machine. They file cases against opposition leaders to pressure them and to poach them. Once they join BJP, all cases end. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Suvendu Adhikari joined BJP and the cases against them ended," she added.
Hamirpur/Una, Mar 24 (PTI) Cases of viral fever are on the rise in the twin districts of Hamirpur and Una with doctors blaming it on the significant difference between day and night temperatures in the state.

A health department spokesperson said that people, especially children, are visiting hospitals with complaints of fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, cold, sore throat, body pain, headache and body stiffness.

Around 50 people are visiting the regional hospital Una daily with these complaints, the spokesperson said.

Senior Medical Superintendent at the regional hospital in Una Dr Raman Sharma said a change in the weather in the last few days has led to a rise in cases of viral fever. "People must wear warm clothes in the morning and evening and keep children warm," he said.

At Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College in Hamirpur, people with complaints of fever, vomiting and diarrhoea could be seen standing outside the OPD or squatting on the floor as the number of patients increased.
Ascot Resources Ltd.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF) (Ascot or the Company) announces the Company's audited consolidated financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022. For details of the audited consolidated financial statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022, please see the Company's filings on SEDAR www.sedar.com.



Derek White, President and CEO, commented, "2022 was a pivotal year for Ascot as the Company commenced construction at the Premier Gold Project, progressed underground development into the Big Missouri deposit, and advanced exploration drilling on high-grade gold mineralization targets such as the Sebakwe Zone and the Day Zone. Amid challenging market conditions in 2022, the Company successfully concluded a re-financing process by securing approximately two hundred million dollars from like-minded partners to advance the Project into production. As we look ahead, we are eager to complete Project construction in 2023 and advance to initial gold production in early 2024 and thereby become Canadas next gold producer.

All amounts herein are reported in $000s of Canadian dollars (C$) unless otherwise specified.

2022 AND RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

On January 19, 2023, the Company closed a previously announced financing package for completion of construction of the Project. The financing package consists of US$110 million as a deposit in respect of gold and silver streaming agreements and a strategic equity investment (the Strategic Investment) of C$45 million, a portion of which is structured as Canadian Development Expenditures flow through shares, such that the total gross proceeds to the Company is C$50 million. Concurrent with the closing of the financing package, the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the senior debt with Sprott Private Resource Lending II (CO) Inc (Sprott Lending) was repaid and the Production Payment Agreement (PPA) in connection with the senior debt was also terminated and the existing gold stream from the Red Mountain property with Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp. (Sprott Streaming) was terminated and replaced by the new gold and silver stream.

After completion of the portal preparation work in April 2022, underground mine development work and installation of surface infrastructure at the Big Missouri commenced in May 2022. At the end of October 2022, a total of approximately 921 metres have been developed in all headings, including muck bays, sumps, ore access drift, and the main ramp. Ground conditions have been excellent and heading advancement and productivity have been going well. Development accessed initial ore in the A Zone of the Big Missouri deposit in August 2022 and sampling protocol has been developed for grade reconciliation to the block model.

The surface infrastructure at the Big Missouri, S1 pit portal area was prepared for winter snow conditions, which commenced at the end of October 2022. The restart of mining development is planned for mid-2023.

The Premier site was preserved and winterized in late 2022, as the company was pursuing refinancing for the Project. Shortly after the closing of the financing package in mid-January 2023, the Company recommenced its construction activities. Various construction contractors have been re-mobilized to site to complete the remaining scope on mill construction and piping. Earthworks on tailings and the construction of the new water treatment plant will commence in Q2 2023 once the snow has melted.

On March 8, 2022, the Company closed a previously announced bought deal financing for total gross proceeds of C$64 million. The net proceeds from the financing were used for capital costs at the Premier Gold Project (PGP)) for PGPs exploration program and for general corporate purposes.

The Companys 2022 exploration drilling program ran from May to October. Exploration drill holes intercepted several zones of mineralization at the Sebakwe zone, where gold mineralization has now been traced over a strike length of over 300 metres with a vertical extent of about 80 metres. Exploration drilling at the Day zone intercepted additional mineralization, which remains open to the north and the south. In-fill drilling targeted areas of early planned stopes at the Big Missouri deposit, where drill intercepts largely confirmed the geological interpretations in the area. Drill results were announced between July 2022 and January 2023 (see full news releases at www.ascotgold.com).

On October 17, 2022, the Company announced initial positive grade reconciliation between muck samples and the block model grade from underground development at the Big Missouri deposit at PGP. Combined results from ore drives 1 and 2 yielded overall 9% positive grade reconciliation from muck samples compared to the resource block model. As expected, the Company encountered high variability in development round grades often associated with high-grade epithermal gold deposits. Initial results suggested good potential to increase mined grades by continuously improving external mining dilution.

On February 17, 2023, the Company reorganized its Board of Directors (Board) by adding two new members: Jose Nestor Marun and Stephen Altmann, both of whom were appointed pursuant to the recently Strategic Investment with Ccori Apu S.A.C. The Company also reported the voluntary resignation of Ken Carter and James Stypula from Ascots Board. As a result, Ascots Board maintains its size of seven directors, and its gender diversity with 29% women.

Story continues

FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

The Company reported a net loss of $5,988 for Q4 2022 compared to $170 for Q4 2021. The increase in the net loss is mainly attributable to financing costs of $4,848 largely related to the senior debt expensed during the period, a $3,083 increase in stock-based compensation expense due to accelerated vesting of Restricted Share Units (RSU) in Q4 2022, partially offset by a $1,655 increase in other income primarily due to a higher gain on change in estimate of PPA liability as well as a higher flow-through premium recognition.

The Company reported a net loss of $10,808 in 2022 compared to $2,948 in 2021. The increase in the net loss is mainly attributable to financing costs of $5,969 during the year, which include deferred costs of $5,075 attributable to the cancellation of the undrawn portion of the senior credit facility, a $3,694 increase in stock-based compensation expense due to accelerated vesting of RSUs in 2022 as well as stock options and units granted in 2022, a $2,609 increase in foreign exchange loss, partially offset by a $4,633 increase in other income primarily due to a higher flow-through premium recognition, and a higher gain on change in estimate of PPA liability.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As at December 31, 2022, the Company had a cash & cash equivalents balance of $7,474 and working capital of $1,658 excluding the current portion of the credit facilities. On January 19, 2023, the Company closed a previously announced financing package of approximately $200,000 for completion of construction of the Project. Concurrent with the closing of the financing package, the Company used US$26 million of the gross proceeds to repay in full to Sprott Lending the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the senior debt, including a 2% prepayment fee and the termination fee for termination of the PPA

During 2022, the Company issued 59,510,018 common shares, 13,710,500 warrants, 13,049,779 stock options, 1,447,298 Deferred Share Units, 3,415,670 Restricted Share Units and 162,162 Performance Share Units. Also, 7,881,125 stock options expired and 62,000 Deferred Share Units, 122,964 Restricted Share Units and 54,054 Performance Share Units were exercised during 2022.

MANAGEMENTS OUTLOOK FOR 2023

With the financing package closed on January 19, 2023, the Company believes that it has sufficient funding to complete construction of the Project and achieve first gold production in early 2024. The key activities for 2023 include:

Construction of the process plant and associated surface infrastructure such that the plant is expected to be in pre-commissioning by the end of 2023

Completion of the tailings dam improvements and start up of the new water treatment plant by Q4 2023

Advancement of the Premier North Lights portal and underground development and additional underground development of the Big Missouri mine

Maintaining a Health and Safety record of zero lost time incident and achieving the 2023 goals outlined in the Companys 2022 Sustainability Report

Advancing the recruitment of site personnel in line with the site personnel plan by the end of 2023

Maintaining permitting and environmental compliance so that there are no delays in the project construction schedule

More exploration and infill drilling north and west of existing resources



Qualified Person

John Kiernan, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company is the Companys Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ascot Resources Ltd.

Derek C. White

President & CEO

For further information contact:

David Stewart, P.Eng.

VP, Corporate Development & Shareholder Communications

dstewart@ascotgold.com

778-725-1060 ext. 1024

About Ascot Resources Ltd.

Ascot is a Canadian junior exploration and development company focused on re-starting the past producing Premier gold mine, located on Nisgaa Nation Treaty Lands, in British Columbias prolific Golden Triangle. Ascot shares trade on the TSX under the ticker AOT. Concurrent with progressing the development of Premier, the Company continues to successfully explore its properties for additional high-grade underground resources. Ascot is committed to the safe and responsible development of Premier in collaboration with Nisgaa Nation as outlined in the Benefits Agreement.

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Companys web site at www.ascotgold.com, or for a virtual tour visit www.vrify.com under Ascot Resources.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events may constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "targeted", "outlook", "on track" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements in respect of the advancement and development of the PGP and the timing related thereto, the exploration of the Companys properties and managements outlook for the remainder of 2023 and beyond. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the business of Ascot; risks related to exploration and potential development of Ascot's projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and indigenous groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; risks associated with COVID-19 including adverse impacts on the world economy, construction timing and the availability of personnel; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Ascot's filings with Canadian securities regulators, available on Ascot's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com including the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 23, 2023 in the section entitled "Risk Factors". Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made with regard to: the estimated costs associated with construction of the Project; the timing of the anticipated start of production at the Project; the ability to maintain throughput and production levels at the Premier Mill; the tax rate applicable to the Company; future commodity prices; the grade of Resources and Reserves; the ability of the Company to convert inferred resources to other categories; the ability of the Company to reduce mining dilution; the ability to reduce capital costs; and exploration plans. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Although Ascot believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Ascot can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Ascot does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.








LAUREL MCINTOSH, Chariho Girls Lacrosse, Senior; McIntosh scored six goals and assisted on another in a Chariho win against Toll Gate. Chariho is 5-0 this season.

DYLAN CIMINI, Stonington, Baseball, Junior; Cimini allowed just one hit and struck out 10 in a win against Ledyard. Cimini did not give up the hit until the sixth inning.

ALLYSON FAUBERT, Westerly, Girls Lacrosse, Sophomore; Faubert scored the winning goal with 49.6 seconds left in a win against Cranston East. Faubert finished with two goals in the game.

REESE MAIN, Wheeler, Softball, Junior; Main pitched a one-hitter and struck out 10 in a win against Bacon Academy. Main walked just two batters and also drove in three runs at the plate.

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Modernas CEO on Wednesday defended a plan to more than quadruple the companys COVID-19 vaccine price, but he also said the drugmaker will work to ensure patients continue paying nothing at drugstores or clinics.

Stephane Bancel told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that the drugmaker will charge a list price of around $130 per dose for the vaccine in the U.S.

That price is expected to go into effect later this year. Until now, the federal government had been Modernas lone U.S. customer, buying doses in bulk to make sure that people werent charged anything.

The government paid around $15 per dose in 2020 and more than $26 last summer for Modernas bivalent booster, according to an analysis by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation.

More than 270 million doses of Modernas original COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots have been administered in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes it the second most popular coronavirus vaccine, trailing the shot made by Pfizer, which is also raising prices.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., noted that Moderna has made more than $20 billion in profits over the past two years, and the federal government contributed billions of dollars toward the vaccines development.

The hike will hit government payers like Medicaid and cost taxpayers, Sanders said as he pressed Bancel to reconsider the price.

The CEO said Moderna gave the government a discount with its initial prices. Now, the company must assume more costs and risk, he said.

He said, for instance, that the drugmaker will switch to single-dose vials from ones that held 10 doses.

He also that Moderna will have to make more doses than it anticipates using to ensure enough is available. The company will then have to eat the cost of unused doses, something the government has done.

The volume we had during the pandemic gave us economies of scale we wont have anymore, he said.

Sanders later asked Bancel if Moderna was prepared to negotiate the price with Medicare, Medicaid and other agencies. Bancel replied that Moderna was having discussions with all the different customers.

While Modernas list price for its Spikevax vaccine will soar, company leaders have emphasized that people with insurance will continue to pay nothing out of pocket for the shots. Moderna also has a patient assistance program that will cover shots for people without coverage or who are underinsured.

Senators noted during Wednesdays hearing that these programs can involve complex paperwork and be difficult to use.

We want that (patient assistance program) to be something that works for patients and is not just something thats like, Oh yeah, we have it, but no one can use it, said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a doctor.

Bancel said Moderna will announce more details this fall on plans to help the uninsured, and the company was working to make the program as easy as possible to access.

Pfizer also has said it will charge $110 to $130 for a dose of its COVID-19 vaccine. It also cited the cost of switching to single-dose vials and commercial distribution in explaining the new prices. Pfizer used no government funding to develop its vaccine.

(AP)




Israeli security forces early Thursday morning eliminated a wanted senior terrorist responsible for multiple shooting attacks against Israeli targets.

In a joint operation of the IDF, Border Police, and the Shin Bet, security forces surrounded the hideout apartment of Amir Abu Khadija, the head of the Tulkarem Brigade terror group, in the village of Izbat Shufa, near Tulkarem in the Shomron.

Khadija responded by firing at the security forces who fired back and injured him. The security forces then ented the apartment, where the gun battle continued  ending with Khadijas death.

Another senior terrorist who was in the apartment with Khadija turned himself into the security forces.

BChasdei Hashem, there were no injuries among the Israeli security forces.

The video below shows Khadija shooting at Israeli forces several months ago:

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A top Russian security official warned Thursday about the rising threat of a nuclear war and blasted a German minister for threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin with arrest, saying that such action would amount to a declaration of war and trigger a Russian strike on Germany.

Dmitry Medvedev, the 57-year-old deputy secretary of Russias Security Council chaired by Putin, said in video remarks to reporters that Russias relations with the West have hit an all-time bottom.

Asked whether the threat of a nuclear conflict has eased, Medvedev responded: No, it hasnt decreased, it has grown. Every day when they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer.

Medvedev has issued a barrage of such strongly-worded statements in the past, blasting the U.S. and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia.

In Thursdays comments, Medvedev denounced the International Criminal Courts decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine as legally null and void. He noted that the move added to a colossal negative potential in the already bitterly strained ties between Russia and the West.

Our relations with the West are already worse than they have ever been in history, he said.

Medvedev specifically blasted German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who said last week that Putin would be arrested on the ICCs warrant if he visits Germany.

Lets imagine  the leader of a nuclear power visits the territory of Germany and is arrested, Medvedev said, adding that it would amount to a declaration of war against Russia. In this case, our assets will fly to hit the Bundestag, the chancellors office and so on.

He noted that Russias nuclear forces have provided a strong deterrent amid the fighting in Ukraine, adding that we would have been torn to pieces without them.

Medvedev also challenged Ukraines sovereignty in comments that could reflect Moscows plans to extend its gains.

Honestly speaking, Ukraine is part of Russia, he said. But due to geopolitical reasons and the course of history we had tolerated that we were living in separate quarters and had been forced to acknowledge those invented borders for a long time.

The soft-spoken and mild-mannered Medvedev, who served as Russias president from 2008 to 2012 when term limits forced Putin to shift into the prime ministers post, was widely seen by Western officials as more liberal than his mentor. Many in the West expected Medvedev to win a second term and further soften the Kremlins policies, but he stepped down to allow Putin to reclaim the presidency in what Kremlin critics denounced as a cynical manipulation.

Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine more than a year ago, Medvedev has emerged as one of the most hawkish Russian officials, regularly issuing blustery remarks that include four-letter words and sound much tougher than those issued by the old-time Kremlin hard-liners. Observers have interpreted Medvedevs comments as an apparent attempt to curry favor with Putin.

Medvedev launched more anti-Western diatribes Thursday, declaring that its useless to have talks with the West and speaking with contempt about Western politicians, alleging a catastrophic drop in competence and elementary literacy of European Union leaders.

I have no illusions that we could communicate with them again any time soon, he said. It makes no sense to negotiate with certain countries and blocs  they only understand the language of force.

Medvedev. who heads a Security Council panel coordinating weapons production, derided Western statements alleging that Russia is running out of weapons and charged Russian weapons industries have increased output.

He said that Russia will produce 1,500 battle tanks and boost production of other weapons to meet the armys needs. His claims couldnt be independently verified.

The most important thing now is to make it all in necessary volumes, and we are launching new factories to do that, Medvedev said.

He said that the Russian military already has good intelligence drones and loitering munitions, but acknowledged that it has yet to deploy long-range strike drones.

(AP)




Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman is a TikTok star at age 85, thanks to her 17-year-old grandson.

In the family living room in Morristown, New Jersey, he records short videos of his grandmother reminiscing about life in 1944 and 1945 when she was a 6-year-old child at the Auschwitz death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. She also discusses her experiences before and after the camp.

They say videos on her account have garnered 75 million views since the duo started posting in September 2021.

It really snowballed, said Friedman. And then we realized it was a fabulous medium for the Holocaust, for young people who dont want to read the books, who dont like the classes in school, who dont like the way the teachers teach or whatever, who are bored with it, or some who never heard of it. Here they are, listening.

Her grandson, Aron Goodman, said their most-viewed videos are ones that show her number  the identification tattooed on prisoners arms at Auschwitz.

People around the world cant really get the chance to see a survivor, to see the history on their arm, Goodman said. So social media and TikTok is the way we kind of impart our message and show the evidence of the Holocaust that people unrightfully deny.

Commenters on the videos thank Friedman for posting her memories, with many remarking they had not learned much  or anything  about the Holocaust in school.

Goodman said he makes the videos to counter antisemitic speech online and to educate the TikTok generation about the horrors of the Holocaust.

We need to focus on the history and warn people where hate can lead if its unchecked, if no one does anything about it, the high schooler said.

Another TikTok features black-and-white footage of Friedman with other Jewish children in early 1945, as she pushes up her sleeve to show the tattooed number on her arm. The film was shot by the Soviet military a week after they liberated the camp.

When Friedman looks at the film, she remembers her mother, out of frame but nearby, who taught her how to survive in the camp by not making eye contact with the guards and hiding amid dead bodies. Her mother fell into despair after the war and died in her mid-40s.

Friedman said people often ask how she could ever trust or love people after what she witnessed. Friedman said she saw many other Holocaust survivors who lost their families in the camps go on to remarry and have more children, which they called replacement children in those days.

Life is resilient, and you can live again, said Friedman, who works as a therapist and social worker and wrote a book about her experiences called The Daughter of Auschwitz. This is what Id like to let people know. Its the hope that humanity can rebuild itself.

(AP)




Israel Police arrested a left-wing female protester who hit Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter on the head with a flag on Thursday morning.

The incident occurred during a protest at the Airport City business park, where Dichter was attending a conference.

The police said they arrested three suspects, one who tried to block the entrance to the auditorium where the conference was held, the second who kicked a car belonging to Dichters entourage while biting one of the ministers security guards, and the third after attacking Dichter and his car with a flag.

Dichter was not seriously harmed.

In response, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said, I strongly condemn the attack of Minister Avi Dichter by a left-wing activist and demand that the heads of the opposition immediately stop the anarchy, violence and incitement against elected officials.

I demand that the police and the State Attorneys Office take immediate and firm action against anyone who raises a hand to elected officialsbefore its too late.

Likud Minister Ofir Akunis stated: I am showing support to my friend Minister Dichter, the former head of the Shin Bet, who was attacked by left-wing protesters. Over a month ago, I warned that this violence could end in political murder. Its closer than ever.

The silence of the leaders of the opposition and the left is dangerous. Their silence gives a green light to the violence of the left-wing protesters to drag Israel into anarchy.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying the U.S. bombing killed at least four people.

The attack and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward detente in recent days after years of turmoil.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, Austin said.

Iran relies on a network of proxy forces through the Mideast to counter the U.S. and Israel, its arch regional enemy.

The Pentagon said two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while three others and the injured contractor were transported to medical facilities in Iraq.

Overnight, videos on social media purported to show explosions in Syrias Deir el-Zour, a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area, which also has seen suspected airstrikes by Israel in recent months allegedly targeting Iranian supply routes.

Iran and Syria did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, nor did their officials at the United Nations in New York respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 put the death toll from the American strikes at four people. Deir Ezzor 24, which covers news in Deir el-Zour province, said the strikes hit the city of Deir el-Zour as well as militiamen posts near Mayadeen and Boukamal. It said the strikes also wounded people, including Iraqis.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the American strikes killed six Iranian-backed fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighborhood in the city of Deir el-Zour. The Observatory, which relies on a network of local contacts in Syria, said U.S. bombing at a post near the town of Mayadeen killed two fighters.

A separate American strike hit a military post near the town of Boukamal along the border with Iraq, killing another three fighters, the Observatory said.

The AP could not immediately independently confirm the activist reports.

Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been suspected of carrying out attacks with bomb-carrying drones across the wider Middle East.

In recent months, Russia has begun using Iranian drones in its attacks on sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kyiv. Iran has issued a series of conflicting denials about its drones being used in the war, though Western nations and experts have tied components in the drones back to Tehran.

The exchange of strikes came as Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working toward reopening embassies in each others countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen a Saudi embassy in Syria, whose embattled President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his countrys long war.

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the American militarys Central Command, warned that American forces could carry out additional strikes if needed. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, Kurilla said in a statement.

Addressing the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Kurilla warned lawmakers that the Iran of today is exponentially more militarily capable than it was even five years ago. He pointed to Irans arsenal of ballistic missiles and bomb-carrying drones.

Kurilla also claimed that Iran had launched some 78 attacks on U.S. positions in Syria since January 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, Kurilla said.

Diplomacy to deescalate the crisis appeared to begin immediately around the strikes. Qatars state-run news agency reported a call between its foreign minister and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser. Doha has been an interlocutor between Iran and the U.S. recently amid tensions over Tehrans nuclear program.

Qatars foreign minister also spoke around the same time with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Austin said he authorized the retaliatory strikes at the direction of President Joe Biden.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The U.S. under Biden has struck Syria previously over tensions with Iran. In February and June of 2021, as well as August 2022, Biden launched attacks there.

Dareen Khalifa, a senior Syria analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said that while Thursdays exchange of strikes comes at a sensitive political moment due to the overall deterioration of U.S.-Iran relations and the stalling of the nuclear talks, she does not expect a significant escalation.

These tit-for-tat strikes have been ongoing for a long time, Khalifa said, although she noted that they usually do not result in casualties.

While the risk of an escalatory cycle is there, she said, I think the Biden administration wont be eager to escalate in Syria now and will instead have a relatively measured response.

U.S. forces entered Syria in 2015, backing allied forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. The U.S. still maintains the base near Hasakah in northeast Syria where Thursdays drone strike happened. There are roughly 900 U.S. troops, and even more contractors, in Syria, including in the north and farther south and east.

Since the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has sought to make life difficult for U.S. forces stationed east of the Euphrates, said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Iran increased its support for local proxies in Deir el-Zour while trying to ally with the tribal forces in the area, Azizi wrote in a recent analysis. Due to the geographical proximity, Iraqi groups also intensified their activities in the border strip with Syria and in the Deir el-Zour province.

The strikes come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Syrias war began with the 2011 Arab Spring protests that roiled the wider Middle East and toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. It later morphed into a regional proxy conflict that has seen Russia and Iran back Assad. The United Nations estimates over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the war. Those figures do not include soldiers and insurgents killed in the conflict; their numbers are believed to be in the tens of thousands.

(AP)




Leaders of the Senates banking committee on Thursday warned former chief executive officers at the failed Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank that they expect them to testify before the panel, saying in a letter to each: you must answer for the banks downfall.

The committee is examining the events leading up to the closures of the banks, starting with the first congressional hearing on Tuesday. Separate letters were sent Thursday to Gregory Becker, the former head of Silicon Valley Bank, and to Joseph DePaolo, the former head of Signature Bank.

Both CEOs had indicated to the committee they would be unable to attend Tuesdays hearing, according to the letter. But the senators said they believe the CEOs can testify to Congress without disclosing confidential information. Nor would the executives need to hand over bank records and files to provide informative testimony, they said.

Attorneys copied in on the letters sent to the CEOs did not immediately reply to requests from The Associated Press for comment.

Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California, failed on March 10 after depositors rushed to withdraw money amid fears about the banks health. It was the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history. Regulators convened over the following weekend and announced that New York-based Signature Bank also had failed. They said that all depositors at both banks, including those holding uninsured funds, those exceeding $250,000, would be protected by federal deposit insurance.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic chairman of the banking panel, and Sen. Tim Scott, the ranking Republican, said the committee needs to understand how the banks managed risk during their rapid growth and what led to them both having a large proportion of uninsured depositors.

The senators also asked SVBs Becker for information on the payment of bonuses in the hours leading up to the seizure of the bank by regulators.

Lawmakers also are scrutinizing the actions of regulators who supervised the two banks, and that will be the focus of Tuesdays hearing with testimony from Martin Gruenberg, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Michael Barr, a vice chairman at the Federal Reserves Board of Governors; and Nellie Liang, undersecretary for domestic finance at the Treasury Department.

The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have also launched investigations into the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, and President Joe Biden has called on Congress to strengthen rules on regional banks and to impose tougher penalties on executives of failed banks.

(AP)
Sponsored Content





When it comes to the weeks before Passover, three words are most important to Masbias Executive Director. They are: logistics, logistics, logistics. But this year, theres something even more critical  sponsors, sponsors, sponsors. The Charoset Drive is what Masbia calls those weeks leading up to Passover.



Throughout the last year, Masbia has been able to eliminate a lot of the stigma of the breadline by using DoorDash delivery service to feed families in need. Masbia has since seen a large uptick in religious families in need signing up for emergency food. That cumulative monthly increase is now an enormous challenge. It is not only the logistics, it is actually the supply.

With the cost of food still at a historical high, in addition to logistics, it is also about finding more sponsors and driving a hard bargain with vendors who want to supply food. Thats why Masbias Executive Director traveled all the way to Pennsylvania to a kosher slaughterhouse that is under new ownership.

Just when Masbia had almost given up on including kosher-for-Passover chicken in this years distribution, the Mesorah Farm poultry slaughterhouse offered chicken at a very reasonable price.



It is my duty and commitment to all Masbia donors that I will take their dollar and stretch it as far as possible. At the same time, I want to make sure that whatever we end up buying with those charity dollars is extremely appreciated by the recipient. Therefore, I felt an obligation to visit the Mesorah Farms plant that is recently under new ownership before placing a gigantic order with them. I wanted to get a feel of their level of kashrus. I wanted to get a good sense of the quality and an exact understanding of the packaging, since most of it will be delivered on motorcycles via DoorDash, said Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia Soup Kitchen Network. At the end of the visit, we placed an order for three trailers of poultry products.

I was extremely impressed with what I saw. The plant is certified kosher under the CRC (Brooklyn), also known as Hisachdas and the OU. The new owners brought a spirit of improvement to the plant with both the level of quality and kashrus. I met with the rabbinical staff, the slaughterers and butchers, and was very impressed with everything, Rapaport added.



The chicken is only a fraction of whats needed to make the Charoset Drive a success. Masbia needs help in making sure that thousands of families get fresh produce, eggs, and dairy products as well. The Masbia Charoset Drive has a crowdfunding campaign set up with a goal to raise $1,494,000 that will enable them to serve about 10,000 families ahead of Passover. You can check it out herehttps://www.masbia.org/passover2023/
By Azernews

The U.S. State Department has hosted an event celebrating Novruz spring feast. The celebration was organized by the embassies of Turkiye, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the U.S. as well as non-governmental organization "Global Partners of the American Foreign Service" at the the initiative of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, D.C, Azernews reports.

The large-scale event brought together US officials, diplomats of embassies accredited in the US, as well as community representatives, was moderated by Shalala Valiyeva, a scholar in law studies and PhD student at the American University, Washington, DC.

In her remarks, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman congratulated all the peoples celebrating Novruz worldwide on behalf of US President Joe Biden and the American people, saying that Novruz, which is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate spring, brings new breath to people for new opportunities.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Rebecca Zimmerman also conveyed her congratulations on the spring feast. She hailed the contributions of regional countries to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting peace and stability.

Representative of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Anjali Kaur expressed her gratitude to the embassies for the organization of the event. She congratulated all those living in the regions where Novruz is widely celebrated.

In her speech, Anjali Kaur stressed that in the difficult times we are currently experiencing, Novruz brings warmth to hearts, promoting common values such as unity, independence and freedom.

Next, Turan Ethnic and Folklore Ensemble (Kazakhstan) thrilled the audience with the traditional music of the organizing countries.

The participants familiarized themselves with the Azerbaijani culture traditions and tasted delicious dishes of the national cuisine.

The event also featured the national dances of each country performed by the US Silk Road Dance Group.

Noting that, Novruz is widely celebrated as the symbol of winter's leaving and spring's coming.

The holiday starts either 20th March or 21st March, on the spring equinox, when the days and nights are equal lengths.

Azerbaijani people celebrate four pre-holiday Tuesdays before the spring festival. Each Tuesday is dedicated to the awakening of one of nature's elements: Su Chershenbesi (Water Tuesday), Od Chershenbesi (Fire Tuesday) Yel Chershenbesi (Wind Tuesday) and Torpaq Chershenbesi (Earth or Last Tuesday).

On September 30, 2009, Novruz was included in UNESCOs List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. On February 23, 2010, the UN declared March 21 the International Day of Novruz.




SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / The Board of Atlantic Lithium Limited (AIM:ALL)(ASX:A11)(OTCQX:ALLIF) ("Atlantic Lithium" or the "Company"), the funded African-focussed lithium exploration and development company targeting to deliver Ghana's first lithium mine, wishes to advise that certain Directors and persons discharging managerial responsibilities ("PDMRs") of the Company have purchased in the market a total of 790,137 ordinary shares of no par value each ("Ordinary Shares") at an average price of 26.66p per Ordinary Share, equating to aggregate value of 210,676, as follows:

Director / PDMR Role Number of Ordinary Shares purchased Resultant number of Ordinary Shares beneficially held Resultant percentage of issued share capital beneficially held Mr Len Kolff Interim CEO 23,508 3,030,852 0.50% Ms Amanda Harsas Finance Director & Company Secretary 766,629 1,500,000 0.25%

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM:

1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Melisa Kolff van Oosterwijk 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: PCA of Lennard Kolff van Oosterwijk - Interim CEO / Director b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Atlantic Lithium Limited b) LEI: 213800H1JY3J7BB6BN06 4. 1. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted. a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary Shares of no par in the Company



ISIN: AU0000237554 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Price(s) Volume(s) AUD0.4850 23,508 d) Aggregated information: N/A e) Date of the transaction: 20 March 2023 f) Place of the transaction: ASX (A11)

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM:

1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Amanda Harsas 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Finance Director & Company Secretary b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Atlantic Lithium Limited b) LEI: 213800H1JY3J7BB6BN06 4. 1. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted. a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary Shares of no par in the Company



ISIN: AU0000237554 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Price(s) Volume(s) AUD0.4866 AUD0.4894 571,557 195,072 d) Aggregated information: Purchase of 766,629 Ordinary Shares at an average price of GBP0.2666 (AUD0.4873) per Ordinary Share e) Date of the transaction: 20 & 21 March 2023 f) Place of the transaction: ASX (A11)

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement

Story continues

For any further information, please contact:

Atlantic Lithium Limited

Neil Herbert (Executive Chairman)

Amanda Harsas (Finance Director and Company Secretary)

www.atlanticlithium.com.au

IR@atlanticlithium.com.au Tel: +61 2 8072 0640

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Nominated Adviser

Jeff Keating

Charlie Bouverat Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Canaccord Genuity Limited

Joint Company Broker

Raj Khatri

James Asensio

Harry Rees Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 4500 Liberum Capital Limited

Joint Company Broker

Scott Mathieson

Edward Thomas

Kane Collings Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Yellow Jersey PR Limited

Charles Goodwin

Bessie Elliot

atlantic@yellowjerseypr.com Tel: +44 (0)20 3004 9512

Notes to Editors:

About Atlantic Lithium

www.atlanticlithium.com.au

Atlantic Lithium is an AIM and ASX-listed lithium company advancing a portfolio of lithium projects in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire through to production.

The Company's flagship project, the Ewoyaa Project in Ghana, is a significant lithium spodumene pegmatite discovery on track to become Ghana's first lithium-producing mine. The Company signed a funding agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc. for US$103m towards the development of the Ewoyaa Project. Based on the Pre-Feasibility Study, the Ewoyaa Project has indicated Life of Mine revenues exceeding US$4.84bn, producing a spodumene concentrate via simple gravity only process flowsheet.

Atlantic Lithium holds 560km2 & 774km2 of tenure across Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire respectively, comprising significantly under-explored, highly prospective licences.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Atlantic Lithium Limited





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/745603/Atlantic-Lithium-Limited-Announces-Corporate-Update--DirectorPDMR-Shareholding




Shares in Coinbase tanked more than 13 per cent yesterday after US regulators threatened to sue the firm over potential violations of securities law.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a so-called Wells notice, which is a formal declaration that the regulator intends to take action.

Coinbase is an online platform that allows investors to buy, sell, transfer and store cryptocurrency, with around 100m users around the world.

Legal threat: The US Securities and Exchange Commission issued cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase with a Wells notice - a formal declaration that the regulator intends to take action

The San Francisco-based company said it was prepared for a disappointing outcome from SEC intervention, sending shares into a frenzy.

Coinbase said: We asked the SEC specifically to identify which assets on our platforms they believe may be securities, and they declined to do so.

Analysts at Jefferies estimate that up to 35 per cent of Coinbases revenue is potentially at risk, depending on the SECs course of action.

Recent enforcement actions from the SEC include a 37million fine issued to crypto lender Nexo Capital, and a 24million fine handed to crypto exchange Kraken for failing to register its crypto staking service.

Regulators have been particularly cautious towards crypto after a string of high-profile collapses wiped out more than a trillion dollars from cryptos market capitalisation last year.

The collapse of FTX in November was the biggest of these failures, sparking a cryptocurrency rout and leaving an estimated one million creditors facing losses of billions of dollars.

In January, Coinbase said it would be axing 20 per cent of its workforce, 950 members of staff, in a restructuring plan.

Rival digital currency exchange Crypto.com also revealed it would be axing 20 per cent of its staff following the downturn.

But the tumble in Coinbase shares yesterday has interrupted the otherwise strong gains seen in recent weeks for crypto as the world turns away from traditional banks following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and bailout of Credit Suisse.
Warpaint London had raised annual guidance, with the cosmetics group expecting to declare its best first-quarter sales ever.

The Technic and W7 brands owner said turnover from the start of January to 23 March had already surpassed 16million, against 13.2million in the first three months of last year.

As a result, the Buckinghamshire-based business said its full-year outlook is now anticipated to exceed the board's previous forecasts.

Outlook: Warpaint London said turnover from the start of January to 23 March had already surpassed 16million, against 13.2million for the first three months of last year

Warpaint's unscheduled trading update on Friday comes about a month before the firm plans to release its annual results.

The group now expects to post revenue of approximately 64million, which is 3million greater than previously predicted, and 14million more than it made in the preceding 12 months.

It also predicts a forecast-beating adjusted pre-tax profit of around 10million, having made 6.9million in 2021.

Chief executive Sam Bazini said: 'We are enjoying a strong trading performance across the group, with sales growth in many territories and online. We also continue to enjoy healthy margins.

'We look forward to the remainder of 2023 with confidence and will update further at the time of the release of the Group's results in April.'

Makeup and mascara purchases have recovered significantly over the past couple of years after sales slumped amid lockdown restrictions in 2020.

AIM-listed Warpaint was also affected by the temporary closure of many retail shops that stock its products and online sales remaining a fraction of total trade.

In addition to a rebound in demand, the firm has been boosted by launching more product ranges both online and in prominent brick-and-mortar retailers.

In the US, the world's largest colour cosmetics market, W7 products have been rolled out across outlets belonging to retailer CVS, Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B and discount group Five Below.

Warpaint is also aiming to expand its e-commerce presence in the country through selling products on the Amazon FBA platform. In China, it has begun official W7 brand stores on shopping platforms TMall and Xiaohongshu.

Boots and Tesco have started selling W7-branded goods in the UK, while homeware chain Wilkinsons is stocking products from the Technic and Body Collection labels.

Other British businesses that sell Warpaint's skincare and makeup offerings include Matalan, Tesco, Asda and Superdrug.

Clive Shore and Darren Shirley, analysts at broker Shore Capital said: 'We view Warpaint as a multi-year growth business, with a building customer base in existing markets and healthy international growth across the USA and Europe prospects, supported by both store-based and online partners.'

Warpaint London shares were 3.1 per cent up at 203.6p just before trading closed on Friday and have climbed by approximately two-thirds in the last 12 months.
Thomson Reuters, Toronto  March 22, 2023  Complying with growing global regulatory complexity represents the biggest legal threat to businesses with more than a quarter (28%) of global law departments citing frequency and complexity of regulatory changes as their biggest anticipated risk to the business, concludes the Thomson Reuters 2023 State of the Corporate Law Department report. New research conducted by Thomson Reuters Institute captures the top global compliance concerns and delves into issues across changing securities regulations, geopolitical tensions, anti-money laundering efforts, anti-proliferation regulations, digital economies, data governance and ESG regulation.

The research revealed that globally, compliance is now the top priority for corporate law departments, after ranking as only the fifth-highest priority in 2019. Risk management-litigation protection and cost control remain the next highest priorities. However, for U.S. law departments specifically, cost control continues to rank as the number-one priority. Economic uncertainty and resulting ongoing tension in the global labor market could result in greater need for spend for labor and employment matters.

Corporate legal departments across the globe are experiencing increased work due to the ever-changing compliance and regulatory burdens with in-house teams experiencing significant burn-out, said Hillary McNally, general manager, corporate legal, Thomson Reuters. Additionally, many departments are anticipating the need to closely watch budgets, while at the same time matter volumes are up putting more pressure on internal staff and resources.

While budgets for a majority of corporate legal departments are flat to decreasing, there are a percentage of companies anticipating a higher legal spend in the coming 12 months; 41% of corporate law departments expect to see an increase in their legal spend. This suggests that despite ongoing economic uncertainty, law departments are operating under cautious optimism.

As workloads and uncertainties rise, there is also a greater willingness to shift work to smaller firms with a lower cost and technology can help departments make data-based decisions without compromising outcomes, said McNally. Investments in legal content and workflow can also help close the gap for legal departments, create process improvement, enhance collaboration, and attract and retain top talent. This can help departments get up to speed on new areas of law quickly and offload tasks that can be automated, freeing up time for more high-value work, which is critical during times of turbulence.

Methodology

The findings in this report are the result of 1,569 interviews conducted with professionals from corporate law departments of companies with more than $1 billion in global revenue. Interviews were conducted throughout 2022.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the worlds most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACT

Lindsay Bomar

+1 214 435 6383

lindsay.bomar@tr.com


1+ days ago

3 Dividend Stocks with a Yield Above 5% That Are on Sale Now

Buying high-yielding dividend stocks is exciting. But buying high-yielding dividend stocks that also give you a chance for market-beating capital gains is when things get really fun. Thats because of the idea of total return. The total return on a stock includes not only the capital gains (i.e. the stock price growth) but also the amount that you earn via a dividend. Some of the best stocks to buy are companies that have strong expectations for stock price growth with an attractive dividend yield. Thats

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MUNICH, March 24, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autel, one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional diagnostic tools, equipment and accessories in the automotive aftermarket, is excited to announce the opening of its new training center in Munich, Germany. Equipped with a full range of Autel MaxiChargers including both AC and DC chargers for electric vehicles, the center is designed to help technicians gain a better understanding of Autel's products through practical exercises.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321006039/en/

Autel training center in Germany (Photo: Autel)

The new training center features a showroom and a practical training area, where Autel products can be showcased and tested directly on vehicles. Autels product range includes a variety of advanced tools, including the Autel MaxiCharger AC and DC chargers, which are ideal for battery electronic vehicles. At the training center, technicians are able to learn how to install and practice with Autels EV chargers perfectly, rather than learning with Powerpoint slides. The training center also offers training on Autels new three-in-one tool, which combines general diagnostics, wheel alignment, and ADAS calibration.

The training center also features a classroom that can accommodate up to a group of 10 technicians, where they can learn about Autel's products and technologies, discuss all the topics, as well as receive instructions on compliance with EV laws set by the government.

"We are proud to open our new training center in Munich, Germany," said Michael Muller, professional trainer from Autel Europe. "Our new facility provides hands-on training for technicians, allowing them to better understand and use our products in their daily work. We invite everyone interested in green technology to come and visit us and learn more about Autel's advanced tools."

Autel will also be participating in the upcoming Key Energy 2023 to be held in Rimini, Italy on March 22-24. Apart from showcasing its latest products, including the Autel MaxiChargers, Autel will provide live demonstrations and training for the attendees.

Story continues

For more information about Autel, please visit autelenergy.eu.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321006039/en/

Contacts

evinfo.eu@autel.com
OGE Energy Corp. is a holding company with investments in energy and energy service providers, offering physical delivery and related services for electricity in Oklahoma and western Arkansas and natural gas, crude oil and NGLs across the U.S. OGE Energy conducts these activities through two business segments: Electric Utility and Natural Gas Midstream Operations. The Electric Utility segment operations are conducted through OG&E, which generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. OG&E's rates are subject to regulation by the OCC, the APSC, and the FERC. OG&E was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of the Oklahoma Territory and is a wholly owned subsidiary of OGE Energy. OG&E is an electric utility with franchised service territory in Oklahoma, as well as Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the surrounding communities. OG&E sold its retail natural gas business in 1928 and is no longer engaged in the natural gas distribution business. The Natural Gas Midstream Operations segment represents OGE Energy's investment in Energy Transfer's equity securities. The investment in Energy Transfer's equity securities is held through wholly owned subsidi
ReportLinker

Segmented by Product (Recombinant Non-glycosylated Proteins v/s Recombinant Glycosylated Proteins), By Technology (Mammalian v/s non-Mammalian), By Application (Oncology, Blood Disorders, Growth Hormonal Deficiency, Chronic & Autoimmune Disorders, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Others), By Region and Competition.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435456/?utm_source=GNW



Global Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market is anticipated to witness impressive growth during the forecast period.This can be ascribed to the growing prevalence of various chronic diseases.



Additionally, the increasing availability of cancer biosimilars with lowered prices and affordable treatment, along with the growing adoption of cost-effective healthcare systems across the globe, has increased the demand for biosimilar contract manufacturing.Additionally, the growing geriatric population across the globe, susceptible to different kinds of chronic diseases, is further expected to increase the demand for biosimilar contract manufacturing, thereby fuelling market growth through 2028.



Besides, growing awareness of new therapy related to oncology and other chronic diseases is further expected to support the biosimilar contract manufacturing market during the forecast period.Furthermore, the impending patent expiry of biological products alongside the launch of new biosimilars and increasing early entry of new players, are further expected to increase the demand for biosimilar contract manufacturing, thereby supporting the market growth.



A total of 17 cancer or cancer-related biosimilar products have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration since 2015.

The growing Prevalence of Chronic Disease is Propelling the Markets Growth

The increasing incidence of diabetes and easy availability of biosimilars at lower costs over branded insulins are expected to drive the demand for insulin biosimilars adoption, thereby fuelling the market growth in the forecast period.The increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies is one of the major factors expected to boost market growth.



Furthermore, recombinant glycosylated protein biosimilars are used for the treatment of blood disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases.The most commonly occurring autoimmune disorders that can be treated by biosimilars are polyarticular spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, Crohns disease, and arthritis.



These conditions are commonly treated with biosimilars such as adalimumab and etanercept, making them the most preferred therapy for autoimmune disorders.The high rate of these diseases is expected to increase the demand for biosimilars, thus boosting market growth in the forecast period.



In 2019, 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the population, had diabetes. Nearly 1.9 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, including about 244,000 children and adolescents.



Increasing Contract Research Organizations Are Driving the Markets Growth

The demand for contract manufacturing and services has been rapidly rising in the pharmaceutical market over the last few years.Some of the important Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) are IQVIA, Syneos Health, ICON, and Parexel.



Contract research and manufacturing organizations help pharmaceutical companies in risk reduction, reduction in expenditures, aid in complex drug manufacturing processes, and shorten lead times.Additionally, the growing demand for novel drug discovery and the increasing number of clinical trials pertaining to research and development in the pharma industry are likely to enhance the CRO market share in the future.



Spain accounts for the sixth largest market for subsequent entry biologics in the European Union. The regulatory approval of biosimilars is likely to improve its demand in manufacturing and hence is expected to promote the markets growth.



Market Segmentation

The global biosimilar contract manufacturing market can be segmented by product, technology, application, and by region.Based on the product, the market can be divided into Recombinant Non-glycosylated Proteins v/s Recombinant Glycosylated Proteins.



Based on technology, the market can be divided into Mammalian v/s non-Mammalian.Based on application, the market can be grouped into Oncology, Blood Disorders, Growth Hormonal Deficiency, Chronic & Autoimmune Disorders, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Others.



Regionally, North America dominated the market among Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America. Among the different countries, United Kingdom dominated the global biosimilar contract manufacturing market on account of the growing demand for lower-cost therapy for the treatment of chronic disease.



Market Players

Catalent, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Alcami Corporation, Inc., Almac Group, Lonza Group AG, Biocon Limited, Avid Bioservice, Inc, Rentschler Biopharma SE, Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics Co., Ltd., WuXi Biologics, Inc. are some of the leading players operating in the Global Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market.

Recent Development

 For instance, in August 2021, Samsung Biologics announced that it plans to invest USD 205 billion and hire more people to improve its CDMO business in biosimilar, and other things in the coming years. It will benefit several Samsung businesses, including Samsung Bioepis, which deals with biosimilars, and Samsung Biologics, which handles contract manufacturing.

 For instance, in 2019, Shanghai HaiHe Biopharma Co. Ltd. raised USD 146.6 million as venture capital for its large cancer drug portfolio, which it shall utilize along with its outsourcing partner Zhejiang Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.



Report Scope:



In this report, global biosimilar contract manufacturing market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

 Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market, By Product:

o Recombinant Non-glycosylated Proteins

o Recombinant Glycosylated Proteins

 Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market, By Technology:

o Mammalian

o Non-Mammalian

 Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market, By Application:

o Oncology

o Blood Disorders

o Growth Hormonal Deficiency

o Chronic & Autoimmune Disorders

o Rheumatoid Arthritis

o Others

 Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market, By Region:

o North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

o Europe

France

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

o Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

o South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

o Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE



Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Global Biosimilar Contract Manufacturing Market.



Available Customizations:



With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435456/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Altria Group, Inc. is a US-based tobacco company and one of the Big-3 tobacco companies internationally. The company was formerly known as Phillip Morris International but emerged with its new name in 2003. The rebranding was intended to help the company improve its image while it shifted away from the smokeable tobacco segments of the business. It is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500. The company was a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for many years but fell from that position due to declining tobacco sales and the divestiture of businesses.

The company operates through a network of subsidiaries that include Phillip Morris USA. Phillip Morris USA is the core segment of business and includes the Marlboro line of cigarette brands. German immigrant Phillip Morris originally founded Phillip Morris in London in 1822. In 1844 the company began making its first line of machine-rolled cigarettes called English Ovals. The English Ovals remained in production in limited quantities until 2017.

By 1902 the company had moved to New York City, where it was incorporated. Operations continued uninterrupted until 1919, when it changed ownership, and then, in 1929, manufacturing operations were moved to Richmond, Virginia and closer to the tobacco fields.

Philip Morris made headlines again in 1933 when it integrated its manufacturing operations. This was done more than 30 years ahead of federal regulations and a ground-breaking move for the industry and America. After another multi-decade run of uninterrupted operations, the company began a series of acquisitions that included Miller Brewing, Kraft Foods and General Mills. Those acquisitions led to eventual mergers and spin-offs that resulted in SABMiller and Kraft General Mills.

Altria Group operates through a network of subsidiaries manufacturing and selling smokeable, smokeless and oral tobacco products. Subsidiaries include but not are limited to Philip Morris USA, John Middleton Inc. and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company. Brands include Marlboro, Marlboro Lights, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Sky and Husky. The company's principal customers are wholesalers and large retailers.

The company maintains a number of strategic partnerships as part of its efforts to shift away from smokeable tobacco. These include a 35% stake in JUUL smokeless tobacco products, a 45% stake in Canadian integrated cannabis company Cronos Group and a near-10% stake in ABInbev. These partnerships are intended to capitalize on smokeless tobacco and the legalization of cannabis at the US federal level.

Altria brought in more than $21 billion in 2021. The company employs more than 6,000 people and has paid more than $6.5 billion in cumulative dividends. The companys operations help support more than 1,200 US farmers and are sold in over 300,000 US retail establishments. Altria continues to be a leader in workforce quality and has received numerous awards, including a spot on the National Business Consortiums Best of the Best List for 2022.
The following companies are subsidiares of Moody's: Administracion de Calificadoras S.A. de C.V., BlackBox Logic, Bureau van Dijk EP DMCC, Bureau van Dijk Editions Electroniques S.A.S., Bureau van Dijk Editions Electroniques SRL, Bureau van Dijk Editions Electroniques Sarl, Bureau van Dijk Edizioni Elettroniche S.p.a, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing AB, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing ApS, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing B.V., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Beijing Co. Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing GmbH, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Hong Kong Limited, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Inc., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing K.K., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing LLC, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Pte. Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Pty. Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing S.A. de C.V., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Unipessoal Lda., Bureau van Dijk Electroniq Publishing S.A. (Pty) Ltd, Bureau van Dijk Publicaciones Electronicas S.A., Bureau van Dijk Publicacao Eletronica Ltda., DVBS Inc., Equilibrium (Chile) Holding SpA, Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) Limited, Fermat International SA, Four Twenty Seven, Four Twenty Seven France SAS, Four Twenty Seven Inc., GGYAXIS Inc., Gilliland Gold Young Consulting Inc., ICRA Lanka Limited, ICRA Limited, ICRA Nepal Limited, ICRA Online Limited, KIS Pricing Inc., Korea Investors Service, Korea Investors Service Inc., Lewtan Technologies Inc., MIS Asset Holdings Inc., MIS Quality Management Corp., MIS Support Center Private Limited, MIS Support Services CR Sociedad de Responsabilidad Ltda., Midroog Ltd., Moody's (China) Limited, Moody's (Japan) K.K., Moody's (UK) Limited, Moody's America Latina Ltda., Moody's Analytics (DIFC) Limited, Moody's Analytics (India) Private Limited, Moody's Analytics (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd., Moody's Analytics (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Moody's Analytics Australia Pty. Ltd., Moody's Analytics Canada Inc., Moody's Analytics Czech Republic s.r.o., Moody's Analytics Deutschland GmbH, Moody's Analytics Global Education (Canada) Inc., Moody's Analytics Holdings (UK) Limited, Moody's Analytics Hong Kong Ltd., Moody's Analytics International Licensing Gmbh, Moody's Analytics Ireland Limited, Moody's Analytics Japan K.K., Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services (Jersey) Limited, Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services Holdings (Mauritius) Limited, Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services Research (Mauritius) Limited, Moody's Analytics Korea Co. Ltd, Moody's Analytics SAS, Moody's Analytics Singapore Pte Ltd., Moody's Analytics Technical Services (Hong Kong) Ltd., Moody's Analytics Technical Services (UK) Limited, Moody's Analytics UK Limited, Moody's Analytics do Brazil Solucoes para Gerenciamento de Risco de Credito Ltda, Moody's Asia Pacific Limited, Moody's Asia-Pacific Group (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Moody's Canada Inc., Moody's Canada LP, Moody's China (B.V.I.) Limited, Moody's Company Holdings (BVI) I Limited, Moody's Company Hong Kong Limited, Moody's Credit Ratings (China) Limited, Moody's Deutschland GmbH, Moody's EMEA Financing (Cyprus) Limited, Moody's EMEA Holdings Limited, Moody's Eastern Europe LLC, Moody's Equilibrium I (BVI) Holding Corporation, Moody's Equilibrium II (BVI) Holding Corporation, Moody's Finance (BVI) Limited, Moody's Financing (BVI) Limited, Moody's Financing (Cyprus) Limited, Moody's France SAS, Moody's Group (BVI) Limited, Moody's Group (Holdings) Unlimited, Moody's Group Australia Pty Ltd, Moody's Group Cyprus Limited, Moody's Group Deutschland GmbH, Moody's Group Finance Limited, Moody's Group France SAS, Moody's Group Holdings (BVI) Limited, Moody's Group Japan G.K., Moody's Group NL B.V., Moody's Group UK Limited, Moody's Holdings (B.V.I.) Limited, Moody's Holdings Limited, Moody's Holdings NL B.V., Moody's Indonesia (B.V.I) Limited, Moody's Information Consulting (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Moody's International (UK) Limited, Moody's International Holdings (Cyprus) Limited, Moody's Investment Company India Private Limited, Moody's Investors Service (BVI) Limited, Moody's Investors Service (Beijing) Ltd., Moody's Investors Service (Korea) Inc., Moody's Investors Service (Nordics) AB, Moody's Investors Service Cyprus Limited, Moody's Investors Service EMEA Limited, Moody's Investors Service Espana S.A., Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Limited, Moody's Investors Service India Private Limited, Moody's Investors Service Limited, Moody's Investors Service Middle East Limited, Moody's Investors Service Pty Limited, Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd., Moody's Investors Service South Africa (Pty) Limited, Moody's Israel Holdings Inc., Moody's Italia S.r.l., Moody's Latin America Agente de Calificacion de Riesgo S.A., Moody's Latin America Holding Corp., Moody's Lithuania UAB, Moody's Local PA Calificadora de Riesgo S.A., Moody's Local PE Clasificadora de Riesgo S.A, Moody's Mauritius Holdings Limited, Moody's Risk Assessments Limited, Moody's SF Japan K.K., Moody's Shared Services India Private Limited, Moody's Shared Services UK Limited, Moody's Singapore Pte Ltd, Moody's South Africa (B.V.I.) Ltd., Moody's de Mexico S.A. de C.V. I.C.V, Moodys Advisors Inc., Moodys Analytics Inc., Moodys Analytics Knowledge Services Solutions (US) Inc., Moodys Analytics Solutions LLC, Moodys Assurance Company Inc., Moodys Assureco Inc., Moodys Capital Markets Research Inc., Moodys Group Holdings Inc., Moodys Holdings LLC, Moodys International LLC, Moodys Investors Service Inc., Moodys Overseas Holdings Inc., Moodys Risk Assessments Holdings LLC, Moodys Risk Assessments Inc., Moodys Shared Services Inc., Nile 1 Limited, Nile 2 Limited, Nile 3 Limited, Nile 4 Limited, Nile 5 Limited, Omega Performance, Omega Performance Corp./S.C.C. A Rendement Omega, Omega Performance Corporation, Omega Performance Corporation Pty. Limited, Omega Performance NZ Limited, Omega Performance Pte. Ltd., PT ICRA Indonesia, Pragati Development Consulting Services Limited, RBA International, Reis, Reis Inc., Reis Services LLC, Risk First (Holdings) Limited, Risk First (IP) Limited, Risk First Enterprise Limited, Risk First Group Limited, Risk First Inc., Risk First Limited, Risk First Management Services Limited, Skyval Holdings LLP, Skyval Limited, The Moodys Foundation, Vigeo, Vigeo Belgium NV, Vigeo Eiris, Vigeo Eiris Canada Inc., Vigeo Eiris Chile SpA, Vigeo Eiris Hong Kong Limited, Vigeo Eiris USA LLC, Vigeo Group, Vigeo Italia S.r.l, Yellow Maple Holding B.V., Yellow Maple I B.V., Yellow Maple II B.V., and Zephus Ltd..

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Bank of America has a rich history dating back to 1800 and even earlier. It was begun by immigrants as a group of separate and unrelated banks that, over the years, merged and grew together. One such is the Bank of Italy which was founded in 1904 by Amadeo Giannini to serve Italian immigrants that were facing discrimination. He later buys out the Banca de America e de Italia (Bank of America and Italy) which was also located in San Francisco. Over the years additional mergers and changes in Federal banking legislation, as well as the boom brought on by WWI and then WWII, helped boost the bank to national prominence.

Things turned sour, however, in 1998 with a major bond default that led to yet another merger, this time with Charlotte, NC-based Nations Bank to officially become the Bank of America that exists today. At the time, the merger was the largest bank merger in history and the company has only grown in the time since.

Other additions to the new Bank of America include MBNA (a major credit card operator), Fleet Boston (then the US 7th largest and one of its oldest banks), and Merril Lynch, now Merril, which was added to the group in 2008 to provide an investment banking branch. Together the company dominates as one of the Big Four Banks in America. Bank of America lays claim to nearly 11% of all US deposits which ranks in line with its peer group and Bank of America Securities is listed as the worlds 3rd largest investment bank.

Today, Bank of America Corporation provides banking and financial services for individuals, small businesses, institutions, corporations, and governments worldwide. The bank operates in three segments Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management, and Global Banking bringing in a combined revenue greater than $90 billion in 2022.

As of 2022, Bank of America serves approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,200 retail financial centers. The bank also operates more than 16,000 ATMs and digital banking platforms with approximately 41 million active users.

Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional banking and investment products for retail clients. These range from deposit accounts to savings, credit cards, consumer loans, and IRAs. The Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment and wealth management solutions including, brokerage, banking, and trust and retirement products. The Global Banking segment provides lending products and services, including commercial loans and leases for businesses of all varieties. The Global Markets segment offers market-making, clearing, settlement, and custody services, as well as risk management, derivatives, and FX exchange services.
The following companies are subsidiares of Archer-Daniels-Midland: 3 Grain Elevators, ACT Exportacao Ltda., ADGENE LABORATOIRE, ADM (Dalian) Animal Health & Nutrition Co. Ltd., ADM (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., ADM (Thailand) Ltd., ADM AGRO S.R.L., ADM Ag Holding Limited, ADM Agri Services Greece MEPE, ADM Agri-Industries Company, ADM Agricultural Commodities Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Agriculture Limited, ADM Agro Iberica S.L.U., ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Kota & Akola Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Latur & Vizag Private Limited, ADM Agroinvestimentos Ltda., ADM Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico LLC, ADM Americas S. de R.L., ADM Andina Peru S.R.L., ADM Animal Health & Nutrition (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Cambodia) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Xiangtan) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Zhangzhou) Co. Ltd., ADM Antwerp NV, ADM Arkady Ireland Limited, ADM Armazens Gerais Ltda., ADM Asia-Pacific Trading Pte. Ltd., ADM Australia Holdings I PTY Limited, ADM Australia Pty. Limited, ADM Bazancourt SASU, ADM Besin ve Tarim Anonim Sirketi, ADM Bio-Productos S.A. de C.V., ADM Bio-Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Bulgaria Trading EOOD, ADM CARIBBEAN INC., ADM Chile Comercial Limitada, ADM Clinton BioProcessing Inc., ADM Czernin S.A., ADM DO BRASIL LTDA., ADM Direct Polska Sp. z o.o., ADM Dominican Holdings Inc., ADM Dominicana S.A., ADM EMEA Corporate Services GmbH, ADM Edible Bean Specialties Inc., ADM Egypt LLC, ADM El Salvador Ltda. de C.V., ADM Europe Holdco S.L., ADM European Management Holding B.V. & Co. KG, ADM Expatriate Services Inc., ADM Export Co., ADM Food Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ADM Food Technology (Pinghu) Co. Ltd., ADM France, ADM Fuels Company, ADM German Holdings B.V., ADM Germany GmbH, ADM Grain Costa Rica S.R.L., ADM Grain River System Inc., ADM Grain de Venezuela C.A., ADM Guatemala Limitada, ADM Hamburg Aktiengesellschaft, ADM Holding (Thailand) Ltd., ADM Holdings LLC, ADM Honduras S.de R.L., ADM INGREDIENTS S.R.L., ADM Inca S.A.C., ADM Industries Centers Ltd, ADM International Holdings Inc., ADM International Sarl, ADM Investments Limited, ADM Investor Services Inc., ADM Investor Services International Limited, ADM Ireland Receivables Company Limited, ADM Israel, ADM Italia S.r.l., ADM Japan Ltd., ADM Latin America Inc., ADM Logistics Inc., ADM MANAGEMENT LTD., ADM MOROCCO S.A., ADM Mainz GMBH, ADM Malbork S.A., ADM Medsofts Sarl, ADM Mexico Inc., ADM Mexico S.A. de C.V., ADM Milling Co., ADM Milling Limited, ADM Myanmar Company Limited, ADM New Zealand Limited, ADM Nicaragua SA, ADM Nutrition Holding d.o.o. Beograd, ADM Olomouc S.R.O., ADM PORTUGAL SA, ADM Panama S. De R.L., ADM Paraguay S.R.L., ADM Participacoes Ltda., ADM Poland Sp. z o.o., ADM Protexin Inc., ADM Protexin Limited, ADM Pura Limited, ADM Razgrad EAD, ADM Receivables LLC, ADM Rice Inc., ADM Ringaskiddy Unlimited Company, ADM SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., ADM STF DMCC, ADM STF Pte. Ltd., ADM STF Switzerland Sarl, ADM Services B.V., ADM Slovakia s.r.o., ADM Specialty Ingredients (Europe) B.V., ADM Spyck GMBH, ADM Sweden AB, ADM Szamotuly Sp. z o.o., ADM Trading (UK) Limited, ADM Trading Australia Pty. Ltd., ADM Trading Company, ADM Trading Cote D'Ivoire, ADM Transportation Company, ADM Trucking Inc., ADM Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, ADM Uruguay SCA, ADM Ventures Investment Corp., ADM WILD Europe GmbH & Co. KG, ADM WILD Nauen GmbH, ADM WILD Netherlands B.V., ADM WILD SEE Kft, ADM WILD Valencia SAU, ADM Wild Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, ADM Wild UK Limited, ADM Worldwide Holdings L.P., ADM/WILD Flavors and Specialty Ingredients, ADMEcuador CIA. Ltda., ADMIS Holding Company Inc., ADMIS Hong Kong Limited, ADMIS SINGAPORE PTE. LIMITED, AGRANIX, AIC Seguros SRL, AMT West LLC, AOR, AT Holdings II Company, Agri Port Services Brasil Ltda., Agri Port Services Investments Ltd., Agri Port Services LLC, Agricolas Madagascar SARLU, Agrinational Insurance Company, Agriserve, Agrograin Ltd., Agrograin Ltd. Sucursal Uruguay, Alfrebro LLC, Alfred C. Toepfer International Exportacao e Importacao Ltda., Alfred C. Toepfer International Netherlands B.V., Alimenta USA, Alimentos Texo SA de CV, American River Transportation Co. LLC, Ameriseed, Anco Animal Nutrition Competence GmbH, Anco Animal Nutrition Competence GmbH, Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Asia-Pacific Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Erith Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Europe B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Europoort B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Korea LLC, Archer Daniels Midland Nederland B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Singapore Pte. Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Vietnam Company Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Wild Nigeria Ltd., Archer Financial Services Inc., Archer-Daniels-Midland Philippines Inc., Arinos Unlimited, Aston Foods & Food Ingredients, BIOPOLIS S.L., BQ Railroad Company, BTECH Tecnologias Agropecuarias e Comercio Ltda., Balanceados Nova S.A. Balnova, Balto Holdco LLC, Barbados Mills Limited, Bela Vista Bio Etanol Participacoes Ltda., Belize Mills Limited, Belwood Company S.A., Benson-Quinn Commodities Inc., Bern Aqua, Bifodan Inc., Biopolis, CONTROLADORA ADM S.A. DE C.V., Campa Sued GmbH & Co KG, Caribbean Agro-Industries Limited, Casablancas sweetener plant, Cattleman's Choice Loomix LLC, Chamtor, Ci ADM Colombia Ltda., Columbia & Willamette Maritime Services Inc., Comhan, Compania ADM S.A. de C.V., Crosswind Petfoods Inc., DE Holdings LLC, DP Holdings LLC, Daavision B.V., Deerland Europe ApS, Deerland Holdings Inc., Deerland Ireland R&D Limited, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes A/S, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes Inc., Eaststarch, Eatem Corporation, Eatem Foods, Elstar Oils, Empresa de Transporte La Estrella S.R.L., English River Pellets Inc., Epicore BioNetworks Inc., Epicore Ecuador S.A., Epicore Networks (U.S.A.) Inc., Erich Ziegler GmbH, Evialis (Shandong) Co. Ltd., Evialis France, Evialis Galicia S.A., Evialis India Limited, FINANCIERE FRANCO MAGYAR POUR LA NUTRITION ANIMALE - FFMNA, FISA Andina S.A.S., FISA Aromas S.A.S., Fasco Mills Co., Federation Sahanala Vanille, Filozoo SRL, Flavor Infusion, Flavor Infusion International S.A., Florida Chemical, Florida Chemical Company LLC, Flotek Flavor & Fragrance LLC, GLOBAL COCOA HOLDINGS LTD., GP Blanching Inc., GPC Trucking Inc., GROUPE PILARDIERE, GUYOKRMA spol. s.r.o., Gleadell Agriculture Ltd, Golden Farm Production & Commerce Company Limited, Golden Peanut Company, Golden Peanut Company LLC, Golden Peanut and Tree Nut Seed SA (Pty) Ltd., Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts S.A., Green Bison Soy Processing LLC, Group Lysac, Guyomarc'h - VCN Company Limited, Guyomarc'h Vietnam Co. Ltd., Guyovital PT, HFR Shipping Company Ltd., HI-NUTRIENTS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, HRA Shipping Company Ltd., HTI Shipping Company Ltd., Harvest Innovations, Hilltop Grain and Feed, Holding P & A Asia Company Limited, Hubei Meiweiyuan Biotechnology, Ilitchevskiy Maslo Extractionniy Zavod (IMEZ), Industries Centers EOD Trade 2005 Ltd., Invivo NSA Algerie, Invivo NSA Sanpo (Tianjin) Pet Products Co. Ltd, JDS Sarl, Jamaica Flour Mills Limited, Jamaica Rice Milling Company Limited, LANCENTER S.C.A., Liquid Feed Commodities, Logus Bar Ashdod Port Ltd., Malta Industries S.A. de C.V., Malta Texo De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Maniobras Y Servicios Del Interior S.A. de C.V., Master Mix of Trinidad Unlimited, Medsofts Company LLC, Medsofts for Import Co., Medsofts for Investment LLC, Medsofts for Trade LLC (Medsofts Trading), Mepla Comercio e Navegacao Ltda., Mezclas Biomix S.A.S., Monti Foods (Pty) Ltd., Mundo Logistics S.R.L., NEC Facilities LLC, National Enzyme Company LLC, Naviera Chaco S.R.L., Neovia, Neovia Algerie SPA, Neovia Nutricao e Saude Animal Ltda., Neovia Philippines Inc., North Star Shipping S.R.L., NutraDine, NutraDine LLC, NutriMix Feed Company Inc., Nutrilac, Olenex C.V., Olsen's Mill Inc. Four Grain Storage Elevators, P & A Marketing SA, PANCOSMA FRANCE S.A.S, PJSC ADM Illichivsk, PT ADM Indonesia Trading and Logistics, Pancosma & Associates Marketing (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Pancosma (Jiangsu) Feed Additive Co. Ltd., Pancosma (Shanghai) Feed Additives Co. Ltd., Pancosma Canada Inc., Pancosma Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pancosma North America Inc., Pancosma SA, Pedigree Ovens, Pedigree Ovens LLC, PetDine, PetDine LLC, Prairie Pride - Biodiesel Production Plant, Premiere Agri Technologies Asia Inc., Premiere Agri Technologies of Mexico Inc., Proservicios Potencial Humano S.A. de C.V., Provit Sp. z o.o., Pura Foods Limited, Rodelle Inc., SANICOOPA, SDJ Sarl, SORA Laboratories LLC, Sartco Ltda., Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie Herrmann, Sermix, Servad S.R.L, Setna Nutricion S.A., Silo P. Kruse Betriebs-GmbH & Co. KG, Silo-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH, Societe Industrielle des Oleagineux-SIO, SojaProtein d.o.o. Becej, Sojaprotein, Southern Cellulose Products Inc., Soy Investors LLC, Specialty Commodities, Specialty Commodities LLC, Sul Mineira Alimentos Ltda., Syngenta - Dry Bean Business, Szabadegyhazai Szolgaltato es Vagyonkezeklo KFT, Terminal Stevedores Inc., Terminales De Cargas Especializadas S.A. De C.V., The Pound Bakery, The Pound Bakery LLC, Toepfer International, Toepfer International Trading (Shanghai) Co. LTD., UPSCIENCE ITALIA S.R.L., Upscience, VIA CHEM GROUP a.s. Oilseed Processing Plant, Vantage Corn Processors LLC, Wild Amazon Flavors Concentrados e Corantes para Bebidas Ltda., Wild Flavors (Canada) Inc., Wild Flavors Austria GmbH, Wild Flavors Inc., Wild Flavors International GmbH, Wild Flavors Kenya Limited, Wild Flavors Middle East FZE, Wild Flavors Polska Sp. z o.o., Wild Flavors S.A. de C.V., Wild Intermare GmbH, Wild Polska Sp. z o.o., Wild Russia LLC, Wild Tunesia Sarl, Wisium SA (Pty) Ltd., World's Finest Chocolate - New Cocoa Powder Line, and Yerbalatina Ltda..

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The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET OWNER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER-D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FORTISSIMO CO. LTD, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, LHC HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING 2002 LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY 2002 LLC, LUMENLAB MALAYSIA SDN. BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASIA SERVICES SDN. BHD, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE ASSIGNMENT COMPANY INC., METLIFE BORO STATION MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMPUS AT SGV MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE CHINO MEMBER LLC, METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE DIGITAL VENTURES INC., METLIFE ENHANCED CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC., METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HCMJV 1 LP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF KOREA LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND V LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VI LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VII LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT EUROPE LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND LP, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS BLOCKER LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS LLC, METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LEGAL PLANS INC., METLIFE LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT MASTER FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT FUND II LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP II LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT II RATED FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL GP LLC, METLIFE MMPD II SPECIAL LLC, METLIFE MULTI-FAMILY PARTNERS III LLC, METLIFE OBS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PET INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REAL ESTATE LENDING LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SECURITIZATION DEPOSITOR LLC, METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FINCO LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FUND LP, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING GP LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING HOLDINGS LP, METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LTD., METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND LP, METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD., METLIFE SOLUTIONS S.A.S., METLIFE SP HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE STRATEGIC HOTEL DEBT FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SYNDICATED BANK LOAN LUX GP S.A.R.L., METLIFE THR INVESTOR LLC, METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO FUNDUSZY INWESTYCYJNYCH S.A., METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO UBEZPIECZEN NA ZYCIE I REASEKURACJI S.A., METLIFE TOWER RESOURCES GROUP INC., METLIFE TREAT TOWERS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, METROPOLITAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE SEGUROS E PREVIDENCIA PRIVADA S.A., METROPOLITAN LIFE SOCIETATE de ADMINISTRARE a UNUI FOND de PENSII ADMINISTRAT PRIVAT S.A., METROPOLITAN TOWER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER REALTY COMPANY INC., MEX DF PROPERTIES LLC, MFA FINANCING VEHICLE CTR1 LLC, MIDTOWN HEIGHTS LLC, MIM CAMPUS AT SGV MANAGER LLC, MIM CLAL GENERAL PARTNER LLC, MIM CM SYNDICATOR LLC, MIM EMD GP LLC, MIM I LLC, MIM LS GP LLC, MIM METWEST INTERNATIONAL MANAGER LLC, MIM ML-AI VENTURE 5 MANAGER LLC, MIM OMD MANAGER LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF GEORGIA 1 LLC, MIM SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MIM THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MISSOURI REINSURANCE INC., ML 300 THIRD MEMBER LLC, ML ARMATURE MEMBER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MANAGER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MEMBER LLC, ML CAPACITACION COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., ML CERRITOS TC MEMBER LLC, ML CLAL MEMBER LLC, ML CORNER 63 MEMBER LLC, ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML HUDSON MEMBER LLC, ML MATSON MILLS MEMBER LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML OMD MEMBER LLC, ML ONE BEDMINSTER LLC, ML PORT CHESTER SC MEMBER LLC, ML SENTINEL SQUARE MEMBER LLC, ML SLOANS LAKE MEMEBR LLC, ML SOUTHLANDS MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML VENTURE 1 MANAGER S. DE R. L. DE C.V., ML VENTURE 1 SERVICER LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 4 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 5 LLC, ML-URS PORT CHESTER SC MANAGER LLC, MLIA MANAGER I LLC, MLIA PARK TOWER MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF COLONY MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF MANAGER LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MLJ US FEEDER LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. DE C.V., MMP CEDAR STREET OWNER LLC, MMP CEDAR STREET REIT LLC, MMP HOLDINGS III LLC, MMP OLIVIAN OWNER LLC, MMP OLIVIAN REIT LLC, MMP OWNERS III LLC, MMP OWNERS LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK OWNER LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK REIT LLC, MNQM TRUST 2020, MREF 425 MKT LLC, MSHDF HOLDCO I LLC, MSV IRVINE PROPERTY LLC, MTL LEASING LLC, MTU HOTEL OWNER LLC, NATILOPORTEM HOLDINGS LLC, NEWBURY INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, OCONEE GOLF COMPANY LLC, OCONEE HOTEL COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC, OCONEE MARINA COMPANY LLC, OMI MLIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL NORTH LLC, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL SOUTH LLC, PARK TOWER JV MEMBER LLC, PARK TOWER REIT INC., PJSC METLIFE, PLAZA DRIVE PROPERTIES LLC, PREFCO FOURTEEN LLC, PREFCO XIV HOLDINGS LLC, PROVIDA INTERNACIONAL S.A., SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEHEALTH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, SOUTHCREEK INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY INC., VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, WHITE TRACT II LLC, and Willing.

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Three-year promotion in Malaysia to raise awareness of high quality and sustainably produced European Dairy from Ireland.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Bord Bia  Irish Food Board held a successful trade seminar, "Sustainable European Dairy from Ireland" at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya in Malaysia. The event brought together key stakeholders in the dairy industry in Malaysia, including local importers, distributors, manufacturers, and media representatives. Distinguished guests included Ireland's Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, T.D. and Ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia, H.E Hilary Reilly.

During the seminar, the attendees gained valuable insights on the dairy industry's latest global trends and future outlook. Bord Bia showcased the high-quality ingredients produced in Ireland, emphasizing the country's commitment to sustainability. The event also included presentations from local partners who share their experience of working with European Dairy from Ireland.

Over 40 dairy industry representatives including local importers, distributors, manufacturers, and media attended the event where they learned about Ireland's capability as a supplier of high quality and sustainably produced dairy.

Patrick Lim, who introduced Bord Bia at the seminar, commented that "the seminar provided an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the quality and sustainability of European Dairy from Ireland and to connect with key stakeholders in the dairy industry in Malaysia."

The opening address was made by Minister Collins, who emphasized the importance of sustainable agriculture in food production. Ambassador Reilly also shared her remarks on the potential of Irish-Malaysian partnerships in the dairy industry.

The seminar showcased a range of European dairy products from Ireland including full cream and pure salted and unsalted butter.

The event was followed by a networking session with Irish dairy exporters.

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Bord Bia  Irish Food Board has a successful track record of promoting Irish Dairy products worldwide. The seminar in Malaysia is part of Bord Bia's continued efforts to raise awareness of the sustainability and high-quality of European Diary from Ireland.

Speakers :

Hilary Reilly, Ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia

Ambassador Reilly is the Irish Ambassador to Malaysia, having previously served in a number of diplomatic roles overseas and at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.

Niall Collins, Minister of State for Skills and Further Education

Minister Collins is an Irish politician who has been a Teachta Dalka (T.D.) for the Limerick County constituency since 2007. He was appointed as Minister of State for Skills and Further Education in 2020.

Yifan Li, Associate Analyst at Stone X and Dairy Expert

He specializes in the dairy market and provides market insights to StoneX's clients.

About Bord Bia:

Bord Bia - Irish Food Board is a government agency within the Department of Agriculture. Bord Bia is responsible for the development of new markets and the promotion of Irish food, drink, and horticulture products internationally. The role of Bord Bia is to act as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture companies and existing and potential customers. Bord Bia has 16 offices around the world, in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America, to promote trade in the international market.

{Economic data} Ireland exported over 65 million in food and drink to the Malaysian market in 2022. Irish dairy exports to Malaysia rose to a value of 60 million in 2022, making it Ireland's largest food export category to the market. Due to strong demand for cheese and powders, Irish dairy exports to Malaysia are up 35% in value terms in the first 6 months of 2022 (Source: Bord Bia https://www.bordbiaperformanceandprospects.com/).

Cision

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SOURCE Bord Bia
Pfizer Inc. is a US-based multinational biotech company. The company operates as a research-based pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, production and marketing of medicines and vaccines. It is the 2nd largest drugmaker globally by revenue and is ranked 64th on the Fortune 500 list. The companys avenues of research include Immunology, Oncology, Cardiology, Endocrinology and Neurology.

Regarding its product line, the company has at least ten blockbuster drugs producing more than $1 billion in avenue revenue each. The company brought in over $81 billion in total revenue in 2021. The US is its main market and represents roughly 50% of all revenue. China and Japan make up roughly 12% of the business, while the rest come from the rest of the world. It employs roughly 79,000 people and is headquartered in New York state.

Pfizer Inc. was founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer Sr. and his cousin Charles Earhart. The two were German immigrants and chemists that set up shops outside New York City to make medicinal compounds. The first major success was an antiparasitic called santonin, and the commercialization of citric acid-making technologies quickly followed that up. Their success with citric acid led to the companys expansion and other major discoveries.

World War I caused a shortage of materials for making citric acid and forced the company to seek alternatives. The one they latched on to was the fermentation of certain fungi known to produce citric acid naturally. This led to the advancement of fermentation technology that was later used in the commercial production of penicillin and then the advancement of antibiotics in general.

Pfizer Inc was incorporated on June 2nd, 1942 in Delaware, and another period of expansion began. The postwar drop in demand for penicillin led to the discovery of newer, more marketable antibiotics and cemented the companys role in modern medicine. By the time he 80s rolled around, the company was trading on the New York Stock Exchange and on the path to developing todays blockbuster lineup.

The companys top seller in 2021 was Comirnaty, a COVID-19 vaccine. It generated nearly $37 billion in 2021 and was followed by Prevnar, Ibrance and Eliquis with just over $5 billion in sales each. Other blockbuster names on Pfizers list include Xeljanz and Enbrel, each bringing in $3.5 billion. Pfizer operates 39 research and production facilities worldwide and sells its products in 125 countries.

As of 2022, the company had a robust pipeline of potential treatments, with more than 220 in some stage of clinical trials. Among its leading candidates is a vaccine for RSV, a life-threatening respiratory disease affecting children. 2021 highlights include 8 FDA approvals, four new regulatory submissions and 13 new trial startups. Pfizer is also a well-known dividend payer and has returned more than $8.7 billion to shareholders since going public.
Company Logo

Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Brazil: Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This database covers the Brazil data center market portfolio analysis, which will provide information on the colocation data centers

Brazil is one of the major data center markets in Latin America. Ascenty, Scala Data Centers, Equinix, ODATA, Nabiax (Telefonica), HostDime, and Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink) are some of the major colocation operators in the country.

Global Cloud Service providers, such as AWS, MicroSoft, Oracle, IBM, Tencent Cloud, Google, and Huawei Technologies, have their presence in the country and due to customer demand. Some of them are investing to expand their presence across the country.

In terms of 5G connectivity, telecom operators such as Carlo Brazil, Vivo (Telefonica Brazil), TIM Brasil, Algar Telecom, Brisanet Telecommunications, and Sercomtel are involved in the deployment of the 5G network services across the country. For instance, Brazilian regional operator Brisanet Telecommunications is expected to launch 5G in Q2 2023.

The Brazil data center market is well connected to several major markets, with around 15 submarine cables, The Firmina submarine cable, an upcoming cable, is deployed by Google, which connects Brazil with Argentina, Uruguay, and the US, which is operational in 2023.

As a part of the sustainability initiatives in the country the data centers are entering into the power purchase agreements with the energy providers for increasing the use of sustainable energy sources. For instance, Scala Data Centers signed a power purchase agreement of 600 MW with the Enel Americas to power its hyperscale data center campus in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Key Market Highlights:

Detailed Analysis of 65 existing data centers

Detailed Analysis of 37 upcoming data centers

Locations covered: Sao Paulo, Ceara, Minas Gerais, Paraiba, Parana, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and others

Existing white-floor space (square feet)

Upcoming white-floor space (square feet)

Current IT load capacity (2022)

Future capacity additions (2023-2025)

Retail Colocation Pricing I. Quarter Rack (1/4) II. Half Rack Cabinets (1/2) III. Full Rack Cabinet (42U/45U/47U/etc.)

Wholesale colocation (per kW) pricing

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EXISTING DATA CENTERS (65 Facilities)

Market Snapshot

Location (Region/Country/City)

Facility Address

Operator/Owner Name

Data Center Name i.e., (Silverdale 1 or Hobsonville 1)

Core & Shell Area (White-Floor Area)

Core & Shell Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity)

Rack Capacity

Year of Operations

Design Standards (Tier I - IV)

Power/Cooling Redundancy

UPCOMING DATA CENTERS (37 Facilities)

Investment Snapshot

Location (Region/Country/City)

Investor Name

Area (White-Floor Area)

Power Capacity (IT Load Capacity)

Investment ($ Million)

Electrical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million)

Mechanical Infrastructure Investment ($ Million)

General Construction Services Investment ($ Million)

Announcement Year

Project Status (Opened/Under Construction/Announced & Planned)

Active or Expected Year of Opening

INVESTORS/OPERATORS COVERED

Equinix

Ascenty (Digital Realty)

ODATA

HostDime

Angola Cable

Scala Data Centers

TIVIT

Nabiax(Telefonica)

Quantico Data Center

OneX

GlobeNet

Embratel

Um Telecom

CloudHQ

Ava Telecom

Zeittec

Lumen Technologies

For more information about this database visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k5qc7u

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According to Research Study, the global building thermal insulation market size is expected to increase at USD 47.77 billion by 2032 and registering at a CAGR of 3.85% from 2023 to 2032.

Ottawa, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precedence Research predict, the global building thermal insulation market size was accounted for USD 32.74 billion in 2022. Due to the increasing demand for improved cooling and heating system as well as improved fire resistance of building thermal insulation substances such as stone wool, glass wool, and plastic foams, the application of building thermal insulation has increased significantly. The recovery in residential housing and non-residential building construction worldwide has been one of the primary drivers of the building thermal insulation industry.



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Material Landscape

As a result of its increasing use in facade insulation, sandwich panel insulation, outer wall insulation, and cavity insulation, plastic foam is expected to retain the largest market share in 2022. Plastic foam's dominance in the global market can be attributed to its versatility, superior thermal resistance, durability, and lifespan.

Furthermore, the aerogel sector is expected to grow at a moderate rate over the forecast period as product penetration increases in North America. Growth is also likely to be driven by rising demand for thermal insulation, including a substitute for foamed plastic insulation for buildings. The development is also due to the noise resistance ability of aerogel, and it also reduces energy loss and is used in commercial and residential applications.

Product Landscape

By 2032, the expanded polystyrene sector is expected to hold the largest market share of 5.1%. The sales of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in building applications are projected to increase substantially over the projected period due to the various properties of EPS, such as high thermal insulation, lightweight, chemical resistance, and resistance to microbes and pests, among others.

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Glass wool is an insulating material made of glass fibers that have been compelled to a binding material to develop a texture equivalent to wool. Mineral wool, glass wool, extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and other products are used in wall insulation, floor insulation, and roof insulation.

Application Landscape

The wall insulation sector is expected to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2023 and 2032. This is because of a spike in the product's use on both interior and exterior walls. Insulated walls and roofs create a protective envelope, preventing heat transfer from entering the environment through convection, conduction, and radiation.

The roof Insulation sector is anticipated to expand rapidly from 2023 to 2032. This is due to the increasing need to avoid heat from the rays of the sun entering through the rooftop. Furthermore, a rise in a single-family residential home is projected to propel the market growth during the predicted period.

End-user landscape in the global building thermal insulation market

The ongoing growth of single-family housing increased renovations and re-insulation activities of existing and older homes, and an increase in multi-family residential development activities, residential development is expected to generate the most revenue over the projection period. Energy conservation in public buildings is expected to be a major factor in this segment's revenue growth.

The commercial construction sector accounted for approximately 50% of total revenue in 2022. Increasing product demand to improve condensation control, process efficiency, noise reduction, pollution reduction, and freeze protection is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Sustainable buildings are also becoming more popular, with rising office space in developing countries, particularly in the subtropical region, driving up demand for insulating materials.

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Scope of this report

Report Coverage Details Market Size in 2032 USD 47.77 Billion Europe Region Share 34% in 2022 Residential Construction Segment Share 54% in 2022 Roof application Segment Share 36% in 2022 Key Players BASF SE, Kingspan Group plc, Saint-Gobain SA., Knauf Insulation, Inc., Huntsman Corporation, Johns Manville Corporation, Rockwool International A/S, Cabot Corporation, Owens Corning, Firestone Building Products Company, Dow Corning Corporation, URSA Insulation, SA. Covestro AG, Atlas Roofing Corporation, Paroc Group Oy and Others

Regional Landscape

During the projected period 2023-2032, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to expand rapidly. This is due to increased construction work in the region to satisfy the demands of an expanding population. China is predicted to account for the largest share because of several government policies to advance its public infrastructure.

Furthermore, the Europe market is expected to grow remarkably throughout the projected period due to the existence of freezing climates in nations like Norway, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, and the UK.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Increasing spending on construction and rapid urbanization

Asia Pacific has approximately 50% of the worldwide construction market. Economic development, urbanization, and enhanced infrastructure development are expected to raise the demand for sustainable and energy-efficient homes, driving the building thermal construction industry. Along with this, the rapidly growing industrialization, which further led to increased greenhouse gas emissions, is anticipated to propel the demand for thermal insulation.

Restraint

Side effects related to insulating materials.

A variety of thermal insulation substances like stone and glass wool cause health problems such as respiratory and eye irritation. Moreover, polymer-based insulating materials are subjected to stringent regulations as a result of cancer-causing emissions during manufacturing. These health and environmental issues will continue to hinder the market expansion over the predicted period.

Some wall insulation materials are hazardous to one's health. Asbestos, for instance, has been linked to mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer, as well as gastrointestinal cancers. Fiberglass, a popular insulation material, causes skin irritation because the chemicals bind the fibers together.

Recent development

In February 2023, GC and Saint-Gobain joined a partnership to Decarbonize Flat Glass Production.

In 2023, Saint-Gobain signed an agreement to acquire U.P. Twiga Fiberglass Ltd., India's market leader in glass wool insulation.

In January 2023, Saint-Gobain finalized the acquisition of Termica San Luis in Argentina.

In 2020, BASF contributes to the US Department of Energy by offering an energy-efficient solution for re-side residential homes.

Key Market Players

BASF SE

Johns Manville Corporation

Kingspan Group plc

Saint-Gobain SA.

Knauf Insulation, Inc.

Huntsman Corporation

Owens Corning

Rockwool International A/S

Cabot Corporation

Firestone Building Products Company

Dow Corning Corporation

URSA Insulation, SA.

Covestro AG

Atlas Roofing Corporation

Paroc Group Oy





Segments Covered in the Report

By Material

Foamed Plastic

Aerogels

Cellulose

Other Materials

By Product

Glass Wool

Mineral Wool

Expanded Polystyrene

Extruded Polystyrene

Other Products





By Application

Roof Insulation

Wall Insulation

Floor Insulation





By End-User

Residential

Commercial

By Geography

North America US. Rest of North America

Europe UK Germany France Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific

LAMEA

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The demand for semiconductor chips has been increasing due to the growing use of electronics in various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications

PUNE, India, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exactitude Consultancy, the market research and consulting wing of Ameliorate Digital Consultancy Private Limited has completed and published the final copy of the detailed research report on the Back-Grinding Tapes Market.

Exactitude_Consultancy_Logo

The Global Back Grinding Tapes Market at a CAGR of 7.6%, and it is expected to reach above USD 303 million by 2028, over the forecast period.

Back Grinding Tapes Market Growth in Upcoming Years

Back Grinding Tapes Market are used in the semiconductor industry to attach a semiconductor wafer to a carrier tape during the thinning and back grinding process. The demand for back grinding tapes is directly related to the demand for semiconductor chips, which are used in a wide range of electronic devices, including smartphones, computers, and other electronic equipment.

This growth is driven by factors such as the increasing demand for smartphones and other electronic devices, the rise of 5G technology, and the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

With the growth of the semiconductor market, the demand for back grinding tapes is also expected to increase. Back grinding tapes manufacturers are developing new and innovative products to meet the changing needs of the semiconductor industry, such as thinner tapes that allow for more precise grinding and higher yields.

Overall, the back grinding tapes market is expected to grow in the upcoming years, driven by the growth of the semiconductor industry and the demand for more advanced electronic devices. However, the exact rate of growth will depend on various factors such as market demand, competition, and technological advancements.

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Back Grinding Tapes Market Drivers:

Increasing demand for semiconductor chips: The demand for semiconductor chips has been increasing due to the growing use of electronics in various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications. As the semiconductor industry continues to grow, the demand for back grinding tapes is also expected to increase.

Technological advancements in the semiconductor industry: Technological advancements in the semiconductor industry, such as the development of advanced packaging technologies and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), are driving the demand for more precise and advanced back grinding tapes.

Growing adoption of mobile devices: The growing adoption of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is driving the demand for smaller and more efficient semiconductor chips. This is leading to an increased demand for back grinding tapes that can handle thinner and smaller wafers.

Here Are Some Of The Technological Advancements In The Back Grinding Tapes Market:

Thinner tapes: Back grinding tapes are becoming thinner to accommodate the demand for thinner semiconductor wafers. Thinner tapes enable more precise grinding, which results in higher yields and better quality chips.

Advanced adhesive technology: Back grinding tapes use advanced adhesive technology to securely hold the wafer during the back grinding process. The adhesives are designed to provide high adhesion strength, as well as easy and clean removal.

Anti-static properties: To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, back grinding tapes are designed to have anti-static properties. This helps protect the delicate semiconductor components from damage during the back grinding process.

Competitive Insight

Some Of The Notable Market Players Operating In The Global Back Grinding Tapes Market Covered In This Report Are:

Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello

Furukawa Electric

Nitto

Denka

Lintec

AI Technology

AMC Co.

LG Chem

Sumitomo Bakelite

Daehyun St

KGK Chemical Corporation

Minitron Elektronik GmBH

Pantech Tape

Force-One Applied Materials Inc. *The Company List Is Indicative

Recent Developments:

Advanced back grinding tapes: Manufacturers are developing back grinding tapes with advanced features such as thinner tapes, higher adhesion strength, and improved anti-static properties to meet the increasing demand for high-quality and efficient semiconductor chips.

Increasing focus on sustainability: There is a growing focus on sustainability in the semiconductor industry, which has led to the development of more environmentally friendly back grinding tapes that use fewer resources and produce less waste.

Increasing use of automation: Automation has become increasingly prevalent in the back grinding tapes market, with manufacturers using robots and other automated systems to apply tapes and carry out other processes, resulting in more consistent and efficient production.

Browse the full "Back Grinding Tapes Market by Type (UV Type, Non-UV Type), Application (Standard, Standard Thin Die, (S) DBG (GAL), Bump, Others) and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa), Global Trends and Forecast from 2019 to 2028" Report and TOC at: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/1053/back-grinding-tapes-market/

Segment Overview:

The Back Grinding Tapes Market is segmented By Type, By Application and By Region.

Back Grinding Tapes Market By Type, 2019-2028, (IN USD Million)

UV Type

Non-UV Type

Back Grinding Tapes Market By Application, 2019-2028, (IN USD Million)

Standard

Standard Thin Die

(S) DBG (GAL)

Bump

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the Back Grinding Tapes Market is segmented into North America, South America, Europe, APAC and MEA.

North America: includes the US, Canada, Mexico

Europe: includes UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific: includes China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, ASEAN and Rest of APAC

South America: includes Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America

Middle East & Africa: includes Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Rest of MEA

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Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for back grinding tapes, accounting for a significant share of the global market. This is due to the high concentration of semiconductor manufacturing facilities in countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. The growing demand for electronics and increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and 5G in the region is driving the demand for back grinding tapes.

North America: North America is also a significant market for back grinding tapes, with a large number of semiconductor manufacturing facilities located in the United States. The region is home to several major semiconductor companies, and the demand for back grinding tapes is driven by the growing adoption of AI, IoT, and other advanced technologies.

Europe: Europe is another important market for back grinding tapes, with a growing demand for semiconductors in various industries such as automotive and healthcare. The region is home to several key semiconductor companies, and the demand for back grinding tapes is expected to increase as the industry continues to grow.

What Are The Key Data Covered In This Back Grinding Tapes Market Report?

Market size and growth rate: The report may provide data on the size of the back grinding tapes market and its expected growth rate over a specified period.

Market segmentation: The report may segment the market based on various factors such as product type, application, end-user, and geography.

Competitive landscape: The report may provide information on the key players in the back grinding tapes market and their market share, strategies, and recent developments.

Market trends: The report may analyze the latest market trends, such as technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and regulatory changes, and their impact on the back grinding tapes market.

Market drivers and challenges: The report may identify the key drivers and challenges that are affecting the growth of the back grinding tapes market.

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Last month, New York cider maker Elizabeth Ryan was awarded the prestigious Apple Advocate Award, a lifetime achievement prize from the American Cider Association.

Ryan, a producer of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, uses apples from 150 acres of historic Hudson Valley farmland (she grows over 100 varieties and runs six orchards) to make award-winning ciders. She made her first barrel of cider in 1980 while studying at Cornell University. Since then, she has made many thousands of gallons of cider, co-founded the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City and successfully campaigned in Washington to have taxes on cider lowered  a move that arguably led to the drinks revival in the U.S. and a new boom in cider production all over the Hudson Valley.

The Times Union sat down with Ryan in her elegantly rustic tasting room at Stone Ridge Orchard to chat about apples and, of course, savor some of her dazzling ciders.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Courtesy of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider

You have a degree in pomology from Cornell. For those who havent swallowed the Expanded Edition of Websters Dictionary, what is pomology?

It is the art and science of fruit production  and Cornell is one of the great schools in America for studying fruit growing. But I never wanted to grow apples  theyre really challenging. I wanted to grow grapes. I was hired to be vineyard manager at Benmarl Winery by Mark Miller, who said to me, I think its time for the girls to have a chance, dont you? He gave me free rein. But I knew really early on that I had to have my own place, I had to have freedom.

What first drew you to cider?

I bought an orchard! Breezy Hill in Staatsburg, N.Y. It was $185,000 in 1984, which felt like a million dollars.

Stephanie Mossey

Did you face any difficulties right away with owning an orchard?

Well, my boyfriend had gotten a Ph.D. in Russian. He was actually teaching at SUNY Albany. And he said to me, Ill have nothing to do with it. And Im embarrassed to say, he said, Its me or the farm. And I said, Its the farm!

Eventually, he told me, Well, Ill come down for a week. You need the help. And then he was like, Ill stay for a month. Ill stay for fall. Then he took a leave of absence from SUNY Albany. And then he never went back. After a year, we were embedded.



And where did your relationship go after that?

We got married. And then we had a child, Peter, who works for me now  a lovely young man. Im hoping he doesnt give up his career, but its been wonderful having him since COVID.

Courtesy of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider

Have there been any challenges being a woman in the cider business?

Eventually, I got divorced. Sometime after that, Farm Credit called in my note. They said to me, Your farms worth a lot of money. Its worth more money with houses on it. And were gonna do you a favor and take the farm off your hands because you cant run the farm by yourself, without your husband.

I said, But Im the one with a degree from Cornell University  and Ive already been running the farm. So that was a big fight. I won the fight. But it was big.

Are you a fan of any New York cideries, other than your own?

Yes, Eves Cidery, especially the Autumn Gold; the champagne-style offerings from Metal House Cider; and Ian Merwins Black Diamond Cider. But there are so many.

Where are the best places in the Hudson Valley to buy cider  other than your orchards, of course?

Boutique Wines, Spirits and Ciders in Fishkill  best selection in the entire Northeast, theyre the bomb. And Artisan Wine Shop in Beacon.

Courtesy of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider

Apple pie, apple crisp or tarte Tatin?

Tarte Tatin, preferably with clotted cream. Oh my God, its one of the most incredible dishes on the planet.

Calvados or brandy?

No contest: calvados, which Im planning to make. The still has been paid for and will eventually arrive from France. But we do make pommeau.

(Pommeau is an alcoholic drink made from a mixture of fresh apple juice and apple eau de vie. Ryans is deliciously sippable, and at 24 percent alcohol by volume, sipping is definitely advised.)

Which apple variety has the silliest name?

King Luscious. And I think that is a marvelously silly name.

Other than drinking it on its own, whats the best drink you can make with cider?

Hot cider, lightly spiced  a heavenly drink, preferably consumed in the orchard at our wassail.

(A wassail, in the cider world at least, is an ancient orchard-blessing ritual with much singing and dancing. Ryan has been hosting her own wassails at Stone Ridge Orchard for 27 years. This years wassail will be on April 29. Details can be found here.)

Courtesy of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider

Nowadays you can get ciders with all sorts of fruits or other ingredients added. Do you approve?

Im a classicist; ciders need to stand on their own, however, ginger and apples have a great affinity. And some of the fruit ciders are very quaffable: cherry, strawberry, rhubarb (fabulous) and peaches. And our cider sangria is fantastic.

Finally, what are your feelings about the cider world today?

A lot of parental pride as I watch the cider revolution. Now its easy to get a license. Its wildly experimental, attracting a lot of young people and its a very fun, appealing, unpretentious, approachable beverage.

Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider products can be found at numerous farmers markets across the region, as well as at Stone Ridge Orchard and Breezy Hill. Check both orchards events pages to learn more about festivals and events.
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ALBANY  The former Kenwood Convent was sold at auction for $100,000 just two days before it burned in a massive fire.

Standing in front of a smoldering pile of rubble Mayor Kathy Sheehan and other city officials gathered at the site Friday in the city's South End to discuss the blaze that consumed the stately landmark that also once housed the Doane Stuart School. By sunrise, much of the building had crumbled, leaving fallen bricks and twisted steel piled above the foundation.

"We've all gotten emotional about this because this was a beautiful building," the mayor said. We lost a treasure here.

On Friday afternoon, attorneys for the investment group that purchased the 74-acre property two days before the blaze asked a federal bankruptcy judge for an emergency status conference on a $2 million insurance policy that is set to expire on March 28. The policy was taken out the same day the previous owner declared bankruptcy in 2022.

The conflagration erupted at the campus near Southern Boulevard on Thursday evening, lighting up the night sky over much of Albany, prompting safety concerns and eliciting sadness for an architecturally significant structure lost to fire and demolition crews.

When firefighters arrived at the scene of the burning former convent on Thursday, flames had already spread over the sprawling, historic structure.

"The fire was throughout," Fire Chief Joseph Gregory told reporters Friday morning. He noted the flames were so well established the 100,000-square-foot building's steeple collapsed shortly after firefighters arrived at 6:33 p.m.

Gregory said there was little that could be done to save the building and firefighters put a primary focus on keeping embers from spreading to neighboring structures, a fear fueled by concern about the heavy wind that hit the area when the fire was burning.

The fire was so massive it strained the departments ability to get enough water to the scene.

We didnt have any difficulty obtaining water, it was just the amount of water we needed, Gregory said.

The electricity and gas to the building had previously been turned off. Officials said the fire was under investigation and that it was too early to comment on a potential cause.

The city has not reached out to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives but the agency on Friday said it would "be happy to assist them in whatever way we could."

Historic preservationists had long hoped the building could be utilized in a redevelopment of the property. But the damage from the flames and heat doomed the main structure and it will be demolished, said Rick LaJoy, head of the citys Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance.

Sheehan said it was unclear how much of the remaining buildings around the convent could be salvaged or what the final demolition cost will be until city engineers examine the site.

City firefighters quickly deemed the fire too dangerous to fight from inside the burning structures and set up a "defensive posture" to pour water on the flames to try to prevent the blaze from spreading. Gregory said it took crews nearly four hours to get the blaze under control.

Firefighters remained at the site throughout the night and crews continued to water down hot spots throughout the day.

The site has sat vacant since 2009 when Doane Stuarts attempt to purchase the building failed. Over the years there were numerous developers interested in the property, but nothing came to fruition.

In 2017, the religious order that owned the property sold it to a company owned by Jacob Frydman , a New York City real estate developer who was also at one point a producer for the soap opera, "As the World Turns," and is also the owner of a Hudson riverfront mansion that was once listed for sale at $45 million.

Frydman did not return requests for comment on Friday.

He bought the property in August 2017 for $3 million through a company called 451 Southern Boulevard, which then promptly sold it to another company, Kenwood Commons, LLC., for $18 million.

Frydman offered a grand $500 million plan that included 13 apartment buildings, six clusters of townhomes and two hotels as well as space for retail and public facilities like an art gallery and amphitheater.

Sheehan said the property was a priority building for her administration.

We attempted to work with the developer to ensure that they were able to have a pathway to redevelopment, she said. This was a project that should have been able to be done and should have been relatively straightforward.

But little progress was made with the property and in 2019 work ceased.

Kenwood Commons was not Frydmans first failed Albany real estate venture.

In 2007, Frydman and other investors bought the Central Warehouse through the company CW Montgomery for $1.4 million.

The citys codes department made multiple visits to board up the former convent/school over the years, but the site was repeatedly broken into and vandalized, LaJoy said.

Last August, the department brought in outside contractors to board up the entire first floor and clear away overgrown brush around the property. The city had also taken its owner to court multiple times for code violations. The status of those code cases was not immediately available on Friday.

This has been a high priority building for us, LaJoy said. This is the kind of tragedy that we are trying to prevent.

Vandals and thieves had damaged the main building to the point where the parapet had started to fail, and bricks were falling from it.

The grand main structure on the site was built between 1842 and 1845 as a summer home for Jared Rathbone, Albany mayor from 1839-41 and business owner in the city, according to a history compiled by the Friends of Albany History website.

The property was later sold to Sisters of the Sacred Heart, a religious order. The sisters founded the Kenwood Academy in 1852. They moved their school to the property in 1859 and had a chapel built on the site in 1870.

In 1975 Kenwood Academy became the Doane Stuart School when it merged with St. Agnes Girls School. The school moved to Rensselaer in 2009 after unsuccessfully trying to purchase the property from the religious order.

The buildings sat vacant as the city, Historic Albany Foundation and others tried to lure a developer to the site. There were multiple interested parties over the years, but nothing ever came of the proposals until the property was sold to Frydman.

A yearlong bankruptcy dispute had ended with a brief auction Tuesday morning when Guild Investment Group purchased the 75-acre site for $100,000, according to court documents.

Michael-Henry Elghanian-Krayem, one of the principals for Guild Investment Group listed in court documents, could not be reached for comment.

Guild Investment Group had assumed the debt against Kenwood Commons late last year from TBG Funding, which held a $5 million mortgage on the property and claimed it was owed $8 million from Kenwood Commons.

In addition to the mortgage debt and multiple contractor liens, Kenwood Commons owed Albany County roughly $5.5 million in property taxes.

TBG tried to foreclose on Kenwood Commons in 2019, which declared bankruptcy March 28, 2022, in an effort to save its ownership of the property. Kenwood Commons proposed selling the property as part of its bankruptcy reorganization plan. Last month a federal judge allowed Guild Investment Group to move forward with that foreclosure. Frydman had made a final effort last week in bankruptcy court to stave off the auction but was unsuccessful.

Sheehan said city officials had conversations with Guild Investment Group on March 14 on the potential redevelopment of the site. The company was interested in knowing more about the zoning and potential uses for the property as well as any overdue property taxes.

Unfortunately, the ownership status and the bankruptcy will continue to provide challenges to us in getting this property unwound and hopefully into more secure hands, she said.

Brendan J. Lyons contributed to this article.
ALBANY  Christopher Thomas once used dollar bills to illustrate his status as a shameless pimp.

On Friday, a federal jury handed the Colonie man a new status: Sex trafficker.

Jurors found the 39-year-old Thomas guilty of all charges following roughly four hours of deliberation in U.S. District Court on Broadway. The panel, which began hearing evidence Monday, determined that Thomas operated a violent multi-state sex trafficking ring  at times from the Albany County jail  that relied on sex workers who included teenagers as young as 16.

The jury, which began its deliberations at about 9:30 a.m. Friday, convicted Thomas, known as "Daddy" and "Oh My God," of every charge in a 16-count indictment. Thomas was found guilty of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of children; conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children; conspiracy to transport an individual to engage in prostitution; coercion and enticement; transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; distribution of child pornography; sexual exploitation of a child and tampering with a witness.

Thomas, a Boston native who moved to the Capital Region in 2012, testified Thursday that he did not order his workers to engage in sex for money but to pose as prostitutes to lure in older white male sex customers, take their money and then keep it without having sex. An admitted adherent to "The Pimp's Bible," a book authored by an Alfred "Bilbo" Gholson which claims there are 52 different types of pimps, Thomas volunteered to the jury that he was the type of pimp who was a "procurer" of sex workers but claimed he was not a violent pimp such as a "gorilla pimp" or "Mac."

Jurors were not moved by the claims, which were contradicted by testimony of several sex workers who said they sold their bodies for sex. Several women testified that they responded to messages on Facebook from Thomas promising them they could make $1,000 a day. Testimony showed Thomas directed Janell Grady, known as "Nelly," who as Thomas' so-called "bottom" helped supervise the illicit ring, to pick up sex workers from as far away as Vermont and Massachusetts to work as prostitutes in hotels and at his home on Richmond Street in Colonie.

Grady testified that at the time she was using ecstasy on a daily basis. Other workers in the sex ring testified that they had been in the thrall of drug addiction or alcohol when they agreed to work for Thomas. One woman said Thomas made it possible for her to spend her proceeds on crack cocaine. Thomas' former girlfriend, Ashley McCloskey, a registered nurse at Albany Medical Center Hospital, testified for prosecutors that she allowed Thomas and Grady to use her Chrysler 300 sedan and provided Thomas $10,000 to film ads for his sex trade.

McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to one count of use of interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity, faces 18 to 24 months in prison. Grady pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child and transportation for illegal sexual activity. She faces the possibility of a life sentence but could receive a far more lenient term under sentencing guidelines and her cooperation with the government.

Grady, while an admitted co-conspirator of Thomas, also was considered a victim of Thomas. Grady, a Troy native, testified that Thomas had beaten her often. Jurors were shown a photo of her bruised face. Thomas claimed he acted in self-defense, saying: My knee just went into her face.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Rachel Williams prosecuted the case for U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman. Thomas, who initially represented himself, turned over his defense early in the trial to John Wallenstein, a defense attorney from Nassau County. Wallenstein had tried to portray Grady as the person operating the sex trafficking ring.

Thomas previously served three years in prison for attempted criminal possession of a weapon for carrying a loaded gun in a car outside a hotel on Central Avenue on Sept. 2, 2012. In that case, police said Thomas rented a room for a woman to conduct prostitution at the motel.

In July 2019, a State Police investigator assigned to the FBIs Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Albany began to monitor Facebook accounts of people associated with a website called "Skip the Games" that allowed users to find prostitutes based upon their location. People on the site were associated with Thomas, who was using the name Thomas Chris on Facebook, then changed to a new account called Seeaboutme Imlikedat.

Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25.
SCHENECTADY  A high-ranking city employee resigned Thursday, a day after being arrested and charged with possessing cocaine while on the job in a city-owned truck, according to Mayor Gary McCarthy and court documents.

Until Thursday, Floyd Slater had served as the superintendent of city trash collection, earning about $83,000 a year.

The 51-year-old pleaded not guilty Thursday in City Court to a charge of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance and official misconduct, a misdemeanor. He is scheduled to return to court on April 6, according to the court.

Though he was represented by the public defender's office, he is expected to hire a private attorney for future court proceedings, according to Schenectady County Public Defender Stephen Signore.

The criminal complaint alleges that at 11:51 a.m. Wednesday, Slater was in possession of a clear corner tie baggy containing an off-white chunk substance weighing more than 500 milligrams that tested positive for cocaine.

The filing also says that he did acquire cocaine during work hours while driving a city-owned Ford F-250 pickup.

McCarthy confirmed to the Times Union that Slater tendered his resignation Wednesday, and that it took effect Thursday.

He said Floyds arrest was part of a bigger operation but declined to elaborate.

At this point, Ive received a resignation from him, and I have not received a full briefing about what the other aspects of the situation or operation are, McCarthy added.

We periodically look at things on an ongoing basis so, certainly not happy with some of the things that were dealing with now, and I would expect some immediate remedial action with the Office of General Services, he said.

This is not the first time Slater has faced accusations of on-the-job improprieties.

In 2019, he came under fire after it was revealed that he did not immediately take a mandatory drug-and-alcohol test after he was involved in a minor crash with a city-owned vehicle.



At the time, it was unclear if Slater reported the collision to his manager, General Services Commissioner Paul LaFond, and why Slater didn't take the test until days later.

Slater told police he was behind another car when the new plow attached to the front of the truck "malfunctioned and dropped to the ground," according to the police report.

Slater explained in the report that when he raised the plow it "caught the rear bumper" of the other vehicle, causing damage to the other vehicle.

There were no reported injuries, no citations were issued, and the other vehicle sustained minor damage.

LaFond has a policy in place in his department requiring that any employee involved in a collision with a city vehicle while on duty be tested for drugs and alcohol as soon as possible after the crash, according to the then-city human resources director.

Once the person reports the incident, they are to either travel to Ellis Hospital or their supervisor will make arrangements for them to get to Ellis Hospital where the test is administered. If they refuse, it counts as a failed test and the employee faces a 30-day suspension.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union

ALBANY  A man incarcerated in federal prison admitted Friday that he mailed bomb threats to a federal judge, a U.S. representative and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Dennis J. Nelson, 51, said he sent the letters in 2018 and 2019, while incarcerated in New York's prison system. He is now at a Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Facility in Devens, Mass.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul this week invoked rising crime to reaffirm her push to revise the state's bail statutes that were overhauled four years ago and have since remained at the center of an ongoing debate  including with many members of her party  about the fallout of those changes.

The governor's office came during a news conference in the ceremonial Red Room where local mayors and law enforcement officials, including police chiefs and district attorneys, were in attendance but did not speak as Hochul used a PowerPoint presentation to outline crime statistics that she said are both promising but also a cause for concern.

"Protecting New Yorkers is my number one priority. Full stop," Hochul said, listing statistics about declining numbers of shootings and homicides. "These are good signs, but the entire picture is not as positive. We'll look at index crimes, which measures a serious problem with not just shootings and murders; it's other serious crimes. That's actually up 21 percent."

The governor then highlighted more of her administration's efforts to stem crime, including pouring funding into programming for youth and improving services for those caught in a criminal justice vortex due to mental health issues or substance abuse addiction.

Then she got to the point of what is expected to be a central focus of her ongoing budget negotiations with the Legislature: "I want to remove any question about whether a judge has discretion to set bail or remand individuals if they're accused of a serious crime. I want to make it absolutely clear that judges have both the authority and the accountability for these important decisions."

But the assertion that increases in index crimes  seven categories of offenses that the FBI uses to measure crime trends  are a byproduct of the retooled statutes that have caused "confusion" among judges about the reasons they can invoke to lock up someone up before trial is flatly rejected by many defense attorneys, progressive lawmakers and advocates who fought for years to overhaul the state's bail system.

Many of those proponents contend judges simply need mandatory training on how to apply the bail laws. They also review any rollbacks as a return to policies of incarcerating more people before they have been proven guilty of a crime. The changes, in large part, were intended to prevent the pre-trial incarceration of individuals simply because they could not afford to post bail  which often led to minorities and impoverished individuals remaining locked up for lengthy periods and pressured to accept plea deals.

Hochul acknowledged the intention of the retooled statute is important and must not be undone, but that removing the "least restrictive" standard that she said has caused confusion among many judges must be addressed in the interest of public safety. Many Democratic lawmakers contend it can be resolved with judicial training  an assertion rejected by Hochul's office on Thursday.

"Two sections of the law conflict with each other and training won't solve that problem," Hazel Crampton-Hays, a spokeswoman for Hochul, said in a statement. "Judges shouldn't be trained to consider one part of the statute and ignore the other  the law should be fixed."

In recent weeks, both sides have dug in for what is expected to be an intense, largely behind-closed-doors political fight on the state of public safety in New York.

New state data show that while shootings have decreased over the last year, albeit from relatively high numbers in 2021 during the pandemic, \cromes of aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft have continued to rise.

"We cannot stop until every single category of crime is down," Hochul said.

The argument from the governor's administration is an attempted shift from the typical debates that focus on alleged offenses that are ineligible for a judge to hold a person in custody or set bail for them while they await trial. Rather, the discourse is honing in on whether a judge can incarcerate someone accused of a violent crime or who is repeatedly arrested while awaiting trial for earlier offenses  something law enforcement officials said is driving crime rates up.

The nuance in the argument is often absent from the public political debates on the state's bail laws; progressives say any alterations would undo the intent of the changes while their opponents contend there are adjustments that can be made to the statutory language that will protect the public without unduly incarcerating individuals.

Hochul said she wants to send a clear signal to judges that anyone charged with a "qualifying offense" can be held in a jail on bail while awaiting trial.

A Times Union analysis of state data found that could lead to at least a couple thousand more individuals to either have bail set or to be held pretrial by a judge following a charge of a violent felony.

A long-anticipated white paper by the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College found that for non-qualifying offenses, mainly misdemeanors and certain non-violent felonies, recidivism has decreased since changes to the state's bail law. Conversely, for the "bail-eligible" offenses, which Hochul calls "serious crimes," recidivism rates increased saw no clear change, aside from a high risk subgroup. For example, for those eligible for bail with a recent prior violent felony, their rate of rearrest climbed from 57 to 67 percent. (The increases were more substantial for non-qualifying offenses, among this high risk group.)

The tension in the law, Hochul contends, is for qualifying offenses  all violent felonies, some non-violent felonies and certain alleged crimes upon rearrest  judges must both consider "the 'least restrictive' means to ensure return to court" with a list of variables the administration pushed for to be included in the law last year.

After the revisions, judges were also saddled with considering whether someone has a criminal history, has violated an order of protection, including in a domestic violence case. They also must review the defendant's history of possession of a firearm, as well as whether the person has a record of skipping court appearances to avoid criminal prosecution, which could act as a stand-in for whether they are, more generically, a "flight risk."

Jim Franco/Times Union

Public defenders have countered that bail is solely a tool to ensure a person's return to court and not a factor in whether they pose a public safety danger to themselves or others. They also see the technical language as unworkable because it removes the "ensure return to court" standard.

"People have been trying to utilize bail as a sword instead of a shield in our state to unjustly incarcerate people who have never seen their day in court," Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, D-Brooklyn, told the Times Union in January after Hochul announced her proposal. "And that's just un-American."

Hochul is expected to run into a number of political roadblocks on her bail proposal, which could force her to trade on items she wants in the budget, including her statewide housing plan. Senate sources have acknowledged that their more "suburban-friendly" housing plan will likely be the subject of negotiations.

The governor may be working with limited support from Democratic state lawmakers, though, which echoes similar challenges she faced in her fight over the nomination of Justice Hector D. LaSalle as chief judge to the Court of Appeals. She leaned on moderate state senators in the LaSalle fight, but was quickly outnumbered by progressives and staunch organized labor supporters.

Hours before her news conference, a cadre of state senators stood on a staircase one floor above the Red Room to rail against Hochul's recent financial support from former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. The billionaire is contributing $5 million to an advertising campaign to support the governor's budget proposal, which does not include a tax hike on the state's wealthiest residents.

"Let's refocus on what the needs are for New York and not just play political games and use the money coming from millionaires and billionaires," said state Sen. Robert Jackson, D-Manhattan, who was the subject of a tense primary this past year as the Democratic machine ran a moderate Latino against him. Jackson was among the first lawmakers to oppose LaSalle's nomination and has been a frequent defender of the state's bail laws.
ALBANY  A campaign-like effort to garner support for Gov. Kathy Hochuls executive budget, which includes a push to give judges more discretion to set bail in criminal cases, is being waged quietly and with the support of funding from former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

The shadowy effort to influence lawmakers and the public surfaced recently in the Capital Region when mailers were sent to local residents urging them to lobby their state lawmakers, including Assemblyman Phil Steck, to "have Gov. Kathy Hochuls back because she has ours!"

That mailer carries a Washington, D.C., return address and says its paid for by "American Opportunity," the group that is closely linked with but refuses to acknowledge its ties to the Democratic Governors Association.

The mailers, the TV commercials and social media ads are allegedly being funded by Bloomberg, who is one of New York's wealthiest residents and is spending $5 million on the campaign to prop up Hochul's budget plans, according to a person briefed on the matter. The spending arrangement was first reported by The New York Times. The billionaire has not publicly disputed the newspaper's report.

At a Capitol news conference on Wednesday where Hochul was touting her criminal justice agenda, she declined to directly respond to questions about Bloomberg's financial backing.

"I'm happy to receive the support of the people from all over the state of New York," Hochul said without mentioning Bloomberg, while noting that her support network extends from "Buffalo to Long Island."

Hochul also deflected questions on the quasi-political campaign that is being leveraged by the Washington-based social welfare nonprofit, American Opportunity, which has registered as a lobbyist in New York but has not yet filed paperwork with the Department of State despite spending millions in New York TV ads.

A spokeswoman for the Department of State said groups from outside of New York that conduct business here routinely file paperwork with their agency, although the department does not make determinations on whether those organizations are required to register.

When asked about the support she is receiving from the Democratic Governors Association, which has not acknowledged a direct role in the campaign, Hochul said: "There's countless areas where other governors are looking at what we're doing and want to lift up what we're doing in New York state, which is successful, as a template for other Democratic governors."

Hochul's comments came after she defended her policies on public safety, including her proposal to tweak the state's bail laws  which is a focus of one of the Facebook ads from the campaign supporting her policies. Hochul's news conference on Wednesday was attended by police leaders, local mayors and four moderate Democratic state senators, three of whom supported her failed nomination of appellate Justice Hector LaSalle as chief judge for the Court of Appeals.

The nomination of LaSalle was opposed by progressives in the Legislature, who also spoke out Wednesday against the Bloomberg money supporting Hochul's budget and policy proposals.

"I want to extend and offer to Mayor Bloomberg to join us in ensuring that the very wealthy pay their fair share in New York," said state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, chair of the Senate's Judiciary Committee, where the opposition to LaSalle's nomination began in the Legislature.

Hoylman-Sigal, a Manhattan Democrat, expressed concern that Bloomberg may be opposed to the Legislature's proposed tax hikes on those making at least $5 million annually and on some of the wealthiest corporations in New York.

"My loyalty is to the people who need the support from our government, who are facing cuts in services," said Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha, a Democratic Socialist representing the Kingston area.

The ire of progressives on the Bloomberg money propping up the multi-faceted campaign to support Hochul's budget also stemmed from a group of New York City lawmakers who came of age in the city during Bloomberg's time in office, which was marked by the "Stop-and-Frisk" policing policies that largely targeted minorities.

"Can I just say, 'Boo! Boo, Bloomberg,'" said state Sen. Jabari Brisport, a Democratic Socialist from Brooklyn. "We've been seeing billionaires trying to buy elections, they're trying to buy our budget process, they've been trying to tilt every single step of our political process to make New York their New York. It is so disgusting."

Progressives said they want to tax the half-percent of wealthiest New Yorkers to help pay for more universal child care, health care and education options. Hochul's budget offers no tax hikes for individuals.

Steck, who is running for state Supreme Court, said the mailers lack enough information for people to make a sound judgment on the governor's proposed $227 billion budget.

"It's disappointing because the governor should be trying to bring all people together, not suggesting that she has the right answer on all issues," Steck said. "The governor doesn't have a monopoly on truth, justice and the American opportunity."
Beverly Hills, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 /: The Chambers Group, a full-service marketing, branding, sales, and consulting agency with a booming digital/social marketing division, has announced the launch of their newest service offering: Pronto. Pronto is an a la carte service that allows small business owners to pick and choose the digital/social marketing packages they need without the big price tags.

The Chambers Group, Friday, March 24, 2023, Press release picture

"We understand how hard it can be for small businesses to allocate resources towards digital marketing when there are so many other expenses that come up," says Eric Chambers, Co-Founder of The Chambers Group. "Pronto gives our clients the opportunity to customize their digital marketing packages in a way that suits their budget while still getting the same high-quality services they would expect from us."

Pronto includes everything from targeted PR, social media growth, creative and SEO campaigns for go-to-market tactics and advertising solutions. With this new service, clients can create custom packages tailored to their specific needs and budgets. Clients can also access real-time analytics so they can monitor the success of their campaigns as soon as they launch them.

"Our primary focus is getting our client's a return on investment through advertising, creative content, website optimization, digital traffic solutions, email campaigns, and go-to-market tactics," explains co-owner, Branden Chamber. "It's strategy + creative + execution - all at an affordable price point."

Branden and Eric Chambers grew up steeped in the corporate marketing world, learning the ropes from their father Keith Chambers who started the business in the late 80's, by working weekends at the family's very successful marketing firm during high school and during college breaks from film school. The Chambers Group started as a package design company and quickly became a full-service marketing, branding, sales, and consulting agency with a booming digital marketing division. The dynamic brothers have built upon their father's legacy to create the hottest boutique digital marketing firm in Los Angeles. With "Pronto" now available to small businesses nationwide, The Chambers Group hopes to make digital marketing easier and more accessible for those who need it most.

Story continues

The Chambers Group operates the most extensive network of celebrity influencer pages on Instagram, Facebook/Meta, Twitter, TikTok etc. with more than 1.6 billion followers. And their closely guarded roster of celebrity clients reads like a Who's Who.

Fabled Hollywood agent Alan Morell, who has worked with everyone from the late Pope John Paul II to Former Supreme Allied Commander NATO, Four Star General Wesley K. Clark, looks to Eric and Branden to ensure his clients are always trending. "These talented gentlemen take some of my clients from relative obscurity to stardom in a matter of months and right now they're working with 17 of my top clients," reveals Morell, who is CEO of THE CREATIVE MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Creative Management Partners (CMP) Beverly Hills, CA. Victoria's Secret supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio is also a huge fan of their work, explaining she considers them "digital marketing rockstars" after Eric and Branden weaved their magic to grow her brand and socials exponentially.

The Chambers Group launches a new product into the marketplace every four to six weeks and has aided in the launch of Slide for Arm & Hammer, the Bleach Pen for Clorox, Milk N' Cereal bars and Chocolate Lucky Charms for General Mills, Sega Genesis for Sega and Movie Theatre Butter for Orville Redenbacher and many other startup brands.

For more information about "Pronto" or The Chambers Group visit www.chambersgroup.com

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Website URL: www.chambersgroup.com

Company Name: The Chambers Group

Email address: brandenc@chambersgroup.com

SOURCE: The Chambers Group





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ALBANY  The state Commission on Judicial Nomination on Friday released a new list candidates from which Gov. Kathy Hochul can select her nominee for chief judge of the Court of Appeals, restarting a process that led to the Senate's historic rejection of the governor's first pick earlier this year.

Hochul is required to submit her second nomination to the Senate by April 23, but cannot submit it earlier than April 8.

The timing means that if the state budget is not finalized by April 1, it's possible the governor and Legislature will be hammering out that spending plan  and myriad policy issues  at the same time the process for confirming the state's next top judicial official will be unfolding.

Hochul's prior nomination, appellate Justice Hector D. LaSalle, was rejected by the state Senate for the first time the "merit-based" selection process for Court of Appeals' judges was established nearly 50 years ago. The majority of Senate Democrats have said they are looking for what they view as a less-conservative judge who may be inclined to defend the rights of labor unions and abortion. They also are hoping for a jurist who has worked in criminal defense rather than as a prosecutor. Republicans have characterized those stipulations of many Democratic senators as a hunt for an "activist judge."

LaSalle's rejection exposed the widening political gap between the progressive flank of the state Senate and Hochul, a moderate. Although Hochul and legislative leaders say the LaSalle rejection will not influence budget negotiations, some political observers say it has led to more contentious talks.

The commission released its seven nominees on Friday, well ahead of its deadline, as a vacancy on the state's highest court has had a vacancy for seven months.

The list includes: acting Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Anthony Cannataro; Court of Appeals Associate Judge Shirley Troutman; Court of Appeals Associate Judge Rowan D. Wilson; Presiding Justice of the Third Department Elizabeth A. Garry; Presiding Justice of the Fourth Department Gerald J. Whalen; former Solicitor General Caitlin J. Halligan; and Corey L. Stoughton, attorney-in-charge of special litigation and law reform at the Legal Aid Society.

Troutman was nominated for her position on the Court of Appeals by Hochul two years ago.

"I am gratified at the extraordinary quality and diverse backgrounds of the applicants received by the commission," E. Leo Milonas, chair of the commission, said in a statement. "That so many exceptional candidates were motivated to apply demonstrates the remarkable strength and depth of the legal profession in the state of New York."

The list was culled from 53 applications for the position. Two of the 41 original applicants for the position  who were part of the process when LaSalle's nomination was rejected  withdrew their names from consideration.

Two of the seven original candidates on the commission's first list are included in the one released Friday: Cannataro and Stoughton.

Over half of the candidates are women and nearly one-third have "diverse backgrounds," according to the commission. It ultimately considered 25 candidates  and interviewed eight new candidates.

The Times Union previously reported Halligan was among a list of names being discussed, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Halligan was considered multiple times to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by then-President Barack Obama. In 2021, she was passed up for a seat on the state Court of Appeals, when former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo selected Justice Madeline Singas.

Hochul, earlier this year, briefly retained Halligan when the administration was considering litigation against the state Senate for blocking a floor vote. The executive chamber entered into a $31,000 consultant contract with Halligan.

Halligan and Whalen, the presiding justice of the Third Department, were interviewed for the position this month, which could either indicate they were new applicants, after LaSalle's rejection, or were passed up in the original pool of applicants. Whalen also was previously considered for the Court of Appeals when a position was given to Judge Paul G. Feinman in 2017.

Wilson was nominated six times for the Court of Appeals before being selected in 2017. In 2015, he was nominated for chief judge.

The 2017 chief judge list included no sitting judges to replace Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. Janet DiFiore, then the Westchester County district attorney, was eventually selected as chief judge. Last year, DiFiore, viewed as a part of the moderate-flank of the court, left her post ahead of retirement age, which has led to the consternation over her replacement.

Garry, an Albany County native, was tapped to lead the Albany-based Third Department by Cuomo in 2018. She became the first openly gay judge to serve at the helm of the Third Department. Garry is from tEast Berne and is a 1990 graduate of Albany Law School.

Hochul's nomination of LaSalle had been praised by many supporters because he would have been the first Latino to lead the Court of Appeals. There are no Latinos on the list released Friday. A spokesman for "Latinos for LaSalle," which waged a public campaign in support of LaSalle's confirmation, noted the absence.

"As it was made clear with the travesty committed against Judge Hector LaSalle's nomination  no Latinos need apply when it comes to the top position in the states judiciary," Latinos for LaSalle said in a statement. "Mission accomplished."

Three decades ago, Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick became the first Latina appointed to the Court of Appeals, although she was never chief judge.

State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt quickly issued a statement following the release of the commission's candidates.

"After the chaos and dysfunction over the failed nomination of Justice LaSalle, it is critically important that a new chief justice nominee is advanced by the governor quickly and an open and fair process toward a full Senate confirmation begins immediately," Ortt said.

Senate Democrats did not appeal their loss in a recent court case on the confirmation process, which was brought by Republican state Sen. Anthony Palumbo. State Supreme Court Justice Thomas F. Whelan, in a case filed in Suffolk County, ruled all nominations by the governor to the Court of Appeals must appear before the full Senate for a vote, a position which the historic record appears to also support. Initially, Democratic leaders of the state Senate has asserted that LaSalle's rejection by the Judiciary Committee did not require his nomination to go before the full Senate.

Despite that position, Senate Democrats conducted a floor vote on LaSalle's nomination  and rejected him  days before the court case was argued.

The next scheduled vacancy on the Court of Appeals will be in December 2027, following the expiration of the term of Associate Judge Jenny Rivera, a Latina jurist.
Grace Duffield / Hearst Connecticut Media

The 28th annual coffee and car event, Caffeine and Carburetors is coming back to New Canaan with three dates.

Caffeine and Carburetors will take place on May 21 and Sept. 17 at Pine Street and Oct. 22 at Waveny Park. The event aims to give local automotive enthusiasts a place to gather, enjoy a cup of coffee and look at each others vehicles. Dogs are welcome to attend as well.
The foundations of a very strong tourist industry in mid Tipperary has been put in place now in Thurles with the revitalisation of Thurles tourist office. The pieces of the jigsaw are now starting to come together according to the new chairman of Tipperary Heartlands Tourism Group, Billy Clancy:



We have this wonderful premises here in the town that in my youth was the old Bank of Ireland and later it was Lar na Pairce so when the shop moved down to the shopping centre the space became available, so it's a magnificent room in a magnificent building actually, and we have turned it into a visitor centre basically.



Our main achievement to date has been with the help of Lar na Pairce and various government grants and bodies. It is also in conjunction with Lar na Pairce GAA museum which has been here for years and offers a lot to the area, the Upperchurch native said.



The area has an untapped resource in the form of tourism in mid Tipperary and it is something that Billy Clancy would like to see grow in the coming years. Yet for all the effort, the Thurles region hasn't taken off as a tourist hub according to Billy Clancy. It is a complex issue they are working on to find solutions he said:



There are a number of problems. One of them is that we are in the middle of Tipperary. There has been an emphasis on the west of Ireland and also an emphasis on Dublin and even the centre of Ireland. Even within County Tipperary, the Lough Derg region to the north, naturally because of the wonderful amenity there, has gotten most of the attention from visitors and the national tourism bodies. Clonmel then is also a bigger town with a bigger population so some of the attention goes there.



"We have literally dozens of family run and individually run tourist attractions so we are the coordinating body for those and provide a facility for coming together. We have got dozens of brochures mostly relating to the local area. People don't realise the amount of tourist attractions in this part of Tipperary.



The fine turnout at the coffee morning suggests to Billy Clancy that something is about to take off in Tipperary if it is nurtured well: "The purpose of the coffee morning was to showcase what we have. To network. To bring people from all different facets of tourism together and officials from county council and groups like Leader and so on.



Also to get people from the different attractions to one place. We have to build on what we have and try and co-ordinate the approach from the different attaractions to ensure we can bring people in and keep them in the area. Marketing, brochures, and telling the tourists what we have is key he said. The plans are just unfolding for Thurles to develop.
March 24, 2023





The US joined the Paris Agreement (PA) in 2016, resulting from the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which the nation had previously ratified with Congressional consent in 1992. Every five years, each member state must provide its target statement, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The stated goal is non-binding.







Upon joining the agreement in 2016, the US NDC committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025. In 2021, the US NDC targeted a net reduction of GHG emissions by 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Tech Leaders Focus on Goals

The PA goals have inspired major corporations worldwide to adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives to meet ambitious sustainability targets. Accurately accounting for GHG emissions and, therefore, carbon footprint data has become one of the first and biggest challenges companies are facing.

Companies have hired Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) and put greater demands on their Chief Information Officers (CIOs) to automate corporate accounting of the three tiers of GHG emissions. Scope 1 accounts for direct GHG generation in producing goods and services. Indirect GHG emissions from companies energy purchases like electricity, natural gas, wind power, or solar power fall into Scope 2. The trickiest metric involves accounting for the GHG emissions from a companys supply chain, Scope 3. Determining this value relies on data from vendors.

Many companies have incorporated sustainability software to help them automate their GHG accounting processes and quantify their progress overall on ESG goals. Some software even helps target areas where corporations might reduce carbon or progress in ESG goals. Still, many companies are struggling to agree on reporting standards in this dynamic new environment, increasing the costs of preparing reports for investors and multinational governments.

Proposed Regulations

While there are currently no US government regulations enforcing cooperation, global financial institutions and supply chains have strongly encouraged corporate participation. However, in March 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC (News - Alert)) proposed SEC Release No. 33-11042, new reporting rules in line with Scopes 1, 2, and 3 with a targeted publication date of October 2022. After working with industry leaders, the SEC reopened comments on the proposal in October 2022.

In December 2022, several business leaders, including the president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), wrote a letter to Gary Gensler,

Chair of the SEC, recommending the adoption of the proposed rule with specific caveats. In particular, the group recommended that the SEC adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) International Financial Reporting standard as the global baseline. The Financial Stability Boards (FSBs) Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), working in concert with the ISSB, proposed the standard.

The C2ES president and other financial leaders suggested the SEC should require Scope 3 reporting but exempt most smaller companies. They also pointed out that required and standardized reporting would enhance corporate participation, reduce the cost of producing reports, and open non-compliant businesses to market consequences.

Many observers now believe the proposed SEC standard will become official with the next update of the Certified Federal Register (CFR). Yet the difficult task of gathering quality data on which to base calculations has already begun in many cases.

Info-Tech Research Group issued a 2022 report indicating that most multinational companies would need the ability to report their 2023 sustainability data by 2024. The timeline agrees with the fact sheet provided by the SEC.

Still, the report, based on a survey of 813 global IT professionals, indicated that Many organizations are still behind on this issue despite international regulators moving toward enacting reporting requirements.

As time progresses, regulators, financial institutions, investors, and supply-chain partners will all demand better reporting on carbon footprint and other ESG data. Firms will have to modify their accounting practices to accommodate the demands.
[March 23, 2023] Quasar Mainnet Ushers in a Multi-Chain Future for DeFi and Decentralized Asset Management

BARCELONA, Spain, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quasar Finance has launched its mainnet, introducing a dedicated digital asset management blockchain, allowing investors to manage their DeFi investments across multiple chains, enabled by the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC).

Quasar aims to become the go-to decentralized asset management platform. It works by allowing investors to deposit funds into permissionless, non-custodial investment vehicles, known as vaults, which are optimized to work across multiple blockchains. Quasar's innovation is to create a dedicated L1 to run vaults, unlocking specific features that would not be possible on general-purpose blockchains. Quasar leverages this to give users more power to customize their investment profile and strategies, all while providing top-tier security and allowing users to connect to other blockchains without any reliance on cross-chain bridges (which have proved to be a significant risk to investors). This move forward follows the announcement of Quasars recent $5.4m USD bridge round . In total, the team has now raised more than $11.5 million USD for the project by investors such as Polychain Capital, Blockchain Capital & Shima Capital. Powered by IBC-enabled smart contracts, Quasars goal is to empower investors with easy access to the emerging interchain landscape of numerous individual blockchains, within the Cosmos ecosystem and beyond. As blockchains become easier to build, developers and users are finding value in application-specific blockchains (appchains) focused on particular use cases. The Cosmos ecosystem provides tools for constructing appchains, and the Cosmos SDK champions the concept of many independent and interoperable chains, known as the internet of blockchains. Fragmented constellation However, this fragmented constellation of blockchains poses new challenges and opportunities for decentralized asset management and DeFi more broadly. Quasar is directly addressing these challenges with an original solution  a dedicated appchain supporting highlycustomizable vaults designed uniquely for cross-chain strategies.



Valentin Pletnev, Lead and co-founder of Quasar Finance said: We are beyond excited to finally launch on mainnnet. This launch is the result of years of hard work from a dedicated and passionate team that is committed to delivering on the promise of blockchain technology to provide decentralized finance solutions to the world. Quasar is primed to become the gateway to decentralized asset management for the rising multi-blockchain ecosystem. The combo of a dedicated appchain, customizable vaults, and self-governance features make it a game changer for DeFi services. Quasar's mainnet launch is expected to attract more liquidity providers and strategists looking to crowdsource interchain capital, while providing more yield opportunities for individual LPs.

In Quasars vault-strategy model, vaults act as a bookkeeping mechanism for users and their assets  connected via self-custody wallets  while strategies are combinable and interchangeable sub-components with execution logic to carry out financial strategies. Vault to the future Liquidity providers (LPs) on Quasar can access actively managed strategies by using vaults. With interchangeable strategies, Quasars dynamic vaults can respond to changing market conditions by combining expert guidance and collective decision-making. Vaults allow LPs to efficiently crowdsource and deploy capital in a permissionless, transparent, and self-governed way. With vaults, a group of several LPs aggregate their assets and use automation to invest more efficiently together. A vaults strategies are adjusted by administrators through vault-specific governance that takes input from LPs for collective decision-making. Quasar can bring assets together, and bring people together, to address the challenges and opportunities presented by interchain DeFi. Quasar's launch comes at a time following a major boom in DeFi in recent years. Total value locked (TVL) has grown from about $600 million USD in 2020 to more than $40 billion USD at the start of 2023. As DeFi develops, there is an increasing need for accessible interfaces for more advanced financial strategies. Vaults are well-suited for this, and a multi-vault platform designed for cross-chain strategies would address these needs. $QSR is Quasars native token, used to validate and secure Quasars proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain and execute on-chain transactions. To connect the networks health and security with the sustainable growth of vaults, vault creators will need to delegate a minimum amount of $QSR to validators. Quasar also plans to use a $QSR treasury which will serve as a community pool governed by $QSR stakers and as a source of protocol-owned liquidity as well as creating an index of the underlying tokens traded in Quasars Strategies, resulting in the $QSR token aiming to become a defacto index for IBCs growth and interchain DeFi. To find out more visit: www.quasar.fi About Quasar Finance Quasar Finance makes digital asset management simple, accessible, and secure. It is a platform designed to allow users to easily create and multi-chain vaults  independent asset containers equipped with IBC technology enabling interchain value capture in the Cosmos ecosystem and beyond. Quasar has a large and growing community, with more than 40k followers on Discord, and more than 30k across Twitter. The multi-chain future is here, yet DeFi remains extremely fragmented. Recently, the Cosmos ecosystem has released the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC), a powerful technology to enable token and data transfer between chains. Quasar utilizes the latest in IBC to offer the most advanced and accessible structured investment products in DeFi. Find out more here: Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram

Media contact Chris Sealey, [email protected]

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[March 23, 2023] Nokia chosen by CANARIE as sole IP router provider of ultra-high-capacity backbone network for Canadian research, education and innovation

Press Release Nokia chosen by CANARIE as sole IP router provider of ultra-high-capacity backbone network for Canadian research, education and innovation Nokia 7750 Service Router delivers unmatched performance and reliability to support vital research in climate science, clean energy, medicine, cybersecurity and more

High throughput capacity and availability, transferring petabyte-sized files for researchers around the world 23 March 2023

Espoo, Finland  Nokia today announced that CANARIE, the high-speed backbone of Canadas National Research and Education Network (NREN), has chosen the Nokia 7750 Service Router as the IP/MPLS platform to support its more than 34,000 km network connecting 13 provincial and territorial networks to each other and to more than 100 NRENs around the world. CANARIE and its partner networks enable breakthrough research from scientists across disciplines such as high-energy physics, biology, medicine, the environment, and astronomy, where, for example, data is gathered on millions of galaxies dating back billions of years. With a proliferation of instruments  like telescopes, sensors, and detectors  that gather more data with greater precision, sensitivity and speed, supercomputers must process petabytes of raw data. Additionally, because research collaboration happens across the globe, that data must be transferred rapidly, reliably, and securely, while containing costs. The 7750 SR platform is designed to solve this monumental challenge with 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s services over an IP/MPLS network capable of supporting more than 46 Tb/s of capacity. This equates to transmitting about 30 terabytes of data in just 10 minutes, equivalent to sharing 5,000 two-hour Netflix movies in 1080p HD. This kind of massive capacity also makes network automation and DDoS security paramount, which the Nokia 7750 SR supports with advanced telemetry streams of flow-level data and insights in nearreal time.



Mark Wolff, CTO at CANARIE, said: We are pleased to work with Nokia as we continually improve the capabilities of Canadas National Research and Education Network. Nokia networking technology will allow CANARIE to better connect Canadas researchers, educators, and innovators to each other and to global data, technology, and colleagues. Dr. Vach Kompella, Vice President, IP Networks Division at Nokia, said: We are thrilled to work with CANARIE and equip the scientific community across Canada and globally with proven IP technology. This more than triples CANARIEs wide area network capabilities from 100G to 400G, while enhancing their resiliency, security, and flexibility.

Nokia has deployed mission-critical networks to more than 2,600 leading enterprise customers in the transport, energy, large enterprise, manufacturing, webscale, and public sector segments around the globe. It has also extended its footprint to more than 560 private wireless customers worldwide across an array of industrial sectors and has been cited by numerous industry analysts as the leading provider of private wireless networking worldwide. Resources and additional information

Website: 7750 Service Router | Nokia Networks About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Media Inquiries

Nokia Communications

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[March 23, 2023] AITX's Subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices Earns Group Purchasing Organization Contract

RAD Set to Enhance Safety and Security Processes at Schools, Healthcare and Senior Living Organizations Throughout 33 States via Award of HPS Contract Detroit, Michigan, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (the Company) (OTCPK:AITX), a global leader in AI-driven security and productivity solutions today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), has won a contract with HPS, a group purchasing organization (GPO) supporting schools, healthcare and senior living organizations across 33 states. HPS contract No. 1022 allows the GPOs 4,300 plus members to improve facility safety and security through RADs suite of security robots, both stationary and mobile. HPS rigorously negotiates the best prices possible to deliver premium, competitively priced products and services to its members. HPS serves hospitals and medical groups, senior living facilities, schools and educational groups, senior nutritional feeding programs, county governments, religious organizations, camps, jails as well as other public and private organizations. HPS Members can now take advantage of RAD's advanced AI-powered security devices, helping secure their properties, staff and assets, said Nathan Stock, HPS Director of Clinical & Ancillary Contracting. Members can expect to see savings up to 80% on their security spend. RAD is proud to have earned the HPS contract, and for the opportunity to reach their member schools, healthcare and senior living groups, said Mark Folmer, CPP, FSyI, President of RAD. Our business development and implementation teams will work side-by-side with HPS member organizations to ensure they receive the necessary solutions, hardware and software to properly address their security and safety issues. AITX, through its subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), is redefining the $25 billion (US) security and guarding services industry through its broad linup of innovative, AI-driven Solutions-as-a-Service business model. RAD solutions are specifically designed to provide a cost savings to businesses of between 35%-80% when compared to the industrys existing and costly manned security guarding and monitoring model. RAD delivers this tremendous costs savings via a suite of stationary and mobile robotic solutions that complement, and at times, directly replace the need for human personnel in environments better suited for machines. All RAD technologies, AI-based analytics and software platforms are developed in-house.



RAD has a prospective sales pipeline of over 35 Fortune 500 companies and numerous other client opportunities. RAD expects to continue to attract new business as it converts its existing sales opportunities into deployed clients generating a recurring revenue stream. Each Fortune 500 client has the potential of making numerous reorders over time. About HPS

HPS is a group purchasing organization that serves the needs of more than 4,300 members in 33 states. Member-owned and operated since 1949, HPS' core membership base is made up of organizations that have a direct impact on the communities they serve, from hospitals to senior living facilities to schools and many more. For more information, visit www.hpsgpo.com. CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained in this publication does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy securities of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the "Company"). This publication contains forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may involve subjective judgment and analysis. The information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, however the Company makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. The Company has no obligation to provide the recipient with additional updated information. No information in this publication should be interpreted as any indication whatsoever of the Company's future revenues, results of operations, or stock price. About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX) AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staffs and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, www.stevereinharz.com, www.radsecurity.com , www.radgroup.ai, and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz . ### Steve Reinharz

949-636-7060

@SteveReinharz Attachment Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc.



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TAIPEI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DEKRA issued ISO 26262: 2018 ASIL-D Automotive Functional Safety Certificate to Clientron Corp., a leading automotive electronics manufacturer striving to enlarge their presence in the smart automotive supply chain worldwide.

Clientron Corp. Obtained DEKRA ISO 26262 Automotive Functional Safety Certificate

ISO 26262 is a globally recognized automotive functional safety standard, regarded as one of the basic requirements for suppliers to enter the automotive supply chain. The standard applies to the complete lifecycle of electrical and electronic components in the automotive industry, including initial safety concept, system development, software and hardware development, production, operation, maintenance, and scrapping. ASIL (Automotive Safety Integration Level) is a risk classification system defined by the ISO 26262 standard. ASIL has four categories - ASIL A to ASIL D, and ASIL D indicates the most critical level of development process. Clientron Corp. has focused their efforts on the establishment of the functional safety system for their intelligent cockpit. It involves multiple development phases, namely functional safety management, development at the concept stage and system stage, software/hardware development, process safety, and product launch. Thanks to the professional consulting service and support from the iST's technological safety advisor team, Clientron Corp. managed to receive ISO 26262 functional safety certificate at the highest level of ASIL-D from DEKRA. This demonstrates that they can effectively control the risks and functional safety identified in the development process and deliver the product's safety and reliability. Therefore, their smart cockpit is well served with a safe, intelligent driving environment, which strongly positions them in the international electric vehicle market.

At the certificate awarding ceremony, Ms. Kelly Wu, General Manager of Clientron Corp., received the ISO 26262 Certificate from Mr. Aaron Lee, Managing Director of DEKRA Taiwan. Mr. Daniel Lee, General Manager of DEKRA Taiwan Product Testing Operations and Mr. Kevin Huang, Manager of Global Functional Safety/Cyber-Security, who is responsible for this certification project, Mr. Tai-You Tsou, Functional Safety Assessor, and Mr. William Cheng, Senior Vice President of Integrated Service Technology, leading the assistance and consulting team for this project, attended this ceremony.

Story continues

Ms. Kelly Wu, General Manager of Clientron Corp., stated that the successful ISO 26262 certification at the highest level ASIL-D represents Clientron Corp.' remarkable capability in working out safe, reliable, connected V2X solutions for smart cockpits by working to the development process and management system of international automakers. Clientron Corp. has set electronics, battery, electrical engineering, and electrical control at its core and integrated the EV automotive electronics system. With this solution, everything is interconnected, from autonomous driving information system and dashboard of the smart cockpit to BCM (body control module), VCU (vehicle control unit), AVAS (acoustic vehicle alerting system), and vision assistance system. The certification also expands collaboration opportunities with European and American automakers and tier-1 suppliers. Clientron Corp. thus showcases their determination to gain a foothold in the smart automotive supply chain and break into the global EV market.

Mr. Gerhard Rieger, Senior Vice President of DEKRA Global Functional Safety, emphasized that safety has always been key to vehicle development. Riding the trends of intelligentization, automation, and connectivity, vehicles will be mounted with more highly functional electronic products, but these electronic systems with high complexity entail considerable risks to safety. This is where ISO 26262 process certification comes into play to ensure compliance with the required functional safety level when developing vehicles. Therefore, early implementation of ISO 26262 process certification at the design and development phases significantly reduces failure risks while saving time, resources, and cost of development.

Mr. Aaron Lee, Managing Director of DEKRA Taiwan, expressed that the automotive industry is rapidly edging towards electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity, and in turn drives the need for more advanced electronics and safety assistance systems in future cars. Accordingly, safety is of critical priority when it comes to design and development. Manufacturers can seek help from DEKRA's team of experts to implement ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, Automotive SPICE and Cyber-Security processes. Besides, DEKRA provides integrated service solutions, including training, gap analysis, testing, and certification, for manufacturers to efficiently pass various international standards and process certifications, securing their entry ticket to the automotive supply chain.

Mr. William Cheng, Senior Vice President of iST, who leads the consulting team for this project, added that DEKRA is the world's leading company in automotive electronics testing and certification, and iST has a superior advantage in the field of automotive electronics reliability verification and consulting. In 2020, iST started to cooperate with DEKRA to provide integrated solutions for automotive electronic functional safety through the partnership. We provide professional consulting services to Clientron from ISO 26262 specifications, covering process, production, development tool, and SEooC (Safety Element out of Context) as well as subsequent audit and certification applications, providing an integrated solution for automotive electronic functional safety.

Cision

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SOURCE DEKRA
[March 24, 2023] CancerVax CEO Ryan Davies Speaks with University of Utah Chemistry Professor about the Future of Therapeutic Research

LEHI, Utah, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CancerVAX, Inc., developer of a breakthrough universal cancer vaccine that will use the bodys immune system to fight cancer, reported that CEO Ryan Davies discussed the future of the cancer therapeutic industry with Dr. Looper, a life-long researcher in the chemistry field.

Ryan Looper, Ph.D., Colorado State University, is a tenured Professor at the University of Utah. Dr. Looper started with his B.S. in Chemistry from Western Washington University before beginning his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. To top off his academic credentials, Dr. Looper was a post-doctorate fellow at Harvard University, where he studied Chemical Biology. Before beginning his current role as a Professor at the University of Utah, Dr. Looper was the John Huntsman Presidential Chair with the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dr. Loopers work as a researcher sits at the corner of a passion for helping young academics find their future career and the forefront of new therapeutics. He noted a need for helping young scientists find a path theyre passionate about. Dr. Looper enthusiastically discussed a natural product hes attempting to replicate from the Panamanian Golden Frog. This molecule is so complex, I would imagine by now there are 25 to 30 chemist years that have been put towards synthesizing this molecule, and we still don't have it replicated in hand, Dr. Looper said. He continued that such a project would be ideal for a passionate young graduate student to work on. Speaking with Dr. Looper was an exciting opportunity to see how industry researchers are encourging young scientists to work towards their goals in therapeutic development, CancerVAX CEO Ryan Davies said. Dr. Looper and his colleagues are truly one of the greatest driving forces forward for a solution to many of our therapeutic challenges.



This CEO Chat can be viewed at https://youtu.be/uDGsblCmks4 For more information about CancerVax, please visit http://www.cancervax.com/.

About Us CancerVAX, Inc. is a pre-clinical biotechnology company developing a breakthrough universal cancer vaccine that will use the bodys immune system to fight cancer. Working with a team of experienced cancer researchers and physicians at UCLA, we intend to create a Universal Cancer Vaccine that will detect, mark, and destroy only the diseased cells with an incredibly high level of precision. Much like the COVID-19 vaccines that train the body to recognize and destroy the coronavirus, our cancer vaccine will leverage the bodys own immune system to destroy cancer cells. As we develop our universal cancer vaccine, we are also working with UCLA to develop single-disease cancer treatments targeting Ewing sarcoma, a rare but deadly bone and soft tissue cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. We look forward to the day when treating cancer will be as simple as getting a flu shot. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Press Contact:

CancerVAX, Inc.

Tel: (805) 356-1810

[email protected]





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[March 24, 2023] Passion since 1883: Vorwerk looks back on 140 years of success

WUPPERTAL, Germany, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vorwerk is 140 years old  and that means 140 years of passion and innovation. Founded in the valley of the Wupper river as a carpet factory, Vorwerk also moved into the production of household appliances (Kobold vacuum cleaners) in 1929. The advantages of the first, powerful Kobold model could not be conveyed via retail sales  This gave way to direct sales at Vorwerk and certainly the most important milestone in Vorwerk's history. Today Vorwerk is the number one direct sales company in Europe and a world leader in the direct sales of high-quality household appliances. In 2021, the Group generated sales totaling  3.4 billion, a new company record. Thank You to our Community

The company owes its success to the people who are enthusiastic about the brand and its products and who actively support it. The Vorwerk community consists of 100,000 sales Advisors and some 9,000 employees, as well as many, many customers around the globe. It is precisely these people's passion that has made Vorwerk so successful. Vorwerk's Company History

Back in 1883, Carl Vorwerk founded Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co., a small carpet factory and the cornerstone of today's global brand. In doing so, he demonstrated entrepreneurial prowess because until then, high-quality carpets had only been manufactured in England. In 1907, Carl Vorwerk handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law, August Mittelsten Scheid, who was himself the scion of an industrial family in business in Barmen since 1764. By 1909, the Vorwerk name had already become a familiar one beyond the region and the company was growing rapidly. It stepped up its carpet production, erected new buildings and set up the company's own machine workshop. By this time, the product spectrum was constantly expanding and at that time, ranged from car axles to gramophone motors. The invention of the radio brought the market for gramophones to its knee. Although, a new idea would save the day: The gramophone motor became a motor for a vacuum cleaner. In 1929, the Kobold was something of a small revolution: a handy appliance - but nevertheless one that was very effective. However, the market was not yet ready for that innovation, and prospective customers could not appreciate the advantages of the Kobold model from merely seeing it on sale in a retail store. Once again, a revolutionary idea would save the day, namely the introduction of direct sales in Germany  certainly the most important milestone in the company's history. Brought back from the USA by August Mittelsten Scheid's son, Werner in 1930, this people-oriented sales concept would become Vorwerk's trademark and the secret of its success.



In 1953, Dr. Erich Mittelsten Scheid took on sole management of the company and initiated far-reaching changes, such as expanding the product range and opening up further to international markets. In 1968, akf bank became the first service brand to join the Group. In 1969, Erich Mittelsten Scheid handed the Vorwerk reins over to his nephew, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid, who from 1969 to 2005 played a crucial role in shaping the company, turning it into an internationally successful corporate group. Expansion of the product portfolio is among the achievements that fall within his time at the helm: Already in 1971, the Thermomix became the first multifunctional food processor and cooking appliance to be launched onto the market. Pushing ahead with its consistent strategy of internationalisation, Vorwerk founded its first foreign subsidiary abroad in China, in 1990, and subsidiaries in Eastern Europe soon followed. At the end of 2005, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid stepped down from the management of the company, but today continues to oversee the company as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. With Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, Hauke Paasch and Dr. Thomas Rodemann, a three-member Executive Board now manages the fortunes of the Group, whereas the owner family provides continuity in its fifth generation.

People are our Focus

We are convinced: When people meet in person, worlds and opportunities open up. A personal product demonstration creates magical moments and a lasting connection between people - and in Vorwerk's case, worldwide. People have always come first at Vorwerk. Direct sales is the company's recipe for success: product demonstrations are social events at which people come together, discover their love for the product and become members of the Vorwerk family. Without a doubt, the Vorwerk Advisors play a very special role here: they are the faces of our company and essential to our success - and they will continue to be just that in the future, too. ABOUT VORWERK The Vorwerk SE & Co. KG family enterprise was founded in 1883. The holding company's registered office is located in Wuppertal, Germany. Vorwerk's core business encompasses both the production and sale of high-quality household products (Thermomix kitchen appliance, Kobold vacuum cleaner). As a direct sales company, Vorwerk always seeks direct contact with its customers. Here, the Advisor is at the center of activities and serves as a central point of contact for the customer. The Vorwerk family also includes the akf bank. Vorwerk generated consolidated sales of 3.4 billion (2021) and operates in more than 60 countries. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039800/Vorwerk_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039801/Vorwerk_2.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/passion-since-1883-vorwerk-looks-back-on-140-years-of-success-301780690.html SOURCE Vorwerk

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[March 24, 2023] Hexaware CEO, R Srikrishna Recognized among the Most Promising Business Leaders of Asia at The Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave, 2023

MUMBAI, India, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware, a global provider of IT services and solutions, is proud to announce that its CEO, R Srikrishna, has been felicitated under the category of the Most Promising Business Leaders of Asia at the 7th edition of The Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave 2023, held in Mumbai. This year's theme, 'The Asian Century: Creating a New World Order,' showcases the potential of a new breed of leaders emerging from the developing countries of Asia who are poised to significantly impact the region's business landscape. The leaders are selected through a rigorous evaluation process, measuring their impact on company growth, innovation, and expansion into national and international markets. Vikash Jain, Chief Financial Officer, and Ayesa Nair, Legal Counsel, expressed their gratitude for the recognition as they received the felicitation on behalf of Mr. Srikrishna.



Speaking of the recognition, R Srikrishna, Chief Executive Officer, said, "It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of 30,000 Hexawarians that work tirelessly to bring smiles daily to our customers. Our clients love Hexaware because of the outstanding work we do, and this results in great all-round performance for the company." About Hexaware

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Our 30,000 Hexawarians wake up every day with a singular purpose; to create smiles through great people and technology. With this purpose gaining momentum, we are well on our way to realizing our vision of being the most loved digital transformation partner in the world. We also seek to protect the planet and build a better tomorrow for our customers, employees, partners, investors, and the communities in which we operate. With 54 offices in 19 countries, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://www.hexaware.com. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530945/Hexaware.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/hexaware-ceo-r-srikrishna-recognized-among-the-most-promising-business-leaders-of-asia-at-the-economic-times-asian-business-leaders-conclave-2023-301780700.html

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[March 24, 2023] If a recession hits, Canadians worry that fraud will be worse than the pandemic - a concern expressed by most Canadians in a new survey

More than one-third of adults under 35 believe fraud is something that happens to others, but not to them TORONTO, March 24, 2023 /CNW/ - While fraudsters ramped up their efforts during the pandemic, many Canadians feel it will only get worse if a recession hits. According to the 2023 RBC Fraud Prevention Month Poll, 42% of Canadians think it will be harder to spot scams during a recession than in the pandemic and four in five (78%) believe a recession will increase everyone's fraud risk. The research also found that three-quarters of respondents (75%) believe it's easier to fall victim to a scam when you're struggling financially, but more than a third (36%) are simply too worried about other things to be concerned about fraud. Also, 86% of Canadians are simply tired of having to be on the lookout for scams. "It's understandable that people have a lot on their minds and don't want to think about fraud, but scams are getting harder to spot and fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated," says Kevin Purkiss, vice president, Fraud Management, RBC. "We've seen a strong correlation between increased fraud and economic slowdowns, which means Canadians need to stay vigilant about reducing their risk." Missing the signs of fraud is costing Canadians money

While 77% of Canadians say their first instinct is to assume every e-mail, phone call or text from a company or organization is a scam, 67% say it's harder than ever to tell when an e-mail, text or online ad is a scam. Other significant poll findings: 32% are concerned they are already starting to miss the signs of potential fraud

71% worry it will be harder to spot the signs of fraud as they get older

23% have been a victim of fraud or fallen for a scam

18% report fraudsters have gained access to their personal or financial information

14% admit they've lost money in a scam, with $400 being the average total amount lost

being the average total amount lost 6% have lost more than $10,000 . Apathy about fraud risk among Canadians 18-34

The majority of adult Canadians under 35 (58%) say sharing personal data online is necessary for convenience. More than half (53%) admit to sharing more information online than they should and 44% say they are quick to share personal data to get access to an offer, website, app or service. Thirty-five per cent also believe fraud is something that happens to others, but not to them, and one-third (33%) have never been worried about falling victim to a scam. "The reality is that anyone can fall victim to a scam, even tech-savvy young Canadians," says Purkiss. "As we are online more than ever, it's especially important to be careful about the information we are sharing, as cunning criminals often look to piece together all the details to help make their scams more successful." Purkiss adds that staying safe and protecting yourself from fraud starts with being aware of the risk and knowing how to spot the signs of a scam. RBC provides four tips to help Canadians identify and avoid potential scams: Be aware that fraudsters may impersonate government or bank staff, law enforcement or other trusted people. Don't give out personal information to people you don't know and remember that your bank will never ask you to provide confidential information (e.g., account passwords, PINs, social insurance number) or other personal information through an unsolicited call, e-mail or text. Watch for calls, e-mails or texts that ask you to respond immediately. Fraudsters will often use a sense of urgency to get you to share information or click on a link or attachment. When online, don't enter login information or credit card details unless you are sure the site is legitimate. Red flags include poor grammar or spelling errors, a URL that doesn't match the company's main site or a lack of a security lock symbol in the address bar. When shopping online or on social media, if an offer, contest or ad is too good to be true, it usually is. Trust your instincts, ask questions, do your research and be extra cautious. To learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud or how RBC works to prevent, detect and investigate fraud, please visit rbc.com/privacysecurity. 2023 RBC Fraud Prevention Month Poll







"Agree": All Respondents CAN 18-34 BC AB SK/ MB ON QC AC Fraud will be worse during the

recession than during the

pandemic 66 % 66 % 64 % 69 % 69 % 71 % 59 % 62 % It will be harder to spot scams

during a recession than during

the pandemic 42 % 44 % 42 % 42 % 40 % 45 % 37 % 43 % The recession will increase

everyone's risk of fraud 78 % 76 % 78 % 78 % 73 % 78 % 80 % 77 % It's easier to fall victim to a

scam when you're struggling

financially 75 % 80 % 77 % 74 % 75 % 77 % 72 % 67 % I am too worried about other

things to be concerned about

fraud 36 % 56 % 31 % 31 % 35 % 28 % 56 % 37 % I am tired of having to be on

the lookout for scams 86 % 81 % 89 % 91 % 85 % 87 % 80 % 85 % Sharing personal data online

is needed for convenience 52 % 58 % 55 % 59 % 52 % 56 % 46 % 42 % I share more information online

than I should 40 % 53 % 38 % 39 % 42 % 42 % 37 % 38 % I am quick to share personal

data to get access to an offer,

website, app or service 23 % 44 % 22 % 17 % 23 % 26 % 22 % 23 % Fraud is something that

happens to other people, but

not me 23 % 35 % 24 % 20 % 25 % 27 % 14 % 27 % I have never been worried

about falling for a scam 26 % 33 % 29 % 21 % 29 % 27 % 23 % 28 % My first instinct is to assume

every e-mail/phone call/text

from a company/organization

is a scam 77 % 74 % 79 % 83 % 72 % 81 % 69 % 77 % It is harder than ever to tell

when an e-mail, text or online

ad is a scam 67 % 58 % 72 % 69 % 67 % 66 % 63 % 68 % I am concerned that I'm

starting to miss the signs of

potential fraud 32 % 40 % 30 % 23 % 27 % 32 % 40 % 30 % I worry that it will be harder to

spot the signs of fraud as I get

older 71 % 74 % 75 % 71 % 75 % 74 % 62 % 72 % I have been a victim of fraud or

fallen for a scam 23 % 21 % 21 % 28 % 20 % 22 % 25 % 17 % Fraudsters have gained

access to my personal or

financial information 18 % 22 % 14 % 18 % 17 % 17 % 25 % 11 % I have lost money in a scam

before 14 % 14 % 13 % 15 % 9 % 14 % 16 % 13 % Average total amount lost to

fraud $400 $400 $500 $1,000 $200 $300 $500 $300 Lost more than $10,000 to

fraud 6 % N/A 13 % 16 % 10 % 3 % 4 % N/A



About the survey

These are the findings of a survey commissioned by RBC and conducted from February 15-17, 2023 among a nationally representative sample of n=1,504 Canadian adults (18+), balanced and weighted on age, gender, region and education. The sample also included a boost of n=500 Canadians aged 65+. For comparison purposes only, a sample of this size would yield a margin of error of  2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The survey was offered in both English and French. About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 97,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

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[March 24, 2023] Primerica to Host 3,500 Leaders From Across North America at 23rd Annual African American Leadership Council Conference in Orlando

Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI), a leading provider of financial services in the United States and Canada, today announced over 3,500 attendees are expected to participate in its 23rd annual African American Leadership Council (AALC) Conference on March 24-26, 2023. This year's conference themed "It's Your Move" will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla. and will offer a variety of workshops on leadership, product training, marketing and financial topics designed to help Primerica representatives better serve the African American families in their communities. "The AALC Conference is one of the most powerful conferences in the country because no other event brings together more than 3,500 African Americans for the sole purpose of elevating and helping each other achieve success through entrepreneurship," said Ivan Earle, co-chair of the AALC and Primerica Senior National Sales Director. Earle added, "Opportunities in the African American investment world are unlimited. During the three-day event, we plan to motivate, educate and celebrate the achievements of Primerica's African American leaders, who have had consistent growth in investment production over the past few years." Attendees will hear from some of the Company's most successful sales representatives as well as from Primerica CEO Glenn Williams and Primerica President Peter Schneider. /p>



The AALC was created to recognize and promote Primerica's leadership among African American representatives. The mission of the AALC is to mentor up-and-coming field leaders and help them build successful long-lasting businesses.

Since its inception 23 years ago, the AALC has made it a priority to give back to the communities it serves through charitable donations to various nonprofit organizations and causes. At this year's conference, the AALC will present the Boris L. Henson Foundation with a check to support its vision to improve mental health in Black communities by building culturally-competent resources, programs, and education across the country. For more information on the AALC, visit https://www.primerica.com/public/african-american-leadership-council.html. About Primerica, Inc. Primerica is a leading provider of financial services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. Licensed financial representatives educate Primerica clients about how to prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate products like term life insurance, mutual funds, annuities, and other financial products. Primerica insured over 5.7 million lives and had over 2.8 million client investment accounts as of December 31, 2022. Primerica was the #2 issuer of Term Life insurance coverage in the United States and Canada in 2021 through its insurance company subsidiaries. Primerica stock is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 1000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PRI". View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005033/en/

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[March 24, 2023] FinWise Bancorp Promotes James Noone to President of FinWise Bank

FinWise Bank, a subsidiary of FinWise Bancorp, announced today that the Board of Directors approved the promotion of Chief Credit and Chief Strategy Officer, James Noone to succeed President Kent Landvatter effective immediately. Mr. Landvatter will remain Chief Executive Officer of FinWise Bank and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of FinWise Bancorp. "We are extremely pleased to promote Jim to President and have him take on additional leadership roles and responsibilities within the company," said Mr. Landvatter. "Jim has been instrumental to the overall accomplishments of FinWise, and we are confident that in his expanded role he will continue to contribute to the ongoing efforts to grow the business by fulfilling our mission to provide customers with innovative banking solutions." Mr. Noone joined the Bank in February of 2018 nd was named Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer in June of 2018. He was named Chief Strategy Officer at the Bank in October of 2022. Mr. Noone has 20 years of financial services experience including commercial banking, investment banking and private equity. He graduated with degrees in Finance and in Accounting from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He currently resides in Draper, UT.



About FinWise Bank FinWise Bank is a Utah state-chartered bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FinWise Bancorp, a Utah bank holding company headquartered in Murray, Utah. FinWise leverages strategic relationships with third-party loan origination platforms, proprietary loan analytics technology, and a seasoned management team to efficiently deliver innovative lending solutions to small businesses and individuals. FinWise currently operates one full-service banking location in Sandy, Utah. For more information on FinWise Bank, visit www.finwise.bank.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230323005668/en/

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[March 24, 2023] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Norfolk Southern Corporation ("Norfolk Southern" or the "Company") (NYSE: NSC) common stock between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Norfolk Southern investors have until May 15, 2023 to file a lead plaintiff motion. If you suffered a loss on your Norfolk Southern investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/Norfolk-Southern-Corporation/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights. On February 3, 2023, after the market closed, a Norfolk Southern Railway Company ("NSR") 149-car general merchandise freight train operated by three Norfolk Southern personnel derailed after a wheel bearing overheated and failed in East Palestine, Ohio, leaving behind a "mangled and charred mass of boxcars and flames." The train was not classified as a hazardous material train, but was carrying several hazardous materials that subsequently ignited, causing damage to non-derailed railcars. On February 5, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered the evacuation of those within a one-by-two mile area near the derailment due to 115,580 gallons of vinyl chloride in five of the derailed cars. The following day, on February 6, responders engaged in a controlled detonation and burn of the vinyl chloride, exposing surrounding areas to massive volumes of chemicals, including residential neighborhoods only 1,000 feet from the accident. Reports cited thousands of dead fish, chemical slicks in the water, and chemical odors around the site. On this news, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell $5.66, or 2.2%, to close at $246.46 per share on February 6, 2023. Then, on February 8, 2023, Governor DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern "created the problem" and that it was "their liability," asserting that the Company "ought to pay for it." Upon returning to their homes after eacuation orders were lifted, many residents reported hazardous air quality and other health and environmental concerns.



On this news, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell $7.64, or 3.1%, to close at $238.98 per share on February 9, 2023. On February 13, 2023, the EPA concluded that Norfolk Southern may be responsible for the cleanup costs of the derailment site or the costs incurred by the EPA area cleanups. On this news, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell $7.33, or 3%, over the next two trading days, to close at $235.28 per share on February 14, 2023.

Then, on February 23, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") issued a preliminary report on the derailment, stating it was 100% preventable. And on March 7, 2023, the NTSB announced that it had opened a special investigation into safety practices at Norfolk Southern because the Company had suffered five significant accidents since December 2021, three of which resulted in Company employee deaths. On March 14, 2023, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern alleging trespass, nuisance, negligence, open dumping, and water and discharge violations in connection with a series of Norfolk Southern train derailments. On March 15, 2023, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell to a low of less than $203 per share - 19% below the price prior to the East Palestine train derailment, thereby injuring investors. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Norfolk Southern's Precision Scheduled Railroading ("PSR"), including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, had led to Norfolk Southern suffering increased train derailments and a materially increased risk of future derailments; (2) Norfolk Southern's PSR was part of a culture of increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to Norfolk Southern's near-term focus solely on profits; (3) Norfolk Southern's PSR rendered Norfolk Southern more vulnerable to train derailments and train derailments with potentially more severe human, financial, legal, and environmental consequences; (4) Norfolk Southern's capital spending and replacement programs were designed to prioritize profits over Norfolk Southern's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (5) Norfolk Southern's lobbying efforts had undermined Norfolk Southern's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (6) Norfolk Southern's commitment to reducing operating expenses as part of its PSR goals undermined worker safety and Norfolk Southern's purported commitment to an injury-free workplace because Norfolk Southern's PSR plan prioritized reducing expenses through fewer personnel, longer trains, and less spending on safety training, technology, and equipment such as hot bearing wayside detectors (a/k/a hotboxes) and acoustic sensors; (7) Norfolk Southern's rail services were, as a result of its adoption of PSR principles, more susceptible to accidents that could cause serious economic and bodily harm to Norfolk Southern, its workers, its customers, third parties, and the environment; (8) Norfolk Southern had failed to put in place responsive practices and procedures to minimize the threat to communities in the event that these communities suffered the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous and toxic materials; and (9) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Norfolk Southern common stock during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than May 15, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005096/en/

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[March 24, 2023] Softchoice Ranks on The Globe and Mail's Fourth Annual Women Lead Here Benchmark of Executive Gender Diversity

Softchoice has been included in the 2023 edition of Women Lead Here, an annual benchmark published by the Globe and Mail's Report on Business magazine, recognizing Canadian businesses with the greatest gender diversity in executive leadership. Softchoice, one of only 90 companies earning this accolade, ranked on this list based on the percentage of women in the top three tiers of leadership. "We are thrilled to be included in the 2023 Women Lead Here ranking," said Karen Scott, Senior Vice President, People & Culture, Softchoice. "We believe that having diversity across our organization, particularly in leadership, offers a breadth and depth of perspectives that enables our people, customers and organization to succeed." "Recognizing businesses that are successfully tackling issues around executive gender parity is a crucial step in moving the dial," said Dawn Calleja, editor of Report on Business magazine. "While more work is needed across the board, the companies highlighted in this list are examples to others in corporate Canada looking to move toward gender parity and, ultimately, build better businesses." "In making senior management appointments, we consider the level of representation of women and other diverse candidates, among other factors," said Andrew Caprara, President & Chief Operating Officer, Softchoice. "I am deeply committed to making change so that current and future generations of women have an equal opportunity to succeed in the careers of their choice." "Our mission within our Leading Women employee resource group is to grow, support, and develop the women of Softchoice," said Rebecca Martinez, Senior Director, Enterprise Account Managemet and co-chair of Softchoice's Leading Women employee resource group. "We're proud to lead the way in advancing women within our organization and are excited to continue our journey, focusing on new opportunities and programs."



The 2023 Women Lead Here list is published in the April issue of Report on Business magazine, distributed with The Globe and Mail on Saturday, March 25th and online today at https://tgam.ca/3K4XzJK About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail is Canada's foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.1 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.5 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

About Softchoice

Softchoice (TSX: SFTC) is a software-focused IT solutions provider that equips organizations to be agile and innovative, and for their people to be engaged, connected and creative at work. That means moving them to the cloud, helping them build the workplace of tomorrow, and enabling them to make smarter decisions about their technology portfolio. For more information, please visit www.softchoice.com. Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which reflects Softchoice's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and Softchoice does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005266/en/

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[March 24, 2023] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Investors

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Norfolk Southern Corporation ("Norfolk Southern" or the "Company") (NYSE: NSC) common stock between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Norfolk Southern investors have until May 15, 2023 to file a lead plaintiff motion. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On February 3, 2023, after the market closed, a Norfolk Southern Railway Company ("NSR") 149-car general merchandise freight train operated by three Norfolk Southern personnel derailed after a wheel bearing overheated and failed in East Palestine, Ohio, leaving behind a "mangled and charred mass of boxcars and flames." The train was not classified as a hazardous material train, but was carrying several hazardous materials that subsequently ignited, causing damage to non-derailed railcars. On February 5, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered the evacuation of those within a one-by-two mile area near the derailment due to 115,580 gallons of vinyl chloride in five of the derailed cars. The following day, on February 6, responders engaged in a controlled detonation and burn of the vinyl chloride, exposing surrounding areas to massive volumes of chemicals, including residential neighborhoods only 1,000 feet from the accident. Reports cited thousands of dead fish, chemical slicks in the water, and chemical odors around the site. On this news, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell $5.66, or 2.2%, to close at $246.46 per share on February 6, 2023. Then, on February 8, 2023, Governor DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern "created the problem" and that it was "their liability," asserting that the Company "ought to pay for it." Upon returning to their homes after evacuation orders were lifted, many residents reported hazardous air quality and other health and environmental concerns. On this news, Norfolk Southern's stock pric fell $7.64, or 3.1%, to close at $238.98 per share on February 9, 2023.



On February 13, 2023, the EPA concluded that Norfolk Southern may be responsible for the cleanup costs of the derailment site or the costs incurred by the EPA area cleanups. On this news, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell $7.33, or 3%, over the next two trading days, to close at $235.28 per share on February 14, 2023. Then, on February 23, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") issued a preliminary report on the derailment, stating it was 100% preventable. And on March 7, 2023, the NTSB announced that it had opened a special investigation into safety practices at Norfolk Southern because the Company had suffered five significant accidents since December 2021, three of which resulted in Company employee deaths.

On March 14, 2023, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern alleging trespass, nuisance, negligence, open dumping, and water and discharge violations in connection with a series of Norfolk Southern train derailments. On March 15, 2023, Norfolk Southern's stock price fell to a low of less than $203 per share - 19% below the price prior to the East Palestine train derailment, thereby injuring investors. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Norfolk Southern's Precision Scheduled Railroading ("PSR"), including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, had led to Norfolk Southern suffering increased train derailments and a materially increased risk of future derailments; (2) Norfolk Southern's PSR was part of a culture of increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to Norfolk Southern's near-term focus solely on profits; (3) Norfolk Southern's PSR rendered Norfolk Southern more vulnerable to train derailments and train derailments with potentially more severe human, financial, legal, and environmental consequences; (4) Norfolk Southern's capital spending and replacement programs were designed to prioritize profits over Norfolk Southern's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (5) Norfolk Southern's lobbying efforts had undermined Norfolk Southern's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (6) Norfolk Southern's commitment to reducing operating expenses as part of its PSR goals undermined worker safety and Norfolk Southern's purported commitment to an injury-free workplace because Norfolk Southern's PSR plan prioritized reducing expenses through fewer personnel, longer trains, and less spending on safety training, technology, and equipment such as hot bearing wayside detectors (a/k/a hotboxes) and acoustic sensors; (7) Norfolk Southern's rail services were, as a result of its adoption of PSR principles, more susceptible to accidents that could cause serious economic and bodily harm to Norfolk Southern, its workers, its customers, third parties, and the environment; (8) Norfolk Southern had failed to put in place responsive practices and procedures to minimize the threat to communities in the event that these communities suffered the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous and toxic materials; and (9) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased Norfolk Southern common stock during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than May 15, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you purchased Norfolk Southern common stock, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005138/en/

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[March 24, 2023] Millennials Will Lead Global Ecommerce Spending in 2023, New Study Reveals

Millennial consumers prefer online versus in-store shopping, according to new data released today by ESW, the world's leading global direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce company. In its most recent Global Voices Survey, more than 27% of Millennial shoppers say they will spend significantly more online and less in-store this year across categories including health & beauty, luxury, apparel & footwear, and consumer electronics. The study also revealed that nearly 73% of Millennial shoppers plan to spend the same or more online in 2023, which will make this cohort the leader in global ecommerce spending this year. "The Millennial consumer remains fully committed to their preference for online shopping over physical retail," said Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, President and Chief Executive Officer, ESW Americas. "Millennials' spending power has grown to $2.5 Trillion, and they are not yet even in their prime earning years. They are spending more online than in-store across several categories, and these results indicate that brands must continue to evolve, improve, and optimize their ecommerce to attract and retain this increasingly powerful demographic." The survey's sample pool of more than 16,000 respondents across 16 countries comprised international shoppers across all demographics. It was further analyzed based upon shoppers who pay full price as well as "power shoppers", or those who have spent $2500 or more online in the last 12 months. Key findings from the study: Nearly 50% more Millennials will increase their online spending for health and beauty products compared to Gen Z, and 42% more than Gen X and Baby Boomers.

Twenty-seven percent of Millennials will spend more for luxury goods online in 2023, compared to 20% of Gen Z, 22% of Gen X, and 21% of Baby Boomers. /li>

77% more Millennials will increase their online spending for apparel and footwear versus Baby Boomers.

25% of Millennials will spend more for consumer electronics, such as phones, games, and software, compared to 19% of Gen Z and Gen X respondents, and just 13% of Baby Boomers.



A deeper dive into "Power Shopper" spending indicates: More Baby Boomer power shoppers (35%) will spend more on health and beauty products online, compared to Gen Z (18%), Millennials (32%), and Gen X (24%).

For luxury power shoppers, 52% more Millennials will increase their spend compared to Gen Z and nearly 23% more than both Gen X and Baby Boomers.

29% of Millennial power shoppers, compared to 21% of Gen Z, 23% of Gen X, and 27% of Baby Boomers, will spend more on apparel and footwear online.

For online consumer electronics, 32% of Millennial power shoppers will spend more compared to 21% of Gen Z, 24% of Gen X, and 29% of Baby Boomers. Shoppers willing to pay full price-or "Convenience Shopper"-data reveals:

Nearly 70% of Millennials will spend more online on full price health and beauty products compared to Gen Z; 50% more than Gen X; 80% more than Baby Boomers.

28% of Millennials will spend more on full price online luxury purchases this year compared to 17% of Gen Z, 25% of Gen X, and 19% of Baby Boomers.

For full price footwear and apparel purchases online, 20% of Millennials will spend more this year versus 14% of Gen Z, 15% of Gen X, and 11% of Baby Boomers.

24% of Millennials will spend more on full price consumer electronics purchases this year compared to 14% of Gen Z, 20% of Gen X, and just 8% of Baby Boomers. Methodology ESW's latest Global Voices consumer survey was conducted in November 2022 in 16 countries (Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, India, China, South Korea, Japan and Australia) with 16,557 people responding. In this report Gen Z is defined as those between 18 and 24; Millennials as those ages 25-40; Gen X as those ages 41-56; and Baby Boomers defined as those ages 57-75. About ESW ESW is the leading global and domestic direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce company, empowering the world's best-loved brands and retailers to expand their DTC channel. ESW acquired Scalefast in June 2022, and the combined organization offers brands and retailers a complete portfolio of technology and services that cost-effectively support any stage of a company's development. From compliance, data security, fraud protection, taxes and tariffs to demand generation, checkout, delivery, returns and customer service, our powerful combination of technology and human ingenuity covers the entire shopper journey across 200 markets, with 100% carbon neutral shipping to consumers. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ESW has global offices in the US, UK, Spain, France, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. ESW is an Asendia Group company, a joint venture between La Poste and Swiss Post. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005221/en/

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Market Research Future

5G Introduction and Tech Advancements will Boost the Cloud Office Services Market

New York, US, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Cloud Office Services Market Analysis by Component, Organization Size, - Forecast Till 2030.

The cloud office services market is likely to witness rapid revenue growth. The rising demand for cloud office services to evaluate and control the IT infrastructure drives market growth. Market Research Future (MRFR) asserts that the global cloud office services market is expected to garner USD 185.3 billion by 2030, growing at a 15% CAGR throughout the review period (2022-2030).

Global Cloud Office Services Market Overview:

Cloud office comprises a suite of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) collaboration and communication tools. Storing content in a centralized, cloud-based repository allows users to work, communicate, and collaborate in real time, regardless of location or device. Cloud office services allow the migration of systems and data to a cloud-based platform.

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This enables a collaborative approach that improves productivity and reduces operational costs. Implementing cloud office services make it easier to consolidate and transfer a collection of workloads, including file-sharing, email & instant messaging, conferencing, document management, and search & discovery. Cloud office services provide users with many ways to work collaboratively.

Global Cloud Office Services Market Scope:

Report Metric Details Market Size USD 185.3 Billion CAGR 15% Base Year 2021 Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific Key Vendors MediaAgility Inc Rackspace Quest Software Inc Google Xillio Microsoft Corporation AvePoint Inc. Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd Evernote Corporation Adobe TERVELA CLOUD FAST PATH HyperOffice AvePoint Inc Key Market Opportunities Many enterprises already know the benefits of cloud services. Key Market Drivers The growing number of connected devices is a crucial driver for the cloud office service.

Industry Trends

Story continues

With the growing use of cloud office services, the market is expected to garner significant traction during the next few years. Organizations across BFSI, IT & telecommunications, media & communication, healthcare, retail, and e-commerce are moving their IT infrastructure to the cloud, including software & hardware, computer services, network devices, IT security, and storage devices.

Besides, the attributes offered by remote infrastructure management, such as cost savings, enhanced efficiency, higher dependability, and remote availability of IT infrastructure, contribute to the cloud office services market growth excellently. The rising need to decrease deployment costs and downtime propels market revenues. Data validation & verification.

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Also, the growing need among businesses for automatic data movement, data mapping & transformation, user account management, and performance monitoring would support market growth. On the other hand, security concerns and SMB reluctance to invest in IT infrastructure are major factors impeding market growth. Also, concerns over data security, cyber risks, and invariant service charges hamper the market growth.

Segments

The report is segmented into service types, organization sizes, verticals, and regions. The component segment is bifurcated into services suite, cloud office migration tools services, collaboration services, professional services, and other services. The organization size segment is bifurcated into small & medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises.

The vertical segment is bifurcated into BFSI, IT & telecommunications, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, retail & consumer goods, manufacturing, automotive & transportation, energy, government & public sector, and others. The region segment is sub-segmented into Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Rest-of-the-World.

Geographical Analysis

North America dominates the global cloud office services market, accounting for over 40% of the share. Factors such as the highest rate of cloud office service adoption, increased digitization, and the growing trend of outsourcing services drive market growth. Also, the presence of many key cloud office services providers and leading tech companies in this region boosts the cloud office services market size.

Better technical expertise and high implementation of cloud office services in rapidly growing businesses across industries substantiate the region's market share. The evolving cloud technology and increasing cloud office services applications across industries boost the market size in the region. The US accounts for a sizable share of the North American cloud office services market, creating significant opportunities.

Europe is another lucrative market for cloud office services. The rapidly developing work environment in the region is heightening the demand for cloud office services. Moreover, the high adoption of cloud office migration services that make the movement of office software and data from on-premises systems to the cloud easier creates significant growth opportunities in Europe.

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The cloud office services market in the Asia-Pacific region is likely to grow at the fastest rate. Rapidly expanding businesses, the rising need for digital transformation solutions, and the growing acceptance of cloud-based technologies escalate the region's cloud office services market value. Furthermore, the growing reliance of companies on these services to increase productivity and curtail expenses boost market revenues.

Competitive Landscape

The global cloud office services market appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. Many well-established players, together with new entrants, form a competitive landscape. Key players make substantial investments to drive R&D activities and expand their global footprints. Leading providers of networking and security products offer new cloud-delivered services to extend zero-trust solutions.

They ensure that these new cloud services can make it easier for cloud-native businesses and enterprises to embrace cloud adoption and for IT teams & security admins to deploy, scale, and manage remote access & secure application access for the entire workforce. Also, they incorporate strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, expansion, and product/technology launches to gain a larger impetus.

For instance, on Mar. 15, 2023, FunP Innovation Group (Taiwan), a leading digital advertising sales & advertising technology conglomerate, announced that it has secured US$3.12 million from a leading global provider of integrated cloud management services, IoT, and embedded technology, Ennoconn Corporation.

This capital injection will be used to develop and roll out smart retail and cloud services solutions in Indonesia and other markets in major Asia Pacific countries under its business unit cacaFly. Ennoconn's AIoT capabilities and FunP Innovation's cloud computing and marketing technology will bring the opportunity to develop pioneering retail solutions in Indonesia and beyond. Additionally, the partnership will increase its footprint in the fastest-growing markets worldwide.

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Players leading the cloud office services market include:

MediaAgility Inc.

Rackspace Quest Software Inc.

Google

Xillio

Microsoft Corporation

AvePoint Inc.

Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd.

Evernote Corporation

Adobe

TERVELA CLOUD FAST PATH

HyperOffice

AvePoint Inc.

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About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

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[March 24, 2023] Roanoke College and Virginia Tech sign partnership for accelerated student pathways in computer science and computer engineering

The partnership between the two institutions gives Roanoke College students direct admission into computer science and computer engineering master's degree programs. SALEM, Va. , March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Roanoke College and Virginia Tech have entered a partnership that will benefit students in science fields and serve as an engine for economic, workforce and educational development in Virginia. The two agreements that make up the partnership will allow Roanoke College students to pursue graduate programs at Virginia Tech and facilitate an early transition to graduate school. The announcement comes amid a larger, historic investment being made by state leaders, employers and philanthropic donors to grow Virginia's workforce in high-priority tech fields. The Tech Talent Investment Program has marshaled more than $2 billion to date to support initiatives designed to more than double the number of students statewide who are earning computer-related degrees and capitalize on major opportunities such as the Amazon HQ2 project in Northern Virginia. The new Direct to Tech program provides Roanoke College students direct admission into Virginia Tech Master of Engineering programs in either computer science and applications or computer engineering upon graduation from Roanoke College. Direct to Tech is open to all Roanoke College seniors with a 3.0 GPA, regardless of major, who have completed certain required courses. The partnership will reduce the timeline for admission and give students an early transition into the Virginia Tech graduate programs, which are delivered from the Virginia Tech Innovtion Campus in Northern Virginia. The first building of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, located just outside the nation's capital, opens to students in fall 2024. Students currently enrolled in Innovation Campus master's degree programs are attending classes at the university's Falls Church location.



"This program will provide students with the opportunity to take advantage of the best that Roanoke College and Virginia Tech have to offer. We're thrilled that Roanoke is the first college in Virginia to sign on to this program. The Roanoke College and Virginia Tech partnership is about access for our students and opportunities for their incredible futures," said Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. "Maroons and Hokies are celebrating, and the pathways and possibilities to and from Roanoke College are even stronger. This is a tremendous arrangement and partnership for us, for Virginia Tech and for the commonwealth." A second agreement between the two schools allows Roanoke College students to take advantage of an accelerated 4+1 undergraduate/graduate program in computer science or computer engineering at Virginia Tech. This partnership enables students to take courses that apply toward a bachelor's degree at Roanoke College and an accelerated master's degree at Virginia Tech. This means students can earn a Bachelor of Science in four years, then complete the master's with just one additional year at Virginia Tech. This program is open to any Roanoke College computer science major who has earned at least a 3.3 GPA and completed certain courses, including Calculus II, as part of their undergraduate degree.

"We are thrilled to partner with Roanoke College to launch our first Direct to Tech program and additional 4+1 opportunities," said Lance Collins, vice president and executive director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. "The Innovation Campus is dedicated to increasing opportunities for underrepresented students while expanding access to tech talent in the national capital region. We look forward to welcoming Roanoke College graduates to our Master of Engineering program." As part of both the Direct to Tech and accelerated 4+1 agreements, Roanoke College students will not have to pay application fees or submit GRE scores to Virginia Tech. For the 4+1 program, Virginia Tech may provide significant financial support for students, particularly through state and industry funding earmarked to support women, underrepresented minorities, first-generation students and veterans. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roanoke-college-and-virginia-tech-sign-partnership-for-accelerated-student-pathways-in-computer-science-and-computer-engineering-301781082.html SOURCE Roanoke College

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[March 24, 2023] Klear.ai Acquires the Inform Business of Cloud Software Group, Inc.

Acquisition strengthens Klear.ai as a leader in Native AI Risk and Claims Management solutions. LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Klear.ai, a pioneer in native AI insurance software solutions for claims, risk and analytic solutions, today announced the successful acquisition of the Inform business (Inform), of Cloud software Group, Inc. (Cloud Software Group). Inform is a Risk Management Information System (RMIS) provider of the Cloud Software Group. "We are incredibly pleased to welcome the Inform business and Inform's valued customers to Klear.ai. This strategic move fortifies Klear.ai's position as an industry leader in native AI Risk and Claims Management software, with Inform's 35-year track record of maximizing risk analysis, enhancing safety, and improving operations. The complementary offerings of Klear.ai and the Inform business create a compelling value proposition for businesses seeking innovative, future-focused risk management solutions." -Brijesh Kumar, CEO of Klear.ai Craig Weiss, who is joining Klear.ai after 22 years as part of the Inform team, echoed Kumar's excitement, saying, "I am delighted about Klear.ai's forward-thinking vision and the impact they are bringing to this industry. As we looked to the future needs of Inform Application and our valued customers, we researched the market and determined that Klear.ai offered both excellent technology, superior customer support as well as a business synergy that would produce a winning combination to both. I believe our risk experience and RMIS expertise will complement our ability to bring industry leading, comprehensive risk management solutions to the market." The integration of Inform's comprehensive and user-friendly RMIS into Klearai's existing risk, claims and analytics product suite will benefit insurance providers, self-insured organizations, and government entities. The combination will enable customers to make better-informed decisions and gain a complete, accurate view of their risk landscape.



Brijesh Kumar, CEO of Klear.ai, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating, "We are thrilled to have Inform as part of Klear.ai. With our native AI-based risk and claims software, Inform is a natural fit for our vision of delivering advanced solutions for businesses to predict risks before they result in unfavorable reputations or financial performance." About Klear.ai Technology

Klear.ai offers a secure, modern SaaS platform with native AI insurance software solutions for Property & Casualty, Workers' Compensation Claims Administration, Risk Management, Policy Management, Analytics, and Auditing. Serving TPAs, Insurers, Self-Insureds, Pools, Government/Public entities, Brokers, and Agents across various insurance lines of business, the platform leverages over 20 years of industry and technological experience to provide efficient, easily deployable solutions. As a one-system native AI platform, Klear.ai addresses future challenges with intelligent, collaborative capabilities, superior visualization, and automation to empower customer growth. The platform harnesses the power of native AI and Machine Learning to predict, uncover, optimize, and detect thus elevating the insurance industry's capabilities while setting new benchmarks for innovation. Press & Media Contact Klear.ai

Anamika Bhati

Phone: +1 (714)-503-0192

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.klearai.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/klearai

Youtube: https://youtu.be/vSCsvokQmg0 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/klearai-acquires-the-inform-business-of-cloud-software-group-inc-301781335.html SOURCE Klear.ai

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As always . . . In fairness . . . We share more discussion about the Kansas City mayoral contest and the latest retort from a longtime local transit activist . . .

Chastain Denies Destruction & Rants Against 'Butt Kisser' To Mayor Q



Clay Chastain press release: Contrary to what you read on a popular blog, Mayoral Candidate Clay Chastain was NOT "Destroyed" by conservative radio talker Pete Mundo. No one in this town can destroy Clay Chastain in the presence of Clay Chastain. Rather Pete Mundo, who tried to destroy Chastain in his absence, destroyed his own credibility by appearing as coddling, status quo butt kisser to Mayor Lucas and Kansas City's political establishment.

"Never listen to a man who runs down another man behind his back. Especially, when that man is trying to gain personal advantage by doing so. Instead of inviting me to come on his radio show to discuss my contention that the astoundingly stupid and biased local media in Kansas City is playing favorites in the Mayor's race, Mr. Mundo takes shot after shot at me on his radio show with my hands tied behind my back. Like (No Debate) Lucas, Mr. Mundo is also afraid to debate Clay Chastain live, face to face and man to man on his radio show. I'm waiting Mr. Mundo, for a debate invitation. Same to you...Lightfoot Lucas!"

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You decide . . .


All of Kansas City mainstream media focused on this story today . . . We don't pretend to understand it all but the basics of the narrative have been documented by the Jackson County prosecutor.



She explains most of it in this message . . .



The letter released Thursday states the prosecutor's office determined there were "insufficient established facts in this case to demonstrate that the officers' beliefs were unreasonable at the time of the shooting."



In addition to the letter, the prosecutor's office released a statement on its release, including explaining why Pryor's case was not presented to a Jackson County grand jury.



The prosecutor's office says a grand jury is only used when a witness' credibility is in question, which was not a factor in this instance, as the office prioritizes using as "open a process as possible."



On the same day of the letter's release, friends and family of Pryor demanded action during a rally outside of the Jackson County Courthouse.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Jackson County Prosecutor's Office shares letter sent to family of Tyrea Pryor KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A letter detailing the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office's findings in the case of Tyrea Pryor's death was sent to Pryor's family along with Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman on Thursday. Pryor was shot and killed by Independence police in March 2022.

Family of man killed by Independence police calls for federal investigation into his death It's been about a year since police shot and killed 39-year-old Kansas City resident Tyrea Pryor.Now, his family is calling for a federal investigation. The family says the Jackson County prosecutor didn't do her job when she chose not to file charges against the Independence officers that shot and killed Prior."The Jackson County elected Prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker, said Tyrea's death was the result of a series of ill-advised events," Pryor Family's lawyer Harry Daniels said.

Son asks for Independence police to be held accountable for father's killing KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Attorneys for the Jackson County man shot and killed last year by Independence police are calling for federal prosecutors to take on the case. It comes after Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker decided not to file charges or send this case to a grand jury.

Tyrea Pryor's family rallies for charges following fatal police shooting, prosecutor explains reasoning JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - The family of a man killed by Independence, Missouri, police in March of last year is demanding justice. On Thursday, they took to the steps of the Jackson Country Courthouse to make their case. "They killed him over a pistol that did not exist," said Harry Daniels, an attorney for the family.

Developing . . .
Despite request for public comments and a great deal of fighting behind the scenes . . . There really wasn't any major drama in this budget.

Instead . . . We're waiting on primary results to show us how upset po-po should be about KCMO cash.

For now . . . A few fun facts . . .

There is plenty of Hollywood accounting that hides money throughout the budget.

Notice more payouts for housing and other programs activists have urged.

The biggest concern for anyone paying attention . . .

Again, the budget remains 'structurally unbalanced" and, in the end, even the bond companies are concerned to see if Kansas City can stop the exodus of municipal revenue i.e. people with jobs from the urban core.



Finally . . . As always . . . The cost to keep this town keeps increasing. Check-it . . .



"The upcoming years budget from this years is increasing from $1.9 billion to $2.06 billion."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Follow-up from news this morning . . . Here's the most important part . . .

EARLY IN THE YEAR & AMID ELECTION SEASON . . . HOMICIDES HAVE SPIKED NEARLY 10% OVER LAST YEAR!!!

THIS IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE LAST YEAR WAS HISTORIC FOR LOCAL KILLING!!!

In fact . . . 2022 was 2nd highest year for homicides in KCMO history.

And so we check the first report and MSM coverage . . .



Homicide Hillcrest & Oldham



This morning at approximately 1000 hours officers were dispatched to the area of Hillcrest and Oldham Rd. on a reported dead body that was discovered by utility workers who were working in the area.



Upon arrival officers located an adult male who appeared to be deceased. EMS arrived on scene and confirmed the victim was deceased.



This appears to be a suspicious death and homicide detectives are investigating this as a homicide.



There is no suspect information and the circumstances surrounding the incident are unknown at this time.



Detectives and Crime Scene personnel are on scene and canvassing the area for potential witnesses and evidence.



If anyone saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.



There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline that result in an arrest.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City utility workers find homicide victim's body KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City police are investigating a homicide in Swope Park on Thursday. The department said utility workers in the area of Hillcrest and Oldham Road discovered a male victim in a ditch around 10 a.m. Thursday. Police said the death seems suspicious, and detectives are investigating and treating it as a homicide at this time.

Homicide investigation underway after utility workers find body in Kansas City, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A homicide investigation is underway after utility workers discovered a body Thursday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Police were called to the area around 10 a.m. Initial investigation led officers to the body of a deceased adult male.

Police investigating homicide after utility workers discover body near Swope Park in Kansas City Police are investigating a homicide Thursday afternoon in the southern portion of Swope Park. Around 10 a.m., officers were dispatched to Hillcrest and Oldham Road after receiving a call about a dead body.Police say utility workers who were working in the area alerted authorities.Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who appeared to be dead.

Developing . . .
The victims of the Yonge Street van attack will be honoured and remembered on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy at commemoration events in North York on Sunday afternoon.
The Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) and Said Business School at the University of Oxford have signed an agreement to design and deliver a comprehensive programme that will shape future technology leaders in the financial sector.

The course - Shaping Future Technology Leaders in Financial Services - was announced at the launch of the for 2023-2026 strategy for EIF, formerly known as the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS).

It will be launched in July (2023) and aims to equip financial services professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the sectors rapidly evolving technological landscape. The programme will cover financial services, technology, and disruption, delivered through a blend of face-to-face, virtual, and online teaching.

Critical step

Noura Alblooshi, Acting General Manager of EIF, said: The Shaping Future Technology Leaders in Financial Services Programme is a critical step forward in equipping our UAE national workforce in the banking and financial sector, and advancing the Emiratisation in the industry, in line with the directives of our wise leadership. Through such initiatives, we aim to create a strong, diversified, and sustainable financial services industry in the country.

Andrew Stephen, LOreal Professor of Marketing and Deputy Dean of Oxford Said, said: We are delighted to collaborate with EIF to offer this groundbreaking programme, which will help develop a deeper understanding of the impact of technology on financial services.

The programme will be delivered by programme directors, Oxford Said faculty, offsite programme management, and an EdTech partner, with a Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) provided for the hosting of materials, pre-reading, and access to discussion forums. The programme will also incorporate multiple student assessment points and offer recognition via certification to participants who complete the modules and pass the assessments.

100 participants

The course is expected to enroll 100 participants. Students who complete the full programme, comprising phases one, two, and three, will receive a certificate of attendance from Oxford Said. Participants who complete the two six-week online programmes will receive a recognition certificate.

The content includes The Oxford AI in Fintech and Open Banking Programme and Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme, which will be delivered online, and Business Impact of Technology, Financial Services and Technology and Disruption, which will be delivered on-site in the UAE.

The programme, among other modules on offer at EIF, offer a unique opportunity for UAE nationals in the financial sector to enhance their knowledge and skills, through world class teaching.-- TradeArabia News Service
SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's report on the Collagen and Gelatin market is an excellent resource for individuals interested in gaining insight into this rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the report is written clearly and concisely, making it accessible to various audiences, from industry experts to casual readers. Finally, it gives readers an in-depth understanding of the primary and secondary market drivers, giving them a comprehensive outlook of the current market situation and future projections.

Westford, USA,, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North American and Asia Pacific regions are expected to witness substantial growth in the Collagen and Gelatin market , fueled by various factors, including the rising demand for healthy and functional food products, increasing awareness of the health benefits associated with the consumption of collagen and gelatin, and the growing demand for natural and organic personal care products. Moreover, the increasing utilization of collagen and gelatin in drug delivery and tissue engineering applications within the pharmaceutical industry is a significant driving factor for the market's growth.

SkyQuest's latest global research findings reveal a steady rise in the global Food and Beverage end-use industry market, with projections of dominance in the forecasted period. This positive outlook for the electric vehicle market indicates growth potential for related industries, including the Collagen and Gelatin market. The increasing awareness of the benefits of collagen and gelatin in improving joint and bone health and the rising demand for natural and functional ingredients in the food and beverage industry further underpins this growth potential.

Get sample copy of this report:

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Collagen and Gelatin Market"

Pages - 242

Tables - 90

Figures - 66

The demand for collagen and gelatin, vital proteins used across multiple industries like pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, healthcare, and cosmetics, is increasing. This growth is due to the rising awareness of the health benefits of collagen and gelatin consumption and the increasing demand for healthy and functional food products. As a result, the collagen and gelatin market is expected to provide significant opportunities for businesses in different industries, making it an attractive and lucrative sector to invest in.

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Prominent Players in Collagen and Gelatin Market

Rousselot

Gelita AG

Nitta Gelatin Inc.

PB Gelatins

Darling Ingredients Inc.

Weishardt Group

Trobas Gelatine B.V.

Lapi Gelatine S.p.A.

Italgelatine S.p.A.

Gelnex

Sterling Gelatin

Vital Proteins

Viscofan BioEngineering

Norland Products Inc.

Amicogen Inc.

Junca Gelatines S.L.

Ewald-Gelatine GmbH

Collagen Solutions plc

Norland International Inc.

Advanced BioMatrix Inc.

Food and Beverage Application Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Growing Demand for Functional Foods

A recent analysis has identified the Food and Beverage Application segment as a significant contributor to the rapid development of the Collagen and Gelatin market in 2021. This trend is projected to continue from 2022 to 2030, with the segment maintaining its dominance in the market. The growing demand for functional food and beverages and the increasing use of collagen and gelatin as natural ingredients in these products are the primary drivers of this segment's growth. SkyQuest, a market research firm, has forecasted a CAGR of 6.6% for the global gelatin market during the forecast period.

Research analysis has indicated that North America will emerge as a dominant player in the Collagen and Gelatin market from 2022 to 2030. This growth is being driven by several factors, such as the increasing presence of major global players, rising demand for collagen and gelatin in the food and beverage industry, and growing awareness of the health benefits of consuming collagen and gelatin supplements. SkyQuest has reported a CAGR of 7.4% for the North American collagen and gelatin market, further underlining this growth potential.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/collagen-and-gelatin-market

Hydrolyzed Collagen Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth as this Collagen is Easier to Digest and Absorb.

The Hydrolyzed Collagen Type segment emerged as the dominant method in the Collagen and Gelatin market in 2021, and it is projected to maintain its lead from 2022 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for collagen supplements in the food and beverage industry, as hydrolyzed collagen is easier to digest and absorb. Additionally, the rising awareness of the health benefits of hydrolyzed collagen consumption, such as improved joint health and skin elasticity, is driving the demand for this type of collagen in various industries.

The Asia Pacific region became a major force in the Collagen and Gelatin market and is expected to maintain its leading position by 2030. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for collagen and gelatin in the region's food and beverage, cosmetics, and healthcare industries. In addition, according to SkyQuest, the region is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period.

In a recent report, the collagen and gelatin market has comprehensively analyzed its major players. The report has covered various aspects, such as innovative business policies, strategies, mergers, and collaborations, offering valuable insights into the key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report has provided a detailed geographic analysis and examined the market share of the top segments. Lastly, the report has highlighted the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to meet the growing demand.

Key Developments in Collagen and Gelatin Market

Darling Ingredients has announced its plan to acquire Gelnex, a collagen manufacturer, in a cash deal valued at $1.2 billion. The acquisition is expected to be completed by Q1 of 2023. Gelnex, based in Brazil and has six facilities, including one in the US, produces 46,000 tons of collagen products, such as gelatin and collagen peptides, each year. These products are widely used in the nutrition industry and are exported to over 60 countries. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Darling Ingredients' global collagen and gelatin market position.

Italgelatine, a major producer of gelatin and collagen, has been acquired by Bregal Unternehmerkapital from the Vezza family, who founded the company in 1968. Italgel is known for producing gelatin and collagen for various applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

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Key Questions Answered in Collagen and Gelatin Market Report

What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period?

Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence?

In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Stearyl Alcohol Market

Global Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemical Market

Global Alpha Olefins Market

US Biochar Market

Global Aroma Chemicals Market

About Us:

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INVL Baltic Real Estate

Special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate, legal entity code 152105644, the registered address Gyneju str. 14 Vilnius, Lithuania (hereinafter  the Company or INVL Baltic Real Estate), informs that on the initiative and decision of the management company UAB INVL Asset Management (hereinafter  the Management Company), the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting (hereinafter- the Meeting) is to be held on 18 April 2023.

The place of the Meeting: the office of the Company, the address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius.

The Meeting will start at 09:00 a.m. (registration starts at 08:30 a.m.).

The Meetings accounting day is 11 April 2023 (the persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of the accounting day of the Meeting or authorized persons by them, or the persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting).

The day of the accounting of rights is 3 May 2023.

The total number of the Company's shares is 8,061,414 shares.

Agenda of the Meeting:

Presentation of the Companys consolidated annual report for 2022. Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company. Presentation of the Companys investment committees recommendation on the draft of the profit (loss) distribution (including the formation of the reserve), the new wording of the Companys Articles of Association, and the draft of the remuneration report. Presentation of the Companys Supervisory Boards feedback and suggestions on the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the Company, a draft of the profit (loss) distribution, the Companys consolidated annual report for 2022, a draft of the remuneration policy, also regarding the activity of the Board of the Management Company and Companys investment committee, presentation of the information on Companys strategy implementation. Regarding the assent to the remuneration report of the Company, as a part of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2022. Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the Company. Deciding on profit distribution of the Company.

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Regarding approval of a new version of the Companys Articles of Association. Presentation of the Companys Management Companys statement on the share purchase price. Regarding the purchase of own shares of the Company. Regarding the repeal of the Supervisory Board remuneration policy. Regarding the approval of the new wording of the INVL Baltic Real Estate Related Policy on Transactions with Related Parties. Regarding the approval of new wording of the Regulations of the Audit Committee. Regarding the Report of the Audit Committee of the Company.

Draft resolutions of the Meeting:

1. Presentation of the Companys consolidated annual report for 2022

1.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the consolidated annual report of the Company for 2022 (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

2. Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company

2.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

3. Presentation of the Companys investment committees recommendation on the draft of the profit (loss) distribution (including the formation of the reserve), the new wording of the Articles of Association, and the draft of the remuneration report

3.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the Companys investment committees recommendation on the draft of the profit (loss) distribution (including the formation of the reserve), the new wording of the Articles of Association, and the draft of the remuneration report (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

4. Presentation of the Companys Supervisory Boards feedback and suggestions on the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the Company, a draft of the profit (loss) distribution, Companys consolidated annual report for 2022, a draft of the remuneration policy, also regarding the activity of the Board of the Management Company and Companys investment committee, presentation of the information on Companys strategy implementation

4.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the Companys Supervisory Boards feedback and suggestions on the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the Company, a draft of the profit (loss) distribution, Companys consolidated annual report for 2022, a draft of the remuneration policy, also regarding the activity of the Board of the Management Company and Companys investment committee, presentation of the information on Companys strategy implementation (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

5. Regarding the assent to the remuneration report of the Company, as a part of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2022

5.1. To assent to the remuneration report of the Company, as a part of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2022 (attached).

6. Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the Company

6.1. To approve the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the Company.

7. Deciding on profit distribution of the Company

7.1. To distribute the profit of the Company as follows:

Article (thousand EUR) Retained earnings (loss) at the beginning of the financial year of the reporting period 1,482.5 Net profit (loss) for the financial year 4,224 Profit (loss) not recognized in the income statement of the reporting financial year - Shareholders' contributions to cover loss - Distributable profit (loss) at the end of the financial year of the reporting period 5,706.50 Transfers from reserves - Distributable profit (loss) in total 5,706.50 Profit distribution: (725.5) - Profit transfers to the legal reserves - -Profit transfers to the reserves for own shares acquisition* - - Profit transfers to other reserves - - Profit to be paid as dividends* (725.5) - Profit to be paid as annual payments (bonus) and for other purposes - Retained earnings (loss) at the end of the financial year 4,981

*0.09 EUR is paid per share

8. Regarding approval of a new version of the Companys Articles of Association

8.1. Considering that a new version of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Companies entered into effect on 30 November 2022 and according to the provisions of section 1 of article 78 therein, the requirement to form a collegial body with supervisory functions no longer applies to investment companies specified in the Republic of Lithuania Law on Collective Investment Undertakings with the legal form of a public limited liability company whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market, to eliminate the Companys collegial body with a supervisory function  the Supervisory Board, to envisage in the Companys Articles of Association that the Management Company may form an Advisory Committee of the Company, and to approve a new version of the Articles of Association (a draft of which is attached) to replace the full text of the Articles of Association (without additionally approving the amendments to the individual sections of the Articles of Association).

8.2. To authorise Vytautas Baksinskas (with the right to redelegate) to sign the new version of the Articles of Association and to register it in the manner established by law and by the general meeting of shareholders.

9. Presentation of the Companys Management Companys statement on the share purchase price

9.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the Companys Management Companys statement on the share purchase price (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

10. Regarding the purchase of own shares of the Company

10.1. To authorise the Management Company to use the formed reserve (or the part of it) for the purchase of its own shares and after evaluation of the economic viability to purchase shares in INVL Baltic Real Estate by the rules mentioned below:

The goal for the purchase of own shares  discount reduction between the net asset value and the market share price of INVL Baltic Real Estate and the possibility to sell its shares to the shareholders. The maximum number of shares to be acquired could not exceed 1/10 of the authorised capital INVL Baltic Real Estate. The period during which INVL Baltic Real Estate may purchase its own shares is 18 months from the day of this resolution. The maximum and minimal shares acquisition price of INVL Baltic Real Estate: the maximum one-share acquisition price  is the last announced net asset value per share, and the minimal one-share acquisition price  is EUR 1.45. The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and minimal sale price: the acquired own shares may be annulled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or sold by the decision of the Management Company on condition the minimum sale price of own shares shall be equal to the last net asset value and the procedure of selling the shares shall ensure equal opportunities for all shareholders to acquire the said shares. The Management Company is delegated on the basis of this resolution and the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania to organise the purchase and sale of own shares, to organise the purchase and selling procedure of own shares, and to determine order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares.

11. Regarding the repeal of the Supervisory Board remuneration policy

11.1. In light of the draft resolution of this General Meeting of Shareholders on agenda item 8, recognise that the remuneration policy for the Supervisory Board of the Company is no longer in force.

11.2. Note that the remuneration policy for employees who make decisions on taking risks, which was adopted by the Board of the Management Company, remains in force at INVL Baltic Real Estate and shall further apply (the remuneration policy is published on Companys website https://bre.invl.com/ ).

12. Regarding the approval of the new wording of the INVL Baltic Real Estate Related Policy on Transactions with Related Parties

12.1. Considering the draft resolution of this General Meeting of Shareholders on agenda item 8 and amendments to article 37 (2) of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Companies, to approve a new wording of the INVL Baltic Real Estate Policy on Transactions with Related Parties (attached).

13. Regarding the approval of new wording of the Regulations of the Audit Committee

13.1. Considering the changes in the Law on Companies regarding the evaluation of transactions with the Companys related party, the Regulations of the Audit Committee are updated accordingly. It is proposed to the shareholders of the Company approve the new wording of the Regulations of the Audit Committee (attached).

14. Regarding the Report of the Audit Committee of the Company

14.1. In accordance with the rules of procedure of the Audit Committee of the Company (approved on 11 April 2017 by decision of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company), the shareholders are hereby briefed on the activity report of the Audit Committee of the Company (attached) (no decision is taken on this item of the agenda).

The documents related to the agenda, draft resolutions on every item of the agenda, documents that have to be submitted to the General Shareholders Meeting, and other information related to the realization of shareholders' rights are published on the Companys website www.invlbalticrealestate.lt section For investors, and also by prior agreement available at the premises of the Company, located at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius (hereinafter  the Premises of the Company) during working hours. Phone for information +370 5 279 0601.

The shareholders are entitled to:

propose to supplement the agenda of the Meeting by submitting a draft resolution on every additional item of the agenda or, then there is no need to make a decision - explanation of the shareholder (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes). A proposal to supplement the agenda is submitted in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending a proposal to the Company by e-mail breinfo@invl.com. The agenda is supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Meeting. In case the agenda of the Meeting is supplemented, the Company will report on it no later than 10 days before the Meeting in the same way as on convening of the Meeting. propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting at any time prior to the date of the Meeting (in writing, sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending a proposal to the Company by e-mail breinfo@invl.com or in writing during the Meeting (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes). submit questions to the Company related to the issues of the agenda of the Meeting in advance but no later than 3 business days prior to the Meeting in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending a proposal to the Company by e-mail breinfo@invl.com. All answers related to the agenda of the Meeting to questions submitted to the Company by the shareholders in advance are submitted in the Meeting or simultaneously to all shareholders of the Company prior to the Meeting. The Company reserves the right to answer to those shareholders of the Company who can be identified and whose questions are not related to the Company's confidential information or commercial secrets.

The shareholder participating in the Meeting and having the right to vote, must submit the documents confirming personal identity. A person who is not a shareholder shall, in addition to this document, submit a document confirming the right to vote at the Meeting. The requirement to provide the documents confirming personal identity does not apply when voting in writing by filling in a general ballot paper.

Each shareholder may authorize either a natural or a legal person to participate and to vote on the shareholder's behalf at the Meeting. An authorised person has the same rights as his represented shareholder at the Meeting unless the authorized person's rights are limited by the power of attorney or by the law. The authorized persons must have the document confirming their personal identity and power of attorney approved in the manner specified by law which must be submitted to the Company no later than before the commencement of registration for the Meeting. The Company does not establish a special form of power of attorney. A power of attorney issued by a natural person must be certified by a notary. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by law. The persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting rights, also have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.

A shareholder is entitled to issue power of attorney by means of electronic communications for legal or natural persons to participate and to vote on its behalf at the Meeting. No notarisation of such authorization is required. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication means must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through the means of electronic communication by e-mail breinfo@invl.com not later than on the last business day before the Meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be issued in writing and could be sent to the Company by electronic communication means if the transmitted information is secured and the shareholder's identity can be identified. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder free of charge.

Shareholders of the Company are urged to use the right to vote on the issues in the agenda of the Meeting by submitting properly completed general voting bulletins to the Company in advance. The form of the general voting bulletin is presented at the Company's webpage www.invlbalticrealestate.lt section For Investors. If the shareholder requests, the Company shall send the general voting bulletin to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person no later than 10 days prior to the Meeting free of charge. If the general voting bulletin is signed by a person authorized by the shareholder, it should be accompanied by a document certifying the right to vote.

The Company invites its shareholders who decide to participate in the Meeting to choose one of the following alternatives:

__________

Alternative No. 1:

A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete and sign a written voting bulletin and send it to the Company by e-mail ( breinfo@invl.com) and send the original bulletin by registered or ordinary post to the address Gyneju str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius. Properly completed written voting bulletins may be sent by registered or ordinary post to the address Gyneju str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius without submitting a copy to the e-mail address specified or delivered in person to the Company on business days at the Companys registered address mentioned above. Along with a bulletin, a document confirming the right to vote must also be sent. Those voting bulletins shall be deemed valid which are correctly completed and are received before the start of the general shareholders' meeting.

__________

Alternative No. 2:

A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete a written voting bulletin, save it on their computer, and sign it with a qualified electronic signature. Send the written voting bulletin which is properly completed and signed with a qualified electronic signature to the Company by e-mail at breinfo@invl.com.

The Company suggests using the following free qualified electronic signature systems: Dokobit and GoSign

__________

Alternative No. 3:

If shareholders of the Company do not have the possibility to use voting alternatives No. 1 or No. 2, the Company will provide conditions for the shareholders or persons duly authorised by them to come on 18 April 2023 to the address Gyneju str. 14 in Vilnius, to the Companys Meeting.

We stress that safety recommendations must be followed by shareholders regarding the use of safety measures and maintaining distance.

The person authorized to provide additional information:

Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company

Vytautas Baksinskas

E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com

Attachments




North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.

DALLAS, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a release issued on Thursday, March 23 by North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. (OTCBB: NODB), please note that headline has been corrected from "Declares Year-End Regular Dividend" to "Declares Regular Dividend". The corrected release follows:

North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. Declares Regular Dividend

On March 21, 2023, the Board of Directors of North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. (OTCBB: NODB) declared a regular dividend of $0.33 per share, payable to shareholders of record as of April 3, 2023, with said dividend payable on April 7, 2023.



The current dividends are based on NDBTs current financial condition and are not a guarantee that dividends will continue to be paid in the future. Further information about NDBTs dividend declaration is available from Glenn Henry, Chief Financial Officer.

ABOUT NDBT

Founded in 1961, NDBT (North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.) is an independent community bank with five banking centers located in Dallas, Addison, Frisco, Las Colinas, and Plano. Headquartered on the corner of Preston Road and LBJ at 12900 Preston Road in Dallas, NDBT is dedicated to helping people make smarter choices in business and life by offering authentic banking solutions, wealth management, and innovative online banking tools. NDBT is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information, call 972.716.7100, or visit online at www.ndbt.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NDBTMarketing/ .

Media Contact:

Brian C. Jensen

972-716-7124

brian.jensen@ndbt.com




Eid is more than just a day. It was the reminder issued by Imam Atif Majeed Sulaimani, as so
The Slovak Republic has handed over the first four of its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The relevant statement was made by CNN, referring to Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

This comes days after Slovakia pledged 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, along with Poland which pledged four.

A reminder that, on March 17, 2023, the Government of Slovakia approved sending 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The United States offered Slovakia to purchase 12 new Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters at a discount after Bratislava agreed to send its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.
The Swedish Parliament on Thursday approved the donation of military equipment to Ukraine.

Riksdag reported this, Ukrinform says.

As noted, the Swedish government can provide Ukraine with military equipment worth a maximum of SEK 6.2 billion (about $550 million).

The aid will include tanks, Archer and Robot 97 artillery systems, and ammunition. In addition, Sweden may decide to sell 14 Archer artillery systems to the United Kingdom. The latter has previously provided Ukraine with artillery systems of this type.

The proposal to provide the 11th package of military aid to Ukraine was included in additional amendments to the Swedish budget for 2023.

As Ukrinform reported, on February 8, the Swedish parliament approved the changes to the state budget. Thus, a record military aid of SEK 4.3 billion (about $406 million) will be provided to Ukraine.
The heads of the Ukrainian and Moldovan border and customs agencies have signed a protocol on the organization of joint control at the Serpneve-1  Basarabeasca railway checkpoint.

That's according to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, Ukrinform reports.

"Today is an important stage in strengthening relations between our countries. The implementation of the concept of joint control at the railway crossing point will not only intensify trade and economic activity between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, but will also strengthen our cooperation in the area of border management," said Serhii Deineko, head of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service.

Serhii Zviahintsev, acting head of the Ukrainian State Customs Service, in turn, said the work was primarily focused on making services convenient for citizens and businesses. "We see here great opportunities for expanding our export potential and the transit opportunities of Moldova. In the future, after our victory, this will contribute to the expansion of the export of Moldovan enterprises to foreign markets using the logistics of the ports of the Odesa region. This will also serve in the future as an impetus for the growth of investments from the point of view of business, the development of transit potential and logistics routes," Zviahintsev added.

Ukrainian and Moldovan border guards and customs officers agreed to launch joint border control within the next few days.

During the meeting, the parties also said the development of joint control led to positive changes, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of transit operations, improving the level of security at the border and contributing to the European development of Ukraine and Moldova.
Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleh Nemchinov discussed the issue of Ukraines restoration at a meeting with Minister for Transport of the Republic of Latvia Janis Vitenbergs.

Nemchinov noted that today, more than ever, Ukraine needed the support of international partners, in particular financial, in the framework of the preparation and implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects for the restoration of the transport system.

"That is why we are interested in the development of bilateral transport and logistics cooperation... We thank Latvia for its support in extending the EUUkraine agreement on motor freight transportation which at a critical moment prevented the termination of trade between countries and also allowed to provide Ukraine and the world with everything necessary, which is so important in the conditions of the Russian war in Ukraine," Nemchinov posted on Telegram.

The minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine also met with Minister for Climate and Energy of the Republic of Latvia Raimonds Cudars. The parties discussed the possibilities of cooperation between the energy companies of the two countries.

As noted, the government and state-owned energy companies of Latvia provided Ukraine with the necessary equipment in a timely manner amid Russias constant strikes on the energy infrastructure.

Nemchinov underscored that Ukraine was already planning the post-war reconstruction of the energy sector amid the ongoing war. In this context, our country relies on international support as the main goal is to gain the best global experience and apply innovations and know-how in domestic energy.

Ukraine is determined to expand cooperation in the field of cyber security of critical energy infrastructure facilities, Nemchinov noted.

According to him, Ukraine sees Latvia as a reliable partner for the implementation of all ambitious energy efficiency and climate goals and hopes for the further implementation of joint successful projects to ensure the sustainable development of both countries.
The Negmar Cicek departs from the port of Chornomorsk. It will deliver 30,000 tonnes of wheat to Yemen as part of humanitarian aid.

Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi stated this at a briefing in the port of Chornomorsk, Ukrinform reports.

"I would like to thank the United States, Spain, and France for supporting this initiative. It is for their money that today's ship is being sent. I am also grateful to the professional team of the World Food Programme," Solskyi said.

The minister added that the Grain from Ukraine program is operating on a permanent basis. Now, vessels leave Odesa ports every month.

According to Solskyi, the Grain from Ukraine is important for many reasons.

"First of all, this is an important humanitarian mission that supports the world countries in such a difficult time. The second aspect is about the possibility of continuing the grain initiative," he said.

Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi with Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Ambassador of Spain to Ukraine Ricardo Lopez-Aranda Jagu, Deputy Chief of Mission (French embassy in Ukraine) Benjamin Roehrig, and Deputy Director of the World Food Program in Ukraine Marianne Ward visited the Chornomorsk port on March 24, where the Negmar Cicek is preparing to depart for Yemen.

As reported, 43 countries have already joined the Grain from Ukraine program.

Photos: Nina Liashonok, Ukrinform
The EU and its partners should use all levers to force Russia to end the war, such as political pressure and sanctions against Russia, military assistance to Ukraine, etc. This will be among the key topics at the EU summit.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated this in Brussels before the meeting of EU heads of state and government, Ukrinform reports.

The Prime Minister of Estonia called for using all available levers (political pressure and isolation, economic sanctions, etc.) to pressure Russia to end the war. The war will end when Russia realizes that it was a mistake.

She thanked the leaders of the member states, the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, and the EU High Representative for the decision to urgently supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Just five weeks ago, the Prime Minister of Estonia submitted such a proposal for consideration, and a decision has already been made.

According to Kallas, the decision to supply a million artillery shells to Ukraine is a positive one. This is a significant amount. It needs to be done in a short period of time, within one year. Whether that will be enough or not depends on how the war goes and how long it lasts. It is critically important to send ammunition to Ukraine quickly. It can bring changes to the war, Estonian Prime Minister emphasized.

Kallas says it is necessary to act in both directions (send ammunition to Ukraine and replenish European stockpiles). This should be done simultaneously. But it is better to send first and then replenish. Joint purchase of ammunition is planned. Therefore, the European defense industry can double its production, the Estonian official added.

A question was asked about the possibility of China intervening in the war on Russia's side. Answering journalists, the Prime Minister of Estonia expressed hope that China would abide by its international obligations and defend the UN Charter.

It is important that China also respects international rules and the UN Charter, according to which no country can attack another country. If a country is attacked, it has the right to defend itself. Therefore, it is an expression of respect for the UN Charter to send arms to a defending country. At the same time, supporting an aggressor is the opposite. Thus, there is an aggressor and a victim of aggression in this situation, Kallas noted.

She emphasized that any war ends in peace negotiations. But the question is when and under what conditions such negotiations are possible.

In this case, there is one aggressor and one victim. This means that Russia must return to its borders and agree to pay reparations, Estonian Prime Minister expressed her conviction.

As reported, a two-day EU summit begins in Brussels on March 23. The first issue on the agenda will be the situation in Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will address the summit via teleconference.

Other issues to be considered by EU leaders will be the sustainability of EUs Single Market, economy, financial stability, and ensuring EU competitiveness.

Photo: Government Office
The leaders of the European Union supported the initiative to create a legal mechanism to prosecute the Russian political leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

The European Union is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, including through the establishment of an appropriate mechanism for the prosecution of the crime of aggression, which is of concern to the international community as a whole. In this context, the European Council welcomes the agreement to create the new International Centre for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) in The Hague, which will be linked to the existing Joint Investigation Team supported by Eurojust, reads the European Councils conclusions published on its website.

At the same time, the European Council reiterates its support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The European Council welcomes the upcoming negotiations on a new Convention on international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other international crimes.

As reported, European Union leaders are meeting for a two-day summit in Brussels. The situation in Ukraine was the first issue on agenda. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the EU heads of state and government via video link.
When CPH:DOX shifted from a fall festival to a spring-based fest in 2017, it got out of IDFAs shadow and grew into one of the most influential documentary events of the year.

It made a big jump in prominence when it moved to March because it fit into the calendar in a more exciting way for a lot of documentary stakeholders, Thom Powers, lead documentary programmer for Toronto Film Festival, says. It became a great place for films coming out of Sundance to have a European launch. Its also become a very significant place for films to make world premieres near the beginning of the year, which can then send them on a circuit, traveling to other festivals like Hot Docs or DOC NYC.

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Now in its 20th year, CPH:DOX is among the largest documentary film festivals in the world. This years lineup includes 200 docus, more than half of which are making world premieres. There are 61 competition titles in five international competitions, and for the first time in the fests history, all 13 films competing for the top Dox:Award are world premieres.

For 13 years, CPH:DOX took place in November in the weeks before IDFA, but in 2015 as international industry attendance expanded their presence at the all-doc fest, the decision was made to create more space to, as former Copenhagen Film Festival CEO Steffen Andersen-Mller, put it, unfold CPH:DOXs potential.

Ideally, (the date change) will ensure that CPH:DOX opens the year, and IDFA closes it, Andersen-Mller said in 2015.

Margreth Olins Songs of Earth competes for the fests top prize, the Dox:Award

According to producer Julie Goldman, thats precisely what happened.

IDFA and CPH:DOX are wonderfully complementary, she says. They are both these very substantial and influential doc-driven festivals at the beginning and end of the year.

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Goldman, a two-time Oscar nominee who founded Motto Pictures, has three films at CPH:DOX this year: Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudanos Love to Love You, Donna Summer, Maite Alberdis The Eternal Memory, and Nancy Schwartzmans Victim/Suspect.

Eternal Memory and Victim/Suspect premiered at Sundance in January.

Its a wonderful next stop for both films, Goldman says. Its a first look for international audiences.

Powers, who will be at CPH:DOX to host the fests Morning with Filmmakers series, adds: Since the beginning of CPH, they have made a real effort to bring international decision-makers from the worlds of distribution and festival programming. So its a place more than some other European documentary festivals, where filmmakers have a chance to really propel their career in different ways.

Despite the fests growth, it remains a unique, community-based affair known for its enthusiastic audiences and upbeat vibes. Its also a festival that doesnt fear the nonfiction genres continual evolution of form.

Eat Bitter, directed by Ningyi Sun and Pascale Appora-Gnekindy, plays in the Dox:Award section

CPH is a very curious festival, says artistic director of CPH:DOX Niklas Engstrom. For a while, we were boxed in as this crazy festival in Copenhagen focusing mostly on hybrid films. Of course, that is part of the festivals history, and those types of films are still super interesting to us because they try to expand on the notion of what documentary is. But Engstrom explains that in addition to the experimental, CPH:DOX programmers are also drawn to a wide variety of docus, including straightforward investigative journalistic projects.

The overall mission of CPH, Engstrom says, is to expand on what documentary is and can be.

The CPH:FORUM, which will feature 34 international projects, is a prime example of that mission. Film financiers from around the world and top representatives from streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon all descend on Copenhagen to attend the annual four-day event.

Fifth Seasons Blake Levin and Ariel Richter will be at there looking for docus to finance, equity finance, and/or partner on. Richter credits Tereza Simikova, head of industry and training at CPH:DOX, for making the FORUM stand out.

One of the great things that Tereza does is that she recognizes what company mandates are and recommends which projects you should meet, says Richter. Its very hard to try to connect sales agents and buyers with a curated list of projects. It takes time, and a lot of thoughtfulness, and she does it. Last year, everything she told us to focus on, we were interested in.

Levin adds: We are an independent film and television studio. Global storytelling and great storytelling are our mandates. Thats our interest in being able to go to CPH:DOX. Someone who can bridge the gap for us like Tereza and the festival is super valuable.

Opal H. Bennett, co-producer for POV had heard plenty of chatter about CPH:FORUM over the years but never attended. This year she made the fest a priority.

The feedback was you need to be there, Bennett says. Special things are happening there. There are special conversations going on. Its really well curated. So I booked my flight.

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| By Brittney Brookins

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law's Journal of Health Care Law & Policy and the University of Maryland School of Social Work hosted the Daniel Thursz Social Justice Lecture Series on March 16 to discuss the use of legal coercion to force compliance with mental health interventions across various areas including child welfare, families, and criminal legal systems.

The daylong symposium, titled Uneasy Alignments: The Mental Health Turn in the American Legal System, was held at Westminster Hall and the School of Social Work's Auditorium.

The Daniel Thursz Social Justice Lecture Series event was held March 16 at Westminster Hall (above) and the School of Social Work Auditorium.

The relationship between social workers and law enforcement is a complicated one. On the one hand, social workers are charged with providing support to vulnerable populations and advocating for their rights. On the other hand, law enforcement is responsible for upholding laws and ensuring public safety. Despite these contrasting goals, building a productive partnership between these two entities is critical to help protect individuals and ensure justice. Unfortunately, mental health interventions for individuals across multiple areas  including child welfare, families, and criminal legal systems  are often implemented through legal coercion. This approach is a delicate balance between affording people their rights and helping them to receive appropriate care and support.



Trauma-informed care (TIC) and therapeutic responses are two approaches that can significantly impact how mental health interventions are conducted. This type of care is essential for those dealing with the effects of trauma, such as individuals involved in the criminal legal system, children in foster care, and families suffering from serious mental health issues. During the symposium, panelists discussed the importance of trauma-informed care and therapeutic responses within these areas.

When we talk about the legal system and mental health, were talking about two diverse disciplines with different perspectives and understandings of the human experience, said Michael Sinclair, PhD, MSSW, associate professor, Morgan State University School of Social Work. Today, through our discussion, we work toward bridging that gap.

TIC is an approach to working with individuals while considering their trauma experiences. It involves understanding how trauma can affect a persons physical and emotional well-being, behavior, relationships, beliefs, and overall life circumstances. TIC also recognizes that many social systems are not designed to address the needs of those impacted by traumatic events or experiences.

When appropriately used within mental health interventions across various areas, including child welfare, families, and criminal legal systems, TIC can help support positive outcomes for those affected by trauma. Through this approach, interventions can be created focusing on building resiliency rather than only addressing symptoms or behaviors related to the traumatic event or experience.

Trauma has historically been illegitimized through the use of shame, said Shelly Wiechelt, PhD, MSW, chair and associate dean, University of Maryland, Baltimore County School of Social Work. As a society, we must work toward creating a trauma-informed system that includes safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment so that we dont retraumatize people who need help.

TIC and therapeutic responses provide powerful tools for practitioners working with individuals dealing with the effects of trauma across different areas, including child welfare, families, and criminal legal systems. When appropriately implemented, these approaches enable practitioners to understand the needs of their clients better while developing tailored treatments aimed at building resilience rather than simply managing symptoms or behaviors associated with past traumas or adverse events.

Here is a list of panelists and moderators who led this conversation:

Moderators

Richard Boldt, JD , Carroll Brown Professor of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

, Carroll Brown Professor of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Korey Johnson, JD , PhD Student, Morgan State University

, PhD Student, Morgan State University Hope Randolph , Student, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, and chair, Journal of Health Care Law and Policy Symposium

, Student, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, and chair, Journal of Health Care Law and Policy Symposium Corey Shdaimah, PhD, LLM, Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice, University of Maryland School of Social Work

Panelists
In previous droughts, we would move to nearby towns and go back when the rains come, but this drought is the worst we have ever seen. We walked for eight days to reach here. There was nothing to feed my children. They would cry and cry and cry. At some point, I thought of taking my own life instead of watching them die of hunger in front of me.
At the start of the holy month of Ramadan, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is launching its 5th Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report, which shows the power and growing potential of Islamic giving to save lives and build better futures for the forcibly displaced globally.

The report shows that since UNHCRs Refugee Zakat Fund was piloted in 2017, 6 million forcibly displaced people in 26 countries have benefitted from Zakat (obligatory almsgiving) and Sadaqah (voluntary charity) funds.

Through the Refugee Zakat Fund, last year UNHCR received more than US$21.3 million in Zakat contributions (including $137,000 as Zakat al Fitr  small obligatory donations) and over $16.7 million in Sadaqah donations (including $398,000 as Sadaqah Jariyah  voluntary contributions).

While this is a small proportion of UNHCRs global expenditure, its importance and impact on the displaced is growing, contributing to progress in several Sustainable Development Goals, notably around ending poverty and hunger while improving education and well-being.

In 2022, the Refugee Zakat Fund enabled UNHCR to improve the lives of more than 1.5 million people in 21 countries, with Zakat and Sadaqah funds. Zakat contributions enabled UNHCR to assist more than 756,000 refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in 17 countries. Sadaqah donations meant UNHCR assisted more than 839,000 people in 15 countries.

Since 2017, UNHCRs main recipient operations have been Bangladesh (Rohingya), Yemen (IDPs), and Lebanon (Syrian refugees). Zakat contributions were distributed last year through Zakat-compliant cash assistance and direct provision of goods. Cash assistance was provided to refugees in Algeria, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, and Tunisia, as well as to IDPs in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen. Goods, such as hygiene and shelter kits, medicines, and livelihood kits were provided to refugees in Bangladesh, India, and Iran, and for internally displaced people in Nigeria.

In 2022, the Global Islamic Fund for Refugees (GIFR), a new Islamic Philanthropy initiative, was launched by UNHCR with the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the poverty alleviation arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Once operational, this financing tool will include Waqf (endowment) and non-Waqf accounts, aiming to invest donor contributions and use the proceeds to provide developmental and humanitarian assistance to those impacted by displacement crises.

UNHCRs Refugee Zakat Fund has been endorsed by several legal Islamic scholars and institutions to receive and distribute Zakat contributions to eligible refugees and internally displaced people. In 2022, UNHCR received additional fatwas from the Fiqh Majlis of Canada, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department of Dubai, the Tri-State Imams Council (USA), and the Supreme Council of Imams and Islamic Affairs of Brazil, further authorizing UNHCR to receive and distribute Zakat to eligible refugees and IDPs through the Refugee Zakat Fund.

Islamic philanthropy funds are channeled to eligible displaced individuals identified through every operations vulnerability assessment criteria, giving UNHCR operations the opportunity to assist the most vulnerable people. UNHCRs due diligence policy applies to Islamic philanthropy partners.

Additional resources and useful links:

UNHCRs Ramadan Campaign

UNHCRs Refugee Zakat Fund

For more information, please contact:
NEW GLASGOW, NS, March 23, 2023 /CNW/ - Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust ("Crombie" or the "REIT") (TSX: CRR.UN), announced today that it entered into an agreement to issue $200 million aggregate principal amount of Series K Senior Unsecured Notes maturing September 28, 2029 (the "Series K Notes"). The Series K Notes will bear interest at a rate of 5.244% per annum.

Crombie REIT logo (CNW Group/Crombie REIT)

The Series K Notes are being offered with a syndicate of agents, co-led by TD Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and including CIBC World Markets Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., and RBC Dominion Securities Inc., to sell, on a best effort, private placement basis.

Net proceeds from the Series K Notes offering will be used to repay the $150 million drawn on the unsecured non-revolving bank loan and certain indebtedness outstanding on Crombie's revolving credit facilities and for general trust purposes.

The offering is expected to close on or about March 28, 2023 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of necessary consents and approvals and the Series K Notes receiving a rating of at least BBB(low) with a stable trend from DBRS.

The Series K Notes will be sold in Canada on a private placement basis pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions. The offer and sale of the Series K Notes will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any state securities laws, and the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this press release.

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About Crombie REIT

Crombie invests in real estate that enriches local communities and enables long-term sustainable growth. As one of the country's leading owners, operators, and developers of quality real estate, Crombie's portfolio primarily includes grocery-anchored retail, retail-related industrial, and mixed-used residential properties in Canada's top urban and suburban markets. As at December 31, 2022, our portfolio contains 289 income-producing properties comprising approximately 18.4 million square feet, and a significant pipeline of future development projects. Learn more at www.crombie.ca.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the current expectations of management of Crombie about Crombie's future results, performance, achievements, prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "continue", "may", "will", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management of Crombie, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the expected amount and timing of the offering which remains subject to the sale by the agents and may be impacted by market conditions. There is no assurance that the offering will be completed.

Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Crombie can give no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. A number of factors, including those discussed in the Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2021 under "Risks", could cause actual results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and a reader should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the expectations of management of Crombie will prove to be correct.

SOURCE Crombie REIT

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2023/23/c2943.html
Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

The dermal filler market is expected to experience strong growth over the next decade, driven by increasing consumer demand, technological advancements, and expanding applications in the cosmetic industry. The dermal filler market is expected to experience strong growth over the next decade, driven by increasing consumer demand, technological advancements, and expanding applications in the cosmetic industry

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global dermal fillers market is projected to create lucrative growth opportunities over the forecast period by exhibiting a CAGR of 7.5% from 2023 to 2033. The growth of the market is attributed to its rising utilization to rejuvenate different facial areas associated with various functionalities. The rising demand for facelifts or face line corrections in various emerging countries is enabling market growth.



Dermal fillers are injectable implants commonly used to give a flawless and rejuvenated facial appearance. In addition to this, it is often used as an anti-aging method for the reduction of wrinkles, and skin folds, and for smoothening the skin. Furthermore, diverse applications of dermal fillers are helping to improve an individuals appearance. These factors are likely to sustain the growth of the Dermal Fillers market.

Get a holistic overview of the market from industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5699

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the market for various applications, including restoration and correction of lipoatrophy in people with HIV. Other applications of dermal fillers include correction of the cheek, reduction of acne scars, and reduction of nasolabial folds.

Compelling Market Trends

The cross-linked hyaluronic acid, derived from a non-animal source has been utilized for a long time and is proven to be safe and effective as a dermal filler. Some of the leading players have been launching novel formulations, which will enable growth in the dermal fillers market.

A significant surge in the demand for minimally invasive facial treatments has been gaining immense popularity over the assessment period. Furthermore, the growing preference for such minimally invasive cosmetic procedures has been favoring the overall expansion of the market.



An increasing number of manufacturers are heftily investing in research and development activities in order to develop new and innovative technologies in the field of cosmeticology. This is resulting in the advent of higher quality fillers that would be easier to use and would confer better satisfaction for patients.



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Growth Drivers

Across the globe, customers have been exhibiting a rising preference for minimally invasive procedures for improving their appearance. These procedures have witnessed the most significant increase including Botulinum Toxin Type A (increased by 3% over 2019), dermal filling with hyaluronic acid (increased by 1% over 2019), and non-surgical skin tightening experienced steady growth among others.

The majority of emerging countries are working on investing heftily in new and innovative technologies to offer high returns. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Brazil had the second largest number of cosmetic procedures with almost 2.3 million procedures conducted in 2018 followed by Mexico (1.0 million), India (0.89 million), and Argentina (0.60 million).

Restraints

High costs of dermal fillers are anticipated to restrain the growth of the global dermal fillers market over the assessment period. In addition to that, some adverse skin problems such as irritation and acne are likely to occur on sensitive skin during the procedure. These aforementioned factors are likely to create obstacles in market growth over the next decade.

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Competitive Landscape

Dominant market players operating in the global dermal fillers market are aiming at strategic collaborations and acquisitions with leading pharmaceutical companies to address the requirements of an expanding patient pool. Some of the companies are focusing on innovations and USFDA approvals to increase sales of dermal fillers market worldwide.

In Jan 2019, Suneva Medical signed collaborative agreements with Healeon Medical and Bimini Technologies intending to shape the future of the regenerative aesthetics sector and expand the sales of aesthetic products.

Some of the leading companies operating in the Dermal Fillers market are:

Galderma Pharma S.A

Sinclair Pharma plc

Zimmer Biomet Holdings

Allergan plc.

Anika Therapeutics Inc.

Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA

Suneva Medical Inc.

Teoxane Laboratories Inc.

Prollenium Medical Technologies Inc.

Laboratoires Vivacy SAS

Fidia Pharma USA Inc.



Key Segments

Product:

Absorbable

Non-Absorbable

Ingredient:

Hyaluronic Acid

Poly-L-Lactic Acid

Calcium Hydroxylapatite

Polymethyl methacrylate

Collagen



Application:

Aesthetic Restoration

Dentistry

Reconstructive Surgery



Distribution Channel:

Retail Pharmacies and Drug Stores

Clinics and Hospital Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies



Get Access Full Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/dermal-fillers-market

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Key Trends Impacting The Market

1.3. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

2.3. Inclusions and Exclusions

Read More TOC..

Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage On Healthcare Domain:

Non-Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler Market Size : The market for non-hyaluronic acid dermal fillers is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2022 to 2032, reaching US$ 520.4 million in 2032 from an estimated US$ 392.7 million in 2022.

Teledermatology Market Demand : Dermatology is the field of medicine concerned with the skin, hair, nails and their diseases. It is a speciality dealing with both the medical & surgical aspects.

Dermal Fillers and Botulinum Toxin Market Share : By the end of 2022, the market for dermal fillers and botulinum toxin is anticipated to be worth US$ 5.9 billion, and it will continue to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2022 to 2032.

Dermatology Devices Market Opportunity : The market for dermatology devices was valued at US$ 4.6 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% to US$ 9.3 billion by the end of 2032.

Dermatology Cryosurgery Units Market Growth : Dermatology cryosurgery unit sales are anticipated to increase from US$ 145.8 Million in 2022 to US$ 305.7 Million by 2032. The predicted CAGR from 2022 to 2032 is 7%, compared to a value of 6.4% from 2016 to 21.

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March 24 2023

A position paper setting out a nine-point plan to end public-private partnerships (PPP) has been brought before the Scottish Parliament by Jubilee Scotland, a non-profit coalition campaigning to end 'debt slavery'.

A constant presence in procurement since their introduction in the 1990s campaigners argue that the time is right to agree on an alternative vision of how public services and infrastructure can be delivered that prioritises wellbeing over profit.

Birthing an alphabet soup of funding models including PFI, NPD, Hub and MIM, the PPP programme has been criticised for saddling the government with long-term debt in return for immediate funding to design, build, finance and operate public works. Hamstrung by capital grants and borrowing limits successive politicians have turned to PPP as the only way to fund costly public works, by drawing upfront capital costs from the private sector in exchange for long-term liabilities.

Setting out alternative procurement methods the grouping, which includes Malcolm Fraser of Fraser/Livingstone Architects and Common Weal, the pro-independence think tank, is seeking cross-party support for a nine-point action plan that includes higher borrowing limits.

Fraser said: "I have been campaigning against PPP  Scotlands ruinous Private Finance policies for public buildings  since I resigned from A+DS in 2006. Most recently I have been working with partners at Jubilee Scotland, the Common Weal, the European Services Strategy Unit and statisticians to critique the current malaise and set out a path to prudential Public Funding that uses the existing Learning Estate Investment Programme 'LEIP' public finance and other levers as a route forward.

"I have sought to make clear that this is not just an issue of financial propriety, but that a proper public route should lead to more responsible public buildings and infrastructure, with the issues of carbon, retrofit, placemaking and health and wellbeing that architects are natural leaders in, at their hearts."

The below recommendations will be put before future working groups to move towards this goal:
March 24 2023

Queen Margaret University has filed detailed plans for a dedicated innovation hub to anchor a huge new campus at Craighall, adjacent to the university's Edinburgh home.

East Lothian Council is being asked to consider plans by Oberlanders for the flagship build, intended to support and nurture food and drink businesses in the city region.

Combining research laboratories and office space the hub aims to encourage further expansion of the fast-growing sector.

Sir Paul Grice, principal of Queen Margaret University, said: The Hub will support research, innovation and growth, particularly in the food and drink sector, which is hugely important for East Lothian, building on its title of Scotlands food & drink county."

Craighall will eventually be home to a mixed-use development comprising homes, a primary school, commercial activities and community assets.
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Mar, 2023 ) :US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday there were no plans to remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move made by his predecessor days before leaving.

"We are not planning to remove them from the list," Blinken said at the House Foreign Affairs Committee after a question from a lawmaker of the rival Republican Party.

"If there is to be such a review, it will be based on the law and based on the criteria in the law established by Congress," Blinken said. "It's a very high bar." Blinken's Republican predecessor Mike Pompeo in January 2021 abruptly returned Cuba to the state sponsor of terrorism list, which severely hampers foreign investment as companies risk legal consequences in the United States.

The move capped efforts by then president Donald Trump to reverse a normalization bid with the communist island and longtime adversary launched by his predecessor Barack Obama.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Blinken's remarks were no surprise.

"Secretary Blinken confirms the obvious: the current US administration never intended to rescind Trump's unjust designation of #Cuba as a State sponsor of terrorism, because this was not convenient to its criminal economic suffocation policy," Rodriguez tweeted.

President Joe Biden, who was Obama's vice president, has mostly kept in place Trump's policies on Cuba and took further action after a crackdown on rare protests.

Some pundits have attributed his stance to concerns about the Republicans' inroads among Hispanic voters, especially in the key electoral state of Florida.

Iran, North Korea and Syria are the only other countries on the terror list.

In making his decision, Pompeo did not link Cuba to any recent terrorist actions but pointed to Havana's refusal to extradite leaders of Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) to the then right-wing government in Bogota.

Colombia, now led by its first leftist president, Gustavo Petro, has resumed talks with the ELN and agreed to recognize the group as a political organization.
Beijing, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Mar, 2023 ) :Beijing said on Friday that it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas, as Chinese-owned TikTok faces calls for a ban in the United States.

China "has never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law", foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

The Chinese government "attaches great importance to protecting data privacy", she said.
(@FahadShabbir)

Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Mar, 2023 ) :Leading glaciologist Claude Lorius, whose Antarctica discoveries in the 1980s helped prove humanity's role in global warming, has died at 91.

Lorius died on Tuesday morning in the French region of Burgundy, according to Jerome Chappellaz, a palaeoclimatologist and former colleague of his.

The French publisher Arthaud, which produced the glaciologist's memoirs, also announced his death in a statement.

A great scientist, "Claude was also of the finest calibre of polar expedition adventurers", said the famous French explorer Jean-Louis Etienne in a video posted on Twitter.

In 1955, fresh out of university, Lorius responded to an obscure advert to partake in a mission for the International Geophysical Year -- a global research program dedicated to revealing the icy continent's mysteries.

After two months of sailing and four weeks of traversing rough terrain, Lorius reached the Antarctica Charcot base, 320 kilometres (200 miles) inland.

"I did not choose science, I chose adventure," said the pioneering climatologist, born in 1932, in a past interview with AFP.

"We were extraordinarily lucky since Antarctica is the best place to bear witness to the planet's environmental problems" said Lorius.

He and two others stayed there for a year, confined to a cramped "burrow" with limited supplies and a faulty radio for communication, with temperatures at -40 degrees Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit) outside.

"We were cut off from the rest of the world for months, that's when I learned how to live together and how to show solidarity," he said.

- Ice cube inspiration - Claude Lorius led 22 expeditions in Greenland and Antarctica, where he lived on and off for six years.

In the 1970s, Lorius began to suspect human involvement in the planet's warming.

But it wasn't until a 1984 expedition at the most remote Russian Antarctic base, Vostok, that Lorius was able to study ice cores drilled deep into the frozen polar landscape and confirm his suspicions.

He is perhaps most internationally renowned for research, published in 1987, into air bubbles trapped in the ice, which allowed scientists to look back over 160,000 years' worth of glacial records.

In 1965, an ice cube snatched from a sample core and submerged in his whiskey provided Lorius with a revelation: the ice contained air bubbles full of ancient air.

"I remember looking at the blue colour of the little ice cubes melting in the glass and as I saw the bubbles rise," said Lorius in an interview with the Independent newspaper in 2016.

"I realised the scientific potential of analysing the trapped air." This research showed that while carbon dioxide had varied slightly over time, the concentrations of the greenhouse gas had rocketed as temperatures rose since the middle of the 19th century -- the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

French research agency CNRS said that left "no room for doubt" that the warming was caused by the pollution from human activities.

From then on, Lorius dedicated himself to mobilising the fight against global warming.

He was an inaugural expert of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) after the UN expert group was created in 1988.

In 2002, along with colleague and friend Jean Jouzel, he was awarded the CNRS gold medal.

Lorius was also the first Frenchmen to receive the prestigious Blue Planet prize.

Lorius returned to Antarctica in his eighties to feature in director Luc Jacquet's documentary "Ice and the Sky" showcasing the explorer's extraordinary career. The film premiered at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

lp/jj/fb
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Mar, 2023 ) :New evidence that raccoon dogs were at the Chinese market where Covid is suspected to have first infected humans has reignited debate over the origin of the pandemic.

The researchers who unexpectedly stumbled over the genetic data say that it supports -- but cannot definitively prove -- the theory that the virus originated in animals, possibly first jumping over to humans at the market in the city of Wuhan.

The issue has proved divisive for the scientific community and even different US government agencies, with some maintaining that the virus likely leaked from a Wuhan lab -- a claim that China has angrily denied.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's technical lead on Covid, said the new data "doesn't give us the answer of how the pandemic began, but it does provide more clues".

The data comes from swabs collected by a Chinese team in January and February 2020 at the Huanan Seafood Market, the site of one of the earliest Covid clusters, before it was shut down and cleared of animals.

International researchers including Florence Debarre, an evolutionary biologist at France's CNRS research agency, were surprised to come across the data on the GISAID global science database earlier this month.

They managed to download the data before it was removed from GISAID at the request of the Chinese researchers who first posted it.

Debarre and colleagues informed the WHO about their discovery last week, when some media outlets started reporting on the data's existence.
ReportLinker

Segmented by Treatment Type (Chest Pain, Headache, Fever, Pneumonia, Hypertension, Fatigue, Sleep Problems), By Usability (Physical Health Disorders, Mental Health Disorders), By End Use (Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Others), By Region and Competition.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Differential Diagnostics Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435438/?utm_source=GNW



Global Differential Diagnostics Market is anticipated to witness a growth of steady CAGR in the forecast period, 2024-2028.This can be ascribed to the increasing prevalence of various types of diseases such as influenza, COVID diseases, cardiac diseases, and infectious diseases across the globe.



Also, the growing accessibility of point-of-care testing products through online platforms will drive the growth of the market in the forecast period.Similarly, growing healthcare decentralization and high investments and funding for project development are expected to enhance the growth of the differential diagnostic market in the coming years.



The availability of affordable diagnostic tests for chronic illness in the developing region is anticipated to propel the growth of the market. In January 2022, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted provisional approval for Novavaxs COVID-19 vaccine branded as Nuvaxovid for use in Australia.



Rising the Diagnostic Tests

Due to the growing number of diagnostic tests, people are demanding the best diagnostic test which will easily detect diseases and is anticipated to boost the growth of the market during the forecasted period.Diagnostic tests are performed in a private or public laboratory with appropriate equipment and sometimes expensive instrumentation and staffed with trained and qualified personnel.



Growing demand for point-of-care testing which occurs at the nearest site of patient care is sought in the field of infectious bacterial diagnostics to allow the care team to receive more results quickly and make immediate and informed management decisions.For molecular diagnosis, different types of diseases can be detected by using challenging differential diagnosis.



Governments and different organizations are investing for research and development purposes in the healthcare sector which is a major factor in driving the growth of the differential diagnostics market during the forecasted period. In 2021, according to the National Aids Control Organization (NACO), approximately 2.40 million people in India were infected with HIV. Of the total HIV-infected population 45% were women and 2% were below 12. Also, a growing number of clinics will enhance the demand for differential diagnostic tests market over the years. According to the Non-communicable Diseases Key Facts published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2021, chronic diseases kill around 41 million people each year, which is equivalent to 71% of all deaths worldwide.

Growing Technological Advancements

Growing advancements in diagnostic technology helped physicians to evaluate processes and events in real time.The clinical application of advances in physics and mathematics resulted in the development of diagnostic tools.



These developments help physicians to get more accurate, less invasive, and less expensive which will boost the market growth during the forecasted years.Also, the growing demand for diagnostic kits for at-home usage has resulted in technical developments which are expected to create significant growth in the forecast period.



Leica Microsystems, a Danaher subsidiary, declared the debut of STELLARIS, the companys flagship platform for its revolutionary confocal microscope, in April 2020. This platform allows the viewing of live tissues and cells in three dimensions.



Market Segmentation

Global Differential Diagnostics Market is segmented into treatment type, usability, end use, and by region.Based on treatment type, the market can be segmented into Chest Pain, Headache, Fever, Pneumonia, Hypertension, Fatigue, and Sleep Problems.



Based on Usability, the market can be segmented into Systems, Kits, Assays, Reagents, and Consumables.Based on end use, the market can be differentiated into Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, and Others.



Regionally, North America dominates the market among Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America.In terms of country, the United States region is dominating the overall globe in the differential diagnostics market.



According to CDC in 2020, 79,611,982 people tested for COVID-19 in the United States. This can be ascribed to the increasingly cost-effective covid-19 testing technology in the healthcare sector.

Recent Development

 In January 2021, Roche introduced its Cobas Pulse System in a few nations that accepted the CE Mark. The item is a networked point-of-care solution from Roche Diagnostics most recent generation. The most recent release provides expert blood glucose management.

 In September 2021, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics announced that Immediate Spin Crossmatch (ISXM), a tool for identifying recipient and donor incompatibility in blood transfusions, will be made available on the companys Ortho Vision and Ortho Vision Max Analyzers.

Market Players

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Hologic, Inc., Quidel Corporation., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Abbott Laboratories, Inc, Danaher Corporation, Meridian Bioscience Inc., GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., Sekisui Diagnostics Co., Ltd., Luminex Corporation. are some of the leading players operating in the Global Differential Diagnostics Market.



Report Scope:



In this report, Global Differential Diagnostics market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

 Differential Diagnostics Market, By Treatment Type:

o Chest Pain

o Headache

o Fever

o Pneumonia

o Hypertension

o Fatigue

o Sleep Problems

 Differential Diagnostics Market, By Usability:

o Physical Health Disorders

o Mental Health Disorders

 Differential Diagnostics Market, By End Use:

o Hospitals

o Diagnostic Centers

o Others

 Differential Diagnostics Market, By Region:

o North America

United States

Mexico

Canada

o Europe

France

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

o Asia Pacific

China

India

South Korea

Japan

Australia

o South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

o Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Egypt

Turkey



Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Global Differential Diagnostics Market.



Available Customizations:



With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435438/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Friday extended protective bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in five cases registered under terrorism charges by Islamabad police till March 27

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Mar, 2023 ) :A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Friday extended protective bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in five cases registered under terrorism charges by Islamabad police till March 27.

The division bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwaar Hussain heard the petitions filed by the PTI chairman for extension in protective bail.

The PTI Chairman Imran Khan also appeared before the bench during the proceedings.

Imran's counsel had argued before the bench that his client had filed bail petitions before the trial court in cases but he could not reach the courtroom due to law and order situation on March 18.

He pleaded with the court to grant extension in protective bail to enable his client to appear before the court concerned.

On March 17, the LHC had granted protective bail to Imran Khan till March 24 in two cases registered at Ramna Police Station, Islamabad, two cases registered at Khana Police Station, Islamabad, and one case registered at Bhara Kahu Police Station Islamabad.
(@FahadShabbir)

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday said President Dr Arif Alvi should "work in the constitutional domain" and better write a letter to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan to return 190 million pounds to the national exchequer

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Mar, 2023 ) :Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday said President Dr Arif Alvi should "work in the constitutional domain" and better write a letter to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan to return 190 million Pounds to the national exchequer.

He should also seek answer from the PTI chief for "acts of terrorism", besides "accepting Tyrian as his daughter" and facing the Toshakhana and foreign funding cases in courts, he said while reacting to a letter written by President Alvi to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The minister said the president should not " act on the orders of Imran Khan and becomes his puppet". But unfortunately, "a person breaking the Constitution and law had been appointed to the constitutional position", he added.

He said the question arose why President Alvi did not act over violation of human rights when a person was arrested in a fake case of 15 kg of heroin.

Whether putting the opposition leader, and the sisters and daughters of political opponents in death cells were not the violation of human rights, he further questioned.

Rana Sanaullah said journalists were tortured during the Imran Khan-led government, which was also the sheer violation of human rights but the president remained silent at that time.

Similarly, he also questioned the president's silence over human rights violations of policemen, who were targeted with petrol bombs, grenades and slingshots.
The next Russian manned spacecraft, Soyuz MS-24, will depart with a crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on September 15, Roscosmos told reporters on Friday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th March, 2023) The next Russian manned spacecraft, Soyuz MS-24, will depart with a crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on September 15, Roscosmos told reporters on Friday.

"The Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft with Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara should fly to the station on September 15. Landing of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft with Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and Francisco Rubio is scheduled for September 27," the Russian state corporation said.

The decision on the flight was made at a meeting of the state commission on Friday. The issue of an updated flight program for the Russian segment of the ISS in 2023 was considered at it.

In addition, the launches of Progress MS-23 and Progress MS-24 cargo spacecraft are expected on May 24 and August 23, Roscosmos said.

On April 6, cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev will manually dock the Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft from the Poisk small research module to the Prichal hub module.

Together with Prokopyev, members of his crew, Roscosmos cosmonaut Dmitry Petelin and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio, will be in the spacecraft during the move.

The re-docking of the Soyuz MS-23, as Roscosmos explained, is needed to ensure the safety of spacewalks under the Russian program from the Poisk module.

Initially, the flight of Kononenko, Chub and O'Hara was planned for March 16, 2023, on the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft. However, their spacecraft had to be sent earlier in an unmanned mode, so that it would replace the Soyuz MS-22 with a faulty cooling system of the previous crew on the ISS. Now, the seats from Soyuz MS-22 have been transferred and installed in Soyuz MS-23. It was reported that the return of the Soyuz MS-23 would take place on September 27, and the flight of the Soyuz MS-24 was also postponed to September.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th March, 2023) The Danish Energy Agency has invited the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, to take part in an operation to recover an object found near the gas pipeline.

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that during a survey of the gas pipeline, Gazprom experts had found a certain "column" at a distance of about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the site of the explosion. It was installed in a vulnerable place, at the junction of pipes. The object could be an antenna for receiving a signal to set off an explosive device laid under the pipeline system, Putin noted.

"Relevant Danish authorities have examined the object that has been observed by the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea. It remains the assessment that the object does not pose an immediate safety risk. With a view to further clarifying the nature of the object, Danish authorities have decided to salvage the object with assistance from the Danish Defence. The Danish Energy Agency has in that context invited the owner of the pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, to participate in the operation," the agency said in a statement.

The agency also attaches a photograph of the object and notes that it is cylindrical in shape, and is about 40 centimeters tall and 10 centimeters in diameter.

The statement added that it could be a sea smoke buoy.

The agency is awaiting a response from Nord Stream 2 AG before proceeding with the operation, the statement noted.

The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, have been out of action since they were hit by explosions last September. Nord Stream's operator, Nord Stream AG, said that the damage was unprecedented and it was impossible to estimate the time repairs might take.

Russia considers the explosions of the two pipelines an act of international terrorism. The official results of the investigation are not out yet, but Pulitzer Prize-winning US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a report in February, which pointed to the US and Norway as the culprits. According to the report, US navy divers planted explosives to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines during NATO Baltops exercises in the summer of 2022, and Norway activated them three months later. The report added that US President Joe Biden had decided to sabotage the Nord Streams after more than nine months of secret discussions with the national security team.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th March, 2023) Estonia has declared another Russian diplomat persona non grata and ordered this person out of the country by March 29, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"Today, on March 24, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires of the Russian Embassy and submitted a diplomatic note declaring a diplomatic officer of the embassy persona non grata.

The activities of the person in question violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, (this person) must leave Estonia by March 29," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian diplomat is accused of participating in "undermining security" and "constitutional order" in Estonia, allegedly by spreading propaganda, the statement read.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit China in early April together with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said on Friday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th March, 2023) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit China in early April together with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said on Friday.

"President @vonderleyen will give a speech to @merics_eu (the Mercator Institute for China Studies) and @epc_eu (the European Policy Centre) on EU-China relations next Thursday. She will then travel to China with French President @EmmanuelMacron the following week," Mamer tweeted.

The spokesman added that details of the trip and its program would be announced later.

Earlier in the day, Macron stated after the EU summit in Brussels that he had invited von der Leyen to accompany him on his official visit to China.

It will be von der Leyen's first trip to Beijing as the European Commission chief.

The last meeting in a similar format took place in Paris in 2019 when Macron together with von der Leyen's predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The announcement of the visit came shortly after Xi's trip to Russia, during which he had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders signed a joint statement on a plan to develop key areas of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation by 2030 and discussed a number of issues, including the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine has implemented in a "satisfactory manner" 15 of the 31 recommendations given by the Council of Europe on combating corruption, with seven more remaining not implemented at all, according to a report by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th March, 2023) Ukraine has implemented in a "satisfactory manner" 15 of the 31 recommendations given by the Council of Europe on combating corruption, with seven more remaining not implemented at all, according to a report by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).

"GRECO concludes that Ukraine has implemented satisfactorily or dealt with in a satisfactory manner fifteen out of the thirty-one recommendations contained in the Fourth Round Evaluation Report. Of the remaining recommendations, nine have been partly implemented and seven have not been implemented," the group said in the report.

GRECO said that it welcomed the progress reported by the Ukrainian government on a number of anti-corruption measures, adding that the country's current level of compliance with the recommendations was no longer "globally unsatisfactory," which was stated in the previous report.

At the same time, the group requested Ukrainian authorities to provide a report on the action taken to implement "the outstanding recommendations" by March 31, 2024.

The recommendations that remain not implemented by Kiev include the establishment of the criteria or the evaluations of judges, the introduction of rules on how members of the parliament should engage with lobbyists, a "more precise" definition of disciplinary offenses relating to judges' conduct, extension of the range of disciplinary sanctions, among other things, according to the report.

GRECO comprises 50 member states, including 48 European countries, Kazakhstan and the United States.
Dr. Heather Annulis Earns Prestigious WHEMN Leadership Award

Thu, 03/23/2023 - 01:28pm | By: Dena Temple

Dr. Heather Annulis, Director of the School of Leadership in The University of Southern Mississippis College of Business and Economic Development, recently earned the Leadership Award from the Women in Higher Education Mississippi Network (WHEMN). Dr. Annulis received the award at the 20th annual WHEMN Conference in Oxford, MS, on Feb. 24, 2023.

The WHEMN Leadership Award recognizes a woman who takes a role in mentoring other women. According to WHEMN guidelines, She should have demonstrated leadership skills and established practices of enhancing campus climate by finding ways to inspire her colleagues and institution to higher levels of achievement. She would be noted for her innovative approach to leadership challenges. Her attitude, values, and actions represent her philosophy of how she inspires positive changes in her work environment and her community.

Annulis joined the faculty of Southern Miss in 2000 and was named the first Director of the new School of Leadership in 2020. The school unites over 50 faculty and adjuncts from diverse disciplines. In her new role, Dr. Annulis founded the Women in Leadership group, which mentors junior faculty, strives to create opportunities for women in academia, and creates a network for students and faculty to highlight womens strengths.

Over the past 23 years, Annulis has generated over $12 million in external funding for Southern Miss; NASA, the US Department of Labor, AccelerateMS, and the MS Department of Employment Security have funded her research. In addition, she chaired over 35 Ph.D. dissertations, served as a member of over 60 Ph.D. dissertation committees, and mentored over 100 masters students to achieve educational success.

Annulis has spent her career bringing innovative strategies to higher education. Selflessness, a servants heart, a never-give-up spirit, and genuine kindness toward others are keys to her success. She states, True leaders lift others up and see the positives in every situation and every human being.

Upon receiving the award, Annulis stated, I am humbled to be honored in this way by my peers. It is such a privilege to help mentor our Human Capital Development graduate students. What they learn in this program will help them develop other human capital, which benefits our state and region.

Dena Temple, Administrative Specialist for the School of Leadership at USM, nominated Dr. Annulis. Heather is a mentor to all the women in our school, encouraging leadership growth in newer and younger faculty members and insisting that staff continue to learn and grow as people, not just as employees. She has made me a kinder person through her kindness, and a better person through her decency. I cannot imagine a more deserving candidate.

It is my honor to represent Southern Miss as the recipient of this honor, said Annulis. I love this work, my students, our School of Leadership team, and being a part of higher education in Mississippi.

About the School of Leadership

The School of Leadership is housed within the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi and operates on the Coastal USM campus in Long Beach, Mississippi. Its undergraduate degree programs include Accounting, Applied Technology, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology (Logistics), Management, and Marketing. Graduate programs include Human Capital Development, Human Capital Development (Instructional Technology and Design), Instructional Technology and Design, and Logistics, Trade and Transportation. Visit the School of Leadership page to learn more about these degree programs. To learn more about these degree programs or email SchoolOfLeadership@usm.edu.
UW and Wyoming SBDC Network to Host Online SBIR/STTR Cost Proposal Workshop

Small-business owners will have an opportunity to make sense of the perplexing world of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) cost proposal and how to keep records to the governments satisfaction when a small business wins an SBIR award.

Jim Greenwood will lead the discussion during a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network online workshop titled Understanding the SBIR/STTR Cost Proposal and Government Accounting from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, March 29. To register, go here. Registration is free.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The workshop will show small-business owners how to develop an indirect rate; what to expect in the way of government audits; and understand government accounting terminology. While aimed at SBIR/STTR competitors, this one-of-a-kind workshop has proven valuable for any applicant for or recipient of government contracts and grants.

Greenwood, co-owner of Greenwood Consulting Group Inc., is a nationally recognized trainer and proposal reviewer for the SBIR and STTR programs. He has taught SBIR/STTR workshops in 48 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., offering training through local and regional economic development groups, universities, federal laboratories, SBDCs and Manufacturing Extension Partnerships.

For more information, call Maureen Johnson, marketing, communication and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu.
ReportLinker

Segmented By Feedstock (Coal, Natural Gas, Methanol, Bio-based, Others), By Application (LPG Blending, Aerosol Propellants, Industrial, Others), By Region. Global dimethyl ether will grow impressively during the forecast period.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Dimethyl Ether Market- Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435469/?utm_source=GNW

A popular trend right now is to go green.



There will likely be a huge need for dimethyl ether as clean fuel becomes increasingly in demand due to escalating environmental contamination.The market expansion is expected to be augmented by other significant reasons, such as rising greenhouse gas emissions and diminishing oil reserves.



Dimethyl Ether (DME) is known as methoxymethane, wood ether, dimethyl oxide, or methyl ether.It is an organic compound with the formula CH3OCH3.



It is produced by converting hydrocarbons to synthesis gas using a gasification process. The same approach is in process regarding the carbon capturing & utilization approach for converting Carbon dioxide into Dimethyl Ether in one step method using a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. It is frequently utilized as a substitute for gasoline for use in vehicles, as fuel for power plants, as propane in liquified petroleum gas (LPG), and as a raw material for the production of a variety of chemical goods. Furthermore, the market is being further stimulated by the extensive use of Dimethyl Ether as an aerosol propellant in producing medicines, paints, coatings, and personal care items, including fragrances and hair, sprays. Additionally, the expanding demand for DME for increased drilling and fracturing efficiency and higher oil recovery is a growth-inducing driver. Aside from that, the market is dominated by corporate activity, increasing R&D spending, and governmental trade and export laws. The market is growing due to consumer preferences for new technologies that optimize profit. The worldwide dimethyl ether market is therefore expected to grow throughout the forecast period.

Rising demand for LPG blending applicability Driving the Market

In the current scenario, one of the worlds most pressing issues is global warming.The primary cause of this is fossil fuel use.



A large concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere alters the climate cycle, which in turn causes various problems, including pollution and glacier melting, among others.Modification of the current fuel source is one way to rectify this problem.



To reduce harmful emissions, improve combustion, and reduce dependency on LPG, DME is blended with it as a fuel alternative additive.This is projected to boost the future market outlook for dimethyl ether.



Governments and regional regulatory bodies should promote the use of renewable energy sources to minimize CO2 emissions. According to the World Energy Council, China, the regions largest coal resource, will have 80.2 thousand MTOE (million tonnes of oil equivalent) in total recoverable coal reserves by 2020, which will assist cut down on imports and fulfill the regions expanding DME demand at reasonable costs.

Increasing Demand from the Automobile sector

The market for dimethyl ether is primarily driven by rising automobile demand.As a result, many companies and manufacturers choose to use higher-quality gasoline in their vehicles.



This will consequently create fresh growth opportunities.Dimethyl ether is being used in hybrid automobiles by the automotive industry more and more.



The market for dimethyl ether is expected to grow as a result.There has been a sharp rise in demand for both diesel and bio-diesel as a result of a few automakers searching for crossover vehicle options worldwide.



The need for dimethyl ether for the production of biofuels will rise as initiatives to fulfill energy demands from sustainable sources obtain support from several national governments. As a consequence, major players in the worldwide dimethyl ether market are anticipated to gain a lot from the biofuel sector.

The value of aromatic ether exports from China in 2021 was estimated to be USD 133,809 thousand, up from USD 124,434 thousand the year before, according to figures from the International Trade Center (Trade map).

Methanol Will Continue to Be a Key Feedstock

The worldwide dimethyl ether market has been divided into methanol, natural gas, coal, bio-based, and others, depending on the raw material used.In the following years, the dimethyl ether market is anticipated to be dominated by the methanol sector.



The ease with which DME may be produced using methanol as a raw material is reflected in the strong demand.In addition, it is easy and inexpensive to create DME from methanol.



The segments expansion is being hampered by the pollution from using coal as a raw material to produce DME. DME from natural gas is produced using a costly method.

Strategic Developments

 In February 2020, Oberon Fuels, a manufacturer of renewable, ultra-low-carbon dimethyl ether (rDME), and SHV Energy, a propane fuel distributor, joined to promote the use of renewable DME and lessen the carbon footprint of transportation fuel.

 Under the "Aditi Urja Sanch" program, Indias Minister of Science, Technology, and Earth Sciences introduced a customized burner unit for DME-LPG mix as a home cooking fuel. The newly created stoves are anticipated to run on LPG that is 30% DME mixed. To lessen its reliance on LPG, the nation is making a concerted effort to considerably expand DME usage, as per information in October 2020.

 Another Asian nation that is actively promoting DME mixed LPG to meet its energy demands in Indonesia. Major projects for the manufacturing of DME from coal for LPG blending applications are being carried out in the nation by businesses like Air Products & Chemicals and PT Bukit Asam Tbk.

 With a capacity to produce 20 kilotons of DME annually, Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited (CGCL), a joint venture between the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Mitsubishi group companies including Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company (MGC), Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering (MHIENG), began commercial dimethyl ether (DME) production on December 18, 2020, announced by Mitsubishi Corporation in January 2021.



Market Segmentation

Global Dimethyl Ether Market is segmented based on feedstock, application, region, and competitive landscape.Based on feedstock, the market is divided into Coal, Natural Gas, Methanol, Bio-based, and Others.



Based on application, the market is divided into LPG Blending, Aerosol propellants, Industrial, and Others.

Company Profiles

Akzo Nobel N.V., Haldor Topsoe Holding A/S, Toyo Engineering Corporation, Oberon Fuels Inc., Mitsubishi Corporation, Ferrostaal GmbH, Grillo-Werke AG, China Energy Limited, Japan DME Association, PCC SE, Nouryon Holding BV are some of the key players operating in the Global Dimethyl Ether Market.



Report Scope:



In this report, global dimethyl ether market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends, which have also been detailed below:

 Dimethyl Ether Market, By Feedstock:

o Coal

o Natural Gas

o Methanol

o Bio-based

o Others

 Dimethyl Ether Market, By Application:

o LPG Blending

o Aerosol propellants

o Industrial

o Others

 Dimethyl Ether Market, By Region:

o North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

o Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Spain

Italy

Netherlands

Russia

Sweden

o Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

Indonesia

Malaysia

South Korea

Australia

o South America

Brazil

Argentina

o Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE



Competitive landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in global dimethyl ether market.



Available Customizations:



With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435469/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic has moved towards criminalizing acts of defamation and insult despite international criticism and protests by journalists who see the new law as a crackdown on free speech.

The regional parliament on Thursday passed draft amendments to the criminal code introducing fines of 3,000 to 60,000 euros ($3,200-$65,000) for damaging a person's honor or reputation and for publishing damaging videos, photos or documents without consent.

The legislation has prompted a public outcry since it was announced in early March, with journalists, civil society activists and diplomats saying it aimed to silence independent media.

The United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have all called on the Serb Republic to drop the criminal code changes and ensure the full protection of media freedom as a necessary precondition for Bosnia to progress on the EU path.

Bosnia was the first country in the Western Balkans region that de-criminalized defamation in 2001. Under provisions of the 1995 U.S.-brokered Daytron peace deal that ended a war there, Bosnia is split into the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Serb Republic.

"News reporting will become a mission impossible, investigative journalism will cease to exist and all citizens will feel effects on their own skin," Sinisa Vukelic, the president of the Banja Luka Journalists Club, said last week at a protest during which reporters symbolically taped their mouths.

The law was proposed by the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats headed by Serb secessionist leader Milorad Dodik, the Serb Republic president, and agreed by their coalition partners with whom they form a parliamentary majority.

After some journalists criticized the draft law as repressive over the past week, Dodik publicly lashed out at them. Following his remarks, the cars belonging to two journalists who publicly criticized the law were damaged in Banja Luka.

Dodik this week dismissed criticism that journalists will be targets under the planned legislation, saying a draft law may be improved during a public discussion that will follow before it comes into effect.

He said a prison term for offenders was not introduced in the law even though those who cannot pay the fine will have to serve a jail term.
Cameroon and Gabon have stepped up border security after neighboring Equatorial Guinea confirmed a spreading Marburg virus has killed at least nine people. Despite the controls, people are still traveling across the porous borders, raising fears the virus that causes hemorrhagic fever could spread.

At the government primary school in Kye-Ossi, a town on Cameroon's southern border with Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, children sing that regular hand washing protects people from diseases.

Mireille Evan, head teacher of the school, said more than 15 children from Equatorial Guinea attended classes in Kye-Ossi on Friday. She said those children were separated from their Cameroonian peers and obliged to wash their hands before attending classes.

Evan said Cameroon's public health ministry officials informed her that movement across the border was restricted because of an outbreak of the Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea. She said it is not her duty to stop children from attending classes.

Cameroon's ministries of basic and secondary education said that several hundred children cross every day from Kie Ntem, an administrative unit in Equatorial Guinea, to study in Kye-Ossi alongside scores of children from Gabon.

Also, several hundred merchants cross borders to Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon each day to conduct business, according to CEMAC, a regional economic bloc.

Authorities in Equatorial Guinea said the Marburg outbreak has killed nine people, but the World Health Organization said the death toll may be as high as 20.

Cameroon's public health ministry said Friday that it had held discussions with health officials in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea on ways to stop or reduce the spread of the disease.

Felix Nguele Ngule, governor of Cameroon's South Region, where Kye-Ossi is located, said surveillance and travel restrictions have been reinforced along the borders.

"What we can assure the population is that the surveillance system has been activated, health staff are mobilized and even the administrative authorities at the border are equally mobilized to monitor the disease," he said. "We want to thank the World Health Organization and the Red Coss that have joined us to see into it that that disease should not cross the border and enter our country."

However, Nguele said the porous borders make it difficult for Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea police to fully control the movement of people.

On February 14, Cameroon's health ministry reported two suspected cases of Marburg virus in the country after a first deadly outbreak in neighboring Equatorial Guinea.

Gabon's state broadcaster, RTG, on Friday reported that after the second Marburg outbreak in Equatorial Guinea in less than two months, the government of Gabon reinforced its contingency plan of zero contamination of Marburg virus disease.

RTG reported Libreville had also dispatched a team of technicians to identify an isolation area for possible suspected cases in border areas.

Cameroon and Gabon said civilians should avoid contact with animals and people who have traveled to Equatorial Guinea and make sure people with fever, fatigue, and blood-stained vomit and diarrhea are isolated.

The WHO said Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats, spreads among people through bodily fluids, and has a fatality rate of up to 88%.
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 24, 2023 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV:EPL) ("Eagle Plains") is pleased to announce the mailing of its management information circular dated March 17, 2023 (the "Circular") and related documents for the special meeting of Eagle Plains securityholders to be held at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) on April 26, 2023. The meeting is being held in connection with the previously announced plan of arrangement under section 193 of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), whereby Eagle Plains will undergo a capital reorganization and, through a series of transactions, will transfer a majority of its portfolio of royalty interests to Eagle Royalties (the "Arrangement").

Eagle Plains wishes to confirm that it has received overwhelming support for the Arrangement from multiple significant securityholders and along with the directors and officers of Eagle Plains, it has secured written support of approximately 27.7 million Eagle Plains common shares (which represents approximately 25% of the total issued and outstanding Eagle Plains common shares), 8.2 million Eagle Plains options (which represents approximately 75% of the total issued and outstanding Eagle Plains options) and 2.4 million Eagle Plains warrants (which represents approximately 44% of the total issued and outstanding Eagle Plains warrants).

Further details with respect to the Arrangement are included in the Circular, which can be found on Eagle Plains' profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. Eagle Plains was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSXV (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin-outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and recently Taiga Gold being notable examples. Eagle Plains is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing its diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team.

Story continues

In late 2022 Eagle Plains announced the formation of a separate division within the Company: Eagle Royalties Ltd. ("ER") which will hold many of Eagle Plains' diverse portfolio of royalty assets. The restructuring will enhance the valuation of Eagle Plains' extensive royalty interests, enabling ER to market and develop its royalty assets while seeking additional royalty acquisition opportunities. Eagle Plains' royalties cover a broad spectrum of commodities on projects controlled by Cameco Corp., Iso Energy Corp., Denison Mines Corp., Skeena Resources Ltd. and Hecla Mining Co./Banyan Gold Corp., among others. Planning is underway to spin-out ER during Q2 of 2023 which will enable Eagle Plains to continue to focus on its core business model of acquiring and advancing grassroots critical- and precious-metal exploration properties.

Expenditures from 2011-2022 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $30M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 45,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development. Throughout the exploration process, Eagle Plains' mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Eagle Plains

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO



For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at https://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/745527/Eagle-Plains-Resources-Ltd-Announces-the-Mailing-and-Filing-of-Its-Management-Information-Circular-to-Approve-an-Arrangement-with-Eagle-Royalties-Ltd




China attempted on Thursday to block a prominent Uyghur activist from speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where he demanded the body urgently address allegations of serious violations by Beijing.

Dolkun Isa, a Uyghur activist based in Germany and president of the World Uyghur Congress, spoke up during a general debate about concerns around the world.

Pointing to a number of recent reports, including one from former U.N. rights chief Michelle Bachelet warning of possible crimes against humanity being committed against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China's far-western Xinjiang region, he said the allegations "require the immediate and urgent attention of the council."

China objects

As soon as he began speaking, China's representative in the room Mao Yizong demanded the floor to object.

"We have reason to challenge the qualification of the speaker," Mao said, insisting that Isa was "not the representative of an NGO, and still less a human rights defender.

"Rather he is an anti-China separatist, violence element," Mao said, speaking in Chinese through an interpreter, warning that "allowing him to engage in separatist activities in the council would be in serious violation of the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, as well as the rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council."

'Government is trying to stop me'

After Mao's objection, U.S. representative Sam Birnbaum took the floor to insist on Isa's right to address the council, the top U.N. rights body.

And council President Vaclav Balek of the Czech Republic pointed out that NGOs are free to pick the speakers who represent them during the debate, and ruled Isa was entitled to finish speaking.

Isa had been invited by the non-governmental organization Global Human Rights Defense to take its brief speaking slot during the NGO portion of the debate, which comes after the council's 47 member states and numerous observer countries have voiced their positions.

"It's not the first time the Chinese government is trying to stop me," Isa told AFP later, saying "China is trying to manipulate the U.N. rights system."

As Isa completed his statement before the council, he lamented it had failed last October to agree to even put the Xinjiang issue on the agenda, despite the findings in Bachelet's report.

That report, published minutes before Bachelet's term ended on August 31 last year, highlighted credible allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights.

It brought U.N. endorsement to long-running allegations that Beijing detained more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslims in prison camps.

Isa told AFP his mother died in such a camp a few years ago, and that two of his brothers were serving lengthy sentences.

During China's intervention in the U.N. debate, representative Li Xiaomei alleged the U.S. and others "out of their own political agenda fabricate and spread disinformation" about the rights situation in China.

U.S. ambassador Michele Taylor flatly rejected that statement, pointing to the numerous expert findings of "evidence of serious abuses, including possible crimes against humanity.
In marking World TB Day, health officials warn the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple global crises are setting back years of progress in fighting tuberculosis and eventually ending the deadly disease.

Tuberculosis, an ancient disease that some say goes back to biblical times, kills more people than any other infectious disease. The World Health Organization says 1.6 million people globally died from TB in 2021 and an estimated 10.6 million people were newly infected.

Tuberculosis  a bacterial infection of the lungs  is a preventable, treatable and curable disease.

Significant inroads have been made in battling tuberculosis, with the WHO saying that TB deaths have dropped by nearly 40 percent globally since 2000. Additionally, the organization reports an estimated 74 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment.

While acknowledging the promising results, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, said progress in the fight against TB recently has stalled and even been reversed.

The COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in many countries have severely disrupted services to prevent, detect and treat TB.

As a result, he said the WHO last year reported an increase in TB deaths for the first time in more than a decade as well as an increase in the number of people falling ill with TB and drug-resistant TB.

He deplored the enormous impact of the ongoing epidemic on families and communities.

We cannot truly end TB unless we address its drivers.

Those, he said, included conditions of poverty, malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, tobacco and alcohol use, poor living and working conditions, stigma and discrimination.

The WHO says the largest number of new TB cases  46%  occurred in the Southeast Asian region (or Southeast Asia), followed by the African region with 23% and the Western Pacific with 18%.

While the numbers remain high, WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti observed that the continent has made progress in recent years in combating TB. For example, she noted that deaths in the region have fallen by 26% between 2015 and 2021.

We do still face some challenges, notably delayed diagnosis and testing, since 40 percent of people living with TB did not know their diagnosis or the disease was not reported in 2021.

Moreover, an estimated 1 million people are living with TB in the region, yet to be detected, she said.

WHO chief Tedros five-year flagship initiative on TB, which he launched in 2018, seeks to build on the progress achieved by improving delivery of quality care to people living with TB.

Under the program, the WHO has provided two new TB drugs and 12 new TB diagnostic tests to more than 100 countries.

Tereza Kasaeva, director of the WHOs global tuberculosis program, said the WHO, for the first time, has recommended a fully oral, two to three times shorter and more effective treatment, including for the most severe forms of multi-resistant TB.

Jeff Acebo, a TB and HIV survivor from the Philippines and a member of the WHOs civil society task force, welcomed the development.

He said for too long, people with multidrug resistant TB have struggled with painful injections, longer regimens, side effects and catastrophic out-of-pocket costs.

We strongly urge governments, especially one with [a] high burden of TB, to roll out and accelerate the implementation of the novel six-month all-oral regimen treatment, which he said would improve the quality of life for those suffering from the disease.

Given its success, Tedros said, we have decided to extend the initiative for a further five years, until 2027 and broaden its scope.

In 2015, the United Nations set a target date of 2030 to end the global TB epidemic as part of its sustainable development goals. In September, world leaders will meet in New York for the second high-level meeting on TB to invigorate the flagging process.

Tedros said he believes the meeting should be a turning point in the fight against TB  if leaders make real and lasting commitments to invest the financial resources needed to end it.

Lucica Ditiu, executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, echoed those sentiments.

We have new innovations now to help us save livesnew diagnostic tools, shorter, less toxic treatment regimens and new digital tools, she said.

When we add the political muscle that the UNHLM [U.N. high level meeting] will gather to the many dedicated health care professionals already in the front lines, she said, ending TB looks increasingly possible.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis this week called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and condemned his invasion of Ukraine, a week after coming under criticism for remarks that seemed to advocate a reduction in U.S. support for Ukrainian forces.



DeSantis, widely expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination later this year, had previously described the war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute that did not represent a vital national interest of the United States.



The remarks earned him immediate condemnation from many, including multiple long-serving Republicans in Congress, even though support for continued U.S. aid to Ukraine is waning among a significant portion of the Republican electorate.



Claims he was mischaracterized

In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan scheduled to stream Thursday evening on Fox Nation, DeSantis said his comments  particularly those that seemed to dismiss the war as a territorial dispute  were mischaracterized.



Morgan, who previewed the interview in a New York Post column on Wednesday, quoted the Florida governors explanation for his comment at length.



When I asked him specifically if he regretted using the phrase territorial dispute, DeSantis replied, Well, I think its been mischaracterized. Obviously, Russia invaded [last year]  that was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014  that was wrong.



 What Im referring to is where the fighting is going on now, which is that eastern border region Donbas, and then Crimea, and you have a situation where Russia has had that. I dont think legitimately, but they had. Theres a lot of ethnic Russians there.



According to Morgan, DeSantis went on to say why he thinks Russia is not the threat that the Biden administration has portrayed: I think the larger point is, OK, Russia is not showing the ability to take over Ukraine, to topple the government or certainly to threaten NATO. Thats a good thing.



The Biden administration has characterized support for Ukraine as forestalling deeper U.S. involvement in a broader conflict.



DeSantis told Morgan he sees it differently: I just dont think thats a sufficient interest for us to escalate more involvement. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified [in invading]  thats nonsense.



A gas station with nuclear weapons

Also in the interview, DeSantis ridiculed Russias high dependence on fossil fuel exports and said the country does not have the capacity to act on Putins seeming plan to reconstitute the former Soviet Unions sphere of influence.



I think hes got grand ambitions, DeSantis said of Putin. I think hes hostile to the United States, but I think the thing that weve seen is he doesnt have the conventional capability to realize his ambitions. And so, hes basically a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons, and one of the things we could be doing better is utilizing our own energy resources in the U.S.



DeSantis comments were reminiscent of those of the late John McCain, who was a Republican senator and presidential candidate. Famously hawkish on Russia, he once derided the nation as a gas station masquerading as a country.



Zelenskyy responds

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with the editors of The Atlantic magazine, replied to DeSantis last week with an argument that Americas investment in his countrys defense is preventing a broader conflict that could pull in the U.S. and its NATO allies.



If we will not have enough weapons, that means we will be weak. If we will be weak, they will occupy us, Zelenskyy said. If they occupy us, they will be on the borders of Moldova and they will occupy Moldova. When they have occupied Moldova, they will [travel through] Belarus and they will occupy Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.



Thats three Baltic countries which are members of NATO, he added. They will occupy them. Of course [the Balts] are brave people, and they will fight. But they are small. And they dont have nuclear weapons. So they will be attacked by Russians because that is the policy of Russia, to take back all the countries which have been previously part of the Soviet Union.



Zelenskyys assertions aside, many foreign policy experts are dubious about the likelihood of Russia choosing to invade any countries that are under the protection of NATOs mutual defense agreement.



Difficult politics

DeSantis move to clarify his position on Ukraine highlights a difficulty that any Republican presidential candidate is likely to face on the issue because of a deepening divide within the party.



For Republicans, said William A. Galston, a senior fellow in the Brookings Institutions Governance Studies Program, finding a tenable path on Ukraine is very difficult, because the party is divided between a traditionalist wing and a populist wing on this issue.



The traditionalist view is that the United States, for reasons having to do with both its interests and values, is required to stand up to aggression, such as what Russia has unleashed on Ukraine, and to support indirectly, and in some cases directly, the military effort to oppose it, Galston told VOA.

The populist wing of the party is taking the position that this fight is none of our business, and more generally, that the interests of the United States are best served by staying out of foreign entanglements, particularly military entanglements, to the greatest extent possible, he said.



At the moment, the divide is most visible when comparing the positions of the partys two leading presidential candidates with those of its foreign policy veterans in Congress.



Both former President Donald Trump and DeSantis have expressed doubts about whether it is in U.S. interests to continue supporting Ukraine. In a recent Monmouth University poll, the two men received 80% of support  44% for Trump and 36% for DeSantis  when prospective GOP voters were asked whom they support for the partys presidential nomination.



In Congress, though, prominent Republican voices have offered unwavering support for Ukraine.



I think the majority opinion among Senate Republicans is that the United States has a vital national security interest there in stopping Russian aggression, John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, told reporters last week.
Skimming the treetops, three Soviet-era attack helicopters bank and swoop down on a field after an early-morning mission to the front lines in the fight against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Each day, they might fly three or four sorties, says the commander, whose two-crew Mi-24 helicopter, built about 40 years ago, is older than he is.

"We are carrying out combat tasks to destroy enemy vehicles, enemy personnel, we are working with pitch-up attacks from a distance from where the enemy can't get us with their air defense system," said the commander, who spoke on condition of anonymity for operational security reasons, in line with military regulations.

The conflict in Ukraine is largely an artillery war, with territory being fought for inch by inch under a barrage of shells and missiles. But Ukraine's aviation capabilities play a significant role in the fight, the pilot said.

"The importance of the helicopters is huge," said the commander, who is part of Ukraine's 12th Army Aviation Brigade.

Footage from a camera attached to the helicopter during a recent combat mission shows it flying over fields pockmarked with craters from artillery bombing, and firing missiles at Russian trenches that cut through the landscape.

"We are shooting from the big distance and hit the target clearly, like there's a cross on the target and (the missiles) go by themselves where they should go," the commander said.

He would, however, like to fly a newer model.

"We need to master something new, something from abroad," the commander said. "It has better characteristics. You can maneuver more on it, there are more rockets on it and the weapons are more powerful. We can do more tasks with better quality and with less risk for us."

Several countries, including the United States and Britain, have pledged to send, or have already sent, helicopters to Ukraine as part of military aid since the start of the war sparked by Russia's invasion in Feb 2022.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from parliament Friday, a day after he was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison on defamation charges over remarks that alluded to Prime Minister Narendra Modis surname.

Gandhis Congress Party, which has called the judgment politically motivated, led protests in Indias capital and accused Modis government of jeopardizing democracy by trying to silence the opposition and making unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech.

We all know that Gandhi had been speaking out fearlessly inside and outside parliament. Clearly he is paying a price for it, Congress Party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters. This government is finding new techniques of throttling his voice, of gagging him only to divert attention from burning issues of the day.

Several opposition lawmakers held a banner saying Democracy in Danger as they tried to march to the presidents palace in New Delhi but were detained by police.

The defamation case was filed by Purnesh Modi, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the prime ministers home state, Gujarat, in connection with a remark Gandhi made at an election rally in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

"Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?" Gandhi said before going on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi.

Gandhi, who said his remarks were meant to highlight corruption and were not directed against any community, has been granted bail for 30 days and plans to appeal the verdict.

BJP leaders have criticized the Congress Party for raising questions about the court order, insisting Gandhis conviction followed due process of law. Are Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi higher than the law of the country? federal minister Bhupender Yadav asked at a press conference.

Gandhis remarks, Yadav added, denigrated lower rungs of Indias traditional caste grouping under which the Modi surname falls.

Gandhis disqualification has raised questions whether he will be able to contest general elections scheduled to be held next year; he can only do so if the sentence is suspended or he is acquitted in the case following an appeal.

Senior Congress Party leaders said they were stunned by how swiftly Thursdays court decision resulted in Gandhis expulsion from Parliament. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," senior Congress Party leader Shashi Tharoor said.

The disqualification of Gandhi could forge some unity among opposition parties, which have been accusing Modis government of trying to quell dissent.

Following Gandhis conviction, Arvind Kejriwal, head of the Aam Aadmi Party, alleged that Modis BJP is trying to eliminate leaders of other parties by prosecuting them.

We have differences with the Congress [Party], but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this, Kejriwal tweeted. It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision.

Two senior Aam Aadmi leaders have been jailed on charges that the party calls politically motivated.

On Friday, Gandhis Congress Party was among 14 parties that approached the Supreme Court alleging that the federal government is misusing investigating agencies to target the BJPs opponents.

Gandhi is expected to lead the Congress Partys campaign in 2024 if he is legally able to. In January he ended a five-month march across the country to resurrect the political fortunes of his party, which has fared poorly in the last two elections as Modi has become the countrys most popular leader in decades.
The Rwandan government has commuted the prison sentence of Paul Rusesabagina nearly three years after he was captured and detained.

Rusesabagina, once a hotel manager in Rwanda's capital Kigali, is credited with saving hundreds of lives during the country's 1994 genocide. His actions inspired the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda."

A statement Friday from the Rwandan Ministry of Justice said sentences for several individuals, including Rusesabagina, "have been commuted by presidential order after consideration of their requests for clemency."

The 68-year-old Rwandan hotelier-turned-dissident has been jailed in Rwanda since August 2020, when a plane he believed was headed for Burundi instead landed in Kigali.

After he left the plane, he was tried and convicted on a slew of terrorism-related charges the following year, over his ties to an organization opposed to President Paul Kagame's rule.

Rusesabagina has U.S. permanent residency rights, and the U.S. government has described him as "wrongly detained," in part because of what it called the lack of fair trial guarantees.

According to media reports, Rwanda government spokesperson Stephanie Nyombayire confirmed to ABC News that Rusesabagina would be released from prison within 24 hours.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russia's war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

9:19 p.m.: The Kremlin on Friday said Russia will skip the annual global Earth Hour event this weekend after Moscow labeled the World Wildlife Fund a foreign agent.

The move comes as Russia cracks down on most foreign-linked groups since its offensive in Ukraine, including climate-orientated organizations, Agence France-Presse reported.

Earth Hour, which WWF organizes, encourages people worldwide to turn their lights off for 60 minutes to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Russia has taken part in the event, which is scheduled this Saturday, for 14 years.

"This year, we took the decision to hold back from this event," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday.

"It is because they have become a foreign agent."

8:56 p.m.: Economic growth in the eurozone accelerated in March and hit a 10-month high, according to a closely watched survey published on Friday, despite turmoil in the markets and concerns over banks, Agence France-Presse reported.

The S&P Global Flash Eurozone purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed the indicator at 54.1, up from 52.0 in February, thanks to the services sector.

A reading over 50 represents growth in economic activity.

Recession fears are receding in Europe after worries of a difficult winter because of sky-high energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

Inflation remains much higher than policymakers' target, but eurozone consumer prices have also fallen in recent months after a record high of 10.6% last October.

7:55 p.m.: Russia could extend restrictions on fertilizer exports for six months until November to help support the domestic market, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said on Friday, according to Reuters.

Moscow introduced temporary quotas on some of its fertilizer exports in late 2021 to ensure domestic supplies but has extended them continuously since. The current restrictions are to expire at the end of May.

Russia is one of the top producers of potash, phosphate and nitrogen-containing fertilizers worldwide.

7:09 p.m.: French DIY retailer Leroy Merlin said Friday it would exit Russia, ending an 18-year presence that came under intense scrutiny after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported.

Unlike Western companies that hurried to disengage from Russia, Leroy Merlin defiantly resisted calls to leave the country, saying it owed it to customers and to local staff.

Russia is Leroy Merlin's biggest foreign market with 113 stores and contributes around 20% to the company's overall revenues.

But Ukraine heaped scorn on the retailer for the stance, accusing it of sponsoring Russia's war effort.

Leroy Merlin's parent company, Adeo, said it would transfer control of Leroy Merlin to local management in Russia, where it is among the biggest foreign employers.

6:19 p.m.: China's partnership with Russia has limits, despite rhetoric to the contrary, and Europe should welcome any attempts by Beijing to distance itself from Moscow's war in Ukraine, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday.

Borrell's remarks followed a summit this week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022, just days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But Borrell said that while China had forged close economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, it had not formed a military alliance with Moscow and had not supplied arms to help Russia with its war in Ukraine.

"This unlimited friendship seems to have some limits," Borrell told reporters in Brussels. "China has not crossed any red lines for us."

5 p.m.: The son of a senior Russian official arrested in Italy at Washington's request disappeared the day after a court approved his extradition to the United States, Agence France-Presse reported Friday, citing media reports.

Following his arrest at Milan Malpensa Airport on October 17, Artyom Uss was held at his residence near Milan and required to wear an electronic bracelet.

U.S. authorities accuse Uss, the son of a Siberian governor, of illegally selling U.S. technologies to Russian arms companies.

On Tuesday, an Italian court agreed to his extradition to the United States and on Wednesday he disappeared, media reports said.

4:09 p.m.:

3:20 p.m.: The U.S. Treasury on Friday sanctioned Belarusian state-linked entities and nine individuals in response to an ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy activists launched after a 2020 presidential poll, Reuters reported.

The Treasury also identified a U.S.-made Boeing 737 jet as the property of Alexander Lukashenko, effectively blocked its use in the United States.

The sanctions generally prohibit Americans from doing business with the designated entities and individuals, and could bring similar measures against any financial institutions or persons who conduct transactions with them.

The Treasury sanctioned two major Belarusian automotive makers, including the Belarusian Automobile Plant and Minsk Automobile Plant, which the Treasury statement said is "a significant source of revenue" for Lukashenko's government

The statement said sanctions were imposed on seven members of Belarus' central election commission, as well as the commission itself.

Finally, the Treasury said visa restrictions were placed on 14 individuals, including regime officials.

2:30 p.m.: Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said on Friday they have signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defense aimed at countering the rising threat from Russia, Reuters reported.



The intention is to be able to operate jointly based on already known ways of operating under NATO, according to statements by the four countries' armed forces.



The move to integrate the air forces was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, commander of the Danish air force, Major General Jan Dam, told Reuters.



2:00 p.m.:

1:40 p.m.: Like most Russian funeral ceremonies, the one held just north of the resort town of Goryachy Klyuch featured colorful flowered wreaths, portraits of the dead, red carnations, and coffins draped in tapestries, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



But the ceremony, held on March 19 in a region better known for thermal spas and mineral baths, was remarkable in another way: a public fight between the local administration and the founder of the Wagner Group mercenary company, Yevgeny Prigozhin.



The local mayor said there were too many Wagner soldiers being buried there; better to bury them elsewhere. Outraged, Prigozhin and his allies defied the mayor and held the ceremony, at which the dead were mourned and the administration was excoriated.



The graveyard spat comes amid growing questions about the political future of Prigzohin, who has become one of Russias most notorious public figures amid the 13-month invasion of neighboring Ukraine. A former convict who made his fortune opening restaurants in St. Petersburg, Prigozhin later netted lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin before founding Wagner Group.



1:20 p.m.: Russia's middle class will shrink as social inequality grows over coming years, an economic study conducted by Russian experts suggested, as sanctions against Moscow and limited growth potential scupper development prospects, Reuters reported.



The study, published this week, presents four possible scenarios for how Russians' living standards will change between now and 2030 from experts from the Social Policy Institute at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, one of Russia's leading educational establishments.



The study, based on a 2022 survey of experts from economic institutions, businesses and public organizations, states that only a combination of global economic growth and an easing of sanctions on Russia, imposed by the West because of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine, can improve real incomes and reduce poverty.



The middle class is set to suffer in any event, even if sanctions pressure is reduced, the study finds.



12:55 p.m.:

12:25 p.m.: Estonia has declared a staff member of Russia's Embassy in Tallinn persona non grata for "directly and actively undermining Estonia's security and constitutional order, spreading propaganda that justifies Russia's military action and causing divisions in Estonian society," the Baltic country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



The unnamed diplomat must leave Estonia by March 29, the statement said.



Estonia is one of the most outspoken supporters of Ukraine in the face of Russia's unprovoked aggression.



12:10 p.m.: The world should listen to China's voice in order to find a way out of the war in Ukraine, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, ahead of his state visit to Beijing next week, Reuters reported.



"China is a global actor, so obviously we must listen to its voice to see if between all of us, we can put an end to this war and Ukraine can recover its territorial integrity," Sanchez told a news conference in Brussels following a meeting of the European Council.



The meeting between the two leaders is expected to mostly focus on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, in which China has described itself as "impartial" and put forward a 12-point peace plan while calling for a comprehensive ceasefire.



Sanchez has publicly backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace proposal, which includes demands to restore Ukraine's territory to the status quo before Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.



11:55 a.m.:

11:15 a.m.: Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the owner of the mercenary group Wagner, has rejected a report saying he plans to scale back his military operations in Ukraine and instead concentrate on Africa, where Wagner was previously involved in local conflicts and businesses, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



Responding to a March 23 report by Bloomberg, which cited its sources saying ammunition and personnel shortages had prompted Prigozhin to reconsider Wagner's role in Ukraine, the man known as "Putin's chef" said in a post on Telegram. " I do not know what Bloomberg is reporting about."



"Apparently, they know better than myself what we will do further. As long as we are needed by our nation, we will fight on the territory of Ukraine," he added.



For several months, Russia and Ukraine have been locked in intense trench warfare along a front line of more than 120 kilometers in Ukraine's Donbas region, including the cities of Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka. Prigozhin has called the Bakhmut offensive a "meat grinder" and has clashed with Russian military officials over ammunition supplies while reportedly taking heavy casualties, depleting his forces.



The Bloomberg report said that Russia's top military officials consider Prigozhin a threat and discontinued his practice of recruiting inmates from Russian penitentiaries to reinforce his ranks. It also said some officials see Wagner as an incapable group that has been unable to take Bakhmut.



Prigozhin himself in recent days has issued pessimistic statements warning of a likely Ukrainian counterassault.



10:50 a.m.: Russia wants to create demilitarized buffer zones inside Ukraine around areas it has annexed, an ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying it might be necessary to push deeper into Ukraine if such zones cannot be set up, Reuters reported.



More than a year into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin's core war aims remain unfulfilled despite Russian control of nearly a fifth of the country.



Neither side shows any sign of laying down arms. Hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded, according to Western military estimates.

10:35 a.m.:

10:10 a.m.: Some 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, many elderly and with disabilities, are clinging on to existence in horrific circumstances in and around the besieged city of Bakhmut, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday, according to Reuters.



Russian forces have been trying for months to capture the city in Europe's bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.



Several thousand are estimated to remain in the city itself, said the ICRC's Umar Khan, who has been providing them with aid in recent days.



Khan said he had been shocked by the scale of destruction he had witnessed.



"Houses are crushed by military firepower, roofs are ripped off, apartment buildings are littered with holes ... the constant threat of exploding shells, bombs - and some people still living in the shelters, trying to survive these intense hostilities."



9:45 a.m.: U.N. human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbor that could amount to war crimes, a report released Friday said, according to The Associated Press.



The first full look by the U.N. human rights offices mission in Ukraine at the treatment of POWs was released along with an update of human rights violations overall from a six-month period that ran through January. The report was based on interviews with about 400 POWs, half of them Ukrainians who were released and the other half Russians held captive in Ukraine.



The team said it had no access to POWs held in Russia or Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine where it identified 48 internment sites. The mission said it nonetheless documented some 40 summary executions over the course of the 13-month war.



The U.N. rights office, which has had a monitoring team in Ukraine since fighting broke out in areas of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia-backed separatists in 2014, has said its findings are based on confirmed cases and typically understate actual tolls.

9:10 a.m.:



8:50 a.m.: With its stockpile of Soviet-era weapons, Bulgaria, home to a thriving arms industry, could be a key ally of Ukraine, which is trained on and equipped with such arms, in its war against invading Russian forces, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



But with parliament now dissolved ahead of elections on April 2, the fifth snap poll in two years amid political uncertainty, the caretaking government is in no mood to provide lethal aid to Kyiv, appointed as it was by President Rumen Radev, who is known for his pro-Kremlin leanings.



Radev, a former air force pilot, doubled down on his hard-line stance on March 21, balking at joining a dozen EU states to supply Ukraine with at least 1 million artillery shells over the next year.



"Bulgaria does not support and is not part of the general order for the supply of shells to Ukraine," Radev said. "Our country will support European diplomatic efforts to restore peace." Radev also added that Bulgaria will not provide fighter jets, missile defense systems, or tanks to Ukraine as long as the present caretaker government is in power.



8:20 a.m.: Russia has reacted furiously to plans outlined by Britain earlier this week to send shells containing depleted uranium to Ukraine, Reuters reported. Russia's defense ministry said on Friday that the use of depleted uranium shells in Ukraine would harm Ukrainian troops, the wider population and negatively affect the country's agriculture sector for decades or even centuries.



London says they are a conventional form of ammunition, but President Vladimir Putin said the move showed NATO members were sending weapons with a "nuclear component" to Kyiv.



Critics of the use of depleted uranium, such as the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, say the dust created by such weapons can be breathed in while munitions which miss their target can poison groundwater and soil.

The Royal Society said in a report in 2002 that the risks to the kidney and other organs from the use of depleted uranium munitions are very low for most soldiers in the battlefield and for those living in the conflict area.



Countries such as the United States and Britain say depleted uranium is a good tool for destroying a modern tank. Britain says in guidance that inhaling enough depleted uranium dust to cause injury would be difficult.



Russia's defense ministry on Friday disputed those claims and said the use of depleted uranium shells, compared to Tungsten-based ammunition, "has no significant advantage" on the battlefield.

7:45 a.m.:



7:30 a.m.: A Russian security officer who fled the country because he objected to the invasion of Ukraine has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in high-security prison, the Taiga.info news website reported on Friday, according to Reuters.



Federal Protective Service Major Mikhail Zhilin, 36, fled to Kazakhstan last year when Russia announced a conscription campaign, illegally crossing the border through woods while his wife and children drove through a checkpoint.



Zhilin sought refugee status in the former Soviet republic but his request was denied and authorities there stopped him from leaving for Armenia. Kazakhstan handed him over to Russia late last year, leading to the rare conviction of an officer for desertion.

7:15 a.m.: Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now the deputy head of Russias Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said the Russian military was ready to repel any counteroffensive Kyiv may be planning aimed at dislodging Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.



Our General Staff is assessing all that, Medvedev said.



He also said that a Ukrainian attempt to seize Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.



An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said. Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realize that.



Though known for his bombastic pronouncements, Medvedevs warning stems from the Russian security doctrine envisaging the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an attack with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.



Medvedev also said that Western experts operating weapons, such as the U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems supplied to Ukraine, would be legitimate targets for the Russian military. Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the U.S., although Russian officials have frequently claimed that foreign instructors are present in Ukraine.



If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Medvedev told reporters in video clips he posted on his messaging app channel. They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state and they must be destroyed.



They must understand that as soon as an American or a Polish soldier shows up there, he must be killed, he added.



The Kremlins goal is to create a sanitary cordon of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) around Russian-held areas so short- and mid-range weapons cant strike them, according to Medvedev.



Moscow may even set its sights on grabbing a bigger chunk of Ukrainian territory, stretching all the way to the border with Poland, he said.

6:50 a.m.:



6:25 a.m.: Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for months, will soon counterattack as Russia's offensive looks to be faltering, a commander said, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that without a faster supply of arms the war could last years, Reuters reported.



The Ukrainian military said early on Friday that 1,020 Russian troops had been killed over the previous 24 hours as they launched unsuccessful attacks on the towns of Lyman, Avdiivka, Mariinka, and Shakhtarske. But their main focus was still the mining town of Bakhmut.



"The enemy has not stopped its assault of Bakhmut," Ukraine's General Staff in a report.



Russian forces have for months been trying to capture Bakhmut as they seek to extend their control over eastern Ukraine, in Europe's deadliest infantry battle since World War Two.



Ukrainian forces have held them off, as they did again in Avdiivka, Mariinka and Shakhtarske, among the 80 Russian attacks that Ukrainian defenders repelled over the past day, the military said.



6:05 a.m.: A Russian strike on the town of Kostyantynivka in the eastern region of Donetsk killed at least five people on Friday, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported, quoting Ukraine's emergency service.



A missile fired from an S-300 antiaircraft system hit a local so-called "invincibility point" -- a humanitarian support center -- in Kostyantynivka, the Prosecutor General's Office reported, killing five people. Of those, at least three of them were women taking shelter at the "invincibility point" set up to provide a place with basic services such as electricity, water, and heating for those displaced by the fighting in the region.



Russia also launched a drone attack overnight on the city of Kryviy Rih in Ukraine's south-central region of Dnipropetrovsk, the region's governor said on Friday. Five Iranian-made drones were launched on Kryviy Rih at night but there were no casualties, Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram, adding that one Shahed drone and several Russian missiles were downed.



In the east, Russian forces pressed on with their offensive, launching 79 assaults on Bakhmut and the surrounding areas over the past 24 hours, despite some reports of signs of exhaustion among Moscow's troops, Ukraine's General Staff said in its morning summary on Friday. Most of Russia's assaults targeted Bakhmut, the largely destroyed city in the Donetsk region that has been the epicenter of Moscow's efforts for months.



Russia continued to launch unsuccessful attacks in other areas of Donetsk -- Lyman, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Shakhtarsk, the General Staff said, adding that fighting was also under way in parts of the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.



5:35 a.m.:

5:18 a.m.: Insurers continue to cover grain shipments from Ukraine through a U.N.-backed corridor although more clarity will be required soon, a senior Lloyd's of London official said on Thursday, after the export accord was renewed for at least 60 days, Reuters reported.

The deal allowing the safe wartime export of Ukrainian grain from its Black Sea ports, initially brokered last July by Turkey and the U.N., was renewed Saturday.

Insurance for ships going into the three Ukrainian ports covered by the agreement has been vital, and the war-cover policies need to renewed every seven days.

"There is clearly underlying risk that if events change and somebody wanted to sink a ship to make a point, that clearly our appetite for continuing with those kind of risks might change," Lloyd's market's Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown told Reuters.

4:32 a.m.: The latest intelligence update from the U.K. defense ministry said that Russia appears to be training troops under the Belarusian army at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground. It's believed to be an indication of the effect Russia's invasion of Ukraine has had on its own military training system. Many instructors, the update noted, have been deployed in Ukraine.

3:11 a.m.: Russian leaders should be put on trial for the invasion of Ukraine even if they cannot be arrested and brought to court in person, Kyiv's top prosecutor said Thursday.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, speaking to Reuters during a stopover in The Hague where the International Criminal Court is based, said that a planned tribunal for the crime of aggression should hold so-called trials in absentia.

Kostin spoke after meeting with the chief ICC prosecutor, who last week issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him and his children's commissioner of the war crime of deporting children from Ukraine to Russia.

Swift work by prosecutors and cooperation with the ICC "was the reason for such a fast response to one of the most severe war crimes of this war, forced deportation and abduction" of children, Kostin said.

2:09 a.m.: The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank, said in its latest Ukraine assessment that Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.

Russian forces are also continuing to attack Bakhmut City and areas in its vicinity and around Avdiivka, the assessment said.

Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, continue to conduct raids over the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.

1:09 a.m.: The Kyiv Independent reported that Russian forces shelled four communities in Sumy Oblast on Thursday. No casualties were reported.

12:02 a.m.: A Russian court Thursday issued an arrest warrant for an opposition activist on charges of disparaging the military, and authorities declared other activists and bloggers as foreign agents amid efforts to muzzle criticism of Russia's action in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.

Moscow's Basmanny District Court ordered the arrest of Maxim Katz, an opposition activist and blogger who has left Russia. He is accused of spreading false information about the Russian military, charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Days after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine last February, Russian lawmakers approved legislation outlawing the disparagement of the Russian military or the spread of "false information" about what the Kremlin calls "the special military operation" in Ukraine.

Courts across the country have increasingly handed out prison terms to critics of Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear a case Monday that some First Amendment experts warn could affect how journalists cover immigration.

The case, United States v. Hansen, stems from the 2017 prosecution of Helaman Hansen, who was convicted in connection with a fraudulent adoption agency that he ran.

Hansen is attempting to have parts of his conviction overturned, saying parts of a federal law against encouraging or inducing unlawful immigration to the U.S. violate First Amendment rights.

The government asked the Supreme Court to hear the case after a lower court ruled that the law was overbroad and unconstitutional, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Media experts agree, saying such broad provisions could leave journalists vulnerable to prosecution if they cover a range of issues, from poor security at the border to commentary on relaxing immigration policy.

In the case of Hansen, what he had done was run a fraudulent adult adoption agency that falsely promised people a path to [U.S.] citizenship, Grayson Clary, attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, told VOA.

In a news briefing, attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union said that under the so-called encouragement provision of the federal law, it is a felony to encourage or induce an individual to come to, enter or reside in the United States in the knowledge the person would be in violation of the law.

But that provision is too broad, according to immigration lawyers and journalists, and it could open space for prosecutions of journalists publishing newsworthy and factual content even outside the immigration context.

If a news report can be deemed illegal for giving migrants ideas on how to cross the border, why cant the same reasoning apply to, say, criticism of police departments that exposes incompetences that criminals might exploit? What about reporting of abuses that might lead protesters to trespass on government property, or stay out past curfews? Seth Stern, director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, wrote on March 15.

Stern wrote that justices have repeatedly held that action to punish the publication of information rarely satisf[ies] constitutional standards, but the court has yet to say accurate and truthful reporting can never be punished.

Still, he wrote, that doesnt mean prosecutors wont try. The mere prospect of arrest would surely encourage self-censorship.

Violating such provisions carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. But if the violation is committed for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, a separate penalty can increase imprisonment to up to 10 years.

No one is especially keen on defending what [Hansen] did, Clary said. But in the First Amendment's context, there is this doctrine called overbreadth.

[That] means that even if you have been prosecuted for something that it's constitutional for the government to prohibit, you can still argue that the law you're prosecuted under violates the First Amendment.

In February, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the National Press Photographers Association and the News Leaders Association filed a joint brief with the Supreme Court. In it, they urged the court to rule that the federal law making it a felony to encourage noncitizens to reside in the U.S. unlawfully violates the First Amendment.

The Department of Justice referred VOA to its filings on the case and said it could not comment about ongoing litigation.

Elizabeth Barchas Prelogar, the solicitor general of the United States, filed a brief in which she wrote that "if a defendant assists in the commission of a criminal violation of the immigration laws, the defendant may be prosecuted under the general federal prohibition on aiding and abetting."

She added that Hansen does not have a valid claim of protection under the First Amendment.

"Historically, the statute has been an important tool for prosecuting numerous smuggling activities that facilitate unlawful immigration  conduct that, like respondents own sham adoption scheme, has no claim to protection under the First Amendment," she wrote.

Clary told VOA that rights advocates see the case as important because the government has not always approached the statute as if it was as narrow as it now claims it is.

In particular, the government relied on this provision of the law to justify maintaining a watch list of reporters and others who were documenting migrant crossings at the border, Clary said.

In 2019, NPR and The Intercept published reports that detailed the harassment that journalists, immigration activists and attorneys say they experienced from border officers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The story was first reported on by the San Diego TV station KNSD.

According to leaked documents, the U.S. and Mexican governments were keeping a database of those who interacted with migrants or had offered assistance. That resulted in journalists and immigration lawyers being the target of inspections from border officials on both sides.

At the time, publications sent questions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency responsible for U.S. ports of entry, and to Mexican authorities, but officials did not comment.

Andrew Meehan, CBPs assistant commissioner for public affairs, told The Associated Press the agency has policies in place that prohibit discrimination against arriving travelers and has specific provisions regarding encounters with journalists, and that CBP will continue to maintain a high standard of accountability and transparency with the media and public.

Clary told VOA that "we think there's been overreach in the past, which highlights why the sort of text of the statute is so startlingly broad, and we hope one way or the other the Supreme Court's decision is going to make clear that that kind of abuse can't be repeated in the future.

For Mondays hearing, Clary noted that Hansen was convicted of violating the statute against encouraging or inducing unlawful immigration to the U.S. as well as violating a number of other statutes.

"He's essentially hoping that by getting this part of his conviction thrown out, his prison sentence will be reduced, Clary said.
Two years after the military took control of Myanmar, widespread opposition to the junta has fueled an armed resistance and conflict across the country.

Journalists trying to report on the situation are often forced to work underground or in exile to avoid arrest or retaliation.

Its a situation that brings its own challenges, including finding regular funding, withstanding pressure from the military and others, and keeping staff secure.

In the first few months of the takeover in 2021, the military revoked licenses of several media outlets and detained dozens of journalists.

The quickly diminishing environment for media led to the creation of Lu Nge Khit.

We founded a media [organization] because we dont want to give up our media freedom, Lu Nge Khit editor Hsu Htet told VOA.

Freedom underground

The independent media outlet now reports on conflict, refugees and internally displaced people.

With a team of 16 journalists based throughout Myanmar, Lu Nge Khit in many ways is an underground operation.

Many of its team had joined the civil disobedience movement, Hsu Htet said.

[They] lost their job(s) from their media organizations because they dont agree with the stuff from their previous media organizations and dont want to comply with the [State Administration Council] rules, Hsu Htet said.

The outlet has built up a substantial Facebook following of more than 315,000, but after 18 months, Lu Nge Khit is struggling to have its work noticed more widely through its social media pages and website.

Some of us dont take salary from this organization. Weve relied on donors, but other media relies on donors, Hsu Htet said. Because we are small, we face more challenges.

We do not really have any resourceswe are barely surviving. We dont have [media] registration so many people dont know about us, so it limits our capacity to get news, to reach out to our sources.it impacts on the quality of reporting, she added.

Press registration is a tricky issue in the restrictive media environment.

To be legally able to report in Myanmar, news outlets must register with the military government. And to do that, journalists must provide their personal details.

With regional watchdog Reporting ASEAN showing 135 journalists detained so far since February 2021, many are wary of registering.

Tin Htar Swe is a former journalist for BBC Burmese who currently works as a freelance Myanmar analyst based in Britain.

The journalist, who was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 2014, said getting press accreditation means you must report the official narrative.

One you are registered with [Myanmars] Ministry of Information and given a journalist pass, you have to toe their line, if you dont toe the line, they can easily revoke the license, she told VOA.

But on the flip side, she said, its a huge risk for journalists to keep reporting underground without accreditation.

You can move from house to house, but the owner of the house has to register with the local administration that they have somebody staying overnight. If there is [someone] not from the area, they have to notify the local authorities they are staying with them. Its impossible to be a professional journalist, she said.

Media workers who have been released from prison also have said that authorities warned that if they keep reporting they will be held accountable for all previous offences at once. One reporter said they were told they would be shot, according to Reporting ASEAN.

In previous comments to VOA, the military spokesperson has dismissed concerns over the media environment, saying that members of the press and opposition forces on social media are spreading fake news.

Taking steps to protect staff

Some journalists with media accreditation still take steps to protect their staff.

Until the coup, the media outlet Myaelatt Athan reported on local news in and around Myanmars Magway region.

The news outlet has official press accreditation that is valid until 2024, but most of the staff report in self-exile.

They [authorities] are searching for the media everywhere. They know our detailed information from the license registration. This is why I cannot stay no longer in Myanmar or in my hometown, Salai Kaung Myat Min, the managing editor, told VOA. [Some] still live in Myanmar, hiding town by town.

The decision to leave came in 2021 when local police detained one of the outlets reporters.

Salai says that police demanded that Myaelatt Athan stop reporting in exchange for their colleagues release.

Salai reluctantly agreed, but the editor had a plan. Once his journalist was freed and had left Myanmar completely, the editor started his media outlet again.

This is why I was forced to stop Myaelatt at this time, the page, website, and everything. We created a new page, Salai said.

Even then, the military has tried to influence reporting, the journalist said.

[The military] wanted to negotiate with me, three or four times by phone calling. They dont want to stop our media, but they wanted to give [us] some information, they want [us to report their] propaganda, he said.

Salai however admitted that the situation in Myanmar has led to both sides trying to promote their narratives.

Sometime the anti-military side, they want [to] promote their organizations, but I dont want to promote them. I just want to know only about the ground situation, the realistic situation, he said.

Hsu Htet echoed that difficulty.

If [journalists] talk to the military or police for information they will be considered as informants and targeted by resistance groups," she said. "If they report against the military, they are already targeted by these people."
Canada is being rattled by a political scandal straight from a Hollywood film, in which a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus ruling party is accused of collaborating with China.

Han Dong, who represents a parliamentary district in Toronto, announced Thursday that he was stepping down from Trudeaus Liberal Party and would sit as an independent after being accused of being a knowing participant in a Chinese influence operation.

Dong was the subject of a Global News report based on leaks from Canadas intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the latest in a series of reports accusing China of trying to interfere in the last two Canadian elections.

The report alleged that in a 2021 conversation with the Chinese consul general in Toronto, Dong recommended that two Canadians imprisoned in China not be released before a September 20, 2021, federal election to prevent the rival Conservative Party from claiming responsibility for their release.

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who became widely known as the two Michaels, had been detained in China since December 2018 in what was seen as retaliation for the detention in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of the Chinese telecom company Huawei.

Chinese authorities freed Spavor and Kovrig on September 24, 2021, shortly after Meng was released from house arrest following an agreement with the United States, which had been seeking her extradition.

Dong has denied the allegations and insists he will be cleared. The Trudeau administration has denied any knowledge of the matter.

The earlier election interference claims, which emerged in late 2022 and are now being probed by a special investigator and a parliamentary committee, were also based on leaks from CSIS to Global News and other outlets.

Those claims allege that persons acting for China interfered in several parliamentary districts to try to ensure the defeat of the Conservative Party, which is considered more hostile to Beijing, while seeking to make sure that Trudeaus party would fall short of an outright majority and have to form a coalition government.

Trudeau and top security officials have acknowledged that China interfered in the elections but have maintained that the results of the elections were not affected.

The scandal has placed severe pressure on the China-Canada relationship, which was already strained over the detentions of Meng and the two Michaels.

We are now starting to see the West wise up to the risk of an authoritarian nation dominating the global economy and technology supply chains, and what that inherently means for its political influence, even within democracies, said Lindsay Gorman, a former Biden White House adviser and currently a senior fellow at the German Marshall Funds Alliance for Securing Democracy.

The status quo of allowing unfettered influence and interference in democratic politics is over, added Gorman, who drew parallels between the Canadian scandal and this weeks congressional hearing in Washington where TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew was grilled for several hours.

Yesterday's hearing showed just how united lawmakers in the U.S. are in their concerns with TikTok over both foreign influence and consumer data privacy, Gorman said. The road for TikTok in the U.S. is very uncertain now.  Missing in this conversation, however, is whether U.S. allies will take similar action on TikTok and what that would mean for the overall calculus on potentially forcing a sale.

Marcus Kolga, Canadas top expert on disinformation and one of a small number of Canadians on Russias sanctions list, told VOA that "when taken as a whole, China is quite effective at interfering in our democratic processes. The integrity of our democracy has been damaged and the trust in our democratic institutions is low.

Kolga said that while Chinese disinformation is less sophisticated than the Russian variety, Beijing has demonstrated an ability to conduct widespread influence operations by intimidating and harassing the Chinese diaspora.

Samuel Jardine, head of research at the political risk advisory group London Politica, said allegations like those concerning Dong are potential lightning rods for supporters from both sides of this internal debate within Canadas political and governing circles about how to approach China.

Accusations of an alleged lack of patriotism, or even betrayal, from one side, met with counteraccusations of alleged anti-Chinese sentiment or racism as weve seen here, showcase the potentially polarizing and politically outsized destabilizing impact of this issue, Jardine told VOA.

The need for a bipartisan approach accepted by all sides, which could take the sting out of this, should be a fundamental pursuit for both camps, he said.
LGBTQ dating app Grindr is warning its users that Egyptian police are using fake and hijacked accounts to trap users looking for dates on the app.

We have been alerted that Egyptian police is actively making arrests of gay, bi, and trans people on digital platforms, a warning to Egyptian users on the app says. They are using fake accounts and have also taken over accounts from real community members who have already been arrested and had their phones taken.

The warnings from Grindr follow reports from Human Rights Watch that authorities in multiple countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt, have used fake accounts to trap and arrest LGBTQ people.

LGBTQ people have long faced discrimination in Egypt, but police efforts have increased in recent weeks, Patrick Lenihan, head of global communications for Grindr, told The Washington Post.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Egypt, but authorities have used vague public morality laws to arrest gay men in the country anyway. The U.S. State Department acknowledged violence targeting the LGBTQ community in Egypt in a 2021 report.

Grindr has sent similar warnings to users in 90 countries, according to Lenihan.

[Grindr is] pushing international organizations and governments to demand justice and safety for the Egyptian LGBTQ community, Lenihan said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukrainian troops have dug in at Bakhmut instead of pulling back. Some Western military experts said this tactic might be risky because they need to conserve forces for a counterattack.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, many who are older or have disabilities, were clinging on in grisly circumstances in Bakhmut and surrounding settlements.

"They are living in very dire conditions, spending almost the entire days in intense shelling in the [underground] shelters," said Umar Khan of the ICRC, speaking to a news briefing via video link from Dnipro, Ukraine.

"All you see is people pushed to the very limits of their existence and survival and resilience."

In its latest report on human rights abuses in the war, the United Nations confirmed thousands of civilian deaths as well as disappearances, torture and rape, mostly of Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas. Russia denies carrying out atrocities in what it calls a "special military operation."

U.S. senators from both parties urged the Biden administration Friday to share information that could assist the International Criminal Court as it pursues war crimes charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The letter to President Joe Biden from Democrats Dick Durbin, Bob Menendez, Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse and Republicans Lindsey Graham and Thom Tillis noted that Congress passed legislation to give the administration more flexibility in assisting the ICC.

"Knowing of your support for the important cause of accountability in Ukraine we urge you to move forward expeditiously with support to the ICC's work so that Putin and others around him know in no uncertain terms that accountability and justice for their crimes are forthcoming," the letter said.

Although the United States is not a party to the ICC, Biden said last week that Putin has clearly committed war crimes, adding that the ICC warrant was justified.

Last week, the court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. The legal move will obligate the court's 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he sets foot in their territory.

Firing on Donbas

Meanwhile, Russian forces fired a barrage of missiles Friday on northern and southern sections of the front line in Ukraines eastern Donbas region.

At least 10 civilians were killed and 20 were wounded in several parts of Ukraine by the missile strikes, according to regional officials. Five people died in Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk province when a missile hit an aid station.



Officials in Kyiv said the Russians used S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in the attacks. According to Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, the Russians targeted the Center for the Registration of Homeless Persons, which recently served as an "invincibility point" where war-stricken residents could warm up, recharge their cellphones and get food. Five refugees lived in the destroyed wing at the time of the attack.

Russian forces also used air-launched missiles, exploding drones and gliding bombs to attack several regions, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Airstrikes and rocket and artillery attacks killed two civilians and wounded nine overnight in the town of Bilopillia in Sumy province, according to officials in the northeastern region. In southern Ukraine, Russian shelling killed one person in the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian forces are poised for a spring counteroffensive to dislodge Russian troops from occupied areas as warmer weather sets in and new weapons, including tanks, come in from the West.

Nuclear warning

Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now deputy head of the country's Security Council, said its forces were ready to repel a counterattack.



Our General Staff is assessing all that, he said. Medvedev asserted that any Ukrainian attempt to take Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.



An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said. Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realize that.



Medvedevs warning echoed Russia's security doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or one with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.

Additionally, Medvedev said Western weapons, such as the U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems supplied to Ukraine, could be targeted. Russian officials claim that foreign instructors stationed in Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers would also be targeted.

If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Medvedev said in video posted to his messaging app channel. They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state, and they must be destroyed.

Kyiv denies this assertion and says soldiers are receiving their training in the U.S.

Medvedev disclosed that the Kremlin wants to create a "sanitary cordon of up to 100 kilometers around Russian-held areas, so that short- and medium-range weapons can't hit them.

He asserted that Moscow may even try to grab a chunk of Ukrainian territory stretching all the way to the Polish border.

Nordic air defense

To counter the rising threat from Russia, air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said Friday that they had signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defense.

Their aim is to operate jointly based on known ways under NATO, according to statements by the four countries' armed forces.

The move to integrate the air forces was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, commander of the Danish air force, Major General Jan Dam, told Reuters.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
North Korea tested a new underwater nuclear attack drone designed to create a "radioactive tsunami" on enemy coasts, state media claimed Friday, unveiling a weapon that appears to share some features with Russia's Poseidon super torpedo.

The test of the previously unknown North Korean drone, dubbed "Haeil," came during three days of military drills guided by the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The mission of the drone is to "stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through underwater explosion to destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports of the enemy," KCNA said.

The drone was launched Tuesday off the coast of North Korea's Riwon County and stayed in the water for more than 59 hours, doing oval and figure-eight patterns, before detonating its dummy warhead near a "mock enemy port" in Hongwon Bay, KCNA reported.

The drone "can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship," it added.

Since 2019, North Korea has frequently unveiled new weapons systems, many of which it says are nuclear-capable. It is not clear whether North Korea has succeeded in building warheads small enough to mount on missiles.

Pyongyang claims its latest tests are a response to U.S.-South Korea military exercises, which have increased in response to North Korea's unprecedented number of missile launches and other threats.

Defense analysts say North Korea's latest weapon appears to be an attempt to replicate Russia's nuclear-armed Poseidon, a new category of nuclear weapons that is essentially a cross between a large torpedo and an underwater drone.

Russia earlier this year claimed to have built its first batch of Poseidons, but it is not clear whether the advanced weapon has been deployed.

If North Korea has indeed built its own underwater nuclear weapon, there would be important differences between the Russian and North Korean versions, analysts say.

Russia's Poseidon uses nuclear propulsion  giving it essentially unlimited range. And Moscow says it can be launched from a submarine, making it much harder for adversaries to detect.

North Korea does not possess naval nuclear propulsion and is believed to have only one ballistic missile submarine, an experimental vessel, which would not be capable of handling such a weapon.

The North Korean weapon unveiled Friday would be "highly vulnerable" to the anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the United States and its allies, said Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.

However, North Korea would not need the endurance that comes with nuclear propulsion if the goal is to be able to reach the southern South Korean city of Busan or other nearby coastal targets, Panda said.

State media posted several images of the test, but the weapon was not fully visible in any of the photos. In one of the pictures, Kim smiled adoringly at one of the yellow and white weapons, which was partially obscured.

North Korean state media have in the past exaggerated the country's defense capabilities.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said North Korea's claims about a nuclear-capable underwater drone should be met with skepticism.

"But it is clearly intended to show that the Kim regime has so many different means of nuclear attack that any preemptive or decapitation strike against it would fail disastrously," he said.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, said it was difficult to immediately rule out the possibility of North Korea developing such a weapon.

"I don't know the exact extent to which we should believe North Korea's claims, but unmanned, underwater weapons systems have already been developed in various forms around the world," he said.

In its report Friday, KCNA said North Korea also launched four "strategic cruise missiles" as part of its three-day military drills this week.

The cruise missiles were tipped with mock nuclear warheads, which exploded in the air, 600 meters above their target, KCNA added.

It appears to be North Korea's latest attempt to simulate a nuclear airburst, the detonation of a warhead above ground to increase its effectiveness.

Earlier this week, North Korean state media conducted another airburst simulation  the first time Pyongyang has ever mentioned such a maneuver.

In the Friday report, Kim, the North Korean leader, hinted at continued weapons tests, as part of a response to what he called the "reckless military provocations" of the United States and South Korea.

Washington and Seoul on Thursday wrapped up 11 days of major military exercises, including some of their largest field exercises in five years.

However, the two allies are set to continue their displays of military might, as a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is expected to visit South Korea in the coming days.
Russias invasion of Ukraine has severely dislocated the Russian militarys training system  instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine, according to Britains Defense Ministry.

In a Twitter post Friday, the ministry said Russia has likely redeployed at least 1,000 troops who had been training at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground in south-western Belarus.

Russia has likely not dismantled the tented training camp, the British intelligence update said, suggesting that Russia is considering continuing the training programme under the much less-experienced Belarusian army.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the military is set to launch a counteroffensive against Russian troops, but needs help from their European neighbors.

"If Europe waits, Zelenskyy warned European leaders Thursday, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war.

In the video address, delivered from a train, Zelenskyy urged the leaders to expand and hasten their deliveries of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to use in its campaign to beat back the Russian invasion.

The European leaders signed a $2 billion deal Thursday, endorsed earlier this week by EU foreign and defense ministers, calling for both sending ammunition from existing stocks and for EU countries to work together to place new orders for more rounds.

With Russias attempt to capture Bakhmut stalled, the long-awaited counteroffensive will begin very soon, Ukraines top ground forces commander said Thursday.

Ukrainian Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on the Telegram social media site that Russias Wagner Group mercenaries, often convicts recruited out of prisons, "are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam in trying to take control of Bakhmut. After considering a pullout in the eastern city, Ukraine kept its troops in place, while also sending in reinforcements.

Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk," he said, naming cities Ukraine has defended or captured from Russian control.

Syrskyi was one of the top commanders behind Ukraine's strategy last year in the first weeks of the war that repelled Russia's assault on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, and turned back Moscow's forces through the second half of 2022.

On Wednesday, Britain's Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had launched a local counterattack west of Bakhmut that was likely to relieve pressure on the main route used to supply Kyiv's forces inside the city.

The ministry said there was still a threat that Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut could be surrounded, but there was "a realistic possibility the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained."

The front lines of the war in eastern Ukraine have largely stalemated in recent months, with neither side able to capture significant new territory, even as they both sustain huge numbers of casualties.

Moscow has not commented on Ukrainian claims that it is losing momentum in Bakhmut, but Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group mercenary boss, in recent days has pessimistically warned of a Ukrainian counterassault.

Earlier this week, Prigozhin published a letter to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, warning that Ukraine is trying to cut off Wagner's forces from Russia's regular troops and demanding Shoigu act to prevent this. Prigozhin said there would be "negative consequences" if he failed.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy continued his tour of frontline provinces, visiting the Kherson region in the south a day after meeting troops near Bakhmut. A video showed him meeting residents in Posad Pokrovske, a bombed-out village on the former Kherson frontline recaptured in Ukraine's last big advance last year.

"We will restore everything; we will rebuild everything. Just like with every city and village that suffered because of the occupiers," he wrote.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
In 2015, journalist Brie Zeltner investigated consequences of Cleveland, Ohio, having one of the highest child poverty rates in the United States.

One of the big impacts is infant deaths. We were looking at the rates of infant death across the city and then particularly in Black mothers, because there is a very big disparity between white infant deaths and Black infant deaths, Zeltner told VOA.

At the time, Zeltner, who specialized in health journalism for The Plain Dealer news outlet, reported that about 13 Cleveland newborns per 1,000 die before their first birthday. Black babies were more than two times as likely to die as white babies.

The problem was big, and it had been around for a long time, Zeltner said.

Going through the news outlets archives, she realized that previous health reporters came back to that topic about every 10 years, but there were no improvements. She therefore chose a different approach.

We wanted to find a place that was doing it better but also is very similar to Cleveland with its struggles. Baltimore, in terms of demographics, income, is pretty similar to Cleveland. And the infant mortality rates before they started to implement their changes were very similar to that very wide disparity between Black and white infant deaths, Zeltner said.

She discovered that Baltimore started to address the issue in 2009, and by 2015 they had already seen a 24-25% drop in the number of infant deaths.

After Zeltner published her stories, Cleveland officials contacted her for insights as they were working on an initiative to tackle the problem.

They started to implement many of the same kind of programs and systemwide changes that Baltimore had, targeting sleep-related deaths, systemic racism and its role in the treatment of Black mothers in the health care system and preterm birth rates, Zeltner said, adding that since the programs were launched in 2015, Cleveland had roughly the same percent decrease in infant deaths that Baltimore saw over that same period of time.

What Zeltner did at the time has become known as solutions journalism.

Solutions journalism is simply looking at the news in a broader way, to include what is working, Tina Rosenberg, vice president for innovation of the Solutions Journalism Network, told VOA.

Traditionally, journalists tend to define the news as what's not working, so we help journalists cover what's working but do so with rigor and high standards. You are not celebrating these efforts to solve problems. You're reporting on them just like you would report on any other news, she said.

Too much focus on bad news

Rosenberg co-founded the Solutions Journalism Network with David Bornstein. The two used to write a column called Fixes in The New York Times that looked at a different response to a social problem every week.

We started this organization to try and build a network of journalists doing the same thing, said Rosenberg, whose organization has educated more than 30,000 reporters in the 10 years since its founding.

It's not new; a lot of people have been doing solutions journalism without putting a name on it for a long time. What we have done is create a system for doing it and marshaled research around it in case studies and learning tools and help to spread it.

According to her, one of the key problems of media today is too much focus on bad news  in the United States, that trend started in the 1970s because of the Vietnam War and Watergate.

Journalism had before that a very cozy relationship with people in power and often gave powerful people a free pass to do what they wanted without being covered, and that was not good. So then came the rise of investigative journalism and a rise of parallel distrust of government, Rosenberg said.

Investigative journalism then became sort of the height of journalism, what people aspire to, and that has grown, and it has really gotten to the point where that is the only definite way of journalism. While it's very important to have investigative journalism, more important than ever, it can't be the only thing, and we believe the balance has to shift a little bit.

Rosenberg and Zeltner stressed that solutions journalism is not about positive stories or giving praise but rather about a response to a problem.

These are not kind of fluff pieces or feel-good stories, Zeltner said. You have to actually look into the evidence with some rigor and make sure that these solutions are viable and that the data that they are reporting is credible and all of those things that we owe to our readers.

It's not a human-interest story about an act of kindness, and it really is: Here is a problem that many people share, including people in our area, but look how another city has solved it, or look how this group has gone about trying to solve it. Are there things we can learn from that that we can do here? Solutions journalism is not just inspirational. It's insightful. It has insights that are useful to society, Rosenberg said.

An answer to the crisis in journalism

The Solutions Journalism Network has a database called Solutions Story Tracker, which contains 14,700 solution stories from more than 190 countries.

Rosenberg said journalists are practicing such reporting more and more, adding that one of the main reasons is the crisis that the news industry and journalism more broadly are experiencing.

Normally, our profession is very defensive and not open to change. But because we have these twin crises: the economic crisis that has destroyed advertising basically for newspapers, and also the existential crisis of journalism, all over the world, we're realizing people don't trust us, they don't like us, they don't believe us. And those two things have really combined to make journalism open to new ways of reporting, Rosenberg told VOA.

Zeltner is now director of content and programs at the nonprofit YouthCast Media Group, which trains high school students from under-resourced communities, 95% of whom are Black or Hispanic, in multimedia journalism.

We have high school student journalists working on feature-length stories two times a year, and they focus on solutions to these big issues in their own communities, Zeltner said.

Rosenberg said solutions journalism is not only about making investigations and stories more effective, but also changing the way marginalized communities and countries are covered.

When people go into a low-income Black community in Chicago, they're there to write about gun violence, nothing else. When reporters from mainstream media in the United States go into the South of the U.S., they're there to find people who have four teeth, Rosenberg said.

That's not the norm. But we make it look like the norm and we distort the narrative so much. And it is a social and racial injustice that underlines and makes possible all other social and racial injustices. And that has to change. Solutions journalism is a way of going about it.

This story originated in VOAs Serbian service.
Kotaro Kobari was returning from an all-night fishing expedition in his small boat off the remote Japanese island of Yonaguni in August last year when his phone suddenly lit up with notifications showing phone calls and messages he had missed while at sea.

For 15 years, Kobari had made his living fishing for marlin and tuna in the waters near Yonaguni, but he had never seen anything like this  as he returned home, he found throngs of reporters waiting to ask about his close call with disaster.

Kobari did not realize he was in any danger, until journalists and colleagues told him that the Chinese military had fired a ballistic missile over Taiwan and into the waters outside Yonaguni while he was fishing.

The Chinese missile, which fell just 80 kilometers from Yonaguni, was one of five that landed that day in Japans exclusive economic zone, part of Beijings outburst over then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan.

Now, Kobari, a tough-talking man in his early 60s, shrugs off the incident, though it clearly still angers him. Speaking to VOA while standing on his boat docked at Yonagunis main fishing port, Kobari said the crappy Chinese missile probably wouldnt have hurt him anyway.

Well, maybe it would have hurt me, he corrects himself.

The missile incident shattered nerves on Yonaguni  a quiet, tropical paradise that has the misfortune of being located in one of the world's tensest geopolitical hotspots.

Taiwan is just 100 kilometers away, easily visible on a clear day. Yonaguni is also close to a disputed group of islands that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China.

Traditionally, Yonaguni has been known for its thick rainforests, grassy coastal overlooks where wild horses roam free, and clear waters where divers can swim with hammerhead sharks. But increasingly, the island is drawing more attention because of its military facilities.

Gradual militarization

Yonaguni is the westernmost in a series of small Japanese islands, known as Yaeyama, that are gradually being transformed into a key line of defense as Japan embarks on its biggest military buildup since World War II.

For decades after World War II, the islands were demilitarized. Locals long joked that Yonaguni was a two-gun island, referring to the pair of police substations based there.

But Japanese authorities eventually began to realize the strategic significance of the islands, especially as Chinas military grew stronger and more willing to project force outside its borders.

In 2016, the Japanese government built a military base on Yonaguni  mainly for surveillance. Those facilities have steadily been fortified.

Last year, authorities brought a mobile radar unit to Yonaguni to monitor Chinese patrols near the disputed Senkaku islands, which China refers to as Diaoyu.

An electronic warfare unit is set to be installed by 2024. In late December, Japans Defense Ministry announced plans to deploy a missile defense unit  a move some fear could endanger the island during a potential Taiwan conflict.

Shigenori Takenishi, the head of a local fishing cooperative, said he welcomed the establishment of the military base but acknowledges many locals worry about the missiles.

Residents and islanders are very concerned that the deployment of the missile unit will make the island an offensive target for China, a hostile nation, said Takenishi.

Public opinion shifting

In a 2015 referendum, about 60% of Yonaguni voters approved the construction of the military base. Since then, many locals say support has increased, in part because of Chinas threatening behavior.

The experience of Kobari, the fisherman who was at sea during the Chinese missile incident, is instructive.

Kobari said he sees a growing number of aggressive Chinese patrols near the disputed islands.

Even before, they were around, but recently they chase you. They follow you. They approach you  the Chinese coast guard, I think. Its outrageous, Kobari said. If they hit me, theres no way I can win that contest. Its scary when a boat that big gets so close.

Chinas coast guard has defended its patrols near the islands, saying it is countering Japanese incursions into what it sees as Chinese territorial waters.

The situation has deepened Kobaris animosity toward China. Not only does he support the militarization of Yonaguni, but he says Tokyo authorities should go much further to deter the Chinese Communist Party, which he calls a cancer.

Defense buildup

Under plans released in December, Japan will roughly double defense spending over the next five years and for the first time deploy missiles that can hit military targets in other countries.

The policies smash through decades-old taboos in Japan, which has a technically pacifist constitution drafted by the United States following Tokyos defeat in World War II.

In an interview with VOA, Noriyuki Shikata, Cabinet secretary for public affairs at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office, defended the defense buildup, noting Japans challenging security landscape.

Unless we acquire, for example, counterstrike capabilities, its not going to be enough to defend ourselves, said Shikata.

Shikata said his government is extremely concerned about Chinese government patrols near the Senkaku Islands. He also said Tokyo is opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in Taiwan.

While China may be among the top concerns for Tokyo, there are other regional challenges, including North Korea, which is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, and Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine shocked many in Japan.

Many analysts say Russias invasion of its weaker neighbor has played a significant role in convincing both Japanese leaders and the public to support a more assertive foreign policy.

There is just one thing that matters  thats location, said Tomohiko Tanuguchi, a professor at Tokyos Keio University who has held numerous high-profile government positions. If Japan were in a different neighborhood, Japan would have been as pacifist as it was 45, 50 years ago.

'Less secure

Many Yonaguni residents fiercely oppose the military buildup  including Fumie Kano, who runs a tourist hostel in the house where she was born and raised.

We see how useless this military presence is, day after day. Having more military equipment doesnt make us feel more secure. Having military equipment causes war. We shouldnt be doing this here, she said.

In Kanos opinion, Tokyo should pay more attention to those in the older generation who experienced war and who oppose spending so much on weapons.

If a war broke out, Kano said she would not leave Yonaguni.

Id die on this island if it came to that. Itd be terrible. I love this island. I want to live here forever. Im angry at this policy that could ruin our lives, she said.

Park Kiho contributed to this story.
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Shou Zi Chew, chief executive officer of TikTok, pushed back Thursday against calls from US lawmakers to ban the social media app, contending that the company is not connected to the Chinese Communist Party. VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson has more
The U.S. military says it has carried out multiple precision airstrikes against targets in eastern Syria in response to a drone attack Thursday that killed a U.S. contractor.

The Pentagon said the contractor was killed Thursday at a coalition base in northeast Syria in a strike by a one-way attack drone that the intelligence community assessed was of Iranian origin.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement the U.S. retaliated with proportionate and deliberate precision strikes Thursday in Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, Austin said.

No group will strike our troops with impunity, he added.

The drone struck a maintenance facility on a base in Hasaka, Syria, at 1:38 p.m. local time, according to the Pentagon.

Six other Americans were wounded in the attack, including five U.S. service members. Two of the wounded service members were treated onsite, while three others and the U.S. contractor were medically evacuated to coalition medical facilities in Iraq, according to the U.S. military statement.

The United States has about 900 troops in eastern Syria to help Syrian Kurdish forces prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State terror group.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, the top U.S. military officer, and the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, warned lawmakers in separate hearings Thursday that Iran continues to destabilize the Middle East through its support to terrorist groups and proxy forces.

Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria 78 times using drones and rockets since January 2021, according to CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla.

This was another in a series of attacks on our troops and partner forces, Kurilla said late Thursday.

We will always take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing. We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks, he added.
Vice President Kamala Harris will become the highest-ranking Biden administration official to visit the African continent when she begins a tour of Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia next week. Her office says she will work on strengthening partnerships, security and economic prosperity, and analysts say her mere presence  as the first female vice president who has ancestral ties to the continent  is significant in itself. VOAs Anita Powell, who will be traveling with the vice president, reports from Washington.
What would turn bird flu  the kind that's killed millions of birds around the world and a few hundred people  into the next deadly pandemic?

Scientists want to know so they can get ahead of it. That's why, in 2010, two groups of researchers were studying an avian influenza virus that killed about half of the people it infected but does not spread easily among them. They infected ferrets with it to see what it would take to make it more transmissible. Ferrets' lungs and airways are a lot like ours.

"They would infect a ferret, wait a certain amount of time, take the virus that comes out of that ferret and infect the next ferret," said University of Michigan microbiologist Michael Imperiale.

After 10 rounds, the virus had mutated into a much more dangerous form. "They didn't have to transfer it from one ferret to the next," he said. "If they put the ferrets in close proximity, those ferrets could transfer to each other."

That virus has pandemic potential.

The scientists figured out what parts of the virus had mutated to make it spread more easily. That could help experts looking out for the next dangerous virus, they said, and it could help develop drugs and vaccines against it.

On the other hand, the researchers had just created a new, deadly, easy-to-spread disease threat. If it were to get out of the lab somehow, it could start a global pandemic.

Lab leaks are rare but they do happen. SARS escaped from labs in Singapore, Taiwan and China in the early 2000s. A lab accident in Britain led to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in livestock.

"It just shows that even the best labs in the world are not totally protected from accidents," said Harvard University epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch. "Humans are fallible."

The bird flu experiments set off alarm bells when the researchers went to publish their results in 2011, according to Rutgers University microbiologist Richard Ebright.

"I think everyone hearing the result was surprised, first, that anyone would be so ethically challenged as to conduct such an experiment; and second, surprised that there were no mechanisms of oversight whatsoever that would prevent a researcher from conducting such an experiment," he said.

Not everyone thought the experiments were fundamentally a bad idea. But they did kick off a push for more oversight.

That kind of research is worthwhile under two conditions, according to University of Michigan microbiologist Imperiale.

"Is it addressing a pressing biomedical issue, [for which] we have to have the answer? Is that really the only, or the best way to get it such that other approaches just will not get you to the answer you need? And if the answer to those two questions are yes, then let's figure out a way to do it safely," he said.

U.S. health authorities set up a framework to ask those questions and decide what research should get funding.

However, Ebright said, "that framework was sound on paper but it has not actually occurred in practice."

He said that several research projects that should have gotten extra scrutiny did not, including U.S.-funded research in Wuhan, China on what would make coronaviruses more infectious to people. Ebright contends that research could have been the source of the COVID-19 virus.

Where COVID-19 came from is fiercely debated. But the coronavirus pandemic has drawn more scrutiny of research on germs with pandemic potential.

"It reminds us that this is no laughing matter. It does not have to be a 50 percent lethal virus to cause global societal disruption and a lot of damage and that we need to be really careful," Lipsitch said.

"I think it has spurred some more cautious thought about oversight but the oversight really still is not in place," he added.

A U.S. advisory board has recommended ways to tighten the guidelines. Experts say they are a step in the right direction but loopholes remain. Some say they should be law, not guidelines.

On the other hand, Lipsitch noted, "there's a real risk that Congress will overreact and unduly restrict very valuable and completely safe research in an effort to restrict less valuable and more dangerous research."

Plus, the rules would only apply to U.S.-funded research. Other countries need to do the same, Imperiale said.

"If this is not some sort of international consensus, we're not accomplishing what we really want to accomplish here, which is keeping the world safe," he said. "Because, as we all know, infectious agents don't respect national borders."
Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection of the lungs, is one of the world's deadliest diseases. After decades of progress, TB cases are on the rise once more. As World TB Day is marked on Friday March 24, there are hopes a vaccine may be developed in the next few years to help eradicate the disease.

TB killed 1.6 million people last year. Progress against tackling the disease was set back significantly by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Dr. Lucica Ditiu, executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, an organization hosted and administered by the United Nations in Geneva.

"We lost many years of effort because of COVID -- because of the lockdown, because of the fact that actually the response to COVID was constructed a lot on the work, on the equipment, on the hospitals and dispensaries or on the staff that worked for TB. A lot of them were completely shifted to deal with COVID," Ditiu told VOA.

Doctors say that has led to rising numbers of people with untreated and undiagnosed tuberculosis.

India has the highest number of cases, with more than half a million TB deaths in 2021, about a third of the global total.

There is hope that the disease can be overcome this decade. India diagnosed and treated 2.4 million people with TB in 2022, the highest ever in any year. The Stop TB Partnership says several other countries have also made significant progress against the disease.

"Some of them by doing TB and COVID tests at the same time; some of them doing a very aggressive campaign of going door to door to find people [with TB]; some of them putting in place the call centers or community workers to go to.  India Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, all did very well in 2022 in terms of finding people with TB," Ditiu told VOA.

World TB Day on March 24 marks the anniversary of German doctor Robert Koch's discovery in 1882 of the bacterium that causes the disease.

This year, the theme is "Yes! We Can End TB." India has set a target to effectively eradicate tuberculosis by 2025. The Stop TB Partnership is holding a summit in Varanasi, India, to highlight what it describes as 'ground-breaking high-level political support,' new innovations and achievements to end tuberculosis in the lead-up to the September 22 second U.N. High-Level Meeting on TB.

The World Health Organization has set a global target of eradicating TB by 2030, primarily through diagnosis, treatment and the development of a vaccine.

"When you put together the fact that we have more political commitment, that we have a lot of new tools that we didn't have before, that we have the prospect of a vaccine to come in the next two, three years -- and we have an amazing civil society and community platform and networks -- it's actually giving us a lot of hope that we can end TB," Ditiu said.

However, that will require more money: an estimated $230 billion over the next eight years. While the funding has yet to be agreed, Ditiu remains hopeful.

"We are pretty convinced that the world will try to end TB and will try to be as bold as it was during COVID. Because for COVID, for the COVID vaccine, $100 billion were found more or less like that," she told VOA.

Tuberculosis is more prevalent and deadly in poorer countries. Scientists say a lack of commercial opportunity has hindered research and development into new TB medicines but development of a new vaccine would save millions of lives.
Global hospitality group Marriott International has signed an agreement with Neom, the developer of a major Saudi futuristic city, to open three properties on its luxury island destination Sindalah, situated in the Red Sea off the kingdom's northwest coast.

Sindalah is the first of a group of islands that will be developed in Neom and is set to be among the most alluring destinations in the Red Sea featuring exquisite facilities and offerings surrounded by a diverse ocean environment home to 2,000 marine species, 600 of which are endemic to the Red Sea.

Extending over an area of 840,000 sq m, Sindalah will be a new destination for one-of-a-kind nautical and yachting experiences, located just 17 hours sail from the Mediterranean and featuring a 86-berth marina for yachts up to 75 meters and serviced offshore buoys for superyachts up to 180m.

Additionally, the island will include over 400 ultra-premium hotel rooms and 300 top-end suites, a beach club, a glamorous yacht club, and 38 unique culinary offerings.

Unveiling the big Saudi plans, Marriott said the multi-deal agreement includes Saudi Arabias first Autograph Collection Hotels property, as well as two Luxury Collection properties.

Autograph Collection Hotels are a product of passion inspired by a clear vision, soul, and story that makes it individual and special, it stated.

Expected to open in 2024, the Autograph Collection property in Sindalah will offer a choice of 66 rooms and suites, including one- and two-bedroom villas, multiple dining options, a kids club, and a spa.

The Luxury Collection aims to offer global travellers a gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. It is expected to open two properties in the highly anticipated island destination, featuring transformational experiences and destination-rooted authenticity.

Slated to open in 2024, a beach resort will offer a mix of 70 luxury rooms and suites, including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom villas all featuring private pools, said Marrriott in its statement.

The second project, projected to open in 2024, is expected to be an all-suite property offering 115 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury suites, and will be situated in the heart of the retail and marina district of Sindalah.

Both Luxury Collection properties are set to showcase multiple culinary experiences and leisure facilities, it added.

Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, said: "Neom is one of the most highly-anticipated developments in the world and we look forward to working with its team to develop these three exciting properties."

"The Luxury Collection and Autograph Collection Hotels properties will express their own unique personality inspired by the exceptional natural landscapes of Neom. We continue to see growth opportunities for our brand portfolio within the destination and Saudi Arabia overall," he added.

The first destination in the Saudi futuristic city to start welcoming guests, Sindalah is expected to open its doors to guests from early next year. The three projects are expected to the first hotels to open on the island.

"Marriott International offers one of the most compelling portfolios in the entire industry and enjoys a stellar reputation in the region," remarked Chris Newman, the Executive Director, Hotel Development at Neom, the division responsible for building a future-centric hospitality ecosystem in the region.

"We are thrilled by the prospect of working together and look forward to building a hospitality experience that captures the spirit of Sindalahs year-long appeal, while creating unforgettable memories for our guests," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market size is projected to grow from 1482 thousand Units in 2022 to 6,193 thousand units by 2027, at a CAGR of 33.1% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market"

226  Tables

51  Figures

260  Pages.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id= 142827777

Report Attributes Details Market size value in 2022: 1482 thousand Units Projected to reach 2027: 6,193 thousand Units CAGR: 33.1% Base Year Considered: 2021 Forecast Period: 2022-2027 Largest Market: Asia Pacific Region Covered: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World Segments Covered: Vehicle Type, Battery, Distance Covered, Voltage, Technology, Vehicle Class Usage, and Region Companies Covered: Yadea Group Holdings Ltd. (China), Jiangsu Xinri E-Vehicle Co., Ltd. (China), NIU International (China), Silence Urban Ecomobility (Spain), and Hero Electric (India).

A total of 33 major company profiles covered and provided



The Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market has promising growth potential due to several factors, including the improving charging infrastructure, innovative battery technologies, increasing demand for efficient commuting options, and improving design & performance specifications. The rapidly growing sales volume of affordable E-Scooters in Asia Pacific, especially in China has propelled the growth of the global Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market.

By technology type, the plug-in segment is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

In the Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market, by technology type, the plug-in segment is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The market for plug-in electric two wheelers is estimated to be the largest and grow faster due to the larger adoption of Lithium-ion batteries. The plug-in option offers advantages such as the convenience of home charging and public charging facilities provided by the manufacturers and governments. They also offer the option of better battery optimization as in many e-scooters and motorcycles, an option of dual battery is offered, which can be used while the other one is charging, thus reducing the waiting time.

Story continues

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The below 75 miles segment is expected to be the largest segment in the forecast.

The below 75 miles segment is estimated to dominate the global Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market, as the majority of the electric scooters/mopeds have a range of up to 75 miles. Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest market for the below 75 miles range in 2027 due to the dominance of electric scooters/mopeds over electric motorcycles, especially in China. These scooters/mopeds are used daily to commute and range below 75 miles on a single full charge. Yadea, NIU, and Xinri are major manufacturers of electric two wheelers in China, providing electric scooters with a traveling range of below 75 miles. Hero Electric and Okinawa (India) are offering electric scooters in this range. This range is most suited for electric scooters/mopeds, which are largely popular in India and China. Other than established players there are new players across the globe, which offer models such as Hero Electric Dash, Bounce Infinity E1, and TVS i- Qube. These are a few of the models that have a range of less than 75 miles on a single charge. There are newer models to be launched, which include Hero Electric AE-8, Hero Electric AE-29, TVS Creon, etc. So, rising demand from Asia Pacific and the availability of new models would play a key role in driving the demand for this market

Europe is expected to be the second-largest market during the forecast period.

Europe presents a significant growth opportunity for electric scooters and motorcycles as it is expected to be the second-largest market during the forecast period. The increasing concerns over carbon emissions by conventional ICE two-wheelers and efficiency in this mode of travel have led the European two wheeler manufacturers to develop electric scooters and motorcycles, which has propelled the growth of the Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market . The demand for electric scooters is strong for private use by the end users, while the fleet market is experiencing some downsides due to the sharp economic decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for smart, light, removable, easy-to-charge, and affordable is increasing from the end users. Based on the sales data for 2021, NIU (China), V-Moto (Australia), and Askoll (Italy) dominate the market in Europe.

Key Market Players:

The major players in global Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market include Yadea Group Holdings Ltd. (China), Jiangsu Xinri E-Vehicle Co., Ltd. (China), NIU International (China), Silence Urban Ecomobility (Spain), Zhejiang Luyuan Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd (China) and Hero Electric (India). These companies offer extensive products and solutions for the electric two-wheeler industry; have strong distribution networks at the global level, and invest heavily in R&D to develop new products.

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Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting

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E-bike Market - Global Forecast to 2027

Electric Vehicle Market - Global Forecast to 2030

EV Battery Market - Global Forecast to 2027

Electric Commercial Vehicle Market - Global Forecast to 2030

CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com




Zimbabweans have expressed outrage over an Al-Jazeera documentary series chronicling how a criminal syndicate linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is allegedly laundering money and smuggling gold out of the country to Dubai.

Mnangagwas ambassador-at-large, Ubert Angel, boasted to the broadcasters undercover journalists and offered to use his diplomatic status to launder millions of U.S. dollars through a gold-smuggling scheme.

He is quoted in the documentary saying, You want gold, gold we can do it right now, we can make the call right now, and its done It will land in Zimbabwe  Zimbabwe cant touch it too until I get to my house. So, there can be a diplomatic plan.

Several other gold dealers appear in the sting operation.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced Wednesday that it is investigating Angel and his business associate, Ewan MacMillan.

Zimbabwes insurance authority says the intelligence unit of the central bank is seeking information about assets of Uebert Angel, who is featuring prominently in a hard-hitting Al Jazeera documentary exposing gold smuggling scams, involving some state officials.

In a statement, the Insurance and Pensions Commission said they need information about assets belonging to Eubert Mudzanire (alias Eubert Angel) and one Ewan MacMillan for conducting thorough investigations in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (MLPCA).

The Commission said it is required by the law to coordinate with Financial Intelligence Unit in the assessment of the money laundering and terrorist financing risks to which the country is exposed.

Angel is the ambassador at Large for Europe and Americas and also President Emmerson Mnangagwas special envoy.

The statement signed by commissioner Grace Muradzikwa, reads in part,  We are in receipt of an urgent communication from the FIU requesting all industry players to assist with information on insurance products, insured assets held or disposed by these individuals directly or indirectly through companies or trusts during the period I January 2020 and 21 March 2023  The information being requested is confidential in terms of section 31 of the MLPC Act and therefore should be regarded as such.

Angel was not responding to calls on his mobile phone while MacMillan was unreachable.
WASHINGTON - The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says it is closely monitoring a documentary series in which some state officials, gold smugglers, suspected criminals, fixers and others are smuggling the precious mineral worth billions of dollars per year to Dubai and other countries.

ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner Thabane Mlobane, said, What I can say is that we are also following the documentary series. An official position is that we are following the documentary series.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said police have not yet viewed the documentary, which revealed shady gold deals being allegedly conducted by some Zimbabweans, including ambassador at large Uebert Angel and Henrieta Rushwaya.

The two, who were unreachable for comment, are said to be linked to some government officials and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Nyathi said, We have not yet seen the documentary. We will inform you about our position when we see the documentary.

VOA Zimbabwe Service was unable to reach presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and information secretary Nick Mangwana, who were unreachable on their mobile phones.

Al Jazeera yesterday aired its first edition of a five-part gold smuggling documentary series.

Zimbabweans expressed outrage over the Al-Jazeera documentary chronicling how a criminal syndicate linked to Mnangagwa, is allegedly laundering money and smuggling gold out of the country to Dubai.

Citizens Coalition for Change interim leader, Nelson Chamisa, said, THE FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD. The #aljazeeradocumentary exposes the extent of the rot at the top, but its just the tip of the iceberg.This clearly shows how corrupt, rotten & broken leadership has destroyed a jewel and great country. Zimbabwe is not poor, its just poorly governed!

Angel, boasted to the broadcasters undercover journalists and offered to use his diplomatic status to launder millions of U.S. dollars through a gold-smuggling scheme.

He is quoted in the documentary as saying, You want gold, gold we can do it right now, we can make the call right now, and its done It will land in Zimbabwe  Zimbabwe cant touch it too until I get to my house. So, there can be a diplomatic plan.

Several other gold dealers appear in the sting operation.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced Wednesday that it is investigating Angel and his business associate, Ewan MacMillan.

Zimbabwes insurance authority says the intelligence unit of the central bank is seeking information about assets of Uebert Angel, who is featuring prominently in a hard-hitting Al Jazeera documentary exposing gold smuggling scams, involving some state officials.

In a statement, the Insurance and Pensions Commission said they need information about assets belonging to Eubert Mudzanire (alias Eubert Angel) and one Ewan MacMillan for conducting thorough investigations in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (MLPCA).

The Commission said it is required by the law to coordinate with Financial Intelligence Unit in the assessment of the money laundering and terrorist financing risks to which the country is exposed.

Angel is the ambassador at Large for Europe and Americas and also President Emmerson Mnangagwas special envoy.

The statement signed by commissioner Grace Muradzikwa, reads in part,  We are in receipt of an urgent communication from the FIU requesting all industry players to assist with information on insurance products, insured assets held or disposed by these individuals directly or indirectly through companies or trusts during the period I January 2020 and 21 March 2023  The information being requested is confidential in terms of section 31 of the MLPC Act and therefore should be regarded as such.

Angel was not responding to calls on his mobile phone while MacMillan was unreachable.
Russian forces fired a barrage of missiles Friday on northern and southern sections of the front line in Ukraines eastern Donbas region.

At least 10 civilians were killed and 20 were wounded in several parts of Ukraine by the missile strikes, according to regional officials. Five people died in Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk province when a missile hit an aid station.



Officials in Kyiv said the Russians attacked with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. According to Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, the Russians targeted the Center for the Registration of Homeless Persons, which recently also worked as the Point of Invincibility, where war-stricken residents could warm up, recharge their cellphones and get food. Five refugees lived in the destroyed wing at the time of the attack.

Russian forces also used air-launched missiles, exploding drones and gliding bombs to attack several regions, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Two civilians were killed and nine were wounded in the town of Bilopillia in Sumy province overnight in airstrikes and rocket and artillery attacks, according to officials in the northeastern region. In southern Ukraine, Russian shelling killed one person in the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian forces are poised for a counteroffensive in the spring as warmer weather sets in and new weapons, including tanks, are coming in from the West to dislodge Russian troops from occupied areas.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and now deputy head of the country's Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said its forces were ready to repel a counterattack.



Our General Staff is assessing all that, he said. Medvedev asserted that any Ukrainian attempt to take Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.



An attempt to split part of the state away means an encroachment at the very existence of the state, he said. Quite obviously, it warrants the use of any weapons. I hope our friends across the ocean realize that.



Medvedevs warning echoes Russia's security doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or one with conventional weapons that threatens the very existence of the Russian state.

Additionally, Medvedev said Western weapons, such as the U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems supplied to Ukraine, could be targeted. Russian officials claim that foreign instructors stationed in Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers would also be targeted.

If Patriot or other weapons are delivered to the territory of Ukraine along with foreign experts, they certainly make legitimate targets, which must be destroyed, Medvedev said in video posted to his messaging app channel. They are combatants, they are the enemies of our state, and they must be destroyed.

Kyiv denies this assertion and says soldiers are receiving their training in the U.S.

SEE ALSO:

Medvedev disclosed that the Kremlin wants to create a "sanitary cordon of up to 100 kilometers around Russian-held areas, so that short- and medium-range weapons can't hit them.

He asserted that Moscow may even try to grab a chunk of Ukrainian territory stretching all the way to the Polish border.

In an attempt to counter the rising threat from Russia, air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said Friday that they had signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defense.

The intention is to be able to operate jointly based on known ways under NATO, according to statements by the four countries' armed forces.

The move to integrate the air forces was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, commander of the Danish air force, Major General Jan Dam, told Reuters.

In its daily assessment of the war, Britains Defense Ministry said that Russias invasion of Ukraine has severely dislocated the Russian militarys training system.

In a Twitter post Friday, the ministry said Russia has likely redeployed at least 1,000 troops who had been training at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground in southwestern Belarus.

Russia has likely not dismantled the tented training camp, the British intelligence update said, suggesting that Russia is considering continuing the training program under the much less experienced Belarusian army.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Ensurge Micropower ASA

Oslo, 24 March 2023

Reference is made to the announcement by Ensurge Micropower ASA (the "Company") on 14 March 2023 regarding the held Extraordinary General Meeting in the Company(EGM), and the approval of all proposals, hereunder a share capital reduction, by such EGM.

The share capital reduction has now been duly registered in the Register of Business Enterprises. Following the share capital reduction, the Company's share capital is NOK 24,422,849.80 divided into 244,228,498 shares, each share having a par value of NOK 0.10.

The share capital increase resolved by the EGM will be registered separately with the Register of Business Enterprises.

Contact

Stale Bjrnstad - Investor Relations

E-mail: stale.bjornstad@ensurge.com (mailto:stale.bjornstad@ensurge.com)

Phone: +47 99 16 76 72

About Ensurge Micropower

Ensurge is Energizing Innovation (TM) with ultrathin, flexible, and safe energy storage solutions for wearable devices, connected sensors, and beyond. Ensurge's innovative solid-state lithium battery (SSLB) technology is uniquely positioned to enable the production of powerful, lightweight, and cost-effective rechargeable batteries for diverse applications. The company's state-of-the-art flexible electronics manufacturing facility, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, combines patented process technology and materials innovation with the scale of roll-to-roll production methods to bring the advantages of SSLB technology to established and expanding markets. Ensurge Micropower ASA ("Ensurge") is a publicly listed company in Norway with corporate headquarters in Oslo and global headquarters in San Jose, California.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.




Photo: CBS

A good chunk of late night was off this week  perhaps because the Oscars are over and fewer celebs need to press the flesh. But Succession, Yellowjackets, and Swarm all have premieres this week, and those who showed up went hard. Vulture darling Jamie Demetriou went on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Jennifer Aniston touched things with Jimmy Fallon. And both she and Molly Shannon doubted recent Mark Twain honoree Adam Sandlers fashion bona fides. We even got comedic opinions on #Scandoval, thanks to Molly Shannon and WWHL. But the top comedic spot this week belongs to someone who has been doing variety-show content since 1988.

5. Tooning Out Takes CPAC

Tooning Out the News took a cartoon to CPAC, which is both ridiculous and explains why its so much later than everyone elses CPAC content. But once again, Tooning Outs cuntiness serves it well. The cartoons are so mean to this former principal who cant tell an obviously fake woke childrens book from an obviously fake right-wing childrens book. They dont want to read Both Sides of the Diary of Anne Frank, because theyre worried both sides is a reference to bisexuality?! A lot to unpack there! No other late-night show would get that nasty, thus we only know the floor of conservative idiocy thanks to Tooning Out the News.

4. Julie Bowen Lets Loose

Hey, Julie Bowen, are you okay? The former Modern Family mom talked a lot about being into Harry Styles sexually and her sons belief that a Styles concert is a target-rich environment as a young straight boy. Is he wrong? No. Should Bowen be blowing up his spot or using her Claire Dunphy privilege to turn her teen sons horniness into content? Also no. Should someone give her a Better Thingsstyle show that she co-runs with some whelp from Harvard? Like, yesterday. Julie, youre a mess, girl. But youre doing it telegenically. Season order now.

3. WWHL Does Some Accent Work

Melanie Lynskey and Matthew Rhys are two of the most likely Oh, this should be good ringers currently on late night. So is it any surprise that they both did wonders reenacting Lala and Raquels fight from last weeks Vanderpump Rules? Hell no. If the cast of Vanderpump Rules met someone with the candor of a Welsh or Aotearoan person, I think their brains would explode, Scanners style. As it is, both Rhys and Lynskey got to flex their outstanding American accents. Even Ariana, who takes sketch comedy very seriously, could never.

2. Caroline Polachek Gives a Canonical Performance on The Tonight Show

We dont usually cover musical guests in this column, since we focus hard on the comedy sector of late-night variety. But when Caroline Polachek is in this silly and goofy mood, we have to respond. She got full-body makeup to match her album art and look like she has nu-metal ringworm. Thats fucking funny! Polachek has previously bristled at being called this generations Kate Bush. But if she doesnt want that smoke, she shouldnt do faces at the camera that are so evocative of Bushs special at Efteling amusement park. There are a few truly canonical late-night musical performances. Ariana Grande doing Imagine on The Tonight Show within days of being turned away from 30 Rock by Pete Davidson, the cast of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark doing A Freak Like Me Needs Company on Letterman, and Letterman vibing hard with Future Islands are all iconic in their own way. Caros performance this week has the opportunity to get to that height.

1. Bob Odenkirk Shoots to Kill on The Late Late Show

When Bob Odenkirk gets his sketch-comedy face on, bitches beware. Odenkirk absolutely popped off last week as the latest villain on Blippi, but he absolutely soared this week while brandishing an end of show gift crossbow on The Late Late Show. Two things took this scene to the next level: First, there was the addition of realistic violence, but Odenkirk played an only slightly heightened version of himself. It was chiller yet worse than his normal talk-show persona  evocative of every opening segment of Mr. Show With Bob and David. But second, it reminded us of the time he tried to make his adoptive daughter, Superstar, into a tap-dancing nepo baby. Knees up!
Photo: Filippo Bernardini/Facebook

On Thursday afternoon, a judge finally brought an end to the strange case of Filippo Bernardini, the Italian man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to impersonating hundreds of people in the book-publishing industry in order to steal unpublished manuscripts. While the government argued that Bernardini should spend a year in prison, Judge Colleen McMahon didnt agree. Her verdict: no jail time.

If one theme held the proceedings on Thursday together, it was the enduring mystery of the crime. As the prosecution, the defense, and the judge all noted, Bernardini never sold these manuscripts, nor profited off of them in any way. Not even Bernardini seemed able to fully explain exactly why he had dedicated years of his life to such a bizarre caper, and everyone admitted they had never dealt with a case like this before. I have no idea what to do with this case, and Ive thought about it a lot, Judge McMahon said. I dont expect to see anything like this ever again.

In a letter to the court, Bernardini offered his first explanation for his crime. His defense began simply and sympathetically: I have always loved books. He had grown up in a small town, and says that reading offered a way to feel like he was somewhere else  a way to create his own world. Bernardini said the warmth and excitement that came with opening a new book as a teenager felt euphoric, and that he had long been obsessed with getting his hands on new books, a desire he had previously described in a pseudonymous teenage novel. I could not get enough of it, he wrote.

Bernardini described his scheme as a sort of impulsive whim that got carried away. He was stuck in the lower rungs of the publishing world, watching others share book manuscripts above him, and wanted a piece of the action. He says the first fake email address he created was for someone he knew of in the publishing world. When that request was successful, from that moment on, this behaviour became an obsession, a compulsive behaviour, he wrote in his letter to the court. He was fueled, he wrote, by a burning desire to feel that he was a publishing professional, and when he couldnt achieve a more stable position, he started cosplaying as though he had. Every time an author sent me the manuscript I would feel like I was still part of the industry, Bernardini said.

The government, for its part, argued that Bernardinis motivation was irrelevant. I dont think its worth dwelling on the motive, Daniel Nessim, the prosecuting attorney, told the court. I think its still a mystery. Whatever drove him, Nessim argued, it wasnt simply a desire to read books before the rest of the public. He wanted to focus the courts attention instead, on the longevity and sophistication of the crime. In addition to the impersonations, Bernardini had gone so far as to set up a fake website to phish login credentials for a literary scouting companys database.

Throughout the hearing, the judge pressed both sides, neither of whom made an entirely convincing case. Because the crime was so bizarre and ungraspable  He went to all this effort to steal book manuscripts?  the prosecution attempted to compare it to cases with clearer motives, like stealing someones credit-card information or nude photographs. (I dont equate those two, the judge said.) The defense, meanwhile, did its best to glide over the most discomfiting aspects of Bernardinis crime  namely, the way he seemed to take some pleasure in toying with his victims.

Bernardinis attorney, Jennifer Brown, began her defense by pointing out that the government was missing a substantial component of the case  the mental health piece. After his arrest, Brown said that Bernardini was diagnosed with autism by a forensic psychiatrist. There were signs early on (his proficiency with languages, and the fact that he built a childhood collection of more than 400 Disney movies) but it had gone undiagnosed for years. Bernardinis autism, Brown said, drove his obsessive collecting and contributed to an inability to realize that he was doing something wrong.

McMahon expressed sympathy for Bernardinis diagnosis, but rejected the idea that it fully explained or excused his behavior. (When Brown argued that her client was unable to think about his crime from the point of view of the victims, a core deficit of autism, she said, McMahon pointed out this was a core deficit of most criminal behavior.) McMahon said she understood how autism might have played a role in the compulsion to collect things, the compulsion to feel like you belong, but it didnt explain, for instance, the time he told a Swedish literary agent who had sniffed out his scheme that he hoped they died of COVID. Theres no compulsion to threaten people, McMahon said. She wondered if Bernardini wasnt a bit like Leonardo DiCaprios character from Catch Me If You Can  someone who seemed to have enjoyed the scheme itself as much as the books he claimed to love so much. He was getting off on fooling people, and keeping it going, she said.

Bernardinis lawyers presented him as a sympathetic figure who had suffered enough. He had spent more than a year living in a country where he had only one friend, under strict supervision  he was still wearing an ankle bracelet  and wrote in his letter there have been times when I have gone weeks on end without any physical human interaction. He had spent a year away from his partner in London, and his beloved dog, a French bulldog named Dolly, which his lawyer described as like his child. Bernardini had been unable to work in the U.S., and after his arrest, he said it took him months to even pick up a book. The cruel irony is that every time I open a book, it reminds me of my wrongdoings and what they led me to, he wrote. He wouldnt work in publishing again, in part because its unlikely anyone would hire him, but also because he said he needs to completely detoxify myself from what became an obsession. (Its also difficult to imagine him wanting to go back: His lawyer pointed out that an $88,000 fee Bernardini is required to pay to Penguin Random House, for legal and other fees the company incurred, is roughly four times the salary he received in his most recent publishing job, at Simon & Schuster in the U.K.) My name will always be associated with this crime, Bernardini wrote. It is my scarlet letter.

The government argued that a prison sentence would help deter other cybercriminals; McMahon saw the theoretical value in the argument, on the notion that some geek out there wont do what you did if they saw he had been punished, but she didnt think it would make much difference. But she also rejected the notion that the weirdness of the crime made it a victimless one; she was especially moved by a letter from a literary scout who had been falsely accused by others in the publishing industry of being the culprit. Ultimately, she noted, sending Bernardini to jail wasnt likely to make his victims feel better, or safer. The felony conviction itself meant that Bernardini would need to leave the U.S. immediately, and would not be able to come back.

Several of Bernardinis victims wrote letters to the court arguing against his incarceration, including the novelist Jesse Ball, whom Bernardini had impersonated. Ball argued that, in a certain way, he appreciated Bernardinis caper. The difficulties of my manuscripts being stolen were none, Ball wrote. On the other hand, the benefit of having it stolen was that I suddenly felt once again I lived in a community, a place where things matter because there is memory, attendant eyes fastening on to things that happen. For once a person cared deeply about something  what matter that he was an interloper? Ball lamented the soul-crushing boredom of run-of-the-mill publishing correspondence and the fact that the industry has become more and more corporate and cookie-cutter. He was glad to know the book world was still capable of a little mystery. We must be grateful when something human enters the picture, Ball wrote. When the publishing industry for once becomes something worth writing about.
Oh, you like podcasts? Sign up for Vultures new recommendation newsletter 1.5x Speed here. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

The turbulent stretch for the audio world continues. National Public Radio, a foundational pillar in American news radio and one of the biggest podcast publishers in the world, moved to lay off 10 percent of its staff, or well over a hundred employees, over the past week, marking the organizations sharpest reduction in workforce since the 2008 economic crisis. Several veteran staffers have also opted to leave; some, like stalwart foreign correspondent Sylvia Poggioli, have stepped into retirement. The organization first announced plans for these layoffs last month, citing a rapidly weakening advertising environment and a steep decline in underwriting (i.e., sponsorship) revenues. In that earlier announcement, NPR CEO John Lansing singled out a huge drop in podcast revenues in particular, which is a striking turn of events, given that the organization was touting record growth in the category as recently as 2021.

To cap things off, the public-radio mothership also announced that its halting production on four podcasts: Invisibilia, Louder Than a Riot, Rough Translation, and the year-old Wait, Wait, Dont Tell Me  spinoff, Everyone & Their Mom. Many hosts and staffers on those productions were also part of the layoffs. Among those affected are Louder Than a Riot staffers Gabriella Bulgarelli, Soraya Shockley, Sam J. Leeds, and Mano Sundaresan; Invisibilia host Yowei Shaw; and Everyone & Their Mother host Emma Choi.

Unfortunately, NPR has had to take painful but necessary steps to address a $30m shortfall in revenues from corporate sponsorship, an NPR spokesperson told Vulture. Weve tried as much as possible to retain industry-leading podcast portfolios and focus on key strategic priorities, daily habits, and serving new audiences. We are stopping production of some of our seasonal podcasts after their current season  These projects include some of the best work NPR has ever done. We are exploring ways this work can continue in other forms. We are losing some amazing people.

The cuts seem to underscore the organization leaning harder into its broadcast-radio roots.

Worth noting: Regularly publishing shows, like Throughline, are not affected, while Embedded, NPRs investigative podcast that previously followed a seasonal model, will be formally converted into a more regular publishing cadence; to some extent, that production had already being doing this with its recent housing of limited series like White Lies and The Last Cup. All programs that exist both as podcasts and broadcast radio shows, like Code Switch and Planet Money, will continue production.

Speaking to NPRs own media reporter, David Folkenflik, Lansing framed the cuts in stark terms. We literally are fighting to secure the future of NPR at this very moment by restructuring our cost structure, he said. Its that important. Its existential. According to Folkenfliks report, the cuts were spread widely across the organization, impacting production teams, digital staffers, and front-of-mic talent alike.

To state the obvious, this is a massive blow to NPRs current operational fabric and culture, not to mention internal morale, given that its losing many longtime staffers who hold considerable institutional knowledge. But the cuts could also impose debts on the organizations long-term future whenever it does finally dig out from under its current financial strains. A sense of symbolism wasnt lost on many observing that the weeks cuts seem to underscore the organization leaning harder into its broadcast-radio roots, as most of the surviving podcasts were already programs additionally repackaged for broadcast distribution.

Furthermore, three of the four retired podcasts represented meaningful new paths for diversification for NPR, whose style and substance has been occasionally criticized over the years as excessively serving the white American upper middle class. Louder Than a Riot, produced through the hallowed NPR Music desk, brought a distinctly Black sound and perspective to the organizations long-form coverage on the music business, even as the team  many of whom were laid off  seemed to lack robust institutional support. News of the shows cessation came a day after the second episode of its sophomore season, which focuses on the legacy of women and misogynoir in the hip-hop world, hit podcast feeds everywhere.

I was laid off from @NPR w/ my brilliant team @LouderThanARiot.



As a 1st time SP, leading a year+ of reporting w/ limited resources was rough. Launching w/ the layoffs hanging over us was too. And being asked to finish the show knowing we lost our jobs is by far the hardest.  free samples (@gabbybulgarelli) March 23, 2023

Rough Translations was a rigorous effort to produce audio documentaries that explored stories through a global frame, marking a determined attempt to counterbalance the American-centrism of the organizations news coverage. That show has been around for six years, and its latest season is still scheduled to come out later in the summer.

Amen to that. The world tunes in to podcasts and we should think about that audience. I still believe in this mission to tell stories outside the American gaze. https://t.co/kqtJzscVgj  Gregory Warner (@radiogrego) March 23, 2023

When Everyone & Their Mom launched last year, press materials emphasized the fact the podcast features the organizations first Gen-Z host, Emma Choi.

I cant believe that I got laid off and had a midterm on the same day https://t.co/vCHgdpqASw  emma choi (@emmaeunjoo) March 23, 2023

The shuttering of Invisibilia is perhaps the most surprising development. Debuting all the way back in 2015, Invisibilia was NPRs first major podcast launch in the post-Serial era, with those early episodes reportedly garnering 33 million downloads within its first three months. Its hard to overstate just how big of a deal the shows success was during that period, symbolizing the possibilities of what NPR could be during the opening innings of whats now known as the podcast boom. Invisibilia, too, eventually became a meaningful example for how NPR could expand its sound, after current hosts Yohei Shaw and Kia Miakka Natisse took over and reinvented the program in 2021.

A lot has changed since 2015. The media and podcast world rapidly changed around NPR, and for several years, it seemed like the public-radio institution was similarly changing in response in terms of how it thinks about operations, diversity, how it sounds, who it serves. But moments of deep crises tend to bring out fundamental identities, both in people and in institutions. NPR losing so many of its people is already such a horrible thing. Whats additionally distressing about this moment is what it portends for the possibilities of NPRs future  and what it reveals, perhaps, about how NPR has always thought of itself.

1.5x Speed: A Weekly Newsletter of Podcast Recommendations and Reviews Listening notes for the top shows, from Vultures critic Nick Quah. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.
Hosts of the Day. Photo: John Parra/Getty Images for Comedy Central

When it was first announced that The Daily Show would be filling Trevor Noahs vacated seat with a rotating slate of guest hosts until fall 2023, Comedy Central emphasized that the shows current cast of correspondents  Roy Wood Jr., Dulce Sloan, Ronny Chieng, etc.  would all get turns at the helm. The show is currently in the midst of making good on this promise, and on April 19, the network announced plans to toss in a little bonus. During the week of May 22, The Daily Shows news team will host as a collective. Itll be like The Avengers but for topical-news-based comedy shows.

In addition, Comedy Central announced the list of names of people who will be shepherding the show through the end of June. Following on the heels of Michael Kostas previously announced hosting turn, the show will pass the baton to Charlamagne tha God (week of May 15), the aforementioned news team (week of May 22), Michelle Wolf (week of June 5), Ronny Chieng (week of June 12), Lewis Black (week of June 20), and Desus Nice (week of June 26). Charlamagne will get the chance to bring his famed Donkey of the Day segment to The Daily Show, Wolf will have the opportunity to show Netflix why it was wrong for canceling her show The Break With Michelle Wolf, and Desus will get another shot (following a guest-hosting stint of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in August 2022) to prove that he can hold down a show without his former partner, The Kid Mero.

Below is the list of all of the comedians who have guest-hosted The Daily Show since Noahs departure and those on the schedule for future shows.

Week of January 17: Leslie Jones

Week of January 23: Wanda Sykes

Week of January 30: D. L. Hughley

Week of February 6: Chelsea Handler

Week of February 13: Sarah Silverman

Week of February 27: Hasan Minhaj

Week of March 6: Marlon Wayans

Week of March 13: Kal Penn

Week of March 20: Al Franken

Week of March 27: John Leguizamo

Week of April 3: Roy Wood Jr.

Week of April 17: Jordan Klepper

Week of April 24: Desi Lydic

Week of May 1: Dulce Sloan

Week of May 8: Michael Kosta

Week of May 15: Charlamagne tha God

Week of May 22: News-team takeover

Week of June 5: Michelle Wolf

Week of June 12: Ronny Chieng

Week of June 20: Lewis Black

Week of June 26: Desus Nice

This post has been updated.
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

When Lisa Marie Presley, Elviss only child, died after experiencing cardiac arrest at her home on January 12, her family seemed unified in grief. It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us, Priscilla Presley, her mother and Elviss ex-wife, told People. She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known. In a statement from her family shared by Gracelands management, surviving relatives said, Priscilla Presley and the Presley family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Lisa Marie. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time. But as the weeks wore on, it seemed that sadness was the only thing tying Lisa Maries family members together. Soon, control over Lisa Maries estate seemed like it was tearing them apart.

In late January, Priscillas legal team filed paperwork in a Los Angeles court challenging the authenticity and validity of an amendment to her daughters trust that left Lisa Maries daughter Riley Keough as the sole trustee. Priscillas legal challenge argues that a 2016 change to Lisa Maries trust is suspect. Priscilla claims Lisa Maries signature on the document appeared inconsistent with past signatures and that her name was spelled incorrectly. Before the 2016 paperwork, Priscilla and Lisa Maries former business manager Barry Siegel were listed as co-trustees  the amendment that is now in dispute takes control of the trust away from Priscilla. (Siegel has reportedly said he wants out of the co-trustee role.) So far, Keough has not filed paperwork in response. Keough and her half-siblings, 14-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, are beneficiaries to her trust  which counts the Graceland mansion and 15 percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises among its assets, per the Los Angeles Times. Before her death, Lisa Marie appeared to be drawing in lots of money related to her stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises  even though most of the $97 million received when she sold 85 percent of it in 2005 has been depleted. In 2022, Lisa Marie received $1.25 million in income from the trust, which is valued at tens of millions, according to the New York Times.

Sources have been telling tabloids that the grandmother and granddaughter, who supported Baz Luhrmanns Elvis together along with Lisa Marie, are in a very bad place. One of Lisa Maries confidants told Page Six that Priscillas challenge was a money grab and that the pair had no relationship when Lisa Marie passed away. A hearing in the legal dispute is now scheduled for April 13, and a lot of questions remain about the familys trust issues.

Christopher Melcher, a celebrity attorney and legal analyst, said that its common for people to place their assets in a trust while they are estate planning  figuring out who gets what upon death. Its an easier  and cheaper  way of leaving assets to the people. The trustee, in turn, is in charge of carrying out the deceased persons wishes with the handling of an estate. If theres a will but no trust, then everything has to go through probate, involving the court. Priscillas petition maintains the pre-2016 doc is what Lisa Marie wanted, which would leave her and Riley as co-trustees.

Priscilla thinks its fraudulent, [and] that Lisa Marie didnt sign this, Melcher said. That is a ridiculous position for Priscilla to take. Melcher said its common sense that Lisa Marie would want her children handling the assets. When Elvis died, he had one child, which was Lisa Marie  he wanted everything to go to Lisa Marie, Melcher said. Priscilla and Elvis were divorced and he made a conscious choice not to leave Priscilla in his will or estate. When Lisa Marie expressed her wishes, she wanted her children to inherit her estate. Melcher doesnt think that Priscilla has much of a legal leg to stand on, as Keough and her two minor half-sisters are poised to get the estate anyway. Rileys got the better legal argument.

Regardless of who might or might not have a better claim to control of the trust, its poised to be a long and complicated process. Benny Roshan, who chairs Greenberg Gluskers Trusts and Probate Litigation Group, explained that the dispute is in its very early stages. Priscilla filed a petition. Keough can reply, or she could also decide not to file anything. Were not likely to see an actual ruling on the underlying petition or filing on April 13, Roshan said. This is not the first and last that well see of this petition. As for how long it could take to resolve everything, it depends on whether theres disagreement over Priscillas petition. If nobody wants to fight Priscilla on this, everything could be resolved as shortly as in a few months. But if there is a conflict  which it sure looks like there is  it could take upwards of a couple of years to resolve. As for who has a better case, it depends on the facts. If Priscilla Presley is right, then I think she has a strong case, and she might get the relief that shes asking from the court. But thats a question mark for us.

As this is happening, Keough is starring in the popular Prime Video series Daisy Jones & the Six, about a rock-and-roll band dealing with all the lasting repercussions of fame, from money issues to crumbling relationships. And Priscilla is promoting the new animated Netflix series she co-created called Agent Elvis, about a crime-fighting version of the man at the center of this whole mess.
When I first learned that Atlantic Records was releasing Aurora as an album, I thought to myself, Self, who could that possibly be for? The answer, it turns out, is me.

I have listened to the Aurora album. I have purposely searched it out on Spotify and pumped it over the five speakers that comprise my home sound system. Do I like the album? It seems that I must, and yet I find this fact about myself a little ridiculous. The music on Daisy Jones & the Six sounds very little like the classic rock its emulating (The River comes closest). The imagery is deeply silly (I put the man in the moon, I put the dial in the tone, Billy boasts on Look Me in the Eye  what?). And while Sam Claflin and Riley Keough have lovely voices, they dont reach out, grab you by the ear, and demand you listen (Honeycomb comes closest).

Still, here I am, a person who has listened to Aurora all the way through. Ive listened to it enough that my 2-year-old asked me to put on easy song during breakfast (Let Me Down Easy). I dont know what else to say, but weve been on this recapping road together long enough for you to know the truth about me.

And now the end of that road is in sight, and Im feeling a little bummed. Ive been sucked in by the heightened dynamics of the tour episodes, watching how what happens onstage between the band members can mend or exacerbate the problems between them offstage. Everythings finally started to feel a little more gritty and magical. Daisy may not be sober in the aftermath of her overdose, but shes clean enough that I didnt spend Feels Like the First Time half-panicked that she would trip and fall into the pit. Here, Daisy and Billy are just two sad sacks discussing their rock-star ennui on the sober bus, which is somehow more relatable than their contrived little enemies-to-lovers dance.

But before we get into the will-they-wont-they of it all, let us pour one out  preferably a Guinness  for Mister Daisy Jones. Nicky must have boomeranged to his wifes side once he realized there would be no police investigation into her brush with death, but Daisy thankfully kicks him to the curb (or, as Nicky might know it, the kerb). Youll regret this, he spits at Daisy seconds after Eddie, Graham, and Warren physically intervene to shove him off of his screaming wife and toward the hotel exit. I get its the kind of empty threat people make in situations of high drama, but its hard to imagine Nicky himself will regret this breakup. Who is this seething man sleeping on sweaty bus bunk beds, and what happened to the charming dandy in linen shirts serving tapas and dropping acid by the sea? Go live your best life, Nicky; rock n roll does not suit you.

Now, just because Billys granted Daisy admission to the sober bus doesnt mean shes actually, well, sober; instead, shes set up an elaborate system of rules to help her manage her addiction, the tour, her impending divorce, and the reblossoming of her feelings for Billy all at the same time. (No Dexies in the morning; a bump of coke in the evening; a quaalude alongside her sleepy-time tea.) Still, Daisys exhausted after the OD and a husk of herself onstage. And yet she cant let herself take a break from it because the alternative is even scarier. Theres no Nicky tailing her around anymore, Simones not answering her calls, and there arent enough drugs in the world to make her forget the unopened letter from her mother shes still toting from city to city. Offstage, the spotlight is even harsher.

Weve known from the beginning of the series that the band doesnt make it much further than this, but the penultimate episode is the first to suggest reasons for the bands implosion that have nothing to do with Daisy and Billy. Eddie proves himself to be the only band member prescient enough to see the Ramones coming round the bend to steal the Sixs lunch money. When that basement punk-rocker Eddie meets in a bar tells him his little sister loves Aurora, I thought of my own daughter begging to hear Daisys sad girl breakup anthem again and, when I suggested it was my turn to pick a song, AGAIN!

But thats not right now. Right now, the band is swimming in Grammy nominations and sold-out arenas. When they play Saturday Night Live, Warren outkicks his coverage and takes home the episodes movie-star host. Right now, theres every reason to think the Six will be famous forever. Unfortunately, Teddy has a heart attack in the SNL greenroom, so we never get to see who makes out with Pete Davidson at the after-party. Instead, we spend that time with Daisy and Billy talking about the possibility of eternity in the hospital chapel. Daisy doesnt believe in much after the night she almost died in Billys arms, but Billy insists he sees signs of God at work all around them. God sent him running into Teddy Price at the mini-mart and Teddy brought him Daisy and Daisy brought him the life hes always dreamed of from the time he was a teenager. Its unclear if its Nickys absence or Daisys (relative) sobriety thats freed up the space for Daisy and Billy to get close again, but it takes less than an episode for them to careen past friendship and into some other more romantic posture. They sneak away from the band for burger lunches; they daydream about future albums the way new lovers name their hypothetical children.

Teddys hospitalization, despite being bad news for Teddy, generally brings people closer together, including Daisy and Simone, who perhaps havent spoken since Greece. Daisy doesnt even know about Simones record deal. Its all Simones ever worked for, but its contingent on her keeping her sexuality and Bernie a secret. In the end, she packs a mournful suitcase and chooses music over love. Simones new life in New York is falling apart, and yet she has the grace in that hospital corridor to head off Daisys tearful apology for the disaster that was Hydra with a reassuring embrace. For his part, Teddy at least attempts to stick to his doctors low-stress and high-kale regimen, though we know it cant work for too long because there arent any Teddy interviews in the documentary.

But the official beginning of the end starts in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has always been this bands rallying call, the pledge they make to each other every night before they step onstage. They join their hands in a circle and call out their hometown, maybe to remind themselves of how far theyve come or maybe to remind themselves of who they really are. And this is the first time weve seen the Six return to Pittsburgh as hometown heroes. They left with nothing; now, Grahams bought his mom a house on the nice side of town where shes hosting a giant welcome party  even that doofus Dr. Chuck Loving, D.D.S., shows up to see his old bandmates. Unlike her sons, who can be aloof or cold, Mrs. Dunne bundles Daisy into a warm hug the second she sees her.

The subject of parenthood has come up intermittently on Daisy Jones. In Mrs. Dunne and, to some extent, Camila, we see women who raise their children without the steady help of a man. Camila is the idealized mom, eager and attentive; this week, we learn shes ready for more kids. Daisy is, perhaps, the reluctant mom, who doesnt want to be a mom because shes afraid she cant do it, though she always seems to bask in the attention of young girls, from Julia to her littlest fans. Its her own mothers angry neglect thats poisoned her against even trying.

In this episode, we learn where Karen and Graham stand on parenthood. Karen is pregnant and horrified. She wants to be a touring musician, and, at least in the mid-70s, you might be able to get a separate sober bus but not a baby bus. And even then, its not clear that Karen would want to be a mother. Not even Grahams ecstatic reaction to the news seems to soften her perspective. As always, Camila takes on a wise and, yeah, motherly ability to discern who needs what and when. You are all sorts of things you dont even know, Camila tells Daisy as she doubts whether shed be a good mother. But when she learns Karen is pregnant, all she says is that shes sorry.

And then the Six go play the hell out of Pittsburgh. They left Hazelwood as four nerds and one hot groupie in a beat-up van, and theyve returned triumphant. The band is totally giddy for this show; Daisy and Billy sing through toothy smiles. Theyre on top of the world, and then, in a matter of minutes, the dominoes start crashing.

The first to fall is Eddies ego, when Billy  eager to show off for his hometown crowd  steals Eddies big stage moment, one of the few, I imagine, a bassist has to stand out in the entire set. And I get why hes pissed. Its Eddies hometown, too, and Billys stingy with him. How long can Eddie back up a dude he plainly despises? More crucially, how long until he bubbles over with the secret that hes slept with Billys wife?

The next domino is Karen and Graham. Camila accompanies her friend to get an abortion before Karen makes it explicitly clear to Graham thats what shes chosen to do. Even if its the right decision, its hard to see how theyll move past it. How long can Graham play guitar standing six feet from the woman he loves but doesnt share a vision for the future with?

And finally, the next morning, in the afterglow of bringing down Pittsburgh, Daisy declares her feelings for Billy  again. Billy handles it well, if not perfectly. Hes firm that hell never leave his wife but also assures Daisy that he wants to be with her. On the one hand, it must be validating for Daisy to be reassured that her love isnt unrequited, even if it will be denied. On the other hand, theres a special kind of pain reserved for the dreams that almost come true, the nearest misses. This is what were supposed to be, Billy promises Daisy. For the next 20 years, theyll write and sing together; theyll take the pull they feel toward each other and turn it into the music they always wanted to make.

Its a nice idea that there are lots of ways for two people to commit themselves to each other. That romantic communions arent the only meaningful ones. That there are many ways to anchor yourself to other people, and those relationships arent necessarily threatening to each other. You can be in love with your wife and in love with your soul mate, and it will be enough for everyone.

Its also really fucking naive. That arrangement has caused Daisy pain in the past, and its torturing his wife right this second, in the very moment hes suggesting it to Daisy with his forehead pressed to Daisys forehead, his hands greedily cupping her face. Camila glimpses them on the sun porch when she walks into the house, and the memory is still troubling her later that day when they board a private jet to the next gig. And watching Billy worry over whats eating at Camila is upsetting Daisy on the same flight.

And then Rod sounds the alarm. The doomsday clock is hurtling toward zero. This particular PJ is headed for Chicago, the site of Soldier Field and the last Daisy Jones & the Six show ever to be played.

At least before the dream came to an end, The Six got to go home and pinch themselves.
The Lost King. Photo: Graeme Hunter/Pathe

It really is an amazing story. In 2012, led by the enthusiastic efforts of an amateur historian named Philippa Langley, archaeologists from the University of Leicester dug up a nondescript car park and discovered the remains of the notorious King Richard III, whose final resting place (and whether he even had one) had been a matter of debate ever since his death on the battlefield in 1485. Stephen Frearss The Lost King, starring Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan (who co-wrote the script with Jeff Pope), dramatizes Langleys fascinating journey. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last September, right before Queen Elizabeth II herself was laid to rest  fortuitous timing, as the picture both reveals and revels in the charade of royalty.

By discussing what the movie is about, Ive probably already spoiled the journey a bit for some, as the bulk of The Lost King tells of how Philippa (Hawkins) came to be fascinated by Richard III, and the battles she fought to get the dig to happen. It all starts (at least according to the film; the script makes some prime-time embellishments, and there may be some lawsuits) with a reluctant family trip to a performance of Shakespeares Richard III. Humiliated by a know-it-all couple at intermission, Philippa fixates on the contentious nature of the facts around Richard, as much of what is known about the monarch  considered a usurper, a tyrant, and a murderer  was the work of Tudor historians, working for the family that replaced Richards Plantagenets on the throne after killing him in battle. Its a striking example of history being dictated by the winners. Shakespeare wrote more than a century after Richards death, but his play (among his greatest) has become Exhibit A in our conception of the young king as one of Western civilizations great villains.

Philippa becomes convinced that Richard might not have been all that bad a king, and that he might actually have been a fairly progressive, brave, well-liked fellow, one who helped make England more just. There is some historical evidence for this, but she also has her own reasons. Living with chronic fatigue syndrome, disrespected in her life and work, Philippa (played with brittle tenacity by Hawkins, who really should star in everything) sees a kindred spirit in Richard. So much of his perceived villainy seems to have been rooted in how he looked and his alleged physical disabilities. Was Richard a hunchback? Did he have a claw-like hand? Were his portraits in the Tudor era modified to make his appearance more sinister? Philippas obsession runs so deep that Richard III himself (Harry Lloyd  tall, regal, handsome) starts appearing to her, quietly guiding her along this seemingly quixotic quest while also lending a sympathetic ear whenever she voices her doubts.

All along the way, Philippa is met with resistance, largely because shes a nobody, an erstwhile marketer with no background in history or archaeology. She and her fellow Ricardians  the name given to those who dispute the historical record on Richard  are considered at best a fan club, at worst a bunch of kooks. But even as she struggles against established authority, Philippa is in thrall to another, more mystical kind of power. Shes guided by intuition in her quest for Richard, believing that she has a special connection with him. Beyond finding the lost monarch, she also hopes to give him a proper burial, one befitting a king of England.

This creates an interesting tension, between the exaltation of royal power on the one hand  a spiritual belief in the magic of lineage, itself dating back to arcane notions of divine right  and, on the other, the ennobling of common individuals, of ordinary people like Philippa as they butt heads with city councils and university administrators and academic mossbacks. Her quest underlines just how meaningless it all is. Here is a skeleton found beneath a Midlands parking lot, given a royal burial. The skeleton belongs to a 32-year-old man who, through the power of his blood, ascended to the English throne. He was then deposed and killed, and a new group took over, and everyone marked with that DNA was immediately judged superior to everyone else. So on and so forth, new families entering the fray for this or that reason, right down to the absurdities  the pomp, the circumstance, the gravity, the tabloid headlines, and runaway best sellers  of the present.

And yet, there remains something stirring about it all. The fact that The Lost King never quite reconciles this tension between striving for noble recognition and the fallacy of divine majesty feels like an implicit damnation of both. Late in the film, Philippa sees Richard III one last time. He sits atop a horse, in full armor, alongside his men. He says nothing, barely even acknowledging her, as he rides off into the sunset, toward his death at Bosworth Field and the dimly lit vagaries of historical memory. Its a moving final good-bye, for Philippa and her imaginary ghost-king pal, and perhaps to something more profound. Richard belongs to the ages, a usurper no more. But the very act of reclaiming his legacy from his now-gone Tudor rivals puts the lie to the very idea of royalty, of bloodlines, and the eternal question of who gets to have power over whom.
I thought, How can there be something in every scene that I love or am tickled by? Photo: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

The character of Warren Rojas can be summed up in one quote: I was just having such a good time, man. And why shouldnt he? While the rest of his Daisy Jones & the Six bandmates were entangled in increasingly volatile and lascivious rock-star antics, the drummer was more than content to smoke a joint, pop a $1,000 bottle of something, and call his movie-star girlfriend at the end of the night. This shit doesnt happen to anyone, he declares in the finale. Were the luckiest motherfuckers in the world. Those good vibes never ended for Warren; the finale reveals, after the Sixs dissolution, that he filled his life with a beautiful family (yes, he married the actress) and even more beautiful music. And a conversation with Sebastian Chacon, who portrays Warren in all ten episodes, suggests hes also happy to go along with whatever the world throws his way. This mind-set influenced his own extended backstory for the character.

When did you realize Warren was actually the hero of this story?

Pretty much immediately. I think it was during my callback audition that the director told me, Warren is my favorite character. Looking at all the pages and materials they had given me, it was clear my character had all of the fun and silly things to do. Billy is in a different show than the one Im in. Hes going through fatherhood and addiction, and Im just here for a good time.

If Billy is in an addiction family drama, what show is Warren in?

Warren is in a Saturday-morning cartoon for the whole show. His vision is an animated cartoon world.

A lot of the prevalent drummers of the era, like the Bonhams or Bakers, were so mercurial, but Warren has an understated kindness to him. Why do you think that approach was the more interesting choice?

A lot of my scenes were with Josh Whitehouse, who plays Eddie, and his character is always upset or trying to find a reason to be upset. Ah, my bass amp isnt working, Did you see how Billy treated me? For my character, I thought, How can there be something in every scene that I love or am tickled by? It could be a prop or a quote that someone else says. Its funny because a lot of drummers are like that; you realize theyre cool with every member of the band. When the Beatles broke up, Ringo Starr continued working with everybody. Of course, as you said, the Ginger Bakers and John Bonhams of the world make the most noise. But theres something equally great about having a character thats easy and fun to play.

Warrens conversation with Eddie in the finale is the only time his

philosophy is pushed back on, with Eddie saying that money and fame isnt enough for him. Did you ever wish Warren was indeed looking for a little more out of life?

Perhaps. I read the book and knew what purpose he served.

What was that purpose?

Its interesting to play a flat-arc character like that. It balances out a lot of the drama. The thing I like about Warren was, from the very beginning  when theyre playing out of their garage in Pittsburgh  hes having the best time of his life. If they never became successful and played in a backyard in Pittsburgh and worked at the steel mill, he still wouldve thought he lived the best life. I think thats an important perspective to have in the show. Theyre blessed to have the problems they have. Warren serves as a reminder of that. Do I wish things were different in the show? Who knows. Maybe season two is gonna be Warren embarking on a solo European tour.

Have there been discussions of another season?

Weve been discussing it in the group chat ever since we started this show. Theres nothing concrete yet.

You need to do an SNL performance as the Six before season two.

Were figuring that kind of stuff out. I could play right now. Ive played these songs a thousand times. Wed love to do a one-off gig. We could never tour  actors and their schedules are complicated. Realistically, what could end up happening is a special appearance. Do we appear as ourselves? Do I throw on my mustache as Warren? This is for a smarter individual to figure out.

Youve spoken about the changes you made to Warren from book to screen, as he was originally written as white. Rhodes was changed to Rojas, for example. How did that influence your approach and what you wanted to embody?

Rojas was one of a bunch of last names I proposed. I have relatives with that last name, and it sounded close to Rhodes. A part of it was Warren was born around 1950. Selfishly, I assumed he was Colombian. If that was the case, the 50s in Colombia were a very violent and difficult time. I assumed he was born there as a little kid and his family came to New York.

So you crafted an original backstory for him.

Exactly. And then he moved to Pittsburgh when he was about 8 because they had steel mills there for his family. If you dont speak good English, its an easy place to get good work. Because of that, hes probably been through some very challenging circumstances. Coming from a family of immigrants myself, I grew up around a lot of people who dealt with very challenging circumstances and had been put through the wringer. Those people develop the ability to be happy as a skill. Happiness is a choice they make everyday. Theyre smiley and bubbly people. You wouldnt imagine theyve been through what theyve been through. Every day is like a blessing: I woke up today  what an amazing thing! I wanted to make that a part of the character. Even though I dont talk about it in the context of the show itself, I know its a part of him, and it made it more real for me.

When I play the drums, I bite my lip and make a serious face. But I was like, Ah, Warren cant look like that. Thats not gonna work! Photo: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Were there any musicians from the time period that you drew inspiration from? There werent a ton of Chicano drummers in these rock bands at the time.

Absolutely. Jo Jones, the jazz drummer, played a couple of shows in Pittsburgh in the 50s and 60s. I felt that Warren wouldve randomly seen him perform. Hes a very emotive and zany player; sometimes he would throw his sticks away and play with his fingertips. I copied his drum-kit setup with a tilted and traditional snare.

I used timbale sticks in the show because, in the 50s and 60s, Tito Puente was on television playing the timbales like a crazy man. That was probably one of Warrens first exposures to percussion. When I play the drums, I bite my lip and make a serious face. But I was like, Ah, Warren cant look like that. Thats not gonna work! Trying to change my face was a fun adjustment, but it was hard. You cant really control whats going on when youre exerting yourself.

The people who stayed on the bus after the Sixs final show were Warren, which is understandable, and Karen, who was more of a surprise. Theyre a duo that dont have a lot in common on paper, so Im curious why you think having them as the final two was a fitting end.

Karen is very headstrong. Shes the kind of person who doesnt show wounds. Even though shes gone through a lot by the end of the show, the thing she wants to do is continue performing. Its the same with Warren. He sees the drama and sees things arent right, but he doesnt want it to fall apart. He wants the tour to continue, but it became obvious that it came to its end. Its heartbreaking. I remember that scene. We shot Josh getting into the cab and driving away. I was emotional because it was one of the last scenes we shot. I was like, Damn, this is over. I cant believe it.

Theres a nice quote from the bands tour manager in the finale: The chosen ones never know that theyre chosen. Have you given much thought to what Warren was chosen for in life?

Warren doesnt give that very much thought. I dont think his purpose is something he thinks about as much as the others. There are people who plan their lives and think, What am I going to do? What am I here for? And there are other people who think, What will I be allowed to do? What will the world permit me in this life? Warren has more of a gratitude for being permitted to do these amazing things. When he talks to Eddie in that scene, he doesnt necessarily say theyre rich and famous. He phrases it like, People listen to our music and love it  thats crazy! Its a gift! Its a blessing! His whole life is a gift like that. When Warren meets his wife and has a beautiful and happy life, its like, Holy shit, can you believe this? What the hell is going on?

I remember when we had our first fitting for the older Warren. I sent them a picture of my dad. He had a Hawaiian shirt on with a panama hat. I asked for a little belly and a bit of sun damage. Hes been on the deck of a boat for the last 20 years. Hes living a good life, and we can let him show it.

Was the movie star Warren fell in love with a stand-in for a particular person?

I dont think there was a specific person. But I did ask about it: How famous is she? I was told it was like if Warren married Julia Roberts. A crazy thing. I was offended with all of those scenes where characters were like, Warren is dating a movie star? Whats up with that? Of course he is. Hes the greatest.

Id love to know how you and the wardrobe department crafted Warrens style. Ive never seen so many beautiful vests in my life.

Our costume designer wanted to tell the story of each character with how they dressed. In an early fitting she was like, I have a couple of vests. What do you think of these? I knew we had to cut the shirts. Well just go with vests on bare chests, like DMX in the 2000s. That became a journey for Warren. You see him start to wear tank tops, and then he wears vests with a T-shirt, and then he cuts the T-shirt. I had a traditional serape vest with donkeys on the back. There was another Native American vest that had shells. If you paused and zoomed in, it doesnt feel like Im wearing costumes. Its his own tastes and influences.

How many mustaches did it take to find the perfect one?

We worked with a couple. We tried a two-piece mustache because thats how mine naturally grows in. Then we tried a handlebar mustache that got really long. The light mustache we tried looked bad. When I was older Warren, they also wanted me to have a mustache, but it didnt work. It was gray and looked iffy.

We see in the 90s-set interviews that Warren is as happy as ever, and hes proud of being a session drummer who worked on a bunch of classic records. What albums do you think he drummed on?

Warren is a groove drummer. He doesnt have a lot of crazy fills  he just has pockets. You would probably look at the records hes played on and think, What? That one? I do love that its revealed he had another career with Daisy. Out of all of the members of the band, she and Warren were the ones who continued to work together. I bet they made a bunch of classic songs after the Six. All of the Daisy Jones solo albums have Warren on them for sure.
Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/Prime Video

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Warning: All spoilers all the time below.

Amazons new thriller, Swarm, which sees Dominique Fishback playing Dre, a Beyonce-like pop stars stan turned serial killer is quite  a lot. Co-created by Donald Glover and Atlanta writer Janine Nabers, Swarm captures the same eerie, provocative spirit of that previous series, featuring moments  like a sex scene between Chloe Bailey and Damson Idris in the first episode and a cherry-pie-eating moment after Dres first kill  that got all the girls buzzing. That sex scene between Bailey and Idris was just the first can of worms for the reactionary responses that verged on outright sexism. The noise has been pretty deafening, with some viewers arguing over sexual purity and others claiming that the show continues Glovers trend of not totally understanding how to craft Black female characters as fully realized people, with still others calling out the shows handling of stan communities. Not to mention: how difficult it is to portray madness onscreen at all. Vulture film critic Angelica Jade Bastien and culture critic Shamira Ibrahim joined me to parse it all in a mega-roundtable focused on Fishbacks virtuosic performance, the conversations about Chloe Bailey and sexuality, the shows limited portrayal of the mad woman trope, and how the showrunners comments conflict with what we see onscreen.

Tirhakah: The discourse around Swarm has gone to just awful places. Like predictably awful places. Once we saw the reaction to the sex shit early in episode one, I was like, Oh, word, this is gonna be bad.

Angelica: Can you unpack peoples reactions?

Shamira: There was a screening that happened, which, first of all, we are never supposed to be tweeting during screenings, but whatever. Twitter was seeing Chloe Baileys bare cheeks and Damson Idris breaking it down in the first 20 minutes. And Chloe is in this weird position of visibility now. Shes in her, like, not a girl, not yet a woman phase, where everyones publicly consuming her while shes figuring out her identity. So everything shes doing is hyperscrutinized. Shes 24, right? Like, shes allowed to make some missteps.

Tirhakah: She was homeschooled, goddamn it!

Shamira: Yes. Thats the thing. Im always like, yall, Chloes a homeschooled, Christian kid who just got thick. It makes sense, right? Especially with how shes like figuring out her sexuality publicly.

Tirhakah: The people who really should be supporting someone figuring their sexuality stuff out in public are the ones who are like shitting on her the most. Its very confusing, and it adds an extra layer to whatever kind of commentary theyre trying to make in this show about parasocial relationships.

Shamira: Outside of that, I was actually curious about whether or not it was a body double.

Angelica: Thats what I was interested in as well.

Shamira: Chloe expressed recently that it was actually her first time doing a sex scene, and Damson helped her navigate the intimacy of it all and everything  but, you know, I assumed that it was a body double. I feel like people who keep saying, You can just allude to sex ignore the function of sex, not just in film, but in life. Whatever peoples personal, religious beliefs, or experiences with sex are, Im really not trying to knock that, but how you navigate in sex as a couple indicates a lot. And how you portray that  you dont have to show peoples actual genitals!  to intimately showcase whether or not they care for each other, whether they actually are being attentive, whether theyre making eye contact with someone, whether theyre actually present. These are all things that you cant mask once youre actually bumping uglies. Theres a reason why a lot of therapists will say things like: Hey, the first thing that goes wrong is that your sex life dries up. Because youll be dealing with depression or whatever other things that are interfering. Its usually indicative of other things, not just that your sex is getting bad. Anyway, like, you can ask questions about what is merited on TV. But you cant dictate for someone that they feel exploited if they havent even said they feel exploited. Angelica, what did that scene reflect for you when you saw it?

Angelica: Dres  Dominique Fishbacks  function in it. Its kind of weird that people lose out on the storytelling aspect cuz theyre seeing some ass. Like, come on, yall. But for me, that was one of the first very obvious times that Im like, Oh, shes in love with Marissa. Shes in love with this woman. Shes not interested in him; shes interested in how close he is to her. I think thats why shes looking at him in a very judgmental sort of way. And you can tell what hes thinking, which is, Oh, she wants this. A very intriguing and rich moment thanks to Dominique Fishbacks performance. Theres a lot her performance is doing that I think helps with the fact that the script is really sloppy, and she does a lot of work to make it feel more cohesive. I thought what she said about Donald Glover directing her very curious, when he told her, Think of it more like an animal and less like a person. Reading that, I realize just how good of a performance Fishback is doing. Its terrible direction. Youre confusing her. Glover said, I kept telling her, youre not regular people. You dont have to find the humanity in your character. Thats the audiences job. Donald Glover is not a good storyteller. He happened upon good things, hes done good things. But I think his ethos as a storyteller is completely opposed to how I look at storytelling. A major problem I kept bumping into: The camerawork wants you to gawk at her rather than understand her. Its only cohesive because of what Fishback is doing. The showrunners  who I wish would shut up sometimes  are also obsessed with the representational aspects.

Like, oh, were getting parity with white women who get to be crazy onscreen. Shamira and I talked about this, and she made the point that the reason why we dont see Black women characters like this is because of the carceral weight and effects that end up bearing down on a Black woman would immediately put you in a life-or-death situation. Its playing around and wants to be disconnected from reality to skirt by the criticism of the fact that it feels disembodied from Black women. Its a Black womans story, but its not really about Black women, if that makes sense.

Tirhakah: Can I push you on that a little bit? What is it about? I do think its really hard to take in the discourse, and like you said, I really wish these niggas would just shut the fuck up.

Shamira: They need to stop talking.

Tirhakah: It doesnt feel like shes totally an animal. It doesnt feel like shes disconnected from her emotions.

Angelica: No, she isnt. For me its also that people talking about anger doesnt make sense. No. This is a lonely, hurt person. It doesnt read like rage so much as like intense emotional overwhelm, and a feeling of loss and loneliness.

Shamira: I think part of that is a function of them trying to do too many things, right? Theyre trying to do a character study, layer social commentary, and, if you wanna call a black woman serial killer representation  all of those things at the same time, thats a burden. Tryna do all three in seven tightly shot episodes is a heavy load to carry. The social-media standom commentary falls flat. It goes nowhere completely. You dont necessarily wanna empathize with someones killing spree to understand the sequence of actions. But, this cascade, that overwhelm, this is what she knows, right? That final murder is different from the first murder. You see her crying, right? Thats a clear emotional spectrum of someone who is grappling with something very intense. That doesnt mean that there shouldnt be any accountability or she should be exonerated for all her actions. It just means that theres a clear evolution. And what Dominique did was make us curious to all those circumstances she didnt even fucking know herself.

Angelica: Thats a good actor to be able to conjure what you yourself are actually confused about. That final murder is the most intimate because she uses blunt-force trauma or guns every other time. This time, like shes straddling this woman, strangling her, crying, can barely look at her. Shes looking more past the cameras eye line. Its actually very smart visual choices. I think whats frustrating me as a critic, and Im glad I get to talk to yall while Im working on this review, is that the way Janine Nabers and Donald Glover have talked about things. Theyre doing their own show a disservice.

Tirhakah: Yes! Theyre betraying it!

Angelica: I think its muddling my thoughts on it. I said earlier, oh, I dont think its about Black women. But actually I think that episode six is all about Black women falling through the cracks. That scene with the social worker and foster care, the show suddenly gets onto the land you want it to be on, which is like dealing very specifically with what were the cultural, personal, and historical factors that led Dre to make these decisions. And then you also get someone recognizing Dres humanity and, in a way, sort of protecting her history that people are now trying to dig into. Theres something fascinating and prickly and intriguing about that.

And the people behind this show; I think this is a good example of how a lot of times artists dont even fully realize what theyre doing. So when you interview them, youre thinking youre gonna get all these explanations. But sometimes people dont really know what theyre creating. Thats what people are kind of bumping into. The way Dominique Fishback is acting shows that she is seeing humanity and dynamics that are pretty complex. And I think the creators of this show see it in a very simplistic fashion, which you can see when they talk about the whole representation, which is the wild aspect of a Black female serial killer. Which Im like, this is not the parody I was asking for.

Shamira: I found the scene where she was at that NXIVM cult thrilling. I was like, Billie Eilish, okay!

Tirhakah: Shes got some layers to her!

Angelica: It was smart in terms of rounding out how the show is mulling through femininity. We see Dre in the context of a very specific kind of white woman. The scene where Billie Eilishs character, Eva, queen of this cult, is snapping her fingers? The show is really smart when it takes a step back narratively, and then lets the actors fill in the blanks, which you get a lot in these close-ups.

Shamira: The subtle expressions: the gentle grin that rests on Billies face while Dominique is slowly being broken down. She slowly goes from Kayla to Dre. She reveals her violence, but theres even other one-liners, where she talks about how she liked the violence when she finally unleashed it. That was striking. The small allusions to the violence and her biological family, which she initially calls milk, becomes blood. Eva goes, Do you pray? Dre answers, I used to but I stopped. Eva asks why. And its, Oh, because I realized that God is just my voice echoing.

Tirhakah: A fucking bar!

Shamira: But its frustrating because, if you really played into that, itd be dope, but theyre hesitant. This is a woman whos playing with emotional extremes. And theyre so reluctant to acknowledge it. Theyre reluctant to assign an -ism to it. And Im not saying they have to give her one, but the show wants to call stan culture an illness and all these other things. They tell us she went to a psychiatrist, psychologist, and all that other stuff. You dont go to somebody without them saying, You got something, heres a bunch of pills. Especially just going to a psychiatrist, they tell you something after like 15 minutes.

Tirhakah: What do yall make of it as one sort of villain origin story  and then, what does it have to say about madness and mania?

Angelica: Thats a very weird way to describe this show. I never thought of her as a villain.

Shamira: Its a tragedy.

Angelica: Shes a tragedy. Someone whos been deeply victimized her entire life and her way of gaining control and stability for her is violence and delusion. Its an alienating use of language to describe the character like that. I just dont see it as a villain origin story. Its a tragedy that you know is not gonna have a great conclusion. And youre going along with this ride with her hoping that  you know, not saying I wanted her to get off scot-free or whatever. But even with a character who makes such fucked-up decisions, youre hoping that she gains something. That theres something at the end for her. The ending of the show is funny to me because it ends where pretty much every mad-woman story ends: either dead or shes consumed entirely by delusion. And we are no longer in reality, were in whatever dream space she exists in.

Tirhakah: So youre saying that Nijah/Beyonce didnt caress Dre in her bosom?

Angelica: Right, what was that!?

Shamira: I wanna know if that CGI was bad on purpose. If we wanna continue that through-line of it being like a Black story, one thing thats constant is knowing inherently no matter how much we wish for an intervention, we know its not going to arise. Theres not going to be a resource that comes there for her. Theres not going to be someone that says, Yes, you need help, you need to be stopped  you need to be sent to a facility so that you can be taken care of and taught how to have proper coping mechanisms. Thats never coming. And you know that all thats going to come is that shes going to be locked up at a facility for the rest of her life.

Tirhakah: How does it stack up against other portrayals of madness, and what are some things that spoke to you on that level?

Angelica: Madness in cinema is the terrain of white women because this culture loves to watch white women unravel. The beats of the mad woman trope have always been tied to whiteness in a way that has always been an interesting but alienating study for me. But I think Dominique Fishback creates a clarity in her character, especially in close-ups when the show is just like, You do your thing  you see a level of complication and interiority and rawness and deep yearning within the character. I dont think its novel beyond her being a Black woman, though. If you watch enough movies about mad women, you notice certain currents. I can name several movies with mad women, from Sunset Boulevard to Possession to something as wild as In This Our Life; they all home in to the same ending, which is both planting you within the mind of the mad woman and suddenly youre outside of reality. You dont know what has happened to her, but you know her emotional truth.

Shamira: There are so many moments where you are asked to fill in the universe. The Beyonce knockoff  I was like, Oh, wait, they re-created the elevator incident. What did it actually serve narratively? Was there an actual propulsion of plot with that? No, it was just shocking enough to say that they had the audacity to do it, because what other show would do that except for like Law and Order: SVU? One thing Im noticing because of the lack of precision, people using terms like madness and anger interchangeably or madness and rage interchangeably. Theres more conversation around needing more Black womens rage onscreen, or womens anger onscreen. Not to say that Im opposed to that, but a lot of our marquee performers, our marquee thespians, are known for their ability to home in on rage. Thats their pocket. Viola Davis, you know, Angela Bassett. I can think of recent movies like Nanny by Nikyatu; that film is constructed around a womans quiet rage and resentment that bubbles over and in some moments descends into madness. These are things that are explored. This is not a novel, unprecedented concept.

Angelica: What Swarm is making me ask some questions about is what we expect when it comes to portraying mental illness onscreen. What do we need from these characters that feels emotionally realized, but also experiments enough that they arent one-to-one representations of reality? Maybe my interest in the carceral effects on Black women who deal with mental illness is expecting a level of reality from a show that has a very tricky relationship with it.

Shamira: Due to the limitations of the script, Fishback struggled with this role and had to focus on movement. She stepped up to that challenge.

Angelica: I noticed her movements too; theyre jarring. Its a smart approach to reflecting on the fact that this person is emotionally stilted and has a mess of things that they dont know how to navigate and it is rendered, and having a physicality that does not abide by the certain social etiquette weve come to believe, especially her relationship with food, puts that under a spotlight.

Tirhakah: When you say consumption, were talking about how class and our personal understandings of greed play out in our behavior, our patterns. For Dre, its overconsumption of shitty foods. What is that connection?

Shamira: Shes so restricted with everything else. Not drinking, not smoking. But in the words of the goddess Ice Spice, when she in ha mood, whether violent or sexual, shes intense. She went to the club and she got that coke and white man and said, We goin to town.

Tirhakah: She said, Im doing everything! No ones gonna make fun of me being a virgin again, its not happening!

Shamira: She got out that freak-em dress and she was like, Im that girl.

Tirhakah: So I have to get yall thoughts about this on wax: Theres a widespread theory centering on the idea that Dre killed Marissa. Where do yall stand on it?

Shamira: Anti! Anti! Ive seen it. Ive seen threads on color theory. Ive seen it all. I dont think so. First of all, they went outta their way to indicate that Marissa had a self-harm habit. Even though they used that as another opportunity to showcase Dres psychosexual relationship with Marissa. I mean, I love my friends. I dont be kissing their scars.

Angelica: Ive never kissed a friends scars.

Tirhakah: A friend? No.

Shamira: A sister? Even less. But yeah, the self-harm thing serves as a trigger for Dre to never wanna let go of her phone. People are forgetting that. Theres a reason why shes so attached to her phone. Its not just standom. Its because she needs to stay attached to Marissa because the last thing she did was ignore Marissa. And she feels immense guilt about that. She feels responsible for this death, so she wants to protect and defend her memory.

Tirhakah: Okay, but how responsible is she? She has guilt and shame. Could it be from her being the one who actually killed Marissa?

Shamira: So are we saying that she, like, completely made up being in that niggas bed? She time-traveled? It doesnt add up. They think that she made up or dreamed about it. Did she dream going to the club? Did she dream Marissa leaving? Did she dream the video that Marissa sent her? At what point is it that she actually went back and killed her?

Angelica: People thinking she killed Marissa is a cruel reading of her character. It misunderstands her emotional state in a lot of ways. To me, Dre reads as the person who really loved Marissa. She was supposed to be there for her and help her in her darkest moment, but because she was trying to do her own thing, she missed her at her lowest point. In my mind, I was like, Oh, she probably thinks by saving her, it could have opened up their relationship in a new way. And so shes grieving a multitude of losses at once. I dont think she killed her because the whole point is the loss of Marissa is what creates the final crack.

Shamira: Shes like catatonic for days on end after that death. She clearly stops paying bills. And as weve already discussed, after every other death, she goes on a binge. She indulges. But she didnt revel in Marissas death. This is an actual moment of grief for her.

Tirhakah: Yeah, until its not, and she becomes fucking Jason Voorhees and murders everyone.

Shamira: You really have to suspend disbelief, cause if you dont, then youre like, All right, well, this bitch wouldve been arrested by episode three. Like, did she start just like Googling how to murder?

Tirhakah: Shes really good at it. Like, shes really fucking good.

Angelica: I did laugh when she ran over Billie Eilish after hitting her with the car.

Shamira: There were legit bits of laugh-out-loud humor. Playing those comedic beats even in the middle of abject violence. That maniacal laugh that she had while she was killing all the white bitches!? And poor Paris Halsey Jackson. That diner scene was just a master class in nonverbal expression. Watching Dres face just, like, twitch while Paris was talking about, You know Im Black, right?

Tirhakah: That part where she murders that YouTuber in his house and the last thing that he says after she shows him the anti-Nijah tweets is: Nigga, Twitter? And then she just beat the shit outta him. Like, imagine those were your last words. Nigga, Twitter?

Angelica: Swarm is a good example about how critics and audiences alike really struggle with nuance. We dont know how to reckon with work that is complicated and messy and lacks certain elegance. We get a little weird because the conversation around the fact that, oh, but theres Black women involved in this show  I dont even know what to say to yall at this point. What does that have to do with criticism?

Shamira: I think the show doesnt land the point it wants to land, for all of the attempted subversiveness and shock value of the promotion. It just doesnt execute. But what it does execute is the actual roles they cast really well. Those actual performances lifted the show.
The S&P Global logo is displayed on its offices in the financial district in New York

By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) -The European Union's securities watchdog has fined S&P Global Ratings 1.1 million euros ($1.19 million) for publishing a number of credit scores before the relevant securities had been issued.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) also issued a public notice for breaches of credit rating agencies regulations.

"Publishing a credit rating before the issuance of the rated securities may result in harm to the issuer, to investors and more generally to the orderly functioning of the financial markets," said ESMA chair Verena Ross.

ESMA said the problem had happened on six occasions, blaming a failure of S&P's "internal control mechanisms".

Other rule breaches included failure to disclose on a "non-selective basis and in a timely manner" why it had withdrawn six ratings between 2019 and 2021, as well as a failure to submit up-to-date rating information to ESMA.

"All breaches were found to have resulted from negligence on the part of S&P," ESMA said.

A statement from S&P, which can appeal against the decision, said that it was pleased to have concluded the matter.

ESMA has not previously fined S&P but did give the company and its French subsidiary a public warning in 2014 after it mistakenly announced a downgrade of Frances sovereign credit rating in 2011 during the euro zone debt crisis.

($1 = 0.9234 euros)

(Reporting by Marc JonesAdditional reporting by Huw Jones and Andres GonzalezEditing by David Goodman)
Loretta Greene (Heather Simms) is a fantastic character  theres enough there for an entirely new show  but Fallin Through the Cracks is heavy on gap-filling exposition. Photo: Prime Video

Swarm is a feverish show, a liquid nightmare that obscures and provokes. To achieve this feeling, Janine Nabers and Donald Glovers series about a murderous obsessive generally opts for a heightened visual aesthetic. Grainy and lush, its naturalistic, but only to a point  this is a show that continuously drifts into madness, after all.

Which makes the Prime Video series sixth and penultimate entry, Fallin Through the Cracks, such a hard cut. After tightly sticking to Dres (Dominique Fishback) perspective through the previous five installments, culminating in Dre narrowly escaping her former foster parents after invading their home, Swarm takes a breather before the finale. Recalling Atlantas penchant for abruptly breaking away to focus on entirely new characters, Fallin Through the Cracks, written by Karen Joseph Adcock and Stephen Glover, takes the form of a faux true-crime docuseries about a detective, Loretta Greene (Heather Simms), who pieces together the connection between Dres geographically disparate murders. Beyond the change in perspective, the episode marks a shift in tone  more overtly humorous, with Loretta playing to the camera like its her big break  and a visual aesthetic approximating the pleathery premium-ish look of so many Netflix docs.

The documentary episode is a fairly well-exercised trope in scripted television. The X-Files seventh-season episode X-Cops featured a truly excellent stylistic crossover with the Fox reality hit COPS, while the aggressively meta Community, of which Glover is an alum, played with the framing device several times across its run. Much of the tactics pleasure lies in its ability to offer audiences new ways to see the world of the show, allowing the creative team to flex their mastery over another set of conventions while eliciting chuckles of recognition from a knowing viewer. In Swarm, which already establishes a porous relationship between reality and fiction, the trope is used for further disorienting effect: Fallin Through the Cracks ends with a cheeky move, displaying images of Andrea Greene  a person who is not the character played by Dominique Fishback  and real-life red-carpet footage of Donald Glover talking about directing this very show. Its a fun bit of meta-textual chaos, establishing the Swarm weve been watching as an adaptation of Dres real-life story within the faux docs universe and adding some extra flesh to the introductory card declaring, This isnt a work of fiction.

Its a similar move to Atlantas own faux doc The Goof Who Sat by the Door, an alt-universe history behind the 1995 animated Disney film A Goofy Movie. Written by Adcock and Francesca Sloane and directed by Glover, Goof is one of Atlantas greatest creations, near-perfectly mimicking the PBS documentary style to tell the story of a young Black animator named Thomas Washington (Eric Berryman) who accidentally becomes Disney CEO following a Putney Swopeesque bureaucratic hiccup and endeavors to create what Black millennials nowadays claim, both jokingly and seriously, as the Blackest movie of all time.

To a large extent, both Swarm and Goof are about individuals consumed totally by art and its representational power to destructive outcomes. [NiJahs] not like everybody else. She knows what were thinking and gives it a name. Shes a goddess, says Dre, who stalks and kills anyone who dares besmirch her idols name. Washington becomes so obsessed with making A Goofy Movie for the culture that his family ties fray and he becomes undone when corporate machinations get in the way. Both Goof and Fallin Through the Cracks allow their shows to play around with the thin boundaries between their respective fictional universes and our own, jolting viewers into heightened attention. If Atlantas Justin Bieber is Black, what other possibilities are suggested within this world?

Despite this playfulness with the fourth wall, Fallin Through the Cracks is one of Swarms weaker installments. Loretta Greene is a fantastic character  theres enough there for an entirely new show  but the episode is heavy on gap-filling exposition, even as it needles the desire for explanation around a violently obsessive character like Dre. It recalls a meta-joke from Communitys Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking, in which Abed (Danny Pudi) comments, Its easier to tell a complex story when you can cut to people explaining things to the camera. If youre the sort of logic-minded viewer who takes issue with a plots believability, you mightve wondered how Dres been getting away with all that carnage, and Fallin Through the Cracks provides plenty of explanation. But Swarm isnt a show primed for that kind of reading. This is a work that leans into the subjectivities of its central character, evident in its ambiguous final scene and capacity to inspire all sorts of interpretative theories. Fallin Through the Cracks does provide an answer to questions of believability with a dark joke that doubles as insight spelled out for the viewer: Much in the same way Black women are often treated as invisible within the context of victimhood, heres a Black woman being treated as invisible despite being a prolific killer. Its a clever thematic quip, but also a disruptive piece of hand-holding for a show heretofore luxuriating in ambiguity.

Ultimately, the reason the mockumentary pursuits of Fallin Through the Cracks dont work as well as Goof relates to the series internal structures. Swarm is a limited series running across seven half-hour-ish episodes, so the faux doc takes up a considerable portion of what had been a fairly tight show. By the time Atlanta arrives at Goof late in its fourth season, the show has already established itself as a production philosophically interested in departing from its protagonists to take on different shapes and characters. The sharp break of Fallin Through the Cracks raises the question: Was this the most interesting way for the show to convey what it wanted with this episode? Deployed against the context of Swarms overarching opacity as a text, the gambit feels too dissonant as an explanatory vessel. Then again, how else do you get to that fascinating final turn with the real-world Donald Glover footage, which mischievously underscores the productions uncanny relationship with reality and emphasizes its commentary on real-world stans?

In the end, Swarms sixth episode leans too heavily on a function of the format. By temporarily breaking form to rearrange its relationship with the viewer, the docu-trope gives a show the contained space to reassert its fundamental ideas. For Atlanta, Goof condenses many of the series prevailing concerns: What does it mean to be a Black show, and part of Black culture, within a predominantly white media and cultural landscape? Meanwhile, Fallin Through the Cracks makes clear how Swarm perceives the function of its central character and ultimately hollows out her significance. In a scene late in the episode, Roberta Kirby, the social worker who handled Dres adoption, pushes back against the documentarians insistence on finding a psychological explanation for her violence. You need there to be a reason she was so messed-up, so you dont have to sweep your own front door and realize that you are just as flawed, she says. Im not going to help you judge her for something you cant understand. Here, Swarm seems to plainly spell out its intention for audiences to use Dre as a mirror to check their own relationship with fandom. But the choice to wave away any deeper attempt to parse the interiority of a person whod kill in a celebritys name  preferring instead to render her purely as a phenomenon  undermines a series that already spent so much time with the character. Swarm is a show that obscures and provokes, but often feels like its obscuring a definitive statement behind that provocation.
EUR/USD Forecast Video for 24.03.23

Euro vs US Dollar Technical Analysis

The Euro initially rallied significantly against the US dollar during the trading session on Thursday, but has run into a previous selling area, from which we plunged from. At this point, the market is likely to see a bit of exhaustion set in, due to the fact that we went parabolic over the last couple of days. Whether or not the market starts to roll over and turn trends again, thats of course a different question, but at this point it certainly looks as if we have gotten a bit ahead of ourselves.

Keep in mind that the Federal Reserve raised rates just 25 basis points during the session on Wednesday, but at the end of the day there are a lot of concerns around the world about the banking system, and if thats going to be the case, the US dollar is going to be at a premium. This area that we are in right now is an area that had been so bearish previously that one would have to assume that there should be a significant amount of selling pressure.

If we do break down below the bottom of the candlestick for the trading session on Thursday, then its likely that we could go down to the 1.08 level, an area that has been previous resistance. On the other hand, if we can rally above the top of the range for the Thursday session, we may try to threaten the 1.10 level, which of course is a large, round, psychologically significant figure, and an area that would attract a lot of attention. Anything above there then would kick off the next great leg higher. I think at this point, there are so many different economic issues out there that its probably only a matter of time before the US dollar picks up strength again, so it will be interesting to see how they play this out going forward. Regardless, I would not be a buyer all the way up here without at least seeing the market consolidate for a while as I dont like to chase trading positions after a market has made such a sharp move.

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For a look at all of todays economic events, check out our economic calendar.

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Rome marks the 79th anniversary of the Fosse Ardeatine massacre.

On 24 March 1944 the Nazi forces then occupying Rome carried out one of the most horrific atrocities against civilians during the second world war in Italy.

The Fosse Ardeatine, a former quarry near Via Appia Antica, was chosen as the site for the mass killing of 335 people, in retaliation for a partisan attack on a column of marching German military police the day before.

Via Rasella attack

In a strike against the German forces occupying the city, Italian resistance fighters detonated a homemade bomb in a municipal rubbish cart on Via Rasella, near Piazza Barberini, targeting a column of the Bozen military police attached to the SS on its way from Piazza del Popolo to its quarters in the Viminale, just off Via Nazionale.

The bomb was ignited when the patrol turned into the narrow, steep street that runs parallel to Via del Tritone, between the Traforo and Palazzo Barberini, just a short walk from the Trevi Fountain.

Out of the 156 men in the German unit, 28 were killed instantly, rising to 32 the next day and subsequently to 42.

Hitler

The SS command in Rome under Herbert Kappler immediately recommended reprisals, which were swiftly approved by the military authorities all the way up to Hitler.

Within 24 hours the German command ordered the Ardeatine massacre. The response was rapid and brutal, without the usual posting of notices offering to forgo reprisals if the bombers should give themselves up.

Innocent victims

Hundreds of innocent victims were rounded up immediately from Regina Coeli prison, from their homes and off the street in an attempt to reach a ten to one ratio for every German killed in the Via Rasella bombing.

The innocent victims were a cross section of those living in Rome at the time: about 100 civilians and professionals, military men, factory workers, a Catholic priest and several students, 75 of them Jews.

They were of all ages from 15 to 70, and all political persuasions, from monarchist army officers to ultra-left wing communists. Some of them came from outside Rome.

On 24 March the 335 victims were taken in lorries outside the city by SS officers Erich Preibke and Karl Hass, divided into groups of five and shot in the back of the head.

When the officers discovered that, by mistake, five too many hostages had been rounded up, they decided to kill them anyway so that word of the massacre should not spread too soon.

The Fosse Ardeatine caves were then dynamited to seal them off and the bodies left to decay. It was not until more than a year later, after the Allied Liberation of Rome on 4 June 1944, that the caves were reopened and the bodies found.

Horrible sacrifice

After the war the site of the massacre was transformed into a museum, national mausoleum and sanctuary dedicated to the martyrs.

A plaque on the wall of the cave reads: Here we were brutally killed, victims of a horrible sacrifice. May from our sacrifice rise a better homeland and lasting peace among people.

Numerous personal items belonging to the Fosse Ardeatine victims can be found in Rome's Liberation Museum on Via Tasso, a former Gestapo headquarters where Jews and resistance figures were tortured during the Nazi occupation of Rome from 1943-1944.

Several public commemoration ceremonies in honour of the victims are due to be held in Rome, with President Mattarella expected to lay a wreath in the Fosse Ardeatine mausoleum this evening at 17.30.

Erich Priebke

Erich Priebke, the SS officer and Nazi war criminal, died in Rome aged 100 in October 2013. Following his extradition from Argentina, Priebke had been jailed for life in 1998 for his role in the Fosse Ardeatine massacre.

However, due to his advanced age and ill health, his life sentence was reduced to house arrest which he served in Rome's Balduina district.

Priebke's death sparked a heated debate over what to do with his body, with the Vatican taking "unprecedented action" to block his funeral from being celebrated by any Catholic church in Rome.

The then mayor of the capital Ignazio Marino also vetoed a public burial in Rome, a city he described as "profoundly anti-fascist."

In the end, Priebke's funeral was held by the Society of Saint Pius X - an ultraconservative Catholic splinter group, some of whose members have in the past faced criticism over anti-Semitic leanings - at Albano Laziale, a town in the Castelli Romani about 25 km south of Rome.

During the service, police prevented clashes from breaking out between fascist sympathisers and anti-fascist protesters. Due to the protests, Priebke's relatives were allegedly unable to access the church to attend the ceremony.

Afterwards the coffin containing Priebke's body was seized by the Italian authorities and taken to a military base near Rome before being buried "in a secret location."
THE DISCORD LEAKS | Wagners influence in Africa is a source of alarm to the U.S., prompting a push to find ways to hit the group, according to the documents.

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SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

The EV charging cable market is a fast-evolving industry with immense growth potential, making it an attractive opportunity for investors and businesses. In this dynamic market, it is crucial to stay competitive by staying informed about the latest trends and developments. SkyQuest's research report provides valuable insights and information that can assist stakeholders in making informed decisions. In addition, its insights can help stakeholders understand the market's changing landscape and identify opportunities for growth and investment.

Westford USA, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Asia Pacific region is projected to emerge as a game-changer in EV charging cable market , with high competition from North America. The global industry is witnessing unprecedented growth due to the increasing focus on sustainable mobility and the growing concerns over environmental pollution. The world is witnessing a surge in the installation of charging infrastructure, which is expected to boost the demand for EV charging cables in the coming years. Companies are focusing on expanding their product portfolios and improving their distribution networks to gain a competitive edge in the market.

According to SkyQuest's research report, the electric vehicle (EV) market in the United States is seeing a significant surge in sales, with over 165,000 units of battery EVs sold in the first quarter of 2022 alone. This figure represents a remarkable year-over-year increase of approximately 72 percent compared to the same period in 2021. This impressive growth in EV sales indicates a positive outlook for the EV charging cable market, as more and more consumers are embracing electric cars as a viable alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. With the increase in EV ownership, there is a growing demand for charging infrastructure, including cables.

Browse in-depth TOC on the "EV Charging Cable Market"

Pages - 157

Tables - 192

Figures - 81

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An EV charging cable is a device used to connect an electric vehicle (EV) to a power source for charging the vehicle's battery. These cables come in different sizes and shapes, depending on the type of EV and the charging capacity required. Most EVs have a built-in charger that converts the incoming AC power to DC power, which is then stored in the battery. The charging cable plays a crucial role in this process, as it acts as a conduit for the electrical current to flow between the power source and the vehicle.

Prominent Players in EV Charging Cable Market

Volex

Coroplast

Aptiv

Leoni AG

Yangzhou Teison New Energy Co., Ltd.

Dyden Corporation

Chengdu Khons Technology Co. Ltd.

TE Connectivity

Phoenix Contact

General Cable Technologies Corporation

Systems Wire Cable

Allwyn Cables

Prysmian S.p.A.

SINBON Electronics

Eland Cables

Elkem ASA

BESEN-Group

Brugg Kabel AG

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/ev-charging-cable-market

Coiled Cable Segment to Bring Significant Revenue Share Thanks to Its Design Preventing Tangling, Which Reduces the Risk of Damage to the Cable

In 2021, the coiled cable segment of the EV charging cable market experienced substantial growth. This trend is expected to continue and even accelerate from 2022 to 2030. As more consumers switch to EVs, the demand for charging infrastructure, including cables, is also rising. Coiled cables are a popular choice for EV charging because they offer flexibility and ease of use. These cables can stretch and contract as needed, making them convenient for charging in various locations. In addition, coiled cables' longevity can help reduce maintenance costs and ensure reliable charging for EV owners.

In 2021 the electric vehicle (EV) market saw significant growth, and as a result, the demand for EV charging cables has risen substantially. One region that has emerged as a key player in the EV charging cable market is Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific region has experienced increased EVs on its roads, primarily due to the rise in government initiatives promoting EV adoption. This has increased the demand for EV charging infrastructure, including charging cables. In addition, the growing awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles, such as reduced emissions and cost savings, has led to a surge in consumer interest in EVs and, by extension, EV charging cables.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/ev-charging-cable-market

Private Charging Segment to Drive High Traction as It Enables Owners to Schedule Their Charging Sessions and Monitor Their Energy Usage

According to market research, the private charging segment dominated the EV charging cable market in 2021, and this trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Moreover, the surge in the segmental growth of the private charging segment is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030, driven by the increasing adoption of EVs and the development of more affordable and efficient charging technologies. With a private charging station, EV owners can conveniently charge their vehicles overnight or during the day without worrying about waiting in line or paying high fees.

In recent years, the electric vehicle (EV) industry has been growing rapidly, as has the demand for EV charging cables. North America is one of the regions where the growth of the EV charging cable market has been particularly noticeable, with continued positive growth in 2021 and expected high momentum by 2030. As per SkyQuest's insights, the US government has revealed an ambitious plan to invest USD 3.1 billion in the domestic manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Therefore, the EV industry's growth will also directly impact the market, presenting a lucrative opportunity for manufacturers to capitalize on the growing demand. In addition, as more consumers switch to electric vehicles, the demand for charging infrastructure has grown.

SkyQuest, a well-known market research firm, has recently released a detailed report on the EV charging cable market. Furthermore, the report delves into the market's competitive landscape, providing insights into key players and their respective market shares. This information can benefit businesses looking to enter or expand their market share. Additionally, the report covers recent advancements and innovations in the market, highlighting the technological developments and advancements driving the industry's growth.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/ev-charging-cable-market

Key Developments in EV Charging Cable Market

Tesla, the electric vehicle company, has deployed its latest and most advanced Supercharger V4 technology. It features a new liquid-cooled cable design allowing faster charging and a more reliable connection. It also has a new charging curve that optimizes the charging speed based on the battery's state of charge, making the charging process more efficient and reducing the overall charging time.

Autel Energy, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, has announced the release of its latest product, the AC Ultra EV charger. Another important feature of the AC Ultra is its charging cable management system. This system helps to keep the charging cable organized and tangle-free, which makes it easier for users to connect and disconnect their EVs. In addition, the charging cable is also long enough to provide users with flexibility in where they park their EVs.

Keysight, a leading technology company, has recently announced the expansion of its E-Mobility charging test portfolio. In addition, the company has added new products and solutions to help accelerate the development and deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and their charging infrastructure.

Key Questions Answered in EV Charging Cable Market Report

How do technological advancements impact the growth of the global market, and which sectors are most affected by these advancements?

What role does government regulation play in shaping the growth of the global market, and how can stakeholders navigate these regulations to remain competitive?

How do shifting consumer preferences impact the global market, and what steps can industry players take to respond to these changes?

What emerging trends are likely to shape the future of the global market, and how can businesses adapt their strategies to capitalize on these trends?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Autonomous Networks Hyperloop Market

Automotive AI Repair Services market

Global Electric Mobility Networks Market

Global Automotive Aftermarket Market

Global Train Wire Harness Market

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Energy company recognized as top utility on annual list, places 17th overall

BOSTON & HARTFORD, Conn., March 24, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the fourth consecutive year, Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) has been recognized by Barrons on its list of Americas 100 Most Sustainable Companies, appearing as the top utility in the annual ranking for the second time in the last three years. Eversources rank also improved significantly to 17th overall on this years list from 40th last year, reflecting the strides the company has made in executing its strategic commitment to sustainability throughout its operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005105/en/

Eversource Energy is the top-ranked energy company in Barrons "100 Most Sustainable Companies" list for 2023. (Photo: Business Wire)

"This recognition is a testament of Eversources deep commitment to and the hard work of our employees in building a more sustainable and equitable future for our customers, our communities, and the world we all share," said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Joseph Nolan. "Sustainability and strong environmental, social and governance principles are embedded in all that we do  which will continue to serve as the foundation of our vision for providing safe, reliable service and meeting the future energy needs of our customers."

The Barrons list of Most Sustainable Companies is based on more than 230 environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) metrics. To create the ranking, the top 1,000 publicly traded companies by market value were evaluated by how they performed for five key constituencies  customers, communities, employees, the planet and shareholders  looking at ESG performance indicators such as workplace diversity, data security and greenhouse gas emissions. To qualify for the list, a company must be rated above the bottom quarter in each of the five stakeholder categories.

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For more information on Eversources nationally recognized commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility  including diversity, equity and inclusion and the companys most recent Sustainability Report  please visit its sustainability page at Eversource.com.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweeks list of Americas Most Responsible Companies for 2023 and recognized as one of Americas Most JUST Companies. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,600 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005105/en/

Contacts

Caroline Pretyman

617-424-2460

caroline.pretyman@eversource.com

Al Lara

860-665-2344

albert.lara@eversource.com
The Iron Curtain would fall again not only from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, but also to the final confrontation between the Western-dominated camp and its competitors, he wrote. If China does not take proactive measures to respond, it will encounter further containment from the US and the West. Thats already happening. In a recent speech, Xi criticised Western countries for their all-around containment, encirclement and suppression of China led by the United States. He said that it has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our countrys development. There remain many question marks over the future of Chinas economy. Credit: Bloomberg China is experiencing sharp drops in both export and foreign direct investment, as many multinational companies move some or all of their supply chains out of China. The countrys economic policy has become much more unpredictable under Xi, especially during the zero COVID lockdowns last year. And the combination of American trade tariffs and export controls has made navigating China tricky for multinational businesses. The Biden administration has been trying to persuade others to coordinate on its China policies, especially in blocking access to advanced technologies. US allies, including Japan and the Netherlands, have pledged not to sell their most advanced semiconductor machinery to China. The United Kingdom, after wavering for a while on the infrastructure backbone of its 5G build out, decided against buying equipment from Huawei.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have reinforced the negative perception of China within the European Union, a group of Chinese researchers wrote in a report. Chinas image in Europe is implicated by its association with Russia. Loading Liberal-minded Chinese whisper in private that Chinas refusal to condemn Russias invasion, and Xis friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, have both made alliance building by the United States much easier  and made their own lives much tougher. Chinese businesspeople have found it hard to expand in the West, since many countries have enacted strict rules regarding Chinese investment. Manufacturers have had to move parts of their supply chains outside the country if they want to retain Western clients working to reduce their exposure to China. Many Chinese workers have lost their jobs as a result. Chinese tech companies are facing significant scrutiny. Citing national security concerns, the US government is pushing ByteDance, the Chinese internet company, to sell TikTok, its popular short-video app, or face a ban in the country. The US has already banned its use on government devices, as have Canada, Britain and EU nations. TikToks chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, is scheduled to testify in Congress today.

Feng Yujun, a professor and a top Russia expert at Fudan University in Shanghai, argued in a speech in December that China has paid too much, economically and politically, for its ties with Russia, according to a transcript of his speech. We not only need to maintain a long-term friendly cooperative relationship with Russia but also need to maintain a constructive partnership with the United States, because our relationship with the US will determine Chinas overall international environment in the future, he said. The Biden administration has been trying to persuade others to coordinate on its China policies, especially in blocking access to advanced technologies. Credit: AP Xi has rapidly been changing the direction Deng laid out. He did not follow the former leaders guidance that China bide its time and hide its capabilities while developing itself. Instead, Xi bragged about Chinas tech power when nearly all of it was built atop Western technologies. He also has turned Chinas cooperative diplomats into confrontational warriors on the international stage. Under him, the Chinese government has repeatedly tried to used its economic weight to coerce any company or any government that dared to criticise it.

Deng was once asked why China attached such importance to its relationship with the United States. He replied, Looking back over the past few decades, every country that has had good relations with the US has become prosperous, according to a memoir by a top expert on the United States, Li Shenzhi, a well-known liberal intellectual. Loading Under Xi, Chinese relations with the United States have turned antagonistic. By contrast, he calls Putin a dear friend and seeks to strengthen economic ties with Russia, whose output is close to that of Guangdong Province in southern China and with whom China had a bitter, humiliating history during both the Imperial and Communist periods. Hu, the scholar, said in the interview that it was not true that the US had always tried to contain China. The US let China into the World Trade Organisation. It increased trade with China. It provided technologies and management expertise when China had nothing. Why did the US-China relations turn sour? he asked. Who should be responsible? I wont discuss this because its a sensitive issue, he said. I dont think the responsibility lies with the US.

He says that China has no reason to complain that the United States doesnt help it anymore. Why should I help you if we are no longer friends? he asked. Isnt it foolish to help make your competitor stronger? Loading In the end, foreign policy decisions should be made based on whether they help China achieve modernisation and improve peoples lives, said Hu  not whether a leader likes a certain foreign country or not. For the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Hu wrote a follow-up article. He asked whether Putin would still have gone ahead with his special military operation if he had known how it would turn out. History does not entertain what ifs, and what is lost can never be regained, he wrote. We can only learn from the lessons, try our best to not cling obstinately to our course and to never repeat past mistakes.
A third man left clinging to an esky off the Western Australian coast has been charged over the alleged importation of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine after he was found hiding under a home spa with a gun.

Three men were rescued after they were plunged into the ocean off Albany early last month when their boat capsized while they were supposedly fishing.

Days later, a package of cocaine washed ashore near the town of Denmark and a seven-metre boat was found overturned off Peaceful Bay a week later.

The men were found clinging to an esky. Credit: AMSA

A search of the partially submerged vessel, named Aces and Eights, uncovered another eight plastic-wrapped packages each containing about 40 kilograms of cocaine.
Its 20 years ago this week that we embarked on our share of that illegitimacy. To our peoples credit, the Iraq war was never popular outside the United States, and youll no doubt remember the enormous rallies against it. Today, even most Americans think it was the wrong decision. But if were honest, while we might have this general sense the Iraq war was a blunder of sorts, we dont seem to regard it as an especially grave moment, if we pay any regard to it at all. If I had to summarise our attitude towards this invasion two decades on, it wouldnt be how could we? It would be whoops!

But its not a whoopsie to precipitate that many civilian deaths (estimates range from about 180,000 to a million, but we dont know because we never tried to count them). Its not a whoopsie to have handed Iraq over to Iranian influence, especially when you regard Iran as a serious foe. Its not a whoopsie to have promised a democratic utopia, but instead left behind a traumatised country, racked with corruption and sectarian bloodshed, and power blackouts with a third of the countrys people living in poverty. These are major failures, none of which could possibly have come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the tectonic plates on which Iraqi society is built.

All this has thrown up some galling ironies. We went to war to disrupt a fictional association between Saddams Baathist regime and terrorist groups. Then those vanquished Baathists wound up in prison with terrorists, where they actually did forge an alliance we came to know as Islamic State. And so, our fictional threat became a real one.

But perhaps the most current irony is that the Iraq invasion took an axe to the rules-based order Western nations so frequently like to trumpet. So when Putin decided to nick Crimea and then finally invade Ukraine, there was little left of the rules we might have invoked to restrain him. Putin even facetiously referred to weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine.
Seven & i Holdings Co's Seven Eleven convenience store logo is pictured in Tokyo

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

(Reuters) -ValueAct Capital informed Seven & i Holdings on Friday it would lobby to remove four directors from the Japanese convenience store operator's 14-member board, citing "a failed corporate strategy".

ValueAct, which owns a 4.4% stake of Seven & i, had called on the company's management in January to spin off its 7-Eleven convenience store chain. The fund has been invested in the company and making proposals since 2021.

In a letter reviewed by Reuters, the hedge fund said it had become frustrated that its engagement with Seven & i over several months had not led to the company adopting a strategy to grow faster and improve profitability and its market valuation.

A "conglomerate discount has persisted" because the management of most of the Seven & i businesses has repeatedly failed in spite of promises for "synergies" and structural reform, the letter said.

The letter did not state how ValueAct would seek to oust the four directors, whom it did not publicly identify. The fund nominated four director candidates, who also were not named.

Company President Ryuichi Isaka is among the directors ValueAct is seeking to remove, the Nikkei newspaper said.

In a statement, Seven & i said it had received the ValueAct letter and that "the Board of Directors will proceed to scrutinise and consider the contents of the proposal".

A tax-free spin-off of 7-Eleven could be completed through a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in roughly a year, ValueAct said in January.

Seven & i announced this month it will close an additional 14 Ito-Yokado supermarket stores in Japan and fully exit its apparel business as part of a structural reform plan.

Six new directors joined Seven & i's board last year. ValueAct supported those newcomers at the time.

ValueAct blames the four directors it is now seeking to remove for "governance failures", the letter said.

The directors "failed to disclose a reported acquisition proposal to the Company in 2020", failed to conduct an objective succession review, and did not conduct an independent strategic review in line with governance best practices, ValueAct said.

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Seven & i shares rose 1% in Tokyo versus a 0.2% decline in the benchmark Nikkei index.

ValueAct, which is led by Mason Morfit, won a board seat this year at cloud computing company Salesforce.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in New Orleans; Additional reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Rocky Swift in Tokyo; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Sonali Paul and Himani Sarkar)
MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED

Face Mask Market size to decrease due to the health complications caused by the prolonged wearing of masks. Face Mask Market analysis was conducted by segmenting the market into six major segments: Nature, Product, Type, Material Type, End-Use and Distributional Channel.

Pune, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Healthcare business-consulting firm, Maximize Market research, has published a market intelligence and competitive landscape report on the  Face Mask Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain expert has analyzed the Face Mask Market from a local as well as a global point of view. Over the forecast period, Maximize Market research expects, the market to grow from USD 8280 Mn in 2021 to USD 610 Mn in 2029 at a CAGR of -27.8 percent.



Face Mask Market Report Scope and Research Methodology

Market Size in 2021 USD 8280 Mn. Market Size in 2029 USD 610 Mn. CAGR -27.8 pecent (2022-2029) Forecast Period 2022-2029 Base Year 2021 Number of Pages 289 No. of Tables 118 No. of Charts and Figures 116 Segment Covered Nature, Product, Type, Material Type, End Use and Distribution Channel Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222029, Market Dynamics, Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Key Trends, Competitive Landscape, Key Players Benchmarking, Competitive Analysis, MMR Competition Matrix, Competitive Leadership Mapping, Global Key Players Market Ranking Analysis.

Request For Free Sample Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/157665

The report on Face Mask Market provides an in-depth analysis of the market along with the market size and growth rate. In the report, the dynamics of the Face Mask Market are studied and explained which helps clients to know the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges at the local, regional and global levels for the Face Mask Market. A thorough competitive landscape of the Face Mask Market was presented taking market leaders and new entrants into consideration. The report also provides a regional analysis of the Face Mask Market at a global and regional level. Insights such as market penetration of face marks, regional dominance and other valuable information are provided. Country-specific analysis of the Face Mask Market is also provided.

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Data was collected by Maximize Market Research through primary and secondary research methods. Primary research includes surveys from Face Mask dealers and suppliers. Secondary research includes official databases of various organizations and government sites, industry journals, white papers, annual reports, and releases of product manufacturers and suppliers in the Face Mask industry along with paid and free databases. All the information that has been gathered for the report has been evaluated and verified. The bottom-up approach was used to estimate the regional and global Face Mask market size. SWOT analysis was employed to provide the strengths and weaknesses of the Face Mask Market and the PORTER, PESTLE was conducted to understand the potential impact of the micro-economic and macro-economic factors affecting the Face Mask Market.

The long-term performance analysis of the Face Mask industry with various industrial segments and strategic postures has been provided in the report. The report helps clients make strategies for their investments, lowering risk, understand cost dynamics, and maintain balance in the face of market volatility.

Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/157665

Face Mask Market Overview

The face mask is a half-face mask that protects the nose, mouth and chin against airborne diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, measles, etc. The increasing awareness of healthcare and hygiene in developing countries is expected to create growth opportunities for the Face Mask market growth.

Face Mask Market Dynamics

One of the major restraints for the Face Mask market growth is the fluctuating prices of raw materials. Long-term use of masks causes headaches, skin disintegration, difficulties in breathing, acne, rashes, and poor memory. It also obstructs communication , eyesight and thermal balance. Thus, the health complications caused by wearing masks are expected to restrain the Face Mask market growth. The high investments required for the production of masks is also the restraining factor for the Face Mask market.

Face Mask Market Regional Insights

During the forecast period, the Face Mask market in the Asia Pacific region is expected to be driven by the constantly developing healthcare infrastructure in industrialized countries such as China and developing economies such as India.

The Face Mask market in the Europe region is majorly driven by the increasing consumer base, which is aided by rising personal hygiene and health awareness.

Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/157665

Face Mask Market Segmentation

By Nature

Disposable

Reusable

By Product

Protective

Dust

Non-Woven



By Type

Surgical

Respirator

Procedure

Others (Dust Mask, Fashion Mask, PITTA Mask)

By Material Type

Polypropylene (Pp)

Polyurethane

Polyester

Cotton

Others (Flexible Pvc, Pet, Rubber, Silicon)



By End Use

Hospitals & Clinics

Industrial & Institutional

Personal/Individual Protection



By Distribution Channel

Pharmacy & Drug Stores

Supermarket & Hypermarket

Specialty Stores

E-Commerce

Face Mask Market Key Competitors include:

3M Company

Honeywell International Inc.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Cardinal Health, Inc.

Owens & Minor, Inc.

Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd.

Ambu A/S

Cantel Medical Corp.

Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacture Co., Ltd

Medline Industries, Inc.

Molnlycke Health Care AB

Prestige Ameritech

Makrite

CNTUS-SUNGJIN Co., Ltd.

Foss Performance Materials, LLC.

Irema Ireland

DACH

Te Yin

KOWA

Uvex

The Gerson Company



Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/157665

Key questions answered in the Face Mask Market are:

What is a Face Mask?

What are the global trends in the Face Mask Market?

What are the reasons behind the decreasing Face Mask Market size?

What are the upcoming industry applications and trends for the Face Mask Market?

What are the factors contributing to the final price of the Face Mask?

What is the expected demand for different types of products in the Face Mask Market during the forecast period?

Who held the largest market share in Face Mask Market?

What growth strategies are the players considering to increase their presence in Face Mask Market?

What are the major challenges that the Face Mask Market could face in the future?



Key Offerings:

Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021)

Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021)

Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029

Market Dynamics  Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Nature, Product, Type, Material Type, End Use, Distribution Channel and Region

Competitive Landscape  Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape  Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region

PESTLE Analysis

PORTERs analysis

Value chain and supply chain analysis

Legal Aspects of business by region

Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis

Recommendations

Maximize Market Research is leading Healthcare research firm, has also published the following reports:

Disposable Masks Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 2.93 billion by 2029 at a declining CAGR of -27.6 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing cases of infectious diseases and rising awareness of health concerns.

Laryngeal Mask Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 3.70 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 11 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing number of surgical procedures with an increasing demand for disposable device.

Peel off Face Mask Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 3132.45 million by 2029 at a CAGR of 5.7 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing popularity of beauty and skin care products among the millennial generation.

Facial Care Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 179.10 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 8.32 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing demand for organic and natural skin care products.

Skin Care Products Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 208.47 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 5.62 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing awareness of skin care products to protect skin from harmful radiations, pollution, etc.

About Maximize Market Research:

Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial equipment, technology and communication, cars and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated systems. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies.

CONTACT: Contact Maximize Market Research: 3rd Floor, Navale IT Park, Phase 2 Pune Banglore Highway, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India sales@maximizemarketresearch.com +91 96071 95908, +91 9607365656




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Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "General Aviation Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global general aviation market size reached US$ 25.2 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 31.1 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.57% during 2022-2028.

General Aviation Market Trends:



The significant growth in the tourism industry across the globe is creating a positive outlook for the market. Moreover, the emerging trends of recreational flying and aerial sports, such as balloons, powered or powerless gliders, air racing, aerobatics, and air shows, are favoring the market growth. In line with this, the increasing consumer expenditure capacity on air travel for medical transportation, sightseeing, charter operations, skydiving, parachute jumping, and self-flown tourism is acting as another growth-inducing factor.

Apart from this, the increasing demand for private flying operations, such as charter flights, corporate jets, and very important person (VIP) transportation, is providing a considerable boost to market growth. Additionally, the introduction of all-electric and hybrid aircraft to reduce aviation emissions and offer a cost-effective and quieter flying experience is providing an impetus to market growth. Moreover, the rising demand for piston fixed-wing aircraft among pilot training institutes, private aviation, and aircraft racers due to their ability to conduct low altitude and moderate speed flights is positively influencing the market growth.

Other factors, including increasing investments in research and development (R&D) projects, the rapid proliferation of flying taxi and air ambulance services, and the implementation of various government initiatives to enhance the security of aircraft components and rescue emission activities, are anticipated to drive the market growth.



Key Market Segmentation:



Breakup by Product:

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Helicopters

Piston Fixed-wing Aircraft

Turboprop Aircraft

Business Jet

Breakup by Application:

Commercial

Non-Commercial

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global general aviation market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global general aviation market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global general aviation market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction



5 Global General Aviation Market



6 Market Breakup by Product



7 Market Breakup by Application



8 Market Breakup by Region



9 SWOT Analysis



10 Value Chain Analysis



11 Porters Five Forces Analysis



12 Price Analysis



13 Competitive Landscape



Companies Mentioned

Airbus SE

Bombardier Inc.

Dassault Aviation SA.

Eclipse Aerospace Inc. (One Aviation Corporation)

Honda Aircraft Company (Honda Motor Co. Ltd)

Lockheed Martin

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd

Piper Aircraft Inc.

Textron Aviation Inc.

The Boeing Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w5x84h

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




Mangalore, the port city and the administrative head quarters of Dakshina Kannada is famed for the nightlong dance-drama performance known as Yakshagana.
The city police collision reconstruction unit has been called in on the scene where a young child was involved in a serious collision on Woodglade Boulevard on Thursday March 23, 2023 in Peterborough, Ont.























A Monaghan Ward councillor is calling on the city to install a three-way stop after a three-year-old girl was killed in a collision Thursday morning on Woodglade Boulevard in a residential area of Peterboroughs west end.

Around 9 a.m., a vehicle left the roadway and struck the girl who was in the driveway of a home, according to city police Staff Sgt. Dan MacLean.

Two other children were also in the driveway at the time, but were not injured, MacLean said.

The child was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and has since succumbed to those injuries, McLean told reporters at the scene on Thursday afternoon. It is an absolute tragedy that this event had occurred.

MacLean couldnt say what caused the driver of the vehicle to leave the roadway, adding investigators are on the scene to determine what occurred.

Traffic safety has long been a concern for residents of the neighbourhood.

Coun. Matthew Crowley said Thursday he wants the city to place a three-way stop at the corner of Oakwood Crescent and Woodglade in the wake of the fatality.

Speeding and dangerous driving has been something the residents on Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Woodglade have been complaining about for years, Crowley stated in a social media posting.

The term Kawartha Heights Speedway has been used for years to describe traffic in that area. This is no longer something to be joked about, but instead is a serious problem than needs immediate intervention by the city.

Crowley noted that some might find a three-way stop to be an inconvenience.

This may be a welcome change for many, not enough change for some and an inconvenience for others, but this change is needed  and in this case the change has come far too late to save the life of a child. Crowley stated.

My heart is broken and words cannot express the overwhelming sadness I feel for the family of the child who was struck on Woodglade, Crowley added.

Woodglade Boulevard was closed to traffic between Sherbrooke Street and Kawartha Heights Boulevard for several hours while the city police collision reconstructionist unit documented the scene. It reopened by around 4 p.m.

No charges had been laid in the investigation as of late Thursday.

The investigation will unfold and no one, not the family not neighbours, not witnesses, nor any first responder, including the dispatchers who took the call will be left untouched, city police Chief Stuart Betts stated. Driving is a privilege. Be safe on our roads and in our community.

Police are asking for anyone with information about the collision to contact them at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca

"My deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this horrific tragedy," Peterborough--Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri stated.

"The first responders, the family and the children who witnessed this unimaginable trauma are in my thoughts." -- with files from Clifford Skarstedt, Examiner and Lance Anderson

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A man who arranged to have a cocaine sent from the Caribbean to a Niagara residence will return to court this summer to learn his fate.

Sanjay Allen appeared in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a charge of importing cocaine into Canada.

In February 2022, court heard, Canada Border Services Agency officers at Pearson International Airport in Toronto intercepted a package originating from St. Martin in the Caribbean.

The package, labelled as containing shirts and addressed to a woman in St. Catharines, was found to contain one kilogram of cocaine.

The RCMP launched an investigation and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to St. Catharines.

The woman told police the defendant had asked her to receive the package for him, and had provided her with a tracking number from Canada Post.

The federal Crown is seeking a penitentiary sentence.

Allen, who has no prior criminal record, is scheduled to return to court in June for sentencing.

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Niagara Regional Police Const. Katia Cristicini says non-lethal weapons were not a viable option when she was trying to stop Fred Penner as he approached her with a serrated knife on Dec. 31, 2019.

As Penner walked down a driveway toward her that afternoon on Rykert Street, she said she feared the conductive energy weapon (CEW) she carried would not penetrate the winter coat the 56-year-old man was wearing, while her baton and pepper spray would have required Penner to get too close to her to be used.

I wasnt willing to take that chance, she said.

After repeatedly telling Penner to drop the knife, she said she aimed at Penners chest as she fired her gun when he was less than three metres away.

She said she did not consider aiming for his limbs to try to stop him, adding police are trained to aim for the torso  the largest part of the body.

When youre under high stress, your fine motor skills become very difficult to manoeuvre. You are truly trying to eliminate that threat. Youre trying to stop whats happening and whats coming toward you, she said as the inquest into the fatal police shooting continued Thursday after a two-day postponement.

Penner died in hospital Jan. 1, 2020, after being shot 10 times by Cristicini and her partner Const. Bruce Craine, who arrived on the St. Catharines scene later during the confrontation.

Cristicini said she also aimed for Penners chest rather than his limbs, concerned about the homes behind him.

If I were to aim for a small part of his body theres a chance  a very big chance  that I would have missed and caused either damage or injury to someone else that wasnt involved, she said. At that point it becomes very difficult to aim for small, moving body parts.

Unfortunately, after the first couple shots, Mr. Penner was still moving and thats why I proceeded to shoot.

Ontario Police College instructor Peter Rampat described use of force training that was consistent with Cristicinis testimony.

(When) you have a person on the street with a knife who is a legitimate threat to public safety, the officers main goal is to control and stop that behaviour, so they can move into verbal attempts at de-escalating, Rampat said.

During cross-examination by her lawyer, Joseph Markson, Cristicini struggled with emotion as she recalled her efforts to de-escalate the situation by trying to engage Penner in conversation.

I asked him what was going on today and I asked him his name, she said.

Markson said it was a sample of a number of attempts, verbal utterances you made to give Mr. Penner and understanding that you were there to help, and help was available  none of which were effective.

Rampat said police officers are trained to assess, plan and decide what your actions are going to be when responding to high-risk situations, especially outdoors in a residential neighbourhood where bystanders could be at risk.

If the officer has made an assessment that the risk is high  the subject is in possession of a knife I believe in this case, and they believe theres a risk to public safety  they need that behaviour to stop immediately and that weapon to be put on the ground, Rampat said.

He said when officers draw their weapon and issue the police challenge  Police, dont move  it is designed to do that very thing, minimize the risk, stop the threat and stop that behaviour from escalating.

Although methamphetamine, amphetamine and benzoylecgonine (the active ingredient in cocaine) were found in Penners blood, according to the agreed upon statement of fact, Rampat said he didnt want to speculate on if Penners actions were due to a drug-induced crisis.

While non-lethal weapons such as pepper spray, batons and pistols are part of the Ontario Police College training program, Rampat said use of CEWs is not part of the curriculum, adding that training is conducted at the local level at the discretion of the chief of police.

Its not a provincially mandated use of force option, Rampat said.

Dr. Geoffrey Bond took over as presiding coroner Thursday, after Dr. John Carlisle was unable to continue with the proceedings for personal reasons.

The inquest, being held online, is to resume Friday morning.

In August 2020, both officers involved in the shooting were cleared of any wrongdoing by Ontarios Special Investigations Unit.

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Niagara Regional Police detectives continue to investigate a collisionin which a 74-year-old St. Catharines woman died last week, and are appealing to the public for assistance.

The two-vehicle crash happened at about 9:30 a.m. March 15 at Vine and Scott streets in St. Catharines. It involved a Toyota Matrix and a Freightliner box truck.

The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said a 29-year-old man from Lincoln was operating the truck.

Police have not released the name of the deceased woman, and Const. Barry Ravenek said there is no current investigative reasoning to release her name.

People who witnessed the collision, and have yet to speak to detectives, are asked by police to call 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009569.

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Niagara Regional Police Const. Bruce Craine said he could hear the urgency in Const. Katia Cristicinis voice over the radio, as he raced to Rykert Street to assist her.

I could just tell it wasnt going as routinely as some other calls have gone, he said Friday, while testifying in the coroners inquest into the Dec. 31, 2019, fatal police shooting of St. Catharines resident Fred Penner.

Penner died a day later at the St. Catharines hospital, after being shot 10 times by police officers.

Craine said he arrived to find Cristicini on a driveway with her firearm pointed at Penner, 56, who was not responding to repeated orders to drop the knife he was carrying.

He was walking towards her as she was backing up towards the sidewalk, he said, adding he rushed to Cristicinis side as quickly as I could.

Craine said there were a lot of thoughts racing through his mind at the time, but the ultimate goal was youre just trying to use any strategy possible to have him drop the knife and get it out of his hands as quickly as possible.

He, too, drew his firearm and yelled Police, dont move, as he joined Cristicini on the driveway.

That had no effect. He continued to back us up towards the sidewalk.

Craine said there was no cooperation from Penner.

It was almost like we werent even there. He just wasnt perceiving what we were saying to him.

He said Penner initially had kind of a vacant look in his face. ... He was walking towards us almost trance-like, I would say.

However, he said Penners demeanor changed as he closed in on the police officers.

He had an angry and determined expression as he quickened his pace towards the officers still armed with the knife, Craine added.

This was clearly a large knife, and yeah he was holding it kind of at shoulder level with the blade down and he was making motions towards us with his hand on the knife, he said.

Fearing for their own safety as well as the safety of bystanders and with no where left to safely retreat to, Craine said he told Cristicini: Im going to shoot him.

She just responded with, Yup, and I think we both unfortunately reached that point where we were left without any other choice, he said.

I pulled my trigger twice. I heard gunshots and knew Const. Cristicini also discharged her weapon. I see him, hes already very close to us but hes continuing to move towards us. I pulled my trigger again before he finally stops moving towards us and then fell on his stomach, literally at our feet with the knife in his hand.

In August 2020, both officers involved in the shooting were cleared of any wrongdoing by Ontarios Special Investigations Unit.

Canadian Mental Health Association crisis worker Maeghan Bassett was working with Cristicini at the time of the incident, as part of the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT), and watched the incident unfold from the safety of the front passenger seat of Cristicinis police cruiser  unable to get involved in an incident while there was a threat to her safety.

She said she had been on numerous calls with Cristicini as part of the MCRRT, but the call involving Penner was the only incident that resulted in a fatality.

Asked by a juror about Cristicinis response to the situation, Bassett said she has a lot of faith in her having worked with her so much to know that she was doing all the things I was regularly used to seeing her do in those moments.

I wouldnt have done anything different in her shoes, she said.

Rykert Street resident Lawrence Thomas said he watched from a distance as Cristicini repeated ordered Penner to drop the knife .

He said Penner instead lifted the knife as he approached her.

As Craine arrived on scene, Thomas said Penner made a very aggressive charge towards them.

He said he heard four or five gunshots before Penner fell to the ground, although he said there may have been more shots fired.

As officers ran to Penners side, Thomas said he turned his attention to consoling his wife, Nicole, who was on the phone with 911 and watching from behind their pickup truck at the time.

The inquest, expected to continue for two more weeks, resumes Monday morning.

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OTTAWA - The Prime Ministers Office says Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, stayed in a $6,000 per night hotel suite while attending the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.

The stay at the Corinthia London hotel became the subject of public debate last fall when media honed in on the details of the $400,000 trip, after obtaining documents through access-to-information requests.

But Trudeaus office and Global Affairs Canada did not respond to questions last month about who stayed in the expensive river suite, which features a butler service.

Opposition MPs on the government operations committee asked for a copy of all receipts and invoices associated with the trip last month.

The room was booked on Sept. 9, one day after the Queens death, for Sept. 15 to 20.

In a statement, the Prime Ministers Office says hotel prices surged significantly ahead of the funeral, and many London hotels were sold out as 500 heads of state and their delegations descended on the city.

The hotels website currently lists the suite at 5,154 British pounds per night, more than the 4,800 pounds the government was charged in September.

A night in the river suite next month would come out to more than $8,000 at the current exchange rate.

Documents released through access-to-information requests note that the booking was for a three-bed suite. The hotels website says it has one king-sized bed but there are connecting rooms available on request.

The prime minister and his wife were the only two who stayed in the suite, his office said.

In November, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre peppered Trudeau with questions in the House of Commons about who stayed in the suite, but he didnt answer.

The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a significant event for Canadians. Canada was represented by former prime ministers and governors general to pay their respects to the monarch who oversaw almost half of Canadas time as an independent country, said a press secretary for Trudeau in a written statement Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.

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Multiple wedding looks have been a trend for awhile: its now surprisingly common for brides wear up to five looks on their big day. (Paris Hilton took the trend to its max at her 2021 wedding; she wore seven dresses over three days.)

But now, an even more drastic bridal style switch-up is taking hold: the wedding haircut, which takes place between the ceremony and reception.

On TikTok, there are millions of views on videos showing brides putting a cutting cape over their wedding dress before a hairstylist chops their lengthy beach waves into a sleek bob, or adds a shaggy curtain fringe.

Bridal hairstyling specialist Shannon Petrolito is a fan of the wedding haircut trend. The wedding hair chop takes this idea of changing your look to a whole new level, she says. You can completely change the tone of your style and the event. Petrolito adds that the wedding haircut trend is ideal for brides who are naturally daring, or who have a creative spirit.

If youre considering the wedding haircut, Petrolito recommends planning for your chop to occur during the middle portion of your celebration.

Ideally, the haircut happens after the ceremony and formal wedding portraits, but before cocktail hour, she explains. You need at least an hour to make this happen and a calm space at your venue. Build the haircut into your wedding day timeline and dont forget to have your wedding photographer document it all  its a unique moment to capture.

Whether or not a wedding haircut is in your future, heres whats trending for 2023 wedding hair. Petrolito breaks down her top three styles.

The wedding ponytail

I love a sleek pony, one with soft waves, or extremely undone and textured, says Petrolito. Bows are still big this year as a bridal hair accessory  an alluring ponytail adorned with a hair bow ticks all the boxes.

The sleek half-updo

This sleek half-updo with waves is inspired by Jennifer Lopezs hairstyle during her Las Vegas elopement. The super-structured glam waves have had their moment, says Petrolito. I like the contrasts in this softer look.

The midi bun

This look inspired by Paris Hiltons wedding ceremony look. She went with a timeless bridal hairstyle with a side part and soft bang, but suddenly it looked incredibly modern, says Petrolito. I love a more tousled version of this style.

Alison McGill is a Toronto-based wedding expert and freelance contributor for The Kit and the Star. Reach her via email: am@thekit.ca

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SQUAMISH, B.C. - Proponents of a British Columbia liquefied natural gas export facility have unveiled plans to achieve net-zero emissions commitments in the construction phase and for its future operations.

Woodfibre LNG says in a statement it plans to meet net-zero emissions by the time operations start at the south coast export facility in 2027.

Company president Christine Kennedy says emission reduction opportunities are a priority for the project as it implements a strategy that will result in the worlds first net-zero facility.

She says Woodfibre LNG will be able to reach the goal with electrical compressors, using 14 times fewer emissions than a gas-burning LNG plant.

Kennedy says Woodfibre LNG will also reduce emissions through carbon credits from the nearby Cheakamus Community Forest, a nature-based carbon offset project in Whistler, B.C., where the municipality and Squamish and Lilwat nations are partners.

The B.C. government introduced a framework last week that will require new liquefied natural gas facilities to have credible plans for net-zero emissions by 2030.

Alongside the leadership and vision set out by the provinces new Energy Action Framework, achieving net zero allows Woodfibre LNG to advance the global energy transition, furthering economic reconciliation and contributing to British Columbias standard of living, says Kennedy in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.

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FILE - In this image provided by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, a Dixie Valley toad sits atop grass in Dixie Valley, Nev., on April 6, 2009. The developer of a geothermal power plant planned in Nevada says it intends to sue U.S wildlife officials to try to overturn the endangered species listing of a toad that lives in adjacent wetlands. The move could end up pitting two Biden administration agencies against each other in one of a series of legal battles over President Joe Biden's efforts to combat climate change with so-called "green energy" projects. (Matt Maples/Nevada Department of Wildlife via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

RENO, Nev. (AP)  In an unusual move that could pit two Biden administration agencies against each other, the developer of a planned Nevada geothermal power plant says it intends to sue U.S wildlife officials to overturn the endangered species listing of a toad in adjacent wetlands.

Ormat Technologies said in a 60-day notice of its intent to sue the Interior Department's Fish and Wildlife Service that the listing of the Dixie Valley toad in December was illegal.

The toad does not meet the definitional standard for a threatened  let alone endangered  species, and the service failed to base its decision on the best scientific and commercial data available," Reno-based Ormat said.

Its the latest legal maneuver in a series of conflicts underscoring challenges President Joe Biden faces in vowing to protect fish and wildlife while also pushing the development of so-called green energy projects on U.S. lands to help combat climate change.

A court battle over the toads listing would put the administration in the precarious position of using its Justice Department lawyers to defend the wildlife services decision to list the toad, while continuing to defend the Bureau of Land Managements approval of the geothermal project in a lawsuit brought by conservationists and a tribe.

The Interior Department, which oversees the Fish and Wildlife Service and the BLM, had no comment, spokesman Tyler Cherry said.

The project planned about 100 miles (161 kilometer) east of Reno is among three in Nevada at the forefront of Bidens push to speed the transition from greenhouse-emitting fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources.

The other two, which also face opposition from environmentalists and/or Native American tribes, are lithium mines intended to produce a key element in electric vehicle batteries.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe first sued the BLM in federal court in Reno in January 2022 seeking to block the construction of the geothermal plant  a case that has already made one trip to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Ormat is a formal intervenor in that case, with its own lawyers arguing alongside the Justice Department lawyers representing the BLM.

The opponents say pumping hot water from beneath the earths surface to generate carbon-free power would adversely affect the levels and temperatures of surface water critical to the survival of the toad. The hot springs that feed the wetlands are sacred to the tribe.

The service concluded in its listing decision that the geothermal project posed the single biggest threat to the toad and that threatened species status is not appropriate because the threat of extinction is imminent.

The decision came after the agency temporarily listed the speckled, quarter-sized amphibian on an emergency basis in April 2022, which marked only the second time in 20 years it had taken such emergency action.

The notice gives the wildlife service 60 days to come into compliance with the Endangered Species Act or face a lawsuit seeking to rescind the listing.

The species is not currently in danger of extinction, Jessica Woelfel, Ormat's general counsel, wrote Wednesday.

The listing was based on an outdated project design, inflated possible harms and disregard for Ormats mitigation plan, Woelfel wrote. She said it doesn't reflect a scaled-back plan to initially build a much smaller 12 megawatt power plant, instead of two capable to producing 60 megawatts.

Patrick Donnelly, the Center for Biological Diversity's Great Basin director, said the organization is confident the listing of the toad as an endangered species will hold up in court.

"Theres widespread consensus among government and independent scientists that this geothermal project puts the Dixie Valley toad at risk of extinction," Donnelly said. The only ones who disagree are those on Ormats payroll or at the Bureau of Land Management.

Last summer, the San Francisco-based appellate court refused to grant a temporary injunction blocking construction of the power plant the bureau approved in December 2021.

But just hours after that ruling, Ormat announced that it had agreed to temporarily suspend all work on the project until this year. Then, in late October, the company asked for the case to be put on hold while it developed a smaller plan in anticipation of the endangered species listing.

Ormat said in its notice of intent to sue that the wildlife service knew the company was in the process of scaling back the size of the initial project when the agency issued the listing decision.

As a result of Ormats proposal, BLM rescinded the 60 MW project approval and issued a new one for 12 MW ... just days after the final listing rule, the letter said.

Any assessment of risk associated with a project five times larger than the approved project capacity is completely irrelevant," it said. "A 60 MW project cannot currently threaten the (toad) because it literally does not exist.
OTTAWATikToks CEO was grilled at a U.S. congressional committee Thursday amid Washingtons plans to ban the app over national security concerns due to the its Chinese ownership.

Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, testified at a high-profile hearing at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that stretched over five hours.

The Singaporean CEO responded to questions on data security and user safety, in an effort to avert the proposed ban of the popular video-sharing app in the United States. He said the company takes the national security concerns that the lawmakers raised very, very seriously but suggested they are hypothetical.

I think a lot of risks that are pointed out are hypothetical and theoretical risks, said Chew.

I have not seen any evidence, I am eagerly awaiting discussions where we can talk about evidence and then we can address the concerns that are being raised.

The CEO was very clear when asked whether TikTok provided precise geolocation data to the Chinese government or whether inferences were drawn from that data.

That I can give you a straight answer on, he said. No.

Chew was repeatedly probed by legislators about Chinas alleged influence over TikTok in the tense hearing.

When Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey raised concerns about China using TikToks reach to influence public opinion and undermine the integrity of democratic elections, Chew responded that TikTok is the only platform that does not run political ads.

We are the only platform that I know of that doesnt actually take political ads. We dont accept money. I dont think other platforms can say that.

But a report from last year that surfaced at the committee showed that researchers at New York University found that TikTok approved 90 per cent of ads that contained blatantly false or misleading information.

Chew also explained to the committee the ownership structure of TikTok to correct what he called misconceptions about ByteDance, the parent company of the platform based in China with alleged close ties to Beijing.

ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government and it is a private company, Chew told the lawmakers.

Sixty per cent of the company is owned by global institutions, 20 per cent by the employees around the world and only 20 per cent by its Chinese owners, he explained. TikToks headquarters are in Los Angeles and in Singapore, Chew said, adding that the company has 7,000 employees in the U.S. TikTok is not available in China.

The bottom line is this: American data is stored on American soil by an American company, overseen by American personnel, he said.

But his carefully crafted arguments were construed as evasive throughout the five-hour-long hearing, and did not seem to convince lawmakers that the app does not pose any threat to the U.S. national security.

How can all of the countries (that have banned TikTok on government devices) and our own FBI director have been wrong? asked Rep. Debbie Lesko.

Rep. Tony Cardenas teased Chew for not answering some questions directly.

You have been one of the few people to unite this committee. A lot of your answers are a bit nebulous; theyre not yes or no. Cardenas told Chew.

Cardenas also compared Chew to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who he said was a good dancer with words in his own testimony back in 2018.

In a statement after the hearing, TikTok communications said their CEO came prepared to answer questions from Congress, but, unfortunately, the day was dominated by political grandstanding that failed to acknowledge the real solutions already underway.

The 40-year-old Chew was formerly the CEO of ByteDance and had worked as chief financial officer of Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone company.

Chew also said the Tiktok stores all U.S. user data on servers maintained by Oracle, an American multinational computer technology corporation based in Texas.

This eliminates the concern that some of you have shared with me that TikTok user data can be subject to Chinese law, he said.

But according to Chinas internet laws, the CEO of TikTok or any company may have to share sensitive data with Beijing.

A 2017 Chinese law requires companies and citizens to give the government any personal data relevant to the government to support, assist and co-operate with the state intelligence work, without specifying what kind of data. Something the 2014 Chinese Counter-Espionage Law also states, adding that individuals shall provide (the intel) truthfully and may not refuse and that the state protects those who do so.

Theres no evidence that TikTok has turned over sensitive data to Beijing, but the video-sharing app is now caught up in a diplomatic dispute between China and the U.S.

The Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok from the country unless the apps Chinese owner ByteDance agrees to divest its stake. The U.S., U.K. and Canada have already banned the us of the app on federal government devices due to national security concerns over potential access to sensitive data, including location information, by the Chinese government.

TikTok has 150 million monthly active users in the United States, according to the apps CEO. In Canada, around 26 per cent of adults use TikTok, according to a census conducted by the Social Media Lab of Toronto Metropolitan University last year.

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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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Faulty comparisons made between Trump, Clinton payments

CLAIM: It is a double standard that former President Donald Trump may be indicted over alleged hush money payments to a woman who accused him of sexual encounters, while former President Bill Clinton faced no criminal charges for paying a sexual harassment accuser $850,000.

THE FACTS: Clinton and Trumps cases have key differences, according to experts. Clintons payment was public and legal. The payment in Trumps case was through a shell company and reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses in the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign. Social media users are spreading the inaccurate comparisons of Trumps case and one involving Clinton as a Manhattan grand jury weighs whether to indict Trump over hush money payments made on his behalf. Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850K to go away, I dont remember the FBI raiding his lawyers office, reads the text on a post being shared widely across social media. Similar claims were also posted to Twitter by a Republican congressman. There is no comparison between these two payments from a legal point of view, said Kathleen Clark, a law professor specializing in legal and government ethics at Washington University in St. Louis. The 1998 Clinton-Jones settlement was a settlement of a civil lawsuit. And the settlement was public and was filed in court. In contrast, this payment from Trump to Stormy Daniels was secret. She added that another difference is that Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, pled guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in connection to the payment. Cohen, now a key prosecution witness, has said Trump was involved as well. Trump faces a possible indictment over his alleged involvement in the $130,000 payment made in 2016 to the porn actor Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public about a sexual encounter. Trump denies the encounter and any wrongdoing. Cohen paid Daniels through a shell company before being reimbursed by Trump, whose company, the Trump Organization, logged the reimbursements as legal expenses, the AP has reported. During Cohens trial, federal prosecutors said the payments amounted to illegal, unreported assistance to Trumps campaign. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs team appears to be looking at whether Trump or anyone committed crimes in New York state in arranging the payments, or in the way they accounted for them at the Trump Organization, according to AP reporting. Nan Hunter, a professor of law emerita at Georgetown Universitys law school, said Bragg could potentially charge Trump with falsifying a business record because he has claimed that the money paid to Daniels was a legitimate business expense incurred by the Trump corporation. This charge is grounded in usage of corporate funds for a purpose unrelated to legitimate corporate activities, since the underlying issue was not conduct engaged in by the business but the personal actions of Mr. Trump, Hunter wrote in an email. In addition, there may be a charge that the purpose of the payment was to affect the outcome of an election through a secret payment in violation of election laws. Clinton, meanwhile, agreed to pay his accuser, Jones, $850,000 to drop a sexual harassment lawsuit. He settled out of court in November 1998, about halfway through his second term as president. As part of the settlement, he acknowledged no wrongdoing. Jones alleged that Clinton, as Arkansas governor in 1991, made a crude advance when she was a clerk for the state government. Her lawsuit was later dismissed by a federal judge. Hunter and Clark both said Clintons payment was legally sound. Clinton agreed to settle the case because Jones could have appealed the dismissal. Under the terms of the settlement, Jones agreed not to appeal the judgment against her, Hunter said. There is nothing shady or illegal about two parties settling a case, Hunter said, adding, there was nothing secret about the payment and there were never any criminal charges.

 Associated Press writer Sophia Tulp in New York contributed this report.

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Grindr didnt threaten to expose lawmakers using app

CLAIM: The gay dating app Grindr says if Florida doesnt stop passing homophobic and transphobic laws, it will reveal every Republican legislator and party official who secretly uses the app.

THE FACTS: This claim originated on a satirical account. A spokesperson for Grindr denounced anti-LGBTQ legislation while confirming the app protects the privacy of all its users. Facebook and Twitter users were spreading the claim as real after a Twitter account posted it on Wednesday. The Twitter account that initially posted the claim identifies its content as halfway true content and satire. A spokesperson for the app confirmed it was unfounded in an email to the AP. This claim is false, said Grindr spokesperson Patrick Lenihan. Grindr protects the privacy of all its users. Anti-LGBTQ legislation is abominable and cruel, and we vehemently condemn any laws that restrict, deny, or abolish the rights of LGBTQ people. Grindr has previously faced criticism and been fined for sharing personal data with third parties that could potentially identify users. The privacy policy on the companys website outlines how it uses and aims to protect user data. It adds that its goal is to put you in control of as much of the Personal Information that you share within the Grindr Properties as possible. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration is moving to ban classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law that critics call  Dont Say Gay. The states Republican-led legislature also has proposed a range of laws related to gender and sexuality.

 Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed this report.

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Spike in deaths in Australia from COVID illnesses, not vaccine

CLAIM: Australia is seeing its sharpest rise in deaths in 80 years because of the coronavirus vaccine.

THE FACTS: While a recent analysis found that the country saw a higher than expected number of deaths in 2022, it also concluded coronavirus vaccines werent the cause. Many social media users are sharing an article from a website known to run stories based on conspiracy theories that cites an analysis released earlier this month by the Actuaries Institute. That analysis found that Australia had nearly 12% more deaths than expected in 2022  the highest year-over-year rise since World War II in the 1940s. But the report doesnt claim that coronavirus vaccines were the cause, as some social media users suggest. In fact, the institute concludes the shot had a negligible effect. The report notes that the Australian governments Therapeutic Goods Administration, which regulates vaccines, has confirmed 14 cases in which a persons death was linked to vaccination, out of nearly 1,000 potential cases reported to the agency. Instead, the institute attributes roughly two-thirds of the 20,000 additional, or excess, deaths, to the coronavirus pandemic itself. The report that it had predicted there would be 172,000 deaths in the country last year, but actual deaths ended up closer to 192,000. The report found more than half were directly due to COVID-19 illness. Delays in emergency and routine care for non-COVID illnesses were also significant factors, the group said. Pressure on the nations healthcare system likely led to people not getting the care they require, either as they avoid seeking help, or their care is not as timely as it might have been in pre-pandemic times, the report stated. Spokespersons for the institute didnt respond to emails seeking comment this week, but Australian government officials and researchers not affiliated with the group agreed with its assessment. If vaccines were responsible  and COVID wasnt  in Australia, we should clearly see that 2021 was the biggest year for mortality, James Trauer, a biostatistics professor at Monash University in Melbourne, wrote in an email. Because that year we administered the greatest number of vaccines and had relatively little COVID. Clearly thats not the pattern in Australia. Jason Donohoe, a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, concurred, adding that the agencys ongoing review of the vaccine has so far found that the inoculation led to death only in extremely rare cases. Theres no credible evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines have contributed to excess deaths, he wrote in an email. Daniel Demant, a public health lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, noted that deaths were unusually low in 2020 due to lockdowns and other restrictions. But as those restrictions were eased in the latter part of 2021, deaths from COVID-19 began to rise. These were deaths that were expected in 2020 but didnt happen, Demant wrote in an email. These deaths then happened in 2021 and 2022.

 Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo in New York contributed this report.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Jurors names will be kept secret at the upcoming civil trial in a writers rape lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, a judge ruled Thursday, citing a very strong risk they would otherwise face harassment and more.

Anonymous juries are unusual, particularly outside criminal cases. The Associated Press and the Daily News of New York objected to the plan to conceal the identities of jurors in the trial over columnist E. Jean Carrolls claim  denied by Trump  that the Republican raped her in the 1990s.

But U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said he was concerned that jurors would be subjected to unwanted attention from the media and harassment or worse from supporters of a president who has railed against the judicial process, or from people unhappy with any verdict that might ensue.

On the basis of the unprecedented circumstances in which this trial will take place, including the extensive pretrial publicity and a very strong risk that jurors will fear harassment, unwanted invasions of their privacy and retaliation, he wrote, there is strong reason to believe that the jury needs the protection.

Carrolls lawyers declined to comment. Trump lawyer Alina Habba said she didnt want jurors to feel any outside pressure or influence at the trial, set to start late next month.

Anonymity will help ensure that their decision is based solely on the facts presented to them, Habba said, insisting those facts would irrefutably vindicate Trump.

Besides having their names kept confidential, jurors will be transported to and from court and sequestered from the public while on breaks there.

There is a history of federal courts finding that jurors names are public record, and reasoning that such openness quells potential public suspicions about the selection process. But courts also have allowed exceptions to protect the jury, sometimes in cases involving allegations of terrorism, organized crime or prior jury tampering.

This winter, for example, anonymous juries were used in the Brooklyn federal criminal trials of a New Yorker convicted of fighting for the Islamic State extremist group in Syria, and of a former cabinet-level Mexican official convicted of shielding violent drug cartels from police in exchange for huge bribes.

Carrolls case isnt a criminal one, though it involves an alleged rape. The former Elle magazine advice columnist says Trump forced himself on her in a dressing room in a luxury department store after they met by chance and joked about trying on lingerie.

Trump denies sexually assaulting or even knowing her, while repeatedly adding that shes not my type.

They were photographed together with their then-spouses at a 1987 social event, an image Trump has dismissed as a momentary encounter he doesnt remember. He misidentified Carroll as one of his ex-wives when he was shown the picture last year while being questioned under oath in the lawsuit.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  The Minnesota House was moving Thursday toward strengthening the states protections for children and their families who come for gender-affirming care by making Minnesota a trans refuge state, bucking a national backlash against transgender rights.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order two weeks ago to protect the rights of people from Minnesota and other states to receive gender-affirming health care in the state. The bill on which the House was slated to begin debate Thursday night covers much of the same ground, but supporters said a statute would provide stronger, more permanent protections. Passage was expected.

The chief author of the House bill is Democratic Rep. Leigh Finke, of St. Paul, the states first openly transgender legislator. She was named Woman of the Year for Minnesota by USA Today on Sunday for her activism on behalf of trans youth. Her bill is meant to protect trans people, families and care providers from a range of legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota for gender-affirming care.

Gender-affirming care is lifesaving health care, Finke said at a news conference before the debate. Withholding or delaying gender-affirming care can have a dramatic impact on the mental health of any individual who needs it. Rates of depression, suicide, substance abuse are dramatically higher in transgender and gender-expansive individuals who lack access to care.

To all those families across the United States that are afraid and wondering where they can go for help, Minnesota is saying, We see you, we love you and you belong here, Finke said.

Hundreds of protesters chanted for and against the bill outside the House chamber before the debate. Black signs with white text said Protect Kids as dozens yelled, Vote no! Others shouted back, Vote yes! and held signs with colors from the trans flag -- baby blue and pink -- that read, You belong here.

Cries of No! and Yes! echoed through the halls of the Capitol as security personnel guarded the locked doors of the chamber.

Gender-affirming care includes a wide range of social and medical interventions, including hormone treatments, puberty blockers and gender-reassignment surgery, though doctors who work in the field say such surgeries on minors are very rare.

Whether such care is right for minors has become a major flash point in the culture wars across the country. The unicameral Nebraska Legislature gave preliminary approval earlier Thursday to a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Georgia's governor, Republican Brian Kemp, signed a ban Thursday. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, another Republican, did so Wednesday. The Missouri Senate gave preliminary approval to a ban Tuesday. Bans were enacted earlier in South Dakota,Utah and Mississippi.

Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd, medical director for the Gender Health Program at Childrens Minnesota, said her pediatric health system gets calls regularly from frightened parents in states with bans.

Bans on gender-affirming care are creating geographical disparities where the most privileged become domestic refugees, fleeing their home states to access health care, and those families who already struggle to access health care due to racial and socioeconomic barriers, theyre left without any care at all, Goepferd told reporters.

House Republicans held their own news conference before the debate to denounce the bill as misguided. Rep. Peggy Scott, of Andover, said the bill undermines parental rights, and most concerningly, has zero guardrails to protect our kids.

Minnesotas Catholic bishops, who were at the Capitol Thursday to lobby the governor and lawmakers on a variety of issues, strongly oppose the trans refuge bill. Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester said in an interview he told Walz that Pope Francis instructed bishops to stand against the gender ideology. He said they worry about the long-term repercussions of young people making decisions that could permanently affect the rest of their lives.

Making Minnesota basically a sanctuary state for those that want this kind of surgery, we think thats moving it way too fast, the bishop said. He added that they worry that Catholic doctors, nurses or health care institutions could be obligated to provide gender affirming care.

A similar bill is awaiting further action in the Minnesota Senate after getting a hearing last month. The chief Senate author, Sen. Erin Maye Quade, of Apple Valley, said in an interview Wednesday that she expects a floor vote there soon. But she said shes still working to make sure it has the necessary support in the Senate, where Democrats hold just a one-seat majority.

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Trisha Ahmed contributed to this story. Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow her on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15

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DENVER (AP)  Colorado teachers flooded into the state Capitol Friday to press for better protections for students and school staff after a 17-year-old Denver student shot two administrators, fled to the mountains and killed himself.

Roughly 1,500 teachers and their supporters called for improved school security, more mental health support and tighter gun control measures, adding to pressure on lawmakers a day after students and parents converged at the Capitol to make similar demands.

School shootings are becoming increasingly frequent in the U.S., and teachers at the rally voiced the fears they feel during safety lockdowns that are now regular occurrences.

They also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Wednesdays shooting at East High School, which came as the boy was being patted down for weapons, a daily requirement because of his behavioral issues including a pending firearm charge, according to school officials.

Some East High School teachers at Fridays rally said they did not know any students at the school were being regularly patted down until the shooting.

I want to go into a building every day where I dont need to ask if my kids are getting a pat down because I know nobody is bringing guns into the school, said English teacher Josh Garfinkel.

Schools were canceled Friday in Denver in response to the shooting. Officials have said theyll put armed officers into city high schools through the remainder of the school year, reversing a policy enacted just a few years ago in response to protests over racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd by police.

The teachers Friday gathered on the steps in front of the Colorado capitol for speeches and chants, then circled the building as some played brass instruments and drums before filing inside.

Elementary school teacher Raegan Haines said shes had three lockdowns at her school this year. She said lawmakers need to make it harder to access guns.

You think, what am I going to do with these kids? How can I keep these kids quiet? Who am I going to put my body in front and why do I have to make that choice?

She added that when the teachers entered the Capitol, we had to walk through metal detectors and everything is plated in gold. We dont get that same sense of security at schools.

Colorado Democrats hold majorities in both state chambers and have made gun control a priority.

Pending bills would expand who can petition to temporarily remove a firearm from someone who poses a danger, raise the minimum age to possess a firearm from 18 to 21, require three-day waiting periods after buying guns, and ban semi-automatic firearms.

The semi-automatics ban is unlikely to find traction. The fate of the others could fall to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Hes supported expanding red flag laws but not specifically endorsed raising the age to possess guns or the three-day waiting period.

Teachers said their students also face more mental health problems and not enough social workers or psychologists to help.

At East High School, about a half-dozen psychologists and social workers at East High must take care of 2,500 students, said Kristy Skarphol, a math teacher at the school. This year theyve also been reaching out to teachers who might be struggling amid all the lockdowns.

Were just spread way too thin for what we need, Skarphol said.

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Associated Press reporter Matthew Brown contributed from Billings, Montana.

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Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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WASHINGTON - Canada and the U.S. say they hope to reach a tentative deal by summer to reduce and mitigate the impact of toxic mining runoff in B.C. and the Pacific Northwest that has been leaching for years into a vital cross-border watershed.

Any forthcoming agreement on pollution from B.C.s Elk Valley would be in partnership with tribes and Indigenous Peoples from both countries, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden said Friday after meeting in Ottawa.

But they made no mention of the biggest demand from conservationists and Indigenous leaders in both countries: a bilateral investigation by the International Joint Commission under the auspices of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty.

Such an investigation, known in treaty parlance as a joint reference, requires both countries to agree. The U.S. has long pledged its support for the idea, but Canada has been dragging its heels for years.

Indigenous leaders in the U.S. fear Fridays announcement sets the stage for that reluctance to persist.

Promises have been broken and deals have been made, said Tom McDonald, chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana.

Promises have been made by the Canadian government and then broken before. This is the perfect time for Prime Minister Trudeau to take a strong stand for the environment and for the people.

In a joint statement, Biden and Trudeau said Canada and the U.S. would work toward an agreement in principle by this summer to reduce and mitigate the impacts of water pollution in the Elk-Kootenay watershed.

Such an agreement would aim to protect the people and species that depend on this vital river system.

Indigenous groups from both sides of the border have for months been building an alliance with Congress and the Biden administration to pressure Ottawa into a bipartisan effort to deal with the pollution.

Communities in B.C., Washington state, Idaho and Montana have been contending for more than a decade with selenium and other toxins leaching into their watershed from coal mining operations in the provinces Elk Valley.

Its confounding, said Erin Sexton, a University of Montana research scientist who specializes in Canada-U.S. transboundary rivers, of Canadas ongoing reluctance to agree to a joint reference.

Its like the perfect solution, because it allows for all governments to be seated at the table in the process.

The principal mining player in the region, Teck Resources, has already spent more than $1.2 billion in an effort to fix the problem, with plans for $750 million more over the next two years.

The companys strategy includes the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan, developed with help from Indigenous stakeholders, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the state government in Montana, the B.C. government and Ottawa.

Teck has described the plan as among the largest and most collaborative water quality management and monitoring programs in the world, alongside water treatment and mitigation efforts the company says have already proven effective.

But Indigenous leaders say selenium levels in the water are still too high.

The goal for years has been a proper bilateral investigation that would be assembled and overseen by the International Joint Commission, which exists to mediate disputes and enforce the terms of the bilateral Boundary Waters Treaty.

Canadas resistance to a reference prompted a bilateral delegation of Indigenous leaders and experts from the Pacific Northwest to travel to D.C. back in December for meetings on Capitol Hill.

They met with Democrat and Republican lawmakers from Alaska, Washington and Montana, as well as officials from the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Next week, several of them are expected back in the U.S. capital to press their case once again with lawmakers in Congress and Biden administration officials.

McDonald called it encouraging that both sides agree its long past time for meaningful action, but the Salish and Kootenai Tribes remain wary of the fact they made no mention of a joint commission action.

Tribal council member Mike Dolson urged the U.S. to throw its full weight behind convincing Canada to agree to a joint reference.

Selenium contamination should be a top priority for the United States, not only because the U.S. government has an obligation to honor our tribal sovereignty, but because these toxic pollutants threaten the health and safety of all communities across Montana, Idaho and British Columbia.

Last summer, following similar meetings with several U.S. tribes, the State Department reaffirmed its own support for a reference to investigate the transboundary impact of Canadian mining in the region.

While the bulk of the mining activity in the region is relatively old-school  coal, gold, silver and copper  conservationists also fear a looming new North American extraction frenzy, this one in search of the precious, climate-friendly critical minerals that now fuel life in the 21st century.

Theyre working on joint negotiations to supply critical minerals, and at the same time, mines that are sourced in Canadian watersheds are leaching downstream into U.S. waters, Sexton said.

So to me, its really important that our two countries have their ducks in a row when it comes to environmental regulation of mines and shared waters.

On Friday, Biden and Trudeau also announced a fresh bilateral commitment to building a strong, environmentally responsible and resilient supply chain for critical minerals across North America.

We are committed to identifying, securing, and developing critical minerals extraction, processing, manufacturing, and recycling opportunities in both countries, the statement said.

They vowed to meet strong environmental, sustainability, worker, health and safety, Indigenous and tribal consultation and partnership, and community engagement standards.

They also promised progress on a modern treaty for the Columbia River basin, a trans-boundary watershed that incorporates much of the Kootenay and Elk River basins, extending to northern Nevada and northwestern Wyoming.

Those talks, which have been ongoing since 2018 and included a recent session in D.C. just this week, are focused on new rules for flood risk management, power generation and shared environmental benefits.

The Columbia River is a vital shared resource that underpins many lives and industries on both sides of the border, the two leaders said. The watershed requires our attention and prompt co-ordination.

In an interview earlier this week, Kirsten Hillman, Canadas ambassador to the U.S., said both the Columbia River Treaty talks and the efforts to address pollution from Elk Valley are making progress.

Its important, she said, that things continue to move in that direction.

The measures that are being taken, and the investments that have been made to deal with the situation, are starting to have effect, which is really important, Hillman said.

We need to be monitoring those, and to make sure that whatever dialogue were in with the Americans and other stakeholders in Canada ... keeps moving us in that direction and doesnt create an atmosphere that is contrary to that purpose.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Friday, March 24, 2023.

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OTTAWAThose hoping to catch a glimpse of U.S. first lady Jill Biden when she makes her first official visit to Canadas capital are going to have to hurry hard.

The first public event listed on her schedule is a visit to a downtown curling club, where Biden will be treated to an introduction to the sport of curling alongside Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

The pair will then join a group of young Canadians at the club for a discussion about youth wellness and mental health, which Gregoire Trudeau will moderate.

Details have now emerged about what U.S. President Joe Biden and the first lady will get up to during their long-awaited visit, which begins Thursday night and ends with a gala dinner at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum Friday evening. Security has been tightened around the downtown core, with trucks and police vehicles blocking a portion of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill.

Just a kilometre away down Sussex Drive marks the first ladys second stop with Gregoire Trudeau on Friday: the National Gallery of Canadas Uninvited exhibit, which honours the work of settler and Indigenous female artists.

It wont be the first time Biden has spent time with the woman former first lady Michelle Obama once called her soul mate. The duo most recently met at the North American Leaders Summit in Mexico City back in January.

While Fridays itinerary signals a carefully curated affair, Gregoire Trudeau has been known to let her hair down with other public figures in the past.

Last fall, she appeared on Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markles podcast, where the pair reminisced about Gregoire Trudeaus visit to Markles Montecito home.

We swam, we drank wine, we splashed in the water, Markle recalled, revealing that a critical fixture of the gathering was an inflatable pool float resembling a pizza slice.

Back in 2016, Gregoire Trudeau also welcomed actress Emma Watson to Ottawa, when the United Nations ambassador touched down in the capital to talk gender equality with the prime minister. In an Instagram post, Watson shared a video of the actress perched on the back of Gregoire Trudeaus Vespa as the two zipped around the city.

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OTTAWA  The political fallout of the latest allegations of foreign influence involving a Toronto MP dominated debate on Parliament Hill Thursday. But it wasnt enough to get the Liberal government to agree to opposition demands for a public inquiry into alleged Chinese interference in Canadian democracy.

The Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois and New Democrats all pressed for answers and called for a public inquiry after Don Valley North MP Han Dong tearfully resigned from the Liberal caucus Wednesday night to sit as an Independent.

On Thursday, hours after he left the Liberal caucus, Dong voted against the government to help the opposition parties pass a non-binding motion calling for an inquiry into foreign election interference.

But the government has so far resisted those calls, which emerged with renewed vigour after the latest allegation that Dong has dismissed as a false attack on his reputation that questioned his loyalty to Canada.

Dong was referring to a Global News report, which cited unnamed national security sources who alleged Dong secretly advised a Chinese diplomat in 2021 that Beijing should refrain from releasing two Canadians who were jailed by the authoritarian regime at the time.

The Star has been unable to verify the report, and Dong did not respond to questions from the Star on Thursday.

The imprisonment of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was denounced widely as retaliation for the 2018 arrest of a Chinese telecom executive in Vancouver at the request of the United States. The Canadian government railed against the jailing of the Two Michaels and rallied international support against hostage diplomacy until their release in September 2021 after more than 1,000 days in Chinese detention.

In the House of Commons on Thursday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre repeatedly demanded to know when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau learned of the allegations against Dong. Conservative MPs suggested it was unlikely that security sources would leak the information to a media outlet without informing the government.

A government official confirmed to the Star that the government only found out about the allegations when Global News asked questions about them.

Describing the report as a startling revelation, Poilievre said it would be a devastating scandal if the allegations were true and Trudeau knew about them.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly fired back that Trudeau made sure the government was standing up to China over the detainment of Spavor and Kovrig.

We will never accept any sort of premise that this government and Canadians didnt work enough to bring them back home, Joly said.

Even alluding to the contrary is absolutely false, she later added.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who was among the first to call for Dong to step down from the Liberal caucus, said he will bring up the prospect of a public inquiry when he meets with David Johnston, the special rapporteur appointed by the government to look into allegations of foreign interference.

Yet Singh  whose party is propping up the Liberal minority government in a parliamentary co-operation deal  also rejected any suggestion that the issue is worth triggering an election over. The Star reported this week that the Liberals allowed speculation to float about whether they would stage a confidence vote over the matter as a test of their relationship with the NDP.

We dont want an election in the context of a time when people are raising legitimate concerns about foreign interference, said Singh, who stated this week that he still thinks the parliamentary deal is worthy of maintaining.

Meanwhile, some Liberals praised Dongs decision to leave caucus. International Trade Minister Mary Ng told reporters Thursday that Dong made the right decision, given the seriousness of the allegations against him.

Another Liberal MP, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about internal party matters, said Thursday that Dongs departure from caucus was likely inevitable after the latest Global News story, which materially changed the pressure on the government over allegations of foreign interference.

There was some sense of closure after Dong resigned from caucus, the MP said.

Now it would be preferable to call a public inquiry instead of allowing security sources to continue leaking sporadic information that is fuelling the political firestorm over foreign interference, the MP said.

Arguing a public inquiry might not be able to air all information on sensitive national security matters like this, the government has instead appointed Johnston to guide its response, as two closed-door investigations  one by a special committee of MPs and senators, the other by an independent national security agency  look into the issue.

The Liberals have also agreed to allow Trudeaus chief of staff, Katie Telford, to testify at a parliamentary committee studying foreign interference.

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For Doug Ford, budgetary dumb luck goes a long way.

For the rest of us, tough luck is here to stay.

Ontarios treasury just landed a $20.6-billion jackpot from swelling tax revenues over the past 12 months, all thanks to a rapid COVID recovery. That unexpected windfall, which Fords Tories didnt see coming, whittles down the massive deficits racked up by the premier in mid-pandemic.

But Fords good fortune is our misfortune.

Yes, the governments books are in better shape. But at ground level, the economy will be in rougher shape going forward  a good deal worse than the premier predicted in his pre-election budget last year.

Back then, just days away from launching his re-election campaign, Ford insisted that good times were here to stay. That boastful budget projected economic growth would chug along at a robust 3.1 per cent for all of 2023.

In fact, the economy will choke in 2023  dropping down to negligible 0.2 per cent growth, according to Thursdays budget. That number borders on recessionary territory.

For a premier who likes to recite the words, Promise made, promise kept, this amounts to a big climb down: Projection made, projection unkept.

To ease the pain, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy keeps pointing to the baubles in the vote-buying budget of a year ago, when the Tories promised pointless temporary cuts to the gas tax, slashed road tolls and rebated license plate fees. Those politically-inspired giveaways helped them win re-election, but did nothing to prevent an economic slowdown.

Now, the Progressive Conservatives have extended the gas tax cut through the end of 2023, a sop to their affordability mantra. And they point to the unemployment rate remaining at historically low levels.

In fact, unemployment increased shortly after the Tories took power. That hasnt stopped Bethlenfalvy from shamelessly claiming bragging rights while bashing a previous Liberal government for jobs lost long ago.

While the previous government let more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs flee Ontario, this government is bringing the cars of tomorrow, the jobs of tomorrow and the investments of tomorrow, right back to Ontario, right here, right now, today, Bethlenfalvy boasted in his budget speech Thursday.

Not so fast. Not in fact.

Its true that manufacturing took a huge hit in the manufacturing heartland over the past two decades  two premiers ago under Dalton McGuinty. But those jobs started coming back in 2014 under Kathleen Wynnes Liberal government.

Never mind, for a moment, the old adage that there are lies, damned lies and statistics. In truth, Statistics Canada shows that manufacturing employment increased in Wynnes Ontario until it started declining again as soon as Fords Tories took power in 2018.

In reality, Ford isnt at fault for the shortfall, any more than the McGuinty Liberals were responsible for the bad years back then. The point is that the blame game played by both sides never got us anywhere, and the Tories taking shots at Liberals who lost power long ago gets us nowhere.

More to the point, however, the Ford government belatedly made peace with Justin Trudeaus federal Liberals. Together, both governments are investing aggressively in high-tech and high spinoff jobs to secure Ontarios future economic base.

But if there is a recurring theme in this years budget, it is how having fun with numbers allows the players on all sides to indulge in political word play. A persistent myth has emerged that the Ford government isnt spending as promised in the health-care sector  that its not putting our money where its mouth is.

The allegations first came from the independent Financial Accountability Office, a non-partisan body that reports to the legislature, and they have become a recurring media meme. But if you compare apples to apples, and budget to budget, government spending in the health sector is essentially on target as promised.

In the fiscal year ending this March 31, Ontario will have spent $74.9 billion in the health sector, according to Thursdays budget. In last years budgetary projection for this same fiscal year, the amount was $75.2 billion.

Thats a variance of roughly 0.4 per cent. In a budget with massive gyrations  a projected $19.9-billion deficit for this fiscal year shrank to a mere $2.2 billion  its a rounding error.

The explanation? Costs were roughly $284 million lower primarily due to delays in construction projects due to current market conditions  as well as lower forecasted expenses for demand-driven Ontario Public Drug Programs  meaning that people didnt need their meds as much.

There are many malign sins the Ford government has been accused of by bean counters, but shortchanging the accounting on health care does not, on the face of it, appear to be one of them. In the next fiscal year starting April 1, the Tories are budgeting $81 billion for the health sector  an increase of 6.8 per cent.

That will boost health spending to a 40 per cent share of the total budget (or more precisely, 42.5 per cent of program spending, excluding interest costs). While its perfectly reasonable to argue that the amount isnt enough, its not nothing  the figure isnt the figment some like to claim.

All of which means that even in good budgetary times and bad economic times, the numbers arent as good or bad as the war of words might suggest.

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Sedco Capital, a global shariah-compliant and ESG-led asset management and investment advisory firm, said it has successfully exited its capital built-to-suit real estate fund, delivering a 41% net return on invested capital.

The Fund commenced operations in mid-2018, acquiring two education- zoned plots - in Jeddahs Al-Shati District - to develop two educational campuses (on a Built-To-Suit basis) for girls and boys to be operated by Al-Yusr International School Company.

Following growing market interest in acquiring the properties, the Fund's board approved its divestment in line with the exit strategy.

Sedco Capital said it will subsequently liquidate the fund as planned after completing regulatory, legal, and administrative proceedings.

Post liquidation, the Fund is expected to achieve a net internal rate of return (net IRR) of 8.25% and an equity multiple of 1.41x for its investors in the form of dividends and capital gain distribution. The returns are net of fees and expenses.

CEO Samer Abu Aker said: The exit of this special purpose fund extends Sedco Capitals strong track record of delivery. Our global real estate investment team, which manages approximately one third of Sedco Capitals total AUMs, identified an attractive opportunity, raised capital alongside the business development team, developed a high-quality real estate asset, and concluded a successful divestment."

"In the process, we delivered attractive returns for our investors. We look forward to leveraging our expertise in real estate sub-sectors to launch similar funds in the future, he stated.

"The development of the two educational campuses was conducted in alignment with high standards set by the Ministry of Education, the building regulations of the Jeddah Municipality, built-to-suit real estate best practice, and integrated ESG and LEED principles," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
ReportLinker

The growth in the global agriculture technology-as-a-service market is expected to be driven by growing demand for precision agriculture solutions from small-scale farmers. Market Lifecycle Stage.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Agriculture Technology-as-a-Service Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Product, Application, and Country Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2022-2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06196268/?utm_source=GNW

The growth in the global agriculture technology-as-a-service market is expected to be driven by growing demand for precision agriculture solutions from small-scale farmers.



Market Lifecycle Stage



Agriculture technology-as-a-service (ATaaS) is in its growth stage.Farmers are increasingly looking for more advanced and efficient solutions to manage their operations, resulting in an increase in demand for ATaaS.



This has led to growth in the number of companies offering ATaaS solutions, as well as an increase in investment in the industry.ATaaS will continue to grow as the market matures, leading to more innovative solutions and increased adoption by farmers and agribusinesses.



As new technologies and customer needs emerge, the ATaaS market is likely to continue growing and developing.



Impact



 Agricultural technology-as-a-service (ATaaS) helps farmers streamline their operations and increase efficiency by automating tasks such as crop monitoring, soil analysis, and resource management. This can result in improved yields and lower costs.

 ATaaS provides farmers with detailed and real-time information about their crops, enabling them to make informed decisions about planting, fertilizing, and pest control. This results in a more precise and targeted application of resources, leading to higher yields and a reduction in waste.



Impact of COVID-19



The pandemic has resulted in disrupting the supply chain, leading to delays in product delivery and installation. Additionally, the pandemic has also resulted in reduced consumer spending and a slowdown in economic activity, impacting the demand for ATaaS solutions.



However, the pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of digital technologies in the agricultural sector, including ATaaS. With social distancing measures in place, farmers have had to rely more on digital solutions for farm management, leading to an increase in the demand for ATaaS solutions.



Market Segmentation:

Segmentation 1: by Application

 Yield Mapping and Monitoring

 Soil Management and Testing

 Crop Health Monitoring

 Irrigation

 Others



Crop health monitoring is expected to generate the highest revenue in the ATaaS market due to its importance in ensuring the overall health and productivity of crops.With ATaaS, farmers can monitor the health of their crops in real-time and make informed decisions about their management practices.



This results in increased crop yield and profitability.Advanced sensors and technologies like remote sensing, drones, and precision agriculture are integrated into ATaaS solutions for accurate crop monitoring.



This helps in the early detection of potential problems like disease, pest infestations, and soil degradation, leading to proactive management and timely intervention. The increasing adoption of ATaaS in the agricultural sector will drive the growth of the crop health monitoring segment, thereby generating the highest revenue in the ATaaS market.



Segmentation 2: by Service Type

 Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

 Equipment-as-a-Service (EaaS)



Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is projected to drive the growth of the agriculture technology-as-a-service (ATaaS) market due to its advantages, such as ease of deployment, low cost, and user-friendly interfaces.SaaS platforms allow farmers to access technology-driven agriculture solutions and services remotely, reducing the need for large capital expenditures.



It is expected that SaaS-based ATaaS will gain traction as cloud computing and IoT technologies become more popular, thereby driving the markets growth.



Segmentation 3: by Pricing

 Subscription

 Pay-Per-Use



In the ATaaS market, subscription pricing models have become increasingly popular among farmers due to their cost-effectiveness and flexibility.Farmers can subscribe to these services on a monthly or annual basis and receive regular software updates and technical support.



This eliminates the need for large upfront investments in equipment and technology, allowing farmers to better manage their costs and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the industry. Additionally, subscription models provide the ability to scale up or down based on their needs and production goals, offering greater flexibility and cost savings compared to traditional pay-per-use models.



Segmentation 4: by Region

 North America - U.S., Canada, and Mexico

 Europe - Germany, Turkey, Ukraine, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Rest-of-Europe

 China

 U.K.

 Asia-Pacific - India, Japan, Australia, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

 South America - Brazil, Argentina, and Rest-of-South America

 Middle East and Africa - Israel, South Africa, and Rest-of-Middle East and Africa



North America generated the highest revenue of over $547.0 million in 2021 and is expected to remain the largest region by 2027. A number of factors are expected to contribute to North Americas lead in ATaaS, including the presence of major players in the agriculture sector, strong government support, and a high adoption rate of advanced technologies such as VRT, UAVs, and robots. Additionally, the region has a large number of well-established agribusinesses and farmers looking for innovative and cost-effective ways to improve their operations. The region also has a well-developed infrastructure and a high level of awareness about the benefits of ATaaS, which is further driving the market growth.



Recent Developments in Global Agriculture Technology-as-a-Service (ATaaS) Market



 In November 2022, a new generation of monitoring robots called Tom v4 was launched by Small Robot Company. The commercialization of this product to both farmers and corporations is a major milestone. With a ground sample distance of 0.28mm per pixel, Tom v4 is one of the highest-resolution crop-scanning technologies. As a result, Tom can detect early signs of disease outbreaks and see individual water droplets on leaves.

 In October 2021, Kubota and Topcon signed a collaborative research agreement in smart agriculture. The companies will work together to innovate for future commercialization through collaborative research in smart agriculture, bringing together the technologies and know-how developed by each company.

 In October 2021, Naio Technologies announced plans to expand internationally in the agricultural robotics market. With the aim of consolidating its worldwide growth and launching a new robot-as-a-service (RaaS) model, the company is moving beyond its technology innovation context.

 In August 2021, Deere & Company acquired Bear Flag Robotics, an agriculture technology startup based in Silicon Valley. Bear Flags technology enables a machine to perform autonomously. Bear Flags technology complements Deeres technology initiatives and goals to help farmers achieve the best possible outcomes and solve meaningful challenges through advanced technology, including autonomy.



Demand  Drivers and Limitations



Following are the demand drivers for the agriculture technology-as-a-service market:

 Decreasing Agriculture Workforce

 Increasing Area under Permanent Crops

 Increased Yield

 Low Capital Investment for Customers



The market is expected to face some limitations, too, due to the following challenges:

 Cyber and Online Data Security

 Reluctance to Adopt and Lack of Technical Awareness among Farmers

 Limited Infrastructure and Workforce to Provide EaaS Solutions



How can this report add value to end users?



Product/Innovation Strategy: The product segment helps the reader understand the different types of agriculture technology-as-a-service products available for deployment in the agricultural and non-agricultural industries.Moreover, the study provides the reader with a detailed understanding of the products needed to be used for particular applications, as well as the services (SaaS and EaaS) primarily provided through agriculture technology-as-a-service.



This report will provide forecast demand for each product and detailed information regarding major manufacturers.



Growth/Marketing Strategy: The global agriculture technology-as-a-service market has seen major developments by key players operating in the market, such as business expansions, partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures.The favored strategy for the companies has been partnerships, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures to strengthen their positions in the agriculture technology-as-a-service market.



For instance, in October 2019, DJI Agriculture signed a contract with Syngenta Japan. In Japan, the two companies will collaborate on projects related to smart agriculture technology research and development.



Competitive Strategy: The study analyzes and profiles key players in the global agriculture technology-as-a-service market, including precision agriculture and smart agriculture solution providers, which offer these solutions on a pay-per-use or subscription basis.In order to provide the reader with a clear picture of the market landscape, a detailed competitive benchmarking of players operating in the global agriculture technology-as-a-service market has been conducted.



The reader will also be able to understand the markets untapped revenue pockets through comprehensive competitive strategies, such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations.



Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis



The companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analyzing the companys coverage, product portfolio, its market penetration.



The top segment players who are leading include micro-irrigation solution providers, which capture a significant chunk of share in the market.



Key Companies Profiled



 AGRIVI

 IBM Corporation

 Hexagon Agriculture

 Microsoft Corporation

 Topcon

 365FarmNet GmbH

 PrecisionHawk

 Trimble Inc.

 Deere & Company

 DJI

 KUBOTA Corporation

 Small Robot Company

 Naio Technologies

 SGS SA

 TeeJet Technologies



Countries Covered

 North America

 U.S.

 Canada

 Mexico

 South America

 Brazil

 Argentina

 Rest-of-South America

 Europe

 France

 Germany

 Greece

 Switzerland

 Turkey

 Ukraine

 Netherlands

 Belgium

 Rest-of-Europe

 U.K.

 China

 Asia-Pacific

 Japan

 India

 Australia

 Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

 Middle East and Africa

 Israel

 South Africa

 Rest-of-Middle East and Africa

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06196268/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

- Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state.

- The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion.

- The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall.

- The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant.

- The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building.

- The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet.

- The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square.

- The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing.

- Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall.

- Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association.

- Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association.

- PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford.

- Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey.

- Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people.
Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc.

MIAMI, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Crossing Airlines Group, Inc. (JET: NEO; JET.B: NEO; JETMF: OTCQB) (the Company or GlobalX) is pleased to announce that is has signed a long term agreement with CubaMax Travel (CubaMax), one of the leading OFAC approved tour operators, to initially provide air service to two (2) cities in Cuba, with nine (9) flights per week total to Havana and Santa Clara, Cuba. This is projected to grow to 23 flights per week to 5 cities in Cuba within the next six months.



The contract will initially provide revenues to GlobalX of up to $12 million per year and will start April 1, 2023. Once the additional fights are added, GlobalX expects to generate revenues of over $30 million per year on this contract.

We are very pleased to be working with CubaMax, one of the largest tour operators to Cuba, and their outstanding team, to provide this much needed air service for Cuban Americans who need to travel to Cuba, providing an important life line for the Cuban people, said Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO of GlobalX.

We look forward to working with GlobalX, which has quickly established itself as the leading charter airline to Cuba. We are excited to be using their fleet of passenger friendly Airbus A320s and 321s in this market, said Giraldo Acosta, Chairman of CubaMax.

About Global Crossing Airlines

GlobalX is a US 121 domestic flag and supplemental Airline flying the Airbus A320 family aircraft. GlobalX flies as a passenger ACMI and charter airline serving the US, Caribbean, European and Latin American markets. In 2023, GlobalX entered ACMI cargo market flying the A321 freighter. For more information, please visit www.globalxair.com.

About CubaMax

CubaMax Travel started operations in 2001 and is a full service OFAC approved travel and shipping agency, primarily serving the Florida markets with a nationwide reach. CubaMax currently has fourteen travel branches, located in the cities of: Hialeah, Miami, West Palm Beach, Kissimmee, Orlando and Tampa

Story continues

For more information, please contact:

David Dow, VP Passenger Sales and Marketing

Email: david.dow@globalxair.com

Tel: 786-751-8500

Ryan Goepel, Chief Financial Officer

Email: ryan.goepel@globalxair.com

Tel: 786.751.8503

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward looking statements and forward-looking information, as defined under applicable United States and Canadian securities laws, concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys aircraft fleet size, the destinations that the Company intends to service, the expected number of flights per week from this contract and projected revenues from this contract.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of financing to continue airline operations, the accuracy, reliability and success of GlobalXs business model; GlobalXs ability to accurately forecast demand; GlobalX will be able to successfully conclude definitive agreements for transactions subject to LOI; the timely receipt of governmental approvals; the success of airline operations of GlobalX; GlobalXs ability to successfully enter new geographic markets; the legislative and regulatory environments of the jurisdictions where GlobalX will carry on business or have operations; the Company has or will have sufficient aircraft to provide the service; the impact of competition and the competitive response to GlobalXs business strategy; the future price of fuel, and the availability of aircraft. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include risks related to, the ability to obtain financing at acceptable terms, the impact of general economic conditions, risks related to supply chain and labor disruptions, failure to retain or obtain sufficient aircraft, domestic and international airline industry conditions, failure to conclude definitive agreements for transactions subject to LOI, the effects of increased competition from our market competitors and new market entrants, passenger demand being less than anticipated, the impact of the global uncertainty created by COVID-19, future relations with shareholders, volatility of fuel prices, increases in operating costs, terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, currency fluctuations, interest rates, risks specific to the airline industry, risks associated with doing business in foreign countries, the ability of management to implement GlobalXs operational strategy, the ability to attract qualified management and staff, labor disputes, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits; risks related to significant disruption in, or breach in security of GlobalXs information technology systems and resultant interruptions in service and any related impact on its reputation; and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements. If GlobalX does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.




Today

Partly sunny, cooler, and more seasonable. A stray shower may be seen in the afternoon, especially north and west of the Lehigh Valley.

Tonight

Partly cloudy with cooler temperatures compared to previous nights.

Tomorrow

Partly sunny and somewhat chilly. There might be a stray afternoon shower primarily north and west.
READING, Pa.  Berks County Commissioner Chair Christian Y. Leinbach on Thursday night defended the county's practice of placing 911 fees back on local governments.

George Stuck III, chairman of the Spring Township Board of Supervisors, questioned the practice during public comment at the commissioners' weekly meeting, which was held in the Sinking Spring Borough municipal building.

"When is Berks County going to be like all of the other counties  with the exception of one other county in the state  and not put the 911 fees back on the local government?" Stuck asked. "Because I know that gets passed on as a tax increase at the local government level."

Leinbach said he has talked to a number of municipalities regarding the issue.

"Are you prepared  if you no longer have to pay that fee  to immediately give that back in a tax cut to your residents?" Leinbach questioned. "Because we would have to raise taxes (at the county level), and it's not fair to double tax the people for the same service."

Leinbach said he only ever had one municipality where the officials said they might be willing to do that.

"Every other municipality tells me that they need that money," Leinbach added. "We've raised taxes twice (since 2008), for a total of 10.17% in that entire period. And when we've raised taxes, we've given very specific reasons why that tax was necessary."

"How do I explain to the public we're raising your taxes by  and I don't know what it would be  but let's say we raise it by a mil," Leinbach continued. "And we're raising it because we must pay the portion of the 911 that had been paid by the municipality."

"They're still going to be paying the same amount of tax to the municipality, and now they're paying us more," he said. "They would be getting a double whammy for no increase in service."

Stuck said that speaking on behalf of Spring Township, he would be willing to make that reduction in taxes.

Leinbach said he would look at the issue if all 71 municipalities were to agree to give a tax cut.

Leinbach reminded Stuck that the municipal code makes it clear that public safety is the responsibility of the municipality and not the county.

Leinbach added that he recently attended the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, or CCAP, spring meeting where Gov. Josh Shapiro address the commissioners on the topic of 911.

"Our top priority for the County Commissioners Association is the reauthorization of 911," Leinbach said. "If the legislature and the governor do not come to an agreement by the end of this year, the current funding (for 911) will sunset and go away."

In a statement on the County Commissioners Association website, the organization says counties across the state rely on a surcharge, which is "a flat-rate fee placed on a phone service bill monthly or at point of sale for a prepaid device that provides funding for the operation of 911 emergency telecommunications services in Pennsylvania."

CCAP contends that surcharge revenue has increased less than 1% between 2016 and 2020, and counties have collectively contributed more than $100 million annually from their general fund budgets to maintain the 911 system. Moving forward, counties are asking for an increase in the 911 surcharge and the development of a funding formula primarily based on population.

If the surcharge increase is not supported, CCAP says, counties would need to fund the "growing needs" and remaining costs of the 911 system through their general funds.

"And I can tell you, that would turn into an instant property tax increase in every single county because we're talking multimillion dollar impacts," he added. "The governor addressed the core concerns that the county commissioners have raised."
READING, Pa. - A recent nominee for the director of Reading's Public Works Department is suing the city for wrongful termination.

Attorneys for Martin Neely filed the civil suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Friday.

The suit claims, in part, that Neely successfully applied for the position and his nomination was publicly celebrated by city officials at a press conference on March 6 of this year. Reading City Council at the time claimed the nomination was not a done deal that they needed to interview all department heads prior to their hiring.

According to the suit, Neely filed a workers' compensation claim against a former employer and, upon learning this, the city rescinded their job offer on March 15. The suit contends that this decision violated public policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The City of Reading announced March 17 that the search for a new public works director would continue, and that Neely was no longer under consideration.

Neely is suing for monetary compensation and damages.

The City of Reading issued the following statement:

The City is very disappointed that Mr. Neely has chosen to blame the City for his lack of transparency in the vetting process while he was being considered for the position of Public Works Director. The City expects all applicants, most especially those being considered for supervisory and department head positions, to be forthright in providing full and complete information so that the City can make informed hiring decisions that are in the best interest of the City, its workforce and, most importantly the citizens of Reading.
BERN TWP., Pa.  The Blue Marsh Lake wants community input about some potential changes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted an open house Thursday at the Berks County Agricultural Center in Bern Township.

Officials say they need to update the lake's master plan, which defines how lake resources are managed.

The last plan was approved in 1975, and they need to account for changes in land use and population.

The public can submit comments, suggestions and concerns about the master plan through April 22.
HARRISBURG, Pa.  Reading Hospital had a big ask for state officials Thursday night: The CEO wants lawmakers to propose and pass solutions to help curb gun violence.

Dr. Charles Barbera made the claim today, during a State House Judiciary Committee hearing at the Capitol.

During his testimony, the physician said Reading Hospital's trauma center is the busiest in the state.

Barbera went on to talk about how gun violence has impacted his work as a physician and hospital leader, and he says he's not alone.

"Almost any emergency physician in any hospital will tell you that gun violence is a national epidemic," Barbera said. "We need to do more. You are the legislative and legal experts who can determine what is possible."

He wants lawmakers to develop solutions to encourage safe storage of firearms in people's homes, strengthen requirements to report lost or stolen guns, close loopholes in background checks and improve access to mental health services.

"Far too often, we have to tell family and friends that a bullet has taken the life of their loved one," Barbera said.

The emergency physician says advancements have been made to save people from cancer, heart disease and car accidents, but when it comes to gun violence, Barbera says society is losing ground. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children, according to the CDC, and Barbera says numbers are on the rise in Reading.

"In 2019, we treated 60 patients with gun related injuries," stated the doctor. "In 2022, that number rose to 100."

That's a more than 66% increase, and Barbera says it's extremely unfortunate.

"As with so many other health issues, the best medicine is prevention," added Barbera.

Reading Hospital and Tower Health received a $193,000 grant to support patients who suffer from gun violence.

Part of the funds will be used to hire a Trauma Violence Recovery Specialist.

They also support the "It Doesn't Kill to Ask" campaign that encourages people to ask if there is an unsecured gun in any home where a child might be.
Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

By 2033, the Growlers Market in the United States is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 191.5 million, growing at a CAGR of 2%, while the Chinese Growlers Market is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.8% and reach an estimated worth of US$ 24.93 million. Glass Growler Market re estimated to reach US$ 6.40 billion in the year 2023. And expected to be worth US$ 8.77 billion by 2033

NEWARK, Del, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global growlers market is predicted to register a CAGR of 2.7% over the forecast period, as per FMIs analysis. The industrys size is anticipated to increase from US$ 556.2 million in 2023 to US$ 726 million by 2033 end.



The adoption of growlers is projected to increase over the forecast period. This is supported by the beer consumption pattern, which shows an inclination towards more diversified, and high-end alcoholic beverages among consumers, in several developed and developing countries. The industry is assessed to be impacted by changing purchasing habits as the young generation exhibits a strong appetite for new products offering unique taste, freshness, and high quality. Additionally, better living standards and strengthening emerging economies are projected to expand the market horizon over the upcoming years.

For details on vendors and their offerings  Request a sample report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2648

Alcohol manufacturers are scaling on the invigorating market economy by introducing craft beer and bestowing rich options to alcohol consumers. The proliferation of craft beer is projected to strengthen market growth in the years to come. The surge of craft brewing among middle-class consumers, attributable to its cultural experience, has consequently lent a significant push to the growlers industry. The availability of growlers in a range of sophisticated shapes, designs, and sizes, is projected to propel market growth over the stipulated time frame.

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Key Highlights of the Growlers Market:

The North America growlers industry is projected to attain US$ 174.8 million by 2023 year-end. The market is projected to expand at 2.1% over the forecast period, to attain US$ 215.18 million by 2033. The highly saturated market for alcoholic beverages and heightened receptivity to non-alcoholic beverages has led to market precedence in North America over other regions.

Europe region is projected to trail behind North America, attaining market revenue of US$ 162.4 million by 2033. The region is estimated to assume a CAGR of 2.7% over the next 10 years, and reach a total amount of US$ 211.98 million by 2033. The expansion of brewpubs and the development of sophisticated growlers with enhanced features are predicted to push market growth.

Latin America is the third significant region, substantially contributing to the overall market growth. The market is expected to generate revenue of US$ 105.8 million in 2023. The market is anticipated to expand at 2.4% CAGR over the forecast period.

East Asia, which includes countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, is assessed to witness robust growth over the forecast period. The region is forecasted to register a 4.4% CAGR throughout the decade. In 2023, the market is expected to attain US$ 32.4 million over the forecast period.

Latest Developments in the Market:

In 2021, Drifters brewery declared the introduction of its fifth growler station in Mumbai, India. Growler stations are referred to as places or hubs where one can refill growlers with beer. This new launch has a delivery and pickup service for filling growlers at a robust pace due to surging beer demand among beer consumers in India. In June 2017, Ardagh Group launched its first-ever 12oz clear beer bottle on its website named BuyOurBottles. The product is made in the United States, using 100% and endlessly recyclable flint glass. The company states that with the expansion of flint glass bottles, craft soda, craft brewers, and cider customers, along with kombucha and functional beverages, customers can take advantage o brand differentiation. The flint glass bottle also helps protect the beverages flavor.



Key Players:

Ardagh Group S.A.

Alpha Packaging

William Croxsons & Sons Limited

GrowlerWerks, Inc.

Global Glass Solutions

Orange Vessel Co.

Berlin Packaging LLC

Boelter Companies, Inc

Drink Tanks Corporation

Zenan Glass

Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-2648

Growlers Market by Category

By Material:

Plastic

Glass

Metal

Ceramic

By Capacity:

32 Oz

64 Oz

128 Oz



By Application:

Non-alcoholic

Alcoholic Beer Wines Others





By Sales Channel:

Offline Breweries Specialty Stores Convenience

Online



By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

South Asia

East Asia

Oceania

The Middle East and Africa



To Gain More Insights about this Research, Visit @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/growlers-market

Table of Content



1. Executive Summary | Growlers Market

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.1.1. Drivers

3.1.2. Restraints

3.1.3. Opportunity

3.1.4. Trends

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.2.1. Demand in Optimistic Scenario

3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario

3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Product Life Cycle Analysis

3.5. Supply Chain Analysis

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Explore Trending Reports of Packaging:

Glass Growlers Market: The global glass growlers market is expected to be valued at US$ 9.4 Billion in 2032 and US$ 6.2 Billion in 2022. As per Future Market Insights (FMI), the market is projected to exhibit steady growth at a CAGR of 3.2% in the forecast period from 2022 to 2032.

Fluorinated Bottle Market: The global fluorinated bottles market is forecast to gain a valuation of US$ 36.9 billion in 2023 and further grow at a CAGR of 4.2% between 2023 and 2033. Overall fluorinated bottle sales are likely to total a market valuation of US$ 55.7 billion by 2033.

Hinged Food Containers Market: The global hinged food containers market is anticipated to accumulate a market value of US$ 87.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to garner a valuation of US$ 145 billion by exhibiting a CAGR of 5.1 % in the forecast period 2023 to 2033. The hinged food containers market reflected a growth of 3.9% CAGR in the historical period 2018 to 2022.

Metal Aerosol Packaging Market: The global metal aerosol packaging market is anticipated to accumulate a market value of US$ 7.38 billion in 2023 and is expected to garner a valuation of US$ 12.6 billion by exhibiting a CAGR of 5.4% in the forecast period 2023 to 2033. The metal aerosol packaging market reflected a growth of 4 % CAGR in the historical period 2018 to 2022.

Foam Mesh Sleeves Market : The global foam mesh sleeves market is anticipated to accumulate a market value of US$ 1060.2 million in 2023 and is expected to garner a valuation of US$ 2600 million by exhibiting a CAGR of 9.3 % in the forecast period 2023 to 2033. The foam mesh sleeves market reflected a growth of 7.9 % CAGR in the historical period 2018 to 2022.

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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.

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Residents challenged the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission over its stance on warehouses Thursday, asking it to take a stronger position against big developers putting up big boxes on rural land.

Vice Chairman Chris Amato said Pennsylvania law does not give the commission enough authority: "We are just sitting here in the peanut gallery," he said, acknowledging the LVPC's limits. The "peanut gallery" is an old expression for the cheap seats in a theater.

Northern Lehigh County is "under attack," Kim Weinberg of Weisenberg Township said. She and other speakers discussed the potential for three warehouses along Route 100 in Lowhill Township.

She asked that the LVPC create a "model ordinance" to control the growth of warehouses.

"There is a model ordinance that we created last year," LVPC Executive Director Becky Bradley. She leads the commission, which reviews big developments in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

The residents and the commission share values, Bradley said. That does not mean the LVPC can stop or slow development.

Property owners and zoning laws dictate development. Land use is not set by referendum.

After multiple comments about unpopular developments, LVPC Chairman Steve Glickman pointed out that each one was reviewed, usually with little public input.

"We're actually pretty closely aligned to what you're saying," Glickman said.

The LVPC does not have the authority to block development. Its professional staff reviews plans and makes recommendations. The appointed commissioners vote on those reviews, which are then sent to local municipalities.

The final decision on development is made by local zoning and planning boards, not the LVPC.

The discussion strayed from the agenda repeatedly. Lehigh County resident Bill Pleban said the Lowhill warehouses are "a disaster in the making" as traffic on Route 100 increases.

"I would like to see more guidance and more support from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission," Pleban said.

Bradley said during the virtual meeting that the LVPC did take a stand on the Lowhill proposals.

"The commission ruled that all three of those warehouses were inconsistent" with LVPC guidelines. The township's zoning law determines what is ultimately allowed, not the LVPC.

Bradley advised residents to attend training classes on planning and to be involved in their communities. Commissioner Geoff Brace said residents should be taking complaints to elected state officials. Brace works in the office of state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh County. He said Schlossberg has proposed a bill to give more authority over development to local government.

Chairman Steven Glickman noted the "more than usual comment on a subject that we talk about literally monthly." He said LVPC reviews "aren't `get out of jail free' letters by any means."

What is done with them, though, is up to local government. Bradley said municipalities should use LVPC comments to negotiate with developers to get better projects.

"The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission  we have no authority to stop anything," Commissioner John McGorry said. "Other states give planning commissions the authority. We don't."

"You're telling us that you have no power at all," resident Joann Mertz said during the 2 1/2-hour meeting. "What are we paying the commission to do if you truly have no power to change anything for us?"

Bradley said the LVPC has been ahead of development trends and has advocated for changes.

"The recommendations of this board are taken very seriously by local governments," Bradley said. She said 42 local ordinance amendments have been cleared through the LVPC, and she pointed to the Lehigh Valley's water quality as an accomplishment.

"The value of the commission cannot be undersold," Bradley said. "Without it, the region would not be in the position it is."

She said that without an LVPC, "We would not have Route 78, Route 22 and Route 33," citing what she said were early successes of the commission.

After the conversation kept straying back to Lowhill Township and general issues, Commissioner Richard Molchany asked that agenda items be voted on.

That agenda included two warehouses, both proposed by Northampton Farms, an affiliate of Jaindl Land Co.

Both big buildings are proposed for Lower Nazareth Township, just north of the congested intersection of Route 191 and Route 946 (Daniels Road).

One big box is proposed for 450,000 square feet, on farmland at 523 Nazareth Pike (an alternate name for Route 191), on the west side of the road. A few hundred yards to the north, a 72,850-square-foot building is planned for 4215 Lonat Drive, a short road east of Route 191. That open land is near the Kitchen Magic business.

The commission's review of the proposals recommends "The municipality and developer should engage with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on recommendations to mitigate traffic congestion and improve traffic flow along Route 191."

That elicited this question from Commissioner Stephen Melnick: "What happens if PennDOT and the local governments can't find an acceptable solution to the problem?"

The appointed commissioners approved the staff reviews of the proposed warehouses, with Melnick dissenting on both.

"I find this project very distasteful," he said of the 450,000-square-foot building.

The two projects combined would add 923 vehicle trips per day to Route 191, 317 of them by trucks, according to the LVPC review. That could lead to problems on Daniels Drive, Hecktown Road, Butztown Road, Newburgh Road, Gradwohl Switch Road and more. Vehicles would use Route 191 to Route 22, and Hecktown Road to Route 33.

Warehouses may not be popular, but one local study indicates that the industry and trucking create about 10% of local jobs.

The commission also moved on comments generally in favor of the City of Bethlehem changing the zoning of 119 Technology Drive to Central Business from Industrial Redevelopment. The Central Business zoning would allow Serfass Construction to put up 240 apartments on the site, which is a block from Third Street on the Southside, just off the Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge.

The building is occupied now by semiconductor wafer make IQE Plc, which is moving out. Serfass would demolish the building and put up a four stories of apartments.

Melnick said South Bethlehem still maintains an industrial corridor, and he voted against the Bethlehem zoning change.

As with other LVPC rulings, Bethlehem will make the final decision. The city's Planning Commission has already recommended the change.

The commission also discussed the potential move of the LVPC's offices to downtown Allentown.

The next LVPC meeting will be held virtually at 7 p.m. on April 27. The agenda and a link to the meeting will be posted on the organization's website.
SCRANTON, Pa.  A Northampton County man who has faced a series of legal issues for more than a decade was sentenced to 151 months in prison for his latest conviction.

Anthony Elonis, 39, formerly of Bethlehem, received his sentencing Thursday for cyberstalking. He was found guilty after a five-day jury trial in Easton last August, charged with three counts of cyberstalking involving three separate victims  a government employee in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Elonis' former girlfriend and Elonis' ex-wife.

Between 2018 and 2021, authorities say Elonis sent numerous threatening, harassing and intimidating emails directly to the governmental employee, and sent or posted numerous threatening, harassing and intimidating communications via Twitter, text message, voicemail or other form of electronic communication regarding the three victims.

Elonis was separately convicted by a federal jury in 2011 of sending threatening messages over Facebook. He posted threats about blowing up Dorney Park, his former employer, and committing "the most heinous school shooting ever imagined."

The case garnered national attention, raising issues involving free speech on social media.

In September 2012, Elonis was sentenced to 44 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release.

A U.S. appeals court affirmed his conviction after the U.S. Supreme Court said the jury should have weighed his intent and not just the rap lyrics he posted.

Elonis also was arrested by Freemansburg police in 2015 and charged with simple assault/domestic violence and harassment.
EASTON, Pa.  A Northampton County woman accused of conspiring with her son and a man to steal more than $72,000 from state and federal agencies was arraigned Friday by specially-appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Turzyn of the Northampton County District Attorney's Office.

Charity Larusso, 48, and co-defendants Cole Hade, 24, and Dominic Ciufo, 31  all of Northampton County  are each facing charges of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of public money.

The charges come after a federal grand jury indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

There is currently an active warrant for Hade, who is Larusso's son, while Ciufo remains in New Jersey State Prison on an unrelated charge.

The federal grand jury found that from June 10, 2020, to August 24, 2020, the three defendants conspired together, and with other persons, to devise a scheme to defraud state and federal agencies, and to obtain money and property by means of false pretenses.

While he was incarcerated in Northampton County Prison, authorities say Ciufo collected the necessary personal identifying information of other inmates for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications. He then allegedly communicated with Larusso and Hale via telephone, text, and video chat to disclose the inmates' information, or arranged for the inmates to directly transfer their information to Larusso and Hale.

According to authorities, Larusso and Hale took the personal identifying information of other inmates to file fraudulent PUA applications. In return, the defendants received U.S. Bank debit cards, in which they made expenditures directly from the cards, withdrew cash from the cards, or transferred money from the cards to other bank accounts.

The Northampton County district attorney's office also said Larusso and Hale deposited money in the commissary accounts of the incarcerated inmates who provided their personal information to the defendants.

As a result of the false statements made on the PUA applications, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, which administered the PUA program, approved the applications and dispersed a total of at least $72,021.

"White-collar crime is not taken lightly in any circumstance," said Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck. "These defendants organized a scheme to not only take the personal information of incarcerated individuals, but to selfishly use the money they received for themselves."

"The defendants stole currency which should have been sent to those in real need of COVID-19 relief funds," Houck added.

The investigation is ongoing.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  After 13 years as superintendent, Joseph Roy is retiring as leader of the Bethlehem Area School District. In a video announcement made Thursday, he said he will step down this July.

BASD Superintendent Joseph Roy intends to retire this summer Former judge Emil Giordano recently investigated a matter involving the superintendent. The school board president says the retirement is not related to any personal matter.

Sitting down with 69 News, Roy discussed what he considers his greatest achievements, and he answered questions about an alleged incident in October 2022.

The retirement announcement comes just months after reports of the alleged incident between Roy and a district employee. The school released no information on it, citing personnel matters.

At that time, Roy addressed allegations that he was planning on resigning, calling them unfounded.

The school district announced that an independent investigation concluded in late February.

"There was no action taken with regard to me," Roy said, "so that is really a distraction for me and my last year, for sure."

Roy says the alleged incident had nothing to do with his current retirement announcements.

"It did not," he said. "It's the truth that it did not have anything to do with it, and then that's just where we leave it."

Roy did say that he knew he would retire while the investigation was being conducted.

"I wasn't going to talk about it until I was announcing it, which was today," Roy said of his decision to retire.

With the investigation closed, Roy hopes it will not overshadow the accomplishments during his 13 years at BASD.

"When I first became superintendent, there were fires everywhere, you know, financially," he said.

Roy credits putting out those fires with a core leadership team he hired in his first year  one he says is still together to this day.

In a video released earlier Thursday where Roy first made his announcement, school board President Michael Faccinetto spoke about this.

"When he came on board, the district was having financial problems, Faccinetto said. "We had a curriculum that was all over the place, so we weren't serving our students the way we knew we should."

Faccinetto says Roy quickly got to work with a plan, lifting up the school district "to really one of the premier districts in the state."

All in all, Roy has been in public education for 37 years.

"I was a teacher," he said. "I was a high school principal for about 15 years."

Roy looked back on the launching of a science-based literacy initiative under his leadership.

"It's our greatest social justice work," he said," because kids come in with all kinds of ranges, kids from more disadvantaged backgrounds. We're closing those gaps, and we're having kids up to where they need to be."

He says another of his greatest accomplishments was moving from a half-day kindergarten curriculum to a full day, all within budget.

"We had to be creative," Roy said.

Roy says not only did it better prepare the kindergartners for first grade, but it also helped the parents economically.

"That year of kindergarten, they're not paying for half-day child care," he said.

Those are just a few high notes in a career full of achievements that wraps up at the end of this school year.

As far as who will succeed him, Roy tells 69 News that the board "has a plan" and could make the announcement as early as the beginning of next week.
HANOVER TWP., Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Bethlehem Station, is attempting to identify the two pictured suspects.

On 2/25/2023 at 4:15 p.m., a victim's wallet was stolen while shopping at Sam's Club located on Airport Center Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

The suspects attempted to use the victim's debit card to purchase approximately $5,500 in Visa gift cards, but the transaction was denied.

The suspects then went to Target, also located on Airport Center Road. Suspect 1 successfully used the victim's debit card to purchase $1,000 in Visa gift cards.

They fled the area in a red or maroon Ford Edge.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the PA State Police Bethlehem at 610-861-2026 or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or using their online tip form.
POCONO TWP., Pa.  Bringing back a passenger train line to the Poconos would have a major impact on the region, according to a new study from Amtrak, which estimates an additional $84 million a year in economic activity.

"I think the study codifies in different ways what we all suspected  that this addition to this market will be a boom from an economic standpoint," said Chris Barrett, with the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau.

Barrett says the number could end up being even higher: "I suspect this will spin off additional building within this market, with new products, with new residences."

The line would run from Manhattan to Scranton. The study estimates it would take just under the hours with several stops, with one at the Pocono Manor property and one in East Stroudsburg.

"They estimate that they'll start at about 300,000 annual riders on the line and that it will gradually build to as many as half a million riders per year, said Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA 8th District), who has been pushing for the line for years.

He points out the line would reduce traffic along Interstate 80 and Interstate 84. Amtrak estimates another $20 million in "user benefits," and $7 million in reduced public health costs from less air pollution.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, and New Jersey Transit also recently threw their support behind it.

"This is big news because without the state of Pennsylvania behind us, we were kind of treading water, to tell you the truth," Cartwright said.

Upgrades to the track in Pennsylvania alone could range from $99 million to $176 million.

There is still a lot more work to be done. The line needs a project corridor ID designation to move forward with engineering, planning and designing. Then comes a service development plan.

Cartwright says we could see a train line operating by 2028 or even earlier.
NEWARK, Del.  One suspect involved in the carjacking of a vehicle belonging to U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon has pleaded guilty.

Josiah Brown pleaded guilty to carjacking and a related firearms charge.

Delaware State Police had said five suspects into custody after they were located inside the stolen vehicle belonging to Scanlon (D-PA 5th District).

The 2017 blue Acura MDX was located at 2800 Fashion Center Blvd. in Newark in December 2021, police said.

Two armed men, including Brown, had approached Scanlon Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia and demanded the keys to her vehicle, the Philadelphia Police Department reported.

After Scanlon handed over the keys, one of the two men drove off in her vehicle, according to a news release from police. The other man went into a second dark-colored SUV and followed Scanlon's vehicle.

Scanlon was physically unharmed.

Police say several personal and work items were also taken with the vehicle.
EASTON, Pa. - A printmaking class at Lafayette College in Easton raised more than $2,000 for Ukraine last year.

This year, the class has new students and a new mission.

This time, they are making posters and t-shirts. They'll sell those and the money they raise will go to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

Students are learning first-hand how they can make a difference through their art.

One of the students, Pelin Cetin, is from Turkey.

She says the earthquake continues to weigh heavily on her mind and that it's been difficult because she's so far away from home. She says she feels like she's limited in how she can help.

But the work they do in this class will help bring more awareness to what's happening in Syria and Turkey.

"Let's just spread the word around. Let them wear something that reminds them that is happening, and no matter what part of the world, it is still a human rights issue. Like, we're people," said Cetin.

The students have spent the last few weeks designing, crafting, and packaging t-shirts and posters.

They each put a special spin on the designs they create.

One student used the national flower of Turkey, the tulip, for inspiration.

Another student used the crescent and the star of the Turkey flag.

Students use a heat-set ink to make the shirts, so that's why you saw them ironing the design onto the fabric

They'll be selling their designs to students online and in person at the College Center today from 11 to 1.
SPHERICAL INSIGHTS LLP

The Global Long Steel Market Size was valued at USD 493.7 Billion in 2021 and the worldwide long steel market size is expected to reach USD 728.9 Billion by 2030, according to a research report published by Spherical Insights & Consulting. Companies Covered: Arcelor Mittal, Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited, Gerdau S.A., HeSteel Group Company Limited, Hyundai Steel Co., Ltd, Nippon Steel Corporation, JSW Steel, Nucor Corporation, POSCO Corporation, Ternium S.A., Votorantim S.A. and Among Others.

New York, United States , March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Long Steel Market Size to grow from USD 493.7 Billion in 2021 to USD 728.9 Billion by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the forecast period. Increased construction and infrastructure activities, industrialization, and rising population levels are the major factors driving the growth of the long steel market. The Covid-19 outbreak, on the other hand, is expected to have a significant impact on the long steel market.

Global Economy: Recession Risk Rising Analysis and Russia-Ukraine Conflict War Impact we have added in the final premium report.

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In the steel industry, long steel products include steel products such as wire, rod, rail, and bars, as well as various types of steel structural sections and girders. Long steel products are bridges that are fabricated as part of a structural unit. Blooms and billets are long steel products from which bars, rods, and structural shapes are rolled. The APAC region's demand for long steel products is expected to rise significantly as a result of rising urbanization and increased construction activity. Long steel is a critical component of the building and construction industries, and its market is expanding in response to increased demand from the infrastructure and construction sectors. Major key players are preferred by people all over the world for providing long steel for heavy construction purposes. Rail project horizons are expanding in South Asia and Oceania, allowing many manufacturers to expand in the region. Industries such as capital goods, aircraft, and railroads are introducing long steel products, and market demand for long products is increasing. Long steels, such as commercial bars and special profiles, are used for body construction in the automotive industry, while wire rods are used for tyres. As a result, the expansion of the heavy construction and automobile industries is expected to boost the growth of the long steel market. However, fluctuating raw material costs in the industry, which are influenced by factors such as production costs and supply chain, result in volatile prices; these factors may stifle the growth of the long steel market.

Story continues

Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 100 market data tables and figures & charts from the report on " Global Long Steel Market Size , Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Process Type (Basic Oxygen Furnace and Electric Arc Furnace), By Product Type (Rebar, Wire Rod, Merchant Bar, and Others), By Application (Construction, Industrial, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2021  2030". Get Detailed Report Description Here:

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During the forecast period, the basic oxygen furnace segment is expected to dominate the long steel market.

Based on the process type, the global long steel market is segmented into basic oxygen furnace and electric arc furnace. The basic oxygen furnace is expected to have the highest market share during the projected period. This growth can be attributed to its advantages, such as high production volume. The basic oxygen furnace is the most commonly used process for producing long steel beams for a variety of applications due to commercial advantages such as high production capacity, low labour requirements, and low nitrogen content.

The rebar segment is expected to lead the long steel market during the predicted period.

Based on the product type, the global long steel market is segmented into rebar, wire rod, merchant bar, and others. The rebar segment is expected to lead the long steel market during the forecast period. Rebar steel is the most commonly used steel type in manufacturing, construction, and industrial applications, and it is expected to grow at a significant CAGR over the next few years.

The construction segment is expected to be the dominating segment during the projected period.

On the basis of application, the global long steel market is differentiated into construction, industrial, and others. The construction segment is expected to be the most dominant during the forecast period because long steel is widely used in residential, infrastructure, and construction applications.

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Asia Pacific holds the largest market share over the forecast period.

Over the forecast period, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market. International steelmakers expanding in the region include ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, Tata Steel, and POSCO Steel. The availability of low-cost raw materials in the region is an added benefit for these businesses. Market growth is also expected to be stimulated by the rapidly growing population and urbanization.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. Major vendors in the Global Long Steel Market include Arcelor Mittal, Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited, Gerdau S.A., HeSteel Group Company Limited, Hyundai Steel Co., Ltd, Nippon Steel Corporation, JSW Steel, Nucor Corporation, POSCO Corporation, Ternium S.A., Votorantim S.A. and among others.

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Global Bearing Steel Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type, By Application (Steel Making Process, Continuous Casting Process, Rolling Mills Process), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2021  2030.

https://www.sphericalinsights.com/reports/bearing-steel-market

Global Stainless Steel Market Size, Share & Trends, COVID-19 Impact Analysis Report, By Type (Austenitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel Martensitic Stainless Steel, Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel, and Others), By Product (Flat, Long, and Others), By Application (metal product, electric machinery construction automotive parts, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2021  2030

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KIGALI, Rwanda (AP)  Rwanda's government has commuted the 25-year sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.

Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press on Friday that the presidential order was issued after a request for clemency on behalf of Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen. Senior U.S. officials said Rusesabagina arrived late Friday at the home of the Qatari ambassador in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and was expected to leave the country in the coming days.

U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the news, saying, Pauls family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at todays good news. He thanked the governments of Rwanda and Qatar, as well as U.S. government officials who worked to achieve todays happy outcome.

Nineteen others also had their sentences commuted. Under Rwandan law, commutation doesnt extinguish the conviction, Makolo added.

Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar, she said. President Paul Kagame earlier this month said discussions were under way on resolving the issue.

Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said in a statement that the procedure for (Rusesabagina's) transfer to the state of Qatar is under way and he will then head to the United States of America. This issue was discussed during meetings that brought together Qatari and Rwandan officials at the highest levels.

The senior American officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under U.S. government ground rules, declined to comment on Rusesabagina's current health but said they had made medical and psychological care available.

The case had been described by the U.S. and others as unfair. Rusesabagina disappeared in 2020 during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His family alleged he was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda against his will to stand trial.

He was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. But the circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his reported worsening health drew international concern.

One senior U.S. official said the White House's goal was to shift from Washington denouncing the case  and Kigali defending its legal system in response  toward a constructive sequence to work our way mutually, collectively, out of the predicament we found ourselves in.

As part of the effort, Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had multiple phone calls with an unnamed close adviser to Kagame, the official said.

Rusesabagina has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Kagames government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

In a signed letter to Kagame dated Oct. 14 and posted on the justice ministry's website, Rusesabagina wrote that if I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me."

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering more than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwandas 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, first living in Belgium and then the U.S.

Human Rights Watch said he had been forcibly disappeared and taken to Rwanda. But the court there ruled he wasnt kidnapped when he was tricked into boarding a chartered flight. Rwandas government asserted that Rusesabagina had been going to Burundi to coordinate with armed groups based there and in Congo.

Rusesabagina was accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The armed group claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died.

Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped to form the armed group to assist refugees but said he never supported violence  and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

Rusesabagina also has said he was gagged and tortured before he was jailed, but Rwandan authorities denied that. His attorney, Felix Rudakemwa, asserted that Rusesabaginas legal papers were confiscated by prison authorities.

After his sentence, Belgiums then-foreign minister, Sophie Wilmes, said that it must be concluded that Mr. Rusesabagina has not been given a fair and equitable trial.

Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kagame in Rwanda and discussed the case. We still have conviction that the trial wasnt fair, Blinken told journalists.

It is a relief to know that Paul is rejoining his family, and the U.S. Government is grateful to the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible, Blinken said in a statement Friday, adding: The United States believes in a Rwanda that is peaceful and prosperous. We reaffirm the principle of seeking political change in Rwanda and globally through peaceful means.

As the news spread on Friday, Rusesabagina's family in a statement said that we are pleased to hear the news about Pauls release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon."

Anna reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Lujain Jo in Doha, Qatar, and Matt Lee and Nomaan Merchant in Washington contributed.
Brain Health

The big picture: Dr. Adriana Davis says "Yes, you can reduce your risk of getting dementia."

In the news: New research shows that people who have problems walking while talking or thinking could be at a higher risk of impending dementia.

The key point: The research points to the idea that if someone is not able to perform two tasks "dual-tasks" simultaneously this could be interpreted as a sign of future cognitive decline. This usually applies to people who are 65 years or older.

The new research is showing that the inability to do simultaneous tasks, "dual-tasks," may actually start earlier in middle age. A decline in dual-task skills can uncover early age-related changes in the brain.

Did you know that 75.8% of the adults living in Lebanon County went to the doctor for a routine checkup in the last year? 22.4% of the adults in Lebanon County have depression.

Looking to improve your health?

Doctor's Insight about Dementia and your Brain Health

Know this: "We can target cognitive function and reduce dementia risk in later life. For example, I tell my patients that it's very important that they keep their minds fresh by learning and interacting with new things. Plenty of research shows that if someone engages in social activities, picks up new skills like dancing, brushes their teeth with their non-dominant hand, and otherwise keeps their mind engaged, that person can reduce the risks of getting dementia later in life! So go out and be social and try new things!" Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine.

Next steps: If you're 65 and older, you should know that your medical insurance may offer you a free gym membership. Ask them about it!

Further steps: If you're unable to go to a gym near your home in Lebanon County, you can get access to free online classes through programs like "Silver Sneakers." (Visit Here)

Living in Pennsylvania, it's important for you to understand that getting dementia is not an expected trait of getting older.

Did you know that more than 7,000,000 Americans 65 years and older have dementia?

You can decrease the chances of getting dementia. You're not alone. Talk to your healthcare team!

Chart courtesy: OECD Data Library.

In Lebanon County, 10.2% of the adults reported not being in good physical health. In 2020, there were 4544 deaths from Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia in Pennsylvania.

What they're saying:

"Our results suggest that in middle age, poor dual-task walking performance might be an indicator of accelerated brain aging or an otherwise pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative condition..." Junhong Zhou, Ph.D.

"...we observed that a portion of participants over the age of 60 years who performed the dual-task test as well as participants aged 50, or even younger. This means that dual-task walking performance does not necessarily decline as we get older, and that some individuals appear more resistant to the effects of aging. We hope that our study will spur future research attempts to discover lifestyle and other modifiable factors that support the maintenance of dual-task performance into old age, as well as interventions that target these factors" (Interview Source)

Estimated dementia incidence rate among older people in the United States as of 2015, by age group (per 1,000 population)

Image: Statista State of Health

Source:

The Lancet published the paper: The age-related contribution of cognitive function to dual-task gait in middle-aged adults in Spain: observations from a population-based study (Read it Here)

Dementia Stats: (CDC)

Depression and Dementia are NOT parts of normal aging.

Among the 10 leading causes of death, Alzheimer's disease is expected to grow the sharpest in the next decade.

More than 9 Million Americans could have dementia by 2030.

States in the South and West will see the largest rises in dementia over the next decade.

16.2% of Lebanon County adults report that they're not in good mental health.

The Health Standard Newswire
SEATTLE (AP)  Kirkland Warren was out on bail pending a long-delayed murder trial in Arkansas. But when he was arrested in southwestern Washington state early this month on charges that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and fired a gunshot into her apartment, he quickly posted bond and was released again.

Just a few days later, his ex-girlfriend, Meshay Melendez, 27, and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart, vanished. Police named Warren a person of interest in their disappearance.

The discovery of their bodies in thick brush down a road embankment on Wednesday has raised questions about why someone facing a murder charge in another state would be released from custody after being arrested for a serious domestic violence offense.

Cymber Tadlock, the deputy prosecutor who handled Warrens case in a 2017 killing in Jefferson County, Arkansas, said the Vancouver Police Department in Washington notified her on March 2 that they had arrested Warren for drive-by shooting and other charges, stemming from an incident in December. They also told her the next day that Warren had a court appearance and his bail was set at $100,000.

It wasnt until March 14, after she had received official paperwork from Clark County, Washington, that she filed a motion to revoke Warren's bail in the 2017 murder case. In the meantime, he posted bail and was released from custody March 8  four days before Melendez and her daughter vanished.

Had his Arkansas bail been revoked sooner, its possible Warren would have remained in custody as a fugitive pending his extradition to face trial in Arkansas. But Tadlock said the time it took to obtain an order revoking his bail was typical.

I wish everything could happen more quickly, Tadlock told The Associated Press. I wish his murder case could have been resolved by now. Its had delay after delay, and now its had a tragedy.

Even before a man walking his dog reported seeing what resembled two life-sized mannequins in a rural area east of Washougal, Washington, on Wednesday morning, the family and friends of Melendez and Stewart had asserted the criminal justice system let them down.

Melendezs brother, Miguel Melendez, and stepdad, Kendrick Taylor, along with Stewart's grandfather, told The Columbian newspaper of Vancouver that they couldnt believe Warren had been released on bail after shooting at her apartment, especially considering his pending murder trial in Arkansas.

But except in cases of aggravated murder, Washington law presumes someone will be released from custody until they are tried and convicted. Courts can impose conditions  such as bail or electronic monitoring  to help ensure public safety and to keep defendants from fleeing.

Complicating matters is that when Warren was released, he was not ordered to wear a GPS ankle bracelet  despite a recent state law that allows courts to order people accused of domestic violence to wear them. Under that law, the victim can use a mobile phone app to be alerted if their abuser is near. Police receive the notifications as well and can respond.

Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Kim Kapp said Friday that officers were concerned about Warren being released at all, considering the danger he posed. Kapp said the department may urge lawmakers to make the GPS bracelets mandatory for domestic violence defendants deemed high risk.

Warren was charged with killing an acquaintance in his vehicle in 2017 and leaving the body in a roadside ditch. He told police the passenger was asking him for money and he shot him because he feared for his safety.

His family got him released from custody pending trial by putting up 10% of his $250,000 bond, said his attorney in that case, Mark Hampton, and Warren subsequently moved to Washington state with the knowledge of his lawyer and prosecutors.

The case has been delayed pending psychological evaluations, discovery disputes, the pandemic and most recently by a fall that Hamptons 91-year-old mother took, resulting in a broken hip.

Vancouver police previously investigated Warren in 2020 for possession of a stolen gun, and in 2021 for lying on a federal form required to purchase a firearm by saying he was not facing felony charges, according to court records.

Under Arkansas legal rules, judges must find reasonable cause that the defendant has committed a felony before revoking bail, according to Tadlock, who said we had to have a finding by another court" because the allegations occurred in another jurisdiction.

Warrens March 2 arrest stemmed from a December episode during which police said he assaulted Melendez and then fired a gunshot into her apartment. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges and hasn't been charged thus far in the deaths of Melendez or Stewart.

At Warrens initial court appearance on March 3, prosecutors noted he posed an extreme risk to Melendez, The Columbian reported. The court set bail at $100,000 and ordered him to have no contact with her, but prosecutors did not request GPS monitoring in the event of his release.

The Clark County Prosecutor's Office did not respond to emailed questions about the case.

Warren was the last person seen with the mother and daughter before they disappeared, according to charging documents. On the night of March 11, a friend told police, she had been babysitting Stewart when Warren arrived to pick her up. Melendez was unresponsive in the car, naked from the waist down.

The friend reported Melendez missing on March 18. Melendezs mother also reported her missing, saying the family had not heard from her for a week. The next day, police arrested Warren again. With his bail in Arkansas revoked, and his bail in Washington increased to $1 million, he has been in custody since.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece on Friday welcomed the return of ancient artifacts from the Acropolis, furthering a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures taken from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni led a ceremony Friday for the repatriation of three sculpture fragments  representing a horse and two male heads  from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis which had been kept at the Vatican Museums.

Initiatives like these show the way, how the pieces of the Parthenon can be reunited, healing the wounds caused by barbaric hands so many years ago, Mendoni said.

This takes us to the just and moral demand of the entire Greek people, and of this government and its prime minister, for the final return of all the sculptures of the Parthenon. The fragments will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in the center of the Greek capital.

Mendoni said Greece would be willing to lend the British museum ancient Greek artifacts for exhibition to fill the gap" if the marbles were returned.

Greece cannot recognize possession and ownership by the British Museum because it considers the sculptures to be there as a product of theft, she said.

The Vatican called the return an ecumenical donation to Greeces Orthodox Church, but the gesture added pressure on the London museum to reach a settlement with Greece following a campaign launched by Athens 40 years ago.

This act by Pope Francis is of historical significance and has a positive impact on all levels  We hope it sets an example for others, the leader of Greeces Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II, said.

Greece argues that the Parthenon sculptures are at the core of its ancient heritage, while supporters of the British Museum maintain that their return could undermine museum collections and cultural diversity globally.

Carved in the 5th century BC, the sculptures from the Parthenon were taken in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin before Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Culture Ministry officials in Greece have played down remarks made last month by British Museum chair George Osborne that the U.K. and Greece were working on an arrangement to display the Parthenon Marbles in both London and Athens.

Last year another marble sculptural fragment from the Parthenon temple  depicting a foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis  was returned to Athens from a museum in Palermo, Sicily.

Bishop Brian Farrell, a Vatican secretary for promoting Christian unity, headed the visiting delegation to Athens and said the return of the three fragments from the Vatican had been discussed during a visit to Athens by Pope Francis in 2021.

The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon which had been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece, Farrell said.

We assure you of our intimate joy at the realization of your legitimate wish to have the ... fragments at home in their place of origin, he added.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny, cooler, and more seasonable. A stray shower may be seen in the afternoon, especially north and west of the Lehigh Valley. .

Tonight

Partly cloudy with cooler temperatures compared to previous nights.
Birmingham Rep has had a hugely successful relationship with John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men over the past 20 or so years. Its 2001 production transferred to the West End and won an Olivier and its 2014 show was revived after two years.

Now it is the turn of Rep associate director Iqbal Khan to direct a new production which premieres in Birmingham before touring.

Khan, whose East is East and Tartuffe have been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, may be working with a story from nearly 100 years ago but this dramatisation is very current, bringing together an inclusive cast, with many of the actors having lived experience of disability.

This delivers both a richness to the relationships on stage and a depth to the story which hinges very much on the friendship between two itinerant farm hands, George and Lennie. This relationship is portrayed with real chemistry and understanding between Tom McCall as the super-stressed George and Wiliam Young as the giant-but-child-like Lennie.

There is a subtle empathy between the two men which is portrayed not just in their dialogue but also in their physicality as Lennie closes in on himself when distressed and Tom's touch reassures him. While the characters around them fail to comprehend why these two men travel together, the audience see that the deep connection between them is a tie that binds.

Steinbeck's play focusses on people on the edge of society and that is brought very much to the fore with Khan's production where so many of the characters are detached from each other. When the two men arrive at Curley's Farm in search of work, they find a group of individuals rather than any form of integrated society.

Lee Ravitz's aged Candy, who is no longer able to undertake heavy farm work, is tolerated by the fellow farm hands but clearly separate. Ravitz also brings humour to the show with his wry, even bitter, outlook on life but the frustration of his performance is that many of his lines are hard to hear so we sometimes miss his keen observations on life.

Then there is Crooks who is banished from the bunkhouse because he is Black. Played by Reece Pantry, this is a Crooks who is angry at his segregation and who initially sees all the white men as homogenous - until he learns that exclusion can take many forms when he opens his door to Lennie.





Tom McCall and Maddy Hill in Of Mice and Men

 Ciaran Bagnall

One of the difficulties with Steinbeck can be his portrayal of women and this is nowhere more in evidence than in his novella Of Mice and Men in which Curley's Wife is denounced by the men around her for bringing trouble on herself. Khan and performer Maddy Hill ensure the character is given space to explain her need for friendship, playing down any sexual element to that desire. Hill's Curley's Wife is a woman isolated in a world full of men who dismiss and judge her rather than trying to understand her.

Songs created by Elizabeth Purnell and sung by the cast help to set the story in its American Depression location and time, evoking not only the roaming lifestyle of these itinerant workers but also their dreams of a better future. Ciaran Bagnall's sets are spare and harshly lit, with sparse bunkhouses and empty landscapes reminding us of the threadbare existences of these characters.

Produced by Birmingham Rep, Leeds Playhouse and Fiery Angel, the production is both thoughtful and thought-provoking, reminding us of both the need and the power of human connection even in the most challenging of times.
If you're familiar with William Golding's original novel (available on all good GCSE curricula), you'll remember that the main characters  a bunch of pre-pubescent boys stranded on a desert island after a plane crash  don't come out of it well. Which is putting it mildly. The premise is this: when adolescents are suddenly dropped into uncivilised surroundings and put under extreme duress, how will they act? Will they work together politely and efficiently to establish a harmonious, rules-based order? Or will they go feral, pop a pig's head on to a stick and turn on each other? Well, guess. Tcha. Kids, eh?

So English Lit students will know going in that this co-production from Leeds Playhouse and Belgrade Theatre Coventry  which updates Golding's novel to the 21st century  was never going to be a light, fun, uplifting night at the theatre (come on: its themes are tribalism and the dark side of human nature, set against the background of nuclear war). And so it proves. However, despite the 12+ age guidance, under Amy Leach's direction it's a surprisingly suffocating, visceral and at times disturbing experience.

Leach should be credited for not diluting the material in any way. In fact, at one point, she ups the ante and goes the full Tarantino (there will be blood, and lots of it). Later, she stages a particularly intense scene by bathing the actors in red light and having them move in slo-mo. John Biddle's sinister sound design effectively underscores the action, while Max Johns' set  which includes a line of towering black tropical trees and ferns at the back of the stage  is an Eden Project biodome gone horrifyingly wrong.

Whereas the characters in Golding's novel were privileged white boys, Nigel Williams' script cleverly and necessarily makes them relevant for today. The young and diverse cast  some of whom are fresh out of drama school  includes a partially sighted actor, two deaf actors and a neurodiverse actor. Standout performances come from Adam Fenton who is moving as Simon, and Jason Battersby who turns Roger into a smirking and creepy sociopath. Whenever he's on stage, you can't take your eyes off him, largely because you sense the rage bubbling under the character's surface and fear what he might do next. Best of all, though, is Sade Malone as Ralph whose acting experience (she has a longer CV than the others, including television work) really shows. She holds the centre together.





Sade Malone in Lord of the Flies

 Anthony Robling

And, occasionally, she needs to because there are issues. At times, it's unsettling to view the chaos unfolding on stage  but it's contained chaos. At others, you wonder if things are about to spiral out of control for real, which drags you out of the story. When actors are shouting off stage, it's hard to hear dialogue being spoken on stage, and it suddenly feels exhausting and confusing (although, to be fair, one assumes that a descent into savagery would feel exhausting and confusing, so perhaps that's what Leach was going for). And the production is unbalanced with a long first half and a short second half - yet, ultimately, it never seems like two-and-a-bit hours in the theatre.

Overall, this is a (literally) full-blooded production powered by raw young talent who, at the curtain call, looked bruised, battered but strangely exhilarated. I knew how they felt.
The Big Night of Musicals event, organised by the National Lottery, is heading for BBC One (and BBC iPlayer) and we've got a cheat sheet for everything that's happening on the night! Want to know who's performing, what they're performing and more? Here's the guide for you.

Starting at 7.50pm, the event (filmed at Manchester's AO Arena last month) is being broadcast over 90 minutes, featuring 13 shows that we're running through below.

Before we get to that, why not watch an exclusive video of stars from the show raving about their time in Manchester  and the one thing they think Manchester is known for:









The evening is hosted by the ever-vibrant Jason Manford. Here are the numbers appearing and the songs they're performing (we're not sure if the running order is being updated for the broadcast!) but this was the set list:

 Brenda Edwards and the cast of We Will Rock You perform the titular song

 Lauren Byrne and the Matilda cast perform a medley of "Naughty", "Revolting Children" and "When I Grow Up"

 Helen George and Darren Lee perform "Shall We Dance" from The King and I

 The company of Six perform "Haus of Holbein" and "Six"

 Nathania Ong performs "On My Own" from Les Miserables

 Jason Manford, Flash Musicals and Pendleton Choir perform "From Now On" from The Greatest Showman

 Antony Lawrence, Joanne Clifton and Brandon Lee Sears perform "I'm A Believer" from Shrek the Musical

 Bronte Barbe and the cast of Newsies perform "King of New York"

 Melody Thornton performs "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard

 The cast of Ain't Too Proud perform a medley of "My Girl" / "Get Ready" / "I Can't Get Next To You"

 Laura Pick performs "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

 The cast of Hamilton perform "My Shot"

 Michael Ball performs "Love Changes Everything" from Aspects of Love

 The cast of Mamma Mia! perform "Mamma Mia" / "Dancing Queen"

The event will also include a special behind-the-scenes look at Heathers the Musical and an appearance from Aspects of Love composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

Global procurement software market is anticipated to experience a significant revenue surge from US$ 6,658 Mn in 2022 to US$ 15,140.1 Mn by 2031. This market is poised to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.4% during the forecast period of 2023-2031.

New Delhi, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Astute Analytica has published a new research report titled Global Procurement Software Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Deployment (Cloud-based and On-premise); Software (Spend Analysis, E-Sourcing, and E-Procurement); Industry (Retail, Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, Healthcare, and Others); By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2031 in its research database.

The global procurement software market is rapidly expanding, with businesses around the world turning to these tools to streamline their supply chain processes and cut costs. In recent years, the market has seen tremendous growth due to the increasing need for automation and optimization of procurement operations. This growth is being driven by the increasing demand for cost-effective procurement processes, as well as the need for better visibility and control over the supply chain.

Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/procurement-software-market

One of the key drivers of this market is the growing adoption of cloud-based procurement software. Cloud-based solutions offer numerous benefits over traditional on-premise software, including scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. As a result, many businesses are making the switch to cloud-based procurement solutions, which is fueling market growth.

Another key trend in the procurement software market is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. These technologies are being used to automate routine procurement tasks, such as purchase order creation and supplier identification. They are also being used to provide real-time insights into procurement operations, enabling businesses to make more informed decisions.

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In addition to these trends, there are several other factors driving the growth of the market. These include increasing globalization, which is creating a more complex supply chain environment, and the need for businesses to comply with regulatory requirements. The procurement software market is also being driven by the growing adoption of e-commerce platforms. These platforms are making it easier for businesses to source and procure goods and services online, which is driving demand for procurement software.

Astute Analyticas Study Reveals Changing Technology Landscape is Shaping Global Procurement Software Market

AI and ML are transforming procurement, automating processes, improving supplier performance, and optimizing spend management. 51% of procurement leaders believe AI and ML will have a significant impact in the next few years.

Integration with other enterprise systems is critical for better visibility into organizational spend and supplier performance. Over 80% of procurement solutions will be integrated with other enterprise systems by 2025.

Sustainability is a key focus area, with 97% of procurement leaders seeing it as important for their organizations. Procurement software with sustainability features, such as carbon footprint tracking, is being developed.

Mobile procurement is on the rise, with a CAGR of 14.5% expected between 2023 and 2031, enabling procurement teams to manage processes on the go in the procurement software market.

Blockchain is gaining traction for secure and transparent transactions, reducing fraud and improving supply chain visibility.

Vendor management is becoming increasingly important, with 70% of procurement leaders prioritizing it in the next two years. Procurement software is being developed with vendor management features such as vendor performance tracking and risk management.

Data analytics is enabling better decision-making, with 60% of procurement leaders seeing it as a significant enabler for their organizations in the next few years. Data analytics provides insights into spend patterns, supplier performance, and contract compliance.

Cloud-Based Procurement Software Takes the Lead in the Global Procurement Software Market with over 63% Revenue Share

The shift from on-premise to cloud-based procurement software is driven by the rising adoption of cloud technology across industries. Astute Analytica predicts that by 2031, cloud-based deployment will account for over 63% of the procurement software market's revenue. This trend is fueled by key factors:

Flexibility & scalability: Cloud-based solutions allow organizations to easily adjust to changing business needs without the cost and limitations of on-premise infrastructure.

Collaboration and transparency: Cloud procurement software enables real-time data access, fostering effective collaboration and informed decision-making.

Security: Cloud providers invest heavily in security measures, offering better protection against cyber threats compared to on-premise solutions.

Digital transformation: As organizations embrace digital technology, cloud-based procurement software supports automation, cost reduction, and efficiency improvements.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/procurement-software-market

BFSI Industry Continues to Lead as the Largest Contributor with Over 25% Revenue Share to the Global Procurement Software Market

The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector is expected to remain a leading revenue generator in the market. This prominence can be attributed to several factors:

High transaction volume: The BFSI sector handles a vast number of transactions daily, requiring robust procurement processes to manage expenses, purchases, and supplier relationships. Procurement software streamlines these processes, resulting in cost savings and operational efficiency.

Regulatory compliance: Financial institutions must adhere to strict regulations and compliance requirements. Procurement software enables organizations to maintain records, track spending, and ensure compliance with procurement policies and regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.

Risk management: Procurement software supports risk management in the BFSI sector by providing real-time visibility into supplier performance, assisting in the identification of potential risks, and facilitating the implementation of mitigation strategies in the procurement software market.

Security: As BFSI institutions handle sensitive data, security is a top priority. Cloud-based procurement software offers enhanced security measures, addressing concerns related to data breaches and cyber threats.

Digital transformation: BFSI organizations are rapidly adopting digital technologies to optimize their operations. Procurement software aids in this transformation by automating manual tasks, improving data accuracy, and enabling data-driven decision-making.

Top 4 Players are Generating More than 40% Share of Global Procurement Software Market

The global market has been witnessing significant growth in recent years, due in part to the increasing adoption of automation and digitization in procurement processes. The market is characterized by the dominance of a few major players who offer a wide range of procurement software solutions to customers across different industries.

The global procurement software market is dominated by a few major players, including SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Coupa Software Inc., and GEP, who together hold a combined share of more than 40%. SAP SE leads the market with a 24.7% share, followed by Oracle Corporation, while Coupa Software Inc. and GEP hold smaller shares. Despite the market being highly consolidated, it is constantly evolving, driven by factors such as technological advancements, changing customer preferences, and regulatory changes. This underscores the need for companies operating in this space to remain agile and adapt to changing market dynamics in order to remain competitive.

SAP SE, for instance, offers a comprehensive suite of procurement software solutions, including Ariba, which enables companies to automate their procurement processes, streamline supplier collaboration, and gain greater visibility into their supply chain. Similarly, Oracle Corporation offers its own procurement software solutions, such as Oracle Procurement Cloud, which helps companies streamline procurement processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

Coupa Software Inc. and GEP, while holding relatively smaller market shares, are still significant players in the procurement software market. Coupa Software offers a cloud-based platform that helps companies manage spend, suppliers, and contracts, while GEP offers a range of procurement software solutions that cover strategic sourcing, spend analysis, and supplier management.

Despite the dominance of these major players, the global market remains highly competitive, with new entrants constantly emerging and disrupting the market. Factors such as technological advancements, changing customer preferences, and regulatory changes are driving the evolution of the market and creating new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

SAP SE

Proactis Holdings PLC

Coupa Software Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Epicor Software Corporation

GEP

Ginesys

Zycus, Inc.

Ivalua Inc.

Infor Inc.

Jaggaer

Tangoe, Inc.

Other Prominent Players

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On this very day some 20 years ago, Middlesbroughs new Riverside Stadium hosted its first match, with the home side beating Chelsea 2-0 thanks to goals from Boro legends Craig Hignett and Jan Aage Fjortoft.

The stadium was the first to be designed and built to comply with Taylor Report (the national inquiry into stadium safety instigated by the Hillsborough disaster) and was commissioned after it became clear the capacity of Boros famous old Ayresome Park ground couldnt be expanded beyond 20,000 under the new all-seating rules, due to being hemmed in by terraced housing.

The club, then (and still) financed by local-boy-made-good Steve Gibson, began to look for a new site and were eventually offered a location called Middlehaven, east of the city centre, by the Teesside Development Corporation.

Taylor Woodrow and Ove Arup were the contractors and engineers who put the biggest new stadium to be built in Britain since 1945 together in just 32 weeks.

Boro then did the decent thing and christened it with a smart win over Glen Hoddles lot in front of 28,286 fans

Boro supporters were asked to vote on the name of the stadium, and given the choice of either the Middlehaven Stadium, the Erimus Stadium, Teesside Stadium or the Riverside.

The latter won, and, after sponsorship was secured, the new ground was officially christened the BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium.

You can follow Martin Cloake on Twitter at @MartinCloake and find more about his books and writing at www.martincloake.com
Amidst all the deal-making and the rumour-churning, a new hero emerged on transfer deadline day, and his name was (and still is) Jacob South Klein.

Thats him up there, in the little brown cowboy hat.

For the past few years, Reading fan Klein has spent deadline day lurking in the bushes outside Madejski Stadium and updating fellow supporters on the various comings and goings.

Bushwatch began three years ago when Klein was very bored and very unemployed  and now, thanks in part to a bumper instalment on Tuesday, its become a bit of a big deal.

Indeed, Reading made three decent signings on deadline day, and Bushwatch was there, camped out in the car-park, to break them all.

It all began when West Hams highly-rated young midfielder Reece Oxford arrived to shore up a loan move

Jordon Mutch was second through the door after completing a similar loan switch from Crystal Palace

BREAKING: Jordon Mutch has just left the Madejski. #BushWatch pic.twitter.com/d1btdzPIQA  Jacob South Klein (@JacobSouthKlein) January 31, 2017

As momentum began to build, a succession of fans began to turn up to Bushwatch HQ with deliveries of snacks, coffee and even a complimentary mojito.

Reading themselves also provided a few refreshments, in the guise of a meat pie and a can or two of disgusting Thai energy drink

As the day wicked away, Jacob whiled away the quiet hours by conducting a few phone interviews for radio and the local press.

Well @JacobSouthKlein has just answered his phone to a presenter, and straight away asked if Im on air. This is #bushwatch #LIVE #bushy pic.twitter.com/E8wJ7CMGt2  IanM (@IanM1871) January 31, 2017

However, just before close of play, Reading went an sprung another signing, bringing in Lewis Grabban (at least we think thats Lewis Grabban) from Bournemouth

BREAKING: poor photo, but Lewis Grabban has arrived, ladies and gents. #BushWatch pic.twitter.com/CkHMf6BoUR  Jacob South Klein (@JacobSouthKlein) January 31, 2017

And, with his work done for the day, the Bushman retired to his chambers

And now, to bed.  Jacob South Klein (@JacobSouthKlein) February 1, 2017

Sleep well, sweet prince, for you have performed a great service this day.

Honestly, we cant decide if hes bloody nuts, a true folk hero, or a little bit of both!
Polaris Market Research & Consulting LLP

[115+ Pages Research Study] According to Polaris Market Research, the global robotic process automation (RPA) market Size & share was valued at USD 2,659.13 Million in 2022 and is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 37.9%, to reach USD 66,079.34 Million By 2032. The adoption of automation is particularly prevalent in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and finance, but it's also becoming more widespread in other industries in the forecasted period. Some of the key players covered are Blue Prism Group Plc (UK), Celaton Ltd. (UK), Kofax Ltd. (U.S.), Xerox Corporation (U.S.), Verint Systems Inc. (U.S.), Automation Anywhere Inc. (U.S.), Ipsoft, Inc. (U.S.), Redwood Software (Netherlands) and others.

New York, NY, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polaris Market Research has published a new research report titled Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market Size, Share, Trends, & Industry Analysis Report, By Process (Automated Solution, Decision Support & Management Solution, Interaction Solution); By Operation; By Type; By Industry; By Organization Size; By Region: Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032 in its research database.

According to the latest research analysis, the global robotic process automation (RPA) market size/share is anticipated to be valued at approximately USD 2,659.13 Million in 2022 and is projected to hit a revenue of around USD 66,079.34 Million By 2032, at a CAGR of around 37.9% between 2023 and 2032.

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)? How Big is Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market Size & Share?

Overview

Robotic process automation is a software technology that eases out building, deploying, and handling software robots that reproduce human actions interrelating with digital systems and software. The rapidly rising demand for the robotic process automation (RPA) market can be attributed to its streamlining workflow, which renders firms more profitable, flexible, and receptive. It also plays an important role in employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity by discarding monotonous tasks from their workdays.

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Due to the covid-19 pandemic, businesses globally had to inculcate automated business workflow, which assisted in speeding the growth of robotic process automation during the forecast period. For instance, as per the survey carried out by Blue Prism Limited published a survey report in February 2022 titled RPA In the APAC Financial Services Sector." As per the report, 21% of Indias financial service firms respondents said their firms adopted RPA during the covid-19 pandemic.

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(The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, a Table of Contents, a Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis, and our research methodology.)

Our Sample Report May Includes:

2032 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis.

115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research).

Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Requests.

2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends

Includes Updated List of tables & figures.

Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis.

Key data covered in the market report

Access to data statistics provides historical and forecast data which analyses to tell why the market is set to change.

The report enables us to expect market changes to stay ahead of the competitors.

Provision of market value data for each segment and sub-segment.

Indicates the region and segment that is anticipated to witness the fastest growth as well as the domination of the market.

Extensive company profiles comprising of company overview, company insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis for the major market players.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Blue Prism Group Plc (UK)

Celaton Ltd. (UK)

Kofax Ltd. (U.S.)

Xerox Corporation (U.S.)

Verint Systems Inc. (U.S.)

Automation Anywhere Inc. (U.S.)

Ipsoft Inc. (U.S.)

Redwood Software (Netherlands)

UiPath (U.S.)

Pegasystems Inc. (U.S.)

Daythree Business Services Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)

Kryon Systems (Israel)

Softomotive (UK)

For Additional Information on Key Players, Download a PDF Brochure: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/robotic-process-automation-market/request-for-sample

Key factors driving market growth

Emerging technologies such as ML and OCR to push the market

Some of the prominent elements of RPA for which businesses are acquiring RPA involve enhanced productivity, improved performance, amalgamating contemporary technologies, creating higher returns, and shifting business processes covering the enterprise. The robotic process automation (RPA) market size is expanding as RPA technology has evolved over the years and is intended to be more complex during the forecast period as contemporary technologies such as ML, OCR, and analytics are combined with RPA, enabling escalated performance.

The growing demand for the automation of business processes is one of the prominent factors impacting the increasing acceptance of RPA technology. The robotic process automation (RPA) market sales are soaring as businesses select RPA solutions with advanced features combined with fresh technologies such as AI. Companies in the market have been partnering to work towards providing improvised RPA solutions in the market.

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Recent trends influencing the market

Digital assistants in both personal and professional settings to drive the market

Intelligent bots have become a favorite across data ecosystems, whether it is through RPA, chatbots, or alternative digital assistants. The multitude of tasks that these bots can enact is expanding. With the scope of digital assistants such as Siri and Alexa expanding in both personal and professional settings, many knowledge workers contemplate chatbots to be dated, template-based versions of what bots can execute.

Several government organizations and private companies are funding to generate conversational RPA chatbots for automating their processes. For instance, National Science Foundation (NSF) Organization has generated an RPA bot that automates messages and assists in prompting people about upcoming public meetings.

Segmentation assessment

The automated solution segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth

Based on the process, the automated solution segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth. Robotic process automation (RPA) market demand is on the rise as there is an increase in demand for automation and the escalating requirement for better decision-making proficiencies in firms. Automated solutions that encompass software robots provide firms with an uncomplicated and structured way to automate routine and repetitive tasks.

Tool based segment accounted for the largest market share

Based on type, the tool-based segment accounted for the largest market share. Robotic process automation (RPA) market trends include of them offering firms a simple and effortless way to automate routine tasks and processes. These solutions are made simple and user-friendly, permitting firms to commence with automation speedily with the least training.

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Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market: Report Scope

Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2032 USD 66,079.34 Million Market size value in 2023 USD 3,661.89 Million Expected CAGR Growth 37.9% from 2023 - 2032 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023  2032 Top Market Players Blue Prism Group Plc (UK), Celaton Ltd. (UK), Kofax Ltd. (U.S.), Xerox Corporation (U.S.), Verint Systems Inc. (U.S.), Automation Anywhere Inc. (U.S.), Ipsoft, Inc. (U.S.), Redwood Software (Netherlands), UiPath (U.S.), Pegasystems Inc. (U.S.), Daythree Business Services Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Kryon Systems (Israel), Softomotive (UK). Segments Covered By Process, By Type, By Operation, By Industry, By Organization Size, By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options

Geographic Overview

The strong presence of technology companies to propel the North American market

North America held the largest robotic process automation (RPA) market share due to the strong presence of technology companies, the high acceptance of technology in the region, and the advantageous regulatory environment. Existence of firms seeking to adopt contemporary and inventive solutions to streamline their operations and enhance their performance.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness significant growth in the RPA market in the coming years to speedily growing economies in the region, the growing acquisition of technology, and the beneficial regulatory environment for RPA.

Browse the Detail Report Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market Size, Share, Trends, & Industry Analysis Report, By Process (Automated Solution, Decision Support & Management Solution, Interaction Solution); By Operation; By Type; By Industry; By Organization Size; By Region: Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032 with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/robotic-process-automation-market

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Recent Developments

In February 2023, Kofax Limited declared the contemporary automation software a policy for Intelligent Automation. The new elements included Total Agility 7.11 and enhanced Intelligent Document Processing, contemporary low code design features, and enhanced DevSecOps capabilities.

Polaris Market Research has segmented the robotic process automation services market report based on component, deployment, application, end-user, and region:

This Report Contains Answers to The Following Questions

What are the key market trends?

What are the significant segments operating in the market?

What are projections of the industry considering capacity, production, and production value?

How big is the opportunity for the market?

How much is the market worth?

Who are the major players operating in the market?

What will the market size and growth rate be in the forecast period?

By Process Outlook

Automated Solution

Decision Support and Management Solution

Interaction Solution

By Type Outlook

Tool Based

Model-Based Application Tools

Process-Based Application Tools

Service Based Consulting

Integration and Development

Training

By Operation Outlook

Rule Based

Knowledge-Based

By Industry Outlook

IT & Telecom

Healthcare and Pharma

BFSI

Manufacturing

Logistics

Retail

Travel & Hospitality

By Organization Size Outlook

SMBs

Large Enterprises

By Region Outlook

North America (U.S., Canada)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Rest of APAC)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico,

Argentina, Rest of LA)

Middle East & Africa (Israel, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the Rest of MEA)

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The nice thing also is that the event took place in a place with character, Espace Clacquesin , a 2000-square-meter ancient distillery reconverted into an event space for rent, for private or corporate use. It's in a suburb (very safe one, needs to be said nowadays) very close from Paris, you could almost go there by foot from the 14th arrondissement. They kept the 19th-century red brick chimney, and the cobblestone courtyard lovely ! And like it used to be in these late 19th-century industrial buildings, there's the administration/office building near the gate, nicely built in red bricks too... I Hope they'll keep this place for the following issues.

Malakoff, Paris suburb along the 14th arrondissement That's it, Raw Wine made its debut in Paris (march 12 & 13) after a long history (2012) of setting up tasting events along the past years in cities like London, Los Angeles, Berlin with the goal to present nature/biodynamic/organic producers to the growing crowd of winelovers focused on artisan wine. Raw Wine was created by Isabelle Legeron , a French expat who has been living in London for many years now, and given the UK culture of interest for all wine regions across the world, you find this global touch in the geographical diversity of the participating wineries. At Raw Wine Paris, some 150 wineries and vintners (see list here ) were presenting their wines and the interesting thing compared with our usual natural wine fair in Paris is that it was very international oriented with some 15 countries involved, France and Italy holding the lion's share of course. The entry fee was quite high for the general public on sunday with 45  if I'm right. The pro fee was more in line with what we usually pay (15 ) here (although it's even often free when it takes places in Restaurants). While questions arise if Raw Wine will find its niche in a city (Paris) already overflowing of vibrant natural-wine fairs and events, several outstanding nature vintners like Caleb Leisure of Stagiaire Wines (California) credit Raw Wine for having helped him early in his start (read this piece by Aaron Ayscough on Raw Wine Paris).

Strolling through the main room

Oszkar Maurer

I initially wanted to start with Frank Cornelissen but couldn't find his table even though it was located on the plan, so I switched to Oszkar Maurer who makes wine in Serbia, in Hajdukovo close to the Hungarian border. Oszkar was at the table with his wife to pour the wine. He now works on 16 hectares total.

__ Muscat 2017, dry white. Very interesting Muscat with noticeable acidity. Turbid, vividness feel. The vines were planted in 2008 on slopes where no chemicals were ever sprayed for 50 years. Delicious wine.

__ Fodor Olaszrizling 2021, elevage in big barrels. Gorgeous golden color, lightly turbid. All is made by gravity. A beautiful, exciting nose, mouth just the same, a gorgeous juicy wine ! 10  pro.

__ Orion 2018, another Olaszrizling, there's here a light bitterness which comes to balance the otherwise smooth, sweetness-like mouthfeel. Delicious as well !

__ Vad Fekete (means wild black in Hungarian), it's an old local red variety to this region (formerly part of pre-1920 Hungary) and the vines here are old. Fruity wine, but kind of strange, not easy to have an opinion on this wine...

__ Kadarka 1880 2021. A red with a very light color, almost tile colored. 13 % alcohol (I checked because it looked to light).Interesting wine, still powerful and some tannic character in spite of the light color and supposedly light extraction. Love it !

__ Kadarka Gravitation 2020, Oszkar says it's made from a terroir similat to a Grand Cru climat in Burgundy. Such a light color here as well, impressive ! Wow, that's good !!! Subtile aromas, tender, feminine, love at first sip !! 16  (pro price if I remember).

Oszkar tells me they have other, cheaper cuvees, still made naturally, also zero sulfites and unfiltered but made from their 20-year and younger vines.

Slobodne Vinarstvo

Slobodne Vinarstvo is managed by Katarina and Miso Kuropka and is located in Slovakia, in Zemianske Sady, 65 km east of Bratislava. They farm 17 hectares now, and on biodynamics for 5 years now but not with an official certification.

__ Veltlina 2021 (Gruner Veltliner), direct press, spontaneous fermentation, elevage in plastic eggs made by Wine and Tools (a company based in Bordeaux if I'm right). These eggs are easy to move when they're empty, which is a clear advantage compared to clay, and I guess they chose a fabric with some degree of micro-oxygenation. They added so2 at bottling here. Nice harmony, goes down easy ! 10  pro. 10 % alcohol.

__ Partisan Cru 2018, a white blend made each year from the best grapes they have, like here Riesling, Sauvignon, Traminer. Darker color. Spends time in new oak but not marked toasting.

__ Eggstasy of Wine Alpinist 2019, maceration on skins for 7 days. Riesling. So2 : 25mg/Liter (the 2017 was without so2). Superb color, rather classy wine, nice character.

__ Cutis Pinoter 2020, almost a rose but it's supposed to be a white. Pinot Gris that went through a 4- to 5-week maceration. Lightly turbid. Nice texture on the tongue ! Lovely, try this one as well !

__ Alternativa 2017, a red made from Blaufrankisch, evolved color, quite light. Not bad

__ Partisan Cru 2018, blend of Blaufrankisch and Cabernet Sauvignon (2 types of Cabernet Sauvignon actually). Nice harmony, I like that one too. 13 % alc. but you don't feel it at all.

__ Hopera 2022, a white, Sauvignon which macerated on wild hops. Goes down easy, like juice.

Bikicki (Serbia)

Bikicki is located in Serbia and is managed by Djordje Bikicki who farms today 10 hectares. He started making natural wines in 2013 after befriending Oszkar Maurer where he learnt the trade.

__ Nikka 2021, a red blend of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Black Muscat. Vinified in Oszkar Maurer's cellar. Djordje will soon have his own cellar. This wine is supposed to be a petnat but not bubbly at all and I likeit this way. Stayed 1,5 year on lees. Lovely ! 13 % but feels like lower.

__ Moma 2021, Traminer, one day skin contact without stems and aged in ceramic tank. Quite aromatic with a nice, solid structure.

__ Uncensored 2020, a white made from Traminer, 6 days with skin contact, aging one year in Serbian oak (used barrels), 5000 bottles made total. Good length, 14 %. Man, that's really good ! Decanter also liked this cuvee and rated it at 95. 12  pro export. Retail in Serbia is 12  plus VAT.

__ Pinot Gris CU 2021, a rose here. 7 days on skins, one year in old barrels, no filtration, 20 mg so2 before bottling. Light color, tile tones.13,5 %. Nice intensity, bitterness touch at the end of the mouth which is bringing an interesting plus.

__ Sfera Noir Pinot Noir 80 % and Black Muscat 20 %, short maceration (3 days), the maceration being chosen short because hot summer and he wanted to avoid a jammy character. A bit high alcohol here maybe, or at least it was my feel. 14,5 %.

__ Lily, 100 % Merlot (forgot to note the year), a classic Merlot with a 25-day maceration and one year in new oak, but light toasting and the barrel was washed before use by the cooperage. Excititing nose, oaky mouth for now.

Maloof Wines

Maloof Wines is managed by a couple of producers in Oregon (Willamette Valley), Ross and Bee Maloof, and Bee was there pouring the wines. Like often in America, they work with demanding growers from whom they buy the grapes, one of their contracted growers is no less than Jason Lett (Eyrie Vineyards). From what I understand they work from 12 hectares plus negoce volume.

__ L'Eau Epicee 2021, a bubbly blend of Riesling and Gewurtztraminer, grapes sourced from Northern Oregon close to WA.

__ Maloof Pinot Gris 2021, direct press, stayed on its lees 12 months.

__ Ribolla Gialla 2021, very short skin contact, grapes sourced at Johan Vineyards. Nice mouth, smooth, gliding feel on the palate.

__ Gewurtztraminer sourced from Oak Ridge Vineyards, 3 weeks on skins plus some time in oak (9 months if I read my notes correctly). Turbid. So2 added after malolactic (and none after). 20 ppm. Speaking of prices, the wines go from 9  to 13  pro export.

__ Where ya PJs at ? 2021. 80% Pinot Gris, 15% Riesling, 5% Schonburger, a blend with a light tile color, like a rose, some of their own grapes in this cuvee. 2000 cases made here. Nice one albeit with a bit of alcohol feel maybe.

__ Rouge de Gris, Pinot Gris 2021. Between rose and red (tile color). Grapes from Johan, Vineyards. I love that one ! Very enjoyable texture, you need to try that ! 12,5 %. Bee says it costs probably 12  pro export. 500 cases made.

__ No label yet for this red, a blend of Gamay, Gewurz and Pinot Gris 2022, made with their estate grapes, light color, like a rose.

Isabelle Jolly

I was very happy to see Isabelle Jolly of Jolly Ferriol was there also pouring wines, Jean-Luc Chossart was there also but busy tasting fellow vintners when I stopped by, and you know what ? The sommelier from reknowned A.T. restaurant in Paris, Thibault Simon, was there making his selections of wines as well, like a few years ago in another tasting event, what a coincidence.... You may know that Isabelle and Jean Luc sold their domaine some 4 years ago but their kept the wines and sell them

__ Entre Temps 2019, Vin Doux Oxydatif, Grenache Noir in cement tank. 100 gr residual sugar, 16 % alcohol, onctuous and what a length ! And zero so2 !!! Love it !

__ Au Fil du Temps, a solera in demijohn. Isabelle told me I would taste a dry after the first wine and somehow I guessed it'd be a solera.. The demijohn here stayed 4 years outside by all sort of weather and then it joins old barrels where the oldest part is somrthing like 70 years (when they got these cellars they found old barrels filled with wine standing there in the dark for decades). Man, that's nice !

__ Au Fil du Temps "cuisine", this is the top layer of the solera and they intend these bottlings for kitchen use to go with oysters, scallops and other seafood for example. Delicious !! I may give a secret but I think the A.T. sommelier ordered several of these... Recently bottled, they don't communicate about it yet.

More strolling through the happy crowd

Here you can see Jean-Luc Chossart with Isabelle

Abbia Nova

Abbia Nova is a 7-hectare domaine located in Latium, Italy, it is managed by Daniele Proietti and Pierluca Proietti and Barbara was at the table to pour and explain the wines and the work.

__ #Senzavandalismi 2021, a white (Passerina) that went through 12 hours of skin contact. Harmony, Umami feel. 6,5  pro.

__ Single vineyard Passerina del Frusinate, vines 85 years old, it's a blend because these old parcels were at the time complantations of multiple varieties [as it was the case in France as well, by the way].. 12 hours skin contact also, stainless steel. Lightly turbid. 6,5  pro.

__ Rosato del Frusinate "Berlame", a rose with vines on sandy soil. 12 hours skin contact, stainless steel tanks. Blend of Cesanese di Affile (50 %) and Cesanese Nostrano (50 %), lovely tile color. I love that one ! What an energy and length in what looks like a light-colored claret ! 9  export.

__ #Senzavandalismi2021 red, a blend of 2 varieties, a darker wine here, more serious stuff, good to go wuth hearty food I guess.

__ Piglio 2020, some kind of village cuvee, a blend of 6 parcels. Fermentation in cement tank. Majestic mouth, quite powerful, could be still young at this stage.

__ Piglio San Giovanni, single vineyard of Cesanese di Affile, a very local variety, I'm told it's somehow genetically related to Syrah and Pinot Noir. Highest elevation parcel, at 550 meter. Oldest vines too, like 85 years. Very classy wine with an oxydative note.

__ Piglio Cercia 2020, fermented and aged in porcelain eggs (Clayver). A bit high-alcohol feel on the tongue.

__ Belarme Rosso 2020, vines on silt and sand soil at 350 m elevation, the wine stayed 18 months in amphorae. 15 % alcohol, the sun was pretty strong that year, that's why. A bit excessive alcohol feel here also. Betyter with food probably, to check back in two years.

Paolo & Lorenzo Marchionni

Here are casualties of the strikes in the French trains nation wide, the vintners Paolo and Lorenzo Marchionni couldn't come in person from Tuscany, Italy and if we could pour ourselves tasting samples of their two cuvees there was no way to exchange with the vignerons...

__ L'Erta, Trebbiano 2020, unfiltered (non Filtrato).

__ Rossovigliano 2020, Sangiovese, tannin feel on the side of the palate, still a bit young I guess.

Grosbois

Domaine Grosbois, a 25-hectare domaine which is farming biodynamic is located in Chinon, I knew its name because I'm fond of the everyday-wine they began to make with Domaine Amirault a few years ago in 2016 when they lost most of their fruit to frost, buying grapes to an organic grower in the Gaillac region (South West) to make a very enjoyable vin de france cuvee named Les Mullaudieres, and they were very happy from this experience and kept making it year after year, you'll find it usually at Monoprix and/or Super U at around 7 . Grosbois also raise meat cows, including of the Black Angus type.

__ Extraball, Chinon 2021, Cab Franc on sandy soil, picked under maturity, vinified in order to be rapidly drinkable, 2-day destemmed grape maceration without remontage, 11 % alc. 12  tax included (retail).

__ Gabare, Chinon 2020, yellow limestone soil, very friable stones, sea bed sediments, this all yields roundness in the wine. One year in cement tank. A bit high-alcohol feel

__ Cloture, Chinon 2018, the jewel of the domaine, from vines planted in 1915. Alcohol feel here also alas.

__ La Cuisine de ma Mere, Chginon 2021, vines on sandt soil but a bit more maceration time. I feel also some unpleasant dryness in the mouth here.

Amirault

Domaine Amirault is located not far from Grosbois, in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, it is a 36-hectare biodynamic family estate (Xavier, pictured here, says it's been active for 150 years and counting...). All here is vinified naturally, without so2 and without filtration. All wines certified Demeter and Methode Nature. They export 25 % of their wine.

__ La Ferme des Fontaines, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2021, Can Franc of course here again like in Chinon. Precise wine, sharp and neat.

__ Les Quarterons, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2021, 2-week maceration for this Cabernet Franc. Nice freshness with an enjoyable vinous character, and it's still young ! Check this one, now and later !

__ Les Gravilices 2019, vinified and elevage in foudres for 16 months, plus 6 months in bottles. Hot vintage, generous wine, interesting one.

__ Clos de la Gaucherie, Bourgueil 2020, their 1st vintage as it's a surface they took over recently (2019). You feel a different terroir here for sure, sharper wine, nice acidity.

__ Le Clos des Quarterons, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2020, old vines. Elevage 18 months. That's good !

__ Le Fondis, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2019. Renowned parcel in the past already, the equivalent of a Burgundy climat. Gravel soil. Destemmed and then the grapes are put inside barrels to ferment there in whole berries. Then on the 3rd week they take them out, press and go through 24 months of elevage. 5-barrel volume made of it. Round mouth, suave wine, silky, beautiful ! Xavier says that's thanks to the gravel soil. 22-24  retail tax included.

__ Le Vau Renou, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2019, vines on limestone, 4 to 5 weeks of infusion (the berries macerating in its juice) in a large cuvier (wooden open fermenter), then they blend limestone wine with clay wine and fill amphorae for 30 months. Superb freshness in the mouth, try that too ! 25-28  in a wine shop, says Xavier.

Domaine des Grandes Vignes

I didn't have time but I'd have like to taste again the wines of Domaine des Grandes Vignes, a biodynamic domaine with a pretty large surface of vineyards, I had loved several of their wines the last time I sampled a few.

Baia's Wines

Baia's Wines is located in the Imereti region in Georgia, it's a family winery farming 12 hectares, they usually make 5 different cuvees and their yearly production is in the range of 24 000 bottles. Officially it's their 7th year of operation.

__ Tsitska 2021

__ Tsolikouri 2021, filtration with paper, so2 added at racking and before bottling.

__ Tsitska - Tsolikouri - Krakhuna 2020, a blend of 3 varieties. Interesting, a red with white-style tannins.

View on the fair

Arpad Balog

Arpad Balog is a family winery located in the Csongrad region near the Serbian border, they farm 10 hectares and the domaine was started 10 years ago. I didn't taste everything, tasting (and swallowing) was beginning to take its toll...

__ Kekfrankos 2017, several months on skins, then they take out the juice but they don't press, just the free run juice here. Interesting. Nice acidity, lovely and easy to drink. 10  export pro price.

__ Cabernet Franc 2019. All wine zero so2. Nice dusty notes, love it !

__ Pinot Noir2021. Some unbalanced alcohol feel here.

__ Kadarka 2021

Romain Jambon

Johannes Zillinger

Johannes Zillinger's family has been producing organic wine for 30 years (organic since 1984, biodynamic since 2011) in Niederosterreich in Gotzendorf [incidently, 20 km from Achau, where one of my ancesters originated...]. His family has a mixed farm growing other crops than just vines, like Rudolf Steiner considered a real farm should be]. Surface : 23 hectares, export is 85 %. All the wines are unfiltered and get 15 mg so2 at bottling.

__ Parcellaire Blanc #1 2021, Welschriesling and Chardonnay. Soo good ! Energy with a super light tickling on the tip of the tongue...

__ Parcellaire Blanc & Sauvignon 2021, more aromatic side here.

__ Revolution, a 8-year solera with Riesling, Chardonnay and Scheurebe (an aromatic local variety).

__ Numen Fume Blanc, a Sauvignon selection 2021, 18 months on lees, bottled a week before that day. I recognize the Sauvignon here, the wine feels very whole also, like the other I just tasted, that's biodynamics !

__ Numen Grunerveltliner, 5 days on skins, 22 months on its lees in barrels

__ Numen Riesling 2020, east-oriented slope. 4 days on skins, then adding fresh whole berries for some kind of infusion. Same exciting wheat, turbid color. Lots of character here. He uses only old barrels except for entry level cuvees where the new barrels get their oaky thing diluted.

__ Numen rose 2020, made with Sankt Laurent. Superb color, like Aunis ! Turbid. Mouth and swallowed : Lovely indeed, Love it at first sip (I'd even say at first sight !)... 11,6 % alc. 1000 bottles. Vines planted in 1922, very small volume.

__ Perpetuum 2019, Sauvignon veil wine in old barrels. That's also something !

The ambiance at Zillinger's table

Looks like this was formerly a distillery
District Attorney Andrea Will is finally settling into her office, after a whirlwind appointment and recruitment process brought her and her staff to Dodge County.

Will graduated from the Marquette University Law School and shortly afterward became an assistant district attorney in the Waukesha County District Attorneys Office. She was part of the committee that established the Waukesha County Drug Treatment Court, which began in 2012.

Gov. Tony Evers appointed Will to serve as the Dodge County district attorney after the resignation of former DA Kurt Klomberg in January. Klomberg departed after realizing that, between retirements, resignations and one medical leave, he would soon be the only prosecutor left.

Will has rebuilt the office from the ground up since she began in late February, arranging two transfers from other counties and bringing another attorney out of retirement. With one last vacancy set to be filled in May, Dodge Countys DA office is nearly back to full-strength. Will is committed to running for re-election in 2024 before her term expires.

The work has been hard, but rewarding, Will told the Daily Citizen.

Tell me a bit about your experience.

I started in the Waukesha DAs office in 2008. Ive done most every type of case. I did general crimes when I first started. I had a pretty significant murder-for-hire case in 2010 that I tried with the District Attorney Brad Schimel. Then I went into the metro drug unit shortly after that, and I worked there for two years. Then I came out and did more general felonies. In the past five years, Ive done a lot of high-level felony cases. Arson, homicide, armed robbery, burglary those types of cases in the Waukesha office.

I know you went into the private sector for one year. Was it not what you wanted?

Well, I would say more that Waukesha was what I wanted. I was an intern in the Waukesha office when I was a third year in law school, and they didnt have any openings when I graduated. Kim and LaVoy did have an opening, and I worked for them for one year. When the Waukesha office had an opening, they contacted me and asked me if I was interested.

I interviewed for that position and the rest is history, as you say.

Did you know that you always wanted to be a DA?

Ive always had a strong interest in criminal law. Of course, when you go to law school, you think youre going to be a big corporate attorney, or youre going to go and make the big bucks. I knew I wanted to be in the courtroom, but I didnt know exactly what that meant when I was in law school. I started taking classes in criminal litigation, criminal procedure and trial advocacy. I also interned with Judge Timothy Dugan in the Milwaukee circuit court. Once I got into the courtroom, I quickly realized that criminal law was my passion and something I was very interested in. I never really looked to practice any other type of law.

Youve only been here for one month, but I want to ask, being a DA, is it everything you hoped?

Ive been a prosecutor for a long, long time. Ive had a good relationship with both Brad Schimel and (District Attorney) Sue Opper, so I kind of knew what it looks like. There was a lot more to the job administrative tasks that you have to do and specific types of cases that only a district attorney handles that other assistant district attorneys probably wouldnt, like John Doe proceedings, or habeas corpus claims from the prisons in Dodge County. Were in sort of a unique situation where we have several prisons within our jurisdiction, and prison crime is something thats completely new to me.

I knew it was going to be hard. In some ways, its a little bit harder than I expected, and in other ways, its more fulfilling than I could have imagined. Just the reaction from law enforcement so far and the Dodge County community is extremely welcoming and extremely kind. The individuals in the courthouse here are welcoming. The transition itself has been much easier than I expected.

Speaking of the community, have you already made the move, or are you still waiting?

I am renting an apartment in Horicon. My husband and I are actively looking for houses. Actually, over my lunch break, I pulled up the listings to make sure that there was nothing new. Today is Wednesday, so tomorrow something might go on the market, but theres not a lot of houses available in Dodge County right now.

Its sparse, especially rentals.

I sort of dropped my position to get someone to hold an apartment, to let them know. It was hard. I kind of had a suspicion that I might get a second interview from the governor, so I had a couple of viewings for apartments already scheduled to try to get my foot in the door. I only had three to choose from.

I guess I dont really know how that process works. When I saw you were appointed, I assumed Gov. Tony Evers just selected you to do it.

There were three of us that applied. All three of us, I assume, had an initial interview, and then there was a second interview with the governor. It was a nice experience. Its all (via) Zoom. You always wish you can meet the governor in person, no matter what side of the aisle hes on, but it was nice to speak with the governor of the state of Wisconsin personally.

Does his Midwestern accent and mannerisms come out as much as in his speeches? Was he jazzed?

Yes. Absolutely. He is a very nice and friendly guy. Regardless of your political stance, hes a very nice person to engage with.

DAs office filling vacancies

ADDISON LATHERS

The Dodge County District Attorneys office is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, after a string of resignations left the department with no prosecutors or DA.

Gov. Tony Evers appointed Andrea Will, a prosecutor from Waukesha County, to serve as Dodges district attorney in February. Since then, shes worked to fill nearly every vacancy in the office.

Four assistant district attorneys were brought on, including two transfers from Waukesha and Milwaukee counties. Attorney Margaret Kunisch, who previously worked as an assistant DA in Dodge County, came back from medical leave and another was taken out of retirement after serving in Waukesha County.

The offices managing attorney position will remain open until July.

When I got the appointment, I kind of hit the ground running. My goal was to be fully staffed by April 1. I almost met that goal, Will said.

Former Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg resigned earlier this year and took an assistant DA job in Green Lake County, stating that between retirements and resignations, he was going to be the sole full-time prosecutor in his office by mid-January. The office has six prosecutor positions.

Dodge County is the first complete victim of the DA crisis, Klomberg said at the time.

Across Wisconsin, offices have struggled to attract lawyers to prosecutor and public defender positions with a starting pay rate of $27.24 an hour, or about $56,600 a year. Law school graduates can expect to make nearly triple that at private practices; the median starting salary in 2021 was $165,000.

According to the Department of Administration, there are currently 57 assistant district attorney vacancies, representing about 10.7% of the states total positions.

Will believes that provisions in Gov. Everss proposed budget  including an increased starting pay for assistant district attorneys and public defenders at $35 an hour  could help bridge the gap. It would also increase the hourly rate for prosecutors by $7.76. Evers said Tuesday he would consider rejecting a Republican budget plan that doesnt significantly increase pay.

That will go a long way to motivating experienced prosecutors to stay in the state system, Will said. Its a great step and were all thankful for it, but its long overdue.

Aside from staff shortages, Will has had to catch up on cases that are still under investigation and a number of high-level cases that are coming up for trial. She noted that the job has entailed a few extra hours a week of work for her and her staff, but that the office will be up to speed soon.

Fortunately, every attorney she pulled in is experienced and familiar with high caseloads.

Im proud of the speed that we were able to fill the spots. Now, to be clear, that doesnt solve the statewide prosecutor shortage. Its not like I brought new attorneys into the state system. We just shuffled the deck, Will clarified.

The shortage still exists. I think people just want to be part of a rebuild.

Follow Addison Lathers on Twitter at @addisonlathers or contact her at alathers@wiscnews.com. e5975080-c38b-11ed-a58b-00163ec2aa77
ReportLinker

In North America, the US is known for adopting advanced technologies at an early phase.It has a vast range of industries, including transportation, oil & gas, and healthcare, among others.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Rugged Phones Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type, Screen Size, and End User" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433196/?utm_source=GNW





The US government encourages the manufacturers to expand their manufacturing facilities across the nations borders, which will result in the expansion of the manufacturing industry.Growth in the manufacturing industry will have a direct impact on the adoption of rugged phones in the US.



Caterpillar, Juniper Systems Inc., and Sonim Technologies Inc. are a few of the major companies present in the US offering rugged phones. Canada is one of the fastest-growing countries in the region in terms of industrialization. The country houses many manufacturing plants within its boundaries. The continuously growing number of manufacturing facilities over the years in the country will showcase a rise in the usage of rugged phones. Ulefone Armor 7, CAT S61, Doogee S90, Blackview BV9500 Plus, and Sonim XP3 are a few of the major rugged phones prevailing in the Canadian market. Mexico is noticing rapid growth in the adoption of factory automation as well as industrial control systems, attributed to the rising adoption of automation technologies, together with the introduction of Industry 4.0 norms amongst increasing manufacturing sectors in the country. Furthermore, the manufacturing and oil & gas industries in the country are witnessing growth. The growth in these industries, along with the adoption of industrial automation, is anticipated to create a demand for rugged phones in the coming years.



In the global rugged phones market, Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region in terms of market growth rate over the forecast period.The growing trend of industry & factory automation and digitalization across industries, coupled with rising investments in industrial development and government expenditure in Asian countries such as China and India, are a few of the key drivers fueling the demand for semi-rugged and ultra-rugged phones in the military & defense, commercial, and industrial sectors across Asia Pacific.



Based on these factors, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and several Southeast Asian countries are anticipated to be the fastest-growing markets for the adoption of rugged phones in the coming years.Huge population growth, a surge in disposable income, rise in urbanization, high adoption of smartphones/mobile phones, favorable government policies to promote industrial growth, and high investments in R&D activities related to mobile phone technologies and communication technologies are a few of the other key factors that are expected to boost the growth of the rugged phones market in the region.



Along with this, growing automation trend and industrial growth are anticipated to offer ample growth and expansion opportunities for rugged mobile phone manufacturers to set up their manufacturing units in the region in the years to come.



The penetration of mobile phones in Europe is the highest in the world.Russia has the highest mobile penetration levels in the region.



Owing to continued growth in smartphone penetration, there are considerable changes in the way consumers in countries, such as Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands, access internet services.Due to increased usage of smartphones in these countries, the devices penetration levels among internet users are above 60%, as per the Ericsson report.



Thus, rising smartphone penetration in Europe is boosting the rugged phones market growth.Another factor that is driving the market growth includes incidents of damaged mobile phones.



In European countries, it has been observed that more than 30% of consumers, or 1 out of 3 mobile users, had damaged mobile phones in the last few years, which eventually raises the need for early replacement or repair. Therefore, there is an increase in the requirement for sturdy and durable mobile devices among customers. Factors such as a rise in number of smartphone users, increase in incidents of damaged smartphones, and product launches would play a key role in influencing the market growth.



Oil & gas production is one of the prominent businesses in the Middle East.Libya, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar are a few countries that have seen growth in the oil business.



The region is projected to witness a rapid rise in urbanization, which is expected to boost the entire economy in the coming years.



On the other hand, South America is also introducing initiatives such as contractual alliances associated with supply of rugged phones, which would assist in boosting the market growth.For instance, Sonim Technologies signed a partnership agreement with Acuraflow to supply rugged smartphones designed by Sonim Technologies to South America.



This partnership would offer more ultra-rugged mobility options to field workers in oil & gas, public safety, utilities, manufacturing, mining, and other demanding work environments.Moreover, it would keep them connected in extreme environments.



Such partnerships for the distribution of rugged smartphones are anticipated to increase their demand in the coming years.



The market for rugged phones is segmented into type, screen size, end user, and geography.Based on type, the rugged phones market is divided into smartphone and featured phones.



The featured phones segment contributed the largest revenue share in 2022.Based on screen size, the market is divided into below 5-inch, 5 inch to 6 inch, and above 6 inch.



The 5 inches to 6 inch segment contributed the largest revenue share in 2022 and it is also projected to be the fastest growing sector in terms of growth rate.On basis of end-use, the market is segmented into industrial, government, commercial, military & defense, and consumer.



In 2022, industrial segment led the rugged phones market globally. Geographically, the market is segmented into five key regionsNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America held the largest revenue share in 2022, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region, with a CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2028.



Blackview; Caterpillar; Kyocera; OUKITEL; Samsung Electronics Co Ltd; AGM Mobile; Sonim Technologies Inc.; Ulefone Mobile; Unitech Electronics Co., LTD.; and Zebra Technologies Corp. are a few of the key players operating in the rugged phones market. The rugged phones market report provides detailed insights, which helps the key players strategize the growth of the rugged phones market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433196/?utm_source=GNW



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Husband-and-wife authors James and Susan (Solie) Patterson say they love visiting Madison. This April, both will be in town to promote Sue Pattersons first novel, Things I Wish I Told My Mother. The book, which will be published in April, is co-written with James Patterson and Susan DiLallo.

A graduate of UW-Madison, Sue Patterson sits on several university boards and is excited for her event with the Wisconsin Book Festival. The novel follows the story of a mother and daughter traveling together to Paris and Norway. Character Laurie Ormson is an advertising executive who enjoys exploring lesser-known attractions, while her mother, the famous Dr. Liz, prefers more high-end shopping. The two have been described as the female version of The Odd Couple.

While not completely autobiographical, Patterson said the characters were inspired by both her and DiLallos mothers, who lived into their 90s and died in the same year. I read this book about a week ago, again, Patterson said during our interview. I still laughed and I still cried in all the appropriate spots, for all the appropriate reasons. I just hope it brings joy to people.

Q: Congratulations on Things I Wish I Told My Mother. Youve written several books, including nonfiction and childrens books. Is this your first novel?

A: Yes, its the first one. My husband and I did the three childrens books together. The first one came out in 2017. Those were really a joy. I went to UW-Madison and have an MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) degree. When I was in grad school ... my dream was to write a childrens book. My lead professor was steering me away from there ... and he was really right. (So) I went into advertising. I loved advertising, too, but I did end up (writing) those childrens books. It was a total dream.

Q: The first half of your novel takes place in Paris. You write about it as if youve spent a lot of time there. Have you?

A: I have made a lot of trips to Paris. I cant wait to go back. Around every corner theres something special. Even if its no big thing. You can just wonder and find something great. When our son was growing up, every summer we would take a trip together (and) we had to start or finish in Paris.

Q: The latter half of the book is set in Norway. Why choose that setting?

A: The idea was about retracing some of the heritage in the family. I had been there a few times before. Its a little off the beaten path for most people. Norway is just so spectacular. Its so pristine and clean and beautiful and amazing.

Q: Main character Laurie is a graduate of UW-Madison, a collegiate swimmer, who works in advertising. All things you, also, have done. How autobiographical is the book?

A: It just (has) some little notions (of my life). Laurie did go to UW-Madison. Jim always says, with you, all roads lead back to Madison. My parents did both go to UW-Madison. My mom, at her age, she went to college when a lot of women didnt. If she was still with us she would be 102 this week. She was a professor of nursing at the university. I really think there are some similarities (with the characters in the book). Her maiden name was Ormson (the last name of Dr. Liz in the book). But really, its fiction, still.

Q: How inspirational were your and DiLallos mothers when writing this book?

A: I was an only child. After my mom passed away, I was really overcome with the feeling: I cant tell my mom this. I was really close to my mom. The fact that all of a sudden that was gone was really profound. (I told Jim) some things I wish I could tell my mom. He said, that would be a really good book idea. You just never know what happens with a mother and daughter, when you cant be together anymore. (The book is) honoring and thinking about my mom and the relationship you have. Because mothers drive us crazy. I say to Jack, our son, I tell him, You werent born with a set of instructions. I really want to celebrate mothers and daughters.

Q: You mentioned the books ending has a plot twist. Was that intentional or did it just happen through the writing process?

A: I think it sort of evolved into that. If you ask my husband, you never know exactly how these things turn out.

Q: Can you talk to me a little about the collaboration process?

A: In our life, so many people collaborate. In advertising, an art director and writer (will work together). We collaborate all the time on movies, TV. It only makes things better and the three of us know each other. We each brought something different to the situation. I think it worked really well. Jim is kind of the master of outlining. Susan and I couldnt be more different; however, our mothers were about the same age  in their 90s when they passed away in the same year. She had a different relationship with her mom than I did. It made it so much fun to have someone (to work with). Sometimes when youre so close to (a book), its good to have someone say no, no.

Q: Do you have plans to write more novels?

A: I have kind of an idea that seems to perk up an ear. Well see where that goes.
Hyatt Hotels Co. (NYSE:H  Get Rating) insider Malaika Myers sold 9,378 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.59, for a total value of $1,037,113.02. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 15,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,764,574.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Hyatt Hotels Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:H traded down $2.22 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $106.42. 1,188,568 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 958,346. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $111.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $98.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.31 billion, a PE ratio of 26.79 and a beta of 1.37. Hyatt Hotels Co. has a 12 month low of $70.12 and a 12 month high of $125.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.68.

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Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported $2.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $2.23. Hyatt Hotels had a net margin of 7.72% and a return on equity of 10.22%. The company had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.52 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($2.78) earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 47.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Hyatt Hotels Co. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $132.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Hyatt Hotels from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $111.00 to $113.00 in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $112.00 to $124.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Barclays cut shares of Hyatt Hotels from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $130.00 to $125.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Hyatt Hotels in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Hyatt Hotels has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.57.

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in Hyatt Hotels by 129.9% in the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 284,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,003,000 after buying an additional 160,526 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels in the third quarter worth $216,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 260.6% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 145,241 shares of the companys stock worth $11,759,000 after purchasing an additional 104,966 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hyatt Hotels in the second quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Factory Mutual Insurance Co. lifted its position in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 35.2% in the third quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. now owns 152,819 shares of the companys stock worth $12,372,000 after purchasing an additional 39,819 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.89% of the companys stock.

About Hyatt Hotels

(Get Rating)

Hyatt Hotels Corp. engages in the development and management of resort and hotel chains. It operates through the following segments: Owned and Leased Hotels, Americas Management and Franchising, ASPAC Management and Franchising, EAME/SW Asia Management and Franchising, and Apple Leisure Group. The Owned and Leased Hotels segment offers hospitality services and hotels.

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MFS California Municipal Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:CCA  Get Rating)s stock price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $12.85. MFS California Municipal Fund shares last traded at $12.82, with a volume of 10,500 shares.

MFS California Municipal Fund Price Performance

MFS California Municipal Fund Company Profile

(Get Rating)

MFS California Municipal Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in debt securities the interest on which in the opinion of issuer counsel is exempt from federal regular income tax and California personal income tax.

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PermRock Royalty Trust (NYSE:PRT  Get Rating) major shareholder Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 1,600 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.50, for a total value of $10,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,201,132 shares of the companys stock, valued at $33,807,358. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Boaz Energy Ii, Llc also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, March 20th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 2,300 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.31, for a total value of $14,513.00.

On Friday, March 17th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 2,200 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.40, for a total value of $14,080.00.

On Wednesday, March 15th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 4,000 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.41, for a total value of $25,640.00.

On Monday, March 13th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 3,400 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.82, for a total value of $23,188.00.

On Friday, March 10th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 2,800 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.94, for a total value of $19,432.00.

On Wednesday, March 8th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 1,500 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.90, for a total value of $10,350.00.

On Monday, March 6th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 5,300 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.99, for a total value of $37,047.00.

On Friday, March 3rd, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 3,500 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.01, for a total value of $24,535.00.

On Monday, February 27th, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 4,300 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.83, for a total value of $29,369.00.

On Thursday, February 23rd, Boaz Energy Ii, Llc sold 4,500 shares of PermRock Royalty Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.01, for a total value of $31,545.00.

PermRock Royalty Trust Price Performance

Shares of PRT traded down $0.05 on Thursday, hitting $6.35. The companys stock had a trading volume of 44,060 shares, compared to its average volume of 60,798. The firms fifty day moving average price is $7.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $7.43. PermRock Royalty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $6.19 and a fifty-two week high of $10.65.

PermRock Royalty Trust Cuts Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PermRock Royalty Trust

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a $0.0503 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.50%.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in PermRock Royalty Trust by 25.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,043 shares of the companys stock worth $124,000 after acquiring an additional 3,239 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in PermRock Royalty Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $93,000. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in PermRock Royalty Trust during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $165,000. Finally, UBS Group AG acquired a new position in PermRock Royalty Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. 47.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

PermRock Royalty Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

PermRock Royalty Trust engages in the acquisition, development, and operation of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin. The company was founded on November 22, 2017 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, TX.

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Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 49,851 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 699 shares during the period. United Parcel Service makes up approximately 2.1% of Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $8,666,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Coston McIsaac & Partners acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Piershale Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. MADDEN SECURITIES Corp acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Winch Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 334.1% in the 2nd quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 178 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. 58.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on UPS shares. KeyCorp lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $181.00 to $203.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Monday, December 19th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $196.00 to $199.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $195.00 to $221.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $194.19.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:UPS opened at $185.54 on Thursday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $154.87 and a 52-week high of $223.97. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $183.35 and a 200 day moving average of $178.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $159.33 billion, a PE ratio of 14.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.22.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The transportation company reported $3.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.59 by $0.03. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 11.51% and a return on equity of 66.10%. The business had revenue of $27 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.03 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.59 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 11.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.49%. This is an increase from United Parcel Services previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 17th. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio is 49.09%.

United Parcel Service announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Tuesday, January 31st that allows the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the transportation company to buy up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total transaction of $3,466,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,677 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,130,585.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Laura J. Lane sold 14,617 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.16, for a total value of $2,604,164.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total transaction of $3,466,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,677 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,130,585.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 54,341 shares of company stock valued at $9,848,061. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock.

About United Parcel Service

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United Parcel Service, Inc is a package delivery company, which engages in the provision of global supply chain management solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain Solutions. The U.S. Domestic Package segment includes time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages.

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Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 16,600 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $2,604,000. Waste Management comprises approximately 1.0% of Trifecta Capital Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Waste Management during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Twin Lakes Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management during the third quarter worth $31,000. TD Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the third quarter worth $33,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Waste Management by 232.1% in the third quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 269 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the period. Finally, IAG Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in Waste Management by 51.5% during the 3rd quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 365 shares of the business services providers stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total value of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at $787,283.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director John C. Pope sold 218 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.76, for a total transaction of $33,737.68. Following the transaction, the director now owns 55,809 shares in the company, valued at $8,637,000.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 31,027 shares of company stock valued at $4,806,619 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Waste Management Stock Performance

WM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Raymond James lowered their price objective on Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $177.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, UBS Group downgraded Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Waste Management presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $169.50.

Shares of WM opened at $150.70 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $152.20 and a 200-day moving average of $158.68. Waste Management, Inc. has a one year low of $138.89 and a one year high of $175.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The company has a market cap of $61.51 billion, a PE ratio of 27.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.72.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a net margin of 11.36% and a return on equity of 32.91%. The firm had revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.26 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, December 8th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the business services provider to repurchase up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This is a boost from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 9th. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.95%.

Waste Management Company Profile

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Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada.

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Private Trust Co. NA decreased its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 6.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,141 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 680 shares during the quarter. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in Accenture were worth $2,706,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. United Bank raised its holdings in Accenture by 6.3% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 2,969 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,001,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Accenture by 1.3% during the first quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. now owns 89,400 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $30,148,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168 shares in the last quarter. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC acquired a new stake in Accenture during the first quarter worth approximately $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Accenture by 0.6% during the first quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in Accenture by 104.8% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 441,451 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $148,871,000 after purchasing an additional 225,943 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

In other Accenture news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total value of $155,974.68. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 42,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,060,265.23. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider James O. Etheredge sold 5,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $286.11, for a total transaction of $1,430,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 13,930 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,985,512.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Monday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total value of $155,974.68. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,060,265.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 36,475 shares of company stock valued at $10,225,149. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Accenture Price Performance

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday. Cowen raised their target price on shares of Accenture from $295.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Monday, December 19th. Wedbush restated an outperform rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Accenture from $310.00 to $290.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $316.89.

NYSE:ACN opened at $271.66 on Friday. Accenture plc has a 1-year low of $242.80 and a 1-year high of $345.30. The firms fifty day moving average price is $272.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $274.34. The firm has a market cap of $171.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.25.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. Accenture had a return on equity of 31.49% and a net margin of 11.31%. The company had revenue of $15.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.59 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.54 earnings per share. Accentures quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 11.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be issued a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.69%.

Accenture Profile

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Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Advocate Group LLC lifted its position in The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Rating) (TSE:TD) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 148,883 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 5,155 shares during the period. Toronto-Dominion Bank comprises approximately 2.1% of Advocate Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 8th largest position. Advocate Group LLCs holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank were worth $9,642,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 3.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 67,240,327 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,123,850,000 after acquiring an additional 2,238,912 shares during the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 0.7% during the third quarter. TD Asset Management Inc. now owns 36,534,597 shares of the banks stock worth $2,263,283,000 after acquiring an additional 245,841 shares during the period. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. increased its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 5.9% during the third quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. now owns 13,546,200 shares of the banks stock worth $837,261,000 after acquiring an additional 754,071 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 0.7% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 13,191,055 shares of the banks stock worth $816,926,000 after acquiring an additional 97,866 shares during the period. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 7.2% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 11,288,200 shares of the banks stock worth $738,624,000 after acquiring an additional 760,101 shares during the period. 49.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on TD shares. Desjardins boosted their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$105.00 to C$106.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Scotiabank raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from C$95.00 to C$103.00 in a report on Monday, December 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$96.00 to C$98.00 in a report on Friday, December 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.57.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Price Performance

Toronto-Dominion Bank Increases Dividend

Shares of NYSE:TD traded down $0.55 on Friday, hitting $55.81. The stock had a trading volume of 880,625 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,263,997. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a twelve month low of $55.43 and a twelve month high of $82.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firms 50 day moving average price is $65.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $64.93. The company has a market capitalization of $102.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.90.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 6th will be given a dividend of $0.721 per share. This is an increase from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.17%. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is 44.71%.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The Canadian Retail segment offers various financial products and services, as well as telephone, Internet, and mobile banking services.

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Advocate Group LLC boosted its stake in LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB  Get Rating) by 12.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,983 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,728 shares during the quarter. Advocate Group LLCs holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $4,399,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Alpha Paradigm Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of LyondellBasell Industries during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 1,033.3% during the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 340 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. grew its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries by 1,006.5% during the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 343 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in LyondellBasell Industries during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. 91.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $97.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $89.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $95.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on shares of LyondellBasell Industries from $80.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, LyondellBasell Industries currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $98.95.

LyondellBasell Industries Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:LYB traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $85.58. 457,751 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,020,776. LyondellBasell Industries has a 12-month low of $71.46 and a 12-month high of $117.22. The business has a 50-day moving average of $93.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $86.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.90 billion, a PE ratio of 7.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.21.

LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 3rd. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $10.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.73 billion. LyondellBasell Industries had a net margin of 7.71% and a return on equity of 32.96%. LyondellBasell Industriess revenue for the quarter was down 20.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.63 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that LyondellBasell Industries will post 9.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

LyondellBasell Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th were issued a $1.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.56%. LyondellBasell Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 40.34%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Jeffrey A. Kaplan sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.99, for a total transaction of $989,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,711,924. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About LyondellBasell Industries

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LyondellBasell Industries NV engages in the refinery and production of plastic resins and other chemicals. It operates through the following segments: Olefins and Polyolefins-Americas; Olefins and Polyolefins-Europe, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology.

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Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global HIV Drugs Market is valued at USD 31.3 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 40.3 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 3.7% over the forecast period 2023-2030.

Market Overview

The increase in unprotected sex, tainted needles or syringes, and, most importantly, a lack of understanding regarding the transmission route is one of the major drivers of expanding the HIV drug market. The coordinated efforts of the government and numerous NGOs to provide access to disease testing and treatment for those afflicted are key elements fueling the expansion of the HIV-1 market. The availability of generic medications, which are equally effective and chemically equivalent to branded medications, is another factor that raises the demand for HIV medications.

We forecast that the HIV drug market sales are expected to be dominated by combination HIV medications with more than 45%. This dominance is attributable to the rising demand for this medicine class due to improved outcomes in treating co-infections and HIV. The most cutting-edge technologies for treating HIV infections are also found in this pharmacological class.

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Market Dynamics

Increasing Number of New Product Launches and Rising Drug Approvals Boost Growth

Numerous new medications have been developed recently due to the increased emphasis on HIV drug research and development (R&D). The leading businesses involved in these investment projects are Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Viiv Healthcare, and Gilead Sciences. Additionally, many businesses participate in global drug launches and strategic alliances.

Rising Prevalence of HIV/AIDS to Surge the Market Growth

One of the key reasons projected to fuel market expansion is the rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS, particularly in Africa. According to the research, there were millions of HIV-positive people in the western and central regions of Europe, North America, Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia Pacific, and the western and central regions of Africa. Antiretroviral medications are in high demand due to the enormous population spread throughout numerous regions. The government is also making efforts to make HIV patients' access to diagnosis and treatment better. This is expected to fuel the demand for HIV/AIDS medications worldwide.

Story continues

Top Players in the Global HIV Drugs Market

ViiV Healthcare (Research Triangle Park, U.S.)

Gilead Sciences Inc. (Foster City, U.S.)

GlaxoSmithKline PLC (Brentford, U.K.)

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (Kenilworth, France)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (New York City, U.S.)

Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) (Beerse, Belgium)

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany)

AbbVie Inc. (North Chicago, U.S.)

Genentech Inc. (F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG) (South San Francisco, U.S.)

Mylan N.V. (Canonsburg, U.S.)

Budget Limitation? Contact us for Special Discount and Pricing

Top Report Findings

Based on Drug Classes, the combination HIV medicine category controls most of the HIV drug market's revenue. This dominance is owing to the increasing demand for this drug class due to better results in managing HIV & co-related infections. Furthermore, this drug class comprises the most advanced technology for treating HIV infections.

Based on the Distribution Channels, most of the HIV drug market's revenue is controlled by the hospital pharmacies category owing to the rising patient visits to hospitals for the treatment of HIV. Furthermore, the increasing sales of prescribed antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment from hospital pharmacies would support the segmental growth.

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Top Trends in the Global HIV Drugs Market

One trend that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects to see in the HIV drug market is the growing demand for biosimilars. The market for HIV medications is expanding due to the rising demand for biosimilars, less expensive generic equivalents of branded medications.

Another trend that VMR predicts will continue in the HIV drug industry is its increasing prevalence of HIV. Globally, more people are living with HIV, raising the demand for HIV medications. One of the key causes, especially in poorer nations, is the lack of accessibility to testing and preventative services. Additionally, the rise in new infections results from a lack of knowledge and education about HIV and how to prevent it.

Recent Developments in the Global HIV Drugs Market

July 2021: To make darunavir paired with ritonavir (DRV/r), a second-line medication for HIV patients in low- and middle-income countries, Unitaid and Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) signed a pricing agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Hetero Labs LTD.

December 2020: Asian Pacific region Gilead Rainbow Grant Program. The program is a component of Gilead's strategy to strengthen public-private partnerships in the Asia Pacific region to address issues affecting people with HIV.

Retail Pharmacy category in the HIV Drugs Market to generate a Substantial Revenue

For better understanding, based on the Distribution Channel, the HIV Drugs market is divided into Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, and Other Distribution Channels.

During the forecast period, the market for HIV Drugs is anticipated to experience the highest CAGR for the hospital pharmacies category due to the increase in patients seeking HIV treatment in hospitals. Furthermore, segmental growth would be supported by hospital pharmacies' rising prescription antiretroviral medicine sales for the treatment of HIV.

On the other hand, the Retail Pharmacies category is anticipated to grow significantly. The segmental expansion is attributed to the increase in retail pharmacies selling HIV medications and the strong desire to routinely purchase oral medications from retail pharmacies.

North America Region in HIV Drugs market to Generate the Most of th Global Revenue

North America dominates the market throughout the projection period. The rising prevalence of HIV infection among Americans is to blame for this region's dominance. A large patient base has been observed to increase the demand for HIV medications dramatically. The market would increase even more due to an additional factor influencing the regional demand for HIV medications to treat HIV infection.

The Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market with the highest CAGR during the forecast period because of the high population density of countries like China and India and the high number of HIV patients. In addition, it is projected that the rising number of treatment programs and the rising funding from the private sector and healthcare organizations would drive the market.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 143 Pages and in-depth TOC on HIV Drugs Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global HIV Drugs Market segmentation

By Drug Classes

Integrase Inhibitors

Non- Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Combination HIV Medicines

Other Drug Classes

By Distribution channel

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

Other Distribution Channels

By Region

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA



Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/hiv-drugs-market-2036

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 31.3 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 40.3 Billion CAGR 3.7% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players iiV Healthcare, Gilead Sciences Inc., Glaxo Smith Kline PLC, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Johnson & Johnson), Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, AbbVie Inc., Genentech Inc. (F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG), Mylan N.V. Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options

Key Questions Answered in the HIV Drugs Market Report are:

What is the current size and growth rate of the HIV drugs market globally and regionally?

What are the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the HIV drugs market?

What are the different types of HIV drugs available in the market, and what are their indications?

Who are the major players operating in the HIV drugs market, and what are their market shares and strategies?

What are the regulatory and reimbursement scenarios for HIV drugs in different regions?

What are the key trends and developments in the HIV drugs market, such as product innovations and new drug approvals?

What is the competitive landscape of the HIV drugs market, and what are the market entry barriers and opportunities for new players?

What are the pricing trends and market dynamics of HIV drugs, and what are the future prospects of the market?

What are the epidemiology and prevalence rates of HIV infection globally and regionally, and how do they impact the demand for HIV drugs?

What are the key market segments and sub-segments in the HIV drugs market, and how are they expected to grow in the future?

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Shares of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Get Rating) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the twelve analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $356.36.

Several research firms have recently commented on MOH. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Stephens reissued an equal weight rating and set a $375.00 target price on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $395.00 to $347.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $307.00 to $282.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $375.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th.

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Molina Healthcare Trading Down 0.5 %

MOH opened at $263.68 on Friday. Molina Healthcare has a 1-year low of $249.78 and a 1-year high of $374.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The company has a market cap of $15.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $287.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $319.13.

Insider Buying and Selling at Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare ( NYSE:MOH Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The company reported $4.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.06 by $0.04. Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 2.48% and a return on equity of 36.05%. The firm had revenue of $8.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.87 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.88 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Molina Healthcare will post 19.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Daniel Cooperman sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.77, for a total value of $1,383,850.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,944 shares in the company, valued at $1,368,350.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MOH. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Molina Healthcare by 18.4% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,449,375 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,151,448,000 after acquiring an additional 1,001,372 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $214,801,000. Durable Capital Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $214,363,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 151.6% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 893,693 shares of the companys stock valued at $298,128,000 after buying an additional 538,493 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 25.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,457,008 shares of the companys stock valued at $819,633,000 after buying an additional 501,107 shares in the last quarter. 94.25% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Molina Healthcare

(Get Rating)

Molina Healthcare, Inc engages in the provision of health care services. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company was founded by C. David Molina in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, CA.

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Argus Investors Counsel Inc. reduced its position in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,693 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 53 shares during the quarter. Illinois Tool Works makes up 1.5% of Argus Investors Counsel Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Argus Investors Counsel Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $1,915,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ITW. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 71,229.9% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,120,637 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $383,093,000 after purchasing an additional 2,117,664 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 25.1% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,805,831 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $511,363,000 after buying an additional 562,273 shares during the period. Briar Hall Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Briar Hall Management LLC now owns 26,352,224 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,760,529,000 after buying an additional 520,540 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 1st quarter valued at $91,466,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 5.9% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,902,872 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,236,063,000 after acquiring an additional 326,412 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.83% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Illinois Tool Works news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total value of $14,809,337.62. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 40,072 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,868,130.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total transaction of $14,809,337.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 40,072 shares in the company, valued at $9,868,130.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total transaction of $58,039,716.24. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares in the company, valued at $52,592,274.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.78% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Illinois Tool Works Trading Down 0.4 %

Several brokerages have recently commented on ITW. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 5th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $210.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $170.00 to $183.00 in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $174.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $223.07.

NYSE:ITW traded down $0.81 on Friday, hitting $230.47. 120,415 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,088,479. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.41. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $173.52 and a 52 week high of $253.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.65, a P/E/G ratio of 3.56 and a beta of 1.10. The companys 50-day moving average price is $234.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $218.73.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.26). Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 87.15% and a net margin of 19.04%. The business had revenue of $3.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.95 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 53.58%.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Get Rating)

Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications.

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The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Brixmor Property Group (NYSE:BRX  Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued a neutral rating and a $22.00 price objective on the real estate investment trusts stock.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on BRX. Wolfe Research raised Brixmor Property Group from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $29.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 15th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Brixmor Property Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on Brixmor Property Group from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $24.25.

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Brixmor Property Group Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of Brixmor Property Group stock opened at $19.77 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $5.94 billion, a PE ratio of 17.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.60. Brixmor Property Group has a 52-week low of $17.62 and a 52-week high of $27.19. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $22.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $21.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.57.

Brixmor Property Group Dividend Announcement

Brixmor Property Group ( NYSE:BRX Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $308.57 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $310.70 million. Brixmor Property Group had a return on equity of 12.57% and a net margin of 29.08%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.46 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Brixmor Property Group will post 2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 4th will be issued a $0.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 3rd. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.26%. Brixmor Property Groups payout ratio is presently 89.66%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brixmor Property Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Brixmor Property Group by 0.5% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 35,059,355 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $647,545,000 after buying an additional 177,462 shares during the period. Dupont Capital Management Corp bought a new position in Brixmor Property Group in the third quarter worth approximately $505,000. Putnam Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Brixmor Property Group by 10.4% in the third quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 164,244 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,033,000 after acquiring an additional 15,521 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Brixmor Property Group by 52.5% in the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,844,757 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $34,073,000 after purchasing an additional 634,769 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in shares of Brixmor Property Group by 1.1% in the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 191,179 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,530,000 after purchasing an additional 2,088 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.59% of the companys stock.

About Brixmor Property Group

(Get Rating)

Brixmor Property Group, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. It owns and operates a wholly owned portfolio of grocery anchored community and neighborhood shopping centers. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the thirteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $20.29.

Several research analysts have weighed in on INFY shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Infosys from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on Infosys in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Wedbush lowered their price objective on Infosys from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 13th.

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Institutional Trading of Infosys

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of INFY. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Infosys in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Schubert & Co lifted its position in shares of Infosys by 73.8% in the 4th quarter. Schubert & Co now owns 1,557 shares of the technology companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 661 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Infosys by 75.6% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,902 shares of the technology companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 819 shares during the period. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Infosys by 42.9% during the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,922 shares of the technology companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 577 shares during the period. Finally, Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Infosys in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Institutional investors own 12.68% of the companys stock.

Infosys Trading Up 2.0 %

NYSE:INFY opened at $16.94 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.86, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.00. Infosys has a 1-year low of $16.39 and a 1-year high of $25.20. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $18.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.36.

Infosys (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 12th. The technology company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.19. Infosys had a return on equity of 31.23% and a net margin of 16.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.66 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.18 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Infosys will post 0.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Infosys Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company, which engages in the provision of end-to-end business solutions. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Retail, Communication, Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services, Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, Life Sciences, and All Other.

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Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB  Get Rating) Senior Officer Azfar Karimuddin sold 1,050 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$24.19, for a total transaction of C$25,401.50.

Canadian Western Bank Stock Performance

Shares of CWB opened at C$24.00 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.71. The companys fifty day moving average is C$26.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$25.07. Canadian Western Bank has a 1 year low of C$21.21 and a 1 year high of C$38.02.

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Canadian Western Bank Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 9th were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 8th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.33%. Canadian Western Banks payout ratio is currently 36.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Canadian Western Bank Company Profile

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on CWB shares. TD Securities dropped their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$34.00 to C$33.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$29.00 to C$28.00 in a research report on Monday, December 5th. Cormark cut their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$30.00 to C$29.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Raymond James lowered their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$37.00 to C$34.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$36.00 to C$35.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$30.50.

(Get Rating)

Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards.

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Central Bank & Trust Co. raised its position in Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,480 shares of the home improvement retailers stock after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Central Bank & Trust Co.s holdings in Lowes Companies were worth $1,690,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LOW. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Lowes Companies by 7,952.8% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,586,400 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $320,754,000 after purchasing an additional 1,566,700 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Lowes Companies by 2,072.5% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,078,468 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $218,055,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028,827 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in shares of Lowes Companies by 13.0% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,916,354 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $1,486,770,000 after acquiring an additional 912,518 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Lowes Companies by 209.0% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,219,542 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $246,579,000 after acquiring an additional 824,915 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 176.1% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 925,087 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $173,738,000 after buying an additional 590,013 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.62% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LOW has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Lowes Companies in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an equal weight rating and a $215.00 price target for the company. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price target on shares of Lowes Companies from $250.00 to $235.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Credit Suisse Group initiated coverage on shares of Lowes Companies in a research note on Monday, December 19th. They issued a neutral rating and a $210.00 price objective on the stock. Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of Lowes Companies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Lowes Companies to $225.00 in a research note on Monday, December 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $225.00.

Insider Activity at Lowes Companies

Lowes Companies Price Performance

In related news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.00, for a total transaction of $1,853,967.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 17,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,523,936. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

NYSE:LOW traded down $1.14 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $188.55. The companys stock had a trading volume of 532,351 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,116,706. Lowes Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $170.12 and a 1 year high of $223.31. The businesss fifty day moving average is $204.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $200.98. The stock has a market cap of $117.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.95, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.10.

Lowes Companies (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.07. Lowes Companies had a net margin of 6.63% and a negative return on equity of 82.30%. The firm had revenue of $22.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.78 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Lowes Companies, Inc. will post 13.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Lowes Companies

(Get Rating)

Lowes Cos., Inc engages in the retail sale of home improvement products. The firm offers products for maintenance, repair, remodeling, home decorating and property maintenance. It also provides home improvement products in the following categories: appliances, bathroom, building supply, electrical, flooring, hardware, paint, kitchen, plumbing, lighting & fans, outdoor living, windows and doors.

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Transocean (NYSE:RIG  Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by Citigroup from $5.50 to $6.50 in a report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has a neutral rating on the offshore drilling services providers stock. Citigroups price target would suggest a potential upside of 9.98% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on RIG. BTIG Research boosted their price objective on shares of Transocean from $8.00 to $10.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Clarkson Capital upgraded shares of Transocean from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $7.50 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Transocean from $7.50 to $12.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on shares of Transocean from $5.50 to $6.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Transocean from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Transocean has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.66.

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Transocean Trading Down 2.0 %

RIG opened at $5.91 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The company has a market cap of $4.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.15 and a beta of 2.90. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $6.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.78. Transocean has a fifty-two week low of $2.32 and a fifty-two week high of $7.74.

Insider Buying and Selling

Transocean ( NYSE:RIG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The offshore drilling services provider reported ($0.49) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $606.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $620.89 million. Transocean had a negative return on equity of 5.85% and a negative net margin of 24.12%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.19) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Transocean will post -0.32 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, CAO David A. Tonnel sold 13,069 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.95, for a total transaction of $64,691.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 325,875 shares in the company, valued at $1,613,081.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CAO David A. Tonnel sold 13,069 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.95, for a total transaction of $64,691.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 325,875 shares in the company, valued at $1,613,081.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO David A. Tonnel sold 34,267 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.45, for a total transaction of $186,755.15. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 291,608 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,589,263.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 111,903 shares of company stock worth $698,560. 13.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Transocean

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RIG. Citizens Business Bank bought a new stake in Transocean during the third quarter worth $25,000. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Transocean by 336.4% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 10,277 shares of the offshore drilling services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 7,922 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Transocean in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Transparent Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Transocean in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Penn Capital Management Company LLC bought a new position in shares of Transocean in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. 55.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Transocean

(Get Rating)

Transocean Ltd. engages in the provision of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. It also owns and operates offshore drilling fleets such as ultra-deepwater, harsh environment, deepwater, and midwater rigs. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Steinhausen, Switzerland.

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CKW Financial Group lessened its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 6.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,100 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Charles Schwab comprises about 0.1% of CKW Financial Groups portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. CKW Financial Groups holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $341,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 12.4% in the 2nd quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 16,222 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,025,000 after buying an additional 1,793 shares during the last quarter. Weatherly Asset Management L. P. acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth about $205,000. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 3rd quarter worth about $233,000. Condor Capital Management boosted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Condor Capital Management now owns 52,887 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,801,000 after buying an additional 241 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hanson & Doremus Investment Management boosted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 111,546 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,017,000 after buying an additional 3,329 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In related news, President Richard A. Wurster acquired 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of $54.39 per share, for a total transaction of $108,780.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the president now directly owns 101,391 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,514,656.49. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, insider Jonathan M. Craig sold 51,144 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.30, for a total transaction of $4,106,863.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, President Richard A. Wurster bought 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $54.39 per share, with a total value of $108,780.00. Following the purchase, the president now directly owns 101,391 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,514,656.49. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders purchased 76,000 shares of company stock worth $4,439,610 and sold 728,106 shares worth $58,067,403. 7.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Charles Schwab Stock Performance

SCHW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $81.50 to $67.50 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, March 10th. They set a buy rating and a $97.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group boosted their target price on Charles Schwab from $90.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 9th. Bank of America lowered their target price on Charles Schwab from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $83.00 to $75.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $83.65.

NYSE:SCHW opened at $52.54 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $94.12 billion, a PE ratio of 15.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.93. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $74.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $76.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.38 and a quick ratio of 0.38. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $93.16.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.55 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.60% and a return on equity of 24.94%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.86 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.90%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. This is an increase from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 28.57%.

Charles Schwab Profile

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees.

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CMC Markets plc (LON:CMCX  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2.30 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 230 ($2.82), with a volume of 177653 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 234 ($2.87).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Shore Capital reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of CMC Markets in a report on Thursday, November 24th.

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CMC Markets Trading Down 0.9 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 241.25 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 234.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.86, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a current ratio of 2.57. The firm has a market capitalization of 649.18 million, a P/E ratio of 927.22 and a beta of 0.57.

Insider Transactions at CMC Markets

About CMC Markets

In other news, insider David Fineberg bought 120 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 248 ($3.05) per share, for a total transaction of 297.60 ($365.47). In the last three months, insiders have acquired 374 shares of company stock worth $89,792. 64.83% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

(Get Rating)

CMC Markets plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online retail financial services to retail, professional, stockbroking, and institutional clients in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and internationally. The company offers its clients with the ability to trade contracts for difference and financial spread betting on a range of underlying shares, including indices, foreign currencies, commodities, cryptocurrencies, shares and ETFs, and treasuries through its trading platform.

Further Reading

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Congress Asset Management Co. MA lowered its holdings in shares of Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV  Get Rating) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 586,755 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 7,777 shares during the quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA owned 0.42% of Dover worth $79,452,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. MV Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Dover by 308.8% during the third quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 233 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. Ellevest Inc. grew its holdings in Dover by 47.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 244 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Dover during the first quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Dover during the first quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Finally, Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dover during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $50,000. 85.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Dover Price Performance

Shares of DOV stock traded down $1.51 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $139.02. 103,330 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 877,703. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Dover Co. has a 52-week low of $114.49 and a 52-week high of $162.88. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $148.36 and a 200 day moving average of $137.34. The company has a market cap of $19.43 billion, a PE ratio of 18.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.36.

Dover Announces Dividend

Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.01. Dover had a return on equity of 28.55% and a net margin of 12.52%. The business had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.12 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.78 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Dover Co. will post 9 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.505 per share. This represents a $2.02 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. Dovers payout ratio is 27.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on DOV shares. Oppenheimer raised their price target on shares of Dover from $167.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on Dover in a report on Thursday, March 9th. They set a buy rating and a $176.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Dover in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $174.00 price target on shares of Dover in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Dover from $149.00 to $157.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $159.75.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 34,972 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.25, for a total transaction of $5,009,739.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 73,878 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,583,023.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Dover Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Dover Corp. operates as a manufacturer and solutions provider delivering innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy and Fueling, Imaging and Identification, Pumps and Process Solutions, and Climate and Sustainability Technologies.

Further Reading

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Dan Smith headshot

Dan Smith, President & CEO for Holt International Children's Services

Eugene, OR, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holt International Childrens Services announced today that Dan Smith has been named as president and chief executive officer. Dan served as the interim CEO for Holt since the resignation of Phil Littleton in September of 2022.

Smith previously served as the organizations chief financial officer (CFO) and is a seasoned executive known for successfully integrating people, processes, and technology for mission-driven organizations.

We believe Dan is the right leader for Holt, said Derek Parker, board chair. He has expertise and leadership skills that will uniquely position our organization to be successful in the ever-changing world of adoption and global child welfare.

Before becoming the interim CEO and CFO/VP of finance and administration at Holt, Dan worked for 12 years in the corporate sector followed by four years in Tanzania serving as a missionary  where he was finance director for the Lutheran Mission Cooperation. After returning to the U.S., Dan served as VP of finance and administration and CFO of an adoption and international child welfare agency, as CAO of a behavioral health organization, and as CFO of a home care, public health and hospice agency. Dan and his wife have three adult children, the youngest of whom was adopted from China.

It is an honor and privilege to serve Holt International in this capacity, said Smith. As president and CEO, I look forward to the future  supporting our dedicated employees and meeting the needs of the many people we serve all across the world!

After initially thinking they might have to conduct an outside search for a new CEO, the search committee on Holts board of directors concluded they did not need to look any further than Smith for leadership. Margaret Fitch-Hauser, former chairman of Holts board, appointed Smith as interim CEO and led the search committee for the board.

Dan has proven himself to be a transparent and forward-thinking leader who has earned the trust of his colleagues in his position as CFO over the past five years, said Fitch-Hauser. There was no need to look outside of Holt. Dan is clearly the best person for the job.

Story continues

Interested in learning more about Holts leadership team? Visit www.holtinternational.org/team/.

About Holt International

Holt International is a Christian organization that provides care and support to many of the world's most vulnerable children  those who are orphaned, abandoned or at serious risk of separation from their family. We work in local communities around the world and strive to keep children in their families of birth by providing the care and support they need to grow and thrive as a family. For children who do not remain with their birth families, we help find loving families through adoption, foster and kinship care.

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CONTACT: Ashley Johnson Holt International 864-607-3148 media@holtinternational.org




Congress Asset Management Co. MA trimmed its position in ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Get Rating) by 17.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 138,883 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 28,508 shares during the quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MAs holdings in ServiceNow were worth $53,924,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Polen Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 26.5% during the third quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 3,953,299 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,492,805,000 after buying an additional 827,285 shares during the last quarter. Tiger Global Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 51.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tiger Global Management LLC now owns 1,694,117 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $639,716,000 after purchasing an additional 577,933 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of ServiceNow by 1.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,866,914 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $6,369,116,000 after buying an additional 320,130 shares during the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its stake in shares of ServiceNow by 37.9% in the second quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 890,775 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $423,581,000 after buying an additional 244,958 shares during the period. Finally, Stockbridge Partners LLC grew its position in ServiceNow by 79.6% during the first quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC now owns 483,554 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $269,286,000 after buying an additional 214,243 shares in the last quarter. 86.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at ServiceNow

In other ServiceNow news, CEO William R. Mcdermott sold 30,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $459.14, for a total transaction of $14,003,824.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 11,518 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,288,395.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other ServiceNow news, CEO William R. Mcdermott sold 30,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $459.14, for a total transaction of $14,003,824.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 11,518 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,288,395.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Lara Caimi sold 2,975 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $431.58, for a total value of $1,283,950.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 98 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,294.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 65,629 shares of company stock valued at $29,974,024. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

ServiceNow Trading Down 2.6 %

NOW stock traded down $11.25 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $429.22. 228,272 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,644,878. The company has a market cap of $87.13 billion, a PE ratio of 275.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.94 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $442.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $412.47. ServiceNow, Inc. has a one year low of $337.00 and a one year high of $601.62.

ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The information technology services provider reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.28. ServiceNow had a net margin of 4.49% and a return on equity of 9.37%. The firm had revenue of $1.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.93 billion. Research analysts predict that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 2.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on ServiceNow from $475.00 to $500.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of ServiceNow from $520.00 to $612.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 19th. Truist Financial lowered shares of ServiceNow from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $525.00 to $420.00 in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on ServiceNow from $550.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on ServiceNow from $460.00 to $485.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty-six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $517.47.

ServiceNow Company Profile

(Get Rating)

ServiceNow, Inc engages in the provision of enterprise cloud computing solutions. The firm delivers digital workflows on a single enterprise cloud platform called the Now Platform. Its product portfolio is focused on providing Information Technology, Employee and Customer workflows. The company was founded by Frederic B.

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (TSE:BIP  Get Rating) Director William John Cox purchased 2,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$34.57 per share, for a total transaction of C$96,796.00.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Price Performance

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (TSE:BIP  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported C($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.97 by C($1.01). The business had revenue of C$5.03 billion during the quarter.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th will be issued a $0.519 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of . This is a boost from Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 27th.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Company Profile

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, midstream and data infrastructure sectors across North and South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. The Company is focused on assets that have contracted and regulated revenues that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

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Minera Alamos Inc. (CVE:MAI  Get Rating) Director Doug Ramshaw bought 80,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.36 per share, for a total transaction of C$28,800.00.

Doug Ramshaw also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, March 16th, Doug Ramshaw bought 35,000 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.37 per share, for a total transaction of C$12,775.00.

On Friday, March 3rd, Doug Ramshaw bought 5,500 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.38 per share, for a total transaction of C$2,090.00.

On Friday, February 17th, Doug Ramshaw bought 50,000 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.39 per share, for a total transaction of C$19,250.00.

On Tuesday, February 14th, Doug Ramshaw bought 50,000 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.39 per share, for a total transaction of C$19,500.00.

On Monday, January 30th, Doug Ramshaw bought 12,500 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.42 per share, for a total transaction of C$5,250.00.

On Friday, January 27th, Doug Ramshaw acquired 22,000 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$0.43 per share, for a total transaction of C$9,460.00.

Minera Alamos Price Performance

CVE MAI opened at C$0.40 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$0.40 and its 200-day moving average price is C$0.43. The company has a quick ratio of 3.89, a current ratio of 6.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Minera Alamos Inc. has a 52 week low of C$0.36 and a 52 week high of C$0.73. The company has a market capitalization of C$180.78 million, a P/E ratio of 39.50 and a beta of 1.14.

Analyst Ratings Changes

About Minera Alamos

Separately, National Bankshares raised their price objective on Minera Alamos from C$0.80 to C$0.85 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th.

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Minera Alamos Inc, a junior mining exploration company, acquires, explores for, and develops mineral properties in Mexico. The company explores for gold, silver, molybdenum, and copper deposits. Its principal property is the 100% owned Santana project consisting of 9 mining claims with an area of approximately 3,100 hectares located in the east-southeast of Hermosillo, Sonora; 100% owned Cerro de Oro project covering an area of 6,500 hectares situated in Zacatecas, Mexico; and 100% owned La Fortuna project covering an area of 6,100 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico.

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ  Get Rating) (NYSE:CNQ) Director Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.78, for a total value of C$403,875.00.

Stephen W. Laut also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, March 8th, Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.00, for a total value of C$400,010.00.

On Wednesday, January 11th, Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$74.90, for a total value of C$374,512.50.

On Monday, January 9th, Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock. The shares were sold at an average price of C$73.89, for a total value of C$369,468.50.

On Wednesday, January 4th, Stephen W. Laut bought 612 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$71.53 per share, for a total transaction of C$43,776.36.

Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

TSE CNQ opened at C$70.59 on Friday. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a twelve month low of C$58.75 and a twelve month high of C$88.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.01, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market capitalization of C$77.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.02. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$77.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$76.08.

Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th will be issued a $0.90 dividend. This is a boost from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.10%. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 37.82%.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on CNQ shares. Stifel Nicolaus set a C$97.00 price target on Canadian Natural Resources and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Stifel Firstegy reiterated a buy rating on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$92.00 to C$94.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. TD Securities upped their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$92.00 to C$97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 1st. Finally, National Bankshares decreased their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$91.14.

About Canadian Natural Resources

(Get Rating)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers synthetic crude oil (SCO), light and medium crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), primary heavy crude oil, and Pelican Lake heavy crude oil.

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Invesco Asia Trust plc (LON:IAT  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Thursday, March 23rd, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, April 6th will be paid a dividend of GBX 7.60 ($0.09) per share on Tuesday, April 25th. This represents a yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This is an increase from Invesco Asia Trusts previous dividend of $7.20. The official announcement can be viewed at this link.

Invesco Asia Trust Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of IAT stock opened at GBX 335.48 ($4.12) on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 360.10 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 335.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.15. The stock has a market cap of 224.27 million, a P/E ratio of -618.18 and a beta of 0.71. Invesco Asia Trust has a twelve month low of GBX 279.06 ($3.43) and a twelve month high of GBX 376 ($4.62).

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About Invesco Asia Trust

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Invesco Asia Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by INVESCO Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Asia and Australia. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Colorado Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating) by 6.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,808 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 486 shares during the quarter. Colorado Capital Management Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $514,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLC now owns 180,585 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $11,854,000 after purchasing an additional 12,928 shares during the last quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLC now owns 27,833 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,827,000 after buying an additional 879 shares in the last quarter. Well Done LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 11.2% in the 4th quarter. Well Done LLC now owns 16,053 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,054,000 after buying an additional 1,614 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Stockton grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 22.1% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Stockton now owns 171,633 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $11,266,000 after buying an additional 31,073 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connecticut Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $725,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. 80.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:EFA opened at $69.03 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $70.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $65.20. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52-week low of $54.61 and a 52-week high of $75.38.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance.

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JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Equinox Gold Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:EQX  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 82,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $269,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of EQX. Bluefin Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Equinox Gold during the third quarter worth about $46,000. AE Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Equinox Gold in the third quarter worth approximately $49,000. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can purchased a new stake in Equinox Gold in the third quarter worth approximately $54,000. Petrus Trust Company LTA purchased a new stake in Equinox Gold in the third quarter worth approximately $54,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in Equinox Gold by 38.1% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 15,136 shares of the companys stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 4,178 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 29.56% of the companys stock.

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Equinox Gold Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of EQX stock opened at $4.68 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Equinox Gold Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $2.35 and a fifty-two week high of $9.07.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Equinox Gold ( NYSEAMERICAN:EQX Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The company reported $0.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $259.30 million during the quarter. Equinox Gold had a negative return on equity of 3.84% and a negative net margin of 11.13%. On average, equities analysts predict that Equinox Gold Corp. will post -0.05 earnings per share for the current year.

EQX has been the subject of several research reports. Scotiabank cut their target price on Equinox Gold from C$6.50 to C$5.75 in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. National Bank Financial cut their target price on Equinox Gold from C$6.25 to C$6.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. TD Securities cut their target price on Equinox Gold from C$8.00 to C$7.50 in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Equinox Gold from C$7.50 to C$6.50 in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, CIBC upped their target price on Equinox Gold from C$4.20 to C$5.70 in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Equinox Gold currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $7.31.

About Equinox Gold

(Get Rating)

Equinox Gold Corp. is a growth-focused mining company, which engages in the exploration of gold mining properties. Its projects include Greenstone Project, Los Filos Expansion, Aurizona Expansion, and Castle Mountain Expansion. The company was founded by Marc Pais on March 23, 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Keel Point LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD  Get Rating) by 26.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,503 shares of the fast-food giants stock after acquiring an additional 520 shares during the quarter. Keel Point LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $660,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MCD. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 1,189.7% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,191,692 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $541,962,000 after acquiring an additional 2,021,754 shares in the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main raised its position in shares of McDonalds by 77.8% during the 2nd quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 3,849,583 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $950,418,000 after purchasing an additional 1,684,960 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of McDonalds by 16.3% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,869,149 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,816,219,000 after purchasing an additional 1,105,231 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in shares of McDonalds by 44.2% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,531,400 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $625,965,000 after purchasing an additional 776,419 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of McDonalds by 48.4% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,879,173 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $433,603,000 after purchasing an additional 612,854 shares during the last quarter. 66.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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McDonalds Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of MCD opened at $267.87 on Thursday. McDonalds Co. has a twelve month low of $228.34 and a twelve month high of $281.67. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $267.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $263.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $195.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.08, a PEG ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.62.

McDonalds Dividend Announcement

McDonalds ( NYSE:MCD Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The fast-food giant reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.46 by $0.13. McDonalds had a net margin of 26.65% and a negative return on equity of 120.10%. The business had revenue of $5.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.75 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.23 EPS. The companys revenue was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that McDonalds Co. will post 10.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $1.52 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $6.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.27%. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is currently 72.81%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MCD has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of McDonalds from $279.00 to $277.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $280.00 price objective on shares of McDonalds in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $296.00 to $283.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $295.00 to $290.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-one have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $288.80.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Catherine A. Hoovel sold 2,876 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total transaction of $776,520.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,184 shares in the company, valued at approximately $319,680. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Catherine A. Hoovel sold 2,876 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total transaction of $776,520.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,184 shares in the company, valued at approximately $319,680. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,396 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $265.44, for a total transaction of $370,554.24. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 308 shares in the company, valued at $81,755.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 8,122 shares of company stock worth $2,177,681 in the last ninety days. 0.18% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

McDonalds Company Profile

(Get Rating)

McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and the U.K.

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Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR  Get Rating) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,574 shares of the companys stock after selling 339 shares during the period. Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF were worth $407,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of IEUR. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 414,120 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,114,000 after purchasing an additional 74,207 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 9.7% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 61,042 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,260,000 after purchasing an additional 5,420 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 79.7% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 52,336 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,795,000 after purchasing an additional 23,206 shares in the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 506.0% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 210,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,215,000 after purchasing an additional 175,370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 16,448 shares of the companys stock valued at $878,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Stock Performance

Shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF stock opened at $50.44 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $51.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $47.20. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF has a 52-week low of $38.54 and a 52-week high of $54.75. The firm has a market cap of $4.02 billion, a PE ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 0.97.

About iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF

The iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (IEUR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Europe IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed European securities. IEUR was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lifted its stake in Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES  Get Rating) by 323.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 111,333 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 85,033 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Eversource Energy were worth $9,334,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Parcion Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Parcion Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,090 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC increased its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 3,880 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $342,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. SBB Research Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. SBB Research Group LLC now owns 2,710 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $211,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Midwest Professional Planners LTD. increased its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Midwest Professional Planners LTD. now owns 6,319 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $534,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FineMark National Bank & Trust increased its stake in Eversource Energy by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 6,672 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $520,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. 77.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Faasen William C. Van sold 1,943 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.08, for a total value of $157,538.44. Following the sale, the insider now owns 18,841 shares in the company, valued at $1,527,628.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Eversource Energy Trading Down 0.4 %

A number of research firms have weighed in on ES. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $89.00 to $86.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $87.00 to $82.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 1st. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Eversource Energy from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $86.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $91.00 to $86.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Eversource Energy currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $88.55.

Eversource Energy stock opened at $73.25 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $25.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.13, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.57. Eversource Energy has a 1 year low of $70.54 and a 1 year high of $94.63. The firms 50 day moving average price is $78.38 and its 200-day moving average price is $80.55.

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.94 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.24 billion. Eversource Energy had a net margin of 11.43% and a return on equity of 9.38%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.91 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Eversource Energy will post 4.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eversource Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.675 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 1st. This represents a $2.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.69%. This is a boost from Eversource Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.64. Eversource Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 66.83%.

Eversource Energy Profile

(Get Rating)

Eversource Energy engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of natural gas and electricity. It operates through the following segments: Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution and Water Distribution. The Electric Distribution segment distributes electricity to retail customers.

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Irwin Naturals

Company announces products being available nationwide through Starseed Medicinal Medical Platform

Irwin Naturals Cannabis 25mg CBD Softgel

Irwin Naturals Cannabis 25mg CBD Softgel

LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irwin Naturals Inc. (CSE: IWIN) (OTC: IWINF) (FRA: 97X) (Irwin or the Company), is proud to announce the release of Irwin Naturals Cannabis new CBD 25mg Softgels in Canada, available nationwide through the Starseed Medicinal Medical Group platform.



CBD 25mg Softgels are just the first of five CBD and THC products that Irwin Naturals Cannabis, through its licensing agreement with Entourage Health Corp., plans to launch nationwide in Canada over the next few months. The company's product lineup will include a range of CBD and THC products designed in a variety of formulations to suit consumers varying needs.

"We're thrilled to be launching our first cannabis product in Canada," said Klee Irwin, founder of Irwin Naturals Cannabis. "With our CBD 25mg Softgels, we are bringing a high-quality cannabis-derived CBD oil product to allow consumers to incorporate premium CBD into their daily health regimens. We're excited to be able to bring the benefits of CBD to consumers across the country."

The full line of Irwin Naturals Cannabis products will be offered as softgels that utilize hemp seed oil and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. There will be five different formulations: THC (10 mg THC), CBD (25 mg CBD), 1:1 (10 mg CBD, 10 mg THC), 3:1 (30 mg CBD, 10 mg THC) and a 2:1 formulation that combines THC and the cannabinoid CBN (10 mg THC, 5 mg CBN).

Irwin Naturals was founded in 1994 and its best-in-class nutraceuticals have built it into a brand that is now recognized in 80 percent of American households.1 It has operated profitably for the past 27 years,2 and it is now seeking to use the equity and power of that brand in emerging markets like cannabis and psychedelic mental-health clinics.

Irwin Naturals first entered into the cannabis industry in 2018 when it began infusing hemp-based CBD into its herbal supplements available in the United States. This year, it began expanding its brand to products with THC, with the goal of becoming the first household brand to have its products available in all 38 states where cannabis is currently legal. Because cannabis is not legal at the federal level in the United States, Irwin Naturals Cannabis has gone state by state, reaching licensing agreements with cannabis manufacturers. It has already announced agreements in nine states. This agreement with Entourage in Canada means that Irwin Naturals Cannabis products will achieve not just national, but international distribution.

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About Irwin Naturals

Irwin Naturals has been a household name and best-in-class herbal supplement formulator since 1994. It is now leveraging its brand to enter into both the cannabis and psychedelic industries. On a mission to heal the world with plant medicine, Irwins growing portfolio of products is available in more than 100,000 retail doors across North America where nearly 100 million people know the Irwin Naturals brand.3 In 2018, the Company first leveraged its brand to expand into the cannabis industry by launching hemp-based CBD products into the mass market. The Company is now leveraging its famous halo of brand trust with an objective to become one of the first household name brands to offer THC-based products and psychedelic mental health treatment. Irwin Naturals became a publicly traded company on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) in August 2021. The Companys shares began to be traded on the OTCQB Venture Market in November 2021. More information on the Companys stock can be found via Bloomberg as well as the Wall Street Journal.

Klee Irwin

________________________________

Klee Irwin

Chief Executive Officer

T:310-306-3636

investors@irwinnaturals.com

IR Information

For investor-related information, please visit ir.irwinnaturals.com/, call (800) 883-4851, or email Investors@IrwinNaturals.com.

Press Contact

Irwin Naturals Investor Relations

Cassandra Bassanetti-Drumm

T: 310-306-3636

investors@irwinnaturals.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of management of the Company with respect to performance, business and future events. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "targeted", "continues", "forecasts", "designed", "goal", objective, or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Company operates. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements related to information concerning the ability of the Company to perform the terms of the transaction referenced herein; the receipt of all necessary approvals, including regulatory approvals; expectations for other economic, market, business and competitive factors; and the Company actually entering into and doing business in the U.S. cannabis and psychedelics markets. Except for (i) the License and Supply Agreement announced herein and (ii) the other license and supply deals entered into referenced herein (with The Hive Laboratory, LLC, as described in the Companys April 19, 2022 press release; with Assurance Laboratories as described in the Companys May 13, 2022 press release; with BeneLeaves Ltd. as described in the Companys May 24, 2022 press release; Larsen Group II LLC as described in the Companys May 20, 2022 press release), the Company does not have any other active operations or agreements with respect to the entrance into the THC and/or cannabis markets. The potential entrance by the Company into these new business segments are in their preliminary stages and may be subject to approval from the board of directors of the Company as well as any regulatory approval, including that of the Canadian Securities Exchange. These statements are based on numerous assumptions that are believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: board and regulatory approval, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange; Irwin being able to acquire and/or enter into business relationships to enter into these new markets; the Company obtaining the required licenses; and changes to regulations and laws regarding cannabis or psychedelics. Further information on the regulatory environment and risks will be contained in future disclosures. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from that which are expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 Consumer brand recognition information is based on a formal Company survey with a sample size of 500 randomly selected adults.

2 Under several corporate structures, Klee Irwin has operated the Irwin brand profitably since 1994, as measured by EBITDA adjusted for extraordinary costs.

3 Consumer brand recognition information is based on a formal Company survey with a sample size of 500 randomly selected adults.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a48c9a62-49f3-44fa-8229-5c61e8bb3e2f








Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lifted its holdings in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 551,872 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 6,685 shares during the quarter. Bank of America makes up approximately 0.5% of Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Bank of America were worth $18,278,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Avondale Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. WD Rutherford LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 1,491.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,089 shares in the last quarter. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Bank of America during the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 35.1% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,500 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. 68.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.91, for a total value of $7,711,492.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 214,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,711,564.77. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.91, for a total value of $7,711,492.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 214,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,711,564.77. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 319,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,959,648.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Bank of America Price Performance

BAC has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup upped their price objective on Bank of America from $36.00 to $38.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Bank of America from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 15th. Piper Sandler downgraded Bank of America from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $36.00 to $33.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Bank of America from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and cut their price target for the company from $35.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price target on Bank of America from $53.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.63.

BAC stock opened at $26.97 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $33.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $33.90. The stock has a market cap of $215.86 billion, a PE ratio of 8.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Bank of America Co. has a 1 year low of $26.79 and a 1 year high of $44.39.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $24.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.17 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.41% and a net margin of 23.93%. The companys revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.82 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 2nd. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.59%.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 167,517 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,200 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $12,053,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of BMY. Boston Financial Mangement LLC lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% during the third quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC now owns 15,468 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,100,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% during the third quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 15,461 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,099,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Lincoln National Corp lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.4% during the third quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 36,282 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,579,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.4% during the third quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 10,053 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $715,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.0% during the third quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. now owns 13,686 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $973,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $66.98 on Friday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $65.28 and a 12-month high of $81.43. The stock has a market cap of $140.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.71, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $70.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $72.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.11. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 13.71% and a return on equity of 51.60%. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.83 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.40%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 77.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,625,163.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BMY has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Atlantic Securities increased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.69.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(Get Rating)

Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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New Found Gold Corp. (NYSE:NFGC  Get Rating) fell 5% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $4.51 and last traded at $4.53. 88,689 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 50% from the average session volume of 178,896 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.77.

New Found Gold Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $3.83 and a 200-day moving average of $3.80.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On New Found Gold

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in shares of New Found Gold by 45.3% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 14,833 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 4,625 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in New Found Gold in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new position in New Found Gold in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in shares of New Found Gold during the 1st quarter valued at $56,000. Finally, Cannell & Co. raised its position in shares of New Found Gold by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Cannell & Co. now owns 20,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $81,000 after acquiring an additional 10,000 shares during the last quarter. 22.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About New Found Gold

New Found Gold Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the identification, acquisition, and exploration of mineral properties in the Provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario. The company primarily explores for gold deposit. It holds 100% interests in the Queensway project that includes 86 mineral licenses and 6,041 claims covering an area of 151,030 hectares of land located near Gander, Newfoundland; and the Lucky Strike project comprising 11,684 hectares located in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.

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Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of New York Community Bancorp (NYSE:NYCB  Get Rating) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report published on Monday morning, The Fly reports. The firm currently has $11.00 price target on the financial services providers stock, up from their previous price target of $10.00.

Several other brokerages have also recently commented on NYCB. Stephens upgraded shares of New York Community Bancorp from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $8.50 target price for the company in a report on Friday, December 9th. TheStreet cut shares of New York Community Bancorp from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of New York Community Bancorp in a report on Tuesday, December 20th. They set a neutral rating and a $10.00 target price for the company. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of New York Community Bancorp from $8.50 to $10.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of New York Community Bancorp from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 13th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $10.50.

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New York Community Bancorp Stock Down 1.7 %

New York Community Bancorp stock opened at $8.61 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a PE ratio of 6.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.06. New York Community Bancorp has a twelve month low of $5.81 and a twelve month high of $11.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.56. The company has a 50 day moving average of $9.04 and a 200-day moving average of $9.03.

New York Community Bancorp Announces Dividend

New York Community Bancorp ( NYSE:NYCB Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.27 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $577.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $410.71 million. New York Community Bancorp had a net margin of 27.79% and a return on equity of 9.32%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that New York Community Bancorp will post 1.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 16th. Investors of record on Monday, February 6th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 3rd. New York Community Bancorps dividend payout ratio is 54.40%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Reginald E. Davis sold 4,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.97, for a total transaction of $45,862.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 123,033 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,226,639.01. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other New York Community Bancorp news, EVP Reginald E. Davis sold 4,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.97, for a total transaction of $45,862.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 123,033 shares in the company, valued at $1,226,639.01. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Ronald A. Rosenfeld purchased 30,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $24.57 per share, for a total transaction of $756,756.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 30,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $756,756. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.58% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On New York Community Bancorp

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in New York Community Bancorp during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new stake in New York Community Bancorp during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. TFC Financial Management acquired a new stake in New York Community Bancorp during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in New York Community Bancorp by 181.0% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 3,347 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 2,156 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in New York Community Bancorp during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 63.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

New York Community Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Rating)

New York Community Bancorp, Inc is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of multi-family loans on non-luxury rent-regulated buildings that feature below-market rents. It also offers financial products and services to individuals and businesses. The company was founded on July 20, 1993 and is headquartered in Westbury, NY.

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Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:NAK  Get Rating) (TSE:NDM)s share price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.23. Northern Dynasty Minerals shares last traded at $0.22, with a volume of 854,895 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, HC Wainwright reiterated a buy rating and issued a $0.80 price objective on shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals in a research note on Monday, February 13th.

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Northern Dynasty Minerals Price Performance

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NAK. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 11,695,817 shares of the mining companys stock worth $2,582,000 after purchasing an additional 988,170 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 358.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 780,384 shares of the mining companys stock worth $172,000 after purchasing an additional 610,335 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 207.5% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 364,497 shares of the mining companys stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 245,968 shares during the last quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC grew its stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC now owns 32,005,333 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $7,067,000 after buying an additional 148,709 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG grew its stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals by 243.5% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 132,433 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 93,875 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.00% of the companys stock.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Company Profile

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of gold and copper mineral properties. It holds interest in the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Project, which is an undeveloped copper-gold-molybdenum-silver resource. The company was founded on May 11, 1983 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (TSE:OR  Get Rating) Senior Officer Frederic Ruel sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$18.45, for a total value of C$276,750.00.

Osisko Gold Royalties Price Performance

OR opened at C$20.58 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 5.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.95. Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd has a 12 month low of C$11.90 and a 12 month high of C$20.80. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$18.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$16.28. The stock has a market cap of C$3.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.67.

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Osisko Gold Royalties Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a $0.055 dividend. This represents a $0.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Osisko Gold Royaltiess dividend payout ratio is currently 44.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Osisko Gold Royalties Company Profile

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Raymond James reduced their price objective on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$22.50 to C$22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 27th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$19.50 to C$20.00 in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. TD Securities cut their price target on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$24.00 to C$22.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$18.00 to C$21.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Cormark increased their price target on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$22.00 to C$23.00 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$22.50.

(Get Rating)

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd acquires and manages precious metal and other royalties, streams, and offtake and other interests in Canada and internationally. It also owns options on royalty/stream financings; and exclusive rights to participate in future royalty/stream financings on various projects. The company's primary asset is a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine located in Canada.

Further Reading

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PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP  Get Rating) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday.

PepsiCo Trading Down 0.5 %

PEP traded down $0.86 on Thursday, hitting $175.65. 4,655,260 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,886,107. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $173.60. PepsiCo has a twelve month low of $154.86 and a twelve month high of $186.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $241.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.40 and a beta of 0.53.

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About PepsiCo

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PepsiCo, Inc engages in the manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of beverages, food, and snacks. It operates through the following business segments: Frito-Lay North America (FLNA), Quaker Foods North America (QFNA), PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), Latin America (LatAm), Europe, Africa, Middle East, and South Asia (AMESA), and Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, and China Region (APAC).

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Private Trust Co. NA cut its holdings in shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW  Get Rating) by 2.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 12,757 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 385 shares during the quarter. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $3,028,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Standard Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. MADDEN SECURITIES Corp bought a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CEO John G. Morikis bought 2,207 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $226.70 per share, with a total value of $500,326.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 231,344 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,445,684.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO John G. Morikis purchased 2,207 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The stock was bought at an average price of $226.70 per share, for a total transaction of $500,326.90. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 231,344 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,445,684.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total value of $607,090.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 7,955 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,756,145.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Sherwin-Williams Trading Down 1.1 %

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $285.00 to $267.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Zelman & Associates downgraded Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $267.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $283.00 to $231.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $230.00 to $220.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $253.39.

Shares of SHW stock opened at $209.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.95 billion, a PE ratio of 27.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $229.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $229.92. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 1 year low of $195.24 and a 1 year high of $285.00.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.84 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $5.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.26 billion. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 90.04% and a net margin of 9.12%. The companys revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 8.71 EPS for the current year.

Sherwin-Williams Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 27th were issued a $0.605 dividend. This is a positive change from Sherwin-Williamss previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 24th. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.16%. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio is 31.35%.

Sherwin-Williams Profile

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The Sherwin-Williams Co engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paint and coatings. It operates through the following segments: America Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coating Group. The America Group segment manages the exclusive outlets for Sherwin-Williams branded paints, stains, supplies, equipment, and floor coverings.

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Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SWX  Get Rating) major shareholder Carl C. Icahn acquired 19,770 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $60.63 per share, with a total value of $1,198,655.10. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 9,707,776 shares in the company, valued at approximately $588,582,458.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Southwest Gas Stock Up 0.5 %

Southwest Gas stock opened at $59.73 on Friday. Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $57.75 and a fifty-two week high of $95.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.08. The company has a market capitalization of $4.01 billion, a P/E ratio of -20.63, a PEG ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 0.27. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $63.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $67.82.

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Southwest Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.15%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Southwest Gass payout ratio is currently -86.11%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Institutional Trading of Southwest Gas

Several research firms have weighed in on SWX. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Southwest Gas from $71.00 to $63.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Southwest Gas in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. TheStreet lowered shares of Southwest Gas from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, December 15th. Bank of America lowered shares of Southwest Gas from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the company from $87.00 to $65.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Southwest Gas from $78.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $79.60.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Southwest Gas in the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Bessemer Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Southwest Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 556 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 87.59% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Southwest Gas Company Profile

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Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc engages in the energy business. It operates through the following business segments: Natural Gas Operations and Utility Infrastructure Services. The Natural Gas Operations segment focuses on purchasing, distribution, and transportation of natural gas in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

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WealthNavi Inc. reduced its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Get Rating) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,681,701 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 41,773 shares during the period. SPDR Gold Shares makes up 5.3% of WealthNavi Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest position. WealthNavi Inc. owned 0.53% of SPDR Gold Shares worth $285,284,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of GLD. Toronto Dominion Bank lifted its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 83.0% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 3,095,139 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $478,711,000 after buying an additional 1,403,492 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 256.0% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,142,717 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $206,432,000 after buying an additional 821,773 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares in the first quarter worth about $100,880,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 134.7% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 934,636 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $168,842,000 after buying an additional 536,327 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new position in SPDR Gold Shares during the third quarter worth about $65,425,000. 37.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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SPDR Gold Shares Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of GLD stock opened at $185.74 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $175.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $166.22. SPDR Gold Shares has a 12 month low of $150.57 and a 12 month high of $186.24.

SPDR Gold Shares Profile

SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares).

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In a major step towards achieving sustainable energy goals, Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom) today (March 14) signed multiple term sheets with a number of developers specialising in green hydrogen projects.

A subsidiary of Energy Development Oman, Hydrom said the agreements with Green Energy Oman (GEO), Green Hydrogen and Chemicals (owned by ACME), Hyport Duqm consortium and SalalaH2 consortium covered six projects located in the proximity of Duqm or Salalah ports, while the deal with BP Alternative Energy Investments was for a project in Duqm and another in Dhofar.

This is in compliance with the royal decree issued last month stipulating a clear process to structure clean hydrogen projects and directing the method of land allocation on principles of equal opportunity, fairness and equitability for developers and acknowledging the role of legacy Initiatives and earlier commitments made with investors.

Hydrom Chairman Engineer Salim Al Aufi said this milestone follows the preliminary agreements signed with these leading energy companies before issuance of a clear regulatory framework by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals being the policy maker and regulator of the sector.

These developments will require an installed capacity of approximately 15GW of renewable energy in Oman and total expected investments of around $20 billion (including shared infrastructure), stated Al Aufi.

According to him, these projects are expected to provide over 700,000 tonnes of green hydrogen which would be further processed in local industries and into energy carriers for export.

On the deals, Minister of Energy and Minerals Engineer Salim Al Aufi said: "The signing of these binding commercial term sheets with the first green hydrogen project developers is a significant step in our journey towards decarbonization and in line with our goal to achieve Net Zero target by 2050."

"While these agreements form the first testimony of our success towards decarbonization, we look forward to signing more agreements once we receive the results of the first public auction round that is currently being conducted by Hydrom," he added.

Director General of Renewable Energy and Clean Hydrogen at the Ministry, Engineer Abdulaziz Al Shidhani said: "Todays milestone is another step to deliver on Omans green hydrogen strategy announced in October last year. We witnessed today commitments made by key developers coming from Belgium, Japan, UK, Netherlands, India, UAE, Kuwait, Singapore, Germany, and Oman."

Al Shidhani said Oman has set a clear roadmap towards decarbonization and achieving Net Zero by 2050, and Hydrom has been established as an orchestrator of green hydrogen industry in Oman, regulated by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

"Propelled by values of sustainability, transparency, efficiency, agility, and innovation, Oman has the overarching vision of positioning itself as a leading global green hydrogen hub by enabling the delivery of projects competitively and at scale for the world," he added.

Hydrom Acting Managing Director Dr Firas Al Abduwani said legacy initiatives have followed the Omani groups process since its inception and agreed to the main commercial principles set out in the public auction which enables fair and transparent allocation of lands.

"We are looking forward to closing the final forms of agreements soon with our partners. We will also begin with our bid evaluation process on the public auction to deliver our promise to the government," he added.

Energy Development Oman CEO Engineer Mazin Al Lamki expressed delight at the sealing of the agreements, which, he stated, was the result of long and hard work from both sides, thus marking an important milestone for Oman as a leading green hydrogen hub.

"Hydrom kicked off its first public auction round for land plots in November last year and the winning bidder will be announced by the end of next month," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Block, the Jack Dorsey-founded fintech formerly known as Square, is in trouble after falling within the crosshairs of notorious short-seller Hindenburg Research.

Hindenburg is one of a new-ish breed of short-seller that performs deep research into companies it thinks are overhyped or dabbling in fraud and takes a short position on its target's stock before publishing its findings. It most recently grabbed headlines for hammering the business empire of Indias Gautam Adani, one of the worlds richest men, but you may also remember it from previous hits such as hydrogen-powered-truck outfit Nikola (whose CEO Trevor Milton ended up being convicted of fraud) and health-tech startup Clover Health (resulting in a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation and investor lawsuit).

Now Hindenburg has turned its attention to Dorseys Block, shares in which dropped as much as 22% on the reports release, before partially recovering. Hindenburg said it had been investigating Block for two years, and accused it of:

- Misleading investors by overstating its genuine user counts, with former employees estimating as much as three quarters are fake, involved in fraud, oradditional accounts tied to a single individual.

- Failing to ban fraudsters from using its platform (eyebrow-lifting line: This phenomenon of allowing blacklisted users was so common that rappers bragged about it in hip hop songs.)

- Acting as a regular conduit for fraudulent COVID payments due to lax compliance, despite internal employee concerns, along with warnings from the Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Labor OIG, FinCEN, and State Regulators. (Again, references are made to rapper braggadocio.)

- Allowing its Cash App platform to be used for paying contract killers, drug dealers, and sex traffickers, and suppressing internal concerns about this. (More hip hopseriously, Hindenburg made a compilation video.)

- Allowing fake accounts for people claiming to be Dorsey, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump.

Story continues

- Possibly being under investigation by the SEC for bypassing legally-capped interchange fees and gouging merchants with elevated fees (rival PayPal is under investigation for the same). The SEC refused to comment on this one, per its standard policy.

- Hyping mundane or predatory sources of revenue as technological breakthroughs.

Block had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication. The allegations come the day after the company released its 2022 corporate social responsibility report, which trilled about advancing Blocks purpose of economic empowerment by providing lending solutions that improve access to credit for historically underserved groups. Hindenburg says the firm really just embraced criminals.

The ethics of outfits like Hindenburg are certainly up for debate, and these Block allegations are yet to be proven, but the short-seller has a good reputation for doing its homework. For Silicon Valley, this is Hindenburgs biggest hit yet, and it could prove explosive.

Want to send thoughts or suggestions to Data Sheet? Drop me a line here.

David Meyer

Data Sheets daily news section was written and curated by Andrea Guzman.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Spirit of America Management Corp NY trimmed its position in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 6.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,025 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 300 shares during the quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NYs holdings in Accenture were worth $1,074,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Tsfg LLC raised its position in shares of Accenture by 108.7% in the 3rd quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 96 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. My Personal CFO LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. EWG Elevate Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Accenture by 61.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 123 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Finally, Norwood Financial Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. 73.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Accenture Price Performance

Shares of ACN stock opened at $271.66 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $171.21 billion, a PE ratio of 24.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.25. Accenture plc has a 1-year low of $242.80 and a 1-year high of $345.30. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $272.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $274.34.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. Accenture had a return on equity of 31.49% and a net margin of 11.31%. The company had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.59 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.54 earnings per share. Accentures revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 11.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be issued a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.65%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.69%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ACN has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Accenture from $311.00 to $314.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday. Piper Sandler lowered Accenture from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $268.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, December 12th. Cowen lifted their price target on Accenture from $295.00 to $300.00 in a report on Monday, December 19th. Finally, Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday, March 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $316.89.

Insider Transactions at Accenture

In other news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.10, for a total value of $1,756,875.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 180,314 shares in the company, valued at $50,686,265.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total value of $155,974.68. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 42,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,060,265.23. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.10, for a total value of $1,756,875.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 180,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $50,686,265.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 36,475 shares of company stock worth $10,225,149 in the last three months. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Accenture Company Profile

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Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Stelco (TSE:STLC  Get Rating) has been given a C$52.00 price objective by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada in a note issued to investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective would suggest a potential upside of 0.91% from the companys current price.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Cormark lifted their price target on shares of Stelco from C$59.50 to C$63.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Stelco from C$53.00 to C$54.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Stelco from C$45.50 to C$57.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Eight Capital lifted their price target on shares of Stelco from C$43.25 to C$48.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, National Bankshares lifted their price target on shares of Stelco from C$49.00 to C$51.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$56.75.

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Stelco Trading Down 2.7 %

Shares of TSE:STLC traded down C$1.43 on Friday, hitting C$51.53. The company had a trading volume of 117,895 shares, compared to its average volume of 221,810. The firms 50-day simple moving average is C$53.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$44.53. Stelco has a 1 year low of C$30.20 and a 1 year high of C$60.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.28. The firm has a market capitalization of C$2.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.03 and a beta of 2.43.

About Stelco

Stelco Holdings Inc is Canada-based company and owner of one of the technologically advanced integrated steelmaking facilities in North America. The Company produce flat-rolled value-added steels, including coated, cold-rolled and hot-rolled steel products as well as metallurgical coke. With gauge, crown, and shape control, as well as reliable uniformity of mechanical properties, The Companys steel products are supplied to customers in the construction, automotive and energy industries across Canada and the United States, as well as to a variety of steel service centers, which are regional distributors of steel products.

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TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (TSE:TIXT  Get Rating) Director Brian Hannon sold 2,711 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$21.80, for a total value of C$59,092.75.

TELUS International (Cda) Stock Performance

Shares of TIXT opened at C$27.41 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$29.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$30.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.45. TELUS International has a 12 month low of C$24.11 and a 12 month high of C$40.55. The company has a market cap of C$1.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.16 and a beta of 0.75.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Barclays reduced their price objective on TELUS International (Cda) from C$29.00 to C$26.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th.

TELUS International (Cda) Company Profile

TELUS International (Cda) Inc provides customer experience and digital business services in Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific, and the Central America. It offers digital experience solutions, such as AI and bots, omnichannel CX, mobility solutions, cloud contact center, big data, platform transformation, and UX/UI design; and customer experience solutions, including work anywhere/work from home, customer care, technical support, sales growth and retention, and healthcare/patient experience.

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Activest Wealth Management cut its stake in Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST  Get Rating) by 65.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,469 shares of the companys stock after selling 15,855 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Managements holdings in Vista Energy were worth $133,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Helikon Investments Ltd increased its position in shares of Vista Energy by 228.3% during the 3rd quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd now owns 2,175,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,493,000 after purchasing an additional 1,512,881 shares during the period. Amundi increased its position in shares of Vista Energy by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 1,200,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,429,000 after purchasing an additional 22,046 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Vista Energy by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,129,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,269,000 after purchasing an additional 61,113 shares during the period. Discovery Capital Management LLC CT increased its position in shares of Vista Energy by 68.1% during the 2nd quarter. Discovery Capital Management LLC CT now owns 1,008,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,455,000 after purchasing an additional 408,758 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its position in shares of Vista Energy by 73.8% during the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 942,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,876,000 after purchasing an additional 400,000 shares during the period. 37.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Vista Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VIST traded down $0.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $17.00. The company had a trading volume of 132,474 shares, compared to its average volume of 685,612. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The stock has a market cap of $1.50 billion, a PE ratio of 6.29 and a beta of 2.11. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $17.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.21. Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 1-year low of $5.91 and a 1-year high of $19.69.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Vista Energy Profile

Separately, TheStreet upgraded Vista Energy from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd.

(Get Rating)

Vista Energy, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Latin America. The company's principal assets are located in Vaca Muerta with approximately 183, 100 acres. It also owns producing assets in Argentina and Mexico. As of December 31, 2021, it had proved reserves of 181.6 MMBOE.

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Wesbanco Bank Inc. lifted its position in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Get Rating) by 16.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 69,755 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 10,079 shares during the quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc.s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $7,185,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 70,549,902 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,562,551,000 after buying an additional 1,035,303 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 54,910,595 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,107,783,000 after buying an additional 1,109,394 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,155,130 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,200,330,000 after buying an additional 816,427 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 9.7% in the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,591,371 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $921,081,000 after buying an additional 758,883 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 8,481,666 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $909,319,000 after purchasing an additional 29,885 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.22% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In related news, SVP Louis E. Renjel sold 1,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.90, for a total value of $189,810.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 9,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $995,703.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock.

Duke Energy Stock Up 2.2 %

Shares of NYSE:DUK traded up $2.01 on Friday, hitting $93.56. 1,621,662 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,987,147. The firms 50-day moving average is $98.36 and its 200 day moving average is $98.64. The company has a market capitalization of $72.05 billion, a PE ratio of 27.58, a P/E/G ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.42. Duke Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $83.76 and a 1-year high of $116.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.70.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $7.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.27 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 8.45% and a net margin of 9.11%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 17.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.94 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.63 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 17th were given a $1.005 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $4.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.30%. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 121.08%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on DUK. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Duke Energy from $111.00 to $103.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 10th. StockNews.com began coverage on Duke Energy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Duke Energy from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report on Friday, March 17th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Duke Energy from $107.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Duke Energy from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 9th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $104.70.

Duke Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Duke Energy Corp. engages in the distribution of natural gas and energy related services. It operates through the following segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities & Infrastructure and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment conducts operations in regulated electric utilities in the Carolinas, Florida and the Midwest.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Get Rating).

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While public officials slowly mull ideas on how to better protect Wisconsin renters from dangerous apartments, the children of a man who died in a fire in a Milwaukee duplex have tried another way.

They sued the landlord. And won.

And not only did the judge find the landlords rental companies to be responsible for the wrongful death but also the landlord, personally.

What really makes this case different is that we have ensured (the landlord) is not able to hide beyond the corporate entity, said Justin Padway, an attorney representing Clarence Murrell III and Angel Sodamade, children of Clarence Murrell Jr.

The children are seeking $2 million in damages. A judge is expected to rule on the damages shortly.

Clarence Murrell Jr., 60, and friend Patricia Colston, 53, were killed in 2019 in an early morning fire that investigators said started in electrical wiring behind the walls of the apartment that Colston had rented days earlier from Will Sherard.

Sherard has long been known to regulators in Milwaukee for failing to keep his rental properties up to code. Properties owned by Sherard and his rental companies, including Morocco Investments, had more than 300 electrical code violatons in 2016 through 2020, according to the lawsuit.

The deaths of Murrell and Colston were detailed in a 2021 investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that found electrical fires hit Black renters in Milwaukees most distressed neighborhoods the hardest, and little is done to prevent them or hold landlords accountable.

The house near North 14th Street and West Capitol Drive where Murrell and Colston were killed had previous electrical code violations and no evidence on file that Sherard had gotten a permit to have the work fixed, despite the requirement he do so. Having a permit triggers an inspection by electrical experts with the city who can confirm that repairs were properly made.

In a deposition taken of Sherard by Padway in October 2021, Sherard said he didnt keep track of who did the work on the 15 or 16 rental properties he owned at the time.

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Attorney: Who does the repairs to the properties?

Sherard: Whoever I can find to do the repairs. 

Attorney: Do you take their names down?

Sherard: Sometimes. 

Attorney: Do you recall any names of anyone that has worked on Morocco Investments properties?

Sherard: Like I said, they got different names. Or they call with different names. Some is Joe, some is Fred, some is this and that. They call themselves different names.

Attorney: Do you know their last names?

Sherard: No.

Attorney: Do you take a photocopy of their license or any identification card?

Sherard: No.

Attorney: Do they fill out any type of form for you so you understand their background or credentials?

Sherard: No. 

Attorney: When you have people move into your properties, who inspects those properties?

Sherard: I inspect them. 

Attorney: Are you licensed to do electrical work?

Sherard: No

Attorney: Did you do the repair on this electrical work (at the house on North 14th Street)?

Sherard: I dont remember. 

Attorney: Do you ever do electrical work repairs on any of your properties?

Sherard: I cant say what I never knew.

Attorney: Do you ever recall doing electrical work at any of your properties?

Sherard: I cant recall what I never do. I do what I have to do.

Attorney: And if the electrical work needs to be done, you would do that, correct?

Sherard: I dont know.

More:Electrical fires hit Milwaukee's Black renters hardest. Nobody is held accountable.

More:Frayed wires. Defective lights. Fire traps. What we found doing electrical inspections in one Milwaukee neighborhood.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge William Sosnay ruled in favor of the Murrell children, awarding them a default judgment in June against Sherard and his real estate companies for negligence, suffering and the wrongful death of their father. The judgment also found Sherards real estate companies to be fictitious, existing primarily for fraudulent purposes. Morocco Investments and WJ Sherard Realty didnt have any employees, bylaws or keep business records. Checks from the companies were frequently made out to Sherards family members without providing legitimate basis for the payments, according to the judgment.

The ruling holds Sherard liable for not keeping the property on North 14th Street and its electrical wiring in safe condition and not having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Robert Meyeroff, Sherards attorney, told the Journal Sentinel he withdrew from the case in the summer of 2022 and that he did not want to talk about it.

Reached by phone, Sherard said he was not aware of the judges ruling and would not answer questions.

Clarence Murrell III said his dad was a soft-spoken, kind man who loved fixing things and taught his children about God.

He spent his life dedicated to helping others, he said.

The younger Murrell said his dad admitted to him not long before his death that he struggled to read.

I didnt get to finish teaching him, the son said. And he wasnt done teaching me, either.

The Milwaukee Common Council and state lawmakers have been considering proposals to beef up safeguards for renters, such as making residential rental inspection programs more feasible for municipalities and requiring landlords to have liability insurance on rental properties.

Sherard told police he did not have insurance on the house on 14th Street. Having insurance makes it more likely that a full investigation will be done into the cause of the fire as insurance companies use electrical engineers and have a vested interest in determining the origin.

The Journal Sentinels investigation found that police and fire departments dont always thoroughly investigate suspected electrical fires and often classify them as accidents with undetermined causes. This leaves victims and families with little recourse and keeps communities in the dark as to the extent of the problems.

This is very important, Murrell III said of the judges ruling and pending decision on damages. A slumlord being in a position of knowing what you could do and what you should be doing but arent, and having people die. I believe he should be set as an example.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge holds landlord responsible for Milwaukee fire that killed two
BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia from March 20 to 22 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The two leaders had sincere, friendly and fruitful talks on bilateral ties and major regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reached new and important common understanding in many fields.

The international community has spoken highly of Xi's visit, describing the journey of friendship, cooperation and peace as a historic milestone. Under the strategic guidance of Xi and Putin, China and Russia have enriched the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, and deepened practical cooperation in various fields, bringing more benefits to the people of the two countries, global observers have said.

They also expressed the belief that the visit will help improve global governance, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and advance the cause of human progress.

Strategic Guidance

On the fruitful results of Xi's visit, Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at Russia's National Research University-Higher School of Economics, said head-of-state diplomacy is the key to the steady progress of Russia-China relations.

Noting the visit's major accomplishments in deepening the partnership and strengthening economic cooperation, Kashin believed that Russia-China relations will continue to develop healthily and rapidly.

For former Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Huanacuni, in the face of rising hegemonism and unilateralism, Xi's visit has injected more elements of stability and certainty into today's world.

The China-Russia relationship has set an example for major-country relations, and inspired Latin American countries that are seeking cooperation, said Huanacuni.

In recent years, the heads of state of both countries have stayed in close contact in various ways, drawing up blueprints for China-Russia relations and their cooperation, said Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper.

Bilateral relations have become more comprehensive, practical and strategic, Korzhumbayev added.

Noting that "we are at a turning point in the history of mankind," Argentine sociologist Marcelo Rodriguez said "it (the China-Russia relationship) generates a new paradigm ... of what international relations should be."

"Only through cooperation, mutual respect and the search for a system of international relations based on these principles could the peoples advance in the best relations and collaboration at different levels, not only economic, but also political, cultural, scientific," Rodriguez added.

China-Russia relations feature equality and mutual respect, and the vision embodied in their relationship is "gaining increasing global support," said Abdullah al Faraj, an expert on China-Russia relations with the Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge, a Saudi think tank in Riyadh.

Practical Cooperation

Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia trade exceeded 190 billion U.S. dollars last year, up by 116 percent from ten years ago. Since 2022, bilateral practical cooperation across the board has yielded fruitful results.

The two joint statements and a number of bilateral cooperation documents signed by the two sides during Xi's visit are very important, said Kashin.

The expert said that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in industry, energy and logistics, and will forge a new-type industrial chain with industrial enterprises of the two countries involved. That means Russia-China relations have seen important new progress and the two sides have opened a new chapter of cooperation in various fields, Kashin added.

China and Russia are each other's largest neighbors and major emerging markets, said Korzhumbayev, adding that two-way investment has been increasing and cooperation on major projects in such fields as energy, aviation, space and connectivity is also moving forward steadily.

Through this visit, the two sides will not only strengthen cooperation in e-commerce, scientific and technological innovation, industry and agriculture, but also expand people-to-people exchanges in science, education, health, culture and other fields, providing an inexhaustible driving force for China-Russia common development, Korzhumbayev said.

Promoting the Belt and Road cooperation and building the Greater Eurasian Partnership can run in parallel and achieve coordinated development, experts have said, stressing the importance of enhancing connectivity between Asia and Europe, as well as China-Russia communication and coordination within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS cooperation mechanism, and other multilateral frameworks.

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based Centre of South Asia and International Studies, said the Belt and Road Initiative has already been an ideal platform for connecting Eurasian regions to the European Union, the Middle East, South Asia and beyond.

Xi's visit to Russia has delivered multiple benefits, not only to the two countries, but also to people around the world, the expert said.

Community with a Shared Future

When meeting with Putin, Xi noted that changes unseen in a century are evolving faster and the international balance of power is undergoing a profound shift. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, China and Russia have natural responsibilities to make joint efforts to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Multilateralism is the key to world peace and development, and this trend cannot be stopped, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Cambodia.

China and Russia, as important members of international and regional organizations, lead and drive the process of multilateralism, playing a balancing and stabilizing role in maintaining the world order, the professor added.

Meanwhile, Xi's remarks on the Ukraine crisis have resonated with the international community. "China has all along abided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, followed an objective and impartial position, and actively encouraged peace talks. China has based its position on the merits of the matter per se and stood firm for peace and dialogue and on the right side of history," Xi said.

Huanacuni welcomed China's stance on the Ukraine issue, believing that responsible and sincere dialogue is the best way to address the issue, and can benefit the entire region and the world.

Calling on major countries to set an example, Keith Bennett, a British long-term China specialist, stressed China's ability to "outline a fair and realistic path to peace in the Ukraine crisis."

In the view of Marie Agnes Anona, director general of the National School of Administration of Madagascar, China has always been committed to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. The expert expressed the belief that China can play a constructive role in politically resolving the Ukraine issue.

Levente Horvath, director of the Eurasia Center of the John von Neumann University in Hungary, pointed out that the Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative Xi mentioned during his visit are essential, representing China's efforts for world peace, development and cooperation.

These important initiatives advocate mutual respect, equality, and common development among different countries and civilizations in the world, helping achieve mutual benefit, he said.

(Source: Xinhua)
This aerial photo taken on Nov. 23, 2022 shows a Fuxing bullet train running on the Yuanjiang bridge of the China-Laos Railway in southwest China's Yunnan Province. [Xinhua/Hu Chao]

Editor's note:

This year marks the 10th anniversary when the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind was first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March, 2013. Since then, the concept has evolved into a vision with global significance, and been recognized by more and more countries and international organizations. Let's review some of the key quotes of Xi to gain a better understanding of the concept.

We must strive to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China's development benefits the world, and China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world.

 Chinese President Xi Jinping's address at the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, March 13, 2023

We sincerely call upon all countries to hold dear humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom; to promote mutual understanding and forge closer bonds with other peoples; and to respect the diversity of civilizations.

 Xi's report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 16, 2022

Mankind, by living in the same global village in the same era where history and reality meet, has increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in himself a little bit of others.

 Xi's speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Russia, March 23, 2013

About the concept:

Ten years ago, while expounding on China's views on international affairs at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for forging a community with a shared future for mankind, where each person has a stake in the other.

The vision has been written into the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, the Constitution of the country, as well as documents of multilateral mechanisms, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It has increasingly become an international consensus.

According to the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, building a human community with a shared future is the way forward for all the world's peoples. Only when all countries pursue the cause of common good, live in harmony, and engage in cooperation for mutual benefit will there be sustained prosperity and guaranteed security.

China is committed to building

a world of lasting peace through dialogue and consultation,

a world of universal security through collaboration and shared benefits,

a world of common prosperity through mutually beneficial cooperation,

an open and inclusive world through exchanges and mutual learning,

a clean and beautiful world through green and low-carbon development.

China's efforts:

 The burgeoning Belt and Road cooperation shows how China translates its words into deeds, and how the concept helps change the world.

Over the past decade, the Belt and Road has galvanized nearly 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment, established more than 3,000 cooperation projects, created 420,000 local jobs, and helped lift almost 40 million people out of poverty.

 When it comes to safeguarding global peace, China has also upheld the spirit of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Committed to promoting a new type of international relations, China has been deepening and expanding global partnerships based on equality, openness, and cooperation.

China is a major troop contributor and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and has set up an 8,000-strong peacekeeping standby force.

 China has put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) , the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Drawing a blueprint for a more inclusive development of the world, the GDI has won international recognition. More than 100 countries and a number of international organizations, including the United Nations, have committed support to the GDI, and close to 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI.

The GSI advocates a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, follows the philosophy that humanity is an indivisible security community, and aims to create a new path to security that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum.

The Global Civilization Initiative called for respect for diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, highly valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

 China has been sharing opportunities with the world through the China International Import Expo, establishing pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, bringing into force the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and applying for membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

 As presidency of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, China has coordinated and communicated with various parties and stakeholders in an effort to generate consensus. As a result, participating countries have reached the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a historic agreement to address the loss of biodiversity and restore natural ecosystems.

(Source: Xinhua)
Photo: Sean McConaghy

MJ Daly plays Elizabeth Sawyer, a woman alleged to be a witch, in conversation with Scratch, better known as the devil, played by Zach Gibb, in Burbage Theatre Companys production of Witch.
CULVER CITY, Calif, March 24, 2023 /CNW/ - Keslow Camera, the largest privately-held motion picture camera equipment rental house in North America, is announcing its forthcoming acquisition of Sim Camera, one of Canada's leading camera rental companies with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and North Bay.

Keslow Camera is announcing its forthcoming acquisition of Sim Camera, one of Canadas leading camera rental companies with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and North Bay. This merger of industry leaders delivers exceptional service to valued customers, including access to an expanded range of equipment, and support from seasoned industry professionals. (CNW Group/Keslow Camera)

This merger will bring significant benefits to Keslow Camera and Sim's clients, including access to an expanded range of equipment and support from seasoned industry professionals.

Robert Keslow, CEO of Keslow Camera, commented on the acquisition: "We're very excited to integrate Sim into Keslow Camera. This move will strengthen our presence in the Canadian market and provide an even greater selection of cutting-edge equipment and expertise to our clients. With the combined resources of both companies, we look forward to empowering Canada's most talented filmmakers to realize their creative visions."

The acquisition is a proud moment for Keslow, who founded the company in 1990 where he ran the business out of his single-car garage after seeing a gap in the services available for creators.

"Our market strategy has always been to grow intelligently." offered Keslow, "This opportunity to improve our customer offering, add depth to our amazing team, and gain Canadian market share is a milestone on our journey to foster creativity and innovation in filmmaking."

Sim CEO Scott Dorsey is very optimistic about the prospects for the combined team going forward: "Our clients have always expected the best from us, and we've worked hard to deliver it. Joining the Keslow Camera family is a natural next step in the evolution of what Rob Sim started in his basement some 45 years ago to provide the best service to the creative industry. The combination of both these exceptional teams will be a North American leader."

As a result of this acquisition, Sim's assets, expertise, and resources will be integrated into Keslow Camera. Clients from both firms will continue to enjoy top-tier service, support, and solutions from the Keslow Camera name in Vancouver, Toronto, and beyond. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur on March 31, 2023

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About Keslow Camera

Keslow Camera is a premier motion picture camera rental company, providing filmmakers with state-of-the-art equipment, personalized service, and industry expertise. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company also operates from locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Sudbury, Toronto, Utah, New Mexico, New Orleans, Chicago, and Atlanta. With a focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, Keslow Camera has become the go-to resource for filmmakers looking to create stunning visual content. For more information, visit www.keslowcamera.com.

About Sim Camera

Sim is a leading provider of cameras, related equipment, and solutions to the television and feature film industries. With state-of-the-art facilities in Vancouver, Toronto, and North Bay, Sim offers the creative community a portfolio of equipment to service their production needs.

SOURCE Keslow Camera

Cision

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Weather Alert

...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM CDT /2 AM EDT/ TO 9 AM CDT /10 AM EDT/ MONDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 32 degrees will result in frost formation. * WHERE...Southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Late tonight into early Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Some sheltered locations may see temperatures fall slightly below 32 degrees, which would result in a light freeze. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. &&
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky's Democratic governor issued an election-year veto Friday of a Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youths that includes banning access to gender-affirming health care and restricting the bathrooms they can use.

The bill also bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and allows teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use. It easily passed the GOP-led legislature with veto-proof margins, and lawmakers will reconvene next week for the final two days of this year's session, when they could vote to override the veto.

Gov. Andy Beshear said in a written veto message that the bill allows too much government interference in personal healthcare issues and rips away the freedom of parents to make medial decisions for their children.

Sen. Danny Carroll of Paducah voted against SB 150, a bill he sponsored SB 150 will ban gender-affirming medical care for minors and prevent schools from having a wide array of LGBTQ-inclusive policies. It had full Republican support, except for a local senator who sponsored it.

In his message, he warned that the bill's repercussions would include an increase in youth suicides. The governor said, My faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky.

Beshear's veto comes as he seeks reelection to a second term this year in Republican-trending Kentucky, and his veto could reverberate through the November election.

The legislation in Kentucky is part of a national movement, with state lawmakers approving extensive measures that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people this year, from bills targeting trans athletes and drag performers to measures limiting gender-affirming care.

In Kentucky, the expanded version that reached Beshear's desk was rushed through both legislative chambers in a matter of hours March 16 before lawmakers began an extended break. The fast-track work enabled lawmakers to retain their ability to override the governor's veto. The action triggered outrage and tears among opponents unable to stop the legislation.

The bills supporters say they are trying to protect children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments that they might regret as adults. Research shows such regret is rare.

The repackaged measure would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. It would outlaw gender reassignment surgery for anyone under 18, as well as the use of puberty blockers and hormones, and inpatient and outpatient gender-affirming hospital services.

Local transgender attorney voices opposition to Senate Bill 150 In Kentucky, Senate Bill 150 is on Governor Andy Beshear's desk, awaiting a signature or veto. A local transgender woman who is also an attorney says passing SB 150 would drive her, and plenty of others, out of the state.

Doctors would have to set a timeline to detransition children already taking puberty blockers or undergoing hormone therapy. They could continue offering care as they taper a youngsters treatments, if removing them from the treatment immediately could harm the child.

Such treatments have long been available in the United States and are endorsed by major medical associations.

The American Medical Association reports that receipt of care dramatically reduces the rates of suicide attempts, decreases feelings of depression and anxiety and reduces substance abuse," Beshear said in his veto message.

The bill would not allow schools to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity with students of any age.

Another key provision would require school districts to devise bathroom policies that, at a minimum, would not allow transgender children to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identities.

It also would allow teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use and would require schools to notify parents when lessons related to human sexuality are going to be taught.

Beshear said in his veto message that the bill would turn educators and administrators into investigators that must listen in on student conversations and then knock on doors to confront and question parents and families about how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others.

After the bill passed the legislature, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky warned that it stands ready to challenge the measure in court if it becomes law.
MIAMI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Weo, the deep-tech startup that is revolutionizing life's most important component  water - is proud to announce that leading European venture firm, Korelya Capital, has just joined as a new shareholder, bringing the total funds raised to date to $15 million.

Weo is a Miami-based conscientious deep-tech company generating impact by revolutionizing the way the world drinks water. With over 15 years of scientific research, their focus is improving the health and wellness of humans, animals, and plants, by enhancing the natural properties of water with their unique, eco-friendly, water calibration technology. Through its vision of Precision Water, Weo offers to provide biologically calibrated water to address any specific need  from healthy aging and e

Weo has spent over a decade researching water and its impact on plants, animals, and human health. Its patented and eco-friendly electrolysis technology uses diamond coated silicon to activate all the biomolecules present in water enhancing their natural properties to better support immunity, vitality, gut and skin health. In line with Precision Medicine or Precision Nutrition, Weo's vision is to offer Precision Water to address any specific needs during the day and for every occasion throughout the journey of one's life.

"We are excited to partner with the first Precision Water deep-tech company and support its expansion to diverse industries, all the way from consumer goods, food, agriculture, CBD, cosmetics, to healthcare", comments Antoine Dresch, Founding partner of Korelya Capital. "Along Weo's growth, Korelya aims to consolidate its position as a strategic shareholder".

In addition to investments previously raised from high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, the funding from Korelya Capital strengthens Weo's position as a breakthrough innovator in the industry. It comes as Weo's B2C product (Weo Bottle) is sales-ready and will be used to both support the launch of the consumer market and accelerate the commercial phase of its agribusiness solutions. Weo plans to positively impact the water used across the whole food chain.

"As advocates of a sustainable tech ecosystem, we have been deeply inspired by the founder's unique approach to water science and by Weo's ESG roadmap including health impact, sustainable agriculture, healthy foods, and animal welfare. We look forward to supporting the Weo team in Europe and Asia in the coming years", said Fleur Pellerin, Chairwoman and Co-founder of Korelya Capital.

Story continues

"Korelya Capital's investment marks a significant milestone in Weo's development and a recognition of the remarkable progress and innovation that Weo's team has achieved over the past year", said Anthony Ginter, Founder and CEO of Weo. "We are grateful for the incredible support we have received from our initial private investors over the last two years; this new funding propels us into a new phase of growth, reinforcing our ambition to become the next deep tech champion in the US, Europe, and Asia".

About Korelya Capital

Founded and Chaired by Fleur Pellerin, former French Minister of Digital Economy and Culture, and Antoine Dresch, Korelya Capital is a late-stage venture fund with 750M under management with offices in Paris, London, Seoul and Singapore. Since its launch in 2017, Korelya Capital has notably invested in several European tech champions that became global category leaders (Wallapop, Vestiaire Collective, Glovo, Bolt, Ledger, FINN). Korelya Capital supports European technology companies in achieving their global ambition, notably through valuable support via its extensive network in Europe and in Asia. korelyacapital.com

About Weo

Weo is a Miami-based conscientious deep-tech company generating impact by revolutionizing the way the world drinks water. With over 15 years of scientific research, their focus is improving the health and wellness of humans, animals, and plants, by enhancing the natural properties of water with their unique, eco-friendly, water calibration technology. Through its vision of Precision Water, Weo offers to provide biologically calibrated water to address any specific need  from healthy aging and exercise performance, to crop production and livestock agriculture  for daily use and throughout the journey of life. we-o.com

Contact: Gilles Bazan  CMO hello@we-o.com

Weo is a Miami-based conscientious deep-tech company generating impact by revolutionizing the way the world drinks water. With over 15 years of scientific research, their focus is improving the health and wellness of humans, animals, and plants, by enhancing the natural properties of water with their unique, eco-friendly, water calibration technology.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/korelya-capital-invests-in-weo-bringing-total-funds-raised-to-15m-and-leads-launch-of-its-series-a-financing-round-301781174.html

SOURCE Weo LLC
A CSX freight train in downtown Pittsburgh Saturday, November 19, 2022. [AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar]

On March 10, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED) announced a strike authorization vote against CSX Transportation (CSXT) over the railroads payroll system, TimeTrax. Since its implementation in 2020, workers have complained of continuous underpayment of wages.

The following week, the BMWED said it came to an agreement with CSX where the railroad agreed to pay all shortages within 24 hours, eliminate processing restrictions for overtime, hire additional payroll staff, and update the union over their progress. Despite this, strike balloting continued in the event it is needed.

BMWED accused CSX of violating the collective bargaining agreement, which requires all changes to payroll systems to be bargained with the union, by implementing TimeTrax. In March of 2021, the BMWED filed a lawsuit in federal court in Kentucky over the issue. BMWED also alleges that this has caused irreparable injury to their members. They state they were seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief or prohibiting further rolling out of TimeTrax by CSX.

In addition, the BMWEDs lawsuit claims that the actions by CSX violate section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which requires that they meet certain requirements before changing the existing system, provide a notice of the said change, and must come to a new collective bargaining agreement with BMWED, all of which they claim CSX failed and refused to do.

CSX implemented TimeTrax in November 2020, which changed how workers clock in and out through a new seven-minute window before and after their shifts. BMWED claims that workers were not compensated for the time before clocking in and that it violated the original agreement over standard workdays and workweeks along with the calculation of overtime.

The WSWS reached out to CSX workers, who expressed their frustration about TimeTrax. One CSX worker from Maryland said, there should have been more transparency in regards to back pay and that workers shouldnt have to ask for it to be broken down for them. We are their biggest assetuntil it comes to pay, he said. Then we are classified as liabilities.

Another CSX worker, Michael, who works as part of a three-man gang responsible for maintaining bridges, said that he was often underpaid because of the use of an incorrect pay rate. Workers who do welding or operating machinery on bridges receive higher pay. This could easily be corrected, he said, by having workers change the pay code  and be paid the difference.

Instead, in the new system, he has met with continuous delays, and that his extra pay has never been given. Workers who raise complaints are branded a troublemaker and can be subjected to harassment, he said.

A strike over this issue, which has dragged out for three years, would be entirely legitimate and necessary. But the BMWED bureaucracy, even though it has been compelled to call a strike vote, will do everything possible to prevent a strike from actually taking place.

Undoubtedly the BMWED officials will cite to workers the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, which bans strikes in the rail and airline industries under almost all circumstances except for major disputes, as justification. But last year, even after the RLA provisions expired in mid-September and workers at all the major railroads were pressing for a national strike, the BMWED and the other major unions kept workers on the job for months, collaborating with the Biden Administration and Congress to delay strike action and push through a concessions contract.

Even after Congress voted to ban strike action, BMWED president Tony Cardwell ran interference for CSX, praising the courage of CEO Joseph Hinrichs for throwing four days of paid sick leave to maintenance workers at the railroads. In contrast, Cardwell furiously attacked rank-and-file workers pressing for strike action last year.

The legal strategy through which the BMWED has prosecuted the issue over the past three years is a dead-end for workers. For more than a century, the courts have repeatedly sided with the railroads and issued one injunction after another. Early last year, citing national interest, a federal judge banned a strike at BNSF over the railroads unilateral imposition of the new Hi Viz attendance policy for train crews, on the grounds that it did not qualify as a major dispute. The implications of the legal straitjackets imposed upon workers to keep them from fighting for better working conditions were on display in February in East Palestine, Ohio, where a huge derailment and chemical spill poisoned the town.

In the aftermath of the congressional strike ban last December, the railroads have been openly violating even the contract which workers have had imposed upon them. Earlier this year, BNSF announced it would begin contracting out locomotive maintenance to third parties to deal with a backlog which the railroad itself created through years of deferred maintenance. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have called a token strike vote, but the unions have focused their response on yet another lawsuit which will take years to work through the courts and, ultimately, end nowhere.

The way forward is not through toothless appeals to the courts but through the rank and file wresting control out of the hands of the pro-corporate bureaucracy.
Autoworkers contacted by the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter voiced their opposition to the decision by the monitor overseeing the United Auto Workers union to summarily reject the protest filed by Mack Trucks worker and UAW presidential candidate Will Lehman over systematic voter suppression in the UAW national elections.

In its response, the Monitor claimed that the turnout in the first direct election of UAW officers was not low, even though only 104,766 votes were counted out of a total eligible membership of over 1 million, just 9 percent. The Monitor brushed aside written testimony from workers submitted by Lehman as unsubstantiated or vague while accepting as proven all the self-serving assurances of the UAW apparatus.

In reality, the UAW apparatus and the Monitor worked to keep members in the dark about the election, aware that a socialist, Will Lehman, was on the ballot. In the first round, the UAW made no substantive effort to publicize the election or to update mailing lists to make sure that all workers got ballots.

Protest to UAW Monitor: Voter Suppression in the 2022 UAW Elections. William Lehman, UAW Presidential Candidate. [Photo by Will Lehman

After longtime bureaucrats Ray Curry and Shawn Fain advanced to the runoff election, the UAW made more serious efforts to turn out the vote, but the number of ballots cast rose only slightly to 138,000, reflecting the widespread alienation of rank-and-file workers from the bureaucracy. The election result has still not been certified due to ballot challenges.

According to the UAW Monitor, the review of unresolved challenged ballots is continuing with Shawn Fain holding a 505 vote lead over incumbent Ray Curry. Because the number of challenged and unresolved ballots (586) is larger than the vote separating the two candidates, the review process is continuing with no official winner called.

A veteran Ford Chicago Assembly worker speaking to the Autoworker Newsletter said, Mr. Lehman has been sending me emails about the UAW international election. I think its stupid what went on with that. I believe that the Monitor was working with the UAW internationalfor themNOT for the members of the union. I believe the UAW international is full of themselves, and all they care about now is the contract so they can screw the membership on it.

Facing the likelihood of defeat, the clique of bureaucrats around incumbent UAW President Ray Curry launched a desperate last-minute challenge of the election, acknowledging the election was a fraud and raising many of the same points made by Lehman. However, it was the Curry administration that oversaw the election and bears chief responsibility for the disenfranchisement of rank-and-file UAW members.

Responding to Currys statement on the election, a long-time UAW member who works at Detroit Diesel said, Now Curry is saying the same thing as Will because he doesnt want to give up his power, but I am sure Fain will give Curry a position.

Will was saying the same thing from the beginning about the election fraud. I didnt cast a vote in the second round because Wills name was not on the ballot.

I saw the statement from Fain about returning power to the workers. He says its time to return something to the workers. I heard him on TV saying that with a poker face. I say BS.

A retired Ford worker said, Everything Will said was documented, which goes to show the Monitor and his legal advisement failed to uphold their duty.

How can the Monitor say 9 percent wasnt a low turnout? There was a turnout of 2326 percent in the Teamster election; there are baselines. All you have to do is look at other unions. The Monitor needs to be investigated.

Now Curry is making the same accusations, saying the same things as Will. They must be going crazy at the International that he even made that statement. It totally undermines the Monitors statement. He basically admitted that Will got run over by the same bus.

The whole thing smells like stepping on a skunk in the road. They cant outrun it. Nothing has changed, I can see that. You still have the same corruption as before.

In a further indication of deliberate voter suppression by the UAW apparatus, many workers at the Dana Driveline auto parts plant in Toledo, Ohio, have told the World Socialist Web Site that they were never informed about the UAW election and were only now learning about Will Lehmans campaign for the first time. One younger Dana worker said after watching the debate between Will Lehman, Shawn Fain and Ray Curry, I wish I could have had the chance to vote for Will because everything he says sounds good and fair. I agreed with everything he said in the debate too. I would have voted for him.

Another young Dana worker agreed, saying, I definitely would have voted for Will, a vote for the people!

A veteran worker at the Stellantis Detroit Assembly Complex-Jefferson said that the experience at her plant had confirmed what Will Lehman has argued about mass disenfranchisement in the UAW elections. It was weird to me that no one was talking about the election. There were no posters, nothing. The only flyers and leaflets were the ones I put up for Will.

I have never seen an election, not even for UAW steward, like that. And this was a big election, for UAW President. I can show you how much literature they put out on the tables just for union steward, but there was nothing for the UAW election.
ReportLinker

Segmented Type (Hardware Centric v/s Software Centric), By Medication (Cardiovascular, Central Nervous System, Diabetes, Oncology, Gastrointestinal, Musculoskeletal, Others), By Region, and Competition.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Medication Adherence Devices Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435463/?utm_source=GNW



Global Medication Adherence Devices market is anticipated to witness impressive growth during the forecast period.This can be ascribed to the growing programs and initiatives organized to educate people about the significance of medical adherence.



Also, the growing aging population, increasing development of healthcare expenditure, and rising usage of pharmaceuticals are expected to create significant growth during the forecast period.Similarly, the growing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is the major factor fuelling the growth of the market over the years.



Additionally, the high-frequency non-adherence to medication among cardiac patients has resulted in demand for medical adherence devices in the forecast period.Due to the extensive research and development (R&D) expenditures, expanding healthcare costs can boost the growth of the market.



According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 out of the 10 major causes of death in 2019 in the US were chronic illnesses. Among the various chronic diseases, heart diseases and cancer together accounted for nearly 46% of all deaths in the US in 2019.

Growing Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases

Most often, chronic diseases require a long therapeutic intervention by using high-dose drugs and any interruption in the medication intake can create fatal consequences which need strict medication adherence and will further boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major chronic diseases across the world.



Coronary heart syndrome, cerebrovascular diseases, rheumatic heart diseases, and other illnesses are among the most commonly observed cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 32% of all deaths across the globe i.e., 17.9 million people die due to CVD every year. Furthermore, the increasing geriatric population is susceptible to heart defects due to progressive deterioration in the structure and function of the heart, which largely contributes to the high burden of CVDs; thereby triggering the increased adoption of advanced medication adherence during the forecast period. Due to genetic factors, and environmental factors, oxidative stress and heart diseases are increasing rapidly. The improvement of chronic diseases necessitates clinical intervention, which is accomplished by increasing the participation of patient-centric medication adherence programs, fuelling the expansion of the global medication adherence devices market.

Growing Demand for Advanced Medication Adherence

The growing demand for advanced medication adherence systems is driving the medication adherence devices market growth in the forecast period.The healthcare ecosystem is fragmented across the globe by the availability of a huge number of decision-makers for the diagnosis and treatment and management of individual patients suffering from chronic diseases.



The growing coordination among healthcare professionals and patients has enhanced the quality of care and its cost, as it leads to the fragmentation of healthcare information such as medical history, patient demographics, billing, diagnosis, and administrative data, and this in turn is expected to boost the growth of the market over the years.



Growing Awareness about Medication Adherence

The growing awareness of medication adherence, on account of the patient-saving programs being initiated, is a major factor fuelling the growth of the medication adherence devices market in the forecast period.Medication adherence programs help in improving patient compliance.



Medical adherence also aids pharmacists in identifying patients missing out on the timely intake of medicines.Besides, various government and non-government organizations are sponsoring events and conferences to educate patients and caregivers about medication adherence thereby driving the market growth over the years.



For instance- ESPACOMP has announced that they will organize its 26th annual conference from 17th to 19th November 2022 in Berlin (Germany) and the theme of this years conference will be: "Medication Adherence and Patient Safety." Governments and non-government organizations sponsor conferences and events across the year to tutor patients and caregivers regarding medication adherence.



Market Segmentation

Global Medication Adherence Devices market can be segmented by type, medication, region, and competitional landscape.Based on the type, the market can be divided into hardware-centric and software-centric.



Based on medication, the market can be segmented into the cardiovascular, central nervous system, diabetes, oncology, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and others.Regionally, North America dominated the market among Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America.



Among the different countries, the United States dominates the global medication adherence devices market on account of the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the country.



Market Players

Becton, Dickinson, and Company (CareFusion)., DrFirst.com, Inc., AdhereTech Inc., MedMinder., CareDose., Fruitech Ltd., PHC Holdings Corporation., MedAdvisor International Pty Ltd. are some of the leading players operating in the Global Medication Adherence Devices Market.



Recent Development

 In November 2018, AdhereTech Inc., announced receiving investment from Argentum Group. The company stated that with this new financing, it would be increasing its pharmacy and pharmaceutical partnerships and expanding into more healthcare verticals.

 September 2021: Current Health and Humana Inc. teamed up to help in achieving better health outcomes for Humana members suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Chronic Heart Failure (CHF). The novel pilot program, aimed at refining medication adherence to help patients lead healthier lives and eventually help lessen healthcare costs, offers inclusive support for members suffering from complex health conditions and prescription medication needs.



Report Scope:



In this report, Global Medication Adherence Devices market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

 Medication Adherence Devices Market, By Type:

o Hardware Centric

o Software Centric

 Medication Adherence Devices Market, By Medication:

o Cardiovascular

o Central Nervous System

o Diabetes

o Oncology

o Gastrointestinal

o Musculoskeletal

o Others

 Medication Adherence Devices Market, By Region:

o North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

o Europe

France

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

o Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

o South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

o Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE



Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Medication Adherence Devices Market.



Available Customizations:



With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06435463/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Yesterday was the first national day of action organized by the union bureaucracies in France after President Emmanuel Macron succeeded in ramming through his pension cuts without a vote in parliament. He trampled underfoot the opposition of nearly 80 percent of the population who reject Macrons cuts. Over 3.5 million people marched across France yesterday, as working class anger exploded against this naked assertion of dictatorial power.

There is no democratic way forward for the working class within the framework of the capitalist state, and there is no deal to be made with Macron. Aware that his imposition of the cuts would produce an eruption of anger, he mobilized the largest police deployment to date to attack the protests. With 5,000 elite, heavily armed riot policemen deployed in Paris alone, clashes erupted and fires broke out in cities across France.

There were record protests in Marseille (245,000), Toulouse (120,000), Bordeaux and Lille (both 100,000), and Lyon (50,000), according to trade union sources. Many smaller cities also saw record participation, such as Brest, Caen and Nice (40,000), Saint-Etienne (35,000), Rouen (23,000) and Laval (9,600). In Paris, the trade unions estimated that 800,000 people protested at different gatherings.

Police clearly had received instructions to attack marchers far more aggressively even than in previous days of action. In cities across the country, they systematically blocked the onward movement of marches and charged individual sectors of the march, provoking clashes that intensified over the course of the evening. Last night, the Interior Ministry reported 177 arrests, and said 149 policemen or military police had been wounded nationwide.

In Bordeaux, police fired tear gas and charged the march early in the demonstration, and clashes spread across the center of the city. In the evening, a group of protesters marched on city hall and burned down its main entrance.

Marchers in Marseille went to the nearby fuel depot at Fos-sur-Mer to give support to fuel depot and refinery workers, who are taking nationwide industrial action. A heavy police presence surrounded the facility at Fos. As fuel shortages spread across France, especially in the southeast, the government is cracking down, trying to serve requisition orders to force strikers back to work. Defying the requisition order is punishable by six months in prison and a 10,000 fine.

To help workers at the CIM fuel depot in Normandy evade requisition orders, dockers from Le Havre, Frances second-largest port after Marseille, have placed shipping containers across the entrance to the facility, blocking it off.

In Rouen, an investigation has been opened after a police stun grenade fired at a group of striking teachers tore part of a womans hand off.

In Rennes, police fired two water cannon and tear gas in streets and squares across the city. Nathalie Appere, the citys PS mayor, sent an open letter to Macron that reflects fear growing in layers of the ruling class that he is losing control. She said: Day after day, violence is repeated in our streets, we see scenes of chaos. Day after day, police are mobilized in large numbers. But it is no longer enough to protect our city... I call on the President of the Republic: You have the power to stop this downward spiral.

Similar points were made by Jean-Luc Melenchon, the head of the Unsubmissive France (LFI) party allied to the social-democratic Socialist Party and the Stalinist French Communist Party. He appeared last night on TF1 television, begging Macron to defuse the situation by giving the state bureaucracy time to study his cuts.

Melenchon said, Mr Macron, withdraw your cuts and give the matter over to the Administrative Council for Social Security. From 2027 to 2029 the pension budget will be balanced, so its a matter of dividing things up? People do not need to work two years more.

The explosive conflict between the working class and the capitalist state will not be resolved by the French state administration, whatever the arguments of Melenchon. Far broader class forces have entered the fray. Macron, having publicly boasted in his TV interview Wednesday afternoon that he is willing to be unpopular, is leading a class war of the financial oligarchy and the riot police on the workers. And the workers, having risen up against Macrons dictatorial measures on pensions, are entering into a direct confrontation with the capitalist state.

In Paris, police charged demonstrators in the main march early on in the afternoon. Clashes with protesters continued across the center of Paris throughout the evening, with riot police totally sealing off Opera Square during the evening, kettling large numbers of protesters inside. Mobile teams of military police appeared from the subway to fire tear gas into the crowd, which responded with chants of, Everyone hates the police.

For the first time during protests against Macron, riot police in Paris also deployed attack dogs against protesters.

Certain reports indicate that constant street fighting with large numbers of people is beginning to exhaust the riot police. Some units were seen standing and resting in the street; in one instance, separate units lost overall coordination and fired tear gas at each other.

In Paris, the WSWS spoke to Maia, a high school student, on Macrons imposition of the cuts without a vote despite overwhelming popular opposition. She said, We are not in a democracy. We have protested many times since the beginning. So now what this means is that basically they dictate their laws every time and they are not afraid of losing elections, so they can do anything. It will be too easy.

Fanny and Ninon, two university students, also denounced Macrons imposition of the cuts without a vote: It is shameful, it is an attack on democracy... At no point have the people been listened to, it has been treated with contempt. One has the feeling that the only thing that bothers him is that the trash is not being picked up because of the garbagemens strike.

Ninon spoke of the growing anger among youth as the capitalist state systematically shuts off every avenue within the existing political system for the masses to advocate for policies in their interests.

She said, It has been several years that we have gone on protests, we feel it is necessary. Each time we have had this same impression of contempt on the one side, and of enormous anger that has existed for a long time on the other. We use every democratic means at our disposal and they do not work, so questions are posed. We play by the rules of that game, but on the other side, they do not.

Fanny pointed to the link between Macrons antidemocratic policies and the 100-billion-euro fortunes amassed by Frances leading billionaires. She said, For me, that should be illegal. It is impossible to amass that much money without at some point having exploited someone. These are astronomical sums; it is really sick.

Yesterday evening, the all-trade union alliance that called yesterdays protest met to call for another national day of action, this time for March 28. These bureaucracies, whose leaders are in discussions with Macron on the pension cuts and the scheduling of protests, are terrified that they might lose control of protests and strikes. They have no intention of fighting to bring down Macron, but call actions to try to keep control of protests in an emerging, objectively revolutionary crisis.

Workers and youth cannot fight Macron within the political straitjacket imposed by these bureaucracies. It is critical to organize the working class in rank-and-file committees, independent of the union bureaucracies, that can coordinate strikes, protests, and actions to defend workers against police-state repression not only in France, but across Europe and internationally. This is directly related to the question of what strategy and perspective to employ against Macrons police-state regime.

Since there is no deal to be reached with Macron, the way forward is a struggle to transfer power from the discredited institutions of the capitalist state to the independent organizations of struggle built by the working class, in a socialist revolution fighting to build the United Socialist States of Europe.
This is the second part of a two-part article. Part one can be read here.

Amid mass infection and death, Pabloites step up denunciations of Zero-COVID

On December 7, 2022, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lifted the last remaining major public health measures associated with Zero-COVID, aside from foreign travel restrictions, which would be fully lifted on January 8.

Less than two weeks later, the horrific reality of the COVID-19 surge was clearly apparent. Chinese social media quickly became dominated by posts reporting that peoples entire families and social networks were infected with COVID-19, alongside photos and videos of overflowing hospitals unable to treat patients and morgues unable to process the deceased.

The emergency ward of a hospital in China, January 3, 2023. [AP Photo/Andy Wong]

Amid this growing spiral of mass infection and death, which deepened with the Lunar New Year travel season in January, the pseudo-left has largely remained silent, again giving their tacit approval to the criminal policies implemented by the CCP on behalf of global finance capital.

One notable exception was International Viewpoint, the publication of the United Secretariat of the Fourth International (Usec)[ 1 ], which posted an article on December 21 titled, Solidarity with the mass movement for democracy in China. It endorsed the scrapping of Zero-COVID in China, while parroting the talking points of the US military-intelligence apparatus in its drive to war with Beijing.

The Pabloites December 21 statement was authored by their leading body, referred to as the Fourth International Bureau. By the time it was published, the dire public health crisis in China was already very clear and reported on widely in the international press, including, of course, in the WSWS.

In their statement, the Pabloites repeated and deepened all the lies and propaganda of the Western media, while framing the Urumqi fire as a state-sanctioned act of violence against Chinas Muslim Uyghur population, writing, Socialists should strongly support the calls to self-determination by Uyghurs and others who demand it, even if Western imperialists seek to co-opt such demands.

This was a backhanded acknowledgment that they were copying the line of the US corporate media, dictated by the US State Department, which seek to foment divisions within China in order to facilitate the imperialist carve-up of the country.

The Pabloites statement went on to denounce wasteful and anti-democratic testing and lockdown protocols and praised the fact that the protests prompted the lifting of Zero-COVID, writing, The massive struggle across China forced the regime to back down from its years-long pandemic policiesin other words, it is important to acknowledge that the people have won their first battle. But the work is far from over.

By stating that the work is far from over, the Pabloites effectively demanded even further mass suffering and death within China.

After hailing the efforts of feminists and other marginalized groups, as well as the struggles of Uyghurs and other non-Han ethnic groups, the Pabloites statement concluded with a list of reactionary demands that amount to a total repudiation of public health, most of which had already been implemented by the CCP in early December.

These included: Abolish lockdowns; Abolish forced PCR testing for COVID-19; Allow those who are infected to isolate at home, while those with severe symptoms have the right to treatment in the hospital; cancel forcible transfer and isolation of infected and non-infected individuals in mobile cabin hospitals; Call for nation-wide mourning of the deaths of those caused by irresponsible lockdown measures; Ensure the resignation of bureaucrats responsible for pandemic mismanagement; and more.

All of these demands would be welcomed by far-right political tendencies throughout the world, which spearheaded the movement against lockdowns in 2020 and have continuously demanded the lifting of all public health measures that slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Western media and pseudo-left concoct an alibi

By mid-December, the Western corporate media was forced to acknowledge the devastation wrought by the lifting of Zero-COVID in China. In doing so, they attempted to provide themselves with an alibi for the fact that they had advocated this brutal policy, by foisting responsibility solely onto Xi Jinping and the CCP. The same false and subjective narrative was pushed by sections of the pseudo-left, again parroting the line of the capitalist press.

This found its most cynical and hypocritical expression in the writings of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT)[ 2 ]. In late November, the IMT endorsed the white paper protests and opposition to lockdowns, which writer Bu Aidao described as draconian, brutal, harsh, frantic, rigid and severe. He stated, Marxists fully support the masses struggle against the draconian lockdown imposed by the CCP.

On December 9, the IMT published another piece by Aidao titled, China: regime relents on lockdown in face of pressure from below. In the article, Aidao wrote that Zero-COVID had largely been attributed to Xi Jinping, who has maintained the lockdowns to preserve the regimes prestige. In fact, Zero-COVID required the active support of broad masses of the Chinese working class.

Not once in any of their coverage does the IMT even mention the role of the Western imperialist powers or the major corporations which exerted unrelenting pressure on China to lift Zero-COVID.

In a December 29 article written by Li Qiye, the IMT placed exclusive blame on Xi and the CCP for the public health catastrophe that resulted from the lifting of Zero-COVID. The article, titled, China: capitalist regime hastily abandons lockdown amid turmoil, characterized the lifting of Zero-COVID as a panicky retreat from the states previous measures, after the regime had painted itself into a corner with its Zero COVID policy, adding, the rapid unlocking was always going to result in a massive surge in infections.

Chinese President Xi Jinping at a session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan]

Qiye concluded, The present situation is a condemnation of the capitalist system, and the bureaucratic mismanagement of the so-called Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which have contributed to this escalating disaster.

After describing in detail the horrific reality of the aftermath of lifting Zero-COVID, which the IMT had repeatedly advocated, Qiye wrote:

The Communist Party proclaims that it puts people first, lives first. But considering the scenes detailed above, this is a hollow, bankrupt proclamation. In essence, the CCP puts the Party and capitalist market interests first. For the first couple of years of the pandemic, the regime bragged about the effectiveness of its Zero COVID policy, which kept deaths far lower than in most of the west and (most importantly) allowed Chinas economy to recover relatively quickly from the initial shock.

In a casual dismissal of the horrifying impacts of lifting this policy, Qiye wrote, But things tend to turn into their opposite.

Most recently, on January 19, the IMT published an article by Dref Easton, titled, China: as lockdowns end, class struggle rises, which reiterated the same condemnation of the CCP while absolving the Western powers and themselves.

After noting that the majority of the Chinese population had already been infected with COVID-19, the IMT stated, incredibly, It can be inferred from such figures that the peak of this current wave of the pandemic has now passed in China, which has supposedly reached the end of the acute phase of the pandemic. This lie, first issued by the CCP itself, is totally divorced from the global reality of recurring waves of mass infection with new variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The same line was advanced by International Socialist Alternative on December 20 in an article written by Vincent Kolo, the author of the ISAs November 29 article first praising the white paper protests, detailed above. Three weeks later, Kolo wrote cynically, In response to a wave of anti-government protests in late November the Chinese dictatorship (CCP) has pivoted abruptly from its deeply unpopular Zero COVID regime. But for the Chinese masses this is a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.

After again praising the white paper protests as historic, Kolo wrote, The timing and manner of the dictatorships abandonment of its Zero COVID controls defies all logic unless we understand it as a panic reaction to these protests and the fear of even more protests if it did nothing. Omitting all reference to the pressure exerted by the imperialist powers and his own advocacy for the scrapping of Zero-COVID, Kolo writes that Xis regime has substituted one disastrous policy for another.

On January 16, the ISA published a statement written by their Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwan sections, titled, From Zero to Max COVID. They began by noting that China is experiencing an explosive spread of the virus after suddenly abandoning its three-year Zero COVID policy of hardline controls, which has been replaced by a chaotic laissez-faire position of minimal state intervention and everyone fending for themselves.

They described the catastrophe in China as one of the most shocking and sickening episodes in the history of the pandemic, attributable solely to Dictator Xi Jinping, the architect of the current crisis.

Without recognizing the inherent contradictions in their support for the reactionary white paper protests and their supposed concern over the results of these protests, the ISA wrote, The so-called Communist Party (CCP) dictatorship has completely lost control over its pandemic management policies. This has happened due to the pressure of a worsening long-term economic crisis and thencruciallythe most significant anti-government protests seen in China for three decades.

The ISA claims that these protests caused the CCP to panic and implement a Zero COVID u-turn, or rather implosion. The piece concludes:

The likely horrors that await the Chinese people as waves of the pandemic sweep the country will intensify the mass anger against Xis regime. This anger now has a point of reference that was missing before the November protests, a starting point for working out ideas of how to organise against dictatorship.

A similar, albeit slightly more nuanced, attempt to foist responsibility solely onto the CCP came from Red Flag, the publication of Socialist Alternative, the largest pseudo-left group in Australia, which is not affiliated with ISA or another international tendency.

A January 21 article by Robert Narai, titled, From crisis to catastrophe: COVID-19 engulfs China, reiterated Red Flags prior support for the white paper protests, while seeking to absolve the protesters and themselves for providing the CCP with justification to lift Zero-COVID. After describing in detail the dire situation in China, Narai claimed that the demands and aims of the November protests must be separated from the current wave of infections and deaths.

Narai concluded his piece by endorsing Hong Kong-based author Au Loong Yu, who stated, This crisis further exposes that the CCP is corrupted to its core And one thing is increasingly clear to larger numbers of the population: Xi Jinping and the CCP are the biggest threat to the health of the Chinese people.

In his article, Narai also advanced the false claim that the spring 2022 lockdown in Shanghai was deeply unpopular and caused more deaths than COVID-19 itself. In reality, the two-month lockdown, which was only so lengthy because local CCP officials initially delayed implementing a citywide lockdown, successfully suppressed the outbreak and reaffirmed the viability of Zero-COVID.

Pleading the 5th: The silence of the pseudo-left amid mass infection

Over the past three months, almost every international pseudo-left tendency has gone silent on the social catastrophe in China caused by the lifting of Zero-COVID.

After cheering the late November anti-Zero-COVID protests, Izquierda Diario has published only one article on China since December 1, a brief posting on December 27, titled, China lifts quarantine requirement to enter the country as Covid cases soar. This article approvingly stated that China lifted on December 7 the obligation for infected people or close contacts to stay in quarantine centers, which is one more step in its zero covid policy change, after the huge protests against the confinements.

The only article published by IWLfi amid the catastrophe in China was a January 2 piece by Fabio Bosco, titled, The Awakening of the Chinese Proletariat? The piece was unique in that it made no mention whatsoever of the mass infection and death that had clearly swept across China by that point.

The Coordinating Committee for the Refoundation of the Fourth International (CRFI) has published no international statement on the lifting of Zero-COVID in China. Its leading section, the Partido Obrero (PO) in Argentina, has published two articles in its publication, Prensa Obrera, on December 5 and January 2. Both articles were largely cribbed from the coverage of the WSWS and refrained from openly denouncing Zero-COVID, but did not support this policy or call for its extension globally.

Further, PO has not criticized its international collaborators in CRFI, who have almost entirely refrained from commenting on the lifting of Zero-COVID in China. On December 14, the Turkish section of CRFI, the Revolutionist Workers Party (Devrimci Isci Partisi, DIP), published an article titled, China: The ghost of Tienanmen returns, which repeated the same lies as other tendencies regarding the Foxconn protests, the fire at Urumqi, and the white paper protests.

The IST has not published an international statement on developments in China, and only its British, Turkish, Australian and Irish national sections have published short articles on this immense world event. After the initial articles by Alex Callinicos and Yuri Prasad described above, the SWP in Britain, the ISTs main section, published one more piece on December 5 and then went silent.

The most recent article from an IST-affiliated group was published by the Turkish group Devrimci Sosyalist Isci Partisi (DSIP) in their publication marksist.org on December 12 as part of a Current Developments in the World roundup article. Supporting the late November protests and the lifting of Zero-COVID, it repeated the same reactionary anti-public health tropes that this policy involved harsh shutdown measures against the Chinese population, depriving them of many social rights such as basic nutrition.

Various national pseudo-left tendencies, including Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain and others, have issued no statements on the lifting of Zero-COVID in China.

The response of Jacobin and the DSA

Particular mention must be made of Jacobin and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which present themselves as socialist and play a critical social function in disorientating youth in the United States, channeling anti-capitalist sentiment back into the Democratic Party.

True to their nationalist and pro-capitalist roots, over the past four months the DSA has not issued a single party statement on the lifting of Zero-COVID in China. None of their leading lights in the Squad of Democratic members of the House of Representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, have uttered a word publicly about this major world event. As trusted political agents of the Democratic Party, they have been preoccupied supporting the war in Ukraine and suppressing a rail strike in the US.

The only official comment from any DSA-affiliated organization was a December 2 statement from its youth group, the YDSA. Fully endorsing the white paper protests, the statement falsely stated that they involved hundreds of thousands of students everywhere. Layering on further falsifications, the statement claimed, The Urumchi building that caught on fire was barricaded by zero-COVID authorities and fire escapes were padlocked, as is standard practice for lockdowns.

In an apparent reference to the right-wing protests then being planned by their collaborators in Socialist Alternative, the YDSA wrote, Inspired by mobilizations back home, Chinese students abroad are organizing against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many are engaging with Hong Kong, Tibetan, Uyghur, and Taiwanese activists through a new lens.

The YDSA urged its members to offer experience and resources to support these new organizers, as this would supposedly establish cross-border solidarity and strengthen our understanding of what the fight for socialism means.

For its part, Jacobin, the unofficial journal of the DSA, published two articles in December supporting the lifting of Zero-COVID in China, both of which praised the white paper protests and repeated the same unsubstantiated claims about the Urumqi fire. The outlet has gone silent since December 17, taking no notice of the mass infection and death that has befallen the Chinese population.

It must be recalled that in September 2020, Jacobin provided a left-wing platform to Martin Kulldorff, one of the co-authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, which provided ideological justification for the Trump administrations murderous herd immunity policy of mass infection. Since then, Jacobin has been largely silent on the pandemic. Now, over two years later, they have once again openly embraced the implementation of herd immunity, this time in China.

The broader significance of the pseudo-lefts response to the pandemic

At the same time as they provided political support for the lifting of Zero-COVID in China, the entire pseudo-left remained silent on the ongoing public health crisis in the US, Britain, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Australia and throughout the world as the fourth year of the pandemic begins. This is in keeping with their overall indifference towards this world-historic event.

These experiences reveal certain critical features of the pseudo-left today.

Most fundamentally, all of these organizations have nothing to do with the working class or socialism. Their hostility to Zero-COVID and the most basic principles of public health are expressions of their anti-Marxist and pro-capitalist politics.

The Zero-COVID public health strategy is, in itself, not even a revolutionary policy, as shown by the experience in China, New Zealand and other countries. However, as Leon Trotsky made clear in his exposition of the theory of permanent revolution, in the modern imperialist epoch all social and democratic problems can be fundamentally resolved only through world socialist revolution.

The central tenet of socialism is that global economic and social planning, democratically controlled by the international working class, will raise humanity to new heights of economic, cultural and social progress. This will include a massive expansion of resources for health care and public health, leading to the elimination of numerous pathogens and increased life expectancy globally, as well as the ability to prevent the development of future pandemics

Under a world socialist society, the Zero-COVID policy would be refined and broadened by the working class. The pseudo-lefts vitriolic hostility to Zero-COVID and the basic principles of public health makes clear that they are bitter opponents of social planning and Marxism in general.

Second, the pseudo-lefts hailing of the lifting of Zero-COVID reaffirms that they function in the service of world imperialism. When one reads the above articles, they appear to have been drafted straight out of the State Department. The political line advanced is such that if these organizations were being paid directly by the state, they would not be writing differently.

The CCPs abandonment of Zero-COVID was a major concession to the imperialist powers, which the CCP mistakenly thought would ease geopolitical tensions. In fact, American imperialism is only pressing ahead with its war plotting against China, with a recent leaked memo by Air Force General Michael Minihan predicting that the US will be at war with China over Taiwan by 2025. The pseudo-lefts promotion of the lifting of Zero-COVID has only facilitated this process.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in formation during Rim of the Pacific exercises July 28, 2022. [Photo: Canadian Armed Forces photo by Cpl. Djalma Vuong-De Ramos]

Over the past quarter-century, the pseudo-left has become ever more openly pro-imperialist, reaching a climax during the past year since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. They have systematically covered up the historical roots of this war, which was preceded by decades of US-NATO imperialist wars throughout the world, the eastward expansion of NATO and the 2014 far-right Maidan coup.

Almost every pseudo-left tendency has lined up behind US-NATO imperialism in its backing of the far-right Ukrainian regime, while the rest have supported the reactionary invasion of Ukraine by the Putin regime in Russia. None of them have advanced an internationalist anti-war position calling for the unity of Ukrainian, Russian, American and all workers to overthrow imperialism and put an end to war.

These central features of the pseudo-lefttheir hostility to the working class and socialism, and their pro-imperialist politicshave found concrete political expression in the actions of the pseudo-left party Podemos in Spain, which has been in power throughout the pandemic in a coalition government with PSOE.

Following in the footsteps of Syriza, which implemented the austerity diktats of the European Central Bank and massively expanded Greeces military, Podemos came to power in 2019 on the basis of lies that they would oppose austerity and represent the interests of the working class. Instead, Podemos has enforced a herd immunity policy of mass infection and death, deepened austerity, covered up the threat of fascism, and escalated the resurgence of Spanish imperialism.

The experiences of Syriza and Podemos illustrate the right-wing, pro-capitalist character of the pseudo-left. Wherever they come to power, these parties will implement the same anti-working class policies of austerity and militarism, while viciously opposing the principles of public health.

Conclusion

While the pandemic and the lifting of Zero-COVID in China have further exposed the anti-socialist character of the pseudo-left, at the same time these experiences have further clarified that the only genuine Marxist and Trotskyist political tendency in the world is the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site.

Over the past four months, the WSWS has published 30 articles focused on the lifting of Zero-COVID in China, which have been written by eight different authors from throughout the world, including eight Perspective statements. Each article has analyzed the latest developments, provided a Marxist political explanation for this reversal in public health policy, and sharply opposed the lifting of Zero-COVID, calling instead for this elimination strategy to be adopted globally.

In November 2021, the WSWS launched the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, the only independent investigation into the pandemic, whose aim is to expose the political and economic forces and interests that drove the policies that allowed the uncontrolled transmission of the virus and its development into a catastrophic pandemic that has killed millions worldwide.

After one year, the Inquest has gathered a large body of testimony, which will continue to expand going forward. The record of the pseudo-left outlined above, which clearly implicates them in the massive social crime which has unfolded in China, is a contribution to this investigation.

Lessons must be drawn from this experience. It is critical that the reactionary character of these organizations be established. These are not left-wing tendencies. The primary social function of the pseudo-left is to serve as agents of imperialism by disorienting radicalized workers and youth and channeling their opposition back into the confines of capitalist politics. These efforts must be relentlessly exposed by genuine socialists.

The abandonment of Zero-COVID in China was a monumental social crime for which the CCP, imperialism and the pseudo-left are culpable. The ongoing global social, health and economic disaster wrought by the pandemic must be stopped. In order to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future pandemics, the Chinese and international working class must take up the struggle to implement this elimination strategy globally towards COVID-19 and as many infectious diseases as possible, as part of the fight for world socialism.
The visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak saw protests by Palestinians and their supporters, and by British Jews and expat Israelis outside the British prime ministers official residence at 10 Downing Street.

Amid an escalating offensive by settlers and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the West Bank, during the run-up to Ramadan, and protest by hundreds of thousands of Israelis against the countrys far-right government, Sunak made reluctant and pro-forma noises of concern over Netanyahus efforts to limit the powers of the Supreme Court to strike down laws, while saying nothing about stepped-up repression of the Palestinians.

Protests by Palestinians and their supporters, and by British Jews and expat Israelis opposite 10 Downing Street, March 24, 2003 [Photo: WSWS]

Sunaks spokesman said, The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel. But this was pro-forma posturing as the two focused on collaborating in a military escalation targeting Iran in less than an hour of talks.

On March 21, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen signed the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israeli Bilateral Relations, boosting economic, security and technology ties, during discussions than covered NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine and the threat posed by Iran.

The Conservative governments announcement boasted of a trade relationship worth around 7 billion, more than 400 Israeli tech firms operating in the UK and Israeli investment adding around 1 billion gross value to the UK economy and creating about 16,000 jobs in the last 8 years. Its most politically significant passage promises that the UK and Israel will work together to tackle the singling out of Israel in the Human Rights Council as well as in other international bodies. In this context, the UK and Israel disagree with the use of the term apartheid with regard to Israel.

The day before Netanyahus leaving for London, at least 75 protesters were arrested during the latest anti-government day of disruption in Israel. That same day the Knesset passed by 64 votes to 47 the first part of legislation shielding him from prosecution for corruption. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is now prevented from declaring Netanyahu unfit for office, even if he uses the judicial overhaul to overturn criminal charges. In a televised address that evening Netanyahu crowed, Until now, my hands were bound. Now, I am getting involved in the judicial overhaul.

With further protests to be held around the country, Israels largely ceremonial president Isaac Herzog warned, Israel is in the throes of a profound crisis. Anyone who thinks that a real civil war, of human life, is a line that we will not reach has no idea. The abyss is within touching distance.

Israeli special forces last week killed four Palestinians, including a child, during a daytime raid in downtown Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank. The NGO Defense for Children International-Palestine said that two civilian cars entered the area at around 3pm and without warning, at least five undercover Israeli special forces dressed in plain clothes exited the cars and began firing live ammunition towards two young Palestinians on a motorcycle. A further 12 Palestinians were injured.

On Friday, Israeli forces shot and killed a 23-year-old Palestinian at a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah after the occupation [Israel] opened fire on him, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The shooting brings to at least 86, including 16 children, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces and settlers so far this year, nearly half the 200 Palestinians killed in all of last year, while 14 Israelis, all but one of them settlers living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, have been killed in Palestinian attacks.

In the last week, Netanyahus government, incorporating far-right, racist and extremist forces, has carried out a series of provocations that pave the way for yet more savage repression of the Palestinians.

On Tuesday, the Knesset repealed legislation, dating back to the disengagement from Gaza in 2005, that had ordered the dismantling of four Jewish settlements (Homesh, Ganim, Kadim and Sa-Nur) in the occupied West Bank. The law was an anathema to the settlers, with extremists attempting to reclaim Homesh, which Israels Supreme Court ruled was built on private Palestinian land, by building an illegal religious seminary on the site and repeatedly rebuilding it after the army demolished it.

Israeli citizens will no longer be barred from entering or staying in the evacuated areasanother step towards the establishment of more illegal settler outposts and the creeping annexation of the territory. The Knesset vote comes after the governments retroactive legalisation of nine settlement outposts deep in the West Bank, which Israel previously deemed illegal, and its approval of the construction of thousands of new settlement housing units.

Since Israels seizure of the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Arab Israeli war, Israel has built 132 settlements in the West Bank and 12 in East Jerusalem that are home to more than 450,000 and 220,000 Israeli settlers respectively, in defiance of international law and countless United Nations resolutions.

Demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem have risen sharply since Netanyahu returned to power at the end of last year. According to UN data, 77 buildings have been razed, nearly double the 40 destroyed during the same period last year, leaving some 145 people in East Jerusalemhalf of them childrenhomeless this year. With permits virtually impossible to obtain, at least 20,000 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem have been built without one. It means that more than 100,000 of the citys 361,700 Palestinianswho make up more than 60 percent of East Jerusalems populationare at risk of being displaced.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels National Security Minister who heads the extremist Jewish Power party, has long advocated the demolition of homes built without permits to drive the Palestinians from the city. Such ethnic cleansing enables Israel to cement its control over East Jerusalem. Ben-Gvir has insisted that demolitions will continue during Ramadan.

On Sunday, Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism and Israels Finance Minister who was given special control over the settlements in the West Bank, claimed in an inflammatory speech in Paris that there was no such thing as a Palestinian people. His lectern was draped in a map of Israel that included Jordan as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Smotrich said, There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. There is no Palestinian history. There is no Palestinian language. He added that the Palestinian people were an invention of the 20th century to fight Zionism and that it was people like him and his grandparents who were the real Palestinians.

Jordan branded Smotrichs speech alongside the map a reckless inflammatory act and a violation of international norms and the peace treaty, a reference to the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan.

Smotrich has called for the Palestinian town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank to be wiped out after hundreds of Israeli settlers went on a pogrom-like rampage following the shooting of two Israeli settlers as they drove through the town.

He gives the sharpest voice to the ideology embodied in Israels Nation-State Law of 2018 that declared that the right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people. Implicit in such a law is the denial of any national rights or existence for the Palestinians in a state whose borders are set to expand even further.

The UKs pledge rejecting comparisons with apartheid signals the agreement of British imperialism with this agenda.
The White House will close down its COVID task force in May, when President Biden plans to allow the public health emergency declared three years ago to expire. Even though thousands of Americans are dying each week in the pandemic, and millions face Long COVID and other health consequences short of immediate death, the US government has abandoned all significant public health measures and effectively declared the pandemic over.

Non-governmental health care and media institutions are following suit. Earlier this month, Johns Hopkins University shut down its daily tracker of COVID infection, hospitalization and death totals, citing the ending of daily reporting by most states. This tracker was the independent data source most widely cited by health care researchers and media accounts.

The New York Times announced Thursday it was ending its own daily tracker, the last major media effort to keep track of the pandemics day-to-day impact on the American population. The newspaper will simply republish the weekly figures issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meaning that there will be no separation between its coverage of the pandemic and the official line of the Biden administration.

As it has long been in military-intelligence issues, the Times will be nothing more than a mouthpiece for official propaganda on questions of public health.

The ending of the COVID response team was reported Thursday by the Washington Post, which quoted a statement from an anonymous senior administration official, whose comments dovetail with passages from President Bidens recent speeches.

As a result of this administrations historic response to COVID-19, we as a nation are in a safer, better place than we were three years ago, the official told the Post. COVID no longer disrupts our lives because of investments and our efforts to mitigate its worst impacts. COVID is not over, fighting it remains an administration priority, and transitioning out of the emergency phase is the natural evolution of the COVID response.

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 26, 2022. [AP Photo/Susan Walsh]

Biden has let it be known that when the current public health emergency declaration expires on May 11, he will not attempt to renew it. This will mean an immediate end to an array of social and health care benefits for millions of working people, including automatic extension of Medicaid health care coverage for the poor. State-by-state eligibility reviews will begin taking effect, and dozens of states expect to remove as many as seven million people from the Medicaid rolls in the course of the following year.

Closing down the task force is one more step in Bidens effort to portray the COVID pandemic as over and end all special public health measures to combat it. This is motivated not only by the pressure from American big business to abandon any restraints on its operations and send all workers back to their jobs producing profits. It is also a political concession to the Republican right, which has long denounced lockdowns and limited measures like mask-wearing, and increasingly questions even vaccines.

COVID task force coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, the latest in a series of official liars hired to put a scientific gloss on administration pandemic policies, reportedly will leave office in May. He has already given up his White House office, moving to the Executive Office Building across the street, more distant from the Biden inner circle.

The task force chief of staff departed without being replaced, and other top public health positions remain vacant. Biden has not nominated a successor to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who retired from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) last December, or for Dr. Francis Collins, who retired as director of the National Institutes of Health, the umbrella agency which includes the NIAID, in December 2021.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray, the top congressional Democrat on pandemic policy, issued a statement that oozed the same type of phony reassurance as the unnamed White House official. While the threat of COVID is not gone and we cannot grow complacent, its clear we are in a much different place today than three years ago, she said. Now we need to stay focused on ensuring a smooth transition so no one falls through the cracks, and making sure we are applying all the lessons from this pandemic.

The lessons that the US ruling class has learned, however, center on how to increase its own wealth even amid horrific conditions of mass infection which have killed more than 1.1 million Americans and inflicted long-term damage to the health of millions more. Congress joined in passing the bipartisan CARES Act three years ago, providing an enormous financial bailout for corporate America, and a few weeks of inadequate wage subsidies for most working people, now a distant memory.

Some figures demonstrate that the real purpose of the COVID task force, far from informing and educating the population about the dangers of the pandemic, was to spread a blanket of complacency and misinformation, particularly during Dr. Jhas year-long tenure.

As a result of the systematic promotion of misinformation and complacency by the government and media, only 16 percent of Americans have had the most recent version of the COVID vaccine, the bivalent version that combined vaccines against two different versions of the omicron sub-variant. Only 9 percent of Americans are deeply concerned about the threat of COVID, according to a recent poll, while mask usage and other minimal protective methods have been largely abandoned.

The New York Times announced the end of its daily data-gathering and reporting on COVID-19 in a brief statement issued Thursday. The Times will continue to publish its Covid tracking pages for the United States, only now they will be based on the latest information available from the federal government, not the Timess data set, the newspaper said.

While Covid still kills thousands across the United States every week, the data from state and local sources is reported less frequently and less reliably, the statement continued. The comprehensive real-time reporting that The Times has prioritized is no longer possible.

Some states report cases only infrequently or not at all.

The Times also conceded that the actual number of infections was widely undercounted because of the rise of at-home testing, the results of which are mostly unreported. In other words, the figures which provide the basis of official declarations that the pandemic is over are entirely misleading and concocted. They are rigged to prove the political case that is being made: to demonstrate the success of the Biden administration and various state governments in fighting the pandemic.
On Thursday, President Ranil Wickremesinghe threatened to invoke the anti-strike Essential Public Services Act (EPSA) against all teachers. The attack came a day after around 500 teachers and principals from across Sri Lanka demonstrated in Colombo.

Sri Lankan teachers protest against government's dissolution of Teacher Transfer Boards, in Colombo, 22 March, 2023. [Photo: WSWS]

The Wednesday morning protest in front of the Colombo Fort railway station was called over the governments anti-democratic dissolution of the Teachers Transfer Board (TTB). The decision has affected the transfers of about 12,000 teachers and principals.

Wickremesinghe issued his anti-strike threat during a speech at the Colombo Sanghamitta Girls School. He declared that he would not allow school children to be taken hostage by various groups. Education is a model that should come from the school. School principals and teachers should set an example, Wickremesinghe said.

The full provision of education, including the holding of exams, cannot be disrupted or subject to sabotage, the president continued, warning that if the teachers protests continued his government would legislate to make education an essential service.

Wickremesinghes threats make clear that the government will not hesitate to use state repression to impose the International Monetary Funds austerity demands. It is a warning, not just against teachers, but the entire working class.

On February 28, the government decreed that Sri Lankan ports and transport services, including bus, rail and air travel, were part of the Essential Public Service Act (EPSA).

The EPSA was imposed on the health, petroleum, and electricity sectors several months ago.

The March 22 teachers protest was organised by several unions, including the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), the Ceylon Teachers Services Union (CTSU) which is affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), and the All Island United Teachers Union (AIUTU). Demonstrators carried placards stating, No political interference in teacher transfers! and Oppose the improper intervention of the President.

In line with previous government directives, the police secured an order from the Colombo Fort Magistrates Court stopping protesters marching towards Galle Face Green, the Presidential Secretariat, the Presidents House and the Ministry of Finance. The order was read out to protesting teachers by a senior police officer.

As well as the usual heavy police presence, the government organised two groups of about 50 provocateurs, mainly drawn from right-wing middle-class elements and oppressed layers in Colombo.

Calling themselves the Alliance for Childrens Future, the groups chanted slogans against protesting teachers, accusing them of disrupting education. Their slogans included: The father who destroyed education is [CTU Secretary] Joseph Stalin, Chase away Secretary Joseph Stalin, Stop disruptive teachers strikes and Hands off childrens right to education.

Alliance for Childrens Future secretary Indika Rajapakse told the media: A teachers strike is not necessary at this moment. Childrens education has been disrupted for three years.

CTU secretary Stalin told the media that the provocateurs had been instigated by Vajira Abeywardana, a United National Party lawmaker and the current cabinet minister of home affairs. Denouncing Abeywardana as the presidents stooge, Stalin said teachers protests would not be disrupted by these organisations.

Wickremasinghes bogus claims, against teachers and his governments mobilisation of provocateurs, shows that the government is preparing for a crackdown against the growing struggles of working class. Teachers need to join with other sections of the working class in a united struggle to defend their social and democratic rights against the governments austerity measures and its onslaught on civil liberties.

A section of the Sri Lankan teachers protest in Colombo on 22 March, 2023. [Photo: WSWS]

Notwithstanding their demagogic rhetoric, the CTU, CTSU and AIUTU leaders who organised Wednesdays protest, have consistently worked to prevent a unified mobilisation of the working class against the government attacks.

Beginning in late 2021, about 200,000 teachers staged a 100-day strike to demand higher salaries. This was carried out in defiance of repressive measures by the Rajapakse government. The teachers courageous and militant action was betrayed by the unions, who forced an end to the strike following a government promise to grant only one third of teachers the increased salary demand.

Together with the rest of the Sri Lankan trade union movement, the teachers unions leadership helped derail the mass uprising against the Rajapakse regime. They played a key role in diverting this movement behind proposals for an interim government called for by parliamentary opposition parties such as the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the JVP. This paved the way for the Wickremesinghe government, which is pressing ahead with the agenda Rajapakse was trying to impose.

Teachers need to take their struggle for decent wages, working conditions and increased funding for high quality education into their own hands by forming action committees, independent of the unions and all the bourgeois parties.

The Teachers-Students-Parents Action Committee, which was formed on the political initiative of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), fights to unite teachers, students and parents in a common struggle against the escalating government attacks. It is ready to provide all the necessary assistance and guidance required by teachers.

The SEP has launched a campaign to build a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses based on independent action committees of workers and rural toilers throughout the island. This is a first step in the fight for a government of workers and peasants committed to socialist policies. We call on teachers to join with the SEP in this struggle.

WSWS reporters last Wednesday spoke with protesting teachers at the Fort station.

An English teacher from a Colombo school explained how the dissolution of the TTB had impacted on teachers at her school. Teachers have asked for transfers on humanitarian grounds. But these have been lost due to the arbitrary activities of some people. Teachers have come here today to get justice for that. We want to talk about the government arbitrarily blocking teacher transfers, she said.

Id also requested a transfer but that was stopped. I worked in a school in Colombo for ten years and my transfer request was within Colombo itself. There are large numbers of teachers who have also completed ten years at my school, the teacher added.

Children coming to school face so many problems and we all know how much it costs for parents just to send [their children] to school, she said.

A science teacher with 17 years experience from Sumangala Girls School in Panadura, 27 kilometres south of Colombo, said he was not currently impacted by the transfer issue. However, he decided to join the protest because it was a matter of principle. The violation of teachers transfer rights, he said, was part of the big attacks by the IMF, along with global capital.

He denounced the governments ongoing social attacks and its organisation of provocateurs to try and undermine the teachers protest. They [the government] are trying to disrupt this struggle by bringing in those lumpen groups, he said.
The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) is publishing further correspondence from postal workers exposing the brutal exploitative regime being imposed by Royal Mail.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) put out a statement on March 18 claiming this was the result of out of control managers but their actions were greenlighted by the union in a Joint Statement with Royal Mail published March 2. The union agreed to re-engagement with local revision activity: the euphemism for a cost-cutting exercise designed to boost productivity and slash jobs before the end the of the financial year in April. The Joint Statement appendix stated this was to address the serious financial and economic challenges facing the business and align hours to workload and improve productivity.

The CWU is playing the role of chief strike breaker by suppressing a renewed mandate for industrial action, delivered by a 96 percent majority last month. This is allowing exploitative practices to be imposed to fund another pay-out to shareholders.

The latest correspondence comes from London, Cheshunt, Luton, Chatham, Houghton Regis, Stalham and Blackburn.

Royal Mail workers on strike at Portsmouth Royal Mail Delivery Office in September 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

I started working at Royal Mail in 2021, it was tough, but I enjoyed it. I was contracted to work 25 hours a week but placed on a walk that is full time. My hours were increased to 30 but I still went over every day to clear my frame. Was told by colleagues that my walk was a training walk and Id be taken off it soon.

Over a year later Im still on the same walk. Ive not had driver training but three people who started after me were given it. Weve now absorbed another walk which is an extra loop on top of the five I do already, because I do van share my colleague who drives has a smaller walk. Weve been double lapsing since Christmas so Im now at 7 loops to do but Im still on 30 hours.

Im mentally and physically exhausted; I dread going back to work. Its my day off today and I know that loops will have been left today which cant be cleared on Saturday because weve got to be back at depot by 2.15 for collections. So that will roll on to Monday and unless I go over it wont get cleared. Our overtime is being held hostage so unless we clear we wont get overtime. Start times have been changed and everyone preps their own walks now so by the time we get out of the depot its already 10am.

Im currently looking for alternative work because I cant continue like this and our manager doesnt listen to my concerns over the workload.

The union isnt fit for purpose; they only care about protecting themselves and not the workers who pay their dues.

***

Lads thank you for highlighting this, it is disgusting. Lads and girls are on the verge of collapse from the amount of work imposed on themits like a prison camp. Bullying is rife, managers are puppets for higher management or fat cats. My fears are that somebody soon may commit suicide because of the health and mental pressures and then Mr Thompson and Co will have blood on their hands. This needs to be highlighted everywhere, thank you.

***

I have worked for Royal Mail since 1996, it was the best job ever back then but since privatisation it is clear making a profit at any cost was all that matters. The way were treated by management changed almost overnight, and the service stopped being thatits not a service anymore and all or part of around 35 letter deliveries fail on a daily basis at my office. On top of this Royal Mail thinks the law only applies when it suits them and regularly breaks them. Basic employment laws are being ignored and as for the Equality Act I dont think this exists in Royal Mails eyes.

***

Place is a joke, hod carrying donkeys get treated better. Tracked parcels, packets etc are given priority every time. Simon Thompson [Royal Mail chief executive] is a big liar as are most managers. These idiots up top have absolutely no idea. Maybe they should come do my round for 2 weeks and see just how ridiculous things really are? People dropping like flies, going sick, mental health issues growing all the time. Bosses get irate and shout abuse if things dont go right.

Ive done this job for lots of years, and up until 5 years ago I loved it. Now Im applying for jobs on a weekly basis. First chance I get Im off before it either kills me, or I do something I regret. Managers arent managers; they got no idea and would not survive in a real managerial position.

***

Ive worked for Royal Mail for more than 20 years and the morale in my office is at an all-time low. The managers only care about tracked parcels and our jobs are all getting changed, hours and terms. They have refused to answer any of our questions on what being made a supernumerary involves and expect us to sign a blank contract with no mention of what happens to things like sick pay or holidays or pension. Its a joke run by idiots and its stressing everyone out. Not a nice place to work anymore and Im just hoping they offer VR [voluntary redundancy] but they already backtracked on that before so dont hold out much hope.

Casual staff are in before rm [Royal Mail] staff too so were getting less hours too. In effect were becoming the casuals and they are becoming the workforce on zero-hour contracts, just how Thompson wants it.

***

I had worked for Royal Mail for over 30 years. Customers are not getting what they pay for, why buy first class stamp when its luck of the draw if your round is going out that day, defrauding the customer. They are not recruiting new staff which are clearly needed. Managers can get away with wilful delay of mail, but if a postie did it, sackeddouble standards. This company has been mismanaged for years, to be honest all they really care about is: get the rounds out the door have an easy life.

What I have seen through the years is me and my fellow posties care about the job and the customers, its been our life. I wish I could say the same for some of the management. Not all, as I have worked with some good ones I must say, but when I have chatted to them they are dissatisfied with it all and have left. I know so many posties that have gone on management and then had enough of it and gone back down to postie, that says it allwouldnt happen in any other company.

Summing up... Royal Mail had not only let the customers down, its let its loyal staff down. We care about the service, do they? I ask the question.

***

My observation is the pride that post people take in delivering peoples mail is slowly being eroded by a system that starts with tracked items, then specials, then packets, then letters. The office I work in used to be in the top ten in everything the business is measured on. Our office is in a terrible state. What OFCOM [the regulatory body for communications and postal services] and the Select Committee [Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee-BEIS]need to do is visit a few offices without invite and see the volume of mail being left daily.

The changes the business wants are being implemented without agreement, or thats what we are told by the CWU. Again, I say this dispute was and is about a wage rise and conditions, all of a sudden we are being told daily that the business is losing money so we may not get a wage rise and the changes need to happen. I have 40 years in this job in various roles and I never seen such depression in the staff. Part of this is definitely down to the inexperienced managers which in some cases are power crazy. Also, when your office manager disappears, he is going to a meeting for a brief on the steps the executive wants done next.

***

My place is continuing to employ agency staff who are paid more than me, yet Im paid too much!! Revisions taking place, duties being cut, hours being cut, no overtime, yet agency being employed. The Royal Mail is being run down, you can see it. They want people to leave so they can use agency staff.

***

I only work 28hrs per week, as a walker. Since the revision the office I currently work in has been turned upside down. It has lost numerous staff members for various reasons. The staff within my office are constantly trying to play catch up with mail. As previous people have said, we are having to make sure tracked items are delivered and whatever mail we can get done.

One of the frames has had 7 extra rows added to its delivery, [therefore] mounting mail and parcels as the rounds cannot be completed, due to the amount of extra work expected, as no guidance or map has been given for staff that have never done the duty before. On Tuesday I posted 20 items of post to one household. I and many other staff members can walk up to 50 miles per week.

The pay rise still hasnt been given, but the extra workload and changes are being implemented. If you are a part timer and a meeting is held with full timers, the management DO NOT make the effort to give part timers the information, this is usually found out by another staff member telling you. Along with so many other issues .



It was good to see that the management got their bonus for the revision, but it looks like they have just sat down with a blindfold on to complete this task. Royal Mail certainly have no concern for the health and welfare of their staff. Although I have only been with the company for a short while I can certainly see a change in my fellow colleagues.

Royal Mail are aware of the saying, There is no I in team.

***

I have worked for Royal Mail for over 3 years, never have I seen a company run like this, nobody is in charge. The CEO cannot make up his mind about the pay, absolutely s##t. I worked at a certain office, I was given s## vans, my back hurts, before the electric vans no training given, the workload has got so much worse. Lot of people are bringing half of the walk back. The managers just want an empty frame in the morning. They dont care if you can complete the walk, only care about the tracked items. Time to leave Royal Mail.

***

What Simon Thompson is doing to Royal Mail is criminal. Id love to swap roles with him for a day to see if he can walk for over 5 hours without a toilet break in all weathers. 23 years in a job I loved but this once great British institution is being destroyed. Simon Thompson will go down in history as the one who decimated our once great public service before he moved on to pastures new. RIP Royal Mail.

The WSWS has published a statement by the Socialist Equality Party inviting postal workers to an online meeting on Monday, March 27 at 7pm to discuss how a fightback can be mounted. Confidentiality will be preserved to prevent victimisation. Please register to attend. We encourage further comments, including on the statements suggestions for a way forward.
Two school administrators were injured after being shot by a student at East High School in Denver, Colorado, Wednesday morning. Eric Sinclair, East Highs dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, a restorative practice coordinator in the deans office, were shot and taken to a hospital for intensive care. Sinclair remains in serious condition as of this writing while Mason was discharged in stable condition.

A student, right, hugs an adult as they are reunited following a shooting at East High School, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver. [AP Photo/David Zalubowski]

The student was identified on Thursday as 17-year-old Austin Lyle after his body was found in Park County, Colorado, following a multi-hour chase involving local police and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Lyles manner of death has not been officially declared by the coroners office as an investigation and autopsy remain ongoing.

Lyle was a student at the school and was undergoing a safety plan where he agreed to be patted down for weapons every day. The pat-down reportedly took place in front of the school away from other students at the time of the shooting. According to police reports, Lyle was found with a handgun by the faculty and the shooting took place after the firearm was discovered.

Lyle went through the safety plan after being expelled from Overland High School and moving to East High School. The reason for Lyles expulsion and his participation in the safety plan were not made public due to student privacy laws, according to Denver police. However, they did confirm that he had not been found in possession of a weapon before.

East High students will remain at home for the rest of the week following the shooting.

In response, the Denver Public School District Superintendent Alex Marrero announced that two armed police officers would be stationed at the school during operational hours through the end of the academic year.

This decision conflicts with official district policy to remove school resource officers from all Denver public school campuses. The policy was implemented in the summer of 2020 in response to the George Floyd protests and research that stationing police officers at schools increased the likelihood of students entering the criminal justice system over minor infractions, particularly black and Hispanic students between the ages of 10 and 15 who made up the majority of students ticketed or arrested by school officers between 2014 and 2019 according to the district.

Marrero acknowledged that his decision contradicted school board policy but argued that he could no longer stand on the sidelines and that he was willing to accept the consequences of my actions. He was supported by Democratic Denver Mayor Michael Hancock who said in response to the shooting that removing [school resource officers] was a mistake and we must move swiftly to correct it.

Such statements make it clear that the Democrats are capitalizing on the tragedy to push for the reintroduction of police on school campuses and the rollback of concessions to student demands during the George Floyd protests to defund the police in the state capital.

The presence of an officer on site would have been unlikely to affect the outcome. The shooting occurred during a pre-arranged pat-down of a student, which would have been implemented by a faculty member, regardless. Additionally, there is no evidence that having an officer present would have prevented the shooting after the discovery of the handgun. The experience of the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, shooting, in which multiple heavily armed police officers did nothing while a gunman killed multiple children, counters the claim that having police on campus prevents shootings.

Academic research on school shootings has repeatedly found no association between an on-campus police presence and the prevention of gun violence and mass shootings at schools.

While school and city officials have called for increasing armed police presence, students have called for stronger gun control. East High students held a rally at the state Capitol building earlier this month demanding action on gun violence after 16-year-old Luis Garcia was shot in a car near the school. Garcia died in the hospital two weeks later.

At least 1,000 students walked out of class on March 3 to protest Garcias death along with students from three other schools. The protests follow a series of walkouts and protests that occurred in Denver following the Uvalde massacre last year.

Colorado Democrats have introduced a series of bills in the state legislature that would address some demands of students, including raising the age to purchase a firearm to 21, implementing a three day waiting period, and expanding the list of people who can file an Extreme Risk Protection Order to have a persons guns taken away.

However, regardless of whether these bills pass, they will not address the core causes of gun violence in the United States. Mass shootings are the product of a sick social and economic order that continuously places profit over the lives of young people and the working class. Both the Democrats and Republicans, who represent and defend the capitalist system, ultimately bear responsibility for the crisis of gun violence in American schools.

The United States has been in a state of unending war for longer than high school students have been alive. A deadly pandemic has been allowed to kill at least 1 million people in order to protect the financial interests of a small financial elite. And police in the US kill more than 1,000 people a year while brutalizing wide sections of the population.
Last weekend, Republican members of Congress carried out a war game, led by a retired US general, envisioning a war with China by 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in formation during Rim of the Pacific exercises July 28, 2022. [Photo: Canadian Armed Forces photo by Cpl. Djalma Vuong-De Ramos]

At the Republican Party policy retreat in Orlando, Florida, retired US Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery oversaw a simulated war with China that led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans and the potential sinking of US aircraft carriers.

While the exercise was presented as a defensive response on the part of the United States to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the US is systematically working to provoke a conflict with China by ending the one-China policy, arming Taiwan and expanding the presence of US troops on the island.

As the Wall Street Journal described the war game in an editorial, The costs would be enormous and include Gold Stars in windows across America. Adm. Montgomery said casualties could range from about 15 to 50 in every Congressional district in the U.S.or roughly 5,000 to 20,000 Americans.

The far-right Washington Free Beacon, which also reported on the war game, wrote that lawmakers huddled Sunday night to map out the biggest threat facing the American people: an all-out war with China.

The Free Beacon wrote that American casualties in a conflict involving the United States, Taiwan, and China could total in the tens of thousands in just a matter of days. It wrote that, In some of the more extreme cases, the United States would face up to 20,000 military casualties in a single weekthe most seen since World War II.

Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon declared, Its going to be a bloody fight If we have time to get some munitions and aircraft there, wed come out on top, but itd still be bloody.

Rep. Michael Waltz told the Free Beacon, Our timeline with China wont be what we saw with Russia We wont have this long, slow buildup to figure out what we want to do, and debate what were going to do.

The responses considered by the lawmakers included, according to the Free Beacon, striking mainland China, attacking Chinas ships, or overwhelming Chinese forces with a blockade of sorts and stopping ground troops from setting foot on Taiwan. All of those scenarios, according to members who attended, involved significant U.S. casualties.

Increasingly, dominant sections of the US political and military establishment are seeing a potential US war with China as a matter not of decades, but of years.

In January, Air Force Gen. Michael Minihan told his command that he expects the US to be at war with China by 2025. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025, he said. He urged airmen under his command to get their personal affairs in order in preparation for war.

However disastrous the consequences of a US war with China, the US has taken a number of steps in recent weeks that are intended to prepare a direct confrontation.

On March 11, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines stated that Bidens assertion that the US would go to war with China over Taiwan was not just the presidents personal opinion, but actual US policy.

In September, Biden was asked during an interview, so unlike Ukraine, US forces, US men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion? Biden replied, Yes.

Even as it moves to end the policy of strategic ambiguity and declares that the US would go to war with China over Taiwan, the US is shifting toward ending the one-China policy, according to which it is the US position that Taiwan is part of China.

On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives passed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which formally tasks the State Department to identify opportunities to lift any remaining self-imposed limitations on U.S.-Taiwan engagement and articulate a plan to do so.

The Chinese state newspaper Global Times cited Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, who pointed to the essential significance of the bill: The bill suggests that the US House intends to unilaterally change the status quo across the Straits For the past 40 years, the US maintained only unofficial interactions with the island, but now they are looking to shift to an official one.

The statement by the office of Republican Rep. Ann Wagner on the passage of the bill asserted that, For decades, most senior U.S. executive branch officials, including high-ranking military officers, were banned from visiting Taiwan to appease China. Similarly, Taiwans top leadership could not travel to the United States.

The act would move to overturn these restrictions. China, for its part, has repeatedly stated that the formal US recognition of Taiwan would lead to a reunification by force.

The passage of the bill takes place just one week before Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is scheduled to visit the United States.

As the American ruling class is openly preparing and planning for a war with China, it is simultaneously working to ensure the total control of US corporations over the internet.

In a five-hour house hearing Thursday, US members of Congress demanded the end of TikTok, the social media network owned by Chinese company ByteDance.

Members of Congress claimed, without substantiation, that TikTok spies on its users in the United States on behalf of the Chinese government.

TikTok surveils us all, and the Chinese Communist Party is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington state, ranted at TikTok CEO Shou Chew in the hearing. Your platform should be banned. I expect today you will say anything to avoid this outcome... Were not buying it.

Lawmakers from both parties openly demanded the banning of TikTok. Shouldnt a threat to U.S. security be banned? asked Republican Rep. Ken Buck. They do it to us. Why dont we do it to them?

Testifying before the committee, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that TikTok should be ended one way or another, and there are different ways of doing that.

The Biden administration has demanded that Chinese shareholders of ByteDance sell TikTok to a US corporation.

There are two overarching goals in the crackdown on TikTok. First, the US is determined to systematically destroy Chinas high-technology sector as part of its trade war with Beijing. But, more ominously, the US government is seeking to consolidate under its control all aspects of mass communication.
PMI

[PDF, Page No-168] Membrane Market, By Technology (RO, UF, MF, NF, and Others (Pervaporation, Dialysis & Electrodialysis, Forward Osmosis, Membrane Distillation, Ion Exchange, and Chromatography Membranes)), By Application (Water & Wastewater Treatment, and Industrial Processing), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis, and Forecast Till 2029Membrane technology has revolutionized various industries such as water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and biotechnology, among others. Membrane is a thin layer of semi-permeable material that separates two substances, allowing the passage of specific molecules or ions while blocking others. The membrane market is growing rapidly, driven by the increasing demand for clean water and stringent environmental regulations. Membrane technology provides a

Covina, March 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Membrane technology has revolutionized various industries such as water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and biotechnology, among others. Membrane is a thin layer of semi-permeable material that separates two substances, allowing the passage of specific molecules or ions while blocking others. The membrane market is growing rapidly, driven by the increasing demand for clean water and stringent environmental regulations. Membrane technology provides an effective solution for water treatment, as it removes contaminants and impurities from water sources. The pharmaceutical industry also utilizes membranes for drug purification and separation processes. In addition, the food and beverage industry uses membranes for the production of juices, dairy products, and beer, among others. The global membrane market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period (2022-2032), driven by the increasing adoption of membrane technology across various industries.

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Key Highlights:

In September 2019, DuPont Safety & Construction (DuPont) announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the Ultrafiltration Membrane business from BASF including inge GmbH. The transaction, including the business international workforce, its headquarters and production site in Greifenberg, Germany.

In October 2019, DuPont acquired Evoqua Water Technologies, a reputed provider of cost-effective water treatment systems, based in Pittsburgh. The company acquired the latters business line named MEMCOR.

Analyst View:





Rapid industrialization and urbanization, especially in the developing countries is resulting in water pollution. Therefore, the strain on water resources is surging. The governments and regulatory bodies of several countries are implementing stringent norms and laws regarding industry discharge to control water pollution. The increasing environmental concerns have thus, compelled large portion of the industries to adopt membrane-based technology for curbing the level and severity of pollutants in their discharge streams. They are presently trying to comply with the regulations. Membranes play a vital role in providing zero liquid discharge (ZLD).

Increasing deployment of membrane materials in food & beverage industry on account of being adaptive during temperature change along with inducing low energy consumption is expected to remain the favorable factor for the market in the near future The pharmaceutical industry demonstrates the use of membrane technology in separation, purification, concentration processes which are expected to be a favorable factor for market over the forecast period. Wastewater treatment is expected to be the potential application on account of deployment of membrane technology for reducing effluent levels.

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Key Market Insights from the report:

The membrane market accounted for US$5.4 Billion in 2019 and is estimated to be US$12.3 Billion by 2029 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 8.7%. The market report has been segmented on the basis of material, technology, application, and region.

By material, polymeric membranes are cost-effective, provide good selectivity for a wide range of applications such as beverage processing, feed water production, chemical processing, and others, and are easy to process and operate. The high performance, excellent efficiency, and specific separation properties provided by polymeric membranes are responsible for the broad market size in this segment.

By technology, the NF segment is projected to register the highest CAGR between 2019 and 2024. The use of NF membranes is increasing due to their ability to permeate monovalent ions, while rejecting divalent and multivalent ions. The flexibility for ion separation and permeation provided by these membranes offer significant advantages in industrial applications. Also, the use of these membranes for water treatment provides lower discharge volumes than RO, reduces heavy metal, salt, and nitrate contents.

By application, the water & wastewater treatment segment is projected to capture the largest share in the membranes market. Membranes are used in water & wastewater treatment for desalination, sewage water treatment, and industrial water treatment. Accelerated urbanization, rapid industrialization, and expansion of municipal water facilities, globally are driving the membranes market in water & wastewater treatment applications.

By region, APAC has immense growth potential driven by the increasing demand for physical treatment of water. APAC consists of some large and rapidly growing economies, such as China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Competitive Landscape:

Dupont

Toray

SUEZ

Koch Separation Solutions

TOYOBA

Hydranautics  A Nitto Group Company

Ball Corporation

Seccua Gmbh

Synder Filtration

Pentair.

The market provides detailed information regarding the industrial base, productivity, strengths, manufacturers, and recent trends which will help companies enlarge the businesses and promote financial growth. Furthermore, the report exhibits dynamic factors including segments, sub-segments, regional marketplaces, competition, dominant key players, and market forecasts. In addition, the market includes recent collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships along with regulatory frameworks across different regions impacting the market trajectory. Recent technological advances and innovations influencing the global market are included in the report.

Questions answered by membrane Market:

What is the current market size and growth rate? What are the key market trends and market dynamics? Who are the major players in the market and what is their market share? What is the competitive landscape like in the market? What are the major drivers and restraints affecting the market? What are the growth opportunities in the market? What are the regional and local market conditions and consumer behavior? What is the market size and growth forecast for different regions and countries? What is the impact of government regulations and policies on the market?

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Eggshell Membrane Market -By Type (Hydrolyzed and Unhydrolyzed), By Application (Nutraceuticals, Food & beverages, Cosmetics & Personal Care Products, Pharmaceuticals, and Other Applications), By Product (Capsule, Tablet, Powder, and Other Products), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis, and Forecast till 2029

Amniotic Membrane Market -By Product (Lyophilization and Cryopreserved), By Application (Ophthalmology, Surgical Wounds, and Others), and By End User (Hospitals, Specialized Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Research Centers & Laboratory), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast Till 2029

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A dozen local and regional employers participated to recruit American Car Center staff

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When American Car Center announced abrupt closures, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sprang into action to help hundreds of displaced workers in our community.

(PRNewsfoto/Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare)

"This news hit Methodist hard," said Jill Lopez, director of recruitment operations for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. "As an anchor institution and one of the area's largest private employers, we take seriously our responsibility to help our neighbors thrive. We immediately rallied our community partners to host a job fair exclusively for the impacted employees."

More than 300 former car workers attended the job fair, which included a dozen premier employers like AutoZone, City of Memphis, FedEx, First Horizon, Ozark Motor Lines and State Farm.

"Partner agencies also provided additional resources like food vouchers, toiletries, bill paying assistance and temporary agency placement," added Lopez. "Unfortunate situations like this bring out the best in Memphis  Memphians helping Memphians."

To get the word out to the affected employees, the MLH Recruitment team learned of a LinkedIn group started by Andy Steavens, former marketing vice president for the car company. "The shutdown was so abrupt and we were in shock. I knew we all wanted to stay in touch with one another, to support each other, build our networks and share job opportunities. Methodist stepped up immediately and in just a few short days coordinated this amazing and meaningful opportunity for us."

Roger Ewing worked in the auto company's human resources department and commented on MLH's swift action to set up the job fair. "There is always so much planning that goes into something like this," he said. "In short order, Methodist thought of every detail to execute a very well-organized and meaningful event."

Nedra Rice has lived in Memphis for over twenty years, and managed accounts for the former car company.

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"This has impacted 300 households and if you're a single parent like myself, it's been hard," she said. "I came to the job fair looking for a positive outlook, employment and for people to motivate me. This job fair is a blessing from Methodist and the other employers who joined together to help 300 families."

Tanzania Bass from Memphis is hopeful to find open positions in finance. "I am thankful that Methodist put this together for us and I'm excited to be here," she said.

Born and raised in Memphis, Jessica Foster said, "This is amazing and beautiful. Everyone in the community has pulled together around us."

On the job fair, Foster added, "I'm looking for stability. Methodist and the other employers here are giving us that opportunity to find stable employment."

Visit Facebook for photos from the job fair. For career opportunities with MLH, visit MethodistHealth.org/careers.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

Cision

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SOURCE Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nagad, a leading mobile money service operator based in Bangladesh, has become a billion-dollar company only in three years of its inception, says Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT Division.

"Nagad has become a billion-dollar company based on its partnership with the Postal Department and its integration with ICT Division's 'Parichay', while it took 10 years for bKash to achieve that feat," commented the state minister while comparing the country's two leading MFS carriers at the inauguration ceremony of "Meghna Pay", an MFS of Meghna Bank, in a five-star hotel in Dhaka recently.

Tanvir A Mishuk, founder and managing director of Nagad Limited, Ashequr Rahman, chairman of Meghna Bank Limited, Sohail RK Hussain, managing director and CEO of Meghna Bank Limited, were also present at the function.

Terming Nagad as the fastest-growing start-up fintech in the world, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said Bangladesh has now gained the status of becoming a champion in the global MFS industry.

Tanvir A Mishuk said, "Nagad as a mobile financial service will stay beside Meghna Pay with all kinds of technological assistance."

Explaining it, he said, "We believe if we work together with Meghna Pay to break the monopoly in the [MFS] market, this will benefit both the market as well as people."

"We want to build a smart Bangladesh by working shoulder to shoulder," he added.

Nagad, as an MFS of Bangladesh Postal Department, embarked on its journey on 26 March in 2019. At the outset, it shook the entire financial industry by innovating electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC). In the e-KYC system, customers can open an MFS account using their smartphone in less than a minute just by taking a photo of their national identity card and a selfie.

Later, the state-owned MFS operator came up with an even easier way to open an MFS account just by dialing *167# on a feature phone. The ground-breaking innovations have brought an end to cumbersome paperwork, thus creating a buzz across the world.

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Nagad's success reflects its use of state-of-the-art technologies that allow the delivery of various services at minimal charges. In some cases, Nagad provides its customers with free of cost services.

Operating with a government partnership, Nagad's registered customers now stand at 7.25 crore, with its daily transactions hitting around BDT 1,000 crore on average.

Nagad has also shown the way how government allowances, education stipends and other financial aids can be disbursed among real beneficiaries through a digital platform instantly and conveniently.

About Nagad Ltd (https://www.nagad.com.bd/)

Nagad Limited, a leading mobile financial service in the payment industry of Bangladesh, has more than 72 million registered customers with an average daily transaction of about USD 80 million. Inaugurated in 2019 by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the digital payment platform is known as a successful public-private partnership between the Bangladesh Postal Department and the private sector.

Cision

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SOURCE Nagad Limited
Vancouver --News Direct-- Nextech3D.AI

Nextech3D.AI chief product officer Dasha Vdovina joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has seen a 963% increase in users of its Toggle3D.ai platform in the past 60 days.

Vdovina told Proactive that the AI-powered SaaS CAD to 3D Design Platform has crossed over 1,000 sign-ups on the platform. The company expects to spin-out Toggle3D in the next 60-days with the trading symbol being TGGL.

Contact Details

Proactive Investors Canada

+1 604-688-8158

na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/nextech3d-ai-announces-company-has-surpassed-1-000-signups-for-toggle3d-platform-578989230
Admiral Group PLC

Notice of Annual General Meeting and Annual Report and Accounts

24 March 2023

Admiral Group plc ("the Company") announces that its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") will be held at 2pm on Thursday 27 April 2023 at the Company's registered office of Ty Admiral, David Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EH.

The Company has today published and posted to shareholders its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 (the "Annual Report"), together with the Notice of the AGM (the "Notice"). The Company further announces that its Annual Report has also been prepared in accordance with European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) reporting requirements.



The Annual Report (including in ESEF format) and the Notice are now available on the Company's website at www.admiralgroup.co.uk/investor-relations . These documents have also been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and are available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism



Dan Caunt

Company Secretary

LEI Number: 213800FGVM7Z9EJB2685




Roshn, a leading Saudi community developer backed by the kingdom's wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund), has announced the launch of Alfulwa, its fourth residential community in the kingdom, covering a 10.8-million-sq-m area on the Al Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province.

The project, which is located 7km from the centre of Al Hofuf city, the major urban centre in the Al Ahsa Oasis, will feature more than 18,000 residential units with a population capacity of 100,000 people.

Built near Dakhna Mountain and Al Qarah Mountain, the Alfulwa project illustrates the unique cultural and geographical heritage of the region, providing an ideal mix of urban facilities amidst the stunning mountainous nature.

The new residential community will also be developed in accordance with the Roshn Group's key design DNA, by providing high-quality residences, connected to a range of integrated utilities and public spaces that together form vibrant communities, it stated.

Unveiling the project, Group CEO David Grover said: "We are delighted to put our footprint in the Eastern Province, especially in Al Hofuf city, with this project, thus reflecting Roshns dedication to enhancing the urban landscape across the kingdom."

"Over the next few years, our objective is to create residential developments that provide the Saudi community with access to modern amenities in a sustainable and natural environment," he noted.

According to Grover, Alfulwa project marks the fourth community launched by Roshn, following the successful introduction of Sedra and Warefah in Riyadh and Alarous in Jeddah.

"With a focus on enriching the quality of life and fostering vibrant communities, Roshn is committed to realising the objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030," he stated.

Alfulwa project extends Roshn's vision of promoting the concept of sustainable housing and making it available to the largest possible segment of the Saudi society.

"In its design and construction, Alfulwa adheres to the sustainability principle, contributing to a 18% reduction in energy consumption costs," noted Grover.

"In addition, the project incorporates unique architectural features of the Eastern Province's buildings, which combine horizontal grooves and carefully crafted details, making it an ideal example of traditional architecture," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Sisters of the Valley are asking.

A Novitiate Sister Labeling

All Products Made by Hand at the California farm

Topical salve, Gelcaps and Oils

Made by the Cycles of the Moon

Merced, California, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just before the turn of the year, the same bookkeeping year that the pandemic ended, the floods and mudslides began in California. They continue to this day. By early February, businesses across California were realizing the hit to sales that came from this new disaster, and the Federal Government was setting aside recovery funds, knowing that the floods and mudslides could be the death knoll to many small California farms and businesses.

The Sisters of the Valley watched their sales fall to 50% pre-pandemic numbers because of that first economic disaster, and then when the floods came, they watched the sales plunge further, in the opposite direction of where they were headed. The Sisters of the Valley were given substantial help by the SBA in the form of low-interest loans in order to survive the pandemic. They qualified, based on a healthy pre-pandemic profit and a substantial payroll history.

Because the recent floods and disasters happened before the business could recover from a pandemic economy, they are now being locked out of further help. And Sister Kate is wondering if this is happening to everyone in California. There hasnt been enough time between the pandemic ending and the floods hitting, for small businesses to recover. Big businesses can take the hit, but small businesses dont have the reserves.

The weed-nuns have a global name, they make excellent products, they have been operating for nine years through much adversity, and they managed to survive the pandemic, managed to maintain staff, and were just crawling to break-even, when the floods and mudslides hit. Their activism is fueled by the jobs they have making salves and tinctures and mushroom coffee.

When the Sisters approached the SBA for help in early February, they were expecting equal assistance as they had for the pandemic, since sales fell equally as a percentage. Three weeks later, they were asking for only ten percent of the help received during the pandemic. And today, they are pretty sure there is no help coming.

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Sister Kate explained, The process itself is humiliating, because they just found random reasons to deny me, at first. Accusations of misuse of funds that werent true. Accusations of violating the agreement with them, also not true. And finally, they landed on a reason I cant argue with. Your financials look unhealthy. Cannot argue with that. We just survived a pandemic.

In the midst of all this, Fiona Ma, the Treasurer of California, and the founder of Shopify hosted a small business help seminar, where they laid out the avenues for aide. One of the speakers was quite frank about the fact that it is the businesses with loads of lawyers and accountants are the ones that get the help from the SBA. For me, that was very disheartening to hear, said Sister Kate. In midst of a string of denials from the SBA, it made me wonder if the small in Small Business Administration really refers to their $50 million a year businesses and doesnt really provide much help to the truly small.

The latest rejection, based on weak financials leading up to the disaster, rings like a catch 22 to the Sisters. The SBA help is based on being healthy before the disaster, but there was a disaster before this disaster, and they are not looking back more than three years. For the sisters, if they had healthy financials, they wouldnt be knocking at the door of the SBA.

Sister Kate said she is having a hard time wrapping her head around any small business having good profit and loss statements after the pandemic. She wonders if any of Merced Countys small businesses qualify, and these are the questions she would like the congressmans office to answer.

The sisters have asked Congressman Duartes office to follow up with the SBA on their behalf. During the pandemic, we had a democratic representative, whose office was swift in getting action from the SBA. Now we have a republican. I dont know if he will fight for us like Adam Gray did, Sister Kate said. And we dont know if we are being discriminated against or not. The SBA operates a bit like the Catholic Church, transparency isnt their superpower.

Sister Kate said youd have to be inside the SBA to know if they are using different criteria for small companies or hemp companies or California central valley companies, for that matter, than they use for other businesses. She is aware that there are likely only a handful of qualifying businesses in the county, with the County of Merced allotted more than 27 million to disperse.

For more information about the sisters, visit their store: www.sistersofthevalley.org

Attachments

CONTACT: www.sistersofthevalley.org Sisters of the Valley (209) 500-6008 sisterhalla@sistersofcbd.com




WUPPERTAL, Germany, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vorwerk is 140 years old  and that means 140 years of passion and innovation. Founded in the valley of the Wupper river as a carpet factory, Vorwerk also moved into the production of household appliances (Kobold vacuum cleaners) in 1929. The advantages of the first, powerful Kobold model could not be conveyed via retail sales  This gave way to direct sales at Vorwerk and certainly the most important milestone in Vorwerk's history. Today Vorwerk is the number one direct sales company in Europe and a world leader in the direct sales of high-quality household appliances. In 2021, the Group generated sales totaling  3.4 billion, a new company record.

Vorwerk Headquarters Wuppertal

Thank You to our Community

The company owes its success to the people who are enthusiastic about the brand and its products and who actively support it. The Vorwerk community consists of 100,000 sales Advisors and some 9,000 employees, as well as many, many customers around the globe. It is precisely these people's passion that has made Vorwerk so successful.

Vorwerk's Company History

Back in 1883, Carl Vorwerk founded Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co., a small carpet factory and the cornerstone of today's global brand. In doing so, he demonstrated entrepreneurial prowess because until then, high-quality carpets had only been manufactured in England. In 1907, Carl Vorwerk handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law, August Mittelsten Scheid, who was himself the scion of an industrial family in business in Barmen since 1764. By 1909, the Vorwerk name had already become a familiar one beyond the region and the company was growing rapidly. It stepped up its carpet production, erected new buildings and set up the company's own machine workshop. By this time, the product spectrum was constantly expanding and at that time, ranged from car axles to gramophone motors.

The invention of the radio brought the market for gramophones to its knees. Although, a new idea would save the day: The gramophone motor became a motor for a vacuum cleaner. In 1929, the Kobold was something of a small revolution: a handy appliance - but nevertheless one that was very effective. However, the market was not yet ready for that innovation, and prospective customers could not appreciate the advantages of the Kobold model from merely seeing it on sale in a retail store. Once again, a revolutionary idea would save the day, namely the introduction of direct sales in Germany  certainly the most important milestone in the company's history. Brought back from the USA by August Mittelsten Scheid's son, Werner in 1930, this people-oriented sales concept would become Vorwerk's trademark and the secret of its success.

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In 1953, Dr. Erich Mittelsten Scheid took on sole management of the company and initiated far-reaching changes, such as expanding the product range and opening up further to international markets. In 1968, akf bank became the first service brand to join the Group.

In 1969, Erich Mittelsten Scheid handed the Vorwerk reins over to his nephew, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid, who from 1969 to 2005 played a crucial role in shaping the company, turning it into an internationally successful corporate group. Expansion of the product portfolio is among the achievements that fall within his time at the helm: Already in 1971, the Thermomix became the first multifunctional food processor and cooking appliance to be launched onto the market. Pushing ahead with its consistent strategy of internationalisation, Vorwerk founded its first foreign subsidiary abroad in China, in 1990, and subsidiaries in Eastern Europe soon followed. At the end of 2005, Dr. Jorg Mittelsten Scheid stepped down from the management of the company, but today continues to oversee the company as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. With Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, Hauke Paasch and Dr. Thomas Rodemann, a three-member Executive Board now manages the fortunes of the Group, whereas the owner family provides continuity in its fifth generation.

People are our Focus

We are convinced: When people meet in person, worlds and opportunities open up. A personal product demonstration creates magical moments and a lasting connection between people - and in Vorwerk's case, worldwide. People have always come first at Vorwerk. Direct sales is the company's recipe for success: product demonstrations are social events at which people come together, discover their love for the product and become members of the Vorwerk family. Without a doubt, the Vorwerk Advisors play a very special role here: they are the faces of our company and essential to our success - and they will continue to be just that in the future, too.

ABOUT VORWERK

The Vorwerk SE & Co. KG family enterprise was founded in 1883. The holding company's registered office is located in Wuppertal, Germany. Vorwerk's core business encompasses both the production and sale of high-quality household products (Thermomix kitchen appliance, Kobold vacuum cleaner). As a direct sales company, Vorwerk always seeks direct contact with its customers. Here, the Advisor is at the center of activities and serves as a central point of contact for the customer. The Vorwerk family also includes the akf bank. Vorwerk generated consolidated sales of 3.4 billion (2021) and operates in more than 60 countries.

Vorwerk Erlebniskochen Thermomix TM6

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039800/Vorwerk_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2039801/Vorwerk_2.jpg

Cision

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Royal Philips

Liz Doherty

David Pyott

Abhijit Bhattacharya

March 24, 2023

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced it has convened the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) 2023 and published the agenda with explanatory notes.

The agenda of the AGM 2023 includes the recommendation of the Supervisory Board, endorsed by Philips Chief Executive Officer to the shareholders to re-appoint Abhijit Bhattacharya (Indian, 1961) as member of the Board of Management for an additional period of two years, with effect from May 9, 2023. Mr Bhattacharya has held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Management since 2015.

Additionally, it will be proposed to the shareholders to re-appoint David Pyott (British/American, 1953) and Liz Doherty (British/Irish, 1957) as members of the Supervisory Board with effect from May 9, 2023. Mr Pyott and Ms Doherty have been members of the Supervisory Board since 2015 and 2019, respectively.

The agenda further includes the proposals to re-appoint EY as the companys external auditor for a term of one year starting January 1, 2024, and to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers as the companys new external auditor for a term of four years starting January 1, 2025.

Finally, the agenda also includes a number of recurring items, such as the 2022 Remuneration Report as included in the Annual Report 2022, and the proposals to adopt the companys financial statements and dividend.

The AGM will be held at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, Amsterdam on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, beginning at 14.00 CET. The complete agenda with explanatory notes, the Annual Report 2022 (which was published on February 21, 2023), the binding nominations, as well as all other documents related to the AGM have been published here .

For further information, please contact:

Ben Zwirs

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 615213446

E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com

Derya Guzel

Philips Investor Relations

Tel.: +31 20 59 77055

E-mail: derya.guzel@philips.com

Story continues

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2022 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 77,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .

Forward-looking statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.





Attachments




1000-Lb. Sisters star Amy Slaton's sons Gage and Glenn are getting plenty of love from their aunt Tammy Slaton, 10 days after Amy's husband, Michael Halterman, filed for divorce.

Tammy, 36, shared several Instagram photos on Thursday, March 23, showing her cuddling Glenn, 8 months, close to her face, showcasing her noticeable weight loss. In another picture, the little one was peacefully asleep on Tammy's chest.

Tammy Slaton Amy Sons

Gage, 2, was seen wearing adorable shamrock pajamas while playing with an iPad in several other snapshots. Amy, 35, was not featured in any of the photographs that her sister posted.

Amy reportedly moved in with Tammy in February ahead of her divorce from Michael. He filed to end their four-year marriage on March 13, according to Kentucky court records viewed by In Touch on March 20. The former couple were high school sweethearts who had been together since their teenage years and married in 2019. Gage was born in November 2020, while Glenn came along in July 2022.

Tammy moved into her sister Amanda's former marital home after her Kentucky duplex was broken into and heavily burglarized in May 2022 while she was away in an Ohio weight loss rehab. The reality star has since lost enough weight to leave the facility, even though she was seen on the March 21 season finale episode of 1000-Lb. Sisters getting married to husband Caleb Willingham while the two were in rehab together. Caleb was not seen in any of the photos Tammy posted.

Tammy Slaton Amy Sons

Fans had so many questions about Tammy's rare family photographs. For one thing, her tracheostomy tube was missing, while she still had oxygen tubes under her nose. One follower cheered, "Looks like your trach is out. Congratulations!" Another person added, "Keep it up! We wanna see you off that oxygen girl."

Others wanted to know where her husband was. "Hey, where is Caleb?" one person asked, while more followers wanted to know if she and Caleb were still married, since the wedding that was seen on 1000-Lb. Sisters was filmed in November 2022. For now, it appears the pair are still together but have a long-distance relationship, as Caleb is reportedly still in Ohio and hasn't transferred to a weight loss facility closer to where his wife now lives.
Two foreign nationals are serving federal prison time for their participation in a gift card and wire fraud scheme based in Utah that cheated victims out of thousands of dollars. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Two people are serving federal prison time for their participation in a gift card and wire fraud scheme based in Utah that cheated victims, some of them elderly, out of thousands of dollars.

Chaohui Chen, 46, was sentenced Monday to 21 months imprisonment followed by 36 months supervised release, district court records show. Wenyi Zheng, 46, was sentenced Monday to 36 months imprisonment followed by 36 months supervised release. They were also ordered to pay $217,200 each in restitution.

Chen and Zheng each pleaded guilty to a count of wire fraud, district court records show. In exchange for the pleas, prosecutors dismissed an additional count of wire fraud and a count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for both Chen and Zheng.

In June 2019, Chen and Zheng were involved in a Walmart gift card conspiracy and wire fraud scheme, according to a news release from the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah.

"The purpose of the scheme was to defraud individuals and obtain money and property for the personal gain of the defendants and others," the news release states.

A typical execution of the scheme involved unnamed third parties who would make fraudulent phone calls, sometimes claiming to victims that they were part of the Social Security Administration, the news release continues. The callers would convince victims to purchase prepaid gift cards and give them the 16-digit gift card numbers and unique pins in return for a cashier's check in the amount of the gift card purchase.

However, once in control of the gift cards, Chen and Zheng, both foreign nationals, redeemed them at various stores for household items and additional gift cards, "which they would convert and use for their own personal gain, and neglect to return any of the money to the victims."

Additionally, Chen and Zheng used interstate wire communications facilities throughout the scheme for the purposes of carrying out the crime, the news release states.

"The United States Attorney's Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate people who prey on vulnerable members of our community," said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins in the news release. "It is our job to pursue justice for victims, some of whom are elderly and trusted those who committed this crime."
National protests in France threatened to disrupt the 2023 Series Mania television festival and international industry summit, but, in the end, the 2023 event went off without a hitch. Members of the global TV industry gathered in the northern French city of Lille to celebrate the best in new small-screen drama and ponder the future of the business.

Here are the four big industry takeaways.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Everyones Going Local

Netflix original series Transatlantic, is produced out of Germany

A few years back, all the major streamers were touting their global appeal, but with subscription growth slowing, the battle for business has moved to the local level. At Series Mania, execs for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Paramount+ all touted their local credentials.

Netflixs heads of European TV programming, including Germanys Katja Hofem, Frances Damien Couvreur, and the Nordic regions Jenny Stjernstromer Bjork teased the streamers Euro slate, including Part 3 of hit heist show Lupin featuring French superstar Omar Sy and new period miniseries Transatlantic, from German-based showrunner Anna Winger (Unorthodox, Deutschland 83). Pauline Dauvin, Disneys vp, programming, original productions and acquisitions unveiled the companys new French originals slate, which will include a new series, The Children Are Kings, adapted from Delphine Le Vigans novel of the same name, and Antigang: La Releve, an action film starring Alban Lenoir, Jean Reno and Sofia Essaidi. Amazon Prime Videos head of international operations James Farrell also emphasized the companys new local-first strategy, including Germanys big-budget fantasy epic The Gryphon as well as lower-cost local non-scripted shows such as French comedy format LOL.

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Its All About the Franchise

Citadel

With budgets tightening, streamers are putting the few big bets on proven formats or those with strong franchise potential. Paramount+ international boss Marco Nobili noted the studio-backed platform was looking to build out franchises around its hit series Dexter and Yellowstone as well as non-scripted formats, such as RuPauls Drag Race, which recently saw its local-language Italian version renewed for a third season and has editions set for Brazil, Germany and Mexico as well as a Global Drag Race All Stars format planned.

Having these big mass franchises that are really becoming popular is something that is critical for us, said Nobili. We know how to create popular content the same way as we know how to make content popular. You will hear us saying that over and over again.

A new twist on the franchise model was on display at Series Mania, with Paramount+ promoting NCIS: Sydney, the first international spinoff of its hit procedural, produced by CBS Studios in association with Endemol Shine Australia. Amazon Primes Farrell also talked up the Russo Brothers upcoming spy thriller Citadel, which will go out as a high-end U.S. version, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and as two local-language spin offs in India and Italy.

Its such a cool way to take [subscribers] on a journey and no one has really done it before, said Farrell, who noted that his non-U.S. team will seek more Citadel-like universes across both scripted and unscripted.

Aggregate, Aggregate, Aggregate

Sky Studios CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz

The new model for streaming platforms appears to be the buffet. With the exception of AppleTV+, which maintains a small output of high-end series and documentaries, streamers and pay-TV platforms are going broad, adding non-scripted and more broad-appeal fare in an attempt to offer something for everyone.

Talking about the still-unnamed joint HBO Max/Discovery+ platform, HBO boss Bloys said, Its kind of replicating the cable bundle. Thats frankly what I think all streaming services are trying to figure out. How can you put the bundle together that will attract the most subscribers and keep the largest number of subscribers? It cant just be HBO on its own or just reality shows [it has to be] a combination that people will come here for whatever mood they are in.

Sky Studios CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz noted that platforms that act as aggregators  Sky offers HBO content as well as its own originals, for example  will have an advantage in the current market, where there is simply too much content out there and audiences have a real demand for simplification.

No Shortage of New Ideas

Ukrainian war drama Unspoken won Series Manias 2023 Best Project Award.

Based on the offering on display at Series Mania, the original content boom shows no sign of abating. The conference halls and industry sessions were packed with independent producers and creatives offering up new program pitches, many of which attracted industry interest.

Unspoken, a war drama/thriller series set in the real-life war in Ukraine, won the Series Mania Forum Best Project Award, the top prize of the festivals Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, taking the 50,000 ($53,500) cash award to go towards development of the show. Produced by Match & Spark (Poland), Toy Cinema and 2Brave Productions (Ukraine), the six-episode series is created by Filip Syczynski, who is co-writing with Zhanna Ozirna. Elsewhere, the Finnish project Yours, Margot and the Belgium-Uruguay co-production The Invisible Ink won the Beta Development Awards, which came with 50,000 ($54,000) in development cash.

Even as the global streamers look to produce more local series, said Beta Films managing director Moritz von Kruedener, the opportunities for pan-European or other international co-productions will continue to grow.

Even if youre only producing locally, national funding is not enough, he said. I think the coming years will be a golden time for co-production.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Click here to read the full article.
LILLE, France  Headed by a commanding performance from Navid Mohammadzadeh, superbly shot and packing arguably the best opening scene of any series in Series Mania main competition, Navid Javidis The Actor won the Grand Prize at Series Mania on Friday night.

The top Series Mania award for the The Actor also proves vindication for the Festival which this year has broadened its geographical reach in an effort to discover new narrative modes and styles. Consistently subordinating narrative to mood, The Actor certainly wins on that score.

More from Variety

Main scribe John Kare Raake (The Quake) and co-scribe Linn-Jeanethe Kyed (B) scooped best writing for The Fortress, a banner upcoming Viaplay title produced by Norways Maipo Film and sold by TrustNordisk, which delivers a telling political cautionary tale for our times, a chic isolationist parable thriller set in an alternative Norway which has built a wall to keep foreigners out. When a virus strikes, it becomes a prison.

The main theme of the series is that to solve the problems we have to solve, everybody needs everybody, Kare said on stage at Lille, accepting the award.

Michael Sheen took actor for his performance in BBCs Best Interests, a family and disability drama written by Jack Thorne (The Virtues, Help) in which he plays a character whose conduct is questionable but absolutely relatable and often heart-rending  if the reaction from a Lille audience is anything to go by.

To work on anything that Jack Thorne has written is award enough, Sheen told a closing ceremony audience by video.

The best actress award went to Margot Bancilhon for Haven of Tears, a well-received series from Arte France, Mediawans Ego Productions and Cannes Directors Fortnight winning filmmaker Vincent Mael Cardona (Magnetic Beats).

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Blackwater, the latest from ITV-owned Apple Tree Productions took best series for a double crime mystery and premium public broadcaster drama, here for SVT, set in 1973 and 1991 in deep Sweden, which broadens the focus of Nordic Noir in its powerful atmospherics and bigger picture of a rural community facing individual and collective oblivion.

In another major win, Little Bird, an indigenous-led drama showrun by Jennifer Podemski, (The Rez, Empire of Dirt) following the life of Bezhig Little Bird, a victim of the Sixties Scoop in Saskatchewan, scooped Series Manias Public Award for the best title at any section in the festival, save for its Short Formats Competition.

Best direction in International Panorama went to Mexicos Ernesto Contreras for I Have to Die Every Night, a touching love letter to 1980s Mexico City, framed by a coming-of-age tale, when a whole young generation of Mexicans discovered new freedoms, thanks in part to a glam gay scene, assailed by an autocratic regime and then AIDs.

On stage at Lille, Contreras dedicated the award to the communities which had battled homophobia, discrimination and repression during these years in Mexico City.

Best Series in what looked like a strong French Competition was won by Under Control, a political satire lampooning the French ruling class, created by Charly Dewart for Arte and sold by Federation Studios.

Ben Croll contributed to this article.

Series Mania 2023 Prize Winners:

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Grand Prize

The Actor, (Nima Javidi, Iran)

Best Writing

John Kare Raake, Linn-Jeanethe Kyed (The Fortresss, Norway)

Best Actress

Margot Bancilhon (Haven of Grace, France)

Best Actor

Michael Sheen (Best Interests, United Kingdom)

INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA

Best Series

Blackwater, (Mikael Marcimain, Sweden)

Best Directing

Ernesto Contreras (Tengo que morir todas las noches, Mexico)

Best Actress

Rotem Sela, Gal Malka (A Body That Works, Israel)

Best Actor

Eran Naim (Innermost, Germany, Israel)

Student award for Best Series

Funny Woman, (Oliver Parker, United Kingdom)

FRENCH COMPETITION

Best Series

Under Control, (Erwan Le Duc, France)

Best Actress

Clementine Celarie (Six women)

Best Actor

Carel Brown (Aspergirl, France, Belgium)

Best Original Score

Maud Geffray, Rebeka Warrior (Split France)

SHORT FORMS COMPETITION

Best Series

Autodefensa, (Miguel Angel Blanca, Spain)

COMEDY COMPETITION

Best Series by a high school students Jury of the Hauts-de-France

Rictus, (Arnaud Malherbe, France)

PUBLIC AWARD

Best Series

Little Bird, (Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, Zoe Hopkins, Canada)

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Theres nothing more disappointing than sinking your teeth into a slice of bread and get a mouthful of green, fuzzy mold. The thought of that experience alone probably turns your stomach. It may also leave you wondering what happens if you eat mold accidentally and the potential harm you're doing to your body. Is this a see-your-doctor-immediately kind of situation?

First, relax. If you took a bite of some moldy food, don't worry. Its extremely common, explains Keri Gans , RD, a New York-based nutritionist and author. And its super easy for mold to grow on food thats soft and porous like bread, fruit, vegetables, and more, she adds.

This may surprise youmold spores are all around us. They can enter a building through the air and attach to food and surfaces, and they are naturally present in soil and natural habitats where crops are grown, says Georgia Jones , PhD, an associate professor of food science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Its part of nature, so you can expect mold to pop up over time. That said, you can delay that by washing and storing your food properly.

Meet the experts: Keri Gans , RD, is a New York-based nutritionist and author. Georgia Jones , PhD, is an associate professor of food science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Rudolph Bedford, MD, is a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica.

Basically, eating moldy food probably won't hurt you too much, let alone kill you, says Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica.

But there are definitely a few things you should keep in mind. On rare occasions, mold *can* make you sick if youre not careful. Heres everything you need to know if you accidentally eat mold, according to experts.

Give it to me straight. What happens if I eat mold?

Don't run to the bathroom to scrub your tongue with a bar of soap just yet. Youre not going to die from eating mold, says Dr. Bedford. In fact, as long as your immune system is in good shape, you can digest it like any other food.

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Though molds (a.k.a. microscopic fungi)which creep up on plant and animal products after being transported there by air, water, or insectscan be dangerous, they usually arent, according to the USDA.

After all, molds are meant to be on certain foodsincluding dry-cured country hams and cheeses such as Brie and Camembert. In many of these cases, mold is totally safe to eat, the USDA says.

But what about the fuzzy green or white stuff that pops up unannounced on fruits, vegetables, bread, and dairy products?

You might feel sick after accidentally eating these molds, but that's most likely because the mold tastes bad, not because of any particular toxin in it, says Dr. Bedford.

The exception is if the mold you ate produces a particular type called mycotoxins. It is typically found in grain and nut crops, but also in celery, grape juice, apples, and other produce. Its estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that around 25 percent of the worlds food crops contain mycotoxins, says the USDA . Even so, "minute amounts are unlikely to make someone sick, but these can accumulate in the liver and kidneys and cause health problems in the long term, says Jones.

Dr. Bedford recommends waiting to see if your symptoms escalate beyond nausea before rushing to call the doctor. The stomach is a harsh environment, so, for the most part, most bacteria and fungus won't survive, he explains.



But what if I do get super sick from eating moldy food?

Its very uncommon that youre going to get [really] sick from mold, says Dr. Bedford. And in the rare instance that you do, you'll likely have had to consume large amounts of the stuff. (And, c'mon, are you really going to keep licking the fuzz off your food? I didn't think so.)

If the unlikely occurs, though, and your symptoms include persistent nausea and vomiting, you should definitely call the doctor, Dr. Bedford says. Typically, he'd just prescribe anti-nausea medicationbut if you're really feeling miserable, he might prescribe something to induce vomiting or diarrhea to try to flush out your system.



In some cases, people have allergic reactions to certain molds, which can contribute to respiratory issues, says Dr. Bedford. But don't worry, they're usually temporary and easily treated by your doctor.



Ultimately, though, don't get too freaked out: In his 30 years of practice, Dr. Bedford says he has never seen anyone die or require more intense treatment due to mold (though that doesn't mean it's impossible).

And the good news is mold cannot grow in the stomach because it is too acidic. Many human diseases are caused by fungal infectionson the skin and respiratory system. However, these are not truly associated with the consumption of moldy foods, whether the mold was used intentionally to ferment a food product or not, says Jones.

Wait, can't I just cut the mold off of my food?

If you're not too skeeved out by that patch of mold on your eats, you might be tempted to just cut it off and continue eating, but whether or not this is actually a good idea depends on the food.

Though you only see their fuzzy discolored tops, all molds have roots that invade foods, according to the USDA. Since these roots allow toxins (if there are any) to spread throughout the inside of your food, your best move is to throw out the moldy food in its entirety, regardless of where you see the moldy patch, Dr. Bedford says.

Still, mold can't penetrate certain hard cheeses, hard salami, firm fruits, and vegetables as easily as softer foods, the USDA says. That makes these foods easier to save from a fuzzy patch. Just make sure to cut off at least an inch around and below the moldy spot, keep your knife out of the mold, and wrap the good part of the food in a new covering.

For quick reference, these food are generally okay to eat once you cut off any mold:

Hard cheeses

Hard salami

Firm fruits

Vegetables

These foods, meanwhile, should be thrown away if at all moldy:

Soft cheeses (that are not meant to be moldy)

Soft fruits, such as strawberries, grapes, blueberries, and peaches

Baked goods

Legumes

Nuts

Yogurt

Jams

Meat

Bread

Also, FYI, toasting your bread will not kill the mold on it, so don't even go there. Since bread is super porous, it's definitely one to chuck at the first sign of fuzz, says the USDA.

But wait, isn't mold used to make certain foods?

In short, yes, mold is used to make some of your favorite foods like cheese, soy sauce, vinegar, yogurt, and morewhich means that some mold is obviously not dangerous to eat, Gans explains.

For example, cheese is made with common molds like Penicillium strains. (Think of the stinky, rotted look of blue cheese and gorgonzola.) And yup, traditional soy sauces and vinegars use Koji, a fungus, to ferment and create that classic acidic, tart, and sometimes sweet taste.

But all of these molds are generally considered safe to eat, since theyre consumed as part of the food theyre used to make, Gans explains.

That said, when you see an unnatural growth occur on these foods, dont disregard it, notes the USDA . If you find something funky popping up on these foods (picture anything uncharacteristically green, blue, and fuzzy), your best bet is still to cut off the area or discard the item entirely.

How can I prevent mold from forming in the first place?

Since warm, humid conditions encourage mold growthand dry mold spores float through the air in search of new places in which to grow some more moldy friendsthe USDA recommends a few best practices for keeping mold from messing with your food:



Examine foods for mold before buying them

Purchase food in small amounts so mold doesn't have time to grow

Cover food with plastic wrap

Stash food in the refrigerator quickly

Eat leftovers within three or four days

Clean your refrigerator regularly

Keep your home's humidity level below 40 percent

Of course, molds can still grow in the refrigerator (albeit much more slowly), but following these guidelines can help keep your eats fresh and fuzz-free for as long as possible.



The bottom line: Eating moldy food probably won't make you sick, but most foods should be thrown away at the first sign of fuzz. To prevent mold growth, properly wrap all food and store it in a clean, dry refrigerator.

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Arizona organizations can now apply for the first round of state marijuana funds for justice reinvestment programs.

When recreational marijuana was legalized in 2020 through Proposition 207, a Justice Reinvestment Fund was created that sets aside 10% of marijuana-related taxes and fees. Most of that money is allocated to county health departments and the Arizona Department of Health Services for public health issues, and the remainder is for grants to organizations running justice reinvestment programs, which aim to reduce the population of incarcerated people or help people who were formerly incarcerated.

According to the Department of Health Services, $5.9 million will be released during this round of grants.

Under Proposition 207, justice reinvestment programs are broadly defined. The law says they can provide substance use prevention and treatment, jail diversion, workforce development, or mentoring services, among other offerings. They also can address the causes of crime, aim to reduce drug arrests or help people expunge criminal records.

Justice reinvestment programs should serve residents in areas impacted by disproportionately high rates of arrest and incarceration, according to the Department of Health Services. Arizona Department of Corrections data was used to demonstrate that Black, Hispanic and Native American communities are disproportionately impacted by incarceration. The Department of Health Services produced maps that show priority regions for grant funding. Those regions include much of south and west Phoenix.

Health Department gathers ideas about justice reinvestment

The Department of Health Services funded a series of listening sessions hosted by nonprofits across the state to determine priorities for justice reinvestment programs. More than 90 of the 235 session participants said they had personally experienced arrest or incarceration, according to the department.

From these sessions came many ideas about what justice reinvestment can look like.

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Ideas for marijuana grants:How south Phoenix groups want to use state marijuana dollars for 'justice reinvestment'

Participants said these programs could help people meet basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, transportation and health care, according to a report by LeCroy & Milligan Associates, a consulting firm that facilitated the sessions on behalf of the department.

Other ideas put forth by session participants included investments in neighborhood maintenance such as increased crosswalks and public restrooms, technology training for formerly incarcerated people about using computers and smartphones and teacher training about diversity, equity and inclusion, according to the report.

Last fall, more than 50 organizations across the state formed the Arizona Communities Justice Reinvestment Network. They wrote a letter to the Department of Health Services requesting that the grant-making process be equitable and accessible to small and emerging organizations.

Were really pleasantly surprised and pleased that it really does seem like a lot of our input was heard, and not just heard but incorporated into the process, said Caroline Isaacs, executive director of Just Communities Arizona.

Isaacs said the network is excited that the application is open to grassroots groups, which it defines as typically composed of individuals impacted by the issue being addressed, who are leading and mobilizing communities.

I don't think I've ever seen that come out of a state agency in Arizona, Isaacs said.

Isaacs was also happy to see that the Department of Health Services appears open to a wide variety of ideas for justice reinvestment.

Sometimes with grants, its like, 'We are funding this one tiny thing and you must do it exactly this way,' Isaacs said. Thats not the case with this.

The grant application window closes on April 28. Instructions on how to apply can be found at grants.az.gov/funding-opportunities-0. Moving forward, DHS said it will release justice reinvestment grants annually.

Madeleine Parrish covers equity issues for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maddieparrish61.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ groups can apply for justice reinvestment grants using pot funds
Eugene Residents for Energy Choice successfully gathered enough signatures to put the the city council's natural gas ban on the ballot this fall.

A measure that would ban natural gas and other fossil fuel infrastructure in some new residential construction in Eugene will appear on a future ballot.

Eugene Residents for Energy Choice submitted about 12,000 signatures for a referendum petition earlier this month. The Lane County Clerks Office verified at least 6,460 of those matched signatures from people registered to vote within Eugene, and the recorder has certified the petition.

Those pushing for the ordinance Eugene officials passed in February to go before a public vote were overwhelmed with the community support, according to a press release.

Their success means the city must hold off implementing the gas ban ordinance until a public vote or scrap it altogether, if voters reject the measure. The ballot measure is likely to appear on the November ballot.

Nearly 100 cities across the country have passed similar ordinances. Eugene was the first in Oregon to do so.

Supporters of the initial ordinance have criticized the petition committee, which they claim exists solely to do NW Naturals bidding. The gas utility opposed the gas ban and donated more than $900,000 in cash and services to the campaign.

David Roy, NW Natural's senior director of communications, called the claim that the committee is a front group "baffling" and said it's a separate entity the utility is supporting because "we believe Eugene voters should have a say on this decision to ban gas in new homes."

Roy added NW Natural is following state rules and guidelines and that customers are not backing the contributions.

Ordinance applies to new residential construction

The ordinance passed on Feb. 6 prohibits fossil fuel infrastructure in new low-rise residential buildings. It would have taken effect for building permits submitted on or after June 30, 2023.

It defines fossil fuel infrastructure as natural gas piping, fuel oil piping, or other fossil fuel piping or conveyance system within a building, that connects a source of supply to a fossil-fuel burning appliance.

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Low-rise residential buildings are ones no taller than three stories with one or more permanent dwelling units, including:

Detached one- and two-family houses.

Attached, single-family dwellings (townhouses).

Manufactured homes.

Multi-family residential buildings.

The ordinance does not include mixed-used buildings where there are both retail and residential uses. It also does not include existing homes.

Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis speaks during a protest of NW Natural's support of efforts to roll back the gas ban in Eugene.

Measure mirrors ordinance, challenge asking for changes

The measure attached to the petition mirrors the ordinance language.

Petitioners used that wording to get 12,262 signatures and qualify the measure for a future ballot. Their success in getting the certification of enough signatures means implementation of the ordinance remains on hold.

Jim Ball, one of three listed petitioners, said the ballot measure will give Eugene voters the opportunity for their voices to be heard.

Though officials heard testimony on the ordinance several times through public hearings and public forums, opponents of the gas ban criticized the process and pushed for council to make it a ballot measure.

It is good to see democracy working in our community, Ball said in a statement.

Three Eugene residents are asking a judge to alter the ballot measure language.

Environmental, public health and social justice advocates who backed the gas ban say the ballot title the city posted based on the prospective petition is not a sufficient, concise or fair definition of the ordinance.

Theyve requested changes that add context, such as information about the Climate Recovery Ordinance, which requires the city to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 50% of 2010 levels by 2030.

Read more:Eugene voters ask judge to alter language of proposed gas ban measure

A Lane County Circuit Court judge will decide on the appeal. Oral argument related to the petition is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 4.

Activists: Committee a front group bankrolled by NW Natural

People who supported the ordinance and the challenge to the ballot title say Eugene Residents for Energy Choice is a front group using contributions from NW Natural to bankroll the collection of signatures for a ballot referendum to roll back climate change policy in a community deeply committed to the clean energy transition.

NW Natural has donated $875,000 in cash to the campaign, according to state campaign finance records. The gas utility also has donated $79,080.38 in non-cash resources, including voter data and office supplies.

Unnamed individuals have donated $75 in miscellaneous cash contributions and $90 in non-cash resources.

The committee has spent a little more than $700,000:

$659,566.52 to I&R Campaign Management Services, based out of Newman Lake, Washington, to help organize canvassing and other efforts.

$50,095 to Funk/Levis and Associates in Eugene and Gard Communications in Portland for communications and consulting.

$1,575 to KPNW for radio advertising.

$37.75 on miscellaneous items.

Students march down Willamette Street in Eugene in protest of NW Natural's effort to roll back the gas ban in Eugene.

Youth and other community members rallied March 3 to protest NW Naturals efforts to roll back the ordinance, describing the ballot measure as a direct attack on local democracy and climate justice.

Danny Noonan, a climate and energy strategist, said the eye-watering amount of money flowing into this campaign in such a short time from a single fossil fuel company makes it clear the group is a front for NW Naturals desire to overturn the council vote.

Noonan works for Breach Collective, a local climate justice advocacy group, and lives in the Whiteaker.

Lottie Rohde, a Churchill student and climate strike organizer, expressed frustration that NW Natural is working to undo the years of work she and other young people have invested in fighting for climate action.

Environmental activists say NW Natural has spent significant resources trying to undermine and delay climate action policy in Eugene and across its distribution area in Oregon and Washington, including:

Downplaying peer-reviewed science linking indoor combustion to asthma and other health issues.

Spending thousands of dollars to create childrens workbooks to distribute to Oregon schools.

Sponsoring a teacher training, which was canceled after students planned a protest.

Hiring an industry scientist to cast doubt on scientific evidence that gas stoves pose a health risk.

Paying a campaign services company to attend a public hearing on the gas ban in November 2022.

Dylan Plummer, a senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club who lives in the Amazon neighborhood, said NW Natural can no longer do anything that would surprise him.

The gas utility has shown it is willing to do everything in its power  to keep Oregon hooked on polluting fossil fuels, Plummer said.

Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene's ban on natural gas in new homes qualifies for ballot
March 6, 2023; Columbus, OH, U.S.; Janvier and Sharif Ward have opened a second Creole 2 Geaux location at 104 N. Front Street in the Arena District of Columbus. Creole 2 Geaux debuted as a food truck in 2015 and at East Market in 2022. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

March is Women's History Month, and since the monthlong celebration began in the 1980s, it has provided an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in a number of areas.

Nationally, women-owned businesses increased by 21% between 2014 and 2019, compared to 9% for all businesses, according to the State of Women-Owned Businesses report by American Express. That same report shows that business owned by women of color grew even faster  by 43%.

In Ohio, women entrepreneurs have made a significant impact on the local economy. Over 41% of businesses are owned by women, according to 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Today, that percentage may be even higher thanks to the efforts of groups like the Women's Small Business Accelerator.

Women-owned businesses: Why Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs

To highlight the creativity and determination of these women entrepreneurs, here are 20 women-owned businesses in Columbus. From retail stores and salons to restaurants and bars, if you're looking for a way to support local women-owned businesses, check out this list.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

Jeni Britton, owner of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, in the Short North location.

One of the most recognizable woman-owned businesses based in Columbus, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, is now known nationally for its distinctive ice cream flavors and notable collaborations. Founded by Jeni Britton with its first stall at North Market in 2002, Jeni's has nearly 80 locations across the country, including eight in the Columbus area.

Creole 2 Geaux

Janvier Ward owns Creole 2 Geaux with her husband, Sharif Ward, which started as a food truck in 2015. This Louisianan eatery, which just opened a location in the Arena District in addition to a stall at the East Market, serves shrimp and chicken po'boys, creole bowls, jambalaya mac and cheese, gumbo, Creole ramen bowls and more. Items are based on many of the traditional Creole recipes from Janvier Ward's mother and grandmother.

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Law Bird

Owned by Annie Williams Pierce and Luke Pierce, Brewery District wine and cocktail bar Law Bird features innovative cocktails, seasonal organic and biodynamic wines and bar snacks like nuts, pickles, olives, hummus and cheeses. Last year, the bar was named among the 10 best new cocktail bars in the U.S.

Hosful Collective

Lindsey Drahos, the owner of the retail boutique Hosful Collective, is pictured in February 2022.

Owned by Lindsey Drahos, Hosful Collective opened as a retail boutique in Olde Towne East in August 2020. Created as an accessible pathway for small businesses, most of the vendors at Hosful Collective are Black-owned, women-owned and minority-owned. A variety of work is represented, clothing and jewelry brands and artists and artisans.

Dos Hermanos

Beloved Mexican restaurant Dos Hermanos is owned by Lisa Gutierrez and her husband, Vicente Gutierrez. The restaurant serves traditional Oaxacan-style dishes and authentic Mexican street food. It started in a food truck and is now open in several locations, including North Market, North Market Bridge Park, Food Fort 2.0, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Lower.com Field and, most recently, Easton.

Eclectiques Antique Mall

Eclectiques Antique Mall owner Abbey Simeral poses for a photo before the store reopened in April.

Owner Abbey Simeral owns Eclectiques Antique Mall, a longtime Clintonville shop updated to include 60 vendors, offering a wide variety of antique and vintage items. The vendors, many of which are local or regional, sell everything from mid-century modern pieces to vintage clothing and jewelry.

Pivot Boutique

Owned by former corporate lawyer Nicci Hicks, Short North boutique Pivot opened last year featuring clothing, shoes and accessories from brands owned by women and people of color from around the world, with an emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability. The boutique is a place where people can shop their values, Hicks says.

Makers Social

Owned by Megan Pando, who also owns Studio 614, Makers Social is an interactive bar experience that allows customers to create their own DIY crafts while socializing and enjoying drinks. The bar, located in Franklinton, offers themed cocktails, mocktails and beer, and guests can make wallets, photo coasters, dog collars, jewelry and more from a "project menu."

Pattycake Bakery

Pattycake Bakery co-owner Molly Shea

Pattycake Bakery is a vegan bakery that offers a variety of sweet treats like cakes, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, whoopie pies, granola and gluten-free treats made with organic and 100% natural ingredients. And not only is Pattycake woman-owned, but it's also an eight-person worker-owned cooperative.

J's Sweet Treats and Wedding Cakes

Juana Williams is the owner of J's Sweet Treats, which has a location at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

J's Sweet Treats and Wedding Cakes owner Juana Williams is a self-taught baker specializing in cakes, pies, cookies, pastries, cheesecake and more. The bakery also creates wedding and custom cakes for different occasions and is currently set up at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Women business enterprises: How to obtain your WBE/MBE certification in Ohio

Basic Biscuits Kindness and Coffee

Owner Rebekah Hatzifotinos serves up delicious homemade biscuits at Basic Biscuits Kindness and Coffee in Grandview Heights. The cafe serves up multiple biscuit varieties; mini biscuits; biscuits with sausage gravy; biscuit breakfast sandwiches and sliders; biscuit quiche and gluten-free biscuits as well as coffee, local beers, ciders, champagne, sparkling wine and more.

Brekkie Shack

Owned by twin sisters Lisa and Lindsey Rusch, Brekkie Shack serves health-centric breakfast, brunch and lunch items, like avocado toast, breakfast burritos and sandwiches, waffles, in-house baked goods as well as coffee and cocktails. The Grandview Yard eatery also sources its ingredients locally and aims to do so responsibly.

Celebrate Local

Founded by Heidi Maybruck in 2011, Celebrate Local is a retailer that showcases Ohio-made products, including food, home goods, jewelry, clothing, wines, stationary and more. Celebrate Local also is a business incubator assisting small businesses, with a location at Easton Town Center.

Mmelo Boutique Confections

Michelle Allen, lead confectioner and owner of Mmelo Boutique Confections, fills orders for Easter in the production facility she owns in the Mettler Toledo building on Polaris Parkway in 2020.

At Mmelo Boutique Confections, owner and head confectionary chef Michelle Allen create handmade confections using high-quality and unique ingredients, including artisanal marshmallows, tea cakes, chocolate buttons and liquor-infused bonbons. The confectionary also has vegan options, including agar jellies, fruit bars, latte stones and chocolate jam.

The Blowout Bar

The Blowout Bar is a salon owned by sisters Kristin DeJohn and Kailen Kouvas that specializes in blowouts, hairstyling and makeup. Among the first blowdry-only salons in the Columbus area, the salon has opened three locations in Dublin, Easton Town Center, and Grandview Heights since its inception in 2013.

Bake Me Happy

Owners Letha and Wendy Miller Pugh started Bake Me Happy in 2013, and the gluten-free bakery is now located in Schumacher Place and at North Market Bridge Park in Dublin. The bakery specializes in sweet treats like cookies, bars, cakes, brownies, cupcakes and muffins. Other items include oatmeal creme clouds, brown butter Rice Krispies, pop tarts, blondies and scones.

What the Waffle

Gayle Troy is the owner of What the Waffle, which opened a brick and mortar location in the King-Lincoln neighborhood after operating in a food hub. It is a social enterprise, which helps women in the foster care system.

Owned by Gayle Troy, What the Waffle offers buttermilk Belgian waffle sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, as well as other items, including sweet potato muffins, omelets, shrimp and grits, baked salmon, eggs benedict, coffee and tea. The restaurant opened in King-Lincoln Bronzeville in the summer of 2020.

Red Giraffe Designs

Kate Stevens, founder and owner of Red Giraffe Designs, pictured in her Easton location in 2021.

Red Giraffe Designs is owned by Kate Stevens, who founded the jewelry shop in 2009 and now has multiple locations in Easton Town Center, the Short North and Grandview Heights. The shop sells handmade, vintage, customizable and "forever" jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, anklets and more.

Fay's Crepes

Owned by Fay Abdi, Fay's Crepes offers a variety of sweet and savory crepes made to order, as well as waffles, omelets and other breakfast items. There's also tea, refreshers, ice cream and more. The eatery has locations at Easton Town Center and soon, Bubbly Hall.

Viral Selfie Museum

Danielle White, 24, sits inside the pink airplaine room at the Viral Selfie Museum in the University District.

Owned by Danielle White, Viral Selfie Museum opened in the University District in 2021 and features themed booths for guests to take photos for Instagram or have a private photo shoot session. White, who also works in real estate, opened the museum as the concept has grown in popularity in major cities.

tmoorman@dispatch.com

@taijuannichole

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Women's History Month: 20 women-owned businesses in Columbus
Celebrating two great women of Portsmouth: Letters

March 19  To the Editor:

As we celebrate Womens History Month, there are two women that should be celebrated. Both great women have served on many local boards and are considered pillars of our Portsmouth Community.

These respected women have given locally in many ways. However, I believe they need to be celebrated for their work at State and National levels for the citizens of Portsmouth. For a combined 80-plus years, they have made sure Portsmouth voices were heard.

We need to thank these amazing women for pushing the political envelope at a time when many women were not represented. They both served as New Hampshire representatives and state senators for many years. One of these women served as a New Hampshire executive councilor for 20 years and one ran for U.S. Congress twice. They served their political parties with their representation on national committees and as national delegates for elections. Even though they are from different sides of the aisle, they have always kept Portsmouth residents in their hearts and minds.

One of these women enjoys history and one loves her sheep. They appreciate the waterfront and have boating stories to tell. They have chosen to live their adult life and raise their children in Portsmouth. Historical Portsmouth is their home.

The two women we need to celebrate and learn from during Womens History Month are former state Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin and former state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark.

As a resident of Portsmouth, we cannot thank these two women enough for all the time and energy they have given in supporting our great city. Even though these two women are power houses in their political parties, they are always willing to work with all citizens. As we celebrate Womens History Month, we need to learn from those that came before us. In this time of political divide, we must learn from the actions of Martha Fuller Clark and Ruth Griffin.

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Please join me in thanking them for their service to our city, state and nation.

Thank you, Ruth, and Martha!

Esther Kennedy

Portsmouth

Ruth Lewin Griffin speaks as a large crowd gathered on Court Street for the official dedication of Portsmouth affordable housing development named Ruth Lewin Griffin Place Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

Martha Fuller Clark

Pedestrian crossing signals at Maplewood Avenue are not safe

March 19  To the Editor:

Recently, an 8-year-old child was struck in a downtown crosswalk at 4:45 p.m. by a driver turning right onto Maplewood Avenue from Congress Street. The pedestrian crossing indicator was on but so was the green light for vehicles.

According to Deputy Chief Maloney, a number of pedestrians crossing at that light had the signal to cross. The Deputy Chief said the child was not seriously injured and was not transported from the scene. However, I would imagine it was traumatic for the child and anyone else at that accident. Solar glare was given as a factor but the driver saw the green light!

All three Maplewood Avenue intersections (Congress , Hanover and Deer streets) have the same setup where the light turns green when the pedestrian crossing light is on. At Congress Street there are signs indicating yield to pedestrians and no turn on red." The green light for vehicles goes on when the pedestrian light is at 15." I have been on these crosswalks when a driver is too eager to turn and comes right up to the crosswalk I am on.

These intersections are not safe for pedestrian crossing.

What will it take to change these signals?

Mary Lou McElwain

Portsmouth

It is terrible for North Hampton to lose a chief like Kathryn Mone

March 20  To the Editor:

Praise goes out to the Seacoast Media Group for sharing with the readership the fact that the North Hampton town administrator and, worse, the Select Board are meddling in police department personnel matters.

We have come to a new point in how out of hand these small-town elected officials and administrators who are mere civilians are now attempting to meddle into police policy and the running of a modern municipal police department.

Chief Mone ran a top-notch department and how she chose to discipline and action events within her department were hers and hers alone. All police departments, large and small, have personnel issues today in the ever woke world and the need for political correctness. Spare the civil rights of the victims or the officers and let the Select Board attempt to influence the police chief who is the sole arbiter and policy maker within the department.

North Hampton is an affluent and progressive community and the police department needs to have stability to attract good officers and moreover keep them. It is terrible to lose a chief like Kathryn Mone a seasoned veteran cop with a sterling record. Her departure marks yet another politically motivated loss for the citizens of North Hampton and the people of the Seacoast.

It is high time the voters of North Hampton to start to choose candidates who do not have personal agendas as the members of the Select Board in North Hampton do. Whether its eminent domain for cell towers or meddling into police personnel matters, it appears on its face that North Hampton is in serious trouble and needs major changes in the town administration not the police department.

T. Stephen McCarthy

Portsmouth

Urge reps to vote against HB 507, a dangerous bill regarding licensing

March 20  To the Editor,

House Bill 507, titled "an act relative to the unauthorized practice in occupational and professional licensing and certification" is currently pending in the Legislature.

According to the analysis available on the New Hampshire Legislature 2023/regular session website, "This bill clarifies that penalties for the unlicensed practice of a profession regulated under the office of professional licensure and certification do not apply so long as the person practicing does not hold themselves out as being licensed or certified and discloses the fact that he or she is not licensed or certified."

In other words, anyone can practice certain professions although not licensed or certified to do so so long as he or she does not hold himself or herself out as being licensed or certified and discloses that fact before providing those services or asking a client to sign a contract for services.

Some of the the professions that would be affected if this bill becomes law are accountancy, acupuncture, barbering, cosmetology and esthetics, dental examiners, electricians, home inspectors, landscape architects, medicine, mental health practitioners, optometry, podiatry, psychology, real estate appraisers, brokers and sales persons and veterinarians. The complete list of affected professions can be found on the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification website.

The bill was recently referred to the Executive Departments and Administration Committee and rather than being deemed inexpedient to legislate instead resulted in a tie vote of without recommendation.

One has to ask oneself, Who in his or her right mind could possibly think that such a law would be a good idea?

The answer, of course is no one and therein lies the danger as the only individual who would seek to avail himself or herself of the provisions of this bill would be someone whose soundness of mind in my opinion would be questionable to say the least.

More importantly, however, apart from the legality, is the danger to the health, safety and welfare of the general public this bill would pose if it became law.

If you are a member of one of the professions I have listed, or, even if you are not but agree that this bill is not only a bad idea but a dangerous one, I urge you to contact your representatives, as I have done, and urge them to vote against this bill.

Charles A. Griffin

Portsmouth

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Celebrating two great women of Portsmouth NH: Letters
CHICAGO, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Plasticizers Market by type (phthalate and Non-phthalate), Application (Floorings & Wall Coverings, Films & Sheets, Coated Fabrics, Wires & Cables, Consumer Goods) and Region (North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027", is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period, from an estimated USD 17.0 billion in 2022 to USD 22.5 billion in 2027.The flexibility of Plasticizers to be used in various applications is pushing the market. These Plasticizers enable to manufacture eco-friendly products.

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The floorings & wall coverings segment, by application, is expected to be the most significant Plasticizers segment during the forecast period.

Plasticizers are typically used in floorings & wall coverings applications as they offer good stain resistance and a greater filler tolerance. Wall coverings are a popular choice for all building & construction projects, such as residential and commercial enterprises, as they offer increased durability at a nominal price.

Wires & Cables is the second largest segment by application. PVC is broadly employed in insulating wires & cables used in electronics, appliances, and communications systems. Plasticizers increase the flexibility of these materials, preventing them from being brittle and fractured, which can increase the hazard chances. Trimellitates and polymeric plasticizers are typically used to manufacture wires and cables as they offer low volatility, excellent electrical properties, and resistance to water extraction

Phthalate plasticizers is anticipated to be the fastest-growing Plasticizers segment, by type, during the forecast period.

Plasticizers are widely used for the building purposes where the eco-friendly building materials are needed. Phthalate is the most easily available plasticizers type across the country therefore it is more commonly used. However, phthalate prices are somewhat high and tends to be the least efficient in terms of environment concern amongst all bioplastics. Construction sectors are likely to increase its demand in the plasticizer market globally.

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Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the global Plasticizers market, by region, during the forecast period.

The region is the most populated region in the world and is expected to become the largest construction region globally. As Plasticizers provide flexible and bio based plastics, thus the market for plasticizers is encouraged to cater the needs of its customers. The customer base is wide from manufacturers to industrial suppliers as Plasticizers are versatile and easy for manufacturing consumer goods produced using sustainable raw material.

Market Players :

The key players profiled in the Plasticizers Market report are UPC Technology (Taiwan), ExxonMobil (US), Nan Ya Plastic (Kaohsiung), BASF (Seoul), Eastman Chemical Company (US), Evonik Industries (Germany).

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Bio Plasticizer Market - Trends & Forecasts to 2020

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Kings Island's 314-foot replica Eiffel Tower.

Is Cincinnati the best of the Midwest? We certainly think so.

In the magazine Midwest Living's annual Best of the Midwest awards, which celebrate the region's top spots in food, travel, lifestyle and wellness, three attractions in Greater Cincinnati were recognized and awarded.

Under the culture category, the American Sign Museum in Camp Washington was named the best quirky museum.

"It's a trip through 100 years of retail signage history, from early pre-electric signs adorned in gold leaf, through decades of glowing neon and today's plastic-face versions," Midwest Living wrote about the American Sign Museum.

Smale Riverfront Park on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati was named the best city park under the travel category, with Midwest Living writing that the park is a "downtown gathering space built as a series of terraces with the environment in mind."

Who wants a treat!?Here are some of the best dog parks in Greater Cincinnati

Also mentioned under the travel category: Kings Island in Mason, named the best family attraction, noting the iconic The Beast rollercoaster.

"During the park's 50th anniversary last year, The Beast's first drop became a few degrees steeper, and the Cincinnati- area wonderland continues to expand with Adventure Port, a colorful realm of dizzying rides and Mexican dining, opening in the shadow of the park's replica Eiffel Tower this year," Midwest Living wrote.

Cincinnati was not the only Ohio city to receive praise. The Cleveland Museum of Art received best art center and the South Wind Motel in Columbus was named best new hotel.

More:Is this Indiana State Park really the best place to hike in the Midwest?

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kings Island, American Sign Museum named 'Best of the Midwest'
When the doors of the Municipal Auditorium open on April 14 for the black-tie Cotillion, Shreveport's guests may imagine they are in the Aegean Sea's Greek Isles.

The theme sets the scene for Cotillion royals led by King LXXIV Dr. Stephen Collier and Her Royal Majesty LXXIV Queen Mary Cecile Hancock, setting sail on a royal holiday.

"Guests will be transported to idyllic islands, set like jewels in a haven of breathtaking natural beauty," promised Cotillion Chair Lila Knicely. She selected the theme: "The Greek Isles, Jewels of the Aegean Sea."

Ellen and Dr. Stephen C. White at Cotillion Club President's Announcement Party.

"Experience Greek charm, calling you to join in the celebration with a joyful shout of 'Opa!'" said Knicely.

So how did Knicely get to Greece when just settling on a theme was initially overwhelming for her?

She remembered a trip to Santorini, Greece, she took with her father and sister after her mother died. "It was one of the most visually stunning places I have ever been. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that could translate into a fun theme for Cotillion," she explained.

Yes, the Cotillion will be a night to remember.

So was its prelude, the black-tie President's Announcement Party which revealed Cotillion secrets - names of the royal court. They are held under wraps until that night.

Former Cotillion kings Andy Querbes, Dr. Charles Sales and Dr. Dick Drummond.

Cotillion Governing Board Prez John David Pickens and his wife, 2018 Cotillion Chair Dana Lynn Pickens, hosted the tony gathering at the Shreveport Club. T'was an evening of merriment, hugs, air kisses and congratulations.

It was here that Pickens proclaimed the reign of Rex LXXIV, King of Cotillion Dr. White and his Royal Court. The king is known around town for his prowess as a vascular and general surgeon and as the 2022 Northwest Louisiana Medical Society president. He co-founded Highland Clinic Vein Center, is involved in St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and the Powers Foundation.

When he arrived on the club's second floor White was greeted so merrily by the crowd of well wishes that it was difficult for he and his wife, Ellen Hennesy White, to make their way to a flowered arch for a Timesphoto.

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Parents are stand-ins for college student court members, such as Queen Hancock, who attends the University of Mississippi and is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Attwell Hancock.

State Representative Thomas Pressly and Maggie Pressly, and Janie and Paul Dixon.

Next in line: His Royal Highness Prince Andrew Robinson Briley attends Dartmouth and is a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity. Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth Claire Wooldridge attends the University of Arkansas and is a member of Chi Omega. Their parents are Mr. and Mrs. Kevin James Briley and Mr. and Mrs. Maury Brent Wooldridge.

The quartet is among a starry crowd of supporting royals who make up the Royal Court. The list includes five duchesses from Bossier, Caddo, Natchitoches Parishes; Cane River; and Texas; 11 Ladies of the Court; 17Gentlemen of the Court; four heralds; and 4 pages to the king and queen.

When the doors open, how will we know we are in Greece?

Well, Knicely doesn't want to give anything away. I will just say that I am hoping the decor, both inside the Municipal Auditorium and outside in the tent will feel light, airy and relaxed and make our guests feel they are on the most wonderful vacation," she answered.

She did admit that the bougainvillea you see will be "fake," because it is too early here for the real thing. However, designer Kyle Loyd found perfect silk bougainvillea. "It looks so real you won't even know the difference," Knicely promised.

Elizabeth Meadows and Sylbil Patten.

Pickens, by the way, knows his way around the Cotillion for he is a past member of the Ark-La-Tex Ambassador Club and he and Dana are parents of: Lady of the Cotillion Court 2012 Mackenzie Rene Huffman;Gentleman of the Court 2013 Spencer Edward Huffman; Herald of the Court Emma Deas Pickens.

He owns John Pickens Clothiers, where locals shop for men's-to-date, classical attire. He is involved in community activities, but also relishes cooking, running, traveling.

A glimpse at the gala crowd: Betty Henderson, Elizabeth Meadows, Duke and Laurel DeWare, of Jefferson, Texas, Paul and Janie Dickson, Dr. Charles and. Katherine Sale, Allen and Serenity Evans, Sybil Patten, Dr. Craig and Shelley Miller, Bill and Debbie Hall.

IF YOU GO:

WHEN: 8:30 p.m., April 14 at the Municipal Auditorium.

WHAT TO WEAR: Formal.

ADMISSION: Members only. For info about becoming a member, email:Membership Chairperson Mrs. William P. Lea: cotillionmembership1@gmail.com.

ROYAL BANQUET: Catered by Upper Crust, of Haynesville, will be heldimmediately following the presentation. Cash Bar.DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY TO: Limelight, Dallas.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Get ready for Cotillion 2023
NORTH EAST  Gov. Josh Shapiro, making his first stop in Erie County since taking office, continued on Thursday to make a pitch for incentives in his first budget proposal that aim to bolster the ranks of police officers, teachers and nurses.

After meeting with cadets at the Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy, Shapiro said law enforcement faces a "dire situation."

"We are short in Pennsylvania right now just over 1,200 municipal police officers," he said. "Think about that. Not just here in Erie, but all across Pennsylvania. We simply do not have enough police officers to fill the vacant spots before we even think about making additions beyond that."

Road rage: Man shot on I-90 in North East said accused truck driver passed him, blocked his path

The Pennsylvania State Police Department is in a similar situation, Shapiro said, noting that in the 1990s there were 10,000 cadets enrolled annually in its training program for aspiring troopers. Today, the average is 1,000.

To counter the workforce shortages, Shapiro is proposing a three-year income tax credit worth up to $2,500 annually to recruit new police officers, teachers and nurses.

He's also proposing an investment of $16.4 million to pay for four additional cadet training classes for the Pennsylvania State Police, which could put as many as 400 new troopers on the highways and in the rural communities that rely on the agency for law enforcement protection.

Shapiro is also asking the General Assembly to establish a separate funding mechanism for State Police, called the Public Safety and Protection Fund, that would shift about $100 million a year for five years from state gas tax revenue to pay for the State Police.

Gov. Josh Shapiro shakes hands with police cadet Jose Montes, 34, on Thursday at the Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy in North East, Pa. Montes has been hired by the Erie Bureau of Police.

The tax credit

If it becomes law, the new tax credit would take effect this year and could be claimed when a person files their 2024 taxes.

Anyone who receives a certification in those three fields would be eligible, including people who have state-recognized credentials from outside Pennsylvania and move here.

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The tax credit is anticipated to cost $25 million over three years.

State Police funding

Shapiro's proposed funding for the State Police has long been discussed by state officials. The agency is now funded through state gasoline tax revenue, known formally as the Motor License Fund, which Shapiro said pits the agency against infrastructure funding.

He would shift $100 million a year for five years away from the Motor License Fund to fund Pennsylvania State Police until the agency is paid for out of the General Fund, which has an $11 billion surplus.

The move, he said, would free up an additional $1.5 billion for roads and bridges while "ensuring law enforcement have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. "

Gov. Josh Shapiro, center, discusses his plan to recruit more law enforcement officers as Erie Bureau of Police Chief Dan Spizarny, left, and cadets from the Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy in North East, Pa. listen, on Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Other budget investments

Shapiro's budget would also:

Invest $105 million into the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's Violence Intervention and Prevention program.

Invest $50 million as an initial investment for 911 dispatching as part of efforts to create a "stable" funding dispatching services.

Shapiro noted that one in every four dispatching jobs are vacant in Northwestern Pennsylvania, with one in every five such jobs vacant statewide.

Good Samaritan: Erie man who pulled fire victim from home said moan made rescue happen

What others said

Among those in attendance Thursday was Erie Bureau of Police Chief Daniel Spizarny, who said that since the 1980s police departments from large Southern cities, including Atlanta, Miami and Houston, as well as federal and state agencies, have come to Erie to recruit law enforcement officers.

"The Erie area has been exporting many talented students across the country," he said. "But in just the past three years, we've been noticing a marked decrease in the number of candidates available."

The number of candidates on the list from which the city of Erie hires has dropped from 90 to 73 to 46. Twenty-six agencies pull from that list, he noted.

"You can see where the critical need is starting to rise here," he said. "Erie Police Department has a complement of 194 sworn officers. Right now, we're down approximately 15. We're extremely concerned."

Bill Hale is program director for the Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy, which is a full-time, six-month program that meets the minimum requirements of entry-level police officers as set by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission. The academy has been operated by Mercyhurst University in Erie since 1977 and has graduated more than 1,000 cadets.

Hale said class sizes are cyclical. He's seen classes of 35 and 40 cadets to just 10 or 11. Shapiro met Thursday with 14 cadets who are on track to graduate in June. Hale noted that "political winds" tend to impact recruitment, but he's starting to see a change.

"I can sense it's starting to change," (for the better), he said.

More: Unified Erie keeps focus on youth as gun violence involving juveniles continues to rage

Shapiro said Thursday there are both financial and non-financial ways to address the shortages.

"Another part of this is all of us speaking with one voice and stating very clearly over and over and over again that policing is a noble profession," Shapiro said. "We are asking more and more of our police and we need to make sure that they have more and more of our support while also holding them to a high standard of care in our communities and a high standard of training and excellence."

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com or on Twitter at @ETNRink.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Josh Shapiro pitches tax credit to bolster PA police recruitment
Due to years of prison building in central Appalachia, a community radio station in southeastern Kentucky has long been within broadcast distance of 11 different federal and state prisons.

For over two decades, WMMT 88.7 has been airing some version of Calls From Home  a show specifically geared toward reaching the incarcerated with messages from loved ones. Family and friends could call into the station and record a shout-out that would be aired on the show.

Sing a song, share a poem, or simply say hi, reads an online description of the show on Spinitron, where those looking to listen online can find Calls From Home.

Next week, Lexingtonians will have the opportunity to see a special window into the show. An advanced cut of a documentary, also titled Calls From Home, will be shown at the downtown 21C Hotel at 7 p.m. March 24.

Tickets are $30. The proceeds from the screenings are meant to help WMMTs recovery from the flood and to help keep the shows phone lines open. Those looking to attend can register here.

Last Julys deadly flooding in Eastern Kentucky destroyed WMMTs studio on the first floor of the Appalshop building in Whitesburg, forcing the station to temporarily move to a retrofitted trailer and knocked Calls From Home off the air for about six months. The show resumed in January.

The approximately half-hour documentary will be followed by a talkback session with a panel moderated by Shameka Parrish-Wright, the state director of VOCAL-KY. The panelists will include Judah Schept, an EKU professor in justice studies, and DeBraun Thomas, a WUKY DJ and the co-founder of Take Back Cheapside. Filmmaker Sylvia Ryerson, a former WMMT DJ, will also be on the panel.

With archives damaged, Appalshop must work quickly to restore history. Theres a way to help

The idea for the documentary came from Ryersons time as a DJ on the show. While she was at WMMT, outside coverage of the show picked up, she said. But much of that coverage focused on the perspective of the DJs, not on the families on the other end of the phone line or the letter writers inside prison walls.

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From hosting the show, I came to get to know people on the other end of the phone line, Ryerson said. And I started to think about how much that portrait of the show was leaving out and how the voices on the other end of the phone line remain unseen and invisible and unknown.

Water more than six feet high flooded the Appalshop main building, including the WMMT community radio station studio, in Whitesburg, Ky., last summer during a flood that devastated Eastern Kentucky.

The Calls From Home radio show has an amazing backstory, Ryerson told the Herald-Leader.

In 1998 and 1999, two supermax state prisons opened consecutively in Wise County, Va., just over the state border from WMMT. At the same time, Virgil Prinkleton Jr., known on air as DJ VIP, had a late night hip-hop, R&B and soul show. Prinkleton, who was from Lynch, was the only Black programmer at WMMT at that point, Ryerson said.

(Prinkleton) first started getting letters from people inside who heard his show, and it was the only show in the area that was broadcasting music that was familiar to them, Ryerson said. He played requested songs and started putting shout-outs on-air. After DJ VIP left WMMT, the show was formalized into a shout-out show for incarcerated people.

WMMT was Ryersons first job out of college, she said, becoming a radio reporter and eventually the stations director of public affairs programming. She also was a volunteer DJ for Calls From Home. Calls come into the show from coast-to-coast and while reporting on prison expansion in Eastern Kentucky, the show allowed Ryerson to correspond directly with incarcerated people and their families.

For me, it really made it impossible to think of these prisons as in the abstract, in the language of economic development, as they were being pushed, Ryerson said. It made the experience of rural prison expansion  of being separated so far from your family, being in a place that is very unfamiliar for so many people in the region  just very immediate.

Filming for the documentary began in 2019, but funding to complete it came in 2021 from Working Films, a grassroots organization that uses documentaries to advance social justice and environmental protection.

Sylvia Ryerson in the WMMT studio.

The film also uses unique animation to show the perspective of those who are incarcerated.

WMMT regularly receives beautifully decorated envelopes, letters, handkerchiefs sent from people who are regular listeners on the inside, Ryerson said. ... I sought out to collaborate with artists who are currently incarcerated in facilities to work with them to figure out a way to represent their experience as a listener on the show.

Ryerson said they commissioned a man, named Peter but who goes by Pitt, to draw a self-portrait of him listening to the radio station in his cell. They then took that self-portrait and built movement from it.

For the callback session after the movie, Ryerson said shes excited to have a space to think about how working against mass incarceration in Eastern Kentucky, you can actually work against mass incarceration in Central Kentucky.

Shes also hoping to highlight a coalition of Eastern Kentuckians who are demanding that money possibly destined for building a medium security federal prison in Letcher County, instead go to rebuilding local infrastructure after last summers floods.
Demonstrators protest Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plan to prevent A.P. course on African American studies In Tallahassee - Credit: Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The NAACP Florida Chapter has voted to ask the organizations national board to issue a travel advisory, according to the Tampa Bay Times, in response to state Gov. Ron DeSantis push for legislation banning diversity and inclusion initiatives.

We fought very hard to get diversity to get inclusion, said Isaiah Rumlin, president of the NAACPs branch in Jacksonville. We fought very hard for voting rights. All of these policies and laws are trying to revert back to where we were in the past.

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During the NAACPs state conference in Orlando on Saturday, Florida NAACP members voted unanimously to recommend that the national board issue a nationwide travel advisory asking people to not move to or visit the Sunshine State.

DeSantis administration has focused on censoring public education in the states legislative culture war, including pushing for a widespread ban on the teaching of topics deemed related to Critical Race Theory (CRT). Although a judge recently denied a request from Floridas government to block an injunction against DeSantis Stop-Woke act in the states public colleges, DeSantis administration rejected dozens of math books  claiming some contained CRT. In January, Florida blocked the College Board from testing a pilot Advanced Placement African American Studies (APAAS).

During a press briefing in Clay County on Thursday, DeSantis called the NAACPs decision a joke and a stunt, adding Im not wasting my time on your stunts.

This is not a stunt, this is not a joke, Rumlin said in response, per the Herald-Tribune. We are for real, and we intend to see it through, and he will see the results.

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The governor is very insensitive as it relates to issues facing people of color in the state of Florida, Rumlin added. Somebodys going to have to stand up against the governor and his policies and make him do the right thing and one of the ways we are going to do it is in the form of a travel advisory, advising people not to visit the state, which will have a vast impact on the economy of the state of the Florida.

We are an organization that protects peoples civil rights, and this is a first step to doing that, Hillsborough County NAACP President Yvette Lewis told the Times. People are seeing whats happening in Florida. Theyre paying attention, and I hope that help is coming.

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
Ford

Ford expects to lose roughly $3 billion from the electric-vehicle arm of the company this year.

The increased losses are expected due to money being spent on manufacturing facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as the addition of alternate battery chemistries.

Ford issued the bleak forecast in a Thursday morning call with reporters.

Ford is projecting an increase in losses from its EV unit, labeled Model e, up from $2.1 billion last year to total nearly $3 billion in 2023. The increase in losses is expected to come even as sales of the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover and F-150 Lightning full-size electric pickup truck grow and the company invests further in increased production.

The forecast came in a Thursday morning call with reporters where Ford outlined a new financial-reporting structure. The company announced a new reporting structure broken into Ford Blue (gas/hybrid vehicles), Ford Model e (breakout EVs), and Ford Pro (commercial vehicles).

Ford

"We've essentially 'refounded' Ford, with business segments that provide new degrees of strategic clarity, insight and accountability to the Ford+ plan for growth and value," CFO John Lawler said. "It's not only about changing how we report financial results; we're transforming how we think, make decisions and run the company, and allocate capital for highest returns."

Losses from the EV division will be covered by an expected increase in profits for the other two Ford divisions, with Lawler projecting $7 billion in earnings before interest and taxes this year for Ford Blue, and roughly $6 billion for Ford Pro. Speaking to reporters, Lawler explained the reasoning behind the expected losses for the Model e arm of the business.

"Ford Model e is an EV startup within Ford," he said. "As everyone knows, EV startups lose money while they invest in capabilities, develop knowledge, build volume, and gain share."

Those mounting losses will come as Ford continues to invest in ramping up EV production numbers. The company is planning the construction of two new battery-cell factories in Kentucky and a third in Tennessee, along with the $3.5 billion lithium-iron-phosphate battery plant it will build in Marshall, Michigan.

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Nanny Louise Woodward was just 18 years old when she was thrust into the spotlight following the death of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen.

The British teen was hired by doctors Sunil and Deborah Eappen to watch their sons, Brendan, 2, and Matty in late 1996, living with them in their Newton, Massachusetts home. Woodward was barely three months into the job when she called 911 on Feb. 4, 1997.

"Help, theres a baby, hes barely breathing. I think he choked on his vomit," Woodward said in a 911 call played later in court.

Matty was subsequently taken to the Boston Children's Hospital, where he would die from his injuries just five days later, having been taken off life support on February 9, 1997.

Newton police officer Eric Braceland was one of many officers who spoke with Woodward after Matty was taken to the hospital, testifying in the trial that the au pair allegedly told him, "He just wouldn't stop crying," according to footage taken by CourtTV.

Lucy Letby Home G

What Was Matthew Eappen's Cause of Death?

Early on, doctors suspected that Matty's injuries were caused by child abuse. Pediatric radiologist Dr. Patrick Barnes testified that CAT scans taken during Matty's treatment showed "abnormal findings," including skull fractures and hemorrhages, according to Court TV footage. (While Dr. Barnes testified that child abuse was the most likely cause of Matty's injuries, he's since walked back his statements, indicating the injuries could've been accidental.)

Woodward was arrested and charged with child battery on Feb. 5 of that year, according to the Irish Times. A grand jury later indicted Woodward on one charge of first-degree murder on March 5, 1997.

While Woodward stated that she was never violent with Matty, the prosecutors alleged in court that she had shaken the child in frustration, causing Shaken Baby Syndrome, defined by the Centers for Disease Control as a "preventable, severe form of physical child abuse resulting from violently shaking an infant by the shoulders, arms, or legs."

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Experts for the defense confirmed Matty's injuries but argued that they could've taken place at least three weeks prior to Feb. 4. According to the medical experts' testimony, the child had already showed signs of healing by the time he was at the hospital, suggesting that the injuries were sustained prior to Feb. 4. Moreover, there were no injuries to Matty's neck, which would've been a telltale sign of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Killer nanny Louise Woodward

Louise Woodward listens to testimony during her murder trial at Middlesex Court. Photo: John Blanding/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

What Have The Eappens Said About Louise Woodward?

Among the most damning parts of the trial was the testimony of Dr. Deborah Eappen, who depicted Woodward as lazy and defiant. The mother said the nanny was often out late and not ready to care for the kids in the morning. She said that she and her husband spoke with Woodward about their concerns in November, and again in mid-January.

"We were just in disbelief," Dr. Deborah Eappen testified. "It just seemed like the problems that we thought we had fixed and addressed weren't any better."

Then, on Jan. 28, Dr. Sunil Eappen returned home to find that Woodward had left the children unattended while she was doing laundry in the basement. That week, Dr. Sunil and Deborah Eappen said they gave Woodward an ultimatum: improve her behavior or leave.

"We felt that she was capable and we felt that the kids liked her and that she was motivated to change," Dr. Deborah Eappen said. "So, she made a choice to stay and abide by those guidelines."

Woodward opted to take the stand in her own defense, testifying that she often felt overworked and was confused by the Eappens' expectations. She acknowledged that she made a mistake in leaving the children alone, but noted that she was expected to do chores in addition to watching the children. While this frustrated her, she insisted she never took it out on Brendan or Matty.

Killer nanny Louise Woodward

20-year-old nanny Louise Woodward during a news conference at Manchester Airport, following her return from Boston, US. Photo: Getty Images

On the day Matty was taken to the hospital, Woodward said she had given him a bath before placing him in his crib for a nap. When she woke him up, Woodward found that his eyes were half-closed and he was gasping for breath.

"He looked kind of off-color," she testified. "Kind of blue-ish ... I panicked."

Matty then threw up and she administered CPR, assuming he had choked on his vomit. When he went limp, she laid him on the bed and began yelling his name and clapping to get his attention. She then tried to contact Dr. Sunil Eappen before eventually calling 911.

How Many Years Was Louise Woodward Sentenced To?

Woodward was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to a life sentence in October. When the verdict was read, Woodward cried in court, "I didn't do anything. I didn't hurt Matty. Why did they do that to me?!"

Then, in November 1997, Judge Hiller Zobel reduced Woodward's second-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter and sentenced her to time already served. She was freed after nine months in prison on Nov.10, 1997.

"I believe that the circumstances in which Defendant acted were characterized by confusion, inexperience, frustration, immaturity and some anger, but not malice (in the legal sense)," the judge wrote in his ruling, according to the Associated Press. "After extensive, cool, calm reflection, I am morally certain that allowing this defendant on this evidence to remain convicted on second-degree murder would be a miscarriage of justice."

Oxy App

Where Is Louise Woodward Now?

When she returned to the U.K. in June 1998, Woodward said in a statement, "As I've said time and time again I did not hurt Matthew and I did not kill baby Matthew and I just hope that the medical community will take up my case now that all avenues of appeal are closed ... to help prove my innocence."

She went on to receive her law degree from South Bank University in London in 2002, after which she was hired on a two-year contract at a law firm in northwest England. Her employer described her as "bright, motivated," according to the Associated Press.

Woodward later married Antony Elkes in 2013, before welcoming her first child, a baby girl, in January 2014, according to the Birmingham Mail.

Where Are The Eappens Now?

The Eappen family continues to advocate for educating people about Shaken Baby Syndrome, which is often caused by parents, according to the CDC.

"I think it's a lot about anger management, about understanding normal infant development, understanding that babies do cry for several hours a day," Dr. Deborah Eappen said in a 2007 interview with "Good Morning America."

They added that they choose to focus on preserving Matty's memory instead of thinking about Woodward. "To me it's really not about Louise, it's about Matthew," Deborah Eappen said. "Matthew should be with us today, and he should be celebrating the Red Sox and going trick-or-treating and being an 11-year-old boy."
SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers are ahead for John Wick: Chapter 4, now playing in theaters.

After killing countless High Table henchmen, falling down hundreds of stairs and dueling one blind master swordsman, Keanu Reeves John Wick isdead?

More from Variety

John Wick: Chapter 4 ends with Wick seemingly six feet under, after succumbing to three gunshot wounds he suffered during his final duel with Caine (Donnie Yen). Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) even pay their respects at the master assassins tombstone, which is located next to his wifes final resting place.

Before he died, however, Wick finally freed himself from the High Tables clutches. Instead of firing his third and final bullet in his duel against Caine, Wick held onto the round and shot the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard), who had walked over to deliver the final blow to Wick before checking to see if he was out of bullets. With de Gramont dead, Wick won his freedom, but barely got to enjoy it before he died peacefully on the steps of Frances Sacre-Cur as the sun began to rise.

But is Wick really dead? We never actually see him die from his wounds, nor do we see his body get buried. After all, over four movies hes survived an inhuman amount of stabbings, gunshots, brandings, hard falls from absurd heights and other serious bodily harm. At the end of John Wick 3, he faked his death from the High Tables Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) and recovered from his wounds with the Bowery King underground, hiding out until the beginning of John Wick 4. His death has been staged before, so why not again?

In August 2020, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed that John Wick 5 was already in the works, before John Wick 4 had even begun filming. The original plan was for the fourth and fifth entries to shoot back-to-back, which did not end up happening. Last week, director Chad Stahelski told The Hollywood Reporter that, In our minds, Keanu and I are done for the moment. Were going to give John Wick a rest. Im sure the studio has a plan. If everyone loves it and it goes kooky, then well take a quiet minute.

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The thought process was, when we had the opportunity after Chapter 3, what was the why? Reeves said at a post-screening Q&A at the SXSW Film Festival. When Chad and I were talking about it, the why is death, and it was John Wicks dead. For him to get his peace or his freedom in a way, that was the reason to make the movie. You gotta have the why.'

Even if a mainline John Wick movie doesnt happen for a while, Reeves is already booked to appear in the upcoming spinoff Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas. Taking place between the third and fourth John Wick films, Ballerina stars de Armas as an assassin named Rooney who hunts down her familys murderers. We previously saw a young Rooney in John Wick 3, where she was played by ballet dancer Unity Phelan and was under the tutelage of Anjelica Hustons Director. Hustons character is the leader of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate, of which Wick was once a member. The group also includes Katia (Natalia Tena), who welcomed Wick back into the adoptive family and branded him with their crest in John Wick 4.

Ballerina, which does not yet have a release date, could further crack open the shadowy world of John Wick. In addition to Reeves, the cast includes Huston, McShane and newcomers Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Lance Reddick will also appear as The Continental concierge Charon, in his final appearance filmed before his death last week. Reddicks character is shot to death by the Marquis de Gramont at the beginning of John Wick 4.

The John Wick franchise also a prequel series coming that will show the origins of The Continental and many of its major players. Heading to Peacock in the future, The Continental will take place in the 70s and reveal how a young Winston got control of the assassin hotel and safe haven. Colin Woodell plays a young Winston, Ayomide Adegun is Charon, Katie McGrath is The Adjudicator and Peter Greene is Uncle Charlie, who goes onto covertly dispose of bodies in the John Wick movies. Mel Gibson stars as a character named Cormac, and the cast includes many other newcomers playing a variety of Continental guests and killers.

John Wick 4 also has one final, future plot thread teased in the post-credits scene with Akira (Rina Sawayama) and Caine. Earlier in the movie, Caine kills Akiras father Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), who was Wicks friend and the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel. Akira, who was the concierge of the hotel, approaches Caine in the post-credits scene to take revenge for her fathers death, perhaps teasing a showdown to come.

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Princess Diana's niece married Greg Mallett in a mountain-top ceremony in South Africa, and his new sister-in-law shared his cute nickname

Eliza Spencer/instagram Lady Amelia Spencer and Greg Mallett

While Lady Amelia Spencer and Greg Mallett have not yet shared photos from their South African wedding, the bride's twin sister just gave a glimpse into the pre-wedding party.

Lady Eliza Spencer, 30, shared an Instagram post on Friday with several photos from a "pre-wedding celebration" ahead of her sister's nuptials. In the caption, Eliza also shared her nickname for her new brother-in-law.

She wrote, "The happiest pre-wedding celebration for my my beautiful sister @ameliaspencer15 and Grizzle  my heart is full"

Eliza's photos included group shots with friends against the beachside backdrop as well as plenty of loved-up snaps featuring her boyfriend of seven years, Channing Millerd. For the bash, Lady Eliza wore a silver gown with her hair swept up into a ponytail.

Related:Princess Diana's Niece Lady Amelia Spencer Weds Longtime Partner Greg Mallett in South Africa

Lady Eliza even shared a photo of the bride, who wore a white maxi dress with a halter neckline and her hair tucked into a low updo, and the groom sharing a kiss in front of a pool.

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!

Lady Kitty Spencer, the twins' older sister, also got in on the fun by commenting, "Happiest few days ever!!!"

Eliza Spencer/instagram Eliza and Amelia Spencer with friends

Although born in the U.K., Lady Amelia  the daughter of Princess Diana's younger brother, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, and his first wife, Victoria Aitken  and her siblings spent much of their childhoods in South Africa.

According to Tatler, Amelia attended college at the University of Cape Town, where she met her future husband.

"It means so much to get married here," the bride, 30, told Hello! magazine following her wedding. "Growing up here together for the last 14 years, all of mine and Greg's happiest times as a couple are here. It's even more special now."

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The newlyweds teased their nuptials  and revealed its location  last week in a joint Instagram post.

Related:All About Princess Diana's Niece Lady Amelia Spencer

Eliza Spencer/instagram Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer

"Not long now" they captioned the snap. In the sweet image, Lady Amelia held a hand to Greg's face as they posed against the backdrop of a beautiful mountain range in South Africa.

Lady Amelia and Greg announced their engagement in July 2020 after dating for 11 years.

"Best day of my life. I can't wait to spend forever with you @gregmallett I couldn't love you more," the model wrote of an Instagram photo of her and Greg kissing, her new diamond ring on display.

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Read the original article on People.
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Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Project Management Bootcamp for Life Science" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





What do you do? Here is a common scenario. You are three years out of college in your first engineering job. You are sitting in a meeting about the introduction of a new packaging line in your pharmaceutical plant. You are half listening to the presentation while thinking about some of the other work you need to complete on different matters. The installation will take a year to execute and will require the coordination with several functions inside and outside of the company.

Suddenly the Director of Engineering turns to you and says "Allison, this would be a great first opportunity for you to manage a very interesting project. Let's meet tomorrow and discuss your initial plans for getting started."

This is an all too common occurrence in today's business environment.

Today more than ever before the job titles that we hold are not entirely reflective of the work that we do. Global teams and collaboration often place those in positions of team leadership that have the least foundation to manage all facets of complex projects. Project management requires specific knowledge of the key project facets that must be carefully managed. The interactions across divergent corporate functions, culture, language, and time zones all pose unique challenges to the new project manager. Layer on top of the basic project management requirements for any project the requirements of a pharmaceutical/biotechnology or medical device development project and the entire project management process becomes a daunting task for even those with experience.

Unfortunately, project management is not a subject given much attention in college and university these days. The answer? Get some training - some basic understandable project management training that will provide you with a solid foundation for managing that first project or to simply sharpen existing project management skills.

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It is not just important to learn about project management - project management has its own body of knowledge - its own set of standards that all project managers follow called the Project Management Body of Knowledge. Any valuable training must also teach/present the content comprising this Body of Knowledge.

Driving a product to the market safely, quickly, and cheaply is the best way for a pharmaceutical company to be successful. Those companies however, encounter enormous challenges during the long product-development process. The unique regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical devices as well as the project development processes associated to each industry must also be addressed to meet the needs to facilitate approval.

Why Should You Attend

It is not possible to present a complete treatment of project management in the span of 12-hours. It is however, possible to focus in on those most important aspects of project management that are critical to the success of any project as well as those that are critical to pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device development projects. Without basic tools, it is not possible to effectively manage a project to the pre-determined end-date without turmoil and chaos.

We have distilled the key aspects of project management into three four-hour virtual seminar segments that will logically move participants from the beginning of the project management process to the end - from initiating the project to closing the project.

This seminar will address those project management critical tasks within each project phase that must be performed flawlessly for effective project execution to occur and will provide the foundation and direction for future study of the subject.

The seminar is designed to build a working understanding of the subject and for a quick start-up for those unanticipated project management assignments.

In addition, the unique challenges and requirements for both the pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device industries will be addressed creating a link between those requirements and the basic tenants of project management.

Who Should Attend:

Any member of a cross-functional project team that has the potential opportunity to lead that project.

Engineers

Marketing Associates

Product Managers

Program Managers

Contract Managers

Project Managers

Research & Development Associates, Managers, and Directors

Design Engineers

Manufacturing Managers

This virtual seminar crosses all industries and functions it is however particularly suited for the health sciences where much project-based work is accomplished.

Medical device manufacturers

Pharmaceutical and Biotech organisations

Cosmetic and foods manufacturers

All other industries

Key Topics Covered:





Session Start Time: 12:30 PM EDT

# 1 - Introduction to Project Management - An Overview

What is a project?

What is project management?

The project manager's role

What is effective project management?

The five stages of a project

The triple constraint, collaboration, and flexibility

Project management pitfalls

The Project Charter

The Project Scope Statement

Determine your project's audience members, i.e. project stakeholders, initiator, and champion(s)

How to work and interact with your audience

Project Planning - Stakeholder - Quality - Communications - Scope - Risk

#2 - Specifying the project work to be done and establish the project's timing and resource requirements

Develop the work breakdown structure

Naming key tasks

Making assumptions

Special project situations

Long-term project planning

Displaying the work breakdown structure

Categorizing project work

What to document

Purpose and function of the network diagram

\Reading and interpreting a network diagram

Creating the network diagram

Develop the initial schedule

Determine activity durations

Gaming the schedule

Determine team member skills that are needed

Estimate the human resource requirement

Meeting resource commitments

Resolve resource overloads and conflicts

Handling multiple projects

Developing the budget

#3- Risk, the project team, project management, and control

Risk factors and risks

Identifying the risk factors

Risk types

Assessing and weighing risk

Determine consequences

Develop a risk mitigation strategy

Develop your risk management plan

Organizational structures for managing projects

Define the key players and their roles

Team member roles and responsibilities

Assigning project tasks

Authority versus responsibility

The RACI Chart

Developing team operational strategies and procedures

Managing team activities

Developing your team

Managing team and individual team member performance

Working cross-culturally

Collaboration and flexibility - how are they executed and managed successfully

Scope creep and how it is managed

Tracking and reporting progress

Work-effort tracking

Managing the budget

Communicating effectively - how to make it work

When things go wrong - scheduling alternatives

Session End Time 4:30 PM EDT





Speakers:



Charles H. Paul

President

C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc.



Charles H. Paul is the President of C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc. - a regulatory, manufacturing, training, and technical documentation consulting firm - celebrating its twentieth year in business in 2017. He has been a regulatory and management consultant and an Instructional Technologist for 30 years and has published numerous white papers on various regulatory and training subjects. The firm works with both domestic and international clients designing solutions for complex training and documentation issues.



He has held senior positions in consulting and in corporate training development prior to forming C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc.. He also worked for several years in government contracting managing the development of significant Army-wide training development contracts impacting virtually all of the active Army and changing the training paradigm throughout the military.



He has dedicated his entire professional career explaining the benefits of performance-based training







For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/voxot8

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




On page 104 of House Bill 505, the capital outlay budget, it is written in clear black and white:

The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2023 through 2027, unless otherwise provided in Section 1 of this act, for the following purposes:

ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to plan, design and construct a reproductive health clinic in Dona Ana county;

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in her re-election campaign bid last summer pledged to commit $10 million in state funds for an abortion clinic in Dona Ana County. So here it is.

Merritt hamilton Allen

Like millions of women nationwide, I have many concerns about the impact of the repeal of Roe v. Wade on womens health care. While not an abortion advocate, I think it must be legal and I am worried that some routine procedures, like a D&C after a miscarriage, may become harder to obtain in this new post-Roe environment.

But I didnt expect New Mexico, already in the quixotic position of being a very Catholic state with virtually no limits on abortion access, to take state money and build another abortion clinic. For Texans.

The goal here is, build it, and they will come, the governor said after she signed the executive order pledging the $10 million.

You cant get much clearer than that.

Of all the lists New Mexico is on, number one for abortion isnt a goal of mine.

Im not a fan of state-funded abortion for a number of reasons. The first is the most basic, and why I dont support the death penalty: its just not a good idea to give the government the power to end life. Bad outcomes are inevitable.

Im also concerned about how the clinic will be operated. All the executive order and the capital outlay bill say is that it will be built. Who will operate it? Where will that funding come from?

Given the general ineptitude of state government in recent years in performing basic functions like new business registration, client intake for food stamp qualification or unemployment benefits, or sensitive and crucial ones like operating a child welfare system, I am not sure womens reproductive health, to include abortion, is a function I want the State of New Mexico to take on.

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And I get it. Were not doing it for New Mexico. Were doing it for Texas and Arizona, where access to abortion care has been eliminated or become extremely limited. But shouldnt this be a private effort? Texas providers have already said they will open clinics in New Mexico. Fine. Let that happen on a private basis.

Ill say it. I dont feel great about my state tax dollars going to a clinic that may or may not be competently run to provide abortions to women coming in from out of state. I dont think this is a particularly extreme view.

I have seen exactly zero news coverage of this capital outlay line item since the legislative session started. Six Democrats crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans to remove the abortion clinic funding from HB 505 last weekend, but the Republicans needed six more to remove the line item. The capital outlay bill passed the Senate Finance committee on Tuesday and the entire Senate Wednesday by a margin of 27-13.

The passage of HB 505 will put New Mexico in the national spotlight. Is this the spotlight we want?

Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appears regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican, she lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run two head of dog, and two of cat. She can be reached at news.ind.merritt@gmail.com.

Read more from Merritt Hamilton Allen:

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Making good on campaign promises
(KTVB)

An Idaho mans conviction for drug possession was vacated because a police drug-sniffing dog puts its paws on his vehicle.

The states Supreme Court ruled that officers carried out an illegal search of Kirby Dorffs car in 2019 as a result of the dogs actions, according to The Idaho Statesman.

Mr Dorff was reportedly stopped by a police officer in Mountain Home for not using his turn signals as he drove, and a second officer then arrived on the scene with a drug-sniffing K9 called Nero.

Officers searched his car after saying the dog was alerting them to the presence of drugs and found a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.

They then searched his motel room where they found 19 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Mr Dorff was charged with felony delivery and possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession, according to the newspaper.

He argued that the charges were brought despite the dog trespassing on his vehicle and his lawyer submitted a motion to suppress the evidence, which was denied by an Ada County District Court judge.

Mr Dorff pleaded guilty on the condition that he could appeal the denial of his motion to suppress evidence.

And in June 2020 he appealed the case to the Idaho Supreme Court.

The court issued its decision on Monday with three of the five justices in agreement and two dissenting.

The justices in the majority wrote in their decision that the outside of the car was covered by the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects against unlawful searches.

With the conviction vacated the case now goes back to a district court where it will continue with the motion to suppress in place.
Alabama-based Milo's Tea Company broke ground Thursday on a 130,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Moore that will open by late 2024 and employ 100 workers.

"We are going to be a wonderful neighbor," said Milo's CEO Tricia Wallwork. "We are here to make Milo's moments with you, not with just our beverages, but with how we do business. We cannot wait to get started."

Gov. Henry McMaster and several Spartanburg County officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the location of the company's fourth U.S. plant at SC 290 and U.S. 221 in Moore.

The company received tax breaks from Spartanburg County and the S.C. Coordinating Council for Economic Development.

"It's not always the tax cuts," McMaster said. "It's good to have a railroad, it's great to have the deepest port on the Atlantic with two inland ports, but it's always about the people."

Milo's was founded as a restaurant in 1946 in Bessemer, Alabama. The company later branched out by making all-natural teas and lemonades.

Milo's opened its latest bottling and brewing plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2020, and has already doubled the capacity of the plant's output, according to Wallwork, granddaughter of the founders.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and other local Spartanburg County officials attended the groundbreaking of the site of the new Milos Tea facility in Moore on March 23, 2023. The facility will be at the corner of US-221 Highway and SC-290 Highway in Moore. Tricia Wallwork, CEO of Milo's Tea, spoke at the event.

Wallwork said today Milo's sells its products at 40,000 retail locations in all 50 states.

She said the company is a certified women-owned business, and a certified zero-waste manufacturer devoted to sustainable practices and stewardship of local communities  "only one of two in Alabama, and we're going to do that right here in South Carolina as well."

"Our products aren't just authentic and real, we are too," she said. "That is how we are going to do business here. We chose this area because we knew it felt like home. You said, 'come be a part of our family.'"

Grocery and convenience stores carry Milo's products, including sweetened and unsweetened tea, lemonade, and peach, raspberry and lemon-flavored teas.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and other local Spartanburg County officials attended the groundbreaking of the site of the new Milos Tea facility in Moore on March 23, 2023. The facility will be at the corner of US-221 Highway and SC-290 Highway in Moore.

Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, chairman of the county's economic development committee, said he never recruited a company as hard as he did with Milo's.

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"I wanted this company so bad, I went home and got me some Milo's tea," he said. "I filled my refrigerator up, and (my grandchildren) came to Spartanburg and I went and got Milo's tea and lemonade. We took pictures and I sent them to Tricia and the marketing department.

"Your core values mesh with ours. We're here to support you, not only today, but tomorrow and for years to come."

Those interested in jobs can visit the company's career webpage.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg County provides 'sweet' welcome to Milo's Tea Company
National Cheesesteak Day is Friday, March 24, and there is still time to plan for the moment when your cravings kick in.

Here are 19 Delaware restaurants across the state that will be calling your name, once the hunger pangs begin.

Capriotti's, various locations

Joe Biden is all smiles, while holding a bag of food, outside of a Capriotti's sandwich shop in Washington, D.C.

This giant sandwich chain started in Delaware and has filled many bellies, including Joe Biden's. Their selection of cheesesteaks ranges from the classic version, all the way to chipotle chicken crunch and grilled chicken parmesan renditions.

Biden dines in Delaware: President and first lady spotted at Wilmington's The Quoin. They didn't get the same dish

Folks who don't eat meat can munch on the plant-based Impossible Meat Cheesesteak that includes melted American cheese, mushrooms and onions.

There are 17 Capriotti's shops in Delaware, with at least one in each county, according to Capriotti's website.

Visit capriottis.com.

Casapullas Subs, various locations

There are six locations across the state, but many people on the internet claim Elsmere has an extra special place in their hearts.

Regardless of which location is your favorite, Casapulla has been going strong for over 50 years and four generations. The longtime restaurant certainly has a knack for keeping customers coming back.

You can choose among an original ribeye steak, ribeye cheesesteak, pizza steak and more.

Visit casapullassubs.com.

Charcoal Pit, Talleyville

Cheesy March madness: Delaware pizza bracket blown up by Grotto loss. Final Four heats up.

This is another restaurant Joe Biden has graced. These Philly-style steak sandwiches are offered with beef or chicken, prepared with onions, hot peppers and an industrial-sized jar full of love.

2600 Concord Pike, Talleyville; charcoalpit.net or (302) 478-2165.

Yo-yo world champ makes six figures: He grew up poor in Delaware & strives to help kids

Claymont Steak Shop, Newark, Talleyville, Claymont

This place opened its doors over 50 years ago when cousins Sam Demetratos and Bob Hionis founded their restaurant chain in Claymont, after moving from Greece.

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The shops award-winning cheesesteaks are dished up with fresh meat sliced and diced on the spot.

Their sandwiches include a mushroom cheesesteak, chicken cheesesteak, pizza cheesesteak, Buffalo chicken cheesesteak, pepper steak and more.

57 S. Main St., Newark; (302) 453-9500

2720 Concord Pike, Talleyville; (302) 478-1500

3526 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont; Visit claymontsteakshop.com or (302) 798-0013; or (302) 798-5319.

Drop Squad Kitchen, Wilmington

Veganism is on their entire menu.

Drop Squad Kitchen's classic cheesesteak features a version of "ribeye steak'' that's made from wheat protein and served on a soft, toasted roll. Surprisingly, it takes so much like real beef it's scary.

The homemade cheese also tastes similar to a traditional cheesesteak. Both vegan and meat fans will have a ball with this sandwich.

928 Justison St., Wilmington; dropsquadkitchen.com or (302) 984-2773

First State Brewing, Middletown

First State Brewing's scrapple cheesesteak sandwich, complete with its five-cheese fondue topping.

Arguably, the most creative cheesesteak in Delaware might be in Middletown. This whimsical sandwich is made with scrapple, the cherished loaf of pork scraps many Delawareans cant get enough of.

Since its a cheesesteak, it only makes sense that its doused in five-cheese fondue, onions and bell peppers.

Not a scrapple fan? You can also choose the Delaware Cheesesteak, with shaved ribeye, Cascading Reactions (Witbier) beer, braised onions, sauteed mushrooms and provolone on a hoagie roll.

109 Patriot Drive, Middletown; visit firststatebrewing.com or (302) 285-9535

Goodfella's Steaks Subs, Prices Corner

At Prices Corner you'll find Goodfella's Steaks, which has a habit of assassinating appetites with its juicy classic cheesesteak.

The restaurant offers other options including chicken and pizza cheesesteaks. These sammies will leave you feeling more stuffed than a Build-A-Bear Workshop.

3206 Kirkwood Highway, Prices Corner; Visit goodfellas-steaksandsubs.com (302) 998-4446

Ioannonis Specialty Sandwiches, New Castle

For nearly 20 years, this restaurant has been satisfying cravings.

For almost half that time, Ioannoni's has used fresh meat instead of frozen for its cheesesteaks, which spotlights their desire to provide customers with a memorable sandwich.

Ioannonis largest cheesesteak measures up at 21 inches, which is about as long as three 16.9-ounce water bottles stacked on top of each other.

624 E. Basin Road, New Castle; ioannonis.com; (302) 322-5000

Go Vegan Philly, Wilmington

The Broad Street Bully is a mean cheesesteak from Go Vegan Philly in Wilmington.

This restaurant dishes up sammies that give you the best of both worlds: a sandwich that tastes just as good as a meaty cheesesteak, except its noticeably less greasy.

Its March Madness and Go Vegan Philly vegan puts its game face on every time they serve up these vegan treats, which are named the Broad Street Bully.

The vegan cheesesteak is served with your plant-based choice of oyster mushrooms or ground Impossible meat, along with your favorite toppings of peppers, mayo, ketchup and onions on a long roll with fries.

607 N. Lincoln St., Wilmington; goveganphilly.org; (302) 543-4431

Little Creek Grill, Dover

Off the beaten path, Little Creek Grill dishes up a traditional cheesesteak, plus a barbeque chicken cheesesteak and buffalo varieties.

It also switches things up with The Scrappy. It's an eggroll made with cheesesteak and Hughes Delaware Made Scrapple.

111 Main St., Little Creek, Dover; visit littlecreekgrillde.com or 302) 734-0480.

Little Italy Pizzeria, Townsend & Middletown

Despite its name, this shop offers more than just pizza pies. They can whip up a mean cheesesteak, too. A favorite in Middletown, the location makes it easier for people not looking to travel further north for scrumptious nibbles.

325 Main St., Townsend; (302) 378-9494

2392 Dupont Parkway, Middletown; visit littleitalypizzashop-lips.com or call (302) 378-7070

Little Vinnie's Pizza & Pasta, Prices Corner

You'll want to bring a big appetite to Little Vinnie's Pizza & Pasta.

They're so obsessed with cheesesteaks that their menu includes a pizza pie version of the sandwich and a cheesesteak salad. But the restaurant is best known for its classic cheesesteak, which can be ordered on garlic bread.

1706 Faulkland Road, Prices Corner; Visit littlevinniespizza.com or (302) 633-6801

Long Neck Deli, Millsboro

From buffalo to pizza cheesesteak sandwiches, Long Neck Deli has it all.

Of course, there's also the traditional cheesesteak that folks rave about.

Restaurants upstate get a lot of shine for their cheesesteaks, but Long Neck is representing like a boss in slower lower Delaware.

32362 Long Neck Road, Millsboro; Facebook.com/longneckdeli1 or (302) 945-7575.

Main Street Market, Smyrna

This mainstay has built a reputation for filling up bellies with its home-style cooking. The shop is also known for its deep roots because the business has been around for more than four generations. Their cheesesteaks are a hit at this restaurant, which is a secret to some outsiders.

40 S. Main St., Smyrna; mainstreetmarketsmyrna.com or (302) 653-8837

Mike's Famous Steaks and Subs, Newark

There's a sandwich named "Mike's Famous Cheesesteak, and Delawareans love to boast about it.

This beefy guy is served with fierceness, along with chopped rib eye steak, American cheese, fried onions, mayo, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet peppers, red crushed peppers and pickles.

754 E. Chestnut Hill Road, Newark; mikesfamoussteaks.com or (302) 453-0331

Nothing Better, Seaford

In SoDel, this business takes a lot of pride in using fresh bread from Liscios bakery. A meaty sammy is one thing, but it hits a little different when those rolls are extra zesty.

Additionally, Nothing Better owner Nick Bohenko said he suspects his shop might be a little more liberal with its use of cheese than most places.

14882 Hardscrabble Road, Seaford; nothingbetterllc.com or (302) 875-2400

Simaron Pizza & Steak Shop, Dover

If you don't like cheesesteaks with large proportions, don't shop at Simaron Pizza & Steak Shop. They'll gladly serve you a mountain of meat disguised as a sandwich at this hidden gem restaurant.

415 W. Loockerman St., Dover; simaronsteakshop.com or (302) 736-1073

TenderBones Rib Shack, near Bear

Clint "Chef Bones" Harris weighs his 3-pound "Chef Philly Cheesesteak" sandwich at his TenderBones Rib Shack near Bear in 2019. He created the sandwich after his beloved Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018. It's a special request item.

This popular restaurant carries a lot of weight in the cheesesteak community. Its not hard to understand why because it sells a cheesesteak that weighs over 2 pounds.

That sandwich isn't on the menu and it's by special request only. Take note.

2504 Red Lion Road, near Bear; www.tenderbones.com or (302) 832-7427

Williamsville Country Store, Houston

This hidden gem has been glistening in Sussex for years, and their downstate sammies are topped off with Southern comfort.

3544 Williamsville Road, Houston; Williamsville Country Store on Facebook or (302) 422-4455

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

More dining news

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Just Peachy: Jimmie Allen's mom's peach cobbler inspired this Delaware-made ice cream flavor

Whose market is better? DE.CO and The Chancery Market face off. We size up Wilmington's twin major food halls.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: National Cheesesteak Day: Delaware places to dig in & vegan options
Ohio senators introduced a bill Wednesday that would require 60% of voters to enact constitutional amendments, instead of a simple majority.

Ohio Senate Republicans are taking efforts to make it harder to amend the state constitution into their own hands.

One problem: The speaker of the House is not on board with their plan.

Sens. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, introduced their own resolution Wednesday that would require 60% of voters to enact constitutional amendments, instead of a simple majority. Like the House version, the measure is an amendment that would need approval from voters to take effect.

Gavarone and McColley also put forward legislation to set a $20 million special election in August for that purpose  just months after lawmakers got rid of most August elections.

More:How Ohio lawmakers brought Larry Householder into fight over state constitution rules

"For years, well-funded, out-of-state special interests have manipulated the process to amend our Constitution for their own gain," Gavarone tweeted Wednesday. "SJR 2 will take power away from those special interests and give it back to Ohioans."

But the Senate proposal could face a messy path to passage. House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said Thursday that he doesn't support an August election, meaning the measure could stall in the House.

"We just voted to not have those anymore just a few months ago," Stephens said. "The county election officials I've talked to are not interested in having it. I'm frankly not interested in having an election in August."

Ohio Speaker of the House Jason Stephens is not on board with having a statewide election in August to change the rules to amend Ohio's constitution. "We just voted to not have those anymore just a few months ago," Stephens said. "The county election officials I've talked to are not interested in having it. I'm frankly not interested in having an election in August."

How did we get here?

The Senate resolution is the latest wrench in a controversial process.

Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, and Secretary of State Frank LaRose tried to fast-track the proposal during last year's lame-duck session, but it didn't have enough support in the House to pass. Stewart brought it back in January, and it's been slow to get off the ground since then. He claimed stalling the resolution was part of a deal Stephens made with Democrats to get the speaker's gavel earlier this year.

A House committee held its first hearing on the resolution Wednesday, attracting throngs of people who oppose it.

Story continues

The delays frustrated Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, who was ready to pass a bill during lame duck and put the question on the May ballot. He floated the possibility of an August election earlier this week, in part to get ahead of a likely November ballot initiative that would expand abortion access in Ohio.

"If we save 30,000 lives as a result of spending $20 million, I think thats a great thing," Huffman told reporters Thursday.

Anti-abortion groups have urged lawmakers to put the amendment question before voters as soon as possible.

Lawmakers got rid of August elections to save money

The core of the Senate proposal is the same as Stewart's, but it does not include some changes he made in January. For example, Stewart's version would require petitioners to get voter signatures from all 88 counties instead of 44.

Stewart said he's encouraged to see the Senate getting involved in the conversation.

"I'm not happy with the pace we've had in the House, so I'm sure they've had similar frustrations," he said.

Stewart declined to say whether he'd support an August election for the ballot question, noting that's solely a Senate proposal at this point. He, like many other Republicans, backed the state's new voting law that eliminates most local special elections in August to save taxpayer dollars.

Plus, voters tend not to participate in these elections. In testimony on the bill last year, LaRose said 2020 August special elections in Hamilton County and Cuyahoga County had 11.8% and 6.8% turnout, respectively.

"That means just a handful of voters end up making big decisions," LaRose said. "The side that wins is often the one that has a vested interest in the passage of the issue up for consideration. This isnt how democracy is supposed to work."

USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau reporters Jessie Balmert and Anna Staver contributed.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Senate GOP sets plan for August election, changes to constitution
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

A person suspected of being Do Kwon, creator of the now-collapsed TerraUSD stablecoin, has been arrested in Montenegro, a country official said Thursday.

The country's interior minister said the suspect was arrested at the airport with falsified documents.

Authorities in the US and South Korea have charged Kwon for legal violations.

A person suspected of being Do Kwon, the creator of the TerraUSD stablecoin which imploded in early 2022, has been arrested in Montenegro, a country official said Thursday.

Authorities have been looking for months for Kwon since the failure of his Singapore-based Terraform Labs ecosystem and the collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin wreaked havoc in the crypto market. The fall of Terra and its affiliated crypto Luna sparked a brutal downturn for crypto assets, and took down players including digital asset hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.

Police in Montenegro detained a person suspected to be Do Kwon at the Podgorica airport, Montenegro Interior Minister Filip Adzic said on Twitter.

The suspect was caught with falsified documents, he wrote.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission charged Kwon and Terraform Labs with alleged fraud in February. South Korea, where Kwon is from, issued an arrest warrant for Kwon in September for for alleged capital markets law violations.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Beaufort County Coroners Office is asking for the publics help to find family members in Mexico of a man whose skeletal remains were found on Hilton Head in 2016.

Paciano Shorty Lopez-Morales, 54, of Hilton Head, was reported missing in May 2015 while staying in a makeshift room at a house on Bluebell Lane, according to a Beaufort County Sheriffs Office alert.

Normally, per policy, the Coroners Office does not release the identity of those who have passed away until family members have been notified. Until Wednesday, Lopez-Morales had not been named publicly as the person to whom the skeletal remains belonged.

Lopez-Morales was from Mexico and had lost contact with family members around the same time he went missing. Though he did not have any known medical conditions, he had allegedly complained to friends of his ears hurting him before he went missing, police said in the alert.

On Spanish Wells Road, after Hurricane Matthew in December 2016, an orthopedic surgeon found a human skull while clearing trees off his property. Spanish Wells Road is about a one-minute drive from where Lopez-Morales had been staying. There were no signs of trauma found during an osteological examination, an assessment of bones or skeletal remains, and the cause and manner of his death are undetermined, police said in the alert.

The remains were confirmed to belong to Lopez-Morales after the FBI helped in finding his sister, Cylvia Lopez-Morales, who gave a DNA sample in 2018 that came back as a match, Beaufort County Coroner David Ott said. The sister has since lost contact with the FBI and officials from the coroners office.

In October, Ott said Wednesday, he tried sending a letter to the sister at her last known address in San Luis Potosi, a city in central Mexico, but has not heard back. The coroners office is trying to find her in order to deliver the news and facilitate in the return of her brothers remains.

Anyone with information may call the Beaufort County Coroners Office at 843-255-5150 or 843-255-5153.
Phoenix police.

Phoenix police have identified the two adults and one child who were found dead on Tuesday morning in a south Phoenix home as the result of a murder-suicide.

Sgt. Brian Bower, a department spokesperson, said officers responded to a home near South 16th Place and East Winston Drive at around 10:51 a.m. where they found an adult and a child in the backyard while another adult was found inside the home.

The deceased include 37-year-old Sarah Scott  who was also four months pregnant  and 6-year-old Jacob De Zeeuw Jr.

Bower said detectives determined 27-year-old Jacob De Zeeuw, who was also found dead, had shot Scott and Jacob before shooting himself.

Bower did not specify what led up to the shooting as of Thursday evening.

Services for Arizonans in crisis include:

Dial 2-1-1 to reach 211 Arizona.

Solari Crisis & Human Services offers a free, statewide crisis line 24/7/365  dial 844-534-HOPE (4673). Help is also available 24/7/365 via text by texting hope to 4HOPE (4673).

The National Suicide Prevention Line is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 in English and 1-888-628-9454 in Spanish. It's free and confidential for those in distress who need prevention or crisis resources for themselves or loved ones.

La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center's crisis line serves Maricopa and Pinal counties 24/7 at 480-784-1500.

Teen Lifeline 24/7 crisis line serves teens at 602-248-8336 for Maricopa County and 1-800-248-8336 statewide.

The Trevor Project Lifeline serves LGBTQ youth at 866-488-7386.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sarah Scott, Jacob De Zeeuw Jr. ID'd as Phoenix murder-suicide victims
Lance Corporal Stephan Van Niekerk, a father who lost his legs in Afghanistan, tells PEOPLE getting a surprise video message from the Duke of Sussex "made my sacrifice and effort feel appreciated"

National Geographic Prince Harry surprises military veteran on Car S.O.S

Prince Harry made a surprise appearance on the National Geographic renovation show Car S.O.S. to reach out to a fellow veteran  and made his "sacrifice and effort feel appreciated."

The Duke of Sussex, 38, sent a video message to Lance Corporal Stephan Van Niekerk after the veteran, who was injured after stepping on an IED, asked for mechanical help from host Fuzz Townshend on his Jeep Grand Cherokee.

"I've got a message for you here," co-host Tim Shaw told Van Niekerk, 36, before handing over his phone as he sat in his vehicle.

"Hi, Stephan, congratulations," said Prince Harry in a video message, which was reportedly shot from his home in Montecito, California.

"I hope at this point you're sitting in your brand new  or certainly what looks like a brand new  Jeep," added Harry. "Good on you mate, well done  fully, fully, fully deserved. I can't think of anyone that deserves this more than you."

Related:Prince Harry Shares 'What Gets Me Out of Bed Every Day' as He Takes the Stage in San Francisco

"After getting injured at such a young age after two tours of Afghanistan, you are the definition of inspiration because you are not defined by your injury," Harry continued about Van Niekerk, who tragically lost his left leg in Afghanistan after he stepped on an IED explosive device in 2009. Van Niekerk also had his right leg amputated below the knee and lost some of his fingers.

"You are defined by your selflessness to others, to your community, your inspirational talks to young people," Harry continued in the video. "And, of course, to your four kids and to your amazing wife, Sadie, who no doubt has got you this far. So full respect, well done you."

"And I heard  someone told me  that you're planning to cycle from Canada to Mexico  just a mere 2,745 miles I think," Harry added, breaking into a smile.

Story continues

National Geographic

"Good luck with that, I know you're going to do it. I know you're going to smash it. I know you're going to raise a lot of money for [veterans charity] Blesma as well. Other than that, mate, just a huge congratulations. Thank you for your continued service and commitment to others. I'm sure your whole family is incredibly proud of you. I'm proud of you," Harry said as Van Niekerk fought back tears.

"We're all proud of you, there's a reason you were chosen for this," Harry continued. "So, yeah, saddle up and enjoy your new wheels and then make sure you get as fit as you can for this next huge adventure that's coming your way. You're gonna smash that. At the end of that, I'd love to meet you  even if it's over Zoom. But um, yeah, full respect, man. Well done, love it, and catch you soon," Harry said, signing off with a "Cheers!"

Van Niekerk tells PEOPLE exclusively how much the message from Prince Harry meant to him.

"I'm one of those people that don't like to make a big deal about what's happened to me and what I do. I don't see myself as a hero but as just another person who's had a tough journey and now continuing to help others through my experience as part of my duty," he says. "But when I received that message from Prince Harry, it was so unexpected. I had no idea that was coming. He has such huge pressure on his shoulders and he has done so much in service of the veteran community and the country."

"For him to take the time to get to know my story and send that message saying all of those kind words and wishing me well for my future challenge was a huge honor," Van Niekerk added. "To hear appreciation from those around me is humbling but to hear it from a royal, who is also a fellow veteran, was very special. Also as this is all coming from someone who's also been through a lot and it wasn't just some generic message. It felt very personal and shows the mark of the man he really is. It made my sacrifice and effort feel appreciated."

National Geographic Prince Harry

Related:Prince Harry Says He 'Always Felt Different' from His Family: 'I Know My Mom Felt the Same'

"He's talking about you," Shaw said as Prince Harry's words set in.

"I know, I can't believe it," Van Niekerk responded, visibly moved.

On Thursday, the father of four, who goes by @the_diary_of_a_limbless_dad on Instagram, teased the episode to his followers.

"This is going to be a big one! Tune in as you may just see a very surprised and familiar face," Van Niekerk posted on his page, which includes a bio reading, "Welcome to me. I am a legless dad to 4 kids! Due to injury I have had to adapt my life in a major way but I intend to live it to the fullest!"

Prince Harry is a long-standing supporter of veterans and service personnel through his Invictus Games. In January, he announced that Heart of Invictus, a series following competitors as they prepare for the event, will air on Netflix in the summer of 2023.

"This new series from Archewell Productions follows a group of extraordinary competitors from around the globe  all service members who have suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses  on their road to competing at the Invictus Games," the streaming service wrote on Twitter in a thread announcing several sports-related programs. The caption accompanied a photo of the Duke of Sussex shaking hands with an athlete.

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!

HEART OF INVICTUS (Summer 2023)



This new series from Archewell Productions follows a group of extraordinary competitors from around the globe  all service members who have suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses  on their road to competing at the Invictus Games. pic.twitter.com/Y5sCOIEwoV  Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) January 12, 2023

The show will follow competitors in the 2020 Invictus Games in The Hague, the Netherlands, which was delayed until April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cameras were seen following Harry Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games this past spring.

It also comes ahead of the competition coming to Dusseldorf, Germany, in September 2023. The 2023 Invictus Games will be the sixth time that the event has taken place, following games in London (2014), Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017), Sydney (2018) and The Hague. In 2025, the Invictus Games will return to North America and take place in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada.

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Read the original article on People.
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Based on SNS Insider, technological advancements in real-time PCR instruments and reagents have improved the sensitivity and accuracy of the technique, making it a preferred choice for various applications in research and diagnostics.

Pune, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SNS Insider reports states that the Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market had a valuation of USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to achieve USD 8.07 billion by 2030, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.65% during the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2030.

Market Overview

Real-Time PCR, also known as quantitative PCR (qPCR), is a powerful molecular biology technique used to amplify and quantify DNA or RNA sequences in real-time. This technique has revolutionized the field of molecular biology and has become an essential tool for researchers in various fields, including genetics, genomics, microbiology, and diagnostics.

Market Analysis

The real-time PCR (qPCR) market is expected to experience significant growth during the forecast period, driven by various factors. One of the main drivers of this growth is the increasing market penetration in emerging countries, as well as a shift in consumer preferences from plant-delivered drugs to genome-based drugs. Additionally, the growing incidence of target diseases worldwide, coupled with the proven effectiveness of real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis in diagnosing and evaluating disease-causing microbes, is expected to drive the utilization of clinical diagnostic tests. This increased demand for diagnostic tests is likely to contribute significantly to the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Key Company Profiles Listed in this Report Are:

Major Key Players are BD, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, QIAGEN, ABL SA Group, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Analytik Jena AG, Fluidigm Corporation, Lumex Instruments, Primerdesign Ltd.

Get a Sample Report of Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/2573

Impact of Recession on Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market Growth

The economic recession has had a mixed impact on the real-time PCR (qPCR) market. While the market has faced challenges due to reduced funding for research and development and decreased investment in healthcare, the increased demand for diagnostic tests related to infectious diseases has provided some opportunities for growth.

Story continues

Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 US$ 5.2 Bn Market Size by 2030 US$ 8.07 Bn CAGR CAGR of 5.65% From 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2020-2021 Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market: Key Segments  By Application (Clinical, Research, and Forensics)

 By End User (Hospitals &Diagnostic Centers, Research Laboratories & Academic Institutes, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Clinical Research Organizations, and Forensic Laboratories)

 By Product (Reagents & Consumables, Instruments, Software & Services) Key Regional Coverage North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), The Middle East & Africa (Israel, UAE, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Key Regional Developments

The North American real-time PCR (qPCR) market is experiencing significant growth, which is primarily driven by the rising adoption of advanced genomic analysis products. These products, including innovative Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-Time PCR (qPCR) products, are being increasingly used for various research and diagnostic applications. Furthermore, the robust research infrastructure available in the region has also contributed significantly to the growth of the North American real-time PCR market. The presence of well-established research institutions, academic centers, and leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies has enabled the development and adoption of innovative real-time PCR technologies.

Do you need any customization or have any query related to this research? Enquiry@ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/2573

Key Takeaway from Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market Study

The clinical research segment is expected to continue to dominate the market due to the increasing demand for rapid and accurate diagnostic tests and the growing prevalence of infectious diseases. The versatility of real-time PCR (qPCR) and its ability to detect and quantify nucleic acids with high precision and sensitivity make it an indispensable tool for clinical research.

The reagents and consumables segment is expected to dominate the real-time PCR market in the foreseeable future. The increasing demand for real-time PCR and the development of advanced PCR technologies are likely to drive the growth of this segment.

Recent Developments Related to Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market

BioGX, a leading molecular diagnostics company, has announced that it has shipped the first batch of its innovative pixl(TM) real-time PCR platform to laboratories across the United States. The company's cutting-edge technology offers a reliable and efficient solution for the detection of a wide range of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, a leading provider of scientific products and services, has announced the launch of its real-time PCR kits for the detection of infectious diseases in India. The kits are designed to help healthcare professionals quickly and accurately identify a range of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, influenza, and dengue.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Dynamics

4. Impact Analysis

5. Value Chain Analysis

6. Porters 5 Forces Model

7. PEST Analysis

8. Real-Time PCR Market, By Application

9. Real-Time PCR Market, By End User

10. Real-Time PCR Market, By Product

11. Regional Analysis

12. Company Profiles

13. Competitive Landscape

14. Conclusion

Buy Single-User PDF of Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Market Report@ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/2573

[For more information or any customization about this research study mail us at info@snsinsider.com]

About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominate the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.

Access Full Report Details@ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/real-time-pcr-qpcr-market-2573

CONTACT: Contact Us: Akash Anand  Head of Business Development & Strategy info@snsinsider.com Phone: +1-415-230-0044 (US)




The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas is planning to introduce newly hired County Administrator David Johnston with a public meet-and-greet Monday.

The public, government staff and elected officials, including Mayor Tyrone Garner, are expected to be on hand as Johnston takes over the UGs top hired position. It is scheduled to begin after a brief press conference at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Municipal Building at 701 N. 7th Street Trafficway.

On the menu will be light refreshments and a chance to officially welcome Mr. Johnston to the Dotte, the UG announced in a news release Wednesday.

Johnston will take the helm from Cheryl Harrison-Lee, the interim County Administrator for the past year.

Johnston is the long-term hire to replace former County Administrator Doug Bach, a controversial figure in Wyandotte County politics who spent eight years in the top spot. Bach retired in late December 2021 under a separation agreement worth about $800,000.

Prior to being picked to lead Wyandotte County government, Johnston was the city manager for Covington, Kentucky, a city of about 41,000 residents. He resigned in June 2021, the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported at the time.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES ULTIMATE GIRLS TRIP -- "Don't Rock the Boat" Episode 303 -- Pictured: (l-r) Gizelle Bryant, Porsha Williams, Marysol Patton -- (Photo by: Mark Rogers/PEACOCK)

At long last, Peacock has gifted us with the third season of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. It feels like forever since weve gotten a new Real Housewives crossover and it was long overdue after the Bezerkshires trip of Season 2. A group of Housewives past and present head to Phuket, Thailand for a girls trip like no other.

Peacock outdid themselves with the cast. From Real Housewives of Potomac, Candiace Dillard Bassett and Gizelle Bryant are coming fresh from their Season 7 feud. We also have Bad Weather from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, even though Heather Gay and Whitney Rose arent on the best of terms, either. Real Housewives of Atlanta peach Porsha Williams steps out of retirement to party with the crew. Real Housewives of Miami besties Marysol Patton and Alexia Echevarria are accounted for, cockies in hand. Finally, we have the wildcard Leah McSweeney from Real Housewives of New York.

The premiere episode sets the tone for what this mashup group of ladies has in store for their exotic vacation. Gizelle wastes no time stirring the pot, as she does best, and everyones skeletons come out of the closet right away. Here are five of the main takeaways from the RHUGT Season 3 premiere episode, Were in Thailand, B-tches!

Thailand Wins Best RHUGT Location So Far

It only feels right to kick off this recap with a love letter to the producers of Season 3. RHUGT was fun with Dorinda Medley and co., but a lavish trip to a villa in Thailand is truly next level. The ladies travel far and wide to stay in a bonafide palace, even though it almost takes Whitney twice as long to make the hike up the road as it did to fly there. They also have an amazing concierge named Pepsi to wait on them hand and foot, who I can already tell is going to be a fan favorite.

The producers also make the show even more fun with their editing tactics. They feature scenes from all of the ladies flagship shows to provide context to their relationships headed into the trip. Its also a fun spin to see the ladies breaking the fourth wall. I almost spit out my drink when Porsha is bragging about her room to producers. OK Bravo, they really do want me back. Theyre trying to woo me, she says in a confessional. A producer chimes in to remind her that shes on Peacock now. Its the comedic relief Bravo fans need to break up all of the drama going on these days.

Story continues

Gizelle Immediately Gets Reasonably Shady

Any RHOP fan already knew how Gizelle was going to act on this trip, and she wastes no time getting to it. As the resident pot stirrer, she literally brings up all of the drama going on among the ladies. She doesnt even let Heather put her bags down before grilling her about the Jen Shah of it all. Lucky for Gizzy, Candiace is feeling generous on this trip and decides to forgive Gizelle for the sake of keeping the peace. It doesnt mean CandeePants wont sneak around to her new roomies to warn them about her co-star from home.

At the first group lunch, Gizelle also makes Heather and Whitney attempt to hash out their unfinished business from RHOSLC Season 3. Its the same fight about Lisa Barlow that theyve been having for weeks now. I think I speak for all of us when I say were over it. Gizelle also gets bored quickly and makes the ladies stop fighting for her own amusement, which is just typical. At the first dinner just hours later, Gizelle makes the ladies play a game with the sole purpose of stirring up trouble. They have to share their best and worst first impressions from Day 1, which is quite a way to get this group of women fired up from the get-go. Again, did any of us expect anything less from Gizelles big RHUGT debut? I sure did not.

Alexia And Marysol Arent In Miami Anymore

Out of all the ladies in the house, Alexia and Marysol take the most time warming up. Sure, theyre used to the heat of Thailand coming from Florida. But maybe its because they have each other that they are a bit more reserved. Theyre a dynamic duo for a reason, but we know that friendship will be tested on this trip. Marysol also spends most of the episode sick. Pepsis Thai cocktails arent sitting right in her stomach. She needs a big glass of vodka with a splash of orange soda and then shell be good to go. Marysol also admits to only drinking water when she makes her coffee with it. That woman is a scientific miracle.

Any RHOM fan knows that Alexia and Marysol speak their own language of Spanglish. Gizelle gets mad when Alexia and Marysol speak to one another in Spanish, which pisses off the Cockie Queen. She ultimately apologizes, but Marysol doesnt like that Gizelle thinks she can make rules for everyone in the group. Alexia also doesnt like Gizelle asking so many questions to avoid talking about herself, so who knows how these two will mesh with their new roomies.

RELATED: Caroline Manzo Finally Opens Up About Her Early Exit From Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip

Heather Feels The Group Pile On

Heather heads into the trip needing a vacation. Honestly, she and Whitney are just excited that the RHOSLC girls finally get to leave the Mormon belt for once. But really  filming began just days after Heather learned of Jens guilty plea. Shes ready to have fun in the Thai sun, but Gizelles nosy questions cut that idea short pretty quickly. Heather is upset that Whitney isnt getting as many questions as she is, even though Whitney never was as ride-or-die for Jen as Miss Gay.

Aside from Heathers issues with Whitney, she gets off on the wrong foot with Leah. When Leah arrives, Heather sweetly acknowledges her sobriety and then says she almost wants to stay sober in solidarity to help Leah through the week. However, after a few of Pepsis strong cocktails, Heather then thinks its a funny joke to want to get Leah drunk. Bad look. Leah brings up that a relapse could literally kill her. Even though Heather read Leahs book about her addiction struggles, she still said itd be a challenge to get her drunk. It leads to a major fight.

Almost everyone picks Heather as the person who gave them the worst first impression. Leah ultimately forgives Heather once she apologizes for her stupid comment, but the pile-on has just begun and Heather is feeling it. Gizelle doesnt like her, no one can like her, Heather said in a confessional about herself. She feels a target on her back but in Heathers own words, shes just glad to be getting attention. Its going to be a long trip for the SLC girls.

Porsha Is Back And Better Than Ever

The biggest takeaway from the RHUGT Season 3 premiere is that Porsha Williams is BACK, baby. And boy is she more on point than ever. Its been a while since Porshas been in the TV, as she puts it, and I forget how much Ive missed her. Porsha says shes in an empowered place in her life and man, I believe her after this episode. Porsha and Marysol make fast friends on the flight to Thailand thanks to their mutual taste for a stiff cockie. From then on, shes nothing but a walking party.

No one made me laugh more in this episode than Porsha. Pepsi shows the girls the spirit house at their villa, and Porsha doesnt hide that shes scared of ghosts. I thought we were the ones who rented this place, she quips. Im screaming. Porsha also dogs Gizelle for digging into everyones drama before even learning their last name. Porsha tries to remember everyones last name and only comes up with Heather Graham and Whitney Houston. Its just comical. The episode ends with Porsha and Candiace igniting some beef that fans expected was bound to happen between them. While Im not picking sides in this fight, Im just happy to see more of Miss Williams in a new environment on my TV on a weekly basis. Thank you, Peacock.

TELL US  WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE RHUGT SEASON PREMIERE? WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET IN THE MOST DRAMA THIS SEASON OF THE CROSSOVER SHOW?

[Photo Credit: Mark Rogers/PEACOCK]

The post Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 3 Premiere: Thailand Might Be Hot, But Gizelle Bryant Brings All Of The Shade appeared first on Reality Tea.
Multi-territory Asian streaming platform Viu is to deliver a Thai version of hit drama series Reborn Rich.



The 16-episode Korean drama was produced by Koreas JTBC Studios and Viu, aired on JTBC in Korea between November and December 2022 and was branded as a Viu Original in the 16-territoires in which it operates.



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Its story sees a long-term employee of a large family-run conglomerate falsely accused of embezzlement. After he is shot on an overseas business trip, he finds himself in the body of the familys grandson and decides to use his new identity as a means by which to take revenge on the family and the corporation.



Starring Song Joong-ki, Reborn Rich was one of the top-ranking dramas of all time on JTBC and on Viu.

Viu announced news of the Thai remake at an upfront event in Bangkok on Thursday evening. But it disclosed no information  production company, director or showrunner or cast  beyond an expected premiere date in 2024.



In Bangkok, the company unwrapped Thai titles including Shadow, Close Friend: Soju Bomb, The Outing and the previously announced Get Rich, a 16-episode, school-set drama set to upload on May 2. The Thai slate covers a range of genres, from romantic to mystery drama, in line with the consumer demand observed in the market.



Shadow is a dark fantasy drama about disturbing dreams that will be available in July. Close Friend: Soju Bomb is a 6-episode drama about five friends who want to become Korean-style idols. Uploading in November, The Outing is a drama about the complicated love lives of three families that are revealed when they take a works outing.



Earlier this month at the FilMart rights market, Viu repeated its plan to deliver 25 originals in the current year. Thai drama Love Me Again, which is already airing, is among the 25.



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Showcasing our local Viu Original titles within the local markets is important for us as we continue to develop content that works locally and regionally. Having the cast and crew present gives us the unique opportunity to showcase the talent behind the upcoming content we are producing, said Derek Wong, head of Viu Originals, in Southeast Asia and Middle East & Africa.

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Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema

The most genuine thing Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has done in politics happened last December when she left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent.

By most definitions an independent person is someone not under the control of any governing body or business concern or political party. That isnt what it means with Sinema.

From the beginning of her political career the senator has been controlled by a party of one: Herself.

The party of Sinema always looks out for the interests of Sinema. It is more than happy to allow itself to be under the seeming control of a governing body or business concern or political party as long as that control supports  you guessed it  the interests of Sinema.

'Old dudes are eating Jell-O ...'

That was the case in 2018 when Sinema was running for the U.S. Senate and needed Democrats.

She doesnt need them anymore, apparently. She doesnt even want them, apparently.

An article in Politico quotes Sinema at a gathering of Republican lobbyists in Washington saying she didnt attend Democratic caucus luncheons because they were ridiculous.

Adding, Old dudes are eating Jell-O, everyone is talking about how great they are. I dont really need to be there for that. Thats an hour and a half twice a week that I can get back. The Northerners and the Westerners put cool whip on their Jell-O and the Southerners put cottage cheese.

A few stops on Sinema's Burning Bridges Tour

For some time now the senator has been on a Burning Bridges Tour.

There was a time, for example, when the party of Sinema appeared to support working class individuals, whom she needed to get elected. That ended in 2021, when Sinema gave the thumbs down to a minimum-wage increase in President Joe Bidens pandemic aid bill.

When the party of Sinema sought support from the wealthiest of the wealthy it found a legislative way to protect big money boys in private equity and hedge funds from higher taxes.

The party of Sinema also figured out how to go from a well-known protector of consumers to what the Kaiser Health News called a pharma favorite in Congress.

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Will she repost the photo where she's wearing the 'F--- OFF' ring?

And while claiming support for John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, each of which would have helped the citizens who elected her, the party of Sinema scuttled the possibility of passage by her undying support of the filibuster.

Id guess Sinema already knows what her plans are when reelection time rolls around next year. Perhaps shell announce them at some point by reposting that picture of herself from 2021, the one in which shes sipping sangria in a pink newsboy cap and wearing a ring that says F--- Off.

In the meantime, well wait and watch as she takes Jell-O shots at her former Democratic colleagues, complete with whipped cream and cottage cheese, waiting for the time she puts a sour cherry on top.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema takes Jell-O shots at Democrats
Juana Jordan, Executive Director of FAMU Wesley Foundation, also known as IMPACT, poses for a photo Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

As members of the Wesley Foundation at Florida A&M University opened their weekly Bible study on a recent Wednesday evening, newly appointed Executive Director and Pastor Juana Jordan expressed gratitude for their new building near the southern edge of the campus of Florida A&M University.

Thank you, God, that you have put me in this place because I just think the sky is open, not only for this ministry but its open for me and everybody who Im going to engage with, Jordan said in a prayer.

The brick house at 2023 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. opened to students in January. The renovated home includes smart technology features such as energy-saving lighting and built-in surround sound, two office rooms, two bathrooms and a full kitchen. Next door is a two-story apartment building currently under renovation to house eight students in the fall semester.

The Wesley Foundation is an extension of the United Methodist Church designed for outreach on college campuses, 10 of which are in the Florida. Two are in Tallahassee, on FAMUs campus and on Florida State Universitys campus that also serves students attending Tallahassee Community College.

Jordan, a former news reporter at the Tallahassee Democrat and marketing representative called to the ministry 12 years ago, was appointed to lead the United Methodist Churchs outreach in December.

Since re-emerging in Tallahassee, Jordan has immersed herself in promoting the outreach ministry, initiated fundraising and overseeing the enhancements at the complex, known as IMPACT House, the name given to the building.

As our mission statement says, we are inspiring, motivating, preparing, and conscientiously transforming FAMU and the community with the love and teachings of Christ, and that is our goal, Jordan told the Tallahassee Democrat.

Opinion:Heres how FSU, FAMU and TCC faculty should counter legislation threatening unions

Other FAMU news:Tallahassee Bus Boycott book transformed into 'powerful' upcoming musical performance

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More:FAMUs Kofi Hemmingway, known as the Voice of Bragg, fondly remembered by Rattler Nation

A welcomed spiritual homecoming

Jordan is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, but she credits her growth in the ministry to her previous time in Tallahassee.

I came out of New Life and that is where my call happened. My faith developed here, Jordan said of her membership at New Life UMC, 2821 S. Monroe St., in Tallahassee.

She arrived in Tallahassee in 2000 and worked as a business reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat until 2006, when she took a job at Moore Agency in Tallahassee. She also later served as interim advisor to the FAMUAN student newspaper.

My dream was to leave the Tallahassee Democrat and wind up at the Washington Post, Jordan said, sitting at a table at the IMPACT house. But somewhere along the journey I got restless.

Jordan, who earned an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, enrolled at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2008. She earned her Master of Divinity degree in 2011.

That same year, she was appointed senior pastor at Harris Chapel UMC in Fort Lauderdale, and in 2016, she became associate pastor at Southside UMC in Jacksonville. In 2017, she was appointed spiritual leader and organizer of a multi-ethnic church for the Florida Conference of the UMC in Jacksonville.

In 2018, she was appointed pastor at First United Methodist Church of St. Augustine, making history as the first African American and woman to pastor the 198-year-old church.

She remained there until 2021, and in 2022, she stepped away from the active ministry.

I really felt God was calling me to leave for a little and take a break, Jordan said. So, I stepped away from ministry for a whole year.

While on her hiatus from ministry, she received a call from the Rev. Latricia Scriven, former executive director of IMPACT, about returning to Tallahassee and heading up the Wesley Foundation operation at FAMU.

Scriven says Jordan was the first person she thought of to step into the position.

She has great ministry expertise and I thought she could form deep and beneficial relationships with students, Scriven said of Jordans qualifications.

Jordan, however, thought otherwise.

I told her, I am not the person but Im going to help you find somebody, Jordan said of her initial reaction to Scrivens request.

Eventually, after scrolling on the UMC job board, Jordan says she heard Gods voice guiding her to apply for position.

This is my first time in student ministry. Ive always felt as though Ive resonated with young adults, Jordan said. This particular opportunity was truly God driven and divine.

Juana Jordan, Executive Director of FAMU Wesley Foundation, also known as IMPACT, poses for a photo Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Accepting the challenge of student ministry

Despite its United Methodist Church affiliation, the IMPACT ministry is open to all students. The challenge, Jordan said, is reaching them and presenting the opportunity.

I dont fully know where they all are, and theyre in their rooms, Jordan said. Trying to connect when that is the norm is very challenging.

Jordan and the current handful of engaged students do outreach on Mondays at the Quad on FAMUs campus, hold Bible study at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and sometimes do mission work on Saturdays with other local UMC congregations. They also collaborate with the Wesley Foundation at FSU and with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at FAMU.

Jordan says regular Sunday services wont be offered until she sees an increase in participants.

Wayne Wiatt, superintendent for the Northwest Florida district of the United Methodist Church, said Jordan was the obvious choice.

She is dynamic and exciting, and to listen to her calls you closer into a relationship with Christ, Waitt said.

Rebekah Hill, president of IMPACT, said she is comforted by Jordans presence.

Shes been a very nice fit here at Impact with everyone, said Hill, a 24-year-old food science student from Polk County.

Contact Democrat writer Alaijah Brown at ABrown1@gannett.com and on Twitter at @BrownAlaijah.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Wesley Foundation at FAMU welcomes Pastor Juana Jordan
BROOKINGS  State Supreme Court justices heard arguments Thursday in a case to unseal affidavits used to authorize search warrants into a child pornography investigation concerning billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford.

It's the latest in the two-year court battle between Sanford, the Argus Leader and ProPublica. Justices had ruled in 2021 that some items in the search warrants are public information, but Sanford's team of lawyers continued to argue the affidavits for five search warrants should remain under seal.

"Being a representative of the general public does not make you an interested party for purposes" of the public record law in question, Sanford's attorney Stacy Hegge said Thursday. "That has to mean something more than just allowing the general public an opportunity to come in and challenge."

T. Denny Sanford attends the first day of the Sanford International on Friday, September 16, 2022, at the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls.

Hegge argued the Argus Leader and ProPublica as media organizations should not be classified as interested parties in the lawsuit, and Sanford and his attorneys should have the opportunity to review the sealed documents to determine what should be redacted before their release.

Jon Arneson and Jeff Beck, lawyers for the Argus Leader and ProPublica, said the Supreme Court had already determined the search warrants should be unsealed.

Jon Arneson makes arguments in front of the South Dakota Supreme Court about a public records lawsuit involving the Argus Leader and ProPublica against billionaire T. Denny Sanford.

The Argus Leader learned about the "Implicated Individual" case in 2020, in what Hegge described as an "illicit" manner, and requested the records, which are normally considered public documents under state law.

The South Dakota Attorney General's Office conducted a criminal investigation into Sanford, who before November 2021 had been identified in court documents as an "Implicated Individual," between December 2019 and May 2022. Sanford was not charged after the South Dakota case ended, because the AG's office ruled no chargeable offenses had been found.

More:T. Denny Sanford to appeal release of child pornography affidavits

As a result of the closure of the investigation, Second Circuit Court Judge James Power wrote in an email that the court expected the affidavits in support of the search warrants to be unsealed. But Hegge, one of Sanford's attorneys, motioned to delay the unsealing of the documents, which resulted in the hearing Thursday.

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It's unclear if Sanford is continuing to be investigated in other jurisdictions and on a federal level.

"These are public records," Arneson said. "Now, the rest of this is superfluous."

Beck said Power should be allowed to determine what personal identifying information should be redacted in the affidavits.

Jon Arneson, an attorney for the Argus Leader, listens to testimony during a Supreme Court hearing involving the Sioux Falls-based newspaper and billionaire T. Denny Sanford in Brookings on March 23.

"We're not asking this court to craft some redaction statute or to interpret state statute," he said. "The statute is clear, that is an open document for public access. Now, if there's something in there they don't want, then they can follow the statute."

Such redacted information typically includes phone numbers, names of minors, social security numbers and addresses. Hegge argued Sanford should be able to see if there's the disclosure of trade secrets in the affidavits.

Justices will make their determination in the case in later months.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: T. Denny Sanford attorneys argue to keep affidavits sealed in SD Supreme Court
Child care is becoming inaccessible to many families.

Dan Heintz is an Ohio public school teacher, member of the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Board of Education and steering committee member for the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit.

While we normally recognize cultural milestones along easily digestible divisions of a century, it makes sense to take a single step away from that familiar pattern this week. It was March 24, 1997, twenty-six years ago, when Ohios Supreme Court declared the states method of funding public education unconstitutional.

More than 20 years: DeRolph, school-funding fights linger on

Why pause to acknowledge the 26th anniversary of DeRolph v. State of Ohio?

Because the duration of a standard K-12 education is 13 years, so this week we mark the second complete generation of students who have been educated since our Supreme Court ordered Ohios legislature to fulfill their constitutional mandate of funding a thorough and efficient system of common schools. They have not.

"Blake" and "Amanda"

Imagine five-year-old "Blake" started Kindergarten in September 1997, just six months after the DeRolph decision. Blake would have earned his High School diploma thirteen springs later as a member of the class of 2010.

Now imagine a girl named Amanda.

In September, 2010, "Amanda" started kindergarten. Her senior prom is right around the corner, as she is a member of this years Class of 2023.

Opinion:Ohio school voucher program a runaway train that makes us all losers

I am ashamed to share that despite a crystal-clear decision directing our General Assembly to fix the problem, neither Amanda nor Blake have been provided a thorough and efficient system of common schools. This is not an accident or an oversight.

Dan Heintz

This is the willfully negligent behavior of multiple legislatures flaunting their contempt for the authority of our Supreme Court and the birthright of our children.

Soon after Amanda returned from winter break as a kindergartener, Gov. John Kasich was sworn into office. By the time Amanda left for spring break, the governor had forced Ohios superintendent, Deb Deslile to resign; an odd decision since Ohio was ranked 11th in the country for the quality of K-12 Education. Apparently, Gov. Kasich wanted to go a different direction. In fact, they both ended up going different directions. She rose to become an assistant secretary at the US Department of Education, and Ohios rank dropped to 26th.

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Public tax dollars to private schools

Going different directions is a theme of the educational policy passed by Ohios ruling party. In the decades since the DeRolph decision, the biggest education policy initiative they have pursued is to send public tax dollars to private schools in the form of vouchers. Initially marketed as a way of improving outcomes by inserting competition into the educational marketplace these leaders (one of whom was recently convicted of racketeering) have failed at both.

Not that they care.

In 2014, when Amanda was in third grade, our state legislature sent $70.5 million public tax dollars to private schools in the form of tuition vouchers. By 2022 EdChoice surpassed $315 million.

As of last year, we will have sent more than a billion taxpayer dollars to private schools. Private schools who have zero financial accountability to taxpayers; private schools who can deny admission to students with special needs and private schools who can discriminate based on gender, religion, sexuality, and/or academic ability.

If the legislatures GOP supermajority has their way, that first billion dollars will be remembered as practice with a voucher bill working its way through committee hearings that would cost Ohio taxpayers more than that every year.

Every spring, Amanda and Blake have gone through the ritual of state mandated testing. Interestingly, students who have used the billion dollars of taxpayer supported vouchers have been required to take the same tests.

Guess what?

Voucher students routinely underperform public school students. A study looking at the 2009-2010 performance of voucher students from Cleveland found they performed lower on nine of the 14 state-mandated tests than did the students at their home public school.

A Cincinnati Enquirer study looking at statewide data from the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 showed similar results: The analysis found that in 88 percent of the cities in the analysis, a public district achieved better state testing results than those private schools with an address in the same city.

So, instead of funding a thorough and efficient system of common schools our legislature has spent a billion of our tax dollars to prop up underperforming private schools.

Not only has this hijacking of a billion dollars of taxpayer money been squandered on underperforming private schools, it has re-segregated the public schools many of those voucher users have left. The student body of the Richmond Heights Schools was 26 percent white before vouchers. Today, the white student enrollment has fallen to 3 percent. In the Cleveland Heights - University Heights School district, 89 percent of voucher users are white, leaving behind a student body that is now only 17.2 percent white. As Amanda, Blake, and every other public school student learns in their junior year government class, separate is not equal.

A funding system sending just $1,938.36 per student to the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Schools, while sending a voucher for $5,500 (grades K-8) or $7,500 (grades 9-12) for the same children to attend private schools does not create a thorough and efficient system of common schools. Yet this is the law of our land under the current biennial budget. Yes, a high school voucher sent nearly four times as much taxpayer money to private schools as the state sent to my public school district in 2022. No wonder there are so many school levies on every ballot!

Last January, a group of more than 100 public school districts filed the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit claiming the EdChoice voucher program violates the Ohio Constitution in five different ways. This coalition now has the support of roughly a third of the states 611 school districts.

On Dec. 16, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page rejected all five of the states motions to dismiss. Judge Page expects to begin hearing the case this year.

Hopefully, Ohios taxpayers and school districts will receive the verdict they deserve, so this falls kindergarteners can receive the education they deserve.

Dan Heintz is an Ohio public school teacher, member of the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Board of Education and steering committee member for the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What has happened since Ohios Supreme Court declared school funding unconstitutional?
GettyImages-1460128455-1 - Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Memphis Police Department has formally requested that a state oversight board permanently bar six former police officers involved in the beating death of Tyre Nichols from ever holding positions in law enforcement again.

Nichols, a 29-year-old delivery driver, father, and skateboarding enthusiast was killed in January, succumbing to his injuries days after a group of police officers brutalized him with fists and batons in the aftermath of a traffic stop. Five of the officers involved have been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the killing.

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According to a report from the New York Times, the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission has received a request to decertify six officers who were fired as a result of the case, and one who resigned in its aftermath: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., Preston Hemphill, and Justin Smith. The commission has already determined that three of the officers be decertified, as they failed to appear for their hearings. A fourth officer, Mills, declined to challenge the recommendation and agreed to surrender his certification. The hearings for officers Bean and Hemphill have yet to be scheduled.

The decertification would prevent the officers from working in law enforcement in the state.

In the aftermath of Nichols death, the Memphis police department has made moves at attempted reforms in the citys policing. In January, the department announced that it would be disbanding the Scorpion Unit a specialized anti-violence unit to which the charged officers belonged.

The officers charged in the case have pled not-guilty, and are scheduled to next appear in court in May.

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A South Dakota resident has captured dawn footage showing a mountain lion attempting to cross a busy street and narrowly escaping oncoming traffic.

I just saw it dart across the road on my way to work, Dan Tiede said of the March 21 sighting in Rapid City, miles from the more cougar-friendly Black Hills. I was pretty positive I knew what I saw, so I turned around to see if I could grab a photo or video.

The rare footage shows the mountain lion pausing in Tiedes headlights, then attempting to cross Jackson Blvd. in building commuter traffic.

Look out kitty lookout kitty! No, no no! Tiede says, nervously, in the footage.

Tiede then express relief when the cat changes direction after almost being struck and bounds toward a quieter part of town.

ALSO: Georgia anglers catch of giant crappie stuns biologists

Hopefully it found its way safely out of the city, Tiede said, adding that he notified a local ranger about the sighting.

Mountain lions, or cougars, were listed as a state-threatened species in South Dakota in 1978, and removed from that listing in 2003. A limited hunting season is now allowed in the Black Hills.

Story originally appeared on For The Win
Former US President Donald Trump searches the crowd while speaking during an event at the Adler Theatre on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump is holding a 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas on Saturday.

None of the 30 Texas Republicans Insider contacted about the event said they were going.

Even House Republicans who've endorsed Trump's comeback bid after skipping the fly-in.

If Trump thought heading to ruby red Texas this weekend would force Republican leaders to come running as he seeks to fend off swirling indictments, the embattled former president is in for a rude awakening.

Insider couldn't find a single GOP official  from the Lone Star State's entire congressional delegation to the mayor of the cult siege-marred town  who willingly planned to participate in his official 2024 campaign rollout in Waco on Saturday.

Most of the 30 GOP members contacted about Donald Trump's inaugural visit to the site of a 30-year-old standoff between cult leader David Koresh and federal authorities did not respond to requests for comment about whether they intended to rally with the scandal-plagued candidate and perhaps say a few kind words.

The handful who told Insider they wouldn't be able to make it, for whatever reason, include the Texas Republican who represents Waco in Congress, along with a House GOP colleague who has already endorsed Trump's third reelection bid.

Steering clear of Trump right now would seem to make a lot of sense, given that he's being investigated for alleged crimes  including inciting the deadly January 6, 2021 siege at the US Capitol  and has scoffed at calls for MAGA to peacefully protest if he winds up getting arrested.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung declined to comment about who the supporting cast might be for the fly-in at Waco's regional airport, telling Insider that "speakers and attendees will be announced on our time."

Cheung was also non-committal about whether former Trump rally companions like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia or failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake would pop up in Texas. A local GOP strategist told Insider that they'd seen an email billing Greene as one of Trump's promised "special guest speakers," but her office did not respond to requests for comment about any confirmed speaking slot.

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Rep. Pete Sessions, a Waco native who now represents the surrounding 17th congressional district, praised Trump for shining a light on his hometown but said he'd have to miss the spectacle.

"I cannot be at this weekend's rally due to a commitment I made to attend an important community event in Nacogdoches, Texas, another area of my district," Sessions wrote in an email, adding that "every serious contender should travel to Central Texas and make their case to the electorate."

While he stopped short of offering an official endorsement for any of the 2024 presidential hopefuls  stating only that the eventual nominee "should embody Texan values"  Sessions urged rally attendees "to show the same support I have for President Trump."

Aides to Rep. Troy Nehls, one of the four House Republicans from Texas who have formally backed Trump's 2024 run, told Insider he wouldn't be heading to Waco because of a prior commitment in Washington, DC, this weekend. Rep. Chip Roy, on the other hand, won't be hightailing it over to Waco given that he recently endorsed anticipated 2024 candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his pick for the GOP nomination.

Other Texas Republicans who said they'd be unable to huddle with Trump for unspecified reasons include Rep. Michael McCaul, and state GOP chairman Matt Rinaldi.

Waco Mayor Dillon Meek said he had previously committed to attending a centennial banquet for the 10th Court of Appeals on Saturday, so joining the Trump rally wouldn't work out.

The bigger concern, Meek told Insider, was that the high-profile visit might in any way backfire after the decades the community has spent building back from the Branch Davidian tragedy.

"My hope is that the national image of our city will continue to reflect the positive occurrences in Waco," Meek wrote in an email, touting developments like family-friendly tourist attractions and budding economic growth. "Rather than a siege, albeit tragic, that occurred 30 years ago."

Read the original article on Business Insider
More than one-third of adults under 35 believe fraud is something that happens to others, but not to them

TORONTO, March 24, 2023 /CNW/ - While fraudsters ramped up their efforts during the pandemic, many Canadians feel it will only get worse if a recession hits. According to the 2023 RBC Fraud Prevention Month Poll, 42% of Canadians think it will be harder to spot scams during a recession than in the pandemic and four in five (78%) believe a recession will increase everyone's fraud risk.

RBC (CNW Group/RBC Royal Bank)

The research also found that three-quarters of respondents (75%) believe it's easier to fall victim to a scam when you're struggling financially, but more than a third (36%) are simply too worried about other things to be concerned about fraud. Also, 86% of Canadians are simply tired of having to be on the lookout for scams.

"It's understandable that people have a lot on their minds and don't want to think about fraud, but scams are getting harder to spot and fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated," says Kevin Purkiss, vice president, Fraud Management, RBC. "We've seen a strong correlation between increased fraud and economic slowdowns, which means Canadians need to stay vigilant about reducing their risk."

Missing the signs of fraud is costing Canadians money

While 77% of Canadians say their first instinct is to assume every e-mail, phone call or text from a company or organization is a scam, 67% say it's harder than ever to tell when an e-mail, text or online ad is a scam. Other significant poll findings:

32% are concerned they are already starting to miss the signs of potential fraud

71% worry it will be harder to spot the signs of fraud as they get older

23% have been a victim of fraud or fallen for a scam

18% report fraudsters have gained access to their personal or financial information

14% admit they've lost money in a scam, with $400 being the average total amount lost

6% have lost more than $10,000.

Apathy about fraud risk among Canadians 18-34

The majority of adult Canadians under 35 (58%) say sharing personal data online is necessary for convenience. More than half (53%) admit to sharing more information online than they should and 44% say they are quick to share personal data to get access to an offer, website, app or service. Thirty-five per cent also believe fraud is something that happens to others, but not to them, and one-third (33%) have never been worried about falling victim to a scam.

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"The reality is that anyone can fall victim to a scam, even tech-savvy young Canadians," says Purkiss. "As we are online more than ever, it's especially important to be careful about the information we are sharing, as cunning criminals often look to piece together all the details to help make their scams more successful."

Purkiss adds that staying safe and protecting yourself from fraud starts with being aware of the risk and knowing how to spot the signs of a scam.

RBC provides four tips to help Canadians identify and avoid potential scams:

Be aware that fraudsters may impersonate government or bank staff, law enforcement or other trusted people. Don't give out personal information to people you don't know and remember that your bank will never ask you to provide confidential information (e.g., account passwords, PINs, social insurance number) or other personal information through an unsolicited call, e-mail or text. Watch for calls, e-mails or texts that ask you to respond immediately. Fraudsters will often use a sense of urgency to get you to share information or click on a link or attachment. When online, don't enter login information or credit card details unless you are sure the site is legitimate. Red flags include poor grammar or spelling errors, a URL that doesn't match the company's main site or a lack of a security lock symbol in the address bar. When shopping online or on social media, if an offer, contest or ad is too good to be true, it usually is. Trust your instincts, ask questions, do your research and be extra cautious.

To learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud or how RBC works to prevent, detect and investigate fraud, please visit rbc.com/privacysecurity.

2023 RBC Fraud Prevention Month Poll

"Agree": All Respondents CAN 18-34 BC AB SK/ MB ON QC AC Fraud will be worse during the

recession than during the

pandemic 66 % 66 % 64 % 69 % 69 % 71 % 59 % 62 % It will be harder to spot scams

during a recession than during

the pandemic 42 % 44 % 42 % 42 % 40 % 45 % 37 % 43 % The recession will increase

everyone's risk of fraud 78 % 76 % 78 % 78 % 73 % 78 % 80 % 77 % It's easier to fall victim to a

scam when you're struggling

financially 75 % 80 % 77 % 74 % 75 % 77 % 72 % 67 % I am too worried about other

things to be concerned about

fraud 36 % 56 % 31 % 31 % 35 % 28 % 56 % 37 % I am tired of having to be on

the lookout for scams 86 % 81 % 89 % 91 % 85 % 87 % 80 % 85 % Sharing personal data online

is needed for convenience 52 % 58 % 55 % 59 % 52 % 56 % 46 % 42 % I share more information online

than I should 40 % 53 % 38 % 39 % 42 % 42 % 37 % 38 % I am quick to share personal

data to get access to an offer,

website, app or service 23 % 44 % 22 % 17 % 23 % 26 % 22 % 23 % Fraud is something that

happens to other people, but

not me 23 % 35 % 24 % 20 % 25 % 27 % 14 % 27 % I have never been worried

about falling for a scam 26 % 33 % 29 % 21 % 29 % 27 % 23 % 28 % My first instinct is to assume

every e-mail/phone call/text

from a company/organization

is a scam 77 % 74 % 79 % 83 % 72 % 81 % 69 % 77 % It is harder than ever to tell

when an e-mail, text or online

ad is a scam 67 % 58 % 72 % 69 % 67 % 66 % 63 % 68 % I am concerned that I'm

starting to miss the signs of

potential fraud 32 % 40 % 30 % 23 % 27 % 32 % 40 % 30 % I worry that it will be harder to

spot the signs of fraud as I get

older 71 % 74 % 75 % 71 % 75 % 74 % 62 % 72 % I have been a victim of fraud or

fallen for a scam 23 % 21 % 21 % 28 % 20 % 22 % 25 % 17 % Fraudsters have gained

access to my personal or

financial information 18 % 22 % 14 % 18 % 17 % 17 % 25 % 11 % I have lost money in a scam

before 14 % 14 % 13 % 15 % 9 % 14 % 16 % 13 % Average total amount lost to

fraud $400 $400 $500 $1,000 $200 $300 $500 $300 Lost more than $10,000 to

fraud 6 % N/A 13 % 16 % 10 % 3 % 4 % N/A



About the survey

These are the findings of a survey commissioned by RBC and conducted from February 15-17, 2023 among a nationally representative sample of n=1,504 Canadian adults (18+), balanced and weighted on age, gender, region and education. The sample also included a boost of n=500 Canadians aged 65+. For comparison purposes only, a sample of this size would yield a margin of error of  2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The survey was offered in both English and French.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 97,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2023/24/c2374.html
Police in Illinois are searching for a U.S. Navy member they say has been missing for almost one week.

Seamus Gray, a sailor who was assigned to Naval Station Great Lakes, did not report back at his assigned time, according to the Waukegan Police Department.

Police reported Gray was last seen during the early morning hours of March 18.

According to police, officers were contacted on March 21 regarding his disappearance.

The department's police chief and Gray's mother could not immediately be reached for comment by USA TODAY

Police in Illinois are searching for a U.S. Navy member they say has been missing for almost one week. Seamus Gray, a sailor assigned to Naval Station Great Lakes, did not report back at his assigned time, according to the Waukegan Police Department. Police reported Gray was last seen during the early morning hours of March 18, 2023.

But police and family said Gray left the naval station Friday night and headed south to Waukegan for a night of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, CBS News reported.

Video outside a bar provided by police shows Gray walking past a dumpster in an unknown direction looking down at what appears to be a cell phone.

The search perimeter

Police Deputy Chief Brian Mullen told the outlet the search wrapped early Thursday because resources had been exhausted after numerous passes on land and air.

Search efforts planned to resume Friday, he said, will focus efforts on the water and near the naval base, he said.

At approximately 2:00 p.m. on March 21, officers from the Waukegan Police Departments Patrol Division were contacted regarding a missing person.



Anyone with information on this incident is asked to

Tips can also be submitted by calling the WPD Tip-Line at 847-360-9001 pic.twitter.com/rA2jsQiwvA  Waukegan Police Dept (@Waukegan_Police) March 23, 2023

Crews are focusing on the Lake Michigan shoreline and beaches, Mullen said.

"We're never not in contact," the sailor's mother, Kerry Gray, told CBS. "The only time I've ever not heard from my son was when he was in bootcamp. We talked 10 times a day, whether it's silly memes, whether it's just texting."

Story continues

Anyone with information about Gray's whereabouts is asked to contact Waukegan police at 847-360-9001.

More coverage from USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seamus Gray, U.S. Navy sailor, reported missing in Waukegan, Illinois
Image via Getty/Isaac Kasamani

Ugandas parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that criminalizes homosexuality, with penalties that include death or life in prison.

Per NBC News, the bill outlaws citizens from even identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer. It also forbids same-sex intercourse, and any material that promotes or abets homosexuality is banned. Violations of the laws, which include conspiracy to engage in homosexuality as well, could result in the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality and life in prison for same-sex intercourse. The legislation is set to be sent to President Yoweri Museveni, who will sign it into law.

"The passing of this discriminatory billprobably among the worst of its kind in the worldis a deeply troubling development," said United Nations high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk, per CBS News. The bill will make it so any suspect convicted of attempted homosexuality could face up to ten years behind bars, while those convicted of attempted aggravated homosexuality could go to prison for 14. "If signed into law by the president, it will render lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda criminals simply for existing, for being who they are," added Turk. "It could provide carte blanche for the systematic violation of nearly all of their human rights and serve to incite people against each other."

Prominent Ugandan LGBTQ+ activist Frank Mugisha has harshly criticized the legislation in a statement. This law is very extreme and draconian," he said. "It criminalizes being an LGBTQ person, but also they are trying to erase the entire existence of any LGBTQ Ugandan. Museveni has not publicly commented on the bill, but he has previously voiced his stance against LGBTQ+ rights. He previously accused Western nations, which he did not name, of trying to impose their practices on other people.

White House press secretary Karien Jean-Pierre said the United States has grave concerns regarding the bill, which she said could damage the reputation of the country. No one should be attacked, imprisoned, or killed simply because of who they are, or who they love," Jean-Pierre added. The Human Rights Watch organization also condemned the bill, and described it as infringing on the rights to privacy, and freedoms of expression and association that are already compromised in Uganda.

Story continues

As it stands, homosexuality is criminalized in at least 30 countries in Africa. A 2021 report on human rights practices in Uganda by the U.S. Department of Justice found that mob violence against LGBTQ+ citizens is prevalent throughout the country.

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SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A Virginia student is proof that hard work pays off.

Courtney Toran, a senior at Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, has been accepted into more than two dozen colleges and universities. And if thats not enough, she has also received more than $700,000 in scholarships.

This is a very life-changing experience, said Toran, who is not only a star student, but an All-American cheerleader and the senior class president.

Her high school has a wall showing all the colleges and universities that students have been accepted to, and Torans name appears multiple times.

She has been accepted to Spelman College, Salem College, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University and about 20 others.

It makes me feel proud of myself, she said.

Toran said originally she wanted to go to VCU, then she just kept applying from there.

I just feel like Im very blessed with all these opportunities that I have, and its made it a little difficult to choose what college Im going to, she said.

Dick Van Dyke crashes car in Malibu, suffers minor injuries

But she has decided.

Shes heading to Regent University to study psychology.

Over quarantine, there were incidents going on, such as George Floyd, that really motivated me to understand why people think the way that they think, Toran said.

Her principal, Dr. Shawn Green, said Toran has always challenged herself by taking advanced courses. So much so, that in addition to her high school diploma, shes graduating with an associates degree.

Typically out of the 400 students, we may have one or two, so she definitely stands out, Green said.

The wall of colleges at Nansemond River showcases that students are moving on to different colleges, trade schools or the military, Green said.

Its now to the point where we are backlogged trying to get all the schools up, Green said.

Story continues

Each year, the school also keeps track of the amount all students have received in scholarship money, and it is announced at graduation. Green said it usually totals between $3 million and $8 million.

Toran said getting her name up on the wall multiple times wouldnt have been possible without the support of her friends, family and, especially, her dad.

Hes told me that every time that I say that I cant, I have to do it, and I can, she said. We have a quote in our house that says Do what you want to do, so you can do what you have to do. Its a quote by Denzel Washington, and thats been my motivation ever since.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Saturday (March 25) marks one year since Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins shocking death at age 50 while while on tour with the band in South America. In the most fitting tribute imaginable, Belgian rock band Black Box Revelation gathered a group of 100 drummers to perform a thundering version of the Foos beloved 1988 single My Hero in a very special space to honor Hawkins.

Related

Foo Fighters, Pinball Machine

Designer of Foo Fighters Pinball Machine Describes Bands Input: Nothing But Fk Yeahs! Left and  03/24/2023 03/24/2023

The performance took place at Belgiums largest arena, Sportpaleis Antwerp, which was the last venue in the country where Hawkins played with the Foos in 2018. Taylor Hawkins was the best drummer of our times, Black Box Revelation said in a statement. Honouring him with this tribute was an experience we will never forget.

More from Billboard

The video opens with the songs signature thumping rhythm, with the equally iconic hypnotic guitar riff coming in as the camera pans back to reveal row-upon-row of drummers  old and young, male and female  jamming in perfect rhythmic unison while all wearing black t-shirts featuring Hawkins signature hawk symbol.

The reverent performance echoed another from September, when the Foos performed My Hero at Londons Wembley Stadium with Hawkins 16-year-old son, Shane, during an emotional tribute to the beloved late bandmate.

Earlier this year, the Foos announced their first live dates following a year-long silence in the wake of Hawkins death, including spots at a number of festivals including Boston Calling (May 26), Sonic Temple (May 28), Rock Am Ring (June 2), Rock Im Park (June 4), Bonnaroo (June 18), Harley-Davidson Homecoming (July 15), Fuji Rock (July 28-30), The Town (Sept. 9) and Sea.Hear.Now (Sept. 17), among others. At press time the group had not yet announced who will play drums on those dates.

Story continues

Watch video of the My Hero performance below.

Best of Billboard

Click here to read the full article.
Wisconsin Dad Guilty Of Stalking His Ex-Girlfriend And Killing Her New Boyfriend

A Wisconsin man was convicted this week in the 2020 slaying of his ex-girlfriends new boyfriend, whom shed met online in the wake of her previous breakup.

Zachariah Anderson, 42, was found guilty on Wednesday of stalking his former partner, Sadie Beacham, and the intentional murder of her boyfriend, Rosalio Gutierrez Jr., the Kenosha News reported. He was also convicted on charges of hiding a corpse.

Fitted in a light navy blue suit with a patterned pink tie, his hair tied back in a bun, Anderson stood stoically, exhibiting no reaction as the judge read the jurys verdict.

RELATED: Indiana Woman Sentenced To 65 Years After Jealous Boyfriend Walked In On Her Threesome, Killing The Man And Raping The Woman

In February 2020, Beacham ended a long-term relationship with Anderson, with whom she had three children. Beacham later met Gutierrez online.

In May 2020, Gutierrez vanished. He was reported missing on May 19, 2020. Large amounts of blood were later found in his house, police said, however, Gutierrezs body was never found.

Investigators subsequently located a burn pit in Andersons home, including damaged clothes and a partially burned bottle of bleach, according to CourtTV.

A mugshot of Zachariah Joseph Anderson

Zachariah Joseph Anderson Photo: Kenosha County Sheriff's Department

Gutierrez's blood was also found in Anderson's Dodge minivan, and the vehicle smelled of bleach. A second burn pit and more clothes were later found at a farm owned by his family. DNA evidence also linked him to Gutierrezs murder.

At trial, prosecutors had painted Anderson as a jealous, spiteful ex-boyfriend who was hellbent on inflicting violence on Guitierrez after learning he was courting Beacham.

"This really is a testament to good winning out over evil, and the jury being able to look past the fact that we still  to this day  don't know where [Gutierrez] is," Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Krejcarek said, Milwaukee television station WITI reported.

Story continues

As the verdict was read, Beacham cupped her hand over her face and visibly sobbed as she was consoled by loved ones.

"Having the support of friends, family, people that I dont know  helped give us the strength," she said following Andersons conviction.

A photo of Rosalio Gutierrez Jr.

Rosalio Gutierrez Jr. Photo: Facebook

Beacham testified at trial about Andersons obsessive behavior, which spiraled into stalking, culminating in fears her ex was tracking her movements using a burner phone shed found planted in her vehicle.

"Like, almost in a harassing way, like, constantly emailing me all hours of the night, texting all hours, bringing me flowers," Beacham said.

She later told the court about the moment she discovered signs of foul play at Guitterrezs apartment after last seeing him on May 16, 2020.

"I opened the screen, pushed the blinds aside, and I immediately saw red blood on the floor," Beacham told the court. "The apartment looked different."

Press conference held by the Staten Island District Attorney's Office

Beacham explained to the jury how her boyfriends furniture appeared to have been shuffled around. A rug was also missing.

"I had concerns that, possibly, Zach had done something," Beacham added.

Andersons lawyers, meanwhile, pointed to the absence of a body in their defense, arguing the state had little concrete evidence to work with in implicating their client.

Throughout the trial, Gutierrezs family and friends had packed the courtroom gallery. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated for roughly 10 hours prior to rendering Wednesdays decision.

Oxy App

"Im eternally grateful. My husband, family and I  Rosalio  finally has justice," Selia Patterson, Gutierrez's mother, said.

Andersons family was not in court when the verdict was read, however, theyd been present for most of the earlier trial proceedings. His lawyers havent issued a public statement following the court ruling.

Anderson will be sentenced on May 16. His lawyer, Nicole A. Muller, indicated that she plans to appeal the conviction, according to People.
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HARRISBURG  When Emily Kinkead asked Lisa Bennington for advice on running for elected office, the former Pennsylvania state lawmaker gave blunt words of warning:

Dont run, youre so smart. Theres so many other things you can do.

Bennington, a Democrat, won an Allegheny County state House seat in 2006 but only served one term before retiring and returning to family law. She said the paternalistic culture of the legislature and its deference to seniority kept her from achieving her legislative priorities.

I just found it very corrupt, very old boys club, Bennington said. She never got to accomplish goals like bolstering access to emergency contraception for rape victims or expanding the statute of limitations for victims of childhood assault.

Kinkead ended up running anyway, and won a state House seat to represent part of the Pittsburgh suburbs in 2020. The Democrat said when she got to the chamber, she found a very different place from the old boys club Bennington experienced more than a decade ago.

Theres definitely been a change in the number of women that are around and the kinds of men that are elected, Kinkead said.

But the state legislature remains far from perfect for women, Kinkead said, pointing to the recent resignation of state Rep. Mike Zabel, D-Delaware, after multiple people, including fellow lawmakers, accused him of sexual harassment.

Theres definitely stuff thats still ongoing, she said.

Theres definitely been a change in the number of women that are around and the kinds of men that are elected, state Rep. Emily Kinkead said.

A century after the first women were elected to Pennsylvanias state legislature, both chambers now have women at their helm  Republican President Pro Tempore Kim Ward in the state Senate, and Democratic Speaker Joanna McClinton in the state House.

However, less than one-third of the members of the state legislature are women  80 of the 253 lawmakers who serve in the state House and Senate. That puts the commonwealth 27th in the country for the percentage of women in its legislature.

Story continues

Eight women who are or used to be state lawmakers spoke to Spotlight PA for this story, and many agreed that having more women in the state legislature fundamentally reshapes policy debates, particularly on issues like education, care for children and older adults, and equal pay.

As a person of color, but as a woman in particular, that burden falls on us a lot to have to educate our colleagues, said state Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Philadelphia, who chairs the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.

She noted that two-thirds of people earning minimum wage in the state are women, and pointed to recent legislative efforts to fight hair discrimination, which predominantly affects Black women. Bullock said she felt she had to explain to some of her colleagues what it means to be a (Pennsylvania) woman.

Pennsylvania women are our workers, they are providing for their households, they are people who are working minimum wage, Bullock said.

Contending with gatekeepers

Womens legislative strength has grown in fits and starts in Pennsylvania.

In 1975, only seven women served in the state House and Senate. That number has slowly ticked upward since, but the biggest growth came in a few key years  most notably, 1992 and 2018.

A wave of women ran for and were elected to office in 1992, a year after the confirmation hearings of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who was accused of sexual harassment. Nine women joined the Pennsylvania legislature at that time.

The 2018 spike, in which nearly 20 women joined the Pennsylvania legislature, was the largest gain of women in the state legislature in the past five decades. It came two years after former President Donald Trumps election set off a wave of Democratic organizing, especially among women.

In their conversations with Spotlight PA, lawmakers and academics agreed that the number of women in Pennsylvanias legislature has remained middling at least partly because the party apparatuses that identify and groom candidates for success still struggle to see women as viable candidates.

At the county level, party organizations typically identify potential candidates for elected office and hand out endorsements based on a range of criteria, like perceived appeal or party loyalty. In low-participation elections, that endorsement can go a long way when voters are choosing between candidates with little name recognition.

You have gatekeepers who make endorsements and play an outsize role, said Debbie Walsh, director of Rutgers Universitys Center for American Women and Politics. If the presumption is that Black women or Latinas or Asian women cant get elected, then the recruitment doesnt happen and money doesnt flow.

Walsh noted that Pennsylvania has very strong political parties compared to other states.

Of the eight current and former lawmakers who spoke to Spotlight PA for this story, only three were endorsed by their party when they first ran for office.

When state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh, first ran for a state House seat in 1994, she did so without her county Democratic partys endorsement and had to loan herself funds to run her campaign. Boscola said that Lehigh Valley party leaders discouraged her from running, as they felt she hadnt paid her dues.

When she joined the state House, Boscola said she felt isolated at first, recounting that male colleagues would pat her on the head and tell her, the less you say, the longer youll stay.

When youre a man and you get into the legislature, youre right up there with them. For women, you start below that and you have to earn that, Boscola said. I do see that women are having an easier time now and theyre more accepted because the number has grown so much  They cant ignore us anymore.

While the number of women overall has grown, the number of women of color in the state legislature has remained relatively flat.

Pennsylvania elected its first woman of color to the legislature in 1938, the first in the country. Philadelphia civil rights activist Crystal Bird Fauset, a Democrat, was at that time the first Black woman elected to any legislature in the country, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

But after Fauset resigned a year later, women of color were completely absent from the legislature until 1984, when Philadelphia Democrat Roxanne Jones won a seat in the state Senate.

In the decades since, the number of women of color in the legislature has crept up slowly. In 1995, there were four; in 2005, six. Currently, there are no women of color in the state Senate. The state House, meanwhile, has an all-time high of 12 women of color  still less than 5% of the entire chamber.

Bullock thinks the slow growth in these numbers shows that big political donors, not just the party establishment, have long been wary about betting on women of color.

The issue becomes, those who financially support campaigns  tend to still be predominantly men, Bullock said. If you cant fundraise, the party and other institutions that would get behind you will consider that as an indicator that youre not a viable candidate.

State Rep. Tina Pickett, R-Bradford, echoed Bullock, saying that when she first ran in 2000, she also felt it was more difficult for female candidates to fundraise than their male counterparts. But she thinks that it has become easier over time.

When I first came in, it was very difficult for women to fundraise, she said. At a fundraising function, you might see a check written to support the campaign of a man be double or triple what someone might write to support a womans campaign.

A shrinking confidence gap

In last years election cycle, one of the most expensive races in the commonwealth involved Melissa Cerrato, D- Montgomery, who was seeking to flip a GOP-held seat that Democrats needed to win to take control of the chamber.

After winning an endorsement from county officials, Cerrato received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from the state Democratic party, local party organizations, and special interest groups.

Cerrato said she hasnt been treated any differently because of her gender since she arrived for work in the state House. But she noted there are small things that make the lives of female lawmakers, particularly mothers, more difficult.

State Rep. Emily Kinkead is one of 63 women currently serving in the Pennsylvania House.

Cerrato pointed to last-minute changes to committee schedules that have forced her to find child care options in a matter of hours. She said she was coordinating with other female lawmakers in the legislature to organize child care in the Capitol during budget hearings.

Its not something that most men who have been in the position have had to face or deal with, Cerrato said. Theyre not used to thinking that way.

Kimberly Adams, a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, argues that along with structural party issues, lack of confidence may have historically played a role in keeping women from running for office. Some studies, she noted, have suggested that a confidence gap makes women feel they need to be more qualified in order to run for office than men do.

Women felt like they had to be perfect to run for office, said Adams, who added that things seem to be changing.

I dont see that anymore, she said.

Adams pointed to the rise of organizations that seek out women candidates to run for office. One such group is Represent PA, a political action committee that donates to female candidates who want to protect abortion access. Last year, the group spent over $700,000 supporting candidates running for positions in the state legislature.

State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, R-Berks, said she definitely noticed a confidence gap when she joined the state House in 2021  particularly because there are relatively few senior female lawmakers who can show new ones the ropes.

Its hard to find those mentors, Pennycuick said. But were getting there.

State Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny, noted that the true measure of womens influence on state politics and policy goes beyond the tally of elected women. In her time in Harrisburg, she said the most significant change shes seen is in the number of women working as prominent staffers, such as executive directors of committees or legislative chiefs of staff.

Gaydos was elected to the state House in 2018, but she first worked in the legislature as a staffer for the state Senate Republican caucus in the early 90s.

She described a change in tone when she returned to the legislature, in large part because she sees more women involved at every level of legislating.

The legislature has reflected what weve seen in culture overall. More women are in the workplace, they have more years of experience  Women (now) see running for office as an option, Gaydos said. We dont need the hurdles removed for us, we just want to figure out how to jump them.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Hello Short List readers! I'm Nicole, and I'm excited to share some of this week's best stories from the USA TODAY newsroom.

Our newsroom has been abuzz with the announcement of the 2023 USA TODAY Women of the Year honorees. This series, a continuation of our 2020 Women of the Century project, marks a massive annual undertaking by our newsroom to select, interview and lift up 50 national honorees and 50 awardees per state. From Michelle Obama to Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph, this year's list includes change-makers who are driven by the desire to make an impact.

Goldie Hawn, Michelle Obama, Sandra Day O'Connor, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Nicole Mann, Monica Munoz Martinez, Maura Healey, Quannah Chasinghorse, Grace Young and Roberta Bobbi Cordano are USA TODAY's Women of the Year national honorees for 2023.

Now for some other must-read picks from USA TODAY this week:

What is the meaning of 'woke'? The uptick on excoriating "woke " ideology has increased in recent years as Americans across the nation battle over diversity, inclusion and equity efforts in the workforce, public schools and in legislation. USA TODAY's Mabinty Quarshie writes about what a word that was once a rallying cry for Black Americans now means for the GOP.

After 52 years, a father and daughter found each other. USA TODAY opinion contributor Nguyen Phan Que Mai recalls the stories of Amerasians born during the Vietnam War from relationships between American soldiers and Vietnamese women.

A guide to all the buzzwords around narcissism. People throw around the term loosely to describe those who are self-absorbed, entitled and manipulative  from overbearing parents to destructive exes. But narcissism is a complex phenomenon that is often misunderstood, writes wellness reporter Jenna Ryu.

See more must-reads below. Have a restful weekend and we'll be back next week!

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'You are good enough'
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a massive bill Friday passed by the Republican-led state legislature last week that banned gender-affirming healthcare for minors, placed strict rules on how teachers can address transgender students and other restrictions related to sexuality.

In his one-page summary for the veto of Senate Bill 150, the Democratic governor cited the high rates of suicide among transgender youth and the concerns from parents across the state for his opposition to the bill.

"My faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky," Beshear wrote.

The bill was passed quickly on March 16 and bans gender reassignment surgery for anyone under 18, the use of puberty blockers and hormones, and inpatient and outpatient gender-affirming hospital services.

It also prohibits school teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity, and requires school districts to come up with a policy that prevents students from going to restrooms that aren't aligned with their gender identities.

PHOTO: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear delivers his State of the Commonwealth speech from the floor of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Jan. 4, 2023, in Frankfort, Ky. (Timothy D. Easley/AP, FILE)

MORE: Former 'detransitioner' fights anti-transgender movement she once backed

School staff members are required to alert parents if lessons on human sexuality are taught, under the bill's provisions.

PHOTO: People attend the Fairness Rally at the Kentucky state Capitol, Feb. 15, 2023, in Frankfort, Ky. (Lexington Herald-leader/TNS via Getty Images)

Beshear said the bill would turn teachers and school staff into "investigators that must listen in on student conversations and then knock on doors to confront and question parents and families about how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others."

The Kentucky GOP slammed Beshear over his move.

"Andy Beshear thinks it's okay for children to have access to life-altering sex change surgery and drugs before they turn 18," Sean Southard, a spokesman for the Kentucky GOP, said in a statement.

The governor, however, told reporters Friday that his office has received many messages from transgender youth and their parents who are scared about the bill's repercussions.

PHOTO: Christian Brawner, of Louisville, holds a 'Trans Liberation Now' sign during the Fairness Rally at the Kentucky state Capitol, Feb. 15, 2023, in Frankfort, Ky. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-leader/TNS via Getty Images)

"I heard from children that believe this bill is picking on them, and asking...why?" Beshear said.

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The Kentucky House passed the bill with veto-proof margins last week with a 75-22 vote while the Senate passed it with a 30-7 vote.

MORE: Trans sports ban vetoed by Kentucky governor

The Kentucky ACLU has indicated that it is looking into legal action if the bill gets passed.

Kentucky governor vetoes restrictive GOP transgender measure originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PHOENIX Over two and a half years after Phoenix police seized $39,500 in cash from him despite never charging him with a crime, Jerry Johnson finally got his money back.

The owner of a shipping company, Johnson had flown from Charlotte, North Carolina, in August 2020 to purchase a third semitruck to expand his small business. Johnson had found a posting for a truck he wanted at a Phoenix-based auction and flew to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with the large sum of money

Johnson previously told The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, he chose to travel with cash to avoid incurring fees from withdrawing it outside his usual bank and had found articles that said traveling with large amounts of cash was perfectly legal.

But before he could retrieve his checked luggage and head to his hotel, Phoenix police officers approached and interrogated him as to the purpose behind the large sum of cash he had brought with him. Johnson explained he intended to purchase a truck for his business.

An officer eventually accused Johnson of being involved in criminal activity and coerced him into signing a waiver form or go to jail.

Johnson previously told The Republic he didnt understand what he was signing at the time but later learned it was a waiver form indicating the money he had brought with him wasnt his. Johnson was free to go after signing the form but his money remained in police custody until last weekend.

'REPRESENTED A FORM OF INSTITUTIONAL THEFT': Philadelphia police seized their property. Most were never convicted of a crime. Most never got their stuff back.

Jerry Johnson flew from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Phoenix with $39,500 cash to buy a new semitruck for his small business. Phoenix police took the money without criminal charges.

Arduous legal ordeal

Johnson endured a litany of legal battles, providing bank statements and tax returns to prove them money was his and not a part of a criminal enterprise. But the court found the evidence was still insufficient.

He later contacted the Virginia-based libertarian nonprofit called Institute for Justice, which has written about and litigated civil-forfeiture cases. Its lawyers reviewed his case and agreed to appeal the lower courts decision on his behalf.

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Three judges with the Arizona Court of Appeals heard Johnsons case in November 2021 and repeatedly criticized the Maricopa County Attorneys Office's reasoning for seizing the money from Johnson.

Im sorry if it seems harsh that the state should actually have to come forward with evidence before it takes peoples money away at the airport, the Honorable Peter Swann said.

The Arizona Court of Appeals reversed the lower courts decision in May 2022, ruling that Johnson could continue to contest the forfeiture until prosecutors moved to dismiss the case in 2023.

Johnson was relieved to get the money back but was frustrated police seized his money in the first place.

Its a blessing to finally have my savings back so that I can invest it in my business, said Johnson said. That the government could take my money, never charge me with a crime but hold onto my savings for so long is outrageous. It created a tremendous financial burden for me and my family, and there were a lot of business opportunities Ive missed out on because that money was just sitting in a government account.

NATIONAL DEBATE: Why are innocent people still losing cash, cars and even homes to police?

'Jerry still needs to be made whole'

Dan Alban, a senior attorney for Institute for Justice, said the government owed Johnson more than the money it had seized from him.

Were glad that the money has been returned, but Jerry still needs to be made whole, Alban said in a statement.

The Institute for Justice said Johnson received less than 0.8% in accrued interest and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office refused to pay his attorneys fees.

This would leave Jerry uncompensated for the years his money was locked away and for what he paid out-of-pocket to an attorney before IJ took on his case, the non-profit said. The case will continue as IJ has filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings and opposes the states motion.

Civil forfeiture has drawn sharp criticism over the years as it has often allowed law enforcement to seize assets like money and property without needing to charge the owners with a crime  much less obtain a conviction.

The Arizona Legislature has since passed a civil forfeiture reform bill that bars law enforcement from coercing people into signing such waivers and made it much more difficult for the government to keep seized assets without a criminal conviction.

Those who supported reform argued that civil forfeiture laws at the time made getting one's seized assets back financially unfeasible as the attorney's fees often necessary to file a legitimate claim often exceeded the monetary value of the asset.

Jerry Johnson flew from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Phoenix with $39,500 cash to buy a new semitruck for his small business. Phoenix police took the money without criminal charges.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Civil asset forfeiture: Man who had $39K seized gets money returned
Pennsylvania's Blackhawk School District has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern alleging various causes of action including negligence in last month's train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and subsequent controlled release of toxic chemicals.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, alleges that the derailment and burning of the contents of the rail cars "caused toxic, hazardous, and dangerous chemicals to be released onto and into the ground, into the air, and into the surface and subsurface waterways and groundwater."

A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3. It was carrying hazardous materials, including combustible liquids, flammable liquids, and flammable gas, and toxic chemicals that subsequently ignited.

Norfolk Southern used explosives to breach the tanker railcars and drained the contents into the ground before burning them.

MORE: East Palestine derailment: Timeline of key events in toxic train disaster

The Blackhawk School District alleges that the toxic fires and intentional release of dangerous and toxic chemicals contaminated its lands and buildings. The district alleges that "toxic fires and deadly plumes dumped a lethal cocktail on its buildings, property soil and water supplies where deposits of the toxic materials have been found," the suit said.

PHOTO: A plume of smoke rises from a Norfolk Southern train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio are still on fire at mid-day, Feb. 4, 2023. (Gene J. Puskar/AP, FILE)

According to a letter released by the Environmental Protection Agency, vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether were released during the incident and have been detected in samples from several creeks near the derailment site.

MORE: East Palestine mother on toxic train derailment: 'My 7-year-old has asked me if he is going to die'

The district said it has lands and buildings are all within a 15-mile radius of East Palestine, according to the lawsuit.

The suit alleges that the train derailment occurred due to Norfolk Southern's breach of its duty of care by negligent and reckless acts and omissions. The district alleges that Norfolk Southern's breach of its duty of care caused medical and health issues for its students and staff; testing and monitoring the impact on its property and water sources; monetary expenses for cleanup of property and drinking water; and damage to the property.

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The district also alleges that Norfolk Southern failed to require pre-departure inspection and periodic inspection of freight cars and that it violated regulations forbidding a railroad from placing or continuing to place a railroad car in service if it has an axle that is broken.

The rail operator will be required to continue cleaning up the contaminated soil and water and transport it safely; reimburse the EPA for cleaning services; and attend public meetings at the EPA's request and share information, U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced on Feb. 21. If Norfolk Southern does not comply, the company will be ordered to pay triple the cost.

MORE: Waterways along Ohio River still contaminated following train derailment carrying hazardous materials: Officials

The school district is asking for a trial by jury, compensatory and statutory damages, punitive damages, attorneys fees and relief including future medical monitoring, according to the suit.

On Feb. 13, Norfolk Southern said the company was committing $1 million to a community support fund as a "down payment" on its contribution to rebuilding the village.

On Feb. 24, Norfolk Southern announced it will commit $300,000 to the East Palestine School District and reimbursed the fire department roughly $825,000 for its equipment.

Earlier this month, Ohio sued Norfolk Southern over the train derailment alleging the railway operator violated various federal and state environmental laws and Ohio Common Law, "recklessly endangering" the health of residents and Ohio's natural resources, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.

After the Ohio lawsuit was announced, Norfolk Southern said that said it is "listening closely to concerns from the community about whether there could be long-term impacts from the derailment."

"We are making progress every day cleaning the site safely and thoroughly, providing financial assistance to residents and businesses that have been affected, and investing to help East Palestine and the communities around it thrive," Norfolk Southern said in a statement.

Adding, "Many residents are worried about what they will do if health impacts related to the derailment are discovered years from now. We appreciate Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's leadership and advocacy on this point. To date, environmental monitoring continues to show the air and drinking water are safe. To provide an additional level of assurance, we are committed to a solution that addresses long-term health risks through the creation of a long-term medical compensation fund."

Norfolk Southern declined to comment to ABC News on the lawsuit, saying it doesn't comment on litigation.

Pennsylvania school district sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine train derailment originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Advantage Therapeutics Inc.

Appointment announced today at inaugural Entrepreneurship, Longevity and Biotech Conference Held in Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, Fla. and VIENNA, Austria, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADvantage Therapeutics, Inc. (ADvantage or the Company), which is developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions with a central focus on Alzheimers disease, today announced the election of James ONeill  a recognized leader in health, aging, and longevity  to its Board of Directors. ADvantage CEO Jeffrey Madden also provided updates on the development of the Companys lead compound, AD04 in Alzheimers Disease and introduced an advancement in the protein klotho designed to benefit longevity.

The addition of Jim to our Board of Directors signals the next level of development for our company, said Jeffrey Madden, chief executive officer. As we embark upon our confirmatory Phase 2b study for AD04 in early Alzheimers disease, we are fortunate to have Jims talents and experience to guide us during this exciting time.

In addition, Jims deep expertise in longevity will serve us well as we develop our mRNA technology to fight pathologies of aging by advancing and sustaining the capabilities of klotho, which many consider the longevity gene. We are developing platform technology to create a pipeline of [targets] to tackle the most common diseases of aging by using the klotho protein. We look forward to Jims guidance in this area, concluded Mr. Madden.

Mr. ONeill began his career in public policy and helped lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the principal associate deputy secretary. He oversaw policy and regulations for NIH, FDA, and CDC. He helped structure the departments $700 billion budget, oversaw two sweeping reforms of FDA, and led many other projects, especially in security, intelligence, preparedness, and health diplomacy.

Since leaving government, Mr. ONeill has advised or invested in more than sixty science and technology companies. While leading the Thiel Foundation, he co-founded the Thiel Fellowship. He also served as a managing director at Clarium/Thiel Macro, a global macro investment fund.

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As CEO and board member of SENS Research Foundation (SRF), Mr. ONeill oversaw strategy and operations for a team of scientists who research, develop, and promote comprehensive regenerative medicine solutions for the diseases of aging. SRF supports research focused on a damage repair paradigm at labs across America and Europe.

As global health advisor to Rational Vaccines, Jim advances the companys mission to relieve suffering from all diseases resulting from herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 infections.

In addition, Mr. ONeill supported the creation of the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine, served on the steering committee of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and served on the United States delegation to the World Health Assembly. ONeill also served on the Presidents Management Council, the Task Force on New Americans, and the Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council, as well as frequently representing the Department on the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council, the Domestic Policy Council, and the Council for Environmental Quality.

An advocate for global human rights, he has spoken at the Oslo Freedom Forum, the Human Rights Foundations annual gathering of dissidents, advocates, journalists, tech entrepreneurs, and artists.

Mr. ONeill lives in Marin County, California. He holds a B.A from Yale University and an A.M. from the University of Chicago.

Following tens of billions of dollars the industry devoted to the amyloid hypothesis, ADvantage Therapeutics approach to Alzheimers disease is fresh and extremely promising, said ONeill. AD04 has the potential to radically improve the lives of millions. I am excited to collaborate with ADvantage to help propel it forward.

Mr. Madden made the announcement at the invite-only Entrepreneurship, Longevity, and Biotech Conference, which assembled biotech and longevity scientists and entrepreneurs in Boca Raton to share research and exchange ideas for improving the biotech and longevity industries.

Sponsored by the Madden Center for Value Creation at FAUs College of Business and in collaboration with FAU Health, the conference is being held today on the FAU campus.

The conference features speeches by Moderna co-founder Robert Langer; former HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan; Cambrian Bio CEO James Peyer; Kernel, Blueprint, and Braintree founder Bryan Johnson; and other biotech visionaries.

About AD04

ADvantage Therapeutics is developing AD04 as a novel immunotherapy for early Alzheimers disease. The compound has been used as an adjuvant in human and animal vaccination programs. In a previous trial, AD04 serving as a control arm against another compound appeared to demonstrate statistically significantly slower decline over other treatment groups in cognitive and quality life clinical measures. AD04 also showed slower decline in hippocampal volume as a biomarker.

The Company believes that rather than being limited to a specific aspect of AD pathology, such as amyloid beta or tau, the use of AD04 may address the immunological mechanisms in the brain and peripheral immune system. The Company believes AD04 may act as an immunomodulator, stimulating and/or regulating the immune system to reduce AD pathology.

About Alzheimers disease

About 44 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimers disease, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in industrialized countries. In 2019, the World Health Organization estimated the total worldwide cost of dementia at $1.3 trillion. While the FDA provisionally approved an anti-amyloid beta antibody, aducanumab, in 2021, widespread coverage has not been granted, nor have European countries approved the product. The socio-economic burden of Alzheimers disease is enormous. AD devastates the lives of patients and their families. They lose their memories and independence, and the loss of a loved relation leaves behind guilt, grief, and anger. Alzheimers disease is a high unmet medical need as there are currently no disease-modifying drugs approved worldwide. The availability of a safe, effective, affordable drug would transform the life of an AD patient from accepting a debilitating disease to the retention of personality, independence, and dignity.

About ADvantage Therapeutics

Headquartered in Miami, ADvantage Therapeutics is developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions with a central focus on Alzheimers disease. The Companys lead compound AD04 is an injectable therapy in the process of entering into a confirmatory Phase 2b clinical trials in Europe to evaluate safety and efficacy of the product in early Alzheimers disease. The Company believes that Alhydrogel may act as an immunomodulator, stimulating and regulating the immune system to reduce AD pathology, rather than limiting therapy to the aggregation of the proteins present once pathology is present. The Company is also exploring additional approaches to mitigating neurodegenerative disease, which it believes will eventually have an overall impact on longevity.

About ADvantage Therapeutics GmbH

ADvantage Therapeutics GmbH founded in 2021 is the Vienna BioCenter-based subsidiary of ADvantage Therapeutics, Inc., where the Company conducts early research and drug development. ADvantage is developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers disease (AD) and is currently preparing for clinical trials in Europe and in the U.S.

Safe Harbor-Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements of potential mode of action, potential clinical effect, potential safety, and Advantages potential clinical development program and pipeline program. ADvantage is in the early stages of developing and testing its AD04 compound and may not receive regulatory approval to conduct the contemplated Phase 2b trial. The described clinical effect of our lead compound AD04 is primarily based on results of a Phase 2 study designed to test a different compound. The described results need to be reproduced for proof of concept, might not be representative of larger scale clinical trials, and do not guarantee future regulatory approval or clinical success. Any preclinical results presented here are interim. The mechanism of action of AD04 as potentially determined in our future investigations, particularly in future clinical trials with patients with Alzheimers disease, might differ compared to the one presented.

Contacts:

For ADvantage Therapeutics

195 NW 40th Street

Miami, FL 33127

Jeffrey Madden CEO

jeff@advantagetherapeutics.com

(305) 846-9027

David Buchsbaum CFO

david@advantagetherapeutics.com

(305) 846-9027

For Media:

Jules Abraham

JQA Partners, Inc.

jabraham@jqapartners.com

(917) 885-7378




Everyone who met them just loved them, Locklyn and Loreli Callazzos godmother tells PEOPLE

The Callazzo Family Locklyn and Loreli Callazzo

Nineteen-month-old twins Locklyn and Loreli Callazzo did just about everything together. They slept in the same bed and "didn't even like having their own seats to sit in," their godmother, Dawn Lemons, tells PEOPLE in a recent phone interview. "They wanted to always be together."

On the morning of March 16, the toddlers' lives ended together when they drowned in the backyard pool at their family's home in Oklahoma City.

Their mother, Jenny Callazzo, 37, found the children in the pool, Oklahoma City Fire battalion chief Scott Douglas tells PEOPLE.

"This is just absolutely killing Jenny right now," says Lemons. "This is a tragic accident. It's just the worst thing. You want to comfort so badly. But there's nothing you can say. It's just  it's horrendous."

After Jenny called 911 at 10:43 a.m., police arrived at the house first and began performing CPR on the children in the back doorway before the fire department took over, Captain Valerie Littlejohn of the Oklahoma City Police Department tells PEOPLE.

The twins had no pulse and were not breathing despite first responders' attempts at lifesaving measures, according to Douglas. The children were then rushed to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead, Douglas adds.

The Callazzo Family Loreli and Locklyn with mom Jenny Callazzo

Related:Cheerleader Who Broke Her Legs When She Was Hit by Taxi as a Girl Dies Unexpectedly at 16: 'Miss You Dearly'

"We did our best to revive them, unfortunately we were just too late," he says. "We talked to the mom and she didn't think it could be any longer than 10 minutes they were out of her sight."

"The mother explained she was home-schooling an older child while the younger children were playing in the living room," Douglas later shared in an emailed statement. "The grandmother left the back-door open, leaving an exit to the swimming pool. The mother stated the longest they could have been in the swimming pool was ten minutes."

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Asked about those circumstances, the family's attorney, John Boozer, tells PEOPLE: "That's supposition, we don't know what happened. The family is still putting the pieces together."

The backyard pool, which is about 10 feet from a door to the house, is not enclosed by a gate, Douglas tells PEOPLE.

The Callazzo Family Locklyn and Loreli with their parents and siblings

Littlejohn says that an investigation into the children's deaths remains open until the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completes autopsies on the toddlers.

That could take four to six months to complete, a medical examiner's office employee who declined to give a name, tells PEOPLE.

"Anytime that there's a child death," Littlejohn says, "we're going to investigate it until we can determine for sure what happened."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jenny and her husband Sonny, 42, are getting by "minute-by-minute," says Lemons. "And thank heavens they have a lot of friends and support here to try to help them get through everything. And it's tough. It's so tough."

This is the second family tragedy for Jenny. Her son Preston, from a previous marriage, died at five months old due to medical complications following cancer treatment about 17 years ago, says Lemons.

The Callazzo Family Loreli and Locklyn with their father, Sonny Callazzo, and brother Lyam Callazzo

Jenny also has a daughter, 14, whom Sonny  the father of now 17-year-old twin boys  adopted after they married. The couple also have an 8-year-old son.

"Jenny feels naked without her babies to hold, and so she has been carrying around their stuffed animals so that she has something in her arms," says Lemons. "She says, 'Dawn, I don't know how to walk by myself. I don't know how to move without having my babies in my arms.' She carries them with her everywhere."

"It is very heartbreaking," Lemons continues. "I went home and just bawled my eyes out when I left their house ... I don't know how to help them."

Related:Calif. Parents of 3 Killed in Fiery Wrong-Way Crash on the Way Home from Birthday Celebration

Jenny, a stay-at-home-mom, and Sonny, who is in sales and was at work at the time of the drowning incident, didn't know they were expecting twins until 30 weeks into the pregnancy.

"That is when the ultrasound showed two babies," says Lemons. "It was crazy. Because they thought they were having one baby."

The twins were born a few weeks later, on Aug. 1, 2021. "They were the most beautiful babies," she says. "And they were so special, and everyone who met them just loved them. Just loved them."

The Callazzo Family Loreli Callazzo

The twins showed an inclination for music  with Locklyn playing harmonica while "Loreli loved to dance and sing," recalls Lemons.

Locklyn had just started speaking in sentences, while Loreli just learned how to say "sissy" to her older sister, she adds.

"They both would play hide and seek, hide behind the drapes and yell out to come find us, and their little feet would be sticking out the drapes," says Lemons. "And they had no idea that we could see their feet. It was so cute."

"Loreli loved to mimic everybody," Lemons adds. "She always wanted to do what the older girls, her mom and her sister and stuff, were doing."

The Callazzo Family Locklyn Callazzo

To help cope with their loss, the family started grief counseling this week, Lemons tells PEOPLE. Friends have also been stopping by to support the Callazzos. Even strangers, who have lost a child by drowning, are reaching out to the grieving family.

"It makes them feel like that they're not alone and that other people know what they're going through," says Lemons. "These other people have gone through it, and so it actually is a little comforting for them."

Related:5 Cousins Killed After Car Hits Bridge Barricade and Falls into Mississippi Creek

Family and friends shared memories of the twins at a celebration of life held at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. "We asked everyone to wear their favorite colors rather than black," says Lemons. "It was very informal."

And, as expected, she says, "everyone cried."

Lemons started a GoFundMe to help the family with expenses related to the twins' death, including their cremation.

"They're going to be cremated together," says Lemons of the toddlers. "Normally that's not something that's allowed, but we're getting special permission because they were always together."

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68 dogs rescued from 'hoarding situation' in Indiana

(Picture Credit: adogslifephoto / Getty Images)

Last week, officials in Bloomington, Indiana rescued 68 dogs from a home they described as a hoarding situation. Now, the massive influx of dogs has community shelters asking for help.

On March 17, according to The Herald-Times, animal control officials rescued 68 dogs living in a house on Bloomingtons west side. The operation included the Bloomington Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriffs Departments Animal Management team, and Bloomington Animal Care and Control (BACC). Altogether, the group of dogs consisted of adults and puppies. Unfortunately, the veterinary staff present euthanized one dog due to old age and multiple health issues.

According to the report, authorities were responding to concerns filed by someone who bought a dog from a person living at the house. Furthermore, a local shelter received ten dogs from the safe property, just one day before the police arrived. Altogether, this meant almost 70 dogs were living in the 700-square-foot property.

Rehoming these dogs will take a community-wide effort

After officials removed the dogs from the property, the next step was finding space for them. At a nearby shelter in Brown County, staff waived adoption fees to help free up space for the incoming dogs. However, these are just emergency measures, not long-term solutions.

In a press release, Bloomington city officials are asking for community members to help by fostering dogs in the shelters care. Additionally, area shelters are taking monetary donations as well as toys or bedding.

Unfortunately, scenarios like these are becoming more common in rescue shelters nationwide. In fact, its just one reason why, starting this year, the city of Bloomington decided to ban retail dog sales. However, Republican State senators are pushing back, saying animal rights groups are infringing on the open market.

Although Bloomingtons ban isnt threatened by current political debate, its worth asking at what cost market forces should remain undisturbed. For rescue dogs in Indiana, bans like these could mean a world of difference. Its also worth asking whether buying dogs is ethical at all, considering how many dogs are in need of good homes.

The post 68 dogs rescued from hoarding situation in Indiana appeared first on DogTime.
The beauty posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue eight years in a row.

Jessica Gomes was photographed by Derek Kettela in Guilin, China. Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Jessica Gomes made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2008 and went on to appear in eight consecutive magazine issues for a total of nine features. Throughout her time with the franchise, Gomes traveled everywhere from Israel to Portugal to Australia to Madagascarand more.

In addition to SI Swimsuit, Gomes has worked with a number of other notable brands, including DKNY Jeans, Levis and Victorias Secret. Today, the 37-year-old model continues to work with companies like Burberry and Cartier.

Gomess mother is from Hong Kong, while her father hails from Portugal. Together they immigrated to Australia in the 1970s. She previously told SI Swimsuit that shes been traveling to Asia since she was a little girl.

The model got the chance to work in southern China for her SI Swimsuit Issue photo shoot in 2013 when she posed for photographer Derek Kettela.

I love embracing the Chinese culture, Gomes said. Coming to Guilin has been such a different experience for me because its something that Ive never seen and its just really opened up my eyes to the Chinese culture.

Gomes shared she was blown away by all the swimsuits she wore on location, and said her very favorite was a bright pink bikini with a tassel on the bust.

Below are eight of our favorite images from Gomess 2013 photo shoot in Guilin, China.

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
Glasshouse Images / Getty Images

As a little girl, some of my most treasured memories took place at my grandparents' house. I have fond recollections sitting beneath their big magnolia tree and standing in their garage, watching my grandfather roar his prized, red MG convertible to life. But the most precious moments took place at my grandmothers dressing table. My grandmother is not the most fancy of ladies, but she loves little accessories that give add color or another interesting angle to her outfits. A fellow sentimentalist, she has treasured pieces from my great grandmother's collection and further back into history. My eyes would sparkle when I sat next to her and she would show me all the bobbles. To this day, I think I could still spend hours in that tiny room between her yellow tiled bathroom and bedroom with a double bed, just looking through the dainty and delightful pieces shes saved over the years, and I know Im not the only one.

In women of a certain generations closets, you can feel a sense of polish thats hard to acquire in todays world of fast fashion and over-consumerism. We rarely think twice about purchasing something until we find it months later, tags still on. I think its safe to say my grandmother has never experienced this phenomenon. She learned from an early age to use everything she had, from stretching leftovers to wearing silk scarves in a way that will never go out of style. While her collection of Talbots and Lands End clothes will remain timeless, its the little things that Ive seen popping up more and more into popular culture. I mean, Rihanna wore a brooch during her half-time performance; Kate Middleton was styled in a pair of gorgeous opera gloves for the BAFTAs. Gems from the golden age of accessories are coming back in full swing, and most Southerners are already ahead of the trend whether you know it or not.



We talked to several experts from across the South who know whats popular and what you should grab, or politely ask for, from your mother, grandmother or favorite aunt or friend. Hey, you might even have some of these pieces in the back of your own closet, you just have to take a look.



Silk Scarves

Edward Berthelot / Getty Images

Everyone can have a Grace Kelly moment with this elegant accessory. As a quick scroll through Richmond, Virginia based Halcyon Vintages Instagram will show you, this versatile slip of fabric can transform any outfit into something chic. People of all ages like them, says Halcyons owner Didi Chisholm. She says that silk scarves are one of the biggest sellers in the shop, and with all the ways they can be styled: from wearing a scarf in your hair to using it as a shawl, there are plenty of reasons for this items popularity.

Meredith Schmidt, an Austin based content creator, cant stop thinking about Legally Blond when it comes to a silk scarf moment. Theres a scene where she has a silk scarf tied around her briefcase, and thats just such a cute way.

Statement Necklaces

Flashpop / Getty Images

The bigger the better, says Beth Cook, the owner of Reinvented Resale in Charleston, South Carolina. Even though big is in, Cook says her clients arent compromising their taste to get the desired look. A vintage Oscar De La Renta necklace that sold at her shop a few weeks ago shows that even though large necklaces are popular, people arent grabbing just anything. A simple t-shirt and cardigan combo or a solid-colored dress go from getting groceries to grabbing brunch with the gals with a statement necklace in your collection.

Charms

Elisa Koor / Getty Images

For Schmidt, a lover of Pinterest and nostalgia, charms and dainty jewelry pieces passed on through generations are prized possessions. She often wears a heart charm around her neck that was her grandmothers as well as a beloved watch from her mother. Every time she puts these pieces on, she thinks of the women who wore them before her.

Schmidt also loves that charms of a charm bracelet or necklace can be purchased to make certain milestones in one's life, from graduations to marriages to christenings  the list goes on.



Its perfect for when you just want one thing to make your outfit stand out, Schmidt says.



Belts

CSA-Printstock / Getty Images

While some of you may argue that belts have always been in vogue, a good vintage belt that has spent a few decades in the depths of a closet might just deserve a little dusting. Depending on what my outfit is, [a belt] can really add a lot, says Chisholm. Even though some belts definitely look dated and they look like they are from a different time period I feel like its something that you can wear year after year.

Wide Brimmed Hats

kali9 / Getty Images

Many Southern women have at least one hat in their closets. From Easter to the Kentucky Derby, hats are at the heart of our regional fashion, particularly in the spring and summer. Cook says that in Charleston, floppy hats are making an appearance. Its a statement by itself, she shares, but the versatility of wide-brimmed hats also allows them to be a vessel for all sorts of treasures like feathers and brooches.

Brooches

Getty Images

Weve already written about this trend, but Southern style watchers are seeing these bedazzled pieces come back in real time. The more they sparkle, the better!

Unique Purses

jmbatt / Getty Images

Straw, beaded, embroidered and needlepoint bags are all the rage. Unconventional materials like these might not always be the most stylish, but this just goes to show you that trends do come back if you just give them a little time. Cook shares that in Charleston, bags from the Whiting & Davis Collection and other bags in a similar beaded style are getting particular attention from shoppers. Even though some more unique trends are flying off shelves, Cook says that vintage leather bags are also having a moment. She explains that finding a good leather bag is like a diamond in the rough. You just have to shine it up a little bit, she says.

Clip-On Earrings

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Watching a family member pull off an earring before picking up the landline is a memory that many Southerners saw time and time again in years past, but clip-ons will forever and always be a Southern staple.

Rhinestones

Ingo Boddenberg / Getty Images

Maybe you havent caught onto this trend from our previous recommendations, but this accessory tells you loud and clear that the larger pieces of costume jewelry are back and better than ever. Coming out of the pandemic, people are looking for a little bit of glam, Chisholm says. People are looking forward to doing things and being able to accessorize. She shares that people want necklaces, earrings, brooches, you name it, all with a little sparkle.

Pearls

Glasshouse Images / Getty Images

Now, if your Southern family is anything like mine, you already knew that these little gems would have to make an appearance on this list. When in doubt, put on a string of pearls or a pair of pearl earrings to give any outfit a little bit of an extra polish. If you dont just have a string of pearls hiding in a jewelry box but want the same look, many resellers and thrift stores have a few strands that dont pull at the purse strings.

Handkerchiefs

Linda Treter / Getty Images

In Nora Ephrons romantic comedy Youve Got Mail, theres a scene where Meg Ryans character pulls out a handkerchief from her pocket embroidered with a daisy to give to a little girl. In the scene she asks, Do children not know what handkerchiefs are?" Well, according to Chisholm, you might want to have a handkerchief on hand. The long-time vintage collector finds a level of sentimentality with this item that is hard to be replicated. People gave them as gifts to people with a monogram, Chisholm recalls. It was a way to add personality without having to go overboard.



Gloves

Glow Images / Getty Images

Dont we all love a dramatic moment? And few things in life are more dramatic than a pair of gloves, but even if you find some in the back of a closet or in a resale shop, you might want to make sure that they fit first. We do get a lot of requests for those white gloves from the up-to-your-elbow or even the short ones, but the ones that I get truly from Grandmas closet are so tiny. The hands are so tiny, Reinvented Resale owner, Cook, shares. However, just because they are a little bit harder to find doesnt mean that gloves are any less in style. We know Rita Hayworth would approve.

From Your Familys Sewing Box: Ribbons

Nadzeya_Kizilava / Getty Images

Maybe you are excited about the comeback of ballet flats, but we can't help but think about another dance-inspired trend that's coming back with gusto: ribbon. Throw a silk or velvet ribbon in your hair, wrap one around your waist as a belt or tie the ribbons around your feet to make your ballet flats look as if you just popped out of the studio. We imagine that you can find some beautiful ribbon hiding in a family sewing box or stored with your Christmas wrapping materials.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
Mississippi voters will likely go yet another year without the ability to directly pass policies through ballot measures, after the state Senate failed to advance a bill to reinstate that process Thursday.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 533 passed the Senate earlier in session, only to be changed by the House. The Senate chose Thursday to neither concur with the House changes nor invite conference, with a deadline to do one or the other looming at the end of the day.

When the Senate adjourned minutes later, the ballot initiative's fate was likely sealed, at least for this year. The bill is now dead.

Voters have not seen an initiative on their ballot since 2020, when they approved Initiative 65, a constitutional amendment to legalize medical Marijuana.

That vote sparked a court challenge, led by longtime Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler, which sought to invalidate that initiative by challenging the validity of the entire initiative process. The law, they argued, was outdated because it required signatures to come in equal proportion from the state's "five" congressional districts. Since 2000, the state has only had four districts, after losing one during redistricting following that year's census. In May 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled with them, putting the state's medical marijuana ambitions in what would ultimately be a temporary pause, but putting the ballot initiative process into a more lasting limbo.

The last two legislative sessions have seen a number of attempts to restore voters' ability to directly pass legislation. Last year, members of the House passed a bill that would have largely kept the process the same as it was before, while updating the number of congressional districts. The Senate then made changes, substantially raising the bar for required signatures. The bill died.

This year, a bill originating in the Senate, which passed the chamber overwhelmingly, would have again dramatically increased the number of signatures needed to get an initiative on the ballot. Under the previous law, the number needed was about 110,000. The bill would increase that to almost a quarter of a million. Supporters of the bill said that would lessen the impacts of money from groups based outside Mississippi, while opponents said it would make it harder for voters to have a direct say in their governance.

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Then, the House passed a version of the bill that again lowered the vote threshold. It also made other changes, though, including listing topics that cannot be addressed by ballot initiative. That list included abortion and government spending. It did not mention marijuana, the topic that led to the previous initiative law being struck down.

As the Thursday deadline approached, Sen. John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, also a Republican, were noncommittal on whether the Senate would bring forward the House version for concurrence or to invite conference. On Wednesday, Polk told reporters that the lower threshold was not something he could support, while Hosemann said members of the chamber were making "good progress." The lieutenant governor declined to elaborate on what progress looked like.

Senate Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Committee Chairman John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, glances up at a completed committee report that he is proof reading in the Supreme Court Chamber at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Monday, March 29, 2021. Lawmakers in both chambers are signing off on completed conference committee reports as deadlines loom on the remaining work to be completed this session. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Shortly after the chamber declined to take action on the bill, Hosemann released a statement that seemed to indicate that there were not enough votes in the Senate Republican Caucus to support the lower signature threshold.

"I have consistently said I am in favor of an initiative process in Mississippi. I trust the voters of the state, both in who they elect to office and on policy matters," Hosemann said. "A number of Republicans in the Senate have a different opinion on the initiative issue. This is the legislative process and we will continue that process."

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, center, stands with fellow Republicans, Senate Ports and Major Resources Committee Chairman Philip Moran of Kiln, left, and Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee Chairman Neil Whaley of Potts Camp, as they listen to action from the floor during the morning session of the Mississippi Legislature in Jackson, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.

The initiative petition issue may well resurface during this year's statewide elections. Democratic candidate for governor Brandon Presley quickly criticized Gov. Tate Reeves for not doing more to pressure the legislature into resurrecting it.

"Today is a huge setback for the right to vote and is a slap in the face to every citizen in this state. Make no mistake, Tate Reeves and his allies in the legislature didnt lift a finger to restore Mississippians right to petition their government because the status quo gives them and their lobbyist pals more power. You can bet that if it were money for his personal trainer or a volleyball court for a friend, Tate Reeves would move mountains to make it happen," Presley said in a statement. No matter what party you are in, you should have the right to petition your government. As governor, Ill lead the effort to restore the ballot initiative process that our state has had for decades so every Mississippian can have their voice heard.

Democrat Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.

Reeves has said multiple times since restoration of the initiative was first considered last year that he is in favor of restoring it, but at a higher signature threshold than there was previously.

"I think that access to the ballot is important," Reeves said leading up to the 2022 legislative session. "I dont think that one person writing a $2 or $3 million check on any one issue to put it in our state constitution is the correct way to do it, but I do think the citizens should have access to the ballot, and it ought to be done in a way where its challenging to get on the ballot but that it is possible.

As for Hosemann, his primary challenger state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, voted for the original Senate version, with the higher threshold. No vote was taken in the Senate on the lower threshold proposal from the House. In a statement Thursday, McDaniel blamed Hosemann for not doing enough to restore the ballot initiative process.

"Delbert Hosemann chose yet again to silence the voices of Mississippians and protect his own power by obstructing our ballot initiative process. Delbert's actions are both disgraceful and unconstitutional," McDaniel said.

There is one week left in the 2023 legislative session.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: At least another year without ballot initiative in Mississippi
Were tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back each week for updates.

Nearly 1,900 COVID cases added in SC last week

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday, March 21, reported 1,892 COVID-19 cases for the week ending March 18 and 13 coronavirus-related deaths for the week ending March 11.

The counts include probable and confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths.

An estimated 1.8 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the Palmetto State, and more than 19,600 people have died as a result of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials. Data shows new COVID-19 cases are down up 0.1% compared with this time last week.

As of March 19, 148 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in South Carolina (with 60 hospitals reporting), including 17 patients in intensive care units, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Going forward, DHEC said it will use the CDC data for South Carolina to show our states Inpatient Bed Usage and Intensive Care Unit Bed Usage statistics.

Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 made up more than 90% of all COVID-19 strains identified in South Carolina for the week ending March 4, data shows. The DHECs Public Health Laboratory conducts sequencing on randomly chosen samples as part of nationwide efforts to find out about new strains of the virus, the agencys website reads.

The states latest vaccination numbers show 54% of eligible South Carolina residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and just over 62% have received at least one dose.

People vaccinated after COVID infection may still be at risk, study suggests

People who rolled up their sleeves for a COVID-19 vaccine after catching the virus could still be at risk of reinfection, according to a recent study.

Previous research suggested hybrid immunity may offer the best protection against getting sick regardless of whether the infection or vaccination happened first, McClatchy News reported. A newer study published March 15 suggests otherwise, and researchers say the order of events matter.

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Researchers looked at blood samples from people who completed Pfizers two-shot vaccine series and compared them with those of people who were not vaccinated and caught COVID-19, according the report published in the journal Immunity.

They found that those who were vaccinated but didnt catch the virus were most protected, McClatchy News reported, citing a National Institutes of Health news release. People who were vaccinated post-infection still had better protection than those who were unvaccinated and had COVID-19 previously.

To learn more, read the full story here.

Woman developed face blindness after COVID infection, study says

A 28-year-old woman said her father was unrecognizable after her COVID-19 infection, according to a study published in the journal Cortex.

The woman, identified by researchers as Annie, developed a neurological condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness, seven weeks after contracting COVID-19 in March 2020, McClatchy News reported, citing the report. The condition left her unable to recognize her dads face.

A few of her symptoms returned, she was disoriented and said something was off with faces, according to researchers at Dartmouth College. Annie also said it was difficult to navigate places that were familiar to her.

The combination of prosopagnosia and navigational deficits that Annie had is something that caught our attention because the two deficits often go hand in hand after somebody either has had brain damage or developmental deficits, Brad Duchaine, senior author of the current study, said in a news release.

Researchers said Annies case is the first report of face blindness after developing COVID-19 symptoms.

Read more here.

SC just had its worst flu season in years. Heres how bad it was and where it killed the most

South Carolina city ranks as one of nations worst for seasonal allergies. Heres why

Coronavirus updates for March 15: Heres what to know in South Carolina this week
The Michigan Appeals Court has ruled that the parents of the gunman who shot and killed four students at a Michigan high school can stand trial for manslaughter.

The court said in an opinion published Thursday that there is enough evidence for the parents of Ethan Crumbley to stand trial, explaining that if Jennifer and James Crumbley had not provided their son with a gun or if they had taken him out of school on the day of the shooting, he would not have been able to kill four students. The court said in its opinion that the Crumbleys actions and inactions were inexorably intertwined with the actions of their son.

This connection exists not simply because of the parent-child relationship but also because of the facts showing that defendants were actively involved in [Ethan Crumbleys] mental state remaining untreated, that they provided him with the weapon used to kill the victims, and that they refused to remove him from the situation that led directly to the shootings, the opinion stated.

Crumbleys parents came to the school after school officials were alerted that Crumbley drew a troubling drawing featuring bodies with gunshot wounds and an image of a gun, similar to the one gifted to him by his parents, but they did not take him out of school, according to the court opinion. Just hours later, Crumbley used a gun that he brought to school to carry out the shootings, the opinion states.

The court added that a jury would need to fully decide whether there is a causation between the parents actions and the shooting that occurred.

Whether a jury actually finds that causation has been proven after a full trial, where the record will almost surely be more expansive  including evidence produced by defendants  is an issue separate from what we decide today, the opinion stated.

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the November 2021 shooting, pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder charges. He could be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Four people were killed and seven people were injured as a result of the shooting.

The Associated Press reported that Judge Michael Riordan wrote in a concurring opinion that although parents should not be sent to court for subpar, odd or eccentric care of their children, there was visual evidence that Crumbley was planning harm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
To get a roundup of TechCrunchs biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here.

Friday Crunch is here! Friday Crunch is here! We are ready to go sit by the proverbial pool with an umbrella-ed drink in it. (Realistically, itll be the TV and a beer, while embodying fancy cocktails and a pool. The mind is powerful like that.) For now, on with the news!  Christine and Haje

The TechCrunch Top 3

Probably nothing to see here : For a few moments there, cryptocurrency giant Binance had to temporarily suspend spot trading, deposits and withdrawals, Manish reports. Everything was back to normal as of this morning.

Gone : Google removed hundreds of Kenya-focused loan apps from its Play Store following a new policy that digital lenders needed to provide proof of license, Annie writes. We watched something similar play out with the Indian government and lending apps in February.

Huge investment in EV: Ford is stepping on the accelerator when it comes to electric vehicles and will manufacture a next-generation electric truck at its $5.6 billion factory in Tennessee in 2025, Kirsten reports.

Startups and VC

Zigazoo, the startup known for its TikTok-style video-sharing app for kids, is launching a separate app targeted at Gen Z users, Lauren reports. The new app will take the flagship name and is meant for ages 13 and older, whereas the original kid-focused app is for Generation Alpha (ages 312) and has been rebranded to Zigazoo Kids. Previous users in the younger age range will be automatically migrated to Zigazoo Kids.

WebAssembly (Wasm for short) is an open standard that enables browser-based applications to run with near-native performance, Frederic reports. It has also expanded to support non-browser environments, which is what is driving a lot of the recent hype around it. But like any emerging technology, it needs a stronger tooling ecosystem to realize its full potential, and Dylibso raises $6.6 million to help developers take the tech to production.

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And here are six more, as we are spinning our wheels getting ready for the weekend:

Pitch Deck Teardown: Prelaunch.com's $1.5M Seed deck

Image Credits: Prelaunch.com (opens in a new window)

Earlier this week, Haje Jan Kamps interviewed Prelaunch.com CEO Narek Vardanyan to get his perspective on how hardware startups can validate products before going to market.

In a follow-up, he analyzed the pitch deck for Prelaunch.com's $1.5 million seed round, which showed investors how the company monetizes its product forecasts:

Cover slide

Summary slide

Market context slide

Problem slide

Solution slide

Problem with the existing solution slide

Product slide 1

Results slide

Product slide 2

Product slide 3

Product slide 4

Vision slide

Value prop slide

Traction and metrics slide

Business model and pricing slide

Market trends slide

Why now slide

Team slide

The Ask slide

Contact us slide

Three more from the TC+ team:

TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code DC for a 15% discount on an annual subscription!

Big Tech Inc.

Remember yesterday when we discussed that Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon was reportedly taken into custody? Well, Kate has an update, and it seems like Kwon was quite naughty, among other things, trying to flee to Dubai with falsified documents. Both the U.S. and South Korea seek Do Kwons extradition so he can face multiple charges. Its not known yet where he will end up.

Now lets round out our TikTok coverage from yesterday. It looks like CEO Shou Zi Chew did not impress the Congressional audience. We did learn some new things, though: Sarah reports that the social media giant scans public videos to determine users ages. Chew also denied that there was spying going on when ByteDance employees surveilled journalists. Taylor has more on that.

And we have five more for you:
Five people were charged Thursday in separate pawn shop schemes involving $15.7 million in stolen goods.

Prosecutors allege the items were obtained through the recruitment of drug-addicted individuals to go out and steal items from local stores, prosecutors said.

The five people charged are: Thomas Nary, 35, of Rochester; Eric Finnefrock, 27, of Rochester; Ralph Swain, 30, of Farmington; Devin Tribunella, 35, of Rochester; and Wade Shadders, 22, of Rochester. They are all accused of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, selling and conspiring to sell stolen goods across state lines, and engaging in financial transactions involving the proceeds of stolen goods.

Finnefrock, Swain and Tribunella are also charged with aggravated identity theft.

Officials executed search warrants at two pawn shops  Royal Crown Pawn & Jewelry 3635 Dewey Ave. in Greece and Rochester Pawn & Gold, 1440 Dewey Ave. in Rochester  Thursday morning.

A law enforcement official carries a confiscated chainsaw out of Royal Crown Pawn in Greece Thursday.

The two schemes are unrelated, authorities said. But Nary, the owner of Rochester Pawn & Gold, and his two employees, Finnefrock and Swain, are accused of reselling $12.4 million in stolen goods on eBay and Amazon between Jan. 1, 2015, and Aug. 14, 2019.

Tribunella, the owner of Royal Pawn, and his employee, Shadders, allegedly resold $3.2 million in stolen merchandise on eBay between Jan. 1, 2017, and Sept. 16, 2019.

"A lot of people look at the crime of larceny, shoplifting and think that it's not important, it's not a big deal, it's a low-level crime," Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan said, "but the losses that these retailers experience results in millions and millions of dollars of losses.

"This retail larceny fuels the drug trade in our community," Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan said. "In large part, the people who are committing these larcenies are drug-addicted. They are stealing things from retail stores and they're selling things to pawn shops and they're taking that money and buying drugs. In a lot of cases, those drugs are killing them. It's not a low-level crime. It is a big deal and this is an important arrest.

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"We know that these two businesses are not the only two businesses of this type in our community. I'd like this to serve as a warning to the rest of them that we know who you are and you'll be seeing us very soon."

According to the criminal complaints, Nary, Tribunella and the other men charged targeted "individuals struggling with opiate addiction" to steal items from stores in Monroe County, including CVS, Wegmans, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, Circuit City and Home Depot.

Heres a quick video recap of the five arrests. Authorities allege the owners and workers at two pawn shops were employing drug-addicted individuals to steal items from local stores and then reselling the items online. #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/8ABhxNisLb  Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) November 21, 2019

The defendants "knowingly purchased stolen, new-in-box goods" for about 30% of their retail value and then resold the items on eBay and Amazon. The items were then shipped to buyers, many of whom were outside of New York state.

In many cases, the defendants "recruited individuals who struggle with addiction and who use the proceeds of their 'sales' of stolen merchandise to purchase illegal drugs," prosecutors said. Nary, Tribunela and the other defendants allegedly identified items they wanted to purchase based on what was in high demand on eBay. They also bought from the same individuals multiple times per week, prosecutors said.

Finnefrock has worked at RPG since April 2015, while Swain was employed there since March 2018. Shadders, meanwhile, has worked at Royal Pawn since April 2019.

Prosecutors said each pawn shop "has one of the highest volume of purchases and sales" in Monroe County.

The defendants allegedly made false and fraudulent entries in LeadsOnline, a database used by law enforcement to track stolen goods. They also violated the terms of service user agreements with eBay and Amazon.

Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Democrat and Chronicle today at democratandchronicle.com/deal.

"The easy access to cash that these pawn shops provided to drug users who were willing to steal merchandise helped to fuel the opioid epidemic in our community," U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. said.

Kennedy said 930 people overdosed from opioids in 2018 in Monroe County. Of those, 542 individuals had a "history of selling stolen merchandise to pawn shops," Kennedy said. In 2018 and 2019, there were at least 15 instances of people selling stolen goods to the two pawn shops and overdosing within five days. Three of those instances were fatal, he said.

Kennedy said Monroe County maintains some of the highest incidents of retail theft in the country. "This prosecution demonstrates an undeniable link between property crimes and overdose deaths in our community," Kennedy said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan McGuire, who is prosecuting each case, said the year-long investigation began after an RPD officer and a Monroe County sheriff's deputy noticed the increasing crime and spoke to retailers. "It really drew the connection for us between the opioid crisis and the thefts," she said.

Greece Deputy Police Chief Casey Voelkl said the warrants were issued after a long-term, multi-agency investigation into stolen property. At each pawn shop, a box truck was brought in to hold all of the confiscated items. In Greece, officers were loading items like chainsaws into the truck.

Voelkl said search warrants were executed in Greece, Gates and Rochester.

"We're assisting other agencies, including federal law enforcement agencies, with a search warrant at this location," Voelkl said. "This is part of a collaboration with other agencies to search numerous sites around the area.

He said Greece police were expected to remain at Royal Pawn for multiple hours.

"There's a lot of stuff in there for us to go through," Voelkl said. "We're just in the process of working through that right now."

The investigation includes the Rochester Police Department, Greece Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the agents from the Internal Revenue Service.

"It was a long process," Voelkl said.

Tribunella made news in spring 2018 when he smashed his yellow, 2008 Lamborghini into a fire hydrant near East Avenue and Argyle Street. Tribunella ran away from the accident scene that night and turned himself in to police two days later.

Kennedy said authorities seized three vehicles registered to Tribunella  a Lamborghini, a Rolls-Royce and a Porsche.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory of two years in prison that must be served consecutively to any other sentence.

"To prey on that addiction so that these individuals can line their pocketbooks and enhance their bottom line, that strikes me as particularly egregious," Kennedy said. "What we saw here today with these arrests and seizures that we made, some of them had all the toys. ...To see people that were more concerned with that, than with the lives of their fellow citizens is very concerning. We're going to continue to pursue these individuals."

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com

Greece PD brought a box truck and is loading it with all of the items confiscated. Voelkl said they will be here for hours. pic.twitter.com/A7hJHkNMGg  Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) November 21, 2019

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Pawn shop raids: Devin Tribunella, Thomas Nary among 5 people charged
Republican Lawmaker Asks Lesbian Colleague if Shes a Pedophile

A lawmaker in Rhode Island asked a lesbian legislator if she was a pedophile during a heated discussion over an equity and inclusion bill on Friday.

As reported by the Providence Journal, the State House was debating HB 5763 known as the Equity Impact Statement Act when Rep. Robert Quattrocchi asked Rep. Rebecca Kislak if she was a pedophile while questioning the cost and need for the legislation.

The exchange was caught on video and showed the chamber erupting in shock and anger moments later.

HB 5763 would require all legislation submitted to the general assembly to include an equity impact statement listing potential impact based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex sexual orientation, gender expression, disability, age or country of ancestral origin. The bill would further require listing historic disparities of these groups and existing efforts to correct them, as well as ensuring that the proposed legislation would not negatively impact these communities.

It just seems like a lot, Quattrocchi asked Kislak during the hearing. You dont feel that all the anti-discrimination laws that we have already, which are many, protecting all these classes that youre, that are listed in this bill?

He described the bill as very, very broad in its reporting requirements and questioned how it would be implemented.

Do I have to take into account, for instance, religion? Quattrocchi continued. Do I have to take into account how it affects Satan and Satanists in Rhode Island? Or do I have to take into account with sexual orientation  how it affects pedophiles in Rhode Island? Anything like that?

Well, first I want to appoint out that pedophile is not a sexual orientation, Kislak answered coolly.

Oh, I'm sorry, Quattrocchi reponded.

So like my equity right now is pointing out that that was really offensive, Kislak continued.

Oh I didn't mean to, Quattrocchi trailed off before asking, Are you a pedophile?

The chamber descended into chaos before Rep. Evan Shanley restored order. Quattrocchi immediately apologized and later called the incident a misunderstanding but also said he could provide no further comment.

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Because I have not been advised by the Speakers Office as to his intentions regarding this matter, I cannot offer further comment at this time,' Quattrocchi said in a statement on Tuesday.

Out gay House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi described the question as insulting and reprehensible and said Quattrocchis statement was a step in the right direction but didnt go far enough.

A coalition of LGBTQ+ advocacy and support groups signed a public letter on Tuesday condemning Quattrocchis question.

Rhode Island has been a leader in recognizing and protecting equality for the LGBTQ+ community. The people of this state are proud of that legacy. the letter stated. Our representatives should be working to ensure safety, dignity, and equity for all residents, not perpetuating dangerous, false comparisons that undermine the humanity of LGBTQ+ people.

In his statement on Tuesday, Quattrocchi said he had apologized to Kislak on at least four separate occasions, though Kislak disputed that claim.

It is not an apology, Kislak told The Journal.

You can watch the entire exchange below.
While Prince Harry is dealing with an ongoing phone-hacking lawsuit with British tabloid newspaper The Sun, his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton are commending the outlet for its recent fundraising efforts.

The Prince and Princess of Wales publicly thanked the publications readers for supporting its fantastic campaign that raised money for Syrian and Turkish earthquake victims, despite Harrys involvement in the enduring lawsuit.

READ MORE: Prince Harry Reportedly Out For Revenge As Spares Fierce, Vengeful Attacks Make It A Bestseller

Kate Middleton and Prince William Thank Turkey-Syria Earthquake Relief Organizers in London https://t.co/WHaMwhxy58  People (@people) March 9, 2023

Prince William And Princess Kate Praise Very Outlet That Prince Harry Is In The Middle Of A Lawsuit Against

Earlier this month, William, 40, and Kate, 41, visited the Hayes Muslim Centre near London to thank organizers who provided aid and volunteers who helped fundraise for communities that suffered recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. As Newsweek reports, The Sun raised $1.8 million through its readership for its Earthquake Appeal, which donated proceeds to the British Red Cross.

Following the event, a spokesperson for the royal couple said, per The Sun: The Prince and Princess were so delighted to spend time with [activist six-year-old] Jess Jorden and [her mother], Esther to thank them for their support of The Suns fantastic campaign for the British Red Cross.

Prince Harry's Ongoing Lawsuit Against News Group Newspapers

Back in October 2019, news broke that Prince Harry filed a lawsuit against News Group Newspapers (NGN), publishers of The Sun and now defunct paper the News of The World. This, as Newsweek notes, was over "historic cases of unlawful information gathering, or phone-hacking." In addition, another claim was made against the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), who own the Daily Mirror.

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This announcement came just days after the Spare author, 38, released a statement that criticized the press. This also followed his wife Meghan Markle filing her own lawsuit against The Mail on Sunday after the outlet published her private letter that she wrote to her father, Thomas Markle after her May 2018 wedding.

The couple's statement was released while they were on a royal tour of South Africa, and the Duke of Sussex accused the UK media of issuing "relentless propaganda" against his wife and himself, which he compared to a "game" that "we have been unwilling to play from the start."

READ MORE: King Charles And Prince William Reportedly Vehemently Tried To Stop Meghan Markle From Suing The Media Over Her Leaked Private Letter

He added, "I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."

Since its announcement, the NGN lawsuit "over the information gathering conduct of the News of The World and The Sun" has "progressed slowly," Newsweek notes. Two years later in 2021, the publisher admitted in court filings that Harry's messages were retrieved by former royal correspondent for the News of The World, Clive Goodman.

This is notable because back in 2007, Goodman and his private investigator associate, Glenn Mulcaire, were jailed for intercepting voicemail messages that belonged to a close aide of both Harry and William.

READ MORE: Prince Harry Says He Had Enough Material For 'Two' Memoirs: 'I Don't Think They Would Have Ever Forgiven Me'

In 2011, the News of The World ceased publication. It was the center of several lawsuits from "high-profile figures over phone-hacking," Newsweek writes, spurred on by an earlier investigation by The Guardian newspaper that lead to the 2011 Leveson Inquiry, a UK judicial inquiry into press and media ethics.

Regarding Harry's lawsuit, The Sun is continuing to deny that they ever practiced phone-hacking and the publisher has not admitted to any unlawful conduct. Harry's lawyers noted that the actions of NGN titles negatively affected his personal relationships in a 2021 legal filing. "With such extensive details of his private and personal life appearing in articles published by NGN, the Claimant frequently questioned his relationships with close friends and family," it read.

"He also suffered from a complete breakdown in trust with many of his associates. His personal relationships also suffered, in light of the general paranoia that he developed as a consequence of NGN's actions," it went on. The filing added, "The claimant found the intrusion into his life both isolating and troubling, particularly at such a young age."

According to NGN's lawyers, stories linked to Goodman were published over six years before Harry brought the lawsuit to which they relate. They stressed that it is "denied" that Harry is "entitled to any relief" relating to them, specifically.
King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed amid unrest in the country and widespread protests over President Emmanuel Macrons pension reforms.

"The King and The Queen Consorts State Visit to France has been postponed," Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement Friday. "Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found."

The royals will still travel to Germany on Wednesday in what was scheduled to be the second leg of King Charles' first official overseas trip as U.K. monarch.

The original six-day visit to France and Germany, which hold the largest populations in the European Union, was designed to highlight efforts to rebuild relations between Britain and its neighbors after six years of squabbling over Brexit.

King Charles III will no longer be visiting France amid unrest.

But anger over Macrons resolve to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 is putting a damper on the new monarchs debut on the international stage.

Why is France protesting? President Emmanuel Macron's move to raise retirement age

King Charles III's coronation oil: Special connection to late mother Queen Elizabeth II

French labor unions have called for a day of nationwide protests and strikes on Tuesday. That is the day when the king had been set to travel to the western city of Bordeaux, with much security and ceremony, and the protests would have complicated his travel.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin gave reassurances Thursday night that the king would be safe during his French stay. He spoke after a day of nationwide protest marches, some marred by violence, notably in Paris.

Heaps of trash have been piling up on the streets of the capital and other French cities as garbage workers strike to protest Macrons decision.

Protesters clash with police officers on the sidelines of a demonstration, a few days after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using article 49.3 of the constitution, in Nantes, western France, on March 21, 2023.

Photos: Heaps of trash pile up on Paris streets amid protests against France retirement law

In Germany, Charles will be welcomed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender, address the national parliament, attend a state banquet and meet with representatives from a German and U.K. joint military unit in Brandenburg. He's also scheduled to visit the St. Nikolai Memorial, learn about green tech used at port of Hamburg, and wrap up the visit with a reception in Hamburg to be attended by local British community members.

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The king also is set to meet with Ukrainian refugees who recently arrived in Germany. It isn't the first move by the royal family to show support for Ukrainian refugees: Prince William visited Poland on Wednesday to meet with refugees and Polish troops in Rzeszow.

The trip would have marked the king's 35th official visit to France and is set to mark his 29th official visit to Germany, according to Buckingham Palace. His last visit to France was in 2019, and his last visit to Germany was in 2020.

More royal news: Prince William speaks with troops, Ukrainian refugees in surprise Poland visit

Contributing: Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: King Charles' France visit postponed as unrest continues
Attorney Benjamin Crump, standing side by side with the sister and mother of Shanquella Robinson on Thursday, said he expects a meeting soon with White House officials and the head of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Robinson, 25, died under suspicious circumstances Oct. 29 in Cabo, Mexico while on vacation with six other people. The FBI and Mexican authorities have opened investigations into her death and video footage showing her being beaten has gone viral.

Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson, co-counsel for the family of Shanquella Robinson, are calling on the Biden Administration to extradite the accused killer to Mexico. In November, Mexican officials issued an arrest warrant for one of the six individuals who last saw Robinson alive. According to a letter sent earlier this month to President Joe Biden from Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson, Daejhanae Jackson, 26, is identified by Mexican authorities on the warrant, and the government there has asked she be extradited to face charges of femicide.

Crump said during a news conference at Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., the meetings could happen sometime after April 1.

The American Bar Association and several national sororities and fraternities will be issuing letters calling for justice for Shanquella Robinson, leading up to the 200th day after her death, Crump said. He said if no arrests have been made by day 200, Until Freedom  a national civil rights organization  will plan a march in D.C.

The traveling companions initially told Sallamondra Robinson, Shanquellas mother, that her daughter had alcohol poisoning. Autopsy reports tell a different, more gruesome story and list the cause of death as severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation.

Autopsy notes classify the death as violent.

Robinsons family and attorneys say it should not take nearly five months for justice to be delivered and an arrest to be made in her death. They cited the viral video, her autopsy, and the arrest warrant already issued in Mexico.

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The whole world has seen the video where Robinson was beaten and there is still no justice, Sallamondra said.

What kind of system is this? I just dont understand it, she said.

My daughter Shanquella, she was a great daughter. She was a great friend. She loved people, love life. And I dont know how no one could have done this to her. Its just terrible, Sallamondra Robinson said.

Calls for diplomatic intervention

Earlier this month, Crump, Sue-Ann Robinson, activists, and Robinsons family gathered in Washington D.C. to demand diplomatic intervention in her case.

Crump and Robinson called on officials to either extradite the person named on an arrest warrant issued by Mexican officials, or to take over jurisdiction and prosecute that person in the U.S.

The Department of State previously told the Observer it would not comment on extradition matters.

The Department of State supports a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident and is closely monitoring local authorities investigation. We refer you to the Mexican authorities for further questions regarding an investigation, the Department of State said.

The White House will not comment on what actions the Biden Administration might take in the case, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing March 16.

Our hearts go out to Miss Robinsons family and friends. It is devastating, what occurred. And, certainly, the tragedy is just devastating, Jean-Pierre said. But because theres an FBI investigation underway, theres very little that we can say.
Gretna is a great place for history buffs and those looking to get hitched in a hurry.

Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

When most people think about vacationing in Louisiana, their first thought is to head down to New Orleans. And sure, this is a great call. But, wed invite you to look just outside the Big Easys boundaries and take a peek at its neighboring city, Gretna.

Located just across the banks of the Mississippi River sits Gretna, the second-largest city in Jefferson Parish. Sure, it doesnt come with the same splashy atmosphere as New Orleans, but it does make for the perfect respite for those looking to experience the region with thinner crowds and a quieter atmosphere. Heres what you need to know about Gretna, Louisiana.

Related: 8 of the Best Small Towns in the South

When to Visit Gretna, Louisiana

To put it bluntly, things can get hot in Gretna. According to WeatherSpark, temperatures rarely ever fall below 47F and can climb as high as 92F. And, temperatures hover closer to that higher end for much of the year, including from early May to late September, when the average temperature hits 86F.

To avoid the absolutely sweltering and downright muggy days, its best to plan a trip to Gretna in the late winter and early spring. This is when the weather is warm enough to be enjoyable but not yet oppressive. Of course, this is also an excellent time to visit nearby New Orleans for both Mardi Gras and its annual Jazz Fest, which runs from late April to early May.

Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

Things to Do in Gretna, Louisiana

Gretna Green Blacksmith Shop

This old-timey blacksmith shop is based on a historic Scottish smithy of the same name located in Gretna Green, Scotland. As the Gretna Historical Society explains, the original venue became a popular spot for those looking to get hitched in a hurry, thanks to an agreeable justice of the peace. Now, every February in Gretna, Louisiana, the historical society hosts the Gretna Green Valentine's Day Weddings (which includes couples looking for fast vow renewals, too).

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The German-American Cultural Center

This cultural center honors the German immigrants who founded the town of Gretna. Visitors can come and explore the small museum, learn from its curators, or time their visit to one of its always lively festivals honoring German heritage.

Gretna Art Walk

Every Saturday, the town hosts a farmers market so visitors and locals alike can come to get something fresh. But, every second Saturday, it combines this with an art walk showcasing its best local talent, so if you can, stay for two Saturdays to experience both.

David Crockett Firehouse

During a visit to Gretna, take a little time to pay a visit to the David Crockett Firehouse, the oldest continuously operating volunteer fire department in the nation. Visitors can tour the Louisiana Fire Museum at the 1859 firehouse, which displays the "pride and joy," an 1876 steam fire pumper that's still in pristine condition.

Where to Eat

Gattusos

Located in the middle of the towns historic district, Gattusos has been a local favorite for more than two decades. Its the ideal spot for a happy-hour treat. From 2-6 p.m., it offers half-priced apps and drink specials, so get there early and dig in.

The Red Maple

Looking for a local bite? Head to The Red Maple, which serves massive steaks alongside locally caught seafood. The fine dining establishment has called Gretna home for more than 50 years, with people particularly loving its Redfish Pontchartrain.

Rivershack

Anyone hunting for more casual fare need not look further than Rivershack. Serving easy foods like burgers and fries, its a prime place to come for a quick but delicious bite. Dont miss out on its more than 40 beers on tap, either.

benedek/Getty Images

Where to Stay in and Near Gretna, Louisiana

There aren't many hotels in Gretna proper, but if you want to stay in the heart of the city, make the Homewood Suites your go-to spot. The comfortable rooms include living and bedroom spaces and even full kitchens. There are many more options if you check out Airbnbs or expand your search into nearby New Orleans.

Danny B's Airbnb

Get a feel for what living in Gretna is really like by booking Danny B's, a charming Airbnb built in 1907. The home has two bedrooms and two baths, making it great for small groups, as well as a fully renovated kitchen, and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy those warm southern nights.

Windsor Court Hotel

Those hoping to enjoy a little luxury during their stay can make their way across the river to Windsor Court Hotel. Yes, it's located in New Orleans, but it really is just a stone's throw away. And, it comes with English afternoon tea, live jazz, and more than 300 thoughtfully appointed rooms, which all helped it become the number one hotel in New Orleans in Travel + Leisure's 2022 World's Best Awards.

Getting There

The easiest way for out-of-towners to get to Gretna is to fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, located less than 15 miles away. From there, just drive down the I-10 east to US-90, and you should be there in under 30 minutes.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
FLORENCE  Politics and the relationship between the fashion industry and the Italian government took center stage at the Future for Fashion conference on Friday.

Held at Palazzo Pittis Sala Bianca, the two-day event was closed by the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso on the same day Italys President Sergio Mattarella was expected in Florence at the Chamber of Commerce conference.

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Leonardo Ferragamo, chairman of the Ferragamo company, spoke of the need to intensify the conversation with political institutions, and beyond local confines.

While references to Florence and its history peppered the conference, Ferragamo urged executives to look to the future and be in sync with the times, approaching the subject of heritage that is widely embraced by Italian fashion brands. We cant live on heritage. There is extraordinary value in that, but it can be a double-edged sword. We must take the values from heritage but not follow by example, otherwise the brand becomes obsolete, he contended.

Ferragamos namesake company has been going through an extensive change, spearheaded by chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti and creative director Maximilian Davis, who was appointed to the role last year.

Theres been a significant evolution and the pandemic made us understand the real potential to set the basis for a solid future, continued Ferragamo, adding that this has been one of the most intense periods of hard work.

He admitted that changes are sometimes hard and play with our emotions. We debated for years whether to change the logo but there is a fil rouge with the past, Ferragamo said of the decision under Gobbetti to drop his fathers name, Salvatore, from the logo and adopt a new font. You can imagine how this touched us, but then we saw that [Salvatore] used to sign his designs only with his last name, the executive continued. Also, the new logo is inspired by the font created by Lucio Venna [in the 1930s]. And the new, bolder red for the packaging is the same of the shoes with Swarovskis created for Marilyn Monroe in 1950, so there is a thread.

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Incidentally, he noted that the company in 2023 will mark 100 years since Ferragamos first store in Hollywood.

Carlo Capasa, chairman of Italys Camera della Moda, was asked to comment on the new government headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, installed last October. Last week, I met a parliamentary commission and I saw an increased interest to understand the countrys fashion industry, Capasa said.

However, as has happened with previous governments, he was surprised by the lack of knowledge of our sector. This is a serious business. We are often seen as a frivolous industry compared to the French governments perception of the French fashion industry.

On the topic of fashion shows, which after the COVID-19 pandemic returned IRL in full force, Capasa defined the fashion weeks the Olympics of fashion, which stimulate creativity and represent the dream. While the dates are often debated, he said they are a good compromise. Someone thinks the womens shows should move to June and November, but those dates would be too far from the market, contended Capasa.

While a potential stock market listing was a key topic a day earlier, independence was touted by Alfonso Dolce, CEO of Dolce & Gabbana. It is our vocation, he said. This does not mean not opening the company to third parties, its an open community, but we value the independence of individuals.

He admitted developing the company independently is very onerous, also from a human point of view. He offered a concrete example of independence, which was the choice of freezing the D&G line in 2011, which contributed to the business with sales of 600 million euros and earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization margins of 29 percent. We could never have done that if we had not been independent, he said.

Dolce & Gabbana has been developing its own beauty business, investing in the capital of manufacturer Intercos, and in a home line.

After the pandemic, cooperation and co-creation are increasingly fundamental and there has been a shift, with a realization in the industry that there is a need for more collaboration and more unity, according to Stefania Lazzaroni, director of Altagamma.

Asked about her expectations from the government, she said she would hope for stability and clarity, and, in sync with Capasa, Lazzaroni feels the industry needs to be better understood as a business model.

Roberta Benaglia, CEO and main shareholder of private equity fund Style Capital SGR, agreed, noting an increased drive to join forces, accelerated by COVID-19.

With investments in MSGM, Re/Done and Zimmermann, as well as LuisaViaRoma, asked what sparks her interest in a brand, Benaglia said it should be recognizable, with a strong identity, a product that has value for money, and the potential to expand into new categories and new geographies. It should also be able to be developed with a balanced distribution by channels, she added.

Concluding the morning event, Urso echoed Brunello Cucinellis remarks a day earlier, saying that to guarantee a future for the pipeline with a generational handover of artisans, a cultural revolution is necessary. Tailors have become designers, cooks are now called chefs, and the same should happen for the artisans so that the manual work can be transformed into a professional excellence. Made in Italy is not a location for production, but is art, style and creative excellence.

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Mississippi will set tighter restrictions on who can gather other people's absentee ballots, under a bill that Gov. Tate Reeves signed Wednesday.

The Republican governor said the law, which takes effect July 1, will ban political operatives from collecting and handling large numbers of absentee ballots. Reeves described the practice as ballot harvesting, a pejorative term for dropping off completed ballots for other people.

This process is an open invitation for fraud and abuse, and can occur without the voter ever even knowing, Reeves said in a video statement.

Opponents said the new restrictions could hurt candidates, campaign workers, nursing home employees or others who make good-faith efforts to help people obtain and mail absentee ballots.

This bill will make all of you criminals if you go and assist anybody with getting an absentee ballot. And that's wrong," Democratic Rep. Willie Bailey of Greenville told fellow House members during a March 7 debate. It is no good. It is a part of a system going around the country, suppressing people's right to vote in a democratic society.

Republican-led states have tightened rules on voting by mail since the 2020 presidential election, in part because of the false narrative of widespread fraud in that race.

Unlike some states that allow widespread use of voting by mail, Mississippi already restricts the reasons people may vote by absentee ballot. The absentee ballots are available  by mail or for early, in-person voting  to Mississippi voters who are 65 or older; any voter who has a temporary or permanent physical disability, or any voter who is that person's caretaker; or any voter who will be away from their home county on election day, including college students.

Mississippi's new law takes effect a few weeks before the state's Aug. 8 party primaries for statewide, regional, legislative and county elections.

The law sets a short list of people who can collect and transmit a ballot that was mailed to another person. That list includes employees of the U.S. Postal Service or other mail carriers, plus any family member, household member or caregiver of the person to whom the ballot was mailed.

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Any violation of the law will be punishable by up to a year in a county jail, a $3,000 fine or both.

The House passed the bill 73-44 on March 7, with most of the support coming from Republicans and most of the opposition from Democrats. The Senate passed the final version 33-13 on March 14, with a similar partisan divide.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi sets tighter restrictions on absentee ballots
Nike increased the percentage of U.S. racial and ethnic minorities at the director level and above to 34.5% in 2022, ahead of its goal to hit 30% by 2025.

Thats according to the companys fiscal year 2022 Impact Report, which tracks progress in the companys larger goals related to diversity, equity, sustainability and employee experience. The report marks the second year of progress towards the companys previously outlined targets for 2025.

More from Footwear News

According to the report, Nike also hit 38.8% representation of U.S. racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. corporate workforce in 2022, a 4.3 percentage point increase from the prior year and ahead of the 2025 target of 35% representation.

Like other companies in recent years, Nike has stepped up its efforts to improve diversity and gender equity within its ranks, following criticism in 2020 and an admittance that it had fallen short of DEI progress internally. In the summer of 2020 following widespread protests over racial injustice, a social media account called Black at Nike published stories of purported worker experiences at the Swoosh and highlighted accounts of micro-aggressions and alleged racism.

In 2020, Nike was also one of the first major corporations to publicly speak out regarding racism in America with the tagline, For once, dont do it. Shortly after, Nike, along with Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand, committed $140 million with toward the fight for racial equality. As part of these broader committments, Nike in 2022 invested $10 million to support 11 national that prioritize social justice reform. And in 2o21 ,Nike outlined its goals for 2025, which are reflected in the 2022 report..

Beyond its Impact Report, Nike has committed to release data pertaining to recruitment and promotion rates of its diverse employees  across gender, race, and ethnicity  by 2024, following activit pressure from shareholder advocacy group As You Sow and consultancy Whistle Stop Capital.

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Nike referenced other 2025 goals such as having 100% of VPs complete Inclusive Leadership training and spending a total of $1 billion on diverse suppliers. In fiscal year 2022, 45% of VPs completed the training and Nike spent $777 million on diverse suppliers.

When it comes to gender equity, representation of women in Nikes global corporate workforce increased by 0.7% to 51.1% in 2022, which surpassed the companys target of 50% representation of women in these roles by 2025. The percentage of women in leadership roles grew from 43% in 2021 to 44.1% in 2022, less than 1 percentage point away from its 45% target for 2025.

In the report, Nike also highlighted certain initiatives like the expansion of its Women in Nike (WIN) program for retired WNBA players and employee network group meant to support and invest in women at Nike.

Another goal for Nike is to maintain 100% pay equity across all employee levels on a yearly basis, which Nike said it has achieved every year since 2020.

In April of 2018, Nike admitted that it had fallen short in promoting women and people of color, and in July, it announced a plan to raise salaries for 10% of its workforce to help correct pay inequity. Nike is currently the subject of a lawsuit filed in August 2018 by two former female Nike employees, which alleges that the company intentionally and willfully discriminated against women with regard to pay and promotions, and that its majority-male executives fostered a hostile work environment at its Portland, Ore., headquarters.

Just this week, an Oregon judge ruled that the lawsuit would not be eligible as a class action suit.

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RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Vancouver, BC, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt: IJA2), (Munich: A2PU92), (the "Company") is pleased to announce a corporate update. The Company issues the current news release in conformity with policy 85, sections A and C of the SECURITIES ACT as it pertains to "Continuous Disclosure."



RevoluPOS Instant Charge Free Trial Platform

RevoluPAYVideos.com surpasses 200k Unique Views

Equity Investment Update

Mr. Marshall Share Disposition

RevoluPOS Instant Free Trial Billing Platform

RevoluPOS was designed principally to bring the developing world into the 21st century. RevoluPOS appeals to small businesses in developed nations that wish to expand payment acceptance via credit or debit cards. Through constant analysis of users, the Company has identified that certain users, especially those wishing to try RevoluPOS in their business, need the ability to realize a trial transaction. Namely, charge a consumer while testing the system in real-time without formally completing all the sign-up and compliance steps. As a result, starting April 2023, the Company expects to launch a Free-Use trial of RevoluPOS, allowing between two and three trial transactions of up to 250 euros (or foreign currency equivalent) to occur without the obligated sign-up procedure. The Company aims to respond to user feedback and numerous comments about offering a short sign-up free trial of the billing platform to allow new users to test its unique attributes. The Company expects RevoluPOS to experience a dramatic increase in merchants and users due to this upcoming free-trial scenario.

RevoluPAYVideos.com surpasses 200k Unique Views

Further to the news release dated 25th of July 2022, the Company is pleased to announce that RevoluPAYVideos.com has surpassed 200k Unique Views. RevoluPAYVideos.com was launched to demonstrate the worldwide enthusiasm of users of our financial technology. The website directory features +200 videos about the innovative RevoluPAY App from independent worldwide vloggers, international news media, and other user-created "how-to" videos published on YouTube. The directory demonstrates the global uptake of the Company's core financial technology, RevoluPAY, and more importantly, the overt espousal of each revenue vertical linked to the main RevoluPAY wallet. The goal is to multiply revenue via our ecosystem of RevoluCHARGE, RevoluSEND, RevolUTILITY, RevoluEX, RevoluEGAME, RevoluVIP, etc. It shows consumer endorsement of the concept to see thousands of users exploit the ease of use and rapid transactions as they seek to resolve everyday needs through these proprietary revenue verticals, all natively linked to each RevoluPAY App.

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Current Status of the Equity Investment

Further to the news release dated 20th of March, 2023, the timeline agreed by the suitors of the mutually agreed third addendum assigns the newly defined period within which the European Financially Regulated entity expects to complete within a new 14-day maximum term ending on or before midnight April 2nd, 2023. As such, the investment proposal is anticipated to culminate on or before midnight on April 3rd, 2023. Nonetheless, the Company reiterates there can be no guarantee that any definitive agreement, tender, or investment will be completed. The Company will keep shareholders closely informed of developments throughout the final mutually agreed extension term.

Mr. Marshall Share Disposition

Further to the early warning report filed on February 18th, 2022, Company CEO Steve Marshall has today reported the disposition of a tranche of his shareholdings. While Mr. Marshall is not required to publicly divulge personal decisions surrounding his private investments in this Company or any other, on this occasion, he has chosen to do so, primarily to encourage clarity amongst the Company's other stakeholders. Consequently, Mr. Marshall clarifies that personal circumstances have required he reduces a sizeable personal brokerage margin account which he has partially satisfied via the divestment of privately held shares in RevoluGROUP as reported today on the System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (SEDI). As such, overall market value and variations impacting alternate portfolio investments held by Mr. Marshall were the cause for the disposition of the REVO shares reported. Mr. Marshall continues as the Company's largest shareholder, with approximately 15.9m shares. He also holds 5,246,000 exercisable corporate warrants.

Links Used in this News Release.

RevoluPAYVideos.com - https://revolupayvideos.com/

Early Warning Report 18/02/2022 - https://tinyurl.com/ykankbex

About RevoluPAY

The Company's flagship Neobanking technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Conceived entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector-specific technology of which the resulting source code is the Company's intellectual property. RevoluPAY's built-in features include Remittance Payments, Forex, Crypto-to-fiat exchange, Retail and Hospitality payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, Gaming Credits, Leisure payments, Travel Payments, etc. RevoluPAY is aimed squarely at the worldwide multi-billion dollar Open Banking sector, cross-border forex payments, and + $595 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly-owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L situated in Barcelona. RevoluPAY is a licensed United States MSB, Canadian FINTRAC, and European PSD2 payment institution 6900 under the auspices of E.U. Directive 2015/2366 with E.U. 27 Country Passporting and official issuer of Visa Cards and authorized Visa Affiliate Member. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls five wholly-owned subsidiaries on four continents.

About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional, publicly traded Canadian Company deploying advanced technologies in; Banking, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Cross-Border Forex Payments, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click here to read more.

For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), visit the Company's website at www.RevoluGROUP.com. The Company has approximately 192,835,376 shares issued and outstanding.

RevoluGROUP Canada, Inc.

"Steve Marshall"

______________________

STEVE MARSHALL

CEO

For further information, contact:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Telephone: (604) 332 5355

Email: info@revolugroup.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.




Plans to develop a City Market parking lot into a new apartment tower won approval from the Kansas City Council despite opposition from neighboring residents and businesses.

Locals have protested the plan to build 300 new apartments at 400 Main St., which is currently a surface parking lot directly west of the City Market. Local businesses say they are already facing parking challenges in the popular district and worry about the impact of more residents with fewer places to park.

Called City Harvest, the 13-story apartment plan is the result of a request for proposals issued in 2020 by city officials, who aim to build up residential density in neighborhoods like River Market. Indiana-based Flaherty & Collins Properties was selected as the developer of the city-owned lot.

The City Plan Commission in early February voted 4-3 to recommend denial of the project after residents and businesses protested plans to significantly reduce public parking spaces. Since then, the plan has been altered: the project will replace all 160 spaces that will be lost from the parking lot with the creation of new spaces in a parking garage.

The garage includes 358 new parking spaces  160 for public use and 198 for use by apartment residents.

But even after those changes, several business owners asked elected officials to delay or reject the plan.

Opponents questioned how many of the new parking spaces would actually be made available to the public. With only 198 spaces dedicated to the 300-unit building, Kyle Getz told the committee the project was at least 150 parking spaces short of whats needed.

So where are all of these people going to park? said Getz, who owns Opera House Cafe.

Donna Slaughter, who with her husband owns the Planters Seed Co. store in the area, said local businesses rely on parking access to thrive.

Do not kill Kansas Citys market. Because if you take the parking away, you will kill it, she told the City Councils Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee on Wednesday. Its a thriving, thriving area. Do not kill it by taking the parking away.

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In an interview, Slaughter said her business will be fine as it has its own parking lot. But she worries about the farmers and vendors who work the market on weekends and rely on customers who drive.

Aside from the parking, she criticized the modern design of the high-rise, which she says will stick out like a sore thumb in the historic neighborhood. She pointed to the apartments at 531 Grand as an example of new development that fits in with the existing character of the River Market.

I think the building is a travesty, she said. Theyve allowed out of town investors to come in and dictate what goes in a historic area thats been there over 100 years.

Opponents criticized the committee for how it debated changes to the development plan, which were negotiated in private and were not made available to the public until after the meeting.

In addition to the new tower, the development plan contemplates extending Main Street from 5th Street to 3rd Street, which would create 20 more on-street parking spots. But that could disrupt existing parking, neighbors said, as well as cause problems for trash disposal and deliveries to market businesses.

Forrest Chumley, who said he built a condominium in the River Market Neighborhood in 2007, also noted that the new road would reduce the size of the shady City Market Park.

The more Ive learned about it, the more alarmed Ive become, he said of the project. Frankly, it seems ad hoc...It seems like the opposite of careful city planning.

Chumley said residents flock to the neighborhood for its unique character, which could be changed by the new development.

Its fundamentally going to change the neighborhood, he said. If you want to live in a skyscraper apartment building, go live at the Plaza. We dont need that kind of building in the City Market.

The committee voted 3-2 to move the proposal to the full Council for consideration. On Thursday, the Council voted 9-1 in favor of the project. Councilman Brandon Ellington, who represents the 3rd District at large, voted against the measure.

The citys original request required the new development to replace all of the existing 160 parking spaces. Flaherty & Collins originally proposed doing that, but in January trimmed the number of parking spaces as it added more affordable housing units.

Flaherty & Collins could not be reached for comment.

Councilwoman Andrea Bough, who represents the 6th District at large, noted that the council pushed for the additional parking spots in response to concerns from neighboring businesses and residents.

The Port Authority of Kansas City has already awarded tax incentives to the developer.

Last year, the board overseeing Port KC approved a 25-year property tax break: 85% for five years, 75% for the next five years, 50% for the next 10 and 25% for the final five years.

The project may still face red tape with the Federal Aviation Administration, which has previously raised concerns about its height because of its proximity to the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport.

Last year, the FAA determined that the apartment building would be a hazard to air navigation. That decision was reviewed after the agency received a petition from the developer.

An FAA spokesman said an aeronautical study of the development is ongoing, though the city is responsible for the final decision on the project.

By law, developers must give the FAA the opportunity to evaluate proposed structures near airports to determine if it would pose a hazard to airplanes or interfere with navigation aids, said FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro. However, the FAA does not have the authority to limit building heights.
This article originally appeared on Trail Runner

When it comes to running apparel, companies are constantly being tasked with balancing function and form to ensure a level of performance with a certain aesthetic.

Justine Fedronic, 31, is an Olympian with family roots in France and Martinique, currently living in Seattle, Washington, and she sees running fashion as capable of existing in rich dialogue with performance, culture, environmental responsibility, and style.

This spring, Fedronic teamed up with Janji to create the French West Indies Collection, part of an initiative by the sportswear company to collaborate with artists for each seasonal launch. Fedronic's contribution is unique, though, as she's reached to the highest levels of the sport and is now expressing her love for the sport while empowering local artists to help tell the story of her family's heritage.

Olympic Dreams

Fedronic was born in Germany, in 1991, before her family moved to France. Her father is from the island of Martinique, an overseas region of France located in the eastern Caribbean, while her mother is from Hungary. Along with her three brothers, the family would visit their grandfather's farm in Martinique, oscillating between Paris, Hungary, and Martinique before immigrating to the U.S. and settling in California's San Francisco Bay Area.

By attending school in the U.S. and returning to Europe every summer, Fedronic's connection to home was in constant flux. "My brothers and I became cultural chameleons out of necessity," she said. "We didn't speak English, and we were a continent away from our cultures and communities. One of the consistent memories from my childhood was feeling otherness."

Some of Fedronic's earliest memories were running on the playground with American kids. "Running gave me a freedom of expression and connection, an emotional outlet." In middle school, she excelled in track and field, but it was high school she fell in love with cross-country. "I've always been hyper-competitive," she said. "My mama told me that it was hard to watch me race because of the pain I was willing to put myself through."

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Fedronic would eventually run cross-country and track for Stanford University, becoming a five-time All-American, while competing internationally for France every summer. She finished third in the 800-meter at the 2013 NCAA Championships and, one year later, took the bronze medal at the European U-23 Championships. In 2016, she qualified for the Olympics in the 800, finishing second at the French Olympic Trials, but sustained another knee injury for the Olympics in Rio.

"My Olympic experience was bittersweet," she said. "I was in the best shape of my life leading up to that injury, but didn't get to capitalize on it on the stage I had dreamed about for much of my career."

In March 2020, Fedronic retired from elite running. She'd fallen out of love for the sport and needed to step back and take a full assessment of her intentions, to reconnect with the type of running she loved most, the "playful, liberating kind."

Where Culture Meets Creativity

Following Fedronic's experience at the Olympics, she embarked on a journey to remember the why of her running. "Running formed who I am in many ways, and I wanted to look forward to a lifetime of joyful movement," she said. "I'm lucky to have a compassionate, diverse, and strong community that encouraged me to be curious."

That curiosity led her to cultivating an art practice and connecting with Janji, a company known for commitments to ethically and environmentally conscious running products. Founded on the mission to expand access to clean water around the world, 100 percent of their primary fabrics are now certified bluesign (the gold standard in meeting environmental and social criteria for manufacturing sustainable products) and OEKO-TEX (a certification for products that have been tested for harmful substances). By the end of 2023, Janji will be using 100 percent recycled synthetic polyester.

Since 2021, the company collaborates with artists to direct seasonal designs, and Fedronic is their first Arts and Culture Coordinator. Together, she developed a series of cyanotypes--a printing process using ultraviolet light to take a "photograph" of an object and then make patterns with them. Fedronic traveled to Martinique to select her favorite floral expressions, inspired by memories of playing on her grandfather's farm. She used a laser cut wood approach to cut them out of wood, layer each with watercolor painted paper, and cyanotype them. Janji then translated the designs into performance wear.

"Justines an absolute gem to work with," said Janji cofounder Dave Spandorfer. "She brings the passion of Martinique and the French West Indies to this line, and we hope her work will inspire more people to travel there, and that her work will showcase other talented artists from the islands."

Fedronic also wished to highlight local artists from the French Caribbean, to give them a voice. Using her networks, she hosted an open call for art and received overwhelming interest in the collaboration. Eventually, they chose six artists to contribute to the collection.

Martinique is known as "Madinina," or Island of Flowers, because of the diversity and vibrancy of the flora. The island features 470 tree species and 77 different species of orchids. "We wanted to capture this resilient energy and create clothes that transport you on your daily run, a floral camouflage. The designs represent a fundamental yet delicate relationship between humans and nature, celebrating the vibrancy of the French West Indies," she said, while noting that this area also has a difficult history of colonialism and survival.

Two percent of this collection's proceeds will go towards ecological restoration efforts on the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, including chlordecone remediation, an insecticide introduced by chemists in North America. Chlordecone had been used on the island's banana plantations up until 2005, classified by the World Health Organization as an endocrine disruptor. The carcinogen is still found in the soil and water, and 93 percent of Martinicans have traces of it in their blood. The incidence of prostate cancer is higher there than anywhere else in the world.

"My family has suffered from the consequences of these political decisions, and I felt driven to use my privilege and platform to address the issue in some way," she said.

Jess Barnard is a photographer and friend of Fedronic, and she accompanied her in Martinique for the French West Indies Project. "It takes an immense amount of vulnerability and courage to share your story as you live and process it, to reconnect to one's roots, identity, and family," said Barnard. "All while contributing as an artist, assistant producer, overwhelmed with travel, modeling your art, elevating others, and taking on an opportunity to elevate a place so close to your heart, and do it justice."

Indeed, Fedronic has done just that. After reaching to the highest levels of the sport, this Olympian has reached back into her family lineage, and the landscape that shaped her, to inspire a creative vision for a healthier and more honest future.

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This article originally appeared on Outside

President Joe Biden designated two new national monuments on Tuesday, March 21: Avi Kwa Ame in southern Nevada, and Castner Range in west Texas. The decision shields more than half a million acres of land from development.

The president will also direct the Secretary of Commerce, Gina M. Raimondo, to consider making 777,000 square miles around the Pacific Remote Islands, which are located southwest of Hawaii, a National Marine Sanctuary.

"Our country's natural treasures define our identity as a nation. They're a birthright we have to pass down to generation after generation," Biden said at the White House Conservation in Action Summit on Tuesday.

Located 80 miles south of Las Vegas, Avi Kwa Ame National Monument encompasses 506,814 acres, and includes the 5,963-foot Ava Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain). Home to one of the world's largest Joshua tree forests, the national monument links the Mojave Desert, in California, with the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, as well as other protected areas to the east near the Colorado River.

Avi Kwa Ame is sacred ground for the Mojave, Chemehuevi, and some Southern Paiute people, and holds cultural significance for nearly a dozen other tribal nations. The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe has been petitioning the U.S. government to protect the area for more than two decades.

"It's always been a priority of the tribe for as long as I can remember because it's so important to our creation story," said Shan Lewis, vice chairman of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, in a January 2022 interview with Nevada Current. "I've heard stories from my elders about fighting for the protection of the area for many, many years before me. It's been a lot longer than people realize."

Castner Range, located just outside El Paso, Texas, covers 6,672 acres of high-desert mountains and makes up the southern component of the Franklin Mountain range. It was a training and testing site for the U.S. Army during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, before closing in 1966.

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"The local El Paso community cherishes the Franklin Mountains for their natural and ecological features. Castner Range remains an area of high biodiversity for desert species in America, including spring blooms of the Mexican Poppy," the White House said in a statement. "Along with creosote brush vegetation, it provides important habitat to wildlife that call Castner Range home, including the American peregrine falcon, Golden eagle, mountain plover, Texas horned lizard, Black-tailed prairie dog, Baird's swallow, and the Western burrowing owl."

President Biden's latest conservation efforts come as his administration faces criticism for approving a 30-year ConocoPhillips Willow oil drilling project in Alaska. The massive $8 billion extraction will be one of the largest of its kind on U.S. soil, and is sharply opposed by environmentalists and some Alaska Native communities, The Guardian reports.

During a press conference on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked whether the administration was sending mixed signals on environmental issues.

Jean-Pierre said the Willow decision was made due to legal constraints, as ConocoPhillips has the right to drill in that area.

The conservation summit is "about building on the president's historic climate and conservation record," Jean-Pierre said.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday backtracked on a comment made earlier this month calling Russia's war in Ukraine a "territorial dispute," hardening his stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the conflict.

DeSantis previously aligned himself with former President Donald Trump  and in conflict with other 2024 presidential hopefuls  on the role America's should play in Ukraine's efforts to beat back Russia's assault on the nation.

Here's what we know.

DeSantis walks back Ukraine comment

DeSantis told Fox News Host Tucker Carlson earlier this month that aiding Ukraine is not a vital interest for the United States, calling the war a "territorial dispute" between Russia and Ukraine.

The comments drew criticism from other Republicans and 2024 presidential candidates.

In excerpts of an interview with Piers Morgan, set to air Thursday on Fox Nation, DeSantis said his critics misconstrued the remark. I think its been mischaracterized, he told Morgan, according to the excerpts. Obviously, Russia invaded  that was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014  that was wrong.

DeSantis also toughened his rhetoric against Putin, calling him a war criminal who should be "held accountable" for his actions.

Lindsey Graham, outspoken about DeSantis' previous stance, commends change

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was one of the most vocal GOP critics of DeSantis' previous stance, applauded DeSantis' for recanting his stance.

"The more you pay attention to what's going on in Ukraine, the more resolve you'll have to hold Putin accountable. And I applaud the governor," Graham told USA TODAY. "The first sign of leadership is to be able to adjust. And when Ron said what he did yesterday, it was, I think, based on his taking a second look at this. And it was a good day for the cause."

Where other GOP presidential hopefuls stand on Ukraine

DeSantis' earlier comments put him in line with Trump's views on the America's role in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Carlson's questionnaire.

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Trump said that supporting Ukraine is not a "vital" interest for the U.S., though it is for Europe. He also said that Russia would have "never attacked Ukraine" if he were president.

But other high-profile presidential candidates or possible candidates have taken vastly different stances.

Former Vice President Mike Pence told Carlson that the GOP has no room for Putin apologists, calling the Russian president a dictator. "When the United States supports Ukraine in their fight against Putin, we follow the Reagan doctrine, and we support those who fight our enemies on their shores, so we will not have to fight them ourselves," he said.

Nikki Haley, former U.N. ambassador, said that the U.S. should not send "American troops" or "cash or blank checks," but that it "should provide conventional weapons that enable Ukraine to effectively stop the Russian invasion and occupation of its land." She also said America is "far better off with a Ukrainian victory than a Russian victory."

DeSantis has not announced whether he will run for president in 2024, though he is widely viewed as a frontrunner for the Republican nomination, alongside Trump.

Poll: DeSantis' Ukraine views not popular among public

DeSantis' previous statement on Ukraine also put him at odds with the American public, according to a new Yahoo/YouGov poll.

Almost half of respondents (49%) said it's in the U.S.' best interests to help Ukraine stop Russia's invasion, with just under a third (32%) saying America should not get involved.

Some 56% of respondents said the conflict is best described as an "invasion of Ukraine by Russia" compared to 30% who said it was a territorial dispute.

However, when asked plainly about DeSantis' statement that while the U.S. has many vital national interests  becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them, 44% either strongly or somewhat agreed, while 38% strongly or somewhat disagreed.

The survey of 1,582 adults, taken March 16-20 online has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7%.

Dig deeper:

Contributing: Associated Press, Sarah Elbeshbishi

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ron DeSantis hardens stance on Russia-Ukraine war after backlash
The supermodel was featured in the magazine seven years in a row.

Chrissy Teigen was photographed in the Philippines by Raphael Mazzucco. Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Chrissy Teigen made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2010 when she won Rookie of the Year and was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in the Maldives. She was featured in the magazine each year through 2017, including the brands 50th anniversary cover alongside Nina Agdal and Lily Aldridge in 2014. Her latest feature was in 2017 in Indonesia.

The 37-year-old was the star of an iconic 2011 photograph that went viral. Teigen was covered in nothing but seashells on the beaches of the Philippines.

Chrissy Teigen was photographed in the Philippines by Raphael Mazzucco. Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

This is my first time in the Philippines, which I cant believe. I love it here. Everyone is so ridiculously sweet but also Im Thai and its pretty close to Southeast Asia, so I feel at home, the Cravings by Chrissy Teigen founder said at the time. Raphael is amazing. Hes definitely one of my favorite people Ive ever worked with. Hes so reassuring. You cant feel not sexy around him. Hes really creative too.

The mom of three gushed about the exciting moment the seashell photograph was taken.

That very first shot happened so fast. We just walked over to the beach and saw the shells on the ground. For some reason it all came together, she explained. Just looking down we were like this has to be done. They were strategically placed everywhere and [there was] very little movement. It ended up being so pretty. The light was so perfect that morning for the very first shot we were shocked, but sometimes amazing things happen when you just lay down on the ground naked.

Here are more of our favorite photos from Teigens 2011 photo shoot with Raphael Mazzucco.

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
MADISON  Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Daniel Kelly said Thursday he's not bothered that one of his vocal supporters is connected to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Scott Presler, a Virginia native and conservative activist who planned several "stop the steal" rallies that promoted false claims about the 2020 election and was on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is backing Kelly and campaigning in Wisconsin on his behalf.

"We're coming down to the final days of this race and with your help, we're taking the fight to Janet! Voters now see her for who she is  a politician in a robe," Kelly tweeted this week with a video of him and Presler.

We're coming down to the final days of this race and with your help, we're taking the fight to Janet! Voters now see her for who she is - a politician in a robe. @ScottPresler is traveling Wisconsin with us and for us to spread our message, but we need your help! - Team Kelly pic.twitter.com/8jo2SJuZpJ  Justice Daniel Kelly (@JusticeDanKelly) March 22, 2023

When asked about Presler's connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection during a brief press gathering following a luncheon with the Dane County Bar Association, Kelly said he "doesn't know anything about Jan. 6 or anything like that."

"I appreciate a great deal the work he is doing in Wisconsin, I think it is invaluable  going around the state of Wisconsin and talking about how important it is for people to exercise their power, their authority and decide who is going to sit on the Supreme Court," Kelly said.

When pressed, Kelly said everyone has a background and a history.

"I don't ask people to sit for an examination before they help me," Kelly said. "There are people all over the state of Wisconsin that have all kinds of different beliefs and all kinds of different backgrounds who are doing their absolute level best to encourage the people of Wisconsin to come out to exercise their privilege and their power. I don't ask them what their backgrounds are. I'll take their help any day of the week."

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Presler has also worked for the anti-Muslim group Act for America.

This week, Kelly appeared virtually at an event in western Wisconsin with Matthew Trewhella, a Brookfield pastor who called the murder of an abortion provider "justifiable homicide," advocated for the creation of anti-abortion-focused militia and compared coronavirus pandemic-related mask mandates to the Holocaust.

When asked about the appearance on Thursday in Madison, Kelly said he did not condone violence and he is not associated with Trewhella in any way.

"I obviously speak for myself," Kelly said. "I was invited to deliver comments for an organization, I delivered my comments. I'm not responsible for what anyone else says."

Kelly is challenging liberal Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz. Her endorsements include Hillary Clinton and EMILY's List, which works nationwide to elect Democratic abortion rights supporters.

Protasiewicz's spokesman Sam Roecker said Kelly's willingness to take support from "violent revolutionaries" this week knows no bounds.

"And his understanding of the Constitution apparently stops at the point where it mentions our democracy and the right to vote," Roecker said. "Welcoming an election-denier, who dismissed the deadly Jan. 6th insurrection as a civil rights protest, just a day after appearing with someone who called for violence if they cant win an election, tells you everything you need to know about how extreme Dan Kelly is.

Corrinne Hess can be reached at chess@gannett.com or on Twitter @CorriHess

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: Dan Kelly campaigns with Jan. 6 participant Scott Presler
State Supreme Court justices heard arguments Thursday in Brookings, regarding a 2019 Sioux Falls murder case that became the state's first test of its 'Stand Your Ground' law.

While attorneys for the state of South Dakota argued the Court should uphold Ramon Deron Smith's 2021 second-degree murder charge, Smith's lawyer argued his client should have had a procedural hearing regarding statutory immunity and that the Second Circuit Court erred in allowing a dropped charge to be included in the jury instructions.

South Dakota Chief Justice Steven Jensen ask questions during a Supreme Court hearing in Brookings on March 23, 2023.

Following an argument and fearing for his life, Smith shot three people, fatally wounding Larry Carr Jr. before fleeing the scene in Sioux Falls. Smith was arrested in Minneapolis and stood trial in Sioux Falls in 2021, when he was found guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and three counts of aggravated assault.

Smith was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Prior to the trial, a charge relating to how Smith should not have had possession of a firearm, because he was previously convicted of a felony, had been dropped by the state. However, Judge Bradley Zell had included the information in his instructions to the jury.

More:Man sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of 2019 Sioux Falls murder

Manuel de Castro, Smith's attorney, argued weeks before Smith's trial, the Stand Your Ground law went into effect, which included statutory immunity for when the use of force is justified. He argued the law created a procedural step not allowed by Zell, saying he believed the statute couldn't be applied retroactively and it wasn't a procedural step, but rather substantive.

"The only thing that changed was there was a mechanism for the defense to come in and say, 'Hey, we believe that this statutory immunity applies,'" de Castro said.

Stephen Gemar, the attorney for South Dakota, said statutory immunity can apply to a case if a defendant claims immunity early enough. He added the South Dakota statute was based on a Florida law, where the courts found immunity was a substantive right, not procedural.

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More:T. Denny Sanford attorneys argue to keep affidavits sealed in South Dakota Supreme Court

"Even if the statute is found to be retroactive, there's no need to apply it here, because the defendant was already found guilty in this case beyond a reasonable doubt," Gemar said. "He was given his jury trial. He was allowed to argue self defense and the jury rebutted that presumption, self defense, when they found him guilty."

On the dropped illegal firearm possession charge, Gemar said the state believes Zell wanted the jury "to have all the information surrounding the use of whether the defendant was justified in using deadly force."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: SD's 'Stand Your Ground' law sees first test at Supreme Court level
So far, food banks in Arizona and Nevada have expressed their gratitude to the super star.

Taylor Swift may be caught up in the whirlwind of her first tour in five years, but she's not letting that love spiral cloud her thoughtful nature.

The 33-year-old megastar kicked off her highly anticipated, impossible-to-score-tickets-to Eras Tour this past weekend in Glendale, Arizona, where she played two sold-out shows to approximately 70,000 people each night.

Forbes predicts that it'll make her the highest-grossing female touring artist of all time, and in turn, she's giving right back to the communities hosting her each weekend throughout the summer.

Ahead of opening night on March 17, Swift donated an undisclosed amount to the Arizona Food Bank Network, a contribution that a representative for the charity called "generous."

Terri Shoemaker, Vice President of External Relations at the Arizona Food Bank Network, shared the news with AZ Central, telling the publication, "It's not every day that you get a call from someone who works in PR for Taylor Swift, so we were dubious at first, but happily, it turned out to be absolutely real."

Shoemaker also emphasized the impact of donations from such a high-profile individual. "...hunger is still a problem in the U.S. It's here and it's a problem across the country. The recognition of that is so important..." she said.

Earlier this week, on Wednesday, March 22, Three Square, a Las Vegas-based food bank associated with Feeding America, shared similar news on Instagram.

"We don't know about you, but we're feeling grateful on this day, March 22!," they wrote, playing on the lyrics of Swift's hit single "22."

They continued, "@TaylorSwift has made a generous gift to Three Square, allowing us to provide thousands of meals to families and individuals struggling with hunger. Thank you to Ms. Swift for supporting our mission and the local community."

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It certainly comes as no shock to her fanbase. Swift has topped the list of most charitable celebs several times throughout her epic career, though she rarely speaks up about her contributions, whether she's donating tens of thousands of dollars for a good cause, spending time with her fans in the hospital, shipping them packages full of hand-picked Christmas gifts, or PayPalling them to help alleviate the weight of their student loans; it's always the recipients that bring attention to her generosity.

"I love Taylor and her heart so much ," one fan commented on Three Square's post.

"I absolutely love Taylor & I am not surprised she continues to be so generous. ," wrote another.

"Thats so awesome Ty @taylorswift our community really needs it ," a local resident expressed their gratitude.

"Its nice to hear some families don't have to worry about for food a little. It's one less stress off the table for them. Thank You @taylorswift," said another.

Just this week, Swift also made good on a years-long promise to a young fan, delighting the girl and her family.

Related: Kelsea Ballerini Stops Her Own Concert for Taylor Swift Tour Update
Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, which operated the TerraUSD stablecoin and its sister token LUNA, was arrested in Montenegro on Thursday while trying to board a flight to flee to Dubai with falsified documents.

A few hours after Kwon was arrested at the airport in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, U.S. prosecutors charged Kwon with eight criminal indictments, including securities fraud and conspiracy, for his alleged role in the decline of TerraUSD and LUNA, which wiped out about $40 billion of value from the crypto market. Interpol also confirmed Kwon's identity on Thursday, per CNN.

What's next? We don't know which country Kwon will be sent to, as he now faces criminal charges in the U.S as well as his native country, South Korea. Both countries appear to be seeking Kwon's extradition.



A spokesperson for South Korean prosecutors told TechCrunch that they are discussing with "related parties" about extraditing Kwon to the country as soon as possible. The spokesperson did not specify which country Kwon would be moved to from Montenegro, how long it is likely to take, or the identity of the related parties.

Kwon has been under investigation for the past 11 months since the Terra/LUNA collapse, which wiped out about $40 billion from the cryptocurrency market.

In mid-September, Kwon tweeted, I am not on the run or anything similar  for any government agency that has shown interest to communicate, we are in full cooperation and we dont have anything to hide.

We are in the process of defending ourselves in multiple jurisdictions  we have held ourselves to an extremely high bar of integrity, and look forward to clarifying the truth over the next few months, he said at the time.

In late September, his whereabouts were unknown and Interpol issued a red notice requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide search for and arrest him. Shortly after, the South Korean government ordered Kwon to surrender his passport or risk it getting revoked.

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Do Kwon said last October that charges leveled against him by the South Korean prosecutors are not legitimate and are politically motivated.

Fast-forward to February, prosecutors in South Korea traveled to Serbia, suspecting that was where Kwon was staying. In mid-February, The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Terraform Labs and Kwon with defrauding U.S. investors who purchased its crypto assets, LUNA and the not-so-stable stablecoin, Terra.
Eshraq Investments (Eshraq) has announced that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of all the 58 apartments it owns in Burj Daman-DIFC-Dubai for a total sale consideration of AED162 million ($44 million).

The transactions are a continuation of the companys steady progress on its three-year land and low-yielding investment monetization programmme.

As per the deal, the parties expect to complete all legal and administrative requisite processes for the transfer of the apartments in the coming weeks, said a statement from Eshraq.

The company intends to deploy the sale proceeds for its upcoming dividend distribution to shareholders, debt repayment, new investments, and share buyback, it stated.

Chairman Jassim Alseddiqi said: "We are very pleased with the strategic sale of the Burj Daman units. In spite of their strong demand, the units generated very low yield of 3% for the company."

"The sale of the units will unlock liquidity to better deploy in other profitable opportunities and returns to shareholders in the form of dividend and share buyback. We are also exploring sale and partnerships for the remaining plots and real estate assets to enhance shareholder returns," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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Cavities, aka tooth decay, are the most common chronic health problem in children. About 40% of children will have tooth decay before they reach kindergarten .

As a result, the American Dental Association suggests that parents and caretakers aim to get their babies and toddlers in to the dentist , even if they have only a few  or maybe even no  teeth.

A childs first dental visit should occur within six months of their first tooth coming in or by their first birthday, even if they dont yet have teeth by that birthday, whichever is earliest, said Taylor McFarland, a board-certified pediatric dentist and member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, who is based in Virginia. Its often still not relayed correctly to parents by their family dentist or pediatricians, many are still told to wait until age 2 or 3.

And get ready, because you may need to help your child brush their teeth until they are about age 7, according to Matthew Harper, an associate at the department of dentistry at Boston Childrens Hospital. Taking care of kids teeth can help prevent cavities, pain, and infections, which can lead to problems in eating, speaking, playing, and learning in young children.

Tooth-brushing should be completed by an adult until the patient is able to tie their shoelaces in a bow, Harper said. Establishing healthy habits early in life will play a big role in prevention of dental disease.However, its not uncommon for children to be fussy during brushing, especially if they dont like the taste of toothpaste or the feeling of having their teeth brushed. That means you may need to get creative to make the process a bit more fun (or tasty).

We encourage letting the child have some say in which toothbrush is used as long as it is age-appropriate. If the child likes their toothbrush because it lights up, or because its red, their favorite color, or maybe because it has Peppa Pig on it, that will help motivate good brushing behaviors, Harper said. Linking tooth brushing with a positive activity  singing a song, watching a video  will help build trust and motivate.

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To help make the process easier for you and your child, we asked pediatric dentists to tell us some of their favorite toothbrushes and toothpastes, including fluoride and fluoride-free options.

Burt's Bees

If your baby doesnt have teeth yet, you should use a washcloth with water to wipe the gums, cheeks, and tongue to help get rid of bacteria. McFarland recommends using a wet, soft washcloth to clean the mouth.

These Burts Bees Baby washcloths are made with organic cotton material and come in a variety of colors and designs including Honey Bee , Little Ducks , and Rosy Spring.

Got these last year and they have held up well. Not too thick, not too thin. One side is smooth and the other has more texture, both are soft though. Nicunurse83

You can buy a pack of Organic Cotton Washcloths from Burts Bees Baby for around $8.

Oral B

For babies who are starting to get teeth, McFarland recommends the Oral B Winnie the Pooh toothbrush. This type of brush works until molars start to grow in, she said.

Not only is this toothbrush cute, with Winnie the Pooh and other characters in the design, but the standard toothbrush is designed for babies ages 0 to 3. The soft bristles clean and massage the teeth, while the brush head is designed to protect the gums.

It also comes in a pack of four with several designs and colors to choose from. The product has been sold out on other sites like Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy Buy Baby , but is still available on Amazon .

My toddler was fighting me on brushing her teeth before this brush. She also would chew her old brushes until the bristles fell out and I had to take them. Ever since we got this brush she LOVES to brush her teeth and lets me do a thorough job before she takes over. The bristles are also staying strong much more than other brushes weve tried.  Brittany L.

You can buy the Oral B Winnie the Pooh toothbrush from Amazon for $5, or the pack of four for $12.

Colgate

The Colgate My First Baby and Toddler toothbrush has extra-soft bristles and a small brush head made for children 2 years and younger.

A standard toothbrush is recommended for infants, Harper said. If you are brushing for 2 minutes, accessing all tooth surfaces including where the teeth meet the gums, you will achieve good plaque removal with either a standard toothbrush or an electric toothbrush.

Reviewers seem to like them too.

These are the smallest toothbrushes that I know of. Other brushes that say they are for toddlers are still not small enough for those little mouths. These are small and soft. The perfect very first toothbrush. And I continue to use them through 4-5 years old, even though they say younger on the packagejust because the size is very comfortable for them. Crystal

You can get the Colgate My First Baby and Toddler Extra Soft Toothbrush from Target for around $5.

Specialized Care Co

As molars start to grow , McFarland recommended a toothbrush with triple-sided bristle pads to help children who want to start holding the toothbrush and brushing their teeth themselves. Since molars may be harder to reach, having more than one bristle pad can help clean those hard-to-reach areas at the back of the mouth.

According to Specialized Care, this unique-looking toothbrush is designed for fussy toddlers up to age 5 and will help them brush all their teeth at the same time. Like other toothbrushes made for babies, this one has a soft compact head and bristles. The brush is also nonslip for a better grip.

My 8 month old has four teeth that he hates to have brushed. Being able to brush all three sides at once reduces the amount of squirming and crying that I have to deal with significantly. I also feel like Im less likely to miss a spot.  JM

You can buy the Specialized Care Co pack of four toothbrushes on Amazon for around $28.

Dr Bob

Unflavored, all-natural toothpastes are great for children of all ages and adults with sensitivity to tastes, which is why McFarland recommended this plant-based product. This toothpaste doesnt taste spicy and is a non-burning product that leaves no taste in the mouth.

According to Dr. Bob, the fluoride-containing toothpaste can help with enamel repair, tartar control, cavity prevention, and reduced plaque.

Highly recommend this toothpaste !!! My son is very picky with flavors , having a toothpaste that a toddler likes is half the battle of getting their teeth brushed. It also is very effective in leaving him with a clean mouth and nice smelling breath, My son loves brushing his teeth now and no more complaints about minty and spicy flavors . Amazing product!!!  Martin Rodriguez

You can buy the Dr. Bob Unflavored Toothpaste from Amazon for around $10.

Hello

Made for all ages, the Hello toothpaste might be another good choice for children who just dont like the taste of toothpaste. According to McFarland, the toothpaste tastes like a slushie, which might be helpful for kids whod prefer a sweet flavor. This toothpaste also doesnt contain dairy or gluten, which might be a better option for kids who are sensitive or allergic to those ingredients.

The toothpaste does contain fluoride but is still safe if swallowed. The AAPD updated its recommendations for fluoride , and small amounts should be fine.

The AAPD updated its recommendation in 2014 from no fluoride toothpaste under age 2, to a grain of rice or lateral smear of fluoride toothpaste until age 3, at which time it switches to a pea-sized amount, McFarland said.

My daughter has always brushing teeth because she didnt like the taste of any toothpaste. After trying pretty much all of the kids pastes, this was my last ditch effort and thankfully, she loves it! We are on our second tube and brushing is no longer a battle. fsuchick97

You can buy the Hello Dragon Dazzle Blue Raspberry Fluoride Toothpaste from Target for around $6.

Tanner's

For children who prefer mild-flavored toothpastes, Harper and McFarland recommended Tanners Tasty Paste. The paste helps prevent cavities and tastes like ice cream.

Its made for children 6 months and older, and works well for kids who dont like the mint and cinnamon flavors found in other toothpastes. Instead, the toothpaste comes in sweet flavors such as Cha Cha Chocolate , Vanilla Bling , and Orange Creamsicle .

It doesnt have added sugar but does contain xylitol, a natural sugar-free sweetener thats thought to help prevent cavities . Its also gluten-free and contains fluoride.

We are on the second bottle, my little guys tried every generic flavor of toothpaste from Target, Meijer and Walmart watermelon, berry, bubblegum, he hates them all! I was desperate, and hoped for the best with this stuff. It works so well, he doesnt cry when its time to brush teeth, and he is actually excited to use it!  Onemamatwolittles

You can buy the Tanners Tasty Paste Baby Bling Fluoride-Free Toothpaste from Amazon for around $8.

More on this
In this Nov. 11, 2019, file photo, Bradley fighting vehicles are parked at a U.S. military base at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Syria, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. A U.S. contractor was killed in a U.S. military outpost in Syria Friday. | Darko Bandic, Associated Press

A U.S. contractor was killed at a Syrian military outpost from a drone strike. Five service members were wounded in the attack.

At the time of the strike, one of the radars that detects incoming threats at the military base in Hasakah was down for maintenance, U.S. officials told NBC News.

How did the U.S. respond to the airstrike?

The drone is suspected to be an Iranian drone. In response to the attack, President Joe Biden sanctioned an airstrike in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement, per CNN.

The U.S. airstrikes killed eight pro-Iran fighters, The New York Times reported.

These precision strikes are intended to protect and defend U.S. personnel, the statement said, per the Times. The United States took proportionate and deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize casualties.

There was another attack on Friday on a different U.S. military base in Syria, but there were no casualties in the totally ineffective attack, John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman, told NBC News.

In Syria currently, there are around 900 U.S. troops and an unknown number of American military contractors, USA Today reported.
On Sept. 8, 1504, Michelangelos towering marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy. The 17-foot-tall, 12,000-pound statue carved from a single block of white Italian Carrara marble has been considered a masterpiece of High Renaissance art ever since, and a topic of controversy for nearly as long.

The statue depicts David, hero of the Jewish Torah and Christian Bible who slew Goliath and went on to become a king. Most depictions of David in paintings and sculptures to that point showed him as a boy facing or standing over the fallen giant, but the 26-year-old Michelangelo depicted him as a muscular nude man, alone and defiant, before the fight. The sculpture is a symbol of the strength and independence of the Florentines, according to the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, the museum which displays it, and it has become of the world's most recognizable and treasured works of art.

The statue also has been challenged throughout its history for its unabashed nudity, especially when copies are displayed in different cities or reproductions or photos are displayed in public. Even when it was unveiled, while he praised it as a masterwork, Leonardo da Vinci suggested it be given a loin cloth.

Most recently "David" was called out by parents at a Florida charter school. The principal at Tallahassee Classical School in Leon County resigned after three parents complained that the required Renaissance art class, which included "David" as well as the "Creation of Adam" fresco painting and Boticelli's "Birth of Venus," upset their children. Two said they wished they'd been informed beforehand, and one parent called the lesson pornographic.

'Parental rights are supreme':Tallahassee principal ousted after complaints about Michelangelo's 'David' in art lesson

The city of Sarasota is looking to replace its official logo and seal.

There are copies of "David" all over the world, including a cast-bronze replica in the courtyard of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota where it became the focus of the official seal of the city.

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Here are some other notable controversies in the life of "David."

Michelangelo's 'David' has been political from the start

When "David" was put outside Florence's government offices in the Palazzo Della Signoria it was seen as a defiant sign against the powerful Medici family, who had been exiled from Florence a decade previously. It was said the statue's glare was intentionally aimed at Rome.

Protestors attacked it with rocks the year it debuted, and in 1527 an anti-Medici riot resulted in David's arm getting broken in three pieces.

Michelangelo's 'David' was immediately covered up

When the statue was first installed in the Piazza della Signoria, authorities placed a garland of 28 copper leaves around his waist to cover his nakedness, which remained there until they were quietly removed around 1550.

But the Catholic Church cracked down on nudity in art as immoral and several powerful figures in the Vatican weren't happy with the nudity Michelangelo displayed on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The Church issued an edict in 1953 demanding that figures shall not be painted or adorned with a beauty excitinglust. Loincloths and fig leaves were added to statues and artworks across Italy.

When the statue was moved to the Galleria dell' Accademia and replaced in the piazza with a copy, there was a raging debate over whether the copy also should get a fig leaf. Ultimately, it was decided to leave him the way Michelangelo intended him.

After shocking Queen Victoria, England's replica of 'David' received a detachable fig leaf

There are about 30 full-size replicas around the world, all created by permission from the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze. The first one was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, where the original David statue was originally before being moved inside.

But the one sent to Queen Victoria as a gift from the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1857 got a last-minute addition. She was reportedly horrified by the statue's nudity and a detachable fig leaf made out of plaster was added to preserve David's modesty before it went on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The leaf was kept in readiness in case of a royal; visit.

Chinese TV blurred him out

During a program on an art festival in Beijing where "David" was one of 67 masterpieces on display in Beijing as part of the 100th anniversary of the National Museum of China, state-run China Central TV blurred the statue's genitals. Outrage over this spread and the TVB station removed the blur for its evening show.

'David' has been forcibly clothed around the world

The Simpsons covered the 'David' controversy

In Season 2 of "The Simpsons," episode 9, "Itchy & Scratchy," the show took on the problems of violent children's television, nudity in art, and the problems when a few concerned parents try to make decisions for everybody.

In it, the Simpsons baby Maggie brains her father. Homer, with a mallet after seeing a cat and mouse attack each other on a popular cartoon show. Her mother Marge unites with other concerned mothers to form a protest group, S.N.U.H: Springfieldians for Nonviolence, Understanding and Helping. The group manages to intimidate the animation studio into making the carton safe, and utterly bland. Children across the city. bored now, go outside and play instead.

But S.N.U.H. (without Marge) also protests the display of Michelangelo's "David" at the Springfield Museum and Marge is forced to admit that she can't object to censoring one work of art while trying to censor another.

Helen: Get dressed, Marge. You've got to lead our protest against this abomination! (shows Marge a newspaper with the statue of David on the cover)Marge: Hmm, but that's Michelangelo's David. It's a masterpiece!Helen: (gasps) It's filth! It graphically portrays parts of the human body which, practical as they may be, are evil.Marge: But I like that statue.Maude: I told you she was soft on full-frontal nudity.

The show, one of the run's most popular, helped set the tone for the long-running series by taking the different concerns seriously and showing the humor from all sides.

A doctor from Indiana diagnosed 'David's' bulging neck vein

Buying a Firenze card no longer comes with line-skipping privilege. That means it's more important than ever to book ahead for Florence's Uffizi Gallery and Accademia (with Michelangelo's David).

During a visit to Florence in 2018, Dr. Daniel Gelfman, a Marian University cardiologist, noticed a bulging vein on the right side of the heros neck, usually a sign of heart disease.

It struck me as odd, very paradoxical. You wouldnt expect to see that, Gelfman said. There are certain clues that you can pick up on physical exam that tells you that someone has heart disease and one of those clues is jugular venous distension. As a cardiologist, when I saw that, it was very dramatic to me. It really stuck out.

Gelfman wrote an article for JAMA Cardiology where he discussed it, and the usefulness for medical students to study artworks to improve their diagnostic skills. Later he said he realized Michelangelo was depicting David in a state of excitement when some people's jugular veins temporarily distends, just as other people flush when theyre emotional. The artist may have even realized this long before medical experts did, Gelfman said.

3D replica of Michelangelo's "David" in Dubai displayed from the neck up

In a world's fair in Dubai in 2021, controversy broke out when a 3D replica of "David" was displayed in all its glory, sort of. The statue was placed in a tall octagonal shaft between floors and most visitors to Dubai's Expo 2020 could only see David's head, with the rest hidden behind a partition. Only VIPs with special access were permitted to see it from head to toe.

"What the rich, the great and the good can see and what the ordinary folk can see shouldn't be two different things," said Professor Paul Gwynne, who teaches medieval and renaissance studies at the American University of Rome.

C. A. Bridges is a Digital Producer for the USA TODAY Network, working with multiple newsrooms across Florida. Local journalists work hard to keep you informed about the things you care about, and you can support them by subscribing to your local news organization. Read more articles by Chris here and follow him on Twitter at @cabridges

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Michelangelo's 'David': Long history of controversies, now in Florida
President Biden on Friday said that the United States does not seek conflict with Iran, while offering his first response about the airstrikes the U.S. conducted in Syria after an Iranian drone hit Americans.

To make no mistake, the United States does not  does not, emphasize  seek conflict with Iran, Biden said during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. But be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people. Thats exactly what happened last night.

Were going to continue to keep up our efforts to counterterrorist threats in the region in partnerships with Canada and other members of the coalition to defeat ISIS, the president added.

The U.S. airstrike in Syria was on Iranian-affiliated facilities, CNN reported, and it was authorized by Biden after the Iranian drone on Thursday had hit a facility that houses U.S. personnel.

Biden, during the press conference, said he spoke to his national security team ahead of the U.S. conducting the airstrike.

He also offered his condolences to the family of the American contractor who was killed and a speedy recovery for those wounded, which reportedly includes five U.S. service members.

Following the U.S. airstrike, another round of rockets targeting U.S. forces were reportedly launched by what officials say are groups affiliated with Iran.

The Pentagon also said earlier on Friday that the U.S. does not want conflict with Iran.

We dont see escalation with Iran, a Pentagon spokesman said. But the strikes that we took last night were intended to send a very clear message that we will take the protection of our personnel seriously and that we will respond quickly and decisively if theyre threatened.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter

Idaho high school students soon will be eligible for thousands in scholarships if they stay in-state for college or workforce training.

The Legislature on Wednesday approved Gov. Brad Littles proposal to create $8,500 grants targeted at Idaho students seeking education and training for in-demand jobs. A follow-up bill would reduce the scholarship amount and limit which education providers are eligible, but that bill has yet to clear the House.

Littles bill met opposition in both chambers. It passed the House by one vote, with most GOP members opposed. Republican senators said Wednesday theyre concerned the trailer bill scaling back the program wouldnt cross the finish line, and hardline conservatives likened the workforce scholarships to corporate welfare.

Our responsibility is to do the K-12 education and then provide more opportunities going forward, Little previously told the Idaho Statesman. This is just fulfilling our obligation. This is not going to be a freebie for anything.

Read my full story here.

Senate rejects suicide exception to trans health care ban

The Senate yesterday rejected an amendment to a bill banning health care for transgender children that would have made an exception for kids who are suicidal.

Sen. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello, who proposed the amendment, said it would leave everything about the bill in place. That means doctors would no longer be able to provide gender-affirming surgery, puberty blockers or hormone treatments to transgender minors.

If they are suffering from depression to such an extent that theyre considering taking their life, then there will be an exception to the rule that says they can receive this treatment, Ruchti told the full Senate.

As House Bill 71 moved through the legislative process, many opposed to banning health care for transgender kids said that the care often helps kids struggling with depression because of gender dysphoria.

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Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, who is co-sponsoring the bill, proposed a successful amendment that separates the bill from an existing statute banning female circumcision on children.

Republican senators during a committee meeting last week advocated for keeping that statute intact and dealing with transgender youth health care separately.

Like other Republicans backing the gender-affirming care ban, Den Hartog last week said transgender minors should wait for medical treatment until adulthood and should instead seek therapy. Den Hartog briefly debated against the suicide amendment yesterday, saying it undermines the purpose of the bill.

The Senate also rejected a proposed amendment, from Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, that would have removed the bans on puberty blockers and hormone treatments but kept the ban on gender-affirming surgery.

The Senate is expected to vote on the bill in the coming days.

What else happened?

The debate over school choice may be at an end for this session, Idaho Education News reported. A bill creating a private school voucher program was removed from a committee agenda , after failing to garner support in private conversations.

A bill requiring that local law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal immigration enforcement cleared the House State Affairs Committee. It heads to the full House.

A Senate committee advanced a bill making libraries liable to $2,500 lawsuits for distributing harmful material. There may be minor amendments.

After the House rejected the first proposal, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee cleared a new Medicaid budget that cut about $150 million from the more than $4.5 billion appropriation. It heads to the full House.

What to expect today

8 a.m. Senate State Affairs. There are six bills on the agenda, including one that would create free voter IDs and another that would require libraries to create citizen review committees for overseeing policies protecting minors from accessing harmful material.

1:30 p.m. House Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The committee will consider a bill that would give judges 3% raises.

Find the full list of committee meetings and agendas for the House here, and for the Senate here.

Track other bills

Keep track of high-profile bills as they go through the legislative process. You can find yesterdays updates here.

If you like this newsletter, forward to a friend or colleague, and they can sign up here.
A state panel on Friday decertified three Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, in a process that will bar the officers from future law enforcement work in Tennessee.

Former officers Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills Jr. are all facing second-degree murder charges for the death of Nichols following a traffic stop on Jan. 7.

The Memphis police department subsequently fired the officers and recommended decertification after internal affairs investigation showed the officers violated multiple department policies.

In a hearing in Nashville on Friday, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST)  the state's board for law enforcement certification and decertification  moved to decertify Smith, Martin and Haley. The board also approved an earlier decision from Mills to surrender his certification.

Related:Administrative hearing records point to deception, negligence in Tyre Nichols' beating by MPD

Neither the men nor their lawyers attended a brief hearing on Thursday in Nashville, nor were they present for Friday's hearing. The former officers will have 30 days to appeal the decision.

The board at a later date will consider decertification for Lt. DeWayne Smith, a 24-year veteran who supervised the officers. Smith retired on March 1 before he could be fired.

The Memphis Police Department initially moved to delay Smith's decertification over confusion as to whether a retired officer could be decertified. But in the hearing on Thursday, representatives for the department said it plans to move ahead with the decertification.

The commission has not yet reviewed the decertification for Bean.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Commission decertifies ex-officers in Tyre Nichols case
CANARSIE, Brooklyn (WPIX)  A cows life will be spared after breaking free at a slaughterhouse and running loose through the streets of Brooklyn Tuesday.

The 4-month-old calf was being delivered from a truck to the Saba Live Poultry slaughterhouse when she escaped and started running around in the streets, according to Mike Stura, the founder of Skylands Animal Sanctuary in Wantage, New Jersey.

Were stuck in the sewer: FDNY releases 911 call after 5 kids rescued from storm drain

Video capturing the incident showed the calf evading people in the streets as they tried to round her up. The calf was eventually recaptured after a few minutes on the run, according to Stura.

The calf was then transported back to the farm she came from in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Stura said he asked the owners of the calf to let her live out her life at Skylands Animal Sanctuary, but it took some convincing before they eventually agreed.

We immediately offered the calf a lifelong home, but these people have easily been the least receptive to letting an animal live that Ive ever dealt with, Stura posted on the Skylands Animal Sanctuary website. Maybe the news coverage and some public sentiment will help them see this poor kid as an individual.

Fox News reporter hugs son on camera as he leaves site of Denver school shooting

Skylands Animal Sanctuary cares for more than 400 animals who were all rescued from slaughterhouses, live markets and other instances of abuse, according to its website.

Stura said he will eventually give the calf a name.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Meteor crater in Arizona is one of the most well-preserved impact craters on Earth, with an estimated age of about 50,000 years. A new study of larger, less pristine craters raises new questions about how many large impacts Earth experiences in a given timeframe.

Earth may have been pummeled by large space rocks more often than previously estimated, controversial new research suggests, raising the risk that a species-ending impact could come sooner than we think.

The study, presented at the annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas last week, focused on the largest-known impact craters from the past million years. Using new high-resolution imaging, the authors argue that these craters were originally far bigger than they look now. If they're right, asteroids or comets larger than 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) have hit Earth up to a dozen times in the last million years alone. That's a far higher rate than the previous estimates of once every 600,000 to 700,000 years.

"It would be in the range of serious crap happening," James Garvin , the study's lead author and chief scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, told Science .

However, other scientists remain unconvinced that the landscape features Garvin and his team reported are actually part of the old craters.

"I'm skeptical," Bill Bottke , a planetary dynamicist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, told Science.

Unlike on Mars or the moon, Earth's impact craters disappear relatively quickly due to erosion caused by water and wind. Scientists estimate the risk of space impacts based on the history of impacts on the moon and by monitoring near-Earth asteroids.

But Garvin and his colleagues used new high-resolution satellite data to look at the remnants of craters on Earth. This data consisted of lidar (light detection and ranging), which uses laser pulses to precisely measure distances, and stereo imaging, which involves a satellite taking two images of the same place from slightly different angles; a comparison of these images then enables a 3D reconstruction of the scene.

Using this method, the researchers found at least four impact craters with what they argue are far larger outer rims than previously measured. For instance, the Pantasma crater in Nicaragua was previously estimated to have a diameter of 8.7 miles (14 km), but Garvin and his colleagues detected an outer-outer rim with a 21.9-mile (35.2 km) diameter. The lake-filled Bosumtwi crater in Ghana was estimated at about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) in diameter, but the new study revealed a ring-like ridge with a diameter of 16.7 miles (26.8 km). And the 8.7-mile-wide Zhamanshin crater in Kazakhstan may have actually been 18.9 miles (30.4 km) in diameter, according to the new research.

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The researchers also examined the Iturralde Crater in Bolivia. This remote circular feature may or may not be an impact crater. Regardless, the new study revealed a ring-like feature 18.9 miles (30.4 km) wide, significantly larger than the 5-mile (8 kilometers) diameter of the main feature.

Related content

 Scientists uncover the largest crater on Earth under 100,000 years old

 What are the largest impact craters on Earth?

 Giant 'tree stump' crater spotted on Mars

These impacts would have released the equivalent of 400,000 to 730,000 megatons of TNT  enough to blow part of Earth's atmosphere into space and fling fragments of impact glass across the globe, Garvin and his team said. And if at least four of these impacts occurred on land, which covers only one-third of the Earth's surface, twice as many space rocks may have fallen in the oceans. The researchers are also still analyzing an additional four young craters on continents.

What isn't clear is whether the ring-like features the researchers detected are actually parts of old crater rims. Brandon Johnson , a planetary scientist at Purdue University, told Science the ridges might be rings of debris ejected from the impact. However, he said, the possibility raises an urgent need for more research.

"We've got to go there, check out the geology, and get more detail," Johnson told Science.
(Bloomberg) -- Salesforce Inc. could see another round of job cuts while the company continues to focus on improving profitability, said Chief Operating Officer Brian Millham.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The structure of the organization  if we feel like it needs to change and reshape  were going to make those moves to drive the efficiencies, Millham said Friday in an interview. He added that consultant Bain & Co., which Salesforce is working with to review the business, has yet to provide final recommendations.

After years of hiring and big acquisitions, the software company is newly focused on profitability. Salesforce in January announced it would eliminate 10% of its workforce, or about 8,000 employees, its largest-ever headcount reduction, and close offices across the US. A group of activist investors who have taken stakes in the company are pushing to cut costs further in search of increased earnings and improved profit margins.

Salesforce wouldnt be alone in the industry if it wiped out more jobs. Meta Platforms Inc., Amazon Inc. and Twilio Inc. announced additional rounds of major cuts in recent weeks, amounting to more 21,000 workers.

Millham, who joined the company as its 13th employee in 1999 and was promoted to chief operating officer last year, said hes focused on making the sales and go-to-market divisions he oversees more efficient, and finding new selling opportunities, such as with the companys recently announced AI products. He has taken over some of the operational and customer-facing responsibilities previously held by co-Chief Executive Officer Bret Taylor before that executive left the company earlier this year, including appearances on earnings calls.

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The San Francisco-based company, the top maker of customer relations management software, has been looking at measures including reducing the number of salespeople assigned to each deal, utilizing third-party sellers and emphasizing productivity such as monthly sales targets, Millham said. Salesforce also is urging employees to go into the office more often, although it hasnt imposed a return-to-office mandate. Attendance at company sites is up significantly in recent months, he said.

From the very beginning this was a performance-oriented culture, Millham said. We may have drifted a bit from that during the pandemic as we took care of our employees and made sure everyone was staying healthy. He added that he wants Salesforce to have both a performance and wellness culture.

The stock has jumped 43% this year, closing at $190.06 Friday in New York, making up almost all of its value after a 48% plunge in 2022.

Investors rejoiced earlier this month when the company said it would reach margin targets years earlier than anticipated. We feel pretty good about what weve been able to deliver so far, Millham said, before adding its not a job thats done by any stretch.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Ford Fund  Ford Motor Co.s philanthropic arm  announced on Friday the recipients of its new $1 million capital grants program to benefit the West Tennessee region surrounding BlueOval City.

There were 17 winners from six West Tennessee counties. The capital grants were available for nonprofits and municipalities in Haywood, Fayette, Tipton, Lauderdale, Shelby and Madison counties.

As we met with communities, especially those around the (BlueOval City) plant, there were just a lot of projects that we learned about, that if we could seed them and catalyze them it might actually help in a bigger way, said Ford Fund President Mary Culler, on the grantees. Thats the whole impetus of the capital grants program is to start to help those communities, seed some of these projects and opportunities that theyve been wanting to try to find funding for.

The grants are designed to enable capital improvements such as building renovations, land preservation and other community-based construction projects like playgrounds, parks, community centers and food banks.

Ford Fund shared more details about the capital grants program at a BlueOval City event on Friday morning at the project site in Stanton.

Culler added Ford Fund also plans to look at helping assist in essential services and helping to build the pipeline for community members to be able to access BlueOval City jobs. The $5.6 billion electric vehicle and battery campus is expected to open in 2025 and create 5,800 new jobs.

Ford Fund did not offer specifics on the amount of funds each grantee received or what the funds would go toward but previously said the grants would range from $25,000 to $100,000.

Here are the 17 grantees and where they are located.

Ford Fund President Mary Culler speaks during an event at BlueOval City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Ford Fund has announced the recipients of it $1 million capital grants program to benefit the West Tennessee region surrounding BlueOval City.

Ford in Tennessee:Ford Fund announces $1 million capital grants program for West Tennessee counties

Electric battery plant:BlueOval SK is hiring 2,500 workers. Meet the Memphis native overseeing that process.

Haywood County

The Brownsville Haywood Fire Department

Douglass Community

The Town of Stanton

Haywood County Ambulance Authority

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Madison County

Boys & Girls Club of Jackson

Exchange Club  Carl Perkins

Lauderdale County

Gates Volunteer Fire Department

Lauderdale County Council of Arts

Tennessee State Parks Conservancy

Shelby County

Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South

Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute

Code Crew

Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital

Tipton County

Tipton County Government

Mason Fire Auxiliary

Fayette County

Fayette Cares Inc.

Fayette County Citizens for Progress.

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, FedEx, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ford Fund awards West Tennessee grants: These are the recipients
Police officers work the scene of a robbery at the Valero gas station at College Avenue and Swallow Road on Wednesday in Fort Collins.

Fort Collins police say they ended a four-day robbery spree when the juvenile suspect they were pursuing crashed a stolen car into a sign near the Riverside Avenue and Mulberry Street intersection early Thursday.

A juvenile male, who won't be publicly identified per Colorado law, faces five felony and two misdemeanor allegations on suspicion of using a BB gun to intimidate victims into giving him a car, money and cigarettes in a series of incidents March 20-23, according to police.

In short order, the suspect is accused of:

Carjacking a 2009 Ford Fusion from a man while he was parked at the Burger King on North Garfield Avenue in Loveland on March 20. Police say the juvenile showed the victim "what appeared to be a handgun" in his waistband while ordering the vehicle's driver to get out.

Showing the gun while stealing money from the register of a Valero gas station along South College Avenue in Fort Collins on March 22, and then leaving the scene in the stolen Fusion.

Showing the gun while demanding money and cigarettes from a Kum & Go station on Knobcone Drive in Loveland early on March 23. It was after this incident that police say the juvenile fled into Fort Collins in the stolen car when Loveland police attempted a traffic stop.

Fort Collins police attempted to stop the vehicle once it entered the city but said the vehicle sped away before crashing near Riverside and Mulberry. The suspect allegedly left the car and ran before police were able to stop him. A juvenile female who was also in the car stayed put and later told police that the male had pointed the gun at her and demanded she get into the vehicle earlier.

Police found the gun, which they determined to be a BB gun, in a backpack carried by the suspect. The suspect was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of multiple crimes.

Police ask anyone with information about the cases who has not already contacted them to call detective Allen Benbow at 970-416-2180.

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Police officers work the scene of a robbery at the Valero gas station at College Avenue and Swallow Road on Wednesday in Fort Collins.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins police arrest teen accused in BB-gun robbery spree
Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves as John Wick. Evan Agostini/AP/Lionsgate

Director Chad Stahelski told Insider he didn't expect to come back for multiple "John Wick" movies.

He said "no one clapped" after the test screening of the first film.

The 54-year-old filmmaker called the franchise a "blessing."

"John Wick: Chapter 4" sees "The Matrix" star Keanu Reeves step back into the unkillable assassin's shoes for a fourth time, as he tries to free himself from the sprawling criminal organization known as the High Table.

Not only that, but the hero also has to fend off hordes of other hitmen as a bounty on his head now equals millions of dollars.

Wick has come a long way since the first film back in 2014, which saw him get revenge on a Russian mobster who killed a puppy given to him by his late wife. Wick's rampage has gone global since then  taking the action to Italy, Morocco, Germany, and Japan.

Speaking to Insider ahead of the sequel, director Chad Stahelski said that he never thought the franchise would make it past two films, let alone four, because the first movie didn't get a positive reaction during its first test screening.

Stahleski told Insider: "No, no, no, we never thought we'd get to two. I mean, my co-director partner at the time, David Leitch, we finished the film, we did our first test, and we all went, 'Uh, no one clapped.'"

Stahelski added that he and Leitch then moved on to other jobs as stunt coordinators, thinking that they'd "mucked it up."

He said: "Dave and I, we literally just went to second unit jobs and were like, 'That was really cool. We're very fortunate to have a chance to try to direct and completely mucked it up.' You know, 'Maybe in another lifetime.'"

The "Matrix" and "Constantine" stuntman went on to say that he's still not sure why movie studio Lionsgate called him back to do more "John Wick" movies, but he jumped at the chance.

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Stahelski said: "Then the film opens many months later and we get a positive response and then Lionsgate, I still don't know why, called us back up and go: 'Hey, would you like to do another one?' And we're like, 'Sure!'"

The director said it's been a "blessing to have people actually want to see more."

"Even now, it hits us a little bit. Sitting here is a little surreal for us still. You know, we're just a bunch of guys that like action movies," he added.

"John Wick: Chapter 4" is in theaters now.

Read the original article on Insider
Court records show that God's Storehouse, whose pastor is a Kansas state senator, is under federal scrutiny over the church's tax-exempt status.

A federal judge dismissed Friday an effort by the pastor of God's Storehouse, who is also a state senator, to block Internal Revenue Service access the church's bank records as part of an ongoing investigation.

The probe into God's Storehouse stretches back to June 2021 but became public last year after attorneys representing the church sought to block summons for financial and credit card records.

Sen. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton, serves at the pastor of God's Storehouse, and controversially used the church's branding in his campaign materials during a successful run for the Senate in 2020.

More:Ive never seen anything like this: Kansas Senate candidate under fire for mixing religion, politics

God's Storehouse is a thrift store and coffee shop near S.W. 21st Street. It also holds worship services on major holidays, according to its website. Other Sundays, the church holds services at a nearby hotel.

The investigation covers four main areas pertaining to God's Storehouse, according to a sworn declaration filed by Internal Revenue Agent Kesroy C. Henry. Henry's attempts to secure God's Storehouse bank records from Kaw Valley Bank, he argued, were important to the probe.

That includes whether the church failed to withhold employment taxes on wages paid to Kloos and his wife in 2019 and 2020, despite withholding taxes from other employees.

Also at issue is whether the church is primarily a thrift store and thus should be forced to register as a different category of nonprofit and whether taxes were paid on revenue from the building's coffee shop, which could be deemed extraneous to the church's mission and thus subject to taxation.

And Henry wrote the investigation also was examining whether the church "may have engaged in prohibited political campaign intervention in 2020" as part of Kloos' 2020 Kansas Senate run.

More:Topeka-area senator Rick Kloos pushes back as IRS questions tax-exempt status of God's Storehouse

Ryan Kriegshauser, the attorney for Kloos and God's Storehouse has contested these claims and has argued that the investigation was sparked by a 2020 Topeka Capital-Journal article where Kloos' then-opponent raised concerns about the permissibility of campaign signs that used the God's Storehouse logo.

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Allowing that investigation to continue unimpeded, he said in a statement, would amount to the politicization of the IRS' work.

"The IRS should not be allowed to circumvent federal law or be weaponized by anti-religion interests," Kriegshauser said, arguing the case is about "the constitutional protections afforded to churches' religious activities."

But U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree dismissed that argument in his ruling.

"Nothing petitioner has presented merits a plausible inference that the IRS carried out its investigation because of someone elses political motivation," Crabtree wrote. "Its evidence doesnt demonstrate that Agent Henry or anyone else at the IRS acted with a political motive."

God's Storehouse also argued that the summons should be dismissed as the audit was improperly authorized, as the position outlined in statute as being required to sign off on the audit no longer exists in the IRS hierarchy.

And they have maintained that federal law should shield banking records from being reviewed, except in relatively narrow circumstances.

Crabtree, however, rejected both lines of rhetoric in his ruling.

"The court reaches this conclusion because petitioner hasnt shouldered its burden to demonstrate that respondent didnt act in good faith when it issued the third-party summons," he said.

Kriegshauser said they were discussing the possibility of an appeal with their client and were "committed to continuing the fight on these important issues."

The fight over the permissibility of a separate summons seeking records from a Denver-area company that processes credit card transactions of the church's thrift store remains ongoing.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Rick Kloos' God's Storehouse blocked from stopping IRS summons
As a criminal defense attorney, Stacy Shaw has been handling traffic law cases for decades and has seen her share of drivers appear before Kansas City municipal judges.

So it will be no surprise to Shaw if police are targeting minority motorists and those in the citys poorest neighborhoods, as described in a lawsuit filed Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court by a 21-year veteran of the Kansas City Police Department.

It would also be no surprise to her, Shaw said, if Kansas City police are pushed to meet ticket quotas, as the lawsuit also describes, even if it is against the law.

Everybody knows that they have quotas and we have known that for years. They can deny it all they want, Shaw said. This whistleblower is confirming what the community already knows.

Racial profiling is a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act and enforcement of the law could come from the U.S. Department of Justice or a lawsuit. And in Missouri, ticket quotas are also illegal under a state law passed in 2016, billed at the time as a deterrent to local governments relying on revenue generated through citations.

But if the Kansas City Police Department is flouting that law, its unclear how it will be enforced. The statute, which was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican who was a state senator at the time and later served as the states attorney general, includes no mechanism for holding anyone accountable for breaking it.

The entire law reads: No political subdivision or law enforcement agency shall have a policy requiring or encouraging an employee to issue a certain number of citations for traffic violations on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, or other quota basis. This section shall not apply to the issuance of warning citations.

Shaw and community activists in Kansas City say the quota law does nothing if the Missouri Attorney Generals Office does not enforce it.

Why doesnt the attorney generals office do anything  its because theyre racist, Shaw said. This is a systemically racist country, Missouri. And theres no political will to hold anyone accountable in Kansas City.

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Reached for comment at the office of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, spokeswoman Madeline Sieren said the attorney generals office is committed to enforcing the laws as written.

In the lawsuit filed Monday, Edward Williams, a Kansas City traffic cop, said police leaders are disregarding the law by continuing to encourage officers to meet ticket goals by targeting drivers in Black and other racial minority neighborhoods.

His attorney, Gerald Gray, said Williams filed the lawsuit because he felt the discriminatory ticket quota was not only a violation of policy but it was just morally wrong with how they were instructed to do things.

When Williams reported the violations to his superiors, he was reprimanded and overlooked for transfers and other opportunities, Gray said.

Hes a career police officer who wants to do things the right way, he said. At the very least he wants to bring awareness and effect change.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves spoke during a South Kansas City Alliance meeting on Jan. 9, one of the first public meetings Graves attended since becoming chief. Emily Curiel/ecuriel@kcstar.com

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said in a written statement this week that officers do not direct enforcement activities based on demographics. But, she said, the department does direct traffic enforcement in high crash locations as well as citizen traffic complaint locations.

Shaw said Graves comments were not based in reality.

Thats been our collective lived experience, she said. At some point, the police have to stop telling us dont believe your lying eyes. Its insulting, dont believe your lying eyes.

Attorney Stacy Shaw stands outside Kansas City City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. Anna Spoerre/The Kansas City Star

Plain and simple

Chloe Cooper, executive director of the Kansas City Community Bail Fund, said the group launched Project GreenLight in March as an effort to decrease the number of illegal drivers in Kansas City.

In preparation for their launch, the Kansas City Municipal Court provided the group with demographic information about those charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license in 2022.

Of the 2,191 people charged 1,455  66.4%  were Black. Kansas City is less than 30% Black, according to the U.S. Census data.

On the other hand, 693 of those charged  31.6%  were white, Cooper said.Kansas City is nearly 60% white.

There are twice as many whites than African Americans living in Kansas City, so its impossible to come up with any scenario other than the intentional targeting of non-white citizens by Kansas City Police Department leaders described by Edward Williams, she said.

Chloe Cooper, co-founder of the KC Community Bail Fund, spoke at a recent event. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Community Bail Fund

Those numbers were similar to The Stars findings in 2017 when the newspaper analyzed traffic tickets issued in the police department and processed through the municipal court.

Traffic law attorneys in Kansas City said it is their experience that Black motorists and those from racial minority neighborhoods disproportionately appear in traffic court.

Historically, African Americans have been getting stopped for (playing loud) music, for tint(ed windows), wheels, for just about anything, especially in the inner cities, said Phillip Brooks, a Kansas City lawyer who handles criminal and traffic violations.

Its just plain and simple. You dont get that in the suburbs.

Brooks said the police department will typically position traffic officers on U.S. 71, between 63rd and 55th streets.

Who are you going to pull over? Youre going to pull over African Americans, he said.

Tracy Spradlin, a criminal defense and traffic attorney, said the citys municipal court has seen a significant decrease in the number of traffic tickets that have been issued.

That being said, I think we do have an issue with (police) patrols and citations being issued in primarily poor or minority parts of town, she said.

In poorer areas of Kansas City some motorists have to choose between paying their light bill or paying for their insurance. If they get in an accident the month that they cant pay their insurance, then theyre more likely to be cited.

So its kind of an unfortunate chicken and egg situation, she said.

Real consequences

Police departments throughout Missouri have a disreputable history of targeting Black and Brown people, which has led to disproportionate traffic stops and searches.

The disparities are clear in the Attorney Generals Vehicle Stop Report, said Tom Bastian, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri.

Year after year, Black people, who make up about only 11 percent of Missouris population, are subjected to more than 42 percent of traffic stops. In contrast, the 80 percent in Missouris white majority only account for less than 25 percent of all traffic stops, Bastian said.

While these disparities have real consequences to the communities they burden, it is not a huge surprise that one or more police officials would say explicitly what is the policy of racial profiling as understood by officers across the state, he said.

Williams lawsuit comes months after the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it is investigating the police department for racial discrimination in its hiring and employment practices. The investigation was announced after a six-part series by The Star showed Black officers were forced off the job after being targeted for harassment and unfair discipline.

May 9, 2019 graduates from the Kansas City Police Departments Regional Police Academy Kansas City Police Department

Williams, who is white, is suing the department for alleged violations of the Missouri Human Rights Act, including race and age discrimination, and a state law meant to protect whistleblowers. He alleges white KCPD commanders subjected him to racist rhetoric that minority officers would have certainly reported, the lawsuit says.

Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, a Kansas City social justice group, told The Star that the officer is echoing what Black citizens and officers have been saying for decades: Racism drives this department, and many people are paying a penalty for trying to combat it.

We hope the public is paying attention, McDonald said. This lawsuit represents something new... a white officer who could have gone along with, ignored, or even benefited from racism took a stance against it, and was allegedly penalized.

If we dont back up our officers who are taking a stance against systemic racism in KCPD, arent we saying its acceptable? she said. This is not a conversation about a few bad apples, but, rather, an alarming lawsuit that suggests the whole barrel is rotten.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced on Thursday that he signed a bill banning certain gender-affirming care for minors in the state.

Kemp said he signed Georgia Senate Bill 140  which prohibits minors from receiving hormone replacement therapies and sex reassignment surgeries to treat gender dysphoria in licensed health care facilities  into law to ensure we protect the health and wellbeing of Georgias children.

As Georgians, parents, and elected leaders, it is our highest responsibility to safeguard the bright, promising futures of our kids  and SB 140 takes an important step in fulfilling that mission, the Georgia governor said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Under the law, hormone replacement therapies and sex reassignment surgeries, or any surgical procedure performed for the purpose of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics are prohibited for minors under the age of 18. Minors who started or will start receiving hormone replacement therapy prior to July 1 of this year will still be able to continue getting treatment.

The ban supports what is characterized in the bill text as a wait-and-see approach to minors with gender dysphoria, providing counseling, and allowing the child time to mature and develop his or her own identity. Physicians risk losing their licenses if they violate the new law.

The legislation contains limited exceptions to allow the procedures in cases of medical conditions other than gender dysphoria or for the purpose of sex reassignment where such treatments are deemed medically necessary and to treat individuals born with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome or with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development.

LGBTQ advocates have argued that a new surge of state efforts to bar minors from accessing the health care deemed medically necessary by many major medical associations put transgender youth further at risk.

Governor Kemp should be ashamed of himself  taking life-saving care away from vulnerable youth is a disgusting and indefensible act, Human Rights Campaign state Legislative Director and Senior Counsel Cathryn Oakley said in a statement. This law harms transgender youth and terrorizes their families, but helps no one.

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There will just be young people left without medically-necessary, age-appropriate care, parents stripped of the ability to get their kids the care they need, and the entire transgender community in Georgia feeling like they are unwelcome in their own state, Oakley added.

A Human Rights Campaign report released Wednesday found more than half, 50.4 percent, of transgender youth ages 13-17 have lost or are currently at risk of losing access to gender-affirming care in their respective states.

We will use every legal means at our disposal to block this bill from hurting children and families. Its disturbing how quickly the governor acts to sign bills that take away peoples rights, said Andrea Young, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Georgia.

Georgias new bill comes the day after Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed a bill restricting gender-affirming care for minors, and shortly after Missouris Republican attorney general said hed do the same in the state.

The medical treatment has been a particular focus of the GOP as many in the party also seek to restrict transgender athletes and drag shows.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A woman has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a 2-year-old who died after ingesting fentanyl, according to Kentucky State Police.

In addition to first-degree manslaughter, Brittany Copodonna, of Boyd County, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and possession of cocaine, according to a news release.

Copodonna is the mother of the boy who died. Police did not release the name of the child.

However, an obituary for Jaymason Wyatt Lee Kirk matches the date of the death and lists Copodonna as his mother.

State police said someone called an ambulance on Feb. 14 to report a child was unresponsive at a residence. The child was pronounced dead at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, according to the release.

The Boyd County 911 center contacted state police.

The investigation showed the toddler died as a result of ingesting fentanyl. Analysis of evidence found during a search showed the presence of fentanyl in the room where the boy was found, police said.

Authorities have not released information on how the boy was exposed to fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It has driven a rise in overdose deaths in Kentucky and across the country. There were 2,250 fatal overdoses in Kentucky in 2021, the year with most recent figures.

That was an increase of 14.5% over 2020, and fetanyl was detected in more than 70% of those deaths, according to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.

Boyd County Coroner Mark Hammond said the boy was the youngest overdose death the county has seen in his time with the office, dating to 2008.

It is a very sad case, he said.

Police arrested Copodonna Thursday after a grand jury indicted her.
A man from Iron County admitted to committing an October 2022 crime spree that included arsons in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri and the assault of a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer.

A Missouri man admitted this week to a crime spree of arson in the Mark Twain National Forest and assaulting a law enforcement officer late last year.

Lucas G. Henson, of Iron County, pleaded guilty to three counts: assaulting a law enforcement officer, arson and being a felon in possession of a firearm in front of U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.

The 37-year-old admitted that while he was out on bond for stealing and drug offenses, he stole a Ford van Oct. 22, 2022, from Patriot Rentals near Poplar Bluff, according to the U.S. District Attorney's office.

Henson abandoned the van when it ran out of gas. He then broke into a camper at Poplar Bluff RV Sales and stole items from it later that day.

The man's car thefts continued when he stole a Dodge pickup truck the next day. He burglarized someone's home and stole a handgun. He also stole a crossbow from a workshop near the home.

The truck's owner found Henson and the man pointed the pistol at the truck's owner before he drove away. Law enforcement officers, notified by the trucks owner, joined the chase, according to the U.S. District Attorney.

"Henson crashed the truck in Mark Twain National Forest, then started a fire and burned the handgun and the items that hed stolen from the camper before fleeing into the forest," the office stated.

Law enforcement officers began tracking Henson with dogs, and when they got close, he started a fire in an effort to prevent being captured. He lit another fire when they approached again.

"Later, he pointed the crossbow at a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer, as well as other officers, before crossing the Black River and fleeing again," according to the U.S. District Attorney.

Henson was finally caught near the river, and he admitted to his crimes in interviews with officers.

The fires Henson started burned a total of 7.61 acres of land.

"Burn orders were in effect at the time due to the dry and windy conditions, and Hensons fires kept leaping over the fire lines established by fire fighters," according to the U.S. District Attorney. "Crews eventually had to construct 'dozer lines' to contain the fire and spent $7,228 fighting the fires."

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Henson is scheduled for sentencing June 28 in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau. All charges carry a possible fine up to $250,000, and include:

The assault charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The arson charge carries a mandatory minimum of seven years with a maximum of 20 years and the gun charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Man admits to arson in national forest, pointing crossbow officer
A school should be the safest place in any community. But because of the worsening gun violence epidemic in our nation, our reality is far from that.

As communities are rocked by brutal acts of gun violence day after day, we are constantly reminded that safe spaces for children no longer exist  not to celebrate, not to gather within our communities and not to learn.

On Monday, police say, a person armed with three guns shot and killed three children and three adults at a small Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.

Fear of gun violence is now constant in schools

Young people and teachers live in constant fear of being shot in school. Educators and students routinely practice how to protect themselves if a murderer enters their classroom.

Rather than only focusing on inspiring the students sitting before them, teachers have to worry about who might walk through the door with a gun. Far too many parents have experienced the worst horrors imaginable and grieved the loss of their children. Many more have experienced the agony of texting "I love you" to their child while an active shooter roamed the hallways. And our students and educators alike have been traumatized by massacres that have killed their friends, classmates and students.

A shooting happened next to my classroom: How do you teach after violence like that?

Want fewer shootings?: Pass tougher gun laws. Our research shows lax laws fuel violence.

Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among young people. Sadly, no corner of America is untouched by the trauma of gun violence. Marginalized communities and communities of color are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Educators, students and parents are exhausted and terrified.

How can we continue to live like this?

Students rally for gun control on March 23, 2023, outside the state Capitol in Denver. The 17-year-old suspect in a shooting that wounded two administrators at a Denver high school was found dead in a nearby county, authorities said.

Student-led March For Our Lives is still working to stop violence

It has been five years since the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which took the lives of 17 students and educators. Born out of the tragedy was March For Our Lives, the largest youth-led march in history and the start of a powerful movement led by students and young people to end gun violence in our country.

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Five years since that first march, students, educators, parents, health care providers and more joined together to successfully pass more than 250 gun laws, proving that agreement on gun safety legislation is possible. That included breaking decades-long legislative gridlock to pass the single most important piece of federal gun legislation in three decades, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Gabby Giffords: Why I'm optimistic about reducing gun violence in America

My daughter was murdered at her school: We need to elect leaders who support gun safety

That was a good first step, and the new law will help save lives, but we cannot stop here. Young people and educators are still dying in schools. Parents continue to demand that lawmakers do more to end these massacres.

Educators and students will continue to stand together to advocate for effective gun safety legislation to save lives. We deserve to learn and teach in classrooms that are safe.

David Hogg, who survived a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, speaks during the March for Our Lives on June 11, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

The majority of Americans support comprehensive gun safety measures. March For Our Lives polling shows that young people want comprehensive solutions to gun violence. Starting with the 2018 midterm elections, young people have been voting at the highest rates in American history and turning out in record numbers to vote for pro-reform candidates.

They were not alone: A recent National Education Association survey found that school safety was a top priority for parents and voters during the 2022 midterms. And that was true no matter the party affiliation.

Should the US ban TikTok? Here's why blocking it isn't a good idea

LAUSD workers strike. I'm with them: Treat us as professionals

Throughout last week  the fifth anniversary of the March For Our Lives  students, educators and others have taken to the streets for rallies and lobby days at state capitols.

We are advocating for legislation that will ban assault weapons, close background check loopholes, require safe storage of firearms and other measures that will drastically reduce the number of children who are shot and killed each year.

Becky Pringle is the president of the National Education Association.

We hope you will join us in this fight. The futures of our educators and children depend on it.

Becky Pringle is president of the National Education Association. David Hogg is co-founder of March For Our Lives and a survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

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: School shootings terrorize students, communities. When will we act?
Company Logo

Dublin, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By Product Type, By Mode of Type, By Mode of Volume, By Mode of Material (PVC, PET, Others), By Mode of End User, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2018-2028F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Saudi Arabia Blood Bags market was valued at USD10.51 million in 2022 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 5.31% through 2028, owing to the increase in several people suffering from blood-related diseases in the country.

The other factors supporting the growth of the market are the rise in the prevalence of infectious diseases, the increase in the number of road accidents, the rising number of surgeries, C-sections, organ transplants, and others.

Therefore, there is an increase in demand for blood for the treatment of various diseases as well as surgeries expected to propel the growth of Saudi Arabia blood-bags market in the upcoming years.



Growing Prevalence of Blood-Related Diseases



Growing blood-related disorders such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, leukemia, and others in the country are expected to impel the growth of the market. This is because these diseases require a large volume of blood for their treatment. Moreover, these diseases are highly prevalent in the southern and eastern regions of the country. According to the data reported by Global Cancer Observatory, in 2020, approximately 1676 new cases were reported of leukemia in Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, there were around 1698 patients detected with non-hodgkin's lymphoma, 687 with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 265 with multiple myeloma. The growing number of leukemia cases in the country is expected to support the growth of the market. The increasing prevalence of blood-related disorders requiring regular transfusion of blood is further expected to increase the demand for blood bags in Saudi Arabia in the coming years.



Increasing Number of Road Accidents



A rise in the number of road accidents is increasing the growth of the market in the country. These accidents cause a huge amount of blood loss which requires an adequate volume of blood to be provided to the patient. Several times surgical operations which are associated with the treatment also require blood which increases the demand for blood bags.

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According to the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia, 25,561 cases of road traffic injuries have been reported in 2020 where 21,492 were males and 4,069 were females. Saudi Arabia occupies a leading position with high mortality and morbidity even with all the precautionary measures and programs implemented by the local or national governmental bodies. Research studies suggested that recently around 19 deaths occur every day and 4 people are injured every hour in the country due to road accidents.



Growing Awareness for Blood Donation



The increasing awareness among the population related to blood donation is expected to increase the demand for blood bags across Saudi Arabia, especially blood collection bags. Additionally, the government is also taking initiatives to increase blood donation activity in the country. The Ministry of Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia has launched an app "Wateen" aorta for blood donation.

Wateen is a non-profitable initiative to increase awareness about the significance of voluntary blood donations and to ensure a sufficient supply of blood across the nation. The app facilitates the user to find donors' lists, blood bank locations, and donation requests on social media along with reminding the participant of the due donation date thereby filling the gap between the donor and the blood bank or recipient while anticipating the rise in the blood bags. This in turn is expected to create lucrative opportunities for the growth of the blood bags market in Saudi Arabia.



Report Scope:



Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By Product Type:

Single Blood Bag

Double Blood Bag

Triple Blood Bag

Quadruple Blood Bag

Penta Blood Bag

Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By Type:

Collection Bag

Transfer Bag

Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By Volume:

100ml

150ml

250ml

300ml

350ml

400ml

450ml

500ml

Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By Material:

PVC

PET

Others

Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By End User:

Hospitals & Clinics

Ambulatory Surgical Center

Blood Banks

Others

Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market, By Region:

Northern & Central

Eastern

Western

Southern

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Impact of COVID-19 on Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market



4. Executive Summary



5. Voice Of Customer



6. Saudi Arabia Blood Bags Market Outlook



7. Saudi Arabia Collection Bags Market Outlook



8. Saudi Arabia Transfer Bags Market Outlook



9. Market Dynamics



10. Market Trends & Developments



11. Policy & Regulatory Landscape



12. Import Export Analysis



13. Saudi Arabia Economic Profile



14. Competitive Landscape



15. Strategic Recommendations



16. About the Publisher & Disclaimer



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Terumo Middle East

Fresenius Kabi

Madac International for Medical Products Factory

RENOLIT

Abdulla Fouad Group

Kiefel Technologies

AdvaCare Pharma

Jamjoom Group

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jf64yx

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BEAVER FALLS  A Michigan man accused of killing one person and injuring three others in a 2021 Beaver Falls shooting was taken into custody this week.

Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier on Thursday said 25-year-old Decarlos Kavaun Warren was arrested and returned to Beaver County to face trial on charges including criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and more following a fatal July 2021 shooting along 10th Street in Beaver Falls.

More:Michigan man charged in Beaver Falls fatal shooting

Investigators said Warren's actions caused the death of Beaver Falls resident Dwayne Lee Wells, 31, and severely injured three other men at the scene.

According to police, surveillance systems showed Warren and his brother, Monte Warren, firing handguns at the group of victims outside of the Harmony Dwellings Public Housing Complex around 9:30 p.m. July 12, 2021.

During the initial round of fire, Warren fatally struck Wells and injured the other victims. One of the injured victims then pulled out a handgun, firing back at the brothers. Monte Warren was struck by return fire and later died from the gunshot wounds. Investigators said Monte Warren was shot by a Beaver Falls resident who was in lawful possession of a firearm and was acting in self-defense.

More:Two fatally shot near Beaver Falls housing complex

An arrest warrant was issued for Decarlos Kavaun Warren following the incident. He was arrested Thursday, nearly two years after the shooting. Investigators have not yet released information about how they discovered the man's whereabouts.

Warren waived his rights to extradition and a preliminary hearing will be scheduled in Beaver County in the near future.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Police arrest Michigan man involved in fatal Beaver Falls shooting
A Michigan man is charged with homicide following Mondays shooting in Beaver Falls

BEAVER FALLS  A Michigan man is charged with homicide following Mondays shooting in Beaver Falls.

The Beaver County District Attorneys Office on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Decarlos Warren, 25, of Ypsilanti. He is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Dwayne Wells, 31, of Beaver Falls and aggravated assault in the shooting of three others.

Wells and Monte Warren, 30, of Michigan, died from injuries sustained outside of the Harmony Dwellings public housing complex around 9:30 p.m. on July 12. Both deaths were ruled a homicide.

Three more were injured during the shooting; two were flown to area medical facilities by helicopter for surgery and the third was treated at a hospital and discharged.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators secured surveillance footage of the incident from the Beaver County Housing Authority. The footage allegedly shows Decarlos Warren firing a handgun, killing Wells and wounding three others.

One of the victims is seen returning fire, according to police, striking Decarlos Warrens brother, Monte.

Decarlos Warren is then observed entering into a black Jeep Cherokee with his brother and fleeing the area, police said. A witness told investigators they received a call from Decarlos Warren after the shooting to help take his brother to the hospital for treatment.

Federal agencies have been asked to assist in Warrens arrest and extradition back to Beaver County.

More: Two fatally shot near Beaver Falls housing complex

The investigation is ongoing, Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier said. Additional charges may be filed in the future as forensic evidence is processed.

Witnesses reported hearing dozens of gunshots in the 900 block of 10th Avenue during the incident, with multiple emergency responders arriving shortly after.

The residents of Beaver Falls may rest assured that based upon the current investigation there are no at-large suspects aside from (Warren) who is being sought in other locales, Lozier said in a statement.

The investigation is led by the City of Beaver Falls Police Department with the assistance of the Beaver County Detective Bureau.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Police seek Michigan man in Beaver Falls fatal shooting
A 21-year-old Navy sailor has been missing for days after a night out at an Illinois bar, officials say.

Seamus Gray, who is assigned to Naval Station Great Lakes, was reported missing after not returning to his base, the City of Waukegan said in a news release Thursday, March 23.

He was last seen leaving a bar on Genesee Street in Waukegan at 1:40 a.m. Saturday, March 18, city officials said. Waukegan is about 55 miles north of Chicago.

The manager of IBIZA, the bar where Gray was last seen, said Gray got into two fights outside the bar after he was escorted out of the building for being too intoxicated, WMAQ reported.

Its just a sad situation for us, the manager, Adrian Hernandez, told WMAQ. We just want him to be found... we just want to cooperate in any way we can. Were doing everything we can to cooperate with the police investigation with the family.

Officers and firefighters have searched the area and nearby lakefront for Gray, city officials said.

Grays mother, Kerry Rodier Gray, said in a Facebook post she searched dumpsters Wednesday for her son.

Tomorrow I have to to do what no mother should ever have to do. I have to go on a foot search with the police department, fire department and many others who will join in to find my son Seamus Grays body, she said Wednesday.

Gray is a native of Jupiter, Florida, according to WPEC. He is 6 feet, 3 inches, 170 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.

His mother called it the most horrific time of her life.

Seamus lived for the Navy, was proud, was the the top honor recipient, she said. Was leaving soon for the greatest moment in his life. Seamus loves his country, and his family more than anything.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Waukegan Police Department at 847-360-9001.

Outdoorsman looking for deer antlers finds remains of missing Ohio man, officials say

Soldier found shot to death in North Carolina. Now, fellow soldier charged with murder

Boater missing for weeks found dead 400 feet from where he vanished, Michigan cops say
North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge stemming from her crashing into a parked car in downtown Raleigh last December.

Wood appeared with her attorney, Roger W. Smith Jr., in Wake County court. She read aloud a statement in which she said she took full responsibility.

Wood said she was not impaired the night of the crash but that she had two glasses of wine at a Christmas party just before.

A Democrat who has served as auditor since 2009, Wood was leaving a holiday party on the evening of Dec. 8 in her state-issued Toyota Camry when she crashed the vehicle into another Camry that was parked on the side of the road. A police report and photos from the scene of the crash showed Woods car on top of the hood of the other vehicle.

Video taken moments after the crash showed people escorting Wood back into the law office on the corner of South Salisbury and West Hargett streets, where Wood had been attending a holiday party hosted by former N.C. Attorney General and Secretary of State Rufus Edmisten.

Wood didnt report the crash to the police or the owner of the car she hit, which she later apologized for, and on Dec. 12, was charged by Raleigh police with misdemeanor hit-and-run and an infraction for unsafe movement.

The December crash, which didnt become public knowledge until news outlets reported the charges against Wood in mid-January, has put Wood under considerable scrutiny.

Apart from a statement Wood issued in January, in which she apologized for leaving the scene of the crash without notifying the police, Wood has mostly avoided answering questions about the crash, including why she didnt immediately call the police, and if she had been drinking during the two hours she said she was at Edmistens party.

Photos from the aftermath of a crash involving North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood show Woods black Toyota Camry slammed into, and partially resting on top of, a white Toyota Camry parked on the side of South Salisbury Street in Raleigh on the night of Dec. 8, 2022.

The case has also expanded, with police charging two additional people last week with obstructing justice in connection to the December incident.

One of them, Jonah Mendys, 26, was also charged with misdemeanor passenger failure to give information following an accident. The other person charged, Ryan McGurt, 29, faces a separate misdemeanor accessory after the fact charge.

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Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, who confirmed the charges on Wednesday, said one of the men was a passenger in Woods car at the time of the crash.

The North Carolina Republican Party, in the days after news of Woods charges was first reported, called on her to resign. Few others have joined the state GOP in calling on her to resign, however.

Prominent politicians and lawmakers from both parties, like Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and GOP Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, have instead said they believe the court process relating to Woods should play out before they comment further.

Wood, speaking to The N&O last month after a committee meeting at the Legislative Building, said she would absolutely not resign, as the state GOP has called on her to do.

That accident does not define me, nor does it take away from the phenomenal work weve done in my administration, Wood said.

Prior to news of the crash and her charges coming to light in January, Wood indicated she would run for another term in 2024. She hasnt since said if she still plans to run for reelection.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine presents his budget at the State of the State event at the Ohio Statehouse in January.

The Ohio House and Senate didn't reach an agreement this week on the state's transportation budget. Republicans remain divided over whether to hold a special election in August, and both chambers debated lowering the age to become a police officer.

We break down what it all means In this week's episode of Ohio Politics Explained. A podcast created by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau to catch you up on the state's political news in 15 minutes or less.

This week, host Anna Staver was joined by Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou.

Ohio GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou.

1) Harder to amend

The ongoing debate over whether to raise the threshold for voter changes to Ohio's constitution got a little thornier this week.

Republicans want to raise the threshold to pass a constitutional amendment from a simple majority of 50% plus one to 60%, but they can't seem to agree on when the idea should go before voters.

Senate Republicans said they'd like to call a special election in August, but House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said he doesn't support that idea.

2) Police officer age

Ohio Republicans are considering two bills that would lower the age when someone can become a police officer from 21 to 18.

"We are experiencing a workforce crisis in law enforcement across the nation and even here in Ohio," Rep. Josh Williams, R-Oregon, said. And his legislation would give local departments "more options for filling their ranks."

The change would be permissive, meaning local departments could decide whether to hire teenagers or keep their age requirements at 21.

But opponents, which include Ohio's Fraternal Order of Police, say that they aren't convinced 18-year-olds "have the maturity and experience to handle the oftentimes complex and life-altering calls officers face daily."

3) Roads and bridges

Every two years, Ohio writes a massive budget bill just for construction projects that covers everything from railway safety to vehicle registration fees.

Both the Ohio House and Senate have each passed their own version, and the two chambers have until March 31 to reach a compromise.

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The two chambers are divided on whether to spend $1 billion on rural highways, lower vehicle registration fees for plug-in hybrids, and permit Ohioans to use just their driver's license when traveling to Canada and Mexico.

4) Say goodbye to ERIC

Ohio was one of several conservative states that pulled out of a national voter registration database this week.

The Election Registration Information Center, known as ERIC, collects data from different state agencies (BMV, elections) and then shares that with all its member states in order to identify folks who have moved, died or have duplicate registrations.

It sounds straightforward, but conservatives have started to accuse the company of leaning too far left.

Listen to "Ohio Politics Explained" on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts and TuneIn Radio. The episode is also available by clicking the link in this article.

The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau serves The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio politics podcast: House, Senate disagree on special election
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning this week about a drug-resistant fungal infection it calls an urgent threat," but central Ohio health officials say basic precautions can help prevent it from spreading.

Ohio ranks ninth of 29 states in the U.S. where infections caused by Candida auris, or C. auris, yeast was identified in 2022, with 79 infections, according to the CDC.

First reported in the United States in 2016, the number of infections has grown nationwide to 3,270 through 2021, with the most rapid hike happening in 2020-21, according to a study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, when the number of times the fungus was detected  but did not cause infection  tripled to a total of 4,041.

The CDC cited many reasons for the increase, including poor general infection prevention and control practices in health care facilities, enhanced efforts to detect cases and strained health care and public health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Candida auris fungal infections:'Urgent threat': CDC warns against Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus invading health care facilities

The fungus spreads through contact with surfaces and equipment, especially in health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, or people who are infected, according to the CDC. Those at highest risk are people who have recently spent time in a nursing home and have feeding or breathing tubes or central venous catheters.

Other risk factors include recent surgery, diabetes and broad-spectrum antibiotic and antifungal use.

What is Candida auris, or C. auris?

Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungus that can cause outbreaks in health care facilities, according to the CDC.

The fungus can infect the bloodstream and even cause death by invading the blood, heart and brain, the agency said. More than 1 in 3 patients die from such an infection.

Experts say the pathogen is also dangerous because its often resistant to antifungal medicines commonly used to treat infections. Its also difficult to identify without specialized laboratory technology, and is often mistaken for other infections.

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The agency said C. auris was first identified in 2009 in Asia and has quickly spread throughout the world. Since it began spreading in the U.S. in 2015, reported cases have increased more than 300%.

Candida auris infection symptoms

C. auris doesnt always cause infection and can be carried on a patient's skin, the CDC said, allowing easier spread to others.

But when it does cause infection, the agency said, it may be difficult to identify because it most often occurs in patients who are already sick with other diseases and exhibiting symptoms.

The CDC says fever and chills that dont improve after giving antibiotics are the most common symptoms of C. auris.

From May 13, 2020, to Nov. 18, 2022, there were 285 cases of Candida auris in Ohio. Of those, all but four were near Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton.

How common is Candida auris in Ohio?

The Ohio Department of Health declined The Dispatch's request for an interview, but provided a brief overview of the fungus' prevalence across the state, which first reported a case in 2020.

From May 13, 2020, to Nov. 18, 2022, there were a combined 285 cases of C. auris in Ohio, according to state Health Department data. Of those, 95 cases resulted in infections, all but two of which were near Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton.

In February, Columbus Public Health identified one case within its jurisdiction in which the person was not sick and only found out they had the fungus after getting a random skin test, spokesperson Kelli Newman said.

"Like all things, just keep your hands and surfaces clean because we can carry it on our skin," Newman said. "We all have yeast on our skin. For the average person, it's not going to make you sick."

Fighting fungal infections

Experts say fungal infections, including C. auris, also are difficult to treat because antifungals can be harmful to humans.

That makes prevention key, said Lance B. Price, professor of environmental and occupational health and the founder and co-director of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center at George Washington University.

The scary thing about Candida auris and any of the drug-resistant fungal infections is just how difficult it is to find good, safe antifungals because people and fungi are built of the same stuff, said Price, who is not affiliated with the CDC study.

Antifungal agents also are being overused in the agricultural setting, he said, which may contribute to more drug-resistant strains.

Study authors say the rise in C. auris cases may be a result of increased surveillance efforts picking up more cases, decreased prevention efforts because of a burdened health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, or both.

Hospitals have to step up and screen patients for drug-resistant strains, isolate them, be on top of their game when it comes to infection control," Price said.

nshuda@dispatch.com; @NathanielShuda

@AdriannaUSAT

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio ranks 9th in US for drug-resistant fungus Candida auris infections
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says Xavier University should not cave in to petitioners who want the college to rescind its appointment of state Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters to "justice in residence."

In a recent guest opinion, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost offers boilerplate and tired gripes about the more than 700 students, faculty and staff calling for Xavier University to rescind Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters recent appointment to "justice in residence" ("Xavier petition to cancel Deters the opposite of higher learning," March 20).

Yost claims these petitioners wish to have Deters' views "removed from their sight and hearing" because "they've been raised in an age of cancel culture where the mere hearing of views with which one disagrees is violence." However, their rejection of Deters appointment is substantive, moral and principled. They have analyzed the views, heard the arguments and rejected the values they represent.

This is, by definition, an exchange of ideas.

While Yost grumbles that these "objections have nothing to do with values, and everything to do with politics," the publicly available petition tells a different story. Deters 2018 call for Ohio to bring back the firing squad is the primary anathema to Jesuit values that the petition raises, supported by the Vaticans condemnation of Deters for these views.

Feb 7, 2023; Columbus, OH, United States; Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters listens to oral arguments. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

Similarly, the petition disagrees with Deters dismissive caricature of calls for racial justice in policing. As we speak, the Cincinnati Police Department is embroiled in a scandal involving an established pattern of its officers using racial slurs, Black Cincinnatians are much more likely to be victims of police brutality, and Black Ohioans are imprisoned at six times the rate of their white neighbors. These objections and counterarguments are hardly about hurt feelings, but Yost deliberately mischaracterizes them as an ad hominem attack on Deters that "decrie(s) him as a racist."

Yost concludes his piece with a condescending recommendation that the petitioners read R. R. Palmers "Twelve Who Ruled," a 1941 history of the Reign of Terror (one wonders when Yosts own commitment to "higher learning" ceded to complacency). He invokes this violent phase of the French Revolution, characterized by paranoid rulers and public executions, as a cautionary tale demonstrating the dangers of "mob rule." His analogy ironically overlooks the fact that the petitioners object to Deters specifically because he called for Ohio to restore firing squads  a gruesome public display of state power designed to suppress dissent and mandate conformity echoing the Committee for Public Safetys penchant for the guillotine.

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Yost wants us to believe that a segment of a small Jesuit university asserting their wish not to confer Xaviers prestige on a justice whose views they find substantively objectionable are akin to the Reign of Terror. What he obscures is a more fitting comparison to the Committee for Public Safety: an unelected state official (Supreme Court justice) promoting capital punishment as a disciplinary spectacle and an elected official (say, an attorney general) carrying out those executions and publishing paranoid editorials about how college students are the real threat.

But Yosts letter isnt about intellectual honesty, its about propagating a fear of "cancel culture." Even if the 700-plus signatories of the petition were all students (and they are not because I signed it), this would represent a mere 10% of Xaviers student population. This is hardly a consensus, never mind a cultural crisis. But lets indulge Yosts grievance: What exactly would the consequences of Deters "cancellation" in this context be?

Rather than giving a few lectures and participating in a few events on the campus of a small private university, Deters would have to return to his part-time job as a state Supreme Court Justice. A cancelled Deters would have to settle for expressing his views as part of a conservative majority that will decide major cases that affect 12 million Ohioans.

Yosts complaint forms part of a generations-long cycle of conservatives bemoaning how college students reject the orthodoxy of previous generations  or, to put it differently, how younger generations get exposed to new ideas, produce new knowledge, and bring new insights based on a world that is materially different than it was when Yost was reading an already dusty copy of "Twelve Who Ruled" on campus.

R.J. Boutelle is assistant professor of English at the University of Cincinnati.

R.J. Boutelle

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Deters' defenders try to invoke fear of cancel culture
Virginia Philip Wine, Spirits & Academy recommends five different wines for Passover: Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand; Domaine des Malandes Kosher Chablis Cuvee Amandine, France; Segal Chardonnay Special Reserve Kosher, Israel; Barons Edmond & Benjamin Rothschild Kosher, Haut Medoc; and Domaine du Castel Petit Castel, Israel.

As Passover approaches, wine experts in Palm Beach are fielding inquiries about whats becoming quite a topic of interest these days: kosher wines.

Once associated for years with sweet wine, kosher wine now is produced by worldwide winemakers turning out chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and more.

Im usually asked about kosher wines every week now and its exciting to talk about, said Collin Stewart, a sommelier at Virginia Philip Wine, Spirits & Academy in the Royal Poinciana Plaza.

Collin Stewart, sommelier, Virginia Philip Wine, Spirits and Academy.

More:Landmark Palm Beach restaurant gets eviction notice. Is the popular eatery closing?

"There are some really good kosher wines available, Stewart said. The response (from customers) has been one of joy over the range thats offered.

Its no coincidence The French Wine Merchant in The Paramount Center is set to host its first kosher wine tasting at 5:30 p.m. March 30 as part of its Thursday tasting events, owner Maurice Amiel said.

Maurice Amiel, owner, The French Wine Merchant.

The fact is there is a huge demand for kosher wine now and I can see it with my customers, said Amiel. Because of demand, winemakers in almost every country  from Chile to France  are making kosher wine.

Many people enjoy kosher-certified wine during Passover, which this year is April 5 to 13.

More:Here are five of the best takeout sandwiches in Palm Beach

The highlight of the holiday is the seder, a meal filled with symbolic foods, tradition and storytelling of the Jewish exodus from Egypt.

Wine plays a key role during the seder, which calls for the consumption of four cups of wine, each representing a point in the Exodus story.

How does kosher wine differ from non-kosher wine? Certainly not in the taste, said Jay Buchsbaum, executive vice president of marketing and director of wine education at New Jersey-based Royal Wine Corp., a leading U.S. purveyor of kosher wines.

Jay Buchsbaum, director of wine education, Royal Wine Corp.

While kosher wine once was associated with sweet-tasting wine, many kosher wines now are award-winning, beating out their non-kosher competitors for top varietal prizes, including cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and roses as well, Buchsbaum said.

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For a wine to be made kosher, strictly supervised purity guidelines must be followed from the moment grapes enter the winery to when the wine is bottled, he noted in a press release.

More:The best Palm Beach restaurants for these classic seafood dishes

During the wine-making process, theres rabbinical oversight and the wine is handled by Sabbath-observant Jews.

Any ingredients used, including yeasts, must be kosher.

Not all kosher wines are acceptable for Passover.

For instance, kosher wines for Passover cannot be made using yeast that has grown on bread; they also cant use certain additives and must exclude common preservatives.

All kosher bottles of wine produced, marketed and sold commercially should bear on their labels or elsewhere a kosher certification granted by a specially-trained rabbi responsible for supervision from start to finish.

With so many kosher-wine options available, deciding which ones to serve for Passover can be challenging, but its also a reason to explore and enjoy, Stewart of the Virginia Philip wine shop said.

The Daily News asked Virginia Philips shop, The French Wine Merchant and Royal Wine Corp. for kosher-wine recommendations for Passover.

Virginia Philip Wine, Spirits and Academy:

 Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $24.99: Its a nice entry into spring with bright and citrusy notes, Stewart said.

 Segal Chardonnay Special Reserve Kosher, Israel, $24.99: Its more full-bodied and round, with vanilla and oak (notes), Stewart said.

 Domaine des Malandes Kosher Chablis Cuvee Amandine, France, 34.99: Perfect if you want something crisp, lean and bright, Stewart said.

 Barons Edmond & Benjamin Rothschild Kosher, Haut Medoc, $38.99: This is a cabernet with backbone and structure. Its a plush wine and the Rothschild family is well known for its wines.

 Domaine du Castel Petit Castel, Israel, $65.99: This is a Bordeaux blend that is full-bodied and a good higher-end choice, Stewart said.

The French Wine Merchant:

 Chateau Camplay Bordeaux Superieur, France, $29.99. This wine is very smooth, round and supple, Amiel said.

Chateau Camplay Bordeaux Superieur is 'round' and 'supple,' says The French Wine Merchant's Maurice Amiel.

 Chateau Fontainebleau Rose de Provence, France, $30. Its very light and very pleasant to drink, Amiel said.

 Chateau Vieux Lavergne Sant-Emilion, France, $80. Its mostly Merlot so it is very smooth and could even be enjoyed as an aperitif, Amiel said.

 Domaine Condorcet Cuvee Anais Chateauneuf du Pape, France, $85. This is a very complex wine with a long finish, he said.

Domaine Condorcet Cuvee Anais Chateauneuf du Pape is 'complex.'

 Louis de Sacy Brut Grand Cru Champagne, France, $110. Its delightful to drink with food or on its own during a celebration, Amiel said.

Royal Wine Corp.:

 Herzog Lineage Malbec, California, $19.99: This is fruit-forward  and eminently drinkable, Royal Wines expert Gabriel Geller said.

Gabriel Geller, wine expert and public relations director, Royal Wine Corp.

 Elvi Sangria Red and White, Spain, $9.99: These delightful, well-made sangria are a must (for) any festive meal, Geller said.

Carmel Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon is 'rich yet food friendly,' says Gabriel Geller of Royal Wine.

 Carmel Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Israel, $14.99: A popular line of value wines (that are) rich yet food friendly.

 Edmond de Rothschild Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $24.99: This is an incredible sauvignon blanc featuring the best of the celebrated Marlborough region, Geller said.

Psagot Sinai White is 'elegant and fruity,' according to Royal Wine Corp.

 Psagot Sinai White, Israel, $24.99: A refreshing, aromatic, elegant and fruity blend, bursting with aromas and flavors of melon and pear.

 Carmel Buzz Pineapple Moscato, Israel, $10.99: Fun and refreshing  perfect for parties and family meals, Geller said.

Carmel Buzz Pineapple Moscato is 'fun and refreshing.'

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach wine merchant: Huge demand now for kosher wines
Hours before items once owned by the Murdaugh family were to be auctioned off, PETA asked that hunting trophies and other items it considered questionable be donated to its own museum.

The sale was scheduled to be held Thursday evening by Liberty Auctions, an auction house in Pembroke, Georgia, showcasing several items including a leather sofa set, dishware, and other furniture that previously belonged to the family of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh.

Some of the items included turtle-shell lamps and various mounted hunting trophies, including more than a dozen deer antler mounts, which caught the attention of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an organization known for its protests against animal cruelty and mistreatment.

Ingrid Newkirk, the organizations president, sent a letter Thursday to Liberty Auction owner Lori Mattingly asking her to reconsider putting the items for sale. Instead, Newkirk said in the letter, the items should instead be donated to PETAs Museum of Atrocities Against Animals.

Violence should have no place in our society, and were hoping youll donate the tortoise-shell lamps, mounted heads, and other decorations created at the expense of animals lives, Newkirk said in the letter. Your donation would help educate people about the trade in exotic-animal parts and hunting and encourage them to value kindness over cruelty.

PETA asks Georgia auction house in charge of selling household items from Murdaugh family home to donate hunting trophies, animal heads instead of selling them Thursday.

PETA officials have been working on the museum, which is meant to educate, for the past few years and are still compiling items for its collection, said spokesperson Ashley Byrne. Some items already cataloged include a monkey fur coat, circus whips and photos documenting PETA investigations into fur farms.

I really do think we should give thought to how future generations will view our treatment of animals, Byrne said. Its a worthwhile project because our values have already changed a lot in regard to how we treat animals, and they will continue to change.

PETA had not heard back from Mattingly or Liberty Auctions as of Thursday afternoon.

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A representative from Liberty Auctions could not immediately be reached for comment about PETAs request.

Turtle lamps among personal items from Murdaugh family home listed for sale at auction Thursday in Pembroke Georgia.

Murdaugh background

Alex Murdaugh, whose prominent family created a legal dynasty in South Carolinas Lowcountry for over a century, was given two life sentences earlier this month for killing his wife and son, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, in June 2021. His attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, have filed a notice of appeal with the courts.

Murdaugh also faces charges for over 100 financial crimes for money stolen from clients he represented as an attorney and from the law firm where he worked and that his family started.

The trial garnered nationwide media attention and documentaries from several media giants including CNN, HBO and Netflix. In addition to the murders, the multi-episode series also focus on the deaths of people close to the family including the family housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield; Mallory Beach, Paul Murdaughs classmate who died in a 2019 boat crash; and Stephen Smith, a classmate of Murdaughs oldest son, Buster, who was previously thought to have died in a 2015 hit-and-run.

Beachs family has filed a multimillion-dollar wrongful death lawsuit against several Murdaugh family members and Parkers gas station for allegedly selling alcohol the day of the crash to Paul Murdaugh while he was underage. A trial for the lawsuit is set to begin on Aug. 14.

Earlier this week, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said it now considers Smiths death a homicide and the investigation is ongoing. In a statement via his lawyers earlier this week, Buster Murdaugh denied any involvement in Smiths death.

A GoFundMe set up by the Smith family to raise money to perform an independent exhumation of the 19-year-olds body and start a new investigation has raised over $100,000 of its $15,000 goal as of Thursday.
The SEC just charged Justin Sun, the crypto CEO who bid $4.6 million on lunch with Warren Buffett, with fraud. Here's everything you need to know about him.

Justin Sun/Twitter

Justin Sun, who branded himself as a "crypto whiz kid," was charged by the SEC with fraud and other securities violations.

The CEO of Tron and BitTorrent first gained attention after winning a $4.6 million charity lunch with Warren Buffett.

Here's what you need to know about the 32-year-old crypto entrepreneur.

Sun grew up in a rural province of China.

Tron CEO Justin Sun Reuters

According to reporting from The Verge, Sun left home at a young age to study the strategy game Go in Wuhan. The Verge, citing a former employee of Sun's, said he described his mother as a "tiger mom" and his father as a "penny-pincher."

Sun attended a business school founded by Alibaba executive chairman Jack Ma.

Sun with Alibaba's Jack Ma. Instagram/Justin Sun

Sun's oldest photo on Instagram shows him receiving a certificate from Ma. "Inspired by the best to shape the future for the better," the caption reads.

Sun was the youngest member of the inaugural class at Hupan University, a Chinese business school founded by Ma in 2015, according to the South China Morning Post. Ma recruited 30 students who he believed could revolutionize the Chinese business world. Sun wrote his thesis on the blockchain industry, titled "The Birth of a Decentralized Internet," SCMP said. He graduated from Hupan in 2018.

Sun attended a prestigious Ivy League school for graduate studies.

f11photo/Shutterstock

Sun graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree in history in 2011, according to his LinkedIn page. Peking is China's second-best university, according to Times Higher Education's World University Rankings. Two years later, Sun earned a master's degree in political economy from the University of Pennsylvania, one of eight prestigious US colleges that make up the Ivy League.

He began his career at a San Francisco-based crypto company.

Justin Sun attends Consensus 2019 Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Sun joined Ripple Labs as a chief representative and adviser in Greater China at the end of 2013, according to an older version of his LinkedIn page. He worked at the cryptocurrency startup  which has received backing from Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and other blue-chip investors  for just over two years.

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Sun founded an app called Peiwo, which translates to "accompany me," that same year. The app aspired to become China's Snapchat and matched users by analyzing 10-second voice clips, according to Forbes. The app was ultimately kicked off both the Android and Apple app stores and banned from China for disrupting "socialist values," according to the Verge.

Justin Sun Yuchen, founder of Tron and CEO of BitTorrent, speaks during Ifeng Finance Summit at China World Summit Wing on November 4, 2015 in Beijing, China. Getty Images/Visual China Group

The app aspired to become China's Snapchat and matched users by analyzing 10-second voice clips, according to Forbes. The app was ultimately kicked off both the Android and Apple app stores and banned from China for disrupting "socialist values," according to the Verge.

In July 2017, he founded the blockchain company, Tron.

BitTorrent billboard. BitTorrent

Tron is a blockchain company with its own cryptocurrency that is "dedicated to building the infrastructure for a truly decentralized Internet," his LinkedIn page states. Less than a year later, Tron acquired BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file-sharing service, for around $126 million, according to TechCrunch. Sun currently serves as CEO of Peiwo, Tron, and BitTorrent, now known as Rainberry.

Sun has a powerful presence on social media.

Screengrab of Justin Sun's Twitter page. Twitter

Sun has amassed 3.4 million Twitter followers. He's also posted pictures of himself posing with celebrities such as Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Forbes included Sun in its 30 under 30 Asia list in 2017, and in its 30 under 30 China list from 2015 to 2017, Sun wrote on his LinkedIn page.

He gained national attention for winning a charity auction lunch with Warren Buffett

Sun met with Buffett in 2020. YouTube / University of NebraskaLincoln

In 2019, Sun bid $4.57 million on an eBay-sponsored charity lunch with Warren Buffett. Sun said he planned to use the meal to convert Buffett, a notorious skeptic of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, into a true believer. Buffett has said Bitcoin has "no unique value" and will ultimately become worthless, and derided it as a "delusion" and "rat poison squared."

Sun postponed the dinner with Buffett, citing kidney stones. However, the Verge reported that the lunch was initially canceled due to pressure from the Chinese government.

One year later, Sun had dinner with Buffett, inviting several key players in the crypto community.

Sun initially postponed his meeting with Buffett. Charlie Rose

Sun executed a full-court press on Buffett during their dinner in January 2020. He invited eToro founder and CEO Yoni Assia, Litecoin creator Charlie Lee, and other crypto advocates to dine with them. He also gave Buffett a smartphone loaded with Bitcoin and Tron, although Buffett later said he doesn't own any cryptocurrencies.

Sun has engaged in attention-grabbing stunts.

5,000 everydays artwork by Beeple, which was sold at Christie's auction house for $69 million. Reuters

Aside from Sun's winning bid for a meal with Buffett, he has engaged in other high-profile stunts, such as giving away free Teslas in Twitter sweepstakes and coming in second place in a record-breaking $69 million Christie's auction of an NFT by digital artist Beeple.

Sun has gained a reputation as a controversial figure.

Justin Sun paid millions of dollars to join one of Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin space trips. Associated Press

After Sun announced he was rescheduling his lunch with Buffett, Chinese news outlet Caixin reported he was being held in China over accusations of illegal fundraising, gambling, money laundering, and pornography activities, citing a report by the 21st Century Business Herald.

Sun dismissed the allegations on Weibo and said he was being treated for kidney stones. "The illegal network fundraising was not true," he wrote in Mandarin, adding that Tron "actively cooperated" with authorities to comply with regulatory requirements. He added that Tron complied with laws and regulations in Singapore, where it's located, and the money-laundering allegation was "not true."

However, in March 2022, the Verge reported that Sun has a long history of bending financial laws in the US and China, and collected passports in countries like Malta, Guinea-Bissau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, saying that he would escape to one if the law ever caught up with him.

Sun jumped on the meme-stock bandwagon in 2021.

Justin Sun speaks at a conference. Getty Images/Visual China Group

Sun invested $10 million in GameStop and $1 million in each of AMC and the iShares Silver Trust during the meme-stock frenzy in January 2021. He told Bloomberg that the Wall Street Bets movement represented a "paradigm shift" in finance and suggested memes are the new fundamentals for the next generation of investors.

In March 2023, Sun was charged by the SEC with fraud and other securities law violations.

Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan were also charged by the SEC. KGC-03/STAR MAX/IPx

The SEC charged Sun and three of his companies, Tron Foundation, BitTorrent Foundation, and Rainberry, formerly BitTorrent, with the unregistered offer and sale of crypto asset securities. Sun was also charged with fraudulently manipulating the price of his cryptocurrency, TRX.

The SEC also charged several celebrities who worked with Sun's companies, including Lindsay Lohan and Jake Paul.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro suffered his first major setback in congress after the government withdrew a proposed bill to overhaul the political system.

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Petros Historic Pact movement had called on the government to recall the bill sent to congress last year. In its original version, the bill would have made political campaigns entirely state-funded and introduced a system whereby voters would have to back a party rather than an individual in elections in which 50% of candidates were women.

Todays decision represents the first defeat of a major bill since Petro took office last August, according to Andres Mejia a political consultant who teaches at the business school of Bogotas Los Andes University.

This shows that the coalition does not operate as a bloc that could easily allow the government to push through the coming reforms, Mejia said.

Investors are trying to gauge Petros strength in congress to see how likely it is that hell be able to pass a series of bills intended to overhaul the nations conservative economic model. Petros pension bill, in particular, is seen as negative for Colombian assets, since it would cut the flow of money to private pension funds who are among the biggest players in the local market.

In the political reform, lawmakers cut many of Petros original initiatives and added others, such as allowing members of congress to become ministers.

Interior Minister Alfonso Prada told lawmakers that the administration will present another initiative to transform the political system.

Fragmented Coalition

Some of Petros allies in the ruling coalition have dissented from plans such as granting the government a bigger role in the health system, or the holding talks with cocaine trafficking and guerrilla groups in the pursuit of so-called Total Peace.

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The Conservative Party on Wednesday said it will not support a government labor reform, which was intended to increase overtime pay and other workers rights.

This will force the government to give up a lot in the reforms it has sent to Congress. It is a coalition that is increasingly fragmenting, said Sergio Guzman, director of Colombia Risk Analysis.

(Adds withdraw of bill from first paragraph)

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BLACKSTONE  The first of nine military installations to be renamed through a Congressional directive changed its name Friday from a Confederate general to a World War II Medal of Honor recipient who began his military career at that post.

Fort Pickett, on the outskirts of Blackstone in Nottoway County, officially became Fort Barfoot in an hour-long ceremony in a hangar at the Blackstone Army Airfield. As a breezy blew through the hangars open door, members of Col. Van T. Barfoots family joined Virginia National Guard leaders and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, unveiled the new sign that will be put up at the posts main gate just off state Route 40.

Barfoot, a Mississippi native who began his decades-long military career at what was then Camp Pickett, was awarded the Medal of Honor for singlehandedly taking out three Nazi machine gun nests, stopping three panzer tanks and capturing 17 prisoners on May 23, 1944 near Carano, Italy. In addition to serving in World War II, he also saw action in Korea and Vietnam before retiring and becoming an advocate for veterans services.

Maj. Gen. Tim Williams, adjutant general of the Virginia National Guard, called Barfoot a selfless servant whose name best suits the mission and training at the post by the Virginia National Guard. The Guard took over management of the fort in 1997 when the U.S. Army garrison there was inactivated.

The name will change, but I guarantee the mission will not, Williams said. The next generation of warriors will be trained here.

Barfoot

Fort Barfoot became the first military post to have its name changed under a directive of the 2020 Defense Authorization spending bill. At that time, Congress directed nine military installations across the South to remove the names of Confederate Civil War heroes and replace them with more socially inclusive names. Fort Pickett was originally named after Maj. Gen George Pickett, a Richmond native who led Southern forces at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 that many historians claim turned the tide of the Civil War from the Confederacy to the union.

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Welcome to Fort Barfoot, Lt. Gen. Jon Jansen, director of the Army National Guard, said to thunderous applause from hundreds of people gathered in the airfield hangar.

Barfoot died in 2012 at the age of 92. His daughter, Margaret Nicholls, said her family was proud of the man we called Dad, Granddad and Great-Granddad. Nicholls spoke of her fathers devotion to veterans affairs from the time he retired in 1974 until his death.

He loved God, country and especially his family, Nicholls said.

Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recalled three years ago when the panel was drafting the defense spending bill when Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, suggested adding the renaming amendment to the spending package. Originally, he said, there was resistance to the amendment because some in the room felt they were only trying to rewrite history.

There is a difference between writing or rewriting history, and choosing whose names to honor, Kaine said. After hours of discussion, the committee voted 27-1 to agree to the amendment.

The Naming Commission, the Pentagon panel put in charge of the task, started with 3,663 names, whittling it down to 2,380 names, then 461 and then 87 before deciding the final nine names to go on the posts. Two of the commission members were in attendance for the ceremony, and Kaine asked them to stand, joking, I dont know how you did it!

Honoring his heritage

The name-change ceremony was partly a nod to Barfoots military service and partly a nod to his Native American heritage. Barfoots grandmother was a member of the Choctaw nation in Oklahoma.

Choctaw representatives joined their Virginia brethren in a traditional dance honoring Barfoot. Some of Barfoots family members were asked to join in the four-minute event that saw them parade around the hangar while a band played traditional tribal music.

Prior to the ceremony, the Native Americans performed a separate dance before placing the colors of their nations behind the podium.

The rest of the name changes will take place beginning April 27 when Fort Lee in Prince George County becomes Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of retired Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and the late Col. Charity Adams, two Blacks who rose to high ranks in the Army.

More:Fort Lee officially gets its new name, Fort Gregg-Adams, next month

Jensen, the National Guard director, said those ceremonies will be well-planned but they will not have the same aura that the Fort Barfoot ceremony had. He thanked the Native Americans in attedance for that.

'None will be this special or this unique," Jensen said.

Fort Barfoot is located in Nottoway County, about 30 miles west of Petersburg.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Va. National Guard post is first to change Confederate name
Prince William and Kate Middleton put duty first. Seen here they are attending the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service

Prince William and Kate Middleton put duty first as they appear to have been absent from Lady Amelia Spencers wedding for important reason.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arent reported as being at the wedding of Princess Dianas niece, Lady Amelia Spencer.

Although the exact date of the wedding isnt known, the day it was confirmed both Prince William and Kate Middleton had royal duties.

This royal news comes as we revealed how Princess Eugenie is following Harry and Meghan's example when it comes to royal life.

Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding day back in 2011 was attended by over a thousand guests, including the late Princess Dianas niece Lady Amelia Spencer. The Prince of Wales is understood to have maintained a close bond with his maternal relatives and his cousin Lady Amelia has now tied the knot herself. On March 21, Hello! reported that Lady Amelia Spencer married her partner of 14 years, Greg Mallett, in a fairytale ceremony in South Africa.

Amongst the guests who its claimed attended their special day were the brides brother Sam and her sisters, Lady Eliza and Lady Kitty. However, two notable relatives not mentioned as being in Cape Town for her nuptials were the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, delivers a speech at the inaugural meeting of new Business Taskforce for Early Childhood

Admittedly, its not known exactly when Lady Amelia married though if it was the same day as the report then both the future King and Queen Consort were carrying out royal duties. On March 21, Kate Middletons bright white blazer wowed us at the inaugural meeting of a new Business Taskforce for Early Childhood. This has been described as the next chapter of the Shaping Us project which aims to highlight the importance of the first five years of life in shaping our futures.

Meanwhile, as per The Mirror, the Court Circular reportedly stated that Prince William held a meeting in his capacity as President of the Earthshot Prize. He was also likely preparing for another major trip as the Prince of Wales touched down in Poland on March 22. Although logistically its possible that he couldve attended his cousins wedding in South Africa and then flown there, this would have been a long journey ahead of this important visit which was requested by the UK government.

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A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales) A photo posted by on

The Prince and Princess of Wales social media accounts have also shared a sweet post as the future King met both British and Polish troops. Expressing his extreme gratitude, the caption stated he had only made the trip over that day, perhaps again suggesting that hed flown from the UK and not South Africa.

This afternoon I travelled to Poland to meet British and Polish troops, where I heard about their extraordinary work in support of Ukraine, he declared. My message to them on behalf of all of us, thank you!

During his time in Poland, Prince William, who is first in the royal line of succession, also visited an accommodation shelter that has been doing vital work helping to provide shelter for refugees.

Prince William, Prince of Wales listens at an accommodation centre during his visit to Poland

Praising the generosity of the Polish people, the future King spoke of how the volunteers and welcoming community were doing so much to help the 300 Ukrainian women and children staying there.

Prince Williams visit will be two days long and as per the BBC, he will also be meeting with President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace and will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. This important monument is dedicated to unknown Polish soldiers who have lost their lives in conflicts.
MIDDLETOWN  Twenty years ago, the United States conducted the first airstrikes of what would come to be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. What started as shock and awe eventually gave way to a slogging occupation, and the prolonged US presence in Iraq took a heavy toll on Iraqi civilians and US servicemembers alike.

Brown Universitys Costs of War project indicates around 200,000 Iraqi civilians perished in the conflict, along with over 45,000 Iraqi military and police personnel and 4,598 members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Three men from Newport County paid the ultimate price in service to the United States of America, but their names and the memory of their sacrifice will live on.

Sgt. Christopher S. Potts, US Army National Guard, age 38

Potts lived with his wife and two sons in Tiverton and had deep roots on Aquidneck Island. His father is from Portsmouth, and his mother hails from Middletown. He worked for years as a marine mechanic at New England Boatworks in Portsmouth before being deployed to Iraq, and served in the Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery of the Rhode Island National Guard for over 14 years. He died in a firefight on his 38th birthday.

Teammates of Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts unveil the softball field's new sign during a ceremony on July 22, 2006.

His sacrifice is commemorated to this day with a sign at what has become known as Pottsy Field on West Main Road in Middletown. When Middletowns Veterans War Memorial Committee raised the request to rename the local softball complex in memoriam for Potts, it also kickstarted the creation of the Middletown Veterans Memorial in Paradise Valley Park, which honors US veterans from all branches of service and was dedicated in November 2019.

Sgt. Michael R. Weidemann, US Army, age 23

Weidemann was born in Canada, but grew up in Newport. A 2001 graduate of Rogers High School, Weidemann was an honor student in the automotive technology program at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center and a member of the Rogers JROTC program. He enlisted in the Army the month after his high school graduation and was a member of the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, stationed in Giessen, Germany.

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Some gave all:Honor those who served with a visit to war memorials across Newport County

Weidemann, who was the first Newport resident to lose his life in Iraq, received several posthumous medals including both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. In 2008, the city of Newport named a street after him; Sergeant Weidemann Lane is in Newport Heights, the neighborhood where he grew up.

Nathan J. Schuldheiss, US Air Force, age 27

Special Agent Nathan "Ned" Schuldheiss was a civilian counterintelligence specialist assigned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 204 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Newport was his hometown, but he grew up in different places following his fathers postings as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. After graduating high school in New Mexico and completing his bachelors degree in Washington state, Schuldheiss returned to Rhode Island to study law before deciding to enlist.

The Iraq War:Looking back at the Iraq War 15 years later

In a 2007 speech on the floor of the US Congress, Rep. James Langevin said:

Those that knew Special Agent Schuldheiss remember his sense of humor, his leadership, his loyalty, and his sense of adventure. Most importantly, he had a positive impact on those around him. His loss certainly causes us all to reflect on the bravery demonstrated by our men and women who carry out their obligations in the face of danger. When Special Agent Schuldheiss's Nation called him to duty to preserve freedom, liberty and security, he answered without hesitation. We will remember him as a patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Iraq War 20th anniversary: Remembering those from Newport County
Resident Evil 4 remake

The latest slice of Resident Evil 4 remake footage shows Leon Kennedy storming the gates of Salazar's Castle with Ashley Graham in tow. In his bid to keep the US president's daughter safe, he shoots a zombified clergyman between the eyes through the lens of a sniper rifle. He floors another man with a form-perfect roundhouse kick. As the latter body hits the deck, Leon unloads a shotgun on the poor bastard at point-blank range before, moments later, he stuns another with a flash bang before slitting his throat with a combat knife.

In the throes of the frantic melee, burning projectiles rain down on the pair as they sprint from pillar to post, and suitably theatrical action film music rumbles along in the background. "No way! They have catapults?!" Ashley says, stating the absolute obvious. "I guess this is their idea of a warm welcome," Leon replies. It's twee, it's ham-fisted, and it's perfect  the Resident Evil 4 remake has reintroduced the cheesy B-movie charm missing from recent games, and it's glorious. And that's before our latest look at an overhauled Ramon Salazar, the giant claw-wielding Garrador, and a suplex technique that'd make Brock Lesnar proud.

Action, man

Resident Evil 4 Remake

BOLD MEDAL

Resident Evil 4 remake

Resident Evil 4 feels like Capcom's boldest remake so far

As we march towards the Resident Evil 4 remake release date of March 24, I thought I'd already seen everything I needed to see. Like many players of the first game, the 2005 original holds a special place in my heart  and while I can't quite believe it's been 18 years since our first trip to that unnamed Spanish mountain village, when news of an official return dropped a couple of years ago, I was sold from the outset. Capcom's stellar work in reimagining Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 for modern hardware (in 2019 and 2020 respectively) has heaped a degree of pressure on the devs this time around, but the standards set there also act as a baseline moving forward.

We were given a glimpse of how a third-person, rural-set Resident Evil with fast-moving zombies might work with last year's Resident Evil Village: Shadow of Rose DLC, and from what we've seen so far, the RE4 remake is borrowing from some of the best quality of life features from the series' most recent outings  not least stealth kills and D-pad-activated weapon shortcuts. It all looks gorgeous too, of course, and the latest footage shows how certain memorable battles will play out slightly differently from their original counterparts. The brutal fight with the Garrador, for example, once kicked off inside a suite deep inside Salazar's Castle with fancy rugs and floor-standing candle holders  however this time unfolds in the bowels of cellar-meets-torture chamber-looking hole, whose concrete walls are smeared with with blood, and whose wooden beams are dressed with chains and shackles.

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It's a subtle switch that helps contextualize the setting better than before. Sure, pretty much everything about this sprawling fortress tucked away in the Valdelobos mountain region of Spain is weird (not least the twisted castelan host himself) but it definitely makes more sense that this plaga-augmented Garrdor monstrosity would be tucked away from view, housed in a cellar jail and left to feast on the castle's most unfortunate prisoners. Salazar's visual overhaul  gray hair, pale face, varicose veins lurching up his neck and all  is another notable tweak that merges old with new; as is the fact that the Krausser knife fight scene will now unfold in real-time, no longer resigned to an awkward button-bashing QTE set-piece.

Peak of powers

Resident Evil 4 Remake

"For me, these flashes of humor and levity only added to what made RE4 so special all those years ago".

One thing I'm pleased hasn't been tinkered with too much here, though, is the original Resident Evil 4's cheesiness. Not that Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil: Village are best known for their super-serious narratives, but the series has definitely made strides towards darker, more supernatural-leaning tales in recent times, the likes of Village's House Beneviento being a perfect example of this. The aforementioned quips when the world around Leon and Ashley is literally burning around them, on the other hand, are great  as is Leon opting to suplex his zombie foes, despite his advanced weapons training and readily available arsenal of high-caliber firearms. For me, these flashes of humor and levity only added to what made RE4 so special all those years ago.

For a number of reasons, it seems unlikely that 2009's Resident Evil 5 will be given the same remake treatment as its forerunners, which, coupled with how adored RE4 still is today almost 20 years on, gives the Resident Evil 4 remake a sort of end-of-the-line-type feeling. The Resident Evil 2 remake was a revelation. The Resident Evil 3 remake, while not as revolutionary, was an impressive modernization of its middling source material. There's scope of another full OG Resident Evil reimagining, and the same applies to Zero and Code Veronica, but, now on the cusp of Resident Evil 4's modern rework, this all feels like Capcom at the peak of its remaster powers  in all its cheesy, B-movie glory. Roll on March 24.

The best horror games are here to scare your socks off
In this handout photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, a Russian army's howitzer fires at Ukrainian troops at an undisclosed location. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Belarus is training Russian troops despite its army being "much less-experienced," the UK MOD said.

Russia resorted to this after its own training system was upended by the war in Ukraine, it said.

Most of Russia's instructors are deployed in Ukraine, according to UK intelligence.

Russia has been forced to rely on neighboring Belarus to train some of its troops, with many of its own instructors now deployed to Ukraine, according to UK intelligence. This despite Belarus' military being much less experienced.

The UK Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update on Friday that the move showed how Russia's usual training system had been upended by its invasion of Ukraine.

"The fact Russia has resorted to training its personnel under the much less-experienced Belarusian army highlights how Russia's 'special military operation' has severely dislocated the Russian military's training system  instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine," it said.

The UK MOD said that Russia likely deployed at least 1,000 troops in March 2023 that were trained at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground in Belarus.

Belarus, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, is considered Russia's closest ally. The country is viewed as a Russian puppet state, and has allowed Russian troops to train there and use the country as a transit point into Ukraine.

The training of Russian troops has been heavily scrutinized since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Some were sent to Ukraine with less than ten days of training, The New York Times reported in October, and many died soon after.

The UK MOD also said that Russia had political reasons for training troops in Belarus. "Russia likely also views Belarus's continued indirect support to the operation as important political messaging," it said.

"Russia has highly likely left the tented camp in place, suggesting it is considering continuing the training programme," it added

Belarus has not sent its own troops to fight in Ukraine. But it has allowed Russian ballistic missiles to be launched into Ukraine from Belarusian territory, and the countries have undertaken joint training exercises.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A group of South Carolina Republican lawmakers are looking to join a handful of other states that have passed restrictions on certain medical care for transgender children.

A Republican-led Senate panel on Thursday held the first of what is slated to be a much longer two-part public hearing next Wednesday, gathering testimony from South Carolina doctors and transgender adults, some of whom testified that the legislation negatively and unfairly targets transgender and nonbinary people.

One Senate proposal  S.623  filed by Senate Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, would restrict a persons ability to change their gender on their birth certificate from only male to female or vice versa. Another bill  S. 627, also filed by Verdin with more than 20 co-sponsors  would prohibit children from receiving any type of gender reassignment procedure, including puberty-blocking drugs.

This (bill) doesnt prevent anybody from having a gender reassignment surgery or hormone replacement therapy as an adult, said state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, a co-sponsor of S. 627. It is about protecting the innocence of kids, and I think thats appropriate.

Gender-affirming care, including reassignment surgery, is not expressly banned in South Carolina. However, doctors testified Thursday that medical providers choose not to perform surgery on minors  leading Democratic Sens. Brad Hutto, of Orangeburg, and Kevin Johnson, of Clarendon, to question the point of the bill.

I think Ive heard you say that no one in South Carolina is currently performing this procedure on minors, correct, Johnson asked a pediatrician. Makes me wonder why were even here.

An increasing number of Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country have introduced and passed copy-cat legislation that would restrict gender affirming care for minors  a push that contrasts with the opinions of several major medical associations, namely the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Advocates for the transgender community said the push is nothing more than political and, if passed, could restrict how doctors care for their patients and hurt the mental health of many trans youth.

Greg Green, a trans man, said though he lost his job as a police officer while transitioning as an adult, it was the right decision to make.

Now, Im a parent who has a child whos 11-years-old, and I know whats best for my son, Green said. So I urge that you vote no on bill 627, and allow parents and households to continue making decisions that are best for them.

Columbia pediatrician Dr. Deborah Greenhouse told senators Thursday that shes recently seen children who have attempted suicide because of depression, anxiety and isolation, which she said plagues transgender youth as they go through puberty.

I referred these adolescents for counseling and, in some cases, referred them for specific gender-affirming care, Greenhouse said, adding that care for young children does not include medication or surgery. It includes listening to, educating and supporting the child and family.

Speaking in favor of the bill Thursday included two adults who had undergone gender reassignment surgery and said they later regretted it. Both testified they got the procedure after they turned 18 and neither received the procedure in South Carolina.

One doctor also spoke in support of the bill, orthopedic surgeon Richard McCain, who argued puberty blockers mentally harms children.

Up until age 7, (my son) thought he was basically Ironman, and was always telling me he was Ironman because thats what children do, they think that they have all this imagination and energy, Kimbrell said. My point is that under a certain age, kids do not know what they want to be, and society has an obligation to protect the innocence of those kids.

But Greenhouse said Kimbrell was conflating two different issues.

With all respect, its not about thinking youre Ironman, Greenhouse said. I have two daughters, and one of them was convinced that she was every single one of the Disney princesses when she was little. That is not what were talking about here; it is not the same thing.
Last week Christine Nordstrom sent a cryptic text to her 20-year-old daughter, Annika, a second-year student at New College of Florida.

Its done.

Sarasota resident Christine Nordstrom, seated, and her daughter, Annika Nordstrom. Annika recently decided to transfer from New College of Florida to Rollins College in Orlando - a move both Annika and Christine say was driven by concerns over New College's future. Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis overhauled the public liberal arts college's leadership with an eye toward making New College a replica of Hillsdale College, a private, conservative Christian school in Michigan.

With that Annika Nordstroms educational path took a sharp detour as she committed to transferring to Rollins, a private college in Orlando. The decision was catalyzed by Gov. Ron De Santiss determination to make over Floridas public and nontraditional honors school in the image of Michigans private and conservative Hillsdale College.

Like many of her peers, Annika first learned of changes on the horizon at New College in early January, through an email chain that urged students to look at the social media feeds of new board members Christopher Rufo and Eddie Speir.

I was shocked by what I read, Annika says. As a student, it was really scary.

Christine Nordstrom, a Sarasota resident since 2001 and a small business owner, has deep roots in the community and many friends who are New College alumni or current faculty. She tried to have an open mind before the new board first met, but she also had a daughter who was upset, crying and worried about her future.

Contact Carrie Seidman at carrie.seidman@gmail.com or 505-238-0392. Follow her on Twitter @CarrieSeidman and Facebook at facebook.com/cseidman.

She and Annika made an exploratory trip to Rollins, her daughters second choice school as a senior at the intimate Prew Academy, Sarasotas oldest private school. They learned Annika could make a transfer in her area of concentration (psychology) only if she had two full years remaining, so a swift decision was necessary.

Transferring wasnt simple. New College students create their own schedules so Annika had some credits that Rollins wouldnt accept and lacked others that were required. Getting a GPA was also challenging since NCF students receive narrative rather than letter grades. And losing her current scholarships (one of which, the Barancik Leadership scholarship, was administered by the abolished DEI department) meant Annika realizing shed have to work to help with increased tuition cost.

Transferring is difficult and expensive, Christine Nordstrom says. Not to mention the social and emotional impact of it  starting over, making new friends, taking on more responsibility. But for us it was do it now  or stay, with all the uncertainly and fearmongering that entailed.

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Ultimately she decided, I wasnt going to play around with my childs future.

Ive always taught my kids, if you dont like whats being served at the table, get up and find another table, Nordstrom says. I know the value you get out of New College is amazing, but at this point Im willing to pay for a politically safe place where my kid wont have conservative ideals forced on her and where political censorship is illegal.

It was a wrenching decision for both women. Annika had her heart set on attending New College the day she visited the schools marine biology lab on a third grade field trip and told her mother, When I grow up, I want to go to the fish school.

Nearly a decade later  after graduating as valedictorian at Prew with college credits from dual enrollment at State College of Florida  she had her senior pictures taken on campus, holding a balloon bouquet that read Off to New College!

It was the next logical step in an education geared toward raising my kids how to think, not what to think, says Nordstrom, who also has a son, 17. Her own early learning was full of the constrained thinking, fear and intimidation of the Pentecostal church, which she rejected after attending college.

More:SEIDMAN SAYS: School Board meeting proves it's the adults who need character building

The college experience changed me because I learned to think for myself, she says. Early on, I knew I wanted those same educational choices for my own kids. For me, it was installing in them a love of learning and letting them march to the beat of their own drum.

What Annika found at New College was not nirvana. The dorms had leaks and mold, the food sucked, Wi-Fi was spotty and security deficient. But what the neurodivergent student also discovered was an exciting academic environment and a haven for square pegs who did not fit into round holes.

Even though the adjustment to college was hard, I just felt super comfortable because everyone is open about who they are and open to learning and talking to each other, Annika says, noting the accessibility and friendliness of both faculty and students. (Deposed former president Patricia Okker once sat down with her when she was eating lunch alone.) Free thinking is what New College is all about and its not free thinking as in woke liberal left, its thinking for yourself and finding knowledge both in topics you enjoy and those you know nothing about.

The uncertainty of the colleges future makes Annika feel sad to be leaving, but safer to be leaving. Still, Annika says shell always be a Novo and a proud New College alumnus.

New College has always had to fight, in less public ways, for its right to be open and free thinking and learning oriented and there have always been threats to take away its funding because of how it runs, Annika adds. This time theyre testing how far it can go and I think theyre going to keep pushing.

Whether Annikas decision is an indication of an impending exodus remains to be seen. New College will graduate about 200 students from its student body of less than 700 this spring. At the moment fewer than 50 underclassmen have registered for the fall and some parents have asked for their down payments to be refunded.

Transferring wont be the answer for everyone, but Christine Nordstrom believes it is best choice for her daughter.

Making the decision about what is right for you is the true spirit of New College, she says.

Contact Carrie Seidman at carrie.seidman@gmail.com or 505-238-0392.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Here's why one New College of Florida student is leaving the school
Gov. Kristi Noem has issued a veto on an industrial hemp bill that would have eased a THC restriction on the crop and removed an annual industry study.

Noem vetoed House Bill 1209 on Thursday, which would allow state licensed industrial processors to accept raw hemp containing up to 5% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychoactive component found in both hemp and cannabis.

The legislation would also repeal a section of the state's hemp laws that requires the attorney general to file an annual hemp report intended to study "the effect legalizing industrial hemp has had on controlled substance and marijuana prosecutions in this state."

Federally, marijuana is classified as anything that contains over 0.3% THC, Noem wrote in her veto letter. If this bill were to become law, South Dakota would allow hemp products and crops to contain over 16 times more THC than is currently allowed at the federal level.

More:South Dakota AG report hard on hemp despite only 1 drug violation statewide

Reasoning behind Noem's veto is 'completely false,' bill proponents argue

The news of the decision comes to the dismay of the state's young industrial hemp industry, which was considered a leading hemp growing state by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ken Meyer, president of the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association, was critical of the statements in the veto. He specifically raised issue with Noem's claim that "hemp products and crops" would contain a vastly increased amount of THC, calling it a "bold-faced lie."

Meyer explained House Bill 1209 would not change any laws regarding the THC amounts in the crops or hemp products, as Noem stated in her letter.

He said it would only affect the "products in process," or the raw materials being used to make industrial hemp products, which Meyer said would be tested to ensure they return to THC levels allowed per state law.

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"The bill doesn't talk about 'hemp products and crops.' Hemp product is by definition and statute always something - and would continue to be if the bill were passed - to be at or under 0.3% THC," Meyer told Argus Leader. "That would be the case for crops as well. So the first statement  is just completely false."

Noem's veto letter does note the bill would change products in process and references Colorado and New York as states that allow 5% THC in unrefined industrial hemp materials. The bill's language indicates the 5% THC allowance would only apply to products in process.

Democratic Rep. Oren Lesmeister, the prime sponsor of the bill, told the Argus Leader the 5% stipulation is meant to ease processing restrictions in the state. He said the current 1% limit essentially prevents harvested hemp from being processed in the state. This is because the THC levels in the plant often naturally rises to 2 to 4 percent as the crop it's being run through a processor, the rrepresentative said.

Katie Sieverding, a registered lobbyist for SDIHA, said hemp growers typically ship their crops to other states for processing because of the current THC limitations in South Dakota.

She argued the 5% limitation would have incentivized farmers to have their harvested hemp processed in-state, which would have aided the state's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources in regulating the finished hemp products - cannabidiol pain creams, hand lotions, chapsticks and the like.

"I thought with this type of law and regulation, if we get the processing done in state, the department and the state government has the regulatory authority over these license holders, so they have more control and they have more eyes on the process," Sieverding said.

In Meyer's eyes, it's a harsh move to maintain this restriction on the hemp industry, since the raw materials in question are in the hands of processors. Raw hemp is not an item that would end up in the hands of the public, he said, but if it did, the proposed law also stipulates that containers carrying the unrefined product must contain labeling stating that the product is not for human consumption.

However, Meyer also points out a bitter irony: If someone wanted to buy pure and highly concentrated caffeine for injestion, that's perfectly legal in South Dakota, despite the fact that even a spoonful of the substance could kill you.

"If you take a spoonful of caffeine, my understanding is you're going to die. But you can you buy that concentrated," Meyer said. "At some point, people are aware, right? You don't eat paint thinner. You don't do certain things. It doesn't make sense."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Gov. Kristi Noem vetoes South Dakota hemp bill in blow to industry
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew prepares to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023, in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a bipartisan grilling on Thursday as he appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address lawmakers concerns about the video sharing app, which has 150 million active users in the US. Of particular concern to the committee was the companys China-based parent company, ByteDance, and its suspected ties to the Chinese government.

We do not trust TikTok will ever embrace American values, values for freedom, human rights, and innovation," committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, said in her opening statement. TikTok has repeatedly chosen the path for more control, more surveillance, and more manipulation. Your platform should be banned."There are currently three bills in Congress that could affect American access to TikTok; two would legislate an outright ban of the platform, while the other would give the government the power to ban any technologies that are deemed a national security risk. The Biden administration reportedly has demanded that ByteDance sell TikTok, threatening a total ban on the app if the China-based company fails to comply. On Thursday, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said that the government would oppose a forced sale.

During the five-hour hearing, the Singapore-born Chew, 40, emphasized that there has never been any evidence of the Chinese government accessing TikTok user data. He said that countries that have banned the app on government devices have done so based on hypothetical and theoretical risks. Last month, both the US and Canada issued orders banning the use of TikTok on government-issued mobile devices.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, Chew declared in his written statement .

However, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed doubts about this claim, and many committee members jokingly thanked the TikTok CEO for inspiring bipartisanship. You have unified Republicans and Democrats and, if only for a day, were actually unified because we have serious concerns, said Rep. August Pfluger, a Republican from Texas.

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Chews go-to answer when questioned about data privacy was Project Texas , the platforms ongoing operation to move information about its American users to US-based servers. The TikTok CEO said that no China-based employees would have access to American user data once the project was completed, but committee members questioned whether this internal firewall would eliminate their security concerns.

"What youre saying about Project Texas just doesnt pass the smell test," said Rep. Angie Craig, a Democrat from Minnesota. "My constituents are concerned that TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party are controlling their data and seeing our own vulnerabilities.  What youre doing down in Texas is all well and good, but it is not enough to be convinced that our privacy is not at risk."

As BuzzFeed News exclusively reported last year, China-based ByteDance employees accessed nonpublic US TikTok user data on several occasions between September 2021 and January 2022. In December, ByteDance said in a statement that an internal investigation revealed that personal TikTok user data of the BuzzFeed News reporter who broke the story  and several other journalists who cover TikTok  had been accessed without authorization by ByteDance employees who were then fired.

When asked by Rep. Neal Dunn, a Republican from Florida, during the hearing if ByteDance had ever spied on American citizens, Chew responded , I dont think that spying is the right way to describe it.

.@DrNealDunnFL2: "Has ByteDance spied on American citizens?"TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew: "I don't think that spying is the right way to describe it." 04:52 PM - 23 Mar 2023

As the TikTok CEO noted throughout the hearing, many of the issues raised by lawmakers were not unique to TikTok as a platform but rather ongoing problems all social media companies are trying to combat (such as moderation complications and the platforms impact on mental health , particularly of young people).

Shortly before the end of the hearing, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, voiced his support for legislation banning TikTok. I think you see a bipartisan concern here with what's happening on TikTok, especially what's happening to the data for Americans, he told CNN.

In a joint statement issued following the hearing, seantors Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, and John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, expressed their continued concerns about the platform. (The two lawmakers are the sponsors of the RESTRICT Act , one of the bills addressing TikTok national security concerns.) Under [People's Republic of China] law, all Chinese companies, including TikTok, whose parent company is based in Beijing, are ultimately required to do the bidding of Chinese intelligence services, should they be called upon to do so, they said.Nothing we heard from Mr. Chew today assuaged those concerns, the statement continued. It is vital for Congress to establish a process to review and mitigate the harms posed by foreign technology products that come from places like China and Russia. We are encouraged by the quick momentum and strong bipartisan support for our legislation and expect that it will only grow following todays testimony.

More on this
As pressure builds for a national ban on the video-based social media platform TikTok, the companys leadership is in a full court press to persuade lawmakers against taking sweeping action to restrict access to the application.

And as Congress weighs security concerns with the Chinese-linked social media company, its CEO Shou Zi Chew is being grilled by House lawmakers on Thursday in his first appearance on a congressional panel.

Chew, a 40-year-old Singaporean who is a former Goldman Sachs banker and Harvard Business School graduate, has given a number of interviews to U.S. media outlets in recent weeks as Congress and states across the U.S. have banned TikTok on government devices and calls for a national ban pick up steam.

Chews path to lead TikTok went through the University College London, where he studied economics, as well as completing his mandatory military service in Singapore. After leaving a job at Goldman Sachs, he moved to the U.S. and got his masters degree at Harvard.

Chew said he was introduced to ByteDance  the Beijing-based company that owns TikTok that is now at the center of the controversy surrounding the platform  when he helped secure one of the first investments in the company during his time at a venture capital firm.

Before being appointed CEO of TikTok in 2021, Chew, a native English speaker, spent five years at Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone company. He initially joined ByteDance in 2021 as its finance chief, but just two months later was moved to be the head of TikTok.

The White House and lawmakers alike have criticized ByteDances connection with the Chinese government. Officials worry that the platform poses a national security threat, putting American data at risk of being given to the Chinese government.

Chew, who rarely featured in the media before the latest push to defend the platform, has argued that TikTok operates independently of the Chinese government. The company says it stores data about U.S. users on servers in America and Singapore. It has also said that the Chinese government has not asked for the company to produce user data and it would not comply if asked to do so.

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Chew stressed in a letter to lawmakers last June that he is a Singaporean based in Singapore.

Chews testimony before the House comes just after the White House demanded the Chinese owners of TikTok to sell their stake in the company or face a ban in the U.S. Chew said last week that a sale of the platform would not solve security concerns that U.S. lawmakers point to.

The TikTok chief executive is expected to issue a promise to protect American data to lawmakers on Thursday, saying in prepared remarks that ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
UPDATE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will also make an appearance through recorded video messages at the NRA convention in Indianapolis, where former President Donald Trump is set to speak, the NRA said. Haley is running for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump; DeSantis is a potential rival.

Former President Donald Trump and former Indiana Governor Mike Pence are set to speak at the National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis in April, according to a list posted to the NRA's website.

At a "leadership forum" on April 14, the first of the three-day event at the Indiana Convention Center, they'll share the stage with several other big Indiana names, including current Gov. Eric Holcomb and outgoing U.S. Senator Mike Braun.

This will be the second time Trump and Pence have headlined the annual NRA convention in Indianapolis together, and the third time in 20 years the city has hosted it.

Past NRA Convention in Indy: 6 of the most interesting things we found at the 2019 event

NRA Convention returns to Indianapolis

After the 2014 meeting brought about 75,000 people to the Indiana Convention Center, making it one of the city's largest conventions, the NRA signed a contract to return in 2019 and 2023.

Tourism agency Visit Indy projects the event to rake in an economic impact of $36.4 million to the region, which includes spending on travel, hotel rooms and restaurants.

That puts the NRA convention at the fourth largest this year in terms of economic impact, behind Gen Con in August, Performance Racing Industry in December and the Future Farmers of America in November.

The leadership forum is at 2 p.m. Friday, April 14; the rest of the convention will include hundreds of gun and gear exhibitors and guest speakers.

Previously on 2023 NRA announcement: NRA convention set for this spring in Indianapolis

Confirmed 2023 NRA Convention speakers

The list of confirmed speakers include:

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Former President Donald Trump

Mike Pence, former Indiana governor and former Vice President

U.S. Senator Mike Braun

Governor Eric Holcomb

NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, representing Ohio's fourth congressional district

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2023 NRA convention to bring Trump, Pence, DeSantis to Indianapolis
Twin concentration-camp survivors Stepa Heller, left, and Annetta Able, with their birthday cake in 2019. The inmate number that Heller was given at Auschwitz can be seen tattooed on her arm. Courtesy of Daphna Able

Nazis wanted identical twin Annetta Able to get pregnant by another identical twin at Auschwitz.

Dr. Josef Mengele, known as the "Angel of Death," treated her and her sister as human guinea pigs.

Able's horrific story features in a new book about twins who survived these Holocaust "experiments."

Soon after Annetta Able and her identical twin sister, Stephanie Heller, were liberated from Auschwitz, they learned that Dr. Josef Mengele planned to have each of them made pregnant by identical twin brothers.

They knew the men who'd been selected for the process because Mengele, the Nazi physician who carried out such "medical experiments" on prisoners, had already subjected the four young adults to various blood transfusions.

"You don't want to think about things from the past like that," Able, now 99, told Insider, referring to Mengele's warped intentions.

Documents retrieved from the camp and witness statements by other Jewish inmates who were forced to work for Mengele confirmed the proposed "experiment" on the two sets of siblings.

"We only found out afterwards," Able said in an email to Insider that she dictated to her daughter, Daphna Able. She added, "We never saw the other twins again after that, but know that one of them died after the experimentation."

Mengele was known as the 'Angel of Death' because of his power and human experiments at Auschwitz

Able and her sister's story is featured in the new book, "The Twin Children of The Holocaust: Stolen Childhood and the Will to Survive." The book  written by the psychology professor Nancy Segal, the director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton  documents Mengele "experiments" using identical and fraternal twins as human guinea pigs.

"It was documented that that around 1,500 pairs passed through Auschwitz. But another reference said it was 730," Segal said, adding that the exact number "will never be known."

"Mengele was known as the 'Angel of Death' because of these unthinkable and horrific experiments to which he subjected the twins and some of their families," Segal told Insider.

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Identical twin sisters Annetta and Stephanie in their mid-20s, after their liberation from the Nazi death camp. Courtesy of Daphna Able.

Daphna Able said that her mother and aunt, known to family and friends as Stepa, who died in 2019, were appalled to learn that Mengele plotted to have them impregnated and killed at some point during their pregnancies in order to dissect the fetuses to find out if they were also identical twins.

"He wanted to determine if they would multiply," Daphna told Insider. But the young women had stopped menstruating because they were given so little food to eat. "They wouldn't have been able to conceive anyway," she said.

The identical twins were treated as guinea pigs

The sisters were taken by the Nazis from their home in Prague, now in the Czech Republic, in 1942. They were 19 when they were transferred to Auschwitz a year later. They didn't know it at the time, but the rest of the family, including their mother and 12-year-old sister, had been sent to the gas chambers.

"When we arrived in the cattle cars, the Nazi soldiers knew to be on the lookout for twins," Able said in her email. She said they were taken to barracks where other twins were held.

The women were escorted to Mengele's laboratory at the camp where, Able said, he asked "so many questions" and recorded their height, weight, and the color of their eyes and hair. "We were not of any interest to him other than as human guinea pigs," Able said in the email.

Annetta Able with her daughter Daphna, who often helps her mother tell her story about her two-year ordeal in Auschwitz. Courtesy of Daphna Able.

She went on to describe the conditions at the camp as "vile, freezing, cramped, and exposed to the elements." She added, "We were always starving. It's what you would imagine hell to be."

Talking directly to Insider, Able said that she and her sister were determined to "stay alive together." She said, "We have always been close. I lived her life, and she did mine."

Segal said that many of the subjects of Mengele's experiments knew that if one died, the other would be killed because he would "compare their organs." "The bond between the twins in Auschwitz was so important," Segal said. "Everyone had to be as mindful of their twin as themselves."

The twins were subjected to blood transfusions from identical twin men around their age

Able told Insider that their two-year ordeal at the camp in occupied Poland was "a hard time"  made even more painful because they didn't know where their other family members were, until they discovered they had been killed.

In the email, Able said the siblings tried to cope with the torment by "making up stories to avoid our reality." "We spoke about how wonderful it will be when we get home to our family," Able added. "What we would eat, how we would play with our sister."

Daphna Able said that her mom and her twin had told her they were terrified when Mengele would order the blood transfusions between them and the identical brothers. The 67-year-old said that the sisters got sick from the experiments and Heller had constant issues with her health after leaving the camp.

Identical twins Annetta and Stephanie Heilbrunn, with their mother and younger sister in Prague, before they were displaced by the Nazis. The girls' mother and sister perished in the gas chambers. Courtesy of Daphna Able.

Segal told Insider that she disagreed with experts who claimed that Mengele wanted to understand the biological basis of twins so that he could increase the Aryan race. "It didn't make sense because he would have studied the parents, not the twins themselves," Segal said. "The general consensus is that he was trying to demonstrate a genetic influence on racial differences and, in that way, prove that the Aryans were superior to the other races."

Able described her and her sister as 'two bodies and one soul'

Able said in her email that she and Heller turned 21 during the death march when the SS tried to transfer its prisoners by foot ahead of the imminent liberation of Auschwitz. They went on to qualify as nurses in former Czechoslovakia before moving to Israel, then Australia.

"My sister and I were always two bodies and one soul," the great-grandmother of six said in the email to Insider. "The shared experience made us even closer if that was possible."

Do you have a powerful story to share with Insider? Please send details to jridley@insider.com.

Read the original article on Insider
The U.S. military on Thursday struck Iranian-funded groups in Syria after a drone strike on a U.S. base in the country killed an American contractor and injured six others, the Pentagon announced.

At the direction of President Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), according to a Defense Department statement.

The airstrikes were conducted in response to todays attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC, the statement added.

Earlier on Thursday a U.S. contractor was killed and five U.S. service members and an additional American contractor were wounded after a drone struck a maintenance facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria around 1:38 p.m. local time, the Pentagon said.

Two of the wounded service members were treated on-site, while the four others were medically evacuated to Coalition medical facilities in Iraq, according to the statement.

The U.S. intelligence community later assessed the drone to be of Iranian origin.

As President Biden has made clear, we will take all necessary measures to defend our people and will always respond at a time and place of our choosing, Austin said in the release. No group will strike our troops with impunity.

The Iranian government did not immediately address the attack, though the strikes are likely to increase tensions with Tehran.

Videos have since emerged on social media showing a series of explosions in Syrias oil-rich Deir Ez-Zor province, an area partly controlled by Iran-linked militia groups, The Associated Press reported.

In a statement Thursday evening, CENTCOM head Gen. Erik Kurilla said the initial drone strike was another in a series of attacks on our troops and partner forces.

He added that U.S. military could carry out additional strikes if there are further attacks, noting: We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks.

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Kurilla earlier on Thursday told lawmakers that Iranian-backed militias had carried out 78 drone attacks or rocket attacks against U.S. forces in the region since the start of 2021.

What Iran does to hide its hand is they use Iranian proxies, he said while testifying before the House Armed Services Committee.

Roughly 900 U.S. troops are based in eastern Syria to give help Syrian Kurdish forces keep an Islamic State resurgence at bay in the region.

The American bases have been targeted by drone attacks in the last several months, though such strikes have not resulted in injuries or physical damage until now.

Updated at 11:58 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signs a record $400 million tax cut into law in the Gold Room at the Capitol on Wednesday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a series of bills on Wednesday to finalize a $400 million tax cut, including decreasing the state's income tax rate from 4.85% to 4.65%.

The income tax cut accounts for $208 million of the Legislature's tax relief, which amounts to around $208 in annual savings for an average family of four making $80,000 per year.

The tax cut is the largest in state history and includes a further cut by removing the state portion of sales tax on food  but that part is contingent on voters approving a constitutional amendment in 2024.

"It's not often when you've been a state for over 120 years that you get to do things that are really historic, and today is one of those truly historic days," Cox said during a ceremonial signing in the Gold Room at the Capitol.

"It's not just in one area; it's in lots of different areas that will benefit every person in our state in some way," Cox said of the tax cut. "We know that there are many that are struggling to make ends meet. They will be helped by this."

Cox urged voters to approve the constitutional amendment that would loosen the earmark that reserves income tax revenue for public education.

"I just want to use this moment to encourage the people of Utah to vote to remove the sales tax on food," he said. "I think that this is good for everyone, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet."

The tax package signed by Cox in HB54 also expands the Social Security tax credit to people earning up to $75,000 per year, allows pregnant women to claim a double dependent exemption for children the year they are born, and increases the earned income tax credit from 15% to 20% of the federal tax credit.

Gov. Spencer Cox chats with Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, left, and House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, after Cox signed a series of tax bills into law at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, also praised the record spending by the Legislature for education, among other things, while still prioritizing tax relief.

"We've said 2023 was going to be the year of the tax cut again and again and again," he said. "But behind each one of these tax cuts is a record effort in spending. It's pretty amazing that you're able to cut taxes. A lot of states do that. A lot of legislatures do that. But to be able to fund services  record spending for education, record spending for infrastructure, record spending for housing, record spending for almost everything  be able to provide the services that the state needs and to be able to cut taxes, what a great honor to be able to serve with so many great people who do that great service in the state of Utah."

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"There's plenty of things we could have found to put the money into, but ... I think all of us believe that the reward for that incredibly hard work for the citizens of the state of Utah would be to let them keep more of their own hard-earned money in their own pockets and choose to spend it on things that matter to them," said House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville.

Critics of the tax reduction have argued that it would primarily benefit higher earners, but Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, the sponsor of HB54, said the Social Security and earned income tax credits would benefit lower- and middle-income earners.

"We attempted to strike a balance," he told the Deseret News earlier this month.

The Senate passed the bill 22-6 and the House 50-11, though Democrats voted against it, saying they opposed combining the sales tax on food repeal with the rest of the bill, while negotiations over the constitutional amendment were still ongoing.
DINWIDDIE, Va.  A judge denied a defense request on Wednesday to hold the body of Irvo Otieno, saying that a corpse is not a T-shirt" or something else that can be easily stored.

The request came Wednesday morning during a bond hearing for Kaiyell Dajour Sanders, 30, who was in charge of the detail that transported Otieno to Central State Hospital on March 6.

Co-counsel Torrey Williams asked for a motion to preserve the evidence in the commonwealths case, which essentially was Otienos body. Otieno's remains are currently at the state medical examiners office in Richmond, Virginia, and the medical examiner has said it could be 10 to 12 weeks before a final report is issued.

Williams motioned for the body to stay under the medical examiner's custody until the defense could get their own certified medical examiner to do an indepedent autopsy.

Circuit Judge Joseph Teefey repeatedly asked Williams what evidence he had to warrant such a motion, and Williams said it was a "concern" that not all of the commonwealths evidence was going to be available this early in the case process.

When you start with concern, youre heading down the road to speculation, Teefey said. What evidence do you have?

None, Williams said.

Teefey suggested that the defense quickly get someone with similar credentials as the states coroner to observe the autopsy process, adding that wenot going to order Otienos body not be released to his family for burial just because of speculation.

Quite frankly, were not talking about a T-shirt or a vial of blood, Teefey said. Were talking about the dignity of the human body. Im going to deny your motion.

The preservation motion was made after Teefey set Sanders bond at $25,000 when Dinwiddie County Commonwealths Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill called him the most culpable, the most responsible defendant in Otienos death.

According to Baskervill, Sanders had restrained Otieno the most out of all the seven deputies by holding his head and upper body down during the 12-minute period. Surveillance footage from the hospital also shows Sanders feeling Otieno's neck for a pulse once the deputies removed themselves from him.

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10 SUSPECTS IN IRVO OTIENO'S DEATH INDICTED: Virginia grand jury indicts 10 suspects in Irvo Otieno's death; video shows him pinned to floor

'12 AGONIZING MINUTES': Prosecutors to release video of Irvo Otieno's 'pinned down' death

All defendants granted bond

Irvo Otieno, right, is shown in this undated photo with his brother, Leon Oschieng, and mother, Caroline Ouko. Seven Henrico County sheriff's deputies and three Central State Hospital employees have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Otieno March 6, 2023 in an admissions area of the hospital.

By Wednesday afternoon, all 10 of the defendants had been granted bond.

With the exception of Sanders and Tabitha Renee Levere, 50, who was granted the lowest bond at $5,000, all of the other defendants were granted bail at $10,000 or $15,000.

Other defendants in the case are deputies Jermaine Lavar Branch, 45; Bradley Thomas Disse, 43; Randy Joseph Boyer, 57; Dwayne Alan Bramble, 37; and Brandon Edward Rodgers, 48; and Central State Hospital security guards Darian M. Blackwell, 23, of Petersburg, Wavie L. Jones, 34, of Chesterfield, and Sadarius D. Williams, 27, of North Dinwiddie.

All 10 were indicted Tuesday by a Dinwiddie grand jury on the charges.

Rev. Al Sharpton to deliver eulogy

Otienos family attorneys announced Wednesday that Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy at Otienos memorial service. The service will be held at the First Baptist Church of South Richmond.

Sharpton is the founder and president of the New York-based National Action Network, a civil-rights advocacy organization. Sharpton has been a prominent figure in recent high-profile cases involving the deaths of Black men and women across the nation.

Family co-counsel Ben Crump said the time and date of the service should be announced within the next few days.

'Just the beginning step'

Calling the 10 people charged in the death of her son monsters and criminals, Otieno's mother was happy to see them all indicted but said those indictments are just the first step in getting justice for her family.

With her family and attorneys, Caroline Ouko spoke at a news conference Tuesday night at the First Baptist Church of South Richmond, asserting that justice will be achieved for Otieno.

According to Otieno's family, the 28-year-old had been suffering from a mental crisis when he died on March 6 in an admissions area at Central State Hospital after being restrained by seven Henrico County sheriff's deputies and three hospital employees for 12 minutes.

Recently released footage from the hospital showed Otieno, wearing handcuffs and leg chains, being dragged into the room. He was then subdued against a table and chair before getting pinned to the floor. One deputy had his knee on Otieno's neck.

Those nine men, those nine cowards, and one woman, those 10 monsters, those 10 animals, Caroline Ouko said Tuesday night at a church in south Richmond. I was happy to hear that they were indicted. And that is just the beginning step."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Irvo Otieno case: Judge denies motion to hold his body as evidence
Spring is officially here, which means temperatures are rising in Charlotte and pollen is permeating the air.

But if you were paying attention, you probably noticed that it didnt snow at all in Charlotte during winter.

Monday marked the end of Charlottes first winter without snow since 2013, according to the National Weather Service.

Mecklenburg County usually gets around five inches of snow annually, but the last time it snowed in Charlotte was January 2022, when 4.3 inches fell, according to NWS.

Charlotte saw its highest snowfall during the 1959-1960 cold season, from October-May, when 22.6 inches fell, according to NWS. Since 1878, there have been 12 winters where Charlotte has recorded no snow.

Why didnt it snow in Charlotte?

The Carolinas were locked into a warmer weather pattern for a lot of this year, creating suboptimal conditions for snowfall, said Mike Rehnberg, a meteorologist at the NWS in Charlotte.

Rehnberg cited La Nina as an example, where cold waters in the Pacific push the polar jet stream north,resulting in warmer and drier conditions for a large portion of the winter season in the South.

There are similar cycles that we can get locked into for weeks or months at a time, he added. It just so happened that we were locked into these cycles for a huge portion of the 2022-23 winter season that lowered the opportunities for winter weather in the Carolinas.

Even as temperatures dropped to below freezing on multiple occasions in winter, the weather conditions were too dry to produce any precipitation, Rehnberg said.

As spring begins, there is a slim chance that it could snow. But Rehnberg said snowfall east of the North Carolina mountains is uncommon after March 15.

Its not impossible, but the window for that to happen is certainly narrowing, said Rehnberg. Theres nothing right now in the forecast that would support that happening in the next week.

Will no snow in Charlotte be a regular occurrence?

Since weather patterns like La Nina typically dont last for years at a time, there is a chance it could snow in Charlotte next winter, Rehnberg said.

It certainly fluctuates with those smaller scale patterns, said Rehnberg, adding that forecasts can be tough to predict a year in advance. Its hard to say with any real certainty what kind of pattern were going to trend toward by next winter.
CAMDEN - Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey.

Byron, 67, is accused of collecting a salary as a salesman for a consulting firm, and failing to report it on federal income tax returns for 2017 and 2018.

What did Wildwood mayor do?

Byron was Wildwood's commissioner in charge of finance and revenue when he sent emails to a Gloucester County attorney seeking help in finding a job from January 2017 through December 2018, according to a charging document known as an information.

More: Trooper left medical facilityMissing NJ State Police trooper found safe in Pennsylvania

He sent the emails from June through August of 2017, and in October 2017 received an offer to work for an unnamed firm that had been established by the lawyer.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has described the lawyer only as the managing partner of a Gloucester County firm.

Byron received $40,425 in payments from the firm between October 2017 and September 2018.

Tax problems

"He did not report this income on his tax returns," the statement said.

The information says Byron told investigators in 2020 that he had not filed tax returns for 2017 and 2018 because he did not have the money he owed.

Byron then purportedly aided his accountant in preparing the overdue tax returns but did not report his income from the consulting firm, according to the information.

An attorney for Byron could not be reached for comment.

At a hearing Friday in Camden federal court, Byron admitted guilt to two counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent tax returns to the IRS.

U.S. District Court Judge Karen M. Williams scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2.

Byron is one of three commissioners in Wildwood and has been mayor since 2020.

A Wildwood representative could not be reached for immediate comment on the impact of the mayor's plea on municipal government.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron accused of federal income-tax offenses
Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Reuters

EKOK, CameroonIt was just before 5 a.m. local time when two pickup trucks allegedly carrying mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group pulled up in front of Zaza and five other men, who were patrolling the areas near the Chimbolo gold mine in the Central African Republic.

The vigilanteswho are among hundreds of men drawn from the Chimbolo village to prevent hoodlums and robbers from attacking the buildings and electrical installations in the high-crime areawere on the street leading to the gold mine near the eastern town of Bambari on Sunday. They described the men in the pickup trucks as white soldiers who were dressed in the same military regalia often worn by the Russian mercenary group.

One white soldier in one of the vehicles came down from the car and ordered us to leave the area, Zaza, the leader of the vigilante unit who prefers to be identified by his nickname, told The Daily Beast. He said he and his colleagues were going to be responsible for securing the area.

About 10 minutes later, the vigilantes said they heard a loud explosion at the Chimbolo gold mine, manned by Chinese workers after opening last week. They said the explosion was followed by gunshot sounds that lasted for more than an hour. We could even hear the sounds of people screaming at the gold mine, said Zaza. It sounded as if they were crying for help.

At past 6 a.m., according to the vigilantes, the same vehicles that transported the Russians to the gold mine were allegedly seen leaving the premises, driving out on the same street they had driven in on to get to the mine, the witnesses told The Daily Beast. In the cars were the same people we saw earlier, said Zaza.

The Wagner group in an undisclosed location. Courtesy Security Service of Ukraine

The vigilantes then rushed into the gold mine where they allegedly found the security guards, local Central Africans, tied upwith dead bodies littered around them on the ground.

We counted nine dead bodies of Chinese men, another vigilante, who was at the scene after the attack, told The Daily Beast. Two other Chinese men, as well as a Central African soldier, had bullet wounds mostly on their hands and legs but were still alive when we saw them.

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Without providing any evidence, the Russian-allied CAR government said shortly after the incident that the attack was a terrorist act carried out by militants from the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC)a fusion of major rebel groups created in December 2020 to disrupt the 202021 Central African general election. Their objective, according to government spokesperson Ghislain Djori, is to discourage investors wishing to support the efforts undertaken by the President of the Republic Faustin Archange Touadera.

Following the attack, the government promised that perpetrators of this crime will be hunted down to their last entrenchment, but the fact that it puts the blame on the CPC, which in turn accused the Wagner Group of carrying out the killings, has led some to suspect a cover-up to protect the Russians.

Aftermath

The attack at the Chimbolo mine coincided with a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has called for severe punishment for those behind the attack, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week.

A fallout with China as a result of the Chimbolo killings is something Putin is desperate to avoid. While Russia flounders in a military and economic quagmire over the war in Ukraine, China has emerged as Russias biggest diplomatic, financial, and technological supporter.

The allegation that Wagner is involved in the attack is likely to put a strain on the relationship between Russia and China, which has continued to provide non-lethal aid to Moscow throughout the war, stopping short of delivering weaponsso far.

It's unclear if the two leaders have discussed the incident. The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday that China had dispatched a team to the mine and that a working group from the embassy [in CAR's capital, Bangui] has rushed to the site to coordinate the response to the attack.

Rebels typically dont kill foreigners, but kidnap them and request for ransom to be paid for their release, Ali, a former fighter for the Union for Peace (UPC) rebel group who also previously worked for the Wagner Group in CAR, told The Daily Beast using an alias. This is an attack only the Russians can carry out.

Russian mercenaries in Northern Mali. Courtesy of French Armed Forces

Even CARs national assembly, which usually aligns with the position of the government, isnt pointing fingers at the rebels. Rather, it has accused foreign mercenaries of being behind the attack (although a statement released by the first vice-president of the National Assembly, Evariste Ngamana, didnt mention any country in particular).

For years, French companies dominated the mining industry in CAR, a former French colony. But since Russian mercenariesinvited by the Central African government to help fight rebels seeking to seize powerbecame very active in the impoverished African nation about five years ago, Russian firms linked to Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin have made the mining business in the country all but theirs, chasing away both local and foreign miners that were active there before their arrival.

Chinas recent attempt to make inroads into the lucrative sector may have been viewed as a threat to Russias mining business in the country, according to those whove worked closely with the Wagner Group.

The Russians don't want anyone else to gain control of any mining site [in CAR] except you are Russian, said Ali, the ex-member of Wagners local wing, known as the Black Russians. It is worse if you are a foreigner. Theyll make sure youre dead so you dont find a way of coming back in the future.

Breaking point

Reports of Russian paramilitaries targeting foreign miners in CAR aren't new. Last June, a dispatch by The Guardian revealed that dozens of migrant miners were slaughtered, with some buried in mass graves, in at least three attacks by Wagner mercenaries last year. That was followed by a Middle East Eye report in July that some 100 gold miners from Sudan, Chad, and Niger were killed during a massacre by Wagner troops in CARs eastern Andaha region in what was reportedly a desperate Russian attempt to gain control over the flow of gold and diamonds that could help Moscow manage the blow of sanctions brought on by Putins unprovoked war in Ukraine.

In Chimbolo, two locals who live near the gold mine run by the Gold Coast Group, a Chinese company, told The Daily Beast that they had seen vehicles carrying white soldiers patrolling the area days before the attacks took place, including on the day the mine was opened last week.

I've seen them [patrolling the area] very early in the morning and late at night, Elog Yambere, a local bricklayer, told The Daily Beast. They didn't always use the same vehicle whenever they showed up.

A local CAR defense official told The Daily Beast that China wants to carry out its own investigation, separate from that of CAR authorities.

CAR authorities are hoping to wrap up their own investigation before the end of the month, according to the defense official, who said everyone, including the Wagner Group, is a suspect in the attack. But not everyone may get access to the government's findings.

Well submit our findings to the president alone, said the official who spoke to The Daily Beast privately. Only the president can decide on what to do with it thereafter.

The Wagner Group has not publicly commented on the Chimbolo attack. The Daily Beast reached out to Prigozhin for comments, but emails sent to Concord Management, a company majority-owned by the Wagner financier, went unanswered.

At the moment, the CAR government is taking desperate measures to avoid a political fallout with Beijing. President Faustin Archange Touadera, who is yet to personally speak publicly on the incident, reportedly plans to travel to China to reassure investors of their safety in the country.

If Touadera doesnt handle this very well, we could be witnessing a fallout between CAR and China on one hand, and tensions between China and Russia on the other hand, especially if China is convinced Wagner carried out the killings, Wilfried M'Vondo, a member of the ruling United Hearts Movement party, told The Daily Beast. At the moment, many people are pointing fingers at Wagner and that could lead to a disaster.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

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ReportLinker

Technology has been playing a major role in the healthcare sector, wherein the biotechnology industry is the most benefited segment by recent technological advancements in data analytics, compared to other domains such as oncology, neurology, and immunology.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Smart Life Sciences Manufacturing Market Forecast to 2033 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Component, Technology [AR/VR Systems, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Big Data, and Others], and Application" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433207/?utm_source=GNW

Emerging data sciences technologies assist in the growth of the biotechnology industry.



Analysis of living organisms, research for novel drugs, etc. are major roles played by biotechnology laboratories. Modern data analytics tools have allowed biotechnology researchers to create predictive analytics models and understand the most effective ways to achieve desired goals and objectives. Big data, AI, virtual reality, data visualization, and data security are among the common technologies used in biotech laboratories. Novozymes, a leading global biotechnology company headquartered in Bagsvrd, just outside of Copenhagen, Denmark, has adopted Tableau, a data visualization tool, which revolutionized its approach to data analysis and collaboration. AstraZeneca, plc, a BritishSwedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, uses data and technology to minimize the time to discovery and delivery of potential new medicines. The company has data science and AI capabilities embedded in its R&D departments, which allows scientists to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Such adoptions are expected to boost the smart life sciences manufacturing market growth during the forecast period.



China accounts for the largest share in the smart life sciences manufacturing market in Asia Pacific, followed by Japan and India.China has one of the fastest growing smart life sciences manufacturing markets globally.



Chinese firms have been one of the keenest adopters of technology in APAC as they seek to gain a competitive edge through digitalization and innovation.The manufacturers have collaborated with each other for the successful deployment of advanced technologies.



In March 2022, Triastek and Siemens Ltd., China signed a strategic collaboration agreement to provide digital technologies for the global pharmaceutical industry. Triastek is actively implementing a continuous manufacturing approach with advanced digital tools to streamline and improve its manufacturing processes and products. Such factors promote the revenue generation of smart life sciences manufacturing market players operating in China. Moreover, the country has flourishing biotechnology industry, which led to increased investments in biotech firms over the period. China-based biotech firms have seen 100 times increase in total market value to more than US$300 billion from 2016 to 2021. Biopharma companies are exploring China and other emerging markets for commercial expansion and for acquisition and partnership targets to boost innovation. Therefore, all the above-discussed factors will drive the smart life sciences manufacturing market growth in China during the forecast period.



ABB Ltd, Bosch Rexroth AG, Emerson Electric Co, Fortinet Inc, General Electric Co, Honeywell International Inc, IBM Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Siemens AG, and Sophos Group plc are among the key smart life sciences manufacturing market players profiled during this market study. In addition to these players, several other essential market players were studied and analyzed to get a holistic view of the global smart life sciences manufacturing market and its ecosystem.



The overall smart life sciences manufacturing market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market.



The process also serves the purpose of obtaining an overview and forecast of the smart life sciences manufacturing market size with respect to all market segments.Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data and gain more analytical insights.



Participants of this process include VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, national sales managers, along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders, specializing in the smart life sciences manufacturing market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433207/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




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On June 6, 1944, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower gives the order of the day, Full victory -- nothing else, as paratroopers in England prepare to board their planes to take part in the first assault in the invasion of Europe.
SPLATSIN, SECWEPEMC NATION, ENDERBY, BC, March 24, 2023 /CNW/ - First Nations children thrive when they can stay with their families and their communities, surrounded by their culture and language. As part of the Government of Canada's commitment to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we will continue to work towards self-determination for First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

ISC-Splatsin-BC Logo (CNW Group/Indigenous Services Canada)

Today, at a ceremony in Enderby, British Columbia, Kukpi7 (Chief) Doug Thomas of Splatsin; the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister of Indigenous Services; and the Honourable Mitzi Dean, BC Minister of Children and Family Development; celebrated the signing of the first coordination agreement in British Columbia, pursuant to the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, Metis children, youth and families. This agreement supports the ongoing exercise of Splatsin's jurisdiction of their Child, Family and Community Services under Spallumcheen Indian Band Bylaw #3-1980 and Secwepemc law.

Over the next 10 years, the agreement will transfer $136.2 million to Splatsin to support their ongoing delivery of child and family services grounded in their culture and family systems. Splatsin has taken care of their children and families since time immemorial under Secwepemc law, and has been exercising jurisdiction and protecting Splatsin children under their Bylaw since 1980. Splatsin will continue this work, as they have always done.

This agreement is a historic milestone as it is the first coordination agreement in British Columbia and the fifth agreement in Canada. The coordination agreement addresses the coordination of services, the delivery of emergency services, mechanisms for First Nations children to exercise their rights, and fiscal agreements that are needs-based, sustainable and consistent with the principle of substantive equality. The coordination agreement also establishes funding from the federal and provincial governments to ensure that the necessary financial resources are in place.

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By working together, we are making progress towards supporting Indigenous Peoples to determine and implement solutions for their children and families and towards improving the well-being of Indigenous children and youth, their families and communities, and future generations.

Quotes

"Splatsin has been looking after our children since time immemorial and more formally with our Bylaw since 1980. This high level of responsibility for our children falls not just on the shoulders of leadership, but every Splatsin community member. It takes a community to raise a child and at Splatsin we do our best to live by those words. I raise my hands up to our community and each and every person involved in caring for our most vulnerable children and youth in the past, present and into the future."

Kukpi7 Doug Thomas

Splatsin

"Splatsin has always known what is best for their children and families, but decades of interference undermined culture, language and family connection. Today, with Splatsin and the province of British Columbia, we signed a historic coordination agreement to ensure Splatsin children and families can thrive, surrounded by language, culture and strong supports. Colonial and racist policies have left decades of intergenerational trauma by pulling families apart, but today is a new chapter in our country that will help with the ongoing healing and strengthening of community for First Nations peoples. Congratulations to everyone involved in this tremendous work that will support the best interests and wellness of Splatsin children and families."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Indigenous Services

"We know Splatsin have always been caring for their children, and they have worked tirelessly over the last 40 years to ensure that Splatsin children, youth and families are connected to their culture, community and laws, despite the constraints of the child welfare system. Today, we have witnessed the culmination of that work with the signing of this agreement. I am honoured to join with Splatsin, on their territory, for this beautiful ceremony marking the agreement, the first coordination agreement to be completed in BC. We look forward to the important work ahead together as we coordinate jurisdiction with Splatsin, putting children and youth at the centre of all we do."

The Honourable Mitzi Dean

BC's Minister of Children and Family Development

Quick facts

For most Indigenous children, Child and Family Services are provided under the legislation of the province or territory where the children and families reside.

On January 1, 2020, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families (the Act) came into force. The Act affirms the inherent right to self-government of Indigenous Peoples, which includes jurisdiction over child and family services, provides a pathway for Indigenous communities to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and sets out principles applicable, on a national level, to the provision of child and family services to Indigenous children.

In November 2020, the Prime Minister announced over $542 million in funding to advance First Nations, Inuit, and Metis engagement to co-develop the implementation of the Act and to support Indigenous communities and groups in building the capacity to establish their own child and family services systems.

Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested an additional $73.6 million to be used over four years, starting in 202122, for additional resources to implement the Act.

Through Budget 2022, the Government of Canada invested an additional $87.3 million over three years, starting in 202223, to increase capacity building and funding for coordination agreement discussion tables to support the exercise of First Nations, Inuit and Metis jurisdiction in relation to child and family services.

Associated links

Stay connected

Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

Twitter: @GCIndigenous

Facebook: @GCIndigenous

Instagram: @gcindigenous

Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth

You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2023/24/c1689.html
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- Chief Operating Officer Matthew Klein, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S. to become Chief Executive Officer and join the Board of Directors 

- Conference call to be held today, Fri., March 24th at 8:30 am ET -

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT). Stuart Peltz, Ph.D., founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PTC Therapeutics announced today that he is stepping down after 25 years. Dr. Peltz has led PTC Therapeutics as its CEO since its founding in 1998 and pioneered the field of RNA-directed drug development. Under his leadership, PTC has grown from a research organization with expertise in the control of RNA processes to a publicly traded, integrated, global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of neurological and neuromuscular disorders, metabolic disorders, and cancer.

Matthew Klein, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S., Chief Executive Officer, PTC Therapeutics, Inc.

"I have been involved with PTC almost since its inception. What Stuart and the team have achieved in 25 years is extraordinary," said Michael Schmertzler, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "The Board and I are confident in the team Stuart has built and their ability to continue to deliver transformative treatments to those living with rare diseases. We wish Stuart all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to his continuing contributions to the company."

Matthew Klein, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S., current Chief Operating Officer, has been named the company's CEO and will join the Board of Directors. The transition is effective immediately. Dr. Peltz will serve as a Senior Consultant to the Company and join its Scientific Advisory Board following his retirement.

Prior to joining PTC in 2019, Dr. Klein was CEO and Chief Medical Officer at BioElectron Technology Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on the development of redox-active small molecules for mitochondrial disease and related disorders of oxidative stress. PTC acquired BioElectron's assets in 2019.

Story continues

As CEO and CMO of BioElectron, Dr. Klein led the restructuring of the company with successful implementation of new strategic and operational plans and led the development of two novel small molecules targeting CNS diseases from discovery to early and late clinical development stages. In addition, he oversaw the formation of an oncology platform that yielded several novel preclinical compounds with novel approaches to targeting cancer.

Dr. Klein joined PTC as Global Head of Gene & Mitochondrial Therapies and then assumed the role of Chief Development Officer prior to promotion to COO in January 2022. At PTC, he has overseen the Company's broad development pipeline now with five ongoing registration-directed clinical trials and headed the efforts in achieving EMA approval for Upstaza, the first ever gene therapy directly administered to the brain.

Dr. Klein holds a Bachelor of Arts in history, and graduated summa cum laude and phi beta kappa from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from Yale University. In addition, Dr. Klein holds a Masters of Epidemiology degree from the University of Washington. Prior to leading BioElectron, he was the Auth-Washington Research Foundation Endowed Chair for Restorative Burn Surgery at the University of Washington. He has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has served on the Research Advisory Board of the Shriners Hospitals for Children for over 15 years.

"The PTC team and patients and families around the world have benefited tremendously from Stu's scientific expertise and leadership. I am grateful to the Board for its confidence in appointing me as his successor," said Dr. Klein. "I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to lead PTC's experienced and dedicated team into its next quarter century as we advance our pioneering science to develop valuable and transformative therapies for children and adults with unmet medical needs. We will enrich PTC's unwavering commitments to patients and to prudent enterprise growth based on our robust product portfolio, global commercial infrastructure, and unique scientific and drug development strengths."

Today's Conference Call and Webcast information:

To access the call by phone, please click here to register and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we recommend participants dial in to the conference call 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The webcast conference call can be accessed on the Investor section of the PTC website at https://ir.ptcbio.com/events-presentations. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the call and will be archived on the company's website for 30 days following the call.

About PTC Therapeutics, Inc.

PTC is a science-driven, global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of clinically differentiated medicines that provide benefits to patients with rare disorders. PTC's ability to globally commercialize products is the foundation that drives investment in a robust and diversified pipeline of transformative medicines and our mission to provide access to best-in-class treatments for patients who have an unmet medical need. The company's strategy is to leverage its strong scientific expertise and global commercial infrastructure to maximize value for its patients and other stakeholders. To learn more about PTC, please visit us at www.ptcbio.com and follow us on Facebook, on Twitter at @PTCBio, and on LinkedIn.

For More Information:

Investors:

Kylie O'Keefe

+1 (908) 300-0691

kokeefe@ptcbio.com

Media:

Jeanine Clemente

+1 (908) 912-9406

jclemente@ptcbio.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this release, other than statements of historic fact, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding PTC's strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs; and the objectives of management. Other forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "guidance," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions.

PTC's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements it makes as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of PTC's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as any updates to these risk factors filed from time to time in PTC's other filings with the SEC. You are urged to carefully consider all such factors.

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent PTC's views only as of the date of this press release and PTC does not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in plans, prospects, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other circumstances occurring after the date of this press release except as required by law.

Cision

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SOURCE PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
ULTIMA ORA! VIDEO! Circulatie blocata la Valea Sarii dupa ce un tir a ajuns in sant

Circulatie blocata la Valea Sarii dupa ce un tir a ajuns in sant. Conform unor martori, tirul ar fi incarcat cu azotat de amoniu. La fata locului sunt prezente echipaje de pompieri, care uda carosabilul, si de politie, [citeste mai departe]
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- The Black Sea should be seen as a strategic centre of gravity, Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tilvar on Thursday told a conference on the security of the Black Sea region taking place in Bucharest under the auspices of the Crimea Platform.Tilvar added that the region is gaining more relevance amidst

- Social Democratic Party (PSD) chairman Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday that there is no imminent danger for Romania to be drawn into a conflict with Russia or a direct involvement in Ukraine.Ciolacu was asked on DIGI 24 private television broadcaster how dangerous the incident with the US drone

- The meeting of the regional customs coordination group between Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which took place last week at the headquarters of the Giurgiulesti Border Customs Office, was aimed at streamlining the flow of cargo traffic and improving the reaction to possible emergency

- The ambassador of Ukraine in Bucharest, Ihor Prokopchuk, expressed on Tuesday his conviction that Romania will continue to help the Ukrainians as long as necessary, stressing that cooperation with Ukraine is necessary for peace. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- The members of the European Council adopted on Thursday a statement in which they condemn the war of aggression started by Russia against Ukraine one year ago and emphasize that the European Union will continue to support Ukraine, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- Approximately 2.5 million people, including 400,000 minors, and over 700,000 vehicles have passed through the Siret border crossing point since the outbreak of the armed conflict in Ukraine, Suceava County Council Chairman Gheorghe Flutur said on Tuesday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri.

- On Tuesday, Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu met Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres to discuss climate change and its consequences, as well as recent developments in Ukraine, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- One of the largest collections of lithographs by Salvador Dali is being auctioned, on Tuesday, by Artmark, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends know more about Romania! Share
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that through Romania's involvement the Republic of Moldova will receive additional aid from the European Union, pointing out that it is "unacceptable that this country should be left prey to disinformation, hybrid attacks and verbal threats from Russia"."One

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Friday said Romania, together with Western strategic partners, is determined to support Ukraine as long as necessary, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends

- The minister of Defence, Angel Tilvar, on Friday said that Romania will continue to support Ukraine as long as it is needed. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends know more about Romania! Share

- President Klaus Iohannis had a meeting in Brussels on Thursday, together with a group of European leaders, with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, on the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Council European, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- Romania's President Klaus Iohannis, Sweden's PM Ulf Kristersson, Spain's Government President Pedro Sanchez, Poland's PM Mateusz Morawiecki, Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni, and Dutch PM Mark Rutte on Thursday welcomed the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the sidelines of an extraordinary

- President Klaus Iohannis declared on Thursday that at the special European Council meeting that starts today he will reiterate Romania's support for Ukraine, adding that the plenary meeting will be followed by restricted format meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Fii la curent

- President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Thursday and Friday, in the special meeting of the European Council, which will take place in Brussels, the Presidential Administration announced. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro

- President Klaus Iohannis participated on Tuesday in the video-conference with President of the European Council Charles Michel and a group of European leaders, in the preparatory meeting for the special European Council, which takes place on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. Fii la curent cu
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- Romania has assumed a share of approximately 30.7pct of renewable energy sources for 2030 through the National Integrated Energy and Climate Change Plan 2021-2030, but through a review, it will reach 34pct, Secretary of State within the Energy Ministry Casian Nitulescu stated on Monday."The energy

- The Basca Theater in Timisoara that specializes in community projects and Berlin's Rimini Protokoll Theater come before the public with an on-the-move theater performance with a unique vibe titled "Cargo Berlin - Timisoara" that brings into the spotlight a repurposed truck which carries stories and

- The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, said that the assessment for the development of structures dealing with infection control in hospitals was completed on Friday, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro 

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca stated on Friday that at the moment we cannot discuss about a potential world conflict and emphasized that Romania is part of the strongest military alliance, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca expressed his appreciation for the excellent cooperation between Romania and the European Commission within the European Civil Protection Mechanism, during a meeting he had on Friday with Janez Lenarcic, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management,

- President Klaus Iohannis conveyed on Friday a message to the opening ceremony of the Timisoara 2023 European Capital of Culture program, stating his conviction that this program will prove its success through its long-term cultural legacy. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- Over 13 tonnes of cereals and oilseeds from Ukraine transited through Romania to reach international markets, Mircea Abrudan, head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania, said in Botosani on Friday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook

- We must fight for a better world, against anti-Semitism, against hatred of any kind against anyone, minority or religion, we can do it, you can do it, and your children and grandchildren, declared 87-year-old Gideon Lev, a survivor of the Terezin ghetto, on the occasion of a conference organized
Hungarian Folk Culture: an introduction to Hungary's rich folk culture, including music, dance, and traditional dress by Kate Grigorenko for XpatLoop.com

If you love a country that is old and has been around for thousands of years, Hungary is a country worth checking out. Hungary is a beautiful country with a history full of humor, tragedy, artistry, and culture. There are many different facets of this nation, but the folk culture is one that will stand out as a majorly significant part of Hungarian life.



Hungarian folk culture is a rich and diverse tradition that has been shaped over centuries by a variety of cultural influences. It is characterized by its colorful costumes, lively music, and expressive dances. Hungarian folk culture is also closely tied to the country's history, geography, and social customs. This blog post will give you some interesting facts about Hungary and the culture that surrounds it!



Couple Of Words About Hungary

Hungary, or Magyarorszag as it is called in Hungarian, is a large country on the Carpathian Basin in central Europe with a rich history dating back almost 1,500 years. It borders Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Romania to the west, Poland and Slovakia to the north, Serbia, and Croatia to the south.



The capital city of Budapest has over 3 million inhabitants. Other large cities include Debrecen and Miskolc. The population of Hungary is about 9 million people. Hungarian is the official language, but other languages are spoken as well, including German, Slovak, and Romanian, among others.



Best Way To Learn More About Hungary

The best way to learn more about Hungary is to visit! There are many great walking tours that can give you an amazing experience and a good introduction to the country and its culture. For example, a free walking tour Budapest will show you this city from the best sides. You can also visit walking tours in other cities because it is one of the best ways to deep into the country's culture.



The value of your trip will be boosted if you know some Hungarian or take a language course before going there. If you plan on visiting Budapest, you can also easily get around with English, as most people speak it. Moreover, you can use one of the numerous translation applications for your cell phone.



Introduction To Hungarian Folk Culture

Hungarian folk culture is a rich and diverse tradition that has developed over centuries, with influences from various ethnic groups, including the Magyars, Gypsies, and Germans, among others. Hungarian folk culture is based heavily on the countrys folk music and dances, both of which are very popular.







Both have strong roots in the Hungarian past and are part of continuous cultural development. Much of Hungarian folk culture can be traced back to a national revival period during the 19th century when many peasants and even nobles began to rekindle their cultural ties.



Hungarian Folk Music

Hungarian folk music is a rich and vibrant genre of music that reflects the history and cultural traditions of the Hungarian people. It is characterized by its unique rhythms, complex melodies, and use of traditional instruments such as the violin, cimbalom, and tarogato  a woodwind instrument.



Hungarian folk music has its roots in the ancient Magyar culture, which dates back to the 9th century. Over time, it has been influenced by a variety of other cultures and musical styles, including Slavic, Gypsy, and Turkish music.



One of the most distinctive features of Hungarian folk music is its use of complex rhythms and time signatures, including the use of irregular and asymmetrical meters. The melodies are often modal, meaning they are based on a specific scale or mode rather than the Western major or minor scales.



In addition to instrumental music, Hungarian folk music also includes a rich tradition of vocal music, including songs that are sung in a cappella or accompanied by traditional instruments.



Today, folk music continues to be an important part of Hungarian culture and is celebrated and performed at festivals and concerts throughout the country. It has also influenced many contemporary Hungarian musicians and artists, who draw on the traditions and sounds of folk music in their own work.



Hungarian Folk Dance



Hungarian folk dance is a traditional dance form that originated in Hungary and is an important part of Hungarian culture. It reflects the history and lifestyle of the people of Hungary and has been passed down from generation to generation.



Hungarian folk dance is characterized by its energetic and dynamic movements, fast-paced footwork, and lively music. The dance style varies from region to region, with different styles and variations of dances found in different parts of Hungary. Some of the most popular Hungarian folk dances include Csardas, Verbunkos, and Szapora.



Csardas is a couple dance performed in a circular or semi-circular formation. It features a slow, mournful introduction, followed by a lively and energetic dance that gradually increases in tempo.



Verbunkos, on the other hand, is a solo dance that Hungarian soldiers originally performed as a recruitment dance. It is characterized by its sharp, precise movements and complex footwork.



Szapora is a lively and fast-paced dance often performed at weddings and other celebrations. It features a lot of spinning and jumping movements and requires a lot of stamina and energy to perform.



Hungarian folk dance is often accompanied by traditional folk music played on instruments such as the violin, cimbalom, and accordion. The music is typically upbeat and lively and often includes traditional Hungarian songs and melodies.



Hungarian Traditional Dress

The traditional Hungarian dress is known as the "Magyar nepviselet" or "Hungarian folk costume." The traditional costume is an important part of Hungary's cultural heritage, and it is still worn on special occasions and festivals in rural areas.



The Hungarian folk costume varies by region but typically includes a long, full skirt, an embroidered blouse, and a vest or jacket. Women's clothing also often features a headscarf or headdress, while men's clothing typically includes a shirt, vest, trousers, and boots.



The embroidery on the traditional Hungarian dress is a distinguishing feature and is usually done by hand. The patterns and colors used in the embroidery vary by region and often have symbolic meanings. For example, the embroidery on a woman's blouse may symbolize fertility or protection against evil.



Various historical and cultural factors, such as the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburgs, have influenced traditional dress. It has also evolved over time, with modern versions incorporating contemporary materials and designs.



Overall, the traditional Hungarian dress is a beautiful and important part of Hungary's cultural heritage, and it continues to be celebrated and cherished by the Hungarian people.



The Bottom Line

Hungarian folk culture is a rich and amazing culture with so many influences and features about it. The article gave you some cool information about Hungarian folk music, traditional Hungarian dresses, and much more.



You will have a rich and satisfying experience when you visit Hungary, country. You will see important landmarks around the country, such as Gypsy villages, famous artists' residences, and museums. Taking a free walking tour can be a fun way of learning more about the country.
ReportLinker

The Europe aviation sector comprises several aircraft manufacturers that use super precision bearings to improve the operational efficiency of aircraft.Super precision bearings are used in gearboxes, engines, pneumatic and electric starters, and various auxiliary aircraft positions.

New York, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Super Precision Bearing Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type and Application" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433198/?utm_source=GNW





The rising use of super precision bearings in aerospace applications is fueling the market growth in Europe. In addition, according to the Aerospace, Security and Defense Industries Association of Europe (ASD), in 2021, the aerospace sector contributed over US$ 249.31 billion (EUR 240 billion) to the European GDP. Hence, the growth in the aerospace sector is propelling the growth of the super precision bearing market in the region.



In addition, the growing automotive sector is driving the super precision bearing market in this region.The presence of established car manufacturers and an increase in the development and sales of electric vehicles will boost the demand for super precision bearings in the region.



Also, the regions government is taking various initiatives for the growth of the automotive industry, which will further propel the demand for super precision bearings. For instance, in 2020, the UK government awarded US$ 57.87 million for various low-carbon automotive projects, including the manufacturing of electric vehicles.



Furthermore, the region consists of various textile machine manufacturers.In textile machinery, super precision bearings are used to provide high reliability and superior accuracy, further raising their demand.



Because of the growing export of textile machinery from Europe, the need for super precision bearings is rising in the market.For instance, according to the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), in 2021, the export orders for machinery increased to 68% between January and March.



Thus, the growth in the textile machinery manufacturing industry will further boost the growth of the super precision bearing market in Europe.



Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Super Precision Bearing Market



The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on industries in Europe was severe.Lockdowns imposed by the governments resulted in the shutdown of several industries, including automotive, aerospace, and textile.



This drastically declined production across the automotive industry, severely affecting the growth of the regions super precision bearing market. As per the European Parliament report, the automotive industry in European Union (EU) recorded production losses of 3.6 million vehicles, which reflected a loss of US$ 105.22 billion in the first half of 2020. A drop in vehicle production declined the demand for super precision bearings in the automotive industry. However, in 2021, with the relaxation of lockdown measures, operations in manufacturing businesses resumed. Hence, the super precision bearing market gained momentum. Further, in 2021, the market witnessed high demand due to the increasing investments and national support measures after the COVID-19 crisis in automotive industry. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), the new registration for electric cars and vans was 1,061,000 in 2020 and increased to 1,729,000 in 2021. Thus, the growing automobile manufacturing activities in Europe will fuel the growth of the super precision bearing market during the forecast period.



Germany has one of the prominent aviation sectors in Europe.The countrys aviation giant, Lufthansa, is one of the primary sources of development and escalation of the German aviation industry.



The company has a significant number of aircraft fleets under various brands.Additionally, the country houses the aircraft manufacturing facilities of Deutsche Aircraft, Eurofighter GmbH, Roland Aircraft, and Volocopter.



Germany also has the assembly lines of Airbus in Hamburg (for A319, A320, and A321 assemblies), Panavia Aircraft GmbH, Grob Aircraft, Extra Aircraft, Roland Aircraft, and XtremeAir that procure super precision bearings for the manufacturing of different types of aircraft. Furthermore, the rising urgency to develop and manufacture advanced fighter jets and military vehicles to protect the countrys borders and air space, owing to the unstable conditions caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine, is fueling the growth of the super precision bearing market in Germany.



Italy is the largest textile machinery manufacturer in Europe.According to the Italian Association of Textile Machinery (ACIMIT), Italy has ~300 companies manufacturing textile machines and related accessories.



Also, Italy is one of the worlds largest producers and exporters of textile machinery. In 2020, Italy reported textile machinery production worth ~US$ 1.93 billion (EUR 1.8 billion); out of this, 83% was exported to ~130 countries. Furthermore, according to the Union of Italian Machine Tool Manufacturers (UCIMU), in 2020, the country recorded machinery production worth US$ 5.34 billion (EUR 4.97 billion), which shows a production decrease of 23.7% compared to 2019. However, in the first semester of 2021, machinery production increased by 88.2%. In addition, domestic orders of textile machinery grew by 238% in 2021 compared to JanuaryJune 2020. Also, in the first half of 2021, international orders increased by 57.5% compared to 2020. Thus, the growing textile machinery industry in Italy will fuel the growth of the super precision bearing market during the forecast period.



SKF AB, Schaeffler AG, JTEKT Corp, The Timken Co, Austin Engineering Co Ltd, NSK Ltd, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp, NTN-SNR Roulements SA, Luoyang Huigong Bearing Technology Co Ltd, and RBC Bearings Inc are among the key players operating in the global super precision bearing market and profiled in this market study.



The overall super precision bearing market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the super precision bearing market research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the super precision bearing market.



The process also serves the purpose of obtaining an overview and market forecast of the super precision bearing market growth with respect to all market segments.Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data and gain more analytical insights about the topic.



Participants of this process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managersalong with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leadersspecializing in the super precision bearing market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06433198/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Life expectancy at birth stood at 74.3 years in Hungary in 2021, according to the latest data compiled by the EU statistical agency Eurostat.

In a regional comparison, life expectancy at birth is 77.2 years in the Czech Republic, 75.5 years in Poland, and 74.6 years in Slovakia.



For the European Union as a whole, life expectancy is 80.1 years.



Life expectancy was highest in Spain (83.3 years) and lowest in Bulgaria (71.4 years).



Compared to 2020 data, life expectancy in the EU as a whole fell by 0.3 years, while in Hungary, it went down by 1.4 years.
A musical smartbench donated by the Polish Institute in Budapest was inaugurated in the City Park on Thursday, the Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship.

The smartbench, playing Chopin and Liszt pieces, was inaugurated by Polish ambassador to Hungary, Sebastian Keciek, who said the institute was working to build bridges to reinforce ties between the two countries.



He said he trusted that this cooperation would further reinforce the thousand-year-old friendship between the two nations.



Joanna Urbanska, head of the Polish Institute, said this present is from our heart and I am certain its users will receive it with love.



Laszlo Baan, the ministerial commissioner in charge of developments in the City Park, said the bench was a symbol of true and deep friendship not only present in high culture but in everyday life, too.



The solar powered bench offers a selection of Chopin and Liszt pieces played by pianist Gabor Farkas through a touch screen. Passers-by can also use it as a WiFi hot spot or charge their mobile phones. It also indicates levels of UV radiation, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and air pollution.



Presidents Mark Hungary-Poland Friendship Day



President Katalin Novak and her Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda held talks by phone on Thursday, marking the Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship, according to a statement by the Hungarian presidents office.



The two presidents highlighted the importance of the centuries-long friendship between Hungarians and Poles, and made a commitment to doing everything to maintain and further strengthen those ties.



It is a friendship that has stood the test of time and in which solidarity for each other has always played an important part, the communications director of the presidential Sandor Palace said.



The two presidents also said they were glad that their good personal ties could contribute to the friendship of the two nations. Before the talks, Novak laid a wreath in Balatonboglar, near Lake Balaton, at a building in which Polish refugees had received schooling during the second world war.



The ceremony was attended by the Polish ambassador and a delegation from Polands parliament.



Meanwhile, the head of the Polish Prime Ministers Office, Marek Kuchcinski, marked the day of Polish-Hungarian friendship in a Twitter post on Thursday, stating that despite the attacks against Polish-Hungarian friendship we are still connected by a bridge built on centuries of support and solidarity.



He noted that the day of Polish-Hungarian friendship was established by former President Lech Kaczynski



Three Hungarian Soldiers Re-Buried in Poland



Three unknown Hungarian soldiers, who died fighting the Soviet Red Army in 1944, were re-buried in Poland on Thursday. Orsolya Zsuzsanna Kovacs, Hungarys Ambassador to Poland, attended mass and the re-interment in the Holy Trinity Basilica in Kobyka, near Warsaw.



Polish institutions and the Hungarian government footed the bills for the exhumation, research and reburial jointly.



The soldiers were members of a mounted battalion of the 2nd reservist command, and must have fallen fighting the Soviet army on 9-10th September, 1944.



The grave inscription says, in Hungarian and Polish: Here rest three unknown Hungarian soldiers, fallen in 1944. Not unknown to God. Erected by the government of Hungary, 2023.
The opposition Democratic Coalitions (DK) shadow government paid a two-day visit to London and studied the operations of Britains Labour Party, Agnes Vadai s told an online press briefing.

She met Chris Evans, the UKs shadow minister for defence procurement, and they discussed NATO expansion and joint procurements by the alliance.



She then met Holly Lynch, the shadow security minister, and they discussed the security challenge Russia poses to Europe and NATO as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Vadai said the Hungarian government had made clear  that if the Russian president enters Hungarian territory they cannot launch a procedure against him of any kind. DK will submit a resolution proposal to parliament on implementing all ICC decisions and the bodys statute in Hungary.



If Putin steps onto Hungarian soil, the Hungarian authorities should be able to arrest him immediately for committing war crimes, she said.



Meanwhile, MEP Klara Dobrev, who is the shadow prime minister of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK), met Sir Keir Starmer, head of Britains Labour Party, for talks. Dobrev told an online press conference that her visit aimed at showing that the picture Prime Minister Viktor Orban presents is not Hungarys real face.



There is an alternative, a different Hungary seeking friends and allies within and outside the EU, she added. The meeting covered the war in Ukraine, Dobrev said.



Hungarian voters supported Hungarys NATO membership by a huge majority, and DK is committed to making NATO a strong organisation able to protect Hungarian people .



Dobrev said Britons were suffering from the consequences of Brexit, and said it was a warning sign showing how a small majority of a country could be convinced that there is life outside the European Union.



Though most people will now think it was a bad decision, they have to bear its consequences, she added.
EXETER  Exeter-Milligan elementary students witnessed the opening of a new branch of Generations Bank tailored to their needs at the school on Friday afternoon, March 17.

The branch opened under the guidance of Generations Bank Special Projects Manager Jennifer Marr. Her motivation in guiding this project was, The students of today are our customers of tomorrow. We believe in this program and want to do our part to prepare our future customers by providing them with the tools they need to confidently manage their money, becoming next generation savers!

Also attending the opening were Generations Bank President Alan Emshoff who opened the ceremony and later cut the ribbon. He introduced Dr. Jennifer Davidson, president of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

Davidson, who is also an economics professor at the University of Nebraska, announced to the assembled students their branch was the 14th elementary savings programs opened this year but she predicted this will be one of the strongest programs in Nebraska.

After lauding the solid relationship between Generations Bank and the Exeter-Milligan district, Davidson explained to the students the impact that saving can have on their future and how she has seen the elementary program in schools like Thayer Central make a difference 15 years later.

Also addressing the students was Kelly Lammers, director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, who helped the students understand how money is kept safe in Nebraska banks.

He also touted the strength of Nebraska banks and noted the investment Nebraska banks have made in small business and agriculture loans in their communities which is $10 billion more than most other states.

Lammers encouraged the students to think of their savings accounts like a winter coat  Its there when you need it.

After the ribbon cutting was held, the student tellers received some last minute tips from Marr and Generations Bank Assistant Cashier Ashley Kassik before they started taking deposits from the elementary customers. According to Marr, Kassik also had an integral part in bringing the project to fruition.

Student tellers were fifth graders who applied for the job and were interviewed by bank staff before chosen to man the teller stations. Kindergarteners through fifth graders were welcome to deposit funds which will remain in their account until the end of fifth grade.

The funds are held in a special account with the bank. Instead of regular interest, the students earn prizes each time they deposit. And its not just a bonus for the students, according to Exeter-Milligan Principal Laura Kroll, it helps meet an education requirement. The Financial Literacy Act which the state recently passed requires financial literacy instruction in grades K-8. It will also be a graduation requirement for this years juniors. When this program was brought to our attention by Alan Emshoff we knew that it would fit in well with the new state requirements. Being able to partner with a local business like Generations Bank was just the cherry on top. We are excited to have students start depositing this week!

Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield added, We look at this as a win-win situation. This is an opportunity for our students to learn about saving for the future working hand-in-hand with a local entity and also helping meet the new financial literacy standards.

Generations Bank President Alan Emshoff explained that the banks motivation was to create our next generation of savers in the community. The staff at Generations Bank felt that the in school branch at E-M elementary would be a positive way for our bank to promote the habit of savings at a young age. By developing a habit of saving, saving with a goal in mind and getting some real life experience of having an account of their own, students in the program have a greater chance of becoming financially responsible citizens when they are grown and out on their own.

The branch will be open on Friday afternoons for deposits from the elementary students.
YORK  Damien Hartman, 30, of Bradshaw has again been convicted of violating the terms of the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry.

He appeared in York County District Court this week for arraignment and pleaded no contest.

The charge is a Class 3A felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison.

According to court documents, this case began when an officer with the York Police Department pulled over a van for a traffic violation.

Hartman was driving and his passenger was hiding his face with the hood of his jacket, shaking and moving erratically.

While the officer was talking with Hartman, the officer said Hartman himself brought up the Sex Offender Registry and said the van was not registered as required by law. It was also found he was driving under revocation.

Hartman was previously charged twice for violating the sex offender registry, being convicted of attempt of a Class 3A felony for one and for the full offense on the other.

Hartman is required to register as a sex offender in Nebraska for a term of 25 years. He was convicted of third degree sexual assault of a minor in York County in 2012.
YORK  Christopher Brewer, 30, of North Platte, who fled from law enforcement in York County with the pursuit ending with him crashing and his passenger being killed, has been allowed a bond reduction.

He earlier pleaded not guilty to all eight counts against him including motor vehicle homicide.

Initially, bond for Brewer was set at $500,000, 10%. This past week, it was lowered to $100,000, 10%.

On Nov. 18, 2022, at 7:40 a.m., a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol saw Brewers Jeep Wrangler driving on the shoulder of Interstate 80 a mile east of York. The trooper also reported Brewer was driving too close to another vehicle. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but Brewer accelerated to over 100 miles per hour and a pursuit began.

According to the state patrol, Brewer exited I-80 and began driving on county roads south of the interstate, in York County. The vehicle then entered a field and Brewer continued fleeing to the south. When the vehicle drove through a fence and continued into a pasture, the trooper did not pursue.

Brewer continued southbound through the field while the trooper drove back north to connect with the nearest county road. The York County Sheriffs Department and the Seward County Sheriffs Department then picked up the pursuit as the vehicle continued southbound. Moments later, Brewers vehicle struck a bridge guardrail and crashed.

The entire incident lasted approximately 15 minutes.

His passenger, Melissa Hernandez, 30, of North Platte, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Brewer was also ejected but was not seriously injured and was immediately taken into custody by sheriffs deputies.

Investigators say methamphetamine was found at the crash scene. According to the affidavit filed with the court, they found a container containing 19 grams of meth, which is a very substantial amount, and another container with two grams inside. They also found, according to court documents, four cell phones.

Brewer was treated for minor injuries at York General Hospital and taken to the York County Jail.

The York County Attorneys office assigned the Nebraska State Patrol to conduct the crash investigation.

There have been eight charges filed against Brewer:

Attempted possession of 10-27 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony which carries a possible maximum sentence of 1-50 years in prison;

Motor vehicle homicide, a Class 3A felony, which carries a possible three years in prison with 18 months of post-release supervision;

Two counts of possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies which carry a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison with 12 months of post-release supervision;

No drug tax stamp, a Class 4 felony;

Operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony;

Willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor;

Driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor.

In court documents, it is noted that Brewer has a criminal history which includes separate convictions for operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, assault on an officer, multiple assaults, theft, as well as drugs and weapons violations.

A jury trial in this matter has been set for late spring.
Royal Enfield has been promoting motorcycle touring culture in India for a long time. Brands models like the Classic, Bullet, and Thunderbird have been at the fore in doing so. However, I was only convinced by the brands seriousness about this campaign after it launched the Himalayan and Meteor 350 in India. The former is a thorough dual-sport motorcycle with adventure touring credentials, whereas you sit on your tailbone on the latter. Now, the line-up also includes a new flagship - Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. So, does it take the motorcycle touring and cruising charm with the RE badge to new heights? We rode the bike for a few days with the same question on our minds, heres what we could fetch out.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Review: Design

The Super Meteor 650 has taken the styling game northwards. It looks like a typical cruiser and certainly is crammed with American vibes. The round headlamp gets LED treatment and comes with DRLs too. Theres chrome around it. However, USD forks are finished in a shade of black. Also, this is the first Royal Enfield motorcycle to feature USD forks. They add bulk to its appeal.

Also, wide handlebars house chrome-finished mirrors and switchgear is like the Meteor but with better quality and colours. The tear-drop-style fuel tank is a must on a cruiser, and the Super Meteor 650 has it. Complementing it is a neatly contoured seat that fits best with the cruiser aesthetics.

The pillion seat slopes backwards a little, and it is small. It merges rather nicely with the rear fender, which houses a rather odd-looking circular pod for the tail lamp. Adding bulk to the Super Meteor 650s presence is the motor, which gets dual exhaust pipes.

Moreover, the motorcycle looks bulky and has enough street presence. There are customisation options to add more visual bulk to the Super Meteor 650. The Super Meteor 650 also boasts great fit-finish levels and the attention to detail regarding the paint scheme is of a high order. And, so is the case with the paint quality.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Review: Features

The instrument cluster is very much like the smaller Meteor, and it affects the flagship drama, which Super Meteor 650 otherwise carries in an uptight fashion. Theres a small Tripper navigation pod that is powered by Google, and it managed to keep us on the right roads all the time.

The cluster is readable in broad daylight too. However, the addition of fuel consumption or distance to empty on the digital readout wouldve made it easy to plan fuel stops on this cruiser. Although, with a 15.7-litre fuel tank, it has a range of over 250 kilometres with ease.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Review: Performance

Starting off with the powerplant, the 650cc, twin-cylinder, the engine uses a 270-degree crank angle. Subsequently, it sounds awesome. It develops a peak power output of 47 PS and 52 Nm of max torque. Also, the power curve is class-friendly. The meat is under the 3,000 rpm mark, to help the motorcycle pull well. The Super Meteor impressed us with its low-speed rideability and cruising capabilities. The 6-speed gearbox is tuned to perfection. After all, it is slick and also helps in lingering the motorcycle around town in 4th and 5th gears only.

Surprisingly, it can very easily roll off from 30 kmph in the 6th gear only, without any hassle whatsoever. Talking of brakes, they do their job of dropping anchors well. On cruiser motorcycles, the weight distribution makes it a little tough for the riders to grab the front brakes with confidence, which isnt the case here. Also, with its kerb weight of 240 kilos, the Super Meteor 650 is easy to flick in moving traffic.

For suspension, the Super Meteor gets 43mm USD forks and twin shock absorbers at the rear. The setup is dialled for the stiffer side, and it feels good on smooth expressways. Around bad patches of roads or expansion joints, the energy is transferred to the rider.

Talking of ergonomics, the rider triangle on the Super Meteor 650 is near perfect. However, theres one gripe I have - for riders shorter than 57, the handlebars feel slightly further set than they would like. While the brake pedal and gear lever are set at the right position, the latter felt a little too big for a boot-size 7. The seat height of 740mm is accessible too. On the whole, the Super Meteor 650 is a great motorcycle to cruise on Indian highways.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Review: Verdict

The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is priced from Rs 3.49 lakh onwards. It is available in three variants, and there are multiple accessories and accessory packs on offer. All of these attributes mean that theres enough to make the Super Meteor 650 fit the owner like a glove. With a great design, affordable price point, and pleasurable riding experience, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 makes for a perfect cruising machine that has Indian roots.
Go First, a low-cost airline, will have its flights at the Delhi airport banned for two hours on April 1 as a result of a BCAS ruling about a security violation from September of last year. The airline's security programme will continue to be suspended on April 1 from 1200 to 1400 hours, according to a civil aviation ministry decision dated March 16. The carrier has also been urged to take appropriate action to lessen the impact of the suspension on the customers.

According to a senior ministry official, the suspension of the security programme means that there will be no flight operations and the latest directive is a kind of warning for the violation.

Also read: Air India To Absorb Vistara Employees After Merger Of Both The Airlines

On September 24, 2022, Go First's Delhi-Mumbai flight returned from the taxiway due to a technical snag. There were 95 passengers onboard and they were shifted to a parked aircraft by the airline's ferry buses, without permission/ intimation to the agencies concerned, including CISF, as per the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

In September 2021, BCAS passed an order prohibiting ramp-to-ramp transfer of passengers as well as their baggage. Meanwhile, Go First submitted that the passengers were transferred through the terminal building for security check. BCAS concluded that there was a violation of its order passed in September 2021.

For violating its order, BCAS, on January 5, 2023, directed the airline to suspend its security programme from 0800 hours to 1700 hours on January 19. The regulator's order was kept on hold and the appeal of the airline was heard by the ministry on January 23.

Ruling on the matter, the ministry concluded that there was a violation but modified the BCAS order. The suspension of the security programme of the airline at Delhi airport will be in place for two hours on April 1, according to the order signed by civil aviation secretary Rajiv Bansal.

"It (order) shall be made effective on 01.04.2023 from 1200 hours to 1400 hours and as a consequential action, no operations shall be undertaken during the above-mentioned period," the secretary said. The carrier has also been directed to appropriately convey to the passengers or take other suitable action to minimise the impact of the suspension on the passengers.

With PTI Inputs
Actor Shwetha Menon took to social media to share her 'frustrating experience' with IndiGo Airlines. The actor shared the details on her social media platform informing that the incident occurred while she was at the Mumbai Airport to get her flight to Kochi. She said that she received an SMS stating that her flight was rescheduled. However, when she reached the airport, the plane had taken off for its destination in Kerala, leaving her and the other 22 passengers behind at the airport.

Sharing her ordeal, Shwetha Menon wrote on social media, "Let me tell you the whole story of what happened. It's a frustrating experience that I had with Indigo Airlines @indigo.6e, and I want to share it with you. I had a 12 pm flight (6E-6701) booked from Mumbai to Kochi, which was rescheduled to 1.30 pm as per the SMS received from the airlines. But when I reached the airport, I was shocked to hear that the flight had already taken off at 12 pm! I was not alone; there were around 22 passengers in the same situation as me."

Also read: Glider Plane Crashes Into House Soon After Take Off In Jharkhand's Dhanbad, Video Surfaces

She further added, "Anyway, coming back to the airport, the situation was not handled well by one particular staff at the helpdesk. Instead of providing any assistance, she was trying to put us in the 9 pm flight, even though the 5 pm flight was available. She was not even ready to listen to us and spoke very rudely."

Menon further complained about the bad behaviour of an IndiGo staff, she said, "To add insult to injury, she even challenged us to complain wherever we wanted, and that's when I decided to go live on social media."

Shwetha Menon further informed that after a while the staff made arrangements for the passengers to board a "fully booked" flight. Finally, she reached the Kochi airport via flight 6E-6703 where she received an apology from the airline's staff.
Washington: World Bank presidential nominee Ajay Banga has tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing in New Delhi where he was travelling on the last leg of his world tour, and is currently quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday.

India is witnessing a spike in influenza and coronavirus cases in the past two weeks. The country has recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases increased to 7,026, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

Banga's New Delhi visit (March 23 and March 24) is the final stop on his three-week global tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America and Asia.

During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for COVID-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation, the Department of Treasury said Thursday afternoon.

While in India, 63-year-old Banga was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Treasury said in a previous statement.

India endorsed Banga's candidacy soon after his nomination was announced.

Since then, a diverse coalition of governments has expressed their support for Banga, including Bangladesh, Cte d'Ivoire, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

During his global listening tour, Banga met with senior government officials, stakeholders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society.

Along the way, he has built continuous momentum for his candidacy, gaining the support of advocates, academics, development experts, executives, Nobel Laureates, and former government officials.

If elected to serve, Banga will draw from his experience living and working in emerging markets and his expertise in forging public-private partnerships to mobilise investments and action to confront longstanding challenges.

That includes his efforts at Mastercard to successfully bring 500 million previously unbanked people into the digital economy, as well as its support for 50 million small businesses.

New Delhi logged 84 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.08 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the health department.

The city has seen an increase in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last few days, amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.
SHANGHAI, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Jahwa United Co., Ltd (SH.600315) recently hosted the online "To Beauty to Youth" 2023 Strategy Conference. At the event, the management team led by Alex Pan, Chairman and CEO of Shanghai Jahwa, gave a presentation on Jahwa's achievements over the past year and its long-term vision, including corporate strategy, trends and development, brand innovation, ESG management. The team also invited external experts and partners to discuss consumption trends and growth paths in the new era.

Alex Pan, Chairman and CEO of Shanghai Jahwa, explained the company's business results for 2022 and corporate strategy for 2023 with a keynote speech "Innovation to Excellence". "As national economy gradually transforms from fast growth to development driven by quality, a series of positive signals can be observed from the overall recovery of consumption. This is a strong boost to the entire beauty and personal care industry. As an industry leader, Shanghai Jahwa continues to improve on differentiation, R&D investment, resource optimization, productivity, and capital expenditure. The company makes constant progress with solid operations and management."

In 2023, Jahwa's 123 operation principle to drive brand innovation. Jahwa focuses on expertise, premiumization, and experiential to enhance brand equity. While pushing for expertise in brand, segmentation and product, the company creates more, better products for consumers through its R&D and marketing prowess. With regards to corporate brand innovation, the company has instilled a concept of long-term, sustainable, and memorable consumer service. Furthermore, Shanghai Jahwa has constantly adapted to market trends and evolved its products for premiumization in positioning, products, target consumers, and packaging. Meanwhile, the company focuses on experiential, improving consumer experience on three dimensions for brand innovation and service enhancement.

Story continues

As a long-term player riding through business cycles, the company is dedicated to beauty, adheres to its mission of creating the best health and beauty products and services to maximize the value for consumers, employees, shareholders and entire society. In the future, Shanghai Jahwa hopes to achieve a new level of excellence, representing Chinese brands to compete against international brands on the world stage. Shanghai Jahwa aims to present Chinese Beauty to the world.

For more info, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083574486073

Cision

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New Delhi: In yet another shocking incident, a class 5 student was allegedly gang-raped by a 54-year-old peon working in her MCD-run school and his three accomplices after sedating her, the police said. The peon, identified as Ajay, has been arrested, they said, adding efforts are being made to catch his associates. Police said Ajay, a native of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh who lived in Ghaziabad, was working as a peon at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi-run school for the last 10 years. According to police, the incident took place on March 14. Since the incident, the girl had stopped going to school and also skipped her final exams.

MCD Issues Show-Cause Notice To School Principal

The MCD said in a statement that show cause notices to the principal of the school and the class teacher have been issued for not taking a prompt action i.e. not informing the higher authorities immediately.

The incident came to light when the student's teacher contacted her brother and enquired about her absence from the final exams. Her brother informed the teacher about the incident, police said.

As per the complaint, the accused took the girl to an unknown place from the school, sedated her with some unknown substance and committed gangrape with his associates, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Amrutha Guguloth said the principal of the Ghazipur school along with her fellow teachers reported the incident to police on Wednesday. The victim was sent to Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital where a medical examination was conducted and she was counselled, police said.

MCD Issues Statement On Minors Gangrape

In the statement issued on Thursday, the MCD said an incident of sexual assault with a female student of Class V of Shahadara Zone took place on March 14. "On the next day of the annual examination, the student was absent. The class teacher communicated the same to her mother to know the reason of her absence. Initially, her mother said that she is suffering from stomach ache with loose motion but later she informed the class teacher about the sexual assault with her by the school attendant," the MCD said.

The principal of the school tried to convince the girl's parents to come to the school to file a complaint against the accused, but they were reluctant to lodge any complaint with the school as well as the police, it said.

"Thereafter, the principal apprised the zonal authorities about the incident. Keeping in view the gravity of the incident, a committee of two school inspectors, including a female inspector, inquired into the matter and submitted its report. On the basis of findings of the committee, Ajay Kumar, the school attendant, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect," the MCD said.

Case Registered Against Accused

A case was registered under sections 363 (kidnapping), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 376D (gangrape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant section of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Gazipur police station, police said.

DCW Issues Notice To MCD, Delhi Police

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the city police and the MCD in connection with the incident.

"A Class 5 girl student of MCD school gang-raped by four people. The man who was involved in the incident was a peon of the school. This is a very serious matter. I am issuing notice to Delhi Police and MCD. Strictest action should be taken. If the girl child is not safe even in school then where is she?" DCW chief Swati Maliwal said in a tweet in Hindi.
New Delhi: Amritpal Singh, Khalistani supporter and head of the organization Waris Punjab De, kept his wife in captivity, beat her up regularly, and was associated with several other women, according to inputs by intelligence agencies. A report by Central Intelligence agencies reveals that Amritpal was living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai without following Sikh tenets and was not an Amritdhari Sikh.

Probe agencies are investigating why Singh visited Thailand numerous times, including whether he was indulging in prostitution or did he have a girlfriend in Thailand, and whether was he maintaining a second wife in Thailand.

His organization gave no prominent role to women. Reena Roy, the girlfriend of the late Deep Sidhu was not allowed to open up about Amritpal`s association with Deep Sidhu. Kirandip Kaur, the wife of Amritpal Singh has been kept in captivity and beaten up regularly him.

Amritpal Singh called his marriage an example of reverse migration projecting he will stay in Punjab. Probe agencies are also questioning the premise of Amritpal Singh`s organization and are seeking answers on why no women were at the forefront if it was actually a fight against drugs.

Women of any family are the biggest sufferers of the widespread drug menace phenomenon. As they have not been at the forefront, it shows that it is not an actual fight against drugs, but only a show-off, according to intelligence reports. Amritpal does not talk about his past as it is overtly due to possible damage to his image leading to a decrease in credibility.

He was closely involved with drug dealers in Dubai namely Jaswant Singh Rode whose brother is operating from Pakistan, reads the report. He does not talk about his past life where he was non-Amritdhari and not following Sikh religious tenets.

After coming to India, he and his organization started working as a religious fundamentalist cum vigilante group, completely contradictory to his earlier personality which clearly shows that he has been planted in India by forces inimical to Indian interest, according to intelligence reports.
New Delhi: Congress party's Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark, on March 23, the Lok Sabha Secretariat stated, reported PTI. He was found guilty in the case on Thursday (March 23) and sentenced to 2 years in prison. However, he is currently out on bail. Congress leaders across states strongly protested against the verdict.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reacted to this development by saying that Congress "will fight this battle both legally and politically." In a tweet, he further said, "We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti."

We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5 March 24, 2023

A case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by BJP MLA and former Gujarat Purnesh Modi in 2019 for allegedly making objectionable remarks against people with the 'Modi surname'. During a rally ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Gandhi had allegedly said, "How come all thieves have Modi in their surnames."

Rahul Gandhi - Congress MP from Wayanad, Kerala - disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha following his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark. pic.twitter.com/SQ1xzRZAot  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

A day before Rahul Gandhi was disqualified, noted lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal had said that Congress MP from Wayanad, Kerala stands automatically disqualified as a Member of Parliament after his conviction by a court in Gujarats Surat in a criminal defamation case.

Also Read: When Rahul Gandhi 'Tore' An Ordinance That Could Have Saved Him From Disqualification

Gandhi had attended Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday, a day after his conviction. The Congress Wayanad MP was also seen attending a meeting of party MPs before the start of the House proceedings. Congress Parliamentary Party Chief Sonia Gandhi was also present during the meeting. The House was adjourned seconds after convening amid ruckus over various issues, and Rahul Gandhi left Parliament soon after that.
NEW DELHI: A day after Gujarats Surat court convicted and sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2 years in jail in Modi Surname case, Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury has said that she is going to file a defamation suit against PM Narendra Modi over his 'Suparnakha' remark in Parliament in 2018. Taking to Twitter, the former Union Minister also posed a question  lets see how fast the courts will act now?

Along with her tweet, Chowdhury also shared a video showing PM Modi supposedly linking her laughter to a character - Suparnakha - in the Hindu epic Ramayana. "This classless megalomaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the house. I will file a defamation case against him. Let's see how fast courts will act now..(sic)," she said in her tweet.

This classless megalomaniac referred to me as Surpanakha on the floor of the house.



I will file a defamation case against him. Let's see how fast courts will act now.. pic.twitter.com/6T0hLdS4YW  Renuka Chowdhury (@RenukaCCongress) March 23, 2023

The tweet from the Congress leader came hours after the Surat district court held Rahul Gandhi guilty of his derogatory remarks on PM Modis surname' and sentenced him to a two-year jail term. The Gandhi scion was convicted by the court over his Why all thieves have Modi surname jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Surat district court. He was later granted bail and given 30 days' time to file an appeal.

What Options Does Rahul Gandhi Have After Conviction?

In view of his conviction in the case, the question being asked is what options Rahul Gandhi is left with now and whether he will face disqualification and lose his Lok Sabha membership. Social media is abuzz with questions if the Representation of People Act would be applicable to him or not.

After Rahul Gandhi's conviction, his party has said that its legal team will pursue the option of going to a higher court. The Surat court has also granted him time to file an appeal against the same. Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, in his order, said that Rahil Gandhi can appeal against his conviction and sentencing within 30 days  implying that his Lok Sabha membership will remain intact for now until the higher court decides on the matter.

Congress Plans Mass Agitation, To Meet President Murmu

Meanwhile, Congress has decided to take to the streets against Rahul Gandhi's conviction and meet the President of India with other parties. The main opposition party announced a mass agitation immediately after the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case and said it will not just fight the case legally but also politically.

In the wake of the verdict, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting of senior party leaders and MPs at his residence where after an hour of deliberations they decided to stage a protest at Vijay Chowk on Friday.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Draupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

Ramesh said the meeting at Kharge's residence lasted around two hours and it was decided that the Party chief would hold a meeting with all Pradesh Congress chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders in the evening and plan agitations in states.

"We will hold protests across Delhi and in other states on Monday on this issue," Ramesh said. The matter is just not a legal issue, but also a serious political issue linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," Ramesh said.

His Congress colleague KC Venugopal also said that the party has analyzed the situation. "The verdict was so unfortunate as far as Congress Party is concerned. We will do a solidarity march for Congress Party. From day 1 onwards when Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Adani, the Government of India side has been trying to stop him. They dont want Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. They are varying all options to stop his voice," said Venugopal.

The Congress general secretary said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party will continue to speak on the Adani issue. "All opposition parties are getting suppressed. I am happy that parties are showing solidarity with Rahul Gandhi," said Venugopal.
New Delhi: After Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court on Thursday (March 23), the Congress and several other Opposition parties came out in overwhelming support of him. The Congress, upset with the verdict, has decided to hold a march against the verdict by the Gujarat court at Delhi's Vijay Chowk on Friday (March 24).

Rahul Gandhi convicted

Gandhi was found guilty in a defamation case over his remarks on the 'Modi' surname. During a rally ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, he had allegedly said, "How come all thieves have Modi in their surnames." He was sentenced to two years in prison in the case but was later released on bail.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Disqualified As MP After Conviction In 'Modi Surname' Case By Surat Court: Kapil Sibal

Noted lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal has said that Congress MP stands automatically disqualified as a Member of Parliament after his conviction by a court in Gujarats Surat in a criminal defamation case.

In reaction to the verdict, Congress said it will fight the case legally and politically. The party chief Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with senior leaders and MPs at his residence regarding the matter soon after the verdict.

Congress plans protests against the verdict

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk, reported PTI.

In addition to a protest march in the national capital, Congress chiefs in other states may also undertake protest marches against the verdict and Rahul Gandhi's conviction.

"We will hold protests across Delhi and in other states on Monday on this issue. The matter is just not a legal issue, but also a serious political issue linked with the future of democracy in the country," Jairam Ramesh said as quoted by PTI.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat, and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," he further said.
New Delhi: Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "fascism in India" remark, saying all efforts to "defame" and "destabilise" the country will fail as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the "blessings" of the people.

He also dismissed allegations of assault on citizens' right to free speech and press freedom under the Modi government. The Congress leader has forgotten the "tough time" people had to face when the Emergency was imposed in the country during the Indira Gandhi government, Thakur said.

The law will take its course if anyone talks about "breaking" India and makes remarks that can create tension in society and in the country, the information and broadcasting minister said.

Thakur was replying to questions asked by the anchor of an event 'Arth-A Culture Fest' at the Sunder Nursery here.

Rahul Gandhi's 'fascism' remark

In an interview with the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera" recently, Rahul Gandhi said, "Fascism is already there. Democratic structures collapse. Parliament is no longer working. I haven't been able to speak for two years, and as soon as I speak they take my microphone off. The balance of powers is off. Justice is not independent. Centralism is absolute. The press is no longer free."

The "manifestation of thought" is prohibited in India, he had alleged.

"The concentration of wealth is scandalous. Hindu extremists of the RSS sect have infiltrated every institution and are conditioning it. People see no future because they are scared," Rahul Gandhi had said and had added that Prime Minister Modi can be defeated in the (general) elections if the opposition presented an alternative vision to "fascism".

Anurag Thakur reacts to Gandhi's comments

Reacting to Gandhi's remarks, the minister said, "If at all the country witnessed any Emergency, any ban imposed on common citizens and the media, it was done during the Indira Gandhi regime, who was Rahul Gandhi's grandmother."

"Perhaps he has forgotten what happened at that time and the kind of tough time people of this country passed through. If anyone stood against that it was the BJP. We were known as the Jan Sangh at that time," he said, adding that "we fought, citizens of the country fought".

'Have been supporters of freedom of speech': Union Minister Anurag Thakur

Be it in Parliament or on streets, everyone in the country has freedom to express one's thoughts, he said. "We have always been supporters of freedom of speech," the BJP leader said.

Without naming anyone, Thakur said some "forces in the world" are making efforts to "defame and destabilise India through one after another propaganda under one agenda".

"But they won't be able to stop India from marching ahead, no matter if they catch hold of any channel, billionaire or trillionaire," he said.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Convicted In 'Modi Surname' Case; What Are His Options Now? Will He Face Disqualification As MP?

The minister said the biggest strength of a democracy are its people and their votes. "Nothing will happen with all such efforts because people are rallying behind Modi ji, because Modi ji has blessings of 140 crore people of this country. World has come to know India's strength," he added.

Debate on press freedom

Thakur also dismissed Rahul Gandhi's charge of "press is no longer free", saying "people have the right to make their point in newspapers and on TV channels".

He said India has emerged as the world's fastest-growing economy under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

"We could see India's rise as significant implications for the rest of the world...Be it IMF, World Bank, Silicon Valley or multinational companies, India is making a splash everywhere across the globe. This is the image of the new India. Modi ji has taken India on a new path," he added.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi was gripped by the "mindset of slavery" and asked him to get freedom from it. Thakur also asked the Congress leader to fulfil his "duties as a citizen of India".

"It is unfortunate that when China was attacking, Rahul Gandhi was dining with the Chinese ambassador and leaders. Rahul Gandhi's Rajiv Gandhi foundation gets Chinese funding. Perhaps because he sees only China's progress. He can't see India's progress," he charged.
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday accused the government of acting with "lightning speed" in disqualifying Rahul Gandhi, saying it amounts to "strangulation of democracy" and alleging that the ruling dispensation is coming out with new techniques to "gag" him. The party leadership got into a huddle soon after the disqualification was announced by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and decided to fight it legally and politically and launch a countrywide "Jan Andolan" starting Monday.

The Congress also welcomed statements of support by opposition leaders and said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been coordinating with various parties in Parliament and this coordination will be extended outside Parliament as well.

Party MPs earlier staged a protest march till Vijay Chowk and several MPs were detained by the Delhi Police for violation of prohibitory orders and kept at the Kingsway Camp police station before being released in the evening.

In his first reaction after the disqualification, Rahul Gandhi in a tweet said, "I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any price."

His sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying in a tweet in Hindi, "Narendra Modi ji, your sycophants called the son of a martyred prime Minister a traitor, Mir Jafar. One of your Chief Minister raised questions as to who is the father of Rahul Gandhi? Following the custom of Kashmiri Pandits, a son wears 'pagdi' after his father's death, maintaining his family's tradition."

"Insulting the whole family and the Kashmiri Pandit community, you asked in Parliament why we don't keep the name Nehru. But no judge gave you a sentence of two years. Did not disqualify you from the Parliament," she said.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the issue of Gandhi's disqualification was both political and legal. "It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic and repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party and the strangulation of democracy itself."

He alleged there have been "unthinkable assaults" on the freedom of speech with people being told that they would face the worst possible consequences -- civil, criminal, incarceration, intimidation and harassment.

"We all know Rahul Gandhi has been speaking inside and outside Parliament fearlessly. He has spoken on social issues, economic issues, political issues without any fear or inhibition...Clearly he is paying the price for it," Singhvi said.

"This government is finding new techniques of throttling his voice, gagging him. Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he is not allowed to speak on grounds of fake nationalism," he alleged, adding, "This is a conspiracy by the BJP against him."

After the meet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told reporters that the party has decided to launch a people's movement, and alleged that the government has acted with lightning speed to "gag" him.

"We will go all over the country as Rahul Gandhi was deliberately disqualified for raising his voice against the Modi government on the Adani issue, on the government's foreign policy and the clean chit given to China for incursions at the border," Ramesh said, adding that the BJP is rattled with the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The Congress leadership has welcomed the statements of support of all opposition leaders, he said, adding, "There was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way."

Ramesh also raised questions over the manner in which the complainant in the defamation case initially sought to get action on his complaint stayed and soon after Gandhi's speech on the Adani issue in Parliament, got the stay vacated and the case moved forward. "This is no coincidence."

In a tweet later, Ramesh said, "The Prime Minister is using G20 to proclaim to the world that India is the Mother of Democracy. That Mother is weeping today at the Murder of Democracy in India."

The Congress said it was "a black day for Indian democracy" and asserted that the battle will be fought both "legally and politically".

Kharge said the BJP made all efforts to get Rahul Gandhi disqualified as he was speaking the truth. "He has been removed from the House for speaking the truth, fighting for the Constitution and for people's rights."

"This was not a question of backward class, Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi are not of backward class. They are trying to build a perception that Rahul Gandhi spoke against backward class. Gandhi was putting forward the truth before the country so they were not liking it," he said, in an apparent reference to BJP chief J P Nadda's remark that Gandhi had compared OBC communities to thieves.

"We will keep fighting to protect democracy and even if we have to go to jail, we will do so," Kharge said.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said, "Judgement on 23 March, disqualification on 24 March. The speed with which the system moved is astonishing. No time is spent on reflection, understanding or allowing time for legal review."

"Obviously, there are no voices of moderation in the BJP party or government. The net result is parliamentary democracy has suffered another cruel blow," he said.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said, "This is a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorial attitude of the BJP government."

Party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "It is a sheer case of retributive politics because Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity in the wake of the Bharat Jodo Yatra..."

Singhvi said after Gandhi came back from abroad, his speeches became the basis of action against him inside Parliament. "The disruption by the ruling party is part of a pattern... To stop him because he speaks fearlessly and candidly and to divert attention from the real issues and questions raised by him," he said, adding that it is being done to send a message and create fear psychosis among those who dare to question the government.

The BJP, however, dismissed the charges and termed the disqualification "lawful".

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction. On Thursday, a court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.
Chandigarh: Haryana`s minister for Home and Health, Anil Vij, on Friday alleged that the Punjab government was not serious about arresting fugitive Khalistan leader and `Waris Punjab De` chief Amritpal Singh, saying that the Haryana Police had informed their Punjab counterparts about his whereabouts but it took them one-and-a-half days for them to reach Shahabad (in Haryana). Speaking to reporters on Friday, Vij said, "I do not think the Punjab government is serious about arresting Amritpal. They have been lax in this matter. They were searching in Jalandhar with all their personnel while he was sitting here in Shahbad and having a meal at a relative`s house." "By the time we received information, he had fled Shahbad. However, we informed the Punjab Police but they took one-and-a-half days to reach Shahabad. This clearly gives away the lethargic approach of the Punjab government in this matter," he said.

Meanwhile, police sources on Friday said Amritpal is suspected to have left for Delhi. Punjab Police expressed doubts about Amritpal entering the Delhi border using any vehicle other than a bus. Since receiving the input, Delhi Police have been on alert and are trying to track Amritpal`s movements.

An alert has also been issued in the Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of Uttarakhand as there is a possibility of Amritpal entering the state.

Uttarakhand`s Director General of Police, Ashok Kumar, said, "An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as it is possible that the pro-Khalistan leader might enter the state," the DGP told ANI.

He said the state police were conducting intensive checking on the borders of all three districts and other areas. On Thursday, Punjab`s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill, said that a total of 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state.

"Police teams are doing a thorough screening of all the arrested persons and soon, they will be released from police custody," he said. Reports of central intelligence agencies revealed that Amritpal kept his wife in captivity, beat her up, and was associated with several other women.

He had a lavish lifestyle in Dubai and did not follow Sikh tenets, reports said, adding that he was not an Amritdhari Sikh.
Gurugram: A 22-year-old woman was arrested Thursday for allegedly falsely accusing two men of gang-raping her and extorting from them Rs 2 lakh for withdrawing her complaint, police said. The woman works as a web designer with a Noida-based private media Management Company.

She had earlier lodged a similar complaint at Aman Vihar Police Station in Rohini in Delhi, police said, adding she was produced in a city court Thursday and was sent to judicial custody.

According to police, the woman had filed rape complaints against two men on March 17 at Sector 53 Police Station. She also extorted from them Rs 2 lakh, which was transferred into her account by the brother of one of the victims.

"She further demanded from them Rs 4 lakh more. A police team led by Inspector Amit Kumar, SHO of Sector 53 Police Station, arrested her during the investigation of the case," Virender Vij, DCP, east, said.

According to police, when the woman was produced in the court for recording her statement under section 164 of CrPC, she retracted her statement.

"Later we got the information that she had also filed a similar rape complaint in Delhi earlier. On suspicion, we started the investigation and her allegations were found to be false," said Inspector Amit Kumar.

The woman has been booked under sections 384 (extortion), 385 (putting a person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion), and 389 (putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt in order to commit extortion) of the IPC at Sector 53 Police Station, said police.

The woman had filed a complaint against a Facebook friend of hers and his companion, accusing them of taking her to a PG in the Sector 53 area and raping her there.




Balkans summit designed to form ties, give hope of EU accession

Six Balkan nations - not necessarily with a strong track record of collaborating - will come together for a summit on Wednesday to exchange ideas about how to cooperate and build ties in their region, according to the European Union.

GALLERY

Days of war and complete destruction: Scene in the streets of Sarajevo in 1994 during the Civil War.

Belgrade (dpa) - The Western Balkans Summit is definitely a regional summit. However, it is also set to see visits from European heavyweights like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who can provide an example of the benefits of cooperation and remind the Balkan states that the hope of European Union membership is always there.This is the fourth annual summit, which brings together the leaders of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Italy and Austria are also set to send leaders. And representatives of EU members Croatia and Slovenia will be on hand, perhaps as a reminder that Balkan countries do have hopes of getting into the bloc.Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told the Belgrade newspaper Danas on Tuesday that attendees will be asked to look at a "significant" infrastructure project for energy and transportation.According to an EU press release, one idea is quicker highway connections, between Belgrade and Pristina as well as between Belgrade and Sarajevo. There will also be talks about a gas pipeline between Bulgaria and southern Serbia.Members will also be asked to focus on more youth exchanges, which EU members hope will help erase some of the bad memories about the wars that waged between various members of the Balkans during the last 20 years. Such exchanges have been a goal for years, but implementation has been stalled.But the Balkan countries remain wary of the summit, worried that it is meant to appease them instead of helping them towards their goal of EU membership. Members are also worried about too much focus on cooperation projects, since those, by nature, centre around Serbia.Serbia is the core of the former Yugoslavia, a country to which all of the six save Albania once belonged. Those countries are wary about letting Belgrade direct too many of their affairs now.
Marjan, the master-developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah, has announced the appointment of two contractors - Alec Engineering and Contracting and German foundation specialist Bauer International - to undertake integral construction works of the integrated Wynn Resort set to open in Ras Al Khaimah early 2027.

Offering a pristine setting with views of the Arabian Gulf as well as sandy beaches and a marina, the project is the first in the Mena region by Wynn Resorts, the US-based developer, designer and operator of luxury integrated resort experiences.

The integrated resort development on Al Marjan Island is the largest project of its kind in RAK's growing hospitality sector. It is being developed in partnership with RAK Hospitality Holding and Marjan.

With a growing portfolio of bold hospitality and leisure attractions, the cluster of four coral-shaped islands is emerging as a top lifestyle and waterfront destination in the region, it added.

As per the deal, Alec, a part of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and an expert in the construction of complex and iconic projects across diverse sectors, will be responsible for the construction of the integrated resort development, while Bauer will undertake the piling and enabling works.

"Alec has successfully developed its reputation as a multifaceted, main contractor by delivering some of the region's most challenging projects," remarked its Managing Director Barry Lewis. "In working with Marjan, in partnership with RAK Hospitality Holding and Wynn Resorts, we look forward to utilising our extensive experience to deliver what will indisputably be a waterfront destination, unlike anything seen before," he added.

Marjan CEO Engineer Abdulla Abdooli said: "To fulfil and surpass the expectations of investors and all our stakeholders, we have teamed up with the best-in-class partners for the timely completion of a project that is the largest of its kind in the Emirate's growing hospitality sector."
FACT.MR

Rising use of synthetic latex polymers in the healthcare industry outside of the drug delivery sector is estimated to boost their demand over the decade.

Rockville, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Increasing construction activities worldwide has led to a surge in the demand for paints and coatings, which is expected to drive the sales of synthetic latex polymers. According to a recent research report by Fact.MR, a provider of market research and competitive intelligence, the global synthetic latex polymers market is projected to reach a value of US$ 98.8 billion by the end of 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2033.



Synthetic latex polymers encompass materials such as latex, rubber, and fiber, and recent technological advancements in their production are expected to create promising opportunities. Styrene acrylic based synthetic latex polymers, which are widely used in construction and roof coatings, are an example of these developments. Synthetic latex is also utilized in the manufacture of various electronic and architectural products. Additionally, synthetic latex polymers are essential components in the production of adhesives and sealants, paper, carpets, as well as paints and coatings.

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Growing utilization of styrene-butadiene latex can be attributed to the increasing demand in various industries such as carpets, paper & paperboard, fibers, and adhesives. The ban on plastic bags worldwide has led to a surge in demand for environmentally friendly packaging solutions like cardboard and paper, which has further boosted the demand for styrene-butadiene latex. Additionally, the construction industry's rising need for pressure-sensitive mortar additives, paints, coatings, and adhesives has also contributed to the increased utilization of styrene-butadiene latex.

Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable rise in commercial and residential construction activities, leading to increased demand for synthetic latex polymers. The paints and coatings industry is also expected to contribute to the growth of the synthetic latex polymer market, creating profitable opportunities. Furthermore, increased R&D efforts to produce more efficient synthetic latex polymers have also contributed to their increased demand. In the healthcare sector, sales of products such as electrode pads, surgical gloves, stethoscopes, catheters, wraps, and elastic bandages made with synthetic latex polymers are on the rise, further contributing to growth opportunities in the target industry.

Story continues

Synthetic latex polymers are employed for a wide variety of medical purposes. Synthetic polymers are more flexible and are used significantly to develop light-activated adhesive materials, which help in resealing blood arteries at the time of vascular surgery. Synthetic latex polymers are also utilized in surgical glue to meet different requirements. Synthetic latex polymers come with the features of easy integration with human flesh, which will boost their demand in the healthcare industry.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

The global synthetic latex polymers market is valued at US$ 65.5 billion in 2023.

Sales of synthetic latex polymers are forecasted to increase at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2033.

Demand for synthetic latex polymers is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 2.8% through 2033 in Germany.

Sales of synthetic latex polymers are anticipated to advance at a CAGR of 3.5% in Canada.

Demand for styrene acrylic-based synthetic latex polymers is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.4%.

Worldwide demand for synthetic latex polymers is expected to reach US$ 98.8 billion by the end of 2033.

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Competitive Landscape

To maintain product standards and pursue profitable growth opportunities in the target industry, some major suppliers of synthetic latex polymer are increasing their expenditures and focusing on strengthening their supply chain management systems. This is one of the notable initiatives being undertaken by these suppliers.

Mergers & acquisitions will be increasingly adopted by key players to generate growth opportunities in the coming decade.

For instance:

Hextar Global Berhad, a Malaysian-based supplier of synthetic latex polymers, acquired TufBond Technologies, another provider of synthetic latex polymers, in November 2021. This acquisition is expected to help Hextar broaden its reach and expand its market presence.

Key Market Players

Apcotex Industries Limited

Celanese Corporation

Jubilant Agri and Consumer Products Ltd.

Omnova Solutions, Inc.

Shanxi Sanwei Group Co., Ltd.

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Trinseo LLC

Wacker Chemie AG

Synthetic Latex Polymers Industry Segmentation

By Type: Styrene Acrylic Styrene Butadiene Acrylic Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Polyvinyl Acetate Vinyl Acetate Ethylene Others

By Application: Processed Paper Adhesives & Sealants Paints & Coatings Packaging Rubber Gloves Automotive Parts Non-woven Fabrics Others

By Region : North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa





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More Valuable Insights on Offer

Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the synthetic latex polymers market, presenting historical demand data for 2018 to 2022 and forecast statistics for 2023 to 2033.

The study divulges essential insights on the market based on type (vinyl acetate ethylene, styrene acrylic, styrene-butadiene, acrylic, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate copolymer, others) and application (processed paper, paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, packaging, automotive parts, rubber gloves, non-woven fabrics, others), across five major regions of the world (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and MEA).

Key Questions Covered in the Synthetic Latex Polymers Market Report

What will be the estimated size of the Market in 2023?

At what rate will the global Synthetic Latex Polymers sales grow until 2033?

Which are the factors hampering the Synthetic Latex Polymers demand?

Which region will spearhead the growth in the global industry during 2023-2033?

Which are the factors driving sales in the Synthetic Latex Polymers Market during the forecast period?



Check out more related studies published by Fact.MR Research:

Medical Superabsorbent Polymers Market Size: The medical superabsorbent polymers market size is estimated at USD 3,172 Million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 5,663 Million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2022-2032.

Construction Polymers Market Research: The global construction polymers market research consists of well-diversified global and regional players with the global players accounting for a substantial market share. The construction polymers market is highly fragmented into major countries such as China, India, United States, etc. and is consists of large number of local players.

Medical Polymers Market Sales: Based on the analysis by Fact.MR, the global medical polymers market sales is valued to be US$ 10.4 billion in 2023 and it is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% to reach US$ 23.4 billion by the end of 2033.

Detergent Polymers Market Share: The global Detergent Polymers market share is estimated to hold a valuation of US$ 367.4 million in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% to reach a valuation of US$ 590.9 million by 2032.

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New Delhi: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray called Rahul Gandhi's removal from Parliament a "murder of democracy" on Friday. According to Thackeray, "calling a thief a thief" has become a crime in this country, and this is the "beginning of the end of dictatorship." Rahul Gandhi's membership of parliament has finally terminated.

#RahulGandhi's candidacy has been cancelled. Calling a thief, a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves & looters are still free & Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy. All govt systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of pic.twitter.com/uubBUmsqeY  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

Calling a thief a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves looting the country are still free and Rahul Gandhi has been punished. This is a direct murder of democracy, said the former Maharashtra chief minister. "All government systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of dictatorship, he added.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Shiv Sena leader, and Rajya Sabha member, branded the action "vindictive and disgusting." Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after a lower court in Gujarat declared him guilty of defamation for comments he made about Modi's surname.

The case against Gandhi arises from his remarks during an electoral rally in 2019 in which he said, "Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?" It then named fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi. Purnesh Modi, a BJP leader, filed the defamation case, claiming Gandhi's comments "defamed the entire Modi community."

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin extended support to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on his conviction in the Modi surname case on Thursday. The Surat Court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison for allegedly defaming Modi's surname during the Karnataka elections in 2019.

It's highly deplorable & unprecedented that a leader like Thiru @RahulGandhi is convicted for a comment which he himself said it was not made with blameworthy mind. (1/2)  M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 23, 2023

It's highly deplorable & unprecedented that a leader like Thiru @RahulGandhi is convicted for a comment which he himself said was not made with blameworthy mind, said MK Stalin.

BJP's targeting of opposition parties has now landed in trampling of democratic rights and such atrocities will see its end. I spoke with brother #RahulGandhi and conveyed my solidarity. I'm confident that justice will win ultimately!, he added, as per ANI quote.

Meanwhile, Congress workers gathered in front of Rahul Gandhi's home to protest the judgement. In response to the ruling, Congress members in Chennai stopped the road near the Secretariat.
NEW DELHI: From being barred from contesting elections for eight years to losing his official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha has several possible ramifications. The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday notified Gandhi's disqualification from the Lower House of Parliament within a day after a court in Surat convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case and awarded two years of imprisonment to him.

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.E. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

The case filed against the Congress leader was on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Unless a higher court stays Gandhi's conviction, experts said, he will continue to remain disqualified from the Lok Sabha and also barred from contesting any election for a total of eight years, two years of jail term and another six years from the date of his release from prison, according to Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

As the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala turns vacant following disqualification of Gandhi from the Lower House, the Election Commission can "technically" hold a bypoll to fill the seat as more than one year is left for conducting general elections in 2024.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Can't Contest Lok Sabha, Assembly Polls For 8 Years Unless Higher Court Stays Conviction: Expert

The term of the present Lok Sabha expires sometime in June.

An expert, who did not wish to be named, felt that the Election Commission is likely to wait for the 30-day period granted by the court to allow Gandhi file an appeal against the conviction.

With his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Gandhi may also have to vacate his official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi within a month if he doesn't get a relief from a higher court, officials said.

The former Congress president has been living in an official bungalow, located on 12, Tughlaq Lane, since it was allotted to him following his victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a crucial meeting with Janata Dal (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Friday, a week after she met with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Kolkata. According to party sources, the Mamata-Kumaraswamy meeting will be held at the TMC supremo's residence in Bhawanipore at 4 PM. The JD(S) leader will arrive in the city around noon to meet Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, a senior leader of the party said.

"The two leaders will discuss the present political situation in the country and the way forward to fight and defeat BJP in 2024 (general election), he said on condition of anonymity. According to TMC leaders, the meetings with non-Congress, non-BJP leaders are part of the party's efforts to cobble up an opposition unity with regional powers.

Kumaraswamy attended the meeting of opposition parties convened by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the city in January 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha poll that year. Friday's meeting with him is likely to be Banerjee's third meeting with a non-BJP, non-Congress party leader within a week.

Mamata Meets Patnaik In Odisha

On Thursday, Mamata met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and resolved to make the federal structure of the country "strong and permanent". The statement came after a much-awaited meeting of the two chief ministers held at the conclusion of Banerjee's three-day visit to Odisha. Addressing reporters at the end of the meeting at Naveen Niwas - Patnaik's residence - with Banerjee beside him, the Odisha CM said, "We resolved to make the federal structure of the country permanent and strong. There was no other political discussion." Banerjee seconded Patnaik and said, "I strongly support what Naveen ji said and I appreciate this. We also discussed democratic rights and the safety of the nation."

She also sought iron ore for industries in her state and proposed an industrial corridor between the two states. However, speculation remained rife that the meeting was part of Banerjee's plan to form an opposition front with regional players minus the Congress. TMC had also announced it would hold talks with other regional parties in their bid to take on the BJP in the crucial 2024 elections though it officially continued to deny any plans for a 'Third Front', separate from the Congress-led broad coalition.

No Official Word On Formation Of Third Front

After Thursday's meeting at Patnaik's residence too, both the leaders skipped questions on the possibility of a third front or a regional alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "It was a courtesy meeting. There was no in-depth discussion about serious political matters. We share a very old friendship," Patnaik said. Banerjee thanked Patnaik for handing over two acres of land for the construction of a Bengal government guest house in Puri.

Banerjee had last week met SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that the two parties will maintain equal distance from BJP and the Congress and reach out to regional parties ahead of the polls.
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Narendra Modi-led BJP govt at the centre over the disqualification of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha. The TMC chief without taking Rahul's name said the country is witnessing a new low in constitutional democracy. "Under PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief said in a Twitter post. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," Banerjee, added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha after getting convicted in the 2019 'Modi Surname' defamation case.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat notified that Gandhi's disqualification was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

In PM Modis New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP!



While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches.



Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 24, 2023

Mamata also took a veiled jibe at the BJP for inducting leaders with criminal cases into the cabinet. She said," While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches."

Modi Surname Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi

A court in Gujarat's Surat found him guilty in the case on Thursday (March 23) and sentenced him to 2 years in prison. Gandhi was convicted under IPC sections 499 and 500. The maximum possible punishment under this section is two years. The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H.H. Varma sentenced him to two years in jail and also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after finding him guilty; however, on Rahul Gandhi`s plea, his sentence has been suspended and bail has been granted to enable him to move an appeal against his conviction within 30 days.

The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged 'how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname' remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi: A day after his conviction by the Surat district court for making derogatory remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday. The Congress Wayanad MP was also seen attending a meeting of party MPs before the start of the House proceedings. Congress Parliamentary Party Chief Sonia Gandhi was also present during the meeting. The House was adjourned seconds after convening amid ruckus over various issues, and Rahul Gandhi left Parliament soon after that.

#WATCH | Delhi: Rahul Gandhi attends the meeting of Congress MPs at the Congress Parliamentary Office in Parliament.



Party chief and LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge & UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also present.



(Video Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/oyxj3YwPno  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

It may be recalled that a court in Gujarat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in the case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

What Options Does Rahul Gandhi Have After Conviction?

In view of his conviction in the case, the question being asked is what options Rahul Gandhi is left with now and whether he will face disqualification and lose his Lok Sabha membership. Social media is abuzz with questions if the Representation of People Act would be applicable to him or not. Legal experts say that Rahul Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a Member of Parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.

Noted lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal has said that Congress MP stands automatically disqualified as a Member of Parliament after his conviction by a court in Gujarats Surat in a criminal defamation case for his derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi, who currently represents the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, now stands disqualified, as per the law, said former party leader Kapil Sibal. "If it (the court) only suspends the sentence that's not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction," Sibal told a private news channel.

After Rahul Gandhi's conviction, his party also said that its legal team will pursue the option of going to a higher court. The Surat court has also granted him time to file an appeal against the same. Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, in his order, said that Rahil Gandhi can appeal against his conviction and sentencing within 30 days  implying that his Lok Sabha membership will remain intact for now until the higher court decides on the matter.

Congress Plans Mass Agitation, To Meet President Murmu

Meanwhile, Congress has decided to take to the streets against Rahul Gandhi's conviction and meet the President of India with other parties. The main opposition party announced a mass agitation immediately after the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case and said it will not just fight the case legally but also politically.

In the wake of the verdict, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting of senior party leaders and MPs at his residence where after an hour of deliberations they decided to stage a protest at Vijay Chowk on Friday.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Draupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

Ramesh said the meeting at Kharge's residence lasted around two hours and it was decided that the Party chief would hold a meeting with all Pradesh Congress chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders in the evening and plan agitations in states. "We will hold protests across Delhi and in other states on Monday on this issue," Ramesh said. The matter is just not a legal issue, but also a serious political issue linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," Ramesh said.

His Congress colleague KC Venugopal also said that the party has analyzed the situation. "The verdict was so unfortunate as far as Congress Party is concerned. We will do a solidarity march for Congress Party. From Day 1 onwards when Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Adani, the Government of India side has been trying to stop him. They dont want Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. They are varying all options to stop his voice," said Venugopal.

The Congress general secretary said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party will continue to speak on the Adani issue. "All opposition parties are getting suppressed. I am happy that parties are showing solidarity with Rahul Gandhi," said Venugopal.
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday stood disqualified from contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction, an expert on electoral laws said. Citing Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, the expert said the disqualification will be for eight years -- two years of the jail term awarded by the court and another six years from the date of his release as prescribed in the law. Jail term of two years or more attracts disqualification under the Act.

"He stands disqualified for a total period of eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction," said a former Election Commission official who is an expert on electoral laws.

He also said "technically" the Election Commission can hold a bypoll to the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala as there is more than one year before the term of the present Lok Sabha expires sometime in June next year. Assembly and parliamentary bypolls are avoided if the remaining term of the House is for less than one year.

The expert, who did not wish to be named, felt that the EC is likely to wait for the 30-day period granted by the court to allow the former Congress president file an appeal against the conviction.

Also Read: MK Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray Extend Support To Rahul Gandhi, Call His Disqualification Attack On Democracy

Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.E. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

The court in Surat sentenced on Thursday Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged "Modi surname" remark.

The Surat court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Gandhi is the second member of Lok Sabha, after Lakshadweep MP P P Mohammed Faisal of the Nationalist Congress Party, to have been disqualified in the recent past following conviction.

The Kavaratti sessions court in Lakshadweep had sentenced four persons, including Mohammed Faizal to 10 years in jail after they were found guilty in an attempt-to-murder case.

Following the conviction, Faizal was disqualified. However, the Kerala High Court later suspended his conviction and sentence. According to the MP, the Lok Sabha Secretariat is yet to issue a notification revoking his disqualification.

Also Read: When Rahul Gandhi 'Tore' An Ordinance That Could Have Saved Him From Disqualification

Mohd Azam Khan of the Samajwadi Party was disqualified as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly following his conviction in a hate speech case.

His son Abdullah Azam, also an SP MLA in UP, was disqualified after being convicted in a case related to attack on policemen. BJP's Vikram Saini was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly following his conviction last year in a Muzaffarnagar riots case.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa too have faced disqualification from Parliament and Assembly respectively following their convictions.
New Delhi: Delhi Police On Friday (March 24) asked the opposition MPs not to carry out a march at Vijay Chowk in the national capital citing the enforcement of Section 144 CrPC in the area. The MPs of the opposition parties were holding a march against the ruling government demanding Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry on the Adani-Hindenberg issue in the parliament.

A host of Opposition leaders from parties such as the CPI, CPI(M), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), JD(U), and Aam Aadmi Party, marched to Vijay Chowk, holding placards like 'We demand JPC' and 'Save LIC' and a huge banner in front of them with 'Democracy in Danger' written on it.

In a video shared by the news agency ANI, MPs are seen marching at Vijay Chowk in Delhi holding flyers and posters demanding JPC inquiry on the Adani issue. Meanwhile, a police personnel is heard asking the political leaders to stop the agitation citing that Section 144 CrPC is imposed in the area and gathering, protests, and agitation are not allowed there.

#WATCH | Delhi: Police make announcements at Vijay Chowk and inform the marching Opposition MPs to not march ahead as Section 144 CrPC is imposed and no agitation is allowed here.



Opposition MPs are demanding a JPC inquiry into the Adani Group issue. pic.twitter.com/P94Du6PmTm  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

"We're fighting for JPC into Adani issue for months. They have a majority but the BJP is scared as there's something fishy. We'll keep fighting unitedly for it," said Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.

He also hit out at BJP chief J P Nadda over his allegation that Rahul Gandhi compared OBC communities to thieves and accused the BJP of indulging in "caste politics". AAP's Sanjay Singh said Gandhi's conviction shows that the government wants to finish off the opposition by slapping cases on them.
New Delhi: Noted lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal has said that Congress MP stands automatically disqualified as a Member of Parliament after his conviction by a court in Gujarats Surat in a criminal defamation case for his derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi, who currently represents the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, now stands disqualified, as per the law, said former party leader Kapil Sibal. "If it (the court) only suspends the sentence that's not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction," Sibal told a private news channel.

It may be recalled that the Congress leader was convicted by a court in Gujarat over his Why all thieves have Modi surname jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Surat district court. He was later granted bail and given 30 days' time to file an appeal.

Rahul Gandhis conviction has triggered a strong buzz on social media about whether he will be disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha now.

Congress Plans Mass Agitation, To Meet President Murmu

Meanwhile, Congress has decided to take to the streets against Rahul Gandhi's conviction and meet the President of India with other parties. The main opposition party announced a mass agitation immediately after the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case and said it will not just fight the case legally but also politically.

In the wake of the verdict, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting of senior party leaders and MPs at his residence where after an hour of deliberations they decided to stage a protest at Vijay Chowk on Friday.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu on Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

Ramesh said the meeting at Kharge's residence lasted around two hours and it was decided that the Party chief would hold a meeting with all Pradesh Congress chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders in the evening and plan agitations in states.

"We will hold protests across Delhi and in other states on Monday on this issue," Ramesh said. The matter is just not a legal issue, but also a serious political issue linked with the future of democracy in the country, he said.

"This is another major example of the Modi government's politics of vendetta, threat and intimidation. We will fight it legally as well as politically. We will not bow down or be intimidated by such politics and will turn this into a major political issue," Ramesh said.

His Congress colleague KC Venugopal also said that the party has analyzed the situation. "The verdict was so unfortunate as far as Congress Party is concerned. We will do a solidarity march for Congress Party. From day 1 onwards when Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Adani, the Government of India side has been trying to stop him. They dont want Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. They are varying all options to stop his voice," said Venugopal.

The Congress general secretary said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party will continue to speak on the Adani issue. "All opposition parties are getting suppressed. I am happy that parties are showing solidarity with Rahul Gandhi," said Venugopal.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may face disqualification from the Lok Sabha as a result of his conviction in a 2019 defamation case by a Surat court. He was found guilty in the case on Thursday (March 23) and sentenced to 2 years in prison. However, he is currently out on bail. Congress leaders across states strongly protested against hte verdict. Unless a higher court stays his conviction, he will be disqualification from his Lok Sabha membership.

Take a look at some other MPs and MLAs who were disqualified after getting convicted in criminal cases.

Jayalalithaa: Late politician and former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa was disqualified as a legislator after she was convicted in a Rs 66-crore disproportionate assets case. A Bengaluru court, in 2014, had sentenced her to four years in prison and imposed a Rs 100 crore fine on her.

Lalu Prasad Yadav: RJD supremo lost his Lok Sabha seat after facing disqualification over his conviction in a fodder scam case. He was sentenced to five years in jail for embezzling Rs 970 crore in an animal fodder scam.

Rasheed Masood: Congress Rasheed Masood was the first MP to be disqualified on the basis of his conviction in a corruption case after Supreme Courts 2013 order. He was found guilty in an MBBS seat scam wherein he had nominated undeserving candidates for MBBS seats. Masood was sentenced to 4 years in jail.

Azam Khan: Samajwadi Party MLA Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly following his conviction in a 2019 hate speech case against Yogi Adityanath. He was sentenced to 3 years in jail in the case.
Chhattisgarh: Workers of Youth Congress and BJP's Yuva Morcha clashed with each other on Saturday in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP. According to a police official, stone pelting injured activists on both sides as well as some police officers. Following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member, Youth Congress workers allegedly blackened posters of BJP leaders at the saffron party's office in Ekatma Parisar on Friday evening, he claimed. Earlier this evening, Chhattisgarh Youth Congress protested against BJP over the issue in Raipur. Police reached the spot soon and stopped the Youth Congress workers, he said. Following this, BJP workers reached the Congress party headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, where activists of both IYC and BJYM pelted stones at each other, he said.

#WATCH | Chhattisgarh: Youth Congress and BJP workers enter into a clash with each other in Raipur over the disqualification of #RahulGandhi as an MP. Stone pelting also ensued.



Earlier this evening, Chhattisgarh Youth Congress protested against BJP over the issue in Raipur. pic.twitter.com/Ve2E0xqyLA  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 24, 2023

Activists from both sides and a few police personnel were injured, he added. Both sides lodged complaints against each other and probe was on, the official said.

"State BJP president Arun Sao said Youth Congress workers, intoxicated by power, attacked his party's office. They were trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of Chhattisgarh by taking law into their own hands," he added. "It was unfortunate that the administration in the Congress-ruled state had become mute spectator," he added.

Sushil Anand Shukla, Congress spokesperson, alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party "goons" attacked the state Congress office. "The Lok Sabha membership of our leader Rahul Gandhi was terminated through a conspiracy. When it is being opposed in a democratic way, the BJP is showing its ugly face here too," he said.

'You Cannot Scare Rahul Gandhi...': CM Bhupesh Baghel On Congress MP's Disqualification

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel On Friday attacked the Narendra Modi-led Union government over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha MP, claiming a "dictator" was attempting to scare someone who was telling the entire nation "don't be afraid."

He also stated that such measures were taken against then-prime minister Indira Gandhi, but she returned triumphant, an apparent reference to the two years of Janata Party rule following the Emergency and her landslide victory in the 1980 Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to murder democracy and that the action against Gandhi was its "living example."
Transparency Market Research

The global telemedicine market growth is driven by the increase in government spending and reimbursement policies; rise in the demand for personal healthcare; and surge in technically aware & literate population.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Transparency Market Research, the global telemedicine industry was worth USD 144.2 billion globally as of 2021. The market is predicted to reach USD 526.7 billion by 2031, rising at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2022 to 2031.



Telemedicine was extensively used during the pandemic to lessen the risk of COVID-19 since it helps to limit interaction with various healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities, and patients. For instance, Chinese public health officials as well as mental health professionals were able to offer safe online mental health services throughout the pandemic with the use of online polls on mental health and communication platforms such as TikTok, Weibo, and WeChat, among others. These factors will also help the global telemedicine market to grow in the future as well, especially in the event of an emergency.

Download Sample Copy with Graphs & List of Figures: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3032

Market Snapshot:

Market Revenue USD 144.2 in 2021 Estimated Value USD 526.7 billion by 2031 Growth Rate - CAGR 13.4% Forecast Period 20222031 No. of Pages 350 Pages Market Segmentation By Component Type, Specialty Type, and Service Type Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Format Electronic (PDF) + Excel

Improving patient safety along with quality standards will increase demand for such systems over the course of the forecasted period, which will also aid market growth. Telemedicine is also seen to be the most flexible technology for delivering remote medical assistance, information, as well as education. Technological improvements provide more sophisticated patient-centered care and better access to rural areas. Additionally, it helps to reduce hospital admissions and emergency room, which fosters market expansion.

Story continues

Continuous investment in new innovative technologies to improve the capabilities of telemedicine products and services is another significant factor anticipated to drive market development in the near future. Additionally, the sector is seeing a surge in mergers, investments, and acquisitions, as well as the arrival of new, substantial businesses. In the upcoming years, it is anticipated that this would increase competitiveness. For instance, Amazon.com, Inc. opened up access to its healthcare and virtual visit system, Amazon Care, to other Washington-based businesses in March 2021. Up until that point, only Washington State-based employees and their families could use Amazon Care. Such elements are predicted to expand the application potential of telemedicine in fields such as telesurgery.

Key Findings of the Market Report

The global market for telemedicine is expected to garner a 13.4% CAGR from 2021 to 2031.

In 2021, North America was the most lucrative region in the global telemedicine market.

By service type, teleconsultation is most sought after, thanks to better access via smartphones and other devices

Teleconsultation services for dermatology procedures to experience maximum deployment

Global Telemedicine Market Trends

Over the projected period, it is predicted that the provider's category would increase at the quickest rate. Telemedicine applications improve the standard of healthcare.

In terms of rapid access to patient records, enhanced decision assistance, enhanced workflows, and analytics also provide comfort for healthcare practitioners.

Healthcare practitioners may schedule patients and handle data with remarkable ease thanks to eHealth solutions.



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Global Telemedicine Market: Regional Landscape

Geographically, in 2021, North America dominated the world market and generated the majority of revenue. This is brought on by expanding levels of digitization in the healthcare sector, greater telemedicine use, and contemporary healthcare facilities. The presence of big players has an impact on the region's sizeable portion.

Asia Pacific region is considered to have the quickest growth throughout the projection period. The availability of a sizable patient population pool, rising internet usage, and a quickening need for healthcare support, particularly in rural regions, are all factors contributing to this rapid expansion. According to predictions, emerging economies like China and India would dominate the local market in the following years.

Global Telemedicine Market: Key Players

Agfa-Gevaert Group

Allscripts Healthcare

AMD Global Telemedicine

CISCO systems, Inc

F-Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Honeywell HomeMed LLC

InTouch Technologies

BioTelemetry, Inc

Medtronic

OBS Medical Ltd

Siemens Healthcare Private Limited

McKesson Corporation

Some developments by the key players are:

In 2021, Statis Health and Medtronic India collaborated to market Stasis Labs' bedside patient monitoring system across the country. The linked care monitoring system automates as well as digitizes the tracking, recording, and sharing of crucial patient data. It also provides staff with 24-hour vital sign trend data and utilizes predictive AI to warn them when patients' conditions are getting worse.

InTouch Health , a U.S.-based business, was purchased by Teladoc Health , Inc. in July 2020. With this, the business enhanced medical services across outpatient, in-patient, and home care settings by integrating InTouch Health's portfolio with its current offerings.

Walmart Inc. purchased telehealth company MeMD in May 2021. As a result, Walmart would be able to provide nationwide access to urgent, behavioral, along with primary care services via virtual care.



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Global Telemedicine Market: Segmentation

By Component

Hardware

Software

Services



By Specialty

Dermatology

Gynecology

Neurology

Cardiology

Orthopedics

Emergency care

Internal medicine

Others

By Service Type

Tele-consultation

Tele-monitoring

Tel-education

Tele-training

Tele-care

Tele-surgery

Others



By Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa



About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. The firm scrutinizes factors shaping the dynamics of demand in various markets. The insights and perspectives on the markets evaluate opportunities in various segments. The opportunities in the segments based on source, application, demographics, sales channel, and end-use are analysed, which will determine growth in the markets over the next decade.

Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports.

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New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faces a high probability of being disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. According to a 2013 Supreme Court court, MPs and MLAs convicted in criminal cases with a minimum 2-year jail sentence stand to be disqualified from the House immediately. Gandhi received a 2-year jail term in the 'Modi surname' defamation case and is currently out on bail. Until his conviction is stayed by a higher court, he is likely to lose his Lok Sabha seat.

What is interesting is that when the Supreme Court announced the 2013 order on the disqualification of politicians over criminal cases, the UPA government had suggested an ordinance that allowed convicted MPs and MLAs to retain their position in the House for 3 months after their sentence. In that period, they could appeal to higher courts for a stay order on their conviction, and retain their seat in the House.

However, Rahul Gandhi had strongly opposed to this ordinance by the UPA government and even tore a copy of the ordinance in public at the time. Other Opposition parties including the BJP were also against this suggestion as it alleged that this was a way of protecting convicted legislators. Opposition parties also accused the Congress of attempting to protect its ally Lalu Prasad Yadav who would be disqualified if found guilty in a fodder scam case in which he later was convicted.

Gandhi had stated that the ordinance was "complete nonsense" and should be "torn and thrown out". Due to this internal conflict in the views of the Congress, the UPA government had to rescind the ordinance. However, this decision seems to have turned the odds against Rahul Gandhi 10 years later as now, he stands to lose his Lok Sabha membership over his recent conviction.
New Delhi: Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty buckled under selling pressure for the second straight session to settle nearly 1 percent lower on Friday as investors pared exposure to the metal, energy, and realty stocks amid a bearish trend in Asian and European markets.

Besides, a depreciating rupee against the US dollar and fresh foreign fund outflows also hit investor sentiments, traders said. (Also Read: Get Samsung Galaxy F23 5G At Just Rs 549 - Know How)

In a volatile trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 398.18 points or 0.69 percent to finish at 57,527.10. During the day, it went lower by 502.3 points or 0.86 percent to 57,422.98. (Also Read: Hindenburg Report Wipes Out $526 Million From Jack Dorsey's Worth)

The broader NSE Nifty fell 131.85 points or 0.77 percent to end at 16,945.05. Bajaj Finserv was the biggest loser among the Sensex constituents, sliding 3.81 percent, followed by Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, HCL Tech, SBI, Larsen & Toubro, and Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, and Titan.

On the other hand, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Power Grid, Asian Paints, and Wipro were the gainers. In Asia markets, stock exchanges in Seoul, Japan, Shanghai, and Hong Kong ended lower.

European markets were also quoting in the red in the afternoon trade. The US markets ended higher on Thursday. Meanwhile, the rupee declined 25 paise to close at 82.45 against the US dollar.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude dipped 1.73 percent to USD 74.60 per barrel. Foreign Portfolio Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 995.01 crore on Thursday after a day's breather, according to exchange data.
CHENNAI: Tamil movie star Ajith Kumar's father PS Mani passed away on Friday morning. He was 85. According to a statement issued by his sons, including Ajith Kumar, PS Mani departed in his sleep following a long illness. The news was shared on social media by Ajith Kumar's manager.

PS Mani leaves behind his wife Mohini and three sons, Anup Kumar, Ajith Kumar and Anil Kumar.

Stating that the last rites will be a family affair, his sons requested their well-wishers to respect their wishes 'to grieve privately and deal with their father's death with as much equanimity and dignity as possible."

Ajiths fan club page shared a statement from the family. It read, Our father, PS Mani, passed away in the early hours of this morning, in his sleep, after a long illness. He was 85. We are grateful for the care and support provided to him and our family by a number of medical professionals, especially following his debilitating stroke of four years ago."

It also added, "We are comforted, at this time of grief, that he lived a good life and knew the undying love of our mother, his partner of nearly six decades. We appreciate the kind, comforting messages and condolences that have been coming in and ask for your understanding if we may not be able to take calls or respond to messages in a timely manner."

The statement also read, "His last rites will be a family affair. We trust that all who have known loss will respect our wish to grieve privately and deal with his passing with as much equanimity and dignity as possible. Anup Kumar, Ajith Kumar, and Anil Kumar.

Several celebrities took to social media and offered their condolences to Ajith's family. Actor Sarath Kumar tweeted, "My deepest condolences to dear #Ajith and to his family, friends, relatives, and well-wishers for the loss of his father. May his soul rest in peace (sic)."

Actor Sakshi Aggarwal tweeted, "My deep condolences to #AjithKumar sir & family! May god give them strength to overcome this loss (sic)."

(With ANI inputs)
Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Friday said he has resumed working even though he continues to recover from an on-set injury earlier this month. The 80-year-old actor took to his official blog to share an update on his health.

"So despite the inconvenience of damaged body .. There must be desire and effort to repair .. Which is being done with care and comfort of the Ef (extended family, his fans) and well wishers, and for which there is repeated gratitude and love," Bachchan said.

"Work schedules have been done and the charts start filling up again .. To the joy of the 'moi' .. For there is no better pastime than work .. Yes the rib and toe are in a state of revolt .. But revolts must be tendered with and a solution to be found," he added.

In the March 5 post on his blog, the industry veteran said he injured himself while filming an action sequence on the Hyderabad set of his upcoming movie 'Project K'. "In Hyderabad at the shoot for Project K, during an action shot, I have got injured .. Rib cartilage popped broke and muscle tear to the right rib cage .." he said.

Before flying back to Mumbai, Bachchan said the doctor at a Hyderabad-based hospital, where he underwent a CT scan, advised rest. The shooting on Nag Ashwin's "Project K" and other commitments Bachchan is involved in are on hold. Also starring Prabhas and Deepika Padukone, the film will hit the screens on January 12, 2024.
New Delhi: Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best-known for directing films like 'Parineeta', 'Helicopter Eela' and 'Mardaani', among others, has died. He was 67 and was reportedly not keeping well for a long time and was on dialysis. As per Indian Express, he passed away early on Friday morning after his potassium levels dipped. He was rushed to a hospital but couldn't be survived by doctors. The funeral arrangements have been made at a crematorium in Santacruz for 4 pm today, the report mentioned.

"He passed away between 3.10 am and 3.30 am at Lilavati hospital," his wife Panchali told PTI. He had viral fever on March 22. After administering some medicines his fever subsided but not completely. So he was rushed to the hospital, she said. "By the time we reached the hospital, his vitals started dropping. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection attacked his lungs," the director's wife said.

"According to doctors, he had many comorbidities which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. Since COVID-19 hit him in July 2022, he was quite weak," Panchali said.

Several celebrities from the Hindi film industry took to social media and offered their condolences to the director. Director Hansal Mehta took to Twitter and shared a photo of Pradeep Sarkar, writing, "Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP."

Ajay Devgn wrote, "The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada."

The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us is still hard to digest.

My deepest condolences _. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada _  Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) March 24, 2023

Actor Manoj Bajpayee retweeted Hansal Mehta's tweet and he wrote: "Ohh! That's so shocking! Rest in peace Dada."

Ohh! That's so shocking!

Rest in peace Dada!!_ https://t.co/wOCqOlVd5Z  manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) March 24, 2023

Actress Neetu Chandra revealed that Pradeep Sarkar was her first director and they first worked together in an advertisement for a footwear brand while she was still in college. Neetu was very close to Sarkar and his sister Madhu.

Very sad to know about our dearest director @pradeepsrkar dada. I started my career with him. He had an aesthetic talent to make his films look larger than life. From #Parineeta#lagachunrimeindaag to a no. Of movies. Dada, you will be be missed. #RestInPeace __ @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/TDxUOP2quG  Nitu Chandra Srivastava (@nituchandra) March 24, 2023

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli remembered him as a sweet man. He shared the clip from the song 'Pihu Bole' from the movie "Parineeta" on social media. "Shocked and sad to hear about Dada Pradeep Sarkar. Really sweet man. Had lovely conversations about cinema with him. RIP Dada. Here's a song from your film to celebrate you and your cinema," he said in the post.



Sarkar was known for his work in the ad film industry. He also shot the now iconic music videos of songs like Euphoria's 'Dhoom Pichak Dhoom' and 'Maaeri', and Shubha Mudgal's 'Ab Ke Saawan', among many others in the 1990s and early 2000s. He started his career as a filmmaker with brand commercials. He also directed several popular music videos before making a debut as a feature film director with 'Parineeta' in 2005.
New Delhi: Bollywood stylish couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh made a powerful entry as they attended an event together in Mumbai last night. The duo was accompanied by her father and former Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone. A video of the two from their red carpet appearance at the event has now gone surfaced on the internet. In the now-gone viral video, Ranveer is seen trying to hold Deepika's hand as they arrived at the venue. However, it appeared that the 'Piku' actor refused to hold her husband's hand and instead was busy handling her saree.



Deepika opted for a black saree paired with a full sleeves blouse. Ranveer, on the other hand, looked dapper in a white shirt which he teamed with a blazer. The couple posed with Deepikas father, Prakash Padukone on the red carpet. However, soon after the video of Ranveer trying to hold Deepika's hand at the event emerged on social media, it left fans wondering if everything is fine between the two.



A few of the worried fans pointed out that Deepika deliberately didn't hold Ranveer's hand. A few others pointed out that the couple did not pose together on the red carpet.

One user wrote, "Their body language has changed completely. I felt they had a fight before the event."



"She is not even looking at him" wrote another.



"Something is off between them. He offered to hold her hand and she ignored," wrote another.



Another comment read, "Guys kuch toh gadbad hai (something is wrong)..he is not liking her postsnor she holding his hand looks like romance ended soon."



However, there were a few others who came to her rescue and blasted those who expressed their concern about DeepVeer Marriage. "If they hold hands, people will say they are showing off, if they are not holding hands, people will say they are having problems. You cant please people. They are the most genuine and generous couple," wrote a fan.



"People she might not be angry, she is a different personality and an individual in her own right, why does she need to hold the hand of a man and be displayed as a trophy always," asked a fan.



Deepika and Ranveer Singh got married in an intimate ceremony in Italy's Lake Como. They have worked together in multiple films such as 'Bajirao Mastani', 'Padmaavat' and '83'.


New Delhi: Digital content creator Anjali Arora shot to fame with her viral video on the Kacha Badam song. Thanks to her social media presence, she got a massive break to star as a contestant in Ekta Kapoor's first reality show titled Lock Upp Season 1. And Anjali managed to remain in the highlights during the course of the show which was hosted by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut. Once out of the show, fans have often spotted Anjali with her beau Akash Sansanwal. Today, let's scroll through their romantic pictures:

Who is Akash Sansanwal?

According to Spotboye.com report and his Instagram bio, Akash is active in politics and is a member of the BJP. Not much is revealed about the guy but he is often seen with Anjali at various events and dos. Earlier in an interview with ETimesTV Anjali opened up on dating Akash and said, "Akash is so understanding and that is one quality which I respect a lot about him. He has handled everything in a mature way and tackled everything very nicely. Main Aakash ki bahut respect karrti hoon ke usne mujhe Iss baare mein ek sawaal tak nahi poocha.

Akash and Anjali's romantic pictures are too cutesy and they often share clicks on social media.

In the same interview, Anjali also talked about spending time with his family. "I enjoyed the last entire week with my family which included Aakash and his family also as they are my family. We had our brothers function and Aakash's family and all of us had a blast," she quipped.

Why is Anjali Arora Famous?

With her fan army of over 12.4 million followers on Instagram alone, the digital creator is surely going places. Anjali Arora was first seen in Lock Upp - a reality show hosted by Kangana Ranaut and produced by Ekta Kapoor. Digital content creator shot to fame with her dance video of the Kacha Badam song.

However, recently she made headlines for an alleged MMS viral clip which surfaced online. The private video went viral and many assumed that the girl in it is Anjali, however, looks like that's not the case. Later, Anjali Arora while talking to Siddharth Kanan, spoke about it. She revealed such things affect her and her family.
New Delhi: With some non-BJP ruled states deciding to revert to the old pension scheme, the Centre on Friday decided to set up a committee under the finance secretary to improve the New Pension System (NPS) to take care of the concerns of employees while maintaining fiscal prudence. While moving the Finance Bill 2023 for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new approach to the NPS will be designed for adoption by both central and state governments.

"I propose to set up a committee under the finance secretary to look into the issue of pensions and evolve an approach which addresses the needs of employees while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect common citizens," she said.

"The approach will be designed for adoption by both the central government and state governments." The decision came in the backdrop of several non-BJP states deciding to revert to the DA-linked old pension scheme (OPS) and also employee organisations in some other states raising demand for the same.

The state governments of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have informed the Centre about their decision to revert to the old pension scheme and have requested a refund of the corpus accumulated under the NPS. Maharashtra government employees agitating for the restoration of the OPS earlier this week called off a week-long strike after a meeting between their representatives and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Earlier this month, the central government informed Parliament that it is not considering any proposal to restore the OPS in respect of the central government employees recruited after January 1, 2004. Speaking on the announcement, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the committee will look at various suggestions on the NPS-OPS issue. This is the right step which will keep in mind the benefit of employees as well as fiscal prudence, Thakur added. Under the OPS, retired government employees received 50 per cent of their last drawn salary as monthly pensions. The amount keeps increasing with the hike in the DA rates. OPS is not fiscally sustainable as it is not contributory and the burden on the exchequer keeps on mounting.

The total assets under management under the National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana stood at Rs 8.81 lakh crore as on March 4, 2023. NPS has been implemented for all government employees except those in the armed forces joining the central government on or after January 1, 2004. Most of the state/ Union Territory governments have also notified the NPS of their new employees.

According to the PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority), 26 state governments, with the exception of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, have notified and implemented NPS for their employees. NPS has been made available to every Indian citizen from May 1, 2009, on a voluntary basis. Further, on June 1, 2015, the Atal Pension Yojana was launched, which has given the much-required impetus to the social security schemes.

To regulate and develop the pension market, the government created PFRDA in 2003. It was initially designed for government employees exclusively, but its services were subsequently expanded to include all Indian nationals and NRIs, including self-employed persons. PFRDA promotes, develops and regulates organised pension funds; namely the National Pension System (NPS) to serve the old age income needs of people on a sustainable basis.
New Delhi: The Government of India has announced to hike 4% Dearness Allowance (DA) of central employees and pensioners, which is due from January 1, 2023. It will benefit 47.58 lakh employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners. The Cabinet took the decision on Friday in the meeting to release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance.

"The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners with effect from 01.01.2023," said the government's statement.

It further said that the additional instalment will represent an increase of 4% over the existing rate of 38% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate against the price rise. The total dearness allowance now stands at 42 per cent.

Govt increases Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief by 4%. It will benefit 47.58 lakh central govt employees & 69.76 lakh pensioners. Combined impact on the exchequer on account of both DA & DR would be Rs. 12,815.60 crore per annum.https://t.co/DBpPfxonnK#CabinetDecisions pic.twitter.com/aiLSlSL6J2 March 24, 2023

"The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.12,815.60 crore per annum. This will benefit about 47.58 lakh Central Governments employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners," the government added in the statement.

Briefing the media after a meeting of union cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.12,815.60 crore per annum.

This increase is in accordance with the accepted formular which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The central government increased the dearness allowance last time on September 28, 2022, which was effective from July 1, 2022. Employees and pensioners have long been demanding to release the additional dearness allowance due from January 1, 2023. The demand for DA hike was vociferous amid the high inflation rate above RBIs tolerance limit and food and energy prices touching the sky.
New Delhi: Sumbul Touqeer Khan, who became a household name with her daily soap 'Imlie', was recently seen in Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss 16. She was the youngest contestant on the reality show and won thousands of fan following with her stint. Her bond with Shiv Thakare on the show was loved by viewers and they were lovingly nicknamed ShivSum and often trended on the internet.



The actor recently took a trip to Ooty along with actress Ulka Gupta and left her fans surprised when she broke the news that she got bitten by a monkey on her leg. She shared a few stories and photos of her injury on social media, and wrote, "That monkey bit me". Ulka Gupta then shared a snap with Sumbul from the hospital and uploaded a picture of a monkey, and wrote, "Why did you do this."



Take a look:





Sumbul's fans were worried after they saw the pics of her injury. They even wished her a speedy recovery and also warned her to be vigilant.



Both Sumbul and Ulka constantly shared updates from their trip to Ooty.

The actress has been a part of several shows such as 'Jodha Akhbar', 'Waaris', 'Chandragupta Maurya', and more. She became a household name with her stint on 'Imlie' and fans loved her chemistry with lead actor Fahmaan Khan.



She is also known for her work in Ayushamman Khurrana's crime-drama 'Article 15'. She also did 'Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein', and a cameo in the web show 'Dear Ishq'.



The actress has carved a space in the heart of the masses with her acting prowess and received immense love from the audience. She is quite active on social media handles and often shares updates regarding her personal and professional life. For the unversed, Sumbul recently shared that she has bought a new house in Mumbai.


Norways petroleum and energy minister in 2019, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of oil in the North Sea.

Offshore oil is booming. According to the research firm, Rystad, spending on offshore oil investments exceeded $100 billion in 2022 for the first time in a decade, and will do so again in 2023 and 2024. Norway, the Scandinavian country that has positioned itself as a climate leader, is driving some of this boom. Norway is spending $21.4 billion on oil projects this year, an increase of 22% from the previous year.

Norways investment in offshore oil is among the highest in the world this year, according to Rystad. It lands behind the $33 billion that will be spent on offshore projects in the Middle East, but ahead of countries like the US, which is putting $17 billion in offshore investments, and the UK with $7 billion.

Read more

Offshore projects are designed to pump oil for decades; investments that begin this year could continue to churn out oil well into the 2050s.

Norways good deeds were always funded by oil and gas

Norways fuzzy commitments to easing climate change feel like solutions to a problem that is, in no small part, of its own making. Norway is one of the worlds top exporters of oil. Since the 1990s, the country has funneled its oil revenues into the Norwegian sovereign wealth fundwhich, with $1.4 trillion in assets, is now the worlds largest.

The fund is among the biggest investors in the world, and it uses its considerable financial influence to advance its values. In recent years, it has dropped or put under close observation Thai, Israeli, Polish, Chinese and Indian companies over human rights abuses, and has wielded its power to bend companies toward net-zero goals.

Some of the pro-climate positions that Norway has taken includes demanding transparency from Exxon to prevent the kind of corporate lobbying that leads to bad climate policies. Norway has also pushed Chevron to commit to taking responsibility for Scope 3" emissionsthe broadest definition of the pollution that any company produces. This would include lowering customers emissions (as well as Chevrons own), for example, by reducing the carbon intensity of its fossil fuel products.

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In 2022, Norway announced its goal to have every company in its portfolio reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and followed that up by voting against 61 directors at 18 companies for not doing enough to mitigate climate risk. This February, Norway said that it will continue to use its votes to push out directors and board members who fall short of climate goals.

Norway is trying to put policy where its money is

But high oil prices are also inspiring other priorities, and Norway is joining a trend among flush oil companies and countries to refocus on fossil fuel extraction, sometimes at the expense of renewables.

Norway has backed its refreshed interest in fossil fuel extraction with international policy. In the IPCCs mammoth climate report released on March 20, Norway negotiated for wiggle room for its oil and gas investments, watering down language about limiting human-caused climate change from deep, rapid and sustained reductions, to strong emissions reductionsan imprecise word that accommodates its backtracking on North Sea projects



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CEO surprises every Customer aboard milestone flight with free roundtrip ticket

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just 16 months after taking flight from Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Avelo Airlines is flying its one millionth Customer today at HVN. To celebrate the milestone, Avelo Founder, Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy will be at Tweed surprising everyone aboard the milestone flight with a free future roundtrip ticket anywhere Avelo flies.

Avelo Airlines East Coast flight departing Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Avelo's new East Coast Base in Southern Connecticut. The low-fare airline, which launched six months ago in Los Angeles, now flies to 13 destinations across the U.S. (PRNewsfoto/Avelo Airlines)

The airline's one millionth HVN Customer will be aboard Avelo Flight 357 departing Southern Connecticut's most convenient airport at 2:25 p.m. for Fort Myers, Florida (RSW). Instead of recognizing one traveler, Levy will thank all 182 Customers aboard the Fort Myers-bound Boeing 737-800 with a free roundtrip ticket.

Levy will be joined at a special departure ceremony at HVN by several local and state political, community and business leaders, including:

United States Senator Richard Blumenthal

CT Governor Ned Lamont

CT Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker

Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Rafter

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts

Avelo Founder, Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "Since arriving at Tweed 16 months ago, Avelo has introduced Connecticut travelers to a new era of affordability, convenience and reliability. Today's milestone demonstrates the appeal our low fares, nonstop access to 15 popular destinations and friendly service are having with travelers throughout the region. It is also clear the travel-friendly experience Tweed offers has played an equally important role in inspiring so many people to fly with us. I am grateful to every Avelo Customer who has chosen Avelo. I'm also very appreciative of our Avelo Crewmembers who deliver the smooth and caring travel experience that inspires our Customers to keep flying us. Thanks a million!"

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, "This major milestone reflects rising demand for affordable, high-quality flights. People evidently know a good thing when they see it. One million customers are an incredible boost for the local economy with the creation of hundreds of jobs and more support for local businesses. This is just the beginning, and I will keep fighting with my colleagues for more federal investments to improve our air travel infrastructure and support our local airports."

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Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said, "Convenient and reliable travel opportunities from the New Haven region are an important component of our efforts to stimulate development and job growth in the area. Avelo's quick growth at Tweed shows that the demand is there for more travel options from this airport. I look forward to Avelo having many more years of success in New Haven."

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum said, "Congratulations to Andrew Levy and Avelo Airlines. Transporting a million Customers to 14 popular destinations in 16 months is an accomplishment to celebrate and no small feat. I also want to celebrate Avelo's decision to make Tweed its first East Coast base and to invest in improvements at this airport. Connecticut and Greater New York residents now have a welcome and convenient alternative way to get where they need to go, whether it's for business or leisure. That's a win for travelers and for our state economy."

Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Rafter said, "It is great to celebrate the one millionth Avelo customer at Tweed-New Haven Airport, and we are excited to keep working alongside them to the benefit of Southern Connecticut and its flyers. We plan to continue working closely with Avelo Airlines, our longtime operator Avports, and with our neighboring community members to continue to help deliver flyers a top-notch experience."

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts said, "Congratulations to Avelo on serving its one millionth Customer at Tweed-New Haven Airport  their efforts are helping transform this airport into a more modern and convenient resource for flyers, as well as a more dynamic and sustainable economic engine for Southern Connecticut. We know we have a great partner in Avelo, who continues to have affordable flights to exciting destinations, while growing local jobs along the way. Congratulations to Avelo and Tweed-New Haven Airport on reaching this great milestone!"

Soaring To New Heights

Since November 3, 2021, when Avelo opened its first East Coast base at HVN, the airline has achieved the following milestones:

Avelo has flown one million Customers at HVN.

Avelo has operated more than 7,500 flights at HVN.

Avelo has delivered industry-leading reliability, including on-time, baggage handling and completion factor performance  making HVN the most travel-friendly airport in the CT and NY Metro region.

Avelo has hired nearly 200 HVN-based Crewmembers and has contributed to more than 500 direct and indirect airport-related jobs.

Avelo has made more than $100 million in capital, employment and community investments in its Connecticut presence, including six Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft operating at HVN, airport facilities and ground support equipment, as well as local and state tax revenue (from income, fuel, etc.).

Avelo has supported more than 150 local and state community organizations and events across Connecticut.

Connecticut's Most Convenient and Affordable Gateway

Amidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by Connecticut travelers, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways makes it the region's most convenient and travel-friendly airport.

Avelo serves 15 nonstop destinations from Tweed spanning seven states:

Charleston, SC (CHS)

Chicago, IL (via MDW)

Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)

Fort Myers, FL (RSW)

Greenville / Spartanburg, SC (GSP)

Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)

Nashville, TN (BNA)

Orlando, FL (via MCO)

Raleigh / Durham, NC (RDU)

Sarasota/Bradenton, FL (SRQ)

Savannah, GA / Hilton Head, SC (SAV)

Tampa, FL (TPA)

Washington, D.C. / Baltimore, MD (via BWI)

West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

Wilmington, NC (ILM)



America's Affordable and Convenient Airline

Avelo was founded with a vision to help its Customers save money and time. Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown nearly two million Customers on more than 15,000 flights.

In addition to offering Customers everyday low fares on every route, Avelo Customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees. Avelo also offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin.

Additionally, the American-made Boeing 737 jets Avelo flies offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the small regional aircraft currently operating at most of the airports Avelo serves. Customers who value an advance seat assignment can choose from several modestly priced seating options, including seats with extra leg room, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. One third of seats on Avelo aircraft are available for Customers who appreciate the comfort of extra legroom.

Avelo serves 41 destinations spanning 24 states - unlocking a new era of convenience, choice and competition in air travel by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. At least one airport on every Avelo flight is a small hometown airport  making every Avelo journey easier and more enjoyable.

At Avelo, every flight is also nonstop. This connection-free travel experience not only provides Avelo Customers with a faster and simpler travel experience, but also minimizes delays, cancellations and lost bags. In fact, Avelo has established itself as one of America's most reliable airlines with industry-leading on time, completion factor and checked bag handling performance.

Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service culture. The culture is grounded in Avelo's One Crew Value which promotes a welcoming and caring experience. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers focus on anticipating and understanding Customer needs on the ground and in the air.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 41 popular destinations across the U.S., including its five bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Delaware Valley's Wilmington Airport (ILG) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom.

Media Contacts:

Avelo Airlines

Jim Olson

jolson@aveloair.com

312-219-0647

Mary Coursey

mary@courseyco.com

860-305-0476

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thanks-a-million-avelo-flies-one-millionth-customer-at-tweed-airport-301780608.html

SOURCE Avelo Airlines
UCB

CONVENING NOTICE TO THE GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

The Board of Directors invites the shareholders for the general meeting of shareholders (the General Meeting) which will be held on Thursday, 27 April 2023, at 11:00 am CEST, at the registered office of UCB SA/NV, Allee de la Recherche 60 - 1070 Brussels, for the purpose of considering and voting on the items shown on the agenda set out below.

Applicable participation formalities are detailed at the end of this convening notice. Shareholders may, to the extent indicated, also use the Lumi Connect platform (www.lumiconnect.com) to complete all participation formalities and to vote by proxy at the General Meeting. The Lumi Connect platform is free of charge for the shareholders.

ORDINARY PART

1. Report of the Board of Directors on the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2022

2. Report of the statutory auditor on the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2022

3. Communication of the consolidated annual accounts of the UCB Group relating to the financial year ended 31 December 2022

4. Approval of the annual accounts of UCB SA/NV for the financial year ended 31 December 2022 and appropriation of the results

Proposed resolution :

The General Meeting approves the annual accounts of UCB SA/NV for the financial year ended

31 December 2022 and the appropriation of the results reflected therein, including the approval of a gross dividend of  1.33 per share (*).

(*) The UCB shares held by UCB SA/NV (own shares) are not entitled to a dividend. Therefore, the aggregate amount to be distributed to the shareholders may fluctuate depending on the number of UCB shares held by UCB SA/NV (own shares) on the dividend approval date.

5. Approval of the remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2022

The Belgian Code of Companies and Associations (BCCA) requires the General Meeting to approve the remuneration report each year by separate vote. This report includes a description of the remuneration policy that was applicable in 2022 and information on remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee.

Proposed resolution :

The General Meeting approves the remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2022.

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6. Discharge in favour of the directors

Pursuant to the BCCA, the General Meeting must, after approval of the annual accounts, vote on the discharge of liability of the directors for the financial year ended on 31 December 2022.

Proposed resolution :

The General Meeting grants discharge to the directors for the performance of their duties during the financial year ended 31 December 2022.

7. Discharge in favour of the statutory auditor

Pursuant to the BCCA, the General Meeting must, after approval of the annual accounts, vote on the discharge of liability of the statutory auditor (Mazars).

Proposed resolution :

The General Meeting grants discharge to the statutory auditor for the performance of its duties during the financial year ended 31 December 2022.

8. Directors: appointment and renewal of mandates of (independent) directors

The mandates of Mrs. Jan Berger and Mr. Cyril Janssen shall expire at this General Meeting. Also, Mrs. Viviane Monges will step down from the Board of Directors and Audit Committee on 27 April 2023. She accepted a mandate as chair of the board of another listed company and decided to end her mandate with UCB to avoid a situation where she could not ensure to dedicate the time needed for a full engagement as director of UCB. Upon recommendation of the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee (GNCC), the Board of Directors proposes: (i) the renewal of the mandate of Mrs. Jan Berger as independent director for a term of 4 years and (ii) the renewal of the mandate of Mr. Cyril Janssen as director for a term of 4 years. The Board of Directors also proposes to the General Meeting the appointment of Mrs. Maelys Castella as new independent director, for a term of four years, in replacement of Mrs. Viviane Monges. Upon appointment, Mrs. Maelys Castella will also replace Mrs. Viviane Monges as member of the Audit Committee. Both Mrs. Jan Berger and Mrs. Maelys Castella meet the independence criteria stipulated by article 7:87 of the BCCA, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Code and by the Board. Subject to the abovementioned appointment and renewals by the General Meeting, the Board of Directors will continue to be composed of a majority of independent directors. The curriculum vitae, information on other board mandates and skills of these directors are available on the internet site of UCB (https://www.ucb.com/investors/UCB-Governance).

Proposed resolutions :

8.1 A) The General Meeting renews the appointment of Mrs. Jan Berger (*) as director for a term of four years until the close of the annual General Meeting of 2027.

B) The General Meeting acknowledges that, from the information made available to the Company, Mrs. Jan Berger qualifies as an independent director according to the independence criteria provided for by article 7:87 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Corporate Governance Code and by the Board of Directors and appoints her as independent director.

8.2 The General Meeting renews the appointment of Mr. Cyril Janssen (*) as director for a term of four years until the close of the annual General Meeting of 2027.

8.3 A) The General Meeting appoints Mrs. Maelys Castella (*) as director for a term of four years until the close of the annual General Meeting of 2027.

B) The General Meeting acknowledges that, from the information made available to the Company, Mrs. Maelys Castella qualifies as an independent director according to the independence criteria provided for by article 7:87 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, by provision 3.5 of the 2020 Belgian Corporate Governance Code and by the Board of Directors and appoints her as independent director.

(*) Curriculum vitae and details are available at https://www.ucb.com/investors/UCB shareholders/Shareholders-meeting-2023

SPECIAL PART

9. Long-Term Incentive Plans - Program of free allocation of shares

This approval requested from the General Meeting is not as such a hard requirement under Belgian law but is sought in order to ensure transparency and, as the case may be, compliance with foreign law for certain jurisdictions where our Long-Term Incentive Plans (LTI plans) are offered to our employees. For more information on UCBs LTI plans, please refer to the 2022 remuneration report. For the avoidance of doubt, UCB SA/NV confirms that it covers all its obligations under the LTI Plans with existing shares, i.e. through share buybacks, so there is no dilution for existing shareholders of UCB SA/NV.

Proposed resolution :

The General Meeting approves the decision of the Board of Directors to allocate an estimated number of 1 435 000 free shares:

a) of which an estimated number of 1 220 000 shares to eligible employees under the Long-Term Inventive policy (LTI policy), namely to approximately 2 900 individuals, according to the applicable allocation criteria. These free shares will only vest if and when the eligible employees are still employed within the UCB Group three years after the grant of the awards;

b) of which an estimated number of 215 000 shares to eligible employees under the Performance Share Plan, namely to approximately 150 individuals, according to the applicable allocation criteria. These free shares will be delivered after a three-year vesting period and the number of shares actually allocated will vary from 0% to 150% of the number of shares initially granted depending on the level of achievement of the performance conditions set by the Board of Directors of UCB SA/NV at the moment of grant.

The estimated figures under a) and b) do not take into account employees hired or promoted to eligible levels between 1 January 2023 and 1 April 2023.

10. Change of control provisions in contracts or funding agreements - art. 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations

Pursuant to article 7:151 of the BCCA, the General Meeting is solely competent to approve so-called change of control clauses, i.e., provisions whereby third parties are granted rights having a substantial influence on the assets of the Company or causing a substantial debt or liability for the Company, if the exercise of such rights depends on the launch of a public takeover bid on the shares of the Company or a change of control thereof. These clauses are standard requests from our creditors and/or in the legal documentation of our financing arrangements.

10.1 EMTN Program  renewal

UCB SA/NV has entered into a Euro Medium Term Note Program dated 6 March 2013 for an amount of EUR 5 000 000 000, with last update of the Base Prospectus on 18 October 2022, as this program may be further amended, extended or updated from time to time (the EMTN Program). The terms of the EMTN Program provide for a change of control clause - condition 5 (e) (i) - under which, for any of the Notes issued under the EMTN Program where a change of control put is included in the relevant final terms, any and all of the holders of such notes can, in certain circumstances, require UCB SA/NV to redeem that Note, following a change of control at the level of UCB SA/NV, upon exercise of the change of control put, for a value equal to the put redemption amount increased with, if appropriate, interest accrued until the date of exercise of the change of control put (all as more particularly described in the Base Prospectus of the EMTN Program). In accordance with said article 7:151 of the BCCA, this clause must be approved by the General Meeting and it is hereby proposed to renew this approval for any series of notes issued under the EMTN Program including such clause during the next 12 months.

Proposed resolution :

Pursuant to article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, the General Meeting renews its approval: (i) of condition 5 (e) (i) of the Terms and Conditions of the EMTN Program (Redemption at the Option of Noteholders  Upon a Change of Control (Change of Control Put)), in respect of any series of notes to which such condition is made applicable being issued under the Program from 27 April 2023 until 26 April 2024, under which any and all of the holders of the relevant notes can, in certain circumstances when a change of control at the level of UCB SA/NV occurs, require UCB SA/NV to redeem that note on the change of control put date at the put redemption amount together, if appropriate, with interest accrued to such change of control put date, following a change of control of UCB SA/NV; and (ii) of any other provision of the EMTN Program or notes issued under the EMTN Program granting rights to third parties which could affect an obligation on UCB SA/NV where in each case the exercise of these rights is dependent on the occurrence of a change of control.

10.2 Schuldschein Loan Agreements entered on 2 November 2022

UCB SA/NV has entered into the following Schuldschein Loan agreements between, amongst others, UCB SA/NV as borrower, and ING Bank, a branch of ING-DIBA AG as original lender, dated 2 November 2022, each of them including a clause (Article 5 b) under which any and all of the lenders can, in certain circumstances, cancel their commitments and require repayment of their participations in the loans, together with accrued interests and all other amounts accrued and outstanding thereunder, following a change of control of UCB SA/NV:

A Schuldschein loan agreement in the amount of EUR 108.5 million;

A Schuldschein loan agreement in the amount of EUR 20.5 million;

A Schuldschein loan agreement in the amount of EUR 15 million;

A Schuldschein loan agreement in the amount of USD 20 million.

Proposed resolution :

Pursuant to article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of the Companies and Associations, the General Meeting approves Article 5 b) of the four Schuldschein loan agreements in the amounts of EUR 108.5 million, EUR 20.5 million, EUR 15.0 million and USD 20.0 million respectively, entered into between, amongst others, UCB SA/NV as borrower, and ING Bank, a branch of ING-DIBA AG as Original Lender, dated 2 November 2022, under which each of these four Schuldschein loan agreements, together with accrued interests and all other amounts accrued and outstanding thereunder, could in certain circumstances become immediately due and payable, at the discretion of any and all of the lenders following a change of control of UCB SA/NV.

10.3 Revolving credit facility agreement to replace the existing EUR 1 000 000 000 revolving credit facility agreement as amended, restated and/or refinanced from time to time, including on 5 December 2019 and 3 December 2021

UCB SA/NV may enter into a revolving credit facility agreement of up to an amount of EUR 1 000 000 000 on any date between the date of this convening notice and 25 April 2024 (the New RCF), to replace the existing EUR 1 000 000 000 revolving credit facility agreement as amended, restated and/or refinanced from time to time, including on 5 December 2019 and 3 December 2021 (the Existing RCF) of which the change of control clause was last approved by the shareholders meeting of 30 April 2020. The terms of the New RCF would include a change of control clause on substantially the same terms as in the Existing RCF under which any and all of the lenders can, in certain circumstances, cancel their commitments and require repayment of their participations in the loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued and outstanding thereunder, following a change of control of UCB SA/NV. It is now proposed to the General Meeting to approve the change of control clause to be included in the New RCF on substantially the same terms as those of the Existing RCF and as further described above.

Proposed resolution :

Pursuant to article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, the General Meeting approves the change of control clause as provided for in a revolving credit facility agreement of up to an amount of EUR 1 000 000 000 which has been entered into prior to the date of this General Meeting or, if this is not the case, may be entered into by UCB SA/NV on any date prior to 25 April 2024 (the New RCF), replacing the existing EUR 1 000 000 000 revolving credit facility agreement as amended, restated and/or refinanced from time to time, including on 5 December 2019 and 3 December 2021 (the Existing RCF), under which any and all of the lenders can, in certain circumstances, cancel their commitments and require repayment of their participations in the loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued and outstanding thereunder, following a change of control of UCB SA/NV. The General Meeting approves, such change of control clause of the New RCF, substantially the same terms as in the Existing RCF or any other ancillary document that would be referred to in the New RCF and would confer certain rights on third parties which have a substantial impact on the assets and liabilities of UCB SA/NV or result in a substantial debt or obligation for UCB SA/NV where the exercise of such rights depends on the launch of a public takeover bid on UCB SA/NV or a change of control over UCB SA/NV.

***

PARTICIPATION FORMALITIES

In order to participate in the General Meeting, shareholders must comply with the following formalities:

1. Kindly note that all due dates and times mentioned herein are the final deadlines and that these will not be extended due to a weekend, holiday or for any other reason.

2. Registration Date : the registration date is 13 April 2023, at 24:00 CEST.

a) Owners of registered shares must be registered as a shareholder in UCB SA/NVs share register, held by Euroclear, on 13 April 2023, at 24:00 CEST.

b) Owners of dematerialized shares must be registered as a shareholder on an account with a recognized account holder or settlement institution on 13 April 2023, at 24:00 CEST.

3. Voting in person : the shareholder who intends to participate in the General Meeting in person must declare his/her intent to participate, in the General Meeting, as follows:

a) Owners of registered shares must declare their intention to participate in person to the General Meeting, at the latest by 21 April 2023, 15:00 CEST, to UCB SA/NVs registered office (c/o Mrs. Muriel Le Grelle) or via e-mail to shareholders.meeting@ucb.com. The Company will verify if the owners of registered shares who declared their intention to participate in person to the General Meeting are effectively listed in the share register.

For owners of registered shares who choose to use the Lumi Connect electronic platform, this platform enables them to directly declare their intention to participate in person in the General Meeting.

b) Owners of dematerialized shares must declare their intention to participate in person at the General Meeting, at the latest by 21 April 2023, 15:00 CEST, to UCB SA/NVs registered office (c/o Mrs. Muriel Le Grelle) or via e-mail to shareholders.meeting@ucb.com. Owners of dematerialized shares must always include a certificate issued by a recognized account holder or settlement institution evidencing their holding of dematerialized shares on the registration date.

For owners of dematerialized shares who choose to use the Lumi Connect electronic platform, this platform (i) enables them to directly declare their intention to participate in person in the General Meeting and (ii) allows the above-mentioned certificate of dematerialized shares to be issued directly.

Only persons having notified their intent to participate in person at the General Meeting at the latest by 21 APRIL 2023, 15:00 CEST and in accordance with the aforementioned formalities will be allowed to attend and vote at the General Meeting.

4. Voting by proxy : the shareholders are allowed to be represented by a proxy holder at the General Meeting. In the case of voting by proxy, the proxy form will serve as declaration of the intention to participate in the General Meeting, but owners of dematerialized shares must still provide a certificate issued by a recognized account holder or settlement institution evidencing their holding of dematerialized shares on the registration date to UCB SA/NV (c/o Mrs. Muriel Le Grelle) or via e-mail to shareholders.meeting@ucb.com. For owners of dematerialized shares who choose to use the Lumi Connect platform, this platform allows the above-mentioned certificate of dematerialized shares to be issued directly.

a) Original proxy: the proxy form approved by UCB SA/NV, which must be used to be represented at the General Meeting, can be downloaded and printed from https://www.ucb.com/investors/UCB-shareholders/Shareholders-meeting-2023.

Shareholders must deposit or send these proxies, duly filled out and signed, to UCB SA/NVs registered office (c/o Mrs. Muriel Le Grelle) or send them via e-mail to shareholders.meeting@ucb.com, in such a way that they arrive at UCB at the very latest by 21 April 2023, 15:00 CEST. Scans by e-mail are allowed and recommended, provided that the proxy holder produces the original proxy at the latest prior to the General Meeting. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in UCB SA/NV not acknowledging the powers of the proxy holder.

b) Electronic proxy: for shareholders who choose to use the Lumi Connect platform, this platform enables them to electronically complete and submit proxies. In that case, no original must be provided.

Only persons having notified their intention to participate by proxy in the General Meeting at the latest by 21 April 2023, 15:00 CEST and in accordance with the aforementioned formalities will be allowed to vote by proxy at the General Meeting.

5. New agenda items and new resolutions : in accordance with article 7:130 of the BCCA and under certain conditions, one or more shareholder(s) holding (together) at least 3% of the share capital of the Company may request to add items to the agenda and may file resolution proposals relating to the items on the agenda or to be added to the agenda.

Such request will only be valid if it is duly notified to UCB SA/NVs registered office in writing (c/o Mrs. Muriel Le Grelle) and received or via shareholders.meeting@ucb.com at the latest by 5 April 2023, 15:00 CEST. An updated agenda will, if applicable, be published on 12 April 2023. In such case, the Company will make an updated proxy form available on UCB website in order to allow shareholders to give specific voting instructions thereon. The additional items on the agenda and the proposed resolutions will only be discussed at the General Meeting if this/these shareholder(s) holding (together) at least 3% of the share capital of the Company has/have fulfilled the admission formalities as detailed under points 3 and 4 above.

6. Questions : in accordance with article 7:139 of the BCCA and under certain conditions, shareholders are entitled to submit questions (i) in writing prior to the General Meeting or (ii) orally during the General Meeting, to the Board of Directors or the statutory auditor regarding their reports or items on the agenda. The questions will be answered during the General Meeting provided (i) the shareholders concerned have complied with all required admission formalities and (ii) any communication of information or fact in response to such question does not prejudice the Companys business interests or the confidentiality undertaking of UCB SA/NV, its directors and statutory auditor.

Questions asked prior to the General Meeting must be sent in writing to UCB SA/NVs registered office (c/o Mrs. Muriel Le Grelle) or by e-mail to shareholders.meeting@ucb.com in a way that they arrive at UCB by 21 April 2023, 15:00 CEST at the latest.

For shareholders who choose to use the Lumi Connect platform, this platform enables them to submit questions in writing in advance, subject to the above-mentioned deadline.

7. Available documentation : as of the date of publication of this notice, the documents to be presented at the General Meeting, the (amended) agenda, and the (amended) proxy form are available on https://www.ucb.com/investors/UCB-shareholders/Shareholders-meeting-2023. The shareholders shall be able to access and consult the documents during working hours on business days at UCB NV/SAs registered office, and/or preferably can receive a free hard copy of these documents.

The documents can also be accessed via the Lumi Connect platform.

8. Arrival time and facilities : Shareholders attending the General Meeting are requested to arrive at least 45 minutes before the time set for the General Meeting in order to complete the participation formalities at the registered office of UCB SA/NV, Allee de la Recherche 60 - 1070 Brussels. Outside parking facilities will be available. Once the General Meeting has started, shareholders are kindly requested to stay in the room until the end of the General Meeting.

9. Privacy notice : the Company is responsible for the processing of the personal data it receives from shareholders, holders of other securities issued by the Company (if any) and proxy holders in the context of the General Meeting of the shareholders in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation. The processing of such personal data will in particular take place for the analysis and management of the participation and voting procedure in relation to the General Meeting of the shareholders, in accordance with the applicable legislation and the Companys Privacy Policy. These personal data will be transferred to third parties for the purpose of providing assistance in the management of participation and voting procedures, and for analyzing the composition of the shareholder base of the Company. The personal data will not be stored any longer than necessary in light of the aforementioned objectives. Shareholders, holders of other securities issued by the Company and proxy holders can find the Companys Privacy Policy on the Companys website. This Privacy Policy contains detailed information regarding the processing of the personal data of, among others, shareholders, holders of other securities issued by the Company and proxy holders, including the rights that they can assert towards the Company in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation. The aforementioned can exercise their rights with regard to their personal data provided to the Company by contacting the Companys Data Protection Officer via dataprivacy@ucb.com.




LONDON, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventient Energy announces today that Kevin McCullough has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer.

Ventient Energy Logo

"With more than 20 years of leadership in the energy sector, Kevin will be an asset as we continue to build on the strong performance of Ventient Energy in the European renewable energy sector". Said Carlos Guinand, Chairman of Ventient Energy's Board.

After over four years of leadership, Mark Jones will step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective 27 March 2023.

"I am pleased to be stepping down as CEO after having guided Ventient during the last four years. With heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this great journey and best wishes to Ventient's new phase." Said Mark Jones, former CEO, Ventient Energy.

"We would like to thank Mark for his achievements and valuable contributions over the past four years. During this period Ventient became a key player in the European renewables sector. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours," said Carlos Guinand, Chairman of Ventient Energy's Board

Kevin McCullough, said: "I am genuinely delighted and excited to be returning to the renewable energy sector and consider it a privilege to be asked to lead such a prestigious organisation. The team I'm joining should be rightly proud of their achievements to date and excited, as I am, at the opportunity for growth that lies in front of us".

About Ventient Energy

Ventient Energy is a Pan-European non-utility developer and generator of renewable energy. Our portfolio has grown quickly since our inception in 2017, and we currently own and operate renewable assets in Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK, with a total installed capacity of 2.8GW.

As a business, we focus on sustainable growth that provides long-term returns to those who invest their future in our vision - generating renewable energy to secure the future of the people and the planet.

For further enquiries Contact:

Brand and Communications Team

E: communication@ventientenergy.com

T: +44 (0)131 243 1380

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Traveling abroad can be a fun experience, but its not so great if youre impacted by credit card fraud during your trip. Travelers should be on their guard to prevent their cards from being compromised.

For instance, Vickie from Houston writes that she traveled to Mexico last year and was scammed by a Pemex gas station in Cabo while using her Capital One card. According to her, Its all over the internet how they do this. They basically take your card, tell you it does not work and you have to pay cash for the gas. In the meantime, they have run your card without your knowing on a Square on their cellphone. In my case it was over $1K. It was done by some company called El Rincon even though I was at Pemex. She adds that she has disputed this charge with Capital One, but its been of no avail.

What is credit card skimming fraud?

Credit card skimming is a crime thats typically associated with gas stations and automated teller machines (ATMs). Criminals can attach skimmers, which are small devices that read your card information, at card readers at a gas station (or other retail locations). These devices can capture your card information from your cards magnetic strip when you pay. Its even possible for skimmers to use Bluetooth devices to steal your information and pass it on to an associates device.

Skimmers are small and unobtrusive devices, so its not easy to detect them. You should inspect a card reader to see if there is anything amiss. For instance, it may look bulgy or misaligned. You could also touch it to feel for any irregularities.

When a skimmer captures your card details  such as the card number, expiry date and your name  criminals can use this information to make counterfeits of your card. They could also sell the information to other crooks. When a counterfeit card with your account number on it is charged, the charge will post to your card account.

How to prevent card fraud when abroad

You should inform your bank when you plan to travel abroad so that it can flag any suspicious activity. Also, check your credit card statements to watch out for any transactions you dont recognize.

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Also, dont let your card out of your sight. Its possible for restaurant staff and other retail staff, including gas station attendants, to take your card information and commit fraud. Inform your bank at the earliest moment if you suspect your bank has been compromised.

Additionally, be wary of using public Wi-Fi networks that could be hacked and compromise your information.

Reporting card fraud when abroad

Consumers who have run into international fraud issues can put in a complaint with econsumer.gov. This is an initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), in which more than 65 countries, including the U.S., participate. The initiative, started in 2001, aims to encourage consumer confidence in international transactions. It helps consumer protection agencies worldwide watch for trends and cooperate to prevent scams.

When you file a complaint with econsumer.gov about your credit card issue, your input will be shared with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and entered into a consumer complaint database. It will also be available to regulatory authorities in other countries. They can then take regulatory action and watch for trends. Econsumer.gov advises that the more information you can provide about your issue, such as specific dates and amounts, the better.

File a complaint with the banks regulator

Vickie, while you could put in a report with econsumer.gov, you shouldnt necessarily expect an international agency to take up your specific issue. However, since you point out that this particular gas station issue has impacted multiple consumers, your complaint could help consumer protection agencies spot a trend and take action on that basis. That might help crack down on gas station card compromises.

Since you correctly turned to Capital One to dispute your issue, and it was of no avail, you could follow up with the banks regulator. You could also file a complaint with the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The bottom line

If you encounter credit card fraud, you should first file a dispute with your card issuer. If that does not resolve your issue, you could turn to regulatory authorities. Econsumer.gov accepts complaints related to international fraud, including card fraud. However, the initiative monitors consumer complaints to take broader action against criminal trends and may not resolve your individual issue. You may also file a complaint with your card issuers regulator and other government agencies. Vickie, I hope this helps you resolve your issue.

Contact me at pthangavelu@redventures.com with your credit card-related questions.
SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

In the rapidly evolving voice recognition market, staying competitive is crucial for thriving businesses. To achieve this, organizations must keep themselves informed of the latest trends and advancements in the industry. Fortunately, SkyQuest's latest report is a valuable resource that provides critical insights into the key growth areas and innovations driving the market's evolution. As a result, businesses can achieve increased profitability and improved customer satisfaction by taking a proactive approach to the market and implementing the latest advancements.

Westford, USA,, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The voice recognition market is growing rapidly, and North America is poised to maintain its leading position with a strong performance from the Asia Pacific region. This market is being driven by technological advancements and the increasing adoption of electronic devices that utilize voice recognition technology. One of the key areas where this technology is gaining popularity is in in-car infotainment systems. Drivers and passengers alike appreciate the convenience of controlling their music, navigation, and other features using voice commands. As a result, the integration of voice-enabled systems in cars is becoming increasingly common worldwide. In addition, as more and more devices become connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), homeowners increasingly rely on voice commands to control everything from their lights to their thermostats.

SkyQuest's recent global research has found that the use of payment services on mobile devices in China, one of the largest populations, has increased significantly in the past year, with over 890.34 million users utilizing this technology in 2021-2022. This surge in mobile payments has created a demand for innovative and convenient solutions to enhance the user experience, and voice recognition technology has emerged as a viable option.

Get sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/voice-recognition-market

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Voice Recognition Market"

Pages - 274

Tables - 90

Figures - 71

The importance of voice recognition technology lies in its ability to enhance accessibility and convenience for individuals and businesses alike. With voice recognition, users can operate devices and software without needing physical input, allowing for a more seamless and efficient user experience. This technology has already been integrated into various industries, from healthcare to automotive, and is expected to grow in popularity in the coming years.

Prominent Players in Voice Recognition Market

Nuance Communications Inc.

Advanced Voice Recognition Systems Inc.

Google Inc.

Auraya Systems

Facebook, Inc.

LumenVox

Speechmatics

Voice Biometrics Group

Baidu

ReadSpeaker

Apple, Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Raytheon Company

Amazon

AssemblyAI

Cloud Segment to Witness High Momentum Growth as It allows for More Accurate and Reliable Voice Recognition

The voice recognition market has witnessed a significant growth rate in recent years, and the cloud segment has been at the forefront of this growth. In 2021, the cloud segment witnessed a remarkable growth rate, and the outlook for 2022 to 2030 looks even more promising. According to the research conducted by SkyQuest, a leading global research firm, the cloud security industry is set to witness significant growth in the coming years. The report suggests that the market will likely cross USD 82.77 billion by 2028, indicating a high prospect for the cloud segment. Furthermore, the demand for cloud-based voice recognition solutions has skyrocketed with the increasing use of virtual assistants, smart speakers, and other voice-enabled devices.

Voice recognition technology has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, and North America has been at the forefront of this revolution. In 2021, North America dominated the voice recognition market. The region is poised to maintain its leading position comfortably by 2030, thanks to its highly advanced technological infrastructure and widespread adoption of smart devices. With its continuous innovations, strong research and development capabilities, and receptive customer base, the region is well-positioned to remain at the forefront of this exciting technology.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/voice-recognition-market

Automotive Segment to Remain the Major Revenue Contributor Thanks to Increasing Demand for In-Vehicle Voice Assistants

In 2021, the automotive segment generated the highest revenue share in the voice recognition market. The growth trajectory for this industry is expected to continue on an upward trend from 2022 to 2030. Voice recognition technology is increasingly integrated into modern automobiles, enabling drivers to interact with their vehicles using voice commands. This technology has several advantages, including improved safety, increased convenience, and enhanced user experience. Additionally, the emergence of autonomous vehicles and the need for seamless communication between the vehicle and its occupants drive the demand for more advanced voice recognition systems.

The voice recognition market has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, with Asia Pacific emerging as a promising challenger in 2021. The regional outlook for voice recognition in the Asia Pacific is set to remain positive up to 2030. One of the key factors driving this growth is the increasing adoption of smart devices and voice-enabled assistants in the region. In addition, the rise of e-commerce and online shopping in the Asia Pacific has also contributed to the growth of voice recognition technology. With more consumers shopping online, businesses are increasingly turning to voice-enabled assistants to provide a more seamless and personalized shopping experience.

SkyQuest, a reputable market research firm, has recently released a comprehensive report on the voice recognition market. This report offers a thorough industry analysis, providing valuable insights into the current market landscape, emerging trends, leading players, and innovative products. Investors seeking to make informed decisions and identify profitable investment opportunities in this sector will find this report invaluable. In addition, the report provides up-to-date information on this sector's latest trends and innovations, allowing investors to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Key Developments in Voice Recognition Market

Voiceitt, a cutting-edge startup focused on improving the quality of life for people with speech impairments, has recently raised $4.7 million in funding. This funding will allow the company to scale its groundbreaking speech recognition technology, designed to help people with various speech disabilities communicate more effectively and independently.

Fluent.ai, a leading speech and voice recognition technology provider has recently announced a collaboration with Cadence Design Systems, a provider of electronic design automation and semiconductor intellectual property, to offer embedded voice recognition for Cadence Tensilica HiFi 5 DSP-based true wireless stereo (TWS) products.

Fraunhofer, a renowned German research organization, has developed a revolutionary technology that allows intuitive control of machines through speech recognition. The technology relies on advanced algorithms that can accurately recognize and interpret speech, enabling machines to understand and respond to human commands.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/voice-recognition-market

Key Questions Answered in Voice Recognition Market Report

How can companies effectively balance innovation and experimentation with the need for stability and consistency in high-growth segments?

How can companies effectively identify and evaluate partnerships and collaborations in high-growth sectors?

What potential risks are associated with industry dynamics, and how can companies mitigate them?

What are some effective ways to ensure compliance with government policies and regulations while remaining competitive in their industry?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Online Freelance Market

Global Automotive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market

Global Smart Energy Management Market

Global Centralized Exchange Token (CEX) Market

Global Customer Success Software Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

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MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED

Wave Energy Converter Market size to witness growth due to increasing adoption of sustainable energy technologies during the forecast period. Wave Energy Converter Market analysis was conducted by dividing the market into three main segments: Technology, Location and Application.

Pune, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Energy & Power business-consulting firm, Maximize Market research, has published a market intelligence and competitive landscape report on the  Wave Energy Converter Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain expert has analyzed the Wave Energy Converter Market at a global, regional and country level. Over the forecast period, Maximize Market research expects, the market to grow from USD 18.73 Mn in 2021 to USD 26.15 Mn in 2029 at a CAGR of 4.26 percent.



Wave Energy Converter Market Report Scope and Research Methodology

Market Size in 2021 USD 18.73 Mn. Market Size in 2029 USD 26.15 Mn. CAGR 4.26 percent (2022-2029) Forecast Period 2022-2029 Base Year 2021 Number of Pages 272 No. of Tables 116 No. of Charts and Figures 113 Segment Covered Technology, Location and Application Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222029, Market Dynamics, Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Key Trends, Competitive Landscape, Key Players Benchmarking, Competitive Analysis, MMR Competition Matrix, Competitive Leadership Mapping, Global Key Players Market Ranking Analysis.

Request For Free Sample Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/164740

The report mainly focuses on the factors including drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges in the Wave Energy Converter market. This analysis has been provided region-wise and segment-wise in the report, making it an investors guide. The list of global and regional players in the Wave Energy Converter industry has been included in the report with their revenue and recent developments. It also provides strategic profiling of top Wave Energy Converter companies in the market, a detailed analysis of their core competencies and strategies adopted such as agreements, partnerships, joint ventures and acquisitions that apply to the Wave Energy Converter businesses.

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To estimate the global and regional Wave Energy Converter market size, the bottom-up approach was used. The key players in the Wave Energy Converter industry were identified through secondary research and revenues were determined through primary and secondary research. Secondary research included a review of annual and financial reports of leading Wave Energy Converter manufacturers, while primary research included interviews with opinion leaders and industry experts such as skilled front-line personnel, entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals. SWOT analysis was conducted to provide the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Wave Energy Converter market. PORTER, PESTEL analysis was employed to understand the potential impact of micro-economic and macro-economic factors on the Wave Energy Converter market.

Wave Energy Converter Market Overview

A device that converts kinetic and potential energy related to ocean waves into mechanical or electrical energy is Wave Energy Converter. Energy in the ocean is captured to generate electricity. This energy is green and eco-friendly. Demand for electricity across coastal countries is expected to contribute to the Wave Energy Converter Market growth.

Get a Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/164740

Wave Energy Converter Market Dynamics

The Wave Energy Converter Market is expected to grow during the forecast period due to increasing investments and technological advancements. The lower environmental impact of wave energy converters compared to other renewable energy technologies including its limited impact on the shoreline is contributing to the Wave Energy Converter Market growth. The major factor that is contributing to the market growth is the new government policies and increase in the investments by the governments to promote wave energy converter technology for the rapid commercialization of energy converter devices. The inadequate infrastructure for wave energy converters is the major restraining factor for the Wave Energy Converter Market growth.

Wave Energy Converter Market Regional Insights

In 2021, the Wave Energy Converter Market in the Europe region held the largest market share. The growth of the regional market is majorly due to the rapid industrialization in economies such as Portugal, UK, Denmark and France.

During the forecast period, the Wave Energy Converter Market in the North America region is expected to grow at a fast rate. The region has excellent marine power and hydropower generation potential, which is steadily growing. The market has also grown due to the incentives and liberal rules encouraged by the local governments.

Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/164740

Wave Energy Converter Market Segmentation

By Technology

Oscillating Body Converter

Oscillating Water Columns

Overtopping Devices

Rotating Mass Converters

Based on Technology, the Oscillating Water Columns segment held the largest Wave Energy Converter Market share in 2021.

By Location

Nearshore

Shoreline

Offshore



Based on Location, the Nearshore segment is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period.

By Application

Power Generation

Desalination

Environmental Protection

Others

Based on Application, the Power Generation segment held the largest Wave Energy Converter Market share in 2021.

Wave Energy Converter Market Key Competitors include:

Ocean Power Technologies

Marine Power Systems

Eco Wave Power

SINN Power GmbH

NEMOS GmbH

INGINE Inc.

Carnegie Clean Energy

CorPower Ocean

AW-Energy Oy

AWS Ocean Energy

Wello Oy

HavKraft AS

Wave Dragon

Wave Swell

Aquanet Power



Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/164740

Key questions answered in the Wave Energy Converter Market are:

What is Wave Energy Converter?

What are the global trends in the Wave Energy Converter Market?

What are the major challenges that the Wave Energy Converter Market could face in the future?

What are the upcoming industry applications and trends for the Wave Energy Converter Market?

What are the factors contributing to the final price of Wave Energy Converters?

What are the recent industry trends that can be implemented to generate additional revenue streams for Wave Energy Converter Market?

How is the intervention from regulatory authority is shaping the Wave Energy Converter Market?

What growth strategies are the players considering to increase their presence in Wave Energy Converter Market?

Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Wave Energy Converter Market?

Who held the largest market share in Wave Energy Converter Market?

Key Offerings:

Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021)

Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021)

Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029

Market Dynamics  Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Technology, Location, Application and Region

Competitive Landscape  Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape  Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region

PESTLE Analysis

PORTERs analysis

Value chain and supply chain analysis

Legal Aspects of business by region

Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis

Recommendations

Maximize Market Research is leading Energy and Power research firm, has also published the following reports:

Solar Thermal Market : The total market size was valued at USD 20.47 Bn in 2021 and is expected to grow by 5.29 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 30.92 Bn. Rapid Technological Advancements and Growing Investment in Solar Energy is expected to boost the market growth.

Frequency Converter Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 46.61 Bn by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8.06 percent during the forecast period. Growing demand for frequency converters in defense, aviation, industrial automation, and the oil & gas sector is expected to drive the market growth.

Wind Energy Storage Devices Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 409.03 Bn by 2029 with a CAGR of 6.4 percent, during the forecast period. The increasing need for continuous and dependable energy distribution from end-use zones is expected to fuel the market growth.

Wind Energy Market : The total market size was valued at USD 99.8 Bn in 2021 and the total Wind revenue is expected to grow at 7 percent from 2021 to 2029, reaching USD 171.5 Bn. Demand for consistent, affordable, sustainable energy is expected to fuel the market growth.

Wind Turbine Tower Market : The total market size was valued at USD 28.97 Bn in 2021 and is expected to grow by 7.90 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 53.23 Bn. Increasing Investment in Wind Energy is expected to drive market growth.

About Maximize Market Research:

Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial equipment, technology and communication, cars and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated systems. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies.

CONTACT: Contact Maximize Market Research: 3rd Floor, Navale IT Park, Phase 2 Pune Banglore Highway, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India sales@maximizemarketresearch.com +91 96071 95908, +91 9607365656




A roundup of the week's most newsworthy culture press releases from PR Newswire, including a new program to help prepare neurodiverse individuals for a driving test.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering different cultural groups stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

PR Newswire Weekly People & Culture Press Release Roundup, March 20-24, 2023. Photo provided by Glossier. https://prn.to/406CGn9

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

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Read more of the latest culture-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNmltcult on Twitter.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists

For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages.

PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals.

For questions, contact the team at media.relations@cision.com.

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Marjan, the master-developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah, has announced the appointment of two contractors - ALEC Engineering and Contracting (Alec) and German foundation specialist Bauer International - to undertake integral construction works of the integrated Wynn Resort set to open in Ras Al Khaimah early 2027.

Offering a pristine setting with views of the Arabian Gulf as well as sandy beaches and a marina, the project is the first in the Mena region by Wynn Resorts, the US-based developer, designer and operator of luxury integrated resort experiences.

The integrated resort development on Al Marjan Island is the largest project of its kind in RAK's growing hospitality sector. It is being developed in partnership with RAK Hospitality Holding and Marjan.

As per the deal, Alec, a part of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and an expert in the construction of complex and iconic projects across diverse sectors, will be responsible for the construction of the integrated resort development, while Bauer will undertake the piling and enabling works.

"Alec has successfully developed its reputation as a multifaceted, main contractor by delivering some of the region's most challenging projects," remarked its Managing Director Barry Lewis. "In working with Marjan, in partnership with RAK Hospitality Holding and Wynn Resorts, we look forward to utilising our extensive experience to deliver what will indisputably be a waterfront destination, unlike anything seen before," he added.

The Emirati developer said Bauer has already started the preparatory work on the project site, located on the man-made Al Marjan Island.

With a growing portfolio of bold hospitality and leisure attractions, the cluster of four coral-shaped islands is emerging as a top lifestyle and waterfront destination in the region, it added.

Marjan CEO Engineer Abdulla Abdooli said: "To fulfil and surpass the expectations of investors and all our stakeholders, we have teamed up with the best-in-class partners for the timely completion of a project that is the largest of its kind in the Emirate's growing hospitality sector."

"Well-known for their cross-sector capabilities and expertise in building landmark projects, the appointment of Alec and Bauer will ensure the timely completion of the integrated Wynn Resort, that is set to further catalyse Ras Al Khaimahs booming tourism market," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Wet Shave Market is valued at USD 12.6 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 23.1 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 9.1% over the forecast period 2023-2030.



Market Overview

The market is predicted to be driven by rising personal care spending and ongoing wet shave product advancements. Additionally, an improved standard of living and rising disposable income will likely affect the market's expansion during the projection year.

We forecast that the female gender category in the wet shave market sales will account for more than 58% during the forecast period. Women frequently wet shave to remove hair from their legs or underarms. Since developing sensitive razors and shaving lotions, women have preferred wet shaving to wax. Safety razors are quite popular among women since they are less irritating, more affordable, offer a closer shave, and are simpler to clean.

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Market Dynamics

Increasing Awareness of Personal Cleanliness and Grooming will Increase to Support Market Expansion

Customers are intrigued by this, choosing products that meet their needs and are simple to use. Wet shaving's simple, portable, and dependable technique draws more individuals to the practice. Although the introduction of trimmers and the rising popularity of growing beards will likely prevent the market from expanding, steady market expansion is anticipated due to the practicality of wet shaving for everyday tasks.

Increasing Available Funds and Raising Living Standards in the Wet Shave Industry to Drive the Market Growth

During the forecast period, increasing disposable income and rising living standards are anticipated to further fuel demand for wet shaving in the worldwide market. Razors, soap and cream, a shaving brush, and several aftershave lotions are needed for traditional wet shaving. There is a huge variety of razors on the market, including safety razors, straight razors, cartridge razors, and disposable and non-disposable razors. These wet shaving essentials are offered through various retail outlets, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, specialty shops, independent retailers, drug stores, and online shopping portals.

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Top Players in the Global Wet Shave Market

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (India)

Johnson & Johnson (U.S.)

Beiersdorf AG (Germany)

Unilever PLC (U.K.)

Edgewell Personal Care Company (U.S.)

Raymond Limited (India)

Procter & Gamble (U.S.)



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Top Trends in the Global Wet Shave Market

One trend that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects to see in the Wet Shave industry is new product launches to flourish the market. The market has always benefited from product line innovations because they tend to draw a sizable customer base. The always-shifting market dynamics compel leading marketers to improve the utility of their products and persuade people to buy them.

Another trend that VMR predicts will continue in the Wet Shave industry is diversification in distribution channels. The route of distribution heavily influences the sales and distribution of any product. Therefore, it is crucial for manufacturers to guarantee a sufficient supply of goods across various supply chains. The wet shaving market has been expanding quickly thanks to reliable distribution channels that enable market expansion and penetration of unexplored markets.

Top Report Findings

Based on Gender outlook, the female category controls most of the Wet Shave market's revenue. Women frequently wet shave to remove hair from their legs or underarms. Since developing sensitive razors and shaving lotions, women have preferred wet shaving to wax. Safety razors are quite popular among women since they are less irritating, more affordable, offer a closer shave, and are simpler to clean.

Based on the Product outlook, shaving cream and lotions control most of the Wet Shave market's revenue. Pre- and post-shaving creams, soaps, gels, foams, and lotions are examples of shaving lotions and creams. These creams or foams are shaving aids that contain glycerin, which is an emollient to soften the beard, making the skin smooth and hydrated and helping prevent cuts. Aftershave creams can minimize shaving-related bleeding and hasten the healing of the skin on the face. Additionally, they prevent acne by keeping skin pores clean and clear of microorganisms.

Based on the Distribution Channel, the hypermarket category controls most of the Wet Shave market's revenue. Customers can easily locate what they need all in one location at hypermarkets thanks to their vast selection of goods, which includes wet shaving supplies. With their large purchasing power, hypermarkets can frequently get suppliers to cut their pricing, which they can subsequently pass to their customers through lower prices. Customers can conveniently stop by hypermarkets as part of their regular shopping trips because they are frequently situated in accessible areas.



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Recent Developments in the Global Wet Shave Market

August 2020: Edgewell Personal Care purchased Cremo Company LLC, a manufacturer of personal grooming products, to diversify its line of skin care goods for men, including beard, hair, and shave preparation items.

June 2020: Societe Bic S.A., a manufacturer of disposable consumer goods, introduced the Us grooming brand, which features a range of items for men's and women's grooming, including razors, shaving creams, body lotion, face lotion, and more.

Female Category in Wet Shave Market to Generate the Major Revenue Share

For better understanding, based on the Gender outlook, the Wet Shave Market is divided into Male and Female.

During the forecast period, the market for Wet Shaves is anticipated to experience the highest CAGR for the female category. Women frequently wet shave to remove hair from their legs or underarms. Since developing sensitive razors and shaving lotions, women have preferred wet shaving to wax. Safety razors are quite popular among women since they are less irritating, more affordable, offer a closer shave, and are simpler to clean.

On the other hand, the Male category is anticipated to grow significantly. Mostly, men wet shave to get rid of their facial hair. Growing self-grooming knowledge and increased disposable income are anticipated to impact the market growth positively. Spreading awareness through commercials, social media blogs, YouTube channels, and influencers is projected to boost demand further.

North America Region in Wet Shave Market to Generate the Most of the Global Revenue

North America dominates the market throughout the projection period. It is anticipated to expand quickly over the next years due to changing consumer lifestyles and rising self-care awareness. These elements impact the increase in wet shave product sales in North America.

The Asia Pacific is anticipated to dominate as the fastest region in the wet shave market. The market is anticipated to rise due to many factors, including an increase in the youthful urban population with more disposable income and a growing global population, particularly in emerging nations like China and India. Additionally, the increased awareness of personal grooming among males and the rise in people adopting corporate cultures would favorably affect market expansion.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 144 Pages and in-depth TOC on Wet Shave Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Wet Shave Market Segmentation

By Gender

Male

Female

By Products

Disposable Razors

Non-disposable Razors

Shaving Lotions & Creams

Razor Cartridges

Blades

Other Products

By Distribution Channels

Hypermarkets

Supermarkets

Independent Retailers

Other Channels

By Region

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA



Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/wet-shave-market-2037

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 12.6 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 23.1 Billion CAGR 9.1% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Procter & Gamble, Unilever PLC, Edgewell Personal Care Company, Beiersdorf AG, Johnson & Johnson, Raymond Limited, Godrej Consumer Products Limited Customization Request If our report does not include the information you are searching for, you may contact us to have a report tailored to your specific business needs https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/wet-shave-market-2037/request-sample

Key Questions Answered in the Wet Shave Market Report are:

What is the current size of the wet shave market and what are its growth prospects?

What are the key market trends, drivers, and challenges affecting the wet shave industry?

What are the different product types and their respective market shares?

Who are the major players in the wet shave market and what are their market shares?

What are the key distribution channels for wet shave products and how are they evolving?

What are the regional market dynamics in the wet shave industry?

What are the consumer preferences and behavior patterns in the wet shave market?

What are the key opportunities and challenges facing the wet shave market in the future?

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MASFi

Aaron Tsai, King of Shell became Worlds first Trillionaire

Taipei, Taiwan, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With a quantum leap from Wall Street to HBS City in the MASFi Financial Metaverse, Aaron Tsai, King of Shell became Worlds first Trillionaire, through the creation of his personal social token (PST), ATT and an algorithmic USD stable coin USDM. ATT is paired with USDM for trading on HashBrownSwap, HBSs decentralized exchange (DEX). USDM is backed by Aarons personal credibility, with each USDM supported by ATT at the ratio of 1:1.









Aaron Tsai is the Founder of MAS Capital, MASFi financial blockchain and HBS , an all-in-one DeFi App, designed for everyone. Aaron is a Chinese American entrepreneur and investment banker, assisting Chinese companies in going public in the US. Aaron is known on Wall Street as the King of Shell, for the creation of 101 public shell companies in the 1990s, long before SPACs became mainstream. An October 29, 1999 Wall Street Journal article said that Tsai  is at the leading edge of a resurgence in blank check, or shell, companies 

Inspired by Elon Musk, Aaron named MASFi gas token MASX with the idea from SpaceX. While Elon has a plan to take us humans to Mars, Aarons mission is to take both humans an AI robots into the Metaverse with HBS, as the financial infrastructure for Web3 companies, powered by MASFi financial blockchain.

About ATT and USDM tokens

ATT is the personal social token of Aaron Tsai. USDM is an algorithmic USD stablecoin backed by ATT at the ratio of 1:1. Both ATT and USDM are generated on MASFi financial blockchain in MRC-20 standard comparable to Ethereum ERC-20 standard. Two (2) trillion ATT and Two (2) trillion USDM are minted by Aaron Tsai, Worlds 1st Trillionaire in the Metaverse.

Information Links: ATT Price | Personal Website | LinkedIn Profile | WSJ Article



About MAS Capital

MAS Capital formed in 1995 is an US investment bank, specializes in advising Chinese companies in going public in the US via IPO and SPAC. MAS Capital team has advised over 100 companies in going public in the US.

Story continues

Information Links: MAS Capital | MAS Capital Group

About MASFi Financial Blockchain

MASFi financial blockchain is a layer 1 Ethereum compatible blockchain, designed for Web3 applications. MASFi completed cross chain with three major blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and BSC. MASFi enables ultra-high speed transfers and low gas fees for tokens generated on these three popular blockchains. Transfer of BTC, ETH and BNB are completed within 2-3 seconds at USD0.10 gas using MASFi gas token MASX. MASFi enables dAPPs to use tokens generated on Bitcoin, Ethereum and BSC in an integrated format, such as HBSs cross chain wallet and cross chain swap. HBS is the first application built on MASFi and launched since December 2021. MASFi began US$50 million private sale of MASX tokens on March 15, 2023.

Information Link: MASFi | MASX Private Sale News



About HBS

HBS is an All-in-One DeFi App, designed for Everyone! You can enjoy DeFi as-easy-as eating a hashbrown with HBS click & use wallet, swap tokens on HashBrownSwap, lend & borrow, make investment in derivative and security token products in one single financial supermarket. HBS is designed for non-crypto users and enables unbanked population on earth to obtain global financial services.

HBS aims to function as the DeFi infrastructure for financial, payment, game, NFT and metaverse companies. These Web3 companies can utilize HBS wallets ease-of-use and enhanced security with automated private key control, which is a break-through in DeFi access, to scale mass Web2 users into Web3. Web3 companies can build their applications on Ethereum compatible MASFi or choose to develop applications on HBS platform.

HBS completed HBS token IDO and started trading on HashBrownSwap on 4th of July, 2022.

Information Links:

Website | HBS Price | Telegram | Twitter | Medium | LinkedIn | Facebook



CONTACT: Sting Lin International Manager HBS Inc. +886936784712 sl-at-mascapital.com




A woman recently called the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services, concerned that all of a sudden her mother will not have Medicaid anymore.

Shed heard that the states enrollment process for Medicaid is changing, starting April 1, and she feared her mother would lose coverage, said Christen Gallik, the department director.

Workers there reassured the woman that no one will suddenly be dropped from Medicaid rolls. But they also shared a message that people in state agencies, Social Services departments and free clinics throughout Virginia have been circulating for months.

The state is going back to the process of certifying, on an annual basis, that those receiving Medicaid qualify for it. Funded jointly by states and the federal government, Medicaid provides health coverage to millions including low-income adults, children, pregnant women, the elderly and disabled.

There hasnt been an annual recertification process for the last three years because of the pandemic, but thats changing due to federal legislation. From April 1 of this year through April 30, 2024, the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, or DMAS, and local Social Services departments will begin a process they call unwinding, of reviewing the massive paperwork required for each applicant.

Some may have qualified for Medicaid after the state expanded coverage in January 2019 and never have been through the annual re-enrollment process because COVID-19 struck the following year.

Medicaid enrollment in Virginia grew 43% during the pandemic, from 1.53 million people in January 2020 to 2.2 million members currently, according to DMAS.

So this is the first time theyll have to gather their information and make sure its all updated, said Debra Fults, director of the disAbility Resource Center in Fredericksburg. I think it has the potential to be a huge deal.

Some recipients may not sense the urgency to recertify because theyve never had to do it, said Debbie McInnis, executive director of the Living Water Community Clinic in Orange County.

They may be thinking, Im in Medicaid, Ive been in for three years, I may not have to worry, she said.

Agencies are stressing that recipients need to be sure that the addresses and phone numbers on file for them are up to date so they can be sure to receive their hefty re-enrollment packet. Having a correct address on file isnt as easy as it may sound.

Lots of times people who have low income are kind of transient, they have a different rental from year to year and the mail wont catch up with them, Fults said.

Or they may see a letter from the state and not pay much attention to it.

DMAS has reached out to partners across the state and asked them to share the message that recertifying is vital.

At the Moss Free Clinic, practitioners have been reminding patients about the upcoming change in Medicaid certification for months, said Karen Dulaney, executive director.

That interaction is more meaningful than something they might receive in the mail or even phone calls, she said.

As with other free clinics, Moss officials have offered to help patients fill out the 14-page application. Likewise, local Social Services departments have computers in their offices where recipients can log in to check their information so theyll be sure to receive re-enrollment notices.

Recipients can check their information:

Online at commonhelp.virginia.gov

By calling Cover Virginia at 1/833-5CALLVA (TDD: 888/221-1590)

By calling their local Department of Social Services

By contacting their Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO or health plan).

The state expects that about 14% of Medicaid recipients, or 351,000 residents, may lose coverage during the recertification, according to DMAS, because they no longer qualify for the program.

Two types of recipients get Medicaid in Virginia: those whose income qualifies them for health coverage and those whose disabilities are so profound, theyre eligible for placement in nursing homes but choose to stay at home, Fults said. Medicaid for the latter group pays for their caregivers so she said its important for recipients to stay enrolled so theres no lapse in payments to care providers.

She said its highly unlikely that people who get Medicaid because they meet the level of care needed to enter a nursing home will lose coverage.

You dont get into long-term care unless youre going to need it for the long term, she said.

McInnis fears that some Medicaid clients, who dont get the notification to complete the process to be re-enrolled, wont realize theyre no longer covered until they go to the pharmacy or doctors office.

Along with other members of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, McInnis said Living Water has discussed ways it could take on patients who lose Medicaid and no longer can afford prescriptions for chronic conditions.

We talked about how to speed up the process to bring them in and make sure they dont lose their medication, she said.

Those who lose Medicaid because they didnt recertify on schedule will have the chance to do it later, but their coverage may lapse for a while.

There could be a good amount of people in the region who may be impacted, either temporarily or permanently, McInnis said.
Spotsylvania County School Board member Kirk Twigg pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony forgery during his arraignment Friday morning in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

Twiggs attorney, Jeffrey Mangeno, requested a four-day jury trial, which Judge Ricardo Rigual scheduled to begin Aug. 7.

Twigg was indicted by a grand jury last month and charged with forgery of a public record, a Class 4 felony that carries a potential prison sentence of two to 10 years. He is also charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly destroying or tampering with a public record.

The charges stem from a June 21, 2022, incident involving the contract for then-interim school division superintendent Kelly Guempel. Twigg was School Board chair at the time.

The case is being prosecuted by Albemarle County Commonwealths Attorney James Hingeley.

But Friday wasnt Twiggs first court date since becoming a member of the School Board. He was arrested and charged with reckless handling of a firearm in 2019.

According to records obtained from the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office through a Freedom of Information Act request in January 2022, Twigg was arrested and charged with reckless handling of a firearm so as to endanger life, limb or property while engaged in hunting, trapping or pursuing game  a Class 1 misdemeanor  on Nov. 26, 2019, shortly after being reelected to a second term on the School Board.

The case was prosecuted by Kelly Green, Caroline County assistant Commonwealths Attorney, after Spotsylvania Commonwealths Attorney Travis Bird recused himself and his office.

It was heard Feb. 28, 2020, after being continued from Jan. 30, and dismissed with prejudice, meaning prosecutors are barred from refiling the charge.

Twigg did not enter any plea, and records obtained in January 2022 from the Caroline Commonwealths Attorneys office show that he completed an online hunter education course conducted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on Jan. 31, 2020, and paid $1,982 in restitution to a neighbor whose property was damaged during an incident that occurred Nov. 23, 2019.

According to notes kept by the responding officer, Spotsylvania Sheriffs deputy Michael Foster, the neighbor reported that his bedroom window and garage door had been shot through that morning.

Foster investigated and spoke with Twigg, who stated that he had been in the woods near his home hunting with 12- and 16-gauge shotguns, and that he fired at a squirrel in a tree with the 12 gauge, which he said was loaded with buckshot.

Foster said Twigg told him he was about 200 feet from the road when he shot. The neighbors home was about 150 yards from the road, Foster wrote.

Foster said he advised Twigg that he was being reckless with his firearms and that he would follow up with charges.

Records obtained from the Caroline Commonwealths Attorneys office show that Green agreed to an application for expungement of the charge from Twiggs criminal record, but the charge is still part of court records.
Spotsylvania County School Board member Kirk Twigg pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony forgery during his arraignment Friday morning in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

Twigg's attorney, Jeffrey Mangeno, requested a four-day jury trial, which Judge Ricardo Rigual scheduled to begin August 7.

Twigg was indicted by a grand jury last month and charged with forgery of a public record, a Class 4 felony that carries a potential prison sentence of two to 10 years. He is also charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly destroying or tampering with a public record.

The charges stem from a June 21, 2022, incident involving the contract for then-interim school division superintendent Kelly Guempel. Twigg was School Board Chair at the time.

The case is being prosecuted by Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney James Hingeley.
Even as a majority of Nebraska lawmakers push to curb abortion access in the state, a string of measures offered by their opponents aim to protect reproductive rights.

The Legislatures Judiciary Committee held a hearing Wednesday that covered two proposals from lawmakers who are abortion rights supporters  one that would provide immunity for lost pregnancies, and one that would guarantee the right to privacy. Neither measure exclusively covers abortion rights, but abortion was the focus of most of the discussion.

LB391, introduced by state Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, would provide criminal and civil immunity for pregnancy outcomes that dont result in a live birth. LR20CA, introduced by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, seeks to add the right to individual privacy to the Nebraska Constitution. If passed by the Legislature, the issue would go on the 2024 ballot.

Nebraska lawmakers have been locked in a battle over abortion rights for the past two sessions. This year, Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston introduced LB626, which would ban most abortions in the state at around six weeks of pregnancy, once embryonic cardiac activity can be detected.

The Day and Conrad proposals are among the measures offered in response to the anti-abortion push. In addition, the state Health and Human Services Committee held hearings last week on two constitutional amendments from Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, another abortion rights proponent, that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

LB391 would protect women from investigation or prosecution in the event of a miscarriage, abortion, or other means that result in the loss of a pregnancy. Day acknowledged at the hearing that LB626 would not penalize women who receive abortions, but argued that her bill is a necessary protection against such penalties.

If we truly believe it when we say were not going to punish women, LB391 should be an easy, straightforward yes vote, Day said.

In states that have increased abortion restrictions over the last year, Day said, hundreds of women have been investigated and some have even been prosecuted over lost pregnancies. Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, said even though LB626 isnt law yet, theres still fear and confusion surrounding what health care options are available to women.

Women should not fear being investigated or questioned when they seek health care or go to the hospital, Day said.

In addition to Planned Parenthood, officials from Nebraska Appleseed and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska also spoke in support of LB391. Nobody spoke in opposition.

Though LR20CA doesnt specifically reference reproductive rights, the right to privacy has been a factor in the nationwide debate over abortion since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade in 1973. In that ruling, the high court decided that abortion access was protected under a right to privacy implied in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but that has since become a point of contention as the word privacy is not explicitly mentioned.

Conrad said her resolution encompasses several other areas that she argued individuals have the right to keep private and outside government control, including their education, marriage and family life.

This is something that I think is just inextricably intertwined with who we are as Americans, Conrad said. We value, hold dear, and require the right to be left alone.

Multiple other states have privacy rights in their constitution. Conrad said her resolution mirrors language from Montanas constitution.

Nebraska Appleseed and the ACLU of Nebraska also supported the resolution, but the proposal saw opposition from the Nebraska Catholic Conference and the Nebraska Family Alliance. Officials from both groups expressed concern that LR20CA would expand abortion access, possibly up to full term.

Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, a committee member who proposed abortion restrictions last year, expressed similar concerns. She asked Spike Eickholt, with the ACLU of Nebraska, if he believed the provision would lift all restrictions on abortion, and he said no. Like many constitutional rights, he argued the right to privacy would not be limitless, and the state would still have the authority to regulate.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, another committee member, said the Legislature could still pass laws on abortion, but the constitutional wording would inform the judicial process in the event of a lawsuit.
Lonnie Cramer was named president and CEO of UCHealth Memorial Hospital and UCHealths facilities in the Pikes Peak region Thursday.

Cramer, who has served as the interim CEO for nearly the past two months, will run Memorial Hospital Central, just east of downtown Colorado Springs, and Memorial Hospital North on the citys rapidly growing north side. He will also be in charge of Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, Grandview Hospital and many of UCHealths clinics in the region, according to a UCHealth news release.

"I am truly excited to lead UCHealths hospitals in El Paso and Teller counties," Cramer said in the release, "and to build on the many successes and advancements in patient care that have occurred in the decade since Memorial Hospital joined UCHealth."

Cramer assumed the interim position when Joel Yuhas left the role after six years to return to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a global health care enterprise. During Yuhas' tenure, he grew UCHealth services for patients and earned UCHealth Memorial Central designation as a Level I Trauma Center and a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the release said.

Cramer, with 30 years of experience in health care operations, seeks to continue that growth, he said in the release.

The facilities he will oversee are a part of the nonprofit's expansive health system that include 12 acute-care hospitals, 30,000 employees and hundreds of physicians in Colorado, southern Wyoming and western Nebraska.

Cramer joined the system in 2019 and served as president of UCHealths Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, Broomfield Hospital and multiple outpatient care locations, according to the release.

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"Lonnie brings a wealth of health care experience to UCHealths hospitals in the Pikes Peak region," Elizabeth B. Concordia, president and CEO of UCHealth, said in the release. "But beyond that, he brings a great desire to be involved in the community, a commitment to providing outstanding patient care and dedication to serving veterans, active-duty service members and their families."

Cramer started his health care career in the U.S. Army, serving eight years as a radiology noncommissioned officer and continues to be committed to providing care for veterans and active-duty service members, the release said.

Cramer earned a masters degree in clinical practice management and a bachelors degree in health care administration, the release added.

He spent time as chief operating officer of MDiagnostics Inc. in Metairie, La., focusing on outpatient imaging with five centers in multiple states, the release said. He was also director of diagnostic imaging services at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

But Cramer is no stranger to Colorado Springs, having worked as the chief operating officer for Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs before joining UCHealth.

"Its also wonderful to be back in Colorado Springs and once again call it home," Cramer said in the release. "I look forward to renewing past relationships and building new ones in the communities UCHealth serves.
Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday spent their afternoon working on a trio of bills tied to abortion, the Democrats' response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year that overturned a nearly 50-year old decision legalizing abortion.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee tackled Senate Bill 189, which would require health insurance carriers that serve large employers  those with more than 100 employees  to pay for abortion coverage without deductibles, copays or coinsurance.

Witnesses claimed the bill will help provide reproductive healthcare at a time when it is threatened nationwide, while opponents argued it would result in taxpayer funding for abortions or interfere with parental rights.

Also under the measure, health insurance for the small group and individual market would provide that coverage depending on how the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates the Affordable Care Act, views those services.

Under the Affordable Care Act  and this pertains more to individual health insurance than to the small group market  any state insurance mandate would be reviewed under the lens of how it affects premiums. If the mandate has the potential to increase premiums, the state would technically be required to defray those extra costs, although that scenario is rare and has never happened in Colorado.

SB 189 was one of the first bills to get an actuarial review under a 2022 law that looks at the effect of health insurance mandates on premium costs.

That review, done by a third party contracted by the Division of Insurance, reported the bill's effect on health insurance premiums would be a minimal decrease in costs, around 15 cents per member, instead of an increase. It would also improve health "equity," the review said.

"Fewer unintended pregnancies will reduce medical costs that would otherwise result from pre/post-natal care, deliveries, and potential pregnancy complications. Reduced medical costs result in lower out-of-pocket costs for the member and lower costs to the carrier, which could be passed on to the members by way of lower premiums," the review said.

SB 189 gives employers the option of refusing to offer abortion services if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, so long as the decision is in line with federal court decisions.

The measure's insurance mandate also applies to treatment for HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. The bill prohibits health insurance carriers to require HIV patients use step therapy, a requirement that a patient use a lower-cost drug before moving on to a more expensive one, even if the patient has been on the more expensive one before or it's the drug preferred by the doctor. For other care, the bill prohibits a carrier from requiring deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or impose a lifetime maximum benefit for treating a sexually transmitted disease or for sterilization services.

Finally, the bill expands the kinds of health care providers than can give contraception, including procedures, supplies or information to a minor without first needing to obtain parental consent or provide notification. Currently, the law allows only for physicians to provide those services; the bill would add, for example, nurse practitioners.

That section of the bill strikes language the sponsors consider to be outdated: Current law requires notification to parents or legal guardians or to someone who makes a referral for those services, such as a member of the clergy, family planning clinics, or schools or colleges.

The bill was amended to set up a grant program for those under the age of 19 who want to pay for their own contraception and don't want to go through their parents' insurance to keep the matter confidential. Those grants would to go health care providers, not the patients.

What the bill doesn't do  according to sponsor Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-LIttleton  is apply to gender-affirming care. It also doesn't lift the state law requiring parental notification for abortions, she said.

Colorado voters passed a ballot measure, later affirmed in state law in 2003, known as the Parental Notification Act, that requires parents or legal guardians be notified 48 hours in advance of a minor child obtaining an abortion. That law, however, does not require parental consent.

SB 189 also does not allow for public funding for abortions, which is banned in the state Constitution.

Despite that insistence from the sponsors, those opposed to the bill claimed it would do the exact opposite.

That included Brittany Vessely, executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, who said the bill would violate the constitutional prohibition against using public funds for abortion.

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It's ridiculous to assume that premiums are all covered by private funding, she said. The bill's religious exemption is not guaranteed, either, she told the committee, given that it relies on a federal court ruling, which she called "illusionary."

She also insisted the bill would expand state-run reproductive healthcare programs that allow minors to apply for and enroll themselves in state-funded family planning and related services, which include access to contraception and abortion referrals and without parental consent. That, she said, erodes parental authority.

State law already allows minors to obtain abortions without parental consent.

Dr. Catherine Wheeler, an ob-gyn who used to practice in Utah but never in Colorado, told the committee that Colorado is a state with high suicide rates and a lot of human trafficking, which she blamed on the ability to get abortions and "early sex." Wheeler also said the bill would apply to gender-affirming care.

"When young people have gender affirming care, they're committed to a lifelong change of needing medical care" and medication, Wheeler said. "When you hear the people who have de-transitioned, they tell you of an incredibly difficult and sick life of constantly being ill and not well."

De-transitioning is the process of stopping or reversing a gender transition.

"Abortion is not health care," no matter how many times it's repeated, said Christine Neely, who also claimed studies show 20% of women that use the abortion pill end up in the ER with excessive bleeding. "That doesn't sound like healthcare to me."

A 2015 report that looked at 20 studies, including those from the National Institutes of Health, involving 33,846 women who used medication abortions said severe adverse events, such as "blood transfusions (0.03-0.6%) and hospitalization (0.04-0.9%) are uncommon."

Tom Perille of Democrats for Life said SB 189 is fatally flawed because it characterizes abortion as essential reproductive healthcare, "which is patently false." The bill tips the scale toward abortion and away from prenatal care, he said.

Brandon Arnold with the Colorado Association of Health Plans also insisted that when the state increases insurance mandates and coverage requirements, that "inherently will increase the cost for premiums."

Those who support the bill cited a pending federal ruling expected any day from Texas that could affect access to contraceptive services, notably the abortion pill.

Erin Miller from the Colorado Children's Campaign said the bill will secure access to critical preventive services that are already included in the Affordable Care Act but that are threatened in pending federal legislation. The campaign, Miller said, supports expanded access to abortion care because of its belief in personal bodily autonomy, including whether to have children or not.

Ali Altman, a resident of Capitol Hill, said she knows firsthand "the crippling anxiety of taking a pregnancy test in a grocery store bathroom and seeing my entire life flash before my eyes." She had a financial safety net to lean on but said many young people do not. She added the Supreme Court's ruling last year pushed access to sexual and reproductive healthcare out of the reach for many and the bill will expand critical coverage for people and communities that have been falling through the cracks for generations, even for those with insurance, because most coverage doesn't pay for essential sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Angie Harold, a survivor of child sexual abuse, recounted how she attempted suicide after being raped and found out she was pregnant in Wyoming, where abortions weren't available. She over-exercised and stopped eating, and eventually had a miscarriage, which she called "wonderful, because I got to live." She said she would have preferred an abortion because it would have been less stressful, safer, and made her feel like she was cared for, and would be able to decide what happened to her body.

"Increasing access to abortion care is vital to creating equity," she said. "Access to reproductive healthcare is a human right and not only saves life, but enhances life quality."

SB 189 won a 6-3 party-line vote and now heads to Senate Appropriations.

Editor's note: This story has been clarified to include other health practitioners who, under the proposal, can provide family planning services to minors. Also, at the request of the Children's Campaign, the testimony by Erin Miller has been clarified to accurately reflect its position.
A bill introduced in the state House Monday seeks to raise the minimum age for criminal prosecution from 10 to 13 years old  reigniting a failed legislative effort from last year.

If passed into law, House Bill 1249 would remove children aged 10, 11 and 12 from the juvenile court's jurisdiction and increase the age for prosecution to 13 years old, except when a child is suspected of committing homicide. The bill would also increase the minimum age when a child can be tried as an adult from 12 to 14 years old, and limit charging minors as adults to only in cases of class 1 or 2 felonies or crimes of violence.

This bill comes after lawmakers tried to make the same changes with House Bill 22-1131 last year. That bill was downgraded to a task force to study potentially raising the age in the future, after the original proposal received strong opposition from both sides of the aisle.

"It's long past time that we ask the important questions about why children are acting out instead of traumatizing them with arrest, court and detention, said bill sponsor Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. We cannot continue to use the same systems that have been proven to be ineffective and expect different results.

Diverging from last years bill, HB 1249 would require local collaborative management programs to support kids aged 10 to 12 who commit crimes with resources such as therapy or family counseling that are currently mandated and provided through the criminal justice system. For victims of crimes committed by kids aged 10 to 12, the bill clarifies they can still access victim services and compensation, removing the requirement for a police report to be filed.

These additions address many of the concerns raised by critics of last years bill, and align with the recommendations made by the task force studying the potential gaps in services that would come from raising the minimum prosecution age.

These changes earned the bill bipartisan sponsorship, with Republicans Rep. Ryan Armagost of Berthoud and Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa signing on, along with Gonzales-Gutierrez and Sen. James Coleman, D-Denver. Last year, HB 22-1131 had exclusively Democratic sponsorship and received only two yes votes from Republican lawmakers, even after it was rewritten to be a task force.

Armagost, a former law enforcement officer, said the current system isn't making kids better or communities safer.

This bill is the most surefire way Colorado can meaningfully prevent youth crime and reduce the likelihood that people become victims of a crime, Armagost said. "I witnessed firsthand how our justice system trains kids for lifelong involvement in criminal behavior.  The status quo has failed at keeping families together and building thoughtful, hardworking young men and women."

In Colorado, just under 60% of youth who are committed reoffend within three years of release, according to a 2022 report from the Colorado Division of Youth Services. Colorado's adult recidivism rate is among the highest in the nation, with around 50% of released prisoners being re-incarcerated within three years.

In 2021-22, 63 children under 13 years old were admitted into detention, accounting for 2.4% of new inmates, according to the Colorado Division of Youth Services. Of the 63 children, 58 were admitted for felony charges.

Despite its Republican co-sponsors, the bill is still expected to face opposition from the GOP. House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, said he thinks Armagost is going to be kind of alone in his support for the bill among the Republican House caucus.

It does not have unanimous support from our side at all, Lynch said. As a freshman and as his leader, I told him to make sure he knows what hes doing. He brings a very personal perspective to this bill and, in that regard, I support him in that effort. But I dont know that he can count on the caucus as a whole to be on board.  I cant imagine that its changed enough to get my support.

Colorado lawmakers advance bill to prevent police from lying to minors during interrogations

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While the new bill addresses concerns that not criminally charging younger children would prohibit them from accessing needed services and support, it does not address the argument that crimes such as seriously injuring someone, bringing a gun to school or committing robbery warrant criminal consequences.

Last year, many Republican lawmakers said HB 22-1131 should include an exemption for serious crimes. HB 1249 moves in the opposite direction, only allowing exemptions for homicide, while last years bill included exemptions for both homicide and felony sexual assault.

Some external organizations that opposed last year's bill have also come out against HB 1249.

"The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police has taken a position to strongly oppose House Bill 1249. While the County Sheriffs of Colorado have not taken a formal position on HB 1249 yet, considering the associations opposition to last years version, CSOC will closely review HB 1249 to understand if any changes can address our members concerns that remain from last year," said Bill Ray, a spokesperson for both groups.

Under the bill, children aged 10 to 12 could still be taken into temporary custody by law enforcement, but law enforcement would then refer the child to their local collaborative management program. Other professionals including school staff and mandatory reporters could also refer kids to a collaborative management program.

A team from the program would create an individualized plan for every child referred regarding which services they need. For felony sex offenses, the team would have to meet with the county department of human or social services to develop the plan and determine if the department will provide special prevention and intervention services or investigate the alleged crime.

The bill would also increase the minimum age to 13 for a child to be charged with a municipal offense by a municipal court; to be charged with misdemeanors or petty offenses by a county court; and, to be held in custody for violating a protection order  though a child aged 10 to 12 who violates a protection order must participate in a collaborative management program.

Proponents of the bill argue that young children should not have to experience the trauma and potentially life-altering consequences of an arrest, insisting the criminal justice system doesnt address root causes of juvenile crime, which they said is often abuse or neglect.

The justice system has not only proven to be ineffective at preventing crime, it subjects kids to a lifetime of poor mental health outcomes, low graduation rates, increased likelihood of adverse health disparities and poverty, said Healthier Colorado CEO Jake Williams. When this bipartisan bill passes, it will be a historic transformation for kids, families, victims and our communities. Colorado will see the benefits for generations to come.

Arrested children are more likely to be arrested as adults, less likely to graduate high school, more likely to be unemployed and face a higher risk of violence and sexual abuse while in detention, bill sponsors said. One study found that up to 90% of people in the juvenile justice system have experienced trauma, including high rates of physical or sexual abuse.

Children of color are also arrested at disproportionately high rates. In 2021, Black children made up just over 5% of Colorados 10- to 17-year-old population, but made up 23.8% of those detained in 2021-22, according to the Colorado Division of Youth Services.

HB 1249 was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting its first hearing in the coming weeks.

Drug penalties proposal leads to stand-off in Colorado Senate
Saudi Arabia's industrial sector, which accounts for around 46% of the countrys total emissions, must choose sustainable inputs and adopt refined manufacturing processes to reduce industrial emissions by 65% by 2050, says a report.

Besides, the sector should opt for efficient shipment and distribution and green marketing, says the report by management consulting firm Arthur D Little (ADL).

ADL has released an exclusive report exploring ways to balance economic growth, environmental care and social well-being. The report, titled Imperatives for Sustainable Industrial Development: The KSA Case spotlights the industrial sector as a key development focus and examines ways to maintain its pace in a sustainable manner.

Industrial force

Proving to be a rapidly growing industrial force, the kingdom is home to more than 10,000 industrial facilities and ranks 41st in the Competitive Industrial Performance Index. Saudi Arabias National Industry Strategy aims to increase the value of the kingdom's industrial exports to about $149 billion by 2030.

Saudi Arabia's industrial sector accounts for around 46% of the countrys total emissions, followed by power generation at 28%, and transport at 19%. It presents an opportunity for the development of green technologies and industries in the kingdom.

Dr Adham Sleiman, Partner Energy and Utilities, ADL Middle East, said: The Mena region has made significant strides towards sustainable development, with ambitious goals to reduce their carbon footprint and increase the share of renewables in their energy mix. However, more concerted efforts and cooperation are needed to accelerate the transition towards long-term carbon neutrality. To achieve industrial sustainability objectives, countries need to accelerate their transition to renewable energy sources and adopt more ambitious targets. With Saudi Arabia as a point of reference, our latest report outlines ways to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change for the benefit of both people and the planet.

As the GCCs largest industrial powerhouse, KSA is committed to building a greener future. It has implemented ambitious targets for the future, aimed at reducing industrial emissions by 65% by 2050. The kingdom launched numerous initiatives across the different economic sectors and specifically in its industrial sector. In the report, ADL has identified several dimensions across the industrial value chain that organisations should tackle to ensure sustainable growth.

Sustainable industrial inputs

Energy is essential to industrial operations; addressing its role in industrial development is necessary to a successful strategy. Transitioning from environmentally damaging sources to renewable energy alternatives is a critical step toward increased sustainability.

Refined manufacturing processes

According to the World Government Summit, more than 30% of total GHG emissions are generated by industrial processes. Focusing on improving industrial manufacturing processes is proving to be significantly impactful  improving the energy efficiency of industrial processes could result in reducing manufacturing emissions by 8%.

Efficient shipment and distribution

On top of industrial inputs and manufacturing processes, shipments and distributions of manufactured products are proving to be key contributors to the sectors emissions. Shipping and distribution can be optimised by rolling out green storage logistics, adjusting routes, and applying fuel-efficient processes.

Green marketing

Adopting reusable packaging practices is another way manufacturers can reduce their carbon footprint. Most notably, replacing single-use plastic with eco-friendly alternatives benefits the environment and saves money for companies.

Aside from reducing emissions, the government is also working to move the industrial sector away from fresh water. There are 16 industrial cities in the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon), and the government aspires to source 70% of their water from treated industrial waste water by 2030.

Regulatory pressure

Amer Hage Chahine, Principal, Energy and Utilities, ADL Middle East, said: Sustainable industrial development is now a requirement for both private businesses and governments due to increasing regulatory pressure and consumer environmental awareness. Saudi Arabia's government facilitates industries sustainable development through setting best practices, introducing innovation-related initiatives, and fostering knowledge sharing. Our latest report highlights key approaches to promote sustainable industrial development through policies and incentives that encourage businesses to adopt environment-friendly practices.

According to the report, the Saudi government is unifying the regions efforts through consistent collaboration between GCC countries, aiming to boost the sustainable development of industrials and synergise the regions fight against climate change. This includes efforts to reduce GHG emissions, implement waste management solutions, and raise awareness of industrial sustainability.

The kingdoms efforts have been incorporated into a joint plan with GCC countries to adopt the concepts of circular economy within the industrial sector. The plan aims to ensure that the percentage of industrial facilities adopting circular economy practices reaches at least 50% of all industrial facilities within five years in each of the GCC countries.-- TradeArabia News Service
In 2020, Denvers school board unanimously terminated the districts contract with Denver police and removed school resource officers (SROs). Since then, guns and other weapons have proliferated on school grounds. The situation has become lethal  yet the board refuses to permanently reinstate cops on campus, even after this weeks shooting of two administrators by a student at East High Schools front office.

On Wednesday morning, six weeks after 16-year-old East High student Luis Garcia was shot and fatally injured near campus, a 17-year-old student named Austin Lyle shot and seriously wounded staff members Eric Sinclair and Jerald Mason while they conducted a required, daily weapons pat-down of Lyle. (The suspect fled the scene and was later found dead.)

Hours after the incident, Superintendent Alex Marrero informed the board he was committing to having an armed officer at each comprehensive high school, with two stationed at East, until the end of the school year.

The Board of Education supports the decision of Superintendent Marrero to work in partnership with local law enforcement to create safer learning spaces across Denver Public Schools for the remainder of this school year, the school board conceded in a statement, seemingly left with no choice amid growing cries from parents, students and teachers to restore SROs.

But lets be real: What did it take to make this happen? A superintendent bucking board policy by temporarily returning SROs to campus  after another shooting.

The board canceled its scheduled Thursday public meeting, opting instead for a morning executive session ostensibly over school safety. Under state statute, their purported legal basis for going into a closed-door meeting is flimsy at best. Given the gravity of the situation and significant public interest, why did the board hide behind closed doors rather than meet in the open?

If SROs are acceptable for the next two months, why arent they good enough for the next two years? For Director Charmaine Lindsay  who filled a vacancy last year and isnt running for election this fall  they are. She is the first board member to publicly stand with parents, students and community members and publicly endorse indefinitely reinstating SROs  not just Marreros temporary measure.

Im in favor of bringing SROs back permanently on a school-by-school basis and leaving it up to the parents and the administration to jointly decide what to do, Lindsay told me, stressing the need to ensure students have some say, too. I think to a certain extent they provide a deterrent effect, and I think theres less of a likelihood that someone will walk into a school with a gun when an SRO is present. Lindsay also wants to install metal detectors at larger Denver high schools, believing they would further discourage students from carrying weapons into the building.

Last month, two days after Luis Garcia was shot, a 9mm pistol was confiscated from a student on East Highs campus. Reports indicated the firearm was discovered solely because SROs had been temporarily stationed on-campus for the rest of the week. What if an armed SRO was in the room on Wednesday during Lyles pat-down? It could have been avoided if there was a cop there, you know, to prevent anything like this from happening, Luiss brother Santos told 9News. As vice president, Tay Anderson has been the boards most prominent opponent of SROs. Anderson, who had his appendix removed this week in what he dubbed a life-threatening procedure, recently declared that life-saving SROs may be doing more harm than good and are not a panacea for preventing violence in our schools.

Au contraire, Auontai: No one says SROs are a panacea. They are simply one vital way to deter students from committing crimes  while providing a greater sense of safety and confidence for those who may feel intimidated by certain peers in the current unsafe learning environment.

Instead, Anderson (who also goes by Auontai Anderson) insists more gun-control laws are required. Reasonable minds may differ on gun legislation. However, none of the proposed laws being debated by the legislature would change the fact that the underage juvenile suspects involved in both East High School shootings were already legally barred from purchasing or owning a firearm  under current law!

Pertinent sources report that firearms students obtain are often stolen and sometimes have serial numbers scratched off. As John Castillo  whose son, Kendrick, gave his life protecting peers during the 2019 mass shooting at STEM School in Highlands Ranch  told me on my 710KNUS radio show, The conversation that doesnt take placeis how these guns were obtained. Whether theyre legal or theyre stolen.

Lyle was already on probation for weapons violations in 2021, including building a ghost gun, and was previously expelled from Cherry Creek Schools Overland High School for violating board policy. He eventually transferred to Denvers East High and was required to undergo his daily weapons pat-down. Why wasnt Lyle placed in remote learning  which was supposedly satisfactory for all DPS kids during the pandemic  to mitigate the potential threat he posed to others?

Lets be clear: What would have made the real-world difference are sensible disciplinary policies and a reliable police presence on campus. For a school board that claims to value community feedback, why arent they listening to the public and championing the permanent return of SROs to Denvers vulnerable schools?

Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on News/Talk 710 KNUS. Reach Jimmy online at JimmySengenberger.com or on Twitter @SengCenter.
What should happen to a person who targets children and masturbates or exposes oneself in their presence? One would certainly assume that this has to be a very serious crime in Colorado. While it is a crime, it is only a misdemeanor offense in Colorado. By contrast, and inexplicably, this same type of behavior when done online for a child to watch, rather than in person, is a felony with the potential of two to six years to life in prison and 10 years sex offense-specific probation.

Under current law, if a child is at a park, the mall, or on the sidewalk coming home from school, being confronted by a person who exposes himself with sexual intent or masturbates, the offense is only a misdemeanor. The serious impact of this crime on children requires an equally balanced response from the criminal justice system, considering every other child sexual crime is a felony.

This failure in Colorado law demands a meaningful and immediate response from the legislature to better protect our children. We have joined together with state Sens. Rachel Zenzinger and Jim Smallwood in a bipartisan effort to fill the gap that exists in how the law treats these child victims. We have introduced House Bill 23-1135, Concerning the Penalty for Indecent Exposure in View of a Minor.  These sexual offenses against our children need to be treated as a felony offense.

Let us also dispense with some misleading myths that are often floated as objections to rectifying this law. The crime of indecent exposure requires the knowing exposure of genitals or masturbation with the intent to sexually arouse oneself or another person. It does not apply to urinating in public or streaking. But, this crime does result in a serious impact on the victims, who often fear that the offender will come after them at their homes, hurt them physically, or rape them. Unfortunately, for too long, the law has treated this sex offense as a nuisance. This conduct is not harmless. These are sexual offenders with a serious need to be held accountable and treated for their impulsive and unlawful sexual behavior. Treating it as a misdemeanor diminishes the level of immediate and ongoing harm to child victims.

Another myth to be dispelled is that people who suffer mental illness are more likely to commit this crime  when in fact, people who suffer serious mental illness are far more likely to be victims of crime and mental illness is not an indicator of criminality. A study involving over 2 million people concluded that people suffering mental illness were nearly double as likely as a person without a mental illness to be a victim of crime. It is important to prevent the most vulnerable people in our community from becoming victims  especially children. Childhood sexual abuse has been correlated with higher levels of depression, guilt, shame, self-blame, eating disorders, somatic concerns, anxiety, dissociative patterns, repression, denial, sexual problems, and relationship problems.

Between 2017 and 2020, 89 defendants were charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure where a child was the victim. The conduct of these 89 resulted in 157 victims who were traumatized. They reported nightmares, needed counseling, were afraid of men and being in public or walking to school. Their average age? 11.9 years old. Although the majority of these children were accosted by strangers, plenty of perpetrators are someone the child knows. National studies have concluded that of children who are sexually abused, 93% of the cases involve someone they know as the perpetrator. A recent analysis of these crimes in Colorado concluded that 28% of the perpetrators were using the exposure to normalize their sexual arousal to the child. Importantly, however, the vast majority of these incidents are done in more crowded public places, because the opportunity for viewers is greater. The unfortunate reality is that these offenses occur in both homes and out in broad daylight.

This offense is fueled by sexual arousal for a child. Children and families deserve justice and people charged with this crime need serious treatment and supervision. Statistics show that, unless stopped, 25% of these defendants expose themselves to additional victims.

Felony level consequences and long-term sex offender probation will allow for that supervision.

Twelve-year-olds walking to school should be thinking about school and their friends: not trying to process the fear and trauma of an adult exposing their most intimate parts  right in front of their eyes.

Dafna Michaelson-Jenet, a Democrat from Commerce City, has represented District 32 in the Colorado House for six years. Shannon Bird, a Democrat from Westminster, has represented District 29 in the Colorado House of Representatives for the past five years.
The most powerful developer in Colorado Springs, Norwood Development Group, told Mayor John Suthers last year it planned to ask voters to approve a stringent water rule that could block new annexations for decades, which preceded the city adopting a similar, but less restrictive standard.

Norwood's measure would have required Colorado Springs Utilities to have enough water, an estimated about 125,000 to 130,000 acre-feet, for the properties within the city to develop before allowing annexations, a measure that could block the city from adding property for 20 to 30 years, Suthers said. The proposal would prioritize water service to developments within the city  including the 18,000 acres in Banning Lewis Ranch owned by Norwood on the eastern edge of town.

"I had a very adverse reaction to that," said Suthers, who told Norwood he would fight their proposed charter change. Should such a charter change be adopted by voters, only voters could undo it with another election.

With the vow of a charter change vote hanging over them, Utilities officials introduced a less confining water regulation, but one that critics say would still favor Norwood development, limit city growth, and push housing construction into El Paso County. That regulation has passed a first vote by the City Council.

Other people familiar with the charter change idea spoke to The Gazette about it on condition of anonymity, outlining their concerns about the perception it presented of inappropriate influence on city government.

Councilman Bill Murray said the impact of the new ordinance demonstrates the "bareknuckle power" that Norwood has in the city.

"Its scary how much power Norwood has over this community," Murray said.

People on both sides of the issue agree a water policy is necessary, but critics, including members of the council, say it was pushed through too quickly  introduced for the first time in October and voted on in January, without an extensive stakeholder process the city typically holds. For example, the city has been working on a rewrite of its zoning code for several years.

Norwood Senior Vice President Tim Seibert acknowledged the company has concerns about proposed "flagpole" annexations that would take development miles outside existing city limits at a time when the Colorado River Basin, a major source of city water, is experiencing a megadrought.

City code only requires that Colorado Springs have a largely undefined surplus of water ahead of annexation. The code states the city needs to have water "expected to be sufficient for the present and projected needs for the foreseeable future."

Norwood was interested in quantifying how much water the city needs to have before allowing properties to annex, which would ensure residents of good water planning, Seibert said.

"We explored options to define water utilization under the initiated options that citizens have," said Seibert, speaking of ballot initiatives. He said the company never submitted a measure, but has asked hard questions about water supply and annexations.

While Suthers said he thought Norwood's measure was too restrictive, the mayor defended a policy the City Council will vote on for a second time this week. The new ordinance requires Utilities to have 130% of the water necessary to serve existing demand and demand from property interested in annexing.

The percentage could change if the city acquires additional water rights or improves conservation over time, allowing the city to annex property in the future. But right now, it could block a large pending annexation request from property east of Fountain.

The ordinance could take effect before the federal government imposes reductions on Colorado River use to protect levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, depleted reservoirs that serve millions of people with water and power.

"The threat of a curtailment is much higher than it has ever been," Suthers said. He said that, while Colorado has a strong argument why the cuts should be made in Lower Basin states, such as California, it is not a guarantee they won't happen here.

A written statement from the Colorado Water Conservation Board said in-state water users take cuts in water to ensure Lower Basin states, which also include Nevada and Arizona, receive required water deliveries.

"There are no federally imposed mandatory cuts to water uses envisioned in Colorado," the statement said.

Rule blocks pending annexations

Critics expect the Colorado Springs rule will push home construction out into unincorporated El Paso County, which doesn't have such restrictive water rules, where residents might be forced to rely on diminishing groundwater.

It could also drive up the price of housing in town and limit competition because it does not apply to Banning Lewis Ranch, already within the city limits. The 130% rule applies only at the time of annexation.

When asked about perceived undue influence, Seibert said the company has been asking since January of last year for the community to have a big conversation about long-term plans for adding property to the city that encourages logical growth.

The city is due to update its 2006 annexation plan.

"We welcome a process. We welcome thoughtful planning in the region," Seibert said. The company leader also said Norwood welcomes competition.

Suthers said the pending cuts on the Colorado River that could be dictated by the federal government drove the timeline. The City Council also can revise an ordinance as situations and circumstances change.

He noted polling showed a water rule could have popular appeal with voters, because residents want assurances the city is looking out for them in an era of prolonged drought. Polling shared by Norwood showed about 80% of 400 residents supported the 130% rule, when it was described as an effort to manage the drought.

The rule will have immediate impact, probably blocking the pending annexation of a 3,200-acre development east of Fountain called Amara proposed by La Plata Communities, the company that developed most of Briargate.

It could also block other large parcels from coming into the city, such as Flying Horse East, a 5,500-acre parcel near Schriever Space Force Base expected to provide housing for service members. Properties could be let in as the city acquires more water, but the 30% buffer is a high standard.

Norwood is not the only developer with greenfield land in town, but it does own the lion's share. In the coming decades, Norwood's portion of Banning Lewis Ranch could be home to 170,000 people, Seibert said.

Other large developments within the city exist, but they are much smaller, such as Reagan Ranch, about 240 acres east of Peterson; Bradley Heights, several hundred acres near Bradley and Marksheffel Roads; and Oakwood Homes' segment of Banning Lewis Ranch, a 2,400-acre parcel that is partially built out.

'You have to save us'

If builders can't join the city, they probably will issue debt to build on groundwater, making it much harder for those homes and businesses to come into the city later, said Craig Dossey, El Paso County's former planning director.

"A decision in a moment of time can have decades worth of impact," said Dossey, now president of Vertex Consulting Services, a Colorado Springs-based planning and land development company.

The groundwater in the county is a nonrenewable resource and, despite the county's water rule that developers must prove they have 300 years of water, the water production in county wells is likely to diminish over time.

"Those folks are going to come to the city and say, 'You have to save us,'" Dossey said.

Seibert noted the city is not obligated to provide water for dense neighborhoods in the county.

"I would challenge whether that's good planning," he said.

City Councilwoman Yolanda Avila cited the regional nature of the water issue when she opposed the rule that passed the first time on a 5-4 vote. She said that it's unlikely the city wouldn't jump in to help if county residents ran out of water.

"We are the big city, and we are not just going to take care of our residents," she said.

If the ordinance pushes up the price of housing, it probably will hit low-income people of color hardest, she said in an interview.

"They wont be able to afford to live here. They will have to go to Fountain and Pueblo, wherever they can find housing," she said.

'Whatever it takes'

The 3,200-acre development east of Fountain has been billed by La Plata Communities as needed housing that could support Fort Carson.

La Plata Communities turned to Colorado Springs for water after the city of Fountain told the company it could not serve the project right away.

Colorado Springs' staff seemed to welcome La Plata Communities' annexation petition. City department heads met with business representatives every other week, with encouragement from city leadership to ensure the annexation schedule ran on time, company Chief Operating Officer Mike Ruebenson said.

During a public meeting in October, Utilities staff members told the City Council they had enough water to serve the project. However, at a meeting a week later, the water rule was introduced publicly for the first time.

La Plata Communities President and CEO Doug Quimby said Norwood ownership made clear their opposition to Amara coming into the city several times, while promising to support Amara's annexation into Fountain.

Chris Jenkins, Norwood's CEO, told Quimby during a private meeting "we will do whatever it takes to keep you out of Colorado Springs," Quimby said. Seibert said he couldn't speak to what was said in that meeting, but that Norwood supports Amara's annexation into Fountain.

After months of a seemingly positive reception from Colorado Springs, Quimby said the relationship seemed to take a turn in September when he was asked to meet with Chief of Staff Jeff Greene and former Utilities CEO Aram Benyamin, who told him they didn't think annexation would be approved, but that they thought they could help Fountain solve its water problem.

Utilities could provide water to Fountain via a pipeline but only on a temporary basis, giving Fountain time to build other needed water infrastructure, he said. Two days later, Quimby said he had a similar conversation with Jenkins.

Suthers said he could not speak to his staff's position on the annexation, but he never thought the Amara annexation was a good idea; in part, because of its distance from existing police services.

However, the Amara annexation did prompt the Utilities staff to take a harder look at the number of people it can supply.

When the Southern Delivery System, a pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Springs, began pumping, Suthers said Utilities estimated 800,000 people could be served with that water. Now Utilities estimates it can serve 670,000 people.

"That was a wake-up call," Suthers said.

The estimate alarmed Norwood and triggered the company's call for a charter change, he said. The city has about 95,000 acre-feet of reliable water supplies but, to serve all of Banning Lewis Ranch, the city likely needs 125,000 acre-feet to 130,000 acre-feet, he said. Utilities serves all current users on about 75,000 acre-feet per year.

Inconsistencies in Utilities projections have been called into question by several City Council members opposed to the water measure and other critics. A central complaint is that the 130% buffer seems arbitrary and set high enough to block annexations.

Utilities officials have said in public meetings they support the 130% buffer, but picking a buffer is a policy decision for the council.

Murray and La Plata Communities have called for a rule that could apply to new development in town as a matter of fairness.

"If this is an important metric to use, we should use it for the whole city," Murray said.

Suthers has said in public meetings several times that the city has an obligation to serve those properties within the city limits with water.
Colorado Springs' mayor recently revealed in a letter to the secretary of the Air Force new statements former President Donald Trump made showing political motivation to move Space Command to Alabama.

In the letter sent earlier this month, Mayor John Suthers describes two conversations that provide insight into Trump's reasoning behind moving the command in charge of space warfare, a portion of the Space Force operations, from its temporary home in Colorado Springs.

During the second conversation in February 2020, Trump asked Suthers if he was a Republican and asked Suthers about his chances of winning Colorado during the upcoming election. When Suthers said the chances were "uncertain" Trump "seemed perturbed," according to the letter obtained by Colorado Politics.

Trump then asked a Space Force officer if Space Command should stay in Colorado Springs; the high-ranking officer said, Absolutely, Mr. President.

The former president responded saying he would name a permanent home for Space Command after the November 2020 election.

I want to see how it turns out, Trump said, according to the letter. Trump later admitted on an Alabama-based radio show he single-handedly picked Huntsville, Alabama, as the new home for Space Command.

Colorado Springs was named the temporary home for Space Command in May 2019.

Suthers said in an interview his "heart sunk" when he heard Trump wanted to wait until after the election.

"That was a clear message to me that this was going to be a highly politicized decision," he said.

Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, asked Suthers to write the letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall to help some key people understand the political nature of the decision, Suthers said.

"Trump tried to punish Colorado for not voting for him in 2020 and it seems clear he moved Space Command as retribution," Hickenlooper said on Twitter.

Suthers' letter was first reported by The Washington Post in a column by an influential beltway foreign-affairs thinker who also said the White House may reverse Trump's decision to move the command.

An unnamed White House official told the Post the Biden administration shares military leaders' concerns that moving the command could disrupt "space operations at a critical moment for our national security."

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The White House statement follows comments from Kendall at the Air and Space Association's Warfare Symposium this month that he had hoped to make a decision earlier on a home for Space Command, but more analysis on the decision was required, Military.com reported.

Congressman Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, seemed encouraged by the turn of events in written statements.

"Two years of legislation, reports, analysis and meetings with senior defense officials has resulted in serious reconsideration of the previous decision," Lamborn said.

Bennet said he hoped the urgency of the situation may be breaking through.

"Reaffirming Trump's decision would set a dangerous precedent and put our nation's readiness at risk."

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican, said on Twitter the column was an example of President Joe Biden trying to put politics before the military. He noted military analysis rated Huntsville ahead of Colorado Springs as a permanent home on factors, such as education and cost of living.

"The best place for Space Command is in Huntsville. This is not my opinion, this is fact," he wrote on Twitter.

Even if Space Command moved, Suthers noted, Space Force deltas, similar to wings in the Air Force, in charge of numerous day-to-day operations would remain. For example, the space guardians in charge of cyberspace operations, space domain awareness, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, among other tasks would remain.

"Colorado Springs is going to grow in its space influence," he said.

However, Space Command is nearing full operational capability and it doesn't make sense to interrupt that process, Suthers said.

"Its in the interest of national defense and the taxpayer to leave it here," he said.

Colorado Politics Reporter Ernest Luning contributed to this story.
Academy School District 20 on Thursday announced the hiring of Jinger Haberer as its next superintendent, according to a district news release.

Haberer, the current superintendent of the Ellensburg (Wash.) School District, brings 35 years of educational experience to District 20. She will begin her new role on July 1.

Haberer previously served as the assistant superintendent of student achievement for Poudre School District in Fort Collins and held several administrative positions in the Aurora Public School District. Before her administrative roles, Haberer taught secondary science, language arts and math in Colorado, Oklahoma and Nevada.

Haberer was one of four finalists for the top job in Colorado Springs' largest school district. Other finalists included Becky Allan, D-20's chief financial officer; Brett Smith, D-20's chief operating officer; and Bill Siebers, the chief human resources officer of Thompson School District in Loveland.

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"Mrs. Haberer's strong focus on academic excellence is a great fit for our district," D-20 Board President Tom LaValley said in the news release. "The board is impressed with her qualifications, passion for education, and strong character."

While serving as the Ellensburg School District superintendent, Haberers accomplishments included leading efforts to pass both a levy and a $59.5 million bond project that resulted in the construction of two new school buildings and a remodel of a third elementary.

Haberer said during candidate presentations earlier this month to the school board that she would implement a forward-thinking and whole-child approach to leadership and decision-making if named D-20 superintendent.

Haberer emphasized her strengths in building community connections. In prior roles she has increased the number of dual credits earned by students and attending one free year of community college by partnering with local community colleges and universities. Working closely with the county, students under her leadership also received increased internship experiences and certified nurse assistant credentials.

Haberer holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Colorado Medical Center and a masters in administrative policy and leadership from the University of Colorado Denver.

Current Superintendent Tom Gregory announced his plans to retire at the end of the school year back in October. He made the announcement months in advance in order to give the board time to find a successor, he said at the time.
Colorado Springs is pulling together funds for the host family of a Doherty High School exchange student who was killed in an auto-pedestrian crash outside the school Wednesday.

The GoFundMe was created by a friend of the 17-year-old victim Giorgia Trocciola who said the girl's parents requested monetary assistance in getting Trocciolas American host family to Italy for her memorial services. The effort has raised more than $13,000 since being posted.

Trocciola was in a crosswalk on Barnes Road when a vehicle entered the intersection on a red light and hit her, according to police.

On Wednesday we (the world) lost an incredible young woman  An Italian who came to live her American Dream! After being in the country for 7 months, as a 3-sport athlete, American enthusiast, and a true gift to everyone she met, Giorgia lost her life in a tragic accident, the GoFundMe reads.

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Trocciolas parents and host family will be working to determine the best way to honor her in America before she returns to Italy, the GoFundMe continues.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Doherty High School.
An Aurora dentist accused of plotting to kill his wife was formally charged with first degree murder Thursday morning.

James Craig, 45, told office workers that his wife first began showing concerning symptoms of dizziness after he made her a protein shake, which Aurora police investigators suspect was laced with deadly poison, according to the arrest affidavit.

Craig said six words in court in response to the judges questions about whether or not he understood the advisement of charges  five yeses and one no.

Trail of texts, emails and poison implicate Aurora dentist in wife's death, police say

He shuffled into court shackled and handcuffed and dressed in an over-sized orange jumpsuit and sat quietly as he listened to the around 10-minute proceeding. At times, he whispered to his attorney, public defender Katie Telfer. Telfer waived Craigs right to have a preliminary hearing within 35 days.

Angela Craig, 43, was the mother of the couples six children. James Craig was starting a relationship with a Texas orthodontist and his business was failing, the arrest documents said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Angela Craig was treated at two hospitals three separate times over a week and a half as symptoms to a mysterious illness got progressively worse. She complained about everything from dizziness to having problems focusing, nausea and shakiness.

Her final trip was an urgent life and death situation.

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Court records show that Mrs. Craig's brother rushed her to University Hospital on March 15 where she collapsed. She was declared brain dead March 18 at 4:29 p.m., the arrest record said.

She was taken off of life support March 21, investigative sources confirmed to The Denver Gazette. Her autopsy was performed Wednesday, March 22, the Arapahoe Coroner's office confirmed.

A TRAIL OF EMAILS TO PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES

Investigators found that starting March 4, the suspect ordered multiple types of poisons to his home and office. One of those, Potassium Cyanide, was delivered to his office during the time Angela Craig was already making her first trips to the hospital showing symptoms of dizziness and nausea. The affidavit said that James Craig set up a new email from which he made those orders on Feb. 27. He also wrote his presumed lover on that email.

That package was inadvertently opened by an office worker who discovered the powder inside and packed it back up. When James Craig was confronted by his dental office partner about the package, he lied that it contained a diamond ring, unaware that the partner knew differently, investigators said.

The defendant then changed his story, explaining that his wife had requested the deadly poison and that he didnt think shed really take it, the affidavit said. Further, the report said Craig told his colleague that his wife was playing a game of chicken.

Telfer, filed six motions Wednesday night ahead of the advisement including a redacted protective order and a complaint that an Aurora Police Department press release regarding the case was written in a way that it presumed her client is guilty. In court, Telfer states that these kinds of statements "serve to erode Mr. Craig's presumption of innocence" and requested that Arapahoe District Judge Shay Whitaker "issue an order directing the Aurora Police Department not to make any additional comments."

James Craig's next hearing is April 7 at 3 p.m. in Arapahoe District Court.
Twelve Colorado Springs high school students attended the Pioneers Museum Tuesday for what they thought was a reception recognizing outstanding students  a half-truth that failed to mention theyd also receive one of the states most coveted college awards.

Daniels Fund President and CEO Hanna Skandera surprised the students with college scholarships worth up to $100,000 when she revealed they were all selected for the foundations prestigious Daniels Scholarship Program.

Bill Daniels believed that education was a game changer, that it could create possibilities that nothing else could, Skandera said of the foundations namesake and founder. We are proud and inspired by these kids because they are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.

The program provides four years of financial support at any nonprofit, accredited college or university in the U.S. depending on financial need. Selected students demonstrate exceptional character, leadership and a commitment to serving their communities.

Christian Carlos Ruiz Mendez, a Daniels scholar from St. Marys High School, said years of hard work instilled in him by his family have paid off.

It means everything that Ive been through, Ruiz Mendez said of the scholarship. My mom emigrated from Mexico, and shes a single mom. I just think about the times I go to work with her, I go to work with my grandpa, and I just do it all for them, for my family.

His mother, Araceli Mendez, said the scholarship is a blessing because without it, her sons education would have been limited to what was affordable, which were not the best options for her son.

Education has not come easily for her family. For years they spent their weekends working at stadiums in Denver from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and sleeping in the car just to afford a Catholic education for her children.

They leaned on Parents Challenge, a nonprofit that helps low-income families send their children to the schools of their choice. Its through this organization that he first learned about the Daniels Fund as a fourth grader, Ruiz Mendez said. Thanks to the Daniels Fund, gone are the days of the weekend job to make educational ends meet.

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About 230 graduating high school seniors from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming will receive Daniels scholarships each year. To date, the program has awarded more than $250 million in scholarships to more than 2,930 students.

About a third of scholars are first generation college students, Skandera said.

The stories these kids have of their families and the work theyve done to get to where they are is pretty amazing, she said. I remember last year there was a young woman whose parents had been killed in a car crash  just overcoming so many different hurdles that life might bring that some kids might just give up. She didnt give up. She just kept going.

Israel Oketunmbi, a Daniels scholar from Sand Creek High School, didnt speak much English when he emigrated from Nigeria to the United States at the age of 7. Elementary and middle school were a struggle, he recalled, as he struggled through behavioral and academic issues without being able to properly communicate.

His counselors helped him through it, however, inspiring him later on to begin mentoring programs at his former elementary and middle schools. Each week he works with students for one to two hours on homework and discusses how they are feeling.

The best Daniels scholars are anybody that writes their own story, Oketunmbi said, anybody that goes out there, tries to make this world a better place.

Namesake Bill Daniels was a cable television pioneer who owned hundreds of cable systems and helped to shape the industry in its early days, according to the foundation website. After growing up poor during the Great Depression, he committed himself to a life of giving back to those in need. He left $1.1 billion to the Daniels Fund upon his death in 2000, formally establishing the foundation.

The Daniels Fund distributed more than $63.8 million through nonprofit grants and student scholarships in 2022, according to a February news release. The foundation has donated more than a billion dollars to date through scholarships and grants.
In light of yet another shooting at East High School, the topic of school resource officers from Denver police in schools again moved front and center.

In June 2020, the Denver School Board unanimously voted to cut ties with Denver Police, following the murder of George Floyd.

But Denver Superintendent Alex Marrero told the Denver Gazette's news partners Chalkbeat Colorado Wednesday he will have an armed officer at each of the districts comprehensive high schools  a step that he acknowledges likely violates school board policy.

In a letter Marrero sent to school board members Wednesday, several hours after a student allegedly shot two deans at the school, he wrote that he is committing to having an armed officer at each comprehensive high school.

The Board of Education agreed late Wednesday.

"The Board of Education supports the decision of Superintendent Marrero to work in partnership with local law enforcement to create safer learning spaces across Denver Public Schools for the remainder of this school year," according to a statement. "In addition we will continue to work collaboratively with our community partners including law enforcement and our local & state legislature to make our community safer."

After the February shooting death of East High student Luis Garcia, 16,  who was shot in the head while he sitting in his car on the school campus students appeared before the Denver City Council to ask them to return SROs to Denver Public Schools. On March 4, they marched from the school to the state capitol to rally, remember Garcia and urge legislators to do something about the gun violence in schools.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock minced no words late Wednesday.

Following the shootings at East High School today, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero and I jointly agree that the safety of students and the public require deployment of police officers assigned to the high school for the remainder of the school year," Hancock wrote in an email statement. "I encouraged and strongly support the Superintendents decision to bring police officers back to DPS high schools, and Ive directed Chief (Ron) Thomas to support this effort and deploy our officers accordingly in coordination with the school district.

Students the Denver Gazette talked to Wednesday re-iterated the call for cops in schools.

Jack R., senior: "I think the withdrawal a few years ago was a huge mistake. I knew it would lead to something like this and sure enough, it did."

He said he supports the presence of Denver police in the public schools because "it'll discourage possible criminals from doing what they're doing. It's just an open frenzy if you don't see any security here."

Alex, a junior who was standing with Jack, did not want to give last name: "I don't necessarily agree with it. I think it's more complex. Although our school had a relatively good history with SROs, many other schools did not. It's a district-wide decision that doesn't just affect our school, so I don't really know if I'm for them or not."

It's been a topic among Denver mayoral candidates on the campaign trail.

Though the issue of bringing school resource officers back into Denver Public Schools did not come up during a March 9 forum itself, the idea is a bit of an elephant in the room. Several of Denver's mayoral candidates support bringing them back, but former State Sen. Mike Johnston said he wants the decision to be up to individual schools. Sen. Chris Hansen agreed, but also highlighted his positive experience with SROs at George Washington High School.

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"My experience of that at GW, and through my son, was that there were some really positive attributes to it," he said. "Students felt like they had somebody they could go to and quietly say 'I think there's gonna be a fight after school, this kid's got a knife and we think this kid's got a gun.' You have a chance for that SRO to really help improve safety in schools."

Candidate Andy Rougeot tweeted Wednesday after the shooting: If the Denver Public Schools Board of Education doesnt act on returning school resource officers to schools, then I will post a police officer outside every high school campus in a position as close to the school as legally allowed as mayor.

A check of other metro Denver area school districts showed widespread use of officers in schools.

Cherry Creek School District has armed SROs and district security coordinators at every high school, spokeswoman Lauren Snell wrote in an email to The Denver Gazette. SROs patrol and support elementary and middle schools.

Exterior doors in elementary and middle schools, too, remain locked at all times, Snell said, requiring anyone entering to be buzzed in and report to the office. The district is also in the process of installing secure vestibules in all elementary and middle schools where visitors can conduct business without being given access to the campus.

In addition to armed officers and additional security measures, Cherry Creek classrooms have a RedBag that contains life-saving first aid supplies as well as a communication tool that provides information with a QR code students can scan during a lockdown emergency.

Believed to be the first in the country, Cherry Creek officials have called the RedBag a game changer that addresses the physical and psychological safety needs of students and teachers.

The Aurora Joint School District has armed SROs at its five traditional high schools, which can have upwards of 2,000 students, said Corey Christiansen, a district spokesperson. The high schools also have what the district calls campus safety officers. The smaller magnet high schools do not.

Its really just about size, Christiansen said of the SRO placement.

In 2014, the Aurora district reworked its relationship with the police department to better identify the responsibility of law enforcement and staff.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests across the U.S. in 2020, Aurora Superintendent D. Rico Munn talked about this work, memorialized in a Memorandum of Understanding with Aurora Police.

Senior members of each team met together to discuss and understand which student behaviors should be addressed as educational matters and which were police matters, Munn wrote in 2020.

Some of the visible outcomes of the new approach resulted in removing police vehicles from high school entrances, Munn has said.

The Denver Gazette also reached out to officials at Adams 12 School District, Douglas County School District and JeffCo Public Schools, who did not respond to phone calls and emails seeking comment on their SRO policies.

It is unknown how many districts across Colorado use SROs to address security issues. The state does not keep data on this, said Jeremy Meyer, a Colorado Department of Education spokesperson.
The Museum of the Futures newest showcase, the OSS Hope Simulator from SAP, has been unveiled, providing an immersive experience where one can see how todays technologies can be leveraged to sustain a future space station.

The launch was part of the SAP NOW event held at the museum, which explored the future of innovation, sustainability and digital transformation.

The new exhibit is the result of a strategic partnership announced between the Museum of the Future and SAP in the past year. This was one of a series of partnership agreements the museum established in order to be a key laboratory for entities from all around the world and to be able to generate futuristic and innovative technological solutions that address humanitys greatest challenges.

Power to transform

The OSS Hope Simulator from SAP is situated on the Tomorrow Today floor of the museum, a dedicated space featuring near-future technologies that have the power to transform and change the way we live. The simulator presents visitors with various scenarios that will have an impact on the Orbital Space Station (OSS) Hope, a space structure redirecting solar energy to power earth by 2071, as conceptualised by the museum.

The space station is constantly working towards maximising its resources and, therefore, it is crucial to sustainably balance energy, materials, and opportunities for all the inhabitants, and for the station itself. Guided by an AI assistant, visitors playing on one of the three available gaming stations encounter challenges that use existing SAP technologies and solutions to reduce emissions, waste, and inequalities to zero and thereby make OSS Hope an even more sustainable vision.

Majed Al Mansoori, Deputy Executive Director at MOTF, said: Our partnership with SAP reinforces the importance of the Museum's role as a global testing platform for the latest technologies and innovations of the future, and a centre for international partnerships aimed at developing new solutions to the most pressing challenges facing humanity in the years and decades to come.

Innovative experiences

He added: "Museum of the Future aims to design innovative experiences and solutions that support the progression of societies in line with the vision that humanity is at the heart of future aspirations, and that pioneering technology plays an essential role in creating new opportunities that guarantee a better future for generations to come."

Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, SAP Middle East Africa South, said: "While SAP helps organisations of various capacities to run better, the OSS Hope Simulator provides us with the opportunity to directly engage with individuals of all ages to showcase how innovation can enable a more sustainable and brighter future. In addition, the installation sheds light on SAP's solutions that support its sustainability goals, highlighting the synergy between humans and technology and reinforcing our belief that selecting optimal solutions for a sustainable future requires human compassion combined with data-driven insights. Ultimately, it acknowledges that technology can help address some of the most profound environmental, economic, and social challenges of our time."

As part of the installation, the simulator includes a Wall of Knowledge that explains how the various solutions and technologies used by SAP operate. Once players have chosen from the various courses of action presented in the simulated challenges, they can view SAPs global use cases to find out about current applications of that specific solution. There are a total of eight solutions used in the SAP simulation including blockchain, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, hyper-automation, and digital twins.

Zero emissions

Maccotta pointed out that with the simulators focus on zero emissions, zero waste and zero inequality, it was fitting that it was launched during the UAEs Year of Sustainability, and the year in which COP28 will be held in Dubai. He added that the UAE governments focus on sustainability has led to a ripple effect seen across all industries, according to a new survey released by SAP.

Sustainability linked to business success

A recent SAP-commissioned survey shows that the overwhelming majority of companies in the UAE are fully aligned on the importance of sustainability including the role it plays in the future success of their business, Maccotta said.

Businesses are facing pressure from customers and partners to demonstrate sustainable practices, and the survey shows that it is being driven internally too, as the financial value of sustainability is increasingly recognised.

According to Maccotta, the new YouGov survey commissioned by SAP indicated that 96% of UAE companies recognised the importance of sustainability as a business objective, with 52% describing it as vital to their success. Similarly, 94% of IT decision makers surveyed stated that their organisations financial performance and sustainability strategies would be connected in the coming 12 months, with 36% stating they would be intrinsically connected.

Supply chains

When IT decision-makers were asked about their companies specific sustainability goals in the next 18 months, the most cited goal was addressing sustainability in supply chains (65%), closely followed by reducing waste (62%), and reducing carbon emissions (53%).

Alongside sustainability, the survey showed that companies in the UAE are also overwhelmingly focused on digital transformation. A total of 89% of companies are planning to invest further in digital transformation cloud solutions and services in the coming 18 months. In addition, 95% of respondents stated that technology and innovation was important to the success of their sustainability strategy.

The survey findings are encouraging as they show businesses are recognising the vital role that technology plays in sustainability. At SAP, we are always focused on sustainability as we create solutions, whether it is designing business process applications or the OSS Hope Simulator from SAP unveiled today, Maccotta said.

The survey results also demonstrate broad support for SAPs conviction that digital transformation is key to sustainability. Businesses in the UAE realise that cloud computing is far more efficient than on-premise solutions in terms of carbon emissions and energy consumption, while technology is also indispensable in tracking and managing sustainability efforts, Maccotta concluded.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education Thursday voted unanimously to suspend its ban on armed school resource officers on school campuses and directed the superintendent to devise a long-term safety plan before the end of June.

Part of Thursdays directive instructs Superintendent Alex Marrero to ensure teachers and staff are not using armed police for discipline issues that arise in the classroom.

I believe that theres been a societal failure, Board President Xochitl Gaytan said during a news conference Thursday.

Gaytan added: For us to incur the death of a student is not OK.

The news conference followed an emergency executive session for the board to discuss the East High School shooting Wednesday in which two administrators were shot.

The administrators  Jerald Mason, who was discharged from Denver Health, and Eric Sinclair, who is still hospitalized following surgery  were conducting a pat down of the suspected shooter for weapons under the schools safe plan when they were shot.

Carry the fear of potential violence

In the wake of the shooting, Marrero said he would place armed officers at each of the districts comprehensive high schools through the end of the academic year.

The boards action Thursday supported this decision.

In June 2020, the DPS board unanimously voted to cut ties with Denver Police, following the public outcry and nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

Classes have been suspended through the end of the week.

In order to help process the violence, officials are holding a mental health day for students and staff Friday, according to a districtwide email sent from the superintendents office.

No student or employee should have to carry the fear of potential violence when they walk into our buildings each day, Marrero said in the email to parents.

The district will provide food pick-up locations and support to families who need extended care.

Continue to be our policy

After a marathon executive session that stretched more than four hours, DPS officials limited media questions to about 20 minutes, leaving many questions unanswered.

Officials did not provide a medical update on the wounded administrators.

Nor would they say how many students  like 17-year-old accused shooter Austin Lyle  require daily pat downs for weapons.

Marrero defended the weapon search by administrators, saying it was a common practice in the U.S. Police officers, Marrero added, cannot search a student without probable cause, but school officials can do so with parental consent.

That will continue to be our policy, Marrero said.

The removal of school resource officers (SRO) is the subject of hot debate with communities of color with a negative history with police opposed to the return. Board members Thursday defended the move and the suggestion they had "flip-flopped" on the issue.

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Gaytan, who has a 15-year-old who attends a DPS school, held back tears as she spoke and wondered aloud what more could have done to support Lyle.

And she spoke about her own fears.

The emotion comes because many of us sitting before you are parents with students in the district, Gaytan said.

Its not a retirement job

Denver Police Officer Francisco Alba was on the East High campus Wednesday morning responding to separate issue when he heard shots ring out.

Alba, who served as an SRO for 16 years, said he helped place Mason and Sinclair on a stretcher.

He applauded the move to return SROs to the classroom, but expressed concern about the boards narrow directive related to that which officers should respond.

One student and one adult is far too many when were dealing with our kids, our treasure, Alba said.

And he challenged an outdated view that officers come into schools to coast into retirement.

Its not a retirement job, Alba said. There are officers that want to be in school.

In 2020, Alba received a regional service award from the National Association for School Resource Officers for going above and beyond as an SRO. He is expected to help DPS on campus through the end of the school year.

The root issue

Wednesday marked the second shooting in six weeks at East High School. Hundreds of students Thursday took to the capitol to demand action, as they did just three weeks ago.

Parents, too, questioned whether school administrators were doing enough to protect students.

Why have we charged underpaid educators with being police officers, said Dr. Lynsee Hudson Lang, a neurologist whose son is a sophomore at East High School.

Lang was among a handful of parents who attended the executive session, hoping to get answers.

Were failing if we cant just get the framework and architect for a safe learning environment, Lang said.

Steve Katsaros, who also has a sophomore at East High and attended the executive session, said he would purchase and donate a dozen metal detectors to the district.

It is unclear whether district officials have seriously entertained the idea.

Clara Taub, a 16-year-old East High sophomore who attended the news conference Thursday, said she opposed metal detectors on campus.

That doesnt get down to the root issue of access to guns, Taub said.
Mayoral candidate Wayne Williams did not violate city campaign code by partially depicting Colorado Springs Fire Department personnel, equipment and facilities in three versions of a campaign ad he is airing, city officials announced Friday evening.

"Following a review conducted by the City Clerk's Office and the Human Resources Department, reasonable grounds do not exist to establish a violation of city code  or initiate enforcement action in municipal court," a city news release states.

In a complaint filed Wednesday with the City Attorney's Office, nonpartisan resident group Integrity Matters claimed Williams violated city code by partially depicting Colorado Springs Fire Department personnel, equipment and facilities in 6-second, 15-second and 30-second versions of a campaign ad he is airing on Facebook.

The complaint alleged Williams' ad "unethically ties his campaign to city resources and gives the appearance (the Colorado Springs Fire Department), which is a city department, is in support of his campaign."

The group said it believed Williams violated a section of city code prohibiting the use of "city resources to support or oppose, directly or indirectly, a person running for office, the retention of a person who is the subject of a recall election, or an election issue."

The city on Friday disagreed.

"The review found that no city resources were used to film the equipment, personnel, buildings or logos of the Colorado Springs Fire Department contained in the advertisement," the release said.

Williams said Friday the city's decision vindicates claims he made this week that the ad did not violate city code.

"I appreciate the quick and thorough review of the allegations. As I said, my campaign contacted the Fire Department and followed the instructions we were given. I'm glad to have the opportunity now to focus on the issues of the campaign and my support for public safety, transportation and infrastructure, and economic vitality," he said.

Williams said he also was "gratified by the support of" the Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 5, "but that is absolutely in their independent capacity."

Integrity Matters President John Pitchford said Friday evening he believed the city employees conducting the investigation ruled in Williams' favor out of fear of retaliation.

"These people are afraid to go up against Wayne Williams because they're afraid he's going to be their next employer," Pitchford said.

Williams said the claim was "without merit."

Concerned about a possible conflict of interest, Integrity Matters on Friday morning called for an independent investigation into their complaint. City Attorney Wynetta Massey's office oversaw the investigation conducted by City Clerk Sarah Johnson and the Human Resources Department, and both Massey and Johnson report to Mayor John Suthers, who has endorsed Williams in his run for mayor.

The group called on the Colorado secretary of state and attorney general to assist in the matter.

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Neither the City Attorney's nor City Clerk's offices immediately responded to The Gazette's requests for more information, including whether the city would honor the group's request.

Colorado Secretary of State spokesman Jack Todd said in an email that because Colorado Springs is a home-rule charter city, the secretary of state "would have no jurisdiction over a case such as this."

The state Attorney General's Office did not immediately respond to The Gazette's request for more information.

Pitchford said Friday Integrity Matters should continue demanding an independent investigation into their complaint. He questioned why Williams was allowed to depict Colorado Springs fire personnel, equipment and facilities while another mayoral candidate's similar request was denied.

"This discrepancy between two outcomes  both are running for mayor, one gets special privilege while the other gets denied. Of course, it needs to be investigated," Pitchford said.

Sallie Clark also is running an ad that partially depicts firetrucks, firefighting equipment and a firehouse, though no logos are clearly visible.

She said this week she used stock footage and photos, including one depicting fire equipment from a South Carolina town, after she reached out to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, which told her she could not film in front of the fire museum located at 375 Printers Parkway.

In a Feb. 7 email to Clark, obtained by The Gazette, the Fire Department's deputy chief of support services, Steve Dubay, referred to the same section of city code regarding use of city resources to campaign.

A monument sign for the fire museum is partially depicted in all three versions of Williams' ad.

In a statement he gave to investigators, Williams' campaign manager Ryan Lynch said the team "went out of our way" to contact the Fire Department "to make sure that we were in bounds." Lynch also said he had an attorney review the ad before it aired.

"All of our shots were from the street area and (rights of way)," Lynch told investigators.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Mike Smaldino told investigators he denied the request from the Williams' campaign to film indoors at the fire museum, but told them "they could only film in areas that could be accessed by the public and from the public view."

Integrity Matters group members said this week they believed the areas Williams' team accessed to film footage were on Fire Department training center grounds owned by the city.
The Colorado Springs City Council tweaked and approved a controversial water ordinance Tuesday that will benefit existing developers within the city and could block large annexations planning to build new neighborhoods.

The updated ordinance will require Colorado Springs Utilities to have 128% of the water necessary to serve existing city demand and the projected demand from new properties. Two weeks ago, the City Council backed a 130% water standard. The slightly lower buffer would allow the city to annex 8,500 homes, up from 4,200 homes, said Abby Ortega, general manager of planning.

The council also committed to study regional water needs more holistically. Numerous neighborhoods in El Paso County rely on diminishing groundwater and may need water from Colorado Springs Utilities in the future.

The lower buffer passed on a 6-3 vote after extensive testimony on both sides of the issue. Many who testified pointed out the need to protect the city during the Colorado River's megadrought and how it could push up the price of housing and force more building out into the county on diminishing groundwater. Councilmembers Dave Donelson, Bill Murray and Mike O'Malley voted against the ordinance.

Mayor John Suthers backed the water rule, saying it addresses questions about water availability residents constantly ask him.

"Our citizens want a clear message that we are looking out for them, that we know how much water we have, we know how much water we are using and we are going to maintain a buffer between the two," Suthers said.

Suthers explained a proposed annexation of 3,200 acres east of Fountain, known as Amara, prompted Colorado Springs Utilities to look more closely at how many people it can serve. He believed based on statements by Utilities leadership it could serve 800,000 when a pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir was complete. Utilities told him and others it can serve 670,000 people now.

"That was a huge wake-up call," he said.

The new estimate prompted Norwood Development Group, the most powerful developer in town, to float the idea of asking voters to adopt a more restrictive water rule.

Norwood's measure would have required Colorado Springs Utilities to have enough water, an estimated 125,000 to 130,000 acre-feet, for the properties within the city to develop before allowing annexations, a measure that could block the city from adding property for 20 to 30 years, Suthers said. The proposal would prioritize water service to developments within the city  including the 18,000 acres in Banning Lewis Ranch owned by Norwood on the eastern edge of town.

"Did I have some difficult conversations with Norwood? You bet," Suthers told the council.

Donelson successfully proposed reducing the water buffer Utilities must provide from 130% to 128%, noting that the Housing and Building Association asked for a lower standard. He was also among those who called for more time to better understand the implications of the rule and how it could drive up the cost of housing.

He called it "too big of a decision to run into at the prodding of one developer."

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Former El Paso County Planning Director Craig Dossey said the county's planning efforts, including the city's intergovernmental agreement with the county, was intended to guide dense neighborhoods to annexing into the city to help prevent neighborhoods from relying on groundwater.

"It is a dire outlook when you are talking about water providers in the county," said Dossey, president of Vertex Consulting Services, a Colorado Springs-based planning and land development company.

The Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority was set up to work on some regional groundwater concerns and reuse plans. For example, Colorado Springs Utilities, Monument and six groundwater districts started work last year to see if they could reuse groundwater. Instead of using groundwater once, treating it and then allowing it to flow into local creeks, the group planned to study if the water could be captured downstream and used again.

Acting Utilities CEO Travas Deal said the new rule could help in discussions with regional water providers, such as those in the authority.

"If you want to bring people to the table, you have to have something to start with," he said.

Several critics noted the starting point does not need to be an adopted ordinance.

The council also seriously considered delaying a vote on the rule until September, proposed by Councilwoman Nancy Henjum.

Henjum, who voted for the water rule two weeks ago, proposed the delay to form a regional water task force in March that could deliver recommendations by September.

The task force had broad support, but a delay did not. Henjum could have forced the delay as the swing vote, but voted against her own motion to delay.

She said she leaned on the recommendation from Utilities' to adopt the new water buffer in her decision.

However, she also expected a new task force to drive "a regional collaborative conversation."

The council did not commit to a date to setting up a new task force and in April the city will have a new mayor and four new city councilmembers, who often face a steep learning curve.
Longinos Gonzalez, a candidate for Colorado Springs mayor, has filed an ethics complaint against opponent Wayne Williams related to the City Council's recent approval of a controversial water rule.

But it was unclear Thursday if the city would investigate the complaint. Gonzalez, an El Paso County commissioner, first presented his concerns Wednesday in front of the Colorado Springs Utilities board rather than confidentially filing his objection with the city as required by city code.

Gonzalez raised concerns Wednesday that Williams had been aware, before the water rule was first proposed to the Springs Utilities board Oct. 19, that Norwood Development Group, the most powerful developer in town, had floated the idea of asking voters to adopt a more restrictive water rule. Williams is a Colorado Springs councilman and chairs the Springs Utilities Board of Directors.

In January when the City Council  which is also the Springs Utilities board  voted to approve the rule requiring Colorado Springs Utilities to have 128% of the water needed to serve existing city demand and the projected demand from new properties, Williams voted in favor of it.

"I believe as chair, Mr. Williams needs to hold himself at a higher level of ethics at these board meetings and he failed to do so," Gonzalez said. "Why was that comment not made public? That is lack of transparency."

Gonzalez told The Gazette in an interview this week he believed Williams purposefully withheld information from residents in October about Norwood's plans to attempt a voter-approved charter change, allegedly violating city ethics by creating the appearance of impropriety.

Norwood has also donated heavily to Williams' mayoral campaign, he said. An independent analysis by The Gazette of campaign finance records through March 15 showed Norwood and people associated with the company have given Williams $11,000.

Gonzalez filed the complaint with the city Thursday morning, he said. He requested the city's Independent Ethics Commission investigate whether Williams was aware of Norwood's plan to go to voters and, if so, why Williams did not disclose that information publicly on Oct. 19.

City code states the commission can dismiss complaints if "the complaining party failed to file the complaint confidentially as required by the Commission's Rules of Procedure."

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The city did not confirm Thursday whether officials received or would look into the formal complaint. Spokesman Max D'Onofrio said all ethics commission complaints are confidential.

Colorado Springs Utilities spokeswoman Jamie Fabos said Wednesday Springs Utilities doesn't plan to investigate the matter.

On Thursday, Williams denied claims of impropriety and said no ethics violations occurred.

"The ordinance that was proposed by Norwood was not the ordinance that we were discussing," Williams said. "The ordinance we were discussing is the ordinance that Colorado Springs Utilities' professional staff recommended."

The Utilities-recommended rule the City Council ultimately passed 6-3 in late January had immediate impact. For example, it will likely block the pending annexation of a 3,200-acre development east of Fountain called Amara, proposed by La Plata Communities, the company that developed most of Briargate.

"The fact that the county land speculators who are backing Longinos' campaign opposed that (ordinance) does not make it a legitimate purpose for city resources to be used on, and its sad that he is trying to use city procedures to prop up his failed campaign," Williams said.

The Gazette's analysis of campaign finance donations through March 15 show La Plata and people associated with it have donated $2,500 to Gonzalez's campaign and about $7,500 total to Williams. But their donations to both candidates came in 2022, before the water rule passed.

Ron Johnson, CEO of Central Bancorp with ties to Kane Ranch in Fountain, and The O'Neil Group, with ties to the Norris Ranch project at Curtis and Bradley roads seeking annexation into the city, also donated to Gonzalez's campaign, campaign finance records show. Both were opposed to the water rule. Johnson has donated $2,500 and The O'Neil Group has given Gonzalez $10,000.

Gonzalez said Thursday he is hopeful the city will consider his request.

"My hope is that regardless of the way it was submitted or relayed that it still be investigated. They should investigate every valid ethics complaint," he said.
When the most recent shooting to rock the East High School community unfolded, it was reportedly while school administrators carried out the daily task of searching a 17-year-old boy for weapons. The searches were required of him as part of the students individualized safe plan, Denver police said.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday, staff did discover a firearm on the student, police said. A shooting unfolded, sending two administrators to the hospital as the boy fled. Hours later, law enforcement authorities confirmed they discovered the teenagers car and body in Park County.

Questions remain about why the student  identified by police as 17-year-old Austin Lyle  was on a safety plan. The district will not disclose details of specific students safety plans because they are protected by federal law, Denver Public Schools spokesperson Rachel Childress said in an email.

The shooting also brought attention to the overall practice of safety plans as well. A representative of the districts security team was not immediately available for an interview about safety plans because DPS was focusing on addressing student and faculty welfare in the shootings aftermath, Childress said.

Generally, safety plans are one tool administrators can use to address a variety of behavioral concerns or incidents regarding students and families, Childress said.

The district declined to provide specific examples of how the plans might be implemented, or why, due to the broad range in these plans and the individualization of each plan towards each circumstance and student.

Each safety plan is unique, according to a statement Childress provided.

The Cherry Creek School District confirmed Lyle was previously a district student but was removed from Overland High School in Aurora for alleged violations of board policy, Denver Gazette news partner 9News learned. District spokesperson Ashley Verville said via email the district will not disclose any additional information about his past enrollment, citing the family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Verville confirmed the district has students placed on safety plans but declined to provide further information about the districts use of safety plans.

When a student transfers to another district, their education records transfer as well, Verville said, when asked if a receiving school is made aware of new students disciplinary history.

For another metro area district, safety plans are used and also vary by student and by whatever behaviors the plans are meant to address.

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Kimberly Eloe, executive director of communications for Jeffco Public Schools, said via email that no one with the district was available for an interview regarding the use of safety plans because schools are on spring break.

Student searches can be, and are, one component of our safety plans when appropriate and necessary, the spokespersons email said.

When the district decides searches are necessary because they suspect a student may have a weapon, an armed school resource officer and law enforcement agency conduct the search.

Jeffco Public Schools is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We understand students learn best when they can attend classes in a secure and welcoming environment, Eloe wrote.

In all, the districts security staff is comprised of more than 145 people  an executive director of the Department of School Safety, 75 campus supervisors, emergency dispatchers, officers, a director of safe school environments, threat management professionals and emergency managers, among other security staff.

The district stations officers at each middle and high school, and 25 armed officers patrol the districts schools 24/7. School resource officers work with each high school and many of our middle schools, the spokesperson said.

All elementary and middle schools use fully secured access points, which means guests at the school must be admitted through a single entrance and people cannot access the building through other doors.

The district has also nearly completed installing secure vestibule entrances at each school. This allows staff to let people into a secure holding entrance while they determine why someone has come to campus. If someone has only come to deliver a package, for example, they can do so without ever fully accessing the school building.

The DPS Board of Education held a special meeting on Thursday to address school security as the East High School community pleaded for leadership to heighten school safety.

The board voted unanimously to pause a policy that prevented the superintendent from allowing armed officers to be at DPS schools. The board had voted unanimously to cut ties with Denver police in June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police.
On the same day the El Paso County coroner identified 17-year-old Doherty High School student Giorgia Trocciola as the victim in a fatal auto-pedestrian crash near the school Wednesday, District 11 announced that a school zone will be installed where the student was struck.

Trocciola was in a crosswalk crossing Barnes Road in front of Doherty High School around 7:20 a.m. Wednesday when a vehicle entered the intersection on a red light and hit her, according to a preliminary investigation by the Colorado Springs Police Department.

According to police, Trocciola died on the scene . She was a exchange student from Italy, school officials said.

City employees at a news conference Thursday said crews will install a school zone with signs and flashers at Doherty High School, but a timeline has not yet been established. The city's practice has been to not install school zones around high schools, according to city traffic engineer Todd Frisbie. For elementary and middle schools, school zones are typically posted in areas with speed limits over 30 mph.

Frisbie said Colorado Springs will review its practice of school zones around high schools across the city and determine whether more are needed. There have been recent conversations around school zones at high schools, but Wednesday's tragedy is what brought about the official decision.

"When such a tragedy happens, I'm grateful that the city was able to quickly respond and provide," school board president Parth Melpakam said. "What we want is a safe passage for out students to and from school and to make sure that when they walk those sidewalks, crosswalks and streets that they are safe and protected."

Police have not released what led up to the crash, and it is too early to say if speed or other factors contributed to the collision, but alcohol is not suspected to be a factor, police said. The driver of the involved vehicle stayed on the scene.

Any possible citations for the driver are part of the ongoing investigation and will be determined at a later date, according to Robert Tornabene, a spokesman with Colorado Springs police. Officials at Thursday's news conference said the driver was a passerby and not someone going to or coming from the high school.

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Doherty High School was closed Wednesday, but reopened Thursday. Therapy dogs and additional grief counselors are available to students, according to a spokesperson for District 11.

A petition started after news of the crash broke Wednesday is calling for a pedestrian bridge to be built over Barnes Road for Doherty High School students to safely cross. The petition had nearly 2,500 signatures since Wednesday.

"Parents shouldn't be burying their children! Children should feel safe going to school! Our community demands immediate action from the City of Colorado Springs and School District 11!" wrote petition creator Jennifer Arey.

Trocciola's death marks the 12th traffic fatality in Colorado Springs this year. There were five traffic deaths at this time last year.

All of the district's high schools were built in the 1970s and '80s when Colorado Springs was "predominantly a boundary system," according to Superintendent Michael Gaal. Most students went to their neighborhood school, meaning fewer had to commute to school by car.

Today, more than 25% of D-11's high school students are attending by choice, meaning they attend a high school outside of their neighborhood. The traffic flow is much different than when the schools opened, Gaal said, so it is time also to consider sequencing of lights and entry and exit into parking lots.

"We have the technology. We have the resources. We have the means," Gaal said. "We will build on this opportunity in partnership as a community to ensure that all schools, not just District 11, but all schools within our county and our region are afforded the opportunity to know that they can get to and from school in a safe way."

This story was updated with information from a news conference at 3 p.m. Thursday at Doherty High School.
On Thursday, following the shooting at East High School, students, staff and parents from schools across Denver gathered outside the Colorado Capitol.

Hundreds of people swarmed the doors into the Capitol toting T-shirts demanding action or showing the East High School logo and signs with pleas to end gun violence.

With two shootings in six weeks at their high school, students practically begged lawmakers with signs and chants to make changes so they can feel safe .

East High School junior Ella Bygrave has an extended spring break due to Wednesdays shooting. After the shooting death of Luis Garcia, 16, outside her school in February, Ella said she was scared it was getting too close to being inside her school.

On Wednesday, that happened.

Denver police allege Austin Lyle, 17, shot Jerald Mason, restorative practice coordinator, and Eric Sinclair, dean of culture, as they searched him.

Weve had four incidents this year with a false report of a shooting, then a shooting outside the school, then a shooting inside the school, Bygrave said. It just feels like its getting progressively more dangerous despite our protests.

School resource officers presence may be helpful for now, but something else needs to change to have a long-term solution, Bygrave said.

I dont think SROs or police in schools is the best solution in the long run, but I think at least for the moment, with everything going on, some safety measures like that need to be taken, Bygrave said.

Ella Bygraves mother, Rachel Bygrave, teaches preschoolers at Bryant- Webster Elementary School and is scared for her teenage daughter and young students.

After the last shooting, Ella said it was too close to being inside the building. Well, now its inside the building, so something needs to change with both gun violence and school safety, Rachel Bygrave said.

Parent Amy Andrews-Mcmaster, whose son is a sophomore at East High School, said shes considering other options for educating her son as East High School seems less and less safe.

Talking gets exhausting when no action is being taken, Andrews-Mcmaster said.

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Andrews-Mcmasters son told her his teacher at East High School had a tally on the board for how many days it had been since the last incident. On Wednesday, when the shooting happened, it had only been nine days, she said.

It feels terrible to send my son to school, Andrews-Mcmaster said. It feels powerless because theres nothing we can do or say.

The protest Thursday wasnt just about East High School, but rather about every school in the country and gun violence as a whole, Andrews- Mcmaster said.

We have a gun epidemic going on in this country and were talking about the outer things here but really the inner problems need to change, Andrews-Mcmaster said. What can we do about mental health? What can we do about the fact that there are more guns than people in this country? Its a systemic problem.

Students from various other high schools across Denver attended the protest in support of their cross-city peers.

Yom Kuchdal, 14, came to the protest from Denver South High School to fight for the safety of her peers and herself.

It can be dangerous to protest gun violence and could put students at further risk, but they dont know what else to do to create real change, Kuchdal said.

Were going to school to get our education and instead we dont know if someone with a gun will take our lives, Kuchdal said. Something needs to change and I dont think adding police to schools will help anything at all.

Yocabed Smith, 15, from Denver South High School voiced frustration with the government and came to the Capitol to make that clear.

How am I supposed to feel safe in my school when 10 minutes away there are gun shots? Smith said. Deans and teachers and students are being shot and the government isnt doing anything about it, so it seems like we need to.

The protest crowd slowly flooded the inside of the Capitol with a sea of red East High School shirts, filling in the senate gallery seats, stopping lawmakers in passing to talk about school safety and writing notes to pass to lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

Im here because school should be a safe place for people to learn and the fact that this keeps happening and nobodys doing anything about it is ridiculous, West High School freshman Dejane Duran, 14, said.
Cummins Arabia, a global power technology leader, has signed a MoU with OWS Automotive for joint collaboration on defence service applications.

This collaboration follows the participation of both firms at IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi and aims to explore powertrain solutions and technical support for defense end-users, with a focus on identifying viable and mutually beneficial business opportunities within the Middle East, said the company in a statement.

The partnership will leverage OWS's expertise in civilian and defense service solutions and Cummins Arabia's commitment to sustainability and innovation to develop high-quality solutions for defense end-users.

The companies will work together to analyse available defense fleet information, develop feasibility studies, and plan exercises to jointly develop a business case for the establishment of powertrain product solutions and post-installation technical services.

Oweis Zahran, CEO of OWS, stated: "We are excited to collaborate with Cummins Arabia in exploring opportunities to develop innovative solutions for defense service applications. Our joint efforts will support the region's evolving needs and reinforce our position as a leading provider of automotive solutions."

Ian Norton, Operations Director at Cummins Arabia, commented: "As a company committed to sustainability and innovation that has been serving the defense industry for over a hundred years, we are eager to expand our operations in the Middle East. We'll closely work alongside OWS to identify opportunities to serve our defense users with high quality solutions leveraging Cummins' expertise in powertrain."

Furthermore, this collaboration reinforces the importance of strategic partnerships in the automotive industry, particularly in the defense sector, where reliability and sustainability are critical. The MoU serves as a framework for the cooperation between the two companies, enabling them to work together to achieve common goals and explore new avenues for growth.TradeArabia News Service
EDGE Group said it key entity Gradeone has been appointed as an official channel partner of Indias Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in the UAE market.

A defence trading specialist, Gradeone is involved in manufacturing of non-lethal pyrotechnics, ammunition, defence-related components and packing solutions

BDL is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Defence, Government of India, which has state-of-the-art facilities for the manufacture and supply of guided missiles, underwater weapons, airborne products and allied defence equipment for the Indian Armed Forces.

The handing over of the authorisation letter occurred during the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) held in Abu Dhabi from February 20 to 24.

Gradeone Managing Director Khalifa Al Ali said: As we continue to develop our scope of defence trading capabilities within EDGE Group, we are proud to partner with BDL, a well-established manufacturer of high technology weapon systems for the Indian Armed Forces and international clients."

"By developing successful partnerships and capitalizing on our trading proficiency, GRADEONE has the privilege of broadening the UAE supply chain and strengthening in-country defence capabilities and components, he added.

Commodore Girish Raghunath Pradhan (Retd), Executive Director of BDL, said: "BDL is delighted to be collaborating with Gradeone, as well as contribute to the UAE defence sector by providing our trusted products to the region. We are proud to call Gradeone, an outstanding provider of defence trading solutions, our UAE regional representative.''

Established in 2004, Gradeone specialises in defence trading and services and providing various solutions to the military and defence sectors, including army, special forces, navy, air force, law enforcement, and search and rescue services.-TradeArabia News Service
An Adams County judge should not have denied a defendant's challenge to his convictions because he neglected to sign the bottom of his legal motion, Colorado's Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday.

Uto Essien has filed multiple rounds of claims to protest his 2009 convictions and three-decade prison sentence for crimes related to mortgage fraud. Specifically, he argued that he failed to receive effective assistance of counsel. A trial judge held a hearing in 2014 and denied Essien relief, a decision that the Court of Appeals subsequently upheld.

Then in 2019, Essien filed another postconviction motion in Adams County District Court alleging the lawyer who represented him in his previous challenge was also ineffective. She did not adequately argue the theory that there was a complete breakdown in the relationship between Essien and his original trial attorney, which involved the attorney's allegedly racist and demeaning statements about Essien, he claimed.

In December 2019, in a one-page order, then-Chief Judge Emily Anderson denied Essien's petition without a hearing, noting he had failed to sign the form.

A postconviction petition "must substantially contain the information identified in Form 4 and Form 4 requires the signature of the petitioner," Anderson wrote.

But a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals disagreed with her conclusion, noting the rules of criminal procedure require defendants challenging their convictions to "substantially comply" with the court form.

Essien "did not sign the document but included all other required information. By doing so, his motion substantially complied," wrote Judge Anthony J. Navarro in the March 23 opinion. He added that even if Essien had failed to substantially comply, the solution would be to direct him to fill out the form again.

"The court could not simply deny the motion for noncompliance," Navarro explained.

The appellate panel also found Anderson had incorrectly deemed Essien's 2019 petition "successive," believing it raised claims about his trial counsel's effectiveness that the Court of Appeals had already considered and rejected.

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Essien stood trial for facilitating a multimillion-dollar scheme in which banks issued mortgages greater than the actual value of dozens of properties, but Essien and others took the excess amount for themselves. Essien had argued there was no deception because the banks were aware the loans included extra money to make repairs to the properties.

On the second day of his trial, Essien indicated he and his lawyer were not getting along and he received the judge's permission to represent himself.

Essien received a postconviction hearing to explore his allegations that he should have received a new trial lawyer given the conflict with his attorney. A trial judge said no, and the Court of Appeals agreed in 2017 that Essien failed to establish a complete breakdown in communication or the existence of a conflict that could lead to an unjust verdict. His disagreements, the appellate court determined, were over "trial strategy."

Essien's new petition in 2019 raised an additional claim about his trial lawyer's ineffectiveness, but also five new claims that his postconviction attorney had given him constitutionally-deficient representation at the hearing.

The postconviction lawyer allegedly neglected to challenge the trial lawyer's shifting explanations for his decisions, nor did she present evidence that Essien's original lawyer called him guilty prior to trial and said, "you Nigerians are known for doing crooked things."

The Court of Appeals noted those allegations from Essien had yet to be explored, so Anderson was incorrect to deny the petition outright without a hearing. The panel declined to evaluate the merits of Essien's claims, but returned his petition to Adams County for a reconsideration of whether Essien deserves a hearing.

The case is People v. Essien.
The Air Force is postponing its long-awaited announcement whether to move the headquarters of U.S. Space Command to Alabama or keep it in Colorado while the service conducts "some additional analysis," the Air Force secretary said this week at a conference in Aurora.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said to expect a decision "fairly soon" after completion of additional review, according to a report by Military.com.

"I hoped to make a decision and make an announcement earlier," Kendall said on Tuesday at an Air and Space Force Association symposium. "We're doing some additional analysis; we want to make very sure we got this right and have a well-defended decision."

Kendall said the Air Force is conducting a "sensitivity analysis"  financial modeling that considers risks based on various scenarios  and examining whether to put a second combatant command in Colorado, which is already home to U.S. Northern Command.

The site's permanent location has been in limbo for more than two years since the surprise announcement in the waning days of the Trump administration that the headquarters would move to the Armys Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., from its temporary home at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.

Colorado lawmakers cried foul, charging that the decision was based on political rather than national security reasons and spurring the Biden administration to commence a review process that appears to be ongoing.

In late November, Gen. James Dickinson, commander of U.S. Space Command, said a final determination was imminent, but months have passed without word.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, asked Dickinson in a hearing whether a move to Alabama would delay Space Command's reaching full operational capability.

"We're on the glide path right now, moving aggressively towards full operational capability in the provisional headquarters and infrastructure that I have in Colorado Springs right now," Dickinson responded.

Lamborn and other members of Colorado's congressional delegation have argued that moving the headquarters to Huntsville will be result in unacceptable delays in bringing the command up to full throttle  as well as incur significant additional costs compared to renovating a facility at Peterson.

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That's one argument made in a letter sent on Wednesday to President Joe Biden by 94 Colorado officials, business leaders and military personnel, including Gov. Jared Polis, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, seven of the state's eight U.S. House members, legislative leadership and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers.

"Colorado is the best and only home for U.S. Space Command," the letter read. "Two years later, USSPACECOM has continued to prove its ability to ensure our national security in the space domain from Peterson Space Force Base."

Lamborn told Colorado Politics on Thursday in a written statement that he was concerned that the decision was dragging on.

Every day the Air Force continues to delay the U.S. Space Command basing decision is another day that our space forces are unable to best organize to conduct space operations," he said.

"I am eager to hear from the Air Force about how the additional analysis they claim they are doing addresses the gaps from the previous basing assessment, specifically the time it will take to reach full operational capability and the readiness challenges the Command would face should the headquarters move.

Hickenlooper said on Thursday that news about the latest delay in the decision-making process didn't change anything.

Any objective analysis will show what we've argued the last two years: that senior military leaders identified Peterson Space Force Base as their top choice for Space Commands headquarters," he said in a written statement.

"They did so because it will reach Full Operational Capability faster than any other location, cost less, and minimize attrition and disruption to the mission  all of which are critical to our national security. Instead of following that recommendation, President Trump put politics first and sent U.S. Space Command to Alabama.

"But Trump's decision isnt final. We strongly encourage the Air Force to take politics out of the process and ensure Space Command stays in Colorado Springs  the best choice for military readiness."
Hospital facility fees, according to those who oppose them, are hidden charges and unfair to consumers who get hit with those costs months after their outpatient medical treatments, and which can run into thousands of dollars. One witness likened the fees in a House committee hearing Friday to the baggage fees airlines charge.

Or those fees, according to those who support them, are "people fees," an integral part of paying for everything other than the doctor, such as nurses, x-ray technicians, laboratory technicians, reception, security, maintenance personnel, behavioral health personnel, social workers and much more.

The hearing in the House Health & Insurance Committee Friday became a conflict between those who claim the fees are a form of surprise billing, versus opponents who indicated the bill is an attack on the personnel for whom those fees pay for in an outpatient setting.

A bill to ban those fees was substantially watered down by the committee, exempting dozens of rural hospitals and Denver Health from the bill's impact, and turning the bill into a study rather than a blanket prohibition on all fees.

In a move that hasn't been previously deployed in 2023, the committee limited the hearing to an hour each for opponents and proponents, a move designed to get lawmakers back to the House to debate gun violence prevention bills. Debate on those measures is expected to last the rest of the day and possibly into Saturday.

That testimony got heated during testimony by Josh Ewing of CHA, who said there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the fees, asking: "Why the hell are we doing this?"

Ewing explained that the federal government, through Medicare, which drives how private insurance also works, dictates how these fees are billed. Doctors, who are often not employed by the clinics, are billed under one form. Other services are billed under a separate form that becomes facility fees.

"The idea that these fees are fungible or made up, is insulting and frankly inaccurate," Ewing said.

Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, responded in kind.

"You know why the hell we are doing this," he said, claiming the bill is about abuses in billing. He also questioned Ewing on what happens when a hospital facility purchases a doctor's practice, and slaps on a facility fee with no benefit to the consumer.

Ewing disputed there are abuses in the system, and said the bill would impose cuts without any data to back it up. He also apologized for his heated comments, stating the issue is very personal to him as his son recently suffered a brain injury and they're still dealing with it.

The major changes to House Bill 1215 were prompted by a major outcry from Colorado hospitals and the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA), based on concerns that banning the fees would result in financial disaster for hospitals that are still struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Consumers foot the bill for those fees when health insurers don't cover them; that's due to what's negotiated in the insurance contract with the hospital. Some insurers cover all of it, some cover part of it and some don't cover it at all.

HB 1215 is based on a model bill proposed by the National Academy for State Health Policy, which according to InfluenceWatch is a "left-of-center" organization funded by the liberal Arnold Ventures fund. So far, only Connecticut and New York have banned facility fees. In Connecticut, that ban applies only to telehealth.

Democratic Reps. Emily Sirota of Denver and Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins brought several amendments Friday, intending to tamp down the opposition from the CHA.

But that didn't work. In a statement Thursday, the CHA said it is "steadfastly opposed to the bill as introduced," calling it misguided and based on misinformation, and they continue to oppose the bill, even with the amendments.

Any cap on fees would harm access to care, the CHA said. Every major hospital system, and many that serve rural Colorado, is opposed to HB 1215.

In addition to turning the bill largely into a study, the amendments would ban facility fees for preventive care services, telehealth and primary care. The bill would retain its original language on transparency, requiring clinics to disclose those fees upfront.

The transparency piece appeared to be the only thing on which both sides agreed. The study is still up for debate as opponents said they hadn't seen the amendments before Friday's hearing.

The study would look at how some hospital systems use the fees, Sirota responded. There is a question to ask why a facility fee is being charged now when it hasn't been in the past, Boesenecker added.

What the bill would do to Craig Hospital is a concern to Rep. David Ortiz, D-Centennial. Ortiz first came to Colorado to be treated at Craig after he was paralyzed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Craig is not exempt, Sirota said, although pointing out that telehealth services offered by Craig would not be allowed to charge the fee.

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Those who support the bill pointed to large bills, sometimes in the thousands of dollars, that they did not expect.

Michael Kark's six-year-old son has serious allergies, and with a recommendation from their allergist, took his son to an outpatient psychologist at Children's. He thought the $20 copay would cover the visit, but got a $503 bill some time later.

These fees will discourage people from seeking medical care, said Dr. Nicholas Nonas, a retired family physician from Greenwood Village. That's particularly a problem for those with chronic and complex conditions which require a range of services, and the fees go way beyond what consumers pay for health insurance premiums and copays, he said.

Robert Smith, CEO of the Colorado Business Group on Health, said employers have reasons to be concerned about these fees. Colorado's fees are among the highest in the country, and twice that of independent outpatient facilities. These fees have little relation to hospital cost, and no relationship to quality, Smith said. Mostly, those fees have a strong relationship to market share, he claimed.

The only alternative to the bill is to allow hospitals to charge what the market would bear, and that's not good public policy, Smith added.

The CHA and its allies showed up in force Friday, filling the room with opponents, many wearing "facility fees pay for me" shirts.

Former Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, now the CEO of Denver Health, told the committee that facility fees do not meet the definition of surprise billing, and that in fact are required to be charged by the federal government.

Rural healthcare hospitals affiliated with the Western Healthcare Alliance and a similar coalition on the Eastern Plains remain opposed to the bill, even as amended. This bill would prevent hospitals from being paid for nursing and other care, said Jennifer Riley, CEO of Memorial Regional in Craig.

Even though rural hospitals would be exempted, Riley said the carve out shows the bill's poor design. Focus on the study, not banning the fees, even for telehealth, she said.

DeGruy Kennedy asked whether facility fees for telehealth, for example, actually go to pay for those services, or whether some of that money covers other unrelated costs. One Democratic committee member later hinted those fees become part of large bonuses paid to hospital executives.

"We lost $32 million last year, largely on the cost of labor," Lynne replied. "We're also being asked to do more in the regulatory environment," and she questioned whether that exemption in the amendment for Denver Health would last. Denver Health's losses, and that of other hospitals, will continue, Lynne said.

These fees are a real cost of doing business, said John Riley, president of the faculty practice at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He also warned that loss of revenue from the facility fees would result in a downsize of training programs and fewer physicians who want to practice in Colorado. These fees have existed for decades, he pointed out, but the trend toward high-deductible health plans are largely why those fees are now showing up in consumer bills.

This bill won't have more than a trivial impact on hospital finances, said Loren Adler, a Brookings Institute fellow who was not testifying on their behalf. Hospitals will just charge higher professional fees or higher facility fees in other areas, he said, calling it a consumer protection issue and a form of surprise billing. Adler also drew outrage from some in attendance for comparing the fees that pay for medical personnel to baggage fees charged by airlines.

Danielle Schloffman works at UC Health, was wearing one of those shirts.

"It's tough to hear, especially when you hear what nurses have done to get us through the pandemic," she said. "To be referred to as baggage is a little disheartening."

Damian McCabe, a social worker at UC Health, called Adler's comments offensive. These are "critical components" of health care, he told the committee.

McCabe said that while he supports transparency around the fees, cutting them off for telehealth ignores the "massive infrastructure" that goes into telehealth care. It isn't just the provider on the other side of the computer. "I'm not doing it from my kitchen," he said.

This is not an anti-nurse, behavioral health or medical professional bill, Boesenecker said as the hearing wrapped up.

The bill was amended as sponsors intended. The final vote was 8-3 on a party line. It now moves to the House Appropriations Committee and a rewritten fiscal analysis that will report on the study's cost.
After more than 11 hours of debate on the Senate floor, three bills seeking to bolster abortion rights in Colorado cleared the chamber on Wednesday, advancing to the House for consideration.

The bills would shield abortion patients and providers from interstate investigations, expand insurance coverage for abortion care, and prohibit what supporters call "deceptive" advertising from crisis pregnancy centers.

The bills are the first legislative action Colorado lawmakers have taken up on the subject since the Supreme Court overturned national abortion protections in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling last year. Two months prior to the ruling, state lawmakers enshrined abortion as a fundamental right with the Reproductive Health Equity Act.

Senators passed the three bills in identical votes of 22-13, with all Republicans voting "no" and all Democrats voting "yes," except for Sen. Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, who switched parties last year.

Shield from interstate investigations

Senate Bill 188 would protect abortion patients and providers giving and receiving care in Colorado from facing criminal or civil consequences from other states in which abortion is illegal.

Following the Dobbs ruling, 14 states have passed laws banning or limiting abortion, with many more currently trying to enact blocked bans.

We need this legislation to protect individuals from threats and bounties and bans that are coming forward from other states," said bill sponsor Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. Other states have no right to impose their regressive statutes on us here in our state. We know what kind of care our communities need and that freedom must be protected."

The bill builds off an executive order signed by Gov. Jared Polis in July, directing state agencies to withhold records from states that may impose criminal or civil penalties on those who receive or provide abortions in Colorado. The bill would enshrine this executive order into state law, as well as prohibit the state from recognizing criminal prosecutions or civil lawsuits regarding legally-protected abortion care.

In addition to abortion, the bill would also extend these protections to gender-affirming care received by transgender individuals. Other states have moved to ban or limit gender-affirming care, with more than 20 states considering such legislation in 2023. Gender-affirming care includes social, psychological or medical interventions, such as hormone therapy and surgical procedures.

During the Senate debate, some opponents lamented the thought of Colorado becoming a hub for interstate abortion access.

"We are signaling to the rest of the union and the rest of the world that ... Colorado will proudly end the life of any unborn child at any time during pregnancy," said Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch. "It seems to invite anyone wanting an abortion to come to our state to end the life of a child. ... It is wrong. It promotes a culture of death.

Proponents countered that Colorado is and should continue to be a safe haven for people seeking abortion, particularly if their home states abortion ban puts their health and safety at risk.

During a committee hearing on the bill, Lauren Miller said she traveled from her home in Texas to Colorado to receive an abortion after one of her twins was determined to be unviable. Miller said continuing to carry the unviable twin risked killing both her and the viable twin, but Texas law did not allow her any options to terminate the pregnancy.

Miller begged Colorado lawmakers to "not abandon us to the cruelty imposed by the leadership in our states" while testifying in support of the bill.

Other opponents said the bill disrespects the laws of other states, saying even if people travel to Colorado for abortion care, it could violate their home states law. For example, if a patient gets abortion-inducing medication from Colorado then takes it in their home state where abortion is illegal.

But bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, said it is the other states that are threatening Colorado's sovereignty. Jaquez Lewis, a pharmacist, said if she lawfully fills a prescription for an abortion-inducing medication in Colorado that is later brought to an abortion-banning state with her name printed on the bottle, she could be summoned, investigated, or even extradited and arrested even though she broke no laws in the state she operated in.

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These state laws are out of control and not acceptable. This bill gives us the opportunity to stop it," Jaquez Lewis said. "Bounty hunter laws have created a climate of fear and intimidation. It will prevent Colorado health care workers from offering care and prevent patients from seeking care.

In the month following the Dobbs decision, the Colorado-based Cobalt Abortion Fund reported that 94% of its clients seeking practical abortion support came from out of state, including 66% from Texas alone. In January, 750 people traveled to Colorado Planned Parenthoods from out of state for abortion care  compared to only 1,500 people during the entirety of 2021, according to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

Seven states and the District of Columbia have already passed similar protections against interstate investigations regarding abortions and 12 governors have issued executive orders establishing such protections, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. Other states including Washington, New Mexico, Minnesota and Vermont are currently considering similar legislation.

Expand insurance coverage

Senate Bill 189 would require health insurance carriers that serve large employers  those with more than 100 employees  to pay for abortion coverage without deductibles, copays or coinsurance.

Also under the bill, health insurance for the small group and individual market would provide that coverage depending on how the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates the Affordable Care Act, views those services. Under the Affordable Care Act, any state insurance mandate would be reviewed under the lens of how it affects premiums.

If the mandate has the potential to increase premiums, the state would technically be required to defray those extra costs, although that scenario is rare and has never happened in Colorado. An actuarial review of SB 189 said the bill would result in a minimal decrease in costs, around 15 cents per member.

We should offer the full suite of reproductive health care services in our state, and having insurance cover those is a necessary step, in my opinion, to make sure that folks have that choice when it comes to their health care," said bill sponsor Sen. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. "SB 189 is the next step in making sure that abortion access isnt just protected, but that people can actually get it.

The bill gives employers the option of refusing to offer abortion services if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, so long as the decision is in line with federal court decisions.

The measure's insurance mandate also applies to treatment for HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. It prohibits health insurance carriers from requiring HIV patients use step therapy, a requirement that patients try a lower-cost drug before moving on to a more expensive one. For other care, the bill prohibits a carrier from requiring deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or imposing a lifetime maximum benefit for treating a sexually transmitted disease or for sterilization services.

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The bill also expands the kinds of health care providers that can give contraception, including procedures, supplies or information, to a minor without first needing to obtain parental consent or provide notification. Currently, the law allows only for physicians to provide those services; the bill would add, for example, nurse practitioners.

Much of the debate from critics in the Senate centered around whether the bill would significantly expand coverage for abortion services as the sponsors say.

Sen. Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, said the bill would not apply to the vast majority of Coloradans, such as those who are uninsured, covered by military plans, or covered by Medicaid or Medicare. Smallwood said these residents could seek abortion care thinking it will be free, only to be charged and put in a bad financial position.

I have to think that the proponents havent thought this through, because if they had, it would be utterly irresponsible for them to propose something like this in the first place thats going to work so infrequently, Smallwood said. At the end of the day, what have we really done with this bill? Provide confusion.

Some opponents also argued that the bill would result in taxpayer funding for abortions if it does end up causing an increase in insurance premiums.

Others said the bill would interfere with parental rights, as the bill removes the requirement that, when a minor receives contraception services, a notification be sent to their parent, guardian or someone who makes a referral for those services, such as a member of the clergy, family planning clinics, or schools or colleges.

Previously, the bill would have also created a grant program for those under the age of 19 who want to pay for their own contraception and don't want to go through their parents' insurance to keep the matter confidential. The grant program was removed in an amendment, replacing it with an agreement that the Department of Public Health and Environment look into how to close barriers to access and provide recommendations by Sept. 1.

'Scared, angry, tired of this': East High School students weary as another shooting rocks school

Proponents rejected the arguments from critics as baseless, and claimed that the bill is essential for giving Colorado voters what they've repeatedly asked for: Abortion access.

The voters were loud and clear in Colorado. Weve established that access to a full range of reproductive care is something we value. The keyword there is access," said bill sponsor Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton. "Existing gaps in our coverage of reproductive care can cause significant barriers to access.

Crisis pregnancy centers

Senate Bill 190 would prohibit crisis pregnancy centers from advertising abortions, emergency contraceptives or referrals that they dont actually provide, classifying it as deceptive advertising. The centers, dubbed "anti-abortion clinics" by opponents, counsel pregnant women against having an abortion, advocating for parenting or adoption instead.

Bill sponsor Sen. Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, said the centers pretend to offer abortion care but dont, using "disinformation, intimidation, shame and delay tactics" to prevent people from accessing abortion care.

The American Medical Society Journal of Ethics called the centers unethical, claiming they spread misinformation and give the impression that they offer medical services and advice, yet they are exempt from regulatory, licensure, and credentialing oversight that apply to health care facilities." A 2012 study from the National Library of Medicine claimed that 86% of the centers provide misinformation on abortion.

A woman should be able to understand what all of her options are," said Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. "That woman will not receive that information if she walks into a crisis pregnancy center. ... To advertise that you provide a comprehensive set of services for someone seeking reproductive health care is false. Its misleading.

In Colorado, there are 51 of these crisis pregnancy centers, compared to 20 abortion clinics.

Supporters of crisis pregnancy centers denied misleading patients, arguing that they legitimately provide services, including health education, ultrasound and counseling. They said SB 190 would unfairly limit their advertisement, potentially prohibiting them from saying they offer help with unplanned pregnancies without specifying the services provided.

While Republican senators backed crisis pregnancy centers and said the bill would violate their freedom of speech, most of their opposition surrounded a different component of the bill: Classifying providing abortion reversal treatment as unprofessional conduct.

This bill seeks to eliminate alternatives to abortion," said Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton. "It is a womans right to choose life for her child.  For some women, that means she should be able to choose the abortion reversal pill. It is her right to make that choice. It should be her choice.

The controversial abortion reversal practice claims that the hormone progesterone can stop a medication-based abortion after a patient has completed the first part of the two-step process.

Crisis pregnancy centers support the practice, pointing to a small-scale 2012 study which found that four of six women who had begun medication abortions were able to carry their pregnancies to term after taking progesterone. However, the study has been criticized for having methodological flaws and subsequent research has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support abortion reversal treatment.

A larger 2019 University of California study attempted to test the effectiveness of abortion pill reversal, but the study was ended prematurely due to safety concerns after three participants required ambulance transport to a hospital for treatment of severe vaginal bleeding, NPR reported. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also rejects prescribing progesterone to reverse abortions, saying it is "not based on science and do not meet clinical standards."

"When we are talking about abortion reversal, we are not saying women cannot continue their pregnancy," said bill sponsor Sen. Faith Winter, D-Westminster. "But how can we in good conscience let people think they can reverse their abortion with no scientific evidence and when all the medical experts are saying that it is unethical and experimental?

The bill was amended to require the state medical, nursing and pharmacy boards to evaluate the practice of abortion reversal by Oct. 1. If the boards all agree that its a valid medical practice, then it will be considered professional conduct. If not, it will be unprofessional conduct.

Opponents of the bill said this change is not good enough, arguing that the three boards "wouldn't agree on anything" and it doesn't give the boards enough time.

The bill was also amended to remove all references of crisis pregnancy centers as fake clinics," with proponents and opponents agreeing that it is unnecessarily insulting to the centers.

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After U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews drew a blank at his confirmation hearing when asked to describe the holding of a major U.S. Supreme Court decision, the embarrassing lapse quickly generated condemnation online.

"ANOTHER Biden judicial nominee flunks basic legal quiz," tweeted JCN, an advocacy group for conservative judicial nominees.

But in Colorado, the reaction to Crews incorrectly describing a pillar of criminal case law was far more sympathetic.

"I dont see it as a major concern in practice as there are all kinds of criminal law issues that he will have to get up to speed on as they come at him," said Jason R. Dunn, Colorado's top federal prosecutor during the Trump administration. "Thats just the nature of the job and is one of the reasons district court judges have law clerks."

"This doesnt bother me," added David Lane, a civil rights lawyer whose firm, like Dunn's, litigates in Colorado's U.S. District Court.

Crews, 48 this year, has been a federal magistrate judge since 2018 and is President Joe Biden's nominee to fill a vacancy on the seven-member trial court. Magistrate judges tend to focus on preliminary and administrative matters in cases, but they are empowered to handle many of the same tasks as the life-tenured district judges.

When Crews appeared before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked him how he would analyze a "Brady motion."

"In my 4.5 years on the bench, I don't believe I had the occasion to address a Brady motion," Crews responded.

"Do you know what a Brady motion is?" Kennedy continued. Crews responded it was "not coming to mind at the moment."

"Do you recall the U.S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland?" Kennedy pressed. "What did it hold?"

Crews finally guessed that Brady "involved something regarding the Second Amendment."

The 1963 Brady decision held that the government violates the right to due process when it withholds evidence favorable to criminal defendants that is relevant to guilt or punishment. A Brady motion seeks to compel that exchange of evidence.

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"Brady is both routine (in every criminal case the prosecution would be obligated to disclose exculpatory evidence, and the defense would be entitled to it) and rare, to the extent that because the prosecution knows they have to disclose it, it would be kind of a big deal if they failed to," wrote Lynn C. Hartfield, a former federal public defender who practices in Denver, in an email.

Crews' inability to describe the case echoed other instances in which Kennedy caught judicial nominees off guard with basic legal queries. In January, a Biden nominee could not immediately recall what Articles II or V of the U.S. Constitution govern (the executive branch and amendments, respectively). In 2017, a Donald Trump nominee was unable to define common procedural terms at his hearing, and ended up withdrawing.

"Some of these nominees that have been forced in the last two years have no business being anywhere near a federal bench  they dont have any business being anywhere near a park bench," Kennedy told NBC News earlier this year.

Crews' inability to correctly recall Brady raised two concerns: As a magistrate judge, is it something he should have experience with? And as a future district judge, is it something he should already know about?

To the first question, there is no dispute that in Colorado, magistrate judges handle certain parts of criminal cases. But they do not decide Brady motions.

"It's a function of the fact that it is the custom of the district judges on our court to keep (that is, not refer) motions to magistrate judges in felony criminal cases," said U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix. "Brady motions are almost always filed in these cases. We never see them."

Crews has signed off on discovery orders, relating to the production of evidence, in which he confirmed it was the government's duty "to disclose material evidence which is favorable to the defendant as required by Brady v. Maryland." Such directives, however, are not "Brady orders" and are prepared by the parties to a case.

As for whether Crews, as a nominee to a lifetime judicial appointment, should be able to describe what the Brady decision means, some who saw his answer in committee labeled Crews "ignorant" or even speculated he was nominated due to his race and not his resume. Attorneys in Colorado, however, did not view Crews' botched response as disqualifying.

"Like many new district judges who are experienced lawyers but did not practice criminal law prior to the bench, Judge Crews would quickly learn these issues in the district judge role," said John Walsh, the former U.S. attorney under the Obama administration.

"The issue is whether a potential judge, once confronted with a novel issue, is able to understand it and apply it in a fair and just manner," said Lane, the civil rights attorney. "Crews obviously has that ability."

Crews did not respond to a request for comment sent to his chambers. A regional spokesperson for the White House did not reply to an email asking about the committee exchange.

After the hearing, an aide to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who recommended Crews to the White House along with U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, said Crews "demonstrated that his judicial experience is extensive and that he is entirely qualified to serve on the U.S. District Court."
They came by the hundreds  parents, students, gun violence prevention advocates  to the state Capitol on Thursday, the day after a 17-year-old allegedly opened fire on two administrators at East High School, barely a mile from the Capitol.

The shooter was found dead in Park County hours later.

The lobby outside the House and Senate chambers was barely walkable, with students from East, West, Cherry Creek and other metro-area high schools demanding that lawmakers act now to protect them from gun violence.

Many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle talked to students, some explaining the measures moving through the House and Senate on the issue. On Friday, the House is expected to debate Senate Bill 170, the measure that would add teachers, medical professionals and district attorneys to the list of those who can seek an extreme risk protection order to remove firearms from someone deemed a threat to themselves or to others.

More than any bill moving through the General Assembly, students who talked to Colorado Politics believe that, if this measure had been in place, it could have prevented Wednesday's shooting.

Lawmakers, however, are divided along party lines on which approach would best protect students. Democrats say their gun bills would help, while Republicans counter that part of the problem is lack of school resource officers, including in Denver Public Schools, which removed them.

On the floor of the House Thursday, House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, spoke of the need for grieving and healing, adding that Thursday was a day for policymakers to listen.

She asked that everyone "acknowledge that communities have to face things together that are very painful and very tough. Even though we may have political conversations for decades, today is the day to receive people. To allow people to emote. To allow people to grieve, as the lives of two very special educators were put in jeopardy yesterday and a child did lose his life."

"(Lawmakers) have tremendous power and responsibilities, but again, we need to be able to receive and process," Bacon, a former Denver school board member, said. "As the Denver community comes to you not only today and tomorrow, let's be sure also that we not only hug our loved ones, but that we talk to each other as well. "

To the students, Sen. Rhonda Field, D-Aurora, offered a message of welcome: "The state Capitol is the people's house. It's important that we hear from young people about the concerns they have, about the issues that they're dealing with. We want to hear from you. We want to know what those issues are so that we can take the appropriate action."

Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, told Colorado Politics he pledged on the campaign trail not to support legislation that would take firearms away from law-abiding citizens.

However, Marshall was among the Democrats who voted in a House committee Wednesday to send the red-flag bill to the full House, where it will be debated on Friday. He said support for that measure, and a vote in favor of the liability bill, does not violate his pledge to his district.

Sen. Tom Sullivan, D-Aurora, echoed this sentiment, saying that, while lawmakers are working to address gun violence, "were never going to be able to do it fast enough to prevent the things that happened in their building.

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To the East High School students who sat in his office on Thursday, Sullivan offered understanding. Sullivan said he knows exactly what the teens are going through, as his son was killed in the mass shooting at an Aurora movie theater in 2012.

"I was in no shape, two days after, to come and talk," Sullivan said. This happens every day and, unfortunately, its once again in a place we all know. People that we just talked to about this are being impacted again, and that makes it doubly hard to try to have a conversation with them about it. Theyre looking for answers, and this is a long process."

Lindsey added that, as a mom of four, she's glad to see them engaging, "but I'm mad and sad that they have to be here, again and again and again."

Republicans focused on the lack of school resource officers, including Denver Public Schools' decision to remove them, and the policy that allowed the student, who had been removed from another school, to attend East.

"Our message is that we stand in solidarity," said House Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs. "We mourn and grieve with them, and we'll look at all appropriate laws to address the issue."

Would that apply to the red flag legislation?

"I don't have all the facts." she said. "It will be a very robust debate."

"School resource officers were removed from that school and then they put faculty members in charge of patting down that student," said Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland. "That's horrendous."

He said he would talk to the students, but added that banning guns is not a viable solution.

Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, looked at the issue more broadly, speaking on the importance of supporting behavioral health and funding education, which he said "helps provide strength in society."

Lundeen said he had conversations with several students Thursday, during which he tried to "engage them in a policy discussion" to determine how legislation can prevent such a tragedy when it was caused by breaking existing laws.

"They come to the Capitol legitimately wanting to find a legislative solution, and the reality is, it's a broader set of problems. It's a societal problem," Lundeen said. "I'm constantly listening. ... I'd like to think that every conversation has some meaningful engagement in the development of better policy."

Bacon's words resonated with House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, who told Colorado Politics the heroes were the two men who stopped the shooter.

But he questioned why the student was allowed to be at the school. "When we expel a kid, we need to make sure it's followed with a real expulsion" and not allowing him to go to another school where he puts others in danger.

"It's a tragedy that they're going through this again, and, as a legislator, I can see things that can be done" to slow this down, Lynch said. "It leads to another unfortunate chapter of kids not feeling safe at school, and that has to be the No. 1 priority. ... You can't deal with these other social issues and put that ahead of safety."
A federal judge has declined to grant immunity to an Aurora officer who allegedly detained a man and seized his property unlawfully, one of numerous lawsuits William Montgomery has filed in a long-running "sting" operation involving retail security personnel.

Montgomery's litigation stems from a series of encounters with roughly the same pattern: He enters a big box store, pays for merchandise, does not show his receipt when asked and then files suit after security detains and investigates him. While the defendants characterized his tactics as intentional baiting of security officers, Montgomery argued to the court that he only cares about avoiding unlawful searches.

"In all of Plaintiff's interactions with store employees and/or police," Montgomery wrote in defense of his actions, "he does nothing more than a) go shopping for items (as all shopkeepers know customers do), b) purchase them at any available counter (as all shopkeepers know customers do), c) leave the store without bagging them (as all shopkeepers know customers do ...), and d) refuse to show his receipt on the way out (as all shopkeepers know customers do)."

On March 9, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer issued another decision in one of Montgomery's challenges, in which he found Montgomery had credibly alleged Officer Travis Lore violated his rights when leaving an Aurora Walmart.

According to Montgomery's lawsuit, he entered the Walmart on the night of Sept. 17, 2019 and bought two packages of cleaning wipes. At the time, his pockets contained a pair of recreational vehicle lights from a previous shopping trip, which he did not take out. Upon checking out and exiting the store, Lore allegedly stopped Montgomery near his vehicle and asked for Montgomery's receipt.

Montgomery declined to show it and instead put the wipes in his pockets. Lore escorted him back into the store, patted him down and allegedly acknowledged Montgomery had no weapons on him. Lore removed the wipes from Montgomery's pockets and subsequently informed Montgomery he would issue a shoplifting citation. Lore later removed the RV lights from Montgomery's pockets and held onto them.

Lore and other officers who were present for the investigation then let Montgomery go. The next day, Lore allegedly called Montgomery to tell him the charges would be dismissed and he could retrieve his property from the police department.

Montgomery sued Lore for multiple violations of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Specifically, Montgomery claimed his forced movement from the parking lot back into the store, Lore's confiscation of the wipes, Lore's confiscation of the RV lights, the pat-down search and the prolonged detention all amounted to violations.

Montgomery's lawsuit against Lore was one of 10 he filed in federal court since 2020. He also pursued multiple cases in state court against Walmart, making similar claims about being stopped by security personnel. An Arapahoe County judge's order dismissing those lawsuits described how Montgomery had told an officer he "stings" the stores in order to sue for false arrest.

"Montgomery entered a Walmart store with the intent to and then actually acted in a manner intended to provoke Walmart employees into believing he was concealing property of the store, which he knew would lead to being detained and asked for his receipts," District Court Judge Peter F. Michaelson wrote in February 2022. "Not only was Montgomerys conduct sufficient to cause the Walmart employees to believe that his intent was to commit a crime, but he specifically intended that result happen."

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Some of Montgomery's federal cases have met a comparable fate. On March 3, Brimmer dismissed another of Montgomery's lawsuits stemming from his arrest at a Denver Walmart. Last April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld the dismissal of similar litigation against a Commerce City police officer.

Initially, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty recommended dismissing Montgomery's five claims against Lore. The officer asserted qualified immunity, which shields government employees from civil liability unless they violate a person's clearly-established legal rights. Typically, there must be a prior court decision finding an officer acted unreasonably under similar circumstances in order for qualified immunity not to apply.

"Plaintiffs actions in this case would indicate to the reasonable person he may be shoplifting," Hegarty wrote in August. "The Court finds that Defendant had reasonable suspicion to remove both items from Plaintiffs person, and therefore should enjoy qualified immunity."

Montgomery disputed some of Hegarty's conclusions and asked Brimmer to overrule them. Brimmer agreed with the magistrate judge's analysis to some extent, namely that Lore acted reasonably when he directed Montgomery back to the store, patted him down, and confiscated the wipes after Montgomery walked out of the store and refused to show a receipt.

However, Brimmer sided with Montgomery on the seizure of the RV lights in his pocket. Based on the allegations, Lore did not have probable cause to believe the lights were stolen merchandise. Brimmer found Montgomery's extended detention to investigate the RV lights was similarly problematic.

Lore "lacked reasonable suspicion to detain plaintiff for the RV lights. As the Court previously held, there are no allegations in the complaint indicating that defendant had any reason to believe that the objects in plaintiffs pants pockets were stolen merchandise when defendant conducted the pat down," wrote Brimmer.

He declined to grant Lore qualified immunity for the officer's investigation of Montgomery's RV lights.

Montgomery told Colorado Politics he has shopped at Walmart hundreds of times with no issue, but he sued over the handful of occasions that resulted in detention.

"Literally every time before I went shopping I began recording on my phone," he said. "On all the situations where nothing happened, it was just some mundane encounter."

The case is Montgomery v. Lore.
The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp), an energy-focused multilateral financial institution, has won the ESG Deal of the Year 2022 by Islamic Finance News (IFN) for its $75 million Murabaha facility to fund high-quality carbon offsets, the first of its kind facility in the MENA region.



Nicolas Thevenot, Managing Director, Corporate Banking at Apicorp said "We are delighted to receive this recognition from Islamic Finance News. The voluntary carbon offset Murabaha facility is truly a landmark transaction which underscores Apicorps ongoing drive to offer innovative financial solutions in support of a balanced energy transition and decarbonizing the energy value chain to achieve the regions 2050 net zero targets."



The carbon offset facility, which was signed by Hartree Partners Power & Gas Company, an affiliate of Hartree Partners LP, a global energy and commodities firm, will be used by integrated carbon solutions provider Vertree to develop high-impact decarbonization projects for the MENA region and beyond. This transaction is a major milestone for Apicorp's vision of supporting the region's sustainability journey.



Bryan Keogh, Group CFO at Hartree Partners LP, said: "We are thrilled to have partnered with Apicorp on this unique Islamic facility. This recognition is a testament to the importance of our work and our commitment to the Paris Agreement targets, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Apicorp in the sustainability space."



Robust voluntary carbon markets have emerged as a cost-effective asset class for governments and corporations to decarbonize their footprints and for investors to mitigate risks associated with evolving climate regulations. According to a report by Shell and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the voluntary carbon offset market is projected to grow in value from about $2 billion in 2021 to $10-40 billion by 2030.



The IFN Deals of the Year award recognises those who have participated in the Islamic finance industrys most groundbreaking transactions each year.



Apicorps voluntary carbon credit facility was recognized for its innovative approach to addressing climate change and its adherence to the principles of Islamic finance. Moreover, the award acknowledges the facilitys syndication feature, which allows additional banks to join and gain exposure to this attractive asset class.  TradeArabia News Service
With the final location of U.S. Space Command still undecided after more than two years of debate, dozens of Colorado leaders renewed their plea for the headquarters to remain in the state.

In a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Wednesday, 94 local politicians, business leaders and military personnel argued that the command should stay in its provisional home in Colorado Springs. Those who signed the letter include Gov. Jared Polis, both of the state's U.S. senators, seven of the state's eight U.S. representatives, all leadership members of the state Legislature and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers.

"Colorado is the best and only home for U.S. Space Command," the letter read. "Two years later, USSPACECOM has continued to prove its ability to ensure our national security in the space domain from Peterson Space Force Base."

This latest move follows years of heated discussion and debate that began in January 2021 when the Trump administration made the surprise announcement that headquarters would be moved from Colorado to Huntsville, Ala.

Military leaders had recommended that the command remain in Colorado Springs, leading critics on both sides of the aisle to argue that the decision was more political than strategic  an outgoing presidents last-ditch effort to reward a state that supported him, and to punish a state that didnt vote for him. Donald Trump has said the decision to move Space Command to Alabama was his alone.

Last year, two federal watchdog investigations  from the Government Accountability Office and the Pentagons Office of Inspector General  found Trumps decision to be fundamentally flawed but stopped short of recommending that it be reversed.

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"The reports identified Colorado Springs as the preferred location based on the best military judgment of our nations most senior national security space leaders," the letter read. "In fact, the USSPACECOM Commander expected Colorado Springs to achieve (full operational capacity) approximately four to six years sooner than other candidates."

The letter pointed to Colorado's status as a hub for the aerospace industry and the existing infrastructure already in place in Colorado Springs as making the state the best option for the Space Command headquarters. A 2021 paper, drafted by retired Air Force Gen. Ed Eberhart and retired Army Lt. Gen. Ed Anderson, found that allowing Space Command to remain in Colorado Springs would save taxpayers $1.24 billion.

The letter further agued that the cost-prohibitive and time-consuming process of moving the headquarters to Alabama could leave the U.S. vulnerable to Russian aggression or allow China to narrow the gap in the space race.

"We face an immediate and existential threat in the space domain," the letter read. "We cannot allow a flawed and costly political decision to threaten our national security and military readiness.
CASTLE ROCK  Vying for the eye's attention now along the downtown square is the development down the street: high-rise, luxury apartments and chic boutiques and Instagram-worthy eateries with cool murals, cocktails and small bites.

But on the corner, the square building of local stone prevails.

This is Castle Cafe, almost as much of a landmark as the natural namesake of the place between Colorado's biggest metros.

Castle Cafe is something of a fortress in the sense of this booming town's old aesthetic. In the sense of character and soul, it's something of a fortress as well.

"As far as the locals go, this is where you go to feel like home," says Carlos Finn, born and raised here and now managing the restaurant. "It's kind of a blast from the past. Not much has changed here."

Perhaps most importantly: The family style, pan-fried chicken dinners have not changed. The bird still comes "wet and juicy," as a Denver magazine writer found not long after the restaurant's debut in 1995, and coated in a salt-and-pepper flour mix turned golden and crispy.

The chicken is still crackling when it reaches the table. The platter comes with soup or salad and bowls of veggies and mashed potatoes, to go with a boat of thick, country gravy. Oh, and a basket of big, house-baked rolls. That recipe hasn't changed either.

"Mama, I'm comin' home," remarked that Denver writer nearly 27 years ago.

Castle Cafe was the vision of a well-known restaurateur from the city, Tom Walls.

He had his eye on the irresistible building in Castle Rock. It was most famously a hotel and bar back in the 1890s, a rowdy gathering place for quarry workers, cowboys, railroaders and travelers between Denver and Colorado Springs. A century later, Walls' idea was to revive the cafe that existed several decades prior, complete with a similar neon sign.

And complete with the kind of chicken he knew from old, family-owned halls back in his native Kansas City. Walls knew it had to be prepped by hand, made to order over hot, cast-iron skillets.

"Do you know what a pain in the butt it is to do pan-fried chicken to order?" Walls remarked in that magazine article not long after opening Castle Cafe.

No pain, no gain seems to be the motto still today. The message atop the menu, making unfamiliar customers aware of wait times: "We take 'homemade' to heart."

It's not just chicken here.

The brisket and pulled pork from the smoker are other nods to Walls' Kansas City upbringing. The Canadian walleye is another favorite among meals that have been around since the start of business, the recipes unchanged. Nearly 27 years ago, the artichoke dip, called Yuppie-i-o, was proclaimed the best around the Front Range, "emphasizing both the old West and the new." It's still the same.

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"Everything that we have on our menu is time-tested," says Dillon Walls, the founder's son running the place now. "If something didn't sell over the years, it's gone away. So everything on the menu has made a 27-year cut."

The people haven't changed much either. The woman baking the bread has been doing it close to two decades. A couple of bartenders have been around about the same time.

Laura Odom started serving here when her daughter was 2. Now her daughter is 24 and working alongside her.

"I just love it," Odom says between tables of customers she's known for a long time. "This is family."

This is old Castle Rock, says the manager who has also been at the restaurant 20-plus years. Finn remembers the old-timers who held court at the bar, coming from farms that have since been swallowed by subdivisions and shopping centers. He says it can feel like their spirits are still here, like the ghost of the cowboy he says he sees around.

"I like being part of the space, being part of the stories," he says.

Even 1995 feels like far-off history. When the Walls opened Castle Cafe that year, Finn says he could count on one hand the number of eateries around the square. "It was a real one-horse town," Walls recalls.

His dad had a feeling that would change fast, that the populations on either side of Castle Rock would converge. He was right.

But generations from the old town still find home at Castle Cafe.

"To me, it's cozy," Odom says. "I think for a lot of people that's what it is."

On the menu

Castle Cafe's chicken dinners (starting at $20) come with a breast, thigh, leg and wing and choice of soup, salad or slaw along with house-baked bread, veggies and mashed potatoes and gravy.

The Canadian walleye is popular, fried and almond-crusted and topped with a brown butter hollandaise. That also tops the campfire trout, with other fish plates being the pan seared salmon and fried catfish. Other home-style favorites ($17-$27): buffalo meatloaf and hot roast turkey.

The brisket gets a sweet, tangy BBQ sauce while the pulled pork is paired with a Carolina variety (both $16). Steak burgers ($15) are staples, as is the melty artichoke dip, "loaded with parmesan cheese broiled to perfection."

Choice of caesar, cobb and grilled chicken salads ($10-$17) with house-made dressings. The chicken noodle soup is a classic since the restaurant's start in the '90s.

Homemade desserts ($9): white chocolate, black bottom banana cream pie; four-layer chocolate fudge cake; and apple pie.
Department of Culture and Tourism  Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched Public Art Abu Dhabi, a wide-reaching initiative that will further the emirates long legacy of investing in culture and embedding it in the fabric of society.



The initiative has launched with the unveiling of WAVE, a public digital media artwork by the artistic collective district, in Abu Dhabis Cultural Foundation. Using an anamorphic illusion technique, the 2D installation recreates perpetually surging three-dimensional waves and was first showcased at COEX K-Pop Square, Seoul, South Korea.



Public Art Abu Dhabis programmes will reflect the emirates intrinsic cultural identity, anchoring a sense of belonging and fostering creativity. Integral to this initiative is its community engagement efforts. Acting as a catalyst for creativity and artistic expression in the public domain, Public Art Abu Dhabi will offer opportunities for everyone to engage with new cultural programming.



An investment of over AED128 million ($35 million) will be dedicated to the initiative annually, to support the emirates wider creative industries through public art.



Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: Abu Dhabis public art enriches lives by bringing art to every member of the community, inspiring a sense of civic pride, and advancing the capitals creative legacy. The emirate has a proud tradition of public art, which we are now elevating with our ambitious Public Art Abu Dhabi initiatives.



These will foster creativity, placemaking and cultural infrastructure and ensure that public art is integral to our emirates cultural identity, livability, and attractiveness to visitors. DCT Abu Dhabis promise is to promote, protect and progress the emirate and transform Abu Dhabi into a global centre for culture.



Public Art Abu Dhabi will contribute toward the conservation of significant architectural and urban spaces, enhancing their historical, aesthetic, social, scientific, and technological value to the community. It will extend the ambitions of DCT Abu Dhabis Modern Heritage Conservation Initiative (MHCI), which identifies, safeguards, and maintains sites that narrate the countrys more recent past.



Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, opening in November 2024, will be led by Reem Fadda, Director of the Cultural Foundation and Abu Dhabi Cultural Programmes, and the independent curator Galit Eilat. The curators previously worked together between 2006 and 2009 co-curating the multifaceted and award-winning project Liminal Spaces in Palestine, Israel and Germany. Fadda and Eilat will bring their experience of working on projects involving a deep engagement with communities and art in the public domain to the first Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial.



Other projects include Manar Abu Dhabi, a public art platform which features light art sculptures and installations in the archipelagos and mangroves of Abu Dhabi. Viewers will embark on an immersive water journey and discover the artworks from a fresh perspective.



The exhibition is set to connect the shores of different islands and celebrate Abu Dhabis natural beauty. The artworks will vary from light projections, sculptures and installations to performances, creating a surreal and magical outlook on the surrounding landscapes.



Public Art Abu Dhabi will further make its mark with a series of yearly direct commissions across the emirate's landmarks, including tunnels, roundabouts, bridges, parks etc. Engaging artists to create significant permanent or temporary contributions, the commissions will draw inspiration from the UAE capitals distinctive traits and highlight its modern heritage and natural landscapes.  TradeArabia News Service
At the March 21 meeting of the Mitchell County Board of Supervisors, Mitchell County Attorney Aaron Murphy touched briefly upon an upcoming murder trial.

Nathan James Gilmore of Osage is charged with the first-degree murder of Angela Bradbury, 29, of Mason City. Gilmore recently asked for a change of venue, arguing he cannot receive a fair trial by an impartial jury in Mitchell County due in part to media coverage.

In addition, Gilmore alleges that a central piece of evidence had been shared on social media platforms in Mitchell County by an individual connected to the person who discovered the evidence.

The tentative trial date for Gilmore is Aug. 7.
CEDAR RAPIDS  An Oelwein man is suing Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner, a jail administrator, a federal prosecutor and some U.S. marshals for being brutally assaulted in the Linn County Jail last May by two inmates  a convicted killer and drug dealer.

The lawsuit, filed last year, contends Ethan Palmer's reward for reporting and assisting in an investigation and prosecution of a Justin Michael Buehler, 39, who was convicted and sentenced to 30 years for distributing methamphetamine, was a severe beating by other inmates while in custody in the jail.

Palmer testified against Buehler, despite his "extensive injuries and fear arising from the assault," the suit stated. Palmer's lawyers call is a "cautionary tale" to anyone considering providing assistance to federal prosecutors against a defendant, which could have been prevented and one that could be remedied."

On Jan. 7, 2019, Palmer gave federal agents information about Buehler regularly selling meth to other employees at Pries Manufacturing in Independence, according to the suit. Later that month, Palmer made controlled purchases of meth from Buehler to assist in the investigation.

Authorities arrested and put Buehler in the Linn County Jail pending his trial.

Palmer was taken from his home on May 27, 2022, by the U.S. Marshals Service as a material witness and placed in the Linn County Jail pending his testimony in Buehler's trial.

The same day, Buehler was being transferred out of jail but before he left, he spoke with Johnny Blahnik Church, formerly known as Drew Blahnik, 36, of Marion, who was convicted of killing Chris Bagley in 2018, and another inmate, Gregory Sills, 49, of Oelwein. Buehler told Blahnik Church and Sills that Palmer had been arrested and would likely be placed at the Linn County Jail.

Buehler gave Palmer's description to Blahnik Church and told him to assault Palmer, and Blahnik Church assured him they would "take care of it." Buehler also told the entire cellblock that Palmer was an informant for federal prosecutors, the suit contends.

Blahnik Church told Sills he intended to beat up Palmer to make him look bad when he testified at Buehler's trial.

Palmer, according to the suit, told some unidentified deputies or jailers upon his arrival that he was a material witness and wanted protective custody. He was initially placed in a single cell but an hour or two later was moved to a general population jail pod, which included Blahnik Church, despite the jail segregation policies to segregate inmates based on violent behavior if they pose a risk to others.

When Palmer learned Buehler was a former bunkmate in his pod, he "pleaded" with some of the deputies or jailers to place him in a single cell but his pleas were ignored, the suit stated.

On May 27, 2022, Palmer was "violently attacked by Church and Sills." Blahnik Church dragged Palmer from the bathroom, throwing him against a table. He then grabbed Palmer and punched him in the face several times, while Sills kicked Palmer in the head.

Blahnik Church then hit Palmer over the head with a dinner tray two times and threw Palmer into a table again, according to the suit.

During the beating, Blahnik and/or Sills told Palmer not to wear a wire, calling him a "rat," and insinuated he would be assaulted again.

Palmer, after regaining consciousness, alerted jail staff with an emergency call button.

The room where Palmer was assaulted is monitored by live video surveillance but none of the deputies or jailers came to Palmer's aid during the attack, according to the suit.

In a jail incident report, one deputy said he was checking each cellblock to see if the inmates were ready to locked down after eating and he noticed one inmate on his hands and knees trying to get up by the door as another inmate was walking away from him, according to the lawsuit. At this time, another deputy came in the control center and advised him that an inmate hit the block buzzer and he said "Help. Help. Help."

Palmer was treated at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for extensive injuries, including facial trauma, an orbital fracture, broken nose and teeth and a fractured knee.

Palmer was then transferred to the Hardin County Jail and then testified June 7, 2022, in Buehler's trial, where he was convicted.

According to the suit, Sheriff Gardner claims none of the Linn County defendants were provided any classification information regarding why Palmer is being held by federal authorities. But threats to Palmer made some of the deputies or jailers aware that he was testifying against Buehler.

Since the jail assault, Palmer was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and he continues to have physical and mental health complications, the suit contends.

Palmer's federal civil trial in U.S. District Court is set for Aug. 16, 2024.
Hundreds gathered on March 17 for Averett Universitys department of aeronautics annual Aviation Day.

Held in an airplane hangar at Averetts George J. Falk Flight Center at Danville Regional Airport, alumni, current students, prospective students and their families, aviation partners and university faculty and staff joined to kick off the day.

Nearly 40 alumni from various sectors of the aviation industry came back to show future aviators the many paths Averett Aeronautics majors can take upon completing the program. Graduates include pilots all around the globe, flying for every major domestic airline and a number of international airlines, as well as serving as pilots for companies like FedEx and UPS, for a variety of criminal justice agencies, and as commercial pilots for private businesses.

Many are also in non-flying jobs, working as industry leaders in grounds operations, aviation marketing and public relations, aeronautics education and more.

Were grateful to welcome home members of our Aeronautics alumni family today. You are the real testament to the extraordinary strength of our program, said Averett President Tiffany M. Franks to the alumni in the room. Your returning today speaks volumes about your experience here and how others invested in you, and now you want to invest in others. We couldnt be more appreciative. Welcome home to all of you.

Nearly 30 high school students considering a career in aeronautics and their families attended, learning about the various sectors of the industry and Averetts offerings in sessions throughout the day  including some cadets from Hargrave Military Institute.

Through a newly implemented partnership between the University and Hargrave, qualifying high school students can achieve their goals sooner by completing private pilot ground school and flight labs at Averetts FAA-approved Part-141 flight school, all while earning dual enrollment credits for both Hargrave and Averett for each course.

People often comment on the amount of community partnerships we have at Averett, and its very true. Innovative partnerships that meet critical workforce needs are a major strategic priority at Averett, and when we can partner with an esteemed military academy, right here in the region, its a win-win, Franks said. Were delighted to welcome Hargrave cadets to Averetts Aeronautics program.

Franks presented Hargrave President Eric Peterson, Hargrave Academic Dean Jim Tung, and Hargrave Board of Trustees member Tom Nichols with a framed collage honoring the partnership.

We are deeply grateful to Averett University, Dr. Franks and the entire program team for working with us to formalize the aeronautics partnership, Peterson said. We see this partnership as the first step toward additional opportunities for collaboration between our institutions, and hope that this program represents the ways in which we can collectively benefit our students and the larger communities around us.

Franks then introduced the crowd to Nathanial Duff, the inaugural cadet in the partnership program. Duff is a senior cadet at Hargrave with an interest in aeronautics. This fall, he completed the coursework and his first solo flight.

In keeping with an age-old tradition of the Averett aeronautics program, Duff was presented a special token to commemorate this accomplishment. When aeronautics students complete their first solo flight, the huge milestone is celebrated by having their flight instructor cut off the back of the students shirt to show that he or she no longer needs help. Then, the instructor decorates it and presents it to the student. Flight instructor Ricardo Roman-Flores presented Duff with his decorated shirt.

This is a big milestone for our students and a major point of pride for us all, and Nathaniel, youve earned this same rite of passage. Congratulations from all of us here at Averett, said Franks.

Averetts aeronautics program is home to several Piper Archer TX planes and additional aircraft  11 total  which were parked along the tarmac in a static aircraft display. Averett chief flight instructor Travis Williams announced the addition of another aircraft that will round out the schools fleet to an even dozen.

We will soon be the proud owners of a brand new, million-dollar Piper Seminole PA-44 twin-engine airplane, he shared, unveiling a rendering of the future branded plane. Students in the crowd exploded with cheers of excitement.

The university has committed to adding an aircraft for every 12 new students in its Aeronautics program. This year, almost 110 students are enrolled, and steady growth is expected in the coming few years.

According to Forbes, a peak shortfall of about 24,000 pilots is anticipated in 2026, representing about 23% of the pilot workforce. Programs like Averetts are addressing this increasing workforce demand.

The Forgotten Heroes Foundation flew in two aircraft for the event  a North American AT-6 Texan WWII trainer, and an L-39 Albatros, a high-performance jet trainer fighter designed in Czechoslovakia. Piloted by highly decorated retired Navy pilots, the planes flew in from Chesapeake, Virginia, escorting David and Louisa Evans, parents of Averett Aeronautics freshman Isobel Evans. Isobel was introduced to aviation through the foundation, and found her way to Averett to study Aeronautics.

Aviation Day was such a fun and exciting day here at Averett, Isobel said. I was extremely happy to find out the Forgotten Heroes Foundation would be able to fly my parents out and I was even more thrilled to see them.

Averett means a lot to me, especially the aviation program here. The community here is like a family and everyone is so much fun to be around. Ive made so many great memories here and cant wait to make more, she continued. Averett really stuck out to me. Everyone here was so welcoming and helpful and Averett offered such a unique flight program. I couldnt pass on the opportunity of attending school here and becoming a pilot. I am happy to say I definitely made the right decision.

Isobel is one of 15 female students now enrolled in aeronautics at Averett  a record for the programs more than 40-year history.

It is important to me that women continue to make strides in aviation and it is amazing to see how successful women have been, especially at Averett, Isobel said. I think it is important that women are welcomed into the aviation industry as they have so much to offer. Aviation is such an incredible industry and I encourage all women who are interested to get involved any way they canand to take flight lessons, as it is such an incredible experience and opportunity.

According to the FAAs 2022 Women in Aviation Advisory Board Report, women make up less than 20% of the aviation workforce, with the largest gender gaps in senior leadership positions, professional pilots and maintenance technicians. It states that roughly 5% of airline pilots are women, and only 3.6% of airline captains are women.

When I was a freshman in this program, I was the only female student in my class, and there were only a couple female students in the entire program. To have 15 now is very exciting, said Jennifer Freeze, assistant chief flight instructor, assistant professor and chair of Averetts Aeronautic academic department. I think it is important for our women to be able to talk with our female alumni about their experiences and challenges.

At the event, students had the opportunity to network and learn more about partnership programs and job opportunities from alumni, aviation partners and employers for the first hour of the day, including Piedmont Airlines, Dynamic Aviation, the VA Space Grant Consortium and the Virginia Small Aircraft Transportation Systems Laboratory. Goodyear sponsored and prepared lunch for the days attendees, cooking out on the Goodyear blimp grill.

I am blown away by this day  from the number of alumni who came back and partners who participated, to the engagement of our current students and interest from prospective students and families. It means so much to me, and it says a lot about what this program means to so many others, too, said Williams.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about LGBTQ issues in Iowa schools, arguing her only goal is ridding schools of sexually explicit material.

Sara Hayden Parris says that whatever you want to call it, it's wrong for some parents to think a book shouldn't be readily available to any child if it isn't right for their own child.

The viewpoints of the two mothers from suburban Des Moines underscore a divide over LGBTQ content in books as Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds pushes an especially sweeping crackdown on content in Iowa school libraries. The bill she's backing could result in the removal of books from school libraries in all of the state's 327 districts if they're successfully challenged in any one of them.

School boards and legislatures nationwide also are facing questions about books and considering making it easier to limit access.

"We're seeing these challenges arise in almost every state of the union," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. "It's a national phenomenon."

Longstanding disagreements about content in school libraries often focus this year on books with LGBTQ themes as policymakers nationwide also consider limiting or banning gender-affirming care and drag shows, allowing the deadnaming of transgender students or adults in the workplace, and other measures targeting LGBTQ people.

Keep scrolling for a list of 25 LGBTQ books that changed the literary landscape

The trend troubles Kris Maul, a transgender man who is raising a 12-year-old with his lesbian partner in the Des Moines area and wants school library books to reflect all kinds of families and children. Maul argued that those seeking to remove books take passages out of context and unfairly focus on books about LGBTQ or racial justice issues.

LGBTQ people are more visible than even five years ago, Maul said, and he believes that has led to a backlash from some who hope limiting discussion will return American society to an era that didn't acknowledge people with different sexualities.

"People are scared because they don't think LGBTQ people should exist," Maul said. "They don't want their own children to be LGBTQ, and they feel if they can limit access to these books and materials, then their children won't be that way, which is simply not true and is heartbreaking and disgusting."

In Louisiana, activists fear a push by Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry to investigate sexually explicit materials in public libraries  and recently proposed legislation that could restrict children and teens' access to those books  is being used to target and censor LGBTQ content.

Landry, who is running for governor, launched a statewide tip line in November to field complaints about librarians, teachers, and school and library personnel. Landry released a report in February that listed nine books his office considers "sexually explicit" or inappropriate for children. Seven have LGBTQ storylines.

In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles.

The reviews have drawn widespread attention, with images of empty bookshelves ricocheting across social media, and are often accompanied by criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican expected to run for president.

The state's training materials direct the reviews to target sexually explicit materials but also say that schools should "err on the side of caution" when selecting reading materials and that principals are responsible for compliance.

DeSantis said the state has not instructed schools to empty libraries or cover books. He said 175 books have been removed from 23 school districts, with 87% of the books identified as pornographic, violent or inappropriate for their grade level.

The Iowa legislation comes amid efforts there to keep a closer eye on public school curriculums and make taxpayer money available to parents for private school tuition. Reynolds, the governor, has made such proposals the core of her legislative agenda, telling a conservative parents group that their work was essential to guarding against "indoctrination" by public school educators.

Under a bill backed by Reynolds, the titles and authors of all books available to students in classrooms and libraries would be posted online, and officials would need to specify how parents could request a book's removal and how decisions to retain books could be appealed. When any district removes a book, the state Education Department would add it to a "removal list," and all of Iowa's 326 other districts would have to deny access to the book unless parents gave approval.

At a hearing on Reynolds' bill, Republican lawmakers, who hold huge majorities in both legislative chambers, said they might change the proposal but were committed to seeing it approved. The bill has passed a Senate committee and is awaiting a floor vote.

"The parents are the governing authority in how their child is educated, period," said Sen. Amy Sinclair. "Parents are responsible for their child's upbringing, period."

Patrick, a mother of two, expressed befuddlement about why anyone would want to make sexually explicit books available to children.

"I have to believe that there are books that cater to the LGBTQ community that don't have to have such graphic sexual content in them," said Patrick, a member of a local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that has gained national influence for its efforts to influence school curriculum and classroom learning. "There are very few books that have ever been banned and what we're saying is, in a public school setting, with taxpayer-funding money, should these books really be available to kids?"

Hayden Parris, a mom of two from a suburb only a few miles away, understands the argument but thinks it misses the point.

"A kindergartner is not wandering into the young adults section and picking out a book that is called like, "This Book is Gay," said Hayden Parris, who is leading a parents group opposed to Iowa's proposed law. "They're not picking those books, and the fact that they can pick one out of several thousand books is not a reason to keep it away from everyone."

Sam Helmick, president of the Iowa Library Association, said communities should decide what's in their libraries and that it's important for children to have access to books that address their lives and questions. Helmick didn't have that ability as a child, and students shouldn't return to that time, she said.

"Can we acknowledge that this will have a chilling effect?" Helmick asked. "And when you tell me that books about myself as an asexual, nonbinary person who didn't have those books in libraries when I was a kid to pick up and flip through, but now publishing has caught up with me and I can see representation of me  those will be behind the desk and that's not supposed to make me feel less welcome, less seen and less represented in my library?"

25 LGBTQ+ books that changed the literary landscape 25 LGBTQ+ books that changed the literary landscape 1890: 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde 1928: 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolf 1928: 'The Well of Loneliness' by Radclyffe Hall 1936: 'Nightwood' by Djuna Barnes 1948: 'The City and the Pillar' by Gore Vidal 1952: 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith 1956: 'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin 1962: 'A Single Man' by Christopher Isherwood 1971: 'Maurice' by E.M. Forster 1978: 'Tales of the City' by Armistead Maupin 1982: 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker 1982: 'Zami: A New Spelling of My Name' by Audre Lorde 1985: 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit' by Jeanette Winterson 1991: 'The Gilda Stories' by Jewelle Gomez 1993: 'Stone Butch Blues' by Leslie Feinberg 2001: 'Edinburgh' by Alexander Chee 2002: 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides 2006: 'Fun Home' by Alison Bechdel 2007: 'Call Me by Your Name' by Andre Aciman 2017: 'Less' by Andrew Sean Greer 2017: 'Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl' by Andrea Lawlor 2017: 'Freshwater' by Akwaeke Emezi 2019: 'We Both Laughed in Pleasure: The Selected Diaries of Lou Sullivan' edited by Ellis Martin and Zach Ozma 2021: 'Detransition, Baby' by Torrey Peters
The term "Seveso refers to a town in northern Italy, in Lombardy, which suffered the consequences of an industrial accident that took place in 1976 at the Icmesa chemical plant in the municipality of Meda. The accident was caused by the lack of an emergency plan and resulted in the release of toxic products (caustic soda and dioxin) that contaminated the surrounding municipalities, including Seveso. This had major ecological and health consequences and let to the hospitalization of children and death of farm animals.

MINT (fr. l. to r.) Georges Engel, Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy ; Taina Bofferding, Minister for Home Affairs

With the dual aim of preventing any risk of a major accident on an industrial site with a known potential risk, and of avoiding harmful effects of such an accident to the extent possible, the European Union has had a prevention policy on major industrial risks since 1982. EU legislation has since undergone many changes in order to adapt to the new requirements in terms of safety and risk management.

The European provisions that have been transposed into national law stipulate which establishments are to be classified as "Seveso", further subdividing them according to the substances with which they are working: lower-tier and upper-tier establishments. At present, Luxembourg has 8 lower-tier establishments and 8 upper-tier establishments.

"Seveso"-establishments must implement a prevention policy and submit documents to the competent authorities certifying that they are doing everything possible to limit risks. The Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM), respectively the Environment Agency or the Health Directorate, is responsible for technical tasks such as gathering information, advising, monitoring, inspecting, coordinating and liaising with the operators of the establishments, the public, the authorities of Luxembourg's neighboring countries and the European authorities. This is all the more important when possible accidents are likely to have cross-border repercussions.

In addition to the prevention requirements imposed on establishments and state authorities, the latter are also required to implement an information and awareness-raising policy so that the population is able to appreciate potential risks and react appropriately to protect itself. As part of the information and alerting of the population, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy launched a sustainable information campaign to make citizens aware of the behavior to adopt in case of an emergency.

Georges Engel took advantage of the launch of the campaign to underline the importance of the ITM. "The ITM is an indispensable player in this field. Its role is to accompany companies while at the same time monitoring them. But the ITM is also the contact point for the authorities in neighboring and European countries."

Taina Bofferding adds that the resilience of the population can only be achieved by consistently providing clear, understandable and accessible information: "This campaign is the starting point for regular information on safety measures and what to do in case of a major accident. The aim is to inform citizens about "Seveso-establishments, but above all about the behavior to adopt in the event of an accident: enter, close, listen - the precepts to remember for a more resilient population."

In conclusion, the ministers pointed out that citizens are the first link in their own protection through their actions.

More information on these steps can be found in the flyer that will be sent to the whole population as well as on the website dedicated to the "Seveso"-establishments, seveso.lu.

Press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY  After interruptions by COVID-19, a celebration of Charlie Poole, one of the countys true musical legends, is back on this summer, organizers announced this week.

The event will be held June 9-10 at Rockingham Community College, a new venue organizers say will bring vibrancy and growth to the event.

Born in Statesville on March 22, 1892, the banjo-picking Poole grew up in Alamance County in a cotton mill village, going to work in the mills as a child.

Around 1918, Poole moved to the Spray community, now a part of Eden, where he worked in the spinning room of Spray Cotton Mill.

Throughout his childhood, Poole had a love for music and even crafted his first banjo from a gourd.

By the time he was 8 or 9-years old, he had learned to play proficiently.

And it was no time before he would become famous for his three-finger picking technique he would showcase around the nation with his band The North Carolina Ramblers.

The popular group recorded 36 albums and sold sold more than 600,000 copieswith songs named Dont Let Your Deal Go Down and The Man Who Rode the Mule Around the World.

The influence that Charlie Poole and The North Carolina Ramblers had on American roots music and continue to have on country music is like no other, music historians agree.

In an effort to celebrate the accomplishments of Poole, considered one of the most overlooked important country musicians in history, Louise Price of Spray, along with Marianne S. Aiken, founded the Charlie Poole Music Festival in 1996.

Price is president of Piedmont Folk Legacies, a nonprofit whose mission is to promote and preserve the musical and cultural legacy of the Piedmont region and to celebrate its influence on the development of American vernacular music, as exemplified by Charlie Poole, according to the agencys website.

In past years, the festival was held at Governor Morehead Park in Eden, steps away from where Charlies career in music began at Spray Cotton Mill.

As popularity for the event continued to rise, it outgrew the park.

Price took time during the COVID-19 hiatus to step back and evaluate a new location for The Charlie Poole Music Festival.

The decision: the grounds of Rockingham Community College in Wentworth.

We couldnt be more excited to partner with Rockingham Community College on this amazing event, said Price.

With this new location, we will not only be able to continue to celebrate all that is Charlie Poole, but we will also have the opportunity to honor and bring light to the textile mill heritage which not only fostered the talent of such a musical pioneer, but also supported the surrounding community.

While not all of the details can be shared quite yet, Price said the 2023 festival will bring a lineup of musical luminaries, including Dom Flemons, Riley Baugus, Chance McCoy, High Fidelity, David Davis & the Warrior River Boys, DaShawn & Wendy Hickman present Sacred Steel, Polecat Creek, New North Carolina Ramblers, Jerron Paxton, Annie Woodford and Josie Toney.

The festival also will feature musical competitions for youth and adults and $8,000 in prize money, Price said.

Add to that, festival organizers are preparing an array of workshops and a tribute to the textile mill history, which brought the county amazing music, goods and a rich local culture, according to organizers.

Rockingham Community College is honored to partner with Piedmont Folk Legacies as we welcome back the Charlie Poole Music Festival, said Gerri Hunt, director of public information for RCC.

We are eager to prepare our campus to host such a wonderful two-day event that honors a plethora of talented artists, craftsmen and musicians.

For more information, please contact Louise Price at lwprice@embarqmail.com or 336-253-9744.
UPDATE (7:30 a.m. Friday, March 24)  The Amber Alert for Kayson Osiah Monk, 9-month-old child of Deon Monk, has been canceled. Kayson was located safely in Siler City and is being returned to Greensboro. Police say Deon Monk, who was located in Harnett County, is in police custody and charges are forthcoming in connection with a fatal shooting Thursday afternoon. One of the victims, identified as Sharelle Johnson, 25, has succumbed to her injuries; police say she is not the child's mother. This incident is now being investigated as a homicide. The second victim, a 20-year-old male, is in stable condition.

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GREENSBORO  An Amber Alert was issued late Thursday afternoon for 9-month-old Kayson Osiah Monk, Greensboro police said in a news release.

Kayson has black curly hair, brown eyes and is about 30 pounds. Kayson was last seen in a white shirt, grey sweatpants and a grey jacket, police said.

Police believe Kayson is with Deon Lamar Monk, the childs 23-year-old father, who is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen in a grey jacket and multicolored shorts, police said in the news release.

The child was taken from the 2400 block of Phillips Avenue and is believed to be traveling in a burgundy or red Saturn with damage to the rear window.

Deon Lamar Monk is a suspect in a shooting just after 1:30 p.m. Thursday that wounded two people  one critically  at the Phillips Avenue address, according police department spokeswoman Josie Cambareri.

Police are not releasing the names of the victims or their relationship to Monk at this time.

"This was not a random act of violence," Cambareri said by telephone Thursday.

Before an Amber Alert could be issued, the police department had to request one at the state level demonstrating that the child is believed to be in danger.

Authorities ask anyone with information to call 911 or contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
GREENSBORO  A 23-year-old man faces multiple charges after police say he shot two people Thursday afternoon  one fatally  and prompted an Amber Alert after taking his 9-month-old child out of the county.

Deon Monk is expected to be charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling, assault on a female, child endangerment, assault in the presence of a minor, and discharge of a firearm in the city limits, Greensboro police said in a news release.

Monk and his child, Kayson Osiah Monk, were located in Harnett County by the Harnett County Sherriffs Office, with assistance of the Greensboro Police Department and State Bureau of Investigation. The transfer of custody for the suspect and child occurred in Siler City, police said.

The child was unharmed and reunited with his mother, police said.

Police said Monk shot two people just after 1:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Phillips Avenue. The department announced early Friday that one of the victims, identified as Sharelle Johnson, 25, succumbed to her injuries. The second victim, a 20-year-old male, was listed in stable condition, police said.

Police are not releasing the name of the male victim. Its unclear what led to the shooting, or how Monk may have known the victims.

The 9-month-old child was taken from the scene of the shooting. Before an Amber Alert could be issued, the police department had to request one at the state level demonstrating that they believed the child could be in danger.

Monk, who was booked into the Greensboro Central Jail, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, according to online records.

This was not a random act of violence, police department spokeswoman Josie Cambareri said by telephone Thursday evening.
GREENSBORO  Guilford County Schools is investigating after controversial images were posted in a middle-school hallway as part of a class project on the Reconstruction era, a schools spokeswoman confirmed late Wednesday. The district said its also investigating an alleged incident in which the same teacher engaged in a morbid discussion with students.

District spokeswoman Gabrielle Brown said further details would not be released due to an ongoing personnel investigation.

However, we are taking these matters seriously, and the safety and well-being of our students will continue to be our primary focus, she said in an email.

The district statement came after Dorisa Parker, the mother of a student at Northern Guilford Middle School, spoke with the News & Record about the incidents.

Parker said the students posters were put up Friday, in the schools eighth grade hallway. Her son, who is Black, explained that the class had been learning about the Reconstruction, including the KKK, and that the teacher had assigned them each to make a movie-style poster about Reconstruction.

The student said that many students in the class chose to include the KKK in their posters. He said the teacher had portrayed the KKK in a negative light, and from what he could tell, students appeared to be depicting the KKK as villains for their movie posters. However, Parker said, those posters caused an uproar when they went up.

Brown said parents of students in eighth grade were informed of the incident and that the images were removed immediately.

Parker also told the News & Record she had obtained a temporary no-contact order on behalf of her son, after an incident Monday in which she said the teacher made the morbid comments in a conversation with her son and other members of his class.

Guilford County Schools has not disclosed the name of the teacher involved. Parker provided a copy of a no-contact order that lists teacher Daniel Hanlon of Northern Middle School as the defendant. That name matches the name of a social studies teacher on the schools website.

Parker provided recordings that she said her son made during that class. In one of those recordings, the speaker, whom she identifies as the teacher, maintains an upbeat banter with students, some of whom are laughing, as he discusses ways to dispose of a body so that no one will find it, and he talks about selling organs.

I wouldnt just kill you, I would dissect you and take the organs out of your body, said the speaker in the recording. The speaker uses Parkers sons name as he said he would potentially keep the students brain in order for the students soul to understand what had happened to him. Id like to make fun of you: Ha ha, I made 20 grand off your kidney... how do you feel about that?

It was bone-chilling, Parker said. ... Just to know that someone like this has been teaching our children.

In the recording, the speaker also referenced the posters that he said the school had made him take down.

If they were going to fire me, they would have fired me already, so Im really pretty much free to do whatever, the speaker said. We had posters of the KKK all over on this room and in the hallways and they didnt fire me over that.

The News & Record attempted to reach the teacher via his district email address and other methods and has not heard back.

The student, who also spoke to the News & Record, said he felt that the teacher was kind of mean, in general.

Parker said that just days before, on March 16, the teacher threw a roll of tape at her son and hit him in the mouth. She said she spoke with the Northern Guilford school resource officer about the alleged assault and the comments, which she asserted to be threats against her son.

The Guilford County Sheriffs Office confirmed it received a report containing allegations against a teacher. The office said it would not release the particulars of any investigation involving juveniles. It said it would provide an update if an investigation led to criminal charges.

Parker forwarded a message that she said Northern Guilford Middle School sent out. It said:

Good afternoon. I am Wesley Auman, assistant principal at NGMS, and Im calling to let you know about an incident in your childs classroom. The teacher engaged in a morbid discussion with students that may have been disturbing. A crisis team will be available should students want to discuss what happened with an adult. We are taking this matter very seriously and have referred the matter to district administrators who are investigating. The class will be covered by other staff until the investigation is complete. Thank you for your continued support of Northern Middle, and please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Parker said she was told that the teacher would not be at school Wednesday, but she still kept her son home, out of concern that the teacher might let himself in anyway. She said the schools principal later told her that during an investigation the key fob of the person being investigated is inactivated.
GREENSBORO  Before becoming a soloist dancer with the New York City Ballet, Megan LeCrone pulled on her tights and tutu at the age of 4 with the Greensboro Ballet.

She was a mouse in The Nutracker.

A dove in Snow White.

And Bluebird in Sleeping Beauty as a teenager.

The Carolina Theatres stage was like a second home.

Once I started dancing, thats really all I wanted to do, recalled LeCrone  Meg or Meggie to friends and family.

The Greensboro Ballet offered lots of choreographers. Lots of productions. Lots of everything for LeCrone.

I just got a lot of exposure to professional dancers and the ballet world, LeCrone explained.

Now she is one of those professional dancers  and a guest artist no less  as the company presents Storybook Tales Saturday and Sunday at the Carolina Theatre.

Among the weekends highlights is a Sleeping Beauty Suite which includes the Garland Waltz and Act III (The Wedding) from the full-length classical ballet, Sleeping Beauty, which is set to the musical score of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. LeCrone is Princess Aurora.

Among the weekends other offerings, the Greensboro Ballet will introduce The Big Red Umbrella, a new childrens story based on the book by the same name to a medley of music by composer Alexandre Desplat.

Christine Cervino Grider, Greensboro Ballets artistic director, and Nina Bass Munda, the school and youth ballet director, collaborated on the production about inclusion.

LeCrone will also hold a Princess Tea with Aurora as part of the activities. Since coming back to Greensboro she has already talked to young dancers about continuing their classes even in the summer so they can perfect their craft. Like she did.

Not only has LeCrone performed challenging feats with the New York City Ballet, the countrys pre-eminent dance company, she is also their ballet-worn feet  quite literally. Her bandaged-up toes were snapped for the cover of a book.

The photo became a popular meme and ended up on posters with inspirational quotes added.

I see it in the airports all the time, LeCrone said.

She has long been a role model, especially in the Triad.

Out of the thousands, she is the one that made it big, said Jennifer Savage Gentry, executive director of the nonprofit ballet and one of LeCrones early dance instructors.

Although young dancers are given room to explore and grow without expectations, there was something about LeCrone back then, Gentry remembered.

We all saw it, Gentry said. She was just so obviously born with the gifts and she had the passion and worked for it.

Gentry says it is heartening to see the Greensboro ballerina showcased among the best in the world.

From the Greensboro Ballet, LeCrone said she learned discipline, accountability and dedication. She would attend the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem right after winter break during her freshman year at Page High School. She then entered the New York City Ballets School of American Ballet in 2001 and joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet the next year.

LeCrone made her professional debut in Agon  a principle role  with the late Albert Evans.

There were lots of highs and lots of lows, LeCrone said of life as a ballerina. I had lots of injuries in my 20s.

In all, she endured seven years of injuries and surgeries.

I just loved it and knew it wasnt time to give up, LeCrone said of sticking with it. And now Im a soloist.

LeCrone is grateful for those who never gave up on her, including Peter Martins, the New York City Ballets master in chief at the time who kept her in the company during those tumultuous years.

While in town, she will stop by some of her favorite places, like Deep Roots market, Lewis and Elm and Liberty Oak Wine and Cheese.

Its home, LeCrone said.
Contrary to popular thought, a frog placed in tepid water whose temperature is gradually increased will jump out rather than boil to death. Good for frogs.

Their behavior seems much better suited to the long-term survival of their species than ours. Thats because human brains tend to resist making changes that are good for us, particularly in times of turmoil. Humans often cling to outmoded social and cultural norms, even if these are based upon superstition, logical fallacies, distortions of truth and even outright lies.

Compassion and reason should drive our collective decisions. Unfortunately, this has never been true. When our nation began, not all people were considered to be human. Even women of European descent were denied the same rights to control their destinies as men. LGBTQ-plus people where despised, forced to deny their gender identities, imprisoned and murdered. Our society adheres to the gender binary as if it were scientific truth.

We are now at a point where either our diversity will bring us together or tear us asunder. People like Dilbert creator Scott Adams has described Black people as a hate group and have recommended white people to get away from Black people. Claiming that the difference between red and blue states is too great to reconcile, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for a national divorce.

Greenes fundamental error is that she thinks that our social/cultural issues can be adequately described in simplistic, all or none terms. Similarly, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has gone full in on attacking critical race theory (CRT). He is playing to the fears of white supremacist forces in his state by mischaracterizing CRT as a hatred of white people, or a means to claim that all white people are racists.

DeSantis is also using his attack on CRT to dismantle shared governance by university administrators and faculty members. His goal: to determine what students in Florida learn, as opposed to professors who have spent their lives in scholarly study. Closer to home, the UNC Board of Governors is attempting to undermine diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts by characterizing them as a personal political position as opposed to a shared university value.

Those who wish to tear us asunder are using the ideological tool of blaming those whom they describe as others for our societal problems. George Orwells novel, 1984, written in 1949, illustrates the power of this tactic. It is considered the cautionary tale about how dystopian societies destroy individuality and compassion for other human beings. The protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, struggles to find meaning in a society that he knows is based upon the lies war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.

While Orwells novel gives no clues as to how this society became dystopian, we do know how this happened in Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler understood how he could use antisemitism and racism to galvanize the German people around the Nazi program. In an interview with Hermann Rauschning, Hitler admitted that he knew scientifically that there was no such thing as race, but that he still intended to use it as tool to advance the Nazi agenda.

The Nazis did not turn up their antisemitism right away. They carefully infused antisemitism and racism into German society. They used monumental pieces of propaganda, such as the documentary film Triumph of the Will, masterfully edited by the filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. The chief propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, rewrote the history of Europe, casting it as a battle between the Aryan people and the inferior races, including Jews. They created alternative facts, knowing full well they were lies.

We are currently experiencing these tactics, specifically the attempt to rewrite and censor American history. Similar efforts have been revitalized in North Carolina; a bill designed to prevent the teaching of CRT has been reintroduced into the legislature. This is ironic, considering that CRT is not part of our states history and social science curricula.

If we are going to tackle the monumental existential crises that face our species (e.g., climate change, pandemics, global war) than we must pull together as Americans. This will require that we have the courage to hoist ourselves out of the Orwellian beaker. To achieve this requires that we are willing to accept our past, with all of its imperfections, so we can chart a course forward toward true justice and equality for all people.
BA.2 is the latest subvariant of omicron, the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. While the origin of BA.2 is still unclear, it has quickly become the dominant strain in many countries, including India, Denmark and South Africa. It is continuing to spread in Europe, Asia and many parts of the world.

The omicron variant, officially known as B.1.1.529, of SARS-CoV-2 has three main subvariants in its lineage: BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. The earliest omicron subvariant to be detected, BA.1, was first reported in November 2021 in South Africa. While scientists believe that all the subvariants may have emerged around the same time, BA.1 was predominantly responsible for the winter surge of infections in the Northern Hemisphere in 2021.

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The first omicron subvariant, BA.1, is unique in the number of alterations it has compared to the original version of the virus  it has over 30 mutations in the spike protein that helps it enter cells. Spike protein mutations are of high concern to scientists and public health officials because they affect how infectious a particular variant is and whether it is able to escape the protective antibodies that the body produces after vaccination or a prior COVID-19 infection.

BA.2 has eight unique mutations not found in BA.1, and lacks 13 mutations that BA.1 does have. BA.2 does, however, share around 30 mutations with BA.1. Because of its relative genetic similarity, it is considered a subvariant of omicron as opposed to a completely new variant.
Perhaps the most fascinating and bizarre aspect of companion robots is why they work. One of the first illustrations of this came out of a 1996 study from Stanford University.

Essentially, the experiment involved groups of participants entering boring data on a computer that popped up vague, encouraging messages at them as they worked. At the end of the task, all participants were asked to fill out an evaluation about their experience. Some of the participants answered the evaluation questions on the same computer where they completed their task, and others were asked to move to an identical computer a few feet away to answer the survey.

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The surprising outcome of this study was that participants' answers were far more critical of their experience if they completed the survey on a different machine than the one that fed them canned encouragement while they worked.

The reason for this, the researchers concluded, is that humans are so hardwired for social connection that the participants were reluctant to hurt the computer's feelings. The findings of the Stanford study have been replicated many times at this point, and there's actually a name for this phenomenon now: CASA, or "computers are social actors."

"The need for belonging and socialization is actually viewed as one of our fundamental needs, the same as oxygen, food and water," says Saunderson. "The idea is that we human beings are so hardwired for social connection that we will even forgo reality to find social connection with inanimate things if they give us even the slightest reason to."

Which is why robotic zoomorphic pets work: We want companionship, which means we'll snuggle with pet robots, name our cars, apologize to our phones when we drop them or complain that our computers hate us when they're not working the way we'd like them to.

Objects don't take the place of humans, but in desperate cases, our brains will convince us that they'll do.

Now That's Interesting "Robot" comes from the Czech word robota, meaning "drudgery."
Shin and colleague Katherine L. Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School figured that out by doing what all good academics do: experimenting. They started off by surveying people at a U.S. train station about backup plans (almost half of the surveyed population had one for an identified goal), then took it further with a test that promised undergraduates an energy bar for performing well in unscrambling words into sentences.

The researchers asked half of the students to think about alternate ways (backup plans) to get snacks. Sure enough, the group with a fallback plan for scoring an energy bar if they failed to do their task didn't perform as well in constructing the sentences.

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Shin and Milkman published the results of their study in a 2016 journal article titled, "How Backup Plans Can Harm Goal Pursuit: The Unexpected Downside of Being Prepared for Failure."

"Many of the goals we pursue in life require a great deal of effort, and we can't be certain of achieving them. The insurance of having a backup plan is thus very attractive," Milkman and Shin wrote in Scientific American. "However, this psychological insurance, just like other insurances, may come with a price."

Shin drew from personal experiences to come up with the idea for the study. After earning her Ph.D. from Wharton in 2014, she wandered into the job market, looking for something in academia. Jobs like the ones she was after aren't that easy to come by.

What if she looked and looked and looked and didn't find anything? What then? (She did, at Wisconsin.)

"It's really interesting and fascinating how we get those ideas," said Shin. "I was thinking, somehow, if I do make a backup plan, somehow I think it will make it more likely that I might fail. It will kind of hurt my chances of success."
Jill Alessi, who has more than 20 years of experience in health care and health care operations, will become the new chief executive officer of Mountain-Pacific Quality Health on April 3, the nonprofit organizations board of directors announced Friday.

She is also an experienced business leader in developing and growing strategic programs that support health outcomes and quality health care and address fiscal responsibility and social determinants of health, Mountain-Pacific officials said. Alessi is a registered nurse and holds a masters degree in health care administration.

We were very impressed with Jills innovative ideas, professionalism and experience, said Mountain-Pacific Board Chair Allison Minugh, PhD, who is the CEO at Datacorp out of Cheyenne, Wyoming. She will build on what Mountain-Pacific has accomplished over the past 50 years and lead us into our next phase of growth and service.

Alessi was appointed after a nationwide search and a selection process involving the organizations board of directors and leadership staff.

She succeeds Sara Medley, who retired from Mountain-Pacific in February and had been with Mountain-Pacific for 45 years.

I am honored to lead this organization, Alessi said in a news release. I am so inspired by the work Mountain-Pacific does and the intelligent, passionate and creative professionals Ive already met who do that great work."

"Mountain-Pacific supports so many health care providers, professionals and patients, and I strive to empower the leaders, partners and staff to achieve even greater success," she said.

Mountain-Pacific is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health care improvement organization that holds federal, state and commercial contracts to support quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid members and all patients and families.

Learn more at www.mpqhf.org.
A bill to phase out funding for a pheasant rearing and release program housed at Montana State Prison would  according to supporters  halt a poorly conceived and implemented proposal, while opponents argued the project helps inmates and young hunters and needs more time to judge its effectiveness.

House Bill 826 brought by Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula, would phase out by 2027 a $1 million appropriation adopted by the 2021 Legislature to fund the rearing and release of pheasants on state wildlife management areas. The program, designed as a recruitment tool for young hunters, has been controversial since passed as part of a wide-ranging and complex bill that has seen opposition from several hunting groups.

I feel and a lot of other hunters feel this program missed the mark for what were trying to do in Montana in terms of conservation and ethical hunting as well as cost-effectiveness, Marler told the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee on Thursday.

In 2021 House Bill 637 included an appropriation of $1 million with a goal of producing up to 50,000 birds annually. The funding is split between state hunting license dollars and federal dollars the state receives for funding conservation and other programs. The funding is specifically designated for recruiting and retaining hunters to meet requirements for use of the federal funding.

The pheasant program passed after the prison lost a $1.5 million contract for milk from the inmate-run dairy, resulting in a significant reduction of the prisons dairy cow herd. Prison officials have welcomed the program to help inmates build job skills and find purpose while serving their sentences. Currently six inmates work in the pheasant program but that could grow to 30 once it fully ramps up, officials said.

Supporters of the bill said the use of hunter dollars to fund a prison work program was inappropriate, and that the program thus far has not proven cost-effective.

Its incredibly wasteful and unpopular with Montana hunters, said Matt Leow with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Based on cost and bird released, the program is producing birds at $384 per bird compared to private industry which is closer to $20 per bird, he said.

Ben Deeble with Big Sky Upland Bird Association said that while hatchery-raised pheasants do have their place, recruitment efforts such as youth-only hunts and improving habitat would be money better spent.

Several supporters of HB 826 pointed out that the state had abandoned its pheasant rearing facilities in the 1980s and shifted focus to wild birds and habitat with more success and sustainability.

Opposing the bill was Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Montana Department of Corrections, and Republican lawmakers who all said the program needs time to grow and that costs will come down.

Deb ONeill, FWPs legislative liaison, pointed out that much of the initial costs went to standing the program up, including purchasing equipment. The cost per bird by the agencys calculations is $79.99, which while higher than it would like, will come down as it produces more birds annually with the infrastructure in place, O'Neill said. The program faced a number of challenges from supply chain for the equipment to an outbreak of avian influenza nationally that required safety protocols to avoid infection at the prison to simply learning the pheasant rearing process.

We really dont believe success can be judged after one year of implementation, she told the committee.

ONeill acknowledged that improving the quality of pheasants is also a goal for the program as many of the birds released last year lacked tails. That was a product of spacing and timing the release of birds into flight pens, she said, as one of the learning curves of the program.

The program did receive positive feedback from hunters and youth hunters who enjoyed the opportunity, she said.

We know that if a hunter is successful, especially youth hunters or first time, theyre more likely to continue their hunting career, she said.

Scott Eychner with the corrections department echoed the challenges of starting a new program and said that per-bird costs should come down in the future.

"We are proud of what weve done  and expect it to continue to get better, he said.

The committee did not take immediate action on the bill.
The Montana House along mostly party lines seems poised to pass a bill that would prohibit gender-affirming medical care for minors in Montana.

Senate Bill 99 is carried by Sen. John Fuller, R-Whitefish. It would also penalize any doctors who provide the care with fines and license suspension. Additionally, it would not allow state property, facilities or buildings to be knowingly used to promote or advocate social transitioning and stop Medicaid from covering care.

The bill has already cleared the Senate and faces a final vote in the House expected this week before it would move back to the Senate for review of amendments added in the House.

The House vote on a second reading Thursday was 65-35, with Republicans Rep. Greg Frazer, Mike Hopkins and Tom Welch voting against the legislation.

Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, brought an amendment to the bill on Tuesday that removed language prohibiting the use of public funds for any facility that offers gender-affirming care, including those out of state. That would remove concerns that children seeking other medical care out of state could still access those resources.

In the House, the bill was carried by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, a Billings Republican. Seekins-Crowe advocated for the bill by saying minors have limited capacity to make decisions and should wait until they're 18 to consider choices about gender-affirming care.

Much of the debate in the House ran along the same lines as previous discussions over the bill, with supporters saying it was necessary to protect children and opponents saying it discriminated against transgender minors and families. While the Senate ground to a halt when debating SB 99 because of a fight over how to describe gender-affirming surgeries, the House did not run into similar problems Thursday.

Gender-affirming surgeries are not performed on trans minors in Montana, according to several doctors who treat children and have testified on the bill. Hormonal therapy only happens for trans minors after a lengthy process of consultation with several types of medical providers and with the consent of both parents, according to doctors and people who have gone through the experience that spoke against the bill.

Rep. SJ Howell, a Democrat from Missoula and the first nonbinary legislator in Montana, spoke against the bill Thursday, saying it singled out trans kids and families for different treatment.

The truth is that kids who are not trans can and do access the health care that is defined in this bill all the time, Howell said, adding that parents of children who want to take puberty blockers or undergo breast reduction surgery to do something like advance a gymnastics career would still be allowed to do so under the legislation.

If we really wanted to protect kids, why not protect all kids? Howell asked.

Rep. Bob Phalen, R-Lindsay, said that puberty blockers could come with long-term risks such as infertility, blood clots and weight gain.

Altering the developing (endocrine) system of a child with a lack of long-term evidence in gender transition begs the question, why subject our youth to side effects of this type of hormone treatment? Phalen asked.

Major medical associations have supported gender-affirming care and adopted best practices around the treatment.

An August 2022 statement from the president at the time of the American Academy of Pediatrics read: There is strong consensus among the most prominent medical organizations worldwide that evidence-based, gender-affirming care for transgender children and adolescents is medically necessary and appropriate. It can even be lifesaving. The decision of whether and when to start gender-affirming treatment, which does not necessarily lead to hormone therapy or surgery, is personal and involves careful consideration by each patient and their family.

Rep. Braxton Mitchell, a Columbia Falls Republican, spoke in support of the bill, saying he had concerns about an increase in children identifying as trans.

Be on the right side of history. When folks look back on this bill, I hope your votes on the right side of history by voting to protect Montana children, Mitchell said.

But Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat and first trans woman in the Legislature, compared trans children to left-handed children, saying those numbers also increased when people were no longer punished for it.

The reason? We stopped beating children. There is not an explosion because of pressure. There are people who are able to be out and to be themselves, Zephyr said.

Zephyr focused some of her remarks to the trans community in Montana.

If you were trans, particularly if you are targeted by legislation like this, I have one request for you  please stay alive. I know how harmful and painful these bills can be to listen to, Zephyr said.   There is an important thing that this bill does not and cannot do. It cannot stop us from existing. It will not get rid of trans people. Long after this body has reached sine die and legislation like this has stopped coming forward, trans people we will exist.
The Western wildlife experts testifying before Congress confirmed the recovery of grizzly bears and wolves, and cautioned against transferring control to states where legislators might disregard science-based management plans.

At issue were two congressional bills to remove grizzly bears from the endangered species list in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. A third bill delisted the gray wolves. All three excluded the actions from judicial review. The hearing was livestreamed.

While each of these bills is unique, they share the common thread of circumventing the scientific processes currently underway, said Steven Guertin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deputy director for policy.

We believe that the administrative processes prescribed by the ESA and the Administrative Procedures Act, including public participation is the best path for adding or removing species from the Endangered Species Act," he said. "These processes under the law ensure that the integrity of the important goals of the ESA envisioned by Congress 50 years ago are maintained.

Representatives from Wyoming and Montana, all three Republicans are key sponsors of the bills to delist grizzlies, were looking for different answers. Eastern Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale said Montana has the largest population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states, with nearly 2,000 grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone and northern Continental Divide ecosystems combined.

Western Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke has said the blueprint for delisting grizzly bears is in the work U.S. Fish and Wildlife did when he was Interior secretary. A federal court rejected that effort.

Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman said wildlife advocates had spent too much time counting dead bears and not enough time counting live animals.

It's not about the number that may have been taken pursuant to appropriate take permits, or pursuant to appropriate management. It's the number of live animals. So why would Democrats want to focus on death, Hageman said. That isn't even a factor to be considered under the Endangered Species Act. We on this side, however, we care about life and we care about the living species, and so does the Endangered Species Act. The governors of Wyoming Idaho and Montana have petitioned to delist the grizzly bear because the data shows that it is warranted as per the Endangered Species Act itself. Meanwhile, environmental litigants have been holding farmers, ranchers and the government hostage to their demands and for the purpose of protecting their own pocketbooks.

One wildlife expert who supported the delisting of grizzlies before growing concerned about state legislators was Chris Servheen, the original Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Now retired, Servheen testified that after watching the Montana Legislature enact non-science-based management plans for wolves he withdrew his support from delisting bears.

It is important that you know that I believed in and promoted the eventual delisting of recovered grizzly bears and wolves and turning them over to state management. I had faith in the wildlife professionals in state fish and fame agencies, Servheen said. He wrote the original management plan for grizzlies to be delisted as an endangered species. I believed that these state wildlife professionals would be good stewards to continue to carefully manage grizzly bears and wolves. This all changed in the past few years when state legislators in Montana and Idaho passed new laws to dramatically reduce wolf numbers and to place aggressive, indiscriminate wildlife killing methods into grizzly bear habitat.

Servheen said it doesn't take much imagination to realize that if grizzly bears were delisted by congressional action and turned over to state management, that legislatures and governors would do the same thing to grizzly bears that they are currently doing to wolves. They would try to legislatively minimize grizzly numbers inside recovery zones and eliminate most grizzly bears outside recovery zones, he said.

Rosendale invited Choteau rancher Karli Johnson to talk about the grizzly interactions north of the continental divide. Johnson told the Department of Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries that interaction with habituated bears are increasing, not only on her ranch, but also in Choteau proper.

Livestock losses are increasing, Johnson said. She finds herself raising her children in proximity to a sow grizzly with cubs, who doesnt seem to be afraid while touring Johnsons outbuildings.

Bears like this are becoming more and more common in our area with population targets having been met for what some people believe is as long as a decade if not two, Johnson said. The population is beyond the scope of the natural habitat and bears are being pushed out to scavenge on the fringe of human civilization. That sow grizzly bear and I don't want to raise our babies together. And we're being put in a position that we have to. And it's not safe for either one of our families to do that. And that's why today we're asking for additional management tools for both me and that sow grizzly bears so we don't have to raise our babies together.

The discussion about delisting gray wolves was advanced by lawmakers from Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, who produced photos of human fetuses and asked Democrats if they would put human babies on the endangered species list.

The Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's delisted the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States through a process that included the best science and data available at over 6,000 wolves at the time of the delisting, and more than 7,000 wolves in the U.S. Currently, the gray wolf is an endangered species act success story, and it shouldn't languish on the endangered species list any longer, especially as such listings defies common sense and science, Boebert said.
For over an hour and a half, over 40 Montanans  overwhelmingly young Montanans  showed up to the Capitol to express in detail the suffering and pain that SB 458 will cause them.

Instead of taking seriously the trauma and damage inflicted on so many Montanans, Republicans chose to proceed with this bill that targets one community, making them less before the law.

Introduced by Republican Sen. Carl Glimm, SB 458 is a 61-page-bill that creates an impossibly narrow and embarrassingly unscientific definition of sex in Montana law. It affects over 40 parts of Montana code while aiming to erase the ability of tens of thousands of trans, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and intersex Montanans to live their lives freely.

SB 458 was poorly written, rushed through the legislative process, and will have devastating financial consequences for Montana.

The sponsor of the bill has insisted this bill is necessary because sex and gender have been used interchangeably in the law, but the reality is that our understanding of sex and gender have changed, growing more complex as technology, social structures, and our understanding of biology have evolved.

Driven by misinformation, this bill doesnt just equate sex and gender but eliminates gender entirely while equating everything in Montana law to a persons reproductive capacity.

Despite the ripple effect of this massive bill, sprawling into over 40 parts of Montana code and touching everything from legal documentation to health insurance, Republicans jammed SB 458 through the legislative process unphased by red flags, structural flaws, and the fiscal impact.

While a fiscal note provided by the Budget Office showed no fiscal impact, it was quickly discovered that at least two agencies raised serious concerns about how much the bill could cost the state.

In one instance, the fiscal analysis written by Montanas University System described how SB 458 will create conflicts with federal law, including Title IX and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The consequence is Montanas public colleges and universities being cut off from federal funding.

As legislators we neglected our responsibility to fully understand the bills that come before us, and it is going to come with a price: potentially billions of dollars in federal funding for the state of Montana.

Financially, the cost of SB 458 could be billions. Morally, however, the cost to Montana will be immeasurable.
Clean air and good health, along with freedom and liberty, are Montana values. And they all go together.

Twenty years ago, our state took the lead in highlighting the benefits of smokefree air in our indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars and casinos.

Those benefits include reduced risk for heart attacks, lung cancer and asthma attacks. They also include the freedom not to breathe toxic chemicals, and the liberty to do an honest days work as a casino employee, waitperson, bartender or dishwasher without putting your life on the line through exposure to deadly smoke.

Not only did we talk about the benefits of smokefree policies, we also demonstrated them  not just to Montana, but to the entire world.

In 2003, we co-authored The Helena Heart Attack Study, a paper published in the British Medical Journal that showed how smokefree protections have an amazingly rapid effect on preventing heart attacks. This was the first study of its kind and it happened because of Montanans fight for clean indoor air.

In Helena, a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance went into effect after a strong yes for smokefree vote in June 2002, but was suspended six months later due to a legal challenge from the tavern and casino industries.

While we were unhappy about the suspension, this turning off-and-on of the smoke faucet provided an unique opportunity to compare local health data from before and after the ordinance went into effect.

What we found was remarkable. Local health records showed that during an average six-month period, the number of hospital admissions for heart attacks in Helena was just under seven per month. However, during the six months that the ordinance was in place, the number dipped to under four per month  a drop of nearly 60%. This was a huge improvement in just a short period, and demonstrated how significant smokefree protections are to preventing death and disease.

Reinstating Helenas protections and expanding them statewide took several years of outreach and education to Montana citizens, decision makers and businesses.

The Montana Legislature finally passed the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act in 2005, making indoor public spaces smokefree, apart from bars and casinos, which had until 2009 to comply. In that time, the Helena study was replicated in Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece and Canada as well as in numerous communities in the United States.

We are proud to be a part of this history. Yet we are concerned about the future.

Where Montana once led on clean air, there are now signs of retreat. This legislative session saw three bills aimed at doing away with our smokefree protections. Thankfully, due to the hard work of health advocates and wiser heads in the Legislature, all three of these bills failed.

However, our state leaders also missed a tremendous opportunity by tabling a good bill by Sen. Willis Curdy that wouldve added e-cigarettes into our smokefree protections.

Studies show that e-cigarette aerosol contains ultrafine particles linked to cancer, lung and heart disease. E-cigarette aerosol also contains nicotine, which is harmful to adolescent brain development. Contrary to claims otherwise, e-cigarettes do not benefit users by helping them quit. The majority become dual users of both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes.

Using recreational marijuana in our public spaces is prohibited, the same should be true of e-cigarettes.

A 2021 poll by the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network showed that 89% of Montana Democratic and Republican voters support our Clean Indoor Air Act and 81% (four in five) support including electronic smoking devices into it.

We urge our elected officials to protect Montanans freedom to breathe healthy air by strengthening our Clean Indoor Air Act to include ALL types of smoking.